Earmark Update
Posted on Jul. 29, 10 | 09:33 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Pork
A couple of things caught my eye this morning about earmarks.
First, there's this POLITICO story about how Sen. Richard Shelby (R) is helping former aides secure earmarks. To the tune of over $250 million. Yeah, the earmark process isn't corrupt.
Second, House Democrats are going to consider the Treasury-HUD appropriations bill today. Reps. Hensarling, Campbell, and Flake all offered amendments to the bill that would strip out wasteful earmarks. Despite approps bills historically being conducted under an open rule (all amendments are allowed), the Democrats said NO to Hensarling and Campbell, and then told Flake he could only offer 4 of his 10 amendments.
That means taxpayers will no be able to question the merits of a $500,000 streetscaping project in Canton, Ohio, or a $650,000 earmark for a creek path in Vermont, among hundreds of other pork projects in the bill.
Today is just another corrupt, business-as-usual day in Washington, DC. Be grateful, taxpayers, the earmarkers in charge know what's best for us.
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First, there's this POLITICO story about how Sen. Richard Shelby (R) is helping former aides secure earmarks. To the tune of over $250 million. Yeah, the earmark process isn't corrupt.
Second, House Democrats are going to consider the Treasury-HUD appropriations bill today. Reps. Hensarling, Campbell, and Flake all offered amendments to the bill that would strip out wasteful earmarks. Despite approps bills historically being conducted under an open rule (all amendments are allowed), the Democrats said NO to Hensarling and Campbell, and then told Flake he could only offer 4 of his 10 amendments.
That means taxpayers will no be able to question the merits of a $500,000 streetscaping project in Canton, Ohio, or a $650,000 earmark for a creek path in Vermont, among hundreds of other pork projects in the bill.
Today is just another corrupt, business-as-usual day in Washington, DC. Be grateful, taxpayers, the earmarkers in charge know what's best for us.
Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13770
Member Comments (1)
Zach Wamps Should Secede from Appropriations
Posted on Jul. 29, 10 | 09:18 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Pork
Here's a scathing Wall Street Journal editorial on Rep. Zach Wamp, a Republican who is trying to shed his squishiness ahead of November by sounding like an extreme winger.
Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13769
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Quote of the Day
Posted on Jul. 29, 10 | 08:37 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Crazy Liberals
Here's a laughable headline from today's The Hill newspaper:
And by "mending," Obama means, "I'm going to raise taxes on you."
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Obama, Wall Street look to mend fences
And by "mending," Obama means, "I'm going to raise taxes on you."
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Club for Growth Launches Television Ad in TN-03 GOP Primary
Posted on Jul. 28, 10 | 10:22 AM by Michael Connolly | Topic: Elections
WASHINGTON – The Club for Growth today released the following television advertisement in the Republican primary campaign in Tennessee’s third congressional district, contrasting the positions of former state GOP Chair Robin Smith and trial lawyer Chuck Fleischmann on congressional spending earmarks:
The primary will be held August 5. The ad will air via a substantial buy on both broadcast and cable television throughout the district.
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The primary will be held August 5. The ad will air via a substantial buy on both broadcast and cable television throughout the district.
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PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.
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OK-05 Primary Results from Last Night
Posted on Jul. 28, 10 | 08:47 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Elections
Oklahoma held their primary elections last night. In the 5th congressional district, Club PAC-endorsed Kevin Calvey came in second place, thus advancing to an Aug. 24 runoff with James Lankford. Here are the complete results:
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| CANDIDATE | VOTES | PERCENT |
| Lankford | 18,755 | 34% |
| Calvey | 18,143 | 32% |
| Thompson | 10,007 | 18% |
| Jett | 5,955 | 11% |
| Roy | 1,548 | 3% |
| Flanigan | 762 | 1% |
| Johnson | 686 | 1% |
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A Pox on All Politicians!
Posted on Jul. 27, 10 | 01:08 PM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Elections
I enjoyed this blurb in the WSJ Political Diary ($) by John Fund, who always has something insightful to say.
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Why Is the GOP Winning? Because of Voters Who Hate the GOP
It seems every election finds political pundits trying to come up with a shorthand description for the latest bloc of voters to exercise undue influence in the current year's races.
