Check out your Rep. Report Card

he finally got the message....

:bounce:

Thompson, Glenn(R-PA, District 5) NA 10%

Yep, that about sums him up.

Bill Nelson a B

Mel Martinez FFFFFFFFFF(HIM)

When 88% is the lowest score your reps get, you can feel pretty sure you're well reprsented.

100%!:applause:

Eh, not so much.

Okay, okay 88% isn't all that bad. I guess I'm just spoiled.

:evilgrin:

NGU.

0%. Zero, zip, nada.


:hi:

Just describing someone as being "for the middle class" seems meaningless, it implies that all people in a particular set of economic circumstances have precisely the same set of values, and that seems fallacious to me.

If it's progressive values (the same sort the ADA already rates representatives on, then just say so, if it's something slightly different, then say what that difference is.

of what they support and oppose. I didn't see who does the picking for "support" and "oppose", and what their criteria for deciding which way to go on any of these issues.

They appear to be in favor of legalizing illegal immigrants, that might be a middle class position in NYC, but it's probably not a middle class position in an area with high unemployment.

Regarding legalizing immigrants, the rationale is that legalization would prevent exploitation and the lowering of wages for all involved. If immigrants compete on the same playing field, it's a win/win. Most reasonable people are not opposed competition from legal immigrants, they're opposed to competing with those who can be exploited for low wages.

and like I said, I still don't see who makes the decisions for this site, or what criteria they use.

As for opposition to legalizing illegal immigrants, most people who oppose it know damn good and well that the farmers, ranchers, and travel industry will just hire more undocumented workers to undercut legal labor. They've already seen that happen twenty years ago with the last legalization.

As noted earlier, themiddleclass.org supports legalization of many "undocumented" workers in order to address the problem you mention.

http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/amendment-remove-legalization-provisions-immigration-bill-2007

Equally important is the way this legislation would exacerbate the threat that undocumented workers pose to the wages and workplace conditions of aspiring middle-class Americans. Because unscrupulous employers can threaten to have their undocumented employees deported at any time, these immigrants are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace. This underground workforce competing in the labor market with American citizens perpetuates a "race to the bottom" in which employers, especially those in industries requiring unskilled labor, are driven to reduce wages and benefits and degrade employee working conditions in an effort to compete with companies that employ undocumented workers under substandard conditions. While this legislation seeks to drive undocumented immigrants out of the workplace completely, the more likely effect would be that they remain in the country but are driven further underground, increasing their vulnerability and further undermining middle-class wages and working conditions.




Peace

Besides, "Because unscrupulous employers can threaten to have their undocumented employees deported at any time, these immigrants are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace," there will always be a demand for undocumented employees. And there will always be a supply, especially in a recession. Without effective enforcement, the problem will balloon back up again in just a few years.

The only difference is we will have several million more new legalized citizens looking for a piece of the pie. Hope there's enough to go around.

We need to make it unappealing for employers to exploit people via fines etc.

and they were not enforced. What makes you think we're going to do any better enforcing the laws in a new amnesty?

The point is, we already have laws of this nature, and if we had fully enforced them, we wouldn't be looking at 12 to 20 million people here illegally who are trying to find jobs and social welfare benefits as citizens during a particularly nasty recession, where we might not have enough to go around for people who have always followed the law their whole lives.

Perhaps this site is merely trying to take what are traditionally called progressive or liberal values and labeling them as "middle class" to attempt to further legitimize them. I'm OK with that for the most part, but it's going to be awfully easy for the right wing to call them out on it. It's my bet that there is a very, very close correlation between a Congresscritter's scores on themiddleclass.org, and ADA.

Frankly, the "middle" of this country consists of people I call the "mushy middle", they really don't like to think about politics one way or the other, and the few of them who bother to vote don't decide whether it's R or D until the weekend before the election. They seem to be pretty strictly pocketbook voters, and if they are feeling comfortable, they'll vote Rethug, whereas if they are feeling nervous, they'll give our side a chance.

We can set up a system of SS# verification if need be.

