Randy "Rubberstamp" Kuhl, true to form, voted against the majority of New York Congressmen to uphold Bush's veto of The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 [H.R. 810, S. 471] that would have allowed stem cell research. Clearly Kuhl is more interested in pleasing Bush than upholding the will of the people in New York.
Meanwhile, John Hlinko of StemPAC, which has put up an ActBlue donation page for "Stem Cell Champions," has four candidates meeting their criteria: Eric Massa, Jim Webb, Patrick Murphy and Victoria Wulsin. The criteria are that these candidates "1) have been strongly and vocally supportive of embryonic stem cell research, 2) Have opponents who have not been supportive, and 3) Have a real chance of winning--with our help." You can donate to these Stem Cell Champions on ActBlue here:StemCellCandidates.org.
You can read about StemPAC launch on
U.S. Newswire and visit the website here:
StemPAC.com. It is a national grass roots effort. Contact: John Hlinko of StemPAC, 202-744-6525 or
John@StemPAC.com. You will remember that John Hlinko helped lead MoveOn.org in its early days, and he founded and led DraftWesleyClark.com, a shoestring effort that engaged tens of thousands of supporters, gained national media attention, and raised nearly $2 million in pledges for a Wesley Clark candidacy. There is a story about John Hlinko on the Clark Blog now:
From the Beginning ... John Hlinko's Story.
Now John is taking on the stem cell research challenge with Eric Massa one of first the Stem Cell Champion candidates. Eric, in his Weekly Kos Diary let loose the following broadside at Kuhl and his stand on stem cell research:
The week was concluded with my opponent actually taking the gavel on the Floor of the House of Representatives and gaveling in the President's veto of the Federal Stem Cell research bill. Despite the fact that a large bi-partisan consensus passed the Bill, the President, in a political decision to throw a bone to his ultra-rightwing base, used the only veto of his Administration. While my opponent stated that he only decided how to vote on that Bill in the final hours of hours of vote, he also stated that he should be re-elected because of his vast experience in government policy. If his 20 years and failed legacy in Albany did not give him time to formulate his thoughts on this vital medical issue, just how did he spend his time there? If his 20 months in Congress have not given him exposure to this issue then perhaps he should have used his time on the golf course to put some thoughts behind this (literally) matter of life and death. After all Golf Digest Magazine named my opponent the most improved golfer in Washington DC. His actions and his continued support for this President's policies are against the interests of the 29th District and are the number one reason why we need new leadership in Washington. Simply put, my opponent is a continuing rubber stamp, and now a gaveling stamp, to this President.
HR 810 had passed the house May 5th, 2005. Kuhl voted against it. At that time the Star-Gazette reported that
Kuhl opposes stem cell bill [bold added]:
The freshman Republican from Hammondsport was on the losing side of the vote. However, he has a powerful ally in President Bush, who has threatened to veto the bill if it is passed by the Senate and sent to his desk.... The bill, by Reps. Mike Castle, R-Del., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., passed the House 238-194 after a nearly six-hour debate over whether federally funded research would save lives or destroy them.... The legislation allows unused human embryos from fertility clinics to be donated by patients for medical research rather than be thrown out. Scientists say stem cell research has the potential to help find cures for cancer, spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.... Stem cells are the body's building blocks, capable of developing into many different types of cells, including nerves, muscles and organs....
An estimated 8,000 surplus embryos are disposed of as medical waste each year.
That this is not a partisan issue can be seen in the following quote in this article from one of the New York Republicans who supported the bill and that not all Republicans are in lock step with Bush on this issue (well, we know about Nancy Reagan already!):
Supporters of the bill - including Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, another Southern Tier Republican - said the research merely puts to use unused embryos that would otherwise be destroyed.
After the veto, local WROC TV News station slammed Kuhl on this vote. You can see the video
here. It was reported on
MyDD and more information can be found on the local blogs
and
Dragonfly Eye for the local take on the matter.
Anthony Wade has pointed out the hypocrisy of Bush championing the saving of life when he has presided over a "Culture of Death" in an article dated July 21, 2006: George Bush, Hypocrisy and the Culture of Death.
George Bush has always supported a culture of death. From his days in Texas presiding over the most executions of any Governor before him and mocking one condemned soul who pleaded for her life, to signing the law that allows Texas that allows hospitals to kill patients who can no longer pay the bills for life-sustaining services. From ignoring the bloodshed in Lebanon as children die to refusing to attend any soldier funerals in America. From the torture chambers in Gitmo to the sands of Iraq, George W. Bush has left a trail of blood and death wherever he has gone. While that is reprehensible enough, it is nothing but blatant hypocrisy he shows when pretending to then care about life by refusing to allow scientists to use embryos slated for destruction to possibly ease human suffering. We should not be surprised however, since George W. Bush is all about human suffering.
In NY-29 there was a Letter to the Editor written on June 30th by Carolyn Stephenson of Addison. You can find her plea to
vote yes on stem cell research in the Star-Gazette.
Although I am neither a scientist nor a politician, I am very interested in embryonic stem cell research. It is particularly important to me as a person with Parkinson's disease.
President Bush's outdated policy of August 2001 needs change. The House of Representatives has already voted yes on HR 810, expanding the cell lines available for federal research and federal guidelines to ensure that embryonic stem cell research moves forward in a safe and ethical manner.
Now it is the responsibility of the Senate to pass identical legislation with strong bipartisan support. Polls show solid majorities of conservatives, moderates and liberals support expanding stem cell research. I urge a yes vote on S 471, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.
Despite the promise of the research and recent polling data that shows more than 70 percent of Americans believe research should be allowed today, the president seems to be bending to the political will of a minority rather than standing with the millions of Americans who could benefit from this research and vows to veto this important legislation.
