Progressive Blue - House

KY-02: Ed Marksberry Forges Ahead in Kentucky

RDemocrat — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:55:40 GMT

One thing that may be getting lost in the shuffle of having a tea-party zealot running for Senate in Kentucky is the fine slate of Democratic candidates we have running for Congress this year here. Candidates that are Washington outsiders and understand the problems that face real Kentuckians and Americans because they themselves are there facing those problems with us everyday. A good example of that is Ed Marksberry in Kentucky's Second Congressional district. Far from being a Washington elitist who is out of touch with working Kentucky and America, Ed is a Carpenter who wants to bring working values back to Washington and fight for them.
His campaign is forging ahead here in Kentucky as folks begin to realize why he is the most qualified candidate to represent working Kentucky families in Washington:

I've never held a political office and that's why I feel I'm the more qualified candidate to represent the needs of working class Kentucky Families. We have too many career politicians in Washington. Our nation needs more balance in our representation.
I share the experiences of the middle class. I know first-hand the difficulties, of making ends meet in today's economy. My opponent, Congressman Guthrie, has yet to complete his 1st 2 year term in office, and has already banked $900,000 dollars toward his re-election campaign. I feel the "Pay to Play Electioneering" in our political system is corrupting our democracy and at the very least, insulates our leaders from hearing the voices of the middle-class Kentuckians.

http://edmarksberry2010.com/is...

And what makes him the most qualified candidate is that he understands the problems that have beset our country. Instead of spouting anyone's talking points or trying to cater to an extreme point of view on any issue, Marksberry takes a simple, common sense approach to problems that takes into account their causes and the effects on the average working families. To put it simply Ed just gets it that working America is the solution, not the problem:

Reducing the unemployment rates and reducing our nation's healthcare costs will help to reduce our nation's debt. I support closing corporate tax loop holes and enacting trade policies that reflect our values. I support free trade when there is fair trade. We must enact campaign finance reform to restrict the corrupting corporate big money drowning out the middle-class voice.

A breath of fresh air from the insane ideology that puts Corporate profits above all else and ignores the human cost of reality in this economy, Ed Marksberry understands what the problem has been and like all of us is tired of watching the true culprits be coddled and bailed out:

I would continue to push for Congress to enact the much needed reforms to our mortgage and financial markets. Restoring confidence with regulatory safeguards to investors here and abroad has to be a top priority for recovery in the job market. Lending institutions must free up investment money to bring back industries and good paying jobs.

Ed has already shown he will fight for middle-class jobs when he crossed the river to fight with the workers at the Evansville Whirlpool plant, many of which cross the river too from his district and who lost their jobs due to nothing else but Corporate greed:

This district is always pretty close and we need Marksberry's message of real hope and change that works for workers to get out. His common-sense approach to all problems does not ignore the impact on working America that the true culprits of so many problems have caused. He will fight for us, so we need to fight for him.

Go to Ed's ActBlue site and lets start showing career politicians within both parties that we are going to support real Democrats with guts and working values wherever they may emerge. Candidates like Ed Marksberry not only need, but they deserve our support:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

John Waltz Out-Raises Republican Incumbent Geoff Davis

RDemocrat — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 02:07:28 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

I wrote this diary, "John Waltz Continues to Show Strength" yesterday when I realized that the Waltz campaign had put up a very strong showing in fundraising for the last quarter. However, now it appears as if I put it up before I realized just how strong this showing really was. You see, as a political newcomer and a Progressive in a red area John Waltz did the unthinkable. He actually OUT-RAISED the sitting Republican Geoff Davis. Even more remarkable is that Waltz smoked Davis in donations from individuals.
John Waltz and his whole campaign showed serious strength and momentum in these fundraising numbers. They topped Davis in total money raised, from an email:

Walton, KY (July 16, 2010) - John Waltz outraised incumbent, Geoff Davis, in the most recent financial reporting period, based on reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last night. Waltz and Davis each raised over 100,000 in a little over two months, but Waltz was able to best Davis in total contributions. Waltz raised $117,150 to Davis's $115,985.

