Massachusetts revenue, welfare, transportation, environmental agencies hit by early retirements

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Revenue, tasked with collecting state taxes, is losing 289 employees, or 15 percent of its total workforce, as part of a state budget-saving measure.

Auditors and tax examiners are among those taking an early retirement incentive.

The Department of Revenue plans to publish information later this week on how it will deal with the changes.

Gov. Charlie Baker proposed, and the Legislature approved, an early retirement incentive that was meant to save the state money by trimming the state workforce. Now that those workers have retired, effective June 30, 2,478 public employees have left state service, according to Massachusetts Comptroller Thomas Shack.

As expected, some agencies were harder hit than others – including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation, the department that oversees welfare, the Department of Environmental Protection and several Health and Human Service agencies. Some of these jobs could be backfilled, as the Baker administration has the authority to use up to 20 percent of the savings to hire new people into the vacant positions.

Brendan Moss, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, said state government will be able to deal with the losses. "We are continuing to work closely with all state agencies affected to ensure it will have minimal impact on state services," Moss said.

Baker pointed out that he had expected 4,500 people to retire. "We had planned for a larger number of people to leave state service than actually did, and I actually feel at this point that we're in reasonably good shape," Baker said Monday.

Via: Mass Live

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Don't Use the Budget to Set Bad Gun Policies | Commentary

In its first vote on guns since the mass shooting in Charleston, S.C., the House Appropriations Committee retained a long-standing ban on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for research on gun violence.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time the House used the budget process to do the National Rifle Association’s bidding. Twice this month, the House tried to handcuff the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as the agency works to prevent criminals from getting guns.

First, the House blocked an ATF proposal to close a loophole that allows criminals to buy or possess machine guns.

That’s right — machine guns. The loophole allows people to get them after they’ve formed a business entity such as a trust, through which they can avoid both the standard gun-sale background check and the required certification from local law enforcement. With “gun trust” applications skyrocketing — from fewer than 1,000 in 2000 to more than 40,000 in 2012 — the ATF is logically seeking to make the rules for buying and possessing machine guns the same for trusts as they are for individuals.

The House used a budget bill to block the ATF’s gun trust proposal — and it didn’t stop there. The House also moved to shut down an existing, effective ATF security program — one that’s helping break up gun-trafficking rings and better police the U.S.-Mexico border.

It’s called the “long-gun reporting program.” It’s modeled on a common-sense requirement, in place for 20 years, which requires licensed gun dealers to notify the ATF when someone buys multiple handguns within five business days. Such high-volume sales are typically associated with gun trafficking — not with self-protection, hunting, collecting or any other form of law-abiding gun ownership.

For two decades, the multiple-sales reporting requirement has produced “timely, actionable investigative leads” and helped the ATF identify and prosecute gun traffickers. Shotguns and rifles (or, “long guns”) were not subject to the reporting requirement until recently, when the ATF began requiring reports for certain powerful long guns bought from dealers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.

Why might the ATF want to continue requiring long-gun reports from dealers in the four states that border Mexico?

Because law enforcement and the border communities they protect are under attack.

Via: Roll Call

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Don't Give Obama More Power Over Schools

After spending most of June giving President Obama new authority to negotiate trade deals with low-wage countries in Asia, congressional Republicans are now poised to spend July giving Obama new authority over education in America's public schools. This is a big disappointment for those of us who worked hard to elect a Republican Congress last November. We expected the new Congress to take power back from the president, not give him more.

For the past 50 years, the engine of federal control over local schools has been Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. It was the first in a series of socialist laws that President Lyndon Johnson promised would lead to a "Great Society" after we won his declared "war on poverty."

Johnson's Great Society legislation was speedily enacted by a Congress in which Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than two to one (295-140 in the House and 68-32 in the Senate). Despite the trillions of dollars spent since 1965, we're no closer to achieving a Great Society; by many measures, America's education and social welfare are much worse today than when those programs were launched 50 years ago.

