Representative Bonnie Sharp Announces
Candidacy for Insurance Commissioner
State Representative Bonnie Sharp (District 31,
Kansas City) announced she’s running for insurance commissioner
and
has pledged not to take campaign contributions from the insurance
industry for her campaign. Sharp made her official announcement
during Washington Days at the Veterans and Kansas Federated Women’s
Club luncheon on March 4. Sharp said she wants the commissioner’s
office to emphasize helping consumers.
“As insurance commissioner, I’ll be fair to insurance
companies but I will make sure insurance companies are fair to
Kansans,” Sharp said.
The current Kansas Insurance Commissioner, Sandy Praeger, faces
opposition in the Republican primary from State Representative
Eric Carter. Both Praeger and Carter say they will take contributions
from insurance companies and agents.
Representative Bonnie Sharp, 59, was first elected to the House
in 1996, and she’s won re-election four times. She serves
on its Insurance Committee as its ranking Democrat, and also is
a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Washington
Days 2006 a thrilling success
for Democrats statewide
The
largest crowd in recent history came out this past weekend to
attend Washington Days March 3-5 at the Topeka Ramada Inn. Over
1100 guests attended the sold-out Friday night Awards Banquet
featuring U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama and nearly 300
more crowded an overflow rally to watch the banquet on closed-circuit
screens. Senator Obama, Governor Sebelius and Kansas Democratic
Party Chairman Larry Gates visited the rally to address the crowd
shortly after the banquet speech.
Democrats from across the state converged on the Ramada Inn on
Friday to set up and visit hospitality suites, take a trolley
to tour Cedar Crest, attend the Ken Bahr Legislative auction and
get ready for the banquet and rally that evening. During the banquet,
Chairman Gates awarded the Paul Pendergast Lifetime Achievement
Award to former U.S. Congressman Dr. Bill Roy, the Robert Brock
Medal of Distinction to Kaye Cleaver and the John D. Montgomery
Distinguished Service Award to 2nd District Chairman Claude Lee.
At the Saturday luncheon, Chairman Gates presented Seward County
Chairman Dr. Jim Harrington with the Robert E. Tilton Award.
Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison was the keynote
speaker for the Veterans and Federated Women’s luncheon
on Saturday. Congressman Dennis Moore (3rd District) introduced
his former assistant to the stage. Other speakers at the luncheon
included Kansas Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, Kansas
Assistant House Democratic Leader Jim Ward, second district candidate
for U.S. Congress Nancy Boyda, Kansas City Mayor Joe Reardon,
newly-elected Veteran’s caucus president Ed Outlaw, KFWDC
president Fran Lee, Chairman Gates and State Representative Bonnie
Sharp (Kansas City, District 31). Rep. Sharp announced to the
luncheon attendees that she would seek the office of Insurance
Commissioner this year.
Lt. Gov. John Moore filled in for Governor Sebelius at events
on Saturday and spoke to the state committee at their meeting
to conclude the weekend’s events. First district candidate
for U.S. Congress John Doll also addressed the state committee
after being introduced by Chairman Gates. Governor Sebelius was
in Dodge City on Saturday for the funeral of a Kansas National
Guardsman killed in Iraq.
Stay tuned to www.ksdp.org
for more coverage of the 2006 Washington Days including a photo
gallery and information on how to obtain a copy of Senator Obama’s
remarks at the Awards Banquet on DVD.
Do you have photos from our Washington Days weekend?
Please send them to fgorman@ksdp.org
to be included in our photo gallery.
The next state convention and state committee meeting
for the Kansas Democratic Party will be this August in Wichita.
Stay tuned to ksdp.org and your email updates for information
on Demofest 2006.
Click on the following links for media coverage on Washington
Days:
- Kansas City Star: A new day dawns for Democrats
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/politics/14019784.htm
- Lawrence Journal World: Democrats hope to seize election day
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/mar/05/democrats_hope_seize_election_day/?politics
- Topeka Capital-Journal: Obama spells out his vision
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/030406/loc_obama.shtml
- Thoughts from Kansas blog
(coverage includes photo galleries and transcribed interviews
with Congressman Moore and Senator Obama)
http://jgrr.blogspot.com/
First Round of Democratic
State House challengers step up
The Democratic challengers in four races for the Kansas House
of Representatives held a joint press conference at Democratic
Headquarters on Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Speaking to a crowded
back room full of press and supporters, each candidate laid out
their platform and shared their vision for a stronger Kansas.
