Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:01 pm
Friends:
I was recently contacted by the Lakewood Observer and asked to post a blog entry on behalf of Congressman Kucinich to provide users of this form with an update on the Congressman's work in Washington and in the community.
The Cleveland-area faces many challenges and needs a strong and independent advocate in Washington who will challenge the status quo, fight the special interests and ensure the community gets the assistance it needs. Often the priorities in Washington do not reflect the needs of the people. For nearly ten years in Congress, Kucinich has challenged Washington to address the real needs of people.
Lakewood, and the whole Cleveland-area, face many challenges but none are greater than the need to create jobs, strengthen the local economy, provide adequate and quality health care to all and end the war in Iraq.
To improve the local economy, Kucinich has worked to keep jobs, create new jobs and invest in infrastructure. There is no greater example of this than last year when the Department of Defense recommending shifting over 1,000 well paying federal jobs out of DFAS Cleveland. Because of a bipartisan effort led by Kucinich, Congressman LaTourette and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, not only were over 1,000 jobs saved, DFAS is set to add an additional 500-600 jobs.
Protecting the local economy also means protecting NASA Glenn. When the President submitted his 2006 budget to Congress it contained a $60 million cut in funding for aeronautics, the primary work of Glenn. Because of a bipartisan and bicameral effort that Kucinich led, Congress halted involuntary layoffs, reversed funding cuts and restored funding for aeronautics. Congress also inserted language valuing the specialties at NASA Glenn. Specifically, Congress passed an overall funding increase of $60 million for the aeronautics research program over budget request, including $25 million for hypersonics research.
The efforts to save DFAS and NASA Glenn mirrors similar efforts, led by Kucinich, that resulted in hundreds jobs being saved at LTV (now Mittal) Steel, Cleveland Pneumatic Plant, and Viking Sewing Machine.
With changes coming to the automotive industry that could greatly affect the Cleveland-area, Kucinich will look to replicate his past successes and continue efforts to ensure that jobs stay in the area and the economy continues to grow.
Cleveland's problems are not partisan and their solutions should not be either.
That is why Kucinich joined with Congressman LaTourette to introduce bipartisan legislation to make a substantial investment in the area's, and nation's, infrastructure. The bill is not just an infrastructure bill, it is a job bill. Federal investment in infrastructure improvements creates jobs and helps the community remain strong. That is why, in over ten years in Congress, Kucinich has worked with both sides of the aisle to secure over $105 million in federal transportation and infrastructure funds for communities throughout his district.
You cannot discuss the local economy without discussing the decline in the manufacturing base. The two are intertwined, and the neglect on the federal level to manufacturing policy can be directly related to the decline of the Cleveland-area's local economy. The past two Administrations have pursued trade agreements and manufacturing policies that have greatly harmed the local economy and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich strongly challenged both President Clinton and President Bush as they pushed trade agreements that accelerated a race to the bottom, abandon workers and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich will continue to challenge any trade agreement, or manufacturing policy, that does not protect the community and its workers.
The economy is also harmed by the skyrocketing costs at the gas pump and the overwhelming prices people are paying to heat their homes. To bring relief to the community, Kucinich has introduced legislation to address both these issues and is working with his colleagues to pass these vital pieces of legislation.
The economy in the Cleveland-area is hurting because of misplaced priorities in Washington. Kucinich has been at the forefront of challenging these policies and will continue to do so in the name of the millions of Ohioans being left behind.
Another challenge facing the community is the lack of adequate, affordable and quality health insurance. To address this, Kucinich has authored and co-introduced, HR 676, Medicare for All, a bill to provide high quality health care to every American. This bill would provide all Americans the health care they need, from any doctor they choose, at a universal, high standard of quality. Americans would not be burdened with co-payments, premiums or deductibles. Rather, they would be guaranteed access to medically necessary health care, including inpatient and outpatient care, dental care, vision care, pharmaceuticals, and other treatments that a patient's doctor would deem necessary.
Medicare for All would cost the same amount of money that is now spent on health care costs. Funds would be provided by savings from a vast reduction of paperwork, existing government spending on healthcare, savings from rational bulk procurement of medications, a tax on the top 5% of income earners, a small tax on stock and bond transfers, and a phased-in payroll tax that is less than what employers currently pay on average for employee health coverage that is much less comprehensive.
