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

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Carroll County Board of Commissioners approve Junction closeout funding



County Office Building Rm 311

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:00 AM

Open Meeting Votes November 29, 2011 Westminster, Maryland, November 29, 2011 – The Carroll County Commissioners considered a variety of County issues in today’s open meetings.

First they heard from former Westminster Mayor, Kevin Dayhoff, who testified on behalf of Junction, Inc., a non-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that is closing its doors after forty years of operation.

According to Mr. Dayhoff, the Carroll County Health Department has been slow in providing grant funds owed Junction, Inc. As a result, Junction has requested $6,500 to assist in closing its doors. The Commissioners voted to grant this subsidy provided this amount, and any other funds collected at a later date will be refunded to the County…


Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session 11/29/2011 11:00 AM
Downloads: Agenda  Agenda Packet

I. Call to Order



1. grant $6500 to dissolve Junction, INC.

2. approve Mr. Dayhoff to collect monies from CCHD and turn over any extra to county

Westminster Patch Live Coverage: Carroll County Commissioner Meeting Nov. 29

Tune in for live coverage of the open Carroll County Commissioner meeting starting at 11 a.m.



Tuesday November 29, 2011 11:29

Valerie Bonk Patch:

Kevin Dayhoff is on the floor discussing non-profit Junction Inc. "Junction is still waiting to be paid. The Carroll County health department owes Junction $111,580.39. We have not been given a reason why this wasn’t paid," said Dayhoff.

Valerie Bonk Patch:

Commissioner Howard: “What do you want Kevin?”

“I want $6,500. I will tell you how it is spent, and I will return in extra money to you. I need to get these final bills paid. Time is of the essence. I wanted to dissolve the organization on Sept. 30.”

“I make a motion that we kick in 6,500 to help dissolve Junction,” said Shoemaker.

All five commissioners voted in favor.

Tuesday November 29, 2011 11:38

++++++++++++



[20111129 za CCBOC PR Open Meeting 11 29 compiled]

Dayhoff, Junction, Carroll County Board of Commissioners, non-profits, drug treatment,

+++++++++++++++++
Carroll County Board of Commissioners approve Junction closeout funding
+++++++++++++++++





May 30, 2011
The staff of Junction on approximately October 16, 1971… According to Yount, “… (Junction) opened it's doors for business in 1971, but there were many of us that helped fix it up when the county gave it to the non-profit...

Jun 15, 2011
This morning the Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced that Carroll County government “has successfully worked in tandem with the Youth Services Bureau to preserve the critical role of Junction, Inc,” ...

2 minutes ago
Explore Carroll: County announces Junction deal with Youth Services Bureau. *****. Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/  http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ ...

Nov 20, 2008
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Oct 16, 2006
A Longaberger Basket Bingo fundraising event for the benefit of Junction, Inc., a Carroll County grassroots drug and substance abuse outreach, prevention and rehabilitation organization will be held on Saturday November ...

May 30, 2011
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Sep 08, 2006
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for...

[20110619 sdosm seo Junction posts related]

[20111129 WP Live Coverage Junction CCBOC] – [20111129 CCBOC PR Open Meeting 11 29] – [20111129 Junction on CCBOC agenda KED]

+++++++++++++

++++++++++++++

Digest of Junction news and information before Tuesday, November 29, 2011





+++++++++++



May 30, 2011
The staff of Junction on approximately October 16, 1971… According to Yount, “… (Junction) opened it's doors for business in 1971, but there were many of us that helped fix it up when the county gave it to the non-profit...

Jun 15, 2011
This morning the Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced that Carroll County government “has successfully worked in tandem with the Youth Services Bureau to preserve the critical role of Junction, Inc,” ...

2 minutes ago
Explore Carroll: County announces Junction deal with Youth Services Bureau. *****. Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/  http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ ...

