Members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton on the upcoming Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization bill and the need for fiscal accountability in Iraq.
The Blue Dog Coalition applauded Chairman Skelton for including key provisions of H.Res.97 in the Defense Authorization bill. H.Res.97 was previously introduced by Blue Dog members and calls for transparency in how Iraq war funds are spent. Specifically, the Defense Authorization bill addresses the lack of oversight and accountability in the war by requiring that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report every six months on the handling of contracts in Iraq.
In addition, Blue Dog members applauded the inclusion of measures in the Defense Authorization bill which establish essential management goals for the Department of Defense and expand the authority of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to include all reconstruction funding regardless of source or fiscal year.
“By including these Blue Dog-sponsored provisions in the Defense Authorization bill, Chairman Skelton has demonstrated a firm commitment to restoring fiscal accountability and responsibility to the government’s funding of the war in Iraq,” said Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. “I encourage all members of Congress to embrace this goal and vote for passage of the Defense Authorization bill this week.”
“As a former soldier, it makes me very proud to be able to fight for accountability and oversight in Iraq and to demand answers here at home,” said Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National and Homeland Security. “With this bill we said that it would no longer be acceptable for billions of dollars to vanish and thousands of weapons to disappear without anyone asking a single tough question. I thank Chairman Skelton and my fellow Blue Dogs for their help in implementing long-overdue fiscal discipline and openness for war operations.”
"Fiscal responsibility and accountability are a Blue Dog's pedigree,” said Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National and Homeland Security. “As the quagmire in Iraq deepens, neither has been observed. That is why inclusion of our Iraq legislation in the Defense Authorization bill is a critical "leash" on out-of-control behavior."
"Accountability is no longer optional for the federal government," said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). "Americans deserve to know where their tax dollars are going, and Iraq and Afghanistan are no exception. This Defense Authorization makes sure our tax dollars are going where they belong - protecting our troops, not lining the pockets of contractors. This bill will scrutinize every single contract and contractor to ensure it's in the American public's best interest."
“While I strongly support providing the equipment and resources our troops need to complete their missions, we cannot afford to exempt funding for the Iraq war from responsible scrutiny. The taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent wisely there,” said Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN). “This is a common sense idea to ensure U.S. resources are directed at bringing a successful conclusion to this war, not lost to corrupt contractors, war profiteers, and enemy fighters.”
This action taken by Chairman Skelton and members of the Blue Dog Coalition comes on the heels of a damaging report issued by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction detailing continued and egregious abuses in the government’s funding of the war in Iraq. Inadequate facilities and non-functioning equipment built by highly paid contractors, insufficient monitoring of government contracts, and billions of dollars unaccounted for due to inefficiencies and bad management are just a few of the examples of waste, fraud and abuse detailed in the report.
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Currently there are 43 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. For more information, visit the Blue Dog website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.
Blue Dog members participating in the event included: Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-02), Co-Chair for Administration; Rep. Dennis Moore (KS-03), Co-Chair for Policy; Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04), Co-Chair for Communications; Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), Whip; Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05); Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-08); Rep. Jane Harman (CA-36); Rep. Tim Mahoney (FL-16); Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-08); Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11); Rep. John Tanner (TN-08); Rep. Gene Taylor (MS-04); and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-01)
* TONY HALL TO ADDRESS PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATIC DINNER
Former Ambassador and Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) will speak at the Democrats for Life Annual Hall of Fame Conference and Dinner to be held at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. At the dinner portion, Democrats For Life of America will honor Tony Hall, a long-time pro-life advocate in Congress and within the Democratic Party. While doing a web search on Tony Hall, I found an excellent address that he gave eleven years ago to the 1996 Democratic National Convention which is still very timely.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL: "Mr. Chairman and fellow Democrats, I have the high honor of speaking to you today about an issue that's very dear to my heart, the needs of the vulnerable in our nation, the poor, the sick, the elderly, the children, and the unborn. The moral test of government, Hubert Humphrey said, is how that government treats those that are in the dawn of life, the children, those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly, and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick. I have had the privilege of working with the poor and the hungry of our nation and I can tell you that hunger affects the lives of more than 20 million Americans each year. Too many of our children go to bed hungry every night and more than 2500 verses in the Bible address the pain and of the hurting and the afflicted."
