Only 25% in Poll Approve of Congress

"With the midterm elections less than seven weeks away, Americans have an overwhelmingly negative view of the Republican-controlled Congress, with substantial majorities saying that they disapprove of the job it is doing and that its members do not deserve reelection, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll." (NYTimes, 9/20/06)

Dennis: We Need to "Deal With" Blogs

Denny recently responded to the question, "why do you refuse to debate Monica Lindeen?" with the ominous and unconstitutional assertion that "Blogs are something we're going to need to deal with in the future." Listen to the entire interview on Yellowstone Public Radio here, or download/play the excerpt here. (4&20 Blackbirds has more)

More Reasons to Vote Lindeen

"...I want my daughter to grow up in a world where global warming and environmental destruction don't turn a simple thing like stepping outdoors hazardous. I want both kids, and their kids in turn, to have the health-care they need when they need it. That's not asking too much. I want them to have the opportunities to pursue their dreams and interests to make decent livings. That's not asking too much either. I want them to be able to enjoy our public lands and wild places like I have, to lose themselves in the mountains for as long as they want to stay lost. Our lands need to stay public and protected or that chance is gone. Conrad Burns and Denny Rehberg won't work for any of this. These two shrunken heads have a history of working against these very things. They've got to go..."

Read the Rest at Buzztail

Another Reason From Pragmatic Revolt

"...I guess I should say “Thank You” to both the Republican that brought my blog to the attention of the Montana Republican State Central Committee and of course to the Committee itself for providing yet another reason to VOTE FOR MONICA LINDEEN…."

Read All About It at Pragmatic Revolt

Whose Side is Dennis Rehberg On?

Deductions From Your Paycheck Go Toward His 168,000 Per Year Salary But He Votes Against Bonus for Troops and Minimum Wage Increase

Rehberg Cast a Crucial Vote Against Granting A Bonus To U.S. Troops Serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. In October 2003, Rehberg voted No to a $1,500 salary bonus for servicemen and women in recognition of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and reserve forces, would have received the well-earned pay raise under le gislation Rehberg opposed. The pay-raise measure was defeated, 213-213. Rep. Rehberg's vote was decisive.
[HR 3289, Vote # 554, 10/17/03, failed 213-213: R 14-211; D 198-2; I 1-0; New York Times, 10/22/03; Las Vegas Review Journal, 10/18/03]

After pocketing his sweet bonus, Patriot Dennis Rehberg will be making $168,500 annually. The men and women putting themselves in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan every day, however, are paid far less than that by the taxpayers, and go without a pay raise. With votes like that, most of us folks would say Rehberg is not worth the expense.

Rep. Dennis Rehberg is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. Last month, the Billings real estate baron also voted against modestly boosting the federal hourly minimum wage from $5.15 an hour, a rate set in 1997, to $7.25 an hour over two years.

If you see Rep. Dennis Rehberg campaigning around the state this summer, tell him to give our brave citizen-soldiers and their families a raise. After all, he got one, why shouldn't they?

Montana Bloggers Endorse Lindeen

15 Reasons to Vote for Monica Lindeen

"A poster on the DailyKos gave Five Things About Monica Lindeen's Bid for Congress this weekend. I want to expand on that a little. Since the poster did such a good job on the first part, I will start with number 6.

6. Monica Lindeen is the right lady for the job.

You can read my post on my impressions of Monica here. I am convinced that she will work hard for the good of Montana.

7. Denny Rehberg is the wrong man for the job

You can read my post on Rehberg's dismal here. His time in Washington has been a horrible failure.

8. Denny Rheberg is in the pocket of big energy

Rheberg has taken over $200,000 from big gas, oil and enrgy PAC's. What did they get in exchange? He voted for the Bush energy plans which given them over $420 million in tax breaks. Look at our current gas prices and tell me how that has helped Montanans. (HR 6, House Vote 145, 4/11/03; HR 6, House Vote 445, 7/28/05)

9. Denny Rehberg favors the Energy interests over Montanans

Remember the Enron scandal? Remember all the price gouging claims against energy companies? Rehberg voted against legislation that gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) anti-fraud authority for electricity and natural gas markets. (HR 6, House Vote 133, 4/10/03). Additionally, Rehberg opposed legislation that gave the Justice Department the ability to prosecute oil companies engaged in gas price gouging and he voted against stricter penalties for gasoline price gouging. (HR 3402, House Vote 500, 9/28/05; HR 3893, House Vote 518, 10/7/05)...”'

Read the rest at Wrong Dog's LIfe Chest

"Vets Don't Trust Rehberg"

New TV Spot 10/24/06

Rehberg Watch

Rehberg "dangerously out of touch" on Iraq

"The administration fouled up every diplomatic and political component of the war, and Montana Representative Denny Rehberg was there rubber-stamping Bush’s failed policy."

