U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey released the following statement after joining his House Republican colleagues to introduce the American Energy Act, a comprehensive energy bill to help reduce gas prices by increasing the supply of American-made energy, improving conservation and efficiency, and harnessing renewable and alternative energy technologies.
“Georgia families have now been paying north of four dollars a gallon for gasoline for over a month,” said Gingrey. “As a nation in crisis, we must realize that there is no single solution that Congress can enact that will provide both short and long term solutions. Instead, this crisis requires a multi-faceted – ‘all-of-the-above’ – approach that increases domestic energy supply, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil and providing immediate relief to the pain we are all feeling at the pump.”
“The American Energy Act is just what the doctor ordered, and will put us on the road toward energy independence. I call on Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership to do the right thing for hardworking Americans and immediately bring the American Energy Act to a vote on the House floor.”
Rep. Gingrey will be leading an in-depth discussion of the American Energy Act this evening as he hosts a special order hour on the House Floor. You can view this energy discussion on C-SPAN.
Increases the Supply of American-made Energy in Environmentally Sound Ways
Opens the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which will provide an additional three million barrels of oil per day, as well as 76 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Opens the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), which will provide an additional 1.5 million barrels of oil per day.
Increase the supply of gas at the pump by cutting bureaucratic red tape that essentially blocks construction of new refineries.
Allow development of our nation’s shale oil resources, which could provide an additional 2.5 million barrels of oil per day – a total of 1.3 trillion barrels of oil currently under the lock and key of the federal government.
Promotes renewable and alternative energy technologies
Spurs the development of alternative fuels through government contracting by repealing the “Section 526” prohibition on government purchasing of alternative energy and promoting coal-to-liquids technology.
Establishes a renewable energy trust fund using revenues generated by exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and ANWR.
Permanently extends the tax credit for alternative energy production, including wind, solar, hydrogen and biomass, as proposed in H.R. 5984 – the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act, introduced by Representative Roscoe Bartlett from Maryland.
Eliminates barriers to the expansion of emission-free nuclear power production.
Improves energy conservation and efficiency, the legislation
Provides tax incentives for businesses and families that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles.
Provides a monetary prize for developing the first economically feasible, super-fuel-efficient vehicle reaching 100 miles-per-gallon.
Provide tax incentives for businesses and homeowners who improve their energy efficiency.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Gingrey Supports American Energy Act An “All-of-the-Above” Approach to Energy Independence
Friday, May 23, 2008
Isakson, Chambliss Praise Passage of Iraq Spending Bill Without Timeline for Withdrawal of Troops
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today praised the Senate’s passage of legislation to provide funds for American troops without setting timelines for U.S. troop withdrawals in Iraq.
“It is absolutely wrong to tie the money to support our troops to arbitrary timetables that have nothing to do with success or failure on the ground,” Isakson said. “I’m pleased this bill supports our men and women in uniform, who are deployed in defense of freedom, and gives them everything they deserve and everything they need to accomplish their mission.”
“Our nation has an obligation to our servicemen and women who make tremendous sacrifices every day for freedom and democracy,” said Chambliss. “They deserve our fullest support and we must give them the resources they need to carry out their duties. Passing this bill with a surrender date would have simply emboldened the enemy and I’m pleased that the final version of the bill does not include restrictions that would have hampered our military’s ability to do their job.”
The legislation also included language to increase educational benefits to all members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001, including activated reservists and National Guard. To qualify, veterans must have served at least three to 36 months of qualified active duty, with at least 30 days being served after September 11, 2001.
“The Montgomery G.I. Bill can change lives. It has given countless members of our military access to the college education they otherwise would not have been able to afford,” said Isakson, a member of the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee. “Our nation’s military and their families have sacrificed tremendously so that our nation can live in freedom. It is important we modernize education benefits for our military to ensure that our servicemembers, veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve receive the education benefits they deserve.”
“This legislation will greatly expand educational benefits available to servicemembers," said Chambliss. “Many servicemen and women would not be able to go to college without the G.I. bill and I’m pleased this legislation modernizes the bill to reflect today’s costs of education.”
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Isakson, Chambliss Co-Sponsor Legislation to End Reckless Spending, Reform Federal Budget Process
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today joined Senator Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in introducing bipartisan legislation to end reckless spending and reform the federal budget process by converting it to a two-year cycle, with one year for appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted to oversight of federal programs.
