Earlier this week, Mary Hasson broke the news at the Federalist that federal funds went to Planned Parenthood’s salad-munching, wine-sipping, organ-harvesting Dr. Deborah Nucatola for advice on “healthy baby” births.
Hasson requested all communications and documents relevant to any payments to or compensation of fees, consultant fees, reimbursements, etc. to Deborah Nucatola, MD, a Planned Parenthood employee. And she requested that the documents be sent as soon as possible.
The Freedom of Information Act requires the federal government to be transparent, but successfully receiving information from the Obama Administration has gone so poorly — even more poorly than previous administrations — that many media outlets have resorted to suing the federal government to get them to respond to FOIA requests.
Since FOIA requests can routinely take years to fulfill, if they’re ever filled, Hasson requested that the Health and Human Services FOIA office expedite her request.
HHS denied her request for expedited information on the compensation and payments given to Nucatola. They claimed it didn’t fit the public’s “urgent” right to know.
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Carson: Experimenting With Failed Socialism (Again)
Remember busing, that brilliant social experiment that was to usher in a new era of racial utopia in America? Undaunted by the failed socialist experiments of the 1980s, the Obama administration has recently implemented a new Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule designed to “desegregate” housing by withholding funds from communities that fail to demonstrate their projects “affirmatively further” fair housing.
To place this in context, it’s useful to look back at the failure of school busing. After Brown v. Board of Education effectively ended de jure discrimination in public accommodations from schools to housing, many whites in the South continued to flout Brown and did everything they could to keep blacks out of all-white high schools.
In response, various municipalities mandated busing as a means of forcibly integrating public education and — by fiat — ensuring that educational funding was not unequally distributed based on race. The rationale was that if white parents had to send their children to black schools, they would help to ensure that those schools were better equipped.
But by almost every objective, the experiment failed. Not only was there no real statistical improvement in school integration (the percentage of blacks attending majority black schools from 1972 to 1980 moved from 63.6 percent to 63.3 percent), but the program was unpopular among both blacks and whites.
More here
To place this in context, it’s useful to look back at the failure of school busing. After Brown v. Board of Education effectively ended de jure discrimination in public accommodations from schools to housing, many whites in the South continued to flout Brown and did everything they could to keep blacks out of all-white high schools.
In response, various municipalities mandated busing as a means of forcibly integrating public education and — by fiat — ensuring that educational funding was not unequally distributed based on race. The rationale was that if white parents had to send their children to black schools, they would help to ensure that those schools were better equipped.
But by almost every objective, the experiment failed. Not only was there no real statistical improvement in school integration (the percentage of blacks attending majority black schools from 1972 to 1980 moved from 63.6 percent to 63.3 percent), but the program was unpopular among both blacks and whites.
More here
New York Times Stealth-Edits Clinton Email Story at Her Command
On Thursday evening, the New York Times broke a bombshell story that could spell doom for Hillary Clinton’s already-faltering campaign. The headline read, “Criminal Inquiry Sought in Hillary Clinton’s Use of Email.”
The article began as follows: “Two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether Hillary Rodham Clinton mishandled sensitive government information on a private email account she used as secretary of state, senior government officials said Thursday.”
But suddenly, without notice to readers or attribution, the headline was changed to, “Criminal Inquiry Is Sought in Clinton Email Account.”
More
The article began as follows: “Two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether Hillary Rodham Clinton mishandled sensitive government information on a private email account she used as secretary of state, senior government officials said Thursday.”
But suddenly, without notice to readers or attribution, the headline was changed to, “Criminal Inquiry Is Sought in Clinton Email Account.”
More
New Yorkers to Schumer: Kill the Iran Deal or Find a New Job
The rally, organized by the Jewish Rapid Response Coalition in partnership with dozens of U.S. pro-Israel groups, featured speeches by former New York Gov. George Pataki, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, and Rep. Trent Franks (R., Ariz.), among others.
