As reported in last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, here is how Philadelphia-area members of Congress were recorded on major roll-call votes last week (most of last week's votes had to do with health care, which I realize I've posted on ad nauseum already - the vote to begin debate in the Senate happens tomorrow evening). House Democrats' health bill . Voting 220-215, the House passed a bill (HR 3962)]...
Yesterday something truly startling happened. The American people won and the Establishment lost-- IN CONGRESS. That never happens. Alan Grayson and Ron Paul teamed up and made it happen-- against the wishes of their party leaders and, more important, against the wishes of the big banks that donimate the country and finance the campaigns of most of Congress. (Which probably means the bill-- we'll get...
As you probably know, a group that I have dubbed The Infamous 53 , recently sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing freedom for all Americans to travel to Cuba. Transcripts of the letter were available on the Internet. What was not ready available was the actual names of the 53. An alert reader of Cuba Journal sent to me a PDF file link with the text and the signatures and the names of the 53....
To be kind, Obama's DNC head, Tim Kaine, isn't exactly from the Howard Dean mold and doesn't quite represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. Generally speaking, the outgoing governor of Virginia represents the Establishment or, in Paul Krugman's words about his kind of Democrats, "corporate tools, defending special interests." What he has in common with Dean, though, is that...
Mish's Global Economic Trend Analys (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
It's time to make some phone calls. It will take less than 10 minutes. Here are the Democrats who support the auditing of the fed. Rep. John Adler, NJ: (202) 225-4765 Rep. Travis Childers, MS: (202) 225-4306 Rep. Steve Driehaus, OH: (202) 225-2216 Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, TX: (202) 225-2531 Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, FL: (877) 956-7627 Rep. Dan Maffei, NY: (202) 225-3701 Rep. Brad Miller, NC: (202) 225-3032...
By John Tate A few weeks ago, we sent out an alert that Representative Mel Watt was attempting to water down H.R. 1207 in the House Financial Services Committee. The latest reports we have received have informed us that a vote on the Watt amendment could come tomorrow! There's still time for us to stop this attack on Audit the Fed! Click here to get a full list of Financial Services Committee members,...
Dear C4L Member, A few weeks ago, we sent out an alert that Representative Mel Watt was attempting to water down H.R. 1207 in the House Financial Services Committee. The latest reports we have received have informed us that a vote on the Watt amendment could come tomorrow! There’s still time for us to stop this attack on Audit the Fed! Click here to get a full list of Financial Services Committee...
Blue Jersey: Covering NJ like a rug (Free subscription) | 11/16/2009
Tom Moran has a piece in today's Star Ledger on John Adler and his vote against the healthcare bill. Within the article, he has this quote from Congressman Andrews in response to Adler's arguments that the bill just wasn't good enough to get his vote: Besides, no bill is perfect. Grown-ups understand that politics is the art of the possible. One classic example from history: When Lincoln first freed...
Blue Jersey: Covering NJ like a rug (Free subscription) | 11/15/2009
It was an angry crowd that met Rep. John Adler Saturday at his first Town Hall since he voted to scuttle the public option when the House debated and passed it last weekend. But this time, the crowd was upset because the guy they sent to Congress is standing against the public option. Adler is one of the 39 Democrats voting no, and the only one from New Jersey. Pro-reform advocates from NJ Citizen...
Blue Jersey: Covering NJ like a rug (Free subscription) | 11/15/2009
Next up: How can I help you pollute? Christie's transition team is seeking input from business on regulations , and how they affect their business. Gaudagno will lead a "red tape" task force to review regs and mandates in local communities, a 90-day project to start on the day they're sworn in. Rubber, meet road Christie won by complaining about taxes, but offering no detailed solution....
As reported in last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, here is how Philadelphia-area members of Congress were recorded on major roll-call votes last week (another slow week). House Extended jobless benefits . Voting 403-12, the House sent President Obama a bill (HR 3548) that would provide 20 more weeks of jobless checks for those whose allotments have expired or soon will expire and who live in states...
Blue Jersey: Covering NJ like a rug (Free subscription) | 11/13/2009
We wrote yesterday about how former Eagles lineman Jon Runyan was mulling a challenge to John Adler's seat in Congress. But did he fumble before he even kicks off his campaign by not calling Ocean County GOP boss George Gilmore to say hello first: "I'll wait for Mr. Runyan to make contact and we'll take it from there, but obviously there are a lot of viable candidates out there," said Gilmore....
So Jon Runyan may be getting into politics. According to recent reports, the Republican Party in South Jersey would like the longtime Eagles lineman to run against U.S. Rep. John Adler.
Looking at the Cook Political Report’s latest competitive race chart is in itself informative - the short version is that of the top 108 competitive races, the following ratios apply: Dem GOP Likely D 45 0 Leans D 23 1 Toss-up D 12 0 Toss-up R 0 3 Leans R 1 8 Likely R 0 15 Total 81 27 …but there’s some interesting things that can be seen with a little sorting. Below is a chart of...
We've written a lot about how conservative Democrat Suzanne Kosmas has made a name for herself as always willing to ditch work to go for a nosh with the K Street whores a lobbyist. It hasn't gone unnoticed that this year she took in more from the Insurance Industry CEOs and lobbyists ($55,516) than any other freshman-- of either party -- save one (Jim Himes, who represents the district where they are...