Well, it's now official, John Boehner is giving himself all the credit, the Speaker of the House circulated a memo to Republicans
praising himself (can you believe this?) for leading America to the
sequester, which he now owns, by his own pen. Yeah, thanks a lot dude.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Bernie Sanders on Too Big To Jail
Bernie Sanders never rests, and now he is proposing we actually do something about the threats to our economy. I hope he finally gets some support from the administration that seems more concerned with protecting the Too Big To Jail crowd.
Sanders said his bill would give Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew 90 days to make a list of commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds and insurance companies that he deems too big to fail. One year later, the Treasury Department would be required to break up those financial institutions identified by the secretary.
“If an institution is too big to fail, it is too big to exist,” Sanders said.
Sanders said his bill would give Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew 90 days to make a list of commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds and insurance companies that he deems too big to fail. One year later, the Treasury Department would be required to break up those financial institutions identified by the secretary.
“If an institution is too big to fail, it is too big to exist,” Sanders said.
EPA assualted by usual suspects
The folks beholden to Big Oil are making noise about a new EPA proposal to reduce sulfur content in gasoline, saving billions in future health costs, but of course Republicans screamed and Fox News is leading the charge. Here is another less strident news story on the subject.
"The proposal, released Friday morning, aims to reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent in 2017. The agency claimed the change would save lives and cut down significantly on respiratory ailments by making the air cleaner. The so-called Tier 3 standards would reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent and reduce nitrogen oxides by 80 percent, by expanding across the country a standard already in place in California. For states, the regulation will make it easier to comply with health-based standards for the main ingredient in smog and soot. For automakers, the regulation allows them to sell the same autos in all 50 states."
The EPA estimated a penny / gallon price increase but the oil lobby has a different tune - "Increases in gas prices disproportionately hurt the nation's most vulnerable individuals and families -- with $4 dollar a gallon gas the norm in many parts of the country, we cannot afford policies that knowingly raises gas prices," Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said in a statement. His puppet-masters at the American Petroleum Institute are big lobbyists (spent $7.3 Million in 2012 alone) and they said ""There is a tsunami of federal regulations coming out of the EPA that could put upward pressure on gasoline prices," American Petroleum Institute official Bob Greco said. The industry, as well as some in Congress, had urged a delay in the proposed rule.". They have been crying wolf for years and Fact Check routinely has to debunk their hype.
"The proposal, released Friday morning, aims to reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent in 2017. The agency claimed the change would save lives and cut down significantly on respiratory ailments by making the air cleaner. The so-called Tier 3 standards would reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent and reduce nitrogen oxides by 80 percent, by expanding across the country a standard already in place in California. For states, the regulation will make it easier to comply with health-based standards for the main ingredient in smog and soot. For automakers, the regulation allows them to sell the same autos in all 50 states."
The EPA estimated a penny / gallon price increase but the oil lobby has a different tune - "Increases in gas prices disproportionately hurt the nation's most vulnerable individuals and families -- with $4 dollar a gallon gas the norm in many parts of the country, we cannot afford policies that knowingly raises gas prices," Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said in a statement. His puppet-masters at the American Petroleum Institute are big lobbyists (spent $7.3 Million in 2012 alone) and they said ""There is a tsunami of federal regulations coming out of the EPA that could put upward pressure on gasoline prices," American Petroleum Institute official Bob Greco said. The industry, as well as some in Congress, had urged a delay in the proposed rule.". They have been crying wolf for years and Fact Check routinely has to debunk their hype.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Something free and amazingly good
I stumbled onto a service called Credit Karma, and it is truly amazing. It gives you all the information available from all credit reporting services, and it does it in an easily understood format. Not only that, it tracks your credit / insurance scores over time. Not only is free a very good price, I'd pay for it if I had to.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Are You a National Security Threat?
If you have been deemed to be of interest to any government, don't expect anyone to let you know you're being investigated. The FBI has issued thousands of requests every year for information held by Google and Microsoft, and nobody can reveal who or what is being investigated. I read a story in PC Magazine that portrayed the number of requests as trivial, why it's barely .02% of all users. That may sound like practically nothing, but the numbers are frightening to me.
"Microsoft received 75,378 requests for user data in 2012 from U.S. and foreign governments, and fulfilled a little over 80 percent of the requests" they go on to say "The requests potentially impacted 137,424 accounts ... Interestingly, the bulk of requests came from foreign governments, with just a mere 11,073 requests from the U.S. government."
