Ed Martin For Congress » obamacare

Obamacare Repeal Vote Scheduled Jan 12th – Why Bother?

Webmaster — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:43:49 +0000

January 12th, the House has scheduled a vote to repeal Obamacare.

The Senate is still dominated by leadership and members like Harry Reid and Claire McCaskill who are dedicated to keeping President Obama’s “signature” legislation alive, so there is little hope that a bill will reach the President’s desk.

Even if it did, the President has shown no remorse at conspiring with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the rest of his party to ram this legislation down our throats. President Obama will not sign a repeal, nor are there enough conservatives in Congress to override the president’s veto.

So why bother? Because the people need to be made well aware of who is or is not in favor of reforming health care in a way that does not wreck our health delivery system. Although at this point the bill is a symbolic shot across the bow of Obamacare, the symbolism is important as we hold those legislators accountable for passing and standing pat on this terrible law.

Carnahan, a Hospital Lobbyist, Kept Taking Pay from Client While Serving in Office

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:14:03 +0000

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

Potentially Over $200k in Pay for “Not Lobbying” and No Record of Carnahan Recusal for Conflict of Interest

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 29, 2010 –A new revelation of unreported payments to Congressman Russ Carnahan threatens to shape his race for re-election. Based on Carnahan’s 2004 federal personal financial disclosure, he may have received more than $200,000 from his sole former lobbying client, BJC, while he served in the Missouri legislature from 2001-2004. Although nothing bars a sitting member of the Missouri legislature from getting paid while serving, the amount of payment and Carnahan’s role as BJC’s top lobbyist (a.k.a. government affairs director) suggests an ongoing relationship that may have skirted Missouri Ethics laws and, at a minimum, wreaks of politics at its worst.

Here are the facts:

From 1997-2000, Carnahan was a registered lobbyist on behalf of BJC. In 2000, as Carnahan ran for state office, he continued to lobby, but he terminated his lobbying later that year after he won election to the state legislature. While in the state legislature, Carnahan continued to disclose BJC as his employer, but it is unclear what he did to deserve the pay, which appears to have been $88,000/yr. based on his 2004 federal personal financial disclosure. In recent years, the state legislature has been roiled by questions regarding what kind of payments sitting legislatures can receive. It now appears that Carnahan was ahead of his time in taking money from a client with an interest before the legislature and for whom he had lobbied.

“Getting paid $88,000/yr. by a former lobbying client while serving in the legislature is the kind of insider trading that Americans have come to despise in their elected officials” said Ed Martin. “We want men and women to represent us not career politicians who milk the system. I call upon Congressman Carnahan to publicly address this glaring conflict of interest, and I will request the appropriate authorities examine this unseemly relationship.”

Timeline:

1997 – Russ Carnahan registers as a lobbyist for BJC
1997-2000 – Carnahan lobbies Missouri lawmakers on behalf of BJC
2000 – Carnahan files to run for the state legislature but continues lobbying through the November election.
2000, December – Carnahan terminates his lobbying just weeks before his swearing-in
2001-2004 – Carnahan discloses continued work for BJC in his annual state level personal financial disclosures, but no monetary amount is given
2004 – Carnahan runs for Congress and discloses his $88,000/yr. pay from BJC in his federal level personal financial disclosure.

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

Yes on Prop C Phone Bank

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:25:36 +0000

August 3rd is your chance to let congress know how you feel and protect Missourians from the worst provisions of Big Government Health Care. We cannot take the vote for granted. The Missouri Hospital Association is spending $200,000 to defeat the measure.

YOU CAN HELP: Between now and the primary in Missouri on August 3rd volunteers are needed to help with phone banking for passage of Prop C. Even if you only have a couple of hours to spare your help would be greatly appreciated. Hours are very flexible. For more information contact Bev at 314-608-0168.

LOCATION:
Pillar in the Valley
229 Chesterfield Business Parkway
Chesterfield, MO 63005 – Map

Prop C Phone Bank Schedule – Call Bev 314-608-0168

Thu 7/29	Fri 7/30	Sat 7/31	Mon 8/2
10 am – 8 pm	10 am – 4 pm	9 am – 3 pm	9 am – 9 pm

The Outrage of Obamacare Continues with Recess Appointment

Webmaster — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:44:22 +0000

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.

Memorial Day

Webmaster — Mon, 31 May 2010 12:19:05 +0000

In the early days of this campaign, I was invited to meet with members of the Jefferson Barracks Heritage Foundation. These good people are working to preserve the installation and document its history. In the modest office within the Red Cross Building, these men enthusiastically detailed the history of Jefferson Barracks and the roles it served during American military mobilizations.

