Sutton Focused On Real Energy Solutions

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Sutton / Potter
• Date: Aug 19,2008

First of all, let me say that my conservative co-blogger Ben did correctly quote CNN in his recent post criticizing Congresswoman Betty Sutton's position on drilling. However, CNN got their quote wrong and has issued a correction, which can be found at the bottom of the article. Why is this correction important? Meet Dave Potter. He is the Republican running against Congresswoman Sutton. If you visit his website, you will see that Ben's piece is posted in the middle of the page - under breaking news - with this particular quotation from CNN front and center on the homepage. Since CNN has issued their retraction and correction, it is important to give team Potter the opportunity to do the same. This is that opportunity.

The transcript from Congresswoman Sutton's opening statement shows that she stated, "Drilling in ANWAR is not the answer. Not only will that oil fail to reach us in any timely way, weaning ourselves off oil is the answer." To be clear, Congresswoman Sutton is not opposed to drilling. She is opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That is an important distinction. Congresswoman Sutton's statement is a part of the official record of her testimony, which I would be happy to provide to anyone interested.

So, I look forward to Mr. Potter removing the quotation and link from his website in an effort to communicate accurate information to the voters in Ohio's 13th District. I'll go ahead and start the clock now and see how long it takes to get things fixed.

Anyone who has been following the cost of gasoline this summer realizes that the reason prices have gone down is because Americans are driving less. Democrats are willing to look at more drilling, but we have so much more we can do. Republicans seem hell bent on belittling any suggestions to increase efficiency, develop alternative energy, or protect the environment. We can do both and house Democrats recognize that.

Sutton Energy Plan: No Drilling

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Energy, Sutton / Potter
• Date: Aug 14,2008

CNN Money: "Weaning ourselves off oil is the answer." - Representative Betty Sutton, Democrat, 13th District, May 7, 2008.

Betty Sutton, as class president of the freshman 2006 House Democrats, is making her boss Speaker Pelosi proud. She recently sent two mailers to district residents that touted her energy "accomplishments." The mailers were paid for by taxpayers as part of the incumbency protection program. (4 individual links in this post can be clicked on to see the mailings I am describing; may take a few seconds to load.)

In her August mailer Sutton said: "As your voice in the United States Congress, your priorities are my priorities. From working to lower gas prices to keeping good paying jobs in our communities, I have been fighting for the issues that are most important to you." That sounds good. One of my priorities is indeed lowering gas prices. I just wish Sutton was actually doing something and not just following her party line.

On a separate page of the mailer, you can read what Sutton had to say under "Fighting to lower the price of energy." Nothing in there about drilling.

Sutton also sent out a piece about a month before that, touting her support of the "Energy Independence and Security Act." Guess what? Nothing about drilling. There was what you would expect - biofuels, green energy, blah blah blah. It was signed into law on December 19, 2007. Energy really plummeted in price after that, right Congresswoman? (This waste of money also included such great ideas as "air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle," and "install a programmable thermostat that is compatibale with your heating and cooling system.")

Sutton sends out these pieces with no mention of drilling. People all across America, and in her district, want lower gas prices and for America to start exploring resources here at home. Maybe Sutton is fine with gas around $3.70 a gallon as long as people are using the new kind of light bulbs and only using the washing machine for full loads. Surprising she didn't ask us to wash clothes in a bucket of water and soap and then use a clothesline for drying.

There is nothing wrong with one changing or evolving her position (she hasn't) when events warrant (and they do in this case), but in my eyes this is worse than a blatant flip flop, it's a distortion in a taxpayer paid communication. Sutton is not fighting to lower gas prices. Fighting to try and sue OPEC maybe. But that is about it. Don't forget, she was in the Democratic majority who voted 213-212 to adjourn for the summer without addressing gas prices. I would love to hear Sutton debate her opponent Dave Potter on drilling and energy and why she voted to leave Washington without doing anything. Probably a debate she would run and hide from. I am sure the phone polling she has been doing around the district on the issue lately tells her as much.

So in conclusion, while Betty Sutton tries to impress Henry Waxman with her sham oil executives hearings and talks about "market manipulation," 13th District residents can read her mailer that they helped pay for while paying about double the price to fill up their cars as compared to when Betty Sutton was elected in November 2006………..

Summit County Dems Hold FDR Dinner

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Local, Ohio 2008, Sutton / Potter
• Date: Jul 21,2008

Last night, the Democratic Party of Summit County held its 9th annual FDR dinner at Todaro's Party Center. There were about 450 people in attendance and the event is held to present awards to those Democrats who have distinguished themselves in their service to the county party over the past year. It was a chance for the county party to have its leadership and supporters come together under one roof before the upcoming fall campaign season kicks into full swing. The two featured guest speakers were Congresswoman Betty Sutton and State Treasurer Richard Cordray, who is the candidate for Ohio Attorney General.

2008 has been a year of accomplishment for Congresswoman Sutton. She recently introduced a bill, the Stop-Loss Compensation Act in the House (H.R. 6205), which would require the Pentagon to pay affected troops an additional $1,500 for each month their service is extended. In her remarks, Sutton focused on supporting our veterans and getting the economy back on track. She has also been chosen by her fellow Democratic Freshmen to serve as President of the 49 Member class of 2006, known as the “majority makers” and discussed how important the three special election victories were for Democrats this past year. Sutton stressed the importance of electing Barack Obama to be the next president and making sure Democrats win here in Ohio.

