LJWorld.com / Chat with Dennis Moore

August 18, 2008

This chat has already taken place. Read the transcript below.

Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat who represents a portion of east Lawrence and east Douglas County, as well as Wyandotte County and Johnson County, chats about his activities in Washington, D.C., since being re-elected in 2006. He is running for re-election. He is joined by Rebecca Black, communications director of Moore for Congress.

Moderator: Hello everyone. Thanks for joining us for this online chat today. I'm online editor Jonathan Kealing and I'll be your moderator today. We have Dennis Moore with us today. We have a ton of questions already and just 30 minutes so we'll try to move as quickly as we can. Rep. Moore, thanks for joining us.

Dennis Moore: Good afternoon! I'm glad to be with you today and look forward to answering your questions.

merrill: Democrats were elected to stop the Iraq war and bring the troops home. Shifting the troops to Afghanistan is not what voters had in mind. Wouldn't a more low profile international covert action be more effective against terrorists instead of illegally occupying countries? No one knows who is a terrorist so it seems going after known cells throughout the world would be more acceptable.

Dennis Moore: I believe that we would all like to see an end to our involvement in Iraq and to see our troops withdrawn safely. We have lost our focus, which was originally Osama bin Laden. We need to do all that we can to ensure that any action we take in the future should be part of an effort by the international community.

kuhawk08: The President's veto of the SCHIP legislation signified a low-point in my feelings toward the Administration in the last Congress. How can we be ask other countries to follow our example, yet we cannot even guarantee health care for poor kids? Do you see SCHIP and other social programs as an ethical issue as well as a policy issue and can you explain how you voted on SCHIP?

Dennis Moore: The President's veto of the SCHIP legislation disappointed me greatly. I believe that adults have a responsibility to provide for themselves unless they have a disability or some other compelling reason. But we cannot impose that same standard on two, three or four year old children who live in impoverished families. If we cannot provide assistance to children in that situation, what are we about as a nation? There is an ethical issue here and that's why I am a strong supporter of SCHIP.

roguesword: What part will you play in solving the energy issues, and what steps will you take to safeguard our environment with regards to that pursuit?

Dennis Moore: 30 years ago, President Carter talked to the American people on television about the need for a comprehensive energy policy for our country. He was addressing the long lines at the gas pumps. Had we done what President Carter said 30 years ago, our nation would be in a whole different position now. I talked to President Bush shortly after the last election and asked that he appoint a bipartisan group of House members, Senators and experts on energy production to a commission to present to him in 4-6 months a comprehensive energy policy. He said it was a good idea and that he would think about it. Nothing has happened. I intend to present the same proposal to the next President. If the next President will provide leadership, if Congress can put aside partisanship and if the American people will support this proposal, we can do what should have happened 30 years ago. We cannot change the past, but we can make it right in the future. In the meantime, Congress has worked to address our energy needs by increasing fuel efficiency standards, temporarily suspending the filling of the Strategic Petrolium Reserve and extending tax incentives for renewable energy. But we also need to encourage conservation, use of public transportation and understand that while drilling is certainly part of the answer, we cannot drill our way out of this crisis.

senegal66025: Congressman Moore. Do you support an up or down vote on off shore drilling? By that I mean a clean bill without attachments promoting solar, wind, ect. Simply an up and down vote on off shore drilling>

Dennis Moore: I support a comprehensive approach to our nation's energy needs. If it is demonstrated that drilling off shore can be part of an environmentally sound way to find new oil reserves, that can be part of the solution. But nobody should believe this is going to be an answer to our long-term energy needs. Any new drilling, according to Administration sources, will take 8-10 years to show results at the gas pumps.

sallysue: why are we paying for nearly all of Iraq's reconstruction when they have $79 billion budget surplus?

Moderator: Read the New York Times' story on this here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/world/middleeast/06surplus.html

Dennis Moore: I was disturbed to learn that while our nation faces a $480 million deficit next year (which will put us over $10 trillion in national debt), it is projected that Iraq will have a $79 billion surplus. We have lost more than 4,000 American lives and spent nearly $700 billion (which was simply added to our national debt) in the war in Iraq. Iraq has the 3rd largest reserve of oil in the world. The Iraqi government has even asked that we set a timeline for withdrawal of our troops. We need to change our national policy accordingly.

Freckles: Congressman -- I recently read that the US is only rated 19th in the world in education. How can we compete globally without an amazing public education system? Why aren't our education standards higher?

Dennis Moore: Providing an opportunity for a quality public education is, I believe, one of the most important responsibilities states have to their children. While the federal government should be a strong junior partner to the states in education, I do not want the federal government setting education policy. Providing this opportunity for a quality public education is not only the right thing to do for our children, but the right thing to do for us and for future generations of Americans. No Child Left Behind has the best intentions, but it has not been fully funded by Congress. And to require that special education children and non-English speaking children compete on written exams with other children in their schools is not reality. This law should not be reauthorized unless and until these and other concerns are addressed.

Moderator: That looks like all the time we'll have for this online chat. Thanks to everyone who posted questions - especially those we couldn't get to. We're going to try to have Rep. Moore back closer to the November election and we'll tackle some of the more election-related questions then. Nick Jordan, Rep. Moore's challenger in the November election, will also be invited to chat here at that time as well.

Dennis Moore: Thanks to everyone for participating in this chat - I really appreciate hearing from you!

