From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 10:59:34 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:59:34 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] The Senate health care bill: no improvement Message-ID: <1eff01ca6ac3$9ec380a0$dc4a81e0$@com> It is here that Mary Landrieu can be hailed as a hero or cave-in toward a socialist movement. If she votes to extend to discussion expect her next election to be as a socialist or moderate. If as a socialist, she will lose the election in Louisiana to a more conservative opponent. She's done. Thinking she can squeeze into the 60 socialist democrats today to bring discussions can only mean she'll help lose the battle for conservatives trying to get Health reforms done the proper way. If she does cave in in order to be bought out by the 100 million she hopes to bring to Louisiana in exchange for government and American system collapse--she helps bring to America a new form of government in America. It's that crucial. Imagine the political bribery going on for the sake of making the 3 stooges in government thrilled. The future can be bleak. No, the future if directed toward that end changes in a worse way than what Katrina did to us. Katrina was a temporary setback by comparison. Socialism and "change" is more permanent. --jer-- From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 10:59:58 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:59:58 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Greater New Orleans Tea Party Message-ID: <1f0001ca6ac3$ace1da10$06a58e30$@com> Too late. They shut down all on Saturdays. A planned doomsday machine. Mary (aka Judas) Landrieu has taken the easy way out if she votes with her socialist comrades. ..leads conservatives with hope through the wilderness and doesn't tell them about the huge hole covered with palm branches and filled with deadly bamboo stakes. Doesn't look good (unless she's got a conscience). --jer-- From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:20:47 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:20:47 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] For Sale: Message-ID: <1f0101ca6ac6$95547710$bffd6530$@com> Again, was this "tasteless bit of humor" necessary? --jer-- ----------------------------------------------------- For Sale: One (1) Wife, slightly used, 1964 Model Needs muffler, as it is currently VERY LOUD. Intake valve is stuck in the open position. Rear end needs major overhaul. A crack there has grown monstrously large. Needs re-wiring. Many wires are currently crossed. Lots of little dings in the body, which have been covered up with too much paint in a failed effort at camouflaging them. Needs re-upholstering. Carpet has turned a dingy gray. Needs front-end work--Headlights are too close to the ground, and fenders are too far apart. May not pass emissions test, as it currently produces foul clouds of malodorous gases on a regular basis, Heater works great. Hot air is never in short supply.. Asking $500 or trade for 1984 model. From westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:33:20 2009 From: westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:33:20 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Board balks at Boasso ruling Message-ID: <1f0801ca6ac8$56431200$02c93600$@com> Board balks at Boasso ruling Ethics decision raises tension By MARSHA SHULER Advocate Capitol News Bureau Published: Nov 21, 2009 - Page: 12A The Louisiana Board of Ethics refused Friday to ratify a ruling by an administrative law judge panel in a campaign finance disclosure case involving Walter Boasso, a candidate in the 2007 governor?s race. Board members said they disagree with the ruling and could not in good conscience endorse it. Instead, the Ethics Board voted 8-1 to acknowledge receipt of the ethics adjudicatory panel?s ruling. The vote heightens a conflict stemming from the 2008 transfer of judicial powers from the board to separate administrative law judge panels. The power transfer was part of Gov. Bobby Jindal?s ethics revamp. Ethics Board member Blake Monrose, the lone objector, said the board would violate state law if it did not approve the Boasso ruling. ?While I personally disagree with what the Ethics Adjudicatory Board did in the Boasso decision, we are required to adopt it within 45 days of a decision,? said Monrose, of Lafayette. An administrative law judge panel found the campaign of Boasso ? a former state senator who came in second in the election Jindal won ? violated the campaign finance disclosure law when it failed to accurately report $1.2 million in spending. But the panel said the Ethics Board did not consistently enforce the law and reduced the fine to $5 a day for each day the accurate report detailing media spending was not submitted. That came to a total fine of $230 ? far short of the $2,500 maximum find that could have been imposed. Ethics Board member Scott Schneider, of Mandeville, said the $5 a day fine is problematic because it could be precedent-setting for future cases of nondisclosure of campaign spending. Board chairman Frank Simoneaux, of Baton Rouge, said legal counsel also was constrained in efforts to defend the ethics agency against claims of inconsistent enforcement. Boasso?s attorney presented examples of campaign finance reports of other candidates where there were similar omissions but no enforcement action had taken place. Ethics lawyer Alesia Ardoin had objected to introduction of the materials because under state law the agency could not confirm or deny it has looked into any of the campaign finance reports presented. The adjudicatory board overruled Ardoin?s objection. In other action, the Louisiana Board of Ethics on Friday: ? Decided that three Baton Rouge police officers could not accept gift certificates from Sullivan?s Steak House for res-cuing three people from a home fire. The board said state law bans a public employee from receiving anything of economic value other than their salary and benefits for the performance of their public duties. ? Ended a case involving Louis Rom, former director of Opelousas Office of Community Development. Rom agreed to pay a $1,000 civil fine for violating a state conflict of interest law. The case involved Rom?s receipt of $10,000 from the Office of Community Development for the Evangeline Caf?. ? Rejected a request by Or-leans Parish Criminal District Clerk of Court Arthur Morrell for the board to rehear an old case against him. The Ethics Board fined Morrell $5,000 in 2006 after finding he used his legislative office for personal financial gain. He exhausted court appeals in the matter. Morrell must pay the fine or the ethics agency can stop him from running for re-election when candidate sign-up opens in December. After the no vote, Morrell said he will pay the fine next week but will also push his case in court again with new information. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:38:42 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:38:42 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Recovery bonds earmarked for hurricane-ravaged parishes still have not been exhausted Message-ID: <1f0901ca6ac9$168cfdf0$43a6f9d0$@com> By Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune November 20, 2009, 6:41PM BATON ROUGE -- The parishes hardest hit from hurricanes Katrina and Rita have until the end of this year to apply for more than $1.2 billion remaining in a special pool of recovery bonds or face the prospect of losing that capacity to lesser affected storm areas, the director of the State Bond Commission said Friday. Whit Kling said that unless the bond panel changes its rules, the 11 parishes that were penciled in for $3.54 billion in Gulf Opportunity Zone Bonds after the 2005 storms may see the remaining $1.2 billion gobbled up by 20 other parishes not as badly hit by Katrina or Rita. The largest share of the unused bond capacity is in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes, which account for almost $1.1 billion of the unused $1.2 billion in bond allocation. In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes, Congress made available $7.84 billion in GO Zone bonds to Louisiana. The bonds were designed to promote recovery through private economic development through the use of low-interest, tax-exempt financing. The state divided the $7.84 billion into two pots of money: $3.54 billion for the 11 hardest hit parishes that included Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and St. Tammany parishes as well as the southwest parishes ravaged by Rita, such as Calcasieu and Cameron; and $4.298 billion for the 20 lesser affected parishes, including Livingston, East Baton Rouge, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Mary. The 11-parish pot is known as the "dedicated pool" aimed specifically at the needs of those parishes; the other 20-parish pool is known as the "competitive pool" where projects must vie against one another on a parish-by-parish basis. The competitive pool has about $170 million in bond capacity remaining out of the $4.29 billion allocated to it. If the bond panel does not change its rules, the $1 billion-plus for the 11 hard-hit parishes will be up for grabs by all parishes New Year's Day, Kling said. The remainder of the $7.8 billion bond capacity must be eaten up by the end of 2010 or will be lost, unless Congress extends the program, Kling said. "It all falls off the table on Dec. 31, 2010," he said. Kling said any project can qualify for bond use by developers except brothels, race tracks, gambling establishments and single-family homes. State Treasurer John Kennedy told members of the commission at their Thursday meeting to think about the policy or ways to change it because the end-of-year deadline is looming for use of the "dedicated pool" by the 11 parishes, Kennedy did not return calls seeking comment for this story. "The activity is happening in the competitive pool," he said. "The activity is not happening...in the dedicated pool," especially in New Orleans. Earlier this year, then-New Orleans recovery czar Ed Blakely told the Bond Commission that the city "firmly intends. . .to meet the allocation we have," roughly a $1.3 billion total. Blakely's comments came on Jan. 15 when the city still had more than $1 billion of its allocation left. Blakely has since resigned the position. Kling said that out of the $1.3 billion allocated to New Orleans, the city still has almost $849 million unused. ***St. Bernard, Kling said, was allocated about $300 million and still has not applied for $248.4 million.