ByPamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Dec. 17, 2007 – Funeral arrangements are planned for Saturday, Dec. 22 in Indianapolis, for Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.) who died Saturday at home.  On Friday, December 21, the Indiana lawmaker will lie in state at the Indian State Capitol, allowing a final farewell from the Indianapolis community she served for more than a decade.
The business of the 7th District will continue under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives until her successor is sworn in.
Carson was 69. Carson’s career is filled with “firsts,” but she will always be remembered for leading the charge to bestow civil rights activist Rosa Parks with the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I witnessed the pride she felt in June 1999 when the medal was finally presented  to Parks in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. 
Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, remembered Carson as an “esteemed colleague, friend and sister.”
“As a tireless public servant for over 35 years, ‘Miss Julia’ was unapologetically outspoken and equally relentless in her pursuit of parity for women and minorities in Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District and across the globe. She was a stalwart for social justice and a trailblazer – serving as the first woman and first African American Indianapolis has ever sent to Congress,” she said.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) praised his colleague as a “trailblazer and an inspiration.” “She was not only a friend and a colleague, but a kindred spirit in the fight for equality and justice. The support that she generously offered me over these last few years, as well as her dignity, good humor, and faith, will never be forgotten,” he said.
 Sen. Evan Bayh, (D-Ind.) praised his fellow native as someone who ” overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same. She was elected to important public offices, but never forgot who she was, where she came from or who she was there to serve.”
“The Congressional Black Caucus, the United States House of Representatives and the world has lost a star and a stripe,” Kilpatrick said.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Dec. 13, 2007 – It has taken 20 years for the courts and Congress to right a wrong right when dealing with sentencing for cocaine possession.   A day after the U.S. Supreme Court restored power to federal judges to use their discretion when meting out punishment for drug crimes, the U.S. Sentencing Commission gave judges additional authority to reduce prison terms.

This means that for those federal inmates already serving crack cocaine-related terms, shorter sentences and the effective date will be retroactive to Nov. 1 of this year. This could affect more than 19,000 inmates, 86 percent of whom are Black. 

On Wednesday, Black lawmakers applauded the Supreme Court and the Sentencing Commission decisions.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) said, “The Commission’s decision today [Wednesday] is a good first start, but it is only a beginning. At a time when our nation’s prison population continues to expand exponentially, at a huge cost to taxpayers, we must get smart about our nation’s drug policy.”

The debate about the fairness of drug sentencing has revolved around race.  Poor and Black folks disproportionately used the less expensive form of cocaine, “crack,” and therefore received stiffer sentences than those more affluent users who were more likely to use  powder cocaine.

Carolyn Kilpatrick, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that one of her Black colleagues in Congress signed a letter in support of applying this modest guideline change retroactively.

Under the new ruling the guidelines for crack and powder cocaine are more equal.

Conyers calls this a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. “Congress must act to change crack/powder penalties,” he said. “I intend to hold hearings next year to begin the long-overdue process of changing these unfair laws.”
U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo, vice chairman of the commission, agrees.  Castillo told The Baltimore Sun, “It is the right thing to do.”

“There is just no way to justify the ratio of crack cocaine crimes being penalized much more harshly than those involving an equal amount of powder cocaine,” Castillo said. 

What do you think, should the punishment be the same for crack and powder?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted Nov. 30, 2007 – Rep. Henry Hyde, the Republican firebrand who will always be remembered for his fierce opposition to initiatives of his rival House Democrats and as one of the most vociferous crusaders in the call for the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton, has died. He was 83.

In recent weeks, Hyde, who served more than three decades in Congress before retiring in 2006, was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Medal Of Freedom, for his longtime service in the House. “With so many on Capitol Hill, Henry Hyde’s friendship is gold,” President Bush said in bestowing the honor on Hyde. “They are quick to say it’s not the same Congress without him, but that we’re a better country because he was there. And colleagues will always admire and look up to the gentleman from Illinois. Henry J. Hyde. And Bob, please tell your dad a lot of us in Washington love him.”
Hyde, who in his dying days from a rehab center in Wheaton, Md., following open-heart surgery in early November praised the friends and colleagues he has in both parties, was a staunch opponents of such issues as abortion. One of the leading voices in the run-up to Clinton’s impeachment, he has been quoted as saying that he didn’t want to proceed with impeachment hearing but became angry with Clinton for lying about the affair and decided to proceed. His opponents at the time chided Hyde as a hypocrite, since he himself had once indulged in an affair as a young lawmaker. He was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and presided over the hearings that led to Clinton’s impeachment over the Monica Lewinsky affair.

It will be interesting to see how the Republican presidential candidates reflect on Hyde’s career in coming days. 
 

By Pamela J. Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Nov. 29, 2007 – This has been a tough year for Black congresswomen.  In April, Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald (D-Calif.) died from cancer.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday Rep. Julia Carson’s (D-Ind.) announced she wouldn’t run for re-election because she is fighting an aggressive form of lung cancer. 

“We know she toiled over the decision to not return to Congress. In her selfless tradition of public service, Representative Carson refused to allow anything to beset the interests of her constituents,” said Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

But Carson who has been working from home the last few months decided the time had come to leave a job she has done with passion and precision for more than a decade.  In a brief but sincere message on her congressional homepage, she explained her decision to focus on her health. The message of her plan not to run was penned by a staffer, but her plans for the future are in her own words.  “Who knows the future? Who knows God’s will?  I want very much to return to Washington and continue representing the good people of Indianapolis with my vote,” she said.

Carson has served in Congress for 11 years and was the first woman and first African American Indiana sent to Congress. Folks in Carson’s district affectionately dubbed her “Miss Julia.” 

 “Carson has exhibited the spirit of a warrior, the grace of a dove and the roar of a lion,” Kilpatrick said.
 

Posted Nov. 14, 2007 – Black lawmakers today are remembering former California Democrat Augustus F. Hawkins as a champion of civil rights, servant of the people and guardian of the American dream.  A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus who spent 56 years in politics, Hawkins died this week at the age of 100.

“He is the author of some of the most significant legislation ever passed in the House … particularly in the areas of education and labor,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), whose fiery demeanor contrasts greatly with that of the soft-spoken man she called her mentor. “He cared about poor and working people.” Waters holds the seat that Hawkins vacated more than 16 years ago.

By the time the legendary lawmaker resigned in 1990, at age 83, he had left his fingerprints on a host of historic pieces of legislation, namely the section of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act that created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, which not only helped create jobs but got those who needed them most qualified to fill them; the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act of 1977, which recognized the importance of employing young people and involving them in conservation and community-improvement activities; and the Pregnancy Disability Act of 1978, which served notice to employers that getting pregnant was no longer grounds for terminating women, and required companies to cover pregnant workers with health insurance.

Before being elected to Congress in 1971, Hawkins served in the California State Legislature.  The first African American from California to be elected to Congress, he spent his time in the House working on fair housing, education and civil rights while representing his district as a Democrat from the South Los Angeles district.

He helped unite his fellow Black lawmakers – that’s when Blacks were stilled called “Negroes,” and there were few who made it to the esteemed halls Congress. Without his early involvement to mold a unified voice on issues important to African Americans, who knows whether the Caucus would have gained its current clout? There are now 43 members representing more than 40 million Americans.

Rep. John Lewis, (D-Ga.), another lion in the Civil Rights Movement, remembers meeting with Hawkins several times in the 1960s.  He was not afraid to visit Selma, visit Birmingham, and cities in Mississippi when hostility and tension peaked, Lewis said. As a member of Congress, Hawkins felt it was his responsibility to see first-hand what was happening at the heart of the Movement, Lewis said.

Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, understands that her current position is a direct result of Hawkins labor. “As the first African American elected to the United States House of Representatives from the West, Hawkins tirelessly served the constituents of Los Angeles, Calif., and the nation with a tamed spirit and roaring determination,” she said.

Thelma T. Daley, former National President of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority and vice chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women, was with me when I heard the news of Hawkins’ passing.  “He was a great supporter of Delta Sigma Theta’s programs under the leadership of our national president, Geraldine Pittman Woods, a native of California,” she said.

Lisa Ransom, the granddaughter of the congressional pioneer recalls his long, illustrious service. “My grandfather was a tremendous public servant who built a 56-year career serving his country,” she said in a statement. “That’s a long time to serve, and it reflects on his great character and the quality of him as a person.”