“One of the problems we have in Congress with deficit spending is spending money on projects that shouldn’t be funded with tax dollars and programs that have outlasted their usefulness. So this is first and foremost about changing our budget process and setting priorities for spending,” Isakson said. “Also, under this legislation, if you appropriated during odd-numbered years and did oversight during even-numbered years, wouldn’t it be refreshing to have candidates seeking federal office in even-numbered years talking about the oversight of federal programs instead of how they want to spend more of the taxpayers’ dollars. Congress must become better stewards of the taxpayers’ money, and this legislation is a good step in that direction.”
“The people of Georgia expect their tax dollars to be used wisely, and they expect Congress to be more efficient and more productive,” said Chambliss. “I believe that improving our budget process is an important step in reigning in wasteful spending and ensuring fiscal responsibility, and I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting these much-needed reforms.”
Specifically, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, S.2627, would require the president to submit a two-year budget at the beginning of the first session of a Congress. Members of Congress would then need to adopt a two-year budget resolution, a reconciliation bill if necessary and two-year appropriations bills during that first session. The legislation ensures the enactment of two-year appropriations bills by providing a new majority point of order against consideration of an appropriations bill that fails to cover two years.
The second session of a Congress would then be devoted to the consideration of authorization bills and oversight of federal programs. Isakson and Chambliss believe the enhanced oversight will result in more accountability of government programs.
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Fayette Front Page: Community News You Can Use
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Monday, February 11, 2008
Westmoreland: ‘Stimulus’ merely explodes deficit
Oops, rec'd this back on 1/29 and overlooked it somehow...
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland joined all of the House’s Georgia Republicans to oppose the $150 billion economic “stimulus” package. The measure passed 385-35, with one “present,” and now goes to the Senate, where senators have vowed to tack on even more spending.
“This legislation promises tax rebates, but it’s not a tax rebate when we’re borrowing money from China to write checks to ourselves,” Westmoreland said. “It’s difficult to vote against sending money to people, particularly at a time of economic distress, but sending out checks in a couple of months isn’t going to expand the economy, it’s just going to expand the deficit.
“We need to give businesses incentives to expand and create new jobs. We need to focus on long-term economic growth by making the Bush tax cuts permanent and lowering corporate tax rates to keep our employers competitive in the global marketplace.
“These checks aren’t going to stem the housing crisis, which is at the heart of our economic problems. This is simply a national credit card binge, and as many Americans are discovering these days, the bill eventually comes due and the results aren’t pretty. We are putting the future of our country in the hands of foreigners who buy our debt. It’s scary, it’s reckless and it’s got to stop. What happened today is a step backward from fiscal responsibility, sadly, after we’ve taken significant steps toward reducing the deficit in recent years.”
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Governor Announces Healthcare Reform to Insure More Georgians
1/30/08 Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced in a press conference today his support of health insurance reform legislation that will be filed by Senator Judson Hill and Representative Mickey Channell . The legislation will insure more Georgia citizens by expanding the availability and affordability of High Deductible Health Plans and Health Care Savings Accounts in Georgia.
“Insuring more Georgia citizens is our goal with this reform legislation,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “More insured citizens means lower costs for all taxpayers, and preventative care means a healthier population. This legislation will incentivize small business owners to provide low cost health insurance to employees and their families.”
“This is a market-based solution focused on empowering individuals and rewarding them for making healthy choices. This plan will make affordable health insurance more accessible for the uninsured and working families,” said Senator Hill. “I have been working on this issue for years with various health care leaders, so I greatly appreciate the Governor's leadership that will make policy ideas a policy reality for our families.”
“This legislation makes a real difference for Georgia’s families and would make quality, affordable healthcare coverage affordable for nearly half a million Georgians,” said Representative Mickey Channell. “By harnessing the power of the free market, we’ll see more Georgians able to purchase and maintain their own healthcare coverage.”
A High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a health insurance plan that offers consumers lower premiums and higher deductibles than a traditional health plan. A Health Savings Account (HSA) allows consumers to set aside funds for future qualified medical health expenses on a tax-free basis.
The health insurance reform legislation announced today has several provisions to make HDHPs paired with HSAs more affordable and available in the Georgia insurance market. The legislation will incentivize small businesses to provide HDHPs with HSAs. According to the Center for Health Transformation, approximately 500,000 Georgians could become insured if the reform legislation is passed through the 2008 Georgia General Assembly.