Nov 20, 2008
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Oct 16, 2006
A Longaberger Basket Bingo fundraising event for the benefit of Junction, Inc., a Carroll County grassroots drug and substance abuse outreach, prevention and rehabilitation organization will be held on Saturday November ...

May 30, 2011
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Sep 08, 2006
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for...

Junction to continue to provide community drug treatment services

Agreement to merge with Youth Services Bureau announced by commissioners this morning.

Junction to continue to provide community drug treatment services




Related: Westminster Patch: “Junction Survives, Will Continue to Serve Community” By Kym Byrnes | Email the author | June 13, 2011 – and Carroll County Times  Junction will continue to offer services From staff reports Tuesday, June 14, 2011 9:35 am

Posted 6/13/11

This morning the Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced that Carroll County government “has successfully worked in tandem with the Youth Services Bureau to preserve the critical role of Junction, Inc,”

Junction, which began operations in 1971, is a Westminster-based private nonprofit providing substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment for individuals and their families throughout Carroll County. 

The county commissioners “recognized the need to facilitate an opportunity for Junction to continue to serve the needs of Carroll’s youth.  Based on this recognition, the Board directed staff to initiate discussions and work with key entities in the county to develop a plan focused on preserving Junction’s mission.”

Previously, on May 18, the board of Junction had announced “Due to changes in the funding of our private non-profit addiction program, the Junction Board of Directors has elected to close its doors on June 17, 2011.

“It has been a privilege to serve the clients and community of the greater Carroll County area for the past 40 years.  Junction is in contact with the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau and other local agencies to minimize the impact on those we serve.”

With the agreement announced earlier today, Junction will continue to offer drug treatment services to Carroll citizens by way of a collaboration with Youth Services Bureau.

“Carroll County Government, the Carroll County Health Department, the Junction board and staff, and the staff and board of the Carroll County Youth Services Bureau are anticipating a smooth transition with the very capable Junction staff,” said a county statement released this morning.

“Junction, Inc. will continue to accept clients and provide services at their current location; 98 N. Court Street in Westminster. This collaboration will be an exciting opportunity to mesh the skills and talents of two very outstanding agencies.

Kevin Dayhoff, a member of the Junction board for over ten years – and now, a Carroll Eagle history columnist, said, “It’s a good day for Carroll County that happened through teamwork and partnership - recognizing a need and stepping-up to the plate to make sure that it happened.

“I’m pleased that Carroll countians will continue to receive the services they need – that drug prevention and drug treatment services will continue with Youth Services Bureau.  It’s an excellent fit with a top-notch service provider.

“We are all in debt to the Board of County Commissioners, chief of staff Steve Powell, Lynn Davis, Gary Honeman, and the board of Youth Services Bureau, the chair of the Junction board, Jimmie Saylor and John Bosley and the counselors at Junction for working the extra-long hours to put this together.”

Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ release Junction to merge with Youth Services Bureau to meet a community need

[20110610 CCBOC release Junction YSB community_need]
[20110613 d1 SCEArtKED Junction to continue]


Junction to merge with Youth Services Bureau to meet a community need

####

Previously:

Junction will be closing its doors on June 17, 2011

May 23, 2011 by Kevin Dayhoff  Labels: MD State Budget, Non-profits-Junction 



On May 18, 2011 Junction released a statement that it was closing its doors on June 17, 2011.  “Due to changes in the funding of our private non-profit addiction program, the Junction Board of Directors has elected to close its doors on June 17, 2011.

“It has been a privilege to serve the clients and community of the greater Carroll County area for the past 40 years.  Junction is in contact with the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau and other local agencies to minimize the impact on those we serve.

“Substance Abuse Prevention Services will continue and are in the process of being relocated. 

“For more information, please contact Acting Director, John Bosley at 410-848-6100, ext. 34”

It has been the perfect storm for funding a non-profit; the economic downturn has taken its toll on all our funding sources - not unlike all community-based non-profits for the past five years; but especially for community outreach programs in the field of mental health and drug addiction.

