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Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE Beneficiaries Washington, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon offered three amendments to the Pelosi healthcare bill that would protect America’s Veterans and military TRICARE beneficiaries. The healthcare legislation, which is expected to be voted on in the full House in the coming days limits veteran’s and service member’s health care choices and places veterans and military health care unnecessarily at risk by not clearly excluding military...

When the US Constitution was first adopted there was no Federal Income Tax. The Federal government was fortunately limited in the amount of taxes it could take in. One form of taxation was a tax on goods called an excise tax which is still in existence. Another was the Poll tax which is a direct tax on individuals. The Federal Income Tax was added to the US Constitution in 1913. Everyone reading this who has ever had a job knows how it works so I won’t elaborate. For you younger readers, it basically works this way. The Federal government lets...

Some moderate Democrats still are “really anguished” over voting for the energy bill, Rep. Jason Altmire told Fox News, and they “would be reluctant now to vote for health care and take a second vote that might be unpopular in their district.”With Republicans raising the volume of their protests and House Democratic leaders uncertain if they have enough rank-and-file support, some moderate Democrats sense that passing a health care reform bill will be as difficult as the House’s energy bill, which was approved by a slim margin June. That has caused quite a bit of hand-wringing among the Democrats. Some...

Floridians so far have received less federal stimulus money than any of their fellow Americans, despite an unemployment rate here that ranks among the highest in the country and a budget crisis that few states can match... Florida received just $505 per person, which ranks last among the 50 states, all U.S. territories combined and Washington, D.C., according to a Palm Beach Post analysis of the Journal’s data. The numbers raise significant questions about the stimulus program, which President Obama said during a February stop in Fort Myers would help curtail the state’s rising unemployment rate. Florida’s unemployment rate of...

I'm sure if this is not appropriate, then it will be removed, but until then, here's a new bumper sticker if anyone is interested: If this is Change, then KEEP THE CHANGE!! http://www.zazzle.com/if_this_is_change_then_keep_the_change_bumper_sticker-128518553615246132

How bad is it?

I just returned from Washington, DC. The City is charged with a frenzied war of words and increasing activity, all revolving around the “Health Care Reform” package which Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to get passed quickly. Today, in a rare Saturday session, the “showdown” in the “People’s House” begins. The very term “People’s House” developed in reference to the House of Representatives because it has been perceived as closer to the people then the Senate. The House, until the passage of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution, was the only legislative branch to be elected. Senators were chosen...

Any judgment of Barack Obama’s presidency based on a handful of off-year races is overstating the case. Trying to decipher the real meaning is something like reading tea leaves, and just as reliable. Still, they are clues and warnings, at least, for the national parties. My reading of the leaves: independents flexed their muscle and gave Obama a warning, passing health care reform is going to be a little harder but still in the cards, and New York voters deepened the Republican identity crisis. You could say this was in a part the opening blow of Obama vs. Sarah Palin...

Part 1: from the 12th essay by "Brutus" from the February 7th & 14th (1788) issues of The New-York Journal Part 2: Taken from the first half of the 14th essay February 28, 1788. In my last, I showed, that the judicial power of the United States under the first clause of the second section of article eight, would be authorised to explain the constitution, not only according to its letter, but according to its spirit and intention; and having this power, they would strongly incline to give it such a construction as to extend the powers of the general...

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops dismissed the House Democrats’ plan to try to isolate funding for abortion in the health care bill as a “money-laundering system” that would do nothing to stop federal funding of abortion, an issue that could potentially derail health care reform. The plan, known as the Ellsworth amendment after its author Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), attempts to serve as a compromise between pro-life Democrats led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich) and the party’s liberal, pro-abortion leadership. All of the health care bills currently before Congress allow for taxpayer funding of abortion.... The U.S. Conference of...

(The following is an extrapolation from the article.) A spokesman for Congressman Owens stated the following: Mr. Owens has recanted his solid positions on the following; he now supports the public option in the Health Reform bill; he will support cutting Medicare benefits; he supports taxing health care benefits; and will support increased taxes on the middle class.

Talk about bad timing. As Washington reels from the news of 10.2 percent unemployment, the Center for Responsive Politics is out with a new report describing the wealth of members of Congress. Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall. CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Next in line: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million; Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million; Sen....

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000...

The voters be damned: That seems to be Speaker Nancy Pelosi's attitude in the wake of big Democratic losses on Tuesday. "House Democratic leaders, undeterred by delays in the Senate or this week's Republican electoral triumphs, plan to call a vote Saturday on the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. health-care policy in four decades," Bloomberg reports: The House will move on the $1.05 trillion legislation that would cover 36 million uninsured people and create a government plan to compete with private insurers even after the election of Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia. President Barack Obama will go to...

