YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK

[nChrist]

That "other country" is already in their sites and is being worked on for quite some time now as that "other country" has been standing in the way of their objective. Not only have we been under attack violently but are also seeing a fifth column that is working on destroying us all from within. There are a large number of not so sleepy "sleeper cells" within the U.S. that has already taken over a considerable amount of our government (cities, counties and starting on states and federal) and is already instilling sharia law in those areas. We see the rest of our government kowtowing to the "rights" of islamists all the while ignoring the legal rights of others.

Had anything even close to this happened 50 years ago, could you guess what the reaction would have been? In fact, something much smaller would have resulted in a drastic response. The response to many circumstances of today would have been radically different 50 years ago in just about every major controversy of society. Some would say that we were less civilized 50 years ago, but I would disagree completely and believe the opposite. We were obviously a more Godly society 50 years ago. There were some exceptions, but we also treated each other better 50 years ago. I'll just say that overall, we had a greater desire to please GOD. Also overall, our expectations were much higher, and what we would tolerate was much different.

Many would quickly cite medical and scientific advances over the last 50 years and state that the quality of life is better today. They would also cite that we live longer. However, I think that the quality of life was much better 50 years ago, even though we had the worries of the Cold War. Remember, I know there were exceptions. We were pretty poor, so my views were not clouded by wealth or advantage.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Christian Quotes 10 - Now blest in heavenly places In Christ at God's
right hand; And filled with all His fulness Complete in Him to stand.
Sing to the praise and glory Of Him Who thus hath shown Such gracious
love and mercy, To call us for His own. -- William Hallman

[HisDaughter]

Here is the form letter that I got back from Senator Cantwell's office.  I doubt that she ever saw my email.  My brother got the same one as near as I can tell.

Dear Ms. Bainter,

 Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about the high energy prices in Washington state. I appreciate hearing from you on this matter of utmost importance to families and businesses across our nation.

 As I'm sure you know, the last few months have seen the highest recorded average gasoline and diesel prices ever seen in Washington. With volatile oil prices over $135 per barrel, and gasoline and diesel pump prices topping $4 per gallon across the country, consumers are struggling to make ends meet with ever shrinking disposable incomes. Airlines are going bankrupt, truckers aren't getting paid enough to cover skyrocketing diesel prices, and families are cutting down on trips to the mall and cancelling summer vacation plans - further exacerbating our economic downturn.  Average national gasoline prices are the highest they've ever been, double what they were just a year ago, and still climbing. Our state continues to have some of the highest prices in the country, despite the fact that Washington's refineries are supplied primarily by Alaskan oil, produce almost twice the refined product that we need for in-state consumption, and have a comprehensive pipeline distribution system.

 I recognize the tremendous burden these unprecedented prices have put on families and Washington businesses and I am concerned that the lack of transparency in U.S. energy futures markets may explain some of the record prices we face. Energy market experts, oil company executives, and major industrial energy consumers have testified to Congress that the price of oil and gas can no longer be explained or predicted by normal market dynamics or their historic understanding of supply and demand fundamentals. Numerous experts have concluded that unprecedented jumps in crude oil prices are due in large part to rampant speculation in the energy commodities markets.

 To combat this speculation, on June 23, 2008, I introduced the Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices (PUMP) Act (S. 3185), the Senate companion to a bill (H.R. 6330) introduced by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI). If enacted, the PUMP Act would close the full range of loopholes being used by oil market speculators and dark market exchanges and give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the ability to better prevent traders from establishing powerful positions in commodity markets that could be used for manipulative purposes. In addition, the bill would require public monthly reporting of index fund data and strengthen Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to prosecute manipulation in natural gas and electricity markets. Industry experts have testified before Congress that enacting the PUMP Act into law could bring down the world price of oil to the marginal cost of production, which oil industry and market experts believe is around $60 a barrel, within 30 days.

 Furthermore, the landmark 2007 Energy Bill included language I authored giving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) new authority to prosecute and impose fines of up to $1 million per day on anyone who uses a manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance to distort the crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillate markets. In the months since the Energy Bill was enacted, I have put pressure on the FTC to make sure they utilize this new regulatory authority as soon as possible. With petroleum prices at unprecedented levels, we need a cop-on-the-beat to make sure Americans aren't being exploited by bad marketplace actors. On May 2, 2008, I welcomed the FTC's decision to issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a critical first step in a rulemaking process , and I plan to continue to push the commission to finalize this rule in the next few months.

