Monday, April 30, 2012

Michigan Data Discredit Maura Corrigan

I strongly encourage everyone in Michigan to take a moment of your time and actually read this report.

In this report, there are all the factors which have led to the low birth weight, infant mortality, and other Medicaid costs which are result of not believing that children are our most precious treasures.

All I know is Maura Corrigan is probably quite miffed at the fact that these data are contrary to her administrative philosophy in the Department of Human Services.

After you have read this, do me a favor, tell Madame Corrigan that I am on a mission...Kids Count Michigan 2012 Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Debbie Squires: Parents care, they're just dumb

Debbie Squires of the elementary and middle school principals association, let her true feelings slip before the Michigan House Education Committee when testifying in opposition to virtual charter school legislation. The education establishment's contempt for parents continues. Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Don't Shoot A Social Worker - Baby LK Report For April 29th 2012

Baby LK recaps the week in news for the child protection industry. Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Reagan's Honor Is Smeared With A Hustle

Stop Child Medicaid Fraud, Now

I have always highly respected President Ronald Reagan, with the fondest of memories, but when it comes to a hustle on the backs of children to make a buck, I have to let loose and call a skank a skank,

What you are about to witness is Medicaid fraud in child welfare.  The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) component of Medicaid is the funding source name for programs like "family reunification", parenting classes, counseling, or other "cookie-cutter" child welfare services programming.

One plausible explanation as to the significance in timing of this particular set of reviews is the fact that child welfare is in the process of being transformed, not reformed and many people know this.

There is money to be made in HCBS and I testified to this to the U.S.House Ways and Means Committee.

Instead of CPS removing the child, the new model is to come into the home and community and provide wraparound services for the entire family.  This is why there is a huge push to promote child abuse propaganda for the month of April because "abuse" is a fungible term with "poverty" as the eligibility of all these programs are based on the federal poverty means test under Title IV-A.

Organizations promoting the  "Stop Child Abuse Now" agenda are nothing but schizters trying to make a fast buck off the emotional ignorance of a population who has no qualms using God to justify the archaic, money-making agenda of the thousands of years old slave trade.

Pathetic false-religious squam attempting to monetize Tom Delay;s work in child welfare for God.

This is taken directly from the HHS OIG Review below.  Its purpose is to "Stop Child Medicaid Fraud, Now."

During calendar years 2005 through 2007, the State agency claimed Federal reimbursement totaling $1.4 billion for services provided under the CCW program. In prior audits, we reviewed the two highest paid providers in the CCW program during this period. In this audit, we reviewed 281,014 beneficiary-months of service with a total Medicaid-paid amount greater than $100, totaling $1,273,784,688 ($636,892,344 Federal share), for the remaining providers in the CCW program. A beneficiary-month includes all CCW program services for a State beneficiary for 1 month. 


 Based on our (OIG) sample results, we estimated that the State agency improperly claimed $60,740,637 in Federal Medicaid reimbursement for CCW program services that did not comply with certain Federal and State requirements during calendar years 2005 through 2007. Review of Medicaid Payments for Services Provided Under New Jersey’s Section 1915(c) Community Care Waive... Stop Child Medicaid Fraud Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Friday, April 27, 2012

Conyers: To Prevent Student Loan Rate Increase, Conservatives Would Jeopardize Women’s Health than End Big Oil Subsidies



(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) voted against a Republican bill, H.R. 4628, that cuts funding to programs important to women and children’s health.  Representative Conyers strongly supports blocking the scheduled increase in student loan debt but favors a Democratic alternative bill, H.R. 4816, which offsets the cost by closing corporate tax loopholes for Big Oil companies.  The Republican proposal would divert funds from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (“PPH Fund”), created as part of the landmark Affordable Care Act.  The PPH Fund provides funding for critical programs, including breast and cervical cancer screenings and vaccinations for underserved children.        

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.
“I am glad the Conservative Majority has finally agreed with President Obama that Congress must take steps to prevent the scheduled doubling of student loan rates,” said Conyers. “If the economy is to continue recovering, Congress must take steps to ensure that America’s students do not graduate into the job market saddled with unnecessary extra debt.  However, I cannot support a bill that would offset the cost of doing so by slashing funding to programs critical to the health of middle and working class women and their families. 

