The Good (John Yarmuth), The Bad (Mitch McConnell), and The Ugly – 2/21/09

I promised weekly McConnell watches. Unfortunately, he hasnÂ’t done enough this week to earn a full article of his own. So, in order to provide something worth reading, I am combining my McConnell watch with a John Yarmuth update.

 

The Good

 

After seeing so many complaints from other Gather members (mostly of the Republican persuasion) that politicians donÂ’t earn their salary, donÂ’t care about people, and donÂ’t know what theyÂ’re voting on or for, itÂ’s a pleasure to brag about Congressman John Yarmuth, who earns his salary (even though he donates it to charity), is and has been well informed on all issues for many years, and cares enough to stay informed and meet with us to share information and listen to concerns.

Here are a few things Congressman Yarmuth did this week that were not broadcast on C-span, so you might have missed them.

On Tuesday, he spoke at a “save the mountains” rally with Ashley Judd.

"One solar panel has 4,000 parts," Judd said. "Imagine the jobs that could create in eastern Kentucky." U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), who spoke before Judd, said, "There is light at the end of the tunnel. There are now more people employed in the wind power industry in the United States than there are in the coal industry.

On Thursday he visited a local health center, where he announced that, thanks to the stimulus package President Obama signed this week will increase the federal contribution to Kentucky’s Medicaid program from 70% to 76.2%

*The Kentucky Department of Education will also receive funding. "I am thrilled that our schools are going to get this extra funding," Yarmuth said. "Districts were facing huge cuts that would have decreased the quality of education in Kentucky and this should help them recover some of those cuts." This money will offset some of the costs NCLB didnÂ’t fund. "The federal government put some very strict requirements on the schools, particularly in Title I and special education, but did not fund it," Yarmuth said.

 

*Overall, the $787 billion stimulus bill that Obama signed contains $105.9 billion for education.

 

*Federal money totaling $6.83 million has been authorized for improvements at Louisville International Airport, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District, has announced.

(*bad, bad “pork” when Mitch McConnell talks out the Republican side of his face but good, good politicing and a reason to vote for him when he’s campaigning)

This morning, Saturday, he held a public information session to answer questions about the stimulus plan.

Tonight he joins ‘Green Convene’ (local leaders from politics, industry, academia and others working to promote public policies that support environmental sustainability) in a public event. (Are Saturdays considered overtime to those who think politicians are “working” only when the house is in session?)

 

Miscellaneous News Bits from this week:

Democrats Revive Populist Caucus Populist Caucus members say they will demand that conditions on labor rights, environmental protection and other “fair trade” principles be incorporated in future trade deals.

Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky said a common motivation for the junior members joining the Populist Caucus is the sense that “the economy is not working for everybody.”

“We are very concerned about how the principles of economic justice are being thwarted by unbridled economic power,” he said.

 

Hundreds of teens packed the convention center in downtown Louisville, looking for a way to make a buck.

“This is an indication of how serious the economy is right now. We have millions of people out of work. The unemployment rate is at 7.5% nationally and it’s probably going to 9 or 10%,” says Representative John Yarmuth, a democrat representing Kentucky’s third district.

John Yarmuth receives a tip of the hat from Steven Colbert