thamanjimmy

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Party Division of Congress During the Early 2000s

I am writing this post in response to something I heard on "progressive" talk radio. A host kept repeating about "Clinton's surplus" during the early 1990s and how the Republicans increased the federal debt. He also kept complaining about how Democrats today have no real power to change anything. I am writing this to learn more about the division of Congress over the past two decades.

What I learned:

During the past two decades, when there has been a surplus, the Congress was always controlled by Republicans and a Democrat was president (Bill Clinton). The surpluses averaged about $100 billion which is nothing comparable to the deficits that were run in other years which average about $250 billion (not counting the past two years). In addition, when the surplus' did occur, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 10 in the Senate and only about 15 in the House.

I also learned that a Republican led government (both Congress and President) had extremely high deficits (averaging about $300 billion). Remember, this does not include extra spending during the year by Congress (i.e. military appropriations). During this time, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by about 5 in the Senate and about 30 in the House.

I learned that we have spent over $3 trillion dollars in the past few years. If you read my other post, you will learn that GDP, in that same period of time, hasn't even grown 1%. During this time, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 13 in the Senate and about 60 in the House.

In conclusion, there is no real reason for Democrats to blame Republicans for any problems our economy currently faces. Democrats have a much higher margin today than the Republicans did in the late 90s, yet the outcomes are completely different.

FYI...I am not supporting Republicans or Democrats. I only support the truth which, in this case, are based on numbers presented by the U.S. government and a CNS article.

What I found:

Control of Congress Budget Balanced? Deficit/Surplus

President William J. Clinton (Left office Jan. 20, 2001)
1994 Democrat No --$203.2 billion
1995 Democrat No --$163.9 billion
1996 Republican No --$107.4 billion
1997 Republican No --$21.9 billion
1998 Republican YES $69.2 billion
1999 Republican YES $125.6 billion
2000 Republican YES $236.2 billion
2001 Republican YES $128.2 billion

President George W. Bush (Left office Jan. 20, 2009)
2002 Split No --$157.8 billion
2003 Split No --$377.6 billion
2004 Republican No --$412.7 billion
2005 Republican No --$318.3 billion
2006 Republican No --$248.2 billion
2007 Democrat No --$160.7 billion
2008 Democrat No --$458.6 billion
2009 Democrat No --$1.41 trillion

President Barack Obama
2010 Democrat No --$1.55 trillion

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/62793

Party Division in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011:

Congress (Years)	Number of House Seats	Democrats	Republicans	Other	Del./Res.
105th (1997-1999)	435	206	228	Independent (1)	4/1
106th (1999-2001)	435	211	223	Independent (1)	4/1
107th (2001-2003)	435	212	221	Independents (2)	4/1
108th (2003-2005)	435	205	229	Independent (1)	4/1
109th (2005-2007)	435	202	232	Independent (1)	4/1
110th (2007-2009)	435	233	202	Independent (0)	4/1
111th (2009-2011)	435	257	178	Independent (0)	5/1

D R

103rd (1993-1995)	435	258	176	Independent (1)	0	4/1
104th (1995-1997)	435	204	230	Independent (1)	0	4/1

http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/partyDiv.html

Part Division in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011:

103rd Congress (1993-1995)

Majority Party: Democrat (57 seats)

Minority Party: Republican (43 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

Note: Party division changed to 56 Democrats and 44 Republicans after the June 5, 1993 election of Kay B. Hutchison (R-TX).

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104th Congress (1995-1997)

Majority Party: Republican (52 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (48 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

Note: Party ratio changed to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats after Richard Shelby of Alabama switched from the Democratic to Republican party on November 9, 1994. It changed again, to 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats, when Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado switched from the Democratic to Republican party on March 3, 1995. When Robert Packwood (R-OR) resigned on October 1, 1995, the Senate divided between 53 Republicans and 46 Democrats with one vacancy. Ron Wyden (D) returned the ratio to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats when he was elected to fill the vacant Oregon seat.

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105th Congress (1997-1999)

Majority Party: Republican (55 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (45 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

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106th Congress (1999-2001)

Majority Party: Republican (55 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (45 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

Note: As the 106th Congress began, the division was 55 Republican seats and 45 Democratic seats, but this changed to 54-45 on July 13, 1999 when Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire switched from the Republican party to Independent status. On November 1, 1999, Smith announced his return to the Republican party, making the division once more 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats. Following the death of Senator Paul Coverdell (R-GA) on July 18, 2000, the balance shifted again, to 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats, when the governor appointed Zell Miller, a Democrat, to fill the vacancy.

