U.S. Adds Israel and Removes North Korea From Terrorist List

TheBlaze reported yesterday and NewsMax today that Israel has being added to a U.S. Terror List. Any one wondering where the Heads of DHS and ICE are presently residing. Sort of like Deja Vu only substituting Israel for patriotic Americans previous placed on watch lists. Recalling a prior report on the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State of Missouri: "On February 20, 2009, the State of Missouri, via its Department of Public Safety, issued what was called "MIAC Strategic Report: The Modern Militia Movement." In this report, people who supported Presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin were referenced as being connected to potentially dangerous "militia members." But the inference did not stop there. People of "conservative" ideology were also identified in the State Police report as being potentially dangerous. People who held political opinions opposing abortion, illegal immigration, the New World Order, the North American Union, the Income Tax, the U.N., etc., were profiled in the MIAC report.". No Islamic extremists. No environmental extremists. Only people holding "conservative" or "right-wing" philosophies were identified in the MIAC report.

Now, we find another agency of DHS has identified resident from the only democratic country in the Middle East, an ally of the United States, to be on a DHS watch list while those from North Korea, who is a sworn enemy of the United States, are removed from the terrorist list. Who running this American Government DHS NutHouse?

The Blaze:

The Obama administration has added Israel to a list of 36 ‘specially designated’ countries that have ‘shown a tendency to promote, produce, or protect terrorist organizations or their members.’

The ‘specially designated country’ list is used by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to screen detained foreigners with an extra step, called a “Third Agency Check.” Overall, the countries on the list are unsurprising, with two exceptions this year. Israel was not on the  list in 2008, but now in 2011, it has been added. North Korea, on the other hand, was dropped from the list this year but was on it in 2008.

The Department of Homeland Security published the list of “specially designated countries”  as an appendix to a publicly released report on May 11 report entitled “Supervision of Aliens Commensurate With Risk.”

As reported by CNS News, ICE Spokeswoman Gillian Christensen claims the creation of the list began at least seven years ago during the Bush administration, and ICE was not responsible for creating it. According to a written statement by Christensen:

“The U.S. does not and never has considered Israel to have links to terrorism, but rather they are a partner in our efforts to combat global terrorism. Countries may have been included on the list because of the backgrounds of arrestees, not because of the country’s government itself.”

There are only five countries on the list that do not have majority Muslim populations, and those countries have had serious internal problems with radical Muslim terrorist groups or insurgencies.

NewsMax:

The United States has designated Israel as a country that tends to “promote, produce, or protect terrorists,” while at the same time calling the country an anti-terror partner. The designation is an admission that Israel not only is surrounded by countries and territories that produce terrorists but also unwillingly harbors terrorists within its own territory, CNSNews.com reported.

Also on the list of 36 such countries are the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza, as well as Israel’s four neighbors of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General published the list of "specially designated countries" as part of its “Supervision of Aliens Commensurate with Risk” report, CNSNews reported.

“The U.S. does not and never has considered Israel to have links to terrorism, but rather they are a partner in our efforts to combat global terrorism,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Gillian Christensen told CNSNews. “Countries may have been included on the list because of the backgrounds of arrestees, not because of the country’s government itself.”

ICE would not say who put Israel on the list or when. However, Christensen said the list was created at least seven years ago, during the presidency of George W. Bush, and that ICE was not responsible for creating it.

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Tags: Unites States, DHS, Israel, North Korea, terrorist, list To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

While Obama Simply Calls For Tax Hikes, Republicans Offer Solutions and Push For Balanced Budget Amendment

Today in Washington, D.C. - June 30, 2011:
The House is still in recess until after the 4th of July. The Senate scheduled for a recess next week, has cancelled the recess and will return after the long Fourth of July weekend to get back to work. The focus remains on the raising the amount of money the government may barrow - thus raising the national debt. Democrats focus on spending and more taxes. Republicans focus on reducing federal spending and a Balanced Budget Amendment.

Today, the Senate begins debate on the nomination of Gen. David Petraeus to be the CIA director. Around 2 PM, the Senate will vote on the nomination.

Yesterday, the Senate voted 79-20 to pass S. 679, the nominations reform bill. Following that vote, the Senate rejected an amendment from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to S. Res. 116 that would have required CRS reports on whether new legislation would establish duplicative programs. The amendment needed 65 votes to pass. The Senate then voted 89-8 to adopt S. Res. 116, the resolution streamlining Senate rules on nominations.

Prior to passage of S. 679, the Senate rejected 2 amendments to the bill from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), one to block certain loans to the IMF and  one to remove various congressional affairs and press positions from the scope of the bill. The Senate agreed to amendments from Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to remove military comptrollers from the bill and from Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) removing IMF governors from the bill by voice vote.

Politico reported yesterday, “As President Barack Obama told reporters that Republicans ‘don’t want a balanced approach’ in debt talks, Senate Republicans on Wednesday stepped up pressure on Democrats to help pass a constitutional amendment requiring the government to balance its budget each year. ‘We expect that [Obama] will be pushing for tax increases as a condition to get some kind of deficit-reduction package,’ Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said at a Capitol Hill news conference that coincided with one Obama held with reporters at the White House. ‘Our view is: A good first step is a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.’ About a dozen GOP senators lined up before the cameras to speak on the need for such an amendment. . . . All 47 Senate Republicans have co-sponsored a balanced-budget proposal authored by Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee. . . . [McConnell] successfully requested Wednesday that the balanced-budget proposal be placed on the Senate calendar so it can bypass the committee process and be brought directly to the floor at a later date. He said last weekend he wants the Senate to vote on the proposal the week of July 18.”

The Republican call for a balanced budget amendment was in marked contrast to Obama’s press conference at the same time, where the president was calling for tax increases. As National Review Online’s Andrew Stiles put it, “While President Obama was accusing them of wanting to raid scholarship accounts for needy children in order to incinerate the money in the engine of some rich guy’s private jet (or something), Senate Republicans launched an effort to pass a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, urging Congress to impose on itself the same budgetary rules by which 49 out of 50 (all but Vermont) states must abide.”

In a speech today, Leader McConnell detailed the problems with what President Obama said at his press conference. “What I heard him propose is that we solve the debt crisis by spending more money. And that we solve a jobs crisis by raising taxes. . . . ‘His own Small Business Administration has told him not to enact one of the tax hikes he’s now proposing on job creators because, quote, ‘they could force many small businesses to close.’ Fourteen million people out of work and he wants to take an action that could force small businesses across the country to close? That’s his vision of ‘shared sacrifice?’ I think the American worker has sacrificed enough. Besides, all of us know that Congress isn’t going to approve hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes — it’s not going to happen. We’ve known that for six months — and we’ve been saying it all along. These are tax hikes that couldn’t pass last year when the Democrats ran this town. The President doesn’t seem to get it.”

As Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl said yesterday, “Getting the nation out of debt is a long-term proposition, one that requires a firm and steady commitment to responsible spending policies.  The Balanced Budget Amendment would require Congress to balance the budget the right way:  by cutting spending and implementing policies that promote economic growth and job creation. . . .We need to act now. A balanced budget amendment to  the Constitution is the best way to bring this under control, to put us on a sustainable fiscal path, and help encourage the kind of job creation and economic growth that we badly need.”

Today, Sen Scott Toomey (R-PA) held a a conference with bloggers to discuss Senate Republicans’ push for a balanced budget amendment, controlling government spending, and the ongoing debt negotiations.  Toomey has joined all 47 Senate Republicans in cosponsoring an amendment to the Constitution requiring the federal government balance its budget.  Sen. Toomey said, “The mountain of debt and deficits we’re running is already having a chilling effect on job creation because small businesses and entrepreneurs are unwilling to make an investment, unwilling to hire a worker, with the threat of inflation, high interest rates, and high taxes that these deficits and this debt implies.”  He emphasized the financial crisis that our country is facing with the current size of "our debt being 70% of our GDP."  He also identified that "this debt does not count intergovernmental obligations; it does not count the contingent liabilities - the guarantees that we applied to the debt of Freddy and Fannie, and does not count the Tens of Trillions of dollars of unfunded big entitlement programs."

Sen. Toomey described the Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) as being "bold, dramatic, and something the American people understand and beleive in and something that will solve this problem."  The BBA will force Congress and the Federal government to live within our means.  However, of great importance is to also prevent government under a BBA from  continuously raising of taxes and revenue so government can spend more money.  So the proposed Republican sponsored BBA includes according to Toomey, "A spending limitation whereby spending could not exceed 18% of GDP and they it includes a 'super-majority' vote by both houses of Congress to raise taxes."

Bill Smith, ARRA News Service editor, expressed concern to Sen. Toomey, that republicans do not compromise to get democrat votes on the BBA when trying to deal with the immediate problem that are being faced right now. We need the amendment but we also need to right now limit spending when Democrats are still pushing for more spending and higher taxes. Sen. Toomey responded, "I agree, I and many of his colleagues are advocating that in addition to passing the balanced budget amendment that as a condition of raising the debt limit we establish some real caps that would take effect immediately because as you point out it would take several years before a balanced budget amendment would be adopted by the States and this one is designed to take effect several years after the amendment is adopted."

House Republicans have already proposed two versions of a Balanced Budget Amendments. While the Senate would prefer their version, it appears that once thing they need to do is to shorten the implementation date when the BBA would take effect.

While passage of BBA is both important and the right approach to tackling future Washington’s spending and debt problems, faced with the many years until a passed BBA could be ratified and then implemented. Right now, it is critical that "We the People" hold our senators and representatives accountable and to push them to do something now - not years from now - to limit spending and reduce the size of government and entitlement programs. If we don't, we may be bankrupt and our economy permanently destroyed long before any BBA would take effect. The House Republican Committee's plan to Cut, Cap and Balance represent the people's needs right now.

Check Out:
House "Cut, Cap and Balance" Plan on Cavuto
Cut, Cap, & Balance - Let Me Spell It Out for You
Don't Be A Chicken - Cut, Cap & Balance

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Tags: Washington, D.C., US Senate, Scott Toomey, Cut, Cap, Balance, US House, US Senate, Republicans, spending cuts, caps on federal spending, Balanced Budget Amendment, BBA, U.S. Constitution To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Getting Arkansas' First District Back to Work

Rep. Rick Crawford

Rep. Rick Crawford, Opt-Ed: While Congress is stalemated over fixing our debt problem, millions of unemployed Americans are asking why we aren’t focused on jobs. There are diverse opinions on how to solve our fiscal crisis, but we can all agree economic growth is key to both reducing the debt and creating jobs. Economic progress should start with three basic principles: overhauling our complex tax system, scrapping unneeded regulations, and encouraging domestic energy production.

The recent jobs report was abysmal. The economy is at a standstill and the unemployment rate has been stubbornly stuck above eight percent for 28 consecutive months. In a speech to car manufacturers, President Barack Obama likened the job numbers to “bumps in the road to recovery.”

The president’s remarks are insincere for two reasons. First, the “bumps” he referenced are the failed policies of a broken Washington. Second, under President Obama’s tenure, the bumps in the road have turned into potholes.

Ironically, while the president is scratching his head about the struggling economy, the answer is right in front of his face. All he needs to do is ask the people who led the way in every economic recovery this country has seen: small business owners.

A quick look at history will give you all the answers you need. During the period of economic prosperity following the late 1980s, three-fourths of job creation was generated by small businesses.

How did this happen?

It was the new-found ability for businesses to access capital. When President Ronald Reagan lowered tax rates, it unleashed a massive amount of investment in the private sector because businesses could stretch their dollar without facing excessively high taxes. Increased access to capital led to investment, which created jobs.

In the House of Representatives, my conservative colleagues and I have a plan. The plan is to spur economic growth in a similar fashion by reducing overall tax rates, broadening the tax base, and eliminating unfair tax deductions and credits that favor companies with powerful teams of Washington lobbyists.

As the hardworking people of the First District know, the government makes it harder on job creators by bogging them down with burdensome regulations. Farmers are facing skyrocketing compliance costs due to the overreaching Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A prime example of job-killing policies is the EPA's outrageous proposal to heavily regulate farm dust under the Clean Air Act. This regulation alone threatens thousands of agriculture-related jobs – hitting Arkansas especially hard.

As a Member of the Committee on Agriculture, I’ve heard testimony from various regulators on policies that place an unfair burden on job creators. When asked how much consideration they give to the effect proposed regulations have on jobs, they cannot provide an answer at all.

The President has no reason to be surprised by a high unemployment rate when his own agency appointees don’t even evaluate the economic consequences of their actions.

Perhaps the most costly problem affecting businesses - along with the wallets of nearly every American - is outrageous gas prices. The average household is forced to spend over $300 per month on fuel. As oil prices doubled during the Obama presidency, what has he done to address this growing cost on American families and businesses? He places a drilling moratorium on the Gulf Coast and travels to Brazil publicly stating that America would like to be “their best customer.”

Since my arrival in Congress, I voted in favor of two measures that encourage oil exploration in the United States. Unfortunately, these bills are held up in the Senate, where too often good bills go to die.

As a Member of Congress who was elected to steer our country back on track, my top priority remains getting Arkansans back to work. And that begins by scaling back the reach of government and enacting policies that allow the economy to grow.

With unemployment hovering at an unacceptable rate, one thing is clear: We cannot drag our feet any longer. The time to act is now.
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In 2010, Rick became the first Republican ever elected to represent Arkansas’s First Congressional District since Reconstruction, and he is honored to serve on the Agriculture and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees in the 112th Congress. Rick and his wife Stacy, also an ASU graduate, live in Jonesboro with their two children.

