May 31, 2005

DNC Announces New Round of Investments in State Parties

Washington, DC - Fulfilling his promise to bring the Democratic Party back to the grassroots and to execute a 50-state strategy by strengthening state Democratic Parties, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Howard Dean announced last week that the DNC will make investments in five more states. The investment will help state parties in Wyoming, Nevada, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Kansas with essential building blocks including the hiring of organizers and voter outreach.

Dean had initially announced a second round of investments in four states but called on on-line supporters to help fund a fifth state by Friday. Within 48 hours, democrats.org members had responded overwhelmingly and made it possible to add a fifth state.

"This is the second in a series of investments that we will continue to make to ensure the strength of our state parties," said Dean. "The grassroots stepped up and showed that Democrats all over the country are committed to a 50-state strategy and to competing at every level."

The announcement brings total investments to date to almost $1 million, including the $465,000 invested on April 8th for Democratic state parties in Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, and West Virginia. New organizers made possible by this investment will join organizers already in the states at organizing summits throughout the coming weeks to share best practices for meeting the individual needs in each state.

Responding to the investment, Nevada State Chair Adriana Martinez said that, "State parties are committed to winning at every level, and the investments that the national party is making will make a tremendous difference. Gov. Dean made it clear that Democrats need to show up if we’re going to win, and he’s keeping that promise."

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Lame Duck: If it Quacks Like a Bush...

Washington, DC - Based on his performance today, President Bush is fighting a losing battle to avoid becoming a political lame duck. He spent most of his press conference today cajoling members of his own party to pay attention to him. At the same time, Republicans in Congress refuse to focus on issues that matter to the American people.

"Democrats are pleased to welcome President Bush to a discussion about the issues that American families care about, but it's time for him to propose some actual solutions to these problems," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "Fact is, his energy bill won't fix gas prices, and his Social Security scheme does not address solvency. President Bush needs to convince the power-abusing leadership in his party to focus less on protecting their own political power and more on using it to benefit American families."

Below is a new document from DNC Research.

LAME DUCK: ON EACH OF HIS KEY INITIATIVES, BUSH FACES MAJOR RESISTANCE WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY

President Bush called on Congress to act without delay on his top four priorities - passing a budget that digs the deficit $4 trillion deeper over the next 10 years, an energy plan that forces gas prices higher, a Social Security plan that cuts benefits for 70 percent of American workers, and a new trade agreement that fails to protect American jobs. On each of these initiatives, President Bush faces significant Republican opposition. Will today's press conference be enough to get Congressional Republicans back in the fold, or is President Bush really a lame duck?

Republican Opposition to Bush's Fiscally Irresponsible Budgets

Five Senate Republicans Supported the Doomed Paygo Efforts Over Bush and Conservative Republican Objections. Five fiscally-responsible Republicans-including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), George Voinovich (R-OH), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)-voted in favor of paygo rules to instill fiscal responsibility in federal spending. The measure was killed by the Senate Republican leadership on March 16. [Denver Post, 3/20/05; Los Angeles Times, 3/16/05]

Key House Conservatives Supported Paygo Despite Republican Leadership's Opposition. Despite the best efforts of a group of Republican conservatives, Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay killed eight proposed Paygo changes in the House rules in January that would have made it more difficult to run up the deficit. The conservative Republican Study Committee demanded stronger tools to enforce the budget resolution's ceiling on spending in the 14 annual appropriations bills. Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) said, "We want a budget, not a mirage. I will not vote for the budget if we cannot enforce the budget." [Denver Post, 3/20/05; Los Angeles Times, 3/16/05]

Republican Opposition to the Energy Bill

22 House Republicans Voted Against Bush's Energy Bill. Twenty-two House Republicans - one in 10 House Republicans - voted against the Energy bill touted by Bush. Reps. Chris Shays (R-CT), Jim Leach (R-IA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and other key Republicans voted in opposition to the energy bill. [H.R. 6 Final Passage Roll Call # 132, 4/20/05]

Republican Opposition to Social Security Privatization

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA):"“Strongly Oppose"” to Benefit Cuts. According to the Associated Press,“Sen. Arlen Specter," a prominent Republican moderate, has expressed his opposition to cuts in promised Social Security benefits for future retirees.'‘I strongly oppose this approach'’ Specter says in a letter on his official Web site"” [AP, 1/7/05]

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI): Massive Borrowing to Pay for Privatization is "Ill-Timed." Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee said that Bush's plan for private accounts in Social Security and the trillions in borrowing that would accompany the program was "ill-timed." "I regret that we're looking at this in the context of huge deficits," Chafee said. [AP, 12/7/04]

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): Is Against $2 Trillion in Borrowing. "Snowe expressed reluctance to tinker with the basics of a system that has provided a stable monthly income and kept seniors out of poverty for 70 years. 'I don't think we want to erode the principles of that system,' she said. 'I'm certainly not going to support diverting $2 trillion from Social Security into creating personal savings accounts,' she added." [USA Today, 1/24/05]

House Budget Chairman Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA): Social Security Does Not Face a "Crisis." "Bush has called Social Security's finances a 'crisis.' But Thomas, appearing on NBC, said 'I think 'problem' is really what we're dealing with.'" [USA Today, 1/24/04]

Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE): No Progress Made. "'I don't know if we can get it done this year,' said Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.), a member of the Ways and Means Committee. 'I don't think you could get a third of the Congress to vote for any one plan at this point.' 'They've made slight progress,' said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.), a moderate, 'maybe 'slight' being the key word.'" [Washington Post, 5/30/05]

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO): Social Security Reform Not Necessary. "I cannot support any plan to allow workers to place any portion of their Social Security taxes in risky investments, especially those that depend upon the stock market to appreciate in value. ... It remains my opinion that Social Security reform is not necessary at all if Congress would seriously address Medicare reform, balance the budget, erase the trade deficit, and make pension reform a real priority." [Washington Post, 2/12/05]

Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA): Senior Citizens Should Not Be "Jerked Around." "I can't see establishing private accounts using Social Security funds ... I want the benefits to be assured for our senior citizens so they're not jerked around." [News and Record, 1/24/05; www.talkingpointsmemo.com]

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MO): "I Haven't Seen Anything I Can Support Yet." "U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole House member and a Republican, says he's a long way from feeling comfortable about 'privatizing' or allowing 'personal accounts' with Social Security funds, as suggested by the president. 'I haven't seen anything I can support yet,' he says." [Great Falls Tribune, 11/17/04]

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY): "I Don't Want to Gamble With Social Security." "I've never been a gambler ... I don't want to gamble with Social Security trust fund moneys. And so I am very, very skeptical of the so-called plans to privatize. And I think a disservice is being done to a great many Americans by sort of sounding the alarm that everything's going to hell in a hand basket and we're going to be broke by 2018. That simply is not so." [WAMC/NPR affiliate, http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=730252, 1/21/05]

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): Self Described "Bush Man" Is "Skeptical" of Bush Plan. Jones is among a number of House Republicans "skeptical" about Bush's Social Security plans. Visiting his congressional district, he told Powells Point Republicans that he sees Social Security as a problem, not a crisis, and said that he "does not favor changes that would add" $2 or $3 trillion to the deficit, but he "did not say he is against private accounts." Jones is "worried about the pace" of federal spending: "I'm a Bush man, a Bush supporter, but we've got to be more prudent with the taxpayers' money." [Raleigh News & Observer, 3/14/05]

GOP House Members Katherine Harris (R-FL), Candice Miller (R-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): All Three Members Have "Reservations." "Republican House members such as Katherine Harris of Florida, Candice Miller of Michigan and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia have expressed reservations about Bush's proposal to partially privatize Social Security by establishing personal investment accounts. 'I'm not sure I've heard a solution I've agreed with,' said Harris." [Bloomberg, 1/21/05]

Even Traditionally Conservative Business Allies Are Abandoning Bush's Social Security Proposals. The Business Roundtable, the chief executives of 150 leading corporations with 10 million employees and $4 trillion in yearly revenues, sent a letter to Bush in December 2004 that emphasized the importance to the economy of reducing the deficit and urged Bush to balance the budget. "We are very concerned that unless action is begun now, future growth in spending - especially in the three significant entitlement programs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - will overwhelm the federal budget and the economy." The Roundtable includes financial giants Fannie Mae, Pfizer and State Farm. [Washington Times, 12/15/04]

Republican Opposition to CAFTA

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): "I Will Vote Against" CAFTA. "I am very concerned about the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). While I generally support free trade agreements and fully recognize the importance of exports to the agriculture industry, as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, it is important that all producers share in the benefits of trade liberalization ... free trade agreements should remain faithful to current U.S. policy and not restrict options available to Congress in future farm bills ... I would like to support the CAFTA, but as it currently stands I will vote against the agreement when it comes to the Floor." [Chambliss Statement, 3/22/05]

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): "We Need to Get Serious About What Is Happening to the Manufacturing Jobs in America." "I rise tonight, joining with many of my friends on the Democratic side, because I am opposed to CAFTA; and I would like to take just a few minutes to explain why I am opposed to CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement ... Mr. Speaker, we need to get serious about what is happening to the manufacturing jobs in America, and I am very disappointed that this administration does not seem to get it." [Congressional Record, 5/23/05]

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May 30, 2005

Memorial Day Statement from DNC Chairman Howard Dean

Washington, DC - In honor of Memorial Day, DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"Today, we remember the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces and have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation and our freedom. This Memorial Day we'll also keep in our prayers, the men and women in uniform who will spend this weekend at various locations around the globe and stand ready to pay the ultimate price to keep America safe and secure. We honor the commitment of our dedicated citizen soldiers who have put their lives on hold to protect our country. We also owe a special debt of gratitude to the families of our military servicemen and women and we thank them for their sacrifice.

"That's why Democrats are committed to ensuring our servicemen and women have the equipment and training they need to keep us safe and secure. We're also committed to keeping our promise to our servicemen and women, their families and our veterans when they return home. These modern-day patriots deserve nothing less, not just on Memorial Day, but every day of the year."

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May 27, 2005

Dean Calls on Mehlman to Renounce Voter Suppression Tactics

Washington, DC - During an appearance on behalf of the GOP gubernatorial candidate in Virginia yesterday, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman vowed to "do whatever we can to help make sure Jerry Kilgore becomes the next governor of the state" - including, according to the AP "having poll workers on hand to challenge voter eligibility". [AP 05.26.05]

In a statement Chairman Dean called on Chairman Mehlman to condemn any effort to disenfranchise voters, particularly in a state like Virginia where the Republican Party has a history of aggressive voter suppression efforts:

"I call on Chairman Mehlman to immediately retract his remarks and forcefully condemn any effort to make it more difficult for any Virginia voter to cast a ballot in the November election," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "Chairman Mehlman's support for voter suppression efforts gives all voters another reason to question the sincerity of the RNC's effort to reach out to minorities who have been historically disenfranchised by Republicans. As the chairmen of the two major national parties, we have a a responsibility to encourage people to participate in the political process and aggressively guard their constitutionally protected right to vote."

Listed below is a just a sample of the tactics used by Republicans in the last year's elections to intimidate voters across America:

Virginia County Asked to Halt Plan for Armed, Uniformed Police at Polling Places. The ACLU said that the planned police presence is a reminder of when armed government officials were used to prevent minorities from voting and will only intimidate many potential voters, causing them to avoid the polls. [http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/VotingRights.cfm?ID=16862&c=32 , 10/21/04]

RNC Funded Company Trashed Voter Registration Forms: "Voter's Outreach of America" aka "America Votes" is responsible for ripping up democratic voter registrations in Nevada. According to the investigative report, hundreds and perhaps thousands of individuals who think they are registered to vote actually are not. The organization has reportedly left Nevada and gone to Oregon. Full transcript of story attached... Well, the company [Voter's Outreach for America, aka America Votes] has been largely, if not entirely funded by the Republican National Committee. We should also point out that similar complaints have been received in Reno, where the registrar there has asked the FBI to investigate. It's a complicated story and we'll have a lot more tonight and I think in the days ahead." [KLAS Las Vegas Channel 8, 4pm news, Oct. 12, 2004]

Armed, Plain Clothes Police Officers Intimidated Elderly Black Voters In Orlando.
Plain clothes police officers, revealing their side arms, made house calls to elderly, black voters who voted in Orlando's mayoral race in March 2003. The voters were in large part campaign workers or volunteers that helped to organize and get out the vote, mainly using absentee ballots, for African- American Mayor Buddy Dyer. Dyer won with just under 51% of the vote. His challenger, Ken Mulvaney and other defeated candidate alleged that Dyer aide, Ezzie Thomas, the 73-year old head of the Orlando League of Voters, filled out multiple absentee ballots on behalf of black voters. These actions came in spite of the fact that in May 2003 the Florida Dept of Law Enforcement had concluded "that there was no basis to support the allegations of election fraud."[Bob Herbert Column, New York Times, 8/16/04, 8/20/04; AP, 7/17/04]

Florida Election Officials Sought To Purge African-Americans From Voter Rolls.
Florida Officials Struck Over 2,000 Eligible Voters From Voting Rolls, 62% Were Democrats, More Than Half Were Black. An analysis by the Miami Herald found that the Florida Division of Elections had improperly included 2,119 voters who were on a list of more than 47,000 felons potentially ineligible to vote in the November elections. Florida law requires convicted felons to request clemency in order to regain their right to vote. Of the 2,119 people on the list, 62% were registered Democrats, almost half were Black and less than 20% were Republican. Only sixty-one Hispanics were included on the list of over 47,000 felons though they comprise 11% of the prison population, a politically significant fact for the November elections since Hispanics in Florida vote overwhelmingly Republican while Blacks vote Democrat. [Miami Herald, 7/2/04; Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 7/7/04, 7/8/04; New York Times, 7/10/04]

Native Americans Told "To Go Home" In June Primary. Poll workers demanded identification from Native Americans in South Dakota's June primary, and they illegally turned away Native American voters from the polls when they did not have it. The state's elections auditor sent out a memo to state poll workers stating that all voters must have IDs, but did not widely disseminate information that said that voters could sign an affidavit in lieu of showing identification. State Democrats say that the actions by poll workers were an extension of a wider move by the GOP controlled state legislature to suppress Native American turnout. The law requiring voters to show identification was passed last year. One South Dakotan voter turned away from the poll was told by an elections worker that "if she didn't' have a photo ID, she could just turn around and home." [Argus Leader, 6/11/04]

Kentucky Republicans Will Place Vote Challengers In African American Precincts.
Kentucky's Jefferson County Republican Party announced that it will place Republican vote challengers in predominantly African American precincts during the November 2004 elections, reiterating their 2003 attempt to suppress voter turnout. In 2003, county Republicans placed challengers at 18 polling places in predominantly black districts. However, even Republicans have taken offense this year, and a dozen Republicans including two African Americans joined together to protest their party's actions. [AP, 7/30/04; Courier-Journal, 8/3/04]

Michigan Republican Lawmaker Says Gop Needs To "Supress" The Detroit Voters.
Michigan State Representative, John Pappageorge, told members of the Oakland County Republican party that the GOP would do poorly in this year's elections if it failed to "suppress the Detroit vote." Pappageorge's comments were a thinly veiled mandate to suppress African American voter turnout in a city where 83% of the population is Black and overwhelmingly votes Democratic. [Detroit Free Press, 7/16/04; AP, 7/21/04; Washington Post, 8/26/04]

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Dean Reiterates Call for DeLay to 'Step Aside'

WASHINGTON- For years, Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) has been intimately involved in Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC). He was a founder of TRMPAC, raised thousands of dollars in corporate contributions, and cajoled reluctant donors. This PAC, which was just ordered by a Texas judge to pay a $200,000 fine, illegally raised funds and laundered corporate contributions through the RNC in an effort to improperly influence the outcome of several closely contested Texas state legislative elections.

Gov. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, released the following statement:

"Tom DeLay's latest attempt to distance himself from Texans for a Republican Majority, a PAC that he founded, is laughable. And, his effort to distract people from the latest guilty verdict by attacking a television show reeks of desperation. Tom DeLay continues to abuse his power as a leader of the Republican Party in order to line the pockets of his corporate cronies with cash. Americans have had enough. There is no question that while this investigation continues, Tom DeLay should step aside."

TOM DELAY'S ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM:
DENY, DENY, DENY, THEN BLAME HOLLYWOOD

DeLay Was Closely Involved in TRMPAC:
DeLay Closely Involved With TRMPAC. DeLay was a founder of TRMPAC serves on its advisory board and has helped with its fundraising... Some documents in the civil case suggested he may have been actively involved in gathering corporate donations. [AP Online, 3/17/05]

National GOP Leader Founded Texas Republican PAC. US House GOP Leader Tom DeLay founded the political action committee Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) to elect Republicans to the Texas State Legislature. DeLay contributed $75,000 from his federal 'leadership' PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, (ARMPAC). In addition, the executive director of ARMPAC, Jim Ellis, co-founded and served as a paid consultant to TRMPAC. [Dallas Morning News, 3/21/2004; Austin American-Statesman, 4/6/2004]

Subpoenaed Documents Show DeLay Had Direct Involvement With Fundraising Campaign.
According to the New York Times, "Documents, which were entered into evidence last week in a related civil trial in Austin, the state capital, suggest that Mr. DeLay personally forwarded at least one large corporate check to the committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, and that he was in direct contact with lobbyists for some of the nation's largest companies on the committee's behalf." [New York Times, 3/9/05]

In one e-mail from August 2002, RoBold tells John Colyandro, the Texas committee's executive director, to create a "top 10 list of givers" he could ask for a large contribution... "I would then decide from response who Tom DeLay others should call. If this is more successful, I will do more of them," the e-mail said... In a September 2002 e-mail between RoBold and Drew Maloney, a Washington lobbyist and former legislative director for DeLay in the House, Maloney said he had two checks from Reliant Energy. "Will deliver to T.D. next week probably," the e-mail said. [AP Online, 3/10/05]

An e-mail exchange from the computer files of a member of the committee's advisory board notes that a ''finance committee'' conference call in October 2002 was postponed at Mr. DeLay's request ''because of action on Iraq.'' . . . Other documents show how often Mr. DeLay's name was cited by the committee's fund-raisers when they were seeking donations. An e-mail message sent by Mr. Colyandro on Sept. 20, 2002, asked that a telephone call be made to a prominent Texas lawyer for his help at a fund-raising event the following week. ''He needs a push,'' Mr. Colyandro wrote. ''Please tell him how important he is and how important this is to T.D.'' [New York Times, 3/10/05]

TRMPAC Funneled Illegal Corporate Donations Through the RNC:
TRMPAC Laundered $190,000 of Corporate Money Through the RNC. TRMPAC contributed $190,000 to the Republican National State Elections Committee on September 20, 2002 that included corporate money. Within two weeks, the RNSEC contributed the same amount back to TRMPAC targeted candidates. [CQ Weekly, 3/20/2004; San Antonio Express-News, 3/15/2004; Austin American-Statesman, 2/26/2004; FEC, www.fec.gov, 4/8/2004; Texas Ethics Commission, www.ethics.state.tx.us, 4/8/2004]

TRMPAC Collected $190,000 In Corporate Contributions. Recently indicted documents conclude six "corporate donations totaling $190,000 were made to TRMPAC." [Washington Post, 3/4/05]

TRMPAC Director Donated $190,000 To Republican National Committee. According to The Washington Post, TRMPAC Director, John Colyandro sent $190,000 in one lump sum to the RNCs Republican National State Elections Committee. Jim Ellis, the director of DeLay's national PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, "delivered the check to the RNC and gave the committee a list of names and the check amounts, totaling $190,000, to be mailed back to the Texas legislative candidates in noncorporate money." [Washington Post, 3/4/05]

RNC Donated $190,000 To TRMPAC Supported Texas Candidates. The RNC's State Election Committee then transferred $190,000 to seven TRMPAC supported Texas House candidates. "Three weeks later, the committee sent checks in the equivalent amount that had been raised from individual donors to seven Republican statehouse candidates supported by TRMPAC. Texas law prohibits the use of corporate funds in election campaigns." [Washington Post, 3/4/05]

When All Else Fails…Blame Hollywood
In an effort to distract from TRMPAC indictments, DeLay attacks television. House Majority leader Tom Delay fired off a letter to NBC Universal Television Group President Jeffrey Zucker Thursday calling a line during NBC's Law and Order: Criminal Intent "a failure of stewardship of our public airwaves," and a "brazen lack of judgment". According to a transcript excerpt supplied to the magazine Broadcasting & Cable by Delay's office, the show's finale features a white supremacist who kills a judge's family. As the detectives hunt for the judge killer, one says "Maybe we should put out an APB for somebody in a Tom DeLay T-Shirt." [CBS, 5/27/05]

He Said It – DeLay: Judges Will Have To Answer For Their Behavior. "This loss [Schiavo] happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change," DeLay said. "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today," he said, referring to the judges. [LA Times, 4/1/05]

He Said It – DeLay: Judiciary Has "Run Amok." "Mr. DeLay faulted courts for what he said was their invention of rights to abortion and prohibitions on school prayer, saying courts had ignored the intent of Congress and improperly cited international standards and precedents. 'These are not examples of a mature society,' he said, 'but of a judiciary run amok.'" [New York Times, 4/8/05]

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May 26, 2005

DeLay Group Punished by Texas Judge

Washington, DC - Today, a Texas State District Judge ruled that Tom DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) "violated state campaign law when it failed to disclose more than a half-million dollars in corporate contributions during the 2002 state legislative elections." Judge Joseph Hart awarded $196,660 to the five plaintiffs, all Democratic candidates who lost in 2002. [Austin-American Statesman, 5/26/05]

"The long arm of the law finally caught up to the rule-breaking, power-abusing Tom DeLay and a Texas judge is punishing him for his improper activities in 2002," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "Fortunately for the American people, Tom DeLay can no longer assert that the rules of law and justice don't apply to him. It's now time for him to come forward and disclose all of his unethical activities and face a jury of his peers in Congress and, if appropriate, a jury of his peers in a criminal court of law."

