Well folks, it appears that Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama's 1st Congressional District has pulled a Jim DeMint by resigning from Congress and moving to something more "lucrative." While DeMint is now in the very conservative Heritage Foundation, Bonner has taken a position at the University of Alabama System as its vice chancellor of government relations and economic development.
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., will resign from Congress on Aug. 15 to work at the University of Alabama System as their vice chancellor of government relations and economic development.
"While I had every intention of completing this term, sometimes opportunities come along that are so rare - and so special - that it forces you to alter even your best-made plans," Bonner said at a Mobile, Ala., press conference on Thursday. "After considerable thought and heartfelt prayer, I decided to accept this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to work for The University of Alabama System."
Not sure if Bonner thinks life is too short where Congress is not offering him any ability to make any "accomplishments" such as these votes:
http://www.ontheissues.org/...
Voted NO on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan. (Mar 2011)
Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
Or these votes:
Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
Voted YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
Or these votes:
Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (Apr 2011)
Voted YES on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund. (Apr 2011)
Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Voted YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
Voted NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES to repeal Affordable Healthcare Act (Jan 2011)
Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad. (Jul 2011)
Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
Or these other votes:
Voted YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling. (May 2011)
Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
Voted NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution. (Jun 2009)
Voted NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
Bar greenhouse gases from Clean Air Act rules. (Jan 2009)
Jo, you've done a heck of a job in the House of Representatives!
Now the next information comes:
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
Gov. Robert Bentley, R-Ala., will set a schedule for a special election to fill the seat, Jennifer Ardis, the governor's press secretary, told CBSNews.com.
"Congressman Bonner has made a tremendous difference for the people of South Alabama," Bentley said. "He's a devoted family man and a true friend. I've enjoyed working with him as Governor, and I wish him nothing but the best."
So with an inevitable special election campaign to come, will the Democratic Party seize on this opportunity like they did in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District or will they wimp out? We know the Alabama Democratic Party never could find a challenger for Jo Bonner last year.
However, given South Carolina's 1st Congressional District special election allowed Elizabeth Colbert-Busch to obtain 45% of the votes in a deep red region of the state, you wonder if maybe now the Democratic Party out to actually start targeting the red Congressional districts more in the U.S.
http://www.enr-scvotes.org/...
If you need to, contact Alabama's Democratic Party:
Website: http://www.aldemocrats.org/
E-mail: info@aladems.org
Phone: (334) 262-2221
Fax: (334) 262-6474
And the DCCC as well:
Website: http://dccc.org/
Main Phone Number: (202) 863-1500
Contact: http://www.dccc.org/...