Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Family Research Council Praises Veto of Hawaii 'Civil Unions' Bill

The Family Research Council today praised Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle for her veto yesterday of a bill that would have created both same-sex and opposite-sex "civil unions."

"We thank Gov. Lingle for her veto, and for recognizing that 'civil unions' are 'essentially marriage by another name,'" said Peter Sprigg, Family Research Council's Senior Fellow for Policy Studies. "Society gives benefits to marriage because marriage gives benefits to society," Sprigg noted, "and there is simply no benefit from homosexual relationships that would justify society's official affirmation of them, whether under the term 'domestic partnerships,' 'civil unions,' or 'marriage.'"

"The creation of opposite-sex civil unions in this bill as an alternative to marriage just proves that the ultimate aim of this movement is the deconstruction of marriage as a unique social institution," added Sprigg.

Sprigg expressed agreement with Lingle's criticism of the last-minute revival of the bill that led to its passage in April. Gov. Lingle declared in her veto statement, "The legislative maneuvering that brought HB 444 to an 11th hour vote, on the final day of the session, via a suspension of the rules, after legislators led the public to believe that the bill was dead, was wrong and unfair to the public they represent."

Lingle declared that the ultimate decision on this issue should be made "by all the people of Hawaii behind the curtain of the voting booth." Hawaii was one of the first states to amend its constitution to address the issue of same-sex marriage, by taking the power to redefine marriage away from judges. "Now, ideally, Hawaiians should settle this issue through a constitutional amendment permanently reserving marriage and its benefits to the union of one man and one woman," Sprigg urged.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Can anyone say "1984"???

Obama Appointee Says Price Hikes by Broadband Providers 'Raise A Red Flag' for the FCC

(CNSNews.com) - Rich or poor, disabled or healthy, young or old – the Obama administration says every American should have access to high-speed Internet in their own homes, even if it costs American taxpayers billions of dollars to accomplish that goal. On Wednesday, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, an Obama appointee, frowned on recent price hikes by broadband providers, calling it an “ominous” sign at a time when the government hopes to give all Americans access to high-speed Internet in their homes.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Senate Democrats plan jobs talk, Thursday session despite storm

Awww, doesn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy that these guys are willing to brave the storm to save jobs... You hafta wonder if they all got on a conference call:

Pelosi to Reid: "Hmm, how are we going to make ourselves look good after we've wasted a whole year on this stupid health care bill that's ruining our chances of re-election?"

Reid: "And how the heck are we going to cram the cap and tax, uh, I mean Cap & Trade, bill through when we're having out of control cold weather? I mean, you and I know the climate change crap is bunk, but the smelly masses are starting to wake up, too."

The Rahm: You guys are idiots. It's the perfect storm out there. Show 'em how tough you are, brave the storm and go act like you're working on fixing the jobs problem.

Reid: What? We're not really trying to fix the job problem?

Pelosi: Are you sure it's safe to fly?

Frank: Wimps.

Rangel: I'm in. I'm going through spending withdrawals.

Pelosi: OK, OK. I was craving a White Russian and I'm out of vodka at the house, may as well take care of two cravings at the same time... Thursday work for everyone?

Reid: Uh, OK. But if we're not really trying to create some jobs what are we really doing guys?

The Rahm: Who elected this doof anyway?

Frank: Did someone say spend money????

A day without politicians in Washington is a day without out-of-control spending and ridiculous efforts to try and make themselves look good to the American voter (impossible, but it's fun to watch). Sadly, these guys are pushing the limits to try and look like they really care... which means on Thursday they'll be back to doing what they like to do best, spending our money. Do you think we should consider starting up a "Politicians Anonymous" for these out-of-control, spending addicted fools? Or maybe Political Power Anonymous? Whatcha want to bet that the next thing we see are won't-work bills with high-dollar price tags from this bunch???

Senate Democrats plan jobs talk, Thursday session despite storm
By J. Taylor Rushing
Senate Democratic leaders on Wednesday were planning to plow ahead with a session on Thursday despite a blizzard blanketing the Washington area. Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/80599-senate-democrats-plan-jobs-talk-thursday-session-despite-storm

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Ahhh... how fast they backtrack, twist and turn

Obama Seeks Revision of Plan’s Abortion Limits
President Obama suggested Monday that he was not comfortable with abortion restrictions inserted into the House version of major health care legislation, and he prodded Congress to revise them. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/health/policy/10health.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1257861630-KWoOSd0ZZph1Is4Dpm4pUA

Anyone surprised????

