Questioning the Power of the Line Item Veto

Dear Representative Platts;

I'm trying to understand the legislation concerning the Presidential Line Item Veto. So here's what I understand:

Let's say the HHS has requested 1B for Heating Assistance for the Poor during the budget/appropriation process.

If we grant the President a line item veto he could eliminate this spending.

By eliminating this spending we would reduce the federal deficit by 1B.

The 1B would no longer be available in the total discretionary budget for any program in any department.

Am I correct up to this point?

Can congress override the veto?

If congress can override the veto, why wouldn't they? They have already agreed to the spending prior to sending it to the President the first time.

If congress can't override the veto, that would seem like a serious imbalance of power.

As an alternative to the "Line Item Veto", which if I understand correctly is a method of attempting to control "pork-barreling", why not just restrict all legislation to the primary purpose of the legislation instead of allowing ammendment after ammendment of unrelated spending?

Age Based Discrimination

Dear Govenor Rendell,

In regards to HB 2548. Again I find myself writing concerning this legislation which to me is nothing more than age discrimination in reverse.

Being on disability and receiving a fixed income from the Social Security system I have the same concerns that the seniors of our communities struggle with everyday. But yet people with disabilities are neglected in almost every piece of legislation that comes from any branch of government. And yet, of all the people of the US, we are the least able to "fight for our rights" because of our disabilities.

I recently wrote to Representative Stetler concerning this "re-authoring/refunding" of Pace/Pacenet making him aware that many recipients of disability are in more serious need of these benefits than most seniors for a couple reasons. But as always my request falls on deaf ears with Rep. Stetler replying with the usual "not enough funding".

Well let me suggest then that maybe instead of providing free medication to one select part of our society that a $2 copay is still very reasonable if it extends coverage to all citizens that are "in the same boat" financially.

People with disabilities do not like that we have to be reliant on the whims of legislators and government funding and I often find myself frustrated at my inability to work and enjoy life as many seniors have had the opportunity too. But this is the hand that I have been dealt and I must deal with it.

Let me reminid you that as a disabled person I have had to terminate my career without the ability to establish "nest egg". I probably take more medication than most seniors. I receive money from the same Social Security system as seniors. I may live many more years in poverty than most seniors because of my age when I became disabled and I will have to support myself on much less money because of the lack of having recieved a pension and or built a nest egg and yet I'll have to replace more carpets, appliances, pay for more repairs and pay many more years of utility bills than most seniors.

I strongly encourage you to support our needs as well as the "senior voters" and put an end to age based legislation in our state. Let's rename the Department of Aging to something that supports all PA citizens facing the same challenges.

I vote too!

Sincerely,

Todd Clay

Disability Recipients are Still Second to All

Also covered in the letter below is Represetative Stetler's repsonse to me concering my issue that seniors always have better benefits than people on disability.

It seems that everytime a benefit or an entitlement is created it has has an age requirement that comes along with the legislation. I've written various letters to various state and federal representatives concering what I see as discrimination. The senios are always boo-hooing about their fixed incomes, well I've got the same fixed-income but I don't get senior discounts or prescription coverage paid for by the state or property tax reductions or a lot of things all because I'm not 65 years old. And yet the seniors have had the ability to plan their lives and build nest-eggs and enjoy life much more than I.

So I am committed to writing a letter everytime there is a vote for reauthorization of any benefit that is age based in nature. This legislation should be spread equally across the entire domain of fixed income recipients.

Stetler's View on Program Funding based on Age and Corporate Healthcare

Corporate Health Care

Recently I wrote to encourage Representative Stetler, my PA House Representative, to support a bill that would require large corporations to contribute towards their employee health care.

WalMart it turns out has decided to ignore health care for it's low paid employees in favor of turning them to the state to seek Medicaid benefits. I congragulate WalMart on the inginuity but it's hardly a fair burden to place on the taxpayers of the state.

Additionally, WalMarts tactics have created an unfair playing field for their competitors which have choosen to act responible in concern for the employees well being. As WalMart's reasons for extreme success are brought to the forefront, I am afraid that when all their unscrupulous choices have been uncovered and corrected they will no longer be the powerhouse of retail that they are today and it serves them right.

I am encouraged by Representative Stetler's consideration of supporting the bill.

Eliminate Patriot Act Funding Response

I recently wrote to Senator Santorum concerning the elimination of funding for The Patriot Act because of my concerns for the freedoms and liberties being erroded away for each American by this act.

