Lynn Jenkins Reminds us SHE'S FOR THE 1%

Lynn Jenkins sent me an email describing her position on avoiding the sequester.  In her missive Representative Jenkins noted that she supported H.R. 5652 (112th Congress) as a better solution to avoiding the Boehnerquester.  Now most people will take that at face value, being accustomed to being spoon fed information.  I, however, am not one to accept Jenkins's propaganda machine's output as Gospel.

H.R. 5652 (112th Congress) is terrible legislation that tries to bury the progress made during President Obama's first term.  There is a lot wrong with the bill, and you may see more than one blog on this bill.  It is that bad!

In this piece of work Jenkins turns to one of her favorite topics, protecting Golden Parachutes for the executives that, in the true vulture capitalist tradition, wreck their businesses while skating off with massive ill gotten gains in the form of bonuses and other compensation.

The Dodd-Frank Act §210 puts it this way: "The FDIC may avoid or invalidate certain prior transfers, agreements, leases, or compensation to executives that hinder the ability of the FDIC to carry out its duties."  Those duties are winding down the failed business while providing that claimants get at least as much as they would have received under a bankruptcy liquidation."  In bankruptcy parlance that means the FDIC can reach back and bring those monies back into the estate to be liquidated.

What, you ask is Jenkins's voting record on Golden Parachutes?  Let's review.

From this Blog on June 5, 2010:  Lynn Jenkins never saw a Golden Parachute she didn't like. H.R. 1664, and the title says it all: "To amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards." This is another attempt to reign in Wall Street Fat Cats giving themselves big paychecks and bonuses on the taxpayers dime. Lynn Jenkins voted against us and for the Wall Street Fat Cats on roll call 247.

Then on June 10, 2010: H.R. 3269 the CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTION COMPENSATION ACT OF 2009 gives stockholders rights some teeth when it comes to executive compensation and golden parachutes. This bill gives the Securities and Exchange Commission authority to make rules regarding these compensation packages. Lynn Jenkins loves those golden parachutes. Again she votes to keep exorbitant executive pay packages and those golden parachutes they way they are. In roll call 686 Lynn Jenkins voted against H.R. 3269.

On September 28, 2010 I wrote:  Lynn Jenkins voted several times to do nothing about those Golden Parachutes being paid out of taxpayer money. She voted against letting shareholders have a mandatory binding vote on exorbitant executive pay practices, H.R. 3269.  She voted against a bill allowing the Treasury Secretary  prohibit financial institutions from paying excessive executive pay from taxpayer money, H.R. 384 and H.R. 1664. She consistently voted against restraints on executive pay for Big Bankers while the Big Banks are being Bailed Out! H.R. 3269 contained one weak provision permitting non-binding shareholder votes on Golden Parachutes, which Lynn Jenkins voted against.

It is clear that at every opportunity to support Wall Street, Big Banks, and the Silk Stocking Financial Sector Lynn Jenkins is with them and against us.  Why she would remind us of her callous disregard for the people during this debate over the sequester is baffling.  She does not represent us, she represents the 1% and you waste your vote on them when you vote for her.

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 39 - SHE SHOWS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF AN UNRECOVERED ADDICT

This is Lynn Jenkins she does not represent us.

According to Webster's Dictionary addiction is "being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming." Addiction experts tell us addicts are powerless over the source of their addictions. That powerlessness is what prevents the addictive personality from knowing when to say when or that enough is enough.

Lynn Jenkins, as of July 14th, hauled in over a million dollars from Fat Cats, Corporations, and their PACs. Her opponent has pledged not to take a single cent of corporate cash. There is zero probability that Lynn Jenkins needs more money to battle Cheryl Hudspeth. Absolute zero probability. So is that when to say when? Is that knowing that enough is enough?

Either having a million dollar to nothing edge isn't enough or Lynn Jenkins is addicted to the lifestyle in D.C.'s cash rich fast lanes. Having benefited from at least 18 prior fundraisers Jenkins left Kansas and like a junkie needing a hit had another party. This time the venue was Washington's posh Acadian Restaurant.

The Acadian Restaurant in Washington

Neither you or I received an invitation to this, or any of the other Jenkins' cash craving carousals. Those who benefit from her legislative votes are the ones on the guest list. Lynn Jenkins won't ask working women to her parties because Jenkins voted against Lilly Ledbetter, the new law that mandates equal pay for women doing equal work. Jenkins also voted against kids getting health coverage under SCHIP. So the parents of America's neediest kids, those who are at or up to 300% of the poverty line, they didn't get invited either.

Then she had another party, this time at the townhouse of  D.C. lobbying firm Williams and Jensen.  That one was sponsored by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers PAC. 

This firm now represents Lynn Jenkins.  Who represents us?

No doubt the Wall Street Fat Cats, Yuppie Scum Predatory Lenders, and the Big Wheels from the Health Insurance Companies, Banks, and Accounting Firms came with another load of loot for Lynn. That's because Lynn Jenkins votes for these folks.

