Rep. Bilirakis: Stop Taxpayer Funding of ACORN

Capitol Offense: Where Is Congress on the Public Option

Today, I'm joining with Democracy for America, Health Care for America Now and Open Left in supporting the Stand With Dr. Dean Campaign. The idea is to put pressure on our members of Congress to find out where they stand on health care reform and whether or not they support Dr. Howard Dean's call for a reform that includes a public option. See Dean's statement here:



Chris Bowers has suggested that we use crowdsourcing techniques to find out where everyone in Congress stands, which also helps pressure them to take the right stand. So here's the plan:

1. Contact your member of Congress via e-mail and ask them the following questions:

1--Do you support a public healthcare option as part of healthcare reform?
2--If so, do you support a public healthcare option that is available on day one?
3--Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to Congress?
4--Do you support a public healthcare option that can bargain for rates from providers and big drug companies?

Don't call, do this via e-mail because we want a written response. If they are vague in answering these questions, contact them again and ask for clarification. If they don't answer you, keep contacting them (and have your friends and family contact them) until they do give you the answers.

2. Forward the responses to me at quinnelk@hotmail.com. We're going to publish an official response from as many of our members as possible so we know where everyone is. And we'll keep a track of who isn't responding so we know who to put pressure on. Similarly, once we find out who is on board and who isn't, we know who to put further pressure on down the road.

3. If you have your own blog, post the responses there, too. The more public pressure we can put on Congress, the easier we make it for them to do the right thing.

Here is the public contact info for each of our Florida members of Congress:

Rep Gus Bilirakis R FL-9 http://bilirakis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=44

Rep Allen Boyd D FL-2 http://www.house.gov/boyd/zip_authen.html

Rep Corrine Brown D FL-3 http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/IMA/issue.shtml

Rep Virginia Brown-Waite R FL-5 https://forms.house.gov/brown-waite/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm

Rep Vern Buchanan R FL-13 http://buchanan.house.gov/contact.shtml

Rep Kathy Castor D FL-11 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Rep Ander Crenshaw R FL-4 https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Rep Lincoln Diaz-Balart R FL-21 http://diaz-balart.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Rep Mario Diaz-Balart R FL-25 http://www.house.gov/formmariodiaz-balart/ic_zip_auth.htm

Rep Alan Grayson D FL-8 https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtml

Rep Alcee Hastings D FL-23 http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=

Rep Ron Klein D FL-22 klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov

Rep Suzanne Kosmas D FL-24 https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/contact-form.shtml

Rep Connie Mack R FL-14 http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactConnie.ContactForm

Sen Melquiades Martinez R FL http://martinez.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorMartinez

Rep Kendrick Meek D FL-17 http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/contact1.shtml

Rep John Mica R FL-7 http://www.house.gov/mica/messageform.shtml

Rep Jeff Miller R FL-1 http://jeffmiller.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Sen Bill Nelson D FL http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Rep Bill Posey R FL-15 http://posey.house.gov/Contact/

Rep Adam Putnam R FL-12 http://adamputnam.house.gov/contact.shtml

Rep Tom Rooney R FL-16 https://forms.house.gov/rooney/contact-form.shtml

Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R FL-18 http://www.house.gov/writerep

Rep Clifford Stearns R FL-6 http://www.house.gov/writerep

Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz D FL-20 schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov

Rep Robert Wexler D FL-19 http://wexler.house.gov/email.shtml

Rep C. W. Bill Young R FL-10 bill.young@mail.house.gov

We'll also post the results of these at the WatchBlogs dedicated to each Republican member and at the Florida Democratic News blog.

You can also sign the petition on health care here.

I'm Kenneth Quinnell and I approve this message.

Read more on Florida politics at the Florida Progressive Coalition blog (http://flaprogressives.org) and the Florida Progressive Coalition Wiki (http://quinnell.us/sspb/wiki/).

Another Priority of Gus Bilirakis

Don't have healthcare? You lost your job? On your 3rd tour to Iraq because George Bush lied us into war? House in foreclosure?

Don't worry. Gus Bilirakis is looking out for your interests. He has his priorities in order. He is going to make sure the statue of Che Guevara in New York's Central Park comes down ASAP!!