As you can read from the letter, it would have been cheaper to bang my head against a wall. This just continues to show how disconnected our elected officials have become from their electorate.

Good Grief - Not Another Property Tax Letter

Mayor John Brenner
City of York, PA
50 W King Street
York, PA 17405

Dear Mayor Brenner,

Subject: Property Taxes

Let me start off by saying that I appreciate your efforts to revitalize the City of York. Having grown up here, left for several years and returned, I can see there is some improvement in the façade of several areas of the city. I have to say that a two-way George St is probably the worst thing I’ve seen done. What a complete and utter traffic mess that has created with people trying to make left turns. I hope that eventually we will admit defeat on that project and return to a one-way street. A two-way Market St didn’t have quite as detrimental of an effect mostly I believe because of the several blocks of remaining one-way street.

But my real point in writing is about the property taxes for our city residents and businesses. As I’m sure you are aware there has been an effort in our PA Legislature to reform our tax system, albeit a weak effort fraught with problems between the senate and the house mostly hinging on the spinelessness of our elected servants and their reelection desires. The biggest contention is one body seems to want to increase/expand the sales tax system – which is a very regressive system and ends up taxing the poor more than the rich, while the other side wants to increase the PIT but cannot overcome the lack of support in the other house. So now it appears that we are headed for a less than desirable solution where property taxes won’t be eliminated, school boards will still have the power to raise taxes and we’ll undergo even more financial problems for the small inner-cities of this commonwealth for the next 40 years.

My position is that we must forever eliminate property taxes. Any reduction in property taxes just means we’ve shifted part of the burden to another revenue stream and eventually both the remaining property taxes and the “shifted tax source” will both begin to rise resulting in even less for the people of the City of York.

This is an extremely important issue for the City of York, because we pay some of the highest property taxes in the state and in order to encourage people to move into the city and start businesses in the city we’ve got to stop hammering them with our outrageous property taxes. Even several of the large doctor practices that use to reside in the city have moved into the “burbs” I’m sure in part to reduce their costs.

The even more unfortunate part of these high taxes is that the children that attend the city schools are getting an education that’s quite below par for the money we are spending.

Recently I heard that the conference committee that is working on our property tax issue in Harrisburg is considering putting the opportunity on the ballot for our communities to decide if they want to raise the EIT to help reduce property taxes. Considering that most of the City of York is probably renters this is going to end in a failed vote and again the residents of the City of York will be the losers. I believe that this is one time that our legislators need to own up to their responsibilities and fund the PA Education system through the PIT. Not only would that reduce the work on our school boards and administrators from spending and inordinate amount of time on finances but it would also allow more funding to get to the front lines of the classrooms.

As you know, the City of York does not have any means of really growing our tax base because for lack of a better word we are landlocked. Even if we consider the theory of Metro York, we are only going to defray our problems for a few years until we again become landlocked into a bigger area and the same problems.
I would like to see our school taxes replaced by PIT and our City/County taxes replaced by EIT.

I choose PIT to replace the school tax revenue because it spreads the burden over the largest section of the population and our entire state population enjoys the benefits of students with good educations. Additionally it is a state responsibility to fund education. If the state has total control over the finances of our education system we as citizens know exactly who to go to when there are problems. As it stands now there is very little accountability because of the multiply layers of the funding system and our lack of ability to control any of them.

The EIT I believe is more suited to handle local needs as far as funding fire, police and city services because these services are really a function of the population that live in the area. I think that it’s high time that property owners stop paying for all the services that are mostly “sucked up” by the renting community of our city. And bear in mind that I do not want to see the renters of our community paying more without benefit either. I think that any reduction in property taxes should also be forced back, through legislation, to require landlords to reduce rent by any property tax reductions. This is an extremely important consideration, without it, these landlords will just suck in more profit.

Of course there will be several additional challenges of making such a huge change to our funding streams and those will need to be undertaken at the appropriate time but there is no sense in theorizing what might be until we have a solid direction – quite often a pitfall of our legislators – they try to have a complete solution which often fails miserably rather than a step by step solution.

I believe that now is the time to make the right choices for the future success of our city. I’d be very interested to hear your views on this subject and ultimately I would like to see you get involved with both the school board and the PA legislators to eliminate property taxes forever.

