You can call him Senator Franken
June 30th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaThe Minnesota Supreme Court has declared Al Franken the winner in the 2008 Senatorial race in Minnesota.
Wow. Finally.
Even Wal-Mart gets it
June 30th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaI have not shopped at Wal-Mart in years, my son has never even been in one of their stores. I abhor the way they treat their employees and have made a conscious effort to by American and buy local whenever I can.So imagine my surprise when I can across this little gem today.
Even Wal-Mart gets it.
Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis (r): the Mozart of cluelessness
June 28th, 2009 by MBersinIt’s a quite a distinction to be included on Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” list three times in one week, twice in the number one spot. Cross posted from Show Me Progress. Previous coverage of Missouri State Representative Cynthia “Are there no prisons? Are there no work houses?” Davis (r):
Why Does Cynthia “McCrazy” Davis Want to Raise My Taxes?
Cynthia Davis circling the wagons
Cynthia Davis (r - right wingnuttia): another republican member in the cult of the victim
Olbermann spanks Cynthia Davis
Our friends at Fired Up heard Representative Cynthia Davis in an interview on a KMOX Radio show yesterday and put the audio up on their site.
The transcript:
KMOX: Cynthia, welcome. You, uh, you have ascended to national prominence in the last week or so. Tell the people what’s been going on.
Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis: Well, I, I don’t know how to explain this except that there’s some people on the left who get offended when they hear right ideology expressed and, not to offend anybody, that really grieves me, I’m a nice person. And I love everybody on the left and the right. But, can’t we have an intelligent debate?
KMOX: Just the, uh, other day, well, a couple of times in the last week Keith Olbermann has mentioned your name and we’ve got just a little snippet. Can we play that very quickly, Cynthia?
Representative Davis: If you need to, go ahead.
KMOX: Here’s what Keith Olbermann, that miserable man, had to say.
Audio of Keith Olbermann: …Cynthia Davis who represents the 19th District in Missouri’s State House of Representatives. The gold that is found off the beaten path. Representative Davis provides a few commentaries to a news release about the state’s summer food program which keeps feeding disadvantaged kids even while school is out. In short, Representative Davis does not get it.
She writes, “Who’s buying dinner? Who is getting paid to serve the meal? Churches and other non-profits can do this at no cost to the taxpayer if it is warranted. Bigger governmental programs take away our connectedness to the human family, our brotherhood and our need for one another. Anyone under eighteen can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are sixteen? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: if you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break… [original material cut]
Timeout, here’s the portion of what Keith Olbermann said which was cut in the audio played by KMOX:
“….’It really is all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts.’
One in five kids in Missouri is already motivated by hunger Ms. Davis. And last year, because the meals are offered at churches, the nine and a half million dollars of federal money spent produced three million seven hundred thousands of meals at a cost of about two and a half bucks each.
It is embarrassing enough that Cynthia ‘Let them eat McDonald’s’ Davis is a public servant paid by tax dollars, but she’s also the chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families. It would seem that her advocacy of hunger would disqualify her from that job and that we’d be better off if she was working at a McDonald’s. Although clearly she has used and is using hunger as a positive motivator because she seems to have been starving her brain of the recommended daily dosage of intelligence and humanity and oxygen…”
The KMOX interview transcript continues:
…Missouri State Representative Cynthia “Are there no prisons? Are there no work houses?” Davis, today’s Worst Person in the World…
KMOX: Now Michael, we’ve had in this studio, we’ve had Albert Pujols, the greatest baseball player in America today. We’ve, we’ve talked to Karl Rove. We’ve talked to people with the Obama campaign. We’ve had congressman, U.S. Senators, any manner of people, but we have never had in this studio [laughter] [two voices] the worst person in the world. Cynthia, your reaction to Keith Olbermann.
Representative Davis: Well, I, all I have to say is that doesn’t sound like a very nice thing for him to say. [laugh]
KMOX: Indeed. And you actually put out a newsletter, uh, very recently, where you outlined your response to this in some detail. I thought it was particularly good. Uh, share some of the thoughts that were contained in that newsletter.
Representative Davis: Well, I’m all about strengthening families and empowering parents. And it’s not, the question is not what shall we feed children, it’s who should feed the children and how shall they be fed. So, I mean, I’m all about what we can do to adopt public policies that make sense and that are gonna strengthen the families. And I don’t see that growing government bigger is going to solve this problem.
