Issues

The recent Supreme Court ruling that recognizes the right of law-abiding Americans to own guns is important in several ways. First, it recognizes that the people have a constitutional right to defend themselves. Second, it resolves the argument about who makes up the militia – it is the people! Finally, it recognizes that the people, through our government, can decide who cannot have a gun, like convicted criminals, habitual drug abusers, the mentally ill and non-citizens.

In Maryland, we will likely have legal debate about one of the provisions in our State law that requires a person to show “good cause” for getting a carry permit. I think the Supreme Court ruling could cause that requirement to be declared unconstitutional.

While some lawyers and lobbyists on both sides want the battle to continue, I agree with most Americans who believe in our right to “keep and bear arms”. Most of us want to focus on other important issues.

Thursday, Roscoe Bartlett tried to explain his flip-flop on drilling for oil in ANWR on the Ron Smith Show on WBAL. After questions from Ron Smith, a caller said Bartlett was in denial, and then things really heated up when Jennifer called in. Listen for yourself:

Dougherty Calls Action Predictable and Sad

"Roscoe Bartlett says one thing and does another! That's been his record since he went to Washington in 1993. His flip-flop on drilling in the Arctic wildlife reserve is predictable and sad," said 6th District Democratic challenger Jennifer Dougherty. Bartlett announced today his co-sponsorship of new legislation that would allow for oil and natural gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "The American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act" (H.R. 6107) was introduced this afternoon by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Bartlett.

Bartlett claims that the proceeds of the drilling will be invested in energy alternatives, but Dougherty does not think that is the best approach. "We can remove the big tax breaks for oil and gas companies and invest in new technology without drilling in an environmental refuge. Roscoe's approach is wrong on so many fronts. It won't lower the price of gas, it does not improve our energy independence and it is bad for the environment. It is just election-year pandering."

"He knows that drilling in the Arctic will not lower prices at the pump and will have a huge adverse environmental impact. Marylanders get it - the Bush-Cheney energy plan is to let oil and gas companies get richer and Roscoe Bartlett has helped to make that happen."

Our May Newsletter is now available for download. Just click on the link for the attachment. The Adobe Reader is required.

MEDICAID FUNDING VOTE SHOWS POOR JUDGMENT

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett voted against the interests of people who live in this district by supporting the Administration plan to slash Medicaid funding. “It’s a disgraceful and insulting vote to ignore the needs of Marylanders in these tough economic times. Bartlett supports making tax cuts for the wealthiest permanent, but thumbs his nose at people who truly need help,” said Democratic nominee Jennifer Dougherty. “He is out of touch and shows poor judgment with votes like this.”

A small group of extremists tried to cut $18 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. The House bill voted to protect the Medicaid safety net with a veto-proof majority (349-62).

“It is so unfortunate to see him turn his heart against those who need help. This is another example of Bartlett’s flawed logic where the rich are rewarded with tax cuts and the poor need to pay the price. If Bartlett thinks the strains on the economy are so great that we cannot afford to protect the neediest Americans, why does he support tax cuts for the rich or our continued presence in Iraq?”

Dougherty has challenged Bartlett to debate the issues in every county in the District. Bartlett has not committed to any scheduled debates.

Dougherty Says “Going Green” Is Good for the Economy

“We can’t afford for another Earth Day to come and go without hope for progress and meaningful change in facing our environmental responsibilities. People are telling politicians in lots of ways that they are ready to act. I am listening and I will help make progress in our District and the country,” said 6th District Democratic Congressional Candidate Jennifer Dougherty.

“Environmentalists are true conservatives – they want every person to take personal responsibility when it comes to protecting the environment, conserving energy and promoting effective strategies that will reduce greenhouse gases and the negative impacts of climate change,” said Dougherty. “In Congress, I will use the same approach, promoting responsibility to achieve real progress on important environmental initiatives.”

“A few years ago, I attended an Earth Day Celebration and I was shocked to learn my ‘carbon footprint’. While I was doing well on water conservation, it was way too high on energy use. By taking a few simple actions like converting lightbulbs and adjusting my thermostat, I have reduced my energy consumption,” said Dougherty. “I also started getting smarter about the importance of planting trees and shrubs. It’s all part of the solution.”

Just when families finish juggling last year’s taxes, Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain supports a plan that places a larger tax burden on American workers. Just today he said, “We need tax policies that respect workers” and encourage work, but his plan for reforming the nation’s health care system sends a chilling message to working Americans who would lose employer-provided health benefits and pay more in taxes.