I have enclosed several letters that I have written to our state legislators and several that I’ve written to the local papers which I believe may give you even more insight into this very important issue. I should also tell you that I am seriously considering leaving the area as the $4000 I had to pay in 2005 from my Social Security check for property taxes has become quite burdensome.

Regards,
Todd Clay

Spiders Expose American Hatred

A father watched his young daughter playing in the garden. He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and pure his little girl was. Tears formed in his eyes as he thought about her seeing the wonders of nature through such innocent eyes.

Suddenly she just stopped and stared at the ground. He went over to her to see what work of God had captured her attention. He noticed she was looking at two spiders mating.

"Daddy, what are those two spiders doing?" she asked.
"They're mating," her father replied.
"What do you call the spider on top?" she asked.
"That's a Daddy Longlegs," her father answered.
"So, the other one is a Mommy Longlegs?" the little girl asked.

As his heart soared with the joy of such a cute and innocent question he replied "No dear. Both of them are Daddy Longlegs."

The little girl, looking a little puzzled, thought for a moment, then took her foot and stomped them flat. "Well, we're not having any of that gay shit in our garden" she said.

Another Feeding

Dear Senator Waugh,
Dear Representative Stetler,

I just wanted to send an excerpt of an e-mail I received from Verizon about yet another TAX. You people just don't stop, everytime I turn around yet another line item on a bill with some sort of tax! But yet you fail miserably at getting anything positive done when it comes to correcting the burden of property taxes on home owners throughout the Commonwealth.

EXCERPT -

"You will begin seeing a Tax Recovery fee on your monthly DSL service bill within your next two billing cycles. This fee is being charged because your state instructed carriers that the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act does not prohibit their state from taxing DSL"

I guess it's just one more feeding at the troff for what has become everyday politics in Harrisburg and Washington.

Sincerly,
Todd Clay

Flight 93

Well here we go again.

Our federal government now wants to spend $60,000,000 to secure 1200 acres of land and build a momument to the "Heroes of flight 93" that went down in Shenksville, PA. What the hell, what's another $60,000,000, we are only headed to the largest federal deficit in our nations existence. Let's keep cutting the programs that help our citizens and keep spending on the "important stuff".

Anyone that knows the area knows that $50,000 per acre is extremely inflated. But regardless of the cost there are many people that don't feel that these passengers were heroes. These people were acting with self-regard...they certainly weren't acting with the thought that they were saving some public target from impact.

And finally, there is still a contingent in America that believe, based on a lack of evidence, that no plane ever crashed as a result of terrorist or other activity in Shenksville, PA.

SPEND! SPEND! SPEND!

Immigration

Dear President Bush:
Dear Senator Specter:
Dear Representative Platts:

We seem to be going down the wrong road yet once again.

Immigration which was initially brought up as a concern of Homeland Security for the most part has now been derailed into a Mexican border problem.

If we, as a country, prevent these Latin American workers from coming into our country to work in our fields we are going to experience a rise in food costs like we've never seen in this country. Let's face it, we depend on these illegal immigrants to keep food on our tables at cheap prices. Although I don't condone these companies and corporations that violate our laws in order to increase their profits we all benefit from the low cost of food.

My opinion on what is needed is this:

We need to embrace Mexico and by that I mean we need to explore making it a territory of the United States and perhaps even a state. This would have multiple benefits.

1. It would prevent US corporations from moving across the border to increase their profits.
2. It would retain important tax monies for the United States at various levels of government.
3. It would increase the population available to serve in our armed forces.
4. It would help provide wealth to a country that is struggling with poverty worse than our own.
5. It would eliminate the necessity for Mexicans to cross the border.
6. It would reduce the land based border control area to a very short run across the bottom of Mexico.

And I'm sure there are many other benefits to both of our countries not to mention the tourism and cultural experience that both countries could enjoy.

A carefully implemented strategy of integrating Mexico with the US should be a viable alternative to spending billions more on border security, deportations, guest worker programs, blah, blah, blah ad nauseum!

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

I anxiously await your reply.

Sincerely,
Todd Clay

Go Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option," Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country.
Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off".

"Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off," he said. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

AMERICA and Canada..... ARE YOU LISTENING?

Australia-The Right to Leave Our Country - YOU Have the right ..the right to leave !

After Sydney not wanting to offend other cultures by putting up Xmas lights. After hearing that the State of South Australia changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered.


This prompted this editorial written by an Australian citizen. Published in an Australian newspaper.

Quote:

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.

However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia.

However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.

This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!

Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push but a fact because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, Because God is part of our culture.

