Monday each of the Republican candidates for District 24 were emailed a questionnaire from Central Florida Politics.  The only campaign that contacted me back was Karen Diebel.  All of the candidates face an uphill battle in defeating Suzanne Kosmas.

Here is a copy of the questions emailed to the candidates:

1. Will you cosponsor and call for roll call votes on the Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (H.R. 1207/ S. 604 in the 111th Congress)?

2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?

3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?

4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other federal revenue enhancements?

5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?

6. Do you support and will you vote to protect states asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?

7. Will you oppose Big Labor’s Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?

8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?

9. Will you support the American Sovereignty Act to restrict the Executive’s ability to forge international agreements that lessen our sovereignty?

10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?

11. Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?

12. Will you oppose so-called “Cap and Trade” legislation?

13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?

14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?

15. Will you oppose federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches, and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?

16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires states and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?

17. Will you oppose the so-called “NAFTA Superhighway” and any move toward a North American Union?

18. Will you support legislation that ensures Members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read any bill before it is allowed to come to the House floor?

19. Will you oppose all tax increases?

20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for: 
Across the Board Income Tax Cut 
Capital Gains Tax Cut 
Business Tax Cut 
Estate Tax Cut

———-

update the other candidates in the race contacted me tonight.  I expect their answers back by next Friday.

Tonight I had the esteemed pleasure to listen to Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson and John Lindsey Jr. discuss running for Congressional District 12 seat being vacated by Adam Putnam.  Dennis Ross was notably absent from the event.  His assistant provided an excuse stating that he was making the rounds in Osceola County, which has a small sliver of District 12.

The candidates speeches were mediocre Randy Wilkinson did have a prop to help him start off.  He held up a princess tiara and said that he had brought it for Dennis because Dennis feels that he has been coroneted by the Republican Party.  Dennis has been absent from 3 events that both other candidates have been participating in.

Shortly after the speeches the question and answer period began.  John Lindsey really knocked it out of the park on this.   His views resonated with the general consensus of the group.  Both candidates took several questions, however I feel that Randy beat around the bush to get to the answer.  John was very clear and concise in his answers.

Both candidates said they would like to fix the 14^th amendment that allows for the offspring of illegal aliens to be automatic citizens.  This is in contrast to the voting record of the current sitting Congressman Adam Putnam, who has voted in FAVOR of amnesty for illegal aliens.

The primary for the District 12 seat will be one to watch, especially if you’re a liberty-loving individual such as myself.

Bill Posey

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) introduced the Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act, legislation designed to give the American people a stronger voice in reigning-in out of control government spending. Posey’s bill, H.R. 4308, which already has the support of 17 of his colleagues, would create a means by which the American taxpayer could put a small portion of their tax refunds toward deficit reduction and the government would then be obligated to match it $9 to $1 and lower spending accordingly.

“In recent years, Washington has taken us down a dangerous, irresponsible and unsustainable path of overspending,” said Congressman Posey. “This month our national debt exceeded $12 trillion for the first time in our nation’s history and as early as tomorrow the Speaker may bring a bill forward to raise the debt limit to $14 trillion.  Last year alone put a record $1.4 trillion on the next generation’s credit card – more than three times the previous record.  Unfortunately, Washington seems dead to the common sense idea of lowering spending.  Many constituents have indicated they feel powerless and my bill gives them a direct way to cut Washington spending.”

Specifically, the Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act would add a new “Deficit Reduction Check-Off” line to IRS tax forms. Individuals would be given the opportunity to direct up to $10 of their tax rebate/refund for deficit reduction ($20 for joint filers). While the individual’s tax return would only be reduced by a maximum of $10, Posey’s bill directs the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to cut federal spending by $100 ($200 for a joint return). A $10 check-off translates into $100 in direct deficit reduction.

“For every $10 dollars you give, Washington would be required to cut $100 in spending – $200 for joint filers,” said Posey. “For example, if 40 million Americans ‘check-off’ a total of $300 million on their tax returns, the Federal government would be directed  to cut spending by $3 billion. It adds one more deficit reduction tool and it will also give Congress an idea of just how serious the American people are about cutting spending.”

Bill Posey

WASHINGTON, DC – In a recent letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) joined with 25 of his fellow House Members in calling for documents detailing the Fed’s handling of the AIG bail-out to be made available to Members of the House Financial Services Committee and its staff. Aides to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs have already been granted access to such documents on the matter, but not in the House.

“We still have many serious questions surrounding the AIG bailouts,” said Posey. “Every taxpayer has the right to know the role of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury in these monumental and costly decisions.  I join my colleagues in calling for transparency and accountability in this and other actions by the Federal Reserve throughout the financial crisis. The American people deserve to know all the facts and by continuing to withhold information on how billions of dollars in taxpayer money was spent, the Federal Reserve is further abusing the taxpayer.”

