Hillary Clinton refuses to definitively say whether or not she has ever lied to the American people.
During a Thursday interview with CBS’s Scott Pelley, Clinton said, “I don’t believe I ever have” lied to voters.
Pelley began by asking Clinton, “You know in ’76, Jimmy Carter famously said, ‘I will not lie to you.'”
“Well, I will tell you, I have tried in every way I know how, literally from my years as a young lawyer, all the way through my time as secretary of state to level with the American people,” Clinton claimed.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, February 20, 2016
5 Steps To Building An Attractive Work Culture For Millennial Talent
As the economy takes a positive turn, a new concern is keeping employers awake at night: culture, including employee engagement and retention. The proof is in the data.
• Eighty-six percent of companies rate work culture a top priority, a 20-percent increase from last year, according to Deloitte.
• Ninety-five percent of job candidates believe culture is more important than compensation, according to Johns Hopkins University fellow Liz Pellet.
• Companies on Fortune’s Best Companies listing are also trending in Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work and LinkedIn’s Most-In-Demand Employers.
• Only 32.5 percent of employees are engaged at work, according to Gallup.
“Culture makes the difference between organizations that are able to sustain themselves and those who will give way to their competitors,” says Debora McLaughlin, CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com), and author of “The Renegade Leader, 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance & Profits.”
“Many organizations are talking about culture, but few are aware of the perception of their current culture or how to change it.”
But what do we mean by a company’s culture?
Culture is the values, beliefs and behaviors that give meaning to an organization, McLaughlin says. It provides the filter through which people make decisions, how they work and interact with others. Culture is communicated top-down, through leadership, but is observed bottom-up.
• Eighty-six percent of companies rate work culture a top priority, a 20-percent increase from last year, according to Deloitte.
• Ninety-five percent of job candidates believe culture is more important than compensation, according to Johns Hopkins University fellow Liz Pellet.
• Companies on Fortune’s Best Companies listing are also trending in Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work and LinkedIn’s Most-In-Demand Employers.
• Only 32.5 percent of employees are engaged at work, according to Gallup.
“Culture makes the difference between organizations that are able to sustain themselves and those who will give way to their competitors,” says Debora McLaughlin, CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com), and author of “The Renegade Leader, 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance & Profits.”
“Many organizations are talking about culture, but few are aware of the perception of their current culture or how to change it.”
But what do we mean by a company’s culture?
Culture is the values, beliefs and behaviors that give meaning to an organization, McLaughlin says. It provides the filter through which people make decisions, how they work and interact with others. Culture is communicated top-down, through leadership, but is observed bottom-up.
Uber or a taxi? How the federal government underachieves on digital tech
Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing services completely reimagined the concept of a car for hire. Compare the taxi experience to Uber.
Rather than standing on a street corner and hailing a random cab, or calling for a cab and waiting for whoever is dispatched to arrive, the customer uses a smartphone app, gets to see the driver’s name, photo, car make and model, and license plate number, where the car is on a real-time map, and driver reviews.
The Uber app allows fare sharing. The difference is a far more customer-focused approach to the car hiring process, all enabled by digital technology. That’s not saying Uber or Lyft are perfect. There are issues with the variable demand-based pricing and labor issues regarding the status of drivers as contractors rather than employees. Issues aside, this type of ride-sharing business is booming and customers who use them frequently like them.
Ride-sharing is just one example of how digital tech can transform a service. Where are those examples in government? The U.S. Digital Service provides some examples and is promoting the idea of “redefining the experience of government.”
The Obama Administration has directed agencies to stand up digital services units, and it is clear that there is a substantial interest in more and better use of digital technology.
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Rather than standing on a street corner and hailing a random cab, or calling for a cab and waiting for whoever is dispatched to arrive, the customer uses a smartphone app, gets to see the driver’s name, photo, car make and model, and license plate number, where the car is on a real-time map, and driver reviews.
The Uber app allows fare sharing. The difference is a far more customer-focused approach to the car hiring process, all enabled by digital technology. That’s not saying Uber or Lyft are perfect. There are issues with the variable demand-based pricing and labor issues regarding the status of drivers as contractors rather than employees. Issues aside, this type of ride-sharing business is booming and customers who use them frequently like them.
Ride-sharing is just one example of how digital tech can transform a service. Where are those examples in government? The U.S. Digital Service provides some examples and is promoting the idea of “redefining the experience of government.”
The Obama Administration has directed agencies to stand up digital services units, and it is clear that there is a substantial interest in more and better use of digital technology.
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The director who never was
During its often rocky history, the Roman Empire had more than its share of leadership problems. Depending on which historians you favor, there were times when it had two, three, four, five and six emperors in a one-year period. The U.S. has had one president elected to four terms (FDR) and another who was elected once, then defeated for reelection, then elected for a second non-consecutive term. Hint, his name is similar to a big city in Ohio.
Now official Washington is dealing with a situation where Beth Cobert, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, has been told she doesn’t exist officially. She is alive and kicking (at least I would be) but everything she’s done since taking office in mid-2015 is null and void. It never happened, even if it happened.
While it is an important agency, OPM is little-known outside of Washington and the federal workforce. Its director usually makes national headlines once or twice each winter. Whether it is a blizzard (like we had earlier this year) or a dusting, OPM makes the final call. And that call whether federal offices are open or closed is usually criticized by politicians, many locals and by folks from the real world further north where federal agencies are never closed by cold weather. Except when they are.
The fact that Cobert doesn’t exist (officially) was first reported by FederalComputerWeek.
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Now official Washington is dealing with a situation where Beth Cobert, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, has been told she doesn’t exist officially. She is alive and kicking (at least I would be) but everything she’s done since taking office in mid-2015 is null and void. It never happened, even if it happened.
While it is an important agency, OPM is little-known outside of Washington and the federal workforce. Its director usually makes national headlines once or twice each winter. Whether it is a blizzard (like we had earlier this year) or a dusting, OPM makes the final call. And that call whether federal offices are open or closed is usually criticized by politicians, many locals and by folks from the real world further north where federal agencies are never closed by cold weather. Except when they are.
The fact that Cobert doesn’t exist (officially) was first reported by FederalComputerWeek.
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Look To The Clouds To Find Out How Cisco is Making More Things Possible For Mobile Operators With The Cloud
BARCELONA, Spain – Participants at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) should look to the clouds Feb. 22 and 23 when they will get the opportunity to help write messages in the sky.
Cisco (www.cisco.com) is teaming with AirSign Aerial Advertising (www.airsign.com) for an extraordinary interactive skywriting effort like nothing that’s ever been done before.
An AirSign team of five digital skywriters will be in the air over the Fira Gran Via conference facility on Feb. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. Barcelona time sharing messages about how Cisco is transforming its customers businesses and network architectures with mobile cloud solutions.
MWC attendees on the ground will be encouraged by Cisco Brand Ambassadors to tweet their ideas about “what’s possible in the cloud” using #ciscoincloud. Some of those tweets, along with the person’s Twitter handle, will become part of the skywriting messages when the AirSign team returns from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb 23.
The AirSign skywriters don’t take the traditional approach of using one aircraft to write a short message.
Instead, these digital skywriters work as a team and make use of an onboard computer that regulates the smoke output and spells out longer messages in dot-matrix style.
Obama Admin Could Halt New Iran-Russia Weapons Deals White House not expected to interfere
White House not expected to interfere
The United States has the authority to block new multi-billion dollar arms deals between Iran and Russia though the administration is not expected to exercise this authority, which was granted under United Nations Security Council resolutions pertaining to the recently implemented nuclear agreement.
Senior Iranian and Russian officials held discussions this week about inking a new arms pact expected to be worth about $8 billion. Iran has reportedly sent Moscow a “shopping list” of various arms and military hardware it is seeking to purchase.
News of the latest deal—which comes in addition to several other Iranian-Russian arms deals inked over past months—drew ire from some on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers remain concerned that Iran is exploiting economic sanctions relief in order to carry out a massive military buildup.
Obama administration officials would not express an opinion on the latest arms deal, but told theWashington Free Beacon that it would formerly register any concerns should they arise in the future.
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The United States has the authority to block new multi-billion dollar arms deals between Iran and Russia though the administration is not expected to exercise this authority, which was granted under United Nations Security Council resolutions pertaining to the recently implemented nuclear agreement.