Republicans had an opportunity to dismantle the failed regime of federal control when they regained control of both Houses of Congress in 1994 and then elected a president in 2000. Unfortunately, George W. Bush campaigned on the slogan "Leave No Child Behind" as his signature domestic agenda item, and John Boehner, then chairman of the House Education Committee, produced a bill that rebranded the old ESEA under the new title "No Child Left Behind."

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) promised to bring all children (including all demographic minorities measured separately) to 100 percent proficiency by 2014. Of course, that didn't happen, and nearly everyone now recognizes NCLB as a complete failure.

With their current historic majority in both Houses, there's a new opportunity for Republicans to dismantle the 50-year failure of money poured into local public schools with strings attached. Unfortunately, Republicans, once again, are on the verge of just rebranding the same failed programs with new and overly optimistic slogans: the "Student Success Act" (in the House) and the "Every Child Achieves Act," ECAA, (in the Senate).

Via: Townhall

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Gay marriage, Obamacare, Confederate flag comes down - a generation is defined: Rhonda Mays

While watching the series of special reports on television news during the last week of June as Supreme Court rulings were announced, I turned to my daughter and said, "Pay close attention to what is happening. This is a week that will be remembered for generations to come."

Rhonda Mays

 

Only once or twice in a lifetime can we expect to witness a decision of historic significance. To witness several major rulings within a short period of time, so different in their focus but extremely important regarding the future of our nation, is very unusual.  

Confederate flag

While not a ruling by the Supreme Court, the decision by Gov. Nikki Haley to request removal of the Confederate flag flying on state grounds in South Carolina has had an impact nationwide. For millions of Americans, and many citizens of other nations, the Confederate flag is a relic of a sorrowful and unfortunate past. To them it represents rebellion against our Union, terrorism, and officially sanctioned oppression of a massive number of individuals for promotion of the false narratives of racial superiority and segregation.

Personally, I would be in favor of banning the display of the Confederate flag on any property, public or private, due to its perverse symbolism. However, I understand that would be disagreeable to many and adverse to the American premise that freedom of speech and expression is a right. Accordingly, in America, an individual is free to privately fly or stick the Confederate flag anywhere they please on their person or private property, and we are free to surmise what displaying that flag represents regarding the individual's character.   

Affordable Care Act

With the Affordable Care Act, federal subsidies to the poor were upheld as constitutional in a 6-3 decision. Chief Justice John Roberts was joined in the majority opinion by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Anthony Kennedy and Elena Kagan.

In a case which exemplifies the notion of the impact of unintended consequences, the Supreme Court ruled tax credits which make medical insurance affordable for low and moderate income families are allowable nationwide. The case, King vs. Burwell, establishes the intent of Congress to provide subsidies for health care by the state or the federal governments. If the ruling had denied the ability of the federal government to provide tax credits or subsidies, millions of individuals previously receiving health care purchased through exchanges would have experienced drastic increases in premium costs which, in turn, would have made medical insurance prohibitively high. Many of these individuals would have lost their health care rendering the ACA ineffective. For them, the only hope would be for the states which decided to not establish their own exchanges did so, as states, "under a death spiral scenario so coercive as to be unconstitutional."

In the majority opinion, Roberts wrote, "Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter."

With those two simple sentences a key part of the ACA intended to extend health care to millions of Americans who probably would not be insured, was established as law.

Fair housing

Texas Department of Community Affairs vs. Inclusive Communities Project upheld claims of disparate impact as a measure of fair housing practices by a 5-4 decision. Justices Kennedy, Sotomayor, Ginsberg, Breyer and Kagan were in the majority.

For civil rights and fair housing advocates this ruling is critical because it reaffirms the notion that "intent" to racially discriminate need not be proven, only a negative impact to the goals of the Fair Housing Act must be demonstrated  to exist. This ruling upheld the constitutional legitimacy of one of the most powerful tools used by advocates to promote housing desegregation, equal access to services, and diverse communities within the nation.

