Bluegrass Politics
Kentucky Educational Television is scrapping its traditional candidate debates this year, in part because incumbent politicians usually refuse to face their challengers on live television before a panel of questioning journalists.
The problem reached its zenith in October 2008 when U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, refused to debate his Democratic opponent.
We all know what happened with that deal, don't we? If not continue reading.
If you're a registered Democrat in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District and you've subscribed to Congressman Ed. Whitfield's news letter don't be surprised if you get a email like the one above unsubscribing you. Furthermore don't be surprised if you subscribe again you will be unsubscribed all over again. Democracy at work?
You know, a while ago I wrote this diary about my Congressman, Exxon Ed Whitfield wanting it both ways. While he voted against the stimulus and Kentucky getting any funds, he wanted to whine about how many funds we were getting.
The folks in Clinton and Middlesboro, Kentucky seem to be experiencing the Mitch McConnell, Ed Whitfield, Hal Rogers and AIG Free Market when it comes to water bills. Well all I can say is this, that's what you voted for and now you're paying the price. Maybe the folks in Clinton and Middlesboro should send Mitch McConnell, Ed Whitfield Hal Rogers and AIG a thank you note.
It is no secret that our nation is mired in a severe healthcare crisis both in costs and in coverage. Republicans argue that the system is fine and oppose any reform short of TORT Reform. This is a national problem and states all over the country would benefit from health reform. I decided to look at some of the ways reforms could help in my home state of Kentucky.
Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell, Geoff Davis, Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield Vote Against Seniors And Military Families.
October 21, 2009 the Senate filibustered (S. 1776). Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning voted against a motion to end the filibuster of (S. 1776), click here to see the Roll Call. This bill would have put an end to the annual cycle of enacting short term measures to stop Medicare and Tricare payment cuts (21% in 2010 and 40% by 2016) caused by the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. (See graph after the hump.) Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning voted to stop this legislation against the wishes of, Norb Ryan, Jr, President of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and Dr. J. James Rohack, President of the American Medical Association. It seems that Mitch Mcconnell and Jim Bunning would be happy to see Medicare and Tricare wither and die on the vine and can't wait to see Medicare and Tricare payments cut 40 percent over the next 6 years under the current system.
Exxon Ed Whitfield has a new video up of him requesting aid for those businesses that have been adversly affected by the lowering of water levels on Lake Cumberland because of the damage to Wolf Creek Dam. Follow after the fold for the vid and some thoughts about it.
Here in Kentucky's First Congressional District we are represented by Exxon Ed Whitfield. It is no secret to many of us here that he has been for sale every since he was elected. The Congressmen voted in on the "Contract with America" pledge to serve two terms is now running for his eighth term. It seems the money rolling in is too much for him to resist.
The "Affordable Health Care For Americans Act" (HR 3962) passes 220-215. 39 Dems voted against it and 1 Republican voted for it. Click here to see individual House floor debate speeches.Update: Nov. 8, 2009 8:14 pm the CSPAN links are all screwed up. Thats why we uploaded the videos to Youtube and I had a tough time finding them. More on this here. The Stupak Amendment passed 240-194 with 64 Democrats voting for the amendment. Republicans voted for the Stupak Amendment and then against "Affordable Health Care For Americans Act" (HR 3962). View House floor debate speeches of Kentucky House members Rep. Brett Guthrie (R) KY 2nd District, Rep. Ed Whitfield (R) KY 1st District, Rep. John A. Yarmuth (D), KY 3rd District and Rep. Geoff Davis (R), KY 4th District below.
Politico Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) is taking the extraordinary step of reading off the number of people he calculates will die as a result of lacking health insurance -- in each district represented by a GOP member of Congress who opposes health care reform.
KY-01 Ed Whitfield: 113 will die each year KY-02 Brett Guthrie: 102 will die each year KY-04 Geoff Davis: 83 will die each year KY-05 Hal Rodgers 130 will die each year Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) Act Blue page. View the entire speech after the hump.
Boy, you can really tell a difference in two different Congressmen from Kentucky. In video captured today Exxon Ed Whitfield offered nothing but the failed arguments from the party of no, the very party that happened to crash our economy. He sure was not saying no to the failed policies of George W. Bush. Follow after the fold to compare him to Congressman John Yarmuth, the brightest star in Kentucky's Congressional delegation...
I hail from the red area of Western Kentucky as many know. This can have many frustrations in itself as we deal with not only Conservatives in our party who consistently vote Republican while registered Democrats, but we also are forced to deal with many in the national party ridiculing our unfunded efforts and writing us off as Democrats. I am sure many Democrats in other parts of the country feel the same way, ignored and powerless.
Although the House and Senate have banned lawmakers from taking money directly from lobbyists and the companies associated with them, they have found a wonderful for them new way to rake in huge lobbyist cash. It is called the leadership PAC and is traditionally used to help less fortunate candidates that the lawmaker may see the need to invest in.
Exxon Ed Whitfield has some nerve. After being a constant rubber-stamp for some of the worst policies ever shoved down the throats of the American people by the worst President in our history, he now seeks to lecture everyone on representing their constituents. Just think about it. Voted in by the failed "Contract with America" that devolved into a "culture of corruption", Ed Whitfield was instrumental in helping to turn a surplus into a huge deficit and massive debt. He rubber-stamped a war without oversight that sent our troops into the wrong country without the proper equipment and training. He voted for banking de-regulation that crashed our economy. He even voted against healthcare for America's children.
The House of Representatives voted today to shift student loans to the government freeing up $80 million dollars for other investments. The Student Loan and Fiscal Responsibility Act now goes to the Senate where most believe it will be enacted and signed by President Obama. Proponents of the bill cited that it would assure that students could still get loans in a tough economy and that it would save money to be re-invested. Republicans touted that it was more big government that would take loans away from their buddies in the credit industry and that it would add to the deficit, ingnoring that it would actually save money.
