Wednesday, January 31, 2007
What's an Ozone?
In some news that doesn’t surprise anyone, it appears that the Bush administration has been purposely tampering with research on global warming. An article from the NY times details the events fairly well. We should also remember that the Senator in charge of the environment and public works committee in the 109th congress was Republican James Inhofe who famously said global warming is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” Here is the text of a speech he gave on Jan. 4, 2005. After a little digging around I noticed that Inhofes' number one campaign contributor through PAC’s were Energy interests. In fact the Energy lobby has been the biggest PAC contributor to Inhofe since 1996 (they were 3rd place that year). Here is a link that details some of the other problems of misreported and distorted science from the government.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
South Carolina Senator- Will Legislate for Food
Bizarre and out of touch fail to even remotely describe the comments uttered recently by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) during the debate on whether or not the minimum wage should be raised. Senator DeMint said that he doubted whether or not he made minimum wage if you count the hours. Leave it to a reporter to actually do some research and come to a realistic conclusion( ahemmm ugh hmmm Iraq gack ufgh ahem...excuse me).
As it turns out, when you divide a senators annual salary ($165,200) by the total number of hours in one year (8,760) it turns out, surprisingly ;) , that indeed, a United States Senator doing nothing but working, day and night, every day of the year, kind of like a Malaysian 12 year old making clothes for Wal-Mart, makes almost $19 per hour. Minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. When Senator DeMint was informed of the fact that he made over 3 times the minimum wage (if he worked every hour of every day) his reply was about as callous, un-compassionate and ignorant as you'd expect from a corporate shill politician.
"If I didn't work in two places, I'd be rich", said Senator DeMint when a reporter informed him of this basic math function. Perhaps we should all call our legislators and call for a "Leave No Senator Behind Bill"..then not fund it properly. By the way, Members of Congress also receive a cost of living bonus to help pay for a place to live away from their respective home states. The fact that he doesn't consider himself rich while making almost $170 K per year is another story we should hope the good working families of South Carolina figure out and help put an end to the next time DeMint is up for re-election.
The moral of the story is this: Too many Members of Congress are completely out of touch with the day-to-day challenges facing the average American. The litmus test should be this: Any Member of Congress who: (click links below)
1) Claims that inclusion of tax breaks for companies is necessary to pass an increase in the minimum wage.
and/or
2) Votes against a clean minimum wage bill
Does not deserve your vote in 2008. Next up- more crazy comments and weird rationalizations from more Members of Congress.
As it turns out, when you divide a senators annual salary ($165,200) by the total number of hours in one year (8,760) it turns out, surprisingly ;) , that indeed, a United States Senator doing nothing but working, day and night, every day of the year, kind of like a Malaysian 12 year old making clothes for Wal-Mart, makes almost $19 per hour. Minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. When Senator DeMint was informed of the fact that he made over 3 times the minimum wage (if he worked every hour of every day) his reply was about as callous, un-compassionate and ignorant as you'd expect from a corporate shill politician.
"If I didn't work in two places, I'd be rich", said Senator DeMint when a reporter informed him of this basic math function. Perhaps we should all call our legislators and call for a "Leave No Senator Behind Bill"..then not fund it properly. By the way, Members of Congress also receive a cost of living bonus to help pay for a place to live away from their respective home states. The fact that he doesn't consider himself rich while making almost $170 K per year is another story we should hope the good working families of South Carolina figure out and help put an end to the next time DeMint is up for re-election.
The moral of the story is this: Too many Members of Congress are completely out of touch with the day-to-day challenges facing the average American. The litmus test should be this: Any Member of Congress who: (click links below)
1) Claims that inclusion of tax breaks for companies is necessary to pass an increase in the minimum wage.
and/or
2) Votes against a clean minimum wage bill
Does not deserve your vote in 2008. Next up- more crazy comments and weird rationalizations from more Members of Congress.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Running Scared on Trade
President Bush used the word trade just one time during his State of the Union address. What does this mean? When you put all the pieces together the only rational explanation is that he heard the message loud and clear regarding the issue of trade. This doesn't mean that he all of the sudden sides with working men and women- hardly. What it does mean is that he's not willing to use his ever-dwindling political capital on an issue he knows isn't popular with even moderate Republicans, many of whom got pounded by populist Democrats in this past election.
What needs to happen now? Democrats need to be reminded constantly about what happened in this past election. The Iraq issue was huge, no doubt. However, what they need to be reminded of is that the skepticism expressed by voters on the trade policies of the Bush administration, Republican Congressional leaders and "centrist" coalitions like Blue Dogs, New Democrats (like the Clintonians) are for real and will play an even more prominent role in the 08 elections. But, it won't happen magically overnight; it will take all of our efforts to keep reminding Washington that the people did speak in 06 and if those in Washington don't heed their demands- we'll speak again.