Via: PennLive

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[VIDEO] GOP REP. SLATED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TARGETING SANCTUARY CITIES

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)

67%

 will again introduce legislation targeting sanctuary cities, Breitbart News has learned.

Hunter’s bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict funding to any state or locality that has in place a law, policy or procedure in contravention of federal immigration law, preventing “state or local law enforcement officials from gathering information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”

The legislation would make those cities with sanctuary policies or laws in place ineligible for State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) funding. SCAAP reimburses states and localities for the cost of holding illegal immigrants convicted of crimes.

“States and cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws directly undermine enforcement efforts and — as recent events have shown — present a real danger to citizens,” Hunter said in a statement to Breitbart News.

“If a state or one of its cities wants to call itself a sanctuary and deliberately ignore the law, then Congress shouldn’t hesitate to withhold federal funding until there’s compliance,” he continued. “One program that most certainly should cease reimbursement is SCAAP, which is intended to mitigate the costs of incarceration, and extend to salaries and overtime.  And we should look to other programs too, but there should be wide support for a response, such as this proposal, that exercises a constitutional prerogative of Congress in order to uphold the law.

The bill is still being drafted and could target additional funding once finalized. Hunter expected to officially introduce it Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hunter’s legislation comes on the heels of the shooting death of Kathryn Steinle by a five-time deported, seven-time convicted felon at a San Francisco pier.

The alleged shooter, Francisco Sanchez, has admitted to shooting the young woman and revealed that he chose the Golden Gate City because of its sanctuary city policies.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has pointed out that although the agency had a detainer on Sanchez from a March arrest, the San Francisco Police Department did not honor it and Sanchez was released.

“ICE places detainers on aliens arrested on criminal charges to ensure dangerous criminals are not released from prisons or jails into our communities,” ICE explained in a statement.

According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in Fiscal Year 2014 the state of California received $41.6 million in SCAAP funding.

The California Republican has introduced other iterations of the bill in past Congresses.

Via: Breitbart

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Hillary Clinton Warns People Not To “Diss The Government”…

I’m old enough to remember when the left’s mantra was “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”

Via: Weasel Zippers

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Nobel Laureate Says Obama's 'Dead Wrong' on Global Warming

Dr. Ivar Giaever (AP)

A Nobel Prize-winning scientist who supported President Barack Obama has said that he does not believe global warming is a problem, and has openly criticized the president for his position on the issue.

"I would say that basically global warming is a non-problem," Dr. Ivar Giaever announced during a speech at the 65th Nobel Laureate Conference in Lindau, Germany, last week, according to Climate Depot. 

Quoting Obama's warning that "no challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change," Giaever said it was a "ridiculous statement."

"I say this to Obama: Excuse me, Mr. President, but you're wrong. Dead wrong," he said, according to Climate Depot.

"Obama said last year that 2014 is [the] hottest year ever. But it's not true. It's not the hottest."

Giaever, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 1973, questioned the theory behind fears about rising carbon dioxide levels and said that the theory is not backed by evidence.

"Global warming really has become a new religion. Because you cannot discuss it. It's not proper. It is like the Catholic Church."

Giaever was one of more than 100 co-signers in a letter to the president in March 2009 that was critical of his stance on global warming, saying, "We the undersigned scientists, maintain that the case for alarm regarding climate change is grossly overstated."

Via: Newsmax

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One in Five Americans Participates in Government Assistance Programs Each Month

One in five Americans participates in government assistance programs each month, according to the most recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Approximately 52.2 million (or 21.3 percent) people in the U.S. participated in major means-tested government assistance programs each month in 2012,” according to the Census Bureau’s report.

Means-tested programs include Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), otherwise known as food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and General Assistance (GA).

The number of beneficiaries of these means-tested programs has increased significantly over the last decade. According to the Census, in 2004 there were nearly 42 million monthly recipients of these programs. Between that year and 2012, monthly participation increased by 24.9 percent.

