National Leaders Say Need for Health Care Reform 'Urgent'

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reforming America's health system is critical to any efforts to rebuild the nation's economy, leaders from the business, health, and policymaking communities declared at a forum in Washington, D.C. today. Participants in "Rhetoric to Reality: The Urgency of Health Reform" also said effective health reform would help stem costs that are overwhelming the health care system by addressing the rise in chronic diseases that are currently driving 75 percent of health spending.

The event brought together business and health care leaders, members of the media, and key Congressional staff for one of the most wide-ranging public discussions of health reform since the November election. It was sponsored by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Partnership for Prevention, Divided We Fail and the Emory Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions.

"President-elect Obama has signaled that he would like to make health care a key priority, but with so many pressing domestic issues as well as a war in Iraq, how do we move health reform from the realm of rhetoric to a tangible reality?" said Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Emory Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions, in his keynote address to open the half-day event.

"For many of us, the answer is clear: We must draw upon the overwhelming support from all those with a stake in Americans' health - interests from the public and non-profit sector, as well as private industry - and look for areas of true consensus in health care. At the top of the list is the need for better public and private policies to promote prevention and management of chronic illness."

The first panel of the day brought together leaders from some of the most influential groups in the health care debate, including representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance industry, labor and business, to talk about what their expectations are for health reform in 2009, and how they are contributing to finding consensus. Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President of AARP, participated in the panel on behalf of Divided We Fail.

"We cannot afford to keep our broken health care system," said Davis. "Divided We Fail has brought together employers, workers and consumers because we understand that the status quo isn't working for anyone. Preventive care is an important part of moving the focus of the system to how we get and stay healthy. In short, preventive care is a necessity in order to transform the patchwork of health care services we currently use into a functioning health system."

Corinne Husten, M.D., Interim President for Partnership for Prevention, participated in a panel focusing on prevention. She unveiled legislative recommendations from Partnership for Prevention that she said would give a higher priority to disease prevention and health promotion. The recommendations include requiring federally funded insurance programs to provide recommended clinical preventive services, and providing incentives to states and health providers to deliver such services. They also call for identifying a discrete revenue source to fund core state and local public health prevention activities, and for the establishment of a Public Health Advisory Commission to recommend how that funding should be allocated. The full recommendations are available online at: www.prevent.org/HealthReform.

"Changing the way we pay for health care reform without addressing the chronic diseases that are driving health costs is not real health reform," said Husten. "Real health reform starts with prevention."

More than two-thirds of all deaths in the U.S. are caused by one or more of five chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic disease accounts for about 75 percent of the nation's aggregate health care spending - or about $5,300 per person in the U.S. each year.

"Unfortunately, the current health care delivery system focuses much more on treatment and reaction than it does on prevention and predictive action," said Fred Sanfilippo, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for health affairs at Emory University. "This is largely the result of a payment system that's more interested in reducing short-term expenses than in improving long-term outcome and patient satisfaction."

In his remarks, PFCD Executive Director Ken Thorpe noted the importance the Obama Administration and leaders in the 111th Congress have placed on moving forward a comprehensive health reform bill to address cost, quality, and coverage early in 2009.

"Senate leaders like Senators Max Baucus and Ted Kennedy have been very active in anticipation of the new Administration and have already begun to lay the framework for legislation. By developing comprehensive proposals at the outset of the 111th Congress, these efforts signal that this is going to be a very high priority in the next session and will move quickly."

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The GOP Has Some Fight Left

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is an excerpt from an article by Robert M. "Mike" Duncan from Townhall, and was released December 10 by the Republican National Committee:

The 2008 election was certainly historic and unique as Republicans faced an extremely challenging -- almost unprecedented -- political environment. Despite experiencing one of the most difficult political cycles in modern times, our successes in Louisiana and Georgia show that with strong, conservative candidates coupled with an effective grassroots program, the Republican Party can win at every level.

With the election of Joseph Cao (LA-02) and John Fleming (LA-04), the voters of Louisiana embraced the conservative values of fiscal responsibility, strengthened national security and increased domestic energy production. Dr. Fleming, a Navy veteran and doctor, will strongly support the needs of veterans and their families and will work hard to reform our nation's healthcare system.

Voters in the Second District rejected greed and corruption by embracing Mr. Cao's commitment to preserve the dignity of public office by championing comprehensive ethics reform, keeping taxes low, and providing greater accountability for Congressional spending.

Senator Saxby Chambliss' reelection was not only a victory for the people of Georgia; it also denied Democrats any argument concerning a liberal mandate and unchecked power by way of a filibuster-proof Senate. Georgians voted against Jim Martin, a rubber stamp for President-elect Obama and instead reelected Chambliss, a proven leader who best represents the principles and values of working families in Georgia.

Despite strong support from President-elect Obama and Democrat organizations in Louisiana and Georgia, Republicans were victorious because we combined principled candidates with an aggressive ground game that enabled us to contact and turn out voters. Over the past two years, the RNC has concentrated on refining the basic fundamentals of winning elections. By investing in programs and technology, and training staff and volunteers across the country, we are giving candidates the necessary tools to get their message out and mobilize supporters.

In Louisiana, Republicans were victorious thanks to the efforts of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Louisiana Republican Party (LAGOP), Cao and Fleming Campaigns, and the RNC. Our investment in technology allowed our team to maximize every volunteer and contribution. Through sophisticated online advertising techniques we targeted and reached Republicans who requested absentee ballots and we pushed them to the polls.

In Georgia, the seamless collaboration of the Chambliss Campaign, Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP), National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), and the RNC enabled us to execute a statewide Victory plan that included nearly a dozen regional Victory offices, as well as paid staff and volunteers on the ground. Those Victory centers served as staging locations for the get-out-the-vote (GOTV) program with thousands of volunteers, reaching nearly a half-million Georgians in the last five days alone.

In both Louisiana and Georgia, we provided volunteers the tools to make phone calls and send emails that resulted in Republicans turning out in greater numbers than what the much-vaunted Obama grassroots operation was able to produce.

While November was certainly a challenging time for our party, we have been reminded in December that we know how to win races. As a party - we continue to improve our mastery of the blocking and tackling of politics - and remain committed to learning and passing on what we learn to operatives and officials in the states. We will continue to harness new technologies and leverage operative strategies that allow us to refine our approach, and improve upon our efficiency and effectiveness. For all those who were counting out the Grand Old Party, keep counting because we still have a lot of fight left in us, and both Georgia and Louisiana serve as reminders of what we can accomplish when we work together and remain committed to our principles.

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Statement by the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) National Transportation Policy Project Regarding Economic Stimulus Bill

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the growing debate about a stimulus bill, the BPC's National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP) urges Congress to put Americans to work immediately on transportation investments that protect the nation's economic prosperity and competitiveness.

