Buck McKeon-- A No Show For Debate... As Lee Rogers Unveils A Plan For His First 100 Days In Congress

Monday the Santa Clarita Signal, the biggest newspaper in California's 25th congressional district, hosted a televised debate. After his wife made an idiot out of herself in a debate a few weeks ago-- she's running for state Assembly-- the McKeons decided they don't want to participate in any debates. Democrat Lee Rogers and Republican Dante Acosta have both challenged Buck to debates and said they would meet him at any place of his choosing and on any day. He refuses and he didn't show up Monday. (One of the reasons Tim Holden, another ancient congressman who had out-lasted his stay, lost his reelection bid exactly one week ago is because he adamantly refused to debate. Voters don't like that.) Aside from being a no show, McKeon is also lying about it-- infuriating to the media.

You’ve more than likely seen them popping up around town. Blue and hot orange Buck McKeon for Congress signs and reverse hot orange and blue Patricia McKeon for Assembly signs.

The signs are visible, but the candidates themselves were both no-shows for Monday’s tape-delayed candidates forum hosted by SCVTV, The Signal newspaper and KHTS AM-1220.

Bob Haueter, Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Buck McKeon, reacted with surprise upon hearing there had been a candidates forum Monday. He said he’d told the “woman” from SCVTV who’d organized the forum weeks ago that McKeon was already booked. McKeon’s office had requested another date.

“No one ever got back to us,” said Haueter.

SCVTV invited all congressional candidates to the forum by e-mail April 5. After several phone calls, a reply from McKeon’s office on April 19 said, “We are still trying to work out Congressman McKeon’s schedule to try and make him available.” The next day, April 20, an e-mail message from McKeon’s office said, “Congressman McKeon is unfortunately not able to participate due to the fact that his schedule is already full.” The e-mail expressed “regrets” and did not request a different date.

All other candidates had already confirmed and the forum was scheduled.

Haueter said he does not handle Patricia McKeon’s appearances and could not comment on it. The Signal handled arrangements for the Assembly forum; Patricia McKeon told The Signal she would not be attending.

The three 25th Congressional district candidates who did show up, Republicans Dante Acosta and Cathie Wright, and Democrat Dr. Lee Rogers, were given an opportunity to deliver a message to the absentee McKeon:

“Number one, start listening to your constituents. Be actively engaged. Be informed on the local issues, and stop listening to just the party and most importantly the corporate lobbyists, the military industrial complex,” said Acosta.

“I’m going to enter the CEMEX bill, I don’t care what my party says about I’m entering it and I’m going to fight for it,” said Rogers.

“I happen to agree with Lee on the nepotism and having family members working for their campaigns. I think that’s wrong. That’s something my mom would never done, oh my God. That’s just so corrupt,” said Wright.

Even if McKeon couldn't squeeze in the time for a candidates' forum, he sure did find the time to put together a fundraiser fearuring McCarthyite war criminal Allen West in Agua Dulce on May 12. (Details here.) The highlight of the debate was when Lee Rogers, who has been endorsed by Blue America, was given a chance to address any other candidate. He looked straight into the camera and said, the camera and said, “I would like to ask Representative McKeon a question. Do you intend on attending a forum with the other Congressional candidates? I’m here for a job interview. You should be here for your annual performance review. But you’re not.” He then proceeded to roll out his plan for his first 100 days in Congress. "While most new Members of Congress are still settling in their offices or learning their way around the Capitol, I intend to hit the ground running. Here’s a list of the things I would do in my first 100 days."

1. Introduce Legislation to Stop the Cemex Mine in Soledad Canyon. The proposed location of a mega-mine for aggregate threatens the way of life for those in and around Soledad Canyon. Water and air pollution are likely results of the nearly 70-million ton operation. Cemex’s own numbers estimate 1200 trucks per day traveling along Highway 14. Representative McKeon has said his party prevents him from doing what’s in the best interest of his district and he will not act to stop the mine. I support S.759 by Senator Barbara Boxer and will introduce the companion bill in the house immediately upon taking office.

2. Oppose the Ryan Budget which Threatens Medicare. The Ryan budget is a controversial piece of legislation endorsed by Representative Buck McKeon. The Ryan budget replaces the reductions in defense spending put into place by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and instead cuts domestic spending, on important programs like Medicare. Rep. Buck McKeon is heavily supported by the defense industry. We need leaders who will put the interests of the people above those of wealthy campaign contributors. I understand how important Medicare is and I will work hard to keep in solvent and I will never vote to weaken it.

3. Introduce Legislation to Limit Oil Speculation. Oil speculation by investment banker profiteers artificially increases demand by placing future orders for oil, even though the speculators never intend on actually taking possession of the oil. Limiting speculation to only those who will take ownership of the oil, will have an immediate effect on gas prices.

4. Enter Anti-Nepotism Legislation for Campaigns. Some Members of Congress treat their congressional campaign as a family business, using donor money to supplement their family income. This is unethical and I want to make it illegal. Representative Buck McKeon has paid his wife over $550,000 in the past 10 years to be his treasurer. I will introduce legislation to ban immediate family members from being paid campaign staff.

5. Co-sponsor Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United vs. FEC. The Supreme Court decided that the Constitution did not explicitly ban unlimited amounts of corporate money to flow into political campaigns. This must be stopped or elections will be bought and sold across this country from the top to the bottom. There is already a proposed Amendment to the Constitution to make it clear that corporations are not people and don’t have the same inalienable rights of living persons. I would co-sponsor this Amendment and work hard to get it passed.

6. Enter Legislation to Change Congressional Insurance to Medicare or Tricare. Members of Congress enjoy some of the best health coverage available and even though they oversee Medicare and Tricare, they don’t understand what patients experience as beneficiaries. There is no reason why a Member of Congress deserves better than our seniors or our active duty service members. Medicare and Tricare are good health insurance programs, but if Congress members were beneficiaries and each decision they made about coverage also affected them, the programs would be even better.

7. Ban X-ray Scanners on Humans for Non-Medical Purposes. The Transportation Security Administration utilized x-ray scanners for screening of passengers before air travel. The European Union recently banned the use of x-ray scanners for passengers in all European airports because their safety has not been demonstrated. Using x-rays on people for screening violates a basic medical safety principle, humans should never be x-rayed unless there is some potential medical benefit. There are other scanners that use radiowaves that are safe and these should be used instead. I would introduce legislation to ban the use of X-ray scanner for non-medical uses on humans.

8. Establish a yearly conference of local leaders to direct legislative priorities for the district. Representative Buck McKeon spends most of his time in Washington and even has a residence there. He is out of touch with what people in our district need. In order to create a focus for my actions in Congress, yearly I will invite local leaders from city and state government to a district conference. There we will determine what the legislative priorities for my efforts in Washington should be. We all need to work toward the same goal, improving our communities. I will work hard to make sure we use the federal government to accomplish this.