From Bloomberg (via Deseret News)

"Che Guevara's likeness shouldn't stand at an entrance to New York's Central Park, say 10 Republican U.S. lawmakers who urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to immediately remove the artwork they say honors the Marxist revolutionary.
...

The Argentine-born Ernesto "Che" Guevara — who has been depicted in films, posters and books — abandoned a medical career and middle-class upbringing to join the Fidel Castro-led revolution that overthrew Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959 (uncle of Mario Diaz-Balart).
...
A letter sent today by U.S. Representative Dan Burton (R-Watermelon) of Indiana and co-signed by nine members of Congress, including four from Florida, where hundreds of thousands of Cuban emigres reside, describes Guevara as "an outspoken enemy of the United States" who embraced "the totalitarian, repressive policies of the Soviet Union" and once threatened to fire nuclear weapons on New York. Bloomberg News obtained a copy of the letter from Burton's office.
...
The statue is one of three artworks that "are not monuments to historical figures, but rather combine real and imaginary characteristics," inspired by Barcelona street performers who imitate real people, Fisher said. The city, which gave permission for the display, contributed no public funds for the exhibit, she said.

"The purpose of public art is to create dialog," Fisher said.

Public Art, which joined the city in sponsoring the widely acclaimed "Waterfalls" exhibit by artist Olafur Eliasson in the East River in October, has been hailed by Bloomberg for attracting visitors to New York and for giving residents fresh ways of experiencing and viewing their environment. The mayor is founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.

"It is not a statue of 'Che'; it is a statue of a street performer acting as if he were 'Che,'" said Jason Post, a spokesman for the mayor.

...

Burton and other U.S. lawmakers heard about the statue last week, when a group of Cuban-Americans met with them to discuss human rights issues in Cuba, Burton spokesman John Donnelly said.

...

In addition to Burton, the Republican lawmakers signing the letter are: Joe Wilson of South Carolina; Ted Poe of Texas; Thaddeus McCotter, Michigan; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Gus Bilirakis, Connie Mack and Mario Diaz-Balart, all of Florida, and from California, Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce."

The brain trust of the Republican party.

Gus Bilirakis Has Priorities

Got sleep apnea? Then Gus Bilirakis is YOUR representative!

As the sister-in-law of a man with severe sleep apnea, I'm very sympathetic to this serious health issue, but wouldn't Congressman Bilirakis' time be better spent making sure that people are actually able to see a doctor, no matter what the problem? We have 45 million Americans for whom routine healthcare is not available. THAT should be the priority, and not some pointless resolution.

Priorities

Gus Bilirakis' recent votes from Congress.org:

21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act - Vote Passed (275-155, 3 Not Voting)The House passed this bill that intends to modernize, renovate, and repair public school facilities.Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO

(AP File Photo)

Supplemental Appropriations, FY 2009 - Vote Passed (368-60, 5 Not Voting)The House approved this bill to provide funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, security improvements in Pakistan and the national pandemic flu response.Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted YES

(Photo from The Times of London Online)

Is This Stupid or What???

I haven't posted here for quite sometime because I thought I could be more effective doing other things, however, THIS couldn't pass without being documented at GusWatch:

Lawmakers Introduce Bill Naming 'Incitive' Satellite Broadcasters as 'Terrorists'
May 18, 2009
Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fl) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY) have introduced a bill to U.S. Congress, which would label satellite operators who broadcast “encitive stations” as associates of terrorists, according to a May 15 report in The Jerusalem Post.

The bipartisan bill asserts that certain satellite television stations were helping foreign terrorist organizations in their objectives, including recruiting fighters, collecting funds and disseminating propaganda.

The bill says that U.S. policy should implement legal and punitive measures against satellite providers that transmit terror-related channels.

In 2007, Arab broadcast stateion A-Zawra was taken off the air by both NileSat and ArabSat. In a statement, NileSat officials explained the move was necessary because of technical problems. In response, A-Zawra claimed the move was politically motivated by U.S. pressure on the Egyptian government.

I deplore terrorism as much as the next person, but WTF? Is this worthwhile? Is it feasible to do it? Or, as usual for Gus, is it a merely a gesture aimed at making him seem like a serious legislator?

