For those screaming "Walk-Out or Strike"....that's EXACTLY what the Evil Side (GOP) wants ! All part of the diabolical plot to DESTROY Middle America...forcing them to work at Chinese wages...and be glad about it.

Wisconsin GOP Bill Allows State
to Fire Employees for Strikes, Walk-Outs

(Mother Jones) On Wednesday night, Republicans in Wisconsin's state senate rammed through a retooled version of Governor Scott Walker's controversial "budget repair bill" with the 14 senate Democrats still in hiding in Illinois. The senate bill eliminates collective bargaining rights for most public-sector unions, a provision that has labor leaders and protesters up in arms. But there's another explosive provision in the bill that's received little attention: The bill authorizes state officials to fire any state employee who joins a strike, walk-out, sit-in, or coordinated effort to call in sick.

According to an analysis (PDF) of the Senate bill by Wisconsin's Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), the legislation gives state officials the power to fire workers during a "state of emergency" declared by the governor under several conditions. If a state employee misses three working days without an approved leave of absence, that's grounds for being fired. State workers can also be dumped if, according to the LFB's analysis, they participate in a "strike, work stoppage, sit-down, stay-in, slowdown, or other concerted activities to interrupt the operations or services of state government, including mass resignations or sick calls."

The implications of this under-the-radar provision are significant. After the state senate passed its bill, talks swirled of organizing a coordinated strike or walk-out to protest the bill's attack on collective bargaining. In the state Capitol, chants of "general strike!" broke out among protesters stuck outside the building. On Wednesday night, Madison Firefighters union president Joe Conway said he's "in total agreement" with the idea of a general strike. "We should start walking out tomorrow and the next day, and see how long they can last," Conway said. Under this measure, if such protests occur, Walker could declare a state of emergency, and protesting workers could be canned.

One labor umbrella group, the South Central Federation of Labor, which includes 97 member unions and more than 45,000 employees, endorsed the idea of a general strike as early as February 21. The SCFL's affiliates include the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, and many more. Other union groups have organized "solidarity" events throughout the state for Thursday morning—from Green Bay to Fond du Lac to Platteville—to peacefully protest the Senate's blitz vote on the bill.

The bill's provision giving state officials the power to fire workers for striking or walking out isn't entirely new. It was included in Walker's original "budget repair bill" but received little attention amidst the controversy of the collective bargaining ban and Walker's perceived threat to use the National Guard against protesting workers. (Read rest of article)

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PATHETIC !

(Greg Jones) But another example of why you should NEVER hand the power to the Evil Side (GOP)....through whining, de-energizing, the "we'll fix him (Obama)", self-destructive mentality and not voting ! And THIS is just the beginning of the GOP's diabolical plot to LITERALLY destroy Middle America. Ahead, look for the GOP to turn down state financial aid with the desire to create massive layoffs of teachers, fire, police and more...all heading to their ultimate target of privatizing everything they can and forcing the jobless to work for Chinese wages. Also look for GOP schemes to disband pension plans and union wage/benefit agreements to the level that people will be begging for a Chinese wage job....just to survive. THAT is the fight ahead ! Tried...unsuccessfully to warn folks for months leading up to the midterms....but unfortunately....the whiners 'won'....which only aided the Evil Side (GOP) in their goal of the destruction of Middle America as we know it.

Wisconsin GOP Senators

Pass Anti-Union Bill

Without Democrats Present

WASHINGTON -- In a bold gambit to put an end to the weeks-long budget standoff in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) split his controversial budget-repair bill in two on Wednesday, allowing the Senate to pass the most hotly contested provisions while their 14 Democratic colleagues remained out of state.

The parliamentary maneuver, first reported by local press, allowed the anti-collective bargaining measure to pass with just Republican support. Under Wisconsin law a 3/5s quorum is needed for a statute that is fiscal in nature. No such quorum is needed for non-fiscal matters.

It was also a 180-degree reversal by Walker and state Senate Republicans, who have insisted for the past three weeks that the collective bargaining provision was designed to help alleviate the state’s budget problems. State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) had previously said he would not attempt to pass any portions of the bill without Democrats present.

Wisconsin Democrats decried the move as an unprecedented and blatant end-run, but it was clear that they were powerless to stop it. Indeed, it took the conference committee only a matter of minutes to pass the severed off measure by a four-to-two vote. Minutes later, the same bill passed through the entire Senate by an 18-1 margin, with Sen. Dale Schultz, a Republican moderate who had proposed a compromise measure, lodging the only no vote.

