Former Congressman Bill Alexander Campaigns For Ellington

It looks like the Scott Ellington for Congress campaign is getting a boost from a previous Democratic First District incumbent.

Former Congressman Bill Alexander is back in Arkansas to roll up his sleeves and pitch in.  The Jonesboro Sun reported on a speech he gave at the Trumann Lions Club, in which he called the current state of Washington politics deplorable…

Alexander said that while he hasn’t been in the Congress for more than two decades, he has been involved through his firm and is familiar with what goes on.

He praised former President Bill Clinton for his use of the Budget Act of the early 1980s as the foundation for returning the nation to a balanced budget, which he said former President George W. Bush inherited.

But, a series of unfunded tax cuts, many of which he said was paid for through failed Wall Street investments along with paying for the war In Iraq and a loss of some 700,000 jobs every month because of Bush economic policies, helped to put the nation back into a deficit, which was inherited by President Barack Obama.

Because of the deep indebtedness and economic depression, the nation remains in a kind of limbo, the former congressman said.

“Those are facts,” Alexander said.

He said he is back in the state to work on behalf of the Democratic candidate for the state’s 1st Congressional District.

Alexander served as the Congressman for the First District from 1969 until 1993.  His later years would be marked by his involvement in the House banking scandal where Alexander was one of the worst offenders writing 487 bad checks totaling $208,546 to the House bank. His former staffer, Blanche Lincoln, used the opportunity to unseat him in the 1992 election.

Like most former Congressmen, Alexander now works in “government relations” with Alexander and Associates in Virginia outside of Washington D.C. But Alexander still votes in Arkansas election via absentee ballot.

He had some trouble casting his ballot last election as the person living at the address he used — 811 W. Hale Ave in Osceola — did not know him and said he did not live there.  His current voter registration lists 109 Carolyn Street in Osceola as his address. Hopefully, he at least knows whoever lives in this house.

Either way, Ellington might want to be careful with Alexander’s absentee ballot and please don’t take any of his checks.