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Republicans Warn against Frist-DeLay-Bush Power Consolidation

Washington, DC - The Republican Party under Republican House Leader Tom DeLay, Republican Senate Leader Bill Frist and President George W. Bush has politicized and consolidated their power in unprecedented fashion over the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. In this quest for unchecked power, Frist, DeLay and Bush have shut out their opponents, abused their power as the majority party, and even silenced members of their own party

A number of former Republican leaders, however, have begun to articulate their grave concern about the over-reaching power grab being perpetuated and recent polls indicate that the American people are also leery of the power-abusing Republicans as well.

"Even as the Republicans hold a strong majority in Congress and are enjoying a second term in the White House, they are not using this authority to address the agenda of the American people," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "DeLay, Frist and Bush are selfishly using their power to expand their own authority. The American people expect and deserve better from their government."

Former Republican Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-OK): "Every president grabs for more power. What's different it seems to me is the acquiescence of Congress." [Washington Post, 5/26/05]

Former Republican House Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-IL): "I would remind my friends that you may one day be in the minority and you won't want to be [run] roughshod over." [Washington Post, 5/26/05]

Former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY): "Anybody with a brain knew once Republicans got their hand on the wheels ... there was going to be punishment because they felt silenced and slighted when Democrats were in control...It's unfortunate." [Washington Post, 5/26/05]

CBS News Poll: Americans Not Happy With This Abuse of Power; Bush and GOP Congress are Out of Touch with the American People. "Four months into his second term, President Bush is increasingly viewed as being out of touch with the American people, according to a CBS News poll. Six in ten Americans say the president does not share their priorities, while just 34 percent say he does - the lowest numbers for Mr. Bush since the eve of his first inauguration." Furthermore, "even fewer people, just 20 percent, say Congress shares their priorities." [CBS, 5/25/05]

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May 24, 2005

Sen. Frist Loses the Fight: The Failure of the Nuclear Option Undermines His Presidential Aspirations

Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"Last night's agreement is a win for America. We loosened the grip of the radical right wing, but the real test of this agreement will come when we see if the President consults Democrats on future judicial nominees.

"Republicans were arrogantly demanding a power that no President has ever had and placing our fundamental rights as Americans – free speech, civil rights, clean air and water, and voting rights - on the chopping block for short-term political gain. But because Democrats held fast, the Republicans attempt to clear the way for an extremist Supreme Court nominee was blocked and 200 years of Senate rules have been preserved.

"Unfortunately, Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor, and Priscilla Owens will likely be confirmed. But a fundamental tenet of our democracy was protected. The bottom-line is that the 48 percent of us who did not vote for President Bush still have a voice in our government, and Senator Frist and the radical right-wing extremists were prevented from obtaining absolute power.

"Even though this battle appears to be over, for now, Democrats in both houses of Congress will continue to fight for up or down votes on the priorities of the American people: national security, retirement security, affordable health care, and efforts to jumpstart our economy."

RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES CALLING THE SHOTS FOR FRIST

Dr. Richard Land, President of Southern Baptist Convention: Frist Must Pull the Trigger. "In the communications that I have been sending to Senator Frist and his staff -- and I have reason to believe it has been sent by other social conservative leaders -- is that they must pull the trigger, even if they lose, so we will know who to have a primary candidate against in 2006." [NYT, 4/3/05]

Pat Robertson: "It is the ultimate test. [Frist] cannot be a leader and allow Democrats to do what they did in the last session." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/13/05]

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council: Frist’s "legacy rests on getting these nominees through the United States Senate, and if he is unable to do that, rightly or wrongly, it will reflect on him." [NYT, 3/7/05]

Lou Sheldon: Frist Needs To Belly Up. "Religious conservatives, an influential bloc of the Republican Party, have made it clear that Frist needs to act quickly to eliminate the judicial filibuster if he is to win their support. ‘Procrastination is a deterrent to winning Republican primaries,’ the Rev. Louis Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, said in an interview. ‘If Frist bellies up and does it, it would be to his favor.’" [Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/27/05]

Conservatives Will Be Unforgiving If Frist Does Not Go Ahead With Nuclear Option. "‘If he fails and the Democrats succeed in blocking the Bush judges, including ultimately a Supreme Court nominee ... then Bill Frist need not come calling at the conservatives' door in 2008,’ Richard Lessner, executive director of the American Conservative Union, wrote this month in the conservative newspaper Human Events. ‘On this issue conservatives are not in a mood to be forgiving. It's show time and Bill Frist must deliver,’ Lessner said." [LAT, 4/21/05]

CONSERVATIVES IMPOSE NUCLEAR OPTION AS TEST FOR FRIST

Conservatives: Nuke Option Is Test of Frist’s Leadership. "And the GOP, notably Senate leader Bill Frist (who has White House aspirations, and thus needs to please conservatives), is under pressure to nuke. Todd Gaziano, who runs the legal-issues shop at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said: ‘Frist has ambitions. So this is a test and he understands that. Republicans have committed (to the nuclear option), and it would be a great sign of their failure of leadership if they don’t get the job done.’" [Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/27/05]

Frist’s Presidential Hopes Rest on Nuclear Option. "If Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist hopes to capture the Republican nomination for president in 2008, then he has to see to it that the Bush judicial nominees are confirmed," Richard Lessner, executive director of the American Conservative Union, wrote in a recent article. "If he fails, then he is dead as a presidential wannabe." [Wash Post, 4/15/05]

Paul Weyrich, President of Free Congress Foundation: "If he delivers on this nuclear option and Bush's judges are confirmed, he will be a hero in conservative circles," Mr. Weyrich said. "If he fails to deliver, his presidential ambitions are down the drain. It is as simple as that." [Washington Times, 4/25/05]

Rush Limbaugh: "Everywhere I go people ask me, ‘Rush, who's going to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008?’ I say, ‘I have no clue. I have no idea, but I will tell you this: If Bill Frist wants to set himself up as a hero in this party he will invoke this new rule of 51 votes and take on the Democrats.’" [The Rush Limbaugh Show, 3/1/05]

RIGHT WING ANGERED BY REPUBLICAN DEFEAT

Gary Bauer, conservative activist and unsuccessful candidate for president in 2000: "The Republicans who lent their names to this travesty have undercut their president as well as millions of their most loyal voters," he said. "Shame on them all." [Los Angeles Times, 5/24/05]

Paul Weyrich, veteran social conservative organizer and founder of the Free Congress Foundation: "Conservatives are going to be outraged over it…And what do they get for it? This is about the Supreme Court, and the filibuster is still intact for the Supreme Court. This is a big defeat for the Republicans. The Democrats win even though they have got to put a few judges up for confirmation." [New York Times, 5/23/05]

Dr. James C. Dobson, founder of the Christian conservative group Focus on the Family: Dobson called the deal "a complete bailout and betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats." He added: "We share the disappointment, outrage and sense of abandonment felt by millions of conservative Americans who helped put Republicans in power last November. I am certain that these voters will remember both Democrats and Republicans who betrayed their trust." [New York Times, 5/23/05]

Family Research Council: "There is no room for compromise in the Senate regarding judicial filibusters. The judicial filibuster is unfair, unfounded and unconstitutional. Concession is not an option." President Tony Perkins warned that a deal could hurt Republicans at the polls by disappointing the very people who had elected them because of their pro-family values. [Chicago Tribune, 5/24/05]

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Bush Sacrifices Stem Cell Research to Radical Right Wing Politics

On August 9, 2001, Bush announced a new Federal policy that severely limited stem cell research in the United States. Now, a bipartisan group in Congress is working to eliminate the stifling restrictions the Administration put into place. However, Bush has steadfastly refused to reconsider the issue, despite the fact that his own NIH Director admits that the President's ideology is hindering scientific progress. Bush, who has yet to veto a single piece of legislation since he became President, is now threatening to veto a bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. As preparations are underway for the 2006 Congressional races, it is clear that President Bush is trying to mollify right wing conservatives.

RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVES MAKE STEM CELL BAN A PRIORITY

American Life League Ad Threatens Bush on Reelection. The American Life League ran a print ad in the Washington Times comparing George W. Bush's 2000 campaign promise to oppose stem cell research with George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign promise to not increase taxes. "The Bush Family Secret For One Term Presidencies," reads the ad. If Bush breaks his promise he "won't reactivate his political base sufficiently to re-elect him in 2004." [American Life League Press Release, 7/27/01]

Bauer Said that Bush Defiance of Conservatives on Stem Cell Would "Up the Ante" on Supreme Court Nominees. Gary Bauer, a social conservative and Republican presidential candidate, said that the possibility of Bush supporting stem cell research would have an effect on conservative support of Bush Supreme Court nominees. "It would raise serious questions about the sincerity of his [Bush's] professed pro-life views. ... It would up the ante on things like Supreme Court nominations," Bauer said. "There would be much less willingness to trust the White House." [San Francisco Chronicle, 7/22/01(emphasis added)]

The Right Wing Calls Out the Big Guns: House Speaker Delay is Coordinating Members on HR 810 Since GOP Leadership Decided Not To. According to The Hill, "The GOP leadership has chosen not to whip the bill, allowing members instead to vote their consciences, but a senior GOP aide said DeLay will be coordinating with members opposed to the legislation. [The Hill, 5/24/05]

BUSH STEM CELL POLICY HINDERS THE SEARCH FOR MEDICAL CURES

Bush's August 2001 Stem Cell Decision Greatly Limited Stem Cells Lines Available for Federal Research. On August 9, 2001, Bush rolled back Clinton-era guidelines to limit federal research to stem cell lines that had already been produced prior to his announcement. The lines, produced from excess embryos created for the purpose of fertility treatment. Initially announced as 64 viable lines, NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni informed the House in May 2004 that just 19 lines are currently available for federal research. [NIH Fact Sheet, 01/01; www.nih.gov; Bush Remarks on Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research, 8/9/01; USA Today, 8/13/01; L.A. Times, 6/8/04]

Bush Approved Stem Cell Lines Unusable in Humans. The 19 viable stem cell lines that Bush approved for federal research were all grown on a "feeder layer" of mouse cells. Any attempt to transplant the cells into humans for treatment would create a danger of passing mouse-borne viruses into the recipient. [Boston Globe, 5/23/04; Rocky Mountain News, 4/27/04]

America Losing Its Technological Advantage In Stem Cell Research. In the three years since Bush announced his stem cell policy, the majority of new stem cell lines have been created overseas – at least 51 to date. "Science is like a stream of water, because it finds its way," said Susan Fisher, a professor at the University of California at San Francisco. "And now it has found its way outside the United States." Also shifting overseas has been research on techniques to use stem cells in medical therapies, risking that the US will be left behind in the application to disease treatment. [Boston Globe, 5/23/04; New York Times, 5/6/04]

Diverse Set of Stem Cell Lines Key to Developing Cures to Diseases. Research into the potential for stem cells to cure of conditions that affect 100 million Americans including Parkinson's, type-1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries and even Alzheimer's will require a broad diversity of cell lines to ensure that discoveries are universal and not limited to a specific cell line. [Boston Globe, 6/2/04; Washington Post, 6/10/04; Associated Press, 7/19/01]

NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni Admits More Cell Lines Will Speed Research; Says Ideology is Hindering Advances. Zerhouni sent a four-page letter to Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Michael N. Castle (R-DE) stating that more embryonic cells line would aid in the advancement of research, saying "...it is fair to say that from a purely scientific perspective more cell lines may well speed some areas of human embryonic stem cell research..." Zerhouni noted the inconsistencies in the right-wing position during his testimony in front of Congress. He was asked by Sen. Specter "If they're going to be destroyed [anyway], where is the moral issue?" To which Zerhouni replied: "I think you'll have to ask that from those who hold that view." [Washington Post, 5/16/04; Washington Post, 4/7/05]

BUSH IS TRYING TO PLACATE ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS...

Bush Threatens to Veto Bipartisan Stem Cell Legislation To Avoid Angering Anti-Abortion Activists. On Friday, President Bush reiterated his policy: "I made my position very clear on embryonic stem cells...the use of federal money, taxpayers' money to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is – I'm against that. And therefore, if the bill (HR 810) does that, I will veto it." Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute has stated "Bush would prefer not to have this issue highlighted" as it would antagonize evangelicals in his conservative voter base. Opponents of research including the American Life League have told the president they will hold him to his promise to block any expansion in the number of available lines. [Remarks by President Bush, 5/20/05; L.A. Times, 5/9/04; Daily News, 6/8/04; New York Times, 5/6/04]

• Rep. Castle clarifies: Rep Castle's (R- DE) and Rep. DeGette's (D-CO) legislation does not "allow for the creation of embryos for research nor does it fund the destruction of embryos." In response to the president's veto threat, Rep. Castle issued a statement saying the bill doesn't stray from Bush's principles. Castle said that his legislation is aimed only at allowing use of frozen embryos that prospective parents didn't need not encouraging creation of new ones. "Under no circumstances does this legislation allow for the creation of embryos for research nor does it fund the destruction of embryos," Mr. Castle said. His bill "draws a strict ethical line by only allowing federally funded research on stem-cell lines that were derived ethically from donated embryos determined to be in excess. ... This is consistent with current federal policy set by President Bush on August 9, 2001." [Wall Street Journal, 5/23/05]

...SO HE IGNORES BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH

Bipartisan Coalition in Congress Supports Expanding Federal Stem Cell Research. In early June 2004, 58 senators including 14 Republicans wrote the White House requesting that the number of stem cell lines available be expanded. In April 2004, 206 House members including Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA), Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and nearly three dozen Republicans in all, wrote Bush with the same request. [Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/8/04; New York Times, 5/6/04]

The Bill President Bush Says He Would Veto Has 23 Republican Co-sponsors. As Congress plans to begin debate on HR 810, the bill has 200 co-sponsors including 23 Republican Congressman. The Republican Co-Sponsors of HR 810 are: Rep. Bass (R-NH), Rep. Biggert (R-IL.), Rep. Boehlert (R-NY), Rep. Bono (R- CA), Rep. Bradley (R-NH), Rep. Brown-Waite (R-FL), Rep. Foley (R-FL), Rep Gibbons (R- NV), Rep. Gilchrest (R-MD), Rep. Granger (R-TX), Rep. Johnson (R-CT), Rep. Porter (R-NV), Rep Ramstad (R-MN), Rep. Davis (R-VA), Rep. Dent (R-PA), Rep. Kelly (R-NY), Rep. Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Kolbe (R- AZ), Rep. Larsen (D-WA), Rep. Leach (R-IA), Rep. Schwarz (R- MI), Rep. Shaw (R-FL), Rep. Shays (R-CT), and Rep. Simmons (R-CT). [HR 810, 5/23/05]

Nancy Reagan Has Called for Expanding Stem Cell Lines, Saying We Can't Lose Any More Time. In May 2004, Nancy Reagan told a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation that stem cell research must be pursued "to save families from the pain" of debilitating illnesses. "I don't see how we can turn our backs on this," she said. "We have lost so much time. I just can't bear to lose any more." [LA Times, 5/9/04]

Several Anti-Abortion Politicians Calling for Expanding Stem Cell Lines Available for Research. Among the opponents of abortion supporting expanding stem cell research are Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT), and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID). [USA Today, 6/9/04; Orlando Sentinel, 6/9/04; Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/8/04; L.A. Times, 6/8/04; Slate, 8/3/01]

Conservative Congressional Republicans Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

Rep. Schwarz (R-MI): Rep. Joe Schwarz, a pro-life, Catholic from a staunchly Republican district has come out in support of embryonic stem cell research: "I look at this as a strongly pro-life effort -- and I am a Catholic -- to be able to discover a cure for Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or any of the other dreadful neurological disorders that afflict us, both genetic and those that are acquired in a lifetime...I think this is the most pro-life thing you could do." [Press Conference on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, 5/11/05; The Hill, 5/19/05]

Sen. Hatch (R-UT): Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a bishop in the Mormon Church, supports embryonic stem cell research despite his pro-life stance as well: "I do not believe that life begins in a Petri dish and, like many others, hope that these excess embryos can benefit mankind. ... For me, being pro-life means helping the living." [Los Angeles Times, 5/20/05]

Former Sen. Danforth (R-MO): Former Sen. John Danforth (R-MO), an ordained Episcopal minister and abortion opponent, wrote in the New York Times that the Republican Party "has gone so far in adopting a sectarian agenda that it has become the political extension of a religious movement." He then criticized efforts to criminalize embryonic stem cell research, saying that it seeks to "punish people who believe it is their religious duty to use science to heal the sick." [New York Times, 3/30/05]

Republican Poll of 13 GOP Districts shows 66% Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research. A poll was conducted by the Winston Group and partly financed by the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of moderates of which Rep. Castle is President. According to the New York Times, "The survey questioned voters in 13 Republican districts and found that 66 percent supported embryonic stem cell research, while 27 percent were opposed." [New York Times, 5/18/05]

DESPITE THE FACT THAT HIS POLICY HINDERS MEDICAL RESEARCH

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May 23, 2005

Money Laundering 101: Abramoff to Norquist to Reed

Washington, DC - Tom Delay patron Jack Abramoff has embroiled himself in another scandal involving Indian gaming, and again, this scandal involves the right wing lobbying industry. According to various news sources, Abramoff convinced a Mississippi tribe he was working for to donate money to Grover Norquist, who in turn donated it to an Alabama anti-gambling campaign. That campaign wrote a check to Ralph Reed's lobbying firm, who lobbied against gambling in Alabama. This benefited Abramoff's Mississippi casino clients, who paid Abramoff $7 million over the past 10 years to protect their monopoly on local gambling.

"These new reports about money laundering and one of President Bush's top fundraisers are indeed troubling," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "They are yet another reason why I again call upon the White House to release all contacts administration officials have had with Jack Abramoff or his associates, including any meetings related to special interests associated with Abramoff, such as Native American tribes and the Marianas Islands."

