Do Republicans read REAL news? Do they watch anything other Sean Insanity and listen to anyone other than Brush LintBall? Are they really THAT out of touch? I had a Republican friend of mine tell me that there was NO way that Democrats were going to retake either the House or the Senate because we don't have any ideas of our own. . .all we have to run on is Republican scandal. While I agree that there's PLENTY of that, I informed him that there was plenty to run on, just no legislation making it to the floor of EITHER chamber, because that would mean progress and they're not about progress. . .they're about themselves. Here's my rebuttal. Please use what you can and pass it on:
"The floors of the House and Senate are littered with good legislation that was quickly ignored and killed because the person introducing it had a (D) after their name." How many are you interested in reading? How much time do you wish to allot to reading REAL legislation, proposed by REAL legislators that help REAL people? Let me save you some time. . .I've done some of the research for you so as not to cut into your Bill O'Lielly time. . .
Here are some of the issues that have been presented and quickly scuttled by the Republican Culture Of Corruption Congress:
Crack Down on Corruption: In contrast to conservative cronyism, shut the revolving door between corporate lobbies and high office. Prohibit legislators, their senior aides and executive branch political appointees from lobbying for two years after leaving office. Require detailed public reporting of all contacts between lobbyists and legislators. Pledge to apply this to all, regardless of party. Take the big money out of politics by pushing for clean elections legislation.
Make America Safe: Commit to an independent investigation of the Department of Homeland Security's failures in response to Katrina. Detail action on the urgent needs that this Administration has ignored: Improve port security, using American people, paying them real, livable wages, bolster first responders and public health capacity, and require adequate defense planning by high-risk chemical plants. End the pork-barrel squandering of security funds.
Unleash New Energy for America: In contrast to the Big Oil policies of the Administration that leave us more dependent on foreign supplies, pledge to launch a concerted drive for energy independence like the one called for by the Apollo Alliance. Create new jobs by investing in efficiency and alternative energy sources, helping America capture the growing green industries of the future.
Rebuild America First: Rescind Bush's tax cuts for the rich and corporations, which create more jobs in China than here, and use that money to put people to work building the infrastructure vital to a high-wage economy. Start with challenging the Administration's trickle-down plans for the Gulf Coast, which will victimize once more those who suffered the most.
Make Work Pay: In contrast to the Bush economy, in which profits and CEO salaries soar while workers' wages stagnate and jobs grow insecure, put government on the side of workers. Raise the minimum wage. Empower workers to join unions by allowing card-check enrollment. Pay the prevailing wage in government contracts. Stop subsidizing the export of jobs abroad.
Make Healthcare Affordable for All: Pledge to fix America's broken healthcare system, with the goal of moving to universal, affordable healthcare by 2015. Start by reversing the Republican sellout to the pharmaceutical industry by empowering Medicare to bargain down costs and by allowing people to purchase drugs from safe outlets abroad.
Protect Retirement Security: In contrast to Bush's plan to dismantle Social Security, pledge to strengthen it and to require companies to treat the shop floor like the top floor when it comes to pensions and healthcare.
Keep the Promise of Opportunity: Instead of Republican plans to cut eligibility for college grants and to limit loans, offer a contract to American students: If they graduate from high school, they will be able to afford the college or higher technical training they have earned. Pay for this by preserving the tax on the wealthiest multimillion-dollar estates in America.
Refocus on Real Security for America: In contrast with Bush's pledge to stay in Iraq indefinitely, sapping our military and breeding terrorists, put forth a firm timeline for removing the troops from Iraq. Use the money saved to invest in security at home. Lead an aggressive international alliance to track down stateless terrorists, to get loose nukes under control and to fight nuclear proliferation.
REAL Election Reform: It's working in Arizona, Connecticut and several municipalities around the country and it would work on a national level as well. What am I talking about? Public Financing of Elections. Take big money and special interests out of the equation and then the candidates will be beholden to NOBODY but their constituents and the REAL candidate's message will come through.