But what is really incredible is when you look at the total number of donors. In that area Waltz simply smoked Davis, and if you took out the Corporate contributions to Geoff Davis, Waltz completely outclassed him in every way possible:

Waltz's haul was especially impressive given that he raised nearly all his cash from individuals while Davis relied almost exclusively on PAC money. With more than 450 individual donors, Waltz raised 98% of his money from people. Waltz's average donation was $224. Davis on the other hand raised 97% from corporate interests such as Halliburton and Exxon Mobil. Only $3,185 of Davis's $115,985 came from 8 individuals.

Waltz's reaction to this news was a road map for Progressives to use all over the country. Work hard, show up everywhere, and simply give the message to the voters. They believe it when they hear it. And of course, he added some perspective on Congressman Davis and his numbers as well:

Waltz explained his success as the result of a good work-ethic and a never-say-die attitude. "When I got into this race I was told I could not win. I was told I would never raise enough money. I was told I had to be a Blue-Dog, Republican-lite candidate. Over and over again, people told me I couldn't do it. I never gave up and I never took anything for granted."
As for Davis's inability to outpace Waltz for the reporting period, Waltz suggested Davis is taking his job for granted. "If I were Geoff Davis, I would be worried about my job. The people of this district are sick and tired of being ignored by Washington and if he thinks he isn't part of the problem, then he has another think coming," Waltz said.

I do not know what more John Waltz can do to win the support of our national party. He has shown he is tough as nails and does not mind fighting and taking our Progressive message to his district. I think he has successfully shown all the "centrists" and "bluedogs" that they are completely wrong about not fighting for every district and not running on Progressive ideals.

John Waltz is for real and he needs our help now more than ever. Davis and the Republican machine will turn their teabag guns on him and he needs the resources to fight them. He can show the nation once and for all that a Progressive message can win anywhere if their is just someone with enough guts and gumption to spread it, and with a little help from us all.

Go here and help Waltz smoke Davis again this quarter too:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

Here is the only video we have been able to capture of him at HillbillyReport, when he first started his run and was supporting the Public Option in front of Geoff Davis's office:

KY-02: Marksberry Unloads on Kentucky Republicans for "Cozy Industry Relationships"

RDemocrat — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:24:57 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

In Kentucky we have some great candidates bidding to pull upsets in the Congressional races. In the Fourth we have John Waltz and in the Fifth we have Jim Holbert. In the Second Congressional District we have Ed Marksberry, no stranger to us here at Hillbilly Report, and definately a fine candidate in his own right. He is ready to go to Washington and fight to once again expand the American middle-class. Today in a press release, he Unloaded on Kentucky Republicans for their "cozy industry relationships".
Marksberry has already put his money where his mouth is by crossing the river from his district to help protest Whirlpool eliminating jobs, jobs in which many of his prospective constituents also crossed the river to work:

Earlier this year he spoke at the 2010 Owensboro, Kentucky International Bar-B-Q festival:

Now, he is blasting Kentucky Republicans for their Corporate policies in a press release from today. From an email from the Marksberry campaign:

Government regulatory red tape has never been popular, but when it comes to worker safety and environmental concerns, Americans must guard the integrity of the relationship between government and industries.
American taxpaying families are still "footing the bill" for poor oversight. Big Wall Street bonuses amid bad loans and investment schemes, big bank bailouts, a near collapse of our economy, the terrible loss of lives at the Massey Energy coal mine in West Virginia and BP's offshore oil rig explosion: all are linked to cozy relationships between government watchdog agencies and the corrupting influence of corporate lobbyists. I do not share Republican candidate Rand Paul's view of the BP oil disaster that "accidents happen." I contend that poor oversight has led to far too many accidents "waiting to happen." Taxpayers and our governments... whether local, state or federal... do not have the money to clean up any more financial or man-made disasters that never should have happened.
I urge Rep. Brett Guthrie and Sen. Mitch McConnell to reconsider their cozy industry relationships and to stand up for the middle class, not the corporate lobbyists. They must stop embracing policies that allow unlimited campaign contributions from corporations. Ask Sen. McConnell to return the thousands of dollars he received from Massey Energy while sitting in oversight over mining laws that should protect miners and our environment. Tell Rep. Guthrie to act as guardian of our tax dollars and address the obvious conflicts of interest that this carpenter can plainly see.
As a candidate for U.S. Congress, I'm sounding the alarm. Our government and community leaders must become the tax-dollar watchdogs they are entrusted to be.
Oversight is important at all levels. Kentuckians just recently experienced statewide scandals and abuses of tax dollars involving the agencies, the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, due to lax oversight. We are fortunate here in Kentucky that our State Auditor Crit Luallen is a dedicated tax-dollar watchdog. Kentuckians should expect the same from all our government leaders.