KMOX: But, Sen…, Representative, you can understand how people would interpret, when you say that hunger would be a good motivator and why are we buying lunches for these people in the summertime? These are people who don’t have access to food normally. You would understand how people might think, hey, that’s a little hypocritical from a person who’s talking about family values.
Representative Davis: You’re wondering how I can understand how somebody on the left who makes his living from mocking Republicans would want to take an opportunity to distort this? And put my comments out of context. Because it, I mean, think about your own life. Uh, were you ever a sixteen year old boy once and did it ever occur to you maybe you’d like to [crosstalk] be employed?
KMOX: In fact, eighteen years ago today [laughter][voice: “Exactly.”] he was a sixteen year old boy.
Representative Davis: And that’s the American wa…, and that, that comment was only made questioning why it goes up to such a high level when people by then ought to start assuming a little bit of personal responsibility. And you know the plight of those in poverty is very tragic and it does behoove us, all of us, everywhere, in every sector to ask what can we do that will strengthen the family? I happen to think that growing government bigger and using poverty as an excuse to grow government bigger and further intrude into families is not the right answer.
KMOX: Well there is Representative Davis…[apparent audio edit]
…KMOX: So we’re visiting with Representative Cynthia Davis. She’s had quite a week in the, uh, national press with Keith Olbermann. So here’s your opportunity, if you had Keith Olbermann sitting here, what would you want to say to him?
Representative Davis: Well, the first thing I would say is, he does not understand who he’s even talking to. Because I am the one who cares about family values and compassion and doing what we need to do to make the community better, not to grow big government. So, I am a mother, of seven children. I know, I’ve lived with poverty, I’ve lived, um, in, through everything we’re talking about. I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve been there, done that. And so I come to this debate from first hand personal experience. And I’m a huge believer in education. And what I’ve done is I actually went to the WIC program last summer and volunteered to teach a cooking class. So that, it’s all about empowering parents. Now maybe Keith Olbermann doesn’t understand what it’s like to be father of seven. Maybe he has never lived with poverty, and maybe he’s never had to deal with some of the stresses that I’ve lived through. But, you know what? He, maybe he should [laugh] do a little research before he opens his mouth.
KMOX: She is the mother of seven. She’s also a four term state representative from St. Charles County, Missouri, in the O’Fallon area. Many of you in our listening audience may very well be represented in Jefferson City by Cynthia Davis. Uh, your term limits, uh, we have an eight year term limit in Missouri, that was passed by the voters back in nineteen ninety-two. Uh, your term limits come to an end, uh, next November of two thousand ten. You can’t run for reelection. Are you, do you have political aspirations beyond your current service?
Representative Davis: Well I, before I was a state representative I was a city alderman. And there in comes some of my champi[on]ing values of, of local government. And so if you combine local plus state it does add up to fifteen years. I’m grateful for every day. I love taking care of people. And it’s a calling. It is take, it is what we have to do to make the community better. And going back to this poverty issue, that’s why I feel so convinced that local government has the answers to our problems, not bigger government.
KMOX: And, uh, so you where a member, you were an alderman in, uh, O’Fallon, you’ve been a state representative. There’s been some talk, uh, I’ve heard out there, that you were looking at perhaps a statewide office. Is that’s something that’s in the offing for Cynthia Davis?
Representative Davis: Well, you never know. All I know is I bought myself a pair of cowboy boots and I’m learning how to say Missour-ah.
KMOX: [laughter] Well [laughter], yeah, Missour-ah and Missouri. Well that’s exactly right. So, mother of seven. How old are your kids.
Representative Davis: Well my oldest is twenty-seven and…KMOX: You gotta be kidding. [laughter from Representative Davis] You’ve got a twenty-seven year old?
Representative Davis: Yes I do and I’ve got, my youngest one is six. He was born my first session. I got to Jefferson City. He is what they call a campaign souvenir. [laughter]
KMOX: Yeah, I think, I think that’s what I was in my house, too. But there was no campaigns going on. [laughter in background] Uh, well, that’s, that’s great and, uh, before you got into politics what did you, did you, did you work, what kind of profession did you have? What, what were you doing then?
