You Didn't Build That

Congress.org presents MegaVote, February 17, 2015, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Child Pornography Victims Restitution - Passage
• House: Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage
• House: Small Business Tax Extenders – Passage

Both chambers are in recess this week.
Recent Senate Votes:
Child Pornography Victims Restitution - Passage Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate passed a bill that would expand restitution for victims of child pornography. The bill would expand a victim's losses to include medical services, therapy, rehabilitation, transportation, child care and lost income. It also would allow defendants who have contributed to the same victim's losses to spread the cost of restitution among themselves and establish minimum award levels for certain offenses.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
This sounds like a state's issue, but today what's the distinction, the Congress lets the President usurp, why shouldn't Congress turn and act like a tough guy to the next weakest kid on the block.

Recent House Votes
Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage, Vote Passed (270-152, 10 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
When this all gets arranged and everything is working, the country can turn to the President and say "you didn't build that"! At least Congressman Scott voted with some common sense here. 

Small Business Tax Extenders – Passage Vote Passed (272-142, 18 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would that would make permanent increased expensing limitations in the tax code that allow small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 of their equipment costs for a maximum of $2 million worth of property. The bill would make permanent the reduced recognition period for S corporations under which they could be taxed for sales of certain assets. It would make permanent a tax break for the charitable contributions of S corporations and allow them to qualify for the same tax exemptions that apply to individuals for charitable contributions.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
These are for pretty small businesses, and those are the ones that react quickly to opportunity. ANYTHING that cuts business taxes should be approved.  Shift to the Fair Tax or a Flat tax, there has got to be some trust in the what expected costs are to invest. David Scott, you have it wrong on this one.

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Hey Obama

THIS IS WHAT THE CRUSADES WERE ABOUT
STOPPING MUSLIMS FROM KILLING CHRISTIANS

21 Egyptian Christians executed in Islamic State video - The Long War Journal

And if you didn't burn that massive intellect on speaking of fables and novels as historical fact, you would know the difference.

Disgusting.

Change the Rule

Congress presents the MegaVote, on February 9, 2015, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District.
Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Cloture
• House: Healthcare Overhaul Repeal – Passage
• House: Small Business Regulatory Revisions – Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Botticelli Nomination
• House: Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act
• House: America Gives More Act
• House: America's Small Business Tax Relief Act

Recent Senate Votes
Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Cloture Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill also would bar the use of funds to implement the administration's immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies. Sixty votes were required.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
The Democrats voted in unison on this one, between their deceptiveness and the Republicans apparent inability to act like the responsible ones n the room, the President is going to be allowed to keep breaking the barriers created by the Constitution, governing by executive order. The Democrats went nuclear to get what they wanted, it's time for the Republicans to start changing the rules and create law. The Supreme Court will have no choice but to follow. The absence of Republican strength is going to create great unrest in their voter base.  

Recent House Votes
Healthcare Overhaul Repeal – Passage Vote Passed (239-186, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would repeal the 2010 health care overhaul. The bill would delay the repeal by 180 days after enactment and direct several House committees to submit alternative legislation with a number of provisions, including ones to increase economic growth by eliminating certain regulations; lower health care premiums through increased competition; overhaul the medical liability system; and provide states greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
David Scott, isn't he cute, sometimes you have to wonder if the President was not there to tell him which direct to point, he'd know how to vote at all.  The way I am beginning to see it, the Democrats are marching with their eyes closed, straight to hell. The Republicans behind them are in the Democrat's lasso, without a metal knife to cut themselves free. We, the people, are hoping they do not drag us into hell.   

Small Business Regulatory Revisions – Passage Vote Passed (260-163, 10 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would give the Small Business Administration new authority to ensure that federal agencies comply with a 1980 law requiring that they be flexible in taking regulatory actions that affect small businesses, including by getting more directly involved with an agency's reviews of proposed rules and requiring SBA to convene panels of small entities to review rules proposals.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
David Scott voting the fascist line.
You will do only what the government says you do.
Even if the government can manage any affair that isn't related to taxation.

Upcoming Votes
Botticelli Nomination - PN60
The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Michael P. Botticelli, of the District of Columbia, to be director of National Drug Control Policy.
Drug policy, it seems the federal new drug policy is to let the states do what ever they want. 
I frankly, have no problem with that.
But, if the federal drub policy is tied to their retreat, why even bother to have a director.
Shit, the President is already leading from behind.

Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act - S1
The House will consider a Senate-passed bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. The measure also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
David Scott vote NO, the Republicans will vote YES to pass, and the President will have a way to block the whole thing.