In order to qualify for benefits from a means-tested program, an individual or family’s income must fall below a specified threshold.

“Participation rates were highest for Medicaid (15.3 percent) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the food stamp program (13.4 percent),” the report said. Participation rates were lowest for housing assistance (4.2 percent), Supplemental Security Income (3.0 percent) and TANF, which includes general assistance (1.0 percent).

The Census collects this data by observing the number of months when individuals received benefits from one or more programs and measuring their entry and exit activity.

“Participation in government programs is dynamic,” said Shelley Irving, an analyst with the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division. “The Survey of Income and Program Participation shows how individuals move in and out of government programs and how long they participate in them.”

Most beneficiaries of these programs are dependent on them for up to four years. “The largest share of participants (43.0 percent) in any of the public assistance programs stayed in the programs between 37 and 48 months,” according to the Census. “Additionally 31.2 percent of people participated between one and 12 months between January 2009 and December 2012.”

Via: WFB

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Simple bill to help vets shows things in Congress aren’t so simple Measure from Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan would let veterans get new ID card

A bill that would create a uniform identification card for U.S. military veterans is in the final stages of its journey from idea to law, and is being seen both as a nice benefit for America’s fighting men and woman and an illustration of just how hard it can be to get anything through Congress.

Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who represents the Bradenton and Sarasota areas, the bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue a veteran’s identification card. Such a card would allow veterans to prove their status without having to carry around military service records, such as the common form known as a “DD-214.”

Those forms, Buchanan said, contain sensitive personal information such as veterans’ Social Security numbers, leaving them at a higher risk for identify theft. The VA does offer some veterans – those in the VA health system, for example – ID cards. But there is a large population of veterans who served honorably yet have no easy way to prove their military service.

“On the surface it doesn’t sound like a gigantic thing,” said Buchanan. “But at the end of the day it’s a very big thing for veterans. ... We’re very excited about it.”

The “Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015” was introduced on the first day of the current session of Congress and eventually picked up 82 co-sponsors, roughly divided between the two parties.

It passed the U.S. House in May by a vote of 402-0 and the Senate last month by unanimous consent. The bill has been endorsed by veterans’ groups, while others took no position on it. The bill is expected to go for final action in the House on Tuesday, where differences between House and Senate versions are expected to be easily passed; then it will go to the president for his signature.

The Obama administration, however, isn’t so enthusiastic. In testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs last month, a top VA official, Rajiv Jain, said that veterans in most U.S. states can get veteran status noted on their drivers’ licenses and that such options “can meet the intent of the legislation without creating within VA a new program that may not be cost-efficient.”

In his prepared statement, Jain also said a new VA-issued ID card could create confusion among veterans, since other cards are specifically designed to help them get health care and other benefits. “Having several VA-issued cards creates the potential for confusion on several levels,” said Jain, an assistant deputy under secretary for health.

Diane M. Zumatto, the national legislative director for the advocacy organization AMVETS, sees the bill as a simple, cost-effective way to help veterans. As for the state options, she said those often aren’t enough: “The service we performed was federal, so the card should be federal,” she said.

“I just don’t see any drawback to the bill,” she said. “I understand there are many more critical things that are on the agenda for Congress. But hey, gather up these no-brainers and pass ’em.”

That’s easier said than done – even on a piece of legislation with such bipartisan, unanimous support.

Despite the simple nature of the bill and the fact that it is intended to be cost-neutral – veterans would pay a fee for their cards – it’s taken a long time to get such a bill through Congress. Similar legislation was introduced in 2011 and 2013 but went nowhere.

And that’s the way it is in Congress, where 535 representatives and senators all have bills but face limited time, energy and political capital to do anything about them.

Via: McClatchy

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Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article26596969.html#storylink=cpy

Confederate Flag Kills Ten in Chicago... OH WAIT!!!!

