Deficit Commission Weighs Dropping Mortgage Interest Deduction
Published October 25, 2010 | FoxNews.com
The mortgage-interest deduction and other sacrosanct tax breaks are on the deficit commission's table as it works toward its deadline of providing a set of recommendations on balancing the budget by 2015.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that hugely popular tax breaks are part of the commission's consideration since they add up to about $1 trillion in potential government revenue.
Besides the mortgage-interest deductions, the newspaper reports that the child tax credits and pre-tax spending by employers for health insurance could also be killed.
Commission officials are expected to look at preserving these breaks but at lower levels, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.
The 18-member panel has until Dec. 1 to come up with a list of items that would then be sent to Congress for a vote. But since lobbyists and special interests often are working to prevent hikes on their favored tax breaks, none of the targeted tax increases may be realized.
With the commission already facing a backlash against any changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the commission's recommendations could result in an empty exercise.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Obama Justice Department - A Political Ploy Again!
More Politics in the Department of Justice under Obama....Illinois gets a "pass" on the MOVEACT and some in the military may NOT be able to vote....But Obama's from Illinois so I guess he doesn't have the guts to hold them accountable!
Military Vote in Question After DOJ Gives Illinois 'Pass' on MOVE Act, Advocacy Group Warns
Published October 25, 2010 | FoxNews.com
Military voters from the land of Lincoln could be shut out of the midterm election after the Justice Department reached an agreement with Illinois that gave the state "a pass" for violating federal election law, an advocacy group warned Monday.
The Justice Department hammered out the court agreement Friday addressing the failure of 35 Illinois counties to send military and overseas absentee ballots 45 days before the election -- a requirement of the MOVE Act. The agreement gave voters from six of those counties a few extra days to send back their ballots but did not specifically address the other 29 counties.
Eric Eversole, a former Justice voting section attorney who runs the nonprofit Military Voter Protection Project, told FoxNews.com the deal effectively lets wayward Illinois election officials off the hook and does little to ensure the state's military voters get their ballots in time.
"For at least 29 counties, there were absolutely no consequences," he said. "Illinois is precisely the reason why you can't wait until a week before the election to try and resolve a clear violation of military voting rights."
For some overseas military voters, he said, "it might not get there."
The Illinois agreement was the final deal struck by the Justice Department to address states' failure to send their ballots out in time. While agreements with other states had tougher provisions compelling them to send out more express ballots and extending the deadline to receive them by many more days, Eversole's group said the Illinois decree gave "no meaningful relief" to military voters.
There is an online alternative for some military voters who do not receive paper ballots in time, and the administration is urging service members to use that option if they need to.
Bob Carey, director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, said in a written statement that voters from 39 states can access full ballots online.
"That number includes New York and Illinois, where we have the most significant problems with late ballot delivery," he said.
Military voters can visit FVAP.gov to access the online system; all voters also can file federal write-in absentee ballots, which are available online and include federal candidates.
"Even if voters have not received their absentee ballots, it's not too late to vote," Carey said.
Nearly a dozen states have struggled to come into compliance with the MOVE Act. The Justice Department has reached agreements with eight of them, including Illinois, and has filed lawsuits against three of them. The department subsequently hammered out agreements with those three states -- New York, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement Friday that the Illinois agreement "will ensure that the state's military and overseas voters can participate in the upcoming federal elections."
The deadline to send out ballots, which 35 counties missed, was Sept. 18. For six counties where ballots were sent out between 16 and 20 days late, the agreement extends the deadline to receive ballots from Nov. 16 by two to three days. For those counties, the deadline to postmark the ballots moves from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2.
But the agreement does not offer a specific remedy for the 29 counties where ballots were mailed out between two and 12 days late. It instead includes a section that says election officials must mail out, either electronically or by express mail, "properly and timely requested" ballots they learn were not transmitted -- and then accept Nov. 2-postmarked ballots until Nov. 19. The decree also orders officials to make sure all requested electronic ballots are sent out.
Justice spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the 29 counties did not get extra time because they already have 14 extra days after the election for their ballots to be received. She said the ballots will get to them in time and if any voter's on-time ballot is not counted, "we can file a lawsuit."
Eversole, though, said the agreement just doesn't go far enough. He said it could have at the very least explicitly extended the deadline for all 35 counties. And he expressed concern that the agreement did little to prevent the violations from happening again in 2012, saying it sends the message that so long as states accept ballots after Election Day, they can ignore the 45-day requirement in the MOVE Act. The 45 days, though, were meant to give military voters enough time to receive and send back their ballots before Election Day.
