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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077
Robin Calls for PAC Reform – Requiring Russ Return Funds
(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 21, 2010 – Missouri Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan is on tour touting her ideas for campaign finance reform. Among her calls for action is a ban on leadership political action committees. Leadership PAC committees allow members of Congress to raise money separately from their campaign committees for causes or candidates. In her brother’s case, Congressman Russ Carnahan, his leadership PAC raised money for his own campaign coffers. Congressman Carnahan’s Arch Leadership PAC has so far raised and donated some $230,000 to his campaign.
Robin Carnahan, yesterday, referred to leadership PACs as, “little more than private slush funds.” (KC Star, Steve Kraske July 20, 2010) She went on to call them a, “backdoor way lobbyists can put more money into incumbents in Washington.” (AP, David Lieb, July 20, 2010) Hard to believe but we may have a Carnahan telling the truth this time. However Robin’s words don’t bode well for her baby brother Russ. His FEC reports show he relies heavily on PAC money whether it is from his own Arch Leadership PAC or from lobbyists. Congressman Carnahan has a habit of having half of his campaign funds come from Washington-insiders.
“To use Robin’s own words, ‘we need leaders who are fighting for us instead of hiding behind closed doors and cutting secret deals for corporate special interests in Washington.’ I couldn’t agree more! It’s ironic though to hear those words spoken by a Carnahan – a family dynasty with long-time Washington ties and an open hand in the lobbyist world. Congressman Carnahan has so many different donors to his PAC and so many lobbyists pilfering money to his campaign it’s easy to see where his interests lay. There is a reason he’s earned the nickname Rubberstamp Russ,” 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
We ended the second quarter strong in our race to take on Rubberstamp Russ Carnahan in November. For those of you who wonder why Russ Carnahan is Nancy Pelosi’s “low maintenance” congressman, look no further than to who supports his campaign.
Big Government is unpopular with normal, working class folks like us who pay the bills of America. We are weary of the endless spending as Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama pick winners among various groups, larding them up with tax money borrowed against our children’s future. Big Government is very popular with beltway insiders who rake in billions running these wasteful programs.
This chart shows where Russ Carnahan – who spends campaign money almost as profligately as he does taxpayer dollars – would be without his friends in various Political Action Committees. If Russ Carnahan had to depend on just individual contributions, he would have just under $30,000 in the bank.
There is no doubt that the politically connected own Russ Carnahan, and they want to keep him in office to keep their gravy train running. I need your help to defeat him.
August 3rd, make sure you take the time to vote for me in the primary. We on the campaign take this primary election seriously as it is our first step to defeating Russ Carnahan in November.
I also need your contribution. Any amount, $10, $20, $50, $100 is needed. I get asked questions about how we are doing so much while spending so little compared to other races. My staff is dedicated and carry out their work with both great economy and relentless professionalism. Our volunteers are energetic and are doing many tasks normally left to expensive vendors.
Still, we cannot make our own yard signs, and so far the postman cannot volunteer. These and similar expenses have to be met by patriots like you.
Finally, in the days before the primary, some of you have the resources to “max out” and give a full $2400 for the primary, and $2400 for the general election. If you can, your generous support is needed. Please contact the office if you have any questions.
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Ed Martin for Congress
6037 Hampton Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63109 |
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077
Money on Hand Grows Due to Grassroots
(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 15, 2010 – The campaign for congressional candidate Ed Martin continues to grow by leaps and bounds both in volunteers and donations. In the most recent report, the July Quarterly, Ed Martin reports his most outstanding quarter yet raising $234,328. This impressive total brings his campaign’s all important tally of cash on hand to $570,947. The success of Martin’s fundraising is attributed to grassroots support while incumbent Rep. Russ Carnahan must rely on Washington-insiders. In fact, once again, almost half of Carnahan’s quarterly money comes from political action committees. Martin’s record breaking quarter and continued upward momentum serves as a sign that people want someone in Congress who will give a voice to the voters.
“These latest fundraising numbers show people are tired of not being heard by Congressman Carnahan who instead takes orders from Pelosi. These hard working people are sacrificing what wages they can afford and donating to our campaign. I have vowed to work hard for them and fight for their rights including putting an end to this greedy government of wasteful spenders,” said Ed Martin. “Its people, like our supporters, a real grassroots effort, who will bring about the change in Congress we need, not the special interest groups that line Carnahan’s campaign coffers.”
