Should there be Race & Gender Quota's in the Finance Bill?

The below was found on the Tea Party Patriots Facebook Page...

While racial and gender quotas may or may not be a good idea, they really shouldn't be in a financial reform bill designed to prevent further financial decline.

From New Patriot Journal via Real Clear Markets --

What one finds when reading congressional legislation is invariably surprising. Take the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill, for instance, which was created by merging Senate and House bills. When the Senate returns from recess one of its first actions will be to vote on the bill, which passed the House on June 30.

I was searching the bill for a provision about derivatives. What did I find but Section 342, which declares that race and gender employment ratios, if not quotas, must be observed by private financial institutions that do business with the government. In a major power grab, the new law inserts race and gender quotas into America's financial industry.

In addition to this bill's well-publicized plans to establish over a dozen new financial regulatory offices, Section 342 sets up at least 20 Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion. This has had no coverage by the news media and has large implications.

The Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the 12 Federal Reserve regional banks, the Board of Governors of the Fed, the National Credit Union Administration, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...all would get their own Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.

Each office would have its own director and staff to develop policies promoting equal employment opportunities and racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of not just the agency's workforce, but also the workforces of its contractors and sub-contractors.

What would be the mission of this new corps of Federal monitors? The Dodd-Frank bill sets it forth succinctly and simply - all too simply. The mission, it says, is to assure "to the maximum extent possible the fair inclusion" of women and minorities, individually and through businesses they own, in the activities of the agencies, including contracting.

How to define "fair" has bedeviled government administrators, university admissions officers, private employers, union shop stewards and all other supervisors since time immemorial - or at least since Congress first undertook to prohibit discrimination in employment... read more HERE.

The "Selective Powers" Clause

As many of us have now heard, under orders from President Obama, the Justice Dept. is suing AZ over SB 1070 which will allow the state to defend their state borders and enforce their new immigration laws.

The lawsuit against AZ, like the administrations push for "selective" free speech through the DISCLOSE ACT, "selecting" not to lift the Jones Act & save the Gulf, and their "selecting" not to prosecute the open & shut voter intimidation case of the recent club wielding Black Panthers, you will see is just another case of the current administration using the "Selective Powers" clause they believe is in our Constitution....

Since SB 1070 is a virtual clone of existing federal law, Arizona’s sin against THE ONE, has nothing to do with the letter of the law. The Obama Regime isn’t worried that Arizona’s SB 1070 will ‘supercede’ federal law. The Obama Regime has its Colonista knickers in a knot because - unlike Uncle Sam under Vicente Bush and Pancho Obama - Arizona intends to defend our national sovereignty by - GASP - enforcing America’s immigration laws.

It’s ironic that the Obama Regime is so hot and bothered over a new, as yet unimplemented, Arizona law, when law enforcement officials in RHODE ISLAND, have been doing what SB 1070 mandates, FOR YEARS....

[I]n Rhode Island, illegal immigrants face a far greater penalty: deportation.“There are police chiefs throughout New England who hide from the issue . . . and I’m not hiding from it,’’ said Colonel Brendan P. Doherty, the towering commander of the Rhode Island State Police. “I would feel that I’m derelict in my duties to look the other way.’’

From Woonsocket to Westerly, the troopers patrolling the nation’s smallest state are reporting all illegal immigrants they encounter, even on routine stops such as speeding, to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. (Hot Air)

Why isn’t the Obama Regime suing Rhode Island? I can explain that in two words: BLUE STATE. If the stench of that selective outrage turd isn’t enough to suffocate you, let’s turn our attention to another glaring example: sanctuary cities.

If Uncle Sam really gave a damn about local governments which supercede federal law, they would paint a Justice Department bull’s-eye on sanctuary cities. Unlike SB 1070 which clones federal immigration law, sanctuary city laws do supercede federal immigration law. When will THE ONE nail any/all of them with a lawsuit? Never, because, he’s okey dokey with anyone who refuses to protect our national sovereignty. (H/T PIG)

As for those wondering what the "Selective Powers" clause is and where it is in our Constitution? There is no such clause as their is no such clause or power allowing the federal government or the President to strip individual states of their rights or enforcing laws they "select" not to like or that run counter to their desire of re-writing our Constitution.