It has also become increasingly difficult to be reimbursed for care by insurance companies - and many of our clients have also been hit hard by the economy and have a limited ability to help with the expense of the complicated care and treatment of drug addiction.

Junction has always been a bare-bones, no frills organization down-to-basics organization totally focused on client care, so the economy has hit us hard...  I mean, for forty-years, there has been certainly nothing fancy with a program being run out of an old county jail...

State and federal government cutbacks in funding and the increasing bureaucratic and administrative demands have hit all community-based non-profit mental and drug addiction programs hard.

Junction was able to get by and continue its work based on hope and fear for years.  Hope that we could keep the program going and, of course, the fear that we could not weather the continuing national - and state and local economic downturn.   

In the last several years, we have not gotten as many grants as we have received in years past...  Losing the ADAA grant is the straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm worried that losing a program such as Junction, with over 40-years experience in the difficult area of drug treatment, will have a negative impact on our community.  Anecdotally, I'm under the impression that marijuana, tobacco and alcohol abuse, heroin use and the misuse of prescription medications statistics are not going down and remain a challenge in our community.

I firmly believe that an organization like Junction is best suited to address the challenges that the various patients and clients have so they can be productive citizens.

Throughout this difficult process, working with Carroll County government has been wonderful.  We are working hard with the Health Department to make sure all of our clients are taken care of and placed in good programs to see to it that they get the services they need to be productive members of the community, their workplaces, and their families.

My heart goes out to all the wonderful caring professionals that work for Junction and all our clients that have turned to us for help. 

Hopefully we can get all our clients placed in other programs and it is also really important for Carroll County that we find jobs - in the county - for the excellent team that we have assembled at Junction over the last 40 years.

I'm major bummed.  It is said that all things happen for a reason.  I hope I live long enough to see a good reason to lose a great program like Junction - that has helped so many folks and asked for very little in return, except for some meager funding to keep the lights on...

For more, see: Carroll County Times:  “Substance abuse nonprofit Junction Inc. to close June 17” By Alisha George, Times Staff Writer Thursday, May 19, 2011 2:48 pm – and Westminster Patch: “Junction, Inc. the Latest Victim of Budget Cuts,” By Kym Byrnes May 23, 2011 Monday 2:09pm

[20110523 KED Junction statement] [20110518 Junction PRESS RELEAS2.pdf]
++++++

Junction disclosure and information – November 20, 2008

The web site for Junction can be found here: http://www.junctioninc.org/

I’ve been a member of the board of Junction since October 2000.

Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment.  It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for individuals, their families, and the community through education, counseling, community collaboration, and leadership in Carroll County.

It was incorporated on September 27, 1971.  A month after incorporation, on December 6, 1971, it opened its doors in the historic Carroll County Jail on Court Street in Westminster.

Junction Inc., http://www.junctioninc.org/, (410) 848-6100, 98 North Court Street, P. O. Box 206, Westminster, MD 21158

Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment.  Junction Inc., http://www.junctioninc.org/, (410) 848-6100, 98 North Court Street, P. O. Box 206, Westminster, MD 21158

[20081120 Junction disclosure and information]








Junction, Westminster, Carroll County, drugs, drug treatment, drug prevention, history, budget cuts


Junction will be closing its doors on June 17, 2011

[20110619 sdosm seo Junction posts related]

*****

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Digest of Junction news and information before Tuesday, November 29, 2011


Digest of Junction news and information before Tuesday, November 29, 2011





+++++++++++



May 30, 2011
The staff of Junction on approximately October 16, 1971… According to Yount, “… (Junction) opened it's doors for business in 1971, but there were many of us that helped fix it up when the county gave it to the non-profit...

Jun 15, 2011
This morning the Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced that Carroll County government “has successfully worked in tandem with the Youth Services Bureau to preserve the critical role of Junction, Inc,” ...

2 minutes ago
Explore Carroll: County announces Junction deal with Youth Services Bureau. *****. Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/  http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ ...

