Alan Grayson AWOL On Stimulus Oversight Hearing

From the NRCC:
Alan Grayson AWOL On Stimulus Oversight Hearing
Despite Campaigning as a “Watchdog” Trial Attorney, Grayson Skips Critical Hearing on Progress of Taxpayer Dollars
Washington – It seems Alan Grayson can’t live up to his harsh rhetoric from the campaign trail last year. While he claimed he could clean up Washington, he was notably absent from the most recent subcommittee hearing to track the billions of dollars in stimulus funds that were approved by Congressional Democrats.

“All the talk of supposed oversight during Alan Grayson’s campaign was obviously hot air,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Instead of handing over a trillion-dollar blank check to Nancy Pelosi, Alan Grayson should be ensuring that every single taxpayer dollar is being spent wisely and not on pork-barrel projects. If Alan Grayson isn’t interested in holding the federal bureaucracy accountable then who is going to hold him accountable?”


Background:
The hearings, entitled “Follow the Money,” allow members of the subcommittee to question the officials in charge with distributing the stimulus funds to the various states. At the subcommittee’s second hearing, “Follow the Money II,” only 30% of the subcommittee’s members showed up, with Grayson being unaccounted for:
“Just three of the 10 members bothered to show up for the subcommittee's second meeting, dramatically titled ‘Follow the Money Part II.’…

“While Mr. Miller and the panel's top Republican were there, only Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Pennsylvania Democrats, came to the hearing. Absent were Democratic Reps. Steven R. Rothman of New Jersey, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Charles A. Wilson of Ohio, Alan Grayson of Florida and Bart Gordon of Tennessee.” (“Stimulus oversight left up to taxpayers,” Washington Times, 05/06/2009)

To make matters worse, it was reported today that the details of the stimulus funds may not be released entirely until spring 2010:
“Although President Obama has vowed that citizens will be able to track ‘every dime’ of the $787 billion stimulus bill, a government website dedicated to the spending won't have details on contracts and grants until October and may not be complete until next spring — halfway through the program, administration officials said.” (“Details thin on stimulus contracts,” USA Today, 05/06/2009)

This is particularly embarrassing to Grayson after DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen touted Grayson’s ability to provide oversight and transparency for the American people:
“‘People are willing to make public investments if they know their money is being well spent. That's where Alan Grayson comes in. He understands it's important to invest in the public good. But he doesn't want to be wasting a penny of taxpayer money.’” (National Journal, 03/14/2009)

Governor Crist Announces Town Hall Meeting in Pensacola

Governor Charlie Crist today announced he will hold a town hall meeting at Pensacola Junior College to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Florida to voice their concerns about issues important to them.

“During these difficult economic times, we are faced with new and ever-changing issues that must be resolved,” said Governor Crist. “Town hall meetings provide an excellent forum for Floridians to express their concerns and offer suggestions for the future of our state.”


Details for the Pensacola town hall meeting are as follows:

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
12:00 p.m. – Doors Open, Participants Register
1:00-1:45 p.m. – Town Hall Meeting
1:45-2:00 p.m. – Media Availability
(All times CST)

Pensacola Junior College
WSRE AMOS Studio
1000 College Blvd, Building 23
Pensacola FL 32504
Contact: Sandy Ray
(850)572-3279

Alan Grayson: The Congressman from ACORN

Alan Grayson: The Congressman from ACORN



“I’m glad to know that the ACORN organization is fully represented in Washington, by having its own member of Congress –Alan Grayson,” said Chairman Greer. “What I would like to know is – who is representing the citizens of Central Florida, while Alan Grayson is focused on everyone and everything except his constituents?” bed>

Evening Newscasts Have Covered Obama More Than Bush & Clinton Combined

From the RNC:

Evening Newscasts Have Covered Obama More Than
Bush & Clinton Combined


The nonpartisan research group Center for Media and Public Affairs along with California's Chapman University released a study that found the nightly newscasts devoted 27 hours, 44 minutes to Pres. Obama's presidency in his first 50 days. That compares to 7 hours, 42 minutes for Pres. George W. Bush and 15 hours, 2 minutes for Pres. Bill Clinton during the first 50 days of their first terms.

Not only has Obama gotten more coverage, but that coverage has been more positive than his predecessors.

On the ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts, 58% of all evaluations of the president and his policies have been favorable, while 42% were unfavorable. That compares with 33% positive in the comparable period of Bush's tenure and 44% positive for Pres. Clinton. …

(Source: TVNewser, April 27, 2009)

Hispanic Republican Club Event

What: Picnic Sponsored by the Hispanic Republican Club of
Pinellas County

When: Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 from 10 am to 1 pm

Where: Glen Oaks Park
1345 Court St.
Clearwater, FL
(area near playgrounds, south of soccer fields)

Why: To meet Hispanics who share our values and principles
Free food, soft drinks and music
For information call: 727-434-4008

Chely Hernández-Miller
Hispanic Republican Club of Pinellas County President
RPOF Hispanic Outreach Pinellas County Coordinator
RPOF Hispanic Leadership Council Member

Two Years Later, This War Is Not Lost

Friends,
As you may know, today is Patriots’ Day, the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Today as we remember our proud heritage as Americans, we are grateful for those first Patriots who years ago were willing to give their lives for the cause of freedom. We are eternally grateful to those brave soldiers for the privilege to call ourselves Americans and for the opportunity to live, work and raise our families in the type of freedom others around the world can only dream of.

For this reason, I remind you that two years ago today, rather than honoring the service and sacrifice to those who have given their lives to defeat the threat of terrorism and bring freedom to the Iraqi people, Democrat Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader of the United States Senate, declared the War in Iraq lost. You can click here to view the video.

Harry Reid calls the war lost and the troop surge a failure. Well Senator Reid, I beg to differ. Today on Patriots’ Day, I am grateful to our brave men and women in uniform. They are aren’t kids who didn’t do well in school and “got stuck” in Iraq as President Obama once said, or “poor kids from Mississippi, Texas and Alabama who couldn't get a decent job” as the New York Times would like to think. Instead, they are members of the most well trained, educated and elite fighting force the world as ever seen.

Colonel Oliver North reminds us that initially the United States Military was outnumbered nearly three to one by Saddam Hussein's military, yet it took U.S. troops just three weeks to liberate Baghdad. No military force in history has accomplished that much so fast with so few casualties.

Today while we honor those who fought freedom’s first battle, we remember the men and women who continue that fight today. We support their cause and continue to express our gratitude for their sacrifice.

Warmest Regards,

Jim Greer

Attorney General Bill McCollum's CyberCrime Unit Featured on Oprah Winfrey Show TODAY

Attorney General Bill McCollum's CyberCrime Unit will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, during the second half of the today's show.

Check Oprah.com for local listings.

Who:
Maureen Horkan, Director, Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit
Chuck McMullen, Chief of Law Enforcement, Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit

What: CyberCrime Unit on the Oprah Winfrey Show

When: Monday, April 20, 2009, during the second half of the show titled “Release From Prison: A Mom of 3 Goes Home”

Where: Check Oprah.com for local listings