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.

If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means keep your culture but do not force it on others.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this.

But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE".

If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.

Pretty easy really, when you think about it. I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends, it will sooner or later get back to the complainers, lets all try, please.

In Response to Discretionary Spending Cuts

Since President Bush has managed to turn a federal surplus into our largest federal debt they have now decided to execute major funding cuts in discretionary spending (ie those programs that effect most of the public of our country), I wrote to Senator Santorum asking that he support my position that these are not the types of reductions that we need in our country. The response seems mostly pre-composed but you can judge for yourself.

Immigration Turmoil

As I write this there are hundreds of rallies across the United States by illegal immigrants, mostly Latin in heritage, demanding the same rights as citizens of our country claim. This all has come to a head over homeland security and the necessity that we must protect our borders in an attempt to avoid further 9/11 events.

My first instinct was shut the borders down in the name of terrorism. All borders, no exceptions. It wasn't until congress started talking of deportations and building massive walls across the Mexican border that I really started to think about what is sounding more like discrimination than securing our country. Why after all would we make an investment of that magnitude to only protect one border? What about all the illegal Asians, Cubans, Dominicans, Indians etc? The Mexicans have not caused any problems in our country - not violent ones anyways. What is our governments goal?

As time progressed there was further discussion about Latin Americans taking jobs from Americans and across the aisle the counterpoint was that Americans wouldn't do the jobs that Latin Americans take. As usual you have to read between the lines a bit. It's not that Americans wouldn't take the jobs; it's that the employers are looking to fill positions at sub-standard wages while avoiding the added overhead of Social Security taxes, health care and employment compensation insurance that would be necessary to employ Americans.

Our government is directly responsible for the immigration problem we face today. They have ignored illegal immigrants entering our country in favor of helping farmers pick their crops initially. But the problem has grown past the picking of our vegetables into construction, gardening and many other labor intensive businesses. If there was to be a deportation we would experience a price shock like no other in the history of this country. These people that have tirelessly harvested our fields are now a vital part of our community and are only a step above slave labor because they chose their paths as an alternative to living in poverty in their countries.

The crux of the issue is that if we grant amnesty then suddenly these illegal immigrants are entitled to all the wages and benefits that Americans receive. Not only does it set a precident that crime pays by undercutting all the immigrants that are trying to obtain citizenship through legal channels but again the ensuing economic crisis could devastate our country.

We can't afford to deport them and we can't afford to turn them into instant citizens.

There's also been talk in congress about a guest worker program using smartcard technology to identify and track their movements in our country. But let's get real it isn't possible to monitor the millions of illegal immigrants in our country. And as long as there is any downside to carrying a card illegal immigration will continue in order to avoid the identification process.

But this whole discussion is moot until our government decides what purpose the immigration process is to serve in our country. (I should say until the people decide but we really don't have any say.) Is it to protect American jobs our to protect the security of our country or both?

So where does all this leave us as a nation? With the increasingly global economy we as Americans are going to find it harder and harder to compete. We already have evidence of this with pension crisis, worker buyouts, plant closings, outsourcing and companies relocating outside the United States and reduction of benefits by employers.

So as long as we as a nation continue to earn more money for the same goods and services as other countries we are in essence encouraging immigration. And as long as illegal immigrants are not entitled to the same wages and benefits as Americans, employers will have reason to replace Americans with illegal immigrants. It will only be at the point when Americans are so desperate for work and are willing to make major concessions in wages and benefits that the global economy will begin to equalize - unfortunately I believe we will be a very poor country at that point.

There is only so much money in an economy and there are more and more workers competing for that money each and every day. So if we imagine a world where there is $100 available and there are 10 workers today equalization occurs when each worker is making $10. If you double the population, then each worker can only have $5. This is the world we face in the future and it is not until each worker has their $5 that immigration will cease to which ever country has the most.

The only solution that even seems feasible to protect the future of Americans for a while longer is to give the existing illegal immigrants conditional amnesty. They must go through our existing immigration process while continuing to earn a sub-standard wage but they must immediately begin paying taxes and likewise employers must begin paying SS and other taxes based on the sub-standard wages. At the point the illegal immigrant obtains legitimate citizenship, including speaking English, they would then be able to enjoy higher wages and benefits.