Step 1: Find Yourself a Corrupt Lobbyist With Ties to President Bush and Conservative Republicans

Abramoff Lobbied for Indian Tribe That Has Contributed Millions to Conservative Causes at His Direction, Received "Unprecedented" Regulatory Treatment in the Past. Abramoff is currently lobbying for the Mississippi Choctaw Tribe on issues of "tax and tribal issues." Abramoff has a longstanding relationship with the Choctaw. Since 1995, the Choctaw tribe has paid Abramoff at least $7 million. The tribe has also funneled millions of dollars at Mr. Abramoff's direction to a network of conservative groups. In total, according to Abramoff, the Choctaw and other clients have made more than $10 million in unreported donations to the conservative movement. The Choctaw have received what Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), called an "unprecedented" exemption from national gaming regulations. They are the only tribe allowed to self-regulate their gaming operations. [Wall Street Journal, 7/3/01]

Step 2: Donate $1 Million to an Anti Tax Group Headed By ANOTHER Corrupt Lobbyist with Ties to Bush and Conservative Republicans

Norquist Admitted Receiving $1.15 Million from Indian Groups, and Arranging Meetings with Bush. According to news reports every year during the first four years of the Bush administration Grover Norquist arranged meetings between Bush and tribal leaders. Norquist admitted to receiving over $1.15 million from the Mississippi tribes which he latter funneled to two groups who were running anti gambling campaigns in neighboring Alabama, the Alabama Christian Coalition received $850,000 and the Citizens Against Legalized Lottery received $300,000. Norquist did not disclose to the anti gambling groups that the money had come from gambling interests. [Boston Globe, 5/13/05]

Step 3: Get That Corrupt Lobbyist to Find a THIRD Corrupt Lobbyist with Ties to Bush, Conservative Republicans, and Ties to Anti Gambling Interests

Reed's Consulting Firm Received Most of the Money Norquist Donated to Anti Gambling Lobbying Groups. American's for Tax Reform head and Jack Abramoff friend Grover Norquist admitted that he received $1.15 millions from a Mississippi Native American Tribe. Norquist then turned around and donated the money to two Alabama anti gambling organizations. The Alabama Christian Coalition received $850,000 and the Citizens Against Legalized Lottery received $300,000. According to the Alabama Christian Coalition's President John Giles, all of the money they received went to Ralph Reed's consulting firm Century Strategies Inc. Referring to Reed and Century Strategies Giles said, "We just turned around and wrote out the check to them." [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/18/05]

What Connects All Three of These Guys: George W. Bush

Abramoff Is A DC Insider And Has Strong Pull With The Bush White House. Those close to Abramoff boast that he is a phone call away from the President. "Jack has a relationship with the President," Abramoff's spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon said. "He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one." [New Times Broward-Palm Beach, 2/22/01]

Jack Abramoff Is A Bush/Cheney '04 Pioneer. Abramoff has raised over $100,000 for the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign. [www.georgewbush.com]

Norquist Was an Informal Advisor to Bush White House. "Americans for Tax Reform is led by Grover Norquist, an informal adviser to the Bush White House who has known Reed and Abramoff since their days together in the College Republicans in the early 1980s." [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/22/05]

Norquist's Network Has Been Turned Over To White House. Ken Mehlman, the Bush-Cheney campaign manager, and Grover Norquist, gardener of the conservative grass roots, were discussing a new tactic for the 2004 election: The campaign would activate the conservative base as it never had before." Over the past five years Norquist "has been building a network of 'mini-Grover' franchises. He has crisscrossed the country, hand-picking leaders, organizing meetings of right-wing advocates in 37 states. In 2003, Norquist presented his master contact list to Mehlman, mapped out and bound in a book…The binder was Norquist's gift to the presidential race. His aspirations, though, extend far beyond the White House. Congress, governorships, state legislatures, the media, the courts -- Norquist has a programming plan, and it is all Republican, all the time." [Washington Post, 1/12/03]

Ralph Reed Served As BC04 Southeast Regional Campaign Chairman. A Bush-Cheney 2004 press release announced that Ralph Reed would serve as BC04 Southeast Regional Campaign Chairman. "Ralph Reed will be the Southeast regional campaign chairman for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida" [BC04, 7/10/03]

Reed Traveled As A Surrogate For the President. Reed appeared as a surrogate for Bush-Cheney in Nevada on 4/30/04, Wisconsin on 5/23/04, Louisiana on 5/27/04, Ohio on 6/15/04 and 10/6/04, Minnesota on 8/16/04, Iowa on 8/23/04, 10/2/04 and 10/21/04, New York on 9/2/04, and Florida on 10/20/04. [Bush-Cheney Campaign Schedule, Georewbush.com]

Not the First Time: Abramoff Involved In Conspiracy To Defraud Clients

Ralph Reed Paid Millions By Scanlon and Abramoff To Rally Support To Close Casino. During an ongoing investigation involving Jack Abramoff, Michael Scanlon and Ralph Reed, The Washington Post obtained emails showing the trio manipulating a Texas Casino for millions of dollars. "The e-mails reveal how closely Abramoff and Scanlon worked in tandem with Reed, whose longtime opposition to casino gambling and his connections to churches made him a powerful ally in Texas's effort to shut down the Tigua casino that Cornyn said was operating illegally. Reed was paid $4.2 million by Abramoff and Scanlon for his work opposing several tribal casinos in southern states from 2001 to 2003, government sources said." [Washington Post, 8/30/04]

Once Reed Had Successfully Helped Close The Casino, Abramoff and Scanlon Offered The Tribe Its Lobbying Services At A Hefty Price. According to emails between Reed, Abramoff and Scanlon obtained by The Washington Post, Reed "built public support for then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn's effort get the courts to close the Tigua tribe's Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso in late 2001 and early 2002. The e-mails also reveal what appears to be an effort on the part of Abramoff and Scanlon to then exploit the financial crisis they were helping to create for the tribe by securing both the multimillion-dollar fee and $300,000 in federal political contributions, which the tribe paid." [Washington Post, 9/26/04]

Reed, Abramoff and Scanlon Took Millions From Casino They Quietly Worked To Shut Down. The Washington Post reports that Ralph Reed, Michael Scanlon and Jack Abramoff worked with then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn to help shut down the Tigua tribe's Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso. "Then the two (Scanlon and Abramoff) quickly persuaded the tribe to pay $4.2 million to try to get Congress to reopen it." [Washington Post, 9/26/04]

Abramoff Promised Senators Would Help Re-open Casino; Neglected To Mention He and Scanlon Paid Reed To Help Shut It Down. Abramoff contacted the Tigua Tribe within 10 days of the tribe losing its casino. He promised he had the backing of Senators that would push Congress to help re-open the casino. "What he did not reveal was that he and Scanlon had been paying Reed, an avowed foe of gambling, to encourage public support for Cornyn's effort to close two Indian casinos in Texas." [Washington Post, 9/26/04]

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Des Moines Register - Nuke Option Powered by Presidential Ambition

Washington, DC - Over the weekend, Des Moines Register political columnist and veteran White House primary handicapper David Yepsen exposed the truth about the Senate GOP leadership's zeal for the nuclear option: the move is little more than a desperate attempt to curry favor with right-wing activists for their fledgling 2008 Presidential ambitions.

"A powerful group of leading [Iowa] state Republicans and social conservatives sent a letter last week to 'potential presidential candidates' telling them, in effect, that any GOP senator with presidential aspirations who doesn't support ending judicial filibusters will face consequences in the 2008 caucuses...

"We don't have political bosses in Iowa, but in the GOP the signers of this letter come close. Their decision to take a hard-line stance on this could deny their party the sort of centrist nominee who might fare well in a general election. But, then, centrism seems out these days in campaigns, replaced by the politics of 'firing up the base' of your most zealous followers.

"At a minimum, the signers and their organizations could make life quite miserable in Iowa for a Republican presidential candidate unwilling to back Bush on the filibuster question."

To read Yepsen's entire Sunday column, click here.

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May 20, 2005

Declaraci

Washington, DC – El Gob. Howard Dean, Presidente del Comit� Nacional Dem�crata, emiti� la siguiente declaraci�n en conmemoraci�n del d�a de la independencia de Cuba:

"Nos unimos a Cubanos alrededor del mundo conmemorando la independencia de Cuba de Espa�a. El gran patriota y autor Jose Mart�, padre de la independencia cubana, escribi� que 'el hombre ama la libertad, aunque no sepa que la ama, y anda empujado de ella y huyendo de donde no la halla'. Al conmemorar el d�a de la independencia que Mart� ayud� a fomentar, el Partido Dem�crata permanece firmemente comprometido a apurar el fin del regimen de Castro, para que un d�a el pueblo cubano pueda de nuevo participar en la gloria de la libertad que todos amamos."

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Gov. Dean Statement Commemorating Cuban Independence Day

Washington, DC – Gov. Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement commemorating Cuban Independence Day.

"We join Cubans around the world today in commemorating Cuba's independence from Spain. The great patriot and author Jose Mart�, father of Cuban independence, wrote that 'man loves liberty, even if he does not know that he loves it, and he is driven by it and flees from where it does not exist.' As we commemorate the independence day Mart� helped bring about, the Democratic Party stands firmly committed to hastening the end of the Castro regime, so that one day the Cuban people may once again bask in the glory of the freedom we all love."

Declaraci�n del Gob. Dean Conmemorando el D�a de la Independencia de Cuba

Washington, DC – El Gob. Howard Dean, Presidente del Comit� Nacional Dem�crata, emiti� la siguiente declaraci�n en conmemoraci�n del d�a de la independencia de Cuba:

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Republicans Go Nuclear on the Judicial Branch

The Republicans effort to strong-arm the Senate into ending the filibuster is unprecedented. They are demanding a power no president has ever had, and they're willing to break the Senate rules to do it. And even as Republican Senators and activists are touting the importance of the judiciary, they continue to recklessly attack the judicial branch, and make imprudent comments about other Senators.

Senators Go Over the Top Against Democrats

Santorum Compares Democratic Colleagues to Hitler. "The audacity of some members to stand up and say, how dare you break this rule. It's the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 saying, "I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me. How dare you bomb my city? It's mine." [Santorum Address, 5/19/05]

Frist Said Democrats Were Attempting to "Assassinate Judges". "The issue is not cloture votes per say. It's the partisan leadership led use of cloture vote to kill, to defeat, to assassinate these nominees." [Frist Address, 5/18/05]

Republicans Go Over the Top On Judges

Cornyn: Courthouse Violence Is Attributable To Political Decisions Made By Courts. "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. . . . And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence." [Washington Post, 4/5/05]

DeLay: Judges Will Have To Answer For Their Behavior. "This loss [Schiavo] happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change," DeLay said. "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today," he said, referring to the judges. [LA Times, 4/1/05]

King: "We Have the Constitutional Authority To Eliminate" Courts. "We have the constitutional authority to eliminate any and all inferior courts," he said, referring to district and circuit courts. King said some federal judges refuse to answer questions from Congress unless they are being impeached, so "that may force our hand." [Washington Post, 4/7/05]

Social Conservative Calls For Judicial Reform "Showdown." "I think this is going to set the stage for an eventual showdown between the branches of government," said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council. "This tragic event just brings it to a climax." [Washington Times, 3/25/05]

Coburn Chief of Staff: Should Impeach Judges. "'I am in favor of impeachment,' Michael Schwartz, chief of staff to Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, said in a panel discussion on abortion, suggesting 'mass impeachment' might be needed." [New York Times, 4/8/05]

Conservative Activist Called Judiciary Independence "Oligarchy." Dr. Rick Scarborough, president of the conservative group Vision America, called on Congress "to protect us from an overactive judiciary," saying: "Right now they are ruling as an oligarchy. They are the kings of the land." [New York Times, 4/8/05]

Perkins Veiled Threat to Sitting Judges. "'There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to take a black robe off the bench,' said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, according to an audiotape of a March 17 session."[Los Angeles Times, 4/22/05]

Dobson Called for the "Disenfranchisement of Courts." "'Very few people know this, that the Congress can simply disenfranchise a court,' Dobson said. 'They don't have to fire anybody or impeach them or go through that battle. All they have to do is say the 9th Circuit doesn't exist anymore, and it's gone.'" [Los Angeles Times, 4/22/05]

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Bankrupt: Social Security or Bush's Argument?

Washington, DC - Yesterday while making remarks in Milwaukee, President Bush again distorted the facts on Social Security by saying that young workers were "paying into a bankrupt system." But, nearly all analysts agree that this is simply untrue.

"The only thing bankrupt about Social Security is Bush's rationale for privatizing it," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "The more President Bush's plan continues to tank, the taller his tales become. Democrats are committed to finding a real solution to strengthen Social Security and the American people deserve the truth from their President when he's discussing something as important as their retirement."

IS SOCIAL SECURITY REALLY GOING BANKRUPT?

RHETORIC

Yesterday in Milwaukee, George Bush added a new line to his stump speech, telling younger workers they were throwing their money away when he said:

"Now, if you're a senior you have nothing to worry about because it's got plenty of money for you. But if you're a young worker, a young entrepreneur, a young mom paying into the system, you're paying into a bankrupt system unless the United States Congress decides to act." [Bush, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 5/19/2005]

The White House is using this argument to justify their proposal to radically overhaul Social Security, a proposal which includes benefit cuts of almost 50 percent and forces the U.S. government to borrow an additional $5 trillion dollars from foreign countries.

REALITY

But is what the White House says true? Here's what David Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States, has to say:

"Does Social Security have a financing problem? Yes. Will Social Security ever go bust? No."
[USA Today, 1/27/05]

And here's why:

*The Social Security Trust Fund is running a surplus, and will have enough money for another 50 years. Social Security now runs a surplus, raising more in taxes than it pays in benefits. In 2018, the Trust Fund will start paying out more in benefits then it collects in taxes and will need to begin drawing on its interest earnings and reserves to help pay for benefits. But according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the reserves in the Social Security Trust Fund won't be depleted until 2052.

*And even after 2052, the system won't be "bankrupt." Even after 2052, the tax dollars from workers will still be coming in to pay benefits for retirees, and will cover 80 percent of the cost of the benefits retirees were promised. Because Social Security will always have money coming in, it can never go bankrupt.

*In this case, the Republican cure is worse than the disease. Republicans tell us that the potential for a 20 percent reduction in benefits is a "crisis" facing Social Security. But their plan to fix the "crisis" would guarantee a cut in benefits for 70 percent of workers! Democrats want to address the challenge facing Social Security. But the Republican plan would only make the problem worse.

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Pew Poll: Bush Approval Ratings Sinking

Washington, DC - A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and Press found that President Bush's approval rating has plummeted to only 43 percent. These low approval ratings are being driven by negative marks with regard to the President's handling of the economy (only 35 percent approve), Iraq (only 37 percent approve) and Social Security (only 29 percent approve). According to the Pew report, opinions of Bush's "handling of the economy are now the biggest factor influencing his overall rating." [The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, Country Losing Ground on Most National Problems: Economy, Iraq Weighing Down Bush Popularity, 5/19/05]

"This poll is simply more proof that the American people are expressing their dissatisfaction with President Bush's handling of nearly every important issue," said DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney. "The Bush Administration has repeatedly failed to address the everyday economic problems facing average Americans, and he's suffering as a result."

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May 19, 2005

Americans Unhappy with GOP Congress

Washington, DC – Two new polls indicate that Americans are losing faith in the GOP-controlled Congress. A recent Pew Survey found that only 35 percent of Americans approved of the performance of the Republicans in Congress; these ratings are comparable to poll results taken in 1994 when the then-majority Democrats lost 52 House seats and 8 Senate seats. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll provides further evidence that Americans are fed up.

"Clearly the Republicans aren't fooling anyone, the American people see this arrogant power grab for what it is, a reckless diversion from doing the people's business, " said DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney. "Democrats want to get back to work. Come the next election, voters will remember who is to blame for skyrocketing healthcare costs, high gas prices and a failed foreign policy."

Pew Survey: Low Marks for Congressional Republicans; Similar to '94, When Not a Single GOP Incumbent Lost. "A Pew survey released this week found that 39% of Americans gave positive marks to Democrats in Congress, with 41% disapproving of them. For congressional Republicans, the results were bleaker. Of those polled, 35% said they approved of the GOP's performance, with 50% disapproving." The Los Angeles Times also noted that, "public polling just before the GOP landslide in 1994 showed both parties receiving low marks for their performance in Congress that year, comparable to their weak ratings in the recent Pew survey. And in 1994 only the majority Democrats paid a price, losing 52 House seats and eight in the Senate." [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/05]

WSJ/NBC News Poll: Americans Fed Up with GOP Congress. "A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows that disapproval of Congress's performance is higher than it has been since 1994, the year voters swept Democrats out of power on Capitol Hill. Americans have grown gloomier about the nation's direction, the economy and Iraq, and by 65%-17% they say Congress doesn't share their priorities." The poll found that, "While the survey contains warning signs for members of both parties, it is especially problematic for Republicans as the party in power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue," and "shows that the greatest erosion in congressional approval has occurred among self-described Republicans." Furthermore, "Just 42% of Americans say their representative deserves to be re-elected, while a 45% plurality calls it time for someone new. When Americans are asked which party they want to control Congress after the 2006 elections, Democrats hold a 47%-40% edge -- the party's best showing since the Journal/NBC survey began asking that question in 1994." [Wall Street Journal, 5/19/05]

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Bob Novak: Never In History Has One Man Been So Wrong, So Many Times, In Front of So Many People

Washington, DC - Bob Novak, conservative columnist and commentator, recently wrote yet another blatantly partisan column attacking DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean. In his column Novak attacks Dean for his "misstatements," and leaps to the defense of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is currently under investigation. However, close examination of Novak's record shows that he has on many occasions uttered what one only hopes are misstatements.

"We must be doing something right if Bob Novak feels the need to come to Tom DeLay's rescue. All we ask is that he remember to use the correct facts," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney.

NOVAK HAD TO CORRECT HIS MISSTATEMENTS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION

NOVAK GETTING IT WRONG: [T]hey've got to really get Howard under control. He spoke at Cornell University last week, and the only paper that covered this was "The Cornell Daily" student paper, and he said, yes, Social Security has a big problem. .... The Democratic line is there is no problem. [CNN, 2/28/05]

NOVAK CORRECTING HIMSELF: Yes, on Monday, I said -- I misspoke myself. I said that the new Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean had said in a speech at Cornell University that the Social Security fund in 30 years would be 80 -- would lose 80 percent of its value." [CNN, 3/4/05]

MORE "INTEMPERATE LANGUAGE" NOVAK SHOULD FIND TIME TO CORRECT

Novak Compared Senate Filibusters to Holocaust. In an interview on CNN, Bob Novak compared Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's rejection of a Democratic compromise on the nuclear option to the Holocaust.

HUNT: Bob, why would Senator Frist refuse an offer [by Reid] to break the deadlock?
NOVAK: Because the whole system is that you're not going to have -- like going to a concentration camp and picking out which people go to the death chamber. [CNN, 5/14/05]

Novak Decried Inauguration Protestors as "Hooligans". In another CNN appearance, Bob Novak called inauguration protestors "hooligans" and "punks", and said he was "sick of" them.

NOVAK: But I just have to say that this partisanship by the Democrats is just -- and people like you, Mark [Shields], can't appreciate just how nasty they are that they were all over the television, all over the town in the last week saying it's terrible to have this inauguration. Let it alone. And what I'm really sick of are the protesters. They just are a lot of punks and it's none of their business and it isn't free speech. It's just nastiness, and I'm sick of it.
MARK SHIELDS: I am sorry, Bob, but I mean, dissent is the lifeblood of democracy -- dissent and debate.
NOVAK: That isn't dissent and debate. It is hooliganism. [CNN, 1/22/05]

Novak Asserted that "Indians Stole the Election" in South Dakota. In yet another Novak rant, he charged that "Indians stole the election" in the 2002 Senate race.

HUNT: ... against Tim Johnson. He proved he's really an empty suit.
SHIELDS: Margaret, go ahead.
NOVAK: Because the Indians stole the election... [CNN, 10/30/04]

Novak Printed the Name of an Undercover CIA Operative. In a 2003 column Bob Novak printed the name of Valerie Plame and identified her as a CIA operative. Plame was the wife of Ambassador Joe Wilson, whom was speaking out against the Bush Administration's assertion that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Novak's printing of Plame's identity appeared to be an attempt to discredit Wilson. [CNN, 9/28/03]

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is Wrong for Women

Washington, DC – In the same week that the World Economic Forum issued its Gender Gap Report ranking the United States below three former Soviet republics, First Lady Laura Bush will address the Geneva based international organization during her visit to the Middle East. The First Lady, who is expected to reinforce the commitment of the United States to promoting freedom and supporting women and girls across the Middle East, will have to balance her words with the reality of Bush administration policies that have failed women and girls all across the United States.

"W is clearly not for women," said Mame Reiley, Chair of the DNC's Women's Caucus, "the Bush administration's policies -- in opposition of equal pay for equal work, against funding for much needed child care programs, rolling back Title IX, in favor of judges hostile to women's rights, and wrong on a woman's freedom to choose and to make personal decisions about her own health care – have widened the gender gap in the United States. If gender equality is good enough for the women of the Middle East, it should be good enough for women in America."

According to the Associated Press, "the World Economic Forum's report also singled out the United States for criticism, saying it lagged behind many Western European nations." Despite having the world's largest economy, the United States was ranked 17th because of a lack of maternity leave benefits, high young female unemployment compared to young male unemployment, high adolescent fertility and low representation of women in politics. The report can be found on the World Economic Forum's website at www.weforum.org/gendergap.

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How Low Can He Go? Santorum Compares Colleagues to Hitler

Washington, DC - In response to Senator Rick Santorum's comments late this afternoon on the floor of the United States Senate, DNC Spokesman Josh Earnest issued the following statement:

"Apparently breaking 200-year-old rules and detonating our nation's system of checks and balances is not low enough for Rick Santorum. This afternoon, he stooped even lower and compared his colleagues in the Senate to Adolf Hitler. Santorum should stop these reckless partisan attacks and focus on the issues that Americans care about like rising gas prices and skyrocketing health care costs."