Senior Iranian and Russian officials held discussions this week about inking a new arms pact expected to be worth about $8 billion. Iran has reportedly sent Moscow a “shopping list” of various arms and military hardware it is seeking to purchase.
News of the latest deal—which comes in addition to several other Iranian-Russian arms deals inked over past months—drew ire from some on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers remain concerned that Iran is exploiting economic sanctions relief in order to carry out a massive military buildup.
Obama administration officials would not express an opinion on the latest arms deal, but told theWashington Free Beacon that it would formerly register any concerns should they arise in the future.
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Clinton raking in superdelegate votes
Hillary Clinton has increased her lead in the Democratic primary since her resounding loss to Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire by wooing 87 new party superdelegates to support her campaign over the past week.
The Associated Press reports that Sanders won the support of 11 superdelegates over that same time period.
While Sanders holds a small lead among pledged delegates awarded to him for his showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton's massive superdelegate lead puts her ahead 481-55 in delegates to the Democratic National Convention, according to the AP's count.
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The Associated Press reports that Sanders won the support of 11 superdelegates over that same time period.
While Sanders holds a small lead among pledged delegates awarded to him for his showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton's massive superdelegate lead puts her ahead 481-55 in delegates to the Democratic National Convention, according to the AP's count.
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White House Misses Deadline to Deliver ISIS Strategy to Congress
(CNSNews.com) – The House Armed Services Committee noted Tuesday that the Obama administration missed their February 15 deadline to deliver a strategy to counter violent extremist groups in the Middle East, such as ISIS and al Qaeda, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, harshly criticized President Obama’s failure to meet the deadline.
“I fear the President’s failure to deliver this report says far more about the state of his strategy to defeat terrorists than any empty reassurance he may offer from the podium,” Thornberry said in a statement.
"Unsurprisingly, the Administration cannot articulate a strategy for countering violent extremists in the Middle East. Time and again, the President has told us his strategy to defeat extremist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda is well underway,” Thornberry said, “yet, months after the legal requirement was established, his Administration cannot deliver that strategy to Congress.”
Section 1222 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY16, signed by President Obama in November, “requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to deliver a strategy for the Middle East and countering violent extremism no later than February 15, 2016,” according to Thornberry’s statement.
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Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, harshly criticized President Obama’s failure to meet the deadline.
“I fear the President’s failure to deliver this report says far more about the state of his strategy to defeat terrorists than any empty reassurance he may offer from the podium,” Thornberry said in a statement.
"Unsurprisingly, the Administration cannot articulate a strategy for countering violent extremists in the Middle East. Time and again, the President has told us his strategy to defeat extremist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda is well underway,” Thornberry said, “yet, months after the legal requirement was established, his Administration cannot deliver that strategy to Congress.”
Section 1222 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY16, signed by President Obama in November, “requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to deliver a strategy for the Middle East and countering violent extremism no later than February 15, 2016,” according to Thornberry’s statement.
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*Traffic Advisory* Troopers Investigating Multiple Motor Vehicle Crashes
Georgetown, DE - Delaware State Police are currently investigating multi-vehicle crashes which occurred this afternoon north of Georgetown.
The preliminary investigation has determined the crashes occurred at approximately 3:59 p.m. today, Saturday, February 20, 2016, on (CR 40) Redden Road in the area of West Robbins Road involving multiple vehicles with entrapment. Injuries are unknown at this time.
Both directions of CR 40 Redden Road in the area of the crash are closed at this time. Commuters are asked to use caution in the area and to find alternate means of travel around the scene.
More details of the crash will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
The preliminary investigation has determined the crashes occurred at approximately 3:59 p.m. today, Saturday, February 20, 2016, on (CR 40) Redden Road in the area of West Robbins Road involving multiple vehicles with entrapment. Injuries are unknown at this time.
Both directions of CR 40 Redden Road in the area of the crash are closed at this time. Commuters are asked to use caution in the area and to find alternate means of travel around the scene.
More details of the crash will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
Better Obstruction Than Destruction
On Tuesday of last week, Justice Antonin Scalia joined the Supreme Court majority staying EPA regulations proposed by Barack Obama for his so-called “Clean Power Plan.” That plan was just the latest SCOTUS objection to Obama’s extra-constitutional efforts to bypass Congress and impose his will by regulatory fiat instead of legislation.
On Tuesday of this week, in the wake of Justice Scalia’s death, Barack Obama’s United Nations climate envoy declared that Obama would ignore the High Court’s ruling against his “climate change” agenda and, moreover, ignore the Constitution’s mandate requiring “Consent of the Senate to make Treaties” — as specified in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 — by signing the UN Climate Treaty.
That announcement was followed by Obama’s protests against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assertion that “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” Obama claims McConnell is an “obstructionist,” insisting “the Constitution is pretty clear about what is supposed to happen here,” and declaring Republicans are violating Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 mandating the “Consent of the Senate to appoint … Judges of the supreme Court.”
Indeed, the Constitution is clear, and there is nothing “obstructionist” about any Republican measure to extend this appointment to the next president.
Laughably, Obama offered this assessment of constitutional mandates:
On Tuesday of this week, in the wake of Justice Scalia’s death, Barack Obama’s United Nations climate envoy declared that Obama would ignore the High Court’s ruling against his “climate change” agenda and, moreover, ignore the Constitution’s mandate requiring “Consent of the Senate to make Treaties” — as specified in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 — by signing the UN Climate Treaty.
That announcement was followed by Obama’s protests against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assertion that “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” Obama claims McConnell is an “obstructionist,” insisting “the Constitution is pretty clear about what is supposed to happen here,” and declaring Republicans are violating Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 mandating the “Consent of the Senate to appoint … Judges of the supreme Court.”
Indeed, the Constitution is clear, and there is nothing “obstructionist” about any Republican measure to extend this appointment to the next president.
Laughably, Obama offered this assessment of constitutional mandates:
Levin: ‘You Can Kiss What’s Left of the Constitution Goodbye’ If Obama Replaces Scalia
On his nationally syndicated radio show Monday, Mark Levin discussed the ramifications of President Barack Obama nominating Antonin Scalia’s replacement to the Supreme Court, saying Americans “can kiss what’s left of the Constitution goodbye.”
“If we give this seat of one of the most brilliant constitutional originalists in American history to Barack Obama, you can kiss what’s left of the Constitution goodbye,” stated Levin. “That court will have enough members to decide what decisions it will take, what cases it will take — it only takes four justices. That court will ram through one decision after another. We won’t see anything like it since the FDR Court and the Warren Court. And it won’t matter how many elections we win.
It won’t matter what kind of legislation is passed at the federal and state levels. We will have, in fact, we will have in truth, a judicial oligarchy – a judicial oligarchy.”
Here is a transcript of what Mark Levin had to say on his program:
“If we give this seat of one of the most brilliant constitutional originalists in American history to Barack Obama, you can kiss what’s left of the Constitution goodbye,” stated Levin. “That court will have enough members to decide what decisions it will take, what cases it will take — it only takes four justices. That court will ram through one decision after another. We won’t see anything like it since the FDR Court and the Warren Court. And it won’t matter how many elections we win.
It won’t matter what kind of legislation is passed at the federal and state levels. We will have, in fact, we will have in truth, a judicial oligarchy – a judicial oligarchy.”
Here is a transcript of what Mark Levin had to say on his program:
Vitter Seeks Answers From IRS on Congress’s Obamacare Contradiction
Sen. David Vitter (R., La.) is demanding answers from the IRS after Congress was issued tax forms designating it as a large employer despite its registering as a “small business” through the Washington, D.C., health care exchange.
The Republican senator sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen inquiring whether it was a violation of the Internal Revenue Code for Congress to declare to the IRS that it was a large employer while declaring to the D.C. government that it was a small business.
Congress’s efforts to comply with Obamacare regulations have been dogged by controversy since the bill’s passage in 2010. An amendment to the Affordable Care Act required congressional employees to sign up for coverage through the health care exchanges but offered no provision for subsidies.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) used a federal regulation in 2013 to deem Congress a “small business,” thereby making its employees eligible for subsidies, despite the fact that Congress has more than 12,000 workers and dependents.
Vitter’s letter suggested that the contradiction in paperwork means Congress is flouting the law.
“You also know that in the ACA the term ‘large employer’ is defined as an employer with 50 or more full-time employees. And yet, as described above, Congress has registered as a small employer, creating a conflict that is a cause of great concern,” Vitter writes in his letter.
