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.
When Democrats go to the polls in November to elect members of Congress and the US Senate will there really be any difference between the Democratic and Republican candidates? The answer to that question depends on the candidates and to some extent, where you live.
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.
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.
After investing much money, passion and time to elect leaders to enact a Progressive vision in this country, many of us have felt the bitter chill of disappointment run up our spine. It appears in our run to elect more Democrats, we have put some folks in office who are not Progressive and do not share our values. Now, even with huge majorities in the Congress and a sitting President it seems almost as impossible as it ever was to get a Progressive direction for our country.
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.
Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Jim Bunning, Geoff Davis, Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield opposed the $787 billion stimulus that would fund projects like the battery plant. Well they won and Kentuckians lost. Of course Anne Northup won't be without a high paying government job, Senator Mitch McConnell took care of her. Some folks believe Senator Mitch McConnell traded the Battery plant off to get his pal Anne Northup a plum job on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Thanks Mitch!
One rural Progressive is already fighting hard to unseat a sitting Republican and expand our Congressional majority with a much needed new Progressive. His campaign will be kicking in high gear soon when people start to pay attention to the Congressional races in the 2010 elections.
Oh my how things change when it comes to Health Care Reform. All of the sudden we start hearing words from the Blue Dog Democrats like Revenue Neutral and Deficit Neutral, but in 2008 all of that was cast aside to spend $289 billion for their farmer pals. Remember the "pay as you go" rule being waived to get this bloated $289 billion boondoggle for farmers passed.
Wapedia The House passed the Farm Bill again on May 22, and the Senate shortly thereafter. President Bush again vetoed the measure, but this veto was overridden in both Houses on June 18, so the Farm Bill in its entirety has become law. H.R. 6124 . A similar situation occurred in 2005 with the Deficit Reduction Act , where in the enrolling process certain mistakes were made changing the text of the bill. In that case, the bill was considered to be law even with the mistakes since the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate attested that the language sent to the President was indeed the text that was passed by Congress.
The bill originally caused controversy because the " pay-as-you-go " (Clause 10 of Rule XXI of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives ) rule was waived . That rule prohibits the consideration of bills that increase the deficit in either a six-year period or an eleven-year period.
July 15, 2009 I posted this article, "Support for Public Option Health Care Rally at Congressman Davis' District Office." So I thought what the Hell, I'll drive the 140 miles and try to capture this with video. When I arrived I found 3 people at the Rally, John Waltz, his wife Janie Waltz and Lucy Sterling and I thought to myself this is a Rally? I guess John Waltz saw my frustration and doubt and he said, we're a little short on people today, but there will be plenty of participation. I thought plenty of participation? What in the Hell is this young man talking about? John Waltz then suggested I set my camcorder up to shoot video of him and his wife holding signs and capture all the horns honking in support of a Public Option Health Care Plan. I did what he suggested and much to my amazement the participation began, the folks driving on Buttermilk Pike, in Fort Mitchell, KY. began to honk their horns in approval of a Public Option Health Care Plan and Geoff Davis's offices on both sides of the street were hearing the horns honking. It's been a long time since I've seen a politician actually stand up for what he or she believes in, no matter what the odds, shades of Andrew Horne. John Waltz Act Blue Page. Click here to view his calendar of events. The Video is after the hump.
As if we need to see any more proof of the complete and total failure Republican representation has been for the people of Kentucky in Washington, the numbers just keep rolling out. A study of 9 Kentucky counties, including my own of McCracken have been found to rely heavily on the high-interest "payday loans" to make ends meet.
As if we needed even more evidence of the failure of Kentucky's Congressional delegation which has included such visionless folks such as Mitch McConnell, Jim Bunning, Ed Whitfield, Geoff Davis, and Hal Rogers it has come across the wire. The consequences of their many years of rubber-stamping the failed Bush policies of spend, spend, and dole out Corporate welfare and de-regulation is now being felt.
Like most Kentucky Republican politicians. Geoff Davis has a serious problem with the middle-class. Whether fighting for outsourcing or against workers rights, Geoff Davis has always come down on the side of big-business over the wages and benefits Americans have earned to move into the middle-class. It is no surprise that he has earned a very low report card from those that monitor progress for the middle-class.
When a user at this site wrote this excellent diary about Geoff Davis I learned that Kentucky has a Democrat runing against an incumbent Repubican in Kentucky's Fourth Congresssional District. His name is John Waltz.
(Welcome To Hillbilly Report thanks for the diary - promoted by Hillbilly)
Following the money trail for Congressman Geoff Davis, we can see there is a clear connection with the special projects he has requested this year. This seems to expound on the details just released by Fourth Congressional District candidate John Waltz when he stated, “Countless times these earmarks have a singular goal, which is to line the pockets of politicians and to me that is not good governance of the taxpayer's money.” (http://www.johnwaltzforcongress.com/blog/2009/04/17/sensible-governance-of-taxpayers-money/)
Looking at the Cincinnati Airport project, we can see that the Kenton County Airport Commission's Executive Director Stephen Hatfield Contributed $250.00 to Davis' campaign last year, which might seem like a trivial amount but is the tip of the iceberg.
The Transit Authority of Kentucky is seeking a no-bid contract to procure $1,584,000 for a bus replacement program, which in turn awarded Davis with $7,400 in contributions from Dale Furtwengler who sits on the TANK Executive Committee.
The last contribution for projects comes from Ashland Inc. who is seeking over $6,000,000 in funding requests. The award for Davis in this instance comes to a grand of $8,000 from the Ashland Inc. Political Action Committee for Employees.
Many Kentuckians are tired of business as usual where their politicians are bought and sold to the highest bidder. It appears that Davis feels that his role as Congressman is to seek the greatest number of contributions in exchange for pet projects to keep him in power. It is time we put a leader in Kentucky's Fourth District who is a man of the people for the people and will govern under the auspice of what best serves the people.
