01/7/10

Nevada News & Views – January 7, 2010

By: Chuck Muth
Nevada News and Views

TODAY’S NN&V HEADLINES

  • Gibbons Announces Bold Proposals for Complete Education Overhaul (Office of the Nevada Governor) – Governor Jim Gibbons on Tuesday proposed bold changes to Nevada’s education system designed to tear down Nevada’s public education bureaucracy and give parents and local governments more control over how billions of dollars in state tax money are spent educating Nevada’s children.
  • Get Off Stupid and Get on Gibbons’ Education Reform Bandwagon (Mark Alden) – I was extremely disappointed by the storm of criticism by certain political and education leaders in our state regarding the current proposals regarding K-12 education by our duly elected Governor Jim Gibbons.
  • SoS Says Rumor of ACORN Involvement in Nevada Census is False (Sean Whaley/Nevada News Bureau) – Secretary of State Ross Miller said today a rumor circulating that ACORN is involved in the 2010 Census is false and could hamper Nevada’s efforts to count all of its residents, which in turn could cost the state millions in federal funding.
  • Pot Advocates Submit Initiative to Tax and Regulate Marijuana (NN&V Staff) – On the steps of the State Capitol building on Tuesday, the campaign manager for Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, Dave Schwartz, unveiled the details of a proposed 2012 ballot initiative to establish a taxed and regulated marijuana market in the state of Nevada.
  • Thompson Tapped to Head Up NFIB Nevada (NN&V Staff) – The representative group for Nevada’s most important economic component has a new state director, it was announced today. In naming Randi Thompson to head its Silver State operations, the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s leading small business association, is tapping someone with wide experience and deep roots in Nevada’s political, governmental, and media vineyards.
  • New solar pond system might help save Walker Lake (NN&V Staff) – Ecosystems of terminus lakes around the world could benefit from a new system being developed at the University of Nevada, Reno to desalinate water using a specialized low-cost solar pond and patented membrane distillation system powered by renewable energy.
  • Drivers Must Carry Proof of Insurance on February 1 (NN&V Staff) – Driving without insurance will be even riskier next month when new laws take effect to crack down on the 20 percent of drivers who don’t carry auto insurance.

Click here to read these stories at the Nevada News & Views site!

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01/7/10

Interview with Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) on the Census

From: The Washington News Observer

Census Needs To Count All Regardless Of Immigration Status.

“It’s really important for us to know the population that we have to serve. And this isn’t a question of immigration status. It really is a question of making sure that we understand who’s in our community and how many people are in our communities.”

Yes, and counting all the illegal immigrants will certainly help the powers-that-be redraw and control voting districts won’t it? But there’s no way the government will add the question: “Are you a legal American citizen?” to the census form, because that’s just sooo not important, don’t ya know… And it’s really none of their business – but knowing how many toilets you have or how much money you make – well, that’s different and you better answer that or get a $5000 fine or jail. And maybe an IRS audit just for good measure…

01/7/10

Politics as Usual at the VAPHS

By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Dr. Anna Chacko

This was brought to my attention a day or so ago… It has every appearance of political favors being called in for someone (Dr. Chacko) who was reprimanded and let go for legitimate reasons at the Pittsburgh VA. Mike Volpe at The Provocateur does a terrific job of laying out exactly what led up to Dr. Chacko’s dismissal and the politics in play afterwards. The incident(s) revolve around Dr. Anna Chacko, General Eric Shinseki, head of the VA, and Congressman Brad Miller of the 13th District of North Carolina.

It appears to me that Congressman Miller reacted in a typically liberal fashion and enthusiastically started defending what he believed to be an ‘underdog whistleblower.’ Due to Congressman Miller’s aggressive attempt to save Dr. Chacko’s job, she was reinstated. Her behavior became more reprehensible than before and due to her intimidation tactics and her power-hungry vicious behavior, she was eventually removed permanently from said position.

This whole situation really needs thorough examination. It is a typical example of political intimidation and should not be permitted. A person, or should I say ‘professional,’ should stand on their own merits, not on the bullying pressures of a congressman. And frankly, I don’t know any business, much less a medical lab, that can function properly with an ‘Attila The Hun‘ at the helm.