In 2000, "soccer moms" were the group du jour, and enough of them were disgusted with the Clinton scandals that they cost Al Gore the White House. In 2004, it was "security moms," who in a post-9/11 world were concerned about terrorism and the safety of their children. In 2008, a video featuring "Obama Girl" captured the enthusiasm the Democratic candidate generated among young voters.
This year, the hands-down winner for the key voting bloc might be called "Tea Party Supporter." Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm, reports a major reason Republicans are poised to make major gains this year is that they "are cleaning up with a voting bloc that accounts for 26% of the country and could end up being the most important group of people at the polls this fall: voters who hate both congressional Democrats and congressional Republicans."
While these voters, who are mostly white and mostly male, harbor no loyalty to either party, this year they are much more upset with the Democrats who hold power in the White House and Congress. "The GOP has a 57-19 generic lead with this group of voters that could perhaps be described as the angriest segment of the electorate," reports PPP. "Their support is fueling the GOP's success right now."
The party-affiliation breakdown of the "pox on all politicians" segment is fascinating. Only 44% are Republicans, while 34% are independents and 21% are Democrats. That breakdown roughly mirrors the profile of people who in other polls identify themselves as Tea Party supporters. Interestingly, however, PPP finds that only about 35% of the "angriest segment" actually call themselves Tea Partiers. That's compared to about 25% of voters in the electorate as a whole who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters.
Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13757
It seems every election finds political pundits trying to come up with a shorthand description for the latest bloc of voters to exercise undue influence in the current year's races.
In 2000, "soccer moms" were the group du jour, and enough of them were disgusted with the Clinton scandals that they cost Al Gore the White House. In 2004, it was "security moms," who in a post-9/11 world were concerned about terrorism and the safety of their children. In 2008, a video featuring "Obama Girl" captured the enthusiasm the Democratic candidate generated among young voters.
This year, the hands-down winner for the key voting bloc might be called "Tea Party Supporter." Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm, reports a major reason Republicans are poised to make major gains this year is that they "are cleaning up with a voting bloc that accounts for 26% of the country and could end up being the most important group of people at the polls this fall: voters who hate both congressional Democrats and congressional Republicans."
While these voters, who are mostly white and mostly male, harbor no loyalty to either party, this year they are much more upset with the Democrats who hold power in the White House and Congress. "The GOP has a 57-19 generic lead with this group of voters that could perhaps be described as the angriest segment of the electorate," reports PPP. "Their support is fueling the GOP's success right now."
The party-affiliation breakdown of the "pox on all politicians" segment is fascinating. Only 44% are Republicans, while 34% are independents and 21% are Democrats. That breakdown roughly mirrors the profile of people who in other polls identify themselves as Tea Party supporters. Interestingly, however, PPP finds that only about 35% of the "angriest segment" actually call themselves Tea Partiers. That's compared to about 25% of voters in the electorate as a whole who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters.
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Sen. DeMint Discusses Permanent Death Tax Repeal
Posted on Jul. 26, 10 | 10:50 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Taxes"The K Street Wing of the Republican Party"
Posted on Jul. 21, 10 | 08:59 AM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Pork
If you haven't heard of columnist and author Tim Carney, you should. He's carved out a great niche in journalism where he writes about crony capitalism - attacking Republicans and Democrats alike. In a recent column for the Washington Examiner, Carney writes about lobbyist Trent Lott wanting to "co-opt" the new freshmen Senators who might actually fix some of the problems that ail our country right now. In his piece, he gives a sadly true description of some Republicans:
Shazam! If you want want to check out Carney's books, go here. Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13721
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There are Republican candidates, officials and activists who don't like the way Washington works and who seriously want to cut government back to sustainable and constitutional levels. And then there are the more "reasonable" grown-ups -- Republicans, in and out of office, who like talking about this sort of thing (and may kind of believe it) but who understand Washington as a game, or even a racket: Raise a fuss, quote Ronald Reagan, attack the other side, exalt capitalism -- then get rich off the taxpayer.
Shazam! If you want want to check out Carney's books, go here. Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13721
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Sen. Carte Goodwin Added to Club's Power Ranking
Posted on Jul. 20, 10 | 05:01 PM by Andrew Roth | Topic: Crazy Liberals
I'ved added newly-minted Senator Carte Goodwin to the Club's Power Ranking. He was sworn in today after being appointed by West Virginia Governor Manchin to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd.
