I know that's a strong statement. But...it's pretty true. I mean, how many major issues are there facing this country today?
There's an energy crisis. An environmental crisis. We have several major diplomatic crises. Two wars we're losing. A credit crisis. A housing crisis. An economy driving itself off the cliff. And others of greater or lesser stature, such as how college is getting increasingly out of reach for the average American kid.
What has Congress done in the past year? Let us consult Google.
(Several Days Later...)
I've been stuck on this for the past few days because I WANT to dig through the list of bills. But even tho a tiny portion of Congressional bills became useful laws (a large portion were things like renaming post offices) there's still thousands of them.
I don't have that kinda time. I encourage you to peruse...just fifteen minutes spent checking out the written record of what Congress does is very enlightening...but I can't do a comprehensive search.
So here's a list the Washington Post has put together on key votes. It covers the meat and potatoes of what was accomplished, and the added bonus of seeing how various reps and senators voted.
Time to put my perfectionism back in the box for another day...
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Wednesday
Hobson's Record
Since he's up for re-election this year, I decided to take a quick look at what my Congressman has voted on. And I'm not talking about silly lil resolutions, I mean things like defense spending.
So here's a list big bills that went down in 2007 and how Hobson voted on them.
Enhancing Intelligence Oversight, No.
Adding Stemcell Research to Public Health Service Act, No.
Ammending Medicare to Require Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices, No.
Implementing the 9/11 Commission Reccomendations, Yes.
Supreme Court Hears Appeal by Exxon on Valdez Damages, from NPR
Bowling HQ May Move to Texas, from NPR
$1.4 Billion in Fines for Microsoft, from BBC
German High Court Limits Cyber Spying, from BBC
Columbus Curbside Recycling Charge to Double, from WCBE
McCain Apologizes for Cunningham Remarks, from WVXU
So here's a list big bills that went down in 2007 and how Hobson voted on them.
Enhancing Intelligence Oversight, No.
Adding Stemcell Research to Public Health Service Act, No.
Ammending Medicare to Require Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices, No.
Implementing the 9/11 Commission Reccomendations, Yes.
College Student Relief, Yes.
Advaced Fuels Infrascture Research and Development Act, Yes.
Before even 100 votes took place in 2007, Hobson had managed to vote against my values 5 times and vote for them only 3. There will be another edition of this...it's just too fun!
Right now, I need to focus on seeing who his challenger is...
...And Now for Some News...Supreme Court Hears Appeal by Exxon on Valdez Damages, from NPR
Bowling HQ May Move to Texas, from NPR
$1.4 Billion in Fines for Microsoft, from BBC
German High Court Limits Cyber Spying, from BBC
Columbus Curbside Recycling Charge to Double, from WCBE
McCain Apologizes for Cunningham Remarks, from WVXU
Congressman
Ok, so I suck w/ this schedule thing. I blame starting a new job and throwing my weekend outta whack...so now here we are.
Again, I moved recently. So now I'm not represented by the Schmidt woman, who couldn't be farther from my values if she tried. Let's go see who now claims me as a constituent.
Looks like Dave Hobson. District 7 really is Central Ohio, ranging from Lancaster to Dayton. I'm kinda impressed, and thus not at all surprized at the fact it's a GOP district.
It's all small town farm country, or nice suburbs. With a few token urban regions (like my crime-infested economically depressed neighborhood) for show. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the GOP has had an uninterrupted majority in the state legislature for years?
The guy's page is quite robust actually...go check it out. Doesn't seem bad at all. And he won 61% of the vote in 2006...not too bad, considering the nation's mood at that point.
We'll look into him more at length...so...yep. That's all I got for now. Enjoy your Legislation Wednesday!
Again, I moved recently. So now I'm not represented by the Schmidt woman, who couldn't be farther from my values if she tried. Let's go see who now claims me as a constituent.