Discussion

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18 August 2008
at 2:10 p.m.

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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…

$700 billion spent in Iraq and Moore voted for every cent of it…
18 August 2008
at 2:18 p.m.

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senegal66025 (Anonymous) says…

Moore supports a comprehensive bill that allows some drilling but no proof it will help for 8 to 10 years. OK thats party speak for “no offshore drilling.” You all get a hybrid like mine because the “no drill party” wants us to get over our addition to oil.They want expensive gas because in the long run they thinks its good for us. Of course please take note of the limos at the Denver convention. Oh sorry you cant because the MSM won't show them.
18 August 2008
at 2:27 p.m.

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tscherer1 (Tom Scherer) says…

Mr. Moore is a liberal pro-choice congressman that only brought federal appropriations back to KS a pitiful of 7.3 million. While Boyda brought back 38 million. Good for Boyda, Ask Moore why. Go to www.congress.org to verify.,He also stated in the chat session how disturbed he is by the federal deficit he is responsible for. Moore has no clue what fiscal conservatism means. Finally, Moore once again does not state anything he will do. Rest assured, the only thing he will do as a congressman is continue to constantly campaign instead of getting KS's fair share of federal appropriations or sponsoring any meaningful legislation. The chat session was merely Moore rhetoric..
18 August 2008
at 2:34 p.m.

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smartmomma (Anonymous) says…

I always find it funny that everyone doing the chat has someone typing for them…as if they can't do it for themselves…LOL
18 August 2008
at 2:57 p.m.

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Windlass (Anonymous) says…

I really do think it's time for Dennis Moore to go. What is he seeking? His 3rd term? NO! This is WRONG to keep the same people in our government. No where is it written that these people can go to Washington DC and just stay there. Our Constitution provides for term limits. I really begin to wonder at the legality, the constitutionality, of congressmen/women and senators who go years beyond their set terms.

Isn't there a law firm or a legal organization that can challenge this issue all the way to the United States Supreme Court if they have to?
18 August 2008
at 3:34 p.m.

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classclown (Anonymous) says…

Windlass (Anonymous) says:

I really do think it's time for Dennis Moore to go. What is he seeking? His 3rd term?

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Dennis Moore is currently serving his 5th term. He is now campaigning for a 6th.
18 August 2008
at 4:22 p.m.

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jmadison (Anonymous) says…

Was that a misprint or did Cong. Moore state the US has a budget deficit of $480 Million rather than $480 Billion dollars of debt this year?

Also no comments regarding Nancy Pelosi investing in T Boone Pickens' wind company?
Is that a reason she refused to have a vote on new sources of energy before our lackadaisical congress went on vacation again.
18 August 2008
at 4:27 p.m.

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Windlass (Anonymous) says…

Allright ClassClown, doesn't that make the issue even more important to voters? Mr. Moore is not allowed but TWO terms in office according to our most basic laws, The United States Constitution.

And isn't this also known as majority rule? We're not suppose to have that, either!

I'm mad now, really mad.
18 August 2008
at 5:10 p.m.

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dandelion (Anonymous) says…

Windlass,
You better go back take US government again. The US constitution only limits the terms of the president, not senators or reps. Man, this NCLB crap really is creating citizens who know nothing about our government.
18 August 2008
at 5:57 p.m.

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tscherer1 (Tom Scherer) says…

Congressman Moore is very good at campaigning. He is not very good at sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation. In Washington, he has very little power so he spends most of his time here in Kansas attending public events instead of working in Washington. This local public exposure helps him in being relected. But his job is supposed to be working in DC-not attendling local public events. His voting record is dismal.

His major campaign contributors generally include mostly bankers, lawyers, real estate people and those connected with the NEA. Moore is anti-union and very supportive of globalization. Go to www.fec.gov and check his major contributors.

Some commend some of his staff for resolving minor issues with federal agencies. Moore has a huge staff turnover which indicates that he is not a very good manager of people. In addition, his staff are not bringing any changes proactively that benefit all of us. His staff is mainly reactive.

What most do not realize is that Moore gets about a million a year to staff his congressional offices. So, any person elected to his congressional seat also would get the million a year to staff offices. So, if I gave you or anyone else a million dollars like he gets, I would have a huge advantage in getting re-elected. Which makes it difficult for challengers are they do not have that same million dollar staff.

This upcoming November election, the electors have to pick between Moore and his opponent Jordan. Based on my experiences, I would rather see Moore re-elected as compared to Nick Jordan. Despite Moore-s lack of power in DC. Even though neither candidate promises much of anything. Moore is pro-choice-Jordan is pro-life.

I personally will keep campaigning against Moore for the 2010 election cycle because the 3rd Congressional District needs better and more effective representation. And Jordan is not the answer.

There is good news. The Bush administration is finally leaving. So some of the angst in America that prompted me to run in the first place should be taken care of with John McCain as our next president.

Hopefully, in 2010, their will be better choices come election time. As far as Windlass and the others who did participate, thanks for caring enough to get invovled.
19 August 2008
at 12:50 p.m.

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Windlass (Anonymous) says…

You better go back take US government again. The US constitution only limits the terms of the president, not senators or reps. Man, this NCLB crap really is creating citizens who know nothing about our government.
_______________________________________________
amendment xvii
Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
19 August 2008
at 12:54 p.m.

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Windlass (Anonymous) says…

amendment xx
Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.