Representative Calvert is back in usual form - putting politics rather than families first. He released a newsletter this week touting the fact the he's once again defied the new administration.
Of particular interest was his slam against what he calls the "Mortgage Cram-Down Bill" (H.R. 1106), saying it would allow judges to "cram down" the principle amount on home mortgages.
Has Mr. Calvert somehow forgotten that the largest city in his district (Riverside) now has the fourth largest foreclosure rate in the country?
It turns out that Rep. Ken Calvert is at it again.
First, he voted against the Stimulus Bill. In his world of bizarre partisan purity, Calvert said that the Stimulus Bill spends too much. This argument would be more compelling if it were not coming from someone who voted to bailout banks and corporate CEOs to the tune of $700+ billion with no oversight just a few months ago, and who repeatedly voted to spend a budget-busting trillion dollars in Iraq.
After that last vote, he came back to the district for a series of town hall meetings where he spoke about the Stimulus Bill and the 9800 new jobs that would be created in the 44th and told the local paper, he'd do what he could to direct as much money as possible to the Inland Empire.
He followed that up by voting against the spending bill, complaining about the earmarks that had been added to it. But in today's Press Enterprise, it was reported that Mr. Calvert included 34 of his own earmarks totaling more than $42 million to it. When the Press Enterprise asked about adding those earmarks to the bill Representative Calvert said, "That doesn't obligate me to vote for the spending."
I think a more accurate statement to the press would be "In spite of all my efforts to prevent it from happening, there will be 10,000 new jobs and $42 million coming to this Congressional District."
Congressman Calvert is sending out an email in response to the President's address this past week. In his response Calvert says, "The market-based loan modifications make sense for homeowners who are on the margins, but in some cases, people simply bought homes they could not afford. While I agree that foreclosures adversely impact other homeowners, I do not believe homeowners who pay their bills on time and renters, who have saved up to buy a home, should foot the bill. The moral hazard in this case is simply too great and establishes a troubling precedent."
This argument hardly seems credible coming from a gentleman who authored a bill loosening adjustable rate regulations that encouraged folks to purchase homes they couldn't afford. Back in 2003, Calvert wrote HR 1443 (Access to Affordable Mortgages Act) which amended the National Housing Act to assure that 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) were offered competitively in the marketplace. At the time Calvert said, "Congress has recognized the importance of more loan options to home-buyers and banks by allowing a range of adjustable mortgage rates. This provision will increase interest rate flexibility and thereby contribute to a stable economy and a robust real estate market."
Considering that Mr. Calvert himself is a real estate professional, it's amazing he couldn't see the flaw in his own legislation and believed it would lead to a more robust real estate market and a stable economy. The largest city in his district (Riverside) now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and ranks as the fourth largest foreclosure market in the country. This is also the same "real estate expert" who purchased land illegally in Jarupa (another portion of his district). With real estate experts like Mr. Calvert telling us what does and doesn't work with regards to the real estate market, who needs the Obama economists, right?
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a map today detailing the benefits for the Recovery Plan. The DCCC has made Congressman Calvert one of 12 GOP House members they are targeting in an e-mail, text, and telephone campaign calling these members out for voting against the stimulus package. As the DCCC states, "Congressman Ken Calvert's vote against President Obama's economic recovery package means that he tried to block a badly needed and shovel-ready project to repair streets in Riverside, California, creating 23 jobs alone."
To view the map, visit www.DCCC.org/Content/Recovery
Did Calvert and Co. get special treatment to 'further curry political favor'? With questions still swirling about Representative Ken Calvert's role in the purchase of public land, a $1.5 million lawsuit alleging the land sale may have been improper - or worse - continues to make its way through Riverside County Superior Court.
(Well, let's say hi to Mr. Hedrick once again. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Today, the DCCC added Ken Calvert's name to its list of "House Republicans Hypocrisy Hall of Fame" for "celebrating the benefits of President Obama's economic recovery bill in their districts" even though Mr. Calvert voted against it.
(Bill Hedrick is on the Calitics ActBlue Page. You can give there to all four of our candidates in tight races, Bill, Charlie Brown, Alyson Huber, and Hannah-Beth Jackson. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The Hedrick campaign still needs help paying legal costs to make sure every vote is counted. Can you help? The ActBlue page is at www.actblue.com/page/hedrickballotfund.
