Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label US Congress Representatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Congress Representatives. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2011

News from The Hill: House GOP members voice extreme opposition to Senate payroll tax plan By Russell Berman



News from The Hill:

House GOP members voice extreme opposition to Senate payroll tax plan 
By Russell Berman 
The two-month payroll tax cut extension that passed the Senate on Saturday may not be a done deal.
Rank-and-file House Republicans voiced extreme opposition to the package during a conference call Saturday afternoon in which Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) briefed them on the legislation and their options to respond, according to two sources with knowledge of the call.


One source said Boehner spoke approvingly of the deal as a win for the GOP but that three other members of the leadership team - Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Tex.) - all criticized it.


The source said that with the exception of Reps. Tom Cole (Okla.) and Walter Jones (N.C.), Boehner was the only person on the call to praise the deal.


Read the story here.


For all the latest news:
Visit TheHill.com 
Follow @TheHill on Twitter
Like The Hill on Facebook

*****

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Senate will have to return health bill to House

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032500006.html?hpid=topnews

National News Alert: Senate will have to return health bill to House
03:42 AM EDT Thursday, March 25, 2010
--------------------

Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday in forcing a change in a measure altering President Barack Obama’s newly enacted health care overhaul, meaning the bill will have to return to the House for final congressional approval.

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Pelosi Charm

The Pelosi Charm

Monday, September 29, 2008

Democrat Speaker of the House left no doubt that she skipped the class in charm school that taught that it is to one’s advantage to be nice to folks when you want something from them.
“Reps. Boehner, Blunt, and Cantor said they had at least a dozen more votes for the bill until Nancy Pelosi came to the floor just after 12:20 eastern time and gave an exceedingly partisan speech that effectively killed the bill.” (GOP: Pelosi Killed Bill With Partisan Speech Posted by TOM BEVAN on the Real Clear Politics blog)

This speech was incomprehensible reprehensible revisionist history in which, what may very well be the most galling moral relativism, she praises Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) whose fingerprints are over the causes of current financial meltdown.

Representative Frank said in 2003: “I think it is clear that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are sufficiently secure so they are in no great danger... I don't think we face a crisis; I don't think that we have an impending disaster. ...Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do very good work, and they are not endangering the fiscal health of this country.” (Doug Ross The Fannie Mae testimony that will make you scream in anger)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) said in 2003: “I have sat through nearly a dozen hearings where, frankly, we were trying to fix something that wasn't broke. [sic] ...These GSEs have more than adequate capital for the business they are in: providing affordable housing. As I mentioned, we should not be making radical or fundamental change... If there is anything to fix or improve, it is the [regulators].” (Doug Ross The Fannie Mae testimony that will make you scream in anger)

“Five years ago, Republicans proposed ‘the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry [in a decade].’ (Source: New York Times) Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee blocked efforts at fixing Fannie and Freddie. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said, ‘Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac... are not facing any kind of financial crisis,’” (Doug Ross: Any Questions)

Speaker Pelosi says that the current meltdown is all the fault of President George W. Bush and free market capitalism. Yet this is inconsistent with: Wayne Barrett at the Village Voice: “[Clinton appointee] Andrew Cuomo... made a series of decisions between 1997 and 2001 that gave birth to the country's current crisis. He took actions that... helped plunge Fannie and Freddie into the subprime markets without putting in place the means to monitor their increasingly risky investments. He turned the Federal Housing Administration...into a sweetheart lender with sky-high loan ceilings and no money down, and he legalized what a federal judge has branded "kickbacks" to brokers that have fueled the sale of overpriced and unsupportable loans. Three to four million families are now facing foreclosure, and Cuomo is one of the reasons why.” (Doug Ross The Fannie Mae testimony that will make you scream in anger)

Hat Tip for AP photo: Don Surber – “A confident Democrat Barney Frank promises solvency in our time as he announces the breakthrough bailout. Voting is only a formality…”

Related:

Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Floor Statement on the partisan Financial Rescue Legislation moments before it was voted down

Doug Ross: Any Questions

Doug Ross The Fannie Mae testimony that will make you scream in anger

Don Surber

20080928 The Pelosi Charm

Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Floor Statement on the partisan Financial Rescue Legislation moments before it was voted down


Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Floor Statement on the partisan Financial Rescue Legislation moments before it was voted down

September 29, 2008


Madam speaker, when was the last time anyone ever asked you for $700 billion? It’s a staggering figure. And many questions have arisen from that request. And we have been hearing, I think, a very informed debate on all sides — of — of this issue here today. I’m proud of the debate.

$700 billion. A staggering number. But only a part of the cost of the failed Bush economic policies to our country. Policies that were built on budget recklessness. When President Bush took office, he inherited President Clinton’s surpluses — four years in a row, budget surpluses, on a trajectory of $5.6 trillion in surplus. And with his reckless economic policies, within two years, he had turned that around.

And now eight years later, the foundation of that fiscal irresponsibility, combined with an anything goes economic policy, has taken us to where we are today. They claim to be free market advocates, when it’s really an anything goes mentality. No regulation, no supervision, no discipline. And if you fail, you will have a golden parachute, and the taxpayer will bail you out.

Those days are over. The party is over in that respect. Democrats believe in a free market. We know that it can create jobs, it can create wealth, it can create many good things in our economy. But in this case, in its unbridled form, as encouraged, supported, by the Republicans — some in the Republican Party, not all — it has created not jobs, not capital, it has created chaos.

And it is that chaos that the secretary of the Treasury and the chairman of the Fed came to see us just about a week and a half ago — seems like an eternity, doesn’t it, so much has happened, the news was so bad. They described a very, very dismal situation. A dismal situation describing the state of our economy, the fragility of our financial institutions and the instability of our markets, our equity markets, our credit markets, our bond market.

