Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Confused about Representative Matheson and ObamaCare

If you are like me and are tired of the competing claims about Rep. Jim Matheson's voting record re: ObamaCare, consider the following:

For those that think Rep. Matheson helped fight "ObamaCare" when it passed, think again.

Look at what votes he made the last week prior that helped set up what happened Sunday March 21, 2010. For those that wanted the bill to pass, he voted against it, for those that wanted it to fail, he voted to suspend the rules so it could pass.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/ROLL_100.asp

Look at votes 129, 130, as well as votes 159, 160, 162 and 163

He did the same thing months before:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/ROLL_800.asp

Look at votes 881, 882, 884, 885, 886, 887

Jim Matheson appears to vote with Nancy Pelosi when she needs the vote. In 2010 There were 39 democrats that voted to stay and vote about the "Bush" Tax cuts. One more and they would not have left without discussing it. Yes, Matheson wrote a letter saying he wanted the cuts, but then he voted with Nancy Pelosi to dismiss and not discuss it. One vote would have made the difference. It did and it was Matheson voting with Nancy Pelosi, and not representing Utah.

http://hollyonthehill.com/2010/09/29/matheson-for-tax-cuts-before-he-was-against-them/

The legislature didn't redistrict Rep. Matheson out of the 2nd district. He lives in the current 2nd and new 2nd district. The new 2nd district and 4th district are reportedly both as republican as his current district. He chose to run in the 4th district because he resides in Utah and the US constitution doesn't say he has to run in his own district. Unless he moves, he won't be able to vote for himself this fall.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Town Hall Meetings for Fall of 2012


TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Come and Meet Representative Fred Cox, and ask questions at
Hunter Library, 4740 West 4100 South on the following dates and times:

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, September 15, 2012, 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Representative Fred Cox new post card and flyer

New Postcard
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/FredCoxFlyer6x9.pdf

New Flyer
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/FredCoxFlyerNotFolded.pdf

Mitt Romney group photo when we endorsed him on June 24, 2011, The Grand America, Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/MittR.jpg

An open letter to Robert Gehrke of the Salt Lake Tribune

OK, am I a member of the Tea Party? I had someone ask me. TEA party as Taxed Enough Already, yes, or as someone that doesn't listen to both sides, no. When someone says Tea Party, it isn't typically as defined as the national media likes to make it when they label someone.

I am a Conservative Republican, and yet have never voted "straight ticket" in my over 30 years of voting. Sometimes I get to the bottom of the ballot and I did vote for all Republicans and sometimes I didn't.

The headline of your initial article http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51001951-76/cox-bigelow-delegates-district.html.csp suggested that I may be a member, but I didn't join the Patrick Henry Caucus, and have spent more time reading bills than attending the different caucuses.

I don't know how to categorize me. Utah Data Points hasn't done their annual Ideology Scores, so I am not sure based on votes. [update, they finally did, see 2012 ratings link below. put me 33 out of 75 in the Utah House]

I supported the more moderate Dan Liljenquist over Rep. Herrod, picked Tim Bridgewater as my second choice over Mike Lee, and actively fought a couple of former Rep. Carl Wimmer's bills.

I was trying to decide between the most moderate Jay Cobb vs Mia Love for the 4th District and not Carl Wimmer or Stephen Sandstrom. I picked Mia Love, as did 70% of the delegates helped seated by Sen. Hatch's campaign.

I am outspoken on some issues. (Some people feel too many). I fought a gun bill because I felt it unfairly targeted hotel owner property rights. The NRA endorsed me but won't give me anything higher than a B+ because while I have fought to protect gun rights, including open carry, I believe that if someone is going to conceal the fact that they are carrying, a concealed carry permit is a good requirement.

I am more apt to quote the Utah Constitution vs the US Constitution, but have read both and have tried to make sure we (the legislature) are following both.

I am friends with members of the Tea Party and Eagle Forum, but disagree with and fight them on some issues.

On Education, I believe it should be a priority, but we are never going to have enough money for some. The UEA gives me a 50% this year and PCE gives me a 67% and I went to meet with the more balanced Education First.

My vote on 2012 SB 82, Equal Access for Education Employee Association Amendments changed my ratings for 5 different groups. http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/05/equal-access-for-education-employee.html

I run a Utah Land Protection Act that initially gets a favorable response from Ed Firmage Jr. (see page 2, comment 19) http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51121753-76/bill-cox-federal-lands.html.csp and a member of the SL Tribune staff recently calls me part of the New Sage Brush rebellion even though I fought Rep. Ivory on his land bill for 6 months until it morphed away from requiring the Feds to sell the public lands (to who? China? ) or pay property taxes.

My last session ratings are at:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/03/rep-fred-cox-voting-ratings-for-2012.html

You report politics. How would you categorize me? I don't want to throw my "Tea Party" friends under the bus, and don't mind being called a Conservative Republican. Who could get an endorsement from Cherilyn Eagar, Jim Bennett, and Bennion Spencer? I don't know anyone else.

Who would have their own state party threaten to sue the state if they adopted one of my redistricting maps and get nice words from Sen. Ben McAdams on my post on non-discrimination, negative comments from some of his supporters, and positive comments from Represent Me! on my original state house redistricting map?

I know what I believe. I am willing to stand up to pressure. I am outspoken and have way too many statements on my blog on controversial bills and issues. I am willing to listen to both sides and fight for or against a bill no matter the sponsor.

So, how do I answer the question, am I a member of the Tea Party or not?