Provisions of the health insurance reform legislation include:
Insurance Regulation Changes:
Rebates for Behavior Modifications: Allows for rebates for consumers who have HDHPs with HSAs when they make behavior modifications, such as smoking cessation, weight loss or controlling diabetes and blood pressure. The rebate could be deposited into the consumer’s HSA or be demonstrated through a lower deductible.
Reduced Restrictions on Reimbursements to Non-Preferred Providers: Gives flexibility to insurance companies to reimburse at lower rates when a patient chooses an out-of-network provider. This flexibility allows the insurance company to offer lower premiums to the consumer.
Remove Restrictions on Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA): HRAs are arrangements that allow an employer to reimburse an employee for certain medical expenses. This legislation would allow companies that provide HRAs to reimburse employees using pre-tax dollars.
Premium Tax Exemption:
Currently HDHPs are subject to state and local premium taxes. This legislation would remove state and local premium taxes in Georgia, saving consumers $11.4 million in 2009 in state tax savings alone.
Income Tax Deduction:
Allows consumers to deduct HDHP premiums from state income taxes, if they are not already deducting premiums from federal income taxes. This would apply to consumers who purchase an HDHP insurance plan as an individual, or through an employer.
Small Business Tax Credit:
Allows employers with 50 employees or less to take a tax credit of $250 per employee that enrolls in a HDHP through a Section 125 plan.
In August 2007 Governor Perdue unveiled the Health Insurance Partnership (HIP), a program that incentivizes small businesses to provide health insurance to employees under 300 percent of the poverty level by sharing the costs between the employee, employer and the state and federal government. The regulatory and tax proposals announced today compliment the HIP program by stretching state and federal dollars further, resulting in more insured Georgia citizens.
Governor Perdue also recognized the efforts of Senator Hill and Representative Channell to bring together the Georgia Hospital Association, Medical Association of Georgia, Georgia Health Underwriters Association and the Center for Health Transformation to put together the ideas that he endorsed today.
Monday, February 4, 2008
'We Will Prevail in This Ideological Struggle,' Bush Says
By John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2008 - The U.S. will prevail against extremism by protecting the homeland, staying "on the offense," and replacing hope with despair, President Bush predicted today.
During a speech at the Emerald at Queensridge venue in Las Vegas, Nev., Bush laid out a strategy for winning what he described as an ideological struggle between those who advocate the march of freedom and those favoring chaos through asymmetric war.
"We will prevail in this ideological struggle because liberty is powerful; liberty is hopeful," he said. "The enemy we face can only convince people to join their cause when they find hopelessness."
Describing the second tier of his plan, Bush advocated staying on a daily, relentless hunt "to find (extremists) and bring them to justice." He said conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are not separate, but rather they're part of the same war on terrorism, which must be conducted with fervor.
"It's hard to plot, plan and attack America if you're running and hiding. It's hard to recruit if you're cutting off money. It is hard to spread your poison if other reasonable people join the cause," he said. "And so we spend a lot of time doing everything we can to keep the pressure on these folks, and we got some good people working it."
Before U.S. forces deployed to Afghanistan, Bush said, the Taliban-governed country presented a hopeless life for its residents.
"These thugs didn't believe in freedoms. They didn't believe in women having equal status. They didn't believe young girls should be educated," he said. "And if you dared express your opinion that didn't mesh with theirs, you'd be whipped in the public square or killed."
Bush said Operation Enduring Freedom liberated 25 million people and gave them a chance to realize the blessings of liberty. Since toppling the Taliban and routing al Qaeda from Afghanistan, he said, a safer Afghan populace has voted for a president and a parliament, girls are free to go to school, and highways and health centers are being constructed, Bush added.
"It's in our interest to help them because we believe that liberty is transformative, and a part of the world that was once a safe haven for an enemy to attack us will be a more hopeful place when freedom takes hold," he said.
On Iraq, the president said the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was correct and that the world is better off without him in power. Since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bush said, Iraqis have written a constitution and participated in democratic elections.
In what he described as a surge by Iraqis, the country's citizens created 100,000 new soldiers and police in addition to 80,000 local citizens who volunteered to help patrol their own neighborhoods.