*** Jefferson has about $68.7 million left, and Plaquemines Parish received an allocation of $300 million, all of which has been dedicated to develop Sea Point, a proposed container cargo transfer terminal that would operate in the Mississippi River near Venice. Kling said that the money in the dedicated pool will not be lost if the rules are not changed because that money would be up for grabs by any of the 31 parishes. But all the money goes away after Dec. 31, 2010. "You have an economic slowdown, a financial crisis that has dried up easy access to capital" and problems in getting insurance to sell bonds and insure property, he said, all possible reasons why some of the money is not moving as fast as expected. **************************************************************************** *************************** What would be some of the reasons the parish has not applied for these remaining bonds? Are these under the parish's control so that something like the apt. complexes couldn't be done? What else could they be used for? Port development possibly? JY From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:47:34 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:47:34 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide /New standard to protect millions of the nation's most vulnerable citizens Message-ID: <1f1001ca6aca$534aa7a0$f9dff6e0$@com> November 17, 2009 EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide New standard to protect millions of the nation?s most vulnerable citizens WASHINGTON ? For the first time in nearly 40 years, EPA is proposing to strengthen the nation?s sulfur dioxide (SO2) air quality standard to protect public health. Power plants and other industrial facilities emit SO2 directly into the air. Exposure to SO2 can aggravate asthma, cause respiratory difficulties, and result in emergency room visits and hospitalization. People with asthma, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to SO2?s effects. ?Short-term exposures to peak SO2 levels can have significant health effects ? especially for children and the elderly ? and leave our families and taxpayers saddled with high health care costs,? said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. ?We?re strengthening clean air standards, stepping up monitoring and reporting in communities most in need, and providing the American people with protections they rightly deserve.? EPA is taking comment on a proposal to establish a new national one-hour SO2 standard, between 50 and 100 parts per billion (ppb). This standard is designed to protect against short-term exposures ranging from five minutes to 24 hours. Because the revised standards would be more protective, EPA is proposing to revoke the current 24-hour and annual SO2 health standards. EPA also is proposing changes to monitoring and reporting requirements for SO2. Monitors would be placed in areas with high SO2 emission levels as well as in urban areas. The proposal also would change the Air Quality Index to reflect the revised SO2 standards. This change would improve states? ability to alert the public when short-term SO2 levels may affect their health. The proposal addresses only the SO2 primary standards, which are designed to protect public health. EPA will address the secondary standard ? designed to protect the public welfare, including the environment ? as part of a separate proposal in 2011. EPA first set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for SO2 in 1971, establishing both a primary standard to protect health and a secondary standard to protect the public welfare. Annual average SO2 concentrations have decreased by more than 71 percent since 1980. The public comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The agency will hold a public hearing on Jan. 5, 2010 in Atlanta. EPA must issue final standards by June 2, 2010. More information about the proposal: http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide R341 Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser. View all news releases related to air issues From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:49:45 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:49:45 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] NRTW Sues Obama Administration Over Disclosure Refusals Message-ID: <1f1101ca6aca$a1919090$e4b4b1b0$@com> Foundation Files Lawsuit to Force Disclosure of Obama Administration?s Ties to Big Labor On the campaign trail in 2008 and since he took office in January, Barack Obama has repeatedly made promises of a new era of openness and transparency. So just how closely has Obama Administration stuck to that promise? It hasn?t, at least not at the Department of Labor (DOL). Yesterday, the National Right to Work Foundation filed a federal lawsuit to compel the DOL to release information related to high-ranking officials? contact with union operatives. The suit seeks disclosure of high-ranking DOL officials? connections to powerful union lobbying interests. Conflicts of interest appear to exist with regard to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, who previously held a key leadership position at the Big Labor-front group ?American Rights at Work,? and Deborah Greenfield, a DOL appointee who previously worked with the AFL-CIO to overturn the same union disclosure guidelines she now oversees. The Foundation?s Freedom at Work blog has highlighted numerous other examples of union power brokers thrust into key roles overseeing organized labor ? an apparent violation of the White House?s supposedly stringent new ethics policy. Unfortunately, a ?knock-down-drag-out? legal battle with the Obama Administration is likely to be expensive, so your generous contribution will help the Foundation pull back the veil of Big Labor?s stranglehold on the Obama White House and Department of Labor. SEIU Union Boss to Boy Scout: How Dare You Serve Your Community Union bosses will do whatever it takes to line their pockets ? including threatening to file grievances against Boy Scouts for serving their communities and reducing the ?need? for forcibly unionized government jobs. A Pennsylvania union boss railed against an eagle scout for cleaning up a public trail, and threatened to file legal actions. National Right to Work president Mark Mix explains why: ?Volunteer workers don't have to pay compulsory union dues to serve their communities, but most paid workers on public projects do...(It) is yet another example of how government-authorized compulsory union dues corrupt the political process and furnish unscrupulous union officials with an enormous incentive to act against the public interest.? Learn more on the Foundation?s blog . From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 11:50:54 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:50:54 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] The Truth V. The National Journal: You have got to bekidding Message-ID: <1f1201ca6aca$ca9f0e40$5fdd2ac0$@com> John Maggs has been following and reporting on House and Senate finance activity for decades while Adamske was still in daipers...never heard of this mouth piece "punk" Adamske, who we can all presume is a liberal mouth piece for "lollipop boy" Barney Frank. Considering the HFSC has no credibility whatsoever, I'll give the nod to Maggs that he knows better as to what's been going on over the past six months. John Scurich -----Original Message----- The Truth V. The National Journal: You have got to be kidding Washington, DC - Today, House Financial Services Committee Communications Director Steve Adamske released the following statement after reading the Nov. 21 National Journal article, "End of the Beginning," written by John Maggs: "You have got to be kidding." On page 54 of the November 21 edition, reporter John Maggs invents a "question and answer" article that discusses the status of financial regulatory reform. The article has several errors and misrepresentations that have been corrected below: National Journal: What's going on with financial regulatory reform? I know that Dodd has a new plan and that Frank is expected to move his plan out of committee soon, but I still can't tell what the administration's plan is. Why so many plans? Well, for starters, this re-regulation of finance is huge, so it is natural that everyone would want to drive the train. Primarily, though, the many approaches reflect a strategic decision by the Obama administration. Rather than come out with a fully formed plan and guide the negotiations, the president's advisers decided to let Congress work out the details. HFSC: This is 100% false. President Obama's