Moving on to his website, you can see that Ed Marksberry has his priorities straight when it comes to bringing down our national debt:

Reducing the unemployment rates and reducing our nation's healthcare costs will help to reduce our nation's debt. I support closing corporate tax loop holes and enacting trade policies that reflect our values. I support free trade when there is fair trade. We must enact campaign finance reform to restrict the corrupting corporate big money drowning out the middle-class voice.

http://edmarksberry2010.com/?p...

This district has been very close in recent elections and with the failure of Kentucky Republicans on all levels, this race is wide open. Ed Marksberry understands our problems because he is one of us and he lives with them everyday too. He is a real outsider who will fight for working Kentuckians and Americans. We simply must fight for real Democrats wherever they may emerge, and Ed Marksberry deserves our support. Go here and find out how you can help:

http://edmarksberry2010.com/

John Waltz and Democracy for America

RDemocrat — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:09:34 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

I was thinking it was just a matter of time. A matter of time until everyone else started to realize what I already knew. John Waltz in Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District has quietly turned into a very viable contender. Waltz has been working hard and one need only look at the money he has raised on ActBlue to be impressed. Now, Democracy for America is noticing the hard work and vision the Waltz campaign is offering and has nominated them as one of the top grassroots campaigns in the country.
From an email from the Waltz for Congress campaign:

Dear Supporter,
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I had a blast in the July 4th parades, and certainly got a workout walking up and down so many hills. A big thanks to everyone who clapped and waved for my decked-out truck. I've been campaigning all around the district, and while I was on the road I got some really exciting news:
Howard Dean's Democracy for America has selected this campaign among the top grassroots campaigns the country!
Now DFA is holding an online election to select the finalists. This will determine who they will support with resources this year.

This was no fluke either. I remember when John Waltz announced several months back I did not know what to expect from him. However, I must admit I am quite impressed with the campaign they have run so far. Better yet, John Waltz is a young, unabashed Progressive bringing our message to the heart of Red America. While I am in the first district of Kentucky, I believe John Waltz's accomplishments thusfar should have earned the respect of Progressives everywhere.

Don't just take my word for it, go to his website and look around. Here is a highlight from his "Jobs" page:

Much of our current problems stem from the crises brought on by the reckless behavior of the mega-banks. Haphazard and predatory lending, followed by bets on imaginary products called derivatives, have resulted in hardships across the board. The effects are staggering.
In just the next hour another 493 homes will have gone into foreclosure. Another 3,150 people will have lost their jobs. Another 575 will have been unemployed for 6-months, and 220 people will have filed for bankruptcy.
These figures speak for themselves. There is absolutely no excuse for any member of congress, who sees these numbers every single month, not to be focused like a laser beam on job creation. Our current representative, Geoff Davis has never introduced a bill dealing with job creation. In fact, Davis has introduced a total of 22 bills during his time in office and only one has ever passed into law. His sole accomplishment is naming a post office.
When federal stimulus projects were being passed in the house, Geoff Davis put his party first by opposing the efforts just to criticize the President. When the stimulus brought projects and jobs to our district, Geoff Davis, tried to take credit for it. He had nothing to do with it, and one has to wonder if we missed out on other projects and jobs because he was too childish to compromise or negotiate on our behalf.

http://www.johnwaltz.com/issue...