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107th Congress (2001-2003)

Majority Party (Jan 3-20, 2001): Democrat (50 seats)

Minority Party: Republican (50 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

________

Majority Party (Jan 20-June 6, 2001): Republican (50 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (50 seats)

Other Parties: 0

Total Seats: 100

______

Majority Party (June 6, 2001-November 12, 2002 --): Democrat (50 seats)

Minority Party: Republican (49 seats)

Other Parties: 1

Total Seats: 100

_____

Majority Party (November 12, 2002 - January 3, 2003): Republican (50 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (48 seats)

Other Parties: 2

Total Seats: 100

Note: From January 3 to January 20, 2001, with the Senate divided evenly between the two parties, the Democrats held the majority due to the deciding vote of outgoing Democratic Vice President Al Gore. Senator Thomas A. Daschle served as majority leader at that time. Beginning on January 20, 2001, Republican Vice President Richard Cheney held the deciding vote, giving the majority to the Republicans. Senator Trent Lott resumed his position as majority leader on that date. On May 24, 2001, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont announced his switch from Republican to Independent status, effective June 6, 2001. Jeffords announced that he would caucus with the Democrats, giving the Democrats a one-seat advantage, changing control of the Senate from the Republicans back to the Democrats. Senator Thomas A. Daschle again became majority leader on June 6, 2001. Senator Paul D. Wellstone (D-MN) died on October 25, 2002, and Independent Dean Barkley was appointed to fill the vacancy. The November 5, 2002 election brought to office elected Senator James Talent (R-MO), replacing appointed Senator Jean Carnahan (D-MO), shifting balance once again to the Republicans -- but no reorganization was completed at that time since the Senate was out of session.

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108th Congress (2003-2005)

Majority Party: Republican (51 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (48 seats)

Other Parties: Independent (1 seat)

Total Seats: 100

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109th Congress (2005-2007)

Majority Party: Republican (55 seats)

Minority Party: Democrat (44 seats)

Other Parties: Independent (1 seat)

Total Seats: 100

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110th Congress (2007-2009)

Majority Party: Democrat (49 seats)

Minority Party: Republican (49 seats)

Other Parties: 1Independent; 1 Independent Democrat

Total Seats: 100

Note:Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was reelected in 2006 as an independent candidate, and became an Independent Democrat. Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was elected as an Independent.

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111th Congress (2009-2011)
Majority Party: Democrat (57 seats)
Minority Party: Republican (41 seats)
Other Parties: 1 Independent; 1 Independent Democrat
Total Seats: 100
Note: Senator Arlen Specter was reelected in 2004 as a Republican, and became a Democrat on April 30, 2009. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was reelected in 2006 as an independent candidate, and became an Independent Democrat. Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was elected in 2006 as an Independent.

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm

GDP growth during the Great Depression and 2010

I am writing this post because I wanted to lean more about whether government intervention in the economy helped during the Great Depression.

I was listening to "progressive" talk radio the other day and one of the hosts talked about how government intervention in the economy during the Great Depression led to growth in our GDP thus getting us out of the Depression. The host then advocated government intervention, specifically the trillions that have been spent over the past few years, to get us out of our depression (I use this word) today.

What I found:

From 1932 to 1940, GDP grew from about $600 billion to $800 billion. Thus, the GDP grew about 33% as a result of government intervention.

http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/recovery.htm

http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~cromer/great_depression.pdf

Today, the numbers are much different:

"The Commerce Department presents these revisions dispassionately, noting that the changes in real GDP are being revised down for all three years in the 2007-2009 time span: : 0.2 percentage point for 2007, 0.4 percentage point for 2008, and 0.2 percentage point for 2009. "

http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/07/30/todays-gdp-report-getting-real-about-the-recession/

What I learned:

I learned that our current GDP growth is remarkably low. I also learned that the GDP wasn't really as bad as the economists, politicians, and media made it out to be. Finally, I learned that today's intervention has not led to anywhere near as much GDP growth as in the Great Depression.

Smugglers of Drugs Burrow on Border

But there is another route across the border, one in which smugglers slither north. As enforcement efforts have increased and border barriers have been built, tunneling has gained in popularity, with Nogales becoming the capital.

Over the last four years, at least 51 unauthorized tunnels, or more than one a month, have been found in the two border cities. Some are short, narrow passageways that require those navigating them to slither. Others are long, sophisticated underground thoroughfares strung with electric cables and ventilation hoses.

Last year, a resident tipped off the authorities to a tunnel that extended 48 feet into Mexico and 35 feet into the United States, making it one of the longest ever found in Nogales.

