Arkansas: even dumber than we thought.
***
Tough climate for Dems in Arkansas
Arkansas is a very conservative state. That's not exactly breaking news but it's the overwhelming theme when breaking down the results of our latest survey there:
-60% of voters oppose Barack Obama's plans for health care, with just 29% in support. Independents are arrayed against it 73-20. Even among Democrats just 54% say they're for it and among white Democrats it's less than a majority.
-Only 45% of voters in the state say they believe Obama was born in this country, while 31% say they think he was not and 24% are unsure. Arkansas is the first of four states where we've polled the birther issue (Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado were the others) and found less than half of respondents confident that the President is a natural born citizen. The numbers are particularly dramatic among Republicans with 49% saying Obama was not born here to just 23% who grant that he was.
-55% of Arkansas voters say they prefer Rush Limbaugh's vision for the country to Barack Obama's. That includes 92% of Republicans, 64% of independents, and even 18% of Democrats. This is in spite of the fact that respondents on balance actually dislike Limbaugh, with 44% holding an unfavorable opinion of him to 35% positive.
...Obama has the approval of 72% of Democrats, 30% of independents, and 9% of Republicans.
LINK
Political News Bits of the Day
Re: Political News Bits of the Day
how depressing.
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
US Fares Poorly in Child Welfare Survey
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 1, 2009
PARIS (AP) -- America has some of the industrial world's worst rates of infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and child poverty, even though it spends more per child than better-performing countries such as Switzerland, Japan and the Netherlands, a new survey indicates.
The OECD, a Paris-based watchdog of industrialized nations, urged the United States to shift more of its public spending to its youngest children, under the age of six, to improve their health and educational performance.
The report released Tuesday, ''Doing Better for Children,'' marks the first time the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has reported on child well-being within its 30 member countries.
The U.S. spends an average of $140,000 per child, well over the OECD average of $125,000. But this spending is skewed heavily toward older children between 12 and 17, the OECD survey showed.
U.S. spending on children under six, a period the OECD says is key to children's future well-being, lags far behind other countries, amounting to only $20,000 per child on average compared to the OECD average of $30,000, the survey showed.
''A better balance of spending between the 'Dora the Explorer' years of early childhood and the teenage 'Facebook' years would help improve the health, education and well-being of all children in the long term,'' the OECD said.
As a result, it says, infant mortality in the U.S. is the fourth-worst in the OECD after Mexico, Turkey and Slovakia. American 15-year-olds rank seventh from the bottom on the OECD's measure of average educational achievement. Child poverty rates in the U.S. are nearly double the OECD average, at 21.6 percent compared to 12.4 percent.
The rate of teen births in the U.S. is three times the OECD average, with only Mexico recording a higher rate among OECD countries, the report said.
Timothy Smeeding, author of ''Poor Kids in a Rich Country: America's Children in Comparative Perspective,'' said America's troubles stem from a flawed mix of government spending and not enough help for the working poor.
''Most of what we spend is for health care, so there is less money to spend on income support programs, to keep the incomes of the poor up. We do spend highly on education -- but it's off the charts on health care,'' he said by telephone from the United States.
Some European countries have public preschools and day cares, for example.
''The parents in Europe aren't as poor. They have universal health care, and it's understood that you have access to health care without recrimination. ... They have children when they're ready,'' said Smeeding, who also heads the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
''A lot of kids born in our country are accidents,'' he said. ''Young women need to learn to wait to finish their education, not have a kid at 18 or 19. And it is these poor, unwed mothers having most of the babies in the U.S.''
more at... NY Times
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 1, 2009
PARIS (AP) -- America has some of the industrial world's worst rates of infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and child poverty, even though it spends more per child than better-performing countries such as Switzerland, Japan and the Netherlands, a new survey indicates.
The OECD, a Paris-based watchdog of industrialized nations, urged the United States to shift more of its public spending to its youngest children, under the age of six, to improve their health and educational performance.
The report released Tuesday, ''Doing Better for Children,'' marks the first time the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has reported on child well-being within its 30 member countries.
The U.S. spends an average of $140,000 per child, well over the OECD average of $125,000. But this spending is skewed heavily toward older children between 12 and 17, the OECD survey showed.
U.S. spending on children under six, a period the OECD says is key to children's future well-being, lags far behind other countries, amounting to only $20,000 per child on average compared to the OECD average of $30,000, the survey showed.
''A better balance of spending between the 'Dora the Explorer' years of early childhood and the teenage 'Facebook' years would help improve the health, education and well-being of all children in the long term,'' the OECD said.