The Conyers/Kucinich bill is the signature national health insurance bill currently before Congress. The bill has more co-sponsors than ever before. HR 676 currently has 68 co-sponsors in Congress. HR 676 is the subject of a national grassroots campaign. The legislation is endorsed by 72 union organizations and town hall meetings have been or will be held in 90 cities this year.
Lastly, the Cleveland-area, and nation, continues to suffer because of the ill-advised, ill-conceived, misguided and failed war in Iraq.
Since early 2002, Kucinich has been the leading voice in Congress in opposition to the war. Kucinich believes we need to begin removing all our troops from Iraq in a quick and orderly manner--- in a matter of months not years. To address this Kucinich introduced the first, and only, bipartisan legislation calling for the withdrawal of forces. (H. J. Res. 55).
Kucinich also strongly believes that Congress has failed at its Constitutional duty to conduct oversight over this Administration's war policy. In an attempt to push Congress to meet its oversight duty, Kucinich has used a little known parliamentarian procedure known as a Resolution of Inquiry to demand accountability from this Administration. Kucinich has introduced three resolutions asking for documents regarding Iraq's weapons disclosure to the UN before the war, the White House Iraq Group and the Rendon and Lincoln Group. The Administration released the Iraqi disclosure to Congress in response to Kucinich's resolution. Kucinich also forced Congress to investigate the missing $9 billion in Iraqi reconstruction funds that have yet to be accounted for.
With over $250 billion spent on the war, and more appropriated, the war is draining vital financial resources needed to address the critical needs here at home.
Kucinich will continue to challenge the war and demand that all our troops come home in a quick and orderly fashion. Kucinich has challenged both the Administration and his own party on this issues and will not stop until all our troops come home.
I understand this time of year rhetoric gets heated. But, the facts are clear-Kucinich remains a strong, unwavering and effective voice for the community in Washington with a lengthy record of accomplishment.
I appreciate the Lakewood Observer granting the Congressman this opportunity to share his record with the blogosphere.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Doug Gordon
Communications Director,
Office of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)
Washington, DC
I was recently contacted by the Lakewood Observer and asked to post a blog entry on behalf of Congressman Kucinich to provide users of this form with an update on the Congressman's work in Washington and in the community.
The Cleveland-area faces many challenges and needs a strong and independent advocate in Washington who will challenge the status quo, fight the special interests and ensure the community gets the assistance it needs. Often the priorities in Washington do not reflect the needs of the people. For nearly ten years in Congress, Kucinich has challenged Washington to address the real needs of people.
Lakewood, and the whole Cleveland-area, face many challenges but none are greater than the need to create jobs, strengthen the local economy, provide adequate and quality health care to all and end the war in Iraq.
To improve the local economy, Kucinich has worked to keep jobs, create new jobs and invest in infrastructure. There is no greater example of this than last year when the Department of Defense recommending shifting over 1,000 well paying federal jobs out of DFAS Cleveland. Because of a bipartisan effort led by Kucinich, Congressman LaTourette and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, not only were over 1,000 jobs saved, DFAS is set to add an additional 500-600 jobs.
Protecting the local economy also means protecting NASA Glenn. When the President submitted his 2006 budget to Congress it contained a $60 million cut in funding for aeronautics, the primary work of Glenn. Because of a bipartisan and bicameral effort that Kucinich led, Congress halted involuntary layoffs, reversed funding cuts and restored funding for aeronautics. Congress also inserted language valuing the specialties at NASA Glenn. Specifically, Congress passed an overall funding increase of $60 million for the aeronautics research program over budget request, including $25 million for hypersonics research.
The efforts to save DFAS and NASA Glenn mirrors similar efforts, led by Kucinich, that resulted in hundreds jobs being saved at LTV (now Mittal) Steel, Cleveland Pneumatic Plant, and Viking Sewing Machine.
With changes coming to the automotive industry that could greatly affect the Cleveland-area, Kucinich will look to replicate his past successes and continue efforts to ensure that jobs stay in the area and the economy continues to grow.
Cleveland's problems are not partisan and their solutions should not be either.
