Legislative Update 021109

The Porkulus Bill (aka Economic Stimulus Act) is in a join conference meeting. Call the legislatures by using the House switchboard 202-225-3121 and the Senate switchboard 202-224-3121.

The Arkansas Blank Check Act was passed in the Revenue and Taxation Committee Meeting Feb 11th. There were about a dozen other bills on the agenda before HB1204 and it the agenda wasn't posted until late Monday evening.

Agenda

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Here is video footage of a response from one the Senators on the Tax Revenue Committee. Feel free to visit and comment.


HB1204 The Arkansas Blank Check Act @ Yahoo! Video

Mexican Opposition Protesters Tear Down Statue of Former President Vincente Fox

Sunday , October 14, 2007

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301606,00.html

BOCA DEL RIO, MEXICO — Opposition protesters egged and then tore down a bronze statue of former Mexican President Vicente Fox down on Saturday, just hours after it was erected.
Workers put up the commemorative statue before dawn in the city of Boca del Rio, in Veracruz state. But by 9 a.m. some 100 angry protesters, many of them members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, surrounded the figure. Fox, of the conservative National Action Party, ended 71 years of PRI rule with his historic election in July 2000.The crowd launched eggs at the statue, fastened a rope around its neck and pulled it to the ground, breaking off the right hand and damaging the base. One man danced atop the statue, while another strummed a guitar and sang songs insulting Fox.

"We came to represent society because we don't want this monument here," said Adolfo Mota, a PRI lawmaker in Mexico's lower house of congress who led the protest. "As residents of Veracruz, it strikes us as an act of provocation."Boca del Rio Mayor Francisco Gutierrez de Velasco, a member of Fox's party, condemned the acts but said municipal police did not intervene because the statue is the state's property. An inauguration ceremony scheduled for Sunday was canceled until further notice. Fox has been fighting allegations since September that he illegally enriched himself during his presidency, and Mexico's congress opened an investigation into the charges.

This lazy corrupt dictator is traveling the US peddling his new book "Revolution of Hope". From what I've seen in reviews and interviews, the book is only the millionth attempt to blame America for Mexico's poverty. There is some condemnation of the PRI, Fox's political opponents in Mexico who's 70 years of corruption is even worse than his own. The main theme of the book appears to be that the Fox administration was a rags to riches fairytale and nothing was his fault. We can only hope that lazy corrupt leaders like Fox will end up like Mussolini, Nicolae Ceauşescu, and other dictators; judged by those they exploited. Here are some of the accomplishments of the Fox Administration along with some video footage:

Over 600 gruesome murders of women went unsolved in Juarez, Mexico.

80% of crimes go unreported in Mexico City because of police corruption.

Carlos Slim, the richest man in Mexico and the world has a monopoly on 90% of the telephone lines. 10 of the 26 Latin American billionares live in Mexico.

$2.3 billion goes to bribing Mexican Government officials, with the poorest paying 14% of their income in bribes.

Mexico's Unemployment rate is 40% and over 53% of Mexico's people are below the poverty line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFmcQCT6nM8

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyUBs3pjYo

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ARRA News has a link to a real hero forgotten by the Mainstream Media:
http://arkansasgopwing.blogspot.com/2007/10/navy-seal-to-receive-medal-of-honor.html

Breaking the Law for Lawbreakers!

Illegal Alien supporters have hijacked the United States House of Representatives! An attempt to stop more tax money going to illegal immigrants in an agricultural bill (HR3161) was sabotaged by some bizzare procedures and now a computer "glitch" has suddenly appeared!

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0807/House_erupts_in_chaos.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1875824/posts

Updates are also on http://www.drudgereport.com/



Boozman: Sad Day for House
Laments Events Which Led to Allowing Illegal Immigrants to Receive Benefits

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today expressed remorse at the events on the House floor late Thursday which led to a walk-out of Republican members after a GOP amendment to deny illegal immigrants benefits in the agriculture appropriations bill was seemingly defeated.

“What happened last night is an indicator as to the extent the House leadership will go to defeat common-sense legislation which a majority of Americans want,” Boozman said. “Last night, a majority of the House of Representatives voted to deny benefits to people in our country illegally. Instead, the leadership did not like that result, and proceeded to produce one more politically appealing to them – namely, allowing benefits to illegal immigrants.”

The controversy surrounded the gaveling of the vote on a Republican Motion to Recommit to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which would prohibit grant and rental housing assistance funding to illegal immigrants. At the time, the vote was 215-213 in favor of the motion, while the chair announced a 214-214 tie – which would result in the motion’s failure.

Minutes later, the chair called the final tally 212-216, which included vote changes by Democrats after the vote had already been gaveled to a close.

