Politics in Ohio's 6th

Charlie Votes for Repeal of DADT

2010-05-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

Last night, in a relatively narrow vote, the house approved an amendment that would repeal the miliatary's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Once again, Charlie Wilson voted along the party line, and against the values of his district or even the majority of Americans. Wilson, while hailing from a district that has a great number of men and women who serve, voted to repeal the ban on DADT. Why is this significant? The majority of Americans (3-1!) believe that these decisions should be made by the miliary itself. Furthermore, we must ask, how much were the troops on the ground, the men and women who really count and must live with these policies, considered in these decisions? Check out the record of Wilson's vote here.

Wilson Loses Powerful Pro-Life Endorsement

2010-05-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

It is one of the many reasons why Charlie Wilson will have a tough fight this November. Ohio Right to Life has announced that it is endorsing Bill Johnson and NOT Charlie Wilson for Ohio's 6th Congressional District. Because the 6th District is strongly pro-life, this endorsement is powerful. Here is the text of Johnson's statement:

JOHNSON STATEMENT ON OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE ENDORSEMENT

Group names their endorsed Pro-Life Candidates
Poland 5/26/10 – Republican Bill Johnson earned the endorsement of the Ohio Right to Life PAC for his strong support of pro-life issues. That’s in clear contrast to Congressman Charlie Wilson who, despite a purported pro-life record, caved to pressure from President Obama and voted for the government takeover of healthcare. That bill paves the way for federally funded abortions.

Johnson released the following statement about the endorsement:
“I’m honored by the Ohio Right to Life PAC endorsement. The group works tirelessly to defend the rights of unborn children, and I look forward to working with them in Washington. I’m proudly pro-life and was deeply disappointed that Charlie Wilson chose loyalty to his President – in voting for the health care bill – over protecting the unborn. “

You can learn more about Bill at his website: http://www.billjohnsonleads.com/home.html

Wilson Will Have a Tough Race

2010-05-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

Ohio's primaries are over and the results are in...and Wilson is probably quaking in his boots! Wilson will face Bill Johnson in November. After watching him in debate, I believe that Johson will be a formidable foe and if elected, a voice representing the values of the Ohio Valley in D.C.

Wilson's Ratings by Organization

2010-05-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting piece in The Hill. Some of the more interesting numbers I emphasized. I also included some information about the less familiar or interesting groups. Most importantly, he's impressed the most progressive organizations out there.

Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio, 6th)

The number ratings on each lawmaker's page are from zero to 100, which is the scale used by most advocacy organizations. Where a letter rating is used, the range is from A to F.

SOCIAL ISSUES RATINGS
Abortion NARAL Pro-Choice America: 25

National Right to Life Center: 60

Civil Rights ACLU: 64

*So I guess he really doesn't know where he stands on the issues and neither do the organizations rating him. My guess is that after his health care vote, his numbers for both NARAL and the ACLU went up! Since National Right to Life is not endorsing any candidate that voted for the health care bill, that number is most certainly lower.

Human Rights Campaign: 55

Ideology American Conservative Union: 13

*Americans for Democratic Action: 80

Who are they? From their website: "Americans for Democratic Action is the nation's most experienced organization committed to liberal politics, liberal policies, and a liberal future...recent presidents such as Barney Frank, John Lewis, Jim McDermott, or Charles Range...Based in our Washington headquarters, senior ADA staff lobby, monitor, and contribute support (financial and volunteer labor) to scores of progressive Congressional candidates each election cycle. (That network is important: it meant we were among the very first groups to support Barack Obama's Senate race in 2004.) Using its Congressional Vote Ranking - the first-ever such ranking, and still the gold standard in rating progressive candidates - ADA leverages influence and support in strategic coalitions with other progressive groups and donors." Please follow the link above for more distrubing information about this group. Currently, their home page advocates a banning of all off-shore oil drilling. Does this group really reflect the value of the Ohio Valley? They obviously believe that Charlie Wilson reflects their's!! Disturbing.