Gergely introduces comprehensive drug benefit bill for seniors -- 3-20-06

Dear Representative Stetler:

Please encourage the inclusion of people on disability, or any person on a fixed income, as part of any bill that would be considered for senior citizens. The constant exclusion of people on fixed incomes that aren't 65 makes us feel like 3rd class citizens. We rarely qualify for government programs because of our age and we aren't extended the same discounts that seniors receive at many establishments - all because of age.

This is a very serious issue and one that seems to fall on deaf ears in our PA Legislature.

HB 2548 is again a bill directed at senior citizens, I strongly urge you to fight for the inclusion of all individuals on fixed incomes for this bill. I've complained before that I don't feel there is any reason people on fixed incomes should be excluded from PACE and PACENET, our incomes are often lower than seniors because we haven't had the ability to amass savings prior to ending our careers and we don't have the ability or capacity to work.

Sincerely,
Todd Clay

Large Corporate Health Care Encouraging My State Rep

Dear Representative Stetler:

I would encorage you to support legislation that has been introduced, I believe by Kathy Mandarino, to effectively tax large corporations that do not supply health care for their workers.

My personal opinion is that while it would be nice to not need to legislate everything it has become quite obvious that Corporate America seems to have no conscience except when it comes to overpaying their executives and rewarding their stockholders. I remember a time when companies tried to do "the right thing" concerning their employees - those days are long gone unfortunately.

Our country being a world leader should be setting an example of right and wrong instead of just preaching hypocritically to the rest of the world. It's is truely unfortunate that our country's corporations must constantly be mired in the midst of scandal, greed and deceptive practices.

Sincerely,
Todd Clay

Just Another Incident of George W. in the Wrong Place

I've just never been so amazed by a president that is so out of touch, not only with his constituients, but with his own congress and cabinet.

Excerpt from New York Times: Social Security and Medicare in an Impasse Over Trustees
By Robert Pear
April 4, 2006

"In a joint statement issued with last year's reports, Mr. Palmer, a Democrat, and Mr. Saving, a Republican, broke with the Bush administration and said that Medicare's financial problems were more severe than those facing Social Security. At the time, Mr. Bush was expressing more alarm about Social Security and was trying to build support for private investment accounts."

Large Corporate Health Care

Dear Representative Mandarino,

We have a mutual friend Bernadette Kerrigan and I guess the fact that I hear her talk about you occassionally has clued me in to what you're doing in the PA Legislature.

I had the opportunity to see you talk today 4/4/6 on PCN concerning a bill that would effectively tax large employers that did not supply or at least contribute a significant amount to their employees health care. These companies/corporations enjoy the profits while the taxpayers of this state basically line their shareholders pockets with our money. This whole corporate greed environment in America just irritates me to death and ultimately will lead to a demise of our entire countries wealth to a few elite - that's the Republican way.

My one point of concern was that while your bill was based on the number of employees in a company/corporation to attack large offensive practices, getting the most bang for the buck if you will - it seemed that perhaps it should be based on profit. Those that can afford to pay for their employees should be taxed if they aren't supplying benefits regardless of their size. It just makes more sense to me to really create a level playing field for all employers. I'd like to hear your opinion on this matter as I would like to be able to encourage my Rep to support your bill.

Thanks much,
Todd Clay

No Demonstrations at Funerals

For years gays and lesbians have had to tolerate inappropriate behavior at funerals and other events by right-wing extremists. And it has always been condoned by all levels of government under the auspice of the right to free speech.

It's only since it has impacted the perceived "straight America" that legislators all over the country are rushing to enact legislation to bar this abhorrent behavior.

Shame on you, shame on all of you!

Putting the Cards on the Table (Gambling on Property Taxes)

Still no sign of property tax relief for Pennsylvania citizens and the reason is that our legislators have done very little to educate the public on the facts. However, if we are going to revitalize our inner city neighborhoods and keep our low and fixed income residents in their homes we’ve got to take action NOW!