And here we were listening to people who knew of what they spoke. Secretary of the Treasury brings long credentials and knowledge of the markets. More fearful, though, to me, more scary, was the statement — were the statements of Chairman Bernanke [Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve], because Chairman Bernanke is probably one of the foremost authorities in America on the subject of the Great Depression. I don’t know what was so great about the Depression, but that’s the name they give it. And we heard the secretary and the chairman tell us that this was a once in a hundred year phenomenon, this fiscal crisis was so drastic. Certainly once in 50 years, probably once in a hundred years.

And how did it sneak up on us? So silently, almost on little cat feet. That they would come in on that day — and they didn’t actually ask for the money, that much money that night. It took two days until we saw the legislation that they were proposing to help calm the markets. And it was on that day that we learned of a $700 billion request.

But it wasn’t just the money that was alarming. It was the nature of the legislation. It gave the secretary of the Treasury czar-like powers, unlimited powers, latitude to do all kinds of things and specifically prohibited judicial review or review of any other federal administrative agency to review their actions.

Another aspect of it that was alarming is it gave the secretary the power to use any money that came back from these infusions of cash to be used at the discretion of the secretary. Not to reduce the deficit, not to go into the general funds so that we could afford other priorities. To be used at the discretion of the secretary. It was shocking. Working together in a bipartisan way, we were able to make major improvements on that proposal, even though its fundamental basis was almost arrogant and insulting.

The American people responded almost immediately. Overwhelmingly, they said they know that something needs to be done. Say 78 percent of the American people said Congress must act. Fifty-eight-some percent said, but not to accept the Bush proposal. And so here we are today, a week later and a couple of days later, coming to the floor with a product — not a bill that I would have written, one that has major disappointments with me, beginning with the fact that it does not have bankruptcy in this bill — and we will continue to persist and work to achieve that.

It’s interesting, though, to me that when they describe this, the magnitude of the challenge and the precipice that we were on and how we had to act quickly and we had to act boldly and we had to act now, that it never occurred to them that the consequences of this market were being felt well in advance by the American people. And unemployment is up, and therefore we need unemployment insurance. That jobs are lacking, and therefore we need a stimulus package. So how can on the one hand could this be so urgent at the moment, and yet so unnecessary for us to address the effects of this poor economy in the households of America across our country?

We’ll come back to that in a moment. Working together, we put together some standards — and I am really proud of what Barney Frank did in this regard. The first night, that night, that Thursday night, when we got the very, very dismal news, he immediately said, if we’re going to do this — and Spencer Bachus was a part of this as well — in terms of if we’re going to do this, we must have equity for the American people. We’re putting up $700 billion, we want the American people to get some of the upside. So equity, fairness for the American people.

Secondly, if they were describing the root of the problem as the mortgage-backed securities, Barney insisted that we would have forbearance on foreclosure. If we’re now going to own that paper, that we would then have forbearance to help responsible homeowners stay in their home.

In addition to that, we have to have strong, strong oversight. We didn’t even have to see the $700 billion or the full extent of their bill to know that we needed equity and upside for the taxpayer, forbearance for the homeowner, oversight of the government on what they were doing, and something that the American people understand full well, an end to the golden parachutes and the — a — review and reform of the compensation for C.E.O.’s.

Let’s get this straight. We have a situation where on Wall Street people are flying high, they are making unconscionable amounts of money. They make a lot of money, they privatize the gain, the minute things go tough, they nationalize the risk. They get a golden parachute as they drive their firm into the ground, and the American people have to pick up the tab. Something is very, very wrong with this picture.

So just on first blush, that Thursday night, we made it clear, meeting much resistance on the part of the administration, that those four things, equity, forbearance, oversight, and reform of compensation. Overriding all of this is a protection of the taxpayer. We need to stabilize the markets. In doing so, we need to protect the taxpayers.

And that’s why I’m so glad that this bill contains a suggestion made by Mr. Tanner [Representative John Tanner, Democrat of Tennessee] that if at the end of the day, say in five years, when we can take a review of the success or whatever of this initiative, that if there is a shortfall and we don’t get our whole $700 billion back that we have invested, that there will be an initiative to have the financial institutions that benefited from this program to make up that shortfall.

But not one penny of this should be carried by the American people. People asked, and Mr. Spratt [Representative John M. Spratt Jr., Democrat of South Carolina] spoke with great knowledge and eloquence on the budget and aspects of the budget. $700 billion, what is the impact, what is the opportunity cost for our country of the investments that we would want to make?

O.K., now we have it in place where the taxpayer is going to be made whole and that was very important for us. But why on the drop of a hat can they ask us for $700 billion, and we couldn’t get any support from the administration on a stimulus package that would also help grow the economy?

People tell me all over the world that the biggest emerging market, economic market in the world, is rebuilding the infrastructure of America. Roads, bridges, waterways, water systems in addition to waterways. The grid, broadband, schools, housing, certain schools. We are trillions of dollars in deficit there.

We know what we need to do to do it in a fiscally sound way, in a fiscally sound way that creates good-paying jobs in America immediately. Brings money into the treasury by doing so, and again does all of this in an all-American way. Good-paying jobs here in America.

We can’t get the time of day for 25, $35 billion for that, which we know guarantees jobs, et cetera, but $700 billion. So make no mistake, when this Congress adjourns today to observe Rosh Hashanah and have members go home for a bit, we are doing so at the call of the chair. Because this subject is not over, this discussion about how we save our economy.