The crowd, estimated at 10,000 by event organizers, stretched over seven city blocks.
Congress has 60 days to review—and potentially reject—the Iran nuclear deal reached by the Obama administration. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who will likely be his party’s next Senate leader, is seen as a key figure that can influence Democratic votes on the issue.
“This is the day Chuck Schumer has two choices,” said former Pataki aide and event organizer Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, to applause from the crowd. “He will round up the votes in the Senate to help kill this agreement before it kills us and our allies. … If he doesn’t do that, we will remember.”
Read more here
Hillary's email troubles deepen
Clinton and her team fiercely pushed back at reports that two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to look into whether sensitive information was mishandled in connection with her private account.
“Maybe the heat is getting to everybody,” Clinton quipped during an economic address in New York City in which she decried “inaccuracies” in the reports.
More
Obama Restricts Investigative Powers Of Inspectors General
The Obama administration formally announced inspectors general will have to be granted permission by their agency heads to gain access to grand jury, wiretap and fair credit information – an action that severely limits the watchdogs oversight capabilities, independence, and power to uncover fraud.
An opinion, issued by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, says the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978 – which was written by Congress to create the government watchdogs in order to help maintain integrity within their agencies – does not have the authority to override nondisclosure provisions in other laws, most notably in regards to grand jury, wiretap or fair credit information.
“In reaching these conclusions, our Office ‘s role has not been to decide what access [inspector generals] should receive as a matter of policy. Rather, we have endeavored to determine as a matter of law, using established tools of statutory construction, how best to reconcile the strong privacy protections…with the interest in access reflected in.. the IG Act,” OLC’s opinion, dated July 20 and released Thursday reads.
“I strongly disagree with the OLC opinion,” Michael Horowitz, the DOJ’s inspector general said in a statement. “Congress meant what it said when it authorized Inspectors General to independently access ‘all’ documents necessary to conduct effective oversight.
More here
An opinion, issued by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, says the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978 – which was written by Congress to create the government watchdogs in order to help maintain integrity within their agencies – does not have the authority to override nondisclosure provisions in other laws, most notably in regards to grand jury, wiretap or fair credit information.
“In reaching these conclusions, our Office ‘s role has not been to decide what access [inspector generals] should receive as a matter of policy. Rather, we have endeavored to determine as a matter of law, using established tools of statutory construction, how best to reconcile the strong privacy protections…with the interest in access reflected in.. the IG Act,” OLC’s opinion, dated July 20 and released Thursday reads.
“I strongly disagree with the OLC opinion,” Michael Horowitz, the DOJ’s inspector general said in a statement. “Congress meant what it said when it authorized Inspectors General to independently access ‘all’ documents necessary to conduct effective oversight.
More here
CENTREVILLE TO CREATE STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) has approved a $15,000 conditional grant to the Town, through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF), to help fund the plan. To assist with project costs, the town will provide a matching contribution of $15,000.
“The State is pleased to partner with the Town of Centreville to support their strategic plan for economic development, which will establish a clear framework for attracting and retaining businesses and promoting their key assets,” said DBED Secretary Mike Gill. “Our goal at DBED is to work with all regions of the state to help them grow jobs, add new businesses and increase their competitive advantage.”
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Hillary Defends Planned Parenthood
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday said the outcry over Planned Parenthood selling fetal organs was an “attack on a woman’s right to choose,” breaking two weeks of silence since hidden-camera videos exposed the group’s executives trading in unborn body parts.
“I think it is unfortunate that Planned Parenthood has been the object of such a concerted attack for so many years and it’s really an attack against a woman’s right to choose,” Mrs. Clinton said when asked about the controversy at a town hall-style meeting in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mrs. Clinton had refused to answer questions about the two videos, which were shot by an anti-abortion activist in an elaborate sting operation, until asked about it by an audience member at the event at at Greenville Technical College.
