Congressman Billy Long

Billy's Vegas Vacation: But Sarah Steelman Promised Us Long Couldn't Be Bought by Special Interest

2012-02-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

I hope you will consider voting for Billy Long for Congress. The way I see it is we need someone who is not part of the political establishment. We need someone who loves his country and is willing to put his country before himself; before his party; before politics as usual; before special interest groups; before lobbyists; and before his colleagues in Congress. We need someone who will put YOU before money and power and influence. Sarah Steelman endorsing Billy Long for Congress in June 2010.

From Roll Call on Long's paid trip to Las Vegas by the Consumer Electronics Show who lobby politicians like Congress Critter Long in Washington:

Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), for example, flew to Las Vegas on Jan. 8 for a four-day trip, leaving the city Jan. 11. The association spent about $2,000 on hotel accommodations at the Wynn Casino, airfare and meals for Long and his wife. A post-travel disclosure form filed with the Ethics Committee shows that Long spent Jan. 8 in Las Vegas at his own expense, leaving two and half additional days to attend the conference and sightsee. Long’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Earlier in the article, Roll Call explains the special interest connection that led to Vegas perks for Congressman Long:

At least 51 lawmakers and staffers attended the show in mid-January compliments of the association, which shelled out more than $74,000 for their airfare, hotel accommodations and other expenses, according to tallies provided by LegiStorm. Those totals could rise as stragglers in the Senate file their post-trip disclosure reports, which are due 30 days after the trip is completed.

Of those who attended, about a dozen took the additional travel allowance and also requested days at their own expense, typically wedging the personal day in between a day of travel and a day of officially connected business. Last year, by contrast, the association spent $31,232 to send 22 lawmakers and staffers to the annual technology show and only one staffer reported spending more than two nights in Las Vegas, covering one leg of his travel expenses in order to do so.

Though the CEA spent nearly $3 million lobbying the federal government last year, according to OpenSecrets.org, House ethics rules permit lawmakers and staffers to accept a one-day trip to the electronics show. Attendees were reminded of the one-day restriction when they received pre-travel approval letters this year, lest they be tempted to spend extra time in the showroom playing with the newest gizmos.

“We remind you that, because the trip sponsor employs a federal lobbyist, you may participate in officially connected activity on one calendar day only. For the purposes of this trip, officially connected activity includes attending conference sessions and visiting the product exhibits on the ‘Show Floor,’” read the approval letters from House Ethics Chairman Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and ranking member Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.).

So on one day and one day only, Congressional attendees went to technology panels, saw product demonstrations and listened to presentations by leaders in technology and policy. The rest of the time they were barred from participating in any official business.

But we can count on Congressman Long putting, "his country before himself; before his party; before politics as usual; before special interest groups; before lobbyists; and before his colleagues in Congress" because Sarah Steelman said so. Billy Long would never take advantage of his title, would he?

Congressman Long's Plan to Grow Government and Create Internet Police State Called NISO

2012-02-03T04:49:00.000-08:00

Billy Long was once fed up of big government. However, his official Congressional Web site shows once again Billy Long embraces big government. In Long's latest effort to sponsor legislation, Long creates a new division of government that works with the public sector to increase cyber security. Long's Web site reads:

Today, U.S. Congressman Billy Long continued his fight against foreign threats as he submitted three amendments to the cybersecurity bill in the Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. Long’s amendments, which passed the Subcommittee unopposed, altered the creation of the National Information Sharing Organization (NISO) which would establish a public-private organization to act as a national cybersecurity information exchange as part of H.R. 3674, “Promoting and Enhancing Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Effectiveness Act of 2011” or PrECISE Act.

As one of the bloggers who Long once found troublesome enough to have the FBI investigated, I know from experience how Long dislikes the free flow of information on the Internet. I worry, as our federal government works to gain control of the Internet to limit the free flow of information, Congressman Long is now contributing in this effort based on his past record.

While Congressman Long wants you to believe the enemy are brown skinned with turbans on their heads, I remind you of who the Obama White House wishes to track in these cyber security efforts.

The White House Cyber Security Adviser Howard Schmidt and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke have recently announced a proposal for mandatory virtual ID cards for Internet users, called the “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.”

Two additional agencies had been in the running for the proposal, in addition to White House Cyber Security, all willing to prepare a comprehensive strategy meant to improve safety in cyberspace. One was the National Security Agency and the other was Department of Homeland Security.

Congressman Long's additions to the Cyber Security Act gives the Federal Government more control of the Internet while creating another division of government. Of course, it's all in the name of national security. While Congressman Long claims to be a Tea Party member, he obviously once again forgets the mighty words of Benjamin Franklin. "Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither."

According to Long's Web site the new division of Government will be called NISO. NISO will work with the Department of Homeland Security, a division of government that continues to infringe upon civil liberties--like feeling grandma up at the airport with their TSA division.

But don't you worry, Long claims, “An annual report is the first step to proper Congressional oversight and ensures that privacy and civil liberties of our nation’s citizens are being respected while at the same time we are giving owners and operators the information they need to protect themselves,” said Long.

Airport checkpoints were something the Soviet Union had,
not the United States.

Yeah, because the Department of Homeland Security does such a fine job of respecting civil liberties.

Congressman Billy Long Takes Clear Stance on Cyber Security (Inspired By Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac)

2012-02-03T02:15:00.000-08:00

Let me begin by posting the first paragraph of a press release:

WASHINGTON, DC-Today, U.S. Congressman Billy Long continued his fight against foreign threats as he submitted three amendments to the cybersecurity bill in the Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. Long’s amendments, which passed the Subcommittee unopposed, altered the creation of the National Information Sharing Organization (NISO) which would establish a public-private organization to act as a national cybersecurity information exchange as part of H.R. 3674, “Promoting and Enhancing Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Effectiveness Act of 2011” or PrECISE Act.

“Cyber criminals work together to attack American corporations and government agencies and its time for us to work together to fight back,” said Long. “Critical information between the public and private sectors must be shared if we are going to stem the tide in the rise of cyber crime.”

Op-Ed Time: If you're into the hot new language of "Bureaucratical English" like I am, you would have seen a few buzzwords. The thing that stood out at me the most was the "public-private organization". America has plenty of them! Some of our finest include Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. There are some various ways to shuffle paper to determine true ownership of the organization; and this was not determined in Long's press release. The way I would assume something like this is created is under a federal government chartered and owned corporation. These are separated legally from the federal government but may receive funding, depending on the language of the bill in which they are created under. For a list of these, click here. These are essentially created to perform a specific function outlined by the government, and usually do a pretty mediocre job at it. The mediocre job is a result of not having to streamline operations; because there's really no need to budget since all the money comes from the government, and the appeal for more money usually goes through without a hitch.

But as I read the release further, a new reality sank in the back of my mind. Congressman Long lumps American corporations into the protection as well as government agencies. Why? I would argue the government's agencies cyber-protection is its own responsibility, much like corporations. Why would the government need to get involved with corporations' cyber-protection? Sharing info is well and good, but we all know these organizations like to take control. The Commodity Credit Corporation buys, sells, and lends for commodities; most often with farms. They have the luxury of having up to $30 billion from the Treasury and has losses made up by appropriations from Congress. The Legal Services Corporation provides legal aid, and is funded by Congress appropriations. However, most people around here prefer private legal aid. Geographical mileage may vary. One of the first of its kind, the Tennessee Valley Authority, has been wrapped up in controversy and bloated in size until the 1990s; and only reacted due to the deregulation of generation in that area. After that, they had no problem operating in their appropriated budget. But, what was it I said about inefficiency?

Anyway, what I'm leading to here is; this new cyber-security organization will begin to take control of cyber-security, after appropriating billions for research. What will this research comprise of? Bringing in experts and companies; then carbon-copying their tactics and making them mandatory; instead of letting the market pick the best tactics and the government using them.

Bungalow Bill adds this:

According to Long's Web site the new division of Government will be called NISO. NISO will work with the Department of Homeland Security, a division of government that continues to infringe upon civil liberties--like feeling grandma up at the airport with their TSA division. But don't you worry, Long claims, “An annual report is the first step to proper Congressional oversight and ensures that privacy and civil liberties of our nation’s citizens are being respected while at the same time we are giving owners and operators the information they need to protect themselves,” said Long.

Brandon Backlin, We Are Change Branson

They Call It Obama's Trillion Dollar Defict, But Congressman Billy Long Has More to Do With It

2012-02-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

The Drudge Report recently noted Obama delivered his third trillion dollar deficit of his presidency. That's three for three right? Not so fast.

Who took control of the House of Representatives last year?

John Boehner, Billy Long, and the Republicans...

What body of government has the power of the purse according to the Constitution?

Congress

Where do most appropriations for spending originate from?

The House of Representatives...

While I don't approve of anything Obama has done as president, let's put blame where blame is due. It's the Tea Party betraying Republican House that delivered the third trillion dollar deficit in a row--not Obama. John Boehner, Billy Long, and the rest of the Republicans failed to get enough spending cuts to prevent this. They are to blame more than any other part of government. We have a trillion dollar deficit this year because Republicans like Billy Long were too busy voting in favor of putting federal government stickers on NASCAR stock cars and other wasteful spending rather than live up to the promises they made to the Tea Party to make substantial spending cuts. Remember, in HR1 they failed to even come up with $100 billion in spending cuts.

Congratulations Billy Long. This debt now has your name all over it too.

Billy Long Kicks Off Reelection Campaign With Excuses and Contradictions

2012-01-17T16:18:00.001-08:00

Congressman Billy Long told Southwest Missouri he was fed up. Then he went to Washington and failed to come up with meaningful spending cuts, co-sponsored bills to grow the Department of Homeland Security, voted to fund one of the most fraudulent law suits against the federal government known as Pigford, voted for the Fourth Amendment kolling Patriot Act, the National Defense Authorization Act with it's indefinite detainment language, and of course the debt ceiling increase of $2.4 trillion. Yes, this isn't what Southwest Missouri bought into when they sent the smack talking auctioneer to Congress.

Now, as predicted, Billy Long is making excuses as challengers are now announcing within the ranks of the GOP they will challenge Long in the primary. We knew Long would say the job is much harder than he expected and that he is just getting his feet wet. That's exactly what he wrote in the Politico.

By REP. BILLY LONG | 1/16/12 8:25 PM EST

The voters of Southwest Missouri sent me to Washington because I was fed up.

I was fed up with out-of-control spending and an out-of-touch Washington. Fed up with the way Washington works and the poor results that it keeps churning out, year after year, no matter who’s elected. Fed up with more spending, more bailouts and more carelessness by our officials, elected to serve the country, not protect their reelection chances.

The American people are tired of the policies that are destroying our economy, redistributing our wealth and adding to the debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay. It recently started with the Troubled Asset Relief Program, then the economic stimulus package, then “Obamacare.” All are big expensive programs that few wanted and no one had any idea how to pay for — just more expenses to put on the country’s credit card. For years, the debt ceiling was raised without so much as a whimper.

Long says Americans are sick of policies that are destroying this country fresh from his vote for automatic debt ceiling increases that will take place without a vote of Congress. In other words, Billy Long is voting for policies that are destroying this country while saying he above that.

Then there is the anger over TARP. However, Congressman Long continues to endorse TARP supporting politicians like Roy Blunt and Mitt Romney. How much change for the better does Congressman Long really want when he chooses to endorse the same people supporting the polices he curses?

I’m not a politician. I’m a former small businessman of 30 years and a former morning talk show host. I’ve signed the fronts of paychecks all my life and had never run for political office. Many of my colleagues in the freshman class of 2010 share my background. They’re small-business owners, doctors, nurses and car salesmen, pizza shop owners and exterminators — just regular people who decided they needed to get involved in politics to change the direction of our nation. Like the Founding Fathers, they want to serve their country, then go home to live under the laws they helped create.

Billy Long is not a politician? While Nancy Pelosi was reading the Constitution on the House floor, Billy Long was absent meeting with a lobbyist. Then the first bill Long introduces on the House floor isn't anything that sends a message to Washington he is fed up. No, it's political payback for a $5000 campaign contribution from the National Auctioneer Society.

I came into office on a wave of public approval for the ideas that I ran on: smaller government, lower taxes and more liberty. We had a mandate to control spending. Unfortunately, I think everyone, including myself, underestimated how dysfunctional our government has become.

I might have run as the fed-up candidate, but I was hopeful that, with a little bit of wit and will, common sense could prevail. But the realities of not having a Republican-controlled Senate or White House slapped me in the face. Most politicians care more about getting reelected than about doing the right thing. Sadly, even among the core group that does want to accomplish real change, folks all too often end up in a circular firing squad attacking each other, rather than taking aim at the politicians who jealously guard the broken system that benefits them.

Given my business background, I was shocked to learn that there are many members of Congress, mostly in the Senate, who don’t even support having a budget. A business can’t run successfully without a budget to keep track of revenue and expenses. Refusing to even operate under a budget is a powerful symbol of the “money-is-no-object” attitude that still runs Washington. As the old saying goes, common sense isn’t common, at least not in Washington.

Yes Congressman Long, you had a mandate to control spending, but passing funding for Dale Earnhardt Jr's National Guard Chevrolet was more important than making serious cuts. That's right Congressman Long, you voted to put stickers on stock cars which has cost taxpayers over $100 million over the last decade, and you want us to believe you are still fed up?

Big-spending politicians are at least clever. They’re clever enough not to operate under a budget because they don’t want to put their agendas down on paper for everyone to see.

With a new majority in the House and the backing of the public, I thought we could start making some much needed reforms. I quickly realized, however, that Harry Reid’s Senate was going to stand in the way of the House and the public. We passed dozens of bills — 28 on creating new jobs alone — but the Senate did nothing.

Oh yeah Billy, it's all Harry Reid's fault. Looking back at the HR1 debate last year with Republicans in the majority of the House, the John Boehner led Congress couldn't even deliver $100 billion in spending cuts that you promised. Rather than admit the the people of southwest Missouri you had failed, you went to the microphone in Larry the Cable Guy fashion telling us you got it done. In the end you didn't even get a third of the cuts you promised Congressman Long, because you were too busy thinking cutting things like NASCAR sponsorship would be irresponsible.

I felt terrible each week as I made the trip back to Southwest Missouri with nothing to report but more roadblocks from the Senate. The White House, of course, could have intervened with its Senate allies to get things moving, but President Barack Obama is just as worried about getting reelected and just as happy to stop the progress of the House.

When it comes to bad economic ideas the president is like the last fellow sitting at the table, but it’s the American people who are stuck with the bill.

Not to be too depressing, we have made a lot of progress. House Republicans and the wave of freshman Republicans were able to change the conversation in the country. Before I got here, the question was, “How much taxpayer money can we spend?” Now the question is, “How much can we cut?”

Overall, I’ve learned that changing the way things are done in a fundamentally flawed Congress isn’t easy. Democracy is inherently messy. But as a wiser second-year congressman, I know that I must work even harder if anything is going to change.

It’s tough being away from my family, friends and neighbors back home, but I know I’m serving them by trying to do the right things for the right reasons every single day. I’m honored and humbled to be able to do this service for my community and my country. And I look forward to the difference I can make in 2012.

Mr. Long look at your record. You oppose the Constitution supporting the Patriot Act and indefinite detainment of Americans without due process. You voted for a debt ceiling bill that removes the burden of Congress to ever face the American people again with another debt ceiling vote. You failed in coming up with meaningful spending cuts to present to the Senate. You co-sponsored more big intrusive government through expansion the Department of Homeland Security. You agreed to give billions of dollars away in the Pigford lawsuit.

So perhaps it is your decisions in Washington that should make you feel terrible, and rather promise that you are going to make a difference in 2012, why don't you come back home and do what you do best--auctioneer. Your record contradicts your rallying cry for reelection. You aren't going to be able to hide from it this year, and considering the $2.4 trillion more in debt you voted for and all that is going to come after that thanks to automatic debt ceiling increases, you really have not done any of us any favors Mr. Long.

Congressman Billy Long Endorses Gun Grabber Mitt Romney for President

2012-01-16T03:38:00.001-08:00

Congressman Billy Long promised us he would protect our gun rights. His endorsement of Mitt Romney isn't an endorsement that should give you any faith in Billy Long's intentions to protect the Second Amendment.

Last week, Long endorsed Romney calling him the "true conservative" and it appears the Republican establishment is singing the Coke song around Romney, desperate to get Obama out of office. However, it seems no one in the GOP including Congressman Long is taking the time to vet Romney. Romney is no friend to the second Amendment.

Romney supported the Brady Bill.

Romney called for the elimination of semi automatics.

Romney advocated for tougher gun control laws promising not to chip away at the gun control laws already in place.

Romney supports mandatory firearm owner ID's (FOID).

Romney supports a five-day waiting period on new gun purchases.

Romney supports the Federal Feinstein gun ban.

Yes, Congressman Long went to Washington promising to protect our gun rights with a shining endorsement from the NRA, but it appears Congressman Long could care less about our gun rights based on who he is endorsing for President.

Mitt Romney: Gun Grabber

Billy Long's Debt Ceiling Vote Further Bankrupts the United States of America With Automatic Debt Ceiling Increases

2012-01-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

I know I was surprised to learn fed up Billy Long voted to increase the debt ceiling another $2.4 trillion. Long went to Washington promising Southwest Missourians he was going to be a tough force against big government, but we soon learned Long embraced the very establishment.

Long's vote for the debt ceiling doesn't just set up $2.4 trillion in debt. Trust me, we would be much better off if that was the case. Long's vote for the debt ceiling ensured he and the rest of Congress would not have to face the American people ever again with a debt ceiling increase.

Senator Rand Paul was on the Mike Church show last week on SiriusXM Patriot. Senator Paul explained exactly what the John Boehner led Congress did to avoid any future debt ceiling votes. Pay attention here because you are about to learn Congressman Billy Long voted to further bankrupting the United States.

Rand: They did something really tricky with the debt ceiling that’s never been done before. It goes up automatically. The debt ceiling goes up automatically if it’s not disapproved. So the House doesn’t have to pass anything. If the House passes a disapproval, the President vetoes it, and then we’re done because we can’t override a veto. But it goes up automatically. This is the first time in the history of the United States that we’ve put into law automatic increases in the debt ceiling. And that’s why it was really bad back in August when we were having this big fight, and a lot of us were grousing about this, is that this is the first time it’s automatic, basically. Debt ceiling goes up if we do nothing.

Mike: But you would – so you heard the prior conversation. But you would agree with me, I would think, it would defer, or we would agree with the Constitution and Mr. Madison, that this has to be an appropriation; right?

Rand: Well, it’s an increase in the debt ceiling, whether it’s an appropriation or not. But, see, it did originate in the House back in August. But what they did back in August – and, see, you could pass a law that says we’re going to have no more debt ceiling, and that the debt ceilings will be automatic. What they did in August, and I don’t approve of this, I mean, I voted against this, but back in August they voted to raise the debt ceiling, and then they said it would automatically happen again in six months. And it automatically happens unless we disapprove of it. It’s a bizarre, convoluted, basically parliamentary trick to get people away from having to vote for it because, see, now nobody has to vote to raise the debt ceiling. It goes up automatically. We can actually vote to disapprove of it, which makes a lot of people look good. Then the President vetoes it, and we can’t overcome the veto, and so people get sort of a pass on raising the debt ceiling, and they don’t have to worry about negotiating with people like me who think there should be some kind of spending restraints attached to the debt ceiling.

Did you catch that? Long's vote for the debt ceiling help ensured future debt ceiling increases will be automatic. Congress no longer has to vote on them. When the time comes, the debt ceiling goes up, unless Congress decides to conduct a vote otherwise. Now with Barack Obama in office demanding and creating more debt, what is the likelihood Congress will ever be able to successfully keep it from going up as long as there is a veto ready to prevent it. You know, it's not just Obama, because it went up many times with a Republican in the White House too.

So next time you see Billy, thank him for becoming part of that group he once shook his fist at.

Billy Long: Reaganesque in Invoking the 11th Commandment or Damn Hypocrite?

2012-01-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

There is a shameful movement in the Republican party to transform Mitt Romney into the next Ronald Reagan. If you listen carefully, it's hard to go a day without the comparison. Considering this tactic from the GOP establishment with the hope of getting Romney elected, it's clear to me the GOP no longer wishes to live up to the Reagan legacy of conservatism.

Mitt Romney is no Ronald Reagan, and the very idea of comparing the two makes me taste my lunch a few times every day. Here's Mitt Romney, an advocate of socialist medicine, compared to Ronald Reagan, a man who fought staunchly against socialist medicine. All you need to know to discount this illusion the GOP establishment hopes to create is before there was Obamacare, Romney was giving it a test drive in Massachusetts.

It appears Congressman Billy Long has been given his marching orders. Congressman Long, who has received two considerable campaign donations from Mitt Romney's PAC is using Ronald Reagan to defend the most liberal, big government Republican in the presidential field.

St. Louis Today has an article about the Republican establishment coming to Romney's defense on allegations Romney was not a very nice man when it came to running his corporation Bain Capital. The article gives time to Congressman Billy Long who invokes Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment in defense of Romney.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, a Springfield Republican who endorsed Romney today, chided Romney's opponents for forgetting what Ronald Reagan used to describe as the 11th Commandment -- Republicans should not speak ill of one another.