“Given that Congress has registered itself with DC Health Link as a small business, yet has declared to the Internal Revenue Service it is a large employer, it would appear that it is misrepresenting itself to either the DC Health Link or to the IRS …
More here
The Republican senator sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen inquiring whether it was a violation of the Internal Revenue Code for Congress to declare to the IRS that it was a large employer while declaring to the D.C. government that it was a small business.
Congress’s efforts to comply with Obamacare regulations have been dogged by controversy since the bill’s passage in 2010. An amendment to the Affordable Care Act required congressional employees to sign up for coverage through the health care exchanges but offered no provision for subsidies.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) used a federal regulation in 2013 to deem Congress a “small business,” thereby making its employees eligible for subsidies, despite the fact that Congress has more than 12,000 workers and dependents.
Vitter’s letter suggested that the contradiction in paperwork means Congress is flouting the law.
“You also know that in the ACA the term ‘large employer’ is defined as an employer with 50 or more full-time employees. And yet, as described above, Congress has registered as a small employer, creating a conflict that is a cause of great concern,” Vitter writes in his letter.
“Given that Congress has registered itself with DC Health Link as a small business, yet has declared to the Internal Revenue Service it is a large employer, it would appear that it is misrepresenting itself to either the DC Health Link or to the IRS …
More here
Obama Refuses to Hit ISIS’s Libyan Capital
The terror group is gaining ground in Libya. But the Obama administration has said no to a Pentagon plan to go after ISIS there.
Despite the growing threat from the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Libya, the Obama administration has turned down a U.S. military plan for an assault on ISIS’s regional hub there, three defense officials told The Daily Beast.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military—led by its Africa and Special Operations Commands—have pushed for more airstrikes and the deployment of elite troops, particularly in the city of Sirte. The hometown of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, the city is now under ISIS control and serving as a regional epicenter for the terror group.
The airstrikes would target ISIS resources while a small band of Special Operations Forces would train Libyans to eventually be members of a national army, the officials said.
Weeks ago, defense officials told The New York Times that they were crafting military plans for such strikes, but needed more time to develop intelligence so that they could launch a sustained air campaign on ISIS in Sirte.
But those plans have since been put on the back burner.
“There is little to no appetite for that in this administration,” one defense official explained.
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Despite the growing threat from the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Libya, the Obama administration has turned down a U.S. military plan for an assault on ISIS’s regional hub there, three defense officials told The Daily Beast.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military—led by its Africa and Special Operations Commands—have pushed for more airstrikes and the deployment of elite troops, particularly in the city of Sirte. The hometown of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, the city is now under ISIS control and serving as a regional epicenter for the terror group.
The airstrikes would target ISIS resources while a small band of Special Operations Forces would train Libyans to eventually be members of a national army, the officials said.
Weeks ago, defense officials told The New York Times that they were crafting military plans for such strikes, but needed more time to develop intelligence so that they could launch a sustained air campaign on ISIS in Sirte.
But those plans have since been put on the back burner.
“There is little to no appetite for that in this administration,” one defense official explained.
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Sowell: The Lure of Socialism
Many people of mature years are amazed at how many young people have voted for Senator Bernie Sanders, and are enthusiastic about the socialism he preaches.
Many of those older people have lived long enough to have seen socialism fail, time and again, in countries around the world. Venezuela, with all its rich oil resources, is currently on the verge of economic collapse, after its heady fling with socialism.
But most of the young have missed all that, and their dumbed-down education is far more likely to present the inspiring rhetoric of socialism than to present its dismal track record.
Socialism is in fact a wonderful vision — a world of the imagination far better than any place anywhere in the real world, at any time over the thousands of years of recorded history. Even many conservatives would probably prefer to live in such a world, if they thought it was possible.
Who would not want to live in a world where college was free, along with many other things, and where government protected us from the shocks of life and guaranteed our happiness? It would be Disneyland for adults!
Free college of course has an appeal to the young, especially those who have never studied economics. But college cannot possibly be free. It would not be free even if there was no such thing as money.
More here
Many of those older people have lived long enough to have seen socialism fail, time and again, in countries around the world. Venezuela, with all its rich oil resources, is currently on the verge of economic collapse, after its heady fling with socialism.
But most of the young have missed all that, and their dumbed-down education is far more likely to present the inspiring rhetoric of socialism than to present its dismal track record.
Socialism is in fact a wonderful vision — a world of the imagination far better than any place anywhere in the real world, at any time over the thousands of years of recorded history. Even many conservatives would probably prefer to live in such a world, if they thought it was possible.
Who would not want to live in a world where college was free, along with many other things, and where government protected us from the shocks of life and guaranteed our happiness? It would be Disneyland for adults!
Free college of course has an appeal to the young, especially those who have never studied economics. But college cannot possibly be free. It would not be free even if there was no such thing as money.
More here
Go to India and you can order a Burger King Whopper from eBay
You won't actually get a burger delivered to your door in 3-5 working days. Instead, you'll get a voucher that you can then use to redeem a burger at the chain's first outlet in India. So basically, people will be pre-ordering their lunch.
It might sound like a gimmick, but eBay tells us that it's sold 380 already.
A++ Would eat again.
Source
PERSONAL IMPORTATION OF BRAND-NAME MEDICINES A KEY ELEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LOWERING PRESCRIPTION COSTS
A comprehensive approach, including personal importation of medicines, is vital to ending Pharma charging what traffic will bear
Pharma has no inherent authority to either ‘allow’’ or ‘disallow’ Americans from personally importing their medicines
— Daniel Hines
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA, February 17, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The publisher of RxforAmericanHealth says that a recent article in the Harvard Business Review that claims that ‘cheap drugs’ from Canada will not reduce prescription drug prices fails to acknowledge the harm to Americans’ health and well-being, as well as that of society overall, by Pharma charging what “the traffic will bear” based solely upon its profit motives for prescription medicines.
Daniel Hines notes in his blog at RxforAmericanHealth that the conclusion that ‘cheap drugs’ from Canada won’t lower prices simply because no one believes that Pharma will “lean back” and “allow” personal importation simply because they are “selling drugs at a terrific discount to Canada and other countries” does not address the harm done by the long-running opposition by Pharma to personal importation of brand-name medicines, and gives it a ‘license’ to continue its pricing abuses in the name of profit.
“Pharma has no inherent authority to either ‘allow’’ or ‘disallow’ Americans from personally importing their medicines,’ Hines notes, explaining that this is clearly the prerogative of the U.S. Congress.
“That is why over the past 15 years, Congress has passed or considered many bills in support of personal importation of medicines, only to see behind-closed-door deals with PhRMA, the trade group of the Pharmaceutical industry leading to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); ‘poison-pill amendments from legislators, who are recipients of Pharma’s contributions, to require ‘certification’ by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of each and every medicine personally imported; Pharma-led efforts directed at personal importation claiming to protect product safety or intellectual property rights that were turned aside because of public outcry that the legislation would have trampled on individual liberties.”
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Pharma has no inherent authority to either ‘allow’’ or ‘disallow’ Americans from personally importing their medicines
— Daniel Hines
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA, February 17, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The publisher of RxforAmericanHealth says that a recent article in the Harvard Business Review that claims that ‘cheap drugs’ from Canada will not reduce prescription drug prices fails to acknowledge the harm to Americans’ health and well-being, as well as that of society overall, by Pharma charging what “the traffic will bear” based solely upon its profit motives for prescription medicines.
Daniel Hines notes in his blog at RxforAmericanHealth that the conclusion that ‘cheap drugs’ from Canada won’t lower prices simply because no one believes that Pharma will “lean back” and “allow” personal importation simply because they are “selling drugs at a terrific discount to Canada and other countries” does not address the harm done by the long-running opposition by Pharma to personal importation of brand-name medicines, and gives it a ‘license’ to continue its pricing abuses in the name of profit.
“Pharma has no inherent authority to either ‘allow’’ or ‘disallow’ Americans from personally importing their medicines,’ Hines notes, explaining that this is clearly the prerogative of the U.S. Congress.
