B-Man Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) A step in the right direction............. House passes resolution to defend Congress’s Article I Powers under the Constitution. Constitution is clear: Congress writes laws, not unelected bureaucrats. (WASHINGTON, DC) – On Thursday, Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. voted to approve a resolution granting the Speaker of the House authority to file an amicus brief before the Supreme Court defending the Article I powers of Congress. “The Constitution is crystal clear: the Legislative Branch writes laws and the Executive Branch faithfully executes them. Unfortunately, under President Obama the White House and unelected bureaucrats are essentially writing the laws the American people are governed by. The president is free to disagree with the actions of Congress. However, his disagreement does not grant him authority to circumvent the Legislative Branch and write laws, period. “This resolution grants the Speaker authority to file a brief on behalf of the House before the Supreme Court defending and protecting the Article I power of Congress as the sole branch of government with legislative authority. In turn, it protects the American people from a growing unaccountable bureaucracy and restores the principle of self-governance. ” H. Res. 639 authorizes the Speaker of the House to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15–674. YES. all presidents have abused it to a point, don't bother letting that squirrel loose. that is why it needs to be stopped. Edited March 18, 2016 by B-Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Ghost Corporations funding the 2016 election: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-ghost-corporations-are-funding-the-2016-election/2016/03/18/2446e526-ed14-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html Two days before Christmas, a trust called DE First Holdings was quietly formed in Delaware, where corporations are required to reveal little about their workings. A day later, the entity dropped $1 million into a super PAC with ties to Jersey City, N.J., Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat considering a gubernatorial bid. The trust, whose owner remains unknown, is part of a growing cadre of mystery outfits financing big-money super PACs. Many were formed just days or weeks before making six- or seven-figure contributions — an arrangement that election law experts say violates a long-standing federal ban on straw donors. But the individuals behind the “ghost corporations” appear to face little risk of reprisal from a deeply polarized Federal Election Commission, which recently deadlocked on whether to even investigate such cases. (snip) The 2016 campaign has already seen the highest rate of corporate donations since the Supreme Court unleashed such spending with its 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision. One out of every eight dollars collected by super PACs this election cycle have come from corporate coffers, including millions flowing from opaque and hard-to-trace entities, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal campaign finance filings. (snip) Many corporate givers this cycle are well-established hedge funds, energy companies and real estate firms. But a significant share of the money is coming from newly formed LLCs with cryptic names that offer few clues about their backers. Among the new players is Children of Israel LLC, a company formed in California last June by Shaofen “Lisa” Gao, a real estate agent in Cupertino, Calif., whose Happy Realty firm helps Chinese buyers find homes in Silicon Valley. On a form filed with the secretary of state’s office in September, Gao listed Children of Israel’s type of business as “Donations,” according to a document found by a researcher for End Citizens United, a Democratic PAC that supports candidates in favor of stricter campaign-finance rules. Weeks after being formed, Children of Israel gave $50,000 to Pursuing America’s Greatness, a super PAC supporting the presidential bid of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, FEC records show. In November, the LLC gave the pro-Huckabee group $100,000. And this January, it donated $250,000 to Stand for Truth, a super PAC backing Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Gao — who has no history of making political contributions in California or at the federal level — did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking comment. The deliberate disenfranchisement of the average American continues unabated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbillievable Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I would be more worried about "secret" campaign donations if the biggest fund raisers hadn't already dropped out of this election. (at least on the GOP side) Ghost Corporations funding the 2016 election: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-ghost-corporations-are-funding-the-2016-election/2016/03/18/2446e526-ed14-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html The deliberate disenfranchisement of the average American continues unabated. Just another thing Trump can use against Hilary in the general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 I would be more worried about "secret" campaign donations if the biggest fund raisers hadn't already dropped out of this election. (at least on the GOP side) Just another thing