Hawkins never fully retired.  He continued to work, sitting on boards and interacting with community leaders, especially in the area of education. 

Every day politicians, pundits and pollsters debate the course of action to take in Iraq. Have you thought about it? What do you think should be done? 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Nov. 12, 2007 – This weekend I received a brochure from my representative in Congress, freshman Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.)  The tri-fold, red, white and blue document was a Veteran’s Day tribute to the men and women in uniform who have served our country.

In bold letters, a quote from Sarbanes reads, “We must honor the sacrifice of our Veterans.  Always.”

The intent of the brochure was clear. Sarbanes wants to reach out to his constituents and use the opportunity to get feedback.  The mailing talked about helping Veterans cut red tape when accessing healthcare and opening communications with vets to improve support services when they return home.  But the part that caught my eye was the questionnaire in the tri-fold that asked about the war in Iraq.

The question laid out options in very clear and easy language for folks to understand.  I plan to answer the question and send it in, but for those of you don’t live in Sarbanes’ district, I thought I would share his question and the choice of answers: 

“Recent reports have underscored a number of options for a new direction in Iraq. I want to hear what you think is the safest and most effective approach for changing course.  

1. Immediate withdrawal
2. Withdraw within six months
3. Year-long phased withdrawal
4. Relocate American troops elsewhere in the region
5. Partial withdrawal with an open-ended troop presence
6. Open-ended commitment”

These are the options. Let me know what you think?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Should Black folks consider returning to farming? 

Posted Nov. 7, 2007 - Leaders in the Democratic Party will hold a news conference today to shore up support for $288 billion over the next five years to help American farmers. 

When I looked at the dollars on the table, I wondered whether this bill be good or bad for Black farmers?  After a closer look, I asked, “what Black farmers?”  

Black farmers are disappearing, and in some states, they’re already gone. 

 The reason is simple: Blacks decided to leave the profession and head to the industrial states for higher-paying jobs or higher education. 

While farming always has been hard work, Black farmers had the added pressures of enduring racism and road blocks that often prohibited them from owning and operating independent farms.

According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the number of Black farmers peaked in the 1920s, with more than 925,000 Black farmers among the 650 million farmers in the United States.  Those numbers spiraled down the next four decades, and by the 1960s there were less than 90,000 Black farms in operation.  Now, they’re fewer than 19,000. 

 The farm debate began on Monday and looks like it will pass without much push-back from Senate Republicans.  If it passes, it will put more fresh fruit in school lunches, and guarantee more spending for conservation and subsidies to boost crop prices and farmers’ income.  

This bill will give very wealthy farmers a variety of alternative funding to plant organic crops, support small farmers’ markets and rural development, and create a commission to keep an eye on food safety.

 Farming is now big business.  I wonder if Black folks gave up the vocation too soon.

Will the Democrats be able to change things?  

Posted Nov. 2, 2007 – Folks voted for change in Washington and decided the Democrats might be able to make it happen.  It will be one year this month that the Dems have been in charge, and they’ve had their share of accomplishments and defeats. 

They’ve been able to get emergency legislation passed, like funding Katrina recovery, rebuilding the bridge in Minneapolis and providing assistance following the California wildfires. But major funding bills needed to run the government are in limbo or have been defeated by presidential veto.

The president has dug in deep when it comes to defeating the Democrats State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).  It doesn’t look like either side is backing down.  It’s understandable; the Dems see this as an easy campaign ad against any Republican in 2008. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, (D- Md.) chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is revving up on this issue.  This week, he released a statement accusing Bush Republicans of “playing” with the bill.

“Republicans claim they want to negotiate in good faith.  Now, we learn that President Bush and congressional Republicans are more worried about protecting the tobacco lobby than providing health insurance to American kids,” Van Hollen said.  

Bush said this week he wouldn’t support a bill that raised tobacco taxes.  Congress has a lot of work to do, and it looks like Bush want’s a lot of compromise. 
 
“One year ago, the American people demanded a change of direction and the president and congressional Republicans are doing everything in their power to stand in the way of that,” Van Hollan said.

