Sept. 21, 2011 | As the Bay Area continues a decade-long exodus to the valley, the congressional seat occupied by Rep. Pete Stark is slowly moving from the land of latte liberals in the East Bay to that of wine and… Read More ›
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Corbett Will Not Mount Challenge to Stark in 2012
Sept. 20, 2012 | Will California Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett challenge Rep. Pete Stark next year? Is Stark retiring? Will the Mayan calendar render this conversation and all others moot by December 2012? The answer to all of the above is no,… Read More ›
What ‘Corbett for Congress’ Really Means
Sept. 19, 2011 | Rep. Pete Stark’s future in Congress has long been one of the East Bay’s great parlor games. Will he one day set the stage for his wife to further his four decades in Washington? Might he… Read More ›
Stark Calls President ‘A Lousy Politician’
HAYWARD | Sept. 17, 2011 | Rep. Pete Stark, one of the most liberal and high-ranking members of Congress repudiated President Obama Saturday with a series of jabs knocking his ability and job performance. During a town hall meeting Saturday afternoon in Hayward, Stark… Read More ›
Stark Praises President’s Job Bill For Focusing On His District’s Top Concerns
Sept. 8, 2011 | Rep. Pete Stark praised President Obama’s much-anticipated jobs bill unveiled Thursday evening for addressing his constituents’ top concern: job creation without cuts to popular entitlements. “Putting people to work–not gutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security–is the best way to reduce… Read More ›
Stark Warns Solyndra Execs to Compensate Laid Off Workers
Sept. 5, 2011| Rep. Pete Stark warned the president of Solyndra to continue paying compensation and benefits to the over 1,100 employees laid off last week over risk federal scrutiny. Stark called the hastily announced move by Solyndra Aug. 31… Read More ›
Another Standoff in Congress Furloughs 60 Union Workers at Oakland Airport; Halts Construction
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan at a press conference Aug. 2 at Oakland International Airport urging Congress to reauthorize an FAA program needed to finish construction upgrades to the facility. Sixty union members have been furloughed since July 23. (PHOTO: Port… Read More ›
Stark, Lee Vote No on Debt Ceiling Bill; Criticize Tea Party Rivals
Rep. Pete Stark faulted an old rival Monday before voting against raising the debt ceiling: the Tea Party. “There is only one reason that our country has been pushed to the brink of default: the Republican Tea Party fringe,” Stark said Monday… Read More ›
UPDATE: Stark Gets IRS to Eliminate Two-Year Window Affecting ‘Innocent Spouse Relief’
After needling by Rep. Pete Stark and other taxpayer advocates, the Internal Revenue Service says it will eliminate the controversial two-year window for so-called “innocent spouses” to report the financial misdeeds of their significant other.Stark and about 50 lawmakers urged… Read More ›
Could Justice Department Sweep In Stark For Pot Legislation?
MEMO WARNING AGAINST LARGE SCALE POT CULTIVATION IS SIMILAR TO ADVICE GIVEN BY RUSSO TO OAKLAND CITY COUNCILBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Medical marijuana advocates say DOJ memo is meant to intimidate local leaders and legislation. In what some… Read More ›
Lee, Stark Vote to End Bombing in Libya
REST OF BAY AREA HOUSE DELEGATION SPLIT ON VOTES DEFUNDING, CONTINUING WARBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen.com Many see the bombing in Libya with no end in sight, while fearing a third bogged down war in the region. The Bay Area’s congressional… Read More ›
Lee Criticizes Obama’s ‘Modest’ Troop Reductions in Afghanistan
…And when the bulk of the remaining troops return they may have the opportunity to grow marijuana without fear of prosecution. A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee is forthcoming. Although it’s probably not a better way to medicate returning… Read More ›
Stark Tries to Sidestep Report Calling Medicare Insolvent by 2024
MEDICARE EXPERT ATTRIBUTES 5-YEAR DECLINE IN PROGRAM’S INSOLVENCY TO THE ECONOMY; GOP DISAGREESBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Republican rushed to paint a report from two Medicare trustees estimating the program to be insolvent by 2024 as proof the health… Read More ›
Dems, Stark Look To Create $100 Billion In Medicare Part D Savings
HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY ELIMINATING ‘SWEETHEART DEAL’ WITH BIG PHARMA IS BETTER THAN GOP REFORM OF MEDICAREBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Big Pharma is extracting huge profits from Medicare Part D by effectively charging the federal government more for drugs…. Read More ›
Stark Says He Plans To Run For Re-Election in 2012
REPRESENTATIVE TELLS OAKLAND TRIBUNE HE’S HEALTHY AND READY TO RUNBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Rep. Pete Stark says he is healthy and planning for a run at re-election in 2012. “What would make me reconsider,” Stark told the Oakland Tribune, “I don’t… Read More ›
First Draft of Citizen Redistricting Group Strikes Fear Into Incumbents