May I quibble with the use of the word "mere" in describing over 11,000 requests in 2012? That's about 30 requests a day in the US that they claim are necessary to protect the country. That sounds like an extreme number to me, and much more indicative of fishing expeditions rather than targeted investigating. We'll never know who those people are, but given the rate of charges being filed, maybe twenty or so a year, they're casting a pretty wide net.
See this article discussing terrorism cases brought to trial in the 10 years following 9/11. "Of the nearly 200 most serious terrorism cases brought to court since the September 11 attacks, some 178 have ended in convictions, either through a guilty plea or a jury's decision, according to an Associated Press review of government documents and interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys." .
"Critics say the conviction rate is boosted by the Justice Department's overly broad definition of terrorism, as well as reluctance by jurors to acquit on such serious charges, and defendants' acceptance of plea bargains because of fear of going to trial.".
A Federal judge just ruled that the FBI use of "National Security Letters" were unconstitutional, but the Obama Administration will appeal that.
"Microsoft received 75,378 requests for user data in 2012 from U.S. and foreign governments, and fulfilled a little over 80 percent of the requests" they go on to say "The requests potentially impacted 137,424 accounts ... Interestingly, the bulk of requests came from foreign governments, with just a mere 11,073 requests from the U.S. government."
May I quibble with the use of the word "mere" in describing over 11,000 requests in 2012? That's about 30 requests a day in the US that they claim are necessary to protect the country. That sounds like an extreme number to me, and much more indicative of fishing expeditions rather than targeted investigating. We'll never know who those people are, but given the rate of charges being filed, maybe twenty or so a year, they're casting a pretty wide net.
See this article discussing terrorism cases brought to trial in the 10 years following 9/11. "Of the nearly 200 most serious terrorism cases brought to court since the September 11 attacks, some 178 have ended in convictions, either through a guilty plea or a jury's decision, according to an Associated Press review of government documents and interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys." .
"Critics say the conviction rate is boosted by the Justice Department's overly broad definition of terrorism, as well as reluctance by jurors to acquit on such serious charges, and defendants' acceptance of plea bargains because of fear of going to trial.".
A Federal judge just ruled that the FBI use of "National Security Letters" were unconstitutional, but the Obama Administration will appeal that.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Telecommuting Congress?
It makes so much sense, it must be a satire by The Onion, but no, it is for real. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) wants to create a "virtual Congress," where
lawmakers would leverage videoconferencing and other remote work
technology to conduct their daily duties in Washington from their home
districts.
“Thanks to modern technology, members of Congress can debate, vote, and carry out their constitutional duties without having to leave the accountability and personal contact of their congressional districts. Keeping legislators closer to the people we represent would pull back Washington's curtain and allow constituents to see and feel, first-hand, their government at work,"
I can't believe a Republican proposed it first. I'm writing my Congressmen to tell them to go for it.
“Thanks to modern technology, members of Congress can debate, vote, and carry out their constitutional duties without having to leave the accountability and personal contact of their congressional districts. Keeping legislators closer to the people we represent would pull back Washington's curtain and allow constituents to see and feel, first-hand, their government at work,"
I can't believe a Republican proposed it first. I'm writing my Congressmen to tell them to go for it.
Wyden and ACLU on GPS tracking
The US government, its agencies and your local police all can track your cell phone GPS location without getting any warrant or making a case before a judge that you pose a risk of committing a crime. Ron Wyden, along with two Republican Co-Sponsors have introduced legislation to correct that. Needless to say the US Department of Justice opposes the idea. That's the same folks who justified killing anybody in the Mid-East with Drones, which may soon be showing up in a neighborhood near you if they have their way.
Peter DeFazio Tax Proposal
Wall Street is unrepentant for wrecking our economy, but they may have to finally ante up some cash in taxes if the DeFazio bill proposing a Financial Transaction Tax (based on .03% on the value of stock trades) becomes law. Based on the principle of taxing something you have too much of, it makes sense to tax the extreme short-term thinking that rules wall street. A group of 1,000 economists from all the major countries in the G20 proposed just such a tax last year.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Only in America, what were they thinking?
