America / Culture / Other / Politics / Rule of Law / U.S. Domestic Policy

Memo to the Grand Ole Party: Wake Up and Smell the Cafe con Leche

With the recent announcement of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s endorsement of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, things are about to get really interesting concerning the GOP’s relationship with America’s fastest growing demographic group (i.e. Hispanics). As a darling of the tea-party, Gov. Jan Brewer’s latest political move is clearly meant to shore up and consolidate Gov. … Continue reading

Economy / Energy / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

EPA Budget Hearing: More Theatrics than the Academy Awards

The Oscars happened Sunday. I say the event “happened” as the actual event was quite underwhelming, with a group of artists patting each other on the back at artistically expressing the views they saw pertinent, while the true underlying issues of society were poked, joked, and unfocused. Very similarly, representative members of the Energy and … Continue reading

America / Culture / Economy / Gov. Officials / Healthcare / Other / Politics / Presidency / Regulation / Rule of Law / Tax / U.S. Domestic Policy

Obamacare’s Medicaid Mandates on States; Oppresive and Wrong on Every Level

There are many unconstitutional elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). One of these elements, lurking the midst, not getting the attention it should receive in the mainstream, at least not anymore, is unconstitutional Federal mandates on the states (as it relates to Medicaid). Under Obamacare states can choose to either … Continue reading

America / Economy / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

State vs. Federal: the Fundamental Fight without the Facts

Judge Robert L. Hinkle on Saturday, February 18, 2012 upheld the 2009 determination that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had jurisdiction to mandate clean water regulations on the state of Florida’s major water bodies. In 1998, EPA mandated Florida to develop new rules to develop nutrient criteria on limiting phosphorus and nitrogen in waterways, which … Continue reading

America / Education / Energy / Gov. Officials / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

The Scientists Strike Back

On Friday, the Energy and Environment Subcommittee held the second hearing “Fostering Quality Science at EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform.” At this hearing, the overarching theme was attack and response of the EPA research and risk analysis process. Again, Representative Harris and Representative Miller acted in dichotomous, conflicting positions attacking and defending the EPA, … Continue reading

Economy / Politics / U.S. Domestic Policy

President details housing plan, imperfect and ill-timed

Lost in the mire of political news about yet another trillion-dollar deficit and the latest from the campaign trail are a number of important developments in housing. This week the President kicked off the campaign to sell his plan for solving America’s housing market woes, a plan he outlined in the State of the Union. … Continue reading

America / Economy / Education / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy / Uncategorized

The Lost Generation

On Wednesday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) hosted a seminar on Restoring the Middle Class. Senator Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, outlined his need plan to attempt to restore middle class section of America. He began with “Over the past year, Republicans have been pushing not … Continue reading