They pointed to maps, then pointed out the window then back to the map, or a photo. I followed the narrative that began in 1826 when it was established as an infantry school to compliment training at West Point. As America expanded westward the Army provided law to the new territories, “…not only to protect the settlers from the Indians, but also to protect the Indians from the settlers and from each other.” In time Jefferson Barracks became the staging area from which the Army would project troops to the west. In a few years, it was the largest post in America.

Joe Frank, a wounded Vietnam veteran shared with me stories of the “citizen soldiers” who passed through Jefferson Barracks. Great Generals – Grant, Lee, Eisenhower and others have served and trained in Missouri. Tens of thousands more flowed through Jefferson Barracks, officers and enlisted noted less by history but known to their families as brothers, sisters, sons and daughters to serve as champions of our nation.

The American military is unique in its composition. There is no more refined meritocracy than among America’s armed forces. The British raised regiments and fleets as nobles invested in the men, material and training, receiving payment from the crown or by confiscating property from conquered lands or ships. Other societies populated the ranks of their commissioned officers – such as they are – based on loyalty to party or by selecting closely related kin. In these militaries enlisted members are typically poorly trained, poorly outfitted and poorly cared-for conscripts upon whom the burden of being a soldier falls like a boot on the neck. Pressed into service, these men will oppress as they are oppressed.

In contrast, American officers and enlisted come from all walks of life, all economic strata. Dirt farmers and accountants flooded the beaches of Anzio and Okinawa. Bankers and ranch hands stood in ranks at Appomattox. Physicists and roofers work together on the tarmacs of Diego Garcia and the decks of frigates, destroyers and carriers all over the globe. Their motives vary – being a serviceman is a better gig now than it was in Valley Forge, but every uniformed man and woman knows that it may come upon them to fight. American servicemen are well regarded by their fellow citizens. We see them as our friends and families. We idealize them as protectors of liberty.

My brother is a Marine, and I am very proud of him. I have a Kevlar “pot” of his, and it reeks of the sweat from those hot theaters where he and his comrades close with the enemy. He is smart and driven. He would be a success in anything he chose to do, but he chose the life of low pay and grinding sacrifice in his beloved Corps for his beloved Country. To him and the vets I have had the privilege to meet, service is a privilege and an honor.

Jefferson Barracks is home to a unit of the Missouri National Guard. It is also the final resting place Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Merchant Mariners. Many of them came home after America’s wars and the flag that draped their casket honored an old man or elderly woman whose end came long after their particular conflict ended. Other flags envelop a hero lost in battle, a life cut short when they were the protective wall made flesh when harm threatened their people.

Others still are like Joe, and left part of their life in a distant mud hole. Where his place in Jefferson Barracks will be is not yet known – and may it be unknown for many years – but still he has already given much for his home, and he continues to give.

The gravestones of Jefferson Barracks are so white that on a day with any sun the sheen will hurt your eyes. This is fitting in a sense, that this orderly stone garden where our protectors are laid would by its nature induce an American look for a moment, then look away in honor and reverence.

The Savior taught us that greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends. Memorial day is the day where we ought to commemorate not just the sacrifice, but the greater love of these men and women who carried arms and tended wounds in our service . I find inspiration in the love they had for their comrades and their liberty. My brother loves his men, Joe loved his fellow soldiers and continues to look out for their well-being to this day. Both love their country in a way not many of us experience. I am grateful for them because they have studied war so that my children can live in peace and freedom. My Memorial Day prayer is that I can match their devotion to our country.

God bless you, Veterans. God rest the fallen.

Ed

Ninety Million Dollar Carnahan

Webmaster — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:07:45 +0000

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

A Timeline of the Congressman’s Wasteful Spending

(ST. LOUIS, MO) May 11, 2010 – Congressman Russ Carnahan has a long history of being fiscally irresponsible with tax dollars. The new website created and paid for by the Ed Martin for Congress Campaign offers a timeline that pinpoints his wasteful spending while in office. The name of the site www.ninetymilliondollarcarnahan.com directly correlates to the $90 million dollars in federal stimulus money allocated to Carnahan’s brother, Tom, for his windmill farm. Rubberstamp Russ Carnahan’s fiscally irresponsible actions have already cost Missouri’s 3rd district constituents millions to billions of dollars and it continues to rise. Carnahan is costing taxpayers money from his vote on the stimulus bill to help secure his family’s financial gain, to his vote on Obamacare and the deficit extension, not to mention the use of taypayer money to campaign using frank mail.