Obama, NASA & Muslims on the Moon

Speaking at the American University in Cairo NASA Administrator Charles Bolden outlines his tasks regarding our future space programs as dictated by President Obama....

"When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering," Bolden said in the interview.

"It is a matter of trying to reach out and get the best of all worlds, if you will, and there is much to be gained by drawing in the contributions that are possible from the Muslim (nations)," he said. He held up the International Space Station as a model, praising the contributions there from the Russians and the Chinese.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world. (Fox News)

Unfortunately, due to the dismantling of our space/shuttle program by President Obama any future trips to the International Space Station (ISS) by the U.S. will depend on us hitching a ride on a Russian, Chinese and now maybe rocket or shuttle from a Muslim nation.

As for contributions from Muslim nations, obviously Bolden thinks we should be thankful by the technology fromthe pin point accuracy offered by the ever-favorite muslim projectile -- the Scud missile. And of course how can we forget the technology offered by Iran's peaceful missile program with the help of Russia that brought us the Shabab 1, 2, 3 &4.

In his interview with Al-Jazeera, Bolden expands on how we can work together with Muslim nations on space technology....

Charles Bolden, the Nasa administrator, talks to Al Jazeera's Imran Garda about the US relationship with the Middle East after Obama's so-called Cairo initiative, reaching out to the Muslim world, international contribution to the space mission, the constellation project, Nasa's challenges, militarisation of space, the US leadership role in space, and life in space. (Click here to view Al Jazeera interview).

Injecting some common sense and reality into this "Fly me to the Moon" foolishness is former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin who offers up these insightful comments....

Griffin said Tuesday that collaboration with other countries, including Muslim nations, is welcome and should be encouraged -- but that it would be a mistake to prioritize that over NASA's "fundamental mission" of space exploration.

"If by doing great things, people are inspired, well then that's wonderful," Griffin said. "If you get it in the wrong order ... it becomes an empty shell."

Griffin added: "That is exactly what is in danger of happening." (NPJ)

Get it wrong? This Administration does nothing wrong, only George Bush did -- just ask them. But I'm sure Israel is just thrilled spitless that the U.S. will be helping Muslim nations expand and improve their peaceful "shoot things in the air" technology.

Court settlement calls for EPA to set emission standards for 28 industries

Here is another example of how the administration is using regulation over legislation as a means of forcefully enacting Cap & Trade.

Combined with another little know provision in the Clean Air Act -- the Integrated Urban Air Toxics Strategy -- in which small "Mom & Pop" businesses will also become a target of the EPA, the below "consent decree" will allow the ever growing power of the EPA to enact even more restrictions on private industries through regulation....

From Earth Justice -- (emphasis added)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has now agreed to review and make all necessary updates to hazardous air pollution rules covering 28 types of industrial facilities, including pesticide production operations, lead smelters, aerospace facilities and pharmaceutical plants, among others. The proposed consent decree lodged today in federal court is the result of a Jan. 2009 lawsuit filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Sierra Club, which sought to end years of delay by the Bush administration in updating air pollution rules for industries that pollute neighborhoods with toxic emissions.

"For too many years, Americans have waited for the EPA to update and strengthen these standards. Now EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is committing to act on a long list of air toxics standards to protect people from serious health problems caused by air pollution," said Jane Williams, Chair of the Sierra Club National Air Toxics Taskforce. "We applaud her decision to take action so that people exposed every day to toxic industrial pollution will finally have the chance to receive the basic health protections promised by the Clean Air Act."

