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Berkley decides to start helping! |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Just weeks before the election, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley finally writes her very first piece of to directly address the two-year economic crisis where Nevadans lost over 200,000 jobs and over 300,000 homes.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (August 9, 2010)- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has finally decided to write a piece of legislation to deal with the economic crisis. After over 300,000 Nevadan homes have been lost to foreclosure and over 200,000 Nevadans have lost their jobs. Berkley announced she would write a bill during her 6-week vacation to extend unemployment benefits past the 99-week period allowed by current law. Deciding to finally act like a legislature only weeks before an election does not make Berkley an effective leader anymore than a misguided bill makes her a successful one.
The proposed bill treats symptoms but fails to address the actual problem. “While I commend Congresswoman Berkley for surrendering to election year political pressures and finally deciding to legislate, it is unfortunate that her utter lack of leadership has created and prolonged the crisis,” said Kenneth Wegner Candidate for Nevada Congressional District One. “A doctor might give a painkiller to a patient suffering from appendicitis, but the doctor will also perform surgery to make sure the patient lives.”
Shelley Berkley failed to address the root cause of unemployment and her policies over the past two years have exacerbated the problem. Congresswoman Berkley’s ill-advised decision to ignore the economic crisis and pursue a yearlong takeover of healthcare resulted in a deeper more prolonged economic crisis. Congress’s approach has been starkly anti business and pro spending. Nevadans do not expect Congresswoman Berkley to issue Supreme Court rulings or write Executive Orders, they expect her to be a legislator and write bills to help the state. Rather than taking the lead by drafting bills concerning the issues disproportionally affecting our state, Congresswoman Berkley decided to use her time to pursue the most liberal agenda in history.
Congress cannot be anti business and pro jobs. Small businesses are the engine that keeps our economy going, they create and provide over 70% of all American jobs. Instead of specifically responding to the crisis, congress decided to pass some of the most sweeping anti business regulations in history. “The most fundamental thing Congress can do to aid during this crisis is simple: get off the backs of businesses and get out of their way,” said Wegner. “You can no more spend your way out of debt than you can regulate businesses into prosperity. Congress basically showed up to the raging fire and tried to extinguish it with gasoline, and now continues to stoke the flames with more than $4 trillion and counting.”
The primary issue in November concerns whether members of Congress are doing their job, and if they deserve to be rewarded with another term. Congress has failed to lead at a time when Nevada needed leadership. Similar to an Ostrich, Berkley has had her head in the sand during the economic crisis, with the exception of this 11th hour attempt to pull her head out of the sand and quickly write a piece of legislation. Incredibly she now expects voters to follow by putting their collective heads in the sand and reelect her in November.
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Illegal Immigration- Action vs. Rhetoric |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Striking down Arizona’s illegal immigration law set a dangerous legal precedent as Americans wait for President Obama to deliver more than speeches and file more than law suits to protect our borders.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (July 29, 2010)- After over a decade of the Federal Government’s inaction concerning illegal immigration, Arizona and other states have been compelled to enforce federal law. Arizona wrote a state law mirroring federal code which simply requiring the enforcement of the existing federal law. “It is ridiculous that the Obama administration would sue a state for enforcing the existing laws Obama determined were not politically expedient to enforce, and unconscionable that a court would support the President’s arrogance and blatant disregard for the rule of law” said Kenneth Wegner candidate for the First Congressional District in Nevada. Article 2 Sec 3 of the U.S. Constitution states that the executive “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed;” not some laws, not politically expedient laws, but all laws enacted by Congress. “The judge defied the constitution by deciding its not the actual letter of the federal code that matters but rather portions of the law the current executive decides to enforce, leaving law enforcement to the personal politics or ideological proclivities of the executive branch,” continued Wegner. “Allowing the President to pick and choose which laws to enforce makes it pointless to even have a Congress, which could actually be a relief to many Americans since congress has only 11% job approval!”
“President Obama and his liberal allies control the legislative and executive branches of the federal government yet Shelley Berkley, Senator Reid and the President choose to address the serious issue of illegal immigration by giving speeches and leading rallies rather than proposing actual reform or enforcing existing laws,” said Wegner. “An Oval Office address and a federal law suit should not be confused with actually acting when action is necessary to protect our borders and country.”
