My Congressman, Jerry Costello (D-IL12), is one of the 10 Democratic sponsors of the horrible bill called the anti-choice "No Federal Funding for Abortion Act", aka HR3. This act is grounds for DINO Costello to get primaried from a Lane Evans/Phil Hare-style Democrat from the left.
Disclosure: I voted for Costello in 2008 and 2010, but likely won't in 2012.
The act to defund Planned Parenthood and Title X might very well be the last straw for me voting for Costello, along with him sponsoring HR3.
The war on women is full on. The House voted today, 240-185, to block all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, and to go one further, by defunding Title X entirely. A handful of "Dems" voted with Republicans to endanger the lives of women all over the nation.
The roll call vote hasn't been posted, but House staff provides the names of those Dems who voted with the Rs to defund: Dan Boren (OK), Jerry Costello (IL), Joe Donnelly (IN), Dan Lipinski (IL), Mike McIntyre (NC), Collin Peterson (MN), Nick Rahall (WV), Silvestre Reyes (TX), Mike Ross (AR), Heath Shuler (NC).
These Republicans voted no: Charlie Bass (NH), Judy Biggert (IL), Mary Bono Mack (CA), Charlie Dent (PA), Robert Dold (IL), Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ), Richard Hanna (NY). Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) voted present.
Costello voted to defund the "czars":
Thirteen Democrats bolstered the GOP's frame that several of President Obama's unconfirmed advisers are "czars" by voting for an amendment to the House spending bill that would defund their offices.
They are Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK), Ben Chandler (D-KY), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Pete DeFazio (D-OR), Gene Green (D-TX), Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Heath Shuler (D-NC).
Worse yet, Costello has was part of the pro-Stupak wing of the Democratic Party (and I'm glad Stupak lost):
* Democratic Leadership, Henry Waxman are reported to be negotiating with Bart Stupak. Better contact Rep. Waxman, along with Speaker Pelosi.
NO more compromises. Opponents and proponents of the President's HCR plan, who believe in preserving women's rights, or are just sick of the GRANDSTANDING should participate in this action.
This diary proceeds from several assumptions:
STUPAK can be and must be STOPPED. No Stupak-lite. No Obama signing statement. !! (Are you kidding me?!)
Women's rights to full citizenship is not a fringe special interest. Health Reform should not be perverted into an anti-abortion rights bill.
Majority of Democratic voters and party activists agree with #2.
The light of day and constituent action will peel off some of Stupak's "secret" supporters.
Members of the GANG-of-STUPAK aren't so secret. They're just hiding behind Bart, running under the radar. Name them and let the daylight in. Roll up your sleeves and follow me below the jump!
What Will It Take For The DCCC To Learn A Lesson-- November Taught Them Absolutely Nothing At All About Actual Democratic Voters
Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS)- 39% Defeated
Jim Marshall (Blue Dog-GA)- 39% Defeated
Mike McIntyre (Blue Dog-NC)- 39%- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Dan Boren (Blue Dog-OK)- 41%- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN)- 41%- just voted to defund Panned Parenthood
Bill Owens (NY)- 42%
Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC)- 42%- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN)- 42%- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Tim Holden (Blue Dog-PA)- 42%
John Barrow (Blue Dog-GA)- 42%
Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR)- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Jerry Costello (IL)- 43%- just voted to defund Planned Parenthood
Harry Mitchell (Blue Dog-AZ)- 44%- Defeated
Glenn Nye (Blue Dog-VA)- 43%- Defeated
Ike Skelton (MO)- 46%- Defeated
Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD)- 47%- Defeated
Lincoln Davis (Blue Dog-TN)- 48%- Defeated
Next time the DCCC asks you for money, ask them how much of it is being used to recruit the people on this list who were defeated in November to run again and how much is being used to re-elect the ones who weren't defeated. Then tell them to go screw themselves and donate directly to pro-Choice candidates who stand for the same principles, values and ideals you stand for-- and send the sick Establishment Insiders a message. Because we need real fighters-- not corporate whores-- to fight this:
HR Reality Check has a profile of Jerry Costello:
Meet Jerry Costello. He loves fetuses! More than women, apparently, since he's a cosponsor not only of the formerly-rape-redefining H.R. 3 but also the currently letting-women-die H.R. 358.
Costello, like our friend Daniel Lipinski, is from Illinois, but from the other end of the state--he represents the 12th district and is Illinois' most senior Democrat in Congress, having taken office in 1988.
Notably, according to the Partisan Voting Index, Costello's district is more reliably Democratic than any of the H.R. 3 Ten except Lipinski. He won 60% of the vote in 2010.
Costello was on Barack Obama's Catholic National Advisory Council, created in April '08 during the contentious Pennsylvania primary, in which Catholic voters played a large role (in that case, holding the state for Hillary Clinton). When you look over the lineup of that council, it's equal parts pro- and antichoice Democrats--Kathleen Sebelius, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry side by side with Bob Casey, Costello, and Tim Kaine.