Hard to Believe?

The Dispatch is reporting that convicted former Republican Congressman and sushi-holic, Bob Ney, is still not in prison. Huh? What is the dear boy doing? If he were any other convicted person, he would already be behind bars. Not only has Ney been able to delay his trip to the big house, his wife is also making some money in the form of campaign salary. Here are some excerpts from the Dispatch:

Former Rep. Bob Ney kept his wife on his congressional campaign payroll through the end of last year, even though he dropped out of the race in early August, a report filed yesterday shows.
Elizabeth Ney was one of several campaign staff members who received paychecks in August, according to a Federal Elections Commission report.
But she was the lone recipient of a campaign salary through the rest of the year, getting about $850 every two weeks. Since the end of August, Mrs. Ney has been paid more than $6,800, according to her husband’s report.
The Heath Republican is about to go to federal prison after being sentenced Jan. 19 to 30 months on corruption charges.
But at least as of Dec. 31, his wife still was on the payroll....

...When she sentenced Ney on Jan. 19, Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle recommended that he serve his sentence in a federal prison in Morgantown, W.Va.
But spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said yesterday that Ney is not yet in the agency’s custody and declined to say when Ney is supposed to report to prison. The bureau normally takes 30 days to process a new prisoner but could take as long as 90 days.

Ney and his wife have continued to profit. Shame.

President Bush Takes More Control

Remember when you were in civics class and you learned about the three equal branches of government? Under President George W. Bush, the Executive Branch has taken more power. The New York Times has an article that explains the new power grab:

President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts. It suggests that the administration still has ways to exert its power after the takeover of Congress by the Democrats....

....The executive order was issued as White House aides were preparing for a battle over the nomination of Susan E. Dudley to be administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget.

President Bush first nominated Ms. Dudley last August. The nomination died in the Senate, under a barrage of criticism from environmental and consumer groups, which said she had been hostile to government regulation. Mr. Bush nominated her again on Jan. 9.

With Democrats in control, the Senate appears unlikely to confirm Ms. Dudley. But under the Constitution, the president could appoint her while the Senate is in recess, allowing her to serve through next year....

Slowly but surely, this administration has taken more power, and in doing so, has ignored the Constitution. Is that an impeachable offense? Isn't this worse than fooling around with an intern?

Strickland's Style

* The working style of the new Ohio Governor, Democrat Ted Strickland, is impressing a lot of Ohioans. The Columbus Dispatch revealed in an article in Sunday's paper that Strickland and his senior staff work in the Statehouse. Taft had worked in one of the large state office buildings and used Statehouse office for only ceremonies.

* Governor Strickland also wants to study the new state minimum wage bill. Here is an excerpt from the Coshocton Tribune:

The decision by lawmakers to exclude farm workers from Ohio's new higher minimum wage dismisses the intent of voters who overwhelmingly approved it, a spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland says.

A farm labor group said it might challenge the legality of legislation passed in December to implement the increase to $6.85 an hour from $5.15. Strickland urged his predecessor, Republican Bob Taft, not to sign the bill authorizing the language passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature.

Strickland, a Democrat, believes the exclusion of farm workers, home-health care workers, amusement park workers and others was unfair and he wants to review the issue, spokesman Keith Dailey said. "He felt they undermined the will of people who passed the minimum-wage amendment," Dailey said.

The constitutional amendment to raise the wage passed with 57 percent of the vote and took effect Jan. 1, but the enabling legislation kicks in at the end of March. Farm workers rallied at the Statehouse on Friday to protest their exclusion.....

Most Ohioans did not know that there were exclusions from the minimum wage bill. The wage increase should cover all workers in Ohio.

Setting An Example

*The Huffington Post indicated that Democratic Senator Tester of Montana would be posting his schedule on his website. (Check out Sen. Jon Tester's schedule here.) He is showing his constituents exactly what he is doing in the U.S. Senate. Wow. Wouldn't you like to see what every elected official has done each day?

