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First 100 Hours - New Direction Continues

January 12, 2007

With our new Democratic Majority, House Democrats have pledged to honor the American people's faith in us, and restore America's faith in the future with a New Direction for America. Our New Direction begins now with a commitment to integrity, civility, and fiscal responsibility. We believe the voice of every American should be heard. We will work to make our nation safer, our economy fairer, and health care more affordable. We will work to broaden college opportunity, break the link between lobbyists and legislation, and commit to pay-as-you-go budgeting. These are the principles by which we will govern. And under these principles we will take our country in a new direction.

Democrats will introduce this legislation on the first day of the new Congress, and will pass it within the first 100 legislative hours. This new direction represents the priorities of a unified Democratic Party. This is our pledge to the American people.

	We will start by cleaning up Congress, ending the link between lobbyists and legislation. *H.Res. 6, Title II, "Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress." passed 430-1, Jan. 4th, 2007*
	We will commit to pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending. *H.Res. 6, Title V, "Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress." passed 280-152, Jan. 5th, 2007*
	We will make our nation safer by implementing the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission. *H.R. 1, "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007." passed 299-128, Jan. 9th, 2007*
	We will make our economy fairer, and start by raising the minimum wage. We will not pass a pay raise for Congress until there is an increase in the minimum wage. *H.R. 2, "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007." passed 315-116, Jan. 10th, 2007*
	We will promote stem cell research to offer real hope to the millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases. *H.R. 3, " Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act." passed 253-174, Jan. 11th, 2007*
	We will make health care more affordable for all Americans, and we will begin by fixing the Medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by negotiating lower drug prices. *H.R. 4, "Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act." passed 255-170, Jan. 12th, 2007*
	We will broaden college opportunity, and we will begin by cutting interest rates for student loans in half. Vote expected 1/17/07
	We will energize America by achieving energy independence, and we will begin by rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for Big Oil.
	We will guarantee a dignified retirement, and we will begin by fighting any attempt to privatize Social Security.

Sour grapes Legislature ends on an ugly note

December 18, 2006

Contact: Brian Rothenberg

(Columbus) – Limping home for the Holiday’s after a year of change in Ohio, the lame duck Ohio Legislature has turned to ‘sour grapes’ after activities that will long be remembered as a year of political disgust among Ohio citizens.

After Ohio citizens soundly rejected pay-to-play politics Nov. 8, ‘sour grapes’ legislators – many in their last voting days – have sided against Ohioans in a brazen display of pay-to-play revenge legislation.

“The citizens of Ohio deserve better than a bunch of legislators meeting at Tony’s Bar and scheming revenge legislation which suddenly is in hearings the next day,” said Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director of ProgressOhio.org. Tony’s Restaurant is a popular Statehouse watering hole.

“Given the ticking of the clock, Governor Taft has the ultimate veto pen in this situation if he would veto legislation at the 11th hour, by leaving no time for legislative over-ride. We urge the Governor to veto this legislation.” Among the revenge packages at the Statehouse are bills:

• Punishing labor, progressives and Ohioans for passing Issue 2:

o Legislators sided with donor corporations over two million Ohioans who voted for the minimum wage: Using questionable enabling legislation to protect bad-apple employers who failed to pay minimum wage and eliminating the wage for health care workers, fire fighters and other citizens.

• Punishing Ohioans for electing an active consumer-oriented Attorney General:

o Protecting Corporations over Consumers and children:

• Limited non-economic damages to $5,000 for consumer fraud: “Sour grapes legislators added this corporate Christmas gift to an unrelated bill. Beware of those scam artists, as these lame duck legislators have sided with the unscrupulous over their constituents.

• Limited damages to children brain-damaged by lead paint exposure: Siding with large paint manufacturers over children, the Ohio legislature is attempting to protect paint manufacturers from exposure to lawsuits and capping damages for children suffering brain injury and learning disability from lead exposure.

• Punishing Ohioans for electing bi-partisan government by attacking the Administrations of Governor-elect Strickland and other statewide officeholders ability to govern.

o Changing the laws for rule-making and giving them the power to create gridlock in state agencies: In a bold effort at ‘sour grapes’ GOP legislators seemingly over-night changed laws over rule-making to give more legislative power to alter or block administration rules which can make it difficult for the executive branch to effectively govern.

• Punishing journalists and honest government groups because of “pay-to-play” investigations by closing legislative public sessions:

o Allowing House and Senate committees to meet in closed sessions outside of public view. On the heels of losing power over the Noe investigation and a variety of pay-to-play revelations, the General Assembly passed a law allowing itself closed-door meetings outside of public view.

• Punishing urban communities by eroding the Ohio Constitution’s rights of local control (home-rule):

o Over-riding of local laws involving gun regulation including assault weapons.

o Over-riding local laws concerning red-light cameras.

