Tag Archives: card check

meet Pete Gallego … running for congress, democratic Party


Democrat finds a way to knock both the GOP and Obamacare in less than 30 seconds

http://wapo.st/1utPsa7 via @washingtonpost

So, given the new information re: Gallego statements about Obamacare aka ACA it is very important to read what Pete Gallego is for versus what the republican candidate will do say and vote for on floor of Congress … It is a given, that those running in (redstates) and are from the Democratic Party the issues they support may or may not push back at what the admin does, but having read the wapo story there are things to consider… It’s from wapo and folks in TX may already know that Pete just may be a blue dog and will need to answer to some things that will impact those who need healthcare now and in the future ~~ Nativegirl77

 

Gallego faces Republican Will Hurd, a former CIA operative, whoever wins will represent the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, a sprawling region that stretches from San Antonio’s western suburbs to the eastern outskirts of El Paso and includes the longest stretch of U.S.-Mexico border in any district. So, for those interested and support immigration would be doing them and their children will be best suited to vote for Gellego and inform him about how good ACA would be for your state as well.

Medicare

Medicare is one of the most important programs to seniors. More than 3 million Texans rely on Medicare for their health care. Medicare needs to be reformed and strengthened for future generations. But, we cannot make cuts to Medicare benefits that seniors have earned through a lifetime of work. I’ll protect Medicare, and fight efforts by extremists to end it or turn it into a voucher program. Our parents and grandparents should not be given vouchers and forced to negotiate with the insurance industry on their own. To strengthen the solvency of Medicare, I would support allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, which would save the program $24 billion annually.

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Immigration

Our country is made up of immigrants who made the journey to the United States in search of the American dream. But we all know that our immigration system is broken. Making sure that our borders are secure is the most important aspect of immigration policy. Reform includes border security and putting the necessary boots on the ground to protect us from those who want to do our country harm. Reform also should include an earned path to legalization for people who stay out of trouble, pay a penalty, pay back taxes, learn English and stand in line. We need to create an immigration system that makes America safer, that is realistic, and that makes economic sense.

DREAM Act

I also support the DREAM Act which would let young people who were brought to this country as children, graduated from high school and stayed out of trouble, earn a path to citizenship through military service or by going to college. I was proud to vote for the Texas DREAM Act, and I look forward to voting for the federal DREAM Act in Congress.
  Since extremists in Congress obstructed the passage of the DREAM Act, I support the deferred action policy that offers DREAM Act eligible youth, on a case-by-case basis, relief from deportation.

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Social Security

Social Security is a lifeline for many, and it allows our seniors to retire with dignity. Half of America`s seniors would fall below the poverty line without their Social Security checks. I pledge to protect our seniors by protecting the Social Security benefits that they have earned, now and in the future. I would oppose efforts to raise the retirement age, to slash benefits, or to privatize it.  We must strengthen Social Security and make it easier for Americans to save for their retirement through automatic enrollment in retirement programs at their workplaces. Seniors shouldn`t be asked to sacrifice their health after they worked hard and paid into the system their entire lives. That`s way too high a price for people who have built our nation and paid their dues.

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Energy

The oil and gas industry in Congressional District 23 is a big reason that the U.S. is now a net exporter of crude oil for the first time since the1950s. Making the most of our domestic fossil fuel resources not only creates jobs we sorely need but also moves us toward energy independence from unstable regions. And while we must do the most with the resources we’ve been given, we must also be good stewards of our future and develop green energy to grow the energy-sector jobs of tomorrow. My son’s grandchildren might not have an oil and gas industry to support their economy, and it’s our responsibility develop the energy sources of the future today.

 

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Veterans

My father was a World War II Veteran. His service helped him go to college, open a small business, and propel our family to the middle class. Lots of folks in our district work as civilians, serve as active duty, or have a family member who does one those things at Laughlin Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Bliss. We owe a great debt to the men and women who defend and have defended our country. I strongly support local military families and veterans and will work to increase funding for wounded veterans coming home and provide programs so these men and women can find jobs once they get here.

