Proof Positive: John Hall's Stimulus Still a Failure as Unemployment Skyrockets to 10.2 Percent

Will Democrats Forge Ahead with Government Takeover Agenda Even at the Expense of the Economy?

Washington- With unemployment at 10.2% for the first time since 1983, it’s painstakingly clear that Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s anti-jobs crusade – backed by big-spending Democrat John Hall – is driving the economy into the ground. Unfortunately for Americans, there’s no sign that Democrats are ready to put a stop to their agenda of job-killing takeovers and government growth. After wasting $1 trillion of taxpayer money, Hall's stimulus has failed to produce the results that Washington Democrats promised. While the economy suffers and taxpayers feel the pinch, Pelosi and her Democrat comrades will attempt to ram yet another piece of their tax-hiking, job-killing agenda through congress tomorrow in the form of a massive government healthcare takeover. During these difficult times, it’s clear that the Democrats’ crusade for bigger government and higher taxes is standing in the way of economic recovery.

Thanks to his eagerness to spend billions of taxpayer dollars towards frivolous expenditures and stimulating the growth of the federal government, New York taxpayers will look to hold John Hall accountable for his role in this jobless recovery.

“The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983. Nearly 16 million people can't find jobs and employers cut a net total of 190,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department says.” (Jim Abrams, “Jobless Rate Tops 10 Pct. For First Time Since '83,” Associated Press, 11/06/09)

Democrats promised that 90 percent of stimulus jobs would come from the private sector. Instead, their government spending spree has given small businesses less than one percent of the stimulus funds, once again ignoring the engine of economic recovery.

“Although President Obama initially said that 90 percent of the jobs created by the stimulus program would be in the private sector, the data suggests that well over half of the jobs claimed so far have been in the public sector.” (Michael Cooper and Ron Nixon, “Reports Show Conflicting Number of Jobs Attributed to Stimulus Money,” The New York Times, 11/5/09)

"American small businesses need more than speeches from President Obama. Every day he`s been in office, government small business contracts have been diverted to Fortune 500 firms. He`s given small businesses less than one percent of the stimulus funds. That`s the real Obama plan for small business,’ ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said.’” (“Obama's First Year Short Changes Small Businesses, According to the American Small Business League,” Reuters, 11/05/09)

“Each and every lost job lost serves as a reminder to New York families that John Hall's support for Nancy Pelosi’s anti-job agenda has led this nation down the road to a jobless recovery,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “After imposing a National Energy Tax, $1 trillion failed stimulus, and attempting to shove a tax-hiking healthcare takeover through Congress, it’s clear that Democrats are eager to push ahead with their reckless agenda no matter what the cost to the country’s struggling economy. With Hall and his Democrat colleagues claiming that the failed 'stimulus' bill has saved or created a million jobs, today's report confirms what we have suspected for some time: Washington Democrats are living in a fantasy world.”

Time for Hall to Take a Stance: Pelosi Unveils Trillion-Dollar Healthcare Bill

Where Does John Hall Stand on Healthcare Takeover’s Higher Costs, Increased Taxes, and Cuts to Medicare?

Washington- After months of horse trading and party infighting, Democrats have finally introduced their government healthcare takeover bill. Now that they’ve gotten around to putting something on the table, it’s time for John Hall to make his position on this final product known: Will he stand up against higher taxes, fewer jobs and sweeping cuts to Medicare? Or will Hall side with Nancy Pelosi and the rest of his friends in Washington to support his party’s reckless march toward government-run healthcare?

Contrary to Democrat leaders’ claims that their bill for government-run healthcare is more palatable to the ‘moderate’ wing of the Democrat party, one senior liberal stated otherwise:

“But there were signs Tuesday that at least some prominent advocates of a left-leaning reform package were ready to deal in the interest of moving a bill. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who has introduced a measure to create a single-payer universal health care system every Congress since he was elected, pressed a closed-door huddle of House Democrats on the urgency of swift action...‘I want single payer, but I’m smart enough to know what we have here is progress.’” (Tory Newmyer, “House Leaders Ready to Unveil Moderate-Favored Plan,” Roll Call, 10/28/09)

Without question, the Democrats’ bill reeks of government-run healthcare. Priced at a whopping $1 trillion, it forces companies to comply with stringent regulations and imposes drastic fines for noncompliance.