When you look at John Waltz you can see he is definately deserves the support of national Progressives. While I know many of you might have other candidates you support for the Democracy for America nomination but as a Kentucky Progressive unaffiliated with the Waltz campaign I ask you to consider going to this link and voting for John Waltz in the DFA contest:

http://www.grassrootsallstars....

At least consider him for second or third!!

Waltz is just what we need in our party. Young, Progressive and not afraid to fight in a tough area to get elected. His fundraising in that district is quite impressive by any standards. If national Progressives will get behind him and show him some love he could very well pull off a huge upset. He has the drive, smarts and determination to win if he gets more resources he could be unstoppable.

Sometime during this election season consider dropping in on John Waltz at ActBlue and sending him anything, even $5:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

If we want a more Progressive party and country we simply must support real grassroots Progressive wherever they may emerge. John Waltz has the message and motivation to win.

Democrats Jump Back Ahead in Generic Congressional Ballot

RDemocrat — Sun, 16 May 2010 04:02:56 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

Last month much was made among the right-wing foghorns on the radio and elsewhere about the Republicans taking the lead in the generic Congressional ballot among the American people. Despite all the self-righteous celebrating one thing was lost on them that evidently has set in on the American electorate. Republicans have absolutely no vision, or solutions to fix the huge problems that still confront our country. They offer only the same failed ideas that have been disgraced and have failed time and again. The party of no, no ideas and nothing good may be finding out that it takes something besides a lot of hot air to win elections. It takes ideas.
Yes, it seems as if America may be waking up to the fact that the last "big idea" to come from the modern Republican mind was "Drill baby drill". Democrats have once again taken over the lead in the generic Congressional ballot by a slim margin:

The tenuous 45 percent to 40 percent preference for a Democratic Congress reverses the finding a month ago on the same question: 44 percent for Republicans and 41 percent for Democrats. The new readout came as the economy continued showing signs of improvement and the tumultuous battle over the health care law that President Barack Obama finally signed in March faded into the background.

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/0...

Even more refreshingly, it seems as if maybe a lot of Americans outside of the Democratic Party are waking up to the fact that all this "tea party" hatred and hypocrisy is just a bunch of bluster and hot air with absolutely nothing of substance behind it:

"I'm a new Democrat," said Harley Smithson, 51, of Baltimore, who said he had recently switched from the GOP. "I want to be with a party that's for something instead of against everything."

Despite this, incumbents of both parties will be facing a very toxic environment to be re-elected in this fall. However, it appears as if stirring up the rabid and hate-filled faction to the far-right of their party may actually be backfiring on the Republicans:

Congressional Democrats win approval from only 37 percent, though congressional Republicans score an even drearier 31 percent. Democrats and Republicans are about evenly trusted to handle the economy, an issue Democrats once dominated and one that is crucial at a time when the country's job situation, though brightening, remains grim.
Only 36 percent said they want their own member of Congress to win re-election this fall, a noteworthy drop from the 43 percent who said so in April and the lowest AP-GfK poll measurement this year. Much of the restiveness seems to be among Republicans: While Democrats were about equally divided on the question, Republicans expressed a preference for a new face by a 2-to-1 margin.
"The Republican Party has more or less left me," said Mike Miller, 40, of Republic, Mo., a tea party backer who wants a new member of Congress. "Everybody's shifted to the left."

Oh dear. And everybody has their government hands on you Medicaire too I do believe.

Now don't get me wrong. Democrats have a lot of problems within their ranks they need to work out. The old stereotype of the Democrats being cowards and not fighting for what they believe in is alive and well and unfortunately has plenty of basis in fact. Even worse, far too many Democrats are just as much on the payroll of Corporate America as the Republicans and it is not that they will not fight for what they believe in that is the problem. The problem is they ARE fighting for what they believe in and it is not working America, but a warmed over version of modern Corporate Republicanism.

