Michelle Bachmann and John Kline vote to support Big Oil over the middle class, abandon abused children, and hurt seniors

Most people talk about the bi-partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats. This week has shown a stunning amount of bi-partisan cooperation to help the middle class, seniors, abused children, and fuel prices. Oddly, there is now what I call a "tri-partisan" divide, with reasonable Republicans and Democrats on one side, and extremists like John Kline and Michelle Bachmann on the other.

This week, those two voted against abused children, against more drilling of oil, against tax breaks for the middle class, and against protecting Medicare for Seniors. The most shameful thing, is that they did all this to protect tax breaks for the Oil companies and to protect inefficient private Medicare contractors bilking the taxpayers. We cannot get Sarvi and Tinklenburg in soon enough! You can read more and see the facts based on their actual voting records.

Kline and Bachmann don't want oil companies to drill on land already leased to them:

In a strange move, Kline and Bachmann voted against a "use it or lose it" law designed to force oil companies to drill on federal land they already lease, or lose the lease. Bachmann and Kline contend that they want the oil companies to drill more, and to open up more federal land. However, the oil companies are not even using the land they have. This common sense bill would make the oil companies use the land they already have first, before opening up new areas. (HR 6251)

The biggest thing standing in the way of greater oil supply is not Democrats. It is the oil companies who do not want to drill any more. The oil companies have plenty of access to new supplies, but they do not want to drill because they enjoy making obscene amounts of money at the expense of middle America. We can open up all the coast land and Arctic land we want, but the oil companies will still protect their profits by limiting supply. The scary thing is that the Republicans are protecting them and allowing this to happen. The Democrats are trying too make them drill. For some reason the Republicans don't want them to drill more. Wonder why?

Bachmann and Kline vote against middle income tax break to protect tax breaks for Oil companies:

Congress recently passed (HR 6275) in order to exempt 22 million middle income Americans from the alternative minimum tax. This fix will give back an average of $2400 per middle class return. To pay for this, tax breaks for big oil companies would be ended. Kline and Bachmann both voted against tax breaks for the middle class in order to protect big oil and it's record breaking profits!

We all know that the alternative minimum tax (AMT) needs an overhaul because it is hitting the middle class now. The fiscally responsible thing to do is change the tax, but also find a way to pay for it. The Democrats apparently are the only party of fiscal responsibility. They voted to fix the AMT, getting much needed money into the hands of the middle class, by canceling the tax breaks for Big Oil. Bachmann and Kline would rather protect big oil than the middle class.

Bachmann only MN Congressperson to support Bush on Medicare cuts

The house recently voted 355 for and 59 against to avert the administrations attempt to cut Medicare payments to Doctors by over 10%. The cost would have been covered by ending an expensive, and privately run program. The bill would also bring down mental health co-pays from an outrageous 50% to a reasonable 10% for patients. Bachmann was the only Minnesota representative to vote against patients and doctors in favor of protecting the profits of an expensive privately run corporation. Even the ultra-conservative Kline voted for this bill. Once again, Bachmann sided with the Bush administration and against the people of Minnesota. (HR 6331)

The most egregious realization of this, is who Bachmann and Bush are trying to protect at the expense of seniors. The federally subsidized but privately run program that the Democrats are going to cut is grossly expensive and inefficient. In the Bush/Bachmann world, protecting profits of private contractors outweighs fiscal responsibility, responsibility to seniors, and efficiency.

Stunning all, Bachmann and Kline vote against abused children

In an overwhelming show of bipartisan cooperation, the house voted 318 for and 118 against a bill to prevent and deal with victims of child abuse. Of course, Rep Bachmann and Kline voted against the bill to help abused children. This marks one of several bills to help children and families that Kline and Bachmann have voted against this month. (HR 6358)

So far this year, Bachmann has voted against helping poor kids see a doctor (SCHIP); voted against preventing child abuse; voted against fixing the AMT for middle class parents, and voted against seniors medical needs.

She has voted for Bush, Big Oil, and light bulbs. That is about it.

El Tinklenburg is a fiscally conservative, Blue Dog endorsed Democrat running against Bachmann who has the talent and experience to be able to protect children and seniors while being fiscally responsible at the same time.

Steve Sarvi, is also an excellent choice to oust the anti Veteran John Kline from Texas.

Weekly Voting Record

Bill, could you or someone at DumpBachmann get a comment from her office on any of these bills?