The Saint Helens Girls Softball League needed to raise money, so they brainstormed on ideas, and came up with the idea of a raffle of an AR-15 assault rifle to raise money for the girls, aged 8 to 16. The assault rifle was donated by a good samaritan. On their website, the Amateur Softball Association of America lists the sales of magazine, cookie dough, jerky and lollipops as ways to raise money for teams. Assault rifles are not a preferred fund raising product.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Oregon Infrastructure Report Card
The American Society of Civil Engineers does an Infrastructure Report Card every five years, including a State by State breakdown. They give letter grades on the condition of the infrastructure and how well we are maintaining it. The overall national grade is a fairly depressing D+. The Oregon grade is C-, pretty much in line with the nation.
US Rep Peter Defazio (OR-D) reacted to the report in a press release stating
“Over the next seven years, we have a projected deficit of about $1.6 trillion in our infrastructure system if nothing changes. That’s as much money as the unnecessary war in Iraq cost us. According to ASCE, if we don’t address this investment gap in our infrastructure, by 2020 our economy will lose $1 trillion in business sales, $3.1 trillion in Gross Domestic Product, and 3.5 million jobs will be lost. If we want to maintain economic growth and international competitiveness, we are going to have to do a lot better than a near-failing ‘D+’,” .
DeFazio’s floor speech can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnIvLGNhtc
The Oregon report noted a few alarming things.
US Rep Peter Defazio (OR-D) reacted to the report in a press release stating
“Over the next seven years, we have a projected deficit of about $1.6 trillion in our infrastructure system if nothing changes. That’s as much money as the unnecessary war in Iraq cost us. According to ASCE, if we don’t address this investment gap in our infrastructure, by 2020 our economy will lose $1 trillion in business sales, $3.1 trillion in Gross Domestic Product, and 3.5 million jobs will be lost. If we want to maintain economic growth and international competitiveness, we are going to have to do a lot better than a near-failing ‘D+’,” .
DeFazio’s floor speech can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnIvLGNhtc
The Oregon report noted a few alarming things.
- 433 of the 7,633 bridges in Oregon (5.7%) are considered structurally deficient.
- 1,341 of the 7,633 bridges in Oregon (17.6%) are considered functionally obsolete.
- Driving on roads in need of repair costs Oregon motorists $495 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $173 per motorist.
- 65% of Oregon’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Big Tobacco will come out swinging
NYC mayor Bloomberg is ready to take on restricting the display of cigarettes in stores.
The mayor of a tiny village that tried to ban stores from displaying cigarettes has a message for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he attempts to do the same thing.
Good luck.
Mayor Michael Kohut, of the Village of Haverstraw in upstate New York, said the town board had to repeal its ordinance after Big Tobacco came after them with a federal lawsuit that would have cost the community -- population 11,000 -- hundreds of thousands in legal fees.
"They brought their full forces to bear and it was going to be a long, drawn-out, expensive process." Kohut said Tuesday. "I said unless someone wants to pay for this, I can't pass this onto my village."
As part of the settlement, the town rescinded an ordinance that would have forced retailers to keep tobacco products out of public view. The tobacco lobby has said it might use "political" means to fight the NYC action, meaning they'll bankroll a campaign for a more tobacco-friendly city official for anyone coming up for election.
In Haverstraw, the mayor will be watching closely -- and rooting for Bloomberg.
"If the city prevails, I would think you would see a flood of communities pass something like this," Kohut said. "We’d be happy to pick up the gauntlet."
The mayor of a tiny village that tried to ban stores from displaying cigarettes has a message for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he attempts to do the same thing.
Good luck.
Mayor Michael Kohut, of the Village of Haverstraw in upstate New York, said the town board had to repeal its ordinance after Big Tobacco came after them with a federal lawsuit that would have cost the community -- population 11,000 -- hundreds of thousands in legal fees.
"They brought their full forces to bear and it was going to be a long, drawn-out, expensive process." Kohut said Tuesday. "I said unless someone wants to pay for this, I can't pass this onto my village."
As part of the settlement, the town rescinded an ordinance that would have forced retailers to keep tobacco products out of public view. The tobacco lobby has said it might use "political" means to fight the NYC action, meaning they'll bankroll a campaign for a more tobacco-friendly city official for anyone coming up for election.
In Haverstraw, the mayor will be watching closely -- and rooting for Bloomberg.
"If the city prevails, I would think you would see a flood of communities pass something like this," Kohut said. "We’d be happy to pick up the gauntlet."
