is Senator Harry Reid really pimping his 3 sons
to mining interests in his home state?
www.mccainalert.com
Monday, June 18, 2007
Senate Immigration Update — June 15, 2007
Senate Immigration Update — June 15, 2007
All indication is that Harry Reid has chosen to resume consideration of immigration sometime next week, possibly as early as Wednesday. It is his folly — a curious political choice designed to avoid the “do-nothing” label he so richly deserves.
But as much as he should be blamed personally for choosing to bring the bill back, it is the Republican leadership and Republican “grand bargainers” who are deserving of America’s contempt. Grand bargainers Graham, Kyl, Martinez and McCain made their deal with the devil a long time ago. And now, after a week of deal-making and arm-twisting, Senator Lott and McConnell have joined forces with them and with Democrats to pull together the 60 votes needed to pass an immigration bill that not only has no chance of working, but undermines our nation’s rule of law, damages our national security and will cost billions of dollars.
They do so knowingly and firmly over the objections of the American people. They have done so with great contempt for those who dare to question the decision or put up a fight. It is now up to the American people to demonstrate at a level never seen before in American politics that this is an unacceptable breach of faith with them and will not be tolerated. It is the only hope at this point that this terrible legislation — that has no chance of working — does not become law.
Up to now, a handful of Senators have been able to fight for amendments — and more, to fight for the transparency necessary to expose this bill’s fatal flaws. Senators Sessions and DeMint properly objected to a sham amendment process that was limiting the rights of Republicans. Other members offered amendment after amendment designed to target the bill’s many weaknesses - but few were granted votes. Their efforts and of those other members who didn’t just “accept the grand bargain” have exposed the bill to the American people.
But now, those members are not the hope. They are going to be limited in their ability to do anything to stop this bill. In short — the very Senate leadership who repeatedly asks that the Republican caucus stick together are now rolling their conservative members to do a deal with Democrats — to do a deal with Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton.
The hope now lies with the American people. The American people have been speaking — and Senators are beginning to listen. Don’t give up now. It is clear that Senators are beginning to understand that this bill is not supported by a sizable and important segment of the American public — middle America. There are many Senators still on the fence that are being counted on to pass this bill. This is why today it is up to the people. If there is any hope — the American people must speak, and must speak loudly. Make phone calls to Senate offices, repeatedly, and non stop until the bill is defeated. Faxes and email — flood their offices. Fax in voided checks to the NRSC and the RNC with letters saying you won’t support them — and if you have ever given money before, ask for it back. Make very clear that this is the ultimate breach of faith and that there will be consequences.
Spread the word, America — there are a handful of Republican Senators who can stop this — and it is up to you to hold them accountable. It is up to you to tell them that you refuse to take this — you refuse to be sold a bill of goods. You are on to them — you know the bill cannot work. You know that this bill is “not better than the status quo” as the powers-that-be would have you believe. You know that this bill will cost YOU billions of dollars. You know that this bill harms our national security and undermines the rule of law. You know.
If you speak, they will listen. Go.
All indication is that Harry Reid has chosen to resume consideration of immigration sometime next week, possibly as early as Wednesday. It is his folly — a curious political choice designed to avoid the “do-nothing” label he so richly deserves.
But as much as he should be blamed personally for choosing to bring the bill back, it is the Republican leadership and Republican “grand bargainers” who are deserving of America’s contempt. Grand bargainers Graham, Kyl, Martinez and McCain made their deal with the devil a long time ago. And now, after a week of deal-making and arm-twisting, Senator Lott and McConnell have joined forces with them and with Democrats to pull together the 60 votes needed to pass an immigration bill that not only has no chance of working, but undermines our nation’s rule of law, damages our national security and will cost billions of dollars.
They do so knowingly and firmly over the objections of the American people. They have done so with great contempt for those who dare to question the decision or put up a fight. It is now up to the American people to demonstrate at a level never seen before in American politics that this is an unacceptable breach of faith with them and will not be tolerated. It is the only hope at this point that this terrible legislation — that has no chance of working — does not become law.
Up to now, a handful of Senators have been able to fight for amendments — and more, to fight for the transparency necessary to expose this bill’s fatal flaws. Senators Sessions and DeMint properly objected to a sham amendment process that was limiting the rights of Republicans. Other members offered amendment after amendment designed to target the bill’s many weaknesses - but few were granted votes. Their efforts and of those other members who didn’t just “accept the grand bargain” have exposed the bill to the American people.