“That is why over the past 15 years, Congress has passed or considered many bills in support of personal importation of medicines, only to see behind-closed-door deals with PhRMA, the trade group of the Pharmaceutical industry leading to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); ‘poison-pill amendments from legislators, who are recipients of Pharma’s contributions, to require ‘certification’ by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of each and every medicine personally imported; Pharma-led efforts directed at personal importation claiming to protect product safety or intellectual property rights that were turned aside because of public outcry that the legislation would have trampled on individual liberties.”
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Ads Thank GOP Senators For Standing Firm On SCOTUS Pick
Conservatives are rallying to defend GOP senators who have threatened to block President Obama’s Supreme Court pick, announcing a seven-figure advertising campaign Thursday to publicly thank vulnerable Republicans up for election in November who have stuck with party leaders on the issue.
The “Let the People Decide” campaign from the Judicial Crisis Network will run ads defending Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, John McCain of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania — each of whom is up for re-election this year.
The ads will also defend Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said the Senate would refuse to accept an Obama nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died over the weekend.
“This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It’s about your voice,” a narrator says in one ad. “You choose the next president. The next president chooses the next justice.”
“We want to thank the U.S. Senators who say that the American people should decide who picks the next Supreme Court justice,” said Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director for JCN. “The American people are fed up with Washington politicians, and the selection of the next justice is simply too important to leave to politics as usual.
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The “Let the People Decide” campaign from the Judicial Crisis Network will run ads defending Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, John McCain of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania — each of whom is up for re-election this year.
The ads will also defend Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said the Senate would refuse to accept an Obama nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died over the weekend.
“This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It’s about your voice,” a narrator says in one ad. “You choose the next president. The next president chooses the next justice.”
“We want to thank the U.S. Senators who say that the American people should decide who picks the next Supreme Court justice,” said Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director for JCN. “The American people are fed up with Washington politicians, and the selection of the next justice is simply too important to leave to politics as usual.
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US Supreme Court Justice Scalia Had Secret Texas Meeting With Obama Just Hours Before His Death
According to this report, SVR “assests” reported that on 11 February both President Obama and Justice Scalia were at Joint Base Andrews (JBA) scheduled for two separate US Air Force flights from Andrews Field—the first taking President Obama to Los Angeles, and the second taking Justice Scalia to Marfa Municipal Airport (KMRF) located in the southwestern region of Texas near the Mexican border.
While President Obama was scheduled to depart on one of the US Air Force’s two Boeing VC-25 aircraft (commonly referred to as Air Force One), this report continues, Justice Scalia’s flight was scheduled aboard a Gulfstream C-37A—which is the US Air Force’s designation for their fleet of the popular Gulfstream V private jet aircraft.
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Gowdy: ‘Big Wins’ in Getting Benghazi Info
Rep. Trey Gowdy said Thursday that the congressional probe into the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack made “significant breakthroughs” this month in getting access to key figures involved in writing the talking points that misled the country into erroneously blaming a video.
Mr. Gowdy, chairman of the investigation, said the White House, after long negotiations, made both then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and top White House official Ben Rhodes available for questioning.
The House Select Committee on Benghazi is the first congressional probe to interview Mr. Rhodes, who was involved in crafting the message, and Ms. Rice, who delivered the erroneous talking points to the nation in a round of Sunday political talk show interviews shortly after the attack.
Top defense and intelligence officials said they knew at the time that the attack, on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, was a terrorist assault — but Ms. Rice instead said it was mob violence incited by an Internet video mocking Islam.
Mr. Gowdy said his committee finally got access to “crucial national security records” that no prior Benghazi probe has seen.
“While there are still witnesses to talk to and documents to review, these significant breakthroughs are big wins that will help the committee complete the most comprehensive investigation into what happened,” the congressman said in a statement.
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Mr. Gowdy, chairman of the investigation, said the White House, after long negotiations, made both then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and top White House official Ben Rhodes available for questioning.
The House Select Committee on Benghazi is the first congressional probe to interview Mr. Rhodes, who was involved in crafting the message, and Ms. Rice, who delivered the erroneous talking points to the nation in a round of Sunday political talk show interviews shortly after the attack.
Top defense and intelligence officials said they knew at the time that the attack, on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, was a terrorist assault — but Ms. Rice instead said it was mob violence incited by an Internet video mocking Islam.
Mr. Gowdy said his committee finally got access to “crucial national security records” that no prior Benghazi probe has seen.
“While there are still witnesses to talk to and documents to review, these significant breakthroughs are big wins that will help the committee complete the most comprehensive investigation into what happened,” the congressman said in a statement.
More here
House Republicans Subpoena Interior Secretary
DENVER — A House committee issued a subpoena Wednesday ordering Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to produce a critical peer review and other documents related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s spill at the Gold King Mine.
The House Natural Resources Committee subpoena calls for Ms. Jewell to produce by Feb. 26 a peer review conducted last year by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on the Interior Department’s technical evaluation of the accident.
A Feb. 11 report on the spill conducted by the committee’s majority staff refers to the peer review, which was mentioned in the Interior Department’s technical review but never released.
“It is important to note that although the USACE peer reviewer agreed that the report properly describes the technical causes of the failure, he had serious reservations with the chronology of events internal to EPA from the day of the telephone call to [Bureau of Reclamation] and up to the day of the mine failure,” says the Interior Department review released Oct. 22.
The committee staff report concludes that “an understanding of the Technical Evaluation’s errors and misleading nature reveals the gravity of the peer reviewer’s comments.”
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The House Natural Resources Committee subpoena calls for Ms. Jewell to produce by Feb. 26 a peer review conducted last year by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on the Interior Department’s technical evaluation of the accident.
A Feb. 11 report on the spill conducted by the committee’s majority staff refers to the peer review, which was mentioned in the Interior Department’s technical review but never released.
“It is important to note that although the USACE peer reviewer agreed that the report properly describes the technical causes of the failure, he had serious reservations with the chronology of events internal to EPA from the day of the telephone call to [Bureau of Reclamation] and up to the day of the mine failure,” says the Interior Department review released Oct. 22.
The committee staff report concludes that “an understanding of the Technical Evaluation’s errors and misleading nature reveals the gravity of the peer reviewer’s comments.”
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Casino employees at Ocean Downs unhappy with wages
Approximately 100 union workers in discussions with management since October
For the last couple months, employees at Ocean Downs Casino on Racetrack Road have been handing out leaflets in an effort to gain public support for their wage negotiations with the casino.
Currently, about 100 union workers are involved in talks with casino management to improve compensation. Their jobs include bankers, cooks, food and beverage workers, gaming employees, cocktail servers, housekeeping staff, bartenders, cashiers and slot attendants.
Their union contract expired in October and committees have met several times, although no agreement has been finalized.
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For the last couple months, employees at Ocean Downs Casino on Racetrack Road have been handing out leaflets in an effort to gain public support for their wage negotiations with the casino.
Currently, about 100 union workers are involved in talks with casino management to improve compensation. Their jobs include bankers, cooks, food and beverage workers, gaming employees, cocktail servers, housekeeping staff, bartenders, cashiers and slot attendants.
Their union contract expired in October and committees have met several times, although no agreement has been finalized.
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Townhouse tweak allows different sprinkler options
While not taking any direct action against existing code, Worcester County Commissioner Bud Church on Tuesday offered legislation that would reclassify banks of three or more townhomes to be classified as single-family residences rather than multi-family dwellings.
The change, which moves townhomes away from connotations of apartment complexes in the fire code, could go into effect immediately after a scheduled March 15 public hearing since it was offered as an emergency bill.
For the purposes of fire sprinklers, this change would allow the installation of the National Fire Protection Association’s 13D standard instead of the 13R standard fire suppression systems.
“It’s kind of pushing it but it’s not a huge stretch,” Steve Muncy, president of the American Fire Sprinkler Association said. “The 13D is the lower standard.”
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The change, which moves townhomes away from connotations of apartment complexes in the fire code, could go into effect immediately after a scheduled March 15 public hearing since it was offered as an emergency bill.
For the purposes of fire sprinklers, this change would allow the installation of the National Fire Protection Association’s 13D standard instead of the 13R standard fire suppression systems.
“It’s kind of pushing it but it’s not a huge stretch,” Steve Muncy, president of the American Fire Sprinkler Association said. “The 13D is the lower standard.”
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Prestigious Grant For Humane Society
BERLIN — Worcester County Humane Society has been awarded a grant from Grammy-winning country singer-song writer Miranda Lambert and the MuttNation Foundation.
