Tonight, the Senate GOP filibustered the Buffet Rule, that would require the wealthiest 1% to pay their fair share of taxes. Republicans, predictably, filibustered it…and Mark Pryor joined them in doing so. Here’s the lousy statement Senator Pryor put out afterwards:
There is no disputing that the wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes. This inequity should be fixed as part of broad tax reform, not as a political ploy meant to score points. A serious, bipartisan effort to reform the tax code could pass Congress and be signed into law, ensuring that employees no longer write larger checks to Uncle Sam than their CEOs.
First Senator, there’s a way to start a serious effort in reforming the tax code and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share-it’s by passing the Buffett Rule into law and making sure wealthy Americans pay rates comparable to hard working Arkansans. Second Senator, way to throw your own party that was trying to do just that right under the bus and validate Republican talking points. If you think that kind of talk is going to keep Tim Felon from running against you in 2014, then you are frankly just incredibly stupid. But what it will do Senator is help drive those of us in the base, who frankly aren’t all that wild about you anyway, to stay home in a low turnout midterm election. Gee, who else did all that quite recently? Oh yeah…Blanche Lincoln.
All this follows a week where Pryor was quick to wash his hands of the President. Admittedly, saying you wouldn’t go all in campaigning for a President who isn’t too popular in your home state might be a forgivable sin to an understanding Democratic voter…if you were otherwise a Democrat worth having around which Pryor certainly isn’t. Hell, we can’t even get him to commit to standing up for the ERA, and you can’t be a real Democrat and not stand up for equal pay and opportunity for half the people of Arkansas. Seriously, ask some of the women who have been calling his office trying to get Pryor to come out in removing the unconstitutional deadline for ratification. I keep in touch with a good number of them and boy are they ticked!:
I had a LONG conversation today with Pryor’s office. Here is the short version..I was polite but persistant …I had to call 3 times.. got disconnected once..and talked to like 3 different people..
After going around in ciricles explaining it was the resolution for extension that we asked for (not the amendment itself)..his aid finally understood that we were simply asking Pryor for his commitment to support the time extension to get the ERA introduced. He said “well this isn’t coming up anytime soon in the near future so he won’t comment on it till it gets closer. To which I said.. “yes it is most definitely coming up in the very near future and I don’t understand why he wouldn’t just come out in support of the extension ?”. Then the aid said “well I can’t comment for Pryor”. To which I said.. “well that is why I called… we want a response from Pryor and this will only help him.. it can’t possibly hurt him in anyway so we’d really like an answer soon”.
Anyway..he tried to say again this isn’t a pressing issue right now… then I informed him (the aid) again…that we got a pledge in Pryor’s hand last week in person..he knows what is on it..it was explained (by Maria Hicks) ..and this is going to be a very big deal here in AR..it already IS. I then went on to tell him about the marches..rallies scheduled for April 28th and the massive push we’re working on that is only going to educated even more voters. Basically he just said again he can’t comment for Pryor…and he said he will call me after he talks some more to Pryor.
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I just called again and asked when he might have a decision on it. I also let them know that their email response cited a different bill than what I had called about. I also said that I noticed that under “Hot Topics,” the ERA was not listed and that I feel that it is a important topic for him to endorse and that it too is a “hot topic.” The guy was really nonchalant about it. He acted like he didn’t give a crap. And then finally said, “well, do you want me to pass a message along?…in favor of the ERA?” Yes, of course!!!!
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It appears Sen. Pryor does not thing there is a War on Women, or he just doesn’t care, or thinks his constituents don’t care. We know he is ill-informed on this subject.
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Here is the response one of our members recieved back from Senator Pryor’s office:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
S.J.Res. 21 and its companion bill H.J.Res. 69 were introduced on June 22, 2011. Senator Robert Menendez introduced S.J.Res. 21 in the Senate and it has since been referred to the Judiciary Committee. As you probably know, both S.J.Res.21 and H.J. Res. 69 are resolutions that propose an amendment to the Constitution that would establish equal rights for men and women.
I am grateful to have your opinions on this matter, and should this resolution come before the full Senate for consideration, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I value your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office regarding this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Mark Pryor
United States Senate
Let me help you with this one Mark. You say “I am a Democrat. Of course I will stand up for women.” Yeah, I know, that will only happen in the Twilight Zone.
In short, it looks like Pryor is determined to be the next Blanche Lincoln. He will alienate his base, fail to win any votes from Republicans, and will drag the party down to defeat in 2014 the same way Blanche did. Personally, I say forget him. I’m tired of having this good for nothin’ representing my state. Arkansas deserved better. Bill Halter for Senate, 2014 anyone?
Politicians have been sending out those bland nonresponses since they figured out how to inscribe clay tablets. That said, Mark Pryor isn’t a patch on his father. I’m beginning to wonder if he can even stand up to pee.
I’ve tried to contact Senator Pryor the Lesser or a member of his staff (on a different matter) by way of his Senate site. I haven’t yet received even an bland auto-nonresponse, so we’ll see how it goes.
I don’t understand him. His vote would not have changed the outcome. And the Buffet rule is enormously popular – many conservatives even support it. It just doesn’t make sense.
Mark Pryor is under scrutiny for his involvement in a $2Million unpaid tax case. So why is this man talking? Read about it at http://www.retirepryor.com.
my email to Senator Pryor
Senator Pryor,
I disagree with your vote against the “Buffet Rule”. The vote did not dismiss the need for tax reform, it highlighted an inequity and unfairness in the tax structure. While you are probably correct that the proposed law is political posturing it is the only vote that will be taken in the Senate prior to the general election. You have decided to lay with the 1 percenters rather than stand tall with the rest of us and the President.