Joe Votes Against Two Important Sunshine Bills

Although Joe did vote for H.R. 1255, which amends the Presidential Records Act (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h1255/show), he voted against H.R. 1309 (308 yay; 117 nay), which strengthens the Freedom of Information Act and H.R. 985 (331 yay; 94 nay), the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007. What is Joe afraid of being exposed -- is he afraid of getting sunburn from all the sunshine? Maybe he just needs some sunblock.

Summary text of these two bills follows:

H.R.985 - Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007
To amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify which disclosures of information are protected from prohibited personnel practices; to require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements to the effect that such policies, forms, and agreements are consistent with certain disclosure protections, and for other purposes.

Short: Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 as introduced.
2/12/2007--Introduced.Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 - Includes as a protected disclosure by a federal employee any lawful disclosure an employee or applicant reasonably believes is credible evidence of waste, abuse, gross mismanagement, or substantial and specific danger to public health or safety without restriction as to time, place, form, motive, context, or prior disclosure. Defines "disclosure" to mean a formal or informal communication, not including a communication concerning policy decisions that lawfully exercise discretionary authority unless the employee providing the disclosure reasonably believes that the disclosure evidences: (1) any violation of law; or (2) mismanagement, waste, abuse of authority, or a danger to the public. Codifies the legal standard for determining whether a whistleblower has a reasonable belief that a disclosure evidences governmental waste, fraud, or abuse, or a violation of law. Includes under the definition of: (1) "personnel action" the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement; and (2) "prohibited personnel practice" implementing or enforcing any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement not containing a statement that it is consistent with specified provisions governing disclosures and conducting an investigation of an employee or applicant because of any protected activity. Authorizes the President to exclude certain agencies engaged in the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities from whistleblower protections if such exclusion is made prior to any personnel action against the whistleblower. Expands the authority of the Merit Systems Protection Board to impose disciplinary action for prohibited personnel practices. Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on security clearance revocations after 1996, claims in connection with such revocations, and resulting actions. Allows an employee, former employee, or applicant who seeks corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board with respect to an alleged prohibited personnel practice to bring action in federal district court for de novo review. Provides that an employee of a covered agency may not be discharged, demoted, or discriminated against as a reprisal for making a disclosure of covered information to an authorized Member of Congress, authorized executive official, or the Inspector General of the covered agency. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) reprisal complaints; (2) determinations by the covered agency on whether the employee was subjected to a prohibited reprisal; and (3) re-initiation of procedures to restrict an employee's access to classified or sensitive information after a corrective action to restrict such access was voided. Entitles employees of executive agencies that are not covered agencies, for purposes of any disclosure of covered information which consists of classified or sensitive information, to the same protections, rights, and remedies under this Act as if those agencies were covered. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and Armed Forces procurement provisions to modify remedy and enforcement authority s relating to the protection of contractor employees from reprisal for disclosure of certain information. Makes certain prohibited personnel practices provisions applicable to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Includes within the meaning of "abuse of authority": (1) actions that compromise the validity of federally funded research or analysis; and (2) the dissemination of false or misleading scientific, medical, or technical information.

H.R.1309 - Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007
To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes.

Short: Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 as introduced.
3/5/2007--Introduced.Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to prohibit a federal agency from denying a requester status as a news media representative for purposes of determining FOIA request processing fees solely on the absence more...of institutional association. Requires an agency to consider the requester's prior publication history or stated intent to distribute information to a reasonably broad audience. Provides that, for purposes of recovery of attorney fees and other litigation costs under FOIA, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order, an administrative action, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party in a case in which the complainant's claim or defense was not frivolous. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Special Counsel of and report to Congress on civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records. Prohibits the tolling of the time limit within which agencies determine whether to comply with a request for records without the consent of the party filing the request. Requires agencies to establish systems to track requests. Adds requirements for reports by agencies to the Attorney General on such requests. Establishes the Office of Government Information Services in the National Archives to: (1) provide, as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation, guidance to FOIA requesters; (2) review policies and procedures by administrative agencies under FOIA; and (3) recommend to Congress and the President policy changes to improve FOIA's administration. Requires the: (1) Comptroller General to annually report on implementation of provisions for the protection of voluntarily shared critical infrastructure information; and (2) Office of Personnel Management to report on personnel policies related to FOIA. Declares that the government's policy is to release information in response to a request if such release is: (1) required by law; or (2) allowed by law and the agency does not reasonably foresee that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by an applicable exemption.

Local "Liberal Agitator" Disrupting Joe's "Bi-Partisan" Efforts

Liberal finds his voice in a conservative town

BY ANNETTE KINGSBURY STAFF WRITER
Bruce Fealk is a man on a mission.
A Democrat in a county dominated by Republicans, he acknowledges he wasn't politically active until a couple of years ago. Now, he's demonstrating, blogging, campaigning, setting up Web sites and, most recently, hosting a local-access cable television show that can also be viewed on the Web.

It's all aimed at getting more exposure for Democrats in Oakland County. Disappointed by mainstream media, Fealk has turned to the Internet, the explosively popular avenue for grassroots communication.

It Must Be Lonely For Joe All By Himself On the Wrong Side of Another Issue

Joe Knollenberg has come out against increasing the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks.

Let's take a look at who has come out in support of increasing the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles:

Congress
A bi-partisan movement is coalescing in Congress to preserve our National Security by becoming less dependent on foreign oil. A major component of that initiative is to reduce the quantity of gasoline burned in our cars and trucks.

Major Industry
A coalition of major industries are calling on Congress to take action to conserve fuel. These industries include Southwest Airlines, Fedex, Dow Chemical Co., and Waste Management Inc. , UPS, Goldman Sachs, and a whole host of retired military officials. They are calling their bipartisan coalition "SAFE" for Securing America's Future Energy.

The Auto Industry Itself
Even the auto executives themselves recognize that their customers want more fuel efficient vehicles. They testified to that effect in front of Congress yesterday.

According to MSNBC:

Auto executives worldwide believe sales of hybrid cars and low-cost, fuel efficient models will outpace sales of sport utility vehicles, pickups and luxury models over the next five years because of lingering concerns about fuel prices, according to an annual survey released Wednesday.

The Majority of the People of Nearly every Other Industrialized Nation
A recent international poll found that a majority believe that global warming is an important issue.

Leaders in the Republican Party
Even the leadership of his own Republican Party, George W. Bush, Arnold Schwartzenegger, etc. are now considering addressing global warming and have already indicated their support for energy conservation.

It must be lonely Over there for Joe always being on the wrong side of every issue.


Will Joe Ever Learn That He Should Stop Listening to Washington DC Lobbyists
&
Start Listening to The Voters In the 9th District?

Knollenberg's Cozy Little Circle of Lobbyists

We noted below that not only is Joe Knollenberg's Chief of Staff a bigshot Washington DC lobbyist, but that he is so desperate to find someone who would support Joe Knollenberg, that he had to resort to getting family members to write letters to the editor.