If President Obama had a son, he might look like Amari Brown, the little boy killed by a bullet intended for his gang-banger father on the streets of President Obama’s Chicago in yet another bloody Windy City weekend. As the Chicago Tribune reported, over the Fourth of July weekend, Amari Brown was one of the ten that were killed among 55 that were shot, none attributed to Confederate flag loyalists:

Among those killed was 7-year-old Amari Brown, shot in the chest as he watched fireworks near his father's home in Humboldt Park late Saturday night.  Police say they believe the attack was aimed at the father, whom they described as a ranking gang member.

Also gunned down was 17-year-old Vonzell Banks, who was shot as he played basketball Friday at a park named for Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student fatally shot in 2013 near President Barack Obama's Chicago home.

The wounded included a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl shot shortly after midnight Sunday as they walked in Old Town, and a 19-year-old man shot around 10 p.m. Saturday as two groups fought near Navy Pier after the fireworks display there.

We are told that black lives matter, but apparently only those that can be blamed on rogue white cops or the occasional loony tune inspired by admirers of the Confederate flag. Trayon Martin matters, President Obama’s first imaginary son, who turned to confront neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman instead of just continuing on home. 

Michael Brown matters, the thug who committed a strong-armed robbery of a convenience store and then assaulted a police officer, trying to kill him with his own gun. The rush to judgment false narrative inspired the “hands up, don’t shoot” false mantra endlessly repeated by those determined to perpetuate black victimhood and white guilt.

Chicago Police Commissioner Gary McCarthy got it right when he observed that Amari Brown was another victim, , not of racism, but of gang violence and a revolving door justice system:

Antonio Brown, who police say is a ranking member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang, has been arrested 45 times on charges ranging from gun possession to burglary, and is not cooperating with detectives in their investigation into the slaying of his son, Amari Brown, police said.

McCarthy said that the elder Brown's last arrest was in April for gun possession after leading police on a vehicle pursuit. Brown was later released on bail in that case, Cook County court records show.

"If Mr. Brown is in custody, his son is alive," McCarthy, flanked by several police officials and other officers, told a room full of reporters at the Harrison District police station on the West Side on Sunday afternoon. "That's not the case. Quite frankly, he shouldn't have been on the street."

Via: American Thinker

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[VIDEO] Jimmy Carter: America in 'Inevitable Decline,' Not Obama's Fault -

From the man who brought you malaise, now an even more depressingly negative view of America . . . On today's Morning Joe, Jimmy Carter declared that America is in "inevitable decline."   But no finger-pointing at President Obama, please: Carter declared that the decline is "not because of any defect or fault on the part of the President of the United States."   

Cue the Cole Porter: it's just one of those things. Carter was on to promote his latest book, looking back on his 90 years of life.   Carter's grim prognosis notwithstanding, decline is not inevitable.  It is due to weak leaders like Carter and Obama who fail to stand up for America and defend the principles that made it great.  -

WILLIE GEIST: I know this is a big question with a long answer, but, drawing on your 90 years, how is the United States doing right now? Where are we?

JIMMY CARTER: Well, we're in an inevitable relative decline in world-wide influence. Not because of any fault of ours, but it's, as I said, inevitable. I think that the combination of China and India and Brazil and South Africa and others as they increase in economic and cultural influence will replace a lot of the power and pre-eminence that the United States has enjoyed in the past. So we're having, whether we like it or not, to accommodate that necessity of realizing other people are going to be as powerful and influencing as we are in some aspects of life. Not militarily, we'll stay preeminent there for a long time. But I think economically, China will soon, you know, succeed the United States as the #1 economic power in the world. I think influence in politics is also shifting inside the United Nations and in the ability of the United States to use its influence to change situations that we don't like around the world. That's commonly what it is. It's not because of any defect or fault on the part of the President of the United States. It's just happening as an historical, evolutionary, unavoidable circumstance.

