Tagged: Congress

Posted: August 21, 2012 at 11:03 pm

Standing by their Man

Rick Hill's record is no laughing matter.While the rest of the Republican party was busy putting as much distance as possible between themselves Todd Akin, the Missouri GOP candidate that said if women were  not making up the rape their bodies would “shut down” the pregnancy, Montana Republicans lined up to express their support for his views.

Former Congressman Rick Hill was the first to stand with Todd Akin.  Hill, who clearly has a woman problem, came out  yesterday in support of Akin’s position on forcing rape victims to carry their rapists’ pregnancies to term.  Hill supports it.

As Julianna Crowley, the political leader of the pro-choice movement in Montana, pointed out,  Congressman Rick Hill has a frightening record.

“Former Congressman Rick Hill’s extreme anti-choice record shows just how serious a threat it would be for the women of Montana if he was elected Governor,” Crowley said.

“He has cast 57 votes on reproductive rights while in Congress receiving a zero percent voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America in1998, 1999 and 2000 and a 3% in 1997. Hill co-sponsored the “Right to Life Act” of 1997 and 1999, both of which gave personhood status to a fetus, defining life at the moment of fertilization and, if passed and enacted into law, would have ended legal abortion and ban several of the most common forms of birth control.

Montanans have rejected to qualify a similar personhood measure for our ballot three years in a row. The Hill ticket is too dangerous for Montana women’s health and too extreme to represent this state.”

In a press release, the NARAL Pro-Choice Montana Director points out that Hill’s anti-choice record also includes these gems:

  • Repeatedly voting to deny women in the military – who defend our freedom overseas – and dependents the right to use their own, private funds for abortion care at military hospitals.
  • Repeatedly voting against international family-planning programs.
  • Publicly stating that he opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

Hill’s anti-woman views don’t end with his shocking NARAL voting record.  Hill has publicly stated that he supports repealing Montana’s law prohibiting insurance company discrimination against women.  In Montana, insurance plans must cover  women’s health care needs like birth control, mammograms, and maternity care–just like they cover men’s.  If Hill had his way, insurance rates for women will dramatically increase.  (Hill has made no objection to the fact that insurance companies routinely cover Viagra and male pattern baldness drugs.)

Even Congressman Dennis Rehberg who totally  missed the point of why Rep. Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape,” were repulsive, at least made a futile attempt to address the controversy.

Republican Attorney General Candidate Tim Fox on the other hand has spent his political career dodging the issue altogether.

In a Yellowstone Public Radio interview from 2008, Fox was asked by a caller whether he opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. In one of the most remarkable acts of dodging a question ever, Fox said that it was important for candidate to be clear on their stances on issues such as this, right before avoiding the question.

 

Here’s a transcript of the exchange:

Host: Carl’s on the line and I understand he wants to talk about abortion. Hello, Carl?

CALLER: Hello, Mr. Fox, I heard you say that you are 100% pro-life. Does that mean that you are opposed to abortion even in cases of rape and incest?

Tim Fox: You know I have made it clear on the campaign trail that I am…ah…pro-life and I believe that life begins at conception and I think it’s important for candidates to be clear on their stances on those kind of issues of the day. But I also think it’s important to know and understand that the Attorney General doesn’t make law, the Attorney General enforces law. And certainly whenever the legislature for instance enacts a new law whether it leans one way or the other on, say, the abortion issue the Attorney General is charged with the responsibility of enforcing that law and defending that law and I would do that as Attorney General, irrespective of my values or political philosophies.

So, I, think this is an important issue to Montanans, and that’s why I’ve made sure that people know where I stand ad certainly we need to make sure that the dialogue continues in Montana on this issue and I would certainly be a part of that.

The GOP’s cowardly lion, Steve Daines, is taking the extreme position but seems to be hoping to hide it.  His spokesman told Montanans that Daines  ”disagreed” with the remarks.  At the same time Daines reinforced his agreement with the policy, saying he “opposed to abortion in all cases except when the life of the mother is at risk.” In other words, he is in support of making rape victims keep the rape-induced pregnancy.  Daines is still accepting cash from groups that are standing with Akin.

Also of note, today the Republican National Committee’s platform committee firmly stated their support of Rep. Akin when they tentatively put in their platform language against abortion, even in the case of rape or incest.

 

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 8:53 pm

GUEST POST: How Democrats Will Win the US House Race in November

[Note: The following is a guest post by Rob Stutz who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Montana's congressional seat.  If you're interested in writing a guest post, email me on the tipline. --Cowgirl]

Steve Daines has reason to be concerned.

Brian Schweitzer won his Governor’s elections without taking PAC money. Jon Tester won his US Senate election by standing up for Montana values, including the values in our Constitution. My campaign for Montana’s lone US House seat is based on the strategies of the successful Schweitzer and Tester campaigns.

I don’t take PAC money. I don’t sign pledges for special interest groups. I stand up for Montana values and our Constitution. This is what Montanans want. This is what works. Schweitzer won, Tester won, and the Montana Constitution was reaffirmed in 2010.

My campaign has less money, but let’s be honest: Daines will have more money no matter who Democrats nominate for the US House race. Daines wants to buy this election. He is running a politics-as-usual campaign, squeezing every last dime from PACs and his rich friends. Montanans are tired of it and, given the choice with an open US House seat, will choose a different approach.