*Drum Major Institute: B
Who are they? "The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank generating the ideas that fuel the progressive movement"

Family Research Council: 52

Children's Defense Fund: 100

League of Conservation Voters: 86
Who are they? "The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is turning environmental values into national priorities. To secure the environmental future of our planet, LCV’s mission is to advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt and implement such policies."

Immigration Numbers USA: C+

U.S. Border Control: NR

American Public Health Association: 78

Senior Citizens Alliance for Retired Americans: 100

FISCAL ISSUES RATINGS
AFL-CIO: 97

National Education Association: A

AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees): 100

BIPAC (Business Industry Political Action Commitee): 20

Chamber of Commerce: 67

Club for Growth: 0

National Federation of Independent Business: 67

Taxes & Spending Americans for Tax Reform: 10

Citizens Against Government Waste: 3

National Taxpayers Union: 7

*Hmm. Let's see. Big Labor unions love him and business and tax organizations don't. I wonder what that could mean?
SECURITY ISSUES RATINGS
Council for a Livable World: 50

Center for Security Policy: 25
Who are they? "The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public."

Friends Committee on National Legislation :50

Peace Action: 8

Gunowners of America: C

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: 0

Wilson Brags About Tax Hikes and Expanding Welfare

2010-03-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Under the inocuous title, "Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010" (aka H.R.4849), the U.S. House just voted to continue the failed Stimulus strategy. However, Wilson, a happy "aye" vote, says:

“This legislation is the latest in a series of Congressional efforts to get our economy back on track,” Wilson said. “We started with the Recovery Act and helped pull the economy back from the brink of depression. Now we need to get every Ohioan and every American who’s looking for a job, back to work."

Let's look at the facts:

over the next ten years the bill provides $2.5 billion in welfare spending, $3.58 billion in small business tax incentives, $13.16 billion in state and local infrastructure subsidies, and raises taxes by approximately $19 billion.

Hmmm. Let's see, 3.58 Billion to small business and $13.16 to government (more than 80%!). Sounds like a government bailout not a small business hand up, don't you think?!

Here are few more uncomfortable numbers that the Democrats, including Charlie Wilson, like to hide:
The stimulus bill (H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), according to the CBO's re-estimate, is actually costing us $1.1 trillion. It was supposed to create 3-4 million new jobs and unemployment would not go above 8%. The national unemployment rate has just passed 9.7%.

And this statement from the Republican Cloakroom:

The legislation includes a highly controversial tax increase on companies located in the United States and employing American workers. Specifically, the tax increase targets “insourcing” companies, American subsidiaries of companies headquartered abroad that create and sustain good jobs in the United States. Taxing these employers and these jobs would be dangerous for our already struggling economy, could encourage these companies to move American jobs overseas or to curtail future job-creating investments in America, and could invite retaliation by other countries.

Furthermore:

As Ranking Member Camp (R-MI) and 14 other Republican Members wrote in their dissenting views, "taxing these employers and these jobs would be dangerous for our already struggling economy, could encourage these companies to move U.S. jobs overseas or to curtail future job-creating investments in America, and could invite retaliation by other countries." (emphasis mine)

So much for job creation.

Pelosi's "Recess Packet" and Our Own Congressman's Lock Step

2010-03-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

According to The Hill's Pelosi to Democrats leaving for recess: It’s time to go on offense, Pelosi has issued a "recess packet" to her Democrat members.

“With the passage of health insurance reform, this District Work Period is a critical time to go on offense,” the memo states.
Members should “convey the immediate benefits of health reform to your constituents (such as better prescription drug benefits for seniors, tax credits for small businesses and prohibiting insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick),” the memo said.

