Below are the dates and times and location maps for this weekend’s debates between Congressman Russ Carnahan and Ed Martin.

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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

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 [...]]]> 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:

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.

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.

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

Dec. 11, 2009 – Statement of Ed Martin Regarding Russ Carnahan’s “Jobs Summit” at Washington University (Acrobat)

Dec. 10, 2009 – Statement of Ed Martin Regarding More Spending Votes by Russ Carnahan (Acrobat)