The Republican plan would:

• Make health benefits a taxable benefit requiring working people who get their health coverage through work to pay higher taxes

• Encourage employers to discontinue offering health care benefits
• Force people to negotiate with big insurance companies on their own
• Support the creation of Health Savings Accounts with high deductibles
• Offer a tax credit $2500 (individual) and $5000 (family) to offset insurance costs
  • Average cost per individual almost $6000/year

  • Average cost per family almost $7500/year

I agree that we need to reform our nation’s health care system and soon. We cannot allow 47 million Americans including nearly 9 million children to go without adequate health care. I support universal health care coverage that is fair and allows choice, but on a day when most Americans are focused on paying their taxes, I want to state my opposition to a plan that increases taxes on working people. I will work to:

• Maintain employer-sponsored health care benefits

• Allow individuals to buy from the federal employees’ plan
• Provide tax credits to small businesses offering health care benefits
  • address need to access affordable plans

  • provide credits up to 50%
  • complement tax credits to individuals/families
• Limit premiums to percentage of income
• Strengthen Medicare to protect Seniors and allow early retirees to buy-in
• Strengthen Medicaid and SCHIP to provide adequate health care to lower-income families, especially children

DOUGHERTY ENDORSES "A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ"
PRESIDENT BUSH HAS A TIN EAR

More than a year ago, General Petraeus said, "There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq." Petraeus returned to Capitol Hill today to ask for patience and commitment to continue the deployment of troops in Iraq. "At this point, the Bush Administration is trying to run out the clock without being able to define or deliver victory," said Democratic Candidate for Maryland's 6th Congressional District Jennifer Dougherty.

More than 4,000 Americans have died in Iraq and nearly 30,000 have been injured. Since the surge more than 800 have been killed. Most Americans oppose continued military operations in Iraq and want to move forward with diplomatic and economic strategies in Iraq. In Dougherty's announcement, she stressed the need for diplomacy. "I endorse the plan proposed by retired military leaders and veterans, A RESPONSIBLE PLAN TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ. The plan echoes General Petraeus' admission that the solution is not more troops, but more talk. It also addresses the significant humanitarian concerns that exist as a result of the war. We have to elect people who are serious about ending this war."

The United States has spent $ 2 trillion on the Iraq War, but the debt is passed onto our children. We have handed them a mortgage payment before they can buy a home." Dougherty added, "We don't have to look very hard to find better places to spend that money. We need to focus on our priorities."

One of the major headline issues during the past two years has been the growing realization that the U.S. immigration policies and porous borders have created a shadow population of illegal immigrants. For those on both sides of this issue, the fundamental concerns are frequently related to jobs and economic well-being. It surprised many, therefore, to see a quote from Congressman Roscoe Bartlett that seemed to dismiss the importance of this issue.

The Cumberland Times-News description of Bartlett’s visit to that paper last week included the following segment, “He [Bartlett] called Maryland’s brief foray into the illegal immigration debate “most interesting.” “It was just kind of an irrational concern that people had,” said Bartlett, 81 pitted against Dougherty, 46, a former Frederick mayor. “But I think the people’s concern about it exceeded the personal effect it had on them. That’s all abated now.”

In response Jennifer Dougherty noted, “It’s unfortunate when any politician describes the concerns of his constituents as ‘irrational’. We need to secure our borders, improve the visa program, and provide comprehensive, fair-minded immigration reform at the federal level. And we need people in Washington who listen to their constituents.”

RECENT JOB LOSSES WILL HURT EVERYONE
REGULATORS IGNORED SIGNS OF CRISIS
WALL STREET GETS THE HELP, MAIN STREET GETS THE SHAFT

FREDERICK, MD – March 21, 2008

The recent job losses at Rayloc in Hancock, MD and at Hagerstown’s Volvo-Powertrain plant will hurt hundreds of families and the local economy. While Rep. Roscoe Bartlett expressed little concern about the job cuts, calling the cuts “cyclical”, Democratic challenger, Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty said, “This is just another example of how people in Washington lose touch with local people and businesses and use old ways of thinking to try to explain away problems.”

According to Dougherty, “Hardworking people will have to find a couple of minimum-wage jobs to try to pay their bills. They will dig into their savings and cut their expenses at a time when the cost of living just keeps going up. If anyone in Washington had been paying attention during the past 3-4 years, they could see the credit problems were going to explode and that real people were going to be hurt.”

“Dr. Bartlett blames everyone else for the economic problems, but takes no blame for the federal regulators who ignored the signs of crisis. Members of Congress should have been asking some tough questions a few years ago if they really wanted to avert a crisis,” said Dougherty.