As to not enforcing various legislation of course we need to enforce what is already in existence as well. But the key words from Simpson-Mazzoli are "knowingly hire" we need to have a process in which there is no way to NOT know.

I would argue that Middle Class values ARE progressive values. Also, I don't think the middle is so "mushy" right now. We have growing numbers of people interested in their democracy as most people, middle or not, have been adversly effected by Republican policy.

but they're easily manipulated by fear tactics, and may "mush" in the other direction the next time. I do believe that President Obama has been making the kinds of decisions least likely to let the latter happen.

We do have a system, it's called E-Verify. The only problem is that it's not mandatory. With temporary labor, lasting for a mere few weeks (such as for construction jobs or agricultural work), the undocumented worker has been paid and has left, disappearing into the ether by the time any enforcement action is brought to bear.

We could change that by allowing for the deductability of wages only if the SSN matches the E-Verify database. That would clear up abuses in a hurry.

Great idea.

I wasn't aware of the E-Verify system. I agree, it should be mandated.

:hi:

Go Nydia!

The Democrats score high and the repubs score low. :evilgrin:

reasonable. :shrug:

aside from his support for economic bills that he expects to help Pennsylvania, we can expect to see him vote Blue Dog much more often than not.

The people of PA will have to decide if he's actually a Democrat or not based upon how he votes going forward.

to get from those invested in the current system. He's not likely to receive campaign contributions from ordinary citizens for a vote in favor of health care reform that will total up anywhere near the fat cats can provide for him.

He's spent way too many years as a Rethug to change his ways, he's just strategically changing his label.

Obama has an ability to raise $ like non other, so if he wants the support of the President, he'll have to earn it.

That's my take. ;)

I'm still reeling from the Senate's smackdown of allowing bankruptcy judges to write down mortgage balances on underwater home loans. We'll see if the bankers have got Senators bought and paid for when credit card abuse legislation makes it's way to a vote.

And that's just the money men, they've had a tough year. The entire healthcare industry has always been able to dump tons of cash to get what they want, year after year. I still remember Harry and Louise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt31nhleeCg

edited to add link.

unless he wishes to risk defeat in a primary.

Dang. I'm proud and lucky to live here.

It amazes me so many people still agree with the Republican "ideology."

Nice find!

Senators

Dems
Patty Murray A
Maria Canwell A+

House
6 Dems, C, A, B,B,A+,A+

3 Repugs, D, C, C

Why can't we get health care.

but my representative (McCotter) is only getting a C (20%). Hopefully, if the Dems can find a good candidate, he'll be gone in 2010.

Cornyn F
Hutchison D
Granger F

No surprises here.

:nopity:

Dennis Kucinich A+

Tim Ryan A+

:kick:

Boxer and Feinstein both got 88%, both of them down. Boxer has always been around 98% and Feinstein, although heaven only knows how, around 96%.

I'll look this over when I get back home tonight

Well done!

As for Senators, Casey gets 88% and Specter 75%.

Senators (Lautenberg and Menendez-- identical scores)
2008 A 2009 88%

Representative (Frank Pallone-- NJ-6)
2008 A 2009 100%

I'm pleasantly surprised.

:bounce:

:bounce: :party:

The only surprise is that he scored that highly.

with the Senators - not one republican got a grade above C. Interesting.

Old Rep. Pete Stark 100%

then....moved for new job after layoff.

New Rep. Wally Herger 10%

:banghead:

Bush, supported Telecom immunity, and ignored his constituents by voting for the Financial Failure Reward aka TARP.

Also voted for reauthorizing funds for Iraq War.

Don't believe everything you read.

Back home, Chris Murphy got an A.

Mikulski and Cardin are both 88%for 2009

I have a feeling he's trying to remain seated.

Nelson, wow, the man is getting on board with Obama big time. Not so happy with some of the other issues, but not too bad.

Martinez, complete joke.

:banghead:

All 10 of the Reps in MA receive an A with a 100% score. Not a single one under 100%!

Teddy Kennedy rec'd an "incomplete" with a 100% ytd score and Kerry a B with 88%.

As I have said before, I am very happy to live in Massachusetts.