Jennifer Rennicks, Asheville • Letter to the Editor • Asheville Citizen-Times
Recently, the House of Representatives voted on legislation to allow our nation's biggest polluters to dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution in our air. Although the bill did pass, I'm pleased Rep. Heath Shuler was not a supporter. As a mother who's held an asthmatic child struggling to breathe, I am sincerely grateful that he cast a vote on her behalf and the 200,000 other children in North Carolina who suffer from asthma instead of supporting the profits of large polluters.
It's hard to understand who could want to rollback environmental and health protections after three environmental disasters in a row. Middle Tennessee is still dealing with the 2008 coal ash disaster and it will be years, perhaps decades, before Gulf Coast communities recover from last year's oil spill. Displaced residents in Japan are struggling with the ongoing nuclear meltdown after the earthquake and tsunami. While some may breathe a sigh of relief that none of those disasters happened here in WNC, but for the grace of God go we. When we have the ability to protect the least among us from many forms of pollution, it is a moral duty to do well by doing good.
April 2011 Archives
With budget issues dominating the agenda and Republicans showing signs of splintering, the Blue Dog Coalition is maneuvering to play an influential role in the upcoming debt ceiling vote.
The Blue Dogs, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats who were so loud after losing coalition members during last fall’s midterm elections, have stayed out of the limelight in recent months. But behind the scenes, the group is rebuilding in hopes of providing critical votes — in exchange for useful policy ideas — on the debt limit voting coming later this spring or summer.
“I think that we are going to be players in trying to solve the problems our country is facing,” Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.) said. “We have divided government, but there are going to have to be compromises. We think we’ll have something to offer to debate, but we want to offer it while it’s being formed rather than saying we’re for or against something.”
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), a key Blue Dog ally, reached out to Speaker John Boehner earlier this week to lay the groundwork for bipartisan talks to pass a debt limit increase. In a letter to the Ohio Republican, Hoyer urged bipartisan cooperation to avoid damage to the economy and warned that “playing politics with the debt ceiling will do that by creating economic uncertainty, or worse.”
In their own campaign for relevancy, the Blue Dogs released a set of proposals for economic reform last month, some of which could be heard in President Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday.
Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.), a Blue Dog co-chairman, has reached out to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), a member of the Senate’s “gang of six,” which is working on fiscal reforms. And last month Shuler met with House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to discuss entitlement reform. The California Republican has said GOP leaders aren’t looking to moderate Democrats for votes, even as some conservative Republicans threaten to oppose key budget measures for not shrinking spending enough.
Still, Shuler thinks the Blue Dogs are well-positioned to be involved.
“The Blue Dogs have been right all along in the way that we proceed and go forward,” he said in an interview. “[This is] what we’ve been talking and discussing for 10 years, and the time has arrived and the Blue Dogs are ready for that discussion and ready and open to discuss in a bipartisan way.”
Shuler noted that so far this year, the Blue Dog Coalition has been unified on a host of floor votes, including the series of continuing resolutions to keep the government open. Indeed, most Blue Dog members voted for the CR on March 15 that drew the ire of conservative Republicans, 54 of whom voted against the measure. Fellow Co-Chairman Mike Ross said that CR vote proved the group’s value.
“We came very close to a government shutdown Saturday morning, [but] don’t forget that the last CR would not have passed and there would have been a government shutdown three weeks ago had it not been for moderate, conservative Democrats who supported it,” the Arkansas Democrat said.
A total of 85 Democrats voted for that measure.
Others in the conservative coalition are happy with the way Shuler is positioning himself and the group. In the first weeks of the new Congress, the Blue Dogs were primarily a small band of dissenters, still bruised by election losses, and they ran a token challenge against Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as Minority Leader. Shuler received 43 votes.
“First he said, ‘I’m running’ [for leader]. Now he’s saying we’ve got to get away from the politics and to the governing,” Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said. “He’s actually been very constructive; he’s always talking to us about the things we ought to be looking at.”
The group counts only 25 members but still hopes to play an outsized role as a bloc of swing votes.
One Democratic aide observed: “With the focus on budget and fiscal responsibility, there’s probably some frustration that there’s not been a place for them to stand and be bipartisan. Republicans have been so far extreme in their budget debate that they’ve not provided a place for them to find common ground.”
Nevertheless, Members are counting on their number being called. With Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (Ohio) holding strong influence over his conservative colleagues and threatening to vote against a debt ceiling increase unless drastic measures are taken, Rep. Dennis Cardoza predicted that in just a few weeks time, “you’re going to have an absolute war” in the GOP Conference.
