Brooks Wicker at the Rotary Club, 2012-10-04

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Brooks Wicker spoke to the Rotary club as the Ky 3rd Congressional District Republican Candidate. He spent about 13 minutes introducing himself, explaining why he should be our next representative in Congress, and expounded on why John Yarmuth has failed to properly represent us.

Mr. Wicker has a command of the issues that are facing our community and this nation, and he feels he has the ability to effect the necessary change. During his speech he stated he does not feel he is a man of destiny, but that his life and work has prepared him for the task of being a Congressman. As a CPA, he has started businesses, failed at some, succeeded at others, and has assisted other businesses in growing. He and his family have been in the 3rd District for 29 years and so he knows the issues in Louisville.

Brooks Wicker understands that "America is not broken." He goes on to explain that "what is broken are the promises made by our representatives in Washington. And we must hold them accountable for their actions." Our leadership has failed us and we need to get real leaders in Washington.

In the six years that John Yarmuth has been our representative, his votes and actions have caused us to be in the situation we are in. After six years, we can no longer blame someone else. Mr. Wicker lists several points of failure that is a result of the leadership vacuum in Washington. They are:

• Real unemployement has doubled since the day Yarmuth took office.
• Our national debt has increased by 86% From Jan 20, 2007
• According to John's own words, wealth has decreased by 39% during his tenure in Congress
• Also according to his numbers, family income has decreased $7000 a year
• The annual cost to Louisville families due to Yarmuth's votes on three issues alone, health care, taxes, and the EPA come to more than $3000 a year
• Health care costs over the past two years have increased $2500

Adding up all these costs comes to more than $12,500 per year of out-of-pocket expenses for a Louisville family.

Because of Mr. Brooks Wicker's experience as a CPA, having served in various businesses both large and small, he has the ability to be a positive influence on the Hill. Let's elect Brooks Wicker for Congress on November 6th.

To watch the video, see below.

Brooks Wicker's Commentary on the Jobs Report

Today the unemployment numbers were released. If you aren't paying attention, you would think the number is great. We finally dropped below 8%!  But there is a problem to that number.  Many have pointed them out.  Mr. Brooks Wicker released a statement today, too.  I'm copying it here for you.

Friends,

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a “revised” jobs report for September. Ironically, in the next-to-last report of unemployment numbers prior to the November election, unemployment fell to 7.8%.

The report states 114,000 jobs were added to the economy, but somehow the number of unemployed persons fell 456,000. In the slowest economic recovery in the last half-century, that’s the largest one-month jump in past 29 years.

The numbers just don’t add up.

How do we account for the other 342,000 people who didn’t find a job? These are people who gave up looking for a job. Disheartened, they fell from the ranks of the unemployed, not because they found a job, but because there wasn’t a job to be had.

While President Obama and John Yarmuth are bragging up these numbers, they should be ashamed they have failed the 75% of those in September who quit looking. America deserves better.

What the numbers tell us:

* 342,000 people stopped looking for work.
* After getting humiliated in the debate against Mitt Romney, President Obama needed something positive for mainstream media pundits to talk about.

* Ironically, unemployment dips below 8% for the first time in 43 months, one month before Election Day… No modern president has been re-elected with unemployment above 8%. Red flag right there!

* Bureau of Labor Statistics “revised” July and August numbers to show stronger growth (source: The Hill, October 5, 2012).

* 12 Million people are still unemployed, with more people everyday giving up hope.

I’m sick of political games. John Yarmuth and President Obama are playing politics with people’s lives and it’s not right. Since John Yarmuth went to Congress, median family incomes are down $7,000. Louisville families can’t afford John Yarmuth for another 2 years.

The math is simple and the jobs numbers just don’t add up. We deserve better than politicians “revising” numbers, solely concerned about their own re-election. We need to fix the problem of Washington politicians. I will not compromise my integrity to win an election. We need to govern for future generations, and fix this mess Yarmuth helped create.

I ask you to forward this message to 10 friends. It’s time we stand up to Washington and tell them we will not be deceived and that we’ve had enough.

Thank you,


Brooks Wicker
Republican nominee for Congress (KY-3)

Knocking Doors for Candidate Brooks Wicker

Tonight my daughters wanted to go for a walk. It's not a problem because I have a stack of Brooks Wicker's fliers to hand out. It was a good experience. Everyone I've talked to have always been appreciative when I give them some information about the upcoming elections. There just isn't a lot of information or advertising going on right now.

Mr. Wicker has been on the radio with Mandy Connell's and Joe Elliot's programs. Unfortunately, there is a lot of work needed to get the message out. If you can assist either monetarily or by volunteering, please follow the links.

By the way, aren't these girls so cute? They were very excited to help and place the hanging fliers and had a lot of fun with it.

Town Hall Event - Sept 26, 2012

As mentioned in the previous post about knocking doors, Mr. Wicker hosted a Town Hall event that took place at "Joe's Older Than Dirt" in Lyndon on Tuesday, September 25th.  The event was lightly attended, but had several speakers.  George Tolhurst, Marilyn Parker, and Brooks Wicker all spoke to the group as Michael Wray, Mr. Wicker's campaign manager, introduced each speaker.

