/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 37 million Americans aged 65 and over who receive a Social Security check each month are forecast to receive no increase in their Social Security checks next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) 2009 Budget Report.
That would mark the first time since automatic Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) went into effect in 1975 that seniors would fail to get an increase. Since automatic raises were established, seniors have never failed to receive an annual increase of less than 1.3 percent.
The CBO's Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2009 to 2019, reads on page 29, "[The] CBO anticipates that the year-over-year change in consumer prices for the third quarter of 2009 will show a decline, which implies that next year's cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security and most other benefit programs will be zero."
"If Social Security benefits don't start catching up to the real rise in costs, we're going to see a wave of seniors falling beneath the poverty line," said Daniel O'Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League. "It's particularly outrageous that seniors may be forced to accept a $0 raise next year, as our lawmakers have just accepted a $4,700 raise for this year."
Supporters of a zero COLA increase will likely argue that such a move in a deflationary period is fair. However, they do not mention that the way the COLA is calculated fails to accurately track senior costs, since it is based on the spending habits of young, urban workers. As a result, senior costs may go up during periods of deflation, reducing their buying power even further.
A study released by The Senior Citizens League last year found that seniors have lost 51 percent of their buying power since 2000.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Pelosi-Backed Loophole for Venture Capitalists Will Damage Middle Class Economy
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) is leading congressional support for a new loophole in federal contracting law that will allow some of the wealthiest venture capitalists in America to receive federal contracts set-aside for small businesses.
The new loophole could divert billions of dollars in federal small business contracts away from middle class firms and into the hands of wealthy investors. If Congress does adopt legislation that allows venture capitalists to participate in federal small business contracting programs, thousands of middle class jobs could be lost as legitimate small businesses struggle to compete head-to-head with firms owned and controlled by billionaire investors.
In 2008, Speaker Pelosi backed H.R. 3567 and H.R. 5819, both of which would have allowed individual venture capitalists and even some of the nation's largest venture capital firms to take contracts meant for small businesses.
After leading the opposition against H.R. 3567, the American Small Business League (ASBL) was joined by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Government Contractors, the National Small Businesses Association, and the Bush White House.
The key element of the Pelosi-backed legislation is a change in the longstanding definition of a small business, which is defined in the Small Business Act as a firm that is "independently owned." Pelosi would like to see the definition changed to include firms that are not "independently owned" but actually owned and controlled by well-heeled venture capitalists.
Many of the top venture capital firms in America are located in or near Speaker Pelosi's 8th congressional district and according to MAPLight.org, from January 2005 to May 2008, Speaker Pelosi received a combined $108,400 from venture capital giant, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; pharmaceutical giant, Amgen Inc; and lobbyist, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
The ASBL predicts that Speaker Pelosi may try to include a loophole for venture capitalists in any up-and-coming economic stimulus plan coming out of the House of Representatives, under the guise of "increasing access to capital" for small businesses.
In the past, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has used the term "increasing access to capital" for small business to disguise legislation and policies designed to allow its members to take federal contracts earmarked for legitimate small businesses.
President-elect Barack Obama has also received significant contributions from the venture capital industry. His appointment of Karen Mills, a venture capitalist, as Administrator of the SBA is seen as a clear signal he will support legislation that will likely divert billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funds away from middle class firms, and into the hands of some of the nation's wealthiest investors.
The new loophole could divert billions of dollars in federal small business contracts away from middle class firms and into the hands of wealthy investors. If Congress does adopt legislation that allows venture capitalists to participate in federal small business contracting programs, thousands of middle class jobs could be lost as legitimate small businesses struggle to compete head-to-head with firms owned and controlled by billionaire investors.
In 2008, Speaker Pelosi backed H.R. 3567 and H.R. 5819, both of which would have allowed individual venture capitalists and even some of the nation's largest venture capital firms to take contracts meant for small businesses.
After leading the opposition against H.R. 3567, the American Small Business League (ASBL) was joined by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Government Contractors, the National Small Businesses Association, and the Bush White House.
The key element of the Pelosi-backed legislation is a change in the longstanding definition of a small business, which is defined in the Small Business Act as a firm that is "independently owned." Pelosi would like to see the definition changed to include firms that are not "independently owned" but actually owned and controlled by well-heeled venture capitalists.
Many of the top venture capital firms in America are located in or near Speaker Pelosi's 8th congressional district and according to MAPLight.org, from January 2005 to May 2008, Speaker Pelosi received a combined $108,400 from venture capital giant, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; pharmaceutical giant, Amgen Inc; and lobbyist, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
The ASBL predicts that Speaker Pelosi may try to include a loophole for venture capitalists in any up-and-coming economic stimulus plan coming out of the House of Representatives, under the guise of "increasing access to capital" for small businesses.
In the past, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has used the term "increasing access to capital" for small business to disguise legislation and policies designed to allow its members to take federal contracts earmarked for legitimate small businesses.
