Obama defines Romnesia

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Ranking Democrats Demand Answers from Republican Chairman After Felony Arrest for Voter Registration Fraud by RNC Contractor

(DETROIT) – Today, the top Democratic Members on committees responsible for Elections, the Judiciary, and Oversight sent a second letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus calling on him to make clear the RNC’s associations with individuals and companies charged with acts of voter registration fraud in states across the country. This letter followed an earlier letter from the three Ranking Members sent to Chairman Priebus on October 02, 2012 in response to allegations of widespread voter registration fraud in Florida by a company tied to Nathan Sproul, a long-time Republican operative who has been dogged by accusations of voter registration fraud dating back at least to 2004.

The second letter comes hours after the Rockingham County Sheriff arrested Colin Small in Harrisonburg, VA, and charged him with 13 counts of voter registration fraud, including eight felony counts. Small reportedly works for PinPoint Staffing, a company hired by the Republican Party of Virginia. He was seen allegedly throwing completed voter registration forms into the trash, a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His apparent employer - Pinpoint Staffing - is tied to the Florida voter registration fraud allegations in which more than 100 suspicious voter registration forms were turned in to local election officials in more than 10 counties. PinPoint is a regular subcontractor of Sproul’s company, Strategic Allied Consulting, to which the RNC has paid $3 million for “voter registration” efforts ahead of the November 6 election. Small, the man arrested in Virginia, has claimed that he is working for the Republican National Committee itself.

Today’s letter calls on the RNC Chairman to declare forthrightly “whether the RNC will cut all ties to PinPoint and all of Mr. Sproul’s various operations.” The Members point out, the RNC has previously claimed to have severed ties with Sproul’s operations after the Florida scandal broke but a spokesman confessed to the Los Angeles Times that “the registration operation that he assembled continued working under the supervision of party officials.”

Citing both the proximity to Election Day, now less than 17 days away, and the history of Americans who have given their lives in the fight for voting rights, from the Revolutionary War to the martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement, the Democratic Members demanded answers and complete transparency from the Republican National Committee.

Democratic Congressional Ranking Members Letter on Voting Fraud to RNC Chairman, 10-19-12 Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Conyers Calls for Protection for Human Rights Advocates in Haiti

(DETROIT)- Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement today in response to recent reports of escalating threats, harassment, and intimidation of human rights advocates and attorneys in Haiti:  

“As a long-time supporter of Haiti in the United States Congress, I am concerned by recent reports that suggest that Haitian attorneys and human rights advocates, including prominent attorney Mario Joesph of theBureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), are being targeted with political intimidation and threats of physical harm as a result of their legal representation of politically vulnerable individuals and groups,” said Conyers.

“The ability of an attorney to provide legal assistance free of harassment to any client is a critically important component of a well-functioning justice system.  All necessary steps should be taken to protect these attorneys and advocates, who help ensure that all Haitians have equitable access to justice and due process.  My office has contacted the State Department to express my concern about these recent reports.”      

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Conyers Statement on the Passing of Senator Arlen Specter

(DETROIT) – Yesterday, former Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) passed away at age 82 following complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released this statement following the news of Senator Specter’s passing:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of a long-standing public servant for the state of Pennsylvania, Senator Arlen Specter. He was a strong-willed fighter who put the people of Pennsylvania before his party,” said Conyers.

“I was fortunate enough to work with Senator Specter during his three decades of public service in Congress, through our respective roles in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. From his co-sponsorship of the End Racial Profiling Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to his leadership in shepherding the Second Chance Act through Congress, Senator Specter was a model statesman and a sharp legal mind.

“Senator Specter will be greatly missed by the people of Pennsylvania and his colleagues in Congress. His legacy of independent-minded reform will continue to shape our Judicial system, and public institutions, for many years to come.”

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Conyers Announces $2 Million Investment Award for Southeast Michigan Community Alliance

(Washington)- Today, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance received a more than $2 million Economic Development Administration award through the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. This money will be used for job creation and to leverage private capital for manufacturing projects. The Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is a national competition administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich) issued this statement following the award:

“I am happy to announce that the Economic Development Administration has awarded the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) with a federal grant funded by the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge to support and advance the creation of manufacturing jobs and small business activities in Southeast Michigan,” said Conyers.

