Hypocrite Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): Hedging His Bet On Taxes

Liberal Senator Chuck Schumer Defended Preferential Tax Rates For Hedge-Fund Gazillionaires” But Now Attempts To Stir Up Political Class Warfare

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “It Seems To Me The Thing They Hold Out For Is Tax Cuts For The Millionaires.” (Sen. Schumer, Floor Remarks, 12/3/10)

“One Of The Few Members Of Congress That Has Consistently Supported The Hedge Fund Industry”
SCHUMER FUNDRAISER INVITATION: Sen. Schumer is “One Of The Few Members Of Congress That Has Consistently Supported The Hedge Fund Industry.” (“Goldman Suit Figure Touted, Fundraised For Ally Schumer,” Politico, 4/16/10)

NEW YORK MAGAZINE: “Fellow Senator (And Regular Guy) Chuck Schumer Took A Stand Against Raising Taxes On Hedge-Fund Billionaires.” (“Flip-Flop Weather,” New York Magazine, 8/13/07)

THE WASHINGTON POST: “By Late July, Schumer Was Off The Fence -- And On The Side Of The Hedge Funds And Private-Equity Firms In Opposing The Democratic Legislation.” (“Democrats Split Over Bill Affecting Backers,” The Washington Post, 11/7/07)

THE WASHINGTON POST’s Al Kamen: “Sen. Charles ‘Hedgeman’ Schumer (D-N.Y.) -- The Liberal Senator Who Defended Preferential Tax Rates For Hedge-Fund Gazillionaires.” “Cyndi Bauerly, legislative director for Sen. Charles "Hedgeman" Schumer (D-N.Y.) -- the liberal senator who defended preferential tax rates for hedge-fund gazillionaires -- is said to be the pick to be nominated for a Democratic seat on the dentally challenged Federal Election Commission.” (“Campaigning By The Book,” The Washington Post, 8/10/07)

Hypocrite Defined: Sen. Chuck Schumer

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Saturday in Washington, D.C. - Dec 4, 2010 - Senate Liberal Show Votes On Tax Hikes Defeated With Bipartisan Opposition

Today, the Senate held a Saturday session for what Republican Whip Jon Kyl called “a political catharsis on the Democratic side,” which amounted to holding show votes on two plans to allow taxes to go up in January for some Americans. They reconvened at 8:15 AM today and resumed consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 4853, the vehicle for tax extensions.

By the time the voting was done. Sen Harry Reid efforts were defeated as Democrats joined Republican to defeat the show votes.  The first amendment, offered by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), which would have raised taxes on those making over $250,000 per year, failed by a vote of 53-36. The second, offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), would have raised taxes on those making over $1 million per year and failed by a vote of 53-37.

Neither of the Democrat plans was able to garner 60 votes and both had bipartisan opposition. The first plan, offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), would have raised taxes on Americans making over $250,000 per year. All Republicans and 5 Democrats voted against it. The second plan, offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and based mainly on “focus-group and polling data,” would have raised taxes on Americans making over $1 million per year. Again, all Republicans and 5 Democrats voted against it. In fact, according to The New York Times, even the White House opposed Schumer’s plan.

Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson also understood what was going on today. The NYT reports, “Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, who supports a temporary extension of the tax rates at all income levels, criticized his own party’s leaders for dithering. ‘The truth is, it’s widely believed that neither has the votes to pass,’ Mr. Nelson said of the two proposals Democrats are bringing to a vote. ‘When the dust settles Saturday we’ll probably see no tax cuts for any Americans.’ he said.”

And it’s unfortunate that this is where Congress finds itself with less than a month to go before taxes go up on every American. Following the votes today, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his frustration with the political show put on by Democrats. “Today's votes were an affront to the millions of Americans who are struggling to find work and a clear signal that Democrats in Congress still haven't gotten the message of the November elections,” he said. “Two years of out-of-control spending and big-government policies have led to record deficits and debt, chronic unemployment, and deep uncertainty about our nation's fiscal future. Meaningless show-votes and anti-business rhetoric won't do anything to make the situation better.”

Sen. McConnell concluded, “There is strong bipartisan opposition to these attempts to raise taxes on small businesses across the country. Americans don't want political posturing; they want jobs. Today’s votes were the clearest signal yet that Democrats in Congress do not take our nation's jobs crisis seriously.”

Newly elected Republican Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) who now fills the seat previously occupied by President Barack Obama gave a vary different message in the weekly Republican address than being offered by the Obama administration and Senate Democratic leadership.  In his remarks, he said,

“Last month, the American people sent a clear message to Washington: spend less, borrow less and tax less to put America back to work. . . .

“Unfortunately, too many in Washington want to continue the reckless tax and spend policies of the past. They ignore the warning signs of more debt, taxes and inflation. They embrace wasteful government spending and pork-barrel earmarks. And they think a new massive tax hike on the U.S. economy is exactly what the American people need.

“The current leaders of Congress should not move forward with plans that were just rejected by the American people. These leaders should not raise taxes and risk another recession.  Instead, Congress should reduce spending and prevent another tax hike on American taxpayers.

“Americans already pay some of the highest taxes in the world.  By raising taxes in order to fuel higher spending, we threaten to restart the recession, pushing millions of Americans out of work. . . .

“Americans already pay some of the highest taxes in the world.  By raising taxes in order to fuel higher spending, we threaten to restart the recession, pushing millions of Americans out of work.

“Right now, families and small business owners are scratching their heads asking one simple question – what will my tax rate be next month? Taxpayers don’t know what their personal income tax rates will be come January 1st.

“Family business employers don’t know what the death tax will be. Investors and small businesses don’t know what the capital gains rate will be. Their uncertainty hurts our economy. It’s unfair and short-sighted. . . .

Spend less, borrow less and tax less to put America back to work.  That’s what we heard from the American people last month – and that’s what we should expect from our leaders today.

It’s long past time for Democrats to get serious, stop playing political games, and work with Republicans to prevent taxes from going up on Americans in the midst of a recession come January.