Nov 20, 2008
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Oct 16, 2006
A Longaberger Basket Bingo fundraising event for the benefit of Junction, Inc., a Carroll County grassroots drug and substance abuse outreach, prevention and rehabilitation organization will be held on Saturday November ...

May 30, 2011
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for ...

Sep 08, 2006
Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment. It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for...

Junction to continue to provide community drug treatment services

Agreement to merge with Youth Services Bureau announced by commissioners this morning.

Junction to continue to provide community drug treatment services




Related: Westminster Patch: “Junction Survives, Will Continue to Serve Community” By Kym Byrnes | Email the author | June 13, 2011 – and Carroll County Times  Junction will continue to offer services From staff reports Tuesday, June 14, 2011 9:35 am

Posted 6/13/11

This morning the Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced that Carroll County government “has successfully worked in tandem with the Youth Services Bureau to preserve the critical role of Junction, Inc,”

Junction, which began operations in 1971, is a Westminster-based private nonprofit providing substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment for individuals and their families throughout Carroll County. 

The county commissioners “recognized the need to facilitate an opportunity for Junction to continue to serve the needs of Carroll’s youth.  Based on this recognition, the Board directed staff to initiate discussions and work with key entities in the county to develop a plan focused on preserving Junction’s mission.”

Previously, on May 18, the board of Junction had announced “Due to changes in the funding of our private non-profit addiction program, the Junction Board of Directors has elected to close its doors on June 17, 2011.

“It has been a privilege to serve the clients and community of the greater Carroll County area for the past 40 years.  Junction is in contact with the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau and other local agencies to minimize the impact on those we serve.”

With the agreement announced earlier today, Junction will continue to offer drug treatment services to Carroll citizens by way of a collaboration with Youth Services Bureau.

“Carroll County Government, the Carroll County Health Department, the Junction board and staff, and the staff and board of the Carroll County Youth Services Bureau are anticipating a smooth transition with the very capable Junction staff,” said a county statement released this morning.

“Junction, Inc. will continue to accept clients and provide services at their current location; 98 N. Court Street in Westminster. This collaboration will be an exciting opportunity to mesh the skills and talents of two very outstanding agencies.

Kevin Dayhoff, a member of the Junction board for over ten years – and now, a Carroll Eagle history columnist, said, “It’s a good day for Carroll County that happened through teamwork and partnership - recognizing a need and stepping-up to the plate to make sure that it happened.

“I’m pleased that Carroll countians will continue to receive the services they need – that drug prevention and drug treatment services will continue with Youth Services Bureau.  It’s an excellent fit with a top-notch service provider.

“We are all in debt to the Board of County Commissioners, chief of staff Steve Powell, Lynn Davis, Gary Honeman, and the board of Youth Services Bureau, the chair of the Junction board, Jimmie Saylor and John Bosley and the counselors at Junction for working the extra-long hours to put this together.”

Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ release Junction to merge with Youth Services Bureau to meet a community need

[20110610 CCBOC release Junction YSB community_need]
[20110613 d1 SCEArtKED Junction to continue]


Junction to merge with Youth Services Bureau to meet a community need

####

Previously:

Junction will be closing its doors on June 17, 2011

May 23, 2011 by Kevin Dayhoff  Labels: MD State Budget, Non-profits-Junction 



On May 18, 2011 Junction released a statement that it was closing its doors on June 17, 2011.  “Due to changes in the funding of our private non-profit addiction program, the Junction Board of Directors has elected to close its doors on June 17, 2011.

“It has been a privilege to serve the clients and community of the greater Carroll County area for the past 40 years.  Junction is in contact with the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau and other local agencies to minimize the impact on those we serve.

“Substance Abuse Prevention Services will continue and are in the process of being relocated. 