Lynn Jenkins voted several times to do nothing about those Golden Parachutes being paid out of taxpayer money. She voted against letting shareholders have a mandatory binding vote on exorbitant executive pay practices, H.R. 3269.  She voted against a bill allowing the Treasury Secretary  prohibit financial institutions from paying excessive executive pay from taxpayer money, H.R. 384 and H.R. 1664. She consistently voted against restraints on executive pay for Big Bankers while the Big Banks are being Bailed Out! H.R. 3269 contained one weak provision permitting non-binding shareholder votes on Golden Parachutes, which Lynn Jenkins voted against.

Then Lynn Jenkins had another party, I guess that's more than 20 since she's became a regular on the D.C. party circuit.  This one was hosted by an enabler, Illinois Republican Representative Judy Biggert.  When is enough enough?

Illinois Republican Representative Judy Biggert. 

She was one of only 19 Members of the House voting to continue the anticompetitive trade practices of Health Insurance Companies. Jenkins voted to continue the antitrust exemption for the Health Insurance Industry.

Now Lynn Jenkins is laden with corporate cash. But she wants more. Each dollar she gets makes her more and more beholden to those who pay her way.

Cheryl Hudspeth is not taking a cent of corporate cash.  Cheryl Hudspeth is only beholden to the people of Kansas' Second Congressional District. Elect Cheryl Hudspeth to Congress.  You'll be glad you did.



THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 35 - A FOLLOW THE MONEY UPDATE

Bartlett & Co., formerly # on the list of contributors for Lynn Jenkins, has fallen off her list. A review of Bartlett & Co. on Open Secrets shows only that they are the top contributor for these five politicians:

Mission, Kansas' James B. Hebenstreit, Bartlett & Co. President, is reported as having given $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee [NRCC]. Among his other contributions are three contributions of $2,400 each to Lynn Jenkins [6/30/09, 6/30/09, 12/31/09]. Marilyn Hebenstreit has given Lynn Jenkins $4,400.

• Bartlett & Co. to Christopher "Kit" Bond (R) in 2010
• Bartlett & Co. to Sam Brownback (R) in 2010
• Bartlett & Co. to David Dreier (R) in 2008
• Bartlett & Co. to Jerry Moran (R) in 2008
• Bartlett & Co. to Sam Graves (R) in 2006

The NRCC is reporting having raised $75,531,984 for the 2010 election cycle. The Democrats counterpart to the NRCC is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, [DCCC] and they have raised $93,706,323 to date according to Open Secrets.

Mr. Hebenstreit and his firm, Bartlett & Co. certainly appear to have given enough money to Lynn Jenkins to remain included on the list of her largest donors.

The Credit Union National Association donation to Lynn Jenkins is now up to $10,000, up from $6,400. The Credit Union National Association has given a total of $326,510 to Members of the House Committee on Financial Services, Lynn Jenkins' committee.

Legg Mason is a PAC for Security Brokers and Investment Companies. In the data gap that occurs between reporting cycles Legg Mason is reported as having not made any candidate expenditures for 2010, through 6/30/10. Yet the latest report on Lynn Jenkins, 7/11/10, shows Legg Mason has given Lynn Jenkins $9,600. That's the same amount Bartlett & Co. gave Lynn Jenkins. Is this a data entry error? What happened to Bartlett & Co. and when did Legg Mason's money get reported?

The American Bankers Association have given Lynn Jenkins another $2,000. She has now taken $10,000 from them. Gosh, no wonder she votes against eliminating Golden Parachutes.

A new entry to Lynn Jenkins' heavy hitter hit parade now shows up with $7,000 in hand for her. Accounting giant Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu . From Open Secrets comes this summary of this Big Four Accounting Firm:

Now you see $7,000 more reasons why Lynn Jenkins voted against the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act twice. She voted against regulating the culprits that brought down our economy on 12/11/09 during roll call 968. She voted against the bill again on 6/30/10 during roll call 41. The new law, Public Law 111-203, permits recovery of exorbitant executive compensation, including Golden Parachutes, from Fat Cats at failed financial firms. Lynn Jenkins talks against Golden Parachutes but votes to keep Golden Parachutes.

Deloitte & Touche is one of the remaining Big Four accounting firms and once offered its clients one-stop shopping for accounting, consulting and other financial services. But the collapse of Enron and its resulting fallout for the accounting industry forced the firm to rethink its business strategy. In spring 2002, Deloitte & Touche announced it would spin its consulting business into a separate company. Like other firms, however, the company has continued to lobby against bills that would strengthen oversight of the industry and further restrict the auditing/consulting relationship between firms and their clients. Yet the industry’s troubles continue to mount. In September 2002, federal investigators began to probe Deloitte & Touche for its role in a bookkeeping scandal at Adelphia Communications, one of the firm’s biggest clients.

More new donors make their appearance with the new reporting cycle. The National Association of Realtors chip in with $5,000 in PAC money for Lynn Jenkins. Burlington Northern Santa Fe's PAC also gives Lynn Jenkins $5,000. American Crystal Sugar's Pac gives Lynn Jenkins $5,000. The American Association of Orthodontists PAC gives Lynn Jenkins $5,000. The National Association of Home Builders PAC gives Lynn Jenkins $5,000. The Majority Committee PAC, a PAC that gets its money from other PACs, gives Lynn Jenkins $5,000.