The Obama administration shows contempt for the rule of law and serious hypocrisy by suing Arizona. It is a chilling example of the Presidents disdain for democracy when he elects to sue a state for enforcing federal immigration law and does nothing about states and local governments who have policies designed to break federal immigration law. "Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration law is a national responsibility," Atty. Gen. Eric Holder said. "A patchwork of state laws will only create more problems than its solves." Wegner responds by stating, “If the Obama Administration is truly concerned with ensuring that the Federal Government alone has preeminent authority in the immigration arena than why only sue a state government trying to enforce the existing law and not also sue sanctuary cities who have policies designed to abrogate federal law.” Refusing to sue local governments who have a “patchwork” of immigration policies defying federal law exposes the Arizona suit as a political ploy, and not a sincere attempt to maintain federal control of immigration and prevent unnecessary confusion.
A study in February of 2009 found that illegal immigration costs the United States approximately $113 Billion and Nevada $1.191 Billion per year for healthcare, education, and incarceration. “The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on the United States Taxpayers” Federation for American Immigration Reform, July 2010. Incredibly this astonishing cost fails to account for many other social services strained by illegal immigrants. Nevada cannot afford the cost of illegal immigration.
“Ultimately, something must be done to remove the incentives for people to enter or stay in our country illegally. I fully support Arizona’s right to protect its citizens with their recent immigration law. I equally support what Oklahoma and many other states are doing to exert their sovereignty by denying benefits to illegal immigrants. I believe that the policy of the federal government must be the highest law of the land, not the whims of men predicated on election cycles. If immigrants want to come here, our country must have an accessible process. However, people need to come here to produce and participate in the active pursuit of the American Dream, not live off taxpayer benefits,” concluded Wegner.
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America needs new Leaders- we do not reward past failures |
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Time to put in the starters!
Football season is just around the corner, and many college football fans know the first few games are usually lopsided affairs. These early season games usually consist of a team from a large conference beating up on a team from a smaller conference. The game begins with the starting lineups filled with the best players on each team taking the field. However, within a short period of time the team from the larger conference opens up a huge lead. Once the outcome of the game is certain, the larger conference pulls all the starters out of the game and the second-string or third-string players are given the opportunity to play. These less gifted players are usually underclassman put on the filed to sharpen their skills and get some real game time experience without jeopardizing the outcome of the game.
In many ways this is analogous to how our election and political system works. When everything in the Country is running smooth it is acceptable to have a team of second-string leaders running our government. Because the success of the Nation is not in doubt, business is humming, and markets are thriving the people are not as concerned with the politicians they elect. During these times voters elect people based on qualities not essential to good governance, but more consistent with what they want in a friend or drinking buddy. However, when the fate of the Nation is uncertain our democracy relies on good leaders with the fortitude and abilities necessary for success.
There are many times in American history when good leaders were not necessary for the Nation’s prosperity and protection. During economic booms and times of peace, most citizens are in the active pursuit of the American Dream and are indifferent to politics much less politicians. The politicians elected during times of “plenty” are not selected on criteria that lends itself to effective leadership during the Nation’s times of “need.” Clearly, there are instances when leaders elected during times of “plenty” heroically and successfully answer the call to lead. Unfortunately, these leaders are usually ill-equipped and unprepared to lead in the challenging environment.
Currently there are serious problems facing Nevada and the Nation. Many current Members of Congress were elected during election cycles when problem solving abilities and a track record of strong leadership were not fundamental to the campaign. However, because of high name recognition and proven fundraising abilities these career politicians have become so entrenched that people vote for them simply because they are incumbents. During this election cycle voters need to evaluate candidates based on their abilities not their incumbency.