The letter to Chairman Bernanke states “the ongoing government rescue of the American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has raised serious concerns regarding a lack of transparency surrounding the commitment of billions of taxpayer dollars, including the payment of over $60 billion to AIG’s counterparties on certain credit default swap transactions. Recent disclosures that the New York Fed attempted to prevent public disclosure of information related to these transactions by directing AIG to delete the counterparty names and payment information from the company’s draft regulatory filing are extremely troubling.” To view the letter in full, click here.

WASHINGTON (16 September) - Today U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), representing Florida’s 9th Congressional District, delivered the following remarks after sending a letter to President Obama asking him to end taxpayer funding of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). In addition, Bilirakis co-sponsored H.R. 3571, the Defund ACORN Act, which would prevent any federal funding or support for ACORN. Since 1994, ACORN has received more than $50 million in direct funding from the federal government.

Jim Greer

Tallahassee– Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer tonight issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress.

“The President’s speech tonight was a good effort in discussing this important issue with the American public. I, along with many people, believe that our health care system has challenges which must be addressed and while I agreed with much of what the President had to say, there is still much that I cannot support when it comes to government run health care and the many unanswered questions that still exist.

“At the end of the day, the President was right when he said that the need for bipartisanship cooperation is crucial to passing health care reform legislation that all Americans can support.”

About the title:  I have decided to keep naming Greer “Boss” after his present party purging efforts which are reminiscent of a “Godfather” movie.

Alan Grayson

With hundreds of vocal health care reform critics and supporters lining the streets outside, U.S. Rep Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, held a spirited but civil town hall meeting Monday night inside a union hall where his supporters outnumbered critics, but questions initially came from all sides of the debate.

In the first hour, debate centered on how issues such as pre-existing medical conditions would be handled and if the reform would allow people to hold current health plans. Grayson at one point went through the exact language of a pending bill and argued the wording of it posted on an overhead projector detailed that it would protect a citizen’s right to keep the health insurance they already have.

At another point, a woman critical of the pending reform said prostate and breast cancer were treated differently in the reform bill. Grayson challenged that, but said if true, he would offer an amendment to change it.

However, Grayson told a handful of critics that they were raising issues — dealing with tort reform or Medicare fraud — that were not included in bills pending before him in the House.

“I think you’re concerns are well founded,” Grayson said. “But that’s not this bill.”

The hastily-called meeting was held in a relatively small union hall which limited attendance to about 120 or so members of the public. But it was held just after a regular meeting of local Democrats, some of whom stayed behind for the town hall in the scarce seats.

Outside the union hall, a frustrated crowd of hundreds of people who could not get into the hall waved signs and chanted simultaneously for and against health care.

There were so many different chants that they were unintelligible. At one point, Andy Showen, 49, of Orlando, angry he couldn’t get in, pulled on a side door until police officers stopped him.

“You’re a real hero,” he told an officer. “You just stopped me from talking to my congressman.”

He put up his wrists, asking officers to arrest him. They walked him away instead.

Police cars blocked off the streets in an attempt to calm protesters  And overall the event was peaceful.

Despite all the shouting, some voters actually talked to each other. Earlier, Showen, who describes himself as a “libertarian capitalist,” talked with a woman who said capitalism was immoral, he said. They never agreed on health care, but shared similar views on executive compensation.

Others were more frustrated.

“I’ve given up,” said Carmen Simeone, a 60-year old general contractor, who opted just to protest outside. “I understand what’s going  on. He’s stacked the deck.”

Simeone said he’s troubled that health reform will usher in “socialism,” expose his bank accounts to government scrutiny, and limit access to doctors.

Inside, Jim Panetta said he feared the reform would encourage everyone to drop coverage they pay for and get free care from the government.

Grayson said only people with lower incomes would get government aid to buy insurance. But he said pharmaceutical companies are also agreeing to receive less money for drugs purchased by public health programs, and that $80 billion savings could be used to offset any new costs.

“This is not free health care for everybody,” Grayson said. “It’s not close to it.”

Grayson also said he would back including a public option in any final plan, mainly because there are so few private insurance options available in most metropolitan areas of the country. A public option is likely to take the form of a government-run provider network that could possibly resemble Medicare.

“There is a profound lack of competition, that is only getting worse,” Grayson said. But, he added, “no one would be required to be in the public option.”

Inside, both sides cheered comments to their liking, and only a few times did Grayson ask the crowd to stay under control. At one point, he asked a man to “knock off the bull,” because his three children were in the room.

“I’m not saying I know everything,” Grayson said. “But I’m pretty familiar with this bill. Let’s be respectful.”

The line that drew the most spirited response: “This bill cost half what the war in Iraq cost,” Grayson said.

Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden will be in Orlando Wednesday to help Congressman Alan Grayson raise cash.

Biden is also attending a fundraiser for Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, at the same hotel on the same day. But it seems a stealth mission compared with Grayson’s exuberant promotion on his Web site. “Don’t miss the event of the year!” reads a headline.

