The "Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014" which Paul Cook recently sent out a news memo, on is far from "transparent", is discriminatory & will drive up medical costs.

1. Paul Cook's H.R. 3811 (he claims to be a co-sponsor) singles out insurance exchanges and ignores insurance companies and others who store far more personal consumer data--more class discrimination for his corporate sponsors--Paul Cook would let the insurance company giants like Blue Cross, Anthem, Aetna (to name a few) and their data managers off the hook under this deceptive bill.  Besides, if data security was something current protective & enforcement mechanisms could not handle, why aren't private insurers being subject to the same new proposed regulation?

2. HR 3811 would needlessly increase paperwork and costs that do not improve the safety or security of personally-identifiable information in the Health Insurance Market Marketplaces & may interfere with law enforcement investigation of any breach of confidential databases. "For example, the indiscriminate reporting requirement in H.R. 3811 may seriously impede the law enforcement investigation of a breach. Healthcare.gov is subject to strict security standards, is constantly monitored and tested, and applies security and privacy protections that go beyond federal IT standards. The data breach was contained and there is no evidence of any injury or loss to citizens.  Data privacy and security are key issues that the Committee has addressed on a bipartisan basis in the past" per the State of Administration Policy on HR 3811 [See for further information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/113/saphr3811h20140109.pdf].

Bob Conaway says, "Cook's vote poisons the well on what transparency means and is another example of his commitment to corporate giveaways and favoritism by using misleading titles to bills and media releases".

Bob Conaway for Congress (CA-08)

12127 Mall Blvd, Suite A-363

Victorville CA 92392

Contact No. (760) 617-8305

           BobConawayforCongress.blogspot.com
Contributions or gifts to Bob Conaway for Congress are not tax deductible.
Contributions from foreign nationals or corporations are prohibited.

Bank Funding is More Important to Funding the Ebola Fight Adequately is What Paul Cook is All About

Paul Cook voted to pass a joint resolution [the "Fiscal 2015 Continuing Resolution"]  that would provide funding for federal government operations until Dec. 11, 2014, at an annualized rate of $1.012 trillion. The Budget provides a mere $88 million for government efforts to fight the Ebola virus when the United Nations said they needed $1 billion from the US to contain. This is a pandemnic potential not unlke the Black Plague which wiped out hundreds of millions. Paul Cook does not understand the global risk and joins his leadership in voting for a budget that does not protect Americans while supporting tax cuts to corporations throughout the year and in the same Fiscal 2015 Continuing Resolution extending the  Export-Import Bank's operating authority through June 30, 2015, which if he did not it figure out, was beyond his current term in congress--kinda like creating debt for someone after your authority to approve appropriation passes?
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Bob Conaway says "This is scarey budget politics--banking power is more important that knocking down a disease that could ravage Americans? I guess banks are more important than the lives of US citizens to Paul Cook. Does he really think the disease can be contained with such a superficial commitment to a potential pandemic? Outbreaks need to be contained at historical and geographic pinchpoints. To be cheap on the effort increases the risk of a break out. Shame on Cook for playing with the public's health protection!"
 

Bob Conaway for Congress (CA-08)

12127 Mall Blvd, Suite A-363

Victorville CA 92392

Contact No. (760) 617-8305

           BobConawayforCongress.blogspot.com
Contributions or gifts to Bob Conaway for Congress are not tax deductible.
Contributions from foreign nationals or corporations are prohibited.

Don't Let Cook and his Teaparty Buds Dismantle Social Security--I won't if elected!!

For 79 years, Social Security has proven to be a successful program -- and after paying into it their entire lives, its benefits have allowed our seniors to retire with dignity.

That’s why it’s so disturbing that some Members of Congress want to put Social Security on the chopping block or start privatizing it.

Bob Conaway For Congress CA-08 will never let the Tea Party dismantle Social Security.

PRESS RELEASE: BOB CONAWAY CONDEMNS PAUL COOK's VOTE WHICH STEALS MONEY FROM UNION PENSION FUNDS TO PAY FOR MISMANAGED HIGHWAY TRUST FUND

