Ed Martin For Congress » Debt

Labor Day, 2010

Webmaster — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:06:49 +0000

Labor day is a day first established to celebrate ”the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.” Today all of America’s workers enjoy the holiday, both those who are and are not organized. The interests of both categories of workers have converged and in most ways we are all in the same boat. As we enjoy the lovely weather and take the day off from our labors, I think it is important to look at where we are when work resumes on Tuesday.

Too many Missourians are out of work. Recessions are part of the cyclical life of an economy. I have lived through at least three, depending on how you count them, and while it is frustrating and worrisome, America has always bounced back, stronger than before.

This recession has enjoyed a great deal of “help” from the Federal government, or at least what has happened has been billed as help. As the various schemes to “help” the average worker have unfolded, we find the only folks helped were the politically connected.

Consider the Chrysler bailout, ostensibly to help stabilize the job situation for auto workers. First, the deal shut-down hundreds of dealerships. Sales staff were laid off at these firms, along with union service workers, disproportionately in areas away from an urban center. The decisions to shut down one dealership over another had nothing to do with the long-term economic health of the company, but rather was done under an airy rubric of “shared sacrifice.” In reality, the closures brought no measurable improvement to Chrysler’s bottom line, and may be a long-term detriment as buyers switch to other makes that have a local presence.

Fenton workers certainly shared in the “sacrifice” as they watched their tools, equipment and jobs packed up and shipped to Mexico and Canada. Their children and grandchildren will be paying the taxes that cover the cost of Chrysler’s bailout with no job to show for it. The Chrysler bailout fiasco is an unfortunate example of this congress’s incompetence.

The stimulus, another attempt by Congress to borrow enormous sums of money to shore up the economy is proving to be a colossal failure. Among the few types of projects we can all agree create jobs that benefit us all are “infrastructure” projects. How many times did we hear “shovel ready” jobs. The River Des Peres was built during the Great Depression era and benefits St. Louis to this day. However, in nearly a trillion dollars of borrowed money that we will have to pay back, only about 5% is going toward those sort of long-term infrastructure jobs. What of the other 95%? Did Russ Carnahan tell us only 5% will be going toward “shovel ready jobs? Who do we blame for this bald-faced lie?

Any reasonable person would see spending 300 million dollars in our district to make 561 jobs as an insulting waste of resources America simply does not have, but that’s what we have done here in Missouri’s 3^rd District. Millions of dollars have evaporated into the pockets of the politically astute. Congressman Carnahan’s brother Tom is in line to receive $90 million stimulus dollars for his wind farm, one example among thousands of insiders getting their “fair share” at our expense, with no accountability whatsoever, and no jobs as promised.

America’s workers are the most productive in the world, and we love to work. Our government has been overtaken by nannies bent on regulating every aspect of our lives and greedy politicians who cloy and grasp at every dollar they can send to their friends who in return send pennies on the dollar in campaign contributions for favored treatment. 55% of Russ Carnahan’s campaign war chest comes from political action committees who want to keep their place at the trough he fills with borrowed money.

The private sector is being strangled with red tape and robbed with high taxes, wrecking jobs that exist and preventing job growth that would normally occur naturally after an economic correction. It is Congressmen like Russ Carnahan tightening the collar.

These days, what we need in Congress are men and women with a conscience. One of my ancestors is James P. Mitchell (my grandmother’s father’s cousin, though we called him our “great uncle”) who served as Eisenhower’s Labor Secretary. Secretary Mitchell was well-regarded by both labor and business owners for his fairness and obvious concern for the workers of America. As I have come to understand my uncle’s career and approach, I see a man who knew that business owners and their employees need each other to succeed. This congress is punishing business owners without regard to the effect on the tens of thousands who are being thrown out of work, or kept off payrolls all over the country. I will work to be a leader like Secretary Mitchell, who provided commonsense leadership and put the needs of the people first.

No more wealth redistribution, giveaways to family members and campaign donors. Stop the takeover of health care, energy, and finance. Congress needs to change direction and chip away at the taxes and regulation that are creating uncertainty in the business community and destroying growth.

No more bailouts. No more regulatory burdens and stifling taxes for small business. I mean to go to congress and get the IRS and the bureaucracy off the neck of small business. From this new, free environment will flow jobs, jobs, jobs. Congress just needs to get out of the way.

Carnahan Family Feud – Robin Criticizes Bailouts, Brother

Webmaster — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:22:57 +0000

Carnahan criticizes bailouts
Democratic Senate hopeful stops in St. Joseph

By Andrew Gaug

Sunday, June 6, 2010 at midnight

Bailouts, oil spills, partisan bickering – Robin Carnahan said it needs to stop.