"It's just the wrong message to send," Eversole said.
Military Vote in Question After DOJ Gives Illinois 'Pass' on MOVE Act, Advocacy Group Warns
Published October 25, 2010 | FoxNews.com
Military voters from the land of Lincoln could be shut out of the midterm election after the Justice Department reached an agreement with Illinois that gave the state "a pass" for violating federal election law, an advocacy group warned Monday.
The Justice Department hammered out the court agreement Friday addressing the failure of 35 Illinois counties to send military and overseas absentee ballots 45 days before the election -- a requirement of the MOVE Act. The agreement gave voters from six of those counties a few extra days to send back their ballots but did not specifically address the other 29 counties.
Eric Eversole, a former Justice voting section attorney who runs the nonprofit Military Voter Protection Project, told FoxNews.com the deal effectively lets wayward Illinois election officials off the hook and does little to ensure the state's military voters get their ballots in time.
"For at least 29 counties, there were absolutely no consequences," he said. "Illinois is precisely the reason why you can't wait until a week before the election to try and resolve a clear violation of military voting rights."
For some overseas military voters, he said, "it might not get there."
The Illinois agreement was the final deal struck by the Justice Department to address states' failure to send their ballots out in time. While agreements with other states had tougher provisions compelling them to send out more express ballots and extending the deadline to receive them by many more days, Eversole's group said the Illinois decree gave "no meaningful relief" to military voters.
There is an online alternative for some military voters who do not receive paper ballots in time, and the administration is urging service members to use that option if they need to.
Bob Carey, director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, said in a written statement that voters from 39 states can access full ballots online.
"That number includes New York and Illinois, where we have the most significant problems with late ballot delivery," he said.
Military voters can visit FVAP.gov to access the online system; all voters also can file federal write-in absentee ballots, which are available online and include federal candidates.
"Even if voters have not received their absentee ballots, it's not too late to vote," Carey said.
Nearly a dozen states have struggled to come into compliance with the MOVE Act. The Justice Department has reached agreements with eight of them, including Illinois, and has filed lawsuits against three of them. The department subsequently hammered out agreements with those three states -- New York, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement Friday that the Illinois agreement "will ensure that the state's military and overseas voters can participate in the upcoming federal elections."
The deadline to send out ballots, which 35 counties missed, was Sept. 18. For six counties where ballots were sent out between 16 and 20 days late, the agreement extends the deadline to receive ballots from Nov. 16 by two to three days. For those counties, the deadline to postmark the ballots moves from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2.
But the agreement does not offer a specific remedy for the 29 counties where ballots were mailed out between two and 12 days late. It instead includes a section that says election officials must mail out, either electronically or by express mail, "properly and timely requested" ballots they learn were not transmitted -- and then accept Nov. 2-postmarked ballots until Nov. 19. The decree also orders officials to make sure all requested electronic ballots are sent out.
Justice spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the 29 counties did not get extra time because they already have 14 extra days after the election for their ballots to be received. She said the ballots will get to them in time and if any voter's on-time ballot is not counted, "we can file a lawsuit."
Eversole, though, said the agreement just doesn't go far enough. He said it could have at the very least explicitly extended the deadline for all 35 counties. And he expressed concern that the agreement did little to prevent the violations from happening again in 2012, saying it sends the message that so long as states accept ballots after Election Day, they can ignore the 45-day requirement in the MOVE Act. The 45 days, though, were meant to give military voters enough time to receive and send back their ballots before Election Day.
"It's just the wrong message to send," Eversole said.
Another lying Democrat!
Here's another crazy democrat congresswoman out there spewing lies....lies so outrageous that it's evident that they can't be true. Do they all think that the American public is just STUPID?....This woman needs to go home...let's hope her constituents can see through her and vote her out....they need to send her back to New York where she came from.
The Time Has Indeed Come!
No Elected Official should be above the law of the land.....Today that's not the case and it needs to change!...
The Time Has Indeed Come!
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come!
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest was to exempt themselves from the HealthcareReform ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law.
I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independentor whatever. The self-serving must stop.
A Constitutional Convention - this is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come. And, with the advent of modern communication, the process can be moved along with incredible speed. There is talk out there that the "government" doesn't care what the people think. That is irrelevant. It is incumbent on the population to address elected officials to the wrongs afflicted against the populace...you and me.