After receiving no answer from emails requesting a town hall health care meeting, I took up Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann's call to make a house call on our congressional representative. Despite less than a week's notice, up to 50,000 Americans from across the country gathered at the steps of the Capitol Building yesterday to send a message to Congress - 'kill the bill'. Pelosicare is not health care reform, it is a power grab. At noon, 40 Republican members of Congress filed out of the Capitol building as the crowd shouted 'Where's Nancy?' Madame speaker was not present on Capitol...

While roaming the grounds of the US Capitol yesterday, Kristinn Taylor obtained a list of possible democrat defectors of the now infamous “Healthcare” bill. Kristinn was asked to post this list of wobbly democrats on FreeRepublic in an effort to mobilize our forces and overwhelm these members with phone calls and e-mails asking them to vote NO on the socialization of our healthcare. We also learned that Nancy Pelosi had just scheduled the vote for tomorrow; Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM. For all those who were unable to answer the call to surround the Capitol yesterday, here is...

Even before the polls opened on Tuesday, pundits and spinners were managing election-night expectations. The pros of politics and journalism can read the polls as well as the rest of us. Better, in fact. They knew Republican candidates in Virginia and in New Jersey had better-than-even chances to win their races. One African-American talk-show host, and an unabashed supporter of the president, emphatically warned victories by Robert McDonnnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey should not be interpreted as referendums on Barack Obama. Virginia, he pointed out, historically elects a governor from the party not occupying the White...

Elections to the United States Senate will be held on November 2, 2010, with at least 37 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate being contested. Senate Contests in 2010 State Name Party AK Lisa Murkowski Republican AL Richard Shelby Republican AR Blanche Lincoln Democratic AZ John McCain Republican CA Barbara Boxer Democratic CO Michael Bennet Democratic CT Chris Dodd Democratic DE A Ted Kaufman Democratic FL George LeMieux Republican GA Johnny Isakson Republican HI Daniel Inouye Democratic IA Chuck Grassley Republican ID Mike Crapo Republican IL Roland Burris Democratic IN Evan Bayh Democratic KS Sam Brownback Republican KY Jim...

The National Commander, Clarence Hill, said this to the Hoosier Legionnaire, in the Sept/Oct 2009 issue. "For more than a century, disabled military retirees had to unfairly forfeit portions of their retirement pay to offset their disability, even though they were the only Americans required to do this. Finally, after way too long, .......

The Senate Armed Services Committee is seeking a "detailed accounting" of a Thursday shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, that left 12 soldiers dead and 31 wounded. "Our hearts go out to the families of the brave Americans who lost their lives in today’s senseless violence at Fort Hood, Texas, and to those who were injured," said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the defense policy panel. "For all Americans, and especially for those of us who know and work closely with members of our military, this is the saddest of days." President Barack Obama called the attack "horrific" and...

Tomorrow when you tea party the capitol phone lines, here is another number you can call.

Hot Money HIGHLIGHTS New Financing Source Tied to Immigration Providing "Cheap Equity" for Development Projects in LA This program was started by congress in 1990 to allow high net worth foreign individuals to invest in the US and thereby qualify for citizenship. Segregated by industry and geography. “Pilot” program allows for a regional center to pool these investors. Equity wants only 5-8% yield, so is priced like debt. Program Highlights: LA County only; Census tracts with 150% of national average unemployment rate Construction is best; Hotels, manufacturing, retail, medical office/hospital, and ALF/SNF; This zone specifically targets medical and ALF/SNF; Multifamily...

Though Republicans oppose the so-called "public option," Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is proposing the requirement to draw attention to the plan's alleged flaws. Republican Rep. Joe Wilson proposed an amendment Wednesday that would force all members of Congress to receive health insurance coverage through the government-run plan proposed in the House's reform bill. Though Republicans oppose the so-called "public option," the South Carolina gadfly -- who gained notoriety for shouting "you lie" at President Obama during his address to Congress two months ago -- is proposing the requirement to draw attention to what he sees as the plan's flaws. "They...

We lived in D.C. for 3+ years back in the 60s -- when it was, compared to now, little more than a country village. We frequently visited the National Archives to spent time with and marvel at the Declaration and Constitution. Each time we climbed the steps, I would glance up at the motto over the portico: "WHAT IS PAST IS PROLOGUE." Just a fancy way of uttering the universal truth from Scriptures that "There is nothing new under the sun." I offer THESE words from Mr. Franklin (who admitted to having borrowed them from the Greek Admiral Themistocles) advising...

