(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 15, 2010 –“Americans are fed up with what is going on. First, we had a “car czar” and we lost our Fenton Chrysler jobs to Mexico. We have had bailouts and takeovers of banks with not enough accountability. We had a so-called “stimulus” that [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 15, 2010 –“Americans are fed up with what is going on. First, we had a “car czar” and we lost our Fenton Chrysler jobs to Mexico. We have had bailouts and takeovers of banks with not enough accountability. We had a so-called “stimulus” that funneled money to special interests including $90 million claimed by Congressman Carnahan’s brother for his privately-owned windmill farm. We even heard Congressman Carnahan propose an “international wildlife conservation” czar to protect foreign animals. Tonight, we heard the President talk of an “oil czar” to supervise the mess in the Gulf. Americans have had enough of the czars, bailouts, payouts to family members, and plans to takeover and change American life. Enough is enough,” said congressional candidate Ed Martin.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Instead of photo ops and drive-bys, Carnahan should host town hall

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 7, 2010 – The Labor Department recently released May’s job report and it is not good. The report shows 431,000 jobs were added but 411,000 were temporary government Census jobs. “In fact, private [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

Instead of photo ops and drive-bys, Carnahan should host town hall

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 7, 2010 – The Labor Department recently released May’s job report and it is not good. The report shows 431,000 jobs were added but 411,000 were temporary government Census jobs. “In fact, private sector job growth actually fell in May, from 231,000 new private sector jobs in April to just 41,000 new private sector jobs in May. Combining the private and public sectors–the nation’s unemployment rate fell to 9.7% as 286,000 workers left the labor force. In total the U.S. economy has now lost a net of 2.2 million jobs since President Barack Obama signed his stimulus bill and his administration is now 7.2 million jobs short of what he promised the American economy would support by 2010.” (The Heritage Foundation; Morning Bell: The Jobless Obama Recovery, June 4, 2010)

Congressman Russ Carnahan and his leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, promised, when he voted for the stimulus, that Americans could expect the unemployment to be at 7.5% by this time yet unemployment in Missouri hovers around 10%. What is Carnahan doing to address this issue that finds the people of his district struggling? He has decided to swing by Congressman Lacy Clay’s job fair at Harris-Stowe today to pose for some pictures and give the impression he cares.

We need action now. Carnahan needs to hold town halls that are open to the public and not just invitation and press only. If Carnahan truly wants to represent the people of Missouri’s 3rd district he needs to talk to them and understand how best to address their needs. He and his Washington cronies are more concerned with rewarding bureaucrats and special interests than actually rolling up their sleeves, meeting with constituents, and doing some work that benefits the people instead of themselves. Sitting back and voting for tax breaks isn’t going to spur the current recession.

Congressional candidate Ed Martin on the other hand has held countless small business roundtables and “Ask Ed Anything” meetings and recognizes what the people of Missouri’s 3rd district need. So while Congressman Carnahan poses for pictures; Ed Martin is gearing up for a “business to business” networking meeting to be held this Thursday, June 10th. It is part of Ed Martin’s much larger program: “Shop Local – Hire Local.”

“Supporting local businesses helps us all! Too many of our neighbors, family members and friends are going through hard times. The time to act is now,” said Ed Martin. “Our local businesses can’t just sit and continue to wait for customers and potential tax credits. We know through proof positive research and talking to countless people that targeting and promoting local opportunities is the best way to get business back on track. When small businesses thrive – small businesses hire. Our Shop Local – Hire Local campaign focuses on publicly encouraging all Missourians to look local first.”

The “business to business” networking meeting is centrally located in the 3rd district to make it more convenient for everyone wishing to attend. It is scheduled for Thursday. June, 10th.It will be from 5:00pm-6:30pm at Surdyke- Harley Davidson in Festus, MO.

This is just the first of many events to come in the Shop Local – Hire Local campaign. Whenthe Small Business Administration indicates nearly 2/3 of new jobs come from small businessyou can rest assured Ed Martin will be working hard for small businesses.

The Shop Local – Hire Local campaign is already picking up steam and every day more and more are jumping on the look local first bandwagon. Look for the Shop Local – Hire Local logo to start popping up in store fronts and people’s homes all across the 3rd district. Folks are able to go to the website www.ShopLocalHireLocal.com and download a printable placard. The grassroots effort is sure to grow into a big success. Real leadership, like that of Ed Martin’s, is what the people of the district want and deserve – someone who works for them.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

He votes against local cement companies then RSVP’s for ribbon cutting of new cement plant

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 4, 2010 –Congressman Russ Carnahan obviously has no scruples and will apparently do anything for a photo opportunity. He pushed his way into a ribbon cutting ceremony that [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

He votes against local cement companies then RSVP’s for ribbon cutting of new cement plant

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 4, 2010 –Congressman Russ Carnahan obviously has no scruples and will apparently do anything for a photo opportunity. He pushed his way into a ribbon cutting ceremony that is to be held later today to celebrate the opening of a new Holcim cement plant in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. It is odd behavior from a congressman who voted in favor of the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy and Security Act. It’s a bill known as the cement tax or cap and trade and it is sure to prove devastating to the cement industry among others.

