Wallstreet Journal online:
Ex-soldiers don't need to be told they're a burden to society.
By JIM TOWEY
If President Obama wants to better understand why America's discomfort with end-of-life discussions threatens to derail his health-care reform, he might begin with his own Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He will quickly discover how government bureaucrats are greasing the slippery slope that can start with cost containment but quickly become a systematic denial of care.
Last year, bureaucrats at the VA's National Center for Ethics in Health Care advocated a 52-page end-of-life planning document, "Your Life, Your Choices." It was first published in 1997 and later promoted as the VA's preferred living will throughout its vast network of hospitals and nursing homes. After the Bush White House took a look at how this document was treating complex health and moral issues, the VA suspended its use. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the VA has now resuscitated "Your Life, Your Choices."
Who is the primary author of this workbook? Dr. Robert Pearlman, chief of ethics evaluation for the center, a man who in 1996 advocated for physician-assisted suicide in Vacco v. Quill before the U.S. Supreme Court and is known for his support of health-care rationing.
"Your Life, Your Choices" presents end-of-life choices in a way aimed at steering users toward predetermined conclusions, much like a political "push poll." For example, a worksheet on page 21 lists various scenarios and asks users to then decide whether their own life would be "not worth living."
The circumstances listed include ones common among the elderly and disabled: living in a nursing home, being in a wheelchair and not being able to "shake the blues." There is a section which provocatively asks, "Have you ever heard anyone say, 'If I'm a vegetable, pull the plug'?" There also are guilt-inducing scenarios such as "I can no longer contribute to my family's well being," "I am a severe financial burden on my family" and that the vet's situation "causes severe emotional burden for my family."
When the government can steer vulnerable individuals to conclude for themselves that life is not worth living, who needs a death panel?
One can only imagine a soldier surviving the war in Iraq and returning without all of his limbs only to encounter a veteran's health-care system that seems intent on his surrender.
I was not surprised to learn that the VA panel of experts that sought to update "Your Life, Your Choices" between 2007-2008 did not include any representatives of faith groups or disability rights advocates. And as you might guess, only one organization was listed in the new version as a resource on advance directives: the Hemlock Society (now euphemistically known as "Compassion and Choices").
This hurry-up-and-die message is clear and unconscionable. Worse, a July 2009 VA directive instructs its primary care physicians to raise advance care planning with all VA patients and to refer them to "Your Life, Your Choices." Not just those of advanced age and debilitated condition—all patients. America's 24 million veterans deserve better.
Many years ago I created an advance care planning document called "Five Wishes" that is today the most widely used living will in America, with 13 million copies in national circulation. Unlike the VA's document, this one does not contain the standard bias to withdraw or withhold medical care. It meets the legal requirements of at least 43 states, and it runs exactly 12 pages.
After a decade of observing end-of-life discussions, I can attest to the great fear that many patients have, particularly those with few family members and financial resources. I lived and worked in an AIDS home in the mid-1980s and saw first-hand how the dying wanted more than health care—they wanted someone to care.
If President Obama is sincere in stating that he is not trying to cut costs by pressuring the disabled to forgo critical care, one good way to show that commitment is to walk two blocks from the Oval Office and pull the plug on "Your Life, Your Choices." He should make sure in the future that VA decisions are guided by values that treat the lives of our veterans as gifts, not burdens.
Mr. Towey, president of Saint Vincent College, was director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives (2002-2006) and founder of the nonprofit Aging with Dignity.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Voight: Is Obama creating a civil war in America?
Jon Voight, the Academy Award winner has been cogitating about the state of America, the Washington Times reports in a column today.
"There's a real question at stake now. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?" Mr. Voight tells Inside the Beltway.
"We are witnessing a slow, steady takeover of our true freedoms. We are becoming a socialist nation, and whoever can't see this is probably hoping it isn't true. If we permit Mr. Obama to take over all our industries, if we permit him to raise our taxes to support unconstitutional causes, then we will be in default. This great America will become a paralyzed nation."
Be outraged, Mr. Voight advises.
"Do not let the Obama administration fool you with all their cunning Alinsky methods. And if you don't know what that method is, I implore you to get the book 'Rules for Radicals,' by Saul Alinsky . Mr. Obama is very well trained in these methods," he continues, citing a television campaign critical of the Republican Party and contentious town-hall meetings about health care reform.
"The real truth is that the Obama administration is professional at bullying, as we have witnessed with ACORN at work during the presidential campaign. It seems to me they are sending down their bullies to create fist fights among average American citizens who don't want a government-run health care plan forced upon them," Mr. Voight says. "So I ask again. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?"
"Do not let the Obama administration fool you with all their cunning Alinsky methods. And if you don't know what that method is, I implore you to get the book 'Rules for Radicals,' by Saul Alinsky . Mr. Obama is very well trained in these methods," he continues, citing a television campaign critical of the Republican Party and contentious town-hall meetings about health care reform.
"The real truth is that the Obama administration is professional at bullying, as we have witnessed with ACORN at work during the presidential campaign. It seems to me they are sending down their bullies to create fist fights among average American citizens who don't want a government-run health care plan forced upon them," Mr. Voight says. "So I ask again. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?"
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Washington Times EDITORIAL: Obama's mad science adviser
Compulsory abortion and sterilization aren't youthful indiscretionsWhen it comes to having past views that should frighten every American citizen, Ezekiel Emanuel (see above editorial) has nothing on the president's "chief science adviser," John P. Holdren. The combination of Mr. Holdren with Dr. Emanuel should make the public seriously concerned with this administration's moral compass concerning care for the old and weak.
Earlier this month, Mr. Holdren served as co-chairman when the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology met for the first time. It's a disgrace that Mr. Holdren is even on the council. In "Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment," a book he co-authored in 1977 with noted doomsayers Paul R. and Anne H. Erlich, Mr. Holdren wrote: "Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society."
In case compulsory abortion wasn't enough to diffuse his imaginary population bomb, Mr. Holdren and the Erlichs considered other extremist measures. "A program of sterilizing women after their second or third child, despite the relatively greater difficulty of the operation than vasectomy, might be easier to implement than trying to sterilize men," they wrote. "The development of a long-term sterilizing capsule that could be implanted under the skin and removed when pregnancy is desired opens additional possibilities for coercive fertility control."
It gets worse. The Holdren-Erlich book also promotes "Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods." After noting that, well, yes, there were "very difficult political, legal and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems," Mr. Holdren and his co-authors express hope that their idea may still be viable. "To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements," they wrote. "It must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets or livestock."
Most Americans can be forgiven for thinking that mass sterilization through drinking water is never acceptable and that someone who supported such horrors should have no place on a prestigious White House council. The question naturally arises why President Obama chooses to surround himself with extremists like Mr. Holdren or Dr. Emanuel. No matter how much they claim their views have "evolved," health and science under Obamacare would be a frightening prospect with people like this advising the president.
Earlier this month, Mr. Holdren served as co-chairman when the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology met for the first time. It's a disgrace that Mr. Holdren is even on the council. In "Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment," a book he co-authored in 1977 with noted doomsayers Paul R. and Anne H. Erlich, Mr. Holdren wrote: "Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society."
In case compulsory abortion wasn't enough to diffuse his imaginary population bomb, Mr. Holdren and the Erlichs considered other extremist measures. "A program of sterilizing women after their second or third child, despite the relatively greater difficulty of the operation than vasectomy, might be easier to implement than trying to sterilize men," they wrote. "The development of a long-term sterilizing capsule that could be implanted under the skin and removed when pregnancy is desired opens additional possibilities for coercive fertility control."
It gets worse. The Holdren-Erlich book also promotes "Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods." After noting that, well, yes, there were "very difficult political, legal and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems," Mr. Holdren and his co-authors express hope that their idea may still be viable. "To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements," they wrote. "It must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets or livestock."
Most Americans can be forgiven for thinking that mass sterilization through drinking water is never acceptable and that someone who supported such horrors should have no place on a prestigious White House council. The question naturally arises why President Obama chooses to surround himself with extremists like Mr. Holdren or Dr. Emanuel. No matter how much they claim their views have "evolved," health and science under Obamacare would be a frightening prospect with people like this advising the president.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
PRUDEN: Finding no buyers for snake oil
• Wesley Pruden is editor emeritus of The Washington Times.
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Master politician that he is, Barack Obama is a lousy calculator. He spectacularly misjudged the American public's appetite for a government nanny. Or maybe he miscalculated the power of his slippery tongue to sell government snake oil.
His apparent willingness to abandon the attempt - for now - to nationalize the health-care industry appears to defer the Democratic first step in remaking the home of the brave and the land of the free into Little America, cutting it down to a size incapable of intimidating the likes of Switzerland or Swaziland.
But only if the opposition keeps up unremitting pressure. The president signals a change in tactics, not objectives. His concession that the so-called "government option" is temporarily dead does not mean the dream of "postalizing" health care, of making it as responsive as the Post Office, is dead. It's merely that the tenderizing pain in certain Democratic keesters is so acute that somebody had to find a way to get a little relief. Running up a fake white flag might do it; when the opposition puts down its guns the postalizers will fire at will.
The president never actually said he would defer to public sentiment. The special gift of snake-oil salesmen is their ability to say one thing and make audiences hear something else. "All I'm saying is, though, that the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform," he told an audience on Sunday in Colorado. "This is just one sliver of it."
The leftmost fringe of his party is having none of this apparent concession to reasonableness and moderation. House Democrats recall their ecstasy of waking up on the morning after the 2008 elections, imagining that with their 78-seat margin it's now or never, and they can't wait to get started on the plastic surgery to alter the face of America the Beautiful. They've been sharpening scalpels and carving knives since.
This puts the House leaders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her liege man, Steny Hoyer, in a particular bind. They owe their 78-seat margin to men and women moderate enough to win in conservative districts; many of these freshmen know they will never be sophomores if they vote for a health care plan that dooms the private insurance coverage that works well enough for the middle class.
One of them, Rep. Eric Massa of New York, is a confirmed nanny-state Democrat who understands what a vote for Obamacare is likely to cost him. "I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful. I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them."
The early Democratic strategy of trying to shout down the opposition, painting critics as Nazis waving swastikas (Nancy Pelosi), as "evil-mongers" (Senate Leader Harry Reid), as "un-American" (Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas), as over-dressed snobs and bounders (Sen. Barbara Boxer of California), clearly failed.
So has the attempt to portray critics as ignorant yahoos too thick to understand how well government health schemes have worked in places like Canada and Great Britain. The more we learn about the Canadian and British schemes the less they look like models for anyone.
The new president of the Canadian Medical Association says Canadian doctors must recognize how sick the Canadian system is and figure out how to fix it. "We all agree that the system is imploding," says Dr. Anne Doig, "and we all agree that things are more precarious than Canadians perhaps realize."
Stephen Glover, a columnist for the London Daily Mail, defends Britain's National Health Service but concedes that Americans wouldn't like it.
"Consult any American who has encountered the National Health Service," he writes. "Often [visiting Americans] cannot believe ... the squalor, the looming threat, the long waiting lists and especially the target that patients in 'accident and emergency' should be expected to wait for no more than four - four! - hours, the sense exuded by some medical staff that they are doing you a favor by taking down your personal details. Most Americans, let's face it, are used to much higher standards of health care than we enjoy."
Americans aren't as dumb as the politicians often think they are, and nothing educates politicians like a well-aimed two-by-four square across the noggin. That's the hard lesson of the summer of '09.
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Master politician that he is, Barack Obama is a lousy calculator. He spectacularly misjudged the American public's appetite for a government nanny. Or maybe he miscalculated the power of his slippery tongue to sell government snake oil.
His apparent willingness to abandon the attempt - for now - to nationalize the health-care industry appears to defer the Democratic first step in remaking the home of the brave and the land of the free into Little America, cutting it down to a size incapable of intimidating the likes of Switzerland or Swaziland.
But only if the opposition keeps up unremitting pressure. The president signals a change in tactics, not objectives. His concession that the so-called "government option" is temporarily dead does not mean the dream of "postalizing" health care, of making it as responsive as the Post Office, is dead. It's merely that the tenderizing pain in certain Democratic keesters is so acute that somebody had to find a way to get a little relief. Running up a fake white flag might do it; when the opposition puts down its guns the postalizers will fire at will.
The president never actually said he would defer to public sentiment. The special gift of snake-oil salesmen is their ability to say one thing and make audiences hear something else. "All I'm saying is, though, that the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform," he told an audience on Sunday in Colorado. "This is just one sliver of it."
The leftmost fringe of his party is having none of this apparent concession to reasonableness and moderation. House Democrats recall their ecstasy of waking up on the morning after the 2008 elections, imagining that with their 78-seat margin it's now or never, and they can't wait to get started on the plastic surgery to alter the face of America the Beautiful. They've been sharpening scalpels and carving knives since.
This puts the House leaders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her liege man, Steny Hoyer, in a particular bind. They owe their 78-seat margin to men and women moderate enough to win in conservative districts; many of these freshmen know they will never be sophomores if they vote for a health care plan that dooms the private insurance coverage that works well enough for the middle class.
One of them, Rep. Eric Massa of New York, is a confirmed nanny-state Democrat who understands what a vote for Obamacare is likely to cost him. "I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful. I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them."
The early Democratic strategy of trying to shout down the opposition, painting critics as Nazis waving swastikas (Nancy Pelosi), as "evil-mongers" (Senate Leader Harry Reid), as "un-American" (Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas), as over-dressed snobs and bounders (Sen. Barbara Boxer of California), clearly failed.
So has the attempt to portray critics as ignorant yahoos too thick to understand how well government health schemes have worked in places like Canada and Great Britain. The more we learn about the Canadian and British schemes the less they look like models for anyone.
The new president of the Canadian Medical Association says Canadian doctors must recognize how sick the Canadian system is and figure out how to fix it. "We all agree that the system is imploding," says Dr. Anne Doig, "and we all agree that things are more precarious than Canadians perhaps realize."
Stephen Glover, a columnist for the London Daily Mail, defends Britain's National Health Service but concedes that Americans wouldn't like it.
"Consult any American who has encountered the National Health Service," he writes. "Often [visiting Americans] cannot believe ... the squalor, the looming threat, the long waiting lists and especially the target that patients in 'accident and emergency' should be expected to wait for no more than four - four! - hours, the sense exuded by some medical staff that they are doing you a favor by taking down your personal details. Most Americans, let's face it, are used to much higher standards of health care than we enjoy."
Americans aren't as dumb as the politicians often think they are, and nothing educates politicians like a well-aimed two-by-four square across the noggin. That's the hard lesson of the summer of '09.
Debate's Path Caught Obama by Surprise
Washington Post:
President Obama's advisers acknowledged Tuesday that they were unprepared for the intraparty rift that occurred over the fate of a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left the White House searching for a way to reclaim the initiative on the president's top legislative priority.
Administration officials insisted that they have not shied away from their support for a public option to compete with private insurance companies, an idea they said Obama still prefers to see in a final bill.
But at a time when the president had hoped to be selling middle-class voters on how insurance reforms would benefit them, the White House instead finds itself mired in a Democratic Party feud over an issue it never intended to spotlight.
"I don't understand why the left of the left has decided that this is their Waterloo," said a senior White House adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We've gotten to this point where health care on the left is determined by the breadth of the public option. I don't understand how that has become the measure of whether what we achieve is health-care reform." ...
President Obama's advisers acknowledged Tuesday that they were unprepared for the intraparty rift that occurred over the fate of a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left the White House searching for a way to reclaim the initiative on the president's top legislative priority.
Administration officials insisted that they have not shied away from their support for a public option to compete with private insurance companies, an idea they said Obama still prefers to see in a final bill.
But at a time when the president had hoped to be selling middle-class voters on how insurance reforms would benefit them, the White House instead finds itself mired in a Democratic Party feud over an issue it never intended to spotlight.
"I don't understand why the left of the left has decided that this is their Waterloo," said a senior White House adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We've gotten to this point where health care on the left is determined by the breadth of the public option. I don't understand how that has become the measure of whether what we achieve is health-care reform." ...
Thousands of surgeries may be cut in Metro Vancouver due to government underfunding, leaked paper
Vancover Sun:
Vancouver patients needing neurosurgery, treatment for vascular diseases and other medically necessary procedures can expect to wait longer for care, NDP health critic Adrian Dix said Monday.
Dix said a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority document shows it is considering chopping more than 6,000 surgeries in an effort to make up for a dramatic budgetary shortfall that could reach $200 million.
“This hasn’t been announced by the health authority … but these cuts are coming,” Dix said, citing figures gleaned from a leaked executive summary of “proposed VCH surgical reductions.”
Vancouver patients needing neurosurgery, treatment for vascular diseases and other medically necessary procedures can expect to wait longer for care, NDP health critic Adrian Dix said Monday.
Dix said a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority document shows it is considering chopping more than 6,000 surgeries in an effort to make up for a dramatic budgetary shortfall that could reach $200 million.
“This hasn’t been announced by the health authority … but these cuts are coming,” Dix said, citing figures gleaned from a leaked executive summary of “proposed VCH surgical reductions.”
UK health care: Woman gives birth on pavement 'after being refused ambulance'
Daily Mail:
A young mother gave birth on a pavement outside a hospital after she was told to make her own way there.
Mother-of-three Carmen Blake called her midwife to ask for an ambulance when she went into labour unexpectedly with her fourth child.
But the 27-year-old claims she was refused an ambulance and told to walk the 100m from her house in Leicester to the city's nearby Royal Infirmary.
Her daughter Mariah was delivered on a pavement outside the hospital by a passer-by, just before ambulance crews arrived.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207151/Woman-gives-birth-pavement-refused-ambulance.html#ixzz0ObTsm4SN
A young mother gave birth on a pavement outside a hospital after she was told to make her own way there.
Mother-of-three Carmen Blake called her midwife to ask for an ambulance when she went into labour unexpectedly with her fourth child.
But the 27-year-old claims she was refused an ambulance and told to walk the 100m from her house in Leicester to the city's nearby Royal Infirmary.
Her daughter Mariah was delivered on a pavement outside the hospital by a passer-by, just before ambulance crews arrived.
'They said they were not sending an ambulance and told me I hadRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207151/Woman-gives-birth-pavement-refused-ambulance.html#ixzz0ObTzK4Mb
had nine months to sort out a lift.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207151/Woman-gives-birth-pavement-refused-ambulance.html#ixzz0ObTsm4SN
.Cantor: Stimulus not working as well as advertised
AP:
WASHINGTON – A member of the House Republican leadership says he doesn't think the $787 billion economic stimulus program the Obama administration pushed through Congress earlier this year has worked as advertised.
House GOP Whip Eric Cantor of Richmond said Tuesday that no one should be touting the benefits of stimulus — as Vice President Joe Biden has — at a time when national unemployment is at 9.4 percent.
Interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show," he said that when the administration pressed Congress to act immediately, it projected joblessness no higher than 8.5 percent. Cantor said at a job fair recently, some 3,200 people showed up in 90-degree weather and said people are still worried job security.
WASHINGTON – A member of the House Republican leadership says he doesn't think the $787 billion economic stimulus program the Obama administration pushed through Congress earlier this year has worked as advertised.
House GOP Whip Eric Cantor of Richmond said Tuesday that no one should be touting the benefits of stimulus — as Vice President Joe Biden has — at a time when national unemployment is at 9.4 percent.
Interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show," he said that when the administration pressed Congress to act immediately, it projected joblessness no higher than 8.5 percent. Cantor said at a job fair recently, some 3,200 people showed up in 90-degree weather and said people are still worried job security.
AARP loses members over health care stance
USA Today
Updated
President Obama addresses a town hall-style health care event in Washington on July 28, as AARP's president, Jennie Chin Hansen, listens. A spokesman for AARP said Monday the group had lost 60,000 members for its support of health care overhaul.
WASHINGTON (AP) — About 60,000 senior citizens have quit AARP since July 1 due to the group's support for a health care overhaul, a spokesman for the organization said Monday...
Updated
President Obama addresses a town hall-style health care event in Washington on July 28, as AARP's president, Jennie Chin Hansen, listens. A spokesman for AARP said Monday the group had lost 60,000 members for its support of health care overhaul.
WASHINGTON (AP) — About 60,000 senior citizens have quit AARP since July 1 due to the group's support for a health care overhaul, a spokesman for the organization said Monday...
DNA evicdence can be fabricated, scientists show
from the NY Times:
Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.
The scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor of the blood and saliva. They also showed that if they had access to a DNA profile in a database, they could construct a sample of DNA to match that profile without obtaining any tissue from that person.
“You can just engineer a crime scene,” said Dan Frumkin, lead author of the paper, which has been published online by the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. “Any biology undergraduate could perform this.”
Dr. Frumkin is a founder of Nucleix, a company based in Tel Aviv that has developed a test to distinguish real DNA samples from fake ones that it hopes to sell to forensics laboratories.
The planting of fabricated DNA evidence at a crime scene is only one implication of the findings. A potential invasion of personal privacy is another.
Using some of the same techniques, it may be possible to scavenge anyone’s DNA from a discarded drinking cup or cigarette butt and turn it into a saliva sample that could be submitted to a genetic testing company that measures ancestry or the risk of getting various diseases. Celebrities might have to fear “genetic paparazzi,” said Gail H. Javitt of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University.
Tania Simoncelli, science adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union, said the findings were worrisome.
“DNA is a lot easier to plant at a crime scene than fingerprints,” she said. “We’re creating a criminal justice system that is increasingly relying on this technology.”
John M. Butler, leader of the human identity testing project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said he was “impressed at how well they were able to fabricate the fake DNA profiles.” However, he added, “I think your average criminal wouldn’t be able to do something like that.”
The scientists fabricated DNA samples two ways. One required a real, if tiny, DNA sample, perhaps from a strand of hair or drinking cup. They amplified the tiny sample into a large quantity of DNA using a standard technique called whole genome amplification.
Of course, a drinking cup or piece of hair might itself be left at a crime scene to frame someone, but blood or saliva may be more believable.
The authors of the paper took blood from a woman and centrifuged it to remove the white cells, which contain DNA. To the remaining red cells they added DNA that had been amplified from a man’s hair.
Since red cells do not contain DNA, all of the genetic material in the blood sample was from the man. The authors sent it to a leading American forensics laboratory, which analyzed it as if it were a normal sample of a man’s blood.
The other technique relied on DNA profiles, stored in law enforcement databases as a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person’s genome.
From a pooled sample of many people’s DNA, the scientists cloned tiny DNA snippets representing the common variants at each spot, creating a library of such snippets. To prepare a DNA sample matching any profile, they just mixed the proper snippets together. They said that a library of 425 different DNA snippets would be enough to cover every conceivable profile.
Nucleix’s test to tell if a sample has been fabricated relies on the fact that amplified DNA — which would be used in either deception — is not methylated, meaning it lacks certain molecules that are attached to the DNA at specific points, usually to inactivate genes.
Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.
The scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor of the blood and saliva. They also showed that if they had access to a DNA profile in a database, they could construct a sample of DNA to match that profile without obtaining any tissue from that person.
“You can just engineer a crime scene,” said Dan Frumkin, lead author of the paper, which has been published online by the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. “Any biology undergraduate could perform this.”
Dr. Frumkin is a founder of Nucleix, a company based in Tel Aviv that has developed a test to distinguish real DNA samples from fake ones that it hopes to sell to forensics laboratories.
The planting of fabricated DNA evidence at a crime scene is only one implication of the findings. A potential invasion of personal privacy is another.
Using some of the same techniques, it may be possible to scavenge anyone’s DNA from a discarded drinking cup or cigarette butt and turn it into a saliva sample that could be submitted to a genetic testing company that measures ancestry or the risk of getting various diseases. Celebrities might have to fear “genetic paparazzi,” said Gail H. Javitt of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University.
Tania Simoncelli, science adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union, said the findings were worrisome.
“DNA is a lot easier to plant at a crime scene than fingerprints,” she said. “We’re creating a criminal justice system that is increasingly relying on this technology.”
John M. Butler, leader of the human identity testing project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said he was “impressed at how well they were able to fabricate the fake DNA profiles.” However, he added, “I think your average criminal wouldn’t be able to do something like that.”
The scientists fabricated DNA samples two ways. One required a real, if tiny, DNA sample, perhaps from a strand of hair or drinking cup. They amplified the tiny sample into a large quantity of DNA using a standard technique called whole genome amplification.
Of course, a drinking cup or piece of hair might itself be left at a crime scene to frame someone, but blood or saliva may be more believable.
The authors of the paper took blood from a woman and centrifuged it to remove the white cells, which contain DNA. To the remaining red cells they added DNA that had been amplified from a man’s hair.
Since red cells do not contain DNA, all of the genetic material in the blood sample was from the man. The authors sent it to a leading American forensics laboratory, which analyzed it as if it were a normal sample of a man’s blood.
The other technique relied on DNA profiles, stored in law enforcement databases as a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person’s genome.
From a pooled sample of many people’s DNA, the scientists cloned tiny DNA snippets representing the common variants at each spot, creating a library of such snippets. To prepare a DNA sample matching any profile, they just mixed the proper snippets together. They said that a library of 425 different DNA snippets would be enough to cover every conceivable profile.
Nucleix’s test to tell if a sample has been fabricated relies on the fact that amplified DNA — which would be used in either deception — is not methylated, meaning it lacks certain molecules that are attached to the DNA at specific points, usually to inactivate genes.
Cap and Trade: "It's a dangerous piece of legislation,” energy workers say
Houston Chronicle:
Energy workers rally against climate plan
“It's a dangerous piece of legislation,” says James Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko Energy, which is busing employees to the event.
Local energy workers jammed a downtown Houston theater today to protest climate change legislation that the U.S. Senate will take up in the coming weeks.
The Energy Citizens rally, promoted by some major energy companies and business organizations as well as the Greater Houston Partnership, is the first of several such events planned in 19 states in the coming weeks.
About 3,500 people, or 1,500 more than expected, filed into the facility, many donning yellow T-shirts that were being handed out that read "I'm an energy citizen." Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. was the keynote speaker.
Organizers of the event, billed as a dialogue on energy and the environment, told the Chronicle on Monday that legislation the U.S. House passed last spring will destroy millions of U.S. jobs and raise costs without reducing greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change.
“It's a dangerous piece of legislation,” said James Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko Energy, which is busing employees to the event.
Hackett said he supports reducing greenhouse emissions and developing alternative sources of fuel.
“But I do think there's a virtual reality that's being portrayed to most American citizens about how quickly we get there and how we get there,” Hackett said.
The rally is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Theater downtown, with doors open at 11:30.
The climate change bill the House passed earlier this year sets a steadily decreasing cap on emissions from factories, power plants and other industrial sources and lets companies trade any excess emissions allowances. The price of those emissions allowances would most likely be passed on to consumers.
The measure also would set up a system for creating extra allowances, called offsets, through other projects that reduce emissions, and would include incentives for renewable energy sources and home and business energy efficiency.
Energy workers rally against climate plan
“It's a dangerous piece of legislation,” says James Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko Energy, which is busing employees to the event.