Ed Martin has already held some 180 “Ask Ed Anything” meet and greets around Missouri’s 3rd district. He is sure to have many more and continue his roundtables with his Agricultural Advisory Group, Veteran’s Advisory Group and Shop Local-Hire Local meetings along with additional town halls leading up to the primary election and of course the general election in November.
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
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077
Invites Carnahan, Local Officials to Pledge Support for HCFA
(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 15, 2010 – Ed Martin visited with hundreds of seniors this week talking to them about Missouri’s Health Care Freedom Act, or Proposition “C” at several assisted and independent living senior centers in Missouri’s 3rd district. Pelosi and Congressman Carnahan’s “pass the health care bill –then find out what it entails” attitude has left seniors, the largest group of health care users, in the dark regarding their future care. It has been months since the government takeover of health care and seniors are still at a loss for how it impacts them. What seniors do know and what they’ve expressed to Ed is; they want their voices heard and they want the right to choose. They do not want the government to come between them and their doctors – possibly risking their health care.
A similar message echoed throughout a health care forum titled “Obamacare’s Impact on Seniors…And Where We Go From Here.” Tuesday some 460 seniors attended the forum in St. Louis where Ed Martin was asked to speak. He spoke as not only a congressional candidate but also as a bioethicist and an attorney whose law focus was health care ethics.
Ed Martin told the crowd of seniors that one common sense approach to health care is to vote “Yes” on Proposition C, Missouri’s Health Care Freedom Act, August 3rd. Missouri is the first state to stand up and allow voters to speak out on the national debate of Obamacare. Ed Martin sent a letter to elected officials in the area asking them to pledge their support, as he has, to vote “Yes” on Prop C and return the right of health care back to the people of Missouri.
“I support a common-sense health care fix that cuts costs, does not cut care and provides more choices for every American. Health care costs are simply too high and the current system needs to work better. However, the Pelosi/Reid/Carnahan government takeover of health care is not the answer to our health care needs. Congressman Carnahan’s vote for the government takeover of health care raises taxes on every American, rations health care and cuts Medicare for our seniors. We need to start over and pass a new plan that will actually cut costs without cutting care, increase competition among providers and insurance companies, provide more choices for Americans and mandates coverage for pre-existing conditions,” said 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
While running for his first term as representative of Missouri’s 3rd district, Congressman Russ Carnahan allegedly accepted an illegal campaign contribution from the limited liability corporation he owned with his wife and another politically connected couple. $1200 is a lot of money, but is it really a big deal in a race with hundreds of thousands being raised and spent?
You bet it is, especially in close races. All candidates (myself included) have the old poem For Want of a Nail in the back of their mind. Small things matter. $1200 can in fact be the margin between victory and defeat. A Democrat neighborhood canvasser can be hired for $9 an hour. $1200 will buy over three weeks of full-time work. $1200 could buy 600 yard signs. Strategically placed where each sign makes 200 impressions over its life that extra 120,000 impressions could decide a close race like that between Russ Carnahan and Jeff Smith.
Perhaps Russ Carnahan learned that his attempt on the seat was in jeopardy, and he was trying to get back some of the $10,400 his campaign paid in phantom “rent” to his LLC. Castle Ballroom LLC only owned a derelict building. No improvements had been made, so there was no office space to rent. Russ Carnahan put $10,400 dollars into his own company out of his campaign’s till. This practice is called “conversion” and violates campaign finance laws against using campaign funds for personal profit. Carnahan should explain his conduct to the hardworking Missourians who supported his campaign with their money.
Carnahan prevailed in 2004 by extremely slim margins. Jeff Smith lost spending just a third of the money. A few extra campaign dollars matter very much in those situations. Jeff Smith was sent to prison for covering up improper campaign practices. On the day Jeff was sentenced, Russ Carnahan said with a straight face “There is a reason for proper disclosures and accounting in campaigns…” when at that very moment Russ Carnahan’s ownership stake in Castle Ballroom LLC had been omitted from his latest financial disclosures.
Missourians ought to be appalled.
Our campaign is not being financed by Washington insiders or sweetheart real estate deals. We are attracting dozens of volunteers every week to do the hard work of canvassing and spreading the word. Nevertheless we still need monetary contributions to keep the campaign humming. Any amount, $25, $50, or $100 will help us provide the literature and other items needed to get the message out that the 3rd district wants responsible representation.
Some of you are able to make a special sacrifice and provide the maximum of $4800, $2400 for the primary and $2400 for the general. We need your help for August and beyond.
