More Stimulus Follies – Illegal Aliens Cash In while Veterans Get the Shaft

Here’s another interesting take on the Democrat-driven “stimulus package,” this time from my editor at FamilySecurityMatters.Org:

More Stimulus Follies – Illegal Aliens Cash In while Veterans Get the Shaft
by Pam Meister
During the 1700s and 1800s, immigrants who wanted to come to America were lured by the prospect of streets that were “lined with gold.” Well the streets may not have been lined with gold, but for those who had the will and desire to work hard, the possibilities for success were potentially endless.

The streets still are not lined with gold – but if Washington liberals get their way, the pockets of illegal aliens could be lined with taxpayer dollars. Part of the economic stimulus bill that was just passed by the House (except for House Republicans and 11 Democrats who voted against it), includes “tax credits” of $500 per person and $1,000 per couple. (Note: if the recipients pay no taxes, it’s not a credit, it’s a handout.) Apparently the wording specifically disqualifies “nonresident aliens” – Washington-speak for illegals – people with no Social Security numbers could still get the cashola:

Undocumented immigrants [liberal reporter-speak for illegals] who are not eligible for a Social Security number can file tax returns with an alternative number. A House-passed version of the economic recovery bill and one making its way through the Senate would allow anyone with such a number, called an individual taxpayer identification number, to qualify for the tax credits.

In other words, it doesn’t disqualify illegal aliens. Awesome. Why bother having borders anymore? We are no longer “fellow Americans,” we are “fellow citizens.” Brings to mind the French Revolution…we all know how that turned out.

Meanwhile, in the same bill – which, let’s be clear (to use a stock phrase from our Glorious Leader), isn’t a stimulus bill but just an excuse to broaden the influence of government – five pro-veteran amendments were shot down in committee. They included veteran work force training, small business loans to veterans, increased vocational training for veterans and job training for homeless female veterans and homeless veterans with children. One of the amendments didn’t even cost anything – it simply stipulated that any roads or bridges paid for with “stimulus money” would be named for a U.S. armed forces member killed in action.

So while illegal aliens can have a shot at what has turned from the American Dream into the Great American Handout, amendments that would have actually helped boost employment and help veterans at the same time were shot down.

How often to we hear liberals crying that they support the troops, even when they don’t support the mission? How about the children? “It’s for the children” is a phrase that we often hear when the government is about to blithely spend more of our money – the S-CHIP program is a prime example. So why say no to veterans with children? Add the fact that this will help some homeless veterans, the homeless being another favorite liberal special interest group, and it should have been an instant winner.

To be perfectly frank, the entire stimulus bill stinks to high heaven. Rush Limbaugh calls it the “porkulus” bill, which is a lot more accurate. It passed easily through the House and will undoubtedly pass through the Senate. But as long as we’re spending the money, it would have been nice if those who had served our nation would benefit instead of those who sponge off our nation.

Pass the ketchup. This bill will need a lot to make it palatable.

Pam Meister is the editor of FamilySecurityMatters.org.

Rep. Broun Slams Democrats’ Stimulus Bill

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is blowing the whistle on the recently passed House Bill being shoved down the throats of Americans under the guise of stimulating the economy. The only thing being stimulated are the Democrat Party’s minions and hacks.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama sold their $825 billion bill as an economic stimulus package. Instead, this bill was clogged with billions in wasteful spending for new government cars, sod for the National Mall, and more than thirty new government programs. In my opinion, these things will NOT stimulate our economy; our country cannot afford a trillion dollar mistake.

Now that the Majority passed their $825 billion wish-list, it’s time for Americans to speak out and demand a real stimulus bill that will actually create jobs and end this terrible recession. It’s about time the American people got their own earmark.

With this bill, the national debt is now projected to increase 30% in just the first 4 years. It is irresponsible to place this burden on our children and grandchildren.

If the liberals in Congress are bound and determined to spend $825 billion then we should simply cut a check and return the money back to every hard working taxpayer. That means YOU would receive $9,000 the next time you did your taxes. In fact, I introduced an amendment that would do just that. See what the Athens-Banner Herald says about my amendment HERE.