But now, those members are not the hope. They are going to be limited in their ability to do anything to stop this bill. In short — the very Senate leadership who repeatedly asks that the Republican caucus stick together are now rolling their conservative members to do a deal with Democrats — to do a deal with Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton.
The hope now lies with the American people. The American people have been speaking — and Senators are beginning to listen. Don’t give up now. It is clear that Senators are beginning to understand that this bill is not supported by a sizable and important segment of the American public — middle America. There are many Senators still on the fence that are being counted on to pass this bill. This is why today it is up to the people. If there is any hope — the American people must speak, and must speak loudly. Make phone calls to Senate offices, repeatedly, and non stop until the bill is defeated. Faxes and email — flood their offices. Fax in voided checks to the NRSC and the RNC with letters saying you won’t support them — and if you have ever given money before, ask for it back. Make very clear that this is the ultimate breach of faith and that there will be consequences.
Spread the word, America — there are a handful of Republican Senators who can stop this — and it is up to you to hold them accountable. It is up to you to tell them that you refuse to take this — you refuse to be sold a bill of goods. You are on to them — you know the bill cannot work. You know that this bill is “not better than the status quo” as the powers-that-be would have you believe. You know that this bill will cost YOU billions of dollars. You know that this bill harms our national security and undermines the rule of law. You know.
If you speak, they will listen. Go.
Members of Congress pay relatives with campaign cash, report says
Members pay relatives with campaign cash, report says
18 Jun 2007 // A report released Monday by an ethics watchdog
group highlighted the nexus of members of Congress and their relatives through campaign funds and lobbying.
Titled Family Affair, the 151-page report outlines what House committee and subcommittee chairmen and -women all 337 of them have done for
family members over the past three election cycles.
It shows that many more members of Congress are paying their family members
than people realized. Now we have learned that this happens all the time, said Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington (CREW), which released the report.
The document names 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans from 33 different states.
Among the findings, CREW learned that 64 lawmakers paid relatives through
their campaign committees or political action committees (PACs); 24 have
relatives who lobby Congress; 19 used campaign or PAC money to pay a
business where a family member is employed; and 17 used campaign funds to
contribute to relatives’ campaigns.
Though many of the payments are legal, CREW hopes the report will trigger
action to modify the Federal Election Commission Act as well as changes
to and stronger enforcement of existing House rules.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced legislation roughly two weeks ago
that would prohibit PAC and campaign money being paid to candidates’
and members’ spouses, except to reimburse travel costs, while disclosing any payments to
immediate family members. Prominent Democratic leaders, such as
Reps. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), have cosponsored the bill.
I hope it is going to lead to stronger enforcement ... we want to shine
the light on these practices so constituents can see for themselves.
It seems to me all the facts should be out, said Sloan.
Another bill, authored by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), would disclose
associations between lawmakers and their leadership PACs, which are
often obscured to the public.
Source URL:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29110
Published on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (http://www.citizensforethics.org) By Kevin Bogardus, The Hill, June 18, 2007
www.mccainalert.com
18 Jun 2007 // A report released Monday by an ethics watchdog
group highlighted the nexus of members of Congress and their relatives through campaign funds and lobbying.
Titled Family Affair, the 151-page report outlines what House committee and subcommittee chairmen and -women all 337 of them have done for
family members over the past three election cycles.
It shows that many more members of Congress are paying their family members
than people realized. Now we have learned that this happens all the time, said Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington (CREW), which released the report.
The document names 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans from 33 different states.
Among the findings, CREW learned that 64 lawmakers paid relatives through
their campaign committees or political action committees (PACs); 24 have
relatives who lobby Congress; 19 used campaign or PAC money to pay a
business where a family member is employed; and 17 used campaign funds to
contribute to relatives’ campaigns.
Though many of the payments are legal, CREW hopes the report will trigger
action to modify the Federal Election Commission Act as well as changes
to and stronger enforcement of existing House rules.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced legislation roughly two weeks ago
that would prohibit PAC and campaign money being paid to candidates’
and members’ spouses, except to reimburse travel costs, while disclosing any payments to
immediate family members. Prominent Democratic leaders, such as
Reps. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), have cosponsored the bill.
I hope it is going to lead to stronger enforcement ... we want to shine
the light on these practices so constituents can see for themselves.
It seems to me all the facts should be out, said Sloan.
Another bill, authored by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), would disclose
associations between lawmakers and their leadership PACs, which are
often obscured to the public.
Source URL:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29110
Published on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (http://www.citizensforethics.org) By Kevin Bogardus, The Hill, June 18, 2007
www.mccainalert.com
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