Apparently the family member who wrote the letter referenced above is his wife, who is also the 9th Congressional District Chair for the McCain for Michigan Campaign. That of course is even more interesting since Wisecup used to be a lobbyist consultant for Mitt Romney -- who is not only running for President but who has been endorsed by Joe Knollenberg!

Cozy, isn't it?

Joe abstains from congratulating Greece on its anniversary

I'm sure Joe abstained from voting on this bill recognizing the 186th anniversary of Greek independence because of his work with the Armenian lobby and his role as co-chair of the Armenian caucus. Why does Joe hate Greece?

H.Res.228
Recognizing the 186th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy.

Other Bill Titles
Official: Recognizing the 186th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy. as introduced.

3/8/2007--Introduced.Extends the warm congratulations and best wishes of the House of Representatives to the people of Greece as they celebrate the 186th anniversary of the independence of Greece. Expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Greece are committed. Notes the important role that Greece has played in the wider European region and in the community of nations since gaining its independence 186 years ago.

Ah. The Plot Sickens.

Well, well, well.

What have we here? A close tie between Joe Knollenberg's LOBBYIST and Governor Schwartzenegger's lobbyist?

Knollenberg put up a billboard -- not in his own District mind you -- that says that the Governor of California is telling Michigan to "drop dead".

(According to a recent poll, most of the drivers who admitted to seeing the billboard said they "didn't get it". They couldn't see the connection between the Governor of California and Michigan and why he would be telling us to "drop dead".)

But the LA Times reports that Knollenberg's Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup, -- who is also a fat cat Washington DC lobbyist -- worked for Schwarzenegger and for a political consulting firm run by a current Schwarzenegger advisor named Mike Murphy:

The congressman's chief of staff, by the way, is Trent Wisecup - who worked for Schwarzenegger on the 2003 recall and for Navigators, the political consulting firm managed in part by Schwarzenegger advisor Mike Murphy. The Knollenberg campaign spent $10,000 on the Detroit billboard and is soliciting $3 donations for additional runs.

The LA Times article also gives the Governor's response:

Aaron McLear, the govenor's spokesman, responded: "It is unfortunate that this congressman doesn't understand the serious threat our country faces because of greenhouse gas emissions. Gov. Schwarzenegger's leadership is allowing the auto industry to move into the future instead of this kind of backward thinking that will negatively impact job growth and the economy."

You tell him Governor.

Knollenberg Was For Higher CAFE Standards Before He Was Against It

Funny thing. Joe Knollenberg and his Chief Lobbyist, Trent Wisecup, were for increasing CAFE standards before they were against it.

FLIP. FLOP.

What Joe & His Lobbyist Are Saying Today
Trent Wisecup, the Washington DC lobbyist that Knollenberg hired as his Chief of Staff was recently quoted as saying: "The Congressman's position is we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But you need to do it by promoting alternative energy."
According to his own website:

Congressman Joe Knollenberg issued the following statement on President Bush’s proposal to significantly increase federal mileage requirements (CAFÉ) over the next 10 years:

“I am disappointed that the president has proposed a CAFÉ increase. If adopted, this proposal would lead to more job cuts and plant closings in Michigan. Raising CAFÉ standards would discriminate against The Big Three and accelerate the push of Toyota and Honda to grab more market share.

What Joe & His Lobbyist Were Saying Just 2 Years Ago
But just a few years ago, Knollenberg and Wisecup were singing the praises of George Bush for his proposal to increase CAFE. Wisecup wrote an article in the National Review where he said:

CAFE reforms based on recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences, which would increase fuel efficiency without a negative impact on the U.S. automobile industry.

I don't think there have been any major changes in combustion technology in the last 2 years so it seems to me that if it were true 2 years ago that Congress could "increase fuel efficiency without a negative impact on the U.S. automobile industry", why wouldn't the same be true for today.

FLIP. FLOP. Which way is the wind blowing? What is Joe's position today? Oh, it just changed again?

No No Knollenberg Is Really On The Wrong Side of the Issue This Time

Joe Knollenberg thought he was going to come across as the defender of the auto industry, but instead he has made himself into the laughing-stock of the industry.

While everyone else, including the auto companies themselves, have agreed that they need to work to reduce emissions, Joe Knollenberg is out there claiming that changing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards will destroy the industry. And he is pointing the finger at a fellow Republican by trying to blame everything on California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The second headline in tonight's Detroit News tells the real story: "Toyota: Auto industry obligated to help solve problem of global warming."

The Detroit News reports that Toyota is willing to step up to the plate and reduce emissions. The Domestic autos are hopefully smart enough now to not let Toyota get the upper hand competitively by being able to market more fuel efficient vehicles so they will step up to the plate too -- they may kick and scream a little for show, but they will step up to the plate.

Meanwhile, Joe will still be outside yelling that the sky is falling. That increased CAFE standards will decimate the industry. CAFE standards haven't been changed in over a decade, but the industry is in chaos. The industry seems quite capable of self-destructing with or without changes in CAFE.

Of course, most people who have seen Knollenberg's big sign about Schwarzenegger say the sign doesn't really make any sense to them. They don't understand the point of the ad and don't even have any recollection of who sponsored it.

Seems Joe went after "The Terminator" in an attempt to make himself "The Defender", but it turned out that he just made himself into a Joke instead.

P.S. And here is the real dirty little secret -- the Big 3 already make cars that meet what the new standards would propose. The problem is they need to be able to sell those cars and that has been their problem all along. They are not making cars that consumers want to buy. Toyota and Honda are making cars that consumers want -- that is why their market share is increasing and Detroit's is decreasing.

Knollenberg's Anti-Environmental Record: Part 2

Joe Knollenberg must think the voters of the 9th District are stupid -- otherwise why would he tell us that he is an "environmentalist", when it is so clear from his voting record that he is really one of the most anti-environmental Congressman in history.

In a previous post we pointed out some of Knollenberg's anti-environmental votes and noted that we were unable to find even a single pro-environmental vote by Knollenberg.

Here is some more evidence of just how strongly anti-environmental Joe Knollenberg really is:

• Knollenberg added a rider to an appropriations bill prohibiting EPA from funding efforts to reduce greenhouse gases under programs like the Kyoto Protocol
• Knollenberg's biggest priority for years was to make certain that toilets could WASTE MORE WATER - rather than conserve water like a true environmentalist would propose
• Knollenberg supported a measure that prohibited EPA from tightening air pollution laws -- and even prohibited them from using their monitoring data to determine which areas of the country were meeting health based air pollution standards
• Knollenberg opposed EPA's efforts to use equal protection guarantees to assure that all Americans have clean air and clean water

In fact, Knollenberg is so anti-environmental, the Lana Pollack from the Michigan Environmental Council once gave Knollenberg an "award" consisting of a Ken doll with his head buried in a bucket of sand. It was a great metaphor for how Knollenberg treats most issues -- he hides from them -- but it is particularly appropriate for environmental issues because Knollenberg votes on them like a dummy with his head in a pile of sand.

