Publius Forum

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:23:18 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has come to this, America. Democrats have decided that if you don’t agree with their policies, you are to be fined. And if you don’t pay the fine, you are a criminal and will be sentenced to jail. That’s right, Democrats are criminalizing dissent.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has decided to leave language in her heatlhcare bill that criminalizes and prescribes jail time for any American that does not want to buy private healthcare insurance. Think of this, America. I am telling you that the U.S. Congress has decided to force you to buy the product of a privately owned corporation! The power of the U.S. federal government has never been used to purchase something from a private company but here comes San Fran Nancy to do just that. But, let’s face it. She is only taking her cue from the big guy and his “Chicago way” sort of political thuggery.

The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a letter (Download pdf file) in reply to Representative Dave Crump’s inquiry about the matter of the criminal penalties of refusing to buy healthcare insurance should Pelosi’s version of Obamacare pass.

In reply the JCT outlines the exact language in the bill that proves that Pelosi and her Democrat leaders want to turn YOU into a federal criminal if you don’t want to buy her health insurance. Criminal penalties include:

Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”

Is it Constitutional? Apparently they just don’t care.

But what does it matter if the Constitution is violated by members of the Democrat Party? After all, they will rewrite the Constitution to suit their transitory criteria with which they’ll pass whatever bill they want to push. The Constitution serves as no obstacle at all to their ambitions.

Here is a prime example. CNSNews asked Senator Burris if he saw this power to coerce the people to engage in preferred commerce in the Constitution:

CNSNews: Federally, if you look at it from a federal standpoint, what area specifically of the Constitution would give Congress the power to mandate an individual to have health insurance?”

Burris: Well, that’s under certainly the laws of the–protect the health, welfare of the country. That’s under the Constitution. We’re not even dealing with any constitutionality here. Should we move in that direction? What does the Constitution say? To provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country.

So, Burris has decided that “health” is in the Constitution? Certainly the words “general welfare” appear there, but health does not. But, pffft. What do these “words” mean? Why should we let laws and tradition stand in the way of getting votes for a welfare program. With glittering jewels of ignorance like accidental Senator Burris crafting America’s policies, it is no wonder we are fast losing our nation to enemies of democracy, freedom, liberty and the American way.

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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston

Fair Use: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site/blog for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Dem. Senate Candidate Uses Palin Against Mark Kirk

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:17:16 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is trying to use Mark Kirk’s approach of Sarah Palin for an endorsement against him. Giannoulias is attempting to use the Kirk/Palin incident as a fund raising tool.

A few days ago, we reported that Mark Kirk sent a letter to Governor Sarah Palin challenging her to support his candidacy for the GOP nomination for Barack Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat. It seems unlikely that Kirk will receive Palin’s endorsement, though. Being far, far too liberal Kirk is hardly Palin’s sort of Republican.

But Giannoulias thinks that even the slightest connection with Palin will drive his fundraising. The Democrat sent the following email to his supporters (bold in the original):

We knew from the beginning of this campaign that Republicans will do anything to get their hands on President Obama’s former seat in the U.S. Senate, but now we find out that the GOP wants Sarah Palin’s help to win this race.

Yesterday, news broke that Congressman Mark Kirk, the Republican front-runner, penned a secret memo to Sarah Palin’s camp asking that Palin help out Kirk in a “quick and decisive” way.

Palin has made no secret that she’s willing to help out conservatives in their quest to damage the President. She was the leader in false rumors about the President’s health care proposals, and she’s made it clear she’s willing to throw her support around to get conservatives elected from coast to coast.

Well, not here in Illinois.

We can’t let Mark Kirk and Sarah Palin take us back to the failed, Republican policies that got us into this economic mess.

Donate $10, $20, or $50 today to help us keep the President’s seat.

If Mark Kirk thinks bringing Sarah Palin to town will help distract from his record of consistently voting for big business and against Illinois families, he’s wrong.

Donate $10, $20, or $50 and help us send a message to Mark Kirk and Sarah Palin Republicans that this seat will stay in Democratic hands.

Alexi is a progressive Democrat who will move our state and our nation forward.

