Betts blames Tiahrt for the Wall Street mess

BETTS TO TIAHRT:
YOU VOTED FOR LEGISLATION
THAT CAUSED THIS CRISIS
WICHITA, Kan. – State Senator Donald Betts, Jr., issued a statement today that Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) failed consumers when he said that he wouldn’t support the bailout plan without “addressing the reasons our markets are in this situation.” Betts said he was disappointed that Tiahrt is pretending he has no idea of how Wall Street ended up in this predicament. “Tiahrt knows what caused these problems, he voted for the 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act that effectively gutted protections and regulations for investment and commercial banking authorized by President Franklin Roosevelt,” said Betts.
“When you look at all the problems we are facing with our economy today with 143 Americans losing their homes in the next hour and consumers suffering from rising grocery and gasoline prices, it is disgusting that our Congress is not claiming responsibility for passing the legislation that precipitated the Wall Street bailout,” said Betts. “The members of Congress that created this monster, including Congressman Tiahrt, should be held accountable.” I want to assure you that I will always fight for the voice of the people and put people over politics,” said Betts. “People deserve to have a voice in our government and it seems that the special interests and big business have had too much control in Washington D.C. and I plan to change all that when elected,” he said.
Following the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Glass-Steagall act in 1933 to protect our banking system. This legislation addressed the concern of over-speculation by banks and set up regulations for investment and commercial banking. The 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act essentially destroyed the 1933 legislation. With the bailout of Bear Stearns by Congress in March (legislation Tiahrt voted for), the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in September, and the Federal Reserve’s help to AIG, the focus of the entire world is on the U.S. market which continues to teeter erratically. “It is such a shame that our great leaders such as President Roosevelt spent so much time ensuring legislative controls were put into place, only to have them shattered in 1999,” he said.



With the Stock Market falling over 700 points today with news of Congress not approving the bailout, many Americans are concerned about how it will affect their savings, retirement and long-term future. Senator Betts said today, “People in this country need to be reassured that they will not lose their life savings, retirements, and mortgages in lieu of the chaos on Wall Street.” “There is concern and the people need to be sure that Congress is on-the-job,” he added.
Betts is running for the 4th Congressional seat currently held by Todd Tiahrt who has been in office since 1994. Betts has been actively working for Kansans since 2002, when he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. He went on to serve in the Senate, bridging party lines to focus on the important issues that affect everyone including support for education through the Workforce Kansas Quick Careers. Among his many accomplishments, Betts took a stand against the practices of genocide with Senate Substitute for HB 2457 which was signed into law divesting Kansas Public Employee Retirement Funds from Darfur. “It has been my pleasure to represent Kansans in Topeka but I believe that now is the time to make their voices heard in Washington, D.C.,” said Betts. “Our nation is in an economic crisis and people are hurting – it’s time to make some choices to make our country strong again and to be fair to everyone, not just the special interests.”

Hell no- he won’t debate

Once again I was able to talk to Donald Betts and was told he could not get Tiahrt to debate him. A letter writer to the local newspaper also noticed the of all the people running for office, Tiahrt has bebated the least. In one voters guide he was represented by an empty chair.
Appearently Tiahrt still feels he has no need to try and explain his horrific voting record. He knows enough church people will continue to support his wihtout ever looking at his voting record and realizing how much he has taken evern those of
the religious right to the proverbial cleaners, when it comes to their tax money.

Tiahrt $pends money

Poor Todd Tiahrt – with all that money he took in for campaigning, he now has to put up yard signs to advertise for his rotton position as a graft mongering congressperson. He used last year’s signs, so he spent no money on design. I noticed a letter to the Wichita Eagle complaining that someone has stolen two of his signs. Who would do that? – Maybe someone who knows he will win again and can’t stand the thought of such a cretin winning his re-election so easily, when we taxpayers usually foot the bill for all his expenses. Win or lose, Donald Betts has at least forced this idiot to campaign and spend some of that loot he gets each election from Koch Industries.
Here is a great new motto for Tiahrt:

Money Talk$

Tiahrt li$ten$

Donald Betts alternative to Tiahrt

What Senator Donald Betts believes is worth fighting for…

A Cleaner and Safer Environment.

