Here We Go Again

According to the Washington Post, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) has once again missed votes on a Monday. Last week Pryce missed votes on Monday, May 7th. How can she continue to do this? Should we adjust her pay because she doesn't show up to work on Mondays???? Have Mary Jo Kilroy and Paula Brooks, potential Democratic candidates for Pryce's seat, heard about Pryce's attendance problem????? Not only is Pryce missing important votes, she is disrespecting her constituents and their trust.

Pryce Is Still Not Getting the Message

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) apparently is still not hearing enough from her constituents. Despite winning her last election by a narrow margin, Pryce continues to follow her party leadership in support for the war, taxes, education, funding and social programs. The Republicans continue to try to slow down the votes in the House and use procedural methods to delay votes. Pryce goes along with her Republican leadership in these roadblocks to progress. If you look at her votes as reported in the Washington Post, you'll notice she is definitely doing all she can to march to the beat of the obstructionist, slow-moving, pro-war, Republican leadership (Link).

Pryce needs to get more information from the people of the 15th district. Call her office and let her know you are not at all pleased with her rubber-stamping of the GOP's right wing agenda:
Pryce's office in Columbus (614) 569-5614 and in Washington, DC (202) 225-2015.

Pryce's Votes

The Ohio Farm Bureau and those farmers who live in Ohio's 15th congressional district will be asking themselves why Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce would vote against a bill for agriculture:
Washington Post: Vote 336 HR 2207: Making Supplemental Appropriations for Agricultural and other Emergency Assistance for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2007.
Pryce voted NO (Washington Post vote). However, the bill did pass 302 to 120. Why did Pryce vote against a bill that would help those farmers in her district?

Pryce also voted against Vote 330: HR 2237--- To Provide for the Redeployment of United States Armed Forces and Defense Contractors From Iraq (WP)

Pryce voted against the redeployment of our troops. In summary, Pryce is supporting an unending war in Iraq. Keep that in mind. Even though Pryce once said that ".....the war in Iraq has nothing to do with me..." we have proof that the war does have something to do with her. Pryce wants the war in Iraq to go on, and on.

What is she doing?

FYI from the Washington Post: Deborah Pryce has missed 39 votes (12.7%) during the current Congress.
Many of those absences/missed votes were on Mondays. (Did you ever work with someone who always was absent/missing on a Monday? Wasn't that annoying?)

You are probably wondering what kinds of bills Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) has sponsored so far in the current session of Congress. Here is a list of bill sponsored by Pryce (Library of Congress):

1. H.RES.292 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that schools should celebrate National Garden Month through a curriculum that includes outdoor learning.
Sponsor: Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] (introduced 3/29/2007)
Latest Major Action: 4/25/2007 Passed/agreed to in House.

2. H.R.1553 : To amend the Public Health Service Act to advance medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and families have access to the current treatments and information regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric cancers.
Sponsor: Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] (introduced 3/15/2007)
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

3. H.R.1966 : To fully exempt persons with disabilities from the prohibition against providing section 8 rental assistance to college students.
Sponsor: Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] (introduced 4/19/2007)
Latest Major Action: 4/19/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

In summary, the only action/proposal sponsored by Pryce and passed by the House was actually a Resolution, not a bill.

Shouldn't we be getting someone who will work a little harder for us here in central Ohio?

Another Republican Going to Prison

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation was really hit hard with scandals under the Taft administration. Now there is news that another person associated with the former Republican state administration is going to prison.

13ABC.COM
The former chief financial officer of the scandal-ridden Bureau of Workers' Compensation was sentenced Wednesday to five years and four months in prison for his role in an investment scandal that was blamed in part for the GOP's political losses in last November's election.

Terrence Gasper, 60, pleaded guilty last June to accepting bribes in exchange for doling out agency investment business. He could have been sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison but got less in exchange for testifying against others involved in the scandal....

....Gasper was fined $60,405, the value of his stays at a Florida condominium and other bribes he received in exchange for providing agency business....

....Others have pleaded guilty in the investment scandal, including Clarke Blizzard, an investment marketer who admitted to conspiring to bribe Gasper. He was sentenced last week to three years and one month in prison.

More than $300 million in losses were reported at the bureau, and the investigation reached all the way to former Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest to charges that he failed to report golf outings and other gifts on his disclosure forms. Taft was fined $4,000.

A state audit released in March cited mismanagement and a lack of oversight as the keys to the scandal at the agency. The report by Auditor Mary Taylor's office also found during the review of operations for 2005 and 2006 that some key financial documents had been destroyed.