What can we do? Do what 29 of the newly elected Democrats did- send a letter. These 29 Democrats wrote to Chairman Rangel (D-NY) of the Ways and Means Committee reminding him of this fact. The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over trade agreements in the House of Representatives while the Senate Finance Committee Chaired by Senator Baucus (D-MT) has jurisdiction on the other side of the dome. Simply click the link on both their names and tell both of these leaders that passing trade agreements without protections for workers and the environment while including egregious rights for multinational corporations to sue any country and take money out of federal coffers is unacceptable and morally reprehensible.
What needs to happen now? Democrats need to be reminded constantly about what happened in this past election. The Iraq issue was huge, no doubt. However, what they need to be reminded of is that the skepticism expressed by voters on the trade policies of the Bush administration, Republican Congressional leaders and "centrist" coalitions like Blue Dogs, New Democrats (like the Clintonians) are for real and will play an even more prominent role in the 08 elections. But, it won't happen magically overnight; it will take all of our efforts to keep reminding Washington that the people did speak in 06 and if those in Washington don't heed their demands- we'll speak again.
What can we do? Do what 29 of the newly elected Democrats did- send a letter. These 29 Democrats wrote to Chairman Rangel (D-NY) of the Ways and Means Committee reminding him of this fact. The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over trade agreements in the House of Representatives while the Senate Finance Committee Chaired by Senator Baucus (D-MT) has jurisdiction on the other side of the dome. Simply click the link on both their names and tell both of these leaders that passing trade agreements without protections for workers and the environment while including egregious rights for multinational corporations to sue any country and take money out of federal coffers is unacceptable and morally reprehensible.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Give 'em hell Chuck!!
I hope everyone saw Chuck Hagel (R-NE) hammer the senate this week. If you didn’t, take a look at the short version here (2min.) of a longer version here (8 min.). I have not been a fan of Sen. Hagel in the past but it’s refreshing to see someone lecture the senate in this manner! I have seen people saying that this is just lip service to jump-start his ’08 presidential bid. Sadly I haven’t heard a democrat be this confrontational towards republicans yet. Lets see if this pushes the ’08 presidential debate to the left as I hope it will.
Leftfielder
Leftfielder
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Employee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act
This piece of legislation is one of the most important issues to working people that will come before congress this year. The Bush administration has stacked the NLRB with anti-union appointments and the working class has shouldered the affect. MissLaura a contributor at Dailykos delivers a broad outlook as to why all progressives should be for this legislation not just union members. She argues that union activists, despite dwindling numbers and record spending by republicans, delivered the 06 elections. Read her well-written post here.
The AFL-CIO has put together a nice piece about this legislation as well; find it here.
There is an estimate that 58 million Americans would join a union if given the choice. Helping workers increase wages, get health care and work in safer environments should be on the agenda of everyone in this country. I have located 2 different pre-written letters to your legislators on this issue please send both if you can.
American rights at work put the first letter together, here it is.
AFL-CIO Working America also has a letter, here it is.
This piece of legislation is one of the most important issues to working people that will come before congress this year. The Bush administration has stacked the NLRB with anti-union appointments and the working class has shouldered the affect. MissLaura a contributor at Dailykos delivers a broad outlook as to why all progressives should be for this legislation not just union members. She argues that union activists, despite dwindling numbers and record spending by republicans, delivered the 06 elections. Read her well-written post here.
The AFL-CIO has put together a nice piece about this legislation as well; find it here.
There is an estimate that 58 million Americans would join a union if given the choice. Helping workers increase wages, get health care and work in safer environments should be on the agenda of everyone in this country. I have located 2 different pre-written letters to your legislators on this issue please send both if you can.
American rights at work put the first letter together, here it is.
AFL-CIO Working America also has a letter, here it is.
First hundred hours
First hundred hours a smashing success!!
After the landslide November elections democrats promised many reforms and made the promise that they would be set in motion quickly. In a stunning development they achieved these landmark reforms in less then the 100 hours they promised!
The reforms included;
Implementing the 9/11 commission recommendations (see the voting results).
Increasing the minimum wage (vote results).
Expanding stem cell research (vote results).
Allow for negotiation of lower prescription drug costs (vote results).
Cutting interest rates on student loans (vote results).
End subsidies for big oil and invest in renewable energy (vote results).
The house also adopted new ethics rules and committed to pay as you go spending.
Compare the first 100 hours of the 110th congress with the entire 109th congress and it looks the American people were right to “throw them bums out!” for more on the achievements of the house, speaker Pelosi has a nice summary on her site.
After the landslide November elections democrats promised many reforms and made the promise that they would be set in motion quickly. In a stunning development they achieved these landmark reforms in less then the 100 hours they promised!
The reforms included;
Implementing the 9/11 commission recommendations (see the voting results).
Increasing the minimum wage (vote results).
Expanding stem cell research (vote results).
Allow for negotiation of lower prescription drug costs (vote results).
