The House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. More than five years after Paul’s horrific death, this is the first time the bill carrying his name has been voted on by the full House. The bill is cosponsored by majorities in both the House and the Senate and has the support of President Bush; meaning that the outcome of the vote should be a forgone conclusion. Nevertheless, we will be watching this vote carefully.
I am especially pleased that Jim Ramstad, who carried this bill with great determination before and after the Wellstone plane crash, will have a chance to see it pass the House before he retires at the end of the year. It is a fitting capstone to a remarkable career. Thanks Jim.
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Jason Lewis will call Jim a RINO, but I say he is a classic Republican. A “private-sector first” guy who still knows how to watch out for the little guy.
I only hope his replacement can represent the 3rd in the same league as he has.
Jason Lewis is an idiot who hasn’t realized he is doing more harm to the conservatives then any liberal on the planet. He was argueing for the lifting of the ban on DDT for Christ’s sake. Ramsted was an endangered species, an ethical conservative, these last couple of years and I’m sure that entered into his decision to not seek re-election. He was hoodwinked into voting for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, as well as all the war funding bills. The GOP is going to have a very tough time in November. The Democratic party is looking at possibly having a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate and a solid majority in the House and the White House. Interestingly enough, with all the fascist moves from the GOP to snatch power from the legislative and judicial branches of government, Hillary or Obama could be the most powerful president in this nation’s history. Is everyone ready for the progressive rennaissance, the latest age of enlightenment? Maybe, just maybe, the world will stop investing in bombs so much and start investing in people? Thanks Jim, for getting out of the way, but in the words of one of America’s great philosophers, “You’re either on the bus, or off the bus.”
Richard - I agree with everything you say except for the point about Jim being hoodwinked into voting for the tax cuts. You all try to characterize those tax cuts as giving the rich a free ride. The rich paid for the vast majority of Government operations before those cuts, and they still do afterward. The cuts just provided a bit of relief so more money could go toward investment and in many cases philanthropy.
In fact, you can really argue that the only taxpayers are those making more than about $75,000. That is where there is actually a net outflow of taxes. Under that income level, people are tax consumers (just calling it like it is).
“everyone ready for the progressive rennaissance, the latest age of enlightenment?” YES, I am! As long as it is based in reality and done with common sense efficiency. That shouldn’t be too much to ask.