"This is just the opposite of what the Republican Party stands for, the free enterprise system," Long said. "They're attacking the free enterprise system and it's just deplorable in my estimation and I'm sorry that they stoop to this level with their attacks."

Very Reaganesque of Congressman Long right? Well that is until you realize Billy Long was elected to Congress breaking the 11th Commandment himself. From the Springfield News-Leader shortly before he was elected to Congress:

Although his campaign launched some negative, questionable attacks in the primary, we believe Long resorted to them because of advice that is becoming far too common in today's no-holds-barred campaign climate.

Negative attacks in the primary? Well isn't that breaking Ronald Reagan's 11th? Oh, you want to see proof do you?

Jack Goodman, a man loved by his constituents in Lawrence County and neighboring counties for being a family values conservative had his record attacked by Congressman Long in the most unfairest of ways. Long went as far as claiming he was the only only true pro-life candidate in the primary while smearing Goodman and Gary Nodler's reputations as tough pro-life legislators in Jefferson City. The truth is, even the Democrats were pro life in the race.

The irony of all this is after these attacks against Goodman and Nodler that clearly shows Long violated the 11th, Billy Long is supporting this man for president...

The News-Leader did warn us about Billy Long. "His platform and public explanations of it during the primary and general campaigns have at times generated questions and claims of contradiction."

Congressman Billy Long Sacrifices Fed Up Ethos to Endorse Mitt Romney

2012-01-12T14:37:00.001-08:00

Congressman Billy Long, who has seen a couple of nice campaign contributions from Mitt Romney's PAC, is sacrificing his fed up ethos to endorse the Republican establishment's pick for the presidential nominee. In Long's endorsement, it's easy to see Long really doesn't stand for much, and Southwest Missouri can't trust him to go and defend all the values that are important to us.

PoliticMO reports:

Long, a Tea Party favorite in 2010, praised Romney as the “true conservative” in the presidential race that will “reverse” President Obama’s policies.

“Mitt Romney will get rid of Obamacare, stop our government’s out-of-control spending, and — most important of all — create jobs for the American people,” Long said. “If conservatives are serious about getting our country back on track, Mitt Romney is the clear choice.”

Mr. Long you can't be serious? The only candidate even talking about making major cuts to the out of control spending is Ron Paul, whose plan, I remind you cuts over $1 trillion in government spending.

Let's analyze what Billy Long thinks a true conservative is.

Let's start with abortion.

Congressman Long says he opposes abortion, and yet for a couple campaign contributions, Mr. Long will compromise his pro-life stance.

Let's see Mitt Romney's record on protecting gun rights.

Mitt Romney: Gun Grabber

Billy Long ignores Ron Paul's plan to cut government spending by over $1 trillion dollars and tells us Mitt Romney is the guy who will cut spending in Massachusetts, but his record as Massachusetts governor tells a different story.

Mitt Romney claims to have cut the Massachusetts budget by "$2 billion." Sometimes he claims he cut it "$3 billion." The media gives him free advertising by parroting this myth repeatedly. They repeat it so often that even some libertarians assume it must be true.

But these "cuts" were merely budget games. Spending cuts in one area were simply moved into another area of the budget.

In fact, not only did Mitt Romney refuse to cut the overall Massachusetts budget, he expanded it. Dramatically.

The Massachusetts state budget was $22.7 billion a year when he took office in January of 2003.

When he left office four years later, it was over $25.7 billion – plus another $2.2 billion in spending that the legislature took "off budget." (Romney never reminds us of this fact.)

The net effect of budgets proposed and signed into law by Mitt Romney? An additional $5.2 billion in state spending – and a similar increase in new taxes. Every year.

Mitt Romney likes to talk like he's against taxes, but his record in Massachusetts is about pushing all sorts of new taxes. Carla Howell laid out Romney's new methods of taking more money from the people of Massachusetts to pay for his expansion of government.

Romney claims to be anti-tax. He even "took" a "no new taxes" pledge when he ran for Governor of Massachusetts in 2002. "Took" is in quotes because he refused to sign that pledge. His signature wasn't necessary, he claimed. He assured us that he's a man of his word.

But Mitt Romney has been a champion of new taxes.

Mitt Romney proposed three new taxes while campaigning for governor: a new tax on vehicles, a new tax on campaign donations, and a new tax on building construction. They didn't get much fanfare in the media and were quickly forgotten.

Right before the 2002 election, he ran millions of dollars in ads portraying himself as a "no new taxes" governor. The media refused to set the record straight.

But that was only the beginning.

Each of the four years Romney served as governor, he raised taxes – while pretending he didn't. He claims he only raised mandatory government "fees." But government mandatory fees are nothing but taxes, and taxes are nothing but mandatory government fees. Romney's new tax-fees raised hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for the state government every year.

He also increased several taxes by "closing loopholes" to enable collection of a new Internet sales tax and by passing legislation that enables local governments to raise business property taxes. This, he claims, is not raising taxes.

Then there is that repeal Obamacare promise. Obama called Mitt Romney the inspiration for Obamacare. Of course Mitt Romney had no problems with the federal mandate prior to running for president. When it came an issue, Romney now wants to repeal it. What is even more telling is the fact Romney doesn't apologize for being the inspiration of Obamacare.

Mitt says there's a huge difference between Obamacare and Romneycare. Research into Romneycare shows there is little difference between the two. The New York Post reports:

In fact, we have already seen the start of this process in Massachusetts, where Mitt Romney’s health care reforms were nearly identical to President Obama’s. Romney’s reforms increased the demand for health care but did nothing to expand the supply of physicians. In fact, by cracking down on insurance premiums, Massachusetts pushed insurers to reduce their payments to providers, making it less worthwhile for doctors to expand their practices. As a result, the average wait to get an appointment with a doctor grew from 33 days to over 55 days.

Is this a conservative Mr. Long? An abortion supporting, gun grabbing, government growing, mandate pushing candidate?

The truth is Mr. Long doesn't know what a conservative is. He uses the word to fool voters who don't do any research into believing Congressman Long is something he isn't. Like Romney, Billy Long has grown government. Long voted for the debt ceiling. He voted to fund Pigford, which is costing tax payers billions. And of course, when asked about Obamacare, Billy Long said there's lots of things that are good about Obamacare.

And Billy Long likes a lot of things about Obamacare including the government telling insurance companies how to run their businesses.

And for a couple of campaign contributions from Romney's own PAC, Billy Long will play the deceptiCON game of selling the public that Mitt Romney is a conservative.

Mitt Romney is no conservative. His record speaks volumes against the very idea.

Congressman Billy Long Goes Postal Denying His Intent to Privatize Post Office

2012-01-07T03:09:00.003-08:00

Billy Long is threatening constituents with the fear they won't have access to their Congressman if they hold him accountable for things he has said in the past. Earlier this week at the USPS Center Closure Meeting in Springfield, MO, Long hid a threat in one of his good ol' boy soundbites.

"You catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So, when you tell stories about me through some of your representatives that I want to privatize the Postal Service, which is an out and out lie, that doesn't help you any with me or my office. So....".

So, if people like the postal employees of Southwest Missouri try to hold Billy Long accountable for his words (see line 8 of the pledge candidate Billy Long signed in 2010)...

Billy Long's No Pork Pledge

Congressman Long will accuse them of being liars and threaten banning access to the Congressman and his office. Isn't that what Long is saying here?

Of course, it's not the first time we have seen Long's office deny access to people with genuine concerns about their federal government. There were those pesky rabbit protesters...

It was only when Billy Long feared paying a political price that he dared to help fight big government coming down on a Nixa family.

Billy Long's Post Office Privatization Problem: Congressman Long is the Liar

2012-01-05T20:00:00.001-08:00

Last night Congressman Billy Long attended a heated meeting about the future of the United States Post Office, specifically the mail handling facility in Springfield, Missouri. Long was on the defensive over claims he wants to privatize the post office. Long boldly stated anyone who claims Long wants to privatize the Post Office is a liar.

Long said, "You catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So, when you tell stories about me through some of your representatives that I want to privatize the Postal Service, which is an out and out lie, that doesn't help you any with me or my office. So...."

This poses two problems for Congressman Long. First, I thought he was fed up of inefficient big government, and the US Postal Service has become a model of big inefficient government that continues to run in the red.

Then there was that little pledge Billy Long promised to privatize the Post Office. Eli Yokely of The Fuse Joplin and PoliticMO reported of Long's desire to privatize the Post Office:

The Fuse Joplin writes:

In the survey, Long pledged himself to spending cuts, support of free trade, and budget reform.

“I strongly believe that the government’s ability to tax and spend should be strictly limited and tied to a small percentage of national GDP,” Long wrote.

Long also said ‘yes’ to ending agriculture subsidies. “Our food supply is important and should be able to operate in a free market without the distortions of government’s politically motivated subsidies,” Long wrote.

He signed the “No Pork Pledge” in his survey. The criteria of the pledge? The earmark can not be requested by one member of congress, would have to be competitively awarded, and not exceed the budget request.

Long in the past has pledged to do them one better – no earmarks.

In the survey, Long wrote, “I will not take any earmarks and I believe that the practice of earmarking should be eliminate.”

Long said the United States Postal service was a ‘failure,’ and said he would be for privatization of it.

It appears the liar here is Billy Long according to an article Yokely wrote during the 2010 campaign.

But don't take my word for it. Here's the pledge sheet Long signed. Just look at answer 8:

Billy Long's No Pork Pledge

Maybe Billy Long can explain answer 8. No, he will probably run from it and say this isn't his handwriting and he isn't responsible for the answers.

The Effort Begins Today to Kick the Big Government Bum Out

2011-12-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

Remember this commercial?

"The liberals in Washington are bankrupting this country..."

And so is Billy Long. Long voted in support of the largest debt ceiling increase in the history of the United States--$2.4 trillion more. Long voted to fund Pigford, one of the largest fraudulent lawsuits ever posed against the federal government. All the while Long served up minimal spending cuts and didn't bother to even come up with any, but he did vote to continue funding for federal NASCAR sponsorship. As well he co-sponsored the expansion of size and power for the federal government and didn't even bother to read the legislation according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Now, and from what I am hearing to the chagrin of the Republican establishment who too plays the big government game, Congressman Long will face a challenger in the Republican primary. Mike Moon kicks off his campaign today to dethrone Big Government Billy.

Moon's announcement schedule follows:

Taney County Courthouse (Forsythe) 9:00am;

Christian County Courthouse (Ozark) 10:15am;

Greene County (Historic) Courthouse (Springfield) 11:15am;

Lawrence County (Historic) Courthouse (Mt. Vernon) 1:00pm;

Jasper County Courthouse (Carthage) 2:15pm.

Congressman Long Waits Seven Months to Contact Nixa Family Facing $4 Million in Fines by the USDA

2011-12-02T14:50:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe seven months have passed since I first met John and Judy Dollarhite. When I met them, I warned them what I was about to do for them to bring their story to the public was going to put them on a roller coaster. They gave it some thought for a day, consulted with their attorney, and gave me the go head to publish their story.

I used my connections to see to it the story got national attention on Breitbart. What happened next was beyond my expectations; although I did promise them it would make Drudge, Alex Jones, and Rush Limbaugh. It made Limbaugh's show twice.

Of course, all we really wanted to get was Billy Long's attention. After all, he is the Congressman that promised he was fed up with Washington and was going to do something about it. Of course, we learned the hard way Billy Long was fed up with people protesting big government.

Now, nearly seven months after USDA/rabbit protesters were removed from the front of Billy Long's Congressional office during a protest in hopes of getting Congressman Long's attention, Congressman Long has finally reached out the Dollarhite family. Long's office wrote a letter in the summer, but Long himself never took the time to reach out to his constituents to update them on the actions of his office until yesterday. It's still unclear what those actions have been other than writing a letter. Claire McCaskill's office immediately contacted the Dollarhites upon learning of the situation in May.

Judy Dollarhite posted on Facebook yesterday:

Good news! Billy Long called us a little while ago. He's going to meet personally with the head of APHIS sometime next week. Hopefully we'll have an end to this with a good outcome, not only for ourselves, but for anyone else in the industry.

Moving on to other news, Billy Long is expected to return to Jefferson City in two months to file for reelection at the Secretary of State's office. You do the math here. It's not hard to figure out.

The Top Five Reasons Not to Reelect Congressman Billy Long

2011-10-10T06:07:00.001-07:00

The Top Five Reasons Not to Reelect Congressman Billy Long

1. Voted for the largest debt ceiling increase ever ($2.4 trillion) while getting virtually no spending cuts in a compromise with the Democrats.

2. Voted to fund fraudulent lawsuit against the USDA known as Pigford that is taking billions from taxpayers rather than putting his foot down in an effort to stop it.

3. Proposed no spending cuts with HR1 while voting to continue funding for federal sponsorship of NASCAR teams and other frivolous spending failing to come up with $100 billion in spending cuts.

4. Proved he could be bought by lobbying money by proposing National Auctioneer Day instead of coming up with valuable spending cuts.

5. Grew the power of the federal government by voting for the Fourth Amendment killing Patriot Act twice all the while claiming he supports the Constitution, and then co-sponsored legislation that continues to grow government like the If You See Something Say Something Act of 2011 and HR617, which would sell off valuable HAM radio frequencies that were important in saving lives in Joplin before and after the horrible tornado in exchange for an emergency broadband frequency that has ties to the Internet kill switch.

Extra Credit: Did not come to the aid of constituents in his district when big government attacked. Long was AWOL when it came to helping keep the USDA off the backs of a Nixa family, the Dollarhites, who face up to $4 million in fines for raising bunny rabbits. When a group of concerned citizens wrote Congressman Long about the United Nations infiltrating our schools with anti-American values, Long sent a form letter praising the program despite promising to return local control back to our schools.

It's Back for an Encore Appearance: The Congressman Billy Long Halloween Costume

2011-10-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

It's back for an encore appearance. Fresh off voting in favor of the largest debt ceiling increase ever, a fraudulent lawsuit known as Pigford that is costing taxpayers billions of dollars, and other wacky not so fed up votes, it's the Billy Long Halloween costume.

Billy Long Bribes Tera Sukman and the Tea Party Patriot HQ For One More Chance

2011-08-12T05:45:00.001-07:00

While not too many voters in Southwest Missouri are getting Billy Long's time while he is on recess, we do know Tera Sukman of the Tea Party Patriot HQ in Branson, Sukman recently posted an account on the meeting on Facebook, which she claims she got two hours of Congressman Long's time followed up by another hour with a staffers time. (If only John Dollarhite was so lucky.)

Patriots. We are in Bad Trouble. If we do not BOUND together our Country is Lost. Met with Congressman Long Yesterday for 2 Hours. I told Him I WAS FED UP. He voted for raising Debt Ceiling and I expressed my complete disappointment along with an Hour meeting with Andrea Lord who gave him same message. Michelle Bachmann was exactly correct I like her more every day. We need to take over the Republican Party like Socialist have taken over Democrats. NO MORE COMPROMISE. If your not a Tea Party Republican and Constitution First. Don't RUN. Learn the Constitution tomorrow Moon River Theater 9:00 Join the REVOLT. Join HANDS

So how does Billy Long bribe the Tea Party Patriot HQ to forgive him and give him some more love in hopes he can continue his "I'm Tea Party" lies? He makes Tera Sukman the 7th District Congressional Republican Committee the Star of the Week. She's probably not upset with Congressman Long for raising the debt ceiling anymore, just like she wasn't upset with him for voting for things like Pigford and the Patriot Act.

MO 7th "STAR OF THE WEEK!" : Tera Sukman

Article by: David Horton, MO7th Comm. Dir.
On Twitter there is a tradition for many called "Follow Friday" or #FF, where someone will spotlight an individual who they feel others should follow. In the tradition of "Follow Friday", each week we highlight and interview a highly participatory member of the 7th district that we feel you should get to know, our "MO 7th STAR of the Week!"

SO...this week's STAR is...Tera Sukman!

Tera is from the Branson/Taney County Area, and is the director for the Tea Party HQ organization. Here's a short interview to help you get to know a little bit about Tera:

Q: How long have you been involved in Republican politics, and what motivated you to start getting active in politics?
A: 3 years

Q: Favorite President?

A: Reagan

Q: Favorite 7th District elected official?

A: I'm still watching how 7th District candidates vote before deciding

Q: Best campaign you ever worked in?

A: This one, 2012.

Q: Sum up your political philosophy with one word?

A: Constitutional

Q: Favorite Book? (other than typical favorites like The Bible, etc.)

A: Don't Tread On Me, by: Paul Curtman

Q: Favorite Spot in the 7th District?

A: Metropolitan Grill in Springfield

Q: Favorite Quote?

A: "Any situation is only as bad as your reaction to it."

Q: What keeps you motivated when it comes to Republican politics?

A: " I want to beat Obama so bad I can Taste it. I want my Country back. That's what motivates me, I LOVE MY COUNTRY,I mean, BEATING OBAMA was why I got involved. I knew he was a SOCIALIST."

end of article

Metro Grill eh, that is an interesting choice to say the least... I will let you draw your own conclusions.

No Townhalls for Southwest Missouri but Billy Long is Pretending to be a Congressman

2011-08-11T06:07:00.001-07:00

Billy Long is on vacation. This vacation cost taxpayers over $14,000 as we pay for Billy Long's congressional salary, which he had the nerve enough to complain about as he entered office. What is Billy Long doing on August recess?

Well August recess is traditionally a time for members of Congress to return to their districts and conduct town hall meetings in open forums where voters have access to their Congressman to ask questions. There is no evidence there will be town hall meetings so voters can address why fed up Billy Long voted to raise the debt ceiling $2.4 trillion and did little to cut government spending.

Rather than face the angry voters of Southwest Missouri, Billy Long is playing (acting) Congressman.

After several local politicians read proclamations of commemoration, congressman Billy Long took the podium portraying John William Noell, the congressman from the area who was elected in 1859 as a Democrat, then later re-elected as an Unconditional Unionist.

As Noell, Long expressed his confidence in a quick battle because of the leadership of Brig. General Nathaniel Lyon. Then Greene County Commissioner Jim Viebrock brought Noell a note, and Noell somberly reported that Lyon had been killed on the battlefield.

"Unfortunately, I have other bad news," said Noell. "I myself will decease in just two more years."

But, he said, his own son would eventually be elected.

Oh the irony! Billy Long continues acting--from being the fed up candidate who wasn't to playing the part of career politician noting it's an insiders club ready for his own son.

Congressman Billy Long is Now Bankrupting this Country: Votes for Largest Debt Ceiling Increase Ever

2011-08-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Remember Billy Long's campaign commercial where he was placed on a ball field shaking his arm at the small crowd. "The liberals are bankrupting this country."

We are just over a year out from that commercial, which probably helped push Billy Long over the top over Jack Goodman. Is Billy Long fed up a year later?

No. Billy Long is now bankrupting the country. We already know about things like Pigford, so I am not going to reexamine those facts. What needs to be said and what the Tea Party needs to realize is Billy Long just voted for the single largest debt ceiling increase in the history of our Republic. The bill is half a trillion larger than any debt ceiling increase that came before it and it happened with Republicans in control of the House of Representatives.

When all is said and done, we will be led by these same people like Billy Long to a $16.7 trillion deficit. In other words, Billy Long's congressional job was one of the few truly available shovel-ready jobs in Obama's America. Billy Long is now digging America's grave.

In 2012, Billy Long can't recycle his fed up yard signs in comic sans font. Nor should that comic sans font make us smile believing Billy is going to Washington to fight for us. He voted to approve putting this country into more debt when there were options that weren't even considered months before this vote occurred. The US had plenty of assets and cuts that could have been made to prevent us to getting to this debt ceiling crisis, and Billy Long proved he wasn't fed up enough to lead this country in that direction.

Here's the reality of "fed up" Billy. The debt framework President and congressional leaders reached Sunday night runs 74 pages long, and could authorize as much as $2.4 trillion in new debt — or $32.4 billion per page.

It's no wonder "fed up" is looking an awful lot like this these days:

Did Billy Long Read the New Debt Ceiling Bill Before Voting to Raise it $2.4 Trillion

2011-08-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

John Boehner, Billy Long, and many others in the GOP ranks are losing their trustworthiness quickly. Not only did they push through a bad debt ceiling bill under the guise of "budget control," they also broke another promise in the Pledge to America. The $2.4 trillion debt ceiling increase the House passed last night broke the promise. Perhaps Republicans like Billy Long who scolded Democrats for rushing legislation through the House, decided there were things he didn't want constituents to see, since the bill didn't get the 72 hour treatment.

The Pledge to America reads, “We will ensure that bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text online for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives,” said the Pledge to America. “No more hiding legislative language from the minority party, opponents, and the public. Legislation should be understood by all interested parties before it is voted on.”

The introduction of the Pledge to America talks about reforming Congress and gives more insight to the goals of the GOP.

“Americans have lost trust with their government, which has too often ignored the will of the people in favor of party loyalty and a desire to pass partisan bills at any cost,” said the introduction to that part of the Pledge to America. “Backroom deals, phantom amendments, and bills that go unread before being forced through Congress have become business as usual. Never before has the need for a new approach to governing been more apparent than under Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership. Americans are demanding change in the way Congress works, and we are fighting to bring much-needed sunlight to the process and give the American people a greater voice in their Congress.”