Looks like Dave Hobson. District 7 really is Central Ohio, ranging from Lancaster to Dayton. I'm kinda impressed, and thus not at all surprized at the fact it's a GOP district.
It's all small town farm country, or nice suburbs. With a few token urban regions (like my crime-infested economically depressed neighborhood) for show. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the GOP has had an uninterrupted majority in the state legislature for years?
The guy's page is quite robust actually...go check it out. Doesn't seem bad at all. And he won 61% of the vote in 2006...not too bad, considering the nation's mood at that point.
We'll look into him more at length...so...yep. That's all I got for now. Enjoy your Legislation Wednesday!
...and Now for Some News...
Obama, McCain Winners in "Potomac Primary," from NPR
Roger Clemens Denies Steroid Use, from NPR (Whatever. Sold out Red Sox, used steroids...)
Top Hezbollah Leader Killed by Bomb, from BBC
Spielberg Steps Down from Olympic Committee, from BBC
Columbus Council Approves Budget, from WCBE (you'll have to listen to the story for details)
How to Contact the Governor
Just a quickie today...but I thought we should touch on what might be an obvious character, the state Governor.
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/ is the webpage for Ted Strickland. Once you're there, you can check out all kinds of nifty stuff, not unlike the White House website. In order to contact Governor Strickland, click on the "Constituent Affairs" link towards the bottom of the page. This will get you a web contact form, which even lets you flag your message as needing a reply.
If you're looking for a phone number or mailing address, go to the sidebar on the left-hand side. Find the link that says Contact Us. There you are!
Now for Some News...
I think Wednesday's I'll try and focus on environment/sustainability news. Which makes most of Marketplace's show yesterday (this whole week, really) pretty applicable.
Effects of a Consumer Culture on Bhutan
A small Indiana Town Shoots for Energy Independance
Discussion: Public Solutions or Private Enterprise?
All three of the above from Marketplace, an American Public Media operation.
Headlines...
FBI Finds Blackwater Shootings Unjustified, from NPR
Congress to Vote on Another Iraq Spending Bill with Troop Drawdown Attached, from NPR
French Strike Brings Travel Chaos, from BBC
Another Pakistani Opposition Leader Arrested, from BBC
Reds Lose Chief Operating Officer and Executive VP, from WVXU
Ohio Prison Population Hits 50,000, from WCPO. (I heard on the radio version on WVXU they blame the short term, 1 year or less drug convictions for most of the over crowding. Also, the prisons are projected to be at 52000 by this time next year).
Tune in next time, when we'll take a look at the Ohio State Legislature!
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/ is the webpage for Ted Strickland. Once you're there, you can check out all kinds of nifty stuff, not unlike the White House website. In order to contact Governor Strickland, click on the "Constituent Affairs" link towards the bottom of the page. This will get you a web contact form, which even lets you flag your message as needing a reply.
If you're looking for a phone number or mailing address, go to the sidebar on the left-hand side. Find the link that says Contact Us. There you are!
Now for Some News...
I think Wednesday's I'll try and focus on environment/sustainability news. Which makes most of Marketplace's show yesterday (this whole week, really) pretty applicable.
Effects of a Consumer Culture on Bhutan
A small Indiana Town Shoots for Energy Independance
Discussion: Public Solutions or Private Enterprise?
All three of the above from Marketplace, an American Public Media operation.
Headlines...
FBI Finds Blackwater Shootings Unjustified, from NPR
Congress to Vote on Another Iraq Spending Bill with Troop Drawdown Attached, from NPR
French Strike Brings Travel Chaos, from BBC
Another Pakistani Opposition Leader Arrested, from BBC
Reds Lose Chief Operating Officer and Executive VP, from WVXU
Ohio Prison Population Hits 50,000, from WCPO. (I heard on the radio version on WVXU they blame the short term, 1 year or less drug convictions for most of the over crowding. Also, the prisons are projected to be at 52000 by this time next year).
Tune in next time, when we'll take a look at the Ohio State Legislature!
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