“This is a year full of promise for Democrats, especially
in Kansas,” said Jason Dilts, Executive Director of the
Sedgwick County Democratic Party. “We need legislators who
will work to secure a future for all Kansas families and seek
common sense solutions to the problems of everyday Kansans. When
elected, these four individuals will do just that. The Republican
majority has not been willing to work for substantive progress
on adequately funding education, providing affordable health care,
and creating quality jobs.
This is the first of several joint press conferences the local
party plans to host this spring, leading up to the June candidate-filing
deadline. “We plan to field a complete slate of candidates,
whether incumbents or challengers, who will go to Topeka to find
solutions to our state’s problems,” stated Sedgwick
County Democratic Party Chair Kelly W. Johnston.
For information about each candidate, click on the links
below:
Jeff
Boone, State House District 82
Guy
MacDonald, State House District 85
Marcey
Gregory, State House District 93
Charlie
Mahoney, State House District 99
GOP Congress Four
Years Late And A Few Billion Short On Port Security
Washington,
DC- While Republicans are finally joining Democrats in opposing
the Bush Administration's deal to outsource the management of
six of our nation's busiest seaports to a foreign government-owned
company, they have yet to provide the funding necessary to secure
our nation's porous ports. Despite President Bush's continued
threat to veto any such bill, some House Republicans will attempt
to "attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass
emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
[Washington Post, 3/8/06]
The move comes four years after September 11th and after four
years in which Republicans in Congress have stood in the way of
Democratic efforts to increase funding for port security and to
provide much needed increases in funding for Homeland Security.
"When it comes to our port security, the Bush Republicans
in Congress are four years late and a few billion dollars short,"
said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen
Finney. "Only after Democrats led the call for a thorough
security review of the ports deal and after much public outcry,
did Republicans see fit to pay attention to our nation's port
security problems. Last minute legislation to scuttle this deal
doesn't get the job done. Republicans in Congress must also join
Democrats in providing the funding necessary to close the gaps
in our nation's port and homeland security, and President Bush
must take the concerns of the American people seriously. A veto
threat does not keep Americans safe. We need to take action."
Republicans Repeatedly Blocked Democratic Efforts To
Strengthen Our Ports
Senate Republicans Voted Against $150 Million for Port
Security Grants to Help Reduce U.S. Vulnerabilities.
In 2005, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the
FY 2006 Budget Resolution to provide an additional $855 million
in homeland security funding, including $150 million for port
security grants. [Vote 64, 3/17/05]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $150 Million To Develop
Equipment To Detect Nuclear Weapons Hidden In Containers In U.S.
Ports. In 2004, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment
to the FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to provide
an additional $150 million to develop equipment to detect nuclear
weapons hidden in containers entering U.S. ports. [Vote 166, 9/8/04,
Associated Press, 9/10/04]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $142 Million For The
Coast Guard, Along With Port And Maritime Security Grants.
In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the
FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to increase funding
for port and maritime security grants by $100 million and funding
for Coast Guard operations and security by $42 million. [Vote
300, 7/24/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $238 Million To Improve
Port And Border Security, Despite $1 Billion In Requests From
Ports. In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment
to the FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to increase
overall homeland security spending by $1.75 billion, including
$238.5 million for port and border security. Senator Robert Byrd
(D-WV) said, "The Transportation Security Administration
received over $1 billion of applications from the ports for the
limited funding that was approved by Congress last year."
[Vote 291, 7/22/03; Congressional Record, 7/22/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $1.13 Billion For Homeland
Security, Including Funding To Strengthen Security At The Nation's
Ports. In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment
to the FY 2003 War Supplemental to provide $1.13 billion for spending
on port security, mass transit security and other homeland security
spending. [Vote 120, 4/3/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $1 Billion To Improve
Port Security, Including The U.S. Customs Service And Grants To
States And Localities. In 2003, Senate Republicans voted
against an amendment to the FY 2003 War Supplemental to provide
a total of $1 billion for port security, including the Customs
Service, the Transportation Security Administration, grants to
states and localities, and the Coast Guard. [Vote 115, 4/2/03]
House Republicans Voted To Kill An Amendment To Add
$250 For Port Security Grants. Republicans voted to kill
a Democratic amendment that would add $2.5 billion for homeland
security, including $250 million for port security grants, $800
million for first responder grants, and $150 million for research
to develop capabilities against chemical weapons. [HR 1559, Vote
#104, 4/3/03]
House Republicans Voted Against Increased Port Security.