Thursday, November 5, 2009

CREW Asks for Investigation Into Why Wall Street is Getting H1N1 Vaccine Ahead of Those Who Most Need It

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to investigate why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved the distribution of the H1NI vaccine to Wall Street firms at a time when the vaccine is unavailable to most Americans.

Recent news reports indicate 13 companies, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Time Warner, have been cleared to receive the vaccine.

The CDC is distributing the much sought-after vaccine to Wall Street firms despite reports of vast shortages. In fact, just yesterday CDC Director Thomas Frieden informed Congress that only 32.3 million doses are available, far less than the 159 million needed to cover those at the highest risk. Given the scarce supply, the CDC has recommended the vaccine be directed only to those at highest risk: pregnant women, infants and children and those up to 24 years, those who care for infants, health and emergency services personnel, and adults with compromised immune systems or other chronic health problems.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today, “Although CREW has been unable to uncover the demographic makeup of Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and JP Morgan Chase, it seems safe to assume the vast majority of their employees are not pregnant women, infants and children, young adults up to 24 years old, and healthcare workers.”

State officials are concerned about the shortages. The head of Alabama’s Department of Public Health testified that 62% of the vaccines ordered by the state will not be available until after December 1, 2009 and the director of Minnesota’s St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health said he is expecting only 7,800 doses for more than 20,000 children. Los Angeles County’s three public hospitals ordered 110,000 vaccines, but have received only about 18,000 doses, and UCLA’s two hospitals received 1,000 doses for 10,000 staff and 35,000 patients.

This situation is echoed around the country, leaving most of those seeking the vaccine unable to receive it with no remedy in sight. Frieden admitted, “It is quite likely the current wave of influenza will peak, crest and begin to decline before there are ample supplies of the vaccine.”

Sloan said, “In what world do Wall Street employees deserve to be vaccinated ahead of high-risk children, pregnant women and health care workers? Unfortunately, for the thousands being turned away in clinics across America, the CDC has decided to prioritize the millionaires over the masses. The public has a right to know how and why this has happened and when it will stop.” Sloan continued, “First, the bailout, then the bonuses, now the vaccine. When will Washington start putting the needs of Main Street above those of Wall Street?”
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/43232

Friday, October 23, 2009

From The "Having Your Cake and Eating It Too" Department

It never ceases to amaze me how our elected representatives can rationalize away even the most blinding glimpses of idiotic economic logic.

Case in point occurs in a story reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press this week titled "A rare condition in Minnesota - a bipartisan agreement. [Click here]"

What caused this miracle of cooperation? -- the move by the Senate Democrats to approve a $40 billion fee on medical device makers over the next ten years.

According to the pioneer press, fourteen Democratic senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other top Democrats recently, including our own Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, urging them to moderate the levy [on medical devices], which they said will "threaten the existence of some manufacturers" and cause "significant job reductions" for those that remain."

"The issue here is that these are very good jobs in our state and in our country," Klobuchar said in an interview with the Pioneer Press, acknowledging that she is among a group of "strange bedfellows" rallying around the industry. "You want to be very careful when you start assessing taxes on an industry like this."

Really? Does the economic principle that excessive taxes "threaten the existence of some manufacturers" and cause "significant job reductions" for those that remain only apply to medical device manufacturers? Is that principle somehow suspended when we tax other industries and their employees?

Democrat or Republican, legislators can't have it both ways. Either excessive taxation is bad for business or it is not. Either it puts businesses at risk or it doesn't. It threatens people's livelihood or it doesn't. The principles of economics, specifically the impact of excessive taxation, can't be suspended on a whim any more than one can repeal the law a gravity to combat obesity.

And while conservative Republicans will shake their heads at obvious irony of the irony-deaf Klobuchar, let us not forget the "interest-group liberalism" [Click here ] inherent in the "Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act," which included Eric Paulsen's amendment ensuring benefits for veterans were attached to a bill that also included specific government largess for women, Native Americans and a new grant program for Small Business Development Centers. Seems that "stimulus" is okay when it stimulates the right people.

When elected officials get to have their cake and eat it too, only the government gets fat.

Craig Westover is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Minnesota Free Market Institute

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Rats who attack America

The rats who go after our military wanting them to publicize photos of alleged abuse of prisoners --- when those who perpetrated the nastiness have already been punished --- are the kind of people who would collaborate against our country with any regime that wanted to take over and abuse US.

What's the purpose? To make our soldiers, to make Americans look bad.

These slimy rats go after our guys for the tiniest thing but don't have anything to say when our guys are beheaded or tortured.

These dirt bag ratty rats may not just be the kind who our enemies love. They use them, fire them up, fill their nasty rat brains with garbage and then set them free to wreak havoc.

Rats. Stinking slimy rats.