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May 18, 2005

Declaraci

Phoenix, AZ – El Gob. Howard Dean, Presidente del Comit� Nacional Dem�crata, emiti� el siguiente comunicado hoy felicitando a Antonio Villaraigosa por haber sido elegido alcalde de la Ciudad de Los Angeles:

"Felicito al Alcalde-electo Antonio Villaraigosa por su triunfo en la Ciudad de Los Angeles. Los angelinos han escogido sabiamente a los Dem�cratas para conducir su ciudad durante las �timas dos elecciones para alcalde, y Antonio sin duda les har� sentir orgullosos. Cualquier diferencia que hayan tenido los Dem�cratas en la campa�a para alcalde es peque�a comparada a lo que tenemos en com�n. Antonio ser� el primer alcalde Latino de la Ciudad de Los Angeles desde 1872, pero su triunfo seguramente celebrar� y unir� la diversidad total de la segunda ciudad m�s grande de los Estados Unidos."

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Record Prices, Record Profits

Record Prices...

Since Bush's 2nd Inauguration, Gas Prices Have Risen 32 Cents-a 17 Percent Increase. According to the Energy Information Administration, the price of regular, unleaded, gasoline has risen by 32 cents, or 17.4 percent, since Bush's 2nd inauguration. On January 17, 2005, just before Bush's 2nd inauguration the average price of gasoline was $1.84 a gallon. As of May 16, 2005, the average price of gasoline is $2.16 per gallon. [Energy Information Administration, www.eia.doe.gov]

Since Bush's 1st Inauguration, Gas Prices Have Risen 70 Cents-a 48 Percent Increase. According the Energy Information Administration, the price of regular, unleaded, gasoline has risen by 70 cents, or 47.9 percent, since Bush's 1st inauguration. On January 15, 2001 just before Bush's first inauguration the average price of gasoline was $1.46 a gallon. As of May 16, 2005, the average price of gasoline is $2.16 per gallon. [Energy Information Administration, www.eia.doe.gov]

...And Record Profits

Oil Companies Experienced Record $100 Billion in Profits During 2004. According to the New York Times, "Even though the market values of target companies are near their record highs, that is matched by record profits and cash on hand at big oil companies. With crude oil averaging $41 a barrel in 2004, the world's top 10 oil companies made more than $100 billion in profit [in 2004]. The boom is expected to grow this year. Oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange set a new record [on April 4], rising above $58 a barrel for the first time." [NYT, 4/5/05]

Big Oil Companies Have Experienced Record Profits of Nearly $34 Billion Since Bush Took Office. The higher overall gasoline prices have cost the American consumer a net of over $25 billion during Bush's first term in office. This money has gone directly from consumers' pocketbooks into the hands of oil companies and oil producers, including OPEC. The big three oil companies in America have profited $33.6 billion over the past three years alone. [Based on EIA Monthly Energy Review; ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco and ConocoPhillips Company Financial Reports]

2004 Profits for ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, and ConocoPhillips Broke Records Across All Industries-Not Just the Oil Industry. According to the Washington Post, "Oil companies reported record profits last year-and not just records for oil companies. Royal Dutch Shell earned $18.54 billion, while BP lagged behind with a net income of $15.73 billion, a company best. ExxonMobil broke the U.S. record by reporting a 2004 profit of $25.33 billion, taking the title away from Ford. ConocoPhillips's profit for the year rose 72 percent, while ChevronTexaco's grew 84 percent." Exxon's 2004 revenues were a company record: $298.03 billion. In February, Exxon surpassed General Electric Co. to become the largest U.S. corporation by stock market value. [Washington Post, 2/13/05; Associated Press, 4/13/05]

...And Record CEO Salaries

ExxonMobil CEO Received $38 Million in Bonuses, Despite Soaring Oil Prices. According to the Associated Press, "Buoyed by high oil prices, ExxonMobil Corp. had a record-breaking year in 2004 and chairman and chief executive Lee R. Raymond shared in the company's success with a $38 million compensation package... Exxon said that Raymond, 66, was paid $7.5 million in salary and bonus plus restricted stock worth $28 million and nearly $2.6 million more in other compensation and incentives, according to Exxon's proxy filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission." [AP, 4/13/05]

ChevronTexaco CEO Received Nearly $10 Million in Bonuses and Stock Options. According to the Los Angeles Times, "ChevronTexaco Corp. Chief Executive David O'Reilly's compensation rose 2.2 percent last year to $9.98 million as soaring oil and fuel prices boosted profit at the second-biggest U.S. oil company." O'Reilly's salary rose 15 percent to $1.51 million; his bonus climbed 25 percent to $3.95 million; and he received options valued at $3.48 million. Other compensation, including payouts of vested performance shares and use of the company's aircraft, totaled $1.05 million. [Los Angeles Times, 3/22/05; Securities and Exchange Commission, ChevronTexaco Proxy Statement]

...And Record Stock Prices

ConocoPhillips Stock Has Increased by 75 Percent Since Bush Took Office. In addition to record profits during 2004, the stock price for ConocoPhillips increased by more than 75 percent since Bush took office. ConocoPhillips' stock rose to $96.78 per share on May 16, 2005 from $55.25 per share on January 19, 2001-and increase of more than 75 percent. This increase was in contrast of the fact that the Dow actually decreased during this same period by 335.3 points- more than 3 percent. ConocoPhillips' stock has increased by nearly 12 percent in the past five-and-a-half months alone. [Yahoo Finance]

Archie W. Dunham, Chairman of ConocoPhillips, is a Bush Pioneer. Archie W. Dunham, Chairman of ConocoPhillips, was a Bush Pioneer in 2000, pledging to raise $100,000 for the Bush-Cheney campaign. "I think we're going to have a super year," said Dunham. [Tulsa World, 4/29/04; Texans for Public Justice]

Republicans Are Pushing Special-Interest Energy Bill that Will Not Reduce Gas Prices...

Bush's Own Energy Information Administration Found the Bush Plan Wouldn't Impact Prices. A February 2004 analysis by the Energy Information Administration of the 2003 compromise energy bill-nearly identical to the current bill-found the price of oil and the level of imports would be "negligible" with or without that energy bill, all the way through 2025. According to the New York Times, Bush "advisers caution that the [Bush energy] plan would do little to address the escalating gasoline prices." [Investor's Business Daily, 3/23/05; EIA, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp; New York Times, 5/10/01]

Former Tom DeLay Aide Admits Energy Bill Will Not Solve Gas Price Problem; Only Gives Appearance of Doing Something. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Politically, it doesn't matter if such provisions deal with the long term, said [Stuart Roy, Republican strategist and former aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. ‘The most important thing for policy makers in the current environment of relatively high gas prices and the approaching summer travel months is action.'" [LA Times, 4/16/05]

...Because Republicans Are in Oil Companies' Pockets

REPUBLICAN PARTY: Oil and Gas Industry Contributed Nearly $67 Million to Republicans Since 2000. The oil and gas industry has contributed over $66.7 million to the RNC, NRCC, NRSC, and Republican candidates since the 2000 election cycle. The oil and gas industry contributed more than $20 million to Republicans in the 2004 cycle alone-four times more than oil money donated to Democrats. In 2004, Exxon alone gave 831,941 to Republicans. [Center for Responsive Politics]

DELAY: Energy Industry PACs Are DeLay's Second Largest Contributors: DeLay has raised nearly $830,000 from energy industry PACs, the 2nd-largest contributing special interest group to DeLay's campaigns over the course of his career. [www.tray.com]

BARTON: House Energy Chairman And Close DeLay Associate, Joe Barton, Received $1.8 Million in Contributions from Energy Industry. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which recently passed the energy bill. According to the Washington Post, "If Barton gets his way and succeeds in passing this year's energy bill, there is little doubt that the oil and gas, coal, and nuclear industries will have much to celebrate... Barton and President Bush... have dipped heavily into the same rich pool of campaign contributions from corporate and trade associations, according to a review of campaign finance and lobbying records. Since 1997, oil, gas, electricity, nuclear, coal and chemical companies have contributed $1.84 million to Barton, more than to any other House member." [WP, 4/14/05]

Barton Owes Chairmanship to Energy Industry Lobbyists. The Washington Post reported, "In his quest for the chairmanship... A network of former Barton staff members-turned-lobbyists-including Jeffery M. MacKinnon (clients: Reliant Energy, Philip Morris, MCI and at least 36 others), Stephen Sayle (American Chemical Council, AT&T and 19 others) and Stephen Waguespack (Duke Energy, Ford Motor Co. and eight others)-worked the crucial corporate and trade association community on Barton's behalf." [Washington Post, 4/14/05]

...And Bush Is In the Oil Companies' Pockets

Energy Bill Rewards Bush Fundraisers. According to the Washington Post, the 2004 Republican energy bill, nearly identical to the current one, provided billions of dollars in benefits to companies run by at least 22 executives and their spouses who were either "Pioneers" or "Rangers," as well as to the clients of at least 15 lobbyists and their spouses who have achieved similar status as fundraisers. The energy bill provides industry tax breaks worth $23.5 billion over 10 years aimed at increasing domestic oil and gas production, and $5.4 billion in subsidies and loan guarantees. [WP, 11/24/03]

In 2004, 13 Pioneers and Ranger Were From The Oil and Gas Industry. 13 members of the oil and gas industry were either Pioneers, who pledged to raise $100,000 for the Bush Campaign, or Rangers, who raised $200,000 for the Bush campaign in 2004. [www.whitehouseforsale.org; Washington Post, 4/14/05]

In 2000 Election Cycle, 66 of Bush's Pioneers Were Members of the Energy and Natural Resources Industry. According to Texans for Public Justice, 66 of Bush's Pioneers in 2000-who each raised at least $100,000 for Bush-were from the energy and natural resources industry. Five of those Pioneers, including Edison Electric Institute President Thomas Kuhn, were named to Bush's Energy Transition team. [www.whitehouseforsale.org; Texans for Public Justice]

The Oil and Gas Industry Is One of Bush's Largest Career Donors. The oil and gas industry ranked 12th among career contributions to George W. Bush. In 2000, the oil and gas industry ranked 8th in the top industry contributions. In 2004, the oil and gas industry ranked 15th in the top industry contributions. [Center for Responsive Politics]

...And the Bush Administration Is Filled with People from Big Oil

"Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States."

–Dick Cheney, October 1986.

Oil & Gas Industry Was Cheney's Biggest Donor in 1988. In 1988, Cheney's last congressional race, the oil and gas industry gave Cheney $27,500 in PAC money, Cheney's largest donor that year. [Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org]

Cheney Personally Profited from Rising Gas Prices in 2000. Vice President Cheney sold his stock in Halliburton in June 2000 for $5.1 million and his stock increased $1.4 million in value due to rising gas and oil prices that drove up the value of Halliburton stock. In August 2000, Cheney exercised stock options and sold 660,000 shares between Aug. 21 and 28, 2000 for $35 million; Halliburton shares were soaring because of high oil prices. Cheney made an $18.5 million profit selling his shares for more than $52 each in August 2000. [Washington Post, 7/16/02; Associated Press, 7/25/00; Boston Globe, 7/25/00]

Condoleezza Rice Served on Chevron's Board; Chevron Gave More Than $858,000 to GOP, Bush. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice served on the board of directors for Chevron, a major U.S. oil company from 1991-2001. Chevron named an oil tanker in her honor. During 1999-2000 Chevron gave GOP candidates and committees $758,588 – $534,550 to GOP committees and $224,038 to Republican Congressional candidates. Chevron employees gave $100,000 to the Bush inaugural fund. [www.crp.org; Hart's Africa Oil and Gas, 1/29/01]

Interior Secretary Gale Norton Worked for Anti-Environment, Corporate Backed Legal Foundations, Raised Money From Oil, Gas Interests. Norton was a prominent member of the Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) which pursued "aggressive litigation against environmental protections, an agenda to pay polluters to obey the law, an effort to dismantle the Endangered Species Act, and a campaign to deny the seriousness of air pollution and the existence of global warming," according to the Friends of the Earth. In 1977, its first year of operation, MSLF received donations from over 175 corporations including Exxon, Amoco, Phillips 66, Marathon Oil, Ford Motor Company and Chevron. [USA Today, 1/2/01; Friends of the Earth release, U.S. Newswire, 1/2/01; AP, 7/13/98; Environmental News Network, 1/9/01; www.crp.org]

Big Oil Was Norton's Second-Largest Campaign Contributor. In 1996 Norton ran for the U.S. Senate in Colorado and raised $28,570 from the oil and gas companies, the second largest total from any industry. [www.crp.org]

Chief of Staff Andrew Card Earned $600,000 Lobbying for GM, Auto Trade Association. Before serving as White House Chief of Staff, Andrew Card had been GM's chief lobbyist for more than a year earning $600,000 a year in salary. Card was also CEO of the now-defunct trade group, the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. The AAMA spent more than $12 million on lobbying in 1997-1998 to fight Japan over trade issues and lobby against stricter fuel emissions standards. As a policy fellow for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Card testified before Congress against the "Passengers' Bill of Rights" for the airline industry. [www.crp.org; PR Newswire, 9/16/93; Roll Call, 1/22/01; National Journal, 5/8/99]

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DNC Chair Howard Dean Statement on the Election of Antonio Villaraigosa as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles

Phoenix, AZ – Gov. Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement today congratulating Antonio Villaraigosa on being elected Mayor of the City of Los Angeles:

"I congratulate Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa for his victory in the City of Los Angeles. Angelenos have wisely chosen Democrats to lead their great City in the last two mayoral elections, and Antonio will no doubt make them proud. Whatever differences Democrats may have had in the mayoral race are small compared to what we have in common. Antonio will serve as the first Latino Mayor of the City of Los Angeles since 1872, but his victory is sure to celebrate and unite the full diversity of America's second largest city."

Declaraci�n del Presidente del Partido Dem�crata Howard Dean Sobre la Elecci�n de Antonio Villaraigosa como Alcalde de la Ciudad de Los Angeles

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Senate Democratic Leader Reid Discusses Nuclear Option, Republican Abuse of Power

Washington, DC - This morning, during a DNC conference call with thousands of activists, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid called upon Republican Senators to stop their partisan power grab. Reid spoke about the Republican Leadership's attempt to erase 200 years of Senate history and destroy our tradition of checks and balances to put their slate of radical judges on the federal bench.

"It's the most important issue I've dealt with in my many, many years of public service," said Senator Reid. "The Republicans are drunk with power. The President doesn't want 96 percent of his judicial nominees—he wants everyone one of them. He thinks the constitutional provisions regarding checks and balances, separate but equal branches of government, are meaningless, and he is going to move forward with this power grab."

DNC Chairman Howard Dean commented on the committee's second activist briefing. "I grateful to Senate Democratic Leader Reid for taking the time to talk directly to our supporters about the Republican assault on the Senate rules," he said. "Republicans want to abuse their power to put extremist judges on the federal bench. This power grab must be stopped."

This call was the second in a series of issue briefing conference calls with activists and grassroots supporters, organized by the Democratic National Committee.

To listen to the conference call click here.

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Bill Frist and Tony Perkins: A Marriage of Convenience

When Tony Perkins ran for Senate, he wasn't Bill Frist's first pick. In fact, under Frist's leadership, the NRSC endorsed a different candidate. And Perkins finished fourth in the 2002 race, with only 10 percent of the vote. But according to FEC filings, Frist recently had a change of heart. In December of 2004, two years after the race ended, Frist donated $5,000 to the Louisiana Senate campaign of Tony Perkins. The donation was made after Perkins had firmly established himself as one of the most important figures in the Christian Conservative movement as President of the Family Research Council, a right wing group. [Roll Call, 9/9/02,5/17/05]

WHAT DID FRIST GET OUT OF THIS DONATION?

A Chance to Speak to All Those Conservative Checkbooks on "Justice Sunday"?
Frist Spoke at Family Research Council's "Justice Sunday" Event on Judicial Filibuster. "Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's decision to take part today in 'Justice Sunday,' an event organized by evangelical Christians to highlight what they say is the Democrats' use of filibusters 'against people of faith,' signals that the 2008 Republican presidential contest is already under way. With his participation in tonight's event at a mega-church in Louisville, Ky., Frist is putting down an important marker with a key Republican constituency and trying to protect the issue his Senate leadership may ultimately be judged on - ending the use of filibusters to block Senate consideration of judicial nominees." [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/24/05]

Some Gushing from Mr. Perkins?
Perkins praised Frist's "cooperation" immediately after donation. "Since becoming council president in September 2003, Perkins has made a major effort to cement ties with GOP congressional leaders. One surprise, he said, has been the incredible cooperation provided by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who backed one of Perkins' GOP opponents, Suzanne Haik Terrell, in the 2002 U.S. Senate campaign" [New Orleans Times-Picayune, 1/24/2005]

Perkins Praised Frist as "Real Man of Character." "'He's a man of real character and compassion and unique leadership,' Mr. Perkins said. 'I really believe he's trying to do the right thing in the way he's leading the U.S. Senate.'" [Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee), 4/23/05]

Or a Rock Bottom Price on the Phone List of KKK Leader David Duke?
Family Research Council's Perkins Purchased Avowed KKK Leader's Phone List. In 1996, while running Woody Jenkins' failed Senate Bid, Perkins signed a contract for $82,500 to purchase a phone bank connected to David Duke. The Jenkins campaign was later fined for attempting to conceal the purchase from elections officials. [AP, 10/25/02]

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May 17, 2005

Bush's Broken Promises On Global AIDS

Today, President Bush is posing for a photo-op on global AIDS, but President Mandela has heard Bush's promises on global AIDS before. Bush has promised $15 billion to combat the pandemic only to block efforts to provide affordable generic treatments, and try to cut funding for the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

BUSH HAS BROKEN HIS PROMISES ON GLOBAL AIDS

144 vs. 1: Cheney Intervened to Block Generic Drugs to Poor Nations. In December 2002, the Bush administration was the sole country to reject a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement that would allow poor nations to import drugs to help their citizens suffering from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other deadly diseases. According to the Guardian, Vice President Dick Cheney "seized the reins" from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and squashed the deal after intense lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry. In a letter to Zoellick, the deans of several major U.S. medical schools said the administration's position came, "to the detriment of millions of people suffering from diseases throughout the world." [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/02/03; The Guardian, 12/21/02; Washington Post, 12/21/02]

Bush Administration Still Delaying Introduction of Generic Drugs After Five Years. After months of stonewalling an agreement to provide generic medicines to poor and developing countries, the U.S. made concessions in August 2003 to allow a WTO agreement to take place. But in the continuing negotiations over the agreement, the U.S. is demanding exclusive access for brand-name drugs that would delay availability of cheaper generic drugs for five years. Unsurprisingly, deputy vice president Mark Grayson of the drug industry trade association PhRMA stated that they had a "collaborative relationship" with U.S. trade negotiators in the talks. [Washington Post, 8/31/03; Wall Street Journal, 7/6/04]

Bush Short of Needed Funding for Fighting Global HIV/AIDS Three Straight Years. Bush requested $2.8 billion for fighting global HIV/AIDS in 2005 and $2 billion in 2004, falling behind in his commitment to provide $15 billion over 5 years to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide. In his 2006 budget, Bush provided $3.2 billion. However, HIV/AIDS advocates say that the budget proposal "falls short" because Congress had authorized up to $3.8 billion for these programs. [CQ Today, 3/10/04, 2/2/04; Reuters, 1/22/05]

Bush Administration Slow To Distribute Funds For AIDS Initiative. In January 2003, Bush pledged to spend $15 billion over five years to fight AIDS and HIV. But the first round of grants were not announced until February 2004 - over a year later. Rather than contribute to the international Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the administration insisted on creating a new bureaucracy to oversee the unilateral Bush initiative that delayed badly need assistance. [New York Times Editorial, 2/16/04]

Bush Repeatedly Tried to Cut Funding for Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Bush's proposed budgets had twice tried to cut our support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the UN lead initiative that serves more than 120 AIDS-afflicted countries (compared to the 15 targeted in Bush's bilateral initiative). His fiscal year 2004 budget tried to cut U.S. support of the Fund by 43 percent, his fiscal year 2005 budget tried to cut U.S. support by 64 percent, and his 2006 budget tried to cut U.S. support by 13 percent. These proposed cuts come at a time when international experts are reporting that the Fund's needs are dramatically increasing. [Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial, 6/23/04; American Prospect, April 2003; LA Times, 7/7/04; Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet, 2/05]

Bush Administration Dramatically Reduced Participation in 2004 International AIDS Conference. The Bush administration Health and Human Services (HHS) Department cut funding for the 2004 international AIDS conference by 86 percent ($3.1 million) and reduced official participation by 187 persons (79 percent). The reduced U.S. participation forced the cancellation of dozens of presentations including many designed to train AIDS researchers in developing nations and foster international cooperation. Officials within HHS told the Washington Post that the cuts are political retaliation for an incident at the 2002 conference where AIDS activists booed Secretary of Health Thompson for the U.S.'s failure to address the global AIDS crisis. [Washington Post, 7/9/04]

MANDELA URGES U.S. TO DO MORE TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Mandela Cited Apathetic Approach of U.S. and Europeans In Fighting HIV/AIDS. Former South African President Nelson Mandela said HIV/AIDS has become a "forgotten issue" and warned that sustainable development is not possible without first addressing the disease. "AIDS is very important precisely because it attacks the most economically active segment of the population. It can destroy a country's economy," Mandela said. Unlike leaders in some of the nations hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, Mandela didn't single out the U.S. for an apathetic approach to the pandemic. He took European nations to task over the issue, as well. [AIDS Policy and Law, 9/27/02]

Mandela Urged Action Rather Than Just Words In The Fight Against AIDS. "Unless we are able to follow what we say by doing something practical, to deal with this situation, our eloquence is less than useless." [NPR, Weekend Edition Sunday, 7/14/02]

Mandela and Clinton Urged Leaders To Fight AIDS. Two former presidents, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Bill Clinton of the United States, urged current heads of state and business executives to exert stronger leadership in galvanizing programs to stop the AIDS epidemic. "There is no doubt that strong leadership is the key to an effective response to the war on AIDS," Mr. Mandela said in closing the 14th International AIDS Conference. "Leadership starts at the top, and when the top person is committed, the response is much more effective," he said, his speech punctuated by repeated applause. [New York Times, 7/13/02]

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Chairman Thomas Defies Bush On Private Accounts

Washington, DC - Yesterday, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) broke ranks with the President and the Republican Leadership in Congress when he announced that President Bush's private accounts would not necessarily be included in his committee's Social Security legislation. This move came despite President Bush's repeated remarks that his accounts should be the centerpiece of any privatization plan.