“I think families should realize the wasteful ways in which their hard earned dollars are being misused by Congressman Carnahan. The timeline shows how time after time he votes to continue the out-of-control spending rampant in Washington, D.C. Since there is little transparency and Carnahan refuses to curb his costly actions you can count on us to disburse the information to constituents ourselves,” said 3rd district congressional candidate, Ed Martin.

Since Congressman Carnahan has such a habit of spending; you can expect the website to be an ongoing work in progress – including ways he himself avoids paying taxes.

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 @ Jefferson County Tea Party

Webmaster — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:04:38 +0000

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

Health Care Outrage – Viagra for Sex Offenders

Webmaster — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:02:04 +0000

Q: What Do You Get When You Rubberstamp a Health Care Bill Without Reading it?

A: Taxpayer Funded Viagra for Sex Offenders

When Nancy Pelosi said we “…have to pass the bill so we can find out what’s in it” many of us had a laugh at the apparent gaffe. Now we learn of a truly awful component of the health care “reform” bill rubber-stamped by Russ Carnahan.

The Congressional Research Service confirms that the health care reform legislation has no legal safeguard against a convicted sex offender from receiving treatment, including treatment for erectile dysfunction. Put in blunt terms, if a rapist or child molester enrolls in a health plan as part of a government sponsored exchange, there is no way to prevent that individual from receiving Viagra at taxpayer expense.

Does Russ Carnahan really think giving convicted child molesters Viagra on the public dime is good policy? If not, what exactly did he do to stop it? Senator Tom Coburn anticipated this issue, and introduced a bill that would deny funding for these sort of treatments to such persons, but his bill was defeated along ideological lines. Even after Senator Coburn’s warning shot, Russ Carnahan negligently stood by and did nothing.

2000 plus pages of legislation is a breeding ground for unintended consequences. Carnahan, Pelosi and others mocked citizens who raised concerns over the complexity and overreach of their version of reform. Every week now that this “reform” is in place, we see a new fiasco erupt.

Lack of humility, indifference to public concern and sheer hubris of “congress knows best” is the leadership style of Russ Carnahan. Do you think he read the bill? Do you think he would oppose his patron Speaker Pelosi? This among many reasons is why I am running to defeat him. Putting Russ Carnahan out of office will be an important step to sweep arrogant liberals like “Pass It, Then Find Out” Pelosi out of leadership and will serve to put the brakes on President Obama’s tax and debt agenda.

Join me in restoring commonsense wisdom to congress by contributing to the campaign. Russ Carnahan will have plenty of liberal cash from his connected friends. To be competitive monthly contributions are particularly helpful in building a stable financial base. We certainly welcome individual contributions of any amount. Can you find $25, $40, $70 or more in your budget to help us repeal Russ Carnahan?

Contribute Monthly

Volunteer Today

Contribute Today

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

Health Care Side Effects

Webmaster — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:09:46 +0000

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

As Rep. Carnahan touts health care; MO families brace for more layoffs

***Ed Martin available for interviews at 2:00***

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) March 20, 2010 –In just one week the disastrous effects of Obamacare are rippling across the nation. Speaker Pelosi told the National Association of Counties, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Well people are quickly finding out just what it entails –an even more uncertain future for themselves and their families as more job loss seems eminent.

Today Rep. Russ Carnahan left his cozy confines of Washington to visit his constituents, who since the beginning have opposed the overhaul of health care. Since he rubberstamped Obama and Pelosi’s bill he is now trying to convince voters it’s for the best. Even if Carnahan can’t read the fine print, constituents of the 3rd district know the bottom line –more taxes, less economic growth, more job cuts.

“The National Federation of Independent Business, which characterized the health care bill as “devastating” for small business owners, said its members are outraged that members of Congress didn’t vote against what it is calling a ‘job-killing’ bill.”… “NFIB officials say $6.7 billion of new taxes on insurance plans and pharmaceutical companies will ultimately be passed on to customers, including small business owners. They predict family premiums will rise at least $500…” (Fox News, Joshua Miller, March 23, 2010)

Jobs cuts are already a threat on the horizon for large companies –companies that employ a lot of Missouri families. Friday AT&T announced a $1 Billion charge against earningsbecause the bill does away with a deduction for providing drug benefits to their retirees.

