Answering a few questions on S 277 and HR 1388

I had a few legitimate questions on the "mandatory" aspect of HR 1388 & its companion Senate version, S 277. Also had one of the typical swipes without any supporting references from a 'gee you're a Rush Limbaugh loving type who doesn't know anything' lib (they just can't resist trying to slap you, can they? Peace, love and hugs back atcha.).

Here's a bit from Michelle Malkin:

Especially troublesome to parents’ groups concerned about compulsory volunteerism requirements is a provision in the House version, directing Congress to explore “whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.”

Those who have watched AmeriCorps from its inception are all-too-familiar with how government voluntarism programs have been used for propaganda and political purposes. AmeriCorps “volunteers” have been put to work lobbying against the voter-approved three-strikes anti-crime initiative in California and protesting Republican political events while working for the already heavily-tax-subsidized liberal advocacy group ACORN.

Barracuda Babe's blog post included the actual wording from the bill which includes the "mandatory" aspect.

Here's an interesting interview and bit with Rahm Emanuel:



Wording from the bill (believe this is the House version; the Senate wording is on Barracuda Babes):

(6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

Here's another opinion (stressing opinion):

Prison Planet.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On March 18, Rep. George Miller, a Democrat from California, tacked an amendment on H.R. 1388, entitled “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act,” or GIVE (to government), Obama’s plan to require mandatory service for all able young people. Miller’s amendment will “prohibit organizations from attempting to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and assist, promote, or deter union organizing,” according to GovTrack.us, a site that tracks Congress.
http://truth11.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/give-mandatory-service-act-strips-first-amendment-of-%e2%80%9cvoluntee/

Here's a page of WordPress blog links on the subject:
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/mandatory-service/

Here's a page from Free Republic with loads of links to blogs and articles on the subject:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hr1388/index

Now it's up to you go decide whether this one is an issue... or not.

Quite a few Republicans are treating this as just the standard re-authorization of the volunteer service group. Could be they're correct, however I would bet the vast majority simply haven't actually read the bill because they have bigger issues on their plate and they think this is ho-hum standard housekeeping. Plus, while the issue is being bandied about on conservative blogs, I think many have been distracted by AIG, the economy, and other issues (some valid, some created) helping to keep this out of the media.

This may, and I stress may, just be the bill that slides through without a question that ultimately changes the future. Only time will tell.

One more quick thought - even if it IS a dangerous bill due to those sneaky little words being slipped into the language, if we work hard and get some balance back in Congress in 2010 and 2012, we can reverse it. Hopefully.

Programming note: We pass along alerts and info from our bloggers for YOU to research and write about. It's up to you to research and verify, although we try to vet info as much as possible. If it's questionable, we don't share. We try (try ;-) not to get too opinionated in this particular blog about individual issues. We try to primarily focus promoting our member bloggers, on preserving the rights inherent in the Constitution, protecting conservative values and highlighting conservative candidates. The ladies who run the Read My Lipstick Network have strong opinions about issues and we don't always agree, which is why we have our own individual blogs. Love to have your opinions on the issues and always appreciate when you send us your research to share with our readers and Network members.

Senate Bill 2433 - Research, blog about?

Senate Bill 2433.... It's Already Started
www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2433/text

According to David Bossie, President of the group 'Citizens United for American Sovereignty based out of Merrifield, Virginia , website: www.citizensunited.org/ the above mentioned Senate Bill (S. 2433) is a piece of legislation in the works that all Americans need to know about... and know now!

This Bill, sponsored by none other than our "President elect" Sen. Barrack Obama, with the backing of Joe Biden on the Foreign Relations Committee, and liberal democrats in Congress, is nothing short of a massive giveaway of American wealth around the world, and a betrayal of the public trust, because, if passed, this bill would give over many aspects of our sovereignty to the United Nations.

Note to all: I'm going to pass along things that are brought to my attention. Some, like this one, I haven't had time to look into. I will as it caused my little antennae to twinge, but thought some of you might want to jump on it faster than I might.

Send a message to Washington about the stimulus bill

Let Your Voice Be Heard on the Stimulus Bill!
February 12, 2009
Host or Attend
The TCOT Plan National House Party / Focus Group Tweet Chat & Conference Call Event
Thursday, February 12
7:00PM - 8:30PM

Do you want to send a message to Washington and the media about the Stimulus Bill?
You are not alone.

