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The Alabama Legislature is screwed up beyond belief, but this compromise on a bill to prohibit political action committees (PACs) from passing contributions around, effectively disguising who is giving to whom, sounds pretty good. Of course, it hasn't actually passed or anything.
Bans transfers between political action committees.
Exempts political parties, principal campaign committees, legislative caucuses and voter participation organizations from the definition of a PAC.
Defines a legislative caucus as a group of legislators affiliated with a political party and limits political parties to three caucuses in each house of the Legislature.
Allows political parties to receive PAC money and limits the political parties to giving money to only candidates or principal campaign committees.
Allows legislative caucuses to receive money from PACs but not from a legislator or another caucus, and allows the caucuses to give only to a candidate or principal campaign committee.
Requires PACs to pay a yearly fee equal to 0.5 percent of the money the PAC raised that year to fund enforcement of campaign finance laws at the secretary of state's office.
Requires PACs, political parties, legislative caucuses and voter participation organizations to file quarterly reports, in addition to those filed before elections, listing contributions and expenditures.
Rep. Jeff McLaughlin (D, Guntersville) is the original sponsor of the PAC to PAC ban and he believes the bill could still be passed on the last day of the session. The House passed McLaughlin's original tough and to the point bill early in the session but the Senate passed a very watered down bill that would limit PAC to PAC transfers but permit PAC to party and PAC to caucus transfers, effectively closing one door and opening two new ones. It looks like the committee is working to at least make those two new doors only operate in one direction. That's progress. So is the quarterly filing requirement.
It's a little disturbing that Sen. Wendell Mitchell (D, Luverne) is opposed to asking PACs to pay one half of one percent (0.005) of the money they raise to fund enforcement. That isn't very much and if the PACs don't pay it, the taxpayers will have to and that sure as heck isn't fair.
I heard about this on the radio this afternoon. It seems that Scott Bloch, the U.S. Special Counsel who had his office and home raided by the FBI on Tuesday, was raided his own self!
When federal agents searched Special Counsel Scott J. Bloch's home and offices on Tuesday, they also physically searched Bloch and seized two thumb drives, portable devices used to store data. Bloch's office oversees protection for federal whistleblowers.
To refresh your memory, this is the guy that had his work computer, and two of his deputies' computers, drive-wiped by computer servicing company (not by his agencies' IT support, wonder why?). Bloch, who is being investigated for potential abuse of power while running the Office of Special Counsel, claimed the computers were infected by viruses and the purge was to clean the hard drives. The investigators have a different view, though
Bloch has admitted to hiring the computer servicing company, Geeks on Call, to purge his computer and two of his deputies' computers in 2006. He said the computers contained a virus, which necessitated a purge. Investigators are looking into whether the purge was meant to destroy evidence related to the current investigation.
Now, it turns out that he backed up some files from the "cleaned" computers before the purge to these thumb drives, which he kept on a keychain. I wonder what those files were?
People close to Bloch now say the drives mostly contain personal documents, such as Christmas lists, finances and family photographs. But in his interview with Congress, Bloch said the drives contain, "some government files and some personal files," according to a transcript provided by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
So do lots of people.
That's the problem with perfect crimes, it just takes one little thing to screw them up.
More bad news for Republicans running for Congress. They are super worried about the MS-01 special election, they have very little money, GOP fundraising is toast, Newt Gingrich says voters are deciding "Not you" and Tom Cole admits that America "isn't an idealogically conservative nation." Wow! How long before they have to put bowls of Prozac on the table for the Republican Caucus meetings?
I apologize for the cut and paste nature of this post, but the material is just too good to rework. See it below the fold.
The Alabama Senate again failed to bring up a bill that would remove the state sales tax on groceries, this time falling just one vote short. The vote was 20 to 11, with 3 abstentions.
Pointing to the tax breaks provided to Alabama farmers, [Sen. Hank] Sanders said, "There is something wrong in Alabama when we decide we ought not to tax food for calves but we tax food for babies."