It is easy to do a search online and find hundreds of articles about how anti-environmental Joe Knollenberg is -- but can anyone find an article about Joe doing ANYTHING positive and proactive for the environment?

Knollenberg Lies About His Environmental Record

On his new and improved website, Joe Knollenberg claims he is an”environmentalist”.

This is yet another example of where Knollenberg says one thing, but what he does is very, very different.

Knollenberg is a liar like Scooter Libby!


Knollenberg is NOT An Environmentalist By Any Stretch of Any Imagination
My definition of an environmentalist is someone who wants to protect the environment – all aspects of the environment. Based on his voting record in Congress, Joe Knollenberg is NOT an environmentalist by any stretch of the imagination.

Knollenberg Voted AGAINST Making EPA a Cabinet Level Department
Contrary to popular belief, the EPA is not a Cabinet level position. It isn’t equal to the Treasury, or Dept of Health & Human Services, or the Dept. of Education – all of which are cabinet level posts. Being a Cabinet level agency would elevate the importance of Environmental Issues by assuring that the leader of the Department was involved in Cabinet meetings. Right now, the Administrator of the EPA would not generally participate in such meetings and thus they have less influence over what the President learns or thinks about Environmental issues. Given the chance to elevate the EPA to a cabinet level position – Joe Knollenberg voted NO.

Here are some more of Knollenberg’s ANTI-Environmental Votes:

• · Joe Knollenberg Voted Against Strengthening Environmental Regulation of Mining Operations;
• · Joe Knollenberg Voted Against Expanding protections of the Endangered Species Act;
• · Joe Knollenberg Supported Legislation That Would Allow Private Property Owners To Harm delicate Environments and the Global Commons;
• · Joe Knollenberg Supports Legislation Allowing for Major Industrial Operations such as Oil Drilling to take place in pristine areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;

In fact, looking through Knollenberg’s voting record, I was unable to identify a single vote by Knollenberg that was pro-environment. Knollenberg votes Pro-polluter instead.

Environmental Groups Rate Knollenberg As One of the Worst
The idea that Knollenberg is pro-polluter is supported by all the ratings given by environmental organizations.

According to the website, “On the Issues”, Knollenberg has voted to:

• · Reduce "critical habitat" for endangered species;
• · Speed up Forest Thinning Projects
• · Only rated 5% by the League of Conservation Voters (which means he has a poor record on environmental issues).

For a whole list of issues showing how Knollenberg is pro-polluter and anti-environmental, look here.

Here is a 1998 Article About Knollenberg’s Poor Record on Environmental Issues & The Fact that He Gets Lots of Campaign Contributions from Polluters.

Joe Knollenberg calls himself an environmentalist, but all of his votes in Congress have been anti-environmental protection.

We know Cheney's Chief of Staff Scooter Libby is a liar. He was convicted on four counts of federal felony charges of lying including perjury and obstructing justice.
The only difference between Scooter Libby's lies and Joe Knollenberg's lies is that Libby has been convicted of lying.

Joe Knollenberg should be ashamed of himself.

Knollenberg's Chief of Staff Is Not Only A Lobbyist

but he must recognize that Knollenberg is in over his head this year.

It appears that Trent Wisecup, Knollenberg's Lobbyist Chief of Staff, can't find anyone to write letters in support of Knollenberg so he is having his family members write letters to the editors of local papers to support Joe Knollenberg.

You gotta know your candidates is in trouble when the only people who support him are his paid staff and their family members.

Of course it is published in the Radical Right Wing Detroit News -- the only organization in the country with less credibility than the Bush White House. Notice how ALL the letters to the editor on that page agree with the Radical Right wing talking points?

A little relevant humor: The iRack

I hope our readers don't mind a little relevant humor.

Look, Joe, a 100 mpg car

I wonder if the Big 3 could start building these. Hmmm.

Cars that make hybrids look like gas guzzlers
Plug-in versions can go 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline
Sherry Boschert
Sunday, March 4, 2007

Toyota Prius owners tend to be a proud lot since they drive the fuel-efficient hybrid gas-electric car that's the darling of mainstream environmentalists and one of the hottest-selling vehicles in America. A few, however, felt that good was not good enough. They've made "improvements" even though the modifications voided parts of their warranties.
Ron Gremban of Corte Madera did it. So did Felix Kramer of Redwood City, and Sven Thesen of Palo Alto. Why? Five words: one hundred miles per gallon.
"We took the hybrid car to its logical conclusion," Kramer says, by adding more batteries and the ability to recharge by plugging into a regular electrical socket at night, making the car a plug-in hybrid.
Compared with the Prius' fuel efficiency of 50 mpg, plug-in hybrids use half as much gasoline by running more on cleaner, cheaper, domestic electricity. If owners forget to plug in overnight, it's no big deal -- the car runs like a regular hybrid.
These trendsetters monkeyed with the car for more than their own benefit. They did it to make a point: If they could make a plug-in hybrid, the major car companies could, too. And should.
Kramer, Gremban and a cadre of volunteers formed the California Cars Initiative (online at calcars.org), and in 2004 converted Gremban's Prius to a plug-in hybrid in his garage. They added inexpensive lead-acid batteries and some innovative software to fool the car's computerized controls into using more of the energy stored in the batteries, giving the car over 100 mpg in local driving and 50 to 80 mpg on the highway. The cost of conversion is about $5,000 for a do-it-yourselfer.

Read the rest of the story here:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/04/ING44OD4AS1.DTL

Joe Knollenberg Voted FOR the Christian Supremacy Act!!!

Oddly, Joe Knollenberg has been invited to speak to the JVS Networking and Awards Luncheon in organization.

I say oddly because Joe Knollenberg is NOT a supporter of the jewish community. Oh he claims to be alright – but he claims to be an environmentalist too and we know he isn’t one of those either.

Joe Knollenberg voted YES last year on HR 2679 – the Christian Supremacy Bill. Why is it called the Christian Supremacy Bill? Because it would make challenging a state or local government’s support of the Christian religion nearly impossible.

The synopsis of the Bill: “Vote to pass a bill that prohibits monetary awards and bans attorneys' fees in all civil action cases against any federal, state or local officials, due to an alleged violation of the “establishment of religion.”

Here is the type of lawsuit the Christian Supremacy Bill was trying to ban:

A jewish family living in the Indian River School District in Delaware were living a nightmare. They were the only jewish family in the area and their school district had created an “environment of religious exclusion” and state-sponsored religion. At Samantha Dobrich’s high school graduation in 2004, the class had an invocation by a local pastor who said about her:

“I also pray for one specific student, that You be with her and guide her in the path that You have for her. And we ask all these things in Jesus' name.