Representative Davis: Well my husband and I own Back to Basics Christian bookstore in O’Fallon and we’ve run that for twenty years. And there is where I come up with my sympathy for the entrepreneur, for people in business. And for people who have to eke out a living during a harsh economy, especially when government is considering raising taxes on the business people.
KMOX: And you, I guess, never in your wildest dreams, when you got elected to the Missouri General Assembly in… What’s your district? Seventeen?
Representative Davis: Nineteen.
KMOX: Nineteenth Legislative District. You probably never imagined that your name, twice in one week, would be mentioned on national television on MSNBC by somebody like Keith Olbermann.
Representative Davis: Well I’m proud of the fact that we’re talking about personal responsibility. I’m proud that we’re talking about family values. And I’m proud that we get to talk about limited government. Those are all of our favorite subjects for the Republican Party. And I believe we’re the party that actually has better ideas. I believe we can solve our problems in a local manner and I’m real confident that if we can have a discussion based on logic, rather than sling, slinging insults we will achieve more progress. So, somebody actually called my house yesterday, and talk about how uncivil the, the left can be, he, and my daughter answered the phone and said I was not home. And he said, well, would you give your mom a message for me? Would you tell her, I, I, that, your mom, tell your mother that she’s an idiot. And so my daughter thanked him for his comments and then they said good bye. So, I mean, this is, I don’t like this childishness. I don’t like being mean spirited. I think we can talk about things logically and have a good, rigorous, intelligent debate.
KMOX: Intelligent debate is extremely important. Term limits are in the news of late. Uh, they were passed by the voters in nineteen ninety-two. Over thirty states have adopted term limits. The Missouri Republican Speaker of the House has said recently that he, uh, believes we might want to rethink term limits. You’re a term limited legislator. Do you have thought on term limits? Are you, are you for ‘em. Do you think they ought to be revised? Do you think they ought to be abolished? What’s your feeling about term limits?
Representative Davis: I, if only we had inserted one word, consecutive, I think it could have been more livable because that breaks the power. If you take a, take a term out for two years. Even when I tell people in other states that I’m permanently stricken from ever running for this office again they think that’s a little harsh. Because what happens if you’re good? You, you have to do what you gotta do to try make the world a better place and I’m gonna find another way to make things better wherever I go.
KMOX: Well Michael and I wish you well on that pursuit Cynthia Davis, State Representative Cynthia Davis, though she be stricken from office, she’s still gonna be a resident of our…
“…You’re wondering how I can understand how somebody on the left who makes his living from mocking Republicans would want to take an opportunity to distort this?…” Ah, the republican cult of the victim. Look, Representative Davis, it’s the world your republican party created, the rest of us only live in it.
“…And I’m a huge believer in education….” All together now: what kind of education?
“…Now maybe Keith Olbermann doesn’t understand what it’s like to be father of seven. Maybe he has never lived with poverty, and maybe he’s never had to deal with some of the stresses that I’ve lived through. But, you know what? He, maybe he should [laugh] do a little research before he opens his mouth…” Uh, Mr. Olbermann, I think she just threw down the gauntlet. Your response?
“…Well, you never know. All I know is I bought myself a pair of cowboy boots and I’m learning how to say Missour-ah…” Yep, that’ll go over really well in out state Missouri.
“…He is what they call a campaign souvenir. [laughter]…” Uh, that’s a little more information than I really wanted to know.
“…So, somebody actually called my house yesterday, and talk about how uncivil the, the left can be, he, and my daughter answered the phone and said I was not home. And he said, well, would you give your mom a message for me? Would you tell her, I, I, that, your mom, tell your mother that she’s an idiot…” Uh, did the caller actually identify himself as a foul mouthed vituperative blogger of the left? If not, how do you know he wasn’t a republican?
The interview took place on a show with John Hancock, a former Executive Director of the Missouri republican party, and Michael Kelly, an individual with extensive Democratic Party experience.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: media conference call on health care reform
June 26th, 2009 by MBersinCross posted from Show Me Progress
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius held a conference call on health care reform for regional media early this afternoon. Part of the purpose of the conference call was to promote reports released by HHS on the status quo of health care in each of the fifty states. After her opening remarks Secretary Sebelius took questions from media in on the conference call.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius: Good afternoon everybody. And, um, I appreciate you joining us today. Um, as you know, here in Washington people are working hard to push forward health reform and we know that there’s some urgency about this from citizens across this country.
