Boy, soliciting contributions from, and voting for the special interests must be really tiring work. Being Mitch McConnell’s favorite lackey in the Kentucky Republican Party machine must be too. Exxon Eddie has been a busy man, and unfortunately it is catching up with him. He is looking pretty tired……
When Veterans needed him to stand up for them on the benefits they had earned and were promised:
Whitfield voted against a $53 Million boost for Veteran’s Health care and benefits. The vote was against an amendment to the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs funding bill to add $53 million for veterans health care and other benefits, offset by a 9% cut to BRAC. The amendment would add $8 million for combat-related trauma care, $6 million for poly-trauma centers to support wounded troops once they return to their homes, $9 million for VA medical and prosthetic research and $7 million for 100 additional staff who process claims for compensation and pension benefits. Finally, the amendment would provide $23 million to help approximately 4,100 souses of service members with children whose spouse died during the War on Terrorism between September 11, 2001 and November 30, 2004 by making them eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. The amendment failed 213-214 – Whitfield was the deciding vote which denied these benefits to injured veterans. (Leadership Document, “Medical Quality Democratic Amendment Final.”)
[HR 2528, Vote #224, 5/26/05; Failed 213-214; R 19-210; D 193-4; I 1-0]
Exxon Ed Whitfield was asleep at the wheel:
While others fought for Ethics in Goverment:
Whitfield voted to Weaken House Ethics Rules. The new rules would allow lobbyists to cater meals to members’ offices and let charities pay for lawmakers to travel and stay at golf resorts and other locales. The measure would allow outside interests to pay for “perishable food or refreshments offered to members of an office.” For example, a lobbying firm representing pharmaceutical interests sent in dinner for House speaker J. Dennis Hastert’s (R-IL) staff while they were working late on a prescription drug bill. The weaker rules passed, 221-203. Whitfield has since traveled abroad at the expense of lobbyists who sit on the boards of non-profit organizations.
[HRS 5, Vote #6, 1/4/2005; Passed 220-195; R 220-0; D 0-194; D 0-1].
Exxon Eddie was Asleep at the Wheel:
When Americans needed a break from Price Gouging:
Whitfield Opposed Cracking Down on Price Gouging and Lowering Gas Prices. The vote was against a measure to provide the Federal Trade Commission with new authority to investigate and prosecute those who engage in predatory pricing, from oil companies on down to gas stations, with the emphasis on those who profit the most. This includes price gouging of gasoline and natural gas, home heating oil and propane. The measure increased funding for the low-income home energy assistance program through fines from price-gouging companies and created a strategic refinery reserve with capacity equal to 5% of the total United States demand for gasoline, home heating oi8l and other refined petroleum products.
]HR 3893, Vote #517, 10/7/2005; Failed 199-222; R 2-222; D 196-0; I 1-0].
Exxon Eddie was asleep at the wheel:
Finally, when Kentucky’s Coal Miners needed a friend to fight for safer working conditions for them:
Whitfield Voted to Put Coal Miners at Greater Health Risk
[HR 2660, Vote #349, 7/10/2003; Failed 216-216; R207-19; D 9-195; I 0-1]
The vote would allow for new rules allowing four times the amount of coal dust previously legal in underground mines. Under the proposal, operators could violate a standard spelled out in the 1969 federal mine safety law that specifically says respirators are not to be used as a substitute for otherwise lowering the level of dust in mines. An effort to block the new fule failed 210-212.
You guessed it, Exxon Ed Whitfield was asleep at the wheel:
All these years of representing the special interests and Corporate America over the interests of the average working American have taken a toll on Exxon Ed Whitfield. He needs rest, and where better to get it than beautiful, sunny Florida where he lives?? Lets send him there to catch up on his beauty sleep.
You can go a long way helping do that here:
http://www.actblue.com/page/am…
Best wishes everyone!!