The likelihood that a major stimulus bill will be enacted early next year creates a unique opportunity to undertake a transportation infrastructure investment program that generates good secure jobs for American workers immediately and produces long-term growth for the nation's businesses. Transportation is essential in enabling economic activity and enhancing the productivity of businesses and workers. However, simply following historical funding approaches runs the risk of failing to use taxpayer funds wisely. Reform should accompany the stimulus effort because not all transportation investments are created equal. NTPP proposes the following guidelines for transportation stimulus funds:

-- Emphasize ready-to-go projects. Our surface transportation network
and facilities are in poor physical condition and suffer from poor
performance. With limited funds we must prioritize construction that
can be undertaken without delays and can put people to work as
promptly as possible. Experience has shown that projects that focus
on improving the operations of the existing transportation system are
often those that can be undertaken most quickly and can bring the
greatest returns, in terms of creating immediate construction and
other transportation jobs, and promoting longer-term economic growth.
-- Provide spending flexibility across all modes of transportation.
States and local authorities should have the flexibility and
discretion to invest in the transportation projects that bring the
greatest economic, environmental, and energy security returns in the
shortest possible time. Federal stimulus dollars should not be
constrained by current funding formulas that limit spending to one
form of transportation over another.
-- Hold states accountable for meeting stimulus goals. With flexibility
comes responsibility. States and localities that receive these
stimulus investments should use them to maximize near-term jobs and
long-term economic benefits. After the funds have been spent,
recipients should evaluate and report on how well the projects they
selected have achieved these goals. If the stimulus program is
extended to become part of a longer-term transportation funding
program, additional and more comprehensive performance and
accountability measures should be introduced.


The NTPP is a broad coalition of policy experts, business and civic leaders chaired by former Mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer, former New York Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, former Washington Senator Slade Gorton, and former Minnesota Congressman Martin Sabo. Its members are currently developing a long-term vision for the federal role in transportation policy, with a report due out early next year. NTPP is a project of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center:

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Baker, Daschle, Dole, and Mitchell formed the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to develop and promote solutions that can attract the public support and political momentum to achieve real progress. The BPC acts as an incubator for policy efforts that engage top political figures, advocates, academics, and business leaders in the art of principled compromise. For more information please visit our website: http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/

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Research Finds Large Increase in Turnout with Vote-by-Mail System

With the crowded lines for advance voting making news in the 2008 presidential election, it’s evident that voters are enthusiastic about reforms that make civic participation more convenient.

In 2000, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to hold elections exclusively by mail. According to research conducted by Georgia State political science Assistant Professor Sean Richey, Oregon’s vote-by-mail reform has led to a 10 percentage point increase in turnout for both midterm and presidential elections.

“That’s a fairly large increase,” he said. “When you think that even in the most exciting elections, such as the one we just had, turnout only increased by 8 percentage points, that’s a pretty massive effect.”

In Oregon, every registered voter is mailed a ballot, which he or she then completes and mails back or turns in at a ballot drop-off location. In addition to being convenient for voters, the move has also saved the state about $3 million per election.

“Polling places are actually quite expensive. People don’t think of the administration of elections, but it’s quite costly to hire workers and monitoring and that kind of thing,” Richey said.

“This is a much more efficient system, and what you really hear about is obviously that it improves turnout and democratic participation, but a nice sub-effect is that it’s actually inexpensive.”

Another reason voters find the vote-by-mail system attractive is the added time it gives to research the issues. In a state such as Oregon, which typically features many ballot initiatives, this is especially important to voters, Richey said.

“In the polling place, it’s difficult to give 25 questions a lot of detailed consideration,” he said. “But if you’re mailed a ballot, you can go on the Internet, you can discuss it with friends and family, you can ask knowledgeable people that you know. This allows you to have much more deliberative, reasoned choices for the questions. And that’s one of the things people find most positive.”

With Oregon’s increased voter turnout and the popularity of vote-by-mail among the state’s residents, other states could turn to a similar voting system, Richey said.

“If a neighboring state has tried an innovative new reform and they try it for 10 or 15 years and it is successful, it’s much easier for you to adopt it,” he said.

“Oregon has about 2 million voters and they’ve done three presidential elections, two midterm elections and all the sub and county elections in between by this vote-by-mail system, so there’s lots of data on it. There’s very little fraud, there’s been no reports of abuse of the system, and so it makes it much easier for a state like Washington or even Colorado, two of the states considering it, to choose it.”

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Barr Condemns Government Plans for Domestic Troop Deployment

Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr says government plans to deploy 20,000 uniformed soldiers inside the United States "ignores all the tragic lessons we have learned from using the U.S. military in domestic crises."

"When combat troops are used for domestic law enforcement, rights are inevitably violated and tragedies occur, such as when the military was improperly activated to assist in the tragedy at Waco, Texas in 1993. This domestic use of the military resulted in the loss of some 80 men, women and children," says Barr, the Libertarian Party's 2008 presidential nominee. "The government's plan to deploy initially 20,000 uniformed military personnel inside the United States goes against everything we have learned about using soldiers as police officers. Not only do these plans appear to be a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act—which forbids the use of the military in law enforcement on non-federal property—but it also opens up the American public to dangerous Constitutional violations."

Barr says his concerns are greatly heightened by the conclusion reached by the current Bush Administration in a classified 2001 Department of Justice memo. The memo stated that the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, does not apply to the U.S. military when it engages in “domestic” operations.

"When the military operates in the United States, as the federal government now intends it to do, it does so without respect or deference to the Constitution," says Barr. "The federal government plans to render every American citizen defenseless against government abuse during any crisis situation—be it a flood, hurricane, or other natural disaster—where U.S. military personnel will be used to supplement local law enforcement."

"We do not need to militarize Mayberry," says Barr.

"I fought against this type of gross expansion of government authority while I was in Congress," says Barr. "I called for a full investigation of the Waco Siege when it became clear that government used excessive force in their raid, which cost the lives of many innocent Americans. The 'culture of militarism' in the federal government turned Waco into an American tragedy. Should this trend of militarism be allowed to continue, it will only be a matter of time before we have another avoidable tragedy on our hands."

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FRC Action PAC Applauds Re-election of Saxby Chambliss

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FRC Action PAC applauded the re-election of Senator Saxby Chambliss to represent the state of Georgia in the United States Congress. The PAC ran radio ads across Georgia in support of Senator Chambliss.

"Georgia voters recognize Senator Chambliss' record in Congress as one that is representative of Georgia values," said David Nammo, Executive Director of FRC Action PAC. "The Senator has consistently been a vocal advocate for families."

"He has worked to defend traditional marriage and religious liberty while protecting our national security. His tireless efforts on behalf of the unborn speak of his respect for all human life. FRC Action PAC is pleased to congratulate Senator Chambliss on his re-election and urge him to continue his fight for families."

To hear FRC Action PAC's ad in support of Senator Chambliss, go to www.frcactionpac.org.

FRC Action PAC is the political action committee connected to FRC Action, a 501(c)(4) membership organization. FRC Action is the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, a 501(c)(3) organization.