As a result, it says, infant mortality in the U.S. is the fourth-worst in the OECD after Mexico, Turkey and Slovakia. American 15-year-olds rank seventh from the bottom on the OECD's measure of average educational achievement. Child poverty rates in the U.S. are nearly double the OECD average, at 21.6 percent compared to 12.4 percent.
The rate of teen births in the U.S. is three times the OECD average, with only Mexico recording a higher rate among OECD countries, the report said.
Timothy Smeeding, author of ''Poor Kids in a Rich Country: America's Children in Comparative Perspective,'' said America's troubles stem from a flawed mix of government spending and not enough help for the working poor.
''Most of what we spend is for health care, so there is less money to spend on income support programs, to keep the incomes of the poor up. We do spend highly on education -- but it's off the charts on health care,'' he said by telephone from the United States.
Some European countries have public preschools and day cares, for example.
''The parents in Europe aren't as poor. They have universal health care, and it's understood that you have access to health care without recrimination. ... They have children when they're ready,'' said Smeeding, who also heads the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
''A lot of kids born in our country are accidents,'' he said. ''Young women need to learn to wait to finish their education, not have a kid at 18 or 19. And it is these poor, unwed mothers having most of the babies in the U.S.''
more at... NY Times
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Your healthcare dollars at work:
***
Blue Cross Blue Shield Execs Profited From Bogus Bonuses
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota used premium payments to fund $15 million in employee bonuses, cover $35,000 for a retirement party and pay for other questionable expenses... It was the first audit of the nonprofit company since 2004.
Hamm ordered the audit in March, following criticism of a sales managers' trip to the Grand Cayman Islands that cost $238,000...
Hamm said that of the $418 million in the company's administrative expenses over the past five years, the audit found "millions and millions of dollars in excessive expenses."
The report said that premium payments funded nearly $15 million in employee bonuses that were almost assured regardless of performance, a $3.5 million investment in a hotel in Fargo and sales reward trips to resorts totaling $1.2 million.
In one case, the audit found that $34,814 was spent for a party for a retiring vice president.
"Health care premiums are for health care, they are not for expensive retirement parties, corporate jets, risky hotel investments or a compensation structure that rewards senior management regardless financial performance,"
LINK
***
Blue Cross Blue Shield Execs Profited From Bogus Bonuses
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota used premium payments to fund $15 million in employee bonuses, cover $35,000 for a retirement party and pay for other questionable expenses... It was the first audit of the nonprofit company since 2004.
Hamm ordered the audit in March, following criticism of a sales managers' trip to the Grand Cayman Islands that cost $238,000...
Hamm said that of the $418 million in the company's administrative expenses over the past five years, the audit found "millions and millions of dollars in excessive expenses."
The report said that premium payments funded nearly $15 million in employee bonuses that were almost assured regardless of performance, a $3.5 million investment in a hotel in Fargo and sales reward trips to resorts totaling $1.2 million.
In one case, the audit found that $34,814 was spent for a party for a retiring vice president.
"Health care premiums are for health care, they are not for expensive retirement parties, corporate jets, risky hotel investments or a compensation structure that rewards senior management regardless financial performance,"
LINK
Re: Political News Bits of the Day
.
Why did GOP pick Louisiana's Lord Boustany for Obama speech rebuttal?
Most of the media hype over President Obama's health care address to Congress last night has centered on Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's (SC) startling outburst of heckling. But the Wilson fixation has drawn attention from an equally puzzling move: the choice of Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany to deliver the GOP's rebuttal to Obama's speech.
A little-known and staunchly conservative Congressman, Rep. Boustany's main involvement on health care policy has been his reputation as a key ally of the health industry. As the watchdog group Public Campaign documented before the speech, Boustany has raked in $1.25 million from health and insurance interests since being elected in 2004.
Nearly 20 percent of his political fundraising has come from these interests.
Rep. Boustany -- who paid a company $18,250 in the 1990s to receive an English Title, including rights to be called "Lord Boustany" (it turned out to be a fraud) -- is also a doctor. It's unclear how much this added to his credibility, however. As Politico reports, Boustany was the target of three medical malpractice suits, which may shape his views on limiting tort liability.
But Rep. Boustany was also a co-sponsor of legislation that included provisions for end-of-life care, or the so-called "death panels" that helped inflame opponents of the Democratic health bill.
At a moment when some in the GOP are trying to mainstream the party's message and appeal, the choice of Boustany also sends a mixed signal. For example, in July 2009 Firedoglake caught Boustany giving credence to the "birther" movement that questions President Obama's right to hold office. You can hear his views at the :27 mark in this video:
Many more links and rest of story at ISS-FACING SOUTH
.
