Ed Martin For Congress » fiscal responsibility

Why We Must Have a Balanced Budget Amendment

Webmaster — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:44:33 +0000

The current debate over debt limits, deficits and spending cuts are important, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that the budget that will be agreed upon is only binding until the next budget is passed. Though Senators and Representatives speak loftily about trillions cut over ten years, the fact remains that Congress cannot bind its future hands. The next fiscal year is a clean slate, and once the heat is off it is back to mortgaging our children’s future to pay off well-connected interests.

Almost every state in the union has a balanced budget requirement in their constitution. Some are weak, some are strong, some are easily gamed by legislators, but they are there to protect the fiscal health of the state.

Only the constitution of a state can bind a future state legislature to fiscal responsibility. Only the constitution of the United States can bind future Congresses to the will of the States, a fact made all the more critical since the Federal government can print money whereas the States cannot.

Neither party has had the stomach to balance the nation’s books save for one short period in the 1990s. The latest spell of runaway spending has terrified the nation and roiled the people who see their children born with obligations in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Yes, we must stop spending more than we receive, but I have no faith that we will see fiscal discipline over the long haul without a balanced budget amendment. It is a shame that our political class must have such a sword dangled over their heads, but 70 years of profligate spending and half-hearted attempts at restraint have proven utterly that it is desperately needed.

Freedom Week Countdown – My Pledge to YOU – No Frivolous Trips

Webmaster — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:10:19 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

I Pledge No More Tax Dollars for Frivolous Trips

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Oct. 29, 2010 – People are tired of hearing about taxpayer funded trips for Congress and their spouses to travel to Antarctica and Hawaii, staying in posh $2,000 a night hotels in Italy, and the list goes on. Ed Martin actually agrees with Robin Carnahan in calling out her brother Congressman Russ Carnahan. She said, “(we) need in Washington someone who is going to stand up to these folks not somebody who is in bed with them or somebody who’s taken a lot of money from these big corporate lobbyists…,” said Robin Carnahan. (Allman in the Morning. KFTK, Feb. 12, 2010.)

Ed Martin’s pledge today is: “I pledge to stop using tax dollars for boondoggle travel.” – Ed Martin

Congressman Russ Carnahan was even called out by the New York Times as being a leader (#3 in the country) in taking privately funded Congressional trips estimated at costing taxpayers $86,000. His world wide travels were also documented by the Wall Street Journaland The Hill highlighted his $2,000 a night hotel in Italy for he and his wife. As Congressman Carnahan and his wife traveled from Australia to Italy on taxpayer money more and more jobs were and continue to be lost in Missouri’s 3rd district. Ed Martin refuses to stand by and watch as thousands of electricians, carpenters, auto workers, health care workers and more continue to be laid off. He pledges to stand up and fight for the people.

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

Have You Read The Stimulus Bill Yet?

Webmaster — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:13:35 +0000

Charlie Brennen, host on KMOX radio in St. Louis asks Russ Carnahan point blank if he has read the 1000 page stimulus bill…

Hear the complete audio:

A Call for More Debates

Webmaster — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:15:07 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Voters Want Answers on Jobs

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Oct. 8, 2010 –Ed Martin sent a letter to Congressman Carnahan today requesting two more debates. “The people of south St. Louis County and Ste. Genevieve deserve a chance to hear from us,” said Ed Martin. “Yet another month has gone by and the unemployment rate has gone untouched at 9%. A lot is hanging in the balance for the families of this district and they deserve to know just how candidates will fight for jobs – fight for them. Voters want answers – whether it is defending a vote for stimulus money to funnel funds to an out of district, family owned, wind farm as Carnahan did or my proposal to cut the over-burdening government regulations to allow small businesses to grow and create shovel ready jobs.”

Congressman Carnahan stated previously he feels debates are important – and they are now more than ever. Constituents want to hear from their candidates and should be given ample opportunity to do so. While Ed Martin has held some 250 “Ask Ed Anything” meetings and a number of town halls he encourages Congressman Carnahan to join in him in two more debates. He also asks the Congressman allow them to be broadcast for those unable to attend.

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 to Sign Lame Duck Pledge for Jobs?

Webmaster — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:30:02 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Call on Congressman to Support Small Business/Job Growth

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Sept. 30, 2010 – Today, Ed Martin sent a letter to Congressman Russ Carnahan requesting he sign a Lame Duck Pledge for Jobs. The Pledge states the Congressman will vote NO on any job-killing bills brought to the House floor by Nancy Pelosi as Congress convenes during the November/December lame-duck session of this Congress. It specifically addresses Cap and Trade, Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, the Death Tax, Arbitration, Secret Ballots for Union Workers, and so called “Stimulus” money to special interests and family members.

