The Equal Access to "Justice" Scam
Posted by
Jim Spence
on Monday, July 11, 2011
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Inside Tucson Business - For years Tucson has tried to create a positive image of itself to attract new business. Tucson wants to be the biotech center of America. Tucson wants to be the solar capital of America. But Tucson already has a well-established identity in America. Tucson is the environmental litigation factory capitol of America. Tucson is home to the Center for Biological Diversity which has been spewing out lawsuits over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act. And the CBD has been raking in millions in legal fees for these lawsuits under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). Nationally the CBD has become the poster child of a litigious environmental group...prompting Congress to actually try and reform the Equal Access to Justice Act and cut off the pipeline of taxpayer money to the CBD and other similar environmental litigation factories such as Western Watershed Project and WildEarth Guardians. CBD engages in what some call the "EAJA racket". Here is how it works according to Ted Williams who had a commentary in the Tucson Weekly. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Study Shows Oil and Gas Critical to State Pensions
Posted by
Jim Spence
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Education,
New Mexico News
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A new Sonecon study released by API shows oil and natural gas holdings are key to the performance of New Mexico’s public pension funds. State pension fund investments in oil and natural gas companies are providing strong returns for teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public pension retirees in states across the country. Study results were based on New Mexico’s largest public pension funds: Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico (PERA) and the State of New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. Returns on oil and natural gas assets in these funds averaged 41 cents for each dollar invested compared to just 2 cents for other assets in these funds from 2005 to 2009.
During good economic times – or challenging ones – oil and natural gas investments far outperformed other public pension holdings in the state. While oil and natural gas stocks made up an average of 4.5 percent of holdings in New Mexico’s public pension funds, they accounted for an average of 14.7 percent of the returns in these funds, according to the Sonecon study. Click Here to Download New Mexico Report and read rest of story here: News New Mexico
Study Shows Oil and Gas Critical to State Pensions
PNM: Changing Stand on Wind Power
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Jim Spence
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Energy,
New Mexico News
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Forbes - FARMINGTON, N.M. -- Public Service Company of New Mexico is challenging a directive from state regulators that it buy more wind power for its electricity customers. A PNM spokeswoman initially said the utility would comply with a state Public Regulation Commission order by spending up to $6 million annually for wind power from a New Mexico plant. But the company, which is a unit of Albuquerque, N.M.-based PNM Resources Inc. ( PNMPRA - news - people ), changed course last week and now says it will fight the commission's order. Read full story here: News New Mexico
PNM: Changing Stand on Wind Power
Washington Must Listen to Americans, Face Debt Crisis
Posted by
Jim Spence
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Steve Pearce |
The federal government’s thinking simply doesn’t match its wallet. Washington continues to act as though it just got a paycheck, spending more and more, buying into every program that seems like a good idea. Meanwhile, payday is a long way off, and our credit cards are all maxed out. If you knew someone so out of touch with reality, you would call him irresponsible, even foolish. But in Washington, it’s the norm.
As a result, New Mexico suffers. Our small businesses can’t survive, because every new program comes with new regulations, new taxes, and new ways to choke off productivity. Our people struggle to make ends meet as prices rise and government promises fail. The President recently joked that “shovel-ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected.” But to New Mexicans out of work, broken promises are no laughing matter. In 2009, the President promised that by spending even more taxpayer money, he could keep unemployment below 8 percent. Unemployment is now 9.2%.
Knowing how desperately our state needs job creation, I proposed legislation earlier this year to help put New Mexicans back to work. Overbearing restrictions have killed over 20,000 logging jobs nationwide. So, I introduced a simple, two-page bill that says the government should get out the way and let American businesses create the timber jobs that once drove local communities. Common sense ideas like these can create hundreds of thousands of jobs in America. Instead, Washington has tried for over two years to spend our way out of recession, and we’ve seen the results. We’ve lost 1.9 million jobs, 13 million more Americans are on food stamps, our gas prices have doubled, health insurance is more expensive, home values have fallen, and the federal debt has risen to record levels—a back breaking share of $46,000 for each American. Isn’t it time we try a new approach?
New Mexicans want real solutions. This is why I voted against H.R. 1, the House’s lukewarm budget proposal, earlier this year. The bill simply didn’t show that Washington is listening. It didn’t demonstrate the real change we need: change in the way we spend, the way we operate, even the way we think. We must promote policies that allow businesses to put Americans back to work. We must stop spending money we don’t have on programs we cannot afford. Increasing our debt limit doesn’t fix the problem. So, when the President asked Congress earlier this month to write him another blank check, I said no.
Recently, I emailed 47,000 constituents asking for their opinion regarding the debt ceiling. Over 83 percent of those who responded said that they do not support legislation like what the President asked for—a debt limit increase with no corresponding spending cuts. An overwhelming 93 percent said that Washington is not doing enough to address our national debt. And even more—over 97 percent, said that this issue is important to them, with 92% calling it “very important.”Americans made their voices heard last November, and they are continuing to do so. We are tired of our money being wasted on programs we don’t need and can’t afford. We are afraid for the futures of our children and grandchildren. We are tired of struggling to pay our bills while we watch Congress continue to rack up more debt. We are tired of Washington politicians not making tough decisions and standing firm. It is time to stop kicking the can down the road. It is time for real, serious solutions to our national debt. I am ready to tell Washington, “Enough is enough.” I will continue to stand against Washington’s wasteful spending, and demand that we face our nation’s debt crisis.