Monday, March 18, 2013
The strange story of Beda Singenberger and the IRS
A recent news story is making the rounds that says a Swiss Financial Advisor who was helping US citizens hide money from the IRS accidentally sent a list of his clients to somebody in the US and, again accidentally, it ended up in the hands of the US Dept of Justice which started prosecuting the 60 people on the list. Those people had concealed over $184 million of wealth from the tax man, and now they're going to pay up.
There is one person who thinks the story is a smoke screen, and I think his version is more probably correct than the official story. The US probably put the squeeze on the Swiss Bankers involved and they coughed up the list of clients, but they needed a cover story to avoid being in violation of Swiss laws, so the list turned up "accidentally".
Beda Singenberger is also charged by US authorities, but for the moment he is basking in Switzerland and not likely to be tried in the US. Singenberger, who lives in Zurich, was charged in New York federal court in July 2011 with conspiracy to cheat the IRS.
There is one person who thinks the story is a smoke screen, and I think his version is more probably correct than the official story. The US probably put the squeeze on the Swiss Bankers involved and they coughed up the list of clients, but they needed a cover story to avoid being in violation of Swiss laws, so the list turned up "accidentally".
Beda Singenberger is also charged by US authorities, but for the moment he is basking in Switzerland and not likely to be tried in the US. Singenberger, who lives in Zurich, was charged in New York federal court in July 2011 with conspiracy to cheat the IRS.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Congress wants labeling of genetically modified foods.
You have no idea today if you are eating natural or Genetically Modified Food or not, it isn't required that you do know. At least a few members of congress think you have a right to know. What do you think?
Lobbyists protecting criminals
The meat / poultry industry is constantly rocked by animal welfare investigators taking videos of blatant animal abuse, unsafe food handling and criminal cover-ups. So what does industry do about this? Why they do the natural thing, they try to pass laws against the whistle-blowers and concerned citizens by making it illegal to take photographs at a farming operation, that's what they do.
They have their Lobbyists getting bills introduced to protect the criminals. Some make it a crime for someone such as an animal welfare advocate to lie on an application to get a job at a plant.
Bills pending in California, Nebraska and Tennessee require that anyone collecting evidence of abuse turn it over to law enforcement within 24 to 48 hours — which advocates say does not allow enough time to document illegal activity under federal humane handling and food safety laws. In Indiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania it would be a crime to make videos at agricultural operations. The legislation is being pushed by the corrupt business lobby at ALEC, the agency that makes legislators get aligned with mega corporations wishes. ALEC has labeled those who interfere with animal operations "terrorists," though a spokesman said he wishes now that the organization had called its legislation the "Freedom to Farm Act" rather than the "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act."
Disgusting is the only word that comes to my mind.
They have their Lobbyists getting bills introduced to protect the criminals. Some make it a crime for someone such as an animal welfare advocate to lie on an application to get a job at a plant.
Bills pending in California, Nebraska and Tennessee require that anyone collecting evidence of abuse turn it over to law enforcement within 24 to 48 hours — which advocates say does not allow enough time to document illegal activity under federal humane handling and food safety laws. In Indiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania it would be a crime to make videos at agricultural operations. The legislation is being pushed by the corrupt business lobby at ALEC, the agency that makes legislators get aligned with mega corporations wishes. ALEC has labeled those who interfere with animal operations "terrorists," though a spokesman said he wishes now that the organization had called its legislation the "Freedom to Farm Act" rather than the "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act."
Disgusting is the only word that comes to my mind.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
When the "Big One" hits Oregon, 10,000 could die
There is an earthquake advisory group in Oregon, officially the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission, that in February 2013 published a study of Oregon preparedness for the "Big One" to come as a result of the potential for a 9.0 quake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The link to the study is here.
According to them, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, just off the regional coastline, produced a mega-quake in the year 1700. Seismic experts say another monster quake and tsunami are overdue. "This earthquake will hit us again," Kent Yu, an engineer and chairman of the commission, told lawmakers. "It's just a matter of how soon."
They predict over 10,000 deaths in Oregon and $32 Billion in economic damage. That's a pretty devastating scenario. Their report states "Available studies estimate fatalities ranging from 1,250 to more than 10,000 due to the combined effects of earthquake and tsunami, tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged so extensively that they will require months to years of repair, tens of thousands of displaced households, more than $30 billion in direct and indirect economic losses (close to one - fifth of Oregon’s gross state product), and more than one million dump truck loads of debris."