"We applaud Chairman Thomas for acknowledging what the President would not, that private accounts don't solve the problem of long term solvency," said DNC spokesperson Josh Earnest. "Bush's plan for private accounts would slash benefits, add trillions to our national debt and hurt the solvency of the system. Democrats are committed to working with Republicans to find a real solution to strengthen Social Security."

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Thomas: Bush's Private Accounts Not Necessary. "The California Republican said a broad bill that would make Americans secure in retirement is more important than any particular provision, even the investment accounts Bush wants. Bush announced his support for the accounts in his State of the Union address in February and has traveled the country to stump for them. Speaking to reporters and editors from USA TODAY and Gannett News Service, Thomas said the accounts should not be the major focus of the debate on fixing Social Security." [USA Today, 5/17/05]

President Bush: Accounts are Essential. "I feel strongly that there needs to be voluntary personal savings accounts as a part of the Social Security system. I mean, it's got to be a part of a comprehensive package." [President Bust, Press Conference, 4/28/05]

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Chairman Dean's Statement On Brown v. Board of Education Anniversary

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement commemorating the 51st anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education:

"This case should be remembered as a shining moment in the history of our country, a landmark decision that rejected decades of discrimination and unequal access to America's educational system" said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "But, much of the work remains unfinished. Democrats will continue to fight for equality in our schools. Children across the country, regardless of who they are, where they live or their family's income, have the same right to a quality public education. President Bush prefers only half-measures when it comes to education. Parents want high standards and fair accountability for their children's schools, but they know that neither can be achieved without the proper tools and funding."

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May 16, 2005

Bush Being Dragged Down by Social Security Benefit Cut Plan

Washington, DC - Months after President Bush began his pitch to privatize Social Security, it has become clear that the public has taken a dim view of his scheme as well as his presidency more generally. New polling done by Time Magazine shows that a clear majority of Americans oppose the Bush administration's plans for Social Security, and less than half of the country approves of the President's overall performance. Americans are already facing insecurity in retirement with the loss of guaranteed benefits from private pensions, and now the White House wants to gamble with their Social Security.

"As Americans face increasing retirement insecurity, it is irresponsible for the President to break America's promise by replacing the guaranteed benefits of Social Security with the guaranteed gamble of privatization," said DNC Spokesman Josh Earnest.

Bush Approval Rating Drops; Americans Oppose White House Plans for Social Security. According to a new Time Magazine poll, President Bush's approval rating has dropped to 46%. The poll also found that 59% of Americans disapprove of his plans for Social Security. [Time Magazine, New York Daily News, 5/16/05]

American Companies No Longer Provide Secure Retirement Benefits. "Last week's court decision permitting United Airlines' parent to dump its pensions on the federal government is part of a sweeping trend that could make the nation's employers more competitive, but at the cost of leaving workers and their families bearing big new risks. In a nutshell, a broadening swath of corporate America is retreating from the safety-net business and is shifting responsibility to employees. Most U.S. companies have accomplished by other means much of what United Airlines did by defaulting on its pension obligations. … Employers of half of the workforce offer no retirement help whatsoever." [Los Angeles Times, 5/16/05]

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May 13, 2005

White House Moves Disability Benefits to The Chopping Block

Washington, DC - A day after the chief White House economist admitted that the Bush plan to privatize Social Security would include cuts to survivor benefits, the Bush administration also acknowledged that it would not protect disability benefits despite earlier assurances that these earned benefits would remain untouched. This is the latest trial balloon in the Bush administration's real plan to dismantle Social Security. The announcement may help explain why a new Harris poll found that only 36 percent of Americans think President Bush's "comments on saving and strengthening Social Security are his real motives for changing the program, while 49% believe his real agenda is to dismantle it."[Wall Street Journal, 5/13/05]

"For the second day in a row, the Bush administration has admitted that despite past assurances, they never intended to protect Social Security disability and survivor benefits,"said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "From steep benefit cuts for the middle class, to risky private accounts, and now no protections for disability or survivor benefits, it's becoming clearer every day that Bush's real plan is to dismantle Social Security.”

THEN

Bush: Disability Benefits Won't Be Cut. "[Bush] said he has no plans to cut benefits for the approximately 40 percent of Social Security recipients who collect monthly disability and survivor payments as he prepares his plan for partial privatization."[Washington Post, 1/16/05]

NOW

Bush Administration Won't Protect Disability Benefits. "Future Social Security retirement benefits for disabled workers is a matter for negotiations with Congress as it drafts solvency legislation, the Bush administration said Thursday, declining to say whether they should be raised, lowered or left unchanged. ‘Any plan that maintains current disability benefits will need to address the transition to retirement, and those details will be worked out through the legislative process,' said White House spokesman Trent Duffy."[AP, 5/13/05]

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The Friends You Keep: Who Were the Stars of Tom DeLay's Dinner Show?

Last night conservative leaders and corporate lobbyists rubbed elbows together in downtown Washington. They were gathered to honor Tom DeLay’s “accomplishments”. While they tried to showcase DeLay’s commitment to the conservative movement, his true colors as a money hungry Washington insider just shined through – and a few other conservative characters stole the show just by showing up for dinner.

I See Your True Colors Shining Through,
and That’s Why Lobbyists Love You.

ADMONISHMENT 1: DeLay Received Private Admonishment for Continuing with Gingrich’s K Street Project. In 1999, the House Ethics Committee sent a letter to DeLay privately admonishing him for pushing the Electronics Industry Association to hire former Rep. Bill Paxon (R-NY) as a lobbyist instead of former Rep. Dave McCurdy (D-OK). The plan was part of DeLay’s push to load K Street power lobbying firms with Republicans, which he re-launched in 2004, despite being admonished for it by the Ethics Committee in 1999. Paxon attended last night’s tribute. [Roll Call, 5/17/99, 3/12/01, 2/11/04; National Journal, 6/12/99, 5/5/01; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, editorial, 7/27/01; Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 5/15/1999; Tracker Report, 5/12/05]

ADMONISHMENT 2: House Ethics Committee Admonished DeLay for Bribes for Votes. DeLay violated House standard procedure and kept the 15-minute House vote on Medicare open for 3 hours. Later on, the House Ethics Committee conducted an investigation into whether DeLay threatened and bribed representatives into voting for the Medicare law, including a large contribution of “$100,000-plus” for the campaign of the son of a member of Congress. [Washington Post, 2/6/04, 10/1/04; New York Times, 2/10/04]

ADMONISHMENT 3-A: Westar Traded Cash With DeLay in Exchange for “Seat At The Table” During Energy Bill Negotiations. An energy company, Westar, gave more than $56,000 in cash to DeLay for a “seat at the table” during energy bill negotiations. As a result, language was added to a bill that specifically benefited Westar. [Wichita Eagle, 5/17/03, Washington Post, 10/7/04, Lawrence Memo, “Suggested Campaign Contributions, 5/17/02]

ADMONISHMENT 3-B: DeLay Abused Leadership Position and Used Influence To Track Private Airplane. DeLay abused his leadership position and used his influence to direct the Department of Homeland Security to track a private airplane carrying Democratic members of the Texas legislature who were rebelling against a DeLay-led Texas redistricting plan. [Washington Post, 10/7/04]

ADMONISHMENT 4, PENDING: Committee Will Decide Whether to Pursue Action Based on DeLay's Involvement with TRMPAC. The House Ethics Committee deferred action on another complaint dealing with DeLay’s fundraising group TRMPAC. A Texas grand jury in September 2004 indicted three of DeLay's political associates on charges of using TRMPAC to illegally collect corporate donations and funnel them to Texas legislative races. The ethics committee said it will take no action on the matter "pending further action" concerning the indictments or the Texas-based investigation that prompted them. [Washington Post, 10/7/04]

Trips Scandals, Parts I-III: DeLay Accepted Trips from Lobbyists, Shady Business Interests, and Foreign Agents. DeLay took a $106,921 trip to South Korea in 2001 that was financed by a tax-exempt group created by a lobbyist on behalf of a Korean businessman. He participated in a $70,000 expense-paid trip to London and Scotland in 2000 that sources said was indirectly financed in part by an Indian tribe and a gambling services company. And he took a six-day $57,238 trip to Moscow in 1997 which was underwritten by business interests lobbying in support of the Russian government. [Washington Post, 3/10/05, Washington Post 4/6/05; New York Times, 4/6/05]

Guess Who Came to Dinner? The Cast of Characters That Stole the Show

Jeff Gannon/James Guckert

Credentialed White House Reporter Used Fake Name to Obtain Credentials, and Registered Escort Website. At a January press conference, President Bush was tossed a softball question by a White House “reporter” that described Democratic leaders as being “divorced from reality.” Jeff Gannon, the reporter in question, was actually James Guckert, a correspondent for Talon News Corp. Talon was owned by GOP USA, a conservative Web site based in Houston, TX and dedicated to “spreading the conservative message throughout America.” Guckert also had a website with the URL “hotmilitarystud.com.” Guckert was previously denied press credentials on Capitol Hill and the White House has been unable to explain how Guckert was able to obtain White House press credentials while using a fake name. [Editorial; Houston Chronicle, 2/14/05; Washington Post, 2/13/05; CNN 2/10/05]

David Keene, American Conservative Union

David Keene Lobbied for Organization That Tried to Discredit AARP by Linking Them to Gay Marriage. According to Senate records, David Keene lobbied for the United Seniors Association, from 1998 through 2004 while a lobbyist at the Carmen Group. This group was created by archconservative and GOP direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie and lobbied for Medicare cuts in the 1990s. The United Seniors Association is also known as USA Next, the group that earlier this year was criticized for running ads linking the AARP to gay marriage and accusing them of not supporting US Troops. Jack Abramoff also served as a board member for the United Seniors Association. [Senate Office of Public Records, sopr.senate.gov; Chicago Tribune, 4/10/05; The Hill, 3/26/03; American Prospect, 6/04; Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), 3/27/05]

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform – Host Committee

Norquist Admitted Receiving $1.15 Million from Indian Groups, and Arranging Meetings with Bush. According to news reports every year during the first four years of the Bush administration Grover Norquist arranged meetings between Bush and tribal leaders. Norquist admitted to receiving over $1.15 million from the Mississippi tribes which he later funneled to two groups who were running anti gambling campaigns in neighboring Alabama. Norquist did not disclose to the anti gambling groups that the money had come from gambling interests. [Boston Globe, 5/13/05]

Tribal Leaders Were Instructed by Jack Abramoff to Donate to Norquist. According to congressional testimony leaders of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe were told by Jack Abramoff to contribute $25,000 to Norquist’s group. When asked what reason they were given for donating, the tribal leaders said, “It was because Mr. Abramoff suggested that we make these donations to these various groups and organizations . . . because they help us.” [Boston Globe, 5/13/05]

Norquist and Abramoff, Old Friends. Grover Norquist helped run Jack Abramoff's 1981 campaign for National Chairman of the College Republicans and then served as executive director of the organization under Abramoff. Abramoff served as a board member of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which was founded by Norquist in 1985. [National Journal, 10/11/03; The Hill, 3/26/03; http://www.atr.org/home/about/index.html]

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council – Host Committee

Family Research Council’s Perkins Purchased Avowed KKK Leader’s Phone List. In 1996 while running Woody Jenkins’ failed Senate Bid, Perkings signed a contract for $82,500 to purchase a phone bank connected to David Duke. The Jenkins campaign was later fined for attempting to conceal the purchase from elections officials. [AP, 10/25/02]

Morton Blackwell, Leadership Institute
– Speaker and Host Committee

Republican Activist Distributed “Purple Heart Band-Aids” at GOP Convention. According to the Associated Press, Morton Blackwell, a longtime GOP activist from Virginia and president of the Leadership Institute, distributed bandages with purple hearts on them, mocking the service of Sen. John Kerry. The message accompanying the band-aid stated: “It was just a self-inflicted scratch, but you see I got a Purple Heart for it.” [Associated Press, 8/30/04]

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May 12, 2005

Top White House Economist Contradicts Bush

Washington, DC - For the past few months, while pitching his plan to privatize Social Security, President Bush has repeatedly assured Americans that their accounts could be passed on to their children and that the government would not slash survivor benefits. But, yesterday's remarks by the Bush administration's top economist indicate that neither of these statements is true. According to White House estimates, up to 30 percent of lower income Americans won't be able to leave their accounts to their children. The White House also admitted that it plans to cut survivor benefits for middle class Americans.

"President Bush needs to stop misleading the American people and come clean about the details of his privatization scheme," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "Under his scheme, the only thing that Americans will be leaving to their children is trillions in debt and reduced benefits."

BUSH RHETORIC

President Bush: Private Accounts Can be Passed On. "I want more people being able to say, this [Social Security] is mine, the government can't take it away...And when you pass away, you can leave it to whomever you choose. That's a part of America." [President Bush, Latino Coalition Conference, Washington, DC, 5/4/05]

REALITY

White House: 30 Percent of Lower Income Americans Won't Be Able to Pass On Accounts. "The President's point man on Social Security, National Economic Council Chairman Glen Hubbard, recently conceded that not everyone would be able to pass their account along to heirs. A White House analysis concludes that about 15 percent of all retirees would likely not be able to pass along an inheritance - a figure that rises to 30 percent for those with lower lifetime wages because they would have to spend their entire personal account to make sure they remained out of poverty during their retirement." [AP, 5/12/05]

BUSH RHETORIC

President: No Plans to Cut Survivor Benefits. "[Bush] said he has no plans to cut benefits for the approximately 40 percent of Social Security recipients who collect monthly disability and survivor payments as he prepares his plan for partial privatization." [Washington Post, 1/16/05]

REALITY

White House: Survivor Benefits for Middle Class Americans Will Be Cut. "President Bush's preferred approach for Social Security would mean smaller survivor benefits for middle- and upper-income children and widows than they are now promised, a top administration official said Wednesday." [Los Angeles Times, 5/12/05]

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DNC Hosts Conference Call with Thousands of Activists

Washington, DC - This afternoon, the Democratic National Committee held the first in a series of issue briefing conference calls with 3,000 Democratic activists. Today, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) spoke about the Republican Senate’s power grab, their attempt to erase 200 years of Senate history and protocol to put their slate of radical judges on the federal bench.

“Children understand that we play by the rules. The Republican radical right believe that they don't have to play by the rules, they can make up a new set of rules,” said Senator Kennedy. “[Republicans] won the Presidency the Senate, and the House, and they feel they are entitled to the judiciary.”

DNC Chairman Howard Dean commented on the committee’s first activist briefing. “I am delighted that Senator Kennedy was able to speak directly to our supporters and party members about Republican attempts to change Senate rules,” said Dean. “This call is an opportunity to empower Democrats across the country to take action and stop the Republican power grab in the Senate.”

The invitation to join the call was sent to the nearly 500,000 DNC activists who signed the abuse of power petition that was unveiled on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court this spring. Also invited were Democratic activists who live in states represented by Republican senators who have expressed some opposition to the nuclear option.

The response to the call was positive, with many of the participants writing to the DNC vowing to take action in their community to oppose the Republican abuse of power.

“I VERY much appreciated the opportunity to hear from someone on the front line of this issue. It was refreshing to hear more than just a few sound bites on the evening news! I am writing letters to my GOP Senator, Mr. Ensign, as well as letters to editors to help spread the word. I probably would not have done so quite as quickly had I not heard from Sen. Kennedy. Thanks for this opportunity!” wrote Leslie S. from Dayton, NV, whose note is posted on the DNC blog at http://www.democrats.org/blog/.

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Abramoff Associates, Lobbyists, and Extremists Pay Tribute to Tom Delay's Record of Accomplishment

Tonight, conservatives will gather to show their support for Tom DeLay and honor his record of conservative accomplishments -- or at least that is what the American Conservative Union wants you to think. But Thursday night is just an opportunity for conservative Republican House Members, corporate lobbyists, right wing extremists, and associates of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to create some badly needed favorable press for Tom DeLay and a chance to do some business at the same time. What favors are these lobbyists and their clients repaying tonight? What will this political farce buy them tomorrow?

David Keene, American Conservative Union -- Host Committee

David Keene Lobbied for Organization Linked to Abramoff. According to Senate records, David Keene lobbied for the United Seniors Association, now known as USA Next, from 1998 through 2004 while a lobbyist at the Carmen Group. Abramoff served as a board member for United Seniors, a group created by archconservative and GOP direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie that lobbied for Medicare cuts in the 1990s. The United Seniors Association is also known as USA Next, the group that earlier this year was criticized for running ads linking the AARP to gay marriage and accusing them of not supporting US. Troops. [Senate Office of Public Records, sopr.senate.gov; Chicago Tribune, 4/10/05; The Hill, 3/26/03; American Prospect, 6/04; Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), 3/27/05]

Keene Lobbied for Conservative Groups and Corporate Interests. According to Senate filings, Keene has lobbied for a varied portfolio of special interests through the Carmen Group. His clients have included Survival Incorporated (manufacturer of survival equipment and armored vests for United States military), the Hyundai Motor Company, and the United Seniors Association. [Senate Office of Public Records]

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform - Host Committee

Norquist And Abramoff, Old Friends. Grover Norquist helped run Jack Abramoff's 1981 campaign for National Chairman of the College Republicans and then served as executive director of the organization under Abramoff. Abramoff served as a board member of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which was founded by Norquist in 1985. [National Journal, 10/11/03; The Hill, 3/26/03; http://www.atr.org/home/about/index.html]

Abramoff Directed Funds to ATR. According to Newsweek, tribal leaders from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe of Michigan, an Abramoff client, had "three or four" meetings at the White House--including one with Bush and another with Rove - after they gave a $25,000 donation to Americans for Tax Reform at Abramoff's request. The Agua Caliente tribe donated about $20,000 to ATR, and the Louisiana Coushatta also sent a $25,000 check; both were Abramoff clients. [Newsweek, 5/2/05; Washington Post, 9/29/04; Houston Chronicle, 4/13/05]

Norquist Lobbied For Corporate Interests, Gambling Industry. According to Senate filings, Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist has lobbied for a variety of corporate interests, including EchoStar Communications (Satellite Communications), the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and BP America. Norquist also lobbied for the Interactive Gaming Council on the issue of internet gambling. [Senate Office of Public Records]

Edwin Feulner, Heritage Foundation - Host Committee

Feulner Involved in Questionable Malaysia Trip With Abramoff and DeLay. In August 2001, DeLay led a delegation to Malaysia where he attended informal meetings and a fancy dinner in his honor given by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur. Jack Abramoff attended the dinner thrown in DeLay's honor. Edwin Feulner was president of the Heritage foundation at the time of the trip. Feulner also went to Malaysia, saying that, "I sat by the pool while they played golf." Feulner worked for Belle Haven Consultants as a senior advisor. Official travel disclosure stated that the Heritage Foundation sponsored the travel. However, Time magazine reported that former Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop, a Heritage senior fellow who was on the trip, said Heritage did not pay for the trip and that Belle Haven Consultants, a for-profit, Hong Kong-based firm linked to the Malaysian government, played a key role. According to Wallop, "Heritage had nothing to do with it… Belle Haven did." Both DeLay's office and the Heritage Foundation insist Heritage paid for the trip. [Time, 4/25/05; Washington Post, 4/17/05; Member Travel Disclosure Form, 3/19/02]

Gary Bauer, American Values Coalition - Host Committee

Abramoff Organization Launched Partnership with Bauer. Jack Abramoff helped Rabbi Danny Lapin found Toward Tradition, an organization that still lists Abramoff as a board member. Towards Tradition launched a project to promote Jewish-Christian partnership named the American Alliance of Jews and Christians (AAJC), which was led Lapin and Gary Bauer. The AAJC's Board of Advisers included Abramoff. [Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion, 7/17/02; http://www.towardtradition.org/boardmembers.htm]

Bauer Co-Chaired Conservative Christian-Jewish Group With Abramoff. Gary Bauer co-chaired the American Alliance of Jews and Christians (AAJC) with Jack Abramoff. AAJC was a project launched by Toward Tradition, a nonprofit Mercer Island faith-based, right-wing political coalition run by Rabbi Daniel Lapin and founded by Abramoff. The Alliance's board of advisers included Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Watergate conspirator Charles Colson, Abramoff, Rabbi Daniel Lapin's longtime friend and fellow radio talker Michael Medved. [Seattle Weekly, 2/23/2005; Indiana Jewish Post & Opinion, 7/17/2002]

Bauer's Former Campaign Manager On Board of United Seniors With Abramoff. Lionel Van Deerlin pointed out in a Copley News Service Op-Ed the right-wing connections within the United Seniors Association: Charles W. Jarvis, who managed Gary Bauer's presidential campaign, joined Abramoff on the board of United Seniors Association. The group has supported pharmaceutical company positions on prescription drugs and oil companies' positions in the fight over the energy bill. It also contributed to the "Swift Boat" veteran's anti-Kerry campaign. [Copley News Service, 3/3/2005]

Blackwell Led Lobbyist Party ID Project. Morton Blackwell's Leadership Institute compiled a list of political contributions from lobbyists at the top 20 K Street firms that identified many of the lobbyists by party affiliation and included the amount each had given to both Democrats and Republicans in 1998. Abramoff was listed as one of biggest givers with $22,000 in contributions to Republicans. [National Journal's Congress Daily, 9/16/1998]

Brad O'Leary -- Host Committee

Brad O'Leary and Abramoff Are Dinner Friends. Brad O'Leary and Jack Abramoff were seen having dinner together at Sequoia in 1994. Both O'Leary and Abramoff have backgrounds in the entertainment industry. [Washington Times, 10/14/94]

Charlie Black -- Host Committee

Black and Abramoff Both Raised Beltway Dollars for Bush. In June 1999, Abramoff and Black were among the names listed as co-chairmen for a Bush fundraiser at the Washington Hilton. The co-chairmen had to raise at least $25,000 each. [New York Post, 5/20/99; Robert Novak Column]

Black Lobbied for Big Business and Russian Oil Interests. According to Senate filings, Charles Black, who is a member of BKSH and Associates, a "Washington government relations firm," has been registered to lobby for a variety of corporate interests. Black's clients have included Yukos Oil (a Russian Oil Company), Accenture Corporation, and G-tech on the issue of internet gaming. [Senate Office of Public Records]

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council - Host Committee

Family Research Council's Perkins Purchased Avowed KKK Leader's Phone List. In 1996 while running Woody Jenkins' failed Senate Bid, Perkings signed a contract for $82,500 to purchase a phone bank connected to David Duke. The Jenkins campaign was later fined for attempting to conceal the purchase from elections officials. [AP, 10/25/02]

Morton Blackwell, Leadership Institute
- Speaker and Host Committee

Blackwell Admired Abramoff's Style. Even in his early 20's, says Morton Blackwell, a former Reagan aide and longtime mentor to young conservatives: ''Jack was a good politician. He clearly was a leader.'' [New York Times, 5/1/2005]

Republican Activist Distributed "Purple Heart Band-Aids" at GOP Convention. According to the Associated Press, Morton Blackwell, a longtime GOP activist from Virginia and president of the Leadership Institute, distributed bandages with purple hearts on them, mocking the service of Sen. John Kerry. The message accompanying the band-aid stated: "It was just a self-inflicted scratch, but you see I got a Purple Heart for it." [Associated Press, 8/30/04]

Phyllis Schlafly -- Tribute Speaker

Phyllis Schlafly Believes Equal Pay For Women Leads To Same Sex Marriage. A conservative activist and the leader of the anti-ERA movement in the 70s, Schlafly continues to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment today saying "It's just as bad as it ever was. And it's perfectly obvious now that it would give us same-sex marriages." [AP State & Local Wire, 2/16/2005]

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-07/TN) - Tribute Speaker

Marsha Blackburn Received $5,000 from DeLay's Political Action Committee. According to FEC fillings Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) received $5,000 from Tom DeLay's TRMPAC during the 2004 election cycle. Blackburn also donated $1,000 to DeLay's Legal Defense Fund. [www.tray.com]

Former Representative Bob Livingston (R-LA) - Tribute Speaker

Livingston Lobbied for Indian Gaming Interests. In 2001, former Rep. Bob Livingston was retained by a California development company that helped bankroll the Lytton Band of Pomos's planned opening of a "card room" near Oakland, CA. A bill had been introduced that would have scuttled the planned casino. Livingston along with other lobbyists succeeded in killing the bill in the House, clearing the way for the new casino. [California Journal, 7/1/02]

Bob Livingston, Defense Lobbyist. Former Congressman Bob Livingston is now a DC lobbyist who represents defense contractors such as Northrup Grumman and Lockhead Martin; energy corporations like El Paso Electric Corp, US Oil & Gas Association, and ChevronTexaco; and pharmaceutical companies like Pharmacia. [Senate Office of Public Record, senate.sopr.gov; Roll Call 4/21/2005]

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Dean Says Bush White House Should Disclose Contacts With Abramoff

Washington, DC – A storm of ethics charges and investigations continues to build around beltway power-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the manner in which he used his White House connections to his advantage.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean called on the Bush White House to follow the precedent established during the Enron scandal three years ago, and release all contacts administration officials have had with Jack Abramoff or his associates, including any meetings related to special interests associated with Abramoff, such as the Marianas Islands and Native American tribes.

"Given the mounting allegations of impropriety, the White House should immediately release a list of all contacts administration officials have had with Jack Abramoff and his associates," said DNC Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean. "Only when President Bush comes clean about the exact nature of his administration's relationship with Abramoff will the controversy about the interaction between the President and a scandal-plagued lobbyist abate."

Jack Abramoff Has Close Ties to the Bush White House

Abramoff Arranged A White House Meeting With Bush And Administration Officials For Native Americans Leaders. In the summer of 2001, Abramoff arranged a meeting between Bush and top Native American leaders to discuss tax issues. Among the attendees was one of Abramoff's top clients, Lovelin Poncho, chairman of the Coushattas. Abramoff also invited the Coushattas and other tribal clients to a fall 2001 dinner party attended by Interior Secretary Gale Norton. [National Journal, 4/20/02]

Abramoff Arranged White House Meeting in Exchange for Donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform.A lawyer for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe in Michigan revealed that tribal leaders had "three or four" meetings at the White House-including one with Bush and another with Rove-after they gave a $25,000 donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform at Jack Abramoff's request. ATR later confirmed that Norquist arranged White House meetings for Indian tribal leaders and others who were "supportive of the president's agenda." [Newsweek, 5/2/05]

Jack Abramoff Advised Department of Interior Transition. Abramoff advised the Interior Department during the Bush transition. [Wall Street Journal, 3/19/01]

Abramoff's Former Assistant Became Rove's Gatekeeper. In 2001 Abramoff's personal assistant, Susan Ralston, took a similar job under Karl Rove in the White House. This move essentially made Ralston "Rove's gatekeeper." [New York Times, 5/1/05]

Bush Has Done Favors For Abramoff

Abramoff Has Used White House Connections to His Advantage

Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe Asked For Casino Near Texas/Louisiana Border. The Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe asked Governor Mike Foster (R-LA) to allow construction of a casino "close to the Texas state line and an hour from the $300 million-a-year Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, La. The state was to get 15.5 percent of the profits. The Coushattas already vied for customers with nearby non-Indian riverboat casinos and did not want any more competition." The Coushatta tribe is an Abramoff client and a rival tribe of the Jenna Band of Choctawas. [Washington Post, 3/13/05]

Abramoff Used Network of Evangelicals And Bush Appointee To Lobby For His Client. According to The Washington Post, "Abramoff arranged for Dobson and Reed to pressure federal officials to reject the Jennas' bid on anti-gambling grounds. He and his partners drafted anti-Jenna letters that were then signed by congressional leaders, some of whom have received thousands of dollars in donations from tribes represented by Abramoff. One ally inserted language opposing the casino into a bill late in the legislative process." [Washington Post, 3/13/05]

Lobbying Network Involved Bush Administrator. According to The Washington Post, "in an attempt to influence the Interior Department -- which has the final say on a tribe's gambling ambitions -- Abramoff directed his tribal clients to give at least $225,000 to the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a conservative group that was founded by Gale A. Norton before President Bush chose her to be his interior secretary. [Washington Post, 3/13/05]

Dobson Aid Wrote Letter To White House. According to The Washington Post, One of Dobson's top aides, Tom Minnery, wrote to Norton saying Louisiana 'already has an alarming number of gaming establishments' -- a letter he copied to White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. The Interior Department's White House liaison, Doug Domenech, sounded the alarm." [Washington Post, 3/13/05]

Abramoff Said He'd Get Norton To Aid Client Obtaining Gambling License. In e-mails obtained by The Washington Post, Abramoff stated that "if need be, would try to get Norton to send some 'positive signals' to Louisiana's Republican governor about renewing the Coushattas' own gambling contract with the state." [Washington Post, 3/13/05]

Jack Abramoff Was a Major Bush Campaign Supporter

Jack Abramoff Was A Bush/Cheney '04 Pioneer. Abramoff has raised over $100,000 for the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign. [www.georgewbush.com]

Abramoff Boasted How Easy It Was to be a Pioneer. " 'Everyone in town is trying to be a Pioneer or Ranger,' said Jack Abramoff, a top Republican lobbyist here, using the campaign's terms for the most elite levels of money collectors. 'But the only way to do it is to have contacts outside of D.C., which fortunately I do. So far I've raised about $120,000, and I haven't even really started making calls.' " [International Herald Tribune, 7/22/03]

Abramoff Was A Member Of RNC's National Executive Committee. Abramoff is a member of the RNC National Executive Committee. [www.influenceonline.net]

Bush-Cheney 04 Never Returned Abramoff Donations. Even though a criminal taskforce of investigators from the FBI, IRS, Department of the Interior, Senate and Justice Department were investigating Abramoff during the campaign, BC04 never returned any of Jack Abramoff's campaign contributions. [FEC, tray.com]

Jack Abramoff Used His Administration Connections to Benefit Marianas Islands Clients

Abramoff Lobbying Team Had "Extensive Access" to Bush Administration Officials. According to his lobbying firm's billing records, Jack Abramoff and his Marianas Islands lobbying team had almost 200 contacts with Bush administration officials. The records include meetings with Cheney policy advisers Ron Christie and Stephen Ruhlen, Attorney General Ashcroft at the Justice Department, White House intergovernmental affairs chief Ruben Barrales, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles and others. While records show that many of the meetings were handled by Abramoff's lieutenants, Abramoff personally with Top Interior Department officials, "whose Office of Insular Affairs oversees the Mariana Islands and other U.S. territories." [AP, 5/6/05]

Abramoff Cited Interior Department Connections and Bush Administration Appointments in Letters To CNMI Officials. In two separate letters to CNMI officals, Abramoff cited Bush administration appointments as being friendly to the CNMI. In a January of 2001 letter to CNMI officials Abramoff wrote, "Our standing with the new administration promises to be solid as several friends of the CNMI (islands) will soon be taking high-ranking positions in the administration, including within the Interior Department." In another letter from October of 2001 Abramoff boasts "We have worked went with WH Office of Presidential Personnel to ensure that CNMI-relevant positions at various agencies are not awarded to enemies of CNMI." [AP, 5/6/05]

Abramoff Charged Marianas Islands for Getting Then-Governor Bush to Write Letter Supporting CNMI's Education Plan. In 1997 records show that Abramoff charged the Marianas islands for a letter written by then Governor George Bush, praising the CNMI's "school choice proposal." The letter dated July 18, 1997 read, ""I hope you will keep my office informed on the progress of this initiative," besides being addressed to CNMI officials, an Abramoff deputy was also CC'd on the letter from Bush. [AP, 5/6/05]

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May 11, 2005

Disappearing Pension Funds: The Need for Stronger Social Security

Washington, DC – Yesterday, a bankruptcy judge in Chicago ruled that United Airlines may turn over its pension plans to the federal government as part of its efforts to exit bankruptcy protection. This move amounts to the largest pension default in U.S. history, and means that 134,000 current and former United employees will lose more than $3 billion in retirement benefits. [Chicago Tribune, 5/11/05; New York Times, 5/11/05]

“Recent events further highlight the need for a strong Social Security system for all Americans,” said DNC Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean. “That’s why Democrats want to work on a real plan to ensure the long term security of Social Security. We will continue to fight the risky Republican scheme to turn a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble. When all else fails, Americans need to know that they can rely on the Social Security benefits they’ve spent a lifetime earning.”

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Drilling For Kickbacks: The Truth About Bush's Energy Plan

Washington, DC - As gas prices surge past $2.23 per gallon, President Bush and the Congressional Republicans are scrambling to use the crisis to push through an energy bill that is nothing more than a gift to special interests that will hurt the environment while doing nothing to lower gas prices. Democrats have proposed and are committed to real solutions. The Republicans in Washington should join with Democrats to focus on reforms that actually reduce the price of oil—including increasing conservation, developing alternative energies, and releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

"President Bush and the Republicans insist there is nothing they can do to lower gas prices. Fact is, there are plenty of ways to give relief to middle class families, but none of them would line the pockets of President Bush's big oil contributors," said DNC Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean. "The Democratic Party is offering real common-sense solutions to lower gas prices."

Republican Energy Bill Is a Special-Interest
Giveaway That Will Not Reduce Gas Prices

Former Tom DeLay Aide Admits that Energy Bill Will Not Solve Gas Price Problem, But Only Gives Appearance of Doing Something. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Politically, it doesn't matter if such provisions deal with the long term, said [Stuart Roy, a Republican strategist and former aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX)]. ‘The most important thing for policy makers in the current environment of relatively high gas prices and the approaching summer travel months is action.'" [Los Angeles Times, 4/16/05]

House Republican Energy Bill Is a Tax Giveaway to Big Energy Companies. According to the Washington Post, "The House this week will consider $8 billion in tax breaks targeted to the energy industry at a time when some of those companies are enjoying soaring profits from high consumer prices. The vast majority of the tax breaks would benefit companies that produce and supply traditional forms of energy, with a large portion going to the oil and natural gas sector… Environmentalists are outraged, saying the bill provides giveaways to big energy companies, such as ExxonMobil Corp., whose 2004 profits set a record." [Washington Post, 4/19/05]

Energy Bill Includes MTBE Waiver Supported by Tom DeLay and Energy Industry. According to the New York Times, "If oil and chemical companies have their way, a majority of [MTBE] lawsuits… will be thrown out by Congress as part of the energy bill backed by the Bush administration. The bill… includes a waiver that would protect the chemical makers, which are some of the biggest oil giants in the United States, from all MTBE liability lawsuits filed since September 2003. The House majority leader, Tom DeLay, and Representative Joe L. Barton, who heads the Energy and Commerce Committee, are staunch supporters of the waiver. Both are Republicans from Texas, where more than a dozen MTBE manufacturers are based." [New York Times, 4/15/05]

MTBE Is a Dangerous Chemical That Is Seeping into Our Water Supplies. MTBE is used in gasoline to reduce carbon monoxide emissions from cars. MTBE dissolves easily in water and does not readily cling to soil, so it moves rapidly into the ground—making it likely to seep into water supplies. Its powerful turpentine-like taste and odor make water undrinkable. Contamination usually results from leaks in at gasoline stations. [New York Times, 4/15/05]

MTBE Waiver is Top Priority for Oil Industry. According to Lawrence Goldstein, president of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation, "The MTBE waiver issue is Priority 1, 2 and 3 for the refining industry. Without it they aren't going to get behind the energy bill." [NYT, 4/15/05]

Democrats Have a Plan to Lower Gas Prices,
While Still Protecting the Environment

IN THE SHORT-TERM:

1. Bush Should Immediately Release Oil from America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. To lower gas prices, Bush should release oil from America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to help provide immediate relief for consumers. SPR releases have been used in the past—as recently as 2000—to help stabilize oil prices, and it will be necessary at times to release oil from the reserve to help take the burden off consumers. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas; www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_energy_ltr041029.pdf]

2. Bush Should Work With OPEC to Expand the Oil Supply. Bush must work with Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries—particularly Saudi Arabia—to expand the global supply of oil. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas; http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_energy_st040510.pdf]

3. The FTC Should Investigate Any Possible Market Manipulation. Oil companies are experiencing record profits even as gas prices continue to rise. It is essential that the Federal Trade Commission vigorously investigate the sharp rises in Nevada gas prices the past three years for any possible market manipulation. So far, the FTC has refused to launch a formal investigation into this matter. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas; WP, 4/19/05; www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_energy_ltr041029.pdf]

IN THE LONG-TERM:

1. Develop a Comprehensive Energy Plan to Develop Alternative Energies. High gas prices highlight the need to develop a national energy plan that reduces dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. should develop alternative and renewable fuel sources to help achieve greater energy independence, bolster national security, protect our environment, and create jobs—while also providing a steady, reliable supply of energy for consumers. Bush should support research and development of alternative fuels, particularly hydrogen fuel cell technology, which offers tremendous potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce global warming and other environmental challenges. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas]

2. Improve Fuel Economy Standards, Rather Than Drill for More Oil. Any plan to provide national energy security must include better efficiency and conservation. Conserving energy will reduce dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, and strengthen the economy. Raising fuel efficiency standards will result in substantial savings at the pump for consumers and move our country closer to energy independence. If all cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles had a fuel efficiency standard of 27.5 miles per gallon, the nation would save more oil in three years than could be recovered economically from the entire Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas]

3. Increase Energy Conservation Efforts. Buildings and homes accounted for 35 percent of the $250 billion Americans spent on energy last year. Congress should pass the High-Performance Green Building Act to promote the development and construction of environmentally friendly federal buildings and schools, also known as "Green Buildings." Incorporating energy efficiency, waste reduction, and other design features that improve building and worker performance, green buildings improve the health of their occupants, protect natural resources, and will save our nation billions of dollars in energy and other costs. [http://reid.senate.gov/energy/index.cfm#gas]

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May 10, 2005

Is it Still Called a Benefit If You Don't Get Anything?

Washington, DC - After unveiling a Social Security plan that slashes benefits, President Bush has now offered another raw deal for America's seniors -- a prescription drug plan that would reduce their food stamp benefits. More importantly, this is the second time the Bush White House has proposed to slash food stamps of seniors who enroll in Bush's so-called Medicare prescription drug benefit.

In 2004, Bush's Medicare law allowed low-income seniors to apply for a discount card to reduce prescription drugs. However, the Bush administration initially said that if the cards reduce seniors' drug expenses, then their food stamps benefits must also be reduced accordingly. After a firestorm of criticism, the White House revoked this misguided policy. Now, the administration has changed the rules again, saying that seniors who enroll in the Medicare prescription drug benefit will see their food stamps cut.

"The Bush administration has now imported Enron-style accounting to every senior citizen who applies for the so-called Medicare prescription drug benefit," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "America's seniors need leaders who will stand up to pharmaceutical companies and reduce drug costs, not a President who plays shell games with the food and medicine of America's seniors."