“Only this Conservative Majority could come up with a ‘solution’ that hinges on cutting spending for women’s health rather than ending corporate tax subsidies to Big Oil companies.  I strongly support the Democratic alternative bill that blocks this unnecessary increase in student loan rates and pays for it by closing corporate tax loopholes.  The entire Nation reaps the benefits of a well-educated, healthy population and it is time that every sector of our society pay its fair share.”            
  


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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Conyers Opposes Legislation Limiting Enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act



(WASHINGTON) – Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution held a hearing on “The Department of Justice’s Guidance on Access to Pools and Spas Under the ADA.”  The purpose of the hearing was to examine the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (“ADA”) more than 20 year old mandate for businesses to take “readily achievable” steps to increase access for people with disabilities, with a particular focus on the Department of Justice regulations and guidance for access to swimming pools.  The Department of Justice concluded after a multiyear process that a fixed or permanent lift is the safest and best alternative and that, where public and commercial pool owners can install a fixed lift easily and inexpensively, they should do so. Currently, there are two bills introduced in the House of Representatives, H.R. 4200 and H.R. 4256,  that would nullify this requirement, overriding a nearly decade-long regulatory process and limiting the Department of Justice’s authority to enforce the ADA.

House Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released this statement following the hearing.        
               
U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.
“The multitude of supporters in attendance at yesterday’s hearing demonstrates just how critically important the protections afforded by the ADA are to Americans with disabilities,” said Conyers.  “Two bills have now been introduced in the House – H.R. 4200 and H.R. 4256 – that would nullify Department of Justice regulations regarding access to swimming pools.  I oppose these two bills.

“The regulations at issue did not come out of the blue.  They reflect two decades of public policy, and a decade of work on the particular standards.  They have been the subject of public notice, public comment, and extensive scrutiny.  Legislation that would undercut or eliminate this rule is ill-considered and lacks the carefully crafted balance that is reflected in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the rule itself.  The rule itself is carefully crafted, flexible, and will not – contrary to many concerns that have been raised – impose an undue burden on affected businesses.  Indeed, that burden is precluded not just by the rule, but by the ADA itself.

“I hope that, if there is any effort to move legislation on this important issue, that the Judiciary Committee has the opportunity to hold another hearing first and have the most complete record we can assemble.  The longstanding, bipartisan commitment to the ADA is too important to do anything else.” Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Jobs, Health Care, Peace: An Interview with Congressman John Conyers [RC]


Jobs, Health Care, Peace: An Interview with Congressman John Conyers [RC]


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Police search for teen who ran away from foster mom, DHS staff


Police search for teen who ran away from foster mom, DHS staff



Ariyuana RobinsonAriyuana Robinson
PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Portland Police are searching for a 14-year-old girl who ran away from her foster mother and Oregon Department of Human Services Staff.  Hmmm, I wonder why.
Ariyuana Robinson took off yesterday afternoon from the DHS offices in Portland, investigators said.
Police told FOX 12 her health may be in jeopardy if she does not receive necessary medications. Those psychotropic cocktails have nasty side-effects.
Robinson is described as 5'2" tall and 130 pounds.
She has brown hair, which she was wearing in a bun, and brown eyes, police said.
She was last seen wearing a black tank top, dark colored skinny pants and white Nike sandals.
Anyone who knows of Robinson's whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Anyone with additional information in this case is asked to contact Detective Mike Weinstein, Missing Persons Unit, at 503-823-0446.


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Attorney General Holder To Stop Child Welfare Fraud

U.S. Department of Justice "Defending Childhood" public testimony in Detroit at Wayne State University.

Last year I participated in the "National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention" in Washington, D.C. with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, City Councilman James Tate, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Director Ulrich Baker, Detroit U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr.

This was the first time in history multiple departments within the Cabinet partnered to address youth violence.  This is how youth violence was approached:  it was the beginning of the end of child abuse and neglect.

Yes, not one time was the term "Child Abuse" utilized and the reason why is the issue was to be examined as violence and even domestic violence.  Domestic violence is inclusive of all violence in a living situation being it foster care, juvenile justice or residential institutions.