However, having said that the modern Republican Party is a quite scary bunch indeed. Their only solution to the massive failures of the rabid, hate-filled, corporate-controlled policies of the Bush Administration is to make them more rabid, hate-filled and corporate controlled. They have absolutely no new vision for anything, and offer up only more extreme versions of policies that have already failed as solutions on a daily basis.

We can only hope that Democrats will take heart of these new numbers and give the American people what they have been begging for since 2006. A truly alternative vision and most importanly the guts to fight for it. The time for compromise is over and in the months before November Democrats should be seen fighting, not compromising with the disgraced modern Republican Party and outlining the failed vision contained therein. Only then will they assure a Democratic majority for next year once again.

John Waltz: A Pounding

RDemocrat — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:51:32 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

As many of you know that are regular readers Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District has a Democratic candidate. They have a real citizen, veteran, and Progressive alternative to corrupt Geoff Davis for representation in Congress. While he has shown some great success on ActBlue in that district he needs and deserves the support of national and statewide Democrats. Today, he is fighting back against the threats of Geoff Davis, who is playing both sides of the tea-bag movement.
Yes, Geoff Davis was against the Tea-Baggers before he was for them. From an email from John Waltz:

Geoff Davis is exploiting the Tea Party movement for his own gain. When the Tea Party was attacking Republicans for their free-spending, irresponsible behavior during the Bush presidency, Davis went on local radio to criticize their efforts. Now that he's figured out how to manipulate their frustration and anger for his own short term political gain, he's fashioned himself into a Tea Party leader.
Just days before the historic vote on healthcare reform, Davis held a private conference call briefing for Tea Partiers to discuss the bill and how to stop it. He encouraged them to "pound" on other area congressmen. He egged on protestors by waving a Gadsden flag from the US Capitol, and he's vowed to campaign against anyone that supported the bill. Davis thinks he can afford to go out and raise money and work against Democrats because he takes his own seat for granted, but you and I can change that!

And the result of Davis' call to arms??:

In the aftermath of the vote, there have been widespread acts of violence and invasions of privacy. Congressional representatives have received threats. Homes and offices have been vandalized. Right across the river from me, one of the Congressmen that Geoff Davis encouraged Tea Partiers to "pound," had people protesting his front yard. I know what this feels like. Shortly after I announced, I received threats at my home. This behavior is unacceptable. People have the right to voice their opinions, but when family members are endangered and private homes are vandalized, that goes too far. Davis thinks he can get away with this nonsense, but he hasn't counted on people like you and me standing up to his bullying ways.

However, luckily for the folks of the fourth, Kentucky, and indeed America they have a viable alternative who knows the problems they face because he is there daily with them facing the same problems. He has chosen to run not to rake up millions in special interest money but to try and work for a better life for his friends and neighbors in the fourth and indeed our whole country:

Kentucky families need someone to stand up for their interests, not spreading misinformation about a bill that will help them! My own wife has a pre-existing condition and I know firsthand how much this bill help families like mine. I am not a millionaire or a career politician and I cannot take on Geoff Davis alone. He has shown himself to be a political opportunist and he has gotten away with too much. His hypocrisy and arrogance know no bounds. From manipulating Tea Partiers to misrepresenting the effects of healthcare reform, to taking credit for stimulus projects he voted against, Geoff Davis apparently thinks no one is watching and he can say whatever he wants regardless of the facts.

Indeed. Geoff Davis was right there rubber-stamping every failed policy of the Bush Administration that led to a crashed economy and trillions in debt. He whimpered not one protest as the Kentucky delegation led by Mitch McConnell spent and spent on a failed foreign policy agenda, doled out corporate welfare and caused the economic collapse we are all suffering from now and sent our jobs to Communist China. It is time we sent Geoff Davis a message, "Not this time".

John Waltz has already had some success on ActBlue and needs us to put him over the top. Go here to give him the resources he needs to fight and win against one of the most irresponsible and hypocritical Congressmen in the nation, Geoff Davis:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

Go here to see exactly why he deserves our support:

http://johnwaltzforcongress.com/

We must support real Democrats wherever they may emerge. This last year should have pounded that fact home. Lets help John Waltz fight against the lies, hypocrisy and threats of Geoff Davis.