The fiscal challenges facing the Highway Trust Fund, which receives federal gas tax revenue and then distributes it to states for infrastructure projects, is suffering from a success story: Americans are driving less, vehicles are becoming more fuel efficient and the gas tax hasn't been increased in 20 years.  The funding is shrinking in the same way dropping home values hurt local governments in California over the past two decades.
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If the trust fund experiences a cash shortfall (which it did), the DOT will be forced to start taking steps to manage whatever cash it has left, or as Paul Cook thought was a good idea, transfer from the general fund (called "pension smoothing"), a step that Bob Conaway denounces as a gimmick, smoke and mirrors and stripping pension funds from hardworking union workers.
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Bob Conaway agrees with Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt) who says “We shouldn’t be paying for filling potholes by creating potholes in Americans’ pensions. This is not a serious or sustainable response to the challenge of an underfunded highway program. Congress should bite the bullet and do its job.”
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Faced with the threat that federal money for 117,000 transportation projects would begin to dry up in two weeks, the House on Tuesday approved a nearly $11 billion patch to extend funding through May.
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Bob Conaway (D, CA-08) states:
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"Everything this Congressman agrees to is a patch, not a solution, and when he acts, it will be to hurt private citizens (union and non-union) for the benefit of corporations. Only when faced with potential layoffs of 700,000 construction workers (not a good campaign "accomplishment" for even the most cynical right-to-worker) did this Congress act. Congressmen will need to discuss with stakeholders at both the state and local level in town hall-style meetings the problems and solution and then debate the competing solutions in real (and not staged) sessions of Congress on how to deal with dropping gas tax revenues per mile traveled & how to best deal with the fatiguing and failing road and bridge infrastructure without raising custom fees or raiding pensions".

Message prepared by candidate
Bob Conaway for Congress (CA-08)

12127 Mall Blvd, Suite A-363

Victorville CA 92392

Contact No. (760) 617-8305

                BobConawayforCongress.blogspot.com
Contributions or gifts to Bob Conaway for Congress are not tax deductible.
Contributions from foreign nationals or corporations are prohibited.

SIGN A PETITION DEMANDING REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN VOTE IN AN UP-OR-DOWN VOTE TO END TO WAGE THEFT OF EMPLOYEES of FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

The email below is from Rep. Keith Ellison, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who represents Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Congressman Ellison started a petition on CREDO Mobilize, where activists can launch their own campaigns for progressive change. Rep Ellison and I (Bob Conaway) strongly urge you to sign the petition urging congressional Republicans to end wage theft by federal contractors.

Tell congressional Republicans [like Paul Cook]: Stop wage theft by federal contractors

. Dear friends & readers, . Hard-working Americans should never have to worry that an employer will deny overtime pay, take money out of their paycheck, or engage in other practices known as "wage theft" -- especially if that employer is a federal contractor. But that's exactly what's happening right now. Although there are strong labor laws to punish this type of activity, federal contractors are some of the worst offenders when it comes to committing wage theft. However, 204 House Republicans continue to refuse our attempts to protect federal contract workers. . It's time to tell Congressional Republicans to wake up and stop this illegal wage theft now. That's why Rep Ellison started his own campaign on CREDOMobilize.com, which allows activists to start their own petitions, a petition I, Bob Conaway as the Democratic Nominee for CA-08, support and urge all my friends and followers to likewise support. The petition, which is to Republicans in the U.S. House, says the following: Federal contract workers regularly face "wage theft" perpetrated by their employers, including being forced to work "off the clock" or without overtime pay. Support the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ work to keep lucrative government contracts away from law-breaking federal contractors who steal from their employees. Tell congressional Republicans: End illegal wage theft by federal contractors. . It's simple -- the federal government shouldn’t do business with corporations that break the law. That's why this summer, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which Rep Ellison co-chairs, decided to put an end to federal contractor wage theft for good by introducing amendments to many spending bills brought up in Congress. . House Republicans must do the right thing and support federal contract workers who have families to feed, parents to look after, and basic needs that can't be met when wages are stolen. . Will you join Representative Elison and I (Bob Conaway as the Democratic Nominee for CA-08) by adding your name to the petition urging congressional Republicans to end federal contractor wage theft? Thank you for your support. Rep. Keith Ellison & Democratic Nominee Bob Conaway [CA-08]

WHY BOB CONAWAY WOULD BE A BETTER REPRESENTATIVE for VETS (aside from the fact he was only a private in the USMC)