And we must insulate Main Street from Wall Street. And as Congresswoman Waters [Representative Maxine Waters, Democrat of California] said, Martin Luther King Drive, in my district Martin Luther King Drive, and Cedar Chavez Road and all of the manifestations of community and small businesses in our community. We must insulate them from that. And so we have difficult choices, and so many of the things that were said on both sides of this issue in terms of its criticisms of the bill we have and the bill that we had at first, and the very size of this, I share. You want to go home, so I’m not going to list all of my concerns that I have with it.

But it just comes down to one simple thing. They have described a precipice. We are on the brink of doing something that might pull us back from that precipice. I think we have a responsibility. We have worked in a bipartisan way. I want to acknowledge Mr. Blunt and Mr. Boehner, the work that we have done together, trying to find as much common ground as possible on this.

But we insisted the taxpayer be covered. We all insisted that we have a party-is-over message to Wall Street. And we insisted that, that taxpayers at risk must recover — that any risk must be recovered. I told you that already. So, my colleagues, let’s recognize that this Congressional — this legislation is not the end of the line.

Mr. Waxman [Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California] will be having vigorous oversight this week, hearings this week on regulatory reform and other aspects of it. I hope you will pursue fraud and mismanagement and the rest. Mr. Frank and his committee will continue to pursue other avenues that we can stabilize the markets and protect the taxpayer. For too long, this government, in eight years, has followed a right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation.

Again, all of us are believers in free markets, but we have to do it right. Now, let me again acknowledge the extraordinary leadership of Mr. Frank. He has been an exceptional leader in the Congress, but never has his knowledge and his experience and his judgment been more needed than now. And I thank you, Mr. Frank, for your exceptional leadership, Mr. Chairman.

I also — so many people worked on this, but I also want to acknowledge the distinguished chair of our caucus, Mr. Emanuel. His knowledge of the markets, the respect he commands on those subjects, and his boundless energy on the subjects served us well in these negotiations. But this, this is a bipartisan initiative that we are bringing to the floor. We have to have a bipartisan vote on this. That is the only message that will send a message of confidence to the markets.

So I hope that — I know that we will be able to live up to our side of the bargain. I hope the Republicans will, too.

But my colleagues, as you go home and see your families and observe the holiday and the rest, don’t get settled in too far, because as long as the American — this challenge is there for the American people, the threat of losing their jobs, the credit, their credit, their jobs, their savings, their retirement, the opportunity for them to send their children to college.

As long as in the households of America, this crisis is being felt very immediately and being addressed at a different level, we must come back, and we will come back as soon and as often as it is necessary to make the change that is necessary. And before long we will have a new Congress, a new president of the United States, and we will be able to take our country in a new direction.


####
20080929 Pelosi Fl St on Bipartisan Fin Rescue Leg

20080929 Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Floor Statement on the partisan Financial Rescue Legislation moments before it was voted down

Monday, September 29, 2008

Pelosi Floor Statement on Bipartisan Financial Rescue Legislation


Pelosi Floor Statement on Bipartisan Financial Rescue Legislation

For Immediate Release 09/29/2008

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon in support the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Below are her remarks, as prepared:

“Madam Speaker, when was the last time someone asked you for $700 billion?

“It is a number that is staggering, but tells us only the costs of the Bush Administration’s failed economic policies—policies built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision, and no discipline in the system.

“Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital, but left to its own devices it has created chaos.

“That chaos is the dismal picture painted by Treasury Secretary Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke a week and a half ago in the Capitol. As they pointed out, we confront a crisis of historic magnitude that has the ability to do serious injury not simply to our economy, but to the American people: not just to Wall Street, but to everyday Americans on Main Street.

“It is our responsibility today, to help avert that catastrophic outcome.

“Let us be clear: This is a crisis caused on Wall Street. But it is a crisis that reaches to Main Street in every city and town of the United States.

“It is a crisis that freezes credit, causes families to lose their homes, cripples small businesses, and makes it harder to find jobs.

“It is a crisis that never had to happen. It is now the duty of every Member of this body to recognize that the failure to act responsibly, with full protections for the American taxpayer, would compound the damage already done to the financial security of millions of American families.

“Over the past several days, we have worked with our Republican colleagues to fashion an alternative to the original plan of the Bush Administration.

“I must recognize the outstanding leadership provided by Chairman Barney Frank, whose enormous intellectual and strategic abilities have never before been so urgently needed, or so widely admired.

“I also want to recognize Rahm Emanuel, who combined his deep knowledge of financial institutions with his pragmatic policy experience, to resolve key disagreements.

“Secretary Paulson deserves credit for working day and night to help reach an agreement and for his flexibility in negotiating changes to his original proposal.

“Democrats insisted that legislation responding to this crisis must protect the American people and Main Street from the meltdown on Wall Street.

“The American people did not decide to dangerously weaken our regulatory and oversight policies. They did not make unwise and risky financial deals. They did not jeopardize the economic security of the nation. And they must not pay the cost of this emergency recovery and stabilization bill.

“So we insisted that this bill contain several key provisions:

“This legislation must contain independent and ongoing oversight to ensure that the recovery program is managed with full transparency and strict accountability.

“The legislation must do everything possible to allow as many people to stay in their homes rather than face foreclosure.

“The corporate CEOs whose companies will benefit from the public’s participation in this recovery must not benefit by exorbitant salaries and golden parachute retirement bonuses.

“Our message to Wall Street is this: the party is over. The era of golden parachutes for high-flying Wall Street operators is over. No longer will the U.S. taxpayer bailout the recklessness of Wall Street.

“The taxpayers who bear the risk in this recovery must share in the upside as the economy recovers.

“And should this program not pay for itself, the financial institutions that benefited, not the taxpayers, must bear responsibility for making up the difference.
“These were the Democratic demands to safeguard the American taxpayer, to help the economy recover, and to impose tough accountability as a central component of this recovery effort.

