Pombo and Doolittle Choose Dick Cheney and Special Interest Cash over Doing Their Jobs – Miss Vote on Veterans’ Benefits

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, missing votes because of special interest fundraisers with Vice President Cheney, Reps. John Doolittle and Richard Pombo proved that even less is possible when it comes to doing their jobs in Congress.  One of the measures they missed votes on was the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act, which improves benefits for veterans such as life insurance, housing loans, disability compensation and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Doolittle and Pombo have been facing questions for months about choosing special interest money over doing their jobs in Congress.

“Instead of voting for veterans’ benefits and against terrorism in the Middle East, Doolittle and Pombo chose to raise special interest money with Dick Cheney.  It’s time for a change in Washington,” said Bill Burton, communications director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  “A big part of being in Congress is making choices and Doolittle and Pombo’s choice to raise special interest money with Dick Cheney rather than show up to work is just one more reason why Californians are looking for new priorities this November.  California families will choose change because they deserve better than members of Congress who consistently favor their special interest friends over the families they represent.” S.1235, Vote #177 5/22/06

Seems Doolittle was busy giving Pombo personal training from his well practiced, unethical habit of how to rip off constituents for 15% of some pretty hefty campaign contributions that day. Doolittle put $40,000.00 into his personal bank account that day. Pombo has been following Doolittle’s lead on how to pocket campaign contributions by a loophole that allows them to funnel cash through their wives.

I’m sure the Veterans of America will have an easy decision this November during the mid-term congressional elections.

Last night, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman John Doolittle made a clear choice in the ongoing fight against child pornography.  HR 5441, vote #215, 5/25/06 Congressman Doolittle voted against adding much needed funds to fight child pornography.  Child pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry that puts at risk an alarming and growing number of children.  As many as one in five children report having been sexually solicited on the internet.  California children and their families are at risk, and Doolittle’s choice shows that he does not stand for protecting California kids.

See the extended…

Yesterday’s vote adds $5 million in much-needed funding for the Cyber Crimes Unit of the Department’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fight sexual predators and child pornography.  This is a vital task force, in 2003, ICE launched Operation PREDATOR, which is administered through the Cyber Crimes Center.  Since 2003, Operation PREDATOR has arrested more than 7,500 child predators, more than 88% of whom were non-US citizens.

“It is up to John Doolittle and his colleagues in Congress to make the right choices to protect our children and when they choose to limit the resources to fight the factors that put our kids at risk, it is time for them to go,” said Sarah Feinberg, press secretary of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  “Internet predators are a scourge and a growing risk for millions of children across the country and in California.  John Doolittle’s choice against funding the fight on child pornography crystallizes why California families are looking for new priorities from their leaders in Congress.”

Doolittle voted against an amendment offered by Congressman Bart Stupak which adds $5 million in much-needed funding for the Cyber Crimes Unit of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  These are the people on the front lines of the battle against child exploitation. Through cooperation with partner agencies, ICE has provided leads, identified victims, and collected critical evidence.  The Stupak amendment would increase ICE funding by $5 million in order to help support this effort.  This money would help to give ICE the resources it needs to combat this grave and growing threat to our nation’s children.

So much for Rep Doolittles Campaign Signs that say “Doolittle Stands With Us”. Appears Doolittle stands with child porn predators!

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

An AP analysis of campaign finance reports has Cardiff School Board member Francine Busby with a CASH ADVANTAGE over lobbyist Brian Bilbrary. 

Democrat Francine Busby is outraising Republican Brian Bilbray in the high-spending California race to replace disgraced ex-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham in Congress, campaign finance reports filed Thursday show.

Busby had raised $2.25 million as of May 17, including $755,139 in the most recent fundraising period. She ended the reporting period with about $185,000 in cash on-hand to take her through the June 6 election.

Bilbray had raised just over $1 million in his bid for the San Diego area seat, including $630,055 in the most recent period. He ended up with just over $100,000 on-hand.(SF Chron 5/26/06)

Very rarely does a Dem have a cash advantage for open seats in even districts, let alone districts with a sizable GOP lead.  Busby has become the poster child of the netroots, partly because of the hubub surround the Duke-stir, partly becuase of the timing of the special election, and partly because she is a compelling candidate.  She has reached out to the netroots in a meaningful and substantial way.  Her campaign understands that the Internet is not merely an ATM, but a place to spread information, disseminate ideas, and formulate a vision for the election.

The article continues with a summary of the finance reports in other notable districts in California, CA-4 (Doolittle), CA-11 (Pombo), and CA-36 (Harman).  A quick table of that data is on the flip.

