AZ Congressional Delegation

Q: Is It Fear or Expedience That Separates Politician From Principle?

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Posted by Bob Lord

A: It doesn't matter. Either way it's short-sighted and wrong.

It's not always clear what drives politicians to ditch their own principles when voting or taking a position on an issue. It often is fear of political repurcussions. That's what the apologists typically refer to when they defend a wandering pol. "just think how he/she would have been attacked if he'd voted for that bill!"  If anyone questions a rep's "independent" or "bi-partisan" votes, the apologists are quick to explain how these are "tough districts." Translation: You can't stick to your principles if you represent a tough district. What hogwash. Fear-based decision making doesn't play. Never has. Never will.

Poverty by the Numbers Report Reveals a Cruel Nation

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Flag-99-862-sig-sm72by Pamela Powers Hannley

As Republicans in Congress are poised to cut billions from the food stamp program, a new report about poverty in America reveals how many millions of Americans need social safety net programs like food stamps.

Ever since President Lyndon Johnson declared the War on Poverty in 1964, capitalists and their Republican lackeys have been working hard to dismantle the collection of progressive policies that Johnson and the Democratic Congress passed– food stamps, Head Start, Medicaid, Medicare, low-cost student loans, work study programs and more.

In 1964, the rate of poverty in the US was 20%; with the War on Poverty in full swin, it had dropped to 11% by 1973. Now, thanks to the slow dismantling and defunding of anti-poverty programs, the US poverty rate is 15%, according to the new report published by The Nation and Bill Moyers; 46.2 million Americans are living in poverty. This translates to a family of three with an income of less than $17,916. The most impoverished Americans are children with 22% of all American children living in poverty; this includes 39% of African-American children and 34% of Latino children. Women are far more likely to be poor than men, and that scenario is gradually worsening.

Highlights– or lowlights, depending upon how you look at it– of the report after the jump.

Sign Grijalva’s petition against the Keystone pipeline

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by David Safier This may be the first time I've actually enjoyed watching a video by a congressman. Grijalva is not a scientist — he admits as much in the video — but he dons a lab coat and plays one in this enjoyable and informative 3 minute explanation of some of the downsides of … Read more

Sinema too Republican? Votes to Reduce Banking Regulations

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Rep_Kyrsten_Sinema,_Official_Portraitby Pamela Powers Hannley

Citigroup knows how to schmooze Congress– and how to write legislation, apparently.

Ever since the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act reinstated some regulations on Wall Street gamblers in 2010, the banksters have been trying to reduce or eliminate those regulations.

The newest chapter in this banking regulation saga finds Citigroup writing the latest round of financial regulations and wining and dining Congressional representatives– including Arizona Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Kyrsten Sinema– to make the legislation happen. In Sinema's case, it worked. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, she voted with Republicans to allow  the Citigroup Protection Act… er… relaxed banking regulations to move out of committee.

I have been in Arizona long enough to have seen Sinema rise through the ranks of the Arizona Legislature and move to the US Congress. When she was in the State Senate, I enjoyed watching her Facebook posts cracking on Arizona Teapublicans and the video speeches where she openly challenged recalled Senate President Russell Pearce. Although I backed her for Congress because of her strong stance on women's issues, I'm seriously disgusted with her overall performance in Congress.

For months, Maricopa County members of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) have been urging Sinema to support the Financial Speculation Tax (AKA the Robin Hood Tax), which would charge a tiny fee on every Wall Street trade– generating billions of dollars, while reducing risky, computerized micro-trades.

Not only has Sinema not supporting the Robin Hood Tax, her recent vote exempts many Wall Street trades from any regulation. This is the wrong direction for the American people. How many Wall Street bankers live in CD9? How many people who would benefit from the revenue generated by the Robin Hood Tax live in CD9? It's time for Sinema to do the math. Voting with Wall Street is a vote against her constituents in Arizona.

If you live in CD9, it's time to call Sinema and tell her you thought you were voting for that fiery State Senator– not the banksters' handmaiden.

PDA Calls on Members to Fight Against Food Stamp Cuts

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2013-02-24 16.52.57by Pamela Powers Hannley

Earlier today, I posted a story about Republicans’ draconian and racist amendment to the Farm Bill that would deny food stamp benefits for ex-convicts– for the rest of their lives. (Obviously, a great way to pump up recidivism.)

But ex-cons are not the only people that Republicans want to starve. Overall, they want to cut billions from the food stamp program (while working behind the scenes to lessen the burned of regulation on the banksters. Who elected them? I thought it was real people– not corporate persons– who elected them.)

Below is an action alert from the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). It’s time to call your elected Congressional representatives and tell them thatAusterity is Not an Option! Starving people, taking their jobs, taking their houses, reducing benefits… these austerity measures haven't worked in Europe. They won’t work here.

From PDA…

Extremists in Congress want to slash funding for Food Stamps (aka SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). We must stand up against this heartless effort. Call and write your Senators and Representative, and tell them to oppose the Farm Bill unless full funding for food stamps is restored. We must do more to end hunger, not less.

Please watch this video in which I interviewed PDA Advisory Board member, Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts about the upcoming Farm Bill–and the despicable plan to cut food stamps in a time of great hunger. Call and write your Senators and Representative, and tell them to reject the Farm Bill if it contains these hunger-causing cuts.

In the video, Rep. McGovern describes what he calls “a defining moment.” More details about food stamp cuts after the jump.