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Republican National Committee: Back for More? Nothing Says Change Like Scandal Prone Washington Insider Bill Richardson Back In The Cabinet

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Republican National Committee:

Richardson Has Nearly 20 Years Experience As A Washington Insider:

Richardson Was A Congressman In Washington For 14 Years (1983-1997). (Biographical Directory Of The United States Congress Website, congress.gov, Accessed 9/28/02)

Richardson Was Clinton's U.S. Ambassador To The U.N. For Two Years (1997-1998). (Biographical Directory Of The United States Congress Website, congress.gov, Accessed 9/28/02)

Richardson Was Clinton's Energy Secretary For Three Years (1998-2001). (Biographical Directory Of The United States Congress Website, congress.gov, Accessed 9/28/02)

Richardson Has Been Described As A "Washington Insider." (Steve Terrell, "Roundhouse Roundup," The Santa Fe New Mexican, 6/23/05)

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough Called Richardson A "Former Clinton Insider." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 3/22/04)

Richardson In 2001: "You know, I've always been in the Congress, at the UN. I've been Energy Secretary. I've never had, as they say, a real job." (CNN's "Spin Room," 3/8/01)

Click Here To Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSzbh0Y8UOQ

RICHARDSON'S CAREER HAS BEEN FILLED WITH SCANDAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS

During Richardson's Tenure As Director, Peregrine Systems Engaged In An Accounting Scheme Which Allowed Executives To Take Millions While Investors Were Defrauded:

Richardson Served As A Board Member Of Peregrine Systems From February 2001 To June 2002. "New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was a member of Peregrine's board of directors from February 2001 until he resigned after winning the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 2002 primary." (Elliot Spagat, "Former Peregrine CFO Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy, Fraud," The Associated Press, 4/13/03)

Peregrine Engaged In Accounting "Scheme To Prematurely Recognize Revenue, An Effort To Boost The Company's Share Price And Mislead Investors." "The former chief financial officer at Peregrine Systems Inc. pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy and securities fraud after agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors who are investigating accounting irregularities at the software company. Matthew C. Gless, Peregrine's chief financial officer from November 2000 to May 2002, admitted taking part in a scheme to prematurely recognize revenue, an effort to boost the company's share price and mislead investors." (Elliot Spagat, "Former Peregrine CFO Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy, Fraud," The Associated Press, 4/13/03)

-- Peregrine Executives "Spent Millions Of Dollars On Bonuses And Golf-Club Memberships" As Investors, Including Pension And School Funds "Suffered Losses Totaling Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars." "Public reports filed by Peregrine Systems while Bill Richardson was a director showed the company was headed toward possible failure at a time it spent millions of dollars on bonuses and golf-club memberships for executives. Investors in the San Diego-based software company, including pension and school funds in New Mexico, have suffered losses totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and the company has filed for bankruptcy protection." (Thomas J. Cole, "Tenure At Peregrine Haunts Richardson," The Albuquerque Journal, 10/27/02)

Richardson Claimed He Was An "Outside" Director, Had "No Involvement" With The Company's Accounting Behavior, And Attended Just Five Board Meetings. "'Really, I had no involvement because I was what was called an outside director,' Richardson said in an interview Friday. 'I had no stock or made no stock purchases, and I was unaware of some of the accounting disputes.' Richardson said he attended about five meetings of the board of directors during the 16 months he was with Peregrine. He said he learned about the accounting problems and the ensuing SEC investigation from newspaper articles." (Gilbert Gallegos, "SEC Probes Tech Company Once Linked To Richardson," The Albuquerque Tribune, 7/9/02)

-- "But Corporate Governance Experts Say He Should Have Known Better. 'It's The Job Of The Board Of Directors To Know What's Going On,' Said Nell Minow Of The Corporate Executive Board, A Longtime Governance Gadfly. 'When You're A Director, It's No Better To Be A Schnook Than A Crook.'" (Justin Rood and Robert Lewis, "'A Schnook Is No Better Than A Crook,'" ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 7/9/07)

-- "Records Show That Richardson Attended, In Person Or By Phone, 15 Board Meetings. In Those Meetings, Directors Were Hearing That The Company Might Get Caught Cooking The Books." (Don Bauder, "Feeble Alibis," The San Diego Reader, www.sandiegoreader.com, 3/22/07)

Richardson Was Named As A Defendant In A Class Action Law Suit Filed By Shareholders Against Peregrine. "Some shareholders have joined in class-action lawsuits against Peregrine, and Richardson is a defendant in some of those suits." (Thomas J. Cole, "Tenure At Peregrine Haunts Richardson," The Albuquerque Journal, 10/27/02)

Lawmakers And Media Called For Richardson's Resignation Over Security Breach At Laboratory In Los Alamos, NM:

Richardson's Department Of Energy Showed Extreme Carelessness In Securing Our National Secrets. "The whereabouts of two computer hard drives at the center of a Los Alamos National Laboratory security breach investigation may have been unknown for as long as six months - not the six weeks originally reported ..." ("Timeline On Missing Los Alamos Hard Drives in Question: Their Whereabouts May Have Been Unknown For Months, Not Weeks," CNN.com, 6/20/00)

-- Richardson Faced Scrutiny Because Scientist Was Under Investigation For Three Years And Allowed To Keep Job. "Under Republican attack over security at federal nuclear weapons labs, the Clinton administration fired a Chinese-American computer scientist who has been the subject of a three-year espionage investigation." (H. Josef Hebert, "Chinese-American Scientist Fired At Weapons Lab Amid Spy Probe," The Associated Press, 3/9/99)

In Aftermath, Senate Intel Chairman Called For Richardson's Resignation. "Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., called on Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to step down in light of security lapses at the Los Alamos nuclear labs." ("Senate Leader Calls On Richardson To Step Down," United Press International, 6/18/00)

Even Democrats Were Upset With Richardson Over Handling Of Security Breach. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV): "You have shown an extreme contempt ... of this Congress." (H. Josef Hebert, "Richardson At The Center Of Security, Gas Prices Firestorm," The Associated Press, 6/22/00)

-- Sen. Byrd: "You've had a bright and brilliant career. But you will never again receive the support of the Senate of the United States for any office to which you might be appointed. It's gone. You've squandered your treasure." (H. Josef Hebert, "Richardson At The Center Of Security, Gas Prices Firestorm," The Associated Press, 6/22/00)

-- Click Here To Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpANBymakjM

-- Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Also Criticized Richardson. Sen. Kerry: "In my judgment the damage to U.S. interests is very real and what has leaked out is a very serious issue." (Andrew Miga, "Kerry Warns Of More Cases Of Alleged Chinese Spying," The Boston Herald, 3/22/99)

As Governor, Richardson Used Tobacco Company's Jet For Five Trips Worth More Than $40,000:

Richardson Took Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars In Free Flights From Largest Smokeless Tobacco Firm. "Gov. Bill Richardson has taken tens of thousands of dollars worth of free corporate jet flights from the world's largest smokeless-tobacco company in his role as head of the Democratic Governors Association." (Jeff Jones, "Smokeless On These Flights," Albuquerque Journal, 5/14/06)

-- "The Company, UST, Is The Parent Corporation Of The Firm That Makes Skoal And Copenhagen, Among Other Brands." ("Tobacco Company Provides Travel To Richardson," The Associated Press, 5/15/06)

-- "The Five Free Flights Provided To Richardson Through The Association, Which He Chairs, In 2005 And Early 2006 Were Worth More Than $40,000 ..." ("Tobacco Company Provides Travel To Richardson," The Associated Press, 5/15/06)