According to them, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, just off the regional coastline, produced a mega-quake in the year 1700. Seismic experts say another monster quake and tsunami are overdue. "This earthquake will hit us again," Kent Yu, an engineer and chairman of the commission, told lawmakers. "It's just a matter of how soon."
They predict over 10,000 deaths in Oregon and $32 Billion in economic damage. That's a pretty devastating scenario. Their report states "Available studies estimate fatalities ranging from 1,250 to more than 10,000 due to the combined effects of earthquake and tsunami, tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged so extensively that they will require months to years of repair, tens of thousands of displaced households, more than $30 billion in direct and indirect economic losses (close to one - fifth of Oregon’s gross state product), and more than one million dump truck loads of debris."
Peru bans GM foods
The Peru’s Plenary Session of the Congress made the decision and officially passed a law banning genetically modified ingredients anywhere within the country for a full decade before coming up for another review. It's good to see that Government works somewhere. Note: This decree was signed into effect on April 15th 2011.
Small Enough to Jail
Well sometimes a financial company isn't too big to jail, so we can create a category of Small Enough to Jail I guess. The latest is SAC Capital.
Jon Horvath, a former analyst at SAC Capital Advisors LP who pleaded guilty to passing illegal tips to one manager at the hedge fund, also funneled inside information to another supervisor, U.S. regulators said in a lawsuit that may help accelerate the massive criminal investigation of SAC and its founder, Steven A. Cohen.
SAC yesterday agreed to pay a record $616 million to settle SEC allegations that Sigma and another affiliate, CR Intrinsic Investors, made illegal trades using nonpublic information. SAC and the affiliates didn’t admit or deny wrongdoing in the accord. Cohen hasn’t been sued personally by the SEC or charged with a crime.
Horvath’s illegal tips helped SAC earn more than $6.4 million in profit and avoided losses, according to the SEC complaint filed yesterday. The SEC filing cited some of the same internal e-mails that were included as evidence in the criminal trial against two of Horvath’s co-defendants, Level Global Investors LP co-founder Anthony Chiasson and former Diamondback Capital Management LLC portfolio manager Todd Newman. They were convicted in December and await sentencing.
Jon Horvath, a former analyst at SAC Capital Advisors LP who pleaded guilty to passing illegal tips to one manager at the hedge fund, also funneled inside information to another supervisor, U.S. regulators said in a lawsuit that may help accelerate the massive criminal investigation of SAC and its founder, Steven A. Cohen.
SAC yesterday agreed to pay a record $616 million to settle SEC allegations that Sigma and another affiliate, CR Intrinsic Investors, made illegal trades using nonpublic information. SAC and the affiliates didn’t admit or deny wrongdoing in the accord. Cohen hasn’t been sued personally by the SEC or charged with a crime.
Horvath’s illegal tips helped SAC earn more than $6.4 million in profit and avoided losses, according to the SEC complaint filed yesterday. The SEC filing cited some of the same internal e-mails that were included as evidence in the criminal trial against two of Horvath’s co-defendants, Level Global Investors LP co-founder Anthony Chiasson and former Diamondback Capital Management LLC portfolio manager Todd Newman. They were convicted in December and await sentencing.
Manzanita Oregon
My wife and I took a short trip to Manzanita, Oregon, and found it to be a wonderful haven from the crazy world. I think every single resident has a dog, and we met them on the beach every day. Here are some more pictures of Manzanita and Cannon Beach from a few years ago.
FBI Secret spying on US citizens ruled Unconstitutional
A Federal Judge in San Francisco has sided with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and a California Telecommunications company, Credo, in declaring the secretive FBI spying authorized by the Patriot Act unconstitutional. Michael Kieschnick, chief executive of Credo Mobile, hailed the judge's
order as "the most significant court victory for our constitutional
rights since the dark day when George W Bush signed the Patriot Act".
District Judge Susan Illston held that the law unconstitutionally barred the service providers who receive the letters from discussing them publicly until the government gave them permission. That "gag rule" effectively prevented the public from debating a controversial exercise in governmental power even after any justification for the secrecy had passed, Illston ruled. She also took issue with the power the law gives the FBI to stop a court from ordering disclosure, saying it violated the Constitution's separation of powers.
Illston ordered the FBI to stop issuing national security letters and not to enforce the gag rule on any previously issued letter. But she prevented her decision from going into effect for 90 days to give the Obama administration a chance to appeal.
