H.R. 394 Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 FULL TEXT

H.R. 394 Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 Bill Text 112th Congress (2011-2012) H.R.394.RH IN PDF FORMAT Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar (Judiciary Committee) Date: March 01, 2011 112th Congress, 1st Session. FLOOR SITUATION On Monday, February 28, 2011, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 394, under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The bill was introduced on January 24, 2011, by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Committee held a markup of H.R. 394 on January 26, 2011, and ordered the bill to be reported by voice vote.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

H.R. 394 would make several changes to judicial procedures, including the determination of original jurisdiction and court venue for certain types of cases. The bill would specify the court of original jurisdiction for certain cases involving resident aliens and corporations. Lastly, H.R. 394 would change how the venues for federal court cases are determined, particularly when the cases involve multiple districts.

BACKGROUND

According to the majority staff on the House Committee on the Judiciary, the House approved a similar bill (H.R. 4113) by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 28, 2010.

The Senate Judiciary Committee insisted on the following minor amendments.

* Maintaining the status quo treatment of derivative jurisdiction. H.R. 4113 as passed by the House made technical changes to §1441(f) to clarify that the derivative jurisdiction doctrine has no application to other sections within title 28. Prior to 1986, the derivative jurisdiction doctrine meant that if a state court lacked jurisdiction over an exclusively federal matter, removal to federal court under §1441(f) was nonetheless barred because the US district court’s jurisdiction was not “derivative” of the jurisdiction that attached in state court. Justice Department attorneys said that although it is infrequently used, the doctrine of derivative jurisdiction is indeed sometimes invoked by them when suits involving federal officers and agencies are removed to federal court. They gave as a particular example the situation when a defendant seeking to escape a state court forum brings a third-party action against a federal employee. If the federal employee was acting within the scope of the employee's employment, the U.S. can remove the case to federal court under 28 USC §1442 & §2679. The federal court then applies the derivative jurisdiction doctrine and dismisses the third-party claim against the federal employee, remanding the underlying action to state court. DOJ says that in such instances the third-party claim against a federal employee is often brought merely to obtain a federal forum, thereby frustrating the plaintiff's choice of forum.

* A clarification that a district court, and not state court, can make findings regarding the appropriateness of certain removals. This is a non-substantive change.

* Substitution of the generic word “entity” for “party” in one instance, consistent with the context of its usage.

* Deletion of an extra comma in one provision.

H.R. 394 includes the base text as approved by the House in the 111th Congress along with the Senate changes.

H.R. 394 would attempt to bring clarity to the operation of jurisdictional statute and facilitate the identification of the appropriate state or federal court where actions should be brought. Many Judges believe the current rules force them to waste time determining jurisdictional issues at the expense of adjudicating the underlying litigation. The contents are based on recommendations developed and approved by the United States Judicial Conference.

COST
According to CBO, H.R. 394 would have no significant budgetary impact.

TEXT CREDIT: Legislative Digest - GOP.gov: Staff Contact For additonal information, contact Sarah Makin

IMAGE CREDIT: Congressman Lamar Smith Washington, DC Office 2409 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 ph: 202-225-4236 fax: 202-225-8628 8:30 am- 6:00 pm EST

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President Obama touts the failed stimulus for masking state budget woes

President Obama touts the failed stimulus for masking state budget woes.

You can connect with Majority Leader Eric Cantor through the social media accounts that are listed below. They'll help you stay informed about what's happening in Congress and allow you to join the conversation about how our nation can remain the land of prosperity and opportunity.

Social media is revolutionizing the way we communicate, so join the conversation about our country's future and make your voice heard today by connecting with Leader Cantor on any of these platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GOPLeader
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/EricCantor
Digg: http://digg.com/EricCantor
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/EricCantor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HouseChamber

VIDEO CREDIT: EricCantor

TEXT CREDIT: Eric Cantor Majority Leader

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Art of Enchantment

Advertising is actually enchanting people to use your product with colorful visuals or sweet words. More than a business promotion the ads now days add more emotional stuff making it more appealing. A mom is lovable only when she buys Johnsons baby products for her baby. With 100 years of tradition in business, they have really used the mom-baby relation through ads. Their commercials are well watched and appreciated. And the same way these products are always on the top in baby products’ market.

Similarly multi-national companies do add flavors of culture and traditions of each country in their local advertisements. When you see the ad of Sony TV, you can obviously notice that they never have an ad for India without elements highlighting the diverse culture of the country.

Apart from being emotional, ads also take the advantage of celebrities as their brand ambassadors. If you observe the energy drink ads, Boost can make your kid strong like Sachin Tendulkar! Another point to note is the growth of ‘brand culture’. Pizza should be bought only from Dominos or Pizza Hut since it is a branded shop. Even for hardware products or handbags, the brand name plays an important part in business. Youth runs behind brand products rather than quality. This is indeed a huge blow for small scale products. They too try to be ‘branded’ by giving emotional ads or promos.

Most of the common herds are unaware of these business tactics and thus they go to get ‘the soap used by Aiswarya Rai’ or ‘cell phone recommended by Sharukh Khan’. Seeing and enjoying ads as a means of recreation is fine. But never go behind a product because of its ad story line. Verbal assurance of your friend about a product is far better than a commercial. If you really love your family and dear ones, believe in quality only after using the product rather than the popularity of its ad…

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Ron Paul Tea Party Patriots American Policy Summit 02/26/11 VIDEO

Ron Paul at Tea Party Patriots American Policy Summit 02/26/11 VIDEO Afternoon Session 1:00 PM Sat, Feb 26

Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy “Can Monetary Policy Really Create Jobs?” Hearing Date: February 9, 2011 Chairman Ron Paul Statement for the Record

For the past three decades, the Federal Reserve has been tasked with a dual mandate: keeping prices stable and maximizing employment. Influenced by Keynesian economics and the supposed tradeoff between inflation and unemployment, the dual mandate relies on the idea that a handful of experts can successfully steer the American economy and create economic growth. This has forced upon us an interventionist monetary policy that believes that creation of money out of thin air is the cure for all that ails us.

This policy relies not only on the fatal conceit of believing in the wisdom of supposed experts, but also on numerical chicanery. Rather than understanding inflation in the classical sense as a monetary phenomenon-- an increase in the money supply- it has been redefined as an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is calculated based upon a weighted basket of goods which is constantly fluctuating, allowing for manipulation of the index to keep inflation expectations low. Employment figures are much the same, relying on survey data, seasonal adjustments, and birth/death models, while the major focus remains on the unemployment rate. Of course, the unemployment rate can fall as discouraged workers drop out of the labor market altogether, leading to the phenomenon of a falling unemployment rate with no job growth.

In terms of keeping stable prices, the Fed has failed miserably. According to the government's own CPI calculators, it takes $2.65 today to purchase what cost one dollar in 1980. And since its creation in 1913, the Federal Reserve has presided over a 98% decline in the dollar's purchasing power. Recent news stories have offered numerous anecdotes of prices rising far faster than would be expected if official inflation figures were accurate. With commodities, oil, or food prices, speculation is that the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing is leading to hot money flooding world markets. The average American family sees the price of milk, eggs, and meat increasing, while packaged household goods decrease in size rather than price. People around the world are reacting against the specter of sharp price increases. While the focus of this hearing does not deal with inflation or even specifically with the dual mandate, this subcommittee undoubtedly will hold further hearings on these topics in the future.

Today's hearing focuses on jobs, and the inability of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy to create jobs or to achieve maximum employment. The stagflation of the 1970s should have taught us this lesson already The Federal Reserve's loose monetary policy, rather than leading to a tradeoff between jobs and inflation, instead led to both high inflation and high unemployment. Hopefully we will learn the lesson this time around.

Of course loose fiscal policy has failed to create jobs too. Consider that we had a $700 billion TARP program, nearly $1 trillion in stimulus spending, a government takeover of General Motors, and hundreds of billions of dollars of guarantees to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, FDIC, etc. On top of those programs the Federal Reserve has provided over $4 trillion worth of assistance over the past few years through its credit facilities, purchases of mortgage-backed securities, and now its second round of quantitative easing. Yet even after all these trillions of dollars of spending and bailouts, total nonfarm payroll employment is still seven million jobs lower than it was before this crisis began. Since employment levels bottomed out last year, the government reports that roughly one million jobs have been created. This means that each job created has cost upwards of five million dollars. We probably would have been better off just printing out these trillions of dollars and throwing them out the window of a helicopter.

In this same period of time that we lost seven million jobs, the total U.S. population has increased by nine million people. We would expect that roughly four million of these people should have been employed, so we are really dealing with eleven million fewer employed people than would otherwise be expected. Let us put this figure in perspective. Eleven million people represents almost the population of Ohio, a figure greater than the population of 43 of the 50 states. Eleven million people is twice as many people as are currently employed in construction, 45% more people than are currently employed in financial activities, and almost as many people as are currently employed in manufacturing.

Unfortunately, numbers like these are often ignored or overlooked. Everyone pays attention to the unemployment rate, which has just recently declined. Part of this is due to discouraged workers who have given up looking for work and have taken themselves out of the labor force, but the employment numbers are rigged in such a way as to make it look as though the employment situation is improving.

Another curious anomaly in employment data relates to seasonal adjustments. Seasonal variations are understandable-- for instance workers hired for the Christmas season and laid off immediately afterward. But such statistical adjustments are easy to manipulate. When unemployment figures were released in February of 2010, non-seasonally adjusted figures showed an additional 1.4 million unemployed workers from December 2009 to January 2010, while the seasonally adjusted numbers showed 69,000 fewer unemployed. The most recent figures released in February of 2011 showed an additional 3.1 million unemployed workers from December 2010 to January 2011, yet the seasonal adjustment shows 367,000 fewer unemployed. Spinning a 22% increase in the number of unemployed workers into a statistical decrease should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism.

It should not be surprising that monetary policy is ineffective at creating jobs. For one thing, there are numerous other factors that affect employment, including taxes, labor laws, and other regulations that contribute to labor market rigidity and institutional unemployment. But it is the effects of monetary policy itself that cause the boom and bust of the business cycle that leads to swings in the unemployment rate.

By lowering interest rates through its loose monetary policy, the Fed spurs investment in long-term projects that would not be profitable at market-determined interest rates. The signal to businesses is that consumers are increasing savings and deferring consumption in order to consume more capital-intensive more in the future. If the Fed-mandated interest rate is in fact lower than the market interest rate, the reality is that consumer preferences between consumption and savings have not changed, but businesses act as though they have. The result of lower interest rates is an economic boom which manifests itself as a bubble.

Everything seems to go well for awhile until businesses realize that they cannot sell their newly-built houses, their inventories of iron ore, or their new cars. Low interest rates have spurred production, but because the low interest rates resulted from Fed intervention and not through changes in consumption patterns, the result is overcapacity. Resources have been “malinvested,” directed into sectors of the economy which are not truly in demand from consumers. These resources must be liquidated, and this is the corresponding bursting of the bubble. Until these resources are redirected, often with great economic pain for all involved, true economic recovery cannot begin.

Labor is one of these resources that can be malinvested. As inflation rises due to the Fed's monetary intervention, real wage rates decrease, increasing the demand for labor and leading to lower unemployment. Sectors into which this new money flows see hiring increases, as we recently saw in financial services, mortgage lending, and construction during the housing boom. When the bust comes, however, these workers end up being laid off. They find it difficult to find employment in other industries due to an inability to sell their houses and move, or to retrain for a new skilled labor position, or for any number of other reasons. However the result of that initial meddling in monetary policy is an eventual increase in the unemployment rate.

We find ourselves now in the midst of the worst economic crisis in decades. Unemployment remains persistently high, and the United States cannot afford increased meddling by the Federal Reserve. Over $4 trillion in bailout facilities and outright debt monetization, combined with interest rates near zero for over two years, have not and will not contribute to increased employment. I shudder to think of what the Fed might do if the unemployment rate were to continue to increase.

By falsely diagnosing the cause of the crisis, the Fed's solution is fatally flawed. What is needed is liquidation of debt and of malinvested resources. Pumping money into the same sectors that have just crashed merely prolongs the crisis and ensures that the day of financial reckoning that eventually will come will be far more severe than otherwise. Until we learn the lesson that jobs are produced through real savings and investment and not through the creation of new money, we are doomed to repeat this boom and bust cycle.

VIDEO CREDIT: 12onPaul

TEXT CREDIT: Congressman Ron Paul Washington, DC 203 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone Number: (202) 225-2831

IMAGE CREDIT: C-SPAN

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Lettered ladies

Always the gentleman

The other day I found myself in the unaccustomed position of defending Sarah Palin. It was, I admit, a very mild defense, but a defense nonetheless. A member of the Friday lunch bunch was castigating the former half-term governor of Alaska for having attended five colleges (University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, and Matanuska-Susitna College) on her way to a bachelor's degree in communications. Having attended and earned units at five different colleges myself, I did not consider persistence at a single institution to be a virtue in and of itself. (I did, however, complete degree requirements at four of them.)

The habitués of the Friday lunch bunch are mostly former journalists these days, the ink-stained wretches having supplanted the coterie of old legislative hands that used to frequent the TGIF observances. And “ink” is the right word, too. All of them served in the trenches when hot lead and metal plates and barrels of black goo were standard tools of the newspaper business. I don't go back quite that far, but I am accepted into this journalistic fraternity because I, too, have worked for a major metropolitan newspaper (but not for very long). Besides, I have seniority in the lunch bunch, being one of the last survivors of the original gang with state capitol experience.

We are a largely left-of-center group, naturally concerned that the president is not even close to being the extreme liberal of right-wing accusations, and cheerfully derogatory in our references to the various nut-case conservative cabals running Republican legislative caucuses throughout the nation and in entirely too many governors' mansions. Palin gets extra contempt from the Friday gang because of her journalistic pretensions and her slender résumé as a reporter (but not as slim as mine). It doesn't help her cause, of course, that even her prepared remarks come out as tossed word salads of right-wing talking points: blah, blah, blah ... American greatness ... blah, blah, blah ... Reagan ... blah, blah, blah ... God bless America ... blah, blah, blah ... war on terror ... blah, blah, blah. Jealousy is probably involved a little. Imagine pocketing $50,000 a pop for that kind of disjointed drivel, as Palin did at Stanislaus State University.

Despite her degree in communications (with an emphasis in journalism), Palin opted to hire a ghostwriter for her autobiography. She's apparently been too busy doing other things.

Like serving as a role model.

California has spawned a Palin camp follower who boasts that she is a “blogger extraordinaire” (that may be premature) with a master's degree in English on top of a bachelor's degree that included journalism coursework. This phenomenon was brought to my attention by a regular visitor to my blog (hi, Kathie!). She was puzzled by the prospect of an English major with a graduate degree who spews out this kind of breathless prose (spacing, spelling, and punctuation preserved from the original):

I'm a San Diego girl& patriotic American at heart!I graduated from San Diego State University in 2005 where I studied English & Journalism.I also have a Masters' Degree in English.I never thought I'd be setting up a blog,but feel I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to share with readers topics that are important to me & I hope to you as well.I will use this blog as a platform of sorts to promote not only conservative values,but strong,conservative female candidates.Sarah Palin is the epitome of this female.Strong,sincere,classy,intelligent & graceful.I have heard individuals describe her as a modern-day Margaret Thatcher or Ronald Reagan.It is she who has inspired me to get involved politically.The mere mention of her name sends the main-stream media into a tizzy.It is also my hope this blog will become a platform for conservative females everywhere.(God knows we could use more representing us).And yes,I also hope to prove that,contrary to popular opinion,it CAN be cool to be a young conservative.You can also catch me from time to time as a guest on #1 AK Talk Radio Host Eddie Burke's show where I discuss Sarah and national issues.

Odd stuff. While the political sentiments are obviously contrary to mine, I am struck by what an admitted English major does to the language. That can't help but catch my attention, if only for the moment. Does San Diego State University offer a master's degree in English as a third language? Was writing part of the curriculum? Optional, perhaps?

At least we can rest assured that she does not suffer from a narcissistic obsession with her own prose.

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Tim Pawlenty Remarks for Tea Party Patriots Summit: Government is Too Damn Big VIDEO TEXT

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

I’m here today to say “thank you.” Thank you for standing up to the “ruling class.” Thank you for standing up to the liberal power brokers, guardians of the status quo, and the royal triangle of greed: big government, big unions and big bailed out businesses. Thank you for being modern day Paul Revere’s – rallying Patriots to the cause of this great nation. The promising work of Governors Walker, Kasich, Christie, and so many others is the direct result of the dedicated Patriots in this room and across the country who had enough, stood up, fought back, and are restoring this country’s foundation.

Our Founders put it in terms so simple even a politician should be able to understand: They started with a most important principle: They didn’t say we’re endowed by our member of Congress or we’re endowed by our bureaucrat.

They said we’re endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights -- and that government derives its powers from the consent of the governed. And what government did our Founders institute and our Fathers ratify? The one that begins, “We the people…”

The message of the Tea Party, as I see it, is simple. God made us to be free, and the Founding Fathers made the Constitution to keep us free. And just about every problem our country faces today comes from a rejection of one of those two principles. And every solution we need today will come from a return to those core principles. The Constitution was not written to limit freedom, it was written to limit government.

It appears President Obama has forgotten what this says. It says in the Constitution: “In order to form a more perfect Union….” Mr. President, that does not mean coddling out of control public employee unions. And Mr. President, Wisconsin does not need a lecture from somebody who’s never balanced a budget in his life.

Speaking of Wisconsin, will you join me in applauding Governor Walker for standing strong against overreaching unions?

Now, I’m not one who questions the existence of the President’s birth certificate. But, when you listen to his policies, don’t you at least wonder what planet he’s from? We don’t share President Obama’s worldview.

We don’t want a bigger government shoving mandates down our throats. He’s got it completely backwards. They, the bureaucrats, don’t tell us what to do. We, the people, tell the government what to do!

My friends, we need to restore American confidence and American optimism by restoring American common sense. As Washington proves time and time again, not everyone’s born or elected with common sense.

We need leaders who remember where they came from, and what made this nation the greatest country the world has ever known. For me, that real world experience started in my hometown of South St. Paul, Minnesota – a place filled with good-hearted people, strong families and the rock-solid values of the heartland.

When I grew up there, it was home to some of the world's largest stockyards and meat-packing plants. But when those plants shut down, so did a big part of the spirit and soul of my hometown. My mom died when I was 16 and later, my dad, who worked for a trucking company, lost his job for a while.

The foundations of my hometown and my family were shaken hard. At a young age, I saw up close the face of challenge, the face of hardship, the face of job loss -- and I saw in the mirror -- the face of a very uncertain future. I know many Americans are feeling that way today. I know that feeling. I lived it.

But in those moments, we learn some things. We remember what’s important.

We simply need more common sense, and less Obama non-sense. And let’s start with this: It’s complex -- and I know there may be some liberals watching this -- so I’ll say it slowly so they can follow along: We can’t spend more than we take in.

You can't do it as an individual, a family or a business. And we can’t let our government do it anymore! Just because we followed Greece into democracy, does not mean we should follow them into bankruptcy!

Big government spenders come with excuses. They say, "Oh, Governor, how do you do that? It's too hard. The politics are difficult and the unions are too tough”.

I know something about the spenders -- and I know something about difficult. I'm from the state of United States Senator Al Franken.

But we cut government in Minnesota. If we can do it there, we can do it anywhere. It wasn’t easy. I set a record for vetoes. Had the first government shutdown in Minnesota’s history. Took one of the longest transit strikes in the country’s history to get public employee benefits under control. And, I cut spending in real terms for the first time in the history of my state.

My friends, it’s time for the federal government to do the same. We should not raise the debt ceiling! We should pass a constitutional amendment to balance the budget! We should appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench. We must repeal Obamacare! And we must throw the ridiculous federal tax code overboard!

And let’s require, under penalty of perjury, every member of Congress to do their own tax returns without the help of a tax preparer, accountant or lawyer. Let them experience firsthand the mind-numbing, burdensome, frightening beast our tax system has become.

Do you remember the guy who ran in the NYC mayor's race who ran his entire campaign on a simple motto: He said over and over: "The rent is too damn high". So here’s our simple motto: "The Government’s too damn big!"

Americans need jobs, not more government-forced anything. The private sector, not government, is the answer to job creation. We shouldn’t ask Washington D.C. how to create jobs. We should ask the people who actually provide the jobs!

Their answer is clear and simple and it’s this: “Reduce my costs and get government off my back” Ladies and gentlemen, America needs job growth, not government growth!

My friends, none of this is going to be easy. If prosperity were easy, everybody around the world would be prosperous. If security were easy, everybody around the world would be secure. And if freedom were easy, everybody around the world would be free. They’re not.

It takes extraordinary effort. It takes extraordinary commitment. It takes extraordinary strength to stand up to those who oppose these principles. But we can do it.

Valley Forge wasn't easy. Settling the West wasn't easy. Winning World War II wasn’t easy. And Going to the moon wasn’t easy. This ain't about easy. This is about rolling up our sleeves, plowing forward, and getting the job done.

This is our guide. This is our Constitution. "We, the People of the United States" will rise up again. We will take back our government. This is our country.

Our Founding Fathers created it, Americans embraced it, Ronald Reagan personified it and Lincoln stood courageously to protect it. Now, as ever, "This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom....” Our “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth….” and America will remain the greatest country the world has ever known.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America!

TEXT CREDIT: Tim Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC PO Box 9190 St. Paul, MN 55109

IMAGE CREDIT: Official photo of Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN).

VIDEO CREDIT: GovernorTimPawlenty

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Rob Portman Weekly Republican Address TEXT PODCAST VIDEO 02/26/11

Podcast of the address: Download MP3 for PODCAST || FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT BELOW. ||

In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio says, "We've had to relearn the lesson we all know in our hearts: you can't spend your way to prosperity. As American families have tightened their belts over the past couple of years and businesses have had to do more with less, the federal government has taken the opposite path, spending more, growing bigger, and becoming more involved in our economy and our lives. This historic failure to control spending directly affects our economy and the ability to create jobs."

Sen. Portman explains, "There is an urgency about this that the American people get even while many in Washington seem to be in denial. We must rise to the challenge and work together to meet our economic and fiscal problems head-on by putting in place pro-growth measures and spending restraint and we must do it now."

Sen. Portman expresses his disappointment that Democrats in Washington still don't seem to understand this. "Having chosen to duck the tough choices for the coming year and beyond, the President and Democrats in Congress are now objecting to any reductions in spending Congress can control in the current budget year. This is despite the fact that this year's $1.6 trillion deficit is at record levels, and over the past two years under Democrat leadership, this type of spending has increased 24 percent, and over 80 percent if you include the Stimulus. Our goal as Republicans is to make sensible reductions in this spending and create a better environment for job growth, not to shutdown the government. Getting our debt and deficits under control is the first step we can take, and the single most important step Washington can take, to get our economy moving and create the jobs we so badly need."

Full TEXT Transcript of Senator Portman’s Address:

“I’m Rob Portman. I am proud to represent the people of Ohio as a new United States Senator. What I heard in my travels to every county in Ohio over the past couple of years, and what I continue to hear across our state, is a deep concern over jobs and the future of our economy. There is an understandable frustration with Washington's failure to address even the most basic problems.

“People are looking for leadership to help create jobs and opportunity and instead what they see is the same, tired political responses. We were told two years ago this month that the way to grow the economy was through bigger government, more spending, and more borrowing. The Stimulus plan ended up costing over a trillion dollars when you include the interest on the money that had to be borrowed to pay for it. It was a grand experiment that failed. It not only failed to produce new jobs, an economic boost the Obama Administration promised, the trillion dollar price tag, combined with higher levels of spending across government, added up to a record deficit again this year and a national debt that is now dangerously close to the size of the entire U.S. economy. This growing red ink is hurting the economy today and mortgaging the future for our kids and grandkids.

“So we've had to relearn the lesson we all know in our hearts: you can't spend your way to prosperity. As American families have tightened their belts over the past couple of years and businesses have had to do more with less, the federal government has taken the opposite path, spending more, growing bigger, and becoming more involved in our economy and our lives.

“This historic failure to control spending directly affects our economy and the ability to create jobs. It pushes up interest rates, crowds out private investment, and leaves us with three bad choices, either far higher taxes, even more borrowing, or both. Left unchecked, these mounting debts could lead to the kind of financial crises we’ve seen in Greece and other countries. At the same time, job creators tell us Washington has added to the uncertainty by pursuing other policies that stifle job growth, including onerous new federal regulations, a tax code that expires, making it a political football, unpredictable rising health care costs, and an increasing reliance on the Mideast and other volatile parts of the world for our energy. It’s time to change course.

“There is an urgency about this that the American people get even while many in Washington seem to be in denial. We must rise to the challenge and work together to meet our economic and fiscal problems head-on by putting in place pro-growth measures and spending restraint and we must do it now.

“This means enacting new tax policies that take away uncertainty and encourage innovation and investment and make us more competitive in a global economy. It means real health care reform that truly reduces costs, helping working families and small businesses afford access, and addressing the biggest cost-driver in entitlement programs that everyone acknowledges are unsustainable. It means sensible regulatory reform that reverses the growing burdens on employers that drive jobs overseas. It means a national energy policy that uses our own resources to stop our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and it means stopping the red ink that threatens to swamp our economy.

“Once a year Presidents are required to submit a federal budget that sets out a vision for the coming year and into the future. It is a leadership opportunity and a solemn responsibility. There was a lot of anticipation surrounding the President's budget release last week. After all, President Obama had repeatedly and eloquently described the dire fiscal condition of the nation and he promised action. In last year’s budget proposal, he established a Fiscal Commission that issued a stern report in November calling for deep spending reductions to stave off a fiscal and economic disaster. The President himself has rightly pointed out, ‘What we have done is kicked the can down the road,’ and ‘we are now at the end of the road and [are] not in a position to kick it any further.’

“And, yet, the President's budget did exactly that. He rejected the dire warnings and recommendations of his own Fiscal Commission and not only kicked the can down the road but made the road more perilous by advocating deeper debt and ignoring bipartisan calls for entitlement reform and pro-growth policies, including tax reform and regulatory restraint.

“Instead of making the tough choices all Americans know are necessary to get our fiscal house in order and strengthen our economy, the President's budget locks in the higher levels of spending over the past two years and doubles the national debt. As the Democrat co-chairman of the President's Fiscal Commission said, ‘it goes nowhere near where they’ll have to go’ to address our fiscal problems.

“Having chosen to duck the tough choices for the coming year and beyond, the President and Democrats in Congress are now objecting to any reductions in spending Congress can control in the current budget year. This is despite the fact that this year's $1.6 trillion deficit is at record levels, and over the past two years under Democrat leadership, this type of spending has increased 24 percent, and over 80 percent if you include the Stimulus. Our goal as Republicans is to make sensible reductions in this spending and create a better environment for job growth, not to shut down the government. Getting our debt and deficits under control is the first step we can take, and the single most important step Washington can take, to get our economy moving and create the jobs we so badly need.

“In Ohio and around the country, people are looking for common sense leadership to get us back on track. They know what we Americans are capable of, the innovation, invention and millions of new jobs that are within our grasp if Washington will act with resolve to create the climate for success. But they know that we risk the American dream becoming a fiscal nightmare if we do not act, and act now to do what's right.

“Thank you for listening.”

VIDEO and IMAGE CREDIT: gopweeklyaddress

TEXT CREDIT: United States Senator Rob Portman

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President George W. Bush Targeted by Saudi Arabian Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari with improvised explosive device (IED)

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari

President George W. Bush Targeted by Saudi Arabian Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari with improvised explosive device (IED) Texas Resident Arrested on Charge of Attempted Use of Weapon of Mass Destruction Suspect Allegedly Purchased Bomb Materials and Researched U.S. Targets WASHINGTON – Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, a citizen of Saudi Arabia and resident of Lubbock, Texas, was arrested late yesterday by FBI agents in Texas on a federal charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in connection with his alleged purchase of chemicals and equipment necessary to make an improvised explosive device (IED) and his research of potential U.S. targets.

The arrest and the criminal complaint, which was unsealed in the Northern District of Texas, were announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; James T. Jacks, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas; and Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division.

Aldawsari is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Lubbock at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Aldawsari, who was lawfully admitted into the United States in 2008 on a student visa and is enrolled at South Plains College near Lubbock, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Aldawsari has been researching online how to construct an IED using several chemicals as ingredients. He has also acquired or taken a substantial step toward acquiring most of the ingredients and equipment necessary to construct an IED and he has conducted online research of several potential U.S. targets, the affidavit alleges. In addition, he has allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal.

“As alleged in the complaint, Aldawsari purchased ingredients to construct an explosive device and was actively researching potential targets in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of many agents, analysts and prosecutors, this plot was thwarted before it could advance further,” said Assistant Attorney General Kris. “This case serves as another reminder of the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad.”

“Yesterday’s arrest demonstrates the need for and the importance of vigilance and the willingness of private individuals and companies to ask questions and contact the authorities when confronted with suspicious activities. Based upon reports from the public, Aldawsari’s plot was uncovered and thwarted. We’re confident we have neutralized the alleged threat posed by this defendant. Those reports resulted in the initiation of a complex and far-reaching investigation requiring almost around the clock work by hundreds of dedicated FBI agents, analysts, prosecutors and others. Their effort is another example of the work being done to protect our country and its citizens. These individuals are deserving of our respect and gratitude,” said U.S. Attorney Jacks.

“This arrest and criminal charge is a result of the success of the FBI's counterterrorism strategy, which is to detect, penetrate, and disrupt terrorist plots in the United States and against U.S. interests abroad. In this case, FBI Agents and other FBI experts worked tirelessly to neutralize the imminent terrorist threat described in the criminal complaint. The public can be justifiably proud of the national security expertise shown by the FBI in this investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Casey.

Purchases of Chemical Ingredients and Other Equipment

The affidavit alleges that on Feb. 1, 2011, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempted purchase of concentrated phenol by a man identifying himself as Khalid Aldawsari. According to the affidavit, phenol is a toxic chemical with legitimate uses, but can also be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, also known as T.N.P., or picric acid. The affidavit alleges that other ingredients typically used with phenol to make picric acid, or T.N.P., are concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids.

Aldawsari allegedly attempted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company returned the order to the supplier and called the police. Later, Aldawsari falsely told the supplier he was associated with a university and wanted the phenol for “off-campus, personal research.” Frustrated by questions being asked over his phenol order, Aldawsari cancelled his order and later e-mailed himself instructions for producing phenol. The affidavit alleges that in December 2010, he successfully purchased concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

According to the affidavit, legally authorized electronic surveillance revealed that Aldawsari used various e-mail accounts in researching explosives and targets, and often sent emails to himself as part of this process. On Feb. 11, 2011, for instance, he allegedly e-mailed himself a recipe for picric acid, which the e-mail describes as a “military explosive.” He also allegedly sent himself an e-mail on Oct. 19, 2010 that contained information on the material required for Nitro Urea, how to prepare it, and the advantages of using it.

The affidavit alleges that Aldawsari also e-mailed himself instructions on how to convert a cellular phone into a remote detonator and how to prepare a booby-trapped vehicle using items available in every home. One e-mail allegedly contained a message stating that “one operation in the land of the infidels is equal to ten operations against occupying forces in the land of the Muslims.” During December 2010 and January 2011, Aldawsari allegedly purchased many other items, including a gas mask, a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, wiring, a stun gun, clocks and a battery tester.

Searches of Aldawsari’s Residence

Two legally authorized searches of Aldawsari’s apartment conducted by the FBI in February 2011 indicated that the concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids; the beakers and flasks; wiring; Hazmat suit; and clocks were present in Aldawsari’s residence.

FBI agents also found a notebook at Aldawsari’s residence that appeared to be a diary or journal. According to the affidavit, excerpts from the journal indicate that Aldawsari had been planning to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years. One entry describes how Aldawsari sought and obtained a particular scholarship because it allowed him to come directly to the United State and helped him financially, which he said “will help tremendously in providing me with the support I need for Jihad.” The entry continues: “And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad.”

In another entry, Aldawsari allegedly wrote that he was near to reaching his goal and near to getting weapons to use against infidels and their helpers. He also listed a “synopsis of important steps” that included obtaining a forged U.S. birth certificate; renting a car; using different driver’s licenses for each car rented; putting bombs in cars and taking them to different places during rush hour; and leaving the city for a safe place.

Research on Potential Targets

According to the affidavit, Aldawsari conducted research on various targets and e-mailed himself information on these locations and people. One of the documents he sent himself, with the subject line listed as “Targets,” allegedly contained the names and home addresses of three American citizens who had previously served in the U.S. military and had been stationed for a time at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

In another e-mail titled “NICE TARGETS 01,” Aldawsari allegedly sent himself the names of 12 reservoir dams in Colorado and California. In another e-mail to himself, titled “NICE TARGETS,” he listed two categories of targets: hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants. On Feb. 6, 2011, the affidavit alleges, Aldawsari sent himself an e-mail titled “Tyrant’s House,” in which he listed the Dallas address for former President George W. Bush. The affidavit also alleges that Aldawsari conducted research that could indicate his consideration of the use of infant dolls to conceal explosives and possible targeting of a nightclub with an explosive concealed in a backpack.

The affidavit also alleges that Aldawsari created a blog in which he posted extremist messages. In one posting, he expressed dissatisfaction with current conditions of Muslims and vowed jihad and martyrdom. “You who created mankind….grant me martyrdom for Your sake and make jihad easy for me only in Your path,” he wrote.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Lubbock Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Baker and Denise Williams from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and Trial Attorney David Cora from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

TEXT CREDIT: Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 24, 2011

IMAGE CREDIT: Lubbock County Sheriff 811 Main St P.O. Box 10536 Lubbock, TX. 79408 Phone : 806-775-1400 Emergency Number: 806-767-1441 or 911 Fax: 806-775-1491 Office Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm

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Scott Walker.Democracy Requires Participation

The following is a column written by Governor Scott Walker. The budget repair bill is now in the hands of the Legislature. Although it is getting a lot more attention than most bills, it is still just a bill working its way through the process. In our state, budget bills are introduced by the Governor, reviewed by the Joint Finance Committee and then brought before the State Assembly and State Senate.

Legislators can debate budget bills in committee and on the floor of their respective houses and offer amendments. Most importantly they have the responsibility to vote, much like citizens do at the ballot box during elections.

The public offered suggestions and we made changes to the bill because of their participation in the public process. I also applaud Assembly Democrats for publicly debating the budget repair bill I introduced two weeks ago.

In contrast, their counterparts in the Senate fled the state in an effort to prevent democracy from working, stifle debate, and ultimately try and negate the results of the election that took place last November.

The reason Senate Democrats claimed they left the state was because citizens needed more time to debate the issue. This is ironic because 12 of the 14 missing Senate Democrats passed Governor Doyle’s budget repair bill, which raised taxes by a billion dollars, within 24 hours of introduction and without a public hearing in February 2009. Senate Republicans vehemently disagreed with the bill and the process Democrats used to ram it through; however they stayed in Wisconsin, debated the legislation and made the choice to participate in democracy by casting their vote in opposition.

The Legislation has been public for two weeks and the Joint Finance Committee listened to more than 17 hours of public testimony on the budget repair bill. Yet Senate Democrats still remain out of state endlessly holding media interviews.

In one interview Senator Larson said, “it’s almost like a reality TV show.”

I have a message for Senator Larson: No it isn’t. This isn’t for entertainment, this is real.

We have a deficit for the remainder of this fiscal year and a $3.6 billion deficit for the next budget that starts on July 1. Our budget repair bill allows us to save $300 million from state government workers and gives local units of government the tools to save $1.44 billion in the next state budget. In addition, it gives local governments the tools to save even more in order to protect jobs and vital services. To achieve these savings, we need to pass our repair bill. That’s why the Senate Democrats need to come home.

I go to work every day to defend the plan I laid out to make the tough decisions needed to balance Wisconsin’s budget.

It’s clear Senate Democrats disagree with the bill I put forward. I understand and respect that. I’ll always be willing to cooperate and communicate with the Democrats, but that has to happen at the State Capitol in Madison.

—Governor Scott Walker

For Immediate Release Thursday, February 24, 2011

TEXT CREDIT: Office of Governor Scott Walker 115 East Capitol Madison WI 53702 Phone (608) 266-1212 Email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

IMAGE CREDIT: Governor Scott Walker

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Financial Services Committee Will Markup Bills to Terminate Failed Programs

WASHINGTON: Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus announced a subcommittee hearing and full committee markup of four bills that will terminate failed and ineffective housing foreclosure programs.

The four proposals – which terminate the troubled Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the FHA Refinance Program, and the Emergency Homeowner Relief Fund – will be the subjects of a hearing on March 2 by the Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee and a full committee markup on March 3.

“In an era of record-breaking deficits, it’s time to pull the plug on these programs that are actually doing more harm than good for struggling homeowners,” said Chairman Bachus. “These programs may have been well-intentioned but they’re not working and, in reality, are making things worse.”

Insurance and Housing Subcommittee Chairman Judy Biggert said: “We need to break down barriers that have delayed the housing recovery, including expensive and ineffective government programs that have failed to helphomeowners. Unfortunately, these programs were set up in haste, executed poorly, and have done little to restore stability in the marketplace. A government program that spends more to save a single borrower than it costs to buy a home is no help at all – it’s just a waste of taxpayer money. We need to stop funding programs that don’t work with money we don’t have.”

The Committee will consider the following bills:

The HAMP Termination Act. The Obama Administration’s signature anti-foreclosure effort, the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), has failed to help a sufficient number of distressed homeowners to justify the program’s cost. According to the Administration, HAMP was supposed to help 4 million homeowners. Instead, only 521,630 loans have been permanently modified under this program and the re-default rate is high. To date, the Administration has spent approximately $840 million of the $29 billion earmarked for HAMP from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Far from helping at-risk homeowners, HAMP has actually made many worse off, according to a report from the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP):

People who apply for modifications via HAMP sometimes “end up unnecessarily depleting their dwindling savings in an ultimately futile effort to obtain the sustainable relief promised by the program guidelines. Others, who may have somehow found ways to continue to make their mortgage payments, have been drawn into failed trial modifications that have left them with more principal outstanding on their loans, less home equity (or a position further ‘underwater’), and worse credit scores. Perhaps worst of all, even in circumstances where they never missed a payment, they may face back payments, penalties, and even late fees that suddenly become due on their ‘modified’ mortgages and that they are unable to pay, thus resulting in the very loss of their homes that HAMP is meant to prevent. While it may be true that many homeowners may benefit from temporarily reduced payments even though the modification ultimately fails, Treasury’s claim that ‘every single person’ who participates in HAMP gets ‘a significant benefit’ is either hopelessly out of touch…or a cynical attempt to define failure as success.”
(Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program)

In a separate report, the SIGTARP noted HAMP “continues to fall dramatically short of any meaningful standard of success.”

(Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program)
The HAMP Termination Act ends the Treasury Secretary’s authority to provide new assistance under the program but preserves assistance already offered to homeowners through HAMP prior to the bill’s enactment.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program Termination Act. Congress has appropriated $7 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization program, including $2 billion in the Obama Administration’s stimulus plan. Two rounds of NSP funding have already been provided to states and localities. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program Termination Act ends the program and rescinds the unobligated third round of funding of $1 billion.

Critics have argued that the NSP does not benefit at-risk homeowners facing foreclosure, and may instead create perverse incentives for banks and other lenders to foreclose on troubled borrowers – arguably worsening the housing crisis.

The FHA Refinance Program Termination Act terminates the program and rescinds unobligated funding. The price tag for this program is $8.12 billion, of which only $50 million has been disbursed thus far. For this large outlay, the taxpayers have seen minimal return on their investment. As of December 13, 2010, only 35 applications had been submitted for this program.

The Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act ends the program and rescinds unobligated funding. The Dodd-Frank Act reauthorized the long-expired Emergency Homeowners’ Relief Act of 1975 and provided $1 billion to authorize HUD to make emergency mortgage relief payments to homeowners facing foreclosure for up to 12 months, with a possible extension of another 12 months. These loans will serve to increase the amount of the borrower’s indebtedness, so a borrower who is unable to pay back either the original amount of principal or the additional loans made under the program will be worse off in the long run.

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: Committee on Financial Services • 2129 Rayburn House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515 • (202) 225-7502 For Press Inquiries: (202) 226-0471

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Energy & Commerce Leaders Press Energy Dept. on Yucca Mountain, Status of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars Collected for Disbanded Project

WASHINGTON, DC – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) today sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu seeking answers on the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository.

Upton and Shimkus are concerned that despite the scientific community’s seal of approval as well as billions of taxpayer dollars collected for the project, the administration inexplicably pulled the plug on the Yucca repository without offering a viable alternative.

In the letter to Energy Secretary Chu, Upton and Shimkus expressed concern over the billions of dollars that have been collected from the American public’s monthly electric bills. The two lawmakers wrote, “In the case of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (the Act) we have extra obligations: a fiduciary duty to consumers who, under the Act, have paid billions of dollars into the Waste Fund only—so far—to receive nothing in return; and a moral obligation to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Treasury to pay damages to plant operators whose contracts with the Department of Energy (the Department) to transfer possession of nuclear waste material are breached.”

Upton and Shimkus further wrote, “It would be difficult to draft legislation to make the Act more plain, specific, and mandatory than it already is. However, all three of these problems must be solved: the establishment of a permanent facility for accepting high level waste; the consumers paying out billions of dollars and receiving nothing in return; and the Treasury paying out billions of dollars in damages with no real end in sight due to the Department’s failure to meet its obligations.”

The full text of the letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu. in PDF FORMAT

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: House Energy and Commerce Committee January 11, 2011 By Alexa Marrero, (202) 225-3641 or Sean Bonyun, (202) 225-3761 2125 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-2927

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Paul Ryan: Americans Deserve Better Than Empty Promises From A Broke Government

House Budget Committee Chairman calls for honest leadership and fiscal responsibility. Washington – House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (WI-01) issued the following statement in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s proposal to lock in elevated levels of spending: “I remain hopeful that the President and his party will work with House Republicans to cut government spending and help grow the economy.

Over the past two years, spending on domestic government agencies increased by nearly 25%. This reckless spending spree failed to create jobs, plunged our nation deeper into debt, and stifled growth by fueling uncertainty.

“Last week, House Republicans sent a bill to the Senate that funds the government for the rest of the fiscal year while fulfilling our pledge to bring spending back to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels. Regrettably, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid insists on locking in elevated spending levels, rejecting warnings from economists and demands from the American people to get Washington’s fiscal house in order. If Senate Democrats block legislation that would fund the government for the rest of the year at more reasonable spending levels, House Republicans intend to pass a short-term bill to keep the government running, but one that actually cuts spending. Republicans remain committed to restraining the explosive growth of government, which is critical to spur economic growth and job creation.

“Responsible leadership requires honestly addressing our nation’s most pressing fiscal and economic challenges. Americans deserve better than continued empty promises from a government heading for bankruptcy. We must advance spending cuts and real reforms to ensure real security and a path to prosperity.”

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TEXT CREDIT: Committee On The Budget U.S. House of Representatives 207 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202.226.7270

IMAGE CREDIT: RepPaulRyan

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Mike Huckabee "very well may" run in 2012 VIDEO

Chris Wragge talks to former Ark. governor and potential GOP presidential contender for 2012, Mike Huckabee about his new book, "A Simple Government."

"If they read this, they'll know where I stand, If they read this and say, 'That makes sense,' then that's an encouragement for me to take the next step. If they read it and say, 'That guy is a nut,' then, well, maybe I'll have a different conclusion."

"You can't spend money you don't have, You can't borrow money that you can't afford to pay back. Every citizen knows that. Every small business owner knows that. It's like government is the last entity on Earth to get that message."

"They can't expect to pay $1 in and get $57 from the state as a pension match. Nobody else gets that. And that's what's unrealistic. So, if the unions don't come to some type of reality, then they're going to get busted, and if not by the governor, they'll get busted by reality in terms of a budget that can't manage that sort of cost."

"Sometime, either now or later, the government will shut down, either from bankruptcy in the future or from a targeted effort to try get someone's attention that we're overspending and not managing at all."

VIDEO and TEXT CREDIT: Huckabee: I "very well may" seek GOP nod in '12

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's Fireside Chat to Taxpayers 02.22.11 VIDEO

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's Fireside Chat to Taxpayers 02.22.11.flv

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker sits down to speak directly to the people of Wisconsin in his first fireside chat.

VIDEO and TEXT CREDIT: GovWalker

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Bob McDonnell supports Scott Walker VIDEO

"every governor's got tough choices to make." "We've got to set priorities, we've got to make government more accountable and I think Gov. Walker realizes that means state employees have got to pay a little bit more for their benefits,

I'm asking our state employees to do more this year, so I support what he's doing."

"We made tough choices, what I think the president failed to do this time, That's what Scott Walker and many other governors, Republican and Democrat, are doing is to say we can't afford to do things the same way." "not campaigning for anything ... I'd just like to be part of the national debate on the issues of spending and fiscal responsibility ... so far down the road ... four or five great candidates right now, most of whom are former governors or current governors."

"governors make great chief executives."

"Military families so much appreciate the love, support and prayers,If you know you're supported, you're going to work harder, you're going to be more focused on your mission."

VIDEO and TEXT CREDIT: Bob McDonnell: I stand with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

IMAGE CREDIT: Governor of Virginia

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Kristi Noem Lincoln Knew Leading Tests Character

My 8 year-old son, Booker, could not get enough of President Abraham Lincoln’s final hours during our visit to Ford’s Theater. He was fascinated, like most 8 year-old boys, with the intrigue surrounding the assassin John Wilkes Booth, his gun, and Lincoln’s bloody overcoat still on display at the theater.

Our time at Ford’s Theater was a highlight from my family’s trip to Washington, DC last month for congressional swearing-in ceremonies. In a city filled with history, Ford’s Theater did a particularly good job making the history that happened there come alive for Booker and the rest of our family.

This month as we celebrate both Lincoln’s birthday and President’s Day, we should remember one of our greatest Presidents for more than his tragic death. Lincoln was a man known for his humility and his perseverance. Lincoln also knew what men were capable of, both good and bad. He, in fact, led our country through some of the darkest days in American history during the Civil War.

Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

The set of challenges we face today are quite different from those of Lincoln’s day. Our union does not literally hang in the balance, yet we do face tough fiscal choices. How we respond, as leaders in Washington, to these challenges will test our character.

The easy thing will be to politicize these tough decisions. Some politicians might choose to pit interest groups against each other – favoring some over others for political reasons. Some will choose to scare seniors with threats about cutting Medicare and other entitlement programs for current beneficiaries. (For the record, no one is proposing cutting benefits for today’s retirees or those near retirement.) Some will use the threat of a government shutdown to further their own political agenda rather than using the critical decision point to reform the way Washington does business.

It is my hope that we take the higher road. I hope that the debate remains squarely on the need to turn our economy around. I believe we can restore our economy by spending less than we take in and giving our small businesses more regulatory and tax certainty so that they can begin hiring again.

The South Dakotans I speak with in grocery stores and at basketball games seem to inherently know we are at a critical crossroads as a nation and they are ready for their leaders in Washington to live up to the tough decisions they know we must make. They are ready for politicians in Washington to act like adults and make tough decisions.

As Lincoln said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Now, as much as we ever have, we need real leadership in Washington, DC.

POSTED at: Republican National Convention Blog

TEXT CREDIT: Kristi Noem, Congresswoman for South Dakota Washington, D.C. 226 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2801 Fax: (202) 225-5823

IMAGE CREDIT: RepKristiNoem All rights reserved.

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