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Obama's Plan Includes Medicare Tax on Capital Gains and High Fees on Companies Like Pfizer Inc and Merck

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 9:15:19 PM
Obama Endorses Medicare Tax, More Drugmaker Fees (Update4)

By Ryan J. Donmoyer and Nicole Gaouette

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama, seeking to break an impasse over health-care legislation, proposed a plan that includes the first Medicare tax on capital gains and higher fees on companies such as Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. to help cover millions of uninsured Americans.

The measure, which also scales back a tax on high-end health benefits that was opposed by organized labor, marks a reversal from months of leaving the legislation’s details largely up to congressional Democrats, who have failed to agree on a plan. Obama relied mostly on a Senate bill passed in December, with elements of a House version passed in November.

The plan to cover 31 million uninsured Americans presents a challenge to Republicans before a Feb. 25 meeting at Blair House, across the street from the White House. Obama invited leaders from both parties and called on Republicans, who have almost universally opposed the Democratic plans, to offer their own “comprehensive bill” to extend coverage and reduce costs.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aTtceUF35Ybw

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Vice President Cheney has been Hospitalized

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 8:15:14 PM

FOXNews.com

The former vice president is resting comfortably at George Washington hospital.

Tags: cheney  
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Reid Say Men are More Abusive When They are Out of Work, So Let's Pass this "Jobs" Bill

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 8:04:51 PM

Reid: 'Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive'

By Michael O'Brien - 02/22/10 06:52 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested Monday that domestic violence by men has increased due to U.S. joblessness.

Reid, speaking in the midst of a Senate debate over whether to pass a $15 billion package meant to spur job creation, appeared to argue that joblessness would lead to more domestic violence.

"I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand," Reid said on the Senate floor. "Why? Men don't have jobs."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82803-reid-men-when-theyre-out-of-work-tend-to-become-abusive
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Cloture is Invoked for Senate "Jobs" Bill

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 6:19:26 PM

Scott Brown joins Dems and votes to end debate on jobs bill

By Jordan Fabian - 02/22/10 05:40 PM ET

Newly-seated Republican Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) on Monday joined Democrats in voting to end debate on their $15 billion jobs bill.

Brown crossed the aisle after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) nixed an $85 billion, bipartisan plan in favor of a more narrowly-focused bill.
\
...

Democrats needed to poach Brown and and least one other Republican to reach the 60 votes necessary to votes. Centrist Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) also voted for cloture on the proposal. 

Retiring GOP Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio) also voted for cloture.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82753-scott-brown-votes-for-cloture-on-jobs-bill

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Website that Henry Gates Runs Lists Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, and Michael Steele Alongside Dictators and Murderers

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 6:16:22 PM

Website Lists Clarence Thomas, Robert Mugabe & DC Sniper as "Embarrassing" Blacks

By on 2.22.10 @ 3:20PM

Political and cultural website the Root has released a list that lumps Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, and Michael Steele along with world dictators and other mass murders as "Black Folks We'd Like To Remove From Black History."

The online magazine explains that, "As happy as we are for the nation to get its yearly reminder that black people do exist in the context of American history, there’s a growing list of characters that has us harking back to Zora Neale Hurston’s famous words: 'All my skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.' Indeed, while we love our own, we sure do dream of erasing a few of them from the history books. Some are politicos, others are pop culture figures, but they all share one common attribute: They’re embarrassing."

The list of "embarrassing" blacks includes O.J. Simpson, Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad, Idi Amin, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, Robert Mugabe and Rafael Trujillo. But it lumps them together with Thomas (the second black Supreme Court justice), Steele (the first black chairman of the RNC), and Keyes (nutty, yes, but really?).

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/02/22/website-lists-clarence-thomas

Tags: race  
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A Town in California is in Such Fiscal Disarray that They are Going to Charge Residents for 911 Calls

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 6:07:43 PM
Via Allahpundit:



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Scott Brown to Vote for "Jobs" Bill

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 6:04:15 PM

Brown to Vote for Senate Jobs Bill


By COREY BOLES

WASHINGTON—Freshman Republican Sen. Scott Brown (R., Mass.) is to vote with the Democratic majority and support a crucial procedural motion on a $15 billion piece of legislation aimed at spurring job creation, an aide to the senator said Monday.

The move by Mr. Brown to break with most of his party's members in his first ever vote in the Senate is a significant development.

It still leaves Democrats requiring one further Republican vote in order to move forward with the jobs bill.

The vote, which is set to begin shortly, requires the support of at least two Republican lawmakers in order to overcome a filibuster threat by the minority party. One of those votes is necessary because of Mr. Brown's surprise victory in an election to fill the seat held by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D., Mass.) for nearly four decades until his death last year.

Democrats need a second Republican vote because Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) will not be in Washington, D.C., to vote as he begins treatment to combat stomach cancer.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575081732384684088.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news


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Akaka Bill Would Create a Separate Race-based Government for Native Hawaiians

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 5:40:02 PM

Final text of Akaka Bill released

By Star-Bulletin staff

POSTED: 11:37 a.m. HST, Feb 22, 2010

Hawaii's Congressional delegation today released what it calls the final text of the Akaka Bill.

This version of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act includes clarifications addressing concerns raised by the Lingle administration and members of the Native Hawaiian community, according to a statement from U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, the bill's author. 

The House of Representatives Committee on Rules is meeting later today to determine a timeline for consideration on the House floor, but there is no timeline for Senate consideration, according to Akaka.