The FBI had gone wild since given their Secret Police powers. Google received between zero and 999 NSLs in 2009, as well as 2010, 2011, and 2012. That's not a lot of useful data, but it's more than we knew even one day ago. We are pretty sure the number is a lot bigger than zero, probably in the hundreds.
The FBI made 16,511 national-security-letter requests for information regarding 7,201 people in 2011, the latest data available. The FBI uses the letters to collect unlimited kinds of sensitive, private information, such as financial and phone records. In case you were looking the other way, The FBI made 16,511 national-security-letter requests for information regarding 7,201 people in 2011
In Oregon, Ron Wyden voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act, but tried to modify its more odious provisions, while Jeff Merkley and Earl Blumenauer voted against it on Civil Liberties grounds..
District Judge Susan Illston held that the law unconstitutionally barred the service providers who receive the letters from discussing them publicly until the government gave them permission. That "gag rule" effectively prevented the public from debating a controversial exercise in governmental power even after any justification for the secrecy had passed, Illston ruled. She also took issue with the power the law gives the FBI to stop a court from ordering disclosure, saying it violated the Constitution's separation of powers.
Illston ordered the FBI to stop issuing national security letters and not to enforce the gag rule on any previously issued letter. But she prevented her decision from going into effect for 90 days to give the Obama administration a chance to appeal.
The FBI had gone wild since given their Secret Police powers. Google received between zero and 999 NSLs in 2009, as well as 2010, 2011, and 2012. That's not a lot of useful data, but it's more than we knew even one day ago. We are pretty sure the number is a lot bigger than zero, probably in the hundreds.
The FBI made 16,511 national-security-letter requests for information regarding 7,201 people in 2011, the latest data available. The FBI uses the letters to collect unlimited kinds of sensitive, private information, such as financial and phone records. In case you were looking the other way, The FBI made 16,511 national-security-letter requests for information regarding 7,201 people in 2011
In Oregon, Ron Wyden voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act, but tried to modify its more odious provisions, while Jeff Merkley and Earl Blumenauer voted against it on Civil Liberties grounds..
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
SEC nominee made millions defending banksters
I think this story should get the "aw shit" award of the week.
Mary Jo White has made millions representing the banksters during the financial meltdown making her a blatant conflict of interest, and now she is Obama's choice for head of the SEC. She is of course lauded by Forbes (representing the creme de la creme of Wall Street) and they chortle about the alternative, "While in some cases lawyers do not manage the transition well or wisely, what is the alternative to professional movement: career government lawyers chained to their desks? Could we attract talented lawyers to public service without the freedom to reenter private practice? Would we want government lawyers who represented only one side for their entire careers?". (Translated: "Yeah, we went to the dark side, but we're good at what we do.")
She doesn't have my confidence at all.
Mary Jo White has made millions representing the banksters during the financial meltdown making her a blatant conflict of interest, and now she is Obama's choice for head of the SEC. She is of course lauded by Forbes (representing the creme de la creme of Wall Street) and they chortle about the alternative, "While in some cases lawyers do not manage the transition well or wisely, what is the alternative to professional movement: career government lawyers chained to their desks? Could we attract talented lawyers to public service without the freedom to reenter private practice? Would we want government lawyers who represented only one side for their entire careers?". (Translated: "Yeah, we went to the dark side, but we're good at what we do.")
She doesn't have my confidence at all.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Did CIA fund Bin Laden?
There is a wide belief that the CIA funded Bin Laden during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) recently repeated the claim. Many studies dispute this, and in fact there is no evidence the claim is true. It makes a great sensational statement, but technically it is false. I say technically because the US did fund the Afghan resistance fighters, many of whom later became part of the Taliban that provided refuge for Bin Laden, but Bin Laden himself received no assistance as a Saudi who traveled to Afghanistan to resist the occupation.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Ron Wyden, Civil Liberties Warrier
Most Democrats will shrink away from any criticism of President Obama no matter what the topic, but our Ron Wyden is a man of principle who calls 'em how he sees 'em. He is a tireless champion of Civil Rights and was the only Democrat to join the Rand Paul filibuster demanding more transparency on the legal justification for drone attacks. Let's give him the support he deserves.
Saving Social Security
The two politicians I admire most, Bernie Sanders and Peter DeFazio have introduced legislation to extend the Social Security tax to rich people, who only pay the tax on the first $113,700 of income, they skate free of the tax on anything they make above that, thus the richest 1% pay a miniscule contribution to Social Security. They don't contribute anything at all to Social Security or Medicare on Capital Gains income, yet another loophole for the rich. Somehow, investment income is deemed to be privileged and not taxed the same as wages. There has been discussion on remedying this, but the rich have hordes of lobbyists to prevent it.
