Ralph Hall (R)....My Congressman..........

[NativeTexan]

In one instance with Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) I have to admit that I was kinda lucky. He FINALLY changed parties, leaving the Democratic Party, which he had been shaming for many years, and moving to the other side of the aisle.

The bad part is that he is one of the oldest congressmen in the House, if not THE oldest, and he REFUSES TO LEAVE! He told, a few months ago, The Dallas Morning News, that he had to stay and be the voice for the fossil fuel industry.

He has actually called Big Oil "poor, victimized oil companies" recently. His concern for oil companies is matched only by his distain for his constituents who are paying monumentally high gasoline prices in a state where EVERYTHING is usually at a distance, while those prices are allowing those "poor, victimized oil companies" to record record high profits at the voters expense.

How is he continuing to stay in office? Well he was promised that there would be gerrymandering of Texas Congressional Districts and was assured as a Republican, he would be taken care of......he was.

Earlier this month, when Democrats controlling the House of Representatives approved over $16 billion on Big Oil and incentives and tax breaks for conservation efforts and renewable energy, Ralph Hall said, "I can't understand the pure venom felt against the oil and gas industry."

Needless to say, Big Oil has been very "thankful" to Mr. Hall at the rate of over $370,000 in political contributions.

In addition, Hall has voted AGAINST stem cell research, FOR cutting $12.7 billion from student aid, AGAINST bi-partisan reform of the Endangered Species Act, FOR awarding contracts of Halliburton, ignoring the waste of over $100,000,000 in contractor costs and AGAINST expanding the TRICARE health insurance program of the military to cover thousands of reservists and National Guard members who are giving up every bit as much as the regular services to fight in Bush's Iraq Folly!

These are just samples. I fought the man for years as a Democrat. I warned my county chairman that he couldn't be trusted, but was told that Hall had promised to fall in line had we taken control back in 2004. Of course, he didn't and as I had actually asked him to do many years earlier, and predicted that he WOULD in 2004....he jumped ship. He was already voting 95% with Dubya BEFORE going overboard, so it was no great loss to the party.

I just hope that enough Texans that reside in what used to be the House Seat held by SAM RAYBURN will finally realize that this man cares NOTHING for them, unless they are investors in oil companies, pharmaceutical companies or health care corporations.

If you have ANY Democratic representation where you live.....THANK THE LORD ALMIGHTY!! I have Hall, Cornyn and Kay Bailey.........