Why did GOP pick Louisiana's Lord Boustany for Obama speech rebuttal?
Most of the media hype over President Obama's health care address to Congress last night has centered on Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's (SC) startling outburst of heckling. But the Wilson fixation has drawn attention from an equally puzzling move: the choice of Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany to deliver the GOP's rebuttal to Obama's speech.
A little-known and staunchly conservative Congressman, Rep. Boustany's main involvement on health care policy has been his reputation as a key ally of the health industry. As the watchdog group Public Campaign documented before the speech, Boustany has raked in $1.25 million from health and insurance interests since being elected in 2004.
Nearly 20 percent of his political fundraising has come from these interests.
Rep. Boustany -- who paid a company $18,250 in the 1990s to receive an English Title, including rights to be called "Lord Boustany" (it turned out to be a fraud) -- is also a doctor. It's unclear how much this added to his credibility, however. As Politico reports, Boustany was the target of three medical malpractice suits, which may shape his views on limiting tort liability.
But Rep. Boustany was also a co-sponsor of legislation that included provisions for end-of-life care, or the so-called "death panels" that helped inflame opponents of the Democratic health bill.
At a moment when some in the GOP are trying to mainstream the party's message and appeal, the choice of Boustany also sends a mixed signal. For example, in July 2009 Firedoglake caught Boustany giving credence to the "birther" movement that questions President Obama's right to hold office. You can hear his views at the :27 mark in this video:
Many more links and rest of story at ISS-FACING SOUTH
.
"Blessed is the Lord for he avoids Evil just like the Godfather, he delegates."
Betty Bowers
Betty Bowers
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Sometimes one forgets (or in my case, doesn't know) just how racist the South has been throughout history. Wow.
Putting Wilson's comments in perspective:
***
"I, for one, am not much surprised that such bleating-heart conservatism came from South Carolina. I mean, c'mon: This is a state that, more than any other, has been resisting progress for the Union--and the Union itself--since, well, before there even was a United States.
This is a state whose slaveowners pressured Thomas Jefferson to remove condemnations of slavery from the Declaration of Independence. This is a state where loyalists rallied by the British as part of their "Southern Strategy"--the Brits' term, not mine--recaptured South Carolina from the patriots in 1780 as part of a plan to flip SC and Georgia and roll northward from there to smother the very revolution that birthers and tea partiers and Glenn Beck sychophants point to today as inspiration. This is the state that gave us senator and Vice President John C. Calhoun, who advocated state “nullification” of federal powers. This is also the state which became the first to secede from the Union to start the Confederacy—and even threatened to secede from the Confederacy when the other southern states refused to join its calls to re-open the slave trade. This is also the state that boasts of Congressman Preston Brooks, who in 1856 bloodied abolitionist senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. (Top that, Rep. Wilson!)
All ancient history, you say? Not so fast.
Well into the 20th century, this was the state where black citizens observed the Fourth of July mostly alone. Why? Because--get this--the vast majority of whites preferred instead to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, May 10, a practice that continued into the early 50s, which means there are some very senior South Carolina citizens who skipped a few Fourths back in their early years. (Why isn't Sean Hannity asking them to brandish their flag pins?) In 1920, this was the state whose legislature rejected the women’s suffrage amendment, only ratifying it for symbolic purposes a half century later, in 1969. In 1948, this was the state where the legislature declared President Harry Truman’s new civil rights commission “un-American,” and that offered segregationist favorite son Senator Strom Thurmond as the so-called Dixiecrat party's presidential nominee. And it was this state's Clarendon County, not Topeka, that was the original case that later became--and only after political intervention by Gov. James Byrnes to replace SC with KS--the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Is anyone surprised that this was the state that brought the first court challenge to the 1965 Voting Rights Act?
Joe Wilson's outburst? Puh-lease. Merely a peep, folks. Merely a peep."
Five-thirty-eight
Putting Wilson's comments in perspective:
***
"I, for one, am not much surprised that such bleating-heart conservatism came from South Carolina. I mean, c'mon: This is a state that, more than any other, has been resisting progress for the Union--and the Union itself--since, well, before there even was a United States.
