Campaign

The Democrats’ hopes of gaining control of the Unites States Senate concentrate on their efforts in targeting seven Republican incumbents:  George Allen, Rick Santorum, Lincoln Chafee, Conrad Burns, Mike DeWine, Jim Talent, and Jon Kyl.  According to recently released fundraising numbers, Republican incumbents lead their challengers $40.3 million to $16.1 million in these seven targeted races.  This is a $24.2 million dollar deficit that the Democrats must supplement out of their campaign committee in order to match spending in these contests.  Our incumbents have known for quite some time that the political climate has been a challenge and is going to remain tough through November.  They have responded by putting together top notch campaign teams and raising the resources necessary to get their messages out back home.  When Republicans maintain the majority after the November elections, it will be as a result of the stellar performances of our incumbents.

It's very clear that that we're living within the McCain-Feingold finance
reform.  A level playing field is something that Democrats and Republicans
support.

Last month, Representative Mike Castle (R-DE) and I formally requested a meeting with President Bush to discuss our Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810). This bill would expand current federal embryonic stem cell research policy and create an ethical framework for conducting this research, which could hold the cure to such diseases as Alzheimer's and diabetes. Unfortunately the President sent us a letter denying our request yesterday.

And while it's regrettable that President Bush will not grant us the common courtesy of a meeting, it's just insulting that he sent his head political advisor to my hometown with a veto threat. Earlier this week, Karl Rove met with the Denver Post editorial board and announced that President Bush will veto H.R. 810 if it passes th U.S. Senate. This research is far too important to let Rove turn into a wedge issue like flag burning or gay marriage.

I would still welcome the chance to sit down with the President and talk to him about the mistake of making his first veto a bill which would help 100 million Americans and their families. This issue should be above politics and certainly above Karl Rove's cynical electoral strategy.

Obviously, I am pleased with the Court's decision.  I think it speaks to the Republican's strategy to undermine the will of the people.  This is about the Court stepping in and stopping that strategy and I am pleased with the decision.

The complexity of the Republican prescription drug program has left many of America's seniors and people with disabilities without access to affordable prescription drugs. This week, House Democrats announced a plan that will change the confusing Republican drug plan by bringing affordability, simplicity, and reliability to the benefit. As part of our New Direction for America, the Democratic Prescription for Change will make prescription drugs more affordable by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices and using those savings to close the donut hole; providing seniors with the simple and reliable option of a plan administered by Medicare; and ensuring reliable and uninterrupted access to prescription drugs by stopping drug plans from increasing co-payments and creating burdensome bureaucracy. Democrats stand united to provide these commonsense improvements. Working together, we will put seniors and people with disabilities first.

As we leave here for this recess, Republicans have failed to pass an increase in the minimum wage. They have failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform. They have failed to pass lobbying reform. They have failed to pass a budget. They have failed to pass the Voting Rights Act. They have failed to pass the 9/11 Commission recommendations. They have failed to pass legislation to protect the privacy of our veterans. Democrats are here to say that in every respect, the Republican Congress is falling short. Our nation is going in the wrong direction, and over two-thirds of the American people have stated that. Congress is recessing while the urgent needs of Americans remain unmet. It is time for a new direction.

Learn more about the Democratic Prescription for Change: http://www.housedemocrats.gov/news/librarydetail.cfm?library_content_id=797

I am disappointed that the Supreme Court is endorsing the idea that professional, partisan politicians can overhaul their state’s Congressional map whenever they feel it will benefit them personally. This will lead to a free-for-all through which the party in power in any state capitol at any time can negatively impact the people’s business in Washington. Partisan gerrymandering promotes ideologically extreme views, shrinking the political center in Washington. Few in Congress are willing to work together to accomplish the goals the American people expect us to accomplish. Read more...

It would be far more productive for Senator Nelson to talk about what he is for than what he is against. The bill that he filed provides for drilling that is only 25 miles different from the House bill. At some point, he needs to take off his campaign hat and start legislating.

With the selection of a new unity government, the Iraqi people have taken important steps in their effort to build a country based on democratic principles and the rule of law. Congress should now focus on providing support to meet the economic, and security milestones that will allow American troops to return home. Instead, John Kerry and the Democrats are posturing for their political base with arbitrary deadlines and immediate withdrawal. This sends the wrong message at the wrong time to the millions of Iraqis who have welcomed the removal of Saddam Hussein, supported a new constitution, and voted in their country's first free elections in history.

My concern was two-fold: 1) The Democratic Caucus does not have rules in place to remove a rank and file member who has not been arrested or indicted for any wrongdoing. In my opinion, due process requires objective standards for removing a duly elected Member of Congress from his or her committee, under any circumstances. There are no such standards now. To remove a member in the absence of those objective standards is inherently arbitrary and invites abuse. Our Democratic Caucus should have established rules governing this situation and then revisited whether Mr. Jefferson deserves to be removed under those agreed on rules. 2) The Democratic Caucus has had members with problems before, Gerry Studds and Gary Condit come to mind, and yet we have never punished a sitting member in this manner. I was and am concerned that by taking this action against Mr. Jefferson we are setting a dangerous double-standard. Our party is supposed to stand for the rights of the accused and the value of due process even if doing so isn't popular or politically expedient.

I think its absolutely beyond unconscionable that she would use the grieving of people who have lost their loved ones in order to say outrageous things to make a personal profit, the putrid trash she writes.