Milton Friedman on Curing American Health Care
Kay Ivey Expected To Announce She's Entering Lt. Gov Race
Kudos to Kay for doing something politicians rarely do--look at the situation and recognize where she can be most helpful to the people of Alabama.
Sen. Beason's Presser on Alabama Health Care Freedom Act
Here are a couple of pictures of the crowd:
Democrats put Senator Beason's Health Care Freedom Act on the special order calendar today...after the bingo bill. The Senate Democrats pulled out their bag of tricks and passed the bingo bill around 6:30 PM. They then moved on to consideration of SB 233. Senator Rodger Smitherman began to filibuster. The Senate then decided to adjourn and will take up SB 233 on Thursday.
Why I'm Against Gambling
First, I should say that if I have to pin myself somewhere on the political spectrum, I consider myself a classical liberal. Thus, in keeping with that ideology, I am not opposed to gambling in Alabama...in theory.
(Note: My father has brought it to my attention that most people will not know what classical liberal means. Lest anyone think I have gone over to the dark side, here's the definition of classical liberal: is a political ideology that developed in the in England, Western Europe, and the Americas. It is committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets19th century. Notable classical liberals include Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.)
The problems come from looking at reality. Our country is a welfare state. Between food stamps, Medicaid and various other entitlement programs, the poor in America are taken care of. Who pays for those programs? You and I do...and so does every other taxpayer in America. I often hear "People should be able to do whatever they want with their own money. If they are dumb enough to gamble it away, it's not my problem." But the thing is, it IS their problem, just like it's my problem. When Joe Smith gambles all his money away and can't afford to feed and clothe his family, the taxpayers have to pick up the slack. And that's one reason I'm against gambling in Alabama.
Here's the other reason: The gambling interests in Alabama have a long history of buying votes and being involved in shady business deals in order to get what they want. They also have a history of funding candidates that will look out for their best interest. Almost all of those candidates are Democrats. Imagine the millions of dollars that will flow into Alabama if we legalize gambling. Now imagine all of those millions flowing right into the pockets of Democrat candidates. At a time when Republicans are closer than ever before to taking over the State Legislature, we cannot afford to have gambling come in with that kind of money and fund the Democrats. If we allow this to happen, Montgomery will become even more corrupt and shady than it already is.
The Democrats showed just how desperately they want gambling legislation passed today. The Senate Democrats pulled out every trick in the book, and broke as many rules as needed to pass SB 380. Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. was heavily involved in today's debate--something he rarely does. From the gavel in, it was clear that the Democrats had something afoot. We now know exactly what they had--two senators who agreed to come over to their side. Unfortunately, Sens. Denton and Pruett gave up their integrity and voted for this corrupt piece of legislation.
The gambling bill (SB 380) passed by a vote of 21-13 around 6:30 this evening. We will now have to take this battle to the House. I only hope we have some tough House members who will be ready to withstand the pressure from the gambling kingpins.
New Poll Numbers in Alabama Governor/Attorney General Races
On the gubernational side, Bradley Byrne seems to have broken out of his rut with 27%. Roy Moore is holding pretty steady at 23%. The news was really bad for Tim James. He came in at 9%, behind Dr. Robert Bentley and Treasurer Kay Ivey who were tied at 10%.
Birmingham News Editorial Board Doesn't Get It
Senator Scott Beason dropped the Alabama Health Care Freedom Act at the beginning of the legislative session. On February 2, 2010, the bill passed out of committee. Up until now, Senator Lowell Barron has prevented the legislation from getting on the special order calendar for a floor vote.
The Birmingham News Claims this is just a ploy by Sen. Beason to score political points.
Beason's bill and the others are nothing more than political grandstanding, with an eye toward the November election. Alabama can't pick and choose which federal laws it wants to follow. We saw how well that worked in the 1860s and the 1960s.But Alabama Republicans have made the political calculation that standing up to the federal government on health care is a winning issue. House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, who is also chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, at least was honest about it in a Huntsville Times story. "It's a good issue for us, regardless of whether we pass anything or not," he said. "People are going to take it out on Democrats in Montgomery and Washington."
If this was a political ploy Sen. Beason wouldn't have been dropped the bill until after Obamacare passed. If this was a political ploy, Sen. Beason would have stopped after the initial vote to put SB 233 on the special order calender--a vote Democrats did not participate in. Instead, Sen. Beason gave the Democrats a chance to do what the people of Alabama wanted them to do.
Let me say again--40 other states have passed or are considering this legislation. We are beyond politics now. People have reached their limit where the federal government is concerned. Both Democrats and Republicans have signed on to Sen. Beason's legislation to stop enforcement of the health care bill. The Birmingham News' complete dismissal of the legislation as Republicans trying to score political points shows that they just don't get it.
WaPo Poll Shows Voters Still Oppose Obamacare
The WaPo poll he mentions shows that:
Democrats still insist that when voters experience life under Obamacare they will thank the Democrats for shoving it down their throats. It must be nice to live in the land of delusion...Passions remain strongest among the plan's detractors, as 26 percent of all adults said they are angry about the changes enacted by Congress, up from 18 percent in August. That includes 54 percent of all Republicans. Fewer Americans, 15 percent, said they are enthusiastic about the new measure, including 40 percent of liberal Democrats.Among opponents, there is near-universal support (86 percent) for efforts to cancel the changes either through a new vote in Congress or through the courts. Since passage, Republican leaders have called for repeal of the new law and replacement with more modest changes.Many key provisions of the new law have been highly popular in recent polling, particularly insurance changes such as extending coverage to young adults and eliminating exclusions based on preexisting conditions. But the intensity of the overall opposition adds to the Democrats' challenge in pitching those benefits to voters, with just over seven months until the midterm elections.
Roby Signs Pledge To Repeal Death Tax
The federal estate tax (Death Tax) expired in 2010 for one year. If Congress fails to act, it will return at a 55% tax rate for assets over $1 million dollars in 2011. This should be a major topic of debate during the lead-up to the November elections.
The estate tax is a tax on the net value of a decedent's estate, including all personal and business assets, before distribution to their heirs. Because business assets are included, the Estate Tax hits family business owners and farmers – the engines of economic growth -- particularly hard.
Kudos to Martha Roby for fighting for lower taxes and helping people keep their money!
The Classical Liberal Tradition: Adam Smith vs. Karl Marx
I'm bringing this to your attention because he recently gave a talk at FEE's 2010 Homeschool Debate Tournament. It was excellent. So, I decided to post the video here for everyone to see:
The Classical Liberal Tradition: Adam Smith vs Karl Marx
The Classical Liberal Tradition: Marx v. Smith from FEE on Vimeo.