Grayson’s event,  however, has turned into a bit of a PR disaster because one of the hosts is a federal lobbyist. Florida Hospital Lobbyist Dick Batchelor stepped down after questions were raised but first engaged in e-mail war with Andy Sere, regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. (see the exchange below)

Aug 12. Mr. Seré, Just a moment ago I was provided a copy of your GOP statement attacking Congressman Alan Grayson for having a “fat-cat healthcare lobbyist” as a co-sponsor of his upcoming fundraiser where Vice President Joe Biden will be the guest of honor.

This “fat-cat healthcare lobbyist” does and has since 1993 represented Florida Hospital on a number of matters in Washington during both the Clinton and Bush administration.  Let me hasten to point out that the client is not much of a “fat-cat”.  On the contrary, I would suggest they might be a “lean cat” inasmuch as they are a faith-based, not for profit hospital (Florida Hospital).

However, when reminded of President Barack Obama’s commitment that federally registered healthcare lobbyists, including those who might lobby members of the National Republican Congressional Committee, should not participate as co-sponsors in campaign fundraising, I readily agreed and communicated to Congressman Grayson’s staff that I wish to withdraw my name as a co-sponsor.

In that Congressman Grayson was not aware of that fact when I was asked to co-sponsor this event and out of the deepest respect for the policy of the Obama administration, I certainly will not participate as a co-sponsor nor raise any money or attend the event.

However, in that the National Republican Congressional Committee, whose sole purpose is to raise tens of millions of dollars for congressional incumbents and Republican challengers, has raised this issue of federal healthcare lobbyists being involved in congressional fundraising, I would like to ask for a reciprocal commitment.  Will your Republican committee take a position that no one who is currently a registered lobbyist in Washington be invited or allowed to raise any amount of money (including bundling) for any Republican congressional candidate?

This would go a long way to advance President Obama’s policy to dissuade such participation by registered lobbyists and I am confident that your committee and the Republican campaigns for which you raise money will be more than happy to take the same principled stand as the Administration.  As you probably have heard, there is an old saying in the South, “this dog won’t hunt” – let’s see if your fat-cat will!  I look forward to a prompt response.

Aug. 13 Dear Dick,

Thanks for your press release/letter.

Since you seem to be Congressman Grayson’s new spokesman and chief defender , I’m hoping you can address some unanswered questions.

1)       All invitations to events featuring White House officials must be approved by the White House. Did the White House approve the invitation with your name on it, or did Grayson send the invitation out without White House approval? In other words, who messed up here?

2)       You pledge in your letter below to “not participate as a co-sponsor nor raise any money or attend the event.” That’s all well and good from here on out, but please answer some questions about what has already transpired :

A. When was the invitation with your name on it mailed?
B. To whom of your friends and business associates was the invitation mailed?
C. To whom did you make fundraising phone calls on Grayson’s behalf for this event?
D. How much money has Grayson raised for the event and how much of that is attributable to your efforts?
E. Who, specifically, has contributed money to Grayson as a result of your efforts?

3)       In today’s Sentinel article, you claim to have “never…spoken with Grayson about health-care issues.” Quoting from the boast on your website : “July 2005: According to Orlando Magazine ‘s 2nd Annual ‘50 Most Powerful People,’ ‘ Dick Batchelor is one of those lobbyists with enough clout to get to anyone .’  Moving up the list to #14, ‘ he’s got plenty of friends, and they owe him plenty of favors .’”

A. Have you “gotten to” Grayson yet?
B. What “favors” does Grayson “owe” you?

4)       You also claim in both your letter and today’s Sentinel article that “Grayson was not aware” that you are a federal lobbyist. Since you are widely recognized as the “city’s top lobbyist,” as you point out on your website, why didn’t Grayson think to ask if you were registered with the federal government?  Or did he just not care about White House ethics rules?
5)       Referring back to #2D, is Grayson willing to donate to a worthy cause (and no, Willie David’s “Florida Civil Rights Association” is not an option) all monies he has received and will receive as a result of your efforts on this event?
6)       You distributed your press release within an hour of this news breaking. Did you use a media list provided by Grayson’s staff, or did you use your own?
7)       Why did it take this episode to finally shame Grayson into coming before voters and hearing their concerns about the healthcare takeover he supports? Has a time and place been set yet? By the way, do you plan on attending and yet again serving as Grayson’s chief defender when it inevitably becomes clear that Central Florida families and seniors don’t appreciate the congressman’s support for government-run healthcare and Medicare cuts?

Thanks for your attention to these questions. One final thought: the request you made for a “reciprocal commitment” in your letter below is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the central fact in this controversy: the White House imposed on their events a ban on the participation of federally-registered lobbyists, and Grayson broke that rule.

It’s not your career as a lobbyist that’s the problem – it’s the hypocrisy, Dick.

Sincerely,

Andy

Original Source

Joe Biden

Freshman Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson announced today that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. would headline a luncheon for him later this month, a clear sign that Democrats are preparing for a tough fight in Florida’s 8th District.

The Aug. 19 luncheon for Grayson features Biden, Sen. Bill Nelson, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other local figures.

Grayson instantly became a top election target when he defeated Republican incumbent Ric Keller in 2008 in the competitive Orlando-area district.