President-elect Barack Obama has also received significant contributions from the venture capital industry. His appointment of Karen Mills, a venture capitalist, as Administrator of the SBA is seen as a clear signal he will support legislation that will likely divert billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funds away from middle class firms, and into the hands of some of the nation's wealthiest investors.
Friday, January 9, 2009
U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards caps 8-year run with strong results for 2008
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for December 2008. During the month, OLMS obtained six convictions and nine indictments, and payments or orders of restitution totaled more than $57,700. The office's December results bring its totals for fiscal year 2009, which began on October 1, 2008, to 31 indictments, 24 convictions and payments or orders of restitution of $1,585,872. The bulk of the cases involved the embezzlement of union funds. In addition, OLMS' cumulative enforcement results from the beginning of fiscal year 2001 include 1,004 indictments, 929 convictions, and payments or orders of restitution of $93,110,576.
"OLMS has a vital mission to protect union members from financial abuses and other crimes by those who serve in positions of trust. For the last eight years, we have improved financial transparency and vigorously pursued those who abuse their union offices, leading to more than 1,000 indictments and more than 900 convictions," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Labor-Management Standards Don Todd. "OLMS' enforcement efforts speak to the dedication and commitment of our agency's outstanding investigators and staff. Their efforts ultimately benefit union members, who might otherwise find no recourse when abuses occur."
OLMS is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for administering most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). The agency's criminal enforcement program includes investigations of embezzlement from labor organizations, extortionate picketing, deprivation of union members' rights by force or violence, and fraud in union officer elections. The agency's civil program receives and publicly discloses unions' annual financial reports, conducts compliance audits of labor unions and seeks civil remedies for violations of officer election procedures. In certain cases, OLMS conducts joint investigations with other Labor Department agencies, including the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Office of Inspector General, as well as other law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
OLMS' public disclosure Web site at www.unionreports.gov contains union financial reports, conflict-of-interest disclosure reports, copies of collective bargaining agreements and other data. Other information, including synopses of OLMS enforcement actions, is available at www.olms.dol.gov.
Selected Enforcement Actions in December 2008
Office of Labor-Management Standards
U.S. Department of Labor
Sentencings
Former Glass Molders Local 285 President Sentenced for Embezzlement of Union Funds
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanette McFarland, former president of the Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) was sentenced to six months imprisonment (with credit given for time served) and three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,604.04. On Sept. 18, 2008, McFarland pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
Former Steelworkers Local 1124 Officer Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $15,000 in Union Funds
On Dec.16, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Kenneth Saltz Jr., former president of the Steelworkers Local 1124 (located in Massillon, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and two years probation. On Sept. 30, 2008, Saltz pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,809.03 after making restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former OPEIU Local 339 Officer Sentenced for Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 19, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former treasurer of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 339 (located in Brook Park, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and 60 hours of community service. On June 10, 2008, Eye pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. Eye previously made restitution in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former ATU Local 1197 President Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $16,000 in Union Funds
On Dec. 30, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Luther L. Corey, former president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1197 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement and four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 and make restitution in the amount of $16,288.37. On Oct. 1, 2008, Corey pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
Guilty Pleas
Former APWU Local 190 President Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
On Dec. 5, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Gary Weightman, former president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion. Weightman originally was charged with conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of approximately $400,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
Former Roofers Local 74 Officer Pleads Guilty to Falsification of Union Records
On Dec. 23, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Michael Pagano, former business agent/secretary-treasurer of Roofers, Local 74 (located in West Seneca, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to falsifying and destroying union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
Criminal Charges and Indictments
Former RWDSU Local 665 Officer Charged with Making False Statements
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Kenneth L. Holman, former secretary-treasurer of Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 665 (located in Ishpeming, Mich.), with making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the local's 2003 and 2004 annual financial reports. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
Former Teamsters Local 206 Employee Charged with Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, an information was filed charging Diane Martin, former clerk of Teamsters Local 206 (located in Portland, Ore.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,535. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
Former AFGE Local 2063 President Charged with Wired Fraud
On Dec. 3, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, Fidel R. Garza, former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2063 (located in Albuquerque N.M.), was indicted on 58 counts each of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services associated with defrauding the local of approximately $84,000 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
Former IBEW Local 886 Officer Charged with Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 4, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, William Thomas Brown, former financial secretary-treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 886 (located in New Hope, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft over $1,000. Brown is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $6,467.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
Former Soft Drink Workers Union Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $11,000
On Dec. 11, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Decker, former treasurer of the Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), was charged with embezzling $11,380.37 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
Former American Federation of Teachers Local 3845 Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $40,000 in Union Funds and Making False Statements
On Dec. 11, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former treasurer of Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) was indicted on six counts of embezzling union funds totaling more than $40,000 and eight counts of making a false statement. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
Former Texas BCTC Employee Charged with Embezzling More Than $44,000 Union Funds
On Dec. 16, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Sarah Crafts, former office manager of Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC, located in Austin, Texas), was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,197 and with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $17,478. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
Former AFSCME Local 11 Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $15,000
On Dec. 17, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling $15,192 and two counts of falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former APWU Local 1091 President Charged with Grand Larceny
On Dec. 17, in the Criminal Court of White Plains, N.Y., Thomas Daniels, former president of APWU 1091 (located in White Plains, N.Y.), was charged with one count of grand larceny in the third degree for the theft of approximately $4,250 in union funds. The charge follows a joint investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
Enforcement Actions and Civil Complaints
NPMHU Local 308 Enters into Voluntary Compliance Agreement with OLMS
On Dec. 17, OLMS entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 308 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) concerning the election of officers conducted on Feb. 16, 2008. The union agreed to conduct new nominations and a new election, under OLMS supervision, for the offices of branch president-Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center and Pennsylvania state executive board member. The OLMS investigation of the challenged election disclosed that the union improperly applied a candidate eligibility requirement, which denied a member in good standing the right to be a candidate. The agreement follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
An indictment is the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Criminal charges and indictments noted in these materials are accusations only.