And thanks to supporters like you, this campaign will be ready to take on Mark Kirk, Sarah Palin, and whomever else the GOP sends to this fight for the President’s seat.

Alexi has his own troubles, however, with his connection to all sorts of shady banking deals. Still, he seems to be the leading candidate on the Democratic side of the aisle, though word has it that the Dem. powerbrokers are not enthralled with his candidacy despite his current status as leader.
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Illinois, Cook+County, Chicago, Red+County, Election, Senate, Congress

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Chgo Trib’s Bios of Ill. GOP Senate Candidates

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:13:56 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune has put out a few short bios of the current candidates for Illinois Senate on the GOP side of the aisle. And I do mean short. They are more like just an announcement of the candidate’s campaign than a bio. They contain links to the candidates web resources, though. Nonetheless, here are the links:

Not yet covered is Kathleen Thomas‘ campaign.

And here is the one for the Democrats:

Alexi Giannoulias

Not yet covered for the Democrats is David Hoffman, Robert Marshall, and Jacob Meister’s campaigns.
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Illinois, Cook+County, Chicago, Red+County, Election, Senate, Congress

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The Great Health Insurance Mystery

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:30:33 +0000

-By Vince Johnson

I had a dream that several respected members of Congress tried to prove this bulletin was misleading and I quietly smiled when they gave up and went out to lunch.

There is no mystery in the fact that Congress wants the government to be the only source for health insurance for over 306 million Americans. However, there is great mystery in understanding why politicians do not realize that such an eventuality is bureaucratically impossible.

Consider established facts: The Social Security Administration requires 62,000 employees to process applications, issue SS numbers, manage existing accounts, and disburse monthly payments to 50 million retired folks. The total U.S. population of people over 18 is about 230 million. Assuming these people have SS numbers, it is reasonable to say that in any given month, the SSA is handling the accounts of 280 million people including 50 million retirees.

Keep the above in mind as you consider what Congress will be coping with when the government becomes the sole provider of health insurance.

According to the American Medical Association, there are over 700,000 active physicians in the United States. Most doctors see 25 to 35 patients per day and many up to 40 or more. If they averaged 25 patients per day, this would generate a national total of 17.5 million appointments a day or about 379 million claims a month for office calls only. Orders for X-rays and lab tests, etc. would increase the average claims to 1.5 per visit bringing the total medical appointment claims per month to 568 million per month.

According to research published by IMS Health Inc., in 2008 the top 15 pharmaceutical manufacturers dispensed 3.8 billion prescriptions in the U.S. This would average at 316 million claims per month for prescriptions. Add 568 million claims for doctor visits and you get 884 million per month.

According to the CDC/NCHS National Health Statistics Report in 2006 over 6,000 U.S. hospitals provided 46 million procedures and had 34 million patient discharges (excluding newborn). Hospital bills have multiple charges that will need detailed review before the claim can be approved for payment. Each claim will involve a complex compliance process as required by some of the services provided: EKG’s, MRI’s, ER services, colonoscopies, gynecology services, imaging, ambulance, transfusions, dialysis, CAT scans, endoscopies, amputation, obstetrics, pediatrics, imaging, rehab, anesthesiology, and on and on.

At a minimum, monthly volume of hospital claims including obstetrics is estimated at 25 million per month. Add 568 million claims from doctors and another 316 million claims for prescriptions and you have an average of 909 million claims per month!

(When government insurance covers abortions, the claims per month will increase further.)

How many bureaucrats will it take to receive, sort, review, reject, accept, disburse and archive 909 million medical insurance claims per month? Based on the 62,000 bureaucrats required to manage 280 million Social Security accounts per month, the answer would be a whopping 201,284 bureaucrats to manage 909 million medical claims per month. That’s 4,516 claims processed and approved per bureaucrat per month or one every 1.5 minutes! The mystery of the matter is colossal! How can Congress possibly believe each of 201,284 bureaucrats can handle 4,516 claims per month when it takes 1.5 minutes to process each claim and do it without error 8 hours a day, five days a week, month after month?