UST Lobbied New Mexico Legislature For Beneficial Legislation. "That company - UST, the parent corporation of the firm that makes Skoal, Copenhagen and other brands - lobbied hard at the New Mexico Legislature earlier this year for a tobacco-tax change that critics said would have exclusively benefited UST." (Jeff Jones, "Smokeless On These Flights," Albuquerque Journal, 5/14/06)

-- The Bill Was Sponsored By Richardson's Chief Ally. "The bill, sponsored by Richardson's chief legislative ally, House Speaker Ben Lujan, passed the House after a state financial impact report to lawmakers was drastically changed using UST's numbers. The measure ran out of steam in the Senate, where it died." (Jeff Jones, "Smokeless On These Flights," Albuquerque Journal, 5/14/06)

Gov. Richardson Invented Portion Of Biography:

Richardson Falsely Claimed To Have Been Drafted By The Kansas City A's. "The Albuquerque Journal reported last month that it had found no record of Richardson being drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1960s as Richardson had claimed in a biography when he ran for Congress in 1982. The governor acknowledged the error." (Barry Massey, "GOP Airs Ad Criticizing Governor As 'King Bill,'" The Associated Press, 12/6/05)

As Governor, Richardson Used State Helicopter To Go Horseback Riding At A Ranch:

"The New Mexican's Mitote Column Of Sept. 21 Reported The Governor Had Taken A State Helicopter To Go Horseback Riding At The Chama Ranch Of Santa Fe Art And Real-Estate Investor Gerald Peters." (Tom Sharpe, "Helicopter Flight Raises Questions," The Santa Fe New Mexican, 10/10/03)

-- Use Of Helicopter Cost Taxpayers $2,500. "According to the report, a high-tech Blackhawk helicopter scheduled for a training trip from Santa Fe to Carlsbad on Sept. 6 [2003] was diverted to Chama at Richardson's request -- a cost to taxpayers of $2,500 -- on a day when a state police helicopter often used by Richardson was grounded for maintenance." (Tom Sharpe, "Helicopter Flight Raises Questions," The Santa Fe New Mexican, 10/10/03)

As Governor, Richardson Used Taxpayer Money For Private Needs:

Richardson Uses Taxpayer Money To Buy Starbucks, Cigars, Newspaper, A Mattress And Meals While Traveling. "Cigars. Starbucks coffee. Copies of The New York Times. A $960 mattress. Meals in Switzerland, Mexico City and Washington and hotel rooms in Phoenix. They are among the items taxpayers have bought for Gov. Bill Richardson or his staff in recent months by virtue of a little-known state fund - an unaudited expense account that the Democratic-controlled Legislature quietly boosted by $60,000 shortly after the governor took office." (Barry Massey, "Richardson Uses State 'Contingency' Fund For Cigars, Starbucks, Overseas Meals," The Associated Press, 10/31/03)

-- Richardson Refused To Say How Expensive Meals Were. "[T]he governor refuses to elaborate on some of the fund's expenditures - including costs of meals and lodging that were charged on state credit cards by state police officers who serve as his security agents." (Barry Massey, "Richardson Uses State 'Contingency' Fund For Cigars, Starbucks, Overseas Meals," The Associated Press, 10/3130/03)

As Governor, Richardson Hired Lavish New Chef On Taxpayer's Dime:

Richardson Hired New Chef On Taxpayer Dollars. "All that wining and dining legislators have been raving about at the governor's mansion comes with a price [of] nearly $60,000 a year for a new chef." (David Miles, "Governor's Entertaining Runs Up Salary Costs," Albuquerque Journal, 4/2/03)

-- Richardson Spent Thousands More On Mansion Personnel Than His Republican Predecessor. "Based on a 40-hour workweek, the salaries of four employees at the mansion will total about $167,100 a year under Richardson, according to state Department of Finance and Administration records obtained by the Journal. The combined salaries of four mansion workers in the [Gov. Gary] Johnson [(R-NM)] era added up to roughly $93,900 as of last July." (David Miles, "Governor's Entertaining Runs Up Salary Costs," Albuquerque Journal, 4/2/03)

As Governor, Richardson's Administration Bought Land From Major Contributor And Then Received Large Donation From Contractor:

"Gov. Bill Richardson's Administration Bought 12 Acres Of Vacant Santa Fe Land From A Major Campaign Contributor And His Family, Paying $3.2 Million More Than The Family Had Paid For The Property 28 Months Before." ("Richardson Donor Sold 12 Acres To Administration," The Associated Press, 6/19/06)

-- "Contractor Sonny Otero Then Made A $50,000 Donation To Richardson's Re-Election Campaign About Two Months After The Sale Was Finalized ..." ("Richardson Donor Sold 12 Acres To Administration," The Associated Press, 6/19/06)

-- "Several Of Richardson's Largest Campaign Donors Have Contracts Or Other Business With His Administration. The Governor Has Said He Makes Decisions Based On What Is Best For The State, Not For His Contributors." ("Richardson Donor Sold 12 Acres To Administration," The Associated Press, 6/19/06)

As Governor, Richardson Created Jobs "Out Of Thin Air" To Please Friends And Relatives In Need Of Work:

Richardson Allegedly Bypassed Paper Trail To Invent Jobs For Supporters. "What do you do when you're the governor and you've already filled the executive branch's 647 exempt positions, but you've still got friends, political supporters and their relatives who need work? According to a report by KRQE Channel 13 investigative reporter Larry Barker, when you're Gov. Bill Richardson, you just create new jobs 'out of thin air.'" (Steve Terrell, "Governor's 'Gifts' Under Scrutiny," The Santa Fe New Mexican, 3/2/06)

-- KRQE [Albuquerque, NM] Channel 13 Investigative Reporter Larry Barker: "The practice is so common that state agencies have coined a name for it ... When the governor sends a new hire down to claim a job that doesn't exist, they call it 'a gift from the North.'" (Steve Terrell, "Governor's 'Gifts' Under Scrutiny," The Santa Fe New Mexican, 3/2/06)

In 2004, Richardson Gave 122 State Jobs To Campaign Contributors And Family Members:

"Gov. Bill Richardson Has Doled Out At Least 122 State Jobs To Campaign Contributors Or Family Members Of Financial Supporters, Many Of Them Getting High-Paying Positions." ("Richardson Gives Jobs To Campaign Donors; Says Workers Are Qualified," The Associated Press, 6/13/04)

-- "Contributors Or Their Family Members Hired By Richardson Gave At Least $245,500 To The Governor's Campaign In 2002. One Appointee Gave More Than $22,000." (Thomas J. Cole, "Governor's Contributors Rake In Jobs," Albuquerque Journal, 6/13/04)

-- "The Top 25 Individual Contributors To Richardson Who Were Appointed To Jobs Earn An Average Of Just Under $76,000 A Year On The State Payroll." (Thomas J. Cole, "Governor's Contributors Rake In Jobs," Albuquerque Journal, 6/13/04)

-- The Median Household Income In New Mexico As Of 2006 Was $40,126. (U.S. Census Bureau Website, www.census.gov, Accessed 12/3/08)