Local energy workers jammed a downtown Houston theater today to protest climate change legislation that the U.S. Senate will take up in the coming weeks.
The Energy Citizens rally, promoted by some major energy companies and business organizations as well as the Greater Houston Partnership, is the first of several such events planned in 19 states in the coming weeks.
About 3,500 people, or 1,500 more than expected, filed into the facility, many donning yellow T-shirts that were being handed out that read "I'm an energy citizen." Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. was the keynote speaker.
Organizers of the event, billed as a dialogue on energy and the environment, told the Chronicle on Monday that legislation the U.S. House passed last spring will destroy millions of U.S. jobs and raise costs without reducing greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change.
“It's a dangerous piece of legislation,” said James Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko Energy, which is busing employees to the event.
Hackett said he supports reducing greenhouse emissions and developing alternative sources of fuel.
“But I do think there's a virtual reality that's being portrayed to most American citizens about how quickly we get there and how we get there,” Hackett said.
The rally is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Theater downtown, with doors open at 11:30.
The climate change bill the House passed earlier this year sets a steadily decreasing cap on emissions from factories, power plants and other industrial sources and lets companies trade any excess emissions allowances. The price of those emissions allowances would most likely be passed on to consumers.
The measure also would set up a system for creating extra allowances, called offsets, through other projects that reduce emissions, and would include incentives for renewable energy sources and home and business energy efficiency.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
FOX News Offers White House Examples of Unsolicited E-Mails on Health Reform - Political News - FOXNews.com
Thursday, August 13, 2009
KSTP, KAAL sue to see uncounted ballots/Health care debate moves online
From MN Independent:
Hubbard sues Ramsey County: In June, Hubbard Broadcasting — owner of KSTP, KAAL and others — filed a data practices request to see all uncounted ballots in the protracted Norm Coleman/Al Franken Senate contest. Now, after Coleman conceded defeat and with Al Franken serving his fifth week as Minnesota’s second senator, the company has filed suit against Ramsey County to get their hands on unopened absentee ballots. This week they did the same in St. Louis County.
Health care debate goes online: Local social media types, fed up with mayhem wrought at public forums on health care by anti-Obama activists, are hoping for a calmer discussion of the issues online. Blogger and online media consultant Paul Saarinen has started a video conversation on “What bothers you about the health care debate?” Video commenters so far include Mediation blogger Taylor Carik and Matt Thompson, online journalist and former deputy web editor at the Star Tribune. All are welcome to participate.
Hubbard sues Ramsey County: In June, Hubbard Broadcasting — owner of KSTP, KAAL and others — filed a data practices request to see all uncounted ballots in the protracted Norm Coleman/Al Franken Senate contest. Now, after Coleman conceded defeat and with Al Franken serving his fifth week as Minnesota’s second senator, the company has filed suit against Ramsey County to get their hands on unopened absentee ballots. This week they did the same in St. Louis County.
Health care debate goes online: Local social media types, fed up with mayhem wrought at public forums on health care by anti-Obama activists, are hoping for a calmer discussion of the issues online. Blogger and online media consultant Paul Saarinen has started a video conversation on “What bothers you about the health care debate?” Video commenters so far include Mediation blogger Taylor Carik and Matt Thompson, online journalist and former deputy web editor at the Star Tribune. All are welcome to participate.
The voices that were kept out of the President's townhall
Here are the photos of those who wanted to attend President Obama's recent townhall at Portsmouth High School, but were kept out (from Boston.com, the Chicago Tribune and Unionleader).
Questions have been raised as to whether the President stacked his audience with supporters, and orchestrated the event with questions penned ahead of time to favor his view.
Links:
Was Julia Hall an Obama plant?
Kansas City Star - Yael T. Abouhalkah - 1 hour ago
by their allegations that an 11-year-old girl was a plant for President Barack Obama at his recent health care town hall in Portsmouth, NH Conservatives are ...
Kansas City Star - Yael T. Abouhalkah - 1 hour ago
by their allegations that an 11-year-old girl was a plant for President Barack Obama at his recent health care town hall in Portsmouth, NH Conservatives are ...
A sedate town hall raises questions
Boston Globe - Foon Rhee - 20 hours ago
Why wasn't President Obama's town hall on healthcare in New Hampshire Tuesday as much of a shouting match as some held by members of Congress? ...
Boston Globe - Foon Rhee - 20 hours ago
Why wasn't President Obama's town hall on healthcare in New Hampshire Tuesday as much of a shouting match as some held by members of Congress? ...
And, while the Democrast accuse those attending town halls to oppose obamacare as being paid, the evidence shows the supporters are the ones who are actually getting paid. See this Craigslist post:
Rasmussen: President's approval rating hits new low
From Rasmussen's daily presidential tracking poll at http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8 (see trends).
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is feeling the heat of the health care debate. He now trails Republican Pat Toomey by double digits in an early look at the potential 2010 race. Two months ago, Specter led by double digits. Most Pennsylvania voters oppose the Congressional health care reform effort. Also, Specter’s lead is shrinking in his Democratic Primary match-up with Congressman Joe Sestak.
The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates also available on Twitter.
Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level of total approval yet recorded. The President’s ratings first fell below 50% just a few weeks ago on July 25. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.
Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Republicans disapprove along with 65% of those not affiliated with either party. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Democrats offer their approval. Most women (51%) offer their approval while most men (56%) disapprove. For more measures of the President's performance, see Obama By the Numbers and recent demographic highlights from the tracking polls.
Later today, Rasmussen Reports will release new data on which party voters trust when it comes to health care. Premium Members can get an advance look at the data.
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is feeling the heat of the health care debate. He now trails Republican Pat Toomey by double digits in an early look at the potential 2010 race. Two months ago, Specter led by double digits. Most Pennsylvania voters oppose the Congressional health care reform effort. Also, Specter’s lead is shrinking in his Democratic Primary match-up with Congressman Joe Sestak.
The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates also available on Twitter.
Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level of total approval yet recorded. The President’s ratings first fell below 50% just a few weeks ago on July 25. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.
Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Republicans disapprove along with 65% of those not affiliated with either party. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Democrats offer their approval. Most women (51%) offer their approval while most men (56%) disapprove. For more measures of the President's performance, see Obama By the Numbers and recent demographic highlights from the tracking polls.
Later today, Rasmussen Reports will release new data on which party voters trust when it comes to health care. Premium Members can get an advance look at the data.
Nationally, support for the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low. Just 42% favor the plan while 53% are opposed. Other data shows that 51% fear the federal government more than private insurance companies. Forty-one percent (41%) fear the insurance companies more. Overall, 32% favor a single-payer health care system for the U.S. while 57% are opposed.
Carver GOP voices it's opposition at the fair; Democrats whine, do not defend their policies
We had a smoking booth at the Carver County fair this year!
Instead of countering our fun poke at liberal Democrat policies at the recent Carver County Fair in Waconia, the Democrats seem unable to debate and defend their policies we believe are harming the nation.
The Carver GOP is the voice of the grassroots. We are elected by the people to fight ineptitude, foul play, and bad policy in government where we see it, and we defend free speech and all the rights set forth in our Constitution. Democrats say that makes us "extremists," but they are wrong, we are Americans.
Instead of countering our fun poke at liberal Democrat policies at the recent Carver County Fair in Waconia, the Democrats seem unable to debate and defend their policies we believe are harming the nation.
The Carver GOP is the voice of the grassroots. We are elected by the people to fight ineptitude, foul play, and bad policy in government where we see it, and we defend free speech and all the rights set forth in our Constitution. Democrats say that makes us "extremists," but they are wrong, we are Americans.
We're happy to take the risk that we will be reported by our neighbors as doing something fishy and will be honored to be added to the White House's enemies list!!
Above are the actual pictures of our dunk tank, where, YES, we dunked Sen. Al Franken -- who disenfranchised Carver County voters by refusing to count our votes in the last election,(Carver County absentee ballots remain in legal crosshairs ... ), not to mention his reliance on ACORN and finding more votes than actual voters -- as well as President Obama's healthcare reform, Cars for Clunkers program, Cap and Trade and more.
Above are the actual pictures of our dunk tank, where, YES, we dunked Sen. Al Franken -- who disenfranchised Carver County voters by refusing to count our votes in the last election,(Carver County absentee ballots remain in legal crosshairs ... ), not to mention his reliance on ACORN and finding more votes than actual voters -- as well as President Obama's healthcare reform, Cars for Clunkers program, Cap and Trade and more.
Below is the blog post of a former Democrat operative and a photoshopped picture and name-calling (the photo on the post is labeled "hate") post of our dunk tank:
This is a picture of the dunk tank that the GOP brought to the Carver County Fair. The hastily printed signs stuck around the booth railed against everything from the DMV, the ‘label right wing extremists’ and my personal favorite, the ‘price hikes of the post office’.From http://www.dustytrice.com/?p=5673:
Extremist Carver
County Republicans (And Paul Kohls?) Bring Their Hate To The County Fair!!!
Just when you think the right-wing extremists can’t sink and lower…
The group was charging $3 for a chance to throw baseballs at a distorted image of the face of Senator Al Franken. This is the kind of absolute morally bankrupt behavior that earns these people the label ‘right wing extremist’ in the first place!
Even worse, It’s advertised right there on the sign that GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Kohls would be taking a turn in the tank!!! Why would Paul Kohls endorse this sort of extremist behavior?!?
Thanks to tipster Emily Mitchell for the pics. You can see more of the hate tank after the jump…
Oh ....And while we would have loved Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty to have come to our booth, he was not at the fair this year. Mr. Tice, you need more practice at photoshop.
Nationally, foreclosures continue to rise, home prices fall; Minnesota stabilizes
From the AP:
Foreclosures rise 7 percent in July from June
The number of U.S. households on the verge of losing their homes rose 7 percent from June to July, as the escalating foreclosure crisis continued to outpace government efforts to limit the damage.
Foreclosure filings were up 32 percent from the same month last year, RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. More than 360,000 households, or one in every 355 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice, such as a notice of default or trustee's sale. That's the highest monthly level since the foreclosure-listing firm began publishing the data more than four years ago.
Banks repossessed more than 87,000 homes in July, up from about 79,000 homes a month earlier. (more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_bi_ge/us_foreclosure_rates)
The government's foreclosure flop
Reuters Blogs - Christopher Swann - 15 hours ago
The Obama administration has attacked the problem of rising home foreclosures with a humanitarian zeal. Their program — the most ambitious in generations ...
Saving homes with a 'right to rent' Los Angeles Times
Helping with house Mortgages and Available Programs Best Syndication
TopNews United States
Home sales up 3.8% for quarter; rising foreclosures drop prices
USA Today - Stephanie Armour - 7 hours ago
But foreclosures are rising, and that's pulling down home prices. Foreclosure filings were reported on 360149 properties in July, according to a RealtyTrac ...
Housing Recovery Will Be Slow as Foreclosures Continue to Weigh on ... Money Morning
Forbes
Home prices continue to fall but at a slower rate
The Money Times - Jamie Anderson - Aug 11, 2009
Almost a third of the homes were sold at a price that did not cover even the purchase price of the home. "Foreclosure resales are buoying overall sales ...
US home prices fall, but rate slows: report Reuters
July home sales and Zillow's take on the local market Baltimore Sun
America's Best And Worst Housing Markets Forbes
in Minnesota, from Business North http://www.businessnorth.com/briefing.asp?RID=3099:
Foreclosure rate falls in Minnesota from January to June
The number of foreclosures statewide during the first half of 2009 was 15 percent below the same year-earlier period, according to a joint report by the Minnesota Home Ownership Center, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Minnesota Housing and Family Housing Fund.
They reported 11,089 foreclosures in Minnesota through June, compared to 13,591 in the same period last year. In calendar 2008, there were 26,261 foreclosures in Minnesota.
While the report doesn’t reveal exact reasons, the decline likely is the result of actions taken by lenders, homeowners and homeownership counselors rather than due to improved housing and economic conditions.
Many major lenders placed moratoriums on foreclosures in late 2008/early 2009, and more lenders are working with homeowners to modify loans.
Meanwhile, the number of mortgages 60 or more days in default in Minnesota continues to climb. Without workout agreements with their lenders, many of these homeowners may be forced into foreclosure, potentially driving up foreclosure numbers in the second half of 2009.
St. Louis County has the highest number of foreclosure in Northeastern Minnesota, 176 in the first half of 2009, compared to 236 in the year-earlier period. Since Jan. 1, 2008, there have been 652 foreclosures in the county.
The “Foreclosures in Minnesota,” report analyzes sheriff’s sale data, the primary means of identifying foreclosures, from all Minnesota counties. To view a full copy, go to http://www.hocmn.org/reports.cfm
Foreclosures rise 7 percent in July from June
The number of U.S. households on the verge of losing their homes rose 7 percent from June to July, as the escalating foreclosure crisis continued to outpace government efforts to limit the damage.
Foreclosure filings were up 32 percent from the same month last year, RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. More than 360,000 households, or one in every 355 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice, such as a notice of default or trustee's sale. That's the highest monthly level since the foreclosure-listing firm began publishing the data more than four years ago.
Banks repossessed more than 87,000 homes in July, up from about 79,000 homes a month earlier. (more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_bi_ge/us_foreclosure_rates)
The government's foreclosure flop
Reuters Blogs - Christopher Swann - 15 hours ago
The Obama administration has attacked the problem of rising home foreclosures with a humanitarian zeal. Their program — the most ambitious in generations ...
Saving homes with a 'right to rent' Los Angeles Times
Helping with house Mortgages and Available Programs Best Syndication
TopNews United States
Home sales up 3.8% for quarter; rising foreclosures drop prices
USA Today - Stephanie Armour - 7 hours ago
But foreclosures are rising, and that's pulling down home prices. Foreclosure filings were reported on 360149 properties in July, according to a RealtyTrac ...
Housing Recovery Will Be Slow as Foreclosures Continue to Weigh on ... Money Morning
Forbes
Home prices continue to fall but at a slower rate
The Money Times - Jamie Anderson - Aug 11, 2009
Almost a third of the homes were sold at a price that did not cover even the purchase price of the home. "Foreclosure resales are buoying overall sales ...
US home prices fall, but rate slows: report Reuters
July home sales and Zillow's take on the local market Baltimore Sun
America's Best And Worst Housing Markets Forbes
in Minnesota, from Business North http://www.businessnorth.com/briefing.asp?RID=3099:
Foreclosure rate falls in Minnesota from January to June
The number of foreclosures statewide during the first half of 2009 was 15 percent below the same year-earlier period, according to a joint report by the Minnesota Home Ownership Center, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Minnesota Housing and Family Housing Fund.
They reported 11,089 foreclosures in Minnesota through June, compared to 13,591 in the same period last year. In calendar 2008, there were 26,261 foreclosures in Minnesota.
While the report doesn’t reveal exact reasons, the decline likely is the result of actions taken by lenders, homeowners and homeownership counselors rather than due to improved housing and economic conditions.
Many major lenders placed moratoriums on foreclosures in late 2008/early 2009, and more lenders are working with homeowners to modify loans.
Meanwhile, the number of mortgages 60 or more days in default in Minnesota continues to climb. Without workout agreements with their lenders, many of these homeowners may be forced into foreclosure, potentially driving up foreclosure numbers in the second half of 2009.
St. Louis County has the highest number of foreclosure in Northeastern Minnesota, 176 in the first half of 2009, compared to 236 in the year-earlier period. Since Jan. 1, 2008, there have been 652 foreclosures in the county.
The “Foreclosures in Minnesota,” report analyzes sheriff’s sale data, the primary means of identifying foreclosures, from all Minnesota counties. To view a full copy, go to http://www.hocmn.org/reports.cfm
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
They aren't listening
From kristiesclips82:
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee talks on the phone as a woman asks a question at her town hall event.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee talks on the phone as a woman asks a question at her town hall event.
Kline: So-Called Stimulus Fails to Deliver Jobs as Promised
A letter from Congressman John Kline:
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported a loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the month of July.
At 9.4 percent, the employment report is a somber reminder that American families are hurting; it’s also a clear sign that the President’s game plan – in close coordination with Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid – of taxing, borrowing, and spending is doing nothing to stem the tide of lost jobs and economic uncertainty.
Six months ago, the Democrat architects of the so-called economic stimulus demanded a trillion dollars with a promise that jobs would be created, unemployment would stop rising, and the effects would be immediate. Six months later, it is time to ask: Where are the jobs?
Republicans believe that if the President, Speaker Pelosi, and Harry Reid want to protect and create jobs, they should start by scrapping job-killing legislation such as the Speaker’s national energy tax and the government takeover of health care. I have joined House Republicans in offering a series of proposals this year to create jobs, make health care affordable and accessible, and secure our energy future. The time is long overdue for Democrat leadership to follow our lead and embrace commonsense policies that will help American families, including the Minnesotans I represent.
Congress Ignores Speaker’s Arbitrary Deadline
for a Government Takeover of Health Care
Last week, in what can be viewed as a temporary victory for all Americans, Congress rejected Speaker Pelosi’s call to pass reckless health care legislation by the arbitrary end-of-August deadline. While Republicans and Democrats agree health care reform is needed, we disagree on how to get there.
I believe that the current Democrat proposal is a job-killer that would lead to a government takeover of health care and have devastating consequences for families and small businesses. It would ration care and let government bureaucrats make decisions that should be made by families and their doctors.
I remain hopeful that this legislative delay opens the door to the possibility of my Democrat colleagues coming together in a bipartisan way to join House Republicans in supporting a meaningful solution that will lower health care costs for you and your family. In contrast to the Democrat’s approach of increasing taxes on small businesses and saddling our children and grandchildren with hundreds of billions more in debt, our plan will fix what’s broken in our health care system while keeping what works – including the jobs and health plans many Americans, including Minnesotans, already have.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported a loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the month of July.
At 9.4 percent, the employment report is a somber reminder that American families are hurting; it’s also a clear sign that the President’s game plan – in close coordination with Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid – of taxing, borrowing, and spending is doing nothing to stem the tide of lost jobs and economic uncertainty.
Six months ago, the Democrat architects of the so-called economic stimulus demanded a trillion dollars with a promise that jobs would be created, unemployment would stop rising, and the effects would be immediate. Six months later, it is time to ask: Where are the jobs?
Republicans believe that if the President, Speaker Pelosi, and Harry Reid want to protect and create jobs, they should start by scrapping job-killing legislation such as the Speaker’s national energy tax and the government takeover of health care. I have joined House Republicans in offering a series of proposals this year to create jobs, make health care affordable and accessible, and secure our energy future. The time is long overdue for Democrat leadership to follow our lead and embrace commonsense policies that will help American families, including the Minnesotans I represent.
Congress Ignores Speaker’s Arbitrary Deadline
for a Government Takeover of Health Care
Last week, in what can be viewed as a temporary victory for all Americans, Congress rejected Speaker Pelosi’s call to pass reckless health care legislation by the arbitrary end-of-August deadline. While Republicans and Democrats agree health care reform is needed, we disagree on how to get there.
I believe that the current Democrat proposal is a job-killer that would lead to a government takeover of health care and have devastating consequences for families and small businesses. It would ration care and let government bureaucrats make decisions that should be made by families and their doctors.
I remain hopeful that this legislative delay opens the door to the possibility of my Democrat colleagues coming together in a bipartisan way to join House Republicans in supporting a meaningful solution that will lower health care costs for you and your family. In contrast to the Democrat’s approach of increasing taxes on small businesses and saddling our children and grandchildren with hundreds of billions more in debt, our plan will fix what’s broken in our health care system while keeping what works – including the jobs and health plans many Americans, including Minnesotans, already have.
Obama funds $20M tax to immigrate Hamas Refugees
By executive order, and without much media coverage, President Barack Obama ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza.
The "presidential determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on Jan. 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on Feb. 4. The order provides a free ticket, housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
here is the Federal Register:
February 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 22)
DOCID: fr04fe09-106 FR Doc E9-2488
Presidential Documents
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
NOTICE: Part II
DOCID: fr04fe09-106
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
[[Page 6115]]Presidential Determination No. 2009-15 of January 27, 2009
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related To Gaza
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.
You are authorized and dircted to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington,
January 27, 2009
[FR Doc. E9-2488Filed 2-3-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P
© 2009 theFederalRegister.com Congressional Record
The "presidential determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on Jan. 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on Feb. 4. The order provides a free ticket, housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
here is the Federal Register:
February 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 22)
DOCID: fr04fe09-106 FR Doc E9-2488
Presidential Documents
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
NOTICE: Part II
DOCID: fr04fe09-106
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
[[Page 6115]]Presidential Determination No. 2009-15 of January 27, 2009
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related To Gaza
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.
You are authorized and dircted to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington,
January 27, 2009
[FR Doc. E9-2488Filed 2-3-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P
© 2009 theFederalRegister.com Congressional Record
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
If that doesn't say it all
DrudgeReport.com is reporting the following quote from the president duringhis townhall meeting to redeem his healthcare plan today:
OBAMA 'UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. It's the Post Office that's always having problems'... Developing...
OBAMA 'UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. It's the Post Office that's always having problems'... Developing...
Sen. Specter townhall #2 - citizens beg to be heard
Video from Beitbart.tv at http://www.breitbart.tv/sen-specter-confronts-angry-heckler-at-pa-town-hall/:
And from ifbnews on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNWiPWPZ0MU:
Video also found on Fox News and RealClearPolitics (linked in headline):
Despite stacking the front rows of his audience with supporters and selecting which questions he would take ahead of time, citizens opposed to government takeover of America's health care system passionately, peacefully stand up and voice the reasons they oppose Obama's plan at Sen. Alen Specter's town hall meeting this morning.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
And from ifbnews on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNWiPWPZ0MU:
Video also found on Fox News and RealClearPolitics (linked in headline):
Despite stacking the front rows of his audience with supporters and selecting which questions he would take ahead of time, citizens opposed to government takeover of America's health care system passionately, peacefully stand up and voice the reasons they oppose Obama's plan at Sen. Alen Specter's town hall meeting this morning.
Maryland Senator hears from citizens, booing health care takeover
Fox News: Sen. Ben Cardin had to shout his way through a town hall meeting Monday evening, where angry constituents booed and jeered as the Democratic senator from Maryland tried to explain health care reform working its way through Congress.
Questions swirl whether spray-painted swastika was orchestrated to change the debate
FOXNEWS, WXIA: Days after a heated exchange between Georgia Congressman David Scott (D-Georgia) and an area doctor at a town hall meeting, a symbol of hate was spray painted on one of the Congressman's offices. Employees discovered a Swastika allegedly spray-painted on a sign by vandals at Rep. Scott's office in Smyrna. Some questioned whether this was orchestrated by the Democrats and point to Democrat congressman stacking their townhalls with Union thugs.
Left-leaning media continues assault on Palin
From Breitbart.tv linked in head:
Olbermann ‘Special Comment’ Calls Palin ‘Clear and Present Danger’
Olbermann ‘Special Comment’ Calls Palin ‘Clear and Present Danger’
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Rep. Tongas Won’t Sign On to Public Option Because She Has ‘Tremendous Array of Choices’
From Burghnews linked in head:
"What I have is a tremendous array of choices. And I made a choice based on what I was willing to pay for and what made sense in terms of coverage for me and my family. This is essentially what we are creating for the American people. We are creating greater choice," Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) said
"What I have is a tremendous array of choices. And I made a choice based on what I was willing to pay for and what made sense in terms of coverage for me and my family. This is essentially what we are creating for the American people. We are creating greater choice," Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) said
Monday, August 10, 2009
Photographer roughed up at Tampa Town Hall meeting
From Brietbart.tv linked above:
Photographer Roughed Up at Tampa Town Hall Shares Video With Hannity
Photographer Roughed Up at Tampa Town Hall Shares Video With Hannity
Poll:rising distrust of government care
On Health Care, 51% Fear Government More Than Insurance Companies
Monday, August 10, 2009
When it comes to health care decisions, 51% of the nation’s voters fear the federal government more than private insurance companies. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% hold the opposite view and fear the insurance companies more. Seven percent (7%) are not sure who they fear the most.
Among those who have insurance, 53% fear the government more than insurance companies while 39% take the opposite view. Those without insurance fear the insurance companies more.
Adults under 30 fear the insurance companies more while those in their 40s are evenly divided. However, a solid majority of those over 40 fear the government more.
These findings help explain fears by some of a government "takeover" of health care under the reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
Not surprisingly, there is a huge partisan divide on this question. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Democrats fear private insurance companies more than government while 82% of Republicans hold the opposite view. As for those not affiliated with either major party, 53% fear government more.
Most of those who attend church at least once a month fear the government more. Those who rarely or never attend church or religious services fear private insurance companies more.
While 41% fear the insurance companies more than the government, just 25% agree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that health insurance companies are "villains."
Recent polling has shown that the public is fairly evenly divided about the health insurance proposals being made by the president and congressional leaders of his party. However, those who feel strongly about the issue are more likely to oppose the effort.
As Congress has debated potential reforms, confidence in U.S. health care system has increased. Just 19% of Americans now rate the overall system as poor while 48% say it’s good or excellent.
Voters are fairly evenly divided in their views of the protesters at town hall meetings, but 49% believe they are genuinely expressing the views of their neighbors. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the protests are phony.
Most voters believe that middle class tax cuts are more important than new spending on health care.
Monday, August 10, 2009
When it comes to health care decisions, 51% of the nation’s voters fear the federal government more than private insurance companies. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% hold the opposite view and fear the insurance companies more. Seven percent (7%) are not sure who they fear the most.
Among those who have insurance, 53% fear the government more than insurance companies while 39% take the opposite view. Those without insurance fear the insurance companies more.
Adults under 30 fear the insurance companies more while those in their 40s are evenly divided. However, a solid majority of those over 40 fear the government more.
These findings help explain fears by some of a government "takeover" of health care under the reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
Not surprisingly, there is a huge partisan divide on this question. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Democrats fear private insurance companies more than government while 82% of Republicans hold the opposite view. As for those not affiliated with either major party, 53% fear government more.
Most of those who attend church at least once a month fear the government more. Those who rarely or never attend church or religious services fear private insurance companies more.
While 41% fear the insurance companies more than the government, just 25% agree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that health insurance companies are "villains."
Recent polling has shown that the public is fairly evenly divided about the health insurance proposals being made by the president and congressional leaders of his party. However, those who feel strongly about the issue are more likely to oppose the effort.
As Congress has debated potential reforms, confidence in U.S. health care system has increased. Just 19% of Americans now rate the overall system as poor while 48% say it’s good or excellent.
Voters are fairly evenly divided in their views of the protesters at town hall meetings, but 49% believe they are genuinely expressing the views of their neighbors. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the protests are phony.
Most voters believe that middle class tax cuts are more important than new spending on health care.