 To further address the threat of market manipulation, on April 21, 2008, I sent a letter with Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA-1) to the President calling for the creation of a Department of Justice Oil and Gas Market Fraud Task Force to examine fraud and manipulation of oil and gas markets. The Department of Justice stepped in to help investigate Enron's manipulation of electricity prices a few years ago, now it needs to step up and investigate potential corruption in oil and gas markets. Washingtonians felt the economic pain of an Administration slow to act while Enron and other bad market actors were pillaging West Coast ratepayers and now they deserve vigilant oversight from the feds when it comes to gas prices.

 Rapidly growing energy needs in Washington state, and across the country, call for diverse solutions. In the search for answers, some have called for expanding domestic oil and gas exploration, including in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), to decrease the price Americans are paying at the pump. While the intent behind this suggestion is surely sincere, it simply won't fix the problem. The truth of the matter is that the Unites States only holds about three percent of the world's oil reserves and will never affect world oil prices. In fact, the Energy Information Administration, an agency within the Department of Energy, reported recently that drilling in all the offshore areas currently "would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030." The United States simply cannot become an energy leader through domestic exploration, but we should seize the opportunity to become a world leader in energy efficiency, conservation technology, and renewable energy technology.

 While Washingtonians like you have been working harder to pay the tab at the gas pump and on heating bills, oil companies have been reaping record profits. Exxon Mobil announced their 2007 net profit earlier this year - $40.6 billion - breaking records for the highest quarterly and annual profits ever for a U.S. company. Combined oil company profits exceed $600 billion since 2001. While I want U.S. companies to be successful, hugely profitable companies don't need taxpayer subsidies and shouldn't be allowed to avoid paying royalties for oil and gas taken from public lands. I believe it is time to level the playing field by removing decades-old subsidies to the mature oil and gas industries and invest in clean energy technologies that will keep more money here at home. I recently led an effort to pass legislation in the Senate that, if enacted, would extend clean energy tax incentives scheduled to expire at the end of 2008. On April 10, 2008, the bipartisan Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act (S. 2821), which I introduced with John Ensign (R-NV) just a week earlier, was included as an amendment to the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221) that passed the Senate later that day by a vote of 88 to 8. This legislation, cosponsored by 43 of my Senate colleagues, would provide the continuation of clean energy production incentives for wind, solar and other renewable sources, and incentives to improve energy efficiency that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, save people and businesses money, and reduce energy costs over time.

 Please be assured that, as a member of the Senate Energy, Commerce, and Finance Committees, I will continue working to develop responsible solutions to the current energy crisis and to provide price relief to Washingtonians. At the same time, I am working with my colleagues to develop balanced and sustainable solutions to our nation's long-term energy needs.

 Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter.  Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington state residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington State.  If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.

 Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

[Soldier4Christ]

Typical democratic smelly by-products. The PUMP Act was tried before and failed miserably. It sure to fail again. All this amounts to is an attempt to buy some time, to put off having to handle the problem until at after the elections at which time they won't do a thing about it. As it has already been said by the democrats, they don't want gas and oil prices to drop. They want us to suffer high energy costs until someone can come up with reliable alternative energy which will also be costly.

What we need is a DUMP Act. Dump the democrats into prison for not doing their jobs.

[HisDaughter]

What we need is a DUMP Act. Dump the democrats into prison for not doing their jobs.

[nChrist]

           ROFL!

I many times think we would be better off by dumping all of them. We could let the Barnum and Bailey Circus run it all. The Ringmaster would be the President. How about that for a plan.   

[nChrist]

P.S. to the last post.

The bearded lady would be the Vice-President.

The clowns would be in charge of foreign affairs.

 

[Soldier4Christ]

I am sure they would do a much better job than the clowns we have now.

[Soldier4Christ]

Congress' bailout opens doors to eminent domain seizures
Warning issued about 'bonanza' of potential property confiscations

The congressional plan to bail out the U.S. housing and mortgage industries, which could be approved by Congress and signed by the president as early as this weekend, actually endangers Americans' housing, according to the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

"Of all the unintended consequences of the housing bill that passed the House – of which there will likely be many – one of the most ironic and far-reaching may be this: that whatever security marginal homeowners have from foreclosures, their homes will be far less safe from being taken by a bureaucrat through eminent domain," John Berlau wrote on the organization's website.

According to the Wall Street Journal the White House says the bill needs to be enacted soon so its new authorities will start taking effect.

The sweeping package, the report said, "is the government's most aggressive response to rising foreclosures and fragile credit markets. It creates a new regulator for ailing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and establishes a $300 billion program to expand the Federal Housing Administration's ability to guarantee mortgages."

However, some of the details included in the hundreds of pages of the bill are likely to surprise – and concern – Americans. For example, there's a requirement for a new fingerprint registry for those who are associated with the mortgage industry, raising privacy concerns for many.