It has been my experience that attorneys tend to make the best speakers on the stump. State Treasurer Richard Cordray is a perfect example. With no notes, he gave an eloquent speech where he laid out how he became our candidate and how he plans to win this fall. He described the Attorney General as someone who should be somewhere in between Ohio's top cop and a civil lawyer. He promised to enforce the law evenhandedly, prosecute the guilty, and exonerate the innocent. Cordray also discussed the patriotism of dissent in a democracy led by President Bush. He ended by thanking the Summit County Democrats and said "you guys get it done." Hopefully we will again this fall.

You can view more pictures from the FDR Dinner at my other blog thechiefsource.com.

Help is on the Way. By Raising the Gas Tax.

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Congress, National Landscape 2008, Obama, Sutton / Potter
• Date: Jul 20,2008

Thank you Senator Kerry for the "help is on the way" quote.

It is only the middle of July, but we have a nomination in the "Dumbest Political Move of 2008" category.

"Lawmakers Could Consider Gas Tax Hike, After Gas Tax Holiday Fails."

Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel. (My note: That is a 54% increase.)

Jim Oberstar, D-MN, said his committee is working on the next long-term highway bill. He estimated it will take between $450 billion and $500 billion over six years to address safety and congestion issues with highways, bridges and transit systems.

"We'll put all things on the table," Oberstar said, but the gas tax 'is the cornerstone.' Nothing else will work without the underpinning of the higher user fee gas tax."

That is right. At this time of record gas prices with Americans clamoring for any relief they can get, congressional Democrats are now talking about raising the gas tax. The reason they are collecting less money is because people are driving less because prices are so high. So what do these geniuses want to do? Raise the gas tax making it more expensive to drive. Apparently lacking any economic basics, they will get a quick lesson soon enough if this goes through.

The fuel taxes in question here go into the Highway Trust Fund. That money is used for road construction, road repair, and mass transit. The 52-year-old fund is heading into the red, no surprise for a government run program.

Guess what percentage of the last transportation bill was earmarks? 12%. Maybe that is one small reason the highway fund is short on money - because it is used for things like bike paths in Oberstar's district and for a California mule and packer museum. I don't even know what that means.

Two other thoughts crossed my mind while reading this story.

1. Because the trust fund is already looking at a looming shortfall, it would have moved project cancellations into the construction season," DeFazio, D-OR, said in an interview. He said it was "highly unlikely" that oil companies would have passed savings along to consumers.

Oh, but they won't pass Betty Sutton supported "windfall profit taxes" on to consumers, Congressman DeFazio? Ms. Sutton, what say you?

2. The fuel taxes go into the Highway Trust Fund, which is used for road construction and repair and mass transit. Depriving the 52-year-old Highway Trust Fund of $9 billion at a time when it is heading into the red doomed the notion of a gas tax holiday in Congress.

Why is Congress interested in this trust fund? They didn't want to do anything to fix social security which is going broke as well. No big deal I suppose. We'll just spend 99% of the budget on entitlements.

I know Obama is happy that gas prices went up, but most of us are not….

Read the rest of this entry »

Labor For Congresswoman Betty Sutton

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Sutton / Potter, Unions
• Date: Jun 17,2008

Monday evening I attended a fundraiser for Congresswoman Betty Sutton at Laborers Local 894 Hall here in Akron. It was beer, hot dogs, and Democrat politics. Labor events tend have a friendly and lively room. People were shaking hands, giving hugs, and a laughing a lot. Everybody seems to know each other and if they don't know you they introduce themselves. There were elected officials, aspiring candidates, and a variety of local labor leaders all working the room. These people were maintaining old relationships and building new ones. It was fun to take it all in.

Congresswoman Sutton gave a very comfortable and compelling speech. It allowed her to showcase her understanding of the issues important to labor and Democrats. She talked about her recent move to increase funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to provide temporary relief for those hit hardest by this economy. She also discussed her participation in a hearing on the growing problem of subprime lending and foreclosures in Ohio. She also got a lot of applause when she touched on some of the issues that she has been working on while in Congress to help the efforts of organized labor. People were smiling and clapping in approval of their Congresswoman. That kind of support is important to Congresswoman Sutton because labor union members do a lot of the work necessary to win campaigns. They make phone calls, canvass neighborhoods, distribute yard signs, walk in parades, and do a host of other volunteer tasks to help their endorsed candidates win which can prove to be a difference maker in November.

Sutton Wants To Compensate Soldiers For “Stop-Loss”

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Sutton / Potter
• Date: Jun 13,2008

Yesterday, Congresswoman Betty Sutton from Ohio's 13th Congressional District introduced H.R. 6205, the Stop Loss Compensation Act. The bill will require the Pentagon to pay affected troops an additional $1500 for each month their service is or has been extended. The bill is also retroactive to October of 2001. It is estimated the bill would benefit 60,000 men and women who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those soldiers affected by stop-loss now serve an average of an extra 6.6 months. This is likely to be a non-partisan issue that members of both parties support, but it is worth noting that there is currently no monetary compensation for troops required to serve longer through stop-loss.

“After honorably serving their country, too many of our brave service men and women are being told they cannot return home to their families when scheduled, instead being forced to serve additional tours of duty. This is unjust and it undermines the voluntary nature of the military,” said Congresswoman Sutton. “While stop-loss may provide a temporary fix for maintaining troop levels, the lasting result of this policy will be to deter young men and women from joining the Armed Forces. Instead of forcing soldiers to serve, the army should work to increase recruitment by supporting policies such as the new GI Bill, which will improve educational benefits for service members, helping them transition back to civilian life and begin successful careers.”

Congresswoman Sutton and the Democratic Leadership in the House of Representatives should be commended for their leadership on this issue. This is an excellent example of how Congress should support our troops. What a difference an election makes.

Unrelated: I forgot to post earlier this week that the University of Cincinnati's Ohio Poll has Governor Strickland at 61% approval. Barack Obama will be in Columbus today.