The energy and determination of the Hedrick for Congress campaign remains high as the tally of the final votes in the 44th Congressional District race began last week. Signature verification and sorting of ballots are continuing this weekend, with the actual count beginning on Monday, November 11th and resuming after the holiday on Wednesday.
The Hedrick Campaign has enlisted over 100 volunteers to observe the process, working in shifts to cover every available hour at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters in Moreno Valley.
Volunteers last week remarked repeatedly that they were impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the Registrar's staff. The campaign has found the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Barbara Dunmore, to be completely forthcoming in answering all questions and clearly explaining the process ahead.
(We owe Bill Hedrick a debt of gratitude. We also need to study his race to figure out why it worked when others faltered. - David Dayen, I'm in for $25 for Bill and $25 for Charlie, who's with me? You can give to both at the Calitics ActBlue Page. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We may be down, but we are by no means out. This race truly is too close to call until every last vote has been counted.
That, however, is not stopping Ken Calvert from trying to end the counting before we can close the gap. Calvert's lawyer is already challenging signatures and trying to get vote-by-mail ballots disqualified.
Today (two days after the election), Ken Calvert told the OC Register that he's sure he won re-election. We beg to differ. With 100,000+ votes still left to be counted and a vote difference of only about 4000 votes, it looks like he knows he's in trouble, and is trying to declare a victory before all the votes have been counted. We can NOT let this happen.
We have assembled a legal team to make sure the process is fair and that all valid ballots get counted. We have the best lawyer money can buy, but good lawyers are expensive.
Can you donate to the Hedrick Ballot Fund right now to help pay our legal costs and make sure every vote is counted?
It just may well be the case this cycle that one of our greatest regrets was not paying enough attention to CA-44. Then again, we may not regret it at all, because Bill Hedrick may yet defeat Ken Calvert.
According to Lori Vendermeir, Hedrick's communications director, the OC Register and the Press Enterprise called the race for Calvert, but then rescinded their call. There are, simply put, tens of thousands of absentee and provisional ballots left to count, and Bill apparently keeps on inching closer.
HOWEVER: In typical Republican fashion, Ken Calvert's lawyers are trying to shut down the counting process in both Riverside and Orange County.
If you live in these counties--especially if you're a CA-44 voter--we need your help.
Call the office of the registrars, and tell them to count every vote. Bill is not going to concede until every vote his counted, and he stands a reasonable chance at pulling out a shocker in SoCal.
Orange County Registrar: (714) 567-7600
Riverside County Registrar: (951) 486-7200
... Dave here. Just to put some hard numbers to this, right now, the results are here:
Bill Hedrick (Dem) 85,039 48.6%
Ken Calvert (Rep) 89,679 51.4%
That is not yet in the universe of what the Secretary of State calls a close race, one that has a spread of less than 2% between the winner and loser. But clearly, with so many ballots left to be counted, CA-44 must be put into the realm of possibility.
By the way, if you're wondering what is a "close race" right now, that would be AD-10, SD-19, CA-04, and Prop. 11. None of those should be called right now based on current information. So as I said yesterday, this election is not over. Frank Russo also has a good report on this.
...Dave again. Just to piggyback on this, Charlie Brown's campaign has sent an email to their list (on the flip):
Our campaign manager, Ryan Sandoval, wanted to update folks on this blog as to where California's 44th Congressional District race currently stands, what sort of support we have in the district, what our chances of winning are, what we've been doing to ensure victory, and what our opponent has been up to.
We encourage you to watch the video and then make up your own mind as to whether you think our race is winnable. If you agree with us that this is a completely winnable race (given the right support), we ask that you help us out by donating to the campaign or signing up as a volunteer to help in spreading the word about Bill.
This has always been a grassroots campaign so we're doing what we've done all along - reaching out and asking that the grassroots activists out there step up and help the good guy win in November!
That's a motley crew now isn't it? It's the same crew that we've seen on that list for quite a few years. And, after Doolittle is replaced (hopefully by the always friendly Charlie Brown), we'll see one of the most corrupt, Doolittle, drop off the list. It's probably for the best, as he's getting a little too close to the indictments for comfort.
