Saturday, May 31, 2008

Show-Me State of Mind for June 4th, 2008

Representing Our Values, Not Exxon's
There is a common theme to the comments I hear from residents across the 6th Congressional District: "We want someone to represent our values in Washington."
Every day that we cringe as gas and diesel prices rise higher and higher - now topping $4.00 per gallon in some places - it is clear that Washington does not share the values of hardworking Americans. And Congressman Sam Graves' record has come to epitomize how Washington is broken.
At best, Graves has ignored rising gas prices over the past seven years. He has continued to give us the same talking points - in some cases releasing the same statements and columns year after year - about the importance of increasing the supply of oil. In fact, Graves' legislation is only for show. His bills go nowhere.
But Graves is guilty of more than neglect. He has voted time and time again to give billions in tax credits and giveaways to Big Oil. Companies like Exxon, in turn, send campaign checks to Congressman Sam Graves. This vicious cycle of special interest politics leaves consumers in a pinch at the pump. One woman recently told me that she had to skip a doctor's appointment because she couldn't afford to fill her gas tank.
These are not Missouri values.
What Washington needs is someone who will stand up against Big Oil companies and special interests. That's what residents of the 6th Congressional District deserve - a representative who will side with them and not with special interests, someone who shares their values.
Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District

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