Justin Sargent, a staffer to Senator Chris Larson (D-Wis.) called the maneuver completely unexpected. It showed, he added, that this “obviously wasn’t about any kind of financing, it was an attack on working families.”

Sargent would not say whether his boss was en route back from Illinois but noted, rightly, that he wouldn’t make it back in time to even lodge an on-the-floor protest. Instead, Larson offered a simple tweet: "Shame."

The new procedural maneuver requires that bill now be sent back to the State Assembly for consideration since that body has passed only the full (not the severed) budget bill. According to Mary Spicuzza of the Wall Street Journal the Assembly will reportedly take up the measure tomorrow.

WAKE UP TIME !!!

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NATIONAL DIRECTOR
****************

WATCH: President's Weekly Address


Both Parties Must Come Together On a Budget that Cuts Wasteful Spending Without Gutting Investments in the Future

WATCH:

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And to think.....

­all we had to do was
VO­TE !

Greg Jones
B4B National Director

But nooooo....­the Pro-Left and some 'Progressive' (should be called Re-gressive) Dems preferred to whine and de-energiz­e, with the 'all or nothing' attitude..­..combined with the "we'll fix him (Obama) " attitude..­..literally handing The Power to the Evil Side (GOP) not only in the Congress but at multiple state levels, where the TRUE battles against Middle America will occur.
An­d look at us now. Who did they really 'fix' ? Our Dem politician­s forced to literally flee, run, hide, get-outta-­Dodge...al­l to block the evil actions of the Right. But the truth is....they­'ll have to come home one day. I warned of the GOP plot to destroy middle America for months...obviously t­o know avail. Now, look for The Evil to gut public education.­...block state aid forcing massive layoffs of teachers, police, fire...clo­sing of libraries, etc..Expec­t the push for states to be allowed to file bankruptcy which will disband current union wage/benef­it agreements and jeopardize all future pensions. Also....Me­dicaid is in trouble.....along with ALL social programs created to help those in need (ignorantly called 'entitlement programs'). ....not to mention job-crushing budget cuts. The bottom line goal of the GOP is to force all Americans to work for Chinese wages....a­nd like it. And to think....a­ll we had to do was....sto­p whining...­.and VOTE ! PATHETIC !!!! (Below article exemplifies what is just the beginning)

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Unveils Full Budget With Deep Cuts

MADISON, Wis. — After focusing for weeks on his proposal to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights, Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday presented his full budget – a plan that cuts $1.5 billion in aid to public schools and local government but avoids any tax or fee increases, furloughs or widespread layoffs.

Walker said the cuts could be paid for in large part by forcing government employees to pay more for their pension and health care benefits. And the governor whose cost-cutting ideas have stirred a national debate over public-sector unions gave no indication he would soften his demand to reduce their power at the negotiating table.

"This is a reform budget," Walker told lawmakers inside the Assembly chamber as protesters on the floor below screamed, banged on drums and blew horns. "It is about getting Wisconsin working again, and to make that happen, we need a balanced budget that works – and an environment where the private sector can create 250,000 jobs over the next four years."

Walker's legislation has drawn tens of thousands of demonstrators to the Capitol over the last three weeks, and tensions were still evident when Walker outlined the budget during a joint session of the Legislature convened under heavy security. Assembly Democrats refused to stand and greet the governor as he arrived to speak.

"It feels like we're announcing a going-out-of-business sale," said state Rep. Cory Mason, a Democrat from Racine who criticized Walker's proposed cuts to education.

Walker's budget places "the entire burden of Wisconsin's budget shortfall on our children, our most vulnerable citizens in need of health care and long-term care, and our dedicated public employees," said Robert Kraig, director of the consumer advocacy group Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

Doing so is Walker's "own value choice, not an economic necessity forced on him by others," Kraig said.

The governor released his two-year budget in part to support his argument that public-worker concessions are essential to confront a projected $3.6 billion shortfall. His proposal to eliminate most collective bargaining remains in limbo after Senate Democrats fled the state to prevent a vote.

Wisconsin "cannot grow if our people are weighed down paying for a larger and larger government, a government that pays its workers unsustainable benefits that are out of line with the private sector," he said. "We need a leaner and cleaner state government."
(read rest of article)

Time to Unite...
To FIGHT for AMERICA !

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PATHETIC !
Faux News Pundit Writes Book
Revealing GOP Plot to
DESTROY AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS !

Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack
National Director

As many of you already know, I regularly monitor right-wing news and radio to stay abreast on where the evil side is coming from. They don't know it, but I'm also on various right-wing email lists. So I get emails as if I'm 'one of them'. One email I received just today further reconfirms the diabolical right-wing plot to literally destroy America as I have been warning of for months. The email is from former President Clinton adviser turned total traitor Faux News pundit Dick Morris who has gone as far as to have written a book (which we are in no way endorsing or recommending you buy) for fellow right-wingers to have a clearer knowledge of the GOP sinister plot. Check his email out for yourselves THIS is what we MUST UNITE TO FIGHT AGAINST !

******************NOW THE DICK MORRIS EMAIL *********************

REVOLT!: STATES LEAD THE WAY

Published on DickMorris.com on

*************************

February 23, 2011

As predicted in Revolt! (Dick's and Eileen's new book) - States Lead the Way Toward Reform

It is not only the Arab world that is in turmoil! Reform Governors like Scott Walker (Wisconsin), John Kasich (Ohio), Mitch Daniels (Indiana), Tom Corbett (Pennsylvania), Butch Otter (Idaho), and Rick Scott (Florida) are leading a movement for fundamental change in America.

In Revolt!, Morris and McGann's new book, they describe how newly elected Republican Governors - impelled by their budget crises and empowered with GOP Legislatures - will accomplish sweeping changes in our politics. Read how: * Republican Governors will destroy the political base of the Democratic Party by ending automatic dues deductions from paychecks by unions. * GOP Legislatures will strip teachers of tenure, end seniority based pay, enact merit pay, and promote school choice, dramatically eroding the power of the teachers' unions. * Collective bargaining reforms will free school boards and principals to run their schools and end union control. * State fiscal problems will force them into bankruptcy. And, in bankruptcy, they can cancel all union contracts.

For all the changes coming in Washington, the Tea Party revolution's most important changes will be at the state level. Good-bye AFT, SEIU, AFSME, NEA!

It's all in Revolt!: How To Defeat Obama and Repeal his Socialist Programs - A Patriot's Guide Dick's and Eileen's new book.

To pre-order a signed copy of Revolt from Amazon.com - CLICK HERE.

To pre-order a signed copy of Revolt from Barnes&Noble.com - CLICK HERE.

Dick has signed 13,000 copies but they will probably be gone soon so order now!

PRE-ORDER A SIGNED COPY OF REVOLT! AT AMAZON.COM OR BN.COM AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST - CLICK HERE!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GO TO DICKMORRIS.COM! TO READ ALL OF DICK'S COLUMNS!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FRIENDS & FAMILY AND INVITE THEM TO RECEIVE OUR FREE COLUMNS BY SUBSCRIBING HERE. THANKS!

THANK YOU!

(c) COPYRIGHT 2011, DICK MORRIS AND EILEEN MCGANN. REPRINTS WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION ONLY.

************** END OF EMAIL **************

B4B NOTE: Is THIS pathetic OR what ? Again, we are NOT recommending you buy this book but simply exposing the GOP plot. Share this....spread the word....this is in fact, only part of the GOP Plan ahead.....to LITERALLY Destroy America ! Time to Unite....to FIGHT !!!

Knowledge is Power !

Pass It On !

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WHY VOTE ?

Hoping that my fellow Dems and Professional Left learn that the midterm whining and de-energizing which lead to the Repubs gaining power in multiple states across the country (and the Congress) only aided the evil side...and seriously hurt America !

(still PATHETIC !)
The Time Is NOW....To UNITE !!!

President Holds "Winning The Future"
Business Forum in Cleveland

(Cleveland Plain Dealer) President Barack Obama makes opening remarks for the "Winning the Future" forum on small business at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University on Tuesday. The forum is designed to spotlight Obama's efforts to help small companies and promote the economic themes of innovation, education and technology stressed during his State of Union speech. (Read complete article)

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Protests Against GOP Plot to

Crush Unions Mount Nationwide

IN OHIO: Thousands Gather to Protest Bill

(Reuters) - Thousands of people picketed the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest a bill to cut collective bargaining rights for state workers.

In a local repeat of an issue that has roiled Wisconsin over the last two weeks, state Republican leaders say the bill is necessary to address the state's budget problems, while union leaders say it is designed to hurt unions.

"The intent is to give taxpayers a seat at the negotiating table," said Jason Mauk, spokesman for Ohio Senate Republicans.

Introduced in late January, the bill was scheduled for a state Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Ohio's bill goes farther than Wisconsin's in some ways, Mauk said. While Wisconsin's bill allows collective bargaining on wages, up to the rate of inflation, for state workers, the Ohio bill prohibits collective bargaining for 42,000 state workers in addition to 19,500 workers in the state's university and college system.