Unfortunately, a California Democrat joins the list, which I'm pretty sure is a first. (UPDATE: Apparently Maxine Waters has been on the list in the past) Rep. Laura Richardson has joined the list as a "dishonorable mention." CREW points to Ms. Richardson's very bizarre, and embarassing, real estate transactions:
Because it is unusual for someone with such a deplorable credit history to be repeatedly approved for mortgages, the House ethics committee should investigate whether: (1) Rep. Richardson received a preferential loan in violation of House rules; (2) whether she had received other favorable treatment from lenders in the past; and (3) what, if any, official actions she may have traded to acquire these preferential terms. The House ethics committee should also consider whether Rep. Richardson’s failure to include her mortgages on her financial disclosure forms violates House rules.
In addition, the committee should examine the timing of Rep. Richardson’s most recent default and the $77,500 she loaned her congressional campaign committee. By funneling money that should have gone to pay her mortgage and property taxes to her congressional campaign, Rep. Richardson engaged in conduct that does not reflect creditably on the House.
Well, here's hoping that this can be resolved in a way that lifts the cloud over the California Democratic delegation.
Late on Friday, word broke that a lawsuit had been filed over Ken Calvert's most recent shady land dealings. As the PE reports, "The Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District is suing the Jurupa Community Services District, charging the water and sewer agency with fraud and deceit in connection with the 2006 sale of property to Rep. Ken Calvert and his partners."
This is centered around California law requiring that all government land coming up for sale first be offered to other government agencies. In this case, the Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District wanted this land for new development, and had for several years before the sale. Instead, the 4 acres was sold directly to Ken Calvert for a cut rate, circumventing the Recreation and Parks district. They were, to put it mildly, miffed.
That is, Calvert received an illegal sweetheart deal from the Community Services District, then brought the board members to DC and hooked them up with other Congressmembers to get water projects for the property they sold him illegally.
Calvert of course has a long-standing record of corrupt dealings. So much so that even the right wing blogosphere flipped out about another corrupt Congressman being appointed to the appropriations committee back in 2007. Back in 2004 he was running around Saudi Arabia with Duke Cunningham (R-Tucson Federal Correctional Institution) and unindicted co-conspirator #3 aka Thomas Kontogiannis. He also pushed through more than $90 million in earmarks for a lobbying firm now under federal investigation (so is Calvert and Jerry Lewis for that matter). He's also pulled down earmarks of $1.2 million for transit improvements around seven of his properties in Corona.
Just another in a long line of Calvert fleecing the public to line his pockets. Perhaps what we've come to expect from the modern GOP, but Calvert has grown so comfortable that he's not worried about bringing Dick Cheney in to fundraise for him. Dick Cheney. Who absolutely nobody likes.
Bill Hedrick is looking to send Calvert a wakeup call this year.
Warning: If you intend to click on the link to Calvert's site you might want to start the shower.
Are you afraid? You should be. But brace yourself - Dick Cheney is coming to do a high-dollar fundraiser for Calvert today in San Clemente. There will be a protest but I have no word of a citizen arrest.
A quick, throwaway article crossed my path last night that two Jurupa Community Services District board members (from Calvert's 44th District) are bullish about receiving federal funding for water projects after visiting DC last week. The article promptly disappeared and doesn't show up in searches of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin or San Bernardino Sun websites, but the google cached version remains:
"We felt we needed to make a strong statement," said board President R.M. "Cook" Barela about the meeting with Rep. Ken Calvert. "He seemed really interested in helping us with our projects."
Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) Legislative Committee members Barela and director Kenneth McLaughlin were in Washington representing JCSD's needs before legislators during the Association of California Water Agencies conference Feb. 26-28.
The district has been self-reliant in funding projects and services but as the area has grown in population, district officials have started seeking federal funding for major projects, Barela said.
What exactly are these projects, and why would Ken Calvert be "really interested in helping" with these projects? Sure there's pork in Washington, but this sounded familiar:
They are also asking for money to turn an inoperable well into a water-producing producer. Both projects are in Mira Loma and would total $1.8 million, Barela said.
The district is also seeking funding for its 100-year-flood protection project to provide bank reinforcement at one of the district's plants in Mira Loma.
