Scott Brown (R-MA) Endorses Nine Massachusetts Congressional Candidates – What are the Odds?

Scott Brown - at it again - An updated version of this cartoon would read: Congress in place of Senate - image frugal cafe


Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)endoresed all nine of the Republican’s running for Congress this November. From the Boston Globe: Brown noted:

“On November 2nd, the people of Massachusetts are ready to send another message to Washington,” Brown said this morning in a statement. “Right now, we need new independent voices in Washington who will fight for more jobs, lower taxes and stand up to the out-of-control government spending that has driven the national debt to record levels. I am proud to support these candidates.”

The fact that the majority of the districts were won by the Brown in the January 19th special Senate Election by, in some cases, a 57% margin, is of interest. What is happening on the ground, and Brown would be keenly aware, is the attitude of the electorate has in no way changed since last January. Therefore, one can bet the house (literally) that more than one Congressional Seat in the Commonwealth is a “toss-up” (See Real Clear Politics) and those that are even factored are not “safe democrat”.

The fact that there are nine viable Republican contenders for seats held by Democrats in Massachusetts is the big story, a story; however that has gone forward with little to no fanfare – so far.
The nine districts in play are:

The MA 1 district: John Olver, D faces Bill Gunn, business owner
The Hampden 2nd (MA 2): Richard Neal (D) faces Tom Wesley, businessman and veteran
The MA3 – James McGovern (D) faces Marty Lamb, business owner and attorney
The MA4 – Barney Frank (D) faces Sean Bielat, former Democrat, and Marine who has a background in business and government.
The MA5 – Niki Tsongas (D) faces Jon Golnik a business owner
The MA6 – John Tierney (D) faces Bill Hudak, a business owner and attorney
The MA7- Ed Markey (D) faces Gerry Dembrowski, business owner and physician
The MA8 – Capuano (D) uncontested – (Safe Democrat)
The MA9th – Stephen Lynch (D) faces Vern Harrison, businessman
The MA10th – No Incumbent: Republican Rick Perry (one of the Few Republican office holders, at present, in the State) faces Democrat and District Attorney, Bill Keating.

There’s a theme here, in case one missed it: all challengers, with the exception of one (Perry) are: business owners, or people that have worked for a living and many, are either active duty and or veterans in and of our Armed Services.

One has to live either under a rock, or in Washington, to believe that all nine districts that are contested will continue to be held by the current occupant. Although the 4th District is receiving a good deal of national attention, (recently) as is the 10th, it is those districts which are under-reported by the local press and written off by the national press, which one might want to invest in. Perhaps not as generous at the $1,000 reportedly given to each campaign by Senator Brown, but a $1.00 here, and $5.00 there would go a long way towards sending another message from the Commonwealth – where the original revolution began. Is that to say each and every one of the nine races will be won by the Republican, no, but one can take a good look at the way the district voted in the election in January, which received, if one would recall, little attention until the 9th hour, when it was apparent, then Republican State Senator Scott Brown stood a chance.

Polling, of which there has been none, with the exception of internal polling on both sides of the aisle in these races, may or may not occur, given the pollsters “intelligence” which comes from – the Beltway. Using Obama’s popularity in 2008 as a barometer as to which way the wind will blow in the 2010 mid-terms may find many pollsters wishing they had instead based it on the mood of the nation, and the individual candidates within in race, and the districts most reasonable barometer – the way the public voted for the man who endorsed all nine of these candidates. Although one might argue, that Brown’s motivation was to pump up one or more of the candidates that appear to be capable of upending an incumbent, one must also consider that Brown, being no dummy, might be laying the ground work of political capital for the future, in both working with members of Congress of like mind, and of having the endorsement of Republican Representatives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts backing him in 2012. Smart money is on the later.

Mid-term Elections 2010 – Massachusetts - No Cost of Living for Social Security 2011 - Seniors Lose Medicare Advantage due to Health Care Reform

From the Springfield, Mass. Republican: “the government is expected to announce this week that more than 58 million Social Security recipients will go through another year without an increase in their monthly benefits.” The increases are set on the rate of inflation, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is no need for an adjustment. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not include either food or fuel in its inflation rate, which will leave many seniors stuck between a rock and a hard place this coming year.

In addition, Massachusetts and Iowa Seniors will be left without a huge safety net: their Medicare Advantage programs. In Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim announced it will end its Medicare Advantage program, leaving 22,000 seniors out in the cold. The reason: paying for the National Health Care Program signed into law by the Democrat controlled Congress and President Obama. Someone has to pay, and why not those who paid most into the system? From the Heritage Foundation: an article written in September discusses the loss of this crucial benefit to seniors. In an interview with the VP of Customer Service at Harvard Pilgrim, the following quote is stunning: “We know that cuts in Medicare are being used to fund national health care reform. And we also had concerns about our ability to build a network of health care providers that would meet the needs of our seniors.”

Therefore, cuts to doctors and insurers are forcing them to take the more expensive Medicare Supplement plans off the table, and in addition, they are concerned about finding doctors for patients that subscribe to these plans – they’ll offer them lower cost options, with lesser benefits.

What is a Medicare Advantage Plan? From Medicare.gov:

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans," are health plans offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, the plan provides all your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans always cover emergency and urgent care. Medicare Advantage Plans must cover all the services that Original Medicare covers, except hospice care. (Original Medicare covers hospice care even if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan.)
Medicare Advantage Plans may offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most plans also include Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Therefore, those who are left without Medicare Advantage Coverage (Part C) must foot the bill for expenses that had, in the past, been covered, but will not be covered by Medicare Parts A & B.
So much for the President and Congresses promises that U.S. Citizens could keep their coverage. As a direct result of the new program, those most vulnerable have lost the medical coverage they rely on.