Not enough? How about House Resolution 4682, the Honest Leadership and Government Act of 2006, authored by Nancy Pelosi and cosponsored by the following 162 representatives?:
Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY]
Rep. Thomas Allen [D-ME]
Rep. Robert Andrews [D-NJ]
Rep. Joe Baca [D-CA]
Rep. Brian Baird [D-WA]
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]
Rep. John Barrow [D-GA]
Rep. Melissa Bean [D-IL]
Rep. Xavier Becerra [D-CA]
Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV]
Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]
Rep. Robert Berry [D-AR]
Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA]
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU]
Rep. Leonard Boswell [D-IA]
Rep. Sherrod Brown [D-OH]
Rep. George Butterfield [D-NC]
Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]
Rep. Benjamin Cardin [D-MD]
Rep. Russ Carnahan [D-MO]
Rep. Julia Carson [D-IN]
Rep. Ed Case [D-HI]
Rep. Ben Chandler [D-KY]
Rep. William Clay [D-MO]
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D-MO]
Rep. James Clyburn [D-SC]
Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]
Rep. Jim Cooper [D-TN]
Rep. Joseph Crowley [D-NY]
Rep. Henry Cuellar [D-TX]
Rep. Elijah Cummings [D-MD]
Rep. Artur Davis [D-AL]
Rep. Danny Davis [D-IL]
Rep. James Davis [D-FL]
Rep. Lincoln Davis [D-TN]
Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]
Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]
Rep. William Delahunt [D-MA]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D-WA]
Rep. John Dingell [D-MI]
Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D-TX]
Rep. Thomas Edwards [D-TX]
Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D-IL]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]
Rep. Bob Etheridge [D-NC]
Rep. Lane Evans [D-IL]
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D-AS]
Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]
Rep. Chaka Fattah [D-PA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]
Rep. Harold Ford [D-TN]
Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]
Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D-TX]
Rep. Barton Gordon [D-TN]
Rep. Al Green [D-TX]
Rep. Raymond Green [D-TX]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL]
Rep. Jane Harman [D-CA]
Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]
Rep. Stephanie Herseth [D-SD]
Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D-TX]
Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]
Rep. Darlene Hooley [D-OR]
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D-MD]
Rep. Jay Inslee [D-WA]
Rep. Steve Israel [D-NY]
Rep. Jesse Jackson [D-IL]
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D-TX]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D-TX]
Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]
Rep. Dale Kildee [D-MI]
Rep. Ronald Kind [D-WI]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]
Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]
Rep. Tom Lantos [D-CA]
Rep. Rick Larsen [D-WA]
Rep. John Larson [D-CT]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]
Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]
Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]
Rep. Stephen Lynch [D-MA]
Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]
Rep. Edward Markey [D-MA]
Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA]
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN]
Rep. James McDermott [D-WA]
Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]
Rep. Michael McNulty [D-NY]
Rep. Martin Meehan [D-MA]
Rep. Kendrick Meek [D-FL]
Rep. Charles Melancon [D-LA]
Rep. Michael Michaud [D-ME]
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald [D-CA]
Rep. R. Bradley Miller [D-NC]
Rep. George Miller [D-CA]
Rep. Dennis Moore [D-KS]
Rep. James Moran [D-VA]
Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]
Rep. Grace Napolitano [D-CA]
Rep. Richard Neal [D-MA]
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Rep. David Obey [D-WI]
Rep. John Olver [D-MA]
Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D-TX]
Rep. Major Owens [D-NY]
Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]
Rep. William Pascrell [D-NJ]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D-MN]
Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D-ND]
Rep. David Price [D-NC]
Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]
Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D-TX]
Rep. Mike Ross [D-AR]
Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D-MD]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D-OH]
Rep. John Salazar [D-CO]
Rep. Linda Sanchez [D-CA]
Rep. Bernard Sanders [I-VT]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]
Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D-PA]
Rep. David Scott [D-GA]
Rep. Robert Scott [D-VA]
Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]
Rep. Ike Skelton [D-MO]
