Saturday 8/12/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/115537443478330.xml&coll=2 – ADEM considering stronger environmental standards.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/115537441578330.xml&coll=2 – Jefferson County legislative Democrats pledge to have funding plan ready by beginning of legislative session.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/115537440578330.xml&coll=2 – New disclosures allege Riley benefited from Mississippi casino funds.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/115537444678330.xml&coll=2 – Statewide candidates make pitch to state bankers group.
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/115537429878680.xml&coll=3 – Governor fails to keep promise to tour hurricane damaged school.
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060811/NEWS/608110305/1137/NEWS - Officials questions Riley’s absence from “major environmental event.”
FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:
Editorials
District deserves a better fall race
In our opinion
08-12-2006
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week, voters are in an anti-incumbent mood as we approach the fall’s midterm congressional elections.
Fifty-three percent of respondents identified themselves as anti-incumbent, while only 29 percent said they were inclined to re-elect their congressional representative. The Post notes that these are the same percentages as in June 1994, when the Republicans were poised to seize control of Congress.
Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s loss in his primary election Tuesday seems to corroborate the poll’s findings. More specifically, it suggests that many Democrats yearn for a clear alternative to those who stand by President Bush and his handling of the war in Iraq.
Here at home, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Anniston, is up for re-election in November. This would seem to be a great time for the Democrats to challenge the incumbent, who not only has strongly supported Bush’s war stance but has consistently sided with GOP leadership in Congress.
Consider Rogers’ votes on some of the key bills that have come before the 109th Congress.
He supported giving federal courts jurisdiction in the case of brain-dead Terri Schiavo, and rejected legislation that would have repealed federal spending restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.
He voted for a frivolous proposal to amend the Constitution to ban flag desecration, but opposed a ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees held by U.S. forces.
He backed cuts in welfare, child-support and student-lending programs, but supported extension of the Bush tax cuts, which offer excessive relief to the wealthy.
Perhaps a majority of voters in our congressional district agree with Rogers on these issues, but they nevertheless serve as legitimate fodder for vigorous campaign debate.
Sadly, it looks like we won’t get much of a meaningful debate, because the Democrats are not mounting a strong challenge to Rogers. The Democratic candidate, Greg Pierce, has been missing in action so far, and he clearly isn’t getting a great deal of support from his party.
That the Democrats aren’t able to put up a tougher fight in our fall congressional race certainly must be a disappointment to party stalwarts in our district. But it’s also a letdown to everyone who believes that the nation must be subjecting itself to a rigorous self-examination about the course it is on.
(R) Jeff Sessions (1-19)
(D) Vivian Figures (33-1)
(D) Artur Davis (1-49)
(R) Mike Hubbard (13-1)
(?) David Bronner (OFF)