Massachusetts is not the only state that has seen a carrier pull out due to “Health Care Reform”. In Iowa, (Chicago Tribune): insurers will drop 21,000 seniors from their programs in 2011, and one can expect carriers in other states soon following suit.

For those Congressional Representatives, up for reelection, who voted for Health Care Reform, and have the nerve to campaign on “saving social security”, seniors and those relatives that are concerned for their parents and grandparents, should sends a solid message letting them know the consequences of their signing that bill.

To find out how your Congressional Representative Voted visit this link Here .

The following Massachusetts Congressional Representatives voted “Yes” for Health Care Reform:
Democrats — Capuano, Y; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, N; Markey, Y; McGovern, Y; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, Y; Tsongas, Y.
All of the Massachusetts Congressional Representatives are up for Reelection:

The following Representatives face Challengers for their Congressional Seats:
John Olver faces Bill Gun
Delahunt (Retired) Republican running: Jeff Perry
Barney Frank faces Sean Bielat
Richard Neal faces Tom Wesley. Note: Neal is campaigning on Social Security!
Nicki Tsongas faces Jon Golnick
McGovern faces Mary Lamb
Tierney faces Bill Hudak
Ed Markey faces Gerry Dembrowski
Capuano – not contested
Lynch (who voted against Health Care Reform, faces Vernon Harrison

Although pundits will note all districts are “Safe Democrat”, those predictions are made in Washington, not the cities, suburbs and hill towns of the Bay State. It has not gone unnoticed that there is little news on theses Congressional Races, nor the fact that all incumbents are actively campaigning, many for the first time in their “careers”. This vote is one which has cost our seniors dearly – there are others, just as egregious, that the above referenced MA congressional reps have taken right in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and against their Constituents wishes.

Massachusetts Update: Additional Candidates Running for Congressional Office in 2010

Addendum to: Massachusetts Democrats Should take Nothing for Granted in 2010 Races - April 20, 2010: Although not all of the District candidates are listed below, this blog has received requests to list any candidates running that may have either not yet filed with the FEC, and/or were missed by human error in reviewing the 2010 FEC list here.

The Hampden First, Running against John Olver Bill Gunn for Congress.
The Massachusetts 3rd: from Massachusetts election 2010.com (Full Article:

The race for Jim McGovern’s 3rd Congressional District is heating up. The current challengers are:
• Marty Lamb (R) www.martyforcongress.com
• Brian Herr (R)Brian Herr for Congress
• Robert Delle (R) Robert Delle for Congress
• Robert Chipman (R)Robert Chipman for Congress
• Michael Stopa (R) Michael Stopa for Congress
• Patrick Barron (I)Patrick Barron for Congress

Should anyone wish to contact the blog regarding additional Massachusetts GOP or Independent candidates (Congressional and or State Office,) they will be added to this list.

First Dodd, now Patrick Kennedy To Retire – Massachustts Finds Multiple GOP Challengers to Democrat Incumbents.

Rhode Island Congressional RepresentativePatrick Kennedy, has become the latest to take early retirement, rather than seek re-election this term. Kennedy, who, according to a recent poll, has a 35% approval rating. Kennedy cited his father’s death as well as his own issues with substance abuse, as reasons for his retirement. Kennedy had held the seat since 1995. The last New England retirement announcement came from embattled Connecticut Senator, Chris Dodd less than a month ago.

One has to wonder who’s next? Perhaps a High Profile Congressional Representative from Massachusetts will consider retirement a better option than defeat. Democrat Incumbents face multiple challengers in districts across Massachusetts. According to an article in the Worcester Telegram : Democrat James McGovern of the Mass. 3rd district who is seeking an 8th term, faces challenges from Republicans Robert Delle, Marty Lamb, Robert Chipmen, and Patrick J. Barron. In the Hampden Second, Richard Neal, who has held the seat since 1989, faces challenges from Dr. Jay Flietman of Northampton, Thomas Wesley and Thomas McCarthy. In the 1st Congressional District, held by John Olver a Congressional Representative since 1991, two Republican challengers, Jeffrey Donnelly and Timothy McLaughlin have thrown their hats into the ring.

Over in the 5th District, Nikki Tsongas faces challenges from Republicans Jon Golnick and Sam Meas as well as independent candidate Dale Brown. In the 6th, Teirney will face a challenge from Republican David Sukoff While over in the 4th District, Barney Frank is facing challengers from Republican’s, Independents and Democrats. Republican’s Earl Henry Sholley, Keith Messina and Sean Bielat have entered the race, with one more Republican currently on the fence. Susan Allen, and independent and Rachel Brown, a Democrat are also vying for the 4th Congressional District seat. Rumors of Frank’s retirement have surfaced again in recent weeks; with Dodd’s retirement, and now Kennedy’s, it is anyone’s guess at this point if Frank will stay in the race, even though he’s pulled papers. Republican’s and Democrats have until May 4th to file papers with the Secretary of State while Independents can file up to August 3rd.

In the past, the voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts saw few if any contested Congressional races, this year, they have multiple choices. What is of special interest in the sheer number of Republican’s who have entered races in a state where the GOP has been long considered all but extinct. Also of note, a good percentage of those running, began their campaigns prior to Scott Brown’s announcement to run for U.S. Senate. This belies the common media misconception that Brown’s win has emboldened Republican’s to run. What Brown’s success did was give them a boost and more determination. Massachusetts is normally the last state of interest in a general election nationally, but one can bet 2010 will be different.