It’s April, but it’s no longer April 1…

I was surprised to see a site with a name server of Liberty Concepts that went to a website called Boyd On Our Side. Turns out it is a new propaganda campaign site for our Congressman Allen Boyd. It is introduced on the main campaign site as follows:

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Boyd for Congress campaign today released a new television ad titled “Elizabeth”, and launched a new website BoydOnOurSide.com that will act as a reliable, fact-based resource for voters to learn more about Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida).

The first thing I noticed was that it is a one-way website- you cannot leave any comments about what has been written. It occurred to me this mirrored real life. Whether you try to contact his office about a tax situation, an ailing veteran, or about a key vote on an issue like health care, you have no means to reliably do so. The huge difference in this respect (among others) between Allen Boyd and Paul McKain is that on Paul's website, anyone can comment on anything he writes. Logically, how can you listen to your constituents if they can't communicate with you? This of course is not a factor if you just don't care what they are trying to say.

Now for some meat & potatoes (and yes, I'm a big fan of Dan Quayle for those that caught the spelling there):

Several very reliable fact-based resources for voters to learn more about Congressman Allen Boyd already exist. Let's have a look at them (these are all non-partisan sites):

Project VoteSmart

According to the National Journal calculations, Rep. Allen Boyd, Jr. voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 58 percent of members within the same chamber of Congress in 2009.

On The Issues

Taxes-

• Voted YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
• Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
• Voted NO on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
• Voted YES on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
• Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
• Voted NO on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
• Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"). (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
• 50-25-25 budget formula for debt-tax cuts-spending. (Feb 2001)
• Rated 30% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 80% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2

Allen Boyd is a Moderate Liberal Populist as rated by the above website.

GovTrack and Open Congress

These sites lets one see how representatives voted, you can read bills, and gather information. Based on this information, one can research Allen Boyd's voting record. Limiting the time frame to December 2009, Allen Boyd voted for the following bills:

HR 4314

Passed on 12-16-09

To permit continued financing of Government operations
39 Democrats voted no, 0 Republicans voted yes
Note: 13% support on Open Congress

Increases the public debt limit from $12.104 trillion to $12.394 trillion ($290 billion increase).

H.R. 4173

Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009

Passed on 12-11-09

27 Democrats voted no, 0 Republicans yes

Note: 35% support on Open Congress

News With Views article::

“The super-size measure of 1,279 pages (1,500 with amendments), is actually a package of several bills, which when ‘pinned together’, as Bachmann puts it, exponentially extends the power of the federal government over banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Now H.R. 4173 is in the Senate, and if passed there and signed into law would usher in what CNN describes as ‘the most sweeping set of changes to the banking regulatory system since the New Deal’.”

HR 3288

Passed on 12-10-09

Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
28 Democrats voted no, 0 Republicans yes
26% support on Open Congress
Anderson Cooper on CNN:
“The omnibus appropriations bill contains thousands of earmarks worth billions of dollars and an average 12% increase in the departments and agencies funded in the six appropriations bills.”

(Keep in mind this was CNN saying this, NOT Fox)

HR 4213

Passed on 12-9-09

Extended many existing tax breaks; increases by an additional 26.5% the required estimated tax payments for certain large corporations in the third quarter of 2014.
10 Democrats voted no, 2 Republicans yes
Note- 58% support on Open Congress.

HR 4154

Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009

Passed on 12-3-09

26 D no, 0 R yes
35% support on Open Congress. This will affect farmers who pass on the farm to their children.
Sibby Online blog analysis of HR 4154:
While senators debate health care, House Democrats have quietly moved to save the federal estate tax, scheduled to disappear next month. In this push to preserve the so-called "death tax," Democrats have an important K Street ally: The life insurance companies that peddle estate-planning products…

HR 3029

Passed on 12-1-09

To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle power generation systems
1 Democrat voted no, 42 Republicans yes
50% support on Open Congress.
Expands the Dept. of Energy with new spending over 4 years-
(h) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.

Allen Boyd's page on Open Congress says this-

13% User Approval

7 Sponsored Bills

Votes 96% with Party

Then one can follow the money:

Legistorm

Earmarks- money appropriated for projects within a district.

MAPLight

Money and politics.

How about where the million plus in campaign dollars is coming from? Think it is from District 2? Think again! Here is a map from the MAPLight website:

This map depicts the total amount of campaign contributions to U.S. Representative Allen Boyd (Florida District 2), based on the House District in which each contribution originated. This map includes all contributions from January 2005 through December 2007, excluding individual contributions of less than $200 and contributions from political parties, other candidates, and leadership PACs. Contribution data supplied by MAPLight.org from analysis of Center for Responsive Politics data. Map created 10/16/2008 by Avencia Inc. For more details, see full report at http://www.maplight.org/remotecontrol08. This map may be freely reproduced provided credit is given to “MAPLight.org.” Download this map in high resolution (3MB)

Only a little over 15% was from here. Who is our congressman listening to? It sure isn't me. Then again, I only live here- I haven't given him any money.

With facts like these I suppose I wouldn't want anyone commenting either.