"How are we as a nation and as individuals, how are we responding to this call? I'm proud that we Democrats are continuing to fight for several Federal initiatives -- school lunches, food stamps, nutrition for mothers and children. Each is an essential part of the basic safety net for needy people. But compassion is more than government programs. It's also people helping people through private efforts. And one reason I'm proud to be a Democrat is that Democrats support compassion and action. Democrats open their doors to those in need, literally."
"In my community, the Democratic Party of Dayton, Ohio has opened up its building to shelter and feed homeless and hungry families. And by doing this, we are showing that Democrats stand for more than just winning elections. We stand for helping people."
"I'm a pro-life Democrat. I'm one of about 40 Democrats in the Congress. And many of us have felt left out by our party's position on abortion for many years. But this year is different. For the first time, the Democratic Party has included in our Platform a conscience clause on this divisive issue. It says, "the Democratic Party therefore recognizes that individual members have a right to abide by their conscience on this difficult issue and are welcome participants at every level of the party."
"The Democratic Party is indeed the party of true inclusions. And it is the party where every American can feel welcome and at home. We Democrats believe that our government and our whole society will be judged on how we treat the least of these among us. So we renew our pledge to be a voice for the voiceless and we reaffirm our commitment to the principle that public service is not an end in itself but rather a means to serve others. With God's help, let us make the United States the compassionate and tolerant nation it was established to be. Thank you very much."
For information on the Annual Hall of Fame Conference and Dinner, go the Democrats for Life at http://www.democratsforlife.org/
*PRO-ENFORCEMENT CAUCUS GAINS DEMOCRATS
Border Line http://tinyurl.com/23r6f7 reported last Friday that a pro-immigration enforcement caucus in the U.S. House has gained some Democratic members.
"The House Immigration Reform Caucus, which pushes for stronger enforcement against illegal immigration, announced this week it has 10 new members, pushing its total to 101."
"The new members include three Southern Democrats — Reps. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Bart Gordon of Tennessee and Gene Taylor of Mississippi."
"This could prove significant as Democratic leaders try to shore up their rank-and-file to support legislation that would give illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship and create a large guest worker program."
It is encouraging that populist Democrats like Gordon, Shuler and Taylor are taking a stand for protecting American workers rather than pandering to illegal aliens.
The Blue Dog Coalition applauded Chairman Skelton for including key provisions of H.Res.97 in the Defense Authorization bill. H.Res.97 was previously introduced by Blue Dog members and calls for transparency in how Iraq war funds are spent. Specifically, the Defense Authorization bill addresses the lack of oversight and accountability in the war by requiring that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report every six months on the handling of contracts in Iraq.
In addition, Blue Dog members applauded the inclusion of measures in the Defense Authorization bill which establish essential management goals for the Department of Defense and expand the authority of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to include all reconstruction funding regardless of source or fiscal year.
“By including these Blue Dog-sponsored provisions in the Defense Authorization bill, Chairman Skelton has demonstrated a firm commitment to restoring fiscal accountability and responsibility to the government’s funding of the war in Iraq,” said Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. “I encourage all members of Congress to embrace this goal and vote for passage of the Defense Authorization bill this week.”
“As a former soldier, it makes me very proud to be able to fight for accountability and oversight in Iraq and to demand answers here at home,” said Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National and Homeland Security. “With this bill we said that it would no longer be acceptable for billions of dollars to vanish and thousands of weapons to disappear without anyone asking a single tough question. I thank Chairman Skelton and my fellow Blue Dogs for their help in implementing long-overdue fiscal discipline and openness for war operations.”
"Fiscal responsibility and accountability are a Blue Dog's pedigree,” said Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National and Homeland Security. “As the quagmire in Iraq deepens, neither has been observed. That is why inclusion of our Iraq legislation in the Defense Authorization bill is a critical "leash" on out-of-control behavior."
"Accountability is no longer optional for the federal government," said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). "Americans deserve to know where their tax dollars are going, and Iraq and Afghanistan are no exception. This Defense Authorization makes sure our tax dollars are going where they belong - protecting our troops, not lining the pockets of contractors. This bill will scrutinize every single contract and contractor to ensure it's in the American public's best interest."
“While I strongly support providing the equipment and resources our troops need to complete their missions, we cannot afford to exempt funding for the Iraq war from responsible scrutiny. The taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent wisely there,” said Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN). “This is a common sense idea to ensure U.S. resources are directed at bringing a successful conclusion to this war, not lost to corrupt contractors, war profiteers, and enemy fighters.”