Tell the Party of No - "Yes We Can"

Thank You from DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen

Fla. Dems Good on Environment, Reps Not So Much

The League of Conservation Voters released their scorecards for Congress. Can you guess what the pattern is? Of Florida Republicans, only Ileana Ros-Lehtinen does as good as any Democrat and that's only one person. Beyond that, all Democrats do way better than all Republicans. No shocker there.

Alcee Hastings (D), 92%
Ron Klein (D), 92%
Timothy Mahoney (D), 92%
Kendrick Meek (D), 92%
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), 92%
Bill Nelson (D), 91%
F. Allen Boyd (D), 85%
Corrine Brown (D), 85%
Kathy Castor (D), 85%
Robert Wexler (D), 69%
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), 69%
Vern Buchanan (R), 62%
Gus Bilirakis (R), 38%
Ginny Brown-Waite (R), 38%
Mario Diaz-Balart (R), 38%
C.W. Bill Young (R), 38%
Mel Martinez (R), 36%
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), 31%
Ander Crenshaw (R), 15%
Ric Keller (R), 15%
Connie Mack (R), 8%
John Mica (R), 8%
Adam Putnam (R), 8%
Dave Weldon (R), 8%
Tom Feeney (R), 0%
Jeff Miller (R), 0%
Cliff Stearns (R), 0%

Republicans Don't Support Troops As Well As Dems

Check out the latest scorecards from Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America...

DAV:

Bill Nelson, 100
Allen Boyd, 100
Corrine Brown, 100
Kendrick Meek, 100
Robert Wexler, 100
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, 100
Alcee Hastings, 100

Mel Martinez, 60
Jeff Miller, 66
Ander Crenshaw, 66
Ginny Brown-Waite, 66
Cliff Stearns, 66
John Mica, 66
Ric Keller, 50
C.W. Bill Young, 66
Adam Putnam, 66
Connie Mack, 66
David Weldon, 66
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 66
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 66
Tom Feeney, 66
Mario Diaz-Balart, 66

Notice a pattern here? All of the Dems have 100%, while none of the Republicans has anything better than a mid-range "D." So much for supporting disabled troops.

IAVA:

Bill Nelson, A+
Allen Boyd, A
Corrine Brown, A
Kathy Castor, A
Timothy Mahoney, A
Kendrick Meek, B
Robert Wexler, A
D. Wasserman Schultz, A+
Ron Klein, A+
Alcee Hastings, A

Mel Martinez, B
Jeff Miller, B
Ander Crenshaw, B
G. Brown-Waite, B
Cliff Stearns, B
John Mica, B
Ric Keller, A
Gus Bilirakis, A
C.W. Bill Young, B
Adam Putnam, C
Vern Buchanan, B
Connie Mack, B
Dave Weldon, C
I. Ros-Lehtinen, A
L. Diaz-Balart, B
Tom Feeney, B
M. Diaz-Balart, B

Republicans do a little better on this one, with Keller, Bilirakis and Ros-Lehtinen all getting an "A." Dems still do better, Meek has the lowest grade on our side of the aisle, and he still has a "B." The only "A+" grades amongst Florida's delegation are Dems and the only grades below "B" are all Republicans. Again, which party actually supports the troops?

Bilirakis in Trouble

A recent poll by Momentum Analysis has Gus Bilirakis in trouble in his re-election bid in FL-9. Gus only hits 45% in the poll. Newcomer Democratic challenger Bill Mitchell currently sits at 22%, but as the campaign moves forward and his name recognition increases, he's likely to take a large chunk of the 34% undecided vote. Undecided voters tend to break for the challenger, particularly in a Democratic year such as 2008. Additionally, the undecided voters lean Democratic, 46%-37%.

Polling in the District on generic terms gives a 47%-38% Republican advantage with 15% undecided at this point, meaning Mitchell has a legitimate shot at making a move here if he has a strong campaign. Bilirakis is unpopular and polls lower than a generic Republican, meaning once people learn his name, they are less likely to vote for him. On top of that, he has little record to run on and is an inept campaigner. This race could well be in play.

(400 likely voters were surveyed September 20-22, 2008 and there is a margin of error of +/-4.9%.)