That is why Kucinich joined with Congressman LaTourette to introduce bipartisan legislation to make a substantial investment in the area's, and nation's, infrastructure. The bill is not just an infrastructure bill, it is a job bill. Federal investment in infrastructure improvements creates jobs and helps the community remain strong. That is why, in over ten years in Congress, Kucinich has worked with both sides of the aisle to secure over $105 million in federal transportation and infrastructure funds for communities throughout his district.
You cannot discuss the local economy without discussing the decline in the manufacturing base. The two are intertwined, and the neglect on the federal level to manufacturing policy can be directly related to the decline of the Cleveland-area's local economy. The past two Administrations have pursued trade agreements and manufacturing policies that have greatly harmed the local economy and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich strongly challenged both President Clinton and President Bush as they pushed trade agreements that accelerated a race to the bottom, abandon workers and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich will continue to challenge any trade agreement, or manufacturing policy, that does not protect the community and its workers.
The economy is also harmed by the skyrocketing costs at the gas pump and the overwhelming prices people are paying to heat their homes. To bring relief to the community, Kucinich has introduced legislation to address both these issues and is working with his colleagues to pass these vital pieces of legislation.
The economy in the Cleveland-area is hurting because of misplaced priorities in Washington. Kucinich has been at the forefront of challenging these policies and will continue to do so in the name of the millions of Ohioans being left behind.
Another challenge facing the community is the lack of adequate, affordable and quality health insurance. To address this, Kucinich has authored and co-introduced, HR 676, Medicare for All, a bill to provide high quality health care to every American. This bill would provide all Americans the health care they need, from any doctor they choose, at a universal, high standard of quality. Americans would not be burdened with co-payments, premiums or deductibles. Rather, they would be guaranteed access to medically necessary health care, including inpatient and outpatient care, dental care, vision care, pharmaceuticals, and other treatments that a patient's doctor would deem necessary.
Medicare for All would cost the same amount of money that is now spent on health care costs. Funds would be provided by savings from a vast reduction of paperwork, existing government spending on healthcare, savings from rational bulk procurement of medications, a tax on the top 5% of income earners, a small tax on stock and bond transfers, and a phased-in payroll tax that is less than what employers currently pay on average for employee health coverage that is much less comprehensive.
The Conyers/Kucinich bill is the signature national health insurance bill currently before Congress. The bill has more co-sponsors than ever before. HR 676 currently has 68 co-sponsors in Congress. HR 676 is the subject of a national grassroots campaign. The legislation is endorsed by 72 union organizations and town hall meetings have been or will be held in 90 cities this year.
Lastly, the Cleveland-area, and nation, continues to suffer because of the ill-advised, ill-conceived, misguided and failed war in Iraq.
Since early 2002, Kucinich has been the leading voice in Congress in opposition to the war. Kucinich believes we need to begin removing all our troops from Iraq in a quick and orderly manner--- in a matter of months not years. To address this Kucinich introduced the first, and only, bipartisan legislation calling for the withdrawal of forces. (H. J. Res. 55).
Kucinich also strongly believes that Congress has failed at its Constitutional duty to conduct oversight over this Administration's war policy. In an attempt to push Congress to meet its oversight duty, Kucinich has used a little known parliamentarian procedure known as a Resolution of Inquiry to demand accountability from this Administration. Kucinich has introduced three resolutions asking for documents regarding Iraq's weapons disclosure to the UN before the war, the White House Iraq Group and the Rendon and Lincoln Group. The Administration released the Iraqi disclosure to Congress in response to Kucinich's resolution. Kucinich also forced Congress to investigate the missing $9 billion in Iraqi reconstruction funds that have yet to be accounted for.
With over $250 billion spent on the war, and more appropriated, the war is draining vital financial resources needed to address the critical needs here at home.
Kucinich will continue to challenge the war and demand that all our troops come home in a quick and orderly fashion. Kucinich has challenged both the Administration and his own party on this issues and will not stop until all our troops come home.
I understand this time of year rhetoric gets heated. But, the facts are clear-Kucinich remains a strong, unwavering and effective voice for the community in Washington with a lengthy record of accomplishment.
I appreciate the Lakewood Observer granting the Congressman this opportunity to share his record with the blogosphere.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Doug Gordon
Communications Director,
Office of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)
Washington, DC