Um, since two thousand health insurance premiums have doubled and health care premiums are growing three times faster than wages. But unfortunately quality of care is going down as those costs continue to rise. So, even with, for people who have, uh, access to health care, uh, all it takes is a stroke of bad luck to become one of the nearly forty-six million uninsured or the millions who have health care and are having trouble affording it.
Today, uh, at the Department of Health and Human Services we’ve released fifty new reports on the health care status quo in every state around the country. The new reports are available on our web site, www.healthreform.gov. And they pretty clearly outline the challenges that we have. Um, the reports include statistics on the percentage of residents in each state without insurance, the increase in the costs of premiums, and the overall quality for health care in each state. And they use some of the most current data available.
Uh, unfortunately the reports are a clear demonstration that there are problems with health care in every state. Whether they’re rural, urban, East coast, West coast, it really doesn’t matter. The health crisis impacts all of America. The additional reports out today are from our Agency for Health Research and Quality. And frankly states get a pretty mixed review for the quality of care they provide.
Uh, these are more than just numbers and facts, more than statistics on a page. They represent real people and families in states across the country who are struggling. Uh, what we know is every day in America families are being crushed by the high cost of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles, and puts them at risk for possible loss of health insurance as employers struggle to provide adequate health coverage.
So now Americans are demanding reform that protects what works and fixes what’s broken. And in Congress, um, a number of members of the House and Senators from both sides of the aisle are working hard to make reform a reality. We were encouraged that just yesterday a bipartisan group of leading Senators, including the top Democrat and the top Republican on the Finance Committee, Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley, recommitted to working together on health reform this year.
So I’m confident that we are gonna get a bill passed and to the President’s desk. And the statistics that we’re releasing today should help to inform people about the serious challenges that we face and why we can’t wait for reform to happen.Um, again the reports are on our web site healthreform.gov. And they are a state by state look at what’s going on in quality and cost. So with that I’d, I’d be willing to, um, answer some questions. I think we have about…
Media questions:
…Question: Hi Secretary, uh, thank you very much for taking the call. Um, I am wondering what the chance are of getting a, um, public option through this year?
Secretary Sebelius: Well Jenna, as you know the President has made it pretty clear that, um, he actually believes in market strategies and feels very strongly that having a public option compete with private insurers is the best way to have cost containment. Um, I’m pleased that the House bill which has been drafted, and I testified to earlier this week, um, the outlines of the Senate bill from the Health Committee, both have public options. Uh, we haven’t seen the specific language from the Finance bill yet, but I, I think it’s clear that, um, with the bill coming forward the public option is definitely part of the strategy.
…Question: [garbled] Secretary, um, we’re, in Virginia particularly small businesses make up seventy-one per cent. And I’m wondering how the health care plan that’s being developed is going to help smaller businesses and people who work with them in developing a health care option for their employees?
Secretary Sebelius: [garbled] That’s a great question. Um, as you know, not only in Virginia, but in every state across the country small business owners are the majority of employers. And it’s the, um, kind of backbone of our economy. And frankly, in the current system they are the ones offering, I mean, often bearing the brunt of, um, the cost curve. Uh, they get squeezed out of the marketplace more quickly if one or two employees have some kind of pre-existing condition. They pay higher costs because they don’t have the volume to leverage, uh, big discounts. And, um, often they, they don’t get to keep or attract the best employees because employees follow health care. And while over close to sixty per cent of small business owners as recently as five years ago provided coverage, we’re now down to thirty-eight per cent. Um, so it’s, uh, they’re at a competitive disadvantage. So health reform I think offers a lot to small business owners. First of all it kind of pool, in the new health exchange, will give some, uh, affordable options, uh, for small business owners that they don’t have now, gives them choice. The elimination of pre-existing condition will mean that they can actually come into the marketplace without their costs, uh, skyrocketing. All of the proposals, and the President has made it very clear his proposal, um, includes some tax incentives for small business owners who offer insurance coverage. And I think that even if, um, the kind of pay or play employer mandate ends up in either the House or Senate bill, it’s part of the House bill, but there is an exemption, uh, for small businesses. So I think there’s a, there’s a good deal of focus, um, of beneficial outcomes for small business owners. And at the end of the day costs have to go down for everybody, but I think it’s a, it’s a workforce issue that will make them more competitive with their, in this global marketplace.