Just last year a Holcim representative talked about the dangers of regulations like cap and trade. “If you’re going to regulate our industry and go with no more coal to power the plants, what’s the alternative?” Sharon Myers, Holcim’s environmental manager, said. “And at what cost to you, your children, and your grandchildren?” Myers went on to say, “We can potentially regulate the industry out of the United States.” (ADA Evening News, Justin Loftin, March 11, 2009)

What does Rubberstamp Russ plan to say to Holcim as he helps cut the ribbon on its newest plant, “Congratulations – I voted to put you out of business?” And as he celebrates the 250 jobs the plant will create in his district will he openly admit that if he has his way their jobs are in jeopardy? Because if the cap and trade bill that Congressman Carnahan voted in favor of actually passes it’s unknown if this new facility will even meet the new government standards and regulations.

Since Carnahan is actually in the district maybe he can go explain why he voted for cap and tax to the 165 employees at the cement company Buzzi Unicem in Festus too. Of course we’ve come to know Congressman Carnahan never truly wants to discuss his actions with the people he is supposed to represent. It’s understandable though; who would want to admitthat they just followed orders from Pelosi? Maybe, like the stimulus bill, he didn’t read the cap and trade bill either. Maybe, like the healthcare bill, he simply didn’t understand the implications it would have on the people of his district – the small businesses it would cause to close, the high energy costs passed on to the people, or the continued job loss.

“The hypocrisy displayed by Congressman Carnahan is typical of a Washington-insider. People are tired of politicians like Carnahan who cast votes against them and then the very next minute pose in a picture smiling as if what they’ve done is a good thing. Carnahan must have learned his spin zone tactics from Pelosi – she was camera ready and smiling as she forced government healthcare upon us. The people of Missouri’s 3rd district are too smart to fall for Carnahan’s posing –they are calling his bluff. They want a real representative not a feel good photo opportunity,” said congressional candidate Ed Martin.

Analysis done by A Concrete Products and Cement Americas found that congressmen with cement interests in their districts voted against the Waxman-Markey Act by a 2-to-1 margin. A large number of the 44 Democrats who voted against it have cement properties in their district. (Concrete Products, Cement Tax, July 1, 2009)

Carnahan as usual did not vote in the best interest of his district but rather rubberstamped the bill along party-lines; once again the actions of a Washington-insider.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Campaign Aims to Energize Economy Neighbor to Neighbor

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 3, 2010 –Missouri has a 9.4 % jobless rate and small businessesare being forced to cut employees or even close up shop. It’s obvious something must be done. Today, 3rd district congressional candidate Ed Martin announces a plan with proven positive results that will help energize [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

Campaign Aims to Energize Economy Neighbor to Neighbor

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 3, 2010 –Missouri has a 9.4 % jobless rate and small businessesare being forced to cut employees or even close up shop. It’s obvious something must be done. Today, 3rd district congressional candidate Ed Martin announces a plan with proven positive results that will help energize the local economy and spur job growth by supporting local businesses. The Shop Local Hire Local campaign debuts today. The mantra of Shop Local Hire Local is “when small businesses thrive…small businesses hire!” After all, the Small Business Administration indicates nearly 2/3 of new jobs come from small businesses.

The Shop Local Hire Local action plan was developed after a number of roundtables Ed Martin held with small business leaders and some 150 “Ask Ed Anything” meetings in Missouri’s third district. The number one concern heard over and over again at the roundtables and meetings is a lack of consumers and business. Business owners and leaderscontinue to tell Ed Martin the so called “tax breaks” and “incentives” being offered to them are not being received and are not smartly targeted; they simply need customers. Due in large part to the general decrease in local spending and revenue, many businesses have had to make layoffs or cut back the hours of their employees; these employees with less income are spending less. It tends to be a vicious cycle in this recession but it can be reversed with real leadership and local efforts.

Shop Local Hire Local will focus on publicly encouraging all Missourians to look to local businesses and local workers first. The campaign includes the websiteShopLocalHireLocal.com and grassroots publicity efforts along with targeted networking opportunities for businesses as well as workers. Shop Local Hire Local also has a distinctive window placard for people to place in their store fronts, home or automobile.Shop Local Hire Local will hold its first event June 10th with a business to business networking event from 5-6:30pm at Surdyke- Harley Davidson in Festus, MO. It’s a way to introduce and promote the services of local businesses and share ideas. Ed Martin will continue the forward momentum of Shop Local Hire Local as well as continue to holdroundtables and “Ask Ed Anything” meetings.