RWN: Blogger Poll The Ultimate Like/Dislike Poll For People On The Right
Here's a little tease:
Mark Levin, George W. Bush, Paul Ryan, Sarah Palin and Thomas Sowell were all on the Top 10 Most Popular List--can you guess in what order?
Bill O'Reilly, Meghan McCain, Ron Paul, Pat Buchanan and Lindsey Graham were all on the Top 10 Most Unpopular List--I think you'll really be surprised by the order on this one...
To see the full results and find out who the most loved and most hated conservative figures are, head on over to Right Wing News
Alabama Health Care Freedom Act
On Thursday, the Democrats once again tried to play games with the people of Alabama. Senator Scott Beason continued his filibuster, until (mistakenly he admits) he allowed them to take a second vote to put his bill on the special order calendar. While this vote failed as did the first, some Democrat legislators were thrilled to be allowed to get a vote for this bill on record.
Democrats in the Alabama legislature must think we're really stupid. They think that because they vote FOR a bill, after doing everything they can to KILL the bill, we will only pay attention to the last vote and all will be well. I certainly hope they are in for a big surprise in November.
Update: I'm hearing (but not confirmed) that the Alabama Black Legislative Caucus has scheduled a press conference at 12:30 on Tuesay. It sounds like they're trying to pull the same stunt the gambling folks did and screw up our press conference. I hope this will serve as even more motivation for people on our side to make the trip.
Rally for Health Care Freedom Act
Senator Scott Beason will be explaining the bill to the media and explaining why it's important that Alabamians be allowed to vote on this crucial constitutional amendment which prohibits any person, employer, or health care provider from being compelled to participate in any health care system.
Additionally, we will be presenting the coalition letter in support of the four bills facing the state legislature. If you or your organization hasn't signed the letter yet, please check it out here.
It’s vital that we pressure certain Democrats into allowing these bills on the floor to be voted upon. There are four things we can do right now:
1) Continue to call and e-mail your state legislators.
2) Sign the coalition letter linked above.
3) Show up from the press conference on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in Montgomery.
4) Pass this information on to your conservative organizations, e-mail lists and friends.
Help Pass the Alabama Health Care Freedom Act: Sign the Coalition Letter!
SB 233, sponsored by Sen. Scott Beason, is the farthest along in the process. It has come out of committee and now awaits a floor vote. Senator Lowell Barron has been the obstruction to getting the bill on the floor. The House bills, sponsored by Reps. Bentley, Gipson, and Galliher/Ward, have not even been voted on in committee.
Members from several conservative organizations around the state have worked together to craft a coalition letter expressing our support for the Alabama Health Care Freedom Act, legislation which opposes the federal government's recent move to mandate health insurance coverage for all individuals.
The basic line is that Alabama won't allow (by constitutional amendment) for the federal government to dictate which doctors we can see, which insurance plans we like, and that the federal government can't determine the relationship we have with our doctors.
We will be conducting a news conference early next week to publicize the organizations, candidates and individuals supporting this legislation. The time of the conference will be announced as soon as we have the details confirmed.
We are requesting that we get as many organizations, candidates and individuals sign on to the coalition letter as possible before the news conference. The text of the letter, as well as an online signup form, is available on the Internet here: Alabama Health Care Freedom Coalition Letter
Thank you for your assistance in stopping ObamaCare at the Alabama state line!
Seattle School's In-School Clinic Sets Up Teen's Abortion Without Mother's Knowledge
Mother furious after in-school clinic sets up teen's abortion:SEATTLE -- The mother of a Ballard High School student is fuming after the health center on campus helped facilitate her daughter's abortion during school hours.The mother, whom KOMO News has chosen to identify only as "Jill," says the clinic kept the information "confidential." When she signed a consent form, Jill figured it meant her 15 year old could go to the Ballard Teen Health Center located inside the high school for an earache, a sports physical, even birth control, but not for help terminating a pregnancy."She took a pregnancy test at school at the teen health center," she said. "Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."Jill says her daughter, a pro-life advocate, was given a pass, put in a taxi and sent off to have an abortion during school hours all without her family knowing."We had no idea this was being facilitated on campus," said Jill. "They just told her that if she concealed it from her family, that it would be free of charge and no financial responsibility."The Seattle School District says it doesn't run the health clinics at high schools. Swedish Medical Center runs the clinic at Ballard High and protects the students' privacy. T.J. Cosgrove of the King County Health Department, which administers the school-based programs for the health department, says it's always best if parents are involved in their children's health care, but don't always have a say."At any age in the state of Washington, an individual can consent to a termination of pregnancy," he said. But Jill says she not only didn't have a say in her daughter's abortion, but also didn't know about it. "Makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away."
Update on Sen. Scott Beason's Bill to Protect Alabama Citizens From Obamacare
I got a call around noon today from one of our Tea Party members to see if I could join them at the State House regarding Sen. Lowell Barron's holding Sen. Beason's bill, SB 233, from being added to the calendar for the current session. This is a constitutional amendment that will provide cover for citizens of Alabama as protection from Obamacare. I have to add that Sen. Beason is my new hero and please call to thank him for his efforts.
We were able to sit in on a rules committee meeting where the calendar for the day was reviewed and approved. Sen. Steve French requested that the bill be added to the calendar. Sen. Barron told him that he thought that bill still had some things that were "difficult to understand" and refused to add it to the calendar. If it’s difficult to understand, then he’s in desperate need for a remedial reading course. Barron then called for a vote to approve the calendar which was
seconded by Sen. Wendell Mitchell. He then called for a vote to approve the calendar which was seconded by Sen. Wendell Mitchell.
We then spoke to Sen. Mitchell and told him how vital it was that this bill reach the floor and asked that he get it on the calendar. He told us he really liked that bill and that he would definitely vote on it; one of my friends asked just how he would vote and he said that he would vote for the bill, yet he added nothing to the discussion when Sen. French asked that it be added to the calendar. He has the influence to push this to the calendar but it was obvious that he has no intention to do so.
The most telling point of our conversation with Sen. Mitchell was when one of my friends apologized to him for not knowing exactly how the process worked for getting a bill on the calendar. He responded with, "That's okay, you're not supposed to understand how it works." As Sen. Beason told us later, that's probably the most truthful thing he said to us.
I'm still outraged by that statement as well as how he treated us like little housewives that didn't have anything better to do. He was so dismissive of us and it was obvious that he has a deaf ear to his constituents.
Bottom line - the arrogance in D.C. is glaringly apparent throughout every level of government and every bit of that arrogance has a "D" behind their name. Sen. Barron was so proud of himself and almost broke his arm in patting himself on the back for allowing Republican bills on the calendar - he even pointed out to the two Republicans in the meeting that they got first billing on the calendar with one of their bills, which brought laughs from the Democrats in the room.
