Congressman Joe Donnelly weighed in on the situation in Egypt yesterday.
“I think this is the Egyptians seeking democracy and freedom,” explained Donnelly. “We are watching this very closely. We want to make sure that there is stability. It appears there is a gradual transition that is taking place right now. We hope that it can be done in a peaceful fashion and be done in a way that preserves democracy and freedom for the people in Egypt.”
Cracks are beginning to form in President Obama’s formerly solid support among Republicans for the war in Afghanistan. Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last week that Congress is coming to a critical juncture.
Republicans, who in the past have been strong on defense, now find themselves looking at the huge expenditure of keeping forces fighting in Afghanistan. Only 25% of Tea Party supporters said the U.S. should maintain current troop levels, and another 27% said the U.S. should pull out completely.
Congressman Joe Donnelly gives his assessment of where we are in Afghanistan.
The President’s State of the Union Message will be presented to a joint session of Congress tomorrow night.
It’s been proposed by THIRD WAY, a moderate political think tank, that members of Congress sit with those of the other party. Democrats and Republicans sitting “side by side”. THIRD WAY thinks it might “restore civility”.
It’s also been offered that choreographed standing and clapping is unbecoming of Congress. If President Obama says something appealing to the Democrats, they all would rise up in unison and cheer. That’s been likened to being comparable to fans at a basketball game.
In November, Second District U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly won a razor-thin victory to return to Congress. The moderate Democrat was locked in a close race with conservative Republican Jackie Walorski.
With redistricting coming up during this session of the legislature, the second district might not be a competitive district. It might have a distinct Republican flavor.
In the wake of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Saturday, government officials seem to be taking a second look at their safety. Congressman Joe Donnelly was in Elkhart on Tuesday to talk to a middle school class. Four uniformed policemen were on hand, too.
Donnelly said he was not particularly worried about his own safety, but wanted people coming out to events where he is to feel safe.
In her first lengthy interview since the election, Jackie Walorski told South Bend Tribune writer, Kevin Allen, that she is keeping her options open for another run for a congressional seat. Walorski lost to Congressman Joe Donnelly in November in a race that was decided by only 2,500 votes. In the article, Walorski blamed her defeat on the fact that Libertarian candidate, Mark Vogel, got a last minute boost in a mailer sent out by the Democrat Party. The mailer called Vogel the “true” conservative candidate in the race.
Last year, two Starke County World War II veterans, Joe Smrt and Harvey Hammerlund, were flown to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial by a veteran’s service organization called “Honor Flight”.
John Jordan, of Honor Flight, was asked if there will be an opportunity for additional World War II veterans to make the trip.
Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly said Thursday that he will be voting for the President’s tax cut compromise. Democrat opponents are poised to attempt to sink the measure that came after a compromise with Republicans.
The Obama plan, agreed to in principal by the Republican side, would prevent the December expiration of all the Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. Obama had originally balked at cutting taxes for the highest earners.