Another site to go along with the White House's fink on your neighbor site
We live in unbelievable times, this was sent via email from the White House:
From: David Axelrod, The White House [mailto:info@messages.whitehouse.gov]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:12 AM
To:email
Subject: It's time for a reality check
Dear Friend,
Anyone that's watched the news in the past few days knows that health insurance reform is a hot topic — and that rumors and scare tactics have only increased as more people engage with the issue. Given a lot of the outrageous claims floating around, it’s time to make sure everyone knows the facts about the security and stability you get with health insurance reform.
That’s why we’ve launched a new online resource — WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck — to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform. Here's a few of the reality check videos you can find on the site:
CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses. Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families. Matt Flavin, the White House's Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran's benefits. Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors. Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. There's more information and a number of online tools you can use to spread the truth among your family, friends and other social networks. Take a look:
We knew going into this effort that accomplishing comprehensive health insurance reform wasn't going to be easy. Achieving real change never is. The entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo always use their influence in Washington to try and keep things just as they are.
But don't be misled. We know the status quo is unsustainable. If we do nothing, millions more Americans will be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, or see their coverage suddenly dropped if they become seriously ill. Out-of-pocket expenses will continue to soar, and more and more families and businesses will be forced to deal with health insurance costs they can’t afford.
That's the reality.
Americans deserve better. You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo; one you can depend on — that won't deny you coverage when you need it most or charge you crippling out-of-pocket co-pays. Health insurance reform means guaranteeing the health care security and stability you deserve.
President Barack Obama promised he'd bring change to Washington and fix our broken, unsustainable health insurance system. You can help deliver that change. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck, get the facts and spread the truth. The stakes are just too high to do nothing.
Thank you, David
David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President
Contact the White House
The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111
From: David Axelrod, The White House [mailto:info@messages.whitehouse.gov]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:12 AM
To:email
Subject: It's time for a reality check
Dear Friend,
Anyone that's watched the news in the past few days knows that health insurance reform is a hot topic — and that rumors and scare tactics have only increased as more people engage with the issue. Given a lot of the outrageous claims floating around, it’s time to make sure everyone knows the facts about the security and stability you get with health insurance reform.
That’s why we’ve launched a new online resource — WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck — to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform. Here's a few of the reality check videos you can find on the site:
CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses. Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families. Matt Flavin, the White House's Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran's benefits. Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors. Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. There's more information and a number of online tools you can use to spread the truth among your family, friends and other social networks. Take a look:
We knew going into this effort that accomplishing comprehensive health insurance reform wasn't going to be easy. Achieving real change never is. The entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo always use their influence in Washington to try and keep things just as they are.
But don't be misled. We know the status quo is unsustainable. If we do nothing, millions more Americans will be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, or see their coverage suddenly dropped if they become seriously ill. Out-of-pocket expenses will continue to soar, and more and more families and businesses will be forced to deal with health insurance costs they can’t afford.
That's the reality.
Americans deserve better. You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo; one you can depend on — that won't deny you coverage when you need it most or charge you crippling out-of-pocket co-pays. Health insurance reform means guaranteeing the health care security and stability you deserve.
President Barack Obama promised he'd bring change to Washington and fix our broken, unsustainable health insurance system. You can help deliver that change. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck, get the facts and spread the truth. The stakes are just too high to do nothing.
Thank you, David
David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President
Contact the White House
The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111
Democrats go to "War" with Americans opposing Obamacare
News from The Hill:
House Dems set up healthcare ‘war room’
By Jared Allen
Posted: 08/10/09 07:47 AM [ET]
House Democratic leaders have set up a healthcare “war room” to help their rank-and-file members navigate a tumultuous August in which they find themselves on the defensive on their signature issue.The effort is being run out of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office, but is being manned around-the-clock by a rotation of leadership and key committee staff members, according to leadership aides.
Although the war room or “healthcare hotline” is primarily designed to give members the ability to get immediate health policy answers and updates from leadership offices, top Democrats are also planning to use the war room to help their colleagues respond effectively to political and press attacks, if necessary.“The news is being monitored very closely,” a leadership aide said in describing the various functions of the healthcare hotline.
Democratic leaders have more or less opted to operate as if the House were still in session and keep in much more regular contact with the Caucus. In fact, even the war room itself is only one part of an aggressive internal communications strategy that House Democrats are embracing during their August recess, which is usually a time when party leaders loosen their grip on the majority of their members. But this August is far from normal.
In addition to lacking a last-week-before-recess-triumph on a major bill that Democrats can tout back home, this August has Democrats deeply divided over what healthcare reform should look like, with liberals in the House threatening to block President Obama’s top priority if doesn’t include a “robust” public option to compete with private health insurers, and conservative Blue Dog Democrats still eyeing skeptically the concessions they won from leaders.
With more news accounts of Democratic town hall meetings running rampant with angry and even violent anti-healthcare protests, the bolstered communications plan is designed to help members respond to negative town hall coverage and push ahead with a message that is designed to resonate above the chants of protesters.
But at the same time, House leaders are looking to receive constructive feedback on just how upset core constituents in various districts are over healthcare reform, as leadership staff in Washington starts looking at different ways to stitch together three healthcare bills into one package for a vote on the floor this fall.
Hoyer and other leaders will be staying in constant contact with Blue Dogs and other centrists, as well as with the progressives. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who serves in leadership as the Assistant to the Speaker and as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, will be making daily calls to freshman and sophomore members, leadership aides said.“There will be constant calls, once a day at least,” a leadership aide said of calls to members. “And e-mail will be non-stop.”And the number of Caucus conference calls will slowly increase, as well, aides said.While Democrats need to defend certain members and keep in close contact – if not remain in negotiations – with many others, they also said they do not want to let the overall healthcare message get lost in response.“We are still pushing, district-by-district, for members to bring this conversation directly to their constituents,” a leadership aide said. “We’ll do whatever we can to facilitate the successful passage of healthcare legislation in September.”
House Dems set up healthcare ‘war room’
By Jared Allen
Posted: 08/10/09 07:47 AM [ET]
House Democratic leaders have set up a healthcare “war room” to help their rank-and-file members navigate a tumultuous August in which they find themselves on the defensive on their signature issue.The effort is being run out of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office, but is being manned around-the-clock by a rotation of leadership and key committee staff members, according to leadership aides.
Although the war room or “healthcare hotline” is primarily designed to give members the ability to get immediate health policy answers and updates from leadership offices, top Democrats are also planning to use the war room to help their colleagues respond effectively to political and press attacks, if necessary.“The news is being monitored very closely,” a leadership aide said in describing the various functions of the healthcare hotline.
Democratic leaders have more or less opted to operate as if the House were still in session and keep in much more regular contact with the Caucus. In fact, even the war room itself is only one part of an aggressive internal communications strategy that House Democrats are embracing during their August recess, which is usually a time when party leaders loosen their grip on the majority of their members. But this August is far from normal.
In addition to lacking a last-week-before-recess-triumph on a major bill that Democrats can tout back home, this August has Democrats deeply divided over what healthcare reform should look like, with liberals in the House threatening to block President Obama’s top priority if doesn’t include a “robust” public option to compete with private health insurers, and conservative Blue Dog Democrats still eyeing skeptically the concessions they won from leaders.
With more news accounts of Democratic town hall meetings running rampant with angry and even violent anti-healthcare protests, the bolstered communications plan is designed to help members respond to negative town hall coverage and push ahead with a message that is designed to resonate above the chants of protesters.
But at the same time, House leaders are looking to receive constructive feedback on just how upset core constituents in various districts are over healthcare reform, as leadership staff in Washington starts looking at different ways to stitch together three healthcare bills into one package for a vote on the floor this fall.
Hoyer and other leaders will be staying in constant contact with Blue Dogs and other centrists, as well as with the progressives. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who serves in leadership as the Assistant to the Speaker and as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, will be making daily calls to freshman and sophomore members, leadership aides said.“There will be constant calls, once a day at least,” a leadership aide said of calls to members. “And e-mail will be non-stop.”And the number of Caucus conference calls will slowly increase, as well, aides said.While Democrats need to defend certain members and keep in close contact – if not remain in negotiations – with many others, they also said they do not want to let the overall healthcare message get lost in response.“We are still pushing, district-by-district, for members to bring this conversation directly to their constituents,” a leadership aide said. “We’ll do whatever we can to facilitate the successful passage of healthcare legislation in September.”
$181 billion higher
Deficit grew by $181 billion in July
By Walter Alarkon, The Hill (linked)
Bailouts for financial firms and billions in tax revenue lost because of the recession drove the deficit to a record $1.3 trillion in July, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO).Tax receipts that have fallen due to the poor economy and increased spending to save car companies, banks and mortgage firms were major contributors to the federal deficit, according to CBO, which provides official budget numbers for Congress. The federal deficit grew by another $181 billion in July.
Falling tax receipts and increased spending on bailouts for auto companies and the financial sector and for the economic stimulus package added to the deficit, according to CBO, which provides official budget numbers for Congress.
Spending through July of 2009 has increased by $530 billion, which is 21 percent over the same period in 2008. The bailout money for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae accounted for almost half of the spending increase. Unemployment benefits have more than doubled, Medicaid spending has grown by a quarter and Medicare spending has increased by 11 percent.
Tax revenue for the first three quarters of 2009 has fallen by approximately $350 billion, or 17 percent compared to the same period last year, due mostly to the effects of the recession on payroll, income and corporate taxes. A third of the decline is due to tax breaks in the stimulus, including the middle-class tax cut that President Obama campaigned on during last year's election.
The independent budget scorekeeper has projected the deficit to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. The deficit in 2008 reached $455 billion, which was a record at the time.The latest deficit projections come as Democrats in Congress and the White House are pushing for healthcare reform criticized by Republicans as too costly.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stressed during a town-hall meeting in Colorado this week that the healthcare bill won't add to the deficit or restrict benefits and instead will increase access to care. But lawmakers have yet to settle on a way to pay for the bill, expected to cost roughly $1 trillion over the next decade. Pelosi has supported an income surtax on the highest earners, those making more than $280,000, while senators are considering a tax on insurance companies that offer expensive health plans.
Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), the top Republican on the Budget Committee, said that Democrats in Congress aren't doing anything to address the record deficit and are instead pushing ahead with “wildly expensive” healthcare legislation.“To allow the deficit to hit these previously unthinkable levels – while still planning to implement massive new spending programs – shows an incredible lack of fiscal responsibility, especially toward the future generations who will be saddled with the consequences of today’s actions,” Gregg said.
One poll released last week suggests that the GOP attacks are starting to work. A Rasmussen survey of likely voters found that 71 percent believe Obama's policies have increased the deficit. While most -- 54 percent -- blamed the recession that started during the Bush administration for the country's fiscal situation, 39 percent blamed Obama's policies.
By Walter Alarkon, The Hill (linked)
Bailouts for financial firms and billions in tax revenue lost because of the recession drove the deficit to a record $1.3 trillion in July, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO).Tax receipts that have fallen due to the poor economy and increased spending to save car companies, banks and mortgage firms were major contributors to the federal deficit, according to CBO, which provides official budget numbers for Congress. The federal deficit grew by another $181 billion in July.
Falling tax receipts and increased spending on bailouts for auto companies and the financial sector and for the economic stimulus package added to the deficit, according to CBO, which provides official budget numbers for Congress.
Spending through July of 2009 has increased by $530 billion, which is 21 percent over the same period in 2008. The bailout money for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae accounted for almost half of the spending increase. Unemployment benefits have more than doubled, Medicaid spending has grown by a quarter and Medicare spending has increased by 11 percent.
Tax revenue for the first three quarters of 2009 has fallen by approximately $350 billion, or 17 percent compared to the same period last year, due mostly to the effects of the recession on payroll, income and corporate taxes. A third of the decline is due to tax breaks in the stimulus, including the middle-class tax cut that President Obama campaigned on during last year's election.
The independent budget scorekeeper has projected the deficit to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. The deficit in 2008 reached $455 billion, which was a record at the time.The latest deficit projections come as Democrats in Congress and the White House are pushing for healthcare reform criticized by Republicans as too costly.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stressed during a town-hall meeting in Colorado this week that the healthcare bill won't add to the deficit or restrict benefits and instead will increase access to care. But lawmakers have yet to settle on a way to pay for the bill, expected to cost roughly $1 trillion over the next decade. Pelosi has supported an income surtax on the highest earners, those making more than $280,000, while senators are considering a tax on insurance companies that offer expensive health plans.
Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), the top Republican on the Budget Committee, said that Democrats in Congress aren't doing anything to address the record deficit and are instead pushing ahead with “wildly expensive” healthcare legislation.“To allow the deficit to hit these previously unthinkable levels – while still planning to implement massive new spending programs – shows an incredible lack of fiscal responsibility, especially toward the future generations who will be saddled with the consequences of today’s actions,” Gregg said.
One poll released last week suggests that the GOP attacks are starting to work. A Rasmussen survey of likely voters found that 71 percent believe Obama's policies have increased the deficit. While most -- 54 percent -- blamed the recession that started during the Bush administration for the country's fiscal situation, 39 percent blamed Obama's policies.
Public outcry over spending for elite congressional planes hits home
From the Wall Street Journal linked:
Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree
By BRODY MULLINS and T.W. FARNAM
WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.
The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn't need half of the new jets.
see more at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124986067095218079.html
Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree
By BRODY MULLINS and T.W. FARNAM
WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.
The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn't need half of the new jets.
see more at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124986067095218079.html
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Jungbauer says governor campaign "not about me"
From ECM publications:
Sunday, 09 August 2009
by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter
Amid the dog yelps and shotgun thuds of Game Fair Saturday, Aug. 8, Sen. Mike Jungbauer formally declared that he wants to be Minnesota’s next Republican governor.
“It’s not about me,” said Jungbauer, who explained after a brief speech before a campaign video camera that he was running for governor out a sense God was calling him to an endeavor.
An evangelical Christian with a degree from the Moody Bible Institute, Jungbauer purposefully set his campaign fund-raising goal in excess of that suggested by experts as a kind of verification he was following the right path.
“I believe if I’m really called by God to do this, and again it’s not necessarily called by God to be the governor, but to do the campaign, to do it right, I set the goal quite high when I would have to believe it was truly miraculous (to achieve), and I couldn’t say I did it, or they (the campaign) did it,” said Jungbauer.
Jungbauer found a kind of verification in the blue sky he had for his announcement in Ramsey after a deluge that had vendors sweeping puddles out of their tents let up about 30 minutes before the announcement.
Prayer works, said Jungbauer, gazing up at the cloudless sky.
Believes he is in top three
Although about10 candidates currently fill the Republican gubernatorial field, Jungbauer believes his candidacy will number in the top three going into Republican endorsement convention.
Jungbauer, 51, of East Bethel, will abide by the endorsement and seek reelection to the Senate if his campaign falters.
In his speech, Jungbauer, holding a grandson in his arms, spoke of the importance of family, his years in business, his service as East Bethel mayor and state senator.
“I think I’m that man for the State of Minnesota,” said Jungbauer of taking the helm of state government.
One issue Jungbauer mentioned his speech — an issue on which he has been criticized — is the concept of global warming.
Jungbauer, who considers himself Minnesota’s expert on climate change, views carbon dioxide as “the stuff of life” and argues that carbon dioxide emissions cause global warming fallacious.
Focuses on commonalities
Still, Jungbauer views his approach to governance as focusing on commonalties.
“For instance, on climate change, whether you think it’s going to get hotter or colder — I think it’s going to get colder — energy efficiency is the main thing we have to work for,” he said.
Jungbauer hopes critics came after him on global warming because he’s eager for debate.
Jungbauer views the state’s current tax system as obsolete and he plans to release a tax reform proposal later in the campaign.
One idea Jungbauer is contemplating is a flat tax.
Signs no-tax pledge
He has signed a no new tax pledge, Jungbauer explained, but also wrote an excuse on the bottom of it.
While feeling state government needs to be weeded and streamlined, Jungbauer indicated that under certain conditions as governor he could support a tax increase.
“I’m open to that,” he said.
Unless an issue crosses his personal moral lines, and the people want it, he’ll back what voters want, he said.
Jungbauer was elected to the Senate in 2002 and serves on the Senate Transportation Committee among others.
He has undergone physical rejuvenation in recent years, overcoming a back injury to resume running and sometimes riding his bicycle to the Capitol from East Bethel.
DFL State Party Chairman Brian Melendez finds Jungbauer wanting as a gubernatorial candidate.
“It’s clear from his comments and his record that Sen. Jungbauer doesn’t have the drive, experience or vision to lead our state through these difficult times,” said Melendez.
Conservative circle
“Sen. Jungbauer has consistently associated himself with a conservative circle that does not engage on the issues,” he said, adding the senator had been the subject of multiple ethics investigations.
Jungbauer has had ethics complaints filed against him stemming from the use of the Senate e-mail and improper campaign finance record keeping.
But he contends the average person finds the ethics complaints that have been filed against him more puzzling than disturbing.
Indeed, as governor he would seek to change state ethics law, said Jungbauer.
Jungbauer is one of number of local Republicans including Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, former state representative Bill Haas, and former state auditor Pat Anderson, campaigning for governor.
Sunday, 09 August 2009
by T.W. Budig ECM Capitol reporter
Amid the dog yelps and shotgun thuds of Game Fair Saturday, Aug. 8, Sen. Mike Jungbauer formally declared that he wants to be Minnesota’s next Republican governor.
“It’s not about me,” said Jungbauer, who explained after a brief speech before a campaign video camera that he was running for governor out a sense God was calling him to an endeavor.
An evangelical Christian with a degree from the Moody Bible Institute, Jungbauer purposefully set his campaign fund-raising goal in excess of that suggested by experts as a kind of verification he was following the right path.
“I believe if I’m really called by God to do this, and again it’s not necessarily called by God to be the governor, but to do the campaign, to do it right, I set the goal quite high when I would have to believe it was truly miraculous (to achieve), and I couldn’t say I did it, or they (the campaign) did it,” said Jungbauer.
Jungbauer found a kind of verification in the blue sky he had for his announcement in Ramsey after a deluge that had vendors sweeping puddles out of their tents let up about 30 minutes before the announcement.
Prayer works, said Jungbauer, gazing up at the cloudless sky.
Believes he is in top three
Although about10 candidates currently fill the Republican gubernatorial field, Jungbauer believes his candidacy will number in the top three going into Republican endorsement convention.
Jungbauer, 51, of East Bethel, will abide by the endorsement and seek reelection to the Senate if his campaign falters.
In his speech, Jungbauer, holding a grandson in his arms, spoke of the importance of family, his years in business, his service as East Bethel mayor and state senator.
“I think I’m that man for the State of Minnesota,” said Jungbauer of taking the helm of state government.
One issue Jungbauer mentioned his speech — an issue on which he has been criticized — is the concept of global warming.
Jungbauer, who considers himself Minnesota’s expert on climate change, views carbon dioxide as “the stuff of life” and argues that carbon dioxide emissions cause global warming fallacious.
Focuses on commonalities
Still, Jungbauer views his approach to governance as focusing on commonalties.
“For instance, on climate change, whether you think it’s going to get hotter or colder — I think it’s going to get colder — energy efficiency is the main thing we have to work for,” he said.
Jungbauer hopes critics came after him on global warming because he’s eager for debate.
Jungbauer views the state’s current tax system as obsolete and he plans to release a tax reform proposal later in the campaign.
One idea Jungbauer is contemplating is a flat tax.
Signs no-tax pledge
He has signed a no new tax pledge, Jungbauer explained, but also wrote an excuse on the bottom of it.
While feeling state government needs to be weeded and streamlined, Jungbauer indicated that under certain conditions as governor he could support a tax increase.
“I’m open to that,” he said.
Unless an issue crosses his personal moral lines, and the people want it, he’ll back what voters want, he said.
Jungbauer was elected to the Senate in 2002 and serves on the Senate Transportation Committee among others.
He has undergone physical rejuvenation in recent years, overcoming a back injury to resume running and sometimes riding his bicycle to the Capitol from East Bethel.
DFL State Party Chairman Brian Melendez finds Jungbauer wanting as a gubernatorial candidate.
“It’s clear from his comments and his record that Sen. Jungbauer doesn’t have the drive, experience or vision to lead our state through these difficult times,” said Melendez.
Conservative circle
“Sen. Jungbauer has consistently associated himself with a conservative circle that does not engage on the issues,” he said, adding the senator had been the subject of multiple ethics investigations.
Jungbauer has had ethics complaints filed against him stemming from the use of the Senate e-mail and improper campaign finance record keeping.
But he contends the average person finds the ethics complaints that have been filed against him more puzzling than disturbing.
Indeed, as governor he would seek to change state ethics law, said Jungbauer.
Jungbauer is one of number of local Republicans including Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, former state representative Bill Haas, and former state auditor Pat Anderson, campaigning for governor.
WCCO interview of Rep. Tom Emmeron his candidacy for governor
As a candidate for governor, State Rep. Tom Emmer was interviewed by reporter Esme Murphy, and is featured on the WCCO’s web site as one of nine Republican candidates.
Emmer spoke of big government and the lack of commercial growth, and how both are detrimental to the state’s economy, amongst other things.
Murphy takes a cheap shot at the end of the interview - saying that at last check, California has a "Republican" governor....Ah, Esme, not if one looks at that Calif. Governor's votes of late, or his begging for Federal help... it's certainly a liberal record and one that pales to Emmer's voting record.
http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=64927@wcco.dayport.com
Emmer spoke of big government and the lack of commercial growth, and how both are detrimental to the state’s economy, amongst other things.
Murphy takes a cheap shot at the end of the interview - saying that at last check, California has a "Republican" governor....Ah, Esme, not if one looks at that Calif. Governor's votes of late, or his begging for Federal help... it's certainly a liberal record and one that pales to Emmer's voting record.
http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=64927@wcco.dayport.com
Tom Harkin town hall condemns insurance companies, defends spending on illegals
Questions Harkin cannot/willnot answer:
Should insurance companies make a profit?
1.How much do the airplanes (cost) that you fly around in?
2.You said health care costs us $2 trillion a year, I'll take that as true; the bailout bill that you voted for has already cost us $23 trillion. You have enslaved me, my children, my grandchildren, anybody who has great grandchildren here, to pay Wallstreet bankers. We cannot pay that back.
3.When you go to the doctor, you cannot ask whether they (the patient) is illegal or not. That's why we don't know if we are insuring legals.
Should insurance companies make a profit?
1.How much do the airplanes (cost) that you fly around in?
2.You said health care costs us $2 trillion a year, I'll take that as true; the bailout bill that you voted for has already cost us $23 trillion. You have enslaved me, my children, my grandchildren, anybody who has great grandchildren here, to pay Wallstreet bankers. We cannot pay that back.
3.When you go to the doctor, you cannot ask whether they (the patient) is illegal or not. That's why we don't know if we are insuring legals.
"You can't really manufacture this"
George Stephanopoulos talks about the chaos and outrage over health care plan....saying the people are motivated to go by social networks, "you can't really manufacture this."
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Palin defines "Obama's 'death panel,'" credits Bachmann
From Sarah Palin's Facebook page:
Statement on the Current Health Care Debate
Fri at 3:26pm
As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!
The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.
Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion.
Rep. Michele Bachmann highlighted the Orwellian thinking of the president’s health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of the White House chief of staff, in a floor speech to the House of Representatives. I commend her for being a voice for the most precious members of our society, our children and our seniors.
We must step up and engage in this most crucial debate. Nationalizing our health care system is a point of no return for government interference in the lives of its citizens. If we go down this path, there will be no turning back. Ronald Reagan once wrote, “Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” Let’s stop and think and make our voices heard before it’s too late.
- Sarah Palin
Rep. Bachmann's speech can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHBvKGmevI
Statement on the Current Health Care Debate
Fri at 3:26pm
As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!
The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.
Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion.
Rep. Michele Bachmann highlighted the Orwellian thinking of the president’s health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of the White House chief of staff, in a floor speech to the House of Representatives. I commend her for being a voice for the most precious members of our society, our children and our seniors.
We must step up and engage in this most crucial debate. Nationalizing our health care system is a point of no return for government interference in the lives of its citizens. If we go down this path, there will be no turning back. Ronald Reagan once wrote, “Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” Let’s stop and think and make our voices heard before it’s too late.
- Sarah Palin
Rep. Bachmann's speech can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHBvKGmevI
Cap and Trade = massive tax increases
New York Times Opinion (Linked in head):
Economic View
A Missed Opportunity on Climate Change
If carbon allowances are distributed free instead of auctioned, the tax offset for consumers evaporates and effective tax rates will rise.
A Missed Opportunity on Climate Change
If carbon allowances are distributed free instead of auctioned, the tax offset for consumers evaporates and effective tax rates will rise.
By N. GREGORY MANKIW
Published: August 8, 2009
DURING the presidential campaign of 2008, Barack Obama distinguished himself on the economics of climate change, speaking far more sensibly about the issue than most of his rivals. Unfortunately, now that he is president, Mr. Obama may sign a climate bill that falls far short of his aspirations. Indeed, the legislation making its way to his desk could well be worse than nothing at all.
DURING the presidential campaign of 2008, Barack Obama distinguished himself on the economics of climate change, speaking far more sensibly about the issue than most of his rivals. Unfortunately, now that he is president, Mr. Obama may sign a climate bill that falls far short of his aspirations. Indeed, the legislation making its way to his desk could well be worse than nothing at all.
Let’s start with the basics. The essential problem of climate change, scientists tell us, is that humans are emitting too much carbon into the atmosphere, which tends to raise world temperatures. Emitting carbon is what economists call a “negative externality”— an adverse side effect of certain market activities on bystanders.
The textbook solution for dealing with negative externalities is to use the tax system to align private incentives with social costs and benefits. Suppose the government imposed a tax on carbon-based products and used the proceeds to cut other taxes. People would have an incentive to shift their consumption toward less carbon-intensive products. A carbon tax is the remedy for climate change that wins overwhelming support among economists and policy wonks.
When he was still a candidate, Mr. Obama did not exactly endorse a carbon tax. He wanted to be elected, and embracing any tax that hits millions of middle-class voters is not a recipe for electoral success. But he did come tantalizingly close.
What Mr. Obama proposed was a cap-and-trade system for carbon, with all the allowances sold at auction. In short, the system would put a ceiling on the amount of carbon released, and companies would bid on the right to emit carbon into the atmosphere.
Such a system is tantamount to a carbon tax. The auction price of an emission right is effectively a tax on carbon. The revenue raised by the auction gives the government the resources to cut other taxes that distort behavior, like income or payroll taxes.
So far, so good. The problem occurred as this sensible idea made the trip from the campaign trail through the legislative process. Rather than auctioning the carbon allowances, the bill that recently passed the House would give most of them away to powerful special interests.
The numbers involved are not trivial. From Congressional Budget Office estimates, one can calculate that if all the allowances were auctioned, the government could raise $989 billion in proceeds over 10 years. But in the bill as written, the auction proceeds are only $276 billion.