In 2005, Republicans voted against an alternative Homeland Security
Authorization proposal that would commit $41 billion to securing
the nation from terrorist threats - $6.9 billion more than the
President's budget. The proposal called for an additional $400
million in funding for port security, including $13 million to
double the number of new overseas port inspectors provided for
in the President's budget. The proposal addressed the holes in
securing the nation's ports by requiring DHS to develop container
security standards, integrate container security pilot projects,
and examine ways to integrate container inspection equipment and
data. Currently DHS, has three very similar container security
pilot projects that are not coordinated in any fashion, resulting
in wasted money and redundant efforts. Finally, the plan required
DHS to conduct a study of the risk factors associated with the
port of Miami and ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean,
including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The alternative plan failed,
196-230. [HR 1817, Roll Call #187, 5/18/05; Committee on Homeland
Security Minority Office, http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/]
Bush Fails to Make
the Grade on Women's Issues
March 7, 2006
Washington, DC - While President
Bush will attempt to honor women's history month with an event
at the White House today, the truth is that this is just another
front where the Bush Administration and Washington Republicans
have lost all credibility and failed to fulfill their promises.
President Bush's most recent budget does more to harm women than
to help them and the President and the Republican Congress have
failed to honor the values and priorities of America's women.
In President Bush's budget for fiscal year 2007
President Bush slashes funding or eliminates several vital programs,
proving that this Administration's budget priorities do not address
the needs of American women. Specifically the President would
eliminate social security survivor benefits for women and children,
eliminate women apprenticeships and opportunities for non-traditional
employment, and his budget would eliminate the Women in Equality
Act which has helped expose women to careers in math and science.
"America's women need more than photo-ops
to tackle the problems we face today," said Democratic National
Committee Spokesperson Amaya Smith. "It is no surprise that
the American public is losing confidence in this President, who
time and time again fails to back up his rhetoric with action.
If the President was truly committed to honoring Women's History
Month he would join Democrats in fighting for programs that help
to enrich the lives of all women instead of working against them.
PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET ON WOMEN:
MORE OF THE SAME MISPLACED PRIORITIES
PUTTING SPECIAL INTERESTS AHEAD OF AMERICA'S FAMILIES
The President's budget:
Fails to make health care affordable for
women and their families. More than 20 million women
do not have health insurance, and millions more can barely afford
to pay their premiums. Yet the President's plan to expand Health
Savings Accounts would undermine employer-based health care coverage
and make most Americans worse off. Expanding HSAs gives employers
an enormous incentive to drop or reduce the health benefits that
they provide now - thereby undermining employer-based health care
coverage. For women, who typically need and use more health care
than men, HSAs can lead to high out-of-pocket costs that will
discourage necessary health care use.
Slashes Medicare by $36 billion over five years and $105
billion over 10 years. The GOP budget-cutting bill (S.
1932) that the President just signed into law includes cuts in
Medicare payments to health care providers of $22 billion over
10 years. Now, the Bush budget is calling for extensive new cuts
in Medicare payments to providers - slashing Medicare by $36 billion
over five years and $105 billion over 10 years. This drastic cut
in Medicare would have a particularly damaging impact on women,
as women account for over 56 percent of adult Medicare beneficiaries.
Includes gross Medicaid cuts, including both legislative
and regulatory cuts, of $17 billion over five years and $42 billion
over 10 years. The Bush budget is calling for $42 billion
in additional Medicaid cuts, on top of the deep Medicaid cuts
that Congress enacted in 2005. Medicaid beneficiaries, the majority
of whom are women and girls, will be adversely affected by these
additional Medicaid cuts. Medicaid cuts of this magnitude cannot
be found by simply closing loopholes - the pain will be felt somewhere,
either by shifting costs to the states or making women and their
families pay even more for their care, or cutting payments to
providers that can undermine their ability to provide care to
the uninsured.
Cuts funding for food stamps and eliminates nutritional
food program for women and their families. Single mothers
and their children and elderly women living alone disproportionately
rely on federal nutrition assistance - nearly 70 percent of adult
food stamp recipients are women. Yet changes to eligibility in
the food stamp program could cause 300,000 Americans to lose their
food stamp benefits. In addition, the President's budget eliminates
the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides nutritious
food packages to low-income seniors and pregnant women, infants
and children. These cuts to food assistance programs will leave
many of the country's most vulnerable groups without the resources
to meet the basic needs of their families.