Todd Tiahrt continues to score a 0% positive on the environment by nearly all environmental goups.

An Honorable Withdrawal from Iraq as compared to simply voting for the president on the war almost 100% of the time.

A Stronger Economy, while Tiahrt has nothing to worry about, he has used his office to make hundreds of thousands of dollars at the taxpayers expence. We may suffer, but not Tiahrt. He's loaded.

For more on Donald Betts see: http://www.betts4congress.com/

GOVERNOR SEBELIUS ENDORSES SEN. DONALD BETTS

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has endorsed Donald Betts Jr. for Congress citing his leadership on issues important to Kansans. "Don Betts has been a great leader in the Kansas Legislature where he fought for better schools, more jobs and a clean energy future," said Sebelius. She has been governor since 2002, uniting both parties for a better Kansas. "It's time the people of the 4th District had a representative in Washington who puts people before politics, and that's why I'm endorsing Donald Betts for the United States Congress," Sebelius said. Betts is running for the 4th Congressional seat currently held by Todd Tiahrt (R), who has been in office since 1994.
Betts has been actively working for Kansans since 2002, when he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. He went on to serve in the Senate, bridging party lines to focus on the important issues that affect everyone including support for education through the Workforce Kansas Quick Careers. Betts took a stand against the practices of genocide with Senate Substitute for HB 2457 which was signed into law divesting Kansas
Public Employee Retirement Funds from Darfur. "It has been my pleasure to represent Kansans in Topeka but I believe that now is the time to make their voices heard
in Washington, D.C.," said Betts. "Our nation is in an economic crisis and people are hurting - it's time to make some choices to make our country strong again and to be
fair to everyone, not just the special interests."

Donald Betts For Congress

Let's give Betts some coverage

It’s about time we gave Donald Betts Jr., Rep. Todd Tiahrt’s opponent some coverage. People need an alternative to the corrupt and useless Tiahrt, so here are the basics on his opponent Donald Betts Jr.

Donald Betts Kansas Senate DemocratDistrict 29 (2004 District Map, District Demographics)First Term: 20041505 N MatlockWichita, KS 67208Phone: 316-262-2812Business InformationOccupation: Youth DirectorHome County: Sedgwick.

Capitol OfficeRoom: 404NPhone: 785-296-7387Email: betts@senate.state.ks.usCommittee MembershipRanking Minority, Elections and Local Government Time: 1:30 p.m. Room: 423-SJoint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations Time: On CallJudiciary Time: 9:30 a.m. Room: 123-SWays and Means Time: 10:30 a.m. Room: 123-S

Some recent videos of Rep. Todd Tiahrt

Republican Fundraiser Dinner



Tiahrt normally charges $1,000 a Plate for the privilege of listening to him blather and make excuses for his lame policies. This event was not cheap!

My Daughter's first soundbite. (Bush/Tiahrt SCHIP Rally)

Tiahrt Brett, not much action

There’s just no action on the Tiahrt campaign. No one is advertising. No debates. No democratic surge to try and remove this crook.

The race between the sleeze bag Pat Roberts and Jim Slatery is a different story. We may actually see the end of Roberts:
According to the Topeka Capital Journal

Slattery making gains in race
Polls find Roberts' lead is shrinking in Senate campaign
By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, June 22, 2008
The June shift is like an October surprise to U.S. Senate candidate Jim Slattery.
A series of new polls indicate momentum in the likely general election contest between Slattery and incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Roberts may be swinging toward the Democratic challenger. It is remarkable since a Democrat hasn't won a Senate race in Kansas in more than 75 years.

Will Tiahrt campaign or pocket his money

So far, I’ve seen few commercials or yard signs for either 4th district candidate Todd Tiahrt or his challenger Donald Betts. I was surprised to see that Betts has raised $81,412.20. Tiahrt has brought in $170,236.82. He has about $1,256,651.59. Members of the Democratic Party are just now starting to take in interest in Betts and treat him as a serious candidate. He is black and we know that at least some of the Tiahrt supporters are outright bigots, or at best figure all blacks are real liberal.
Betts has supposedly spent $41,209.72. Let’s hope he spends enough that Tiahrt has to spend some of his money campaigning. The more he spends the less he can keep for himself. Even if Betts can’t beat Tiahrt this time around, let’s force him to dig into his own war chest, so he doesn’t just make a small contribution to his party, and then pocket the rest. Pocketing excess campaign money and making money is Tiahrt’s main objective as a representative.
Thanks to Left Brain Kansas
for his campaign statistics.