States give few fines for pipeline violations

State regulators around the nation seldom impose large fines for violations of pipeline safety codes, even for incidents causing deaths or substantial damage, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

Fourteen states have not levied a single pipeline fine since 2001 and another 20 states have issued only one or two fines per year, federal records show.

State regulators oversee pipelines that run within state lines. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency (PHMSA) has jurisdiction over pipelines that cross state lines. The pipelines move natural gas, oil, propane and other hazardous items.

Regulators say fines aren't always needed. "We don't do a lot of fines because there's a lot of compliance," PUC executive director Paul Clanon said.

Depression hits 9% of adults, worst in South, CDC reports

An estimated 9% of adult Americans currently meet the criteria for clinical depression, federal officials reported Thursday.

Rates of depression vary widely from state to state, ranging from a low of 4.8% in North Dakota to a high of 14.8% in Mississippi, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, more people in the Southeast met the criteria for depression, compared with other parts of the nation, the researchers found.

For the report, researchers collected data on 235,067 people in 45 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories.

They found that besides state-to-state disparities, those more likely to have major depression — the most serious kind of depression — were women, racial and ethnic minorities, those without a high school education, people who were divorced or never married, those unemployed or unable to work, middle-aged people, and those without health insurance.

Lower-income U.S. families see government more favorably: survey

Lower-income American families rate government policies more favorably than those of higher-income brackets, according to a survey released on Friday showed.

This disparity in views between different income groups in the latest Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers could play a role in the November 2 elections and change the political landscape in Washington.

In September, 23 percent of households with an annual income below $75,000 viewed government policies favorably, nearly twice the share of households making more than $75,000 a year, according to the survey.

Back in May 2009, 34 percent of lower-income families and 29 percent of upper-income households rated government policies favorably.

New sex ed funding ends decade of abstinence-only

For the first time in more than a decade, the federal government is funding sex education programs that aren't based solely on abstinence. But they're not just about handing out condoms, either.

Beginning this school year, a five-year, $375 million grant is being divided among 28 programs that have been proven to lower the pregnancy rate among participants, no matter their focus. Many programs distribute condoms, but about half also aim to boost teens' academics, get them involved in extracurricular activities and even improve their parents' job status.

Abstinence programs will still receive a $50 million annual federal grant that requires states to match $3 for every $4, and about 30 states have applied for that money. The $375 million HHS grant does not require states to provide matching funds.

Almost all U.S. teens have had formal sex education, but only about two-thirds have been taught birth control methods, according to a CDC report released Sept. 15.

AIG and U.S. set faster, riskier exit path

American International Group Inc and the U.S. government agreed on Thursday agreed on a plan that would accelerate the payback of bailout money and could yield a profit for taxpayers but also increase their risk.

The plan comes a little over two years after AIG was first rescued with an aid package that ballooned to $182.3 billion. The plan allows the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be repaid in full and ends its involvement in AIG, leaving AIG to deal with just the Treasury Department, while simplifying the bailout structure.

The Treasury will convert some of its AIG securities into common shares, raising its stake in the insurer to 92.1 percent from nearly 80 percent. That stake will be sold off over time.

The Treasury also will effectively buy out the Fed's interest in two large AIG units that are being sold.

The plan could lead to a loss for taxpayers if the stock price falls below roughly $30, at which the Treasury will break even, or if the company fails, as common shares sit lower in the capital structure.

U.S. Issues New Rules on Offshore Drilling

The Interior Department tightened its rules on offshore oil and gas operations on Thursday but left in place the moratorium on deepwater drilling that has left oil executives frustrated and Gulf Coast officials fuming.

The new rules — governing well casing and cementing, blowout preventers, safety certification, emergency response and worker training — provide offshore drillers with clarity on the terms under which drilling will resume when the current freeze ends.

The rules take effect immediately under emergency rule-making powers.

The moratorium on deepwater drilling, imposed in late April, is scheduled to end on Nov. 30, but officials have signaled that it will probably be eased before then.

Report: Jax is 18th-worst traffic city

Jacksonville has the 18th-worst traffic in the nation, according to a report that measures mobility based on total drive time, as opposed to delays.

Jacksonville's total hours of peak period travel hit 209. Nashville was the worst traffic city with 284 hours of peak period travel.

Survey: Americans don't know much about religion

A new survey of Americans' knowledge of religion found that atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons outperformed Protestants and Roman Catholics in answering questions about major religions, while many respondents could not correctly give the most basic tenets of their own faiths.