Please, please, please - if you can get to Montgomery at anytime during the last days of this session - GET HERE!!! We have to fill the halls on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next 5 weeks. The Tuesday sessions start at 2:00 p.m. and the Thursday sessions start at 10:00 a.m. I will be there this Thursday and as many of those remaining days as possible. There are 2 bills in the House, but Sen. Beason's bill is the best of the 3. I live in the area so let me know if you need info. If you can't physically make it, melt the phones, faxes, and email to the following:
Seth Hammett 334-242-7668 (Speaker of the House)
Lowell Baron 334-242-7858 (Rules Committee Chairperson) He also HAS the power.
Tom Butler 334-242-7854 (Health Committee Deputy Chairperson)
Zeb Little 334-242-7855 (Senate Majority Leader)
I know that the AGs have filed suit but we need to hit this monstrosity from every angle possible.
As a last note, if you've never sat in the Senate gallery during a session, it's quite an education. They spent the first hour today acknowledging their tour groups in the gallery, reading proclamations to honor deceased constituents, and discussing their upcoming softball game between the House and the Senate. And we wonder why nothing is accomplished???
Luther Strange Reacts To Passage of Obamacare
Friends,
Sunday’s healthcare vote was truly historic, but for all of the wrong reasons. The close vote, that largely followed regional lines, showed once again the cultural, social and economic divide that currently runs so deep in this nation.
Generally, sweeping legislation that fundamentally alters the role of government in the life of the individual is adopted by a bipartisan majority. In the case of yesterday’s takeover of 20 percent of our economy and our personal health choices by the federal government, no such agreement was present. Instead, we witnessed the modern day version of the old smoke filled room – arm twisting, job promises, pay offs and threats to secure this narrow victory over the wishes of the American people.
Speaker Pelosi and President Obama can try all they want to liken this legislation to Social Security, Medicare or Civil Rights – but in every case, those pieces of legislation were passed by large bi-partisan majorities. Our system of government was established to prevent what happened yesterday – a narrow, regional majority forcing its will on recalcitrant states and citizens.
We all should do everything in our power to dismantle this illegal monstrosity in its cradle. As your Attorney General, I intend to join or initiate as many legal actions as possible to challenge the constitutionality of every conceivable aspect of this law. And I will work with the legislature and governor to ensure that our State passes the appropriate laws to give these cases the greatest chance of success.
But today, I think we must reflect upon what yesterday’s action in the House means for our nation as a whole. Starting with the stimulus bill, then the auto and financial bailouts and now healthcare nationalization, we have seen trillions added to our national debt with stunning speed. A debt that threatens to turn our nation into a third world country begging for handouts from the IMF. And for what purpose?
It would appear that the real purpose of these measures has been a massive transfer of wealth from the productive parts of the nation in the South, Midwest and Rocky Mountain states to the Northeast, Rust Belt and West Coast. The beneficiaries (commonly called Blue State America) all share similar traits – high taxes, gigantic deficits, bloated public sector budgets, impossible pension obligations, over regulation of business and out of control unions.
Yesterday was one more step in destroying those states like Alabama that have a balanced budget and friendly business environment to prop up economically unviable states like California, Michigan, New York and New Jersey. As businesses have left those states in droves for better operating environments, their tax revenues have declined. Instead of responsibly cutting government and spending to respond, those states have borrowed massive amounts of money and have hired even more government workers in response. Now, through the policies of this Administration and Congress, they seek to raid those states with free markets and low taxes by having the federal government redistribute our wealth and place a debt on us and our children that we did not seek, did not need nor wanted.
That is no Union. It is the act of an empire. And if we are to prevent further deepening divisions and resentments building between areas of the country, we must restore fiscal discipline to Washington, but most importantly assert our rights once again as states and be willing to vigorously defend those rights.
Our Constitution is very explicit about the specific rights and powers of the federal government. Yet we hardly seem to take large swaths of the Constitution or the Bill of Rights seriously anymore where those limitations are addressed. We ignore them at our peril because to do so undermines, in the minds of the people, the legitimacy of union. That is not a healthy state of affairs and it cannot hold.
- Luther
JeffCo Transparency Bill
On Thursday, a bill I sponsored to provide more transparency for Jefferson County financial transactions passed the Alabama House of Representatives. I am hopeful that this bill will both deter and prevent the type of criminal activity and fraud that has occurred in past bond deals in Jefferson County. Financial transactions for Jefferson County will be more transparent and county officials will be more accountable to the taxpayers if this bill is enacted into law.
And here's the text of a Birmingham Business Journal article on the bill:
JeffCo-focused fiscal transparency bill passes state House
Birmingham Business Journal - by Jimmy DeButts Staff
A bill requiring greater transparency for future Jefferson County financial deals exited a state House committee on Wednesday.
In response to the county's lingering $3.2 billion sewer bond debt crisis, Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, introduced a bill that would require:
· a public hearing on any proposal to issue debt in an amount of $5 million or more;
· a public hearing before Jefferson County bond and swap deals are initiated. Swaps would have to be priced pursuant to a competitive bidding process;
· the disclosure of the identity of each person who receives payment for services provided in connection with county financing deals.
DeMarco's bill now heads to the Alabama House of Representatives for further debate and consideration. The bill was introduced in response to years of sewer bond fraud by Jefferson County officials. The fraudulent bonds ballooned to $3.9 billion in debt for the county.
The proposed legislation requires a majority of the Jefferson County Commission to attend the public hearings and to answer questions asked by citizens.
"I'm pleased to see the entire Jefferson County House delegation get behind this effort to bring greater transparency and accountability to our county," DeMarco said. "I know it's something that taxpayers want to see happen."
Jefferson County's debt problems stem from bond swap deals that switched fixed interest debt into variable interest debt earlier this decade. The county's financial troubles began in 2002 when the county alleges two former JP Morgan employees solicited the municipality for a $1.4 billion sewer bond deal.
Jefferson County's financial floor collapsed in February 2008 when Standard & Poor's lowered its rating on $3.2 billion of outstanding sewer bond debt three levels.
Kudos to Rep. DeMarco for attempting to clean up the mess that is Jefferson County.
Interview with Rep. Paul DeMarco
United Liberty Podcast
Friday night's participants were Brett Bittner, Doug Mataconis and myself. We cover health care, Real ID, JD Hayworth and gay marriage, the census, and more.
If you'd like to listen, you can stream live from UL here, or you can download from the link below:
Podcast
Historic Vote On Health Care
A good friend just sent me this remider in the wake of today's passage of today's very partisan vote to nationalize health care:
Social Security: 284 Democrats/81 Republicans
Medicare: 248 Democrats / 65 Republicans
ObamaCare: 224 Democrats (rule/procedures adopted by just 8 votes) / 0 Republicans, twenty plus Democrats siding with Republicans.
