Free Republic

When Jody Rodiger of Manchester volunteered to help Connecticut's needy buy food, she never thought she would one day also depend on food stamps. "I advocated for it for years, I knew the program inside and out. But I never thought it would be for me," Rodiger, 50, said. Like many who've recently swelled the ranks of the SNAP, as the food stamp program is now known, Rodiger is a middle-class professional. She and millions of other American victims of the recession suddenly found they could not afford food. "It was a lifesaver," Rodiger said of the food stamp program....

Connecticut Congressional leaders announced Thursday that they are pushing a proposed law that would make stealing war veteran plaques and transporting them across state lines a federal crime. The penalty would involve time in prison and or fines up to $250,000. The move comes after several towns have had their war memorial plaques stolen and sold for scrap metal. In Ansonia, thieves stole two solid bronze plaques honoring war heroes. "They are more than just robberies of plaques because these memorials are a testimony to our veterans," U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro said. "It's revolting because when you steal memorials you're...

Last Thursday was officially "Diaper Need Awareness Day" in the state of Connecticut. Were you aware of it? There are so many awareness-raising days, it's hard to keep track. Maybe we could have an Awareness-Raising Day Awareness Day. At any rate, the first annual Diaper Need Awareness Day was proclaimed by Dan Malloy, governor of the Nutmeg State, and they had a big old awareness-raising get-together in New Haven. It's not clear yet whether they've got an official ribbon. We're running a bit low on ribbon colors these days: It's not just pink ribbons for breast cancer, but also teal...

Here's a novel idea: Have Congress create a "bank" that could borrow huge sums with only a small federal outlay and would be independent of any political interference. If you believe in this miracle, you probably thought Fannie Mae was a private company that wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime. We're referring to Washington's latest marketing tool to sell spending to a skeptical public, a new federal "infrastructure bank." For the low, low price of $30 billion or so, President Obama says Congress can conjure hundreds of billions in new "grants and loans" to rebuild "roads, bridges, and ports and broadband...

Democrats have designed the financing mechanism to secure the enormous sums needed to complete their transformative central planning initiatives -- the "green" infrastructure projects and smart growth or "livable communities" agenda. It is called the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2009 (HR 2521), sponsored by Congresswomen DeLauro (D-CT) along with 59 co-sponsors. In a govtrack.us interview, Representative DeLauro explains that the "size of the federal deficit" is prohibiting access to needed funds for what she calls a "national growth policy." It seems this central planning enthusiast has determined that tax increases and federal borrowing will not meet the financing...

Lieberman Criticized For Health Care Reform Opposition HARTFORD, Conn. -- Filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore threatened to boycott Connecticut if Sen. Joe Lieberman is not recalled. Moore made the threat on Twitter Wednesday. In his Tweet, Moore said, "People of Connecticut: What have u done 2 this country? We hold u responsible. Start recall of Lieberman 2day or we'll boycott your state." Politico reported Tuesday that Rep. Rosa DeLauro called for the recall of Lieberman. DeLauro said, "No one should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I'll say it flat out, I think he ought to be...

Liberal anger at Sen. Joe Lieberman spread across Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with a House Democrat from Connecticut calling for his recall and Lieberman himself acknowledging the angst he has caused. “No individual should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I’ll say it flat out, I think he ought to be recalled,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told POLITICO. Connecticut has no recall law for state officials, and the Constitution does not authorize states to recall members of Congress, since each house has the authority to police its own members. DeLauro acknowledged that she didn’t know if it was...

The mask has fallen off the left in regards to Sen.Joe Lieberman.OK, she’s upset that a fellow Democrat is helping derail a bill that Americans don’t want, and is being pushed only by lefty ideologues because they can see total control of American life within their reach. But this is too much. A House Democrat from Connecticut said Tuesday that Sen. Joe Lieberman should be recalled from office over his opposition to the Senate health care bill. “No individual should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I’ll say it flat out, I think he ought to be recalled,”...

Just had an emergency Freep of Dodd, Delauro and Sebelius at Belmont Street in Hartford. I only had 2 hours to go before I had an address, so sorry for no warning.

A bill under the guise of reducing abortion could actually do the opposite. LifeNews.com reports Congressmen Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), a former pro-lifer who abandoned his views and was subsequently kicked off the board of Democrats for Life of America, and Representative Rose DeLauro (D-Connecticut), a former staff of NARAL, have introduced a bill being touted as pro-life legislation but is being called a "bailout for the abortion industry." According to Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee, the $647-million "Reducing the Need for Abortions Initiative" does not live up to its name. "It’s authored by a former leader...

Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan Washington D.C., Jul 24, 2009 / 01:13 pm (CNA).- An official with the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-life Activities has attacked a federal bill promising to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce abortions, characterizing it as a "Planned Parenthood Economic Stimulus Package." She said increased abstinence among youth, not contraceptive access, should be encouraged.The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), is titled "Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act." Its sponsors have described it as a "common ground" initiative that would appeal to people...

Today’s meeting between President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI will bring together two leaders who share a vision for helping the needy of the world and working toward peace, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said Thursday. Obama’s first meeting with the leader of the world’s 1 billion Roman Catholics follows the release of the encyclical “Charity in Truth” on Wednesday, in which Benedict stated that love of neighbor and justice require the wealthy and powerful nations of the world to help the poor, seek peace and protect the Earth. “He presents a challenge to all political leaders,” DeLauro said...