Eliminates Social Security survivor benefits for women
and children. Social Security helps the millions of families
of workers who suffer an early death by providing monthly survivor
benefits to widows and orphans. Survivor benefits are particularly
vital to women who are far more likely than men to receive Social
Security benefits if their spouse dies or becomes disabled before
retirement. The President's budget cuts $6.3 billion in Social
Security benefits over ten years by eliminating this critical
safety net for women and children.
Eliminates funding for programs that increase women's
opportunities in non-traditional employment. Under the
President's budget, the Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional
Occupations Act (WANTO) is eliminated. The WANTO program awards
grants to employers to help them recruit, train, and retain women
in non-traditional high-wage jobs. Women who have access to WANTO-funded
projects are 47 percent more likely to enter a higher-paying technical
occupation.
Eliminates the Women's Educational Equity Act (WEEA).
The Bush budget completely eliminates WEEA, an initiative
that has funded hundreds of programs to expose girls to careers
from which they have traditionally been excluded; develop teaching
strategies for math and science; and clarify school obligations
with regard to sexual harassment.
Freezes the maximum Pell Grant for the fifth year in
a row. Women at all levels of education still face significant
disadvantages in financing a college education and disproportionately
rely on Pell Grants. Despite these challenges, the Administration
refuses to increase the size of the maximum Pell Grant, making
these disadvantages harder to overcome.
Freezes funding for Head Start. Access to early
childhood education is vital to women's economic well-being and
the ability of their children to succeed in school. Yet once again,
the Bush budget freezes Head Start funding at this year's level,
meaning that 19,000 children will have to be cut from Head Start
next year.
Eliminates funding for Even Start. The Bush
budget completely eliminates Even Start, a program that supports
family literacy services for parents with low literacy skills
or who have limited English proficiency and their children --
by helping parents improve their literacy and basic educational
skills.
Slashes funding for the Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG). The Bush budget makes significant cuts
in the Community Development Block Grant, a program that helps
women, especially single mothers and elderly women, find shelter
in a difficult housing market. The CDBG program plays a critical
role in providing housing to our country's most vulnerable, including
victims of domestic violence and Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Increases child care waiting lists by hundreds of thousands.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant program provides
child care assistance for low-income families and early education
services to our country's most disadvantaged children. The President's
budget freezes funding for this program for the fifth consecutive
year and cuts child care assistance by 400,000 children by 2011.
Cuts overall funding for Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) programs. When all Violence Against Women programs
are taken into account, the budget cuts funding by $19.5 million
- cutting programs aimed at preventing domestic violence and providing
essential services to victims of domestic violence.
Kansas
Political News
Celebrating
the Achievements of Black Kansans
The following column is by Governor Kathleen
Sebelius:
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of African
Americans in science, art, literature, politics and all occupations
and professions.
As we honor their successes, it’s also important to point
out that many of these individuals called Kansas home.
The great poet Langston Hughes, for example, spent his childhood
in Lawrence, before going on to be part of the Harlem Renaissance.
The artist Aaron Douglas was born in Topeka. He went on to celebrate
African American life and culture in his murals, leading one historian
to call him the “father of Black American art.”
Gordon Parks has photographed the most beautiful women in the
world, covered war zones and slums, and been celebrated as an
author, poet and screen writer. He just announced that he wanted
his final resting place to be his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas.
In 1950, Topekan Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American
to win a Pulitzer Prize, while Edward McCabe of Nicodemus became
the first African American to hold statewide office in a northern
state when he was elected Kansas state auditor in 1882.
The stories of these and other famous black Kansans can be found
at the Kansas State Historical Society’s website, at http://www.kshs.org/people/african_americans.htm.
Our state is also home to many historic sites that played an
important role in black history, including two National Historic
Sites.
Monroe School in Topeka is now the Brown vs. Board of Education
National Historic Site. It tells the story of the Topeka parents
who brought a case on behalf of their children to integrate Topeka
schools, and changed the future of education in America.
And in Nicodemus you can learn about the struggles and successes
of the former slaves who came to the prairie seeking a new life
after the end of the Civil War.
Our state was founded by abolitionists who fought slavery in
America, and then settled and populated by individuals who sought
to enlighten the lives of those around them through art or science,
or by continuing to lift the shackles of segregation and prejudice.
Their contributions have added richness to our history, and to
American history. While their numbers are not as large as in many
eastern states, they have left an indelible mark on the past and
helped to shape the future. We are proud to recognize these fellow
Kansans.
Note: African American Community Day at the Capitol is February
23rd, call 785.296.4874 for details.