“Shop Local Hire Local is a win-win situation for both small businesses and the many local folks still unemployed struggling to make ends meet,” said congressional candidate Ed Martin. “A one-day job fair isn’t going to make significant change. We need to invest in our community and have an ongoing effort in order to make a real difference. We’ve researched similar projects across the country and found that a local campaign like Shop Local HireLocal can really pay off!”

In Bellingham, WA a similar campaign, kicked off in 2003, has shown a significant impact. A survey conducted by the Applied Research Northwest found that 58% of people polled were making a more deliberate effort to patronize locally owned businesses. “To have nearly 3 in 5 households attributing a behavior change to this program shows an amazing impact,” said Dr. Pamela Jull, the lead researcher. And in Portland, ME the Portland Independent Business and Community Alliance found that nearly two-thirds of its members had already had a positive impact on their business just six months after it kicked off its buy local campaign.

In Missouri, in 2001, the Jefferson County Growth and Development Association started a “Shop Jefferson County” billboard campaign. And in St. Louis City you can find a few signs stating “Shop in the City” an effort apparently started by a group of local churches.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Ed,

This is my major gripe..Republicans who claim fiscal conservatism. voted against the stimulus,..but still earmark funds, and lobby for constituents to get stimulus funds.

Hey, I will vote and donate $$$ to a candidate, incumbent who, votes for reduced spending, AND [...]]]> The following comment was posted in another blog page. I thought it deserved a full-throated response.

Ed,

This is my major gripe..Republicans who claim fiscal conservatism. voted against the stimulus,..but still earmark funds, and lobby for constituents to get stimulus funds.

Hey, I will vote and donate $$$ to a candidate, incumbent who, votes for reduced spending, AND does not earmark, doe not lobby for government spending for his district!!

I worked as a contractor at two Federal Agencies..IT IS MY DEEPLY HELD BELIEF: you can eliminate 40.0% of the Federal Civilian Work Force…and the work would get done.  The feather bedding is that pervasive!!!!

So where are you on this????

Believe me, when I write the check for my taxes I fume about the pork-barrel spending in which both parties indulge. It’s common for pols to invoke “the children” for this policy or that, but my children right this minute will owe at least $40,000 – and this is just the debt that the Federal government has on the books.  Unfunded liabilities are a looming concern that dwarfs even this figure.

I will not support the earmark system that Congress has been engaged in.  It is secretive, not transparent and too often wasteful.   I do not believe in robbing Peter’s kids and grandkids to pay for Congressman Paul’s memorial rock garden and recycling center. This is is a terrible crime.

A caveat – the private sector does not have the capacity to fund certain types of projects, like dams, levies and bridges.  I would much rather these infrastructure projects be managed and funded by the states and I think we need to move in that direction.  However I will be less hostile to projects that have an effect on a broad swath of America’s citizens, not a payoff to a local group of supporters.

As to public sector employees – I don’t know about the percentage you cite, but I know that there are many good, entrepreneurial people working in the public sector who would be far more productive in the public sector.  The private sector has to trim labor costs but during this recession the only industry reliably gaining jobs and raising pay is State and Federal government.  Many of my friends and colleagues are starting businesses or finding new career paths after being laid off in across-the-board layoffs.  They will survive and thrive because they are Americans and that’s what we do.  I see no reason why public servants should be exempt from this economic reality.

I am going to need the vigorous support of fiscally responsible men in women like you in the days ahead.  I will not be buying the support of politically active groups with earmarks nor am I promising to.   My opponent does and will, an egregious example being the $90 million in subsidies his brother is slated to get for his wind farm.

That’s a lot of scratch.  Politically connected folks need only peel a few layers of bills off that fat, taxpayer-funded wad of cash to bankroll a politician.  Those who are used to the free-flowing milk and honey from the taxpayer are going to scream and whine like the world is ending.  The moment I lay my hand on that spigot the press will stick a camera in their face and they will lament that I am against sunshine and rainbows.  We’ll have to gut-check ourselves daily and not waver from the task of saving our financial future.  I’m up for the challenge, but I’ll need your continued support.

Thank you for the excellent question.

P.S. For the record, I am for sunshine and rainbows.

Ed Martin with small business owners discussing the current business climate

Tuesday afternoon (Feb 23, 2010) I had the opportunity to have a round table discussion at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  The owner Brian was kind enough to host this discussion with fellow business owners.  After a few minutes of conversation and enjoying good [...]]]>

Ed Martin with small business owners discussing the current business climate

Tuesday afternoon (Feb 23, 2010) I had the opportunity to have a round table discussion at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  The owner Brian was kind enough to host this discussion with fellow business owners.  After a few minutes of conversation and enjoying good St. Louis style pizza and toasted ravioli, we began to go over concerns they have about the current business environment.