Forty-five percent of Roman Catholics who participated in the study didn't know that, according to church teaching, the bread and wine used in Holy Communion is not just a symbol, but becomes the body and blood of Christ.

More than half of Protestants could not identify Martin Luther as the person who inspired the Protestant Reformation. And about four in 10 Jews did not know that Maimonides, one of the greatest rabbis and intellectuals in history, was Jewish.

Respondents to the survey were asked 32 questions with a range of difficulty, including whether they could name the Islamic holy book and the first book of the Bible, or say what century the Mormon religion was founded. On average, participants in the survey answered correctly overall for half of the survey questions.

Atheists and agnostics scored highest, with an average of 21 correct answers, while Jews and Mormons followed with about 20 accurate responses. Protestants overall averaged 16 correct answers, while Catholics followed with a score of about 15.

Not surprisingly, those who said they attended worship at least once a week and considered religion important in their lives often performed better on the overall survey. However, level of education was the best predictor of religious knowledge. The top-performing groups on the survey still came out ahead even when controlling for how much schooling they had completed.

Texting bans may add risk to roads

Laws banning texting while driving actually may prompt a slight increase in road crashes, research out today shows.

The findings, to be unveiled at a meeting here of 550 traffic safety professionals from around the USA, come amid a heightened national debate over distracted driving.

"Texting bans haven't reduced crashes at all," says Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, whose research arm studied the effectiveness of the laws.

Last year in the USA, 5,474 people were killed and another 448,000 injured in crashes involving distracted driving, defined as operating a vehicle in a careless or inattentive manner, the government says.

Blacks earn 54% of whites in Jacksonville

Income levels for African-Americans are a bit more than half of those for whites in metro Jacksonville, according to analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau data by a sister publication of the Jacksonville Business Journal.

The per capita income of whites in metro Jacksonville was $30,528 in 2009. Per capita income is defined as the average amount of money received by residents of a given area in a given year, encompassing such diverse sources of income as salaries, interest payments, dividends, rental income and government checks.

By comparison, African-Americans in metro Jacksonville made 54.3 percent of that, or $16,570, which ranks Jacksonville 53rd out of 101 metros for black per capita income.

Hispanics in Jacksonville made 55 percent of white per capita income, or $16,765. That ranks Jacksonville 17th for Hispanic per capita income.

The per capita income of local Asians was $25,794, or 85 percent of white PCI. That ranks Jacksonville 46th for Asian per capita income.

Income levels of African-Americans were less than half the income levels of whites in 31 major metropolitan areas, according to analysis by Business First of Buffalo.

The largest disparity exists in Bridgeport-Stamford, Conn., where the per capita income for black residents is $20,368, which is 35.9 percent of the comparable figure for whites, $56,729.

New Fla. laws cover 'pill mills,' street racing

Thirty-two new Florida laws go into effect Friday, Oct. 1. They include statutes that will:

- Crack down on the sale of prescription painkillers to addicts and drug dealers by "pill mills" through provision that limit advertising, bar patients without insurance from getting more than a three-day supply and impose stiff penalties on doctors and clinics that violate prescribing rules. (This law is being challenged in federal court.)

- Make prejudice-motivated attacks on homeless people hate crimes that can result in more severe penalties.

- Increase repeat offense penalties for street racers under what is titled the Luis Rivera Ortega Street Racing Act after a 15-year-old boy killed by an alleged street racer while riding his bicycle on New Year's Day 2009 in Orange County.

- Make threat of injury or death sent by e-mail or other electronic communications punishable by up to 15 years in prison as already provided for if those same threats are made on paper.

- Allow the death penalty for the unlawful distribution of methadone that causes a user's death.

- Make it illegal to impersonate military veterans when soliciting donations.

- Crack down on rogue debt collectors by making it easier to regulate the industry and increasing penalties.

- Create a "St. Johns River" specialty license plate to raise money for research projects and community outreach and access programs selected by the St. Johns River Alliance.

- Create an "Endless Summer" specialty license plate to promote surfing and fund such things as lifeguards, artificial reefs and beach protection.

- Create three specialty license plates: "Catch Me, Release Me" to fund marine research, education and outreach; "Discover Florida's Horses" to promote the Florida Agriculture and Horse Park in Marion County, and "Save Wild Florida" to aid the Florida Biodiversity Foundation.

- Let motorists donate $1 when registering and renewing their vehicle registration to the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind to aid blind babies and youth, The Arc of Florida to help people with developmental disabilities or the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.

- Allow motorists to donate $1 when registering and renewing registration for their vehicles to Prevent Blindness Florida or Lauren's Kids, a childhood sexual abuse prevention group.