Richardson Almost Doubled The Number Of Positions That Serve At The Pleasure Of The Governor. "Richardson has expanded the number of exempt positions, which stood at 292 within 23 executive agencies as of April 30 ... There were 167 under Johnson [the previous governor]." ("Richardson Gives Jobs To Campaign Donors; Says Workers Are Qualified," The Associated Press, 6/13/04)

As Governor, Richardson Appointed Man Convicted Of Vehicular Homicide To Commission On Higher Education:

"Gov. Bill Richardson Has Appointed [Paul Donisthorpe, Partner Of Spectrum Financial Group, An Albuquerque Investment Banking Firm] ... To The 15-Member Commission On Higher Education." (Olivier Uyttebrouck, "Gov. Names Pick To Head Higher Ed," Albuquerque Journal, 6/10/03)

-- "Paul Donisthorpe Pleaded No Contest And Was Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For The 1990 Alcohol-Related Crash That Killed Albuquerque Sixth-Grade Teacher Jillian A. Howard." ("New Commissioner Once Convicted Of Vehicular Homicide," The Associated Press, 6/14/03)

Richardson Defended The Appointment. "Gov. Bill Richardson defended the appointment, saying Paul Donisthorpe is 'sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust,' a spokesman said." (Olivier Uyttebrouck, "Convicted Banker Seated On Board," Albuquerque Journal, 6/14/03)

-- Richardson's Spokesman, Gilbert Gallegos: "The governor was aware of Mr. Donisthorpe's history and, while it was troubling, after careful consideration the governor decided he was fit to serve on the Commission on Higher Education." (Olivier Uyttebrouck, "Convicted Banker Seated On Board," Albuquerque Journal, 6/14/03)

Donisthorpe Had Also Contributed Thousands To Richardson's Campaign. "Donisthorpe, a partner in the Albuquerque investment firm Spectrum Financial Group, contributed $7,700 to Richardson's gubernatorial campaign last year, according to campaign contribution reports." ("State Official Once Convicted Of Vehicular Homicide Resigns," The Associated Press, 6/16/03)

Donisthorpe Resigned Less Than A Week After He Was Sworn In. "A member of the state Commission on Higher Education resigned Monday because his vehicular homicide conviction from more than a decade ago was drawing too much negative attention, he said." ("State Official Once Convicted Of Vehicular Homicide Resigns," The Associated Press, 6/16/03)

As Governor, Richardson Hired Motor Vehicle Division Director Who Had Prior Drunk Driving Charge:

Richardson Removed Motor Vehicle Division Director After It Was Released That He Was Arrested For Drunk Driving. "Gov. Bill Richardson ... on Tuesday removed Julian Luna as Motor Vehicle Division director after it was revealed that he was arrested for drunken driving in a state car 10 years ago." ("Richardson Removes New MVD Chief," The Associated Press, 1/29/03)

-- "Luna Was Arrested On A Driving-While-Intoxicated Charge In August 1993 Near Belen After Police Said He Nearly Hit An Ambulance." ("Richardson Removes New MVD Chief," The Associated Press, 1/29/03)

As Governor, Richardson's Choice For Director Of Adult Probation And Parole Division Had A Domestic Abuse Restraining Order Against Him:

"Charles Countee, Richardson's Pick As Director Of The Adult Probation And Parole Division, Who Lost His Job In January After His Domestic Abuse Restraining Order Came To Light." (David Miles, "Gov.'s Hiring Hit, Defended," Albuquerque Journal, 5/25/03)

-- Countee Said He Was Hired But Governor's Aide Said He Was Never Hired. "A juvenile probation officer who is under a domestic abuse restraining order said he was fired after one day as director of the state Adult Probation and Parole Division, but a governor's aide said he was never hired." ("Man Contends He Was Hired, Fired As State Probation Head," The Associated Press, 1/8/03)

RICHARDSON HAS BEEN A RELENTLESS SELF PROMOTER

A Billboard In Times Square Featured A Picture Of Richardson:

"The 70-Foot-Long Billboard Beams Down From The Northwest Corner Of 48th Street And 7th Avenue, Showing Blue Skies, Snow-Capped Mountains, A Desert Mesa And A Grinning Richardson." ("Richardson Dominates N.M. Big Apple Billboard," The Associated Press, 3/1/03)

-- "The Billboard In Times Square Inviting People To Visit The Land Of Enchantment Will Feature An Image Of The Governor In Western Wear." (Steve Terrell, "Pitchman Or Ambitious Self-Promoter?," Santa Fe New Mexican, 2/22/03)

Richardson Hired More Press Aides To Help With His Image Than Any Other Governor:

"To Trumpet His Accomplishments, Richardson-- Who Long Has Been Tagged As A Publicity Hound-- Has Created A Public-Relations Machine, With More Press Aides That Any Previous Governor." (Thomas J. Cole, "Govzilla 24/7," Albuquerque Journal, 2/11/07)

-- "He Hired More Than Two Dozen Print, TV And Radio Reporters, Many Of Them Filling Newly Created PR Jobs In State Agencies." (Thomas J. Cole, "Govzilla 24/7," Albuquerque Journal, 2/11/07)

Richardson Used "Goodie Bags" At 2004 Democratic National Convention To Promote Himself:

Richardson's Gift To Convention Delegates Had His Picture And Name On It. "Richardson's gift seems to have won out for pure self-promotion. The salsa is manufactured for the Albuquerque restaurant Garduno's, but labeled as if the governor diced the tomatoes himself somewhere in Santa Fe. The jar bears his picture, and its most prominent words are 'Governor Bill Richardson,' appearing atop a pile of chili peppers and other salsa ingredients." (John Dyer, Herb Jackson, and Josh Gohlke, "Lautenberg's View: Kerry Offers Strong Voice For Israel," The [Bergen County, NJ] Record, 7/29/04)

-- The New York Times' Reporters Gave Richardson The "Most Relentless Self-Promotion" Award For The Gift. "Most Relentless Self-Promotion: Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, for bringing bottles of his own brand of salsa into the hall to give to delegates, despite security regulations barring glass containers. He got special Secret Service approval." (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and John Tierney, "The Democrats; The Convention In Boston," The New York Times, 7/30/04)

Richardson Rode On New Mexico's Float In The Tournament Of Roses Parade:

"New Mexico's Float In The Tournament Of Roses Parade Will Feature ... Gov. Bill Richardson." (Deborah Baker, "New Mexico Governor To Be On Rose Parade Float," The Associated Press, 11/11/05)

"With Publicity-Conscious Richardson Considered A Likely Contender For The Democratic Presidential Nomination In 2008, One Critic Expressed Mock Relief At The Float Design Announced This Week." (Deborah Baker, "New Mexico Governor To Be On Rose Parade Float," The Associated Press, 11/11/05)

-- Dan Foley, A Republican Lawmaker From Roswell, New Mexico: "I figured (the float) was going to be a big bobble-head of the governor." (Deborah Baker, "New Mexico Governor To Be On Rose Parade Float," The Associated Press, 11/11/05)

Richardson Spent Time Away From Energy Department To Pursue Vice Presidency In 2000:

"Richardson Has Made No Secret Of His Interest In Becoming Vice President Gore's Running Mate." (Laurence McQuillan, "Political Light Fading For Energy Secretary," USA Today, 6/19/00)

-- He Was Behind Al Gore All The Way. "Few of Mr. Richardson's rivals could have failed to notice him beaming behind Mr. Gore's confetti-caked shoulder last week as the vice president gave his victory speech after sweeping the Super Tuesday primaries." (Philip Shenon, "Public Lives; The Magic Blue Blazer Vs. An Oily Patch Of Bad Luck," The New York Times, 3/13/00)

He Attended Fundraisers For Al Gore. "Gore had been scheduled to appear ... at the Hollywood home of Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth for a cocktail reception fund-raiser and then attend a gala honoring the 25th anniversary of Century Village in Deerfield Beach. Karenna Gore Schiff, the vice president's 26-year-old daughter, and Richardson, who is rumored to be a possible Gore running mate, are now expected in his place." (Steve Friess, "Gore Breaks S. Florida Date To Campaign in N.H., Iowa; His Daughter, Energy Chief To Be Fill-Ins," Sun-Sentinel [Fort Lauderdale, FL], 1/13/00)

A Product Of The RNC Research Department

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Congressman Ron Paul Endorses Young Americans for Liberty

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Texas Congressman and former presidential candidate Ron Paul announced today his endorsement of a new youth organization, Young Americans for Liberty (YAL).

YAL is a youth-based activist organization that will continue the work of its predecessor, Students for Ron Paul. During the presidential campaign, Students for Ron Paul established over 500 college and high school chapters across all 50 states and recruited more than 26,000 students.

Paul recalled the thousands of young people attracted to the college rallies during his 2008 presidential campaign, saying, "It is these young men and women who will become tomorrow's champions of liberty. That's why I am giving my enthusiastic endorsement to Young Americans for Liberty."

YAL intends to launch this youth campaign next semester and re-energize the youth movement inspired by Paul. Paul compared YAL to the youth organization Young Americans for Freedom which started around another anti-establishment presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater, and helped fuel the rise of Ronald Reagan.

"The importance of YAL to the future of liberty cannot be overstated," said Paul.

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Statement from President Bill Clinton on the Nomination of Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud.

She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities.

She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.

In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a Senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I've known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served.

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Mantl: "Hillary Clinton's Outstanding Personality is a Good Prospect for a New American Foreign Policy"

"Hillary Clinton is an outstanding personality in the political landscape. As Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President Barack Obama, she can achieve her ambitious international goals: to restore the reputation of the United States in the world, to fight climate change and global warming, and to withdraw the troops from Iraq," said Josef Mantl, spokesperson of the international initiative "The World for Hillary - Platform of the international community in support of Hillary Clinton."

The Austrian communications-entrepreneur Josef Mantl spent two years at Emerson College of Communications in Boston as a Fulbright scholar, where he supported Hillary in her primaries, especially in New Hampshire und Massachusetts, and started the international initiative "The World for Hillary - Platform of the international community in support of Hillary Clinton" (http://www.theworldforhillary.com) as a "grassroots platform" in 2007.

"Countless times throughout the campaign, I heard her say: "No more cowboy-diplomacy". This is now her chance to put this pledge into action immediately. In our interconnected and globalized world, no country operates in autonomy. The values and vision of United States' elected officials have great impact on the rest of the world. Far across the borders of America, countless people yearn to support her goals."

"The nomination of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State endorses the guideline of our initiative: "It's not only a choice for America, it's a choice for the world," Mantl closes.

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Pelosi: Talented Obama Economic Team Will Help Lead Our Nation During Serious Economic Crisis

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President-elect Obama's announcement of his economic team:

"President-elect Barack Obama has assembled an exceptionally talented and diverse economic team to help him lead our nation during the most serious economic crisis in generations. Congress stands ready to work with the new President on his bold plan to restore confidence to our economy, create and save 2.5 million good-paying jobs here at home, and make us more competitive in the 21st century global economy.

"Having crafted recovery proposals that have been debated and passed the House, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey is already working to draft legislation that will help create new jobs by investing in a cleaner energy future, build a high-tech infrastructure that brings the power of renewable energy and broadband to communities across America, rebuild our bridges and modernize our schools. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel is working with the new Administration on a tax cut proposal that will make the tax code more fair for the middle class. We will work with the President-elect and his team so that 111th Congress can immediately act upon this New Direction for our economy.

"But Americans cannot wait until January for concrete action to restore our economic strength, which is why Democrats again urge President Bush and Senate Republicans to work with us to enact the economic recovery package the House passed in September. Enacting this legislation would provide a down payment on new job-creating infrastructure investments, help states avoid deep cuts to health care and other essential services, and provide nutrition assistance to struggling families.

"President Bush and Treasury Secretary Paulson can also strengthen our economy immediately by acting on FDIC Chair Sheila Bair's plan to help as many as 2 million Americans avoid foreclosure. Helping Americans avoid foreclosure is at the heart of solving our economic crisis, and will help millions of families and communities around the nation.

"In this time of economic crisis, bipartisan action is not only in order, it is essential. I urge President Bush to use his remaining days in office to work cooperatively with Congress and President-elect Obama to stabilize the economy, help struggling families, and prepare us for economic recovery in the new year."

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Businessmen are Bad for Capitalism, Says Libertarian Party

"CEOs and government 'altruism' are standing in the way of effective economic turnaround," says Libertarian Party spokesperson Andrew Davis.

"Businessmen are bad for capitalism when they use the government as life support for failing ventures," explains Davis. "Instead of letting other companies absorb these failing businesses, CEOs and government bailouts have distorted the natural forces of capitalism and prevented the necessary—and effective—economic turnaround that only comes through an unfettered free market. These bailouts do nothing but prolong the inevitable collapse of companies suffering from extreme mismanagement and poor investments."

"The Libertarian Party is adamantly opposed to any sort of bailout of American corporations who, through their own mismanagement, find themselves at the brink of failure," says Davis. "This includes Detroit auto manufacturers who have failed to keep up with trends in the automotive industry, locked themselves into destructive union contracts and have demonstrated a complete lack of initiative in automotive innovations that make their products enticing to consumers."

"Should the government bail-out Detroit, it will essentially create a white-collar soup kitchen for American corporations looking for a handout," Davis observes.

"There is no incentive for managerial reform when government provides a safety net for crooked CEOs," says Davis. "And taxpayers end up paying their million-dollar bonuses."

Davis says the solution is not more bailouts and more regulation, but "giving the natural forces of capitalism the time it takes to correct the mistakes of the past by letting failing companies be absorbed and reformed by bigger and stronger entities."

"This, of course, is not without its share of hardships," Davis explains, "but it will be the most effective plan for long-term economic stability. There are countless examples in American history where big corporations have faltered and failed, and were replaced by new businesses that became bigger and better. Had government stepped in at the time, it would have only prolonged the misery."

"We must not mistake this type of pro-government regulation as true capitalism," says Davis. "President Bush and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have created a new economic vision of loss-free capitalism, which simply does not exist in reality. The so-called fiscal conservatives have adopted a new philosophy of economic altruism that is based on corporate welfare and market regulation."

