The Institute for Policy Studies gave Rep. Tim Scott a failing grade in its Congressional Report Card, which was released on Oct. 3.

He was one of 48 U.S. representatives, and the only one from South Carolina, to receive this lowest grade.

Scott’s official score of negative 12 results from his votes on particular bills and motions that covered the issues of jobs, taxes, budget and education.

Democratic opponent Bobbie Rose isn’t surprised by the score, however. “This is why I entered the race. These same issues are especially pertinent to the people in this region, but Scott’s never addressed them.”

The Rose campaigns’ repeated claims that Scott is only representing corporate donors is well-supported by one key finding in the IPS report.

Four corporations – ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, Goldman Sachs and Honeywell – made significant contributions to many of the F-grade recipients. Scott is one of only two congresspersons who received campaign donations from all four, IPS notes.

“Throughout my campaign, I’ve repeatedly stated that Scott is only representing corporations and wealthy donors instead of his constituents,” Rose says. “I think this proves my point.”

She offers Scott’s grading on taxes as a key example. In its report, IPS notes that Scott voted to extend the Bush tax cuts on both high and unearned income (HR 8) and to reduce corporate (HR 9). He voted against a measure that would prevent use of offshore accounts as tax havens (the Doggett Amendment), and Scott also co-sponsored a bill to reduce taxes on overseas earnings (HR 1834). He co-sponsored a bill to eliminate estate taxes (HR 1259), as well.

“Scott voted against bills that would actually benefit citizens, though,” Rose says, offering his vote on HR 5652 as example. This Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act increased defense spending by cutting from programs that help poverty, including food stamps.

HR 9 itches Rose in particular, and because of its misleading title. “It included significant tax cuts for companies that have up to 500 employees, but was somehow called the ‘Small Business Tax Cut Act.’ Scott apparently hoped his constituents wouldn’t know that 99.7 percent of the companies in the U.S. have less than 500 employees.

“Since when do multi-million dollar companies the size of the New York Times and the Boston Red Sox constitute a ‘small business’?

“Scott may be getting lots of money from corporations, but they don’t vote,” Rose says.

“Next month, I’ll be elected by the people, and I’ll return representation to them.”

Eleven U.S. senators, including South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, also received failing grades.

Institute for Policy Studies is a progressive think-tank, formed in 1963 by two former congressional aides.

A series of anti-Romney videos are splashing the internet recently, and not only are they hysterical, but they're quite true, too. 

Borrowing from DIREC TV's popular "what happens when you make bad decisions" commercials, these "Don't Vote for Mitt Romney" videos are created by actor and producer Chris McGuire.

There are three videos out at the moment, with promises of more to come. 

Here's the first one, titled "Tranny":

(created by Schlepp Films)

Here are links to the other two videos in this same theme that have been released so far:

Part 2 - "Mormon"

Part 3 - "War on Women"

Mitt Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate isn't the specific topic of voter talk today. 

It's what Ryan repeatedly threatens to do to Medicare that's getting all the attention. 

After all, the newly-announced VP candidate on the GOP ticket is the guy who's budget plan wants to end Medicare altogether, forcing seniors to shop for private medical insurance with small stipends. 

And that brings back memory of a very appropriate video, released last year, on Ryan's medi-cutting Medicare desires. 

(posted on youtube by The Agenda Project)

It’s not just the first day of August, says Bobbie Rose, but a first day in American history, too.

“Today is a day women should mark on their calendar as one for yearly celebration,” Rose says. “Our health needs and our reproductive rights and concerns have, for the first time, been moved to the forefront.”

Rose, the Democratic candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, refers to the latest phase of development in the Affordable Care Act.

Beginning today, preventive services relevant to women’s health must be covered by insurance companies without copayment, coinsurance or deductible fees.

“This expansion of the federal health care legislation is good health and good public policy,” Rose finds.

“We have long known that preventative health care is a far less expensive way to head off more costly and time-consuming treatment later on. 

“I applaud the ACA for enabling us to save on health care costs, while receiving more timely and improved care.”

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the medical services that insured women will now be able to receive annually at no cost are:

• “Well-woman” visits, or checkups with preventive care such as cervical cancer screening and mammograms;
• Gestational diabetes screening for pregnant women;
• Breastfeeding supplies, support and counseling;
• Counseling and screening for domestic and interpersonal violence;
• Testing for HPV (human papilloma virus);
• Counseling and screening for HIV;
• Counseling and screening for sexually-transmitted infections; and
• FDA-approved contraception methods and counseling. 
  

These benefits will impact approximately 650,000 South Carolina women between the ages of 15 and 64, according to HHS.

The positive results come about despite efforts of the 1st District’s incumbent, however. In February 2011, Rep. Tim Scott attempted to repeal the ACA with his very first sponsored bill.

Since then, he’s voted another 32 times to repeal or defund the Act, and has also signed pledges for its repeal.

Rose’s stand on the ACA is reassured, however, with today’s latest stage in its development.

“It is comforting that women can get their basic preventative needs addressed without a prohibitive co-pay holding them back.  Prevention is the key to being healthy and staying healthy, which then allows us to continue to work (in many cases as the head of household), care for our families, and remain productive citizens of our country.”

Bobbie Rose’s official campaign “kickoff” began with a theme that might best be described as spiritual.

Members of the Charleston Gospel Chorale, of which Rose herself is a member, joined her Sunday afternoon at the ILA Hall in Charleston, leading the crowd of 80 in song to begin the event.

Continuing with moving spirit were the party chairs of each of the five counties in 1st Congressional District – Richard Hricik (Charleston), Richard Hayes (Dorchester), Karen Boyd (Colleton), Melissa Watson (Berkeley) and Blaine Lotz (Beaufort) – who spoke with praise for Rose.  


The spirited tone changed a bit, however, when Charleston County councilman A. Victor Rawl spoke about Rose’s opponent, incumbent Tim Scott.

“I’ve known Scott,” who also served on county council, “for quite a while,” Rawl said.

Beginning with a matter-of-fact sarcasm, he described Scott’s rise to U.S. Congress as an example of the Peter Principle. “Some people are promoted too far.”

Rawl’s critique quickly became direct and blunt, though. 

In each of his elected positions, Rawl said, “Tim Scott has said ‘no’ to everything we need infrastructurally in the area,” offering examples of votes throughout his political career against needed projects in Folly Beach and for the Charleston harbor, and against veteran’s benefits.

“Scott is saying ‘no’ to the exact same people who gave him a helping hand to get where he is today.

“That’s got to stop,” Rawl emphasized. “We have to get Bobbie Rose in office.”

Rose promised to fill the holes in representation she finds Scott to have created. “I do represent you,” she said. “We have the same struggles.”

She extended her promise to put constituents first into an acronym: Funding of projects that remain overlooked in the 1st District; Implementation of progressive goals; Responding to environmental needs; Supporting and sponsoring progressive legislation; and Triumph in achieving these goals.

Also speaking on behalf of Rose were Jeni Atchley (3rd Vice Chair of the Dorchester County Democratic Party) and Carlos Olivera (community activist from Bluffton).

Erin McKee, chair of the state Working Families Party and president of the Charleston Labor Council, provided Rose with a $5,000 contribution from the local electrical workers union.