Video Courtesy of the DNC.

St. Louis submitted its bid on 21 May, along with several other cities.  St. Louis is a strong contender for the Convention, given the region’s central location and unique attributes as a family-friendly and diverse city capable of hosting the 50,000 delegates, press and other visitors in 2012.

If successful, St. Louis will enjoy a significant economic benefit from the Convention.  In 2008, the Convention boosted Denver’s regional economy by $266 million.  For comparison, the 2009 MLB All-Star Game boosted the St. Louis economy by some $60 million.

The DNC’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will conduct site visits to each finalist city this summer.

“I’m proud St. Louis got short-listed,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay.  “We demonstrated we are a first-class city capable of holding an event of this magnitude.”

The community can follow the St. Louis bid online and sign up to help at stl2012.org, via Twitter @stldnc2012 and on Facebook at facebook.com/stldnc2012.

June 1, 2010

Leave it up to the right wingers to blame the President for the mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Rather than discussing our country’s long-standing addiction to crude oil and the impact this dependence has had on our ecology, economy and security – the right-wing would have us believe that President Obama started the leak himself. Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck would rather distract with assertions that the President hasn’t responded quickly enough to a catastrophe that they would have people believe the President’s policies fostered.

I, for one have had enough.

Yes the events unfolding in the Gulf are a horrific reminder oils spills of the past. The images of tar balls, crude covered sea fowl and dead fish remind us that we need to change our energy policy – not beat-up on our President. If we insist on placing blame on a President, how about we place blame on the President funded by big oil? You guessed it, George W. Bush and his Halliburton-sponsored sidekick Dick Cheney.

So what really caused the mess in the Gulf? It is our country’s laissez-faire approach to energy policy. A policy that has developed and been fostered by generations of oil men – oil men like George Bush, his father before him and especially their lead oil man, the former CEO of Halliburton – Dick Cheney. After all, it was Bush’s administration that issued waiver after waiver to BP and Halliburton, which allowed them to skirt safety issue and ultimately lead to the oil spill in the Gulf.

We Americans have to wake up. “Drill-baby-drill” is not a sound energy policy, nor is a policy written by big oil lobbyist. We need a policy that focuses on independence from oil and encourages development of renewal energy. American energy policy should provide a cleaner environment, new industries and freedom from the politics of the Middle East (and freedom from the politics dominated by big-oil and their Republican lackeys).

They don’t call it Texas Tea for no reason –It’s the fault of those good ol’ oil boys from Texas that we are witnessing the destruction in the Gulf. But Rush Limbaugh won’t tell you that.

Brian Wahby is Chairman of the St. Louis City Democrats and an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee.

www.TheVeryWorstOfWashington.com

Jefferson City, MO – Days after the Missouri Democratic Party released a trailer previewing the untold stories of Congressman Blunt’s extensive ties to the most corrupt players in Washington, the cutting edge Web site everyone has been waiting for is LIVE.

This blockbuster Web site exposes some of the lesser-known aspects of Congressman Blunt’s record as the ringmaster of Washington.  Together with convicted felon lobbyist Jack Abramoff and indicted former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Congressman Blunt has been at the center of nearly every major political corruption scandal of the last decade.  And while the Web site may look like that of a fictional political thriller, unfortunately for Missourians, every story, connection and character on www.TheVeryWorstOfWashington.com is real.

“For thirteen years, Congressman Blunt has been the glue holding the very worst of Washington together, and with the launch of our new Web site, Congressman Blunt will finally be exposed for what he is: the ultimate insider with a record of waste, corruption and sticking it to the middle class,” said Ryan Hobart, Communications Director for the Missouri Democratic Party.  “With www.TheVeryWorstOfWashington.com Missourians will see that Congressman Blunt has been up to no good all these years in Washington and certainly doesn’t deserve to go to the U.S. Senate.”

The Web site includes these features:

• “Characters”  — the who’s who of Congressman Blunt’s Washington inner circle
• “Episodes” – real stories and examples of what Congressman Blunt and his Washington friends have been up to
• “Hangouts” – real locations of where these Washington insiders conduct business
• “Timeline” – dates and times of what went down
• “Connections” – how the Washington insiders fit together
• “Which Washington Insider Are You? Quiz” – an interactive quiz to take and share

Congressman Blunt’s record of sticking it to the middle class, accepting huge checks from Wall Street bankers, and voting against tax cuts for small businesses speaks for itself.  Now, voters will have a chance to see just how Congressman Blunt spends his time, and with whom he’s spends his time since he’s been in Washington.  This all-too-real story about the Washington Insiders is now available for all Missourians to witness the very worst of Washington with their own eyes.

