Blog, Elections

Phone Banking for Massachusetts

Comments 18 January 2010

Last night I volunteered at the OFA Missouri office on California Avenue in St. Louis. It had been some time since I had done voter contact and I had forgotten how much fun it can be. Two days away from the special election, I was making calls to Boston, MA asking folks to vote for Martha Coakley for US Senate and to help out her campaign as we enter the final stretch.

When I introduced myself as the party chair from St. Louis, people were very appreciative that I was calling and told me that my call underscored how important the Senate race in MA was to our country.

One voter, Matt, was watching a playoff football game with some friends when I called. I stated why I was calling and he was floored that I would call from St. Louis. I told him that if I could, I’d be in Boston right now knocking on doors for Martha (right after the game). I asked him to be my surrogate instead.

“Matt do us in Missouri a favor – go over to the campaign field office and volunteer for a couple of hours.”

He said, “Grassroots got us here and efforts like yours tonight will help us reshape our nation!”

Matt signed up for a shift in a Boston field office!

Do yourself a favor – help elect a Democrat to Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat by finding an OFA phone bank or go to www.barackobama.com to learn how to help move the President’s agenda forward.

Just like Matt, you can make the difference.

Brian Wahby

Chairman

St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee

Blog, Local, News

DC DOUBLE SPEAK

Comments 12 January 2010

Congressman Blunt Praises Grants to Help Homeless that He Voted Against

For Immediate Release:                         January 12, 2010

Contact:                                                  Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Jefferson City, Mo – In another example of blatant hypocrisy, Congressman Roy Blunt is trying to take credit for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants that will help the homeless population in his district, even though he voted against the funding. [HR 3288, Vote #949, 12/10/09]

On December 10^th, after voting against the bill, Blunt said the funding for this HUD program shouldn’t be spent, saying that it is “good money on a bad fix for what is broken”. [Congressional Press Release, 12/10/09]

One month later, Congressman Blunt’s office sent out another press release in which he said these grants are “needed” and “best used” to help the homeless population in his district. What he neglected to say is he voted against the funding that makes these programs possible. [Congressional Press Release, 1/11/10]

“At least we know Congressman Blunt is consistent on something, and that is his DC double speak,” said Missouri Democratic Party Spokesman Ryan Hobart. “He has tried to have it both ways on numerous issues like H1N1 preparedness funding, Medicare funding and now grants to help the homeless. His DC double speak may work to explain his contradictory positions to Washington insiders, but, in Missouri, actions speak louder than words.”

Despite Congressman Blunt’s vote, approximately $900,000 is going to help homeless shelters and projects in Missouri’s 7^th Congressional district.

Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.

Local, News

A Major Step Towards Health Insurance Reform

Comments 21 December 2009

After this weekend’s developments, it now appears the Senate will have an opportunity to take an up or down vote on the genuine health reform the American people deserve – reform that offers security to those who have health insurance and affordable options for those who don’t.  This is the type of reform that we worked for when we elected Barack Obama President.

Although there is still much work left to do, last night’s vote is major step forward for the American people.  Does the bill do everything that we wanted, no. But last night’s vote is the first major step to reforming our broken system – an effort that progressives have been working toward for nearly a century. Now, we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in America.

As with any piece of legislation, compromise is part of the process.  However, some of the changes that have been made to bill are good additions that will make this historic bill even stronger:

• Between the time the bill passes and the time the insurance exchanges are up and running, insurance companies that try to jack up their rates will be punished.  Insurance companies that hike their prices may be barred from selling plans on the exchange.
• Starting immediately, insurers would not be able to deny children coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Discrimination on the basis of pre-existing conditions for everyone would be banned once the exchanges are open in 2014 – in the meantime, the bill creates a high-risk pool where adults with pre-existing conditions can buy affordable coverage.
• The bill includes explicit language that will protect a patient’s choice of doctors.
• Health insurers would be required to spend more of their revenue on providing you health care (between 80% and 85%) rather than on administrative costs and salaries.
• Small businesses will also receive additional assistance

These protections are in addition to the ones President Obama and Congressional Democrats have been talking about for months including, no longer will insurance companies be able to drop someone’s coverage if they become sick and no longer will anyone be subject to unlimited out of pocket costs. These types of out of pocket expenses are one of the major contributors to personal bankruptcy.

The bill will save families and small businesses money on their premiums, significantly reduce the national deficit, and add years to the life of the Medicare Trust Fund.  And perhaps most importantly, it will make coverage affordable for more than 30 million Americans who currently do not have it.

Are they items that we all would want in the health care reform package that did not make it in the Senate bill – yes, but know that we still have to merge the Senate and House bills in Conference and the final version of the bill is not yet clear.  Things in the bill might improve, or if we are not vigilant, may get worse.  The bottom line is this:  We are standing at the precipice of a historic policy shift in our country; we have move this policy farther in a shorter time than anyone since the 1960’s.  We need to continue to support President Obama, House and Senate leaders as they move toward final passage.  And then we need to stay engaged to make sure we get more Senators and Reps elected in the next cycle to improve on what the President and this Congress will have accomplished.