House Democrats
Announce
Partnership with Families
2006 House Democratic Caucus Legislative Agenda
includes tools to help moms and dads protect
and raise their children.
TOPEKA—The Kansas House Democrats are creating a partnership
with Kansas families this session, introducing a package of initiatives
that will help Kansas families be safer and healthier.
Parents have the primary responsibility to raise children who
are moral and know the difference between right and wrong. The
excesses of today’s pop culture create a compelling need
for the state to partner with moms and dads to help them protect
and raise children of character and integrity.
House Democrats are introducing three partnerships: a Partnership
with Parents, a Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods, and a Partnership
for Healthier Families. Today we will present the cornerstone
to our package, a Partnership with Parents. Next week we will
present a Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods. We hope that by
working together and building on our commitment Kansas businesses,
we can make Kansas a better place in which to live, work, and
raise a family.
Partnership with Parents
The House Democrats' first initiative is a Partnership with Parents,
a group of proposals to help moms and dads parent their children
in a society that is increasingly invaded by the excesses of pop
culture.
The Child Protection from Violent
Video Games Act
• This act will make it a misdemeanor to sell violent or
sexually explicit video games to minors. These video games are
already rated to reflect their content.
• The bill also contains a provision to require these explicit
games to be kept behind the counter at retailers.
The Child Health Care Protection
Act
• This act will make it unlawful to sell flavored cigarettes.
These flavorings include chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, mint,
cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice flavoring.
• By flavoring cigarettes, manufacturers are making cigarettes
more attractive to young people.
• House Democrats hope to help parents by banning this
dangerous marketing tool.
The Internet Safety Act
• With all of the benefits of the internet also come new
problems for moms and dads in raising their children.
• Parents must now protect their children from dangerous
internet predators.
• the Internet Cooperation Act will assist the Kansas Bureau
of Investigation by requiring internet service providers to provide
information on predators in a timely manner.
• This act will also facilitate the exchange of information
with out-of-state companies.
Grandparents as Care Givers Act
• The Grandparents as Care Givers Act would provide grandparents
with resources to care for their grandchildren as care givers.
• This program would provide financial assistance to those
grandparents whose incomes are less than 130% of the federal poverty
limit
• This program would also provide parenting classes to
grandparents to help them face the special challenges of parenting
a grandchild.
National News
Dean: Republicans
Walking Away From Reform
Even in the wake of a number of high-profile ethics scandals,
Republicans in Washington are now walking away from their commitment
to reform government. Indicted former House Republican Leader
Tom DeLay was appointed to a coveted seat on the House Appropriations
Committee by current House Republican leadership. Coincidentally,
DeLay filled the seat that was vacated by former Congressman Randy
"Duke" Cunningham who resigned last year amid a multi-million
dollar bribery scandal.
And, in a final ironic twist that further reveals the House
Republican leadership's faltering commitment to genuine reform,
DeLay was selected to serve on the subcommittee that controls
funding for the Department of Justice - meaning that DeLay will
play an important role in setting the budget for the agency that
is currently investigating his numerous ties to disgraced Republican
super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. [AP, 2/9/06]
This news follows word that Senator John McCain has backed away
from his pledge to ban all private travel by members of Congress
and that newly elected Republican Majority Leader John Boehner
has said that he has no plans to change the current lobbying rules.
[Washington Post, 2/4/06]
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the
following statement on Washington Republicans' wavering commitment
to reform:
"Putting indicted former GOP leader Tom DeLay on the committee
that oversees the Justice Department's budget shows that Washington
Republicans do not have a serious commitment to reform. Amid revelations
that the new House Republican leader has no plans to change the
lobbying rules and with Republican leaders wavering on reform,
it is clear that Republicans have lost their focus when it comes
to cleaning up Washington. Democrats remain committed to honest
leadership and open government. Together, America can do better."
McCain Resisted Outright Travel Ban. "On
Wednesday, Senator McCain, who has tried to cast himself as a
reformer, seemed to be wrestling with the idea of privately financed
travel, and seemed to reject the idea of an outright ban. The
senator drew a distinction between well-intentioned trips, like
those financed by nongovernmental organizations to study a problem
like African hunger, and junkets. Perhaps, he said, lawmakers
need an independent arbiter to screen trips in advance, and then
check back afterward to ensure the travel was legitimate."
[New York Times, 2/9/06]
Boehner Has No Plan To Change Lobbying Rules.