The original decision to begin military operations in Iraq was a tough one, based not "any Gallup poll or focus group," but on sound judgment from military people and "a lot of folks who were following Iraq."
"It was based upon what was right for the future of the United States, and that is, as opposed to pulling troops out, send more in," Bush told the audience.
Bush noted that the surge, which was initiated in early 2007, marked an influx of forces that included more than just members of the U.S. military. Diplomats and public service officials also surged, he said, improving life in areas where insurgents had been purged.
The president said pursuing enemies requires cooperation by all U.S. assets: sharing information across intelligence communities, applying muscle with military forces, and ratcheting up pressure from allies.
"America must not relent," he said. "If our most important job is to protect the American people, we have got to stay on the offense and defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home."
Bush conceded that there are cynics who doubt freedom's ability to take hold in parts of the world, but said he concluded that "liberty is transformative."
"People want to be free and, if given the chance, will be free, do the hard work necessary to be free. And liberty has got the capacity to transform an enemy to an ally," he said. "Therefore, we ought to have confidence in liberty's power to bring the peace we want, and not shy away from helping people realize the great blessings of freedom."
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Naval Reserve Association Presents Chambliss with National Legislative Advocacy Award
Executive Director Rear Admiral Casey Coane and Director of Legislation Captain Ike Puzon presented Chambliss with the award on behalf of the Naval Reserve Association. Once the bill becomes law, members of the Guard and Reserve will no longer be the only federal retirees required to wait until ago 60 to collect retirement pay.
“Members of our Guard and Reserve are called upon more and more, and they make tremendous sacrifices with respect to their family lives and civilian employment,” said Chambliss. “If we’re going to continue to call on our citizen soldiers we need to take action to show that we stand behind them and appreciate the tough challenges they face. I am concerned that those who would otherwise stay in until they reach 20 years of service are going to get out, particularly those who are experiencing repeat deployments.
“My bill creates an additional incentive for them to stay and continue serving until the 20 year point so that we can take advantage of their experience and appropriately compensate them for their service. While we didn’t get everything we wanted in this bill, I believe it is a good first step. I look forward to working with the Naval Reserve Association to strengthen this legislation and further address the critical issues facing our guardsmen and women, reservists, and their families,” said Chambliss, who noted that the original legislation included a provision to make the bill retroactive to September 11, 2001.
Rear Admiral Coane, said, “The Naval Reserve Association is deeply appreciative of Senator Chambliss’ support for this important piece of legislation. Our Association has long recognized the need to improve retirement for our Reservists in light of the sacrifices that they and their families are making.”
Background:
In February 2007, Senator Chambliss held a news conference in his Atlanta office to announce the legislation and was joined by Admiral Coane, as well as then Adjutant General of Georgia, Lt. Gen. David Poythress and Major General Terry Nesbitt, then Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia’s Homeland Security Director, and who is now the Adjutant General of Georgia.
The Chambliss provision will reduce the age for receipt of retirement pay by three months (counting down from age 60) for every 90 days a Guard or Reserve member spends on active duty in support of a contingency operation. The bill will also include time spent on active service for purposes of responding to a national emergency declared by the president or supported by federal funds.
Additional provisions of the legislation include:
The maximum reduction would be age 50
Mobilization/deployment to the continental U.S. would apply as well as mobilization/deployment to a “contingency zone”
Volunteers would be covered, as well as those involuntarily activated
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Candidates on Roe vs Wade Anniversary
Huckabee, McCain, Edwards, Obama, Romney's statements follow. Giuliani has not made a formal statement that we could find. Clinton's statement includes a new plan to save the world and is miles long. We'll be posting it in a separate blog.
STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ON THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROE VS. WADE DECISION
U.S. Senator Sam Brownback read the following letter on behalf of John McCain at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on the 35th Anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Decision.
Dear Fellow Pro-Lifers,
I join you today in marking the 35th anniversary of the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision made on January 22, 1973. I salute you for taking the time to show that the cause of Life is alive and well in the hearts of millions of Americans.
As a prisoner of war at the hands of a communist dictatorship, I saw firsthand the perils faced when human dignity and human life are not respected.
Whenever the value of one class of persons is not respectedwhether they are unborn, handicapped, elderlythe dignity of all mankind is threatened.
