Senate

Alarmed that real estate fraud is contributing to California's mortgage foreclosure crisis, the state Senate voted Thursday to allow counties to increase fees for filing property purchase documents to beef up fraud investigation units.The bill was supported by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who are seeing an explosion in the number of fraud cases tied to foreclosures."Real estate fraud, due to the nature of the market, increases in elder abuse and identify theft schemes, is definitely on the rise," Cooley said. "Our case load is at an all-time high."

Efren Bata Reyes, aka The Magician, will be playing in the final day of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup billiard tournament at the StarMall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City! The Hall of Famer realized the semi-finals berth with a scintillating 9-5 victory over Jherome Peña! The Filipino pool player from Puyat Sports is scheduled to square off today against Lee Van Corteza, who scored a 9-5 win against Dennis Orcollo in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Bugsy Promotions’ Gandy Valle meets Negros Billiards Stable’s Warren Kiamco. In the quarter finals, Gandy Valle, 1998 Asian Games gold medalist, beat Antonio Lining with an impressive 9-3 score; Warren Kiamco, the 3x US Bar Tables master bested Elmer Haya at 9-5. The champion of the 1st Senate President Manny Villar Cup will t

When Mary Gade was appointed the Midwest EPA Administrator in September, 2006 she did something that the Bush Administration obviously didn't expect — She took her job seriously.  After decades of Dow Chemical dumping its toxic products into rivers nearby its Midland, Michigan plant, including Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Dow has been avoiding its responsibility in cleaning up dioxin-poisoned soil and sediment in the 50 miles surrounding its plant for years, and after wrangling with Dow, and getting nowhere, Gade invoked "emergency powers" last summer so that she could order Dow to cleanup three of the worst dioxin "hotspots" affected by the dumping.  How bad was it?  Well the reporting in the Chicago Tribune explains: …all along the two wide streams that cut through this o

Here are some pictures from Day 2 of of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament, held at the StarMall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City! The billiards competition was organized by the Billiards Managers and Professional Players Association (BMPAP). The pictures focused on the match between Roberto Gomez and Nikoy Lining. Nikoy Lining won the match with an 8-6 score over Superman. Day 2 Results, May 7, 2008Gandy Valle vs. Lee Van Corteza, 8-3Joven Bustamante vs. Roel Esquillo, 8-4Elmer Haya vs. Benjie Guevarra, 8-3Rodolfo Luat vs. Russian Petiza, 8-2Carlo Biado vs. Ramil Gallego, 8-2Nikoy Lining vs. Roberto Gomez, 8-6Dennis Orcollo vs. Eduardo Villanueva, 8-5Jundell Mazon vs. Warren Kiamco, 8-5 And lest I forget, tomorrow promises to be another big day, friends, as Efre

And here is the final set of pictures taken during the first day of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament, held at the StarMall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City! The billiards competition was organized by the Billiards Managers and Professional Players Association (BMPAP). Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I did when I took them! Participants in the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament converged around the TV table provided by Puyat Sports.Ronnie Alcano vs. Benjie Guevarra - the first match of theSenate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards TournamentFilipino pool player Benjie GuevarraRonnie Alcano going for a jump. This particular shot and the shot leading to it was interesting. Ronnie Alcano opted for a push out and left no open shot on

Friends, here are pictures from Day 1 of the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament being held from May 6 to 10, 2008, at the Sports Center of the StarMall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City!The first day of the highly anticipated Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament started with the on-site registration for the lower rank professional group at 7:00 AM. A prayer started off the opening ceremonies, which began exactly at 10:00 AM.That's professional pool player Benjie Guevarra with his mobile phone camera taking pictures during the opening ceremony. Filipino pool player Rodolfo Luat with his Diveney pool cuesEfren Bata Reyes with Mr. Aristeo "Putch" Puyat (2nd from right, in Barong Tagalog), long-time billiards patron and the Godfather of Philippine pool. M

And going back to my question in my previous post - "Why do our friends from the media suddenly on their toes in an effort to get position for that perfect shot" during the opening ceremony of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament? Browse on and find out why, friends! Hope you enjoy the pictures! This is the reason why! The ceremonial lag of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament between Efren Bata Reyes and Senate President Manny Villar!Senate President Manny Villar for the first break of the 2008 Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament! Watching on are Roberto Gomez, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Francisco Django Bustamante, and Muntinlupa City Vice Mayor Artemio SImundac. And the beloved Senator got two balls off the b