KY-04: John Waltz Gaining Well Deserved Momentum

RDemocrat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:49:44 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

I wrote a few diaries several months ago about a Democratic newcomer in Kentucky politics when John Waltz announced his run here, here, and here. While I very much liked what Waltz was saying, I wondered about his ability to mount a race as a newcomer and in Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District. However, as this race is progressing John Waltz is proving to be an extremely viable candidate as well as being a real fighting Democrat. Now, Waltz's campaign is picking up steam and with our help could mount a real challenge to put Republicans on defense this fall in at least one previously secure district.

I was looking around on ActBlue last night and something caught my eye. Through hard work and solid vision the Waltz Campaign has accumulated a nice little war chest and with our help could mount a serious challenge in Kentucky's Fourth to Geoff Davis. Waltz has already succeeded in raising well over $60,000 on ActBlue alone:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

He has done this by letting working Kentuckians know that he will fight for them, not Mitch McConnell, Communist China, and the Big Banks like Geoff Davis. Working America and Kentucky will indeed have a friend in John Waltz who will fight for fairness and a chance at the American dream of attaining the middle-class or better:

It is imperative we assess current free trade agreements and any that come in the future to ensure that American companies and our workers can compete on an even level with their global competitors. We also need to allow businesses a chance to compete by providing job hiring tax credits and freeing up credit.
I support labor 100% including legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act, which will provide job security, increase pay, and provide much needed benefits.

http://johnwaltzforcongress.co...

Waltz realizes that the tax cuts of the last few decades have created a system in which the working American is fleeced and the very few get to enjoy the benefits of lower taxes:

The upside down tax-cutting policies of the last thirty years has created a system where the top 1 percent of earners in America pay 6.4 percent of their incomes in taxes, which in contrast the middle class now pay 9.4 percent and the nation's bottom 20% are paying 9.4 percent. I will push to advocate for a progressive tax code, which will provide equitable taxation for working families.

And like so many of us out here in working American John Waltz realizes that the American people have lost control of their government. The current fights we have been forced to embark on even against Republicans, Bluedog Democrats, and "Centrist" Democrats in the Senate have shown one thing that should be painfully clear to all. Our government is bought and paid for and needs to be returned to its rightful owners, the American people:

For far too long our representatives in government have set the needs of voters aside because of the pay to play campaign finance system currently in place. We can put the power of government back in the hands of citizens with comprehensive campaign finance reform and creating a public finance system.
As your Congressman, I will fight for the Fair Elections Now Act, which will require a Congressional candidate to raise $50,000 via a limit of $100 maximum donations and a minimum of 1500 donors within the candidate's state for an exchange of $900,000 in public financing. This will finally put our government back in the hands of Americans and out of the hands of the special interest lobbyists who have a stranglehold on Washington D.C.

While I am not in any way affiliated with the Waltz Campaign I really believe that this guy could make a serious run at taking this seat. He supports the values so many of us hold dear, and he needs our help. As you can see he has a very good start at really raising enough money to mount a serious fight, and at the very least put the national Repubicans on the defensive in a district they planned on being safe taking money that could be used against vulnerable Democrats elsewhere.

The fact of the matter is we simply must support real Democrats who will pay us back with more than lip service when elected. Won't you join me in helping John Waltz storm on the scene with a stunning upset this fall?? Go here and help continue the momentum Waltz has been building and help a real Democrat who will fight for working America when elected:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/...

One More Thing Healthcare Did Not Accomplish

RDemocrat — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:05:37 GMT

Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.