To hell with the planet, let’s guzzle gas

It’s not surprising that Todd Tiahrt has pushed for drilling in wild life areas. He assumes that the rest of America is as callouse to the desturction of our wildlife preserves, so we can continue to drive the big SUV’s and other gass gusling vehicles as long as possible. After all, he already has one of the worst records in congress forprotecting the environments and he has supported a war designed to win us access to the world’s largest oil reserves. He knows that preserving the middle class way of life is his key to re-election, despite the fact that the democrats have yet to make a serious challenge to his office. Here are some excerpts from:

The Wicthita Eagle

Jul. 22, 2008
Tiahrt urges U.S. oil drilling
BY BRENT D. WISTROM
§
Standing at the busy pumps of a downtown QuikTrip, Rep. Todd Tiahrt said gas prices could drop dramatically if America increased its domestic oil drilling and expanded oil refineries.
If Congress lifts a moratorium on drilling this September, oil speculators would hedge their bets on the future of crude and make moves to cut the price at the pump, he said Monday.
"We can't just hope and wait on the wind today and drive smaller cars," he said, also noting that alternative energy and conservation are key to America's future.
"Our economy needs something more."
Tiahrt, R-Wichita, who is up for re-election this November, advocated drilling for oil off the nation's coasts, Alaska and elsewhere -- a move his opponent, State Sen. Donald Betts, D-Wichita, opposes.
Drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has gotten more support as fuel prices rise, affecting other consumer prices. But it remains controversial because of environmental concerns, and it is opposed by both major presidential candidates……
Betts said drilling isn't the answer, and he questioned Tiahrt's motives for advocating more drilling.
"I think a lot of this is tailoring to special interests," Betts said. "Every time (people) put the pump in their tank, I want them to know where the large oil company contributions are going to."
Tiahrt has been besting Betts in fundraising -- $878,320 to $55,678 through July 16, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' Web site, opensecrets.org.
The site shows the oil and gas industry as Tiahrt's second largest financial supporter, with $80,400. The air transportation industry has given him $92,100.

Tiahrt talks out of both sides of his mouth

Tiahrt against Expanding Educational Benefits for Iraq War Veterans

From Democratic Headquarters I got this press release:
CONTACT: Jenny Davidson
May 20, 2008

Tiahrt, Moran Vote against Expanding Educational Benefits for Iraq War Veterans

Roberts and Brownback expected to vote on 21st Century G.I. Bill this week

Topeka – On Wednesday, Congressmen Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran voted against updating the 21st Century G.I. Bill which would expand educational benefits for returning Iraq war veterans. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll330.xml]

“By voting against the 21st Century G.I. Bill, Reps. Tiahrt and Moran joined House Republicans in favoring millionaires over veterans returning from Iraq ,” said Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Gaughan .

House Republicans have argued against the use of a Patriot Premium to provide much-needed funding for our returning veterans’ education, calling it a “small business tax.” In truth, the premium would increase an individual’s taxes by a half-percent on income above $500,000 and would generate an estimated $56 billion over ten years to cover the cost of expanding veterans’ benefits. [http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/dp-local_gibill_0515may15,0,2593010.story]

“Every day, our brave Kansas military men and women are fighting to defend our rights and freedoms,” Gaughan said. “It is unacceptable for Reps. Tiahrt and Moran to shortchange our veterans when they return home from active duty. It is time for Tiahrt, Moran and Republicans in Congress to stop worrying about their next election flier, and start taking care of our soldiers and veterans.”

The 21st Century GI Bill is scheduled to go in front of the U.S. Senate this week. Already, Sen. John McCain has supported President Bush’s veto threat, saying the bill is “too expensive and could encourage service members to leave the military.” [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90483777]

“Although both Sen. McCain and President Bush have spoken out against expanding education benefits for our military service men and women, we hope Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback will support the 21st Century G.I. Bill,” Gaughan said.