A new plan to slow home foreclosures won Senate approval Monday, but its chances of moving forward face challenges from the banking industry and opposition from Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Although the DFL-controlled Senate approved the plan by a 34-29 vote, several key DFL members -- including Senate President James Metzen -- voted against it, and an industry lobbyist said the plan "goes in the wrong direction." The chief House sponsor, Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, said that he was disappointed in the lack of bipartisan support, but added that the House would consider the plan later this week.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Sports has convened a special meeting on May 8 (Thursday) to discuss the accounts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The meeting has been called on the requisition submitted by four senators – Enver Baig, Tahir Mushahdi, Rehana Baloch and Haroon Khan. Sources in Senate secretariat told Daily Times on Friday that the meeting would discuss the details of PCB accounts with specific focus on deposits of the PCB from December 31 2004 to May 2008. “The senators would like know the details of the board’s monthly budget from January 2005 to May 2008, information regarding banks where the PCB has deposited its funds, the criteria for the selection of financial institutions and return on accounts on annual bases,” sources added. It is pertinent t

Sen. Don Gaetz just released one piece of his education reform "train," the provision expanding the state's corporate income tax scholarship program by $30-million, to $118-million a year. But it still includes a provision the House leadership opposes, which could...

The Illinois Senate has nixed the recall bill that has been going thru the Illinois Legislature. This would give voice to the people of the state the option if the peasants in Illinois think that their elected officials are not...

The Senae Armed Services Committee is writing new legislation that impacts roles played by private contractors in the Iraq war. One provision would prohibit comtract employees from performing “inherently governmental” security operations. the second prevents them from conducting interrogation of detainees during or after hostilities. Senator Carl Levin expressed the view, “We’ve seen a real [...]

The Senate just voted 31-6, with Democrats opposed, for a "train bill" of education reforms that Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, created in this final week of the session. But House Republican education leaders' opposition to the last-minute train could result...

Washington: More than 10 years after it was first introduced by New York Rep. Louise Slaughter, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has passed the US Senate 95-0.The bill outlaws using genetic information gathered by medical research to discriminate against donors by denying them insurance coverage or jobs. President Bush will not oppose the law."It's the first civil rights bill of the new century of life sciences... We made sure today that our laws reflect the advances we are making," Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy told the LA Times. Source: www.allheadlinenews.com

Earlier in the race it was about delegates. Currently the Clinton campaign stresses the popular vote. At one time Hillary even jokingly suggested gong by bowling scores. Although the Clinton campaign changes the metric by which they claim Clinton should get the nomination there’s one measure which they won’t be using for now–endorsements from their [...]

People learning through genetic testing that they might be susceptible to devastating diseases wouldn't also have to worry about losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate passed Thursday. The bill, described by Sen. Edward Kennedy as ''the first major new civil rights bill of the new century,'' would bar health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. Similarly, employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions. ''For the first time we act to prevent discrimination before it has taken firm hold and that's why this legislation is unique and groundbreaking,'' said Sen. Olympia Snowe. There are more than 1,100 genetic tests available today, she s

I am convinced that the White House, Congress and the Senate have no clue about what has been going on with the average American Citizen! The corporations and banking systems are KILLING OFF OUR JOBS and have ruined our ECONOMY. It’s obvious that the Federal Reserve is a leading our nation into financial suicide. The [...]

Filipino Veterans of WWII who fought alongside American Forces against the Japanese may soon get their due in terms of benefits in a historic vote of 96 to 1 approval of S1315. A long hard fought battle 63 long years and counting to restore their honor, dignity and status as veterans is nearing victory. The Senate has paved the way for all the... Philippine political & social events as seen from the vantage point of a Jaywalking Cyber Pedestrian Observer, visit the blog to read the rest or for other hot issues of the day.

By Bijender Sharma DHARMSHALA: Mr Lodi Gyari, special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, gave his testimony on “The Crisis in Tibet: Finding a Path to Peace”, at a hearing before the US Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer, in Washington D C, said sources of the [...]

The Senate just unanimously approved a bill (SB 186) to make USF's fledgling campus in Lakeland, dubbed USF Polytechnic, a separately accredited regional campus. The setup would be similar to USF's St. Petersburg campus. Meanwhile, USF officials and some lawmakers...

The Florida Senate has approved legislation that would allow public school teachers "to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution." The 21-17 vote showed most Democrats opposed and most Republicans...

House and Senate budget chairmen said Thursday they have reached common ground on several major spending differences, which likely sets the stage for smooth negotiations over the next week. The Buzz reports that Rep. Ray Sansom, R-Destin, the House budget...