Other situations in the same school district included:

• The district's "custom and practice of school-sponsored prayer"
• The district ignored the Supreme Court's 1992 Lee decision limiting prayer at graduation ceremonies
• District teachers and staff led Bible clubs at several schools. Club members got to go to the head of the lunch line.
• While Bible clubs were widely available, student book clubs were rare and often canceled by the district.
• When Jane Doe complained that her non-Christian son "Jordan Doe" was left alone when his classmates when to Bible club meetings, district staff insisted that Jordan should attend the club regardless of his religion.
• The district schools distributed Bibles to students in 2003, giving them time off from class to pick up the books.
• Prayer is a routine part of district sports programs and social events
• A middle school teacher told students there was only "one true religion" and gave them pamphlets for his surfing ministry.
• Samantha Dobrich's honors English teacher frequently discussed Christianity, but no other religion.
• Students frequently made mandatory appearances at district board meetings -- where they were a captive audience for board members' prayers to Jesus.

The family was able to sue the school board because the law provides that if the school board loses, they would have to pay the family’s legal fees. The Christian Supremacy Act was intended to prohibit families from being able to bring such suits by banning such payments for legal fees. Thus, any family that suffered religious discrimination but couldn’t afford hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees would be precluded from pursuing their constitutional rights.

JOE KNOLLENBERG VOTED TO STOP LAWSUITS LIKE THE ONE FILED BY THE DOBRICH FAMILY. [HR 2679, Rollcall Vote # 480]

Of course, HR 2679 is only one part of a plan for “Christian Nationalism”. As stated by the Family Research Council, one of the driving forces behind Christian Nationalism – and a supporter of Joe Knollenberg :

"While it is true that the United States of America was founded on the sacred principle of religious freedom for all, that liberty was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country's heritage...Our founders expected that Christianity -- and no other religion -- would receive support from the government as long as that support did not violate peoples' consciences and their right to worship. They would have found utterly incredible the idea that all religions, including paganism, be treated with equal deference."

Joe Knollenberg voted YES on the Christian Supremacy Act.

This makes the thought of his speaking at the JVS networking and awards luncheon extremely disturbing.

Why would JVS want someone who is so obviously anti-jewish to speak at their meeting? As a jew I find this particularly offensive.

Why doesn't Joe think ALL AMERICANS are entitled to constitutional protections?

Joe's Health Care Credit is a Joke. $200 credit won't solve our Health Care Crisis

Article published Mar 11, 2007
Reducing health care costs, diseases Bill encourages wellness programs in workplace
BY LINDA ANN CHOMIN STAFF WRITER
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/HEALTH/703110402/1006

Joshua Kugelman would still be carrying around 270 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame if Metaldyne hadn't launched its employee wellness program in early 2006. The product engineer has lost 52 pounds since the automotive supplier began partially subsidizing Weight Watchers at its facilities in Plymouth Township.
Kugelman's health benefits have far outweighed the minimal fee he pays to participate in weekly sessions. For months now he's been able to take only one blood pressure medication instead of his usual three.
"I don't think I would have done it otherwise," said Kugelman of Pontiac.
If U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg's Wellness and Prevention Act of 2007 is passed, more employees could not only reduce their risk for disease, but help lower health care costs. Studies have shown for years how unhealthy lifestyle choices lead to disease. The bill promotes screenings and prevention programs in the workplace by offering businesses a $200 tax credit for employees who join their wellness program. At least 50 percent of employees must participate. Additionally, the act provides a $200 tax credit for employees as encouragement.
H.R. 853 was introduced on Feb. 6 and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee. So far it has received support from the American College of Preventive Medicine, American College of Occupation and Environmental Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit Medical Center, Pfizer, AARP, and Oakland County Wellness Coalition.
In addition to tax credits, the bill provides a $20,000 loan forgiveness for individuals pursuing a preventive medicine specialty and achieving board certification between 2008 and 2012.

Joe's Latest Antics Don't Help the Auto Companies

I found this blog through my Google alerts -- I have no idea who the author is, but he makes some good points about how Joe's latest antics actually hurt the Big 3 more than they help them. Enjoy:

http://postnihilist.blogspot.com/2007/03/joe-knollenberg-gets-it-wrong-again.html

Joe won't win any Oscars for this performance

Take a look at Laura Berman's column in today's Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070310/OPINION03/703100378

Joe used to be a pretty quiet guy, but now he's shouting out his message on billboards. Winning by only 5% in November has put a scare into him and he's coming out of his shell -- giving speeches, appearing on TV, voting with the Democrats on an energy bill.....

Yes, it may seem on the surface that Joe has changed his tune on energy now that he's voted with the Democrats and is talking openly about alternative energy sources, but is this reallly how he feels or is he just acting to try to convince the voters he's wised up? I think we know the answer to that, don't we? Joe doesn't want to take a chance on losing in '08, so's he's saying things he thinks will appeal to the voters in the 9th even if he doesn't really believe them.

He can't on the one hand say we need alternative fuel sources, electric cars, hybrids, fuel cells, etc. and then say we shouldn't increase fuel standards or hike gasoline taxes. Duh! Don't those go hand-in-hand? If we make all of the changes to our cars that he says we should make, fuel economy will automatically go up, won't it?

The only thing worse than a Joe Knollenberg who votes with Bush almost 100% of the time is a Joe Knollenberg who pretends to have changed his tune when all he's doing is acting out of fear of losing his seat by voting the way he thinks the people want him to vote until he's got a majority back in the House (which probably won't happen for a while), at which time he'll go back to being the same old Joe. You can fool some of the people......

Oakland County voters aren't stupid -- they can see right through this charade.

Joe Knollenberg Votes AGAINST Clean Water

Joe Knollenberg has the audacity to call himself an environmentalist, but his votes show otherwise.

Last week, Joe Knollenberg voted AGAINST Clean Water!
Heck, he even voted NO in an attempt to block Congress from voting on the issue at all!

Joe Knollenberg voted NO on HR 720 which was a bill that would authorize EPA to make grants to provide:

• technical assistance to rural and small municipalities for wastewater infrastructure financing; and
  
• technical assistance and training for rural and small publicly owned treatment works.

The Statute revised eligibility requirements for grants for sewage collection systems; and state water pollution control revolving fund provisions. Requires states to: (1) establish a list of revolving fund projects that prioritizes water quality improvement projects; and (2) provide financial assistance to only projects on such lists.

Gasp! Legislation that required prioritizing how to improve water quality! Oh my. Such good government must be offensive to someone like Joe. Otherwise, why would he oppose such legislation??

Why does Joe Knollenberg want to help polluters?

Knollenberg Lies About Lobbyists!

Joe Knollenberg is a liar.

I don't generally call people liars. If you look at past posts you will see I say things like, "he has an aversion to the truth" or "he must not know any better" or "he must be misguided".

But at some point, when one tells this many untruths -- there is no other way to categorize him -- he is a liar.

Knollenberg just sent out another campaign brochure (but made taxpayers pay the postage) and this time it says he is trying to reform Washington and the lobbyist culture.

But Knollenberg has consistently voted TO KEEP LETTING LOBBYISTS GIVE HIM GIFTS AND TAKE HIM AND HIS WIFE ON LUXURIOUS VACATIONS!!!