When I first read HR 3200 in its entirety several months ago I was appalled at the blatant disregard in the bill of the basic tenets of our Constitutional form of government. However, I underestimated what is actually being done to us. The newest version of HR 3200 that has been labeled the Pelosi Bill is the original bill on steroids. It is the most “in your face” challenge to the American people as a whole that has ever occurred. While Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama continue to reassure the American people about what the bill will do,...

We strongly object to the President creating a two-tier system of justice for terrorists in which those responsible for the death of thousands on 9/11 will be treated as common criminals and afforded the kind of platinum due process accorded American citizens, yet members of Al Qaeda who aspire to kill Americans but who do not yet have blood on their hands, will be treated as war criminals. The President offers no explanation or justification for this contradiction, even as he readily acknowledges that the 9/11 conspirators, now designated "unprivileged enemy belligerents," are appropriately accused of war crimes. We believe...

Mark Levin announced on his radio program this evening that tomorrow's rally point (at noon, Thursday, November 5) has been moved to the west steps of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Interactive map and links to earmark spending by state.

In another era, it was Paul Revere red flagging patriots with the immortal words, “The British are coming!”. Until patriots arrive on Congress steps Thursday at noon, it’s “We the People are coming!” The courageous, Paul Revere like call to action is from bottom liner Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who wouldn’t let Democrats—who changed the locks on doors against the opposition—keep her from turning the tide on the countdown to Obamacare. Waiting on the Congress steps will be radio talk-show giant, bestselling Liberty & Tyranny author and beloved American folk hero Mark Levin along with “Midnight Cowboy”, “Obama-is-the-false-prophet” crusader Jon...

As if things weren't bad enough for House Democrats, what with the defections from Obamacare and the growing pressure on Speaker Pelosi to investigate Charlie Rangel's tax inconsistencies, Now, it looks like the Mother of All Ethics investigations is coming and, this time, the House leadership might not be able to turn it aside.

The historically famous crossing of the River Rubicon, just north of San Marino in Northern Italy, is not much remembered as the flashpoint where Caesar touched off civil war in 49 B.C. Instead, it is thought of by most people as a point in a course of action from which there is simply no return. We think it is time for America to recognize that such a pivotal point in our American democracy may well be at hand. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid apparently believe the time is ripe to deliver to the political left the...

The president of the United States, Barack Obama is a tyrant. There, I said it. Before you go on about what a hysterical overstatement that is, or that I am some kind of overzealous, right wing bigot, let’s look at some recent moves by the White House.

Newt Gingrich, who had previously endorsed moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election, now says he is "deeply upset" about her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens after she withdrew from the race. "How could she have accepted all that support?" said Gingrich, also adding: "I'm very, very let down because she told everybody she was a Republican, and she said she was a loyal Republican." Gingrich had caught a lot of criticism on the right for supporting Scozzafava, and arguing that the Republican Party needs to have room for moderates. Now that Scozzafava has quit the race and...

Bachmann asks for patriots to call Congress and meet up with her at the Capitol next Thursday at High Noon. Time to mobilize! Stop Socialized Medicine Now!!! It's the 11th hour....Let's pay Nancy Pelosi a House Call... and tell her what she can do with the "Pelosi Health Care Plan"

In the News Make a House Call on Congress on November 5th and Stop the Government Take Over of Health Care! November 5th, 2009 Democrat leadership in the House wants to pass a government run health care bill before Veteran's Day, and it's up to us to make sure this prescription for socialized medicine doesn't pass. If you can come to Washington to look your Member straight in the eye and tell them to keep their hands off your heatlh care, do it. If you can't make it to Washington, go to your Member's district office. And, if you can't...

<p>Would you please post this from in the principal part of the thread/introductory remarks? Or pull the thread. I don’t want to confuse members/readers.</p> <p>1. The House votes on their version of the health care bill Friday, 11/6.</p> <p>2. The Senate votes on their final version on Monday, 11/16.</p>

By Stella Lohmann http://stellalohmann.com/ November 1, 2009—Atlanta, GA Representative Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) has mobilized a national Tea Party of her own with just one a few words with Sean Hannity on Fox News Friday night. Buses are being filled as we speak to join her on the steps of the nation’s Capital on Thursday, November 5th at noon. Then Rep. Bachmann wants to walk the halls of Congressional offices with those who answer her call to stop the most recent healthcare reform bill set for a vote by next week. Tea Party activists in Atlanta are already hosting a One...

Ronald Reagan did say never speak ill of another Republican but he also said trust but verify. In the case of New York's 23rd Congressional District candidate Republican Dierdre Scozzafava the people have spoken.