The American Senate is vaguely similar to the House of Lords. In this regard it is the second chamber of a bicameral governing institution. The Americans have a congress, the British have a parliament. One thing that appears to unite the US Senate and the House of Lords is the extreme age of many of the members. It used to be said that the Lords were in God's waiting room. Now there are murmurings on Capitol Hill about the age and competence of some senators.Robert Byrd is a senator from West Virginia. He was born just as the First World War ended. It makes him 90. Some think being as old as that is not the best thing for a senator to be. Others think it an outright impudence that the subject is mentioned. Yesterday (Wednesday) he was managing a two-hour Senate Appropriations Committee hea

Join the Message Board BATON ROUGE, La. — The most serious sex crimes should be punishable by castration, with drugs or surgery, the Louisiana Senate voted on Tuesday. The bill by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of imposing chemical castration on those convicted of sex crimes including aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent [...]

Join the Message Board BATON ROUGE, La. — The most serious sex crimes should be punishable by castration, with drugs or surgery, the Louisiana Senate voted on Tuesday. The bill by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of imposing chemical castration on those convicted of sex crimes including aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent [...]

WASHINGTON — Under pressure to address the housing market meltdown, the Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan aid package for builders and distressed homeowners, but the bill faces opposition from the House as being too generous to business. The 84-12 Senate vote comes as congressional committees work on broader Democratic measures to provide hundreds of billions of dollars to help homeowners refinance into more affordable mortgages. The Senate action comes as home prices plunge, and economists say more than 2 million families are in danger of foreclosure. Underscoring the increasing urgency of the issue, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who had resisted the idea of federal aid to homeowners, released a plan to help borrowers with high-cost adjustable-rate

By Kevin Drawbaugh WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - The $85-billion student loan market is in disarray and the Bush administration needs to move fast to avert a crisis, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee said on Tuesday. “This may not be a crisis now,” said Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, at a hearing before [...]

Who we are: The SDCC is a Seattle-based campaign committee which provides professional campaign support and guidance to Democratic Party candidates for the Washington State Senate. Job Responsibilities: We are currently seeking a full-time operations director. We are looking for a candidate that is organized, self motivated, and progressive. Specifically, the operations director will: Organize fundraising events Preview meetings with the majority leader with [...]

Who we are: The SDCC is a Seattle-based campaign committee which provides professional campaign support and guidance to Democratic Party candidates for the Washington State Senate. Job Responsibilities: We are currently seeking a full-time operations director. We are looking for a candidate that is organized, self motivated, and progressive. Specifically, the operations director will: Organize fundraising events Preview meetings with the majority leader with [...]

Canadian sweetheart, Sarah Polley, best known for her roles in The Road to Avonlea, The Sweet Hereafter and her directorial debut, Away From Her, has jumped in full force behind squashing Bill C-10. Bill C-10, a tax bill amendment, has already been endorsed by the House of Commons, the controversial clause being passed unnoticed. The legislation [...]

In 1978, when Democratic Senator Carl Levin was first elected by the state of Michigan, the national deficit was close to about $800 Billion. It’s 30 years later and the national debt has exceeded $10 Trillion and over the years, Senator Levin has only fed that out of control figure by voting for countless [...]

…as I hear the questions and the statements today, it seems to me that there’s a kind of hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, and most of all, speak of no progress in Iraq. -Senator Joe Lieberman General Petraeus testified before the Senate earlier this week. Almost everyone saw the sound bites, especially [...]

Although the Senate passed a bill yesterday to help prop up the housing market, experts say to expect significant changes in the House version still being debated. Whereas the Senate bill focuses more on builders and lenders but not homeowners (i.e., supply side), the House version takes an opposite tack. From a AP via MSNBC story:The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis.The measure passed by an impressive 84-12 vote, but even its supporters acknowledge it’s tilted too much in favor of businesses such as home builders and does little to help borrowers at risk of losing their homes.The plan combines large tax breaks for homebuilders and a $7,000 tax credit for people who buy for

The Senate on Thursday passed (84-12) HR 3221 giving tax breaks to builders and lenders while providing no help to struggling homeowners. The so called housing crisis bill had already been stripped of actions that would help homeowners facing foreclosure. The provision that would have permitted bankruptcy judges to modify interest rates and reduce mortgage balances to the current value of a

The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis. The measure passed by an impressive 84-12 vote, but even supporters of it acknowledge it’s tilted too much in favor of businesses like homebuilders and does little to help borrowers at risk [...]

Senate passes bill to ease housing crisis - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com: "AP WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis." Albuquerque Real Estate

Scant Support for Senate Housing Bill “The plan combines large tax breaks for homebuilders and a $7,000 tax credit for people who buy foreclosed properties, as well as $4 billion in grants for communities to buy and fix up abandoned homes. The measure, titled the Foreclosure Prevention Act, will be significantly redrawn by House critics who say [...]

