Bipartisan Senate Coalition Introduces Bill To Permanently Ban Earmarks
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today introduced a bill to make permanent the temporary moratorium on congressional earmarks, which has been in effect since 2010.
The Earmark Elimination Act would create a point of order against any provision contained within a bill that matches the definition of an earmark. An earmark is defined as any congressionally directed spending item, tax benefit, or tariff benefit targeted to a specific recipient or group of beneficiaries. This point of order would only apply to the earmark, not the entire bill. If the point of order is raised, the earmark would be stricken unless a two-thirds vote of the Senate waived the earmark point of order.
Flake and Lee will speak about this legislation on the Senate floor today at 3:15 p.m. ET. To watch live, please click here.
“It’s time to stick a fork in congressional pork with a permanent ban on earmarking,” said Flake. “Republicans were beaten like a borrowed mule in the 2006 elections largely because of the corruption associated with earmarks. Let’s not test the voters again by leaving the door open for a return to the pork barrel politics that sent members of Congress to prison and saddled taxpayers with a bridge to nowhere, a teapot museum, and countless other wasteful pet projects.”
“Earmarks are the Washington swamp creature that just never seems to die—emerging from the lower depths every few years in an effort to waste taxpayer dollars on politicians’ pet projects,” said McCaskill. “Our bipartisan bill would ban their return by permanently ending the practice of pork-barrel patronage so we can ensure Missourians’ taxpayer dollars are protected from waste, and projects are prioritized on merit."
"For years, earmarks fueled overspending in Washington and undermined the integrity of our legislative process. We cannot afford to allow Congress to ever resume this practice and play pork-barrel politics with taxpayer dollars,” said Toomey. “Now is the time to get rid of earmarking for good.”
“The practice of congressional earmarks breeds corruption, leads to egregious overspending, and places the needs of special interests before those of the American people. Lifting the current moratorium on earmarks would only accelerate the erosion of public trust in Congress and send taxpayer dollars to unnecessary pork-barrel projects,” said McCain. For decades, I have fought the often lonely battle against earmarks, and I’m proud to join my colleagues today to introduce legislation that would make permanent the ban on this corrupting practice.”
“Earmarks probably would make it easier for party leaders to pass some bills. But increasing the power of an already untrusted and unpopular party elite is not what Americans want or need,” said Lee. "Earmarks can’t bring back the trust Congress has squandered. Only transparency and accountability can do that."
“Instead of debating whether earmarks should be revived, Congress should be pushing to ban earmarks permanently,” said Portman. “At a time of record debt, it is more important than ever to eliminate unnecessary pet projects and wasteful spending. I am happy to join Senator Flake on this important legislation.”
“Our nation is currently more than $20 trillion in debt and faces projected deficits totaling at least $100 trillion over the next 30 years. Earmarks only exacerbate this problem and further mortgage our children’s future by funding unnecessary insider pet projects,” said Johnson. “Members of both parties have wisely abstained from this wasteful spending since 2011, and this bill would ensure it doesn’t return.”
“We should remember why we stopped doing earmarks in the first place: their abuse eroded the public’s faith in Washington and helped foster a culture of mindless and wasteful spending. Bringing them back will not make Washington work again. Only elected officials faithful to the American people and Constitution can do that,” said Rubio. “I applaud my Senate colleagues for working in a bipartisan fashion to propose legislation to strengthen the current earmark moratorium, on the principle that spending decisions should be merit-based and made in the public eye.”
“Earmarks cannot and should not be part of our legislative process – period,” said Ernst. “I was sent to Washington to cut wasteful spending and protect taxpayer dollars. This legislation prohibits Congress from reverting back to its reckless behavior and slipping special interest spending into legislation. I am glad to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to permanently ban earmarks, promote transparency, and better safeguard taxpayer dollars.”
“I share the belief of Nebraskans that Washington must bring spending under control. A return of earmarks in the legislative process would be a step backwards in our work toward this effort,” said Fischer. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to ensure Nebraskans’ hard-earned money is used responsibly and wisely.”
To view a full-text PDF of the bill, click here.
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Summer is just around the corner and North Shore will be hiring over 50 certified lifeguards for summer jobs. North Shore offers an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course. Get registered today!
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The National Council for Home Safety and Security is happy to announce their ranking of the Best School Districts in America for 2018. The top ten are:
Naperville CUSD 203, Naperville, Illinois
Morton CUSD, Morton, Illinois
Lexington Public Schools, Lexington, Massachusetts
Gilbert Unified School District, Gilbert, Arizona
Westford Public Schools, Westford, Massachusetts
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, Windsor, New Jersey
Wauconda CUSD 118, Wauconda, Illinois
Winchester Public Schools, Winchester, Massachusetts
Westwood Public Schools, Westwood, Massachusetts
Shrewsbury Public Schools, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
For more information (including our list of the top 500): https://www.alarms.org/best-school-districts--in-america-2018
We collected data from a total of 9,577 school districts. The following factors contributed to our ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Note that some districts, including those from Connecticut were excluded due to incomplete data.