“Through this project, clusters of small and medium sized manufacturing firms and businesses will now have the opportunity to grow, collaborate and better understand their value chains. This will lead to the development of new products for new markets through research and modeling.  This critical investment for the state of Michigan will provide an opportunity for strengthening regional economic development opportunities, creating sustainable jobs, fostering small businesses, and building an advanced skilled manufacturing workforce throughout our state.  I congratulate SEMCA on its receipt of this award.”

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Have His Back: Why You Should Support Barack Obama

By John Conyers, Jr.

In a few weeks, the American people will be presented with a stark choice in the polling booth. This November 6th, Election Day, has become more than just a contest to determine which man will sit in the White House for the next four years. In effect, the outcome of this presidential race will determine which vision for our country's future we pursue for the next generation.

The challenger, Mitt Romney, has put forward a vision that is cobbled together with antiquated ideas and failed policies of the past. As David Axelrod suggested in May, Mr. Romney has the, "foreign policy of the 1980s, the social policy of the 1950s and the economic policies of the 1920s." In constructing his plan for the future, Mr. Romney looks backward towards the top down policies that crashed the American economy and diminished our stature in the global community. On everything from women's healthcare issues, to LGBT rights, to protections afforded to immigrants, Mr. Romney seeks to get in the way of progress.

In contrast, President Obama offers a forward thinking vision that builds on the historic accomplishments achieved in his first term. President Obama's competing plan envisions an inclusive economy built to last, with a thriving middle class and a level playing field. Rather than provide millionaires and billionaires at the top with another budget busting tax cut, President Obama envisions a balanced growth plan that strengthens our social programs and fosters innovation in fields such as advanced manufacturing. And, rather than turn the clock back on women, gay and lesbian individuals, or the underprivileged, President Obama seeks to embolden and advance their hard fought rights.

Indeed, a Romney presidency would do much more than just look backwards for guidance. His presidency would actively undo most of the historic reforms that President Obama worked tirelessly for. Specifically, here is what is most at stake this election:

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Commonly called "Obamacare," Mr. Romney has repeatedly pledged to repeal this near-universal health care legislation on the first day of his presidency. In doing so, Mr. Romney would rid tens of millions of people of their health insurance, revert to the broken status quo wherein preexisting conditions are not covered, and young adults up to age 26 would not be able to stay on their parent's health care plan.
• Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - Mr. Romney has also vowed to repeal this critical reform legislation, returning Wall Street back to the Wild West era of too-big-to-fail instability and reckless speculation on the taxpayer's dime.
• DREAM Act Executive Order - Granting relief for children and young adults who were brought into the country illegally as children. Mr. Romney has vowed to put these young people, American in every way but name, back into the shadows.

The list goes on, but in the end Mr. Romney's vision for the future all boils down to the same failed approaches of the Bush years. President Obama has spent four years fighting for the middle class, and rescuing our economy from the worst malaise since the Great Depression. Too much progress has been made to turn our backs on a president who has delivered historic changes to our social, economic, and foreign policies. Join me in standing with President Obama at www.HaveHisBack.com to keep marching forward.
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Conyers Praises Pennsylvania Court’s Voter ID Ruling

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Judge Robert Simpson of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania partially blocked the state of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law. Specifically, the court struck down two provisions of the law that required voters to show their IDs within six days or appear before the county board of elections.  Although the injunction applies to the election this November, the Judge stated that future hearings would be scheduled on the merits of the case brought by the plaintiffs. Further, election officials may still ask to see an individual’s ID, but an ID will not be required to cast a regular ballot. Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released this statement following the court’s decision:

“I applaud Judge Simpson for granting a preliminary injunction in part on the state’s voter ID law, blocking the requirement that a voter must show a photo identification before casting a ballot in this November election. This ruling recognizes that voter ID laws discourage and disenfranchise citizens from engaging in the right to vote,” said Conyers.

“This particular voter ID law was not common sense nor would it have deterred voter fraud that Pennsylvania lawmakers purported to exist. The law would have burdened minority, disabled, youth, elderly, and veterans populations, many of whom are less able to procure the required identification prior to Election Day. While effectively restricting access to the polls for innumerable Pennsylvania citizens, the law favored gun owners and the employed by including narrow exceptions to the photo identification requirement.

“The right to vote is at the heart of democracy in America, and serves as the cornerstone of all of our Constitutional freedoms. It is my hope that other states will come to recognize that voter ID laws are nothing short of voter suppression and a direct offense against our fundamental right to vote.”

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©