Archive for category Politics

Obama is using the US State Department to bypass Congress.

On Wednesday the Obama administration took its first major step in a plan to ban all firearms in the United States. The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress.

Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms. The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws.

Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment. This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control. Read the Article U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade WASHINGTON

(Reuters) – The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto. The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush’s administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better. The Full Article http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015

Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed. Silence will lead us to Socialism.

Tommy L. Taylor, Director Ignite
(775) 575-5611

http://tomtaylor. igniteinc. biz

http://tomtaylor/.. mystreamenergy. biz

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Help change the law to exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATV’s

Last update: Nov. 19, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted to stay enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) that currently bans the sale of youth-model motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The stay, which extends through May 1, 2011, follows a unanimous vote by Acting Chairwoman Nancy Nord and Commissioner Thomas Moore.

While we applaud the CPSC commissioners’ vote to stay enforcement of the law, this does not solve the real issue, which is the law itself. Despite the stay, it is unclear whether state attorneys general will also decline to enforce the CPSIA. The sale of youth-model motorcycles and ATVs is still technically illegal. Even though a stay means that dealers would not be subject to fines or penalties imposed by the CPSC, state attorneys general would still be able to prosecute violators if they chose to do so. Youth-model motorcycles and ATVs should be exempt from the law, and Congress needs to act to make that happen.

Below are some quick links for ways you can help to exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA or for more information about the issue:

  • Contact your representatives in Congress by using the Take Action button in the Issues & Legislation section of this website.
  • Act now to help kids keep access to youth-model dirtbikes and ATVs: AMA urges riders to contact elected officials by clicking here. Read the AMA’s letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of Rep. Denny Rehberg’s amendment to prohibit the use of funds to implement and/or enforce the CPSIA.
  • Click here to urge your State Attorney General to follow the lead of the CPSC regarding stay of enforcement.
  • Individuals can sign up for the AMA/ATVA Government Relations Department’s Action E-list so that they can be notified by e-mail when their support is needed to make a difference on important issues.
  • Those interested in circulating a petition to change the CPSIA should contact Jessica Irving, AMA/ATVA grassroots coordinator, at jirving@ama-cycle.org.
  • For more historical information, please click here to see a video of AMA’s President Rob Dingman.
  • Read the AMA’s comments to the CPSC here.
  • Read the U.S. House of Representatives Bipartisan letter to the CPSC here.
  • Read the U.S. Senate Bipartisan letter to the CPSC here. Click here to read the CPSC’s response to the Senate letter.
  • To read the stay of enforcement from the CPSC, please click here.
  • For an abridged version of the stay of enforcement, click here.
  • The CPSC issued its final rule pertaining to the lead content limits on certain materials or products of the CPSIA. To read the final rule, click here.
  • Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (26-TX) sends letter to Chairmen Henry Waxman and Bobby Rush requesting a hearing on the problems in implementing the CPSIA. To read the letter, click here.
  • Read the AMA’s letter to the National Association of Attorneys General and its response.
  • On May 14, 2009, Acting Chairman Nord testified before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Small Business. Read her testimony here.
  • Sean Hilbert of Cobra Motorcycles submitted a statement for the May 14 hearing. To read his statement, please click here.
  • For more details about the bill (H.R. 1587) to exclude OHVs from the CPSIA, click here.
  • Click here to download a PDF version of the CPSIA.

Read the following AMA press releases on this issue:

Read these clips from U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) about the CPSIA:

CPSIA Background
The CPSIA took effect in February 2009 and it immediately stopped the sale of dirt bikes and ATVs designed for children 12 and under. The law was meant to protect children from dangerous levels of lead in toys, but it was written so broadly that it also impacted children’s books, clothes, motorcycles and ATVs.

Under the CPSIA, all youth products containing lead must have less than 600 parts per million by weight. The CPSC has interpreted the law to apply to various components of youth-model motorcycles and ATVs, including the engine, brakes, suspension, battery and other mechanical parts. Even though the lead levels in these parts are small, they are still above the minimum threshold.

To ensure continued availability and access to youth-model motorcycles and ATVs, the Motorcycle Industry Council, Specialty Vehicle Industry Association, the AMA, ATVA and others asked the CPSC to consider petitions submitted to exclude youth-model motorcycles and ATVs from the final rule governing the law.

The CPSC staff admits that the risk of exposure to lead from youth-model motorcycles and ATVs is relatively low. But the staff told the commissioners that the law is written so strictly that no lead absorption into the body is allowed. As a result, they say, motorcycles and ATVs shouldn’t be exempt from the law.

In April, the two-member CPSC rejected an industry request to exempt youth-model off-road motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA because the agency did not believe that it had the authority to exclude these vehicles from the lead-content limits imposed by Congress. However, the commissioners signaled their desire to issue a stay to give Congress the opportunity to change the law so that youth-model motorcycles and ATVs can be legally sold. The commissioners also expressed hope that manufacturers will use the delay to make changes to their products to make them meet the requirements of the new law.

“…ATVs and motorized bikes appropriately sized for children 12 and younger can again be available and the commission will not seek penalties for violation of Section 101 and related provisions of the (law) against those who sell them,” said Acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord on April 3. “I hope that the state attorneys general will follow the lead of the agency on this matter.

“All stakeholders — industry, users, Congress and the commission — need to come together to fix the statutory problems that have become so apparent, in a common sense approach that does not unnecessarily burden those regulated, yet provides safety for American families,” she said.

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Mt. Diablo school board cares about 1 thing only!

Split Mt. Diablo school board OKs pay raises, reorganization

Posted: 11/18/2009 06:23:10 PM PST

Updated: 11/18/2009 09:20:24 PM PST

CONCORD — Five Mt. Diablo school district employees will receive raises totaling more than $55,000 next year, while teachers and other workers are prepared to go without salary increases through 2013.

Trustees voted 3-2 Tuesday to extend three-year contracts to four top administrators and to boost the salaries of four administrators and a secretary as part of a reorganization that includes increased responsibilities for the staffers due to the elimination of some positions. The highest raise will go to General Counsel Greg Rolen, whose annual salary will jump by nearly $28,000 to $190,000.

The board extended contracts for Rolen and the assistant superintendents for administrative services, elementary education, and student services and special education. A facilities and operations project manager will receive a salary boost of more than $11,000; the budget and fiscal services director will get a bump of more than $8,000 as his position is escalated to chief financial officer earning $140,000; the director of certificated personnel’s salary will be hiked nearly $6,000; and the administrative secretary to the superintendent will take home about $1,800 more a year.

“Everything we do in this district is about making sure we are providing for the children and the families in this district,” said trustee Paul Strange, who voted for the raises and contract extensions. “The individuals we are dealing with have provided key support to the Kids in our district. Some of it has been through significant cost savings.”

The board’s action came as officials have proposed no pay increases for teachers through 2013. That proposal, however, would protect teachers from pay cuts and furloughs.Trustees Dick Allen and Linda Mayo voted against the administrative raises and contract extensions, saying they preferred to wait until a new superintendent is hired. A labor union representative and athletic foundation board member asked the board to better analyze the reorganization before voting.

James Jones, who represents classified employees such as custodians and bus drivers, said it would be hard to explain administrative raises to employees who are taking on increased workloads with no pay increases.

“We were told we had to sacrifice and to bite the bullet,” Jones said. “We’re talking about individuals that haven’t seen a raise in maybe three or four years.”

Athletic foundation board member Jeff Adams said the raises could create problems for groups that are trying to generate support for a parcel tax campaign and for music and sports programs.

“To tell you the truth,” Adams said, “there are some people who were angry today.”

Strange, board President Gary Eberhart and Trustee Sherry Whitmarsh said they had received numerous e-mails and phone calls complaining about pay raises in tight economic times. But the trio defended them, along with the three-year contracts, saying it is important to retain key staff people who will remain after the retirements of Interim Superintendent Dick Nicoll, Associate Superintendent Alan Young and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Gail Isserman.

Isserman’s position and an administrative assistant are being eliminated as part of the reorganization, saving about $260,000. Young’s position is being downgraded to assistant superintendent, saving nearly $15,000 and reducing the net cost of the raises to about $40,000.

INFORMATION
Details about Mt. Diablo school district pay raises, contract extensions and proposed teachers’ union contract are available by calling 925-682-8000 ext. 4000 or online at http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us. Click on Nov. 17 and choose items 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.

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homeless shelter…priceless

homeless

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Obama Promises to Get Tough On Climate Change

obamaThe maintenance of the fragile balance of the Earth’s ecosystem is one of the most important issues facing the Obama administration and the World as a whole. In fact it may be the most important of all concerns—overshadowing war and economy. At a meeting with EU leaders, President Obama is said to have committed to redoubling efforts on climate change.

U.S. President Barack Obama and European Union leaders pledged on Tuesday to redouble efforts for a deal on climate change at a summit in Copenhagen, but gave no details of how to reach that ambitious goal.

“We discussed climate change extensively and all of us agreed that it was imperative for us to redouble our efforts in the weeks between now and the Copenhagen meeting to ensure that we create a framework for progress,” Obama told reporters. (Reuters)

When environmentalists heard of the news, they rejoiced and started organizing a huge parade in Obama’s honor.

Unfortunately, the celebrations didn’t have a chance to get off the ground as some people quickly realized that the redoubling of one’s current effort of none, amounts to no increase in effort.