Fast-acting tax relief for middle-class families, small businesses, job-seekers, and home-buyers are at the heart of the economic recovery proposals that I sponsored.

Middle-class Americans and small businesses are our nation’s economic engine. You know how to spend your own money much more wisely than out-of-touch Washington bureaucrats. I support an affordable and responsible alternative to stimulate our economy, and cosponsored a bill that enacts across-the-board permanent tax cuts and allow tax deductions for business assets, without adding one penny to the national debt.

I am for tax cuts, not growing the debt. Supporting businesses, not new government programs. And protecting our children and grandchildren from a crushing national debt that will only be repaid through very high taxes. I voted AGAINST this bill — which I believe is a pork wish-list — and FOR hardworking Americans.

Found on House Conservative Fund

Republican Economic Recovery Plan

I got a copy of the GOP’s proposal for economic recovery from California’s Rep. Howard McKeon’s office. Now this is a stimulus package!

Republican Economic Recovery Plan

Immediate Tax Relief for Working Families:
Rather than a refundable credit based on payroll taxes, House Republicans propose reducing the lowest individual tax rates from 15% to 10% and from 10% to 5%. As a result every taxpaying-family in America will see an immediate increase in their income with an average benefit of $500 in tax relief from the drop in the 10% bracket and $1,200 for the drop in the 15% bracket. A married couple filing jointly could save up to $3,200 a year in taxes.

Help for America’s Small Businesses:
Small businesses (those employing less than 500 individuals) employ about half of all Americans, yet they can be subject to tax rates that siphon away one-third or more of their income. House Republicans propose to allow small business to take a tax deduction equal to 20% of their income. This will immediately free up funds for small businesses to retain and hire new employees.

No Tax Increases to Pay for Spending:
The stimulus proposal pending in Congress includes record levels of government spending that will substantially increase the current deficit. Any stimulus package should include a provision precluding any tax increases now or in the future to pay for this new spending. Stimulus spending should be paid for by reducing other government spending, not raising taxes.

Assistance for the Unemployed:
Incredibly, the Federal Government actually imposes income taxes on an individual receiving unemployment benefits. House Republicans propose to make unemployment benefits tax free so that those individuals between jobs can focus on providing for their families.

Stabilizing Home Values:
The real-estate market is paralyzed as potential buyers wait on the sidelines waiting for prices to fall even further. This is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. In order to encourage responsible buyers to enter the market and stabilize prices, House Republicans propose a home-buyers credit of $7,500 for those buyers who can make a minimum down-payment of 5%.

Tax relief, not wasteful spending, will have the greatest positive impact on the economy in the shortest amount of time.

Found on House Conservative Fund

Military Commissions Must Obey President’s Directive, Official Says

Here’s further proof that under Obama, you’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. In fact, Obama reminds me of the Wizard of Oz scene where the man behind the curtain is exposed and — continuing to pretend he’s the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz — he tells Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion to “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”

The military commissions system created in 2006 to try accused terrorists held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, must comply with President Barack Obama’s directive to suspend all legal proceedings there, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said at a news conference yesterday.

A reporter asked for Morrell’s reaction concerning news reports that say a military judge at Guantanamo today ordered that legal proceedings be continued against accused al-Qaida terrorist Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.

Nashiri is charged with planning the Oct. 12, 2000, bombing of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole that was berthed in Aden, Yemen. Seventeen U.S. sailors died as a result of the attack.

All legal proceedings at Guantanamo are “on hold,” Morrell said. A series of assessments and reviews of detainee operations at Guantanamo are now being conducted as part of Obama’s Jan. 22 executive order to shut down the detention facility within the year.

Obama instructed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Jan. 20 to cease referring any new cases through the military-commissions process at Guantanamo Bay and to request 120-day continuances on all ongoing active cases there. Two days later, the president issued three executive orders, one of which directs the closure of the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay within the year.