This is a state whose slaveowners pressured Thomas Jefferson to remove condemnations of slavery from the Declaration of Independence. This is a state where loyalists rallied by the British as part of their "Southern Strategy"--the Brits' term, not mine--recaptured South Carolina from the patriots in 1780 as part of a plan to flip SC and Georgia and roll northward from there to smother the very revolution that birthers and tea partiers and Glenn Beck sychophants point to today as inspiration. This is the state that gave us senator and Vice President John C. Calhoun, who advocated state “nullification” of federal powers. This is also the state which became the first to secede from the Union to start the Confederacy—and even threatened to secede from the Confederacy when the other southern states refused to join its calls to re-open the slave trade. This is also the state that boasts of Congressman Preston Brooks, who in 1856 bloodied abolitionist senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. (Top that, Rep. Wilson!)
All ancient history, you say? Not so fast.
Well into the 20th century, this was the state where black citizens observed the Fourth of July mostly alone. Why? Because--get this--the vast majority of whites preferred instead to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, May 10, a practice that continued into the early 50s, which means there are some very senior South Carolina citizens who skipped a few Fourths back in their early years. (Why isn't Sean Hannity asking them to brandish their flag pins?) In 1920, this was the state whose legislature rejected the women’s suffrage amendment, only ratifying it for symbolic purposes a half century later, in 1969. In 1948, this was the state where the legislature declared President Harry Truman’s new civil rights commission “un-American,” and that offered segregationist favorite son Senator Strom Thurmond as the so-called Dixiecrat party's presidential nominee. And it was this state's Clarendon County, not Topeka, that was the original case that later became--and only after political intervention by Gov. James Byrnes to replace SC with KS--the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Is anyone surprised that this was the state that brought the first court challenge to the 1965 Voting Rights Act?
Joe Wilson's outburst? Puh-lease. Merely a peep, folks. Merely a peep."
Five-thirty-eight
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Here, then, are 10 Lessons for Tea Baggers:
1. President Obama Cut Your Taxes
2. The Stimulus is Working
3. First Ronald Reagan Tripled the National Debt...
4. ...Then George W. Bush Doubled It Again
5. Republican States Have the Worst Health Care
6. Medicare is a Government Program
7. Barack Obama is Not a Muslim
8. Barack Obama was Born in the United States
9. 70,000 Does Not Equal 2,000,000
10. The Economy Almost Always Does Better Under Democrats
See here for an explanation of each point.
1. President Obama Cut Your Taxes
2. The Stimulus is Working
3. First Ronald Reagan Tripled the National Debt...
4. ...Then George W. Bush Doubled It Again
5. Republican States Have the Worst Health Care
6. Medicare is a Government Program
7. Barack Obama is Not a Muslim
8. Barack Obama was Born in the United States
9. 70,000 Does Not Equal 2,000,000
10. The Economy Almost Always Does Better Under Democrats
See here for an explanation of each point.
"We could have done something important Max. We could have fought child abuse or Republicans!" --Oona Hart (played by Victoria Foyt), in the 1995 movie "Last Summer in the Hamptons."
Re: Political News Bits of the Day
.
From CREW-
“The members of Congress profiled in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have betrayed those who voted them into office. This report holds them accountable for their bad choices.”
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress are:
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
for the links to each most corrupt member go to website here.
.
From CREW-
“The members of Congress profiled in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have betrayed those who voted them into office. This report holds them accountable for their bad choices.”
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress are:
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
for the links to each most corrupt member go to website here.
.
"Blessed is the Lord for he avoids Evil just like the Godfather, he delegates."
Betty Bowers
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
The chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Hispanic Assembly and member of the Republican Central Committee says he has quit the GOP because he was embarrassed by South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's address to Congress on Sept. 9.
...Ivan Marte tells The Providence Journal that Wilson's behavior was "shameful" and "uncivilized."
...State party chairman Giovanni Cicione says Marte's contributions to the party were valued and he's disappointed by the resignation.
Read more here.
...Ivan Marte tells The Providence Journal that Wilson's behavior was "shameful" and "uncivilized."
...State party chairman Giovanni Cicione says Marte's contributions to the party were valued and he's disappointed by the resignation.
Read more here.
"We could have done something important Max. We could have fought child abuse or Republicans!" --Oona Hart (played by Victoria Foyt), in the 1995 movie "Last Summer in the Hamptons."
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Republican Popularity Plummeting As They Continue Boarding The Crazy Train
"The future does not hold much hope for the GOP when the response of various demographics are taken into account. America is becoming increasingly multi-cultural, and support for the GOP amongst minorities is at the bottom of the barrel. In 1980, 32% of the electorate consisted of white Democratic voters. That number was little changed in 2008, with 32% of the electorate consisting of whites voting for Obama. But in 1980 only 9% of the electorate were nonwhite Carter voters, whereas 21% of the electorate were nonwhite Obama voters last year. And that made the difference between a landslide defeat for Carter and a win by a healthy margin for Obama.