"OLMS has a vital mission to protect union members from financial abuses and other crimes by those who serve in positions of trust. For the last eight years, we have improved financial transparency and vigorously pursued those who abuse their union offices, leading to more than 1,000 indictments and more than 900 convictions," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Labor-Management Standards Don Todd. "OLMS' enforcement efforts speak to the dedication and commitment of our agency's outstanding investigators and staff. Their efforts ultimately benefit union members, who might otherwise find no recourse when abuses occur."
OLMS is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for administering most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). The agency's criminal enforcement program includes investigations of embezzlement from labor organizations, extortionate picketing, deprivation of union members' rights by force or violence, and fraud in union officer elections. The agency's civil program receives and publicly discloses unions' annual financial reports, conducts compliance audits of labor unions and seeks civil remedies for violations of officer election procedures. In certain cases, OLMS conducts joint investigations with other Labor Department agencies, including the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Office of Inspector General, as well as other law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
OLMS' public disclosure Web site at www.unionreports.gov contains union financial reports, conflict-of-interest disclosure reports, copies of collective bargaining agreements and other data. Other information, including synopses of OLMS enforcement actions, is available at www.olms.dol.gov.
Selected Enforcement Actions in December 2008
Office of Labor-Management Standards
U.S. Department of Labor
Sentencings
Former Glass Molders Local 285 President Sentenced for Embezzlement of Union Funds
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Jeanette McFarland, former president of the Glass Molders and Plastics Union Local 285 (located in Fort Wayne, Ind.) was sentenced to six months imprisonment (with credit given for time served) and three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,604.04. On Sept. 18, 2008, McFarland pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.
Former Steelworkers Local 1124 Officer Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $15,000 in Union Funds
On Dec.16, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Kenneth Saltz Jr., former president of the Steelworkers Local 1124 (located in Massillon, Ohio), was sentenced to six months home confinement with electronic monitoring and two years probation. On Sept. 30, 2008, Saltz pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $15,809.03 after making restitution. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former OPEIU Local 339 Officer Sentenced for Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 19, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Roxanne Eye, former treasurer of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 339 (located in Brook Park, Ohio), was sentenced to two years probation and 60 hours of community service. On June 10, 2008, Eye pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $9,296. Eye previously made restitution in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former ATU Local 1197 President Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $16,000 in Union Funds
On Dec. 30, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Luther L. Corey, former president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1197 (located in Jacksonville, Fla.), was sentenced to 180 days home confinement and four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 and make restitution in the amount of $16,288.37. On Oct. 1, 2008, Corey pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds in the same amount. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office.
Guilty Pleas
Former APWU Local 190 President Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
On Dec. 5, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Gary Weightman, former president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 190 (located in Clifton, N.J.), pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion. Weightman originally was charged with conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of approximately $400,000. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.
Former Roofers Local 74 Officer Pleads Guilty to Falsification of Union Records
On Dec. 23, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Michael Pagano, former business agent/secretary-treasurer of Roofers, Local 74 (located in West Seneca, N.Y.), pleaded guilty to falsifying and destroying union records. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Buffalo District Office.
Criminal Charges and Indictments
Former RWDSU Local 665 Officer Charged with Making False Statements
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Kenneth L. Holman, former secretary-treasurer of Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 665 (located in Ishpeming, Mich.), with making a false statement or representation of a material fact on the local's 2003 and 2004 annual financial reports. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.
Former Teamsters Local 206 Employee Charged with Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 1, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, an information was filed charging Diane Martin, former clerk of Teamsters Local 206 (located in Portland, Ore.), with one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $1,535. The information follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.
Former AFGE Local 2063 President Charged with Wired Fraud
On Dec. 3, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, Fidel R. Garza, former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2063 (located in Albuquerque N.M.), was indicted on 58 counts each of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services associated with defrauding the local of approximately $84,000 in union funds. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.