Shockingly, (I'm being sarcastic here) I just recieved a letter from my Congressman, Charlie Wilson, in which he listed the supposed specific benefits to our district and then had this to say:

They include tax credits for small business owners who purchase health insurance for their employees, the removal of lifetime limits on insurance policies, and allowing young people to stay on their parents' insurance policy until their 26th birthday. It will also allow for a new independent appeals process for those who feel they have been unfairly denied a claim, it will ban insurance companies dropping your coverage when you get sick and denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Finally, this legislation will provide seniors who find themselves in the prescription drug donut hole with $250 to help pay for prescriptions this year. (emphasis mine)

Maybe its just me, but I think Charlie read the memo!

Listen to Charlie Say We're Just Too Stupid to Understand

2010-03-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

I hope Pelosi was making him a pretty sweet deal, because he's going to need it! The arrogance of this guy is truly infuriating. Listen to him here talk to WWVA radio the Day After the vote.

When pressed if he voted with the majority of his constituents, Wilson demured and basically said that we are all too stupid or slow to understand this bill and that when we all know, we'll be happy for our "medicine" provided by our all wise, all knowing State.

This guy has got to go!

Listen to Charlie on Health Care

2010-02-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

Listen here to an interview with Charlie Wilson conducted by Bloomdaddy on WWVA on 1/21, following Scott Brown's election.

Compare it with his 11/5 interview.

Basically, he says that Scott Brown's election is a wake-up call and, "Americans don't want this thing shoved down their throats and I don't blame them." Funny. He was more than willing to push it on his own constituents before Scott Brown's election. Now he says we need to slow down, break the bill down, listen to the voters. I think he should have had these revelations a couple of months ago.

Wilson Votes to Increase Debt Limit, DOW Tanks

2010-02-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

As part of H.J. Res. 45, Wilson has voted to increase our national debt ceiling another 1.9 Trillion dollars. That is equivalent to $6,000 per U.S. citizen on top of the already $40,000 debt per person that existed before today's vote. Where is the fiscal conservative blue dog? Where is the fiscal responsibility? Has anyone living in the capital bubble noticed the DOW tanking today?! (Granted, new unemployment claims jumped and a bad jobless report is expected tomorrow. And something few are talking about--Moody's warns about U.S. credit rating dropping!)

BTW, not surprisingly, this vote was almost completely along party lines--217 (ALL Demcrats) to 212 (175 Repubs. and 37 Dems.) With our neighboring Congressman, Ryan, also voting yes. However, Zach Space, who knows he's probably toast in the Fall election, was one of the 37 Democrat "nays."

Response to Wilson's Vote

2009-11-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

Listen to a few constituent responses on the Bloomdaddy radio show here. Thanks for the tip from Steubenville for Liberty!

Wilson on WWVA, "Bloomdaddy"

2009-11-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

Listen to the complete interview here.

Wilson on Says His Vote for Health Care Reform will help Small Businesses

2009-11-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

According to Wilson, in his speech on the House floor last night, "13,000 small businesses will have the opportunity to provide insurance [for their employees]"

Here's what Karen Kerrigan, President, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, has to say about that:

Make no mistake, those voting for H.R. 3962 voted to burden our nation's job creators with higher costs and crushing taxes and penalties. Even in the best of economic times passage of this bill would be an inane move. The costs associated with H.R. 3962 are oppressive, and as a result jobs will be cut and small business growth will be stunted.

The U.S. House missed an opportunity to offer a lifeline to small businesses in the form of reasonable reform efforts that would help them keep or provide health insurance for themselves and their workforce. Small businesses spoke out on this issue, but the Democrat leadership and those voting for H.R. 3962 chose to ignore their concerns. The claim that H.R. 3962 will help small businesses is blatantly false.

Stupak Amendment will be allowed a vote!!

2009-11-07T05:32:00.000-08:00

Wonders never cease and prayer is effective!! My e-mail this morning included an update from Charmaine Yost explainging the back story and The Whipping Post to confirm the fact; The Stupak amendment will be allowed 20 minutes of debte and a vote!! Praise God! There should be enough votes to pass this.