VA reform bill [http://crfb.org/blogs/cbo-finds-house-va-bill-could-cost-more-does-cost-less-senate-bill] as McCain suggested, was supposed to be smooth sailing [unlike the IRS scandal and issue of border security]. The general consensus about fixes for veterans’ care has turned into a Republican led House campaign to outsource and privatize more Veterans care, benefiting their well heeled corporate contributors and blocking funding for increased staffing and needed building.
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The compromise struck by McCain and Sanders would spend $500 million for constructing 27 new VA facilities and hiring new medical personnel, among other things. It also allows veterans who live beyond 40 miles from a VA facility the option to seek outside care. The measure passed 93-3 in the Senate.
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The Sanders-McCain bill would cost $50 billion, but with that said, if the country wants to go to war, it has to tend to the wounded so why is this a problem with Cook and his republican colleagues?
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If lawmakers were sincere when they deemed the VA system in crisis, why aren't they consider the legislation emergency spending and passing this BEFORE they take their vacation--its not like they have earned it with only 95 days of scheduled session this year. Sanders further stated “I think that it has been public that one of the great stumbling blocks is that the House is not interested in funding the doctors and nurses and space that the VA needs”
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Conaway says:"Cook tells the world he is a Marine. Its time for Cook to tell the Republican leadership in the House preventing the passage of the Sander-McCain VA bill, to get out of the way of our promise to the men and women who have so proudly served us.  As a man who served in uniform, this should be a no brainer. If we weren't busy giving duplicate tax cuts to corporations, we'd have the funding in a snap."

Message prepared by candidate
Bob Conaway for Congress (CA-08)

12127 Mall Blvd, Suite A-363

Victorville CA 92392

Contact No. (760) 617-8305

           BobConawayforCongress.blogspot.com

First Amendment Right to Peaceful Protest, Equal Access to the Internet for Political Activity & Cell Phone Privacy Rights Need to be Protected by Legislation Paul Cook Won't Press For, but Bob Conaway if elected will!!

Problem: Government is moving to take over the average citizen's chance to participate in the dialogue on contested public issues by peaceably protesting, using the internet and yup their cell phones.

What is remarkable is that Obama was had peaceful protesters advance causes for him in the ramp up to his election, Organizing for America used cell phones to make in-state and out-of-state contacts for not just fund raising, but getting out the vote and OFA & the DNC used the internet to fund raise and organize at record levels of efficiency.

Now an all too willing Congress is taking steps that will chill Americans first amendment civil rights--that is why we need changes in business as usual in Congress.

So what has been happening??

(1) the federal government has given access to crowd disbursal technology without the restriction that it can't be used on peaceful and lawful public protests by US citizens;

A LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) was used to disperse a rally at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 2:43pm. There has been previous use of an LRAD in Detroit on May 1, 2012 when Occupy Detroit gathered on the public sidewalk outside Grand Circus Park after park closing hours of 10pm. The use in 2012 was as a public address. The use in 2014 was to cause distress to those hearing the sound.You can hear the sound emitted in the video footage at 50 minutes into this clip (the final minute of the clip). Those who were on the platform to speak felt vibration throughout their body and some clutched at their chest during the deployment which last about 2 minutes [source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/21/1315395/-Military-device-used-on-Detroit-protest-against-WaterShutoffs?detail=email].

Solution: Introduce legislation and codes of federal regulation banning the use of such technology on peaceful protesting by US citizens

(2) Tom Wheeler, the newly appointed FCC chair, recently proposed rules that would allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to divide the Internet into fast lanes for wealthy corporations and slow lanes for the rest of us, which if adopted will allow corporate takeover of the Internet and the death of Net Neutrality and reduce grass root organizers and leaders for political change equal access to the internet.

Net Neutrality is important because the Internet is an essential service.

Federal court cases have made it clear that the FCC has the power to enforce strong Net Neutrality rules, but only if the FCC goes through the process of undoing a terrible Bush-era decision to deregulate broadband instead of treating it like the vital public utility it has become.
 
Solution(s): Reclassifying the Internet as a public utility, which is the only way to establish Net Neutrality regulations with teeth.


(3) After local law enforcement was given dragnet type technology by the feds, the feds are asking the police to keep quiet about cellphone data collection equipment they are using. 

Jack Gillum, Associated Press reported    [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/22/police-keep-quiet-about-cell-tracking-technology/?page=all]  on the problem.

"Stingray" is reportedly one such invasive technology being used, one which has been described as an innovative way for law enforcement to track cellphones used by suspects and gather evidence--the problem, it captures & records EVERYONE's cell phone traffic! How?? Stingray reportedly tricks cellphones into identifying their owners’ account information and transmitting data to police as if it were a phone company’s tower. That allows police to obtain cellphone information without having to ask for help from service providers, such as Verizon or AT&T, and can locate a phone without the user even making a call or sending a text message.

Solution: Pass regulations that capture the criminal conduct and communications related thereto and purge the rest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from BOB CONAWAY for CONGRESS CAMPAIGN [Press Release #5] -- Paul Cook Votes to Penalize the Working Poor & Add by his Co-Sponsorship and Vote on HR 2575 to the Deficit--What's with this guy??

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The Congressional Budget Office stated [explaining the budget & social consequences of Paul Cook's "yes" vote on HR 2575]:

"As a consequence of the changes in penalties and in people’s sources of insurance coverage, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] and JCT [Joint Committee on Taxation] estimate that enacting H.R. 2575 would increase budget deficits by $25.4 billion over the 2015-2019 period and by $73.7 billion over the 2015-2024 period. The 2015-2024 total is the net of an increase of $83.0 billion in on-budget costs and $9.3 billion in off-budget savings (the latter attributable to increased revenues). Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation would affect direct spending and revenues. As a result of those changes in who would pay penalties and what amounts they would have to pay, CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting H.R. 2575 would change the sources of health insurance coverage for some people. Specifically, in most years over the 2015-2024 period, CBO and JCT estimate that the legislation would:
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(1) Reduce the number of people receiving employment-based coverage—by about 1 million people;
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(2) Increase the number of people obtaining coverage through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or health insurance exchanges—by between 500,000 and 1 million people; and
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(3) Increase the number of uninsured—by less than 500,000 people"
[Source: http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/hr2575.pdf]

The entire document is worth a read to understand that Col. Paul Cook (retired) hates President Obama and low income working people so bad (not very Marine of him), he would add to the deficit, and hurt the working poor to "create" a vote against the Affordable Care Act.
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Oh yeah, let's not forget, the businesses that get out of paying their workers getting only 30 to 39 hours a week of work health insurance, are shifting the cost to those workers and to the government--more government welfare for the privileged!!

Bob Conaway Receives the Endorsement of Evolve!! Awesome!!

I just received the following notice:
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"Congratulations! Evolve’s Board of Directors voted to endorse you in the June 3^rd Primary Election.    Feel free to list our organization on your website or campaign literature.  You can click here to see your name on the endorsement page of our website. We need more people like you in office in order to move California forward. Best of luck in your race!
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Ben Grieff http://www.evolve-ca.org/ Evolve · 2017 Mission St, 2nd Flr, San Francisco, CA 94110"
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List of endorsements: http://www.evolve-ca.org/june_2014_endorsements?utm_campaign=endorse_notify&utm_medium=email&utm_source=evolve
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At Evolve's website you can get a glimpse of what they are about:
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"Evolve was founded on the belief that there's a better way. Most of the significant problems we face have effective solutions that are not being implemented because of political infighting or the power of special interests. The answer is clear: we need to hold politicians accountable to real results that actually move our society forward. And that's what Evolve does. Through effective, smart organizing and grassroots issue advocacy we know we can make a difference and ultimately, leave our world a better place than we found it. Together, we can rekindle the promise that made California a golden state".
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Again an AWESOME endorsement!

TELL CONGRESS TO RE-OPEN the CLOSED REDLANDS & BARSTOW SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES by SIGNING A PETITION AND VOTING FOR BOB CONAWAY for CONGRESS

Dear Voters,
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Our Social Security system has been under attack for decades. Since 2010, some members of Congress have been so intent on cutting your earned benefits that they’ve held hostage our nations’ credit, threatened to shut down the government, and forced Congress through a nauseating series of manufactured crises.
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But benefit cuts aren’t the only way to dismantle our Social Security system. Congress has cut fourteen of the last sixteen SSA budget requests. These cuts are being felt, as the Social Security Administration has been forced to shutter dozens of field offices around the country, including in Barstow, Redlands and Corona.
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That's why I urge people to sign the petition on CREDOMobilize.com. The petition says the following:

The American people own our Social Security system, including the offices in our neighborhoods, nobody has the right to close our local offices. Re-open Social Security offices in California!

Tell Congress: Re-open the closed social security offices in California.
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The Social Security Administration is funded the same way Social Security benefits are—by payroll taxes that all of us pay (its NOT an entitlement folks!). Its expenses have no impact on the federal debt, and represent less than 1% of Social Security’s annual expenditures, but that hasn't stopped the current congressman (Paul Cook) Congress from from systematically defunding the agency.
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Progressive columnist RJ Eskow wrote recently on the Huffington Post that “many disabled and elderly Social Security recipients depend on field offices, and the workers in them.” And as Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times said “They haven’t been able to cut benefits, so they’re doing the next best thing: making it hard for you to know what you’re due, and harder to get it when it comes due.”
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The bottom line is, Americans came together to create the Social Security system to provide a basic, reliable foundation for retirement and disability. Closing field offices and making it more difficult to access benefits information is an attempt to dismantle that foundation. We have to 
fight back now to stop it.
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Will you join me and add your name to my petition urging Congress to re-open the closed Social Security offices in California?
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Tell Paul Cook by your support of the petition we have had enough and then vote his multiple public pensioned butt out of another pension farm.