“[Henry Waxman] fights for us and the things that are important. And he wins – which is important” _ Henry Duclos, Hermosa Beach City Council member
What has U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Westside/South Bay) fought for? And who is winning?
1. We no longer smell cigarette smoke on an airplane. How that constitutes anything heroic is beyond me. Consumer activism, through supply and demand, has coerced many companies to change policies noxious to individual consumers.
2. The Congressman claims he passed the first bill to stabilize the climate. Mr. Waxman's comrade in climate change U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has submitted that God cannot change climate change. What gives Mr. Waxman the impression he or any legislator passed by Congress can do it?
3. He expanded the number of working-poor eligible for Medicaid 24 times. One hallmark of Democratic Party leaders has been to help poor people. When will they institute policy that will help poor people no longer be poor? People do not want to be poor. Handouts only keep them from getting their own hands out.
4. Nutrition labeling on foods. I know what is in my food. How is that a fight? How is that a win when the men and women who have fought and won for us in other countries do not have a decent place to sleep or recover from their war wounds?
5. One of Mr. Waxman's “greatest deeds” – going after Big Tobacco. With all due respect, the seven CEO's were sitting ducks for no one. Corporate liability immunizes CEOs so they can say anything. Yet the stockholders get hammered, and “the CEOs come out on top [1:43-1:45].” Mr. Waxman’s preening for the camera had nothing to do with both my mother and father quitting smoking.
6. Mr. Waxman takes credit for preventing cigarette marketing to minors. I applaud the parents, not paternalistic Big Government, for keeping our kids healthy. They are the ones who quit smoking. They encourage their children not to smoke. They are the only advertisement that our children need.
7. He “defended” sick kids in need of health insurance. How then does Mr. Waxman justify higher premiums, lower access, higher taxes, and fewer doctors all because of his signature legislation, Obama-WaxmanCare?
8. Moved clean energy legislation that creates thousands of jobs.
This assertion is the most ludicrous. If Mr. Waxman were so proud of such a record, why did he declare (weakly) in open committee: “I’m sorry Solyndra happened.” Not just one, but 19 green tech companies have gone bankrupt with taxpayer dollars. Mr. Waxman's only retort: “Are you going to call the Koch Brothers?”
9. He pressed forward an abortive cap-and-trade bill in 2009 that had no chance of passage in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The policy has done nothing but aggravate pollution in Europe, benefiting a few stock inside traders while pushing up fuel prices. How is this fighting for anyone?
One of his campaign ads last year claimed: “For Henry Waxman's record, look for the things you don't see. Henry Waxman: Leading the Fight.”
Indeed.
Arthur Christopher Schaper is a writer and blogger on issues both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A lifelong resident of Southern California, he currently lives in Torrance. He may be contacted at arthurschaper@hotmail.com, aschaper1.blogspot.com, at asheisministries.blogspot.com, and at errorsofaa.blogspot.com. Also see waxmanwatch.blogspot.com.
