McHenry County Blog

8th congressional district Democratic Party United States Representative Melissa Beans provided a detailed comparison of her positions and those of Republican challenger David McSweeney.

McHenry County Blog got a copy of it and thought you might be interested at what probably hit virtually every voter household in her entire district the weekend before the election.

It is an inexpensive piece, compared to the 4-color mailings that inundated mailboxes prior to its delivery.

It looks black and blue to me, but, then again, I’m partially colorblind.

The message on the front says,

Congresswoman Melissa Bean promised to bring her two decades of business experience to Washington as a moderate, mainstream voice for Eighth District families. She has hosted over 50 public forums, personally met with thousands of constituents and is working hard to address their concerns. She strives to find commonsense solutions that protect our families, deliver for our communities and secure our country’s future, including:

· Fighting for fiscal discipline and opposing wasteful spending
· Leading the fight against online predators and identity thieves
· Supporting tax relief for average families
· Cracking down on illegal immigration
· Protecting air and water quality
· Meeting with our military in Iraq and providing stronger troop protection
· Securing $34 million to reduce local traffic congestion

It goes on to note that Bean and her husband have lived in Barrington for 19 years and her two daughters attend local public schools.

Then comes a list of endorsements:

· Daily Herald
· Chicago Tribune
· Northwest Herald
· Chicago Sun-Times
· Pioneer Press
· News-Sun
· U.S. Chamber of Commerce
· League of Conservation Voters
· Fraternal Order of Police
· Illinois Farm Bureau
· National Education Association
· Illinois Committee of Honest Government
· Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO
· National Association of Women Business Owners
· Sierra Club
· Associated Firefighters of Illinois
· U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
· Natioal Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

An extensive comparison answer to the question

Who’s Better on Your Issues?

is answered in pretty small type on the back of the piece.

The issues are

· Fiscal Responsibility
· Taxes
· Protecting Families
· Immigration
· Homeland Defense & National Security
· Stem Cell Research
· Choice
· Environment
· Guns
· Education

On “Fiscal Responsibilty” Bean says she

· Voted to cut over $200 billion dollars in waste for across-the-board spending cuts and
· Cosponsored legislation to require fiscal discipline, expose waste and improve accountability

Bean says McSweeney “Opposes budget rules that prevent deficit spending by requiring offsets for tax reductions or spending increases.”

On “Taxes” Bean says she

· Voted for lower taxes on average families
· Suggested tax relief for mortgage interest, college tuition, retirement savings and medical expenses.

Bean says McSweeney “Opposed over $95 billion in tax cuts targeted to families and small businesses, including tax credits for college tuition, IRA savings and health care costs.”

On “Protecting Families” Bean says she

· Introduced the first comprehensive internet safety bill to protect kids and teens
· Introduced legislation to protect against ID theft

Bean says McSweeney “Opposes legislation that requires companies to notify consumers if their financial data is compromised.”

On “Immigration” Bean says she

· Voted to oppose amnesty and increase penalties;
· Make it tougher to hire illegal workers and;
· Double patrol guards, add new barriers and use military technology at the border

Bean says her Republican (no, she never says McSweeney is a Republican) opponent “Opposed increase Border Patrol funding, opposed locating illegal aliens freed under ‘catch & release’ program and opposed ensuring deportation of illegal aliens now in prison.”

On “Homeland Defense & National Security” Bean says she

· Supports clearer benchmarks and stricter accountability for progress in Iraq
· Introduced legislation to protect passenger jets from shoulder-fired missiles

Bean says McSweeney “Supports ‘staying the course’ without question, and has stated he’d give the president an ‘A’ for execution of the Iraq war.”

On “Stem Cell Research” Bean says she

· Voted to support potentially life-saving stem cell research

She says McSweeney “Said he ‘will alwyas oppose embryonic stem cell research.’”

On “Choice” Bean says she

· Supports a woman’s right to choose, and reasonable parental notification

Bean says McSweeney “Has opposed choice even in cases in rape, incest and life of the mother.”

On the “Environment” Bean says she

· Protected air/water quality and helped ban Great Lakes oil drilling
· Passed her initiative to improve vehicle fuel efficiency incentives

Bean says McSweeney “Would weaken air and water protections, would have allowed oil drilling in Lake Michigan, and would give federal bureaucrats the power to force oil refineries into our communities.”

On “Guns” Bean says she

· Supports the assault weapons ban and existing guy safety laws

She says McSweeney “Opposes assault weapons ban and Brady Law mandating background checks for guy buyers.”

On “Education” Bean says she

· Supports sufficient Head Start funding and efforts to enhance math and science education
· Voted to protect college loan funding

Bean says McSweeney “Would support pubic schools teaching ‘intelligent design’ as an alternative to education and wants to abolish Dept. of Education and cut college loans, music classes and art programs.”

And each of these claims is footnoted in teeny-tiny print, which I shall try to enlarge and insert here.