FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
MONDAY, JUNE 28
NEWS RELEASE

Phoenix, AZ (JUNE 28) - U.S. Senate Candidate J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) today released three videos on his website debunking charges made by Sen. John McCain this month.

“The Senator has spent most of this month and untold millions of dollars on television, radio and direct mail attacking me,” Hayworth said. “I thought it was about time his double talk was replaced by my straight talk.”

McCain, whose top political advisors are high-paid Washington, D.C., lobbyists, has attacked Hayworth for his one-time work for a friend who needed help with a problem in Congress.

McCain, who voted for $150 billion in earmarks last year, has criticized Hayworth for supporting projects that benefited Arizona.

McCain, who has taken more than $11,000 in political contributions from a shady businessman, has criticized Hayworth for a 30 minute video presentation he did for the same company and for which Hayworth has apologized.

“I hope voters will take the time to hear the truth directly from me by going to www.jdforsenate.com and not rely on the lies behind the slick, misleading campaign ads of Sen. McCain,” Hayworth said.

For more information, please visit http://www.JDforSenate.com or email info@jdforsenate.com.

by Jim Kelley on May.07, 2010, under Politics

This evening, JD Hayworth, Republican Party candidate for the US Senate, opened his Tucson campaign office. Attendance hovered over 100 people for about 2 hours. KGUN-9 covered the event alongside the BBC. Yes, the BBC, as in the British Broadcasting Corporation. I wiggled my way into an at length sit down interview with the former Congressman, radio host, television broadcaster, college football player and Eagle Scout. Of course I am reminded by Eagle Scouts throughout Arizona that there is no former to the Eagle Scout moniker, he is an Eagle Scout.

Prior to my time with the candidate, I spent some time talking to the people who came out to greet him. I spoke to a couple from Tucson who owns a local business, Tad Denton, age 42 and his wife Anita, age 37. They have never been active in politics before but have followed it. Tad is a native of Tucson and has some real estate investments and she runs an assisted living facility. They have belonged to the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and other industry groups. They are pretty normal everyday Republicans living their dream as best as possible. I wanted to know what brought them out and what they intended to do. “Well, my city has only one level one trauma center at UMC. It seems all the politicians here care more about illegal immigrants than they do their own citizens.” Anita said. “I’m looking for a candidate that will cut the Federal government in half and secure our border. The government has grown way too large and is taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to the state.” said Tad. I asked them why they supported JD instead of John McCain. “I can relate to JD. As much as we appreciate Senator McCain’s service to our country, it is time for him to retire. From his past voting record we just can’t trust him anymore” they added.

 JD opened the Tucson office by standing on a table outside in the courtyard and opened with a joke. He said he was glad to see the BBC present because when the Daily Telegraph wrote a story about him they called him “the candidate with the broad shoulders, excellent voice projection and Trump like hair.” He was proud to announce that his son John Micah Hayworth has been elected to the president of the philosophy club at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Phoenix and unseated an incumbent to do it. JD hopes it is ominous and prophetic. JD likes to tell the story of the woman and her daughter in Philadelphia at the time the Constitutional Convention was being held. Afterwards, the woman saw Benjamin Franklin and asked, “Dr Franklin, what form of government have you given us?” Franklin replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” This is probably one of JD’s favorite stump quotes because it takes him immediately into his philosophy of government and his view of our tasks and his vision for the future as a Republic. The other Franklin quote he gives is “A democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for dinner. A republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.” JD believes the context of “well armed” means well educated and knowledgeable about the constitution and love for the Republic respecting the rights of the minority. He said  “There should always be energetic opposition, not grounded in negativity but on the Constitution itself.” He said Obamacare could have been defeated with four words that Senator McCain knew he could say and never did. Senator McCain could have at the time the clerk read the title and the motion made to accept the bill like it had been read, said “ Mr President , I object.” That would have forced under Senate rules the entire bill be read by the clerk and when he came upon a blank portion under any section, the American people would then know full well that Rahm Emanuel, the president’s Chief of Staff, was in Harry Reid’s office doing his best to fill in those blanks while Senators who had never read the bill prepared to vote on it.

“To date Senator John McCain, has not signed on as a co-sponsor to Senator Jim Dement’s (R-SC) bill to repeal Obamacare, nor has he signed any pledge to do so. All he has to do is go to www.repealitnow.org, and add his name to the petition and ask Senator Dement to be added as a co-sponsor.” “Senator McCain talks about his and Senator Jon Kyl’s ten point plan to reform immigration laws and secure the border, yet he has introduced no bill to that affect.” “In the past the people of Arizona have been skeptical of Senator McCain’s behavior, now they are just cynical.”