“You can tell the audacity of this revenge legislation when you consider that there are literally hundreds of bills that have had hearings the past two years and lie dormant, but these bills miraculously pop up one day and move to committee the next day,” said Rothenberg.

Tim Burga of the Ohio AFL-CIO and co-chair of Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage said “HB 690 goes beyond bad politics – it’s bad public policy.” He added that “The Coalition attempted to address the concerns of our opponents raised during the campaign and we met with the wage and hour division. At every step we have tried to do the right thing for the people of Ohio while our opponents have sought only to appease the narrow self-interest of their supporters.”

“What is really sour is the fact that Ohioans passed a Constitutional Amendment for the Minimum Wage and legislators are attempting a month later to allow opt-outs for corporations speaks volumes about the arrogance of this legislative activity,” said Rothenberg. It is time for this Legislature – repudiated at the November ballot box -- to go home. Governor Taft has the opportunity to let the will of the people elected November 8 to make these decisions.”

Record use of absentee ballots in Ohio's 2006 election

December 18, 2006 - The Associated Press

The number of absentee ballots cast in recent elections by Ohio voters:

2006

Total issued - 707,734
Total counted - 639,478
Percentage of all voters - 15.3%

2004

Total issued - 653,012
Total counted - 607,636
Percentage of all voters - 10.6%

2002

Total issued - 249,988
Total counted - 229,512
Percentage of all voters - 6.8%
Does not include Miami County

Comparing vote totals in last 3 elections

December 11, 2006 - The Associated Press

Here are the vote totals, percentage of major-party votes cast and seats won for Democratic and Republican congressional candidates in Ohio's 18 districts in 2002, 2004 and 2006:

2006

Democrats - 1,969,596 votes; 52.5%; 7 seats
Republicans - 1,783,571 votes; 47.5%; 11 seats

2004

Republicans - 2,650,122 votes; 51.3%; 12 seats
Democrats - 2,514,615 votes; 48.7%; 6 seats

2002

Republicans - 1,775,555 votes; 57.1%; 12 seats
Democrats - 1,331,614 votes; 42.9%; 6 seats

NOTE: Totals tallied from Ohio secretary of state's official results for 2002 and 2004 and unofficial results for 2006, which do not include late provisional and absentee votes counted in Districts 2 and 15.

Service in the Armed Forces

Service in the Armed Forces -- this is an eye-opener

Democrats:

David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star and Bronze Star, Vietnam; Paraplegic from war injuries; Served in Congress
Bill Clinton: Did not serve; Student deferments; Entered draft and received #311
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star
Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and AirMedal with 18 Clusters
Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an Army
journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53
Bob Kerrey: Lt. J.G. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor; Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V
George McGovern: Silver Star and DFC during WWII
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain; POW; Purple Heart; Silver Star
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Mike Thompson: Staff Sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart

Republicans:

Spencer Abraham: did not serve
Eliot Abrams: did not serve
John Ashcroft: did not serve; seven deferments to teach business
Roy Blunt: did not serve
George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard;
failed to show up for required medical check
Jeb Bush: did not serve
Saxby Chambliss: did not serve - "Bad knee"; attacked Max Cleland's patriotism
Dick Cheney: did not serve; several deferments - the last by marriage
Christopher Cox: did not serve
Tom Delay: did not serve
John Engler: did not serve
Douglas Feith: did not serve
Bill Frist: did not serve
Newt Gingrich: did not serve
Rudy Giuliani: did not serve
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer
Phil Gramm: did not serve
Dennis Hastert: did not serve
Tim Hutchison: did not serve
Jack Kemp: did not serve - "Knee problem, " although continued in NFL for 8 years as quarterback
John Kyl: did not serve
Trent Lott: did not serve
John McCain: Vietnam POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross
Mitch McConnell: did not serve
John M. McHugh: did not serve
George Pataki: did not serve
Richard Perle: did not serve
Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard
Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve
Karl Rove: did not serve
Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor
Rick Santorum: did not serve
Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base
Richard Shelby: did not serve
JC Watts: did not serve
Vin Weber: did not serve
Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve

Pundits, Judges & Preachers:

Bill Bennett: did not serve
Pat Buchanan: did not serve
Paul Gigot: did not serve
Sean Hannity: did not serve
Bill Kristol: did not serve
Rush Limbaugh: did not serve
Chris Matthews: did not serve
Michael Medved: did not serve
Bill O'Reilly: did not serve
Ralph Reed: did not serve
Michael Savage: did not serve
Antonin Scalia: did not serve
Kenneth Starr: did not serve
Clarence Thomas: did not serve
John Wayne: did not serve
George Will: did not serve

Please keep this information circulating
--Illinois State Sen. Howard W. Carroll