I'm sure I speak for many Ohioans when I say that we'll be paying for the losses, screw ups, and scandals from the last Republican administration for a long, long time.

Once Again, Deborah Pryce Not Voting on A Monday

There is a song from the movie, Zorba the Greek, called "Never On A Sunday." I'd like to take some liberties with the title of the song and use it to refer to our Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15). Pryce's song would be called "Almost Never On A Monday."

Once again, Pryce missed votes on a Monday. Specifically, she did not vote on Monday, May 7th, 2007 when the House of Representatives was in session. The Washington Post has the details:

5/7/07	Vote 304: H RES 371: In Observance of National Physical Education and Sports Week	Not Voting
5/7/07	Vote 303: H R 1025: Lower Republican River Basin Study Act	Not Voting
5/7/07	Vote 302: H R 407: Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area Study Act	Not Voting

Why does Pryce continue to miss the Monday sessions? Would she rather not have the job as a Member of Congress? Has Pryce just stopped caring?

Pryce and Republicans Are Worried

It appears that the Ohio Republicans in both the Senate and the House are hoping for a miracle in Iraq. GOPers want and need Bush's Iraq "surge" to be a success. However, the Republicans are getting a little nervous because of the decreasing lack of support from their constituents and the failures of Bush's previous Iraq strategies. The Columbus Dispatch has an article about the worried Republicans:

Personifying the political peril of the Iraq war, U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce desperately wants some good news to carry into her 2008 re-election campaign, because she, like her constituents, can't tolerate the status quo.

"The patience of Americans is wearing very thin," said the Upper Arlington Republican, who, until last year, was perennially safe in the 15th District seat she has held since 1993.....

....All 11 Republicans in Ohio's 18-member delegation last week voted to sustain Bush's veto of a $124 billion bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill included an Oct. 1 deadline to begin bringing troops home from Iraq....

....Pryce, who narrowly won re-election last year and who went from the No. 4 ranking leader in the Republican majority to a minority member of the House, again will be a national target for Democrats in 2008....

We've heard the same mantra from this administration and its GOP rubber-stamping, war-hawks: "stay the course"---"making progress"----"progress is just around the corner"---"we're moving forward"---blah, blah, blah. However, this time the Republicans are looking at the election next year with great apprehension. Will they change their support for Bush's very unpopular war? If they change their opinions, will it be too late to win back voters?

To Get Out of Iraq, Elect Democrats

It appears that the Republicans are willing to continue to support President Bush's failed Iraq policy forever. GOP lawmakers won't abandon Bush because they don't want to create an image that they are not supporting their Republican President. When the Republicans controlled the House and the Senate, they pushed through legislation simply because Bush wanted it. There was no oversight and no questions were asked. Now our country is paying the price for this unnecessary war with almost 4,000 dead American military, 30,000 soldiers and Marines wounded/maimed/psychologically damaged, and billions and billions of dollars of debt that generations of Americans will be paying off.

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) once said that Iraq had nothing to do with her, but she is wrong. The Iraq war and its failures have everything to do with Deborah Pryce, John Boehner, Pat Roberts, John McCain, and every single Republican in Washington, DC. They enabled, assisted, and worked with this administration to provide smooth sailing for this Iraq War.

There is only one way out of Iraq: Vote for Democrats for President, for the Senate, and the House of Representatives. McCain, Giuliani, and the other GOP presidential candidates want to keep the status quo in Iraq. It is time to say, "Enough."

Together we must declare, "For real change, to bring the troops home, and end our participation in the Iraq Civil War, vote Democratic."

Jean Schmidt in Big Trouble

Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH-2) is in trouble. It appears that some in the Ohio GOP are falling out of love with the loud-mouthed, trash-talking congresswoman. Democrats have also zeroed in on her district as a possible seat gain. The Cincinnati Post has some details:

...Mean Jean, as she's known to those who hate her, holds a special place on the Democrats' hit list for 2008. Her tendency to say anything, no matter how inflammatory or off the wall, her lackluster showing in last November's elections and her less-than-stellar fund-raising have convinced Democrats that next year they will send her home for good....
....Even Republicans think Schmidt is in trouble. Recently disclosed documents show that White House political guru Karl Rove has put the Miami Township congresswoman on a list of the most endangered House Republicans.

Republicans are so worried that they could lose Schmidt's seat that there's talk she might be challenged by someone in her own party....

