The War

The Military Spending Bill that passed in the Senate last night contained an amendment by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that would require transparency (internet posting) of federal contractors that engaged in misconduct while performing their government contract.

Just maybe BP will be on this list?

Once again our thanks to Senator Sanders.

Fighting Fraud A military spending bill that passed the Senate on Thursday includes a Sanders amendment to make a federal contractor fraud database accessible to the public.  The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System is a database created by the Clean Contracting Act of 2008 that lists incidences of misconduct by federal contractors.  The database is an important tool for tracking the behavior of federal contractors. It lists prior findings of liability relating to federal contracts, including findings from criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.  The database also lists whether the contractor has ever defaulted on a prior federal contract.  Finally, it lists whether contractors have engaged in such egregious behavior to have been suspended or disbarred from contracting.  The Sanders amendment would require that the database be posted on the Internet, ensuring that the public has access to this critical, public information about where their tax dollars are going. “We cannot let corporations rip off American taxpayers,” Sanders said.

President Obama talks tonight about the State of the Union - our country.

All of us who feel the pain of an economic meltdown; lost jobs; either no health care or out of control health costs; an educational system being short changed by just about every State; a fractured energy policy that should be based upon clean, renewable energy generation to lessen foreign dependence and two wars that take our lives while continuing to drain our resources - we pretty much know the State of the Union these days.

President Obama, tonight we hope to hear you say your administration and the 535 people in Congress are going to start acting in the best interest of the people who sent you all to represent us and not special interest lobbyists.

Please, we do not need anymore 2,000 page bills that cover everything but the core issue. Give us legislation that is straight forward, deals only with the issue and requires a simple yes or no vote by Congress. Then and only then will we have real Transparency and Accountability of our elected representation.

Now is the time to deliver on the promise to change the ways Washington does business. Do this for our children and grand children - they will all thank us for being part of the solution rather than the problem.

Could this be the Audacity Of Hope that you wrote about?

Below is a release from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders subsequent to President Obama’s speech on Tuesday night.

Isn’t it time to get the bubble around Washington burst and get in touch with the American people?

Senator Sanders’ Statement on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, December 1 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made the following statement after President Obama announced tonight that he will send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

“I agree with President Obama that it would be a setback for democracy and stability if the Taliban regained power, but I have serious concerns.

“First, why are American taxpayers and our brave soldiers bearing almost all the burden in what should be an international effort? Where are Europe, Russia, China and the rest of the world?  Second, why in the midst of a severe recession – with 17 percent of our people unemployed or under-employed and one out of four kids on food stamps – are we going to be spending $100 billion a year on Afghanistan when we have so many pressing needs at home?  Third, I worry about how we can forge a dependable partnership with an Afghan government that is ineffective and corrupt. 

“My nightmare is that we may get caught in a quagmire situation from which there will be no successful exit.”

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

Now we hear about a tax to pay for the build up of troops for the war in Afghanistan. Maybe it’s time to get out - none of us can afford it - none of US!

President Obama - it is time to take ownership for your promise of change - change we can believe in. It appears to us that politics  in Washington is being conducted no different than before President Obama came into office.

The so called amendment to the Health Care Reform bill that appears to appease a Senator from Louisiana who was “on the fence” about voting to move the bill forward to debate - is that change we can believe in?

The credit card companies that are increasing interest rates while limiting credit and imposing additional charges before legislation goes into effect - is that change we can believe in?

The health insurance companies increasing rates at 30% year-over-year rate in anticipation of legislation - is that change we can believe in?

Those fortunate enough to have something left in a retirement fund have seen it erode by as much as 50% - is this change we can believe in?

And now a war tax? Is this the change we voted for? How much more can we take? People can’t get jobs; their home value is less than the debt on their home; and we keep getting hammered by the credit card and health insurance companies! 

President Obama - we don’t have much left. It is now time to stand up for the American people and give US the leadership we expected. It’s time to give direction to Congress - the American people are losing their hope for change and their trust in the elected Representation in Washington.

If we really want something to be thankful for this Thursday - it would be that Washington truly become responsible to WE THE PEOPLE.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont made a statement on our role in the Afghan struggle. Below is the release from Senator Sanders press department. Each time we receive a release (on all issues) from Senator Sanders, he seems to be aligned with what We The People want from our Washington Representation. Where is everyone else in Congress? Thanks again Senator Sanders!

Is all the attention being paid to the “torture” issue distracting us and our Representation from the major issues at hand like the economic mess we are in, people losing their jobs at record numbers, an energy policy and health care?

We do not need another thing to handle at this point in time, do we?

Dear Barack:

I am writing to you about the issue of Don’t ask Don’t Tell. I am hoping that you will make a commitment to get this law repealed. I am so disappointed that I am watching people that have served our country now getting kicked out of the armed forces they unselfishly served. Reason being - they have admitted to being gay. This is a travesty and needs to be changed immediately. This is all about their individual rights.

Thank you and I welcome your response.