More here
“I think it is unfortunate that Planned Parenthood has been the object of such a concerted attack for so many years and it’s really an attack against a woman’s right to choose,” Mrs. Clinton said when asked about the controversy at a town hall-style meeting in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mrs. Clinton had refused to answer questions about the two videos, which were shot by an anti-abortion activist in an elaborate sting operation, until asked about it by an audience member at the event at at Greenville Technical College.
More here
Democrats Introduce Sweeping LGBT Protection Bill
On the heels of last month’s Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, congressional Democrats introduced new legislation to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity Thursday afternoon.
Dubbed the “Equality Act,” the bill would offer federal protections in jobs, housing, public accommodations, education, banking and access to public assistance programs. It also specifically prohibits claims of religious belief under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense for discrimination.
There are 31 states without workplace, employment and housing protections for sexual identity, said Rep. David N. Cicilline, Rhode Island Democrat and one of the top sponsors. This bill would affect those states and ensure they provide equal protections.
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Dubbed the “Equality Act,” the bill would offer federal protections in jobs, housing, public accommodations, education, banking and access to public assistance programs. It also specifically prohibits claims of religious belief under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense for discrimination.
There are 31 states without workplace, employment and housing protections for sexual identity, said Rep. David N. Cicilline, Rhode Island Democrat and one of the top sponsors. This bill would affect those states and ensure they provide equal protections.
More
Watch How Bobby Jindal Responds to Reporter Who Asks Him About Gun Control the Day After Lafayette Shooting
Jindal told the reporter it’s inappropriate to interject politics and discuss gun control so soon after the tragedy.
“Now is not the time,” he said. “Let us bury our dead, let us mourn.”
He added, “I’ll talk policy and politics in a couple of days.”
More
2 Dead, 5 Injured Following Multiple Shootings In Baltimore
Police say they responded around 10:00 p.m. Friday to the 4000 block of York Road for a reported shooting. At the scene a woman was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. A second female also walked into the hospital with a graze wound to her leg. Both are expected to survive.
An hour and a half later, in the 2300 block of Harford Road, police say a man was shot multiple times. He later died at the hospital.
No less than 5 minutes after the Harford Road shooting, police say they responded at 11:38 p.m. to the 800 block of E. Belvedere Ave. where detectives located a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. The victim was transported to the hospital; his condition is unknown at this time.
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Pelosi Wants DOJ Probe Over Planned Parenthood Sting
“Let’s have an investigation of those people who were trying to ensnare Planned Parenthood in a controversy that doesn’t exist,” Ms. Pelosi said, The Hill reported.
“Planned Parenthood has said that they have done nothing illegal,” she added. “They do not ever charge, which would be illegal, for fetal tissue. They have only defrayed the cost of mailing that to someone, which is not breaking the law.”
More here
Theater gunman known as angry man with radical views
His family said they feared him so much they hid his guns and had him hospitalized. A local TV host frequently invited him as a guest, knowing he’d be a lightning rod who could light up the phone lines with rants against abortion and working women. In one prominent fight with local officials, he unfurled a 6-foot-by-6-foot banner outside his west Georgia bar picturing a swastika surrounded by the words, “Welcome to LaGrange.”
“He was the kind of guy who would say, ‘I’m going to get you,’ but then again you get that a lot in local politics,” said Jeff Hardin, former mayor of Phenix City, Alabama. For years, Houser lived and worked there and neighboring Columbus, Georgia.
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Obama Shielding 80 Percent of Nation’s Illegals From Deportation
President Obama’s executive actions on immigration shield more than 80 percent of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country from any danger of being deported, a top immigration think tank reported Thursday.
As part of his November amnesty Mr. Obama announced a program to proactively grant a temporary deportation amnesty to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants. But he also directed immigration agents not to bother deporting millions of others, even though they weren’t eligible for the official amnesty, which grants work permits and other benefits.
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As part of his November amnesty Mr. Obama announced a program to proactively grant a temporary deportation amnesty to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants. But he also directed immigration agents not to bother deporting millions of others, even though they weren’t eligible for the official amnesty, which grants work permits and other benefits.