What subsidies would you support and what subsidies would you oppose?

Well the United States Postal Service is constitutionally subsidized, so that one stays. I see the Department of Commerce disappearing except for the National Weather Service and the Census Bureau. Everything else is on the table. The Obama administration has raised discretionary spending 80%. We need to freeze government spending at pre-stimulus levels and cut away at the size of government. We are going to have to make profound cuts in entitlements. We have no choice but to raise retirement age for Social Security.

Who can tell you when you are wrong?

First and foremost my wife.  (Immediately, his cell phone rang and it was his wife, Mary confirming that she can tell him when he is wrong). But the people of Arizona can and have and will. Persuasive argument is accepted and I do want to hear it and I will listen to it. I didn’t go to D.C the first time to be a career politician. I served from 1994 to 2006. The defeat helped me re-center myself back to my family and gave me time to reflect. I did register as a lobbyist but my primary function in that role was more as a political advisor to people that needed to know how to approach legislation than anything else. I have learned some tough lessons and I am stronger, and my family is stronger for it. I have been and will, with the voters consent again, be a citizen legislator. I will do twelve years and come home. I will be a steward of the office.

What calibrates your moral compass?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a Christian, which means I am a sinner requiring and requesting the grace of God. The constitution says no religious test is to be given as a qualification for office. It does not say I have to abandon my faith or my religion to be in office. When Winston Churchill, Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin were at Potsdam after World War II, Churchill returned to England for his campaign for the office of the Prime Minister of England. When he lost, he did not return to Potsdam. His wife said “Winston this may be a blessing in disguise.” Churchill replied “Well my dear, it is a very well disguised blessing indeed.”

If you were a cactus what kind of cactus would you be?

A stately saguaro. They have longevity.  (He then repeated a joke that Mo Udall once told him about the difference between a cactus and a caucus. Let’s just say I haven’t figured out how to clean up the punch line for this article).

So there you have it. JD Hayworth, candidate for the US Senate. I have met him on numerous occasions before this interview. He always remembered my name. He always greeted me enthusiastically. He did not know that I was writing a column at the Tucson Citizen for the last month until tonight. He just thought I was a substitute teacher and precinct committeeman. He didn’t hesitate to go on the record and he did not distract from any issue I discussed. I think his experience with various and nefarious players in the political world have honed his instincts but have not dampened his enthusiasm. I saw no cynicism in him tonight. I saw a man who believes in himself, believes all is not lost and believes that there are solutions to everything we are experiencing.  He knows he doesn’t have all the answers but he thinks he can bring the people who can contribute to solutions to the process, particularly people who have been marginalized by party organizations in the past. His grassroots support from the new conservative activists, the over 400 new precinct committeemen in Pima County as well as the large number of new recruits in Maricopa County give energy to his campaign not experienced for a long time in the Republican Party.

Can JD Hayworth beat Rodney Glassman? The polling shows he can. Can JD Hayworth beat John McCain? I don’t know yet. This summer will be the true test. JD Hayworth supporters are younger and have more to lose than John McCain supporters. They use the social media better than McCain supporters. They are more decentralized and cell like. They have a fire in their gut that McCain supporters don’t have in my opinion. McCain supporters are the same people that let Obama win.  I do know this; most McCain supporters do so out of a feeling of obligation. Hayworth supporters do so out of a desire for change. Change in the party, change in the state and change in the White House. Who usually wins those fights? A hint, as I was leaving the office I scanned the new volunteer sign up sheet, the Denton’s signed up.

New Television Ad Needs Support!
Spread the word…

For now, this ad is only running on our website and being distributed electronically to J.D. Hayworth supporters. 

But J.D. needs your help to get this advertisement on a television station near you.  Can you please help J.D. out by making a $25, $50, $100, or more contribution to the campaign so we can put this spot and others like it on television.  

The reality is – television ads are very expensive and our opponent is already spending millions on television and radio spots.  That’s why we urgently need whatever you can send.  

Early voting starts in July with the Republican Primary on August 24th.  Time is running out to raise money to get J.D.’s consistent conservative message to the voters. 

Please help today.  With your support, and with your vote, we can win this.  