In 2008 the Social Security Administration included 10 Regional Offices, 37 Teleservice Centers, and approximately 1,300 Field Offices. The task of visualizing a new bureaucracy three times bigger than the Social Security Administration is mind boggling and it brings up some hardball questions:

How much money is “saved” when the government loses billions in revenue from taxpaying insurance companies after they are replaced by an inexperienced bureaucracy costing billions to establish and billions more to operate?

After Congress uses $500 billion Medicare funds to start up this new bureaucracy, how much will the government have to charge senior citizens for health insurance premiums for claims previously paid for by Medicare?
____________
Vince Johnson welcomes comments. Please send them to,Vince Johnson(vjadtrak@wvi.com)
See Vince in the new book Americans on Politics. Policy, and Pop-Culture.

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Some House Dems that Might Be Persuaded to Vote No on Obamacare

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:14:42 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ken Marrero over at Blue Collar Muse reminds us that there are a few Democrats that could possibly be persuaded to vote against House Speaker Pelosi’s healthcare bill.

Word has it that Pelosi is going to try and strong-arm her bill to a floor vote this Saturday, so if you want to stop this bill, call the following Congressmen and voice your opinion.

Michael Arcuri (NY-24th)–(202) 225-3665
Steve Dreihous (OH 1st)–(202) 225-2216
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th)–(202) 225-2542
Debbie Halverson (IL-11th)–(202) 225-3635
Steve Kagen (WI-8th)–(202) 225-5665
Betsy Markey (CO-4th)–(202) 225-4676
Tom Perriello (VA-5th)–(202) 225-4711
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47th)–(202) 225-5711
Vic Snyder (AR-29th)–(202) 225-2506
Zack Space (OH-18th)–(202) 225-2965

I should remind readers that if you call these on-the-fence Democrats it’s far more effective if you are from their District, though. Just random calls from across the country will mean far less than the calls of actual constituents.

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Barack+Obama, Congress, Healthcare

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Mass Murdering Muslim Major Worked to Assist Obama’s Transition Team Through University Project

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:36:19 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

Plus, Ron Reagan couples “tea baggers” with Murderer Nidal Hasan.

In 2008 The George Washington University Homeland Security Institute (HSPI) initiated a transition task force to help craft homeland security policies during Obama’s transition period. In May of 2009 HSPI finished its report titled, “Thinking Anew-Security Priorities for the Next Administration.” One of the members of this Obama transition project was none other than the Muslim murderer Nidal Hassan.

Nidal is listed in Appendix C, Page 29 of the HSPI report as having served as a “Task Force Event Participant,” in his position with the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine. (download .pdf of report) We should caution, though, that Hasan did not work for Obama. But he was a part of the University’s efforts to advise Obama.

The HSPI fashions itself a “think and do tank” and claims its mission as that of building “bridges between theory and practice to advance homeland security through an interdisciplinary approach.” I wonder if one of those bridges leads to “understanding” the mindset of terrorists like Hasan, a participant in George Washington University’s “think and do” mission?

There is also video of Hasan participating at the GWU event.

So what of Obama? Why he’s still trying to understand this “tragic shooting.” Hours after the murderous rampage concluded, Obama made some rather facile comments after his jaunty opening remarks to members of America’s “First Nations” consisting of a long list of special “shout outs” to participants there.

“I planned to make some broader remarks,” he told the crowd. “But as some of you might have heard there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas.”

“This morning I met with FBI Director Mueller and the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what caused one individual to turn his gun on fellow servicemen and women,” he said. “We don’t know all of the answers yet, and I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all of the facts.

One word is all you need to know, Mr. President: Islam.

Obama isn’t the only one pretending that this incident is beyond understanding or akin to some sort of “tragedy” or horrible accident nor is he the only one pretending that Islam has no role in Hasan’s murderous crime. As Obama called this a “tragic shooting” many in the Old Media followed suit. Instead of characterizing this as what it truly is, a crime motivated by religious zealotry, many Old Media outlets tried to pretend that this was somehow a “tragedy,” a mere unfortunate accident that befell our troops, one with no obvious motivating factors.

The Chicago Tribune, for instance, characterized Hasan as a “disturbed single gunman” instead of an Islamiofascist. For the Trib, Zeenat Rahman tired her best to pretend that Islam had nothing at all to do with Hasan’s crimes.