However, this may be what pushes enough pro-life dems to vote for the entire monstrosity--and provide Wilson with wiggle room with his pro-life constituents. (Afterall, he did vote for the pro-life amendment! Nevermind his announcement of support for the bill came out before Pelosi decided to allow the Stupack vote. In fact, according to Yost, there was backroom dealing all last evening with Pelosi trying to have it both ways, a "pro-life" part of the bill, yet still fund Planned Parenthood. It was not until after 2:00 in the morning that the decision to allow the Stupak amendment was made.)

Sorry, Charlie! You obviously have no backbone on pro-life issues. Now, we need the stats to refute his comments about the number of uninsured etc. in the district. Anyone have anything?

Wilson will vote Yes on Health Reform (HR 3862)--Melt the Phone Lines!!!

2009-11-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

Charlie Wilson released statement 11/6/09

Wilson to Vote for His District Again
Plans to Vote "Yes" on the Affordable Health Care for America Act

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) released the following statement on his upcoming vote on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:
"As we wind down to the final hours of the healthcare debate, I have thought long and hard about what is in the best interest of my district. Emotions have run high on both sides of the issue for many months now and I have listened to a wide range of voices from across my district in order to best inform my decision.

"While the Affordable Health Care for America Act is not a perfect bill, there are benefits in it that are hard to ignore. In my district alone, this bill will help almost 13,000 small businesses provide good healthcare coverage for their employees. It will close the prescription drug donut hole for over 9,000 of our seniors. And it will help 174,000 households in the 6th District afford better coverage.

"I have always promised my constituents that I will vote in their best interest. There are times that I have disagreed with House leadership when I felt like what they were doing would unfairly punish my district, as was the case with the Cap and Trade bill earlier this year. I am never afraid to stand up for what is right. On this issue, what I believe is right is a health reform bill that will bring stability and security to the health care system, lower the cost of health care, and insure broader coverage. With those goals having been met, I am proud to announce my support for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act."

Wilson says 60-40 in District IN FAVOR of Health Reform

2009-11-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

Bloomdaddy interviewed Wilson on 11/4/09 on his WWVA radio show.

Wilson claims that his office has been tracking the support/opposition in his office since mid-August and they come up with a 60-40, in FAVOR. Further, Wilson says that 45,000 people in his district alone, "will have health care who currently do not." 45,000!! Is he serious?!

When pressed about the rushed form in which the bill is being pushed through,Wilson responded that, "75% [of the Bill] is the same as its always been." And that they did recieve the final form late in the previous week. This is interesting because when I asked a staffer, the same day as this interview, about Wilson's position on the bill, she responded that they have not recieved the Bill's final form and Wilson would not make a decision on how he would vote until he has seen a final form. Further, upon repeatedly trying to get Wilson to push for Pelosi to post the bill for 72 hours, his assurance was that she pledged that she would post the bill so that, essentially, should be good enough. Take her at her word. It is now obvious that the bill will not be allowed to be posted for 72 hours before Reps. are required to vote.

To Wilson's credit he said that he is, "trying really hard to get the abortion part right." Further, he said that there are a few things he would like to see added to the Bill, but was not explicit about what those things were. But he extolled the virtues of the Bill and said that while it was not perfect it was a "lean in the right direction." I would like to ask, do we risk 18% of our economy on a "lean in the right direction?" Sounds eerily familiar to the "stimulus" debacle.

Finally, he said that he is not a definate "yes" or "no" but a "leaning yes." Please give him call and let him know what you think.

Listen to the Interview.

The Money Trail: Campaign Money, Part 1

2009-11-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of a multiple part investigation into the money trail powerering Rep. Charlie Wilson.
Who are his contributors? Who are the special interests? Who really has Charlie's ear?