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Gov. Mike Beebe is Left of Barack Obama in Giving Raises to Government Workers

AFP-Arkansas calls Beebe out for being left of Obama
Priorities for bureaucrats seem to outweigh relief for Arkansas families
Little Rock, AR – The Arkansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity criticized Governor Mike Beebe today for increasing state government employees pay, a move that puts him to the left of President Barack Obama. The President recently froze federal government employee pay for two years. “Instead of providing relief for small businesses struggling to keep their doors open or to lighten the load of Arkansas families during what has been a long economic downturn, Governor Beebe put priority on Government bureaucrats,” stated Teresa Oelke, AFP Arkansas State Director.

Thursday, Governor Beebe unfroze state employees’ salary increases that he had put in place in June. Governor Beebe’s promise to freeze salaries lasted less than six months during his re-election campaign making the freeze appear to be nothing more than an election year shenanigan. Private sector workers in Arkansas make 89.63% of what state government workers bring home.

“The Governor says that he would provide tax relief for Arkansans if legislators show him the money,” continued Oelke, “but this task proves to be difficult when he keeps spending the money on growing government.”
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Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 960,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates.

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Obama: Compromise With Me

by William Warren: My latest cartoon poking fun at Obama’s sudden interest in bipartisanship.

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Tags: Bipartisanship, Compromise, Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Political Cartoons, Republicans, William Warren To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today in Washington, D.C. - Dec 3, 2010 - Dems Prioritize Political Show Votes Over Preventing Tax Hikes

Last night, the Senate agreed by unanimous consent to pass H.J. Res. 101, a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 18th.  Also, last night the House voted (333-79) to censure  Rep. Charles Rangel for breaking tax laws and House rules.  His liberal colleagues then applauded Rangel.  It is obvious, they do not get the seriousness of Rangel's actions or the reasons why the majority of America voted to change the make of the House in the 2010 elections. 

This morning, eleven of the 18 members of President Obama’s fiscal commission voted to support a controversial blueprint to slash deficits by nearly $4 trillion over the next decade -- too few to command a quick vote in Congress.  It would have taken 14 votes to move the blueprint forward.  The panel has proposed dramatic cuts in military spending, raising the future retirement age and eliminating popular tax breaks.  It will now be up to the next Congress to determine which items will be adopted.

Yesterday, House democrats in an effort to divide the country past continuance of the present tax cuts for those earning under $250,000. Unfortuantely, it is people and businesses earning over $250,000 that create and employ people. Today, we learned that November's job growth was far lower than expected and the unemployment rate rose to 9.8%; 15.1 million unemployed.  Obama's Big Government plans are failing. It is hoped that the Senate will reject this House bill and vote to extend the existing tax cuts for all taxpayers.  House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement:

“The fiscal commission’s report provides a sobering look at the tough choices that lie ahead, and I thank Chairmen Bowles and Simpson, and the members of the commission, for advancing our national dialogue on this critical issue. As I have said before, we need to have an adult conversation with the American people about the scope of our fiscal challenges, and I believe the commission’s work will help do that.

“I’m especially appreciative of the work of the three House Republicans who served on the panel.  Paul Ryan, Dave Camp, and Jeb Hensarling will play leading roles in our new majority’s efforts to keep our pledge to America to cut spending and reduce the size of government.

“Washington’s spending spree threatens our children’s chase for the American Dream. At a time when the federal government is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends, the need for immediate and decisive action to stem the tide of red ink could not be clearer. Democrats and Republicans don’t have to wait until January to start cutting spending.  We can get started right now, and we should.”

However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to get the message and scheduled two political show votes on Democrat tax proposals for Saturday: one on the House Democrats’ plan to raise taxes on those making over $250,000 per year, and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “focus-group and polling data” generated plan to raise taxes on those making over $1 million per year.

In an op-ed for the Louisville Courier-Journal today, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell writes, “Job number one for Congress is to prevent a tax increase for any American. As the country continues to struggle out of a recession, economists agree that preventing tax increases is one of the most important things we can do to reassure middle-class families and small businesses, and boost the economy. Voters ratified that view one month ago by sending candidates from both parties to Washington who vowed not to raise taxes.”

Today’s disappointing unemployment news—unemployment rose to 9.8% (the 19^th straight month of unemployment exceeding 9%) and only 39,000 jobs were created in November—only underscores the importance of preventing tax hikes on any Americans. But as House Republican Leader John Boehner lamented this morning, “Unfortunately, Democratic leaders continue to insist on wasting time with meaningless votes as they try to make it as difficult as possible to stop their job-killing tax hike.  Families and small businesses have had enough of politicians in Washington talking about creating jobs while doing everything in their power to kill more jobs.  This is exactly the kind of Washington game-playing the American people voted against on Election Day.”

Yet Democrats still don’t seem to have gotten the message. House Democrat leaders held a vote on a bill raising taxes on those making over $250,000 per year yesterday, even though, as The Wall Street Journal reports today, “[t]he legislation is doomed in the Senate.” And Senate Democrats have decided to have Saturday show votes on two of their tax hike plans, the House bill and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “focus-group and polling data” generated plan to raise taxes on those making over $1 million per year. Of course, neither of these proposals can get 60 votes in the Senate. Reuters’ headline from last night says it all: “Senate to take symbolic votes on taxes Saturday.”

Sen. McConnell expressed his frustration with Democrats’ game-playing last night, telling the AP Democrats need to “stop wasting time on political show-votes and focus on our priorities. It's time to get serious. It's time to extend the current tax rates and fund the government while cutting spending. Every day spent on a political show-vote is another day that Democrats won't be able to debate items that should actually pass.”

Even a growing chorus of Democrats has indicated they’re not interested in raising taxes on anyone in a recession. Still, Democrat leaders persist in a political show, egged on by their liberal base. As Kimberley Strassel writes in The Wall Street Journal today, “The antitax bipartisan majority is hoping these nonsense votes are a means for liberal Democrats to work through their issues, provide themselves a little political cover, and then join the rest of the grownups at the temporary-tax-extension-for-all table. But with these folks, you never know.”

It’s time for Democrats to stop playing political games and seriously address the priorities of the American people. Wasting time on meaningless show votes only serves to demonstrate that Democrats are more concerned about the desire of their liberal base to do harm to their political adversaries than the need to do good for all Americans by stopping their taxes from going up.

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Tags: US Senate, US House, White House, Washington, D.C., tax reductions, unemployment To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Bipartisan Majority For Preventing Tax Hikes? Let's Hope!

14 Senate Democrats Have Either Voted Or Said They Would Vote For All The Current Tax Rates
Dems Agree: Don’t Raise Taxes On Small Businesses During A Recession
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE): “I Would Extend Them [Tax Cuts] For Everyone.” “I am committed to extending the Bush tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans for everybody making up to $250,000, but I would extend them for everyone. … I'd be willing to extend them for several years for all Americans, of whatever income, if that also allows us to reach a bipartisan compromise that makes real progress in offering tax relief to small and medium businesses, for the home office exception, for the research and development tax credit.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 10/21/10)

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): “I Wouldn't Raise Any Taxes.” (“Another Democrat Says Extend All Bush Tax Cuts,” Fox News, 9/15/10)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT): “I Don't Think It Makes Sense To Raise Any Federal Taxes During The Uncertain Economy We Are Struggling Through. The more money we leave in private hands, the quicker our economic recovery will be. And that means I will do everything I can to make sure Congress extends the so-called Bush tax cuts for another year and takes action to prevent the estate tax from rising back to where it was. In our current economic situation, we cannot risk the economic headwinds that would be caused by tax increases. We need to keep as much money as possible in people's pockets and business's bank accounts.” (Sen. Lieberman, Press Release, 9/13/10)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE): “I Support Extending All Of The Expiring Tax Cuts Until Nebraska’s And The Nation’s Economy Is In Better Shape, And Perhaps Longer, Because Raising Taxes In A Weak Economy Could Impair Recovery. Continuing all of the tax cuts could provide certainty for families and businesses in Nebraska and nationwide.” (Sen. Nelson, Press Release, 9/9/10)

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA): “I Don't Think They Ought To Be Drawing A Distinction At $250-K.” “Sen Jim Webb, D-Va., on Friday questioned the wisdom of extending only a portion of the Bush tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, joining a growing list of moderate Democrats expressing skepticism or outright opposition to allowing tax cuts for the well-to-do to expire in a recession. ‘I don't think they ought to be drawing a distinction at $250-k,’ Webb told Fox, referring to Bush-era tax rates that are now lower for couples earning more than that amount.” (“Fox News: Another Dem Questions Wisdom Of Extending Only Part Of Bush Tax Cuts,” Fox News, 9/10/10)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN): “The Economy Is Very Weak Right Now. Raising Taxes Will Lower Consumer Demand At A Time When We Want People Putting More Money Into The Economy.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): “The General Rule Of Thumb Is That You Do Not Raise Taxes Or Cut Spending During An Economic Downturn. That Would Be Counterproductive.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR): “Pryor Said Congress Could Still Consider Extending Bush-era Tax Cuts That Are Set To Expire . . . He Would Support A Temporary Extension Of ALL The Tax Cuts ” (“Pryor pessimistic about lame-duck session,” Stephens Washington Bureau, 11/17/10)

Eight Senate Democrats Voted For The Current Tax Rates Established In 2001 And 2003
Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche lincoln (D-AR), Ben Nelson (D-NE) Voted For “The Economic Growth And Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2001.” (H.R. 1836, Roll Call Vote #165, Bill Passed 62-38; R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01)

Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) & Ben Nelson (D-NE) Voted For “The Jobs And Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2003” In The Senate. (H.R.2, Roll Call Vote #179, Bill Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, Bayh & Nelson (NE) Voted Yea, 3/15/03)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) Also Voted For “The Jobs And Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2003” Conference Report. (H.R.2, Roll Call Vote #196, Bill Passed 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, Nelson (NE) Voted Yea, 5/23/03)

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Tags: US Senate, Democrats, tax hikes, past opposition, bipartisan, stop the tax increases, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Republican Senators Focus Is On The Economy During the Lame-Duck Session

Republican Senators: Despite a Democratic agenda focusing on political items, Republican senators have listened to the people and are continuing to focus on the economy during the lame-duck session. Republicans are working to freeze spending, fund the government, and ensure that nobody's taxes are raised during these difficult economic times. Individual Senators speak out in video below:

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Tags: lame duck, Congress, Republicans, Senators, Mitch McConnell, Lamar Alexander, Jon Kyl, John Cornyn, John Barrasso, John Thune, spending, taxes, economy, jobs, private sector, Democrats To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today in Washington, D.C. - Dec 2, 2010 - Dems Should Stop Pursing Liberal Wish Lists - Time To Stop The Tax Hikes

Rangel Is Guilty!!
Cartoon by William Warren

Congress is in session. Senate Democrats are taking long caucus sessions trying to determine proposed actions - not all are in agreement as detailed later.

Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is scheduled today to stand on the floor of the House and to be censured. He plans to first plead for a lesser action. In the House of Representatives, censure is essentially a form of public humiliation carried out on the House floor. Normally the House Speaker [Pelois - if she has the moxie perform this action against her liberal friend] reads out a resolution rebuking the member for the specified misconduct while the member must stand in the House well and listen to it. Rangel is very fortunate not to be in jail. In the history of the House, censure has been used 22 times ( only 3 of them being since 1966).

House Democrats are intent on forcing through tax legislation which will be DOA in the Senate because enough Senators will oppose the bill. In her last days as House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is pandering to her liberal constituents and claiming now a desire to protect the middle class while opposing full tax relief and continuance of the present tax cuts for all Americans. Thank your American voters for sending enough Republicans to the US House, to have her removed as Speaker in the next session of Congress.

Democrat House leaders will attempt to force through a procedural motion (“rule”) that would prevent Republicans from offering a proposal to stop all the tax hikes scheduled for January 1st. A “yes” vote on the rule for the Democrats’ House tax bill is a vote to raise taxes and kill jobs. Speaker-to-be John Boehner (R-OH) summed it up as follows, "Instead of putting politics first and taking cues from liberal special interests, Democrats in Washington should think about following orders from the American people for a change."

The New York Times writes today, “Republicans threatened to block any legislation until a deal is reached to extend the expiring Bush-era tax cuts, potentially derailing the Democrats’ busy end-of-year agenda. The blunt threat was made in a letter to the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, and signed by all 42 Senate Republicans. And it was reiterated by the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, in a speech in which he accused Democratic leaders and Mr. Obama of ignoring the midterm election results.”

The Times notes that “[t]he move put Democrats in a vise” and Politico reports, “Senate Republicans’ aggressive move to block virtually all business in the chamber has created a fresh round of partisan anger, threatening to derail or delay the rest of the Democratic agenda in an already gridlocked lame-duck session of Congress.”

The NYT reports that the “announcement drew howls of anger from Democrats who said it was just the latest evidence of Republican obstructionism. To emphasize their point, Democrats went to the floor and attempted to bring up numerous bills, including a measure to extend jobless benefits and a measure to promote clean energy. On behalf of his colleagues, Senator John Barrasso [R-WY] repeatedly voiced objections, blocking the bills and prompting a furious speech by Senator Claire McCaskill  [D-MO].”

Yet Democrats’ anger was all about the liberal wish list of bills they want to move forward on, it had little to do with recognition of the message voters sent a month ago about their priorities: addressing the struggling economy and the size of government.

As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained this morning, “Yesterday we watched a number of Democrat senators come to the floor and express their exasperation at not being able to do what they want to do around here. Astonishing. Let’s face it: Most Americans aren’t particularly interested in the things Democrat leaders have put at the top of their to-do list. They thought they put a restraining order on Democrat partisan priorities early last month. It’s time Democrats put the priorities of the voters first. . . . “In a couple of weeks the lights go out around here unless we do something to stop it. At the end of the month every taxpayer suffers a pay-cut unless we stop it. But Democrats would rather spend the Senate’s limited time on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Immigration. They’d rather come down to the floor to talk about filibuster rules. So they still don’t get it — and that’s why Republicans are insisting we put these things aside and finish the most important and urgent legislation before time runs out.”

Indeed, Democrats’ continued inability to listen to what the American people are saying is on stark display with the political show vote on raising some taxes House Democrats plan to hold today. Even The New York Times described Democrats’ strategy as “scrambl[ing] to hold a series of symbolic votes aimed at showing Republicans defending lower taxes for millionaires.”

ABC News reported on the frustration Democrats’ move has generated with Republicans. “Republican leaders in Congress [Wednesday] ripped House Democrats for holding a politically-charged vote Thursday on extending the Bush tax cuts for middle-class Americans but letting them expire for the wealthy at year’s end. ‘I think it’s wrong,’ said House Speaker-to-be John Boehner. “It does undercut the conversations we had just yesterday to continue to play political games. The American people said on election day, “Stop the games. Stop the spending. Stop the looming tax hikes.”’ That argument was echoed by the Senate Republican Leader McConnell. ‘Regardless of what the majority tries to force House Republicans to do, it’s not going to go anywhere.  We are going to extend the current tax rates. We’re not going to raise taxes on anybody. The only thing we’re discussing now is just how long that extension will be.’”

Democrats should drop the political games and their liberal wish list and simply focus on the urgent priorities of Americans. As Sen. McConnell said today, “The Dream Act doesn’t create jobs. Filibuster rules don’t create jobs. Wasting time on votes to raise taxes won’t create jobs.” Giving business owners some certainty and preventing a massive tax hike on all Americans is what people are looking for and the right thing to do for the economy. How is it that so many Democrats still can’t understand that the American people have told them to focus on their priorities and not those at the top of the liberal Christmas list?

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Tags: US Senate, US House, White House, Washington, D.C., House Censure, Charlie Rangel, Democrats, liberal, wish list, tax hikes To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

UN and World Bureaucrats Gone Wild in Cancun

Americans for Prosperity Video: The United Nations Climate Change Conference is meeting in Cancun, Mexico from November 29 -- December 10 2010 where world and US bureaucrats will work to transfer wealth and technology from developed to developing nations by raising the cost of traditional energy.

But before these international bureaucrats get to "work", they decided to throw a lavish party for themselves. Thus the belwo video. 

Join AFP as they report from Cancun live on Dec 2, 2010; Visit CostofHotAir.com for more info.

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Tags: AFP, Americans for Prosperity. UN, Climate Change conference, Cancun, Mexico, Bureaucrats, Gone Wild, video To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The Story of Business: Competing for a Future

Bankrupting America Video: Facing a slow economy and competition from India and China, Mike's manufacturing business has struggled to survive. Mike has even personally guaranteed the company's debt, putting everything he owns on the line.

Despite adversity, Mike has begun to hire new workers and recover. The only way he and the dozens of his employees have managed to stay afloat is by investing in capital that makes them more productive. But uncertainty from Washington and an ever-consuming tax structure is making it increasingly difficult to grow...

Watch Mike's inspiring story now:

This video is Part 3 in our series "The Story of Business," a joint project of Public Notice and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.

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Tags: The Story of Business, America, manufacturing, uncertainty, global competition, taxes, Bankrupting America, Public Notice To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Abolish the Transportation Security Administration

By Chris Slavens: Democrats’ favorite strategy is to blame George W. Bush for everything from high unemployment to Hurricane Katrina, so it should come as no surprise that some on the left are attempting to pin the abuses of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on the former president, despite the fact that the Obama administration—with the exception of Hillary Clinton, who has political reasons to distance herself from her boss—is fully supportive of pat-down procedures that would, as one protesting passenger correctly noted, constitute sexual assault if performed by anyone other than government employees.

Strangely, however, a majority of liberals (at least those in the media) have chosen not to assign blame at all, and are instead diligently pretending that groping innocent citizens is the niftiest thing since solar panels, patiently reminding the unwashed masses that it’s perfectly acceptable to trade liberty for security.

The TSA was created during Bush’s presidency, two months after the tragic 9/11 attacks, but it was Democrats who insisted that airport security be handled by federal employees, rather than private firms. And, of course, the screening procedures in question were implemented a few weeks ago with the approval of a federal government controlled entirely by Democrats. Republicans have committed their fair share of screw-ups, but can’t be blamed for this one.

Unfortunately, the media has focused on a handful of bizarre mishaps (like the rupturing of a Michigan bladder cancer survivor’s urostomy bag during a pat-down), which distracts from the fact that the procedures themselves are outrageous even when performed properly. Forcing “free” individuals to expose themselves to potentially harmful radiation, or submit to full-body pat-downs which include the feeling of genitalia, is simply unacceptable. Such unreasonable actions justify civil disobedience.

Some lawmakers are listening to passengers’ concerns, like Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who introduced the American Traveler Dignity Act. It would revoke TSA screeners’ legal immunity, requiring them to obey the same sexual harassment laws that apply to the general public. Perhaps the new Republican majority in the House, which has reason to fear the withdrawal of Tea Party support if it does not govern as promised, will be more open to Paul’s proposals than past Republican majorities.

Everyone seems to have a different idea of what to do about the TSA. The left, because of its politically-motivated refusal to acknowledge any problems on Obama’s watch, pretends that there is no problem, and some of the faux conservatives on the center-right—the same who supported the unconstitutional Patriot Act several years ago—echo this view. Some argue that profiling (used successfully by the Israelis) is the way to go, which has sent liberal race-baiters into an arms-flailing tizzy. Others think that the x-ray scanners are just fine, and only the invasive pat-downs should be done away with. Or the reverse.

Regardless of the eventual outcome of the debate, an important first step must be taken before new procedures are established: The abolition of the TSA.

The agency was created nine years ago by an act of Congress, and now that it has proven itself to be incapable of providing security while respecting constitutional rights, it can be dismantled just as easily by another act of Congress. Acknowledge the mistake, issue an apology, and move forward. That is how good government works.

But it’s not how the current administration works. By continuing to subsidize security theater, and dismissing the valid complaints of concerned citizens, the Democrats in power are setting themselves up for a disaster in the next election. Did they learn nothing this year?
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Chris Slavens is a libertarian columnist. He lives in Sussex County, Delaware. He contributes to numerous conservative sites including ARRA News Service, Conservative Voices, and his own blog, Slavens Says.

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Tags: TSA, Transportation Security Administration, civil liberties, Ron Paul, American Traveler Dignity Act, Chris Slavens To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Enough All Ready!

Gary Bauer, Contributing Author:  I've had enough! The level of uncertainty that is hanging over our country right now is unacceptable. ObamaCare remains a huge unknown -- full of tax increases, regulations and mandates -- with the White House issuing waivers left and right to their favorite unions and non-profit groups. The real unemployment rate is stubbornly stuck in the double digits, and American families and entrepreneurs are 30 days away from one of the biggest tax hikes in history.

(And if you thought things were bad now, global elites -- including top administration officials -- are gathering in Cancun, Mexico, scheming to take us back to the "good old days" of World War II rationing!)

What exactly is Obama, in between basketball games, doing about it? Next to nothing! Yesterday's much-hyped White House meeting on taxes was a failure. Nothing was decided. In fact, one commentator said Obama essentially "voted present" at the meeting -- taking himself out of the equation by delegating future talks with Republican leaders to his budget director and Treasury Secretary.

But the GOP isn't the White House's problem. As I reported yesterday, it's the president's own party that can't agree on what to do about the impending tax hikes.

And to avoid dealing with the issue, congressional Democrats are holding votes on food "safety," trying to force open homosexuality into the military, renaming post offices and wasting time on college football. A modified illegal immigration amnesty bill will probably get a vote before anything is done on taxes. This is outrageous!

The "Walking Dead" is a popular TV show right now -- and not suitable for families. Nor is our current "Walking Dead Congress," with its scores of defeated members, suited to be making so many decisions on issues that aren't nearly as important as preventing a major tax hike in a weak economy. Yet those are the priorities of the current Democrat leadership.

In a rare moment of candor, one Democrat senator was caught on an open microphone expressing his frustration with the process. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) complained that the lame duck session has been "rigged." I'm betting that millions of Americans share his opinion and would express it in even stronger terms!

Call your elected representatives at (202) 224-3121 and demand that they deal with the impending tax increases before anything else.
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Gary Bauer is is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families.

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Tags: enough, lame duck, democrats, agenda, Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Democrats Still Didn't Hear You - Are They Deaf or Arrogant?

As Tax Hikes Loom, Dems Discuss Filibuster Rules, FDA Reorganization, Immigration, and Judges

AP: “Democrats, on borrowed time as the majority party in congress after a shellacking at the polls, are using their last weeks in power to stroke important voting blocs: Hispanics, gay-rights groups and liberal activists.” (“Lame-Duck Agenda Features Political Votes,” AP, 12/1/10)

With Tax Hikes Less Than One Month Away…
Dems Focus On Filibuster Rules“Merkley is distributing a memo making this case to colleages, which was sent my way, and I'm told Merkley will bring the idea up at a Senate caucus meeting today. Merkley notes that it's a myth that there's currently a way to force senators to filibuster on the floor, and proposes: The public believes that filibustering senators have to hold the floor. Indeed, the public perceives the filibuster as an act of principled public courage and sacrifice. Let's make it so.” (“One Senator's Modest Proposal: Force Senators To Actually Filibuster,” The Washington Post’s “The Plum Line” Blog, 12/1/10)

They Spent Over A Week On An FDA Bill That “Appears Headed Back To The Chamber Because Democrats Violated A Constitutional Provision”“A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of the Senate’s lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because democrats violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions originate in the House.” (“House May Block Food Safety Bill Over Senate Error,” Roll Call, 12/1/10)

“The debacle could prove to be a major embarrassment for Senate democrats, who sought Tuesday to make the relatively unknown bill a major political issue by sending out numerous news releases trumpeting its passage.” (“House May Block Food Safety Bill Over Senate Error,” Roll Call, 12/1/10)

“Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) is pushing to get The Bill passed before the lame-duck session ends in December.” (“Senate Expected To Vote On Food Safety Bill,” The Washington Post, 11/30/10)

Sen. Harry Reid: “Matters Of Importance” Include “Judges”SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “Mr. President, We must move forward on matters of importance – we have numerous judges that need to be taken care of…” (Sen. Reid, Floor Remarks, 12/1/10)

President Obama “Willing To ‘Spend Political Capital’” On DREAM Act“Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he would file a motion Tuesday so the Senate could take up the DREAM Act, setting up a showdown over the bill that would provide some young, undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship.” (“Senate Takes Up DREAM Act,” Politico, 11/30/10)

“Education Sec. Arne Duncan said Monday that Congress can’t afford to wait to pass the DREAM Act, even as immigration allies acknowledge there’s little hope of getting the bill done in the lame-duck session.” (“W.H. Makes Last Appeal For DREAM Act,” Politico, 11/29/10)

“Duncan said Obama’s support for the bill has been ‘unequivocal,’ echoing comments he made to reporters Nov. 18 that his boss was willing to ‘spend political capital’ on the effort.” (“W.H. Makes Last Appeal For DREAM Act,” Politico, 11/29/10)

President Obama's “Fight” For “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” In “Political Endgame This Week”"President Obama's fight to let openly gay men and women serve in the U.S. Military enters its political endgame this week." (“‘Don’t Ask’ Showdown Looms In Senate This Week,” Time’s Swampland, 11/28/10)

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Tags: Democrats, not listening, higher taxes, filibuster, FDA Reorganization, Dream Act, immigration, judges To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today in Washington, D.C. - Dec 1, 2010 - Politics of Spending Your Money!

Yesterday, the Senate voted 73-25 to pass S. 510, the food safety and FDA reorganization bill. This was a travesty with several RINOs opted to trust the Federal Government to control your gardening and the raising of livestock on your small farms, However, there is still hope. The House has to vote on their version of the bill. But the hope lies in the screw up made my Senate Majority Leader Reid's in his rushing to push this bill through.

ARRA News Contributor Curtis Coleman identifies today opined that the Food Safety Modernization Act passed by the Senate on Tuesday may not be alive after all. The bill adopted by the Senate (S.510), was significantly different from the House version (H.R. 2749) passed in July, 2009, requiring either a reconciliation of the two bills or the House to adopt the Senate version. According to Roll Call, “A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of the Senate’s lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because Democrats violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions originate in the House. . . .Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could simply drop the issue and let the next session of Congress start from scratch or he could try to force the issue in the Senate after the House passes a new version of the bill. But in order to do that and still tackle the other issues, he would need a unanimous consent agreement to limit debate, an agreement to which the bill’s chief opponent, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) will be unlikely to agree."

Also yesterday, the House passed 256-152 H.R.4783: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments. The original bill was to aid with income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Chile. But what really happened was the addition of amendments for "$914 million in mandatory spending to ratify four Indian water rights settlement agreements. And, providing "$1.15 billion to pay the claimants in Pigford v. Vilsack, a 1997 case in which three African-American farmers alleged that the USDA had discriminated against them and other African-American farmers. Some Members have expressed concerns that various claims made after the Pigford decision may be fraudulent and have requested investigations."

That's the way business and politics has been done in the US Capitol. Bury over $2 billion in payments in a bill that had nothing to do with the purpose of the bill. As to where this this additional $2 billion dollars going to come from, your guess is as good as millions of other taxpayers. Remember the USDA employee Shirley Sherrod who was summarily dismissed, given an apology by the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and offered a new position which she choose not to accept. Well, Tom Blumer, Washington Examiner previously reported that "Only days earlier, she learned that New Communities, a group she founded with Sherrod and her husband and other families won a $13 million settlement in the minority farmers law suit Pigford vs Vilsack. . . . The Pigford matter goes back a long way, . . . As part of a April 14, 1999 class action case settlement, commonly known as the Pigford case, U.S. taxpayers have already provided over $1 billion in cash, non-credit awards and debt relief to almost 16,000 black farmers who claimed that they were discriminated against by USDA officials as they 'farmed or attempted to farm.'" So now Members of Congress approved "another $1.15 billion this week to settle cases from what some estimate may be an additional 80,000 African-Americans who have also claimed to have been discriminated against by USDA staff. ... Settling this case is clearly a priority for the White House and USDA."

The American taxpayers have a right to feel taken advantage of "again" by the Obama administration. The Obama administration and the Democrats have pushed to preserve the black vote and to fulfill a campaign promise without concern for the merits of the cases which haven't even been heard. Shirley Sherrod is mostly likely laughing all the way to the bank and may be doing so long into the future as she and her husband advise clients in their efforts to collect on theses newly appropriated funds.

Fox News reports today, “Every Senate Republican has signed onto a letter vowing to block all Democratic-backed legislation until the chamber extends the Bush tax cuts and approves a spending bill to keep the government running, Fox News has learned. Throwing down the gauntlet, all 42 members of the GOP caucus are sending the letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warning him that they will bring matters to a standstill unless he swiftly brings those tax-and-spending issues to the floor. That means putting on the back burner a push to repeal the military's policy banning gays from serving openly in the military, a bill giving illegal immigrant students and military members a pathway to legal status and an extension of long-term unemployment benefits.”

In their letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), all 42 Senate Republicans wrote, “[W]e write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers.  With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities.  While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike. Given our struggling economy, preventing the tax increase and providing economic certainty should be our top priority.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained the letter in a speech on the floor this morning, “With just a few weeks to go before the end of the session, Democrats continue to place their own priorities over the priorities of the American people. These are the things Democrats have chosen to do instead of preventing a massive tax hike that economists tell us would stifle the economy. Republicans have pleaded with Democrats to put aside their wish-list — to focus on the things Americans want us to focus on. They’ve ignored us. The voters repudiated their agenda at the polls. They’ve ignored them. Time is running out. They’re ignoring that. The election was a month ago. It’s time to get serious. It’s time to focus on priorities.”

The letter points out, “Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents’ priorities become the Senate’s priorities.” And Sen. McConnell concluded, “At the moment, every taxpayer in the country stands to get a massive tax increase — and a cut in pay — on December 31^st. We need to show the American people that we care more about them and their ability to pay their bills than we do about the special interests' legislative Christmas-list. Republicans are united in our opposition to proceeding to any of these things until Democrats make the priorities of the American people their own.”

Yesterday, House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-OH) made it clear that House Republicans are standing firm in their opposition to raising taxes on any American: “Republicans made a pledge to America to cut spending and permanently stop all the tax hikes, and that’s exactly what we’re fighting for.”

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Tags: US Senate, US House, White House, Washington, D.C., liberals, Food Act, USDA, claims, politics, democrats, republicans To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Democrats Play Politics, Ignore Economy

Americans are begging Congress to use the lame-duck session to focus on jobs and the economy. Unfortunately, Democrats would rather play politics and consider special-interest legislation than take action to prevent tax hikes, lower the deficit, and spur job growth.  Republicans respond:

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Tags: Republicans, Senate, Lame Duck, Congress, Democrats, tax hikes, taxes, spending, jobs, the economy, deficit, recession, job creation, Fox News, Bill Hemmer, Greta van Susteren, Larry Kudlow, Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, Byron Dorgan, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, Tom Coburn, John Cornyn, John Thune, Jim DeMint, Orrin Hatch, John Barrasso, Jay Leno, video To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today in Washington, D.C. - Nov 30, 2010 - Lame Duck Continues! Democrats' Priorities Still Out Of Touch

Yesterday, the Senate rejected a motion to suspend the rules with respect to an amendment offered by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) which would have eliminated the onerous 1099 reporting requirements on small businesses in the Democrats’ health care bill. A motion to suspend the rules for an amendment from Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) was also rejected. The Baucus amendment was similar to the Johanns amendment but was not offset.

Also, yesterday, the Senate invoked cloture 69-26 on the Harkin substitute amendment to S. 510. The Senate then proceeded this morning to expanded government overreach and reduced individual freedom in America over the food we grow and raise by voting 73-25 to pass S. 510, the food safety and FDA reorganization bill. Prior to final passage, the Senate rejected two motions to suspend the rules to adopt amendments from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). The first would have instituted an earmark moratorium and the second was his version of a food safety bill. All motions to suspend the rules require 67 votes to be adopted.

The Senate rejected (39-56) a Republican proposal to ban the practice of earmarks, which would have effectively forbidden senators from considering legislation containing earmarks like road and bridge projects, community development funding, grants to local police departments and special-interest tax breaks.

Other actions in the Senate are now delayed until later today as Republican and Democrat leaders meet with President Obama at the White House with the Republicans understanding the position of the American people and Obama pushing his liberal agenda. Republicans will urge President Obama to heed the message sent by the American people earlier this month: cut spending, stop all the tax hikes, and help create jobs now.  Positive outcome from this meeting is doubtful. Obama and his key administration officials are clearly rejecting the results of the 2010 elections as a call for a change of direction.

With Congress back from its Thanksgiving break, Democrats once again have an opportunity to prove that they heard the message Americans sent Washington on election day by focusing on the priorities of the American people: helping the economy and preventing a massive tax increase in January. Yet Democrats continue to show that their priorities are strangely out of line.

As Republican Leaders write in The Washington Post today, “Republicans heard the voters loud and clear. They want us to focus on preventing a tax hike on every taxpayer, reining in Washington spending and making it easier for employers to start hiring again.” They point out, “Despite what some Democrats in Congress have suggested, voters did not signal they wanted more cooperation on the Democrats' big-government policies that most Americans oppose. On the contrary, they want both parties to work together on policies that will help create the conditions for private-sector job growth. They want us to stop the spending binge, cut the deficit and send a clear message on taxes and regulations so small businesses can start hiring again.”

But consider the priorities Democrats are acting on this week. The Senate began the week by returning to, and passing, a bill that expands the FDA’s regulatory authorities. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has not announced what the Senate will turn to next, but he’s previously indicated that he wants votes on ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and a controversial amnesty bill known as the DREAM Act. But Democrats still have no plan on what to do on the looming tax hike at the end of December.

Meanwhile, the White House seems equally out of touch. In the midst of a diplomatic crisis concerning leaked cables and secret documents and serious issues on the Korean peninsula, President Obama has been pushing ratification of his nuclear weapons treaty with Russia, and prodding Congress on the DREAM Act, while the Pentagon discusses repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

The Lame Duck period is also a dangerous period when members of Congress rejected by their constituents or those retiring opt to vote to advance radical agendas which they know cannot be easily overturned in the new session of Congress once these agendas have been signed into law. And so they will push through as much "garbage" legislation as possible much of which we will not know about until later next year. One agenda that is being pushed is a bill which could lead to abortions for female veterans could come up for debate on the House floor as early as today. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not currently provide abortions and abortions are currently excluded from the VA health benefits package, because abortion is excluded from the scope of "general reproductive health care" that is authorized by P.L. 102-585. But that exclusion does not extend a prohibition to other authorities created by earlier or later legislation, so this bill (H.R. 5953) could lay the groundwork and legal precedent for the VA to provide abortions in the future, according to the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

As Leader McConnell observed in a speech on the Senate floor today, “It’s unclear how long our friends across the aisle will continue to resist the message of the election and cling to the liberal wish list that got us a job-killing health care law, a ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax, an out-of-control spending spree, million more jobs lost, trillions more in debt, but not a single appropriations bill to fund the government or a bill to prevent the coming tax hikes. With just a few weeks left before the end of the year, they’re still clinging to the wrong priorities — instead of preventing a tax hike, they want to focus on immigration and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell —  and, maybe, if there’s time left, see what they can do about jobs and the economy. Indeed, their entire legislative plan for the rest of the lame duck session appears to be to focus on anything except jobs — which is astonishing when you consider the election we’ve just had.”

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Tags: US Senate, US House, White House, Washington, D.C., liberals, Food Act, federal spending, government pay freeze To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas Muslim Man Arrested in Smyth Co. for Possession of Explosives

Act for America: [Excerpt:  "Abdullah has been charged with one felony count of throwing a missile at a vehicle and four counts of manufacturing and possessing an explosive device."]

WSET-TV
November 30, 2010

Smyth Co.,VA- An Arkansas man was arrested, and charged with multiples counts of manufacturing and possessing explosive devices after a traffic stop in Smyth County.

Around 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving State Trooper L. J. Testerman was traveling through Chestnut Ridge Road and Grubmore Road when he observed someone throwing some type of bottles out of a black Ford Ranger pickup. Moments later the trooper heard a loud bang come from the pickup.

Trooper Testerman stopped the pickup truck on Chestnut Ridge Road. After a search of the vehicle the officer found explosive devices.

21-year-old Emad Hatem Abdullah of Little Rock, Arkansas was arrested, and taken to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon where he is being held on $5,000 bond.

Abdullah has been charged with one felony count of throwing a missile at a vehicle and four counts of manufacturing and possessing an explosive device.

A 20-year-old passenger in the pickup truck from Marion, Virginia was not charged. The Smyth County Sheriff's Office assisted State Police with its investigation into the incident.

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Tags: Arkansas, news. Muslim, Explosives, Act for America To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Immigration by the Numbers -- Off the Charts

Roy Beck and chart

Roy Beck, Numbers USA Video:A startling look at how U.S. immigration will add 300 million people to the country this century if policies are not changed.

This is NOT the new "gumballs" video sent you a month ago. (That one already has a half-million views.) The gumballs video dealt with ethical considerations of immigration and world poverty. This dramatic presentation of the latest Census data raises serious questions about the ability of the country to achieve environmental sustainability and to meet the quality-of-life infrastructure needs of the national community.

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Tags: immigration, numbers, immigration numbers, numbersusa, Numbers USA, charts, population, growth, Roy Beck, population growth, illegal immigration, legal immigration, Congress, immigration laws, immigration legislation, legal immigrants, illegal immigrants, reform, immigration reform, population stabilization, sustainable, environmental To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Busted Lip

by William Warren: My latest cartoon is a joke about Obama’s busted lip.
[The liberals are probably viewing this and quoting an old saying, "Yea, In Your Dreams." But even today, Obama "bowing to Republican political pressure and growing budget concerns, President Obama will announce a pay freeze for all civilian federal workers (including the Department of Defense)."]

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Tags: GOP, Obama, Obama's Busted Lip, Political Cartoons, Republicans, William Warren To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today in Washington, D.C. - Nov 29, 2010 - Lame Duck Continues! Government Aims to Take Control of All Farming

News Alert: The Washington Post: Today, "bowing to Republican political pressure and growing budget concerns, President Obama will announce a pay freeze for all civilian federal workers (including the Department of Defense)."

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO-06) responded: “No doubt, this does not go far enough but his pay freeze is a positive first step by a President who has added over 100,000 new federal employees at wages and benefits much higher than are available in the private sector for doing similar work.”  Although the following bill by Coffman will not see the light of day in this Congressional session, it may find favor if reintroduced it in the next session of Congress: H.R. 6134 would have furloughed  federal civilian employees to non-consecutive two weeks in 2011, reduced salaries of members of Congress by 10%, and  correspondingly reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch. Result: saving  taxpayers more than $5.5 billion.  And additional benefit: the bill and other actions will send a warning to government employees that we expect them to reduce not expand government.  Future bills should reduce the number of Czars  (funded offices and departments) and reduce the number of both paid and unpaid White House and Congressional staff members.

House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-OH) responded: “I welcome President Obama’s announcement, and hope he will build on it by embracing much-needed steps to reduce both the size and the cost of government, including the net federal hiring freeze Republicans propose in our Pledge to America. Without a hiring freeze, a pay freeze won’t do much to rein in a federal bureaucracy that added hundreds of thousands of employees to its payroll over the last two years while the private sector shed millions of jobs.
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Congress returns for continuance of the Lame Duck session and liberals still have control. Before going on the Thanksgiving recess, the Senate voted 57-27 to proceed to S. 510, the food safety and FDA reorganization bill - titled the "Food Safety Modernization Act Expected Today." A bill that will affect American's rights to even grow their own food (plants and animals). To paraphrase Glen Beck, thsi bill at minimum increase food prices and at worst ruin farming. Anytime the government interferes in farming, the American people suffer. Last Tuesday on the Dave Elswick radio show (KARN 102.9 FM) Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) said he would vote "Yes" on this bill.

As identified in Politico, at 5:30 this evening, Mark Kirk, heir to President Obama's former seat, will be sworn in as the new Republican Senator from Illinois, narrowing the Democratic majority at a very inconvenient time for its current leadership. "His arrival will narrow Democrats’ majority in the Senate to 58-42, meaning they’ll now need at least two Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold to move forward on legislation. Two other new senators – Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware and Joe Manchin of West Virginia – were sworn in shortly after the midterm election, but the balance of power remained unchanged in the Senate because they replaced Democrats."

Congress is scheduled today at 6:30 PM, the Senate to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Harkin substitute amendment to S. 510. If cloture is invoked, the Senate will then consider 4 motions to suspend the rules to allow amendments.

The motions will be offered by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), for an amendment to eliminate the onerous 1099 reporting requirements on small businesses in the Democrats’ health care bill, by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), for an amendment to scale back the 1099 requirements, and by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), for his own substitute amendment to the bill and for an amendment to ban earmarks. Each motion to suspend requires 67 votes to be approved. Senators will vote on all four motions and then on final passage of S. 510.

Lame-duck Democrats enter tomorrow’s meeting of congressional leaders at the White House showing “ The LA Times identified that there are "no signs of relenting” on their plan to impose a job-killing tax hike on families and small businesses. Even after Americans clearly rejected job-killing policies such as this one, Democrats reportedly continue to cling to these tax hikes at all costs, allowing the uncertainty gripping families and small businesses to continue. Reuter's idnetifed that one senior Senate Democratic aide went so far as to ask aloud: “How the hell should we know when we will figure this out?” All this dithering and doubling-down only validates the American people’s repudiation of Washington and politicians who refuse to listen.

As today’s Wall Street Journal notes, “when Mr. Obama and his top advisers signaled willingness to give ground after the election, they were slammed by liberals who viewed it as a capitulation.” The ‘capitulation’ charge was led by union bosses.  Typical, but unfortunate: taking cues from liberal special interests instead of listening to the American people is a major reason why Democrats find themselves in their current predicament.

House Democrats retained Speaker Pelosi as Democratic Leader in part because they want her to serve as a “counterweight” should President Obama express willingness to work with Republicans on the people’s priorities. Her stance on raising taxes, according to the AP, is a “recent example” of this retrenchment. This job-killing tax hike shouldn’t be used as a test case for Democrats’ ability to obstruct critical progress on creating jobs and cutting spending.

Republicans heard the voters loud and clear: end the uncertainty Washington, help small businesses and get our economy back to creating jobs. Democrats and Republicans don't have to wait until January to stop all the tax hikes and start cutting spending. We can – and should – get started right now. The clock may be winding down on Democrats’ hold on power in both houses of Congress, but there’s still time to do the right thing.

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Tags: US Senate, US House, Washington, D.C., liberals, Food Act, federal spending, government pay freeze To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!