Sunday, the Houston Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a candidate's forum in their beautiful community center. They heard from, and grilled state and federal candidates. The audience was extraordinarily well informed, and it was particularly nice to see a huge number of young people.

The moderator, who also writes a column on the economy for the Houston Chronicle was well informed and kept up the pace, from education, to local services, to the economy and loss of jobs, to trade and immigration (and the tremendous impact on our social services), to tax reform and social reform, to the Iraq War.  Judging from the applause, four billion dollars a week for a war of choice is not popular. Read more...

I am Bill Winter and I am running for Congress in CO-06 against Tom Tancredo. You can learn more here. I recently read an article talking about how the House passed a $448 billion Military Spending Bill. Notice the 1.9 Billion dollar line item for "for new jammers to counter improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan."

I also recently received a letter from a small Colorado-based defense contractor, EOJT, which has developed innovative products that could save American lives in Iraq. Their number one product is exactly the kind of jammer described above. In other words, the U.S. House of Representatives just authorized 1.9 BILLION dollars for development of jammers to protect our troops...

...and we have a guy who already has one ready to go right here in Colorado!

So what's the problem? I'm glad you asked! Read more...

It is long overdue for the nation's political and government leaders to come together, change course and begin to implement policies that more fairly allocate the burden of the war effort on our citizens.  We are engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that no doubt will have lasting consequences for the nation in terms of costs - both human and budgetary.  Clearly the time is right to appreciate the need for national sacrifice to support such endeavors. Yet, this notion of shared sacrifice is not embodied in the Administration's domestic policies that unevenly spread the burden of the war effort by providing tax cuts to the wealthiest among us while shortchanging programs that benefit veterans and the middle class.  Current policies under the Republican-controlled government expect veterans to sacrifice twice - once when they serve their country in uniform, and a second time after they return to civilian life - in the form of higher health care fees, pared-back health care budgets, and delayed and denied access to care.

I think we can do better and I am confident that we as Americans are capable of joining together for the common good and begin to share in the sacrifice that our servicemembers, veterans and military families are currently experiencing.  Unfortunately, this Administration has never asked the public to share in this burden equally.  Rather, the Administration appears to be disconnected from the harsh realities facing our servicemembers, veterans, and military families - preferring instead to promote tax cuts for the elite while shortchanging funding for veterans and military families.  In contrast, my Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives have tried to increase funding for veterans' health, expand TRICARE health care for the members of the National Guard and Reserves and worked to defeat Administrative efforts to raise veterans' health care fees.  We must continue these efforts.

Friends, the time is right to change course and head in a new direction.  We must begin asking the nation to share in the sacrifice during this time of war and truly support our servicemembers, veterans and military families.  Our comfort, peace and security depend on them; they should know they can depend on us.

The day was spent south of Houston, near NASA, taking my Mom to vote and visiting Armand Bayou and the parks with picnicking veterans. Here's some e-mails I've received. I enjoy corresponding with folks, and the tech folks say I've exchanged over 100,000 personal e mails with my campaign blackberries over the last three years, excluding the e-blasts we send.

Country people are wonderful. Direct, intelligent, hard working, they've educated me that a bushel of wheat goes for about what it did in the late '40s, while diesel and tractors are hugely expensive. Horse owners face theft of horses for markets for slaughter for human consumption, as the horse slaughter prohibition stagnates in committee along with Agricultural Relief Legislation. Read more...

When political analysts label election races as “competitive, Read more...

The day was spent in large part on talk radio and answering questions generated from our press releases, available in the news section of my website. I also approved our latest TV commercial and posted to YouTube and radnofskyvideo.com.

Conservative talk radio hosts are quite polite and courteous here in Texas. The outrageous, insulting, sneering behaviour has been missing in interviews I've experienced over the last three years. The callers are well informed. There's a few ringers, all asking about ANWR to start and finishing with "per capita" arguments justifying Texans' donation of our federal gas dollars to other states the callers must feel need the dollars more than we. And there's the occasional caller like the fellow yesterday who explained about women's inability to lead and the importance I go back home and take care of my children.

I mentioned to the caller he'd have a heck of a time deciding between Kay Bailey
Hutchison and Barbara Ann Radnofsky! Read more...

Sometimes a court’s attitude demonstrates judicial activism as much as its actions. A judicial opinion can tell us much about a court’s view of its role in the balance of separated powers, the hallmark of American republican government. The New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision in Lewis v. Harris speaks volumes: “Although courts can ensure equal treatment, they cannot guarantee social acceptance, which must come through the evolving ethos of a maturing society. Read more...

Republican pro-growth tax policies have kept money in the hands of American consumers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs, fueling economic growth and creating good, high-paying jobs.  Under Republican leadership, the American economy has grown steadily for the last five years and has created new jobs for 37 consecutive months.  More Americans are working today than ever, and unemployment is low. Gas prices are falling rapidly, the stock market is setting record highs, and wages are increasing. These factors are leading to new high paying jobs and more opportunities for America’s working families.

The Commerce Department reported today a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.6 percent for the third quarter of 2006 – the 20th consecutive quarter of economic growth.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier this month that payroll employment increased by 51,000 in September, dropping the nation’s unemployment rate to a low 4.6 percent.  Since August 2003, the U.S. economy has created 6.6 million new jobs.  In the last 12 months, real wages have increased 2.2 percent, including a 4 percent jump in average weekly earnings, dramatically improving the standard of living for many Americans.

The economic outlook is strong, with 20 consecutive quarters of economic growth averaging 3 percent since Republicans enacted tax relief in 2001, and averaging 3.5 percent since Republicans enacted tax relief in 2003.  Pro-growth tax policies have also brought a surge in tax revenues, cutting the budget deficit in half three years ahead of schedule.

Argentine prosecutors have charged Iran and Hezbollah with the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA) that left 86 people dead. This is welcome news. Over the years, I have held numerous Congressional sessions and authored legislative measures with my colleagues to raise concerns over the AMIA tragedy and ensuing investigations; to underscore the international connection to the bombing; to urge the Government of Argentina to pursue the perpetrators of this deadly attack; and urge U.S. authorities to provide assistance as requested by Argentine officials. The announcement is a good first step toward justice.

Furthermore, the charges also shed light on Iran’s support for Islamist terrorists groups around the globe. I hope the international community will cooperate fully with the requests of Argentine authorities toward a successful resolution of this case.