– 30 –

Washington – Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement in response to Missouri Republican Senate candidate Rep. Roy Blunt’s contention that adults don’t deserve protections from preexisting-condition discrimination because adults with preexisting conditions “have done nothing to take care of themselves”:

“Roy Blunt’s callous assertion that adults with preexisting conditions like cancer, diabetes, congenital heart disease and others do not deserve the right to health insurance because they ‘have done nothing to take care of themselves’ shows an insensitivity to the people of Missouri and America.

“Thanks to Democrats’ hard work to pass health reform, millions of Americans who have been discriminated against by insurance companies because of their preexisting conditions soon will find that they no longer have to fear being denied health insurance.

“Starting this year, health insurance companies will no longer be able to deny insurance to children with preexisting conditions, and the most vulnerable adults with preexisting conditions will be able to enter a high risk pool to obtain insurance. In coming years, adults will no longer be discriminated against through coverage denial because of preexisting conditions. That will be a victory for Missourians and the American people.

“Sadly, if Roy Blunt and his Republican colleagues had their way, health insurance companies would still be able to continue their worst practices and leave millions uninsured due to preexisting conditions – even though many of the conditions are totally beyond the control of the person in need of health care.

“There is no mistaking who Roy Blunt and the Republicans stand with, and it is clearly not the people of Missouri. Fortunately, thanks to health insurance reform, Missourians and millions of other Americans across the country now have greater control over their health insurance decisions and have greater protection against insurance company discrimination.

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Content courtesy of the DNC.

March 30, 2010

Last week President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law.  It took more than a year of bitter debate, but President Obama delivered on his promise to provide healthcare reform during his first term in office.  Just a few short months ago, this bill seemed to be on its last legs, but thanks to the leadership of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid, Democrats have a reason to celebrate.

This historic piece of legislation will help insure and additional 32 million Americans, which represents 95% of the U.S. population, and will also cut the deficit by $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains a number of provisions that will go into effect within the year.  Small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees can immediately receive tax credits covering 35% of their premiums thanks to this bill.  Seniors that fall within the dreaded Medicare Part-D donut hole are now eligible for a $250 rebate for prescription drugs.  Seniors that fall into the donut hole will also receive a 50% discount on brand name prescription drugs beginning in 2011 and this bill will completely eliminate the donut hole by 2020.  This bill will also provide free preventative care for people covered under Medicare and private insurance plans by eliminating co-pays and exempting preventative care visits from deductibles.  In plain English, this means that you can visit your primary care physician regularly, which will allow people to better manage their chronic illness and diagnose health problems early, which saves cost in the long run.

The Insurance companies that have taken advantage of consumers for years will also be held more accountable thanks to this bill.  Insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people’s coverage when they are sick and they will not be able to place lifetime caps on coverage anymore.  Additionally, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.  By 2014, they will not be able to deny adults with pre-existing conditions coverage either.  Also, young adults can now stay on their parents insurance policies until their 26th birthday.  Finally, insurance companies will be required by law to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services rather than hiring more people who sit in offices and create new schemes for insurance companies to avoid paying for medical care.

There are many more great provisions in this bill that I do not have space to discuss, so I would encourage you to visit www.whitehouse.gov to find out how the healthcare reform bill impacts you and your family.  It is critical that we spread the word about all the wonderful provisions in this bill.  Not a single Republican member of congress voted for healthcare reform and they have made a political decision to try to repeal the bill.  We cannot let the “Party of NO” succeed with their efforts to roll back this historic legislation, nor can we let them continue to spread lies about this bill.

In closing, I would like to thank the thousands of St. Louisans that volunteered to help pass this historic legislation.  I know many of you volunteered countless hours fighting for this bill.  Your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.  Also, thank you to Sen. McCaskill and Congressmen Clay and Carnahan for standing with the President and voting for healthcare reform.

Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:

Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.

Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.

But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.

It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.

It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.

And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.

This is what change looks like.

My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.

This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.

Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.

We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we’ve faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right — and actually create the change we believe in.

Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

(Content courtesy of www.barackobama.com)