“If Congressman Carnahan would take the time to listen to the small business owners in our district, as I have, then he would know that signing this pledge is in the best interest of everyone. He must realize that our local businesses and families are struggling and hurting. The fear of even more government red tape is such a burden that it is stifling business, clamping down on job growth and ultimately detrimental to our families – his constituents. The Congressman can’t be for the people – yet vote against them,” 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

Carnahan Claims Social Security is Stable

Webmaster — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:05:16 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Laughter Rippling Across the Country

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) September 27, 2010 –During a debate with candidate Ed Martin Friday night, Congressman Carnahan made the claim that Social Security is “stable.” Laughter erupted from the crowd of about 500 voters. They know that the Social Security system is broken. For decades, Congress has “invested” money that was supposed to be in the Social Security Trust Fund into government securities that was borrowed to fund wasteful spending on pet projects. And thanks to Congress’ spending habit, it’s a well known fact that Social Security is broke.

Congressman Carnahan is either simply that out of touch or he is deliberately trying to mislead the people. Either way his words are being passed on and picked up from the likes of FOX National News, the Daily Caller, Hot Air, and too many blogs to even attempt to mention all of them. It seems since Congressman Carnahan refuses to face the facts; he now has to deal with the uproar.

“We need to be honest with the American people. Social Security is broke and putting our heads in the sand and pretending it isn’t – is not how you handle the problem as a leader. On Social Security, I will deal honestly about the actual financial condition and its management. I am committed to finding solutions that make Social Security recipients whole, beginning with a return to a robust, growing economy,” 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

Social Security: Carnahan Clueless … Or Lying To Us?

Webmaster — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:13:28 +0000

Friday night, Congressman Russ Carnahan demonstrated how out of touch he is with the people. When asked a question about Social Security, his response invoked laughter.

Missouri 3rd District voters know that the Social Security system is broke. For decades, Congress has “invested” money that was supposed to be in the Social Security Trust Fund into government securities, borrowed to fund wasteful spending on pet projects.

On Social Security, I will deal honestly about the actual financial condition and its management. I am committed to finding solutions that make Social Security recipients whole, beginning with a return to a robust, growing economy.

I need your support. To combat Congressman Carnahan’s flat out lies about my views on Social Security, we need to take to the airwaves. We need to make phone calls. We need to knock on doors and hand out literature. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more will give our growing army of supporters the resources they need to defeat Rubberstamp Russ Carnahan and return fiscal common sense to Washington and begin the process of fulfilling our commitments to seniors.

Support the Campaign

Support the Air Campaign	Repeal Russ Carnahan	Support the Mail Campaign
Your contribution of $180 helps us reach hundreds of households on radio and television.	We need yard signs, literature and more to Repeal Rubberstamp Russ	Your contribution of $44 allows us to send a message of responsible government to 100 of your neighbors.

Carnahan Caught Lying to Constituents

Webmaster — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:01:44 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Crony Capitalism at its Worst

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) September 22, 2010 –Congressman Carnahan and his crony capitalism has never been as apparent as it is with the recent discovery that his brother Tom Carnahan was funneled $107 Million in stimulus funding.

Despite playing dumb and trying to misconstrue the facts – it is plain to see. The U.S. Department of Treasury has this website – on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Actpage it has a list of those given payment “in lieu of tax credits.” As plain as day, in a list of a 1144 grants awarded, you will find listed Lost Creek Wind, LLC – aka Tom Carnahan’s wind farm. Next to his name you will find he was awarded $107,685,043.00 on July 6, 2010.

Yet Congressman Carnahan went on the radio and publicly said the money wasn’t awarded from the stimulus that he gave his rubberstamp of approval. The following is the verbatim from a talk show on KMOX September 21, 2010. Carnahan stated, “I voted for continuation of a national policy for clean energy and clean jobs. In any company in America that builds a qualifying project is entitled to get the credit.”

Credit? Tom Carnahan didn’t get a tax credit. He asked for a $90 Million credit but he received a $107 Million dollar payment in lieu of credit – or as most people call it – cash. And he got it, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, – from the stimulus.

Congressman Carnahan isn’t just trying to dodge and deflect here folks – he is blatantly lying to the American people. Unless of course he is implying that the government and U.S. Treasury Department is lying?