There's also a provision many are interpreting as allowing the federal government to obtain information about online spending, money transfers and purchases, including ordinary eBay purchases.

Now comes the concern that the new proposal's affirmation of the Kelo decision by the U.S. Supreme Court actually could make the situation worse for homeowners.

That still-bitterly opposed Supreme Court opinion in Kelo v. New London decided in 2005 that the U.S. Constitution allows the taking of private property for private economic development, a decision decried by WND columnist Ellis Washington as "a blatant violation of citizen property rights, also an obvious misinterpretation of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which mandates, 'nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.'"

Berlau explains his worries about the wake of the Kelo verdict, and the new provisions in the housing bailout plan.

"Some states have passed laws protecting property owners by barring eminent domain solely for economic development purposes. But for the many states that still allow this practice, the federal government is often the source of funds for the projects that result in the use of eminent domain. Efforts to bar federal funds to be used on projects that make use of this type of eminent domain have stalled in this and the last Congress," he said.

"To their credit, the drafters of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which passed the Senate on July 11, at least recognized this danger of throwing billions in construction grants to state and local governments. So they put in a clause stating, 'No funds under this title may be used in conjunction with property taken by eminent domain, unless eminent domain is employed for a public use.' The clause then adds that 'public use shall not be construed to include economic development that primarily benefits any private entity," he said.

"But this language has vanished from the House bill," he said.

Replacing it is language that "would give governments substantially more leeway to take land."

That provision changes the Senate's prohibition on funds "used in conjunction with property taken by eminent domain" with the looser ban of using funds for a "project that seeks to use the power of eminent domain."

"This new language in the House bill would give property-grabbing bureaucrats an easy way around the supposed prohibition on using eminent domain," Berlau said. "All they would have to do is take property for any reason that Kelo allows, and then come up with another project for the specific use of that property. If land were grabbed for general economic development, as Kelo permits, and then a new project were created for a city to sell this land to developers, this would likely not be a violation of the House bill. After all, the new project isn’t 'seeking' to use eminent domain, it is merely using land that had already been confiscated."

He warned of the potential for the bill to "stimulate a bonanza of state and local property confiscation of the type green-lighted in the Supreme Court's 5-4 deciion Kelo v. New London."

"This new language means … there will be virtually nothing stopping states and localities from using the federal housing grants to help themselves to confiscate housing," he said.

Senators can be reached through the Capitol HIll switchboard at 202-224-3121.

[HisDaughter]

The clowns would be in charge of foreign affairs.

 

They already are!

[HisDaughter]

I am sure they would do a much better job than the clowns we have now.

Oops didn't see this one!  Just goes to show that great minds think alike!

[Soldier4Christ]

Oops didn't see this one!  Just goes to show that great minds think alike!

 

[HisDaughter]

This is from my brother this morning...

Hi Sis,
You know Senator Murray surprised me a bit here. She does make a very important point. Just because we open more land for drilling is no guarantee that the oil companies will drill. They are having record profits right now, why drill more and lower those profits. Maybe it is time for a publicically/government owned oil company that is not interested in record profits for shareholders, etc., but one that is interested in that 90 years of oil for the public.  Oh my gosh, did I just say that - more government control? I do think that she has a point though. Who says that the oil companies will drill and lower prices? She did give me food for thought there - at least I think she wrote her own letter, unlike Cantwell.
Randy



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded Message: Response from Senator Murray Response from Senator MurrayTuesday, July 29, 2008 8:23 AMFrom: Senator@murray.senate.

Dear Mr. -----:

 Thank you for writing me regarding your support for oil drilling in the United States. I appreciate hearing your views on this important matter.

 Just this week, I filled up my gas tank in Washington State at $4.45 a gallon. I understand and share your concern about how high gas prices are affecting families, businesses, and our entire economy, and I am dedicated to finding solutions to this problem. There are many options that I am discussing with my colleagues, from addressing speculation in the futures market to expanding the number of leases for land available to oil companies.

 As you know, President Bush recently proposed expanding the amount of area available for domestic oil production in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Bans on oil drilling and development were placed on parts of the OCS by both Congressional legislation in 1982 and by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, and later extended by President Clinton until 2012. President Bush is calling on Congress to lift the ban and allow for expanded offshore drilling in the OCS, arguing that lifting the ban will lower oil prices and allow for more domestic production of oil.