The Missouri secretary of state, currently running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, made a stop at a private residence on Lovers Lane Saturday morning to gain support for her campaign.

On Ms. Carnahan’s tour, titled “Stop the Bull,” the self-proclaimed country woman told about 80 attendees she has grown tired of the games politicians have been playing in Washington.

“One thing I learned when I was down on the farm was to know bull when I see it,” she said. “What I need is for you to know bull when you see and hear it as well, and call people out on that.”

Even with a Democratic majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House, Ms. Carnahan said she has seen too many people get off easy while Americans foot the bill.

“We have too-big-to-fail companies continuing to be bailed out, and we have folks … in the Gulf now that are creating problems and expecting us to pay the bill for that,” she said.

In what might be taken as a counter to her own party’s activities, Ms. Carnahan said increases in government spending need to come to a halt.

“We’re in a situation where people are really changing their habits because we’re in a down economy, and we expect Washington to do the same,” she said.

Ms. Carnahan’s likely opponent in November would be Republican Congressman Roy Blunt, who stopped in St. Joseph on Friday. Ms. Carnahan realizes she’s facing strong opposition.

“It’s going to be a close race,” she said.

Ms. Carnahan warned that Mr. Blunt wields a strong sword, including heavy lobbyist donations. She mentioned a $1,000 contribution he received in May from Halliburton, a point she found offensive, as he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“Just last month, he started taking money from Halliburton who, if you remember, is one of the companies responsible for what’s going on in the Gulf right now,” she said.

Also a point of frustration for Ms. Carnahan was Mr. Blunt voting against ideals he claims to base his campaign on. She cited Mr. Blunt’s vote against the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010, which offered $3.6 billion in tax breaks for small businesses,

“This is a guy who runs around on a bus that says on the side, ‘Jobs for Missouri’s Future.’ And yet, when he goes back to Washington, he votes against those things,” she said.

Not skirting the elephant in the room, Ms. Carnahan said the oil spill that has dominated the news should not turn into another case of history repeating itself.

“We’ve got to hold the folks accountable who caused the problem, and not have this be another place where we’re expected to bail them out when they create a problem,” she said. “We’ve seen that story before … and we ought not to have to put up with that again.”

Link to Original Story

Carnahan Photo Op Proves He’s a Hypocrite

Webmaster — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:15:00 +0000

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

Agricultural Advisory Group Formed

Webmaster — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:36:26 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) June 2, 2010 – Third congressional candidate Ed Martin recognizes the many agricultural issues facing Missourians especially in the 3rd district. For this reason, he is officially creating Third Congressional District Agricultural Advisory Group.

While most Missouri farmers, agri-businessmen and women, and small business owners in related agricultural fields are keeping their heads down and working hard, the legislative proposals and regulations of the Obama administration are dominating their concerns for the future. In particular, the so-called Cap-and-Trade bill, for which Congressman Russ Carnahan gave his stamp of approval, is at the top of their concerns list. The Missouri Farm Bureau, among many others, is a vocal critic of this government’s activism saying, “The negative implications are very strong for agriculture.” (Hannibal Courier-Post, April 27, 2010) ”More than ever before, farmers and ranchers are literally fearful of what the federal government is planning to do in terms of cap and trade, the Clean Water Restoration Act, possible government run federal health care and spending that is out of control,” said Charles Kruse, Missouri Farm Bureau President. (Missouri Ruralist, Dec 14, 2009)

Ed Martin is taking a stand for Missouri agriculture. He strongly opposes cap-and-trade and understands the detrimental affects it would have on family farms and small businesses – the backbone of our country. Missouri ranks 2nd in the United States in the number of farms with 105,000 farms according to the 2002 and 2007 Census of Agriculture. A 2009 report by the Missouri General Assembly highlights that agriculture adds more than $12.4 billion annually to the Show-Me State economy and employs more than 245,000 people in our state. This is why Ed Martin has created the Agricultural Advisory Group (AAG.)

AAG will hold a number of roundtables in order to address all of the federal issues piling up on the plate of local farmers. The Group will work with agricultural businesses and family farms in the 3rd district to brainstorm real solutions. “I need to be informed and hear their concerns in order to truly represent them in Washington,” said 3rd district congressional candidate Ed Martin

“Big government with its out-of-control spending habit is not an entity we look up to. Missouri farmers are struggling and we need someone to hear us – someone who won’t cave to big business but will look out for the best interest for all of us. We farmers need to be heard and I am thrilled Ed Martin has created this Agricultural Advisory Group and extremely honored to have been asked to be the co-chairman,” said Marty Strussion, owner of Cave Vineyard in Ste. Genevieve.