Think about this...
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this Email to a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
You are one of my 20+.
Keep it going. Spread the word!
The Time Has Indeed Come!
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come!
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest was to exempt themselves from the HealthcareReform ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law.
I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independentor whatever. The self-serving must stop.
A Constitutional Convention - this is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come. And, with the advent of modern communication, the process can be moved along with incredible speed. There is talk out there that the "government" doesn't care what the people think. That is irrelevant. It is incumbent on the population to address elected officials to the wrongs afflicted against the populace...you and me.
Think about this...
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this Email to a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
You are one of my 20+.
Keep it going. Spread the word!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Why not to vote for the Democrats!
Sharron Angle Ad tells a great story on why NOT to vote for Reid, Pelosi or the Democrats this time and why NOT to vote for Obama in 2012!
Another Shady, Dishonest Democrat!
Jack Conway may have tipped brother off about drug investigation
By Alex Pappas--The Daily Caller | Published: 2:31 PM 10/23/2010 | Updated: 1:37 PM 10/24/2010
Jack Conway, the Democratic attorney general of Kentucky who is running for U.S. Senate, says he was not involved in a recent criminal investigation involving his brother and drug trafficking.
But it appears he — along with other law enforcement officials — tipped his brother off about the investigation.
The campaign made a statement distancing Conway from his brother’s investigation in a Saturday story in Louisville’s Courier-Journal. The story was the first to disclose this summer’s drug probe.
In August, authorities decided not to file charges against Conway’s brother, Matthew Conway, according to the report.
The story notes how a supporter who overheard a narcotics detective speaking about the investigation alerted Jack Conway. Conway’s campaign says the attorney general subsequently aided his brother in getting an attorney.
The Courier-Journal also says two detectives accused of leaking the fact that an investigation was taking place to Matthew Conway have been placed on administrative leave until it’s determined whether they violated any policies.
After hearing rumors about the drug investigation last week, The Daily Caller placed a call to Matthew Conway’s office. He did not return a request for comment.
Jack Conway is running against Republican Rand Paul in November’s U.S. Senate election. His campaign did not immediately return an e-mail seeking elaboration Saturday as to whether Conway, as attorney general, took any steps to involve himself in the investigation.
By Alex Pappas--The Daily Caller | Published: 2:31 PM 10/23/2010 | Updated: 1:37 PM 10/24/2010
Jack Conway, the Democratic attorney general of Kentucky who is running for U.S. Senate, says he was not involved in a recent criminal investigation involving his brother and drug trafficking.
But it appears he — along with other law enforcement officials — tipped his brother off about the investigation.
The campaign made a statement distancing Conway from his brother’s investigation in a Saturday story in Louisville’s Courier-Journal. The story was the first to disclose this summer’s drug probe.
In August, authorities decided not to file charges against Conway’s brother, Matthew Conway, according to the report.
The story notes how a supporter who overheard a narcotics detective speaking about the investigation alerted Jack Conway. Conway’s campaign says the attorney general subsequently aided his brother in getting an attorney.
The Courier-Journal also says two detectives accused of leaking the fact that an investigation was taking place to Matthew Conway have been placed on administrative leave until it’s determined whether they violated any policies.
After hearing rumors about the drug investigation last week, The Daily Caller placed a call to Matthew Conway’s office. He did not return a request for comment.
Jack Conway is running against Republican Rand Paul in November’s U.S. Senate election. His campaign did not immediately return an e-mail seeking elaboration Saturday as to whether Conway, as attorney general, took any steps to involve himself in the investigation.
More evidence that the Democrats are in real Trouble!
More evidence that there's a huge move afoot in America today...Now we have make it count at the polls on November 2nd....
A chart to make Democrats’ blood run cold
By Jon Ward - The Daily Caller | Published: 10:07 AM 10/24/2010 | Updated: 12:09 PM 10/24/2010
Page eight of a new poll out this week by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press shows which party 28 different categories of voters supported in 2006 – the last midterm election – and who they favor now.
In 2006, 17 categories favored Democrats, which helped them take control of the House and Senate from Republicans. Democrats picked up six Senate seats and 30 House seats.
In the Pew Poll, 23 of the 28 categories of voters now favor Republicans. What’s more, 22 of the 28 categories support the GOP by 49 percent or more. There are only four categories of voters that are under 40 percent: those making less than $30,000 a year, at 39 percent; voters who are unaffiliated with a religion, at 37 percent; black voters, at 10 percent; and Democrats, at 8 percent.