I guess that John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Gen. Petraeus think we’re pretty dumb. During yesterday’s testimony, the three of them tried to fool us with the same deceptive talking point. Petraeus claimed in his testimony that Iran is giving support to so-called “special groups” — militias clashing with Al-Maliki’s Iraqi government forces. McCain and Lieberman went right along with him, McCain declaring that “we must press ahead against…the Iranian-backed special groups” and Lieberman urging Petraeus on. These men present a united front (and it is disturbing that an active duty American general is part of a political PR machine) in pitching an oversimplified and flatly misleading concept of what is going on in Iraq. They want to pre

Brandon Republican Ronda Storms' "academic freedom" bill (SB2692), which aims to protect teachers and students who want to discuss alternatives to evolution, cleared its final Senate committee on a partisan vote and is headed to the floor. Critics worry the...

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have operated a family charity since 2001, but she failed to list it on annual Senate financial disclosure reports on five occasions. Hillary shame on you and it is $10 million dollars and counting.

Senator Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said he expects General Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Charles to urge maintaining the current trops levels instead of pushing for a planned reduction in force. He admits the Democratic leadership lacks the necessary 60 votes to force a vote on the Iraq situation [...]

By Sue Kirchhoff and Kevin McCoy, USA TODAYWASHINGTON — Senate leaders on Wednesday night announced a multibillion-dollar bipartisan compromise measure to aid families facing foreclosure amid the sharp housing downturn.The proposal, which could be debated as early as Thursday, contains funding to provide foreclosure counseling to beleaguered households, help local governments buy and refurbish foreclosed properties and increase the limit on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.But negotiators for both parties could not reach agreement on a provision that would give foreclosed homeowners more lenient treatment in bankruptcy proceedings. Lawmakers were also forced to shelve a more ambitious FHA mortgage rescue plan but promised to continue working on the issue."This is not a

By Sue Kirchhoff and Kevin McCoy, USA TODAYWASHINGTON — Senate leaders on Wednesday night announced a multibillion-dollar bipartisan compromise measure to aid families facing foreclosure amid the sharp housing downturn.The proposal, which could be debated as early as Thursday, contains funding to provide foreclosure counseling to beleaguered households, help local governments buy and refurbish foreclosed properties and increase the limit on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.But negotiators for both parties could not reach agreement on a provision that would give foreclosed homeowners more lenient treatment in bankruptcy proceedings. Lawmakers were also forced to shelve a more ambitious FHA mortgage rescue plan but promised to continue working on the issue."This is not a

Finally recognizing that spending time on political posturing while the housing market continues to tank is not an ideal re-election strategy, key Senators have reportedly agreed on a plan to spur the housing market with compromises on both sides. Compromises? In the Senate? Wow, this must be serious. From the Wall Street Journal:Key senators agreed on a $15 billion bipartisan plan to spur the housing market, a surprisingly fast compromise that shows how political momentum is shifting toward a more aggressive response to the struggling economy...Democrats, for their part, dropped a bankruptcy provision opposed by Republicans, even though it was a major part of their housing agenda. They, too, are under pressure to show accomplishments this year, amid low public-approval ratings f

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–U.S. Senate Democrats dropped an attempt to let bankruptcy judges alter the terms of mortgages Thursday, though that did little to strengthen the tenuous bipartisan support for the Senate’s first significant attempt to address the housing crisis. The 58-36 vote to table the amendment was a victory for the lending industry, which vigorously lobbied lawmakers in recent weeks [...]

The so-called “Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008” introduced by senators Christopher Dodd and Richard Shelby has been fast-tracked by the Senate and could be voted on as early as next week. The legislation contains a series of provisions to combat the rising foreclosure epidemic in the United States, including FHA reform so borrowers have better access [...]

Despite the fact that I’m not a homeowner, I’ve become more and more troubled by the proposals I’ve heard buzzing around the Hill, all aimed at trying save those homeowners who are having a hard time making payments on their sub-prime mortgage loans. While I think it’s unfortunate when people don’t have the money they need [...]