I voted him down on the Power Ranking because his very first vote in the Senate was to extend unemployment benefits for a record 99 weeks without any offsetting spending cuts.
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I voted him down on the Power Ranking because his very first vote in the Senate was to extend unemployment benefits for a record 99 weeks without any offsetting spending cuts.
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Club for Growth PAC Launches Ads in Michigan-3 and Kansas-1
Posted on Jul. 20, 10 | 11:32 AM by Michael Connolly | Topic: Elections
WASHINGTON – Club for Growth PAC today released two television ads, which will air in districts in Michigan and Kansas, respectively.
The first ad concerns the Republican primary campaign in Michigan’s third congressional district, reminding Michiganders that State Senator Bill Hardiman voted for both the economically disastrous Michigan Business Tax, and the huge surtax imposed on top of it in 2007.
Club for Growth PAC today also released the following ad, "Not So Much," in Kansas's first congressional district. The ad exposes the liberal voting record of self-styled "conservative" Jim Barnett, who in fact supports higher taxes and government-run health care.
Both ads begin airing today via substantial buys on broadcast and cable television throughout their respective districts.
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The first ad concerns the Republican primary campaign in Michigan’s third congressional district, reminding Michiganders that State Senator Bill Hardiman voted for both the economically disastrous Michigan Business Tax, and the huge surtax imposed on top of it in 2007.
Club for Growth PAC today also released the following ad, "Not So Much," in Kansas's first congressional district. The ad exposes the liberal voting record of self-styled "conservative" Jim Barnett, who in fact supports higher taxes and government-run health care.
Both ads begin airing today via substantial buys on broadcast and cable television throughout their respective districts.
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PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.
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Club for Growth Responds to Trent Lott’s Cynical Snipes at Tea Parties, DeMint
Posted on Jul. 19, 10 | 01:22 PM by Michael Connolly | Topic: Other
WASHINGTON – Club for Growth President Chris Chocola today responded to remarks by former Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott in yesterday’s Washington Post, which disparaged both the Tea Party movement and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint.
“Corporate lobbyist Trent Lott is apparently afraid Congress’s incoming freshman class will put an end to the earmarks, handouts, and bailouts that make him rich,” Chocola said. “He should be. Real economic conservative reform, like that advocated by the Club for Growth and the Tea Parties, will put the K Street favor factory out of business.”
“The way forward for a lasting and deserving Republican majority is to embrace the pro-growth, fiscal conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual responsibility, and reject the self-serving counsel of lobbyists for the big government status quo.”
Chocola also answered Lott’s concern that incoming freshmen might follow the lead of pro-growth, limited government conservatives like Jim DeMint. “To paraphrase the former Leader himself, if recent Senates had had more Jim DeMints and fewer Trent Lotts making economic policy, ‘we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years’,” Chocola said.
In Sunday’s Post, Lott said of 2011’s likely incoming Tea Party-friendly freshmen, “We don’t need a lot of Jim DeMint disciples … As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.” According to OpenSecrets.org, Lott is currently a registered lobbyist for corporations that supported the 2008 Wall Street bailouts, the 2009 stimulus, the cap-and-trade energy tax, and the financial regulatory reform bill.
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“Corporate lobbyist Trent Lott is apparently afraid Congress’s incoming freshman class will put an end to the earmarks, handouts, and bailouts that make him rich,” Chocola said. “He should be. Real economic conservative reform, like that advocated by the Club for Growth and the Tea Parties, will put the K Street favor factory out of business.”
“The way forward for a lasting and deserving Republican majority is to embrace the pro-growth, fiscal conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual responsibility, and reject the self-serving counsel of lobbyists for the big government status quo.”
Chocola also answered Lott’s concern that incoming freshmen might follow the lead of pro-growth, limited government conservatives like Jim DeMint. “To paraphrase the former Leader himself, if recent Senates had had more Jim DeMints and fewer Trent Lotts making economic policy, ‘we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years’,” Chocola said.
In Sunday’s Post, Lott said of 2011’s likely incoming Tea Party-friendly freshmen, “We don’t need a lot of Jim DeMint disciples … As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.” According to OpenSecrets.org, Lott is currently a registered lobbyist for corporations that supported the 2008 Wall Street bailouts, the 2009 stimulus, the cap-and-trade energy tax, and the financial regulatory reform bill.
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PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.
Permalink: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/?postID=13711Member Comments (1)