In less than 20 hours after it was posted, it was passed. It posted at 1:45 AM EST. It was voted on the same evening. Did you read the entire bill Congressman Long before you voted to put this country another $2.4 trillion in debt?

More Tea Party that Tea Party Billy Long Votes for Boehner's Debt Ceiling Increase

2011-07-30T05:37:00.003-07:00

Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul are two Republicans who realized what a joke John Boehner's debt ceiling compromise plan was. They of course are two Tea Party favorites serving in Congress. It wasn't that long ago when Congressman Billy Long was asked why he didn't join the Tea Party Caucus, that Long said, "I am more Tea Party than the Tea Party."

Last night, Long broke ranks with the Tea Party and voted to extend the debt ceiling while agreeing to minimal spending cuts that would lead to little debt reduction. I am reminded of how Billy Long once told John Boehner off when a similar compromise came out of the house producing minimal spending cuts after the GOP promised us $100 billion.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long at Joplin Tea Party by PoliticMo

Oh Billy, got up, threw up his arms, and told Boehner the spending cuts in the compromise were a joke and walked out. So what happened to that Billy Long last night when he voted to raise the debt ceiling as Boehner's plan continued to shrink meaningless debt reduction last week?

You know Mr. Long, had you walked out, called Boehner and his plan a joke, and voted no, I would have a new admiration for you. As it turns out, you voted against the Tea Party and voted for a plan that only reduced the deficit $90 billion a year. The American people deserve better sir. The Boehner plan may be the best plan, but it never painted the picture of America I wanted to see ten years down the road.

The Version of Congressman Billy Long I Miss: Long Supports Raising Debt Ceiling

2011-07-29T06:16:00.001-07:00

There are a few times when Southwest Missouri should be truly proud of their "fed up" Congressman. One of those times was during the Boehner compromise when the promise of $100 billion in spending cuts, promised in the Pledge to America. As the spending cuts became the victim of John Boehner's compromise on the budget with Democrats, shrinking to less than a third promise, Congressman Billy Long met with a group of Republicans being lobbied by Boehner to support the bill.

In Billy Long's greatest moment in Congress, and trust me this is a rare moment, Long, upset by what he heard, walked out of the meeting exclaiming the Boehner compromise was essentially a joke.

Of course, at the Joplin Tea Party a few days later, Billy Long said we must not give up support on John Boehner. Apparently, Billy Long is now living true to those words as John Boehner is helping give up valuable ground in this debt ceiling debate once again showing his lack of committment to making substantial spending cuts.

The Boehner plan cuts less than a trillion dollars from the deficit in ten years. In simple terms, that's less than $100 billion a year, a number Boehner has problems showing any leadership to acheive.

Rather than throwing up his arms and calling the speaker out for his lack of leadership like Long did in the spring, Long proves once and for all he has swallowed the Potomac Kool-Aid.

Billy Long now supports the Boehner debt ceiling increase that contains more shrinking spending cuts.

"No one knows the ramifications of not passing a debt ceiling increase, and this plan prevents us from finding that out," said Rep. Billy Long. R-Mo. "When Republicans only control one-half of one-third of the government, this is about as good of a deal as we are going to get."

It's really sad Mr. Long--your transition is a sad one. I miss the Billy Long that threw his arms up and walked out when Boehner was compromising with Democrats. Now Long is going along.

Billy Long to Vote for Boehner Debt Ceiling Increase Plan According to St. Louis Today

2011-07-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

St. Louis Today is reporting disappointing news today. It appears Billy Long, the fed up Congressman from Southwest Missouri, will vote for the Boehner debt ceiling plan.

John Boehner's plan only reduces the deficit by a laughable $22 billion its first year and less than a trillion dollars over ten years.

St. Louis Today writes:

Boehner's analysis might apply to the thinking of Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, who intends to oppose Boehner's plan.

A spokesman for Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, said that Leutkemeyer intends to support it pending final details. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville and Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, also plan to support the legislation and Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, is undecided, her office said.

For more details on just how little the Boehner plan cuts spending, see BBCW.

Billy Long: World's Worst Person AGAIN #amywinehouse #billylong

2011-07-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

For the second time in as many months, Billy Long is on Keith Olbermann's World's Worst Person list. Tonight, Congressman Long is the top billing.

You may remember last month, Long made the list for making fun of tornado drills and selling of HAM radio frequencies.

Of course, you probably don't have to guess why Billy Long made the list for the second time. All across America and stretching into Europe, the anger at Billy Long is obvious for using Amy Winehouse's death to push his political rhetoric, and followed it up with a pathetic apology which he claims he wrote and sat on until somebody demanded an apology.

While I don't care much for Mr. Olbermann, I care less for Billy Long. So here's Keith Olbermann declaring Billy Long as the World's Worst Person.

By the way, both Busplunge's Jim Lee and myself predicted Billy Long would be placed on this list within the first six months in office. We never imagined Long would make the list twice in two months for basically doing the same stupid thing--TWEET.

Billy Long Condemns Fellow Members of Congress as Addicted While Hiding His Own Record #Amywinehouse

2011-07-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

It's ironic isn't it? One of the weakest characters in Washington, a man who has his own addictions decided to open up his fat trap and start an international controversy by picking on Amy Winehouse in death. Billy Long's own ethos is one that is obvious full of his own addictions.

During the campaign, rumors flew about his gambling addiction. Of course simple Google searches yielded the results of Congressman Long's high stakes poker games. Then there was the pathetic excuse to a supporter (denial fitting the pattern of an addict) that became concerned when proof of Congressman Long's gambling became one of the discussions in the campaign. I have been told that one of the first thing Billy Long did when he got to Washington was to start checking out the closest casinos, as well many witnesses have claimed to have seen Billy Long at the Downstream Casino near Joplin every time they go there.

Then of course, when you look at Billy Long, you can obviously see what wins the battle between exercise and food addiction. Heck, Long is so well known at one local restaurant, they named their biggest cut after one of the biggest members of Congress, and not in a healthy way.

So as you can see Billy Long has his own addiction problems as he slams Amy Winehouse as drug addicted in his tweet comparing Congress to her. When you look at his tweet, there are obvious contradiction in his condemning Congress as a bunch of people addicted to OPM, and his own actions in Congress. In other words Congressman Long's tweet shows his own hypocrisy beyond the noted possible addictions.

Since getting to Congress, Billy Long has co-sponsored bills that grow the Department of Homeland Security. He voted to fund the Pigford lawsuit against the USDA, which is costing tax payers $1.25 billion in a case where the race card has been played by scam artists and class action attorneys. He has co-sponsored bills that give tax credits for college social club improvements (fraternities and sororities). He voted to continue federal funding of NASCAR teams, which totals nearly $30 million of your tax dollars. I could go on. I think you see a pattern developing that clearly shows Long's own tweet condemning members of Congress as OPM addicted obviously overlooks Long's own record as someone who went to Washington fed up but failed to set an example.

Congressman Billy Long Politicizes Amy Winehouse Death: #amywinehouse

2011-07-25T09:54:00.001-07:00

It didn't take Billy Long to show his lack of etiquette with the passing of Amy Winehouse. Doubtful the member of the "cowboy hat caucus" in Congress has a Winehouse CD, Congressman Billy Long politicizes Winehouse's death today by tweeting:

No one could reach #AmyWinehouse before it was too late. Can anyone reach Washington before it's too late? Both addicted - same fate???

Notice how Congressman Long tags his tweet so Amy Winehouse fans in mourning sharing their love of the singer will pull it up on Twitter. It's shameful that a sitting member of Congress would use the death of a celebrity and human being for their own political gain.

Yes, I believe Long makes a valid point in his tweet. It's distasteful none-the-less.

The Springfield News-Leader: Billy Long's Fed Up Bit is Wearing Thin

2011-07-25T04:58:00.001-07:00

The News-Leader has sacrificed much of its credibility not reporting many things Congressman Billy Long has done in Washington that goes against his "fed up" rhetoric--things like giving $1.25 billion away to fund a frivolous lawsuit known as Pigford. Now it appears the News-Leader is fed up with "fed up." Of course, when you consider the editorial in the News-Leader and then compare it to what Billy Long ran on, which the News-Leader endorse, you have to ask why is the News-Leader a bit surprised.

The News-Leader's editor writes:

It is time for U.S. Rep. Billy Long to get beyond being "fed up" and start looking out for the best interests of his constituents.

Long, a Springfield Republican, has fallen in with a group of hard-line congressmen, taking uncompromising positions on our federal budget mess.

It was dangerous enough earlier this year when he was one of 70 members of the House to vote "no" on a stopgap spending measure -- meaning he essentially was in favor of a government shutdown.

But now he seems willing to play Russian roulette with the government's credit rating as we approach a deadline for raising the debt ceiling.

"We are not going to raise the debt limit and they need to know that now instead of August 2nd," Long told a reporter more than a week ago, repeating what he said he had told a visitor from the Federal Reserve.

When asked to explain in an interview Thursday with our Editorial Board, Long refined his position.

"We need to get it done," he acknowledged, before adding: "We need to quit spending the money."

It's true Long's views are probably in sync with many (even a majority) of his constituents, who are disgusted with the game-playing and politics in our nation's Capitol.

No one wants to pay higher taxes and everyone wants to cut government spending.

We just don't want them to cut the programs that we use.

Long also is correct in saying that the debt ceiling debate is a symptom of the real problem: we are spending 42 percent more than we are taking in through revenue.

"We need to tighten our belts," Long said -- just raising the debt ceiling is not going to be enough to maintain the government's top-flight bond rating in borrowing money.

He pooh-poohed the bipartisan plan devised by the so-called Gang of Six in the Senate. That plan would cut the deficits by nearly $4 trillion over 10 years through a combination of spending cuts and changes in the tax code that would result in more revenue.

"It is no plan," Long said. "They don't say how they are going to do it."

He said he could support some changes in the tax code, but then Long (a former Realtor) said a proposal to limit the mortgage interest deduction "would absolutely decimate real estate" and would "soak the middle class."

He said he could not support a debt ceiling plan that increased revenue in any way -- "not during a double-dip recession."

But a compromise involving some additional revenue is precisely what is in the best interest of the country -- and is precisely what will be needed in order to pass anything of significance through Congress and get President Obama's approval.

Spending cuts alone will not get the country's budget under control.

By Long's own admission, even the aggressive House budget he voted for in April -- the so-called Paul Ryan "Path to Prosperity" -- would take 26 years to end deficit spending.

Does 26 years sound reasonable to you?

When we endorsed Billy Long's bid for the U.S. House last fall, we urged him to use his proven business skills and asked him "to bring common sense to Washington."

Common sense tells you we should not play games with the country's credit rating by defaulting on our obligations.

Common sense tells you we should pay our bills -- and not just the priorities that Long has suggested: Social Security, Medicare, troop payments and other funds for national security.

Common sense tells you it's time to make a deal with Obama and the Democrats, and we think Long's job is to work toward the best possible compromise, not take an absolutist position.

Being "fed up" is wearing thin.

Pigford Settlement: Billy Long Argues Like a Liberal

2011-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, Congressman Billy Long voted to give away $1.25 billion of your tax dollars to fund a frivolous law suit against the USDA called Pigford. Pigford has been described by the Washington Examiner as "race hustlers are shaking down taxpayers for payoffs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is falling for the scam.”

A couple weeks ago a constituent of Congressman Long's from Ozark named Greg Cable sent a letter to Congressman Long asking for an explanation of his vote to fund the Pigford settlement. Congressman Long replied:

Thank you for contacting me regarding Roll Call Vote number 444, which addressed the Pigford discrimination case at the United States Department of Agriculture; I appreciate hearing from you.

As you know, the amendment offered by Congressman Steve King (R-IA) would have prohibited funding for payments relating to the final settlement of claims from the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, also known as the Pigford case. I voted against this amendment, along with several other Republicans, because stopping payments could increase the risk for additional litigation. I firmly believe I must take every step I can to curb costly litigation, which hurts businesses and job creation in this country. I also believe I must take every step to slow out-of-control government spending at every turn.

This response has generated a headache for Congressman Long, as he has become the poster child of RINOs who voted to fund Pigford. RINO appears to be the key term here in describing Long. When you think about it, his argument screams liberalism.

Let me explain. When liberals fight for gun control what is the main mechanism they use to support their cause?

Give up?

It's prevention. They always argue using preventive medicine. In the case of gun control, liberals argue just like Long did. Take away the guns, and you are going to prevent crime. Long's argument parallels this liberal argument and is without the common sense that Long promised he would take to Washington.

All he has really done is open the doors for future frivolous lawsuits against the US government, which are really law suits against the taxpayers of America. The best way to ensure frivolous law suits don't occur is to not reward them in the first place. That's all Congressman Long and 77 other Republicans did when they voted for Pigford.

Billy Long Supports Cutting Beer Taxes!

2011-07-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Billy Long deserves kudos every now and then. The hard working men and women of America who thirst for a watered down American lager without understanding the art of a truly good beer (darker in color of course) may soon get a break on their six pack thanks to Congressman Long and a few others in Congress. Any tax cut is a good tax cut.

While many people don't pay attention to the bills Long has co-sponsored that grow government, increase the federal police state presence, and of course spend more of your money, all which can be seen in his Congressional record, it's bills like HR 1675 that help drunken the masses, keeping them looking away from the truth of the other bills.

As it appears many of your tax deductions may be taken away soon, if the Gang of Six get their way, Billy Long feels your pain. You may not get your home mortgage deduction or your tax free 401 K anymore, but at least your six pack will be a few pennies cheaper.

Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to:
(1) reduce from $18 to $9 ( the pre-1991 level) the per-barrel tax on beer; and
(2) allow a further reduction in such tax for brewers who produce not more than 2 million barrels annually.

So as hard working Joe Six Packs become the target for new taxes by killing deductions through a bi-partisan plan created by the Gang of Six designed to create a compromise for the debt ceiling, Billy Long appears to be scratching the backs of his friends at Anheuser Busch, whose PAC donated $5,000 to his campaign in the first quarter of 2011. Needless to say, a couple months later Long's name finds itself as a co-sponsor forgetting this little promise he made to Southwest Missourians.

I can't find any evidence of Congressman Long showing leadership and speaking out against the Republicans in the Gang of Six who are working under the radar with Democrats to come up with a $1 trillion in new revenues by wiping out middle class tax deductions. Come on Billy, quit scratching backs in Washington and show the leadership you promised.

Billy Long Co-Sponsors Bill to Give Tax Credits for Fraternity and Sorority Improvements... Still Fed Up?

2011-07-21T04:54:00.000-07:00

With the United States facing over $14.3 trillion in debt, one would hope Billy Long would live up to his promise that he is "fed up" of wasteful government spending. Each day that goes by, it's more obvious Billy Long was never fed up. If you need proof, look at what the "no earmark promising" Republican co-sponsored on March 31, 2011.

HR 1327 offers grants to college social clubs for infrastructure improvements. We are talking about fraternities and sororities.

OpenCongress describes HR 1327 as amending the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to certain tax-exempt social clubs (e.g., college fraternities and sororities) which apply such grants to their collegiate housing property.

Of course many of these tax exempt charities and education organizations receive federal money through grants and earmarks for improvements and operation costs, and this bill appears to free up restrictions that prevent this federal money from winding up in social clubs like frats and sororities.

Michele Bachmann Calls Pigford Settlement Wasteful Government Spending (Billy Long Voted to Settle)

2011-07-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

Congressman Billy Long went to Washington claiming to be "fed up" with wasteful spending. When put to the test to cut wasteful spending in the form of a frivolous law suit against the federal government, Billy Long voted to continue funding what is known as Pigford with $1.25 billion of your tax dollars. Now the head of the Tea Party Caucus in Washington is calling out votes like Billy Long's.

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann pointed to one program in particular Monday when talking about wasteful government spending: a multibillion dollar settlement paid to black farmers, who claim the federal government discriminated against them for decades in awarding loans and other aid.
The issue came up after Bachmann and Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa toured flooded areas along the Missouri River. During a news conference, they fielded a question about whether farmers affected by the flooding also should be worried by proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts.

The two responded by criticizing a 1999 settlement in what is known as the Pigford case, after the original plaintiff, North Carolina farmer Timothy Pigford. Late last year, President Barack Obama signed legislation authorizing a new, nearly $1.2 billion settlement for people who were denied payments in the earlier one because they missed deadlines for filing.

King has likened the Pigford settlement to "modern-day reparations" for African-Americans. He said Monday a large percentage of the settlement "was just paid out in fraudulent claims" and criticized the Obama administration's plan to resolve separate lawsuits filed by Hispanic and female farmers.

"That's another at least $1.3 billion," King said "I'd like to apply that money to the people that are under water right now."

Bachmann seconded King's criticism, saying, "When money is diverted to inefficient projects, like the Pigford project, where there seems to be proof-positive of fraud, we can't afford $2 billion in potentially fraudulent claims when that money can be used to benefit the people along the Mississippi River and the Missouri River."

It should be noted that both those rivers flow through Congressman Long's home state, and honor only Missouri shares with Iowa. Congressman Long, who claims he was Tea Party before Tea Party was cool, defended his vote without any apology after it was learned he was giving away $1.25 billion of your tax dollars by an Ozark man, a story that hit the pages of Breitbart in two consecutive days.

So I guess you could say the head of the Tea Party Caucus, Michele Bachmann, agrees that Congressman Billy Long isn't very Tea Party after all considering how careless he is with our tax dollars.

"Lots of Good Things About Obamacare" Republican to Attend Anti-Obamacare Breakfast Meeting

2011-07-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

About the only thing Congressman Billy Long is probably enjoying this morning is the endless breakfast buffet at the leadership meeting he is attending. Long notes the speaker will be discussing the travesty that is Obamacare.

Breakfast meeting w/ Dr. Donald J Palmisano Author 'On Leadership' speaking of the travesty of #Obamacare- he testified before Congress 1976

The problem here of course is Billy Long was never really opposed to Obamacare. He's on record multiple times saying "there are lots of things about the healthcare bill that are good." He points out how it forces companies to cover pre-existing conditions and insure 26 year old adults as children, all by the powers of big government.

Obviously, Billy Long has no problem with federal mandates. Of course, it took coaching from Sarah Steelman to even bring up the mandate that forces you to purchase healthcare under the tyranny of an IRS agent pointing a gun at you if you resist. Yes, about the only consistent argument Long had against Obamacare is that we simply couldn't afford it, and while that is a valid argument, Long failed to fight the big government aspects of Obamacare as he avoided and or supported Obamacare's many mandates.

He probably threw up in his mouth a few times this morning.

Busplunge: Is this why Billy Long walked away from questions about Eric Cantor's comments on Joplin Disaster Relief:

2011-07-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

We all know that Billy Long voted for the Paul Ryan Bill which kills Medicare as we know it.

We all know that one of the first if not the first bill Billy Long sponsored was National Auctioneer's Day.

We all know that Long, the day AFTER he voted to make a $125 BILLION dollar settlement in a lawsuit most thought was frivolous, suddenly sponsored a bill to end frivolous lawsuit.

We all know that one of Billy's first acts as a congressman was voting against HCR, denying us healthcare reform while at the same time he chose to accept it for himself.

But what we didn't know was why Long was not vocal and sticking up for his constituents when Eric Cantor said no aid for Joplin.

Several bloggers questioned why Billy backed away and didn't stand up for his constituents.

While I was standing and watching Diane Sawyer live on ABC News’ evening broadcast from Joplin, I got a call from my brother, who informed me of Cantor’s comments. I confess I haven’t been following closely the national news, focusing rather on what has been happening in Joplin related to the tornado. So, I didn’t hear that Cantor had actually said what he said.

Across the street from St. John’s Medical Center, where ABC News was set up, was the site of a just-concluded press conference by the FEMA folks and local politicians—including our U.S. Congressman, Billy Long—updating progress on the post-tornado efforts. Naturally, I moved across the street and tried to find Mr. Long to ask him about Cantor’s ridiculous comments.

I found him.

Immediately—I could see it in his eyes—he recognized me as, I suppose, his local tormentor. I shook his hand and ask “Mr. Long” about Cantor’s comments, about what he thought about them, about whether we could expect federal money.

And instead of answering me, instead of telling me what he thought, he ignored me. He turned and walked away. My congressman, the man elected to represent me, simply walked away without a peep. Without a single bleeping word. Without answering whether the victims of this disaster in Joplin could expect federal help or whether they—meaning, really, President Obama and the Democrats—would have to fight the goddamn Republican leadership for it.

Now, we know why Billy walked away from the blogger's question: Eric Cantor's Every Republican is Crucial PAC (ERICPAC) gave $5,000.00 to Billy Long for his re-election.

Billy Long, you can take all the photos you want, you can ignore all those who question you and your votes but you can't run away from your record.

Congressman Billy Long paid a visit to the Volunteer Reception Center at Missouri Southern State University. He thanked AmeriCorps members for their hard work and posed for a picture with Shiela Smith, an AmeriCorps NCCC member. (Photo by Scott Julian, 2011)

Billy Long and his mendacity suck the spirit out of freedom loving Americans everywhere.