The basic approach is to provide resources to prevent violence such as housing, medical, psychological, transportation, education, employment, child care and more.  Instead of removing a child for being in conditions of poverty, as itemized above, and placing the child in foster care or juvenile justice system which is extremely costly and has not proven very successful, resources are provided, and a significant lesser cost with extreme success.

Instead of focusing on the child, the entire family unit is engaged.  The child abuse imperialistic morality paraders do not like this at all.  They face loosing their gravy train.  This is why the child abuse propaganda machine is in full gear this month.  The battle has begun and I am putting my money on the U.S. Department of Justice.

At the Forum last year he hem was "busting silos" where I participated in the Data session.  Of course, I spoke out, loudly at the roundtable on child welfare fraud.  I went off on kiddie kickbacks, phantom services, double-billing, everything in my video.  I spoke of the fraud in Wayne County and the Detroit Department of Human Services.  I must say, I did not realize how prophetic that moment was.

Back to the Detroit public testimony.  I could not believe my ears.  I was speechless (yes, miracles do happen).  These people were testifying on the hell of foster care and juvenile justice.  These people were telling the truth, in a public venue, to the U.S. Attorney General.  They know, very well, about child abuse propaganda.  They know, very well, about child abuse propaganda.

Yes, boys and girls, General Eric Holder is very versed in child welfare fraud and he is listening.  Trust me.

In 1994 this is qui tam False Claims Act $26.97 million settlement with then U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder Jr. representing relator against New York and its public University for child welfare fraud in no bid contracts. New York Denoncourt Settlement with U.S. DOJ Assistant Attorney General Eric Holder on Child Welfare Fraud
Keep in mind that this has never been enforced.  Antitrust and fraud still thrives but hopefully, not for long.

 

I apologize for the tardiness of this post but I have been on a mission....

Even though the deadline has expired, I still suggest you send in testimony. Tell them your story and show Attorney General Holder your support to end child welfare fraud and defend our children.

The Defending Childhood Task Force is interested in hearing from community members and professionals working with children and families who have experienced violence. To submit written testimony to the Task Force, please e-maildefendingchildhoodtaskforce@nccdcrc.org or send to NCCD, Attn: Defending Childhood Task Force, 1970 Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA, 94612. You must include your name and contact information for the testimony to be considered by the Task Force; however, the Task Force will not be able to send a response. Testimony must be submitted by April 24, 2012, to be considered by the Task Force.

Testimony is not confidential. Testimony may be made available to members and staff of the Task Force, and may be read aloud during a public hearing or published in a publicly available document.

The Task Force does not provide direct services to individuals and cannot respond to urgent or emergency messages. If you or someone you know is currently in danger of being harmed, please contact your local police department or call 911 if it is an emergency. The following hotlines may also serve as resources for individuals. These hotlines are not affiliated with the Task Force or the Department of Justice.


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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Michigan CPS Sticks Hand Between Women's Legs

CPS tagging its next pick up
Here we have Michigan lawmakers sticking its invisible hand in between the legs of a a pregnant woman.  Seriously.  Talk about intrusive government intervention.

According to the position of this bill, Child Protective Services will be empowered to tag a baby before it is out the womb.  That is correct.  CPS will be able to record child abuse before the first trimester.

Next, you will have child abuse charges on pregnant women who are caught eating too much ice cream because it leads to obesity.  Who is to say that is not coercion?

There is no definition of coercion.

Remember, this is what we pay our lawmakers to do.
Michigan House Bill To Empower Child Protective Services To Stop Abortions Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Invasion of the Cute Little Baby from Outer Space

Invasion of the Cute Little Baby from Outer Space. A baby flies in and wreaks havoc, bringing death and destruction to all the planet.

Another masterpiece brought to you by Legally Kidnapped.




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Michigan CPS Cuts The Cord


ALLEGATION
Resident A was placed in independent living and supervised by Holy Cross Children's
Services of Grand Rapids. After the conclusion of  Independent Living, she testified in
court that:

1. She was, allowed to live with her boyfriend.
2. When she complained to HCCS Caseworker 1 that her boyfriend was abusing
her and hitting her, HCCS Caseworker 1 told her that she needed to “suck it up”
because it was all that she had.
3. When she became pregnant, HCCS Caseworker 1 told her that this was "god's
punishment for premarital sex.”
The complainant questioned how a person with an IQ as low as Resident A’s would be
placed on Independent Living and stated that the amount of support provided was
minimal.

RECOMMENDATION

A review of Resident A’s case file determined that services to Resident A complied
with licensing rules. Because Resident A’s was already eighteen years old at the
time she entered independent living, compliance with Child Welfare Licensing rules
was not required. It is recommended that no change be made to the license of this
child placing agency.

Waiting to find out if Child Protective Services will be there to cut the umbilical cord or snatch the baby off her tit while nursing.  Why?  More money.

Holy Cross Children's Services-Grand Rapids, Michigan Foster Care Investigation Report Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Michigan's Answer To Foster Care Age Out

Michigan Supreme Court has published Proposed Amendment of Rule 3.979 of the Michigan Court Rules.  In a nutshell, Michigan is extending foster care past the age of 18 and since funding is through judicial determination, the rules must be made.

Public comments are due August 1, 2012 so ask them this:

Does extending funding for children who were raised by the State past the age of 18 mean you failed as a parent?

And make sure you tell them Beverly Tran sent you.


A copy of this order will be given to the Secretary of the State Bar and to the State  Court Administrator so that they can make  the notifications specified in MCR 1.201.  Comments on these proposals may be sent to the Supreme Court  Clerk in writing or electronically by August 1, 2012, at P.O. Box 30052, Lansing, MI 48909, or MSC_clerk@courts.mi.gov.  When filing a comment, please refer to ADM File No. 2012-10.  Your comments and the comments of others will be posted at
http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/Resources/Administrative/index.htm#proposed.
Proposed Amendment of Rule 3.979 of the Michigan Court Rules To Extend Foster Care Funding Past Age 18
I have a better idea.  How about letting the public see why you have to extend care past age 18 and allow us to make public comments?  "It's like that...and that's the way it is."



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Monday, April 23, 2012

Attack Of The System Sucks - Baby LK Report For April 22nd 2012

Baby LK recaps the week in news for the child protection industry. Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

UAW Flick Comes to Capitol


UAW Flick Comes to Capitol


It’s been a few years since the movie theaters at Union Station closed, leaving Capitol Hill bereft of places to catch a flick. And while Landmark Theatres or AMC might have no use for the area, you can still catch the occasional movie at venues on the Capitol campus.
Case in point: tonight’s screening of “Brothers On the Line,” a documentary about brothers Walter, Roy and Victor Reuther, who helped shape the United Auto Workers in the mid-20th century.
UAW Flick Comes to Capitol
Rep. John Conyers is urging Members and staff to watch a
documentary on the United Auto Workers at the Rayburn House
Office Building tonight. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
The gentleman from Detroit, Rep. John Conyers (D), is encouraging Members and staff to attend the screening in the Rayburn House Office Building tonight. “‘Brothers On the Line’ weaves a dramatic tale of one family’s quest to compel American democracy to live up to its promise of equality, resulting in a timely blueprint of successful social action,” Conyers writes in his “Dear Colleague” invite.
In the movie, the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), among others, including Conyers, attests to the political influence of the Reuthers as well as the cultural ramifications of the labor movement in a time of social and economic upheaval.
The film by Sasha Reuther, the grandson of Victor, screened Tuesday evening at the Landmark E Street Cinema as part of Filmfest DC.
No word on whether the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and Detroit native Mitt Romney — whose father, George, ran American Motors Corp. during the time of the Reuthers’ stewardship of UAW — has been invited.
“It obviously takes a historical perspective, but considering the Occupy movement, the recall movement in Wisconsin — there’s rumblings, and this film really touches a chord,” Sasha Reuther tells HOH.



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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Medi Medi Has Mini Effect

Keep in mind that none of the States Child Welfare programming was included in this data match program.  The reason why is the State Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Units never get referrals of fraud as this would be a conflict of interest in defending the contracted agencies which engage in Medicaid fraud.

The Medi-Medi program produced limited results and few fraud referrals. During 2007 and 2008, the program—in which 10 States had chosen to participate—received $60 million in appropriations and it avoided and recouped $57.8 million. The program produced 66 referrals to law enforcement, and law enforcement accepted 27 of these. Among the 10 participating States collectively, each State averaged 2.8 Medicare referrals to law enforcement per year; law enforcement accepted an average of 1.15 referrals per State per year. In comparison, each State averaged 0.5 Medicaid referrals to law enforcement per year; law enforcement accepted an average of 0.2 referrals per State per year. Also, State Medicaid programs received less benefit from the Medi-Medi program than Medicare received. Of the $46.2 million total in Medicare and Medicaid expenditures recouped through the program during 2007 and 2008, more than three-quarters—$34.9 million—was recouped for Medicare. HHS OIG MEdicare-Medicaid (MEDI MEDI) Data Match Program Review Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Pa CPS Takes Children From Father VIDEO's 1-5

Pa CPS Takes Children From Father VIDEO's 1-5 LK: http://legallykidnapped.blogspot.com/2012/04/pa-cps-takes-children-from-father.html#ixzz1soyBuEaW This is the Actual Footage of CPS in Pa taking children from a father on the fathers Birthday on FEB 13th 2012. The reason because father would'nt allow entry of the CPS case worker into the house. LK: http://legallykidnapped.blogspot.com/2012/04/pa-cps-takes-children-from-father.html#ixzz1sovVs6cp THIS VIDEO IS PROTECTED BY THE 1ST AND 14TH AMENDMENT. ANY REPRODUCTION WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF PARENTSRIGHTS@ROCKETMAIL.COM LK: http://legallykidnapped.blogspot.com/2012/04/pa-cps-takes-children-from-father.html#ixzz1soy6OJoJ Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Task force on children exposed to violence holds last public hearing Monday in Detroit


Task force on children exposed to violence holds last public hearing Monday in Detroit


U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's task force on children exposed to violence is holding its last public hearing Monday in Detroit. Holder launched the task force in the fall as part of his Defending Childhood initiative, with ex-New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre as co-chair. The task force is to take public testimony 5-7 p.m. Monday at Wayne State University's Adamany Undergraduate Library.

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Saturday, April 21, 2012

Shanelle Jackson Michigan 13th Congressional Campaign Activities Raise Serious Questions

Michigan House Representative
Shanelle Jackson
According to the latest Federal Election Campaign (FEC) filings Shanelle Jackson may be disqualified a candidate in the Michigan 13th Congressional District House race.

In her initial FEC Statement of Organization filings, Ms. Jackson indicated two types of candidate committees.  The rule only allows for one.  A response is due by April 30, 2012.

Michigan House Representative Jackson faces further challenges with her campaign filings with the State of Michigan.

It seems when she filed her state annual campaign statement with the Secretary of State, her beginning balance was registered as $0.00 with zero dollars in contributions and disbursements, contrary to the previous year filing.  Response was due February 17, 2012.

The erroneous report prompted a referral to the State Attorney General for investigation but I will put a disclaimer and state that the database has been known to be slow in updating but in this instance, I highly doubt it.

What makes the campaign activities of Representative Jackson relevant to my mission is twofold.

First, this is fraud and this is why:

During the time of the initial FEC filing there was opportunity for various co-mingling of funds.

Were funds solicited under the guise of state activities for a federal race or were funds transferred from a state campaign committee to a federal campaign committee?

One could question if some of those contributions went unreported towards personal and political gain such as paying legal fees in the State Attorney General investigation of her questionable campaign finance activities.



Better yet, as there was indication of two types of Congressional Campaign Committees, were funds solicited under the guise to attack other candidates in the race which brings me to the second reason why this situation has my passionate, undivided attention.

Campaign finance is a hot button federal issue and as a federal candidate, Ms. Jackson should have known this.  Her actions are either misfeasance or malfeasance; I reject the former.

I have previously questioned Representative Jackson's political and campaign activities with only the discerning charm that I possess.

As all the other candidates are male in the 13th Congressional District Democratic race, there can be no one to say this is an attack on a woman.

This is just personal.

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Conyers: Trickle-Down Economics Inspired "Small Business" Tax Cut a Giveaway to the Wealthy That Does Not Create Jobs



(WASHINGTON) – Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released this statement following the House’s passage of H.R. 9, the “Small Business Tax Cut Act”, a trickle-down economics inspired tax giveaway to the wealthy that does little to spur small business growth or create jobs.     

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.
“Disguised as a small business tax cut, H.R. 9 is yet another attempt by the Republican Majority to create a new windfall tax break for the wealthy.  H.R. 9 is a fiscally irresponsible $46 billion tax gimmick which will increase the deficit and not guarantee any new domestic job creation or economic growth. This bill does not provide any incentive for employers to create jobs in the United States, and therefore will have no meaningful impact on our economy.  In fact, this bill still provides the tax break to companies that outsource the jobs of American workers.

“Congress should be passing measures such as infrastructure spending, which have a lasting impact on the economy.  Instead, the Republicans push H.R. 9, which according to the nonpolitical Joint Committee on Taxation, has an impact on the economy ‘so small as to be incalculable.’  There are far more effective ways to encourage job creation and economic growth than found in H.R. 9.  Last year, the Congressional Budget Office analyzed more than a dozen policy proposals for their impact on economic growth and job creation based on their budgetary costs.  It concluded that the policy reflected in H.R. 9 ranked next to dead last.  For $46 billion, the American people expect more than one new job for every $1.1 million in tax cuts in this wealthy business tax cut bill.

“The Republicans claim that H.R. 9 will help small businesses.  But instead of targeting those small businesses which could truly use a tax break, the Republicans have chosen to define a ‘small’ business simply by its number of employees rather than by any other descriptor.  Such a broad definition will include 99.6% of all American businesses, including those so-called ‘small businesses’ owned or managed by multimillionaire hedge fund and private equity managers, law firms and lobbyists, owners of sports teams, and companies which ship jobs overseas.  In fact, only 16 percent of the tax cut would benefit the 76 percent of small business employers making less than $200,000, while nearly half of the tax cut would benefit business owners with incomes exceeding $1 million.

“H.R. 9 is an ineffective proposal to maximize benefits for those small businesses – the local restaurants and mom-and-pop shop owners on Main Street – which create jobs and have a vested interest in our local communities.

“Bruce Bartlett, a former advisor to Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, said it best when he wrote recently that H.R. 9 ‘will do nothing whatsoever to increase employment.  It is nothing more than an election year giveaway to a favored Republican constituency and should not be taken seriously.’  I could not agree more. 

“H.R. 9 is simply a handout of taxpayer money to the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the middle class.”
###




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Thursday, April 19, 2012

U.S. Lawmakers Seek 'Year of the Korean War Veteran'

U.S. Lawmakers Seek 'Year of the Korean War Veteran'


Four U.S. lawmakers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War have proposed designating 2012-2013 the "Year of the Korean War Veteran." They are Reps Charles Rangel, John Conyers, Sam Johnson and Howard Coble.

The proposal came at the request of a U.S. Defense Department committee that has been tasked with commemorating the Korean War with events such as a national campaign to honor American veterans.
President Lee Myung-bak salutes four Korean War veterans in the Capitol Hall in Washing D.C. in October last year.
President Lee Myung-bak salutes four Korean War veterans in the Capitol Hall in Washing D.C. in October last year.

 Last year, the four lawmakers co-sponsored a bill seeking to construct a memorial wall with the names of soldiers who died in the Korean War as part of efforts to keep the war from being forgotten.



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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Conyers Pledges to Support Constitutional Amendment to Limit Secret Corporate Campaign Cash in Elections Permitted Under Citizens United



(WASHINGTON) – Today, at a Congressional Summit on Overturning Citizens United, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) pledged to work towards passing a constitutional amendment to expressly permit Congress the power to regulate corporate spending in federal elections. The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizen’s United v. FEC equated corporate campaign donations with free speech, overturned established federal campaign finance laws, and opened the floodgates on unlimited campaign spending by Super PACs. The summit highlighted local, state, and federal efforts to limit the ruling by amending the U.S. Constitution. Ranking Member Conyers along with Representative Donna Edwards (D-Md.) have introduced one such amendment in the House this Congress as H.J. Res. 78.


Ranking Member Conyers released this statement following the summit:

U.S. Representagtive
John Conyers, Jr.
“The Supreme Court’s holding that corporate political speech is no different than an individual citizen’s political speech was not the law when the Constitution was written, was not the law before the Supreme Court’s decision, and should not be the law in the future. The Citizens United decision undermines citizens’ faith in our Nation’s democratic process. Congress regulated corporate campaign donations to limit not only the potential for corruption, but also the appearance of corruption. The mere appearance of impropriety has a corrosive effect on voters’ belief in the legitimacy of the government.

“Fortunately, we have options to preserve the integrity of our democratic electoral system. To date, 12 proposals to amend the Constitution in response to Citizens United have been introduced this Congress, including H.J. Res. 78. I accept the Supreme Court’s authority to determine the law’s constitutionality. But many of my colleagues and I respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision in this matter. That is why I pledged to support amending the Constitution of the United States to restore the rights of the American people, undermined by Citizens United and related cases, to protect the integrity of our elections and limit the corrosive influence of money in our democratic process.

“Congress needs to take a leading role in initiating the process to amend the Constitution. As elected officials, it is imperative that we demonstrate to the American people our dedication to the principal that the voters, not moneyed corporate interests, should determine the outcome of elections. A constitutional amendment providing Congress the explicit authority to regulate corporate campaign contributions would do much to restore the American people’s faith in honest and fair elections.”


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Restrictive State Voter ID Laws: The Real Threat to Voting Rights



U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.
(WASHINGTON) – Today, the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution held a hearing on “Voting Wrongs: Oversight of the Justice Department’s Voting Rights Enforcement.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Justice Department’s recent handling of voting rights matters, including the Department’s decision to challenge certain state’s restrictive voter identification laws. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released this statement following the hearing.

“Since 2011, 15 states have introduced legislation that negatively impacts access to voting. Many of these state laws limit voting by requiring the presentation of photo identification. According to one witness today, Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice, that could mean up to 11% of legal voters may be barred from the polls. Furthermore these laws disproportionately harm student, elderly, and minority voters.

“One in four African Americans do not possess acceptable IDs. Some states, such as Texas, exclude some common forms of identification– such as student IDs – while specifically including others, like concealed carry permits, in an apparent attempt to favor certain classes of voters over others. Other laws limit or outright eliminate early voting opportunities which could disproportionately harm elderly voters.

“We should have used the hearing to discuss how these laws run afoul of the courts’ jurisprudence on voting rights and to explore the real problems that minorities, the elderly, young voters, and our brave men and women serving overseas are currently facing as they seek to participate in the democratic process.

“Supporters of these laws argue they are necessary to combat ‘voter fraud.’ But they can offer little real evidence for the widespread existence of such a problem. And in light of this Committee’s recent history of bipartisanship in reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, it is disappointing to see Members defending laws that appear to have a real, measurable and negative impact on voter participation. The Committee should examine the real threat these laws pose to hard fought voting rights, not spend its time looking for evidence for a problem that does not exist.”

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Conyers: Equal Pay for Women Also A Civil Rights Issue for Working Families



(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released the following statement marking Equal Pay Day. This day marks the point at which a woman, on average, has finally earned the same amount as her male counterpart during the previous year. As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee during the 111th Congress, Representative Conyers helped send to President Obama’s desk the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pair Act, which restored to women and other workers who are the victims of discriminatory decisions or practices the right to sue for just compensation.

“Equal pay for women is a civil rights issue that is increasingly not just a question of equality under the law for the individual but also one of economic justice for working people and their families,” said Conyers. “This is because pay discrimination effects not only the woman being discriminated against but her family as well. Working families are increasingly reliant on the wages earned by women to make ends meet. In 1983, a woman’s wages in a typical married household accounted for 29 percent of the family’s total income. In 2008, that number had risen to 36 percent. America’s working families literally cannot afford to continue to live in a Nation where women still only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.”

“I consider helping to make the Lilly Ledbetter Act the law of the land one of my proudest achievements as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. But Congress needs to do more. That is why I am also an original cosponsor of H.R. 1519, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which provides a much-needed update to the 49-year-old Equal Pay Act by providing effective remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages for doing equal work.

“In order to strengthen working families and ensure fairness in this important aspect of American women’s lives, Congress must work together to make sure the right to equal pay for equal work is enshrined in the law and adhered to in every workplace across the Nation.”


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