Jacksonville City Council Approves New Millage Rate and Budget

The city council has approved the budget, and in its second vote on the city's millage today also approved a 10.0353 millage rate by a vote of 10-8 vote.

The vote means an 8 percent increase from the 9.27-mill property tax rate currently in Jacksonville.

The council took its first break of the morning around lunchtime today, following a vote on the millage rate increase which ended with a deadlock of 9-9. But Councilman Reggie Brown changed his vote to break the stalemate.

The budget, which includes the millage, passed 11-7, and is balanced.

Council President Jack Webb said the budget that passed was $4.3 million lower than the one proposed by Mayor John Peyton, which was $995 million.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Election Guide: U.S. Senator (Florida)

This guide is for United States Senator.

The 10 candidates and their platforms:

1) Marco Rubio (Republican).

Hire one civilian employee for every two that leave government.
Use TARP funds to pay the debt.
Cancel unspent stimulus funds which "could save nearly $300 billion."
Ban all earmarks.
Pass a Constitutional Amendment requiring Congress to balance the budget.
Require any new federal tax to be approved only by a 2/3 vote of Congress.
Supports proposals that "would allow individuals and businesses to check-off an amount, up to 10% of their tax bill, to be dedicated to retiring the national debt. Congress would have to match the amount."
Freeze federal non-defense, non-veterans spending at 2008 levels.
Give the president the line-item veto.
Permanently extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
Permanently end the death tax.
Stop the Value Added Tax.
Repeal "ObamaCare."
Prevent a national energy tax.
Oppose efforts to strip away workers' right to a secret ballot.
Allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines.
Incentivize the use of electronic medical records.
Give individuals the same tax break given to businesses when they buy health insurance.
Increase the number of Community Health Centers.
Allow "patients to switch insurance coverage...without risking pre-existing condition exclusion."

Sources: http://www.marcorubio.com/
"Rubio Calls for Federal Layoffs" article.
Rubio interview with Wolff Blitzer.

2) Kendrick Meek (Democrat).

Supported the Florida initiative to reduce class sizes in Florida's public schools.
Began his career as a Trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Served in the Florida House from 1995 to 1998 and then in the Florida Senate from 1999 to 2002.
Worked with Republicans to provide compensation for two Floridians who had been wrongly convicted of murder.
Led a 25-hour sit-in "to protest the [FL] Governor's plan to roll back state policies that made sure all Floridians had equal education and workplace opportunities."
"Voted for a $23 billion increase in VA funding."
He co-sponsored HR 1211, which passed in 2009, to "fund and require gender-specific VA health care for our women vets for the first time."
Co-sponsor of the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010, "which increases support for successful VA programs."
Co-sponsor of HR 1513 which "provides for an annual, automatic cost of living adjustments for veterans' compensation."
Graduated from Florida A&M University.
Has "received an A rating from the National Educator's Association every year since 2003.
Supports the Recovery Act that passed in 2009.
Supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Against "any new offshore drilling."
Advocates the use of U.S. forces to "protect civilians in Darfur."
"Will help to ensure that we work with our allies to finish the job our military started in 2001" in Afghanistan.
"Iran must not be allowed to secure nuclear weapons capability."
The "only pro-choice candidate" in the race.
Supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which ensures equal pay for equal work regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or national origin. It was signed by Obama into law in 2009.
The "only candidate that has supported the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell since day one."
Believes that Florida's adoption ban for LGBT citizens is "wrong."
Has sponsored legislation to expand access to the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Voted for the Affordable Care Act.
Supports measures that would lower interest rates and mortgage payments for families at risk of foreclosure.
Endorsed by Obama, Bill Clinton, Bob Graham, Bill Nelson, Alex Sink, and Corrine Brown.

Sources: http://www.kendrickmeek.com/
Meek's Voting Record.

3) Alexander Andrew Snitker (Libertarian).

Served eight years in the Marine Corps.
Salesman for AXSA Document Solutions, Inc.
Supports the "Fair Tax, term limits for both the Senate and the House, balance budget amendments, a non-interventionists foreign policy, and Ending the Federal Reserve."
Supports a "balanced Budget Amendment, which would prohibit the federal government from spending more money than it takes in each year."
Supports "the Enumerate Powers Act, which requires lawmakers to cite, in any piece of legislation, where in the Constitution the federal government has the authorization to create such legislation."
Believes that "all gun laws in this nation are unconstitutional and should be repealed."
Supports repealing the 17th Amendment (the popular vote of Senators).
Supports "making the Social Security and Medicare tax optional."
Will "move to abolish the inefficient Department of Education and other unconstitutional federal measures regarding education."
Favors the "research and implementation of thorium-based energy production."
Require companies to "carry insurance to cover any" environmental damages.
Opposes "any carbon tax scheme."
We need to "bring all the troops home."
Supports a "moratorium on most of the foreign aid the government allows."
Supports "enforcing laws on corporations that hire undocumented workers."
End the "federal war on drugs."