team did indeed produce a plan. They delivered to the House Financial Services Committee and to the Senate Banking Committee a 13 title bill totaling several hundred pages, complete with legislative language, and that language is serving as the base text for our deliberations. National Journal: But didn't Obama offer a comprehensive bill over the summer? It wasn't a bill; it was called a "blueprint." It was sketchy in its details, and many of its ideas have been changed or abandoned. House and Senate Democratic leaders, for example, now say that regulation by the administration's Consumer Financial Protection Agency should be limited to the largest 10 percent of banks. Other fundamental matters were left unmentioned, such as the way to discourage big banks from taking on too much risk -- how, exactly, to avoid fostering banks that are "too big to fail" and thus take reckless risks because they believe that the government will bail them out. No plan has settled on how to avoid this problem. HFSC: 100% false again. As discussed above, while President Obama did release a blueprint in early June, he ordered his staff and the Treasury Department to produce a bill. They did. In addition, the National Journal is dead wrong to suggest that we abandoned the administration's plan. To the contrary, we are implementing the administration's plans. The National Journal is also wrong to say that the House Financial Services Committee's bill, H.R. 3126, limits the reach of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency to 10 percent of the banks. This is 100% false. All banks will be subject to the rules and regulations of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The committee only exempted independent examinations of community banks by the CFPA. In addition: * The CFPA will write the rules for all institutions on credit cards, overdraft fees, and all other aspects of financial consumer protection- none of the covered banks will be exempt in any way from these stringent new rules. * The CFPA will receive and monitor all reports on consumer exams done by the prudential regulators at a covered institution, looking for signs of non-compliance by the institution or problems in the regulator's conduct of exams. * The CFPA may at its discretion send an examiner on any exam of a covered bank, thrift or credit union. * This examiner will participate in all aspects of the exam, from design to final report writing * In an unprecedented move, the CFPA will be able to remove the prudential regulator and take over the exams itself if it finds that the regulator is not adequately pursuing or enforcing violations, or that there are other consumer problems at the bank. * Finally, the CFPA retains complete control of the consumer complaint process, and has authority to investigate and enforce against violations at any institution based on those complaints. National Journal: Isn't it typical to start with a blueprint? Isn't that how President Reagan did tax reform in the 1980s? Yes, but it's not typical to be as disengaged as the Obama administration seems to be this late in the game. The White House said all along that it wants to complete the reform process this year, and even though it has pushed Congress to vote on the legislation, it opposes some aspects of both chambers' bills. That rush apparently was at least partly responsible for a rift between Dodd and the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. HFSC: 100% wrong again. The staff of the House Financial Services Committee has been in regular contact with White House staff and the Treasury Department. It is a complete lie to say the Obama administration has been disengaged. National Journal: Why did the White House proceed this way, without firm positions? For reasons of style and necessity. On the style point, it should be clear from health care that in implementing his agenda, Obama seems to prefer leaving the details to Congress. His style simply differs from that of past presidents, who have led negotiations rather than let congressional leaders take charge. To cite Obama's predecessors, the Bush team was deeply involved in lining up votes and twisting arms to pass his 2001 tax cut; President Clinton did the same in ending Cold War trade restrictions on China. That doesn't seem to be how this White House likes to do things. HFSC: Again 100% wrong. They have firm positions and they have worked with us every step of the way - the National Journal just never bothered to find out. National Journal: What about necessity -- why did the administration have to start out that way? Because even as late as June, Obama's advisers hadn't decided what to do, and in many ways, they still haven't. HFSC: Again 100% wrong. The administration brought to us a bill composed of 13 titles and hundreds of pages which has served as the base text. Of course we have changed things, but this is normal in the course of legislating. We have worked with them every step of the way. National Journal: You've got to be kidding. As with every phase of the financial crisis, the government was improvising, trying to stay ahead of events. Arguably, Obama had good reasons for moving forward with something on financial regulation, even if the proposal was incomplete. He had to send the message to the global financial system that there was a plan, some process, to avert a recurrence of the kind of crisis that took hold in 2008 and shut down bank lending. Five months after the inauguration, after an $787 billion stimulus plan, and after deciding that health care would be his focus in 2009, it just wasn't possible to re-design financial regulation in a few weeks. On the other hand, deliberating for months internally, with rumors and details leaking out, could have destabilized the markets. HFSC: No, you have got to be kidding. As has been discussed in several parts of this rebuttal, the Obama administration within five months of taking office produced a blueprint for reform, and two months after that, produced an extensive, 13 title bill that has served as the base text for our deliberations. National Journal: Wasn't politics a big reason for the haste? Without some plan, Republicans would have spent the past five months complaining that "Obama is wasting time on socialist health care and neglecting financial reform." Of course politics was a big factor. History will have to judge whether Obama's push on health care led him to neglect more-important matters. With or without health legislation, however, it would have been impossible for Obama to decide fundamental questions of financial regulatory reform so quickly. For one thing, the financial industry was unprepared and hadn't sorted out what it would and would not accept. The White House couldn't take a final stand on matters without getting the banks and other financial institutions on board. The months since June have really been a feeling-out process for both sides. HFSC: 100% wrong again. The Obama administration has been engaged on all issues of financial regulation reform, producing direction and producing a bill. The Obama administration has not neglected this effort. National Journal: So banks are holding up this process? That's too simplistic. In our system, where banks and other moneyed interests finance every congressional campaign, banks have a seat at the table. There are other considerations, but it would be silly to pretend that such a large industry has no role. As with health care, the Obama team needed time to determine which parts of the financial industry could kill the process and which parts could be co-opted. For example, after the House's hearings it became clear that smaller banks, with a presence in every congressional district, weren't willing to go along with the consumer protection agency proposal. Administration officials could see that the largest 10 percent of banks accounted for 80 percent of lending, so they let the bottom 90 percent off the hook. It took time to make this judgment, and there are many more to make. HFSC: 100% wrong again. Banks are not "off the hook" when it comes to consumer protection. As discussed above, all banks are subject to the rules and regulations of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. We only exempted independent examinations of community banks and credit unions from the CFPA. All other rules apply to all banks. National Journal: Well, where is the process now? Isn't the House going to be voting on the Frank bill in a few weeks? Obviously, the bill won't be finished this year, considering that the Senate plan was unveiled a week and a half ago and is fundamentally different from the House version. The question is whether the process is near the end or much closer to the beginning, and there are signs that it is much closer to the beginning. HFSC: The House will vote on the reform in mid-December and the Senate is currently marking up their version. National Journal: What signs? Among the differences between the chambers' proposals, the Senate plan is predicated on a really big change--taking all bank regulation away from the Federal Reserve Board and creating a powerful agency to assume the Fed's role in managing the stability of the financial system, both domestically and internationally. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is against this, and so are Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economics adviser Lawrence Summers. This conflict is too fundamental to sort out in routine conference negotiations. Other issues aren't as complicated -- whether to merge two small agencies or four, for example. But some other basic matters remain undecided. HFSC: Issues are too fundamental to sort our in routine conference negotiations? Says who? You? How else will the differences between the House and Senate be decided? National Journal: Such as? Such as the whole point of financial regulation. Before the crisis, the government implicity guaranteed that it would do whatever was necessary to prevent the collapse of the financial system. Today, that guarantee is explicit, and it will be codified in this financial regulatory overhaul. The problem is, no one has decided how to guarantee the solvency of giant banks without encouraging the kinds of risky behavior that caused the crisis. How do you prevent the emergence of banks that are too big? There are ideas -- Dodd would use an exotic kind of bond to keep banks in line -- but no decisions. Likewise on derivatives, the privately traded securities that allowed insurance giant American International Group to almost wreck the global financial system. To sum up the House and Senate action on derivatives, the government is still in the early stages of determining how derivatives will be regulated. HFSC: On the too big to fail issue, I would encourage you to read the excellent coverage by Bill Swindell in today's (Nov. 20) CongressDaily of our committee's deliberations on the Kanjorski amendment, and continue reading CongressDaily on page 8 on the Gutierrez amendment. Our whole effort, from regulating subprime mortgages to reining in derivatives and ending bailouts, is to ensure that the taxpayers never again have to foot the bill for other people's lousy business decisions. National Journal: When is this going to get done? A bill could be enacted by June, but it is also easy to see action slipping past the fall 2010 election. Obama wants to get reform done to claim credit for Democrats, but Republican opposition is arguably as strong as it is on health care, and the GOP is confident that it will have larger numbers in 2011. The president was able to shorten the customary reform timetable when it came to health care, and perhaps he can do so on financial regulation as well. Big reforms usually take time, however -- Reagan embraced tax reform in 1984, but it was 1986 before it came to a vote. Ironically, as the financial system recovers, the pressure for reform lessens. Dodd, in a tough re-election fight, could be crucial if he seeks to finish action in time to impress voters. He might force a partisan vote this fall to get the issue off his plate, but that might hinder compromises in the final stages. HFSC: Wrong. Chairman Frank and Chairman Dodd are committed to making financial reform a reality as soon as possible. The American people have waited long enough for meaningful reforms, and they do not deserve to wait any longer. National Journal: It sounds like I should bet on this taking a lot more time. With big reforms, that's usually a good bet. HFSC: We certainly wish the National Journal would take its time to do some quality reporting. ### From westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 12:00:07 2009 From: westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:07 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Sen. Landrieu to host New Orleans fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Message-ID: <1f1601ca6acc$14479a70$3cd6cf50$@com> Sen. Landrieu to host New Orleans fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid By Robert Travis Scott, The Times-Picayune November 20, 2009, 9:11AM Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., will host a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in New Orleans next month, an event that comes on the heels of Reid's assistance getting Louisiana a windfall of Medicaid money in the health care reform bill. The event was planned "several weeks ago," according to Landrieu's office. She and political consultant James Carville will host a brunch on Dec. 12 at the St. Charles Avenue home of David Voelker, an investor who chairs the Louisiana Recovery Authority and was a supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Reid is leading Senate Democrats in an effort to pass a revamp of the nation's health care system that is strongly opposed by Republicans. He also faces a tough re-election bid in 2010. As a moderate Democrat with reservations about the public-option health insurance program and other elements of the bill, Landrieu has been courted heavily to help pass the legislation with both procedural and direct votes on the measure. She has not said which side she will take on a key vote expected Saturday to let the Senate start debate on the bill. With help from Reid, the health care bill provides Louisiana with between $100 million and $300 million in Medicaid financing for fiscal 2011. The money would help refill a large decrease in Medicaid funding due to a new federal calculation of the Louisiana's needs based on a rise in the state's personal income levels. State health officials say the income rise was an abnormal spike due to large sums of insurance and recovery money flowing into the state after Hurricane Katrina. The fundraiser sets the entry bar for individuals at $4,800, plus $1,000 for a guest. From westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 12:02:32 2009 From: westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:02:32 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Sen. Mary Landrieu's response to improper campaign donations draws complaint Message-ID: <1f1701ca6acc$6a6ab090$3f4011b0$@com> Sen. Mary Landrieu's response to improper campaign donations draws complaint By Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune November 20, 2009, 5:37PM Sen. Mary Landrieu's old nemesis, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Friday filed a new complaint against the Louisiana Democrat -- this time with the Federal Election Commission. At issue is a $25,300 donation from the re-election campaign of Sen. Mary Landrieu to the U.S. Treasury in August 2008.The private watchdog group wants the FEC to investigate a $25,300 donation the Landrieu re-election campaign made to the U.S. Treasury in August 2008. Mark Elias, a lawyer for her campaign committee, said that the payment was related to donations that ran afoul of campaign finance regulations -- such as exceeding contribution limits or coming from a corporate source. He said the committee decided that sending a check to the treasury to cover the amount of the donations was the best way to handle the matter and described the action as routine. But Elias has declined to comment on the source of the problem donations, which prompted Friday's complaint to the Federal Election Commission. "Our campaign finance laws were designed to ensure transparency," said Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director. "Sen. Landrieu cannot ignore a law she finds inconvenient simply to save herself the embarrassment of acknowledging she received illegal campaign contributions. If Sen. Landrieu did nothing wrong, she has no reason not to come clean with the American people and explain why she turned over $25,000 in contributions to the Treasury." Elias, who has said the Landrieu campaign didn't want to embarrass donors who inadvertently ran afoul of campaign regulations, dismissed the CREW complaint to the FEC as baseless. "This is a silly complaint," Elias said. "Unfortunately FEC rules don't prevent frivolous complaints; nonetheless, it will ultimately be dismissed." Two weeks ago, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a 2008 CREW complaint against Landrieu that questioned a link between a $2 million appropriation the senator helped secure for a Texas company whose employees contributed to the senator's campaign fund. Landrieu's office maintained the donations had nothing to do with the appropriation, and apparently the Ethics Committee found nothing to dispute that explanation. The appropriation was intended, her office said, to bring a successful reading program by Voyager Expanded Learning into Washington, D.C., to address protracted problems with student reading scores and had the support of Washington officials and other members of Congress. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 14:14:45 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:14:45 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] BREAKING NEWS: Senator Mary L. Landrieu to vote yes on Democratic health care bill Message-ID: <1f4501ca6ade$e342cbd0$a9c86370$@com> Health care bill faces a crucial Senate vote Key Democrat says she will vote with party leaders to begin floor debate The Associated Press updated 12:45 p.m. CT, Sat., Nov . 