Recent house and Senate votes

Recent Senate Votes

Ethics Reform bill - Vote Passed (96-2, 2 Not Voting)This Senate ethics and lobbying reform bill is intended to bring transparency to lawmakers’ dealings with lobbyists.

Sen. Richard Lugar voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Sen. Evan Bayh voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

GOOD JOB, Senators!

Recent House Votes

College Student Relief Act - Vote Passed (356-71, 8 Not Voting)This House bill is intended to make college education more affordable by gradually reducing the interest rate on need-based student loans issued after July 2007 from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Souder says college is only for the elite upper classes. . .

Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act - Vote Passed (264-163, 8 Not Voting)This House bill is intended to encourage development of alternate sources of energy.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Souder likes being dependent on foreign oil. It helps businesses make large profits on the backs of the lower classes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Souder likes to vote "No". Please return the favor and vote "No" to Mark Souder in 2008.

Mark Souder "Stays the Course"

Just in case you had held out any hope that Mr. "I promise to serve no more than six terms" Mark Souder would make any changes during his seventh term:


Recent House Votes

Implementing the 9/11Commission Recommendations Act - Vote Passed (299-128, 8 Not Voting)


This House bill is intended to implement the remaining 9/11 Commission homeland security recommendations.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair Minimum Wage Act - Vote Passed (315-116, 4 Not Voting)

This House bill would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 over the next two years.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act - Vote Passed (253-174, 8 Not Voting)

This House bill would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act - Vote Passed (255-170, 10 Not Voting)

This House bill would require the government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.

Rep. Mark Souder voted NO......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember. . .if Mark Souder asks for your vote again in 2008. . .

Vote NO. . . . . .

Left & Right unite in Allen County

I've just come across the most amazing news of the year! Okay, so it's only 11 days in but, GEEZOW! While perusing the blog of local Libertarian Party Chair, Mike Sylvester, I read the most incredible thing that I'd seen lately, closely followed by the second-most incredible thing I'd seen lately:

First-

"I was listening to WOWO earlier today and I heard a sound bite from Steve Shine, the Chair of the Republican Party of Allen County.

Steve Shine was quoted as saying that we need to bring both Syria and Iran into diplomatic talks..."

Next-

"Kevin Knuth and Steve Shine both expressed their opinions today that adding another 20,000 troops in Iraq will NOT improve the situation in Iraq.

I do not feel that adding 20,000 troops will help either...

I am glad that Steve Shine has decided to "buck" many in The Republican Party and express views contrary to those of many Republicans...

Well done Steve!"

If this post is still here in the morning, than I will know that it wasn't all just a wonderful dream. . .that even cats and dogs can get along on occasion. . .that here in Fort Wayne, Indiana, sometimes. . .sometimes. . .common sense and honest concern for our country can bring us all together for our common good.

Thank you, Kevin and Steve. . .

Proposed Fort Wayne Smoking Ban - Kudos to Councilman Crawford (R)

It's a rare occasion indeed that I give praise to a Republican politician. But Councilman John Crawford's leadership on the proposed Fort Wayne smoking ordinance deserves all the praise I can give. While the Allen County Commissioners "compromised", Crawford stuck his neck out and fully supported a comprehensive ban in all public places.

Now there are rumblings that some in his own party are upset and possibly preparing a primary challenge to unseat him - such is democracy I suppose. But at the end of the day, Mr Crawford can say he did the right thing no matter what happens in the upcoming primary.

I believe some issues cut across party lines and for me THIS is one of them. Mr Crawford has done the right thing, stood up when others wouldn't and he deserves support from the people of this city.

Knuth challenges Council

Closed door meeting raises questions
Knuth calls for complete report of discussions

Fort Wayne, IN – Responding to a News-Sentinel report about a recent closed door meeting Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Kevin Knuth today called for a total and complete disclosure of what transpired.

“A closed door meeting, that could benefit some of the attendees financially, is clearly wrong,” said Knuth. Today’s comments were triggered by a News-Sentinel report (“Clinic may be operated by local provider”-which appeared in the January 10^th edition) about the meeting.

According to the article, on Tuesday of this week a meeting was held between Allen County Commissioners Bill Brown, Nelson Peters and Allen County Council President Paul Moss. The meeting was held to discuss the County’s plan to start a full-service medical clinic for Allen County employees with county health insurance. Councilman Moss has had concerns about the company that was apparently going to win the contract, Tennessee-based CareHere,llc.

According to Nelson Peters, members of Lutheran Health Network and Parkview Health were in the meeting, and are planning on submitting a joint proposal. However, representatives from both companies denied being involved at this time. Paul Moss is a Senior Vice-President for Lutheran Health Network.

“Keeping local money local is good,” said Knuth, “but cutting deals behind closed doors is bad. There is no accountability, no public oversight. What promises were made in that meeting? Would Paul Moss see personal financial gains from this? Was there any promise of political contributions to Peter’s mayoral committee- either from these organizations or their leaders? We will never know.”

Knuth is calling for the names of all attendees, any and all documentation, notes, or paperwork that may have been shared at that meeting to be immediately released to the public.

“Once again, the Republican Party’s lack of common sense and ethics is showing,” said Knuth, “and once again, it is not passing the smell test.”

More financial woes for Allen GOP

As reported by Kevin Knuth, Allen County Democratic Chair:

It was announced today that Doug Foy, in addition to forging signature on campaign documents, also "diverted" funds for his personal use. (The "diverted" phrase is what was used on the official GOP news release- which you can find at Fort Wayne Observed. I think it sounds nicer than "embezzled").

I found an interesting line in today's JG coverage- from Ken Neumeister, chair of the party executive committee:

Neumeister said people shouldn’t feel concerned about giving to the Republican Party, saying the party did the audit as a way to protect its contributors.

“We feel great about the direction we’re going,” Neumeister said.

“We are putting things in place to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

I think folks MAY be getting concerned about giving to the local Republican Party- Last year they had to re-file campaign finance reports, in part because they "forgot" $30,000 in loans that they owed.

U-Blog Press Debuts

THE U-BLOG PRESS DEBUTS

Stan Matuska and I have started a new blog as an experiment in community blogging. By community, I mean the blogosphere community. What kind of people are we looking for?

• Experienced Bloggers
• Novice Bloggers
• Never Blogged Bloggers
• Like to Read Blogs Bloggers
• Like to Comment on Blogs Bloggers

Basically, if you know about blogs, we're looking for you. We don't care if you're a liberal, conservative, male, female, white, black, brown, yellow, red, olive, or tan . . . we do draw the line at blue because we will not allow zombies access to the site.

First, take a trip over to the new blog and read the rules. If you agree with the rules, and are still interested, send me an email and I'll get an invitation out to you.

Nelson Peters on the smoking ban

Jeff Pruitt, contributing writer over at Left of Centrist, recently criticized Nelson Peters (here and here) for failing to push a comprehensive smoking ban through and for eventually supporting the compromise ban.

"Mr. Peters felt that I mischaracterized his position on the smoking ban and wanted a chance to set the record straight. My full correspondence with him is copied below so that everyone can see exactly where he stands on the smoking ban issue."

Nelson Peters responds