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Tags: Rick Crawford, Arkansas, 1st Congressional District, US Representative, jobs, work, unemployment To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

TSA Diaper Issue

ARRA Editor: The following cartoon by A.F. Branco may be satire, but it truly relates the absurdity going on at the TSA (Totally Stupid Administration) and it needs to cease. Consider this: if the grandma had been a Berka dressed woman, she would have been waived through without further questioning. Besides the insanity of the actions being perpetrated on Americans, we are paying these people and the Federal government is already broke. I don't blame the people working at TSA, I blame the administration for their even being required or authorized to perpetrate such actions on our fellow citizens.

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A.F. Branco:

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Tags: A.F. Branco, political cartoon, satire, TSA, diaper, seniors To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Senate Republicans Unite To Push Balanced Budget Amendment

Update 2;13 CDT: President Obama today called for higher taxes instead of larger spending cuts as part of his request for a debt limit increase. Speaker John Boehner responded to the remarks by President Obama:

“The President's remarks today ignore legislative and economic reality, and demonstrate remarkable irony. His administration has been burying our kids and grandkids in new debt and offered no plan to rein in spending. Republicans have been leading and offering solutions to put the brakes on this spending binge. The President has been AWOL from that debate.

The President is sorely mistaken if he believes a bill to raise the debt ceiling and raise taxes would pass the House. The votes simply aren’t there – and they aren’t going to be there, because the American people know tax hikes destroy jobs. They also know Washington has been on a spending binge for many years, and they will only tolerate a debt limit increase if we stop it.

The new majority in the House is going to stand with the American people. A debt limit increase can only pass the House if it includes spending cuts larger than the debt limit increase; includes reforms to hold down spending in the future; and is free from tax hikes. The longer the President denies these realities, the more difficult he makes this process. If the president embraces a measure that meets these tests, he has my word that the House will act on it. Anything less cannot pass the House.”

Today in Washington, D.C. - June 29, 2011:
Confronted by the House Republicans standing for reducing governments and balancing the budget and the Senate Republicans today kicking off a media blitz to push a balanced budget amendment, President Obama took to the air waives via a White House press conference. What we heard and saw was more pontification and questionable rhetoric with minimum leadership in reducing the size of government, releasing the economic engine of America or stopping the wasting the use of military resources in Libya and other locations with no direct impact on today's American interests. Seeking now to Fact Check his comments.

House in Recess. Senate resumed consideration of S. 679, the nominations reform bill. Before have began 4 roll call votes on pending amendments to the bill, followed by a vote on final passage. The bill will require 60 votes to pass. The amendments the Senate will consider are two from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), one to block certain loans to the IMF and one to remove various congressional affairs and press positions from the scope of the bill, one from Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), to remove military comptrollers from the bill, and one from Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) removing IMF governors from the bill.

After the Senate completes work on S. 679, it will take up S. Res. 116, the resolution streamlining Senate rules on nominations. Following an hour of debate, the Senate is scheduled to vote on an amendment from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). If all amendments to the resolution are worked through, the Senate could vote on passage of S. Res. 116 today.

Roll Call reports today, “Republican Senators are set to kick off a media blitz to push a balanced budget amendment, beginning Wednesday in D.C. and building up through their July Fourth recess next week, when Members will flood local papers and airwaves with support. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) laid the groundwork for the campaign Sunday, when he told ABC News that he would call for a mid-July vote. More than a dozen lawmakers will hold a news conference Wednesday morning to reintroduce the bill they touted in March, followed by colloquies on the floor Wednesday and Thursday and multiple television appearances throughout the week.”

Indeed, though President Obama is also holding a news conference this morning, Senate Republicans will be offering an important contrast with the president. At the same time President Obama is explaining to reporters why he thinks taxpayers should take the hit for his out of control spending, a large group of Senate Republicans will be fighting to make the government live within its means and balance its budget.

Roll Call adds, “All 47 Members of the Republican Conference have united behind the balanced budget amendment, a rare occurrence in a Conference that encompasses moderates such as Olympia Snowe of Maine and tea party darlings like Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah. . . . In March, 10 Democrats backed a ‘sense of the Senate’ amendment offered by Lee in support of a balanced budget amendment: Mark Begich (Alaska), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Tom Carper (Del.), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Mark Udall (Colo.). . . . ‘America faces a choice — do we go broke or do we enact a balanced budget amendment to slash our over $14 trillion debt? That’s why we are forcing this debate that Washington Democrats don’t want to have, because we have to start living within our means,’ said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who will lead the floor colloquy Wednesday.”

Speaking on the floor this morning, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained the importance of a balanced budget amendment in the context of the starkly different approaches of Republicans and Democrats to our nation’s fiscal crisis. “Republicans believe that if you increase spending to the point that you can no longer pay the bills, then you need to find a way to cut costs. Democrats seem to think that if you increase spending to the point that you can no longer pay the bills, you need to find other people to pick up the tab. This is the fundamental difference between the two parties in this debate: Republicans think that Democrats should be held accountable for the way they’ve mismanaged the national checkbook over the past two years, and Democrats seem to think taxpayers should take the hit.”

“Democrats spent beyond their means, and now they expect a bailout — from the taxpayers. That’s what this debate is all about: it’s about holding Washington accountable for a change. It’s about drawing a line in the sand and saying, no, the taxpayers will not bail out politicians. It’s about refusing to subsidize the Democrats’ irresponsible spending habits another day. Democrats have shown through their reckless spending over the past two years that they’re not all that concerned about our fiscal future. They shouldn’t expect to be rewarded for it.”

“And that’s why all 47 Republicans in the Senate support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The debate we’ve been having here over the past few days shows more than ever why we need a Balanced Budget Amendment in Congress. A Balanced Budget Amendment would require that lawmakers stop spending money we don’t have. And when we come back from the July 4^th break we will fight for an opportunity to vote for it. Broke or Balanced. That’s the choice. The American people should know where their senators stand on this issue of accountability. Senators can talk all day long . . . A vote in favor of the Balanced Budget Amendment will show that they mean it. A vote against it will show that they don’t. . . . Republicans are totally united in this effort. All we need is 20 Democrats to join us.”