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Financial Advisers Lack Confidence in Obama's Ability to Heal U.S. Economy, According to InvestmentNews Survey

PRNewswire/ -- The majority of financial advisers have little confidence in President-elect Barack Obama's ability to put the U.S. back on sound economic footing, according to a new online survey by InvestmentNews, the leading news source for financial advisers. Of the 968 financial advisers surveyed on November 6 and 7, 61% said they lack confidence in the new commander-in-chief's ability to resolve the country's economic woes.

Besides restoring economic stability, 39% of 997 advisers said the development of a workable energy policy was the most important issue facing the country, the survey found. Terrorism, the war in Iraq and health care were picked as the No. 1 issue by 23%, 21% and 17% of respondents, respectively.

"Despite Obama's historic election last week, our survey reveals that financial advisers are still unsure about his ability to resolve our nation's most pressing economic issues," said Jim Pavia, editor of InvestmentNews. "This just goes to show that the President-elect has his work cut out for him in the months ahead - not just in creating a path to prosperity but in proving himself with the financial community."

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Statement by John Oxendine - Candidate for Governor of Georgia 2010 on the election of President-elect Obama:

Tonight, America spoke.

While millions of Americans are disappointed, even concerned, we remain a united America. Our country is blessed to be guided by a Constitution which has ensured a peaceful transition of
power longer than any other nation in the history of man. Tonight, our nation is at peace and our nation remains the single best hope for mankind.

America is in transition. However, America remains strong, free, and united. I congratulate President-elect Obama and hope that he will govern with a humble heart and inclusive manner and respect the Judeo-Christian values which have built America. Like so many conservatives, I am determined to stand as the loyal opposition, to fight for those conservative values that I consider vital to Georgia families. But, that is for another day. Tonight, I wish my friends Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin Godspeed and say thank you for your campaign
and I keep President-elect Obama and Vice-President-elect Biden in my prayers.

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In Wake of Virginia Lawsuit, Blunt Presses Congress to Address Military Voting

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of a lawsuit in Virginia to extend the deadline for the state's acceptance of military absentee ballots by ten days, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today released the following statement urging Congress to do more to ensure that the ballots of the nation's armed forces are counted:

"Our soldiers stationed over seas should not be disenfranchised from voting. For many of our servicemen and women, this election is not only their first but also one of the most important, and they should have every opportunity to have their vote counted and their voice heard.

"Given the situation in Virginia and elsewhere across the country, it's clear that military voting remains a major problem and ballots should have been mailed out sooner to ensure that members of our armed forces could participate in this historic election.

"Congress had the opportunity to safeguard the votes of our military this year, but regrettably chose instead to do too little, too late. Given their sacrifice for our nation, I urge Democrat leadership to do more in the next Congress to make sure that military participation in our democratic process is vastly improved in the future."

NOTE: Blunt authored a congressional resolution, H. Con. Res. 388, that passed the House in September expressing the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense and the Federal Voting Assistance Program take additional steps to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and their families have ample information on registering to vote and voting in the 2008 election. Similar legislation, authored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), was never considered by the Senate.

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) released a report last September citing that less than 17 percent of the 6 million citizens eligible under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act chose to participate in the 2006 general election. The EAC further found that of the 48,600 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ballots that were not counted by States and local jurisdictions in the November 2006 elections, 70 percent were not counted due to incorrect or undeliverable addresses and that more than 10 percent of all uncounted military and overseas absentee ballots were rejected because they were received past the required deadline.

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Amendment Vote Linked to Georgia Environment

Georgia voters will make an important decision regarding forest land and the environment on Tuesday, November 4. Georgians will cast ballots on Amendment #1, the “Georgia Forest Land Protection Act of 2008,” which asks voters whether the state Constitution should be amended to allow timberland taxation on the basis of its actual value as a forest, rather than its potential or speculative future use.

“As land values have increased, property taxes have risen to the point where many landowners are forced to decide whether it makes economic sense to keep their land in forests or sell it for development,” explained Lauren Bush, Public Affairs Staff Forester with the Georgia Forestry Commission. “Amendment #1 encourages landowners to keep their land in forests rather than sell it to developers.”

Georgia boasts approximately 24 million acres of forest land, 92% of which is privately owned. The forest industry contributes $28.5 billion to our state’s economy, and provides invaluable nature services to Georgia, including clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. The Georgia Forestry Commission provides leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of the state’s forest resources.

“Forest management is a long-term commitment for landowners,” said Bush. “They may not receive a return on their investment for 20 or more years, but their property taxes are due every year. Amendment #1 can help encourage property owners to keep their land in forests, which enhance the life of every Georgian.”

To receive the forest value assessment, Amendment #1 requires forest land owners to leave their land in tree production for at least 15 years. If a county’s total tax digest of revenue is reduced by more than three percent, the money will be reimbursed by the State of Georgia. If it is affected by three percent or less, the county will be reimbursed 50%.

If ratified by Georgia voters on the November 4 General Election ballot, the Forest Land Protection Act will go into effect on January 1, 2009.

For more information, visit GaTrees.org, www.forourforests.com or www.keepgeorgiagreen.org.

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Justice Department, U.S. Attorney's Office Announce Contacts to Handle Election-Related Complaints

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias announced today that William R. Toliver, an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in Atlanta, will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 4, 2008 general elections. AUSA Toliver has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Northern District of Georgia, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

United States Attorney Nahmias said, "We are committed to assuring an honest and fair election, and to assuring that every lawful vote is counted. Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute and preclude honest votes. They strike at the very heart of our rights as citizens and corrupt the essence of our representative form of government. As such, we will address credible reports of election fraud and voting rights violations promptly and aggressively. Anyone who has information suggesting electoral corruption or voting rights abuses should make that information available immediately to the FBI, my Office, or the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division."

On October 8, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft established a Department-wide Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this Initiative are to increase the Department's ability to deter voter intimidation, suppression, discrimination and election fraud and to prosecute these offenses whenever and wherever they occur--to make voting easier and cheating harder. Both goals are equally important. It is imperative that in pursuing voter integrity, ballot access is not in any way diminished or harmed. The Department's long-standing Election Day Program furthers the goals of the Initiative. The Program also is intended to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department where the public can report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day. The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it, while those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 4, 2008, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Nahmias stated that AUSA Toliver will be on duty while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 404-581-6000.

The FBI will also have Special Agents available in the Atlanta Field Office and each resident agency in this District to receive allegations of election fraud, intimidation, suppression and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at 404-679-9000.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767. Where voter intimidation or suppression tactics target voters on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section may be contacted at 202-514-3204.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

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AAUW Hosts Political Forum Tuesday in Valdosta

The American Association of University Women will host the South Georgia Political Forum from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.

Candidates for all national and local offices will participate in free-form roundtables and offer three-minute speeches, which will be moderated by Dr. Sharon Gravett, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and longtime member of the AAUW. Prior to the addresses, the estimated 20 candidates from state and local races will be available in the meeting room to entertain questions from the public and distribute campaign information.