Wow! Of course there is an even greater possibility of a Democrat winning since we have Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner who has made huge efforts around the state to clean out the Republican dominance of the various boards of elections all over the state. Without the "special counting" strategies used by the Ohio GOP, the next general election might actually be fair and honest! Wouldn't that be great?????

By the way, have the people of Ohio's 2nd congressional district gotten that nuclear waste dump Schmidt wanted? Just asking.

No More Freebies for State Employees

>>> Under the Republican Taft administration, the state wasted a lot of money (and I'm not even talking about the Coingate scandal and the money lost at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation!) However, the old days of the state funded meals for executives, managers, and some employees in the Ohio government are gone.
Dispatch:
.....Strickland issued an executive order yesterday saying state money can't be used for food expenses at meetings, seminars or conferences hosted by state agencies, boards and commissions. There are only a few exceptions.

And even for the exceptions, the per-person limits are $6 for breakfast, $9 for lunch and $12 for dinner.

In his order setting the new policy, the governor urged state workers and volunteers to consider alternatives such as packing food, buying their meals on a break, holding potlucks or scheduling meetings during non-meal times....

....In March, the governor froze state spending on food and ordered a review after learning that $3.9 million had been spent on meals, refreshments, paper products and other supplies in the 2006 fiscal year and part of fiscal 2007.

Records show that nearly $8.2 million has been spent statewide on food since July 1, 2003, including $1,042 for an October 2005 meeting of the Ohio Board of Regents at Handke's Cuisine in the Brewery District. The meeting involved $30 fillets and a $129 tip.....

It looks like the Republicans were living high on with hog under Taft with taxpayer money.

>> What is this??? The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Syria's Walid Moallem met in Egypt????? I wonder who may have laid the groundwork for this? Funny, I didn't hear the administration complain or scream about this meeting like they did when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her bi-partisan group visited Syria.

Here is an excerpt from Spiegel Online:

Thursday brought the first high-level contact between the United States and Syria in two years. Condoleezza Rice and her Syrian counterpart discussed the Iraq crisis and exchanged frank words as Baghdad discussed debt relief, ties with neighboring states and solutions to its imploding security situation.....

Thoughts on the Debate

**It appears that Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) isn't worried about losing an election because of her position on the Iraq war. New York Times:
...Rep. Deborah Pryce of Ohio, a moderate who was chairwoman of the Republican Conference for four years and prevailed in a tough re-election race last year, said GOP lawmakers have little to fear.

“The country is pretty 50-50. I don’t think anybody is going to win this,” she said. “Time may change that, but right now I don’t see any consequences.”

Being against the war isn't just the idea of one political party. It is a belief that is held by many Americans.

**I saw about 30 minutes of the GOP presidential debate on MSNBC and I can describe it in one word.....yawn!

How old is McCain---90 or 91? He seems very old.

Tancredo--- We already have a president who has difficulty speaking, we don't need another.

Duncan Hunter---Give me a break!

Giuliani----He had a squirmy answer to the question about his relationship with the Black community while he was mayor.

Huckabee- He scares me.

Tommy Thompson--Really?

Mitt--There is just not enough substance.

Brownback--He really, really, really scares me! He is so far to the right, he'd fall off the planet.

On the whole, I thought it was about as exciting as watching grass grow.

Deborah Pryce: Bush's Iraq Cheerleader

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) voted against overriding the President's veto of the Iraq appropriations bill. Pryce just wants to continue the war and support this President's failed policy in Iraq. Pryce doesn't seem to be dealing with the reality of the death and destruction of the Iraq War.

ICasualties:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD:	3351
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation:	4
Total	3355

"What's happening in Iraq is not a direct reflection on me."
-Rep. Deborah Pryce on Iraq, (CNN, 11/2/06)

"I didn't see any chaos. Everything seemed pretty normal"
- Rep. Deborah Pryce on Iraq, (Columbus Dispatch, 10/24/03)

“Colleagues of ours who have been there talk of wheat fields and oil fields and cotton fields. This is progress. It is a beautiful picture of what comes of our noble pursuit in the fight for freedom and the war against terror”
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Columbus Dispatch, 10/16/03)

“We are close. Iraq is experiencing the first fruits of freedom and now they must be completely transitioned into a state of stability. So far, the coalition provisional authority has made significant progress on infrastructure improvements and governmental restructuring. All of Iraq’s hospitals are now fully functional. Schools are opening and running”
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Congressional Record, 10/16/03)