For this reason, I have been a strong supporter of the right to life movement since I was first elected to Congress in 1982. As the father of seven childrentwo of which were adoptedmy wife Cindy and I understand how every child has a value which can never be calculated or cheapened. Every child literally alters the course of human history.
America stands for an ideal that all people are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I know what it is like to live without those rights, and I have an obligation to advocate them wherever they are denied: in Bosnia or Burma, in Cuba or the Middle East; and in our own country when we fail to respect the inherent dignity of all human life, born or unborn. That is why I am pro-life.
While our nation struggles with the issue of abortion and the division it has wrought on our society and culture, Americans on both sides of this debate should agree that the proper solution for this debate to be settled is through the democratic process, not through judicial dictate. Seven judges in 1973 took the issue of abortion on themselves to settle this issue for every American, in all fifty states. They assured us that by sheer judicial will and power, the question of a so-called right to abortion was settled' and that our society would now arrive at a shared consensus by virtue of their ruling.
They were wrong to make this assumption. Your presence in Washington today marching for Life proves just how wrong they were.
If I am fortunate enough to be elected as the next President of the United States, I pledge to you to be a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement. The pro-life movement appeals to the best instincts within each and every one of us. In that regard, our pro-life cause will ultimately be successful.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today and please be assured of my best wishes and prayers for all those who labor for the cause of Life.
Sincerely,
John McCain
United States Senator
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ON TODAY'S "MARCH FOR LIFE"
Today, 35 years after the Roe v. Wade decision, Governor Mitt Romney released the following statement commemorating the annual March For Life:
"Today, as Americans from across this country participate in the annual March for Life, my thoughts are with all those whose dedication and compassionate concern have done so much to educate and assist others in creating a genuine culture of life.
"After 35 years of Roe v. Wade, we are again reminded why this decision should be overturned. We recognize the worth and dignity of every person, a fact that is ingrained in our hearts and etched in our national purpose. Unelected judges should not be the final arbiters on these important decisions which define who we are as a people.
"Respect for human life is, at once, both the foundation and the way forward to the future of a just and noble society, one in which every human individual is welcomed in life and protected in law."
Obama Statement on 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Decision
Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
"Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it’s never been more important to protect a woman’s right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women’s health. With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women’s fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election. "Throughout my career, I’ve been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
"When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president.
"Moreover, I believe in and have supported common-sense solutions like increasing access to affordable birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancies. In the Illinois state Senate, when Congress failed to require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, I made sure those contraceptives were covered for women in Illinois. In the U.S. Senate, I've worked with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on a bill that would make birth control more affordable for low-income and college women, and introduced the Senate version of Representative Hilda Solis’ bill to reduce unintended pregnancies in communities of color. As President, I will improve access to affordable health care and work to ensure that our teens are getting the information and services they need to stay safe and healthy.
"But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman’s right to choose; it’s about equality. It’s about whether our daughters are going to have the same opportunities as our sons. And so to truly honor that decision, we need to update the social contract so that women can free themselves, and their children, from violent relationships; so that a mom can stay home with a sick child without getting a pink slip; so that she can go to work knowing that there’s affordable, quality childcare for her children; and so that the American dream is within reach for every family in this country. This anniversary reminds us that it’s not enough to protect the gains of the past – we have to build a future that’s filled with hope and possibility for all Americans."
Edwards Statement On The 35th Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards released the following statement on the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
"Roe v. Wade was an important step on the road to full equality, opportunity and dignity for women. On the 35th anniversary, it is important to reflect how far we've come as a nation, but more importantly how far we still have to go.
"I strongly support a woman's right to privacy and reproductive choices. That right has been under attack though -- by President Bush and his anti-choice agenda and by the Supreme Court, which has been moving the right-wing's agenda faster than we've seen in decades. The hard right turn of the Supreme Court is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake - starting with a woman's right to choose.
"As President, I will guarantee the right to choose and ensure that women can make choices
Statement By Gov. Mike Huckabee On Anniversary Of Roe vs. Wade Court Decision
“Today is the 35th anniversary of a great American tragedy, the Roe vs. Wade court decision that has led to the loss of millions of innocent lives. These children were denied the right to life our Constitution grants to everyone in America, only because they had yet to emerge from their mother’s womb. As President Bush noted today, America is better than this.
“I support and have always supported passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life. As president, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been clear and consistent, without equivocation or wavering. I believe that Roe v. Wade should be over-turned.