Ignoring Hasan’s many examples of Islamic radicalism, The Dallas Morning News’ Jacquielynn Floyd forcefully scoffed at anyone claiming to know his motivations and warned against drawing conclusions, dismissing Hasan’s actions as “a special kind of crazy.”

And then there were the labeling of this incident as a mere “tragedy.”

The Minnesota Daily Editorial Board headlined one of its posts on the incident a “tragedy developing.” For Newsweek, Rabeika Messina worried about how we should address these situations before “tragedy strikes.” Even the Christian Science Monitor called the incident a “tragedy” that “unfolded Thursday.”

This sort of rhetoric is not merely imprecise it is a cover up of the truth. This was not tragic as if a mere accident. It was a murderous crime.

Yet even worse than all the above, renowned moron Ron Reagan, extremist left-wing talk show host, coupled the tax/healthcare protests being held by conservatives that day in Washington D.C. to an event that was “pure tragedy” (his words) at Fort Hood.

Apparently when Ron Reagan thinks of peaceable protests against a socialist government takeover of our healthcare system and other onerous taxation he thinks of mass shootings by Muslim extremists. I guess Reagan sees no difference between the two since one so easily invokes the other to him.

So we have the president and his friends in the Old Media mislabeling this as a tragedy even as they try as hard as possible to pretend that Islam had no role in the Hasan murders — one of them, Ron Reagan, feeling that tea party protesters are just the same as a Muslim mass murderer. No wonder the left is struggling to understand what went on here.

Am I saying that all Muslims are crazed murderers? Of course not and I add this as a postscript because hatemongers like Ron Reagan will immediately launch into such a charge against me. But to pretend that Islam is a mere accidental factoid in the Hasan incident is not just absurd, but criminally negligent on behalf of the president and his lackeys in the Old Media.Islam is integral to this criminal act. There is no other way to assess this incident.
____________
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

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Video: Cook County Board Presidents Candidate Debate

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:27:31 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

John Garrido only Republican to attend

Several of the candidates for Cook County Board President attended a debate hosted by The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA). It was filmed by Chicago’s ABC News.

In attendance were Republican candidate, John Garrido, current Democrat incumbent Todd Stroger, Democrats Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, and Metro Water Reclam. Dist. Pres. Terrence O’Brien, as well as Green Party candidate Tom Tresser.

Sadly, Republican candidate Roger Keats did not participate. Also not attending were Democrats Dorothy Brown, and Danny Davis — likely because Davis has not yet officially announced his candidacy. Also not attending was Greenie Sean Burke.

VIDEO LINKS

(Cross posted at RedCounty.com.)
____________
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Illinois, Red+County, Cook+County, Budget, Taxes

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Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:48:34 +0000

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the jobs of the “Whip” position in Congress is to count votes so that the leadership has an understanding of what sort of support their legislative efforts have. These Whip counts are often made public knowledge (but not always) and The Hill has reported the latest counting of House Democrats and where they stand on the Pelosicare/Obamacare bill.

So, if one of your Congresscritters is on this list as a “yes” vote or is leaning “yes,” contact them immediately and voice your opposition.

As of noon on 11/06/09:

YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Yes
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Tom Perriello (Va.) Held many town halls this summer
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) Yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)

NO OR LEANING NO
John Adler (N.J.) A firm no, saying bill doesn’t do enough to control health costs.
John Boccieri (Ohio) Leaning no, citing cost-containment concerns
Dan Boren (Okla.) A firm no
Artur Davis (Ala.) Gubernatorial candidate says, “We risk a disaster if we get this wrong.”
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
Parker Griffith (Ala.) “I cannot support this bill.”
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Science panel chairman is a no, citing public option and bill’s “financial impact on the state of Tennessee.”
Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.)”As the bill stands right now, I am not going to be able to support it,” Kosmas told the Orlando Sentinel.
Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) No
Jim Marshall (Ga.) A firm no
Charlie Melancon (D-La.) No
Walt Minnick (Idaho) Has bucked leadership on big-ticket bills
Collin Peterson (Minn.) Ag chairman has sharply criticized bill
Ike Skelton (Mo.) Ag chairman cites public option, concerns about rural providers
Bart Stupak (Mich.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
Gene Taylor (Miss.) Made it clear to constituents this summer he is a “no.”

