Ten reasons you should vote for Stepp and not for Hal Rogers KY-05 U.S. House.

I am Kenneth Stepp, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth District, Kentucky, having won the Democratic primary. A majority of the voters in the Fifth District of Kentucky are registered Democrats. More recently, the Alliance for Retired Americans rated my opponent Republican Congressman Hal Rogers “zero” (0) on his House Votes for 2011, and he is getting worse because he has a seven per cent (7%) lifetime rating with the Alliance for Retired Americans (see attached chart). 1. Specifically: Hal Rogers voted for health care reform repeal in H.R. 2, Roll Call No. 14, January 19, 2011, and that bill passed 245-189; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against health care repeal in that vote. 2. Hal Rogers voted for an amendment to a spending bill that would prohibit funding to implement the Affordable Care Act in H.R.1, Roll Call No. 97, February 18, 2011, and that amendment passed 239-187; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against prohibiting funding to implement the Affordable Care Act in that vote. 3. Hal Rogers voted against a motion to recommit a housing refinance bill to committee in order to add language that would authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs to determine what amount of funds would be necessary to provide assistance to seniors who own homes in H.R. 830, Roll call No. 170, March 10, 2011 and that motion failed 185-243; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted for that motion. 4. Hal Rogers voted against a motion to recommit a spending bill to committee in order to add language that would bar the use of funds to develop or implement a system that would cut Social Security or Medicare benefits, privatize Social Security or establish a Medicare voucher system that limits benefits in H.J.Res. 48, Roll Call No. 178, March 15, 2011 and the motion failed 190-239; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted for that motion. 5. Hal Rogers voted for a budget resolution introduced by Rep. Ryan, R-WI replacing the guaranteed benefits of Medicare with a privatized system, and creating a fast track process for Social Security cuts, and that resolution passed 235-193 on H.Con.Res. 34, Roll Call No. 277, April 15, 2011; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against that resolution. 6. Hal Rogers voted for a bill introduced by Rep. Chaffetz, R-UT that cuts domestic spending dramatically, preserves the Bush tax cuts, and ends Medicare and Social Security as we know it by raising the retirement age and cutting benefits, and the bill also contained an amendment to the Constitution that would tie the hands of future Congresses by capping Social Security and Medicare spending, and that bill passed 234-190; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against that bill. 7. Hal Rogers voted against a motion of Rep. Michaud, D-ME to recommit a consumer financial protection bill to committee in order to add language that would ensure Consumer Financial Protection Bureau authority to issue rules to protect seniors from abusive, deceptive or unfair practices, and that motion failed 183-232 in H.R. 1315, Roll call No. 620, July 21, 2011; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted for that motion. 8. Hal Rogers voted for a bill introduced by Rep. Black, R-TN, that would make eligibility for middle class Americans more difficult for many vital programs, and would count Social Security benefits in eligibility formulas for Medicaid as well as the new health care exchanges under the Affordable Care Act in H.R. 2576, Roll Call No. 813, October 27, 2011, and the bill passed 262-157; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against that bill. 9. Hal Rogers voted for a balanced-budget amendment to the United States Constitution at H.J. Res. 2, Roll Call No. 858, November 18, 2011 which had provisions that could lead to automatic Social Security benefit cuts and make it difficult to deal with economic recessions or natural disasters, and the amendment which requires a 2/3 majority failed 261-165; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against that amendment as it was written. 10. Hal Rogers voted for an bill introduced by Rep. Harper, R-MS, that would eliminate the Presidential Campaign Fund and would eliminate the agency that evaluates voting equipment, which can help produce senior friendly voting systems on H.R. 3463, Roll Call No. 873, December 1, 2011, and that bill passed 235-190; but Kenneth Stepp would have voted against that bill. I am married to the former Wilma Smith, who was born at Red Bird in Clay County, Kentucky. We have two children together, Carson Stepp and Conrad Stepp. I have one son, Brian Stepp by a previous (deceased) wife, and he lives with his wife and daughter in South Carolina. I am a Baptist, and a lawyer practicing law in Manchester, Kentucky. I am a veteran of five years in the Navy. I support the right of public and private sector workers to bargain collectively. Collective bargaining evens up the bargaining position of many workers and one employer. I oppose “right to work” legislation. If a business in unionized, the union should be allowed to prevent the hiring of nonunion workers. That gives more strength to the labor union. I would be a Congressman friendly to unions and to disabled veterans, replacing a Congressman hostile to unions and to the interests of disabled veterans. My opponent in the general election is Republican Congressman Harold (Hal) Rogers. Hal Rogers has long had a strong anti-union voting record. Hal Rogers supported the interests of the National Parent Teacher Association zero per cent (0%) in 2003-2004. He supported the interests of the National Education Association zero per cent (0%) in 2002, and in 2000. He supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees zero per cent (0%) in 2005, and in 2004, and in 2003. He supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers zero per cent (0%) in 2005, and in 2004, and in 2003, and in 2002. He supported the interests of the Transportation Communications Union zero per cent (0%) in 2002. He supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans zero per cent (0%) in 2005 and 2004. I am a friend of disabled veterans, retirees, and labor unions. Traditionally, the Democratic Party has been the party of poor people and the working poor, while the Republican Party has been the champion of the wealthy. The Fifth District has some of the poorest counties in the country; yet the Fifth District has a Republican Congressman. Please give me your endorsement, and send me a political campaign contribution to above address. Together, we can elect a Democratic Congress this November. Yours truly, /s/ Kenneth Stepp KENNETH STEPP