America Gives More Act - HR644
The House will consider a bill to combine four charitable tax measures. The measure makes permanent a number of tax provisions intended to provide incentives for charitable giving — including those related to food contributions, conservation property, contributions from certain retirement accounts and the treatment of private foundations.
My guess this is a measure intended to simplify the process when charitable tax deductions are completely eradicated.
It's coming.

America's Small Business Tax Relief Act - HR636
The House is expected to consider a bill to combine three small-business tax measures.  The legislation makes permanent increased Section 179 expensing limitations for small businesses and farms, as well as rules for the S-corporation built-in gains tax and for S-corporation charitable contributions — all of which expired at the end of calendar year 2014.
David Scott vote NO, the Republicans will vote YES to pass, and the President will have a way to block the whole thing.
Can't let the pesky business minded people have too many choices.

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Niether Is Not a Role Model

Charles Barkley had it right.
I have little doubt that Bruce Jenner makes no claim to being a role model, he would probably be very happy if he could just do his thing and disappear in the process.
I also have little doubt that Chris Kyle did not seek the limelight. He likely understood that it would put his family in danger. More so, he would claim that he was doing his duty, his duty was difficult, and his achievement something that gave him personal pride. Many veterans are friends of mine, while some may express pride in their service branch or unit, none, absolutely none, brag about what duties they performed.
NYT: Bruce Jenner a 'Role Model,' Chris Kyle 'Insane' | Truth Revolt
I will suggest that role models never really are anointed by the press, they are who the people choose. Some are chosen because people love sports and there is a lot of image fluffing in that business. They are chosen because of religion. They are chosen because parents focus positive attention on whomever.
The best role models are the ones people chose by their own human interaction. They are often friends, teachers, coaches and relatives.  That comes from respect and love, not some foolish writer for the New York Times.
Neither article should have ever been written.
My role model was a boss that I worked with for over 25 years.
It should be who you know in depth, otherwise it is superficial.

It Is Not Enough

They tried to justify the killing by claiming it was a drug deal gone bad.
Teen Gets 20 Years For Beating 88 Yr Old WWII Vet To Death

This Must Be What He Meant By

Leading from behind.....

Liquefied Shit

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE, February 2, 2015, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Passage
• House: Liquefied Natural Gas Exports - Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Clay Hunt SAV Act
• House: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Repeal

Recent Senate Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline, Passage Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
Well let us see where this goes.

Recent House Votes:
Liquefied Natural Gas Exports, Passage Vote Passed (277-133, 23 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would require the Energy Department to make a decision on pending applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of the bill's enactment or at the end of the public comment period, whichever is later. Under the bill, applications would have to publicly disclose the countries that would receive the proposed exports.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
This is a good thing for the country, that our congressman would vote against it is a statement of where the Democratic party's leadership head is at. To ship liquefied natural gas to Europe would put some pressure on Russia's Putin, stop him from blackmailing his energy customers. The President does not even offer a reason as to why he resists this. 

Upcoming Votes:
Clay Hunt SAV Act - HR203
The Senate will consider a bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
I want to read more on this subject before having an opinion. The loan repayment plan sounds like a plan to recruit mental health care workers. Increases in staffing rather than rationing and procrastination to spread patient load would be the high road. Let's give the veteran's the attenntion they deserve.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Repeal - HR596
The House will consider a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill would require four House committees to develop health care legislation to replace the law.
I wish this was serious.

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Austerity Audacity

This past Thursday White House staff released a statement that included the comment...

 "the era of manufactured crises and mindless austerity" 

Austerity?
Austerity?
Austerity?
What austerity?
The executive branch is taking credit for an economy that has had some positive results.
An economy that was in serious recession because of government meddling with housing mortgages.
An economy screwed with by central planning wonks that have no choice but admit that this has been the slowest recovery since the great depression.
An economy that has seen a jolt from Saudi Arabia's lowered oil prices, a course of action that dovetails the President's poorly camouflaged objectives of restricting fossil based energy supply.
What does he want, he wants to spend more money and its going to be tough on him with the way Congress is constituted.

Take the Pipe the Sequel

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE January 26, 2015 for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Energy Efficiency Standards
• House: Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage
• House: Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline
• House: Human Trafficking Prioritization Act
• House: LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act

Recent Senate Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change, Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate rejected a Schatz, D-Hawaii, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the amendment to 60 votes.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO
Sen. David Perdue voted NO
Why couldn't the Senate get it on the books that climate change is real when they were in control of the Senate. The sanctum of Al Gore and Harry Reid. The idea is preposterous on its face, a bill meant for the construction of an energy pipeline labelled with the concept that the energy is meant for evil. Besides the reality that an overt statement of duality is useless, besides the concept that climate change is the product of mankind is really the product of extrapolation of filtered data, the who damned thing is fucking stupid. Hell this dumb bastard is a Senator from Hawaii, the darned volcanoes there put out more heat and pollution than all of mankind.  
  
Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change, Vote Agreed to (56-42, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to table (kill) a Sanders, I-Vt., amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and caused by human activities. It also would urge the U.S. to overhaul its energy system away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
More of the same freaking crap.

Keystone XL Pipeline - Energy Efficiency Standards, Vote Agreed to (94-5, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate adopted a Portman, R-Ohio, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would would direct the General Services Administration to establish best practices regarding energy-efficiency in commercial real estate buildings, including those that house federal agencies. It would require the GSA to incorporate energy-efficiency standards into its building leasing program for federal agencies.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
Energy efficient planning from the people who couldn't two sentences in a row that have congruent meaning. Of course they are all for it, there is no there there to understand.  

Recent House Votes:
Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage, Vote Passed (253-169, 11 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny a natural gas pipeline project within one year after receiving a completed application. Federal agencies responsible for issuing permits would have to issue a ruling within 90 days of when FERC issues its final environmental statement for the project.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Why do they have to vote on when they are going to vote. Heck they are politicians, they can make a promise with a vote and then ignore the damned thing later. It's moronic, I would have voted against it just for it stupidity. And these guys are going to set efficiency standards? 

Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage, Vote Passed (242-179, 12 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds, facilities or staff to provide abortion coverage and services, except in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the woman. It also would prohibit individuals and small business from receiving federal subsidies and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase plans that cover abortions.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
I would have voted yes but have no problem with David Scott's vote if it was a personal choice. Problem is I don't think it is a personal choice. That makes him a lemming.

Upcoming Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - S1
The Senate will consider a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Hell yeah!

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act - HR514
The House will consider a bill to prioritize the fight against human trafficking within the Department of State according to congressional intent in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 without increasing the size of the Federal Government.
Smells like one of those useless 100% votes to me.

LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act - HR351
The House will consider a bill to provide for expedited approval of exportation of natural gas.
Why this has not happened already is a mystery to me. The President has been resisting this as have the Democrats, a bill that would put another arrow in the State Department's quiver, for applying pressure on the Russians in Europe.

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Take the Pipe

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE, January 20, 2015, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Cloture
• House: Rulemaking Process Overhaul – Passage
• House: Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage
• House: Financial Regulatory Revisions - Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline Act
• House: Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act
• House: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Recent Senate Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - Cloture, Vote Agreed to (63-32, 5 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
The Democrats tried to tack on a bunch of amendments and got stonewalled by Mitch. Love it.

Recent House Votes:
Rule making Process Overhaul – Passage Vote Passed (250-175, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rule making process by requiring agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider new criteria, including potential costs and benefits of alternatives. The bill would create additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing major rules with annual costs of more than $100 million, or high-impact rules with annual costs of more than $1 billion, including an advanced-notice comment period to determine whether the rule-making process should proceed.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
I changed the spelling in the description from Congress, they identify it as "rulemaking" which is not a word. Maybe if the word is not real the whole concept is a charade. The premise for the bill itself is logical but knowing the way these assholes minds work the impact studies will just be bullshit anyway. Sometimes I wonder why they even bother.

Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage, Vote Passed (236-191, 6 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. As amended the bill would bar the use of funds to implement the administration's immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
There is something in this description from Congress that does not make sense.

Financial Regulatory Revisions - Passage Vote Passed (271-154, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would modify numerous requirements under the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul. It would delay until July 2019 a requirement under the Volcker rule that banks sell off collateralized loan obligations, the complex securitization vehicles that are backed predominantly by commercial loans and exempt non-financial companies from margin requirements under the law.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
There are a couple more fake words, "securitization" and "collateralized", so what this amounts to a tweaking action. The whole darned overhaul was a shell game anyway, the government blaming wall street for something the government induced the banks to do. Did they learn a lesson, of course not, if you watch the news, they are already at it again. 

Upcoming Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline Act - S1
The Senate will consider a bill to immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Go for it dudes, stick it right up the POTUS back side.

Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - HR161
The House will consider a bill to provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and approvals required under Federal law with respect to the sitting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects.
See what I said for Act S1, same logic applies.

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - HR36
The House will consider a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children, and for other purposes.
There will be a lot of teeth gnashing over this one, not to mention constant media mis-characterization.

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