Gus Bilirakis Does NOT Believe Women are Equal to Men

Recent House VotesPaycheck Fairness Act - Vote Passed (247-178, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill to increase penalties for pay discrimination and protect employees who share salary information.

The House passed H.R. 1338, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, by a recorded vote of 247 ayes to 178 noes, Roll No. 556.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO

Congress.org Vote Statistics

(Congress.org is the group that ranked Congressman Gus Bilirakis less effective than even the non-voting members of the House.)

Let's Rape Someone Else's Neighborhood

It's been awhile since we checked in with mini-Mike. I wonder what Gus is up to...

Accepting an award for being Greek?

Honoring Eagle Scouts?

Feigning interest in elderly veterans (while letting our active duty soldiers boil in the Iraqi sun?)

Inserting chips in seniors citizens so they won't get lost from their caretakers?

Nope. He's headed to ANWR with his GOP brethren to figure out how we can continue to feed our oil habit by drilling in the Arctic Refuge. I suppose he would prefer raping someone else's neighborhood in hopes that he won't have to flip-flop on his Florida off-shore drilling position. (Flip-flopping on that one comes a little easier when the VP spot is being dangled before you as in the case of our newly-enGAYged governor.)

What a loser.

Gus Bilirakis Re-election DOWNGRADED by Cook Political Report

Four GOP seats: Getting squishy?

Story from The BUZZ: http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/07/four-gop-seats.html

Today, July 03, 2008, 59 minutes ago Wes Allison

The non-partisan Cook Political Report today shifted its ratings of four Republican-held U.S. House seats in Florida, including the seat held by Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor.

The seats held by Bilirakis, who facing former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami were moved from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican."

Cook's House editor, David Wasserman, also moved the seats held by Republican Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami and Rep. Ric Keller of Orlando from "Likley Republican" to "Lean Republican."

"While it's not likely that a majority of the races moved from 'Solid' to 'Likely' Republican will become competitive by November, the poor national climate for the GOP and the DCCC's unprecedented financial edge makes even very difficult districts for Democrats worth keeping tabs on," the publication noted.

Gus Hates America and Its Values

It's clear that Americans generally favor more progressive values most of the time. Not Gus. With a lifetime Progressive Punch voting score of 9.92%, it's clear he hates Americans and their values.

Gus is Wasting Your Time in Washington

According to Congress.org, Gus is the 429th most powerful member of the House and as part of the hugely ineffectual Florida Republican delegation in Washington, helps make Florida one of the least powerful states in Congress. Thanks for the great work!

Gus Bilirakis VOTES NO - Amtrack Improvements, IMPEACHMENT, Unemployment Benefits - Gus voted NO

Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act - Vote Passed (311-104, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure reauthorizing $14.4 billion in funding for Amtrak over the next five years.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO

_________________________________________________________

Articles of Impeachment - Vote Passed (251-166, 16 Not Voting)

The House voted to refer 35 Articles of Impeachment against President Bush to the Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO

_________________________________________________________

Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 - Vote Passed (274-137, 23 Not Voting)

The House voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits for workers who exhaust the current 26-week period of eligibility.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis voted NO

Gus Hates Gay People, Unmarried People, Common Decency

So says his endorsement of the Hate Amendment.

Gus Hates Motherhood.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/2/votes/275/

...but surely some mothers are Greek??

Gus Bilirakis finally makes American News

Oops! My bad. I meant to say "Greek" news and it looks like he was just tagging along with the biggie boys.

AT THE CONGRESS
Kyprianou who arrived in the US capital on Wednesday, met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Joe Biden, Senator Robert Menendez and Congresswoman Olympia Snowe. All members of congress expressed interest over the latest Cyprus developments and offered to help in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

He also met with eleven members of the Hellenic Caucus, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affaires Committee Ileana Ros Lehtinen and European Affaires Subcommittee Chairman Robert Wexler.

Congressman Frank Pallone, a member of the Hellenic Caucus said the US should persuade Turkey to help the Cyprus procedure. Amongst the Hellenic Caucus members were John Sarbanes, Patrick Kennedy, Gus Bilirakis, Donald Payne, Shelley Berkley etc.

http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8383