(bump cause I like congressional and numbers - promoted by Lucas O'Connor)
Turnout from Tuesday's primary by party. Every district with a Republican leaning PVI plus Barbara Lee just for fun and comparison's sake. Of the Republican leaning districts, Dem turnout was higher in 8 and close in several others. Might be an interesting November. Just sayin.
Numbers on the flip.
Update: I should have mentioned in the first place, there are still no Democratic candidates in CA-02, CA-19, CA-22, or CA-25. Turnout was dead even in the 19th and higher for Dems in the 25th, just for starters.
If he wins the Democratic nomination on June 3, 2008, Rogelio V. Morales will deliver the most bruising fight Congressman Ken Calvert has ever been in. Given Rogelio's humble background, to even be in the position to run for congress is incredible and fills me with pride to be an American. So kicking Ken Calvert's butt should be a piece of cake for Rogelio!
I know Rogelio (pronounced row-hell-leo) and believe me when I say he will make Calvert's life a living hell. Even if he were to lose the general, I am sure Calvert will not want to face Rogelio a second time. By 2010, if he survives, Calvert will be too rich to care since he is in Congress for himself and Calvert Properties.
Rogelio = former infantry Marine. Nuff said. www.morales2008.com
UPDATE by Brian: The diary that is referred to here was a troll diary at dKos, and thus I think this would best be considered a troll diary as well. The candidates released a joint statement about the issue a while back, which can be found here. Here's the statement:
Statement of Louis Vandenberg:
I reject any assertion or suggestion that Mr. Hedrick acted improperly with respect to the incident cited in a DailyKos diary posted on November 4, 2007. In my view, Mr. Hedrick behaved honorably and professionally in the execution of his duties as the leader of the Rialto Teacher's Union. It is the responsibility of a person in such a position to address personnel matters in a manner which is as fair and objective as possible to all parties. The accused teacher, regardless of the accusations, was not convicted in a court of law. To my understanding, no criminal or civil charges were ever brought in this matter. Therefore, it would have not been appropriate for Mr. Hedrick to have stated anything other than the facts of the case, which is what he did. This is standard practice. No responsible person would have done anything differently. Although I am a political opponent of Mr. Hedrick's in the 44th congressional race, such a smear deeply offends my sense of justice and fairness. I reject it, and I believe we all should. This campaign should be and must be about real issues that matter to real citizens in the real world. And this is not real.
Statement of Bill Hedrick:
Normally, this type of dirty trick does not merit a response. But when false allegations like these impugn the ethics and due diligence of an excellent school district and outstanding police force, this goes beyond personal slander of a political candidate.
As an educator, student safety is my highest priority. All employees of the Rialto Unified School District-whether the superintendent, the union president, or clerks, custodians, or teachers-are mandated reporters of any suspicion of child abuse.
Rialto Unified and the Rialto Police Department are diligent in investigating every allegation involving student safety. In the incident cited, both agencies vigorously and thoroughly performed their investigative duties with the full participation of the teachers' association.
As a teacher, my first professional, legal, and moral obligation is student safety. Also, I work to ensure due process and the rule of law-something all citizens deserve in our democratic and free society.
It is unfortunate that posting such baseless allegations damages the credibility of school districts, law enforcement agencies, and teacher associations, all of whom are committed to ensuring the safety of children.
Again, we together, as Democrats and as candidates, seek honesty in our political dialog at this important time. Therefore, we have taken this unique step--political rivals coming together to condemn and reject obvious smear and slander. We trust that you will too.
Sincerely,
Bill Hedrick
Candidate for United States Representative in Congress
California's 44th CD
www.hedrickforcongress.com
November 5, 2007
Corona, California
Louis Vandenberg
Candidate for United States Representative in Congress
California's 44th CD
www.vandenbergforcongress.com (site update coming soon)
November 5, 2007
Riverside, California
Now back to your regularly scheduled troll diary. /update
I'm a little pissed that Inland Empire Democrats have placed their hopes of defeating corrupt Rep. Ken Calvert (R) on Bill Hedrick. Can't we find someone better? Hedrick is gonna get ripped apart if he makes it to the general election in Nov. 2008. See below.
I found this on craigslist > california > inland empire > politics.