Mr. Tolhurst is running for Jefferson County School Board in the 2nd District.  He spoke about the need to return the education system back to educating children and away from the extravagant spending on buses and administration.  Jefferson County has the largest (or second largest) bus fleet of any school system in the United States.  That's amazing, in a bad way, for the 42nd largest city in the country.  Mr. Tolhurst wants to change the focus and direction of the board so that it focuses more on what's good for the students first, teachers second, and the administration last.

Ms. Parker is running for the Metro Council District 18. She spoke about her desire to run for office. After learning about the corruption and wasted funding that has been going on in Jefferson County, it seems we have a new article on some issue or another monthly, she wanted to make a difference.  And she has been quite successful so far with her campaign and has a very good shot at winning the seat. 

Mr. Wicker spoke about the need to replace Mr. Yarmuth and the overall need to bring fiscal responsibility back to Congress.  It got a good start in 2010, but we need to keep the momentum in 2012.  Brooks Wicker spoke about the need to repeal ObamaCare, balance the budget and reduce or eliminate spending on unnecessary programs. 

All three fielded questions from the assembled crowd. It was an informative night.

Knocking Doors for Brooks Wicker

This year I have been more politically active than I ever have.  In 2010, I watched as John Yarmuth handily beat a very promising Republican candidate for Congress. The general feeling was that he could very well beat Yarmuth, especially with the wave of the TEA Party and other conservative leaning folks being highly motivated.  Unfortunately, the Republican candidate was beaten, badly.

So, this year, I've taken to doing something about it. I have been vocal, using my social media accounts, attending events for our candidate, Brooks Wicker, and even knocking doors.  And it is this article that I wanted to use to give you an idea of what it is like. Perhaps you will want to join Mr. Wicker's volunteer team to get the word out and get people to vote for him.

I was able to assist in passing out a town hall event flier last Wed and Thu. I knocked on about 40-60 doors and left a flier at each one except one. The people who were home were very kind, even if they weren't Republican, even if they were voting for the Democrat. Most people, however, were very interested in learning about Mr. Wicker and wanted to vote Mr. Yarmuth out.

The one house I did not leave a flier at was a curmudgeonly, drunk fellow who was anti-Republican anything. But even he told me I can "go next door" and not bother him about it.  So, it wasn't all that bad.

On Saturday, I took to my own neighborhood and passed out more fliers.  I tried to get as many out as I could, so I didn't bother knocking.  I did talk with a few people. Fortunately, there was one in my neighborhood who agreed to having a yard sign placed in their yard.

So, if you are worried at all about knocking doors, don't be! It is a really great way to get Mr. Wicker's name out there. And it will also uplift you as you hear people's stories and meet those who agree with your political positions.

Brooks Wicker Makes a Statement About the EPA

Recently, the EPA has enforced onerous rules that directly affect all the citizens of Jefferson County. These rules cause the utilities to raise their rates on everyone. A Federal Appeals court ruled for the defendants coal companies and against the EPA. Unfortunately, this does not get residents of Jefferson County out of having to pay the bill - the Clean Air Act has already been passed.

Brooks Wicker informs us that John Yarmuth is in full support of the EPA's "war on coal" by backing the moves of the EPA. Don't forget, it was Barack Obama that stated a coal power company can start a new plant, but he was going to make it so expensive that it would not make any money. And John Yarmuth is nothing more than a rubber stamp for Obama's initiatives.

See Mr. Wicker's statement here: http://www.brookswicker.com/epa-blocked-but-rates-still-rise/

I support a balanced approach to energy policy, one that includes all our available domestic resources, including Kentucky coal. Supporting Kentucky’s coal industry means supporting cheaper electricity, lower property taxes and more money for the things that matter most.

Does John Yarmuth understand the PPACA?

From an interview of John Yarmuth by an elementary school child, we find out what the Congressman likes about the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).  Note the number of things he gets wrong:

Interviewer: What do you like about the Affordable Health Care Act and, if anything, what don't you like?

John Yarmuth: Well, I like the fact that it enables everybody to have coverage. It protects everybody from going bankrupt or losing their home and all of their money from an illness or an accident.  It is ... it helps to bring down costs to healthcare over a long period of time and saves the country money. So all those things are good and many of the provisions are good.  I think the thing that I don't like is that it is a very complicated plan and it is very hard for many people to understand how it will affect them and their families.

My response: The plan does not enable everybody to have coverage. http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacare-wont-cover-everyone-2012-6

The plan may not prevent as many bankruptcies due to illness: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/fewer-us-bankruptcies-after-the-affordable-care-act-probably-not-6088538.html

It absolutely does not bring down health care costs.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/03/22/how-obamacare-dramatically-increases-the-cost-of-insurance-for-young-workers/ In fact, it is meant to drive up costs so that we will finally enact a single payer plan, the socialists dream. From personal experience, my health insurance (privately purchased) has increased more in the past two years, as both a percentage and in raw dollar amounts, than in the previous 10 years.

It does not save the country money. http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/07/27/cbo-obamacare-will-spend-more-tax-more-and-reduce-the-deficit-less-than-we-previously-thought/

Mr. Yarmuth is correct, the PPACA is a complicated plan. Even after we passed it (so we could know what is in it), we still don't know what is in it.

By contrast, Mr. Brooks Wicker is running as the Republican candidate against the incumbent John Yarmuth. Mr. Wicker understands that the PPACA is major hindrance to economic growth in the country and our city. Remember to vote for Mr. Wicker on Nov. 6th.