There are people all over the country who want to send a message to President Obama, to Congress, and to the media that there are ways of stimulating the economy, but the proposed bill is not one of them.

Get Involved!
Host or attend the TCOT Plan National House Party / Focus Group Tweet Chat & Conference Call Event

Click here to find out more: https://tcotnationalhouseparty.wordpress.com/

UPDATES ON Stimulus Everyone needs to know

From W.A.M. - Laudits to Sen. Thune (GOP/SD) for attempting to stop the HR1 Catastrophe. Voted down 36 to 61 he offered an amendment that the entire bill be scrapped and its funds be redirected to middle class tax rebates in an equal amount. Imagine how much more that would do to really stimulate the economy!

Most credit due to Senator Vitter (GOP/LA) for his also defeated amendment (45 to 51) to prevent $$ 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS of HR1 from funding A.C.O.R.N. - in the guise of "neighborhood stabilization programs!" This measure doesn't help the economy. It threatens US further as A.C.O.R.N. (now under indictment in numerous states for the vote fraud that swept Obama into office) contributed to the banking and housing collapse through its aggressive demands of unfit housing loans.) And that was only the beginning of their Master Plan!

BIGGEST DISGRACE: GOP Senate support is absolutely necessary for this package of corruption and subterfuge to pass.

Currently these 3 GOP Senators are indicating a potential to likely YES Vote on HR1. They are:

Republican Senators COLLINS AND SNOWE of MAINE and Republican Senator SPECTRE of Pennyslvania.

If they do so, we will all be subjected to dangerous laws hidden in this Socialist Stimulus for Obama backers! (See contents of W.A.M. message to Senators below for details.)

Your W.A.M. ACTION is URGENT this weekend.

If you have not yet contacted Congress with your feedback about HR1, please do so now! Moveon and Obama's other octopus arms are running a massive DIRECT CONTACT campaign to the SENATE in support of this TROJAN HORSE. Make your Voice Heard!

W.A.M. has prepared FAX letters & quick Voice Mails in your exclusive downloads- which address the real issues of worst dangers of HR1. Don't be fooled by Mass Media - all the billions in pork is the least of our worries - other than buying up Congressional votes what the pork really does is act as a cover for HR1 real agenda!

If you can, go to your W.A.M. downloads now to send a quick FAX and/or CALL the 3 Critical Senators above and your own state's. Along with quick send materials, you will find direct contact information for directly reaching Congress.

If you don't have time to PHONE AND FAX, below is a prepared EMAIL MESSAGE and the links to send it NOW to each of these 3 pivotal politicians:

Your follow-through on these quick email sends is a short cut for expressing your resistance as a voter and the WORST REASONS why! (Of course, you can also adapt this message to suit.)

If you are not yet signed in with W.A.M. to access more complete ACTION information and Materials, click here: GET INVOLVED

Help get this petition against the stimulus over 100,000 signatures by Monday!

The fight to stop this trillion dollar stimulus scheme is not over!

Two big events occurred yesterday afternoon in the Pelosi-Reid-Obama big-governmen/big-spending bill battle.

First, at 4:00 P.M. our band of Americans for Prosperity staffers, interns and volunteers delivered your 69,487 petitions to the Senate. There to thank you were four of the true free market champions in the Senate – Sen. Jim DeMint (SC -- our leader), Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL), Sen. David Vitter (LA), Sen. James Inhofe (OK) and Sen. Mike Enzi (WY).

Our event led the 6:00 P.M. national FOX News show! Cameras were also therefrom CNN and CBS Evening News. To theright is an image from FOX News, your petitions looked great and the senators and media were stunned. Also, make sure to check out picture of the event on the AFP Flickr page and the full press conference is up on the AFP YouTube page.

All four senators said their phones are ringing off the hooks at the capitol with callers running heavily against the spending bill and your petitions were an even more clear indication of our momentum.

If you wonder whether or not you're making a difference, just check this quote out from Roll Call (Capitol Hill's insider newspaper) “Everyone is really unhappy on the messaging,” one senior Democratic aide said. “Members are apparently getting beaten up badly on the package at home."

Then, last night during a procedural move the Senate announced that the key vote on the Pelosi-Reid-Obama bill will be this Monday at 5:30 P.M. Simply put, we need 40 Senators voting NO at that point to stop the bill (normally would be 41 but due to the recount the Minnesota seat is vacant so it in effect counts as NO).