“You’re already seeing those major fault lines coming through,” the California Democrat added. “And you’re going to need moderate Democrats to work with business Republicans to get the job done. There’s a whole heck of a lot of relevancy. People just haven’t woken up to that fact yet.”
McDowell News
U.S. Representative Heath Shuler delivered a very serious message to the kids at East Junior High this week. He joined The Century Council to urge the kids to "Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix" Monday morning in the school's auditorium.
The Century Council created an interactive, physical fitness activity that builds on the existing Ask, Listen, Learn program and encourages kids to “say yes" to a healthy lifestyle and "no" to underage drinking.
The initiative is based on research by Harvard Medical School’s Dr. John Ratey, showing that for a person’s brain to function at its peak, the body needs to move. The interactive activity, as well as a supporting website, encourages kids to live a healthy lifestyle. The website also provides parents with information and strategies to help jumpstart the conversation about the dangers of underage drinking.
“Encouraging kids to talk about tough topics such as underage drinking can sometimes be a challenge, yet Ask, Listen Learn’s interactive fitness game is an engaging way to teach kids about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the health risks of underage drinking,” said Shuler.
Jennifer Curley of The Century Council added, “According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 16 percent of 12- to 14-year-olds report they have consumed alcohol in the past month. Our Ask, Listen, Learn program has the potential to further reduce these numbers, as half of 12-14-year-olds believe alcohol education has made a difference in the decision they have made regarding alcohol.”
East Principal Charles Gaffigan said he was glad to have this new way of communicating a timeless message to his students.
“We are thrilled The Century Council was able to bring their Ask, Listen, Learn program to East McDowell Junior High School. Talking about the dangers of underage drinking with our youth is incredibly important and I have a feeling after today’s event our students will be asking to play the interactive activity a lot. I believe the more enthusiasm we can build around this important issue – saying ‘no’ to underage drinking – the smarter choices our students will make,” said Gaffigan.
Developed over six years ago, Ask, Listen, Learn has already reached millions of parents, kids, and teachers around the country. Ask, Listen, Learn’s new initiatives include:
- Asklistenlearn.com encourages kids to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid underage drinking by offering kids interactive and educational games and videos. Any kid can become a member of the Ask, Listen, Learn Team by taking a pledge to make healthy choices.
- Ask, Listen, Learn utilizes role models such as Speed Skater Apolo Anton Ohno and professional track stars Tyson Gay and Lolo Jones. Ask, Listen, Learn team members will be encouraged to read questions and answers from role models to learn how elite athletes dealt with peer pressure as they were growing up. These "Super Stars" will encourage kids to make responsible decisions and live a healthy lifestyle.
By Michael O'Brian
The Hill
Excerpt:
A prominent Blue Dog Democrat pushed Friday for an up-or-down vote in Congress on the plan produced by President Obama's fiscal commission.
Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), a member of the centrist bloc who's taken a leading role in speaking on behalf of the Blue Dogs, said he wanted a vote on the plan produced last year by the fiscal commission, which called for a series of spending cuts and entitlement and tax reforms.
Read the full article.
Washington, DC --- Today, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler voted against H. J. Res. 37, a resolution intended to strike down the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) open Internet rule.
In December 2010, the FCC adopted an open Internet -- or “net neutrality” -- rule, outlining regulations and obligations for broadband Internet service providers. H.J. Res. sought to overturn the FCC’s rule by authority granted to Congress through the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
The CRA is a mechanism for Congress to reject rules and regulations issued by executive agencies. The CRA procedure deviates from the standard legislative process by prohibiting Members of Congress from debating and voting on amendments, forcing lawmakers to take a straight up-and-down vote.
“While many Members of Congress and I have expressed concerns about certain provisions and the potential effects of the FCC's net neutrality rule, I am opposed to forcing a closed, up-and-down vote on a bill that would have a profound impact on the future of the Internet in the United States,” said Rep. Shuler. “Our economy and millions of jobs depends largely on the viability of the Internet. Any Congressional action on this issue should be done through an open, fair, and transparent legislative process that allows Members of Congress the opportunity to discuss, change, and improve the existing rule.”
A broad coalition of technology and telecommunications companies, consumer advocacy organizations, businesses, and labor groups opposed H. J. Res. 37. White House officials have stated that the President will veto this resolution.
H. J. Res 37 passed the House 240-179.
Washington, DC – If Congress fails to pass a Continuing Resolution prior to midnight April 8, 2011 appropriations will lapse and the federal government will shutdown.
The possibility of a governmental shutdown has left millions of Americans with questions about what a government shutdown means and how it will affect them.