Mr. Obama understood these risks. When asked about a carbon tax in an interview in July 2007, he said: “I believe that, depending on how it is designed, a carbon tax accomplishes much of the same thing that a cap-and-trade program accomplishes. The danger in a cap-and-trade system is that the permits to emit greenhouse gases are given away for free as opposed to priced at auction. One of the mistakes the Europeans made in setting up a cap-and-trade system was to give too many of those permits away.”
How much does it matter? For the purpose of efficiently allocating the carbon rights, it doesn’t. Even if these rights are handed out on political rather than economic grounds, the “trade” part of “cap and trade” will take care of the rest. Those companies with the most need to emit carbon will buy carbon allowances on newly formed exchanges. Those without such pressing needs will sell whatever allowances they are given and enjoy the profits that resulted from Congress’s largess.
The problem arises in how the climate policy interacts with the overall tax system. As the president pointed out, a cap-and-trade system is like a carbon tax. The price of carbon allowances will eventually be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for carbon-intensive products. But if most of those allowances are handed out rather than auctioned, the government won’t have the resources to cut other taxes and offset that price increase. The result is an increase in the effective tax rates facing most Americans, leading to lower real take-home wages, reduced work incentives and depressed economic activity.
The hard question is whether, on net, such a policy is good or bad. Here you can find policy wonks on both sides. To those who view climate change as an impending catastrophe and the distorting effects of the tax system as a mere annoyance, an imperfect bill is better than none at all. To those not fully convinced of the enormity of global warming but deeply worried about the adverse effects of high current and prospective tax rates, the bill is a step in the wrong direction.
What everyone should agree on is that the legislation making its way through Congress is a missed opportunity. President Obama knows what a good climate bill would look like. But despite his immense popularity and personal charisma, he appears unable to persuade Congress to go along.
As for me, I hope the president refuses to sign a bill that fails to auction most of the allowances. Some might say a veto would make the best the enemy of the good. But sometimes good is not good enough.
N. Gregory Mankiw is a professor of economics at Harvard. He was an adviser to President George W. Bush.
N. Gregory Mankiw is a professor of economics at Harvard. He was an adviser to President George W. Bush.
Citizens urges Dingell to see his handicapped son, says he'll be left behind in Obamacare
From the Detroit Free Press blog FREEP:
Tempers flare over health care plan
Dingell forum rowdy; Peters' office protested
BY PATRICIA ANSTETT and KATHLEEN GRAY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • August 7, 2009
U.S. Rep. John Dingell was greeted with jeers and cheers Thursday as he tried to explain why changing the nation’s health care system — as he has advocated for more than a half century in Congress — makes sense.
Despite what some protesters said, “there will be no payment of taxpayer funds for abortion,” Dingell, 83, told the crowd.
As Dingell opened the forum, Mike Sola of Milan interrupted the congressman as he pushed his son, Scott, in a wheelchair, to the podium. He said proposed changes wouldn’t help Scott and called Dingell a fraud.
Even before the Romulus town hall began, opponents engaged backers.
“You may be dead in five years!” shouted Val Butsicaris, 60, of Taylor. “They may euthanize you!” She referred to concerns of government rationing of care for elderly people.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reforms because the country needs it. There’s no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford Motor Co. employee, said retired autoworkers have no guarantees. “We may need something to fall back on,” he said.
Earlier in Troy, several hundred protesters gathered outside the office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.
Advocate Dingell tries to defend proposal
The news release announcing the town hall wasn't issued until Thursday morning, but by 6 p.m., when U.S. Rep. John Dingell's meeting in Romulus began, the word was out and hundreds of people showed up, many intent on disruption.
Scott Hagerstrom, the Michigan director for Americans for Prosperity -- a group opposing President Barack Obama's health care initiative -- said that after he learned about it, he sent an e-mail alerting 18,000 members in southeast Michigan.
Dingell, 83, the dean of Congress and a man passionate about changing health care in America since first being elected in 1955, wasn't deterred by protests that had occurred at similar events around the nation, including one in Petoskey on Wednesday.
Dingell, D-Dearborn, remained calm as he tried to answer his critics' questions.
Dingell told the crowd -- many of whom wouldn't believe it -- that the bill won't pay for abortions.
"The government wants to control my body, my health care decisions and the doctors I see," said Christine Wofford, 56, of Canton, who distributed literature from the Liberty Council, a Lynchburg, Va., religious civil rights law firm.
The interruptions continued with virtually every question Dingell answered. Many Dingell supporters pleaded, "Let him speak," even as others yelled louder and shouted more.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reform because the country needs it. There's no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. "We don't know what's going to happen."
But Fadwa Gillanders, a Henry Ford Health System pharmacist, said no changes are needed.
"I work with poor people all the time," she said. "Nothing is left wanting in ... America."
The hearing ended with opponents yelling, "Kill the bill!" and proponents answering, "Health care now."
Earlier in the day, several hundred people gathered outside the Troy office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, to protest abortion, socialism and Obama's health care proposal. They criticized Peters' unwillingness to hold a town hall.
"He believes that speaking with constituents one-on-one is the most useful way to meet with constituents," said Cullen Schwarz, Peters' spokesman. "The last one was supposed to last only 90 minutes and he stayed for three hours and 45 minutes so he could talk to everyone who showed up."
John Rhen, 68, of Troy wasn't buying it.
"They're going to take over everything. It's socialism," he said. "I don't want some bureaucrat making health decisions for me and my family."
About 20 people who support the health care reform plan mingled with the protesters trying to get their point across as well.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Peacable protest called after conservative African American is beaten for voicing opposition to Health Care Reform
Demand Justice! Denounce Violence! Saturday at SEIU Office St ...
2 hours ago - The St. Louis Tea Party will hold a press conference and peaceable protest at SEIU Headquarters 5585 Pershing Ave., Suite 130, St. Louis, MO 63112 at Noon.
The protest is to demand justice for Kenneth Gladney, an African-American conservative who was brutally beaten by 4 individuals, at least 2 of whom were identified as SEIU representatives. The beatings included racial slurs and required hospitalization of Mr. Gladney.
As videos show (frompvhs1988), the attack was unprovoked and no one retaliated against the union thugs.
...stlouisteaparty.com/.../demand-justice-denounce-violence-saturday-at-seiu-office/ - Similar
The summer of our political discontent? - First Read - msnbc.com
2 hours ago - six people, including a St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter, were arrested at a .... Has anyone seen a single non-white face protesting the health care issue? ..... The 'right' to peacably assemble? Or the 'right' to incite crowds to riot? ...firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/08/07/2023267.aspx - Similar
2 hours ago - The St. Louis Tea Party will hold a press conference and peaceable protest at SEIU Headquarters 5585 Pershing Ave., Suite 130, St. Louis, MO 63112 at Noon.
The protest is to demand justice for Kenneth Gladney, an African-American conservative who was brutally beaten by 4 individuals, at least 2 of whom were identified as SEIU representatives. The beatings included racial slurs and required hospitalization of Mr. Gladney.
As videos show (frompvhs1988), the attack was unprovoked and no one retaliated against the union thugs.
...stlouisteaparty.com/.../demand-justice-denounce-violence-saturday-at-seiu-office/ - Similar
The summer of our political discontent? - First Read - msnbc.com
2 hours ago - six people, including a St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter, were arrested at a .... Has anyone seen a single non-white face protesting the health care issue? ..... The 'right' to peacably assemble? Or the 'right' to incite crowds to riot? ...firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/08/07/2023267.aspx - Similar
Rep. Kline protects worker ballots
From the San Fran. Examiner linked in headline:
Congressman John Kline is the best!
Disclosure rules safeguard the interests of union workers
By: Kevin Mooney Examiner Staff WriterAugust 6, 2009
Union members benefit from enhanced financial disclosure requirements that have helped to expose widespread embezzlement scandals implicating top labor personnel, according to Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.
Greater transparency is needed to safeguard the interests of average union workers who lose out when their own officers misappropriate funds for personal use, he said.
Since 2001, more than 900 union officials have been convicted on embezzlement, fraud and conspiracy charges, and courts have ordered $88,280,099 in restitution to be paid to defrauded unions and other parties investigated by the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), according to the Department of Labor.
Unfortunately, the Obama administration has signaled its intention to roll back accountability standards and enforcement efforts that have helped to safeguard the interests of rank-and-file union members, said Kline, who is the ranking member on the House Labor and Education Committee.
“We are not just talking about someone at say the headquarters for the AFL-CIO or the Teamsters because these are locals all over the country, where people are taking money and it’s very widespread,” he said. “These disclosure forms exist to protect the union members. It does not seem to resonate that this kind of activity exists.”
Although congressional Democrats posture as advocates for union workers, they are in reality doing the bidding of labor bosses who continue to resist heightened accountability and transparency standards, he said.
“When you hear rhetoric and talk from the Democratic side of the aisle about how they are in favor of labor and workers, what they are really talking about is the union leadership,” Kline said. “I think this is underscored by the cut in funding for the only office that has the job of keeping an eye on union leadership and by legislation that takes away the secret ballot and puts in binding arbitration.”
Labor union political action committees (PACs) donated more than $66 million to members of Congress in the 2008 election cycle, with 92 percent of the money going to Democrats, according to OpenSecrets.org.
John Lund, the newly appointed deputy secretary in OLMS, told The Examiner that Obama administration officials will conduct a thorough review of financial disclosure requirements in response to complaints from labor officials that Bush-era reforms are too burdensome.
Under former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, union officers had to account for all of their compensation benefits on LM-2 disclosure forms. These reports helped to create “red flags” that would alert investigators of possible embezzlement activity, according to Bush administration officials.
Chao also modified the LM-30 forms so that shop stewards would be required to report information needed to expose “no show jobs” in which paychecks go into union coffers instead of a real worker’s bank account.
“Elaine Chao made an effort to hold the union leadership accountable to its members,” Kline said. “So it’s not surprising to find that with the change in administration, the union leadership does not want to have these records. But if I were a union worker I’d want the OLMS office beefed up so someone was holding labor officials accountable.”
Kline also expressed concern about talk of a possible compromise on the Employee Free Choice Act that would possibly drop the “card check” provision, but maintain binding arbitration and stiffer penalties for employers.
“This legislation is bad for the American labor force not only because it takes away the secret ballot, but because it puts in binding arbitration, which takes employers and workers out of the equation and encourages a gaming of the system. It gives incentives to negotiate in bad faith,” he said.
As an alternative, Kline has proposed the Secret Ballot Protection Act (SPBA), which would prevent unionization based solely on “card check.” Sen. James DeMint, R-S.C., is sponsoring the bill in the upper chamber.
Large crowd turns out for congressman on the corner meeting in Denver
From the Daily Camera linked above:
Congressman Jared Polis holds a Congressman on the Corner Meeting to talk about heath care and a large crowd turned out.
Congressman Jared Polis holds a Congressman on the Corner Meeting to talk about heath care and a large crowd turned out.
Obama's popularity drops
Obama's dropping poll numbers create whiff of failure - 12 hours ago
Democratic strategist Keir Murray said Obama came into office amid artificially high approval numbers and intense public expectations -- as the first black ...Washington Examiner - 236 related articles »
'Fishy' Handling of Health Care Takes a Mob Hit on Obama's ... - FOXNews - 4 related articles »
Obama Approval Rating: Rasmussen Tracking Polls - Right Pundits - 10 related articles »
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - Rasmussen Reports™: The Most ...
2 hours ago - Some other firms base their approval ratings on samples of all adults. President Obama's numbers are always several points higher in a poll of adults rather ...www.rasmussenreports.com/.../obama.../daily_presidential_tracking_poll - Similar
Democratic strategist Keir Murray said Obama came into office amid artificially high approval numbers and intense public expectations -- as the first black ...Washington Examiner - 236 related articles »
'Fishy' Handling of Health Care Takes a Mob Hit on Obama's ... - FOXNews - 4 related articles »
Obama Approval Rating: Rasmussen Tracking Polls - Right Pundits - 10 related articles »
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - Rasmussen Reports™: The Most ...
2 hours ago - Some other firms base their approval ratings on samples of all adults. President Obama's numbers are always several points higher in a poll of adults rather ...www.rasmussenreports.com/.../obama.../daily_presidential_tracking_poll - Similar
Unemployment at 9.4%, deficit climbs to $1.3 trillion
From Yahoo Finance at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-economy-sheds-fewer-jobs-rb-2889844679.html?x=0&.v=3:
The unemployment rate eased to 9.4 percent in July from 9.5 percent the prior month, Labor Department data showed, the first time the jobless rate had fallen since April 2008.
From AFP at http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hAAhDJ_IAwKglPuq8VnzLGW4Rblg:
US deficit climbs to 1.3 trillion dollars
WASHINGTON — The US budget deficit reached 1.3 trillion dollars for the current fiscal year in July, official data showed, news set to fuel opposition to US President Barack Obama's ambitious health care and climate change proposals.
The deficit for the first 10 months of fiscal year 2009, which began October 1, reached 1.3 trillion dollars, close to 880 billion dollars greater than the deficit recorded through July 2008, said the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Outlays rose by almost 530 billion dollars, or 21 percent, and revenues fell by more than 350 billion dollars, or 17 percent, compared with the amounts recorded during the same period last year, the non-partisan CBO said.
The new data was likely to stoke Republican opposition to Obama's plans to remake the US health care system and enact sweeping legislation to battle climate change, as well as fuel criticism of his handling of the economy.
Republicans have charged that the nearly 800-billion-dollar economic stimulus package Obama and his Democratic allies pushed through earlier this year only swells the deficit and has not paid off in jobs recovered.
The president late Thursday declared America may be seeing the beginning of the end of its economic nightmare, and fired a blistering attack on his Republican critics.
The unemployment rate eased to 9.4 percent in July from 9.5 percent the prior month, Labor Department data showed, the first time the jobless rate had fallen since April 2008.
From AFP at http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hAAhDJ_IAwKglPuq8VnzLGW4Rblg:
US deficit climbs to 1.3 trillion dollars
WASHINGTON — The US budget deficit reached 1.3 trillion dollars for the current fiscal year in July, official data showed, news set to fuel opposition to US President Barack Obama's ambitious health care and climate change proposals.
The deficit for the first 10 months of fiscal year 2009, which began October 1, reached 1.3 trillion dollars, close to 880 billion dollars greater than the deficit recorded through July 2008, said the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Outlays rose by almost 530 billion dollars, or 21 percent, and revenues fell by more than 350 billion dollars, or 17 percent, compared with the amounts recorded during the same period last year, the non-partisan CBO said.
The new data was likely to stoke Republican opposition to Obama's plans to remake the US health care system and enact sweeping legislation to battle climate change, as well as fuel criticism of his handling of the economy.
Republicans have charged that the nearly 800-billion-dollar economic stimulus package Obama and his Democratic allies pushed through earlier this year only swells the deficit and has not paid off in jobs recovered.
The president late Thursday declared America may be seeing the beginning of the end of its economic nightmare, and fired a blistering attack on his Republican critics.
Politico reports: White House to Democrats: 'Punch back twice as hard'
From the Politico linked here:
Top White House aides gave Senate Democrats a recess battle plan on Thursday, arming the lawmakers with tips for avoiding disastrous town hall meetings while showing them polling on popular aspects of the reform effort.
Senior White House adviser David Axelrod and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina told senators to focus on the insured and how they would benefit from “consumer protections" in the overhaul, such as ending the practice of denying insurance based on preexisting conditions and ensuring the continuity of coverage between jobs.
They showed video clips of the confrontational town halls that have dominated the media coverage, and told senators to do more prep work than usual for their public meetings by making sure their own supporters turn out, senators and aides said.
And they screened TV ads and reviewed the various campaigns by critics of the Democratic plan.
“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting.
The hourlong session was the last opportunity for Democratic leaders and the White House to prepare senators for what will be a crucial month in shaping public opinion on health care. With no final legislation to promote, senators have expressed concern about dealing with questions and criticisms about the almost $1 trillion overhaul. The spate of confrontational town hall meetings have raised the stakes. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25891.html#ixzz0NV7HlkRq
Tags:White House,Health Care,Harry Reid,David Axelrod,August Recess,Senate Democrats,Jim Messina
Top White House aides gave Senate Democrats a recess battle plan on Thursday, arming the lawmakers with tips for avoiding disastrous town hall meetings while showing them polling on popular aspects of the reform effort.
Senior White House adviser David Axelrod and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina told senators to focus on the insured and how they would benefit from “consumer protections" in the overhaul, such as ending the practice of denying insurance based on preexisting conditions and ensuring the continuity of coverage between jobs.
They showed video clips of the confrontational town halls that have dominated the media coverage, and told senators to do more prep work than usual for their public meetings by making sure their own supporters turn out, senators and aides said.
And they screened TV ads and reviewed the various campaigns by critics of the Democratic plan.
“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting.
The hourlong session was the last opportunity for Democratic leaders and the White House to prepare senators for what will be a crucial month in shaping public opinion on health care. With no final legislation to promote, senators have expressed concern about dealing with questions and criticisms about the almost $1 trillion overhaul. The spate of confrontational town hall meetings have raised the stakes. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25891.html#ixzz0NV7HlkRq
Tags:White House,Health Care,Harry Reid,David Axelrod,August Recess,Senate Democrats,Jim Messina
Gateway Pundit: SHOCK VIDEO--- DEMS SNEAK UNION, ACORN INTO CARNAHAN TOWN HALL-- 1,000 Tea Party Taxpayers Locked Out!
From Gateway Pundit:
Over 1,000 St. Louis Tea Party Taxpayers showed up at the Russ Carnahan town hall meeting in South St. Louis tonight.They were Locked Out!
But... The Carnahan staff was sneaking in SEIU members in the side door marked "handicapped."Here's the video:
In this video you see one Carnahan supporter allowed into the meeting at Bernard Middle School through a side door. There were 1,000 tea party taxpayers stranded outside the main door.
When two SEIU members attempted to get in the same side door marked "handicapped" the crowd went nuts and blocked them at the door. Did you notice how nonchalant the SIEU members were about getting inside the door? Like they knew right where to go.
THOSE LOCKED OUT BREAK INTO SONG OUTSIDE ORCHESTRATED TOWN HALL. READ/SEE MORE AT http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/08/shock-video-dems-sneak-union-thugs-into.html.
Breitbart.tv: St. Louis Town Hall Turmoil: Were Protesters Barred as Union Members Entered?
Breitbart.tv » St. Louis Town Hall Turmoil: Were Protesters Barred as Union Members Entered?
Shared via AddThis
Obama supporter assaults (slaps) conservative: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/photo_galleries/TownHall/ (photos 9-16)
SEIU Thugs guarding door rough up conservative, tearing his shirt and drawing blood from his chest: http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?aid=88415 (4:15 minutes in with old woman shrieking for help)
Interview with the guy attacked afterward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLpHbD5cy0s
St. Louis (Carnahan) Town hall turns violent!
Group of Obama supporters jump and attack conservatives, 6 arrested. Conservative goes to hospital for injuries:http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/0470FEB3219207458625760B001142AC?OpenDocument
Shared via AddThis
Obama supporter assaults (slaps) conservative: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/photo_galleries/TownHall/ (photos 9-16)
SEIU Thugs guarding door rough up conservative, tearing his shirt and drawing blood from his chest: http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?aid=88415 (4:15 minutes in with old woman shrieking for help)
Interview with the guy attacked afterward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLpHbD5cy0s
St. Louis (Carnahan) Town hall turns violent!
Group of Obama supporters jump and attack conservatives, 6 arrested. Conservative goes to hospital for injuries:http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/0470FEB3219207458625760B001142AC?OpenDocument
Union thugs turn violent against the people opposed to healthcare reform
From Papparatsi:
Rep. Kathy Castor brings Union protection to her town hall meeting. They try to prevent video taping and rough up any one in opposition while the crowd chants "You work for us!" and "Hear our voice!"
Update: Hit counter has been at 320 for hours, but the comments have doubled and are now in the 300s. Kathy Castor's union thugs beat up a guy (in the green shirt - evidence 3:21) and shut the doors to prevent the opposing opinions from being heard. She then proceeded leave, not taking any questions...
Rep. Kathy Castor brings Union protection to her town hall meeting. They try to prevent video taping and rough up any one in opposition while the crowd chants "You work for us!" and "Hear our voice!"
Update: Hit counter has been at 320 for hours, but the comments have doubled and are now in the 300s. Kathy Castor's union thugs beat up a guy (in the green shirt - evidence 3:21) and shut the doors to prevent the opposing opinions from being heard. She then proceeded leave, not taking any questions...
Pelosi's visit a lightning rod
From the Denver Post at http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13011617 read the entire article at this link:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks about health care reform
THE DENVER POST JOE AMON
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visiting a Denver clinic for the homeless Thursday, insisted that Democrats are united in backing health care reform and brushed off a question of whether raucous, conservative-led protests against reform have hurt the effort.
"This is called the legislative process," she said during a brief question-and-answer period after touring the Stout Street Clinic in downtown Denver. "There are differences of opinions. This is the democratic process. . . . This is a very big initiative, to change health care in America."
Pelosi's visit to the clinic — to see and tout the impact of stimulus funds — came at a time when the national debate over health care has escalated into a figurative shouting match.
The shouting match became a literal reality outside the clinic Thursday, as people skeptical of more government involvement in health care traded chants and slogans with others who support sweeping reforms.
When one person in the crowd shouted, "Health care can't wait," a rival responded, "We have health care now." A woman walked among the demonstrators singing "God Bless America" in a warbling voice.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks about health care reform
THE DENVER POST JOE AMON
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visiting a Denver clinic for the homeless Thursday, insisted that Democrats are united in backing health care reform and brushed off a question of whether raucous, conservative-led protests against reform have hurt the effort.
"This is called the legislative process," she said during a brief question-and-answer period after touring the Stout Street Clinic in downtown Denver. "There are differences of opinions. This is the democratic process. . . . This is a very big initiative, to change health care in America."
Pelosi's visit to the clinic — to see and tout the impact of stimulus funds — came at a time when the national debate over health care has escalated into a figurative shouting match.
The shouting match became a literal reality outside the clinic Thursday, as people skeptical of more government involvement in health care traded chants and slogans with others who support sweeping reforms.
When one person in the crowd shouted, "Health care can't wait," a rival responded, "We have health care now." A woman walked among the demonstrators singing "God Bless America" in a warbling voice.
Rep. Dingell stacks town hall front rows, still 600 citizens show up in opposition
From sstrudell:
Congressman John Dingell holds a Town Hall meeting on August 6th, 2009. He didn't promote the event and held it in a room that held 150 at most.
More than 600 people showed up and, as you can see from these videos, Congressman Dingell's constituents are not happy. The front rows were stacked with his supporters BTW. In This particular video, the Congressman takes a very condescending attitude toward his constituents in this clip. He trys to tell them what they "don't know".
And from freep.com (Detroit Free Press blog) at http://www.freep.com/article/20090807/NEWS06/908070387/Tempers-flare-over-health-care:
Tempers flare over health care plan
Dingell forum rowdy; Peters' office protested
U.S. Rep. John Dingell was greeted with jeers and cheers Thursday as he tried to explain why changing the nation’s health care system — as he has advocated for more than a half century in Congress — makes sense.
Despite what some protesters said, “there will be no payment of taxpayer funds for abortion,” Dingell, 83, told the crowd.
As Dingell opened the forum, Mike Sola of Milan interrupted the congressman as he pushed his son, Scott, in a wheelchair, to the podium. He said proposed changes wouldn’t help Scott and called Dingell a fraud.
Even before the Romulus town hall began, opponents engaged backers. “You may be dead in five years!” shouted Val Butsicaris, 60, of Taylor. “They may euthanize you!” She referred to concerns of government rationing of care for elderly people.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reforms because the country needs it. There’s no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford Motor Co. employee, said retired autoworkers have no guarantees. “We may need something to fall back on,” he said.
Earlier in Troy, several hundred protesters gathered outside the office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.
Advocate Dingell tries to defend proposal
The news release announcing the town hall wasn't issued until Thursday morning, but by 6 p.m., when U.S. Rep. John Dingell's meeting in Romulus began, the word was out and hundreds of people showed up, many intent on disruption.
Scott Hagerstrom, the Michigan director for Americans for Prosperity -- a group opposing President Barack Obama's health care initiative -- said that after he learned about it, he sent an e-mail alerting 18,000 members in southeast Michigan.
Dingell, 83, the dean of Congress and a man passionate about changing health care in America since first being elected in 1955, wasn't deterred by protests that had occurred at similar events around the nation, including one in Petoskey on Wednesday Dingell, D-Dearborn, remained calm as he tried to answer his critics' questions.
Dingell told the crowd -- many of whom wouldn't believe it -- that the bill won't pay for abortions.
"The government wants to control my body, my health care decisions and the doctors I see," said Christine Wofford, 56, of Canton, who distributed literature from the Liberty Council, a Lynchburg, Va., religious civil rights law firm.
The interruptions continued with virtually every question Dingell answered. Many Dingell supporters pleaded, "Let him speak," even as others yelled louder and shouted more.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reform because the country needs it. There's no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. "We don't know what's going to happen."
But Fadwa Gillanders, a Henry Ford Health System pharmacist, said no changes are needed.
"I work with poor people all the time," she said. "Nothing is left wanting in ... America."
The hearing ended with opponents yelling, "Kill the bill!" and proponents answering, "Health care now."
Earlier in the day, several hundred people gathered outside the Troy office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, to protest abortion, socialism and Obama's health care proposal. They criticized Peters' unwillingness to hold a town hall.
"He believes that speaking with constituents one-on-one is the most useful way to meet with constituents," said Cullen Schwarz, Peters' spokesman. "The last one was supposed to last only 90 minutes and he stayed for three hours and 45 minutes so he could talk to everyone who showed up."
John Rhen, 68, of Troy wasn't buying it. "They're going to take over everything. It's socialism," he said. "I don't want some bureaucrat making health decisions for me and my family."
About 20 people who support the health care reform plan mingled with the protesters trying to get their point across as well.
Congressman John Dingell holds a Town Hall meeting on August 6th, 2009. He didn't promote the event and held it in a room that held 150 at most.
More than 600 people showed up and, as you can see from these videos, Congressman Dingell's constituents are not happy. The front rows were stacked with his supporters BTW. In This particular video, the Congressman takes a very condescending attitude toward his constituents in this clip. He trys to tell them what they "don't know".
And from freep.com (Detroit Free Press blog) at http://www.freep.com/article/20090807/NEWS06/908070387/Tempers-flare-over-health-care:
Tempers flare over health care plan
Dingell forum rowdy; Peters' office protested
U.S. Rep. John Dingell was greeted with jeers and cheers Thursday as he tried to explain why changing the nation’s health care system — as he has advocated for more than a half century in Congress — makes sense.
Despite what some protesters said, “there will be no payment of taxpayer funds for abortion,” Dingell, 83, told the crowd.
As Dingell opened the forum, Mike Sola of Milan interrupted the congressman as he pushed his son, Scott, in a wheelchair, to the podium. He said proposed changes wouldn’t help Scott and called Dingell a fraud.
