Tag: IRS

Of course, current events have shown that the constitution has has limited support from the cowards in congress. (Hint: the word is IMPEACHMENT) Inaction and a lack of oversight by congress into the executive operations has allowed the federal buraeucracy to operate with impunity. Adding to this, property forfeiture under the guise of criminal deterrence has been the source of income for local law enforcement that sells its soul to the justice department. From a Detroit News Editorial

"Since the U.S. Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Fund was established in 1986, the federal government has used property forfeiture to deter criminal activity and to incentivize local governments to cooperate with federal anti-drug and anti-terrorism efforts. Under the 2001 Patriot Act, Congress expanded civil forfeiture to include cash transactions, requiring banks to report deposits of more than $10,000 to detect terror-related money-laundering schemes.

But this instrument also has been used to harass law-abiding Americans, particularly business owners who regularly deposit cash of $7,000 to $9,000. The businesses are often seen as trying to skirt the $10,000 bank reporting requirement.

"Bait and switch," a term he uses to describe the promises and ultimate product, is no stranger to any government program designed to help so many.  He writes:

"In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the United States leads the world in health care research and disease treatment.

For the 85% of Americans that have health insurance, the access they have to cutting edge, life saving technologies is among the very best in the world.

But not every American has insurance, with upwards of 49 million being uninsured, according to the 2010 Census.

The question for policy makers in Lansing and in Washington should be what to do to help the 15% gain access to the quality care that the rest of us have.

Unfortunately, Washington and Lansing's answer has been to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In 2010, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the widely unpopular and flawed Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Among the provisions of this act is enticing Michigan to put an additional 300,000 citizens on Medicaid with the promise that the federal government would pay for taxpayers' additional costs.

When the expansion was first voted on in the House, I supported it. This wasn't really Obamacare, we were told. This was Michigan getting its fair share back from Washington.

It initially seemed like a good deal for Michigan taxpayers, who receive back only $0.80 for every tax dollar they send to Washington.

But there was more to the bill.

The role of the US House is supposed to be fund as needed, and not as a great big package.  The President as Cruz explained, called out the dangers of veterans services and parks being put at risk by the GOP led house holding off the big package.  The US House responded appropriately and offered funding only to have it rejected by Harry Reid.

Huh go figure.  Michigan GOP Reps pay attention.  KNOW that you are winning FOR the country.

In fact, I should have eight other press releases similar to this one.  Tim Walberg (CD7)yesterday, voted in favor of legislation that would provide funding for the National Park Service and the Veterans Affairs Department. However,both pieces of legislation failed by not gathering enough Democrats to reach the two-thirds required for final passage.  We have discussed this (quite appropriate)strategy on these pages recently.  Walberg says:

"President Obama and Congressional Democrats are already on record as supporting a piecemeal approach to keeping the government funded. It's disappointing some of my colleagues in the House do not feel as strongly about veteran services and disability claims, national parks and other areas of importance.

I remain committed to finding a compromised way to move this country forward. We deserve better."

Reality, is that Obama and Reid have said they will not negotiate.  The GOP led US House is completely in the correct mode holding out specific funding legislation for what might be perceived as an immediate need, while other negotiations (and hopefully complete dissolution of Obamacare) are being made.

Congress has already set an example of continuing resolutions, and money spending sans a budget, balanced or otherwise. Frankly, the role of congress has become that of enabler and cash valet to the spenders elsewhere in government, and little more.  Competing special interests over the years have created some form of acceptance that ALL issues are important enough to fund fully, and no congress critter majority has been able to (as a whole) suppress the need to please.

Its now a different world.  The stakes are higher, there is a tyranny begging to be funded, and the people are screaming at the top of their lungs that ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

And something happened in the meantime that should give us hope.  Letting a little steam off the pressure cooker that is Washington DC, the president is at the time of this writing, expected to sign a bill guaranteeing pay for military services and members in the event of a 'shut down'.

"The measure would also ensure continued pay for civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines "are providing support to members of the Armed Forces." "

Think about it as one less thing the president can hold over the Republicans in congress. And the fact is, he really MUST sign it.  Otherwise the tables are turned hard on him.

And it is pure gold that should not be squandered.

He write in an email blast last evening:

"You can expect major legislation to be voted on this week.

First, the continuing spending resolution, or "CR."

I have flatly stated that I will oppose this resolution if it will fund ObamaCare. And I will take the greatest care to identify any provision that might indirectly do so. "yup

Apparently, there is a procedural move which has been used before to fool the noobs in the political arena, and provide cover for the enablers otherwise; Fund, Defund, and pretend. From Brieitbart:"The source added that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is "shopping an idea of passing defund through the House with the CR, but with a mechanism that would allow it to be decoupled in the Senate, defeated, and then the base CR be passed without coming back to the House."

And there is no question about it. The MIGOP critters want Dave Camp to enter the US Senate race. In fact they are even 'beastly' about it:

"Camp is now seriously considering jumping into the race at the behest of power-brokers back home, according to sources familiar with the congressman's thinking. A small but influential group of Michigan GOP leaders has cranked up the heat on Camp, making the case that he could appeal to independents statewide and win the seat. Camp, they say, has been increasingly receptive to their appeals.

"He's been getting a tremendous amount of encouragement from leaders and donors around the state," former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis said. "If you hear enough of that, it becomes tough to ignore." Noting Camp's newfound openness to the idea, Anuzis added: "I'm really bullish.""

Yes, I want Dave Camp to run for US Senate.

But For different reasons.

"The stuff", being empty discourse and meaningless indignation at the IRS targeting the tea party.  From behind the door, the five term congressman and chair of the Ways and Means committee is trying to get in. He should know the door remains closed, and any voter with a remaining functional synapse will be ignoring the pounding for attention.  Camp's office responded to an Examiner article that described continuing IRS abuse of power with

"Congress may be out of session but we're continuing to keep the heat on the Internal Revenue Service.  I wanted to make sure you saw the Washington Examiner article below for the most recent update.  It is outrageous that IRS management continues to target Tea Party cases without any justification.  "

Yeah get the ol tea folk worked up so you can abandon them again.  Go to another dozen 912, Tea, patriot type meetings and tell them some more stories of how you will solve the current set of problems, and if necessary DEFUND the departments causing them:

" You didn't challenge the health care bill's constitutionality in 2010 when it was being debated did you Dave Camp?  How about you Fred Upton? No. I guess not.  And even after PLEDGING to affirm constitutionality for each bill passed in the house, it only took 7 months to lose that pledge in the bottom of the briefcase.

But Dave, did you remember coming to our group meeting in Traverse City?  Remember how you said if some of the mechanisms which were happening did not remove Obama care, then you would try the "de-funding option?"  C'mon man!  THINK, Damn it!

I was the one who asked if you would do it, and you said that was the alternative that was on the table.

..  you had your chance and you blew it."