Government Bytes (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
Thank you to the 183 Republicans and Democrats who voted against H.R. 3961, the so-called “Doc Fix” legislation. As many of you know, we had grave concerns with this legislation. Our concerns did not necessarily stem from the underlying policy, but rather the partisan political tactic being played. H.R. 3961 was an underhanded attempt to deceive taxpayers and artificially deflate the cost...
DownWithTyranny! (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
July 30, 1965, LBJ signs Medicare bill, Truman looks on, Republicans start plotting how to kill the program Yesterday the House voted 243-183 , only one Republican, Michael Burgess (R-TX) joining the Democrats, to pass John Dingell's Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961). The bill will "revise the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment system for determining the annual...
Institutional Financial Derivatives (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler urged Congress to avoid exempting hedge funds and other U.S. companies from new trading, capital and disclosure rules proposed for the $605 trillion over-the-counter derivatives industry. “I do not see public policy reasons to exempt standard derivative transactions from a transparency requirement,” Gensler said today in prepared...
SCSUScholars (Free subscription) | 11/17/2009
The "Blue Dog" Democrats, 44 'fiscally conservative' congresspersons, did not acquit themselves well in this year, says the Heritage Foundation, via Stephen Moore : On three votes that would massively expand the size of government -- the stimulus plan, cap and trade, and health care reform -- Blue Dogs mostly were AWOL. "Of the 52 House Blue Dogs, only four voted against all three,"...
Wild Wisconsin (Free subscription) | 11/16/2009
Note: This article ran as an opinion piece in the Dunn County News. Confused about the healthcare bill? You’re not alone to be sure. Just take a look at some of our local Midwestern representative’s statements and let your head spin. I’m not even talking of the partisan debate. Take three rural Democratic Congressmen: Collin Peterson (D-MN), Jim Oberstar (D-MN), and our own Ron Kind...
Grist Magazine (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
by Tom Laskawy Adding a bit more data to food system reformers’ arguments, a new study led by Germany’s prestigious Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research takes on the question of whether we can “feed the world” while preserving the planet come 2050. Short answer: Yes! Researchers modeled various agricultural styles, growth patterns, and diets. Here’s what they...
MN Progressive Project (Free subscription) | 11/09/2009
The Fix agrees with the assessment I made yesterday : Erik Paulsen's "no" vote on the health care reform bill was a tough one. 2. The five toughest votes, politically, against the bill: Reps. Mike Castle (R-Del.), Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), Leonard Lance (R-N.J.), Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.). Castle is seeking a Senate seat in 2010 in a state where President Obama won...
Open Left (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Last night, 23 Democrats voted against providing 36 million Americans with health insurance while reducing the deficit, but in favor of the Stupak amendment to restrict reproductive rights for low-income women. Those 23 Democrats are : Jason Altmire (PA-4); Bobby Bright (AL-2); John Barrow (GA-12); John Boccieri (OH-16); Dan Boren (OK-2); Ben Chandler (KY-6); Travis Childers (MS-1); Artur Davis (AL-7);...
Marc Ambinder (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
First, some bonuses: = the 39 Democrats who voted against the House bill -- John Adler (NJ) Jason Altmire (PA) Brian Baird (WA) John Barrow (GA) John Boccieri (OH) Dan Boren (OK) Rick Boucher (TX) Allen Boyd (FL) Bobby Bright (AL) Ben Chandler (KY) Travis Childers, Artur Davis (AL)**, Lincoln Davis (TN) Chet Edwards (TX) Bart Gordon (TN) Parker Griffith (AL), Herseth Sandlin (SD) Tim Holden (PA) Larry...
The Liberal Curmudgeon (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
The Republican tally for House votes in favor of health care reform: one. That one affirmative voter is Representative Anh "Joseph" Cao (left) of Louisiana. Explaining his vote, Cao said : “I read the versions of the House bill. I listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding — if they are able to obtain health...
Swing State Project (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
The House passed the healthcare bill late last night, 220-215. Only one Republican, Joseph Cao (LA-02), voted in favor. Here are the Dems who voted no: District Incumbent District Incumbent District Incumbent AL-02 Bobby Bright MN-07 Collin Peterson OH-16 John Boccieri AL-05 Parker Griffith MO-04 Ike Skelton OK-02 Dan Boren AL-07 Artur Davis MS-01 Travis Childers PA-04 Jason Altmire AR-04 Mike Ross...
pas au-delà (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Last night Heath Shuler loudly proclaimed: "I do not want my job next year." Votes to poison bill as alleged compromise and then still votes to kill it. Women's rights set back several decades. Unforgivable : The real traitors tonight (Yes on Stupak, No on HCR) by sharedferret Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 09:22:55 PM PST We had a total of 64 Democrats that voted "Yes" to the Stupak amendment,...
MN Progressive Project (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
I'm never one to give up a chance to slam Third district Congressman Erik Paulsen for a terrible vote. His "no" vote on the HCR bill that passed the House last night is a great example of what Collin Peterson should have done -- take a district who voted for the other party's presidential candidate (Obama won more than 52% in the Third last year) and explain to constituents why you voted...
Curmudgeonly & Skeptical² (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
A Courtesy to our Friends at KOS DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED TO SLAP WOMEN BACK TO THE STONE AGE ( HR # Bill: H R 3962 ) KOS diarist LaFeminista reflects the animus the Soros-left have after the passsage of the Stupak Amendment which, nominally, will keep Obamacare from funding abortion. In truth, a Medicare type supplement insurance will be available. Anyway, to help them out, and make retribution easier,...
MN Progressive Project (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Not unsurprisingly, many Blue Dog Democrats voted against the health care reform bill that passed the House of Representatives last night. Minnesota's Collin Peterson was among them . The normal argument these Representatives use when making votes like these is that they have to demonstrate their centrist credentials to "voters back home" because their districts are so conservative. The subtext,...
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