"Only earned income (wages, self-employment income) is subject to social security and medicare tax. Passive and investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rents and royalties) are only subject to federal and state income tax."
"Only earned income (wages, self-employment income) is subject to social security and medicare tax. Passive and investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rents and royalties) are only subject to federal and state income tax."
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Rand Paul scores a victory
Almost everybody (except Ron Wyden and a smattering of Republican Senators) in Washington thought the filibuster by Rand Paul was a Don Quixote gesture, but he actually garnered quite a big score when he got a direct reply from Eric Holder of the DOJ. The note was short and to the point.
"It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?'" Holder wrote Paul.
"The answer to that question is no."
Paul declared he was satisfied with Holder's note, adding on CNN "it took a root canal to get it"
"It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?'" Holder wrote Paul.
"The answer to that question is no."
Paul declared he was satisfied with Holder's note, adding on CNN "it took a root canal to get it"
Bank Prosecution-Free Zone
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and the Senate Banking Committee are making a lot of noise about big banks never being prosecuted, but yet Eric Holder has not been moved to action. What does it take to wake them up? My own thought is that the inquiry should go to President Obama and he should justify his administrations acceptance of criminal money laundering for drug lords and other criminals.
Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee he was
concerned that the size of some banks had made prosecuting them
difficult because their downfall could damage the financial system and
economy.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) contended that this claim
suggested that "we have a prosecution-free zone for large banks in
America." "Does this create a fundamental concern about a fair system of justice across America?" he asked.
"Yes," responded Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
BP, Transocean and Haliburton
It's a court fight that may consume billions in just lawyer costs, and many more billions in penalties, call it BP round two. The negligence that led up to the destruction of the Deepwater Horizon, 11 deaths, and the massive 6 million gallon spill is an incredible tale in itself.
BP pleaded guilty to 14 federal charges in November, including 12 felonies, and admitted it misinterpreted the critical pressure test just before the explosion. The U.K. company agreed to pay $4 billion in fines and penalties, plus $525 million to settle a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case. BP has already paid $8.5 Billion on the oil spill cleanup, as well as other smaller claims, but the big expenses still lie ahead for somebody, and the massive companies are trying to pin the blame on each other. Some facts:
BP pleaded guilty to 14 federal charges in November, including 12 felonies, and admitted it misinterpreted the critical pressure test just before the explosion. The U.K. company agreed to pay $4 billion in fines and penalties, plus $525 million to settle a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case. BP has already paid $8.5 Billion on the oil spill cleanup, as well as other smaller claims, but the big expenses still lie ahead for somebody, and the massive companies are trying to pin the blame on each other. Some facts:
- The rig’s crew misinterpreted results of negative pressure tests done April 20, 2010, that showed the Macondo well was unstable.
- The government and spill victims say BP was over budget and behind schedule on the Macondo well, located off the Louisiana coast, prompting the company to cut corners and ignore safety tests showing the well was unstable.
- They also allege that Halliburton’s cement job was defective and that Transocean employees made missteps on the rig, including disabling safety systems, failing to maintain the installation properly and not adequately training its crew to handle a crisis.