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Tags: Washington, D.C., Republican, Balanced Budget Amendment, US Senate, Democrats, federal sppending, Barack Obama To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Dueling Approaches

As Democrats Work To Make Taxpayers Take The Hit, Republicans Are Fighting To Force The Government To Balance Its Budget Instead

Republicans Push For A Balanced Budget Amendment
“Republican Senators are set to kick off a media blitz to push a balanced budget amendment, beginning Wednesday in D.C. and building up through their July Fourth recess next week, when Members will flood local papers and airwaves with support.” (“Senate GOP Unifies Over Balanced Budget Message,” Roll Call, 6/28/11)

“All 47 Members of the Republican Conference have united behind the balanced budget amendment, a rare occurrence in a Conference that encompasses moderates such as Olympia Snowe of Maine and tea party darlings like Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah.” (“Senate GOP Unifies Over Balanced Budget Message,” Roll Call, 6/28/11)

‘Most Important To Us Democrats, Revenue,’ ‘Tax – You Know – Revenue Increases’
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “If we could agree on the pieces most important to us Democrats, revenue…” (“Senate GOP Keeps High Bar In Debt Talks,” Politico, 6/20/11)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “Make no mistake, there needs to be revenues in any deal.” (Sen. Schumer, Teleconference, 6/24/11)

SCHUMER: “…tax – you know – revenue increase...” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/27/11)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I think we have to look at revenues… And I hope that that's what the president will talk about tomorrow.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 4/12/11)

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D-IA): “…we must act decisively to raise revenues…” (Sen. Harkin, Congressional Record, S.3983-4, 6/22/11)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Low taxes “insane” and “immoral.” “Republicans say [revenues are] off of the table. That is an equation that is insane, it’s immoral, and as you’ve just indicated, it is not good economic policy.” (MSNBC, 6/28/11)

SEN. CLAIRE McCASKILL (D-MO): “We also have to look at the revenue side.” (Fox News’ “Hannity,” 6/17/11)

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Tags: US Senate, republican, democrat, positions, dueling, tax increases, balanced budget, BBA, balanced budget amendment To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Benko: The Gold Standard Prefers Main Street to Wall Street

Bill Smith, Editor: The following article is by one of our contributing authors, Ralph Benko. This time, I wanted to also highlight that Ralph's article was however first run by friend and fellow blogger, Shane Vander Hart on Caffeinated Thoughts. Bloggers like to read and follow other good bloggers. And, Shane is a conservative blogger whose blog I make a point to routinely drop by and read as well following his posts daily via my Google reader with of course my caffeinated coffee.

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By Ralph Benko, Caffinated Thoughts: The Wall Street Journal on May 7^th, wrote a profile of the silver market precipitated by its sharp sell-off. Gregory Zuckerman and Carolyn Cui observe:

Long-time fans of precious metals often are mavericks who can be suspicious of mainstream securities firms, wary of financial catastrophe and reluctant to keep their money in the bank. They often rely on the advice of newsletter writers, obscure websites and coin-shop proprietors or their own research.

Once considered a haven for those with bleak economic outlooks or dystopian views of society, gold and silver began to rise early in the last decade, as investors searched for ways to protect against the falling dollar.

This encapsulates a peculiar but persistent attitude toward gold: “a haven for those with bleak economic outlooks or dystopian views of society.” There is much to this — in reference to an earlier class of investors.

This attitude is exemplified by a recent New York Times Magazine piece, “Gold Mania in the Yukon“ which observes:

Gold holds its value when national currencies collapse and is easily imported and universally traded. It feels like the perfect investment for the apocalypse. A few weeks ago, gold passed $1,500 an ounce, an astonishing level. George Soros warned of a bubble back when gold was barely over $1,000. Glenn Beck cried that the run was just beginning: just wait until the United States is bankrupt and the real trouble starts. Gold bulls talk of $2,000 gold, $5,000 gold, even $10,000 gold.

But precious metals now have drawn a far more sophisticated class of investor. Zuckerman and Cui describe how the big investors have “ formed two sides of an intellectual debate, pitting those who fear severe economic disruption against those who think the Federal Reserve can steer the economy to calmer territory.” He describes how George Soros’s fund, after buying and holding gold for two years in anticipation of deflation would cause the price of gold to soar, recently closed out their position. Why? Their belief that the Fed has dodged the deflationary bullet and will avert inflation through signals of intention to raise interest rates. John Paulson remains bullish on gold, believing that the Fed will lose its grip on inflation.

Latecomers to the gold standard story, like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, still have a lot of catching up to do with the media leaders Forbes.com (where this writer regularly publishes) and RealClearMarkets.com. These latter publications, edited by the sophisticated John Tamny, together with APIA’s Gold Standard 2012 and the Lehrman Institute’s online venue, with both of which this writer is professionally affiliated, set the pace worldwide for commentary on monetary policy and, especially, the reemergence of the gold standard as a mainstream policy option.

The paper dollar inherently is unstable. Traders as brilliant as Soros’s Keith Anderson and Paulson take opposite positions on how that instability is likely to manifest — inflation or deflation — and what impact either will have on the price of gold as a demonetized commodity.

There is a critical distinction to be made between gold as a commodity and gold as a policy option. Without the golden gyroscope, the dollar is prone to wild fluctuations and its inherent instability produces a severe drag on economic growth, job creation, and the ability of regular people to save and invest for their families and their future.

The gold standard removes the “casino” element injected into the world by the paper dollar standard. Wild fluctuations ultimately privilege the sophisticated. The gold standard is (small r) republican money. It restores security and prosperity to regular citizens. The gold standard prefers Main Street to Wall Street.
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Ralph Benko is senior advisor, economics, to American Principles in Action’s Gold Standard 2012 Initiative, a lead participant in the Iowa Tea Party’s upcoming Bus Tour. He co-led the gold standard breakout session at the Tea Party Patriots’ American Summit and is the editor of the Lehrman Institute’s The Gold Standard Now

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Tags: Ralph Benko, Gold Standard, Main Street, Wall Street, Caffeinated Thoughts To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

GOP Looks To Capitalize On Women’s Vote

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Note: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has filed for the Republican Nomination for President. Last election, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) was the Republican candidate for Vice President and may in the future also opt to run for President. It is not that the Republican party is being feminized or liberated.

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By Caroline May: While Democrats have long been seen as the party most concerned with women’s issues, Republicans won the women’s vote by one percentage point during the 2010 election cycle. Sensing blood in the water, the GOP is working to position itself to once again win the women’s vote in 2012 and — perhaps — beyond.

The highest ranking Republican woman in the House, Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is one of the major players in the fight to win women’s approval and votes. Indeed, the two-time vice chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues has been working hard to show that women’s issues are GOP issues.

According to McMorris Rodgers and her GOP colleagues, women start two out of every three new businesses, create nearly $2.5 trillion in revenue annually, manage 83% of household income, and represent the majority of America’s health care providers. “[Women] understand firsthand the impact of regulations, tax policy on starting a new business,” McMorris Rodgers told TheDC. “We need to continue to talk to women about health care. The health care bill that passed last year is not popular among women … [who] make the health care decisions for many households — for themselves, for their families — and they don’t like the idea of the federal government in the way of them being able to make those health care decisions.”