This means we have two more days to intensify the pressure on the Senate. Phil Kerpen from our AFP staff personally delivered just over 2,400 petitions to Senator Specter (PA) one of the key undecided Republicans and he told me the office staff was harried and tired from all the "attention" they're getting.

You've probably heard big government supporters talk about how the Pelosi-Reid-Obama trillion dollar giveaway is genuine "stimulus" and not just another wasteful, pork-filled, pet program spending outrage. Well, even President Obama had a moment of candor last evening when describing this bill to the House Democrat caucus.

Here's what the President said, "[T]here's the argument, well, this is full of pet projects. When was the last time that we saw a bill of this magnitude move out with no earmarks in it? Not one," he said to applause. "So then you get the argument, well, this is not a stimulus bill--this is a spending bill. What do you think stimulus is?"

You have to hand it to President Obama -- talk about audacity. Of course, he was not talking to the American people but instead to a couple of hundred hardened big government politicians at a private retreat. I bet his message to the broad public will be a lot different!!

Thank you for signing the NoStimulus.com petition to Congress. Thank you for taking action to protect our freedoms and our nation. But, now is the time to do more.

Requests before the Monday vote:

By Monday's vote, our goal is 100,000 petition signatures at NoStimulus.com so we must add another 20,000 signatures.

Nearly 14,000 of you have forwarded the NoStimulus.com site to your friends and family and it's made a huge difference. But, many of you have yet made this important step. It’s you guys that are going to make this a success. Please take a moment to forward this email or go to NoStimulus.com and send the site to your friends. And, please CC me when you do it -- it's a great encouragement to our team when we get these emails from you to your friends!

As we monitor the site we find that literally thousands of people are going on the site to view the petition counter -- the media, congressional offices, pollsters and political operatives -- it's the surest, quickest way to see if we're maintaining momentum and energy on our side.

Also, first thing Monday morning I urge you to call your Senate office one more time -- even if you've called already. The switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Or, go on line and get the number for your senator's local office in your home state. Heck -- DO BOTH. Tell them about the Obama quote or go to NoStimulus.com for new talking points. These calls matter so much.

Please forgive me for this long email update but I have to share one last thing with you. It's an email from Sherri in Cary, NC that sums up the energy so many of you are displaying while making a great point at the end. Take a look:

Tim, Thanks for all your work and communication. I sent emails to all 100 Senators yesterday asking them to vote against this porkulus bill - or as Obama called it last night - this "Spending Bill". I called my 2 senators offices and have told all friends I can about signing your petition. I felt less frustrated after doing all this - at least I'm doing what I can to voice my opinion about this disastrous debt-ridden liberal Christmas list.

SherriCary NC

Let's keep fighting!

Sincerely,
Tim Phillips President,
Americans for Prosperity

P.S. Watch Harry Reid describing the "compromise" and admitting the bill is approaches $1 trillion and saying they didn't get everything they wanted - "No one lost anything. Everything in here is new money."

Another stimulus message

I'm going to be passing along some of the messages I receive re: the scamulus, porkulus, stimulus. Feel free to keep them going. We need to do everything we can to show our displeasure about how this thing is going down. We especially need to make sure Snowe, Collins and Specter hear us loud and clear. I'm planning on sending money to help their Republican opposition and I may even consider flying out there and volunteering if someone wants to take them on.

A message from Pumpkin13 to all members of THE RESISTANCE on Team Sarah!

It appears the Senate just went into recess and I believe they will not return until Monday at 1:00. At that time there will be more debate on the Stimulus Bill and at 5:30 they should hold a "Procedural Vote on the Stimulus Bill" to determine if they will continue with the bill.

If they get that far they will actually vote on the Bill (I am hearing Tuesday).

This means there is time to call your state Senators, on Monday.

Put the heat on them.

Also, contact the three Republic Senators below who have agreed to vote "yes" on the bill.

I know it is a shot in the dark but just maybe they can be swayed back to a "no"vote:

Susan Collins (R-ME) phone# 202-224-2523 and fax# 202-224-2693
Olympia Snow (R-ME) phone# 202-224-2344 and fax# 202-224-1946
Arlen Specter (R-PA) phone# 202-224-4254 and fax# 202-228-1229

I have heard that Specter is not sure how he will vote so we all really need to call or fax him.