We have been pretty disappointed here for most of the heatlhcare debate. I mean, we lost single-payer before sitting down to bargain, and now barring a Christmas miracle from sixty or so House members we have lost the public option while being mandated to buy coverage. Folks like myself with a pre-existing condition in my case Type 1 Diabetes can still be discriminated against for five long years. Now in retrospect we lost another battle that shows nicely just how bought and paid for our Congress really is.
You see, all those annoying ads for this drug or that which we should ask the doctor we cannot afford to go to about will be playing daily on our airwaves. Lobbyists assured us of that and celebrated their victory:

Lobbyists succeeded in turning back efforts in both the Senate and House that would have ended the business-tax deductions that drug makers can take for advertising.
"Healthcare Passed - Advertising Deductibility Safe!" proclaimed an e-mail news release circulated Thursday by Clark Rector, the American Advertising Federation executive vice president for government affairs. Congress was persuaded that ending the tax break for drug ads, Mr. Rector wrote, "would be a disastrous choice, both economically and politically."

http://prescriptions.blogs.nyt...

The House and Senate both considered ending the tax credits for such ads, or barring them altogether for the first two or three years of a drug's existence, but in the end the money stacked too high to resist:

The House and Senate considered proposals this year to bar such ads during the first two or three years a drug is on the market, or to end their tax deductibility as a business expense. One bill was called the "Protecting Americans from Drug Marketing Act." Supporters said the sweeping health care overhaul effort provided the ideal opportunity to take action.
Initially, as a way to come up with about $10 billion of that amount, the drug industry considered offering to give up the advertising tax deduction. But according to a person briefed on those discussions, broadcasters and other lobbying groups opposed the move. Broadcasters, magazines, newspapers and other publishers together took in more than $4 billion in drug advertising last year.

I mean really, why should we want a bill that is called the "Protecting Americans" from anything act. The only bill that seems to pass that can protect us from anything is the ones that passed that protected us from our own Constitutional rights. You know, the Patriot Act and the FISA bill??

Well face the bright side America. We may not have gotten real reform that helps the real Americans that really needed it but at least we will still get to come up with those creative explanations to tell our children and grandchildren about what "erectile disfunction" and "Priapism" is and why their grandparents are bathing outside on a hill holding hands in seperate bathtubs.

On second thought though, it appears as if many members of our Democratic caucus would be well-served if "Smiling Bob" drove his racing car to Washington and passed out his Enzyte pills to them because they definately need to grow a set. If not, at least their newfound girth would improve their golf swing.....

Do you really think I'm that stupid?

edgery — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:51:20 GMT

In my email in-box today, was the weekly message from the White House with the video of the President's weekly address. This week, he focused on why I should support the Senate's "health care reform" (i.e., the Insurance Company Revitalization and Stimulus Act of 2009). Without noting that the address was recorded before the Senate bill was finalized, Mr. Obama gave all the now tried-and-true reasons: historic opportunity, better than status quo, yada yada yada.

And here is my reply:

I have just finished reading the Senate Manager's Amendment. I am stunned at the craven bowing to right-wing anti-women demands by those such as Sen. Ben Nelson. And I am equally stunned that this President would suggest that this bill--allowing, nay encouraging states to deny legal medical care-- is anything I should support.
The women of this country have been treated as mere pawns in the negotiations over health care reform. I will not EVER support a bill or a politician that treats my rights to full LEGAL reproductive care with such callous disregard.
The President may think he can accept this language and tell me it's a victory. If he does, he clearly thinks me too stupid to think for myself.
Merry Christmas.

What's yours?

Braley, Michaud want "Buy American" provisions in jobs bill

desmoinesdem — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:46:19 GMT

Populist Caucus Chairman Bruce Braley (IA-01) and House Trade Working Group Chairman Mike Michaud (ME-02) wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer today, urging them to make sure the upcoming jobs bill contains a strong "Buy American" provision.

From a press release Braley's office issued:

"Recently, as America has suffered the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, unemployment has risen and is now around 10 percent," the letter reads. "We believe that the shipment of American jobs overseas is a factor in this rising unemployment. If we are going to pass a strong job creation bill then it only makes sense to include strong Buy American provisions, to further ensure that the jobs created as a result of this legislation are created within the United States.
"We have an obligation to create jobs in America. While some would argue that Buy American is nothing more than a trade protectionist label, it is clear that these provisions would equate to greater investment, and greater job-creation, within the U.S. In addition, Buy American provisions are perfectly legal under current trade agreements and many other nations use similar mechanisms to protect their domestic manufacturers. Therefore, we feel that it is entirely appropriate that this language be included in any upcoming job-creation measure, and we believe that this provision is essential to creating and retaining American jobs.