…Question: In your report [garbled] you document, uh, the number of businesses that are dropping health insurance benefits. Uh, if there’s a public option won’t that cause more businesses to, to drop, uh, offer, offering health insurance benefits and just tell their employees to go the public option?
Secretary Sebelius: Well, Eric, the way that the public option is, is being crafted it really is available for, um, those who do not have coverage right now. And, um, I think there, there is concern about the so called dumping, but, uh, frankly the President has made it pretty clear that he really wants to encourage a system that builds on what we have. That if people have coverage that they like, that’s affordable, a relationship with a doctor that, um, is good for you and your family [garbled] want to keep it. So the, the exchange, the new marketplace is really for, uh, those Americans who have no insurance coverage at all or who are, um, un, underinsured at this point, uh, because of the cost prohibitive nature of the coverage.
…Question: Yes Secretary, is there any form of ranking here? How do we know how our states are comparing to other states, for example, in the number of uninsured, um, the costs of premiums etcetera?
Secretary Sebelius: Um, at this point Mary Joe, there isn’t a, a, you know, comparison. These are really state by state reports. So, there wasn’t an attempt to, um, either on the quality reports or the, uh, cost in coverage side to rank these, uh, in order of one to fifty. Uh, but really give a snapshot for citizens, business owners, policy makers in that state an idea of, of really what’s happening within the borders. Be a good math project for somebody to go through and, you know, calculate this, but, um, that wasn’t part of the, what we do here at the department.
…Question: Madame Secretary, there’s a lot of talk about bipartisanship. I’m just wondering, if the Democrats have the votes to pass what they want, why don’t you just do it? The Republicans have said that they want to kill this project, a lot of them have. Why don’t the Democrats pass what they think is the best proposal and to hell with bipartisan…, bipartisanship?
Secretary Sebelius: Well, I, I, I think, um, while the, the votes may be there because the majority is, is pretty hefty in the House, um, of Democratic support. The reality in the Senate is basically you need sixty votes, uh, in order to move procedurally to a vote of anything, so there’s more of a, a kind of procedural requirement for bipartisanship. But I think at the end of the day health care is probably the most personal issue to every American. It, it really, uh, affects businesses and governments and families. Um, and I would hope, and I think the President is very hopeful and keeps pushing for this, that this, uh, doesn’t break down along partisan lines, but it, it’s an American issue. It’s the one that we really have to figure out a strategy that’s uniquely American. We have a, uh, an insurance system right now that doesn’t look like any other country in the world. We want to build on what we have and fix what’s broken. But, um, I’m still hopeful that, uh, Republicans will be engaged and involved, as they are right now in the Senate Finance Committee. I mean, I think that sets a great example. I’m hopeful we’ll have some House Republicans who end up, uh, becoming part of this solution in moving forward on health reform. This isn’t really a Democratic issue and it shouldn’t be a Democratic bill. It should be a bill that really finds a solution to this challenge for all Americans.
…Question: Yes, Madame Secretary, you spoke about a number of, uh, countries, how we’re different than those, uh, countries. Yet many of these, uh, industrialized countries around the world do better with their health care plans than the United States. Which countries, uh, systems are you specifically looking at in developing a better system for the United States?
Secretary Sebelius: Um, I did not suggest that we were looking to other nations to develop a better system. I said I thought we needed kind of an American solution because our, our health system is different than most countries around the world. I do think we have a lot to learn from other countries about health outcomes and cost effective, uh, strategies that produce better outcomes. So, um, one of the efforts in health reform is really to help promote, incentivize higher quality care for each and every American. It exists in some pockets of the country. Uh, some systems work enormously well, with doctors and hospitals in a collaborative strategy. Others don’t work very well at all. And though we spend twice as much as any nation on Earth, and yet our health outcomes don’t, um, show it, don’t show those results. So I think we, we will continue to learn from what is cost effective and, more importantly, what’s effective for patients in terms of medical strategies and try to use Medicare and the payment system and the incentives we have here in the Department of Health and Human Services to, uh, improve the quality of care for everyone.
