Fact Check: Barack's and Hillary's legislative records

[LadyVT]

There is an email circulating (which was also posted on DU about an hour ago) that grossly misrepresents Hillary's legislative record, as well as the record of Sen. Obama. (Various versions also appear on the Obama campaign website.)

The email only gives Hillary credit for bills where she was the original sponsor and have also been signed into law. Here are the facts. In her time in the Senate, Hillary has sponsored 21 bills that have become law including:

— a bill that extended the availability of unemployment assistance.

— a bill which established a program to assist family caregivers.

— a bill that provided benefits to public safety officers who were killed or injured during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

But Hillary's accomplishments in the Senate are not limited to bill sponsorships. Among her many other legislative accomplishments:

— Hillary worked with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to expand access to health care for the National Guard and Reserve.

— Hillary passed an amendment that created a national program for teacher and principal training and recruitment.

— Hillary used Senate rules to force the Bush administration to make emergency contraception, also known as Plan B, available over the counter.

Meanwhile, the email gives Sen. Obama credit for every bill he introduced or signed on as a co-sponsor, whether or not they became law. The reality is, since Sen. Obama joined the Senate (applying the same standard the email applies to Hillary) he has sponsored two bills that have become law:

— a bill that sought to promote democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

— a bill that named a post office.

[jackson_dem]

1. It took a real courageous agent of change to ram the post office renaming bill through, though

He deserves bonus points for that. It should count as equivalent to at least 10 bills, probably 15.

[BlackVelvet04]

6. And the post office name?

PRESENT

[jackson_dem]

14. lol!!!!

:spray:

[FrenchieCat]

35. LOL my ass!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4578207&mesg_id=4578207

[griffi94]

2. hahahahahaha

jesus i'm laughin so hard i woke the kids up.....a fuckin post office.....now that meaningful change...i guess the hope part is the democracy promotion in the congo.....roflmao

[griffi94]

3. YES WE CAN

name a post office

[jillan]

4. haha - I remember Biden joking about the post office legislation.

Dam - I miss Joe!

[Johnny__Motown]

5. You forgot about her attempt to limit free speech by outlawing Flag Burning.. oh wait..

She couldn't get that through a congress that was held by Republicans. Even Repugs wouldn't vote for that crap.

[populistdriven]

9. what about her bill going after video games - she wanted to nuke duke nukem!

think it got her lots of soccer mom votes?

[rinsd]

39. You mean the nearly identical amendment offered by Durbin that Obama voted for?

You know the measure making burning the flag as a means of intimidation a crime but leaving burning your own flag as a means of protest open.

The one Durbin offered to stop a Constitutional Amendment that was nearly identical to the similar bill offered by Hillary in a similar bid to take flag burning off the table as a wedge issue in 2005.

I thought Obama fans liked that sort of legislative manuveuring with their praise for his "present" vote strategy.

[BlackVelvet04]

7. That deserves a K&R.....n/t

[still_one]

18. So does this:

"His bold legislative work on the Illinois Death Penalty, and how he made a difference between life and death:
http://www.icadp.org/page236.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/12/obama.death.pena... /

His sponsorship of a bill that brought health insurance to 150,000, including 70,000 uninsured Children, again, during his time serving in the Illinois Statehouse:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/f...
http://mediamatters.org/items/200712170003

His work on both the Immigration bill during his time in the US senate and his sponsorship of Ethics legislation (something he did both while in the State House, and in the Senate) that called for some of the most impactful reform regarding lobbyists since Watergate (as he likes to term it):
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/f...
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/07/01/200...
"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4578207&mesg_id=4578207

[griffi94]

20. you left out where he

named a post office....:rofl:

[still_one]

23. How many people died from that vote? /nt

[yeswecan08]

8. Inpiration and leadership are more important than failed bills

[WCGreen]

10. Good for you....

I remember when I was young...