“I don’t need a loan, I need customers” was one of Brian’s poignant statements.  He was addressing the obsession this President has with getting banks to lend.  Certainly there are businesses who depend on access to lines of credit, but Brian’s concern was the fact that no amount of loans would make up for the fact that his customer base is seeing their disposable income eroded.  Some are out of work but more are feeling the crunch of other issues such as increased consumer prices.  Brian believed these factors were forcing his customers to tighten their belts.

The owner of an insurance agency noted that his business was seeing a lot of business owners calling him to see if they can economize on the costs of their policies.  Health insurance costs became a topic of discussion.  Premiums are on the rise.  The owner of a local nursery indicated that she has to carefully balance her staffing to prevent health insurance costs from destroying her bottom line.

We talked about the creation of association pools for health insurance.  Small businesses, among other groups, could band together to create larger risk pools just as large corporations can and negotiate better rates.  For instance, a pool could be made for all Imo’s pizza franchisees making a pool of hundreds.  This measure would cost almost nothing while doing a much better job of solving a significant portion of the uninsured issue.  I’d like to end the restrictions that keep these associations from flourishing and plan to do my part at the Federal level.  This is one of many inexpensive health insurance reforms that can do a lot of good and do not require the heavy hand of the Federal government.

An attendee working in real estate noted that after years of “if you have a job and a pulse, you get a loan”, banks are tightening up their standards.  Easy homeowner credit was fueled by a long series of misguided efforts by the Federal government to distort the mortgage lending market. Now, the credit crunch was hurting otherwise viable businesses.  The nursery owner noted that her business depends on a line of credit to operate.  If the bank, driven to restrict lending by losses in real estate, trims her access to this credit line she will face very difficult days ahead.  These responsible business men and women felt that they are paying the price for the folly of others.

The consensus was that government has become an obstacle, not just through taxation and regulation, but by creating great uncertainty.  What will energy costs be next year?  It depends upon the success of Cap and Trade legislation.  What will health care costs be next year?  It depends upon what version of the health care legislation passes.  I don’t think anybody believed it would relieve their burden.  All assembled believed that the course government was on would make the business environment harder.  The question was to what degree.

This input and that of many other meetings I have had will inform my policy decisions.  My opponent has a track record of avoiding talking with small businesses, preferring to cavort with representatives of well-connected corporations in photo-op summits.  No surprise that Russ Carnahan’s latest rubber stamp will be to borrow more money and watch it get funneled to the politically connected interests in Washington.  I will represent the interests of all businesses, and that includes the beleaguered entrepreneurs who cannot afford to pay a lobbyist to bend Russ Carnahan’s ear with a fat contribution.

“Without restoring fiscal responsibility, our economy can’t fully recover. The large deficits we inherited as a result of reckless borrow-and-spend policies of the last administration have put pressure on funding for important priorities such as job creation. We are long [...]]]> My opponent Russ Carnahan recently released a statement on fiscal discipline.  Here is a quote:

“Without restoring fiscal responsibility, our economy can’t fully recover. The large deficits we inherited as a result of reckless borrow-and-spend policies of the last administration have put pressure on funding for important priorities such as job creation. We are long overdue to reestablish tough common-sense action to restore fiscal responsibility.”

This is strong talk for a congressman who was nominated by Citizens Against Government Waste as “Porker of the Year.”  Fiscal discipline is a philosophy, not a catchphrase.  People who believe in fiscal discipline pay their bills, balance their checkbooks and don’t go into debt for frivolous expenditures.

I believe in fiscal discipline as a way of life, not as a slogan.  While working in Governor Matt Blunt’s administration we opened ourselves up to intense criticism by proposing cuts to wasteful spending.  Rent-seeking bureaucrats were vexed by the Missouri Accountability Portal where they must post their expenditures for all the world to see.

What has Russ Carnahan done in the cause of fiscal discipline? Has he ever refused to support a budget bill as too “porky?”  Has he ever voted “no” on fat-laden legislation? Russ Carnahan voted with his party to raise the debt ceiling enabling the Federal government to further plunge our nation into hock.  How is that fiscal responsibility?

President Obama has spent the last 18 months saying one thing and doing another.  Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have looked Americans straight in the eye and told us that health care legislation would not raises taxes and ration care despite the plain language of the text.  Russ Carnahan has been right there alongside them, voting “yea” to mortgaging Missourian’s future.

This state’s motto is “Show Me” and Russ Carnahan has nothing to show for his newfound belief in “fiscal responsibility.”  His voting record makes his recent conversion to the church of fiscal discipline laughable.  Congressman Carnahan has rubber-stamped every spending initiative Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked him to.  Russ Carnahan may be contemptuous of our intelligence, but we in the Missouri 3^rd are not buying it.