Even before the Romulus town hall began, opponents engaged backers. “You may be dead in five years!” shouted Val Butsicaris, 60, of Taylor. “They may euthanize you!” She referred to concerns of government rationing of care for elderly people.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reforms because the country needs it. There’s no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford Motor Co. employee, said retired autoworkers have no guarantees. “We may need something to fall back on,” he said.
Earlier in Troy, several hundred protesters gathered outside the office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.
Advocate Dingell tries to defend proposal
The news release announcing the town hall wasn't issued until Thursday morning, but by 6 p.m., when U.S. Rep. John Dingell's meeting in Romulus began, the word was out and hundreds of people showed up, many intent on disruption.
Scott Hagerstrom, the Michigan director for Americans for Prosperity -- a group opposing President Barack Obama's health care initiative -- said that after he learned about it, he sent an e-mail alerting 18,000 members in southeast Michigan.
Dingell, 83, the dean of Congress and a man passionate about changing health care in America since first being elected in 1955, wasn't deterred by protests that had occurred at similar events around the nation, including one in Petoskey on Wednesday Dingell, D-Dearborn, remained calm as he tried to answer his critics' questions.
Dingell told the crowd -- many of whom wouldn't believe it -- that the bill won't pay for abortions.
"The government wants to control my body, my health care decisions and the doctors I see," said Christine Wofford, 56, of Canton, who distributed literature from the Liberty Council, a Lynchburg, Va., religious civil rights law firm.
The interruptions continued with virtually every question Dingell answered. Many Dingell supporters pleaded, "Let him speak," even as others yelled louder and shouted more.
Mel Hoffer, 67, of Monroe, a retired Ford quality control worker, said he supports reform because the country needs it. There's no assurance autoworkers will continue to get health care they now have. "We don't know what's going to happen."
But Fadwa Gillanders, a Henry Ford Health System pharmacist, said no changes are needed.
"I work with poor people all the time," she said. "Nothing is left wanting in ... America."
The hearing ended with opponents yelling, "Kill the bill!" and proponents answering, "Health care now."
Earlier in the day, several hundred people gathered outside the Troy office of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, to protest abortion, socialism and Obama's health care proposal. They criticized Peters' unwillingness to hold a town hall.
"He believes that speaking with constituents one-on-one is the most useful way to meet with constituents," said Cullen Schwarz, Peters' spokesman. "The last one was supposed to last only 90 minutes and he stayed for three hours and 45 minutes so he could talk to everyone who showed up."
John Rhen, 68, of Troy wasn't buying it. "They're going to take over everything. It's socialism," he said. "I don't want some bureaucrat making health decisions for me and my family."
About 20 people who support the health care reform plan mingled with the protesters trying to get their point across as well.
Houston physicians pack townhall, "We don't want socialized medicine
From Chron.comhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6563705.html:
Physicians speak out on health care bill
Many say the costly plan won't fix problems
By CINDY HORSWELLHOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 6, 2009, 10:04PM
Physicians jammed a town hall meeting in The Woodlands on Thursday, expressing fears about the cost and effectiveness of a health care reform bill that could come up for a vote in Congress as early as September.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, hosted the meeting attended by about 90 physicians at Memorial Hermann Hospital-The Woodlands.
“The bottom line is that doctors don't want socialized medicine — another flawed health care system like Medicare. They don't believe it will lower the costs or improve quality,” Brady said. “Medicare is already going bankrupt and not quality care. It also shifts medical costs onto other paying customers. It needs to be fixed first.”
The bill is designed to insure 94 percent of all Americans (excluding those covered by Medicare, which kicks in at age 65) and would cost an estimated $1.5 trillion over 10 years. The revenue to pay for it would come from $544 billion over the next decade in income taxes on single people making more than $280,000 annually and couples making more than $350,000 annually; $37 billion in business taxes; $500 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid; and sizable penalties paid by individuals and employers who don't obtain coverage.
“I am very concerned about what this
will cost us in terms of dollars,” said Dr. William Parker, the chief medical officer where the meeting was held. “Before this week, they did not tell us any details of the plan. We've had too little time to read, digest and discuss something that will be such a major overhaul of the health care system.”
READ MORE AT http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6563705.html:
Physicians speak out on health care bill
Many say the costly plan won't fix problems
By CINDY HORSWELLHOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 6, 2009, 10:04PM
Physicians jammed a town hall meeting in The Woodlands on Thursday, expressing fears about the cost and effectiveness of a health care reform bill that could come up for a vote in Congress as early as September.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, hosted the meeting attended by about 90 physicians at Memorial Hermann Hospital-The Woodlands.
“The bottom line is that doctors don't want socialized medicine — another flawed health care system like Medicare. They don't believe it will lower the costs or improve quality,” Brady said. “Medicare is already going bankrupt and not quality care. It also shifts medical costs onto other paying customers. It needs to be fixed first.”
The bill is designed to insure 94 percent of all Americans (excluding those covered by Medicare, which kicks in at age 65) and would cost an estimated $1.5 trillion over 10 years. The revenue to pay for it would come from $544 billion over the next decade in income taxes on single people making more than $280,000 annually and couples making more than $350,000 annually; $37 billion in business taxes; $500 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid; and sizable penalties paid by individuals and employers who don't obtain coverage.
“I am very concerned about what this
will cost us in terms of dollars,” said Dr. William Parker, the chief medical officer where the meeting was held. “Before this week, they did not tell us any details of the plan. We've had too little time to read, digest and discuss something that will be such a major overhaul of the health care system.”
READ MORE AT http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6563705.html:
Where are the Dems concerns over the environment
From the FREEP (Detroit Free Press blog) at http://www.freep.com/article/20090807/BUSINESS01/908070382/?imw=Y:
GM gets to dump its polluted sites
BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • August 7, 2009
GM’s unusual, government-engineered bankruptcy allowed the Detroit automaker to emerge as a new company — and to shed billions in liabilities, including claims that governments had against GM for polluting.
Environmental liabilities estimated at $530 million were left with the old GM, which has only $1.2 billion to wind down.
Administrative fees and other claims will soak up that money, and state and local officials told the Free Press they fear the cleanups will be shortchanged.
READ MORE AT http://www.freep.com/article/20090807/BUSINESS01/908070382/?imw=Y
GM gets to dump its polluted sites
BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • August 7, 2009
GM’s unusual, government-engineered bankruptcy allowed the Detroit automaker to emerge as a new company — and to shed billions in liabilities, including claims that governments had against GM for polluting.
Environmental liabilities estimated at $530 million were left with the old GM, which has only $1.2 billion to wind down.
Administrative fees and other claims will soak up that money, and state and local officials told the Free Press they fear the cleanups will be shortchanged.
READ MORE AT http://www.freep.com/article/20090807/BUSINESS01/908070382/?imw=Y
Thursday, August 06, 2009
AARP Organizers Cancel ‘Listening Session’ After Participants Refuse to ‘Keep Their Comments Quiet’
From Breitbart.tv linked in headline:
Fannie Mae seeks $10.7B in US aid after 2Q loss
Fannie Mae seeks $10.7 billion in new US aid after posting $15.2 billion second-quarter loss
By Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer
On Thursday August 6, 2009, 7:25 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fannie Mae plans to tap $11 billion in new government aid after posting another massive quarterly loss as the taxpayer bill from the housing market bust keeps growing.
The mounting price tag for the rescue of Fannie and its goverment-sponsored sibling, Freddie Mac, is surpassed only by insurer American International Group Inc., which has received $182.5 billion in financial support from the government so far.
Fannie Mae's new request for $10.7 billion from the Treasury Department will bring the total for Fannie and Freddie to nearly $96 billion. Freddie is expected to report its quarterly results on Friday....(Click headline link for more)
By Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer
On Thursday August 6, 2009, 7:25 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fannie Mae plans to tap $11 billion in new government aid after posting another massive quarterly loss as the taxpayer bill from the housing market bust keeps growing.
The mounting price tag for the rescue of Fannie and its goverment-sponsored sibling, Freddie Mac, is surpassed only by insurer American International Group Inc., which has received $182.5 billion in financial support from the government so far.
Fannie Mae's new request for $10.7 billion from the Treasury Department will bring the total for Fannie and Freddie to nearly $96 billion. Freddie is expected to report its quarterly results on Friday....(Click headline link for more)
Tim Walz tries to duck town meeting, sets a round table to limit those voicing their opposition to Obamacare
Veterans Share Concerns With Congressman Tim Walz
KEYC - 1 hour ago
Veterans and active troops shared their concerns at a roundtable meeting with Congressman Tim Walz today...Veterans and current soldiers shared many ...
LETTER: No town hall meetings for Walz
Austin Herald - 10 hours ago
I called the office of Congressman Tim Walz and learned that he will not be holding town hall meetings during the August recess. Walz's office said town ...
Democrats getting an earful on health care during recess
Minneapolis Star Tribune - David Joles, Mark Brunswick - 8 hours ago
Tim Walz, D-Minn., put in an appearance, an audience member declared loudly that plans for national health reform were a "step toward communism. ...
My View: Health care facts require examination
Mankato Free Press - Bob Jentges - 10 hours ago
Tim Walz's My View article in the July 26 edition of The Free Press (“Sensible health care reform imperative”), I took his advice and went to his Web site ...
KEYC - 1 hour ago
Veterans and active troops shared their concerns at a roundtable meeting with Congressman Tim Walz today...Veterans and current soldiers shared many ...
LETTER: No town hall meetings for Walz
Austin Herald - 10 hours ago
I called the office of Congressman Tim Walz and learned that he will not be holding town hall meetings during the August recess. Walz's office said town ...
Democrats getting an earful on health care during recess
Minneapolis Star Tribune - David Joles, Mark Brunswick - 8 hours ago
Tim Walz, D-Minn., put in an appearance, an audience member declared loudly that plans for national health reform were a "step toward communism. ...
My View: Health care facts require examination
Mankato Free Press - Bob Jentges - 10 hours ago
Tim Walz's My View article in the July 26 edition of The Free Press (“Sensible health care reform imperative”), I took his advice and went to his Web site ...
House provides $200 million for gov't VIP jets
From AP linked in headline:
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House is ordering up three Gulfstream jets to fly Pentagon and other top government officials—including members of Congress—around the globe in conditions far cushier than coach class.
The almost $200 million appropriation to buy three C-37 jets, the military version of the Gulfstream 550, is buried in a $636 billion Pentagon budget passed by the House last week. It's not as fancy as the version sold to private customers, but still is a very nice ride.
The Pentagon asked for only one of the $65 million planes as part of an ongoing effort to replace aging jets such as the C-20, an older Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. plane that costs about $6,100 an hour to operate, compared with less than $2,700 for the C-37, according to department figures.
The move raised eyebrows from some Congress-watchers since the planes are sometimes used to ferry lawmakers on overseas trips. And the House measure directs that two of the aircraft be located at Andrews Air Force Base in the Washington suburbs—a favored departure point for congressional trips.
"Congress decided, 'No, no, you're going to buy two more—and those two are going to go to those units right here at Andrews,'" said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group...
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House is ordering up three Gulfstream jets to fly Pentagon and other top government officials—including members of Congress—around the globe in conditions far cushier than coach class.
The almost $200 million appropriation to buy three C-37 jets, the military version of the Gulfstream 550, is buried in a $636 billion Pentagon budget passed by the House last week. It's not as fancy as the version sold to private customers, but still is a very nice ride.
The Pentagon asked for only one of the $65 million planes as part of an ongoing effort to replace aging jets such as the C-20, an older Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. plane that costs about $6,100 an hour to operate, compared with less than $2,700 for the C-37, according to department figures.
The move raised eyebrows from some Congress-watchers since the planes are sometimes used to ferry lawmakers on overseas trips. And the House measure directs that two of the aircraft be located at Andrews Air Force Base in the Washington suburbs—a favored departure point for congressional trips.
"Congress decided, 'No, no, you're going to buy two more—and those two are going to go to those units right here at Andrews,'" said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group...
Tampa Town Hall Protesters Not Let In Event For Rep. Kathy Castor
From speakmymnd02:
Tampa Town Hall Protesters Not Let In Event For Rep. Kathy Castor. They filled the event with their own people, the protesters were not allowed in the room intentionally after waiting 2-3 hours.
Republicans 'troubled' by US policy on Israel
From the AP, see entire article through link above:
By JEN THOMAS (AP) – 17 hours ago
JERUSALEM — The Obama administration's policy on Israel is misguided, puts too much emphasis on the issue of settlements and ignores the bigger threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, a U.S. delegation of Republican congressmen visiting Israel said Thursday.
Led by minority whip Eric Cantor from Virginia, the only Jewish Republican in Congress, the delegation of 25 Republicans say their weeklong mission to Israel is designed to show solidarity with the Jewish state and promote Mideast peace. A group of Democratic congressmen are expected to visit next week.
Cantor said that instead of focusing on issues such as Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, Obama should concentrate on "the primary issue of import ... and that is the existential threat that Iran poses not only to the state of Israel but to the United States."
The congressman said he is "concerned about what the White House has been signaling of late."
By JEN THOMAS (AP) – 17 hours ago
JERUSALEM — The Obama administration's policy on Israel is misguided, puts too much emphasis on the issue of settlements and ignores the bigger threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, a U.S. delegation of Republican congressmen visiting Israel said Thursday.
Led by minority whip Eric Cantor from Virginia, the only Jewish Republican in Congress, the delegation of 25 Republicans say their weeklong mission to Israel is designed to show solidarity with the Jewish state and promote Mideast peace. A group of Democratic congressmen are expected to visit next week.
Cantor said that instead of focusing on issues such as Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, Obama should concentrate on "the primary issue of import ... and that is the existential threat that Iran poses not only to the state of Israel but to the United States."
The congressman said he is "concerned about what the White House has been signaling of late."
FOODSTAMPS/USA:US food stamp list tops 34 million for first time
From Reuters see entire article through link above:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For the first time, more than 34 million Americans received food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, government figures said on Thursday, a sign of the longest and one of the deepest recessions since the Great Depression
Enrollment surged by 2 percent to reach a record 34.4 million people, or one in nine Americans, in May, the latest month for which figures are available.
It was the sixth month in a row that enrollment set a record. Every state recorded a gain in participation from April. Florida had the largest increase at 4.2 percent.
Food stamp enrollment is highest during times of economic stress. The U.S. unemployment rate of 9.5 percent is the highest in 26 years.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For the first time, more than 34 million Americans received food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, government figures said on Thursday, a sign of the longest and one of the deepest recessions since the Great Depression
Enrollment surged by 2 percent to reach a record 34.4 million people, or one in nine Americans, in May, the latest month for which figures are available.
It was the sixth month in a row that enrollment set a record. Every state recorded a gain in participation from April. Florida had the largest increase at 4.2 percent.
Food stamp enrollment is highest during times of economic stress. The U.S. unemployment rate of 9.5 percent is the highest in 26 years.
Paid Union members to guard liberal congresspeople, fight off citizens objections to health care reform
Labor Gets Involved In Town-Halls
Atlantic Online - Chris Good - 3 hours ago
Part of the plan is to "organize major union participation in Congressional Town Hall meetings, both live and virtual 'Tele-Town Hall Meetings. ...
Unions To Counter Town Hall 'Tea-Party Patriots': Report
NPR - Frank James - 2 hours ago
The nation's largest federation of labor organizations has promised to directly engage with boisterous conservative protesters at Democratic town halls ...
Atlantic Online - Chris Good - 3 hours ago
Part of the plan is to "organize major union participation in Congressional Town Hall meetings, both live and virtual 'Tele-Town Hall Meetings. ...
Unions To Counter Town Hall 'Tea-Party Patriots': Report
NPR - Frank James - 2 hours ago
The nation's largest federation of labor organizations has promised to directly engage with boisterous conservative protesters at Democratic town halls ...
Obama email: White House organizes against public outcry
From the Washington Times linked above:
Obama rallies health counterprotesters
By Jon Ward (Contact) Thursday, August 6, 2009
A day after the White House dismissed protesters at town-hall events as people sent from opposition groups in Washington, the administration's political wing began mobilizing millions of its own supporters.
"We've got to get out there," President Obama said in an e-mail message sent Wednesday to the more than 13 million supporters of his campaign group, Organizing for America.
"These canvasses, town halls and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views and show your support," he said. "So here's what I need from you: Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?"
Supporters who go to the group's Web site are asked to enter their names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers.
The coordinated effort from Washington to produce grass-roots action comes one day after the White House and Democrats in Washington denounced protesters at health care town hall forums across the country as the work of the Republican Party and its lobbyist allies.
President Criticizes 'Deceptive' Reform Opponents, Urges Public ...
Kaiser Health News - 1 hour ago
Politico has the full text of Obama's email message (Allen, 8/5). US News and World Report adds that "White House officials say Obama's adversaries are ...
Obama Pushes Grassroots Support for Health Reform
CBS News - Prerana Swami - 18 hours ago
In the email, Mr. Obama asks each supporter to pledge to attend at least one of these events to "reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain ...
Protest-loving liberals now advocate snitch campaigns and ... Wizbang
Is Obama Making an Enemies List?
AOL News Newsbloggers - 19 minutes ago
John Cornyn's letter to the president that charges Obama wants to do more than just keep track of the debate. "It is inevitable that the names, email ...
Obama rallies health counterprotesters
By Jon Ward (Contact) Thursday, August 6, 2009
A day after the White House dismissed protesters at town-hall events as people sent from opposition groups in Washington, the administration's political wing began mobilizing millions of its own supporters.
"We've got to get out there," President Obama said in an e-mail message sent Wednesday to the more than 13 million supporters of his campaign group, Organizing for America.
"These canvasses, town halls and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views and show your support," he said. "So here's what I need from you: Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?"
Supporters who go to the group's Web site are asked to enter their names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers.
The coordinated effort from Washington to produce grass-roots action comes one day after the White House and Democrats in Washington denounced protesters at health care town hall forums across the country as the work of the Republican Party and its lobbyist allies.
President Criticizes 'Deceptive' Reform Opponents, Urges Public ...
Kaiser Health News - 1 hour ago
Politico has the full text of Obama's email message (Allen, 8/5). US News and World Report adds that "White House officials say Obama's adversaries are ...
Obama Pushes Grassroots Support for Health Reform
CBS News - Prerana Swami - 18 hours ago
In the email, Mr. Obama asks each supporter to pledge to attend at least one of these events to "reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain ...
Protest-loving liberals now advocate snitch campaigns and ... Wizbang
Is Obama Making an Enemies List?
AOL News Newsbloggers - 19 minutes ago
John Cornyn's letter to the president that charges Obama wants to do more than just keep track of the debate. "It is inevitable that the names, email ...
Increasing talk of "socialism"
The story of Medicare
Socialist Worker Online - 7 hours ago
One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a ...
Video: Health Care Hurdles - Poll - Bloomberg Bloomberg
Health care reform promotes socialism The Catholic Review
Fasten seat belts - here comes socialism Augusta Chronicle
Socialist Worker Online - 7 hours ago
One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a ...
Video: Health Care Hurdles - Poll - Bloomberg Bloomberg
Health care reform promotes socialism The Catholic Review
Fasten seat belts - here comes socialism Augusta Chronicle
Crowded townhall for Rep. Pete Sessions
Town Hall with Rep. Pete Sessions
06:35 - Today youtube.com
meeting in Richardson Texas. Attendance was about double what could fit into the large conference room. These are just a few of the highlights. ... town hall pete sessions surf ...
06:35 - Today youtube.com
meeting in Richardson Texas. Attendance was about double what could fit into the large conference room. These are just a few of the highlights. ... town hall pete sessions surf ...
Cong. Cornyn finds Obama "fishy" opponents list similar to "enemies" list
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From the Dallas Morning News (linked above and below):
Cornyn accuses White House of compiling 'enemies list'
12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, August 6, 2009
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, accusing the White House of compiling an "enemies list," has asked President Barack Obama to stop an effort to collect "fishy" information Americans see about a health care overhaul.
Cornyn, who leads the Republicans' Senate campaign effort, said Wednesday in a letter to Obama that he's concerned that citizen engagement on the issue could be "chilled." He also expressed alarm that the White House could end up collecting electronic information on its critics.
Cornyn accuses White House of compiling 'enemies list'
12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, August 6, 2009
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, accusing the White House of compiling an "enemies list," has asked President Barack Obama to stop an effort to collect "fishy" information Americans see about a health care overhaul.
Cornyn, who leads the Republicans' Senate campaign effort, said Wednesday in a letter to Obama that he's concerned that citizen engagement on the issue could be "chilled." He also expressed alarm that the White House could end up collecting electronic information on its critics.
"I suspect that you would have been leading the"I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward e-mails critical of his policies to the White House," Cornyn wrote.
charge in condemning such a program -- and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action"
Cornyn was responding to a post on the White House's blog Wednesday in which users are asked to help stop the spread of disinformation about legislation to overhaul health insurance. The post offers an e-mail address, flag@whitehouse.gov, for users to forward anything "on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy."
The White House said the post was merely designed to fight "intentionally misleading" information in the health care debate.
"We want to be sure people have the facts about health insurance reform that will lower costs, protect consumers from insurance regulations that deny them coverage and assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans," said Adam Abrams, a White House spokesman. He said no lists or sources of the information would be compiled.
In his letter, Cornyn asked that the effort cease immediately and that the administration inform Congress what it's doing to ensure that names and electronic information about citizens weighing in on health care are not collected.
Kevin McLaughlin, a spokesman for the senator, said that the office had received no response from the administration.
He said Cornyn had not yet considered whether he would push for legislation to address the matter if necessary.
White House Draws Fire for Requesting 'Fishy' Information From ... FOXNews
Cornyn accuses White House of compiling 'enemies list' Dallas Morning News
Cornyn Questions WH's Call to Report 'Fishy' Behavior on Health Care Wall Street Journal
White House Calls for Citizens to Inform on Opponents of Obamacare
Prison Planet.com - Kurt Nimmo - Aug 4, 2009
It also brings to mind Nixon's enemies list compiled by convicted criminal Charles Colson. Nixon's list of political opponents would eventually total of ...
Talk of 'Enemies List' in Health Care Debate New York Times Blogs
White House uses Web against Drudge on health care, calls posting ... Minneapolis Star Tribune
Prison Planet.com - Kurt Nimmo - Aug 4, 2009
It also brings to mind Nixon's enemies list compiled by convicted criminal Charles Colson. Nixon's list of political opponents would eventually total of ...
Talk of 'Enemies List' in Health Care Debate New York Times Blogs
White House uses Web against Drudge on health care, calls posting ... Minneapolis Star Tribune
White House Asks You To Turn In Your Neighbor « rjjrdq's America II
11 hours ago by rjjrdq White House Asks You To Turn In Your Neighbor. It's true. In move that conjures images of Saddam, the White House wants you to turn in any critics of the administration. What they plan on doing with those people is anybody's guess. ...rjjrdq's America II - http://rjjrdq.com/
11 hours ago by rjjrdq White House Asks You To Turn In Your Neighbor. It's true. In move that conjures images of Saddam, the White House wants you to turn in any critics of the administration. What they plan on doing with those people is anybody's guess. ...rjjrdq's America II - http://rjjrdq.com/
YankeePhil: Obama wants you to turn me in.
4 Aug 2009 by Phil If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov" They want spies to inform on dissent. Turn in your family. Turn in your neighbor. ...YankeePhil - http://yankeephil.blogspot.com/ - References
4 Aug 2009 by Phil If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov" They want spies to inform on dissent. Turn in your family. Turn in your neighbor. ...YankeePhil - http://yankeephil.blogspot.com/ - References
Eye of Polyphemus: Obama's Snitch on Your Neighbor Program
10 hours ago by Jamie Jeffords This is just outrageous and I am increasingly angry that a couple hundred politicians in the House and Senate lead by the President are seeking to destroy the long fought liberties of this nation and turn this into a "America" that more ...Eye of Polyphemus - http://jeffords.blogspot.com/ - References
10 hours ago by Jamie Jeffords This is just outrageous and I am increasingly angry that a couple hundred politicians in the House and Senate lead by the President are seeking to destroy the long fought liberties of this nation and turn this into a "America" that more ...Eye of Polyphemus - http://jeffords.blogspot.com/ - References
Carol's Closet: The Obama Administration's 'Rat Out Your Neighbor ...
4 Aug 2009 by Carol Has your neighbor, co-worker or brother sent you an email critical of the government policy? The Obama Administration wants you to turn them in. The Obama Administration is asking you to spy for them. It's called “communism,” folks. ...Carol's Closet - http://carolyntackettscloset.blogspot.com/ - References
Atlas Shrugs: Obama Thug Administration: Spy, Report on Your ...
4 Aug 2009 by Pamela Geller That article about spy and report your neighbor is Communism with Capital letters. I know, I am a Cuban American!. I was born there in 1961, came here in 1963 and went to visit Cuba in 1979. I had people following me on every move and ... My plan is to turn myself in as soon as I get home from work. Will send an email to that informant address to let them know I overheard myself saying 0bozocare is a piece of crap! Or....attach that uncut video of 0bama from 2003 where he ...Atlas Shrugs - http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/ - References
4 Aug 2009 by Carol Has your neighbor, co-worker or brother sent you an email critical of the government policy? The Obama Administration wants you to turn them in. The Obama Administration is asking you to spy for them. It's called “communism,” folks. ...Carol's Closet - http://carolyntackettscloset.blogspot.com/ - References
Atlas Shrugs: Obama Thug Administration: Spy, Report on Your ...
4 Aug 2009 by Pamela Geller That article about spy and report your neighbor is Communism with Capital letters. I know, I am a Cuban American!. I was born there in 1961, came here in 1963 and went to visit Cuba in 1979. I had people following me on every move and ... My plan is to turn myself in as soon as I get home from work. Will send an email to that informant address to let them know I overheard myself saying 0bozocare is a piece of crap! Or....attach that uncut video of 0bama from 2003 where he ...Atlas Shrugs - http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/ - References
Obama And His Brown Shirts « Giovanni's World
4 Aug 2009 by giovanniworld Note that the indoctrination of children reminded me very strongly of the way in which Hitler, with his Hitler Youth (I call them brownshirts, because that was the uniform and that was the adult cadre), and Stalin, with his Communist ...Giovanni's World - http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/[ More results from Giovanni's World ]
Moonbattery: Brown Shirts in Red
4 Aug 2009 by giovanniworld Note that the indoctrination of children reminded me very strongly of the way in which Hitler, with his Hitler Youth (I call them brownshirts, because that was the uniform and that was the adult cadre), and Stalin, with his Communist ...Giovanni's World - http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/[ More results from Giovanni's World ]
Moonbattery: Brown Shirts in Red
Twitter Updates for 2009-08-06 7.62mm Justice
4 hours ago by EL Frederick RT @kerpen Awesome new video about government health care from http://www.NotSoSure.org: http://tr.im/vCXm (via @PeterRoff) #; Hope and Change means turning into a brownshirt and ratting out your jew neighbors to the "da feuer Obama" … ...7.62mm Justice - http://762justice.com/
4 hours ago by EL Frederick RT @kerpen Awesome new video about government health care from http://www.NotSoSure.org: http://tr.im/vCXm (via @PeterRoff) #; Hope and Change means turning into a brownshirt and ratting out your jew neighbors to the "da feuer Obama" … ...7.62mm Justice - http://762justice.com/
Vocal Minority: Listen & Learn: Mark Levin Says Your Government ...