“This legislation is not the end of congressional activity on this crisis. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will continue to hold investigative and oversight hearings to find out how the crisis developed, where mistakes were made, and how the recovery must be managed to protect the middle class and the American taxpayer.

“With passage of this legislation today, we can begin the difficult job of turning our economy around, of helping those who depend on a growing economy and stable financial institutions for a secure retirement, for the education of their children, for jobs and small business credit.

“Today we must act for those Americans, for Main Street, and we must act now, with the bipartisan spirit of cooperation which allowed us to fashion this legislation.

“This not enough. We are also working to restore our nation’s economic strength by passing a new economic recovery stimulus package—a robust, job creating bill—that will help Americans struggling with high prices, get our economy back on track, and renew the American Dream.

“Today, we will act to avert this crisis, but informed by our experience of the past eight years with the failed economic leadership that has left us left capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

“We choose a different path. In the new year, with a new Congress and a new president, we will break free with a failed past and take America in a New Direction to a better future.”

http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0848

20080929 Pelosi Floor Statement on Bipartisan Financial Rescue Legislation

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

20080129 Bartlett says President’s call for domestic oil drilling not the answer to energy, climate issues


Bartlett says President’s call for domestic oil drilling not the answer to energy, climate issues (E&ETV News, 01/29/2008)

January 29, 2008

http://www.eenews.net/special_reports/state_union/

watch video

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Videotaped Reaction to Energy & Climate Comments in SOTU -- link to E&ETV coverage

Last night, President Bush delivered his final State of the Union address, highlighting the importance of clean energy innovations both internationally and domestically.

In his remarks, the President proposed a $2 billion international clean technology fund and called for increased funding for carbon capture and sequestration technologies in the U.S.

He also urged the completion of an international climate agreement.

During today's E&ETV Event Coverage of the State of the Union 2008, members of Congress including Congressman Roscoe Bartlett reacted to the President's comments on energy and climate immediately following the speech.

Lisa Lyons Wright

Press Secretary/Energy and Stem Cell Legislative Assistant

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett

2412 Rayburn

office 202-225-2721

_____

E&ETV News: The Premier Information Source for Professionals Who Track Environmental and Energy Policy.

About E&E Publishing http://www.eenews.net/eep/learn_more/

Environment & Energy Publishing is the leading source for comprehensive, daily coverage of environmental and energy politics and policy. Every day, E&E's hard-hitting, original reporting plugs subscribers into the issues facing the White House, Congress, the courts, federal agencies and the states.

E&E's 25-person editorial team of editors and reporters is among the best in the business. We enjoy unrivaled access to key players in energy and environmental policy, so every day we develop insightful, balanced, timely stories readers won't find anywhere else.

Our coverage of major, breaking news goes deeper than the mass-market news services and brings readers informed, balanced, spin-free reporting. And while we cover the Washington policy and political scene like nobody else, we also literally go the extra mile to get the information you need. Our reporters go inside Yucca Mountain, around the world to cover climate treaty negotiations, to Alaska's North Slope in the middle of winter.

The result: We have a better on-the-ground understanding of all the factors surrounding your issues, so we deliver better information.

That's why we're read by the people who count: congressional offices and committees, the White House, the federal agencies (EPA, Interior, Energy, NOAA, BLM, MMS, DOD, USDA, FWS, etc.) law firms, local and national environmental groups, major corporations, media companies, consultants, lobbyists, utilities, state and local governments, foreign governments, think tanks, universities, financial institutions and international development organizations.

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Monday, December 10, 2007

20071201 Operation Christmas Tree

Westminster to receive worldwide recognition for bringing Christmas to the troops in Iraq

By Kevin Dayhoff

Army Specialist Luisa Gonzalez and her father Jim Ward join Congressman Roscoe Bartlett as they stop for a moment to answer questions during “Operation Christmas” at the Ag Center December 1. Over 300 volunteers gathered to pack 5,000 live decorated Christmas trees for the troops in Iraq. Photo by Kevin Dayhoff

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Westminster, December 1 -- “If the troops in Iraq can’t be home for Christmas, then we’re going to make sure that a little bit of home goes to Iraq,” said one volunteer at the Carroll County Agriculture Center on Saturday, December 1.

Just then the words “we need more decorations over here,” drowned out the conversation as she was asked for her name. “We’re all here to support the troops… Call me an elf for the troops. Hand me that box of decorations. That one right there…”

Lindsey Brothers, from Finksburg, who works with the Armed Forces Foundation, surveyed the scene as she looked for a pack of papers and called the frenzied activity “organized pandemonium,” as over 300 volunteers braved the wind and cold and turned out to package 5,000 live Christmas trees for the troops in Iraq.

The main operation was centered in a 40 by 60 foot tent, supplied by Kay-Lyns Party Rental. However the packing activity quickly escaped the confines of the tent as assembled boxes burst through the back of the tent, were tossed to a staging area at the end of the tent, stacked, and then filled with Christmas trees.

As quickly as the boxed trees entered one end of the tent, they sped down an assembly line staffed by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, “Young Marines,” and other volunteers who just wanted to help. The boxed live Christmas tree then erupted out the other end after being stuffed with decorations, lights, batteries, a Christmas card, and a phone card – and lots of heartfelt smiles and holiday wishes.

Brothers said the Carroll County community support has been “simply overwhelming. I had no idea there would be this much support.”

That theme was echoed by Jim Ward, a 1992 Francis Scott Key High School graduate, as he talked on his Bluetooth earpiece, dug in his pocket for some keys and handed a piece of paper to a volunteer. Just as a forklift, driven by Alan Trump, an Ag Center employee, whizzed behind us, Ward explained that this all began last year when his family decided to send his daughter, Specialist Luisa Gonzalez, an Army medic deployed in Iraq, a decorated live five foot Christmas tree.