Sources: http://snitker2010.com/

4) Bernie DeCastro (The Constitutional Party).

Believes in "that life begins at conception."
Will "fight and oppose Obama's and Pelosi's Cap & Trade at any cost."
Signed "Glenn Beck's 912 pledge...that a return to God and the Constitution are the remedies for the serious problems this country faces."
"Spent almost 19 years locked up in Florida's criminal justice system for mostly drug related crimes" during the 1980s.
Founded the Florida Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition.
Supports repeal of the Income Tax and adoption of a "Fair Tax system."
Supports a "return to the Spiritual roots of our Founding Fathers."
Supports the "exploration for and use of oil reserves" in the U.S.
Has a five year plan to eliminate the national deficit.
Believes in setting term limits for elected officials to "two six year terms for the Senate and four two year terms for the House."
Supports "eliminating the IRS."
Have "China and other like countries to pay a per piece import tax" to increase revenue.
Repeal the 17th Amendment (popular vote of Senators).
Supports a "strong immigration policy (no amnesty)."
Believes that "marriage is between one man and one woman."
Believes in the right to own and possess firearms.
Advocates a "strong military" and a "non-interventionist's foreign policy."
Believes that "we must break our public school system free of the National Education Association stranglehold and its progressive agenda."
Supports "the reform of our healthcare system without a public option."
Believes that "Capt & Trade is nothing more than a rip-off from the far left."
Believes that "we are harming our nation when we qualify our nationality."

Sources: http://www.electbernie.com/

5) Sue Askeland (NPA).

I could not find anything substantial about this candidate.

6) Bruce Ray Riggs (NPA).

"The powers of government were never given the jurisdiction to do the things they are doing today."
Watch his video to learn more about his platform.

Sources: http://www.dirtyunclesam.com/
Riggs' MySpace Page

7) Bobbie Bean (NPA).

He is a pro-weightlifter.
He "was strongly involved in efforts to get the Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act passed, which was enacted by the Florida legislature in 2008 to provide safe school guidelines for every district in the state."
Supports a "Fair Tax and stimulus checks for our struggling lower and middle classes."
Supports "term limits."
Advocates "federal regulation to combat new forms of bullying such as cyberbullying and aggressive text messaging."
"Our time has come to either increase the number of U.S. troops...or bring our military personnel home."
Supports creating "new jobs with government-subsidized solar panels and deep energy retrofits for homes and businesses."
Supports increased spending for mass transit.
We need to "secure our borders with a strong military presence."
Supports increased "subsidies for small farmers."

Sources: http://www.bobbiebean.com/

8) Rick Tyler (NPA).

Part of "Newt Gingrich's team for the last ten years."
NY Times Best Seller author.
Became a "new creature in Christ" in 1979.
Believes "we have a criminal government that is in urgent need of being held to a proper standard of accountability."
Believes people have a "God given right to keep and bear arms."
Holds that "life begins at conception and abortion constitutes the unjust taking of a human life."
Believes that the "UN must be given its eviction notice and sent packing."
Believes that the "income tax is flagrantly unconstitutional."
Supports ending the Federal Reserve.
Supports home schooling and private Christian education to "supplant and challenge the hegemony of corrupt and subversive state education."
Supports an "outright exclusion of homosexuals from the American armed forces."
Repeal the Patriot Acts.
States "have the absolute right to secede from the national union."
A "permanent European American majority must be galvanized to insure the nation's well being and survival."

Sources: http://www.tylerforsenate.com/occupation
http://www.torenewamerica.com/tyler-bio

9) Charlie Crist (NPA).

