| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Sep | Dec » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
- Blogging (2)
- Race for Congress (55)
- December 31, 2007: New Year's Eve
- October 31, 2007: Share the Sacrifice
- October 15, 2007: Election Day!
- October 15, 2007: Patrick Murphy -- Priceless!
- October 13, 2007: Trick or Treat?
- October 12, 2007: Patrick's Closing Remarks
- October 10, 2007: Murphy Takes Ogonowski's Breath Away
- October 8, 2007: NECN Debate on ON DEMAND
- October 8, 2007: Updated Slideshow
- October 8, 2007: Ogonowski and Oil
Blogroll
McGovern Introduces Murphy’s Legislation
Since its inception, this campaign has had several conversations with congressional staffers of select offices, including Congressman Jim McGovern’s office, searching for a sponsor for Patrick Murphy’s ”Shared Sacrifice” bill. Yesterday, Congressman McGovern (D-Mass, 3rd District) officially introduced legislation in Congress that would impose a “war surtax,” based on a Patrick’s “Shared Sacrifice Act.” McGovern has partnered with House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey and Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania in introducing this legislation. Murphy and his staff are happy that their persistence has paid off and that in Congressmen McGovern, Obey and Murtha they have found allies and champions for this important cause.
Early in August, WBUR, Boston’s NPR affiliate, highlighted McGovern’s announcement of his intention to introduce this legislation and attributed the idea behind it to Patrick Murphy. NPR also discussed the proposal later that week when host Tom Ashbrook and guest host Jack Beatty, editor for the Atlantic Monthly, featured it as one of the week’s top stories and, once again, attributed the proposal to Patrick Murphy. On August 5, 2007, the Lowell Sun also wrote a brief piece crediting Patrick with the idea for the legislation (article posted in comment below).
As Patrick has stated all along, however, what is far more important than who receives credit for his idea is that such creative ideas are put forth and acted upon. Introducing new, independent ideas is what this campaign is all about. The fact that a senior Democrat in Congress adopted Patrick’s idea, found other senior congressmen to support it, and introduced it as legislation is a shining example of how a true independent will create new ideas for legislation that will garner support from all (rational-thinking, intelligent, non-corrupt) parties.
October 4, 2007 at 12:34 pm
From the Lowell Sun Archives
August 5, 2007
THIS WEEK, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern introduced a proposal in Congress that would tax Americans when the country decides to go to war.
An add-on to the federal income tax, the so-called “war tax” would not only help finance the war effort, but also ensure that every citizen has a stake in the decision to go to war.
Where have we heard that before? Ah, yes. From Independent congressional candidate Patrick Murphy. Murphy, 25, has been talking up a war tax since he announced in June that he is running for Congress. He even sent his proposal to members of the Massachusetts delegation looking to find a sponsor. Looks like he found one in McGovern.
“We’re just happy that the idea is going forward,” Murphy said. “It will at least make people think before we do go to war.”
October 4, 2007 at 1:21 pm
A statement on the subject from Rep Obey.
http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Newsroom/Speeches/RemarksonPresidents2008WarSupplementalRequest.htm
However, I doubt if the bill will ever get filed, as Democratic leadership apparently does not have the guts to suffer the claim that “here they go again, raising taxes”.
Rep Obey’s alternative of not letting the $190B request get out of Appropriations is likely doomed to fail, other than maybe getting further discussion on the matter. When it comes down to the brass tacks, you can be sure that he will be resigned to “we can’t abandon the troops in battle” and will approve funding, either incrementally or conditionally, with no real teeth in the conditions.
The original bill as proposed by Patrick is what is needed, as a means to bring this war to an expedited conclusion, and to avoid the trap of “reluctant authorization” for any future war.