Joe Sonka December 27th, 2007

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

Mitch McConnell's Louisville office got a little visit this afternoon by a diverse group of citizens hoping that Mitch takes up a New Year's resolution: end his rampant obstruction of popular legislation so we can move our country forward on health care and out of Iraq.

KY Kids, Veterans, Military Families, Teachers, and Seniors Call On Senator McConnell to Make a Special New Year's
Resolution: Stop Obstructing a New Direction in America

In less than a year, Obstructionist-in-Chief Mitch McConnell Broke All Time Record for Filibusters in a Two-Year Congressional Session

Will McConnell Resolve This Year to Abandon His Backwards Priorities: Enabling Billions for Endless War in Iraq, But Filibustering Better Healthcare, Wages, and Education Here at Home?

Louisville, KY – Local Kids, Veterans, Military Families, Teachers, and Seniors gathered today to call on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to make a special 'New Year's Resolution:' to abandon his backwards priorities of enabling billions of dollars for endless war in Iraq while at the same time obstructing meaningful legislation to provide better healthcare, wages, and education here at home.  The action came in response to a dubious milestone the Obstructionist-in-Chief achieved on December 18th, 2007: shattering the all time record of Senate obstruction in a two-year Congressional session after leading the 62nd filibuster in less than a year of a major year end appropriations bill that excluded tens of billions of dollars for continued, endless war in Iraq. The previous record of 61 filibusters in a two-year term was set in 2001-2002, the last time Republicans were in the minority in the Senate.  For more information, see below for detailed list of all 62 votes and see new report "BLOCK AND BLAME" from the Institute for America's Future: http://home.ourfuture.org/assets/block-and-blame.pdf

"It's a question of priorities, and Bush's top 'yes' man had his all mixed up this year.   At every turn — from ending the war in Iraq to raising the minimum wage to allowing Medicare to negotiate cheaper prescription drug prices for Kentucky's seniors to providing healthcare for 49,000 more Kentucky kids in need — Mitch McConnell stood with President Bush and the special interests over Kentucky's troops, veterans, seniors and kids.  This New Year's, for the sake of Kentucky, Senator McConnell's old acquaintances should definitely be forgot," said US Army Reservist & Louisville resident Bill Zubaty.

"So many priorities here at home were shortchanged this year while Senator McConnell was giving this President a blank check to police an endless civil war in Iraq.  For example, for the amount spent in just one week in Iraq, 800,000 American children could get health insurance for an entire year.  What goes through Senator McConnell's mind as he's rubberstamping billions each week in Iraq the same time he's bemoaning a fraction that amount on children's healthcare, and education, and better care for our veterans and seniors?" asked Zubaty. 

"A new year is upon us, Senator McConnell.  It's a golden opportunity to clean the slate and change course.  This year, will you resolve to stop obstructing a new direction in America?  Will you resolve to bring our troops home safe from Iraq?   Will you resolve to expand the children's healthcare program for millions more kids who need it?  Will you resolve to give struggling middle class Kentucky workers a fair shake by fixing the broken system for forming unions and bargaining for better pay, benefits and retirement security?  Will you resolve to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors by finally allowing Medicare to negotiate with the big drug companies?   Will you resolve to give our veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan the care they deserve?  Most importantly – will you resolve to always put Kentucky — not your loyalty to President Bush — first?" added Zubaty.

• Filibuster , Health Care , Mitch McConnell
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