21, 2009 WASHINGTON - Democratic senators called an overhaul of the U.S. health care system long overdue as historic legislation advanced toward a crucial first vote Saturday night, an early test of party unity on President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative Democratic leaders are optimistic of success, but they need every Democrat and both independents to vote "yes," in the face of solid Republican opposition. Only one Democratic moderate remained uncommitted ahead of the vote, which is expected around 8 p.m. EST. The vote will determine whether debate can go forward on Majority Leader Harry Reid's 2,074-page health care reform bill. "The country suffers when there is a failure to act on serious challenges that millions of ordinary Americans face in their daily lives," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said during debate in a rare weekend session. Republicans cast the bill as a costly government takeover of the U.S. health care system, built on budget gimmicks to hide its real cost. "Move over, Bernie Madoff. Tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam," said Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, referring to the convicted mastermind of a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. Most everyone would be required to purchase insurance under Reid's legislation to remake the U.S. health care system over the next decade, and billions in new taxes would be levied on insurers and high-income Americans to help extend coverage to 30 million uninsured. Insurance companies would no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions or drop coverage when someone gets sick. Democrats said their legislation could make historic and necessary improvements in the U.S. social safety net. The U.S. is the only major developed country that does not provide comprehensive medical coverage for its people, and Obama campaigned on a promise to change that. As the legislation advanced to a Saturday night Senate showdown, centrist Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana fell in line as the 59th vote by declaring she will vote "yes" on the crucial procedural vote. "It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option," Landrieu said on the Senate floor as she delivered her long-awaited announcement. Landrieu said this does not necessarily mean she will support the party on the final vote on the legislation. Reid needs 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to go forward with debate on the bill. The lone holdout is another moderate Democrat, Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, who faces a tough re-election next year in the Republican-leaning southern state. The 40 Republicans are unanimously opposed. A defeat Saturday might not definitively end hopes for a health care bill, but it would cast doubt on whether Democrats can cobble together any plan that the party could rally behind. Also, it would push the debate well into 2010, when the electoral politics of midterm congressional elections could undermine prospects for passage. A Democratic victory, though, hardly guarantees that Obama's plan ? his top domestic priority ? will pass. Moderate Democrats may agree on Saturday to allow debate to continue, but that does not commit them to supporting the final bill. These Democratic centrists from conservative states are wary of provisions to have a government-run plan compete with private insurers. Efforts to insert stricter language to bar federal funds from being used to cover abortions has also become a divisive issue. Even if a bill passes the Senate, it must be reconciled with the version narrowly approved by the House of Representatives. If a compromise can be reached, it would then have to be approved by both chambers. Landrieu has made comments suggesting she'll support the move to debate, but Lincoln, who faces a difficult re-election next year, carefully avoided taking any public position Friday. Republicans used their weekly radio and Internet address to slam the legislation, calling it a government takeover of health care that would increase taxes and raise medical costs. "This 2,000-page bill will drive up the cost of health care insurance and medical care, not down," Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho said in the address. "This is not true health care reform, and it is not what the American people want. This bill will result in higher premiums and higher health care costs for Americans ? period." The White House issued a statement late Friday praising the Senate measure. The action in the Senate comes two weeks after the House approved a health overhaul bill of its own on a 220-215 vote. After the vote Saturday night, senators will leave for a Thanksgiving holiday recess. Upon their return, assuming Democrats prevail on the vote, they will launch into weeks or more of unpredictable debate on the health care bill, with numerous amendments expected from both sides of the aisle and more 60-vote hurdles along the way. Senate leaders hope to pass their bill by the end of the year. If that happens, January would bring work to reconcile the House and Senate versions before a final package could land on Obama's desk to sign. The bills have many similarities, including the new requirements on insurers and the creation of new purchasing marketplaces called exchanges where self-employed individuals and small businesses could go to shop for and compare coverage plans. One option in the exchanges would be a new government-offered plan, something that's opposed by private insurers and business groups. Differences include requirements for employers. The House bill would require medium and large businesses to cover their employees, while the Senate bill would not require them to offer coverage but would make them pay a fee if the government ends up subsidizing employees' coverage. Another difference is in how they're paid for. The Senate bill includes a tax on high-value medical insurance policies that's not part of the House bill, while the House would levy a new income tax on upper-income Americans that's not in the Senate measure. The Senate measure also raises the Medicare payroll tax on income above $200,000 annually for individuals and $250,000 for couples. Both bills rely on more than $400 billion in cuts to Medicare, the government-run program that provides health care coverage to seniors. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 18:54:17 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:54:17 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] For Sale: Message-ID: <1fbe01ca6b05$f04d5990$d0e80cb0$@com> I thought it was cute and funny! Lighten up jer. Brenda ----------------------------------------------------- Again, was this "tasteless bit of humor" necessary? --jer-- ----------------------------------------------------- For Sale: One (1) Wife, slightly used, 1964 Model Needs muffler, as it is currently VERY LOUD. Intake valve is stuck in the open position. Rear end needs major overhaul. A crack there has grown monstrously large. Needs re-wiring. Many wires are currently crossed. Lots of little dings in the body, which have been covered up with too much paint in a failed effort at camouflaging them. Needs re-upholstering. Carpet has turned a dingy gray. Needs front-end work--Headlights are too close to the ground, and fenders are too far apart. May not pass emissions test, as it currently produces foul clouds of malodorous gases on a regular basis, Heater works great. Hot air is never in short supply.. Asking $500 or trade for 1984 model. From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 18:55:34 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:55:34 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Santa Claus is coming to "downtown" St. Bernard Dec. 5 for a parade and after party! Message-ID: <1fbf01ca6b06$1defc8b0$59cf5a10$@com> Santa Claus is coming to "downtown" St. Bernard Saturday, December 5th in a Christmas Parade and After Party! Parade starts at 3 p.m.; After Party at Torres Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Join us for the kickoff of the 2009 holiday season as the 2009 Celebrate St. Bernard Tourism Christmas Parade rolls up Judge Perez Drive from Chalmette High School to the Fredrick J. Sigur Civic Center Saturday, December 5th at 3 p.m. The parade route will take the west bound lane of Judge Perez from Palmisano Boulevard to Jean Lafitte Parkway. Led by the Chalmette High School Fighting Owl Band, Charmers, Flag Team and ROTC, this 25-unit parade will include the Shriners, Zephyrs' Boudreaux, Ronald Mc Donald, Sheriff's Mc Gruff & DARE mascots, Fire Department & "Sparky" & OEP vehicles, historic re-enactors from the National Park Service, Chalmette High School Islenos Ambassadors, horse riders, Gulf Coast's Trolley, Nunez SGA float, St. Bernard Parish Government Christmas All Year Long employees, Iselnos, Crawfish and Tomato Festival queens. Santa and Mrs. Claus joined by local elves will end the parade on a holiday float. Dress your children festively and wait along the parade route for holiday throws such as cups, beads, candy canes, stuffed animals and t-shirts. Children's characters will be seen throughout the parade so have your cameras ready. Please encourage your child to write a letter to Santa to hand to Santa's elves as the last float goes by. Immediately following the parade from 5 to 7 p.m., the Community Playground Project will host a Christmas party at Torres Park. A community Christmas tree will be lit by parish government officials at the entrance to the playground. Caroling in the amphitheatre will follow with sing-a-long songbooks. Children can also visit with Santa in his sleigh for a photo. (You must bring your own camera.) Cookie decorating, hot chocolate and craft activities will be available. The Tourist Commission will sell pizza for $1 per slice and water will be on sale for $1. Celebrate St. Bernard will sell commemorative ornaments for $10 and sets of dinner glasses for $25. Though the weather outside may be frightful or delightful, the 2009 Christmas Parade Committee is working to re-establish this pre-Katrina tradition as a local treat for our St. Bernard children and families. Join your neighbors along the parade route for this holiday season kick-off. Special thanks to our partners, St. Bernard Parish Government, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Bernard Parish Schools, Murphy Oil, Chalmette Refining, Domino Pizza, Cantrell Floats, Kiwanis, Rotary, Gulf Coast