 

Resource: his website petegallego.com

wapo story

meet david young, republican


running against Staci Appel, Democratic Party

 

As Chief of Staff for Senator Grassley, David worked day in and day out on behalf of Iowans. He listened to their concerns, developed solutions, and navigated the federal bureaucracy to get results.

Like his friend and mentor, Chuck Grassley, David believes in a government that works for people.  Public service is about helping your fellow man.

David Young has already set his sights on ending Social Security’s promise, saying that the Ryan budget didn’t go far enough and that benefit cuts, increasing taxes on benefits and increasing the retirement age are all on the table. Our seniors can’t afford David Young, we must respond now!

David Young is so extreme that 85% of his own party’s primary voters rejected him just a few weeks ago. With the Tea Party once again flexing its muscle in Iowa’s primary contests, our response is critical.

  • Zero Based Budgeting – this solution simply means that each year, the funding level for all government programs and agencies will begin at $0.  This is a better budgeting practice than giving every program the same amount as last year, plus a raise.
  • Sunset Legislation – attaching a sunset clause to every law enacted by Congress means policies will no longer outlive their usefulness.  When the sunset date arrives, Congress will examine the program anew and determine if it should continue for another finite period of time.
  • Full Federal Audit – the budget of every government department and agency should undergo a thorough outside audit to ensure taxpayer funds are being used in the most effective manner possible.
  • Flatter, Fairer, Simpler Tax Code – the current U.S. tax code is 74,000 pages long.  Giving a percentage of your income to fund the government should not require us to hire professional assistance.  Additionally, the longer the code the more loopholes exist and the more opportunity there is to skirt the system and engage in fraudulent activity.
  • Balanced Budget Amendment – it is often said states are the test tubes of democracy.  The concept here is simple:  never spend more money than you have revenue.  In Iowa, this concept is just common sense.
  • Full Repeal of Obamacare – The disastrous rollout of government run Obamacare is the prophetic announcement of the real mess to come.  Trying to fix our health care system via a top-down approach, will never improve a broken system.  All Americans deserve the benefits of lower health care prices, better access to providers, and less government spending.

 

 

Resource: his website , internet

 

Meet Vivian Figures


running against Rep.Jeff Sessions — GOP

 

Vivian began her political career in 1984 when she ran as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in which capacity she has served for six consecutive times, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 1993, Ms. Figures was elected to a four-year term on the Mobile City Council, attaining the status of the “only council member in Mobile’s history to hold a perfect attendance record.” Due to the untimely death of her husband, Michael A. Figures, she was later elected in the 1997 general election by an 87% victory to the Alabama State Senate to serve the remainder of his term. The victory made her the first African-American woman to be elected to the Senate from Mobile County and the second one in the state of Alabama. Her husband was the first African-American from Mobile County to be elected to the post in 1978 and he was elected overwhelmingly by his Senate cohorts as President Pro Tempore in 1995.  She was re-elected in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.

In 2008, she became Alabama’s first African American woman to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Although this was her first statewide run for public office, she garnered 37 percent of the vote while President Barack Obama had 39 percent.

As Senator, she played a major role in helping to author legislation for school personnel background checks for both public and private schools to make children safer. Because of her sponsorship and passage of the Alabama Clean Indoor Act, she was awarded the National Tobacco Award from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Outstanding Advocate Award from the American Heart Association. Senator Figures continues to work for a Smoke-Free Alabama.

Resources : From her website

I did a regular search and found that the NRA rates her 67% and while she is in a red state she backs education and most issues that any left of center does but not much information on reproductive rights with the exception of minors. I am not a one issue voter but admit to wanting to read a lot more about where she stood on reproductive rights. So, unless you have a better democratic candidate choice, she looks good on paper but as always … do your research and vote Jeff Sessions out of office !!!!

meet Michael Baumgartner, Republican from Spokane


Want to know how extreme the Republicans are in our State Senate?

Here are some “ideas” coming from Michael Baumgartner, State Senator from the 6th District in Spokane:

  • The unemployed should be required to perform public service before getting unemployment benefits.
  • Washington should be a right-to-work state. Don’t we want workers to have collective bargaining rights?
  • The State Supreme Court is like dictators Mugabe and Putin. Because they’re serious about funding our schools.