Former IBEW Local 886 Officer Charged with Embezzling Union Funds
On Dec. 4, in the Hennepin County District Court of Minnesota, William Thomas Brown, former financial secretary-treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 886 (located in New Hope, Minn.), was charged with one felony count of theft over $1,000. Brown is alleged to have taken union funds in the amount of $6,467.05. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.
Former Soft Drink Workers Union Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $11,000
On Dec. 11, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Decker, former treasurer of the Independent Soft Drink Workers Union (formerly located in Burlington, Ky.), was charged with embezzling $11,380.37 in union funds. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.
Former American Federation of Teachers Local 3845 Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $40,000 in Union Funds and Making False Statements
On Dec. 11, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania, Peter Rhein, former treasurer of Local 3845 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) was indicted on six counts of embezzling union funds totaling more than $40,000 and eight counts of making a false statement. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
Former Texas BCTC Employee Charged with Embezzling More Than $44,000 Union Funds
On Dec. 16, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Sarah Crafts, former office manager of Texas Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC, located in Austin, Texas), was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $27,197 and with one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $17,478. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.
Former AFSCME Local 11 Treasurer Charged with Embezzling More Than $15,000
On Dec. 17, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Jack Hooks, former treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 11, Chapter 7010 (located in Mansfield, Ohio), was indicted on one count of embezzling $15,192 and two counts of falsifying union records. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.
Former APWU Local 1091 President Charged with Grand Larceny
On Dec. 17, in the Criminal Court of White Plains, N.Y., Thomas Daniels, former president of APWU 1091 (located in White Plains, N.Y.), was charged with one count of grand larceny in the third degree for the theft of approximately $4,250 in union funds. The charge follows a joint investigation by OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.
Enforcement Actions and Civil Complaints
NPMHU Local 308 Enters into Voluntary Compliance Agreement with OLMS
On Dec. 17, OLMS entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) Local 308 (located in Philadelphia, Pa.) concerning the election of officers conducted on Feb. 16, 2008. The union agreed to conduct new nominations and a new election, under OLMS supervision, for the offices of branch president-Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center and Pennsylvania state executive board member. The OLMS investigation of the challenged election disclosed that the union improperly applied a candidate eligibility requirement, which denied a member in good standing the right to be a candidate. The agreement follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.
An indictment is the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Criminal charges and indictments noted in these materials are accusations only.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Obama's Latest Speech Continues to Ignore Small Businesses
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In his latest speech on the economy, President-elect Barack Obama has once again failed to make even a single mention of America's small businesses, which create nearly 80 percent of net new jobs, and employ 50.4 percent of private sector workers.
With regards to the economy, Obama held true to his campaign pattern of significantly downplaying the role small businesses play in driving our national economy. Even one of his top economic advisors, Dr. Laura Tyson acknowledged that the best way to simulate the economy is to direct federal infrastructure funds to small businesses. Tyson is the former Chair of the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration and is currently an economic adviser to President-elect Obama.
On February 26, 2008, President-elect Obama stated, "Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
The statement was made in response to a series of more than 15 federal investigations, which have found fraud, abuse, loopholes and a blatant lack of oversight in federal small business contracting programs; and have uncovered the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Within days of making the statement Obama began to distance himself from it. During the final months of the campaign Obama failed to mention small business issues in campaign speeches, modified his statement regarding the diversion of small business contracts to large corporations on his campaign website, and gave small business issues virtually no priority in his campaign agenda.
When President-elect Obama's Transition Team website, www.change.gov was launched, any mention of Obama's statement to stop the flow of federal small business contracts to large corporations had been removed.
Small business advocates are concerned that President-elect Obama may enact policy and legislation that could be harmful to the nation's nearly 27 million small businesses. Additionally, advocates point to the fact that the Obama-Biden Transition Agenda which is housed on change.gov, contains no new provisions that would significantly impact our nation's small business community.
"I am extremely concerned that President-elect Obama doesn't seem to understand that most Americans work for companies with less than 100 employees and that these are the companies that are going to lead our country out of the recession and create a vast majority of all new jobs," President of the American Small Business League Lloyd Chapman said. "So far, he has refused to offer even the most basic proposal to redirect federal infrastructure funds to these companies. It appears that he has no intention of stopping the flow of up to $100 billion in government small business contracts to large corporations. We are concerned that during his first days in office he may try to create loopholes for venture capitalists that will divert even more federal funds away from small businesses. It is going to take a lot more than tax cuts to stimulate this economy. President-elect Obama keeps talking about how important it is that we act immediately, and I couldn't agree more. We would like to see him propose policies next week that would, as he promised on February 26, 2008, stop the flow of federal small business contracts to corporate giants."