“I applaud those who are marching in Washington and elsewhere to call attention yet again to this terrible injustice. I stand with them in calling for the passage of a Constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade and restore the constitutional rights of the unborn, and I will march with them next year if I am elected president. As president, I pledge that I will continue the fight so that every child can have his or her God-given right to life.”
Sunday, January 20, 2008
CNN sets debate criteria 1% above Kucinich’s latest poll results, campaign files complaint with Federal Communications Commission
RNS Note: You'll note that on occasion we include info on Democratic races... that's simply to keep you informed on some of the more interesting aspects of "that side" of the Presidential race.
The Kucinich for President campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission yesterday against CNN and its parent company, Time Warner, Inc., for arbitrarily establishing criteria for its scheduled Monday Presidential debate that will exclude the Democratic candidate from participation.
On Wednesday, the campaign was notified by CNN that its criteria included a showing of 5% or better in a national poll. In two polls completed earlier last week by CBS News/New York Times and by the Pew Research Center, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich scored 4%.
“The CNN criteria specifically exclude the diverse and anti-war voice of Mr. Kucinich and his grass-roots supporters,” according to the complaint. “The exclusion of Mr. Kucinich undermines the purpose of the (Federal Communications) Act and is a blatant violation of the Act, including its equal time provisions.” Also, “Mr. Kucinich is a successful candidate because of his anti-war message and strong criticism of the American healthcare system, issues that are not championed by his presidential primary opponents. In these and other policy issues, his opponents share very similar policy platforms that differ from Mr. Kucinich.”
The filing also points out that Kucinich was invited to participate in the upcoming South Carolina debate by the Congressional Black Caucus, which is co-sponsoring the event. The invitation, which he accepted on May 20, stated, in part that Kucinich “will be guaranteed a rare opportunity to present your message to millions of voters unfiltered by any political organization or by any news organization.”
The complaint also argues that the Monday event “is not a true presidential primary debate without including all credible candidates. Instead, it is effectively an endorsement of the candidates selected by CNN” and is a breach of the federal requirement “to operate in the public interest and to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of issues of public importance.”
The campaign is asking the FCC to order CNN to allow Kucinich to participate.
Military Absentee Voting 'Primary' Concern for Federal Voting Assistance Program
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
For the Federal Voting Assistance Program, getting deployed troops and their families engaged in the current election season is a primary goal.
Ahead of the November general election, FVAP, which fosters voting participation by uniformed and U.S. citizens abroad, is assisting eligible absentee voters who wish to cast ballots in their states' primary election.
"It's important that voters participate in the upcoming primary elections," said Polli Brunelli, the program's chief. "We have over 20 primaries occurring in February, so now is the time, if you've received your ballot, to vote and get it back by the state deadlines."
During an interview yesterday, Brunelli said registering to vote is a simple process. "Absentee voters fill out a federal postcard application form to request a ballot, send it into their local election official where the voter is legally authorized to vote," she said. The ballot will be sent to the voter, who then votes on the ballot and sends it back to the local election office.
Paper copies of the application form are available at military installations, embassies and consulates and from organizations of overseas citizens. Electronic forms are posted online at the Federal Voting Assistance Program Web site, www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html.
Citizens using this form should vote and submit it immediately using regular mail or, where allowed by state law, by fax or e-mail, to their local election officials. The FVAP's Integrated Voting Alternative Site at www.fvap.gov/ivas/fvap_state_menu.html shows citizens if fax or e-mail alternatives are permitted in their home state.
Voting assistance officers are stationed at military installations abroad to help FVAP implement its program initiatives. Equipped with state-by-state voting assistance guides, the officers are available to assist servicemembers in navigating the registration process and election procedures, and inform voters of relevant deadlines, Brunelli noted.
FVAP carries out the responsibilities of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which protects the voting rights of active-duty military members, Merchant Marines, eligible family members and citizens residing outside the United States.
Members of the U.S. armed forces traditionally represent an active component of overall voting-age Americans. The total voting participation rate among servicemembers was 79 percent in 2004, compared to the 64 percent rate of the general public, according to figures published by FVAP.
In a memorandum to military secretaries and top commanders sent Nov. 26, 2007, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates underscored the importance of extending voting rights to servicemembers at home and abroad.