“For more information, please contact Acting Director, John Bosley at 410-848-6100, ext. 34”

It has been the perfect storm for funding a non-profit; the economic downturn has taken its toll on all our funding sources - not unlike all community-based non-profits for the past five years; but especially for community outreach programs in the field of mental health and drug addiction.

It has also become increasingly difficult to be reimbursed for care by insurance companies - and many of our clients have also been hit hard by the economy and have a limited ability to help with the expense of the complicated care and treatment of drug addiction.

Junction has always been a bare-bones, no frills organization down-to-basics organization totally focused on client care, so the economy has hit us hard...  I mean, for forty-years, there has been certainly nothing fancy with a program being run out of an old county jail...

State and federal government cutbacks in funding and the increasing bureaucratic and administrative demands have hit all community-based non-profit mental and drug addiction programs hard.

Junction was able to get by and continue its work based on hope and fear for years.  Hope that we could keep the program going and, of course, the fear that we could not weather the continuing national - and state and local economic downturn.   

In the last several years, we have not gotten as many grants as we have received in years past...  Losing the ADAA grant is the straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm worried that losing a program such as Junction, with over 40-years experience in the difficult area of drug treatment, will have a negative impact on our community.  Anecdotally, I'm under the impression that marijuana, tobacco and alcohol abuse, heroin use and the misuse of prescription medications statistics are not going down and remain a challenge in our community.

I firmly believe that an organization like Junction is best suited to address the challenges that the various patients and clients have so they can be productive citizens.

Throughout this difficult process, working with Carroll County government has been wonderful.  We are working hard with the Health Department to make sure all of our clients are taken care of and placed in good programs to see to it that they get the services they need to be productive members of the community, their workplaces, and their families.

My heart goes out to all the wonderful caring professionals that work for Junction and all our clients that have turned to us for help. 

Hopefully we can get all our clients placed in other programs and it is also really important for Carroll County that we find jobs - in the county - for the excellent team that we have assembled at Junction over the last 40 years.

I'm major bummed.  It is said that all things happen for a reason.  I hope I live long enough to see a good reason to lose a great program like Junction - that has helped so many folks and asked for very little in return, except for some meager funding to keep the lights on...

For more, see: Carroll County Times:  “Substance abuse nonprofit Junction Inc. to close June 17” By Alisha George, Times Staff Writer Thursday, May 19, 2011 2:48 pm – and Westminster Patch: “Junction, Inc. the Latest Victim of Budget Cuts,” By Kym Byrnes May 23, 2011 Monday 2:09pm

[20110523 KED Junction statement] [20110518 Junction PRESS RELEAS2.pdf]
++++++

Junction disclosure and information – November 20, 2008

The web site for Junction can be found here: http://www.junctioninc.org/

I’ve been a member of the board of Junction since October 2000.

Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment.  It provides prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse for individuals, their families, and the community through education, counseling, community collaboration, and leadership in Carroll County.

It was incorporated on September 27, 1971.  A month after incorporation, on December 6, 1971, it opened its doors in the historic Carroll County Jail on Court Street in Westminster.

Junction Inc., http://www.junctioninc.org/, (410) 848-6100, 98 North Court Street, P. O. Box 206, Westminster, MD 21158

Junction is a local Westminster Carroll County Maryland private nonprofit agency for substance abuse prevention and outpatient drug treatment.  Junction Inc., http://www.junctioninc.org/, (410) 848-6100, 98 North Court Street, P. O. Box 206, Westminster, MD 21158

[20081120 Junction disclosure and information]








Junction, Westminster, Carroll County, drugs, drug treatment, drug prevention, history, budget cuts


Junction will be closing its doors on June 17, 2011

[20110619 sdosm seo Junction posts related]

*****

Bad News from the White House

The bad news: To save the economy, on December 31, 2011, Obama will announce that he is ordering the immigration department to start deporting old people (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs. Old people are easier to catch, and will not remember how to get back home! I started crying when I thought of you all... 