Had the Motion to Recommit been allowed to succeed, voting for the evening would have concluded, instead the House voted on final passage of the agriculture bill. As a protest, over 100 House Republicans walked out.

“It is a sad day for the House, and for America, as the Democrat leadership chose to void the vote of other Democrats, and Republicans, who came together in a bipartisan majority to protect the money of American taxpayers from being distributed to illegal aliens.”

boozman.house.gov

Arkansas group ask for immigration reform

2 groups actually protested. One group wanted amnesty, the other wanted true immigration reform. My comments in red

The group is small, but their message speaks for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Members of the Arkansas Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform were in southwest Little Rock to rally support from U.S. Senators on an immigration bill that if approved could offer legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants.Using a megaphone, one supporter yelled, “We spend $2 billion a year. (most likely a stat made by mixing legal with illegal)We're an economic force to be reckoned with."Coalition member Cesar Compadre says, “Our voices need to be heard. (your groups spend millions on lobbyist and most of the mainstream media cheerleads for you everyday). We need our senators to know that we are concerned that the immigration problem needs to be solved."Elvira Aguirre agrees; “I support immigration reform because I feel that everybody has a right to speak up and come have a better job and be free." (in Mexico?). While the group is in favor of some of the proposed reforms, they're not in agreement with a few of the amendments to the legislation; including one that would require immigrants to return home temporarily to gain lawful status. They say it wouldn't work; the U.S. government doesn't have the money.Arkansas Director for LULAC (League of Latin American Citizens) Carlos Cervantes says; “If they were to pick up 1,500 or 2,000 of undocumented and ship them out (it's every month in the video), it would take 20-25 years to do that."Cervantes continues, “We don't have the funds, we don't have the resources, we don't have the time, we don't have the manpower." (The Swifco raid caught over 1,000 illegals in 1 day, we could ship them out if we ignored the lawsuits from MALDEF and force more to leave by cutting taxpayer funded services)

But opponents are just as vocal. Tuesday, members of Keep Arkansas Legal stood outside Senator Blanche Lincoln’s office protesting the legislation.....arguing it would provide amnesty to illegals.Marilyn Gover says, “But they are taking jobs from all Americans.”But the coalition says---it's not about handouts.Aguirre says, “We don't want to steal anything. We don't want freedom. We just want a chance, a chance to live better."And now that millions of illegals are living in the U.S. both sides say something has to be done. Coalition members say some type of reform is needed very soon.If nothing is done this go-around in the senate, then the numbers of illegal immigrants in the country will more than double--- and then, they say there will really be a problem.

Stefanie Bryant, Reporter
Updated: 6/27/2007 10:46:41 PM

I was called by Stefanie on Wednesday at 3:30pm for more information, but I had work followed by church. Our group appears to be larger than the pro-illegal crowd and would have even been bigger had we had more time to plan. The Minuteman visit to the offices was bigger than both crowds! Channel 11 may have given more airtime to the pro-illegal crowd, but at least they made an effort to get our side of the story.

These two pics are of the pro-illegal alien protesters



This is the pic from the keeparkansaslegal protest:

This is a video version of what showed up on TV at 10pm:

http://www.todaysthv.com/video/news/player.aspx?aid=47563&sid=48094&bw=

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KLRK Fox 16 also showed up and interviewed Bobbie Warner. Unfortunately, they mixed their report of the protest with a sob story about a fool endangering his kids by fathering them with an illegal.

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5d35cb95-768b-4049-85be-b5603f99bd75

THE GAME IS NOT OVER!

from: http://www.eagleforum.org/alert/2007/06-25-07.html

Tell Your Senators to vote NO on cloture on Thursday!!
On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate voted to revive the Kyl-Kennedy amnesty bill (S. 1639) and bring it back to the floor by a vote of 64-35 (Roll Call 228). Twenty-one Senators switched their votes from the previous cloture vote, held on June 7, which failed 45-50 (Roll Call 206). The Traitorous 21 can no longer claim they oppose amnesty. Today they voted to bring it back from the dead. The only recourse they have is to vote against the second cloture motion (to end debate), which will take place Thursday. The Traitorous 21:

Bennett (R-UT)
Gregg (R-NH)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Bond (R-MO)
Lott (R-MS)
Boxer (D-CA)
McConnell (R-KY)
Brownback (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Burr (R-NC)
Pryor (D-AR)
Coleman (R-MN)
Snowe (R-ME)
Collins (R-ME)
Stevens (R-AK)
Craig (R-ID)
Warner (R-VA)
Domenici (R-NM)
Webb (D-VA)
Ensign (R-NV)

No Senator can hide behind procedural motions and then claim innocence by voting against the bill. We won’t buy it! A vote for cloture is a vote for amnesty! Now is the time to redouble our efforts! We have one last chance to make Senators listen to us! Thursday is the day of reckoning! Get the calls, emails, faxes going into Senate offices like never before! Call talk radio! Hand out this alert at your workplace, church, school, or even on the street! This is the time to save America!

Targets: Bond, Burr, Bennett, Bingaman, Boxer, Cochran, Coleman, Conrad, Ensign, Gregg, Hatch, Levin, Nelson, Webb

Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121
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Pryor, who voted against S1348 twice last time, voted to allow S1639 to come to the floor. In addition to calling Senator Lincoln, we need to keep pressure on Senator Pryor.
Here are some numbers to call in addition to the Capitol Switchboard:

Little Rock office: 501-324-6336
Toll Free: 877-259-9602
Fax: 501-324-5320
Senator number paid for by La Raza: 1-800-417-7666
Address:
The River Market
500 Clinton Avenue, Suite 401
Little Rock, AR 72201

Immigration Resolution Fails

By Scarlet Sims THE MORNING NEWS
Immigration Resolution Fails

Bentonville -- A resolution against contracting vendors that employ illegal immigrants failed at the Committee of 13 meeting Tuesday. "It's a nice statement, but I don't think it's going to do anything," said Justice of the Peace Bobby Hubbard. "It's just a nice little resolution, and it means nothing."The resolution followed a state law, Act 157, passed during the legislative session this year. The new law prohibits state agencies from contracting with businesses that employ illegal immigrants.

"Basically, it's a statement of our intent to comply with state regulations," said Benton County Attorney Robin Green. Earlier this month, Justice of the Peace Burton Schindler met with Green and Benton County Comptroller Richard McComas to create the resolution. Schindler presented his idea to force businesses that contracted with the county to sign an affidavit saying employees were legal residents about two months ago, but the new resolution required no signature and no special form. With about 8,000 venders doing business with the county, McComas worried the county wouldn't be able to enforce the ordinance or that it would require extra employees. (fine the companies that hire illegals and use the money to get extra employees) The resolution presented Tuesday created no additional workload for county offices, Schindler said.

"We're going to make a public example in protecting taxpayers' money," he said. Schindler said officials from the U.S. Boarder Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supported resolutions against employing illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration could be controlled if employers didn't employ any illegal immigrants, Schindler said. If the county discovered any companies employing illegal workers, the county would stop doing business with that company, Schindler proposed. Justice of the Peace Kurt Moore said the resolution didn't go far enough. He wanted a resolution that was more than lip service, he said. Hubbard pointed out contractors may not know they employ illegal immigrants. "I'm asking and asking my subcontractors and they're saying 'Well, they have a driver's license,'" Hubbard said. (Mistakes cost the American taxpayer money, why not these subcontractors)

In other business, the committee passed adding the $5 fee to traffic citations, and approved changing the time of the Committee of 13 meetings to 6 p.m. with an added public comment time at the end of the meeting. The Quorum Court will consider both issues at 5 p.m. June 28.

AT A GLANCE
How They Voted.

Justices of the peace voting against the resolution were Chris Glass, R-Northeastern Benton County, Craig Brown, R-Rogers, Frank Harrison, R-Rogers, David Hill, R-Bentonville, Kurt Moore, R-Southwestern Benton County, Bob Stephenson, R-Southwestern Benton County, Bobby Hubbard, R-Northwest Benton County , and Jim Wozniak, R-Bella Vista.

Justices of the peace voting in favor were Debbie Hobbs, R-Rogers, Frank Winscott, R-Southeastern Benton County, Tim Summers, R-Bentonville, Marge Wolf, R-Rogers, and Burton Schindler, R-Bella Vista.

Minutemen visit Arkansas Senators

I just got an email for an event in Little Rock for conservatives:

Conservative activist are meeting at Dixie Cafe on Rodney Parham/I 430 to grip/eat/plan.
Come join us after work - 5:30 on.
map to Dixie Cafe
Myra and Rick Scott
Robert Lyon
Sharon Stark
etc
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On Friday June 1st, members of the Hot Springs Minuteman project visited the offices of Senator Blanche Lincoln and Senator Mark Pryor. Joining them were members of keeparkansaslegal.com, grassfire.org, and other immigration reform activist. This is footage from that event. Despite what some in the media claim, people are still against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill (S1348) which may be up for a vote this week! There are 10 videos in all. The image below is a link to the first video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpC0vX4qdy4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN4_4_vE9Oc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD-B9u8bVzo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_WrFVE1Hg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtdk1uUbNqk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5-8KbWH2ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUs2yP49_ao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYvbh8DA9lE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma0UiNftfuc