Jim Lee

Eric Cantor's Money Bought Billy Long's Silence After Joplin Tornado

2011-07-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

When Eric Cantor said there would be no aid for Joplin after May's tornado without making cuts first, Congressman Billy Long was silent. He didn't stand up for the people of Joplin and demand Cantor put politics aside as Joplin dug out. He just didn't comment. Many people took notice.

It turns out there may be a good reason why Billy Long didn't publicly challenge House Majority Leader Cantor. It appears Cantor made a huge donation to Long's campaign.

Cantor's PAC made a $5,000 donation to Long's campaign. So is this the reason why Long put Cantor before the people of tornado ravaged Joplin?

Congressman Billy Long is on Andrew Breitbart's Radar: Irony Fed Up With Pork Billy In Deep With Pigford

2011-07-11T04:11:00.001-07:00

The one new media journalist responsible for exposing Anthony Weiner's wiener photos was one Andrew Breitbart. It appears RINO Republican Billy Long is now on Breitbart's radar. It will be interesting how Long reacts since Long is no fan of the new media and has sent the FBI to intimidate bloggers in the past who have criticized him. This action of course is the first that introduced Breitbart's team of journalists to Congressman Long. Karma?

Billy Long is back, front and center on the pages of Big Government again today, exposed once again for what I have been warning Southwest Missouri voters for over a year now, Billy Long is neither conservative nor Tea Party.

From Breitbart:

Madness! Republicans Support Pigford Fraud from Fear of ‘Additional Litigation’

by Lee Stranahan

As I’ve written about before, when Iowa Congressman Steve King recently tried to stop funding for the fraud infested Pigford settlement he was opposed by a number of his fellow Republicans. At least one of them — Florida’s Allen West — has admitted that his vote was “a mistake” while others such as California’s Darrell Issa have so far remained silent.

Now Missouri Congressman Billy Long has gone on the record with one of his constituents about why he wanted to continue funding a bill that doesn’t actually help the black farmers that it was designed to aid in the first place.

Here’s what he said in a recent letter…

Thank you for contacting me regarding Roll Call Vote number 444, which addressed the Pigford discrimination case at the United States Department of Agriculture; I appreciate hearing from you.
As you know, the amendment offered by Congressman Steve King (R-IA) would have prohibited funding for payments relating to the final settlement of claims from the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, also known as the Pigford case. I voted against this amendment, along with several other Republicans, because stopping payments could increase the risk for additional litigation. I firmly believe I must take every step I can to curb costly litigation, which hurts businesses and job creation in this country. I also believe I must take every step to slow out-of-control government spending at every turn.

A fear of “additional litigation” is a horrible reason to support Pigford. In fact, one of the main reasons that it’s important to stop Pigford II as soon as possible is because of the additional litigation that it supports.

The mastermind behind Pigford is attorney Al Pires. (If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Pires, please watch this video of Pires and Andrew Breitbart mixing it up on the John Stossel show a couple of months ago.) Around a decade ago when the settlement was first getting underway, Pires described Pigford as a template for other similar legislation – not surprisingly, that’s exactly what it’s turned out to be with new settlements underway for women, Hispanic, Latinos and Native American farmers. All of these settlements have the same low barrier to entry that caused the fraud in Pigford, namely the use of the “attempted to farm” standard that requires almost no proof in order to receive a settlement check.

Furthermore, there is reason to believe that the current Pigford settlement will have to be expanded into a Pigford III.

The original Pigford case was a period of discrimination from 1981 to 1996. The other settlements for women, Hispanic, Latino Native Americans all cover the period of discrimination from 1981 and 2000 but ominously, the recent civil rights report created by the USDA concluded that discrimination still exists at the agency. So the notion of new litigation that extends the period to 2008 or beyond is entirely possible.

It’s widely acknowledged that discrimination the USDA existed, particularly at the county committee level. Ten years down the road, the Pigford legislation hasn’t stopped that discrimination nor has it helped many of the actual farmers who were affected by it. Instead, what it’s done has provided a backdoor stimulus package to key Democratic Party constituencies while letting some Republicans avoid being called racist, sexist and farmerphobic.

The very notion that such a flawed settlement should continue to go forward in order to stop other legislation is as nutty as harvest time in Plains, Georgia — that’somehow that’s Congressman Billy Long and a number of other Republicans seem to believe,.

Please let your local congressman know that “additional legislation” is exactly why Pigford needs to be stopped.

Irony isn't it? The porky sized Congressman from Southwest Missouri who said he was fed up of government pork is being exposed as a fed up fraud by something called Pigford.

Billy Long Takes Federal Benefits After Voting to Kill Medicare

2011-07-10T05:37:00.001-07:00

In the Army I was taught a good leader sets the example. Consider this quality in a leader as we look at the latest hypocrisy of Congressman Billy Long.

Earlier this year, Congressman Billy Long voted to kill Medicare for most Americans who have paid into the system all their lives believing in the government's promise of medical care when they retire. Today, we learn Billy Long isn't setting the example. The News Leader actually asks Billy Long a tough question, while making the mistake of still calling him Tea Party. Apparently they missed the story in Andrew Breitbart's Big Government about how careless Congressman Long was with $1.25 billion of your tax dollars. I doubt the News Leader even questions Billy Long on that hypocrisy.

Here's the question the News Leader asks:

Are the tea party Congress members (such as Billy Long) refusing to accept congressional health care and retirement benefits?

What we find out probably won't surprise you. Billy Long is taking federal benefits despite being a multimillionaire who is so fed up against wasteful government spending he voted against you receiving benefits from a program you have paid into since your first paycheck, MEDICARE.

Let Long explain his own hypocrisy:

"I make monthly payments for one of the many health care plans that we're eligible for and a monthly contribution to the retirement plan," Long said in a statement.

So let me get this right. Billy Long wants to take away the benefits for something you have paid into month after month, but he isn't willing to set the example and go without himself?

WHAT A HYPOCRITE!

I knew this was going to happen, so this isn't any surprise to me. As Billy Long was out on the campaign trail giving his aw shucks stump speech explaining he wanted to run for Congress back when Roy Blunt ran for Congress, but he didn't want to raise his daughters in DC. Most of the lazy voting populous in Southwest Missouri overlooked an article in the December 2009 Springfield Business Journal where Long provided more insight about why he was really running for Congress.

How has the recession hit your company?

It's hurt our business like everybody else's. People think auctioneers will do better in bad times, but the truth is, we do better in good times, when there's a lot of demand in the market. ... Right now, there's not much demand, and there's a lot of supply. People will call wanting me to auction their house, and maybe they owe $180,000 and it's only worth $150,000 now.

So we know Billy Long's business was hurting for quite some time, and I have been told sales were considerably down at Murney Associates as the housing crisis hit as well.

So as Long was saying he wanted to run against Roy as Mel Hancock was leaving Washington, according many in the GOP including Roy Blunt's right hand, Long was absent from the political scene through the Roy Blunt years up until the housing bubble. Then suddenly it appears Long decides he needs a backup plan to ensure his retirement works out as it has been reported the housing market might not recover for a decade or so.

The writing is on the wall why Long went to Washington. Void of any political background, something he tried to hide by avoiding the tough questions and sticking to basic talking points and clever soundbites, Long went to Washington for the retirement benefits.

If he was a real leader, he wouldn't be taking government benefits to ensure the federal government takes care of him in the future while voting to kill Medicare.

The News-Leader reports Billy Long is taking both retirement and medical benefits.

Billy Long Vows to Fight Frivolous Law After Voting to Fund $1.25 Billion in Frivolous USDA Lawsuit

2011-07-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Congressman Billy Long is playing both sides of the fence. Earlier today, it was learned Andrew Breitbart will publish a piece tomorrow on Big Government pointing at Billy Long's hypocrisy on controlling government spending. The hypocrisy surrounds a lawsuit against the USDA involving racism in which the Washington Times’ editorial page described as “Race hustlers are shaking down taxpayers for payoffs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is falling for the scam.”

Congressman Billy Long unapologetically voted to continue funding the fraud taking place in these lawsuits called the Pigford Settlement.

But don't you worry because after voting to spend $1.25 billion of your dollars in support of known fraud, Congressman Long suddenly wants to look like he is standing up to fraudulent law suits. His office issued the following press release letting everyone know Billy Long is going to get tough. Of course, only after he was willing to waste over a billion dollars of taxpayer money.

Long Fights Frivolous Lawsuits

07/07/11

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last evening, Congressman Billy Long fought for taxpayers and consumers by submitting a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would limit frivolous transportation lawsuits. The Litigation Limitation Act would provide a clear cut-off date for litigation so highway and public transportation projects could proceed without excessive or politically motivated lawsuits slowing down construction.

“All across America, highway and public transportation projects are sitting idle, the result of costly and unnecessary lawsuits,” said Long. “Taxpayers and drivers suffer from higher project costs, delays, inadequate infrastructure, and dangerous, partially completed construction zones. This bill will help get America back to work while making our roads safer to use.”

The Litigation Limitation Act would finalize a Federal agency’s decision to issue a permit, license, or other form of approval and prevent judicial review of that decision. The Litigation Limitation Act would, however, continue to allow a lawsuit if a party violates the terms of the permit or license; reviews involving new information would also still be permitted.

Long, the original sponsor of the Litigation Limitation Act, believes our highway infrastructure should be ready to meet the future needs of our nation’s economy. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Long knows the burdens facing today’s transportation community.
“America once built vast interstate road networks and large public transportation projects on time and under budget,” said Long. “The needless regulations and endless lawsuits are reasons why today’s projects take too long and cost too much. The Litigation Limitation Act will speed the construction of vital transportation infrastructure, reduce costs, and get people back to work during this time of high unemployment.”

Before a bill becomes law it must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President.

Typical Billy Long--always having to cover his tracks when he knows he has been caught on the wrong side.

Congressman Billy Long Rewards $1.25 Billion in Fraud While Ignoring USDA Tyranny

2011-07-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Andrew Breitbart is preparing to release another damning piece on Congressman Billy Long. A preview of tomorrow's piece can be seen at Bob McCarty's Web site. As I was reading it, I was shocked at how ready Billy Long was ready to hand out $1.25 billion of your tax dollars with little transparency and the high risk of fraud in a case involving the USDA, all the while while offering little help to the Nixa family facing the USDA's tyranny.

McCarty writes:

Three weeks ago, I published two posts about a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to continue funding for the colossal case of fraud known as thePigford II Settlement. Today, I offer a third piece in which I cast light on the thought process — or lack thereof — behind one congressman’s decision to vote in favor of making payments of $1.25 billion to a large group of people. Each person in the group claimed to be a black farmer discriminated against by the USDA but, not surprisingly, many turned out to be con artists backed by hungry class-action lawyers.

Unlike Tea Party rock star U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), the subject of my first post who later apologized for casting a vote in favor of the funding, U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) appears unapologetic in standing behind his vote...

In response to a recent inquiry from constituent Greg Cable, the freshman Republican from Missouri’s 7th Congressional District sent a 432-word reply via email to “explain” his vote in favor of funding Pigford II payouts.

Disappointed with Long’s response and a firm believer in the saying, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant,” the Ozark, Mo., father of four and grandfather of just as many shared it with the folks at Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com. Finally, Editor-in-Chief Mike Flynn shared it with me.

Noteworthy in Congressman Long’s reply was the following statement he made about voting against the amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) that would have prohibited Pigford II funding:

“I voted against this amendment, along with several other Republicans, because stopping payments could increase the risk for additional litigation. I firmly believe I must take every step I can to curb costly litigation, which hurts businesses and job creation in this country. I also believe I must take every step to slow out-of-control government spending at every turn.“

Later in the reply, the auctioneer-turned-politician added this thought-provoking missive:

“The United States is facing an unprecedented budget shortfall which threatens the stability of our economy and the fiscal viability of future generations who will have to repay our debt. Families, businesses and especially the federal government all need to take caution to live within our means and prioritize how to best spend their money. We must look at all programs as we search for savings in tackling this extremely important challenge.”

Apparently, Congressman Long thinks constituents like Cable should agree with him — despite his claim that “We must look at all programs as we search for savings” — that it’s worth spending $1.25 billion to prevent spending more money to litigate the case once described on the Washington Times’ editorial page as “Race hustlers are shaking down taxpayers for payoffs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is falling for the scam.”

As I noted June 17 in my second post on this topic, 79 Republicans — including Long and West — voted in favor of funding the Pigford II payouts. Makes me wonder how many of them agree with Congressman Long and how many of them, like Congressman West, had to apologize to their constituents in order to have any chance of winning re-election in 2012.

So I am led to believe in Billy Long's world rewards come from doing things like committing fraud, while hard work and trying to teach a child self-responsibility that led to USDA tyranny isn't worth his time? That's sure is what it looks like here to me. To this day, Long has not issued a statement or even contact his constituents in Nixa, but he is willing to help those committing fraud. Fed up yet?

The Worst of Congressman Billy Long is Being Removed From the Internet: What is the Congressman Hiding?

2011-07-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

Billy Long is learning quickly that no matter how hard he tries to remove Youtube videos of him being him, it ain't gonna happen.

First they tried to squelch Billy's "How do you keep a free market free?" video, all 3 minutes and 39 seconds of it:

Then there was the video of Billy Long ignoring a young reporter in the western portion of the 7th district. That disappeared too.

A couple of posts ago the bus reported on Billy Long's financial disclosure report and how the information contained in it didn't jibe with what Billy Long told Joplin talk radio host Josh Marsh in an interview.

We linked to that interview (Auctioneer Billy Long is told, "I don't trust you") which has now been removed by the owner.

This is the video where Long told Marsh that not only would Long have to sell his auction business, but whoever buys it would have to remove his name from the business. Long also said that he would have to sell his third interest in the largest real estate firm in Springfield AND give up his broker's license:

“You have to sell your business. If you have a fiduciary business, you have to sell that, so I’ve gotta walk away from a business I built up for 30 years. Who’s gonna buy it without me there? Answer: Nobody. Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it. Now, what’s it worth? Absolutely nothing.

“I own a third interest in the largest real estate company in Springfield; I have to sell that. Do you want to buy a real estate company today? You know, they’re not worth anything, and I have to give up my real estate broker’s license.”

The financial disclosure forms Long filed with the FEC reflect a different accounting of Long's business dealings.

Marsh removed that video transcript since we posted it. I sent Marsh the following text message this afternoon:

What happened to your "Why should I trust Bill Long" video on Youtube? What he told you doesn't match what he put on his financial disclosure form. Tnx, Jim Lee

As of the posting of this piece, I have not received a reply.

Here's the video containing Billy's statements:

Another video of Billy Long is gone from Youtube. Matthew Block's video analysis of Duane Graham's encounter with Billy Long (Billy Long denies bribery charge)has been made private. If Matthew Block's name is familiar, it may be because he has announced he is running for State Representative-- not sure what district, but it looks like one in Christian County.

Here's Block's video analysis of Long talking to Duane Graham:

This video is still up:

Originally posted by Jim Lee on Busplunge.

Billy Long Not Fed Up With Liberal Attacks on Our Values and Indoctrination in Public Schools

2011-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Ozark School District is on the fast track to begin indoctrination of its students with the United Nation's radical arm known as UNESCO's International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB promotes Marxist ideas like the redistribution of wealth, radical environmentalism, denouncing Constitutional rights and Christianity, while pushing for global government by teaching students to become good "globalists." Master Sgt. Ronnie White (ret) who now teaches JROTC at Ozark High Schools contacted Billy Long's office earlier today in hopes Congressman Long would live up to his promises of promoting Southwest Missouri conservative values constitutional ideas in hopes he would show some leadership to help expose the IB agenda.

White wrote the following letter to Congressman Long:

Congressman Billy Long April 3, 2011

I understand being a new person in Congress is a very busy time but this is my second email on this subject. I hope to receive a response.

I want to bring to your attention a program that is spreading across Missouri and the Nation. It is known as the International Baccalaureate Program or IB. Please become informed about this program, it is not what administrators and supporters of the program say it is. This program will show up unannounced at a board meeting.

Let me introduce myself and tell you about my experience. My Name is Ronnie L White, Master Sergeant, Retired, United States Army (21 years Active Duty Service). I am currently a Junior ROTC Instructor at Ozark High School, Ozark, MO

On September 16th 2010 at the monthly school board meeting, our high school principal Dr. Sam Taylor presented a short briefing to the school board about the IB program. He stated he thought it would be a great program for the top tier students at the high school to better prepare these students for college and it would cost considerable money.

At this same meeting under new business the board made a motion to apply for the program, it was seconded and the board voted 7/0 to apply for the program. No discussion, no input from the public, and very little input from the teachers. This vote came after the district had cut teachers pay ($5000.00 in most cases) at the end of the 2009-10 school year and placed a hiring freeze for this school year.

All activity funds were returned to the district and all of this due to the cut in State funding. I found it odd that we would want to spend money on an International curriculum. So I asked about the program. The Superintendent referred me to Dr. Taylor who told me it was a program to help our top students to be better prepared for college. I asked how much it would cost and he had no estimate at that time.

So I started my research. I went to IBO.org and found that it was going to cost $9,500 just to pay the first part of the application (Application A.) Then if approved (which no school has ever been turned down) $4000 for an IB consultant. Then another $9,500 for Application B. We also have to hire a full time IB coordinator at $40,000 a year and we must pay $10,000 annually to be a member of the IBO. This angered me. I also found out that IBO required a feasibility study before the application was submitted. That did not happen and when the school board was asked about this issue they knew nothing of it. The school board even admits that it formed no formal committee to investigate this program. They want it, they will get it! Even though it will cost the taxpayers upwards of six figures annually for approximately 10 to 15 students!

A little history about IB. The IBO officially formed in 1968 to serve the children of United Nations diplomats who traveled around the globe and were in need of a recognizable standard for admission into Universities. According to former IBO Director General George Walker, the intellectual process which would culminate in the IB Diploma Program was begun by Marie-Therese Maurette in 1948 when she wrote a paper for UNESCO (United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organization) called "Ways for educating for peace: do they exist?" Maurette had outlined a program and pedagogy, which included the following elements:

* Geography should be taught starting not with the student's country or origin but with the whole world.

• History should not be taught before the age of 12 to avoid it becoming a catalogue of national heroes and patriotic celebrations. When introduced it must be world history.

• Each week there should be an hour's lesson of "national culture" taught to classes divided into small national groups, but this will be deliberately subordinated to international geography and history.

• Promotion of bilinguals.

• Regular debates should encourage students to think about world affairs.

• Students should be required to take part in sports, community service and in the life of the school.

According to Ian Hill, Deputy Director General of IBO, "The primary goal of IBO is the promotion of world citizenship"

Time and space will not allow me to tell everything I have learned about this International takeover of our public school system, but I do want to share with you a very important link for you to start your research, If you find this to be important. Please visit www.truthaboutib.com
Lisa McLoughlin established this web site through her dealings with IB within her school district. She also has links to pro IB information. I ask you as my Representative to research this subject. If you feel as I do that this is an un-American curriculum and an attempt by progressives to indoctrinate our children to the; United Nations Human Rights Agenda, the Earth Charter, Agenda 21, and Secular Humanism. Then I would ask you to put a stop to the promotion and funding of IB at the National level and speak out against it in the 7th District. Let school boards in the 7th District know that you do not support such internationally controlled programs in Missouri!

If you would like to be added to my email list "Doubt IB" to keep track of the events here in Ozark please let me know via email. We need to stop this United Nations Take over of our public school system.

V/R

Ronnie L White
MSG (Ret), USA

Long replied to MSG White's letter failing to take a stand despite making all sorts of promises including the promise to stand up for Southwest Missouri values. Clearly redistribution of wealth, radical left-wing environmentalism, and attacks on the Second Amendment in the backyard of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is not the values we share in Southwest Missouri. By the way, it should be noted other opponents of IB who sent Congressman Long a letter expressing their IB concerns were sent the same form letter that MSG White received.

Dear MSG White,

Thank you for contacting me regarding education and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). I appreciate the benefit of your views.

The IBO was founded in 1968 to offer educational opportunities across international borders. The program encourages international-mindedness through the promotion of secondary language development, positive attitudes toward learning, and stresses the need for children to develop research, critical thinking, and reflection skills. IBO reaches around 930,000 students in 141 nations.

America's education system does not currently meet the standards that we demand and expect for our children. Our schools should be developing young minds in foundational disciplines such as mathematics, science, English, and history. These areas of learning are important for a child's future happiness by allowing them to successfully integrate as a productive member of society. Our schools should promote our unique American culture which unites us all on the basis of a shared ideology of personal liberty, economic freedom, and equality before the law. America's children should be able to stand firmly on the traditions and knowledge of our past as they shape a bright future for our nation.

However, I also believe that control over our children's education should be in the hands of local parents and teachers. A one-size fits all education program handed down by federal bureaucrats or Congressional decree will never succeed in providing the kind of education that our children need. The educational needs of a child in the Missouri's Seventh District are not the same as the needs of a child in New York or California. Whether IBO's curriculum is taught in our local schools is an issue that should be left up to the local School Board and individual parents, not Members of Congress.

Again, thank you for contacting me on this issue. Hearing the views of all Missourians gives me the opportunity to better understand how important issues could impact the people of our state and the future interests of the nation. I will closely monitor this issue if it comes before the U.S. House of Representative and in that context your views are very helpful.