• 1994. Knollenberg voted against restricting lobbyists from giving gifts, vacations, etc.
  
  In a way it is true -- he is reforming the way Congressmen and lobbyists interact -- it used to be that lobbyists were on the outside looking in --but Joe Knollenberg keeps his lobbyists closer -- Knollenberg hires lobbyists for his Chief of Staff. His current lobbyist Chief of Staff is Washington DC lobbyist Trent Wisecup. His former Chief of Staff is Lobbyist Paul Welday.
  
  This isn't a fluke either. Knollenberg has had 2 lobbyists for Chiefs of Staff in the past few years. We have already written about Knollenberg's propensity to put line items in legislation to set aside federal funds for his campaign donors.
  
  Here is the truth about how Joe interacts with Lobbyists:
  


• Knollenberg's Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup, is a Washington DC lobbyist


• Knollenberg's former Chief of Staff, Paul Welday is a lobbyist


• Knollenberg put a line item in a bill that set aside $8 million that he was mandating that AMTRAK pay to one of his largest campaign donors. (This is called "earmarking" funds.)


• Knollenberg was a key obstructionist who blocked efforts to make public the earmarks that Congress puts in spending bills -- Joe doesn't want you to know which ones of his campaign donors he puts millions of dollars of federal funds aside for.


• More links showing just how hard Joe worked to keep earmarks from being reformed: Here at this conservative website, here at this conservative website, here is an article by the conservative pundit Bob Novak, here,

Watch here to see Joe speak out against any restrictions or changes in the earmarks he makes for his friends.

Oh. And back in 2002 when Congress was trying to pass campaign finance reform -- which is in large part necessary due to the money that lobbyists put in the pockets of incumbent Congressional members -- Knollenberg tried to stop the legislation and when he couldn't he filled it with loopholes. Here is an excerpt from an article in The New Republic:

When Congress finally passed the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill
last month, Republicans were all but unanimous in charging that it would never
work, that it was riddled with loopholes that would shift money to the darkest
corners of politics. "Reformers claim this bill will increase disclosure and
shine the light on big money in politics. This is, of course, not true," warned
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell. "Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker," explained
Michigan Representative Joe Knollenberg, "I support real reform with no
loopholes and full disclosure--not just lip service to reform." Having thus had
their say, Knollenberg's House brethren this week hopped down off their high horses and got to work widening loopholes and squelching disclosure. Specifically, they tried to relax disclosure requirements in the most shadowy corner of the campaign finance world--so-called "stealth" PACs, or 527s, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. (The phony "Republicans for Clean Air" PAC that sandbagged John McCain to the tune of $2.5 million during the 2000 GOP primaries was of this breed.) These are precisely the groups whose influence is likely to grow once campaign finance reform takes effect next year, making disclosure all the more important. Nonetheless, the House GOP sought to exempt some 527s from the stringent disclosure requirements of federal law if they instead file reports at the state level, where campaign finance laws are often flimsy. The effort failed when 25 House Republicans broke ranks to vote
with the Democrats. But given the longtime GOP position that the way to fix
campaign finance is not contribution limits but rather full, fast disclosure,
you'd think their colleagues wouldn't have minded a bit more paperwork in the
name of "real reform." Unfortunately, you'd have been wrong.

Oh. And here are some more examples of where Joe voted NO on reforming earmarks and reforming lobbyist rules: HR 4, January 2007; Floor Debate, June 2006. As you can see, the evidence is overwhelming that Joe Knollenberg has opposed reforms that would restrict his ability to give earmarks to his friends.

Next time, we will talk about HAWAII JOE Knollenberg's propensity to accept gifts and expensive luxurious vacations from lobbyists.

Joe Doesn't think Iraq is even an issue

Joe has a pretty new web site, but when I visited his issues page today, 3/9/07, guess what, Iraq isn't even mentioned. Joe is so busy attacking Arnold with his big billboard, he doesn't even have time to think about the biggest issue facing America.

No wonder Joe won't meet with constituents about Iraq. He doesn't think it's important enough to talk about on his web site. I guess he thinks if he doesn't mention it, it will go away and people will forget his undying support for President Bush's failed war and the more than 3000 American deaths, over 20,000 injuries, the squalid conditions at Walter Reed and the other VA hospitals around the country, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi lives lost and the millions that have had to flee their own country to escape the death squads. If I were Joe, I might not mention Iraq on my web site, come to think of it.

Poor Joe just can't get his facts straight on CAFE

An article in the Oakland Press on March 9 launches Joe's campaign against raising corporate CAFE standards. Apparently Joe, like his conservative friends that like to ignore science, think that backward thinking can help the auto industry. Had the Big 3 kept pace with the foreign manufacturers, they wouldn't be in the state they're in. Joe thinks that selling gas hog trucks and SUV's can help our economy. While that may be true in the short run, a real leader thinks long term and Joe is no leader.

According to the Union for Concerned Scientists, the United States could create 200,000 jobs by adopting higher CAFE standards, not to mention helping to save the planet for our grandchildren. Read the full report here.

Knollenberg Updated His Website (Finally) -- but STILL Doesn't List IRAQ As an Issue!

Joe Knollenberg finally updated his website.

Apparently he doesn't have much to say because it is now mostly pictures.

But more importantly, he STILL doesn't even list IRAQ as an "issue".

Other "problems" with his website:

Knollenberg supports privitizing Social Security (but doesn't mention that on his website)

• Knollenberg calls himself an "environmentalist" but can't point to a single "environmental" vote -- he votes for polluters, not the planet

• Unlike most Americans, Knollenberg OPPOSES universal healthcare (but he doesn't mention that on his website)

We will cover these and more in detail over the coming weeks.

Apparently Joe Knollenberg has an aversion to the truth.

Stay tuned.

We will give you the real story of Joe Knollenberg.

Then you can read how he spins it and see who you trust.

Knollenberg Keeps His Friends Close & His Lobbyists Closer

No Wonder Knollenberg Opposes Negotiating Drug Prices

For Medicare & Opposes Importing Drugs

Knollenberg's Chief of Staff is a Washington, D.C. Lobbyist
As noted in a previous post, Joe Knollenberg's Chief of Staff, Trent Wisecup, is a Washington, D.C. Lobbyist!

Apparently Joe lives by the adage of keep your friends close and your lobbyist closer!

And Wisecup isn't just any lobbyist, he was one of the key lobbyist's for the big Pharmacuetical companies during the debates over the Medicare prescription drug plan.

Knollenberg Supported a Bill That Made Senior Drugs MORE Expensive!
The Democrats wanted to allow Medicare to be able to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors -- just like Medicaid and the Veterans Administration. But Republican's like JOE KNOLLENBERG OPPOSED using such a fiscally responsible approach.

Instead, Joe Knollenberg supported a Medicare drug benefit that allows pharmaceutical companies to charge Seniors the maximum price -- far more than what they would pay if the prices were negotiated.

