- 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?
Showing posts with label Tom Reynolds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Reynolds. Show all posts
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tom Reynolds - AMF!!!
In only a few more days one of the worst Congressmen in America, NY-26's Tom Reynolds will no longer he stinking up the halls of Congress and betraying his constituents by consistently voting against their interests. Not that I ever had any doubt, but Reynolds has finished off his last term by again being one of the most anti-middle class members of Congress and clearly the most anti-middle class member of the NY delegation.
An excellent website themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/ tracks the voting records of all Senators and Congressmen on bills that directly effect the well being of the middle class. Although the organization will not issue final grades for 2008 until March, its pretty clear that Reynolds is on his way to his fifth consecutive grade of "F". That's right, five consecutive years of a voting record that is so counter to the interests of his constituents that he grades out at "F". Reynolds has by far the worst rating in the NY delegation, whose overall record is pretty good. According to themiddleclass.org, Reynolds voted with the pro-middle class position only 46% of the time in 2008. The only NY representative that even came close to this sorry record was Randy Kuhl at 50% and the voters wisely retired Randy in November. That's right, not only was Reynolds the most anti-middle class NY congressman, he was FAR worse than his Republican colleagues from NY, who averaged a 65% pro-middle class record in 2008.
Thankfully we do have members from Western NY who stand up for the middle class. Brain Higgins had a grade of 95% in 2008 and Louise Slaughter had a grade of 96%.
Want are some examples of Reynolds scum-baggery? Well here are a few:
- Voted NO on the Auto Industry Refinancing and Restructuring Act.
Well hey, auto industry jobs aren't too important the WNY's economy right?
- Voted NO on the The Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act
This bill, which passed, uses incentives and initiatives to encourage energy efficiency and the development and use of renewable energy. It mandates that a minimum of 15% of electricity comes from renewable resources by 2020. An overly modest goal and a somewhat flawed bill but a least a step in the right direction to the majority in Congress, but not Reynolds.
- Voted NO on the The Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008
A bill which, while flawed, protects middle class wage earners from the unintended consequences of the AMT. Why was Reynolds opposed? Because the lost revenue from middle class relief was replaced by increased taxes on hedge fund and private equity managers (aka "The Rich").
- Voted NO on the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights.
Unbelievable. Maybe one of the best examples ever of Reynolds voting against the interests of his constituents. This bill passed the House by a 200 vote margin. Unbelievable.
- Voted NO on the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
This bill, vetoed by GWB would have expanded the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and reauthorized it for five years. Reynolds strongly supported spending $12 billion per month in Iraq but was opposed to $7-10 billion a year for Children's health care. One can only hope that there's a special room in hell reserved for those with such a twisted moral compass.
There are many more examples and I encourage you to visit http://www.themiddleclass.org/ for more information.
Thus concludes my last rant about Tom Reynolds, a disgrace and a scumbag. In a few days we'll have a new congressman, Chris Lee. I'll be watching Chris closely and frankly, I not holding out a lot of hope that he'll be much better than Reynolds. I do take some small comfort however in knowing that he can't possibly be worse.
An excellent website themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/ tracks the voting records of all Senators and Congressmen on bills that directly effect the well being of the middle class. Although the organization will not issue final grades for 2008 until March, its pretty clear that Reynolds is on his way to his fifth consecutive grade of "F". That's right, five consecutive years of a voting record that is so counter to the interests of his constituents that he grades out at "F". Reynolds has by far the worst rating in the NY delegation, whose overall record is pretty good. According to themiddleclass.org, Reynolds voted with the pro-middle class position only 46% of the time in 2008. The only NY representative that even came close to this sorry record was Randy Kuhl at 50% and the voters wisely retired Randy in November. That's right, not only was Reynolds the most anti-middle class NY congressman, he was FAR worse than his Republican colleagues from NY, who averaged a 65% pro-middle class record in 2008.
Thankfully we do have members from Western NY who stand up for the middle class. Brain Higgins had a grade of 95% in 2008 and Louise Slaughter had a grade of 96%.
Want are some examples of Reynolds scum-baggery? Well here are a few:
- Voted NO on the Auto Industry Refinancing and Restructuring Act.