“The Post Office couldn’t figure that out,” he explained. Meanwhile, his daughter’s reaction was “how about the rest of my troops?”

So last year Ward, his wife Betty and daughters Elizabeth and Marie sent 75 live Christmas trees to her unit, her uncle’s unit in another part of Iraq and two Marine units out of Fort Detrick. “Let’s say they were smaller than five foot – but we got them there,” added Ward.

This year even 2-1/2 year-old Marie got into the act stacking labels off the printer for “Weezy,” as she calls her older sister – and “Weezy’s trees.”

Just then Ward looked up to answer a question from the national office of Fox News Channel. Fox will be airing the story nationwide on Christmas. As soon as he finished with Fox News, Mark Simkin with the Australian Broadcast Network popped into the tent with a videographer.

Simkin said that Australia has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and this is a “wonderful Christmas story, mate.” He described how the Australian news will broadcast the story “all across Australia and eastern Asia.”

Ward then detailed that he will “ship a tree to Australian troops, British (troops) whatever... As long as they are fighting on our side...” A point of which Simkin nodded in agreement - “That’s why we’re here.”

6th Dist. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett was on the assembly line and looked up long enough to say what a great thing this was for the troops – and morale... “It’s our way of saying thanks and Merry Christmas.

Army Specialist Gonzalez, a 2003 Francis Key High School graduate, said that she was given a three-day pass to volunteer with this year’s Operation Christmas Tree. As she shivered in the cold, she acknowledged that it was an abrupt change to be here. Two days before, Gonzales, trained in combat medicine and a certified emergency medical technician, was working in a “level 2” medical facility that “operates between (the combat) line and the combat support hospital.”

Gonzalez agreed with Congressman Bartlett that the Christmas Trees will be a big boost for morale. “I’m just happy to be here. It will make a big difference in Iraq, where every day is Monday. The mission goes on no matter what the day is… Iraq knows no holidays.”

Over in another part of the tent, Westminster resident Maggie Langdon was busy putting labels on the boxes as she explained that earlier, she “was repackaging ornaments. I’m here to do my little part to help the troops.”

Lois Giles, who can usually be found at Shepherd’s Staff during the week, was moved by the thought that “some soldier in Iraq is going to put this on their tree,” as she packaged some decorations. “It’s a way of touching a soldier for the holidays.”

The next day – late in the evening, Ward said that they got all of them packed, although he was still at it, handwriting some last minute labels. “We were there until 6:30 last night and we got it done.”

“We could not have done it without the great support of the city (of Westminster), Alan Trump, Larry Collins and the Ag Center,” said a tired Ward.

“I’m very happy with the turn out. Can’t thank people enough…” He went to mention folks like Westminster Mayor Tom Ferguson, assistant planning and public works director Jeff Glass and Chief Jeff Alexander and the Westminster Fire Department… “And I can’t forget ‘Steel Horse Pit Beef.’ They were heaven-sent for serving everyone food all day.”

The fire department watered the trees with recycled water since the drought management-watering ban is still in effect. “I called my good friend the mayor up,” said Ward, “and he and the (assistant) public works director (Glass) and the chief (Alexander) figured it out.”

Ward also wanted to be sure to credit Congressman Bartlett and his Westminster office assistant Deborah Burrell for also going out of their way to help. “The entire town went out of their way to help. I haven’t seen this community come out like this in years. It was heartwarming and the troops will appreciate it.”

If you would like to make a donation the address is: Operation Christmas Tree, P.O. Box 391, Westminster, MD 21158. For more information go to http://www.operationchristmastree.com/ on the web.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

Friday, November 02, 2007

20071101 Robert Farrow: Remember When Sen. Reid Suddenly Closed The Senate Last Year?

Robert Farrow: Remember When Sen. Reid Suddenly Closed The Senate Last Year?

Subtitled: Baltimore Reporter - Robert Farrow watch: See at the bottom of the post for other content rich material…

Yet another in a long list of “must reads” from Robert Farrow over at “The Baltimore Reporter”:

11/1/2007

Remember When Sen. Reid Suddenly Closed The Senate Last Year?

Filed under: General

Robert Farrow @ 8:50 pm

Crossposted from Flopping Aces

Last year, Senator Harry Reid ordered the senate [closed to discuss](http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/01/senate.iraq/) classified matters.

When closed, he ranted and raved and complained that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) hadn’t released its vaunted “Phase II” report concerning pre-war intelligence on Iraq compared to pre-war statements about that intelligence…

[…]

Read the rest here:

Several other of my favorites on his site, among many, are:

More Time Spent Wasted By Democrat Controlled Congress

Hillary Clinton Wins the I Hate Bush Debate

Here Come the Catches

Good news from Iraq

Bush to Pelosi: Your House is a Mess

And not to be missed is another post I wanted to call to the readers’ attention the other day: Edwards Demands Student Remove Video From Youtube (video)

John Edwards attempts to kill story filed by a journalism student at UNC.

Here, I’ll post the YouTube video, but go here for additional insights and commentary by “The Baltimore Reporter,” here: Edwards Demands Student Remove Video From Youtube (video)

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

20071010 Democrats flog SCHIP

20071010 Democrats flog SCHIP

Democrats flog SCHIP

October 10th, 2007

A colleague called this to my attention the other day…

… and for additional information please see: 20070921 Five Key Myths About President Bush’s Support for SCHIP Reauthorization

I certainly support Congressman Bartlett’s vote and hope that he remains steadfast. That being said, as I e-mailed a kind reader much earlier in the day, whom I believe disagrees with Congressman Bartlett’s vote; I think that it is a tough vote for many complicated reasons.