The Valdosta branch of the AAUW organized the forum, in conjunction with Myrna Ballard of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Greenhaw of the Lowndes County Republican Party and Dennis Marks of the Lowndes County Democratic party.

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Bob Barr Says: Maintain Economic Growth, Find New Energy Sources, Confront Global Warming

Bob Barr, former Member of Congress from Georgia and Libertarian Party candidate for President, today issued the following statement on energy and global warming:

As America confronts a variety of domestic and foreign challenges in the future, it is essential that we preserve our prosperous, productive, and innovative economy. Without a strong economic foundation, it will be impossible for our nation to deal with the many serious financial, social, and environmental problems facing the U.S.

One of the most complicated and controversial issues facing America is global warming. Although temperatures have increased in recent decades, the scientific community has been unable to make definitive judgments as to the past cause or future course of climate change. Indeed, the models which predict problems in the future did not predict the lack of any temperature increase over the last decade. Unfortunately, many climate processes are not yet clearly understood.

Thus, we need to conduct more and better scientific research about climate change to assess likely problems in the future and develop appropriate solutions. More dialogue is key to understanding global warming and developing the best means of dealing with the important questions surrounding the phenomenon. This dialogue must include scientists from all sides of the issue, including those who are skeptical of the assertion that humans are primarily responsible for global temperature changes and that those changes pose a substantial danger to humanity.

Moreover, we must develop cost-effective policies which will not undermine the U.S. economy. So-called cap and trade legislation, recently rejected by the U.S. Senate, would do grievous damage to the American economy, threatening to create a permanent recession by reversing industrial growth and destroying millions of jobs. Attempting to adjust global temperatures by artificially cutting energy consumption would undermine the very prosperous and innovative market system upon which we must rely for answers to everything from health care to international poverty to environmental protection.

Our energy future must be built on a commitment to both find more conventional energy sources and expand use of alternative fuels. The U.S. has large deposits of petroleum, oil shale, and natural gas. Barriers to their development in the Outer Continental Shelf, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and other federal lands should be lowered or eliminated, which would provide Americans with a more secure source of energy over the short term and help bring down today’s high prices, which are causing such economic hardship to so many Americans. Such steps would also allow us to begin seriously considering and developing alternative sources of energy that will be essential in the long term.

The development of alternatives to fossil fuels would provide the country with many benefits, ranging from lower CO2 emissions to greater diversity of energy supplies. Given the failure of past government subsidy programs, this transformation can only be led by the private sector.

The government must remove regulatory barriers, which limit the development of alternative as well as conventional energy sources. Moreover, public officials should cease their demagogic attacks on the energy industry, which has made money only by finding, refining, and transporting gasoline, natural gas, and heating oil for the American people. Vote-minded legislators risk creating an environment in which companies are punished for doing good, which will only make them more reluctant to invest in all technologies and fuels, alternative as well as conventional.

Indeed, the challenge of promoting continuing energy innovation should cause us to reconsider other policies which discourage business investment and capital formation more generally. Americans for Tax Reform recently reported that the tax and regulatory burden rose at both the state and national level over the last year. America’s corporate income tax is one of the highest in the world, creating a self-inflicted economic wound. Congress now routinely votes for new spending programs for which we have no way to pay, putting our entire economic future at risk.

The challenges that we face are serious, but I am convinced we can find solutions. We are more likely to develop policies that simultaneously promote economic growth, expand energy supplies, and lessen any adverse effects of climate change, if we promote a genuine dialogue among contending factions. Although I do not agree with the tax and regulatory policies advanced by former Vice President Al Gore, I do believe his call for greater reliance on alternative energy could be given positive effect by American industry. Only the market economy can balance his passion with the reality of preserving the growing economy upon which our future—and that of our children and grandchildren—depends.

We must address the issue of climate change, but do so realistically, recognizing the importance of simultaneously expanding energy supplies and maintaining economic growth. Our greatest strength in confronting the problems of the future is our free market economy. Only by reducing government barriers to private research and development are we going to achieve the innovative, even transformational, changes necessary in the years and decades ahead.

McCain - "Taxpayers On Hook To Bail Out Fannie, Freddie"

"With combined obligations of roughly $5-trillion, the rapid failure of Fannie and Freddie would be a threat to mortgage markets and financial markets as a whole. Because of that threat, I support taking the unfortunate but necessary steps needed to keep the financial troubles at these two companies from further squeezing American families. But let us not forget that the threat that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to financial markets is a tribute to crony capitalism that reflects the power of the Washington establishment." -- John McCain

"Taxpayers On Hook To Bail Out Fannie, Freddie"
Sen. John McCain
St. Petersburg Times
July 24, 2008

Americans should be outraged at the latest sweetheart deal in Washington. Congress will put U.S. taxpayers on the hook for potentially hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It's a tribute to what these two institutions -- which most Americans have never heard of -- have bought with more than $170-million worth of lobbyists in the past decade.

With combined obligations of roughly $5-trillion, the rapid failure of Fannie and Freddie would be a threat to mortgage markets and financial markets as a whole. Because of that threat, I support taking the unfortunate but necessary steps needed to keep the financial troubles at these two companies from further squeezing American families. But let us not forget that the threat that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to financial markets is a tribute to crony capitalism that reflects the power of the Washington establishment.

Fannie and Freddie buy home loans from lending institutions and reissue them as marketable securities -- creating a liquid market for mortgage debt that lowers borrowing costs for prospective homeowners. The two institutions have easy access to borrow at low interest rates because they were originally government agencies and continue to be viewed as being backed by the government. The irony is that by bailing them out, Congress is about to make that perception a reality, even though government backing is no longer needed for their original mission. There are lots of banks, savings and loans, and other financial institutions that can do this job.

Fannie and Freddie are the poster children for a lack of transparency and accountability. Fannie Mae employees deliberately manipulated financial reports to trigger bonuses for senior executives. Freddie Mac manipulated its earnings by $5-billion. They've misled us about their accounting, and now they are endangering financial markets. More than two years ago, I said: "If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose." Fannie and Freddie's lobbyists succeeded; Congress failed to act. They've stayed in business, grown, and profited mightily by showering money on lobbyists and favors on the Washington establishment. Now the bill has come due.

What should be done? We are stuck with the reality that they have grown so large that we must support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the current rough spell. But if a dime of taxpayer money ends up being directly invested, the management and the board should immediately be replaced, multimillion dollar salaries should be cut, and bonuses and other compensation should be eliminated. They should cease all lobbying activities and drop all payments to outside lobbyists. And taxpayers should be first in line for any repayments.

Even with those terms, sticking Main Street Americans with Wall Street's bill is a shame on Washington. If elected, I'll continue my crusade for the right reform of the institutions: making them go away. I will get real regulation that limits their ability to borrow, shrinks their size until they are no longer a threat to our economy, and privatizes and eliminates their links to the government.

It's time to get America on the right track by creating the jobs that will build a strong foundation under our housing markets. We need to address the high cost of gasoline and other energy sources, and transform health care to be cheaper, higher quality and built around the needs of patients. But most of all, we need to reform Washington and wrest control from the special interests that have created this problem.

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