Members of AAG include David Reed as chairman, Marty Strussion as co-chairman, and Katie Smith as honorary chairman. Click on this hyperlink for a brief list of their relative work experience.

Congressman Carnahan wants to make it appear he is focused on agricultural issues too. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will be in St. Louis fundraising for Carnahan this week.The Congressman can’t pull the wool over the eyes of Missouri farmers though – they knowCarnahan is out-of-touch with farmers – aside from farmers like his brother whose windmill farm would benefit from cap-and-trade.

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

Carnahan & Cash – Easy Come, Easy Go

Webmaster — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:13:19 +0000

The press is noticing that we are staying competitive with Russ Carnahan with cash on hand. Here is an excerpt from the St. Louis Beacon:

The financial success of Sowers and Martin continues to be striking, in part, because their districts are generally deemed safe turf for the incumbent party. The fact that both insurgents are continuing to amass money is seen as a sign of their campaigns’ energy, which in turn has helped Martin and Sowers attract attention — and more money — from national GOP or Democratic groups.

While Russ Carnahan is raising more money, he is spending more too. A good deal more. Here is a table with figures from official Federal Election Commission reports both of our campaigns have to file:

	Total Raised	Total Raised for Quarter	Total Spent	Total Spent for Quarter	Cash on Hand
Martin	$582,278	$202,659	$103,498	$59,443	$478,779
Carnahan	$875,299	$258,697	$533,948	$110,567	$520,545

Often when I ask for your support, I mention that we are being very frugal with your campaign contributions. Here is the evidence. Despite all the events and town halls we are having, Russ Carnahan has spent over five times as much as our campaign. My campaign staff is doing an excellent job maximizing the impact of your support. In comparison, Carnahan’s campaign is spending money like – well – a liberal congressman. Taxpayers are covering the costs of his mailings telling us how wonderful Obamacare will be. Taxpayers are paying for the staff members who hang up the phone when constituents call. It’s not like his campaign is arranging for town halls to explain his voting record, yet there went half a million dollars.

I think his campaign spending record is reflective of his voting record. Russ Carnahan is lavish with other people’s money.

Russ Carnahan may be more shrewd when it is not the taxpayer’s money. His yacht the “Attractive Nuisance”. This boat has not been registered since 2008, the equivalent of not buying plates for your car. It is currently berthed in Alton, even though his home state has a marina just across the river. A cynic might think he is planning to register the boat in Illinois to avoid Missouri’s personal property taxes.

That of course is between Russ Carnahan, his conscience and the Department of Revenue. I bring it up primarily because last summer Russ Carnahan stated that protesting against an expensive entitlement (paid for with other people’s money) is an attack on representative government. However, not paying registration fees and berthing your yacht in your home state passes Russ Carnahan’s smell test just fine.

I have no beef whatsoever with how Russ Carnahan burns through money free people give to him freely. However, Russ Carnahan’s campaign budget demonstrates why he should not be allowed to handle government resources. For Russ’s campaign cash it may be “easy come, easy go”, but we work too hard for that to apply to the federal budget.

What About Earmarks?

Webmaster — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:42:19 +0000

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.

Carnahan’s Conversion to Fiscal Responsibility Dubious

Webmaster — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:54:27 +0000

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^rdare not buying it.

Dec Jobs Report: Stimulus – Money for Worse than Nothing

Webmaster — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:00:02 +0000

In order to bring you this unemployment update, we interrupt our effort to get Congressman Russ Carnahan to come to his district to explain the soon to be voted on health care scheme rather than spending taxpayer money on a slick brochure legislation.

When Congressman Carnahan voted in favor of the stimulus bill he voted to saddle each family in our district with at least an additional $10,000 in debt. The promise was that the additional spending would keep unemployment from reaching 9%, and that people would return to work sooner than if we did not take on the additional debt.

What Congressman Carnahan delivered with his flawed scheme was peak unemployment of 10.2%. We are now in our second month of 10% unemployment.

So, to review – Congressman Carnahan saddled you and me with another $10,000 in debt and bought a worse jobs situation than if he had not done anything at all. Carnahan, Pelosi and Reid got a nice fat slush fund for their political supporters, but for us, nothigng close to what was promised. If congress were a Missouri business, the attorney general would be investigating them for fraud.

Remember this on election day.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled attempt to get Congressman Carnahan to have a health care town hall.

Statement of Ed Martin on Carnahan’s Vote to Lift the Debt Ceiling to Unprecedented Levels

Webmaster — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:44:30 +0000

I have a statement on the House vote increasing our nation;s debt limit over in our media section.

Dec. 16, 2009 – Statement of Ed Martin on Carnahan’s Vote to Lift the Debt Ceiling to Unprecedented Levels (Acrobat)