Luckily for the people of the 96th, there is another candidate. Democrat and Air Force Hero Tom Johnson does not have a corporate master to answer to and was able to introduce himself to the voters of his district.
Here are his answers:
Q&A
What makes you stand out as a candidate? Johnson:
I am a disabled veteran who lost his leg in service to his country.
Now, I want to fight for residents of the 96th District. I understand we
must have a strong middle class if we want to keep Wisconsin's economy
moving forward. Being disabled and on Medicare myself, I understand
seniors and the disabled and will always fight for my fellow veterans. If
elected, would you revisit the issues of mining and venture capital? If
so, how would you break the current impasse on these issues? Johnson:
Venture capital and mining did not get done this past session because
Republicans like Lee Nerison refused to consider a bipartisan mining
compromise that would have created jobs and protected our natural
resources. I feel venture capital and mining are worth revisiting and
would gain bipartisan support if done the right way. What is your plan for improving the state's economy and adding jobs, and how would you get fellow lawmakers on board with it? Johnson:
We must restore the cuts made by Republicans like Lee Nerison to tech
schools, where job training programs prepare people for the workforce.
We also need to allow for business incentives, but we must ensure that
these incentives are tied to job creation, something that is not part of
the current Republican budget. The governor has said he
does not plan to enforce key parts of the Affordable Care Act, at least
not until the November election. What is your stance on this issue? Johnson:
Gov. Walker is playing politics instead of doing what is right for our
citizens. Thousands need coverage right now and can't afford to wait
until some indefinite point in the future. Walker's decision follows a
pattern of Republicans like Lee Nerison standing with insurance
companies and not with consumers.
Who do you want representing you in government? A representative who hides from his constituents or one who layed it all on the line fighting for our country?
Says the Republican party to our troops! Then to think that after the sacrifice that they give to our great country, to tell our troops that they are not entitled to jobs, sure takes a lot of Chutzpah this close to the election!
“This country is home to the finest workforce in the world, where
people have been raised to believe that anything is possible if they
work hard. Yet in spite of the mettle and tireless spirit of the
American people, our economy continues to flounder.
“It is time to restore America’s greatness, to unleash the innovation
and entrepreneurship that have made us an example to other nations.
Washington needs new leadership that understands that throwing money at
our problems is not the answer and that pro-growth, pro-jobs policies
are the key to jump-starting our economy and creating jobs.” 2012 RNC Convention Speaker & Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman.
" High unemployment, declining incomes and crushing debt
is not a new normal. It’s the result of misguided policies. And next
January, our economy will begin a comeback with the Romney Plan for a
Stronger Middle Class that will lead to more jobs and more take home pay
for working Americans.
America is on the wrong track; but Mitt Romney and I will take the right
steps, in the right time, to get us back on the right track!
I believe my record of getting things done in Congress will be a very
helpful complement to Governor Romney’s executive and private sector
success outside Washington. I have worked closely with Republicans as
well as Democrats to advance an agenda of economic growth, fiscal
discipline, and job creation." Paul Ryan's(R- Wall St.) 2012 RNC Convention Speech.
The problem with the republicans being upset about unemployment in America is it is 100% fake outrage.
Lets not forget that Mitch McConnell started off President Obama's tenure with this:
1. Tax Cuts to Help America’s Small Businesses Hire and Grow
Cutting the payroll tax in half for 98 percent of businesses:
The President’s plan will cut in half the taxes paid by businesses on
their first $5 million in payroll, targeting the benefit to the 98
percent of firms that have payroll below this threshold.
A complete payroll tax holiday for added workers or increased wages:
The President’s plan will completely eliminate payroll taxes for firms
that increase their payroll by adding new workers or increasing the
wages of their current worker (the benefit is capped at the first $50
million in payroll increases).
Extending 100% expensing into 2012: This continues an effective incentive for new investment.
Reforms and regulatory reductions to help entrepreneurs and small businesses access capital.
2. Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America
A “Returning Heroes” hiring tax credit for veterans: This provides tax credits from $5,600 to $9,600 to encourage the hiring of unemployed veterans.
Preventing up to 280,000 teacher layoffs,while keeping cops and firefighters on the job.
Modernizing at least 35,000 public schools across the country,supporting new science labs, Internet-ready classrooms and renovations at schools across the country, in rural and urban areas.
Immediate investments in infrastructure and a bipartisan National Infrastructure Bank, modernizing our roads, rail, airports and waterways while putting hundreds of thousands of workers back on the job.