Despite rhetoric to the contrary, Democrats are no longer the best choice for women, said McMorris Rodgers. As the fairer sex begins seriously looking at the issues that affect them, they will see that the solutions Republicans have are the one which will benefit them the most.

According to the leading female Republicans, the GOP just needs to keep reaching out to women until they hear the message. “I really think we just need to do more to talk to women,” Rodgers said. “The Democrats for so long have been telling women in America that if you’re a woman you’re a Democrat, and now I think that more women are really taking a look at these issues and how they impact themselves, the opportunity to start a new business, raise a family …They’re looking for a party that’s actually going to ensure that we are taking those steps to leave a better America for our children and then grandchildren.”

McMorris Rodgers is one of the leading voices to bring more women into the party and the polls, galvanizing current Republican women and encouraging others to get into the movement. “I think it’s a great time to be a Republican woman, and what we’re seeing is that as more women see other women running for office, being successful, being given opportunities to be out front that they’re seeing other women do it, and they think, ‘You know what? If she can do it, I can do it.’”

Despite her sensitivity to women’s issues, McMorris Rodgers has little patience for women, especially Republican women, who throw down the sexism card at every turn. To her, it is best to stick to the issues and let the trivial fall by the wayside. “I think it feeds the victim mentality,” she said. “ And I don’t want us to be focusing on being — I don’t want it to sound like we’re victims. I want the focus to be more on the opportunities that are available.”

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This article/interview provided by "staff member" at the Republican Study Committee.

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Tags: GOP, Republicans, women, women's vote, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House RSC, Republican Study Committee, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Blogo - One Down, Hundred to Go

A.F. Branco, Comically Incorrect:

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Tags: A.F. Branco, political cartoon, Blogo, Illinois, Governor, Rod Blagojevich, democrat, convicted To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Dems Following Obama On Road to Destruction - WH Proposing $400 Billion In Taxes

Today in Washington, D.C. - June 28, 2011:
The House is on recess this week. The Senate reconvened  today and began consideration of the nominations of James Cole to be Deputy Attorney General, Virginia Seitz to be Assistant Attorney General, and Lisa Monaco to be Assistant Attorney General.  Not much concern as the Senate will also vote on these nominations today.

At 2:15, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 679, the nominations reform bill. Votes on amendments to the bill are possible this afternoon. There are 10 amendments pending to the bill.  When all amendments to S. 679 are worked through, the Senate will vote on passage of the bill (60 votes will be required) and the Senate will move to S. Res. 116, the resolution streamlining Senate rules on nominations.

Don't you just love this Democrat led Senate. They want Senators to give up their Constitutional requirement to advise and consent, so they will have more time to --- to do what -- NOTHING! The Democrats have not followed the authorization and appropriations process for years and have relied on ramming through massive Continuing Resolutions and in forcing massive bills through which have not been either read or vetted by due process through committees. No sunshine has been allowed in the process and the American people were not  permitted to read these prior massive spending bills until after they had became law.

With President Obama now personally engaged in talks about addressing this country’s massive debt and deficits in connection with the White House’s request to raise the debt ceiling, Democrats have  doubled down on their insistence on tax hikes. The democrats are refusing to reduce the size of the bloated wasteful Federal government. They have fixated on following their "fearless leader" down the road to destroying our American economy.

As CNN Money put it in a headline this morning, “Debt ceiling talks turn to taxes - higher taxes!”

The AP noted last night, “[B]oth sides only seemed to harden their positions as the day wore on, the administration insisting on higher taxes as part of the package but Republican leaders flatly rejecting the idea.” Further, according to the AP, “The White House is pushing for some tax increases on the wealthy or the elimination of tax breaks for big companies and wealthy individuals as part of a deficit-cutting plan. During the Biden-led negotiations, Democrats proposed about $400 billion in additional tax revenue, including ending subsidies to oil and gas companies, an idea that has failed previously in the Senate.”  And will be DOA in the House of Representatives.

Earlier today, both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senate Democrats’ message chief, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), came to the floor to "boohoo" that Republicans are standing in the way of the various tax increases they’re wish to imposing.

And last week, Democrats were explicit in their desire to raise taxes. Vice President Joe Biden admitted that “the pieces most important to us Democrats [are] revenue” while “[Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max] Baucus [D-MT] made clear that the talks frayed over Democrats' insistence that tax increases of some sort be part of the final deal,” according to Talking Points Memo.

Today, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell showed a determination to explain to President Obama that tax increases need to be taken off the table. “I will tell him the truth about requests by some in his party that we increase spending and raise taxes as a way of solving the debt and jobs crisis that precipitated the President’s request to raise the debt limit: Not only are they counterproductive from the standpoint of an economic recovery; they’re also politically impossible, since Republicans oppose tax hikes and Democrats have already shown they won’t raise taxes in a down economy. . . . Those who are calling for tax hikes as a part of these debt discussions either have amnesia about the fate of similar votes just six months ago — when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress as well as the White House — or they’re acting in bad faith, since we all know that including massive, job-killing tax hikes would be a poison pill. Let’s move past tax hikes, talk about what’s actually possible, and let’s talk about what has and hasn’t worked over the past two years.”

McConnell concluded, "[M]y message to the President is simple: It’s time for Washington to focus on fixing itself. It’s time Washington take the hit, not the taxpayers.”

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Tags: Washington, D.C., Us Senate, Democrats, Barack Obama, more taxes To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Star Parker: On Eric Cantor!

Bill Smith, Editor: The following article by Star Parker in GOPUSA is a necessary review of the background relevant to the "secret useless debt talk meetings." She shares the facts and we all need to be sharing verses trying to cooperate with the Obama Administration.

It appears that some established elected Republicans may be believing their worst fears that Barack Obama really does not care about America and is hell bent on seeing America weakened in its status in the world. It also appears that the "do nothing" democrats are in fear. They had feared the retributions of the voters in 2010 because of their failed actions and their votes on unread bills. Those that survived seem to have now moved from their former "star struck" stage of Barack Obama to fear of their "beloved leader."

It is interesting that with today's conviction of former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, that democrats are again reminded not to cross Barack Obama. The threat of a trial was big motivator, but now, Blogo has been convicted. What was not told in the court house was the pressure and intimidation by the White House. Blogo thought he had the upper hand with Obama but instead he was eventually doomed. Most "wheeling and dealing" democrat governors would have felt safe with a Democrat president. But such was not to be the case with the Obama Administration. It is not that Blogo was doing something far worse than the present administration has perpetrated on Americans. The issue was that Blogo failed to comply with President Obama's wish to have his former Illinois U.S. Senate seat filled by his ever present confidant and senior adviser Valerie Bowman Jarrett. Today, elected democrats are likely lining up in the Obama support queue out of fear they could be "Blogo-ed."