The Bush administration Allows Food Stamp Benefits To Be Cut For Seniors Using The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. Seniors on food stamps could lose food stamp benefits if they register for the Medicare prescription drug benefit. According to a document from the Bush Administration, "You may qualify for extra help paying for your Medicare prescription drug costs…If you qualify for extra help, your food stamp benefits may decline." Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mark McClellan, said "low-income seniors will be better off" with this exchange of benefits. [New York Times, 5/8/05]

FLASHBACK: Bush Tried To Exchange Food Stamps
For Prescription Drug Benefits In The Past

Originally Bush's Medicare Drug Assistance Would Have Been Counted Against Food Stamp Eligibility. Under the new Bush Medicare bill, low-income seniors who enroll for the new drug discount card will receive $600 a year in federal assistance to defray drug costs. Against the express wishes of Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) instructed regional food stamps directors in a March 10, 2004 memo to count the new card assistance as reducing medical expenses and thereby potentially scaling back their eligibility for food stamp assistance. The memo stated, "State agencies should be reminded … that households may not claim a medical deduction for the cost of any prescriptions they receive free through use of the card since such costs would not be out-of-pocket." Under this rule, "a woman with monthly income of $1,060, shelter expenses of $555 and drug costs of $325 now receives $51 a month in food stamps. But, she said, if the card reduced her out-of-pocket drug costs by $100, the woman would get $41 less in food stamps." [Reuters, 6/10/04; Food Nutrition Program, 3/10/04, www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Memo/04/031004.htm; New York Times, 6/13/04]

However, The Bush Administration Quickly Reversed This Rule. After former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., questioned the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mark McClellan, about a constituent who had been told her benefits would be cut if she used the new prescription drug benefit, the Bush administration repealed this policy. McClellan and the USDA issued statements explaining that benefits would not be reduced. McClellan's statement explicitly confirmed: "low-income beneficiaries who get valuable new help with their drug costs by using a Medicare-approved drug discount card do not lose any eligibility or benefits in the food stamp program." [Grand Folks Herald, 6/28/04; Des Moines Register, 6/15/04; New York Times, 6/13/04]

In August 2004, The White House Issued A Fact Sheet Saying Food Stamps Will Not Be Affected. According to a White House Fact Sheet released in August 2004, "The Medicare law stipulates that the discounts and subsidies available through the cards will not result in a reduction or loss of benefits under any other federal program, including the food stamp program." [White House, 8/11/04]

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Women Fleeing Republican Party

WASHINGTON - More and more American women are fed up with President Bush's failed policies, from his disastrous scheme for Social Security to rising budget deficits and his ineffective health care policies. Women who voted for President Bush just months ago are flocking to the Democratic Party because George Bush and the Republicans have focused on a partisan power grab instead of addressing the issues that will have a real impact on women's lives.

A new poll finds that women who voted for the President in November are now coming back to the Democratic Party:

"The memo, released by Lake Snell Perry Mermin & Associates Inc., found women picked unnamed Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by a 13-point margin." The memo also "found that women are now mostly concerned with economic security (28 percent said it was their number one issue), health care (22 percent), homeland security and terrorism (21 percent), retirement security (15 percent) and crime (6 percent)." [Washington Post, 5/10/05]

"Women know that Democrats share their values and are fighting for the things that will make a difference in the lives of their families and children," said DNC Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean. "Democrats understand the challenges our families are facing, that's why we want to get our country back on track. We need to get to work on policies that will create jobs, ensure access to affordable health care and preserve the fundamental promise of Social Security. Women know that the policies of President Bush and his extreme Republican Congress do not benefit hard-working women."

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May 09, 2005

America's Forests Get Bushwhacked

Washington, DC - The Bush administration has decided to open up millions of acres of America's roadless national forests to logging, drilling and mining. By overturning the roadless rule, the Bush White House is attempting to pay back its supporters in the logging and mining industries that gave generously during the 2000 and 2004 elections. These industries have been richly rewarded for their contributions with appointments of former lobbyists and the opening of formerly protected lands to logging and mining.

Even today, the New York Times editorial page highlighted the many problems with Bush's new policy. "On Thursday, the administration repealed one of President Bill Clinton's proudest and most popular environmental initiatives, a rule that placed nearly 60 million acres, or roughly one-third, of the national forests off limits to new road building and development. The Clinton rule gave protection to some of the last truly wild places in America and the fish and wildlife that live there. By the Forest Service's own estimates, these roadless areas shelter at least 200 rare species, which under the administration's less protective regime will now be more vulnerable to commercial development. The rollback also completes the administration's demolition job on the web of forest protections it inherited from Mr. Clinton." [New York Times, 5/9/05]

WHAT THEY GAVE, Part 1:

BUSH TOP RECIPIENT OF LOGGING INDUSTRY MONEY IN 2000

Bush Was Top Recipient for Forestry and Mining Donations in 2000. During his first presidential bid, Bush was the top recipient of donations from the mining and forestry industries. The mining industry contributed at least $204,196 to Bush, while the forestry and forest products industry donated at least $298,500 to Bush. [Center for Responsive Politics, www.crp.org]

Timber Companies Contributed Heavily to Bush in 2000. Public Campaign, a non-profit campaign finance watchdog, found that the timber industry contributed $3.4 million in hard and soft money to the Bush-Cheney 2000 and the Republican National Committee. The timber industry contributed $1 million to Bush's 2000 election campaign. [Paybacks: Policies, Patrons and Personnel; Public Campaign, http://www.publicampaign.org/; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 8/21/03]

International Paper Contributed Over Half A Million Dollars To Republicans In 2000. International Paper, one of the largest paper services companies in the world, contributed $546,450 to the RNC, the NRCC, and the NRSC in the 2000 election cycle. International Paper also contributed $442,180 to Republicans in the 2002 election cycle. [Center For Responsive Politics, www.crp.org]

WHAT THEY GOT, Part 1:

FIRST TERM POLICIES REWARDED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS

FOX GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE:
BUSH PUT INDUSTRY LOBBYIST IN CHARGE OF FOREST SERVICE

Mark Rey Nominated to Head the Forest Service and Land Conservation Programs. In June 2001, Mark Rey, described as "a former top lobbyist for the timber industry" by Associated Press, was nominated by Bush to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. Rey is responsible for managing the Forest Service and land conservation programs. [White House website, www.whitehouse.gov/news/nominations/1041.html; Associated Press, 8/14/02; 6/22/01]

Mark Rey Fought for Logging Interests as Congressional Staffer. Prior to his confirmation as head of the Forest Service, Rey served as an advisor to Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), who opposed Clinton administration efforts to restrict logging on public lands. As a Congressional staffer, Rey also helped author the controversial "salvage rider" amendment, which allowed logging in old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. [Associated Press, 8/14/02; National Journal, 2/23/02; Associated Press, 6/22/01; Los Angeles Times, 6/24/01]

Rey Was a Top Lobbyist for Forest Industry. Before working in Congress, Rey held several positions with forest industry groups, including a stint as a lobbyist and vice president of the American Forest and Paper Association. From 1995 to 2001, Rey served as a staff member with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. From 1992 to 1994, Rey served as vice president for forest resources for the American Forest and Paper Association. He served as executive director for the American Forest Resource Alliance from 1989 to 1992. He served as vice president for public forestry programs for the National Forest Products Association from 1984 to 1989. From 1976 to 1984 he served in several positions for the American Paper Institute/National Forest Products Association, a consortium of national trade associations. [U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, www.usda.gov]

BUSH ATTACKED ROADLESS RULE AND PROMOTED INDUSTRY PLAN

Bush Attempted to Block Clinton Rule On Behalf of Timber Company. Once in office, Bush tried to postpone the enactment of Clinton's roadless initiative to designate one-third of national forests as off limits to development. The action was a response to timber giant Boise Cascade's request that a federal judge grant a preliminary injunction barring the roadless rule from taking effect. According to the New York Times, "the move also opened a window for possible negotiations between the Bush administration and the Western states, timber interests, off-road enthusiasts and others who have filed lawsuits aimed at overturning the Clinton rules, which would ban roadbuilding and logging across some 60 million acres of national forest." Members of the timber industry, as well as mining, oil and gas industries, were strongly opposed to Clinton's plan. [New York Times, 3/17/01]

Bush Administration Refused to Defend Roadless Rule Against Boise Cascade. "In an unusual move," the Bush administration decided not to defend Clinton's rule against the state of Idaho and Boise Cascade. This move left many to wonder if the Bush administration would work with the timber company in shaping new policy. [New York Times, 3/23/01, 3/28/01]

Bush Overturned Roadless Rule in Tongass National Forest. In December 2003, the Bush Administration overturned the roadless rule in the largest national forest in the U.S., the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska, thereby removing prohibitions on logging and mining in the forest. More than 2.5 million comments were submitted on the roadless rule during the six month public comment process and 98 percent of the comments submitted supported keeping the rule intact. [Associated Press, 1/15/04; Seattle Post Intelligencer, 12/24/03; LA Times, 12/24/03]

Bush Proposed Logging National Forests. On August 22, 2002, Bush proposed a policy for our national forests which would make it easier for timber companies to log and remove trees and brush from 190 million acres of the most "fire-prone forests" across the country. Bush asked the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior and his Council on Environmental Quality to authorize thinning projects on an emergency basis, as well as to find ways of rushing through environmental assessments. According to the Associated Press, Bush "also asked Congress to pass legislation 'that will ensure that vital forest restoration projects are not tied up in courts.'" [Associated Press, 8/22/02]

Bush Proposal Prioritized Needs of Logging Industry Instead of Public. A report by the American Lands Alliance found that Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative unravels decades of critical environmental regulations, including environmental review, endangered species protection, and public participation, while adopting policies to promote the logging of large, healthy trees. [American Lands Alliance, This Land is Your Land: The Bush Administration's Assault on America's National Forest Legacy, 8/04]

WHAT THEY GAVE, Part 2:

INDUSTRY DOUBLED CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUSH IN 2004 ELECTION

Bush Rewarded for Four Years of Policies Favoring Forestry and Mining. In his 2004 re-election bid, Bush was once again the top recipient of contributions from mining and forestry industries. The mining industry contributed $426,859, over twice as much as it had in 2000. The forestry and forest products industry also doubled its support for Bush contributing $629,962. [Center for Responsive Politics, www.crp.org]

WHAT THEY GOT, Part 2:

CONTRIBUTORS GET WHAT THEY PAID FOR IN SECOND TERM POLICIES

Bush Overturned Roadless Rule Entirely. The Bush administration rolled back the roadless rule which will likely lead to logging, mining, and oil and gas development in nearly 60 million acres of remote country that had been protected under the Clinton-era rule. Roadless areas make up about 30% of the country's national forests. [New York Times, 5/6/05; Los Angeles Times, 7/13/04; Associated Press, 7/12/04; Washington Post, 7/13/04]

Rule Overturn Gives More Power to Former Timber Lobbyist. Under the guise of giving the authority to state governors, the Forest Service, led by former timber industry lobbyist Mark Rey, will be able to allow logging and mining and build the roads necessary for those industries in the formerly "roadless" forests. Governors have 18 months to make recommendations for the use of the land in their states. If they choose not to take that opportunity the Forest Service takes over the decision making process. Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) said the rule change was part of "a wholesale assault by the administration to drill more oil or gas, to open up more roadless areas for timber" and weaken environmental regulations. [New York Times, 5/6/05]

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Four Years Later, the Rules Have Changed

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean, issued the following statement on the fourth anniversary of President Bush's initial submission of his slate of federal judicial nominees. The announcement four years ago marked a disturbing beginning to a string of divisive and unilateral judicial picks that ignored the tradition of consultation that began with George Washington and extended through President Clinton.

"Over the past four years, Democrats and Republicans have worked together in a bipartisan manner to confirm 208 of the President's judicial appointees--that's more than 95 percent of Bush's choices," said Governor Dean. "Now, Washington Republicans want to blow up 200 years of Senate history and change the rules simply because they aren't getting their way on a handful of radical nominees. Democrats have tried to offer a compromise to break the Republican gridlock and get back to doing the people's business. Instead, the Republicans have rejected bipartisanship in favor of an extremist agenda."

"The American people deserve better than this partisan bickering. Instead of shutting down the Senate over a few radical judges, George Bush and Bill Frist should put their political ambitions aside and take action to reduce gas prices, cut the costs of health care, and create jobs."

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May 07, 2005

Happy Mother's Day: Time to Cut Your Benefits!

Washington, DC - This Mother's Day the Bush administration has sent out gifts you won't find at your local Hallmark shop. The Bush White House continues to promote their scheme to privatize Social Security that will cut benefits for middle class mothers by up to 32 percent through price indexing. This is not good news for the 24 million women who receive Social Security benefits. Women also make up 58 percent of seniors receiving Social Security, and without the program, 53 percent of all senior women would be poor. And many mothers rely upon disability and survivor's benefits, which would also be cut under the Bush plan. [Social Security Administration]

"The Bush Administration has come up short this year on Mother's Day. Maybe they should have stuck with flowers instead of their plan to gut Social Security," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest.

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May 06, 2005

DeLay: Do as I Say, Not as I Do

Washington, DC - As new allegations swirl regarding House Majority leader Tom DeLay's ethical lapses, perhaps he should listen to his own advice, show real leadership, and step aside to allow for a fair and credible investigation. Yesterday, DeLay said, "Just think of what we could accomplish if we checked our pride at the door ... If we spent less time ducking responsibility and more time welcoming it."[Washington Post, 5-6-05]

Isn't it time for DeLay to take his own advice?

The newest allegations of Tom DeLay's ethical lapses come from today's Wall Street Journal, which reports that the embattled Majority Leader's all-expenses paid trip to Scotland might have been for recreational, not educational purposes. If this is true, it's a breach of House ethics rules.

Wall Street Journal: Recreation "Primary Purpose"
of DeLay's Scotland Trip

"Rep. Tom DeLay's now-controversial 2000 trip to Scotland was organized by a Washington lobbyist who hired an Arizona golf-tour company to make the arrangements and invited his clients and associates to interact with the House majority leader, newly available documents show...The new information suggests instead that recreation was the primary purpose of going to Scotland, and the excursion appears more a gift and contrary to House rules defining 'necessary' travel expenses as not including 'entertainment or recreational activities.'"[The Wall Street Journal, 5/6/05].

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White House Admits President Met with Abramoff

WASHINGTON, DC – Amid new revelations about the extensive contacts between Jack Abramoff and the Bush administration, including at least one meeting with President Bush, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean reiterated his call for President Bush to return all the money that the scandal-plagued lobbyist raised for the President's campaign fund.

Yesterday, a White House spokesperson acknowledged to the Associated Press that the President "had met on occasion" with Abramoff. In addition, Abramoff's records indicates that he made at least 200 "contacts" with members of the Bush administration, including then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and senior members of Vice President Cheney's staff.

Abramoff also bragged to his clients about his success in placing his own employees into Bush administration jobs including David Safavian, now in charge of all government procurement at the General Services Administration and Patrick Pizzella, formerly a Marianas lobbyist and currently a Deputy Secretary of Labor. Even Abramoff's personal assistant, Susan Ralston, later became Karl Rove's personal assistant.

Today, Governor Dean repeated his call for Bush to return Abramoff's contributions and sever this ethically questionable relationship:

"The web of connections between Abramoff and President Bush is now growing daily," said Dean. "In order to preserve the appearance of an impartial investigation by his Justice Department, President Bush should return the contributions that Jack Abramoff raised for his presidential campaigns."

The Bush campaign has reported that Abramoff contributed to Bush's first White House run in 2000 and raised more than $100,000 for the President's re-election bid last year. In total, Abramoff has contributed more than $200,000 to the RNC and the Bush campaign. [www.opensecrets.org].

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DNC Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling To Meet on May 14 in Chicago

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee's Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman and North Carolina Congressman David Price, is scheduled to meet Saturday, May 14th at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and is scheduled to last through the afternoon. More details about the agenda for the meeting will be released next week.

Please contact Parag Chokshi (chokship@dnc.org) in the DNC Communications Office if you would like to be credentialed to cover the meeting.

WHO: DNC Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling

WHERE:
Chicago O'Hare Airport Hilton - Paris Room
Chicago, Illinois
Tel: 773-686-8000

WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 2005, 10:00 a.m.

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May 05, 2005

DNC Unveils New National Democratic Lawyers Council

Washington, DC - Today, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced the formation of its National Democratic Lawyers Council. The Council, a new addition to the DNC, will provide an ongoing organization of volunteer lawyers and law students who will work with the Party at the national, state and local levels on a broad range of issues.

In 2004, lawyers across the country volunteered at the state and local levels in unprecedented numbers to work with the Democratic National Committee. Over 17,000 lawyers worked in the weeks before and on election day to make sure every eligible voters had the right to vote and to have their vote counted, and to ensure that Americans weren’t intimidated or harassed at the polls.

"We intend to continue to build upon the important work that was begun in 2004," said Governor Howard Dean, DNC Chairman. "The DNC is committed to ensuring that the Democratic Party at every level has access to lawyers and law students dedicated to our shared goals-most important among them being a completely open and fair election process that is respectful of the rights of all Americans."

At the national level, the Council will be headed by four respected and experienced national co-chairs: former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder; leading disability rights attorney Arlene Mayerson; voting rights attorney Rolando Rios, former general counsel of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project; and Paul Igasaki, former Vice Chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

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Gov. Dean Statement on National Day of Prayer

WASHINGTON - The Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Gov. Howard Dean, issued the following statement regarding The National Day of Prayer:

"I am pleased to join with Americans and the National Day of Prayer Task Force in recognizing May 5th, 2005 as a National Day of Prayer.

"Whether it is around the kitchen table, on the way to work or at the bedside of a loved one, millions of Americans pause during their day to draw comfort and strength from prayer. On this day we honor the important role that faith and prayer play in so many of our lives."

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Note to the Bush White House: Take A Dose of Your Own Medicine

WASHINGTON - Once again, the Bush administration says one thing, but does the opposite. In their latest hypocritical move, they have become concerned with union worker pension funds being spent to challenge their plan to privatize Social Security. But, according to the New York Times, the pension funds were not used in the AFL-CIO's most visible campaigns. [New York Times, 5/5/05]

At the same time, the White House has no problem spending millions of taxpayer's dollars on flashy events to promote their risky proposal. This desperate move comes as Bush's plan is "fading fast" [Washington Post, 5/5/05].

"The Bush Administration has never been concerned about the millions of taxpayer dollars it spends freely to promote its privatization scheme," said DNC spokeswoman Laura Gross. "Yet, they have the audacity to accuse their critics of legally spending money to criticize them. They should take a dose of their own medicine."

Bush Administration Spending Millions to Send Officials All Over the Country. "The Bush administration's ongoing Social Security blitz is unusual in scale in the selling of a domestic policy, mobilizing the president and vice president, four Cabinet secretaries and 17 lesser officials, down to an associate director of strategic planning for the White House budget office. It also may be one of the most costly in memory, well into the millions of dollars, according to some rough, unofficial calculations." [Washington Post, 4/7/05]

The Bush Administration Changed Social Security Administration Poll to Test Privatization Proposal. When President Bush kicked off his re-election campaign in 2003, the Social Security Administration changed the language in its polls to "to determine when the public thought the federal retirement program would go broke and whether people knew anything about Bush's plan to let workers invest part of their Social Security payments in private accounts." The poll was paid for with taxpayer dollars. [AP, 4/17/05]

Bush White House Mandating Social Security Administration (SSA) to Push "Crisis" Message. "Over the objections of many of its own employees, the Social Security Administration is gearing up for a major effort to publicize the financial problems of Social Security and to convince the public that private accounts are needed as part of any solution. The agency's plans are set forth in internal documents, including a 'tactical plan' for communications and marketing of the idea that Social Security faces dire financial problems requiring immediate action." The agency's "strategic communications plan" calls for messages stressing the "crisis" facing social security be inserted in presentations to "all audiences," including speeches, public events, radio, television, newspapers and even internal SSA documents. [New York Times, 1/16/05]

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Gov. Dean Statement Commemorating Cinco de Mayo

Washington, DC – Gov. Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement commemorating the "Cinco de Mayo" celebration.

"As Chair of the Democratic Party I join millions today in celebrating Cinco de Mayo, and the victory for freedom and liberty this day represents. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the battle at Puebla in 1862 when Mexican soldiers defeated an invading imperial force more than twice their size.

"Cinco de Mayo has become part of our cultural heritage in the United States, and a reminder of the contributions Mexican-Americans have made to our social, economic, and cultural identity. As Democrats we share the faith, work ethic, and family values that have made the Mexican-American community strong.

"The shared history we celebrate today stands in stark contrast to the failures and broken promises of the Republican administration in the White House. Mexican-Americans, and Hispanics in general, have seen economic opportunity crumble under the Bush administration, and more and more Hispanics do not have access to health insurance. Hispanics would see thousands of dollars per year slashed from their hard-earned Social Security benefit checks if the President’s privatization scheme were in place today. And rather than promoting immigration reform to bring millions of hard-working undocumented workers out of the shadows, President Bush has sided with extremist anti-immigrant Republicans by supporting such extreme measures as Real ID.

"This Cinco de Mayo the Democratic Party remains committed to increasing economic opportunities, making health care affordable and accessible, and protecting Social Security for every American. We will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform that both recognizes the hard work of immigrant families, and improves our homeland security. Mexican-Americans have been instrumental in building up the Democratic Party throughout its history, and together we will continue to work for a better future and a stronger America."

Declaraci�n del Gob. Dean Conmemorando el Cinco de Mayo

Washington, DC – El Gob. Howard Dean, Presidente del Comit� Nacional Dem�crata, emiti� la siguiente declaraci�n en conmemoraci�n del "Cinco de Mayo."