*There was a large anti-war protest in Washington, DC today. New York Times:
Tens of thousands of protesters converged on the National Mall on Saturday to oppose President Bush’s plan for a troop increase in Iraq in what organizers hoped would be one of the largest shows of antiwar sentiment in the nation’s capital since the war began.
The event drew demonstrators from across the country, and many said that in addition to taking their discontent to the streets they planned to press members of Congress to oppose the war....
....The protest was largely organized by the group United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of 1,400 local and national organizations. Included in the coalition are the National Organization for Women, United Church of Christ, the American Friends Service Committee, True Majority, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, CodePink, MoveOn.org, and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.....

In my opinion, I think it is time for us to let everyone know that we need our troops home now. How will you demonstrate to your friends and neighbors that you want the troops home now?

Get Something Done!!!

If President Bush wanted my advice (and he doesn't!), I'd tell him to stay in Washington, DC, and get something done on ending the war. Since he isn't listening to me, he is out parading around the country talking about things that people don't want to talk about. Here is an example from the Mercury News:

...Two days after his State of the Union speech, Bush was at St. Luke's East Hospital looking for a political tonic in health care reform, a topic that has re-emerged as one of the nation's hottest domestic priorities....

...First stop on the tour was the emergency room. Looking up, he viewed a flat-screen television monitor filled with bright, blinking lights that displayed the vital signs of patients: blood pressure, heart rate, what kinds of tests have been done on which patient, and their medication.

``Medicine is finally catching up with the rest of America in terms of information technology,'' Bush could be heard telling assembled doctors and nurses at one point.

Escorted by George Pagels, the hospital's chief executive officer, and James Hart, director of emergency services, Bush later visited an intensive-care room featuring a sophisticated, high-resolution camera that allows doctors even in remote locations to keep close watch on patients.

Bush, who donned reading glasses to check out the high-definition picture on a nearby computer screen, noted that doctors can check on patients even through their home computers.

``Pretty fantastic, isn't it,'' he said.....

Imagine you are in the emergency room with a family member fighting for his/her life. The very last thing you want to hear or talk about would be tax breaks and health care reform.

The President's agenda, as presented in the State of the Union speech, is totally worthless. There should be only one thing on his "TO DO LIST" ------ end the war in Iraq. President Bush is like the school kid who keeps delaying doing his homework. It is time to get serious about ending the war. The President needs to do his homework, no matter how painful he thinks it is.

Pryce Votes Against Energy Alternatives Act

Why did Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce vote against the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act? According to the New York Times, Pryce voted against it. Is she just voting the party line? Does she even care what her constituents think?

Those Amazing Republicans Still Haven't Gotten the Message

Republicans are still trying to work less. On a motion to adjourn on Wednesday, January 24th, 2007, 185 Republican Congressional Members voted YES and 226 Democratic Congressional Members voted NO at 1:10PM (Washington Post). Our own Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce voted with the Republican minority. It was 1:10pm on a Wednesday afternoon! Where did the Republicans want to go? Was there a luncheon being given by lobbyists?

Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel had some tough things to say at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday: (http://www.sfgate.com)

"Sure, it's tough. Absolutely. And I think all 100 senators ought to be on the line on this. What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?"

----Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a co-sponsor of the resolution

Why were the other Republicans on the committee against this resolution? Apparently, the Republicans can talk tough, but they don't have backbones to speak up against the war. If a large majority of Americans are against the war and want our troops home, why haven't the Republicans in the Senate gotten the message?

If you have a Republican Senator from your state, call them and ask them what is their exact position on the surge/escalation. Tell them that your future support depends on if they are for or against the surge/escalation. If you live in Ohio, call GOP Sen. Voinovich's office: (202) 224-3353.

Pryce: Tell Your Constituents Where You Stand

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) has not firmly defined her views on President Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq. While running for re-election, Pryce called herself an "independent" in an ad (MSNBC). As a candidate, Pryce could not get enough face time on TV. However, now Pryce is avoiding the people of central Ohio. With more and more of our young men and women dying in Iraq, we need to know if she supports this administration's "surge" policy in Iraq.