This would end a right established in 1983 for Ohio's public-sector workers.

For local governments that bargain with unions representing some 300,000 workers including police, firefighters, and public school teachers, the bill removes health care and some other benefits from the negotiating process.

Like Wisconsin, Ohio has a new Republican governor and Republican majorities in both legislative houses.

"What's happening in Ohio is similar to what's happening in Wisconsin," said Joseph Slater, professor of law at the University of Toledo College of Law.

Slater said there is no correlation between whether a state gives collective bargaining rights to workers and whether they have a deficit. (Read rest of article)

IN WISCONSIN: A Summary

The Huffington Post's Lila Shapiro has put together a great report that summarizes the Wisconsin situation so far and highlights many of the issues involved:

MADISON, WI -- On Friday, February 11th, at the same hour that the world watched the former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak resign his post, the newly appointed Republican Governor of Wisconsin quietly launched a ferocious attack on public sector unions -- and the very notion of organized labor in America.

For nearly fifty years unions have sought to safeguard and advance their rights through a process known as collective bargaining, which is the the most powerful tool labor has for peacefully resolving disputes and ensuring workers a voice in negotiations on everything from fair wages to safety conditions and sick leave.

The bill championed by Wisconsin's governor takes dead aim at this process by stripping most state workers of many of their collective bargaining rights. Union leaders have responded uproariously, claiming that the bill effectively guts public unions of their most critical asset in a state that pioneered many of the fundamental fights for worker's rights. Political chaos has ensued on both sides. State Democrats fled the state last week to prevent a vote on the legislature, while many Republican governors -- some who already have similar bills on the table -- watch carefully to see, if the bill succeeds, how they might pass anti-union legislature in their own states. Read full story

IN INDIANA: Indiana Workers Protest Labor Bill

(WSJ) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—The fight over limiting organizing and bargaining of public-sector workers spread from Wisconsin, where a week long battle remains unresolved, to Indianapolis Monday where thousands of steelworkers, auto workers and others surrounded the state capital to protest a right-to-work labor bill that passed a committee of the Republican-controlled House, prompting discussion of a walkout by Democrats.

The Indiana bill, which would change state law so that private-sector workers no longer are required to pay dues or belong to a union that bargains on their behalf, now goes to the full House, which would need two-thirds or 67 of the 100 House members present to vote.

Republicans hold a 60-40 lead in the Indiana House and need a two-thirds quorum to vote on legislation.

Democratic Rep. David L. Niezgodski said that leaving to stymie a quorum "is absolutely an option we have."

About 22 states, mostly across the South, have such laws. In Indiana currently, if a union bargains for a group of workers at an employer, all workers covered by the contract must belong to the union. Proponents of the bill say it would create jobs while opponents say it would drive down wages. The bill would exempt members of the construction industries, whose unions and management argued that the unions play a critical role in training and apprenticeships. (Read rest of article)

Related Article:
Protests Against Union-Busting Bill Sweep Midwest


B4B NOTE: The GOP plot to crush unions is but one segment of their overall diabolical scheme. They will also push for new laws allowing states to file bankruptcy which will disband union pay/benefit agreements, forcing workers to work for less pay. State bankruptcies will also force the layoffs of millions of teachers, police, fire and others nationwide. Also, pensions will be in jeopardy if state bankruptcies are allowed....another goal in their overall plot. The bottom line GOP goal is to force Americans to have to work....LITERALLY...for Chinese wages. They MUST BE STOPPED ! Lastly....ALL of this would have been avoided had my fellow whiny Dems just voted in the midterm elections.....but instead, they simply de-energized, handing over the power to the evil side. Still A Shame !!!

Next ?
The GOP's destruction of America's Public School Systems.

The Time Is NOW....
To UNITE....and FIGHT !!!!

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WATCH:
The View From The Front Lines
of the Wisconsin Protests

FIGHT TIME ! As I previously warned....the battles ahead will be at state levels (as exemplified in Wisconsin, Ohio and others) to block the GOP from literally DESTROYING AMERICA !....and they've only just begun ! The Time Is NOW to UNITE.....to FIGHT !!! (B4B)

WATCH:

Related Article: Wisconsin Protests Grow in Size

IT'S FIGHT TIME !