He also pointed out a very apt quote:
"America will fall without a shot being fired. It will fall from within."
Nikita Khrushchev
Do Democrats Have The Votes?
Constitutional Challenges to the Health Care bill
Here's what he says about the individual mandate:
On the "Cornhusker Kickback":But the individual mandate extends the commerce clause's power beyond economic activity, to economic inactivity. That is unprecedented. While Congress has used its taxing power to fund Social Security and Medicare, never before has it used its commerce power to mandate that an individual person engage in an economic transaction with a private company. Regulating the auto industry or paying "cash for clunkers" is one thing; making everyone buy a Chevy is quite another. Even during World War II, the federal government did not mandate that individual citizens purchase war bonds.If you choose to drive a car, then maybe you can be made to buy insurance against the possibility of inflicting harm on others. But making you buy insurance merely because you are alive is a claim of power from which many Americans instinctively shrink. Senate Republicans made this objection, and it was defeated on a party-line vote, but it will return.
On "Deem and Pass":Some states are threatening lawsuits to block the special deals brokered by individual senators in exchange for their votes. Unless the reconciliation bill passes the Senate, such deals could remain in place. Article I of the Constitution allows Congress to tax and spend to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States." Normally, this is no barrier to legislation benefiting a particular state or city. Congress can always argue that, say, an Air Force base in Nebraska benefits the United States as a whole. But the deals in the Senate bill are different. It is really hard to identify a benefit to all the states from exempting one state from an increase in Medicare costs or allowing only the citizens of Florida to get Medicare Advantage.
The whole purpose of the "deem and pass" procedure -- which was advocated by Rules Committee Chairman Louise Slaughter -- was to avoid a separate vote on the Senate bill, which many House members find objectionable, and instead vote on the reconciliation bill and simultaneously "deem" the Senate measure passed. Although Democrats cited prior examples of deem and pass, "the Republicans did it" is not a recognized constitutional argument -- especially if the public and the justices have never heard of such a thing. This constitutional objection seems to have succeeded, as House leaders decided on Saturday to take a separate vote on the Senate version, rather than "deeming" it passed.
And finally, on the Health Care Freedom Acts that many states have passed or are attempting to pass:
Several states are considering measures attempting to exempt their residents from an individual health insurance mandate. While such provisions may have a political impact, none is likely to have any effect on the legislation's constitutionality. Under the 10th Amendment, if Congress enacts a law pursuant to one of the "powers . . . delegated to the United States by the Constitution," then that law is supreme, and nothing a state can do changes this. Any state power to "nullify" unconstitutional federal laws has long been rejected.
D-Day
The bottom line is this: If they aren't sure they have the votes they will not take a vote today. As fellow blogger and lawyer Doug Mataconis so aptly pointed out in the United Liberty podcast, the only thing worse than another delay, is a vote that doesn't pass.
What I'm Reading
1. 10 Days That Shook The World: This is a book by American journalist John "Jack" Reed and his experience in Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution. Reed is one of the few Americans buried at the Kremlin. At the recommendation of a good friend, I just watched the movie "Reds" with Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson with is about the life of Jack Reed. After seeing the movie I had to read Reed's book. While I obviously don't agree with his political philosophy, both the book and the movie are inspiring.
2. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Democracy, the Internet, and the Overthrow of Everything: This is Joe Trippi's account of the Howard Dean campaign, and to a less extent, his life. I'm reading it at the recommendation of another friend who told me it was key in terms of understanding both how Democrats think, and how the tech revolution began to change the political landscape.
3. Politicking Online: The Transformation of Election Campaign Communications: This book by Costas Panagopoulos is a collection of papers on how the internet and social networking is changing the face of political campaigning and grassroots activism in America. Great for anyone who works in the public policy arena and communicates using Facebook, Twitter, or Blogs.
United Liberty Podcast
Why You Should Oppose Obamacare: 32 Quotes From Democrats
Why You Should Oppose Obamacare: 32 Quotes From Democrats
Here's a peek at a couple of the more colorful quotes:
This bill represents a giveaway to the insurance industry. $70 billion dollars a year, and no guarantees of any control over premiums, forcing people to buy private insurance, five consecutive years of double-digit premium increases. -- Dennis Kucinich
And from our favorite "post partisan" President:
And what I believe that means is we’ve got to break out of what I call, sort of, the 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics. Which is, you have nasty primaries where everybody’s disheartened. Then you divide the country 45 percent on one side, 45 percent on the other, 10 percent in the middle — all of them apparently live in Florida and Ohio — and battle it out. And maybe you eke out a victory of 50-plus-one, but you can’t govern. I mean, you get Air Force One, there are a lot of nice perks to being president, but you can’t deliver on health care. We’re not going to pass universal health care with a 50-plus-one strategy. -- Barack Obama
A Letter to Congress
March 15, 2010
Dear Senators Jeff and Richard:
Would you explain to me why the United States Department of Commerce mailed a letter to the American residents on March 8, 2010 stating that one week from that date they would be receiving their census forms? The public, through weeks of publicity, has been aware of the census.
So the Department of Commerce sends a letter a week earlier saying the survey is coming a week later. I guess that they think that the American people, excluding themselves, are idiots.
Multiply 120,000,000 households by $.43 and you should come up with a cost for this silly letter of approximately $50 million dollars.
That is why the American people are sick of Washington politics. People are losing their jobs and hurting and yet the government is willing to pitch $50 million out the window.
When is this going to stop??
A Good Analysis of the Health Care Vote
This thing is going to come down to the wire. I hope people in the swing districts will continue to pressure their Representative. If there was an undecided in Alabama, I'd be camping out on their doorstep all weekend.
House Passes Slaughter Rule 222-202
Here are the 28 Democrats who had the guts to stand up to Pelosi and protect the Constitution:
Adler (NJ) Arcuri Boren Bright Carney Childers Cooper Costello Dahlkemper Davis (AL) Giffords Herseth Sandlin Holden Kosmas Kratovil Lipinski McIntyre McNerney Melancon Michaud Minnick Mitchell Nye Perriello Shuler Stupak Taylor Teague
Common Sense Solutions For Education Reform
Florida gets it:
Utah gets it:In Florida, the State Senate has proposed legislation in two committees to strengthen merit pay for teachers and end tenure.
The question is: Why doesn't Alabama get it?Utah has also taken a serious step in the direction of responsible education reform. The Utah State Senate passed a bill recently to ban the social promotion of first, second, and third graders who are not yet reading on grade level. The majority noted that reading skills are the fundamental building blocks of future learning.
Update on Alabama Legislature
Gambling: Sen. Roger Bedford will introduce another gambling bill. Unlike his previous legislation, this is a simple bill. It calls for an up or down vote on whether to allow electronic bingo, and stipulates that if the constitutional amendment passes the Alabama legislature will have the power to tax and regulate gaming facilities.
This bill is both good and bad. It's a bill that will be more likely to pass (which is a negative) and it gives the legislature the power to tax and regulate gambling. With certain gambling bosses controlling several of our state legislators, I doubt we're going to get fair tax rates and solid regulation. The only upside is-anything they pass in the way of taxes or regulations will be easier to repeal since it is not a constitutional amendment. Sen. Bedford's first gambling bill granted monopoly power to a handful of people, taxed gaming revenues at an embarrassingly low rate compared to other states with similar gaming laws, and gave the owners of these "electronic bingo" facilities criminal and civil immunity from prosecution. All of that would have been part of the Alabama Constitution had Sen. Bedford's original bill passed.
Highway Bill: Last week the Senate passed Sen. Lowell Barron's Highway Bill. The bill allows the legislature to raid the state trust fund to the tune of $1 billion. It is a constitutional amendment and therefore will have to be voted on by the people. Unfortunately, several Republicans voted for this bill. Sen. Steve French attempted to put some safeguards in the bill to prevent it from becoming a slush fund for legislators pet projects. He was successful in getting a legislative floor put in the trust fund, i.e.-the trust fund cannot get below a certain amount. The House Governmental Appropriations committee will now consider the bill.
I believe there are some infrastructure upgrades that are badly needed in Alabama. However, I don't think this is the way to go to fix them. Here are my concerns:
-There is no provision to repay the money in the bill. Even if there were, it wouldn't be likely to happen, but at least they might attempt a good faith effort.
-There is no way to ensure the money is going to projects that actually need doing, and not paving Lowell Barron's friend's driveway.
-For the infrastructure upgrades we do need, there are other sources of money to get them done. There are several federal appropriations programs that give grants for infrastructure projects. But they may not be as attractive to legislators because they require an 80/20 match.
JeffCo Legislation: A House committee is set to take up a bill sponsored by Rep. Owen Drake that will prevent Jefferson County from imposing non-user fees on persons not connected to the Jefferson County Sewer System.
Budgets: The legislature has both a General Fund budget and an Education Fund budget to pass before they adjourn. They haven't started on either.
House Budget Committee Approves Reconciliation Bill
Please keep calling!! If you want the most up to date info on who to call go here.By a vote of 21 to 16, the House Budget Committee on Monday advanced a budget reconciliation bill to the next stage of the legislative process.As yet, the bill contains no specific language related to health care; those provisions are to be added by the House rules committee later this week. Instead, the bill establishes a legislative framework by which to modify the Senate-passed health care bill. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the senior Republican on the budget committee, called the reconciliation bill “a legislative Trojan horse.”
Diane Ravitch and Charter Schools
In short, many charter schools come closer in aspiration and often in practice to the image that Diane has of what defines functioning schools. And more importantly, if we close down all the charter schools and wait for neighborhood public schools to improve, who pays the costs? Middle class parents will move to the suburbs or send their kids to private schools, leaving the burden of bad schools to fall on the usual less affluent victims.The book tells a depressingly familiar story of a field wracked by fads and innovations that have gone off the track. Her diagnosis of where we’ve gone wrong is often brilliant—although as noted she got choice and charter schools wrong.
RWN's John Hawkins Interviews Karl Rove
My favorite part of the interview:
Now there are a few people in public life who have ever been as demonized as you were during the Bush years. The left side of the blogosphere essentially looked at you the way some Christians view the devil. If anything they thought was bad for them happened, they blamed Karl Rove. Was any of this craziness getting back to you while you were in office and if so, what did you think? No, not really. I mean first of all, I had a job to do and in Washington, you can do your job or defend yourself. You can't necessarily do both -- particularly when you're a staff aide to the President. I knew part of it was to try and get me off my game and I wasn't going to let that happen. Besides, I worked with a lot of wonderful people who were very supportive -- and, I had a boss, an ultimate boss, the President of the United States, who said, you know, "better you than me" and really got me to laugh about it. It got to my family far more than it got to me. It's always harder to hear and see ugly things said about your kin than it is about yourself.
Democrats Attempt More Trickery To Pass Health Care
Phillip Klein broke the story last night for the American Spectator. For the full story, check out his post.
Also, Rep. Paul Ryan has a great piece on what real health care reform should look like in today's WaPo. Check it out
The Numbers Don't Lie
Members of Congress should heed this warning closely. Ultimately, it's not the White House or Nancy Pelsoi that will get them re-elected. Each of the "Blue Dogs" will have to answer to their constituency, and looking at these numbers...it doesn't give them a lot of wiggle room. I hope they keep that in mind while they are put through arm twisting, shower summits, bribes and/or sweetheart deal cutting.The survey shows astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform, far more than national polls reflect. For 82% of those surveyed, the heath-care bill is either the top or one of the top three issues for deciding whom to support for Congress next November. (That number goes to 88% among independent women.) Sixty percent want Congress to start from scratch on a bipartisan health-care reform proposal or stop working on it this year. Majorities say the legislation will make them and their loved ones (53%), the economy (54%) and the U.S. health-care system (55%) worse off—quite the trifecta.Seven in 10 would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions. That includes 45% of self-identified Democrats, 72% of independents and 88% of Republicans. Three in four disagree that the federal government should mandate that everyone buy a government-approved insurance plan (64% strongly so), and 81% say any reform should focus first on reducing costs. Three quarters agree that Americans have the right to choose not to participate in any health-care system or plan without a penalty or fine.
Bottom line: The numbers don't lie. Vote NO on health care and your constituents might let you keep your seat.
Another Note on the FBI Investigation
King Says Investigation Into AG's Office Has Ended
Alabama Attorney General Troy King says a federal grand jury investigation of him and his office has ended. For the full story, click here.
Rumors have been flying around Alabama for the last month of a major FBI investigation of officials in Alabama. Because of King's already open investigation, and because of his documented ties to the gambling cartel in Alabama, it was speculated that King may have been one of the targets of that investigation. I'm not sure what this news means in terms of the rumored investigation, or if King was, in fact, a target.
In my opinion, AG Troy King has skirted the ethical line one too many times. For instance, King was featured as a special guest at this event hosted by Ronnie Gilley, owner of Country Crossings (which operates an "electronic bingo" hall), three months before issuing a ruling clearing the way for Gilley to get a gambling permit.
Enterprise Fundraiser Invite
King has had country singer Randy Owen doing $500 per plate fundraisers for his re-election campaign. Owen has a large financial stake in the Country Crossings devleopment--site preperation has already started on the "Randy Owen My Home's in Alabama Family Entertainment Center" at the venue.
His ties with Gilley and Country Crossings have netted him a relationship with several country music stars other than Owen. Here's King is pictured with Ronnie Gilley and country singer George Jones:
And if all that is not enough, during the 2006 election cycle, King received two campaign contributions totaling $1500 from Crum Foshee & Associates during the 2006 election cycle. Crum Foshee and Associates have represented several gambling facilites including the Jefferson County Racing Association and the Macon County Greyhound Park.
At best, these are conflicts of interest that should have prevented King from ruling on or regulating these entities. He is walking very, very fine eithical lines. The mere fact that the AG's office was under investigation is embarrassing for the state and presumably for the Attorney General. So while Troy King may be celebrating the end of a grand jury investigation, he should be worried about what the voters will think come June 1.
Did You Get Your Money's Worth From Congress This Week?
This week, taxpayers spent roughly $46 million on Congress
Salaries of Members of Congress and their allowances/week:
Speaker of the House: $223,500/52 = $4,299
House and Senate Majority and Minority Leaders: ($193,400/52) x 4 = $14,877
Other Representatives and Senators: ($174,000/52) x 530 = $1,773,462
Money allocated for House (sans member salaries): $1.369 billion/52 = $26,326,923
Money allocated for Senate (sans member salaries): $926 million/52 = $17,807,692
What You Got
House of Representatives:
The House passed six bills. The bills are described by the House Clerk's Office as the following:
1)Expressing condolences to the families of the victims of the February 27, 2010, earthquake in Chile, as well as solidarity with and support for the people of Chile as they plan for recovery and reconstruction
2)Commemorating the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the role that it played in ensuring the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
3)Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act
4)Recognizing the plight of people with albinism in East Africa and condemning their murder and mutilation
5)Honoring John E. Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, Forrest M. Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and IBM Corporation for receiving the 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation
6)Congratulating Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for being awarded the Nobel Prize in physics
Senate:
The Senate passed legislation to extend certain expiring tax provisions, four months after the House passed the bill in December.
Real Republican PAC Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marty Connors
March 11, 2010 (205)908-6617
CONCERNS OVER SLADE BLACKWELL TIES TO LOWELL BARRON LEAD TO FORMATION OF REAL REPUBLICAN PAC
Birmingham – Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors on Thursday said growing concerns over connections/relations between recently qualified GOP candidate Slade Blackwell and Senate Democrat leadership led him to form the Real Republican Political Action Committee, a group that will lend its support to Sen. Steve French (R – Birmingham) and similar like-minded conservative candidates.
Blackwell is scheduled to announce his candidacy today, Thursday, March 11, 2010.
Connors said Democrats have begun running/encouraging candidates in Republican primaries in districts and areas weighted heavily toward the GOP in hopes that they can capture seats currently held by conservative Republicans.
The long standing relationship between Blackwell and Democratic State Senator Lowell Barron is one of the worst kept secrets in Montgomery.
The tactic was used most recently – and unsuccessfully – in two state school board elections in 2008 and in legislative races such as the 2002 Republican Primary for Senate District 14 currently held by Hank Erwin.
“Steve French has been a solid, conservative Republican who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to do hand-to-hand combat with Senate Democrats/Liberals,” Connors said. “Now they are retaliating by muddying up the Republican primary. If their efforts are successful, Democrats will maintain control of the Alabama Senate, regardless of party affiliation.
In response to this Democratic tactic, Connors has formed the Real Republican PAC and will raise money for French and other incumbents facing GOP primary candidates who are backed and recruited by the Democrat Party and others working on its behalf.
He will also use funds to educate voters about RINO (Republican In Name Only) candidates competing in primary election contests, such as French’s.
“The Alabama Democrat Party is dying a quick death in most areas of Alabama, and we must ensure that it does not stay alive by reaching its tentacles into the GOP,” Connors said.
Breaking: 23 Democrats Switch to Undecided on Health Care
The snowball has started on health care. I look for it to get bigger and bigger each day. Democrats are like rats jumping from a sinking ship.The Hill found the number of Dem House members who voted “yes” for ObamaCare in November has shrunk by 23. These 23 have moved into the undecided category.The NRCC target list that Erickson linked to yesterday has 25 Dem members who voted Yes for ObamaCare in November, and who are now at undecided. The Hill is at 23, and the NRCC is at 25 Yes votes who have moved to undecided. It is safe to call it about two dozen Dems who have moved off Yes. (The Hiller post on RedState noted a Yes vote on ObamaCare who is staying at Yes.)So, the Undecided list keep growing. And once the Democrats in the House figure out that Senator Byrd will vigorously enforce the Byrd rule on abortion, and that the Republicans are stone-cold-serious about upholding the Byrd precedent on legislating on abortion on any reconciliation bill — then the number of undecideds will really grow some more.
Alabama Legislature Should Pass Health Care Freedom Act
The legislation essentially stands up to the federal government and says “back off our health care.” It is part of a group of laws gaining in popularity called nullification laws. Nullification is based on the 10th amendment principle that any power not specifically given to the federal government lies with the states. Nullification laws are increasingly used to combat what many agree is an overstepping of bounds by the federal government. Not one of these laws have been challenged in court, so it will be interesting to see how the battle develops.
Alabama has several Health Care Freedom bills pending. Senator Scott Beason has introduced SB 233 in the Senate, and Reps. Mac Gipson and Robert Bentley have each introduced the same version in the House (HB 42, HB 47). Both House bills have had one reading and been referred to the House Committee on Health. Sen. Beason’s bill has had a second reading and been placed on the calendar. It awaits a favorable third reading from the Senate Health Committee.
Virginia just did it. 37 other states are trying to do it. Alabama should do it. The Alabama Legislature must pass SB233, HB42 or HB47, better known as the Health Care Freedom Act, immediately.
Update on Obamacare
While things are looking bad for the Democrats right now, things can change in the twist of an arm. We must keep our eye on the ball and not let them distract us with charades like reconciliation while they work to get the Senate bill passed in the House. Keep calling House members and letting them know the only accpetable vote is a NO vote. The NRCC has very helpfully put together a website where you can keep track of who's yes/no or on the fence. The information is changed as new data comes in. It's called Code Red and here's a link:The House passed its version of the health bill in November by 220-215. Of those 220, one was a Republican who now is a no. One Democrat who voted yes has died, two Democrats who voted yes have resigned, and one Democrat who voted no has resigned as well. So if everyone but the Republican votes the way they did four months ago, the score would be 216-215.But not everyone is ready to vote that way. The House bill included an amendment prohibiting funding of abortions sponsored by Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak. The Senate bill did not. Mr. Stupak says he and 10 to 12 other members won't vote for the Senate bill for that reason. Others have said the same, including Minnesota's James Oberstar, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Dan Lipinski, a product of the Chicago Democratic machine.Mrs. Pelosi may have some votes in reserve—members who would have voted yes if she needed them in November and would do so again. But we can be pretty sure she doesn't have more than 10, or she wouldn't have allowed the Stupak amendment to come forward at the last minute the first time. She also might get one or two votes from members who voted no and later announced they were retiring.But that's not enough—and there are other complications. Voting for the Senate bill means voting for the Cornhusker kickback and the Louisiana purchase—the price Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid paid for the votes of Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu. It's not hard to imagine the ads Republicans could run attacking House members for sending money to Nebraska and Louisiana but not their home states.
House Conservative Fund Endorses Martha Roby
Roby Endorsement Release
Bradley Byrne Grabs Jeb Bush Endorsement
MONTGOMERY – March 9, 2010 – Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush today announced his endorsement of Bradley Byrne for Governor of Alabama.
“Bradley Byrne is the conservative reformer in the race for Governor of Alabama. Bradley will work hard to reform government and improve the quality of education so Alabama can create a business climate that will attract investment and high wage jobs to the state,” said Governor Bush.
“I am honored to receive Governor Bush’s endorsement and am so proud to have his support on our campaign. As Governor of our neighboring state, Jeb Bush created jobs, cut taxes and made great strides in reforming and improving Florida’s education system. His tenure provides a tremendous example of conservative leadership for all state governments, and his counsel and support means the world to Rebecca and me,” said Byrne.
Governor Bush will appear as the special guest at a Byrne for Alabama campaign event in Birmingham in early April.
Jeb Bush was Florida’s 43rd Governor, serving from 1999-2007. He is the Chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which is championing a movement of reform, state by state, across America to transform education for the 21st century economy.
This should help shore up Byrne's conservative cred. I heard Jeb Bush at an Alabama Policy Institute dinner a few years ago and he was very impressive. I think he is more conservative than his brother, and is a man of great intellect. His endorsement of Byrne should go a long way in easing the concerns of Republicans who have been skittish thus far.
Tea Parties and Conservatism
I'd like to take issue with what John said on a couple of points:
a) John says that conservatives believe we ought to protect the system.
True conservatives value one thing over any thing else: societal stability.
I don't know where John's been hanging out, but in almost 8 years of political activism I don't think I've ever once heard conservatives call for more political stability. Lower taxes=yes. Smaller government=yes. Welfare Reform=yes. Societal stability=no. It is truly bizzare to me that he thinks this is what the conservative movement is about. He also pulls out quotes from Russell Kirk and Edmund Burke that don't really make his point. Edmund Burke was himself a political activist, being very involved in party politics. And lest we forget his famous (if overused) quote--"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."
b) John bashes the Tea Party movement for adopting Alinsky-style tactics of social unrest.
Now every group has a few radical members--it's inevitable. However, to say the entire tea party movement is made up of a bunch of birthers, conspiracy theorists, and anarcho-capitalists is beyond the pale. Most tea party participants I've come in contact with are just average people who are upset that the governement is taking too much of their money and too much of their freedom. Most of them don't even own a tin foil hat.But what do the Tea Partiers do?They march with signs of Barack Obama in a clown face. They spend an inordinate time wondering if Obama was born in America. They attack institutions.They use Alinsky’s rules against the left, but by doing so they create anarchy.Dick Armey, the self-proclaimed father of the Tea Party movement, has been unapologetic in his use of these tactics. James O’Keefe, the right-wing provocateur, seems to enjoy channeling his inner Abby Hoffman.Even the leading lights of so-called conservative talk radio, guys like Rush Limbaugh and especially Glen Beck, use many of these tactics to provoke, to entertain, and to shock the public.
Second, why is it wrong for conservatives to challenge the system? Every successful business or organization at some point has to wipe the slate completely clean and say "now what is it that's really necessary for us to function." I disagree with John that conservatives who challenge corrupt institutions (and we can all agree that there are plenty to challenge) are using radical, left-wing tactics. People are simply tired of corrupt politicians in both parties who are living large off the taxpayer dole, and there's nothing radical about that.
Now I agree with John that conservatives need to be well-armed intellectually, and use civil political discourse to promote their ideals, but I have to think maybe John has spent too much time in Washington DC. His tone was condescending and irritated. It's as if he cannot understand why these tea party people are upset with politics as usual. This attitude is exactly what's wrong with Washington DC and many in the Republican leadership--they are too focused on protecting the system, i.e. the bureaucracy, and forget to protect the principles.
I hope Republicans have gotten that message.
2nd Amendment and the States
Many expect the US Supreme Court to apply the 2nd amendment to States, invalidating many laws restricting gun ownership. Use of the US Constitution's Privileges and Immunities Clause, which says, "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." is the most logical way for the court to do so. And after D.C. v Heller, it seemed like the next logical step. Paired with the conservative lean of the Supreme Court these days, many gun owners were optimistic. However, some of that optimism may have been dampened yesterday:
Judging by yesterday's oral argument, the Supreme Court is afraid to revisit that 1873 decision for fear of opening a can of worms. Chief Justice John Roberts began the questioning by invoking the heavy burden on anyone seeking to reverse Slaughter-House. Justice Antonin Scalia referred to the Privileges or Immunities Clause as the "darling of the professoriate," a reference not intended as a compliment.Noticeably absent was any question—not one—by any justice challenging the historical evidence that the right to keep and bear arms was among those included in the Privileges or Immunities Clause. For that matter, no justice seemed at all interested in the original meaning of any aspect of the 14th Amendment. (As is his practice, Justice Clarence Thomas, the one justice who has expressed sympathy for reviving the Privileges or Immunities Clause, asked no questions.)
Roll Call On Extension of Unemployment Benefits
Several Republicans voted YES on the extension, including Alabama Senator Richard Shelby. For the full roll call vote, click here.
Update on AL Legislature: Gambling
Democrats attempted a vote to overcome the BIR (Budget Isolation Resolution) for Sen. Roger Bedford's gambling bill. The vote was 18-16 and the BIR failed. The BIR must be overcome by 21 votes. For information on the problems with Sen. Bedford's bill, click here. For the roll call vote on SB 380's attempt to overcome the BIR, click here.
People on the ground were saying (and news outlets were reporting) that Sen. Bedford was not going to bring his bill back up again during this session. Then, lo and behold, a Republican senator who voted against Sen. Bedford's bill on the BIR vote, decided to introduce his own gambling bill. Senator Paul Sanford released the following today explaing what his bill would do and why:
FROM THE DESK OF
Senator Paul Sanford
Press Release
March 3, 2010
CONTACT: (334) 242-7800
Senator Paul Sanford Desires to Move
Bingo Debate in a New, Honest Direction
(MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA)—Senator Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville) had been working with both sides of the electronic bingo issue (SB380) to try and clean up the bill before it came up for debate in the state senate. After a few attempts to reconcile the differences of both sides, Sen. Sanford’s desired concessions were not met. Within the next day or two he will be releasing a new bill drafted by the Legislative Reference Service that will shrink the size of the constitutional amendment and simplify the issue to a basic up or down vote of the people in November.
“I desire nothing more than to move the ‘bingo’ debate in a new, honest direction – one that is more simplistic, straight-forward, and transparent. It has bogged down the Legislature for years, and it is time to put this issue to rest and move on with the other pressing business in Alabama, like getting our economy back on track,” Senator Sanford said. “We all realize this subject has been a ‘grey’ area of the law, but it’s time for the voters to turn grey into either black or white with a bill that is not dripping in special interest tinkering,” he continued.
Senator Sanford said the original Senate Bill 380 and subsequent substitutions, none of which were released for official debate, were too “stuck in the mud” with unfair special treatment for a select few. His bill, which will be released on his websites (senatorsanford.com and sanfordforsenate.com), pairs down the debate to a straight up or down vote of the people. The bill will also at least do the following:
- Refer to the current machines in use as “slot machines” instead of “bingo”;
- Legalize, tax and regulate slot machine casinos in a few pages instead of the current 48-page constitutional amendment full of fine print that nobody reads or understands;
- Place casino licenses up for bid so the taxpayers, instead of casino bosses, get the best deal
- Add prohibitions of campaign contributions from the gambling interest to those who appoint the Gaming Commission and to the Legislature ; and
- Establish a minimum tax rate of 50% to make sure we’re not “giving away the store”
Senator Sanford said his tracking of correspondence from constituents is running eighty percent to twenty percent in favor of putting the issue to a vote of the people so long as the bill is not putting the power in the hands of a few monopolies.
“One thing I have learned from the arrogance of the U.S. Congress related to ‘healthcare reform’ is that elected officials better listen to the folks back home, and that’s what I’m doing but I just couldn’t support a non-competitive bill that didn’t have the best interest of the State at heart. I was elected as a ‘citizen lawmaker,’ and if the people of my district want to be able to vote on this issue, that’s what I’m going to give them the opportunity to do,” Sen. Sanford stated. “If this does make its way to the ballot box in November, I ask that voters do their due diligence on the issue and not make a decision based on any slick advertising campaign but on the true facts and information,” he finished.
Many conservatives are questioning the wisdom of introducing a bingo bill when we already had the issue beat. Sen. Sanford is rumored to be looking at a tough race for re-election. I'm sure the overwhelming support for gambling in his district had something to do with his decision. However, it is unfortunate that we seem to be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on this one.
Ayn Rand: Producers vs. Looters
Watkins and Brook have a dim, but realistic outlook on the state of today's economy:The producers, such as Hank Rearden, inventor of a new metal stronger and cheaper than steel, work tirelessly to create products that improve human life. The looters are basically pseudobusinessmen, like the incompetent steel executive Orren Boyle, who get unearned riches by getting special favors from politicians. Their business isn’t business, but political pull.It is the producers who make life possible: who keep grocery shelves stocked; who discover new lifesaving drugs; who make computers faster, buildings taller, and airplanes safer.The looters, on the other hand, leech off the wealth created by producers.The novel rejects the widespread notion that both the producer Reardens and the looter Boyles are fundamentally united by a desire for profit. Only the Reardens, she argues, deserve to be called profit-seekers, because they earn rewards through productive effort; the Boyles are antieffort parasites seeking unearned loot.But it’s not only unearned wealth the looters want. In “Atlas Shrugged,” Boyle uses his influence to throttle Rearden with progressively harsher government controls and regulations, because he can’t survive except by hindering the competition.Producers, however, don’t need special favors, only freedom: the freedom to produce, to trade voluntarily, and, if they succeed, to keep the profits. As a country becomes less free, it creates and unleashes more and more Boyles, who succeed at the expense of the Reardens.America, today, is still a land of producers. Our country is full of industrialists, managers, and financiers who display the ruthlessly high standards, exceptional intelligence, and extraordinary work ethic that are characteristic of a producer.
If the President and Congress continue on the same path we're on now, we may very well meet the end played out in Atlas Shrugged. At some point, the producers will lose their will to produce and the looters will no longer have anything left to loot. We must hope for change in 2012!But the Boyles are on the rise, growing fat on bailouts, handouts, and other sundry opportunities for political profiteering. For every producer like BB&T bank’s John Allison, who opposed Washington’s bailouts and was forced to accept government money, there seem to be 10 like former General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, demanding tax dollars to prop up their failing companies.
Concerned Women of America Endorses Martha Roby
Concerned Women Political Action Committee Endorses Martha Roby for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District
Martha will be another much needed voice for the unborn in Congress
Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) has announced its endorsement of Martha Roby for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional district.
Concerned Women PAC, established in 2002 by Founder and Chairman Beverly LaHaye, is affiliated with Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.
The current Congressman from the second Congressional district is Bobby Bright who is seeking his second term.
“Martha Roby is a strong social and fiscal conservative, with a record to prove it, “said Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women Political Action Committee.
“As a private citizen, she dedicates her time and her leadership to pro-life and pro-family causes, serving on the board of Sav-a-Life Montgomery, a local crisis pregnancy center. As a member of the Montgomery City Council, Roby has vigorously fought tax increases and has consistently fought against wasteful spending.
As U.S. Representative, Roby will fight for limited government, strong national security, and pro-family legislation.”
Mrs. Penny Nance and Concerned Women Political Action Committee’s mission is to elect solid pro-family, pro-life conservatives to Congress. Concerned Women PAC sends out a monthly letter to members encouraging them to financially support candidates like Martha Roby. For more information on this race or to set up an interview with Mrs. Nance, please contact Mike Mears at 202-408-4941.
A New Look
News Flash: Some Americans Would Prefer High-Deductible Plans
I hope Republicans will take heed of this information and continue to focus on ways to give Americans more choice in their health care not less.The RAND Health Insurance Experiment, the largest study ever done of consumer health purchasing behavior, provides ample evidence that consumers can make informed cost-value decisions about their health care. Under the experiment, insurance deductibles were varied from zero to $1,000. Those with no out-of-pocket costs consumed substantially more health care than those who had to share in the cost of care. Yet, with a few exceptions, the effect on outcomes was minimal.And, in the real world, we have seen far smaller increases in the cost of those services, like Lasik eye surgery or dental care, that are not generally covered by insurance, than for those procedures that are insured.In fact, a study by Amy Finklestein of MIT suggests that nearly half of the per capita increasing health care spending is due to increased health insurance coverage.No one is suggesting that people shouldn't have insurance. But insurance is ultimately meant to spread the risk of catastrophic events, not to simply prepay your health care. Your homeowners insurance covers you if your house burns down. It doesn't pay to mow your lawn or paint the fence. Read more.