Yes, there is something wrong with Alabama Senators who won't tax food for farm animals but insist on taxing food for human children. Here are the three Senators who did not have the guts to actually cast a vote on this truly family friendly legislation:
Tom Butler (D, SD2) (334) 242-7854, (256) 837-8374, 256) 837-8374, FAX (334) 353-9777 or (256) 837-4355, senbutler@aol.com
Jim Preuitt (D, SD11) (334) 242-7898, (256) 362-5253, (256) 362-6900
From Alabama Arise, emphasis mine:
The grocery tax bill, House Bill 274, failed to get the 21 votes needed to bring it up for debate. The vote was 20-11, with 3 abstentions (Butler, Orr, and Preuitt) and one absent, Charles Bishop (perhaps a favor to us?).
We will try again. It's likely to come up again by the end of the day. Sen. Smitherman promised to filibuster until this bill gets its chance for floor debate.
Our 21st vote will probably come from one of the senators who abstained. If you know anyone in the following places, ask them to call their state senator's office and urge him to vote for House Bill 274.
The people should be allowed to vote on whether they want the grocery tax reduced.
NOTE: If the senator's secretary argues back with you, saying that the taxes will just be shifted to others, tell them that you believe it's a good thing for high-income people to lose a tax break so that everyone can pay lower grocery taxes. Details are at www.alarise.org .
People who live in Decatur should call Sen. Arthur Orr, (334) 242-7891.
People who live in Athens, Madison, or the north part of Huntsville should call Sen. Tom Butler, (334) 242-7854.
People who live in Talladega, Sylacauga, Oxford or Anniston should call Sen. Jim Preuitt, (334) 242-7898.
A small group of fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats is threatening to block the emergency war spending bill over a program for veterans’ benefits not offset with tax hikes or spending cuts.
Because of that problem, and the efforts by House Republicans to stall floor action with procedural motions, the vote on the carefully crafted supplemental measure could be delayed until Friday or next week.
... Some members are willing to block the bill because “pay-as-you-go” budgetary rules — offsetting new spending with spending cuts or increased taxes — have been ignored one too many times. Others, like Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.), don’t want to oppose benefits for veterans.
“It’s a cost of the war,” Barrow said.
Because of that division, there is no formal Blue Dog position on the bill. But blocking the bill wouldn’t require all 47 Blue Dogs; it takes only 15.
Those "concerned" Blue Dogs have no problem appropriating billions to continue the war -- and that money is not pay as you go, it's deeper in debt as you go -- but they balk at including educational benefits for veterans in the cost of the Iraq war. How wrongheaded can they get? Every Blue Dog who votes to kill the New GI Bill this session ought to face a primary challenge, preferably by a returning veteran.
Maura Satchell, a Director of Veterans and Military Families for Progress and a mother of 2 Iraq War veterans said “It’s outrageous any members of Congress are not supporting this measure. Our sons, our daughters sign up to serve their country based on the promise of a GI Bill-funded college education after serving honorably, only to find it covers but a small portion of the inflated cost of a college education these days. I’m all for fiscal restraint of government but let’s start with the cash cows really draining our tax dollars such as no-bid contracts and billions of dollars lost in Iraq, not penalize those we owe such a tremendous debt of gratitude to! After all, this measure is equal to what, the cost of a week of war in Iraq?”
Note:Bud Cramer (D, AL-05) and Artur Davis (D, AL-07) are both listed as co-sponsors of the New GI Bill so presumably both will support it on the upcoming procedural vote. The rest of Alabama's Congressional Delegation, those with an "R" behind their names, will certainly vote their party's line against the New GI Bill. Way to support the troops, Goopers!
Col-bear county Alabama is under a tornado warning according to the lovely morning talking head lady on MSNBC. Whacha want to bet she gets a lot of her news from The Colbert (Col-bear) Report (Re-pour)? In North Alabama, we usually pronounce the "t" in Colbert (Col-burt) county.
Good luck to the folks in Colbert County -- stay safe up there!
What other Alabama place names give outsiders trouble?
(Can you put aside your differences and support any Democrat for President this fall? - promoted by mooncat)
"Tonight, many of the pundits have suggested that this party is inalterably divided, that Senator Clinton's supporters will not support me and that my supporters would not support her. Well, I am here tonight to tell you that I don't believe it. . . ."