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GET READY !
As we have been warning of for months....the actions in Wisconsin by the right-wing Governor exemplifies the GOP plot nationwide to crush unions...reduce employee pay forcing them to work for Chinese wages....with the ultimate goal being to bankrupt states...forcing massive layoffs....of which, then, 'privatization' (Halliburton & Co.) will 'come to the rescue' thru so-called private/gov't joint ventures which simply means the private co's will get the federal monies....and rehire all those layed-off at the Chinese wages. (B4B)

Wisconsin Protests
Governor's Plot to Crush Unions

(HuffPo) Wisconsin Democrats on Thursday fled the statehouse in an effort to prevent legislators from reaching a quorum and passing a bill put forth by Gov. Scott Walker (R), which would cripple the collective bargaining rights of public unions.

(Scroll down for the latest updates from Wisconsin)

The move produced a frantic political drama, as state troopers were reportedly sent out to find the fleeing lawmakers and Walker hinted that the National Guard would be called in to fill the void left by protesting union workers.

One Democratic senator told the Milwaukee-WIsconsin Journal Sentinel that most of the members of his caucus had already crossed state lines.

Their flight further heightened the drama that has surrounded the Wisconsin statehouse this week. On Wednesday there were an estimated 30,000 peacefully rallying in front of the state capitol building, and on Thursday that number is expected to be even higher.

Madison public schools are closed for the second day running, as teachers call in sick and students walk out.

Wisconsin is a stronghold of the labor movement -- the birthplace of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, one of the nation's largest labor unions -- with a long history of successful battles for workers' rights. This is part of the reason the pushback to Walker's bill has been so strong. It's also why, if the bill does pass, the precedent it sets for other conservative governors looking to go after collective bargaining rights is so powerful.
(read rest of article)

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The President's Budget
for Fiscal Year 2012

(THE WHITE HOUSE) Having emerged from the worst recession in generations, the President has put forward a plan to rebuild our economy and win the future by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our global competitors and creating the jobs and industries of tomorrow. But we cannot rebuild our economy and win the future if we pass on a mountain of debt to our children and grandchildren. We must restore fiscal responsibility, and reform our government to make it more effective, efficient, and open to the American people.

The President’s 2012 Budget is a responsible approach that puts the nation on a path to live within our means so we can invest in our future – by cutting wasteful spending and making tough choices on some things we cannot afford, while keeping the investments we need to grow the economy and create jobs. It targets scarce federal resources to the areas critical to winning the future: education, innovation, clean energy, and infrastructure. And it proposes to reform how Washington does business, putting more federal funding up for competition, cutting waste, and reorganizing government so that it better serves the American people.

B4B NOTE: As President Obama unveils his Budget Proposal to Congress...which includes some budget cuts even to programs he cares deeply about...looks like there's ABSOLUTELY NO slashing of Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare...proving the fear mongering, de-energizing Professional Left...WRONG.....again !

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WATCH:
President's Weekly Address:

President Readies
For Tough Budget Cuts Ahead !

WASHINGTON – President Obama used his weekly address to preview his budget saying that it will help the government live within its means, while still investing in the future. In addition to stripping out waste, his budget includes a freeze on annual domestic spending over the next five years—even for programs he cares deeply about—which will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade. And, it will make investments in the future, by supporting what will do the most to grow the economy in the years to come. This means investing in things like infrastructure, research, and education.



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Watch:
President Obama Responds to
Mubarak Resignation

WATCH:


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GOP GAME PLAN TO GUT AMERICA
....BEGINS !

If their plan becomes law, it could lead to layoffs of tens of thousands
of federal employees, big cuts to heating and housing subsidies for the
poor, reduced grants to schools and law enforcement agencies. Also ahead....BEWARE of the GOP PLOT to bankrupt states to make pensions and union agreements null & void. All an orchestrated plot to lead to privatization of government entities while forcing workers to work for Chinese wages. Learn the plot...spread the word. (B4B)

They MUST BE STOPPED !

House Repubs Slash Domestic Programs

(HuffPo) WASHINGTON — Republicans now running the House are barely touching Congress' own generous budget even as they take a cleaver to many domestic agencies.

A new GOP proposal would reduce domestic agencies' spending by 9 percent on average through September, when the current budget year ends.

If that plan becomes law, it could lead to layoffs of tens of thousands of federal employees, big cuts to heating and housing subsidies for the poor, reduced grants to schools and law enforcement agencies, and a major hit to the Internal Revenue Service's budget.

Congress, on the other hand, would get nicked by only 2 percent, or $94 million.

Recent hefty increases to the congressional budget – engineered by Democrats when they held power in the House from 2007-2010 – would remain largely in place under a plan announced Thursday by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky.