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

The L.A. Times  ran a story today about both fiancial constitutional offices, treasurer and controller.  In the treasurer’s race, Bill Lockyer is running unopposed in the Dem primary.  Initially he was planning a run for governor, but when he abandoned that for a run at the treasurer’s position it moved John Chiang from treasurer to Controller.  Joe Dunn left the AG’s race for the contoller’s race when Jerry Brown entered that race.  Quite the circle.

On the other side, Tony Strickland missed the filing date for the Congressional seat in his district and so decided a run for controller is the consolation prize.  Sen. Mauldanado was looking at insurance commissioner but backed off when Poizner announced his candidacy.

As for the GOP treasurer candidates? Claude Parrish, a BOE member Claude Parrish of Rancho Palos Verdes.  This guy is a nut job who wants to eliminate all but the “most essential” bonds.  And Assemblyman Keith Richman, well…he apparently has always wanted to be treasurer.

I must say, I like the odds for these positions to stay with the Dems.  After the merry-go-round ended, we are left with candidates in both races who are well-positioned to hold off the GOP nominees.  Both Chiang and Dunn bring a wealth of experience and either would excell as controller.  And, everybody knows Lockyer by know, which will be a huge advantage in the general.

As of the last major poll to have the down ballot races, the April Field Poll, Chiang and Dunn are locked in a dead heat (16-15 for Chiang, with a whopping 69% undecided).  On the GOP side, Strickland has the early lead at (23-14-61 undecided).  In the treasurer’s race Lockeyer is running unopposed, and Parrish, the nut job, has a 16-13 lead over Richman with 71% undecided.  As you can tell, not a whole lot of people are really keeping tabs on these races.

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Phil Angelides has a 12 point lead in the latest S-USA poll.  However, note that the previous S-USA (5/8/06) poll on the primary race had Angelides with an 10-point lead.  So, this isn’t much different.  I’ll update the Poll HQ.

As in almost every other poll that’s shown up recently, Angelides has a substantial lead amongst men at 47-21.  Unlike several other polls, this one shows him also having a lead amongst women.  However, his lead amongst women has dropped from eight points (39-31) in the May 8 poll to six points (41-35). 

Another interesting point is that the “Other” category is still getting 17% percent.  I’m not sure if there is going to be a large write-in vote or if people are planning to vote for non-mainstream candidates.  If that happens, that would be a sizable protest vote.  What it means is a bit unclear.

And finally, the number  of undecideds fell from 11 to 7.  It looks like Democratic voters are firming up their opinions in the runup to the June election.

And just to make things more interesting, Julia at the Alliance points out that Angelides has not anted up for $1.5million and the Tsakopoulos clan has given a total of $8.7million for independent expenditures in support of Angelides.  Of course, we all know that Westly  has already ponied up over $20million of his own money. The LA Times points out that, “Angelides spent $20.6 million through May 20. Westly had spent $36.3 million as of that date.”

Expect to see a lot more money flowing into and out of the campaigns in the next few weeks.

The city of Hercules has invoked eminent domain to buuy land that Wal-Mart had been planning to develop into a new store.

A San Francisco suburb voted Tuesday night to use the power of eminent domain to keep Wal-Mart Stores Inc. off a piece of city land after hearing from dozens of residents who accused the big-box retailer of engaging in scare tactics to force its way into the bedroom community.

The overflow crowd that packed into the tiny Hercules City Hall cheered after the five-person City Council voted unanimously to use the unusual tactic to seize the 17 acres where Wal-Mart intended to build a shopping complex. (SF Chron (AP) 5/23/06)

This is disturbing on many levels.  But first, so that I’m not misunderstood, I’m as anti-Wal-Mart as the next guy.  I would vigorously fight Wal-Mart coming into San Francisco. However, eminent domain should not be the tool.  For one thing, it plays right into the hands of “Protect Our Homes” people.  While Wal-mart is a bad thing for the city, it was not an issue that called for the use of eminent domain.  At least until the November election, when we will see Protect Our Homes on the ballot, eminent domain should be a last resort.

Protect Our Homes will result in an almost ungovernable state by blocking government action.  How does it do that you may ask?  Well, here it is in the language of the initiative:

“damage” to private property includes government actions that result in substantial economic loss to private property.  Examples of substantial economic loss include, but are not limited to, the down zoning of private property, the elimination of any access to private property, and limitations on the use of private air space.  “Government action” shall mean any statute, charter provision, ordinance, resolution, law, rule or regulation.

In other words, this law will end the ability of cities to restrictively zone.

I plan on doing an in-depth post about “Protect Our Homes” after the Primary.  And just FYI, it appears that governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to say anything of substance regarding eminent domain.