DU Jim Talent Talking Points Developer

[usregimechange]

Let's develop specific ideas and actions that Talent has taken that are contrary to good sense and public opinion.

[cornermouse]

1. How about his straight line republican voting record?

[election_2004]

2. For starters...

He opposes stem-cell research.

He supports the Nuclear Option to eliminate filibusters.

He supported and cosponsored the Federal Marriage Amendment (thereby deeming that same-sex couples should be legal strangers to one another, with *NO* ability to have any form of contractual recognition).

[usregimechange]

3. No to Deficit Reduction, closing corporate loopholes, raise Pells

Senator James M. 'Jim' Talent voted NO.

S Con Res 18-SAmdt 177: Relative to education funding.

Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that would adjust education funding while still reducing the deficit by $5.4 billion.

Highlights:

- Closes $10.8 billion in corporate tax loopholes

- Restores education program cuts slated for vocational and adult education

- Increases the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $4,500

- Increases future math and science teacher student loan forgiveness to $23,000

[usregimechange]

4. No to restoring cuts that hurt Native Americans

Senator James M. 'Jim' Talent voted NO.

S Con Res 18 - S AMDT 211: To restore funding for tribal programs and provide necessary additional funding based on recommendations from Indian country.

Vote to adopt an amendment that adds $1 billion to Native American accounts in the 2006 budget resolution.

Highlights:

- Reverses cuts concerning healthcare, housing and education funding on Indian Reservations

[usregimechange]

5. No to restore the Perkins edu program and deficit reduction

Senator James M. 'Jim' Talent voted NO.

S Con Res 18-SAmdt 172: To restore the Perkins Vocational Education program and provide for deficit reduction paid for through the elimination of the phase out of the personal exemption limitation and itemized deduction limitation for high-income taxpayers now scheduled to start in 2006.

Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that restores funding for the Perkins Vocational Education program.

[usregimechange]

6. Can anyone help me verifiy if this is true? Talent Stem cell flipflop

Talent, like Matt Blunt, is also trying to have it both ways on the stem cell research issue. In his campaign, he pledged to support stem cell research. Now, he opposes it. Or does he? It's hard to tell.

[usregimechange]

7. Forum comments (not verified)

Four reasons why I am voting against Sen. Talent:
1: The vote already mentioned by theothergeorgew regarding tax subsidies to foreign subsidiaries.

2: He stands against raising the minimum wage, which STILL sits at 5.15/hr. Anyone who can't afford to pay a worker more than this ought not be in business!!!

3: Last time the Energy Bill came up for discussion, he supported the amendment allowing MTSB producers exemption from harmful product lawsuits. Or, in short, he wants to give yet another tax break to 2004's most profitable industry. I'll be watching to see if he repeats this support, but there is every indication that he will.

4: Back when he was a Congressman, his rating by the League of Conservation Voters was around 15%. Protecting the environment happens to be very important to me.

[dalaigh lllama]

8. This is the argument that brought me over

I'm a registered independent and for the past 30 years have voted for some republicans and some democrats; never was politically active -- figured we'd always muddle thru no matter who was in charge. After 9/11, I decided it was my patriotic duty to start paying attention to the political scene. I didn't vote for Bush the first time around (can't stand stupid people), and figured folks would be smart enough to replace him in '04, especially since I had been paying attention to world events and politics since '01 and thought others were, too. Ha!
I heard about DU from a friend of mine last fall and have been lurking here ever since. Last election I voted straight Democrat for the first time in my life, and this is why I'll continue to do so:
Walter Jones said he's changed his mind based on what his dad once told him: as a U.S. representative, first you vote your conscience, then you vote your constituency, then you vote party lines. The way I see it, the republicans in office right now are all being coerced into voting party lines, and those lines aren't pretty. I've got nothing against Jim Talent other than he's always going to vote lockstep with republican party lines -- he's got to go.

[election_2004]

9. Me too

2004 was the first election where I voted straight-ticket Democratic.