With regards to the economy, Obama held true to his campaign pattern of significantly downplaying the role small businesses play in driving our national economy. Even one of his top economic advisors, Dr. Laura Tyson acknowledged that the best way to simulate the economy is to direct federal infrastructure funds to small businesses. Tyson is the former Chair of the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration and is currently an economic adviser to President-elect Obama.
On February 26, 2008, President-elect Obama stated, "Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
The statement was made in response to a series of more than 15 federal investigations, which have found fraud, abuse, loopholes and a blatant lack of oversight in federal small business contracting programs; and have uncovered the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Within days of making the statement Obama began to distance himself from it. During the final months of the campaign Obama failed to mention small business issues in campaign speeches, modified his statement regarding the diversion of small business contracts to large corporations on his campaign website, and gave small business issues virtually no priority in his campaign agenda.
When President-elect Obama's Transition Team website, www.change.gov was launched, any mention of Obama's statement to stop the flow of federal small business contracts to large corporations had been removed.
Small business advocates are concerned that President-elect Obama may enact policy and legislation that could be harmful to the nation's nearly 27 million small businesses. Additionally, advocates point to the fact that the Obama-Biden Transition Agenda which is housed on change.gov, contains no new provisions that would significantly impact our nation's small business community.
"I am extremely concerned that President-elect Obama doesn't seem to understand that most Americans work for companies with less than 100 employees and that these are the companies that are going to lead our country out of the recession and create a vast majority of all new jobs," President of the American Small Business League Lloyd Chapman said. "So far, he has refused to offer even the most basic proposal to redirect federal infrastructure funds to these companies. It appears that he has no intention of stopping the flow of up to $100 billion in government small business contracts to large corporations. We are concerned that during his first days in office he may try to create loopholes for venture capitalists that will divert even more federal funds away from small businesses. It is going to take a lot more than tax cuts to stimulate this economy. President-elect Obama keeps talking about how important it is that we act immediately, and I couldn't agree more. We would like to see him propose policies next week that would, as he promised on February 26, 2008, stop the flow of federal small business contracts to corporate giants."
President-Elect Obama and the New Congress Must Address the Eroding Sense of American National Identity
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bradley Project on America's National Identity (www.BradleyProject.org) released an open letter today urging the new leadership in the White House and in Congress to use upcoming national events like the Presidential Inauguration and the State of the Union Address to strengthen our national unity.
The open letter, signed by a number of prominent historians, political scientists and social commentators, specifically recommends addressing the following:
-- The challenge of integrating newcomers into America, as well as
engaging future generations, so that they participate fully in
America's social, economic and civic life.
-- The relationship between a strong national identity and the long-term
health of American democracy. As historian Gordon Wood observes,
"It's our history, our heritage, that makes us a single people."
-- The direction and character of civic education including the teaching
of history that exposes students to America's great heroes, dramatic
achievements and high ideals, and that emphasizes those "mystic chords
of memory" that Abraham Lincoln believed held our country together.
The open letter follows the release last year of the Bradley Project Report, E Pluribus Unum. That report found that America is in danger of becoming not "From Many, One," but, "From One, Many," and calls for a national conversation on preserving and enhancing our national unity. Over 250,000 citizens have visited the Bradley Project's website since the report's release, and its findings and recommendations have been endorsed by numerous editorial boards, commentators, and political leaders.
"Whatever the Future May Hold, America Dare Not Face It Divided and Unsure" -- E Pluribus Unum
An Open Letter to the President-Elect and to the New Congress
The upcoming year may prove to be among the most consequential in our nation's history.
Can America meet the challenges we are now facing, in our domestic economy and in our global relations, if many of our fellow citizens are more aware of what divides us than of what unites us? Can our governing institutions function effectively to meet these challenges if the foundations upon which these institutions are built -- the unity and sense of the common good -- are weakened and less certain?
The answer to these questions, we believe, is "no."
Several months ago, The Bradley Project on America's National Identity released its report entitled E Pluribus Unum. The report found that our nation is facing an identity crisis and that we are in danger of becoming not "From Many, One," but its opposite, "From One, Many." Indeed, although most Americans believe there is a unique identity that defines what it means to be an American, over six in ten believe our national identity is getting weaker.
And most troubling, younger Americans -- on whom our continued national identity depends -- are significantly less likely than older Americans to believe in a unique national identity or a unique American culture.
The Bradley Project called upon Americans and our leaders to engage in a conversation about our national identity: What does it mean to be an American, how can our national identity be sustained, and why is the strength and clarity of our national identity vital to our future?
That call is more vital today than when it was first issued. We say this because we believe that without a strong belief in the common good and in what unites us as Americans, our capability as a nation to address the significant problems before us today will be seriously imperiled.
The project's report speaks to the fundamental need for a conversation focused on national unity. It rightly asserts: "America is unique among nations in being founded not on a common ethnicity, but on a set of ideas... . But a nation founded on an idea starts anew with each generation and with each new group of immigrants. Knowing what America stands for is not a genetic inheritance. It must be learned, both by the next generation and by those who come to this country. In this way, a nation founded on an idea is inherently fragile. And a nation that celebrates the many ways we are different from one another must remind itself constantly of what we all share."
