The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a map today detailing the benefits for the Recovery Plan.  The DCCC has made Congressman Calvert one of 12 GOP House members they are targeting in an e-mail, text, and telephone campaign calling these members out for voting against the stimulus package.  As the DCCC states, “Congressman Ken Calvert’s vote against President Obama’s economic recovery package means that he tried to block a badly needed and shovel-ready project to repair streets in Riverside, California, creating 23 jobs alone.”

To view the map, visit www.DCCC.org/Content/Recovery

In Mr. Calvert’s world of bizarre partisan purity, the Stimulus Bill spends too much. This argument hardly seems credible coming from a gentleman who voted to bailout banks and corporate CEOs to the tune of seven hundred billion dollars with no oversight, and who repeatedly voted to spend a budget-busting trillion dollars in Iraq.

As of November 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked Riverside the highest unemployment rate in the country (surpassing Detroit).  Failed trade agreements, deregulated financial markets, and tax policies that have encouraged the concentration of great wealth into pockets of a handful of Americans have put the middle class at risk.  All things that Mr. Calvert supported and voted for.  Today, in Riverside County hundreds of businesses have shut their doors.

By voting against this Bill, Mr. Calvert once again proves how out-of-touch he is with his own constituents and why he lost 80% of his district.

To help oust Calvert once and for all, visit HedrickforCongress.com and donate to the campaign.

On Wednesday, February 18th the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted this press release…

Shady Representative Calvert Land Deal Still in Court

Did Calvert and Co. get special treatment to ‘further curry political favor’?  With questions still swirling about Representative Ken Calvert’s role in the purchase of public land, a $1.5 million lawsuit alleging the land sale may have been improper – or worse – continues to make its way through Riverside County Superior Court.

“Representative Calvert’s shady land deal refuses to go away.  After all, Calvert and his partners got a sweetheart deal on a prime piece of property that avoided a competitive bidding process and was done to ‘further curry political favor, relations and influence,'” said Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  “Congressman Calvert should spend less time focusing on his real estate holdings and more time addressing the needs of his constituents like he could have done by supporting the economic stimulus package which is projected to create 9,000-plus jobs in California’s 44th District.  The fact that Calvert’s ‘rare’ economic chat today is a ‘private’ fundraiser shows how out of touch he is.”

Calvert says he was a silent partner in the $1.2 million deal to acquire a plot of land near new residential construction to build self-storage units.  

But it appears the Jurupa Community Services District sold the property to Calvert and his partners without first offering it to other public agencies, as required by law.  That means Calvert and his partners were able to buy a plot of land, close to the freeway, in a booming real estate market – with no competitive bidding.  In fact, a Riverside County grand jury found that the community services district violated the law when it sold the land to Calvert and his partners.

And the lawsuit goes even a step further calling the land sale “actual fraud, corruption and actual malice” and alleges that the land was sold to Calvert – who had previously supported federal legislation benefiting the Jurupa Community Services District – and his partners as a way to “further curry political favor, relations and influence.”  Of course, Ken Calvert has a long history of engaging in questionable land deals, even reportedly coming under investigation by the FBI because of allegations about Calvert-sought earmarks benefiting his property holdings.  

(Well, let’s say hi to Mr. Hedrick once again. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

Today, the DCCC added Ken Calvert’s name to its list of “House Republicans Hypocrisy Hall of Fame” for “celebrating the benefits of President Obama’s economic recovery bill in their districts” even though Mr. Calvert voted against it.  

“It’s no surprise that House Republicans are betting on failure, while President Obama and Democrats are investing in success.  But for House Republicans to unanimously vote against the economic recovery bill in Washington and then take credit for it at home is the height of hypocrisy,” said Jennifer Crider, Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Calvert made the Hypocrisy Hall of Fame when in early February, in response to a series of radio ads launched by the DCCC Working Families First criticizing his vote against the Stimulus bill, Calvert told the Press Enterprise, “It’s a boondoggle…The more people that know I voted against that bill, the better.”