Call Pryce's local or DC office (or send an e-mail) and let her know that you----
1. support our troops
2. do not support the surge/escalation
3. want our soldiers and Marines home now.

Columbus:
500 S. Front St. Suite 1130
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 469-5614

Washington DC:
320 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C 20515
(202) 225-2015

Just Released: Ohio's Unemployment Rate for December 2006

The people at the ODJFS have just released the unemployment rates for December 2006. Here some excerpts from ODJFS:

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in December, up from 5.4 percent in November, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 5,100 over the month, from 5,454,500 in November to 5,449,400 in December....

...Among the state's 88 counties, the December 2006 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.4 percent in Delaware County to a high of 9.8 percent in Monroe County. Rates increased in 75 of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio in December was 5.4 percent.

Seven counties had unemployment rates below 4.5 percent in December. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Delaware, were: Holmes, 3.7; Mercer, 3.8; Auglaize and Warren, 4.2; and Geauga and Hancock, 4.4 percent.

Eight counties had unemployment rates above 8.0 percent during December. The counties with the highest rates, other than Monroe, were: Pike, 9.7; Morgan, 9.2; Ottawa, 9.0; Vinton, 8.7; Huron, 8.6; Adams, 8.3; and Meigs, 8.1 percent.....

This is what remains from the Taft administration. It is too early to tell what Governor Ted Strickland can do to change these numbers. However, all Ohioans are hopeful that Governor Strickland can improve the situation in our state.

Shifts

With the Republicans out and the Democrats in power, there have been some major shifts in diversity. In the House of Representatives, under the GOP, the leadership was all white. Now with the Democrats in control, the House leadership and membership resembles the real people of this country.

The St. Petersburg Times has an interesting article which talks about the diversity that Democrats have brought to Washington, DC. Here are some excerpts:
....The November election that put Democrats in charge of Congress for the first time in 12 years marked more than a change in party control. It marked a major change in the diversity of the congressional leadership, especially in the House....
...While their overall numbers increased only slightly this year, women and minorities hold more jobs of real influence in Congress than ever before, placing them in a historic position to affect legislation and guide public policy....
.....Under the Republicans, the five top jobs in the House were held by four white men and a white woman, Deborah Pryce of Ohio.

Under the Democrats, the five top leaders include the first female speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and two black men: Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and his senior chief deputy, John Lewis of Georgia.

Under Republican rule, the chairmen of all 21 House committees were white men.

Under Democratic rule, eight of the 21 chairmen are women or people of color, including Charles Rangel of New York, who runs the House's tax-writing committee; John Conyers of Michigan, Judiciary Committee; and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, who chairs the House Ethics Committee....

Speaking of shifts-----

Republican Sen. Sam Brownback is going to run for President. In my opinion, Brownback's views on women are draconian. Brownback is against women having choices about their bodies. I would not be surprised if he proposed the use of iron chastity belts for women.

Ted Strickland, a Democrat, has been Ohio Governor for two weeks and a letter to the editor in the right wing Columbus Dispatch is already suggesting that he thinks he is above the law. Give me a break! We'll be cleaning up the Republican corruption mess in Ohio for the next three decades and some guy is complaining after two weeks??????!!!!!!!

***This next item has nothing to do with politics----
Lots and lots of unhappy doctors and nurses are talking at a well-known hospital in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It seems that rumors are flying that the hospital may close because the large corporation that owns the hospital is not making enough money. It seems this hospital corporation and the chief administrator do not like taking in the poor and disadvantaged. Doctors, nurses, and staff are very upset about these new policies. Also, nurses and staff members have been forbidden to wear pins that promote cancer awareness. Just prior to the Buckeye national title game, nurses and staff members were told they were not allowed to wear scarlet and gray or Buckeye gear to work. The hospital administrator in charge of all these changes should be ashamed. I thought hospitals were about people caring for people not corporations making profits.