When we first issued this call, it resonated across the country. Over 250,000 have since visited the Bradley Project website at www.BradleyProject.org. Notable historians and social commentators, ranging from Pulitzer Prize winners David McCullough and Walter A. McDougall to Harry Lewis, former dean of Harvard College and Amy A. Kass, senior lecturer at the University of Chicago, endorsed the project's call to action. And the project's report has received nationwide editorial and columnist attention in the Washington Post, the Denver Post, the Detroit Free Press, The Atlantic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the National Journal, among many others.
Our concerns have heightened over the past six months not because our unity has diminished further, but because the importance of national unity has grown in its role to provide the foundational elements necessary to move our nation forward.
We call upon our nation's new leadership in the White House and in Congress to take actions that can strengthen our national unity and national purpose. Among these are using the major upcoming national events, including the Presidential Inauguration, the State of the Union Address, and the opening of the new Congress to speak directly to:
-- the link between our founding principles and self-government in this
new century;
-- the direction and character of civic education including the teaching
of history that exposes students to America's great heroes, dramatic
achievements and high ideals, and that emphasizes those "mystic chords
of memory" that Abraham Lincoln believed held our country together;
-- the challenge of integrating newcomers into America, as well as
engaging future generations, so that they participate fully in
America's social, economic and civic life;
-- the importance of promoting our national unity while appreciating the
benefits of diversity; and
-- the relationship between a strong national identity and the long-term
health of American democracy. As historian Gordon Wood observes,
"It's our history, our heritage, that makes us a single people."
Over 200 years ago Benjamin Franklin said, "...we must, indeed, all hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately." His words were far more real than metaphoric in the time of our nation's birth. But in today's world they are a reminder of what is at stake if we fail to reinforce the foundations of our nation and promote the common good.
Sincerely,
Walter McDougall, University of Pennsylvania
James W. Ceaser, University of Virginia
Sandra Stotsky, University of Arkansas
Rear Adm. Mike Ratliff, President, The Jack Miller Center
Fred Siegel, Cooper Union for Science & Art
Gilbert T. Sewall, Director, American Textbook Council
Matthew Spalding, Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies,
The Heritage Foundation
Wilfred M McClay, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
John J. Patrick, Professor Emeritus of Education, Indiana University
Victoria Hughes, President, Bill of Rights Institute
James C. Rees, Executive Director, Mount Vernon
Anne D. Neal, President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni
The open letter, signed by a number of prominent historians, political scientists and social commentators, specifically recommends addressing the following:
-- The challenge of integrating newcomers into America, as well as
engaging future generations, so that they participate fully in
America's social, economic and civic life.
-- The relationship between a strong national identity and the long-term
health of American democracy. As historian Gordon Wood observes,
"It's our history, our heritage, that makes us a single people."
-- The direction and character of civic education including the teaching
of history that exposes students to America's great heroes, dramatic
achievements and high ideals, and that emphasizes those "mystic chords
of memory" that Abraham Lincoln believed held our country together.
The open letter follows the release last year of the Bradley Project Report, E Pluribus Unum. That report found that America is in danger of becoming not "From Many, One," but, "From One, Many," and calls for a national conversation on preserving and enhancing our national unity. Over 250,000 citizens have visited the Bradley Project's website since the report's release, and its findings and recommendations have been endorsed by numerous editorial boards, commentators, and political leaders.
"Whatever the Future May Hold, America Dare Not Face It Divided and Unsure" -- E Pluribus Unum
An Open Letter to the President-Elect and to the New Congress
The upcoming year may prove to be among the most consequential in our nation's history.
Can America meet the challenges we are now facing, in our domestic economy and in our global relations, if many of our fellow citizens are more aware of what divides us than of what unites us? Can our governing institutions function effectively to meet these challenges if the foundations upon which these institutions are built -- the unity and sense of the common good -- are weakened and less certain?
The answer to these questions, we believe, is "no."
Several months ago, The Bradley Project on America's National Identity released its report entitled E Pluribus Unum. The report found that our nation is facing an identity crisis and that we are in danger of becoming not "From Many, One," but its opposite, "From One, Many." Indeed, although most Americans believe there is a unique identity that defines what it means to be an American, over six in ten believe our national identity is getting weaker.
And most troubling, younger Americans -- on whom our continued national identity depends -- are significantly less likely than older Americans to believe in a unique national identity or a unique American culture.
The Bradley Project called upon Americans and our leaders to engage in a conversation about our national identity: What does it mean to be an American, how can our national identity be sustained, and why is the strength and clarity of our national identity vital to our future?
That call is more vital today than when it was first issued. We say this because we believe that without a strong belief in the common good and in what unites us as Americans, our capability as a nation to address the significant problems before us today will be seriously imperiled.