OF FOPS, FOOLS and ENTITLED ELITES Keeping Congressional Districts & Senate Seats in the Family From the ranks of the English and French upper classes and nobility came the “fops”. These over-dressed dandies were more concerned with style than substance. With almost 10% of Congress related to another person who’s “served”, are politicians the new nobility? Is the American political elite class the American fopocracy? Are American political elites the new American 'fopocracy'? There's some evidence to think so. There's also gathering evidence that Americans are ready to show some of their members the door. What is a 'fop'?...

SMALL businesses have the highest hopes for health reform, but they'd be big losers under the bills Con gress is debating. For more than 20 years, small-business owners have listed health costs as their No. 1 concern. But leading "reform" bills would make things worse -- ballooning expenses for firms that now offer insurance and slamming companies that can't afford the benefit. The 1,990-page bill the House leadership unveiled Thursday would impose a dizzying barrage of new regulations on employers, and force them to either provide government-specified health insurance or pay a penalty of up to 8 percent of their...

Excerpt: And when Republicans demanded an apology, guess what? He said no! No apology for you! What’s more, he twisted the knife by apologizing instead to the people who died because they didn’t have health insurance! Do you understand how scary this man is? HE COMMUNICATES WITH THE DEAD!

Cap and Trade will be a disaster for what is left of manufacturing in this country. Right now, the Rust Belt is just rusty. With Cap and Trade, the rust will inevitably turn into dust. And, for what? Because some politically-driven environmentalists have trumped up a phony belief that mankind is completely killing the planet?

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. We (the United States) tax everything that moves and doesn’t move, and that’s not what we see in Pakistan,” she said.

Obama Touts Good Economic News, Yet Warns More Job Loss to Come October 31, 2009 ABC News' Jordyn Phelps and Sunlen Miller report: President Obama touted good news in the economic recovery in his weekly address, pointing to Thursday’s report that GDP has grown for the first time in over a year and credited his administration in helping to bring about a conclusion to the current economic recession. “We can see clearly now that the steps my administration is taking are making a difference, blunting the worst of this recession and helping to bring about its conclusion,” the president said...

Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) spoke with Freedom Radio immediately after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the 1,990 page health care bill Thurday. Here's a excerpt: Listen to the full interview with Congressman Shadegg and get Honest Conservative's take on the bill tomorrow, Sunday night at 8 PM Eastern, on Freedom Radio. The call in number is 646-478-5613.

The House ethics committee announced Thursday it is investigating two California Democratic lawmakers, but its embarrassed leaders then had to explain that other members — named in a confidential memo that leaked out — may have committed no wrongdoing. The committee said it is investigating whether Rep. Maxine Waters used her influence to help a bank in which her husband owned stock, and whether the couple benefited as a result. Separately, the panel is investigating whether Rep. Laura Richardson failed to disclose required information on her financial disclosure forms and received special treatment from a lender.

National Republicans met with two potential challengers to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson on Wednesday as the GOP establishment continued to search for a candidate who can topple the outspoken freshman Democrat... State Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, and businessman Bruce O'Donoghue sat down with GOP lawmakers and strategists from the National Republican Congressional Committee in meetings that participants described as productive -- although no verdict was reached. "It's great to see that these folks are very serious about the direction that this country is going," said O'Donoghue, who wouldn't commit to run. "This race is going to draw national attention, and...

Pelosi’s Bill: More Sludge in the D.C. Swamp Yesterday (Oct. 29), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) praised Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) for their help in determining the finances and taxes that will be levied in the new souped-up 1900-page health care bill. This “Affordable Health Care for America Act” (or H.R .3962) bill has been debated for months. It is a perfect example of liberal lunacy and promises reneged. Pelosi’s “gargantuan beast of a bill” contains 13 new tax hikes (“Comprehensive List of Taxes in the House Democrat Bill,” atr.org, October 30, 2009). Rep. Tom Price...

If members of Congress were up for a job review right now — instead of a year from now — the ranks of the unemployed would swell to an even higher level. Americans place a lot of the blame for conditions in the country on Congress and, because of that, about two-thirds want to “throw them out” of office, according to the latest FOX News poll. The national telephone poll was conducted for FOX News by Opinion Dynamics Corp. among 900 registered voters from October 27 to October 28, 2009. The poll has a 3-point error margin. A sizable majority...

House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July. The report appears to have been inadvertently placed on a publicly accessible computer network, and it was provided to The Washington Post by a source not connected to the congressional investigations. The committee said Thursday night that the document was released by a low-level staffer. The ethics committee is one of the most secretive panels in Congress, and its members and staff...