League of Women Voters Live Televised Debate on Idaho Public Television
8:00pm - 9:00pm Mountain Time

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You can also catch the excerpts from the debate.

Live TV Debate for U.S. Senate Race.
TV Debate N.W Nazarene University / Nampa – Brandt Center
7 pm – 9 pm

May 15^th, 2008

Canyon County Candidate Forum
Republican Candidate Forum - Jefferson Middle School 3311 S. 10th Ave, Caldwell, ID (in the Gym). It starts at 6:30pm.

May 16^th, 2008

Town Hall Meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Open Forum to discuss Veterans Issues
American Legion #7 - 447 Seastrom, Twin Falls.

May 17^th, 2008

Kuna Farmers Market Meet the Candidates
Downtown Kuna, ID
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Come by and met Richard and his staff.

Town Hall Meeting / Open Forum Boise, Idaho
Arm Forces Day – Discuss Veterans Issue
The Maple Grove Grange
11692 W. President Dr , Boise , ID.
208-376-1120 is the number for the Grange.
Meeting will go from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

May 22^nd, 2008

League of Women Voters Live Televised Debate on Idaho Public Television
8:00pm - 9:00pm Mountain Time

Clean and responsible use of our resources is, of course, the ultimate goal; however, our economy is driven by energy (pirmarily oil). With that in mind, it is clear that, while we search for alternative energy sources, we allow the use of our nations own resources. Liberal environmentalists seem to have a choke hold on politicians who continue to place overwhelming restrictions on companies willing and able to drill for our own oil, build refineries, and build nuclear power plants. I hope our politicians and uninformed citizens start to realize that we humans are part of the natural world, not the world’s enemy. If our economy falls apart, our “carbon footprints” will be the last of our concerns. Let’s meet our needs now and prepare for our future needs simultaneously. I, for one, am tired of relying on other countries for oil.

Phenneger based information used in the ad campaign on a variety of sources, including an updated April 14, 2008 report prepared by the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho utilizing data from the Idaho Tax Commission. “What Gov. Risch keeps failing to acknowledge is that for hundreds of thousands of Idahoans there was no ‘tax relief,’” Phenneger said. “There was a tax increase.”

This political deception falls right into the category of government accountability, a platform of Phenneger’s campaign for U.S. Senate. “It is one thing to talk about tax relief, but don’t tell all Idahoans you saved them money, if you actually didn’t.

“Homeowners who don’t itemize their federal and state income tax returns and thousands upon thousands of renters in the state, paid millions of dollars more in increased sales tax,” Phenneger added. “It wasn’t tax relief, it was a tax shift…and these citizens of our state are paying the price.”

Phenneger vehemently opposes political deception and is seeking the U.S. Senate seat to restore credibility and integrity to the position. “I have an obligation to our citizens to identify hypocrisy by a politician when I see it and hold those politicians accountable,” he said. Phenneger cites a recent Robinson Research poll he commissioned that shows 87% Idahoans want more accountability in Washington, D.C.

“It takes straight talk to tackle tough issues,” said Phenneger. His business experience will make him an effective Senator for Idaho. Phenneger has spent the past 25 years negotiating with business leaders, management and employees to help thousands of working families keep their jobs and secure their future. His programs have resulted in strengthening businesses and local economies. “The key to bringing these diverse groups of people together and forging solutions is to develop trust. And you do that through honesty.”

All veterans, armed service members, their families and the general public are encouraged to attend. The American Legion Post 113 is located at 22 West Broadway Street, Meridian, ID. Meeting will go from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. For more information call 208.773.0960.

 As your next Senator, Richard Phenneger seeks to eliminate Ear Marks/Pork Barrel and add a line item veto to curb wasteful government spending. He recognizes the need to create more opportunities for education and living-wage jobs to help stimulate our economy. He wants to put our efforts toward re-building and revitalizing the manufacturing industries within the United States. Social Security is not our government’s petty cash box and our leaders should be held accountable for the mishandling of Social Security.

When our Idaho National Guard is called up, they leave their jobs and family, report to duty and are integrated into the regular army or marine fighting units in which they will serve while in Iraq.

When the regular army or marines return home they return to their bases to waiting families and a huge support group. They are still on the government payroll with medical benefits.

When our Idaho National Guard returns from the war they are discharged. They return home to their family and to frequently find that the job they left is no longer available to them. So they are without a job, have no income, have no health benefits and have a family to take care of. Many of them have war related injuries. When they go to the Veterans Administration for help it takes up to 6 months to get an appointment. Then it can take up to two years before they actually get the medical attention they need and deserve. In the meantime the returning Guard member and his family fall into deep despair. This is not just in one area of Idaho, it is over the entire state. The suicide rate for National Guard Veterans is the highest of all military units.

How our National Guard is currently being treated is a national tragedy and a betrayal of trust. Why has our leadership, federal and state, allowed this to happen? You, the citizens of Idaho, must demand that this problem be immediately fixed and fixed now. I promise our Vets and their families that I will not rest until this betrayal of trust is reversed. This cannot be allowed to continue.

If we are going to send them to war, then we must take care of them when they return or do not send them at all.