The report was formally released on January 22, 2018.
The National Council for Home Safety and Security is a trade association comprised of home security professionals across the United States. The council advocates for safe communities and home safety with a strong focus on community involvement. Find more information here.
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ADVISORY: Secretary Perdue to Roll Out Farm Bill & Legislative Principles in Pennsylvania
(Washington, D.C., Monday, January 22, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Pennsylvania Wednesday, January 24th to roll out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and legislative principles for 2018. The Secretary will start the day by touring facilities and meeting with faculty and students at the state’s land grant university, Pennsylvania State University. He will tour Reinford Farms in Mifflintown and take part in a luncheon and town hall meeting. The Secretary will then tour the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg and AgCom, Inc. in Gettysburg, holding roundtable discussions at each. He will conclude his day at the Adams County FSA Service Center in Gettysburg.
Secretary Perdue Tours Pennsylvania State University
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will have breakfast with students and faculty at Pennsylvania State University. He will then tour the College of Agricultural Science facilities ending at Penn State Berkey Creamery. Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability at the end of the tour.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST
WHERE: Pennsylvania State University, W 257 Millennium Science Complex, University Park, PA 16802
Secretary Perdue Tours ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Facility
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour and meet with staff at ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Facility, then hold a media availability.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST
WHERE: ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Facility, Curtin Rd, Building 3702, University Park, PA 16802
Secretary Perdue Tours Reinford Farms, Holds Town Hall Meeting to Roll Out Farm Bill and Legislative Principles
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour Reinford Farms and hold a town hall meeting where he will roll out USDA’s 2018 Farm Bill and legislative principles. After the town hall the Secretary will hold a media availability.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST
WHERE: Reinford Farms, 444 Cedar Grove Road, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Secretary Perdue Visits Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and participate in a roundtable discussion on nutrition assistance. Secretary Perdue will hold media availability at the end of the tour.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 1:15 p.m. EST
WHERE: Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109
Secretary Perdue Tours AgCom, Inc. and Holds Town Hall Discussion
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour AgCom, Inc. facilities and hold a town hall discussion. Following, the Secretary will hold a media availability.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 3:10 p.m. EST
WHERE: AgCom, Inc., 1585 Granite Station Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325
Secretary Perdue Tours Adams County FSA Service Center
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will visit the Adams County FSA Service Center, before holding a media availability.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24th beginning at 4:15 p.m. EST
WHERE: Adams County FSA Service Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA, 17325
*NOTE: Media interested in covering the events should RSVP to press@oc.usda.gov by TOMORROW, Tuesday, January 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. ET.
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Emergency measures must be taken to protect our most vulnerable citizen with disabilities from being sexually assaulted and raped in mental health facilities and group homes. Cameras and immediate 911 reporting are basic critically needed reforms.
Surveillance cameras and immediate 911 reporting are vital steps to dramatically reduce the epidemic of rapes of vulnerable women & children with disabilities
We must do what is needed to stop these horrific sex crimes and ensure immediate 911 medical and police services for our most vulnerable, the discrimination and unequal treatment must end now.”
— Michael Carey - Advocate for people with disabilities and their families
ALBANY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, January 24, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- NPR has just released a scathing investigative reporting series called “Abuse and Betrayed” exposing massive sexual assaults and rapes of people with disabilities. According to NPR, who obtained information from the U.S. Department of Justice, people with disabilities are sexually assaulted seven or more times the rate of anyone else.
Abused and Betrayed
https://www.npr.org/series/575502633/abused-and-betrayed
Also, this scathing New York Times piece came out regarding similar atrocities occurring in Australia. We have institutional sexual assaults and rapes and almost all are being covered-up internally. Emergency measures can and must be taken now to stop and prevent these sex crimes and this scourge in society.
Australia and Catholic Church ‘Failed’ Abused Children, Inquiry Finds
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/world/australia/australia-sexual-abuse-children.html
Here are some powerful statements from this extremely damning news story. “It is not a case of a few rotten apples,” the report said. “Society’s major institutions have seriously failed. In many cases those failings have been exacerbated by a manifestly inadequate response to the abused person. The problems have been so widespread, and the nature of the abuse so heinous, that it is difficult to comprehend.”
From the first NPR exposé titled, “The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About” a very dangerous New York State caregiver and pedophile that the Jonathan Carey Foundation has been speaking about for many months is again brought to light. In a nutshell, this man was sexually assaulting and filming at least one disabled boy that he was supposed to be taking care of in a New York State operated group home.
