As members of TVNL find interesting and timely reports about the various campaigns going on around the country, would you please post them here? I will start the thread with a report about the misleading campaign of one of the most repulsive: Florida's KATHERINE HARRIS

...yes, THAT Katherine Harris, the one who helped George Bush steal the 2000 election.


Harris pads role, impact on housing, reports say
By Larry Lipman

Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau

Thursday, July 13, 2006

WASHINGTON — [b]On the campaign trail and in her literature, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris boasts that, as a freshman member of Congress, she passed the American Dream Downpayment Act, "enabling 4.5 million low-income workers to own their first home while growing the U.S. economy by $256 billion."

Federal reports indicate Harris' claims are grossly exaggerated.


A Government Accountability Office report issued June 30 found that, through 2005, only $98.5 million of the $211 million Congress appropriated had been used by local governments to help more than 13,000 low-income families buy new homes — far below her claim of 4.5 million.

Harris also has taken projections of the Bush administration's goals for expanding minority homeownership and used them as the basis of her claims for the economic impact of the American Dream Downpayment Act.

Harris' congressional spokesman, Gerry Fritz, conceded Wednesday that the claims in her campaign literature were inaccurate.

"Someone in the campaign made an error," he said, acknowledging that Harris' figures came from a 2002 Department of Housing and Urban Development report that predicted President Bush's goal of expanding minority homeownership by 5.5 million families "will stimulate an additional $256 billion in benefits to the housing sector of the U.S. economy."

Harris, R-Longboat Key, is seeking the Republican nomination to oppose Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democratic incumbent, in November. She has been repeating her claims for months in front of campaign audiences.

Last week, addressing the Fort Lauderdale Young Republicans, Harris said: "I sponsored a bill called the American Dream Downpayment Act. It lets low-income folks buy their first home. The president said 4.5 million folks will be able to own their own home from this.... It's a $256 billion economic impact to our economy."

Fritz said he was not sure how the mistake became part of Harris' stock speech.

"It's not intentional on her part to mislead anyone," he said. "She's very proud of the American Dream Downpayment Act."

Peter Monroe, one of three Republicans facing Harris in the Sept. 5 primary, has challenged her "significant, material misrepresentations in her brochures and when she talks about her record."

It is difficult to campaign "when people are not being entirely truthful," Monroe said. "There seems to be a fairly consistent pattern of false information being given to the voters."

Monroe also said the Downpayment Act was a strange bill for a Republican to sponsor because it is a throwback to Democratic President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society." He cited a report that the conservative Heritage Foundation published before the bill's passage, calling it a "wasteful and counterproductive extravagance."

The recently released GAO report also countered Harris' claims about the effect of the act. It concluded that, because of inadequate data collection, the "accomplishments attributable to the (act) are not known."

The measure "has not had a significant impact on the homeownership rates of selected participating jurisdictions due to modest funding levels and the newness of the program," the GAO report said.

Harris introduced her bill on March 13, 2003, barely two months after taking office. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate a month later by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo. The bill that finally passed Congress on Dec. 8, 2003, was the Senate version and was incorporated into a much broader housing assistance law.

Under the Downpayment Act, Congress was authorized to spend $200 million a year in fiscal 2004 through 2007 to help low-income, first-time buyers purchase a home by covering the greater of $10,000 or 6 percent of the price (within limits) for down payment, closing costs and limited rehabilitation assistance.

Despite the $200 million annual authorization, Congress has never fully funded the program. It allocated $87 million in fiscal 2004, $49.6 million in 2005 and $24.8 million this year. Florida's share through 2005 was $5.5 million.

The GAO report found that even HUD's estimate of the act's helping 13,000 families was suspect because the figures included "an unknown number of (non-act) projects that provided down payment assistance to first-time buyers."

Local officials informed the GAO that the program had mixed success. In parts of the country with low housing costs, it has provided substantial assistance. But in many jurisdictions, the high cost of housing and the low income of recipients made it difficult to use the program without combining the act's funds with other federal housing money.