For now, this ad is only running on our website and being distributed electronically to J.D. Hayworth supporters. 

But J.D. needs your help to get this advertisement on a television station near you.  Can you please help J.D. out by making a $25, $50, $100, or more contribution to the campaign so we can put this spot and others like it on television. 

The reality is – television ads are very expensive and our opponent is already spending millions on television and radio spots.  That’s why we urgently need whatever you can send.   

Early voting starts in July with the Republican Primary on August 24th.  Time is running out to raise money to get J.D.’s consistent conservative message to the voters. 

Please help today.  With your support, and with your vote, we can win this. 

Was this Yet Another Backroom Deal to Force Obama’s Bill Down the American People’s Throats?

Three airports in the district of infamous fence-sitting and ultimately kowtowing Democrat Bart Stupak were awarded $726,409 in grants by the Obama Administration just two days before a vote on Obama and Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare.

Did Stupak compromise his supposed principled stand against taxpayer funding of abortion in exchange for taxpayer dollars for pet projects?

Alpena County Regional Airport received a $85,500 grant, but had only 7,519 passenger boardings in 2008 (the most recent year for which there is information) according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. Alpena County Regional Airport serves fewer passengers than even the late Rep. John Murtha’s famous “Airport for Nobody.”

Delta County Airport has even less customers than that, but still received a $179,209 grant.  

Chippewa County International Airport received a $461,700 grant,  but had only 13,733  passenger boardings in 2008.

Will Stupak come clean about this apparent backroom deal for his vote? 

Call Stupak’s district office at (989) 356 0690 and ask.

Learn more at http://gopcodered.com/

JD Surges in Recent Polls
Its Time to Throw Senator John McCain a Retirement Party!

Dear Fellow Conservatives,

Thanks to your efforts and thanks to your support, just one month after officially announcing my candidacy and kicking off our campaign we are soaring in the polls!

In a survey released today, prominent independent pollster Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports released new findings that shows our race has considerably tightened against John McCain – and is now one of the most competitive races in the nation!

Here are the results:

41% JD Hayworth (+15% !!)
48% John McCain

Back in January, long before I was even a candidate, Rasmussen released a similar poll – but the difference between then and now is remarkable. In January, 53% said they favored McCain – while I received 31%.

Now that voters are beginning to hear our Consistent Conservative message…

And now that voters are learning there is a real alternative to John McCain and his Washington Establishment voting record and bank account, they are following YOUR LEAD and sending a message to Washington that “enough is enough” by supporting our campaign!

In just one month since we announced, our hard work brought the Washington Establishment’s ultimate insider back under 50% and closed the gap by an earthshaking 15%. IN JUST ONE MONTH!

There is still so much to do… so I hope you’ll answer this email in two special ways…

First, I hope you’ll CLICK HERE and make an important contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 today to help us keep this momentum going! John McCain and his Washington Establishment cronies won’t sit back and take this defeat lightly.

They have already spent more than $1 MILLION attacking us and I need your help to keep reaching out to the voters on issues important to Arizona and America: creating jobs, reducing Washington spending, stopping ObamaCare schemes from becoming law, and preventing John McCain and Barack Obama from passing Amnesty as they have vowed to do.

And, second, I need to ask a special favor: Please look among your friends and find just one person who will join our campaign by matching your contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 today with one of their own.

Right now John McCain is calling in every favor he’s got. Every debt he’s owed by the Washington Establishment and special interests is being cashed-in. He is trotting-out their Beltway endorsements whenever he can. But this race isn’t about serving Washington. This race is about Washington serving us. That’s why I’m running and that’s why our campaign is gaining momentum each and every day!

Thank you again for your support, your determination, your hard work and the commitment you share with me to bring a Consistent Conservative voice to the U.S. Senate!

Together, since we announced our campaign just one month ago, we have made this one of the most competitive races in the nation! Please take a moment to CLICK HERE and send $25, $50 or even $100… or whatever you can afford… and help us continue building this amazing momentum!

Clearly, voters are rejecting John McCain’s negative attacks… all $1 million dollars of them!

Clearly, voters are tired of John McCain’s 28-years of votes for bailouts, deficit spending, Amnesty and higher taxes.

And clearly, your support has been effective so far – so please, help us build on our momentum with a special contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 today!

Thank you in advance for your generous support – and thank you again!

Please make checks payable to:
JD Hayworth 2010
PO Box 28604
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Senator Bayh,

As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the health care bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government’s proposed involvement in the patient-physician relationship. The very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a health care system that works for all. Every physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our health care system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.