Bob Ney---Going to Prison

It certainly is about time! Republican Bob Ney, former Congress Member for Ohio's 18th district, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. I was disappointed that it was only for 30 months. Ney had asked friends and supporters to write letters on his behalf to the judge. However, the judge was not swayed by the appeals for leniency. Good.

Here are some headlines that refer to Bob Ney's sentencing:
ALASKA REPORT: Republican Crook Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER: No More Perks: Ney Sentence is 30 Months

PRESCOTT DAILY COURIER: Congressman Got What He Deserved

Bob Ney was called a "sushi-holic" by his best pal, Jack Abramoff. I don't think they serve sushi in prison.

For or Against the Surge?

Think Progress has been making a list and checking it twice, to find out which Senators and Members of Congress support Bush's surge (escalation). Think Progress gives the toll-free Capitol switchboard number -- 1-800-614-2803.


Here is part of the list compiled by Think Progress. The list includes the name of the elected official, and if they are for or against Bush's surge/escalation of the war in Iraq.

Boehner, John

R

House

OH-8

Support

Brown, Sherrod

D

Senate

OH

Oppose

Gillmor, Paul E.

R

House

OH-5

Support

Hobson, David

R

House

OH-7

Lean Oppose

Jones, Stephanie Tubbs

D

House

OH-11

Oppose

Kaptur, Marcy

D

House

OH-9

Oppose

Kucinich, Dennis

D

House

OH-10

Oppose

LaTourette, Steven

R

House

OH-14

Oppose

Pryce, Deborah

R

House

OH-15

Refused to Answer

Regula, Ralph

R

House

OH-16

Support

Ryan, Tim

D

House

OH-17

Oppose

Schmidt, Jean

R

House

OH-2

Unknown

Space, Zachary

D

House

OH-18

Oppose

Tiberi, Patrick

R

House

OH-12

Unknown

Voinovich, George

R

Senate

OH

Oppose

Wilson, Charles

D

House

OH-6

Unknown

These people work for us. How can they refuse to answer on where they stand on this important matter?

Familiar Words

Secretary of State Rice and other talking heads representing the administration, are using the same words in talking about Iran that they did in the buildup to the war in Iraq. Hinessight found the story at Sign on San Diego. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Provocative words by President Bush and a fresh American military buildup in the Persian Gulf seem to mark a new focus on Iran that could signal another Cold War or even a deadly confrontation.

As the USS Stennis aircraft carrier began its journey to the Gulf on Tuesday, top administration officials traveling in the region defended the increased U.S. presence there as the only way to impress on Iran that the four-year slog in Iraq has not made America vulnerable....

....Bush authorized U.S. raids against Iranian targets in Iraq several months ago, U.S. officials have said. The U.S. says Iran has been providing bombs and training in how to use them to anti-U.S. forces in Iraq.

“The United States is simply responding to Iranian activities that have been going on for a while now that threaten not just to destabilize the chance for Iraq to proceed to stability but also that endanger our forces,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last week....

Do they think we're stupid? I thought this country was a democracy, not a dictatorship! Will this administration just go to war anywhere and anytime? How does Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) feel about this? Contact her office and tell her you are tired of war.

Pryce and Financial Services Committee

>>> Although it may have been a slow day in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce did not vote on 1/16/07 for Vote 24: H RES 61, Vote 25: H RES 39, Vote 26: H RES 43 (according to The Washington Post).

> Looks like people are still talking about the recent election in Ohio's 15th congressional district. Swing State Project has some observations.

> The people in banking, insurance, and mortgages must be happy that Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce will serve on the House Financial Services Committee. Bank Net has this info about Pryce:

Republicans named five top subcommittee members to the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday.
Rep. Richard Baker (R-La) who has served as a top lawmaker on the panel for years, was passed over for a spot.

