Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077 All Other Campaign Inquiries: (314) 256-1776

The Worst of Washington

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Sept. 13, 2010 – Congressman Russ Carnahan continues to campaign at the expense of Missouri’s 3rd district constituents! A review of records shows his spending habit is on the rise as his taxpayer [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077
All Other Campaign Inquiries: (314) 256-1776

The Worst of Washington

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Sept. 13, 2010 – Congressman Russ Carnahan continues to campaign at the expense of Missouri’s 3^rd district constituents! A review of records shows his spending habit is on the rise as his taxpayer funded mailings multiply. The Statement of Disbursements of the House is a telling tale of Congressman Carnahan’s abuse of power. Records show from July 1– Oct. 1, 2009 Carnahan spent $7,230.32 on mass mailings. Yet now, since we’re in the campaign season and his re-election effort attempts to catch up with Ed Martin and gain some ground, we see Carnahan spending 16 times as much on mailings. Records show from April 1-July 30, 2010 he spent $116,579.87 of taxpayer money.

These mass mailings have recently become so routine for Carnahan it earned him the title of “top spender” by the Gannett Washington Bureau. The reporter highlights in the article how it’s all on the constituent’s dime saying, “The next time you get a glossy brochure in the mail from your congressman or congresswoman, you might as well read it. After all, you paid for it.”

And Congressman Carnahan is sparing you no expense! From October 2009 through June 2010 Carnahan has mailed nearly one million pieces of mail. He has sent constituents this frank mail trying to sell them on everything from the takeover of health care to seniors’ issues. While constituents have complained; Carnahan continues to inundate people as he attempts to campaign on their dime. Sure his campaign has tried to play it off, telling reporters “It’s just one component of him reaching out” and that the “Congressman thinks it’s important to communicate with constituents.” But the people of his district know this is a lie. During this same time of mass mailings Carnahan has refused to host a town hall that is accessible to the general public. And many of his constituents haven’t received responses to questions from a year ago. 

“Russ Carnahan is blatantly abusing his position. He should be ashamed! It’s not just bad politics it’s poor judgment,” said Ed Martin for Congress spokeswoman, Theresa Petry. “We have an unemployment rate edging 10% in our district yet our Congressman recklessly spends taxpayer’s hard earned money to campaign. We are in a recession and instead of Carnahan taking the time to meet people face to face at a very minimum cost; he decides to send out costly ad letters – and on the people’s dime. He is beyond out of touch!”

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

Why did it take so long for  The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™ [...]]]> Representative Charlie Rangel, after years of foot-dragging by The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™, has actually been charged by the House with ethical lapses, and actually faces an investigation.

Why did it take so long for  The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™ to get around to looking into what are clear and egregious violations?  To quote the Beatles, Congressman Rangel got by with a little help from his friends.

One of his friends was Congressman Russ Carnahan.  In his time in office, Russ Carnahan repeatedly voted to keep investigators out of the powerful Ways and Means Committee chairman’s affairs.  At least five times, Russ Carnahan was part of the ad hoc “Save Charlie Caucus”.  You can imagine how appreciative Charlie Rangel must have been.  Considering the comparison below between Russ Carnahan and Charlie Rangel, you can imagine how much Russ Carnahan would appreciate the precedent.

Russ Carnahan	Charles Rangel
Voted for tax increases, but avoided Missouri personal property taxes by parking yacht accross the river in Illinois	Voted for tax increases, but simply did not pay his taxes
Used his position to get 90 million in stimulus funds for his brother Tom Carnahan’s company, Wind Capital Group	Used his positions to get tax breaks for donors to a library named after him.
“Forgot” to disclose ownership in two corporations, one that owned his yacht, the other used in a sweetheart real estate deal with two campaign donors.	“Forgot” to pay taxes on rental property in the Dominican Republic.
Paid himself “rent” for office space out of campaign contributions, though his corporation did not appear to own office space.	Using rent controlled apartments for office space

Charlie Rangel is a lifelong liberal, clearly I disagree with him vigorously on issues. He is also a wounded veteran, having served his nation honorably.  I find it tragic that over the decades his career rotted out – an argument for term limits I believe.  Russ Carnahan’s lapses are a miniature version, different largely in degree, not by type.  Russ and Charlie have parallel voting records, and in less than a decade, Russ has carved out a similar path toward the worst precincts of Washington.

I am running my campaign like I want Washington to run – lean and thrifty.  I am proud of how the campaign staff squeezes every drop of benefit from contributions.  You can count on your contribution of any amount – $10, $30, $50 or $100 beign used wisely.

In just a few days, the primary will be over.  Some of you have the means to give the maximum prior to the election.  Your total contribution of $2400 before August 3rd will helpo us win in November.

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	Ed Martin for Congress 6037 Hampton Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63109