Lambert and her mother, Bev, co-founded MuttNation Foundation (MNF) 10 years ago as a result of their love of their pets and a desire to help end animal homelessness, neglect, abuse and abandonment and increase adoptions of shelter animals. In 2013, in an effort to lend a financial hand to shelters across America, MNF created Mutts Across America: 50 States/50 Shelters. Through this campaign, every year, one animal shelter from every state is chosen to receive a minimum of $3,000 to help with the care of the shelter animals. MuttNation Board of Directors and staff spent well over 100 hours sifting through shelters in all 50 states in order to choose those who most closely align with MNF philosophies.
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Lambert and her mother, Bev, co-founded MuttNation Foundation (MNF) 10 years ago as a result of their love of their pets and a desire to help end animal homelessness, neglect, abuse and abandonment and increase adoptions of shelter animals. In 2013, in an effort to lend a financial hand to shelters across America, MNF created Mutts Across America: 50 States/50 Shelters. Through this campaign, every year, one animal shelter from every state is chosen to receive a minimum of $3,000 to help with the care of the shelter animals. MuttNation Board of Directors and staff spent well over 100 hours sifting through shelters in all 50 states in order to choose those who most closely align with MNF philosophies.
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The Number 1 Answer From Coastal Dispatch Survey
"Things I Like"
When meteorologists admit a blown forecast
Cops On Buses Program Endorsed In Ocean City
OCEAN CITY — After a continued dramatic decline in the number of incidents on the resort’s municipal buses, Ocean City officials this month endorsed a continuation of the successful “spot the cop” program.
On Tuesday, the Ocean City Transportation Committee got an update on the successes of last year’s “spot the cop” program. For the last few years, the Ocean City Police Department has put both uniformed and plainclothes officers on the municipal buses, particularly in the height of the June Bug season, in an effort to deter crime and provide protection and support for the drivers.
“The summer gets a little unruly sometimes,” said Acting Superintendent of Transportation Wayne Pryor. “It’s very beneficial to have uniformed officers on the buses.”
OCPD Captain Kevin Kirstein explained the department has deployed officers on the municipal buses for a few years, but the program was expanded following a violent attack on a driver in June 2014. The program includes deploying 10 officers on municipal buses on weekend nights from roughly 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
“When we do our deployment each year, this is part of the plan,” he said. “There was a serious assault on a driver in 2014, and on the heels of that, we got together an initiative to have plainclothes and uniformed officers on the buses and out of that came our ‘spot the cop’ program.”
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On Tuesday, the Ocean City Transportation Committee got an update on the successes of last year’s “spot the cop” program. For the last few years, the Ocean City Police Department has put both uniformed and plainclothes officers on the municipal buses, particularly in the height of the June Bug season, in an effort to deter crime and provide protection and support for the drivers.
“The summer gets a little unruly sometimes,” said Acting Superintendent of Transportation Wayne Pryor. “It’s very beneficial to have uniformed officers on the buses.”
OCPD Captain Kevin Kirstein explained the department has deployed officers on the municipal buses for a few years, but the program was expanded following a violent attack on a driver in June 2014. The program includes deploying 10 officers on municipal buses on weekend nights from roughly 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
“When we do our deployment each year, this is part of the plan,” he said. “There was a serious assault on a driver in 2014, and on the heels of that, we got together an initiative to have plainclothes and uniformed officers on the buses and out of that came our ‘spot the cop’ program.”
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Worcester School Board’s Budget Includes Salary Increases
NEWARK – Pay increases for teachers and bus contractors highlight the school system’s proposed $102 million budget for the coming year.
The $102,343,405 fiscal year 2017 budget includes a STEP increase for more than half of the school system’s employees and a one percent increase for the remaining employees who are beyond the STEP scale.
“Ninety percent of our budget is people and bus contractors,” said Vince Tolbert, the school system’s chief financial officer.
In the preliminary budget approved Tuesday by the Worcester County Board of Education, the $102 million spending plan is made up of slightly less than $83 million in county appropriations — a $3.4 million increase over the current year — and $19 million in state aid — a $35,453 decrease over the current year.
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The $102,343,405 fiscal year 2017 budget includes a STEP increase for more than half of the school system’s employees and a one percent increase for the remaining employees who are beyond the STEP scale.
“Ninety percent of our budget is people and bus contractors,” said Vince Tolbert, the school system’s chief financial officer.
In the preliminary budget approved Tuesday by the Worcester County Board of Education, the $102 million spending plan is made up of slightly less than $83 million in county appropriations — a $3.4 million increase over the current year — and $19 million in state aid — a $35,453 decrease over the current year.
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Public Meeting On OC Median Fence Design Scheduled
OCEAN CITY — Concerned citizens will have an opportunity next month to weigh in on the final design of the dune-style fence proposed for Coastal Highway at a known trouble spot for pedestrian safety.
In January, the Mayor and Council approved the final design for the fence concept along the median of Coastal Highway from Convention Center Drive to Route 90. The median fence project is part of the State Highway Administration’s larger Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity Project for the often dangerous section of Coastal Highway, and while on the surface it appears to accomplish the goal of improving pedestrian safety with a uniquely Ocean City median fence, not everyone was entirely pleased with the final design when it was approved in January.
The design approval in January set in motion a timetable that could have the fence installed by the start of the 2017 summer season, but an important next step in the process is a public meeting conducted by SHA to present the final design to the public and answer any questions or concerns. Mayor Rick Meehan announced on Tuesday that meeting has now been set for March 22 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center beginning at 6 p.m.
“There have been a lot of comments and some have concerns and some have different ideas,” he said. “We want to make sure everybody has a chance to weigh in.”
Meehan said SHA officials would be on hand at the March meeting to present the project.
“We’re encouraging anyone who wants to voice an opinion or comment on this project to attend this meeting,” he said. “They will have individuals there from State Highway to answer specific questions and have exhibits throughout the room so everybody will know exactly what that is going to look like.”
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In January, the Mayor and Council approved the final design for the fence concept along the median of Coastal Highway from Convention Center Drive to Route 90. The median fence project is part of the State Highway Administration’s larger Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity Project for the often dangerous section of Coastal Highway, and while on the surface it appears to accomplish the goal of improving pedestrian safety with a uniquely Ocean City median fence, not everyone was entirely pleased with the final design when it was approved in January.
The design approval in January set in motion a timetable that could have the fence installed by the start of the 2017 summer season, but an important next step in the process is a public meeting conducted by SHA to present the final design to the public and answer any questions or concerns. Mayor Rick Meehan announced on Tuesday that meeting has now been set for March 22 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center beginning at 6 p.m.
“There have been a lot of comments and some have concerns and some have different ideas,” he said. “We want to make sure everybody has a chance to weigh in.”
Meehan said SHA officials would be on hand at the March meeting to present the project.
“We’re encouraging anyone who wants to voice an opinion or comment on this project to attend this meeting,” he said. “They will have individuals there from State Highway to answer specific questions and have exhibits throughout the room so everybody will know exactly what that is going to look like.”
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How Democrats Stoked Partisanship In Confirmation Process
From the ruthless attacks on Judge Robert Bork to the 28-month filibuster of Miguel Estrada and the nine other filibusters of judicial nominees by President George W. Bush, conservatives say Senate Democrats have led the charge in an increasingly partisan confirmation process.
“Harry Reid, Joe Biden, President Obama and their fellow Democrats are the ones who broke the process in the first place, and if they don’t like that the GOP is holding up the process, they’re just reaping what they sowed,” said Mark Hemingway in a Wednesday op-ed in The Weekly Standard.
Vice President Joe Biden is often credited with ushering in the newly hostile climate when, as chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, he presided over the then-unprecedented savaging of Judge Robert Bork, President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 nominee to the Supreme Court, during confirmation hearings.
A few years later, Mr. Estrada’s nomination to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was blocked for 28 months by Senate Democrats before he finally withdrew from consideration in 2003. An internal memo by Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin’s staff unearthed shortly thereafter said Mr. Estrada was “especially dangerous” because “he is Latino.”
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Ohio Senators Demand Action On Misconduct at Cincinnati VA
Ohio’s senators expressed outrage and demanded swift action after a recent investigation exposed misconduct, disorder, and inadequate care at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Cincinnati.
Sen. Rob Portman (R), who is running for reelection in 2016, labeled the allegations “very troubling” Wednesday and called for the VA inspector general and Congress to move quickly and “get to the bottom” of the reports, according to local WCPO. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said later that action needs to be taken by the committee, Congress, and the VA to make sure that problems are fixed.