In an ideal world, everything possible needs to be done to ensure that children have access to adequate health care. However, what concerns me, above and beyond why a basic health and welfare necessity is so expensive to begin with; is “the Congressional Budget Office predicts it will entice the families of two million children who already have private health insurance (half of targeted new enrollees) to sign up for government-controlled, taxpayer-paid health insurance.”

I have somewhat heretofore avoided this fray, as I have no interest in vilifying anyone who disagrees with Congressman Bartlett’s vote or the presidential veto. And I am unhappy with the further politicalization of the issues of health care as much I abhor, for example, the environment being all wrapped around the axle of partisan politics. I respect the folks who support the current SCHIP legislation in spite of the fact that I disagree with their tactics to change votes.

Rolling out the 12-year child was cringe worthy. Then, well, read it yourself: Don Surber: “3,000 square foot home, but cannot ‘afford’ health insurance?

Remember the Frost family of Baltimore? They had a bad traffic accident 3 years ago. Their medical bills were paid by the taxpayer-subsidized SCHIP. Democrats trotted out Graeme Frost, 12, to call the president mean for not expanding the program beyond what he was willing to expand it.

But all is not what it seems. Based a sympathetic Baltimore Sun story — reporters never question “victims” — a blogger did some snooping around.

[…]

For balance read: Faiz / Think Progress:

Right Wing Launches Baseless Smear Campaign Against 12 Year Old Recipient Of SCHIPTwo weeks ago, the Democratic radio address was delivered by a 12-year old Maryland boy named Graeme Frost. Graeme told his story of being involved in a severe car accident three years ago …

(Has anyone answered the question as to why automobile insurance did not take care of the young man’s medical needs?)

Ultimately, as much as I am profoundly unhappy with the current health care delivery system in our country, my view is that the government taking over is to go from the frying pan to the fire. And I view the current SCHIP legislation is one more step closer to government run health care – which would ultimately and paradoxically threaten the health and well-being of all Americans.

I have lost faith in big government’s ability to do much of anything well and I’ll be darn if I have any interest in some faceless bureaucrat, who holds a job in which they cannot be held accountable – or be fired no matter what their job performance; making life and death decisions for me or my family – or our community’s children.

It is classic “Fenno’s Paradox.” I know extraordinary individuals who work for government and do a great job but I learned to abhor big government. I know great folks in the insurance business but hold the industry in contempt. I know great doctors and health care professionals but have total disdain for the health care delivery system…

Congressman Bartlett cast the correct vote…

Before your itchy fingers reach for the keyboard to hurl insensitive remarks, if you disagree, I’m fine with that. Please provide me, and the readers, with compelling and persuasive arguments other than “Bush Derangement Syndrome” or that “Republicans Suck.” Besides, as a former conservative elected official, you can’t top the “Baltimore Sun treatment.”

_____

Anyway, as I was saying… A colleague called this to my attention the other day…

Democrats Flog SCHIP yet leaves 19-23 Million Americans At Risk for AMT Tax on Rich

Shhh! Pay no attention and don't worry if you're one of the 19 - 23 million middle-income American families with earnings @$75,000 who may be penalized and forced to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) on the "rich" unless Congress acts before the Senate plans to adjourn on November 16.

Details are in the CNN coverage here: http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/24/pf/taxes/amt_ticktock/index.htm (See at the bottom of the post…)

Congressional Democrat leaders, unions, MoveOn.org, and the AARP are among those hard at work to get your attention with lobbying campaigns to override the President's veto of a proposal to more than double spending on the SCHIP program.

The plan proposes increasing taxes on smokers but the Congressional Budget Office predicts it will entice the families of two million children who already have private health insurance (half of targeted new enrollees) to sign up for government-controlled, taxpayer-paid health insurance.

The proposed expansion doesn't include any changes in the eligibility guidelines. Under the Block Grant program design of SCHIP, states have flexibility to disperse the funds. In some states, such as New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, one-third to 40 percent of current SCHIP enrollees are adults. Maybe that explains why AARP supports the Democrat-proposed expansion.

Under the proposed Democratic expansion of SCHIP two million children who already have health insurance in families making up to $83,000 might be penalized by the AMT. Democrats have not approved, but propose paying for most of the expansion with a tax increase on cigarettes that would require adding and sustaining 20 million new smokers.

Bartlett gets heat for stance on health insurance bill

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=65912

Democrats and health care advocates are targeting U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett as a potential swing vote to override President Bush's W ednesday morning veto of a children's health insurance bill. Bartlett, a Republican who represents Frederick County and a large swath of other counties across Maryland, voted for the State Children's Health Insurance Program when it was enacted in 1997. Last week, he voted against a reauthorization bill that would have expanded the program.

The political battle is focused on Bartlett because leaders believe if he switches his vote, others might follow suit.

Since Maryland has only one other Republican representative, it's not uncommon for Bartlett to be the only federal Maryland official voting a certain way on any given measure. Despite the calls for a vote switch, Bartlett defiantly reiterated his stance, saying it is consistent with the conservative principles of his district.

If popular program folds, children 'would have nothing'

http:/ /www.times-news.com/local/local_story_277093356.html

Originally created in 1997, the joint federal and state program offers low-cost health insurance to children in low-income families. It has provided coverage to about 6.6 million children while the expanded coverage would bring in another 4 million. In a bipartisan vote, the Senate and the House last week agreed to reauthorize the program and increase spending for it from about $5 billion to $12 billion each year for the next five years.

Saying the increase is too much, Bush vetoed the bill Wednesday.

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican representing Maryland's 6th District, was the only Maryland representative to side with the president.