Here are two legal documents that lay out details:

Second Amended Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial

Letter to General Shinseki

Here is an article on the subject as well:

Hospital employee suing employer

And finally, I refer back to The Provacateur’s article and another at Big Government:

How Dr. Anna Chacko Played Congressman Brad Miller Like a Violin

The Scandal of Government Health Care: An Introduction to Dr. Anna Chacko

Both of the last two articles are in-depth and really lay out the whole incident. They are a must-read…

Both Congressman Miller and General Shinseki appear to have overstepped their authority and power. They also appear to have made grave errors in judgment and procedure. Neither has been brought to task for their actions as of yet. One thing is glaringly apparent, Dr. Chacko was way out of line and needed to go and others around her were unfairly maligned and mistreated. This whole incident needs the cleansing light of day and needs to be thoroughly explored by impartial parties to get to the bottom of the dirty politics and tactics at play here and then those involved need to be legally and legitimately dealt with.

If the Veteran’s Administration really wants to help their credibility, they will get to the bottom of this and deal with those involved fairly while punishing those who deserve it. Justice delayed is justice denied…

01/7/10

Chuck Muth’s News & Views – January 6, 2010

By: Chuck Muth
Citizen Outreach

ACU CALLS ON SOUTHERS TO BOW OUT

American Conservative Union Chairman David A. Keene yesterday called on Erroll Southers, the Obama Administration pick to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to step forward and withdraw his nomination.

Keene expressed outrage over reports that Errol Southers while an FBI agent used his power to gain access to confidential government criminal records in an attempt to gather private, personal information on his then-estranged wife’s new boyfriend.

“Mr. Southers has demonstrated in the past that he has little regard for the sanctity of information on individuals collected and held by the government,” said ACU Chairman David Keene, “To appoint a man head of an agency like TSA which has access to incredible amounts of personal information on individual citizens is simply unacceptable. His appointment would send exactly the wrong signal to those entrusted to handle such information and would inevitably create a culture that tolerates abuse of the rights of those the agency is sworn to protect. Southers has demonstrated a reckless disregard for privacy rights which should disqualify him.”

Also, ACU notes that Erroll Southers chose to mislead Congress regarding his past activities and then argued that since his illegal snooping took place some years ago it shouldn’t disqualify him now. That defense, said Keene, is “laughable.”

WHAT REID HATH WROUGHT

“The Democratic leaders of the House and the Senate reportedly are planning on finalizing their differing health care “reform” bills in secret. That’s right. They’re kicking out the C-SPAN cameras and planning on huddling behind closed doors with a few Obama Administration power brokers to transform the American health care system. . . . And so it has come to this: A massive bill, compiled in secret, negotiated through corruption, and passed by a party-line vote, will now be finalized in secret.”

Newt Gingrich

SOME ARE CREATED MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

“(D)uring this economic downturn, 6 percent of those in the private sector have lost their jobs, while public sector employment has dipped only 1 percent. . . . Union members account for only 7.6 percent of the private sector, but a whopping 40 percent of public employees.”

Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge

JUDGE ISSUES PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR ORGANIZED LABOR

“In another example of why unions are antithetical to good government, a pliant, left-wing judge in California has ruled that the Schwarzenegger Administration cannot furlough state workers that belong to three powerful public employees unions. . . . What we see here is these union thugs actually preventing the proper and necessary measures to reign in state spending.

“And what is the state spending? OUR TAXES! So, what we have are unions making sure that wild, unproductive, and wasteful spending of our taxes continues and they are using the force of left-wing, compliant courts to do it. Unions are essentially stealing our taxes.”

Warner Todd Huston of The Union Label Blog

HERE’S AN IDEA, LET’S SCREW NON-UNION CONSTRUCTION FIRMS

“(S)mall employers with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from the employer mandate requiring them to provide insurance to their employees. But, for the construction industry, the rules are different! Specifically, the Senate bill limits this exemption to companies with five or fewer employees, not 50!

“That’s right! In any other business you’re exempt from the employer mandate if you have 50 or fewer employees. But if you’re a contractor and have as few as six employees you must provide insurance coverage for all your employees! Sound bizzarre? What about this Bill isn’t?”

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.)

THE CASE AGAINST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE UNIONS

“By making the union a full and equal partner at the bargaining table, compulsory public-sector bargaining laws deprive the public of its right to participate in policy making. . . . Moreover, to the extent that public employees gain power through recognition and collective bargaining, other interest groups with a right to a voice in the running of the government may be left out of vital political decisions. . . . All citizens have the right to associate in groups to advocate their special interests to the government. It is something entirely different to grant any one interest group special status and access to the decision-making process.”