Bank, Nunez Community College and Neighborhood Organizations. For more information call the St. Bernard Tourism Office at 278-4242. (No vendors or additional parade units are needed.) ### From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 18:57:28 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:57:28 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] New Superintendent Leads Ground-Breaking Team For Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center Message-ID: <1fc001ca6b06$62361dd0$26a25970$@com> New Superintendent Leads Ground-Breaking Team For Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center Local officials and a new park superintendent officially broke ground for a new visitor center at Chalmette Battlefield. Carol A. Clark, a 28-year veteran of the National Park Service, was recently named as the new superintendent for Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, is located at 8606 West Saint Bernard Highway in Chalmette and is one of six sites managed by Jean Lafitte as part of the National Park Service system. Clark was joined by St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro, Honorary Consul of Great Britain James J. Coleman, Jr., Louisiana state senator A.G. Crowe, Amanda Beheyt of U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon?s office, Patricia Gallagher of the Chalmette Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812, and representatives of many of the battlefield?s partners, including the Historic New Orleans Collection, living history volunteers, and St. Bernard Parish officials and residents. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the battlefield visitor center and severely damaged many other structures at the battlefield and the adjoining national cemetery. A temporary visitor center has been in place since fall 2006. The new visitor center will be twice as large as the previous building and will share the story of the Battle of New Orleans and its affect on world history through displays, interactive exhibits, and films. The new center is expected to open in fall 2010. ?The park staff and this community have made do with temporary and inadequate structures at the battlefield for several years now,? said Clark. ?Now we can all look forward to a new visitor center which will be more welcoming and contain more exhibit space to enhance the experiences of park visitors.? ?We are happy to partner with the National Park Service at the Chalmette Battlefield and we believe this will be one of the best National Historic Parks and a premier visitor destination in St. Bernard,? said St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. During construction, the battlefield and a temporary visitor center in the historic Malus-Beauregard House on the battlefield grounds will be open 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. The house and public restrooms are accessible by a walkway from a visitor parking area at Cannon Battery Four near the flagpole. The battlefield?s Tour Loop Road, visitor center construction area, Chalmette Monument, and the parking area near the monument and visitor center will be closed. Admission to the site is free. For more information, call 504-589-2636 ext. 1 or visit www.nps.gov/jela. ### Photo by Karen Turni Bazile: Several officials gathered at the Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center official groundbreaking. From left: Jason Wiese, Historic New Orleans Collection; Amanda Beheyt, U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon?s office; Patricia Gallagher, President, Chalmette Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812; Craig Taffaro, St. Bernard Parish President; Carol A. Clark, Park Superintendent, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve; A.G. Crowe, Louisiana State Senator; James J. Coleman, Jr., Honorary Consul, Great Britain; Tim Strain, living history volunteer of Plauch??s Uniformed Battalion of Orleans Volunteers. (Plauch??s was a New Orleans volunteer militia that fought at the Battle of New Orleans.) From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 18:58:30 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:58:30 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] FOUR GYMS, A YOUTH CENTER AND BALL PARK OPEN IN ST. BERNARD! Message-ID: <1fc401ca6b06$87177e00$95467a00$@com> FOUR GYMS, A YOUTH CENTER AND BALL PARK OPEN IN ST. BERNARD! Week marks series of ribbon cutting celebrations heralding growth and recovery St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro and Parish Council members were joined by Schools Superintendent Doris Voitier and School Board members to mark the grand openings of four gymnasiums and a ball park. This highly celebrated week of progress included the openings of Cypress Gardens Gym at Davies Elementary, Gauthier Gym at Gauthier Elementary as well as the Paul Noel Gym, which includes the Fuel Youth Center. President Taffaro also announced the openings this week of the Sammy Frichter Gym and Kenilworth Ball Park next to Gauthier Gym. "This is a critical part of our recreation infrastructure to continue to promote opportunities for our youth and families to have positive social experiences," President Craig Taffaro said. Acting FEMA LATRO Deputy Director of Programs Mark Landry, who attend the grand opening event at Gauthier Gym, thanked St. Bernard officials for their persistence and promised more FEMA help with the forthcoming recovery projects. Jeff Amering from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which assists with the recovery projects, also was on hand to promise the state's continued support. Superintendent Doris Voitier said the events were important to the students at Davies and Gauthier who will be able to use the Cypress Garden and Gauthier gyms as a key part of the physical education programs under cooperative agreements with the St. Bernard Parish Government. Fuel, the youth program created by St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, also held its inaugural social event after the ribbon cutting that included basketball, dodge ball, video games, Wrecking Ball inflatable and prizes. The center will be opening with after school hours for middle school and high school students begin December 1st. The upstairs of Paul Noel's gym has been transformed as a space for youth to hang out with friends, play video games, work on your homework and have access to the Internet. Call Abbey Flaherty, SBPG Youth Coordinator with any questions about Fuel or the Youth Center at 224-1653. The projects represent major recovery dollars and key projects that involved a lot of help and support from a variety of agencies. In addition to President Taffaro and Chief Administrative Officer Dave Dysart, St. Bernard Recovery Director Michael Dorris Jr. oversaw all the projects as well as St. Bernard Recreation Director Donny Bourgeois. Diana Goin of the St. Bernard Public Works Department was the project manager. Noel Gym, which was renovated and funded by FEMA, cost about $662,000. The work was designed by Meyer Engineers and constructed by T-Mac Construction. James Thomas of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. was the project manager. Cypress Gardens Gym, which was demolished and reconstructed as a new gym, cost about $2,088,500. It was funded mostly by FEMA, with about $48,500 in parish government funds. The work was designed by Meyer Engineers and constructed by Aegis Construction. The demolition contractor was T-Mac Construction. James Thomas of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. was the project manager. Gauthier Gym, which also was demolished and reconstructed as a new gym, cost $2,524,477, including about $200,000 for demolition and associated costs. It was funded mostly by FEMA, with about $48,500 in parish government funds. The work was designed by Meyer Engineers and constructed by T-Mac Construction. The demolition contractor was Roofing Enterprises. James Thomas of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. was the project manager. Renovation to Sammy Frichter at the old St. Claude Heights School site cost about $700,000. Frichter, too, was funded mostly by FEMA, with about $4,500 in parish government funds. The work was designed by Meyer Engineers and constructed by T-Mac Construction. James Thomas of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. was the project manager. Renovations to Kenilworth Ball Park cost about $695,374 paid for by FEMA. The work was designed by Meyer Engineers and constructed by T-Mac Construction. Douglas Landry of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. was the project manager. ### From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:06:12 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:06:12 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] WOW !!!!!! Message-ID: <1fca01ca6b07$9a4b9c30$cee2d490$@com> WOW!!! From a Romanian Newspaper We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning 'Ode To America ') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day'. ~ An Ode to America ~ Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs. On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about. Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic , they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: 'God Bless America !' I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy. What on earth can unites the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles. Cornel Nistorescu (This deserves to be passed around the Internet forever.) It took a person on the outside - looking in - to see what we take for granted! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:08:28 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:08:28 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] Democratic Senators For Sale - $100 Million Each Message-ID: <1fd101ca6b07$eb7818e0$c2684aa0$@com> Democratic Senators For Sale - $100 Million Each! Ried Buys Landrieu To Move ObamaCare To The Senate Floor! Reid has bought Senator Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana for $100 million of your tax dollars to be sent to Louisiana to help it cover costs for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Lousianna is the only state that qualifies for the provision and Reid bought Landrieu In her speech, Landrieu said ?I've decided? to move forward, but much more work needs to be done." Landrieu had been one of several Democrats said they would not vote for the bill. This is the first step in the Senate Cloture Process. The fight is just beginning Alert: We Have the Chance to KILL THE BILL IN THE NEXT CLOTURE VOTE there is a long way to go we must continue keep the pressure on. Reid?s Senate version of ObamaCare calls for: * Hiding the $2.8 Trillion price tag by not accounting for actual costs. * Major reductions in Medicare befits to seniors. * Major Tax Increases on every American to pay for it all. * Reid called for increasing the Medicare payroll tax. Select Below to Tell the Senate to REJECT 'ObamaCare': Select Here - SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 ALERT: We all know that "ObamaCare -- the two thousand page Democrat healthcare bill -- passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week... by THREE VOTES. The radical leftists in the House were able to squeak their bill through... But we have STILL have a chance to stop them in the SENATE...TODAY! TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE BETTER KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE": SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 Even after a final barrage of over eighty thousand faxes from our members that POURED in to the U.S. House... a slight majority of Congressmen still voted to destroy our freedom in health care. Those legislators will be feeling the WRATH of voters next year -- but WE still have our work cut out for us NOW! WE HAVE NOT LOST. The bill pushed by Obama, passed by leftist Democrats in the House -- and rejected by all but one turncoat Republican -- must now head over to the U.S. Senate... And we CAN defeat it there! In fact... we can stop this bill COLD TODAY. Here's how: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last Tuesday laid the groundwork for the Senate's healthcare reform debate to start TODAY - Tuesday, Nov. 17th. Reid filed a motion to introduce the bill yesterday, Monday, Nov. 16. Anticipating a Republican objection, the bill would be pushed onto the Senate calendar. BUT... Reid's action last Tuesday sets up a critical vote this week on a motion to proceed to the bill. Such a motion would require 60 votes to succeed -- and there's a GOOD CHANCE that Reid does NOT have those 60 votes! Reid needs a majority (51) to pass the motion to proceed so the Senate can begin debating and amending the bill. If Republicans filibuster this motion, he will need 60 votes to invoke cloture and shut off debate. THIS IS IT -- one of our BEST chances to kill this bill, before it even gets off the ground! TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE BETTER KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE": SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 Remember, this bill is the worst of all possible bills. It's chock full of every far-left special interest socialistic dream imaginable. Here's some of what's in its TWO THOUSAND PAGES: * The CBO estimates that H.R. 3962, the health bill that the House passed, would cost $1.2 TRILLION over 10 years, including the cost to states for mandated Medicaid expansion ($34 billion), the "Doc Fix" ($245 billion), and authorized discretionary spending for grants, public programs, changes and funding for a variety of agencies that would be responsible for implementing H.R. 3962. * The bill protects trial lawyers. The bill gives money (authorized at "such sums") to states that enact "certificate of merit" (a document signed by a medical professional that says there is a probability that the standard of care was violated) and / or a certificate of "early offer" (an early, confidential apology) laws, as long as the states don't limit attorneys' fees or impose caps on damages. * The current version will give billions of dollars of taxpayer healthcare benefits to ILLEGAL ALIENS in America. It would allow illegal aliens to use the new healthcare "exchange" and would not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed federal healthcare system. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus fought back against reports that leaders would add Senate language to block illegal immigrants from participating in the insurance exchange. * It will create a nationwide federal government program, the "public option," which will pay for abortion on demand -- with federal funds, of course, because that is what federal agencies spend. Liberals in the House AND the Senate ignored us when the majority said, "NO BAILOUT." They ignored us when the majority said, "NO FAKE STIMULUS." Now, they're trying to ignore us when the majority demands with a clear voice, "NO GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE!" TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE BETTER KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE": SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 We all remember when President Obama stood in front of a joint session of Congress -- and LIED. He LIED when he said they weren't planning to set up "end-of-life panels" -- his cronies have promoted the idea for a long time now. He LIED when he said his "reforms" wouldn't insure illegal aliens -- it has been clearly shown that there would be NO WAY to prevent this from happening. He LIED when he said that his "government option" health care plan would not force taxpayers to pay for abortions -- the Obama-backed House bill would explicitly authorize the federal government insurance plan to pay for elective abortions and would explicitly authorize taxpayer subsidies for private abortion insurance. The American people are TIRED of being lied to -- which is why over ONE MILLION of us went to Washington, D.C., to bring the voice of the MAJORITY to the doorstep of Congress. You see, the "sleeping giant" in America has been awoken... and we aren't going back to sleep... not while our own government tries to cram a socialist health care plan down our throats! And on top of all of this... the fact remains that we can't AFFORD this plan! In the face of an estimated $1.85 trillion federal budget deficit for FY2009 and projected trillion dollar annual deficits for the foreseeable future, how can anyone in Congress vote for this health care plan, which will cost over $1 trillion over the next ten years? Plus, Congress is facing at least $53 trillion of unfunded liabilities due to its passage of the previous entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the recent addition of prescription drug coverage for Medicare. How can anyone in Congress vote for a new entitlement program for health care when Congress has not even begun to face up to this unfunded liabilities problem? Well, they're trying to -- but WE can stop them, with YOUR help! TAKE ACTION: Even the Democrats are now admitting that it's conceivable that we might not even get passage this week on the usually perfunctory motion to proceed to debate. That's because Republicans will filibuster even that, requiring 60 votes... and there are at least two Democrats who could join that filibuster. BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US TO BE CONVINCED! We CANNOT let the radical liberals in Congress -- and the White House -- force this plan for socialized health care on the American people! That's why we've set up our website to enable you to send a strong message to every single member of the U.S. Senate, OPPOSING this outrageous plan. For about what it would cost you in time and telephone charges, you can send Blast Faxes to Democrats, Republicans, Independents -- EVERYONE in the U.S. Senate, DEMANDING that they REJECT this socialized health care plan NOW We CAN do this! In 1993, First Lady Hillary Clinton tried to force a less radical form of socialized health care down our throats, thinking that they could do it since the Democrats controlled Congress AND the White House. What was the result? 