The District and Washington, DC offices of Rep. Shuler will remain open and staffed to assist constituents with any questions they have regarding the shutdown or and to resolve any problems that arise due to the shutdown to the best of our ability.
While there are still many questions regarding how each federal agency and department will operate during a shutdown, we can provide the following information.
Why Would the Federal Government Shutdown:
If a funding bill is not signed into law by midnight, April 8th there will be a “lapse in appropriation,” which means there are no appropriated funds to pay for an agency or program.
What Federal Services will be Affected:
During a shutdown of the federal government all functions not essential to the protection of the safety of human life and property – like the military, the FBI, and air traffic controllers – are required to cease operations or limit them to a minimum operational level.
How May a Shutdown Affect You:
While federal agencies are required by law to have “draft” shutdown plans in place, these plans have not yet been made public. However, with guidance from the Congressional Research Service and experiences from previous shutdowns, we can provide the following information:
Social Security: Social Security does not rely upon annual appropriations for funding, so Social Security payments will NOT be affected by a shutdown. However, the processing of new claims will likely be delayed.
IRS: Tax forms must still be postmarked by Monday, April 18th. Refunds may be delayed.
Medicare: Medicare benefits will NOT be affected during a shutdown, so those currently participating in the program should not see a change in services. The processing of new claims will likely be delayed.
VA Services: VA Hospitals and Clinics will remain open and disability payments will still be paid. The processing of new claims will likely be delayed.
National Parks: The National Park Service will be affected by a shutdown. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway may be impacted. Those with trips to Washington, DC planned should expect museums and monuments to be closed.
Passports and Visas: It is likely that requests for passports and visas will NOT be processed during a shutdown of the federal government. U.S. Embassies abroad will remain open to serve American citizens.
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Washington, D.C. - - U.S. Representative Heath Shuler continued working tirelessly to avoid a shutdown of the federal government today by supporting a one-week Continuing Resolution (CR) that would fund federal government operations through April 15th and the Department of Defense through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The CR would also reduce federal spending for the remainder of the fiscal year by nearly $12 billion.
“While I am disappointed that Republican and Democratic leaders have again failed to compromise and find common ground to fund the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2011, I cannot in good conscience allow a shutdown of our federal government,” said Shuler. “These short-term CRs are not good for our country, but a complete shutdown of the federal government is unacceptable. Therefore, I supported this bill.”
The CR passed the House 247-181, but is not expected to pass the Senate. The President, who had previously stated that he would not sign another short-term CR, has issued a veto threat.
“The time has come for leaders in both parties to put down their partisan and ideological talking points and move our country forward,” Shuler continued. “But since a few Members of Congress seem to be willing to negatively affect millions of Americans by allowing the government to shutdown, I have introduced a bill to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from being paid during any shutdown.”
Shuler’s bill, H.R. 1305, states that if there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for federal agencies or departments, Members of Congress and the President shall not receive pay for the duration of any shutdown. Additionally, no pay forfeited due to a governmental shutdown could be given retroactively.
“The American people have hired us all to do the job of governing this country. If we are not doing our job, we shouldn’t be paid. It’s that simple and a government shutdown means we are not doing our job,” Shuler concluded.
Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman and Blue Dog Co-Chair Heath Shuler (D-NC) will offer the Blue Dog Benchmarks for Fiscal Reform as an amendment to Chairman Paul Ryan's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal. The benchmarks, released last week by members of the Coalition, are an aggressive set of targets for long-term fiscal reform and deficit reduction that includes cutting the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years, with the largest deficit cuts in history by 2014.
“Finding a budget that is right for our nation cannot be done along partisan lines. It must be done through open discussions and compromise,” said Congressman Shuler. “I am offering the Blue Dog Benchmarks for Fiscal Reform as an amendment to Chairman Ryan’s budget proposal because I believe we have to facilitate an open and honest discussion that will lead us to a bipartisan compromise down the road. The American people expect Congress to put partisan politics aside for the interest of the country’s long-term future. That is what the Blue Dogs are working for, and I am hopeful that we can do just that.”
The Blue Dogs have advocated keeping all options on the table in an effort to bring Republicans and Democrats together for a responsible, bipartisan discussion about the long-term fiscal health of the country. Following are the Blue Dog Benchmarks for Fiscal Reform:
o Largest deficit cuts in history by 2014
o Cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years
o Stabilize the debt and maintain a debt ratio to 60 percent of GDP by 2024
o Return to 2008 spending levels by 2013
o Reduce the deficit to 2.3 percent of GDP in 4 years
o Reduce the size of government
o Achieve deficit reduction with 2/3 spending cuts, 1/3 tax reform
o Everything must be on the table:
o Discretionary Spending Cuts – both security and non-security
o Tax Reform
o Entitlement Reform
o Other Mandatory Policies
o Process Reforms
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Washington, DC --- Today, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler and fellow leaders of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to President Obama urging him to continue bipartisan negotiations with House and Senate leaders in order to produce a long-term federal budget and prevent a government shutdown.