What is most remarkable is how far some categories have swung away from Democrats and toward the GOP.
Democrats have lost a significant advantage with women voters, who supported Democrats by a 48 to 41 percent margin in 2006, but who have now flipped to supporting the GOP by 49 to 43 percent.
Voters over 65 years old were for Democrats by a 48 to 42 percent margin four years ago. They now favor Republicans by 52 to 38 percent. That’s a 20 point swing.
Perhaps most damaging for Democrats, they have suffered huge losses among Independents. Democrats were up 7 points in 2006, by 42 to 35 percent. They now are down 19 points, 49 to 30 percent. That’s a 26-point swing.
That point movement matches exactly what’s happened with white voters in mainline Protestant denominations. Democrats were even with the GOP among these voters in 2006, but are now down by 26 points, 58 to 32 percent.
Geographically, the biggest swing has been in the Midwest, where voters have come back to the GOP in droves. Democrats had an 11-point advantage in the Midwest in 2006, 51 to 40 percent. This year, Republicans are up 16 points, 53 to 37 percent.
The smallest swing of any group away from Democrats – besides black voters, where Democrats have seen only a one point loss – is out West, where they were up 47 to 44 percent in 2006 but are now down 45 to 43 percent.
Even in those four categories under 40 percent support for the Republicans, there has been massive movement away from Democrats.
Take voters unaffiliated with any religion. In 2006, 71 percent of those voters said they supported Democrats, while only 20 percent were for Republicans. Now, Democrats have lost 19 points in this group, while Republicans have gained 17 points. The Democrat advantage went from a gaping 51 points to just 15 points.
Voters making less than $30,000 a year also swung toward Republicans by 14 points, moving to 55 percent support for Democrats down from 62 percent, and to 39 percent support for the GOP up from 32 percent.
A chart to make Democrats’ blood run cold
By Jon Ward - The Daily Caller | Published: 10:07 AM 10/24/2010 | Updated: 12:09 PM 10/24/2010
Page eight of a new poll out this week by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press shows which party 28 different categories of voters supported in 2006 – the last midterm election – and who they favor now.
In 2006, 17 categories favored Democrats, which helped them take control of the House and Senate from Republicans. Democrats picked up six Senate seats and 30 House seats.
In the Pew Poll, 23 of the 28 categories of voters now favor Republicans. What’s more, 22 of the 28 categories support the GOP by 49 percent or more. There are only four categories of voters that are under 40 percent: those making less than $30,000 a year, at 39 percent; voters who are unaffiliated with a religion, at 37 percent; black voters, at 10 percent; and Democrats, at 8 percent.
What is most remarkable is how far some categories have swung away from Democrats and toward the GOP.
Democrats have lost a significant advantage with women voters, who supported Democrats by a 48 to 41 percent margin in 2006, but who have now flipped to supporting the GOP by 49 to 43 percent.
Voters over 65 years old were for Democrats by a 48 to 42 percent margin four years ago. They now favor Republicans by 52 to 38 percent. That’s a 20 point swing.
Perhaps most damaging for Democrats, they have suffered huge losses among Independents. Democrats were up 7 points in 2006, by 42 to 35 percent. They now are down 19 points, 49 to 30 percent. That’s a 26-point swing.
That point movement matches exactly what’s happened with white voters in mainline Protestant denominations. Democrats were even with the GOP among these voters in 2006, but are now down by 26 points, 58 to 32 percent.
Geographically, the biggest swing has been in the Midwest, where voters have come back to the GOP in droves. Democrats had an 11-point advantage in the Midwest in 2006, 51 to 40 percent. This year, Republicans are up 16 points, 53 to 37 percent.
The smallest swing of any group away from Democrats – besides black voters, where Democrats have seen only a one point loss – is out West, where they were up 47 to 44 percent in 2006 but are now down 45 to 43 percent.
Even in those four categories under 40 percent support for the Republicans, there has been massive movement away from Democrats.
Take voters unaffiliated with any religion. In 2006, 71 percent of those voters said they supported Democrats, while only 20 percent were for Republicans. Now, Democrats have lost 19 points in this group, while Republicans have gained 17 points. The Democrat advantage went from a gaping 51 points to just 15 points.
Voters making less than $30,000 a year also swung toward Republicans by 14 points, moving to 55 percent support for Democrats down from 62 percent, and to 39 percent support for the GOP up from 32 percent.
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