How Walden really Votes

Steve Bucknum

It has occurred to me that people outside of the Second Congressional District (even some in it) might not know why so many of us are upset about our current Congressman, Greg Walden – Here are a few of his votes, votes that I think even Republican stalwarts cannot abide.

And, after reading this, you’ll want to read about Carol Voisin, the Democratic alternative to this mess – her web site is Voisin for Congress - The "donation" spot is on the left hand side of the opening web page, below the little photo (hint, hint).

So, here’s Walden -

WALDEN VOTED AGAINST VETERANS. Voted against an amendment that would protect financially distressed military families and veterans from harsher aspects of the means test in a bankruptcy bill. [S. 1920 (Failed 170 to 198) - Roll Call Vote #9 (1/28/04)]

WALDEN CAST A DECIDING VOTE NOT TO PAY MORE TO SOLDIERS AT WAR. Voted against an amendment to give a $1,500 bonus to each soldier in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since this vote failed in a tie, Greg Walden is directly responsible for stopping money going to our troops. [H.Amdt. 423 (Failed 213 to 213) - Roll Call Vote #554 (10/17/03)]

WALDEN CAST A DECIDING VOTE TO CUT RURAL PROGRAMS, HEALTH CARE, FOOD STAMPS, FOSTER CARE AND OTHER FUNDS FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE. Voted to cut food stamps, health care, college student loans, Medicaid, child support enforcement, foster care, Social Security Insurance for the disabled and many rural programs. [H.R. 4241 (Passed 217 to 215) – Roll Call Vote #601 (11/18/05)]

WALDEN VOTED TO CUT EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, HEATING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER FUNDS FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE. Voted to cut funds for rural health care, community college grants, heating assistance for low-income families and education (the first cut in education in a decade). Although Walden and Tom Delay voted for this, 22 Republicans voted no. This failed despite Walden's vote. [H.R. 3010 (Failed 224-209) – Roll Call Vote #598 (11/17/05)]

WALDEN VOTED TO CUT MEDICAID, STUDENT LOANS, FOOD STAMPS & TO INCREASE TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH. Voted to give wealthy Americans an additional $106 billion in tax cuts. The budget cuts more than $20 billion from Medicaid, $21 billion from student loans, Pell grants and other educational spending, and more than $5 billion from farm nutrition programs, slashing the food stamp program. [H.Res. 154 (Passed 228 to 196) - Roll Call Vote #79 (3/16/05)]

WALDEN VOTED NO TO MORE MONEY FOR RURAL HOSPITALS. Voted against raising payments to rural hospitals to bring their funding up to the same level as urban hospitals. [H.J.Res. 18 (Failed 195 to 215) - Roll Call Vote #18 (2/5/03)]

WALDEN VOTED NO TO A HEALTH PLAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. Voted against establishing a Small Employer Health Benefits Plan for employers with fewer than 100 employees. [H.Amdt. 525 (Failed 193 to 224) - Roll Call Vote #172 (5/13/04)]

WALDEN VOTED AGAINST LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOLS. Voted to let the Dept. of Education punish schools that are unable to meet unfunded mandates in the No Child Left Behind Act. [H.Amdt. 219 (Failed 199 to 223 – A yes vote would have reduced federal control; Walden voted no.) - Roll Call Vote #350 (7/17/03)]

WALDEN VOTED TO TAKE AWAY STATE CONTROL. Voted to make it easier for corporations to build energy company projects that communities or States don't want. This bill could lead to dams on trout streams or large garbage incinerators that pollute residential areas or pristine recreational sites. This bill should more accurately be called "an Act to Gut the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969." [HR 4513 (Passed 229 to 186) - Roll Call Vote #242 (6/15/04)]

WALDEN VOTED FOR LARGER TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH. Voted against reducing proposed tax breaks to the wealthy. [H.Amdt. 66 (Failed 180 to 242 – A no vote kept tax cuts at a higher level than proposed in this amendment.) - Roll Call Vote #82 (3/17/05)]

WALDEN VOTED NO TO FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Voted against holding the White House accountable for billions of dollars in defense. Voted down an amendment to prevent the President and Secretary Rumsfeld from having "blank check authority" in their "very own slush funds that they can use for virtually whatever they want to do." [H.Amdt. 414 (Failed 146 to 279) - Roll Call Vote #550 (10/16/03)]

WALDEN VOTED YES TO CORPORATE WELFARE. Voted for a bill that, as Rep. Levin said, "…because of specific provisions in it, under truth-in-packaging, it should be called the Overseas Job Creation Act." This bill gave tobacco companies about $10 billion. Rep. Doggett added that this was "an outrageous $150 billion chunk of corporate welfare." [HR 4520 (Passed 251 to 178) - Roll Call Vote #259 (6/17/04)]

WALDEN CAST A DECIDING VOTE IN FAVOR OF OIL COMPANY GIVEAWAYS. Voted to further deregulate oil companies and, as Rep.Van Hollen said, "lavishing oil companies with an additional $1.5 billion over and above the $4 billion they just received under the last energy bill." -- Greg Walden's vote was critical. If he had voted no, it would have died in a tie. [HR 3893 (Passed 212 to 210) - Roll Call Vote #519 (10/7/05)]

By Steve Bucknum Aug. 19, 2006