Trump can use against Hilary in the general. Trump has said he's open to taking outside campaign donations for the general election... so I wouldn't bet on that. He's not going to use his own money in the national campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Trump has said he's open to taking outside campaign donations for the general election... so I wouldn't bet on that. He's not going to use his own money in the national campaign. Once the press stops carrying his water after the nomination, he's going to need cash, and Trump -- a guy who gave money every which way to Democrats for forty years -- s going to take in so much secret cash you're going to think Hillary is one of the good guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCinBuffalo Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Once the press stops carrying his water after the nomination, he's going to need cash, and Trump -- a guy who gave money every which way to Democrats for forty years -- s going to take in so much secret cash you're going to think Hillary is one of the good guys. But, she's one of the bad guys...which...is why cash will flow from everywhere to keep her out of the WH. I don't think there's been a better fundraising pitch than No Hillary in decades. The anti-Trump movement is dwarfed by comparison. Nobody wanted to stop Obama back in the day, because nobody knew him, and nobody wanted to be called a racist. Now? Everybody knows Hillary, and nobody cares if they get called a sexist. Not after 8 years of crying "-ist" wolf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Very wide right Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I hate losing my personal freedom! Can't stand it! Can't even speak my mind on the interweb...oh wait. What freedoms have we lost?? The 2nd amendment here in the socialist state of New york for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 The 2nd amendment here in the socialist state of New york for one. You have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) Oh my, the 6th Circuit Court is not happy with the IRS Click on to enlarge Edited March 22, 2016 by B-Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitmic Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 The 2nd amendment here in the socialist state of New york for one. Is that the right to bear arms in a well regulated militia one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Is that the right to bear arms in a well regulated militia one ? That's not what the 2nd Amendment says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 America to Establishment: Who the hell are you people ? http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article68042192.html … No one happy with our candidate choices and how we are viewed. Reminds me of the interrogation scene from Close Encounters "Who the hell are you people" ? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Now even the GOP is trying to tell us what to do. What if all I want to do is just take a leak? "GOP legislators propose limiting bathroom use to biological sex; governor calls it appalling" http://www.gopusa.com/?p=7666?omhide=true Maybe I should have actually read the article Just kidding guys. And think, this is gatorettes SOP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 Harry Dent: Civil unrest is coming to America "But here’s the real rub. Higher incomes help you survive at a better standard of living, and real wages have only been declining since 2000. They’ve barely risen even back to 1970s levels. That’s enough to be mad about. The ability to live as you want, to retire longer term, and to have power in society comes more from wealth – and that is way more skewed towards the upper class. And that’s where the middle class in America has lost the most ground. Look at this chart from a recent study by Credit Suisse of the share of wealth held by the middle class. Look at how we compare to the rest of the top countries. Economy & Markets The U.S. is the worst! No wonder the middle class here feels the most dis-empowered!" http://www.businessinsider.com/harry-dent-civil-unrest-coming-to-america-2016-3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 BLUE MODEL CAN’T SAVE ITSELF FROM ITSELF: Illinois Supremes Scuttle Pension Reform. The Supremes have spoken: The Illinois state constitution is a suicide pact. Less than two years after invalidating an adjustment to state workers’ budget-busting healthcare benefits, the highest court in Illinois has ruled unconstitutional the City of Chicago’s last-ditch efforts to stabilize its woefully underfunded pension system. . . . Both this ruling and the one that preceded it were unanimous, with the court’s three Republican justices joining its Democrats in ruling that the constitution’s “shall not be diminished or impaired” clause protects all current public employee benefits from any adjustments, even if the government is approaching insolvency. The ruling is a reminder of how deeply entrenched the blue model is in state and local government structures; even when reform-minded Democrats push through modest changes in deep blue jurisdictions, they stand to be derailed by longstanding constitutional provisions and a judiciary bound to uphold them. Amending the Illinois constitution is a daunting task, requiring a supermajority vote in both houses and supermajority approval in a statewide referendum. The Windy City now needs to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to rectify its crumbling fiscal situation. Given that benefits for the unionized public sector are largely off limits, City Hall will likely need to raise taxes (thereby becoming even less attractive to business investment) or else scale back services like criminal justice, education and welfare (further eroding confidence in the government, especially among minority communities) or—perhaps most likely—continue more-or-less on its current course in the hopes that a federal bailout might be forthcoming. The GOP Congress should pass a “bailout” law that mostly just lets states get out from under pension obligations, setting off more blue-on-blue action. And if Obama vetoes it, that’s okay too. “We tried!” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drinkTHEkoolaid Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Harry Dent: Civil unrest is coming to America "But heres the real rub. Higher incomes help you survive at a better standard of living, and real wages have only been declining since 2000. Theyve barely risen even back to 1970s levels. Thats enough to be mad about. The ability to live as you want, to retire longer term, and to have power in society comes more from wealth and that is way more skewed towards the upper class. And thats where the middle class in America has lost the most ground. Look at this chart from a recent study by Credit Suisse of the share of wealth held by the middle class. Look at how we compare to the rest of the top countries. Economy & Markets The U.S. is the worst! No wonder the middle class here feels the most dis-empowered!" http://www.businessinsider.com/harry-dent-civil-unrest-coming-to-america-2016-3 With everything going on this summer might get nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepthefaith Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 (edited) BLUE MODEL CAN’T SAVE ITSELF FROM ITSELF: Illinois Supremes Scuttle Pension Reform. The Supremes have spoken: The Illinois state constitution is a suicide pact. Less than two years after invalidating an adjustment to state workers’ budget-busting healthcare benefits, the highest court in Illinois has ruled unconstitutional the City of Chicago’s last-ditch efforts to stabilize its woefully underfunded pension system. . . . Both this ruling and the one that preceded it were unanimous, with the court’s three Republican justices joining its Democrats in ruling that the constitution’s “shall not be diminished or impaired” clause protects all current public employee benefits from any adjustments, even if the government is approaching insolvency. The ruling is a reminder of how deeply entrenched the blue model is in state and local government structures; even when reform-minded Democrats push through modest changes in deep blue jurisdictions, they stand to be derailed by longstanding constitutional provisions and a judiciary bound to uphold them. Amending the Illinois constitution is a daunting task, requiring a supermajority vote in both houses and supermajority approval in a statewide referendum. The Windy City now needs to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to rectify its crumbling fiscal situation. Given that benefits for the unionized public sector are largely off limits, City Hall will likely need to raise taxes (thereby becoming even less attractive to business investment) or else scale back services like criminal justice, education and welfare (further eroding confidence in the government, especially among minority communities) or—perhaps most likely—continue more-or-less on its current course in the hopes that a federal bailout might be forthcoming. The GOP Congress should pass a “bailout” law that mostly just lets states get out from under pension obligations, setting off more blue-on-blue action. And if Obama vetoes it, that’s okay too. “We tried!” Are you suggesting a bankruptcy of sorts for state pensions? In Illinois the Republican Governor elect is trying to recast pension plans on a going forward basis which would preserve the pensions for those that have paid in and create more sensible and affordable pension plans for newer state workers. He is being stonewalled by dems at every turn. The pensions for the city of Chicago workers are mostly separately funded from state employee plans so the city is in a huge jam to fund their plans and the Republican Governor being stonewalled by the Dem friends of Rahm is in no mood for the state to bailout the city. Rahm is in a terrible position as the city has very limited options to close the gap financially and the math is going to force him to make big changes unless some unexpected bailout happens. Even a going forward fix won't solve the huge deficit of obligations. He's probably praying hard for Hillary to win in November so he can take his case to her somehow. Edited March 28, 2016 by keepthefaith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 CA also has a huge future problem with regard to unfunded pensions. I've heard nothing about what their plan is to fix it. It appears to be a classic example of ignoring it and hoping it miraculously fixes itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Why Americans Hate Government: The regulators who destroyed Decker College have never been held accountable. http://on.wsj.com/1PBGEXU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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