“The final product in the House, reflecting many of President Barack Obama's priorities, includes new requirements for employers to offer insurance to their workers or face penalties, fines on Americans who don't purchase coverage and subsidies to help lower-income people do so. Insurance companies would face new prohibitions against charging much more to older people or denying coverage to people with health conditions…The price tag, topping $1 trillion over 10 years…” (Erica Werner, “House Democrats to unveil health bill with government-run insurance, hefty sign-up requirement,” Associated Press, 10/27/2009)

“Now that the Democrats’ takeover of healthcare has been revealed, John Hall owes New Yorkers an answer: Will he side with them or his friends in Washington?” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “John Hall's support for a massive healthcare takeover would be nothing more than a spineless attempt to appease his party bosses and line his own campaign coffers while New York families are stuck with the price tag for a bill that raises taxes, kills jobs, and slashes Medicare. With the bill finally public, Hall can either take a stand for New York taxpayers or turn her back on them in an attempt to gain favor with his Washington party bosses.”

Hall's Failed Stimulus Sends Deficit to New All-Time High

Federal Deficit Reaches $1.42 Trillion Thanks to Hall's Washington Spending Spree

Washington- John Hall's vote for his party’s trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ has failed to yield promised results as the nation’s economy continues to tumble, but it does appear that his Washington spending spree has finally helped produced something: the largest deficit in the country’s history. While Americans are still waiting to see any real recovery coming from Hall's reckless policies, they can pass the time by watching the hole in the federal budget grow larger and larger:

“The federal budget deficit has surged to an all-time high of $1.42 trillion as the recession caused tax revenues to plunge while the government was spending massive amounts to stabilize the financial system and jump-start the economy.”

“Government spending last year jumped to $3.52 trillion, up 18.2 percent over 2008, the biggest percentage increase since a 23.4 percent jump in 1975, another year in which the country was struggling with a painful recession. The $700 billion financial bailout fund and increased spending and tax relief from the $787 billion economic stimulus program that Obama pushed through Congress in February drove the 2009 increase.”

“Failure to curb runaway deficits could trigger a financial train wreck that would push interest rates and inflation higher, and send the dollar crashing if foreigners suddenly started dumping their holdings of Treasury securities.” (Martin Crutsinger, “Federal Deficit Hits All-Time High at $1.42 Trillion,” Associated Press, 10/17/09)

“At this point it’s clear that John Hall is buying into his party’s spending addiction at the expense of economic recovery and financial solvency for future generations,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “If Hall can’t figure out how to stop spending the country into further debt in the name of failed ‘recovery’ policies, New York voters will find someone who can.”

As the deficit continues to climb to new highs, the country has reached a turning point. It’s time for John Hall to either start cleaning up after his failed policies or cleaning out his desk in Washington.

John Hall's Stimulus Isn’t Stimulating New York’s Economy

New York Spends $59,970,000 of Taxpayer Dollars to Produce an Unimpressive 656 Jobs

Washington- With 15.1 million people out of work and a national unemployment rate of 9.8%, it’s painfully obvious that John Hall and his fellow Democrat colleagues’ failed stimulus has fallen short of the promises they once made. New York state officials report that $59,970,000 has been spent over the course of eight months, only producing a meager 656 jobs, paling in comparison to the 188,000 jobs lost in the past year alone.

These staggering numbers only leave New York families to wonder: Where are the jobs that Democrats once promised?

President Obama promised to create or save 600,000 jobs by the end of the summer:

“He also repeated an earlier promise to create or save 600,000 jobs by the end of the summer. Neither the acceleration nor the jobs goal are new. Both represent a White House repackaging of promises and projects to blunt criticism that the effects haven't been worth the historic price tag. And the job estimate is so murky, it can never be verified.” (Brett Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Obama's Stimulus Promise: More Than 600,000 Jobs,” The Associate Press, 6/08/2009)

However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment declined by 263,000 in September and job losses averaged 307,000 per month from May through September. Despite the numbers stacked against the stimulus, Democrats refuse to admit their failures:

“Vice President Joe Biden delivered a rousing review of the government’s economic stimulus plan in a conversation with the nation’s governors. ‘In my wildest dreams, I never thought it would work this well,’ he said. ‘Thank you, thank you.’” (Elizabeth Williamson, “Biden on Stimulus: ‘Never Thought It Would Work This Well’,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/24/2009)

“After giving a free pass to spend an astronomical $59,970,000 of New York taxpayer money with little to show for it, John Hall's failed stimulus has led to nothing more than a jobless recovery,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Despite numerous promises from Congressional Democrats, there are still 15.1 million Americans out of work. After wasting taxpayer dollars to produce an unimpressive 656 jobs in New York, middle-class families are still asking one thing: Where are the jobs?”