Based on the assumption that SSI recipients receive roughly $595 a month, SS recipients around $900 and a full-time worker making $5.15/hr clears roughly $771 per month and finally property taxes on a home appraised at $100,000 in the City of York were roughly $4,000 a year in 2005

Did you know:

• The percentage of income paid for property taxes:


• SSI recipients pay roughly 56% of their income


• SS recipients pay roughly 37% of their income


• Minimum wage workers pay roughly 43% of their income
  an individual earning $50,000 a year pays roughly 8% of their income

• Raising the PIT from 3.07 to 6.34% would:


• eliminate school property taxes


• increase the yearly income of a home owning:


• SSI or SS recipient’s by $2500


• Minimum wage workers by roughly $2163


• an individual earning $50,000 a year by roughly $865


• only increase the taxes on an investment yielding $10,000 a year by a mere $327 a year

• Raising the existing sales tax rate from 6% to 13.70% would:


• eliminate school property taxes


• reduce the impact of the tax savings based on the PIT plan by roughly $400 a year by decreasing the buying power of consumers


• impact businesses whose products are taxable by selling less products and possibly resulting in subsequent layoffs

• Using gaming revenues:


• Pennsylvanians would have to spend $30,000,000,000 with a 33% gaming industry pre-expense tax to eliminate school property taxes


• Pennsylvanian’s would have to reduce their spending to other PA businesses by the same $30,000,000,000; causing layoffs and bankruptcies of many small businesses


• will leave many low income families in ruins because of “trying to hit the big one” in the gaming establishments and ultimately lead to higher dependence on Federal, State and Local social services

In order for any of these plans to succeed our legislators must force landlords to pass these savings onto renters as well.

Don't Do Unto Others By William Saletan

Excerpt from The Slate: Don't Do Unto Others
By William Saletan
April 03, 2006

"The average guy would love to bang his neighbor's wife. He just doesn't want his wife banging his neighbor. Fidelity isn't natural, but jealousy is. Hence the one-spouse rule. One isn't the number of people you want to sleep with. It's the number of people you want your spouse to sleep with."

World's Smallest Political Quiz

You gotta try this one...I think most would be surprised as to their political standing.

For those of you that are weak of mind -- don't try this without first contacting your local politicians.

A Funny Thing Happened in Iraq

So far we've seen a little over three years of military action in Iraq under the premise of uncovering "weapons of mass destruction" and eliminating the harboring and funding of terrorists by Sadam Hussein.

Vietnam II, as I call it, has yet to resolve in any stability. But yet the Bush Adminstration is putting the pressure on Iraq to shit or get off the pot and get governmental control which doesn't really bode well as a democratic policy. Democracy is suppose to be about a government that protects and serves its people, not controls its people.

It's hard to believe that a country (Iraq) that had no desire to become the next "democracy" and had no involvement in 9/11 is now under pressure from the Bush Administration to get their act together even while the US Military has been unable to do the same. Yet George W. Bush's ratings as a president are in the toilet as a result of the deception that was employed in starting a war in Iraq and the ongoing effort with no end in sight. On top of that his spend spend spend policy has created the biggest National Debt ever; resulting in massive cuts that aid people in our own country. The upcoming election has the Republicans running for cover and fighting Bush's control while the international media are reporting on his ineffectiveness.

---

The definition of terrorism:

The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

---

You be the judge.

Freed Reporter Returns to U.S. for Joyful Reunion With Family

Something stinks about this. It ain't the rose!

Crime Does Pay

I wished I had remembered to save a copy of my letter to my "rep", but I didn't. So I can only offer the gist of what I wrote.

This bill HR1704 basically allocates big money for prisoners to be "re-instituted" into society.

My suggestion was that I didn't feel it was appropriate to spend more on criminals than we do on law abiding citizens, who is this particular year are having almost every program funded by the Federal Government cut significantly. Here in PA we currently spend around $33,000 a year on each inmate while the maximum yearly Social Security payment is around $21,000 per year.

I also suggested that offenders should receive stiffer penalities that would actually have to be served as a deterent for crime. While those who don't abide by the law get food, clothing and shelter all on the backs of US taxpayers, those that receive government assistance are losing their homes to exhorbitant property taxes and choosing between eating, heat and medical care.

So suffice it to say - "status quo" is the name of the game in Washington, DC. Our educators would also have us believe that it is the lack of funding in the education system that causes people to become felons. I would offer that felons are just people that choose criminal activity because it pays better.

The President as Average Joe

Excerpt from the Washington Post


By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page A04

"While thinking on his feet, Bush often plays the rube. When Melia got up last week, the president cut him off before his question. 'You're going to ask me if I read the book,' Bush said.

'I gave the president a copy of our annual report, 'Freedom in the World,' before he took the stage,' Melia explained to the audience.
The president gave his instant review: 'Little print, no pictures.'

Melia did not miss a beat and compared it to another book Bush likes to cite. 'It's the bible of freedom,' Melia said.

When the crowd laughed, Bush protested, ' I'm the funny guy.'"