The plan, developed in close consultation with Republican Speaker John Boehner's office, would cut Congress' budget less than any other domestic spending bill, except for the one covering the Department of Homeland Security.

All 12 spending bills left unfinished by Democrats will go into a single, enormous measure that Republicans promise to bring up the week of Feb. 14.

"Charity begins at home, and Congress should lead the way with cuts to their own budget," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a Washington-based watchdog group. "Instead they're protecting their bottom line while slashing everyone else's."

The cut to Congress gets a little deeper, to 3.5 percent, if it were imposed for a full calendar year instead of the seven months that will remain in the current budget year. But so, too, would the cuts to other agencies – growing to 16 percent. (read rest of article)

RELATED ARTICLE:
State Bankruptcy Weighed by Republicans
Blocking State Aid

(Bloomberg) Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, emboldened by the majority they won in November elections, want to send a message to U.S. states grappling with soaring pension liabilities: Don’t come to us for a handout.

A broader option, being pressed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a potential presidential candidate in 2012, would be to change U.S. law to allow states to file for bankruptcy, giving them more leverage to renegotiate labor contracts.

Closing the door to U.S. aid may further stress states facing more than $140 billion in budget deficits next fiscal year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington research group. Fewer than half of their pensions had assets to pay for 80 percent of promised benefits in the 2009 fiscal year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. States now face the end to federal stimulus payments granted two years ago to help them cope with the deepest recession in 80 years.

“We are not interested in a bailout,” Representative Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee, said at a Jan. 6 forum in Washington.

“Should taxpayers in Indiana, who have paid their bills on time, who have done their job fiscally, be bailing out Californians, who haven’t?” he said. “No, that’s a moral hazard we are not interested in creating.”

Representative Devin Nunes of California introduced the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act last month, co- sponsored by Ryan and Darrell Issa of California. It requires more reporting from state and local pensions and prohibits federal bailouts of states.

Congressional Shift

It’s a shift from the previous Congress, where a Democratic majority in both houses passed the $814 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009 to aid states as the recession choked their tax collections.

“We’re going to look at state and municipal budget issues, their unfunded and underfunded pension liabilities as well as the impact defaults and bankruptcies of municipalities would have on the bond market,” Representative Patrick McHenry, 35, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the newly formed TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs subcommittee, said in a Jan. 12 telephone interview.

Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz said Republicans have contacted bankruptcy attorneys to discuss ways to change the law to allow states to restructure financial obligations such as debts to retirees. He said it hasn’t been decided whether that would mean allowing states to file for bankruptcy.

Chaffetz said he proposed legislation to oppose federal bailouts of pensions.(read rest of article)

HELP EXPOSE THE GOP PLOT....
(since the media won't)

IT'S WAKE UP TIME !
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of Media Affairs

Obama Administration Celebrates Black History by Winning the Future

WASHINGTON, DC – During Black History Month, Americans from around the country will celebrate the creativity, determination, and progress that African Americans have made to our nation’s identity and culture. This year’s celebration of Black History Month will be an opportunity not just to look back and celebrate the achievements of our community, but also to honor the legacy of those that have come before us while fostering the leaders of tomorrow. Throughout the month, Cabinet Members, Administration officials, and senior staff will participate in events to highlight the various ways African Americans are winning the future by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our global competition.

"During National African American History Month, we recognize the extraordinary achievements of African Americans and their essential role in shaping the story of America. In honor of their courage and contributions, let us resolve to carry forward together the promise of America for our children," --President Obama’s National African American Heritage Month Proclamation.

In addition to events, the White House will feature African Americans from agencies throughout the Administration that contribute to the President’s vision of winning the future through their efforts to move America forward. Each profile will post on the “Celebrating Black History by Winning the Future” webpage. This week, whitehouse.gov will feature administration officials that are using Innovation to win the future:

Featured Blog Posts: Innovation

· Introduction blog post: Black History Month: "Shaping the Story of America"

· Christopher Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas in the Office of Fossil Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Link

· Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Link

· Dr. Cecilia Rouse, Member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. Link

· Charles Bolden, Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (This post will be released on Saturday)

Throughout February guests that tour the White House will be welcomed by volunteers and given a Black History Month brochure with photos and text that showcase Presidents and American icons throughout history. One of the display cases on the tour will showcase photographs with a similar theme to the pamphlets. One day each week during Black History Month will feature a musical performance. The Friday, February 4, will feature a performance from the Washington Performing Arts Society Children Gospel Choir.