Knollenberg has also consistently voted against allowing Seniors and other Americans to import their medicine from Canada even though it could save them thousands of dollars a year.


Knollenberg's Chief of Staff Was Lobbyist For Big Drug Companies
It all became clear once we learned that Knollenberg's current Chief of Staff (who was also a staffer before he became a lobbyist) was a lobbyist for the big drug companies that were opposing having to negotiate their drug prices with Medicare.

In fact, the firm that Wisecup worked for brags about this on their website.

Apparently, Wisecup was behind the lobbying campaign that kept the Medicare Rx Bill from allowing Seniors to save money by importing their medication from Canada.

Yes. Knollenberg's Chief of Staff was the lobbyist that ran the campaign opposing allowing the importation of prescription drugs from Canada.

Knollenberg Voted For Big PhaRMA and Against Seniors
So it is no real surprise to see that Knollenberg voted with Big PhaRMA (and his lobbyist friend) and against Seniors.


In fact, earlier this year the House voted on whether to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for Seniors -- Knollenberg voted NO!!!


Why does Joe Knollenberg insist on forcing Seniors to pay more for their prescriptions?

Why does Joe Knollenberg want to hurt our Seniors?

Haven't they given enough to this Country?

UPDATE:
It seems that Mr. Wisecup isn't the first lobbyist Knollenberg has had on staff.
In fact, Knollenberg's previous Chief of Staff was a lobbyist too. Paul Welday was Knollenberg's former Chief of Staff and he is now involved in a controversy at the Oakland County Commission because many Commissioners believe that the County shouldn't be paying Welday $50,000 to be a lobbyist for the Commission. They believe that the Commissioners themselves are able to handle any lobbying efforts necessary.

Knollenberg's Chief of Staff is a Washington DC Lobbyist!

We've already reported on some of Joe Knollenberg's close ties with powerful Washington DC lobbyists.

It turns out he isn't just "close" to them. He has them on his staff!

Joe Knollenberg's Chief of Staff is a Washington DC Lobbyist!!

Knollenberg's Chief of Staff is Trent Wisecup. (We believe in full disclosure so we think it is important to note that he has been posting comments here under the initials "TLW". )

A quick review of some records shows that Mr. Wisecup is a Washington Lobbyist.

Here is a copy of a filing with the U.S. Senate's Lobbyist Disclosure program.

Mr. Wisecup was with the firm "D.C. Navigators". Apparently they knew how to navigate through the halls of Congress -- with the help of Congressman like Joe Knollenberg.

Heck -- on their own website they have a picture of the White House with the caption "Policy Development". Does that mean they develop policy for the White House? Gosh. Lobbyists who develop policy for BUSH & KNOLLENBERG -- now on-staff -- now getting a taxpayer funded salary! That is cozy.

Some of the clients of Wisecup's firm have included:

ACS
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Aetna
AgustaWestland North America Inc.
American Bankers Association
American Council of Life Insurers
American Immigration Lawyers Association
American Insurance Association
American International Group, Inc.
American Vantage Media
Association for Advanced Life Underwriting
Assurant Group
BellSouth
Bombardier
British Nuclear Fuels
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
Californians for Clean, Affordable, Safe Energy
Calpine
Caruso Affiliated Inc.
Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers
Dickstein & Zerbi
Fannie Mae
Farallon Capital Management
Financial Services Coordinating Council
Fisher Scientific
GateSafe
Hartford Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West
Jefferson Pilot Financial
Mass Mutual
Mutual of Omaha
New York Jets
Oracle
Pfizer Inc.
PG&E Corporation
Securities Industry Association
Sutter Health
Tyco International (US) Inc.
UnumProvident Corporation
Visa USA Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
WellCare

Gee. There are a lot of financial service companies on that list -- like VISA, and banking interests, etc. Those were the folks whose lobbyists were successful at getting the bankruptcy laws changed so that individuals have a much harder time getting their debts discharged in bankruptcy than Corporations!

Knollenberg's Chief of Staff was a lobbyist for those interests.

Knollenberg voted to support the new bankruptcy laws.

Any connection there?

Culture of Corruption

As this article in "The Hill" points out -- Republican lobbyists have a vested and financial interest in making certain that Republicans get elected to office. Apparently, the more Republicans in office, the more influence they have and thus the more clients they get and the more money they make.

Of course one of the most famous lobbyists is the indicted felon, Jack Abramoff. He certainly made millions off of having Republicans in Congress that he could influence for his clients.

Knollenberg Consistently Votes To Slash Funding For Veterans

With the shameful condition that seriously wounded Iraq veterans are being subjected to at Walter Reed and other military facilities, it is important to remember just who is responsible for slashing the budgets of these critical veteran services.

Joe Knollenberg is one of the Bush/Cheney team that have sent troops in harms way in Iraq, while failing to adequately fund their care after they return.

This isn't really a new issue -- it has been an issue for years -- it is just now getting more attention as more and more of our troops are getting seriously wounded in Iraq.

And the cost of adquate funding isn't exactly a mystery. The Congressional Budget Office has studied it and reported on the matter to Congress. But Joe Knollenberg still voted to underfund the VA.

More specifically, here are some of Knollenberg's votes against the troops:

Knollenberg Voted Against the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act
Joe Knollenberg voted to maintain the “widow’s tax” on benefits received by survivors of their husbands and wives killed in service. Over 50,000 American families whose loved one was killed in Iraq are now living at or below the poverty line. But the government continues to impose a “widow’s tax” on survivors. After putting money into the Survivor Benefit Plan—sometimes for decades—the government offsets VA survivor compensation by keeping SBP money, then returning the paid premium as taxable income.
In May 2006, Congressman John Salazar moved to add the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to the 2007 defense bill. Joe Knollenberg voted against removing this unfair penalty on military widows. [HR 5122, Vote #144, 5/11/2006]

Knollenberg Voted for an Increase in Pharmacy Co-Pays for Military Families
Knollenberg voted to kill an amendment to the FY 07 Department of Defense Authorization bill that would remove the Bush administration’s proposal to increase pharmacy co-pays for military families.
Currently, military families who purchase their drugs through a retail pharmacy have a co-pay of $3 for generic drugs and $9 for brand-name drugs. However, the bill would raise those co-pays to $6 for generic drugs and $16 for brand-name drugs, as proposed in President Bush’s budget. The Democratic amendment sought to remove the provision increasing the co-pays and to leave the co-pays at their current level. [HR 5122, Vote #139, 5/11/06]

Knollenberg Voted for a FY 2007 Budget That Hurts America’s Veterans
For the FY2007 budget, Knollenberg supported a Republican budget resolution that cut funding for veterans’ appropriated programs by $6 billion below the level that CBO estimates is needed to maintain current services.
Additionally, the Republican budget resolution included significant increases in TRICARE costs for military retirees under 65. In fact, healthcare fees will triple for retired officers, double for retired senior enlisted personnel, and increase by 40 percent for junior enlisted retirees. [HCR 376, Vote #158, 5/18/2006]



So while JOE KNOLLENBERG says he supports the troops -- in fact he slashes funding for important veteran programs every time he gets the chance.