WASHINGTON — Senate leaders on Wednesday night announced a multibillion-dollar bipartisan compromise measure to aid families facing foreclosure amid the sharp housing downturn.The proposal, which could be debated as early as Thursday, contains funding to provide foreclosure counseling to beleaguered households, help local governments buy and refurbish foreclosed properties and increase the limit on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.But negotiators for both parties could not reach agreement on a provision that would give foreclosed homeowners more lenient treatment in bankruptcy proceedings. Lawmakers were also forced to shelve a more ambitious FHA mortgage rescue plan but promised to continue working on the issue."This is not a complete package. Obviously, there is a lot

WASHINGTON — Senate leaders on Wednesday night announced a multibillion-dollar bipartisan compromise measure to aid families facing foreclosure amid the sharp housing downturn.The proposal, which could be debated as early as Thursday, contains funding to provide foreclosure counseling to beleaguered households, help local governments buy and refurbish foreclosed properties and increase the limit on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.But negotiators for both parties could not reach agreement on a provision that would give foreclosed homeowners more lenient treatment in bankruptcy proceedings. Lawmakers were also forced to shelve a more ambitious FHA mortgage rescue plan but promised to continue working on the issue."This is not a complete package. Obviously, there is a lot

The Senate's higher education appropriation committee this morning moved legislation (SB1774) to establish a tech fee, equal to up to 5 percent of tuition, for colleges and universities. University presidents and student leaders began pushing hard for the fee last...

A senate health committee unanimously approved the proposal to move the Johnnie Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center under the authority of USF, a move opposed by the Byrd Center board but pushed by USF officials. Next and last stop before the...

Sen. Ted Deutch's proposed legislation to require public schools to teach comprehensive sex education narrowly passed the Senate's pre K-12 committee this afternoon, by a 4-3 vote. Republican Sens. Stephen Wise, Don Gaetz and Alex Diaz de la Portilla all...

Stalled housing bill moves forward in Senate “bill would, for the first time, allow bankruptcy judges to reset mortgages on primary residences. It would also provide $4 billion for local communities to buy and refurbish foreclosed properties; provide $200 million for counseling to help homeowners avoid foreclosure…” read more [...]

Contact: Ryan Loskarn, Communications Director Jill Bader, Press Secretary 202-224-2764 Alexander Calls for Legislation to Help Homeowners, Warns Democrats Not to Turn Mortgages Into Junk Bonds Says Democratic Proposal Would Lead to Higher Monthly Mortgage Payments for American Families “Their legislation raises the risk involved in mortgage lending and would lead to higher interest rates and higher monthly [...]

The Michigan Senate passed legislation to hopefully stimulate the housing industry in Michigan. A similar stimulus package was passed by the Michigan House last year which would give homeowners a 18... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

While the folks over at Burnt Orange Report are reporting the hard numbers on county-by-county results from yesterday’s conventions, we decided to try and gather some “on-the-ground” stories from the MainStream Media and grassroots bloggers who attended the conventions. Since compiling everything in one post would be pretty long, we’re going to do them individually. We won’t be covering every county because we don’t have coverage of them all. However, if you have a report from your county or senate district convention you’d like to send in for publication, send it to vince.leibowitz@gmail.com.

This from Ronnie Ellis of the CNHI News Service from the Glasgow Daily Times:FRANKFORT — One of the big issues the free conference committee will have to resolve to get a budget agreement between the House and Senate is how much will be spent on education and human services.House budget chairman Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said “securing the revenue to have an adequate education and human services budget” is the House top priority. He reiterated that stance Wednesday during the budget conference, telling Senate members the House wants to resolve those issues before going on to such questions as capital projects and water and sewer projects in single counties.House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said the same thing: “We would like to get education and human services – thos

The Senate just approved two laws sponsored by former Okaloosa schools superintendent Don Gaetz (left), Republican senator from the Panhandle. The Ethics in Education Act (SB 1712) tightens the standards for hiring, screening and disciplining educators in cases of misconduct....

Now it's up to the House. The Senate just voted 32-4, with Sens. Arthenia Joyner, Nan Rich, Charlie Justice and Stephen Oelrich opposed, for a proposed constitutional amendment that will ask voters to overhaul education governance in Florida. The education...

By DAVID DECAMP Times Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE — A Senate panel endorsed “protections” Wednesday for students and teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution — despite a report saying there’s never been a case alleging such discrimination in Florida. Sen....

Thank goodness sense prevailed on the campus gun bills. The Senate Education Committee voted down three bills sponsored by Republican Sen. Hank Erwin of Montevallo on Wednesday. The votes came after Alabama university officials said they would make campuses unsafe. The bills were voted down largely along party lines, with Republicans mostly supporting them and Democrats opposing [...]

A few Senate Democrats including Ted Deutch (left) questioned the need for a proposed constitutional amendment overhauling K-20 education governance, but SB 2308 - a priority of Senate President Ken Pruitt - appears headed for passage in his chamber, based...

