Why don't you run polls that are more favorable to democrats?
Thats easy there are none.
Can't you do more to rally people behind the Obama agenda?
This is a little more difficult to answer. You see, Vulnerable House Dems are declaring their independence from the party agenda. Democrats are trying to distance themselves from the things they voted for and supported like health care legislation, extended unemployment benefits, new energy taxes and a repeal of the military's ban on gays serving openly. Re-election for these folks is job one and if successful they may at a later date pick up the mantel of representing you. In Virginias 2nd district Glenn Nye has rebranded himself as an independent voice in an attempt to protect his job. These tactics will hurt Democratic turnout at a time when the party needs to protect its majority in Congress. Nye defyed party leaders on leading issues such as health care because he thought it was in his best interest. On Nov 2nd he'll get his answer. I like you am one person with one vote and I spend mine with the democrats. I volenteer and work for democrats but it is hard to stand up for people who are too cowardly to stand up for themselves. In good times they ride the wave of democratic values and when times get rough they blow away like dry leaves in the October wind. Yes I could do more, I'm not motivated.
Luckily for us we can concentrate on a brighter story and Tom Perriello is that different story. Tom is the Congressman from Virginias 5th District and hard work should be his middle name. Tom stands up for democratic values and fights every day for the people in the 5th district. Below is a partial list of the things he supported and stood for.
Don't be fooled by republican tea party lies, Tom Perriello is a GREAT CONGRESSMAN.
Economic R.E.V.I.V.A.L.
I have fought to ensure that all hard-working Americans are guaranteed a living wage and secure retirement. I believe that parents should have time to spend with their families instead of having to work multiple jobs just to put food on the table. And I have been a vocal opponent of more bailouts for Wall Street at Main Street’s expense. Here are some of the ways I have fought in Congress for economic fairness:
Relief for Small Businesses
Voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included the largest middle-class tax cut in history, and has made significant investment in local schools, highways, and law enforcement – investments felt on Main Streets every day
Voted against releasing the second $350 billion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), or the Wall Street bailout
Introduced a bill to give a tele-work tax credit to businesses who hire employees in small towns and rural communities who can work remotely
Co- sponsored H.R. 3457, the Small Business Credit Card Act of 2009, which would give small businesses the same protections that individuals received under the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009
Co-sponsored H.R. 4067, the Business Checking Fairness Act of 2009, which would repeal a law that prevents small businesses from earning interest on their business accounts
Energy Solutions
Voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which will reduce carbon emissions, create new jobs in the clean energy economy, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil
Voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided the largest federal investment in clean energy technology to date
Convened a New Energy Summit and created a New Energy Blueprint as a roadmap for putting the 5th District at the forefront of the clean energy economy
Co-sponsored H.R. 1775, the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act. The bill would provide support to develop career and technical education programs of study and facilities in the areas of renewable energy through a new competitive grant program
Co-sponsored H.R. 3083, the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act of 2009, which would establish a program for the award of grants to states to establish revolving loan funds for small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and produce clean energy technology
Co-sponsored H.R. 3919, the Clean Energy Business Zone Act. The bill provides at least $1.2 billion in tax incentives for small businesses involved in clean energy technologies in specific zones designated by the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of HUD, and the Secretary of Agriculture. Target communities will be those most in need of revitalization and best positioned to establish vibrant, clean energy economies
Co-sponsored H.R. 4226, the Expanding Building Efficiency Incentives Act. Congressman Perriello was a Democratic lead on the introduction of this bipartisan energy efficiency bill. The bill extends and expands five key energy efficiency incentives for the construction of a new home, retrofitting an existing one, upgrading commercial properties to conserve energy and cut energy costs, and assisting consumers seeking assessments of home energy usage. The National Association of Home Builders is supportive of the bill.
Vocational Training and Strong Schools
Introduced a $2,500 tax credit for college and commuity college education that could apply to expenses like textbooks for the first time. I’m proud to say this was the first bill I wrote that was passed into law as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Introduced an amendment, which was passed into law, that would ensure disparities between urban and rural areas are addressed in early childhood education
Introduced a bill which would establish a national advisory committee on rural education within the Department of Education Infrastructure
Obtained $29.8 million of stimulus funds to pay for the Robertson Bridge project in Danville
Obtained $6.3 million for repairs to 17 bridges and culverts in Nelson county, as well as $6.8 million for repaving major roads in Charlottesville and Albemarle County
Directed $5.5 million in stimulus funds towards three bridge projects in Pittsylvania County and $200,000 for Danville’s transit system
Virginia Workers First
Supported the “Buy American” provisions in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
Fought against an unfair extension of unemployment benefits that would not benefit Virginia, forcing a change in legislation to extend unemployment benefits for all states and providing support for those in job transition
Continue to support a new direction on trade to support good paying manufacturing jobs
Voted to protect credit card holders from unfair practices of credit card companies
Agriculture
Introduced H.R. 4208, which would raise the estate tax exemption for the special use valuation of farmland to $3.5 billion
Co-sponsored H.R. 3674, the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act, which would update existing tariff- rate quotas to include milk protein concentrate (MPC) and protect domestic dairy farmers
Co-sponsored H.R. 3227, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory
Co-sponsored H.R. 1831, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2009, which would make permanent the enhanced tax deduction for land conservation easement donations
Co-sponsored H.R. 3050, the American Family Farm and Ranchland Protection Act, which would protect farmland by increasing the tax incentives for land subject to conservation easement
Leadership
Posted all earmark requests online to promote transparency in the appropriations process
Original cosponsor of H.R. 2038, the Clean Law for Earmark Accountability Reform (CLEAR) Act, which would prohibit
House members from accepting campaign contributions from executives or lobbyists for businesses and then sponsoring earmarks for those entities in the same election cycle.
Supported posting legislation online at least 72 hours before a vote
