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CD03

Ehlers sells out America

by: Jon K

Wed Aug 02, 2006 at 14:33:42 PM EDT

It seems our very own congressman Vern Ehlers (R-3) has sold his soul to the devil... that is, the French. Three years ago, then chair of the House Administration Committee Bob Ney (R-Ohio) removed any mention of those dirty Frenchmen from the menu of the House cafeterias. That's right, our congressmen and their guests dined on "freedom fries" and "freedom toast."

But the era of freedom is over, and once again, the French will rule our palate. Current chair of the administration committee Vern Ehlers has made a mockery of the freedom that so many Americans have fought and died for by replacing it with those dirty French.

Call up Vern now or fax him and give him a piece of your mind.

Grand Rapids Office
voice: (616) 451-8383
fax: (616) 454-5630

Washington Office
voice: (202) 225-3831
fax: (202) 225-5144

Discuss :: (3 Comments)

Jim Rinck for Congress

by: jmkmi3

Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 19:04:41 PM EDT

In Michigan's 3rd District, Jim Rinck is seeking to represent us. He believes that members of Congress should be leaders in the community. Our district deserves a leader. Jim is the leader we need. He sticks up for what he believes in and has never been one to cave to political pressure. I think we would all like to have more members of Congress like this. Learn more about Jim at his website.

www.jimrinck.com

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Bad Budget Bill Passes US House Yesterday

by: lpackard

Thu Feb 02, 2006 at 13:34:03 PM EST

Read more from the AP Wire story and the Washington Post story. Because the bill already passed the Senate, now it goes to the President's desk - who will almost certainly sign it.

...Republicans said the measure cemented the GOP's status as the party of smaller, more efficient government. But Democrats said the measure, when combined with an upcoming bill cutting taxes by about $70 billion, would lead to an increase in the deficit.

...Pediatricians say provisions allowing states to eliminate some guaranteed Medicaid child health care services and charge new and increased co-payments would end up hurting children by driving tens of thousands of beneficiaries out of the program.

Student groups charged the bill harmed college student through $11.9 billion in cuts to the student loan program, including higher fees on student and higher interest rates on parent loans.

Roll Call vote count here. All the Democrats were united against it, and 13 Republicans crossed over to vote against it too. But the bill passed, 216-214.

Did any of Michigan's GOP delegation grow a backbone and vote against it? No.

Discuss :: (6 Comments)

Ehlers becomes new "Mayor of the Capitol"

by: matt

Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 20:25:29 PM EST

As expected, U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) will now chair the House Administration Committee. Ehlers gets the new gig because U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) has some pretty serious corruption problems and was pressured to step aside.

Ehlers, in a statement, said he looked forward "to the opportunity to make the committee and the House run smoothly as we tackle many important issues."

The committee oversees disclosure of members' dealings with lobbyists, as well as privately paid travel by members and their staffs. In the wake of Abramoff's guilty plea, Republicans and Democrats have said lobbyists are too close to members of Congress and that privately paid travel should be curtailed.

Ehlers won praise from Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who said his Michigan colleague was "a very ethical, very smart and very decent person (who) will be a wonderful choice" to lead the committee.

Ehlers, the first research physicist in Congress, has been on the committee since 1995.

Congratulations to Rep. Ehlers. I agree with Sen. Levin. Everything I've heard about Rep. Ehlers suggests that - in spite of the "R" that follows his name - he's generally a man of integrity. Ney, Rogers, Knollenberg, and the rest of the House majority would do well to start following his example.

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Analysis

by: matt

Thu Oct 06, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Alan Fox (interview with Matt Ferguson, October, 2005):

MF: This district covers Grand Rapids - we've heard that's started to go more Democratic...but it doesn't look real likely according to these numbers.

AF: Again, that's a district that has some areas that are going Democratic - primarily in the city of Grand Rapids - but it includes all of the suburban Kent county areas that are not moving Democratic. Democrats held what was essentially that seat in the mid-1970's, but at this point it's got a 60% Bush vote. Ehlers is very popular...there are some rumors he might retire and I think the big battle in that district will occur when Ehlers finally does retire and there's a huge Republican primary to succeed him, but it's not going to go Democratic.

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Wal-Mart and Michigan's congressional delegation

by: matt

Mon Aug 15, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

For quick reference, here's a wallet-sized list of all of Michigan's congressional delegation and the amounts each officeholder has received from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. PAC for Responsible Government over the past five years or so (the horrible irony behind the names of some of these corporate PACS never ceases to amaze me). Funny how U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) got 20 grand from Wal-Mart as he continues to crusade against Chinese currency manipulation, or - as he so eloquently put it - "the new red menace." (snark) I'm no economist, but it sure seems to me that an inflated Yuan would cut into Wal-Mart's bottom line. All of this begs the question of whether Wal-Mart is getting a poor return on their "investment" or Mike's talk about currency manipulation is a bunch of non-starter B.S. You decide.

U.S. Senate
Carl Levin (D)	$0.00
Debbie Stabenow (D)	$0.00

U.S. House
Bart Stupak (D)	$0.00
Pete Hoekstra (R)	$5,000.00
Vern Ehlers (R)	$5,000.00
Dave Camp (R)	$2,500.00
Dave Kildee (D)	$0.00
Fred Upton (R)	$10,000.00
Joe Schwarz (R)	$0.00
Mike Rogers (R)	$20,000.00
Joe Knollenberg (R)	$20,000.00
Candice Miller (R)	$6,000.00
Thaddeus McCotter (R)	$13,500.00
Sander Levin (D)	$0.00
Carolyn Kilpatrick (D)	$1,000.00
John Conyers, Jr. (D)	$0.00
John Dingell (D)	$5,000.00

Source: Federal Elections Commission

BTW, Dingell got his 5k during his primary fight with then-U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (who really needs to get back into politics). Also -- At first glance, it doesn't appear that Wal-Mart has a state-level PAC. If they do, it doesn't include the word "Wal-Mart" in the name.

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

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