“Moline, Illinois-based Deere, the world’s largest maker of farm machinery, said on March 25 that the new health-care law would increase its expenses by $150 million this fiscal year. Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar, the world’s largest maker of bulldozers and excavators, expects to record a charge of about $100 million in the first quarter of 2010, reflecting new tax liabilities on retiree drug benefits.” (Bloomberg, Justin Blum, March 29th, 2010)

Businesses aren’t the only ones that will see increases due to health care. Unions, despite efforts to “scale back” the bite of taxes, will be hit even harder and sooner than anticipated. The reconciliation bill, the president signs today, is supposed to lessen the levy on “Cadillac”health plans. But as with every part of Pelosi’s health care reform it will unwittingly wind up a premium cost instead.

According to the Joint Economic Committee, “Under the provisions of the proposed ‘fix’, the high cost plans tax will hit the average family plan five years earlier. The subsidized exchange “silver plan” premium would be subject to the tax eleven years earlier.” (The Foundry, March 30, 2010)

Third District Congressional candidate, Ed Martin has held countless meetings with small businesses, seniors, and Missouri families to discuss real and beneficial reform. “Rep. Carnahan and Pelosi are trying to convince hard working families that the bill just taxes the ‘rich’ but the reality is it takes aim at small businesses and those who create jobs. Unlike Carnahan some people have done the research. The Center for Data Analysis shows an average 690,000 jobs per year will be lost due to ‘taxing the wealthy’ meaning your average Missouri family. There’s no doubt the bill will have tumultuous effects at the expense of the American people –we’ve unfortunately already started seeing it happen,” said Ed Martin.

Ed Martin is available for interviews immediately following Rep. Carnahan’s press conference.

Ed Martin for Congress campaign headquarters are located just blocks away at 6037 Hampton.

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

Historic Sleight of Hand to Pass Harmful Health Care

Webmaster — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:16:40 +0000

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

Carnahan Votes Against Constituents

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) March 21, 2010 – Using dodgy maneuvers the President and Pelosi managed to manipulate the system using an Up or Down vote to narrowly ram through their health care “reform.” This historical and costly move to pass the bill comes despite the will of the people.

Unlike some Democrats, Rep. Russ Carnahan’s yes vote didn’t require any persuading or prodding from Pelosi. He was quick to back the bill, but that’s no surprise. He has a record of voting with Pelosi 99% of the time. Rubberstamp Russ refused to listen to the majority of his constituents once again and now the 3rd district and all Americans will have to pay the price. And the price is costly!

The bill “increases taxpayer subsidies and lowers cost sharing for individuals receiving a federal subsidy to buy health coverage. This change adds to the overall cost of the bill, while depending on unproven savings and tax hikes to pay for it.” The bill would also “add millions of Americans to the already broken Medicaid program. Medicaid remains fiscally unsustainable (for state or federal taxpayers) and it is a notoriously poorly performing program for those who are forced to depend on it.” (The Heritage Foundation A First Look At The House Health Care Fix: More Bad News, March 18, 2010.)

“Congressman Carnahan got a good laugh when he tried to sell people on how this reform bill will create a surplus. You can’t expand services without paying a fee and the reality is we will all pay. If you don’t choose a government health plan –you’ll pay. If you use prescription drugs or any sort of medical device –you’ll pay higher taxes. If you’re a senior you’ll pay because ,while they don’t advertise it, there will be Medicare cuts. The list goes on and on. People have time after time told Carnahan they didn’t want it; but here we have it.Voters may not be able to repeal the bill today but they can repeal Carnahan and have already started that process,” said Congressional candidate Ed Martin.

Voters vow to remember Carnahan’s stamp of approval on this bill and will vote against him in November. In the meantime people are flocking to newly created domain repealrusscarnahan.com. Hundreds rallied outside of his district office yesterday and many more are eager to sign a pledge to repeal him.

Rep. Carnahan didn’t even take a stand on the abortion funding issue of this bill. During a teleconference town hall last week he told listeners he, “support(s) (a) strong provision in the bill to maintain current law thatprohibits federal funds from being used for abortion. So I think that will be in the final bill and I think it should be.” Of course there was no provision in the final bill and Carnahan unlike some of his Democratic colleagues, like Rep. Stupak (D-MI), didn’t even attempt to take a stand. Considering he “supports a strong provision” regarding abortion funding, he never once spoke out about it. At no time was his approval of this bill questioned. Rubberstamp Russ never wavered in his support of Pelosi or the President. Carnahan can now expect the same dedication from his constituents as they work to repeal him.

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