And Jim Talent is the Eddie Haskell of the U.S. Senate. I'm afraid he'll become a "senator for life" if he isn't defeated next year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[usregimechange]

11. Talent Voted Against COPS Funding Five Times

Talent Voted Against COPS Funding Five Times And Voted Four Times To Eliminate The Program All Together. Every year since Talent has been in the Senate, he has voted against COPS funding. In 2005 and 2003, Talent voted against increasing COPS funding by $1 billion. In 2004, Talent voted for deep cuts in COPS program. While in the House of Representatives, Talent voted twice against increasing funding for the COPS program in 1995 and 1999. Additionally, while in the House of Representatives, Talent voted three times to eliminate the COPS program, as well as against reauthorization of the program.

COPS Program Has Funded Over 2,300 Police Officers in Missouri; Over 450 Law Enforcement Agencies. Since 1994, COPS grants have funded 2,305 police officers and sheriffs deputies in Missouri. 457 local and state law enforcement agencies in Missouri have also directly benefited from the COPS program.

Talent Previously Opposed Anti-Drug Programs
Talent Voted Against Funding For Anti-Drug Activities. In 2003, Talent voted against providing $634.7 million for the Edwards Byrne Memorial Grant Program, which provides money to rural law enforcement agencies for anti-drug enforcement. Talent had also voted against setting aside $450 million a year for five years for the Byrne Grants in 1995. Additionally in 2000, while in the House of Representatives, Talent voted against providing $262 million for grants to recognized state or local prevention and treatment organizations.

http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20050719_talent/

[usregimechange]

16. In fact he flip flopped on it

Yesterday, Talent Called for More COPS Funding to Fight Meth. Yesterday, Senator Jim Talent reintroduced his Combat Meth Bill, strengthening provisions for over-the-counter methamphetamine purchases. Talent originally introduced the bill in April at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Among other thingS, the bill would provide an additional $15 million in COPS funding to combat the growing methamphetamine problem.

BUT TALENT HAS CONSISTENTLY VOTED AGAINST COPS FUNDING – EVEN TO ELIMINATE THE PROGRAM ALTOGETHER. Every year since Talent has been in the Senate, he has voted against COPS funding. In 2005 and 2003, Talent voted against increasing COPS funding by $1 billion. In 2004, Talent voted for deep cuts in COPS program. While in the House of Representatives, Talent voted twice against increasing funding for the COPS program in 1995 and 1999. Additionally, while in the House of Representatives, Talent voted three times to eliminate the COPS program, as well as against reauthorization of the program.

DSCC

[usregimechange]

17. More...

On July 15, 2002, the Attorney General stated, "Since law enforcement agencies began partnering with citizens through community policing, we've seen significant drops in crime rates. COPS provides resources that reflect our national priority of terrorism prevention."

Senator Talent voted against Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on multiple occasions (S.Amdt. 239 to S.Con.Res. 18 and S.Amdt. 278 to S.Con.Res. 23 and S.Amdt. 2793 to S.Con.Res. 95).

[usregimechange]

12. Talent Opposes Good Ideas because Dems come up with them

A spokesman from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) shed some light recently on why Jim Talent regularly votes against common sense legislation like veteran health care programs and homeland security. "It's standard for the majority party to vote against amendments proposed by the minority," said NRSC spokesman Brian Nick, who is now speaking on behalf of Talent.

"It’s unfortunate that Jim Talent has a standard practice of voting against common sense legislation sponsored by Democrats. We saw the consequences of that kind of behavior last week when key veterans’ services almost went belly-up because Jim Talent voted against Democratic efforts to protect veterans health programs," DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said. "That kind of work ethic is a real disservice to the taxpayers of Missouri."

[usregimechange]

13. Talent said NO to Increase Funding for Veterans THREE TIMES

Talent Voted Against Democratic Proposals to Increase Funding for Veterans THREE TIMES. Senators Patty Murray and Daniel Akaka both proposed increasing funding for veterans heath care and Sen. Talent voted against the measure three times. In April, Talent voted against Senator Patty Murray’s amendment to add $1.98 billion for veterans’ health care programs to the Fiscal 2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill. In March, Talent voted against an Akaka proposal to add $2.8 billion for veterans’ health care to the Fiscal 2006 budget resolution.

http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20050707_talent/

[usregimechange]

14. Talent NO to Increasing Funding For First Responders

Talent Voted Against a Democratic Proposal to Increasing Funding For First Responders. Talent voted against an amendment proposed by Sen. Debbie Stabenow that would increase funding for first responder programs by $1.6 billion in fiscal 2006 and reduce the federal debt by $1.6 billion. It would be offset by a $3.2 billion reduction in tax reconciliation provisions.

http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20050707_talent/

[usregimechange]

15. Talent NO to student loans

Talent Voted Against a Democratic Proposal to Increase Funding for Student Loans. Talent against an amendment proposed by Sen. Edward Kennedy that would restore $5.4 billion to education program cuts and increasing the maximum Pell Grant award to $4,500.