For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the Seventh District, I invite you to visit my website at http://www.long.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Billy Long
Member of Congress

MSG White, who gave over 20 years of service to this country in the United States Army was less than impressed with Long's response. So he replied to the Congressman Long's response.

April 24, 2011

Representative Billy Long,

This letter is addressed to Representative Long. It is my hope that his staff places it in his hands to read. I can not I appreciate your response to my contacting you about the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Why you ask? Because your response was a form letter or automatic response on the subject that you also sent to another 7th District Constituent, Mr. Rod Hunt. I would prefer that you address my concerns personally, as my Representative. If you can not do so, then simply inform me that you have no time for my concern or me. At least that would be honest, instead of trying to play both sides of the fence. Let me explain what I mean by playing both sides of the fence.

In the first paragraph you try to inform me as to what the IBO is all about! A little presumptuous on your part, seeing how I have been researching IB for sometime now and you and your staff probably had never heard of the program until I contacted you. The first paragraph is right out of the IBO playbook for supporters of the program. So from this paragraph I ascertain that you believe IB is a fine program for American Schools if that is what parents and teachers want no matter the cost or the ideology.

In the second paragraph you state that “America’s education system does not currently meet the standards that we demand and expect of our children.” First of all who is “we?” I must assume you mean Congress. Which standards are not being met Federal, State, Local? Ozark High School’s Annual Yearly Performance evaluation (State Standards) for School Year ending 2010 accomplished the following:

* 94.5 % attendance
* 92 % graduation rate, State average 85.7 %
* 0.7 % drop out rate
* 39.7 % of graduating seniors entered a 4 year college
* 31.1 % of graduating seniors entered a 2 year college
* 87.7 % placement of career-technical education students
* 23.9 was the composite ACT score, with 50.4 % of graduates taking the ACT

The Annual Proficiency Target in Communication Arts was set by the State at 67.4; Ozark High School exceeded that with their proficiency rating of 80.8, with the State average being 53.6

The Annual Proficiency Target for Mathematics was set by the State at 63.3; Ozark High School exceeded that with their proficiency rating of 73.6, with the State average being 52.7

So your blanket statement doesn’t fit Ozark High School. All State standards were met or exceeded.

You also state that “Our schools should promote our unique American culture which unites us all on the basis of a shared ideology of personal liberty, economic freedom, and equality before the law. America’s children should be able to stand firmly on the traditions and knowledge of our past as they shape a bright future for our nation.” These two sentences are the evidence that you or your aids conducted no researched on IBO. Just a short preview of the IBO web site or the truthaboutib.com web site would have shown you that IBO’s intentions are all global! IBO wants to develop International mindedness and global citizens not Americanism! When you say equality before the law, which law are you referring to? Those espoused by the United Nations through IB or the U.S. Constitution? What should Americans look forward to, their rights guaranteed in the Constitution or the United Nations Human Rights Agenda? In September 2005 at the Biennial Conference of IB Nordic Schools held in Stockholm, Sweden, IBO’s George Walker presented Marie-Therese Maurette (Director of the International School of Geneva 1948) ideas on International education. Mr. Walker stressed “Maurette …urges teachers to play down the whole concept of nationality, either as a source of pride or of pity. Let’s avoid all sentimentality, she says. She then argues the case for a new kind of geography which puts students into contact with the whole world before they ever see a map of their own country.” She had equally radical ideas about history which, she insisted, should not be taught before age 12 if it was to avoid becoming a gallery of dubious national heroes. I don’t believe our history to be full of dubious national heroes, do you? All I can say is if you support this program at any level, this is what you will be supporting.

In your third paragraph you state “ I also believe that control over our children’s education should be in the hands of local parents and teachers. A one-size fits all education program handed down by federal bureaucrats or congressional decree will never succeed in providing the kind of education that our children need.” But yet you think it is all right if an International education program that supports the United Nations Human Rights Agenda, the Earth Charter, Secular Humanism as a religion and UN Agenda 21 is all right at the local level. Even if it is forced on district patrons at the behest of a school board with patrons in disagreement with that choice!

You have not appeased me, nor will I allow you to sweep me under the carpet! I will continue to take the Ozark School Board to task on this issue and you as well, seeing how it is fast becoming a national issue. The Department of Education supports IB and has allocated millions of dollars for implementation. One of your platform agendas was to do away with this department and return education to local control. Local control is handed over to International bodies with the IBO. This is an opportunity to take the Department of Education to task! This would be substantial legislation unlike NASCAR, Auctioneers and Golf. You would do well to have your staff research the IBO, it’s cost to local school districts, states and the nation, as well as it’s real mission! It is outrageous that our National Representatives are not informed on this issue!

“A politician can afford to lose if he/she deserves to win, better than a politician can afford to win if he/she deserve to loose.” Harry Atwood

Respectfully,

Ronnie L White
MSG (Ret), USA

Obviously, when you read MSG White's well though out letters to Congressman Long, you see why every America loving parent in Ozark and Southwest Missouri should be concerned about the United Nations getting a foothold in our public schools, yet Congressman Long seems the least little bit concerned despite promising Southwest Missouri he would fight to return local control to schools at an Ozark Chamber of Commerce forum, and the fact Long claims to oppose the Obama agenda. In case you are unaware, this push for the IB comes from Obama's roots as a community organizer that was taken to a much larger scale through Obama stimulus funds.

Despite the promise that Billy Long will stand up for our values...

That's right, Billy Long said he was fed up of the liberals attacks on our values, but given the chance to fight this attack on our values, Congressman Billy Long sends a forum letter to multiple members of the community who are worried the UN's liberal values will soon indoctrinate our students in Ozark.

To this day, MSG White has not heard anything else from Billy Long.

Everest College: College Dropout Billy Long Promotes Predator Colleges Pushing Maximized Federal Student Loan Debt

2011-06-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

Billy Long quit college after a semester or two. He wasn't a serious college student from what I have been told, and there are no records of Long releasing his Mizzou grades. This is Billy Long's college ethos.

So this week, Billy Long is on tour again. This is what Billy Long does. He tours things to look Congressional. Of course, these tours are nothing more than controlled environments where he is campaigning for his reelection next year on your dime. Today, Long was at Everest College in Springfield, MO.

Here's what Long the college drop out had to say about Everest College:

Congressman Billy Long stopped by the college this week for a tour, and stressed the importance of colleges like Everest and what they mean to the community.

“I think that they’ll have a good impact. I think that they come out of here ready to go to work. They’re training for specific jobs for specific people, and I think that it will really have a good impact on local employers,” Long said.

Wow, such wisdom! Did he have this soundbite rehearsed before going on the campus tour? Probably...

Here's the truth once again in his statement. Everest College like all colleges rely heavily on federal programs like the federal student loan program. This program turns college graduates into professional debtors while decreasing competition that improves education while lowering tuition rates. For some strange reason, time and again since he got to Congress, drop out Billy continues to push the college education system fueled by big government without rocking the boat to get the federal government out of higher education.

Here's proof from Everest College's tuition and fees page, which doesn't provide much insight on the cost, but does offer this little tidbit:

Everest University, Everest College and Everest Institute schools offer financial aid to those who qualify.

If you struggle with the question of how you will pay for your education, let our student finance planners help you explore all of your financing options. We have helped many students identify and apply for financial aid to help them finish their education. Financial aid can help you pay for any legitimate school-related costs, including tuition, books, supplies and basic living expenses.

One would think, Billy Long who ran on small business common sense, would want to see a return to free markets in education without the federal handouts and assistance to make education a better value for students. However, Long doesn't realize the crimes of big government as he is once again too afraid to speak up against a federal program that enslaves millions of college kids with more debt than any 24 year old fresh out of school should have.

End the federal student loan program and watch colleges scramble to make school affordable while improving education. It's called competition, and it's lacking with the federal intrusion on college campuses today.

Come on Billy, use that small business common sense for a change. The problem here is not the predator schools like Everest of the University of Phoenix. The problem is the federal government has made it possible for these schools to reap huge profits using your tax dollars through subsidized student loans and grants. Long's visit yesterday was obviously a stamp of approval on their mission.

Long calls for an end to federal agriculture subsidies but remains quiet on the student loan program despite his small business common sense.

Billy Long Auctions Sold Piecemeal, but... by Busplunge

2011-06-27T00:16:00.000-07:00

Billy Long doesn't like it when people start nosing around into his affairs, financial or otherwise.

Roseann Moring, News-Leader political writer, has this story in this morning's News-Leader: Long: Auction business sold piecemeal:

Q: When Billy Long was campaigning for Congress last year, he told constituents that federal law would require him to dissolve or sell his auction business. Earlier this year, Long told the News-Leader he had done so.

But several readers have pointed out that the Missouri secretary of state's website lists Billy Long Auctions, LLC and BILLY LONG, INC. as "active" and "in good standing," respectively.

They wanted to know whether Long actually had dissolved his business.

A: Here is what Long had to say, through a spokesman: "We consulted with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also known as the Ethics Committee, on what I had to do with my business before I was sworn in. The ... property was sold off piecemeal to various individuals and on July 31st it will be administratively dissolved for not filing the yearly paperwork."

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state said that is a common and legal way to end a business license.

It should be removed from the website at that point.

According to the Congressional Ethics Committee website, Congress members are banned from owning or participating in some kinds of businesses, including law practice. That is intended to prevent lobbyists from avoiding reporting requirements by funneling gifts through a politician's personal business.

Frequent bus riders will recall that earlier this month, when Long released his financial disclosure forms, the bus stopped here: million-dollar-billy-part-duex, Hot Diggity Dawg. Here's what Long reported to the FEC on his financial disclosure statement:

1. Sole Proprietor- Billy Long Auctioneer- this business was terminated on December 31, 2010- no business after that date.
2. Member- Billy Long Auctions, LLC - resigned this position on January 1, 2011, no longer a member after that date.
3. President- Billy Long Auctioneers, Inc -- resigned this position January 1, 2011, no long an officer or shareholder.
4. President- Billy Long, Inc -- resigned this position January 1, 2011, no longer an officer or shareholder"

Which Billy Long Auction business was sold piecemeal? #1? #2? #3? #4? Which one is Bob Kollmeier running. Why is Kollmeier on Billy's payroll as "Ag advisor" making $60,000 plus a year?

Remember when Billy said, “You have to sell your business. If you have a fiduciary business, you have to sell that, so I’ve gotta walk away from a business I built up for 30 years. Who’s gonna buy it without me there? Answer: Nobody. Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it. Now, what’s it worth? Absolutely nothing."

Despite his protesting "Who’s gonna buy it without me there?" Well, someone apparently did. As of 04/30/2011 Billy Long, Inc was still in business with a new president, treasurer and secretary: Barbara Long, Billy's wife.

"What's it worth?" We don't know because the transfer of ownership didn't show up on Billy's financial disclosure statement. We know who bought his hay and how much Billy got for selling his tractor and brush hog. What did Billy do with his shares of Billy Long, Inc? If he sold them or gave them away, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he put those shares in a blind trust, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he gave them to his wife, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure?

Dissolving Billy Long Auctions Continues to Raise Contradictions

2011-06-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Trust me, I dissolved it. You don't have to dig.

Something funny is going on with Billy Long and his promise of sacrifice to Southwest Missouri voters. Take a listen and then we will look at a further development in this matter.

So the lazy reporters at the Springfield News-Leader who know their paychecks come from advertisements from Long's business interests and friends run a story today on the status of Billy Long Auctions. Once again they take Congressman Long's word for it without any investigation as the the laws and leave out once again Long's 1/3 interest in the largest real estate company in Southwest Missouri.

The News-Leader reports today, Long sold the worthless auction company (Long's words not mine) through a long slow process now.

Q: When Billy Long was campaigning for Congress last year, he told constituents that federal law would require him to dissolve or sell his auction business. Earlier this year, Long told the News-Leader he had done so.

But several readers have pointed out that the Missouri secretary of state's website lists Billy Long Auctions, LLC and BILLY LONG, INC. as "active" and "in good standing," respectively.

They wanted to know whether Long actually had dissolved his business.

A: Here is what Long had to say, through a spokesman: "We consulted with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also known as the Ethics Committee, on what I had to do with my business before I was sworn in. The ... property was sold off piecemeal to various individuals and on July 31st it will be administratively dissolved for not filing the yearly paperwork."

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state said that is a common and legal way to end a business license.

It should be removed from the website at that point.

According to the Congressional Ethics Committee website, Congress members are banned from owning or participating in some kinds of businesses, including law practice. That is intended to prevent lobbyists from avoiding reporting requirements by funneling gifts through a politician's personal business.

Now remember I called the Missouri Secretary of State's office on this matter before Roseann Morning and they said Long must file Notice of Winding Up and Articles of Termination papers to officially dissolve Billy Long Auctions. So there are conflicting stories coming from the Secretary of State's office now. I would tend to believe that based on Congressional ethics rules, you don't just wait for a business license to run out if their is a workflow in place that will officially dissolve the company to meet Congressional rules before taking office.

I don't want to repeat what has already been said. Because an earlier story from the Springfield News-Leader on April 26, coincidentally that story has been removed.

Randy Turner gave the gist of it on his blog:

Seventh District Congressman Billy Long said he has dissolved his auction company, in accordance with Congressional rules, according to a Springfield News-Leader article.

The first News-Leader piece made it sound like it was an instantaneous deal and one that happened immediately. Today's article says it's been a slow process that will be complete on July 31, 2011. Of course Billy Long's federal financial disclosure has the date December 31,2010 as the official date.

So what appears to be a quick response to Josh Marsh's question, has turned into a complicated and possibly shady move by Congressman Long. The News-Leader still isn't asking about Long's 1/3 share in Murney Associates or why Bob Kollmeier is running an auction business that obviously has close ties to Billy Long Auctions while serving on Billy Long's Congressional staff. The News-Leader fails to close this story today.

Billy Long Now Engaged in the Big Government Crying Towel Program: Back Billy in 2012

2011-06-24T05:39:00.001-07:00

Billy Long once said politicians in Washington, DC spend too much time worried about getting reelected. And he also said this of uninsured Americans according to KY3:

Counting Billy Long jokes in a speech is like counting stars in a clear summer night sky: After awhile, you're doing to lose track. Long pretty much delivered the same stump speech he gave at his announcement. "I'm not from the government, but I'm here to help," will surely show up in Long's television ads next year. This time, the hulking Long opened with: "Can you all see me behind this mic stand?" And when KSFG staff instructed him to move the microphone to the right to avoid interference with the speaker, Long quickly delivered, "I knew you wouldn't want to move it to the left." It took just 20 seconds for Long to win the crowd over.

He bashed Obamacare, skewered earmarks and out-of-control spending and lambasted career politicians. He also was the only candidate to mention his pro-life and N.R.A. credentials. Oh, and he's for tax cuts too.

But throughout his humorous and off-the-cuff repertoire, Long has a tendency to make some statements that could come back to haunt him. He mocked the plight of the uninsured ("Get out the crying towel") and claimed that 26 million people under 35 probably don't want health insurance anyway. Claiming that President Obama's healthcare plan might have taken his mother's life back in March of 2008 is also quite a strong charge. It's all done in the loving-aw-shucks Long way...those statements may rub some the wrong way.

Obviously in recent weeks, Billy Long has developed his own crying towel to hand out to victims who didn't purchase insurance or enough insurance as weather has swept through Southwest Missouri attracting the attention of FEMA, a big government entity that Long praised giving a rating of 12 on a 10 scale. Billy Long may say he doesn't like big government and he opposes Obamacare, but Long has embraced FEMAcare and has no problem passing out crying towels these days in the form big government backed Treasury checks.

It just appears to me that Billy Long is a politician whose every move is about getting elected, something he scolded career politicians for in the primary. When he wanted to capitalize on voter anger directed at Obamacare, he mocked the uninsured with a crying towel. However, when the uninsured and under insured came crying to Billy Long, he had no problems handing out his own congressional campaign approved version of a crying towel, a FEMA check with the words "don't forget to back Billy in 2012" written on every check.

Once again proving Billy Long was never nor will he ever be fed up. Unfortunately, most of the voters in Southwest Missouri don't go looking much beyond two word catch phrases before casting their votes.

Congressman Billy Long's Charity Auction Grandstanding: Was Long This Generous of His Time Prior to Politics?

2011-06-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Everywhere you look these days, the Congressman Billy Long is looking more like the Auctioneer Billy Long. Auctions for Joplin, auction for Life House Crisis Maternity Home, auction for a DC school fundraiser (see video above)... Billy Long has become a politician eager for the press to take notice and he is using his auctioneer skills--not his political skills--to gain their attention. There is just one problem, during the campaign, a Republican insider had shared with me how Long was often called upon by a charity or the Republican party to help with fund raising, and his auctioneer expertise always came with a price--even for charities.

Now one person on Twitter is going as far as accusing Congressman Long of grandstanding.

Pseudoconservative Rep Billy Long's incessant grandstanding on #Joplin is now going from tasteless to utterly disgusting. #gop #hypocrisy

A search of any records of past charity auctions between 2000 and February 2009 on Google, 2009 is when he launched his political career, shows no record on the Internet of Long participating in charity auctions. It is only recently that Long seems to be interested in charity--now that voters are watching of course.

Is Congressman Long grandstanding? It sure comes across that way, and it appears to be wearing on many. A new video was launched last week that challenges Long's sincerity of his efforts in the Joplin tornado. Many pictures of Long in Joplin show him with his hands in his pocket boots on the ground and of course cell phone in hand probably tweeting. One tweet continues to come back to haunt Congressman Long.

Long wanted to go to Washington to be a citizen legislator and leave the auction business behind. It appears more and more Long isn't capable of the tough work of the legislator and must resort back to auctioneering to create the political pathos needed to keep his name in headlines.

All the while, Long apparently isn't taking his job as a legislator seriously as exposed by the Springfield News-Leader when Long co-sponsored a controversial bill that would have robbed storm chasers and first responders in Joplin of valuable HAM radio frequencies that were used to save lives on May 22, 2011. Long obviously chose big government over the charity of these storm chasers and first responders. Billy Long never read HR-607 and had no idea of the damage it would do to the storm safety network.

So why is it Google has no record of Long providing charitable auctions prior to becoming candidate Long? Long has no problem jumping in front of a microphone now donating his auction skills now he is a politician, but I can't recall the auctioneer engaging in this much charity and donating his time prior to becoming a politician.

A Congressional Ethics Problem Brewing for Congressman Billy Long?

2011-06-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

The federal government has no problem lying to Americans, just don't you go trying to lie to the federal government. These are words of wisdom one would think someone who was fed up with Washington would understand, but when you make your living as an auctioneer, there is already a questionable ethos surrounding your integrity.

Billy Long has lied to the voters to his friend Josh Marsh of KZRG and he has lied to the voters of Southwest Missouri. Long promised great personal sacrifice for the honor of your vote, but he delivered a shell game that may generate the interest of the national media and the house ethics committee as it's possible Congressman Long didn't disclose millions of dollars in his federal financial disclosures.

Busplunge blogger Jim Lee made another discovery of a discrepency between Billy Long's promise to voters, the shell game in which Long doesn't live up to the promise, and the fact, Long has obviously lied on his required federal financial disclosures.

“You have to sell your business. If you have a fiduciary business, you have to sell that, so I’ve gotta walk away from a business I built up for 30 years. Who’s gonna buy it without me there? Answer: Nobody. Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it. Now, what’s it worth? Absolutely nothing.

“I own a third interest in the largest real estate company in Springfield; I have to sell that. Do you want to buy a real estate company today? You know, they’re not worth anything, and I have to give up my real estate broker’s license.”
On 04/30/2011 Billy Long was, according to documents filed with the MO Secretary of State's office, the president of Billy Long, Inc.

On his financial disclosure form for 2010, Billy Long states that he resigned his position on January 1, 2011 and "no longer an officer or shareholder."

On 04/30/2011, the following document was filed with the MO Secretary of State's office: Barbara Long is now the president of Billy Long, Inc. Billy Long is no longer an officer of shareholder of Billy Long, Inc.

Couple of things....what did Billy do with his shares of Billy Long, Inc? If he sold them or gave them away, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he put those shares in a blind trust, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure? If he gave them to his wife, shouldn't that have been reflected somewhere in his financial disclosure?

Then there is that quote of Billy's: “You have to sell your business. If you have a fiduciary business, you have to sell that, so I’ve gotta walk away from a business I built up for 30 years. Who’s gonna buy it without me there? Answer: Nobody. Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it. Now, what’s it worth? Absolutely nothing."

As of 04/30/2011 Billy Long, Inc was still in business with a new owner. Despite his protesting "Who’s gonna buy it without me there?" Apparently his wife did.

"What's it worth?" We don't know because the transfer of ownership didn't show up on Billy's financial disclosure statement. We know who bought his hay and how much Billy got for selling his tractor and brush hog....

And that bit about "Whoever I sell it to has to take my name off of it." -- well that didn't happen either because accordign to the document filed with the MO Secretary of State's office, BILLY LONG, INC is still in business and Barbara Long is the President, Secretary, Treasurer and appears to be the sole member of the board of directors of BILLY LONG,INC.

HOT DIGGITY DAWG!