"These clarifications represent a genuine effort to address the State's concerns while maintaining the original purpose of the bill: federal recognition for Native Hawaiians," said Akaka. "It is critically important that we continue to provide Native Hawaiians parity in federal policies enacted for our nation's indigenous people. This bill provides Native Hawaiians with an opportunity for self determination and cultural preservation, while empowering them to be an equal partner with the state and federal government. More than 50 years after statehood, it is time we act to bring about meaningful reconciliation and healing." 

The final text provides guidance on how a Native Hawaiian governing entity, the federal government, and the State of Hawaii will interact and reach mutual agreements, according to Akaka.

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/84986377.html

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Reid Runs Close Behind if Tea Party Candidate is on the Ballot

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 5:36:19 PM

Poll: Nevada Senate Race Tighter With Tea Party Candidate

With a Tea Party candidate on the ballot, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is running close behind his top would-be GOP challengers, a new poll says.

That was a key finding of a survey of likely Nevada voters conducted by national GOP pollster Glen Bolger that the Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston posted Monday afternoon.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/02/nevada-senate-tightens-with-te.html

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This is Exactly what George Will was Talking about in his CPAC Speech

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 5:33:40 PM

Should Hot Dogs Carry Warning Label for Kids?

Hot Dogs Are a Choking Hazard for Small Children, Experts Warn in New Pediatrics Report

By COURTNEY HUTCHISON
ABC News Medical Unit
Feb. 22, 2010

In mere seconds, a seemingly innocuous piece of food can turn deadly. And Katherine Zuehlke, of Westerville, Ohio, knows firsthand there's nothing more frightening than realizing your child is choking.

Over Christmas, the Zuehlkes had a scare when their nearly 2-year-old daughter, Tiffany, began choking on a chocolate-covered peanut.

"She had had them before, but right away her eyes got all big and she had this scared expression on her face, and we knew she was choking," Zuehlke says.

Luckily, Tiffany's parents were able to perform the infant Heimlich maneuver and got Tiffany to cough up the candy before she turned blue or had any permanent damage. The toddler is doing fine, and their house will be free of that candy for some time.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/hot-dog-hazard-wieners-carry-warning-label/story?id=9875815

Tags: government  
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Clyburn Says House will Pass Health Care Bill by Even Larger Majority than the First Time

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 4:21:20 PM

Clyburn believes House will pass health bill by even wider margin

By Jordan Fabian - 02/22/10 02:25 PM ET

The House will pass a new healthcare reform bill with a larger majority than it did on its first bill, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Monday.

Clyburn made his comments just after President Barack Obama unveiled his detailed health plan Monday morning. The move was intended to set the agenda for the bipartisan healthcare summit at the White House on Thursday.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82705-clyburn-believes-house-will-pass-health-bill-by-wider-margin-than-before
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Senator Lieberman to Introduce Legislation Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 4:20:05 PM

Sen. Lieberman says he will introduce legislation repealing 'Don't ask, don't tell'

By Eric Zimmermann - 02/22/10 10:02 AM ET

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) announced this morning that he will introduce legislation repealing "Don't ask, don't tell."

Democrats have sought to repeal the law since President Barack Obama took office, but have been stymied by a busy legislative calendar.

Lieberman says the time is now right to pass a repeal.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82623-lieberman-to-introduce-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell
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CBO Can Not Score ObamaCare Just Yet

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 4:06:21 PM

The Obama Administration’s Health Care Proposal

This morning the Obama Administration released a description of its health care proposal, and CBO has already received several requests to provide a cost estimate for that proposal. We had not previously received the proposal, and we have just begun the process of reviewing it—a process that will take some time, given the complexity of the issues involved.

http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=473
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Thanks to Andrew Breitbart, James O'Keefe, and Hannah Giles ACORN has to Rename Itself

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 4:04:40 PM

ACORN 'dissolved as a national structure'

The embattled liberal group ACORN is in the process of dissolving its national structure, with state and local-chapters splitting off from the underfunded, controversial national group, an official close to the group confirmed.

"ACORN has dissolved as a national structure of state organizations," said a senior official close to the group, who declined to be identified by name because of the fierce conservative attacks on the group that began when a conservative filmmaker caught some staffers of its tax advisory arms on tape appearing to offer advice on incorporating a prostitution business.

The videos proved a rallying point for conservatives who had long accused the group of fomenting voting fraud. Though the videos did not produce criminal charges, they appear to have been fatal to the national organization.

"Consistent with what the internal recommendations have been, each of the states are developing plans for reconstitution independence and self-sufficiency," said the official, citing ACORN's "diminished resources, damage to the brand, unprecedented attacks."

The new organizations, he said "will be constituted under new banners and new bylaws and new governance," he said, consistent with the recommendations of an outside panel.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0210/ACORN_dissolved_as_a_national_structure.html?showall

Tags: ACORN  
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'Issa vs. ACORN'

Posted by Defend America on Monday, February 22, 2010 3:59:59 PM

February 22, 2010 4:00 A.M.

Issa vs. ACORN
A new report claims ACORN and SEIU are part of a criminal conspiracy.

Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led by Rep. Darrell Issa, have issued a scalding report on ACORN and the SEIU. The main thesis — that ACORN and SEIU are, operationally, in effect the same organization, an organization that illegally channels restricted money into political activity — is argued persuasively, but the authors slopped the report up with tangential complaints and grossly exaggerated claims about ACORN’s role in the housing bubble.

The odds are vanishingly small that Eric Holder’s Justice Department, which could not be bothered to prosecute armed New Black Panther–party thugs brandishing weapons to scare off would-be voters, is going to do much about an organization at the heart of its boss’s political coalition and fundraising operation. Issa’s report may be the closest thing to an indictment ACORN ever sees — which makes its flaws all the more of a shame.

http://article.nationalreview.com/425698/issa-vs-acorn/kevin-williamson
Tags: ACORN  
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