10 hours ago by EricTheRed I don't care how much money, I don't care how many union hacks, I don't care how many ACORN brownshirts. I don't care! … You know exactly what we're confronting, you know exactly who we're confronting, because you are the antidote to ...Vocal Minority - http://vocalminority.typepad.com/blog/
10 hours ago by EricTheRed I don't care how much money, I don't care how many union hacks, I don't care how many ACORN brownshirts. I don't care! … You know exactly what we're confronting, you know exactly who we're confronting, because you are the antidote to ...Vocal Minority - http://vocalminority.typepad.com/blog/
Find Rep. Cornyn's letter to the White House in the NY Church, State Examiner blog post at:
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Rep. Ron Klein's Health Care Debate Lighthouse Point, Florida
One of many videos from Wintersoldier1776:
Tom Emmer on his campaign for Governor
From Politics in Minnesota at http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/2009/aug03/3529/what-makes-them-run-emmer-says-next-governor-must-take-case-reducing-government-peop:
What makes them run:
Emmer says next governor must take the case for reducing government to the people
Posted 9:12 am, August 4th, 2009 by Steve Perry
Despite his four years-plus in the Legislature, state Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) is making a Capitol-outsider ethos one of the keynotes of his gubernatorial campaign. PIM spoke with Emmer about his run last Friday evening.
Tom Emmer/vitals
Website: http://emmerforgovernor.com/
Posted 9:12 am, August 4th, 2009 by Steve Perry
Despite his four years-plus in the Legislature, state Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) is making a Capitol-outsider ethos one of the keynotes of his gubernatorial campaign. PIM spoke with Emmer about his run last Friday evening.
Tom Emmer/vitals
Website: http://emmerforgovernor.com/
Born: 1961, South Bend, Indiana; Education: B.A., University of Alaska-Fairbanks (history, political science), J.D., William Mitchell College of Law; Occupation: Attorney; Elected: 2004 (3rd term); Committees: Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division; Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight; Licensing Division; State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections; campaign website.
PIM: Why are you running for governor?
Tom Emmer: Because I think we need somebody from the outside. Everybody that's in it basically has been--their experience, primarily, has been working in government in one form or another, as an elected official or working for somebody else. I think we need somebody who has a different experience--someone who has actually signed the front of the check and knows how difficult it is to do business in the state of Minnesota. And understands that this time you have to not just reduce spending, you have to reduce the size of government.
I can't tell you enough how our policies in this state--our regulations, our taxes--have just killed our economy. I think you need somebody with an outside perspective who actually understands that when you have a diminishing customer base, which Minnesota does--Minnesota's been losing population every year for the last seven years--when you have a diminishing customer base, you don't raise your prices. You either hold them stable or, better yet, you lower them. You want to attract new customers.
And while we still might be the home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the union, executive offices are not what feed our families. When you've got 3M making sandpaper in Ontario and Wisconsin and opening offices down in Austin, when you've got Honeywell out in New Jersey, when you've got Marvin Windows moving to North Dakota, when you've got employers actually moving jobs out of the state--I mean, Polaris. Polaris has offices here, and we're very proud to have Polaris. But when Polaris expands, where do they do it? They do it outside Minnesota.
That's why I'm running. And I have seven other reasons I'm running. They range from ages 7 to 19. I want them to have the opportunity to grow and thrive in Minnesota. And unless we turn it around now, they'll be doing what a lot of people are doing, which is looking for jobs in other states.
PIM: What are the two or three most important challenges facing Minnesota, and what would you do to solve them?
Emmer: I think first and foremost is going to be what I just addressed. Whoever gets into that office is going to have to start to reduce the size of government. You hear "downsizing" and "reform." We don't need all kinds of different--let me give you an example. Colorado is roughly the same geographic size and population. Colorado delivers government for about 30 percent less than Minnesota. We need to address that right out of the chute.
If you took a diagram of the state of Minnesota and you drew the size of government in the middle of it, back in the '90s we had Honeywell, 3M, Univac, IBM, you hear this all the time, the number one employers. Now draw the same diagram today and it's Minnesota, the state of, the federal government, the University of Minnesota, MnSCU. There isn't a lot of room around the edges for private economy and investment.
That's going to be the first challenge. The second one is probably going to be a new approach to doing business out of the governor's office. I think Tim Pawlenty did a great job in trying to hold the line, based on what he had. But I think the next governor of the state of Minnesota is going to have to go in there with the idea that you set the agenda and then you go to the people. You go out into the state, the small towns, you take it to the people, and you get the people's buy-in.
You don't sit in the governor's office and try to run your agenda through career politicians, through career bureaucrats, through special interest money, through a media that is pretty much Twin Cities-focused. I think you go out to the people, you get them to buy in, and then once they do that, you go and you move that agenda. And if you've got some career folks who are not interested in speaking for the people who elected them, and they choose not to pass what the public has already bought into, then you go back to the public and you call them out. You get them replaced. We've got to get a system that starts to answer to the people in the end.
The governor's got a unique position where he or she can go to the people to get them on board. Which probably is the third challenge. The third challenge is going to be how you communicate with everybody. Because we have a point of view. I get told that I'm the most conservative of the conservatives on a regular basis, and I respond that I'm consistent.
It really is how you talk to people. We need to tell them what our ideas are. You need to get people to understand, once again, that this country is based on self-determination, self-responsibility. You have to take--you can't expect government to do everything.
But we have to give people those options so they know they can be incented and motivated to achieve their own personal best. I think that'll be a challenge, because everybody gets so caught up in, you know, I'm a Republican or a Democrat, as opposed to what's right.
We all want the same stuff--the opportunity to achieve. They want their friends to have a good future, a good home, good communities, and the opportunity to work. PIM: How many campaign events have you attended so far?
Emmer: I can't even count them. I don't know. I would say--this is what, our fourth week that we just wrapped up?--I've been going every day. I haven't had one day off. And that's weekends too. Today I was at the Meeker County Fair amongst other meetings. I did [KSTP-TV's] At Issue last night. The day before, I was at one of the congressional district meetings, maybe? I mean, I've been at one every single day. On Sundays I go to picnics or fairs. Last Sunday, I guess, I was at the Stillwater parade, and then I was up at the Isanti County Fair.
Four weeks is what, 28 days? I'd have to say I've been to 24 or 25 events in the 28 days.
PIM: What are the main messages you're hearing from Minnesotans as you campaign around the state?
Emmer: They don't want the same old same old. The message I'm sending, the message I'm giving, is actually resonating with people everywhere I go. I don't know if it's because I'm delivering it, but it is the same message. People want to see something other than the same old political speak that they've been getting for years.
I hear people talking about, [former Gov.] Jesse Ventura had an opportunity to make some major structural changes in the way our government operates and does business, and reducing government as a bureaucracy. And I hear on a regular basis that he didn't use his opportunity. A lot of people will say to me, "Why should we believe you? I've heard this before and it just hasn't happened." So there's a lot of frustration in terms of--people understand it. They understand that it's killing us to have all these government jobs.
Think about it. I had a guy tell me today that he goes to South Dakota with his construction work, because they are working. They're frustrated by the taxes, they're frustrated by the regulations, they're frustrated by the same politicians. They want people moving on, they don't want them staying there 20 and 30 years. That's the kind of stuff I'm hearing--kind of a frustrated skepticism about, how are we going to change this thing? It's got to be changed, and how are we going to do it?
PIM: If you don't receive your party's endorsement, will you run in the primary?Emmer: No. I'm going to abide by the endorsement.
PIM: Who, or what, would you say are the most important influences on your life and outlook?
Emmer: I would say my parents, my family, obviously. I would say my family and my teachers. As far as people others would recognize, I would have to say it would be Ronald Reagan and Herb Brooks. I bet you haven't heard that yet [laughs].
I think Ronald Reagan--I don't know that I agree politically with everything he ever stood for, but he knew how to communicate. I think during my formation as a young adult, and I've carried this forward, I believe that the best coaches I've ever had--the best teachers, the best leaders--have been people that can actually tell me which way they want us to go, and explain to us in clear and articulate fashion why. Because in order for people to follow, in order for people to support you, they must believe in you.
And the only way you can do that is through communication. That's why I say, Reagan was a champion when it came to that. And Herb Brooks? I don't know that you need to say much about Herb Brooks. Herb Brooks epitomizes Minnesota. He is probably--his personality is what the state is all about. It's about competing. It's about being fair. It's all about just never quitting. You motivate people and you motivate yourself to succeed. And it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what your social status is, your financial status, it doesn't matter what clothes you wear, what color you are, we're all from the same place and we all want the same things for each other. And you've got to pull your part of the rope. You've got to do your part. You've got to utilize your gifts and talents to their utmost.
And here's the thing. If you don't want to, you don't have to. But then don't ask us to do it for you. I think that's the type of attitude that is Minnesota. He just happened to translate it in an area that I grew up in and had a chance to observe what he did and watch his success.
PIM: What's the first thing you can remember wanting to be when you grew up?Emmer: [laughs] Well, I know what that is. I wanted to play hockey. It began there and it ended there. That's what I wanted to do.
PIM: Why are you running for governor?
Tom Emmer: Because I think we need somebody from the outside. Everybody that's in it basically has been--their experience, primarily, has been working in government in one form or another, as an elected official or working for somebody else. I think we need somebody who has a different experience--someone who has actually signed the front of the check and knows how difficult it is to do business in the state of Minnesota. And understands that this time you have to not just reduce spending, you have to reduce the size of government.
I can't tell you enough how our policies in this state--our regulations, our taxes--have just killed our economy. I think you need somebody with an outside perspective who actually understands that when you have a diminishing customer base, which Minnesota does--Minnesota's been losing population every year for the last seven years--when you have a diminishing customer base, you don't raise your prices. You either hold them stable or, better yet, you lower them. You want to attract new customers.
And while we still might be the home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the union, executive offices are not what feed our families. When you've got 3M making sandpaper in Ontario and Wisconsin and opening offices down in Austin, when you've got Honeywell out in New Jersey, when you've got Marvin Windows moving to North Dakota, when you've got employers actually moving jobs out of the state--I mean, Polaris. Polaris has offices here, and we're very proud to have Polaris. But when Polaris expands, where do they do it? They do it outside Minnesota.
That's why I'm running. And I have seven other reasons I'm running. They range from ages 7 to 19. I want them to have the opportunity to grow and thrive in Minnesota. And unless we turn it around now, they'll be doing what a lot of people are doing, which is looking for jobs in other states.
PIM: What are the two or three most important challenges facing Minnesota, and what would you do to solve them?
Emmer: I think first and foremost is going to be what I just addressed. Whoever gets into that office is going to have to start to reduce the size of government. You hear "downsizing" and "reform." We don't need all kinds of different--let me give you an example. Colorado is roughly the same geographic size and population. Colorado delivers government for about 30 percent less than Minnesota. We need to address that right out of the chute.
If you took a diagram of the state of Minnesota and you drew the size of government in the middle of it, back in the '90s we had Honeywell, 3M, Univac, IBM, you hear this all the time, the number one employers. Now draw the same diagram today and it's Minnesota, the state of, the federal government, the University of Minnesota, MnSCU. There isn't a lot of room around the edges for private economy and investment.
That's going to be the first challenge. The second one is probably going to be a new approach to doing business out of the governor's office. I think Tim Pawlenty did a great job in trying to hold the line, based on what he had. But I think the next governor of the state of Minnesota is going to have to go in there with the idea that you set the agenda and then you go to the people. You go out into the state, the small towns, you take it to the people, and you get the people's buy-in.
You don't sit in the governor's office and try to run your agenda through career politicians, through career bureaucrats, through special interest money, through a media that is pretty much Twin Cities-focused. I think you go out to the people, you get them to buy in, and then once they do that, you go and you move that agenda. And if you've got some career folks who are not interested in speaking for the people who elected them, and they choose not to pass what the public has already bought into, then you go back to the public and you call them out. You get them replaced. We've got to get a system that starts to answer to the people in the end.
The governor's got a unique position where he or she can go to the people to get them on board. Which probably is the third challenge. The third challenge is going to be how you communicate with everybody. Because we have a point of view. I get told that I'm the most conservative of the conservatives on a regular basis, and I respond that I'm consistent.
It really is how you talk to people. We need to tell them what our ideas are. You need to get people to understand, once again, that this country is based on self-determination, self-responsibility. You have to take--you can't expect government to do everything.
But we have to give people those options so they know they can be incented and motivated to achieve their own personal best. I think that'll be a challenge, because everybody gets so caught up in, you know, I'm a Republican or a Democrat, as opposed to what's right.
We all want the same stuff--the opportunity to achieve. They want their friends to have a good future, a good home, good communities, and the opportunity to work. PIM: How many campaign events have you attended so far?
Emmer: I can't even count them. I don't know. I would say--this is what, our fourth week that we just wrapped up?--I've been going every day. I haven't had one day off. And that's weekends too. Today I was at the Meeker County Fair amongst other meetings. I did [KSTP-TV's] At Issue last night. The day before, I was at one of the congressional district meetings, maybe? I mean, I've been at one every single day. On Sundays I go to picnics or fairs. Last Sunday, I guess, I was at the Stillwater parade, and then I was up at the Isanti County Fair.
Four weeks is what, 28 days? I'd have to say I've been to 24 or 25 events in the 28 days.
PIM: What are the main messages you're hearing from Minnesotans as you campaign around the state?
Emmer: They don't want the same old same old. The message I'm sending, the message I'm giving, is actually resonating with people everywhere I go. I don't know if it's because I'm delivering it, but it is the same message. People want to see something other than the same old political speak that they've been getting for years.
I hear people talking about, [former Gov.] Jesse Ventura had an opportunity to make some major structural changes in the way our government operates and does business, and reducing government as a bureaucracy. And I hear on a regular basis that he didn't use his opportunity. A lot of people will say to me, "Why should we believe you? I've heard this before and it just hasn't happened." So there's a lot of frustration in terms of--people understand it. They understand that it's killing us to have all these government jobs.
Think about it. I had a guy tell me today that he goes to South Dakota with his construction work, because they are working. They're frustrated by the taxes, they're frustrated by the regulations, they're frustrated by the same politicians. They want people moving on, they don't want them staying there 20 and 30 years. That's the kind of stuff I'm hearing--kind of a frustrated skepticism about, how are we going to change this thing? It's got to be changed, and how are we going to do it?
PIM: If you don't receive your party's endorsement, will you run in the primary?Emmer: No. I'm going to abide by the endorsement.
PIM: Who, or what, would you say are the most important influences on your life and outlook?
Emmer: I would say my parents, my family, obviously. I would say my family and my teachers. As far as people others would recognize, I would have to say it would be Ronald Reagan and Herb Brooks. I bet you haven't heard that yet [laughs].
I think Ronald Reagan--I don't know that I agree politically with everything he ever stood for, but he knew how to communicate. I think during my formation as a young adult, and I've carried this forward, I believe that the best coaches I've ever had--the best teachers, the best leaders--have been people that can actually tell me which way they want us to go, and explain to us in clear and articulate fashion why. Because in order for people to follow, in order for people to support you, they must believe in you.
And the only way you can do that is through communication. That's why I say, Reagan was a champion when it came to that. And Herb Brooks? I don't know that you need to say much about Herb Brooks. Herb Brooks epitomizes Minnesota. He is probably--his personality is what the state is all about. It's about competing. It's about being fair. It's all about just never quitting. You motivate people and you motivate yourself to succeed. And it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what your social status is, your financial status, it doesn't matter what clothes you wear, what color you are, we're all from the same place and we all want the same things for each other. And you've got to pull your part of the rope. You've got to do your part. You've got to utilize your gifts and talents to their utmost.
And here's the thing. If you don't want to, you don't have to. But then don't ask us to do it for you. I think that's the type of attitude that is Minnesota. He just happened to translate it in an area that I grew up in and had a chance to observe what he did and watch his success.
PIM: What's the first thing you can remember wanting to be when you grew up?Emmer: [laughs] Well, I know what that is. I wanted to play hockey. It began there and it ended there. That's what I wanted to do.
The public can meet Tom Emmer Aug. 30 at a meet & greet 3-5 p.m., at Squeaky's Grill, 1150 W. Hwy. 7, Hutchinson. Contact Diane Robinson 320-582-2420
Gene Green Town Hall, citizens inform him about health care reform
There are more clips at lstvideo, but in this one, an elderly gentleman reads from the bill about end of life counseling and how the bill encourages and pays for abortion.
From
From
Democrats begin campaign against American citizens who oppose Obamacare
UPDATE: Mob Rule or Democracy in Action? Health Care Debate Focuses on ...
FOXNews - Stephen Clark - 15 hours ago
On Tuesday, the White House issued a blog post by Macon Phillips, director of new media, asking supporters to send "fishy" information received through ...
Democrats Accuse Foes of Staging Health-Care Protests Bloomberg
Nancy Pelosi: Town Hall Protesters Are “Carrying Swastikas”.
by Retired War Veteran ~ August 6th, 2009
I don't see anybody carrying swastikas.Even if there are any, they'd most likely be Obama/A.C.O.R.N. types pretending to be the average Town Hall protester. Just like with the tea parties, they're going to defame anyone who doesn't agree with the direction of the White House. Call everyone a racist and you'll get your way. We've seen this time and time again with liberals. Video of Pelosi is below.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...swastikas.html
Democrats begin campaign against American citizens who oppose Obamacare and begin their orchestrated campaign to characterize them as "Green & Pink clad GOP staffers" and the White House wants videos and emails flagged.
Our favorite response is a small comment to the following ReasonTV clip, which said, "How can ANY reasonable person take seriously ANY legislation on Health Care Reform, or any issue for that matter, that the ones writing it and imposing it will not even subject themselves to it.
Even Jim Jones had the courage to drink the same kool aid." -MetzInAZ
From ReasonTV:
From TMPTV:
And, surprise, surprise, oberman:
FOXNews - Stephen Clark - 15 hours ago
On Tuesday, the White House issued a blog post by Macon Phillips, director of new media, asking supporters to send "fishy" information received through ...
Democrats Accuse Foes of Staging Health-Care Protests Bloomberg
Nancy Pelosi: Town Hall Protesters Are “Carrying Swastikas”.
by Retired War Veteran ~ August 6th, 2009
I don't see anybody carrying swastikas.Even if there are any, they'd most likely be Obama/A.C.O.R.N. types pretending to be the average Town Hall protester. Just like with the tea parties, they're going to defame anyone who doesn't agree with the direction of the White House. Call everyone a racist and you'll get your way. We've seen this time and time again with liberals. Video of Pelosi is below.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...swastikas.html
Democrats begin campaign against American citizens who oppose Obamacare and begin their orchestrated campaign to characterize them as "Green & Pink clad GOP staffers" and the White House wants videos and emails flagged.
Our favorite response is a small comment to the following ReasonTV clip, which said, "How can ANY reasonable person take seriously ANY legislation on Health Care Reform, or any issue for that matter, that the ones writing it and imposing it will not even subject themselves to it.
Even Jim Jones had the courage to drink the same kool aid." -MetzInAZ
From ReasonTV:
From TMPTV:
And, surprise, surprise, oberman:
Congressman Paulsen hard to challenge
Bachmann race gets most attention, but challenge to 3rd District's Paulsen starting to percolate, too
By Doug Grow Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009
While DFLers are jumping into — and out of — the 6th Congressional District race to take a shot at defeating Michele Bachmann, all has been surprisingly quiet on the western suburban front. To date, not a single DFLer has announced intentions to run against first-time 3rd District Rep. Erik Paulsen, but now at least one prominent DFLer is contemplating a challenge.
Bonoff considering another run in CD3
MNpublius.com - http://mnpublius.com/ By Jeff Rosenberg
Doug Grow reported this morning in MinnPost: To date, not a single DFLer has announced intentions to run against Rep. Erik Paulsen, the first-term congressman. ... Now that Paulsen is in Congress, he's taking a page from John Kline's playbook — developing a hard-right voting record, but keeping quiet and not causing any controversy. Whoever ends up running in CD3 will have a lot of work to do explaining Paulsen's record. August 5, 2009 , 7:26 am Category: CD3
By Doug Grow Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009
While DFLers are jumping into — and out of — the 6th Congressional District race to take a shot at defeating Michele Bachmann, all has been surprisingly quiet on the western suburban front. To date, not a single DFLer has announced intentions to run against first-time 3rd District Rep. Erik Paulsen, but now at least one prominent DFLer is contemplating a challenge.
Bonoff considering another run in CD3
MNpublius.com - http://mnpublius.com/ By Jeff Rosenberg
Doug Grow reported this morning in MinnPost: To date, not a single DFLer has announced intentions to run against Rep. Erik Paulsen, the first-term congressman. ... Now that Paulsen is in Congress, he's taking a page from John Kline's playbook — developing a hard-right voting record, but keeping quiet and not causing any controversy. Whoever ends up running in CD3 will have a lot of work to do explaining Paulsen's record. August 5, 2009 , 7:26 am Category: CD3
Gov. Pawlenty's popularity soars
From Smart Politics Blog, University of Minnesota, at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2009/08/pawlenty_on_the_rebound_govern.php:
Pawlenty on the Rebound? Governor's Approval Rating Reaches Highest Mark in 2009
Pawlenty's approval rating for the month of July increased six points from June to 53 percent - tying January for his best mark of 2009. Forty-four percent of Minnesotans said they disapproved of Pawlenty's job performance in a poll conducted of 600 adults from July 17-19.
Pawlenty's return to moderately high approval numbers comes even as recent unemployment data continues to leave Minnesotans uncertain about the economic future of the state. June's unemployment rate of 8.4 percent is the highest the Gopher State has endured in more than 25 years (April 1983).
While Pawlenty has not completely rebounded to his two-year approval rating high of 58 percent immediately after the 2008 election, this is the first statistically significant rise in job performance numbers for Pawlenty since the state's jobless claims began to rise at a record pace last November.
Additionally, Governor Pawlenty has fared much better than many of his colleagues across the country. SurveyUSA tracks the approval ratings of approximately one-quarter of the nation's governors, and Pawlenty's 8.6 percent (5.0-point) drop in approval ratings from November 2008 to July 2009 is the third lowest in the 13-state sample. (Other states tracked are Alabama, California, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin).
In fact, only Pawlenty, Democratic Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri, and Democratic Governor Steve Beshear of Kentucky have avoided job performance ratings drop by double digit percentages.
Neighboring Democratic Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin has seen his approval rating sliced by 27.3 percent (from 44 to 32 percent). Iowa's Democratic Governor Chet Culver has endured a more modest, 13.7 percent drop, from 51 to 44 percent since November's election.
And while Minnesota's unemployment numbers are not as large as the country as a whole, several Governors who have suffered through a larger drop in approval ratings than Pawlenty currently serve in states with lower levels of unemployment (e.g. Tim Kaine of Virginia, David Paterson of New York, Chet Culver of Iowa, and Bill Richardson of New Mexico).
Pawlenty and Nixon are also the only two governors in the SurveyUSA sample of states who currently have a higher job approval rating than the percentage of residents who last voted them into office.
Pawlenty's +6 approval vis-Ã -vis vote mark rates the best, with Culver at -10 points and Doyle at -21 points below their 2006 vote percentages respectively.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Democrat Ellison's townhall - debate on healthcare
From the 2012 revolt at, which characterized 50-50 support for healthcare reform and said the meeting consisted of "Witnessed 1 hour and 15 minutes of Propoganda clearly designed to scare the citizens into supporting Health Care bill. No true debate, only propoganda and time for 'comments'."
and marcbourdeaux at http://www.youtube.com/user/marcbourdeaux:
and marcbourdeaux at http://www.youtube.com/user/marcbourdeaux:
Democrat Cong. Ellison raised 80% of funding outside of MN
Out-of-State Donations Flow to Many Members of Congress
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/08/outofstate-donations-flow-to-m.html
Center for Responsive Politics - Michael Beckel, Douglas Weber - 17 hours ago
Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, raised $189700, with 80 percent coming from out-of-state donors.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/08/outofstate-donations-flow-to-m.html
Center for Responsive Politics - Michael Beckel, Douglas Weber - 17 hours ago
Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, raised $189700, with 80 percent coming from out-of-state donors.
Rahn Emmanuel told to back off by Committee on Oversight & Govt. Reform
As reported by the DrudgeReport:
Press Release
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
http://republicans.oversight.house.gov
News Release
Issa to Emanuel: Back Off!
August 4, 2009
WASHINGTON. D.C. – Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying “While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.”
“I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the American people,” Issa wrote. “You’ve unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine.”
Last month, Politico reported that Emanuel had “launched a coordinated effort to jam” Senator Kyl and other Administration critics… “[A]fter seeing Kyl and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) again paint the legislation as a failure on Sunday talk shows, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”
Issa noted, “The fact that the letters were coordinated by you to maximize the level of intimidation is supported by the timing, structure, and content of each letter. Not only were the four letters all sent the day following Senator Kyl’s remarks, but they were also remarkably similar in tone and sentence structure.”
Letter from Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation:
On Sunday, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren’t presently underway. I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know [emphasis added].
Letter from Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior:
Some key Republican leaders in Congress have publicly questioned whether the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working and suggested cancelling all projects that are not currently in progress. I believe they are wrong. The stimulus funds provided through the Recovery Act are a very effective way to create job opportunities throughout the Country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to Arizona, please let me know [emphasis added].
“At what point do you believe your practice of Chicago-style politics violates a public official’s right to speak out in favor of alternative policies,” Issa asks. “The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Governor Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future.”
In order to assist the Committee with its investigation of this issue, please provide the following information by close of business on Tuesday, August 11, 2009:
1.Your response to Politico’s report that “White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”
2.A full and complete explanation of the development of the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer, including but not limited to the role you or any other White House official played in writing the letters or encouraging the writing of the letters.
3.All records and communications between you and Secretary LaHood, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Donovan, and Secretary Vilsack referring or relating to the decision to send the July 13 letters to Governor Brewer.
4.A full and complete explanation of the role of the Democratic National Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs in authoring, encouraging, facilitating, or directing the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer.
And here is the full letter http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/letters/20090804EmanuelStimulus.pdf
Press Release
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
http://republicans.oversight.house.gov
News Release
Issa to Emanuel: Back Off!
August 4, 2009
WASHINGTON. D.C. – Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying “While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.”
“I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the American people,” Issa wrote. “You’ve unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine.”
Last month, Politico reported that Emanuel had “launched a coordinated effort to jam” Senator Kyl and other Administration critics… “[A]fter seeing Kyl and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) again paint the legislation as a failure on Sunday talk shows, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”
Issa noted, “The fact that the letters were coordinated by you to maximize the level of intimidation is supported by the timing, structure, and content of each letter. Not only were the four letters all sent the day following Senator Kyl’s remarks, but they were also remarkably similar in tone and sentence structure.”