- The judge also heard more testimony from Ronnie Sepulvado, a BP manager assigned to the Macondo project, who testified that some of the rig’s equipment, including a device used in drilling operations, was broken for about three years. The crew would “work around it,” he added. Sepulvado said he constantly raised the maintenance issue “with just about everybody on the rig,” he said.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Recent funnies
"These automatic budget cuts are serious. It could negatively affect
water and sewage services. In other words, all of America is about to
embark on a
Carnival cruise." –Conan O'Brien
"Today was Pope Benedict's last day at work. Don't be sad. All the other cardinals are buying him shots at the Vatican Applebee's." –Conan O'Brien
"Americans are bracing for this thing called the sequester – when $85 billion will be cut from almost every part of the budget. So teachers, meat inspectors, and TSA workers will all be affected. So if you're someone who teaches people how to keep bad meat off airplanes, you're really screwed." –Jimmy Fallon
"In fact, in South Africa more than two-thirds of the meat products tested contained undeclared ingredients. Or as we call that in this country, a hot dog." –Jay Leno
"The Pope said that the past few years have been very difficult for the church and at times he felt that "the lord seemed to be asleep." When asked for comment the lord said, 'You try staying awake through a Latin mass.'" –Conan O'Brien
"Today was Pope Benedict's last day at work. Don't be sad. All the other cardinals are buying him shots at the Vatican Applebee's." –Conan O'Brien
"Americans are bracing for this thing called the sequester – when $85 billion will be cut from almost every part of the budget. So teachers, meat inspectors, and TSA workers will all be affected. So if you're someone who teaches people how to keep bad meat off airplanes, you're really screwed." –Jimmy Fallon
"In fact, in South Africa more than two-thirds of the meat products tested contained undeclared ingredients. Or as we call that in this country, a hot dog." –Jay Leno
"The Pope said that the past few years have been very difficult for the church and at times he felt that "the lord seemed to be asleep." When asked for comment the lord said, 'You try staying awake through a Latin mass.'" –Conan O'Brien
Monday, March 4, 2013
Income inequality in the US
This video is an incredibly well done factual look at how income and wealth are being monopolized by the wealthiest 1% in the US. You owe it to yourself to see it.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Walmart charges cookie-eating employee with felony theft
In one of those "you gotta be kidding stories", Walmart has charged an 8-year employee with felony theft for admitting she ate about "one or two packs a week" of Oreos, taking them off the shelf and eating them on the job. Hmm, glad to see Walmart is protecting us from such dangerous felons, never mind that Walmart Mexico bribed everybody in sight and the CEO even knew about it. Of course, he never went to jail, just the Oreo thief.
Your taxes at work
Congress doesn't work very hard, they do not even work 5 days a week. They do not have a single week of 5 days scheduled, and no weekends either. Pretty cushy schedule for someone earning $174,000 / year. On the other hand, here is a list of what we're about to lose in Oregon and all across the US.
The Impacts of Sequestration
A press release from the US Senate Committee on Appropriations. It has links to documents of all agencies affected.
Republicans declare victory on taxes
As the New York Times reports, Republicans are elated about the automatic cuts about to take place. Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, said that on the whole,
he thought the spending cuts were a welcome development for which Mr.
Boehner deserves credit.
Now we know who should get the credit.
Now we know who should get the credit.
Massive US Government failure
The word "Sequestration" doesn't evoke visions of widespread calamity today, but it is a disaster in the making. This will be a worst-case outcome if it isn't reversed soon. The Obama administration hasn't made a strong enough statement on what effects will be on the poor and disabled.
Homelessness will be more widespread than it already is as HUD's estimate is that approximately 125,000 individuals and families could lose assistance, people living on the edge of homelessness will fall over the edge. HUD has sent letters to municipal housing authorities, telling officials to expect less funding for Section 8 rental assistance all across the country. FHA mortgage assistance and housing will also be affected, with a wide ripple effect in the future.
Education programs will be shredded, in Oregon, Head Start preschool, full-day kindergarten and special education are all at risk, officials said. Crater Lake, forestland firefighting, child immunizations and air traffic controllers at small airports are also likely to be affected.
Up to 766,000 - Number of health care-related jobs that could be lost or eliminated due to 2% cuts in Medicare spending under sequestration.
The reaction from Republicans is predictable. "I don't like the sequester. I think it's taking a meat ax to our government, a meat ax to many programs that will weaken our national defense," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday. But, he added, "Americans do not support sacrificing real spending cuts for more tax hikes."
We'll see, Mr Boehner, we'll see.
Homelessness will be more widespread than it already is as HUD's estimate is that approximately 125,000 individuals and families could lose assistance, people living on the edge of homelessness will fall over the edge. HUD has sent letters to municipal housing authorities, telling officials to expect less funding for Section 8 rental assistance all across the country. FHA mortgage assistance and housing will also be affected, with a wide ripple effect in the future.
Education programs will be shredded, in Oregon, Head Start preschool, full-day kindergarten and special education are all at risk, officials said. Crater Lake, forestland firefighting, child immunizations and air traffic controllers at small airports are also likely to be affected.
Up to 766,000 - Number of health care-related jobs that could be lost or eliminated due to 2% cuts in Medicare spending under sequestration.
The reaction from Republicans is predictable. "I don't like the sequester. I think it's taking a meat ax to our government, a meat ax to many programs that will weaken our national defense," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday. But, he added, "Americans do not support sacrificing real spending cuts for more tax hikes."
We'll see, Mr Boehner, we'll see.
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