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Maryland granted new three-year waiver for No Child Left Behind
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| Maryland State Superintendent Lillian M. Lowery |
The decision, which extends the waiver the state first received in 2012, "allows school districts to look at accountability in a different way and spend more time making sure every student is improving instead of focusing on the bureaucratic process," said Jack Smith, chief academic officer for the Maryland State Department of Education.
Federal officials notified the state of the waiver in a letter to state schools Superintendent Lillian Lowery.
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Clinton's Conspiracy of Secrecy Worthy of Criminal Probe
Who will Hillary Clinton blame now?
That was my first reaction to this New York Times story:
Two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether sensitive government information was mishandled in connection with the personal email account Hillary Rodham Clinton used as secretary of state, senior government officials said Thursday.
The answer came quickly (that's why they call it "rapid response") from campaign spokesmanNick Merrill.
"Contrary to the initial story, which has already been significantly revised, she followed appropriate practices in dealing with classified materials. As has been reported on multiple occasions, any released emails deemed classified by the administration have been done so after the fact, and not at the time they were transmitted."
More
That was my first reaction to this New York Times story:
Two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether sensitive government information was mishandled in connection with the personal email account Hillary Rodham Clinton used as secretary of state, senior government officials said Thursday.
The answer came quickly (that's why they call it "rapid response") from campaign spokesmanNick Merrill.
"Contrary to the initial story, which has already been significantly revised, she followed appropriate practices in dealing with classified materials. As has been reported on multiple occasions, any released emails deemed classified by the administration have been done so after the fact, and not at the time they were transmitted."
More
OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE INPUT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR AUG. 11
Board of Education Seeks Input on Boundary Adjustment, Learning Materials Prior to Aug. 11 Board Meeting
The Wicomico County Board of Education is seeking public input on several items approved on 1st reading at its July Board meeting. The Board is scheduled to have a 2nd reading and final vote on at the Aug. 11 Board meeting. To learn more please visit the school system website: http://wcboe.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3063562&pageId=5408859
Details on these items are posted with the July 14 meeting agenda at https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/Public
West Salisbury/North Salisbury/Delmar Boundary Adjustment. The Superintendent recommends adjusting the boundary line for the West Salisbury/North Salisbury and Delmar Elementary attendance areas to include all of the Pond’s Edge Subdivision in the West Salisbury/North Salisbury attendance area. The adjustment would not affect any current students, as it addresses the attendance area for the not yet developed second phase of Pond’s Edge, the first phase of which is located in the West Salisbury/North Salisbury attendance area. Wicomico’s attendance area guidelines specify that boundary lines should not divide a subdivision. The Superintendent recommends approval of the boundary adjustment, which is detailed in the document posted with the agenda on BoardDocs. Contact: Andrea Douling, secretary to the Superintendent, 410-677-4495, adouling@wcboe.org
"Other People's Money" Is Running Out
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money,” Margaret Thatcher once said.
Apparently that’s becoming a problem here in the “land of the free,” too. Except it’s no longer “eventually.” It’s next year.
The federal government’s first entitlement land mine – the ever-expanding Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund – is going to run out of money in late 2016. For those of you calendar-challenged, that’s smack dab in the middle of the next presidential campaign.
Fun!
According to Social Security trustees, the fund “now faces an urgent threat of reserve depletion, requiring prompt corrective action by lawmakers if sudden reductions or interruptions in benefit payments are to be avoided.”
“While legislation is needed to address all of Social Security’s financial imbalances, the need has become urgent with respect to the program’s disability insurance component,” the trustees stated. “Lawmakers need to act soon to avoid automatic reductions in payments to DI beneficiaries in late 2016.”
A total of 11 million Americans currently receive an average monthly benefit of $1,017 from this program. That pool of dependents has soared in recent years, too.
More
Apparently that’s becoming a problem here in the “land of the free,” too. Except it’s no longer “eventually.” It’s next year.