Instead, Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) would serve as the top Republican on the subcommittee on capital markets, insurance, and government-sponsored enterprise, which has jurisdiction over matters involving insurance companies and mortgage financiers, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac....

Pryce has done well on the Financial Services Committee in the past. Open Secrets shows that Pryce has really raked in major political donations from businesses/industries that have business in front of this committee. Here are some of her career totals (from Open Secrets):
DEBORAH PRYCE: CAREER PROFILE (SINCE 1989)
Top Industries The top industries supporting Deborah Pryce are:

1	Commercial Banks	$561,461
2	Insurance	$501,868
3	Real Estate	$389,728
4	Lawyers/Law Firms	$357,587
5	Health Professionals	$330,871
6	Securities & Investment	$274,551
7	Pharmaceuticals/Health Products	$230,120
8	Accountants	$196,220
9	Leadership PACs	$189,974
10	Retail Sales	$181,060
11	Food & Beverage	$148,800
12	Home Builders	$137,800
13	Electric Utilities	$130,853
14	Automotive	$123,799
15	General Contractors	$120,700
16	Finance/Credit Companies	$116,130
17	Telephone Utilities	$107,450
18	Hospitals/Nursing Homes	$107,403
19	Air Transport	$98,658
20	Oil & Gas	$97,567

No wonder Pryce supports the rights of businesses over the rights of citizens ---- they contribute more!

Republicans Got Big Money From Drug Companies

Why did 170 Republicans vote against the Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation Act? The answer is simple--- many Republicans received campaign money from pharmaceutical companies/PACs/Lobbyists during the 2006 election. Need evidence? Open Secrets has the list of members of Congress and the amount of money they got. Here are two well-known Ohio Republican Congress members who voted against the Drug Negotiation Act and the money they got from drug companies for the 2006 election cycle:

Deborah Pryce (OH-15) $88,750 .................... John Boehner (OH-8) $59,475

Do you think they care that they voted against seniors? I hope they enjoyed those political contributions.

Peace and War

*Today we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a man of peace who gave his life for the Civil Rights Movement. Check out the Seattle Times for some information about Dr. King.


*Many people are speaking up against the administration's escalation of the war in Iraq. Here are some excerpts from the
Concord Monitor:

...conservative Dems finally jumped the administration's sinking ship. Florida's Bill Nelson said, "I have supported the administration. . . . I cannot continue. . . . I have not been told the truth, over and over again. The American people have not been told the truth."

And the Republicans! It was as if their tongues had been unzipped. Maine's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins expressed strong reservations. Others went further.

Ohio's George Voinovich: "I've gone along with the president on this and I've bought into his dream, and at this stage of the game I just don't think it's going to happen."

Minnesota's Norm Coleman: "A troop surge would put more American troops at risk to address a problem that is not a military problem. . . . It is not a strategy for victory."

Kansas's conservative Sam Brownback: "I do not believe sending more troops to Iraq is the answer. Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution."

Oregon's Gordon Smith had already startled the political world by proclaiming in a Dec. 8 speech on the Senate floor that he was at "the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs, day after day. That is absurd. It may even be criminal."

After Bush's speech, Smith said, "I'm skeptical . . . unless there's some redefinition of victory that I haven't heard yet." Then he called Ted Kennedy's proposed legislation requiring congressional authorization of any war escalation "a good idea."

The most stunning denunciation came from Nebraska's Chuck Hegel, a decorated Vietnam War vet, who called the new direction "a dangerously wrongheaded strategy." Bush's speech, he said, "represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out."

Will these Senators back down if they receive pressure from the White House? If people contact their Senators and Representatives and let them know that Bush's war plans are unacceptable, then perhaps we will have a real change of direction.

At this point, only Senator John McCain and Senator Joe Lieberman are the most vocal supporters of the President's plans for escalation in Iraq. McCain wants to run for President. If McCain is elected President, will that guarantee a continuation of the war and Bush's failed policies in Iraq?