###

Paid for by the Kansas Democratic Party, http://www.ksdp.org/, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

He's not the only one who is tight with taxpayers pennies while he rakes in the donations. Our Republican, who we can assume Tiahrt will support, is doing the same thing.

Move on Targets Tiahrt

Dear MoveOn member,
Can you call Rep. Tiahrt right now and tell him that voters are tired of dumping billions into the unwinnable war in Iraq? Tell Rep. Tiahrt that voters are looking for accountability from President Bush on the war and we want our troops home quickly. (We've included more details below.)
Here's where to call:
Representative Todd TiahrtPhone: 202-225-6216
Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHKS_04&cp_id=750&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=3
According to news reports, Congress will have a series of separate votes. There'll be one vote on whether to give the president $162 billion to fund the war through next year—with no strings attached. That's a huge amount to spend on keeping troops in Iraq, especially at a time when peoples' houses are being foreclosed and unemployment is going up at home.
Then, there will be separate votes on measures to redeploy our troops and hold the Bush administration accountable for their actions during the war—measures that could ban torture, hold contractors accountable, and prevent President Bush from committing our troops to a permanent presence in Iraq.1

It's important that all members of Congress hear that voters do not want the president to get another $162 billion blank check for the war. Can you call Rep. Tiahrt and ask him to reject a blank check for the president and to support proposals to bring our troops home and hold Bush accountable instead?
Thanks for all you do.
–-Nita, Michael, Daniel, Joan, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
P.S. Here's an excerpt from a Washington Post article explaining Thursday's votes:
"Setting up their last major battle over war policy with President Bush, House Democrats yesterday unveiled a plan to link their favored domestic spending projects and a troop-withdrawal timeline to additional funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan requested by the White House.
The $195 billion spending measure would pay for the wars well into next year while tacking on $11 billion to extend unemployment benefits and nearly $1 billion to offer expanded higher education benefits for war veterans. Democrats said they hope that the spending provisions, particularly the education measure, will prove politically difficult for Bush to veto in an election year.
"If he wants to make a federal case out of the fact that we feel the need to do something major to reward the troops, that's his prerogative. But I don't think the country will agree with him. And I certainly don't think the country would agree with any effort to deny the extension of unemployment benefits," said House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.).
The White House remained opposed to the additional spending, demanding a "clean" bill to fund the wars by the symbolically important date of Memorial Day.
"We feel strongly that the Iraq war supplemental should remain for national security needs. We understand that there could be debates on other issues, such as unemployment benefits and food stamps, other issues that are important to a lot of people. But those issues can be taken up separate from our national security needs," said Dana Perino, White House press secretary.
House Republicans also denounced the Democrats' plan.
"It is unacceptable and, indeed, unimaginable for Congress to continue to hold our troops hostage for political leverage. If House Democrats want to ramp up spending on other government programs, those items should be considered separately," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio).
The House's emergency supplemental funding measure is broken into three pieces, including $162.6 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, of which $66 billion is designed to cover war costs for several months after the next administration takes over. The second portion includes language mandating immediate troop withdrawals with a goal of having most all troops out by the end of 2009. The third part includes the domestic spending."
Click here to read the whole thing:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3633&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=4
Source:
1. "Leader Reid gets pushback on Iraq war bill," The Hill, May 6, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3634&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=5
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=6
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Debate? Where’s Tiahrt?

If anyone is waiting for a debate between Todd Tiahrt and his opponent, Kansas Sen. Donald Betts Jr.; They should not hold their breath. Tiahrt has taken part in only one debate since he won that office from Dan Glickman, years ago. Tiahrt always has an excuse….I’m too busy doing my job… it just gives my opponent too much publicity…or he sends a flunky in his place.
The fact is he can’t win a debate, because his record on corruption is so bad there is no way he can defend it. So he keeps avoiding debates and counting on the foolish churches that believe he stands for their religious principals. He never has to answer even to them as to what he has done for them.

It’s Betts Vs. the empty chair.