The project's report speaks to the fundamental need for a conversation focused on national unity. It rightly asserts: "America is unique among nations in being founded not on a common ethnicity, but on a set of ideas... . But a nation founded on an idea starts anew with each generation and with each new group of immigrants. Knowing what America stands for is not a genetic inheritance. It must be learned, both by the next generation and by those who come to this country. In this way, a nation founded on an idea is inherently fragile. And a nation that celebrates the many ways we are different from one another must remind itself constantly of what we all share."
When we first issued this call, it resonated across the country. Over 250,000 have since visited the Bradley Project website at www.BradleyProject.org. Notable historians and social commentators, ranging from Pulitzer Prize winners David McCullough and Walter A. McDougall to Harry Lewis, former dean of Harvard College and Amy A. Kass, senior lecturer at the University of Chicago, endorsed the project's call to action. And the project's report has received nationwide editorial and columnist attention in the Washington Post, the Denver Post, the Detroit Free Press, The Atlantic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the National Journal, among many others.
Our concerns have heightened over the past six months not because our unity has diminished further, but because the importance of national unity has grown in its role to provide the foundational elements necessary to move our nation forward.
We call upon our nation's new leadership in the White House and in Congress to take actions that can strengthen our national unity and national purpose. Among these are using the major upcoming national events, including the Presidential Inauguration, the State of the Union Address, and the opening of the new Congress to speak directly to:
-- the link between our founding principles and self-government in this
new century;
-- the direction and character of civic education including the teaching
of history that exposes students to America's great heroes, dramatic
achievements and high ideals, and that emphasizes those "mystic chords
of memory" that Abraham Lincoln believed held our country together;
-- the challenge of integrating newcomers into America, as well as
engaging future generations, so that they participate fully in
America's social, economic and civic life;
-- the importance of promoting our national unity while appreciating the
benefits of diversity; and
-- the relationship between a strong national identity and the long-term
health of American democracy. As historian Gordon Wood observes,
"It's our history, our heritage, that makes us a single people."
Over 200 years ago Benjamin Franklin said, "...we must, indeed, all hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately." His words were far more real than metaphoric in the time of our nation's birth. But in today's world they are a reminder of what is at stake if we fail to reinforce the foundations of our nation and promote the common good.
Sincerely,
Walter McDougall, University of Pennsylvania
James W. Ceaser, University of Virginia
Sandra Stotsky, University of Arkansas
Rear Adm. Mike Ratliff, President, The Jack Miller Center
Fred Siegel, Cooper Union for Science & Art
Gilbert T. Sewall, Director, American Textbook Council
Matthew Spalding, Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies,
The Heritage Foundation
Wilfred M McClay, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
John J. Patrick, Professor Emeritus of Education, Indiana University
Victoria Hughes, President, Bill of Rights Institute
James C. Rees, Executive Director, Mount Vernon
Anne D. Neal, President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Pro-Lifers Battle Cry for Personhood
A.L.L.: Keyes to Endorse Personhood as Obama's Onslaught Against Human Life Continues
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Days after President-elect Barack Obama assumes his promised role to do all in his power to advance abortion, birth control and sex education, Ambassador Alan Keyes will address the rise of this new assault on the sanctity of preborn babies and traditional family values.
A former United Nations ambassador, Keyes will speak at American Life League's Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 23 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington D.C. during the pro-life movement's largest annual demonstration. Thousands of pro-lifers will descend on the nation's capital for the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion.
In the wake of the inauguration of the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history, Ambassador Keyes will speak a message of personhood to a movement determined to battle cultural apathy toward the widespread violation of the right to life of all human beings, born and preborn, and lawmakers' refusal to protect this right.
"For decades, the pro-life movement has been losing focus on the real battle: the dignity of human persons," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "The culture of death is gaining ground only because we who should be defending human beings without exception have lost focus of that truth. It's time to turn the tide. It's time for personhood -- NOW."
"Dr. Keyes is the perfect speaker to enlighten and ignite passion in the pro-life movement on the integral, inarguable need to restore the legal recognition of personhood," said Brown. "Personhood is the last frontier in the civil rights movement. Dr. Keyes, who has spent a lifetime fighting for civil rights, will provide the inspiration and the motivation needed to herald a return to the fundamental truth: human dignity may never be compromised or denied."
Keyes, founder and chairman of the Declaration Foundation, will join keynote speaker Judie Brown; 40 Days for Life leader David Bereit; Kristi Burton, architect of the Colorado personhood movement; Lila Rose, president of Live Action Films; and renowned pro-life blogger Jill Stanek.
The Personhood Conference will conclude American Life League's Training and Activism Week, which will take place Jan. 21-23. For more information, visit www.rockforlife.org/taw.
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death.
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Days after President-elect Barack Obama assumes his promised role to do all in his power to advance abortion, birth control and sex education, Ambassador Alan Keyes will address the rise of this new assault on the sanctity of preborn babies and traditional family values.