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Federal Homelessness Program
Runs Out of Money as Need Rises

While all of the media focus is currently on Egypt....
time to focus on the needs right here at home. (B4B)

Article By: Laura Basset (HuffPo)

WASHINGTON -- Homelessness has significantly risen in the U.S. as a result of surging foreclosures and joblessness caused by the recession, but a new federal program designed to nudge people back from the brink of life without shelter is on the brink itself.

A new report, released by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty on Jan. 26, found that a homelessness prevention and re-housing program funded by the 2009 stimulus bill needs more money to meet rising need. Instead, the program will likely be left out of the new federal budget.

In response to the 20 percent increase in foreclosures that occurred from 2008 to 2009, the Department of Housing and Urban Development used $1.5 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to create the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), which helps keep people in their apartments by subsidizing their rent.

The program is quickly running out of money, however, and having a number of administrative difficulties trying to keep up with demand. In Detroit, for instance, about 50,000 people filled out applications for only 3,500 grants on the first day the money was available, and a number of major U.S. cities have already used up more than 80 percent of their allotted funds, which were supposed to last until 2012.

When the NLCHP report surveyed local service providers and legal assistance organizations to determine the overall effectiveness of the program, about 61 percent said that "program bureaucracy" resulted in over half of people applying for HPRP not receiving assistance. About half of the respondents said there was no clear appeals process to give people a second chance when their initial application was denied, and in many communities, eligible families were not even aware of the program because of a lack of outreach efforts.

Sheila Crowley, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, told HuffPost she is not surprised the program is having difficulties meeting demand because it was only supposed to be an emergency band-aid for victims of the recession.

"The program was basically created fairly quickly, and the idea was to put some cash into the hands of the service providers in communities who are there when people knock on the door and say, 'I'm about to be evicted,'" she said. "It's a program that was seen as a one-shot deal in response to what, in 2009, people hoped was a short-term crisis. Here we are two years later, and unemployment is still high, and foreclosures continue, so it's sort of the story of what happens when you do programs like that." (read rest of article)

B4B NOTE: Now that the Republicans control the purse-strings of America, thanks to my fellow Dems not turning out to vote in the midterm elections this past November, there will be a vital need to pressure and DEMAND Congress to re-fund homeless programs which will literally save lives of Americans in need.

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WATCH:
President Obama on the
Situation in Egypt


President Barack Obama discusses the situation in Egypt with Vice President Joe Biden and the national security team during the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office, Jan. 28, 2011. Attending the briefing, clockwise from the President are: National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes; Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

WATCH:

Subscribers CLICK B4B MAIN PAGE for video

IT'S OFFICIAL !


(B4B) The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission has declared that the economic collapse was the fault of the Bush Regime and the greedy banksters.....NOT President Obama....NOT overspending of (ignorantly) so-called 'entitlement programs'...therefore slashing of much needed social program funding (like Social Security, Medicare, etc.) is NOT the answer....ending corrupt banksters' dealings once and for all...IS. So anytime someone blames America's state of the economy on President Obama, hit them with Truth. Knowledge is Power !

Article from Reuters:

(By Dave Clarke)

The financial crisis could have been avoided and was the result of poor decision making both in Washington and at top financial firms that fostered a culture of excessive risk taking, according to a draft report written by Democrats on a panel that investigated the meltdown and obtained by Reuters.

The Democratic majority of the 10-member Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission spreads the blame widely to regulators, politicians, financial firms and credit rating agencies.

"We conclude this financial crisis was avoidable," the report said.
It said regulators failed to adequately police financial markets, that financial firms had poor risk management and corporate governance practices, and that government was ill-prepared to handle the fallout from excessive borrowing when loans soured.

"The crisis was the result of human action and inaction, not Mother Nature or computer models gone haywire," the draft report reads. "The captains of finance and the public stewards of our financial system ignored warnings and failed to question, understand, and manage evolving risks within a system essential to the well-being of the American public."

The report will be officially released on Thursday but it has been endorsed only by the congressionally appointed panel's six Democratic commissioners. Three Republican members will release a separate minority report and a fourth Republican plans to unveil a report of his own that will focus on government housing policies.

Reuters obtained a draft of the final report that was circulated in December before it was fully edited and sent to the printer. On Tuesday the New York Times first reported the contents of the majority's report on its website.


Tucker Warren, a spokesman for the panel, did not respond to a phone call or email seeking comment.

Among regulators the report singles out former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his successor Ben Bernanke. The report faults Greenspan and his allies for pushing the idea that financial institutions could "police themselves."

Bernanke and former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson were criticized for not seeing the problems in the subprime mortgage markets earlier.