Links to different articles regarding Charlie Crist from my website.
Tax credits for "businesses investing in low-income rural and urban locations."
Allocated "millions of dollars in state grants for the research and development of cellulosic ethanol."
Signed legislation "calling for 10 percent of our state's petroleum to include ethanol by 2010."
Approved the "first new nuclear plant in over thirty years."
Purchased the U.S. Sugar Plantation to restore the Florida Everglades.
Created the Office of Open Government which made "government more accessible to the people."
Supports the Second Amendment.
Since 2007, he has "suspended and/or removed 44 elected or public officials for violation of the public trust."
Supports increasing charter schools.
Endorsed by the Florida Education Association.
Signed the Anti-Murder Act which "ensures violent felony offenders who violate probation to return to jail. Since becoming law, nearly 100 violent probation violators have been locked back up."
Signed the Stop Turning Out Prisoners Act which requires "criminals to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences."
"Created the state's first Child Predator/Cyber Crime unit" in 2005.
Endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Vetoed a "record $459 million in pork barrel spending in the 2007 state budget."
Has "cut state spending by $7.4 billion in three short years."
Led the campaign in support of Amendment 1 which "significantly cut property taxes for homeowners."
Launched the "Florida Discount Drug Card...in order to help Florida's seniors afford their lifesaving prescription drugs."
Signed the General Appropriations Act "which gave seniors and disabled individuals who currently reside in a nursing home a choice regarding their long-term care needs."
Created the "Silver Alert Program to alert the public about missing and endangered seniors."
Signed into law the Cover Florida Health Care plan which "provides uninsured Floridians with 27 health care options that best meet their needs."
Developed the Florida Discount Drug Card which "offers Floridians in need of prescription drug coverage immediate discounts."
Is the "only candidate standing firmly with Florida's seniors to protect social security as Americans know it today."
Does not support an amnesty program but "supports immigration reform that provides an earned path to citizenship."

Sources: http://www.charliecrist.com/home
http://www.flgov.com/priorities

10) Lewis Jerome Armstrong (NPA).

"'True Ethics' in the are of banking is needed."
Florida should "have funding in place that can aid the general public when there are catastrophic events."
Supports legislation that "helps all law-abiding immigrants within our borders to become citizen of this great nation."
Author of two books.
Supports vocational training in our public school system.
Will "ask for legislation that will increase benefits for our seniors."
Believes "a two-state solution with legislation pass by the U.S. can bring people in the region together" (in Israel/Gaza).
Supports legislation "that will call for inmates that can be fitted for military service to fill the ranks as foot soldiers."

Sources: http://www.lewisarmstrong.org/index.html

History of the Alien Land Law (1887)

"Alien Land Law" - NY Times

"Public Opinion"

Timeline

"Timeline of Asian Immigration"

"Race Timeline" - PBS

History of the Transcontinental Railroad

"Transcontinental Railroad: American Experience" - PBS

Building the TR"

"History of Railroads and Maps"

Overview

More Overview

"Crossing the Continent"

Friday, October 1, 2010

History of the Wisconsin Idea

"History of the Wisconsin Idea"

"The University's Service to the State"

"What is the Wisconsin Idea?"

"The Wisconsin Idea" (1912)

"The Wisconsin Idea" - NY Times

History of the Keating Owen Child Labor Act (1916)

Overview

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916)

More Overview

Timeline

"The History of Child Labor in the United States"

"Child Labor Reform Exhibits"

"The New Learned History" (1922)

Even More Overview

"Child Labor" (1917)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

History of Pragmatism

"Pragmatism"

Overview

"Pragmatism's Gift"

More Overview

"Pragmatism" (1907)

Even More Overview

History of John Dewey

Biography

In-depth Overview

Overview

"Dewey's Aesthetics"

"Philosophy and Education"

"Democracy and Education" (1916)

Key Vote: Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010

Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010

- Vote Passed (237-187, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would provide for a variety of small-business tax provisions, including a revival of an expired bonus depreciation provision to allow companies to write off assets more quickly. The legislation was sent to the President, who is expected to sign it.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw voted NO

Key Vote: Cloture Motion; Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections

Cloture Motion; Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act

- Vote Rejected (59-39, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate again rejected a motion to end debate on campaign finance disclosure legislation. The bill’s future is not clear.

Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. George LeMieux voted NO

Key Vote: Cloture Motion; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

Cloture Motion; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

- Vote Rejected (56-43, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a cloture motion to move forward on this bill authorizing $726 billion for defense programs in fiscal year 2011. The bill contains provisions repealing a 1993 ban on homosexuals serving openly in the armed forces. The legislation is expected to be considered again in a "lame duck" session after November’s election.

Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. George LeMieux voted NO

Key Vote: Rural Energy Savings Program Act

Rural Energy Savings Program Act

- Vote Passed (240-172, 20 Not Voting)

The House passed a bill that would authorize $5 billion over five years to create two energy efficiency loan programs. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw voted NO

Key Vote: Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010

Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010

- Vote Passed (61-38, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed a bill that would provide for a variety of small-business tax provisions, including a revival of an expired bonus depreciation provision to allow companies to write off assets more quickly. The bill now returns to the House, which is expected to agree to Senate amendments and clear the bill for the President's signature.

Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. George LeMieux voted YES

Key Vote: Confirm Branstetter Stranch

Confirmation of Jane Branstetter Stranch, of Tennessee, to be US Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

- Vote Confirmed (71-21, 8 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Jane Branstetter Stranch, a Nashville attorney, to the federal bench.

Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES
Sen. George LeMieux voted YES

Key Vote: Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act

Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act

- Vote Passed (247-161, 25 Not Voting)

On Tuesday, the House passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers' jobs. The bill was then sent to the president, who signed it into law on the same day.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw voted NO

Still Few Women in Management, Report Says

Women made little progress in climbing into management positions in this country even in the boom years before the financial crisis, according to a report to be released on Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office.

As of 2007, the latest year for which comprehensive data on managers was available, women accounted for about 40 percent of managers in the United States work force. In 2000, women held 39 percent of management positions. Outside of management, women held 49 percent of the jobs in both years.

Across the work force, the gap between what men and women earn has shrunk over the last few decades. Full-time women workers closed the gap to 80.2 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2009, up from just 62.3 cents in 1979. Much of this persistent wage gap, however, can be explained by what kinds of jobs the sexes are drawn to, whether by choice or opportunity.

USA is fattest of 33 countries, report says

The United States is the fattest nation among 33 countries with advanced economies, according to a report out today from an international think tank.

Two-thirds of people in this country are overweight or obese; about a third of adults — more than 72 million — are obese, which is roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight.

Report: Poor science education impairs U.S. economy

Nevertheless, the Rising Above the Gathering Storm review finds little improvement in U.S. elementary and secondary technical education since then.

"Our nation's outlook has worsened," concludes the report panel headed by former Lockheed Martin chief Norman Augustine. The report "paints a daunting outlook for America if it were to continue on the perilous path it has been following":

•U.S. K-12 education in mathematics and science ranks 48th worldwide.

•49% of U.S. adults don't know how long it takes for the Earth to circle the sun.

Florida's gay-adoption ban unconstitutional, court rules

Florida's 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami ruled Wednesday that the state's 33-year-old ban on gay adoption is unconstitutional, unleashing cheers from the gay community and condemnations from conservatives.

A three-judge panel upheld a Miami court ruling that Martin Gill could adopt the two foster children he had been raising with his partner. The appeals court ruled that the ban on gay adoption was unconstitutional because it singled out gays as unfit parents.

Judge Gerald Cope, who wrote the opinion, said there was no evidence to show that gays were less effective than heterosexual parents.

"Given a total ban on adoption by homosexual persons, one might expect that this reflected a legislative judgment that homosexual persons are, as a group, unfit to be parents," Cope wrote. "To the contrary, the parties agree 'that gay people and heterosexuals make equally good parents.' "

Florida will immediately stop enforcing its ban on adoptions by gay people, Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday.

"It's a very good day for Florida," said Crist, who is running for U.S. Senate as an independent. "It's a very good day for children. Children deserve a loving home to be in, and the opportunity for judges to make this call on a case-by-case basis with every adoption I think is wonderful."

Florida's ban, the only law of its kind in the U.S., dates to 1977. Although gays are allowed to be foster parents, they are denied full adoption rights.

Voters don't support scaling back class-size law

An attempt to scale back Florida's class-size law is going nowhere, according to a new poll.

In November, voters will decide whether to modify the law that they approved eight years ago or keep the strict class size rules that are going into effect this year.

But the poll, by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., shows that more than half of voters will oppose Amendment 8, making it highly unlikely the measure could win the 60 percent it would need to pass.

The situation has been made worse because the Legislature did not fully fund the class-size law.

Electives have been cut so principals can afford additional teachers, although some classes are being taught by substitute teachers because of a statewide shortage of math and science instructors.

School Boards across Florida think the law's final requirements — hard caps of 18, 22 and 25 students per class, depending on grade level — are too strict and too expensive.

The Legislature could have helped school districts deal with the cost, but did not do so. The final phase of class size was estimated by the state Department of Education to have cost $350 million, but the Legislature did not provide the additional money.

Amendment 8 aims to keep some of the state's class-size rules in place but give schools more wiggle room when it comes to assigning students to classrooms.

If it does fail, the Florida Legislature will, in the spring, have to figure out a way to keep funding the changes. School districts are already expecting a funding shortfall when the federal stimulus money they have been receiving to stave off layoffs runs out next year.

"Statewide, only 35 percent say they will vote for it, while a 53 percent majority is already lined up against it," J. Bradford Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon, wrote in the report released Friday.