Random Thoughts and Opinions

- Isn't it wonderful that during a week when an estimated 102,000 Americans lost their jobs our new Congressman, Chris Lee, decides to play politics. Lee was part of the 100% "No" vote cast by the Republicans in Congress on the Stimulus Package. Carrying on the disgraceful tradition of his predecessor, Tom Reynolds, Lee chose to side with the right-wing leaders of his party instead of his constituents.

- OK, credit where credit is due, Lee did get it right on SCHIP, the bill re-authorizing and expanding the Act that gives healthcare coverage to children in need. Lee was one of 40 Republicans joining Democrats to pass this bill. Reynolds almost certainly would have voted "No" as he had in the past.

- I like Tom Daschle, always have. But he needs to go away now. There is no excuse for making a "mistake", failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and then not revealing this "mistake" during his vetting for HHS Secretary. Time for Obama to turn the page and find a new nominee. Howard Dean anyone?

- In his Inaugural address, President Obama spoke of a "new era of responsibility", something which I heartily endorse. How about we start with the digital TV conversion? We've known for at least two years - maybe more - that the day of DTV conversion was coming. If someone wasn't responsible enough to find time during those two years to get themselves either a digital capable TV or a converter box, why should we worry about them? I firmly believe that we should do everything we can to help the oppressed, the downtrodden and the less fortunate. But I draw the line at the stupid and the lazy. And if you've ignored the repeated warnings that this day was coming and the instructions about what you needed to do - TOO BAD!

And by the way, why is there $650 million in the Stimulus Package for DTV conversion? The average cost of these converters is about $65. There can't possibly be 10 million households that still need converters. Putting stuff like this in the package just serves to give the GOP an easy talking point about why the package is flawed and an excuse for voting No.

- I hope that someone in the Obama administration will soon tell us what the end-game is in Afghanistan. What are we trying to accomplish? What are the realistic expectations? What is the exit strategy? We need a healthy debate about Afghanistan. While nearly everyone, including me, supported our actions there after 9/11, I think its open to debate that an extended military presence there will serve much purpose. We've been there over seven years now and the situation is not a lot better than when we first went in. Will another seven years make much of a difference? If so, how and when? I'm really not sure what the answer is but I am sure that we should be talking about it.

- There hasn't been a lot of talk about healthcare from the Obama administration yet, but one of the things Obama brings up constantly about the subject is the need to computerize medical records. I'm sure that this is a good and necessary idea but am I the only one that's amazed that in 2009 this is still something that needs to be done?

I'm Not Sayin', I'm Just Sayin'

From House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn:

"We had an election on November 4, and the American people voted overwhelmingly for the approach being offered by the Democrats," Clyburn said. "And I think my Republican friends ought to respect that." Asked if there was a goal number of GOP votes that would help make a vote on the stimulus look bipartisan, Clyburn offered a telling comparison. "I would love for it to be bipartisan, but I'll remind you that in 1993, President Clinton passed a package without a single Republican vote," Clyburn said, referring to Clinton's economic proposals. "It passed in the House by two votes, in the Senate by one vote, but a lot of people say it had the biggest and best growth in the economy that we have ever had and that was done without a single Republican vote.... Because it's bipartisan doesn't mean it will be successful. That's all I'm saying."

Exactly. The right policy and the most effective policy ain't necessarily the most bi-partisan policy. If the GOP wants to get on the Change and Progress train, fine. All are welcome. But that shouldn't mean that the train goes down the wrong track or takes a longer route for the sake of "bi-partisanship".

Chris Lee - Picking Up Where Reynolds Left Off...

Well, it didn't take long for Chris Lee to show us he's following in Tom Reynolds footsteps. For years Reynolds marched to the beat of the right-wing Republican leadership, consistently voting against the interests of his constituents. In his first week on the job Lee has demonstrated that we're in for more of the same.

There were two bills passed by the House this week that took up the cause of working people, specifically working women. There were the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Both seek to protect working women from sexual discrimination as it pertains to "equal pay for equal work". It truly amazes me that in 2009 anyone would oppose the idea that men and women doing the same job should be paid the same and that employers who fail to do so should be held liable!

The Ledbetter Act gives employees 180 days from the date of their last paycheck to bring action against and employer. Due to a bizarre decision by the conservative Roberts Supreme Court, employees now have 180 days from the first discriminatory paycheck to bring action against their employer. So if an employer has been practicing discrimination for more than six months and employee doesn't discover this discrimination until after the first six months, they currently have no legal recourse. The Ledbetter Act fixes that. Seems pretty reasonable right? Not to Chris Lee and most of his Republican colleagues. Thankfully the bill passed easily, 247-171 and now goes to the Senate. Oh, and a whopping 3 Republicans voted on the side of working women.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would stiffen penalties for employers engaging in gender-based pay discrimination, and provide protection to employees who share salary information with colleagues. This bill also passed easily 256-163. Only 10 Republicans voted "yes".

So on it goes. A new Congressman for the 26th district who votes just like his predecessor: against the interests of working people.