In an interview with the Washington Post, new House Republican
Majority Leader John Boehner "emphasized that he has no plan
to change lobbying rules." He also said he would not seek
a ban on "provisions in spending bills that fund lawmakers'
pet projects," also known as earmarks." [Washington
Post, 2/4/06]
Republicans
fail to make the grade with Blacks
by Hazel Trice Edney
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Although the head of the Republican
National Committee and President George W. Bush have pledged to
make a more concentrated effort to win over Black voters, 98 percent
of Republicans in the House and Senate earned an F on the latest
NAACP Civil Rights Report Card, compared to only 2 percent of
Democrats receiving failing grades.
"[Republican Party Chairman Ken] Mehlman has
been out beating the bushes and saying that the Republican Party
was appealing for the Black vote, but this is the most powerful
evidence and continuing evidence that the Republicans have not
realigned their public policy approaches to attract the Black
vote," says University of Maryland Political Scientist Ronald
Walters.
According to the NAACP'S mid-term report for the
109th Congress, all but one of the 231 Republicans in the U. S.
House of Representatives got an F. The exception was Rep. Christopher
Shays of Connecticut, who earned a D. No House Republicans got
Bs or Cs.
In the Senate, 51 of the 55 Republicans earned
Fs. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island was the only one to get a C,
the top grade among GOP members. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins,
both of Maine, and Mike DeWine of Ohio, all received Ds. Sen.
Jim Jeffords of Vermont, an Independent, got a C.
Of the 201 House Democrats, 123 earned As, 38 got
Bs, 29 received Cs, six were awarded Ds and five flunked with
Fs. That's a decline from the 108th Congress, when no Democrat
received an F. The five House Democrats who earned Fs this time
were Rep. Leonard Boswell of Iowa, Rodney Alexander of Louisiana,
Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, and Gene
Taylor of Mississippi. An Incomplete was given to Doris Matsui
of California, who got a late start after her predecessor, Robert
T. Matsui, died in office. Bernard Sanders, an Independent from
Vermont, received an A.
Among the 44 Senate Democrats, 29 earned As, 12
received Bs, two got Cs and one - Ben Nelson of Nebraska - got
an F.
Overall, the 41 voting members of the Congressional
Black Caucus showed overwhelming allegiance to the NAACP-backed
issues. All earned As except for the Bs earned by Artur Davis
of Alabama, Kendrick Meek of Florida and Adolphus Towns of New
York and the Cs received by Sanford Bishop of Georgia and Harold
Ford Jr. of Tennessee (Delegates Donna Christian-Christensen and
Eleanor Holmes Norton are not voting members.)
At the close of the last Congress, all Republicans
got Fs except one, Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa, who earned a C. This
time, he got an F. On this report card, five Republican lawmakers
scored higher than F.
NAACP Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton
says the GOP improvement may be misleading because there were
few major civil rights issues facing the Congress during the last
session.
"There has been some improvement, but that
is only within the context of the limited issues," says Shelton.
"There are a significant number of crucial, more contentious
issues that haven't made it to the floor for a vote."
Those issues include the Hate Crimes Protection Amendment that
passed in the House and is awaiting action in the Senate, and
anti-police brutality and anti-profiling legislation, both of
which are still stuck in committee.
Overall, voting on civil rights has not changed much in recent
years. Fifty-three percent of the lawmakers voted against the
NAACP position in the last session; more than half of the two
legislative bodies have voted against NAACP-backed legislation
for the past three sessions of Congress.
The NAACP graded members based on the percentage of times they
voted in agreement with the 97-year-old civil rights organization.
An A was awarded for a 90 to 100 percent approval; B for 80 to
89 percent; C for 70 to 79 percent; D for 60 to 69 percent and
an F for 59 percent and below.
In the Senate, those issues include the passage of a bill that
downgraded the strength of class action suits seeking lost wages
and overtime pay, a proposal opposed by the NAACP; and a bill
that prevented the elimination of $14 billion in funds to Medicaid
over a five year period, supported by the NAACP. In the House,
the lawmakers were graded, in part, on the successful vote to
stop the elimination of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), supported by the NAACP; and a successful amendment to
increase funding for fair housing programs, supported by the group.
At the leadership level, there was also a stark difference between
Democratic and Republican voting.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a potential presidential
candidate, maintained his F-rating, falling from a 9 percent support
level at the end of the 108th Congress to 5 percent. Senate Majority
Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky mirrored Frist's voting pattern.