This news isn't too surprising, since Bloch was charged with "investigating" charges of government wrongdoing and tended not to find anything -- Siegelman's alleged political prosecution is a natural for that kind of operation. The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) has this:
POGO has gained access to an extraordinary internal document from the Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency charged with protecting whistleblowers from reprisal. Clearly marked "DRAFT," it is a memo dated January 18, 2008, to Special Counsel Scott Bloch from the members of a special task force. The task force was created, according to the memo, in May 2007, "to pursue certain complex and high profile investigations, such as the firing of the U.S. Attorneys and the political presentations given by the White House Office of Political Affairs (OPA)." The stated subject of the memo is "Summary of Task Force Activities and Recommendations," but it reads at times like an anguished cry from investigators charged with an important mission but virtually every recommendation they make is countermanded by their boss. If they recommend going forward with an inquiry, Bloch says no. If they say they lack evidence or jurisdiction, he orders them to go forward.
Follow that link for a PDF of the document in question. The section on Siegelman is the lower half of page 7 and the top of page 8. Rove has his own section (page 12) too. For those who don't like to open PDFs, I'm putting a screenshot of the Siegelman paragraphs below the fold.
The Task Force compiled the available information on the Siegelman prosecution plus Jill Simpson's affidavit and Congressional testimony, and developed an investigation plan. They were informed that the Special Counsel (Scott Bloch) did not authorize this investigation and requested that the file be closed immediately. According to the document, the Task Force did not close the file, but also did not continue the investigation and wanted to request authorization to continue the investigation.
Close that file immediately? Imagine that. It looks like that's what happened with a lot of things this Task Force wanted to look into.
"The question is who told them to shut it down," Siegelman said Wednesday when told of the memo. "Why would you start an investigation and let it proceed and then shut it down? The logical conclusion is that somebody intervened and told them to shut down the investigation ... we need to get to the bottom of this."
The City of Huntsville is sacrificing the quality of life in one neighborhood to improve the quality of life in another neighborhood, and using tax dollars to it.
The investor whose multimillion-dollar development interest in the historic Lowe Mill area will accelerate the relocation of Huntsville's Downtown Rescue Mission also plans to convert a neighboring apartment complex to condominiums.
Gary Reynolds, owner of Mirabeau Apartments on Bob Wallace Avenue, formed Mill Village Partners Inc. last year with plans for an extensive redevelopment of Lowe Mill Village. The $4 million- to $5 million mill project will be in addition to a $35 million makeover of Mirabeau into condominiums priced in the $125,000 to $225,000 range, he said.
What did they know and when did they know it?
Galloway and Reynolds said the homeless shelter relocation is crucial to making the Lowe Mill area attractive to buyers.
"The outside consultants we hired said that the mission would have to be relocated and the new houses and refurbishment of houses under way for a year before we could deliver the first condos," Reynolds said.
Is this why the skids were greased before the residents of Northwest Huntsville could react? No public hearings. No public notice. Nothing. Just Wham, Bam, Thank You Mam.
"The bottom line is, the feeling was that as long as the mission stays, we were never going to revitalize Lowe Mill," Galloway said. "It's important to revitalize because Lowe is now a gateway into downtown, and we don't want slums. It's been deteriorating with the percentage of rentals going up and the condition of housing deteriorating."
Does this make the stink smell better?
The Lowe Mill project would not be an unprecedented public-private venture in inner city Huntsville. Galloway said his office spent about $5 million from grants and other money in the 1990s cleaning up the Meadow Hills neighborhood across from Alabama A&M University. The project involved rehabilitating 138 homes and making other neighborhood improvements.
What Galloway fails to add is that they didn't move a Rescue Mission into the Meadow Hills neighborhood, they also didn't build upscale condos. As a matter of fact it has been neglected since the 1990 $5 million clean up.
So, who does the City care most about, it's citizens or a private investor?
Showers and City Councilman Glenn Watson met with neighborhood leaders Monday to discuss options. Those options include delaying the mission's move date to give the city time to find another site.
Reynolds said any delay will jeopardize his revitalization offer. He's already spent about $1 million purchasing properties in Lowe Mill and on studies, consultants and early designs. Reynolds said the Lowe homes and condos will offer affordable living within close proximity to Parkway Place, downtown and hospitals.
The local right wing radio station helping The City wage a PR battle against the residents and businesses opposed to the move.
They most certainly did throw out the establishment clause, it happened on my show. I heard it. Call Glenn Watson and ask him. If people outside of that orginization are representing them then they need to let that be known, Russo and Chris Horne were both part of that orginization that is who I dealt with.
Second, I never said they didn't have a right to, what I said is it is BS to pull that after walking through my open door numerous times, if I slam the door on them gripe away. But anytime I offer them a forum and grant all requests from them in my opinion, which is all this is, it is ridiculous for them to pull this garbage.
Petty crap like this is why they are losing the PR battle, against the Huntsville City Council. That is a pretty impressive feat if you ask me.
Regular readers of LiA know that I've blogged recently about the actions of the Huntsville City Councilrelocating a homeless shelter from one neighborhood to another neighborhood(Politicians hearing voices).Act IIin A Redeye Update and a Redeye Rant. Here is Act III.
Democrats are faring extremely well in special elections this year, winning former Speaker Denny Hastert's district as well as a longtime Republican district in Louisiana last week. Next week there is another special election right next door in Mississippi and Democrat Travis Childers needs all the help he can get to turn the previously deep red Mississippi 1st district blue. This is from the DCCC:
Midnight tonight is the deadline to help Democrat Travis Childers in his bid to win our third straight Republican pick up in a special election. His special election is less than a week away and tonight is the last time to get contributions in enough time to still purchase more ad time, tanks of gas to drive voters to the polls, and help get canvassers on the ground. Please give to Travis at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute...
This November we will be playing in races like this nationwide, but next week with this special election we can set the tone by winning in a ruby-red district in Mississippi. Let's help put Travis Childers over the top and go three-for-three in special elections. We already won both the former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's seat and another red seat this past Saturday in Louisiana -- let's finish the deal. Give generously and give now at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute...
Cotton Mouth has posted a couple of ads the DCCC is running on behalf of Childers. As Gene'O points out, MS-01 is another district where Republicans are running misleading ads trying to link the Democrat with Barack Obama's former minister. That's a pretty tenuous linkage that has nothing to do with the district. Also, Dick Cheney is coming to the district to campaign and fundraise for the Republican. Why not give to Childers to demonstrate your contempt for Dirty Dick?
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis , D-Birmingham, sure sounds like a guy who intends to be the next governor of Alabama.
Davis has yet to announce a gubernatorial bid. But during a recent interview in his Washington office, he admitted he's thinking hard about the 2010 race.
...
Davis would be the first African-American elected governor in Alabama.
"It's going to be a very contested race" for both parties, Davis said. "We need somebody to step forward with a vision for Alabama, and I believe I have that vision."
Davis' made an interesting remark about Bradley Byrne, a potential Republican contender.
"I would look forward to campaigning against Bradley. I think that would present a distinct choice for voters about the future of our state," Davis said. "We disagree on a lot of issues, but there's also a healthy respect there. It would be interesting to go county to county and have those debates."
It would be great to have a contest where the candidates would go from county to county across the state debating issues and expounding their vision for Alabama. Such debates would give us better informed voters and increased voter participation, but don't hold your breath that any Republican will agree to debate Davis that often.
My Daddy always told me Republican party was "looking out for the rich man" but you hardly ever hear the GOP admit it. Apparently they've completely lost their heads and are telling the truth in a desparate attempt to kill legislation that would let the people of Alabama vote on removing the 4% state sales tax on groceries.
Let's be clear, this is not a radical idea. Alabama and Mississippi are the only states that still require people to pay full sales tax on grocery purchases. This is from Sebastian Kitchen's article, emphasis mine.
Democrats said the wealthiest 20 percent of people in Alabama would pay more with most of the increases being minimal.