The Republicans were politically forced into the behind closed door debt reduction meetings. Finally, they had enough of the meaningless process and walked out. After all, House and Senate Democrats could not agree to make needed cuts to reduce the Federal Government because they feared retribution by their leader! After all, Obama, had more than an ear to the closed door meetings. He had V.P Joe Biden chairing them and reporting back Obama's Chicago's political duo: Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrette and Chief of Staff Bill Dailey.

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Thank you, Eric Cantor!

Star Parker

By Star Parker, GOPUSA: Thank you, Eric Cantor. Thank you for walking out on useless talks, presided over by Vice President Biden, addressing raising the limit on our nation's debt.

According to press accounts, Republican House Majority Leader Cantor called it quits on talks between Democratic and Republican leaders because Democrats refuse to give in on raising taxes.

This, I am sure, is true. But we also must understand the deeper and broader issue. We are in nothing less than hand-to-hand combat, fighting for what America is about and what it takes to get this country back on track toward growth and prosperity – determining whether we are, most fundamentally, a welfare state in which government runs the show, or whether this is a free country, in which free, private citizens run the show.

President Obama assumed the presidency in January 2009, and, until this year, Democrats have controlled both houses of Congress. Under their leadership, we've had massive government expansion and intervention into our economy in the name of saving it. The federal budget has grown by a trillion dollars, an expansion by one-third. Federal spending, historically 18 percent of our economy, is now 25 percent.

Now, 30 months later, the lowest unemployment rate America has known since Barack Obama has been president was the 7.8 percent where it stood in the first month he assumed office.

What should trouble every American is that there is not a hint from the White House or from Democratic leaders in Congress that they have erred and have taken our nation down the wrong path. There is not a hint that they have even considered that their ideas and approach are wrong.

What we are getting are jokes from our president, regarding the failure of the almost $900 billion "stimulus" package, that "shovel ready was not as shovel ready as we expected."

We are facing many dangers. And one of them is that Americans get used to the way things are. Unemployment currently stands at 9.1 percent. It has hovered between 9 and 10 percent for almost the entire Obama presidency.

From this perspective, we almost long for the 7.8 percent in January 2009. As this drags on, memories will fade that when the American economy is moving full tilt, unemployment is around 5 percent.

Let's also recall that back in January 2009 there were dissenting voices. In that same month, the Cato Institute ran full-page newspaper ads challenging the statement of our new president that "There is no disagreement that we need action by our government, a recovery plan that will help jumpstart the economy."  The ad says, "With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true." The ad is signed by hundreds of economists, including several Nobel Prize winners.

The ad reviews the historic failures of similar attempts at economic revival through government expansion and concludes: "To improve the economy, policy makers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, and investment and production. Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways to use fiscal policy to boost growth."

I wrote a column in February 2009 in response to which I'm still getting letters. I wrote then: "I thought we were on the road to moving socialism out of poor black communities and replacing it with wealth-producing American capitalism. But, incredibly, we are going in the opposite direction. Instead of poor America on socialism becoming more like rich America on capitalism, rich America on capitalism is becoming more like poor America on socialism."

Any tax increases today simply accommodates the recent massive, misguided and destructive expansion of government. Spending cuts and rollback of government are our only hope.

Keep it up, Mr. Cantor.

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Tags: Star Parker, Eric Cantor, debt, budgets, closed meetings, White House, big government, Barack Obama, federal spending, fear, democrats, Blogo, Illinois, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, Joe Biden, Valerie Jarrette, Bill Dailey To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Obama Needs To Take Tax Hikes Off The Table & Get Serious About Cutting Spending

ALG's "The Team Obama Spotlight" Focuses on Vice President Joe Biden

Today in Washington, D.C. - June 27, 2011:
The House is not in session this week. But they are out speaking to constituents and Republicans are revealing transparency never before shown under the prior reign of Speaker Pelose. Here is one example which readers are welcome to use. Each week the House is in session, the House Republican Study Committee Budget and Spending Taskforce compiles a weekly report on the latest budget and spending news. Additionally, the RSC Money Monitor tracks how bills passed by the House affect authorizations, mandatory spending, and federal government revenue.

A couple bills recently introduced which would be productive, conservative solutions for America’s future:

• Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) introduced legislation to stop the Obama Administration’s costly bailouts of Greece and other European nations, rescinding the IMF’s authority to spend up to $108 billion made available to fund these bailouts.
• Seeking to prevent another taxpayer bailout, Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49) introduced the Postal Reform Act to implement sweeping, structural reforms of the United States Postal Service (USPS), represents the most fundamental reform of the postal service that has been proposed since USPS was first created from the old Post Office Department.

On the week of July 25, the House is expected to consider a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.There are two versions of a BBA being proposed.  We will address these two proposed House resolutions bill in a seperate article

The Senate reconvene but there are no votes are scheduled. On Tuesday the Senate will take up the nominations of James Cole to be Deputy Attorney General, Virginia Seitz to be Assistant Attorney General, and Lisa Monaco to be Assistant Attorney General. In addition, they may vote on more amendments to S. 679, the nominations reform bill.

The Hill writes today, “President Obama will now take a leading role in negotiations to raise the debt limit, a test of his leadership that will have profound economic effects. . . . Obama will meet this morning with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and this afternoon with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). . . . It’s a tough test for Obama, whose handling of the economy has been the subject of mounting public disapproval. . . . Democratic lawmakers have privately and publicly criticized the president for not taking control of the deficit reduction debate.”

In an op-ed for CNN today, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained what he’s looking for in his meeting with the president. He writes, “I will sit down with President Barack Obama to discuss his request to increase the nation’s debt ceiling, and I will make a request of my own: What, Mr. President, are you prepared to do about the massive deficits and debt that have grown dramatically on your watch?

“What Republicans want is simple: We want to cut spending now, we want to cap runaway spending in the future and we want to save our entitlements and our country from bankruptcy by requiring the nation to balance its budget. We want to finally get our economy growing again at a pace that will lead to significant job growth. The Democrats’ response has been a mystifying call for more stimulus spending and huge tax hikes on American job creators. That’s not serious, and it is my hope that the president will take those off the table today so that we can have a serious discussion about our country’s economic future.”

Leader McConnell adds, “At some point, Democrats need to realize that the reason our nation’s debt has skyrocketed 35% over the past two years is that government spending is out of control. America does not face a debt crisis because we tax too little, but because Washington spends too much. And tax hikes can’t pass the Congress. Not only is there bipartisan opposition, the consequences of massive new tax hikes would be fewer jobs.”

Even MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough granted McConnell’s premise on “Morning Joe”: “I don’t usually say that about Mitch, but he said something very revealing, which is, they weren’t able to pass tax increases last Congress when Nancy Pelosi was speaker. Why should they do it now? This actually does unearth an essential truth in these budget negotiations. . . . We hear that Republicans don’t want to raise taxes and of course, you’ve got Democrats playing to their base and ginning the base up saying we need to raise taxes. But if you talk to them, they don’t want to raise taxes for two reasons. One, there are some people in the Obama administration that believe it would be a drag on the economy over the next year and two, they think it would hurt them politically. Again, they had control of Congress. Not only did they not raise taxes, they extended the Bush tax cuts.”