[usregimechange]

18. Kick!

[usregimechange]

19. kick

[freebrew]

20. And the Pig party still claims to be

tough on national security?
Seems that they're just making it tough ON national security.

[freebrew]

21. Talent votes to end Estate Tax

Got it in my email box today(don't know why he's got my email addy..)
He says he voted for the repeal to help poor farmers that may lose family farms
to the 'death tax'.

Well, according to various sites I've visited, absolutely zero family farms have ever
had the occasion to be billed for this tax. The tax affects only the 1.17% of the wealthiest
Americans. The amount of revenue lost by repealing this tax would amount to over $300BILLION
(that's with a B). A considerable chunk of change while we're trying to pay for a war of choice
don't you think? And meanwhile, he votes against veterans benefits? I guess he's not a veteran, eh?

What he is, is a rubber stamp for the neo-con agenda. I wish that Missourians could see
that isn't in their best interests.

[usregimechange]

22. thanks for posting.

[freebrew]

23. Alternate Fuel Funding

A recent radio ad states that Jim Talent is supporting research and development
for alternate fuel sources. Not so sure about that. A while back he voted 'NO'
on the same issue. So, is he for it or against it?
I guess it depends upon who he's talking to.

[usregimechange]

24. From the MO Dem Party, SSA, Medicaid, etc good stuff.

The Jim Talent 2005 Scorecard
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 09, 2006

The Issue: Medicaid Cuts

The Need: Missouri’s low income working families and their children were subjected to massive Medicaid cuts at the state and federal level, cuts that removed the health care safety net from those who cannot afford health care on their own. Missouri’s working poor and low-income kids needed their senator to oppose federal efforts to cut Medicaid and to speak out against state efforts to strip tens of thousands of them of their health care coverage.

The Talent Record: Jim Talent voted repeatedly in support of cuts to federal Medicaid funding and failed to speak out in opposition to the massive Medicaid cuts pushed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. Instead of standing up to his Congressional Republican leadership or to the newly sworn-in governor of Missouri, Jim Talent:

Broke Pledge to Fight Medicaid Cuts. In March 2005, Talent wrote in a Letter to the Editor that he would “continue to support increased federal funding for this critical program.”

Voted for Final Budget Resolution with Massive Medicaid Cuts. In December 2005, Talent voted for a budget resolution that cut $7 billion from Medicaid over the next five years.

Much More:

http://www.missouridems.org/newsroom/pressreleases/display.asp?prID=42

[MatthewStLouis]

25. Talent is just another pro-corporate welfare republican

[MatthewStLouis]

26. Talent supports the outsourcing of American jobs

Check this link DCScripts

From the fired up website:

Talent: Yes to taxpayer subsidized outsourcing
Submitted by NorthcountyDem on Thu, 03/17/2005 - 3:41pm. MO's Congressional Delegation

This afternoon the United States Senate voted on an amendment offered by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND). Senator Dorgan's amendment proposed ending tax subsidies for corporations that choose to move maufacturing operations offshore. Unfortunately for the american people, the amendment failed by a vote of 40-59 with so called democrats Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Bill Nelson of Nebraska voting Nay.

Predictably Missouri's GOP rubber stamps aka Kit Bond and Jim Talent voted Nay on the amendment. Mr.Bond was just reelected by his largest margin and knows he can do as he wishes without being held accountable. Pencilneck Jim Talent on the other hand must be feeling emboldened. It seems that everytime I think Senator Pencilneck may be a bit more cautious, he proves me wrong.

[AllegroRondo]

27. Voted NO to increase minimum wage

but that same week voted to increase congressional pay.