*****

In downtown historic Westminster it's rainy and cold but still festive

Monday, November 28, 2011

Americans for Limited Government: Rep. Barney Frank retires, ALG responds: "Good riddance!"

For Immediate Release                                                      Contact: Robert Romano (press); Rebekah Rast (TV & radio)
Nov. 28, 2011                                                                                                                 Phone: (703) 383-0880  

Rep. Barney Frank retires, ALG responds: "Good riddance!"

Nov. 28, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today in a statement responded to Rep. Barney Frank's decision not to seek reelection in 2012:

"Barney Frank has been a staunch defender of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac throughout the buildup of the housing bubble, even accusing critics of exaggerating the risks posed to the Government Sponsored Enterprises in the 2000's.  Under legislation Frank voted for in 1992, Fannie and Freddie only needed $900 of capital behind a $200,000 mortgage they guaranteed

"From 2007 until the end of 2010, Frank was the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and when the crisis hit was blindsided by the bankruptcy of the GSEs.  Frank led the House's efforts to bail out Fannie and Freddie and other financial institutions in 2008.  To his departure, American taxpayers say good riddance.

"When the time came to reform the financial system, Frank excluded Fannie and Freddie from his signature legislation, even though the GSEs were ground zero of the financial crisis.  Frank ignored the warning signs of the crisis, and then when it hit, did everything in his power to cover for Fannie and Freddie.  Meaningful financial reform would have been to unwind government involvement in housing finance, instead of affirming it.

"Frank leaves behind a disastrous record that will have consequences for years if not decades to come.  His departure comes about twenty years too late."

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.


###

Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website atwww.GetLiberty.org.


Americans for Limited Government: Rep. Barney Frank retires, ALG responds: "Good riddance!"
*****

The Washington Post PostPolitics Afternoon Edition: Barney Frank leaves historic, fiery legacy

Earlier on Monday, November 28, 2011:

Rep. Barney Frank will not seek re-election

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will not seek re-election in 2012, according to a statement from his office. The 16-term Democrat will make an announcement this afternoon. 

Read more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics

Or visit washingtonpost.com.

The Washington Post





Monday, November 28, 2011
Politics Afternoon Edition

The Washington Post PostPolitics Afternoon Edition: Barney Frank leaves historic, fiery legacy

HEADLINES

  1. Frank leaves historic, fiery legacy

    In announcing retirement, the 16-term congressman from Massachusetts may be best remembered for his work on fiscal policy and promotion of gay rights.
    » Read full article
  2. Is Frank a bellwether for jumpy Democrats?

    The party isn't yet seeing an avalanche of retirements, but the next few months will determine whether Democrats believe they can regain the House majority.
    » Read full article
  3. What the Union Leader endorsement means for Newt Gingrich

    Winning the support of New Hampshire's largest newspaper matters. But how much will it help?
    » Read full article
  4. Obama pushes for better digital records

    The White House orders are part of Obama's "We Can't Wait" campaign.
    » Read full article
  5. Fact-checking Grover Norquist on taxes

    According to the anti-tax advocate, spending always goes up after Democrats cut a deal to increase taxes. Really?
    » Read full article

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I did not think I lived a good enough life to see Newt Gingrich as the Republican nominee... He would be the best thing to happen to Democrats since Barry Goldwater."



Q&A DISCUSSIONS

Q: Do you feel that there is a conflict of interest if a justice's spouse (Thomas, in this case) was lobbying either for or against the case being brought before the court?
John Steele:
We have to be careful when using a spouse's political activities or views to disqualify a judge. Spouses are permitted to have political lives, too. Judge Reinhardt, in the 9th Circuit, is married to an ACLU lawyer who had been involved in the same sex marriage case, which was then assigned to Judge Reinhardt. He didn't recuse himself and I think he was correct not to do so.



MULTIMEDIA

Mike Ross
Barney Frank is not alone. A number of long-serving members of Congress won't seek reelection in the upcoming cycle.

*****