Resolving the issue concerning Nashiri’s legal proceedings at Guantanamo, Morrell said, is a matter for the military commissions convening authority.

“But the bottom line is, we all work for the president of the United States in this chain of command, and he has signed an executive order which has made it abundantly clear that until these reviews are done all [legal activity at Guantanamo] is on hiatus,” Morrell said.

Obama signed three executive orders Jan. 22, one of which directs the closure of the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay within the year. Another order signed by the president directs the stand up of a special interagency task force that will study the future disposition of present Guantanamo detainees who cannot be transferred to other countries and who pose a serious danger to the United States.

The third executive order signed by the president that day directs the U.S. military and other U.S. agencies to follow the Army Field Manual, which bans torture when interrogating detainees “to promote the safe, lawful and humane treatment of individuals in United States custody.”

“This department will be in full compliance with the president’s executive order,” Morrell said at the news conference.

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 established procedures governing the use of military commissions to try alien unlawful enemy combatants engaged in hostilities against the United States for violations of the law of war and other offenses that can be tried by military commission, according to a military commissions fact sheet.

The detention center at Guantanamo Bay has housed nearly 800 suspected terrorists captured in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places since the start of the global war on terrorism that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

About 250 people are being held at Guantanamo today, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

Found on House Conservative Fund

Obama Will Give Small Business Contracts to Fortune 500 Firms and Venture Capitalists

President Barack Obama has dropped a campaign promise he made to small businesses in February of 2008 when he said, “98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees.

Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy and we must protect this great resource. It’s time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants.” (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)

During the campaign, Obama modified the quote on his website to remove the statement. (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/sbhome/)

President Obama is expected to join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and support a change in the federal definition of a small business as “independently owned” to include firms controlled by wealthy venture capitalists.

President Obama refused to include any proposed policies or legislation in his Change.gov website to address the problem. Just days before the election he also dropped a plan prepared by his small business advisory council to stop the flow of federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses. Without specific legislation or policy from President Obama, middle class companies will continue to lose jobs and up to $100 billion a year in federal small business contracts. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/BOsmallbusinesspolicy.pdf)
Obama’s appointment of multi-millionaire venture capitalist and National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) member Karen Mills to head the Small Business Administration (SBA) is an indication that President Obama will likely support the diversion of federal small business contracts to wealthy venture capitalists.

During the course of the presidential campaign the NVCA and many of its largest members contributed millions of dollars to President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry and dozens of key democratic members of Congress. The NVCA has been lobbying for changes in federal contracting law that will allow its members to take billions of dollars in federal contracts earmarked for small businesses. (http://www.maplight.org/map/us/interest/F2500)

The NVCA has hired some of Washington’s most powerful lobbyists to help them gain access to federal programs designed to help middle class firms. They have tried to disguise the policy and legislative changes they are seeking by calling it, “increasing access to capital for small businesses.”

In the recent past, attempts by the NVCA to have the federal definition of a small business as “independently owned” modified was opposed by the SBA, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the American Small Business League and dozens of other small business groups around the country. (http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=624)

Source: American Small Business League

Conservatives Outraged: ACORN’s Stimulus Cash

On Friday, House Republican Leader John Boehner raised the alarm with the discoverey that, buried in the trillion-dollar spending bill approved last week in the House Appropriations Committee was a provision for more than 4 billion dollars to go to “neighborhood stabilization activities.”

Last week liberal Democrats slipped into the so-called “economic stimulus” bill a provision to give millions, if not billions, of dollars to ACORN.

You remember ACORN, the ultra-left-wing group that has been accused of voter fraud and funneling millions of dollars in taxpayer money into liberal political activism.

ACU raised awareness about ACORN in the last election campaign. FBI agents raided ACORN offices and is investigating for falsifying thousands of voter registration records. We produced short documentary videos on ACORN; it’s ties to left-wing groups, the Obama campaign paying it for voter turnout and other activities. Worse, we showed that ACORN was actually involved in the push for subprime loans and the mortgage meltdown that has driven down our economy. If you have not seen our short videos, you can see them on our ACORN action page: http://www.conservative.org/acornaction.html

Now, the Democrats in Congress are trying to give ACORN millions — even billions — more of our taxpayer dollars.