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Tags: Washington, D.C. US House, US Senate, debt, federal spengind, taxes, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, ALG, Joe Biden To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Michelle Bachmann Announced As POTUS Candidate - Check out: "You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet"

Dr. Bill Smith / Ozark Guru: Today's news is covering the announcement by Michele Bachmann that she is officially a candidate for the Republican nomination for President. We will let readers Google the news releases or visit Michele Bachmann's campaign website. What caught my attention is a music video not made by her campaign. It is by New York City conservative urban funk rock artist "Toots Sweet."

Yes - "funk rock artist." Conservative values are core values in the Unites States, and I am glad that entertainers are stepping forward to lend their talent to their sphere of influence.  We should not yield  any ground or community  to liberal progressive values or agendas. In the past,  I was invited to join a newly launched site: Big Dog Music Mafia. Folks, I don't sing or play music. I write and I talk about principles and conservative values. But ,  I appreciated their willingness to invite me to join them.Toots Sweet is one of the members of this group of artists.

I also recall from my 22 years in the the military,  the good, bad, and ugly.  But I most remember the pride, dedication and commitment, and fellowship of my comrades.  And, I especially appreciated those with humor and musical talent who eased the times and situations for the rest of us. Toots Sweet and others are messaging with humor and their musical talent and they are reaching many different groups of society. It is great to see artists from all walks of life speaking out for conservative values and the right side of issues!

As a singer  /songwriter, he combines his passion for music with his love of country to create a refreshing new sound with a powerful message. He creates an "urban" rock funk sound that is uplifting, rhythmic with memorable hooks that will entice your mind and awaken your soul. As he says on his YouTube channel, "the beliefs and passions of our Founding Fathers that is respected by both young and old, from rural farms to urban city streets. Be warned though... if you do NOT love America you may find his lyrical content extremely offensive."

Joe Ardis Horn says, "Toots is the real deal... He's so tenacious about what he believes in, yet so warm and approachable, a very kind New York tuff guy!" Toots has marched at the 9/12 events down in Washington DC in both 2009 & 2010 in support of a responsible limited Federal Government and to put a stop to the out of control spending.

His CD release of 'Takin' Back America' in 2010 with songs as "We The People", "Soldier Boy", "Culture of Corruption" and "That's My Girl Lady Liberty", received much praise. He is currently working on his second album to promote the cause of Liberty with an anticipated release date of December 2011 with songs 'The End Game' and 'The Enemy Within'.

Check out Toot Sweets YouTube Channel: Music For The Movement Below is Toots Sweet music video released on June 18, 2011 about Michele Bachman. He said, on its release, "Michele Bachmann is one of the few in Congress that gets it."
"You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet"

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Tags: Michele Bachmann, candidate, POTUS, video, Toots Sweet, conservative, music, artist To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas Has 10th Fastest Growing Government In The U.S.

Arkansas: 10 Year Government vs. Private Sector Growth / Decline

Americans for Prosperity Foundation: Little Rock, AR – Over the past ten (10) years there have been alarming indicators of growth in Arkansas’ government jobs field. From 2000 - 2010, Arkansas state government has added 27,500 jobs. Meanwhile the private sector has lost 22,900 jobs. That puts Arkansas' rank at 10th for fastest growing government sector in the nation.*

Arkansas Director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation Teresa Oelke stated, "Arkansas government continues to expand, the burden of government on citizens grows heavier. Government bureaucracy comes with more rules, more regulations, and more mandates on Arkansas families and businesses. And that's not to even mention the bloated salaries, ballooning pensions, and unfunded healthcare costs.

"The limited opportunities Arkansans have in finding jobs are directly related to the rapid expansion of government. We rank 39th in the nation in business climate, and we make the top 10 for growing government. I'm not sure I would be giving myself an 'A grade' when it comes to the state's economy."

For perspective, the population of Arkansas grew by 9.07%. This ranks the state 22nd among the states, and is slightly behind the US average 9.71%.**

*Data gathered via the Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Data gathered via the United States Census Bureau

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Americans For Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFPF believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans.

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Tags: Arkansas, government, growth of government, AFP, AFPF, Americans for Prosperity, Teresa Oelke To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

How Debt Destroys Jobs – And Why We Need A Budget

Fox News: Sessions Calls For President To Reveal White House Tax Plan

by Sen. Jeff Sessions, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Budget Committee: Let's review how debt destroys jobs and why we need a budget.

Higher debt leads to slower economic growth. Empirical studies show that high levels of government debt inhibit economic growth by creating uncertainty, displacing needed private investment, and placing upward pressure on interest rates. For example, Reinhart and Rogoff found that, in advanced economies with gross government debt above 90 percent of GDP, median economic growth tends to be between one and two percent lower (depending on the time period analyzed) when compared to countries with lower debt-to-GDP ratios. Other studies, including Caner, Grennes, and Koehler-Geib’s 2010 study of 99 countries between 1980 and 2008, reached similar conclusions. The U.S.’ current gross debt-to-GDP ratio is roughly 95 percent, and is expected to reach 100 percent by the end of September.

Slower economic growth results in dramatic job loss. Christina Romer, former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, equated one percentage point of GDP with one million jobs.

Successful debt-reduction measures relying on spending cuts—not tax increases—have consistently resulted in stronger economic growth. Research from Harvard economist Alberto Alesina, as well as a Goldman Sachs report, found that fiscal consolidations that focused on cutting government spending—including on subsidies, transfer payments, and government worker pensions—were successful in cutting fiscal imbalances, typically boosted growth, and were followed by improved equity and bond market performance. Examples of successful spending reductions include Canada and New Zealand in the early 1990s. ^[1]

Financial markets have issued dire warnings about the consequences of inaction. Against the backdrop of a spreading eurozone debt crisis, the IMF recently urged the U.S. to act swiftly to address its soaring budget deficits, saying that “you cannot afford to have a world economy where these important decisions are postponed.” ^[2] The credit rating agencies Moody’s and S&P have warned they may place the US government’s AAA rating under review for a possible downgrade within months.

Yet the nation has operated without a budget plan for more than 780 days. The Democrat-led Senate has not even allowed the Budget Committee to meet this year to begin work on a resolution, and has refused to pass a budget at all since April 29, 2009. Over that time, the nation has spent $7.1 trillion and added $3.2 trillion in gross federal debt. Majority Leader Harry Reid recently said it would be “foolish” for Democrats to produce a budget. But nothing could be more foolish than refusing to provide the nation’s job creators, investors, and taxpayers with a blueprint for our fiscal future.