I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.

Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!

 Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

 Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

 Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC benefits for you. You have no choice!

 Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

 Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals’ finances & a ‘National ID Health card’ will be issued! (Papers please!)

 Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer.(Time for more cash and carry)

 Page 65 Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN).

 Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the ‘Exchange.’

 Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans — The Govt will ration your health care!

 Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. (Translation: illegal aliens.)

 Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups (i.e. ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.

 Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. (AARP members – your health care WILL be rationed!)

Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. (Nochoice.)

 Page 12 4 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt monopoly.

 Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what salary you can make.

 Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. (NO choice!)

 Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time employees ANDtheir families. (Employees shouldn’t get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)

 Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (See the last comment in parenthesis.)

Page 150 Lines 9-13: A business with payroll between $251K & $401K who doesn’t provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll.

 Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

 Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay.)(Like always)

 Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of the GOVT HC Admin.. will have access to ALL Americans’ finances and personal records. (I guess so they can ‘deduct’ their fees)

 Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." (Yes, it really says that!) ( a ‘fee’ instead)

Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors. (Low-income and the poor are affected.)

 Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors: It doesn’t matter what specialty you have trained yourself in — you will all be paid the same! (Just TRY to tell me that’s not Socialism!)

 Page 253 Line 10-18: The Govt sets the value of a doctor’s time, profession, judgment, etc. (Literally– the value of humans.)

 Page 265 Sec 1131: The Govt mandates and controls productivity for "private" HC industries.

 Page 268 Sec 1141: The federal Govt regulates the rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

 Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!

 Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the Govt deems preventable (i.e…re-admissions).

 Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors: If you treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission — the Govt will penalize you.

 Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. (The Govt tells doctors what and how much they can own!)

 Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion. (The Govt is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)

Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?)

 Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: The Govt mandates establishment of=2 outcome-based measures. (HC the way they want — rationing.)

Page 341 Lines 3-9: The Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. (Forcing people into the Govt plan)

 Page 354 Sec 1177: The Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of ‘special needs people!’ Unbelievable!

 Page 379 Sec 1191: The Govt creates more bureaucracy via a "Tele-Health Advisory Committee." (Can you say HC by phone?)

 Page 425 Lines 4-12: The Govt mandates "Advance-Care Planning Consult." (Think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)

 Page 425 Lines 17-19: The Govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. (And it’s mandatory!)

Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: The Govt provides an "approved" list of end-of-life resources; guiding you in death. (Also called ‘assisted suicide.’)(Sounds like Soylent Green to me.)

 Page 427 Lines 15-24: The Govt mandates a program for orders on "end-of-life." (The Govt has a say in how your life ends!)

 Page 429 Lines 1-9: An "advanced-care planning consultant" will be used frequently as a patient’s health deteriorates.

 Page 429 Lines 10-12: An "advanced care consultation" may include an ORDER for end-of-life plans.. (AN ORDER TO DIE FROM THE GOVERNMENT?!?)

 Page 429 Lines 13-25: The GOVT will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order.. (I wouldn’t want to stand before God after getting paid for THAT job!)

 Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end-of-life! (Again — no choice!)

 Page 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services = Non-Profit Organizations. (Hello? ACORN Medical Services here!?!)

 Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover marriage and family therapy. (Which means Govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)

 Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.

 Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.

 Furthermore, if you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor-patient relationship, I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.

 Respectfully,

 Stephen E. Fraser, MD

 Dear Reader,

 I urge you to use the power that you were born with (and the power that may soon be taken away) and circulate this email to as many people as you can reach. The Power of the People can stop this from happening to us, our parents, our grandparents, our children, and to following generations

http://candicemiller.house.gov/pdf/hr3200.pdf

from the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Thursday, December 17, 2009

‘And here’s the most outrageous part: at the end of this rush, they want us to vote on a bill that no one outside the Majority Leader’s conference room has even seen. That’s right. The final bill we’ll vote on isn’t even the one we’ve had on the floor. It’s the deal Democrat leaders have been trying to work out in private’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform:

“Senators on both sides acknowledge that the health care bill we’re considering is among the most significant pieces of legislation any of us will ever consider.

“So it stands to reason that we’d devote significant time and attention to it.

“Indeed, some would argue that we should spend more time and attention on this bill than most — if not every — previous bill we’ve considered.

“The Majority disagrees.