Obama took 68% of voters aged 18-29. He took 68% of Hispanic voters. The young are the future of our country, and Latinos the most rapidly growing ethnic segment of America, and in neither case is favorable opinion of the Republican party currently above 5%.
As the GOP has thrown increasingly bizarre, frenzied, and sometimes racially motivated accusations at Obama, the positive view of the GOP has seen a steady and drastic reduction. In January, 40% of whites held a positive view of the GOP. Today, that figure is 25%. In January, 20% of Latinos held a positive view of the GOP. Today, that figure is 3%. Amongst voters under thirty years of age, that positive view of the GOP has plummeted from 27% to 4%. The two demographics which have seen somewhat steady positive views of the GOP are amongst voters aged 30 to 44 (35% down to 31%), and among southerners (46% down to 41%)."
LINK
"The future does not hold much hope for the GOP when the response of various demographics are taken into account. America is becoming increasingly multi-cultural, and support for the GOP amongst minorities is at the bottom of the barrel. In 1980, 32% of the electorate consisted of white Democratic voters. That number was little changed in 2008, with 32% of the electorate consisting of whites voting for Obama. But in 1980 only 9% of the electorate were nonwhite Carter voters, whereas 21% of the electorate were nonwhite Obama voters last year. And that made the difference between a landslide defeat for Carter and a win by a healthy margin for Obama.
Obama took 68% of voters aged 18-29. He took 68% of Hispanic voters. The young are the future of our country, and Latinos the most rapidly growing ethnic segment of America, and in neither case is favorable opinion of the Republican party currently above 5%.
As the GOP has thrown increasingly bizarre, frenzied, and sometimes racially motivated accusations at Obama, the positive view of the GOP has seen a steady and drastic reduction. In January, 40% of whites held a positive view of the GOP. Today, that figure is 25%. In January, 20% of Latinos held a positive view of the GOP. Today, that figure is 3%. Amongst voters under thirty years of age, that positive view of the GOP has plummeted from 27% to 4%. The two demographics which have seen somewhat steady positive views of the GOP are amongst voters aged 30 to 44 (35% down to 31%), and among southerners (46% down to 41%)."
LINK
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Rep. Mike Ross Raises Eyebrows With Healthy Haul
Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross -- a Blue Dog Democrat playing a key role in the health care debate -- sold a piece of commercial property in 2007 for substantially more than a county assessment [2] (PDF) and an independent appraisal [3] (PDF) say it was worth.
The buyer: an Arkansas-based pharmacy chain with a keen interest in how the debate plays out.
Ross sold the real estate in Prescott, Ark., to USA Drug for $420,000 -- an eye-popping number for real estate in the tiny train and lumber town about 100 miles southwest of Little Rock.
"You can buy half the town for $420,000," said Adam Guthrie, chairman of the county Board of Equalization and the only licensed real estate appraiser in Prescott.
But the $420,000 was just the beginning of what Ross and his pharmacist wife, Holly, made from the sale of Holly's Health Mart. The owner of USA Drug, Stephen L. LaFrance Sr., also paid the Rosses $500,000 to $1 million for the pharmacy's assets and paid Holly Ross another $100,001 to $250,000 for signing a non-compete agreement. Those numbers, which Ross listed on the financial disclosure reports he files as a member of Congress, bring the total value of the transaction to between $1 million and $1.67 million.
And that's not counting the $2,300 campaign contribution Ross received from LaFrance two weeks after the sale closed.
Holly Ross remains the pharmacist at Holly's Health Mart under USA Drug. Neither she nor her husband agreed to speak with ProPublica for this story.
At the time of the 2007 sale, the county assessor's office valued the pharmacy's building and the land on which it sits at $263,000 -- nearly $160,000 less than the Rosses got for it. Because assessors' valuations don't always reflect true market value, ProPublica hired Guthrie to appraise the property. He placed the current value of the lot and building at $198,000, substantially lower than the county's assessment, which was raised from $263,000 to $269,000 this year. Guthrie explained the difference between his appraisal and the county assessment by saying that county assessments have been running higher than actual market value.
Mike Ross, total Snook
See also: TARGET: Blue Dog Leader Mike Ross
Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross -- a Blue Dog Democrat playing a key role in the health care debate -- sold a piece of commercial property in 2007 for substantially more than a county assessment [2] (PDF) and an independent appraisal [3] (PDF) say it was worth.
The buyer: an Arkansas-based pharmacy chain with a keen interest in how the debate plays out.