"Only Democratic congressional leaders could demand that a family earning $82,000 a year should qualify for their expanded SCHIP program that Republicans created to help children of the working poor and simultaneously call that same family rich and force them to pay the AMT, Alternative Minimum Tax," Bartlett said via a release. "It just goes to show that what Democrats really want is to have the government control how to spend the money that American taxpayers earn."

In the Senate, Maryland's Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin, both Democrats, feel otherwise. Like Bartlett, Mikulski voted for the original program, but she supports its expansion.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/24/pf/taxes/amt_ticktock/index.htm

AMT: Ticktock, Congress

http://www.cnnmoney.com/

Millions of taxpayers have been left in the dark about just how much they'll owe the IRS this year thanks to indecision in D.C

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Lawmakers have effectively denied roughly 23 million taxpayers the ability to plan adequately for their taxes this year.

That's because they have yet to decide just what they're going to do about the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). If they end up doing nothing, those 23 million folks will get hit with the "wealth" tax -- about 19 million of them for the first time.

The AMT was originally intended for the wealthy few when it was created nearly 40 years ago. But because Congress never indexed for inflation the amount of income exempt from AMT and because it disallows a lot of popular tax breaks, tens of millions of middle-class taxpayers could get hit.

With at most six legislative weeks left on the Congressional schedule this year, it seems highly unlikely that a deal would be sealed on a broad AMT reform package.

Sure lawmakers could push back the Senate's Nov. 16 adjournment date [also the expiration date of the temporary SCHIP continuation approved by Congress and the President] and legislate until it's time to deck the halls.

Broadly speaking, you might be at risk of having to pay AMT if more than one of these situations apply:

* You live in a high-tax state. State and local income taxes are not deductible under AMT as they are under the regular federal income tax code.

* You have kids. Personal exemptions are disallowed under the AMT.

* You take a lot of miscellaneous deductions, including unreimbursed business expenses. They, too, are disallowed under the AMT.

Your household gross income exceeds $100,000.

####

Monday, October 08, 2007

20071005 County residents rally against SCHIP veto by Meg Bernhardt

20071005 County residents rally against SCHIP veto by Meg Bernhardt


County residents rally against SCHIP veto

By Meg Bernhardt , News-Post Staff Originally published October 05, 2007


[…]

… and roughly 30 others rallied Thursday night in downtown Frederick. They protested President Bush's decision to veto a bill that would reauthorize and expand SCHIP and urged U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6, to support an override of the veto.

The largely Democratic-backed bill would increase spending by $35 billion, to roughly $60 billion, over the next five years. Maryland would receive $178 million in the first year alone.

Following House approval of the bill last week, the Senate voted 67-29 to increase spending from about $5 billion annually to $12 billion annually for the next five years -- double what the president wants. It relies on a 61-cent federal cigarette tax.

Bush vetoed it Wednesday, recommending a $5 billion increase for SCHIP over the next five years, bringing total spending to $30 billion.

Health care advocates have said Bartlett's vote is critical for a House override of the veto. Bartlett, a Republican, voted for the original SCHIP program, but voted against the expansion because it would be a step toward universal health care, he said.

"I support continuing SCHIP health insurance for all children of the working poor, but that is not what this debate is about," Bartlett said in a radio address Thursday. "Democrats are demanding that SCHIP be expanded because they want to force government-controlled, taxpayer-paid health coverage onto middle-class and upper-class families who already have private health care coverage that they themselves control."

[…]

(Tobi) Drabczyk brought her four children to the rally, which was sponsored by Operation Democracy Frederick, a local affiliate of MoveOn.org.

"Our family is on the SCHIP program and we really need this program," she said.

Her husband works a full-time job for less than $40,000 a year, and it would cost between $700 and $1,000 to insure their family through his employer.

Her son, Mitchell Drabczyk, is 13 and has Tourette's syndrome, a neurological disorder. The program is the only way they can get him treated, she said.

"SCHIP is for working families. We just need a little bit of help and SCHIP is that help," she said. "We just need to get all children covered and if an expansion is needed to do that, then we should do it."

Bartlett's stance is becoming a campaign issue. He is up for re-election in 2008.

Republican challenger Joseph T. Krysztoforski was coming from another Frederick event when he saw the rally. He stopped to talk with the pickets and said he would have voted yes on the bipartisan effort.

"I think it's something Roscoe should look carefully at changing his vote," Krysztoforski said.

Democratic opponent Andrew Duck has also criticized Bartlett's vote.

"It was the wrong decision," he said by phone Thursday.

He released a statement on the vote last week.

"We need to make sure all Americans have access to quality health care. This bill is a great start. That we in the wealthiest country in history are even having a debate about whether children deserve health care is appalling. That Roscoe Bartlett says they don't makes him unfit to represent our district," Duck said in the statement.

Bartlett has thanked critics for drawing attention to his vote, saying it was the correct one.

"Only Democrat Congressional leaders could demand that a family earning $82,000 a year could qualify for their expanded SCHIP program and simultaneously call that same family rich enough to force them to pay the AMT, Alternative Minimum Tax," Bartlett said. "It just goes to show that what Democrats really want is to have the government control how to spend the money that American taxpayers earn."


Read the entire article here:
County residents rally against SCHIP veto

[1] Especially:

MYTH #5: President Bush will be responsible if SCHIP is not reauthorized by September 30.

FACT: Congress is irresponsibly waiting until just before SCHIP expires on September 30 to pass a final bill they know will be vetoed. Democrats have known for months that President Bush would veto a bill like the one they intend to send him.

FACT: One of the Democrats' leaders has even said such a veto would be a "political victory." Members of Congress are putting health coverage for poor children at risk just so they can score political points in Washington.