Via: Newsbusters

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Will California Republicans Dance With Wolves?​

Jerry Brown, who as a candidate for governor in 2010 repeatedly pledged he wouldn’t raise taxes without a popular vote, has called for a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of raising taxes.  This despite the fact that general fund revenues have outstripped estimates by almost $6 billion.  So now we have the very real possibility of higher gas taxes, higher registration and vehicle license fees with proceeds promised for roads – all without a vote of the people.

That a politician would change his views on adding to the public’s tax burden is hardly a surprise.  Those of a certain age will clearly remember presidential candidate George H.W. Bush proclaiming, “Read my lips, no new taxes,” before his later, as president, breaking his pledge.

In his effort to increase the tax burden on motorists, Brown is receiving support from the usual suspects including Democrats in the Legislature who have become the party of the public employee unions favoring more revenue for higher pay, and radical environmentalists for whom the price of fossil fuels can never be high enough. Even some in the business community are signaling that they, too, could support higher levies on California drivers if the result is improved roads. (By now you would think that these otherwise astute political players would realize that Faustian bargains with the tax-hikers always end badly.)

The impediment to the grand scheme of those who want ever higher taxes is, of course, Proposition 13 which requires a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature. Deprived of their super majorities in the last election cycle, Democrats would need help from Republicans. So the big question is will the Democrats be able to pick off a handful of Republican votes.

We sure hope not. Not only would this be bad policy but the California Republican Party has, in recent years, made progress in establishing a reputation as the only party to represent average working folks against multi-billion dollar tax increases. And voting for tax hikes as a Republican is a surefire way to end a political career.

Moreover, to their credit, Republicans have proposed credible transportation plans of their own to provide needed funding for road construction and maintenance, but without raising taxes.

Nonetheless, we’re hearing rumors that a couple of Republicans might acquiesce to a tax increase. They should know better as California already ranks second in the nation in gas tax rates, even without counting the hidden carbon tax. The new tax would make the state an outright number one and would add to the already highest gasoline prices.

Expect Republican legislators to be wined and dined and invited to dance by those lobbing for higher taxes. These favor seekers will be wearing their most benign looking sheep costumes but legislative Republicans should be aware that these are actually wolves who, once they have gotten the votes they  want, will turn on them without provocation if it suits their interests.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association — California’s largest grass-roots taxpayer organization dedicated to the protection of Proposition 13 and the advancement of taxpayers’ rights.

Via: California Political Review

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Three questions for Hillary Clinton

After months of refusing to answer questions, avoiding situations in which she might be questioned, and literally roping off the press, Hillary Clinton has granted an interview to a news organization. CNN's Brianna Keilar, who will do the interview, has asked for suggestions on what she might ask. Here are three questions for the former secretary of state:

1) In March, you said, 'I … provided all my emails that could possibly be work-related' to the State Department. Now, State says there are some emails you didn't turn over. Did you tell the truth in March?

2) After turning over some of your emails to the State Department, you destroyed everything: all emails, all backups. Why?

3) On Aug. 16, 2012, Ambassador Chris Stevens warned State of dangerous security problems in Benghazi, Libya, saying U.S. facilities there could not survive a 'coordinated attack.' Top administration officials Leon Panetta and Martin Dempsey testified that they knew about the Stevens warning. You said you were too busy to see it. Why?

Via: Washington Examiner

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Obama Issues ‘Executive Actions’ To Put Solar Panels On Federally Subsidized Housing

The Obama administration is issuing a slew of executive orders to boost the solar panel industry, this time by pushing for more solar panels to be used at federally subsidized housing developments.

The White House announced a goal of getting 300 megawatts installed at federally subsidized housing all while providing technical and financial assistance to subsidized housing operators looking to go green. The administration also says it’s leveraged $520 million in “independent commitments from philanthropic and impact investors, states, and cities” to boost solar energy among the low income community.

“The executive actions and private sector commitments that we are announcing today will help continue to scale up solar for all Americans, including those who are renters, lack the startup capital to invest in solar, or do not have adequate information on how to transition to solar energy,” the White House said in a statement.