Scientists agree that this research could lead to new treatments or even a cure for millions of people battling serious diseases and conditions. For me, this is not a political debate or a partisan issue - it is about a hopeful science that could save me and my friends. It is my sincere hope that politicians of all political parties will support this important research and vote yes on S 471.
Her plea fell on deaf ears as Randy Kuhl, standing firmly on the side of the Culture of Death, was more interested in pleasing the administration that helping his constituents. As a matter of fact, Randy seems to have been rewarded for being a lap dog for the administration and house leadership since
House Speaker Dennis Hastert appointed Kuhl Speaker Pro Tem for the debate and vote. So he actually had the gavel as Eric noted in his diary Sunday. The vote not to override veto was upheld by only 5 of New York's 29 representatives, one of which was of course Randy Kuhl. We can see from the names that the vote to support it was bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats alike. The votes can be found
here
New York - In favor of overriding Bush's veto
Gary Ackerman, Timothy Bishop, Sherwood Boehlert, Joseph Crowley, Eliot Engel, Vito Fossella, Brian Higgins, Maurice Hinchey, Steve Israel, Sue Kelly, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Carolyn McCarthy, Michael McNulty, Gregory Meeks, Jerrold Nadler, Major Owens, Charles Rangel, José Serrano, Louise Slaughter, John Sweeney, Edolphus Towns, Nydia Velázquez, Anthony Weiner
Upholding Bush's veto
Peter King, Randy Kuhl, John McHugh, Thomas Reynolds, James Walsh
Those who voted for the lives constituents are in the majority, Republicans and Democrats, and those who voted for the discredited policy of the Bush administration were in a disgraceful minority.
The day after Kuhl announced his bid to seek a 2nd term, Eric Massa described him as out of touch with the voters. You can see the interview on WHAM channel 13.
The stem cell vote is just another vote by Kuhl that shows this disconnect with his constituents. During his short term in office, Randy Kuhl has proved to be a reliable vote for Bush and House Republican leaders. Kuhl cast votes in support of Bush's policies 85 percent of the time last year, more than any other New York Republican except Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Onondaga, according to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly Weekly. Kuhl also voted with the House GOP leadership 93 percent of the time -- more than any other New York Republican except U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-Clarence, who is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. More here.
In terms of the content of the bills he has supported, Randy Kuhl has not only opposed stem cell research, but he has supported drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, supported a bill making it harder to file for bankruptcy protection, voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement and voted for Bush's 2006 budget, which included tax cuts and reductions in spending for Medicare and Medicaid, among many other measures.
Eric has said that in a district that has been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs, Kuhl's support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement will hurt him by exporting more jobs to countries with cheaper labor. Even our region's celebrated wine industry could be hurt by cheaper wine from Central America. CAFTA is a direct attack on working families in the 29th Congressional District. Kuhl's vote in favor of a bill that makes it harder for people to file for bankruptcy protection hurts workers who have been laid off from Kodak and other area companies. The biggest reason people file for bankruptcy in this district is because of medical emergencies. They're not crooks and cheats as Randy Kuhl has called them.
And just the other day the Oman Free Trade Act passed 221 - 205. Kuhl voted yea. 28 Republicans joined the majority of Democrats (176) and one Independent in voting nay, including Jim Walsh. Prior to this vote, I joined labor leaders in calling for Kuhl to vote against this bill. Below is the substance of our remarks in the press release. You can read the whole text with commentary on Mike Pridmore's dKos diary, and below is the substance of our remarks.
Like others before it, this agreement will once again pit American workers against a nation with lax labor standards and threaten our national security by opening critical American assets to Omani ownership. It's bad for American workers, bad for workers in other countries, and bad for our national security.
Last year, Randy Kuhl cast the deciding vote in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, which squeaked through Congress. This new agreement is just more of the same failed economic policy - an open door to continued exploitation of forced labor and more pressure on American workers and the companies that choose to invest here.
The deal with Oman is especially troubling, as the U.S. State Department reports that human trafficking and forced labor are actual business practices in the Middle Eastern nation and the agreement could open the door for Oman to control operations at U.S. ports. Why should American workers be expected to compete with countries that produce goods with forced labor? These free for all, burn-down-the-barn free trade agreements have not helped American workers; they have created loopholes that allow corporations to take their jobs and profits overseas, while all we get in return is the opportunity to buy a five dollar t-shirt.
The Oman agreement also poses a very real national security problem. Buried deep in the legal language of the document is a provision that grants Oman, or Middle Eastern nations that set up shell corporations in Oman, the right to purchase control of U.S. port operations within the U.S., a right that once granted would be difficult to revoke. Earlier this year an enormous public outcry erupted when Dubai Ports World announced an agreement to purchase terminal operation rights for several major U.S. ports. What then does the Administration and its Congressional allies do? They try again.
The Oman Free Trade Agreement will put another dangerous and unnecessary obstacle between the American people and genuine economic and national security and we stand united against it.
Randy Kuhl represents the voice of failed policies. Policies that benefit not America but vested interests that support the culture of corruption that covers the Bush administration in a web of deceit in which under the pretence of being conservatives they push a neo-con agenda that has put America on the wrong course. We must take control of the ship of state and chart a course that takes America into safe harbors at home and abroad, supports our families, preserves our jobs, upholds our values, supports our needy and that will keep America the great nation it is and lead it to a greater future.
Eric concluded his Sunday diary with this rousing call to action:
A new dawn, with a new American foreign and domestic policy needs to be born in the Halls of -and on the floor of - the US Congress, and that policy needs to be forced upon the Administration through the reality of a new majority in the House of Representatives with members of Congress who understand the importance of the legacy of true American International and domestic leadership.
Contribute now to Eric Massa, a major
Stem Cell Champion.