End of Article:

One has to ask, is Barbara Long managing Bob Kollmeier's efforts as the auctioneer while Long sits in Congress working on a government retirement for him and Barbara, or is this the elusive 1/3 share in Murney Associates that Long didn't list on his federal financial disclosure?

Remember, when Long told KZRG's Marsh of the great sacrifice he was going to make for voters, Long said he would have to share is 1/3 share in the largest real estate company in Springfield, which of course is Murney Associates. Nothing is listed on the federal disclosure of Long's interests in Murney Associates, but one has to wonder if Babara Long is now the 1/3 partner in Murney.

The greater problem here is that Murney may be worth tens of millions of dollars and Long didn't list this on his disclosure. Murney Associates had $960,000,000 in gross sales in 2006. It's not hard to figure out Billy Long's third share in Murney could make him one of the richest men in Southwest Missouri, for some strange reason this information was withheld from Long's controversial financial disclosure.

Prayers for Joplin, Disappointment in Billy Long

2011-06-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

A new video has surfaced on YouTube. I just received the Google Alert. It appears it went online yesterday, and it is titled Prayers for Joplin, Disappointment in Billy Long. It's a powerful video that reminds us of a warning Politico reporter Dave Catanese was wrote of Congressman Long.

...throughout his humorous and off-the-cuff repertoire, Long has a tendency to make some statements that could come back to haunt him.

Thanks to a user known as avoterinmo Long's mocking of tornado drills continues to haunt Congressman Long.

Riverfront Times Revokes Billy Long's Tea Party Membership Card

2011-06-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

The liberals in Washington are bankrupting this country and threatening our values. I'm FED-up with the direction of this country. FED-up with reckless spending. Fed-up with the threat to our values.Billy Long, June 2010

From the Riverfront Times:

He campaigned on a message that the "liberals of this country are bankrupting our country and threatening our values."

But the freshman Missouri Congressman who famously noted that the his district was Tea Party "before Tea Party was cool" is also one of he biggest spenders among his freshman class of new U.S. representatives.

Billy Long, the Republican who took over the Seventh District seat from Senator Roy Blunt, spent $204,498 outfitting his office staff for the first three months of 2011, making him the tenth-highest paying boss among the House's 92 freshmen representatives. By contrast, Joe Walsh, a conservative newcomer representing the west and north suburbs of Chicago was the most frugal new freshman. He spent just $98,900 on pay to his office staff, according to an analysis by watchdog agency LegiStorm.

Millionaire Billy Long: From Busplunge Written by Jim Lee

2011-06-17T08:52:00.001-07:00

Million Dollar Billy

Billy Long photo by Alex Brandon

It shouldn't come to a surprise to anyone who follows Billy Long that despite his efforts to pass himself off as 'just a good old boy', Long is part of the congressional millionaire club.

We all know that Billy lives in a $750,000 Highland Springs house, a wealthy enclave with gates to keep the constituents outBilly Long's four walls and a roof.

We all know that Billy frequents a posh restaurant often enough to have a dish named after him. The Metropolitan Grill offers a "Billy Long Cut" 11 ounce ribeye filet served with pot roasted Heirloom baby bakers and apple brined Haricots Verts $28.50.

We can't vouch for where he shops, but it looks like it. We don't know if, as Billy told NPR's Andrea Seabrook on November 16, 2010, if he liquidated his 1/3 interest in Murney and Associates. "Gotta liquidate my auction company, liquidate my third interest in the largest real estate company in town, so there's a lot of things you gotta get up to school on, up to speed." Billy Long, November 16, 2010

Malia Rulon, in her blog, "Inside Missouri Politics", picks up the trail: Billy Long part of congressional millionaire's club:Rep.

Billy Long has something in common with the leaders of his party — they’re all millionaires.

Personal financial disclosure reports released this week show, in broad ranges, the assets and investments owned by each lawmaker. The reports, filed with the U.S. House Clerk, are designed to provide transparency so voters can be aware of any conflict of interest.

According to the reports, the Springfield Republican is worth at least $1.5 million. He could be worth more than double that, but lawmakers aren’t required to report the value of their primary residence and all assets are reported only in broad ranges.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is worth at least $2 million and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., is worth at least $3.4 million.

Long is among at least 19 Republican freshmen who own assets worth more than $1 million, according to The Washington Post. However, he’s also among 19 GOP freshmen who have personal liabilities of more than $100,000, the Post reported.

Many of the 87 GOP freshmen ran on a platform of reigning in the U.S. debt.

Long owes between $865,000 and $1.8 million in mortgages on a commercial building, rental condominium and other properties.

As for income, it’s unclear whether Long is earning more or less as a congressman than he did as an auctioneer. That’s because all income and assets are also reported in broad ranges and lawmakers aren’t required to report how much their spouse earns.

According to documents filed this week, Long earned $43,096 last year from auction commissions and the sale of hay, a tractor and a brush hog. He also earned rental income between $20,000 and $65,000.

He reported capitol gains of between $50,000 and $100,000. He also earned between$22,400 and $68,800 in interest and dividends from several bank accounts and stock worth between $349,000 and $811,000.

All together, Long’s report indicated that he made between $135,500 and $276,900 last year. As a congressman, he makes a $174,000 annual salary.

You can look up Long’s report for yourself on the House Clerk site.

Well, we did. And page 13 is of interest:Remember back in late January the Heritage Foundation paid for Billy's trip to California, a trip they called "In the Steps of Reagan", the 2011 Conservative Member's retreat. The Heritage Foundation spent $2,878.00 getting Billy out there, wining and dining him and bringing him back. Lobbying Reform: Travel Rules for Congress:

g) After each trip taken by a Member, Senator or staff a travel disclosure form that lists the expenses by the private source must be completed, signed and filed with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate. [12]The form must include good faith estimates of the transportation, lodging, meal and other expenses paid, set out separately, and a determination that such expenses were ‘necessary’ and related to the individual’s official duties. In the House, this disclosure form must be filed within 15 days of returning from the trip. In the Senate, the disclosure form must be filed within 30 days of the trip. Furthermore, Members, Senators and officers, as well as employees who file a Financial Disclosure Statement, must also disclose each such trip on Schedule VII of their annual financial disclosure statement.

Billy Long's trip to California in January, paid for by the Heritage Foundation, was not listed on Schedule VII of his annual financial disclosure because it was taken in 2011. But it should be listed on Long's 2011 financial disclosure form.

Also, if Long sold his 1/3 share in Murney and Associates AFTER 12/31/2010, it too will have to be listed on his 2011 financial disclosure. Likewise, if Long, as he said he did, shut the doors on Billy Long Auctions and sold the assets to competitors, that too would show up on Long's 2011 financial disclosure.

At face value, Long's financial disclosure statement raises more questions than it answers.

Bob McCarty is among the many who have repeatedly asked substantive questions of Long and his staff and has repeated been ignored, also questions if the congressman failed to report all his assets:

Another thing the second report shows is handwritten explanations of how Long terminated one of his business enterprises and resigned from positions at three others. It does not, however, explain what happened to the “…third interest in the largest real estate company in Springfield” about which he told Josh Marsh, “I have to sell that.”

Springfield locals tell me that Murney Associates is the biggest real estate firm in town. According to Active Network, they’re correct; the company ranks as the 40th largest independent real estate company in the United States. Unless Congressman Long has a larger firm which he operates “below the radar,” one must assume the first-term congressman has twice failed to report all of his assets on his disclosure forms. After all, there’s no mention of Murney except as a source of earned income.

Others are suggesting that Long sold the bulk of Keller-Williams to a relative of the owner of the grocery store at Glenstone and Bennett and went over to Murney and Associates.

As to Long's claims, “I own a third interest in the largest real estate company in Springfield; I have to sell that. Do you want to buy a real estate company today? You know, they’re not worth anything, and I have to give up my real estate broker’s license.” some insiders insinuate that Long never owned any of Murney's company and that this statement is 'just so much bull'.

It is known that Long has never filed paperwork with the Missouri Secretary of State dissolving Billy Long Auctions, LLC; Billy Long Auctioneers Inc; and Billy Long,Inc.

It is not surprising, after all, Billy himself told us he is not a detail person. From the bus garage, January 5, 2011: "Like a horse, it's rode hard and put away wet," quipped Long.

A flashy Southern auctioneer with as much a penchant for cowboy hats as for telling voters that he’s “fed up,” Rep. Billy Long struck electoral gold with his campaign as a bona fide Capitol Hill outsider.

But Long not only met the insiders, he hired one of them as his chief of staff. Joe Lillis has been legislative director to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland since 2005, and before that, he worked for the Georgia Republican’s predecessor, Rep. Mac Collins (R), and former Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.).

Long declined to comment for this report, but Westmoreland recently recounted giving the inexperienced legislator the advice to hire someone who can guide him through Washington.

“I said, ‘Billy, you’re not a detail person are you?’ He said, ‘Nope,’” Westmoreland told Roll Call. “I said, ‘If you’re not detail-oriented, you better hire somebody who is detail-oriented.’ The ropes are going to be hard enough for a new Member of Congress to learn. If he has eight people or seven people there who are learning the ropes together, that’s going to be a long ride.”

How long is that piece of rope? Long enough to hang yourself with.

Did Congressman Billy Long Fail to List His Interests in a Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Company?

2011-06-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

The questions over Billy Long's Congressional financial disclosures continue to come. This time Bob McCarty, who writes for Breitbart's Big Government sees some problems with Long's federal disclosure--like what happened to Billy Long's 1/3 share in a multi-million dollar real estate company?

Though some in Show-Me State Republican circles are probably beginning to think I’m a Democrat, nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, I simply try to hold elected officials of EVERY stripe accountable to their bosses, the voters. Lately, I’ve focused much of my attention on freshman Republican Congressman Billy Long of the 7th Congressional District in southwest Missouri.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.)

Today, I can report Congressman Long appears to have been bluffing voters on the campaign trail when he said he would have to sell his one-third interest in the largest real estate company in his hometown, Springfield, Mo.

Before I explain this serious allegation, a recap of previous posts seems in order.

In three Long-focused entries to date, I’ve shared my disgust with the poker-playing congressman — via spokesperson Bret Funk — who refused to answer questions about claims he had made on the campaign trail in November 2009.

In a post March 31, I recalled Congressman Long’s own words, spoken on Nov. 9, 2009, during a short interview (see video below) with Josh Marsh, Morning News Watch host on KZRG radio in Joplin, Mo.

Just after the one-minute mark of the interview, the professional auctioneer-turned politician spoke about the hardships and sacrifices he was willing to make if voters in southwest Missouri elected him to Congress:

No Excuse: Congressman Billy Long's Financial Disclosure Has a Major Discrepancy

2011-06-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

News came out today, Congressman Billy Long's staff is the tenth highest paid staff out of 94 freshmen legislators. Long's staff includes at least one attorney, Curtis Trent. Knowing this, there is just no excuse there is a major discrepancy on Billy Long's federal financial disclosure, which lists Long's business interests.

The problem comes where Long claims he has dissolved Billy Long Auctions. The problem comes from the fact the Missouri Secretary of State's Office has not received the required paperwork required to dissolve an LLC, which the federal disclosure clearly shows Billy Long Auctions as being. A call to the Secretary of State's Office discovered Billy Long Auctions hasn't been legally dissolved as the state has not received a Notice of Winding Up and Articles of Termination. There is just no excuse for this considering Long has attorneys on his staff that should have made sure all the I's were dotted and T's crossed before they submitted their disclosure.

Long's federal disclosure contains fraudulent information. Of course, there are a number of issues regarding the Long's federal disclosure. First, some background on why Long's financial disclosure is of interest. Long made his assets a campaign promise/issue:

1. Why isn't Long's 1/3 share in the real estate company he mentions above listed in the disclosure? (Long cites his 1/3 share in the interview. Yet there is no record of Long owning or parting with this 1/3 share.)

Click to enlarge

2. Why does Billy Long Auctions show up on the Missouri Secretary of State's Web site as an active business if the company is dissolved?

3. Is it a conflict of interest that Billy Long's agriculture liaison Bob Kollmeier, a senior staffer earning over $15,000 in his first three months of service on Long's staff, now running what appears to be the current version of Billy Long Auctions?

(Notice Kollmeier uses the "Long number" and the URL billylong.com forwards to Bob Kollmeier Auctions.)

4. Why isn't Bob Kollemeier Auctions listed on the Missouri Secretary of State's Web site?

5. If Billy Long dissolved Billy Long Auctions on December 31, 2010, like the federal disclosure shows, why does the Missouri Secretary of State's Office report Long never filed a Notice of Winding Up and Articles of Termination required of an LLC that is dissolved? The Secretary of State's office through a phone call confirmed Billy Long never filed these documents.

Billy Long's Congressional Staff Addicted to OPM

2011-06-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

Not only is Billy Long guilty of some cronyism when it comes to his staff, he is also not afraid to pay top dollar using your tax dollars to pay his staff. When it comes to cronyism, Billy Long said he would have to sell his auction company and his 1/3 share in Murney Associates, so it was interesting when it was discovered Bob Kollmeier was not only running Billy Long's auction business but he is one of Long's highest paid staff members. Conflict of interest or possible ethics problem?

What's even more interesting about this is Billy Long, who ran on a small business common sense platform, was such a miser of an employer (think Scrooge), he didn't provide his auction staff with health insurance (Long claims he had an alternative plan for them). Of course Long ran against career politicians who he said were addicted to OPM, other peoples money. It looks like Long has no problem paying his staff top dollar with OPM.

10 highest-paying freshmen members of Congress:

Amount Member
$243,431.38 Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.)
$232,101.35 Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
$220,819.43 Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.)
$220,032.23 Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
$216,122.20 Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.)
$212,000.01 Rep. Mike Grimm (R-N.Y.)
$209,570.64 Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)
$205,191.65 Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio)
$205,138.86 Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.)
$204,497.76 Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.)

10 lowest-paying freshmen members of Congress:

Amount Member
$98,900.33 Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.)
$123,547.30 Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.)
$126,636.09 Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.)
$131,704.99 Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.)
$132,963.90 Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.)
$138,378.33 Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.)
$138,985.01 Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.)
$142,811.55 Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.)
$143,337.73 Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
$143,676.06 Rep. Rick Berg (R-N.D.)

As if this isn't eye opening enough, Long's entire staff will soon be qualified for Rapid Payback, which means OPM will be paying off their student loans.

There are 94 House freshmen, and as you can see there is quite a difference between what Long pays his staff and what Republican Joe Walsh pays his staff. That's what you get when you hire the Washington insiders and cronies like Long has.

Billy Long: NASCAR or Life Saving Weather Satellites?

2011-06-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

He may look like the biggest loser,
but SWMO is really the biggest loser
under his leadership.

Watching the tweets this morning, Dave Snider, the outgoing weatherman at KY3 tweeted, "Uh oh. RT @ForecastWatch: NOAA fails to convince Congress to fund replacement for advanced weather satellite http://bit.ly/lvquEg."

So I clicked on the link to find:

A looming gap in U.S. weather satellite coverage could jeopardize the seven-day forecasts people have relied upon for everything from planning weekend picnics to preparing for hurricanes.

Hit hard by federal spending cutbacks this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been forced to delay a critical satellite scheduled to be in orbit by 2016. The postponement could cause an unprecedented year-and-a-half loss of weather data, undermining hurricane track forecasts and public warnings on the potential for deadly tornadoes.

The satellite data feeds into computer models that forecasters use for long-range predictions. For instance, in May, forecasters warned that Southwest Missouri would be at a higher risk for tornadoes several days before the deadly EF-5 twister devastated Joplin. Such warnings may not be possible in the absence of the satellite data.

This was part of HR1, which was a collection of budget cutting amendments each Congressman voted on, including Joplin's own Congressman Billy Long.

Billy Long is never one to shy away from the camera or microphone with a sound bite. So let's look at some things he has been saying since the tornado hit Joplin.

Billy Long told Susan Redden of the Joplin Globe, "While we need to look everywhere to make spending cuts, making sure our first responder, disaster relief and national defense communities have the tools they need always will be a priority while I’m in Congress."

Just to fact check Ms. Redden, I looked to other sources since Long has a history of repeating the same sound bit over and over until he wares it out. From the May 25, 2011 News-Leader, just three days after the EF5 hit Joplin.

"Our deficit is not because we are taxed too little but because Washington spends too much," Long said. "I was sent to Washington to rein in wasteful government spending. While we need to look everywhere to make spending cuts, making sure our first responder, disaster relief, and national defense communities have the tools they need will always be a priority while I am in Congress."

Yet, Billy Long voted against this important satellite system which acts as a tool to save lives, ensure weather interference for the free flow of commerce is minimalized, and even perhaps save tax dollars by offering communities time to prepare, thus reducing the need for FEMA bailouts and other federal assistance. Call it preventative medicine.

While I am all for Billy Long and the Republicans cutting wasteful federal spending, it appears to me Congressman Long is running from his record in hopes of politically profiting from the disaster in Joplin.

If you want to know the truth about Long's record, it gets no clearer than these Billy Long sound bites compared to his yea and nay votes for the HR1 amendments and the House budget vote. While Long didn't vote for a weather satellite that is important in predicting bad weather in places like Joplin, he did vote to continue federal funding of NASCAR teams.

It really puts things in perspective as Billy Long brags about his vote to send $1 billion to Joplin in federal aid after voting against a satellite system that prepares communities for disasters. In Billy Long's world, NASCAR is more exciting than keeping people safe, and he's always got that sound bite to convince the people of Southwest Missouri "he cares" knowing most of them will never discover the truth hidden in his votes.

Funding for federally sponsored NASCAR teams total over $27 million this year. In the last ten years prior, it is estimated the federal government spent $100 million on sponsorship.

Michael Savage on Congressman Billy Long

2011-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Congressman Long Celebrates Ground Breaking of Stimulus Funded Healthcare Clinic in Cassville, MO

2011-06-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Billy Long isn't very fed up these days. Not only is he leading the parade of Big Government through two corners of his Missouri 7 district--including FEMA, DHS, HUD, SBA, and the Commerce for Economic Development, he appears to be embracing social medicine funded by all things Obama's stimulus.

Earlier this month, BBCW reported Long was headed to Cassville to open up a federal funded health clinic created for federal welfare. Well, thanks to Think Progress, a liberal site, we now know the clinic was funded with Obama's stimulus money. In case you didn't know it, Long wasted no time to rush down to Cassville, Missouri for the photo op--embracing this clinic and putting his stamp of approval on it.

Think Progress writes:

During his campaign for Congress last year, freshman Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) called for a complete repeal of President Obama’s stimulus program. “I hope that Congress will admit they made a mistake and vote to repeal the Stimulus Act in order to reduce our deficit,” he said confidently at the time. Once he got into office, Long’s opinion did not change. On the second annivsary of the bill’s signing, Long sent out a press release claiming that the stimulus had “failed.”

However, Long was singing a different tune last week when he stood with officials at a ceremony for a new health clinic in his district. On Friday, Long appeared with other community leaders to break ground for the new Access Family Care clinic in Cassville, Missouri. The construction was made possible with a $635,000 grant from the stimulus, secured in part by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who unlike Long supported the stimulus.

Billy Long not looking so fed up with big government again this week. What did Billy say about getting to Washington and putting a stop to stimulus spending? Yup, he said it.

Obama's stimulus is a failure. It failed to create the jobs it promised and it increased the national debt. Now Billy Long's stamp of approval is on stimulus spending.

Glenn Beck on Congressman Billy Long

2011-06-11T07:09:00.001-07:00

Federal tyranny, enemies lists, investigations of private citizens, and intimidation... Far too common in the federal government today and clearly an abuse of power by Congressman Long's office.

Tornado Tweet Comes Back to Haunt Congressman Long: Keith Olbermann Declares Billy Long Worst Person Runner Up

2011-06-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Someone running for Congress probably shouldn't make fun of the state's efforts to prepare its residents for disasters. Once again, karma has a funny way of catching up with you. Just look at how one tweet making fun of tornado drills earned Billy Long a new honor for his Congressional resume.

Your Agriculture Adviser is Who?: Why isn't He Running Your Auction House?

2011-06-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Trust me, I'm an auctioneer.

Billy Long may have crossed into a Congressional ethics problem regarding his fiduciary business. In the spring last year Long told Josh Marsh on KZRG in Joplin, he would have to sell his auction company and his one third share in Murney Associates if he was elected to Congress.

What happens next? Well let's just say it's the slight of hand we expect from members of Congress. It's what most people would call cronieism of the worst kind.

In April 2011, the Springfield News-Leader reported, Seventh District Congressman Billy Long said he had dissolved his auction company, in accordance with Congressional rules.

However, auctions around Springfield are asking curious bidders to call 882-5664 for more information on several auctions. If you aren't familiar with that number, it translates into the letters 882-LONG ("not the wrong number but the Long number"), the phone number of what was Billy Long Auctions. As well, the URL billylong.com transfers to the Congressional version of Billy Long Auctions titled Bob Kollmeier Auctions and Appraisals.

At the top of the advertisements is Billy Long's business partner at Billy Long Auctions, Bob Kollmeier. Clearly the auction company Long told the News-Leader was dissolved still exists. However, that's not really an issue despite the misinformation the News-Leader obviously spent no time investigating. (Once again, it appears advertising dollars are impacting the lack of reporting at the News-Leader.)

