Politics & Government

Martin, U.S. Congress Candidate, Speaks In Wildwood

Ed Martin wants to win the 2nd Congressional District of Missouri seat to get government back to its roots. He addressed Wild Horse Township Republicans' members in Wildwood on Saturday.

As one of two candidates running for the 2nd Congressional District of Missouri, Ed Martin told about 20 members of the Wild Horse Township Republicans Saturday morning he would fight for getting back to the U.S. Constitutional trendline and reducing the power of government.

"On the jobs front, in Congress, I intend to be a voice to say government has gotten completely out of hand," Martin said during his presentation at the .

Martin, a lawyer who lives in St. Louis City, previously ran for the 3rd congressional district seat in South St. Louis County but did not win that race. He also worked with Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt in July 2007 to "flip the switch on government accountability" by establishing the Missouri Accountability Portal, which provides free, immediate, online information about how the state spends taxpayers' money. He said 28 states followed suit.

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He said he has been knocking on doors recently, and learned the key is to not talk too much. He relayed the following story to illustrate the reactions from many potential voters:  "I was just in Kirkwood, and knocked on a door to ask what was on the person's mind and what they were worried about. The man who answered the door said the debt ceiling was on his mind and that he was worried about his schools. But his wife yelled from another room:  'Tell him we're worried about everything.'"

Martin said he believes the Constitution stands as a representation of the people of this district to federal government.

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"I have immense respect for George W. Bush, and was so relieved we got into office," said Martin. "Bush's Republicans were better than the Clinton people, but they still didn’t cut the power of the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), they didn’t cut the government. I want to get it back to its roots."

"We need representatives who will do their jobs when regulators come to businesses. You should be able to call us when you’re fined because the water cooler isn't plugged directly into the electrical socket. When the OSHA inspectors want fees, call us. We need to track what is happening in the regulatory world," said Martin.

He said he believed changing regulatory agencies could be won one fight at a time. "We need to have a system that sticks to the basics. Government should do a few things and do them well."

Martin moved to St. Louis in 1995, when "St. Louis was still a hub." He encouraged attendees to look at the trendline for the St. Louis region in the past 16 years, thinking about the negative changes happening in the heart of America.

"I want to be the chief cheerleader for this region," he said. "The job of the job I’m trying out for should be to change that trendline for this area."

He said he was worried for all the people who are 17 to 24 years old, who face unemployment rates that have never been higher.

"We want to be here (St. Louis) and work here. That's not really going to happen if we don’t work for it," he said.

Martin is a native of White House Station, NJ. He moved here to attend law school at St. Louis University, where he met his wife, Carol, who now is a doctor.

On Saturday, Martin handed out a chart about federal budget's surplus and deficit; with the source of data being the Office of Management and Budget. He referenced that on Feb. 15, OMB numbers for 2011 raised the estimated deficit to $1.645 trillion.

The chart Martin provided was based on images initiated by Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit blog, who has shared graphics showing the deficits and surpluses of the last five U.S. presidential administrations.

Martin said he believed the debate about the debt ceiling was a false one. Instead, he would focus on the following steps:

  • TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) is still on the books. "They bailed out the banks, and the rest of us are getting our tails kicked. I would sunset TARP and save that money."
  • Tens of billions of federal stimulus dollars could be revoked.
  • "I would defund or repeal Obamacare."
  • "There's no doubt government agencies can be cut back by 10 percent. Times got tough. If you have 18 employees in an agency, instead of cutting the jobs of two, furlough all of them every Friday. They would do that."

Martin said the political question for 2012 is not about who calls themselves conservatives, but rather who will be change agents. "If Republicans don’t hold, then Republicans are not worthy of label of 'conservative.'"

Furthermore, he said he thought actions about the debt ceiling and need for jobs will be "great tests for seeing who really recognizes the burdens being placed on our businesses, families, schools and churches."

Martin announced he will host a volunteer picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 30 at . The meal will include free hamburgers, hotdogs, brats and pulled pork.

See article regarding the other candidate for this seat:


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