Pryce Votes Against Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) doesn't want to re-negotiate lower drug prices for senior citizens. Pryce and 169 other Republicans voted to let drug companies charge whatever they want for medicines for seniors. Here is the list of those who voted against HR 4 (Washington Post):

Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Rodney Alexander, Michele Bachmann, Spencer Bachus, Richard Baker, J. Barrett, Roscoe Bartlett, Joe Barton, Judith Biggert, Brian Bilbray, Gus Bilirakis, Rob Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Jo Bonner, Mary Bono, John Boozman, Charles Boustany, Kevin Brady, Henry Brown, Ginny Brown-Waite, Michael Burgess, Ken Calvert, Dave Camp, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, Shelley Moore Capito, John Carter, Howard Coble, Tom Cole, Michael Conaway, Ander Crenshaw, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, Geoff Davis, David Davis, Tom Davis, Nathan Deal, Charles Dent, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, John Doolittle, Thelma Drake, David Dreier, John 'Jimmy' Duncan, Vernon Ehlers, Philip English, Terry Everett, Mary Fallin, Tom Feeney, Mike Ferguson, Jeff Flake, Randy Forbes, Jeff Fortenberry, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Elton Gallegly, Scott Garrett, Jim Gerlach, Wayne Gilchrest, Phil Gingrey, Louie Gohmert, Virgil Goode, Kay Granger, Sam Graves, Ralph Hall, Doc Hastings, Robin Hayes, Dean Heller, Jeb Hensarling, Wally Herger, David Hobson, Peter Hoekstra, Kenny Hulshof, Duncan Hunter, Bob Inglis, Darrell Issa, Bobby Jindal, Sam Johnson, Jim Jordan, Ric Keller, Steve King, Peter King, Jack Kingston, John Kline, Joe Knollenberg, Randy Kuhl, Ray LaHood, Doug Lamborn, Tom Latham, Jerry Lewis, Ron Lewis, John Linder, Frank Lucas, Daniel Lungren, Connie Mack, Donald Manzullo, Kenny Marchant, Kevin McCarthy, Michael McCaul, Thad McCotter, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, Buck McKeon, Cathy McMorris, John Mica, Candice Miller, Tim Murphy, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Randy Neugebauer, Devin Nunes, Stevan Pearce, Mike Pence, John Peterson, Chip Pickering, Joe Pitts, Ted Poe, Jon Porter, Tom Price, Deborah Pryce, Adam Putnam, Dennis Rehberg, David Reichert, Thomas Reynolds, Hal Rogers, Mike Rogers, Mike Rogers, Dana Rohrabacher, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Peter Roskam, Edward Royce, Paul Ryan, Bill Sali, Jim Saxton, Jean Schmidt, Jim Sensenbrenner, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Christopher Shays, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Michael Simpson, Adrian Smith, Lamar Smith, Mark Souder, Cliff Stearns, John Sullivan, Tom Tancredo, Lee Terry, Mac Thornberry, Todd Tiahrt, Pat Tiberi, Michael Turner, Fred Upton, Timothy Walberg, Greg Walden, Dave Weldon, Jerry Weller, Lynn Westmoreland, Ed Whitfield, Roger Wicker, Joe Wilson, Heather Wilson, Don Young, Bill Young

Call them and thank them for voting against seniors! Tell them you'll remember them on election day.

Pryce and Iraq

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) has not clearly said that she is against increasing American troops in Iraq. According to WFMJ, Pryce
...says Bush needs to convince her that his plan marks the beginning of the end of the U.S. presence in Iraq....

I would not call Pryce's stance as firm opposition Bush's escalation in Iraq. Pryce is trying to appear as though she is undecided. However, those of us who have followed Pryce's career know that she eventually will follow along with whatever Boehner and the rest of the GOP leadership demand. She is not an independent or free-thinker, but a Republican party loyalist.