This action taken by Chairman Skelton and members of the Blue Dog Coalition comes on the heels of a damaging report issued by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction detailing continued and egregious abuses in the government’s funding of the war in Iraq. Inadequate facilities and non-functioning equipment built by highly paid contractors, insufficient monitoring of government contracts, and billions of dollars unaccounted for due to inefficiencies and bad management are just a few of the examples of waste, fraud and abuse detailed in the report.
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Currently there are 43 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. For more information, visit the Blue Dog website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.
Blue Dog members participating in the event included: Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-02), Co-Chair for Administration; Rep. Dennis Moore (KS-03), Co-Chair for Policy; Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04), Co-Chair for Communications; Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), Whip; Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05); Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-08); Rep. Jane Harman (CA-36); Rep. Tim Mahoney (FL-16); Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-08); Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11); Rep. John Tanner (TN-08); Rep. Gene Taylor (MS-04); and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-01)
* TONY HALL TO ADDRESS PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATIC DINNER
Former Ambassador and Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) will speak at the Democrats for Life Annual Hall of Fame Conference and Dinner to be held at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. At the dinner portion, Democrats For Life of America will honor Tony Hall, a long-time pro-life advocate in Congress and within the Democratic Party. While doing a web search on Tony Hall, I found an excellent address that he gave eleven years ago to the 1996 Democratic National Convention which is still very timely.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL: "Mr. Chairman and fellow Democrats, I have the high honor of speaking to you today about an issue that's very dear to my heart, the needs of the vulnerable in our nation, the poor, the sick, the elderly, the children, and the unborn. The moral test of government, Hubert Humphrey said, is how that government treats those that are in the dawn of life, the children, those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly, and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick. I have had the privilege of working with the poor and the hungry of our nation and I can tell you that hunger affects the lives of more than 20 million Americans each year. Too many of our children go to bed hungry every night and more than 2500 verses in the Bible address the pain and of the hurting and the afflicted."
"How are we as a nation and as individuals, how are we responding to this call? I'm proud that we Democrats are continuing to fight for several Federal initiatives -- school lunches, food stamps, nutrition for mothers and children. Each is an essential part of the basic safety net for needy people. But compassion is more than government programs. It's also people helping people through private efforts. And one reason I'm proud to be a Democrat is that Democrats support compassion and action. Democrats open their doors to those in need, literally."
"In my community, the Democratic Party of Dayton, Ohio has opened up its building to shelter and feed homeless and hungry families. And by doing this, we are showing that Democrats stand for more than just winning elections. We stand for helping people."
"I'm a pro-life Democrat. I'm one of about 40 Democrats in the Congress. And many of us have felt left out by our party's position on abortion for many years. But this year is different. For the first time, the Democratic Party has included in our Platform a conscience clause on this divisive issue. It says, "the Democratic Party therefore recognizes that individual members have a right to abide by their conscience on this difficult issue and are welcome participants at every level of the party."
"The Democratic Party is indeed the party of true inclusions. And it is the party where every American can feel welcome and at home. We Democrats believe that our government and our whole society will be judged on how we treat the least of these among us. So we renew our pledge to be a voice for the voiceless and we reaffirm our commitment to the principle that public service is not an end in itself but rather a means to serve others. With God's help, let us make the United States the compassionate and tolerant nation it was established to be. Thank you very much."
For information on the Annual Hall of Fame Conference and Dinner, go the Democrats for Life at http://www.democratsforlife.org/
*PRO-ENFORCEMENT CAUCUS GAINS DEMOCRATS
Border Line http://tinyurl.com/23r6f7 reported last Friday that a pro-immigration enforcement caucus in the U.S. House has gained some Democratic members.
"The House Immigration Reform Caucus, which pushes for stronger enforcement against illegal immigration, announced this week it has 10 new members, pushing its total to 101."
"The new members include three Southern Democrats — Reps. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Bart Gordon of Tennessee and Gene Taylor of Mississippi."
"This could prove significant as Democratic leaders try to shore up their rank-and-file to support legislation that would give illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship and create a large guest worker program."
It is encouraging that populist Democrats like Gordon, Shuler and Taylor are taking a stand for protecting American workers rather than pandering to illegal aliens.
2 comments:
About time Iraq is being held accountable for something, it's about our troops, not surrendering.
I am a democrat who, like Mike Malloy, wants a kick ass liberal party. Not this pink tutu DLC which is ruining the democratic party
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