SACRAMENTO — The state Senate approved a bill Monday to help California homeowners whose lenders have forgiven part of their mortgage debt. The bill would end a requirement that homeowners report that part of the loan that was forgiven as income on their tax returns. Read Full Article

This from the Herald-Leader:FRANKFORT, Ky. --Teachers would receive smaller pay raises under a budget proposal being considered by Senate lawmakers.The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee was preparing for a vote on the two-year spending plan on Monday, then sending it to the full Senate for consideration.The proposal calls for 1 percent wage increases in each of the next two fiscal years for public school teachers. A proposal approved by House lawmakers earlier this month would provide raises of 1 percent in the first year of the budget and 3 percent in the second.Kentucky Education Association President Sharron Oxendine said she is hopeful the larger raises can be restored before lawmakers give final approval to the budget."It's not just bad for teachers, it's bad for public educ

The Maryland Senate has decided by a vote of 36-10 that in the eyes of the law hard cider and malternatives should be defined as beer.Cider and drinks like Smirnoff Ice are already taxed at the same rate as beer. The change to the law means that grocery and convenience stores would be allowed to sell the products. Both are in the same range of alcohol content as beer. Before it becomes law the bill must be passed by the Maryland House and signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Some opposed to the bill claim that it will encourage underage drinking.

An idea floated by homebuilders last month to encourage home buying through the use of tax credits to offset the perceived risk has gained some support in the Senate recently. Although the Bush Administration appears publicly wedded to its "no government bailout, let the markets work" stance, some experts think they're running out of time. From the Wall Street Journal:Efforts to create new tax breaks to encourage home purchases are gaining attention on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers gird for a major debate this spring on how best to shore up the nation's troubled mortgage markets. The Bush administration has looked at the pros and cons of a tax credit but remains opposed to the idea, saying it prefers lawmakers act quickly on administration proposals that are languishing in Congress. However,

Concerns from blind people that super-quiet hybrid vehicles pose a safety danger to pedestrians who can’t see has gotten the attention of Maryland lawmakers. The Senate voted today to give preliminary approval to a bill calling for study of how to deal with hybrid vehicles, which run very quietly. Blind people say hybrids pose a hazard to those who rely on their ears to determine whether it’s safe to cross the street or walk through a parking lot. The bill, which requires another vote before heading to the House, would direct state transportation officials to study the problem. The officials would be directed to suggest to lawmakers whether it is possible to require a minimum sound level for cars. Click Here to View Original Article

This from the Courier-Journal:FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Senate President David Williams yesterday accused Rep. Harry Moberly of ramming Eastern Kentucky University projects into the state budget during closed-door conference committee meetings.Moberly, D-Richmond, is the chairman of the House budget committee and a high-ranking official at EKU."I've been at the conference table in the conference many times when he has stood up to have things added for EKU in the budget," Williams, R-Burkesville, said in a session with reporters. "If he doesn't get what he wants in the budget nobody else is going to get what they want in the budget, or other people can't get things for UK or U of L if he doesn't get what he wants in the budget." ......earlier this week [Moberly] acknowledged that it would be "diffi

The Maryland Senate has unanimously approved mortgage lending bills aimed at addressing the state’s rising foreclosure rate. Senators voted without debate to approve three bills. The measures include setting up a new crime of mortgage fraud and a bill to give homeowners more time before a foreclosure can be made final. Read Full Article

It wasn't unanimous, but the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Committee approved a bill (SB 1440) to greatly expand the number of students who may participate in the Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship, which are often referred to as vouchers although technically...

Unfortunately, 57 members of the United States Senate weren’t OK with the idea of stopping the raid on Social Security. Instead of leaving the funds that go into Social Security in Social Security, the majority of the members of the Senate would rather spend YOUR money on pork barrel projects instead of preserving the retirement [...]

 UPDATE: Click Here for Latest On DeMint Amendment Failing I think that at this point it’s really going to come down to Republicans deciding what is right and wrong. Here are a few articles that I have been reading to get the latest updates about what could happen tonight, or early tomorrow morning. -dyn/content/article/2008/03/12/AR2008031203704.html Check back every few [...]

---Related Articles at Infidels Are Cool:Israeli police beat pro-Palestinian protestersSenate Rejects Non-Binding Resolution…For NowSenate passes bill allowing concealed handguns in restaurantsSenate blocks funding for Mexican trucks test

The proposal to overhaul education governance with a constitutional amendement is headed to the Senate floor, following a fast track that had the proposal going only to higher education appropriations and a government operations committee. And it just passed out...