Ross sold the real estate in Prescott, Ark., to USA Drug for $420,000 -- an eye-popping number for real estate in the tiny train and lumber town about 100 miles southwest of Little Rock.
"You can buy half the town for $420,000," said Adam Guthrie, chairman of the county Board of Equalization and the only licensed real estate appraiser in Prescott.
But the $420,000 was just the beginning of what Ross and his pharmacist wife, Holly, made from the sale of Holly's Health Mart. The owner of USA Drug, Stephen L. LaFrance Sr., also paid the Rosses $500,000 to $1 million for the pharmacy's assets and paid Holly Ross another $100,001 to $250,000 for signing a non-compete agreement. Those numbers, which Ross listed on the financial disclosure reports he files as a member of Congress, bring the total value of the transaction to between $1 million and $1.67 million.
And that's not counting the $2,300 campaign contribution Ross received from LaFrance two weeks after the sale closed.
Holly Ross remains the pharmacist at Holly's Health Mart under USA Drug. Neither she nor her husband agreed to speak with ProPublica for this story.
At the time of the 2007 sale, the county assessor's office valued the pharmacy's building and the land on which it sits at $263,000 -- nearly $160,000 less than the Rosses got for it. Because assessors' valuations don't always reflect true market value, ProPublica hired Guthrie to appraise the property. He placed the current value of the lot and building at $198,000, substantially lower than the county's assessment, which was raised from $263,000 to $269,000 this year. Guthrie explained the difference between his appraisal and the county assessment by saying that county assessments have been running higher than actual market value.
Mike Ross, total Snook
See also: TARGET: Blue Dog Leader Mike Ross
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
House GOPer Seeks Co-Sponsors For Pet Health Care Tax Benefit
"Even as his party blocks Democratic attempts to expand health insurance for humans, a Republican congressman is trying to round up support for a bill that would provide a $3,500 annual tax deduction for Americans to pay for the medical care of their pets.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter on Tuesday asking fellow members to co-sponsor his Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, despite the upsurge in concern over the rising cost of health care coverage for actual humans."
Huff Po
"Even as his party blocks Democratic attempts to expand health insurance for humans, a Republican congressman is trying to round up support for a bill that would provide a $3,500 annual tax deduction for Americans to pay for the medical care of their pets.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter on Tuesday asking fellow members to co-sponsor his Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, despite the upsurge in concern over the rising cost of health care coverage for actual humans."
Huff Po
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Dardedar
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Mitch McConnell is polling at an 18% approval rating. That's eighteen percent. John Boehner is polling at 12% approval rating. Just think about that one. And it doesn't take much to make him cry. Mitch and Boehner are viewed less favorably than Dick Cheney was during the dark days of the Bush administration.
KOS poll, be somewhat skeptical
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Dardedar
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Abstinence-Only Education: The Costs — Social and Financial
Since 1996, nearly $1 billion in federal and state
matching funds has been committed to abstinence-only
education (Boonstra, 2004). Because of the requirement
that states match federal funds for abstinence-only
programs, state dollars that previously supported
comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education
— which includes but is not limited to
abstinence-education — have been diverted to
abstinence-only programs (Schemo, 2000).
The vast majority of Americans and parents support
comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education.
Eighty-one percent of Americans and seventy-five
percent of parents want their children to receive a
variety of information on subjects including
contraception and condom use, sexually transmitted
infection, sexual orientation, safer sex practices,
abortion, communications and coping skills, and the
emotional aspects of sexual relationships. Fifty-six
percent of Americans do not believe that
abstinence-only education prevents sexually
transmitted infections or unintended pregnancies.
Given the choice, only one to five percent of parents
remove their children from responsible sexuality
education courses (Albert, 2004; Research!America and
APHA, 2004; AGI, 2003a; AGI, 2003b; KFF, 2000; Kirby,
1999).
Fewer than half of public schools in the U.S. now
offer information on how to obtain birth control, and
only a third include discussion of abortion and sexual
orientation in their curricula. A large, nationally
representative survey of middle school and high school
teachers published in Family Planning Perspectives
reported that 23 percent of teachers in 1999 taught
abstinence as the only means of reducing the risk of
sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy,
compared with two percent in 1988. The study's authors
attributed the change to the heavy promotion of
abstinence — not sound educational principles
(Darroch, et al., 2000; Wilgoren, 1999). Currently, 35
percent of public school districts require abstinence
to be taught as the only option for unmarried people
and either prohibit the discussion of contraception or
limit discussion to its ineffectiveness (AGI, 2003a).