[Rep. John] Knight said the tax increases would be small for most Alabamians except for the wealthiest 5 percent and "I submit they can afford it."
"A lot of that 5 percent lives in my district," Waggoner said. " ... This is a tax increase on the people I represent."
Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, has echoed similar comments about raising taxes on his constituents. He said poor people have food stamps.
So, asking the wealthiest 20% to give up just one of their tax breaks so the poor can afford to buy food is a bad thing? Jabo Waggoner says it's "a tax increase on the people I represent." It's interesting that Waggoner doesn't feel obliged to represent anyone in his district who falls outside the wealthiest 20%, or maybe even the wealthiest 5%. What a great campaign bumper sticker:
I REPRESENT THE RICH GUYS
And what about Sen. Larry Dixon?
THE POOR HAVE FOOD STAMPS
Absolutely true. The poor have food stamps to helps some with their grocery costs. Who doesn't have food stamps? The middle class and the folks not quite poor enough to qualify for public assistance with their groceries. Too bad! Those people aren't Republican constituents, either.
With their backs against the wall on this legislation to ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO VOTE on the question to remove the 4% sales tax on food, Alabama Republicans are showing their true colors.
EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE RICH GUYS
We are now a month away from the June 3rd Primary Election. I would like to thank you for all of your help and support. I would also like to ask you for your continued help and support. Please stress the importance of voting in June 3rd's Democratic Primary Election. I need your vote in June and again in November in order to be successful in this campaign. In exchange for you vote and support I vow to work tirelessly for you and our district.
As you are aware, I have been actively campaigning across the 14 counties that make up our district for well over a year and a half. I want to provide real representation for the common everyday citizen of our district. I am committed to winning this election and representing you and your interests.
Having served in the United States Navy, I know the need to stand behind our men and women in uniform. They deserve all of the support and resources that we as a nation have to offer. Having served as a hospital corpsman in the Navy, I know what it means to wear the uniform of my country and be responsible for the men and women who put their lives at risk. While serving on active duty in the Navy I suffered an unexplained seizure which rendered me ineligible to continue my military service. As a result of this I was placed on the temporary disabled retired list (TDRL), so I understand first hand the need to ensure that our military veterans receive all of the medical care and benefits that they have earned through their service to our country.
Having worked in the medical industry for the majority of my life, both while in the military as a Naval Hospital Corpsman and in my civilian life as a radiologic/ CT technologist. I bring a special insight to the equation of finding a solution to the burden of skyrocketing medical expenses. I have been in discussions with several facets of the healthcare industry working on a solution that won't just be words spoken from a soapbox, but an actual working solution.
I have two children enrolled in the public school system, so I have a vested interest in the educational system of our district and state.
When I decided to run in the 2008 election, I took on a second full time job to help fund getting my campaign up and running. So from October 2006 until this past October I worked every single night while at the same time attending community festivals, parades, luncheons, county chair meetings, and visiting with the wonderful citizens of our district to be able to ensure I am aware of the issues and concerns facing each of us. If you have any questions, comments or concerns you can email me or you can find other contact information through my website @ www.gregwarrenforcongress.com .
Again, thank you for your help and support. It is truly appreciated. I would like to ask for your vote on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 and again on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
-Greg Warren
Greg Warren for Congress
4184 Nauvoo Road Nauvoo, Alabama 35578
District 4: Blount, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Marion, Marshall, Walker, Winston and portions of Morgan, Pickens, and St Clair Counties
Folks in Indiana and North Carolina will have their say on who will be the Democratic Presidential nominee (and by extension, the next President) today. You can follow the action in Indiana at Blue Indiana or Advance Indiana, and in North Carolina at BlueNC.
Polls close at 6 pm (local time) in Indiana and 6:30 Central time in North Carolina. Most of Indiana is on Eastern time -- apparently some is on Central time.
As far as election returns, look to CNN or politico for timely information.