Washington Must Listen to Americans, Face Debt Crisis
Obama Threatens to Shut Down Govt with Veto
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Jim Spence
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U.S. Politics
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NewsNM note (Spence) - Last week officials in the Obama administration said repeatedly that the failure to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit would be an unprecedented event that would lead to default and economic catastrophe. Yesterday the president threatened to veto a bill that would avert an economic catastrophe if it was less than 90 days. -
Washington Times - President Obama declared Monday he would veto a short-term extension of the nation’s debt limit as he tried again to pressure congressional Republican leaders to accept tax increases in a long-range plan to reduce deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. “I will not sign a 30-day, or a 60-day, or a 90-day extension,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference in the White House press briefing room.
“That is just not an acceptable approach. This is the United States of America. We don’t manage our affairs in three-month increments.” As the deficit-reduction talks dragged on with little progress, some congressional leaders have suggested a short-term deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling of $14.29 trillion before the Aug. 2 deadline. But Mr. Obama said he is insisting on an agreement that will cover government borrowing beyond the November 2012 elections. “If we think it’s hard now, imagine how these guys are going to be thinking six months from now in the middle of election season,” Mr. Obama said of congressional lawmakers. “We might as well do it now. Pull off the Band-Aid. Eat our peas. If not now, when?” Read full story here: News New Mexico
Washington Times - President Obama declared Monday he would veto a short-term extension of the nation’s debt limit as he tried again to pressure congressional Republican leaders to accept tax increases in a long-range plan to reduce deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. “I will not sign a 30-day, or a 60-day, or a 90-day extension,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference in the White House press briefing room.
Obama Threatens to Shut Down Govt with Veto
Justice Department 2009: We're Doing Gun "Tracing"
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Jim Spence
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U.S. Politics
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Eric Holder |
It would seem that the U.S. Department of Justice has now found itself knee deep in the burgeoning story of incompetence now becoming known as the "Fast and Furious" scandal. The stories of the participants and suspected participants at DOJ and ATF are beginning to diverge. Take a look at this video of Deputy U.S. Attorney General David Ogden back in 2009. In it he explains to the media that "The president has directed us to take action to fight these cartels, and Attorney General Holder and I are taking several new and aggressive steps as part of the administration's comprehensive plan," with economic stimulus funds. View the video here: News New Mexico
Justice Department 2009: We're Doing Gun "Tracing"
55% Say Reduced Gov't Spending Good for Economy
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Jim Spence
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Economics,
National News
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Rasmussen - President Obama and Congress are currently debating how deep to cut government spending and whether to include some tax increases as part of a budget deal. But voters feel more strongly than ever that decreasing government spending is good for the economy and think tax increases of any kind are bad economic medicine. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters now think decreases in government spending help the economy. Twenty-four percent (24%) believe decreased spending hurts the economy, while 11% say it has no impact. Read full story here: News New Mexico
55% Say Reduced Gov't Spending Good for Economy
Doan: Entitlement Abuse Everywhere
Posted by
Jim Spence
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Commentary
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Lurita Doan |
Doan: Entitlement Abuse Everywhere
Obama Proposes Tax Hikes On Low Income Families
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Rachel Pulaski
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From boston.com -Proposals under consideration include raising taxes on small business owners and potentially low- and middle-income families. You won't hear about that from Obama. Instead the president focuses on the very rich, and speaks euphemistically. Here are a few of the phrases the president has used of late to talk about what amounts to raising taxes for some: "What we need to do is to have a balanced approach where everything is on the table." "We need to take on spending in the tax code." "The tax cuts I'm proposing we get rid of are tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires; tax breaks for oil companies and hedge fund managers and corporate jet owners." More News New Mexico
Obama Proposes Tax Hikes On Low Income Families
Bingaman Reverse: "Ethanol Subsidies Should End"
Posted by
Rachel Pulaski
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Energy,
New Mexico News,
U.S. Politics
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Pulaski note: Bingaman has obviously had a change of heart when it comes to ethanol subsidies. In Feb. 2009 he was pleading to congress and the public for more financial assistance. The article can be seen here. WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman voiced his support for the end of a subsidy of ethanol – an additive to gasoline aimed at reducing pollution. Today, Bingaman voted in favor of an amendment introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Tom Coburn that would immediately end the subsidy, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The amendment passed 73-27. Bingaman has said he would prefer to allow the subsidy to expire rather than to surprise businesses with a mid-year elimination. But he voted in favor of the amendment to make it clear he wants the ethanol subsidy to end. More News New Mexico
Bingaman Reverse: "Ethanol Subsidies Should End"
King Spokesman Calls Marshall an Extortionist
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Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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Gary King |
King Spokesman Calls Marshall an Extortionist
Redistricting Committee Gears Up
Posted by
Jim Spence
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New Mexico News
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Sander Rue |
Redistricting Committee Gears Up
Geithner Makes Talk Show Circuit
Posted by
Jim Spence
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U.S. Politics
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Tim Geithner |
Geithner Makes Talk Show Circuit
Spending/Debt Reduction Deal Stuck in the Mud
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Jim Spence
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Economics,
U.S. Politics
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Speaker Boehner and President Obama |
Spending/Debt Reduction Deal Stuck in the Mud