E-mail is good but unless you reside in their state they will likely not receive your e-mail...you may not even be allowed to submit an e-mail.

Keep Trying Friends!

Texas Sparkle Shines Light on the "Stimulus" Plan Debacle

Walking You Through The Stimulus Plan Debacle

For those of you (which are most of us) who are too busy living a life to understand this entire Stimulus plan soap opera. I'll walk you though it plain terms.

Jan. 26th : Stimulus bill! 7, 8, 9 Billion! There.

Ok, maybe a few billion more, give or take.

Jan 27th: Obama to House Republicans: "Come on guys. Kumbya and all that."

Jan 27th: House Republicans: "Are freakin kidding me? This bill is a bloated cow. No way we are voting for it."

http://blogs.chron.com/texassparkle/

Barack Obama's Advisers Wrote Bill Barack Obama Decries On Campaign Trail

"Let me welcome you all here today for the signing of this historic legislation. With this bill, the American financial system takes a major step forward towards the 21st century, one that will benefit American consumers, business, and the national economy for many years to come." -- Larry Summers, Then-Clinton Treasury Secretary And Current Obama Adviser, On Gramm-Leach-Bliley (1999)

Today, The Obama Campaign, As Barack Obama Has Done Over The Past Few Days, Blamed The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act For The Current Economic Crisis:

Obama Campaign Memo: "Gramm Was 'Principal Author' Of The 1999 Gramm-Leach-BlileyAct, Breaking Down Walls Between Banking, Insurance, And Securities Firms Erected By Depression-Era Glass-Steagall Act. 'Mr. Gramm, a principal author of the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which broke down the walls between banking, insurance, and securities, left Congress in late 2002 to become vice chairman of UBS Warburg.' [American Banker, 3/11/08]." (Obama Campaign Memo, 9/19/08)

However, Just Today, The Washington Post Highlighted The Utter Hypocrisy Of Obama's Position Considering Some Of The Very Same Advisers He Met With This Morning Were Major Supporters Of The Bill:

The Washington Post: Obama Supporters And Advisers Were Authors And Proponents Of The Very Same Bill Barack Obama Attacks On The Campaign Trail. "One element of the Obama campaign's brief against Mr. McCain is that he supported repeal of the law separating commercial banks from investment banks. ... Would it be churlish to point out that another author of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley law is former congressman Jim Leach, a founder of Republicans for Obama? Or that Obama advisers Lawrence H. Summers and Robert E. Rubin supported the repeal which was signed by President Bill Clinton?" (Editorial, "'Always For Less Regulation'?" The Washington Post, 9/19/08)

Barack Obama Advisers Who Lobbied For The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act:

· Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) -- Barack Obama's Running Mate

· Robert Rubin -- Obama Economic Adviser Who Met With Obama Today

· Larry Summers -- Obama Economic Adviser Who Met With Obama Today

· Gene Sperling -- Obama Economic Adviser Who Met With Obama Today

· Former Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) -- Leads "Republicans For Obama" And Spoke At The Democrat National Convention

· Former President Bill Clinton -- Signed The Bill And Whose Support Barack Obama Has Constantly Sought

Joe Biden -- Obama's Own Running Mate -- Voted In Favor Of Gramm-Leach-Bliley:

Joe Biden Voted For The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act Of 1999. (S. 900, CQ Vote #354: Adopted 90-8: R 52-1; D 38-7; I 1-0, 11/4/99, Biden Voted Yea)

Robert Rubin -- Former Treasury Secretary (1995-1999) -- Lobbied For Gramm-Leach-Bliley:
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Only Became Law Because Then-Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin Urged President Clinton To Sign The Legislation. "[T]he Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ... only became law when Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin prevailed upon President Clinton to sign the bill." (Robert Scheer, Op-Ed, "Candidates Seek Banking 'Expertise' We Don't Need," San Gabriel Valley [CA] Tribune, 8/3/08)

President Clinton: Former Secretary Bob Rubin "Worked Very Hard On This." CLINTON: "But I do want to thank all the members here and all those who aren't here and I'd like to thank two New Yorkers who aren't here who have been mentioned -- former Secretary of the Treasury Bob Rubin, who worked very hard on this, and former chairman, Senator Al D'Amato, who talked to me about this often." (President Clinton, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD): "I Want To Thank The President, Secretary Summers, Former Secretary Rubin For Their Strong Support Throughout This Process." (Senator Sarbanes, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