Well hey, auto industry jobs aren't too important the WNY's economy right?
- Voted NO on the The Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act
This bill, which passed, uses incentives and initiatives to encourage energy efficiency and the development and use of renewable energy. It mandates that a minimum of 15% of electricity comes from renewable resources by 2020. An overly modest goal and a somewhat flawed bill but a least a step in the right direction to the majority in Congress, but not Reynolds.
- Voted NO on the The Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008
A bill which, while flawed, protects middle class wage earners from the unintended consequences of the AMT. Why was Reynolds opposed? Because the lost revenue from middle class relief was replaced by increased taxes on hedge fund and private equity managers (aka "The Rich").
- Voted NO on the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights.
Unbelievable. Maybe one of the best examples ever of Reynolds voting against the interests of his constituents. This bill passed the House by a 200 vote margin. Unbelievable.
- Voted NO on the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
This bill, vetoed by GWB would have expanded the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and reauthorized it for five years. Reynolds strongly supported spending $12 billion per month in Iraq but was opposed to $7-10 billion a year for Children's health care. One can only hope that there's a special room in hell reserved for those with such a twisted moral compass.
There are many more examples and I encourage you to visit http://www.themiddleclass.org/ for more information.
Thus concludes my last rant about Tom Reynolds, a disgrace and a scumbag. In a few days we'll have a new congressman, Chris Lee. I'll be watching Chris closely and frankly, I not holding out a lot of hope that he'll be much better than Reynolds. I do take some small comfort however in knowing that he can't possibly be worse.
Friday, December 26, 2008
I'm Baaaaack
I originally started this blog in late November 2006. At the time its primary purpose was to track the anti-constituent voting record of Rep. Tom Reynolds and to serve as a voice advocating his defeat in the 2008 election. As it turned out Reynolds decided to leave on his own, declining to run for re-election. When Reynolds lost interest in maintaining his seat in Congress, I lost interest in maintaining my blog.
Well a lot has happened in the past year and a half and I think its time that I start writing again. This time around I will likely find myself commenting on a wider range of issues than was previously the case. I will continue to maintain a keen interest in the NY-26 Congressional district and on Reynold's successor Republican Chris Lee, but I will also be focusing my words, my concerns and my opinions on issues beyond just those effecting Western NY.
I have deleted all of my old posts. Most were dated and many now irrelevant. These is one exception though, one old post that I have decided to keep. It was my second post ever, one dealing with JFK's Rice University speech in 1962 (see below). I am inspired by these words every time I hear them or read them. The idea that we should CHOOSE to take positive action toward achieving our goals and solving our problems has never been more relevant.
Much has happened in this country over the past year an a half - some good, but mostly bad. We are faced with critical problems that demand strong, swift and effective action. But we must CHOOSE to act. We can't wait, we can't be distracted, we can't rely on someone else to fix things for us. We all have a role to play and we will all need to make some sort of sacrifice or take some sort of action. But we must CHOOSE to do so and we must choose to do so, as JFK said not because it will be easy but because it will be hard. The challenges await us.
More to come...
Well a lot has happened in the past year and a half and I think its time that I start writing again. This time around I will likely find myself commenting on a wider range of issues than was previously the case. I will continue to maintain a keen interest in the NY-26 Congressional district and on Reynold's successor Republican Chris Lee, but I will also be focusing my words, my concerns and my opinions on issues beyond just those effecting Western NY.
I have deleted all of my old posts. Most were dated and many now irrelevant. These is one exception though, one old post that I have decided to keep. It was my second post ever, one dealing with JFK's Rice University speech in 1962 (see below). I am inspired by these words every time I hear them or read them. The idea that we should CHOOSE to take positive action toward achieving our goals and solving our problems has never been more relevant.
Much has happened in this country over the past year an a half - some good, but mostly bad. We are faced with critical problems that demand strong, swift and effective action. But we must CHOOSE to act. We can't wait, we can't be distracted, we can't rely on someone else to fix things for us. We all have a role to play and we will all need to make some sort of sacrifice or take some sort of action. But we must CHOOSE to do so and we must choose to do so, as JFK said not because it will be easy but because it will be hard. The challenges await us.
More to come...
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