1994, and the Republican Revolution. The liberal Democrats are "shooting themselves in the foot" again by trying to pass even more radical socialized health care this time -- but we CAN stop them! TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE BETTER KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE": SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 The vote is scheduled for TODAY! Please, take action right away to STOP this bill dead in its tracks! Defend America, Alan Gottlieb AmeriPAC President and Founder www.Ameripac.org P.S. According to a survey of 1,000 likely voters released by the group Conservatives for Patients' Rights, 53 percent of those who say they are likely to vote in the November 2010 election oppose the "public option" type of plan just passed by the U.S. House, compared to 39 percent who like the idea. THIS ATTEMPT BY LIBERALS TO SHOVE "OBAMACARE" DOWN OUR THROATS IS OUTRAGEOUS -- and it MUST be stopped! Send your faxes right away to make sure these Senators get a STRONG message, to REJECT the socialized plan of "Obamacare" NOW -- Thank you! TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE BETTER KNOWN AS "OBAMACARE": SEND YOUR FAXES NOW! https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ameripac_obamacare3?a=3293 From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:09:03 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:09:03 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] BREAKING: Landrieu to support Motion to Proceed Message-ID: <1fd201ca6b08$00630440$01290cc0$@com> Today, Senator Landrieu announced that she will vote to begin debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In her statement on the floor of the Senate, Sen. Landrieu highlighted some of the important provisions that the legislation contains, while stressing that her vote to proceed to debate does not indicate her commitment to voting for the final bill. Sen. Landrieu will spend the next several weeks working to ensure that the bill will expand access to health care, lower costs for families, businesses and the government, and not burden taxpayers. To watch Sen. Landrieu on the floor, click here . To read the full text of Sen. Landrieu's statement, click here . From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:09:51 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:09:51 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] LA GOP RELEASE: Landrieu To Cast Deciding Vote For Socialized Medicine Message-ID: <1fd301ca6b08$1d064120$5712c360$@com> Landrieu To Cast Deciding Vote For Socialized Medicine Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. released the following statement upon Mary Landrieu's announcement that she would vote to advance the Senate Democrats' plans for government-run health care: "The Landrieu family is basically all that is left of the liberal Democrat machine that ran Louisiana into the ground for more than a half century. Edwin Edwards is in jail, William Jefferson appears to be on his way there, and next fall voters in Louisiana will send Charlie Melancon packing. Now, as the final crowning achievement of this dynasty, Mary Landrieu will cast the deciding vote for Barack Obama's plans for socialized medicine. She could have killed the bill today, but instead she will show her true allegiance lies not with the citizens of Louisiana but with the liberal Democrats in Washington who are intent to expand the size and scope of government by bankrupting our country. Mary Landrieu has demonstrated once again that the revolution begun five years ago is not complete - she should hang her head in shame. I look forward to time when the voters can make Louisiana a 'Landrieu-free zone' once and for all." Background: Today, Mary Landrieu Will Vote To Advance Obama's Health Care Agenda. "Leaving Democrats one vote short with hours to go, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) declared Saturday she will support a key procedural step to advance President Obama's health-care legislation. In a Senate floor speech just before 1 p.m., Landrieu said she would support the motion to begin debate on the legislation, ending days of silence on the matter." (Paul Kane, "Landrieu to vote yes on key health-care test," Washington Post, 11/21/09) But Landrieu Told Reporters In June That She Did Not Think The Public Option Was "The Right Way To Go." "Count Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) as a "no" vote on the public insurance option. ... 'A public option is not something I support i don't think its the right way to go.'" (Glenn Thrush, "Landrieu Nixes Public Option, Politico, 6/9/09) And In September She Said The Public Option Would Undermine Private Insurance. "George Stephanopoulos (host): So what's the problem with the public health option? Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA.): Well, many of us believe, George, that it will undermine the private insurance system." (ABC's "This Week," 9/13/09) Louisiana Voters Soundly Reject Obama's Plan For Government-Run Health Care: An October 2009 Rasmussen Poll Indicated That 61% Of Louisiana Voters Reject President Obama And Congressional Democrats Plans For Health Care. ("Toplines - Election 2010 Louisiana Senate Race," Rasmussen Reports, 10/5/09) An October 2009 Southern Media And Opinion Research Poll Indicated That 58% Of Louisiana Voters Reject The Obama Administrations Plans For Health Care. ("Louisiana Poll: Vitter Leads, Obama Hurts, State Concerned Over Cuts," Bayou Buzz, October 2009) From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:12:18 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:12:18 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] For Sale: Message-ID: <1fd401ca6b08$74a96790$5dfc36b0$@com> I thought it was cute too. We need a laugh every now and then. Westley is doing his best here. Smile Jer! Jo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- I thought it was cute and funny! Lighten up jer. Brenda From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 19:13:07 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:13:07 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] FOUR GYMS, A YOUTH CENTER AND BALL PARK OPEN IN ST. BERNARD! Message-ID: <1fd501ca6b08$91967eb0$b4c37c10$@com> All this and still no hospital. What's wrong with this picture? ----------------------------------------------------- FOUR GYMS, A YOUTH CENTER AND BALL PARK OPEN IN ST. BERNARD! From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 20:37:30 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:37:30 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] BREAKING: Landrieu to support Motion to Proceed Message-ID: <1ff801ca6b14$5b6abc00$12403400$@com> And to think during her reelection campaign last year she claimed to be a "conservative" Democrat and "vowed to represent the interests of Louisianians." Well, one public opinion poll after the next say it's 7 to 3 Louisianians are against both the House and Senate versions of healthcare reform. Enjoy your last 5 years in office, Mary. Many will spend a fortune if it takes that to remind every Louisianian what you are doing today. By that time the Democrat's healthcare system will be a bureaucratic atrocity and everyone will acknowledge it. No Democrat should ever again cricize David Vitter for his involvement with the DC Madame. After all, better to sleep with a whore than to be one. John From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 20:38:42 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:38:42 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] RNC CHAIRMAN STATEMENT ON TONIGHT'S SENATE HEALTH CARE VOTE Message-ID: <1ff901ca6b14$867b35a0$9371a0e0$@com> RNC CHAIRMAN STATEMENT ON TONIGHT'S SENATE HEALTH CARE VOTE WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: "Tonight a number of moderate Democrats sacrificed their principles to give Harry Reid a victory that brings America dangerously closer to having a government-run health care system. Make no mistake: this was not a free vote. A vote in favor of this procedural motion paves the way for the bill's final adoption, which would impose a government-run health care experiment on America that increases premiums, increases taxes, cuts Medicare and allows for taxpayer-funded abortions. As the recent elections in Virginia and New Jersey showed, Harry Reid's health care scheme is exactly what voters do not want. President Obama, Harry Reid and their liberal Senate allies will surely gloat and pat themselves on the back for winning tonight's vote in the dark of night during a rare Saturday session, while Americans were home with their families. But as they do, those moderate Democrats who voted for Harry Reid's bill will have to answer to their constituents." ### From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 20:40:03 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:40:03 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] SEXUAL ADVICE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT (Jer - delete this email) Message-ID: <1ffa01ca6b14$b6daa1e0$248fe5a0$@com> SEXUAL ADVICE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT A woman went to her doctor for advice. She told him that her husband had developed a penchant for anal sex, and she was not sure that it was such a good idea. 'Do you enjoy it?' The doctor asked. 'Actually, yes, I do. ''Does it hurt you?' he asked. 'No.. I rather like it. ''Well, then,' the doctor continued, 'there's no reason that you shouldn't practice anal sex, if that's what you like, so long as you take care not to get pregnant. The woman was mystified. 'What? You can get pregnant from anal sex?' 'Of course, ' the doctor replied. 'Where do you think democrats come from?' From Westley at da-parish.com Sat Nov 21 21:13:14 2009 From: Westley at da-parish.com (Westley Annis) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:13:14 -0600 Subject: [StBernard] THIS IS GOOD Message-ID: <200701ca6b19$598d3020$0ca79060$@com> This came to me as a "forward" from a friend. We were in Pigeon Forge over the week end. We left to come home on Sunday. Traffic was moving slow & a car in front of us had an Obama bumper sticker on it. It read: "Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8". Mike's Bible was lying on the dash board & he got it & opened it up to the scripture & read it. He started laughing & laughing. Then he read it to me. I couldn't believe what it said. I had a good laugh, too... Psalm 109:8 "Let his days be few; and let another take office."