Lawrence Summers Former Treasury Secretary (1999-2001) Worked For The Passage Of Gramm-Leach-Bliley

Obama Adviser Larry Summers Was Involved In Negotiating The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, And Called It A "Major Step Forward Toward The 21st Century." "Mr. Summers, the Obama adviser, was among those who negotiated the [1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley] measure on behalf of the Clinton administration, and he praised it as a 'major step forward toward the 21st Century.'" (Michael M. Phillips, Elizabeth Holmes and Amy Chozick, "Candidates Call Upon Big Names For Advice," The Wall Street Journal, 9/18/08)

· Then-Treasury Secretary Summers Called Gramm-Leach-Bliley "Historic Legislation" That Is "A Major Step Forward Towards The 21st Century."

SUMMERS: "Let me welcome you all here today for the signing of this historic legislation. With this bill, the American financial system takes a major step forward towards the 21st century, one that will benefit American consumers, business, and the national economy for many years to come. This is the culmination of years of effort by many, many people, reflects the work of presidents, Treasury officials, members of Congress, those in the private sector, from both parties, and dedicated professionals, both inside and outside the government. With their help, I believe we have all found the right framework for America's future financial system." (Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

President Clinton" "I Want To Express My Gratitude To Those Principally Responsible For The Success Of This Legislation ... Secretary Summers." CLINTON: "Like all those before me, I want to express my gratitude to those principally responsible for the success of this legislation. I thank Secretary Summers and the entire team at Treasury, but especially Undersecretary Gensler for their work, and Assistant Secretary Linda Robertson." (President Clinton, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

Secretary Summers: "And I Want To Thank Especially My Predecessor, Bob Rubin, Who Cared Deeply That We Get This Bill Right..." (Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

Gene Sperling -- Former National Economic Adviser for President Bill Clinton (1997-2001) -- Lobbied And Worked On Gramm-Leach-Bliley:

Secretary Summers: "...Gene Sperling And Sarah Rosen And Their Colleagues At The National Economic Council For Everything That They Have Done In Bringing Us To This Point." (Secretary Summers, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) -- One Of The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act's Co-Authors -- Is An Obama Supporter And Leader Of "Republicans For Obama":

Former Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) Was The Co-Author Of The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Which Repealed The Glass-Steagall Act And Allowed Competition Between Commercial And Investment Banks And Insurance Companies. (S. 900, Signed 11/12/99)

· Leach Endorsed Obama And Serves As A Leader Of "Republicans For Obama." "Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, picked up the endorsement today of former Republican Representative Jim Leach of Iowa, an important state in the general election." (Jonathan D. Salant, "Iowa Republican Leach, Ex-House Member, Backs Democrat Obama," Bloomberg News, 8/12/08)

· Leach Spoke At The Democrat National Convention. "The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama For America Campaign have confirmed that former Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) will speak Monday, the opening night of the convention, themed 'One Nation.'" (Mary Ann Akers, "Surprise GOP Speaker At Dem Convention: Jim Leach," The Washington Post's "The Sleuth" Blog, voices.washingtonpost.com, 8/24/08)

Representative Jim Leach: "Mr. President, Secretary Summers, colleagues in the House; let me just say, this is a bill that's bipartisan, bicameral, 'bi' -- in fact, tri-institutional, with officials of the legislative, executive, as well as the independent regulatory branches of government working well together." (Representative Leach, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD): Representative Leach "Shepherded" The Bill Through The Congress. SARBANES: "I want to thank Chairman Leach, who served as such an able chairman of the conference committee and kept us at the table on a -- when, on occasion, it looked like maybe people would walk away from the negotiating table. He shepherded the process through, I think, in an exemplary way." (Senator Sarbanes, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

President Bill Clinton -- Who Signed The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act -- Is The Leader Barack Obama Has Been Constantly Meeting With And Getting Advice From:

President Clinton Signed The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Into Law On November 12, 1999 As Public Law No. 106-102. (P.L. No. 106-102)

President Clinton: "This Is A Very Good Day For The United States." (President Clinton, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)

President Clinton: "So This Is A Day We Can Celebrate As An American Day." (President Clinton, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 11/12/99)