The industries affected by this settlement emit hazardous air pollutants which are associated with cancer, birth defects, anemia, lung and respiratory harm, damage to the nervous system, and other health disorders as well as environmental damage like contamination of the natural food chain.

There will be a public comment period and final agency review for the proposed agreement before the EPA and Sierra Club submit the final agreement to the Court for approval later this year. The EPA will be scheduled to take the first action under the agreement by mid-September 2010, and additional rulemakings on toxic air pollution standards for various industries will follow regularly over the next few years.

The EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to set industry air pollution standards that are up-to-date. The EPA must ensure that the standards reflect newly available technology and provide ample protection for human health and the environment. The EPA missed the mandatory 8-year review deadline to evaluate the "residual risk," that is, the remaining risk to public health and to the environment that is not addressed by emission standards on the books created years ago. As a result, numerous standards may be too weak or too technologically outdated to provide the public protections that are legally required under the Clean Air Act.

Details of the proposed decree:

• The U.S. EPA will review and, as necessary, revise the national emission standards for hazardous air pollution to control toxic air emissions for 28 industrial sources, hold a public rulemaking and issue a final determination as required by law.

• The agency also will hold a rulemaking to set "residual risk" safety standards if required to protect public health and the environment.

• The U.S. EPA will begin taking action this September and will complete all rulemakings in the next few years.

• For each of the 28 industrial categories covered by the agreement, the public will have the ability to review the EPA's proposed rule or determination and offer comments to ensure that the agency hears fully from local communities.

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon publish a notice in the Federal Register and accept public comments regarding the proposed consent decree.

To review the decree visit: http://www.earthjustice.org/library/legal_docs/sierra-club-112-final-cdpdf.pdf

Contact:
Jane Williams, Sierra Club, (661) 256-2101
Emma Cheuse, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext. 220
Jim Pew, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext. 214
Raviya Ismail, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext. 221

Administration Refuses to Release 2010 Enrollment Data for Medicare Programs

One can only wonder why the Administration is guarding this information. Could an upcoming November election and the prospect of losing a Majority in the House & the Senate when the truth is revealed be causing them to drag their feet?

From the House Energy & Commerce Committee (emphasis added)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Michael Burgess, R-Texas, ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, today asked Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to submit to Congress district-level 2010 enrollment data for Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service Medicare.

CMS traditionally provides this information to Congress but it has been 14 months since Congress last received information.

“With less than five months until open enrollment for 2011, we have serious concerns that you have not provided us with the 2010 enrollment data,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are particularly concerned by this lack of transparency since the health reform law, according to the CMS Office of the Actuary, will ultimately reduce enrollment in Medicare Advantage by 50 percent. Given this projected drastic shift in Medicare enrollment, it is important that members have the most current enrollment data for the beneficiaries in their districts in order to carefully monitor the impact of health reform on their constituents from year to year.”

A copy of the letter can be found here.

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, has also released an implementation timeline on ObamaCare. Click here for a copy

Tea Party Patriots Boot Camp in Your Home

Dear Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

We hope you had a wonderful Independence Day! Yesterday, Tea Party Patriots and the Leadership Institute announced the launch of TeaPartyTraining.org. We think you are going to love this training program! It is online and you can get the training right in your home, as you have indicated to you us that you would like to be able to do. In the next week, you will see an email from us outlining webinars and forums you can participate in online to go along with the training. This will give you an online community, much like what you would have in an traditional classroom, to interact and bounce ideas off of one another.

Yesterday's launch included 12 online training videos geared toward grassroots activism. The training will constantly be updated according to your feedback. With the help of the Leadership Institute, we will add additional training videos in coming weeks and months. We are working to add Founding Principles training as well.

So, be sure to check out the training at www.TeaPartyTraining.org. The press release announcing the launch is below and a list of Frequently Asked Questions is below that.

Let us know what you think of the training. After each online video, you can give specific feedback so we know what is working and where we can improve. If you find the training informative and useful, be sure to forward this email and links to the training site to your own circle of influence.