Abstinence-only sexuality education doesn't work.
There is little evidence that teens who participate in
abstinence-only programs abstain from intercourse
longer than others. It is known, however that when
they do become sexually active, teens who received
abstinence-only education often fail to use condoms or
other contraceptives. In fact, 88 percent of students
who pledged virginity in middle school and high school
still engage in premarital sex. The students who break
this pledge are less likely to use contraception at
first intercourse, and they have similar rates of
sexually transmitted infections as non-pledgers
(Walters, 2005; Bearman and Brueckner, 2001).
Meanwhile, students in comprehensive sexuality
education classes do not engage in sexual activity
more often or earlier, but do use contraception and
practice safer sex more consistently when they become
sexually active (AGI, 2003a; Jemmott, et al., 1998;
Kirby, 1999; Kirby, 2000; NARAL, 1998).
The U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the
developed world, and American adolescents are
contracting HIV faster than almost any other
demographic group. The teen pregnancy rate in the U.S.
is at least twice that in Canada, England, France, and
Sweden, and 10 times that in the Netherlands. Experts
cite restrictions on teens' access to comprehensive
sexuality education, contraception, and condoms in the
U.S., along with the widespread American attitude that
a healthy adolescence should exclude sex. By contrast,
the "European approach to teenage sexual activity,
expressed in the form of widespread provision of
confidential and accessible contraceptive services to
adolescents, is . . . a central factor in explaining
the more rapid declines in teenage childbearing in
northern and western European countries" (Singh &
Darroch, 2000). California, the only state that has
not accepted federal abstinence-only money, has seen
declines in teenage pregnancy similar to those seen in
European countries. Over the last decade, the teenage
pregnancy rate in California has dropped more than 40
percent ("California reduces...," 2004).
Every reputable sexuality education organization in the U.S., as well as prominent health organizations including the American Medical Association, have denounced abstinence-only sexuality education. And a 1997 consensus statement from the National Institutes of Health concluded that legislation discouraging condom use on the grounds that condoms are ineffective "places policy in direct conflict with science because it ignores overwhelming evidence . . . Abstinence-only programs cannot be justified in the face of effective programs and given the fact that we face an international emergency in the AIDS epidemic" (NIH, 1997).
Since 1996, nearly $1 billion in federal and state
matching funds has been committed to abstinence-only
education (Boonstra, 2004). Because of the requirement
that states match federal funds for abstinence-only
programs, state dollars that previously supported
comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education
— which includes but is not limited to
abstinence-education — have been diverted to
abstinence-only programs (Schemo, 2000).
The vast majority of Americans and parents support
comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education.
Eighty-one percent of Americans and seventy-five
percent of parents want their children to receive a
variety of information on subjects including
contraception and condom use, sexually transmitted
infection, sexual orientation, safer sex practices,
abortion, communications and coping skills, and the
emotional aspects of sexual relationships. Fifty-six
percent of Americans do not believe that
abstinence-only education prevents sexually
transmitted infections or unintended pregnancies.
Given the choice, only one to five percent of parents
remove their children from responsible sexuality
education courses (Albert, 2004; Research!America and
APHA, 2004; AGI, 2003a; AGI, 2003b; KFF, 2000; Kirby,
1999).
Fewer than half of public schools in the U.S. now
offer information on how to obtain birth control, and
only a third include discussion of abortion and sexual
orientation in their curricula. A large, nationally
representative survey of middle school and high school
teachers published in Family Planning Perspectives
reported that 23 percent of teachers in 1999 taught
abstinence as the only means of reducing the risk of
sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy,
compared with two percent in 1988. The study's authors
attributed the change to the heavy promotion of
abstinence — not sound educational principles
(Darroch, et al., 2000; Wilgoren, 1999). Currently, 35
percent of public school districts require abstinence
to be taught as the only option for unmarried people
and either prohibit the discussion of contraception or
limit discussion to its ineffectiveness (AGI, 2003a).
Abstinence-only sexuality education doesn't work.
There is little evidence that teens who participate in
abstinence-only programs abstain from intercourse
longer than others. It is known, however that when
they do become sexually active, teens who received
abstinence-only education often fail to use condoms or
other contraceptives. In fact, 88 percent of students
who pledged virginity in middle school and high school
still engage in premarital sex. The students who break
this pledge are less likely to use contraception at
first intercourse, and they have similar rates of
sexually transmitted infections as non-pledgers
(Walters, 2005; Bearman and Brueckner, 2001).