Pamela J. Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Oct. 19, 2007 – For what the United States spends in a little over a month in Iraq, the Democrats want to spend to ensure that 10 million American children have health care each year.

That’s the point that Rep. Kendrick Meek(D-Fla.) was attempting to make on Thursday when he rose to the House floor with charts and photographs to illustrate the contradiction of Bush’s willingness to spend outside our borders but not at home. “What bothers me,” he said in an impassioned speech, “is that we can do something for children thousands of miles a way but nothing for the kids right here.” 

His comments came moments after Democrats failed to muster the 13 Republican votes needed to override the president’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Two hundred and seventy-three members stood up for America’s children, but it takes two-thirds of the House to overturn a presidential veto.

The president has argued that the bill would bring children under the program who don’t need the coverage – those who are now covered by private insurance; he says he is also concerned that the S-CHIP bill would lead to federalization of healthcare, with a huge cost to taxpayers.  
The president’s campaign against this bill was misleading and boarded on deception.

Some of the children added, like in the state of New Jersey, are already covered in a program just like S-CHIP, all made possible by the Bush administration.  These kids were approved when governors came to the feds and asked for a waiver.   The waiver gave them permission to add families with higher incomes who couldn’t afford the cost of private insurance.  

These are families often refereed to as the “working poor,” and who were buying insurance, often independent of their employers.

So when Congress drafted the bill, it included these kids. So why did Bush want to stop S-CHIP?   To slow the roll on comprehensive healthcare reform or anything that appeared like steps toward universal healthcare.

 “I made it clear that if putting poor children first requires more than the 20-percent increase in funding I proposed, we’ll work with Congress to find the money we need,” Bush said.   I’m confident we can work out our differences and reauthorize S-CHIP.”

While more funding sounds great, the problem is that the administration is limiting the folks who are actually able to qualify.  All of tactics are smoke and mirrors, but could clear up in the minds of Americans left out of program in time for the 2008 elections.

“The president should send a hand-written note [to the 13 Republican], that says, “Thanks for standing with me and not the poor children who need health care,” Meek said.

Polls leading up the vote indicated overwhelming support for the program.  Which underscores that healthcare is needed by all children, and they’re in both parties. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “Each Republican who voted to uphold President Bush’s heartless veto should be embarrassed that he chose to stand in the way of improving the lives of millions of America’s poorest children.” 

How important is healthcare to you?  Should Black lawmakers settle for less?

Posted Oct. 16, 2007 – Black lawmakers sent letters to the Democratic Leadership Friday calling for them to avoid “compromise” with Republican on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, commonly called SCHIP.

The Congressional Black Caucus said its members “will not support a compromise SCHIP proposal that is both medically and socially irresponsible.”    Thirty of the 43 members of the caucus signed letters sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.),  House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

Del. Donna M. Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) told me, “We’re unwilling to compromise if it means covering fewer children. We’ve already compromised when we went from covering 6 million additional children to 4 million.” 

A vote to override President Bush’s veto is scheduled for later this week. 

White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto told reporters Monday that the president has made “an overture” toward compromise.  “He made an offer to sit down and find common ground,” but was met with “a certain negative reaction from Sen. Reid and Speaker Pelosi,” Fratto said.  

Democrats are hoping they have enough votes to overturn the president’s veto.

The one-page letter to Democratic party leaders on Congressional Black Caucus stationery, dated Oct. 11, says health insurance “is urgently important to the African American Community.”

But Black lawmakers aren’t alone. Christensen said, the Tri-Caucus, composed of the Black, Latino and Asian Pacific Islander lawmakers, is also drafting a letter that will go to the congressional leadership this week. 

“We’re already not covering legal immigrant children,” Christensen said.  Her concern is that there aren’t any more poor kids to cut.   

Fratto said the goal of the White House is threefold: Get the policy right; examine the principles behind the policy; and then see what it will cost.

Since the Oct. 2 veto by Bush, Democrats have been standing firm on securing coverage of 10 million poor children. 
Christensen said Black lawmakers may consider an authorization for a shorter time period but not for fewer children. 

“This is an alternative being considered but has not been offered because we’re supporting the override,” Christensen said.

Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer