Texas Congressional Grab

From redstate.com - Texas is going to make big gains in the census and pick up some congressional districts. Conservatives across the country must be concerned that the man who will have the heaviest hand in drawing those lines is 100% NARAL supported and ridiculously corrupt.
We must fight at the state level here to help the conservative cause nationally in the 2012 elections. And what happened late yesterday should concern everyone — really concern everyone, not to mention embarrass all the Texans. As I previously mentioned, Straus sent out his loyal lieutenant Larry Phillips to tell a number of Republican State House members that if they did not vote for Straus, Straus would draw them out of their districts.  When the accusation was made, Straus referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee. Larry Phillips just so happens to be Vice Chair of that committee. Here is where it gets fun. Read full story here:

Texas Congressional Grab

Stalin and Genocide

Many people know of Stalin and his horrific deeds and mass murders but some people are uneducated or misinformed especially since the history of Stalin is not often taught in schools. I would like all those that take the time to read this article to keep in mind that recently this year a memorial bust of Stalin was unveiled in Bedford, Va., next to Western Allied leaders in World War II
From volokh.com - In his excellent recent book Stalin’s Genocides, Stanford historian Norman Naimark argues that Joseph Stalin committed genocide and not “merely” mass murder. Few any longer deny that Stalin’s regime slaughtered millions of innocent people. But the Russian government and some Western writers continue to argue that these murders were not genocidal, and that Stalin therefore cannot be classed in a category with Adolf Hitler and others who slaughtered entire racial, ethnic, or religious groups. More here

Stalin and Genocide

70% of Americans Support Adopting Israeli Profiling System at U.S. Airports

From ynetnews.com - Should the US adopt Israeli-style airport security measures? A debate over just that issue has been running at full steam over the past few days due to profound public criticism of invasive security techniques which include a full body search and pat down in intimate areas.
House or Representatives delegate for Utah Jason Chaffetz, on Monday called for a probe into methods employed by Transportation Security Administration agents and for a look into alternative methods which would be based on the use of sniffer dogs with secondary use of screening machines and implementing behavioral profiling as Israel does. More here

70% of Americans Support Adopting Israeli Profiling System at U.S. Airports

10 Things You Need to Know About the Dream Act

From the Center of Individual Freedom - 1. The DREAM Act is NOT limited to children, and it will be funded on the backs of hard working, law-abiding Americans.

2. The DREAM Act PROVIDES SAFE HARBOR FOR ANY ALIEN, including criminals, from being removed or deported if they simply submit an application.
3. Certain criminal aliens will be eligible for amnesty under the DREAM Act.
4. Estimates suggest that at least 2.1 million illegal aliens will be eligible for the DREAM Act amnesty. In reality, we have no idea how many illegal aliens will apply.
5. Illegal aliens will get in-state tuition benefits.
6. The DREAM Act does not require that an illegal alien finish any type of degree (vocational, two-year, or bachelor’s degree) as a condition of amnesty.

7. The DREAM Act does not require that an illegal alien serve in the military as a condition for amnesty, and there is already a legal process in place for illegal aliens to obtain U.S. citizenship through military service.
8. Despite their current illegal status, DREAM Act aliens will be given all the rights that legal immigrants receive — including the legal right to sponsor their parents and extended family members for immigration.
9. Current illegal aliens will get federal student loans, federal work study programs, and other forms of federal financial aid.
10. DHS is prohibited from using the information provided by illegal aliens whose DREAM Act amnesty applications are denied to initiate their removal proceedings or investigate or prosecute fraud in the application process.
For a breakdown of each point read here

10 Things You Need to Know About the Dream Act

State Tab For Policy Consultants: $1.7 Million

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Between 2003 and 2009, nine different New Mexico state agencies paid an out-of-state consulting company nearly $1.7 million for a big bag of ideas. Mostly, those ideas came in the form of studies, policy reviews and position papers that directed state employees to do tasks they likely already knew how to do. "They have a multitude of people to work on policy issues specifically, and so one would question what's the need for some type of out-of-state assistance," said state Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming. Public Works is based in Pennsylvania and "provides public policy research and analysis, organizational development and management consulting to government agencies, think tanks and non profits across the country," according to the company's website. The 19 contracts it signed with New Mexico state agencies over the six-year period was enough work for it to open up an office in Santa Fe. Five of those contracts valued at more than $100,000 were with the state Department of Economic Development. For that money, Public Works helped department officials clarify and implement the state's economic vision, according to one contract. More here

State Tab For Policy Consultants: $1.7 Million

Next step for body scanners could be trains, boats, metro

From The Hill.com - The next step in tightened security could be on U.S. public transportation, trains and boats. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says terrorists will continue to look for U.S. vulnerabilities, making tighter security standards necessary. “[Terrorists] are going to continue to probe the system and try to find a way through,” Napolitano said in an interview that aired Monday night on "Charlie Rose." “I think the tighter we get on aviation, we have to also be thinking now about going on to mass transit or to trains or maritime. So, what do we need to be doing to strengthen our protections there?” Read more

Next step for body scanners could be trains, boats, metro

Spain Says No, No, No - Markets Say Yes

Elena Salgado

From Bloomberg - Spanish Finance Minister Elena Salgado said there’s “absolutely” no risk the country will need an international bailout as its borrowing costs compared with Germany’s surged to a euro-era record. Asked in an interview on Punto Radio in Madrid if Spain risked having to seek a rescue like Ireland or Greece, Salgado said “absolutely not.” The euro faces “speculative attacks” which Spain is in the “best conditions to resist,” she said. Spain’s 10-year bond yield surged 20 basis points to 5.12 percent, pushing the spread over German bunds to the widest since the euro was created in 1999, as Ireland’s bailout prompted speculation that Portugal and Spain may also need help. Irish yields jumped 28 basis points to 8.93 percent after the nation’s credit rating was cut two levels by Standard & Poor’s, and Portuguese yields rose 26 basis points to 7.32 percent. Read full story here:

Spain Says No, No, No - Markets Say Yes

Grady resident protests school-sponsored coyote hunt

From the Clovis New-Journal.com - Ranchers say the coyote is a menace and a threat to the way of life around the ranching community of Grady. May be, a community newcomer contends; but killing them is not supposed to be sport and there are more appropriate ways to raise money for school athletics. Cliff Sagnotty, who moved to rural Curry County from Iowa this summer, said he was shocked early this month when he received a flier advertising a coyote hunt — and noticed it was sponsored by the Grady schools girls athletic department. The Coyote Calling Contest is scheduled Friday and Saturday. Competitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and show a Hunter’s Safety Certificate to shoot. With a $75 team entry fee, the team with the most coyotes wins with ties broken by weight, according to the flier, which states, “Grab a partner (or two) that are good shots and sign up.” “From a rancher’s perspective, they’re a menace to society (and) that’s what this community is; we’re farmers and ranchers,” said Alicia Rush, director of Grady’s girls athletic program. “They (coyotes) kill our cattle, they kill our cattle dogs. There’s no regulations (on hunting them). We’re not doing anything illegal — we wouldn’t do anything illegal.” Read more

Grady resident protests school-sponsored coyote hunt

NM med marijuana user appeals lost rent subsidy

From the Santa Fe NewMexican.com - ALBUQUERQUE — A hearing officer on Wednesday will take up the case of a 70-year-old cancer patient who is appealing San Miguel County's decision to revoke his federal housing subsidy because he uses medical marijuana. Robert Jones joined New Mexico's medical marijuana program in October 2008 when he was diagnosed with cancer. The retired political consultant said he was upfront about it, telling county housing authority officials he used marijuana before signing a statement agreeing to follow a rule not to participate in drug-related criminal activity. "I wanted to make sure they didn't think that was criminal," he said. "They said, 'No, no, Mr. Jones, that's fine."' But the housing authority sent him a letter Oct. 12 telling him he would be dropped from the housing program as of Nov. 30. Although medical marijuana is legal in New Mexico, it's illegal under federal law, and his use violated the rule against drug-related criminal activity, the letter said. Jones takes exception to that description. "I certainly am not engaged in drug-related criminal activity," he said. Read more

NM med marijuana user appeals lost rent subsidy

Commentary: NM can’t afford to get it wrong when it comes to Medicaid

From NM Politics.net - By Sireesha Manne - Governor-elect Martinez will soon have to deal with the daunting fiscal challenges facing New Mexico while honoring her promises, most notably to protect Medicaid from further program cuts. Her commitment to Medicaid is a wise one: few policymakers doubt the powerful and vital role of Medicaid in New Mexico’s economy and health care system. The program has been a saving grace for the state, providing health care coverage to more than half a million people. The program also brings $3 billion in federal dollars into our economy that supports more than 50,000 jobs, mostly in the health care sector. Yet there has been considerable misinformation in the public eye due to recent news coverage about the costs of the program and about its services in comparison to the programs in other states. Lest New Mexico shoot itself in the foot by taking a slash-and-burn budget approach to a program that has helped the state weather the continuing economic storm, it’s critical to set the record straight about Medicaid.
• Medicaid is facing a $360 million shortfall primarily because the state borrowed a huge sum of money from the program that has not been returned. When New Mexico received federal stimulus funds for Medicaid in 2009, the state removed approximately $200 million in state general funds from the program and used it to bail out other parts of the budget in a time of economic crisis. The federal stimulus funds will expire by the end of this fiscal year, requiring the state to replace the money it borrowed from Medicaid. The Legislature should repay the loan now as it always intended to do. Read more

Commentary: NM can’t afford to get it wrong when it comes to Medicaid