In a subsequent statement given to the St. Louis Post Dispatch Carnahan continued to mislead the people. His communications director, Angela Guyadeen said, “Russ Carnahan played absolutely no role in Wind Capital’s application for tax credits available to any qualified producer. Anyone who wants this credit must apply and qualify for it through an independent process.”

This reporter did his homework and called Carnahan out, “Again, it’s not a credit – it is a payment in “lieu of tax credits” for up to 30 percent of the cost of a renewable energy property.” (St. Louis Post Dispatch, Jake Wagman, Sept. 21, 2010)

Carnahan’s office did get one very tiny detail right – anyone can apply. What she failed to mention is that Tom Carnahan didn’t just apply for a credit– he received the 12^th largest payout in the country -$107 Million.

“This is the very worst of Washington and an absolute insult to the people of Missouri. We have families struggling to make ends meet and a representative who instead of helping them is funneling money to his family. As I said in a letter I sent to Congressman Carnahan his brother should forfeit the money and it should be used for job re-training and to help small business startups in,” said Ed Martin.

Congressman Carnahan admitted publicly he didn’t read the stimulus bill before voting on it…but he surely can’t expect voters to be fool enough to believe he didn’t know his family would directly benefit from it. The Carnahan dynasty has profited from the people of Missouri for too long. It is time to put an end to the Carnahan corruption.

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

Call on Carnahan Family to Forfeit Stimulus Funds

Webmaster — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:30:10 +0000

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Former Chrysler Workers Deserve Better Treatment

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) Sept. 20, 2010 – Today, Ed Martin sent a letter to Congressman Russ Carnahan requesting he ask his brother, Tom Carnahan, to forfeit the $107 Million he received from the Stimulus bill for windmills.

“We should use the $107 million for job re-training here in St. Louis or to help small business startups instead of funding Carnahan family windmills.” said Ed Martin. “This is the very worst of Washington when one Carnahan pays off another – using other people’s hard earned tax dollars.”

It seems Congressman Carnahan was even more generous than his brother expected too. Tom Carnahan requested $90 Million but a report released Friday states he received $107 Million. (Stltoday.com, Bill Lambrecht, Sept. 17, 2010) Congressman Carnahan tried his best to keep reports from the media and constantly denied money was filtered to his family. However, right from the start Tom Carnahan was touting his good fortune – sending out a press release announcing the loan. The Democratic Policy Committee even reported Tom Carnahan’s windfall from the Stimulus bill. “Wind Capital also said it is receiving a $90 million grant for the project through the federal stimulus package.” In an interview Oct. 29, 2009 (which can be seen here) Tom Carnahan explained how the stimulus secured him a $240 Million loan.

“We went to the banks that finance wind projects and they said they were closed. We love your project. This is the kind of stuff that we would have done in a heartbeat six months ago, but, I’m sorry, we’re not lending money.” Tom Carnahan went on to say, “Luckily, the stimulus passed, that gave us the confidence to go forward and culminated actually last week with us securing a $240 million loan on the project. And so that happened last Thursday and we’re very pleased to announce that.”

Now we discover Congressman Carnahan came through with even more money for his family. The $107 Million grant-in-lieu-of tax credit was given to Tom Carnahan in July for a wind farm. It’s money that could be well spent right here in the Congressman’s own district. Yet a bridge, used by his constituents, didn’t even receive one-fourth the money his brother did. The Eads Bridge was only allocated $25 million to make safety improvements – and the project is creating 875 jobs for local folks (as opposed to 300 out of district jobs at the wind farm). It’s about time Congressman Carnahan focuses on jobs in Missouri’s 3^rd district and stops profiting from his position in Washington. It’s not right that as local families struggle, the Carnahans make money.

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 Abuses Office; Sends nearly 1 Million Mailings – Paid for by Taxpayers

Webmaster — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:02:43 +0000

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

Ed Martin For Congress » fiscal responsibility

Why We Must Have a Balanced Budget Amendment

Freedom Week Countdown – My Pledge to YOU – No Frivolous Trips

Have You Read The Stimulus Bill Yet?

A Call for More Debates

Carnahan to Sign Lame Duck Pledge for Jobs?

Carnahan Claims Social Security is Stable

Social Security: Carnahan Clueless … Or Lying To Us?

Support the Campaign

Support the Air Campaign

Repeal Russ Carnahan

Support the Mail Campaign

Carnahan Caught Lying to Constituents

Call on Carnahan Family to Forfeit Stimulus Funds

Carnahan Abuses Office; Sends nearly 1 Million Mailings – Paid for by Taxpayers