Caucus: Two Groups Plan Dodd Protest May 16, 2009 Two groups critical of U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd are planning protests today. Members of Dump Chris Dodd will gather at Griffin Hospital in Derby at 10:30 a.m. Dodd, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, and Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, are to appear at the hospital to discuss health care reform. A separate anti-Dodd group, Connecticut Resistance, will hold a rally outside Dodd's Hartford office on Lewis Street around noon.

Sen. Chris Dodd and Rep. Rosa DeLauro got together today to introduce four public-service bills in their respective chambers of Congress. National service was a major theme of President Barack Obama's ascent to office -- mentioned prominently in his inaugural address. This package of bills speaks directly to that topic, expanding service possibilities for all age groups. One bill would establish a summer program for kids to serve in an organized community project. Another would allow high-school students to spend a semester getting academic credit for volunteering. And a third would establish a national program encouraging people 55 and older...

News broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent-free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro, D-Conn. — and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate. But this is only the tip of Emanuel's previously undisclosed ethics problems. One issue is the work Emanuel tossed the way of De Lauro's husband. But the bigger one goes back to Emanuel's days on the board of now-bankrupt mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Emanuel is a multimillionaire, but lived for the last five years for free in the tony Capitol Hill townhouse...

Rep. Rosa DeLauro has received some attention lately for the apparent generosity of providing Obama's chief of staff, former Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a place to crash in the capital. The Web reports have accused him of living illegally in her DC house. At least one conspiracy-style investigation has examined this lodging situation. Emanuel, an old friend of DeLauro and her husband, is being described as a dweller in DeLauro's basement apartment [actually sounding a bit like the surroundings are more fit for a cave troll than one of the most powerful figures in President Barack Obama's Washington.] DeLauro has now...

RAHM'S 'RENT' IS JUST THE TIP OF ETHICS ICEBERG News broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent- free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) - and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate. But this is only the tip of Emanuel's previously undisclosed ethics problems. One issue is the work Emanuel tossed the way of De Lauro's husband. But the bigger one goes back to Emanuel's days on the board of now-bankrupt mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Emanuel is a multimillionaire, but lived for the last...

News broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent- free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) - and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate. But this is only the tip of Emanuel's previously undislosed ethics problems. One issue is the work Emanuel tossed the way of De Lauro's husband. But the bigger one goes back to Emanuel's days on the board of now-bankrupt mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Emanuel is a multimillionaire, but lived for the last five years for free in the tony Capitol Hill...

Rahm Emanuel, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, lives frugally in a basement apartment--but also illegally, according to a private investigator who sought information on his address from zoning officials in Washington, D.C. Read the story on Gawker:

Die-hard PP fans—all six of you—know exactly what your PP thinks of Catholic polititians who feel they can separate their faith from their public responsibilities. Entries from previous years (they're available at the bottom of the page) are filled with many posts on this subject. I was on the verge of actually getting tired of the topic until this glittering jewel of colosal ignorance came along. As you've probably heard from other sources, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, lifted the excommunications which were automatically imposed on four renegade bishops consecrated by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Because Eastern Catholics don't...

MoveOn.org ad scares away some Democrats By Mike Soraghan September 26, 2007 Many Democrats are steering clear of MoveOn.org since the organization mocked Gen. David Petraeus in a newspaper advertisement earlier this month. But not Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). DeLauro will host a dinner next week (October 2) in which MoveOn executive director Eli Pariser will be one of three receiving an award. Pariser is to be honored at the U.S. Action 2007 Progressive Leadership Awards. The regular price for the dinner is $100. But, according to a MoveOn invitation, MoveOn members can purchase special $60 tickets. ---------- FYI, the...

In May, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, went ballistic after Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the long-standing church doctrine that pro-choice Catholic legislators have excommunicated themselves and therefore may be denied Communion at Mass. "Religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America," Rep. DeLauro and 17 other Catholic House Democrats said in a news release. "(I)t clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution." We found nothing remotely resembling that in our copies of the founding documents, but her denunciation of the pope was in keeping with the...

Democrats, reeling from the Republicans' success at courting churchgoers, are focusing new attention on a religious and political anomaly: Jim Wallis, one of the few prominent left-leaning leaders among evangelical Protestants. At the start of the Congressional session, Senate Democrats invited Mr. Wallis to address their members at a private session to discuss issues. A group of about 15 House Democrats invited him to a breakfast discussion about dispelling their party's secular image. And NBC News has enlisted him to appear as a guest during its inauguration coverage opposite Dr. James C. Dobson, one of the most prominent evangelical conservatives....

Election 2004Simmons, Shays win as incumbents sweep House seats HARTFORD (AP) -- Connecticut incumbents were sweeping to victory Tuesday night, including two moderate Republicans who faced tight re-election races dominated by negative ads that portrayed them as Bush clones. Rep. Christopher Shays declared victory in his race against Democrat Diane Farrell in Fairfield County's 4th District. And Rob Simmons beat Democrat Jim Sullivan, who conceded defeat in eastern Connecticut's 2nd District. Simmons and Shays had struggled to hold onto their U.S. House seats Tuesday in tight races where their Democratic opponents said they voted in lockstep with the GOP leadership....