"I'm really in awe as to what has been accomplished here...There is tremendous progress...Americans should be encouraged by the fact that this country is going to turn around"
-Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Columbus Dispatch, 10/24/03)

“We are celebrating today...what has been accomplished by our Armed Forces, by the will of this administration… We should be very happy today.”
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Congressional Record, 3/17/04)

“The Iraqi people are beginning new lives of liberty and freedom”
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Congressional Record, 5/6/04)

“There is good news happening. I have learned of a lot of progress from the women I met over there. But the good things, the hospitals and immunization programs and schools open and all that, just goes so unsung"
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Columbus Dispatch, 9/26/04)

"Iraq is now a beacon of freedom."
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Columbus Dispatch, 6/28/05)

The people of Iraq "are liberated and they are happy in their freedom"
- Rep. Deborah Pryce, (Columbus Dispatch, 10/13/06)

Call Pryce's office and let her know you do not support this failed policy in Iraq and that you want the troops home:

(614) 469-5614 or (202) 225-2015

Bush Vetoes Bill For Troops

President Bush vetoed the bill that would have given funds for the troops. Even though Bush and his administration want to keep the war in Iraq going until the next President takes over on January 20, 2009, the American people want an end to the war. Bush must be living in a bubble because he is unwilling or unable to heed the wishes of 70% of Americans who want the troops home NOW.

Has anyone else noticed that Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) seems to be out of the public eye? We don't see her being interviewed, giving press conferences, or sponsoring bills that bring employment or economic development to her district. What the hell is she doing? She just continues to be Bush's rubber stamp in Congress. If Pryce would have lost the election last November, we would have seen a real difference in our district. Mary Jo Kilroy would not have sat on the sidelines. Kilroy would be in there writing and sponsoring bills, and making a difference for us. All we have today with Pryce in office is a seat-warmer. Pryce is just putting in time to build her pension.

The Today Show has been doing the "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" all week. The people of the 15th district should ask, "Where in the world is Deborah Pryce?"

Note: Do you remember when Columbus, Ohio had a progressive radio station?
That changed in January 2007 when WTPG (1230 AM) went to loopy conservative radio. The latest ratings are out on radio and they look horrible for the newly-named WYTS (conservative 1230).
Radio and Records:

WYTS Ratings:
Winter '07, p2= 0.5

How many people are listening to this conservative radio station in Columbus---- 2 or 3 people?????? They must be losing big money since they changed their format away from Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz, and Air America.

Did you know.....

.....that talk show host, Stephanie Miller, has been a fill-in on MSNBC-TV in the morning in the former Imus time slot? Miller, who has a very popular progressive radio show, uses humor in between her political jabs.

.....Ohio House Speaker Jon "build more roads in my district" Husted and Ohio Senate President Bill Harris are wasting taxpayers' money by suing Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. (see the Times Recorder)

.....one hundred and four (104) Americans were killed in Iraq in the month of April. (see ICasualties) While Bush refuses to deal with timetables, Americans in Iraq continue to be killed for his failed Iraq war.

....four years ago today, President George W. Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. Exactly what was accomplished?

Big Trouble Ahead for Republicans????

Update: This morning, on a heavily traveled road in the north end of Columbus, I saw something left by a highway blogger----
The war is a lie
Impeach

Robert Novak in the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote the following:
.....The incumbent Republican House members who won by less than 2 percent of the vote in 2006 and are targeted for 2008 include Representatives Heather Wilson of New Mexico; Deborah Pryce of Ohio; Mike Ferguson of N.J.; Jon Porter of Nevada; Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, and Jean Schmidt of Ohio.....

-Wilson's name was mentioned in the recent scandal involving the firing of the U.S. Attorneys. (Wash. Post)

-Ferguson, according to the NY Times, won by just 1.4% and the DCCC has targeted New Jersey's 7th district.

-Porter voted against timetables for the troop withdrawal from Iraq.

-Jim Gerlach still has not returned the money he got from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC.

-Jean Schmidt is falling behind in her own fundraising (Politico) and people in her district are getting frustrated with her unwavering support of Bush's Iraq war.

-And our own Deborah Pryce who continues to support Bush's failed Iraq war strategy. Pryce, no longer a congressional leader, has pretty much lost the power to deliver jobs and economic development for Ohio's 15th district. Anyway, she has never delivered anything to this district except more Wal-marts.

Perhaps with Jennifer Brunner's help, Ohio may have free, legitimate, and honest elections in the near future.