On the House side, former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas),
who got an F with 23 percent in the 108th Congress, maintained
his F, with his support for the NAACP positions falling to 13
percent during the 109th Congress. Likewise, House Majority Whip
Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) support for the NAACP dwindled from 30 percent
to 17 percent over that same period. House Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-Ill.), who votes only in case of a tie, received an I for incomplete.
Leading Democrats in the House were far more supportive.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and House Democratic
Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland both maintained As. Senate Minority
Leader Harry Reid got an A and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of
Illinois got an A.
Two states had House and Senate delegations with all As: Massachusetts
and Rhode Island. Six states had House and Senate delegations
that earned all Fs: Alaska, Idaho, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma
and Wyoming. Without Bennie Thompson, who got an A, Mississippi
would have joined the all-F group. Almost one-third of the state
is Black and it has the largest number of Black elected officials
in the nation.
In an attempt to attract Black voters, Republicans have been
saying many of the right things.
"Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American
vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from
racial polarization," Mehlman said at the annual NAACP Convention
last July. "I am here today as the Republican chairman to
tell you we were wrong."
Many say Republicans are still wrong. Walters, the political
science professor, points to statements made by President Bush
in his State of the Union address.
"He said, 'A hopeful society depends upon a court that
delivers equal justice under the law.' And with respect to the
Katrina disaster, he said, 'We must work for the day when all
Americans are protected by justice, equal in hope and rich in
opportunity,'" Walters recounts. "The Republican Party
has taken almost every opportunity to go against these kinds of
principles."
Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington bureau, emphasizes
the non-partisanship nature of the NAACP, and was reluctant to
directly attack the GOP.
"We are extremely disappointed that the full Congress does
not demonstrate a stronger commitment to a comprehensive civil
rights agenda that protects all Americans' civil rights, regardless
of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin or religious affiliation,"
Shelton says. "Congress has the chance, and frankly - the
obligation - to strengthen and advance America's civil rights
laws."
The
answer is in voting and voter education programs, Shelton says.
"We will continue to preach to registered voters, educate
them on the issues, engage them in our political process,"
Shelton says. "We must be engaged in the process in between
election days."
And Republicans must deliver more than rhetoric if they are
to successfully reach Blacks, Walters says.
"What is the basis of any party's appeal to any voter?
It is the extent to which they believe in that party's vote,"
he explains. "And there is a very simple answer to the question
that we get all the time, 'When will Blacks vote Republican?'
It is when they have a reason to.”
U.S. Senate
Race Update
DSCC Tip Sheet – Week of 02/13/06
Feb 13, 2006
By: Phil Singer, DSCC
What’s Hot: Steele’s remarks,
Talent backtracks, Burns keeps slipping…
• Just days after Michael Steele drew sharp
criticism for his comments on stem cell research, the Baltimore
Sun had an analysis suggesting that Steele’s effort to avoid
speaking on issues suggests that he is not ready to run for the
Senate … Steele compared stem cell research with Nazi experimentation
on Jews during the Holocaust at a Baltimore Jewish Council meeting,
outraging the attendees … A day later, Steele apologized
and backtracked .
• Jim Talent flip-flopped on his stem cell
position , removing his name from a bill to ban stem cell research,
but has yet to take a stand on a MO stem cell initiative …
Talent’s decision drew criticism from conservative corners
of Missouri … Democrat Claire McCaskill supports the initiative
… 64 % of Missouri voters support the ballot initiative.
• Mike Ciresi announced he would not make
a Senate run, clearing the field for Amy Klobuchar to run against
Mark Kennedy.
• Slippery Slope for Burns … Conrad
Burns was one of just six legislators to be put on Public Citizen’s
Ethics Hall of Shame for going to “extraordinary lengths
to help an Abramoff client” … A conservative group
ran attack ads on Burns … While some Montana lawmakers decided
to remove lobbyists from their campaign committees, Burns is keeping
lobbyist Mark Baker as his campaign chair, seeing no need to avoid
an image of impropriety … A Burns aide quit his post following
a federal investigation into a 2001 Super Bowl trip financed by
Abramoff.
• Lincoln Chafee continues to top out at
40% in head to head match-ups with his potential challengers …
Both of his potential Democratic challengers have closed the gap
the incumbent had over them, showing that either one will put
up a tough challenge to Chafee … Chafee’s once double-digit
lead over Sheldon Whitehouse closed to a six-point lead, and he
is now statistically tied to Matt Brown, 38%-36% .
• At the races … George Allen now must
turn his attention back home as former Navy Secretary Jim Webb
announced his intention to run, joining Harris Miller who announced
his candidacy last month … Bob Casey Jr. maintains a solid
double-digit lead over Rick Santorum in a new poll, 51% - 36%
.