The VA said that it had opened a probe into the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati after a WCPO-Scripps News Washington Bureau investigation citing 34 current and former hospital staffers pointed to misconduct at the facility.
Specifically, investigators found that two VA administrators were responsible for cuts in medical services for veterans, reductions in staffing, and the presence of dirty surgical equipment in hospital rooms. One of the administrators, acting chief of staff Dr. Barbara Temeck, allegedly informed operating staff that they were “too picky” for objecting to surgical equipment soiled with blood and bone fragments.
Temeck is also accused of illegally prescribing medication to the wife of the other administrator, regional director Jack Hetrick, and receiving pay for work she has not been regularly performing.
Whistleblowers said that they had expressed concerns for nearly a year, including reaching out to VA Secretary Robert McDonald and representatives in Congress, though little had been done to fix the issues.
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Sen. Rob Portman (R), who is running for reelection in 2016, labeled the allegations “very troubling” Wednesday and called for the VA inspector general and Congress to move quickly and “get to the bottom” of the reports, according to local WCPO. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said later that action needs to be taken by the committee, Congress, and the VA to make sure that problems are fixed.
The VA said that it had opened a probe into the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati after a WCPO-Scripps News Washington Bureau investigation citing 34 current and former hospital staffers pointed to misconduct at the facility.
Specifically, investigators found that two VA administrators were responsible for cuts in medical services for veterans, reductions in staffing, and the presence of dirty surgical equipment in hospital rooms. One of the administrators, acting chief of staff Dr. Barbara Temeck, allegedly informed operating staff that they were “too picky” for objecting to surgical equipment soiled with blood and bone fragments.
Temeck is also accused of illegally prescribing medication to the wife of the other administrator, regional director Jack Hetrick, and receiving pay for work she has not been regularly performing.
Whistleblowers said that they had expressed concerns for nearly a year, including reaching out to VA Secretary Robert McDonald and representatives in Congress, though little had been done to fix the issues.
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Chinese Military on Cyber Warfare Buildup
A Chinese military official revealed last month that Beijing plans to rapidly build a new People’s Liberation Army cyberwarfare force in response to U.S. military cyberforces.
Col. Li Minghai of the PLA’s National Defense University wrote in the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper that a new cyberwarfare force is needed to counter the United States as the Pentagon is building up its cyberattack capabilities.
“It is more necessary for us to build a brand new ‘operation force,’” said Col. Li, identified as deputy director of the NDU’s Center for Cyberspace Security.
As a sign of the sensitivity of the report, Chinese censors quickly removed the posting in Chinese from the Global Times website shortly after it appeared Jan. 21.
Col. Li is one of China’s most senior cyberwarfare specialists, and his remarks provide some of the first clues to Beijing’s military priorities in future cyberwarfare operations. Military cyberoperations are among China’s most closely guarded secrets.
The 3rd Department of the PLA general staff, known as 3PLA, is China’s main military cyberwarfare force and is said to have up to 100,000 cyberwarriors. A copy of the colonel’s translated article was obtained by Inside the Ring.
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Col. Li Minghai of the PLA’s National Defense University wrote in the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper that a new cyberwarfare force is needed to counter the United States as the Pentagon is building up its cyberattack capabilities.
“It is more necessary for us to build a brand new ‘operation force,’” said Col. Li, identified as deputy director of the NDU’s Center for Cyberspace Security.
As a sign of the sensitivity of the report, Chinese censors quickly removed the posting in Chinese from the Global Times website shortly after it appeared Jan. 21.
Col. Li is one of China’s most senior cyberwarfare specialists, and his remarks provide some of the first clues to Beijing’s military priorities in future cyberwarfare operations. Military cyberoperations are among China’s most closely guarded secrets.
The 3rd Department of the PLA general staff, known as 3PLA, is China’s main military cyberwarfare force and is said to have up to 100,000 cyberwarriors. A copy of the colonel’s translated article was obtained by Inside the Ring.
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Ted Cruz Breaks From Republican Rivals On Drafting Women
It’s one of the more unusual applause lines of the campaign, but Sen. Ted Cruz got a big ovation Tuesday night when he promised supporters that he would try to stop American women from having to register for the draft.
Although not a major voting issue for South Carolina Republicans, the draft has become a symbolic dividing line between conservatives and establishment candidates in the presidential race, and voters are taking note and picking sides.
Mr. Cruz, the most vocal advocate for keeping the draft closed, is forcefully going after anti-draft voters in a state where veterans and their families make up a large percentage of the population — and particularly the Republican primary electorate.
“I tell you this as a father of two young daughters. We will not be drafting women and forcing them into combat roles,” said the senator from Texas, drawing a surprisingly strong ovation at a rally in Anderson.
Part of the reason Mr. Cruz is highlighting the issue is it is yet another area where he breaks with the rest of the field. In a debate this month in New Hampshire, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who was still in the race at the time — all signaled a willingness to open the draft to women.
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Although not a major voting issue for South Carolina Republicans, the draft has become a symbolic dividing line between conservatives and establishment candidates in the presidential race, and voters are taking note and picking sides.
Mr. Cruz, the most vocal advocate for keeping the draft closed, is forcefully going after anti-draft voters in a state where veterans and their families make up a large percentage of the population — and particularly the Republican primary electorate.
“I tell you this as a father of two young daughters. We will not be drafting women and forcing them into combat roles,” said the senator from Texas, drawing a surprisingly strong ovation at a rally in Anderson.
Part of the reason Mr. Cruz is highlighting the issue is it is yet another area where he breaks with the rest of the field. In a debate this month in New Hampshire, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who was still in the race at the time — all signaled a willingness to open the draft to women.
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Obamacare Estate Claims Stunning Minnesota Residents
Many Minnesota residents are learning that taxes are being assessed against their estates to recover the cost of medical coverage through Obamacare from when they were alive.
"In finding this out, it's really blindsided us," Scott Killerud, a farmer in northern Minnesota, told The Duluth News Tribune.
Killerud learned that coverage for his wife, Ellen, 55, through MNsure — the North Star State's Obamacare program — would cost $11,000 against their estate.
Under Obamacare programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state may provide qualifying residents with free or low-cost medical care while they are alive — but liens have long been used to recover some or all of those costs after recipients die, the News Tribune reports.
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"In finding this out, it's really blindsided us," Scott Killerud, a farmer in northern Minnesota, told The Duluth News Tribune.
Killerud learned that coverage for his wife, Ellen, 55, through MNsure — the North Star State's Obamacare program — would cost $11,000 against their estate.
Under Obamacare programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state may provide qualifying residents with free or low-cost medical care while they are alive — but liens have long been used to recover some or all of those costs after recipients die, the News Tribune reports.
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Muslim Sues Oklahoma Gun Range For Refusing Him Service
A Muslim man, who is also a U.S. Army reservist, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the owners of an Oklahoma gun range after they allegedly told him to leave when he identified himself as a Muslim.
Raja’ee Fatihah’s lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Muskogee against the owners of Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gun Range in the town of Oktaha.
A sign posted on the business declared the range a "Muslim-free" establishment, and is similar to signs that have been placed at businesses in Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky and New York, said Brady Henderson, legal director for the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the suit.
Fatihah is a board member with the Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Oklahoma chapter. He said he went to the gun range after learning about the signage. He said the owners of the gun range were warm and welcoming until he told them he was a Muslim.
"At that point, they started treating me with suspicion," Fatihah said.
Robert Muise, with the American Freedom Law Center, is representing Chad and Nicole Neal – the owners of the gun range – in the case. Muise said Fatihah was denied service because he was being belligerent, not because of his religion. Muise also said the sign declaring the shop a “Muslim-free” business is protected free speech. Fatihah denies he acted belligerently.
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Raja’ee Fatihah’s lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Muskogee against the owners of Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gun Range in the town of Oktaha.
A sign posted on the business declared the range a "Muslim-free" establishment, and is similar to signs that have been placed at businesses in Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky and New York, said Brady Henderson, legal director for the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the suit.
Fatihah is a board member with the Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Oklahoma chapter. He said he went to the gun range after learning about the signage. He said the owners of the gun range were warm and welcoming until he told them he was a Muslim.
"At that point, they started treating me with suspicion," Fatihah said.