FACT: President Bush has called on Congress to pass a clean, temporary extension of the current SCHIP program that he can sign by September 30. The President does not believe health coverage for poor children should be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken.

FACT: The President has instructed HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to work with states to mitigate the resulting damage if Congress allows SCHIP to lapse.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

20070921 Five Key Myths About President Bush’s Support for SCHIP Reauthorization

Five Key Myths About President Bush's Support for SCHIP Reauthorization

State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization

President Bush believes that S-CHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) should return to it’s original focus, which is helping those children in need.

The President’s 2008 budget proposed to increase S-CHIP funding by $5 billion over five years, which is a 20 percent increase over current levels of funding.

This important program helps children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but do not qualify for Medicaid to get coverage they need. President Bush calls on Congress to pass a responsible S-CHIP bill.

Myth/Fact: Five Key Myths About President Bush's Support for SCHIP Reauthorization

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 21, 2007

Myth/Fact: Five Key Myths About President Bush's Support for SCHIP Reauthorization

In Focus: Healthcare

MYTH #1: President Bush's proposal would not help poor children.

FACT: The President strongly supports SCHIP reauthorization and his 2008 budget proposed to increase SCHIP funding by $5 billion over five years. This is a 20 percent increase over current levels of funding.

FACT: The President's proposal maintains SCHIP's original purpose of targeting dollars to poor children who need them most.

MYTH #2: Cost is the only reason for President Bush's veto threat.

FACT: There are numerous problems with Congress's SCHIP bill. In addition to raising spending by $35 to $50 billion, the legislation:

1. Turns a program meant to help poor children into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year.

2. Would move millions of American children who now have private health insurance into government-run health care.

3. Is an incremental step toward the Democrats' goal of a government-run health care system.

4. Raises taxes on working Americans.

5. Relies on a budget gimmick that drops SCHIP funding by almost 80 percent in year six, masking future deficits and ultimately resulting in a choice between higher taxes or forcing millions of children to lose health insurance.

6. Creates new funding schemes inviting states to overspend their budgets and shift health care costs to the Federal government by using SCHIP funding to offset state Medicaid spending.

7. Provides incentives to states to relax protections against enrolling ineligible individuals, including illegal immigrants.

MYTH #3: President Bush is wrong in claiming the Senate SCHIP bill would cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year (400 percent of the Federal poverty level).

FACT: The Senate bill grandfathers in New York at a higher SCHIP match rate than the rest of the country – allowing SCHIP to cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year.

Background Information:

Sens. Clinton and Schumer: "New York State's planned CHIP expansion would have covered children up to 400 percent of the national poverty level." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Press Release, "Clinton, Schumer Blast Federal Rejection Of New York's Attempts To Increase Health Coverage For Children," 9/7/07)

The Federal Poverty Level for a family of four is $20,650. Four hundred percent of $20,650 is $82,600. ("The 2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines," Accessed 9/20/07, Available At: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07poverty.shtml)

The Senate bill states: "(B) - Exception - Subparagraph (A) [the limitation of the matching rate to the Medicaid rate for children whose effective income exceeds 300 percent of the Federal poverty level] shall not apply to any State that, on the date of enactment of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, has an approved State Plan Amendment or waiver to provide, or has enacted a State law to submit a State plan amendment to provide, expenditures described in such subparagraph under the State child health plan."

New York enacted a state law to submit a "State plan amendment." While that amendment was disapproved, the language of the Senate bill would still allow New York to claim the enhanced match if approved by a different Administration in the future.

FACT: The Senate SCHIP bill also grandfathers in New Jersey's program at 350 percent of the Federal poverty level, which includes children in families with incomes of $72,000 a year.

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ): "Corzine added that the state, which covers about 122,000 kids in its program, known as FamilyCare, 'will continue to provide health care to children in families with income up to 350 percent' of the federal poverty level – or $72,275 for a family of four. He also wrote that he is prepared to file a lawsuit challenging the new rules." (Christopher Lee, "N.J.'s Corzine to Defy New Health-Care Rules," The Washington Post, 9/14/07)

MYTH #4: Democrats are not seeking a political victory by passing a bill they know will be vetoed.

FACT: House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): "If he vetoes the bill, it's a political victory for us." (Robert Pear, "Veto Risk Seen In Compromise On Child Health," The New York Times, 9/17/07)

FACT: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "With a bill on its way to the president's desk by the end of next week, Democrats will be safe in blaming the White House for allowing the program to expire, according to House Majority Leader Hoyer." (Fawn Johnson, "Negotiators Strike SCHIP Deal, Agree To Slightly Modified Senate Measure," National Journal's CongressDaily, 9/19/07)

FACT: House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA): "The Medicare and Medicaid portions of CHAMP have been abandoned for rhetorical and/or political reasons that are unclear to me." (Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Dear Democratic Colleague Letter, 9/20/07)

MYTH #5: President Bush will be responsible if SCHIP is not reauthorized by September 30.

FACT: Congress is irresponsibly waiting until just before SCHIP expires on September 30 to pass a final bill they know will be vetoed. Democrats have known for months that President Bush would veto a bill like the one they intend to send him.

FACT: One of the Democrats' leaders has even said such a veto would be a "political victory." Members of Congress are putting health coverage for poor children at risk just so they can score political points in Washington.

FACT: President Bush has called on Congress to pass a clean, temporary extension of the current SCHIP program that he can sign by September 30. The President does not believe health coverage for poor children should be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken.

FACT: The President has instructed HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to work with states to mitigate the resulting damage if Congress allows SCHIP to lapse.

# # #


Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070921-6.html

Related: 20071002 SCHIP Congressman Bartlett casts the correct vote