Senate Calls On EPA To Create Group To Establish Workable And Reasonable Measures To Reduce Public Health Risks From Pharmaceutical Disposal Into Water SuppliesWASHINGTON, DC - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, sent a letter today to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Stephen Johnson, urging the Administrator to provide "assurances to the American public that their drinking water is in fact safe to drink and that there is no immediate health risk." Senator Inhofe sent the letter following press reports of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals found in drinking water supplies in several regions across the country. A link to the letter is available by clicking here and the text of the letter provided b

Senate Bill 305, introduced in the Ohio Senate yesterday, would include "sexual orientation" in the list of protected classes against which it is illegal for employers to discriminate. It defines sexual orientation as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, or transgenderism, whether actual or perceived." According to today's Cleveland Plain Dealer, if S.B. 305 passes, Ohio would become the 22nd state to ban this type of discrimination. The Plain Dealer also points out that only one Republican crossed party lines to sponsor the bill, which does not bode well for its ultimate fate. While this blog is unabashedly slanted in the employer's favor, I come down on the side of the employee on the issue of sexual orientation discrimination. As I've said here before, is difficul

From CQPolitics: Democrat Mike Ciresi announced Monday he was terminating his campaign for Minnesota’s Senate race, clearing the path for former Saturday Night Live comedian Al Franken to win the party’s endorsement and take on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in November. Ciresi said he was withdrawing to prevent a divisive contest. “Continuing the endorsement race would only lead to an unnecessary floor fight. It is time to step aside,” he said in a statement on his campaign Web site. Franken has yet to make a public statement, but no doubt his initial response on learning this was "Doggone it, people like me!"

Linda Jacobson of Education Week (subscription) did a nice job of pulling together a lot of information on Kentucky's consideration of Senate Bill 1. The testing program tied to one of the nation’s most closely watched education accountability systems is under siege in Kentucky from GOP lawmakers pushing a bill to replace it with nationally standardized tests. The Commonwealth Accountability Testing System, or CATS—stemming from the landmark Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990—covers seven academic areas and includes writing exercises called portfolios. But members of the Republican-controlled state Senate, led by Majority Leader Dan Kelly, say eliminating most of the testing program, which is tied to a high-stakes accountability system, could save the state as much as $10 million

There seems to be broad agreement that Kentucky school students should be tested. State schools invest millions of dollars and thousands of hours per year assessing learning. But there is much less agreement about why students should be tested.This is a problem. But, it is not really a “testing problem.”This is a political problem. How does a community of responsible adults care for all of its children?Let’s start with a pop quiz.Question: Public school students should be tested…a.) often; so that a teacher might catch learning problems early, adjust instruction and report to parents how well their children are learning specific objectivesb.) annually; in order to inform parents whether or not their children are “college material”c.) annually; in order to hold schools accountab

Some good news, but don't hold your breath yet--The CPSC reform bill (S. 2663) has passed the Senate, and now heads to conference committee where the differences between the house and senate versions will be worked out.Let's hope the differences being "worked out" will not involve the watering down of the important provisions of this bill. Essentially, this bill in its current state would markedly strengthen the CPSC, increase penalties for violating companies, ban lead in all children's products (like bibs!) and not just toys , and would require that toys be tested by independent labs before they are sold. It is about time! There were some excellent amendments added to the senate version, one that I think Non-Toxic readers will be excited about is from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) th

via email from Sauerberg Campaign News Release For Immediate Release March 10, 2008 Contact: Chris Barron Office - (630) 424-3490 Cell - (630) 215-9118 cbarron@sauerberg2008.com The Sauerberg "Your Healthcare, Your Choice" Plan Will End the Healthcare Crisis the Career Politicians...

Some good news, but don't hold your breath yet--The CPSC reform bill (S. 2663) has passed the Senate, and now heads to conference committee where the differences between the house and senate versions will be worked out.Let's hope the differences being "worked out" will not involve the watering down of the important provisions of this bill. Essentially, this bill in its current state would markedly strengthen the CPSC, increase penalties for violating companies, ban lead in all children's products (like bibs!) and not just toys , and would require that toys be tested by independent labs before they are sold. It is about time! There were some excellent amendments added to the senate version, one that I think Non-Toxic readers will be excited about is from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) th

(NaturalNews) - The end of Free Speech in America has arrived at our doorstep. It’s a new law called the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, and it is worded in a clever way that could allow the U.S. government to arrest and incarcerate any individual who speaks out against the Bush Administration, the [...]