[LadyVT]

11. Sweetie, it is those bills he's counting on to change the country.

[bridgit]

13. Yeah! "Inpiration and leadership" for the "democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo"

:bounce:

[griffi94]

15. yep

ya never know when yer gonna run across a post office that needs namin....got to stay inspired.... got to jump right in and name that sucker lol

[griffi94]

25. i guess that depends on what he named it

and where it was located.....

[FrenchieCat]

12. Where are your "fact check links?

I don't see them.

Obama has passed:

Internet congressional transparency DataBase system -
Ethics reform -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4578207&mesg_id=4580829

[still_one]

16. No, I think this thread prefers to filter what they want to see, not what is /nt

[griffi94]

19. are you trying to say

that obama didn't name that post office.....good god man what kind of american are you.....can't you see how great he is.....naming that post office and all.......:rofl:

[still_one]

21. are you trying to say he didn't do anything else?

What I am saying is omission of his complete record is not honest

From a couple posts above:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4578207&mesg_id=4578207



So to inform you, please note the following articles that sum up some of what Barack has “done” in his last 11 years in public office. Considering that Obama may be the Democratic Nominee, I believe that it is important for you, as a public voice, to be informed:

His bold legislative work on the Illinois Death Penalty, and how he made a difference between life and death:
http://www.icadp.org/page236.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/12/obama.death.pena... /

His sponsorship of a bill that brought health insurance to 150,000, including 70,000 uninsured Children, again, during his time serving in the Illinois Statehouse:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/f...
http://mediamatters.org/items/200712170003

His work on both the Immigration bill during his time in the US senate and his sponsorship of Ethics legislation (something he did both while in the State House, and in the Senate) that called for some of the most impactful reform regarding lobbyists since Watergate (as he likes to term it):
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/14/f...
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/07/01/200...

[jackson_dem]

24. "omission of his complete record is not honest"

Tell that to your fellow Obamite FrenchieCat. Obamites never posted Edwards complete record http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4240333#4240394 , nor have they ever posted Hillary's full record.

[still_one]

27. I don't approve of filtering of any kind /nt

[griffi94]

29. look i don't profess to know what all he didn't do

but i know he named a post office....and that right there is a lot of hope and change...oh was it a new post office or an existing one that was changing it's name....cause there's the change part of his message right there...


GOBAMA NAMING POST OFFICES FOR A BETTER FUTURE......:rofl:

[still_one]

31. go vote for the IWR, that also changed a lot of peoples lives /nt

[Muttocracy]

34. see another poster's reply below about her post office

[jackson_dem]

22. False. He has passed on bill

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629&tab=bills

Statistics: Barack Obama has sponsored 129 bills since Jan 4, 2005, of which 120 haven't made it out of committee (Poor) and 1 were successfully enacted (Average, relative to peers).

Which one was it? I am guessing it was the post office bill.

[MagsDem]

17. I think we should are circulate the correct one -- thanks

[xchrom]

26. recommend

[Jed Dilligan]

28. Wow. Hillary's an AWESOME senator. She should stay in the Senate. nt

[griffi94]

32. bullshit

she's a terrible senator.....she didn't name a post office.....that was obama and now yer trying to steal his thunder :rofl:


OBAMA...NAMING POST OFFICES FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

[Muttocracy]

33. people were teasing about *her* post office a long time ago

see reply to you with citation

freshmen senators don't get much passed, which is why neither one of them can say much on the senate experience question.

[Straight Shooter]

36. Obama's awesome, too. He should go to work for the Post Office. n/t

[Jed Dilligan]

38. Maybe she should go to work for the NYPD then

if pandering to the fascist NYPD is one of her great legislative achievements.

[Straight Shooter]

40. Lame. n/t

[ProSense]

30. There goes Hillary misrepresenting the facts and her record again

Clinton as the named sponsor:

Signed into law 110th Congress
No items were found for your search. Please try a new search.