And these are just a few of his votes over the last year!

There are more votes -- and for each one, JOE KNOLLENBERG VOTES AGAINST OUR TROOPS!

Has Knollenberg EVER even visited any troops at Walter Reed? There is no evidence that he ever has. So Knollenberg is willing to send young men and women to war where they may die or suffer serious debilitating injuries -- but then he votes to cut funding to care for them when they return. That could only be considered negligent or just plain cruel.

Give Joe Credit Where Credit's Due

Giving Credit Where It’s Due
By Nancy Greggs

If you’re out of work because your government made it financially worthwhile for US companies to outsource your job to a cheaper labor market, THANK JOE.

If your son/daughter in the military is in a combat zone without sufficient equipment or training, THANK JOE.

If your war-wounded spouse is a war vet tied up in endless red tape and can’t get medical treatment or disability payments, THANK JOE.

If a loved one died in NOLA for want of food, water, medicine, or assistance of any kind in the aftermath of Katrina, THANK JOE.

If you’re upset that New Orleans was left in ruins while we could afford to build a billion-dollar embassy in Baghdad, THANK JOE.

If the cost of your life-saving prescription medicine has skyrocketed, even to the point where you can’t afford it at all, THANK JOE.

If you lose sleep at night worrying about the national debt your children and grandchildren will have to pay off in the decades to come, THANK JOE.

If you’re concerned about the fact that we don’t have the necessary funds to overhaul our crumbling infrastructure, THANK JOE.

If you’re worried about rising numbers in the incidents of homelessness and poverty, THANK A JOE.

If you’ve had to declare bankruptcy, but you still owe your soul to credit card companies, THANK JOE.

If you’ve noticed that you’re continually getting gouged at the pump even though oil companies are raking in record profits, THANK JOE.

If you’re angry at the fact that you have to go through intensive screening at the airport to board a plane with a hold full of uninspected cargo, THANK JOE.

If you wonder why hard-working middle-class citizens have to pay their full share of taxes while wealthy individuals and corporations don’t have to pay their fair share, THANK JOE.

If you wonder why investigations into government corruption always seem to get stopped in their tracks, THANK JOE.

If you think it unseemly that fabrications and outright lies are permitted to be broadcast as unqualified fact, THANK JOE.

If you worry about your kids getting sick from tainted food that should have been inspected but wasn’t, THANK JOE.

If you’re concerned that religious fanatics have too much influence over your government, THANK JOE

If you’re troubled by the erosion of your rights and freedoms and see that as an assault on democracy, THANK JOE.

If you are appalled by excuse-making and passing-the-buck having replaced accountability, THANK JOE.

If you have realized that the American Dream is now out-of-reach for millions of citizens, that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing at an alarming rate, that elections are no longer a matter of the will of the people but the whim of those who control the voting machines, that a nation that was once a Beacon of Democracy is now a nation that tortures, that the democratic country you were born and raised in is now indistinguishable from the worst dictatorship, that the Constitution is now treated as an antiquated document of no meaning, and that the country your ancestors fought and died for is no longer recognizable …

… don’t forget to THANK JOE.

Major Legislation Sponsors: Knollenberg's Name is Nowhere To Be Found

I was researching more campaign financing information on Joe Knollenberg when I stumbled across a page that encourages you to check and see what major pieces of legislation your Congressman has sponsored or co-sponsored.

I clicked to see what major legislation Joe had sponsored or co-sponsored -- and there wasn't any!! (Click on the image to the right to view a larger image of the page.)

Sad, but true.

Why does he make over $160,000 in taxpayer's money if he doesn't do anything?

Knollenberg Votes Against Middle Class Workers & Their Families

In yet another attack on the middle-class, Joe kNOllenberg voted NO on the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Act was merely to assure that workers would have a free choice as to whether to join a union.

Apparently, Knollenberg prefers an economy where CEO's can drag a company into bankruptcy, lay off workers, ship jobs overseas, default on workers pensions, and cancel long promised health care benefits -- all while making millions in bonuses for themselves. The average worker -- particularly white collar employees and middle managers in our local auto industries -- have no say in the matter. They are the ones losing their jobs, pensions, benefits, etc.

Soon the average white collar worker is going to wish he or she had a union to protect them from being fleeced by the robber baron CEO's and Wall Street Moguls.

But the average worker doesn't have a lobbyist. And we all know by now that Joe Knollenberg always votes the way the lobbyists tell him to vote.

Why does Joe Knollenberg hate the middle class?

Majority of Americans Support Universal Healthcare Even if it Means Higher Taxes

In another rebuke of the "Conservative Agenda" of the Radical Right, a majority of Americans believe that the federal government should assure that every American is covered by health care insurance.

Moreover, the poll reveals that Americans are willing to pay higher taxes for such a program.

In fact, 80% think assuring health care to all is more important than extending Bush's tax cuts.

According to the NYT,

The poll found Americans across party lines willing to make some sacrifice
to ensure that every American has access to health insurance. Sixty percent,
including 62 percent of independents and 46 percent of Republicans, said they would be willing to pay more in taxes. Half said they would be willing to pay as much as $500 a year more.

Nearly 8 in 10 said they thought it was more important to provide
universal access to health insurance than to extend the tax cuts of recent years; 18 percent said the tax cuts were more important.

One of the most important Conservative leaders in the Republican Party is Grover Norquist -- a good friend of shamed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Norquist is President of Americans for Tax Reform. He is so powerful, even Karl Rove attends his weekly strategy sessions with other right wing lobbyists.

"My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years," he says, "to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."

The Radical Right been promoting that agenda since Reagan was first elected. After nearly 30 years of watching our infrastructure crumble because the Radical Right wanted to give tax cuts of up to a few dollar per week to average families rather than invest in the future of our country. (Of course wealthy people got millions in tax breaks -- and that is who they really represent anyway.)

Americans are waking up and seeing that the Radical Right Agenda has been protecting the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. The Radical Right has won many elections by being as divisive as possible in their politics. But on important issues like Iraq and Healthcare, Americans are remarkably unified in their positions -- and they are not lining up with the Radical Right anymore.

And where is Joe Knollenberg in all of this?

Once again, Joe is lined up with the Radical Right.

Joe opposes universal health care.

Instead, Joe Knollenberg's proposal for addressing the health care crisis is to give taxpayer money to companies who offer seminars to their workers on health issues.

Once again, Joe is lined up with the Radical Right and out of touch with the 9th District.

NRCC Transfers Funds from Accused Terrorist to Joe

Accused terrorist Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari contributed over $15,000 to the National Republican Campaign Committee. While the National Republican Senatorial Committee has agreed to donate their donations from Alishtari to charity, the NRCC has not.

Could this be because they have already distributed some of those funds? 22 Republicans have accepted from the NRCC, including Joe Knollenberg.