Clinton administration officials were rebuked for pushing to shield over-the-counter derivatives from regulation.

As for the corporate chieftains at the large financial firms that were either toppled or brought to their knees by the crisis, the panel says its examination found "stunning instances of governance breakdowns and irresponsibility."

Among those singled out are American International Group, mortgage giant Fannie Mae and Merrill Lynch.

The report faults investment banks Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley for "operating with extraordinarily thin capital" in 2007.
"Less than a 3 percent drop in asset values could wipe out a firm," according to the report.
(read rest of article)

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State of the Union Address

President Obama calls on America
to unite to " win the future "

By Holly Bailey

Seeking to rally the nation to a new era of creative greatness, President Obama in his State of the Union address called on Americans to put aside partisan differences and unite around a common goal of global competitiveness.

"This is our generation's Sputnik moment," Obama said, likening the U.S.'s current economic situation to the days when the Soviets beat America into space in the 1950s. He called for new investments in education, medical research and technology in hopes of spurring a similar wave of U.S. innovation that the nation experienced in its space race with the Soviets.

"To win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making," Obama said, adding "the world…and the rules have changed."

The address, Obama's first before the newly divided Congress, aimed to rise above the increasingly raw political fighting that marked his first two years in office. On Tuesday, Obama clearly sought to turn the page with a more centrist and conciliatory tone toward Republicans. Among other things, he embraced policies long championed by the GOP, including a ban on earmarks, a freeze in discretionary spending and additional corporate tax cuts.

The mood in the room was notably less divisive than in years past, as lawmakers, rather than sitting with fellow party members, sat with colleagues from across the aisle.

At the top of the speech, Obama reminded the audience of the recent tragedy in Tucson, pointing out a seat left empty in the chamber to mark the absence of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot at a political event earlier this month.

"Amid all the noise and passions and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater--something more consequential than party or political preference," Obama declared.

Echoing a theme he ran on in 2008 and has revived repeatedly since his party took a "shellacking" in last year's midterm elections, Obama said the nation's future is more important than the rough and tumble

of politics.

"At stake right now is not who wins the next election — after all, we just had an election," Obama said. "At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else. It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world."

The speech, an unofficial kickoff to Obama's 2012 re-election, did not break dramatic new ground. The president had previously championed many of the proposals outlined in the speech—including efforts to curb spending, the earmarks ban and additional investments in high-speed rail and internet.

Indeed, Obama seemed to stay away from potentially contentious topics, including gun control—which some Democrats had hoped he would bring up in the wake of the Arizona tragedy.

The president acknowledged that the growing costs of Social Security and Medicare represent one of the biggest financial challenges the nation faces as it seeks to narrow the deficit. But Obama proposed no specific steps on how to fix the problem.

On immigration, another hot-button topic, Obama talked generally about his desire to work with both parties to "protect our borders." "I know that debate will be difficult and take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort," Obama said, as members of both parties applauded. "Let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further enrich this nation."

Obama made just passing mention to the political war over his health care bill, which House Republicans voted to repeal last week. Joking that he'd heard "rumors" that some lawmakers had "some concerns" about the bill, Obama said he'd be willing to discuss improvements--but he also warned he would veto attempts to derail the full bill. "Instead of re-fighting the battles of the last two years, let's fix what needs fixing and move on," Obama said.

The president spoke only briefly about the ongoing military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the United States was successfully pushing back on al-Qaeda and was on track to begin removing troops from Afghanistan in July.

In another proposal sure to please Republicans, Obama also said the time is ripe for all colleges and universities to offer ROTC programs in the wake of the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Throughout his remarks, Obama sought to present an optimistic, upbeat view of the nation, acknowledging the country's recent challenges but insisting the nation has began to pull itself out of economic recession and toward better days—even amid near record-unemployment numbers across the nation.

"We are poised for progress," Obama said. But, he added later in the speech, "We should have no illusions about the work ahead of us…All of it will take time. And it will be harder because we argue about everything."

Still, Obama added, it's that debate that makes America "strong." (read rest of article)

Another fine job Mr. President

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Excerpts from President Obama's

State of the Union Address

Here are excerpts of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2011
Excerpts from President Obama’s State of the Union Address
As Prepared for Delivery

With their votes, the American people determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all – for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics.

At stake right now is not who wins the next election – after all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else. It’s whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It’s whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world. We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back. Corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.

But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise. By the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children. That’s the project the American people want us to work on. Together.

…
Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik¸ we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t there yet. NASA didn’t even exist.

But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.

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