John Hall and his Democrat colleagues’ failed promises have driven an already-struggling economy further into the ground, wasting billions of taxpayer dollars in the process. Will he wake up? Or will New York voters have to force him to do so next November?

(Source: www.recovery.gov)

John Hall: Corruption? What Corruption?

Hall Blocks Measure Asking Tax-Cheating Dem Chairman to Step Down

Washington- With corruption running rampant through the ranks of the Democrat party as unemployment and deficits continue to rise, John Hall looked the other way today when he sided with Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel, a powerful New York political boss who has a long history of playing fast and loose with the law. Despite Rangel’s well-documented penchant for cheating on his taxes, failing to disclose income, and breaking House rules, Hall sided with his corrupt colleague when he voted to block consideration of a resolution on the House floor requiring Rangel to step down from his powerful committee chairmanship until the House Ethics Committee completes its seemingly endless investigation into Rangel’s dirty deeds (House Roll Call 759).

The vote came as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continuously refuses to ask her crooked wingman to step down from his post:

“Why is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refusing a growing chorus of calls to drop the hammer on ethics-challenged Charlie Rangel?”

“Because, at the moment, doing nothing creates a lot less trouble for Pelosi than doing anything, current and former House aides tell POLITICO.”

“‘The speaker is totally behind him, and she told him that the last few times they have spoken,’ the person added.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi Loath to Drop Hammer on Rangel,” Politico, 9/5/09)

"In this time of great economic uncertainty and mounting deficits, what kind of message are John Hall and his liberal party leadership sending when they openly endorse an individual who can't even manage his own personal finances?" said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Hall faced a clear choice today: stand with his friends in Washington or stand with the voters and taxpayers who have to shoulder the burden of his party’s corruption problem. Hall's decision to back his Washington political boss is a clear sign that it’s time for both him and Congressman Rangel to make way for someone who thinks that Washington politicians should be held to the same standards as the rest of us.”

For full text of the resolution, click here.

Background:

Rangel’s Ethics Issues Have Been Mounting for Months: “Representative Charles B. Rangel has earned more than $75,000 in rental income from a villa he has owned in the Dominican Republic since 1988, but never reported it on his federal or state tax returns, according to a lawyer for the congressman and documents from the resort. Mr. Rangel’s three-bedroom villa at the Punta Cana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic. Mr. Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the federal tax code, bought the beachfront villa at the Punta Cana Yacht Club and has received twice-yearly payments from the resort, which rents the property for $500 or more per night.” (David Kocieniewski, “Rangel Failed to Report $75,000 in Income,” New York Times, 9/5/08)

“An oil-drilling company whose chief executive pledged $1 million last year to a school to be named for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) reportedly benefited from a tax loophole he helped preserve.” (“Congressman Charles Rangel Linked to Tax Loophole for Oil Executive,” Associated Press, 11/25/08)

“Already embroiled in an ethics probe now entering its tenth month, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, received more bad news Wednesday night as the House ethics committee announced it would look into Caribbean trips taken by the veteran lawmaker and four other Democrats.” (Josh Bresnahan, “Ten Months In, New Twist in Rangel Ethics Inquiry,” Politico, 6/25/09)

“House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel , already beset by a series of ethics investigations, has disclosed hundreds of thousands of dollars in previously unreported assets. Among the new items on Rangel’s amended 2007 financial disclosure report were an account at the Congressional Federal Credit Union worth at least $250,000, land in southern New Jersey and stock in PepsiCo and fast food conglomerate Yum! Brands. None of those investments appeared on the original report, which was filled out by hand and filed in May 2008.” (Richard Rubin and Alex Knott, “Rangel’s Wealth Jumps After Disclosure,” CQ Politics, 8/25/09)

“Representative Charles B. Rangel failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income and assets on his financial disclosure forms for 2002 through 2006, including tens of thousands of dollars in rental income from a Harlem brownstone he sold in 2004, according to records filed this month with the clerk of the House of Representatives.” (David Kocieniewski, “Rangel Failed to Disclose More Income and Assets, Forms Show,” New York Times, 8/28/09)

“Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, has failed to pay taxes on two plots of land he has in New Jersey, records show. Rangel's ownership of the small, undeveloped properties came to light on Tuesday only after he drastically amended at least six years of financial-disclosure forms he had filed annually with the House clerk as required by law. The corrected filings as much as doubled the amount of personal wealth Rangel has claimed going back years and revealed at least $780,000 in previously unreported assets. The Harlem Democrat concealed somewhere between $38,902 and $116,800 in 2007 income, according to the revised filings. Among the assets he failed to list was a checking account containing somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000. Also undisclosed for years were two lots he owns in Glassboro, NJ, about 100 miles from the city. Rangel is delinquent on his taxes on that property, according to the Gloucester County Clerk's office.” (Charles Hurt and Perry R. Chiamonte, “Tax Chief Charlie a Tax ‘Cheat’ Too,” New York Post, 9/13/09)

Meanwhile, Calls For Rangel to Resign Have Come from Far and Wide: “Want to understand why 2009 has witnessed the eruption of Tea Party and Town Hall protests of unprecedented intensity? Look no further than Rep. Charles Rangel, the New York Democrat who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that writes tax law for the rest of us... It's not like he's got nowhere to go. There's always that little rental villa he owns at the Punta Canta Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. He forgot to report $75,000 in income he derived from that asset but I am betting it's looking a lot more attractive to him as a retirement spot these days.” (“Stop Embarrassing Us, Mr. Rangel. Resign.” Washington Times Editorial, 8/28/09)

“This recommendation does not come easily, considering the New York Democrat’s four decades of service in Congress. But Mr. Rangel himself has felt obliged to request three separate House ethics inquiries of his behavior. While denying serious improprieties, Mr. Rangel concedes that he has not lived up to the “higher standard” expected of members of Congress... Committee posts are not bestowed by voters. They are partisan privileges granted by leaders in Congress, and Ms. Pelosi must not cut slack for an ally. If Mr. Rangel refuses a temporary hiatus from his chairmanship, Ms. Pelosi should remove him permanently.” (“Chairman Rangel,” New York Times Editorial, 9/14/09)

“The man who is in charge of writing the nation’s tax laws doesn’t pay his federal income or local property taxes. He has such a poor grasp of his own finances that he neglects to list half his assets on a disclosure form intended to keep members of Congress accountable and honest. ‘House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has shown no interest in removing Rangel from his post. Why should she? We can already hear the defense of the next tax deadbeat called into court. If Charlie Rangel doesn’t have to pay his taxes, why should I?’” (Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein, “The Case Against Charlie Rangel,” New York Post, 9/4/09)

John Hall's Stimulus Still Not Working, Unemployment Hits 9.8%

September Unemployment Reaches New Heights as New York Families Wonder “Where Are the Jobs?”

Washington- With September unemployment numbers now out in the open, one thing is for sure: unemployment isn’t getting any better at 9.8%. Despite continued promises by John Hall and his Democrat comrades, the national unemployment rate continues to climb. This is clear indication that Nancy Pelosi’s failed ‘stimulus plan,’ which Hall supported, is nothing but a ploy for Democrats to force their tax and spend policies through Congress and onto the American people.

“Employers cut more jobs than forecast last month and the unemployment rate rose to a 26-year high, calling into question the sustainability of the economic recovery.

“The unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent, the highest since 1983, from 9.7 percent in August, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Payrolls fell by 263,000, following a revised 201,000 decline the prior month that was more/less than previously reported.” (Bob Willis, “U.S. Employers Cut More Jobs Than Forecast; Unemployment Rises,” Bloomberg, 10/2/09)

“After touting Nancy Pelosi’s failed economic policies, John Hall has led New York families into a jobless disarray and heaps of debt,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Given Hall's ongoing support for his party’s reckless spending agenda, it is painfully clear he is unable to provide the quality leadership New York families want. Rather than making independent decisions, Hall has become accustomed to serving as Nancy Pelosi’s yes-man. At this point it’s clear that New York families deserve better.”

With each new report indicating the Democrats’ stimulus plan as a failure, it’s unconscionable that Democrats continue to claim it’s working.

“Vice President Joe Biden delivered a rousing review of the government’s economic stimulus plan in a conversation with the nation’s governors. ‘In my wildest dreams, I never thought it would work this well,’ he said. ‘Thank you, thank you.’” (Elizabeth Williamson, Biden on Stimulus: ‘Never Thought It Would Work This Well,’ The Wall Street Journal, 9/24/2009)

New York families have a message for John Hall and Vice President Biden: Your policy is a failure.

