Vote Loebsack, not GOP

by Ellen Ballas

What will it take to convince Iowans in the second district that a vote for Jim Leach (R-IA) is a vote for the Republican Party and the Republican-controlled Congress?

Leach does a great job talking the talk of a moderate. But, instead of just taking his word for it, let's take a closer look at his voting pattern using a few of his recent votes as examples.

My first example: On May 24th, Leach helped kill a Democratic effort to add $750 million for alternative energy, innovation and energy efficiency and $250 million for flood control efforts to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 5427). Leach joined 224 of his fellow Republicans in voting to kill the Democratic amendment.

Second example: Leach again joined Republicans on May 25th to end Democratic efforts to amend the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (H.R. 5441). Leach voted to kill two Democratic amendments that would have provided $3.5 billion to improve homeland security and increase chemical plant security. Republicans killed the Democratic effort 217-195.

The first amendment, offered by Dave Obey (D-WI), would have provided $3.5 billion to improve homeland security. Paid for entirely by slightly rolling back the Bush tax cut for millionaires, the amendment would have allocated $2.1 billion for enhanced border security, $600 million for enhanced port security, $600 million for equipping and training first responders and increasing disaster preparedness, and $200 million for expanding explosive detection systems at airports.

The second amendment, offered by Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN), attempted to make chemical facilities here in the United States more secure by giving the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority he needs to issue security regulations for chemical facilities.

Third example: On May 18th, Leach chose special interests over American Families. Leach voted for the Republican-tax-cuts-for-millionaires-bill (H.CON.RES.376) adding trillions to the already insane deficit over the next ten years. This bill slices and dices critical middle class priorities like health care, education and tax relief. And, it will also cut billions from homeland security and veterans health care.

To top off the already disastrous Republican-tax-cuts-for-millionaires-bill, Leach voted against a Democratic-sponsored amendment (H.Amdt. 833) that would have balanced the national budget by 2012, while providing more funding for health care, education, homeland security, and the environment.

Jim Leach does not represent the values and concerns of Iowans in the second district. He has spent the last 30 years as a career politician. Thus, Republicans know that when they need Leach's vote they have it (i.e., Medicare Part D, USA Patriot Act). And when Republicans don't need Leach's vote to pass a House bill, Leach votes with Democrats so he looks good in the district.

A vote for Leach is a vote for more of the same culture of corruption in the Republican-controlled Congress. Help get the word out, this November vote for someone who will work hard for hardworking Iowans. Vote for Leadership. Vote for Democratic candidate, Dave Loebsack (IA-2).

Ellen Ballas