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]
Rep. Adam Smith [D-WA]
Rep. Hilda Solis [D-CA]
Rep. John Spratt [D-SC]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]
Rep. Ted Strickland [D-OH]
Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D-CA]
Rep. Gene Taylor [D-MS]
Rep. C. Michael Thompson [D-CA]
Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]
Rep. Edolphus Towns [D-NY]
Rep. Mark Udall [D-CO]
Rep. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D-MD]
Rep. Peter Visclosky [D-IN]
Rep. Debbie Schultz [D-FL]
Rep. Maxine Waters [D-CA]
Rep. Diane Watson [D-CA]
Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]
Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY]
Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]
Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]
Rep. David Wu [D-OR]
To be sure, it echos some of what I've mentioned, but goes even farther. What does it do? Let's look:
THE HONEST LEADERSHIP
AND OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT
Democrats offer an aggressive reform package to reverse Republican excesses and restore the public trust. Our program for change embodies the following provisions:
Close the Revolving Door. Close the revolving door between the Congress and lobbying firms by doubling (from one year to two) the cooling-off period during which lawmakers, senior Congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials are prohibited from lobbying their former offices. Eliminate floor privileges for former Members of Congress and officers of the Senate and House who return to lobby.
Toughen Public Disclosure of Lobbyist Activity. Significantly expand the information lobbyists must disclose - including campaign contributions and client fees. Require them to file disclosure reports electronically, and increase the frequency of those filings. Require lobbyists to certify that they did not violate the rules, and make them subject to criminal penalties for false certifications.
Ban Lobbyist Gifts and Travel. Prohibit the receipt of gifts, including gifts of meals, entertainment and travel, from lobbyists.
Shut Down Pay-to-Play Schemes Like the "K Street Project." End efforts like the "K Street Project," which Republicans created to tell corporations and lobbying firms whom they should hire in exchange for political access.
Disclosure of Outside Job Negotiations. Requires lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating private sector jobs, and requires Executive Branch officials who are negotiating private sector jobs to receive approval from the independent Office of Government Ethics.
Prohibit "Dead of Night" Special Interest Provisions. Require that all conference committee meetings be open to the public and that members of the conference committee have a public opportunity to vote on all amendments. Make copies of conference reports available to Members, and post them publicly on the Internet, 24 hours before consideration (unless waived by a supermajority vote).
Zero Tolerance for Contract Cheaters. Restore accountability and openness in federal contracting by subjecting major contract actions to public disclosure and aggressive competition; criminally prosecuting contractors who cheat taxpayers, with penalties including suspension and debarment; imposing stiff criminal and civil penalties for wartime fraud on government contracting; prohibiting contractors with conflicts of interest from conducting oversight or writing contract requirements they could bid on; mandating full disclosure of contract overcharges; creating tough penalties for improper no-bid contracts; and closing the revolving door between federal contract officials and private contractors.
Prohibit Cronyism in Key Appointments. End rampant cronyism by requiring that any individual appointed to a position involving public safety possess proven credentials, and training or expertise in one or more areas relevant to the position.
Now. . .Let's just see how far this gets before it's tossed aside like other Democratic legislation. . .Better yet, let's see what kind of argument Republicans can throw up to REAL accountability.
In short, tell your Republican friends to put a sock in it when they say we have nothing to run on. Just tell them what I told him:
"YOUR party took us from surplus to record deficits. YOUR party was on watch when 9/11 happened. YOUR party did nothing to help hurricane victims in the south, even though you knew the dangers DAYS in advance about the levees and even though New Orleans looks frozen in time from 6 months ago. YOUR party has the blood of over 2300 American service men and women on their hands, fighting an illegal war, looking for WMDs you KNEW didn't exist. YOUR party is spying on Americans illegally and disregarding the Constitution, calling it a "goddammed piece of paper" and it' s YOUR party that'll be leading the mass-exodus from Capitol Hill in November of this year."
Nuff said.