The stimulus bill Congress approved in February contained "Buy American" language despite a massive corporate lobbying effort.

Speaking of provisions likely to be included in the jobs bill, making homes more energy efficient would produce huge collateral benefits, as A Siegel explains at the Get Energy Smart Now blog. Money that homeowners and business owners save on utility bills is money they can spend on other goods and services.

In his speech today, President Obama also mentioned aid to state and local governments in his speech today. That would help state legislators close gaps in the budgets for fiscal year 2011, which begins on July 1 in most states.

Republicans in Iowa (and presumably elsewhere) keep complaining about Democrats using federal transfers to balance the state budget, but they ignore the reality that deep cuts in state budgets are themselves a drag on the economy. State employee layoffs have a ripple effect in the private sector. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently estimated that without additional federal fiscal relief, "states will have to take steps to eliminate deficits for state fiscal year 2011 that will likely take nearly a full percentage point off the Gross Domestic Product. That, in turn, could cost the economy 900,000 jobs next year."

House Populists pushing Wall Street transaction fee bill

desmoinesdem — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:03:17 GMT

Members of the House Populist Caucus, chaired by Representative Bruce Braley (IA-01), held a press conference on Thursday to endorse a bill that would "assess a small fee on Wall Street day traders to pay down the national deficit and invest in America's middle class families."

Details about the bill are after the jump.
From a press release Braley's office issued on December 3:

"One of the founding principles of the Populist Caucus is to fight for working families by creating and retaining good paying jobs," Braley said. "For the past eight years, our economic policies have put the interests of Wall Street ahead of the interests of Main Street Americans. The reasons we introduced the Wall Street transaction tax today is because we need to get our economy working again for Middle Class families. That's who we're fighting for every day and that is who our federal government should be fighting for."
"Our nation continues to be crippled by a struggling economy which has resulted in an astronomical unemployment rate of 10.2 percent," [Representative Peter] DeFazio [OR-04] said. "The American taxpayers bailed out Wall Street during a crisis brought on by reckless speculation in the financial markets. This legislation will force Wall Street to do their part and put people displaced by that crisis back to work." [...]
The legislation will assess a small securities fee on the following transactions:
· Stock transactions (tax rate will be 1/4 of 1 percent--0.25%),
· Futures contracts to buy or sell a specified commodity of standardized quality at a certain date in the future, at a market determined price (tax rate will be 0.02%),
· Swaps between two firms on certain benefits of one party's financial instrument for those of the other party's financial instrument (tax rate will be 0.02%)
· Credit default swaps where a contract is swapped through a series of payments in exchange for a payoff if a credit instrument (typically a bond or loan) goes into default (fails to pay) (tax rate will be 0.02%),
· And options, which are contracts between a buyer and a seller that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or to sell a particular asset on or before the option's expiration time, at an agreed price (at the rate of the underlying asset).
To ensure the tax is appropriately targeted to speculators and has no impact on the average investor and pension funds, the tax will be refunded for:
1) tax-favored retirement accounts,
2) education savings accounts,
3) health savings accounts,
4) mutual funds and,
5) the first $100,000 of transactions annually that are not already exempted.

Braley spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki told me that as of Friday morning, the bill has 21 co-sponsors, 14 of whom belong to the Populist Caucus.

The bill has at least one champion in the Senate. HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin appeared with Populist Caucus members at yesterday's press conference. I don't know whether any Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee is willing to push for this measure.

I haven't seen any reaction yet from the Obama administration. Supporting this bill should be an easy call, but my hunch is that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and senior presidential adviser Larry Summers will have Wall Street's back on this one. Here's hoping I am wrong about that.