What makes it alarming is Bob Kollmeier is a paid staff member on Long's Congressional staff.

Records from Legistorm shows Kollmeier made $15,888.90 in the first quarter of 2011, all the while running the present version of Billy Long Auctions, which Long claimed he was being forced to sell and then claims he dissolved. Considering all the evidence and claims made by Congressman Long, this is looking quite fishy.

As well, what has become of Long's 1/3 share in Murney Associates?

Point Proven: Billy Long is a Political Dolt

2010-11-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

Just want to thank Sarah Steelman for helping prove the point I have made since February. Billy Long is a political dolt, and for that matter, Sarah Steelman doesn't give me much confidence in her political gravitas either.

Scott Eckersley Fake E-mail Writer Suspect Has Ties to Billy Long

2010-10-30T06:29:00.001-07:00

The Springfield News-Leader reports the fraudulent Scott Eckersley suspends campaign e-mail originated from an ISP located in Addison, Illinois. So that opens a question, why would someone from Chicagoland be interested in our Congressional race in Southwest Missouri?

Earlier this week, bloggers began talking about a fraudulent Scott Eckersley twitter account that was sending out tweets misrepresenting Eckersley's position on the issues. A closer look at the followers of the fake Scott Eckersley for Congress Twitter account identified a curious follower known as LFStrategies. LFStrategies tweeted the following encouraging people to take a look at why Eckersley is bad for Southwest Missouri.

Interestingly enough, that tweet, which was at the following link http://twitter.com/LFStrategies/status/28739191567, has been removed as has the fake Scott Eckersley twitter account shortly after news broke the Eckersley campaign was prepared to press criminal charges against whoever wrote the e-mail.

It was noted earlier today, that Billy Long's campaign strategist James Harris quickly tweeted about the fraudulent e-mail without ever verifying its accuracy. As well, Shawn Bell, who Fired Up Missouri identified as once working for Harris, and who are accused of using similar letter writing tactics against Brian Nieves, tweeted and removed their tweets within the hour. Bell is now calling bloggers begging them to remove his name from the story trying to distance himself from James Harris, Billy Long and this story about the e-mail. Jim Lee, who writes Busplunge spoke to a nervous Bell about 2:30 this afternoon. Lee recorded the conversation, and I listened to the tape of Bell distancing himself from James Harris and Billy Long. Why did Bell feel the need to call bloggers who quickly announced Bell's tweet and and his connection to James Harris? What is Bell afraid of?

Let's go back to LFStrategies, and look at why they may have deleted their tweet promoting the fake Scott Eckersley twitter account, and let's also ask was LFStrategies behind the fake Scott Eckersley twitter account.

As mentioned earlier, the e-mail's ISP shows that it originated in Addison, IL. It turns out that just a couple miles away is Lakefront Strategies (LFStrategies on Twitter) in Glendale Heights. Coincidentally, the current Missouri 7 Representative and US Senate candidate Roy Blunt follows Lakefront Strategies on Twitter and so does Billy Long.

Isn't it strange that when criminal charges began being tossed about, Lake Front Strategies, a political strategy company that was encouraging a fraudulent Scott Eckersley Twitter account suddenly removes the tweet that reads, @seckersleymo7; running in the 7th district of Missouri is not the type of character Southwest Missouri needs. Why remove this tweet if it was innocent shortly after Eckersley announces there will criminal investigation?

It's very possible the e-mail may have been sent from Lakefront Strategies. Considering how we see back scratching works in politics, especially in Jeff Roe's world with the Mike Huckabee's endorsement of Billy Long, which was a political favor for Roe's work in the 2008 Huckabee for President campaign, is Lakefront Strategies helping the Kansas City strategists out--a political favor so to speak?

Consider the closeness of Glendale Heights, Illinois, to Addison, IL. Here's a map of the two Chicago suburbs:

Addison boarders Glendale Heights and is divided by Interstate 355 formerly known at the North South Tollway now called Veterans Memorial Tollway. It's very possible Lakefront Strategies Internet server is located in Addison.

Here's some basic information about Lakefront Strategies. It's a political strategy organization like Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies. It's owned by Patrick J. Binning.

Patrick J. Benning's Facebook page says he is from Springfield, Missouri. It also ties him to Re-Max, a real estate company, which is enforced on his Linked In page. Is this a coincidence, or does this suggest there could be a very real tie to Billy Long?

A closer look at at Patrick J. Benning's education shows he went to Greenwood Laboratory School from 1991 to 2004. Considering his age, that puts him at the school about the same time Billy Long's daughters would have attended Greenwood.

As well, Binning has been very active in Republican party politics starting in college. His Facebook page reads:

While at NIU, I was elected Chairman of the Illinois College Republican Federation in 2007. In 2009 I was appointed as Executive Director of the same organization. I also served briefly as Director of Operations for the DeKalb County Republican Central Committee.

Considering all these coincidences, did Patrick J. Binning write the e-mail to the media that claimed Scott Eckersley was suspending his campaign?

Considering Shawn Bell's nervousness to distance himself from James Harris and Billy Long, did Billy Long's strategists pay Patrick J. Binning to write the e-mail that caused the controversy today?

Since this was first published at BBCW, Binning has totally removed his LFStrategies from Facebook. As well, evidence shows that Binning, Axiom Strategies, and Shawn Bell followed and or particpated in a fake Ike Skelton twitter page.

Fraudulent Eckersley Quitting E-Mail Looks like it Has Billy Long Ties

2010-10-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Is the fraudulent e-mail the media received today claiming Scott Eckersley quit the Missouri 7 Congressional race from James Harris or Jeff Roe? Fired Up Missouri found a connection the controversial and fraudulent e-mail to the Billy Long campaign. Sean Nicholson at Fired Up writes:

Billy Long Consultant James Harris Pushes False Rumor About Scott Eckersley

Some special person distributed a fake press release this morning declaring the Democratic candidate Scott Eckersley is withdrawing from the 7th Congressional District the Friday before Election Day. A couple of clues that it was a fake? It came from a Yahoo.com email address no one has heard of and contains multiple grammatical errors.

But Billy Long consultant James Harris was happy to push the rumor anyway, because he's a totally awesome dude.

(And yes, this retweet is from the same Shawn Bell who worked/works for Harris and was on the wrong end of a Rep. Brian Nieves freak out because he thought Harris was behind a letteraccusing Nieves of having extramarital affairs with lobbyists.)

Harris has since deleted his original tweet -- and has not published a correction or apology -- but the Internets remember.

Now remember, Billy Long has been playing a victim throughout this campaign--a victim of the internet. Yet, more signs are pointing that Billy Long's campaign team, who are known for their dirty politics, have effectively used the Internet to promote Billy Long's candidacy. Many people now forget the Defeat Nodler Web site that was launched a short time after Long began using the services of Jeff Roe and James Harris. The site began slandering Nodler, but Nodler wouldn't investigate who was behind it. He would only complain about it, which always made me wonder what someone had on Nodler. That site would later change its focus from Nodler to Long's other opponents including Jack Goodman and of course the Long is Wrong Web site.

Now we have this fake e-mail address, and James Harris associate Shawn Bell, whose tactics include a similar technique used against Republican Brian Nieves.

Did Fraudulent E-Mail Claiming Eckersley Quit Come From Billy Long's Campaign?

2010-10-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today's 9:00 AM KSPR news had an interesting story that appears may create another controversy that could surround Billy Long's campaign in the race for Missouri 7. KSPR reported they received an e-mail early this morning from Scott Eckersley claiming he was dropping out of the campaign due to family issues.

The e-mail address came from s.eckersley@yahoo.com, and it appears to be a fraudulent e-mail address now according to the Eckersley campaign. Eckersley said he is not dropping out of the race and the e-mail was fraudulent. He calls the e-mail dirty politicking. They my report the e-mail to federal officials to look into possible election tampering and mail fraud but wouldn't say if they believe the e-mail came from Billy Long's campaign.

The Eckersley campaign says they have been getting calls from the media all morning with questions about the e-mail. The Joplin Globe has called and even Wes Johnson at the News-Leader called. Wanna bet Wes Johnson's investigation stops at the phone call?

Each e-mail comes with a unique ISP address which identifies where the e-mail was sent. Such a fraudulent e-mail send to the press could be a major break of election laws.

Earlier this year, there was an anonymous Web site called Defeat Nodler, which many people believe Billy Long was behind. The information on the site was libelous and developed as an attack on other candidates with the exception of Billy Long and the Long is Wrong Web site. This isn't the first time the Long campaign may be behind questionable tactics using the Internet.

As well, there are bogus Twitter accounts using Eckersley's name that aren't official Eckersley campaign tweets, and its unknown who are behind them. If the e-mails ISP leads back to Long's campaign, Billy Long may have a serious FEC ethics problem, this could get very interesting

Does Billy Long Gamble With a Convicted Felon?: What the News-Leader Isn't Telling You About Billy Long and the Metropolitan Grill

2010-10-25T06:05:00.001-07:00

One of the details Jennifer Case makes in the tape against Billy Long is the owner of the Metropolitan Grill, Pat Duran, and Billy Long went off to Las Vegas together. Case said that when the boys return from Las Vegas, the party begins as they relive the antics of Las Vegas. Scanning Billy Long's tweets along with the Metropolitan Grill Facebook fan page produces some connections one can conclude gives Case more credibility with her statements against Billy Long.

There has already been doubt established by KOLR's Joy Robertson of multiple accounts of events at the Metropolitan Grill by its owner. For instance, Duran says Billy Long has never been in the bar after ten, but he threw is primary election watch party there the news reported from the Metropolitan Grill that night as Long was declared the winner. As well, he said the Metro Mafia was a group of businessmen who raise money for the police and firemen's pension funds; however, the Metropolitan Grill's Web site describes Mafia Nights as total debauchery for the experienced partier who doesn't want to be slowed down by high-school kids at a bar.

With this said, let's look at the evidence set forth in front of us that no one at the News-Leader seems to want to examine and start building a case that creates doubts in Billy Long's claim that he has no knowledge of what takes place at the Metropolitan Grill.

First of all, let's debunk this idea that the Metro Mafia is a force of good for the community. An entry on the Metropolitan Grill's Facebook page has this interesting exchange between Duran and some regulars. Before you read, this let's recall what KOLR's Robertson reported about the Metro Mafia:

Restaurant chef and owner Pat Duran told KOLR10 that he has no working knowledge of any of the allegations, that Billy Long has never been inside the restaurant past 10 p.m., and that he's fearful that something that started out for good of the community has turned out horrible.

He's referring to the Metro Mafia, a daytime gathering of businessmen Duran assembled to raise money for the police and fire pension fund. It's a fund he says has raised more than $10,000. It's a group he says Billy Long has never been a part of.

Let's take a look at when the Metro Mafia really meets and what some of the patrons have to say about Mafia Nights.

Metropolitan Grill: Mafia Night tonight, Friday and Saturday, Hope to see you there!

Melissa Johnson: I thought you had to have a penis to attend "mafia night"!?!?!!?

Then there is this strange, almost forced reminder of what the Metro Mafia is.

Metropolitan Grill: That would be the business mens luncheon group that supports the local firefighters and police officers.

OK, so why do you need a penis to support the local firefighters and police officers? Remember, Jennifer Case says Billy Long talks down to women, and this suggests the Metro Mafia is made up of strictly men--no women allowed. This also makes it easier to accept Case's idea of "Man Nights" at the Metropolitan Grill, which is the time when the strippers are brought in.

Now looking at the Metropolitan Grill's Facebook page for Metro Mafia contributions, and there is only one instance of the grill raising money for the firemen and police pensions, and that entry was over a year later on September 16, 2010. In that post, there was no mention of the Metro Mafia sponsoring or participating in the fundraiser event. Why not?

Billy Long has continued to deny gambling allegations throughout the Republican primary and into the general election. Even as recently as October 3, Billy Long told the News-Leader they are just rumors despite his name appearing at multiple World Poker Tour events and Long even writing an e-mail to a former supporter who doesn't support gambling admitting to playing in the Southern Poker Championship. Long's denial may have more to do with the Metropolitan Grill than it does the dislike of gambling in Southwest Missouri that continues to fight the gaming industry to stay away. As you know Rockaway Beach has been a target for the gaming industry.

Jennifer Case and former Metropolitan Grill employees tell how Billy Long and elements of what I believe are the Metro Mafia take their debauchery off to Las Vegas together. If you remember, the Long campaign told the News-Leader his August trip to Las Vegas was a family vacation. Jennifer Case and the former Metro Grill employees say it wasn't. They say the friends that meet for the parties at the Metropolitan Grill left for Vegas together with Billy. If you remember right, multiple accounts as the week progressed in Vegas, which Billy Long was caught by a Democratic tracker, reported Long was in Las Vegas without his family. As well, a very credible witness says Barbara Long, Billy Long's wife, was heard telling a family friend that if she was asked, she would tell people upon Billy Long's arrival home, the family loves going to Vegas together.

Let's go back to March. Almost immediately after Billy Long attempted to bribe the blogger with the job to remove the Long is Wrong Web site, Long disappeared and it was a surprise to the other Republican candidates that Billy Long didn't show up Lawrence County Lincoln Day, rather he had Curtis Trent read the back of Billy Long's business card to the attendees that night. A Republican operative told me Billy Long was seen in Las Vegas and we also know he was frustrated with his hotel room as he tweeted.

"2010 Hotel's, no fresh towels -no fresh sheets -pretty soon they'll have virtual beds - U see a hologram of a bed in room but can't lay on it," tweeted Billy Long at 2:40 PM on March 8, 2010.

Interestingly enough, guess who was in Las Vegas that week--no other than the owner of the Metropolitan Grill, Pat Duran, the same man who defended Billy Long on KOLR last week. Here's evidence of that posted on the Metropolitan Grill Facebook page.

shhhhhhhhh.... Pat's in Vegas!!! So party at Metro March 9, 2010

Then we have this interesting post from the Metropolitan Grill after the Las Vegas trip:

The boss is back shaking hands, kissing babies and ready to tell his Vegas stories! March 11, 2010

The question here is who is the boss. Politicians are often described shaking hands and kissing babies. Does this mean that Billy Long is the Metro Mafia family boss or are they referring to Pat Duran? I think it could be interpreted either way, but it does place a political tone over the Las Vegas trip. We know Billy Long also returned from his trip about that same time thanks to tweets that let voters know he was going to be attending the Pachyderm Club on the 12th and the St. Patrick's Day Parade that weekend.

Now remember, Jennifer Case claims the Metro Mafia flew out to Vegas together in the tape, and these series of tweets and Facebook entries definitely enforces her story.

Here's another aspect the Springfield News-Leader decided not to investigate. Remember they have people all over Springfield wanting to tell them about what happens at the Metropolitan Grill, and Cory De Vera didn't sound very interested in listening to their stories based on a comment she made on Randy Turner's blog The Turner Report:

We do have several document requests pending. Many people wanted to tell me many things about the Metro Grill, and while that's all very interesting, the issue for this story was: Did someone see Billy Long there when this allegedly happened? Did Billy Long play a role in some way? Or does he just eat at a place where some times some things have gotten out of hand?

Well had De Vera done some investigating of these stories she may have discovered the connection made above, as well, she may also have discovered Billy Long may be gambling with a convicted felon in Las Vegas. Oh yes this story gets better.

I began to doubt Pat Duran's account of Billy Long when I read and watched KOLR's coverage, and so as I drove to St. Louis on Saturday, e-mails started to come in telling me to look at the Metropolitan Grill's Facebook page. I had looked at it before, but never as deep as me and two others did on Saturday when I pulled into the Pacific McDonald's on I-44. We began to question why family values Republicans like Billy Long, Jim Viebrock, Eric Burlison, Charlie Denison, "Aunt" Norma Champion, Shane Scholler, Jay Wasson, and Mavis Busiek would want to frequent a place based on the filth of their social media content. Then we started to look deeper and some more interesting things began to pop up.

We first went looking for information regarding the Metropolitan Grill. The owner of the grill according to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office is listed under Jennifer Duran. Nothing strange about that yet. She is Pat's wife, but is there a reason why she is listed instead of Pat as the owner?

Business Listing

Then we started to look at the Missouri Liquor Licenses to see if the Metropolitan Grill showed any violations of serving to minors.Whether or not De Vera looked is unknown, which is sad because you can view license information from the Springfield News-Leader Web site.

Searches for Blue Noodle LLC, Jennifer Duran, Metropolitan Grill, and Pat Duran returned no evidence of any wrong doing in the service of minors at the Metro Grill. This makes sense since Duran and the Metro Mafia seem annoyed with children partying at other bars--children of course being a term for of age inexperienced drinkers who don't understand the term Metro debauchery.

Then we asked is there something that prevents Pat Duran from getting a liquor license in the state of Missouri. We called the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. They said take a close look at convicted felons and based on moral character they make a decision to grant or deny a liquor license. A closer look at the Metropolitan Grill provided the following insight into Billy Long's Metro associate and possible gambling buddy, Pat Duran. According to the Grand Traverse County, Traverse City, Michigan's 13th Circuit Court, Duran is a convicted felon.

CCCR

Yeah, I know, you want to know how do we know its the same guy. Using Zabasearch, we looked for Pat Duran. Two sources showed up that matched Long' associate Pat Duran to the tee. Here are those two listings that showed up.

The age, middle initials, locations, and relatives match up with the court records.

Consider the inconsistencies in Patrick Duran's accounts of Billy Long at the Metropolitan Grill, specifically his claim Billy Long has never been at the restaurant after 10:00 PM knowing Long's primary watch party stretched beyond 10:00 PM, and let's not forget Republicans used the Metropolitan Grill for another watch party in the April 2010 local election that Long attended based on his tweet records:

Consider the inconsistencies of what has been written about Mafia Nights and the Metro Mafia and what hasn't been written about the Metro Mafia on the Facebook page compared to what Duran told KOLR's Joy Robertson:

Consider Jennifer Case's claim that Billy Long travels to Las Vegas with Metropolitan Grill people and seeing the timeline of travel and an account of Long being spotted in Las Vegas and tweeting about the condition of his hotel room during the same time Pat Duran was in Vegas too:

Consider Duran as a witness with a possible felony criminal record while having close ties to Billy Long:

Why is the Springfield News-Leader so ready to discount this story and these witnesses without a larger scope of the entire picture of what we are dealing with? How do we know that Jennifer Case and Robert Bush haven't been pressured to back down? We don't, and while I make no claim this is the case, something is fishy about the investigation claims of the Springfield News-Leader.

This story involves some dynamic elements the News-Leader has chosen not to investigate.

Why do Family and Missouri Values Republicans like Billy Long Want to be Seen at a Place like the Metropolitan Grill?

2010-10-24T15:32:00.001-07:00

Any Southwest Missouri Republican who touts family values with any little bit of common sense should know to stay away from the Metropolitan Grill. It's reputation for debauchery is confirmed on its Facebook fan page, and reading it creates some interesting coincidences that further enforces Jennifer Case is probably more credible than the News-Leader gives her credit for.

A recent fundraiser held by Billy Long for Jim Viebrock featured an impressive list of family value republicans. Of course, if they were true to the conservative family values, what are they doing in a place like the Metropolitan Grill, which obviously doesn't promote family values. Do they have no judgement as to what family values are?

Looking over The Metropolitan Grill's social media presence on the Web clearly makes me question the values of these republicans. Why would they gather in such a place that Billy Long tweets about as politics central?

Billy Long says he will represent our values in Washington, but the man who has a piece of meat on the menu at the Metropolitan Grill should realize a Uterus Appreciation Night isn't necessarily a value most Southwest Missourian would recognize as a family value. Just take a look at some of the Facebook entries from the owner of the Metropolitan Grill.

We are celebrating the "uterus" tonight.

Find your future ex husband at the Metro, plenty of candidates available. Men we are having a Douche Bag contest.

Remember what the owner said on KOLR the Metro Mafia was, a group to raise money for the police and firemen's pensions. Here is a reference to the infamous Metro Mafia Nights that are parties for the people who know how to party and don't want the hassles of dealing with wannabe partiers who act like high school kids.

Notice Melissa Johnson's first comment: "I thought you had to have a penis to attend "mafia night"?!?!?!? Why would that be Melissa? Perhaps there's something more to Jennifer Case's story? Perhaps strippers and gambling do take place at the Metropolitan Grill.

Come on girls who will be the first to give up their Metro Bar virginity?

What happens at the bar? Something sexual for women to partake in?

No table dancing until I get back.

One of the images both mentioned by Jennifer Case and Robert Bush were strippers dancing on the bar.

Why is it, Billy Long, who says he represents our values, as well is Jim Viebrock not have better sense to stay away from such a place that doesn't hide by any means its dedication to debauchery. As family values conservative republicans I would expect them to know if you want a reputation, you go to places like this. Like Billy Long said, this is politics central, and there seems to be many Republicans who enjoy the place. It really shows how little their dedication to family values is.

This is why Southwest Missouri should be questioning Billy Long, the Missouri values candidate.

This is not the entire bit of evidence I suggested I would present earlier on the Springfield News-Leader Web site.