The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/08/570224090/the-sexual-assault-epidemic-no-one-talks-about
Thankfully, Stephen DeProspero was caught in a federal porn sting and convicted and he will be in jail for a very long time. Listen to what this pedophile said in his own words, which must be heard loud and clear by everyone;
"The lack of supervision there made it easy to do what I did," DeProspero said in a handwritten affidavit obtained by The Associated Press. "I could have stayed in that house for years and abused him every day without anybody even noticing at all. It was a predator's dream."
It was a predator's dream': NY pays $3M to family of molested boy
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2017/02/20/predators-dream-ny-pays-3m-family-molested-boy/98154714/
This extremely disturbing statement made by this pedophile speaks volumes of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s mental health care system in New York State. The sad fact is that in 2011 the New York Times did a massive investigative reporting series called “Abused and Used”, which Michael Carey convinced the Times to do, which should have catapulted numerous vital reforms to protect the disabled from these heinous sex crimes. Governor Cuomo, instead, went the exact opposite direction and chose to continue protect the institutional cover-ups, jeopardizing the safety and lives of 1,000,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. The rampant abuse and neglect has only gotten worse because most sexual predators and abusers know they can practically do anything, with anyone, and get away with it.
Governor Cuomo took no emergency actions to immediately protect people with disabilities from being sexually assaulted or raped. Governor Cuomo failed to ensure that all sexual predators that rape our most vulnerable are held accountable following the award winning New York Times “Abused and Used” investigative reporting series that became a runner up for a Pulitzer Prize.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/nyregion/abused-and-used-series-page.html
The New York Times Editorial Board two and a half years later blasted Governor Cuomo for refusing to ensure the most basic actions were taken to protect the disabled from sexual assaults, rapes and all types of abuse or premature death. The New York Times Editorial is titled, “Protecting the Most Vulnerable”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/10/opinion/protecting-the-most-vulnerable.html
Here are a couple of extremely damning quotes from this Editorial;
“Two-and-a-half years ago, The Times reported horrifying abuse of people with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses by state employees, who were rarely punished for it. Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised action. But too little appears to have changed.”
“There is much the governor could do. He could require surveillance cameras in these facilities, just as prisons have them. He could make sure that the police get more involved.”
“This incredibly important NPR investigative reporting series must lead to major national reforms. The wide-scale discrimination against our most vulnerable citizen with disabilities must be stopped now. To not try to stop these sex crimes from occurring and to deny this specific group of people with disabilities immediate 911 emergency first responder services and to deny them “equal protections of laws” is discrimination in civil rights. Other significant actions must include the installation of cameras in all facilities, group homes and transport vehicles, to dramatically reduce and prevent most of these sex crimes and rapes committed against vulnerable women and children. Sexual predators, pedophiles and rapists cannot continue to be protected and shielded from criminal prosecution. People with disabilities are currently without question being treated as lower class citizens, which cannot continue, we must protect our most vulnerable from being victimized and ensure those that harm them are swiftly arrested and prosecuted” – Michael Carey
Please also read this incredibly powerful NPR piece and listen to the audio as well further exposing this horrific and shameful epidemic.
NPR Investigation Finds Hidden Epidemic of Sexual Assault
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/08/576428410/npr-investigation-finds-hidden-epidemic-of-sexual-assault
No longer can 911 call systems, local police and local courts be bypassed and these sex crimes covered-up. 911 call systems must be immediately called by all mandated reporters regarding all sexual assaults and rapes, as well as obviously all other assault crimes, medical emergencies and deaths.
Currently, in New York State, by the directive of Governor Andrew Cuomo, almost all reported sexual assaults and rapes of people with disabilities are internally reported to another one of his agencies and disappear; they are covered-up. These gross injustices must be stopped and all sexual predators, pedophiles and rapists taking advantage of our most vulnerable must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and finally placed on an international sex abuse registry that easily can be created. These are discrimination and civil rights matters similar to what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought against. People with disabilities are equally valuable members in society and can no longer be treated as lower class citizens, unworthy of being protected from sexual assaults and rape or treated as unworthy of immediate 911 emergency assistance and services.
Please do what God puts in your heart to do to help stop these atrocities and please donate to support this vital Civil Rights Movement. Thank you.
http://jonathancareyfoundation.org/donate/
If you have any tips or knowledge of sexual assaults, rapes, deaths or cover-ups please call the Jonathan Carey Foundation sexual abuse & death tip hotline @ (518) 475-7500
Michael Carey
The Jonathan Carey Foundation
(518) 852-9377
email us here
The incredible life and tragic preventable death of Jonathan Carey, who was disabled, had autism, was non-verbal & only 13 when he was killed by his caregivers