Education reform set to stallHouse Democrats have no plans to hear billFRANKFORT --After the Republican-led Senate approved a bill Friday along party lines that would replace the state's student testing system, a key House member said the measure likely will die in the Democratic-controlled House.House budget chairman Harry Moberly Jr., D-Richmond, said he hopes he will get Senate Bill 1 in his committee.If so, "it would have a good rest in my committee for many years," Moberly said.Moberly joins Gov. Steve Beshear and House Speaker Jody Richards in opposing the measure that calls for replacing the Commonwealth Accountability Testing system and its open-response questions and portfolios with nationally normed multiple-choice tests. Beshear has said he would veto the measure if it passes bo

This from the Herald-Leader:FRANKFORT, Ky. --The state Senate has approved a bill that would overhaul Kentucky's methods for testing student achievement.The plan calls for ending the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System. That divisiveness of the proposal was reflected in the Senate's 22-15 party-line vote on Friday. The measure now goes to the House for consideration.The bill now moves into choppy waters in the House. Speaker Jody Richards predicted the measure would fail there. Governor Steve Beshear is poised to veto the bill if it passes both chambers.

Lobbyists wage fierce behind-the-scenes battle to weaken measureThe Senate today passed the strongest consumer safety legislation since the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1972.The bill, which passed by a vote of 79-13, overhauls the CPSC and its guiding document, the Consumer Product Safety Act.The CPSC Reform Act would gradually increase the agency's funding to $155.9 million by 2015 and includes many clauses that would make it harder for companies to get away with making dangerous products. The agency was slated to have a $63 million budget this year, but Congress bumped that up to $80 million.A similar bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives in December, but is considered by many consumer advocates to be inadequate compared to the Senate versio

Mark Hebert reports that Governor Beshear said today that he will veto Senate Bill 1 if it gets to his desk.Senate President David Williams called his statement "Pathetic."At a news conference, Beshear told reporters the bill undermines educational improvement in Kentucky and would mean an end to students getting tested on their critical thinking skills. Williams' bill proposes using a national multiple choice test to measure each child's improvement. On demand writing would no longer be tested.Reacting to the governor's opposition to his bill, Williams called Beshear's comments "amateurish" and "pathetic" and said he doesn't believe the governor has even read the bill. Williams defended the move to get rid of the CATS test, saying it isn't measuring students' knowledge of basic skills. Ma

The Senate Finance Committee recently announced in a Press Release that it will hold a roundtable discussion at 2:00 p.m. on March 6, 2008 to discuss ideas for implementing a Medicare value-based purchasing program for hospital care. According to the Press Release, 22 health care organizations will take part in the roundtable discussion. During the discussion, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will present an overview of its...

  by Mike Wiegert, broker Chico Homes Real Estate   A bill that is now pending before the California full Senate would make it possible for California taxpayers to avoid paying taxes on... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved proposed Evidence Rule 502 unamended.  The proposed rule deals with the waiver of attorney-client privilege and work product protection.  Sharon D. Nelson, writing on the electronic evidence blog Ride the Lightning, notes that there is no serious opposition to the rule in the House of Representatives.

The Georgia Senate has unanimously passed a measure authored by Senator Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) that will require all state spending be available on a searchable Web site. Known as the Transparency in Government Act, Senate Bill 300 will allow anyone the opportunity to see where state taxpayer dollars are being spent.  "This legislation is [...] [This is a content summary only. Click story title to visit website for full links, other content, and more!]

Using the Washington Post Congress Votes Database, I compiled a list of votes that Senators Clinton and Obama disagreed on since January of 2005 when they have both been in the Senate. Also included, is a second sheet containing all votes where both Senators Clinton and Obama voted, with Senator McCain's vote included and information on whether Senator McCain voted along with the Republican Party consensus.Here is a link to the Google spreadsheet.I wasn't able to find any broad trends in the votes where Senators Clinton and Obama disagreed. Out of over 900 total votes, they only disagreed on 52. Out of those, Senator Clinton voted against the Democratic party consensus 30 times, compared to 21 times for Senator Obama. Both Senators appeared to agree with Senator McCain at the same rat

Senate Panel Says,Craig Is GuiltyIn a letter signed by all six members of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the members affirmed the initial guilty plea that Craig signed after an undercover officer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport arrested him in a men's room sting."The committee accepts as proven your guilty plea and all matter set forth in your guilty plea," the letter read."Your claims to the court, through counsel, to the effect that your guilty plea resulted from improper pressure or coercion, or that as a legal matter, know what you were doing when you pled guilty, do not appear credible," said the letter.In addition, the committee members berated Craig for attempting to use the influence of his office to avoid arrest and failing to notify the panel that he had