Current members of congress are responsible for creating and enacting policies that ultimately lead to the economic collapse. Harry Reid and Shelley Berkley are the very architects of our economic crisis and voters should not reward their failures. Nevada leads the nation in unemployment, home foreclosures, and bankruptcy; however, our third-string political leaders are unable to solve or even attempt to solve the problem. Even after spending over $3.7 trillion in bailouts Nevada’s unemployment and home foreclose rates continue to increase. Shelley Berkley has not authored one single piece of legislation that deals directly with the unemployment and home foreclosure crisis affecting Nevada. Berkley and Reid are unable to offer solutions, and the actions they have taken have resulted in further economic instability and dangerous debt loads.
Many of the leaders who have brought our Nation to the brink of disaster may be nice and caring individuals; however, today our nation needs real leadership capable of becoming the solution not part of the problem. Voters cannot keep electing the same people and expect different results. Sharron Angle, Dr. Joe Heck and Kenneth Wegner are examples of capable leaders that should be elected to replace those responsible for the financial crisis.
We may be losing but we are not defeated, we must now wake up and make some serious substitutions- it is Time to put in the Starters!
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FOR IMMETIATE RELEASE:
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has campaigned on ending the culture of corruption yet she leads all members of congress in financial support to corrupt Congressman Charles Rangel D-NY.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (July 24, 2010)- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has contributed more financial support to disgraced Congressman Charles Rangel D-NY than any other member of Congress, according to The Center for Responsive Politics (available at http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/10/charles-rangels-support-wanes.html). “Congresswoman Berkley has repeatedly campaigned on ending what she has called the ‘culture of corruption’ in Congress and it is disappointing to find out while claiming to end corruption she was actively supporting and funding the most corrupt member of Congress,” said Rico White Campaign Manager for Kenneth Wegner.
On July 22, 2010 after nearly two-years of investigation a House committee determined Rangel likely violated numerous ethics rules including tax evasion and accepting illegal gifts. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct took the rare step of creating a new panel to determine Rangel’s fate in Congress. In 2002 was the last time a similar panel was created for then Democratic Congressman James Traficant shortly before he was criminally charged and imprisoned for racketeering.
While Nevada leads the Nation in home foreclosures, unemployment, and bankruptcy, Shelly Berkley leads the Congress in supporting one of its most corrupt politicians. Due to election year politics, the investigation pressured Rangel to step aside as Chairman of The House Ways and Means Committee. Nervous politicians have also flocked to return money Rangel contributed to their campaigns, including Congresswoman Dina Titus. Berkley should join the bipartisan call for Rangel to resign. “It is difficult for Congress to focus on the enormous challenges facing our nation when corrupt members are focused on their next lobbyist paid vacation to the Caribbean,” said White.
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Las Vegas Tribune, Volume 12, Issue 18 July 7-13, 2010
WHO PUT THAT ICEBERG HERE?
LAS VEGAS, NV- According to polls the majority of Americans think our Nation is currently on the wrong path and believe November is the time to replace those responsible. “Shelley Berkley has been busy voting to increase taxes on small businesses while failing to regulate the culprits of our economic crisis,” said Ken Wegner the Republican nominee for Congressional District 1.
Mr. Wegner added, “what else can you expect when her campaign is funded by two of the principal culprits responsible our current economic crisis, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.” Wegner states that he is proud to be running for congress with a campaign funded 100% by individual contributions. “I do not accept money from PACs, lobbyists, or other special interest; because I understand that under our constitutional government I represent the people, and will not allow my office to be suspect of anything else.” Many voters believe the current members of congress caused our economic crisis through their anti business agenda, and they should not be entrusted to lead us out of this crisis.
Mr. Wegner compares the current decision facing voters to the Titanic disaster. He states, “On April 10, 1912 the RMS Titanic set off on her maiden voyage as the largest passenger steamship in the world. Just four days later she struck an iceberg and sank resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 people.” Similar to the Titanic, our economy is the world’s largest economy and liberals put it on a dangerous course doomed to collide with their anti business pro union platform. Wegner asks, “would rescue ships that arrived at the tragic scene to help victims of the Titanic be expected to allow the Titanic’s former Captain or chief officers steer their rescue ships out of the iceberg field and back to their home ports?” It is absolute insanity to expect these members of congress, who have had their political careers funded by these lobbyists, to now find the honor and principle to guide us out of the crisis they created.
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