The federal government’s first entitlement land mine – the ever-expanding Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund – is going to run out of money in late 2016. For those of you calendar-challenged, that’s smack dab in the middle of the next presidential campaign.
Fun!
According to Social Security trustees, the fund “now faces an urgent threat of reserve depletion, requiring prompt corrective action by lawmakers if sudden reductions or interruptions in benefit payments are to be avoided.”
“While legislation is needed to address all of Social Security’s financial imbalances, the need has become urgent with respect to the program’s disability insurance component,” the trustees stated. “Lawmakers need to act soon to avoid automatic reductions in payments to DI beneficiaries in late 2016.”
A total of 11 million Americans currently receive an average monthly benefit of $1,017 from this program. That pool of dependents has soared in recent years, too.
More
Theatre Announces Fifth Annual Free Shakespeare Tour
BERLIN — Brown Box Theatre Project will bring its 5th Annual Free Shakespeare Tour to over 20 locations throughout Massachusetts and Maryland.
In a continued commitment to providing high-quality free and affordable theatre to communities that crave the performing arts, Brown Box Theatre Project will perform “The Taming of the Shrew” at various locations around Boston and Delmarva from Aug. 21 through Sept. 20.
Deception and desire abound in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, when Christopher Sly, a tinker tricked into believing himself a nobleman, is treated to a play wherein an ornery and willful woman is “tamed” and men will stop at nothing to claim their love. The familiar story is re-imagined through a cast of characters comprised of nine women and one man, who together weave in and out of Shakespeare’s layered world to create a fresh and surprising theatrical experience for all audiences.
More
In a continued commitment to providing high-quality free and affordable theatre to communities that crave the performing arts, Brown Box Theatre Project will perform “The Taming of the Shrew” at various locations around Boston and Delmarva from Aug. 21 through Sept. 20.
Deception and desire abound in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, when Christopher Sly, a tinker tricked into believing himself a nobleman, is treated to a play wherein an ornery and willful woman is “tamed” and men will stop at nothing to claim their love. The familiar story is re-imagined through a cast of characters comprised of nine women and one man, who together weave in and out of Shakespeare’s layered world to create a fresh and surprising theatrical experience for all audiences.
More
Veterans Office Hours
As Vice President Biden often says, our nation’s one truly sacred obligation is to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them when they come home. The long wait times and culture of negligence at the Department of Veterans Affairs are simply unacceptable.
That’s why I’m hosting a series of Veterans Office Hours around the state. If you, or a veteran you know, is in need of assistance, I hope you’ll join me for my Veterans Office Hours on:
Monday, July 27
10:00 am -12:00 pm
Millsboro American Legion
13768 Legion Road
Millsboro, DE 19966
Map It!
These sessions help veterans cut through the red tape by connecting them directly with representatives from my office, the VA, and other service organizations. The Office Hours have also given me the opportunity to speak to folks about the problems they’re running into at the VA, so I can address these issues head on. If you aren’t able to attend the Office Hours, I hope you’ll join me on the phone for a Telephone Town Hall on July 27. To sign up visit my websitehere, and to find out more information on these events you can visit my Facebook page by clicking below.
That’s why I’m hosting a series of Veterans Office Hours around the state. If you, or a veteran you know, is in need of assistance, I hope you’ll join me for my Veterans Office Hours on:
Monday, July 27
10:00 am -12:00 pm
Millsboro American Legion
13768 Legion Road
Millsboro, DE 19966
Map It!
These sessions help veterans cut through the red tape by connecting them directly with representatives from my office, the VA, and other service organizations. The Office Hours have also given me the opportunity to speak to folks about the problems they’re running into at the VA, so I can address these issues head on. If you aren’t able to attend the Office Hours, I hope you’ll join me on the phone for a Telephone Town Hall on July 27. To sign up visit my websitehere, and to find out more information on these events you can visit my Facebook page by clicking below.
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