In a little over three years, Michael Baumgartner has defined himself as one of the most outspoken voices against Democratic values in our State Senate.

Rich Cowan is challenging Michael Baumgartner and will fight for Democratic values in the State Senate. Will you sign our petition and show your support for Rich Cowan?

We’re in Spokane for our State Convention, and everybody is talking about Rich Cowan.

Rich is a native Spokane film and television producer who challenged Cathy McMorris Rodgers in 2012 and developed a taste for taking on the right wing.

Believing that he could do the most good for our state by helping to take back our Senate, he began campaigning last August and has already raised over $122,000 and knocked on over 9,000 doors himself.

Rich has been all over the news recently because he just began filming his latest project, Spokane’s first television series called Z-Nation, which has created 200 crew jobs and 200 acting jobs that pay a family wage with health care and benefits! 1,300 people in the Spokane area are also eagerly signing up to serve as “zombie” extras on the show.

Rich is doing all he can to take back our State Senate. He knows “zombies” belong on the big screen, not in Olympia!

We need to make sure Michael Baumgartner doesn’t become the next Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Join us and stand with Rich Cowan today.

In solidarity,

Jaxon Ravens
Washington State Democrats Chair

meet cory gardner, Republican ~~ running against Mark Udall, Democratic Party


GOPred

As a national leader on energy policy, Cory has championed a bipartisan effort on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports that recently passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also introduced two major pieces of legislation that passed the House with bipartisan support and would increase domestic production while creating thousands of jobs here at home. In addition to his work with traditional resources, Cory has promoted legislation to streamline the permitting process for renewable technologies on federal lands and supports a paid-for extension of the wind production tax credit (PTC). He also co-wrote the legislation that established Colorado’s Clean Energy Development Authority while serving in the Colorado General Assembly.

Cory is a leading voice on energy efficiency and co-founded a bipartisan caucus dedicated to promoting efficiency initiatives that are good for the environment and the taxpayer. More than fifty cosponsors from both sides of the aisle have signed on to Cory’s energy efficiency legislation and the Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed the bill unanimously.

Cory has a record that reflects his desire to rein in out-of-control spending and build consensus on issues where he can find common ground with his colleagues. Whether it is promoting agriculture or reforming telecommunications policy, Cory’s record is one of forging solutions to our nation’s greatest problems.

Throughout his time in Congress, Cory has voiced his strong opposition to Obamacare and the premium increases, thousands of pages in new regulations, and burdensome mandates it creates. Cory chose to reject federal health benefits when first elected to Congress, and his family was among the 335,000 Coloradans who received health care cancellation notices as a result of Obamacare. He supports legislation that repeals this misguided law and replaces it with a solution that allows the purchase of insurance across state lines, bolsters state high-risk pools to provide for those with pre-existing conditions, and enacts badly needed tort reform to reduce medical costs, among other ideas.

Cory is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and government reform. He introduced legislation that requires Congress to review programs targeted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as wasteful and duplicative. In an effort to make Congress work, he voted in favor of a bill that requires lawmakers to pass a budget or face having their pay withheld. He has also been a consistent voice for improving transparency through simplifying complicated government regulations and improving permit processes.

Cory believes that the next generation must be prepared to lead. He has supported efforts to entrust parents and educators with improving curriculum in their communities. Cory has also introduced legislation that helps students save more for college in a time of rising tuition costs. With two young children of his own, Cory knows that a quality education is invaluable to helping our youth meet the challenges of the future.

Resource: his website

We all know that the best way to find out about any candidate is to do your research. I went to gardner’s website and while he said some good things about birth control he is also in favour of repealing #ACA which would put reproductive rights at risk.  I also noticed that his website has a lot of information about what Mark Udall is for, but not a lot of his own solutions in my opinion and if elected he might say one thing and do another but I am cynical given how many Republicans in Congress continue to do so.  Cory might call himself an energy champion but he also believes the KeyStone pipeline is a must do … and I got the impression he is all for more deregulation … why are so many willing to forget the BP disaster the Massey Mining debacle and all the others before after and in between? ~~ Nativegrl77