David Denholm at the Public Service Research Foundation

MUTH’S TRUTHS

  • Yesterday, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced he would not be seeking re-election next year. Today, Gov. Bill Ritter (D-CO) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) will also announce their decisions not run again next fall. This after numerous Democrat House member have announced their retirements and one actually going so far as to change parties and joining the GOP? Does anyone else feel a wave building?
  • The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that “Ford posted a 33% rise in December U.S. car sales,” while “Chrysler posted a 3.7% decline and said its full-year sales were the worst the auto maker had seen in 47 years” and “General Motors posted a 5.7% decline.” Let’s see: Ford didn’t take bailout money, Chrysler did and the U.S. government now effectively owns GM. Go figure.

FED-EXCESS

“Someone give me a break. I, as a Fedex courier have never flown, nor will I ever fly an airplane. I can’t even jump seat. I do the same job as every UPS driver out there. I deliver and pick up packages. It’s as simple as that. There is no difference between what I do and what a UPS driver does.”

Judester, FedExcess.com, 1//10

SURVEY SAYS!

Do you support the idea of giving school vouchers or education tax credits to parents for use at private schools?

  • Absolutely
  • Absolutely not

To cast your vote in today’s online survey, click here!

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“Unionism seldom, if ever, uses such power as it has to insure better work; almost always it devotes a large part of that power to safeguarding bad work.”

H.L. Mencken.”

01/7/10

Tea Party Express Launches Ad Campaign Against Harry Reid

CONTACT: Levi Russell at (509) 979-6615 or [email protected]

TEA PARTY EXPRESS LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN AGAINST HARRY REID – AT NEWS CONFERENCES IN RENO & LAS VEGAS

The Tea Party Express (www.TeaPartyExpress.org) is set to release a TV ad that spotlights the blatant arrogance and disdain Harry Reid has shown towards the people of Nevada and the nation as a whole. The new ad campaign uses Reid’s own words to demonstrate his severe disconnect with the American people.

“The purpose of this campaign,” explained Joe Wierzbicki, organizer of the Tea Party Express, “is to make it abundantly clear that it is time for Reid to go. His statements and actions over the past few months show that power has gone to his head, and he feels nothing but disdain for those he is charged to serve and represent,” Wierzbicki said.

“We’re throwing the weight of the Tea Party Express movement into the campaign to defeat Reid,” Wierzbicki said.

Members of the Tea Party Express will be holding press conferences in Reno (Monday, January 11th) and Las Vegas (Tuesday, January 12th) to launch the ad campaign, and will also provide details on the upcoming Tea Party Express III: Just Vote Them Out national tour.

The Tea Party Express III tour will launch from Searchlight, NV on Saturday, March 27th. Searchlight, NV is Harry Reid’s hometown, and the location of the tour launch will signify the Tea Party Express’s expressed desire to send Harry back home.

Monday, January 11th

10:30am: Reno Press Conference
Harrah’s Reno – Meeting Room TBA
219 North Center Street, Reno, NV

Tuesday, January 12th

10:30 AM: Las Vegas Press Conference
Westin Casuarina Hotel – Meeting Room TBA
160 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV

The Tea Party Express has invited conservative Senate candidates running against Reid, along with local media outlets and supporters to attend. “Our message for Harry Reid is that your arrogance, your condescension and your failures as a Senator have not gone unnoticed. Don’t be surprised when you receive a ‘pink slip’ from the voters come November.” Said Mark Williams, Vice Chair of the Tea Party Express.

To obtain more information about the “Tea Party Express” or to schedule an interview with a representative from the tour please contact Levi Russell at (509) 979-6615 or via email at: [email protected]

01/7/10

Tea Party Express Endorses Scott Brown for U.S. Senate – Massachusetts

CONTACT: Levi Russell – [email protected] or (509) 979-6615

TEA PARTY EXPRESS ENDORSES SCOTT BROWN FOR U.S. SENATE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Tea Party Express to Run TV Ads Endorsing Republican Scott Brown

The Tea Party Express is announcing today our endorsement of Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, Scott Brown.

Brown has recently surged in the polls, and on Tuesday was within 9-points of his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Marsha Coakley.

“Scott Brown has stood for the principles of smaller government and lower taxes, and we are honored to support him,” said Sal Russo, Chief Strategist of the Tea Party Express.

