Edwards covers Iraq, immigration, oil

Kat — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:19:32 -0700

June 12, 2007
Edwards covers Iraq, immigration, oil

By STEVE SNYDER | Navasota Examiner editor

A good politician knows how to relate well to a crowd.

In the case of Congressman Chet Edwards' speech to a Navasota/Grimes County Chamber of Commerce luncheon May 31, a little joke was in order at the top of the lineup.

"I have good news for you: Neither the U.S. Congress nor the Texas Legislature is in session today," he said.

After that, Edwards got down to brass tacks. He started by avowing Congress is not as partisanly divided as portrayed by national news media stories.

"If all I did was watch national television ... the only impression I would have right now is that we're fighting over Iraq and Attorney General Gonzales ... and it's all partisan," he said. "What I would tell you is ... there are good people on both sides of the aisle but they don't make the news."

Before getting to a discussion of Iraq, and other issues, Edwards went back to a bit more levity, referencing throat surgery he had at the start of the year.

"I could not speak for two months ... and I'm looking to see if we can't get this district in the Guiness Book of World Records ... for longest period of time without a Congressman talking," he said.

Iraq

The serious issues on his list of topics did begin with Iraq, then. Edwards said he was glad Congress sent a new Iraq funding bill to President George W. Bush, even though it did not have timetables or benchmarks that an earlier House bill, vetoed by Bush, did have.

"I'm glad we got the bill passed to fully fund the president's request. I think it would be a mistake to pull all our troops tomorrow," he said.

Edwards was one of the House Democrats who voted yes May 24 on a House vote concurring with a Senate amendment, the effect of which was to approve an Iraq spending bill without timetables for troop reductions or withdrawals, and without Congressionally-binding benchmarks on the Iraqi government. The overall vote was 280-142. Edwards also voted for the original House supplemental spending bill May 10, later vetoed by Bush, that did have timetables.

"Can we guarantee stability in Iraq? No ... not even with a million troops," Edwards continued. "That's the job of the Iraqi people. I want to send a message to Iraqi leaders: Clean up your corruption. Take more responsibility. We're not going to write a blank check of $10 billion a month forever."

Energy

With $3 a gallon gas, this was bound to be his second topic.

"I'm afraid we're paying the price for having a long-term energy policy," Edwards said.

He said a major portion of the problem was lack of new U.S. gasoline refineries.

Referring to a 2005 energy bill that made it easier to build refineries, Edwards said we needed another one. He said he wanted to make it easier to build nuclear power plants, open up more of the Gulf coast, especially the Florida portion, for oil and natural gas drilling, and get automakers to make some serious improvements in fuel economy.

"If they can't do a better job, we may not have an American car-manufacturing industry," he warned.

Later, during audience questioning, Edwards said he was open to the idea of the government developing a strategic reserve for refined gasoline similar to the one it already has for crude oil.

Truth Test: Taylor Attack Ad II

Kat — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:25:11 -0700

September 21, 2006

Truth Test: Taylor Attack Ad II

After launching the first negative television ad of the general election, Van Taylor has followed up with another desperate attack ad that is just as false and uses scare tactics to distort Chet Edwards' record.

Van Taylor Attack ad:

“Chet Edwards is lying. The Congressional Record proves he voted to give food stamps to illegal aliens, but Edwards won't take responsibility.”

The Truth:

Chet Edwards voted for the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill, which is current law, that barred illegal aliens from receiving federal welfare benefits, including food stamps. For reference, see Section 401 of Public Law 104-193, entitled, “Aliens who are not qualified aliens ineligible for Federal public benefits.” (Roll Call Vote 331, 7/18/96, H.R. 3734; Roll Call Vote 383, 7/31/96, H.R. 3734)

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

“…Chet Edwards voted to protect illegal aliens who were arrested for a crime from deportation, allowing them to be released on bail. Some have committed heinous crimes including rape and murder.”