A New “Project Rebuild”, which will put people to work
rehabilitating homes, businesses and communities, leveraging private
capital and scaling land banks and other public-private collaborations.
Expanding access to high-speed wireless as part of a plan for freeing up the nation’s spectrum.
3. Pathways Back to Work for Americans Looking for Jobs.
The most innovative reform to the unemployment insurance program in 40 years:
As part of an extension of unemployment insurance to prevent 5 million
Americans looking for work from losing their benefits, the President’s
plan includes innovative work-based reforms to prevent layoffs and give
states greater flexibility to use UI funds to best support job-seekers,
including:
Work-Sharing: UI for workers whose employers choose work-sharing over layoffs.
A new “Bridge to Work” program: The plan builds on and improves
innovative state programs where those displacedtake temporary, voluntary
work or pursue on-the-job training.
Innovative entrepreneurship and wage insurance programs: States will
also be empowered to implement wage insurance to help reemploy older
workers and programs that make it easier for unemployed workers to start
their own businesses.
A $4,000 tax credit to employers for hiring long-term unemployed workers.
Prohibiting employers from discriminating against unemployed workers when hiring.
Expanding job opportunities for low-income youth and adults
through a fund for successful approaches for subsidized employment,
innovative training programs and summer/year-round jobs for youth.
4. Tax Relief for Every American Worker and Family
Cutting payroll taxes in half for 160 million workers next year:
The President’s plan will expand the payroll tax cut passed last year
to cut workers payroll taxes in half in 2012 – providing a $1,500 tax
cut to the typical American family, without negatively impacting the
Social Security Trust Fund.
Allowing more Americans to refinance their mortgages at today’s near 4 percent interest rates, which can put more than $2,000 a year in a family’s pocket.
Yes everything the republicans have been whining about and blaming President Obama for, a very good start to fix our problems wrapped up in one bill and they blocked it. By the way, Mitch McConnell does not stand alone!
As bad as blocking the American Jobs Act was, today's might be even more egregious!
Congressional Republicans, resolute in their commitment to deny the
Democrats anything that looks like an accomplishment in an election
year, have spent the week obstructing passage of the Veterans Job Corps
Act of 2012. It’s a perfectly inoffensive bill from Senator Patty
Murray, the Washington Democrat, meant to increase hiring and job
training for veterans, especially those who served in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Who could oppose hiring more veterans as cops,
firefighters and national-parks workers? Who could be against helping
veterans apply their military training to earn civilian occupational
licenses? The unemployment rate for new veterans hit nearly 11 percent
in August, compared with 8.1 percent nationwide. Veterans and
active-duty soldiers are committing suicide at alarming rates. The men
and women who defend America in uniform are 1 percent of the population.
Why shouldn’t the 99 percent give them a hand?
I’ll let the Republicans explain.
Senator
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says it is dishonorable and cowardly to help
veterans find jobs when there are more important things (what?) to do.
Perhaps forgetting where he worked, he denounced the legislation on
Wednesday as a “political exercise” and a waste of time, since the House
wasn’t going to pass it anyway. (If that’s going to be the standard,
the Senate might as well shut off the utilities.)
“Where is
our honor? Where is our valor? Where is our sacrifice?” thundered Mr.
Coburn, immediately after suggesting that the bill cost too much.
Rand
Paul of Kentucky went further, saying he would block the bill until
Pakistan freed Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the United States
find Osama bin Laden. He also wants to halt all American aid to Pakistan
until Dr. Afridi is released. If that halts American aid to veterans,
too bad.
“I care deeply about the veterans . I care deeply about
housing and helping the veterans who have fought for their country. But
this is about whether we as a country and the American taxpayers will be
asked to send good money after bad to allies that are not acting like
allies.”
It’s only “about” that because of Mr. Paul. This ought to be about jobs for veterans.
Ms.
Murray has not managed to open the Pakistani prison cell, but she has
tried to make her bill as bipartisan as possible, by incorporating
wholesale additions from Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican. The
Senate could have rallied behind this bill, shown its dedication to the
troops, and been done with it by now. But Democrats will have to pass
this bill the hard, slow way, with repeated large votes overcoming
Republican procedural objections. At this rate, it might pass on
Wednesday. Or it might be killed by Republicans committed to making a
bigger point about honor, valor, sacrifice and obstruction.
From now on the Republicans can send our troops to war with the slogan
"Don't come back, you cost too much"!
That's a winning election strategy!
We will see if the American People punish the republican party in November, for their incredible disregard for the amazing men and women in our military!
Posts