Mr. Calvert is in the 44th Congressional District this week for the Congressional District Work Period, and he is now taking credit for critical stimulus spending that will be allocated to the 44th CD as a result of the passage of Economic Recovery Bill, saying “All of us in the Inland Empire will do what we can to direct as much money as we can.” [The Press Enterprise; 2/13/09]

In addition, Mr. Calvert added an amendment to the bill to renew a pet program when he had no intention of voting for the Stimulus.  When his e-verify amendment was stripped out of the bill, he told the Press Enterprise:

“The one candle in the darkness of this disastrous bill was the reauthorization and requirements to use E-Verify,” Calvert said. “Now all we are left is a bill that places illegal immigrant interests above those of hard working American families and leaves the bill at the foot of future generations.”

In parts of the 44th CD unemployment has already risen into the double-digits.  The Stimulus Bill is estimated to bring 9000+ jobs to the 44th CD, and in Riverside – the district’s largest city – the City Council estimates it could decrease the unemployment rate 5-6%.  Mr. Calvert is once again demonstrating he is out-of-touch with the needs of his constituents.

As you know, we came within 2% of defeating Mr. Calvert last November.  We are gearing up early and stepping up our fundraising efforts so we can wage an aggressive campaign against Mr. Calvert for 2010 and bring common sense back to the 44th Congressional District. Visit my website at www.HedrickforCongress.com to learn how you can help.  An early donation to the campaign would be much appreciated!

 

Dear Friends,

I’m here in Washington, DC, for meetings and was privileged yestreday to attend the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama.  As you can imagine, it’s been impossible to walk the streets of the capital and not feel the overwhelming sense of anticipation and optimism radiating from the crowds.  Like you, I have awaited this inauguration with tremendous anticipation because of my great hope for real change after the damaging Bush policies of the last eight years.  As Americans, we suddenly are overflowing with optimism because the presidency is to be assumed by a man whose experiences bring a unique understanding of our nation’s history, diversity, and challenges.

Our challenges, though serious, are by no means insurmountable. During the next four years, I believe we will see genuine progress in the fight to guarantee health care for all Americans, as well as a renewed urgency to address the degradation of our environment during the Bush presidency.  President Obama has assembled an excellent team to tackle the economic quagmire left behind by the Bush Administration and we expect major investment in our

country’s infrastructure.  Moreover, unlike its predecessor, we fully expect an Administration that respects the rule of law.

A third of all Americans call this inauguration the nation’s most historic.  I join that third in their sentiment.   As the Obama Administration assumes the nation’s helm, I very much regret that I will not be able to fight for the residents of the 44th Congressional District from within the halls of Congress in this next session.  However, we will continue our fight to bring effective representation to our district-representation that reflects the real values of our residents!

All over DC the signs say, “Yes, we did!”  As we look toward 2010 in the 44th Congressional District, we say proudly, “Yes, we will!”

Bill Hedrick

(Bill Hedrick is on the Calitics ActBlue Page. You can give there to all four of our candidates in tight races, Bill, Charlie Brown, Alyson Huber, and Hannah-Beth Jackson. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

The Hedrick campaign still needs help paying legal costs to make sure every vote is counted. Can you help? The ActBlue page is at www.actblue.com/page/hedrickballotfund.

The energy and determination of the Hedrick for Congress campaign remains high as the tally of the final votes in the 44th Congressional District race began last week.  Signature verification and sorting of ballots are continuing this weekend, with the actual count beginning on Monday, November 11th and resuming after the holiday on Wednesday.

The Hedrick Campaign has enlisted over 100 volunteers to observe the process, working in shifts to cover every available hour at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters in Moreno Valley.

Volunteers last week remarked repeatedly that they were impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the Registrar’s staff.  The campaign has found the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Barbara Dunmore, to be completely forthcoming in answering all questions and clearly explaining the process ahead.  

Moreover, the Campaign shares Ms. Dunmore’s determination to make sure that every legitimate ballot is counted in this race.

The campaign, with its legion of dedicated volunteers, looks forward to participating in the procedure in the weeks ahead with absolute confidence in the transparency, security and consistency of the process.