Gun Law Not Enforced by Taft and Petro

Today it was revealed that the administration of former Gov. Bob Taft and former Attorney General Jim Petro had failed to fully protect the people of Ohio. Toledo Blade:
Ohio has not been conducting mental health background checks as required under its concealed carry law and has not supplied the same information to the federal government for gun purchase checks, Attorney General Marc Dann revealed this morning.

A rapid check of the state’s database in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings two weeks ago showed that two people in Lucas County had been issued permits to carry hidden handguns who should not have been under the law. Two others in Lorain and Summit counties held permits before being adjudicated mentally ill and should have lost those permits as a result.

The state does not know how many people may have been allowed to illegally purchase firearms because Ohio has failed to forward the same information to the FBI for entry into the database it uses for background checks.

"I am absolutely livid," said Mr. Dann, who took office in January. He characterized the problem as "serious and inexcusable" and said he was investigating to see who dropped the ball that Ohio’s 2003 law authorizing law-abiding citizens to carry hidden handguns put into play.

He said his Republican predecessor, Jim Petro, indicated he didn’t realize that the mandatory checks weren’t being done.......

He didn't realize the checks weren't being done?????? In other words, he didn't do them. Not only have the Ohio Republicans participated in unethical activities while in office, let a coin dealer invest funds designated for injured workers, awarded state contracts to political contributors, chased businesses out of the state, but they also did not perform mental health checks on those applying for gun ownership. They were not doing their jobs! Incredible!

Democratic Debate

Last night I watched the Democratic debate that was featured on MSNBC. As I watched, I realized that the candidates for President were all extremely well-informed about the topics presented to them. Those I felt did especially well were Sen. Obama, Sen. Clinton, Gov. Richardson, and Sen. Edwards. I feel that if anyone of these would win the nomination that they could win the election. If you go to the MSNBC website, you can watch the entire debate online.

Pryce Votes To Continue Iraq War

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce was among those Republicans who voted against HR 1591, Roll Call Vote 265 (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll265.xml).

NY Times:
The House on Wednesday narrowly approved a $124 billion war spending bill that would require American troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq by Oct. 1, setting the stage for the first veto fight between President Bush and majority Democrats.....
.....“This bill is a statement that Congress will no longer fund the war as it exists today,” said Representative Louise Slaughter, the New York Democrat who is chairwoman of the Rules Committee, as she opened the debate...

While Pryce voted against fixing a timetable to end the war, more Americans were killed in Iraq. ICasualties has the following fatalities from Iraq:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD:	3324
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation:	10
Total	3334

Rudy Doesn't Want to Discuss Iraq

How does Rudy Giuliani think that he'll be elected president even though he won't discuss Iraq? From the Huffington Post:
Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday he couldn't evaluate whether President Bush's 10-week-old troop increase in Iraq was working.

"I don't know the answer to that," the former New York City mayor told reporters after speaking with a group of business leaders in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

Giuliani did, however, have an opinion on what he said is necessary for victory in Iraq _ an emphasis on helping Iraqis rebuild their country.....

It doesn't appear that Rudy has enough information about Iraq. What has he been studying? Is he ignorant about the entire war? By the way, hasn't Rudy heard that our country has spent billions and billions of dollars already rebuilding Iraq? Does he want us to spend more?

Debbie Doesn't Like Mondays

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) did not vote on 3 bills before the House of Representatives on Monday, April 23rd. According to the Washington Post, Pryce did not vote on Monday on Vote 245, Vote 246, and Vote 247. Does this mean she was not at her office in the House of Representatives? Her job is to represent the people of the 15th congressional district and the way she does her job is to vote.

Looking back at Pryce's voting record, Pryce also missed votes on:

Monday, March 19, 2007 (Washington Post: Vote 157, Vote 158, and Vote 159),
Monday, March 12th, 2007 (Washington Post: Vote 136, Vote 137, and Vote 138),
Monday, February 5th, 2007 (Washington Post: Vote 74, Vote 74)
(*Note: Pryce missed the whole week of votes 2/5/07-2/8/07: Votes 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92),
Monday, January 22, 2007 (Washington Post: Vote 45, Vote 46).

The next time Pryce is in a forum in which citizens can ask questions, someone should ask her why she continues to miss her votes on Mondays. If you were an employer, and one of your employees continued to miss work on Mondays, you'd fire that person. If you were a teacher, and a student missed school on Mondays, you'd make a phone call to his/her parents, and demand answers about the absences.
It is time for Pryce's constituents to take her to task for these missed votes.