The move to push solar panel on federally-subsidized housing comes less than one month after Obama unveiled “executive actions” to “make information about energy and climate programs … accessible and more understandable to the public, including to mission-driven investors.” Obama also ordered the IRS to issue guidance on how groups could invest in green energy.

Obama’s latest orders also call for the creation of a “National Community Solar Partnership” to increase solar power access to low-income families that rent their homes or apartments and may not have enough rooftop space for a solar panel array. So-called “solar gardens” are a new way to finance solar panels across the country, but one that could increase costs and bring dubious benefits.

For example, Denver recently contracted with a solar company to have 16 city-operated buildings powered by solar energy from a community solar project. City officials heralded the deal as helping green up Denver, but there’s one caveat — there’s no guarantee solar power will actually come to your home or building.

What happens is that those who buy electricity from community solar projects simply get a credit on their electric bill to show they invested in solar. Yet, no solar panels are hooked up on site, instead power is generated on a solar farm somewhere else and that power is sent onto the grid.

Those looking to invest in solar will get utility credits, but there’s no guarantee that the solar power you finance will ever be used to meet your electrical needs.

Via: Daily Caller

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Kenyan Leader: If Obama Brings 'Gay Agenda, We Will Tell Him to Shut Up and Go Home'

(CNSNews.com) – When he visits his father’s homeland in Africa later this month, President Obama is expected to run into vocal opposition over his administration’s high-profile promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.

Obama’s trip to Kenya, his first as president, is scheduled to take place four weeks after the White House was bathed in rainbow colors to mark the U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring that same-sex marriage is a right.

At a small pro-family demonstration at the parliament in Nairobi Monday, organized by the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, participants called on the American president not to raise the subject during his visit.

“It is important for us as Kenyans to know that the U.S. is not God,” local media quoted evangelical Bishop Mark Kariuki as saying, adding that Obama should not use the visit to “talk about the gay issue.”

Irungu Kangata, a lawmaker in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) party, was blunter: “We are telling Mr. Obama when he comes to Kenya this month and he tries to bring the abortion agenda, the gay agenda, we shall tell him to shut up and go home.”

According to The Standard of Nairobi, Kangata said Kenyans would demonstrate against Obama over the issue during his visit.

Kenya’s The Daily Nation quoted several other lawmakers’ views on the matter.

“Anybody who tries to come and preach to this country that they should allow homosexuality, I think he’s totally lost,” said TNA lawmaker Jamleck Kamau.

“And I would also like to add, our son from the U.S., Barack Obama, when he comes here, to simply avoid that topic completely,” added Kamau, “because Kenyans will not be happy with him if he comes to bring the issue of homosexuality in this country.”

Via: CNS News

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Rand Paul Exposes $25,000 Federal Grant for Oscars Museum

Sen. Rand Paul put Hollywood in the spotlight Monday revealing a $25,000 federal grant billing taxpayers for the building of an Oscars museum.

The National Endowment for the Arts is sending the federal dollars to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science to help build what the academyclaims as the “world’s premier museum” exploring the history and future of movies.

The Kentucky Republican revealed the spending in his latest “Waste Report,” which he uses to publicly uncover “egregious” instances of excessive government spending.

“$25,000 might be small in the scope of the federal budget or in Hollywood, it is over half what the average worker makes in a year, and equals the full federal tax liability of almost four average Americans,” Paul said in the report.

He questioned why the government would send the chunk of money to the academy given the group’s “abundance of wealth.”

“In addition to scores of Hollywood brass ponying up donations to the museum, the academy is flush with cash; it makes profits of roughly $50 million on the Oscars alone,” Paul said.

The museum, set to open in 2017, will receive the grant to subsidize planning for its exhibits. Paul highlights the museum will include a space shuttle from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which he said the academy bought for a “cool” $344,000.

“One must wonder, when cries ring out about what constitutes a fair share of taxes for someone to pay, why are any of those tax dollars going to support a museum that does not need it?” Paul said.

Via: Daily Signal

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