The last vote the House took before their August recess was on the Corporate and Financial Institution Compensation Fairness Act (PDF). It passed 237-185. The bill gave shareholders an advisory vote on CEO compensation. Sixteen Democrats voted against it. Because this offends me, I want you to know who the sixteen Democrats were. Never give these people any support, financial or otherwise.
Marion Berry of Arkansas, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Allen Boyd of Florida, Bobby Bright of Alabama, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Parker Griffith of Alabama, Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona, Frank Kratovil of Maryland, Betsy Markey of Colorado, Mike McMahon of New York, Harry Mitchell of Arizona, Glenn Nye of Virginia, Mike Ross of Arkansas, Vic Snyder of Arkansas, and Harry Teague of New Mexico.
Yeah, I know almost all of these members are newly elected from conservative districts. Those districts are conservative on social issues. Aside from Rep. McMahon, who represents Staten Island, none of these members represent a lot of corporate CEO’s. They’re all showing their true colors here. They aren’t voting their districts…they’re financing their next campaigns.
What the hell’s with Halvorson in Illinois? Her district voted Obama 53-45. As far as I can recall, it houses no giant corporate headquarters. The only possible explanation for her vote is corruption. Or stupidity. Or both. I’m not in her district, but I’ll be sure and do what I can to get her dumped in the next primary.
Bloomington is the HQ for State Farm Insurance, in her district. There is also significant agri-business interests with large corporate operations in Kankakee, refining near Joliet, etc.
She won with 59% which shows that the district was somewhat resistant to Obama.
I don’t know what the numbers are, but Melissa Bean and several others are in far redder districts, and even their names aren’t on the list. Something doesn’t make sense here.
Thank-you, Booman, for exposing these contemptible Congress people. Their electorates need to know how they stand on the ethical scale, especially, when it comes time for reelection in 2010. Since the fourth estate no longer does its job, we have to rely on the blogs for getting the record straight. Once again, good job.
Let’s say that the Whip did his job and knew that he had the votes to pass the bill. Let’s say that the Speaker wanted to help some of her potentially vulnerable freshmen. Let’s say that the freshmen were given an opportunity to boost their campaign funds without actually hurting their constituents.
Where would the problem be?
What’s the problem with paying protection money?
Answer: it just proves you’re willing to keep doing it.
That wouldn’t be a problem.
But my premise is that these Democrats don’t need to vote this way to get votes, they seem to think they need to vote this way to get money. Those two things are related but they are not the same, and one of them isn’t ‘voting your district.’
I completely agree.
I wish you could post a permanent “Wall of Shame” with people and issues posted so when voting time comes, people can do a quick check to make sure their Rep doesn’t appear there, or worst case, doesn’t appear there often.
I’m tempted to add my rep if such a wall goes up. I just moved to Lucille Roybal-Allard’s district and her office is the most unresponsive I’ve ever dealt with. She votes with the party most of the time when she shoes up – but one quarter she missed nearly 1/3 of all the votes!