– Brian Wahby, Chairman

Local, News

Blunt Continues to Go to his Base – Lobbyists and Washington Insiders

Comments 09 December 2009

For Immediate Release:                         December 9, 2009

Contact:                                                Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Congressman Blunt Continues to Go to his Base – Lobbyists and Washington Insiders

Blunt turns to “kingmaker” and “super lobbyist” for insider $$$

Jefferson City, Mo – On Thursday, Congressman Roy Blunt will once again take time to court his loyal base – Washington insiders and corporate special interests.  Blunt is looking to ensure he doesn’t lose his place as the #1 recipient of lobbyist money and will attend a fundraiser hosted by Washington Insiders – Fred “Republican Kingmaker” Malek and Charlie “Super lobbyist” Black. (CQ 12/1/09)

“Congressman Blunt continues business as usual, siding with D.C. insiders and lobbyists in hopes of bolstering his already top lobbyist fund-raising numbers,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Brian Zuzenak. “While Washington power brokers may be pleased with Blunt’s record, a recent poll said 65 percent of Missourians believe he is part of the problem in Washington. In other words, Congressman Blunt’s years of reckless spending and favor-peddling in Washington for insiders like convicted felon Jack Abramoff, Fred Malek, and Charlie Black are catching up to him.”

Who is Fred Malek? For almost forty years, Fred Malek has been intimately involved in national Republican politics. He was a close adviser to President Richard Nixon and served as the Campaign Manager for President George H.W. Bush’s unsuccessful 1992 re-election campaign. He also helped with John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. In 2004, Malek and his investment firm were censured by the SEC for investment fraud and settled the matter by paying a fine of $250,000. (USA Today 10/15/08)

Who is Charlie Black? Charlie Black is a prominent lobbyist and former adviser to John McCain. McCain’s Presidential campaign came under some significant heat for keeping Charlie Black as an advisor because of his record as a hired gun for controversial clients. (Wall Street Journal 5/19/08)  Here is a Moveon.org ad from 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCYmjjxp8I. He is also well-known for saying that a terrorist attack during the 2008 election would have been a “big advantage” for Senator McCain. (New York Times 6/24/08)

Congressman Blunt’s loyalty to lobbyists and the corporate special interests they represent has not gone without reward.  USA Today noted that Congressman Blunt has taken more money from lobbyists than any other candidate in the nation this year. During the first six months of 2009, Blunt took $310,534 from lobbyists, putting him ahead of both the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. (USA Today, 10/4/09) In the last fundraising quarter, Blunt took more money from Political Action Committees (PACS) than any other non-incumbent Senate candidate. According to Dave Catanese of KY3, only three 2010 U.S. Senate candidates took in more PAC cash than Blunt over the last three months – all are incumbents. (KY3 Political Notebook, 10/23/09; FEC.gov)  Congressman Blunt has also taken $718,785 from commercial banks, placing him in the top 10 recipients of big banking money from the U.S. House of Representative and Senate. (Center for Responsive Politics, 11/16/09)

Congressman Roy Blunt faces State Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nominee for US Senate.

Blog

All I want for Christmas is Healthcare Reform

Comments 07 December 2009

Send your Senators and US congressmen a card telling them all you want for Christmas is Healthcare Reform!  This site is a project of the St. Louis City Democratic Party.  All the funds we raise through this site allow us to fund our direct mail program and GOTV efforts for 2010. We have a robust field plan to turn out the Democratic Base in Missouri. Year after year, the City of St. Louis has given Missouri statewide candidates the margin of victory in close elections in this battleground state.

In 2010, Robin Carnahan will need our help to beat Republican Arch-conservative Roy Blunt. Your donation allows us to fight to put another Democrat in the Senate and allows you to tell your Legislators where you stand on Healthcare Reform.

Visit www.unwraphealthcare.org today!

Local, News

FLASHBACK – “There’s Nothing That Happens in Congress That Roy Blunt Isn’t a Major Architect of.”

Comments 30 November 2009

For Immediate Release:                 November 30, 2009

Contact:                                                Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

FLASHBACK – “There’s Nothing That Happens in Congress That Roy Blunt Isn’t a Major Architect of.”

Jefferson City, MO — Seven years ago today, shortly after Roy Blunt’s election as majority whip, George Bush’s political director Ken Mehlman told the Kansas City Star that “there’s nothing that happens in Congress that Roy Blunt isn’t a major architect of.” [Kansas City Star, 11/30/02]

Even way back then, according to the Star, Congressman Roy Blunt had already “mastered the game” of DC power politics by being an “inside player” and “twisting arms to prevent party defections.”

“Congressman Blunt can try to reinvent himself all he wants,” said Brian Zuzenak, “But whether it’s giving special favors to corporate lobbyists or ramming through President Bush’s disastrous economic policies, Missourians can see the terrible results of his record for themselves.”

And unfortunately for Missourians, Mr. Mehlman’s words are all too true today.  Congressman Roy Blunt is still one of the most powerful members of Congress and still must be held responsible for taking our country in the wrong direction.

·         Rampant Culture of Corruption: According to one report, Blunt ‘passionately embraced the corrupted culture of the Washington, DC lobbying world.’  According to the Washington Post, Blunt created a “political machine” that extended “deep into Washington’s K Street lobbying community.” [Washington Post, 5/17/05]

·         More Big Government: Blunt helped pass legislation characterized as the “largest expansion of the welfare state since President Johnson’s Great Society.” [New England Journal of Medicine, 7/23/09]

·         Ballooning Deficits & Reckless Pork Barrel Spending: The Springfield News Leader said Blunt “was one of the leaders in a Republican Congress that allowed earmarks to get out of control during an era of no accountability.” [Springfield News-Leader, 6/16/07]

·         Billions in Bailouts: Blunt later championed Bush’s $700 billion dollar bailout for Wall Street insiders and opposed caps in executive compensation for executives at companies that received bailout money. [HR 1424, Vote #681, 10/3/08; HR 1664, Vote #182, 4/01/09]

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