“With the threat of a government shutdown imminent once again, the President and Congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle need to get serious about working together to solve our nation’s most pressing fiscal problems,” said Rep. Shuler, who serves as a co-chair for the Blue Dog Coalition. “It’s time for our leaders to rise above partisan agendas and make compromises to do what is right for the country.”
The House and Senate must pass a spending bill before April 8th to avoid a government shutdown. Since January 2011, Congress has passed three short-term spending bills to keep the federal government operating.
“No business in America could survive without a long-term fiscal plan, and the federal government can’t either,” said Rep. Shuler. “Operating our country on a week-to-week basis is costly to taxpayers and creates a climate of uncertainty that stunts economic growth in both the public and private sector. I stand ready to work with the President and Congress to produce a responsible long-term federal budget that cuts spending and reduces the deficit.”
The letter from Blue Dog Coalition leaders to President Obama is copied below.
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April 4, 2011
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the Blue Dog Coalition we write to encourage continued negotiations with leaders of the House and Senate in order to produce a long-term spending bill and prevent a government shutdown.
Just as no business could survive without a year-long budget, we believe that the federal government cannot efficiently operate on a week by week basis. These short-term spending bills are costly to taxpayers and create too much uncertainty for both the public and private sector. Furthermore, we believe that it is imperative that both Democrats and Republicans work together and make compromises to avoid a government shutdown. Until we move beyond these monthly battles on discretionary spending – which represent less than 15 percent of the federal budget – we cannot have a more serious conversation about the structural issues that plague our nation’s fiscal health.
As we travel around our districts, we hear time and time again from our constituents that they are tired of the overheated political rhetoric that is dominating both parties and want us to begin mature conversations about our long-term fiscal problems.
We believe that as policy makers we have a clear choice in front of us: pursue a partisan approach that caters to the political extremes, or work together as Republicans and Democrats to solve our nation’s most pressing issues. As members of the Blue Dog coalition, we stand ready and willing to work with you to ensure that fiscal responsibility remains a top priority for the United States Congress and your Administration.
Sincerely,
Rep. Heath Shuler; Co-Chair, Administration
Rep. John Barrow; Co-Chair, Policy
Rep. Mike Ross; Co-Chair, Communications
Rep. Dan Boren: Co-Chair, Whip
Rep. Dennis Cardoza
Rep. Jim Matheson
April 3, 2011
USA Today
Excerpt:
Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C.: Prominent member of the House Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 25 conservative Democrats that last week called for major deficit reduction achieved with two-thirds by spending cuts and one-third by changes in the tax code.
Read the full article.
The Hill
A prominent Blue Dog Democrat pushed Friday for an up-or-down vote in Congress on the plan produced by President Obama's fiscal commission.
Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), a member of the centrist bloc who's taken a leading role in speaking on behalf of the Blue Dogs, said he wanted a vote on the plan produced last year by the fiscal commission, which called for a series of spending cuts and entitlement and tax reforms.
"Let's all agree to put the deficit commission on the table," Shuler said in a video interview with CBS News. "Let's vote on it, let's have an up-or-down vote. That's a bipartisan piece of legislation that was very successful to get members on both sides to agree."
The fiscal commission's proposal failed to win the necessary 14 out of 18 members' votes to force a House and Senate vote on the plan. Many of the House's most liberal and conservative lawmakers who sat on the commission voted against the final proposals.
The commission's proposals did prove to be the starting point for bipartisan negotiations on a similar plan between six senators — three Democrats, three Republicans — which could conceivably lead to a long-term tax and spending plan.
The debt situation is serious enough that lawmakers should be willing to lose their jobs over a vote to address it, Shuler said, which is likely to be a tough sell for many of his colleagues.
"If it means that we cast votes that are very difficult, and it cost us our election, that is what we're sent here to do," he said. "If it costs us our jobs, and we do the right thing, I truly believe in the next 10 years, that the people will look back and say, 'That was the best Congress to have ever served,' even if we all lose our jobs."
By Vicki Hyatt
The Mountaineer
Excerpt:
Despite looming financial problems facing the nation, Congress stubbornly refuses to address the major problems and instead focuses on petty finger-pointing, said U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler when he spoke to educators from across Western North Carolina last week.
“We have a major problem,” Shuler said. “This country is as close to being bankrupt as you can be.”
Read the full article.