The predictable approach has not worked for Democrats in the US House race. Pat Williams last won 18 years ago. The kids born that year are voting for the first time this year. If Democrats run a predictable race against a predictable candidate the results are likely to be predictable.

I offer voters the choice to take a different approach. Historically, Montanans like having that choice. Rankin and Mansfield come to mind, neither having held elected office before we sent them to Congress. Too long ago? Schweitzer, Bullock, and Juneau come to mind as current statewide elected officials who never previously held elected office. Voters know when politics-as-usual isn’t working. Offer them a clear choice – no to the PACs, no to the pledges, yes to the people – and they will try the different approach.

Montanans want a candidate who puts people first. I show them. If it doesn’t breathe, I don’t take its money. I don’t pledge away the independence needed to cut through the gridlock in Congress. I champion the values in the Montana Constitution – privacy, public education, clean and healthful environment, equality of opportunity, open government, hunting and fishing heritage, American Indian heritage, and more. I listen when Montanans speak by voting on the Constitution and on citizens initiatives. Across the political spectrum, this is the message that the people of Montana want to hear and are ready to support.

It is better going into the November campaign to know that message, not money, is our strength. Turn the message up loud, fire up the grassroots, expose Daines for the wannabe career politician that he is – my “Trouble with the Truth” series is a good place to start – and give voters a clear choice.

That is how Democrats will win the US House Race in November. And, that is why Steve Daines has reason to be concerned that Stutz for Congress keeps chugging along, picking up momentum heading into the June 5 primary.

 

Posted: May 14, 2012 at 7:48 pm

Kim Gillan Airs First Democratic Congressional Ad

The Billings Gazette is reporting today that Kim Gillan is the first Democratic candidate for Congress to have an ad on the air.  The ad takes aim at our GOP-controlled Congress’ infamous inability to accomplish…anything.  Other candidates have created ads, but none have yet had the resources to air them.  Here’s the ad:

 

Posted: April 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm

Strohmaier’s Smart Ad

Montana Congressional Candidate Dave Strohmaier (D) has a smart new ad up.  The ad is different than anything else on the airwaves and shows he believes in fairness and equality for all people.  If he were really smart, Strohmaier could probably get some national talk show attention for this.  Perhaps that’s already in the works.

Here’s the ad:

Posted: February 4, 2012 at 6:09 am

Denise Juneau’s Announcement Video

There are a couple of candidate introductory videos making the rounds on email this week.  Intelligent Discontent has one from Rob Stutz’s congressional primary campaign.  Here’s one from Denise Juneau, who is seeking a second term as Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Here’s a link to watch the video on Youtube.

Posted: November 29, 2011 at 6:34 am

Deficit Supercommittee Secret Transcripts Uncovered

Lee State Bureau reporter Mike Dennison reported this weekend on the workings of the supercommittee tasked with finding ways to fix the federal budget. Or rather he tried to:

I’d like to tell you, with some degree of certainty, which side is more to blame for the failure this week of the deficit-cutting “supercommittee,” which included Montana Sen. Max Baucus.

But I can’t, because the panel inexplicably conducted most of its business in secret.

There is a compelling and fundamental right on behalf of all citizens to have access to vital information relating to the deliberations of publicly elected officials to cuts $1.2 trillion from the federal budget.

That’s why the Montana Cowgirl Blog uncovered the secret transcripts of the debt panel proceedings, which are presented here for your edification.  As you can see, the transcripts reveal just how heavily the U.S. Senate relies on ancient tradition, logic and most importantly, precedent. Many of its current rules, procedures, and traditions even draw inspiration from the dealings of ancient Rome.  I hope you draw as much inspiration and confidence from these passages as I have.

DEFICIT SUPERCOMMITTEE OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas (Republican and committee co-chair): I call this meeting to order.  Twelve buzzards appeared around lunchtime last Tuesday, and, as provided for in Senate Rule 2837B-2, a surprise visit by more than eight buzzards signifies that it is time to commence our work.

Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan (Republican): Thank you gentleman for the opportunity to address the body.

Aide: Reminds Upton that there is also a woman present.

Upton: (Waves hand dismissively, continues.) When I was last home in Michegan in 1994, I witnessed two eagles dueling over a dead goat. This portends ill for the continuation of the Bush tax cuts.

Sen. Max Baucus of Montana (Democrat). Aside, to an Aide: How many goats do we have in Montana?

Aide: leaves to fetch graphing calculator, returns with a printout.

Baucus:  I vote no.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona (Republican): We must increase military spending by at least double the amount of any revenue increases we make. This is partially to fight terrorists who want to harm our freedom, but mostly because I saw three meteors strike the moon at dawn.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts (Democrat): I disagree.  When meteors strike the moon that signifies an unhappy parent, meaning we must not cut Medicare and Social Security.

Kyl: No it doesn’t.

Kerry: Yes it does.

Kyl: LIAR!

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania (Republican): We must consult the Oracle to clarify this matter before proceeding further.  Lets adjourn for three weeks.  This work is very tiring.

Meeting Adjourns.

Posted: July 23, 2011 at 5:19 pm

Today’s Must-Read Political Blog Post

…is a fascinating and thorough analysis of fundraising in the current and past Montana congressional races, as well as a comparative look at the Democratic primary field and what it will take for them to win.  Read James Conner’s piece now over at the Flathead Memo.