There's still hope that the Senate will vote to LET THE PEOPLE VOTE on eliminating the sales tax on groceries in Alabama. This is a critical time, so I'm revisiting the Hall of Shame from the last vote and urging you to contact these Senators about eliminating the 4% state sales tax on groceries. Call today if you can but if you don't see this until tonight, call first thing in the morning. While you're at it, forward this list of misguided Senators to everyone you know in Alabama.
Udpate: Maps indicating the districts involved are posted at the very end of this diary.
As far as changing votes, the best bets are probably these Senators who ABSTAINED from voting last time:
Tom Butler (R, SD2) (334) 242-7854, (256) 837-8374, 256) 837-8374, FAX (334) 353-9777 or (256) 837-4355, senbutler@aol.com
Larry Means (D, SD10) (334) 242-7857, (256) 538-2014
The hard core "balance the budget on the backs of the poor" crowd that voted NO is probably beyond salvation on this issue, but it still won't hurt to call if one of them is your Senator. They are listed below the fold.
I tell you what. This thing beats anything I have ever seen. I follow politics quite a bit, and this election season has me befuddled.
The Obama camp says that their candidate is the more progressive candidate. They are more Grassroots--based. A zillion new small time donors--unprecedented turnouts. A fifty state strategy rather than democratic politics as usual. A solid record of being against the war.
However the Clinton camp wins with big labor and working class voters. According to the Obama Camp, the Clintons have a record of triangulation and adopting republican policies to pick up the middle. She has been too cozy with McCain. There were those times when she pushed the Clinton&McCain Bring a lifetime of experience and are ready on day one, but Obama Gave a speech.
Since our own Rep. Artur Davis is on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, God willing and the creek don't rise, he'll be there when torture lawyer John Yoo is questioned.
That's right! An anonymous source has told The Raw Story that John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer who wrote the Torture Memos will testify before the House Judiciary Committee. The memos which gave carte blanche to human rights violations and laughed in the face of the Geneva Conventions have now been repudiated at DoJ though damned if the U.S. Attorney General will hold the Republican Freak Show accountable which is just another form of corruption (to throw Mukasey’s words in his face). Here’s a link to the committee members in case you want to suggest questions.
Davis' presence will be a refreshing switch from the obsequious, Bush-booty kissing that Sen. Jeff Sessions does. Tear Yoo up, Artur, for all the citizens of Alabama who know torture is wrong and are mad about Yoo.
Ellen Goodman does an excellent job of putting Lily Ledbetter's story into concise, understandable form without a lot of legalese thrown in.
Last year, in one of the backward flips that characterize the court, a 5-4 majority went against Ledbetter on the grounds that she hadn't sued in time. The justices read the law through their retro lens and decided a worker has to sue within six months after her first unequal pay. It doesn't matter whether she knows she's being treated unfairly, and it doesn't matter if she keeps getting underpaid.
In essence, as Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center said, if a company could pull the wool over an employee's eyes for the first six months, it's free.
...
Lesson One: An unequal paycheck is a thief that keeps on taking. Even in retirement, Ledbetter is still, in her own words, "a second-class worker" with a pension and Social Security check that carry Goodyear's bite marks.
Lesson Two: In 2008, the Republicans are partying —political partying — like it's 1964.
Go read it all -- won't take long and it's worth the click.
As promised, here's more video of Nancy Pelosi's address to Democrats at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner last Friday.
She talks about health care as security issue, which it is, an economic security issue. She also advocated prevention rather than just focusing on treating disease. Reducing complications of diabetes (very costly) through better diet is one example she gave.
We need to focus on health, rather than just health care. Pelosi used the example of what if in the 1950's we had resolved to build the best iron lung instead of seeking a cure to eradicate polio?
40 days in Iraq would pay to insure 10 million American children through SCHIP. 2 weeks in Iraq is the equivalent of what America spends on cancer research every year. Why not declare a war on disease, like cancer, diabetes and heart disease?
"This is a value, a value of the American people -- the health and well being of our families. ... It's just about changing priorities, and to say if we can afford to go to Iraq then we can afford to go to war on disease in America and Democrats intend to do just exactly that."
Tom Butler
Arthur Orr
Jim Preuitt
Larry Means
Zeb Little
Myron Penn
Bobby Singleton