Maybe someone can email Bill Hedrick and get a response? Bill Hedrick needs to come clean about his statement that George Warren retired and that the "sexual harassment allegations had nothing to do" with Warren's decision to retire. How stupid does he think the Democratic voters of CA-44 are? I suspect some industrious muckraking reporters are on the case now...
Check out this story to get an overview of the sex predator problem in our nation's schools: http://www.editorand...
"Bill Hedrick is a Democratic candidate in the 2008 congressional elections for the 44th Congressional District of California, which includes Riverside. He is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.). The primary will take place on June 3, 2008.
Questions and serious concerns remain about controversial comments made by Bill Hedrick while president of the Rialto Teacher's Union. In 2005, a verbal argument erupted between a young middle school girl and her teacher, George Warren. Later, the girl accused George Warren of sexually harassing her. Soon, other female students came forward as well, corroborating a pattern of sexual harassment carried out by George Warren.
The school district conducted an investigation. At its conclusion, George Warren announced he would no longer serve as a middle school teacher.
Bill Hedrick, then and still president of the Rialto Teachers Union, made it clear that Warren had been cleared by the school board, had simply retired of his own choice and that the sexual harassment allegations had nothing to do with his decision.
Do you believe Bill? Did he protect a child sex predator?"
The long-dormant Jerry Lewis investigation showed signs of being restarted in recent months after one of his top aides was handed a federal subpoena. Now we've learned that the FBI has been taking a look at Lewis' personal financial records - and fellow Triangle of Corruption member Ken Calvert's, too.
The apparently stalled probe of Lewis has focused on his relationship to buddy and lobbyist Bill Lowery. Roll Call notes that the feds pulled records for two of Lowery's lobbyists, Jeffrey Shockey and Letitia White. Both once worked to Lewis, but moved over to work for Lowery. Shockey has since moved back to Lewis again. The feds also pulled records for Lewis' wife, his chief of staff Arlene Willis.
As for Calvert, it's unclear just what the feds are scrutinizing (one of his "honest graft" schemes?) or even if he's the focus of a full-blown investigation.
His trouble started last May, when the Los Angeles Times reported that he and a partner pocketed a profit of nearly a half-million dollars in less than a year on a land deal. The report found that while he owned the land, Calvert earmarked $1.5 million for commercial development nearby and $8 million for a freeway exchange 16 miles away.
About a week later, the California FBI agent pulled Calvert's financial disclosure forms for 2000 through 2005. Calvert never retained legal counsel, but buzz over the issue compelled GOP leaders to skip over him last year when a slot opened on the Appropriations panel....
Candidates and campaigns in these districts take note: these corruption investigations are not going away.
There's some real data in the form of third-quarter fundraising numbers to pore over, and events in Washington and at home have served to focus on some of our Congressional candidates here in California. Plus, believe it or not, we're only about a year out from Election Day. Let's take a look at the top ten races.
As usual, I'm going to rank them in order of most possible pickup, including their number from the last roundup. I'm also, as usual, including the "Boxer number." Basically, seeing how Boxer fared in her 2004 re-election against Bill Jones in a particular district is a decent indicator of how partisan it is. If I put "57," that means Boxer received 57% of the vote. Anything over 50, obviously, is good. (over)
This is almost a placeholder diary so I can get to it later in my monthly roundup, but this diary at Open Left shows the very real opportunity available in California this time around. Six Congressional Rpublicans who are running for re-election have less than $250,000 in cash on hand. The NRCC, the campaign arm for the House GOP, is spread thin by retirements and challenges. So many incumbents are going to be on their own in 2008. And saying "Hello, I'm a Republican member of Congress" just doesn't rake in the money like it used to. Here's the list:
John Doolittle, CA-04
George Radanovich, CA-19
Ken Calvert, CA-44
Mary Bono, CA-45
John Campbell, CA-48
Darrell Issa, CA-49
I can add to this the fact that Gary Miller only raised a paltry $40,000 last quarter. And Doolittle's problems are well-documented.
Unfortunately, our Democrats statewide haven't fully stepped up. Two of these incumbents (Radanovich, Issa) don't have challengers yet, and Mary Bono just got one in Paul Clay. But I would hope that Art Torres and the team would wake up to the fact that there are opportunities all over the map, in places that would significantly help down-ballot races as well.