There are votes pending related to this provision and we need to fight back now. Even though the House has voted once on the so-called Stimulus Bill, there are still Senate votes to come and possible final passages as changes are made. We must work to have this removed as the process moves forward. Multiple votes will take place over the next few days as the House and Senate goes back and forth on this legislation.

On Friday, House Republican Leader John Boehner raised the alarm with the discoverey that, buried in the trillion-dollar spending bill approved last week in the House Appropriations Committee was a provision for more than 4 billion dollars to go to “neighborhood stabilization activities.”

Instead of providing these funds just to state and local governments, their bills says funds can go to “States, units of general local government, and nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities.”

Why did the liberals who control the House Appropriations Committee slip that language into the bill? Because the “nonprofit entities” are units of ACORN.

Boehner noted that, “The House Democrats’ trillion-dollar spending bill also includes $1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program.” He then went on to point out that ACORN reports filed with the Office of Management and Budget shows that ACORN spent almost $1.6 million in federal taxpayer funds for the grants from 2003 through 2007. Now they are going to come back for more.

Boehner’s analysis also shows that ACORN has been awarded more than $53 million in taxpayer dollars over the last several years. This amount does not reflect the millions more ACORN has received in federal block grant funds awarded to state and local agencies which passed them on to ACORN.

President Obama and the liberal Democrats in Congress have said that they want this trillion-dollar stimulus bill to create jobs in America. What they haven’t said is that this is becoming part of a political payoff bill to reward their liberal friends with billions of dollars in taxpayer money.

What is sad is that our economic crisis was in part caused by these very same groups who are now seeking to get their hands on billions of dollars in taxpayer funds.

As our video and other documentation pointed out, ACORN pressured lenders and regulatory agencies to promote subprime loans, a chief culprit in our economic collapse. In turn it received millions from the mortgage companies themselves and in turn Obama’s friends at Fannie Mae reaped millions more in the process. Remember our note last week? Joe Biden’s new vice presidential chief of staff is a former lobbyist for Fannie Mae.

Now, ACORN is set to receive funds from the trillion-dollar stimulus package.

This has to end. The revolving door of political and financial interests that have led our country to economic collapse must be stopped. We must push back against this effort to give funds to a group that has shown it is directly involved in liberal political action and voter fraud.

Found on House Conservative Fund

Formula for GOP Recovery

More Americans today call themselves conservative than liberal, and the relative percentages in each category has hardly changed since George W. Bush was elected to his first term in 2000

Now that Democrats have won the White House and have widened their margin of control in Congress, does this signify that American voters have moved to the left?

Many Republicans question this claim. And a new report from the Pew Research Center seems to verify that America is still a right of center as a country. But the picture gets murky when you look at the details. And this murkiness presents a considerable challenge for Republicans who are trying to figure out where to steer their party.

According to the just published report, more Americans today call themselves conservative than liberal, and the relative percentages in each category has hardly changed since George W. Bush was elected to his first term in 2000.

Thirty eight percent of Americans self-identify as conservative, 21 percent as liberal, and 36 percent as moderate. This compares to 36 percent, 18 percent and 38 percent, respectively, in 2000.

But taking a closer look at what this means leaves you scratching your head. You have to wonder what it means today to think of yourself as conservative.

When asked if the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent, only 38 percent of those who said they are “conservative” said yes. And 50 percent of “conservatives” said they favor government guaranteeing health care “even if it means raising taxes.”

Although 71 percent of “conservatives” said they oppose gay marriage, only slightly more than half, 52 percent, said that abortion should be illegal.

Many Republicans point to the fact that traditional marriage initiatives won in all three states where they were on the ballot — California, Florida, and Arizona — as evidence for the conservatism of the country. But pro-life initiatives lost in all three states where they were on ballots — California, South Dakota, and Colorado.

What can be the message here for those vying for leadership of the Republican Party? Continue reading . . .