 However, oil companies have made it clear they would not necessarily choose to increase refining or production of gasoline and other petroleum products even if those OCS acres were made available. In fact, there are currently 41 million acres in the OCS that are leased for oil drilling, and of those, just over 8 million are being drilled, according to the Minerals Management Service (MMS). That leaves approximately 33.5 million acres of OCS lands that are already open for drilling, and yet oil companies have chosen to not drill there. In addition, MMS estimates that roughly 79 percent of America's technically recoverable offshore oil reserves are available for leasing, while just 21 percent are covered by the current ban. Since oil companies have failed to increase domestic production by using the acres open to them, there is no guarantee that they would increase production even if additional OCS acres were made available.

 Rather than giving oil companies access to more land and allowing them to drill at their own pace, I believe Congress should strongly encourage the utilization of lands already available for drilling. That is why I am working closely with Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) on a proposal to speed up domestic oil production on federal lands that are already leased by shortening lease terms and requiring oil companies to comply with benchmarks on their progress. In addition, the proposal would accelerate leasing in acres that are currently open to leasing. These areas are estimated to contain 78.5 million barrels of oil, which is enough to displace our imports from the Persian Gulf for 90 years.

 The proposal would also target reducing demand for oil by investing in public transportation and clean, renewable fuels and battery technologies to decrease our dependence on oil and diversify our energy supplies. Also, this proposal would target oil companies and the tax breaks they currently receive. Even though large oil companies have reported years of record profits, they have failed to make adequate investments in increasing supply and instead are using their excessive profits to buy back their own stock. I firmly believe in making short-term investments to help resolve this situation while also making long-term investments in fuel efficiency, renewable fuels, and limiting our dependence on fossil fuels.

 As you know, there is evidence that speculation in the futures market may also be impacting the price of oil. I am working with my colleagues to prevent excessive speculation and manipulation and to ensure that energy trading markets are properly regulated. That is why I coauthored S. 3268, the Stop Excessive Speculation Act of 2008, to help address speculation on the energy futures market. This bill will increase the monitoring capabilities of our regulatory agencies and require traders to disclose more information that could be helpful in tracking and prosecuting illegal practices. Once implemented, these measures will ensure the price of oil is not being artificially inflated by traders who stand to benefit from high oil prices.

 Easing the price at the pump and reducing America's dependence on oil are two of my top priorities. I am working to accelerate oil production on lands that are already available, repeal tax breaks for oil companies, and invest in energy efficiency and create a cleaner, more diversified energy supply using American workers and innovation. I know real families are struggling, and I share your concerns and will keep your thoughts in mind as the 110th Congress continues to debate energy legislation. Thank you for contacting me, and please don't hesitate to write again.

 I hope all is well in Yakima.

[Soldier4Christ]

There are oil companies right now that are not doing so well that would like to expand. These companies would love the opportunity to have access to the blocked areas.

It is true that there are approx 41 million acres in the OCS that are leased and not being drilled in. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) that is mentioned above has stated that the oil companies are drilling in those areas that have proved to be worthwhile geologically to find oil, that the majority of the unused leased area does not show any likelihood of producing oil.

It is also true that under current legislation there is no guarantee that oil companies leasing that land that does show promises will actually make use of it. It is for this reason that if Congress does lift the ban on these areas and allow the companies to lease the land it should be with the provision that they loose the rights to that land if it is not used productively in a certain amount of time and released to someone that will.

The suggestion of a "publicically/government owned oil company" would be just falling into line with what Pelosi, Reid and the likes actually want. It would fall into the category of socialism with communism following shortly thereafter.

[HisDaughter]

Thanks PR.  I put this here specifically to get input.  I KNEW there had to be a catch somewhere.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Donkey Congress is allergic to debate

Conservative stalwart Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint blew the whistle last week on a new report from the Congressional Research Service showing that 94 percent of bills passed in the Dem-controlled Senate have been rammed through without debate or vote.

Via CNS:

Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) dismissed Democratic claims of obstructionism and expressed outrage last week over a government report that shows the majority of bills that have passed in the Democrat-controlled Senate of the 110th Congress have done so without any debate or even a vote.

“The U.S. Senate has a nine percent approval rating, because the American people believe that much of our work is done in secret with no debate, no transparency and no accountability,” Coburn told reporters at press conference Wednesday at the Capitol.

“This report shows that the reality is worse than the public’s fears. Instead of encouraging open debate, I’m disappointed that Majority Leader Reid often chooses secrecy or demagoguery,” he added.

Coburn was referring to a non-partisan study released on June 10 by the government’s Congressional Research Service (CRS), which indicates that 855 of the 911 bills passed by the Senate of the 110th Congress have been streamlined by Democratic Party leadership with a procedural tactic known as Unanimous Consent (UC), which requires no debate or even a vote.

With the Senate’s traditional August recess about to start, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has repeatedly accused Republicans, however, and especially Coburn and DeMint, of blocking UC on legislation that he says is critical to the well-being of many Americans.