The Truth:

This is an outrageous and false claim. Chet Edwards voted to end “catch and release” practices when he voted for the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act on Dec. 16, 2005. This bill ensures any incarcerated illegal aliens are not released back into local communities and are removed from the United States after serving their sentences. For references, see Section 223, “Institutional Removal Program”, and Section 225, “State Authorization for Assistance in the Enforcement of Immigration Laws Encouraged”. (Roll Call Vote 661, 12/16/2005, H.R. 4437).

Votes cited in Van Taylor's ad do not support his claims:

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

Displays image of Congressional Record page H5608, which displays Roll Call Vote 367 (7/13/04) to support false claim that, “…The Congressional Record proves he voted to give food stamps to illegal aliens…”. ”

The Truth:

This vote, which Taylor used in his last false attack ad, did not give food stamps to illegal aliens or have any impact on current law at all. Taylor continues to offer no substantiation whatsoever for his false claims.

Roll Call 367 (7/13/04): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the FY05 Agriculture Appropriations Act

This redundant amendment had no impact on current law, which already prohibited food stamps going to illegal aliens. Edwards voted for that prohibition in the 1996 Welfare Reform bill on 7/31/1996. During debate, Rep. Tancredo even admitted his amendment would not change current law in any way: “Rep. Kaptur: '…for the record, does the gentleman's amendment in any way change existing law regarding immigration and food stamp eligibility?'…Rep. Tancredo: 'It does not.'” (Congressional Record, 7/13/04)

Amendment failed by a vote of 156-262, with even the Republican Chairman of the subcommittee that wrote the underlying bill, Rep. Henry Bonilla (TX), voting against this amendment.

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

Cites Roll Call votes 262 (6/16/05), 177 (5/17/05), 341 (7/8/04), 270 (6/18/04) and 309 (6/24/03) to back up the false claim that “…Chet Edwards voted to protect illegal aliens who were arrested for a crime from deportation, allowing them to be released on bail.”

Roll Call 262 (6/16/05): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce Departments Appropriations Act.

This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. During debate over the amendment, Rep. Tancredo admitted, “My amendment does not make any new laws or create any new penalty or change any laws on the books.” (Congressional Record, 6/16/2005)

Amendment failed by a vote of 204-222.

Roll Call 177 (5/17/05): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. Rep. Tancredo admitted during debate, “The law is on the books; I am not creating law here.” (Congressional Record, 5/17/2005)

Amendment failed by a vote of 165-258

Roll Call 341 (7/8/04): Amendment by Rep. King to the Commerce, State, Justice Departments Appropriations Act.

This amendment would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. This misplaced amendment attempted to take money from the Department of Justice to fund current laws, which Chet Edwards supports, that encourage local officials to work with Federal immigration enforcement agents. However, as Republican Congressman Frank Wolf said during debate, “Enforcement of this section of the immigration law is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security…No agency funded in this bill has that responsibility. The gentleman should have done the amendment on the right bill… it just does not fit.” (Congressional Record, 7/08/2004)

Amendment failed by a vote of 139-278.

Roll Call 270 (6/18/04): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. Rep. Tancredo admitted during debate, “This amendment does not change the law, it does not repeal the law, it does not add anything to the law.” (Congressional Record, 6/18/2004)

Amendment failed by a vote of 148-259.

Roll Call 309 (6/24/03): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

This amendment would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment took away all port security, airport security, first responder, disaster and other Department of Homeland Security funds from states and cities if they were not in complete compliance with a specific provision of immigration law about sharing information between local and federal officials. While Chet Edwards supported and voted for the immigration law, he joined the overwhelming majority of House members who refused to leave states and cities vulnerable to terrorist attacks by supporting this amendment.

Amendment failed by a vote of 102-322.

Chet Edwards For Congress - Illegal Immigration

Edwards covers Iraq, immigration, oil

Truth Test: Taylor Attack Ad II