Cheri Bustos Votes to Support Millionaires, Billionaires and Big Oil

I just read the Congressional Progressive Caucus "Back to Work" budget. You can read that here: CPC Budget

On the campaign trail we heard Cheri Bustos say the following would be her principles in Congress:

1. Ensure that millionaires and billionaires pay more of their fair share of taxes.
2. End tax breaks and incentives for big oil companies and companies that ship jobs overseas.
3. Protect Social Security and Medicare.
4. Cut down on waste, fraud and abuse.

If those were her principles, then why did she vote AGAINST the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget? According to their website, their budget would do the following:

1. Enact a Fair Individual Tax:

• Immediately allows Bush tax cuts to expire for families earning over $250K

• Higher tax rates for millionaires and billionaires (from 45% to 49%)

• Taxes income from investments the same as income from wages


2. Enact a Fair Corporate Tax:

• Ends corporate tax bias toward moving jobs and profits overseas 

• Enacts a financial transactions tax

• Reduces deductions for corporate jets, meals, and entertainment 


3. Protect Health Care:

• No benefit cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security 

• Reduces health care costs by adopting a public option, negotiating drug prices, and reducing waste and fraud


By voting against this budget, it's safe to say that Cheri Bustos isn't really against low taxes for millionaires and billionaires. It's safe to say that she's okay with tax breaks for big oil companies. She's also open to cutting social security and medicare. She doesn't prioritize cutting government waste. She clearly doesn't think that tax breaks for companies that outsource are that big of a deal either, otherwise she would have voted for this bill.

Cheri should explain why she didn't support this bill. Exactly what was in it that she disagreed with?

At the bare minimum, the local media in her district should be asking these questions.

That was quick...Bustos Loses Key Staffer After Just 30 Days

QCNews.org has the story here --- http://QCNews.org

But I guess Jerry Lack, Rep. Cheri Bustos' District Director, has turned in his two week notice. Lack, who is generally a well respected and pleasant person, told a QCNews.org source that he felt Bustos was not prioritizing the in-district operations like she was with the DC office.

Has Bustos "gone DC" already?

That was quick.

Holy Schmoly

Wow. On here less than 3 weeks and we've already surpassed 5,000 hits.

h/t MY FREAKING SELF!

A lot of interest in these posts.

Go ahead. Hate me.

My history and a brief overview

My dad used to always say, "How do you know when a politician is lying? When his lips are moving." He didn't really like politics that much. I don't think he was a regular voter.

My mom was a Reagan democrat, but voted for Clinton and Gore.

My uncle ran for office 3x and lost.

My grandpa was a new deal democrat.

That being said, I obviously have democrat tendencies but I will fully admit that I voted for Bobby Schilling over Phil Hare. It wasn't much of a choice. Phil was rude and sucked at being a congressman. The way he got in still rubs me the wrong way about QC politics.

But anyways. That's over and there's a new race for congress. We'll see how Schilling does. I didn't like his vote on Amtrak, but that's not the most important issue.

Right now we have Sen. Dave Koehler,  Mayor Mark Schwiebert, Cheri Bustos, Porter McNeil, George Gaulrapp, Mike Boland and .... am I missing anyone? It's a crowded field. Mostly because Schilling's district was made more democrat and Obama will be on the ballot.

We also have a race for state senate as well. I like Mike Jacobs and know his family. I think it's funny to hear people call him "slugger" I don't know much about his opponent Bill Albracht - a vietnam veteran I think...

State Rep? Who cares. That should be a pretty uneventful race in both the 71 and 72 district. If Verschoore wins/loses...guess what? Nothing changes. If Morthland wins/loses...guess what? Nothing changes.

Rock Island County board is currently 21 democrats to 4 republicans. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

I will be covering the candidates for these races above. Things they say, places they go, etc etc.

Email me with any tips.

It's time.

The Quad Cities is lacking something.

I'm not talking pizza. I'm not talking ice cream. I'm not talking tacos. I'm sure as heck not talking about Reubens.

We lack a decent political blog that covers things in an unbiased and humorous way.

So this little red headed guy from Moline, IL has decided to create one.

Over the next year I will be writing my thoughts about the different political news in the Quad Cities. We will be covering local, state, and federal races.

It should make for a good time. Hope you like it.