First, where does the campaign stand now? As of 9/30/09, Wilson's campaign has $391,339 on hand with 75% of the money coming from PAC's and none from himself. His listed opponent, Dr. Donald Allen, has a mere $2,399 on hand and has been 89% self-financed.

Where has all the money come from? American Electric Power is the top contributor with over $14,000 in contributions, followed by Blue Dog Pac with $10,000. The International Brotherhood of Electical Workers (an AFL-CIO affiliated union) also contributed $10,000 to Wilson. He is in "good" compancy since the IBEW gave 99% of their contributions to Democrats and $10,000 each to fellow Democrats including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Whip Clyburn, Charlie Rangel, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Chuck Shumer and Ohioans Mary Jo Kilroy, Tim Ryan, Zach Space and Betty Sue Sutton.

Here is a run down of other contributors:
American Bankers Association: $6,000
AT & T: $5,000 (Ameritech is an affiliate of AT & T)
KeyCorp: $5,000 (Cleveland based holding company for KeyBank, which provides retail and commercial banking services)
Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union: $5,000 (shipbuilders and railroad workers union)
National Funeral Directors: $5,000 (no surprise here!)
Operating Engineers Union: $5,000 (another AFL-CIO Union--heavy equipment operators, mechanics)
National Venture Capital Assn.: $4,000 ("represents the U.S. venture capital industry")
American Assn for Justice: $3,500 (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America--the people trying to prevent Tort reform)
First Energy Corp: $3,500 (Ohio electric company)
PricewaterhouseCoopers: $3,500 (accounting firm trying to prevent regulation of accounting industry)
UPS: $3,499
American College of Radiology: $3,000
Investment Co Institute $3,000 (National Association of Investment Companies)

National Assn of Convenience Stores $3,000
Air Line Pilots Assn $2,500

American College of Emergency Physicians $2,500
American Optometric Assn $2,500
American Podiatric Medical Assn $2,500
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu $2,500 (major accounting firm, lobbies against regulation of the accounting industry, investigated for accounting scandal at Adelphia Communications)

Grant Thornton LLP $2,500 ("audit, tax and advisory services")
Huntington Bancshares $2,500 (Huntington Bank)
International Assn of Fire Fighters $2,500 (another AFL-CIO union)
Laborers Union $2,500
National Beer Wholesalers Assn $2,500 (small business supporter)
New York Life Insurance $2,500
Teamsters Union $2,500
USEC Inc $2,500 (supplies enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants)

So, who are the top industry contributors to Charlie Wilson? Are they reflective of his district's interests (home based) or his committee assignments (Washington based) or both.

Wilson's committee assignments are the powerful House Financial Services (he serves on the subcommittees Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises Committee) and the House Science and Technology Committee (subcommittee: Space and Aeronautics and Investigations and Oversight) He is also part of the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition.

Congressman Wilson is a member of the Rural Caucus, Rural Education Caucus, Rural Health Care Coalition, Appalachian Caucus, Sudan Caucus, Democratic Israel Working Group, Community Pharmacy Coalition, Community Health Centers Caucus, Career and Technical Education Caucus, Labor and Working Families Caucus, Rural Housing Caucus, Autism Caucus, STEM Education Caucus , Wine Caucus, Sportsmen's Caucus, Vision Caucus, and is an Executive Board member of the Steel Caucus.

Whose got's Charlie's ear? Here's the industry run down curtesy of opensecrets.org.
The following color code is my opinion of which donation is reflective of which interest:
Red highlight is Committee Interest Driven
Green  reflects District Interest
Pink is unknown
1. Insurance $24,750   (Charlie is on the Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises subcommittee)