Fat Cat money just keeps oozing Lynn Jenkins way.

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 6: Votes 500 to 719.

This is Lynn Jenkins, she does not represent us.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is an Agency of the Department of Agriculture. Created in 2008 it is tasked with consolidating all federally funded agricultural research. That makes good sense, which is why Lynn Jenkins asked for $1,000,000 for grain sorghum research, $500,000 for pre-harvest food safety$500,000 for water conservation,$1,000,000 for wheat genetic research, and $2,000,000 for polymer research to be included in the FOOD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009, H.R. 2749, as earmarks. Those are all probably good ways to spend taxpayer money and get a chunk of it spent in Kansas.

Lynn Jenkins voted against the bill containing her own earmarks! She voted against the FOOD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT twice. First on roll call 657 and then on roll call 680. Now she can tell farmers and agri-business that she got them their earmarks. From the other side of her mouth she can continue to rail against all this government spending. She should not be taken seriously by either side.

Lynn Jenkins Loves to Vote to Keep Golden Parachutes

H.R. 3269 the CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTION COMPENSATION ACT OF 2009 gives stockholders rights some teeth when it comes to executive compensation and golden parachutes. This bill gives the Securities and Exchange Commission authority to make rules regarding these compensation packages. Lynn Jenkins loves those golden parachutes. Again she votes to keep exorbitant executive pay packages and those golden parachutes they way they are. In roll call 686 Lynn Jenkins voted against H.R. 3269.

Lynn Jenkins voted against Student Loans

Lynn Jenkins voted against the bill to provide for student loans. The STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILTY ACT, H.R. 3221 provides that savings in federal spending that are generated, and not otherwise allocated, by this Act to be made available for federal deficit reduction. That's sounds like a good idea. The bill funds student loans and grants, which is good because a lot of people are out of work and need to re-train to get new jobs. This bill simplifies the Student Financial Aid Form and Reforms the Student Loan Program. It provides for grants to modernize, renovate, and repair our public schools. Every state is having a tough time with the education budget, and here's some help. When she voted against this bill she also voted against the DEFUND ACORN ACT. Now that's ironic! I don't understand Lynn Jenkins, I just know she doesn't represent us. Her no vote came on roll call 719.

Lynn Jenkins voted not to defund ACORN???

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS - CHAPTER 2: VOTES 100 - 299

H.R. 1106, the Helping American Families Save Their Homes Act passed the House by a vote of 234 to 191. This bill offered American families a moratorium on mortgage foreclosures, modification of residential mortgages, specified how TARP funds can be used to help with mortgage modifications, and established a nationwide mortgage fraud task force. Lynn Jenkins, on roll call 104, voted against H.R. 1106.

H.R. 1362 is the bill authorizing the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for 2009. In apparent contradiction to the work Lynn Jenkins did to provide relief for the residents of Treece, Kansas and their polluted water, she voted against this bill on roll call 123. The measure passed with broad bipartisan support 317 to 101.

The GIVE Act, Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, came up as H.R. 1388. This is now Public Law 111-13. This law strengthens and expands service learning programs for America's children & provides a mechanism for retired professionals and those over 55 to volunteer and assist these kids. This bill is a plus for seniors and it is a plus for children. H.R. 1388 passed the House by a vote of 321-105 on roll call 140. Lynn Jenkins voted no standing against seniors and children. She affirmed her negative position in roll call 169 where the House concurred in the Senate amendments to the GIVE Act.

Lynn Jenkins never saw a Golden Parachute she didn't like. H.R. 1664, and the title says it all: "To amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards." This is another attempt to reign in Wall Street Fat Cats giving themselves big paychecks and bonuses on the taxpayers dime. Lynn Jenkins voted against us and for the Wall Street Fat Cats on roll call 247.

H.R. 1256, now Public Law 111-31 gives the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco. The title of the measure is the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Lynn Jenkins voted with the big money of the Tobacco Industry and against giving the government authority to regulate a dangerous product. On roll call 187 Lynn Jenkins voted against children, families, and our health while voting for big business. The vote was 298 - 112.

As local governments are trying to balance budgets H.R. 1139, the COPS Improvement Act, was passed by the House to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT program. The House passed this bill with a huge majority of 342 to 78. Lynn Jenkins, of course, voted against local law enforcement in roll call 206. The measure required a two thirds vote and got it.

In recent times society has recognized the need to identify and prosecute hate crimes. H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, speaks to this issue. The House passed H.R. 1913 by a vote of 249 to 175 in roll call 223. Jenkins voted no. Who knew she'd be against local law enforcement?

H.R. 627 the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act, now Public Law 111-24, took two votes to pass the House. Senator Tom Coburn, [R] Ok, got the Senate to pass an amendment to not enforce gun laws in National Parks. In roll call 276 Lynn Jenkins voted against credit cardholders and for big banks. In roll call 277 she voted for the Coburn amendment.