Signed into law 109th Congress

Item 1 of 1

S.3613
Title: A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2951 New York Highway 43 in Averill Park, New York, as the "Major George Quamo Post Office Building".
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham (introduced 6/29/2006) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills: H.R.5708
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-311 COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Schumer, Charles E. - 7/25/2006

Signed into law 108th Congress

Item 1 of 1

S.1241
Title: A bill to establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in the State of New York, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham (introduced 6/11/2003) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills: H.R.305
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 108-438
Senate Reports: 108-295 COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Schumer, Charles E. - 6/11/2003

Signed into law 107th Congress

No items were found for your search. Please try a new search.

____________________________________________


Obama as a sponsor the two bills mentioned in Hillary's fact check, plus as a co-sponsor


S.2488
Title: A bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. (introduced 12/14/2007) Cosponsors (17)
Related Bills: H.R.1309, H.R.1326, S.849, S.2427
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 110-175 COSPONSORS(17), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Alexander, Lamar - 12/14/2007
Sen Boxer, Barbara - 12/14/2007
Sen Brown, Sherrod - 12/14/2007
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. - 12/14/2007
Sen Coburn, Tom - 12/14/2007
Sen Cornyn, John - 12/14/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard - 12/14/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. - 12/14/2007
Sen Isakson, Johnny - 12/14/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. - 12/14/2007
Sen Kyl, Jon - 12/14/2007
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 12/14/2007
Sen McCaskill, Claire - 12/14/2007
Sen Obama, Barack - 12/14/2007
Sen Sanders, Bernard - 12/14/2007
Sen Smith, Gordon H. - 12/14/2007
Sen Specter, Arlen - 12/14/2007

__________________________________________



S.1184
Title: A bill to waive the passport fees for a relative of a deceased member of the Armed Forces proceeding abroad to visit the grave of such member or to attend a funeral or memorial service for such member.
Sponsor: Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (introduced 6/7/2005) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-210 COSPONSORS(2), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Allen, George - 11/2/2005
Sen Obama, Barack - 11/1/2005

________________________________________________________

S.4044
Title: A bill to clarify the treatment of certain charitable contributions under title 11, United States Code.
Sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. (introduced 9/29/2006) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-439 COSPONSORS(1), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Obama, Barack - 9/29/2006

___________________________________________________________

S.2803
Title: A bill to amend the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to improve the safety of mines and mining.
Sponsor: Sen Enzi, Michael B. (introduced 5/16/2006) Cosponsors (11)
Related Bills: H.R.5432, H.R.5481
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-236
Senate Reports: 109-365 COSPONSORS(11), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Bunning, Jim - 5/22/2006
Sen Byrd, Robert C. - 5/16/2006
Sen DeWine, Mike - 5/16/2006
Sen Isakson, Johnny - 5/16/2006
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. - 5/16/2006
Sen McConnell, Mitch - 5/22/2006
Sen Murray, Patty - 5/16/2006
Sen Obama, Barack - 5/23/2006
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV - 5/16/2006
Sen Santorum, Rick - 5/16/2006
Sen Specter, Arlen - 5/19/2006


_____________________________________

Also why did she leave out the full title of this bill
S.2125
Title: A bill to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 12/16/2005) Cosponsors (12)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-456 COSPONSORS(12), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Brownback, Sam - 12/16/2005
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham - 6/19/2006
Sen Collins, Susan M. - 6/19/2006
Sen Dayton, Mark - 6/29/2006
Sen DeWine, Mike - 12/16/2005
Sen Durbin, Richard - 12/16/2005
Sen Inhofe, James M. - 4/24/2006
Sen Johnson, Tim - 6/29/2006
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 6/29/2006
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 4/24/2006
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. - 6/29/2006
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. - 6/29/2006

[Jamastiene]

37. Damn, he's sorrier than Bush.

Don't put yourself out, Obama. Hate to see you get callouses and not be able to hold your silver spoons.