My Call to Congressman Gus Bilirakis' Palm Harbor Office

I just got off the phone with Patty in Congressman Bilirakis' office. I asked her if he had made a statement about George Bush's communtation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence. Her response was that he hadn't made a statement yet. She then asked me, "What organization are you with?" I replied that I was a member of many organizations but that I was calling as a resident of Congressional District 9. I told her that I would like a call back when he made a statement. She took my contact information and again asked, "So you are calling for yourself?"

I got the feeling that Patty was expecting the call. Please let us know what response you get when you call the congressman's office.

Gus Bilirakis and Double Standards

Here's a statement that Congressman Gus Bilirakis made about the failed immigration bill last week:

“As an American, I do not accept this line of thinking. The reality is that amnesty is not an answer to this complex and endemic problem. As a nation of laws and a nation of legal immigrants, it is simply wrong to reward unlawful behavior with amnesty.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl09_bilirakis/pr_070301_senill.html

I wonder what Gus Bilirakis thinks about George Bush commuting the prison sentence of Scooter Libby. Is there a double standard at play here? Is there one standard for those who break the law by entering our country to seek a better life, and another standard for White House cronies who have broken the law at the behest of the administration? I urge you to call Congressman Bilirakis' office tomorrow and ask him.

Washington DC Office
ph: 202-225-5755

Temple Terrace Office
ph: 813-985-8541

Palm Harbor Office
ph: 727-773-2871

Gus Bilirakis Update - Blocking the Road to Homeland Security

H R 2638
YEA-AND-NAY
15-Jun-2007

QUESTION: On Passage

BILL TITLE: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2008

H.R. 2638:
making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes

Vote Passed
Bilirakis - YES

Here's How Gus Voted Down Both Party Lines:

(Bold = Voted With Democrats/Against GOP)
(Italic = Voted Against Democrats and GOP)

Date	Vote	Position	GOP opinion	DEM opinion
6/15/07	Vote 491: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	No	Yes
6/15/07	Vote 490: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 489: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 488: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 487: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 486: H R 2638	No	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 485: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 484: H R 2638	No	No	No
6/15/07	Vote 483: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	Yes
6/15/07	Vote 482: H R 2638	Yes	No	No
6/15/07	Vote 481: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 480: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 479: H R 2638	No	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 478: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 477: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 476: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 475: H R 2638	Yes	No	No
6/15/07	Vote 474: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 473: H R 2638	No	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 472: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 471: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 470: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	Yes
6/15/07	Vote 469: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 468: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 467: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/15/07	Vote 466: H R 2638	No	Yes	No
6/13/07	Vote 465: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	Yes
6/13/07	Vote 464: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/13/07	Vote 463: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/13/07	Vote 462: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 461: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 460: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 459: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 458: H R 2638: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fy 2008	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 457: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	Yes
6/12/07	Vote 456: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	Yes
6/12/07	Vote 455: H R 2638	Yes	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 454: H R 2638	Not Voting	Yes	No
6/12/07	Vote 453: H R 2638	No	No	Yes

Stem Cell Round 2 - Another Chance for Gus Bilirakis to Help Veterans - And Gus Votes No

S 5
YEA-AND-NAY
7-Jun-2007
QUESTION: On Passage
BILL TITLE: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

Vote Passed
Bilirakis - NO

S. 5:
to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research

Is Gus Bilirakis for Human Cloning?

H R 2560
2/3 YEA-AND-NAY

QUESTION: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
BILL TITLE: Human Cloning Prohibition Act

Vote FAILED
Bilirakis - NO

H.R. 2560:
to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit human cloning, and for other purposes

Gus Bilirakis Has a Blog!

It's true! Here's the link to a post on the JFK terror plot:
http://bilirakis.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/hillblog-bilirakis-comments-on-thwarted-jfk-terror-plot/

So far, I am underwhelmed.

I've been meaning to write about Gus' co-sponsorship of a VERY IMPORTANT BILL. I'll have to come back later with the particulars, but for now just know that Gus is on the case. Is he trying to help bring the Iraq War to an end? NO! Is he trying to help the people of the Gulf Coast as they continue to struggle nearly two years after Katrina? NO! Is he trying to solve our healthcare crisis? NO! Is he working to fix No Child Left Behind or improve the dropout rate in American schools? NO! What is it that is so deserving of Gus' attention? Turns out the new dollar coin has "In God We Trust" on the side instead of on the face, and that, my friends, is what is bothering your rubber stamp Congressman. Heaven help us.

GusWatch spots Gus on Memorial Day

Susan S. and I attended Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Annual Memorial Day Service on May 28, 2007. We attended the memorial service to honor our military, especially those who gave their lives while serving our country. We attended with thoughts of Andy Aviles, who was killed in action on April 7, 2003. We were also thinking about Andy's grieving parents, Norma and Oscar Aviles and how easily we could be in their tragic position. Andy was the same age as my oldest daughter. He would be just 23 years old if he were alive today.

I was also thinking about my military family members and how thankful I am that even though my brother in law only gets to see his 5 month old and 6 year old sons via a web cam once a week, at least both he and my sister are alive and well.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I wasn't prepared for the pompous partisan package decorated to impersonate patriotism. I knew we were in trouble when the Master of Ceremonies, Colonel Jerry F. Custin USAF, (Ret) gushed about Congressman Gus Bilirakis' glowing accomplishments, when in reality, his power ranking is in the basement:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/overall.tt

So as I post this video of Gus Bilirakis reading the GOP script, his words ring painfully hollow as I heard that 10 more U.S soldiers were killed in action on Memorial Day. In my mind is the wounded Iraq War veteran who was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on Memorial Day. Although Anderson Cooper interviewed more than one wounded soldier, this one Iraq veteran's story was particularly heartwrenching. He was not expected to live, but survived in spite of losing most of his blood. His forearm is a mangled mess but he was only receiving a small percentage of his rightful disability benefits. He lost his home and was living in his car. Thankfully by the end of the show, CNN's influence had helped him finally receive the benefits he earned on the battlefield.

With that in mind, I give you the Congressman who represents the Republicans in my district: