Archive for National News
AUGUST 12, 2009: Congressman Schiff Brings Health Care “Town Hall” To Alhambra
Posted by: | CommentsLast night in Alhambra, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank/Glendale) hosted a “town hall” meeting on health care. The event was originally supposed to take place in the Community Room inside the Alhambra Civic Center Public Library which would have reportedly held about 200-300. Due to the at least 2,000 in attendance the event was moved outside to the other side of the street.
The town hall was moderated by NBC4’s Dr. Bruce Hensel. On the discussion panel: Dr. Benjamin Chu from Kaiser, Dr. Richard Brown from the UCLA Center for Health Policy and Research, Leeba Lessin from CareMore Health Plan and Jerry Flanagan, a “Health Care Advocate”.
We’ve all watched on the daily rotation of news town hall’s from across the country where citizens address their lawmakers on the current health care bill. Last night in Alhambra was a different story. I went with 2 friends to see it first hand. To say it was an eye opener would be an understatement. In the 2 hours the panel spoke, maybe 2 questions were taken off cards from the audience. There were no microphones for those with questions. No open dialogue between elected official and constituents. This was not a “town hall” but a sales meeting. Schiff was not there to listen, he was their for you to listen if you are not in favor of national health care.
On July 27 the Glendale News-Press published an op-ed written by Schiff detailing his support for “comprehensive health care reform with a robust public option”, which as of yesterday was removed from the Congressman’s own website. Clearly Schiff is an avid supporter of H.R. 3200. Why the need for the dog and pony show?
It sure gave labor unions a chance to show up in full force, who just happened to congregate across the street in the exact spot where the town hall would take place. I guess they got the memo before hand.
Countless politicians and talking heads have said the anger at these town hall’s are manufactured by well organized Astro Turffed-right wing conspiracy-TEA baggers. Yet they fail to mention it is the side in favor of the bill that is well organized. Just look at the pictures from President Obama’s town hall yesterday in New Hampshire and pictures from last night in Alhambra. Supporters of the plan in both town hall’s in different states are wearing the SAME button’s distributed by the SEIU and holding the SAME signs given out by various union’s including the SEIU and the AFL-CIO. Where is the outrage and name calling with the union’s organizing their members? Does that make them raciest and un-american?
We asked one gentleman holding a AFL-CIO/CA School Employee union sign if he was with a union, he told us “yes” and that he was a union rep for the CA School Employee union. We asked if he was being paid to attend he told us he was “paid a salary”. We again asked if he was paid to be there, he said “it’s part of my job”. I am not posting this man’s picture. If you watch footage from the event you will see him with his union sign. This is information he seemed proud to share. This information could have been obtained by any member of the media willing to do their job instead of flinging Astro-Turf allegations at those opposed to the health care bill. Just ask anyone carrying the union/special interest signs or wearing the union/special interest button’s if their in a union, the majority we asked said yes and the one’s that weren’t said they were given them by someone passing them out.
Last night I heard from a lot of people who think health care is a “right” and if you don’t think so you must be “rich”. When challenged none admitted to reading the bill or even knowing what’s in it. They didn’t seem to care how much “free” health care would cost and weren’t concerned with the possibility that our current quality of care could deteriorate. On blogs and in news reports about last night in Alhambra both sides of the issue will tell you they “won” at the town hall. The real victory will come when the bill goes to the floor of the House and Senate for a vote. Which side will come out victorious? Only time will tell.
Does your elected official know where you stand on H.R. 3200?
AUGUST 9, 2009: Because You Asked For It-The Link For H.R. 3200 Health Care Bill
Posted by: | CommentsWith the heated debated surrounding the current health care bill being hammered out in Congress I have received a massive amount of requests for a link to the actual bill.
To access the ENTIRE text of H.R. 3200 America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 log on to the Library Of Congress website then click on the link for “THOMAS” to access the legislative information section of the Library Of Congress. On the THOMAS main page click on the link for “H.R. 3200 America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009″, then click on “text of Legislation”. Unfortunately, I have not been able to post a direct link to the bill as it “expires” after a few minutes and is useless.
To read the whole thing would amount to quite an undertaking but since we are demanding our elected officials read the bill, we also need to be informed on it’s contents.
Remember what we learned in the 80’s watching G.I. Joe cartoons…. Knowing is half the battle. Know what’s is HR 3200.
JULY 6, 2009: UPDATE-California Can’t Sell Parks But The Fed Can
Posted by: | CommentsBut wait… there’s more. Here is the response from an official from the FLP program in DC:
“The deed prevents the state from selling the property. The deed includes a reverter clause that should the property no longer be used for parks and recreation, that the federal government at its discretion can take the property back. We consider the return of the property to the federal government to be the last possible option. But if the property were to be returned to the federal government, then the property would be returned to the federal inventory for redisposal, and this means the federal government could sell the property”.
So California, in dire financial straights can’t sell the state parks but the federal government can? Really? Wow.
JULY 3, 2009: UPDATE-State Can NOT sell State Parks
Posted by: | CommentsIn an attempt to dig a little deeper into the state parks dilemma, I contacted the National Park Service’s Pacific West Regional Office. Here is their response: (FLP stands for Federal Lands to Parks Program, the program in which California was conveyed the land from the federal government).
“There are a lot of nuances to this whole thing that aren’t being reported and are not in the letter to the Governor. For example, not all of the acreage in all 6 parks identified as FLP parks came through the FLP program. All 970+ acres at Fort Ord Dunes did, but less than one acre came from FLP at Mt. Diablo. Also, reversion to US Government ownership is not anything that would happen fast – it is a last resort, worst case scenario sort of thing. And reversion does not mean that the National Park Service would end up with it. It would go out of NPS jurisdiction. It would go into the US Government surplus property inventory for redisposal – so there would be no assurance that it would end up as a park again. There is a quick answer to your core question though. No – the state cannot sell the parkland it received through FLP”.
National Park Service-Pacific West Regional Office
Very interesting… In some cases it’s the entire park and in another it’s only an acre. Many have been calling for the sale of the parks so they won’t be seized by the government, it’s not even an option.
JULY 2, 2009: Federal Government Threatens California Land Grab
Posted by: | CommentsThe state of California’s financial affairs continue to deteriorate at a rapid pace.
Yesterday state officials released a letter from Jonathan Jarvis, National Park Service Regional Director, warning if the Governor follows thru on his plan to close 220 state parks the federal government will seize 6 of them. Schwarzenegger proposed the closures in an effort to save the state $143 MILLION dollars. When you are $26 BILLION dollars in the hole I guess every bit helps.
The six parks include Angel Island, Mount Diablo, Point Sur State Historic Park, Fort Ord, Point Mugu State Park and Border Fields. Each of the parks were conveyed to the state under the Federal Lands to Park Program. All land conveyed under this program must be used as a public park as a condition of the deed. If the state decides to close these parks the federal government would be in a position to snatch the land.
How’s that for kicking us when we’re down?
JUNE 11, 2009: Time To Reign In The House “Nuts”
Posted by: | CommentsWednesday on Bill O’Reilly’s FOX News show he aimed his wrath in California Congresswoman and Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi’s direction.
Congress is in the process of voting for troop funding in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have introduced the Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act, an amendment to 2346 supplemental bill which has passed the Senate but has been axed by a handful in the House. The bill would prohibit the release of detainee photo’s which would only be used as propaganda against our military and our Country by terrorists.
The ACLU filled a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to force these photo’s to be released.
Release of these photos is not about transparency, it’s about feeding a fire that will only bring harm to our men and women in uniform. It’s unfortunate that there are those in our own House of Representatives standing on the sidelines fanning the flames. Speaker Pelosi first said she would support the amendment to 2346 but has yet to actually step up and “reign in the nuts” as O’Reilly puts it.