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[1] Canada reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio from 100 percent to 82 percent over 7 years, while GDP grew at an average rate of 4 percent. From 1991 to 1997, New Zealand cut its gross debt nearly in half as a percentage of GDP, while enjoying average growth of 3 percent over that period. To view a Budget Committee white paper with additional evidence on the economic benefits of spending cuts, please Source.
[2] Reuters, “IMF cuts U.S. growth forecast, warns of crisis,” June 17, 2011.

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Tags: Jeff Sessions, Senate Budget Committee, National Debt, Debt, budget, jobs, Fox News video, President Obama, tax plan To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Obama's --- Surrender --- Mission Accomplished

by A.F. Branco:

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Tags: A.F. Branco, political cartoon, Barack Obama, surrender, white flag, Afghanistan, mission accomplished, campaigning, election 2012 To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe’s Hypocritical “Capitol Blame Game”

State GOP Calls on Governor Beebe to Stop Saying “Duh” and Start Cutting Waste

Republican Party of Arkansas; Little Rock, Ark. – Governor Mike Beebe’s hypocritical blame game reached new heights on Wednesday when he faulted $35 million in tax cuts passed by lawmakers for a shortfall in funding for foster parents. Unsurprisingly, in April Governor Beebe flaunted the six tax cuts in his weekly column, writing that legislators “delivered a tax-cut package that will bring relief to Arkansas's working families.”

“It’s hypocritical and silly to criticize legislators for tax cuts his party supported and he signed into law,” said Republican Party of Arkansas Communications Director Katherine Vasilos. “The Democratic Party of Arkansas holds the majority in the Arkansas House and Senate, and three of the six tax cuts were sponsored by Democrat legislators. If the Governor is serious about not reducing the reimbursement for therapeutic foster parents, then he should lead by example and cut wasteful and inefficient spending directly under his control.”

Today, the state Republican Party calls on Governor Mike Beebe to eliminate waste by looking at three specific areas:

1. Governor Beebe’s Wasteful Cell Phone Budget:  Governor Mike Beebe’s office pays $60,777.26 annually for 70 cell phones, although he only has 56 employees.
2. High Ranking Officials Still Double Dipping: Approximately 40 high ranking state employees appointed directly by Governor Beebe are collecting two pay checks for one job, because the Governor refuses to address the problem.
3. Reduce Department of Human Services Conference Budget: The Department of Human Services requested and had appropriated over $1 million for conference and travel for the 2012 fiscal year.

“The people of Arkansas deserve more than a childish, three-letter response of ‘duh’ from the Governor. We hope Beebe will throw aside the partisanship and bitterness and be responsible in cutting government waste rather than hurting foster-care families,” said Vasilos.

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Beebe’s Hypocritical Blame Game“Gov. Mike Beebe faulted the $35 million in tax cuts approved during the legislative session, saying lawmakers tampered with his balanced budget without understanding the consequences of what they were doing.” (Sarah D. Wire, “Foster-care cut starts Capitol blame game,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 6/24/11)

Beebe: “She [Rep. Donna Hutchinson] voted for these extra tax cuts, she and her colleagues pushed these extra tax cuts.” (Ibid)
Beebe’s Tax Cut Hypocrisy“While so many of our sister states are responding to growing budget deficits with higher taxes and slashing cuts to critical services, this legislature approved a balanced budget and delivered a tax-cut package that will bring relief to Arkansas's working families.” (Governor Mike Beebe, “Another Balanced Budget,” Weekly Column and Radio Address, 4/1/11)

“I signed six new tax cuts into law, including an additional one-half-cent cut to the sales tax on groceries…In addition to this, I signed three other tax cuts specifically designed to keep more money in the hands of working families. These include raising the threshold on the application of used-car tax from a purchase price of $2,500 to $4,000; lowering the income tax on working single parents with children; and providing an annual sales-tax holiday for back-to-school purchases…We also continued our efforts to provide targeted tax cuts that make Arkansas businesses more competitive and that spur economic development. To do this, we further cut the sales tax on utilities for manufacturers, and expanded tourism tax incentives for the Arkansas Delta.”  (Ibid)
“Duh” It’s Not My FaultBeebe: “We got some legislators running around here saying, ‘I can’t believe we are cutting money to foster parents.’ Duh. Duh.” (Sarah D. Wire, “Foster-care cut starts Capitol blame game,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 6/24/11)
Beebe’s Name-callingBeebe: “She [Rep. Donna Hutchinson] is at best disingenuous and at worst, something much, much worse.” (Sarah D. Wire, “Foster-care cut starts Capitol blame game,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 6/24/11)
Beebe’s Cell Phone Waste“An interesting blog post was found the Arkansas Federation of College Republican's website…According to the post, Governor Beebe's office pays for 70 cell phone lines while the office only houses 56 employees…In a list published by the Arkansas Times, the Arkansas Governor's office pays for 70 cell phone lines per month totaling $60,777.26 for one year. According to Arkansas FOI website found that Governor Beebe's office does indeed house 56 employees.” (Spree Hilliard, “70 Cell Phone Lines for 56 Employees,” River Valley Leader, 6/21/11)
Double DippingIn a 2010 report by the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, auditors found 42 agency employees appointed directly by Governor Mike Beebe still collecting two pay checks for one job. (Roger A. Norman, “Review of Retired/Rehired Agency Directors and Grade 99 State Employees,” Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, 3/12/10)

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Tags: Arkansas, Governor, Mike Beebe, double dipping, hypocrite, tax cut, Tax Cut Hypocrisy, blame game, name calling, cell phones, RPA, Republican Party of Arkansas To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

TEA Party Passion In Washington, D.C.: Rep. Mike Kelly

Bill Smith, Editor: Watch this video and share it with others. Rep. Mike Kelly reminds us of the passion that launched the TEA Party movement. After the video, there are some comments by other sites.
Rep. Mike Kelly speaks out!:


See what others have to say:
Mr. Kelly goes to Washington - HotAir: When we sent the new class of freshman off to Washington after the 2010 cycle, we knew – or at least hoped – there were going to be some “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” moments where real people stepped up to challenge the beltway status quo. While it’s hardly the first, one of the better ones took place this week when Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) reminded us all that the budget talks are still underway he’s not really enjoying the process.

Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania: In Defense of the Ryan Budget - RedState: More of this please!

Awesome: Rant of the Year? - TownHall: Enjoy this notes-free monologue from freshman Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania -- who's a bit fed up with Democrats' petty attacks on the Ryan budget, and more than a bit disgusted with the way Washington does business. Behold, righteous straight talk from a product of the private sector.

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Tags: passion, TEA Party, Representative, Mike Kelly, Republican, Pennsylvania, PA, House of Representatives, Education and Workforce Committee To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!