For example, in Los Angeles, the median price of homes bought through the Downpayment Act was $264,000 but the median mortgage was about $142,000, leaving a gap of $122,000. Because the act would provide only about $15,840 in assistance for the median home, that gap had to be filled through other housing programs, when possible.

With other housing programs often using different criteria, the report noted that it could be difficult to combine programs to provide enough assistance.

The GAO report noted that many jurisdictions received such a small amount through the Downpayment Act that it had no significant impact. For example, Modesto, Calif., received about $36,000 in 2005 and $18,000 in 2006. But the typical gap there between an eligible family's mortgage and a home's purchase price was about $70,000.

The act, by itself, could not fully help a single family in Modesto.

In Amarillo, Texas, the $35,000 grant for 2005 and the $17,000 for 2006 were expected to be enough to help four families.

Thus, "it may be some time before a significant number of households are assisted so (as) to have an appreciable impact on homeownership rates, particularly at current funding levels," the GAO report said.

Link: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/ ... 7&cxcat=17






Catherine

They just can't help themselves, can they? Is it genetic?

Since being rated the 16th most competitive House race in the nation, the NC-11 campaigns of Heath Shuler and Charles Taylor are getting national play:


USAToday: "Shuler is light on policy details but well-versed in Democratic themes. On Iraq, he says, "how and when do we get our troops home safely? Congress has to ask the questions." He commiserates with seniors about the Medicare prescription-drug program and the cost of gas. "There's so much that I would like to change," he says.

Shuler is matching Rep. Charles Taylor in money and polls after a year in which local editorial boards assailed Taylor for blocking $5 million in federal money for a memorial to 9/11's United Flight 93. Taylor, who was re-elected by 10 percentage points in 2004, said he feared private donors wouldn't raise their share. He relented last month."

New York Times: "Another seat the Republicans probably were not counting on having to defend is the North Carolina Congressional seat occupied by Rep. Charles Taylor."

The Pittsburgh Herald-Tibune reported: "Western North Carolina voters have supported U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor for 16 years, despite loan scandals at his bank, his acceptance of questionable campaign donations and his financial ties to Russia.

They've looked beyond his plan to spend almost $600 million for a controversial road through pristine parts of the Smoky Mountains. They didn't turn away even though records show he hasn't paid more than $1,800 in 2000 property taxes owed to Jackson County and that he's accepted more than $19,000 in campaign contributions from convicted gaming lobbyist Jack Abramoff."

( Yep, some folks in my beloved state are pretty STUPID! Catherine)

The Concord Monitor points out that Shuler is on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" list: "The list is reserved for national challengers believed to have the best shot at taking a GOP-held seat. Inclusion means receiving $300,000 to $500,000 in support from the DCCC and being matched with a Democratic incumbent as a mentor, among other benefits.

So far, 23 candidates have been named, including former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler, a Democrat from western North Carolina."

I could go on and on with stories from around the nation. This race is hot because it's winnable. Charles Taylor, with his credibility is tatters and his ineffectiveness on display, will soon be pulling out his standard campaign tactics of smears and lies in a desperate attempt to retain his seat.

If you've thought of getting involved with the Shuler campaign, now is the time. If you wait until October to donate or volunteer, you'll be missing the chance to get in early on what promises to be one of the most competitive races in America. For more information on Shuler, visit his website. To join a conversation on the Shuler candidacy, check out the Unofficial Shuler Forum. http://www.brainshrub.com/shuler/

Link: http://scrutinyhooligans.blogspot.com/2 ... -gets.html



Catherine

Here's an update from this campaign:

http://scrutinyhooligans.blogspot.com/

The Elephant in the Room
How Big a Problem Is President Bush for the GOP?
Monday, July 24, 2006; Page A08


No modern political party has weathered a midterm election with a president as low in the polls as George W. Bush.

It is a reality of midterm elections that the party holding the White House often suffers big losses even if the president is popular. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's approval rating was at 57 percent in 1958, but Republicans still lost 48 seats in the House.

The best any party has done when its president has dipped below 50 percent was in 1978. That fall, President Jimmy Carter's approval rating was 49 percent and the Democrats lost 15 House seats -- exactly the number Democrats need this year to win back the chamber.

