Kevin Cramer Healthcare Statement

March marks Congress’ 9th month debating government-run healthcare. The President now demands Democrats in the House come to a resolution by March 18th - with a vote expected on the 18th or shortly after. On November 7, 2009, Congressman Earl Pomeroy stated, “The bill is far from perfect – but so is our present system” and confidently assured voters that “More improvements will be made when the Senate completes its version of health reform and the two bills are blended into one.”

Congressman Pomeroy held a press conference in late January stating that he would not vote for the Senate version of the bill.

His office has since made attempts to minimize or outright deny these statements that were reported by the Associated Press.

I would like to know where Congressman Pomeroy stands on this issue today?

Where is he going to end up on this issue?

Will he stand with the majority of North Dakotans who oppose government-run healthcare?

Will he stand with the even larger number of North Dakotans that oppose using the budget reconciliation process to push the issue through?

Remember, Senator Conrad has said the budget reconciliation process cannot begin until the Senate bill passes the House - which puts Congressman Pomeroy front and center in this debate.

North Dakotans deserve to know if Earl Pomeroy is a man of his word. We must know if he can be counted on to do what he says and knows represents the will of his constituents or if he will cave to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Time is running out on Congressman Pomeroy. He must stand up and be counted.

When I go to Congress, I will never forget who I work for. No Speaker of the House or Party Boss is going to tell me how I must vote. The people demand a higher standard and I am prepared to deliver on that demand. ####

TEXT and PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Cramer for Congress

Jonathan Paton No More Earmarks

Jonathan Paton is committing to fight against the corrupt earmark process if elected to Congress. He will not request pork-barrel projects; and he won't vote for them. "Earmarks are not based on need or merit, they're awarded based on loyalty to Nancy Pelosi. That's an outrage," Paton said. "Earmarks are the gateway drug to spending addiction. We can't forget that one of the reasons voters ousted Republicans in 2006 was because they had strayed from their principles and lost sight of fiscal restraint.

Democrats have continued and accelerated that trend. Still, today 40 percent of earmarks are requested by Republicans. Both parties have been corrupted by the practice, with it even leading to prison time for some former politicians. We need to stand up to the Washington establishment and say 'no.'"

In the current fiscal year, Congress has awarded $16 billion in earmarks, according to a study by Taxpayers for Common Sense. That's 9,499 individual earmarks.

"Unrestrained spending is one of the top concerns of voters I'm talking to throughout Southern Arizona," Paton said. "It's time to say 'no' to this form of incumbent protection that is pushing us further into debt. I can guarantee that over the next several months leading up to Election Day, we will see more and more projects coming down the pipe and highlighted at press conferences by Gabrielle Giffords and company. While some of these projects may be nice, at what cost are we accepting them?"

Gabrielle Giffords has admitted the process is corrupt -- but she keeps requesting and voting for earmarks anyway, later touting the projects in her campaigns. In 2009, Giffords requested more than $100 million in earmarks. In fact, she originally had to be shamed into releasing her earmark requests by the editorial page of the Arizona Daily Star, choosing first to keep her requests secret from the public.

TEXT CREDIT: Jonathan Paton for Congress

IMAGE CREDIT: Time1948