We Elected A Blackberry To Congress?

Courtesy of the Gathering of Eagles:

We’ve all heard about the Teleprompter (TOTUS) but in New York we have elected a Blackberry to Congress!

Watch as Congressman John Hall (D-NY19) reads most of his responses from his device!

One would almost think it was controlling him… or is it?

More than 750 constituents turned out at Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY.

Stephen T (who took the videos above) wrote:

I got there fairly early around 6pm, the first 10 rows were already occupied by Hall supporters with ‘Thank You’ signs. Early on there was what I believe an organizer for the Hall supporters going around with a clipboard of ideas for questions etc.

One thing I noticed is that the Town of Bedford official in charge of choosing questions from the stage mentioned that he couldn’t see far because of the lighting, how convenient. Much of the Hall supporters were robotic and had little passion, some appeared to want to drag out time with long readings, Hall was good at milking the clock with drolling stories and reading from the smart-phone.

I would say the crowd may have been at least 60-70% against Hall/Obamacare but vocally 95%. The Hall supports early on were trying to ’shh,shh’ the crowd but they imo lost the will and it was no longer their meeting.

More here:

Meanwhile irate constituents were complaining about the remote locations and short notice of the two Town Halls that Congressman Hall deigned to have.

Media report with video and pictures is here.

Congressman John Hall makes Lou Dobbs' Hall of Shame

John Hall’s Idea of Fiscal Responsibility: White House Ratchets Up Deficit Projection by $2 Trillion

Yet Another Hit Delivered to Democrats’ Big-Spending Agenda

Washington- John Hall will surely be backpedaling today as yet another vote for his party’s ongoing government spending spree has come back to bite him. Hall, who voted in favor of his party’s egregious and bloated federal budget, is now on the hook for an additional $2 trillion as the White House attempts to quietly ratchet up its deficit projections in the midst of a slow August news cycle.

“As was reported last week, the Obama administration announced today that it has revised its 10-year cumulative budget deficit projection to around $9.051 trillion, up from its February projection of $7.1 trillion.

“Administration officials said Monday that these numbers put their projection in line with the Congressional Budget Office’s June projection. These out-year deficits are about 4 percent of GDP, which the administration says is ‘higher than desirable.’” (Karen Travers, “White House: Budget Deficit Will Be $2 Trillion Higher than Projected,” ABC News, 8/25/09)

Was this what Hall had in mind just a few short months ago when he cast his vote in favor of yet another one of President Obama’s and Speaker Pelosi’s runaway spending plans? After Hall supported the Democrats’ budget in April, he boldly bragged that he had helped strengthen a struggling economy:

“Today, U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) joined a majority of the House of Representatives in approving a vision for America's long-term economic success and fiscal responsibility by passing President Obama's budget blueprint. With smart, growth-targeted investments in health care, education, and clean, renewable energy sources, this blueprint will build upon the economic incentives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to ensure the nation's economic revival, while also managing to cut the federal deficit by more than half by 2013.” (Press Release, 4/2/09)

“Did John Hall recklessly misjudge the economy to the tune of two trillion dollars of deficit or was he simply duped by his party bosses into voting for a budget that they couldn’t pay for?” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Two trillion might not seem like much to someone as out-of-touch as John Hall, but the New York families who will be stuck paying down that deficit would probably prefer to disagree. Hall owes an explanation to the folks back home as to why he put a nine trillion dollar deficit on the backs of their children and grandchildren.”

Unfortunately for New York families, it looks like they’ll be stuck paying down John Hall’s reckless budget vote for a long time to come.

Hall Owes an Explanation: Six Months After ‘Stimulus,’ Americans Still Asking, ‘Where Are the Jobs?’

Budget-Busting Disaster Still Hasn’t Yielded Results

Washington- Today marks the six month anniversary of the signing of the Democrats’ $787 billion economic stimulus, and New York’s hard-working taxpayers are still wondering when they will see any positive effects on the economy – and still waiting for an explanation from John Hall about his vote to pile a mountain of new debt on their backs with no results to show for it.

“Despite all the spin coming from the White House and Capitol Hill, New York families know that the last six months of John Hall’s stimulus swindle have amounted to little more than a monumental waste of money,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “John Hall and his Democrat friends embraced a ‘Washington knows best’ mentality that put nearly a trillion taxpayer dollars in the hands of bureaucrats and politicians. Six months after he handed over their hard-earned tax dollars to his buddies in Washington, New York families are still wondering: Where are the jobs?”