2. Electric Utilities $23,900 (He is part of the House Science and Technology Committee. The Electric utiliites do appear to be Ohio based)
3. Commercial Banks $19,150 (He is on the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit subcommittee)
4. Health Professionals $17,900 (He belongs to various health related caucus. He also uses his place on the Science Committee to bring home technology to local hospitals.)
5. Industrial Unions $16,000 (Most Dems recieve heavy union backing and Wilson comes from a Union heavy district)
6. Misc Services $15,000
7. Democratic/Liberal $12,000 (He's a Blue Dog)
8. Building Trade Unions $8,500 (Again, most Dems get heavy Union backing--reflects district interests)
9. Accountants $8,500 (House Finacial Services Committee member)
10. Securities & Investment $8,000  (House Finacial Services Committee member)
11. Lawyers/Law Firms $7,550 (House Finacial Services Committee member)
12. Transportation Unions $7,000 (reflects district interests)
13. Telephone Utilities $6,000 (House Science and Technology Committee, but also Ohio based supporter)
14. Public Sector Unions $5,500 (district interest)
15. Retail Sales $4,000
16. Beer, Wine & Liquor $3,500
17. Air Transport $3,499
18. Finance/Credit Companies $3,000
19. Hospitals/Nursing Homes $2,500
20. General Contractors $2,400

Total:
Washington Based Interest Contributions: $116, 349
Local/Union Interests: $28,400
Unknown/Not Sure: $32,900 (Health Professionals and Misc.)

Summary:
80% of the industries that contribute to Wilson's campaign are connected with his Committee Assignments. Only 20% of the industries that contribute to Wilson's campaign are related to the District. This is counting all Union contributions as district related. Wilson recieves the bulk of his campaign contribution from various financial service industries which correlates to his placement on the Financial Services Committee. However, it should be noted that the Electric Utilities who have contributed heavily are also Ohio based companies.

Tell Pro-Life Wilson to vote NO on "Closed Rule" and Anti-Life Health Bill

2009-11-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

Pelosi is about to ensure that Federal dollars are spent to provide abortion on demand by a slight of hand. She will try to push through HR 3962 (the latest house Bill on Health Care) with a "closed rule." Reps will have to vote on this. However, if they vote for the "closed rule" option, it means that no amendments will be permitted and Rep. Stupak's pro-life amendment will be shot down without a vote.

Call Charlie today and tell him to vote "no" on the "closed rule." Tell him to vote "yes" on the Stupak amendment and vote NO on the entire bill!!

His staffer, Emily, told me today that she did not know how he would vote on the closed rule, that he had signed onto Stupak's letter to Pelosi (which he did) and would not make a decision on the Health Care bill until it was finalized.

Rep. Charlie Wilson on Health Care Reform

2009-11-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Here's what Wilson had to say about the new, "Pelosi Care" bill put out this past week:

After spending months listening to our constituents, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives came back and created what I believe is a better and more effective bill. [emphasis mine] In the revised version, key steps have been taken to better protect American families and small businesses while reducing their health care costs. And perhaps most importantly, I am very proud that this bill is paid for in ways that will not hurt middle class families. [emphasis mine]

We have our work cut out for us. Our Representative is obviously clueless about the ramifications of this Bill.

Here are just a few of what The Heritage Foundation explains as the problems with this new Bill:

the House bill forces all Americans below 150% FPL to enroll in Medicaid or pay the individual mandate fine...In other words, it’s cheaper to force people into Medicaid then to give them subsidies high enough to buy private insurance.
The bill imposes a new 8% payroll tax on employers who don’t cover specified percentages of their employees’ health insurance. In the short term this will only result in job losses and lower wages. But further down the road, the health plans would have to meet new requirements to be specified later by Obama’s new Health Czar (“Health Choices Commissioner”). If your employer’s health plan doesn’t meet those requirements (which are all but guaranteed to drive up the cost of your health plan), you couldn’t keep it.
the CBO now projects that the government run premiums will actually be higher than private plans.
In Summary: "force all Americans to buy health insurance, regulate the private plans till they are too expensive, and then slowly expand the power and size of the public option as Americans are left with no choice but to turn to government run health care."

Please call Wilson today and let him know that he will be doing his constituents a grave disservice if he votes for this Bill.