The Tea Party Express will run TV ads supporting Brown’s candidacy leading up to the January 19th Special Election.

“Since Scott Brown is an opponent of the Democrat’s abysmal healthcare mess, if he wins the Democrat’s plan hits a roadblock in the Senate, where they would be 1-vote short of the 60 they need,” Russo said.

The Tea Party Express will launch its ad campaign supporting Brown early next week.

For press inquiries on the Tea Party Express please contact Levi Russell at (509) 979-6615 or [email protected]

01/7/10

A Letter from Danny to Senator Reid

I just faxed this letter to Senator Reid’s office asking for open and transparent negotiations on health care reform. Please take a moment to read the letter below and join me by giving Harry Reid’s office a call at (202) 224-3542 and asking for an open and transparent debate.

Danny

Read the letter on Tark2010.org
_______________________________________________________________________

The Honorable Harry Reid
U.S. Senator
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Fax: 202-224-7327
775-883-1980
702-388-5030
775-686-5757

January 7, 2010

Dear Senator Reid,

As you are undoubtedly aware, the American people are clamoring for negotiations on health care reform to be fully open and transparent. Thus far, work on the legislation has been held behind closed doors and in tight secrecy. The American public, and even Members of Congress and United States Senators, have learned the details of the legislation only after it has been voted through. As Majority Leader of the United States Senate, you can change that.

Recently, C-SPAN wrote a letter to Congressional leadership requesting access to the health care negotiations. Granting such a request would ensure the public remains informed on legislation directly affecting them and, in the process, follows through on President Barack Obama’s pledge to have ALL health care reform negotiations televised on C-SPAN.

In November, you said transparency would be “one of the guiding principles of health care reform.” There is no truer way of accomplishing that goal than allowing C-SPAN – and all media, for that matter, to cover a fully open and transparent conference committee.

Sincerely,

Danny Tarkanian

Danny Tarkanian
Tarkanian for U.S. Senate
3030 S. Duranago
Las Vegas, NV 89117

01/7/10

Financial News Update – 01/07/09

Shiller, Case: Prime Mortgages Are Next Time Bomb

Sarkozy: Dollar Must Be Stripped of Global Power

Geithner’s Fed Told AIG to Limit Swaps Disclosure

Schwarzenegger on Obamacare: “They Got the Corn, We Got the Husk”

An Entitlement Certain to Grow

Fourth Quarter Blackout

Japan Leads the Way Down a Dark Hole

Federal Court Fines Obama Administration for Lack of Transparency

Let’s Make a Deal: Doctor Support for Government Contracts

Congress on Health Care: Sticking It To The States

Morning Bell: Why the Stimulus Failed

Married Couples Pay More Than Unmarried Under Health Bill

Unions v. Race to the Top

C-SPAN: WHITE HOUSE ALLOWED ONLY ‘ONE HOUR’ OF HEALTHCARE COVERAGE

Texas gov calls for discipline in state spending

OBAMA APPROVES TAX ON HEALTH PLANS

COUNT THE LIES: OBAMA VOWED 8 X TO TELEVISE HEALTHCARE

CBSNEWS: Obama Reneges on Transparency

VIDEO: CNN Cafferty Rips Obama on Failed Openness Pledge

NY GOV SLAMS LEGISLATURE FOR TAKING STATE TO NEAR-RUIN

Schwarzenegger wants more federal money for California

PAPER: 14 phantom Zip Codes receiving fed ‘stimulus’ money

FED FEARS OVER HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT

Geithner’s NY Fed Told AIG to Withhold Details of Payments to Banks

EU will ‘not bail out Greece’

2008 Health Spending Rose at Historically Slow Rate

Weekly Jobless Claims Rise Slightly

Tracking Your Taxes: Wireless Welfare

SurvivalBlog:

The Fed Is Preparing Quantitative Easing 2.0, MBS-Only Edition

Pending Home Sales Tumbled in November

US Avoids Technical Default By Three Days

Robert Rubin: All Hell Could Break Loose Because of Huge Government Debt

Something Evil This Way Comes

Mortgage Demand Near Six-Month Low as Rates Jump

Private Sector Sheds 84,000 Jobs in December

If The Fed Missed that Bubble, How Will it See a New One?

ECB’s Stark: No Bailout for Greece

GMAC Sees $5 Billion Fourth Quarter Loss After Latest Bailout