With his approval rating hovering around 40 percent, Bush has put his party on the wrong side of history heading into November.

If there is a glimmer of hope for the Republicans, it is that Bush has beaten the odds before. In 2002, his party gained seats in the House and Senate, the first time any president had accomplished that in a midterm since 1934. But his approval rating then exceeded 60 percent.

For all practical purposes, Bush's approval rating is a matter of concern for every GOP candidate, which is why the White House is working to boost the president's popularity. Some races will be competitive in almost any situation, but if the president starts to dip even lower, he can put at risk Republicans who otherwise would not expect a difficult race.

Among the races worth watching are Rhode Island's Senate race: Lincoln D. Chafee (R) is facing a tough primary and, if he wins, an even tougher general election in a state in which Bush's approval rating is in the bottom five in the nation.

In Ohio's 15th District, Rep. Deborah Pryce, a member of the House GOP leadership, is trying to make her race about anything but the president. In Florida's 22nd District, Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R), who has faced tough races before, can thank Bush at least in part for what may be his most difficult reelection fight. And in Indiana's 2nd District, Rep. Chris Chocola (R) has a battle on his hands.

-- Dan Balz


Catherine

This isn't exactly a CAMPAIGN UPDATE, but it's a recent poll showing a STATE BY STATE APPROVAL RATING FOR GWB'S JOB AS PREZ:

http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50 ... proval.htm

OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY HAS EVOLVED IN 6 YEARS FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES OF THE STUPIDS.

Catherine

Even Texas is below 50%--but not much. NC is higher than Alaska!

That has to be disheartening.

NY does better, but mostly because of New York city. Country folk are just as redneck as they are in any other part of the US.

Click on IDAHO!

Catherine

I clicked on NY too. It said 68% of upstaters disapprove of Bush--where the heck are they? I know I am in a very conservative area, but there has to be places that are not as bad as this--I want to move to one of them!

Is the reason college educated people are more for Bush, that they are most likely making more money? What does that do to the neocon whine about liberal colleges?

And of course regular church attendance brings up Bush's ratings. Again, what does that say about religion...

Interesting and important:

http://www.arnoldwatch.org/

http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/08/08_recall.html

Lieberman and Lamont Lash Out in Conn.

Sen. Joe Lieberman trades accusations with Democratic candidate Ned Lamont in Conn. Sente race

WASHINGTON, Sep. 13, 2006

(AP) Sen. Joe Lieberman bemoaned the nasty tone of Ned Lamont's campaign _ even as he swiped at his Democratic rival, accusing him of waffling on the Iraq war.

"Ned Lamont is running one of the most negative campaigns that I can remember," Lieberman said in a telephone conference call with reporters Tuesday. "He constantly criticizes, criticizes, criticizes. And he blames me for just about everything, maybe except the weather."

Lieberman, who is running as an independent after losing last month's Democratic primary to Lamont, was responding to his foe's complaint that he has missed 16 votes on Iraq since 2003.

More campaign news at the link.

LINK

Catherine

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Good site. But it has Reynolds 4 points ahead of Davis.

Sad. Reynolds has been doing nonstop negative advertising, a filthy smear campaign. Sad that that is rewarded, but then, that is where I live.

Shuler, Taylor are still trading taunts
Challenger walks out of radio debate after incumbent calls in




Charles Taylor hasn't had the guts to face Heath Shuler in a one on one debate during this whole campaign. Shuler is such a refreshing contrast to Taylor who went to Congress worth around a million bucks. After 16 years in office, supposedly "representing the people of WNC," he's now worth about $70 million. Taylor's also one of the top 20 most corrupt congressional members.

A letter to our local paper last week actually listed Taylor as being one of the top 20 most corrupt....imagine that! Shuler was in my area Friday night, and attended a local football game. Folks who had donated to his campaign were invited to meet him at the local Democratic Headquarters and walk with him to the football field. Shuler has really made an effort to personally contact every voter that he possibly could.

My husband and I will be voting for Heath Shuler on Tuesday.

LINK