Contact Speaker Pelosi and ask her to get her “House” in order. Demand the Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act be put back in the supplemental bill and passed.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi?http://speaker.house.gov/contact
Office of the Speaker?H-232, US Capitol?Washington, DC 20515?(202) 225-0100
MAY 28, 2009: End The Fed
Posted by: | CommentsMomentum is growing for Congressman Ron Paul’s (R-Texas) bill H.R. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009. The bill would force the Comptroller General of the United States to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank with a full report issued to Congress. The Federal Reserve is the private organization that controls our nation’s currency, which currently only operates with minimal over site. The Federal Reserve has the ability to manipulate and devalue our currency and sets the interest rates. Currently there are over 170 co-sponsors of the bill including California Representatives Rep. George Radanovich [R-CA19], Rep. Kevin McCarthy [R-CA22], Rep. Edward Royce [R-CA40], Rep. Walter Herger [R-CA2], Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA4], Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA13], Rep. Ken Calvert [R-CA44], Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R-CA45], Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA6], Rep. Brian Bilbray [R-CA50], Rep. Daniel Lungren [R-CA3], Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-CA52], Rep. John Campbell [R-CA48].
Pressure is now on California Congresswoman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to schedule a debate and allow H.R. 1207 to come up for a roll call vote.
Do you know where your Representative stands on H.R. 1207? Give them a call and find out. You can search for your Representative on the Office of the Clerk web site.
Contact Speaker Pelosi and urge her to allow H.R.1207 to come to the house floor for a vote.
MAY 13, 2009: White House “Strings” In Limbo
Posted by: | CommentsStill no word yet on the fate of the BILLIONS of dollars promised to California in the President’s stimulus plan. The administration still hasn’t made a decision on if it will actually rescind $6.8 BILLION dollars in stimulus funds.
Keep in mind that this all came about because the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Domestic Workers cried fowl to the President over wage cuts ordered by the Governor in the February budget. The SEIU is among the Presidents most lucrative supporters, donating over $30 MILLION dollars to his election campaign. I guess it’s wise to keep your big spenders happy.
Do I hear conflict of interest?
MAY 8, 2009: A $6.8 BILLION Dollar String
Posted by: | CommentsCalifornia, in its current financial meltdown, is about to run out of money as soon as July. As you have read on this blog before, going bankrupt isn’t as bleak as some would have you believe. Receivership offers California a clean slate and an opportunity to get out from underneath the thumb of labor unions and their crushing contracts.
Remember all that stimulus cash Governor Schwarzenegger was licking his chops over? The current Administration in Washington has attached a new string to some of those billions. According to federal health officials, the wage reduction for unionized home health care workers approved as part of the budget passed in February is in violation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If the wage cuts are not cancelled before they go into effect on July 1st, California stands to loose $6.8 BILLION dollars is stimulus funds.
The wage cuts would potentially save California $74 MILLION dollars. With the wage cuts, the state would contribute a maximum of $10.10 to the home health care workers’ pay instead of the current maximum $12.10 contribution. Workers effected by these cuts are part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)and the United Domestic Workers Union.
This is an example of why taking money from the federal government isn’t always a good idea. There are always strings attached and it usually ends up giving the federal government a say in how we run our states.
4/30/2009: Feinstein’s Subcommitte To Hold Immigration Hearing
Posted by: | CommentsThe U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security will hold hearings today in D.C. On the agenda: “Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009, Can we do it and how”? This is the first step in mounting support for Amnesty for illegal aliens.
A key member of this subcommittee is California Senator Dianne Feinstein.
In a February Reuters report, it is estimated that in 2008, California is home to 3,200,000 illegal aliens. That breaks down to about 1 in 8 people in California are here illegally. The unemployment rate in California is 11.2%. According to the L.A. Times, in California, the cost to incarcerate illegal aliens convicted of crimes is nearly $1 Billion dollars annually. Of that cost, the federal government picks up about 12 cents on the dollar of that tab. The estimated total cost to California due to illegal immigration is roughly $13.1 billion dollars annually. These are your tax dollars!
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Subcommittee on Immigration could come up with a way to enforce our laws, which would strengthen our economy and our national security, instead of trying to figure out how and if they can reform immigration?
Let Senator Feinstein know how you feel about illegal immigration and amnesty. Email or call her now.