Robert Muise, with the American Freedom Law Center, is representing Chad and Nicole Neal – the owners of the gun range – in the case. Muise said Fatihah was denied service because he was being belligerent, not because of his religion. Muise also said the sign declaring the shop a “Muslim-free” business is protected free speech. Fatihah denies he acted belligerently.
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Hatch: No Hearings, Let Next President Choose SCOTUS Justice
Sen. Chuck Grassley would be "foolish" to hold Senate hearings on anybody President Barack Obama nominates to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Sen. Orrin Hatch tells Newsmax TV.
"It would be up to Sen. Grassley whether he holds hearings," Hatch, a Utah Republican, said Wednesday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."
"But the decision has been pretty well made that in order to protect the integrity of the court during this very, very political time and such a big political brouhaha … let's put it off until next year.
"Then whoever is president, whether it's a Democrat or a Republican, will have a right to nominate whoever they want."
On Tuesday, Grassley, a Iowa Republican and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, left open the possibility Tuesday of a hearing if President Barack Obama puts a nomination forward, something the commander-in-chief says he intends to do.
But Grassley said he personally believes that picking a new justice should be delayed until a new president is chosen, either Republican or Democrat.
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"It would be up to Sen. Grassley whether he holds hearings," Hatch, a Utah Republican, said Wednesday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."
"But the decision has been pretty well made that in order to protect the integrity of the court during this very, very political time and such a big political brouhaha … let's put it off until next year.
"Then whoever is president, whether it's a Democrat or a Republican, will have a right to nominate whoever they want."
On Tuesday, Grassley, a Iowa Republican and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, left open the possibility Tuesday of a hearing if President Barack Obama puts a nomination forward, something the commander-in-chief says he intends to do.
But Grassley said he personally believes that picking a new justice should be delayed until a new president is chosen, either Republican or Democrat.
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Forget everything you think about superhero movies: ‘Deadpool’ is not for children
Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the new superhero film “Deadpool” reached some pretty high box office numbers, earning $152 million in four days (then a record-setting $11 million more this Tuesday) — higher than the projected $150 million. This shattered records. The movie is now the biggest R-rated opening in history, it lifted the box office to have its biggest ever opening in February, and it led to the biggest President’s Day four-day weekend, too.
But there’s a problem here. Deadpool is far from the typical superhero movie we’ve come to expect in the last five or so years. Forget what you know about the Captain America, Iron Man and Thor films. “Deadpool” — a production of 21st Century Fox, which also produces the X-Men movies — is littered with profanity, sexually explicit material and “foul-mouthed”characters.
This hasn’t sat well with some reviewers. Will Leitch of The New Republic called the movie “obnoxious and puerile and infantile and has an irritating meta tone so snide that it's constantly in danger of nullifying the entire movie.” Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said the movie “is bad, borderline garbage, but disturbing, too, in that it's just the kind of fake-clever awfulness that might be cinema's future.” And Stephen Whitty of the Newark Star-Ledger said though the film is fun, “it's not for everyone, and definitely not for families.” It’s even been banned in China for nudity and graphic violence.
It also seemed to knock against the Marvel brand, which is owned by — and associated with — Disney, known for making and promoting family-friendly content.
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Carson on Gun Rights: There’s a Reason 'We’ve Been Free for Hundreds of Years'
(CNSNews.com) – When asked how he would preserve gun rights and protect the American people, GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson, a gun owner, said during CNN’s GOP town hall in South Carolina Wednesday that there’s a reason that U.S. citizens, who have been able to bear arms for hundreds of years have also been free.
“So we’ve had guns for hundreds of years, and we’ve been free for hundreds of years. I think there may be a correlation there, and I think after the San Bernardino attacks and the Paris attacks, the current administration, their idea of solving the problem was to take guns away from the people,” Carson said.
“I’ve only recently felt the need to own a gun, and right now the world is a dangerous place, so what is your plan to preserve my rights to own a gun and also to protect the American people?” Alexander Sexton, a defense industry worker, asked at the town hall.
“The Second Amendment is there for a very good reason. It was so that the people could assist the government in case of an invasion. More importantly, it was so that the people could protect themselves in case the government itself ever became tyrannical and tried to rule the people,” said Carson.
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“So we’ve had guns for hundreds of years, and we’ve been free for hundreds of years. I think there may be a correlation there, and I think after the San Bernardino attacks and the Paris attacks, the current administration, their idea of solving the problem was to take guns away from the people,” Carson said.
“I’ve only recently felt the need to own a gun, and right now the world is a dangerous place, so what is your plan to preserve my rights to own a gun and also to protect the American people?” Alexander Sexton, a defense industry worker, asked at the town hall.
“The Second Amendment is there for a very good reason. It was so that the people could assist the government in case of an invasion. More importantly, it was so that the people could protect themselves in case the government itself ever became tyrannical and tried to rule the people,” said Carson.
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HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 2-20-16
East Main Street
The year 1909 can be the year that defines the beginning of a new Salisbury. That was the year the dam broke and let all the water out of Humphreys Lake. Before that year, Main Street was simply Main Street. There was no East or West associated with the name. Main Street started at Division Street and proceeded west. Any reference to a Main Street address before 1909 would later be West Main Street.
The land exposed by the rupture of the dam was purchased by a group of local businessmen that formed the Salisbury Realty Company. They purchased 65 acres from the Humphreys family and dug out a channel to the east as far as the railroad. The dirt they dug out was used to build up the remaining acreage. When this had settled enough to build on, they began to sell lots in the area.
There was a building across what is now East Main Street along Division Street. It had been a prime building site in Salisbury for many years. When it burned down to its foundation in the fire of 1886, there were many that wanted to extend Main Street eastward to the edge of Humphreys Lake.
Now, Salisbury had at that time a form of government consisting of town commissioners. They could have prevented the rebuilding of the structure by simply not allowing the building permit to go through. They didn’t, and a new building was erected on the old foundation, even complying with the new standards of building with brick according to the codes put in place to try to avoid another fire like the one in 1886 that destroyed most of downtown Salisbury.
By 1888, Salisbury had implemented a new form of government consisting of a mayor and city council. This new form of government was more receptive to the idea of extending Main Street to the east. So they used their governmental powers and condemned the Davis House hotel, and it was torn down after the dam broke. Main Street was extended to the east and East Main Street was established.
Buildings began to emerge on land that was once under water. The picture above was taken in 1919 and shows a dirt street about 100 yards east of Division Street before anything had been built. The tallest building in Salisbury, the Wicomico Hotel, was still six years in the future. The biggest boost to the area was the Post Office. It lent a sort of permanence to the street, and other buildings soon followed.
East Main Street was eventually extended across the former lake bottom to its present destination of Old Ocean City Road. This entailed building East Main Street to the present Davis Street, which was formerly the edge of Humphreys Lake. It was not the scenic area we know today as the City Park. The City Park was built in the 1930’s as a project of the WPA, one of President Roosevelt’s ideas to get men working again during the devastating Depression of the 1930’s. The mayor at the time was L. Thomas Parker, and he is known as the father of the Municipal Park. His son is Henry Parker, a former county councilman for many years. Wicomico Middle School was built in 1931 over the area that had been used as a dump. When they built it at a cost of $450,000, it was so large and modern that at the dedication ceremonies it was stated that it would serve the area for at least two generations. In less than five years it was expanded.
Snow Hill Road in the city was built to extend from Lincoln Avenue to East Main Street. Before this change, Snow Hill Road flowed into Lincoln Avenue in the city. The restructuring of the geography of the city was greatly impacted by the new land obtained by the emptying of Humphreys Lake.
East Main Street had become a location to have thriving business entities which continue to this day.
DOJ Escalates Battle With Apple Over San Bernardino Shooter's Phone
The Justice Department is pushing forward with its legal fight against Apple, urging a federal judge to compel the tech giant to help the FBI crack open a cellphone left behind by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters.
"Rather than assist the effort to fully investigate a deadly terrorist attack by obeying this court's [previous order], Apple has responded by publicly repudiating that order," prosecutors wrote in a new filing today.
Syed Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, launched a deadly assault on Dec. 2, 2015, killing 14 of Farook's coworkers at a holiday party.
At the Justice Department's request earlier this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym in California ordered Apple to help the FBI crack open Farook's iPhone.