"Como Presidente del Partido Dem�crata me uno a millones hoy en celebraci�n del Cinco de Mayo, y el triunfo por la libertad que representa este d�a. El Cinco de Mayo conmemora la batalla de Puebla en 1862 cuando soldados Mexicanos derrotaron una fuerza invasora imperial m�s del doble su tama�o.

"El Cinco de Mayo se ha hecho parte de nuestra herencia cultural en los Estados Unidos, y es un recordatorio de las contribuciones que han hecho los Mexico-Americanos a nuestra identidad social, econ�mica, y cultural. Los Dem�cratas compartimos la f�, �tica de trabajo, y valores de familia que han hecho a la comunidad Mexico-Americana fuerte.

"La historia compartida que celebramos hoy se diferencia a las fallas y las promesas rotas de la administraci�n Republicana en la Casa Blanca. Los Mexico-Americanos, y en general los hispanos, han perdido oportunidades econ�micas bajo la administraci�n Bush, y m�s y m�s hispanos no tienen acceso a seguro de salud. Los hispanos perder�an miles de d�lares al a�o en los cheques de sus beneficios del Seguro Social si el plan de privatizaci�n del Presidente estuviera vigente hoy. Y en vez de promover una reforma de las leyes de inmigraci�n que saque a millones de trabajadores indocumentados de las sombras, el Presidente Bush se ha puesto de parte de los extremistas anti-inmigrantes republicanos apoyando medidas extremas como el Real ID.

"Este Cinco de Mayo, el Partido Dem�crata permanece comprometido a aumentar las oportunidades econ�micas, a hacer que el cuidado m�dico sea accesible y costeable, y a proteger el Seguro Social para todos los Americanos. Seguiremos luchando por la reforma total de las leyes de inmigraci�n para que se reconozca el fuerte trabajo de las familias inmigrantes, a la vez que se mejora nuestra seguridad nacional. Los Mexico-Americanos han sido importantes en el desarrollo del Partido Dem�crata durante toda su historia, y juntos seguiremos trabajando por un mejor futuro y unos Estados Unidos m�s fuertes."

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Declaraci

Washington, DC – El Gob. Howard Dean, Presidente del Comit� Nacional Dem�crata, emiti� la siguiente declaraci�n en conmemoraci�n del "Cinco de Mayo."

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Gov. Dean Calls for Remaining GOP Ethics Committee Members to Step Aside

Washington, DC - Yesterday, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) both recused themselves from the House Ethics Committee's investigation of Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Gov. Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called on committee members who accepted contributions from DeLay to recuse themselves because they would be asked to judge the controversial fundraising activities of DeLay's PAC, representing an undeniable conflict of interest:

"In light of their colleagues' decision to recuse themselves from a DeLay inquiry, we expect the remaining ethics committee members who have accepted money from DeLay to preserve the integrity of the Congress by following suit," said Dean. "The fact that they have accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from DeLay represents a clear conflict of interest. The foxes should not be guarding the hen house. They must step aside."

Hastings Received Nearly $6,000 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $5,930 to Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. [www.tray.com]

Hart Received $15,000 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $15,000 to Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA). [www.tray.com]

Biggert Received More Than $1,700 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $1,764 to Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL). [www.tray.com]

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May 04, 2005

George W. Bush: Revisionist Historian-in-Chief

Washington, DC – Yesterday at his event in Mississippi, President Bush claimed FDR’s beyond-the-grave support for his Social Security privatization scheme. According to Bush “I think Franklin Roosevelt would be proud to make sure of this. If you work all your life and contribute to Social Security you should not retire into poverty.” [President Bush, Canton, MS, 5/4/05]

“George W. Bush comparing himself to FDR is like the Grinch comparing himself to Santa Claus,” said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Josh Earnest. "It’s laughable for Bush to compare himself to Roosevelt when the current administration is working aggressively to undermine FDR’s vision of a secure retirement for all Americans.”

ROOSEVELT’S VISION: Provide a Secure Retirement for All Americans. “We must face the fact that in this country we have a rich man's security and a poor man's security and that the Government owes equal obligations to both. National security is not a half and half manner: it is all or none.” [President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Radio Address on the third anniversary of the Social Security Act, August 15, 1938]

BUSH’S BROKEN PROMISE: Middle Class Workers Hit Hard by Progressive Indexing. “Workers earning between $20,000 and $90,000 would have their benefits set by a sliding scale that combines inflation increases and wage growth. … Under progressive indexing, a worker now earning $35,000 and retiring in 2055 would see annual benefits fall by 21 percent, or $4,552. … If that same retiree were earning $58,000 in 2005, his benefits would be cut by $9,082, or 31 percent, from currently scheduled levels.” [Washington Post, 4/29/05]

ROOSEVELT’S VISION: Social Security Will Provide a Secure Retirement. “Today it has significance for more than forty million men and women workers whose applications for old-age insurance accounts have been received; this system is designed to assure them an income for life after old age retires them from their jobs.” [President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Radio Address on the third anniversary of the Social Security Act, August 15, 1938]

BUSH’S BROKEN PROMISE: Slash Social Security Benefits; Social Security Will Become a Welfare Program. “And the whole goal would be to see to it that nobody retired in poverty. Somebody who has worked all their life and paid in the Social Security system would not retire into poverty.” [President Bush, Presidential Press Conference, 4/28/05]

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Bush Gets the Blues in Mississippi

Washington, DC - President Bush had to go to Mississippi yesterday to shore up support for his plan to privatize Social Security. He made a presidential visit to a state he won by 20 points in the last election, and where the Governor, both Senators and half the House members are Republicans. Yet, even after his speech, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott criticized his newest proposal and the state's senior Senator, Thad Cochran, said he wasn't yet sold on the idea of drastically slashing earned benefits, even for hard-working, middle class Americans.

That same day, Rep. Clay Shaw, the second-highest ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sen. Charles Grassley, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, whose support Bush desperately needs to make sure his plan makes it through Congress, both questioned Bush's plan and the White House's failing sales pitch.

Former Majority Leader Lott: Criticizes Bush Plan Immediately Following Presidential Visit to Mississippi. "Even some Republicans object. After Bush's speech here, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., told reporters he has qualms about Bush's latest plan to change the way benefits are calculated to ensure that they are more generous for low-income workers. 'I'm not overjoyed about that, because I think it does begin to move it toward a welfare system,' Lott said." [USA Today, 5/4/05]

Mississippi's Sen. Thad Cochran: Will Not Endorse Bush Plan to Cut Benefits. "Queried by a reporter, Cochran, Mississippi's other senator, stopped short of endorsing Bush's proposal for altering the way initial benefits are set for future retirees. 'We will work together on the details,' he said." [Los Angeles Times, 5/4/05]

House Ways and Means Member Shaw: "Skeptical" of Bush's Call for Progressive Indexing; Plan "Falling Flat." "Means testing would change the whole nature of Social Security, which is supposed to be an earned benefit that you pay into. I'm a little skeptical," said Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-FL), according to the Washington Post. He also noted that, Bush's proposal "is landing kind of flat." [Washington Post, 5/4/05; Bloomberg, 5/4/05]

Finance Committee Chairman Grassley: Bush Not Making Progress in Selling of his Private Accounts. "U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said Tuesday that Iowans are no closer to embracing personal accounts as an option for Social Security than they were more than two months ago when President Bush began traveling the nation as the accounts' chief advocate. 'I think it's still that people don't understand how they work or the rationale for it. If they do understand, they don't agree,' said Grassley, an Iowa Republican and chairman of the committee in charge of writing legislation to overhaul Social Security." [Des Moines Register, 5/4/05]

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on Military

Our men and women in uniform have courageously taken up the call to keep our nation safe, and their families make great sacrifices on our behalf. Democrats believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that our troops have the resources they need to carry out their mission, wherever they are serving. To that end, Democrats are working to increase our military strength, and to create a Guard and Reserve Bill of Rights to protect and promote the interests of our dedicated citizen soldiers and our veterans.

While President Bush has previously said he supported our troops, his Administration has fallen woefully short. By his own standards, his policies have failed our men and women in uniform. The American people deserve better from their President, and our men and women in uniform, and their families, deserve better from their commander-in-chief.

BUSH AND CHENEY CAMPAIGN IN 2000 ON PROMISE OF STRENGTHENING THE MILITARY

Bush: "So let's get something straight right now. To point out that our military has been overextended, taken for granted and neglected, that's no criticism of the military. That is criticism of a president and vice president and their record of neglect." [Bush, 11/3/00]

Cheney: "'If you ask the question today, Is the U.S. military better off now than it was eight years ago? the answer is clearly not,' Cheney told workers at Insight Technology, which relies on the military for 95 percent of its business. 'In fact, it's worse off today than it was eight years ago with respect to readiness and with respect to morale ... ,' said Cheney, who served as defense secretary under President George Bush, father of Cheney's running mate, Texas Gov. George W. Bush." [Manchester Union Leader, 9/8/00]

Cheney: "There is an enormous amount of evidence out there ... that the question in terms of readiness and morale, the problems with recruiting, problems with retention, that the military is in trouble today." [AP, 8/27/00]

IN 2000, CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS
CAMPAIGNED ON MILITARY READINESS

Republicans Attacked Clinton For "Readiness Crisis." "Citing a 'severe drop in overall military readiness,' Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, says U.S. forces are being pushed 'to the breaking point' and 'could not fight and win against Iraq today as we did in 1991.' Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., alleges a similar 'downward spiral.' Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., and others complain of a 'readiness crisis.'" [Michael O'Hanlon Op-ed, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5/26/00]

Republicans Called Military "Neglected," In "Bad" Shape, and "Hollow Force." "George W. Bush, in a much-publicized speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars last month, bemoaned a 'military in decline.' At the Republican National Convention, Gulf war hero Norman Schwarzkopf derided the Pentagon as enfeebled. The Armed Services are in a 'downward spiral' (Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott), 'neglected' (Senator John McCain), in 'bad' shape (Representative Curt Weldon), and 'could not fight and win against Iraq today' (Representative Duncan Hunter). Bush advisers routinely describe the American military as a 'hollow force.'" [The New Republic, 9/11/00]

Santorum: "This military is not where it should be and is not a fighting force for the long haul," he said. "Our military is in a very sore state." [AP, 10/25/00]

McCain: "McCain, a Vietnam War pilot and prisoner of war, criticized Democrats for dismissing Bush's expressions of concern about the state of military readiness. 'It is unpatriotic not to talk about military readiness,' he asserted." [AP, 10/20/00]

MILITARY IN WORST CONDITION IN YEARS...
WHO TAKES THE BLAME NOW?

Army Misses Third Straight Recruiting Goal. "The Army missed its recruiting goal in April, marking the third consecutive monthly shortfall… In March the Army had hoped to sign up 6,800 recruits but fell 32% short. That was slightly worse than in February, when a goal of 7,050 was missed by 27%. Prior to missing the February target the Army had not fallen short of a monthly goal since May 2000." [USA Today, 5/2/05]

Pentagon Reports That It Is Too Stretched To Deal With Another Conflict. "The concentration of American troops and weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan limits the Pentagon's ability to deal with other potential armed conflicts, the military's highest ranking officer reported to Congress on Monday. The officer, Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed Congress in a classified report that major combat operations elsewhere in the world, should they be necessary, would probably be more protracted and produce higher American and foreign civilian casualties because of the commitment of Pentagon resources in Iraq and Afghanistan." [NYT, 5/3/05]

Force Could Come Apart. "'No doubt, if we kept up this pace for extended periods, our force would come apart,' [Lt. Gen. Roger] Shultz said of the Army National Guard." [Dallas Morning News, 2/24/05]

Lt. Gen. John M. Riggs, a three-star Army general, said: "I have been in the Army 39 years, and I've never seen the Army as stretched in that 39 years as I have today." [CQ Weekly, 1/30/04]

Former Bush Administrator in Iraq Said Army Is "In Terrible Shape." "There is no question that the Army personnel system is stressed. 'I think the Army is in terrible shape,' said retired Army Lt. Gen. Jay M. Garner, who served last year as the Bush administration's first administrator in postwar Iraq. 'I think people are worn out, equipment is run down and we've overstressed the reserves. We're drastically short [of] infantry and MPs because the Army is too small.'" [Washington Post, 7/6/04]

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08 Ambition at Top of Senate Agenda

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's staff indicated that in response to pressure from extreme right-wing organizations, he is prepared to do their bidding and invoke the so-called nuclear option when the Senate returns next week.

If Leader Frist invokes the nuclear option next week, it would impede progress on a number of important legislative initiatives including the bipartisan effort to pass a transportation bill that would kick-start the American economy and provide a strong foundation for future economic growth.

Today, Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement urging Majority Leader Frist to put aside his personal, political agenda and focus on the agenda of America's families:

"Senator Frist has clearly misplaced his priorities. Americans are concerned about skyrocketing gas prices, rising health care costs, and a softening economy, but Frist is trying to twist Senate business to build right-wing support for his 2008 Presidential campaign," said Dean. "Senator Frist needs to stand up to right-wing activists and stop talking about the nuclear option. This is a time for leadership, not pandering to extremists."

The pressure on Senator Frist from right-wing organizations is building:

Manuel Miranda, chairman of the National Coalition to End the Judicial Filibuster
"It would be considered intolerable to delay [the nuclear option] any further than next week... Were it to be delayed beyond the next week, the Senate GOP should expect tens of thousands of angry phone calls and faxes to tie up their lines." [The Hill, 5/04/05]

Richard Lessner, Executive Director of American Conservative Union
"We've made it clear that patience is running out." [The Hill, 5/04/05]

Unidentified "Conservative Lobbyist"
"They've been kind of dragging us along for months. If it doesn't happen next week, I'm going to be shocked." [The Hill, 5/04/05]

Dr. Gary Cass, Executive Director of Reclaiming America
Reclaiming American, a conservative grassroots organization, presented to Frist a petition with more than 170,000 signatories in favor of ending the judicial filibuster. [The Hill, 5/04/05]

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May 03, 2005

Gov. Dean Statement on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Washington, DC - The Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Gov. Howard Dean, issued the following statement on the effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the endless contributions its passage has provided to individuals with disabilities, their families, friends and society as a whole:

"I commend the National Council on Disability for holding forums on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and am honored as the Chair of the Democratic Party to comment on this landmark legislation.

"Since 1990, the ADA has proven itself to be one of the most important civil rights laws in our nation's history, guaranteeing equal rights and opportunities for Americans with disabilities. While the focus was on prohibiting discrimination based on a person's disability, the spirit of the law has been one of independence, empowerment and inclusion.

"As many as 43 million Americans today can more effectively pursue the American Dream as a result of the ADA. More Americans with disabilities play a greater role in their communities, enjoy better access to services, and have increased opportunities for employment. With equal opportunity in employment, access to public and private programs, and accessible telecommunication and transportation, Americans with disabilities are now taking advantage of a more level playing field that most of us take for granted. Yet, much more remains to be done.

"We in the Democratic Party remain steadfast partners with the disability community in their efforts to fight against the constant threats to weaken and limit the ADA. We will also continue to oppose efforts to cut Social Security disability benefits, such as those in the President's Social Security privatization scheme. Our partners will have our full support and participation in speaking out against conservative judges who are hostile to the spirit and intent of the ADA and we will re-dedicate our energies to ensuring that no person with or without a disability is ever relegated to second class citizenship status.

"We must continue to encourage personal empowerment and promote the type of community organizing that raises public awareness, and promotes public policies which close the accessibility gap in America. It's a commitment to a stronger country, and a commitment to sharing the American Dream, and I encourage Democrats everywhere to stay involved."

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May 02, 2005

DNC Chairman Gov. Howard Dean Statement onAsian Pacific American Heritage Month

Washington, D.C. - Democratic National Committee Chairman Gov. Howard Dean issued the following statement commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which began May 1st:

"I'm honored to join millions all around the country in paying tribute to the contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our nation's social, economic, and cultural identity. As far back as the transcontinental railroad, AAPI's have helped build America. Thirteen and a half million AAPI's continue to enrich the American mosaic today.

Democrats have long championed the values we share with AAPI's, including a strong work ethic, a commitment to education, and respect for families.

The Democratic Party has also led the way in promoting AAPI leadership at the local, state and national level. The overwhelming majority of AAPI elected officials are Democrats, and our party organized the largest AAPI voter mobilization effort in the history of the United States in 2004. The Democratic Party was also the party that welcomed the first AAPI Presidential Cabinet member, the first AAPI governor on the mainland, and the first AAPI member of Congress. Today, Congressman Mike Honda, an AAPI member of Congress from California, serves as Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

This year, we Democrats remember one of our own, Congressman Robert Matsui. Rep. Matsui rose from a World War II era internment camp to become the first AAPI to serve in the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives. This APA Heritage month shall be the first in which we honor his legacy.

As we commemorate the past and the present, we remain committed to empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Democratic Party as together we forge a future that strengthens our country, protects our democracy, and defends our civil rights for all our citizens."

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Conservatives: Progressive Indexing Guts Social Security for Middle Class Americans

Washington, DC - While Democrats raised concerns about the true impact of progressive indexing months ago, over the weekend, two leading conservatives took aim at the "progressive indexing" trial balloon President Bush floated at his primetime news conference last week. Progressive indexing would dramatically cut hard-earned, guaranteed retirement benefits for middle class Americans; it would gut Social Security and unravel what has been the most successful program of its kind.

On Sunday, Republican Senator George Allen (VA) and conservative columnist George Will added their voices to the chorus.

GOP Senator George Allen: Progressive Indexing Hurts "Middle-Income Working People"

On "Meet the Press", Republican Senator George Allen said that he opposed the concept of progressive indexing for Social Security because it would "reduce the retirement security for those particularly middle-income working people." (NBC, 05.01.05)

Conservative Columnist George Will: Social Security Would Become "Less Relevant"

On "This Week", conservative columnist George Will said that progressive indexing of Social Security would "stigmatize" the program by directing it at lower income seniors - at the expense of middle class workers - "making social security less and less relevant to a majority of the American people". (ABC, 05.01.05)

Progressive Indexing would make Social Security an "Empty Shell"

"But critics, including most Democratic lawmakers, say that such an approach would undermine a central bargain conceived during the New Deal: that Social Security is not just a welfare program for the poor but a form of social insurance that people at all income levels pay into and reap rewards from.

"'Social Security is not a poverty program, it is a retirement system people have worked hard for, paid into and have earned,' said Representative Sander M. Levin, Democrat of Michigan. If it becomes increasingly irrelevant for middle-income people, the critics warn, Social Security will eventually become little more than an empty shell." [NYT 5.01.05]

"While Democrats are working to truly address Social Security's long-term challenges and ensure the promise of a hard-earned secure retirement, George Bush has decided that he simply wants to eliminate Social Security over the long term," said DNC spokesman Josh Earnest. "Democrats are committed to finding real solutions to extend Social Security's solvency, so that the hard-earned benefits of America's retirees can be protected."

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If at Frist You Don't Succeed ...

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is still at it. His number one priority is to invoke the nuclear option, but he hasn't been able to explain to the American people why it's a good idea to change 200 years of senate rules. The only reason seems to be that this is part of a partisan power grab.

Frist just wants to flex his own political power. He won't give up and insists on pushing this extreme, radical plan, even though members of his own Party disagree with him.

Frist claims "there are times in history where you have to change either the rules or the precedent..." yet he has not given any good reason to change the rules. [USA Today, 5-2-05]

Frist claims he is "running out of options," yet he has rejected a good faith compromise from Democrats. [USA Today

"Changing the rules just to get what you want is not right, and it goes against our values as Americans," DNC Chairman Howard Dean said. "Democrats are going to fight against this abuse of power because we know our democracy works best when all the parties work together in the best interests of Americans."

Gov. Dean released a radio actuality regarding the nuclear option today. The text is below and to hear the audio, please click here.

"Changing the rules just to get what you want is not right, and it goes against our values as Americans. Senate Republicans are threatening to do exactly that as they deploy what they call the nuclear option. That would take away 200 years of Senate rules.

Those rules were designed to ensure a fundamental balance of power between political parties and those rules protect the rights of Americans.

But not every Republican agrees with this tactic, Senator John McCain, Bob Dole and other sensible Republicans agree with Democrats that we have to preserve our system of checks and balances.

Senate Democrats have confirmed 205 of President Bush's judges. We can not allow the Republicans to ignore the rules just to have the last 10 judges rubber stamped without a fair debate about where these 10 individuals stand on key issues.

If we ignore the rules on judges, where does it stop? Will Republicans try to ignore the rules on legislation too?

Democrats are going to fight against this abuse of power because we know our democracy works best when all the parties work together in the best interests of Americans."

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