COMMISSIONERS SAID TWEAKS MAY BE MADE TO DRAFT MAPS; JUNE HEARINGS COMING TO SAN JOSE, SAN FRANCISCO By Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter When voters approved handing the reins for redistricting California in 2008 without regard for incumbents or political… Read More ›
Commission Places Stark, McNerney in Proposed Congressional District
DOES STARK RETIRE? DOES OPEN PRIMARY COME INTO PLAY? DOES RACE BECOME FREE-FOR-ALL FOR A SLEW OF CANDIDATES?By Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Proposed congressional districts proposed Friday. Long-time Rep. Pete Stark could face a fellow incumbent Democrat for congress… Read More ›
Corbett, Hayashi Drawn Out of San Leandro
SAN LEANDRO COULD BE REPRESENTED BY SEN. LONI HANCOCK; ASM. SANDRE SWANSON IN ASSEMBLY By Steven Tavares steven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.com Follow @eastbaycitizen on twitter California State Senate districts as proposed Friday by the Citizens’Redistricting Commission. Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett has been San… Read More ›
Colbert Teases Garamendi About Not Living in 10th District
http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:colbertnation.com:388964 The Colbert ReportTags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive As part of the Colbert Report’s 435-part series “Better Know A District,” Stephen Colbert interviewed East Bay Rep. John Garamendi Wednesday night. The talk show host repeatedly ribbed Garamendi for… Read More ›
County Supes Ask For Federal Apology, Reparations For Slavery
‘THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PAST TENSE’ SAYS ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERVISOR CARSONBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter “The government owes Americans an apology,” said Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Nate Miley said Tuesday morning during comments in support of a resolution asking the… Read More ›
Economy Stalls; Lee Calls On House GOP To Create Jobs
PERCEPTION OF IMPROVING ECONOMY DAMPENED BY POOR JOBLESS FIGURESBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter On the heels of unexpectedly poor national unemployment numbers, East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee appealed to leaders of the House Republic majority help the millions still… Read More ›
Stark Pounds Boeing Executive Over Low Tax Rate
‘HOW MUCH LOWER A RATE DO YOU NEED TO SURVIVE?’ STARK ASKS BOEING EXECSome people find Rep. Pete Stark’s belittling line of questioning towards opponents in his East Bay district a bit distasteful, but when it’s directed towards a multi-nationally… Read More ›
Trio Of House Bills Hope To Legitimize Pot Business In East Bay
STARK’S BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR BUSINESS DEDUCTIONS FOR OWNERS OF POT DISPENSARIESBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Although medical marijuana dispensaries are legal in California, good luck in accessing basic financial instruments provided by banks, who fear the businesses are… Read More ›
Stark, Lee Snub Amendment Recognizing Capture of Bin Laden
EACH VOTE PRESENT ON HOUSE BILL HONORING INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITYThree members of the California House delegation from the Bay Area, including Reps. Pete Stark and Barbara Lee voted present last week on a tag-along amendment recognizing the work of the intelligence… Read More ›
SoCal House Election Could Jumble East Bay Political Scenery
OPEN PRIMARY MAY 17 LIKELY TO PIT TWO DEMS FOR CD36; CORBETT BENEFICIARY?By Steven TavaresSteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.com@eastbaycitizen on twitter The will of the voters in Southern California could set the stage for a surprisingly sharp jolt to the local political pecking order… Read More ›
Lee: Bring The Troops Home
‘THE DRUMBEAT OF ENDING THE WAR IS BEING HEARD IN CONGRESS’No matter your opinion of Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, there is no denying the political decision she made in the days after 9/11 was a courageous bit of leadership. She… Read More ›
You Call It National Day Of Prayer, Stark Calls It Something Different
THE HOUSE’S TOP ATHEIST PROCLAIMS TODAY NATIONAL DAY OF REASONBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.com@eastbaycitizen on twitter The first Thursday of May was designated as a National Day of Prayer by Congress nearly 50 years ago, but hold on, said Rep. Pete Stark, the… Read More ›
Stark Reintroduces Bill To End Discrimination In Adoption
‘WE DECIDED OSAMA BIN LADEN WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOUSY FATHER, DEAD OR NOT’ JOKES STARK.By Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.com@eastbaycitizen on twitter Rep. Pete Stark thinks the reintroduction of legislation withholding federal funding to states with laws discriminating against adoption and foster… Read More ›
Stark, Lee and Others Urge IRS To Reform Innocent Spouse Relief
OVER 50 LAWMAKERS WANT IRS TO DROP ARBITRARY WINDOW AFFECTING MANY FEMALE JOINT FILERSBy Steven Tavares Members of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, including ranking member Rep. Pete Stark want the Internal Revenue Services to revisit a little-used tax code… Read More ›
Lee: GOP ‘War On Women’ Is ‘Shameful’
Rep. Barbara Lee speaking on the floor of the House Thursday in opposition to cuts for social programs that uniquely affect women.