Federal prosecutors say the phone, given to Farook by his employer, could be hiding "crucial evidence" about the terror attacks.
"The government requires Apple's assistance to access the ... device to determine, among other things, who Farook and Malik may have communicated with to plan and carry out the IRC shootings, where Farook and Malik may have traveled to and from before and after the incident, and other pertinent information that would provide more information about their and others' involvement in the deadly shooting," prosecutors said in their initial filing on Tuesday.
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"Rather than assist the effort to fully investigate a deadly terrorist attack by obeying this court's [previous order], Apple has responded by publicly repudiating that order," prosecutors wrote in a new filing today.
Syed Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, launched a deadly assault on Dec. 2, 2015, killing 14 of Farook's coworkers at a holiday party.
At the Justice Department's request earlier this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym in California ordered Apple to help the FBI crack open Farook's iPhone.
Federal prosecutors say the phone, given to Farook by his employer, could be hiding "crucial evidence" about the terror attacks.
"The government requires Apple's assistance to access the ... device to determine, among other things, who Farook and Malik may have communicated with to plan and carry out the IRC shootings, where Farook and Malik may have traveled to and from before and after the incident, and other pertinent information that would provide more information about their and others' involvement in the deadly shooting," prosecutors said in their initial filing on Tuesday.
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Spider-Man debut edition comic fetches $454,100 at auction
The rare copy of Marvel’s Amazing Fantasy #15, featuring the debut of Spider-Man in 1962, has been auctioned at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas by 60-year-old Walter Yakaboski from Long Island, New York. He purchased the first appearance of Spider-Man in form of a comic book back in 1980 for $1,200. Although his mother thought he was wasting all the hard-earned money, but for Yakoboski the near-mint graded copy was a source of good investment.
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Summer Survey Confirms Most OC Visitors From Pennsylvania
OCEAN CITY — Tourism officials reviewed the results of last year’s zip code collection last week to attempt to determine where the resort’s visitors are coming from and also received good news on some year-end statistics regarding visitor totals from last year.
The Tourism Commission on Feb. 8 reviewed the results of a summer-long survey of a large segment of the visitors to the resort, providing a snapshot of the pertinent information such as how often they come, how long they stay and perhaps more importantly, where they are coming from. Throughout last summer, visitors were asked to complete the survey at various locations including the visitor’s center in the Convention Center, the Boardwalk information kiosks, the Chamber of Commerce and various special events.
“We started to take a measurement of where our visitors are coming from so we can better determine where to direct our marketing efforts,” said Tourism Director Donna Abbott. “We got some decent numbers for our first real effort of collecting zip codes and we hope to expand on that going forward.”
The initial survey included the zip codes of thousands of visitors to the resort, and while the survey was admittedly not comprehensive and representative of all visitors, it did illustrate some trends.
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The Tourism Commission on Feb. 8 reviewed the results of a summer-long survey of a large segment of the visitors to the resort, providing a snapshot of the pertinent information such as how often they come, how long they stay and perhaps more importantly, where they are coming from. Throughout last summer, visitors were asked to complete the survey at various locations including the visitor’s center in the Convention Center, the Boardwalk information kiosks, the Chamber of Commerce and various special events.
“We started to take a measurement of where our visitors are coming from so we can better determine where to direct our marketing efforts,” said Tourism Director Donna Abbott. “We got some decent numbers for our first real effort of collecting zip codes and we hope to expand on that going forward.”
The initial survey included the zip codes of thousands of visitors to the resort, and while the survey was admittedly not comprehensive and representative of all visitors, it did illustrate some trends.
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A Vewer Writes: WBOC
Legislature Should Keep Its Hands Off The State Superintendent Search
“The ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it’ award for the 2016 Maryland General Assembly Session clearly goes to House Bill 570/Senate Bill 404: State Board of Education — State Superintendent of Schools — Appointment. In a nutshell, it seeks to monkey with a century-old process that has produced one of the top school systems in the country for no discernible reason.
“Well, that's not exactly true. The bill's sponsors have provided rationales for the idea that the state school board's choice for a new superintendent should be subject to confirmation by the Senate. They just don't make much sense.
“Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat and the lead sponsor in the Senate, testified at a hearing on the bill that the legislation was necessary to add stability to the state Department of Education. ‘We are currently in a period where the State Board of Education is seeking a new superintendent,’ he said by way of introducing the bill. ‘It'll be the fourth superintendent in five years, six years — I'm not sure what it's been. I'm not sure if the turnover is because of or in spite of the board's structure.’
“Turnover? We'll admit that the tenure of the most recent superintendent, Lillian Lowery, was short by Maryland standards at three years. But that's only because of the extraordinary longevity of her predecessors. …
“Since the current method of selecting superintendents was enacted in 1916, seven people have held the job. (Mr. Pinsky is counting interim superintendents who served between Ms. Grasmick and Ms. Lowery and the one holding down the seat now while the board searches for a new, permanent appointee.)
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“Well, that's not exactly true. The bill's sponsors have provided rationales for the idea that the state school board's choice for a new superintendent should be subject to confirmation by the Senate. They just don't make much sense.
“Sen. Paul Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat and the lead sponsor in the Senate, testified at a hearing on the bill that the legislation was necessary to add stability to the state Department of Education. ‘We are currently in a period where the State Board of Education is seeking a new superintendent,’ he said by way of introducing the bill. ‘It'll be the fourth superintendent in five years, six years — I'm not sure what it's been. I'm not sure if the turnover is because of or in spite of the board's structure.’
“Turnover? We'll admit that the tenure of the most recent superintendent, Lillian Lowery, was short by Maryland standards at three years. But that's only because of the extraordinary longevity of her predecessors. …
“Since the current method of selecting superintendents was enacted in 1916, seven people have held the job. (Mr. Pinsky is counting interim superintendents who served between Ms. Grasmick and Ms. Lowery and the one holding down the seat now while the board searches for a new, permanent appointee.)
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Congressman Andy Harris Announces 2016 Congressional Art Competition
All high school students in Maryland’s First Congressional District are encouraged to apply. A winner from each congressional district will be chosen to display his or her artwork in the U.S. Capitol building for one year.
“Every year the Congressional Art Competition highlights the artistic talent in Maryland’s First District,” said Congressman Harris. “I am continuously impressed by the submissions we receive and am honored to display the First District runners-up in my office. I eagerly anticipate seeing the winning piece from the First District hanging on the wall in the U.S. Capitol.”
Since the first Congressional Art Competition in 1982, over 650,000 high school students have submitted their art work to the competition judges. For full competition guidelines and the student release form, please visit Congressman Harris’ website at harris.house.gov. Go to the “Serving You” tab at the top of the screen and click on “Art Competition.”
The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 22, 2016.
Verizon’s “Hum” Device For Your Car Will Rat Out Speeding Teens, Wandering Spouses
Do you have a teen driver in your household and want to know every time they get a little overzealous with the accelerator? Or maybe you’re pretty sure your spouse’s frequent trips to “the office” are not so innocent? If so, then an upcoming update for Verizon’s “hum” in-car smart device might be just what you’re looking for.
The $15/month hum service was originally launched to collect vehicle diagnostics, connect users to roadside assistance, provide maintenance reminders. But this morning Verizon announced that it will be adding a slew of new features for the hum, including:
Boundary alerts: Lets you set up a boundary and receive alerts when your vehicle exits and enters the area. So if your kid promised he was just driving a mile away to Josh’s, you’ll know he’s lying when you get a message that your car crossed the boundary five miles away. Or maybe you and the spouse are enjoying some romantic private time because your teen is 20 miles away at some concert. That boundary alert telling you he’s on his way back home will give you time to clean up that mess you made in the kitchen trying to reenact that scene from 9-1/2 Weeks.
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The $15/month hum service was originally launched to collect vehicle diagnostics, connect users to roadside assistance, provide maintenance reminders. But this morning Verizon announced that it will be adding a slew of new features for the hum, including:
Boundary alerts: Lets you set up a boundary and receive alerts when your vehicle exits and enters the area. So if your kid promised he was just driving a mile away to Josh’s, you’ll know he’s lying when you get a message that your car crossed the boundary five miles away. Or maybe you and the spouse are enjoying some romantic private time because your teen is 20 miles away at some concert. That boundary alert telling you he’s on his way back home will give you time to clean up that mess you made in the kitchen trying to reenact that scene from 9-1/2 Weeks.
More