John Cornyn on the Record
John Cornyn is rated by the non-partisan National Journal as the fourth most conservative US senator. The Dallas Morning News reports that he has always been a reliable ally of George W. Bush from the days when Bush was governor of Texas.
Among his largest contributors are J. P. Morgan Chase, Exxon Mobil and the Bass Brothers Enterprises (oil money, classmates and long time financiers of Bush). These big contributors get good value for their money. Cornyn voted against including oil and gas smokestacks in mercury regulations; against factoring global warming into federal project planning; against banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; against reducing oil usage by 40%, rather than by 5%; against removing oil and gas exploration subsidies, despite the fact that the oil industry was making record profits year after year.
Cornyn is described by MSN Money as one of “Big Oil’s ten favorite members of Congress.”
His record also reflects a slavish subservience to corporate interests in every area. This is reflected in appraisals of his voting record by many civic organizations.
0% by the League of Conservation Voters.
0% by the National Abortion Rights Action League.
0% by Planned Parenthood.
0% by the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association..
0% by the Fund for Animals.
0% by the Humane Society.
0% by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
0% by the Animal Protection Institute.
0% by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
0% by Citizens for Tax Justice.
0% by Public Citizen’s Congress Watch.
0% by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
0% by the Human Rights Campaign.
0% by the National Council of La Raza.
0% by the Arab American Institute.
0% by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.
0% by the National Education Association.
0% by the National Parent Teacher Association.
0% by the Defenders of Wildlife.
Graded F by the Citizens for Global Solutions.
Graded F by the Genocide Intervention Network – Darfur.
0% by the Council for a Livable World.
0% by Peace PAC.
0% by the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
0% by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
0% by the American Public Health Association.
0% by the Global AIDS Alliance.
0% by the Service Employees International Union.
0% by the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees.
0% by the National Organization of Women.
0% by the Americans for Democratic Action
Barking Points:
Senator Cornyn’s voting record demonstrates a frightening disregard for the lives and welfare not only of Americans, but of people throughout the world. The senator has a history of disregarding his constituents, and voting lock-step with President Bush, even as the President and his agenda have become overwhelmingly unpopular. As he runs for re-election in 2008, Senator Cornyn will struggle to defend his record:
On the war in Iraq: five years after the invasion, almost 4,000 U.S. soldiers and over 655,000 Iraqis have died, and a majority of Americans polled are ready to bring our troops home. Yet, Sen. Cornyn continues to vote for war funding, and resists any legislation which would set a timetable for withdrawal.
On torture: Sen. Cornyn was one of only nine senators who, in Oct. 2005, voted against the McCain amendment, which banned the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against anyone in US government custody.
On children’s health insurance: In Aug. 2007 Sen. Cornyn voted with the minority against expansion of the State Children’s Insurance Program to cover 9 million currently uninsured children.
On domestic spying: Also in Aug. 2007 Sen. Cornyn voted for the “Protect America Act” which, likely in violation of the 4th amendment, allows U.S. intelligence officials to monitor, without a warrant, ‘suspicious’ communication originating inside the U.S.*
Let Senator Cornyn know that Texans don’t need a Bush Lapdog who supports the war and torture and denies children health care.
Visit Senator Cornyn’s office: Chase Tower, 221 West 6th St, Suite 1530, Austin, TX
Contact Senator Cornyn: www.cornyn.senate.gov
(512) 469-6034 (p)
(512) 469-6020 (f)