According to a new poll, Americans have lost confidence in the big-spending agenda that Hall and his allies in Washington continue to force through:

“Six months after President Obama launched a $787 billion plan to right the nation's economy, a majority of Americans think the avalanche of new federal aid has cost too much and done too little to end the recession.

“A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found 57% of adults say the stimulus package is having no impact on the economy or making it worse. Even more —60% — doubt that the stimulus plan will help the economy in the years ahead, and only 18% say it has done anything to help improve their personal situation.” (Brad Heath, “Poll: 57% Don’t See Stimulus Working,” USA Today, 8/17/09)

After declaring that he was “not satisfied” with a pattern of slowed spending in June, President Obama set an ambitious goal to speed the Recovery Act’s pace. The pace of stimulus spending, however, has dropped severely in recent weeks, despite Obama’s demands to speed it up:

“Taxpayer groups say the numbers show spending decisions are random and prove that the $787 billion stimulus program has had no effect on the economy…. Spending as of Aug. 7, the 172nd day since Mr. Obama signed the bill, stood at $200 billion obligated. To meet the goal of $225 billion, the government will have to spend nearly $1 billion each day over the next four weeks -- or nearly double the pace of the past four weeks.” (Stephen Dinan, “Pace of stimulus spending plummets,” The Washington Times, 08/14/2009)

In January, the White House warned the American people that without the passage of the so-called stimulus package, unemployment would reach over 9 percent. Then, President Obama promised Americans that unemployment would slow and peak at less than 8 percent if the stimulus passed. Now, six months after the stimulus was signed into law, America faces a $1.6 trillion deficit and 9.4 percent unemployment. (Source: Department of Labor)

With no real progress to show since January, John Hall and his fellow Democrats owe New York families an explanation. After mortgaging the country’s future with a trillion dollars in new debt, will he finally take responsibility for a runaway spending spree that has failed to yield results?

Pelosi Says Town Halls “Very Healthy,” Listening is “Essential”

San Francisco Speaker Reverses Herself and Sends Democrats into Full Retreat Mode, Just Two Days After Interview from Martha’s Vineyard is Aired

Washington- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can’t seem to get her position straight when it comes to town hall meetings with constituents. Just a few days ago, Pelosi declared war on voters by calling town hall attendees ‘un-American’ in a widely-read piece in USA Today. But in a newly-released video, Pelosi praised the town hall process as “healthy,” “wholesome,” and “essential to any success” that Democrats might have with their healthcare agenda:

Click to Watch: http://www.plumtv.com/videos/nancy-pelosi-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives/index.html

PELOSI: During the break, [members] go home and are invigorated by the ideas and the issues brought forth by their constituents, so that’s very healthy. I think it will only serve to advance the cause of healthcare reform, which we will pass in the Congress…What’s important about the break is that it gives you a chance to your constituents, and the outside mobilization is really essential to any success we can have with our inside maneuvering in Washington, D.C. It’s the most wholesome part of what we do. Our job titles and our job descriptions are one and the same: Representative. So we listen to our constituents, we have to inform them of what is happening in Washington, listen to their comments on that, and come back enriched by that dialogue.

As Pelosi continues her two-faced campaign for and against town hall meetings, it seems that only one message is actually reaching her caucus. Unfortunately for constituents across the country who are concerned about Pelosi’s healthcare takeover, rank-and-file Democrats are regularly refusing to “come back enriched” by any sort of dialogue with the people they claim to represent:

“Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, is also steering clear of town-hall-style meetings. He stumped for reform with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer at a Poughkeepsie hospital on Monday and plans to continue the push this month in various ways, none of which involve the type of gatherings that have proved perilous for fellow Democrats.” (Chris Mckenna, “Local reps say no health-care forums planned,” Times Herald-Record, 08/08/09)

“Rep. Tim Bishop (D., N.Y.) stopped holding town-hall meetings after a June event.” (Janet Adamy and Naftali Bendavid, “Lawmakers Rethink Town Halls”, The Wall Street Journal, 8/08/2009)

“Representative Alan Grayson's spokesperson told FOX 35 that his boss will not host a traditional town hall meeting because he wants to keep things ‘civilized.’” (Holly Bristow, “Health care war,” WOFL-TV, 8/10/09)