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Ed Martin for Congress
6037 Hampton Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63109 |
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077
Press Conference on Congressman Carnahan pocketing campaign “rent” and illegal contributions
(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 12, 2010 –
The truth surrounding Congressman Russ Carnahan’s Rezko-like sweetheart land deal, the so-called “Castle Ballroom LLC,” is slowly coming to light. For example, an examination of Congressman Carnahan’s campaign finance reports from 2003 and 2004 show that on 5 separate occasions the Carnahan campaign paid rent to the so-called Castle Ballroom LLC, an LLC which owned a property outside of the district. The checks totaling $10,400 were all sent to Congressman Russ Carnahan’s home address. These payments, some of which appear to be incorrectly filed with the federal government, seem to be the conversion of campaign funds to personal use. Continue reading Complaint Shows Carnahan Violated Federal Laws
 Recess appointments are lawful, and were meant to be a means of filling key positions in high government when the Senate is not in session. Appointees can only serve a limited time. Controversial appointees put in place by recess appointment know that they will later face a Senate that was none too pleased at the President’s dodging of the chamber’s advice and consent role. For this reason it is rarely used by the president for nominees to whom the Senate has expressed objections.
Obamacare’s passage was not only a fiscal disaster set to cave in our future, it made a shambles of our legislative process and a mockery of the will of the people. Last year Scott Brown was elected to Ted Kennedy’s seat on a groundswell of opposition to Obamacare. Despite this, the arrogance and condescension of Congress went on unabated, and through a series of byzantine rules, deals and obnoxious flouting of standard process, a wildly unpopular law was crammed down the throats of America.
President Obama’s arrogance continues in the appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. Handpicked to be Obama’s official hatchet man in implementing Obamacare, Dr. Berwick has yet to answer questions posed by the Senate. Obama’s spokesman claims the appointment is in response to Republican resistance – as if resisting an evasive nominee to implement an atrocious law were a bad thing.
While this Congress and this Administration are providing a rich environment for things to undo, the top of my list is Obamacare. I will join GOP colleagues and Democrats who are interested in representing their constituents in efforts to repeal and replace. First, repeal Obamacare in its thousands of pages of bureaucratic morass and replace it with the handful of reasonable reforms it contained. I will pursue other changes in the law to deal with important health insurance issues, such as insurance portability, national competition among insurance companies and special pools for patients with preexisting conditions.
Nancy Pelosi, with willing participants like Congressman Russ Carnahan have dutifully done the bidding of President Obama and has infuriated America. I am running to provide representation for Missouri’s 3rd district, not “rule”. I ask for your vote on August 3rd in the primary, and the battle to end Obamacare will begin.
Citizens for Marsha Haefner presents
“The Republican Round-Up!”
Friday, July 9th at 7:00 PM
Printable Flyer (Acrobat)
with Special Guests
Emcee Lloyd Smith,
Executive Director, Missouri Republican Party
and
Ed Martin, Candidate,
Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District
Join us for
BBQ Dinner, Drinks, Music and FUN!!!
$25 per person
Continue reading Republican Round Up, July 9th
Ed Martin is hosting another town hall on Veterans’ Affairs Thursday July 8, 2010.Congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, and Joe Frank, past National Commander of the American Legion will be in attendance to hear directly from our local Veterans. Martin has also extended an invite to Congressman Russ Carnahan.
What: Town Hall on Veterans’ Affairs
When: Thursday July 8, 2010 5-7 pm
Where: Two Hearts Banquet Center – 4532 South Lindbergh Boulevard St Louis, MO 63127
Why: To address any concerns regarding our Veterans, specifically issues surrounding the recent health violations at John Cochran VA hospital
“For too long now the voices of our Veteran’s have fallen on deaf ears. I cannot sit by and watch as the very men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom are cast aside and mistreated. If there is a known enemy or obstacle putting our Veterans in harm’s way it should not be ignored but rather addressed immediately. I want to hear the concerns of our Veterans and, when elected, promise to work tirelessly to in return help fight for them,” said Ed Martin.
Ed Martin is honored to have Congressman Mac Thornberry on hand at the town hall to help immediately address any grievances and/or interests of our local Veterans.
Ed Martin, whose brother is a Marine, has a deep and personal concern for the treatment of our Veterans. He has requested, when elected, to be assigned to the Veteran’s Affairs Committee in order to oversee and help protect Veterans. At a town hall for Veterans this past March Ed Martin received a written endorsement from Joe Frank, the Past National
Continue reading Veteran’s Town Hall Thursday July 8
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