If you believe that sending additional troops to Iraq is wrong, contact Republican Rep. Pryce's office at http://www.house.gov/pryce/IMA/write.html

Don't let another day go by without registering your opposition to the war in Iraq. Let Pryce know that you want our troops home now.

Here are some excerpts from an article that I found at ZNet:

...One floor below, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was navigating a swarm of supporters and lobbyists, vying for his attention. Spotting a t-shirted activist, out of place in the crush of suits, the senator hugged her and promised, "We're working to bring them home."

"What happens then?" asked the wife of an Iraq War veteran who has not received treatment for his Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Part of the MFSO contingent, she cried quietly while talking about the recent end of her marriage, one of more than 56,000 Army marriages that have been broken by the war, according to a 2005 Department of Defense report, which doesn't include the Marines, Sailors, or Airmen who have also been affected.

Geoffrey Millard, who joined Iraq Veterans Against the War after serving 13 months in Iraq, said, "I don't think any of the guys in my National Guard unit that went over are married any more." Since the 2003 invasion, divorce rates in the military have skyrocketed, with a 28 percent increase among enlisted, and almost 80 percent among officers, according to MSNBC. Experts estimate that there will be at least 100,000 war-related divorces by the time the war ends. The veterans and military families here today say that, for them, "It never will...."

Did you see those numbers??????

>56,000 Army marriages broken by the war (not including Marines, Sailors, or Airmen)

>Estimates of at least 100,000 war-related divorces by the end of the war

Not only are our service members sacrificing their lives, limbs, and jobs, but they are also losing their spouses and families. Is this part of the sacrifice Bush wants them to make? How much is enough?

Did Your Congress Member Vote Against Raising the Minimum Wage?

Some Republican members of Congress voted against raising the minimum wage. Why? The main reason is that they support the rights of businesses over the rights of the American workers. The Washington Post has the list of the Republicans who voted AGAINST raising the minimum wage. If your rep is on this list, call/e-mail them and give them a piece of your mind.

Todd Akin, Michele Bachmann, Richard Baker, J. Barrett, Roscoe Bartlett, Joe Barton, Brian Bilbray, Rob Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Charles Boustany, Kevin Brady, Henry Brown, Michael Burgess, Dan Burton, Ken Calvert, Dave Camp, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, John Carter, Steve Chabot, Howard Coble, Tom Cole, Michael Conaway, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, David Davis, Tom Davis, Nathan Deal, John Doolittle, Thelma Drake, David Dreier, Mary Fallin, Tom Feeney, Jeff Flake, Jeff Fortenberry, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks, Elton Gallegly, Scott Garrett, Phil Gingrey, Louie Gohmert, Kay Granger, Sam Graves, Ralph Hall, J. Dennis Hastert, Doc Hastings, Dean Heller, Jeb Hensarling, Wally Herger, David Hobson, Peter Hoekstra, Duncan Hunter, Bob Inglis, Darrell Issa, Sam Johnson, Jim Jordan, Steve King, Jack Kingston, John Kline, Doug Lamborn, Jerry Lewis, Ron Lewis, John Linder, Frank Lucas, Daniel Lungren, Connie Mack, Donald Manzullo, Kevin McCarthy, Michael McCaul, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, Buck McKeon, Cathy McMorris, John Mica, Jeff Miller, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Randy Neugebauer, Devin Nunes, Ron Paul, Stevan Pearce, Mike Pence, Chip Pickering, Joe Pitts, Jon Porter, Tom Price, Adam Putnam, George Radanovich, Dennis Rehberg, Thomas Reynolds, Mike Rogers, Dana Rohrabacher, Peter Roskam, Edward Royce, Paul Ryan, Bill Sali, Jim Sensenbrenner, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Bill Shuster, Adrian Smith, Mark Souder, John Sullivan, Tom Tancredo, Lee Terry, Mac Thornberry, Todd Tiahrt, Pat Tiberi, Timothy Walberg, Dave Weldon, Lynn Westmoreland, Roger Wicker, Joe Wilson

Shame on all of them!