Cutting interest rates on student loans (vote results).
End subsidies for big oil and invest in renewable energy (vote results).
The house also adopted new ethics rules and committed to pay as you go spending.
Compare the first 100 hours of the 110th congress with the entire 109th congress and it looks the American people were right to “throw them bums out!” for more on the achievements of the house, speaker Pelosi has a nice summary on her site.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
the 109th is over! YEAH!!
After celebrating the recent elections results and a much-needed rest, it is time to reflect on the year and look forward to the 110th congress.
First things first. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Due to all of your hard work, long hours, and votes the house and senate have changed hands federally and the state senate in Michigan went Dem. as well. The trend continued nationwide.
As for the 109th congress, GOOD RIDDENS!! In what has been called the worst congress ever, the bar for absurd behavior seemed to reach a new low daily. The Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee thinks the Internet is “a series of tubes.” The chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works thinks global warming is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” Here is the text of a speech he gave on Jan. 4, 2005. Congress failed to raise the min. wage yet gave themselves yet another pay raise. After finding rampant abuses of spending and billing abuses from companies (such as Halliburton) in charge of the reconstruction of Iraq, Congress fired the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the lone effective federal watchdog for Iraq spending, effective Oct. 1, 2007. The “bridge to nowhere”, Tom Delay, Jack Abrahamoff, Terry Schaivo, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, Congress raised the debt limit by $800 billion rather than curb spending, they tossed away the right of habeas corpus, Congress eliminated the Perkins college loan program and cut Pell Grants by $4.6 billion, the list is really never ending. Here is a great list of “109 reason to dump the 109th congress”.
After all of that, what are we to expect from the 110th? Well for starters they will actually have to work 5 days a week like the rest of us! Many legislators are very upset by this brutal work schedule. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) actually said, “The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says." Poor jack, read about his response and this new workload here. Most of you also know how I think trade is one of the biggest issues we face in this country, here is a letter you can send congress urging them to create a new model for trade. Rep. Nancy Pelosi is expected to make lobbying and ethics reform the first item on the agenda for the 110th congress here is a letter asking her to make the bill she introduced last year even tougher. Here is another letter asking speaker Pelosi to advance the Employee Free Choice Act, which protects workers rights allowing them to form unions. What we can expect from the 110th congress is what we demand from them! We helped them get elected and will hold them accountable should they not meet their expectations.
Two more things before I wrap up. 16,000 USW workers are on strike at Goodyear, they have been on strike since Oct. 5th. Please send this letter to the CEO of Goodyear demanding that he negotiate with these workers. Lastly, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has 14 days left in office at the helm of the United Nations. Please send this letter to him asking an envoy to examine the Darfur situation.
The Leftfielder
First things first. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Due to all of your hard work, long hours, and votes the house and senate have changed hands federally and the state senate in Michigan went Dem. as well. The trend continued nationwide.
As for the 109th congress, GOOD RIDDENS!! In what has been called the worst congress ever, the bar for absurd behavior seemed to reach a new low daily. The Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee thinks the Internet is “a series of tubes.” The chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works thinks global warming is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” Here is the text of a speech he gave on Jan. 4, 2005. Congress failed to raise the min. wage yet gave themselves yet another pay raise. After finding rampant abuses of spending and billing abuses from companies (such as Halliburton) in charge of the reconstruction of Iraq, Congress fired the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the lone effective federal watchdog for Iraq spending, effective Oct. 1, 2007. The “bridge to nowhere”, Tom Delay, Jack Abrahamoff, Terry Schaivo, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, Congress raised the debt limit by $800 billion rather than curb spending, they tossed away the right of habeas corpus, Congress eliminated the Perkins college loan program and cut Pell Grants by $4.6 billion, the list is really never ending. Here is a great list of “109 reason to dump the 109th congress”.
After all of that, what are we to expect from the 110th? Well for starters they will actually have to work 5 days a week like the rest of us! Many legislators are very upset by this brutal work schedule. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) actually said, “The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says." Poor jack, read about his response and this new workload here. Most of you also know how I think trade is one of the biggest issues we face in this country, here is a letter you can send congress urging them to create a new model for trade. Rep. Nancy Pelosi is expected to make lobbying and ethics reform the first item on the agenda for the 110th congress here is a letter asking her to make the bill she introduced last year even tougher. Here is another letter asking speaker Pelosi to advance the Employee Free Choice Act, which protects workers rights allowing them to form unions. What we can expect from the 110th congress is what we demand from them! We helped them get elected and will hold them accountable should they not meet their expectations.
Two more things before I wrap up. 16,000 USW workers are on strike at Goodyear, they have been on strike since Oct. 5th. Please send this letter to the CEO of Goodyear demanding that he negotiate with these workers. Lastly, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has 14 days left in office at the helm of the United Nations. Please send this letter to him asking an envoy to examine the Darfur situation.
The Leftfielder
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