If Knollenberg wants to talk tough on terrorism, he should return contributions from accused terrorists, and demand his party do the same. Or is Knollenberg so strapped for cash he will turn a blind eye to hypocrisy?

Affordable & Accessible Healthcare Will Save Both Lives & Money -- So Why Is Knollenberg Against It?

Affordable & Accessible Healthcare Will Save Both Lives & Money -- yet Joe Knollenberg does has not supported any programs that will make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

The Washington Post reported on a tragic case where a child's parents couldn't afford to pay a Dentist to have a tooth extracted and the abcess in the tooth spread to the child's brain and killed him.

Not only did an innocent child die needlessly, anyone who says that the US cannot afford to provide universal healthcare would be wise to consider the financial toll of this case.

According to the Washington Post, the tooth extraction would have cost $80.

Instead, after the abcess had spread, the child spent 6 weeks in the hospital and had two surgeries to try to fight off the infection in his brain at a cost of over $250,000.

So for those with a cold heart who say that as a Country we can't afford universal healthcare, ask whether we can continue to afford not to have it.

So for those with a cold heart who say that as a Country we can't afford universal healthcare, ask whether we can continue to afford not to have it.

And where is Joe Knollenberg on this topic, well the only thing Joe has proposed is to give a $200 tax credit to the employer of the dead child's parents if they go to a seminar on how to quit smoking. Joe's plan wouldn't have done a thing to help that poor kid.

Knollenberg's "healthcare" plan is not about solving the healthcare crisis in this country, it is about giving taxpayer money out to companies as a favor to wealthy lobbyists who in turn fill his campaign coffers and take him on luxurious vacations.

Knollenberg's Proposed "Solution" for Healthcare is Woefully Inadequate

The Detroit News is reporting that health care costs are going to skyrocket for GM -- reaching $1,904 per vehicle by 2008. Ford comes in at about half that with costs for healthcare predicted to be $969 per vehicle.

In reality, health care costs have been skyrocketing for years now. The same article in the News also shows that the costs projected for 2008 are more than double the cost of healthcare in 1999.

We all know that these costs and other legacy costs such as pension plans are a large burden on the domestic auto industry. These are costs that make them less able to compete because the off-shore companies don't have those same liabilities.

Knollenberg's Proposed Healthcare Solution

Joe Knollenberg recently proposed his plan for healthcare -- he proposed to give companies $200 in tax credits if they hold a seminar for their employees on topics like stopping smoking or the dangers of obesity.

Knollenberg proposes that the tax credit be given to companies even if the company does not offer health care insurance to their employees.

All they have to do is have someone from the local health department come out and give a talk for a few minutes, and voila! the company gets a $200 tax credit.

Now, some of you reading this may think I'm joking. I'm not. Here is a link to the proposed bill.

Oh, and lest you think Knollenberg thought this all up by himself, don't be silly.

Knollenberg only does what wealthy lobbyists like Jack Abramoff tell him to do. In this case, this "preventative" plan -- which is really nothing more than Corporate Welfare -- was devised by extreme right wing think tanks like the The Heritage Foundation, the Galen Instiute, the National Center for Policy Analysis, and the American Enterprise Institute.

Certainly preventative medicine is a critical component of a strong health care system. In fact, I would agree that it is important to have enough Dr's trained in that field to provide such care. But they are not likely seeing the uninsured.

And giving your company $200 to have you sit through a seminar that was given to the company for no charge isn't part of a strong health care system. If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable.


Here goes Joe again. Coming up with a solution to something that isn't a problem. There is no crisis of a lack of seminars in the workplace.

There is a healthcare crisis in this Country
and
Joe Knollenberg has done nothing to address it.

The real solution is universal healthcare coverage for all Americans and preventative medicine should have an important role in a comprehensive system of health care.

Knollenberg Ignores His Constituents & Supports Bush's Escalation of the War in Iraq

Once again we see Joe ("NoNo") Knollenberg blindly obeying the commands of George Bush and ignoring the interests and concerns of the vast majority of his constituents.

Like his friend George Bush, Knollenberg has been steadfast and resolute in his support for the escalation of the war in Iraq. Knollenberg not only sides with Bush on the issue, but he refuses to even meet with his constituents to discuss it.

In fact, as we approach the 5th anniversary of "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq, we note that Knollenberg has not held a single community or townhall meeting on the issue of the Iraq War. Not a single meeting. Not once has he ever publicly invited constituents to a meeting to discuss the Iraq War. Never.

It isn't as though he has been busy on the matter in Washington. He has never, ever called a hearing about the Iraq War there either.


A poll in today's Washington Post shows that the vast majority of Americans think Bush and Knollenberg are wrong. According to the Post/ABC News poll, 67% of Americans disapprove of the way Bush and Knollenberg are handling the war in Iraq.

That means that 2 out of every 3 Americans disapprove of the way Bush and Knollenberg are handling the war in Iraq.

The Post/ABC poll also shows that the majority of Americans disapprove of the way Bush & Knollenberg are handling terrorist threats and the economy.

But Bush & Knollenberg just continue down the same failed path -- they are both steadfast and resolute. They are wrong, but they are steadfast and resolute.

The bad news is that the war in Iraq has been more than just a series of unfortunate disasters, and Joe Knollenberg has not taken a single step to turn the situation around.

The good news is that by making his positions and his record more available to voters, he won't stand a chance at re-election in 2008.

Visit the Retire Joe Knollenbeg web site

There's a new web site aimed at keeping those that want to retire Joe Knollenberg from his 9th District seat in 2008. Please visit http://campaignwindow.com/retirejoeknollenberg/index.cfm and sign up for our e-mail list and spread the word to others that support the cause of a Democratic Congress person for the 9th Congressionsal District of Michigan.

Welcome One and All

I want to invite everyone in the 9th District to join us in our discussion about the issues that face the voters of this District.

We welcome your comments regardless of whether you agree or disagree with our positions.

Between now and November 2008 we will present information to the voters in this District about Knollenberg's activities (and lack of activities) in Congress so that you will have the information necessary to make an informed decision when you go to vote in November 2008.

We will report on how even though the 9th District is overwhelmingly against Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq, Knollenberg is supporting it. We will give you links to his voting record and his statements on the issue so that you can see for yourself whether he is representing your interests or the special interests of lobbyists like Jack Abramoff.

We'll tel l you what he does and what he doesn't do. For example, in the area of healthcare, Knollenberg supports giving tax payer money to Corporations offer to give their workers seminars on health issues -- even though the company doesn't offer healthcare benefits to their employees.

We will be giving you information on the people and organizations and special interests that have contributed large amounts of money to Joe Knollenberg's campaign and how Knollenberg repaid them with legislation that would guarantee them millions of dollars in government contracts.

For example, we will give you the facts on how Knollenberg inserted a provision into federal law that would have required Amtrak to purchase $8 million in equipment from a company whose owner is one of Knollenberg's biggest campaign contributors. (See, New York Times, December 11, 2005.)