Letter from Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation:
On Sunday, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren’t presently underway. I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know [emphasis added].
Letter from Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior:
Some key Republican leaders in Congress have publicly questioned whether the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working and suggested cancelling all projects that are not currently in progress. I believe they are wrong. The stimulus funds provided through the Recovery Act are a very effective way to create job opportunities throughout the Country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to Arizona, please let me know [emphasis added].
“At what point do you believe your practice of Chicago-style politics violates a public official’s right to speak out in favor of alternative policies,” Issa asks. “The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Governor Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future.”
In order to assist the Committee with its investigation of this issue, please provide the following information by close of business on Tuesday, August 11, 2009:
1.Your response to Politico’s report that “White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”
2.A full and complete explanation of the development of the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer, including but not limited to the role you or any other White House official played in writing the letters or encouraging the writing of the letters.
3.All records and communications between you and Secretary LaHood, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Donovan, and Secretary Vilsack referring or relating to the decision to send the July 13 letters to Governor Brewer.
4.A full and complete explanation of the role of the Democratic National Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs in authoring, encouraging, facilitating, or directing the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer.
And here is the full letter http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/letters/20090804EmanuelStimulus.pdf
Obama joker poster - designer still unknown, deemed mean-spirited
By the Daily Mail at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1204213/Spoof-poster-Obamas-face-painted-The-Joker-branded-dangerous-mean-spirited.html#ixzz0NEHxzTOL
Spoof poster of Obama's face painted as The Joker branded 'dangerous and mean-spirited' By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 2:25 PM on 04th August 2009
A poster depicting Barack Obama as Batman villain The Joker has been called 'mean-spirited and dangerous' by the U.S. President's supporters.
The image, which has been adopted by Mr Obama's critics, shows him wearing the white face paint and smudged red lips of the character most recently played by the late actor Heath Ledger. Beneath the picture reads the word 'socialism'.
The right-wing editor of the American Thinker website, Thomas Lifson, wrote today: 'It is starting.
Inspiration: The poster mimics the make-up worn by late actor Heath Ledger in the latest Batman film
'Open mockery of of Barack Obama, as disillusionment sets in with the man, his policies, and the phony image of a race-healing, brilliant, scholarly middle-of-the-roader.'
But the President's supporters have condemned the image, calling it 'mean-spirited and dangerous.'
A spokesman from the Los Angeles urban policy unit said that depicting the president as demonic and a socialist 'goes beyond political spoofery.'
The image comes as the President faces criticism over his plans to create a $1trillion healthcare programme.
Republican chairman Michael Steele first used the word 'socialism' in relation to Mr Obama two weeks ago as he slammed the President's attempts to push Congress into passing the healthcare reforms.
GOP's future brightening
From the Washington Times at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/04/republicans-closing-gap-in-polls/?feat=home_top5_read&:
Republicans closing gap in polls
Showing gains in races for Congress, governor
By Donald Lambro (Contact)
August 4, 2009
Nine months after Republicans suffered their worst political defeat in decades, President Obama and the Democrats are slipping in the polls and the Republican Party is expected to make gubernatorial and congressional gains in the 2009-10 election cycle, according to pollsters and election analysts.
Six months into his presidency, Mr. Obama's approval ratings have fallen from the 70s to the low 50s or less and the Democrats' once-muscular lead in the polls also has shrunk. Republicans are leading in this year's two governorship races, in Virginia and New Jersey, and analysts say they likely will capture several more governor's mansions next year.
"It would be hard to envision a political landscape as tilted against Republicans as it was in 2006 and 2008. There is now a body of polling data to suggest that the generic congressional ballot has closed. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal, Democrats have a seven-point advantage, the smallest it's been since April of 2006," said Jennifer Duffy, senior elections analyst at the Cook Political Report.
"That is all good news for Republicans," Ms. Duffy said.
Even in the Senate, where campaign analysts say five open Republican seats give Democrats more to shoot at, Republican recruiting and missteps by Democrats are putting some unexpected seats into play.
• In Connecticut, five-term Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, weakened by charges that he received low-interest mortgage loans from a Countrywide executive, is running behind or is tied with two of his potential Republican challengers in the latest polls.
• In California, former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina was trailing three-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer by just 4 percentage points, according to a recent Rasmussen poll.
• In Illinois, Republican chances of filling Mr. Obama's former Senate seat improved significantly when state Attorney General Lisa Madigan turned down White House pleas to run. The Republican Party is fielding its strongest candidate, Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, who has crossover appeal to Democrats. The race is being called a tossup.
• In Pennsylvania, early surveys suggest voters may be cooling to Sen. Arlen Specter's party switch from the Republicans to the Democrats. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that he is in a dead heat with former Rep. Pat Toomey, the expected Republican nominee.
Pollsters say the shift in voter attitudes is fueled by rising unemployment that economists say will hit 10 percent before year's end, unhappiness with the administration's economic stimulus bill, growing concern over sharply higher federal spending, a mushrooming budget deficit expected to hit $1.8 trillion this year and a divisive debate over the trillion-dollar costs of government health care legislation pending in Congress.
"Democrats still have more opportunities than does the GOP, but the public's growing nervousness about the economy and the deficit could develop into a problem for Democratic candidates next year, particularly in open seats such as Missouri and Ohio," said the Rothenberg Political Report, which tracks election campaigns.
"But the tide may be shifting slightly away from the Democrats," veteran analyst Stuart Rothenberg reported last week.
The Rasmussen daily presidential tracking poll showed late last week "that 28 percent of the nation's voters now strongly approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent strongly disapprove, giving Mr. Obama a presidential approval index rating of minus 12. That's the lowest rating yet recorded by President Obama," the pollsters said.
There is also growing disapproval of the Democratic Congress, which has begun to erode the Democrats' political support in next year's elections.
The Gallup poll reported late last week: "If the elections were held today, 50 percent of U.S. registered voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district and 44 percent for the Republican candidate."
The Democrats' shrinking margin of support "suggests the 2010 election could be quite close if it were held today given low turnout in midterm elections and the usual Republican advantages in turnout," Gallup said.
"Thus, at this early stage, 2010 does not look like it is shaping up to be as strong a Democratic year as 2006 was, and that could make it difficult for the party to hold onto the gains it made in the 2006 midterm and 2008 presidential elections," the polling organization said.
Democrats outraised Republicans in House and Senate races last year, but the Republican Party, with some exceptions, appears to be doing better on the fundraising front this year as it stakes out bedrock conservative positions on spending and taxes.
The Republican National Committee beat the Democratic National Committee in fundraising by almost $7 million a month last year, but the money race is much tighter in this election cycle, Republican officials said.
The RNC, in a strong fundraising performance, reported that it had raised $8.9 million in June, with a total of $23.7 million in cash on hand, compared to $6.8 million for the DNC, which had $13 million in the bank.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it raised $30.8 million in the first two quarters, compared to $17.5 million at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, chaired by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, has improved fundraising significantly over its dismal record last year, raising more than $20.1 million in the first two quarters, virtually matching the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's $20.9 million for the same period.
Republicans closing gap in polls
Showing gains in races for Congress, governor
By Donald Lambro (Contact)
August 4, 2009
Nine months after Republicans suffered their worst political defeat in decades, President Obama and the Democrats are slipping in the polls and the Republican Party is expected to make gubernatorial and congressional gains in the 2009-10 election cycle, according to pollsters and election analysts.
Six months into his presidency, Mr. Obama's approval ratings have fallen from the 70s to the low 50s or less and the Democrats' once-muscular lead in the polls also has shrunk. Republicans are leading in this year's two governorship races, in Virginia and New Jersey, and analysts say they likely will capture several more governor's mansions next year.
"It would be hard to envision a political landscape as tilted against Republicans as it was in 2006 and 2008. There is now a body of polling data to suggest that the generic congressional ballot has closed. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal, Democrats have a seven-point advantage, the smallest it's been since April of 2006," said Jennifer Duffy, senior elections analyst at the Cook Political Report.
"That is all good news for Republicans," Ms. Duffy said.
Even in the Senate, where campaign analysts say five open Republican seats give Democrats more to shoot at, Republican recruiting and missteps by Democrats are putting some unexpected seats into play.
• In Connecticut, five-term Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, weakened by charges that he received low-interest mortgage loans from a Countrywide executive, is running behind or is tied with two of his potential Republican challengers in the latest polls.
• In California, former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina was trailing three-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer by just 4 percentage points, according to a recent Rasmussen poll.
• In Illinois, Republican chances of filling Mr. Obama's former Senate seat improved significantly when state Attorney General Lisa Madigan turned down White House pleas to run. The Republican Party is fielding its strongest candidate, Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, who has crossover appeal to Democrats. The race is being called a tossup.
• In Pennsylvania, early surveys suggest voters may be cooling to Sen. Arlen Specter's party switch from the Republicans to the Democrats. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that he is in a dead heat with former Rep. Pat Toomey, the expected Republican nominee.
Pollsters say the shift in voter attitudes is fueled by rising unemployment that economists say will hit 10 percent before year's end, unhappiness with the administration's economic stimulus bill, growing concern over sharply higher federal spending, a mushrooming budget deficit expected to hit $1.8 trillion this year and a divisive debate over the trillion-dollar costs of government health care legislation pending in Congress.
"Democrats still have more opportunities than does the GOP, but the public's growing nervousness about the economy and the deficit could develop into a problem for Democratic candidates next year, particularly in open seats such as Missouri and Ohio," said the Rothenberg Political Report, which tracks election campaigns.
"But the tide may be shifting slightly away from the Democrats," veteran analyst Stuart Rothenberg reported last week.
The Rasmussen daily presidential tracking poll showed late last week "that 28 percent of the nation's voters now strongly approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent strongly disapprove, giving Mr. Obama a presidential approval index rating of minus 12. That's the lowest rating yet recorded by President Obama," the pollsters said.
There is also growing disapproval of the Democratic Congress, which has begun to erode the Democrats' political support in next year's elections.
The Gallup poll reported late last week: "If the elections were held today, 50 percent of U.S. registered voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district and 44 percent for the Republican candidate."
The Democrats' shrinking margin of support "suggests the 2010 election could be quite close if it were held today given low turnout in midterm elections and the usual Republican advantages in turnout," Gallup said.
"Thus, at this early stage, 2010 does not look like it is shaping up to be as strong a Democratic year as 2006 was, and that could make it difficult for the party to hold onto the gains it made in the 2006 midterm and 2008 presidential elections," the polling organization said.
Democrats outraised Republicans in House and Senate races last year, but the Republican Party, with some exceptions, appears to be doing better on the fundraising front this year as it stakes out bedrock conservative positions on spending and taxes.
The Republican National Committee beat the Democratic National Committee in fundraising by almost $7 million a month last year, but the money race is much tighter in this election cycle, Republican officials said.
The RNC, in a strong fundraising performance, reported that it had raised $8.9 million in June, with a total of $23.7 million in cash on hand, compared to $6.8 million for the DNC, which had $13 million in the bank.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it raised $30.8 million in the first two quarters, compared to $17.5 million at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, chaired by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, has improved fundraising significantly over its dismal record last year, raising more than $20.1 million in the first two quarters, virtually matching the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's $20.9 million for the same period.
Emmer calls for reform to smaller government
From the Bemidji Pioneer at http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/25944/:
Emmer seeks slimmer, smaller state government
Most Republicans talk about cutting state spending, but Rep. Tom Emmer wants structural reform that leads to smaller government.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
Most Republicans talk about cutting state spending, but Rep. Tom Emmer wants structural reform that leads to smaller government.
“When you talk about downsizing, you mean shrinking the size of government, but you also mean lowering your prices so you can get people working again,” says Emmer, R-Delano, a candidate for governor in 2010.
Emmer was interviewed Sunday in Bemidji, where he also stopped at the Beltrami County Fair to talk politics and issues with Beltrami County Republican Chairman Ken Cobb, who was dismantling the party’s fair booth.
He says Colorado and Minnesota have about the same population, and the Denver metro area is comparable to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Minnesota spends between $60 billion and $70 billion every two years, considering all intergovernmental transactions and dedicated funds,
Colorado is “delivering government for a third less — they spend $40 billion to $50 billion,” Emmer said. “There’s something wrong, and it’s time to look at the actual structure. It’s got to be reduced, and it’s going to require some significant negotiations and concessions by government employees, it will require some serious rethinking about how government functions.”
For instance, Minnesota has both a Department of Health and a Department of Health and a Department of Human Services, a Department of Human Rights and an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources plus Department of Agriculture, he said.
“We’ve just layered over and over and over,” said Emmer, a civil attorney who represents insurance companies and self-insured utilities.
Emmer, in his third term, was an early rising star, named deputy minority leader in the House. He quit that post, however, when he decided his caucus was spending too much time on politics and too little on party principles.
“My party, which I still abide by, has done a very poor job not only of walking their principles — walking the talk — but then they get in there and don’t do it. … I believe the reason Republicans continue to lose elections is not because they became single-issue oriented, it’s because they became more like the other party.”
The party needs an “outsider,” Emmer says, someone who isn’t a career politician. He fits that role, he said, because he comes from civic service, serving on two city councils, and not as a GOP activist.
“We need to go back to being a principled party,” he says. “The core of the Republican Party is supposed to be smaller government or limited government, personal responsibility, self-discipline, it’s about being able to achieve your best but not expecting the government to do it for you.”
He’s a conservative, and he’s convinced Minnesotans will elect a conservative as governor, despite the backlash given GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s move to unilaterally cut $3 billion from current biennium spending.
“I’ll guarantee you that the guys who skate up on the Iron Range are a lot more like me than they are some liberal from Minneapolis or St. Paul,” says Emmer, who played NCAA Division I hockey at Boston College, the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and in the U.S. Hockey League.
“When it comes to our values as a party, I believe we stand for what 80 percent of the people in this state stand for,” he said. “In the end , whether we call ourselves Republicans or Democrats, we all want the same thing — strong communities, good schools, opportunity for your children for the future. We just have different perspectives on how to get there.”
Minnesota, by most accounts, faces an even stiffer budget shortfall in the next biennium of $7.2 billion, if inflation is included. Emmer disputes that taxes need to be raised, that savings can come from restructuring what government does and how.
“The answer is not to raise taxes,” he said. “I’ve never signed a no-new-taxes pledge in my life. If you could prove to me that this would be the answer, I’m always willing to listen — it’s not the answer.”
But he would do things differently than Pawlenty, who surprised the Legislature with his 11th hour announcement that he would not call a special session and would use unallotment to cut spending.
He would seek legislation to allow the governor to call a financial emergency at times when a deficit is projected, and give the Legislature 45 days to find a solution before then using his unallotment authority.
This year, Emmer said he would have called such an emergency in January, avoiding the last-minute bickering.
He also seek legislation to follow the intent of the Minnesota Constitution that bills concern single issues. “I will not sign any omnibus bills,” Emmer said of the huge policy bills at the end of the session that contain multiple subjects.
For instance, Emmer said he opposed measures to change the Green Acres law that affects undeveloped land but they were included in a veterans omnibus bill, making it hard o vote against a bill for veterans.
As governor, he would take his direction from the public — laying out his agenda during the campaign and then acting on it as governor. “I am consistent,” he says of his positions, adding he doesn’t just cast votes to ensure re-election.
Between November and January, he’d hold town meetings to present his agenda and roll it out to lawmakers in January. And if something his supports is voted down, he’ll return to the public. “I’ll be back, and I’ll start in the town of every one of those legislators that killed it,” he said.
Emmer said he’d also like to make Minnesota a test case with three other states or anti-gun control measures, citing the U.S. Constitution’s 10th amendment that the states retain authority over all that isn’t cited in the Constitution as being a federal role.
“I believe we have an administration right now in Washington that is very anti-Second Amendment, and I am convinced they will slowly try to take more of those rights away, impact those rights, restrict those rights,” Emmer said.
The Firearms Freedom Act says “if you manufacture ammunition in this state, if you manufacture firearms in this state, if you sell them to Minnesota residents and they are possessed by Minnesota residents, we are not subject to federal registration requirements,” Emmer said.
Emmer seeks slimmer, smaller state government
Most Republicans talk about cutting state spending, but Rep. Tom Emmer wants structural reform that leads to smaller government.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
Most Republicans talk about cutting state spending, but Rep. Tom Emmer wants structural reform that leads to smaller government.
“When you talk about downsizing, you mean shrinking the size of government, but you also mean lowering your prices so you can get people working again,” says Emmer, R-Delano, a candidate for governor in 2010.
Emmer was interviewed Sunday in Bemidji, where he also stopped at the Beltrami County Fair to talk politics and issues with Beltrami County Republican Chairman Ken Cobb, who was dismantling the party’s fair booth.
He says Colorado and Minnesota have about the same population, and the Denver metro area is comparable to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Minnesota spends between $60 billion and $70 billion every two years, considering all intergovernmental transactions and dedicated funds,
Colorado is “delivering government for a third less — they spend $40 billion to $50 billion,” Emmer said. “There’s something wrong, and it’s time to look at the actual structure. It’s got to be reduced, and it’s going to require some significant negotiations and concessions by government employees, it will require some serious rethinking about how government functions.”
For instance, Minnesota has both a Department of Health and a Department of Health and a Department of Human Services, a Department of Human Rights and an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources plus Department of Agriculture, he said.
“We’ve just layered over and over and over,” said Emmer, a civil attorney who represents insurance companies and self-insured utilities.
Emmer, in his third term, was an early rising star, named deputy minority leader in the House. He quit that post, however, when he decided his caucus was spending too much time on politics and too little on party principles.
“My party, which I still abide by, has done a very poor job not only of walking their principles — walking the talk — but then they get in there and don’t do it. … I believe the reason Republicans continue to lose elections is not because they became single-issue oriented, it’s because they became more like the other party.”
The party needs an “outsider,” Emmer says, someone who isn’t a career politician. He fits that role, he said, because he comes from civic service, serving on two city councils, and not as a GOP activist.
“We need to go back to being a principled party,” he says. “The core of the Republican Party is supposed to be smaller government or limited government, personal responsibility, self-discipline, it’s about being able to achieve your best but not expecting the government to do it for you.”
He’s a conservative, and he’s convinced Minnesotans will elect a conservative as governor, despite the backlash given GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s move to unilaterally cut $3 billion from current biennium spending.
“I’ll guarantee you that the guys who skate up on the Iron Range are a lot more like me than they are some liberal from Minneapolis or St. Paul,” says Emmer, who played NCAA Division I hockey at Boston College, the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and in the U.S. Hockey League.
“When it comes to our values as a party, I believe we stand for what 80 percent of the people in this state stand for,” he said. “In the end , whether we call ourselves Republicans or Democrats, we all want the same thing — strong communities, good schools, opportunity for your children for the future. We just have different perspectives on how to get there.”
Minnesota, by most accounts, faces an even stiffer budget shortfall in the next biennium of $7.2 billion, if inflation is included. Emmer disputes that taxes need to be raised, that savings can come from restructuring what government does and how.
“The answer is not to raise taxes,” he said. “I’ve never signed a no-new-taxes pledge in my life. If you could prove to me that this would be the answer, I’m always willing to listen — it’s not the answer.”
But he would do things differently than Pawlenty, who surprised the Legislature with his 11th hour announcement that he would not call a special session and would use unallotment to cut spending.
He would seek legislation to allow the governor to call a financial emergency at times when a deficit is projected, and give the Legislature 45 days to find a solution before then using his unallotment authority.
This year, Emmer said he would have called such an emergency in January, avoiding the last-minute bickering.
He also seek legislation to follow the intent of the Minnesota Constitution that bills concern single issues. “I will not sign any omnibus bills,” Emmer said of the huge policy bills at the end of the session that contain multiple subjects.
For instance, Emmer said he opposed measures to change the Green Acres law that affects undeveloped land but they were included in a veterans omnibus bill, making it hard o vote against a bill for veterans.
As governor, he would take his direction from the public — laying out his agenda during the campaign and then acting on it as governor. “I am consistent,” he says of his positions, adding he doesn’t just cast votes to ensure re-election.
Between November and January, he’d hold town meetings to present his agenda and roll it out to lawmakers in January. And if something his supports is voted down, he’ll return to the public. “I’ll be back, and I’ll start in the town of every one of those legislators that killed it,” he said.
Emmer said he’d also like to make Minnesota a test case with three other states or anti-gun control measures, citing the U.S. Constitution’s 10th amendment that the states retain authority over all that isn’t cited in the Constitution as being a federal role.
“I believe we have an administration right now in Washington that is very anti-Second Amendment, and I am convinced they will slowly try to take more of those rights away, impact those rights, restrict those rights,” Emmer said.
The Firearms Freedom Act says “if you manufacture ammunition in this state, if you manufacture firearms in this state, if you sell them to Minnesota residents and they are possessed by Minnesota residents, we are not subject to federal registration requirements,” Emmer said.
Pawlenty/Doyle sharing plan panned
From the Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-minnesconsin,0,5876574.story:
Effort to share Wis., Minn. resources hits snags
By SCOTT BAUER and MARTIGA LOHN Associated Press Writers
12:00 AM CDT, August 3, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - As it turns out, mating gophers and badgers isn't so easy. Just ask the bureaucrats in Wisconsin and Minnesota, who are trying to find efficiencies and save money on everything from sharing amusement ride inspectors to buying ammunition and tires.
Four months after Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty released a plan outlining areas where the border states could work together, many of the ideas have been scrapped as unworkable, delayed or are still being worked out.
The governors originally put the savings at $10 million apiece, but Doyle's office estimated Wisconsin's savings to date at just $74,313, mainly from getting a better price on software from a Minnesota contract and piggybacking on a Minnesota transportation study. Pawlenty's office refused to offer a comparable estimate, but of 17 Minnesota agencies surveyed by the AP, only the Revenue Department quantified a benefit from the collaboration: $2,565.88 in outstanding debt collected from Wisconsin tax refunds. Most others said they anticipated savings but couldn't say how much.
Tax collectors in both states also reached across the border to garnish nearly $200,000 from debtors' tax refunds in other states, with most of that going to Wisconsin.
"So far I don't think there's been anything that regular people at the grocery store would be interested in," said Wisconsin state Rep. Kitty Rhoades, a Republican who lives in Hudson just across the border from Minnesota.
The collaboration idea was hatched by Pawlenty in January as both states were dealing with massive budget shortfalls. It was quickly dubbed "Minnesconsin," and Pawlenty joked that the state's mascots -- the gopher and badger -- would lie down together.
The Associated Press requested updates from the state agencies and governors' offices in both states detailing the status of projects and how much money had been saved to date. That survey the states have agreed to join together in a number of ways.
Wisconsin joined Minnesota contracts for package delivery, software and institutional food. Minnesota joined Wisconsin's fleet fuel card program. They're working together to fight pests including the emerald ash borer. Explore Minnesota Tourism will air radio spots highlighting both sides of the border next month. The neighbors will have adjoining booths at a biotechnology show in Chicago in May.
Not everything was as simple.
Take a plan to swap young walleye of different sizes to stock lakes. Minnesota has extra fingerlings, while Wisconsin has the infrastructure that Minnesota doesn't to produce frylings, which are a bit smaller. Natural resources staff for both states got into some of the hurdles when they sat down together in July.
To move fish across the state border, they need an array of tests and documentation for health reasons. Those include certification that the walleye don't have a deadly virus called viral hemorrhagic septicemia; genetic testing before the populations can be mixed; annual tests of the water and even the ovarian fluids from spawning runs; and more paperwork for out-of-state trips to move the fish.
While the states still aim to start trading fish next year, they've given up on other ideas.
Wisconsin forecasters won't predict the air quality for Twin Cities residents, because Minnesota wasn't willing to give up extra detail about the air quality index included in its daily forecasts. The information is followed closely by people with respiratory conditions. Instead, Minnesota renewed a consulting contract. That meant as much as $30,000 in savings went by the boards.
"We'd lose too much. We'd take a step back," said Rick Strassman, supervisor of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's air monitoring unit.
Amusement ride inspections will continue on separate tracks.
The thought was inspections of rides in eastern Minnesota wouldn't have to be repeated when the same rides cross to fairs in western Wisconsin. But Wisconsin inspects more parts of the ride than Minnesota does, so the inspection in Wisconsin would still have to be done, said Zach Brandon, executive secretary of Wisconsin's Commerce Department.
"What we were looking for were areas where we were duplicating effort," Brandon said. "But because we inspect different things, there would be no savings for Wisconsin."
Spokesmen for both governors said the collaboration is just getting started.
"Every taxpayer dollar counts," said Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner. "The savings so far are real and they are just the beginning to more savings and better services for Wisconsin and Minnesota."
"This is a long-term project that will change, fundamentally, the way the two states work together," said Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung.
Minnesota state Sen. Linda Berglin said collaboration is easier said than done. In the massive Minnesota Human Services Department she oversees as head of a Senate budget panel, it's tough enough getting the state to work with the Minnesota counties that administer health and welfare programs -- let alone cooperating with Wisconsin.
While there are many similarities between the states in both culture and history, there are also many bureaucratic obstacles, said Todd Berry, president of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
"The hurdle is implementation," Berry said. "It's about turf."
------
On the Net:
Wisconsin Minnesota Collaboration Report:
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid16272
And the AP at http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_12980377?source=rss&nclick_check=1:
Minnesota-Wisconsin sharing plans are off to a slow start ...
By By Scott Bauer and Martiga Lohn Associated Press
Tim Pawlenty released a plan outlining areas where the border states could work together, many of the ideas have been delayed or scrapped as unworkable or are still being worked out. The governors originally put the savings at $10 ...
And the Winona Post at http://www.winonapost.com/stock/functions/VDG_Pub/detail.php?choice=32032&home_page=1&archives=:
Minnesota wants its money from Wisconsin
(08/02/2009) By Sarah Elmquist
About 3,000 people travel over the bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin in Winona every day to commute to work, crossing state lines to bring home a paycheck.
But those paychecks may begin to change soon if demands made by Gov. Tim Pawlenty aren’t met by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Pawlenty has asked that Wisconsin reimburse Minnesota quickly for income taxes collected from Wisconsin residents who work in Minnesota. And if Wisconsin can’t come up with the cash, workers who cross the river may end up having to file taxes in both states.
Since the mid-1960s, Minnesota and Wisconsin have used a reciprocity agreement for workers who cross state lines. Wisconsin collects payroll taxes for its own citizens when they cross into Minnesota, vice versa for Minnesotans crossing to work in Wisconsin.
Since there are more workers who leave Wisconsin to work on Minnesota shores, at the end of the year, Wisconsin typically owes Minnesota about $100 million. And the check comes, but not soon enough for Gov. Pawlenty.
In an effort to help draw down Minnesota’s deficit, Pawlenty sent a letter to Doyle asking that Wisconsin pay up faster — at least during the same fiscal year for the owed taxes, instead of the typical 16 months it takes for the reimbursement.