"With the calendar of primary elections beginning early and stretching through September, 2008," Gates said, "it is important that the department and the services be prepared to carry out the voting assistance mission to inform and educate U.S. citizens of the right to vote, foster voting participation, and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
"Voting is a both a right and a responsibility of citizens in our country," Gates continued. "(Leaders of the armed services must) do everything we can to encourage participation and ensure that our servicemembers and families are able to exercise their right to vote and have that vote counted."
Related Sites: Federal Voting Assistance Program
Michelle Obama, Chelsea Clinton Attend Same Black Church Service
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anyone looking to gauge the importance of blacks in the Democratic presidential primary next weekend only needed to visit one church service Sunday morning.
Michelle Obama and Chelsea Clinton were tucked among the hundreds of congregants at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, clapping in unison with the choir during a more than two-hour gathering.
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/20/michelle-obama-chelsea-clinton-attend-same-black-church-service/
Oprah’s Web Site Flooded With Criticism for Her Support of Obama Over Clinton
Television talk show guru and women’s rights advocate Oprah Winfrey has been dubbed “traitor” by some of her online supporters for her decision to support Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/20/oprahs-web-site-flooded-with-criticism-for-her-support-of-obama-over-clinton/
States try to pull plug on 'robo-calls'
States are trying to disconnect computer-generated political calls that are flooding the nation's households at election time.
More than 5 million automated "robo-calls" have been made to potential voters in early primary states. The number of robo-calls could run into the hundreds of millions this election year as the political parties battle for control of the White House, Congress and state governments.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-robocall_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Pizza Hut® Airs First Presidential Get-Out-The-Vote Ad Aimed at Youth
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pizza Hut® is airing a new ad encouraging young Americans to get involved in the political process by voting for the next U.S. President. Pizza Hut is the first company in this Presidential election to remind Americans to vote with the tagline, “It’s your choice. Please vote.”
The new 30-second ad features two college students, one of whom is questioning whether he should vote in this year’s Presidential election. The other student stresses the importance of voting, and encourages the doubting student to let his voice be heard by voting, convincing him to cast his ballot. This is the first time in Pizza Hut’s 50-year history the company has run an ad to promote a public policy issue rather than promoting its pizza. The company’s new Pizza Mia $5 value pizza is shown in the ad as a product placement, but is never referenced or specifically promoted.
“Today's youth have the power to change history with their vote in this Presidential election. At a time when the number one issue in this election is the economy, we're using our new Pizza Mia ad to encourage everyone to vote and make sure their voice is heard,” said Scott Bergren, Pizza Hut president. Young voters, age 18-29, reportedly will account for up to 25% of the electorate in this Presidential election1. “There's something about pizza and politics - they just go hand-in-hand,” Bergren said.
The new ad is the second in a series of Pizza Hut’s Pizza Mia Presidential Election ads. It will run in the Presidential primary states of South Carolina and Nevada just before the primaries, and on national network television. The company’s first political ad, which debuted during the Iowa Caucuses and featured snippets of each of the Democratic and Republican Presidential
candidates appearing on a debate stage together to address concerns about the economy. It was the first time a company had used actual Presidential candidate snippets in a commercial ad, and was well-received by youth on blogs and social media sites.
Pizza Mia offers an economic solution for families feeling the financial pinch today, particularly under current economic conditions, by providing everyday value at just $5 with the purchase of three pizzas, or $6.99 for one pizza. It is the company’s most affordable, high-quality pizza, made with 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese and old world sauce from sweet vine-ripened tomatoes. Orders for Pizza Mia are accepted at local Pizza Hut restaurants and online at pizzahut.com for delivery or carry out.
CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro Takes on CNN’s Lou Dobbs and His Anti-Trade, Protectionist Positions
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) President and CEO Gary Shapiro last night took on CNN’s Lou Dobbs and his anti-trade, protectionist positions during a live “debate” on the cable network’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”
“Everyone knows you are a protectionist – you want to close the borders,” said Shapiro. When Dobbs protested that he did not consider himself protectionist, Shapiro responded: “You may not be a protectionist, but you play one on TV.”
Pointing out that Dobbs often slants and fragments the facts on free trade, Shapiro established that trade supports jobs and economic growth by opening previously closed-off overseas markets. For instance:
While Dobbs claims that trade has resulted in the loss of three million jobs, he ignores the fact that over that same period 25 million good jobs were created.
While Dobbs rails against agreements such as NAFTA, he conveniently ignores that before NAFTA, the average unemployment rate was around 7 percent and in the 14 years since it has been about 5 percent.
While Dobbs frets over imports into this country he ignored the fact that $220 billion of high-tech products, which includes consumer electronics, were exported from this country, and that many of the companies that produced those products were small and medium-sized companies that are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Moreover, he doesn’t even address that the percentage of exports from the United States to the world has gone up by 4,000 percent (1,000 percent in real terms) over the last 42 years.
When Dobbs belittled the jobs that have been created by the consumer electronics industry, he belittled the hard-working men and women who work for companies here in the United States that help spur the engine of the American economy – the very people he claims to be fighting for.
CEA is calling on Congress to approve pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. “What these agreements do, Lou, is the agreements allow us to get into other countries, that’s why it baffles me that you oppose them,” added Shapiro.
“Free trade is good for the country,” Shapiro told Dobbs. “And as much as you say you are a free trader, you don’t want free trade agreements, you oppose them every chance you get, and that’s not good for this country, Lou.”
Dobbs responded by saying that our trade deficit is growing out of control. Shapiro pointed out that oil imports contribute to that deficit and that our exports are going up. “Your answer is to put up a wall around the United States and that would help us how?”
Dobbs claimed he doesn’t want to put up a wall around the United States but instead insists on an equal trade balance with our principal trade partners. “You have an Economics degree from Harvard and you know that’s unprecedented and undoable and unlikely and would hurt the people of this country. Give me an example of when a protectionist policy like that has ever been successful,” requested Shapiro.
In its trade campaign, CEA has called on Congress to pursue a pro-growth trade policy that includes:
Aggressively pursuing bilateral trade agreements. In the absence of an agreement in the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization, bilateral trade agreements offer the next best way to open foreign markets to U.S. small businesses. They create sales opportunities, reduce costs and diminish uncertainties. Through trade agreements we can implement intellectual property rights standards, establish substantive investment protections, and provide increased transparency to U.S. exporters.
Reauthorize trade promotion authority. Without trade promotion authority our trading partners will be reluctant to negotiate trade pacts with the United States. America’s hands will be tied, and the United States will fall behind other nations negotiating trade agreements at an unprecedented pace.
Eliminate non-tariff barriers. These non-tariff barriers hinder trade and burden small companies with unnecessary compliance costs. Examples of these barriers include: cumbersome customs regulations; corrupt government procurement processes; and most recently, a proliferation of divergent or non-harmonized approaches to environmental standards, among others.
Uphold and enforce trade agreements. In addition to pursuing new agreements, the United States must commit to maintaining and enforcing those agreements already in place. The United States must take an aggressive stance to protect products already covered by the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA). The ITA covers over 97 percent of the world trade in information technology products, and provides for the elimination of duties on those covered products. But as technology has evolved, many countries claim that the ITA does not apply to the next generation of covered products. It is crucial for the United States to uphold provisions of the ITA that allow for future developments of IT products and enable companies to enjoy the full scope of the agreements intended duty-free benefits.
For more information on the CEA trade initiative, please go to the CEA website at www.ce.org/freetrade.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Dean: Large turnout good for Democrats
WASHINGTON - Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Saturday the large turnout for the Iowa caucuses indicates Americans are looking for a Democrat to run the White House in 2008, but he added that the party still has to work to make that happen.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080105/ap_on_el_pr/democrats2008
Note to Republicans: It's time to fire up and get working!!!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Hunter and Paul Excluded From Debate
by Michelle Oddis
Presidential candidates Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul have been excluded from a Fox News GOP “presidential candidates forum” in New Hampshire on January 6, just two days before the primary.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24243
Thompson's Retail Politics
by Martha Zoller
“Normally, lack of money is a problem but in the Iowa caucus, lack of money has forced Thompson to do retail politics, which is what he’s best at. He’s getting a surge from it. In this case, lack of money may make the difference.” -- Steve Gill
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24222
Memo to Reid, Pelosi & Co.
by Michael Reagan
What happened in Pakistan today is just more proof that when it comes to the war on terrorism, the Democrats are so terribly wrong-headed that they constitute a serious threat to the security of the American people -- that’s you and me...
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24185