Meanwhile, students in comprehensive sexuality
education classes do not engage in sexual activity
more often or earlier, but do use contraception and
practice safer sex more consistently when they become
sexually active (AGI, 2003a; Jemmott, et al., 1998;
Kirby, 1999; Kirby, 2000; NARAL, 1998).
The U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the
developed world, and American adolescents are
contracting HIV faster than almost any other
demographic group. The teen pregnancy rate in the U.S.
is at least twice that in Canada, England, France, and
Sweden, and 10 times that in the Netherlands. Experts
cite restrictions on teens' access to comprehensive
sexuality education, contraception, and condoms in the
U.S., along with the widespread American attitude that
a healthy adolescence should exclude sex. By contrast,
the "European approach to teenage sexual activity,
expressed in the form of widespread provision of
confidential and accessible contraceptive services to
adolescents, is . . . a central factor in explaining
the more rapid declines in teenage childbearing in
northern and western European countries" (Singh &
Darroch, 2000). California, the only state that has
not accepted federal abstinence-only money, has seen
declines in teenage pregnancy similar to those seen in
European countries. Over the last decade, the teenage
pregnancy rate in California has dropped more than 40
percent ("California reduces...," 2004).
Every reputable sexuality education organization in the U.S., as well as prominent health organizations including the American Medical Association, have denounced abstinence-only sexuality education. And a 1997 consensus statement from the National Institutes of Health concluded that legislation discouraging condom use on the grounds that condoms are ineffective "places policy in direct conflict with science because it ignores overwhelming evidence . . . Abstinence-only programs cannot be justified in the face of effective programs and given the fact that we face an international emergency in the AIDS epidemic" (NIH, 1997).
-
Dardedar
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Sarah Palin is not selling well on the lecture circuit, an industry insider told the New York Post.
"The big lecture buyers in the US are paralyzed with fear about booking her, basically because they think she is a blithering idiot," the source said. "They don't want to tick people off."
Huff Po
"The big lecture buyers in the US are paralyzed with fear about booking her, basically because they think she is a blithering idiot," the source said. "They don't want to tick people off."
Huff Po
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Dardedar
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
World Prison Population List: All nations still incarcerate at lower rates than Texas
United States once again tops the planet in the percentage of it citizenry incarcerated:
* The United States has the highest prison population rate in the world, 756 per 100,000 of the national population, followed by Russia (629), Rwanda (604), St Kitts & Nevis (588), Cuba (c.531), U.S. Virgin Is. (512), British Virgin Is. (488), Palau (478), Belarus (468), Belize (455), Bahamas (422), Georgia (415), American Samoa (410), Grenada (408) and Anguilla (401). [Canada's rate is 131 --Dar]
* ...a world prison population rate of 145 per 100,000....
At last count, Texas prisons incarcerated more than 1,000 prisoners per every 100,000 residents. About one out of every 22 adult Texans is in prison, in jail, on probation or on parole compared to one out of 31 nationally.
LINK
United States once again tops the planet in the percentage of it citizenry incarcerated:
* The United States has the highest prison population rate in the world, 756 per 100,000 of the national population, followed by Russia (629), Rwanda (604), St Kitts & Nevis (588), Cuba (c.531), U.S. Virgin Is. (512), British Virgin Is. (488), Palau (478), Belarus (468), Belize (455), Bahamas (422), Georgia (415), American Samoa (410), Grenada (408) and Anguilla (401). [Canada's rate is 131 --Dar]
* ...a world prison population rate of 145 per 100,000....
At last count, Texas prisons incarcerated more than 1,000 prisoners per every 100,000 residents. About one out of every 22 adult Texans is in prison, in jail, on probation or on parole compared to one out of 31 nationally.
LINK
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Dardedar
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Re: Political News Bits of the Day
Good job Senator Franken!
***
Meet The Senators Who Voted Against The Franken Amendment
Credit new Senator Al Franken however, for introducing an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would punish contractors if they "restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." You'd think that this would be a no-brainer, actually, but that didn't stop Jeff Sessions from labeling Franken's effort a "political attack directed at Halliburton."
Franken's amendment ended up passing, 68-30. Here's a list of the Senators who showed broad support for Roman Polanski by voting against it:
Here
***
Meet The Senators Who Voted Against The Franken Amendment
Credit new Senator Al Franken however, for introducing an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would punish contractors if they "restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." You'd think that this would be a no-brainer, actually, but that didn't stop Jeff Sessions from labeling Franken's effort a "political attack directed at Halliburton."
Franken's amendment ended up passing, 68-30. Here's a list of the Senators who showed broad support for Roman Polanski by voting against it:
Here