4&20 Blackbirds Has More

Rehberg Voted Yes On All of the Following. Feel any Safer?

06/29/2006 Intelligence and Law Enforcement Resolution
03/07/2006 PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill
12/14/2005 USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Ac
07/21/2005 USA PATRIOT & Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act
06/15/2005 Patriot Act Amendment - Library Records
05/18/2005 Homeland Security Department Authorization Act FY06
10/08/2004 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act Y
10/24/2001 USA Patriot Act of 2001
10/12/2001 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001
09/14/2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.

Rehberg Prefers Corruption to Protecting Children

Hastily disposes of Foley campaign contribution; thinks Hastert should stay. More.

And Yesterday, I Saw Two Sasquatches Playing Chess

"Rehberg, who has twice visited Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion there, said the situation is not a failure. Things are getting better, he said. The Iraqi army and police forces are improving; the government continues to become more functional.”Real progress is being made,” Rehberg said."

4&20 Blackbirds Has More

On Rehberg's Watch

The Gross National Debt

Rehberg Tied to Accused Burns Fundraiser

Rehberg campaign received $3200 from Pat Davison

"...And let’s not forget that Davison is also a big fan of Denny Rehberg. The only thing that ties Davison to Rehberg right now is the several thousands Davison dropped in Denny’s pocket from fictitious companies. But why is it when there’s a big stink with Burns, there’s also a little whiff from the Representative, too?"

Montana Bloggers Weigh In:

Critics Allege Rehberg Committed Fraud!

Critics Accuse Rehberg of Abusing Congressional Privileges to Campaign on Taxpayers' Dime

Swift Reaction from Bloggers

Jack and Dennis Are Like This

Rocky Mountain Front

Minimum Wage

Rehberg tries to defend Republican tactics of using death tax to kill first minimum wage increase in ten years

Maximium Wage

Your Health

Rehberg Votes Against Saving Lives, Stem Cell Research

Big Oil

Rehberg, Cheney Big Oil Buddies

Port Scandal

Rehberg Voted for Budget That Cut Veterans Programs by Billions.

Rehberg voted for final passage of the $2.6 trillion budget conference report for 2006. The report cut funding for veterans’ health care by $13.5 billion over five years. Yet the budget still found room for $106 billion in tax cuts for those who need it the least. [HCR 95, Vote #149, 4/28/05; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, “Summary and Analysis of FY 2006 Budget Resolution Conference Report,” 4/28/05]

Rehberg Opposed Expanding TRICARE to Thousands of National Guard & Reserve Volunteers.

In 2005, Rehberg voted against a motion to expand access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of reservist and National Guard members. Despite the fact that more than 433,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves have been called up for active duty over the last two and one-half years, not all Guardsmen and Reservists have access to TRICARE. A 2003 report by the General Accounting Office showed that 20 percent of all Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage. According to the latest Defense Department data, 18 percent of activated Reservists have no medical coverage. Currently, only those called up for active duty are eligible for the program. The proposal would have expanded military health care to provide access to TRICARE to most members of the Guard and Reserve and their families for a low fee. The motion failed, 211-218. [HR 1815, Vote #221, 5/25/05; Leadership Document, “DOD Authorization Previous Question on Rule”]

Rehberg Voted Against Full Retirement & Disability Benefits for All Veterans.

In 2003, Rehberg voted against a motion to full fund disability and retirement benefits for all of the nation’s veterans. Since the 1890s, U.S. policy has been to reduce a military retiree's retirement pay by $1 for every dollar he receives in disability compensation. Veterans groups and their allies in Congress have for years tried to change this, but have been rebuffed. The motion to provide full benefits to all veterans failed 188-217. The House ultimately passed a weaker version that will allow receipt of both benefits for those retirees with combat-related disabilities and will phase in over 10 years full benefits for retirees who are 50 percent or more disabled. However, retirees with no combat-related disabilities and who are less than 50 percent disabled will continue to have their retirement pay reduced for each dollar they receive in disability pay. [HR 1588, Vote #616, 11/7/03; Macon Telegraph, 11/8/03; Associated Press, 11/7/03]

Rehberg Voted Against Granting a Bonus to U.S. Active Duty Troops.

In 2003, Rehberg voted against an amendment which would provide service members a salary bonus in recognition of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure would have taken $265 million out of an account paying for Iraqi petroleum imports and put it into a military personnel fund to pay for the bonuses. According to the Congressional Research Service, the energy firm Halliburton could be overcharging the U.S. as much as $249 million for importing fuel into Iraq. The amendment would have provided funding to grant a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and reserve forces. [HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/03; New York Times, 10/22/03; Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/18/03]