“Meanwhile, you can smell the fear under the Capitol dome. From College Station to Cleburne, District 17 constituents of Rep. Chet Edwards are waiting for a health care town hall. They should not hold their collective breath. His Washington office told me Tuesday that they don’t have one on the calendar. He knows the crowd that would surely flood such an event could jeopardize his precarious grip on the district for Democrats.” (Mark Davis, Fight Obamacare hard, but smart, Dallas Morning News, 08/04/09)

“All hail Nancy Pelosi, the queen of contradictions,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “As she praises the August recess as a way to connect with the public and resurrect her dying healthcare takeover she demonizes Americans for exercising their first amendment rights and has clearly sent a message to loyal rank-and-file members to turn a deaf ear on their constituents. Unfortunately for Pelosi and her party, they can’t have it both ways. While Pelosi and her fellow Democrats might try to shy from the spotlight now, they are only further ensuring that they will be hearing from shunned voters on election day.”

Will John Hall Continue to Side with Nancy Pelosi on Gitmo?

Key Democrat Chairman Opposes Shipping Prisoners to U.S. While Hall Stays Silent

Washington- Although John Hall sided with Nancy Pelosi earlier this summer and voted to pave the way to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, a key Democrat has spoken out against a plan touted by the Obama administration and leading members of his own party. Now the question remains: Where does John Hall stand?

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) implored the Obama administration to reconsider moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to a federal prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas:

“A senior Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday warned against sending detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas, saying it could endanger U.S. relations with Muslim countries.

“It was also another thorn in President Barack Obama’s effort to quickly close the controversial U.S. prison in Cuba.”

“Skelton is the first senior Democrat to raise issues with moving the Guantanamo detainees to Kansas, but follows a news conference last week in which Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback and Republican Representative Jerry Moran blasted suggestions of moving the detainees there.” (Jeremy Pelofsky, “Democrat opposes sending Guantanamo detainees to Leavenworth,” Reuters, 8/10/09)

“John Hall has a track record of disregarding the concerns of New York families and American citizens who hold serious reservations about closing a valuable detention center and sending terrorists to the United States,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “As leading voices on both sides of the aisle continue to speak out against the Democrats’ plan to import terrorists to the United States, will John Hall finally heed their advice or will he continue to side with Nancy Pelosi’s dangerous agenda?”

With recent polling showing that Americans have little interest in moving terrorists into their own back yards, John Hall finds himself on the hot seat. Will he continue to ignore the dangers of bringing Gitmo prisoners to the United States, or will Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco values finally take a back seat to the concerns of New York families?

As Democrat Leaders Attack Concerned Citizens, Hall Chooses To Ignore Them

Goes to Bat For Party Bosses While Leaving Constituents Out in The Cold

Washington- While healthcare continues to take center stage and Democrats make headlines for verbally assaulting constituents, John Hall has chosen to remain absent from it all. Despite Hall’s strong support for his party’s massive takeover of healthcare, town halls are noticeably absent from his August schedule. But apparently Hall has plenty of time for staged photo-ops with Democrat Leader Steny Hoyer to pump some steam into Democrats’ deflating healthcare agenda:

“Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, is also steering clear of town-hall-style meetings. He stumped for reform with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer at a Poughkeepsie hospital on Monday and plans to continue the push this month in various ways, none of which involve the type of gatherings that have proved perilous for fellow Democrats.” (Chris Mckenna, “Local reps say no health-care forums planned,” Times Herald-Record, 08/08/09)

“It’s unfortunate for Hudson Valley families that their Congressman has time on his schedule to go to bat for his party bosses, but can’t find time for them,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “John Hall has chosen the easy way out. Rather than taking the time to meet with constituents and hear their concerns regarding the future of their healthcare coverage, Hall would rather plot a sales pitch for his party’s increasingly unpopular government takeover. Hall’s constituents deserve to be heard, but he seems to have little interest in listening to their concerns.“

Hall’s own spokespeople admit to the lack of dialogue between the Congressman and his constituents:

“‘It's a concern for me that a constructive dialogue won't be allowed to take place,’ said his spokeswoman, Meaghan Smith. ‘He wants to hear people's opinions, but he wants to make sure people are informed.’” (Chris Mckenna, “Local reps say no health-care forums planned,” Times Herald-Record, 08/08/09)

Rather than standing up for Steny Hoyer, it’s time for John Hall to stand up for New Yorkers. If New York families are lucky, perhaps Hall could find some time in his busy schedule for his constituents this August.