“Why? Because this bill has become a political nightmare for them.

“They know Americans overwhelmingly oppose it, so they want to get it over with.

“Americans are already outraged at the fact that Democrat leaders took their eyes off the ball. Rushing the process on a partisan line makes the situation even worse.

“Americans were told the purpose of reform was to reduce the cost of health care.

“Instead, Democrat leaders produced a $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page monstrosity that vastly expands government, raises taxes, raises premiums, and wrecks Medicare.

“And they want to rush this bill through by Christmas — one of the most significant, far-reaching pieces of legislation in U.S. history. They want to rush it.

“And here’s the most outrageous part: at the end of this rush, they want us to vote on a bill that no one outside the Majority Leader’s conference room has even seen.

“That’s right. The final bill we’ll vote on isn’t even the one we’ve had on the floor. It’s the deal Democrat leaders have been trying to work out in private.

“That’s what they intend to bring to the floor and force a vote on before Christmas.

“So this entire process is essentially a charade.

“But let’s just compare the process so far with previous legislation for some perspective. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve done and where we stand:

• The Majority Leader intends to bring this debate to a close as early as this weekend — four days from now, on this $2.5 trillion dollar mistake

• No American who hasn’t been invited into the Majority Leader’s conference room knows what will be in that bill

• This bill has been the pending business of the Senate since the last week of November — less than four weeks ago.

• We started the amendment process two weeks ago.

• We’ve had 21 amendments and motions — less than two a day.

“Now let’s look at how the Senate has dealt with previous legislation.

“No Child Left Behind (2001):

• 21 session days or 7 weeks.

• Roll Call votes: 44

• Number of Amendments offered: 157

“9/11 Commission/Homeland Security Act (2002):

• 19 session days over 7 weeks.

• Roll Call votes: 20

• Number of Amendments offered: 30

“Energy Bill (2002):

• 21 session days over 8 weeks

• Number of Roll Call votes: 36

• Number of Amendments offered: 158

“This isn’t an energy bill. This is an attempt by a majority to take over one sixth of the U.S. economy — to vastly expand the reach and the role of government into the health care decisions of every single American — and they want to be done after one substantive amendment. This is absolutely inexcusable.

“I think Senator Snowe put it best on Tuesday:

‘Given the enormity and complexity,’ she said, ‘I don’t see anything magical about the Christmas deadline if this bill is going to become law in 2014.’

“And I think Senator Snowe’s comments on a lack of bipartisanship at the outset of this debate are also right on point.

“Here’s what she said in late November:

‘I am truly disappointed we are commencing our historic debate on one of the most significant and pressing domestic issues of our time with a process that has forestalled our ability to arrive at broader agreement on some of the most crucial elements of health care reform. The bottom line is, the most consequential health care legislation in the history of our country and the reordering of $33 trillion in health care spending over the coming decade shouldn’t be determined by one vote-margin strategies – surely we can and must do better.’

“The only conceivable justification for rushing this bill is the overwhelming opposition of the American people. Democrats know that the longer Americans see this bill the less they like it. Here’s the latest from Pew. It came out just yesterday.

“A majority (58 percent) of those who have heard a lot about the bills oppose them while only 32 percent favor them.”

“There is no justification for this blind rush — except a political one, and that’s not good enough for the American people.

“And there’s no justification for forcing the Senate to vote on a bill none of us has seen.

“Americans already oppose this bill. The process is just as bad.

“It’s completely reckless, completely irresponsible.”

###

This doesn’t happen often enough.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it “Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold.”

The note was a follow-up to Ensign’s questioning at the markup.

By Carrie Budoff Brown 11:40 AM

Dear ,

The status quo in American health care is unacceptable. Prices are already too high (and rising) for families and small businesses, and too many people go without coverage. We can fix it. And we can fix it with common sense reforms. We don’t need a massive, complex, costly government-run system and we don’t need to raise taxes on small businesses.

Democratic Health Care Proposal Would Perpetuate “Status Quo.”

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Democrats want to do. According to Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson, their proposal would only perpetuate the “status quo” of rising health care costs and increased government spending. “While denouncing skyrocketing health spending,” Samuelson writes, the Democrats’ plan would increase spending and add to the deficit.

A new Quinnipiac survey found that a wide margin of voters believes the Democratic proposal “should be dropped if it adds ‘significantly’ to the deficit.” Their health care takeover will do just that. Analysis by the Wall Street Journal shows the “real price tag” of a government-run system is a “blowout” that “will overwhelm even the House Democrats’ huge tax increases, Medicare spending cuts and other ‘pay fors.’”