The Turner Report Enforces What I Have Said About Billy Long being Fed Up: Is Billy Long still fed up?#links

2010-10-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Turner Report: Is Billy Long still fed up?#links

Two words characterized the primary battle for the Seventh District Congressional seat currently held by Roy Blunt.

The minute Springfield auctioneer and former radio personality Billy Long said he was “fed up” with government as usual, “fed up” with the big spending ways of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, and “fed up” with career politicians who had never signed the front of a check, he had latched onto his ticket to the general election.

In a year when Tea Party enthusiasts are ripping anything that smacks of incumbency or experience, veteran state senators Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, didn’t stand a chance.

Once the primary passed, and Nodler, Goodman, and the rest of the cast of characters from the Republican primary were in Billy Long’s rear view mirror, the Fed Up Express became a thing of history.

Perhaps it’s the difference in opponents. Instead of two veteran state senators, Long’s chief opponent, Scott Eckersley, is someone who is just as inexperienced in elective politics as Long is.

Or perhaps now that Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman are no longer siphoning money from traditional sources, Billy Long can start raking in the cash from the special interests just like all of the “career politicians” he has spent months criticizing.

No better evidence can be found than in Long’s quarterly disclosure report, filed October 15 with the Federal Election Commission.

Long's contributor list for the past quarter reads like a who's who of big business, including a couple that are reminiscent of recent excesses.

FEC documents show Halliburton and Exxon Mobil each dropped $1,000 into Long's campaign chest.

Halliburton, long associated with former vice president Dick Cheney, was the recipient of billions of dollars, much of that in the form of no-bid contracts, from the federal government. While the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to drain the U. S. economy, Halliburton has been swimming in greenbacks for the past decade.

It would seem that kind of special interest excess would be something that would have the earlier incarnation of Billy Long, the one that apparently vanished after the primary, fed up.

And why wouldn’t Exxon Mobil fit into that same category? After all, it is a company that recorded record profits during a time when average American citizens were paying more than double and sometimes triple what they used to pay for gas.

Surely the old Billy Long would be fed up with that kind of excess.

That’s just the beginning of the traditional interests that began lining up behind “Fed Up” Billy after he no longer needed to be fed up.

The American Bankers' Association gave the maximum $5,000, credit industry law firm Hunter & Williams chipped in with $1,000, and the R. J. Reynolds PAC gave $2,500.

Long also received big bucks from many of the so-called leadership PACs, including $5,000 from the Rely on Your Beliefs PAC of Roy Blunt, the man Long hopes to succeed, plus thousands from the leadership PACS of such Republican luminaries as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Congressman John Boehner, Eric Kantor, and Paul Ryan.

All of these men would seem to fit into that “career politician’ mode that Billy Long considered to be poison before he safely had the Republican nomination in his hands.

It appears likely that in two weeks, Billy Long will be Congressman-elect for the Seventh District. If that is the case, one question remains- Which Billy Long will be on his way to Washington? Will it be the one who is fed up or will it be just another politician feeding from the public trough.

Mafia Nights at the Metropolitan Grill Mention Nothing of Policemen and Firement: More Metro Mafia and Billy Long Scandal Info

2010-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Further research about the Metro Mafia by Busplunge reveals another inconsistency with Metropolitan Grill owner Pat Duran's account of the allegations against Billy Long. According to KOLR, Duran said the Metro Mafia is a daytime gathering of businessmen Duran assembled to raise money for the police and fire pension fund. It's a fund, he says, (that) has raised more than $10,000. It's a group, he says, Billy Long has never been a part of.

However, the Metropolitan Grill's Web site describe the mafia activity in the grill as something different. Here's a screen shot of the Metropolitan Grill's Web site describing Mafia Nights. Notice the words private parties in the right column.

Click to enlarge

The text from that Web site says nothing about the Metropolitan's goodwill towards the police and firemen of the city. Rather it talks about partying.

What exactly is a Mafia Night?

Pat was tired of feeling like the college kid at a high school party. Although the dining and nightlife in Springfield is incredible, after 9 PM the younger generation is just getting started, while the more experienced (so to speak) seem to be winding down. Pat wanted to create an atmosphere for the more seasoned working professionals, who migrate to the Southeast side. A place where you can hear great music from 1960 - 1990. A place where you can grab an exquisite late night snack until 1 AM. A place "where everybody knows your name." The Metro Mafia, just like age, is nothing more than a state of mind.

Late-night, upscale shenanigans, beginning after 9 PM on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Even the description sounds like the perfect place for a seasoned, more experienced man like Billy Long to enjoy. Long loves to be loved, he loves food, and once again we see an inconsistency in owner Pat Duran's claims about Billy Long.

Metropolitan Grill Owner Casts Doubts of Auctioneer Billy Long's Innocence: Two Things to Note

2010-10-23T04:11:00.000-07:00

KOLR's Joy Robertson covered the developing story this evening of Billy Long's Metrogate, allegations that accuse him of some bad behavior surrounding some closed door activities that has been alleged to have taken place at the Metropolitan Grill just west of Second Baptist Church on Battlefield. Robertson reports the owner of the Metropolitan Grill, Pat Duran, "has no working knowledge of any of the allegations." No knowledge of the allegations? Are you kidding me?

The allegations are nearly two weeks old, which is plenty of time for a certain Congressional candidate to notify those involved for the spin that needs to take place in order to provide Billy Long shelter from the storm. I have a real problem believing the owner has no knowledge of the allegations, which first appeared on The Fuse Joplin on October 10. It's just hard for me to believe that a business owner is this out of touch with something so big being said about his restaurant, especially in a place where people tend to linger and talk--drink after drink. Do you really believe that Billy Long didn't contact the Metro Grill owner and give him a heads up?

I think two things are happening here. The owner is concerned about the future of his restaurant much like Billy Long is concerned about his future in politics, so its deny, deny, deny. Of course this comes from the first thing that probably was placed in motion the second Billy Long's campaign got wind of Eli Yokely at The Fuse Joplin publishing the allegations and that is called spin and damage control.

He also claims Billy Long has never been in the restaurant after 10:00 PM at night. Is this the truth? Where did Billy Long throw his primary election night watch party? Are you telling me that at 9:59 PM that night Billy Long sent the party packing? I highly doubt it. Something tells me Billy Long stayed after 10:00 PM that night schmoozing with donors and supporters. I am not buying what the owner is saying.

I am willing to bet that if Robertson looked at the logs of her television stations camera crews, they probably prove that Billy Long has been at the Metropolitan Grill after 10:00 PM. There is probably video from a newscast that shows the same. Party it up, Billy is the nominee.

Billy Long did pick an interesting place for his primary night watch party, didn't he?

Robert Bush Backs Up Jennifer Case Story: Billy Long Engaged in Illegal Gambling, Racist Comments, and Strippers

2010-10-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

A second witness says the events Jennifer Case described, which include Republican auctioneer Billy Long did indeed happen.

Robert Bush, a former co-worker of Jennifer Case submitted a letter today corroborating the claims made by Case about Billy Long’s involvement with strippers at a Springfield upscale restaurant.

Bush’s letter referenced Long’s membership in the group called the “metro mafia” and his participation in “man nights” which included strippers on the bar of the restaurant. Bush was given the task of “taping the windows with brown paper, so as to limit the view from outside.”

The letter also confirmed Case’s allegations of racist behavior and illegal gambling.

The following is Robert Bush's letter:

Second Witness Backs Up Jennifer Cases Allegations Against Republican Billy Long

Billy Long Claims Jennifer Case's Story is 100% False

2010-10-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Billy Long sent KSPR an e-mail this evening claiming Jennifer Case's story is 100% false. Ok, but this isn't the first time Long has claimed something to be false and evidence turned up suggesting otherwise.

Billy Long told the Springfield News-Leader on October 3 he is a casual card player and rumors of his high-stakes gambling aren't true. However, World Poker Tour records show he laid down $10,000 to play in the Southern Poker Championship at the Beau Rivage Casino and another $15,400 dollars to play in the Bellagio Cup IV. In other words, Billy Long has been caught lying about his behavior that most Southwest Missourians wouldn't approve of in the past. So why should we expect any different with his denials of Jennifer Case's allegations, especially when there are more former employees coming forward. As well, Billy Long has lied about his gambling and illegal gambling is one of the accusations made against Long.

After months of saying he doesn't gamble during the primary, Long immediately flew to Las Vegas after the Republican primay. Long was quickly spotted on the airplane without family. When Long came back and the story had hit, Long said it was a family vacation, but multiple witnesses who saw Billy Long leave and come back say his family was never seen with him.

For me, this has a personal twist. When I met Long for coffee in March, he attempted to bribe me to stop writing about him saying there could be a job in his campaign for me if I was to take down the Long is Wrong Web site. It is interesting to note that night at Pizza by Stout, Long went out of his way to tell me he doesn't party. He told me three to four times that night, "me and my wife don't party." It's almost like he was trying to go out of his way to suggest the opposite of who he really is.

Of course, that led to this interesting video, Is Billy Long Lying.

Mr. Long's record of telling the truth isn't a strong record. Even his most basic campaign rhetoric "fed up" comes with many contradictions. He tells voters he is fed up with career politicians, but his personal campaign contributions include donations to big spending, government growing politicians who Billy Long claims he is fed up with.

Billy Long Jennifer Case Campaign Ad Debuts on KY3 News

2010-10-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Case has a story to tell about the auctioneer Billy Long. In Scott Eckersley's latest campaign ad, Case is allowed airtime to tell her encounters with Billy Long while questioning his family values platform.

The Fuse Joplin broke the story last week. Case claims Billy Long is a racist, sexist, homophobe, who also participates in illegal gambling and engages in inappropriate behavior with strippers in the back room of a local restaurant in which they close down and throw Las Vegas night.

KY 3 had a disclaimer after the commercial. None of the media wants to touch this story even though there are multiple employees talking. There is another account rumored to be coming from another Metro Grill employee.

Billy Long--he doesn't represent my conservative values and Southwest Missouri is learning why I have opposed Billy Long.

Silver Shamrock Novelties Presents the Scariest Halloween Costume of 2010: The Auctioneer Billy Long

2010-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Silver Shamrock Novelties Presents:

Its scariest Halloween mask ever!

The Auctioneer Billy Long

He's "Fed Up" and ready to scare!

He donates to the same big spending career politicians he claims he is fed up with.

He runs from voters' who ask him tough questions just like Democrats did during the Obamacare debates.

He only wants to roll back federal spending to 2008 Nancy Pelosi approved levels.

He's a RINO!

And he wants to be your next Congressman in Missouri's Seventh District.

OH THE HORROR!

To Order don't call 88-Fed Up and don't vote for Billy Long.

Republican Michael Wardell Addresses Allegations Made Against Billy Long

2010-10-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Former Republican Congressional candidate Michael Wardell goes on record addressing Billy Long's character issues questioning why Dr. Scott Magill and the Missouri Republican Assembly aren't holding Billy Long to the same standard.

Axiom Strategies Produces Cookie Cutter Republicans: Wink Hartman is Billy Long is Wink Hartman

2010-10-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

A revealing mailer for Wink Hartman, a Kansas Republican, produced by Axiom Strategies and featured on their Facebook page has some familiar verbiage that Southwest Missouri voters have been hearing for the last few months. In fact, it appears Jeff Roe is producing a lot of Astroturf with his campaign consulting business and making a huge profit turning out templated candidates.

On the mailer, there is a quote for Hartman that I could have sworn I have heard come from Billy Long's mouth. Tell me if I am wrong.

"I'm a business man, not a career politician. Washington must learn you cannot spend, tax, or bail your way to economic prosperity--that's why I am going to Congress."

Business man--not a career politician? That does sound an awful lot like Billy Long, you know the same Billy Long that said he wouldn't let his handlers tell him what to say.

It appears to me Jeff Roe and Axiom Strategies are producing cookie cutter republicans who I am sure will be good little party yes men. I wonder if Wink Hartman paid Axiom over $150,000 in the last three months in exchange for Billy Long's campaign strategy developed by Axiom Strategies?

METROGATE: More Metropolitan Grill Employees Talk About Billy Long Scandal and the "Metro Mafia"

2010-10-15T04:00:00.001-07:00

The Fuse Joplin released a tape last night of more co-workers coming forward and describing what life was like at the Metropolitan Grill, specifically with the auctionner and "family values" Republican Congressional candidate Billy Long. The tape contains two other witnesses who get in line with Jennifer Case.

They describe what took place in the Metropolitan Grill after hours, a place the Fuse Joplin notes, Billy Long is staying away from these days. As well, Long has still yet to comment.

On the tape is descriptions of illegal gambling, very young strippers entertaining Billy Long and the Metro Mafia, racism, a possible rape, and the thug like tactics the restaraunt has been accused of to keep employees quiet.

Remember, these are accusations and nobody has been found guilty, as you know, in the political world, many of these accusations are proven true, and American politicians have a long history of bad behavior from Ted Kennedy driving his car in the drink to Republican Mark Foley.

For more information, visit The Fuse Joplin.

Repeal the 17th Amendment "will never ever happen": Billy Long's Tea Party Pandering Exposed

2010-10-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Thinking Billy Long was going to Washington to fight for you in hopes of restoring our Constitution? Don't count on it.

When Billy Long was asked about repealing the 17th Amendment on KZRG, he started off strong. Yeah Billy, you tell them why the 17th Amendment isn't what our founding fathers envisioned. Woo hoo!

Then, in a moment of truth, the fire from Billy Long's belly was gone. My heart was suddenly broken. Before ever getting to Washington and committing to fight for the vision of the founding fathers, Billy Long lets down his tea party base. He tells KZRG in regards to repealing the 17th Amendment, it "will never ever happen."

That's it man, game over man, game over!

In one short breath, Billy Long proved what I have been saying all along. He isn't willing to go to Washington to fight for you, the tea party movement. He isn't willing to go to Washington to fight for the vision of the founding fathers. He just says what he thinks people want to hear. How can you have faith that Billy Long is going to fight for anything when he gives up before he even tries?

Are you sure you want to trust Billy Long with repeal and replace Obamacare? Heck, judging from what he said in the Joplin debate about Obamacare, he might have already given up, because he sure didn't fight Obamacare on a philosophical standpoint. He just said we can't afford it after saying there are "lots of things in the health care bill that are good." When has not being able to afford something ever stopped the federal government?

What Billy Long showed, with his lack of fight to go to Washington and make any attempt to repeal the 17th Amendment, by admitting so easily to defeat of any repeal of the 17th Amendment, is that he has pandered to the tea parties. He has told them what they wanted to hear with his Fed Up rhetoric, and he doesn't even believe in what he says enough to even try to make a difference in Washington. He just says it's never ever going to happen. Why do you want to put faith in a man who gives up this easily?

Here's what I hear Billy Long say. I am going to tell those tea partiers I support the repeal of the 17th Amendment, but when I get to Washington, it's going to be business as usual and they will soon forget me ever saying anything about repealing the 17th Amendment.

I have warned you, Billy Long's rhetoric was shaped to build a base around Tea Party anger. Fed Up were those two words that Billy hoped would play well with the Tea Party and others angry at the federal government, all the while just a few months before Slick Billy was making a considerably large campaign donation to a career politician who increased the size of government, led the Republicans in the House to spend more and more, led the Republican efforts to pass the bank bailouts, supported Cash for Clunkers, and earmarked like there was no tomorrow. This is the type of politician Billy Long said he was fed up with, and this is the type of politician Billy Long gave his money to to support.

I posted an important article about why it is important to repeal the 17th Amendment yesterday. In Long saying repealing the 17th Amendment is "never ever going to happen" tea partiers can be assured Mr. Long isn't going to Washington to make it happen. Why would you trust him to repeal and replace Obamacare when he says things like you see above and things like he said in Joplin about Obamacare. "Lots of things in the healthcare bill that are good," Mr. Long says. Where are Billy Long's convictions to fight for the people of Southwest Missouri?

Video of Billy Long Praising Parts of Obamacare: "Lots of Things About the Health Care Bill That Are Good"

2010-10-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

KY3's Web site featured a live blogging transcript of the KSN Joplin debate. In the transcript was some surprising verbiage from the Republican candidate, Billy Long. KY 3 reports Billy Long said, "lot of things about health care bill are good." This is surprising to say the least considering it is coming from the Republican candidate.

John Hacker asks the question about healthcare to the three candidates, Long, Scott Eckersley, and Kevin Craig. The question Hacker asks is about pre-existing conditions. Long is already on record with the Springfield News-Leader supporting Obama's plan to force insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions; although in Long's typical political ignorance, he doesn't realize he is attacking freedom, the free markets, and creating bigger government and more regulations with his praise of government stepping in to force insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. From the July 23, Springfield News-Leader.

"We should allow for the sale of insurance plans across state borders, make insurance portable from job to job, pass real tort reform, and require that insurance cover pre-existing conditions once again."

Going back to the debate, Billy Long does indeed praise part of the Obamacare health care bill. Here's the video of the exchange between Long and Hacker during the KSN debate in Joplin.

Billy Long agrees with Barack Obama on covering patients with pre-existing conditions. Now I ask you, how effective are republicans going to be in fighting Obamcare when you have Republicans like Long telling voters there are lots of good things in the healthcare bill, and then later in the debate confirming this is what he meant.

To make matters worse, Long's main argument on Obamacare is we can't afford it. He doesn't bring up that its Unconstitutional or the loss of freedoms connected with it. He looks at it from the point we can't afford it. Well there's a lot of federal programs we can't afford, but someone they continue year after year after Republicans promise to end these federal programs if elected.

Isn't Billy Long smart enough to know these sound bites provide ammo for Obamacare advocates? I maintain this bunch of Republicans who are running on repeal and replace are counting on the ignorance of Americans who don't understand how laws in Washington are vetoed. Sure, they may bring a repeal to vote, but until they have a 2/3 majority in Congress, there will be no way to beat Obama. Soon, frustration will lead to complacency, and republicans will soon find power in Obamacare and lobbyists will fill their pockets to drop repeal.

The Woman Who Could Bring Down Billy Long: Former Metropolitan Grill Employee Accuses Billy Long of Racism, Homophobia, and Possible Sex Scandal

2010-10-11T04:18:00.000-07:00

Late last night, All Hat No Cattle and The Fuse Joplin broke the story of the woman who could bring Billy Long's Congressional campaign to a halt. A former Metropolitan Grill employee has come forward noting private parties of a sexual nature that occur in the back room of the trendy restaurant and charges Billy Long as being a racist and homophobe.

Shortly after the Republican primary, Jennifer Case posted some interesting comments about Billy Long on her Facebook page. Since that time, she has come forward and painted a picture of Billy Long that could cost the Republican party immediately or further down the road in a similar fashion to Mark Foley.

Case says Billy Long is a man of low morals. That he drinks a lot, engages in back room closed doored activities with strippers, and is racist, and a homophobe who goes as far to ensure blacks and gays don't serve him or even make his food for him. It also says Billy Long encouraged underage drinking and inappropriate contact with the staff.

Case is a former employee of the Metropolitan Grill, a well-known hangout for Billy Long. In fact, in fact Long is such a legend at the Metropolitan Grill, he has a piece of meat named after him. It has been confirmed Case did in fact work there. Also, there are two other witnesses that have come forward describing the parties that Long often participates in at the Metropolitan Grill.

Case wrote the following letter describing Billy Long's behavior at the Metropolitan Grill both in public and in the private back room:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter after a lot of thought and prayer and with the blessing of my husband who is serving our country in Afghanistan. I have a few things to say with regard to a campaign by Mr. Billy Long for U.S. Congress. I am at present time a full-time stay at home mother of three boys. My husband is serving a third year-long deployment in Afghanistan. I like to think of myself as a good Christian woman, wife, and mother. Like most, I have concerns about government and the issues of the day, especially the war, the economy, and the protection of life. My husband is fighting to do the right thing for the people of Afghanistan and his example has given me the courage to do the same here at home.

I worked in the service industry in Springfield for many years and had more than just a few dealings with Billy Long, his friends, and his family. My experience with Mr. Long is that he is demeaning to women and people of color among other things. I witnessed Mr. Long refuse service from a person of color and one server he suspected was homosexual, calling him a “swisher.” Mr. Long refused to have this individual even walk near his table. At one point I recall Mr. Long saying, "We need to take back this country from the niggers and women running it... that’s the problem in D.C." My feelings are that people with completely closed minds to people of other color, race, gender, and sexual orientation should not hold a position as important as U.S. Congressman.

Furthermore, as a server at the Metropolitan Grill in Springfield, I found Mr. Long and the people he surrounded himself with to be of low moral character, often drinking to extremes, and offending others. On several occasions, he and his friends would close down the grill after returning from Las Vegas and bring in strippers from a local strip club to entertain themselves. Nights like these involved gambling, strippers, and reports of inappropriate contact with staff and underage drinking by some staff. On several occasions, staff were threatened with their jobs should anything be disclosed. Some were pressured to sign confidentiality agreements. I never did, which is one of the reasons I feel the need to speak out.

Please accept this as an honest effort to bring bad behavior to light so that voters have all the information before casting a vote in November. I don’t know how many people my words will influence, but I felt it my duty to uphold American ideals here at home, just like my husband is doing thousands of miles away. I pray that God will bless our great country and those fighting to make it better.

A Concerned American,

Jennifer Case