With Wisconsin’s own deficit pushing $5 billion, it’s uncertain whether Doyle will agree to fork over the $100 million in a timeframe that will satisfy Pawlenty’s request.
And so far, it seems that nothing has been worked out between the two. If an agreement isn’t reached, Pawlenty has said he’ll renege on the reciprocity agreement, which would change the payroll tax for thousands of commuters and require workers who cross state lines to file their income taxes in both states.
“We have told Wisconsin that if a deal is not reached, Minnesota will terminate the agreement, which we are fully entitled to do,” said Gov. Pawlenty’s Press Secretary Alex Carey. “Currently, we continue to negotiate, but are expecting this money from Wisconsin one way or another.”
Carey did say that with free e-filing in Minnesota, filing taxes in both states shouldn’t be too much of a hardship. And for Minnesota businesses, Carey said the move would make tax withholdings easier...
Effort to share Wis., Minn. resources hits snags
By SCOTT BAUER and MARTIGA LOHN Associated Press Writers
12:00 AM CDT, August 3, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - As it turns out, mating gophers and badgers isn't so easy. Just ask the bureaucrats in Wisconsin and Minnesota, who are trying to find efficiencies and save money on everything from sharing amusement ride inspectors to buying ammunition and tires.
Four months after Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty released a plan outlining areas where the border states could work together, many of the ideas have been scrapped as unworkable, delayed or are still being worked out.
The governors originally put the savings at $10 million apiece, but Doyle's office estimated Wisconsin's savings to date at just $74,313, mainly from getting a better price on software from a Minnesota contract and piggybacking on a Minnesota transportation study. Pawlenty's office refused to offer a comparable estimate, but of 17 Minnesota agencies surveyed by the AP, only the Revenue Department quantified a benefit from the collaboration: $2,565.88 in outstanding debt collected from Wisconsin tax refunds. Most others said they anticipated savings but couldn't say how much.
Tax collectors in both states also reached across the border to garnish nearly $200,000 from debtors' tax refunds in other states, with most of that going to Wisconsin.
"So far I don't think there's been anything that regular people at the grocery store would be interested in," said Wisconsin state Rep. Kitty Rhoades, a Republican who lives in Hudson just across the border from Minnesota.
The collaboration idea was hatched by Pawlenty in January as both states were dealing with massive budget shortfalls. It was quickly dubbed "Minnesconsin," and Pawlenty joked that the state's mascots -- the gopher and badger -- would lie down together.
The Associated Press requested updates from the state agencies and governors' offices in both states detailing the status of projects and how much money had been saved to date. That survey the states have agreed to join together in a number of ways.
Wisconsin joined Minnesota contracts for package delivery, software and institutional food. Minnesota joined Wisconsin's fleet fuel card program. They're working together to fight pests including the emerald ash borer. Explore Minnesota Tourism will air radio spots highlighting both sides of the border next month. The neighbors will have adjoining booths at a biotechnology show in Chicago in May.
Not everything was as simple.
Take a plan to swap young walleye of different sizes to stock lakes. Minnesota has extra fingerlings, while Wisconsin has the infrastructure that Minnesota doesn't to produce frylings, which are a bit smaller. Natural resources staff for both states got into some of the hurdles when they sat down together in July.
To move fish across the state border, they need an array of tests and documentation for health reasons. Those include certification that the walleye don't have a deadly virus called viral hemorrhagic septicemia; genetic testing before the populations can be mixed; annual tests of the water and even the ovarian fluids from spawning runs; and more paperwork for out-of-state trips to move the fish.
While the states still aim to start trading fish next year, they've given up on other ideas.
Wisconsin forecasters won't predict the air quality for Twin Cities residents, because Minnesota wasn't willing to give up extra detail about the air quality index included in its daily forecasts. The information is followed closely by people with respiratory conditions. Instead, Minnesota renewed a consulting contract. That meant as much as $30,000 in savings went by the boards.
"We'd lose too much. We'd take a step back," said Rick Strassman, supervisor of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's air monitoring unit.
Amusement ride inspections will continue on separate tracks.
The thought was inspections of rides in eastern Minnesota wouldn't have to be repeated when the same rides cross to fairs in western Wisconsin. But Wisconsin inspects more parts of the ride than Minnesota does, so the inspection in Wisconsin would still have to be done, said Zach Brandon, executive secretary of Wisconsin's Commerce Department.
"What we were looking for were areas where we were duplicating effort," Brandon said. "But because we inspect different things, there would be no savings for Wisconsin."
Spokesmen for both governors said the collaboration is just getting started.
"Every taxpayer dollar counts," said Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner. "The savings so far are real and they are just the beginning to more savings and better services for Wisconsin and Minnesota."
"This is a long-term project that will change, fundamentally, the way the two states work together," said Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung.
Minnesota state Sen. Linda Berglin said collaboration is easier said than done. In the massive Minnesota Human Services Department she oversees as head of a Senate budget panel, it's tough enough getting the state to work with the Minnesota counties that administer health and welfare programs -- let alone cooperating with Wisconsin.
While there are many similarities between the states in both culture and history, there are also many bureaucratic obstacles, said Todd Berry, president of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
"The hurdle is implementation," Berry said. "It's about turf."
------
On the Net:
Wisconsin Minnesota Collaboration Report:
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid16272
And the AP at http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_12980377?source=rss&nclick_check=1:
Minnesota-Wisconsin sharing plans are off to a slow start ...
By By Scott Bauer and Martiga Lohn Associated Press
Tim Pawlenty released a plan outlining areas where the border states could work together, many of the ideas have been delayed or scrapped as unworkable or are still being worked out. The governors originally put the savings at $10 ...
And the Winona Post at http://www.winonapost.com/stock/functions/VDG_Pub/detail.php?choice=32032&home_page=1&archives=:
Minnesota wants its money from Wisconsin
(08/02/2009) By Sarah Elmquist
About 3,000 people travel over the bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin in Winona every day to commute to work, crossing state lines to bring home a paycheck.
But those paychecks may begin to change soon if demands made by Gov. Tim Pawlenty aren’t met by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Pawlenty has asked that Wisconsin reimburse Minnesota quickly for income taxes collected from Wisconsin residents who work in Minnesota. And if Wisconsin can’t come up with the cash, workers who cross the river may end up having to file taxes in both states.
Since the mid-1960s, Minnesota and Wisconsin have used a reciprocity agreement for workers who cross state lines. Wisconsin collects payroll taxes for its own citizens when they cross into Minnesota, vice versa for Minnesotans crossing to work in Wisconsin.
Since there are more workers who leave Wisconsin to work on Minnesota shores, at the end of the year, Wisconsin typically owes Minnesota about $100 million. And the check comes, but not soon enough for Gov. Pawlenty.
In an effort to help draw down Minnesota’s deficit, Pawlenty sent a letter to Doyle asking that Wisconsin pay up faster — at least during the same fiscal year for the owed taxes, instead of the typical 16 months it takes for the reimbursement.
With Wisconsin’s own deficit pushing $5 billion, it’s uncertain whether Doyle will agree to fork over the $100 million in a timeframe that will satisfy Pawlenty’s request.
And so far, it seems that nothing has been worked out between the two. If an agreement isn’t reached, Pawlenty has said he’ll renege on the reciprocity agreement, which would change the payroll tax for thousands of commuters and require workers who cross state lines to file their income taxes in both states.
“We have told Wisconsin that if a deal is not reached, Minnesota will terminate the agreement, which we are fully entitled to do,” said Gov. Pawlenty’s Press Secretary Alex Carey. “Currently, we continue to negotiate, but are expecting this money from Wisconsin one way or another.”
Carey did say that with free e-filing in Minnesota, filing taxes in both states shouldn’t be too much of a hardship. And for Minnesota businesses, Carey said the move would make tax withholdings easier...
Monday, August 03, 2009
Steve Driehaus Health Care Forum, public is opposed
A couple of many clips from SidUllrich:
August 3rd, 2009. The Woman's City Club, the Cincinnati Woman's Political Caucus and the Cincinnati Chapter of Now co-sponsored a Forum regarding Health Care Reform, with Rep. Steven Driehaus.
August 3rd, 2009. The Woman's City Club, the Cincinnati Woman's Political Caucus and the Cincinnati Chapter of Now co-sponsored a Forum regarding Health Care Reform, with Rep. Steven Driehaus.
Anderson to shrink government
From Politics in Minnesota:
What makes them run: Anderson says quick-fix era is over; time to shrink government
Posted 12:12 pm, August 3rd, 2009 by Steve Perry
Pat Anderson/vitals
Born: 1966; Education: B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Hamline University (public administration); Occupation: Entrepreneur, president of Minnesota Free Market Institute; Electoral history: Eagan City Council, 1991-98; Mayor of Eagan, 1999-2002; state auditor, 2003-2007; campaign website.
Pat Anderson/vitals
Born: 1966; Education: B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Hamline University (public administration); Occupation: Entrepreneur, president of Minnesota Free Market Institute; Electoral history: Eagan City Council, 1991-98; Mayor of Eagan, 1999-2002; state auditor, 2003-2007; campaign website.
PIM: Why are you running for governor?
Pat Anderson: It's been pretty clear that we've had gridlock up at the Capitol for years. It's been kind of a debate between no new taxes versus more taxes and expansion of government. I think members of both parties are so focused on the political battle that neither party is making proposals addressing reform. So we need to move beyond that debate and talk about what government should and shouldn't do and who should be doing it.
I think Minnesota needs a leader who gets this, who can articulate it, who can lead us toward change.
PIM: What are the two or three most important challenges facing Minnesota right now, and what would you do to solve them?
Anderson: The next governor is going to be faced with a $6-$7 billion structural deficit. It's a problem we can no longer solve through temporary accounting shifts and unallotments. So it gives us the opportunity to finally force badly needed reform. I think we need to overhaul our current tax system and create one that encourages job growth and transparency and a broader, flatter system. There's a lot of good things in the 21st Century Task Force report that came out in the spring, and we should look at implementing some of those things.
I also think we need to get off the global warming bandwagon, and we need to set policy and face some facts with the goal to secure a clean, affordable energy future. Probably all the candidates are talking about the need to finally overhaul the K-12 education system. I believe in bringing some competition to education, and that the money should follow the student rather than go to fund the system.
PIM: How many campaign events have you attended so far?
Anderson: I've been in the race for about six weeks, and it's been at least 10 a week [laughs]. So I'd say at least 60. There are events--at least one or two actual campaign events every single day.
PIM: What are the main messages you're hearing from Minnesotans as you campaign around the state?
Anderson: It's about jobs and freedom and reform. We have to have policy to focus on growing jobs in Minnesota, and that doesn't mean growing government jobs. I don't believe that government creates jobs, but it certainly can kill them. What it means is we need to create an environment conducive to job growth here in Minnesota. We have to recognize that we're competing globally.
I think people are also very worried about the huge growth of government in their lives. We have a law for every perceived problem. We dictate to our schools what must be taught and how things are funded. We've eliminated people's freedom. We're moving away from the values that made our country so great.
PIM: If you don't receive your party's endorsement, will you run in the primary?
Anderson: No.
PIM: Who, or what, would you say are the most important influences on your life and outlook?
Anderson: My parents. I come from a very interesting, active family. Both my parents are very independent and hard-working. I'm the oldest of five kids. We were latchkey kids, and I had sort of the responsibility for the others.
My family lived for the outdoors, and we were really pushed to be independent, responsible risk-takers. We learned how to shoot and fish and carry a canoe at real young ages. There wasn't any whining allowed in our family.
My father was also a really avid political debater, and we'd talk about economics and politics all the time. It all boiled down to logic. My dad is a lifelong member of the Libertarian Party.
PIM: What's the first thing you can remember wanting to be when you grew up?
Anderson: I thought about this question [laughs]. Probably a dogsled musher. It's kind of an odd answer. But my parents had a few Malamutes when we were young, and used to raise them. But after a few winter camping trips in the Boundary Waters, I quickly dropped that idea.
My younger brother did follow that career path, though. He's a full-blown professional dogmusher living in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his family and about 100 sled dogs.
But I prefer to camp in the summer, not the winter...
What makes them run: Anderson says quick-fix era is over; time to shrink government
Posted 12:12 pm, August 3rd, 2009 by Steve Perry
Pat Anderson/vitals
Born: 1966; Education: B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Hamline University (public administration); Occupation: Entrepreneur, president of Minnesota Free Market Institute; Electoral history: Eagan City Council, 1991-98; Mayor of Eagan, 1999-2002; state auditor, 2003-2007; campaign website.
Pat Anderson/vitals
Born: 1966; Education: B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Hamline University (public administration); Occupation: Entrepreneur, president of Minnesota Free Market Institute; Electoral history: Eagan City Council, 1991-98; Mayor of Eagan, 1999-2002; state auditor, 2003-2007; campaign website.
PIM: Why are you running for governor?
Pat Anderson: It's been pretty clear that we've had gridlock up at the Capitol for years. It's been kind of a debate between no new taxes versus more taxes and expansion of government. I think members of both parties are so focused on the political battle that neither party is making proposals addressing reform. So we need to move beyond that debate and talk about what government should and shouldn't do and who should be doing it.
I think Minnesota needs a leader who gets this, who can articulate it, who can lead us toward change.
PIM: What are the two or three most important challenges facing Minnesota right now, and what would you do to solve them?
Anderson: The next governor is going to be faced with a $6-$7 billion structural deficit. It's a problem we can no longer solve through temporary accounting shifts and unallotments. So it gives us the opportunity to finally force badly needed reform. I think we need to overhaul our current tax system and create one that encourages job growth and transparency and a broader, flatter system. There's a lot of good things in the 21st Century Task Force report that came out in the spring, and we should look at implementing some of those things.
I also think we need to get off the global warming bandwagon, and we need to set policy and face some facts with the goal to secure a clean, affordable energy future. Probably all the candidates are talking about the need to finally overhaul the K-12 education system. I believe in bringing some competition to education, and that the money should follow the student rather than go to fund the system.
PIM: How many campaign events have you attended so far?
Anderson: I've been in the race for about six weeks, and it's been at least 10 a week [laughs]. So I'd say at least 60. There are events--at least one or two actual campaign events every single day.
PIM: What are the main messages you're hearing from Minnesotans as you campaign around the state?
Anderson: It's about jobs and freedom and reform. We have to have policy to focus on growing jobs in Minnesota, and that doesn't mean growing government jobs. I don't believe that government creates jobs, but it certainly can kill them. What it means is we need to create an environment conducive to job growth here in Minnesota. We have to recognize that we're competing globally.
I think people are also very worried about the huge growth of government in their lives. We have a law for every perceived problem. We dictate to our schools what must be taught and how things are funded. We've eliminated people's freedom. We're moving away from the values that made our country so great.
PIM: If you don't receive your party's endorsement, will you run in the primary?
Anderson: No.
PIM: Who, or what, would you say are the most important influences on your life and outlook?
Anderson: My parents. I come from a very interesting, active family. Both my parents are very independent and hard-working. I'm the oldest of five kids. We were latchkey kids, and I had sort of the responsibility for the others.
My family lived for the outdoors, and we were really pushed to be independent, responsible risk-takers. We learned how to shoot and fish and carry a canoe at real young ages. There wasn't any whining allowed in our family.
My father was also a really avid political debater, and we'd talk about economics and politics all the time. It all boiled down to logic. My dad is a lifelong member of the Libertarian Party.
PIM: What's the first thing you can remember wanting to be when you grew up?
Anderson: I thought about this question [laughs]. Probably a dogsled musher. It's kind of an odd answer. But my parents had a few Malamutes when we were young, and used to raise them. But after a few winter camping trips in the Boundary Waters, I quickly dropped that idea.
My younger brother did follow that career path, though. He's a full-blown professional dogmusher living in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his family and about 100 sled dogs.
But I prefer to camp in the summer, not the winter...
Kohls Criticizes Government-run Health Care
In a statement released Monday, Minnesota State Representative Paul Kohls (R, Victoria) criticized the efforts of Congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration to pass their version of health care reform. Kohls called it, "nothing more than an effort to lead America toward a system of government-run health care that will undoubtedly lead to a rationing of health care."
Kohls, a Republican candidate for Governor, also expressed concern over the cost of the reforms being proposed by the Democrats in Washington. With some projecting its cost at $4 trillion in its first ten years, the proposed 'ObamaCare' program shows the administration's continued disregard for the expanding national debt that has ballooned in size since President Obama first took office six months ago.
Kohls commented that the failure of the Congress to pass the legislation prior to its August recess provides Minnesotans with an opportunity to act.
"Minnesotans do not want government-run health care, and I hope they will let our Congressional delegation know that Washington bureaucrats should not be making decisions about whether they'll get treated and what type of treatment they will receive, " said Kohls.
Emphasizing a more viable alternative to the Congressional Democrats' plan, Kohls stressed the relative success of health care strategies that give the consumer choice and control over their health care.
Kohls, a Republican candidate for Governor, also expressed concern over the cost of the reforms being proposed by the Democrats in Washington. With some projecting its cost at $4 trillion in its first ten years, the proposed 'ObamaCare' program shows the administration's continued disregard for the expanding national debt that has ballooned in size since President Obama first took office six months ago.
Kohls commented that the failure of the Congress to pass the legislation prior to its August recess provides Minnesotans with an opportunity to act.
"Minnesotans do not want government-run health care, and I hope they will let our Congressional delegation know that Washington bureaucrats should not be making decisions about whether they'll get treated and what type of treatment they will receive, " said Kohls.
Emphasizing a more viable alternative to the Congressional Democrats' plan, Kohls stressed the relative success of health care strategies that give the consumer choice and control over their health care.
The public has a chance to be heard on Obama care
From Lake Minnetonka Liberty at http://lmliberty.wordpress.com/:
A Healthcare Reform townhall gone wild starring Arlen Specter and Kathleen Sebelius:
A Healthcare Reform townhall gone wild starring Arlen Specter and Kathleen Sebelius:
and from Teaink Texas http://www.youtube.com/user/TeaInkTexas:
LLOYD DOGGETT IS GIVEN HIS PINK SLIP AND CHASED OUTTA DODGE [AUSTIN] Townhall/Patio meeting, held 08-01-09
and DUMPDOGGET at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8UjY3YDlwA:
READ THE BILL: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-b... =========== Rep Doggett met with constituents outside a grocery store in south Austin regarding the health care bill.
From Myparmania at http://www.youtube.com/user/Mymoparmania:
Congressman Tim Bishop, D NY, at his Townhall Meeting
and SAVE AMERICA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOLs7Cybnqw:
Constituents protest before his arrival and speak out in frustration at the meeting. Outdoor protesters from csa-1776.org and Suffolk County 9-12 Project. Silent no more.
Gov. Pawlenty's Op Ed bashes health care reform
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's editorial in the Washington Post at To Fix Health Care, Follow the States:
To Fix Health Care, Follow the States
By Tim PawlentyMonday, August 3, 2009
If you tie money to results, you'll get better results. Unfortunately, government often dumps money into programs without regard to accountability and outcomes. This past week, Democrats in Congress have been busy tinkering with a Washington takeover of the health-care system, but perhaps they should look instead to the states for models of market-driven, patient-centered and quality-focused reform. Rather than taking power away from states, federal health-care reform should use the lessons we've learned tackling this crisis in our back yards.
In Minnesota, our state employee health-care plan has demonstrated incredible results by linking outcomes to value. State employees in Minnesota can choose any clinic available to them in the health-care network they've selected. However, individuals who use more costly and less-efficient clinics are required to pay more out-of-pocket.
Not surprisingly, informed health-care consumers vote wisely with their feet and their wallets. Employees overwhelmingly selected providers who deliver higher quality and lower costs as a result of getting things right the first time. The payoff is straightforward: For two of the past five years, we've had zero percent premium increases in the state employee insurance plan.
Minnesota has also implemented an innovative program called QCARE, for Quality Care and Rewarding Excellence. QCARE identifies quality measures, sets aggressive outcome targets for providers, makes comparable measures transparent to the public and changes the payment system to reward quality rather than quantity. We must stop paying based on the number of procedures and start paying based on results.
Instead of returning power to patients and rewarding positive outcomes, many Democrats in Washington want a government-run plan that would require states to comply with dozens of new mandates and regulations. One study by the Lewin Group recently concluded that an estimated 114 million Americans could be displaced from their current coverage under such a plan, and another study by House Republicans said the plan could result in the loss of up to 5 million jobs over the next 10 years.
In typical fashion, the self-proclaimed experts piecing together this Democratic health-care legislation are focusing on only one leg -- access -- of a three-legged stool that also includes cost and quality. Expanding access to health care is a worthwhile goal. But equal or greater focus should be placed on containing costs for the vast majority of Americans who already have insurance. Those costs will not be contained by a massive expansion of federal programs.
Massachusetts's experience should caution Congress against focusing primarily on access. While the Massachusetts plan has reduced the number of uninsured people, costs have been dramatically higher than expected. The result? Increased taxes and fees. The Boston Globe has reported on a current short-term funding gap and the need to obtain a new federal bailout.
Imagine the scope of tax increases, or additional deficit spending, if that approach is utilized for the entire country.
Congress has an opportunity to take a genuinely bipartisan approach to health-care reform, which is unquestionably needed. Instead of tweaking the Democrats' plan to put Washington bureaucrats in charge of health care, I recommend a do-over. There are many common-sense elements that could form the basis for bipartisan health-care reform, including: medical malpractice reform, prohibiting coverage denials based on preexisting conditions, guaranteeing portability, electronic prescriptions and medical records, streamlining billing codes and practices, price and quality transparency, pay-for-performance measures, one-stop primary-care "medical homes," chronic disease management initiatives, tax equity for health insurance purchases, increased incentives for health savings accounts, creating the ability to purchase insurance or form risk pools across state lines, and much more.
As my friend Newt Gingrich said last month when he was at a health-care reform event in Minneapolis, Congress is considering a 1975 socialized medicine model, brought up 34 years later by people who have been in Congress since the early 1970s. The world has moved on. It's time for Democrats in Congress to catch up. Washington can and should do better. But they'll need to listen to and learn from our experience in the states to make it happen.
The writer, a Republican, is governor of Minnesota.
and:
Romney, Pawlenty spar on healthcare
Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/08/romney_pawlenty.html
Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney agree in their disdain for the healthcare overhaul plan Democrats and President Obama are trying to push through. ...Romney, in an op-ed piece in USA Today, even as he accused Obama from rushing through a bad plan, defended the Massachusetts plan against Pawlenty's critique.
"Massachusetts also proved that you don't need government insurance. Our citizens purchase private, free-market medical insurance. There is no "public option." With more than 1,300 health insurance companies, a federal government insurance company isn't necessary. It would inevitably lead to massive taxpayer subsidies, to lobbyist-inspired coverage mandates and to the liberals' dream: a European-style single-payer system. To find common ground with skeptical Republicans and conservative Democrats, the president will have to jettison left-wing ideology for practicality and dump the pu
To Fix Health Care, Follow the States
By Tim PawlentyMonday, August 3, 2009
If you tie money to results, you'll get better results. Unfortunately, government often dumps money into programs without regard to accountability and outcomes. This past week, Democrats in Congress have been busy tinkering with a Washington takeover of the health-care system, but perhaps they should look instead to the states for models of market-driven, patient-centered and quality-focused reform. Rather than taking power away from states, federal health-care reform should use the lessons we've learned tackling this crisis in our back yards.
In Minnesota, our state employee health-care plan has demonstrated incredible results by linking outcomes to value. State employees in Minnesota can choose any clinic available to them in the health-care network they've selected. However, individuals who use more costly and less-efficient clinics are required to pay more out-of-pocket.
Not surprisingly, informed health-care consumers vote wisely with their feet and their wallets. Employees overwhelmingly selected providers who deliver higher quality and lower costs as a result of getting things right the first time. The payoff is straightforward: For two of the past five years, we've had zero percent premium increases in the state employee insurance plan.
Minnesota has also implemented an innovative program called QCARE, for Quality Care and Rewarding Excellence. QCARE identifies quality measures, sets aggressive outcome targets for providers, makes comparable measures transparent to the public and changes the payment system to reward quality rather than quantity. We must stop paying based on the number of procedures and start paying based on results.
Instead of returning power to patients and rewarding positive outcomes, many Democrats in Washington want a government-run plan that would require states to comply with dozens of new mandates and regulations. One study by the Lewin Group recently concluded that an estimated 114 million Americans could be displaced from their current coverage under such a plan, and another study by House Republicans said the plan could result in the loss of up to 5 million jobs over the next 10 years.
In typical fashion, the self-proclaimed experts piecing together this Democratic health-care legislation are focusing on only one leg -- access -- of a three-legged stool that also includes cost and quality. Expanding access to health care is a worthwhile goal. But equal or greater focus should be placed on containing costs for the vast majority of Americans who already have insurance. Those costs will not be contained by a massive expansion of federal programs.
Massachusetts's experience should caution Congress against focusing primarily on access. While the Massachusetts plan has reduced the number of uninsured people, costs have been dramatically higher than expected. The result? Increased taxes and fees. The Boston Globe has reported on a current short-term funding gap and the need to obtain a new federal bailout.
Imagine the scope of tax increases, or additional deficit spending, if that approach is utilized for the entire country.
Congress has an opportunity to take a genuinely bipartisan approach to health-care reform, which is unquestionably needed. Instead of tweaking the Democrats' plan to put Washington bureaucrats in charge of health care, I recommend a do-over. There are many common-sense elements that could form the basis for bipartisan health-care reform, including: medical malpractice reform, prohibiting coverage denials based on preexisting conditions, guaranteeing portability, electronic prescriptions and medical records, streamlining billing codes and practices, price and quality transparency, pay-for-performance measures, one-stop primary-care "medical homes," chronic disease management initiatives, tax equity for health insurance purchases, increased incentives for health savings accounts, creating the ability to purchase insurance or form risk pools across state lines, and much more.
As my friend Newt Gingrich said last month when he was at a health-care reform event in Minneapolis, Congress is considering a 1975 socialized medicine model, brought up 34 years later by people who have been in Congress since the early 1970s. The world has moved on. It's time for Democrats in Congress to catch up. Washington can and should do better. But they'll need to listen to and learn from our experience in the states to make it happen.
The writer, a Republican, is governor of Minnesota.
and:
Romney, Pawlenty spar on healthcare
Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/08/romney_pawlenty.html
Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney agree in their disdain for the healthcare overhaul plan Democrats and President Obama are trying to push through. ...Romney, in an op-ed piece in USA Today, even as he accused Obama from rushing through a bad plan, defended the Massachusetts plan against Pawlenty's critique.
"Massachusetts also proved that you don't need government insurance. Our citizens purchase private, free-market medical insurance. There is no "public option." With more than 1,300 health insurance companies, a federal government insurance company isn't necessary. It would inevitably lead to massive taxpayer subsidies, to lobbyist-inspired coverage mandates and to the liberals' dream: a European-style single-payer system. To find common ground with skeptical Republicans and conservative Democrats, the president will have to jettison left-wing ideology for practicality and dump the pu