The Issues: Stem Cells
Stem cell research looks to be an important
issue at the races this year as Republicans struggle to find solid
footing on the issue.
• In Missouri, Claire McCaskill clearly came
out in full support of a probable ballot initiative allowing for
stem cell research, saying “I don’t need 30 minutes
or even 30 seconds to tell you where I stand. I support hope,
I support science, and I support lifesaving cures.”
• Meanwhile, Jim Talent changed his stem cell position in
what is being labeled a political move.
• In Maryland, Michael Steele backtracked on his stem cell
position after comparing the research to Nazi experimentation
on Jews during the Holocaust.
• A majority of Maryland voters support stem cell research.
• The Senate will vote on a bill to loosen the restriction
on publicly-funded embryonic stem cell research this year, highlighting
the issue even more in an election year. Bush has threatened to
veto the bill.
• Orrin Hatch introduced legislation in 2005 that would
increase federal funding for stem cell research.
• 14 GOP Senators, including Hatch and Trent Lott, signed
a pro-stem cell letter to Bush, who opposes the research.
Current National Polling
• A Pew Research poll found that by 50% -
41% more registered voters say they
will vote Democratic in this year’s Congressional election.
• A Pew Research poll shows that Bush is hurting the GOP
as 31% of voters say their midterm vote is a vote against Bush,
while only 18% are motivated by their support for the President.
• A Fox News poll found that by 42% - 34% percent, Americans
think it would be better if Democrats took control of Congress
this year.
• A Fox News poll found that by 51% - 28%, Americans think
Democrats would do a better job on health care. Americans also
thought Democrats would do a better job on other key issues.
• A new Gallup poll shows Bush at a 42% approval rating,
while a new AP-Ipsos poll gives the President 40% approval.
State-By-State
Polling
Arizona
WSJ/Zogby 1/19/06
52% Senator Jon Kyl
42% Chairman Jim Pederson
Florida
WSJ/Zogby 1/19/06
51% Senator Bill Nelson
40% Rep. Katherine Harris
Michigan
WSJ/Zogby 1/19/06
51% Senator Debbie Stabenow
39% Oakland Co. Sheriff Mike Bouchard
51% Senator Debbie Stabenow
38% Reverend Jerry Zandstra
52% Senator Debbie Stabenow
39% Reverend Keith Butler
Minnesota
WSJ/Zogby 1/19/06
49% Hennepin Co. Atty. Amy Klobuchar
43% Rep. Mark Kennedy
Missouri
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1/16-18/06
47% State Auditor Claire McCaskill
44% Senator Jim Talent
Montana
Rasmussen Reports 2/13/06
43% Sen. Conrad Burns
50% State Auditor John Morrison
46% Sen. Conrad Burns
46% State Senate Pres. Jon Tester
Nebraska
Rasmussen Reports 11/16
52% Senator Ben Nelson
29% CEO Pete Ricketts
57% Senator Ben Nelson
25% Former GOP Chm David Kramer
North Dakota
Rasmussen 1/30/06
53% Senator Kent Conrad
40% State Atty. General Wayne Stenehjem
59% Senator Kent Conrad
31% Bismarck Mayor John Warford
New Jersey
Zogby 2/14/06
37% Rep. Bob Menendez
32% State Senator Tom Kean Jr.
Ohio
WSJ/Zogby 1/19/06
42% ‘05 Ohio-2 Nominee Paul Hackett
35% Senator Mike DeWine
41% Rep. Sherrod Brown
37% Senator Mike DeWine
Pennsylvania
Quinnipiac 2/13/06
51% State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr.
36% Senator Rick Santorum
Rhode Island
Brown University 2/9/10-11
34% US Senator Lincoln Chafee
40% Sheldon Whitehouse
38% US Senator Lincoln Chafee
36% State Secretary of State Matt Brown
Tennessee
Rasmussen Reports 1/30/06
40% Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
42% Ex-Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker
40% Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
42% Former US Rep. Ed Bryant
37% Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
43% Former Rep. Van Hilleary
Vermont
Rasmussen Reports 1/5/06
70% Rep. Bernie Sanders
25% CEO Richard Tarrant
Washington
Rasmussen Reports 2/13/06
50% US Senator Maria Cantwell
36% CEO Mike McGavick
Past News
February 2006
January
2006
December 2005
November
2005
October
2005
September
2005
August
2005
July 2005
June 2005
