Roy Blunt

Intrigued by news of Roy Blunt's upcoming energy industry fundraiser -- hosted by an Exxon Mobile lobbyist -- I was curious to find out how much oil money Blunt has accepted in recent years.

A lot, it turns out.

In fact, according to the The Center for Responsive Politics, Blunt has been one of the top recipients of oil and gas money in the last two cycles. In 2008, for example, Blunt received more oil and gas money than all but six House members, and his leadership PAC (the ROYB fund) ranked #13 among all Represenatives and Senators. Combining data from different cycles on OpenSecrets.org and his recent Senate campaign finance report, Blunt has raised more than $600,000 in oil and gas money since 2000.

Hours after two Washington publications detailed the failures of Roy Blunt and Republican leaders in crafting a health care reform proposal, Blunt is feigning outrage with Minority Leader John Boehner about an alleged lack of details in a new 56-page White House report.

“No report or headline can take the place of a comprehensive plan - and that is what we have yet to see from the White House,” said GOP Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who leads the House Health Care Solutions Group.

The irony, of course, is that the leader who's failed most spectacularly in developing a "comprehensive plan" is Roy Blunt.  In fact, Politico reported this morning that Blunt's group is still considering whether or not they'll even bother creating a plan.

"Discouragement in this community remains palpable."

So reads a new analysis of health care reform strategies from Congressional Republicans in CQ, one of two articles this morning on the disjointed and disorganized GOP effort on health care policy. The CQ and Politco articles highlight the dismay from Republicans and their "free-market advocates" on K Street, and the lack of a clear strategy from House leaders (i.e., Roy Blunt).

• Blunt's study group is still "looking at writing" a health care plan. This is in stark contrast to earlier promise most notably Blunt's own promise (in March) to "lead the effort to make health care work for Americans," and his promise last month to have a plan together by Memorial Day.
• The people who should be rallying around Blunt's plan are not impressed. A GOP aide says members are "very concerned" about the lack of an alternative to the President's and Senate's plan, and a Heartland Institute health expert says, “They are virtually useless."
• Republicans are openly discussing whether or not they need to presenting a plan at all. Politico asks: "Do they need to offer viable solutions? If so, can they do it without attracting unnecessary criticism for those alternatives? Or can they simply wait for Democrats to release their own bill and then criticize it?"
• A group of House moderates has left Blunt's team, and has been working on its own strategy.

At this point, it's abundantly clear that Blunt  have completely failed in his commitments to "develop real solutions" and "shape innovative House Republican health care solutions at a time when the American people need them most."

Bravo announced last week that it will bring its “Real Housewives” program to Washington, DC and is working "to identify the city's alluring and discriminating residents ... women who have their pulse on the most important cultural events, political galas, gallery openings and fundraisers in Washington society." 

Unsurprisingly, the DC cocktail scene has been abuzz about the new show, with Abigail Perlman Blunt's name suggested by many of her fellow partygoers (per AOL News' "Politics Daily"):

Cocktail party chatter in DC this weekend was really all about who will be and who should be cast in the newest franchise of the Bravo reality show, "Real Housewives."...

The names being mentioned most often around DC who should be in the final casting for the show are below...

Abigail Blunt: Wife of Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who is running for Senate in 2010. A Kraft lobbyist, she is listed in The Hill as one of the Top 50 Corporate Lobbyists in DC, and is known for her fashionable wardrobe.

Races are ranked by FiveThirtyEight.com in order of their likelihood of changing parties:

1. Missouri (R-Open)
I'd promised a couple of weeks ago that we'd have a new #1, and it's Missouri, which displaces the spot that New Hampshire had held for the previous two months. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, has maintained a pretty consistent polling lead. She also has had an easier time with fundraising than Republicans like Roy Blunt and has a cute picture of a pony on her website. What's not to like? Missouri, as always, will be competitive, but Democrats may simply have the more appealing candidate here.

After Missouri comes New Hampshire (R-Open), Kentucky (R-Bunning), Connecticut (D-Dodd), Ohio (R-Open), Delaware (D-Open)...

Full analysis is here.

From the blog of the American Issues Project (of which Ed Martin is president), I see that the right-wing crowd is still anxious about the lack of a "true conservative health care alternative."

Surely, an alternative exists to counter Obama's prescription to drag us into socialized health care. Come on, Congressional conservatives, it's now or never!

They probably need to take up their concerns with Roy Blunt. Blunt was chosen in February to be the House Republicans' point person on health care reform. But so far, all Blunt has to show for his work is a not-yet-public five-page memo of talking points. And nothing, as the American Issues Project notes, resembling an actual plan. 

Rob Portman is running for the US Senate in Ohio.  He's a former GOP Congressman and former Bush Administration appointee -- so not exactly an anti-establishment kind of guy.  Yet Portman is not bashful about pointing out the lack of progress in recent months and years on key issues by Congressional Republicans -- especially on health care.  Portman has been talking a lot about the issue with prospective supporters in Ohio, and is decidedly unimpressed with what he's seen from House and Senate leaders, including Roy Blunt. Here's his take on the situation, from a recent article in the National Journal's CongressDaily (subscription required):

Republicans have also taken some heat nationally for not focusing on health care in their campaigns in recent years, but Portman already has been speaking on the issue frequently.

"We have to have an alternative. ... I will tell you, I don't think there is a Republican alternative at this point," he said. He said he reached that conclusion after talking to Senate leaders and lawmakers about the GOP's position. "There isn't one," he said. "There's a task force, and I applaud them for that."   (emphasis added)

Read More »

In this morning's paper, the editorial board at the Post-Dispatch takes opponents of federal climate change legislation to task for exploiting fears about potential increases energy bills, while refusing to seriously address greenhouse gas pollution.

The climate change bill approved last week faces many serious challenges before it can be considered by the full House of Representatives. It already has been watered down to satisfy some powerful interests. But that hasn’t stopped critics from mounting a major disinformation campaign to defeat it.

At the heart of this disinformation campaign is a false choice — vote for the so-called cap-and-trade bill and face higher energy prices, or do nothing and keep costs low. It’s a seductive but specious argument.

In reality, the status quo comes at an unsustainable cost. Global warming already is occurring. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions stopped tomorrow, the effects would be felt for decades.

Read More »

Please update your records: Roy Blunt and Abigail Perlman Blunt are no longer residents of Washington, DC.

Accordingly, they have been sent a bill for $6,820 in back taxes on their $1.6 million Georgetown mansion:

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue will charge Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and his spouse $6,820 in back property taxes for their Georgetown home, following a nearly two-month review of the property’s tax status.

The Missouri lawmaker and his wife, Abigail Perlman Blunt, own a three-bedroom Georgetown home, valued at $1.62 million in tax assessment records.

The Missouri lawmaker and his wife, Abigail Perlman Blunt, own a three-bedroom Georgetown home, valued at $1.62 million in tax assessment records.

According to public tax records, the Blunts’ home had received the homestead tax deduction as recently as April, a benefit intended for full-time city residents that can shave hundreds of dollars off annual tax bills — and significantly more in the long term by limiting assessment increases.

Looking for someone to talk to about your astronomical oil company profits or hatred of basic pollution controls?  Then clear your calendars for a June 17th "energy industry dinner" to honor Congressman Roy Blunt (R-K Street).  Admission is $1,000 per person, or $2,400 if you'd like be a "host."  For PACs, it's even higher -- you'll need a $2,500 check to get in the door.

Per details from The Sunlight Foundation, the June event is being organized by four lobbyists, representing various oil, gas, coal and other energy interests: