Location: Delaware Park, 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Newark, DE
Date of Occurrence: Monday, March 07, 2011 at 4:05 p.m.
Victims:
-30 year old New Castle, DE man
-46 year old Middletown, DE man
Resume:
Newark- The Delaware State Police are investigating an incident in which two male subjects fell from the roof of a structure they were working on at Delaware Park late this afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:05 p.m. today as two male subjects employed by Marenalley Construction of New Castle, DE were working on the roof of a tunnel which leads to the rear casino entrance at Delaware Park. The roof of the structure gave way and both men fell approximately 20 feet to the ground below. Both victims were transported from the scene by EMS to the Christiana Hospital in Newark where they were admitted with serious injuries. The injuries, however, do not appear to be life threatening.
This incident remains under investigation at this time.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, March 07, 2011
Body Identified
Date & Time: November 6, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
Case #: 10-240
Location Occurred: Assateague National Seashore
Victim: Jung Han Lee Korean Male, 36 years of age Silver Spring, MD
Narrative:UPDATE
Through investigation of the unidentified body that washed up on Assateague National Seashore, it was learned that the Dewey Beach Police Department was investigating a missing person. Several personal items were left on the beach belonging to Lee and family members had not heard from Lee in several days.
Lee had been under mental duress for several years due to being unemployed. The items left on the beach were forwarded to the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation. During an examination of the body at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, MD, no signs of foul play were noted. Contact was made with family members who reside in Silver Spring, Maryland and an interview was held in December with those members. A DNA sample was obtained from Lee’s mother for comparison with the remains.
After comparison and analysis by a Virginia forensic lab, it was determined that the two samples matched. Investigators were able to positively identify the remains as those of Jung Han Lee. Family members were notified on February 11, 2011 which brings closure to this case.
The Dewey Beach Police Department closed their missing person investigation after receiving positive identification through DNA of Lee. Any further questions can be referred to the Dewey Beach Police Department at (302) 227-6363.
Case #: 10-240
Location Occurred: Assateague National Seashore
Victim: Jung Han Lee Korean Male, 36 years of age Silver Spring, MD
Narrative:UPDATE
Through investigation of the unidentified body that washed up on Assateague National Seashore, it was learned that the Dewey Beach Police Department was investigating a missing person. Several personal items were left on the beach belonging to Lee and family members had not heard from Lee in several days.
Lee had been under mental duress for several years due to being unemployed. The items left on the beach were forwarded to the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation. During an examination of the body at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, MD, no signs of foul play were noted. Contact was made with family members who reside in Silver Spring, Maryland and an interview was held in December with those members. A DNA sample was obtained from Lee’s mother for comparison with the remains.
After comparison and analysis by a Virginia forensic lab, it was determined that the two samples matched. Investigators were able to positively identify the remains as those of Jung Han Lee. Family members were notified on February 11, 2011 which brings closure to this case.
The Dewey Beach Police Department closed their missing person investigation after receiving positive identification through DNA of Lee. Any further questions can be referred to the Dewey Beach Police Department at (302) 227-6363.
AFP Activists To Rally Against Gas Tax Proposals
Maryland business leaders, entrepreneurs speak out-
ANNAPOLIS- Americans for Prosperity-Maryland activists and local business leaders will rally this Wednesday at noon on Lawyers Mall to speak out against increasing the gas tax.
"Annapolis should be looking to support struggling families and work alongside businesses during tough economic times," said Deputy State Director Nick Loffer. "Instead, Marylanders are seeing policies introduced that scare away small businesses and make it harder for families to pay the bills."
The Maryland General Assembly has proposals to raise the gasoline tax by .10 cents a gallon and put a .04 cents sales tax on total purchases at the gas pump. At current gas prices, Marylanders would be hit with a minimum .22 cents increase per gallon.
"We are proud that business leaders and citizens are standing up against these ill-advised taxes," said Loffer.
"Americans for Prosperity hopes that our policy makers in Annapolis will put themselves in the shoes of struggling families and of small businesses and realize they should not pass any taxes this session."
What: Rally against the gas tax
Who: Americans for Prosperity
Gary Brooks – Entrepreneur - Barley and Hops Brewery and Restaurant
Trish Date – Small Business Owner
Bob Bauman – Engineer and Entrepreneur
When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Noon.
Where: Lawyers Mall in Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS- Americans for Prosperity-Maryland activists and local business leaders will rally this Wednesday at noon on Lawyers Mall to speak out against increasing the gas tax.
"Annapolis should be looking to support struggling families and work alongside businesses during tough economic times," said Deputy State Director Nick Loffer. "Instead, Marylanders are seeing policies introduced that scare away small businesses and make it harder for families to pay the bills."
The Maryland General Assembly has proposals to raise the gasoline tax by .10 cents a gallon and put a .04 cents sales tax on total purchases at the gas pump. At current gas prices, Marylanders would be hit with a minimum .22 cents increase per gallon.
"We are proud that business leaders and citizens are standing up against these ill-advised taxes," said Loffer.
"Americans for Prosperity hopes that our policy makers in Annapolis will put themselves in the shoes of struggling families and of small businesses and realize they should not pass any taxes this session."
What: Rally against the gas tax
Who: Americans for Prosperity
Gary Brooks – Entrepreneur - Barley and Hops Brewery and Restaurant
Trish Date – Small Business Owner
Bob Bauman – Engineer and Entrepreneur
When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Noon.
Where: Lawyers Mall in Annapolis
Littlest Soldier Receives Biggest Wish
FORT POLK, La. -- On Saturday, Feb. 26, a 9-year-old boy arrived with his father to the Chateau du Bon Reve - which translates, from French, to the Castle of Good Dreams - a reception hall in Sulphur built to resemble a medieval castle. The boy, Brennan Daigle, often went fishing at the hall with his father - there is a pond surrounding the castle stocked with fish, and this fishing trip was a precursor to his 10th birthday party - but this day would be different. Brennan caught no fish; instead, awaiting him were more than 40 Fort Polk Soldiers in full formation and standing at attention.
No company commander called them to attention, nor was the National Anthem being played.
The 40 members of Fort Polk's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and members of the Louisiana National Guard stood at attention for Brennan Daigle.
Brennan was diagnosed in October 2009 with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bone. The healthy young boy of 8, spindly and growing, began to lose weight and grow pale as the chemotherapy treatments he underwent took their toll.
By October 2010, the tumor had grown in size and mutated. On Feb. 10 of this year, Brennan's doctor gave his mother and Brennan the worst news of their lives: There was nothing more they could do for him.
"The doctor told him they'd done everything they could and that he probably had two weeks left to live. So she sent him home to be with us," his mother said.
There would be no more needles.
Brennan and his mother were left to absorb the news; Brennan's mother had to come to terms suddenly with the fact that she would lose her only son and there was nothing in her power that could save him. The power to save, or accept, would have to come from beyond: From the family's faith.
"I know that with faith in God I'll be OK," he said. "I think God will lead me."
Still, Brennan does not want to die. After hearing the news that he was being sent home to spend his last days with his parents and sister, he said so to his mother. "I won't see you every day," Brennan said to his mother.
"Oh, Brennan," she answered, "you'll be able to walk hand in hand with your grandma who's already in heaven, and you'll see us again."
Even with his intense faith, Brennan is a typical 10-year-old; he enjoys fishing, having sleepovers with his best friend, Kaleb, and playing video games, many of which glorify combat and victory.
Brennan also loves all things Army.
As his mother planned a cancer society fund-raiser event, Brennan suggested a G.I. Joe theme. The image of a strong and healthy man battling his enemies connected with Brennan, who was fighting his own battle. Days later, Brennan and his family learned that his tumor was still growing.
To keep all of his family and friends apprised of his condition, his mother created a Facebook page, called, aptly, "Brennan's Brigade," with pictures and hundreds of comments from people around the world - including Soldiers who have written comments of encouragement.
"Many of these Soldiers write things like, 'we're over here fighting for our country while you're at home fighting for your life,'" said Daigle.
"We even got a picture of Soldiers surrounding a HMMWV in Afghanistan, holding an American flag, who gave him the message 'We're flying this flag in honor of you; we're here to back you. Stay Army strong.'"
From the "Brennan's Brigade" page, Brennan began developing bonds with some of the Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He met one of the Soldiers who came home from overseas; that Soldier gave Brennan the X Box game "Call of Duty: Black Ops." The Soldier, Adam Langley, often plays the game with Brennan online. "It's Brennan's favorite game," his mother said.
He could not have guessed that for his 10th birthday, like an image from the game he loves, he would be surrounded by a formation of Soldiers or that he would ride in a camouflaged HMMWV.
Instead, this past Saturday, Feb. 26, as Brennan dreamed of reeling in a fish or three, he stepped out of his father's truck to the sight of the 1st MEB Soldiers, all standing at attention in front of a National Guard HMMWV. Brennan stood still, wide-eyed, uncomprehending. Then everyone - about 400 people - shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!" in unison and the entire crowd broke out in applause.
"When he realized it was a surprise, and for him, he couldn't say anything. All he could do was giggle. He was speechless," said his mother.
A simpler party had been planned for Brennan, who had asked for an Army-themed birthday celebration. "He was under the impression that there would be a little birthday party this coming weekend," said his mother. "He had no idea about the castle, and we (her husband and daughter) had no idea that the Army would send Soldiers to fulfill Brennan's wish," - the wish to meet Soldiers before his illness worsens.
That wish was facilitated by Becky Prejean, executive director of "Dreams Come True of Louisiana." Prejean heard through word of mouth about Brennan and contacted his mother.
"Kristy said he had two days to two weeks to live and asked if we did parties. He wanted an Army-themed party, so I contacted Katey Husband, Fort Polk community member and mother of a 'Dreams Come True' child, who contacted Tresa Lawson, Fort Polk's Community Relations Officer." Lawson asked for five to six Soldier volunteers; 40 answered the call.
"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those Soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," said Kristy Daigle. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."
As Brennan recovered from his initial surprise, Soldiers invited him to examine the HMMWV; he climbed in the driver's seat and took the wheel, smiling widely. Then, Soldiers took Brennan and his best friend Kaleb for a ride in the HMMWV. Afterwards, Brennan and Kaleb stood out from the hatch at the top of the vehicle, posing as hundreds of cameras flashed.
After the HMMWV ride, Brennan walked to the front of the formation and each Soldier shook his hand. He was inducted as an honorary member of the Army, given a coin symbolizing merit and achievement of excellence and presented with passels of presents ranging from a military jacket with his first name embroidered on the pocket, an Army hat, his own personalized dog tags and a rucksack. Brennan stood still, accepting the gifts quietly but with a smile.
"I'm a little shy," Brennan said later.
One of the dog tags presented to Brennan was inscribed with the seven Army values: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," said Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB.
Chris Duncan, the mayor of Sulphur, honored Brennan with a key to the city and the title of Honorary Mayor of the Day; afterwards, Soldiers mingled for a while, talking with Brennan and his friends and family. Some hugged Brennan, some simply stood and watched in groups as Brennan explored his gifts.
Many of the Soldiers - even seasoned ones who have seen battle - were at a loss for words as they observed Brennan's quiet grace.
"This event is a profound one. A lot of us just wanted to be there for him, show him we support him totally," said Sgt. Joe M. Battle, 1st MEB public affairs. "But I can't say it wasn't hard emotionally."
Pfc. Kyle Frederick added, "It was good to be able to give back. It opened my eyes to a lot of things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are, how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it good compared to others."
A reception was held in the castle, with barbecue and a three-tiered birthday cake. The cake was decorated with an Army emblem. Brennan made the ceremonial first cut, and picked the prime piece for himself: The piece with the emblem.
After people ate, chatted and gave Brennan more hugs than most people receive in a lifetime, he sat down to open the dozens of birthday presents guests had brought for him. Like every younger sibling, as he pulled out tissue paper from gift bags, he handed all the bits and scraps to his older sister Lauren, 11.
The next day, on the way to school - Brennan still attends third grade every day - he asked his mother "Am I really in the Army?"
"You most certainly are," she said. "They don't just swear in anyone!"
"That's awesome," he said.
See Photo HERE
No company commander called them to attention, nor was the National Anthem being played.
The 40 members of Fort Polk's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and members of the Louisiana National Guard stood at attention for Brennan Daigle.
Brennan was diagnosed in October 2009 with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bone. The healthy young boy of 8, spindly and growing, began to lose weight and grow pale as the chemotherapy treatments he underwent took their toll.
By October 2010, the tumor had grown in size and mutated. On Feb. 10 of this year, Brennan's doctor gave his mother and Brennan the worst news of their lives: There was nothing more they could do for him.
"The doctor told him they'd done everything they could and that he probably had two weeks left to live. So she sent him home to be with us," his mother said.
There would be no more needles.
Brennan and his mother were left to absorb the news; Brennan's mother had to come to terms suddenly with the fact that she would lose her only son and there was nothing in her power that could save him. The power to save, or accept, would have to come from beyond: From the family's faith.
"I know that with faith in God I'll be OK," he said. "I think God will lead me."
Still, Brennan does not want to die. After hearing the news that he was being sent home to spend his last days with his parents and sister, he said so to his mother. "I won't see you every day," Brennan said to his mother.
"Oh, Brennan," she answered, "you'll be able to walk hand in hand with your grandma who's already in heaven, and you'll see us again."
Even with his intense faith, Brennan is a typical 10-year-old; he enjoys fishing, having sleepovers with his best friend, Kaleb, and playing video games, many of which glorify combat and victory.
Brennan also loves all things Army.
As his mother planned a cancer society fund-raiser event, Brennan suggested a G.I. Joe theme. The image of a strong and healthy man battling his enemies connected with Brennan, who was fighting his own battle. Days later, Brennan and his family learned that his tumor was still growing.
To keep all of his family and friends apprised of his condition, his mother created a Facebook page, called, aptly, "Brennan's Brigade," with pictures and hundreds of comments from people around the world - including Soldiers who have written comments of encouragement.
"Many of these Soldiers write things like, 'we're over here fighting for our country while you're at home fighting for your life,'" said Daigle.
"We even got a picture of Soldiers surrounding a HMMWV in Afghanistan, holding an American flag, who gave him the message 'We're flying this flag in honor of you; we're here to back you. Stay Army strong.'"
From the "Brennan's Brigade" page, Brennan began developing bonds with some of the Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He met one of the Soldiers who came home from overseas; that Soldier gave Brennan the X Box game "Call of Duty: Black Ops." The Soldier, Adam Langley, often plays the game with Brennan online. "It's Brennan's favorite game," his mother said.
He could not have guessed that for his 10th birthday, like an image from the game he loves, he would be surrounded by a formation of Soldiers or that he would ride in a camouflaged HMMWV.
Instead, this past Saturday, Feb. 26, as Brennan dreamed of reeling in a fish or three, he stepped out of his father's truck to the sight of the 1st MEB Soldiers, all standing at attention in front of a National Guard HMMWV. Brennan stood still, wide-eyed, uncomprehending. Then everyone - about 400 people - shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!" in unison and the entire crowd broke out in applause.
"When he realized it was a surprise, and for him, he couldn't say anything. All he could do was giggle. He was speechless," said his mother.
A simpler party had been planned for Brennan, who had asked for an Army-themed birthday celebration. "He was under the impression that there would be a little birthday party this coming weekend," said his mother. "He had no idea about the castle, and we (her husband and daughter) had no idea that the Army would send Soldiers to fulfill Brennan's wish," - the wish to meet Soldiers before his illness worsens.
That wish was facilitated by Becky Prejean, executive director of "Dreams Come True of Louisiana." Prejean heard through word of mouth about Brennan and contacted his mother.
"Kristy said he had two days to two weeks to live and asked if we did parties. He wanted an Army-themed party, so I contacted Katey Husband, Fort Polk community member and mother of a 'Dreams Come True' child, who contacted Tresa Lawson, Fort Polk's Community Relations Officer." Lawson asked for five to six Soldier volunteers; 40 answered the call.
"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those Soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," said Kristy Daigle. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."
As Brennan recovered from his initial surprise, Soldiers invited him to examine the HMMWV; he climbed in the driver's seat and took the wheel, smiling widely. Then, Soldiers took Brennan and his best friend Kaleb for a ride in the HMMWV. Afterwards, Brennan and Kaleb stood out from the hatch at the top of the vehicle, posing as hundreds of cameras flashed.
After the HMMWV ride, Brennan walked to the front of the formation and each Soldier shook his hand. He was inducted as an honorary member of the Army, given a coin symbolizing merit and achievement of excellence and presented with passels of presents ranging from a military jacket with his first name embroidered on the pocket, an Army hat, his own personalized dog tags and a rucksack. Brennan stood still, accepting the gifts quietly but with a smile.
"I'm a little shy," Brennan said later.
One of the dog tags presented to Brennan was inscribed with the seven Army values: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," said Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB.
Chris Duncan, the mayor of Sulphur, honored Brennan with a key to the city and the title of Honorary Mayor of the Day; afterwards, Soldiers mingled for a while, talking with Brennan and his friends and family. Some hugged Brennan, some simply stood and watched in groups as Brennan explored his gifts.
Many of the Soldiers - even seasoned ones who have seen battle - were at a loss for words as they observed Brennan's quiet grace.
"This event is a profound one. A lot of us just wanted to be there for him, show him we support him totally," said Sgt. Joe M. Battle, 1st MEB public affairs. "But I can't say it wasn't hard emotionally."
Pfc. Kyle Frederick added, "It was good to be able to give back. It opened my eyes to a lot of things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are, how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it good compared to others."
A reception was held in the castle, with barbecue and a three-tiered birthday cake. The cake was decorated with an Army emblem. Brennan made the ceremonial first cut, and picked the prime piece for himself: The piece with the emblem.
After people ate, chatted and gave Brennan more hugs than most people receive in a lifetime, he sat down to open the dozens of birthday presents guests had brought for him. Like every younger sibling, as he pulled out tissue paper from gift bags, he handed all the bits and scraps to his older sister Lauren, 11.
The next day, on the way to school - Brennan still attends third grade every day - he asked his mother "Am I really in the Army?"
"You most certainly are," she said. "They don't just swear in anyone!"
"That's awesome," he said.
See Photo HERE
MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PROTESTS GENERATORS’ ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT NEW GENERATION IN MARYLAND
Today, the Maryland Public Service Commission ("Commission") strongly protested proposals by the PJM Power Producers Group ("P3") and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. ("PJM") and that would, if accepted, prevent the Commission from ensuring reliable, cost-effective electric service for Maryland’s citizens. P3 and PJM have asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), on an expedited basis, to change the rules that govern auctions for "capacity" – essentially the capability to produce or refrain from using electricity. Capacity costs account for about one-[fifth] of the typical electric bill in Maryland.
The Commission vigorously opposes the proposed changes, which would protect existing generators and thwart new generation in Maryland and elsewhere. The Commission’s Protest relies on testimony from a leading economist, Professor Jerry Hausman, the MacDonald Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and from the PSC’s Chairman, Douglas R. M. Nazarian.
The Commission asks FERC to reject P3’s and PJM’s proposals, and urges FERC not to rush to judgment. Chairman Nazarian summarizes the Commission’s position in his testimony (at p. 4):
"Modifications to the [rules] that P3 and PJM seek raise complex questions of federal and state policy that call for thoughtful and careful consideration. [FERC] should not take actions that will penalize state-initiated new generation programs and, in very real terms, prevent states from taking appropriate steps to ensure reliable, long-term supplies of electric service for their citizens and ratepayers. Whatever else might be said about the evolution away from old-school regulation toward markets, it is bad public policy if market structures preclude states from playing a meaningful role in planning the electricity future of their citizens and ratepayers. If [FERC] really intends that state utility commissions in restructured states such as Maryland are required to sit back and hope that market forces keep the lights on, [FERC] should say so in so many words. If, as we believe, [FERC] never intended that market structures supplant states’ historical and critical planning role, it must carefully ensure that states’ authority in this regard is preserved."
The Commission is currently assessing (in Case No. 9214) whether to direct Maryland’s investor-owned utilities to enter multi-year contracts that would support construction of new generation facilities that might be needed to serve the long-term demand for electricity in the State. P3 and PJM have asked FERC to change the rules in mid-game, claiming that long-term contracts would be an exercise of "buyer market power." The Commission’s Protest shows how P3’s and PJM’s radical proposals are anticompetitive and anti-consumer. The Commission’s Protest and testimony demonstrate that the changes P3 and PJM are attempting to impose would "penalize and possibly destroy state-mandated programs designed to develop new generation facilities that will be consistent with the state’s needs, policies, and priorities."
If FERC allows further proceedings, the Commission will present a comprehensive analysis of the proposed changes and will suggest improvements that will protect against any improper "buyer market power" "without impinging on states’ legitimate initiatives to bring value to electric customers by entering long-term contracts to support new generation resources."
The Commission vigorously opposes the proposed changes, which would protect existing generators and thwart new generation in Maryland and elsewhere. The Commission’s Protest relies on testimony from a leading economist, Professor Jerry Hausman, the MacDonald Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and from the PSC’s Chairman, Douglas R. M. Nazarian.
The Commission asks FERC to reject P3’s and PJM’s proposals, and urges FERC not to rush to judgment. Chairman Nazarian summarizes the Commission’s position in his testimony (at p. 4):
"Modifications to the [rules] that P3 and PJM seek raise complex questions of federal and state policy that call for thoughtful and careful consideration. [FERC] should not take actions that will penalize state-initiated new generation programs and, in very real terms, prevent states from taking appropriate steps to ensure reliable, long-term supplies of electric service for their citizens and ratepayers. Whatever else might be said about the evolution away from old-school regulation toward markets, it is bad public policy if market structures preclude states from playing a meaningful role in planning the electricity future of their citizens and ratepayers. If [FERC] really intends that state utility commissions in restructured states such as Maryland are required to sit back and hope that market forces keep the lights on, [FERC] should say so in so many words. If, as we believe, [FERC] never intended that market structures supplant states’ historical and critical planning role, it must carefully ensure that states’ authority in this regard is preserved."
The Commission is currently assessing (in Case No. 9214) whether to direct Maryland’s investor-owned utilities to enter multi-year contracts that would support construction of new generation facilities that might be needed to serve the long-term demand for electricity in the State. P3 and PJM have asked FERC to change the rules in mid-game, claiming that long-term contracts would be an exercise of "buyer market power." The Commission’s Protest shows how P3’s and PJM’s radical proposals are anticompetitive and anti-consumer. The Commission’s Protest and testimony demonstrate that the changes P3 and PJM are attempting to impose would "penalize and possibly destroy state-mandated programs designed to develop new generation facilities that will be consistent with the state’s needs, policies, and priorities."
If FERC allows further proceedings, the Commission will present a comprehensive analysis of the proposed changes and will suggest improvements that will protect against any improper "buyer market power" "without impinging on states’ legitimate initiatives to bring value to electric customers by entering long-term contracts to support new generation resources."
WOW!
President Obama signed a government takeover of healthcare into law. Below is a list of new boards and commissions created in the bill:
1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37)
2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section 1003, p. 42)
3. Committee to review administrative simplification standards (Section 1104, p. 71)
4. Demonstration program for state wellness programs (Section 1201, p. 93)
5. Grant program to establish state Exchanges (Section 1311(a), p. 130)
6. State American Health Benefit Exchanges (Section 1311(b), p. 131)
7. Exchange grants to establish consumer navigator programs (Section 1311(i), p. 150)
8. Grant program for state cooperatives (Section 1322, p. 169)
9. Advisory board for state cooperatives (Section 1322(b)(3), p. 173)
10. Private purchasing council for state cooperatives (Section 1322(d), p. 177)
11. State basic health plan programs (Section 1331, p. 201)
12. State-based reinsurance program (Section 1341, p. 226)
13. Program of risk corridors for individual and small group markets (Section 1342, p. 233)
14. Program to determine eligibility for Exchange participation (Section 1411, p. 267)
15. Program for advance determination of tax credit eligibility (Section 1412, p. 288)
16. Grant program to implement health IT enrollment standards (Section 1561, p. 370)
17. Federal Coordinated Health Care Office for dual eligible beneficiaries (Section 2602, p. 512)
18. Medicaid quality measurement program (Section 2701, p. 518)
19. Medicaid health home program for people with chronic conditions, and grants for planning same (Section 2703, p. 524)
20. Medicaid demonstration project to evaluate bundled payments (Section 2704, p. 532)
21. Medicaid demonstration project for global payment system (Section 2705, p. 536)
22. Medicaid demonstration project for accountable care organizations (Section 2706, p. 538)
23. Medicaid demonstration project for emergency psychiatric care (Section 2707, p. 540)
24. Grant program for delivery of services to individuals with postpartum depression (Section 2952(b), p. 591)
25. State allotments for grants to promote personal responsibility education programs (Section 2953, p. 596)
26. Medicare value-based purchasing program (Section 3001(a), p. 613)
27. Medicare value-based purchasing demonstration program for critical access hospitals (Section 3001(b), p. 637)
28. Medicare value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 3006(a), p. 666)
29. Medicare value-based purchasing program for home health agencies (Section 3006(b), p. 668)
30. Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality (Section 3012, p. 688)
31. Grant program to develop health care quality measures (Section 3013, p. 693)
32. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 3021, p. 712)
33. Medicare shared savings program (Section 3022, p. 728)
34. Medicare pilot program on payment bundling (Section 3023, p. 739)
35. Independence at home medical practice demonstration program (Section 3024, p. 752)
36. Program for use of patient safety organizations to reduce hospital readmission rates (Section 3025(b), p. 775)
37. Community-based care transitions program (Section 3026, p. 776)
38. Demonstration project for payment of complex diagnostic laboratory tests (Section 3113, p. 800)
39. Medicare hospice concurrent care demonstration project (Section 3140, p. 850)
40. Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 982)
41. Consumer Advisory Council for Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 1027)
42. Grant program for technical assistance to providers implementing health quality practices (Section 3501, p. 1043)
43. Grant program to establish interdisciplinary health teams (Section 3502, p. 1048)
44. Grant program to implement medication therapy management (Section 3503, p. 1055)
45. Grant program to support emergency care pilot programs (Section 3504, p. 1061)
46. Grant program to promote universal access to trauma services (Section 3505(b), p. 1081)
47. Grant program to develop and promote shared decision-making aids (Section 3506, p. 1088)
48. Grant program to support implementation of shared decision-making (Section 3506, p. 1091)
49. Grant program to integrate quality improvement in clinical education (Section 3508, p. 1095)
50. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health (Section 3509(a), p. 1098)
51. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(b), p. 1102)
52. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(e), p. 1105)
53. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(f), p. 1106)
54. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(g), p. 1109)
55. National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (Section 4001, p. 1114)
56. Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (Section 4001(f), p. 1117)
57. Prevention and Public Health Fund (Section 4002, p. 1121)
58. Community Preventive Services Task Force (Section 4003(b), p. 1126)
59. Grant program to support school-based health centers (Section 4101, p. 1135)
60. Grant program to promote research-based dental caries disease management (Section 4102, p. 1147)
61. Grant program for States to prevent chronic disease in Medicaid beneficiaries (Section 4108, p. 1174)
62. Community transformation grants (Section 4201, p. 1182)
63. Grant program to provide public health interventions (Section 4202, p. 1188)
64. Demonstration program of grants to improve child immunization rates (Section 4204(b), p. 1200)
65. Pilot program for risk-factor assessments provided through community health centers (Section 4206, p. 1215)
66. Grant program to increase epidemiology and laboratory capacity (Section 4304, p. 1233)
67. Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (Section 4305, p. 1238)
68. National Health Care Workforce Commission (Section 5101, p. 1256)
69. Grant program to plan health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(c), p. 1275)
70. Grant program to implement health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(d), p. 1279)
71. Pediatric specialty loan repayment program (Section 5203, p. 1295)
72. Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (Section 5204, p. 1300)
73. Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Program (Section 5205, p. 1305)
74. Grant program to provide mid-career training for health professionals (Section 5206, p. 1307)
75. Grant program to fund nurse-managed health clinics (Section 5208, p. 1310)
76. Grant program to support primary care training programs (Section 5301, p. 1315)
77. Grant program to fund training for direct care workers (Section 5302, p. 1322)
78. Grant program to develop dental training programs (Section 5303, p. 1325)
79. Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care in underserved communities (Section 5304, p. 1331)
80. Grant program to promote geriatric education centers (Section 5305, p. 1334)
81. Grant program to promote health professionals entering geriatrics (Section 5305, p. 1339)
82. Grant program to promote training in mental and behavioral health (Section 5306, p. 1344)
83. Grant program to promote nurse retention programs (Section 5309, p. 1354)
84. Student loan forgiveness for nursing school faculty (Section 5311(b), p. 1360)
85. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes (Section 5313, p. 1364)
86. Public Health Sciences Track for medical students (Section 5315, p. 1372)
87. Primary Care Extension Program to educate providers (Section 5405, p. 1404)
88. Grant program for demonstration projects to address health workforce shortage needs (Section 5507, p. 1442)
89. Grant program for demonstration projects to develop training programs for home health aides (Section 5507, p. 1447)
90. Grant program to establish new primary care residency programs (Section 5508(a), p. 1458)
91. Program of payments to teaching health centers that sponsor medical residency training (Section 5508(c), p. 1462)
92. Graduate nurse education demonstration program (Section 5509, p. 1472)
93. Grant program to establish demonstration projects for community-based mental health settings (Section 5604, p. 1486)
94. Commission on Key National Indicators (Section 5605, p. 1489)
95. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6102, p. 1554)
96. Special focus facility program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6103(a)(3), p. 1561)
97. Special focus facility program for nursing facilities (Section 6103(b)(3), p. 1568)
98. National independent monitor pilot program for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities (Section 6112, p. 1589)
99. Demonstration projects for nursing facilities involved in the culture change movement (Section 6114, p. 1597)
100. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1619)
101. Standing methodology committee for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1629)
102. Board of Governors for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1638)
103. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (Section 6301(e), p. 1656)
104. Elder Justice Coordinating Council (Section 6703, p. 1773)
105. Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Section 6703, p. 1776)
106. Grant program to create elder abuse forensic centers (Section 6703, p. 1783)
107. Grant program to promote continuing education for long-term care staffers (Section 6703, p. 1787)
108. Grant program to improve management practices and training (Section 6703, p. 1788)
109. Grant program to subsidize costs of electronic health records (Section 6703, p. 1791)
110. Grant program to promote adult protective services (Section 6703, p. 1796)
111. Grant program to conduct elder abuse detection and prevention (Section 6703, p. 1798)
112. Grant program to support long-term care ombudsmen (Section 6703, p. 1800)
113. National Training Institute for long-term care surveyors (Section 6703, p. 1806)
114. Grant program to fund State surveys of long-term care residences (Section 6703, p. 1809)
115. CLASS Independence Fund (Section 8002, p. 1926)
116. CLASS Independence Fund Board of Trustees (Section 8002, p. 1927)
117. CLASS Independence Advisory Council (Section 8002, p. 1931)
118. Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel (Section 8002(c), p. 1938)
119. Multi-state health plans offered by Office of Personnel Management (Section 10104(p), p. 2086)
120. Advisory board for multi-state health plans (Section 10104(p), p. 2094)
121. Pregnancy Assistance Fund (Section 10212, p. 2164)
122. Value-based purchasing program for ambulatory surgical centers (Section 10301, p. 2176)
123. Demonstration project for payment adjustments to home health services (Section 10315, p. 2200)
124. Pilot program for care of individuals in environmental emergency declaration areas (Section 10323, p. 2223)
125. Grant program to screen at-risk individuals for environmental health conditions (Section 10323(b), p. 2231)
126. Pilot programs to implement value-based purchasing (Section 10326, p. 2242)
127. Grant program to support community-based collaborative care networks (Section 10333, p. 2265)
128. Centers for Disease Control Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
129. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
130. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
131. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
132. Food and Drug Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
133. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
134. Grant program to promote small business wellness programs (Section 10408, p. 2285)
135. Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2289)
136. Cures Acceleration Network Review Board (Section 10409, p. 2291)
137. Grant program for Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2297)
138. Grant program to promote centers of excellence for depression (Section 10410, p. 2304)
139. Advisory committee for young women’s breast health awareness education campaign (Section 10413, p. 2322)
140. Grant program to provide assistance to provide information to young women with breast cancer (Section 10413, p. 2326)
141. Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force (Section 10501, p. 2329)
142. Grant program to train nurse practitioners as primary care providers (Section 10501(e), p. 2332)
143. Grant program for community-based diabetes prevention (Section 10501(g), p. 2337)
144. Grant program for providers who treat a high percentage of medically underserved populations (Section 10501(k), p. 2343)
145. Grant program to recruit students to practice in underserved communities (Section 10501(l), p. 2344)
146. Community Health Center Fund (Section 10503, p. 2355)
147. Demonstration project to provide access to health care for the uninsured at reduced fees (Section 10504, p. 2357)
148. Demonstration program to explore alternatives to tort litigation (Section 10607, p. 2369)
149. Indian Health demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals (S. 1790, Section 112, p. 24)*
150. Office of Indian Men’s Health (S. 1790, Section 136, p. 71)*
151. Indian Country modular component facilities demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 146, p. 108)*
152. Indian mobile health stations demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 147, p. 111)*
153. Office of Direct Service Tribes (S. 1790, Section 172, p. 151)*
154. Indian Health Service mental health technician training program (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 173)*
155. Indian Health Service program for treatment of child sexual abuse victims (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 192)*
156. Indian Health Service program for treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 194)*
157. Indian youth telemental health demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 204)*
158. Indian youth life skills demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 220)*
159. Indian Health Service Director of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment (S. 1790, Section 199B, p. 258)*
1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37)
2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section 1003, p. 42)
3. Committee to review administrative simplification standards (Section 1104, p. 71)
4. Demonstration program for state wellness programs (Section 1201, p. 93)
5. Grant program to establish state Exchanges (Section 1311(a), p. 130)
6. State American Health Benefit Exchanges (Section 1311(b), p. 131)
7. Exchange grants to establish consumer navigator programs (Section 1311(i), p. 150)
8. Grant program for state cooperatives (Section 1322, p. 169)
9. Advisory board for state cooperatives (Section 1322(b)(3), p. 173)
10. Private purchasing council for state cooperatives (Section 1322(d), p. 177)
11. State basic health plan programs (Section 1331, p. 201)
12. State-based reinsurance program (Section 1341, p. 226)
13. Program of risk corridors for individual and small group markets (Section 1342, p. 233)
14. Program to determine eligibility for Exchange participation (Section 1411, p. 267)
15. Program for advance determination of tax credit eligibility (Section 1412, p. 288)
16. Grant program to implement health IT enrollment standards (Section 1561, p. 370)
17. Federal Coordinated Health Care Office for dual eligible beneficiaries (Section 2602, p. 512)
18. Medicaid quality measurement program (Section 2701, p. 518)
19. Medicaid health home program for people with chronic conditions, and grants for planning same (Section 2703, p. 524)
20. Medicaid demonstration project to evaluate bundled payments (Section 2704, p. 532)
21. Medicaid demonstration project for global payment system (Section 2705, p. 536)
22. Medicaid demonstration project for accountable care organizations (Section 2706, p. 538)
23. Medicaid demonstration project for emergency psychiatric care (Section 2707, p. 540)
24. Grant program for delivery of services to individuals with postpartum depression (Section 2952(b), p. 591)
25. State allotments for grants to promote personal responsibility education programs (Section 2953, p. 596)
26. Medicare value-based purchasing program (Section 3001(a), p. 613)
27. Medicare value-based purchasing demonstration program for critical access hospitals (Section 3001(b), p. 637)
28. Medicare value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 3006(a), p. 666)
29. Medicare value-based purchasing program for home health agencies (Section 3006(b), p. 668)
30. Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality (Section 3012, p. 688)
31. Grant program to develop health care quality measures (Section 3013, p. 693)
32. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 3021, p. 712)
33. Medicare shared savings program (Section 3022, p. 728)
34. Medicare pilot program on payment bundling (Section 3023, p. 739)
35. Independence at home medical practice demonstration program (Section 3024, p. 752)
36. Program for use of patient safety organizations to reduce hospital readmission rates (Section 3025(b), p. 775)
37. Community-based care transitions program (Section 3026, p. 776)
38. Demonstration project for payment of complex diagnostic laboratory tests (Section 3113, p. 800)
39. Medicare hospice concurrent care demonstration project (Section 3140, p. 850)
40. Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 982)
41. Consumer Advisory Council for Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 1027)
42. Grant program for technical assistance to providers implementing health quality practices (Section 3501, p. 1043)
43. Grant program to establish interdisciplinary health teams (Section 3502, p. 1048)
44. Grant program to implement medication therapy management (Section 3503, p. 1055)
45. Grant program to support emergency care pilot programs (Section 3504, p. 1061)
46. Grant program to promote universal access to trauma services (Section 3505(b), p. 1081)
47. Grant program to develop and promote shared decision-making aids (Section 3506, p. 1088)
48. Grant program to support implementation of shared decision-making (Section 3506, p. 1091)
49. Grant program to integrate quality improvement in clinical education (Section 3508, p. 1095)
50. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health (Section 3509(a), p. 1098)
51. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(b), p. 1102)
52. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(e), p. 1105)
53. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(f), p. 1106)
54. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health (Section 3509(g), p. 1109)
55. National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (Section 4001, p. 1114)
56. Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (Section 4001(f), p. 1117)
57. Prevention and Public Health Fund (Section 4002, p. 1121)
58. Community Preventive Services Task Force (Section 4003(b), p. 1126)
59. Grant program to support school-based health centers (Section 4101, p. 1135)
60. Grant program to promote research-based dental caries disease management (Section 4102, p. 1147)
61. Grant program for States to prevent chronic disease in Medicaid beneficiaries (Section 4108, p. 1174)
62. Community transformation grants (Section 4201, p. 1182)
63. Grant program to provide public health interventions (Section 4202, p. 1188)
64. Demonstration program of grants to improve child immunization rates (Section 4204(b), p. 1200)
65. Pilot program for risk-factor assessments provided through community health centers (Section 4206, p. 1215)
66. Grant program to increase epidemiology and laboratory capacity (Section 4304, p. 1233)
67. Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (Section 4305, p. 1238)
68. National Health Care Workforce Commission (Section 5101, p. 1256)
69. Grant program to plan health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(c), p. 1275)
70. Grant program to implement health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(d), p. 1279)
71. Pediatric specialty loan repayment program (Section 5203, p. 1295)
72. Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (Section 5204, p. 1300)
73. Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Program (Section 5205, p. 1305)
74. Grant program to provide mid-career training for health professionals (Section 5206, p. 1307)
75. Grant program to fund nurse-managed health clinics (Section 5208, p. 1310)
76. Grant program to support primary care training programs (Section 5301, p. 1315)
77. Grant program to fund training for direct care workers (Section 5302, p. 1322)
78. Grant program to develop dental training programs (Section 5303, p. 1325)
79. Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care in underserved communities (Section 5304, p. 1331)
80. Grant program to promote geriatric education centers (Section 5305, p. 1334)
81. Grant program to promote health professionals entering geriatrics (Section 5305, p. 1339)
82. Grant program to promote training in mental and behavioral health (Section 5306, p. 1344)
83. Grant program to promote nurse retention programs (Section 5309, p. 1354)
84. Student loan forgiveness for nursing school faculty (Section 5311(b), p. 1360)
85. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes (Section 5313, p. 1364)
86. Public Health Sciences Track for medical students (Section 5315, p. 1372)
87. Primary Care Extension Program to educate providers (Section 5405, p. 1404)
88. Grant program for demonstration projects to address health workforce shortage needs (Section 5507, p. 1442)
89. Grant program for demonstration projects to develop training programs for home health aides (Section 5507, p. 1447)
90. Grant program to establish new primary care residency programs (Section 5508(a), p. 1458)
91. Program of payments to teaching health centers that sponsor medical residency training (Section 5508(c), p. 1462)
92. Graduate nurse education demonstration program (Section 5509, p. 1472)
93. Grant program to establish demonstration projects for community-based mental health settings (Section 5604, p. 1486)
94. Commission on Key National Indicators (Section 5605, p. 1489)
95. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6102, p. 1554)
96. Special focus facility program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6103(a)(3), p. 1561)
97. Special focus facility program for nursing facilities (Section 6103(b)(3), p. 1568)
98. National independent monitor pilot program for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities (Section 6112, p. 1589)
99. Demonstration projects for nursing facilities involved in the culture change movement (Section 6114, p. 1597)
100. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1619)
101. Standing methodology committee for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1629)
102. Board of Governors for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1638)
103. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (Section 6301(e), p. 1656)
104. Elder Justice Coordinating Council (Section 6703, p. 1773)
105. Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Section 6703, p. 1776)
106. Grant program to create elder abuse forensic centers (Section 6703, p. 1783)
107. Grant program to promote continuing education for long-term care staffers (Section 6703, p. 1787)
108. Grant program to improve management practices and training (Section 6703, p. 1788)
109. Grant program to subsidize costs of electronic health records (Section 6703, p. 1791)
110. Grant program to promote adult protective services (Section 6703, p. 1796)
111. Grant program to conduct elder abuse detection and prevention (Section 6703, p. 1798)
112. Grant program to support long-term care ombudsmen (Section 6703, p. 1800)
113. National Training Institute for long-term care surveyors (Section 6703, p. 1806)
114. Grant program to fund State surveys of long-term care residences (Section 6703, p. 1809)
115. CLASS Independence Fund (Section 8002, p. 1926)
116. CLASS Independence Fund Board of Trustees (Section 8002, p. 1927)
117. CLASS Independence Advisory Council (Section 8002, p. 1931)
118. Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel (Section 8002(c), p. 1938)
119. Multi-state health plans offered by Office of Personnel Management (Section 10104(p), p. 2086)
120. Advisory board for multi-state health plans (Section 10104(p), p. 2094)
121. Pregnancy Assistance Fund (Section 10212, p. 2164)
122. Value-based purchasing program for ambulatory surgical centers (Section 10301, p. 2176)
123. Demonstration project for payment adjustments to home health services (Section 10315, p. 2200)
124. Pilot program for care of individuals in environmental emergency declaration areas (Section 10323, p. 2223)
125. Grant program to screen at-risk individuals for environmental health conditions (Section 10323(b), p. 2231)
126. Pilot programs to implement value-based purchasing (Section 10326, p. 2242)
127. Grant program to support community-based collaborative care networks (Section 10333, p. 2265)
128. Centers for Disease Control Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
129. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
130. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
131. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
132. Food and Drug Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
133. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)
134. Grant program to promote small business wellness programs (Section 10408, p. 2285)
135. Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2289)
136. Cures Acceleration Network Review Board (Section 10409, p. 2291)
137. Grant program for Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2297)
138. Grant program to promote centers of excellence for depression (Section 10410, p. 2304)
139. Advisory committee for young women’s breast health awareness education campaign (Section 10413, p. 2322)
140. Grant program to provide assistance to provide information to young women with breast cancer (Section 10413, p. 2326)
141. Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force (Section 10501, p. 2329)
142. Grant program to train nurse practitioners as primary care providers (Section 10501(e), p. 2332)
143. Grant program for community-based diabetes prevention (Section 10501(g), p. 2337)
144. Grant program for providers who treat a high percentage of medically underserved populations (Section 10501(k), p. 2343)
145. Grant program to recruit students to practice in underserved communities (Section 10501(l), p. 2344)
146. Community Health Center Fund (Section 10503, p. 2355)
147. Demonstration project to provide access to health care for the uninsured at reduced fees (Section 10504, p. 2357)
148. Demonstration program to explore alternatives to tort litigation (Section 10607, p. 2369)
149. Indian Health demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals (S. 1790, Section 112, p. 24)*
150. Office of Indian Men’s Health (S. 1790, Section 136, p. 71)*
151. Indian Country modular component facilities demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 146, p. 108)*
152. Indian mobile health stations demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 147, p. 111)*
153. Office of Direct Service Tribes (S. 1790, Section 172, p. 151)*
154. Indian Health Service mental health technician training program (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 173)*
155. Indian Health Service program for treatment of child sexual abuse victims (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 192)*
156. Indian Health Service program for treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 194)*
157. Indian youth telemental health demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 204)*
158. Indian youth life skills demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 220)*
159. Indian Health Service Director of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment (S. 1790, Section 199B, p. 258)*
Camden Neighborhood Association PRESS RELEASE
Salisbury, MD: Camden Neighborhood Association (CNA) WILL HOST CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM to learn about candidates’ positions on critical issues which impact our neighborhoods.
DATE: Thursday - March 24, 2011
DATE: Thursday - March 24, 2011
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Bethany Lutheran Church, 817 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD (corner of Camden Avenue and South Blvd).
All candidates running for the office have been invited to participate. This event is open to the public.
Bill Reddish, the voice of WICO radio, will be the moderator.
Contact:
The Salisbury City General Election will be held on April 5, 2011.
Gas Hits $3.50 A Gallon
A report just came in, (with photo) of regular unleaded gas at $3.49.9 a gallon in Berlin. I'm having some problems loading pictures at the moment but when I can I'll update this Post with the image.
A Comment Worthy Of A Post
Smallsbury_Steak has left a new comment on your post "A Letter To The Editor":
Here is my reaction to today's DT article:
"Donna Turnamian, president of the Bennett Middle School PTA, joined more than 75 people who attended the council vote"
-There is nearly a 1,000 student population at Bennett Middle. That means that AT MOST 7.5% of the student body was represented at the council meeting. That tells me that there really isn't that many people supporting this ridiculous expenditure. It's a dog in pony show for Mr. Pollitt and the BOE to try to get what they want.
"We're expecting a $4,000 cost increase on a project with every day we wait"
-That is a rather absurd statement to make, especially considering that Frederickson's staff ran the numbers. How about you let economist and construction experts run those kinds of number and Frederickson and his staff can stick to education (of which they don't even do that well). And if you are going to make those kinds of statements then I EXPECT you to be able to back them up; Why is it going to cost $4,000 for each day we delay? What makes up that cost for delay? Don' just put a number out there and expect us to be ignorant and not ask why or how!
"there isn't a Plan B"
-It sucks having to have a Plan B, doesn't it?! Welcome to the real world Freddie! The BOE is so used to getting what it wants and having every budget request rubber stamped with "YES" that they don't even know how to make a Plan B! The BOE should be denied BMS funding for this fiscal year solely on the fact that they had the arrogance to not even be prepared for a "NO!"
"They just didn't need to pull the plug so soon"
-So if it was "left on the table," you would have easily accepted "NO" for an answer later on in the fall? I doubt it!
"A third option was having the school system put funds toward the project from the sale of 8 acres of land it owns at the corner of College Avenue and South Division Street"
-Sell the property first and THEN we will discuss
"I think the real question is how much can we afford to pay back because that does affect the operating budget"
"the county remains in bad shape despite several years of budget cuts, pulling from reserve-type funds and staff reduction measures"
Mrs. Prettyman, I LOVE YOU!
It's so nice to have some reasonable people on council! The County may be below it's debt limit, but it doesn't mean that it is smart or advisable to fully extend its credit and debt load! I have the credit and equity to buy luxury cars, a more spacious home and maybe even a second home somewhere, but you don't see me doing all that. Why? Just because I can do it doesn't mean that I can necessarily afford it! What happens if I completely extend my credit and buy everything that I want and then my luxury car that I spent too much money on breaks down? How do I fix it when I'm living pay check to paycheck and every cent of those paychecks is going to debt? What happens when my spouse or I lose my job and or our income is slashed? Both of which are getting increasingly likely with every pet project of the BOE because my spouse is a County employee. What happens if the County finances this project and tax revenues continue to decline with declining property values? Is the County going to default on paying for the school? No! They are going to raise our taxes, further cut our services and sell every bond until our bond rating is through the floor!
Bend over Wicomico taxpayers! They are going to continue to shove this so far down our throats that they are going to have to create special fund to surgically remove it! And that special fund is going to be by way of removing the revenue cap-any moment now you'll begin hearing Mr Pollitt screaming for the repeal of the Revenue Cap!
Here is my reaction to today's DT article:
"Donna Turnamian, president of the Bennett Middle School PTA, joined more than 75 people who attended the council vote"
-There is nearly a 1,000 student population at Bennett Middle. That means that AT MOST 7.5% of the student body was represented at the council meeting. That tells me that there really isn't that many people supporting this ridiculous expenditure. It's a dog in pony show for Mr. Pollitt and the BOE to try to get what they want.
"We're expecting a $4,000 cost increase on a project with every day we wait"
-That is a rather absurd statement to make, especially considering that Frederickson's staff ran the numbers. How about you let economist and construction experts run those kinds of number and Frederickson and his staff can stick to education (of which they don't even do that well). And if you are going to make those kinds of statements then I EXPECT you to be able to back them up; Why is it going to cost $4,000 for each day we delay? What makes up that cost for delay? Don' just put a number out there and expect us to be ignorant and not ask why or how!
"there isn't a Plan B"
-It sucks having to have a Plan B, doesn't it?! Welcome to the real world Freddie! The BOE is so used to getting what it wants and having every budget request rubber stamped with "YES" that they don't even know how to make a Plan B! The BOE should be denied BMS funding for this fiscal year solely on the fact that they had the arrogance to not even be prepared for a "NO!"
"They just didn't need to pull the plug so soon"
-So if it was "left on the table," you would have easily accepted "NO" for an answer later on in the fall? I doubt it!
"A third option was having the school system put funds toward the project from the sale of 8 acres of land it owns at the corner of College Avenue and South Division Street"
-Sell the property first and THEN we will discuss
"I think the real question is how much can we afford to pay back because that does affect the operating budget"
"the county remains in bad shape despite several years of budget cuts, pulling from reserve-type funds and staff reduction measures"
Mrs. Prettyman, I LOVE YOU!
It's so nice to have some reasonable people on council! The County may be below it's debt limit, but it doesn't mean that it is smart or advisable to fully extend its credit and debt load! I have the credit and equity to buy luxury cars, a more spacious home and maybe even a second home somewhere, but you don't see me doing all that. Why? Just because I can do it doesn't mean that I can necessarily afford it! What happens if I completely extend my credit and buy everything that I want and then my luxury car that I spent too much money on breaks down? How do I fix it when I'm living pay check to paycheck and every cent of those paychecks is going to debt? What happens when my spouse or I lose my job and or our income is slashed? Both of which are getting increasingly likely with every pet project of the BOE because my spouse is a County employee. What happens if the County finances this project and tax revenues continue to decline with declining property values? Is the County going to default on paying for the school? No! They are going to raise our taxes, further cut our services and sell every bond until our bond rating is through the floor!
Bend over Wicomico taxpayers! They are going to continue to shove this so far down our throats that they are going to have to create special fund to surgically remove it! And that special fund is going to be by way of removing the revenue cap-any moment now you'll begin hearing Mr Pollitt screaming for the repeal of the Revenue Cap!
Two Time Sate Champion
On Saturday, Zack Eure a senior from Parkside High School won his second Wrestling State Championship! Zack won his junior year at the 189 lb weight class and this year at the 215 lb weight class. Not only did Zack win the state championship he also achieved two other goals. He finished his final year of his high school career undefeated AND he also got his 100th Pin! Very few wrestlers have ever accomplished this! The local newspaper has not even mentioned it and neither has WBOC or WMDT. It amazes me that a paper in Talbot County had a paragraph or two in it specifically about Zack but his own hometown news wouldn't even report it. Winning a state championship is a big deal. Winning 2 State Championships is a huge deal!! I am very disappointed in the local news media for not reporting on all of the wrestlers from the area that competed in the State Tournament. Mike Meekins from Decatur finished second in the 171 weight class for 3a/4a. Brenan McAllister and Anthony Rivera both from Parkside each finished 6th in their weight classes. I'm not sure how the rest of the shore did. I for one am very proud of all the Bayside Wrestlers! Great year! |
Sandy Eure
a very proud mom
HB 1324 – An Elected School Board for Wicomico County
It’s finally here! HB 1324 – an act to allow the voters of Wicomico County to vote on their desire for an elected school board – has been filed. While we have known for a few weeks that it was coming, we have deliberately waited until we had a bill number before commenting. The bill was finally submitted at the end of last week.
We want to give special thanks to Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B). Mike has been the point man on this measure since the county council passed their resolution asking for this measure. When I spoke to Mike last Wednesday he informed me that the bill had finally come back from legislative services and 
that without the support of Del. Norm Conway (D-38B), it would not have been introduced this year. The citizens of Wicomico County owe Del. Conway our thanks for shepherding this bill. We also wish to thank Delegates Rudy Cane (D-37A), Addie Eckhardt (R-37B) and my delegate, Charles Otto (R-38A) for also sponsoring this bill.
This forces us to ask a couple of questions. Why is Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-37B), the House GOP Whip, missing as a sponsor on this bill? Recently Jeannie has taken a beating because of her response to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s state of the state address where she criticized bond bills but was found to have sponsored quite a few herself (including in this session). You would think that Jeannie would be willing to sponsor a bill that positively affects her constituents AND costs the taxpayers nothing. We also want to know where Senators Richard Colburn (R-37) AND Jim Mathias (D-38) are. Mathias has been playing possum on this measure from the start, but Colburn’s office had promised that a Senate bill would be filed. Where is it?
Voters need to remember that this bill ONLY allows the voters of Wicomico County the opportunity to decide, through a NON-BINDING referendum, whether or not they would like to have an elected school board. If HB 1324 passes and the referendum passes in 2012, we still have to get the General Assembly to agree to a school board which would be elected in 2014. This is why I was so surprised by the opposition of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt. Pollitt now claims that he supports the measure, but in reality he has advocated another measure which would have seriously muddied the waters. I guess you have to keep kow-towing to the NAACP and the local Democrat machine when you win re-election by relatively small margins against a sub-par opponent.
You can link to the bill’s status here. Read the actual bill.
We want to give special thanks to Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B). Mike has been the point man on this measure since the county council passed their resolution asking for this measure. When I spoke to Mike last Wednesday he informed me that the bill had finally come back from legislative services and that without the support of Del. Norm Conway (D-38B), it would not have been introduced this year. The citizens of Wicomico County owe Del. Conway our thanks for shepherding this bill. We also wish to thank Delegates Rudy Cane (D-37A), Addie Eckhardt (R-37B) and my delegate, Charles Otto (R-38A) for also sponsoring this bill.This forces us to ask a couple of questions. Why is Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-37B), the House GOP Whip, missing as a sponsor on this bill? Recently Jeannie has taken a beating because of her response to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s state of the state address where she criticized bond bills but was found to have sponsored quite a few herself (including in this session). You would think that Jeannie would be willing to sponsor a bill that positively affects her constituents AND costs the taxpayers nothing. We also want to know where Senators Richard Colburn (R-37) AND Jim Mathias (D-38) are. Mathias has been playing possum on this measure from the start, but Colburn’s office had promised that a Senate bill would be filed. Where is it?
Voters need to remember that this bill ONLY allows the voters of Wicomico County the opportunity to decide, through a NON-BINDING referendum, whether or not they would like to have an elected school board. If HB 1324 passes and the referendum passes in 2012, we still have to get the General Assembly to agree to a school board which would be elected in 2014. This is why I was so surprised by the opposition of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt. Pollitt now claims that he supports the measure, but in reality he has advocated another measure which would have seriously muddied the waters. I guess you have to keep kow-towing to the NAACP and the local Democrat machine when you win re-election by relatively small margins against a sub-par opponent.
You can link to the bill’s status here. Read the actual bill.
A Letter To The Editor
POLLITT STILL HASN’T PERCEIVED THE "MESSAGE"
An article in the local MSM about the Wicomico County Council’s decision to defer for a year part of the funding (with borrowed money) for the proposed Bennett Middle School quotes Rick Pollitt about that decision: "You wonder just what message they were trying to send." That’s incredible – what part of "cut County costs and expenses now" doesn’t he understand?
That’s the message which has been sent loud and clear for well over a year by the general public and even longer by certain persons and groups. Do you recall the public meeting that Rick held when he asked for recommendations about the County’s budget and citizens said that it is time to reduce and eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending (can you say "public information officer")? And last fall, facing a fiscal conservative opponent whose campaign was horrendous, Pollitt was barely reelected. What if that election were held today?
During the past year or so, certain members of the Council (who were reelected by landside or with no opposition) have tried to no avail to have the plans and specs for the middle school changed to eliminate such details as brick pavers rather than conventional concrete walkways, as well as structural redesign to reduce costs. Although the Board of Ed. paid about $20,000 to its design group for cost reduction recommendations, it decided not to make any changes. By the way, the estimated cost of the facility is substantially more than $500 per square foot.
When several members of the Council indicated their concern about the excessive cost of the facility – and the County’s ability to borrow $16 Million next year and at least $25 Million more to build the facility -- look at how Pollitt and Frederickson responded. Rick deployed his "PIO" to provide pablum to the press to pressure the Council, and "Dr. Freddy" tried to play – by his(?) propaganda -- students, parents and teachers. Apparently, they made no effort to get the Board to make any change of the plans and specs for the facility until it became obvious that the Council probably was not going to go along to get along – and then (about a week ago) we began to hear that the Board would consider some, but as yet unspecified, changes to reduce the cost. In light of the record, discussed above, that smells like more BS.
And, now that the Council has addressed, by rejection, the outlandish actions of Pollitt & Company, he and and Freddy don’t get the message. Absolutely unbelievable.
PS – And it’s interesting that the Daily Times, which has a certain "connection" to the Board of Ed., has been beating the drum for Pollitt in this matter
Time To Expel The Flunking Education Department
The Wall Street Journal recently uncovered “billions in bloat,” confirming what we all suspected: There are hundreds of overlapping, duplicative, and wasteful federal programs. We could probably eliminate half of them and no one would notice. But President Obama nonetheless is piling on the pile, adding more waste. His 38.5% proposed increase in education spending is just one example of how Obama is proving he is no Ronald Reagan. His bloated budget for the federal Education Department was $49.1 billion in 2011. He wants to hike that to $68 billion in 2012.
A liberal Republican congressman from the Northeast wrote to President Reagan in 1981, asking for a meeting to discuss the future of the federal Education Department. “I hope it doesn’t have one,” the President penned in the margin.
In the 1980s, the press called the federal Education Department “ Fort Reagan.” It wasn’t a compliment. Then-Education Secretary Bill Bennett held the first meetings for homeschoolers. He introduced the first federal voucher bill. Bennett’s issues were the three Cs—content, character, and choice. He was a powerful advocate for parents. He even urged college grads to pay back their student loans!
When Ronald Reagan left office, the Soviet Union collapsed and the U.S. economy soared. All of those positive and revolutionary changes occurred, in part, because of President Reagan’s strong leadership.
In American education, however, nothing changed. The folks whom Bill Bennett called “The Blob”—those liberal teacher union bosses, and the host of associations, interest groups, and press cohorts—had combined to prevent any meaningful change in our nation’s schools.
President Reagan’s Commission on Excellence in Education warned us of a “rising tide of mediocrity.” That tide continued to swell through the Reagan years—and after.
The late Paul Weyrich, noted conservative political activist and commentator, and co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, almost despaired of ever improving education, but he pointed to homeschooling as the conservatives’ one do-it-yourself success. Today, some 2 million American kids are getting a quality education at home—and it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.
Liberals in Congress since the 1980s—Democrats and Republicans—stopped any move to disestablish the federal Education Department. We sometimes hear that Reagan failed to get rid of this wasteful and intrusive federal department. But Ronald Reagan was no dictator. Congress created this thing and Congress votes the money to continue it.
President Jimmy Carter created the federal Education Department as a sop to the bosses at the National Education Association (NEA). Carter was being challenged in the Democratic primaries in 1980 by the liberal uber-spender Ted Kennedy.
Carter promised the union bosses a department in exchange for their support at the Democratic convention. They bought, and bragged that the NEA had sent more left-leaning delegates to the Democratic convention than the state of California. (Any surprise that California now is also broke?)
More here
A liberal Republican congressman from the Northeast wrote to President Reagan in 1981, asking for a meeting to discuss the future of the federal Education Department. “I hope it doesn’t have one,” the President penned in the margin.
In the 1980s, the press called the federal Education Department “ Fort Reagan.” It wasn’t a compliment. Then-Education Secretary Bill Bennett held the first meetings for homeschoolers. He introduced the first federal voucher bill. Bennett’s issues were the three Cs—content, character, and choice. He was a powerful advocate for parents. He even urged college grads to pay back their student loans!
When Ronald Reagan left office, the Soviet Union collapsed and the U.S. economy soared. All of those positive and revolutionary changes occurred, in part, because of President Reagan’s strong leadership.
In American education, however, nothing changed. The folks whom Bill Bennett called “The Blob”—those liberal teacher union bosses, and the host of associations, interest groups, and press cohorts—had combined to prevent any meaningful change in our nation’s schools.
President Reagan’s Commission on Excellence in Education warned us of a “rising tide of mediocrity.” That tide continued to swell through the Reagan years—and after.
The late Paul Weyrich, noted conservative political activist and commentator, and co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, almost despaired of ever improving education, but he pointed to homeschooling as the conservatives’ one do-it-yourself success. Today, some 2 million American kids are getting a quality education at home—and it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.
Liberals in Congress since the 1980s—Democrats and Republicans—stopped any move to disestablish the federal Education Department. We sometimes hear that Reagan failed to get rid of this wasteful and intrusive federal department. But Ronald Reagan was no dictator. Congress created this thing and Congress votes the money to continue it.
President Jimmy Carter created the federal Education Department as a sop to the bosses at the National Education Association (NEA). Carter was being challenged in the Democratic primaries in 1980 by the liberal uber-spender Ted Kennedy.
Carter promised the union bosses a department in exchange for their support at the Democratic convention. They bought, and bragged that the NEA had sent more left-leaning delegates to the Democratic convention than the state of California. (Any surprise that California now is also broke?)
More here
Barone: Who's To Blame For Union Woes?
The labor union movement is in deep trouble. Only 6 percent of private-sector employees are union members.
Voters are beginning to realize, thanks to governors like Chris Christie of New Jersey and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, that public-sector unions have negotiated unsustainable levels of pensions and benefits -- and that public-sector unions are a mechanism for involuntary transfers of money from taxpayers to the Democratic Party.
Who's to blame for the unions' plight? I blame Frederick W. Taylor. Most readers will ask, who? And those who know the name might wonder why I pin the blame on someone who died in 1915.
But Taylor, the supposed pioneer of scientific management, was an influential man in his day and long after. He conducted time and motion studies aimed at getting workers to perform most efficiently single tasks on long assembly lines.
Workers, he said, should be regarded as dumb animals, incapable of initiative, inefficient when they are not compelled to perform the same simple task in the same single way over and over.
Taylor, as Robert Kanigel makes clear in his excellent biography, "The One Best Way," was something of a charlatan. He faked a lot of his time and motion studies. Nevertheless, he had huge influence on the managers of assembly-line industries like autos and steel.
Their workforces consisted of off-the-farm and immigrant hordes with little education and often little English. They thought the best way to profits was to use Taylorite methods to squeeze maximum production out of their low-skill workers.
The industrial unions -- the United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers -- that succeeded with government help to organize industries in the 1930s understandably saw their main task as combating Taylorism.
They would prevent management from ordering dreaded speedups, based on Taylorite analysis, by insisting that every change in work rules must be negotiated between shop stewards and foremen.
They would prevent management from rewarding speedy workers by insisting that promotions be based on seniority and preventing any hint of merit pay.
More here
Voters are beginning to realize, thanks to governors like Chris Christie of New Jersey and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, that public-sector unions have negotiated unsustainable levels of pensions and benefits -- and that public-sector unions are a mechanism for involuntary transfers of money from taxpayers to the Democratic Party.
Who's to blame for the unions' plight? I blame Frederick W. Taylor. Most readers will ask, who? And those who know the name might wonder why I pin the blame on someone who died in 1915.
But Taylor, the supposed pioneer of scientific management, was an influential man in his day and long after. He conducted time and motion studies aimed at getting workers to perform most efficiently single tasks on long assembly lines.
Workers, he said, should be regarded as dumb animals, incapable of initiative, inefficient when they are not compelled to perform the same simple task in the same single way over and over.
Taylor, as Robert Kanigel makes clear in his excellent biography, "The One Best Way," was something of a charlatan. He faked a lot of his time and motion studies. Nevertheless, he had huge influence on the managers of assembly-line industries like autos and steel.
Their workforces consisted of off-the-farm and immigrant hordes with little education and often little English. They thought the best way to profits was to use Taylorite methods to squeeze maximum production out of their low-skill workers.
The industrial unions -- the United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers -- that succeeded with government help to organize industries in the 1930s understandably saw their main task as combating Taylorism.
They would prevent management from ordering dreaded speedups, based on Taylorite analysis, by insisting that every change in work rules must be negotiated between shop stewards and foremen.
They would prevent management from rewarding speedy workers by insisting that promotions be based on seniority and preventing any hint of merit pay.
More here
SALISBURY’S PRIMARY ELECTION – THE REAL SURPRISE
Last week’s primary produced few surprises, one being the lackluster showing of Muir Boda, who has been running nonstop since he lost to Debbie Campbell two years ago and now has the support of SAPOA and its affiliated “super donors” of campaign funding. The other two SAPOA/super donor supported candidates – Dryden and Dixon – did not do as well as expected either.
The biggest surprise by far was the much better than expected showing of Laura Mitchell, a little known candidate until recently. Her third place finish, achieved without significant contributions, is really impressive. If history repeats itself next month, she will be serving on the Council.
GM Bailout: Why Did Only Unionized Workers Keep Their Cadillacs?
Republican Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Dan Burton of Indiana are asking House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, California Republican, to dig into the Obama administration’s decision to cut more than 20,000 private-sector workers’ pensions and eliminate their health and life insurance plans during the General Motors (GM) bailout in 2009.
A spokesman for Issa’s committee told The Daily Caller the committee “remains interested” and is “looking forward” to findings from an ongoing Government Accountability Office investigation, which is expected to come out within the next couple of months. What Turner and Burton are saying happened during the GM bailout is that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner decided to cut pensions for salaried non-union employees at Delphi, a GM spinoff, to expedite GM’s emergence from bankruptcy. The problem with that, according to the congressmen, is that Geithner decided to fully fund the pensions of union workers involved in the process – including workers associated with United Auto Workers, Steelworkers and the IUE-CWA.
“This is a terrible injustice. This is a political decision, not a legal or financial decision,” Turner said in a phone interview with TheDC. “There were people who were penalized and people were chosen as winners and losers. The White House, the administration and the Auto Task Force (ATF) decided who were going to receive their pensions and who were not.”
Bruce Gump, one of the workers who lost most of his pension and his health and life insurance plans, said what really disappoints him is how Geithner justified his decision. “Mr. Geithner justified that by saying in the press that there was no commercial necessity to do anything for those people,” Gump told TheDC. “So, to him, we were just ‘those people’ and he thought that commercial necessity was a justification to out certain groups.”
More here
A spokesman for Issa’s committee told The Daily Caller the committee “remains interested” and is “looking forward” to findings from an ongoing Government Accountability Office investigation, which is expected to come out within the next couple of months. What Turner and Burton are saying happened during the GM bailout is that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner decided to cut pensions for salaried non-union employees at Delphi, a GM spinoff, to expedite GM’s emergence from bankruptcy. The problem with that, according to the congressmen, is that Geithner decided to fully fund the pensions of union workers involved in the process – including workers associated with United Auto Workers, Steelworkers and the IUE-CWA.
“This is a terrible injustice. This is a political decision, not a legal or financial decision,” Turner said in a phone interview with TheDC. “There were people who were penalized and people were chosen as winners and losers. The White House, the administration and the Auto Task Force (ATF) decided who were going to receive their pensions and who were not.”
Bruce Gump, one of the workers who lost most of his pension and his health and life insurance plans, said what really disappoints him is how Geithner justified his decision. “Mr. Geithner justified that by saying in the press that there was no commercial necessity to do anything for those people,” Gump told TheDC. “So, to him, we were just ‘those people’ and he thought that commercial necessity was a justification to out certain groups.”
More here
St. John Parishioners Weigh In On Supreme Court Westboro Ruling
For many parishioners at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Westminster, the U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong last week.
MoreNetanyahu To Palestinians: Sit Down And Talk Already!
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained succinctly on Sunday why the negotiations with the PA have gone nowhere. He answered a question during the joint press conference he held with visiting Chilean President Sebastián Piñera.
The questioner asked about the lack of direct negotiations between Israel and the PA, implying that Israel could do more to get them going. Netanyahu answered as follows:
Well, we've been calling for direct negotiations from day one of this government.
On day one, we called for direct negotiations.
On day two, I made a speech in Bar Ilan University calling for two states for two peoples.
On day three, we removed about 400 checkpoints, earth barriers, and other things to facilitate the growth of the Palestinian economy.
On day four, we agreed to a ten-month moratorium on new construction in the settlements, something that no government did for 18 years before that.
On day five, we agreed to an extension of that moratorium by three months.
Unfortunately, everything that we did, these five things, were met with no response by the Palestinian Authority. They just placed preconditions and terms, every way to avoid sitting down and discussing peace. They tried to go around the peace negotiations.
I'll tell you why: It's because peace is hard. It's been hard for me. It will be hard. You have to make concessions and you have to look at the people in the eye and tell them not everything that we'd hoped for would be possible; there have to be compromises on both sides.
More on this
The questioner asked about the lack of direct negotiations between Israel and the PA, implying that Israel could do more to get them going. Netanyahu answered as follows:
Well, we've been calling for direct negotiations from day one of this government.
On day one, we called for direct negotiations.
On day two, I made a speech in Bar Ilan University calling for two states for two peoples.
On day three, we removed about 400 checkpoints, earth barriers, and other things to facilitate the growth of the Palestinian economy.
On day four, we agreed to a ten-month moratorium on new construction in the settlements, something that no government did for 18 years before that.
On day five, we agreed to an extension of that moratorium by three months.
Unfortunately, everything that we did, these five things, were met with no response by the Palestinian Authority. They just placed preconditions and terms, every way to avoid sitting down and discussing peace. They tried to go around the peace negotiations.
I'll tell you why: It's because peace is hard. It's been hard for me. It will be hard. You have to make concessions and you have to look at the people in the eye and tell them not everything that we'd hoped for would be possible; there have to be compromises on both sides.
Condo Owner Wants Gun Range At Ritz-Carlton Penthouse
City officials scrambling to determine legality
The condos at the Ritz-Carlton Residences offer "luxurious waterfront living" — with breathtaking views of Baltimore's Inner Harbor and amenities that include marble baths, landscaped terraces and butler's pantries with access for the help.But that's not enough for one resident.
An architect has been talking to city officials about permits that might be needed to build a gun range in one of the penthouse-level condos on Key Highway, at the foot of Federal Hill.
More
Bill Buckler On How The US Morphed From A "Global Beacon Of Freedom" To A Symbol Of Political And Economic Repression
In his latest edition of the Privateer newsletter, Bill Buckler confirms that he is one of the premier politco-economic commentators, with one of the most devastating expositions on how America, once the land of the brave and the home of the free, and truly a beacon of freedom for the rest of the world, has entered the death spiral of its cilivizational curve, which "beginning of the end" started in 1913 with the introduction of the income tax and the ascent of the Federal Reserve, and now, a century later, has morphed into what can poetically be called the "ending of the end." Recent events in the Middle East and Africa only underscore how rapidly the sun is setting on the world's once undisputed superpower. That China is merely biding its time before it disconnects its mutual life support system to the US (which contrary to conventional wisdom, is far more important to the US than vice versa, now that the Fed is by the far the biggest owner of US debt), and ends its symbiosis with US fiscal and monetary policy, should not be a reason for optimism to anyone. With each passing day, Chinese superiority is becoming ever more palpable (even despite the massive loan bubble currently in process in China), even as desperate US attempts to cling to the last trace of its former superpower status are getting increasingly ignored by virtually everyone. If Buckler is correct, the final nail in the US superpower status coffin could come as soon as the unwind of events in MENA, where the people have made it all too clear the US is no longer welcome. What happens next will indicate just how rapidly the complete fall from grace for the US will transpire: "The Middle East is again in strife. This time, the conflict is between the regimes which have been installed and supported by the US government in their march to empire and the people who those same regimes have ruled with an iron fist. To these people, the US is not looked upon as an “exemplar” of anything - except political AND economic repression."
More
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Volunteer Firefighter Arrested After Joyride
Seeing a line of emergency vehicles speeding down the road is not all that unusual. But seeing a fire truck run a police car off the road is a much rarer occurence.
A volunteer firefigher has been charged with a DUI after doing just that early on Saturday morning.
Police say 27-year-old Sean Swanson, a volunteer with Company No. 5 in Hamilton, Va., was driving a pumper truck at a high rate of speed on Harmony Church Road. A Loudoun County Deputy, driving in the opposite direction, had to steer his car into a ditch in order to avoid a collision with the truck.
American Tax Dollars For Al-Jazeera-Inspired Terrorism
An analysis of the propaganda campaign to get Al-Jazeera carried by more cable and satellite systems reveals an interesting fact. The terrorist TV channel is already available through something called MHz Networks. And it turns out that the MHz Networks is supported by the American taxpayers at the federal and state levels.
MHz Networks is a division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and receives over $2 million a year from federal and state governments. In this case, because Commonwealth is based in Virginia, the culprit is the state of Virginia. However, Governor Robert F. McDonnell has proposed eliminating state funding of public broadcasting by cutting $2 million in fiscal 2012 and $2 million in fiscal 2013. Even if state legislators go along with this proposal, that still leaves the federal subsidies for Commonwealth and MHz Networks.
According to figures supplied by Joseph H. Koch, Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, $1.4 million of that $2 million came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is funded by Congress. The CPB distributes taxpayer money to public broadcasting stations and entities.
Since Al-Jazeera is totally owned, run, and paid for by the Emir of Qatar, officially known as “His Highness,” this means that American tax dollars are paying for foreign propaganda in the U.S.
Not only that, but American taxpayers are being fleeced on behalf of an Arab dictator with billions of oil dollars.
The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is number 8 on the Forbes list of the “richest royals,” with an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion. His channel has been labeled “the greatest Arab media organization” by the Muslim Brotherhood, which has spawned various terrorist organizations and is now poised to take power in Egypt and perhaps other countries.
There's more here
MHz Networks is a division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and receives over $2 million a year from federal and state governments. In this case, because Commonwealth is based in Virginia, the culprit is the state of Virginia. However, Governor Robert F. McDonnell has proposed eliminating state funding of public broadcasting by cutting $2 million in fiscal 2012 and $2 million in fiscal 2013. Even if state legislators go along with this proposal, that still leaves the federal subsidies for Commonwealth and MHz Networks.
According to figures supplied by Joseph H. Koch, Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, $1.4 million of that $2 million came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is funded by Congress. The CPB distributes taxpayer money to public broadcasting stations and entities.
Since Al-Jazeera is totally owned, run, and paid for by the Emir of Qatar, officially known as “His Highness,” this means that American tax dollars are paying for foreign propaganda in the U.S.
Not only that, but American taxpayers are being fleeced on behalf of an Arab dictator with billions of oil dollars.
The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is number 8 on the Forbes list of the “richest royals,” with an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion. His channel has been labeled “the greatest Arab media organization” by the Muslim Brotherhood, which has spawned various terrorist organizations and is now poised to take power in Egypt and perhaps other countries.
There's more here
$6 Billion Budget Cut: A ‘Limit’ For Democrats
A top Senate Democrat said Sunday that the $6 billion in additional spending cuts that his party offered is the limit Democrats can accept - drawing a line well short of Republicans’ goal with less than two weeks to go before a government shutdown if the two sides can’t agree.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said the $6 billion proposal, released Friday, has “pushed this to the limit” on domestic spending.
That comment stands in sharp opposition to a House Republican bill containing an additional $57 billion in cuts below 2010 spending.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s top Republican said his talks with President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. show that the White House is not serious about tackling longer-term spending challenges, making it difficult for Congress to work with the president.
Taken together, the short- and long-term budget fights show how tough it will be for lawmakers to find common ground on the single biggest issue facing them over the next six months.
Republicans said they haven’t seen any commitment from the White House to talk about entitlement spending, which is the big driver of long-term deficits.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with them. What I don’t see now is any willingness to do anything that’s difficult,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said on CBS‘ “Face the Nation” program. “So far, I don’t see the level of seriousness that we need.”
The immediate test for lawmakers is to try to head off a March 18 shutdown by passing a long-overdue 2011 spending measure.
More here
Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said the $6 billion proposal, released Friday, has “pushed this to the limit” on domestic spending.
That comment stands in sharp opposition to a House Republican bill containing an additional $57 billion in cuts below 2010 spending.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s top Republican said his talks with President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. show that the White House is not serious about tackling longer-term spending challenges, making it difficult for Congress to work with the president.
Taken together, the short- and long-term budget fights show how tough it will be for lawmakers to find common ground on the single biggest issue facing them over the next six months.
Republicans said they haven’t seen any commitment from the White House to talk about entitlement spending, which is the big driver of long-term deficits.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with them. What I don’t see now is any willingness to do anything that’s difficult,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said on CBS‘ “Face the Nation” program. “So far, I don’t see the level of seriousness that we need.”
The immediate test for lawmakers is to try to head off a March 18 shutdown by passing a long-overdue 2011 spending measure.
More here
IDF Bombs Terror Tunnels After Rocket Attacks On Negev
Gaza terrorists fired a rocket on the western Negev Saturday, and the Israeli Air Force bombed a Hamas smuggling tunnel and two terrorist training bases as ‘Mini-Cast Lead II’ continues.
No one was hurt in the rocket attack. The Air Force quickly retaliated, bombing a smuggling tunnel in northern Gaza and two terrorist training bases in central Gaza around midnight. Residents said the bases were operated by Hamas, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Secondary explosions were heard, indicating that the terror target was a factory for rockets or storehouse for explosives belonging to Hamas. No injuries were reported. The terror tunnel was intended to be used by terrorists to infiltrate into Israel and to execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers, and will continue to respond to anyone who utilizes terror against Israel,” a military spokesperson said in a statement. “The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in Gaza and for any terrorist activity emanating from it.”
Attacks on Israel have become routine the past month as Hamas fails to honor another pledge for a ceasefire. Last week, rocket and mortar attacks on Israel prompted IDF aerial and tank fire, which eliminated at least one terrorist.
Hamas is trying to avoid a repeat of Operation Cast Lead, which followed massive rocket attacks on major population centers in Israel. Instead, it has deployed a strategy of firing a small number of rockets and mortars but on almost a daily basis. Last month, a Grad missile hit Be’er Sheva for the first time since Cast Lead, causing extensive damage and sending several people into shock.
(IsraelNationalNews.com)
No one was hurt in the rocket attack. The Air Force quickly retaliated, bombing a smuggling tunnel in northern Gaza and two terrorist training bases in central Gaza around midnight. Residents said the bases were operated by Hamas, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Secondary explosions were heard, indicating that the terror target was a factory for rockets or storehouse for explosives belonging to Hamas. No injuries were reported. The terror tunnel was intended to be used by terrorists to infiltrate into Israel and to execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers, and will continue to respond to anyone who utilizes terror against Israel,” a military spokesperson said in a statement. “The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in Gaza and for any terrorist activity emanating from it.”
Attacks on Israel have become routine the past month as Hamas fails to honor another pledge for a ceasefire. Last week, rocket and mortar attacks on Israel prompted IDF aerial and tank fire, which eliminated at least one terrorist.
Hamas is trying to avoid a repeat of Operation Cast Lead, which followed massive rocket attacks on major population centers in Israel. Instead, it has deployed a strategy of firing a small number of rockets and mortars but on almost a daily basis. Last month, a Grad missile hit Be’er Sheva for the first time since Cast Lead, causing extensive damage and sending several people into shock.
(IsraelNationalNews.com)
Detroit’s Downturn: It’s The Productivity, Stupid
Union work rules make it almost impossible for the Big Three to keep up with foreign competitors.
There has been a lot of finger-pointing about who has put the American auto industry in a ditch, sending it hat in hand to the taxpayers’ ostensible representatives in Washington. There seems to be a broad consensus that Detroit’s problems were caused by inept and arrogant management, unimaginative car design, poor quality — though this has improved somewhat over the past couple of decades — and overpaid union workers. While there is less agreement on how much to weigh each of these factors, only the latter is attributed to the UAW. There also seems to be some dispute over what their compensation actually is, but most agree that it’s uncompetitive with the foreign transplants, largely in the south, though Honda builds cars in Ohio. Of course, the fact that the non-union companies are in the south has resulted in predictable accusations that southern Republicans are playing politics and trying to destroy the union to the benefit of their home-state companies — ignoring the fact that General Motors has a plant in Tennessee, the home state of the most prominent bailout opponent, Senator Bob Corker.
The UAW is seen to have been the winner of the current round because, while the Senate Republicans held up the Congressional bailout to them (though it should be noted that their votes weren’t necessary to pass it — only to provide political cover to the Democrats, who had sufficient Republican votes to push it through), the White House capitulated and seems on the brink of offering them the money anyway.
But almost all of the discussion, when it comes to UAW culpability, has been on wages. The even larger issue, though, is the elephant in the room that seemingly no one discusses, even when given a political opportunity. For instance, I saw a “debate” on Fox News recently in which the Democrat defending the union said that it was partly management’s fault because of the poor quality of the cars, and the Republican failed to respond. And it’s not like people are unaware of it, at least people familiar with the industry. The issue isn’t wages — though those are a problem — so much as work rules. UAW work rules, which have evolved over the many decades since the passage of the Wagner Act, are the biggest reason that General Motors is uncompetitive with its non-union American counterparts.
What are work rules? They are agreements negotiated in the contract between management and the union covering how the employees are to be classified, how many breaks they get, how much time off they get, who can do which jobs, how discipline is to be enforced, etc. The goal of the rules is not to enhance productivity or production quality. It is to provide opportunities for featherbedding, increase numbers of (overpaid) jobs for union workers, and minimize how much they have to actually work. This is important because it’s at least in theory possible that the industry could be making money even at current wages, if they could be provided with the flexibility to increase worker productivity. When you blame management for the quality and cost problems in the auto industry, first consider stories like this:
As a former supervisor of UAW workers at a GM facility, I will say that poor management and union malpractice made the Detroit Three uncompetitive long before the government sent in their arsonists.
To put it bluntly, the UAW takes the hard-earned money of the best workers and spends it defending the very worst workers while tying up the industry with thousands of pages of work rules that make it impossible to be competitive. And the spineless management often makes short-sighted decisions to satisfy the union and maximize immediate benefits over long-term sustainability.
The strength of the union and the weakness of management made it impossible to conduct business properly at any level. …
Read the rest..
[Does this sound familiar? --Editor]
There has been a lot of finger-pointing about who has put the American auto industry in a ditch, sending it hat in hand to the taxpayers’ ostensible representatives in Washington. There seems to be a broad consensus that Detroit’s problems were caused by inept and arrogant management, unimaginative car design, poor quality — though this has improved somewhat over the past couple of decades — and overpaid union workers. While there is less agreement on how much to weigh each of these factors, only the latter is attributed to the UAW. There also seems to be some dispute over what their compensation actually is, but most agree that it’s uncompetitive with the foreign transplants, largely in the south, though Honda builds cars in Ohio. Of course, the fact that the non-union companies are in the south has resulted in predictable accusations that southern Republicans are playing politics and trying to destroy the union to the benefit of their home-state companies — ignoring the fact that General Motors has a plant in Tennessee, the home state of the most prominent bailout opponent, Senator Bob Corker.
The UAW is seen to have been the winner of the current round because, while the Senate Republicans held up the Congressional bailout to them (though it should be noted that their votes weren’t necessary to pass it — only to provide political cover to the Democrats, who had sufficient Republican votes to push it through), the White House capitulated and seems on the brink of offering them the money anyway.
But almost all of the discussion, when it comes to UAW culpability, has been on wages. The even larger issue, though, is the elephant in the room that seemingly no one discusses, even when given a political opportunity. For instance, I saw a “debate” on Fox News recently in which the Democrat defending the union said that it was partly management’s fault because of the poor quality of the cars, and the Republican failed to respond. And it’s not like people are unaware of it, at least people familiar with the industry. The issue isn’t wages — though those are a problem — so much as work rules. UAW work rules, which have evolved over the many decades since the passage of the Wagner Act, are the biggest reason that General Motors is uncompetitive with its non-union American counterparts.
What are work rules? They are agreements negotiated in the contract between management and the union covering how the employees are to be classified, how many breaks they get, how much time off they get, who can do which jobs, how discipline is to be enforced, etc. The goal of the rules is not to enhance productivity or production quality. It is to provide opportunities for featherbedding, increase numbers of (overpaid) jobs for union workers, and minimize how much they have to actually work. This is important because it’s at least in theory possible that the industry could be making money even at current wages, if they could be provided with the flexibility to increase worker productivity. When you blame management for the quality and cost problems in the auto industry, first consider stories like this:
As a former supervisor of UAW workers at a GM facility, I will say that poor management and union malpractice made the Detroit Three uncompetitive long before the government sent in their arsonists.
To put it bluntly, the UAW takes the hard-earned money of the best workers and spends it defending the very worst workers while tying up the industry with thousands of pages of work rules that make it impossible to be competitive. And the spineless management often makes short-sighted decisions to satisfy the union and maximize immediate benefits over long-term sustainability.
The strength of the union and the weakness of management made it impossible to conduct business properly at any level. …
Read the rest..
[Does this sound familiar? --Editor]
Club For Growth's Chocola: We're Closely Watching Hatch, Lugar, Snowe
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch’s recent embrace of tea party values does not erase the Republican’s 40 years of history in Washington, Club for Growth President Chris Chocola tells Newsmax.TV.
Club for Growth, which helped end the political careers of Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, is keeping a close watch on other longtime GOP senators up for re-election, says Chocola, a former Indiana congressman.
The Club for Growth is a national network that promotes fiscally conservative public policies that encourage a high-growth economy. Among the group's key principles are reducing income tax rates, repealing the estate tax, limiting government through limited spending, tort reform and expanding trade freedom.
The organization is monitoring the re-election bids of not only Hatch but also Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, says Chocola, who expects primary challenges for all three regardless of what his group decides. When looking at candidates, the Club for Growth examines the records as “a whole,” not “what they’re saying when it gets close to reelection time,” he says.
“Senator Hatch has moved way to the right,” Chocola says. “He’s trying to embrace the tea party. But the question isn’t what’s he doing now. The question is what has he done for almost 40 years in the Senate previous to that? What would he do, most importantly, in the next six years?”
Read more
Club for Growth, which helped end the political careers of Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, is keeping a close watch on other longtime GOP senators up for re-election, says Chocola, a former Indiana congressman.
The Club for Growth is a national network that promotes fiscally conservative public policies that encourage a high-growth economy. Among the group's key principles are reducing income tax rates, repealing the estate tax, limiting government through limited spending, tort reform and expanding trade freedom.
The organization is monitoring the re-election bids of not only Hatch but also Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, says Chocola, who expects primary challenges for all three regardless of what his group decides. When looking at candidates, the Club for Growth examines the records as “a whole,” not “what they’re saying when it gets close to reelection time,” he says.
“Senator Hatch has moved way to the right,” Chocola says. “He’s trying to embrace the tea party. But the question isn’t what’s he doing now. The question is what has he done for almost 40 years in the Senate previous to that? What would he do, most importantly, in the next six years?”
Read more
After Rocky Start, GOP Leaders And Freshmen Step Up Communication
After a rocky start, the relationship between House Republican leaders and the GOP freshman class has improved in recent weeks.
With any relationship, communication is key. And there has been a lot more of it since the freshmen soundly rejected leadership’s initial budget plan.
House GOP leaders have reached out to their freshmen members by participating in weekly meetings, increasing leadership opportunities for them and hosting small sessions with the historic class.
The leadership-freshmen relationship will be tested in the coming weeks as the GOP and the White House attempt to iron out a budget agreement. House Republicans were seen as the political victors of the 2-week stopgap measure that was signed into law by President Obama because the Democratic-led Senate wholly embraced the lower chamber’s bill.
The problem for House leaders, however, is that there are some in the GOP who believe the next battle will mimic the first. Managing the expectations of the freshmen, most notably on thwarting the new healthcare reform law, will be tricky.
The class of 2010, the largest in more than six decades, has proven to be a particularly tight-knit group that believes they have a clear mandate to shrink the size of government and encourage greater private sector job growth.
Freshman Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) told The Hill that his class has met outside their weekly set meeting time, during weeks when the House is in session. And a member of the GOP leadership team often attends those closed-door meetings.
“I think we respect one another and we respect the message the country sent by sending us to Washington. As a result, we appreciate bouncing ideas off each other, we regularly also meet with leadership and veteran legislators so there is an open dialogue,” Guinta said.
More
With any relationship, communication is key. And there has been a lot more of it since the freshmen soundly rejected leadership’s initial budget plan.
House GOP leaders have reached out to their freshmen members by participating in weekly meetings, increasing leadership opportunities for them and hosting small sessions with the historic class.
The leadership-freshmen relationship will be tested in the coming weeks as the GOP and the White House attempt to iron out a budget agreement. House Republicans were seen as the political victors of the 2-week stopgap measure that was signed into law by President Obama because the Democratic-led Senate wholly embraced the lower chamber’s bill.
The problem for House leaders, however, is that there are some in the GOP who believe the next battle will mimic the first. Managing the expectations of the freshmen, most notably on thwarting the new healthcare reform law, will be tricky.
The class of 2010, the largest in more than six decades, has proven to be a particularly tight-knit group that believes they have a clear mandate to shrink the size of government and encourage greater private sector job growth.
Freshman Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) told The Hill that his class has met outside their weekly set meeting time, during weeks when the House is in session. And a member of the GOP leadership team often attends those closed-door meetings.
“I think we respect one another and we respect the message the country sent by sending us to Washington. As a result, we appreciate bouncing ideas off each other, we regularly also meet with leadership and veteran legislators so there is an open dialogue,” Guinta said.
More
Update On Arlington Cemetary.
For the first time in decades, Arlington National Cemetary has multiple "unknowns" to bury. The Washington Post reports criminal investigators looking into how eight sets of cremated remains ended up in a single grave have concluded that three of them are unidentifiable. Kathryn Condon, the recently appointed director of the Army Cemeteries Program, tells the Post she's set up new procedures so no new mix-ups will occur.
House Budget Cuts May Be Too Deep For Senate
State Roundup, March 7, 2011
Federal budget cuts could spell disaster for many Marylanders; same sex marriage moves on to full House after fits and starts: constituents seemed to hold sway over how legislators voted; community colleges play big roll in compromise on in-state tuition for illegal alien students; wine shipping bills get airing; bills would ban smoking in car containing kids and reading texts while driving; gas tax hike proposal draws protests; retired state workers concerned about prescription drug coverage cost; and you soon may be able to dine alfresco with Fido.
More
More
Former Spam King Released From Prison, Vows To Spam No More
A man who launched 10 trillion spam messages before he was sent away to federal prison is out after serving four years, and he's allowed back online. He promises he's a changed man and will no longer shower your inbox with unwanted solicitations.
More »
More »
Would You Pay $30 To Rent A Movie That's Still In Theaters?
For movie fans, there is that odd stretch of time between a film's initial release and when it hits the DVD/On-Demand market. Maybe it's playing in a second-run theater or maybe it's just in limbo. Regardless, DirecTV is betting that customers would be willing to pay a premium to watch movies during that lame-duck time period.
More »
More »
Diners With Dogs May Soon Be Saying 'Bone' Appetit
A bill before the General Assembly would allow restaurants to have pets in outdoor dining areas
Chai is a gal with a social life many would envy. Come spring and summer, you'll find her out two or three nights a week, dining al fresco, at any number of Baltimore-area dining establishments.Her favorite would have to be Shuckers in Fells Point, where they fix her a drink just the way she likes it.
"When we say, 'Want to go to Shuckers?' she'll dance around like a nut and bark her head off," says Christopher Woodside, who owns the 82-pound bulldog. "She prefers ice in her water bowl and Shuckers gives it to her like that."
More
East Main Street Neighborhood Associon Meeting AAnd City Council Meet And Greet
East Main Street Neighborhood Association
Meeting Agenda
10 March 2011
6:30 PM
Introduction of Guests
I. Call to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes from last meeting
IV. Guest Speakers – Salisbury City Council Candidates(invited)
V. Old Business
a) Grande Pointe Condominiums
VI. New business
a) Block Party Summer 2011
b)
VII. Open Forum
VIII. Adjournment
TROOPERS NAB INTERSTATE BATHROOM BANDITS
IMPORTANT CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION FOR FEMALE TRAVELERS
(PERRYVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested two people and are obtaining warrants for two more who are accused of stealing credit cards from older women while they were using interstate rest rooms in Harford and Cecil counties.
The accused are identified as Ishia B. Cason, 31, and Yvette A. Jones, 46, both of Baltimore, Md. Both Cason and Jones are charged with using/possessing credit card issued to another, identity theft, theft over $10,000, fraud and forgery. Jones is also charged on a bench warrant from Washington County for failure to appear for trial on similar offenses. Both women are each being held on $150,000 bail.
State Police are obtaining warrants for two additional suspects who include a female and male from Baltimore. The male is currently incarcerated on an unrelated charge.
Both Cason and Jones were arrested on March 4, 2011, after Maryland State Police from the JFK Highway Barrack, with the assistance of officers from the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore County Police Department served search warrants at their homes. Police recovered two fur coats, three large flat screen televisions, video game systems and accessories, jewelry, gift cards, dozens of pairs of shoes, clothing, a laptop computer, prescription glasses, and multiple store receipts documenting purchases with stolen credit cards. Police also recovered a 2004 Porsche and a 2007 Toyota Camry that were believed to have been used in the commission of these crimes.
The current charges against the suspects involve three victims, all of whom are women in their sixties who had their credit cards stolen while using the rest rooms at either the Maryland House on I-95 in Harford County, or the Chesapeake House, on I-95 in Cecil County, in December 2010, January 2011, and February 2011. The victims reported they entered a bathroom stall and either hung their pocketbook on a hook on the right side of the stall, set it on the floor, or placed it behind them on the toilet.
Although the suspects are currently charged in thefts involving three victims, Maryland State Police are investigating a number of other similar thefts. Investigators believe the thieves work as a team, with a lookout on the parking lot spotting potential victims as they enter the rest area buildings. The lookout provides a description to the thieves inside, one or more of whom are in the rest room. Those thieves often pose as rest area employees who meet the intended victim in the bathroom and actually guide her to a stall by saying the one she was headed to is broken, or opening the stall door to show her it is available.
Once the woman is inside, the team creates a diversion, often by knocking on the stall door. While the woman’s attention is focused on the door, the other suspect reaches into the stall and steals her wallet. Sometimes only credit cards and cash are removed. Sometimes the entire wallet and/or purse are removed. Often, the victim is unsure if she brought her pocketbook into the restroom and may be miles down the interstate before she realizes something is wrong.
Through investigation and evidence examination, State Police believe the suspects then immediately used the stolen credit cards to make multiple purchases of gift cards and the other items found during the search warrants. The purchases were usually made before the victims realized their credit cards had been stolen, or at least before they were able to report the thefts to their credit card companies.
State Police are urging travelers to be aware of this and other types of ruses criminals may use. If possible, women should leave pocket books, or at least their wallets and charge cards, locked in the trunk of their vehicles when stopping at rest areas. If they need those items for purchases while at the rest area, they should keep those items on their person, such as carrying them in a pocket of their clothing. These thieves used an obvious opportunity and a diversion to victimize travelers.
Also, persons should be aware of people speaking to them at locations like this to determine if they are actually employees of the rest area. Employees will usually have name plates and some type of uniform. The thieves in these cases wore regular street clothes and had no name plates or employment identification. If someone thinks they have been approached by an individual posing as an employee, they should report the incident to the rest area management immediately.
As always, motorists are reminded to also keep all valuables locked in the trunk or completely out of sight in their vehicles. This includes GPS devices, laptops, cash, wallets, and pocketbooks. Maryland State Police are working with the management company that oversees both rest areas on I-95 in northern Maryland to implement crime prevention measures and reduce opportunities for thefts and other crimes.
This investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
(PERRYVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested two people and are obtaining warrants for two more who are accused of stealing credit cards from older women while they were using interstate rest rooms in Harford and Cecil counties.
The accused are identified as Ishia B. Cason, 31, and Yvette A. Jones, 46, both of Baltimore, Md. Both Cason and Jones are charged with using/possessing credit card issued to another, identity theft, theft over $10,000, fraud and forgery. Jones is also charged on a bench warrant from Washington County for failure to appear for trial on similar offenses. Both women are each being held on $150,000 bail.
State Police are obtaining warrants for two additional suspects who include a female and male from Baltimore. The male is currently incarcerated on an unrelated charge.
Both Cason and Jones were arrested on March 4, 2011, after Maryland State Police from the JFK Highway Barrack, with the assistance of officers from the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore County Police Department served search warrants at their homes. Police recovered two fur coats, three large flat screen televisions, video game systems and accessories, jewelry, gift cards, dozens of pairs of shoes, clothing, a laptop computer, prescription glasses, and multiple store receipts documenting purchases with stolen credit cards. Police also recovered a 2004 Porsche and a 2007 Toyota Camry that were believed to have been used in the commission of these crimes.
The current charges against the suspects involve three victims, all of whom are women in their sixties who had their credit cards stolen while using the rest rooms at either the Maryland House on I-95 in Harford County, or the Chesapeake House, on I-95 in Cecil County, in December 2010, January 2011, and February 2011. The victims reported they entered a bathroom stall and either hung their pocketbook on a hook on the right side of the stall, set it on the floor, or placed it behind them on the toilet.
Although the suspects are currently charged in thefts involving three victims, Maryland State Police are investigating a number of other similar thefts. Investigators believe the thieves work as a team, with a lookout on the parking lot spotting potential victims as they enter the rest area buildings. The lookout provides a description to the thieves inside, one or more of whom are in the rest room. Those thieves often pose as rest area employees who meet the intended victim in the bathroom and actually guide her to a stall by saying the one she was headed to is broken, or opening the stall door to show her it is available.
Once the woman is inside, the team creates a diversion, often by knocking on the stall door. While the woman’s attention is focused on the door, the other suspect reaches into the stall and steals her wallet. Sometimes only credit cards and cash are removed. Sometimes the entire wallet and/or purse are removed. Often, the victim is unsure if she brought her pocketbook into the restroom and may be miles down the interstate before she realizes something is wrong.
Through investigation and evidence examination, State Police believe the suspects then immediately used the stolen credit cards to make multiple purchases of gift cards and the other items found during the search warrants. The purchases were usually made before the victims realized their credit cards had been stolen, or at least before they were able to report the thefts to their credit card companies.
State Police are urging travelers to be aware of this and other types of ruses criminals may use. If possible, women should leave pocket books, or at least their wallets and charge cards, locked in the trunk of their vehicles when stopping at rest areas. If they need those items for purchases while at the rest area, they should keep those items on their person, such as carrying them in a pocket of their clothing. These thieves used an obvious opportunity and a diversion to victimize travelers.
Also, persons should be aware of people speaking to them at locations like this to determine if they are actually employees of the rest area. Employees will usually have name plates and some type of uniform. The thieves in these cases wore regular street clothes and had no name plates or employment identification. If someone thinks they have been approached by an individual posing as an employee, they should report the incident to the rest area management immediately.
As always, motorists are reminded to also keep all valuables locked in the trunk or completely out of sight in their vehicles. This includes GPS devices, laptops, cash, wallets, and pocketbooks. Maryland State Police are working with the management company that oversees both rest areas on I-95 in northern Maryland to implement crime prevention measures and reduce opportunities for thefts and other crimes.
This investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HIGHLIGHT MARYLAND’S ‘INNOVATION ECONOMY’ WITH VISITS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TODAY
Governor to meet with Novavax leadership and employees following multi-million dollar federal contract award;
Governor to help break ground on Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 7, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will highlight Maryland’s “Innovation Economy” this morning with visits to two locations in Montgomery County that showcase our state’s competitive advantage in this new economy.
Governor O’Malley has championed initiatives to further expand Maryland’s biotech and life sciences industries, which spur innovation and create jobs even in tough times. During this legislative session, Governor O’Malley has introduced legislation to create InvestMaryland, a $100 million venture capital initiative aimed at investing and growing Maryland’s innovation economy and creating jobs.
First, Governor O’Malley will stop by Novavax, a major life-sciences and biotechnology company headquartered in Rockville, on Monday to congratulate them on the award of a contract valued at up to $170 million for the advanced clinical and manufacturing development of vaccines for prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Novavax has been awarded the three-year base contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an entity within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Novavax, Inc., founded in 1987, is a publicly-owned company headquartered in Rockville. In 2010 Novavax was named one of the ten most innovative companies in the biotechnology industry by Fast Company magazine.
Then, Governor O’Malley will join Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and others at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bioscience Education Center at the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College. The Bioscience Education Center is part of a collaboration between the State of Maryland, Montgomery County, and Montgomery College called the Germantown Biotechnology Project. The 127,000 square foot facility will feature state-of-the art laboratories and facilities that will house a unique and innovative education program – the Bioscience Education and Training Continuum – to provide bioscience education opportunities from middle school through post-doctoral work. This facility is part of the campus’ overall plan to provide an instructional focus on the biotechnology industry, which will help supply a biotechnology workforce for the Montgomery County area.
“To make this new economy ours, we must make the right choices and investments to create jobs by spurring innovation, including innovation in the classroom, in science, discovery, healing, manufacturing, green energy and trade, and innovation in public health,” Governor O’Malley said during his 2011 State of the State address. “We must heed President Obama’s call to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”
WHAT: Governor O’Malley to visit Novavax, congratulate company on federal vaccine contract
WHEN: TODAY, Monday, March 7, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.
WHERE: Novavax
9920 Belward Campus Drive
Rockville, MD
WHAT: Governor O’Malley to participate in groundbreaking of Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College
WHEN: TODAY, Monday, March 7, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Montgomery College
Germantown Campus
20200 Observation Drive
Germantown, MD
Gubmint And How Gubmint Works
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.
Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions and one person to do time studies.
Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people, one to do the studies and one to write the reports.
Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created two positions, a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.
Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?"
So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, an Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.
Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year, and we are $918,000 over budget. We must cut back." So they laid off the night watchman.
NOW slowly, let that sink in.
Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.
Does anybody remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY..... during the Carter Administration?
Anybody?
Anything?
No?
Didn't think so!
Bottom line: We've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency...the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!
Ready?? It was very simple . . . and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977 by none other than our USNA educated-- president -- Jimmy Carter --TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
Hey, pretty efficient, huh???
AND, NOW, IT'S 2010 -- 33 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE! THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?"
A little over 33 years ago, 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports. Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.Brillant, our ever efficent 'gubmint employees' diligently at work....
Ah, yes -- the good old Federal bureaucracy !
NOW, WE HAVE TURNED THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY OVER TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?
Hello!! Anybody Home?