UNDECIDED/REVIEWING BILL
Brian Baird (Wash.) Changed from “leaning no.”
Melissa Bean (Ill.)
Marion Berry (Ark.) Wants more aggressive action against HMOs, drug makers
Rick Boucher (Va.) Wary of public option; voted no in Energy and Commerce Committee
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
Yvette Clarke (N.Y.)
Jim Costa (Calif.)
Chet Edwards (Texas) A perennial GOP target; rejected climate bill
Keith Ellison (Minn.)
Bob Etheridge (N.C.) May run for Senate
Bill Foster (Ill.) “Encouraged” House is moving forward; voted no on climate bill
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Republicans targeting Science panel chairman
Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) Wants vote on “robust” public option
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.)
Baron Hill (Ind.)
Frank Kratovil (Md.) Voted yes on climate change bill; GOP targeting him
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) He said he “will have trouble voting for anything other than robust public option.”
Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) Opposes abortion rights
Betsy Markey (Colo.) Has concerns with cost of the bill
Eric Massa (N.Y.) Fan of single-payer approach
Jim Matheson (Utah) Prefers Senate Finance measure; voted no in committee
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.)
Jim Oberstar (Minn.)
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) Voted no on climate change bill
Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) undecided (I’m not commenting. But he reportedly told MSNBC Morning Joe yesterday “I’ve moved a lot closer to yes,” but I haven’t been able to check this)
Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) Voted no on climate measure
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) Has gone from “yes” to undecided
Heath Shuler (N.C.)
Zack Space (Ohio) Voted yes on Energy and Commerce Committee
Betty Sutton (Ohio)
Harry Teague (N.M.) Skeptic of public option
____________
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Barack+Obama, Congress, Healthcare

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Steve Rauschenberg: Why is Ill. 46th in Job Creation?

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:28:17 +0000

Steve Rauschenberg (R, Elgin) is talking jobs for the Illinois economy. Rauschengerger says in his new video, “For Illinois to have a strong future we need strong job growth in Illinois and today we don’t have it.”

Steve Rauschenberger is running to regain his old Senate seat in the 22nd District which encompasses part of DuPage County and western Cook County.

(Cross posted at RedCounty.com)

Tags: Publius+Forum, Warner+Todd+Huston, Illinois, Cook+County, Chicago, Red+County, State+Governmet, Republicans

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Jobs, Education Highlight State GOP Debate

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:00:18 +0000

From the Kirk Dillard camp:

(Chicago, IL) – Jobs, healthcare, education and the legacy of Abraham Lincoln highlighted Thursday’s debate among the Republican candidates for Illinois governor. The debate was sponsored by the Illinois State Republican Party and held in Chicago.

Senator Kirk Dillard championed his “Destination Economy” plan to attract new business to the state. “It will be the most ambitious job creation plan in state history,” he said, reminding the audience one out of every 10 Illinois workers is out of a job.

Dillard also suggested healthcare would be part of his budget reforms in Springfield if elected governor. “My first budget will have a bad dose of medicine for Medicaid,” said Dillard, talking about some of the places he will look for significant budget cuts. Other areas include the state pension system. “We need pension reform,” he said.

On Education, Dillard proposed increasing tuition tax credits to “meaningful amounts” for parents who send their children to private schools. He also said there should be no limits on the number of Charter schools, which operate without some of the restrictions as traditional public schools.

Asked to talk about a favorite story about Abraham Lincoln, Dillard noted that his wife Stephanie’s great-great grandfather was Illinois Governor Richard Oglesby, who nominated Lincoln for the Presidency and who helped design Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield. “We can learn a lot from Lincoln’s leadership and his record on race,” Dillard said.

The debate before an audience of supporters was seen at 15 GOP viewing parties across the state via satellite television and was to be broadcast on WLS Radio in Chicago at 7 p.m. Friday.

Senator Dillard is the only candidate to have experience in all three branches of government, and served as former Governor Jim Edgar’s first chief of staff.

Dillard for Governor campaign website: www.dillardforgovernor.com/.

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