Cleaver & CBC Call Holder Contempt Vote Silly June 29, 2012

Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, the head of the Congressional Black Caucus, called Thursday’s historic House vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, “silly”.
Cleaver and other members of the Black Caucus met before the vote.
Missouri Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan joined the CBC walk-out as a protest to the vote.
Politico reports “duringThursday’s contempt vote, CBC members plan to held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol to discuss job creation, according to a letter being circulated among members of Congress.

Republicans have accused Holder of failing to cooperate in the ongoing investigation of Fast and Furious, the botched gun-running program that allowed thousands of arms to cross the U.S.-Mexico border and end up in the hands of criminals. Holder has been criticized for refusing to hand over certain documents.

Cleaver,according to Politico, charged in his interview with CNN that accusing Holder of wrongdoing and trying to smear his reputation has nothing to do with the ongoing investigation and getting to the bottom of how U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed.

“Brian Terry’s parents and family members deserve to know what happened to their son. This does nothing about revealing what happened to their son,” the congressman said.

Cleaver Introduces Trayvon Martin Resolution April 5, 2012

KC Star:

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has introduced a House resolution condemning “vigilante justice” in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, and urging states to repeal so-called Stand Your Ground laws.
Martin was shot and killed in an altercation with George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman remains free in part because Florida authorities determined he acted in self-defense, a decision that has prompted scores of demonstrations and further investigations.
Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The resolution — co-sponsored by three Florida House members — accuses Zimmerman of “racial bias” in the shooting.
In a news release, the former Kansas City mayor criticized the Stand Your Ground concept, which generally allows citizens to legally defend themselves without a requirement to retreat.
“It is imperative that we shine a light on this controversial, dangerous, and sometimes deadly law that has been adopted in over 20 states, to protect our communities, and the integrity of our nation’s legal system,” Cleaver said in the statement.
But Kevin Jamison, a lawyer and board member with the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance, accused Cleaver of political posturing.
“He obviously doesn’t understand what Stand Your Ground law means,” Jamison said. “It does not mean shoot everybody you’re scared of. It is not a big change from traditional self-defense grounds.”

Read more here: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/cleaver-urges-house-resolution-against-vigilante-justice/#storylink=cpy

Cleaver: New Federal Budget is a “Neverous Breakdown on Paper” February 14, 2012

From Politico:
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, warned Monday that the federal government should be wary of slashing spending too drastically as he called President Barack Obama’s expected budget proposal a “nervous breakdown on paper.”
“This budget is a nervous breakdown on paper,” Cleaver said on CNN.
While the president has put together a plan that addresses important issues such as education and job training, the Missouri congressman cautioned, “We are still in a recession. We’re still struggling. Unemployment is still too high in every major city in the country. People are struggling.”
Cleaver suggested that “for the federal government to turn the spigot off completely” could push the country into a deeper economic recession.
Still, the congressman emphasized that the most serious challenge for Obama’s budget will be withstanding a “dysfunctional” Congress.
“It’s going to probably have some difficulties over in the Senate. And it’s probably dead on arrival over at the House. But that’s because of Congress is dysfunctional,” Cleaver said. “The danger here is that we’re going to struggle around without addressing the major problems.”
He added, “The president is getting a lot of criticism. I don’t think it’s deserved that, he has create all these problems. We do have a serious ailment as a nation and certainly as Congress, we suffer from Spendigitis, but President Obama is not the one who spread this disease. It was there when he was inaugurated.”

Cleaver Invites Gates and Other Black Business Leaders to White House Meeting with Obama December 16, 2011

Kansas City Congressman and Chairman of the Black Congressional Caucus, Emanuel Cleaver, brought a group of black business leaders to the White House this week to talk about jobs.
Kansas City businessman Ollie Gates of the Gates barbeque restaurant chain and a long-time Cleaver supporter, was in the group.

He suggested changes to bring new interests and incentives for businesses and customers to come back into the urban core.

“The meeting went very well and the President seemed interested in what we all had to say,” Mr. Gates said according to the release.
“While other people in Washington are arguing about what to do concerning this economy and jobs, I appreciate that Congressman Cleaver is going out and trying to get it done.”

Cleaver’s office called the meeting “a first-of-its kind”, to talk about jobs and the economy.
Cleaver’s office says the meeting with the president lasted about 45 minutes.

KC Broadcaster Named Cleaver’s Comm. Director October 13, 2011

Veteran Kansas City television reporter Michele Rooney has taken the job Of Communications Director for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.
She replaces Danny Rotert who moved into a similar post with Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
During her Kansas City broadcast news career, Rooney worked for several news organizations, including WDAF TV; KSHB TV and most recently, KMBC TV.
Her reputation as a reporter centered her aggressive coverage of crime and related issues. She is no stranger to politics, either.
Her husband is attorney Pat McInerney. He is the current present of the Kansas City Police Board. He has been active in local Democratic politics for many years.
Rooney and her husband are also vigorous supporters of ‘Operation Break Through’, which is located in Kansas City. It is the largest day care center in Missouri. The Center mainly serves children from low-income families.
Rooney will serve as the lead spokesperson for Cleaver’s official Congressional office.
Cleaver is also is the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. That group has its own communication operations.
Cleaver plans to run for reelection in 2012. His district that appears to be expanding.
His proposed new MO-5 district includes parts of Kansas City North for the first time and portions of rural western Missouri.

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