A former United Nations ambassador, Keyes will speak at American Life League's Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 23 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington D.C. during the pro-life movement's largest annual demonstration. Thousands of pro-lifers will descend on the nation's capital for the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion.
In the wake of the inauguration of the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history, Ambassador Keyes will speak a message of personhood to a movement determined to battle cultural apathy toward the widespread violation of the right to life of all human beings, born and preborn, and lawmakers' refusal to protect this right.
"For decades, the pro-life movement has been losing focus on the real battle: the dignity of human persons," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "The culture of death is gaining ground only because we who should be defending human beings without exception have lost focus of that truth. It's time to turn the tide. It's time for personhood -- NOW."
"Dr. Keyes is the perfect speaker to enlighten and ignite passion in the pro-life movement on the integral, inarguable need to restore the legal recognition of personhood," said Brown. "Personhood is the last frontier in the civil rights movement. Dr. Keyes, who has spent a lifetime fighting for civil rights, will provide the inspiration and the motivation needed to herald a return to the fundamental truth: human dignity may never be compromised or denied."
Keyes, founder and chairman of the Declaration Foundation, will join keynote speaker Judie Brown; 40 Days for Life leader David Bereit; Kristi Burton, architect of the Colorado personhood movement; Lila Rose, president of Live Action Films; and renowned pro-life blogger Jill Stanek.
The Personhood Conference will conclude American Life League's Training and Activism Week, which will take place Jan. 21-23. For more information, visit www.rockforlife.org/taw.
American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death.
Illicit Financial Flows Out of the Developing World Overwhelm Foreign Aid
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Global Financial Integrity (GFI) released today a study estimating the annual value of illicit financial flows from all poor nations at approximately $900 million. Titled "Illicit Financial Flows From Developing Countries: 2002 - 2006," (http://www.gfip.org/) the ground-breaking report shows that the developing world is losing an increasing amount of money through illicit capital flight each year. Moreover, the value of the illicit flows surpasses the amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) entering those countries by an order of magnitude.
"Illicit financial flows siphon revenue out of poor countries, robbing them of much-needed assets and forestalling economic development," said GFI director Raymond Baker. "These new figures reveal that illicit financial flows outpace ODA by a ratio of nearly 10 to 1. This is critical to understanding global poverty and developing effective poverty alleviation and economic development strategies," Baker said.
Primary findings of the report include:
-- Total capital flight exiting the developing world may be as much as $1
trillion per year,
-- The volume of capital flight is increasing at an average of 18.2% a
year,
-- Over the five-year period of this study, illicit financial flows grew
at the fastest pace in the Middle East and North Africa region (49.4
percent) followed by Europe (25.4 percent), Asia (15.7 percent), and
the Western Hemisphere (2.8 percent). Flows from Africa declined (-2.9
percent) but this is more the result of incomplete data than
supportive economic or political factors.
Illicit financial flows refer to money that is illegal in its origin, transfer or use and reflect the proceeds of corruption, crime and tax evasion. Corporate avoidance of customs duties, VAT and income taxes constitute an estimated 60% of the total outflow. The findings were based on macroeconomic trade and external debt data maintained by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
"The magnitude of the flows indicates there is much the international community must do to tackle this systemic and destructive problem," Baker said.
Global Financial Integrity promotes national and multilateral policies, safeguards, and agreements aimed at curtailing the cross-border flow of illegal money in order to enhance global development and security.
"Illicit financial flows siphon revenue out of poor countries, robbing them of much-needed assets and forestalling economic development," said GFI director Raymond Baker. "These new figures reveal that illicit financial flows outpace ODA by a ratio of nearly 10 to 1. This is critical to understanding global poverty and developing effective poverty alleviation and economic development strategies," Baker said.
Primary findings of the report include:
-- Total capital flight exiting the developing world may be as much as $1
trillion per year,
-- The volume of capital flight is increasing at an average of 18.2% a
year,
-- Over the five-year period of this study, illicit financial flows grew
at the fastest pace in the Middle East and North Africa region (49.4
percent) followed by Europe (25.4 percent), Asia (15.7 percent), and
the Western Hemisphere (2.8 percent). Flows from Africa declined (-2.9
percent) but this is more the result of incomplete data than
supportive economic or political factors.
Illicit financial flows refer to money that is illegal in its origin, transfer or use and reflect the proceeds of corruption, crime and tax evasion. Corporate avoidance of customs duties, VAT and income taxes constitute an estimated 60% of the total outflow. The findings were based on macroeconomic trade and external debt data maintained by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
"The magnitude of the flows indicates there is much the international community must do to tackle this systemic and destructive problem," Baker said.
Global Financial Integrity promotes national and multilateral policies, safeguards, and agreements aimed at curtailing the cross-border flow of illegal money in order to enhance global development and security.
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