Top Democrats Call Health Care Opponents “Un-American.”

In a sharply worded series of press releases and an op-ed in USA Today, Washington Democrats have labeled those who oppose their government takeover of health care “un-American,” “rapid right wing extremists,” and other outrageous euphemisms. Not only is this reprehensible, it begs the question: why would anyone want people running their health care who think it is “un-American” to question them? And it’s more proof that we don’t need politicians getting between doctors and patients.

American Workers, Not Government Spending, Will Boost the Economy.

Another 247,000 Americans lost their jobs in July. President Obama promised the unemployment rate wouldn’t rise past 8 percent if Congress quickly passed a trillion-dollar “stimulus” spending bill. Today it’s 9.4 percent nationally and more than 11 percent here in Ohio. The Democratic health care proposal would destroy even more jobs. Only the hard work and ingenuity of the American people will bring our economy back – not big government spending.

News You Can Use.

• Washington Post: Championing the Status Quo
• The Hill: Boehner calls Pelosi & Hoyer op-ed ‘reprehensible’
• Politico: Deficit hits record $1.3 trillion for July
• WSJ: ObamaCare’s Real Price Tag

What Do You Think?

With the federal deficit reaching a once-unthinkable $1.3 trillion (and it’s only August), we have a lot of work ahead of us to pull the country out of the red ink. That’s why I want to thank you again for your continued support. Enjoy the rest of your week and please keep me informed of the issues on your radar.

Sincerely,

John Boehner

July 23, 2009

By Jackie Kucinich

Roll Call Staff

Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate.

House Republicans are crying foul and claiming that the Democrats are using their majority to prevent GOP Members from communicating with their constituents.

The dispute centers on a chart (view PDF) created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee to illustrate the organization of the Democratic health care plan.

At first glance, Brady’s chart resembles a board game: a colorful collection of shapes and images with a web of lines connecting them.

But a closer look at the image reveals a complicated menagerie of government offices and programs that Republicans say will be created if the leading Democratic health care plan becomes law.

In a memo sent Monday to Republicans on the House franking commission, Democrats argue that sending the chart to constituents as official mail would violate House rules because the information is misleading.

In their eight-point memo, which was obtained by Roll Call, Democrats identify a litany of areas where they believe the chart is incorrect.

For example, Democrats argue that the chart depicts a “Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund” that is “simply a recipient of IRS funds, with no outflow. … This is false.”

The chart’s illustration of low-income subsidies is also “misleading and false,” Democrats argue.

Congressional rules for franked mail bar Members from using taxpayer-funded mail for newsletters that use “partisan, politicized or personalized” comments to criticize legislation or policy.

The dispute over Brady’s chart is being reviewed by the franking commission, which must approve any mail before it can be sent. No decision had been made on the matter by press time.

Brady adamantly denied that the chart was misleading and said Democrats are simply threatened by the content of the graphic.

“I think their review was laughable,” Brady said. “It’s … downright false in most of the cases. The chart depicts their health care plan as their committees developed it.”

“The chart reveals how their health care bureaucracy works, and people are frightened by it,” he added. “So this is their effort to try and discredit” the chart.

Republican Members have made 20 requests to mail a version of the chart to their constituents and have been told that the requests are being delayed while the commission reviews allegations that the chart is misleading.

“Hiding the truth about wildly unpopular policies is a Democrat specialty,” said one GOP aide. “I’d like to see the flow chart on how Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi plans on implementing the open and transparent government she keeps promising everyone.”

“We have initiated discussions with the minority to try and resolve current differences and are operating in good faith to achieve that goal,” said Kyle Anderson, a spokesman for House Administration Chairman Robert Brady (D-Pa.). The committee has oversight of the commission.

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), ranking member of the committee and a member of the franking commission, said through a spokeswoman that he is also aware of the situation and is working with the members of the franking commission to resolve the differences, but he added that he believed Democrats on the commission were overreaching.

“He strongly believes that the franking commission does not have the authority to deny Member communications based on partisan differences of pending legislation,” said Salley Collins, a spokeswoman for Lungren.

The franking commission is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans.

Republicans quickly embraced Brady’s chart, and over the past week about 50 Members have posted it on their Congressional Web sites or used it in a floor speech. It has also been posted on the home page of the Republican National Committee.

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