…Question: Yes, thank you Madame Secretary. One alternative to the public option that’s been proposed is regional cooperatives. Uh, isn’t that a little bit like putting all the sheep in separate pens to keep them from ganging up on the wolves?
Secretary Sebelius: [laughter] Um, well, I think the, uh, there was a discussion, I think early on in the Senate about, um, actually multiple cooperatives being one alternative, uh, to look at for competition. Uh, my understanding is that recently the, the CBO, the Congressional Budget Office has suggested that they don’t think that’s, um, either a feasible idea or an effective strategy, so I, I think that the conversation going on right now is, is a national, um, option. As you know the President and the administration very strongly support, um, not a cooperative strategy, but a, a true public option that would be a, um, a benefit program run by the government that can compete side by side with private insurers and help hold down costs and offer some choice to consumers.
…Question: Is making it mandatory for all Americans to purchase health insurance being seriously considered? If so, will there be a waiver for those whose religious beliefs preclude them from going to doctors or hospitals, or for individuals who believe in natural or holistic to health and are taking preventative measures such as healthy diet or regular exercise, making them less likely to need medical assistance than someone with risky behaviors?
Secretary Sebelius: Um, the, I, I think there is discussion in both the House and Senate, um, of some kind of an individual mandate. Um, it was part of the Massachusetts strategy when they passed their proposal. I know that there, um, in the House version of the bill is a specific exemption for, um, economic hardship for, uh, the ability of someone to opt out based on, um, the fact that they, whatever the price, they still can’t afford it. I have not seen the specific language, particularly about the religious issue I assume [garbled] Christian Science, Scientists and others who don’t access the traditional health care system. Um, but that’s a very good point. I, I don’t know if that language is in the bill. I, I can take a look at it, but I think that’s one we can share with the committee members….[end]
I love these questions from the media. Maybe the terms of the discussion are changing:
“…The Republicans have said that they want to kill this project, a lot of them have. Why don’t the Democrats pass what they think is the best proposal and to hell with bipartisan…, bipartisanship…?”
“…One alternative to the public option that’s been proposed is regional cooperatives. Uh, isn’t that a little bit like putting all the sheep in separate pens to keep them from ganging up on the wolves…?”
Proof that the Missouri GOP just doesn’t get it.
June 25th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaI have written about the Missouri Grand Obstructionist Party before and Rep. Cynthia Davis here. Allow me to present yet more evidence that the Missouri GOP is out of touch with reality.
From the Missouri House Democrats:
Friends,
For the second time in three days, people from all across the country witnessed just how extreme the Missouri House Republican leadership really is. For the second time in one week, Rep. Cynthia Davis, Chairwoman of the Special Committee on Children and Families, managed to once again be named Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World.”This time she was awarded this distinction for not only defending her statement that child hunger “is a positive motivator” as the basis for her argument against school meals. Now she is offering some insight into her madness saying “Instead of respecting this time honored jurisdiction of the family, the summer feeding program treats families like they do not exist.”
Click here to stand up to Cynthia Davis and the Missouri House Republican leadership.
The summer feeding program Rep. Davis is referring to is all some children have. 1 out of every 5 children in Missouri go hungry. Children are not Democrats or Republicans, but kids, and taking these meals away means more Missouri children will go hungry. This is just plain cruel and wrong.
Click here to take a stand against House Republicans attacks on Missouri kids.
This week House Democratic Leader Paul LeVota demanded Speaker Ron Richard remove Cynthia Davis from her leadership role. Not surprisingly, Speaker Richard and his boss, Majority Leader Steve Tilley, have sat silent.
Help us show Missouri House Republicans you don’t mess with Missouri’s kids.
We need your help to break their silence. Please send a contribution online of $10, $25, $50 or more today, and help the House Democratic Caucus stand up for Missouri’s children. Together let’s send a message to the Republican leadership you don’t mess our kids.As always, too, pass this along to all your friends and ask them to do the same.