(Please forgive any typos. They are the sole responsibility of Jenny Beth Martin. Thanks!)

Tea Party Patriots Step Beyond High-Profile Protests

and

Directly into Public Policy Battle

Online Training to Transform Passionate Tea Party Protesters

into Grassroots Leaders

Arlington, VA (July 4, 2010) - Jenny Beth Martin, Co-Founder and National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots, in partnership with the Leadership Institute, today announces the launch of www.TeaPartyTraining.org, an online grassroots activist training initiative.

A growing number of Americans feel that their interests are no longer represented by those in public office. Tea Party Patriot members are ready to go beyond their participation in high-profile protests to become actively involved in shaping public policy.

Mark Meckler, Co-Founder and National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots, says, "The training that the Leadership Institute now offers our members will accelerate the process of reclaiming this country according to our three core principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets."

Founded in 1979, the Leadership Institute is one of the nation's largest and most experienced political training organizations and is uniquely equipped to handle the challenge of offering training to the country's largest Tea Party group.

David Fenner, Vice President of Training Programs at Leadership Institute says, "The partnership between the two organizations is a natural fit. The Patriots bring fresh passion and dedication and the Leadership Institute offers over 30 years of political training experience."

For more information on Tea Party training powered by the Leadership Institute please visit www.TeaPartyTraining.org.

TeaPartyTraing.org FAQs

Is there a cost for this training?

While there is no cost to access www.TeaPartyTraining.org, your financial support of the Leadership Institute will enable many more conservative activists to be trained.

Please visit www.LeadershipInstitute.org/. Contribute to help train conservative activists to fight for the principles that made this country great.

How do I access the training?

Please visit www.TeaPartyTraining.org to sign in using your contact information.

Will I be able to ask questions during or after the online training?

At this time, you will not be able to ask the speakers questions during the online training. As The Leadership Institute continues to improve its online training program, this may be an option in the near future. However, please feel free to contact The Leadership Institute with any questions or comments you may have regarding the information presented in the training videos.

How are the Leadership Institute and Tea Party Patriots affiliated?

The Leadership Institute and Tea Party Patriots have partnered to offer online grassroots activist training to members of Tea Party Patriots.

Can I pause the training videos?

Yes, you will be able to pause and play the training videos at your convenience.

Who are the trainers?

Leadership Institute trainers are experts in their respective fields. They generously volunteer their time and expertise in order to assist the Leadership Institute in achieving the mission to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists in the public policy process.

What will I learn? What topics are covered?

By participating in the training at www.TeaPartyTraining.org you will learn from political experts practical skills that will enable you to shape public policy and reclaim this country's founding principles.

Currently, www.TeaPartyTraining.org gives you the tools you will need to raise money for your cause or candidate, impact your government through direct participation, sell your message and achieve buy-in from your supporters, and run a successful campaign for elected office.

A New Money Machine for Policy Makers: The Plastic Bag Tax

When first reading the headline about taxing plastic bags I thought what a novel idea. Surely we could support a tax that would promote limiting the "plastic faced bag" of the left -- Nancy Pelosi.

Upon further reading it was discovered this is really just another "money-grabbing" sin tax....

From ABC News --

Who knew the lightweight disposable sacks, which millions of shoppers use every day to lug home groceries and take-out, could help states bring in much needed revenue.

Starting next year, Seattle residents will pay for disposable bags at stores.

At least, that's what some policymakers have proposed. Only one US city – Washington, D.C. – has successful instituted a plastic bag tax, but at least 13 other states are considering one.

The plastic bag tax represents an expansion of so-called sin taxes, which have existed, in some form, since George Washington's whiskey tax.

This year, several states have increased sin taxes, especially cigarette taxes, to raise revenues. But more plastic bag taxes seem unlikely – two cities, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Seattle, Wash., have both repealed plastic bag taxes shortly after approving them in recent years. More...

We would still support a Anti-Pelosi Tax!