Sincerely,
Mike Talboy
Chairman
Check out the Videos:
Like Manna from Heaven….the gift that just keeps on giving
June 23rd, 2009 by Jessica PodholaFrom the New York Times:
New York Times: War Spending Bill May Pit Republican Against Republican
Carl Hulse 6/23/09
Democrats are intent on making House Republicans pay a political price for voting en masse against a major war spending bill last week and they are getting some help from an unlikely source – Senate Republicans.
Democrats say the fact that nearly all Senate Republicans voted for the $106 billion measure that provided money for combat operations while nearly all House Republicans voted against it provides an opening to pit Republicans against one another.
Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, a former House Republican leader who is running for the Senate, was among the first targets this week. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee gleefully circulated a statement put out by Senator Kit Bond, the Republican Mr. Blunt is trying to replace, hailing Mr. Bond’s vote for the bill, which also included $2.2 billion for C-17 aircraft made in St. Louis.
“I promised Missourians that I wouldn’t give up the fight to keep safe their jobs or protect our national security and with these funds for the C-17. I’m making good on that pledge,” said Mr. Bond, who is retiring and has endorsed Mr. Blunt.
Senate Democrats accused Mr. Blunt of putting House party loyalty ahead of American troops as well as Missouri jobs – a charge Mr. Blunt should expect to hear again in 2010.
“If there ever was a time to exercise independent judgment on behalf of Missourians, this would have been it,” Eric Schultz, the spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said.
A campaign aide to Mr. Blunt noted that the congressman voted for the measure when it first cleared the House but, like nearly all of his Republican House colleagues, opposed the final measure because it included loan guarantees for the International Monetary Fund.
“Roy Blunt has been clear in his support for keeping America safe and supporting our military,” said Rich Chrismer of the Blunt campaign. “He voted for a bipartisan bill weeks ago that supported our troops and protected jobs in Missouri. What Roy voted against was bailing out foreign countries through the I.M.F.”
Republicans think their image on national security will protect them despite their vote against the war spending bill. The question for Mr. Blunt and other Republicans in competitive races will be whether their arguments about the foreign aid will insulate them from the charge that they were for the troop spending bill before they were against it.
Just another example of why Roy Blunt has no business being our Senator. The Gop can nominate whom ever they choose, but we don’t have to vote for him.
Like Manna from Heaven…..Roy Blunt on his Health Care “Proposal”
June 18th, 2009 by Jessica Podhola“There’ll be lots of Republican plans. I think that many of our members will want to be part of this plan,” Representative Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican in charge of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group, said upon leaving Wednesday’s press conference. “And there will be Republicans who sponsor this plan and who sponsor other plans that have slightly different ideas than this plan. On health care, we are truly the party that brings the ideas to the table that are much more innovative than the government taking over the health-care system.” Ideas, sure, but details — not so much. (Emphasis mine-jp)
Like Manna from Heaven…Who is funding Roy Blunts candidacy?
June 17th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaI was wondering to myself this morning as I filled up my car at $2.51 a gallon, who big oil and Corporate America is favoring in the Missouri Senate race. I wondered if Congressman Blunt will be as beholden to the interest of Corporate America as a Senator as he has been as a Representative?
From our friends at Fired Up Missouri : Reminder: Oil Executives for Blunt Fundraiser
Update: 6.18
While we are waiting for the numbers from last nights gala, wonder how many of these donors were on the guest list?
Icet for State Auditor
June 15th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaHouse Budget Chairman Allen Icet has declared himself a candidate for State Auditor. Can I be one of the first to say woohoo!! Thank you, this is tremendous news. Now it is looking more and more like a primary for Senate and Auditor on the GOP side.
Interesting isn’t it that Senator Danforth is right in the middle of all of it?
The GOP is clearing the feild in Missouri for Roy Blunt
June 15th, 2009 by Jessica PodholaSenator John Danforth, a widely respected moderate Republican has endorsed a politician for US Senate. The problem I have with this endorsement is two fold actually-Danforth has advocated fiercely for a bridge to post partisan politics. So imagine my surprise, when the Senator endorsed Rep. Blunt over the weekend. Confounding to be sure. I can not imagine a more politically divisive family in Missouri. Second, I can not imagine why a gentleman whose morality is above reproach and a Senator that even I much admired (we will forget the Clarence Thomas fiasco), would choose to endorse a congressman who has spent his political career in very ambigous moral cloud.