>Gibbons Campaign & the Funniest Line of the Morning

>“Nevada voters know that Jim Gibbons is not nor ever has been beholden to special interests,” Uithoven (Campaign Director)said.” LVRJ

Interesting. Is the GOP candidate for Nevada governor the same one who’s currently the CD-2 Representative? This wouldn’t be the same Jim Gibbons (R-NV) who for his House of Representatives race in 2004 collected $352,878 in PAC contributions? And, received 94% of those PAC contributions from business groups?

Who, in 2004, collected $52,000 from defense industry PACs? Who picked up $64,059 from energy PACs? And from among those got $10,000 from Barrick Goldstrike; $6000 from Newmont Mining; $4000 from Foundation Coal; $3000 from Kennecott Holdings; and $5,659 from the National Mining Association? OpenSecrets

The same 2006 gubernatorial candidate who’s received $82,999 from PACs, 94.2% were from business PACs? Who got $12,600 from Cerberus Capital Management: $6,000 from Lockheed Martin? $5,000 from AT&T, $5,000 from Newmont Mining? $5,000 from Safari International? $4,950 from the National Rifle Association? Picked up $3,000 from the Raytheon Corporation? Pocketed $5,000 from Harrah’s Entertainment? Who’s gotten $8,700 from lawyers and lobbyists? OpenSecrets

The same Jim Gibbons who keeps popping up on Pombo Watch as the fellow who canceled a hearing about collecting past due royalties from the mining industry? Vote Gibbons Out

There must be another Gibbons, because the one Uithoven’s talking about isn’t recognizable. Well, there is another Gibbons — but she’s the one speaking to senior center elders about the evils of narcoterrorists….

>Question for Porter: 1295 or 1182?

>Voters in Nevada’s congressional district elections need to ask a question of incumbents Jon Porter (R-NV) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and all those who would like to replace Jim Gibbons (R-Barrick). It’s a simple question: Do you support H.R. 1295 or H.R. 1182?

The story begins last March with the introduction of H.R. 1182 by Rep. Brad Miller and 61 co-sponsors. Miller’s bill would tighten enforcement of predatory mortgage lending laws. Nothing in the Miller bill would preclude any state from enacting its own regulations to prevent predatory lending practices within its borders. Miller’s bill languished in NoWhere until the GOP could come up with a version of its own.

Opponents of Miller’s bill (H.R. 1182) rolled out the predictable arguments in opposition: they say it is “premature” and the problem needs more study. They argue that existing laws should be enforced before new legislation is enacted, and that the benefits of regulation are uncertain but the risks are apparent. NAMB

Rep. Bob “Representative 1” Ney (R-OH) responded on behalf of the predatory lenders, Wall Street financial services, and other “interested parties” with H.R. 1295 on May 13, 2005 — the same day that Miller’s bill was finally sent to a committee. H.R. 1295, was referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. It has 38 co-sponsors. Simply stated, the bill usurps the power of the states to regulate predatory lending. Miller’s bill was shipped off to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

The following represents a fair sample of the opposition to the Ney “Newspeak” version of “Prohibiting Predatory Lending:”

From Household Watch — “Rep. Bob Ney’s (R-OH) bill would roll back state regulations and local ordinances in Los Angeles, and New York City, “and every other state and local anti-predatory lending law on the books. Plus it would prevent the passage of any state and local regulation on this issue in the future.” HSBC

Maude Hurd, ACORN president on March 23, 2005 “The new Ney bill is still unacceptable. It would eliminate all state laws, including important limits on prepayment penalties that are in effect in more than 30 states. Furthermore, it would make federal law virtually unenforceable by weakening penalties that can be won in the courts. Most importantly, it largely eliminated assignee liability, meaning that once a loan is sold on the secondary market, borrowers have no chance at redress.” CRL

Kevin Stein, California Reinvestment Coalition: “The Ney Kanjorski bill represents a victory for all who profit from predatory lending. Unscrupulous mortgage brokers, high cost lenders, and Wall Street Investment banks will be able to rest secure in the knowledge that they can continue to arrange, make and finance predatory loans virtually unfettered. The only losers are the unsuspecting families that struggle to keep up with oppressive payments on abusive loans, and the communities in which they live.” CRL

So, the question for Nevada congressional district candidates should be: Which side are you on, H.R. 1295 or H.R. 1182?

>Scalia goes off the chain?

>Justice Scalia’s remarks in a speech at a Swiss University are making the rounds. DB’s certainly no lawyer, but there do seem to be some questions.

“Newsweek said Scalia was challenged by an audience member in Switzerland about whether Guantanamo detainees have protection under the Geneva or human rights conventions. He shot back: “If he was captured by my army on a battlefield, that is where he belongs. I had a son on that battlefield and they were shooting at my son, and I’m not about to give this man who was captured in a war a full jury trial. I mean it’s crazy,” Newsweek said.” Yahoo News

Questions:
If the detainee was, indeed, “captured on a battlefield” then would he not be a prisoner of war (and therefore subject to the Geneva Conventions) and not classified as a “detainee?”

If there is confusion about the status of a person detained under the authority of the United States, then do we not use our courts to establish definitions and settle disputes?

Does the United States accept the reality that if one nation violates the accepted conventions of prisoner detention, that our troops may be subject to the same violations?

Does the Justice imply that the Court has no jurisdiction over any action taken by the President during conflicts that are undeclared wars?

>Paul’s Wonderful Happy Sound Machine

>Paul Adams, chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, accuses Democrats of “using national security as a tool.” However, his Nevada Republican Party web site also has a “tool,” of a more tangible variety–the “Today’s Spotlight” feature in its sidebar. The current feature is Happy Talk about the Iraq war from New York Post writer and retired Army Lt. Col Ralph Peters. “..But an increasingly capable Iraqi military has been developing while reporters (who never really investigate the issue) wrote it off as hopeless.” Adams and Co. may wish to update their web site after this article from the ‘other’ New York newspaper.

30 beheaded bodies were found on a main Iraqi highway today, evidence, the NYT says “that the death squads in Iraq are becoming out of control.” Where’s that Iraqi Army that’s supposed to be standing up, and is ‘making progress every day?’ “Iraqi army troops were waiting tonight for American support before venturing into the insurgent-infested area to retrieve them.
“It’s too dangerous for us to go in there alone,” an Iraqi Army commander, Tassin Tawfik, said.” (emphasis added)

And, “Freedom’s On the March” in Iraq too! “Elsewhere today, a Kurdish writer was sentenced to a year and a half in jail for criticizing Kurdish leaders. The writer, Kamal Karim, had published articles on a Kurdish Web site accusing one of the most powerful men in Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, of corruption.
Mr. Karim was originally sentenced to 30 years for defaming Mr. Barzani but he was retried. A judge said he was giving Mr. Karim a lenient sentence because he is an academic.” New York Times

How about those good friends of ours in Dubai? Remember CNN showing tape after tape of modern high rise buildings, shopping centers, and smartly dressed people? There’s another side, described by the International Herald Tribune: “Far from the high-rise towers and luxury hotels emblematic of Dubai, the workers turning this swath of desert into a modern metropolis live in a Dickensian world of cramped labor camps, low pay and increasing desperation.” International Herald Tribune

>Sunday Roundup

>Let the eagles soar. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is reviewing new flying regulations over Lake Tahoe. Sierra Club spokesman Michael Donahoe notes that the tourist-choppers are scaring off wildlife in the area, including eagles. LVRJ

White Pine County has filed protests against the SNWA applications for water rights, and the White Pine County Commission wants to know if the seven figure offer made by SNWA is still on the table. Ely Times

Sales tax revenues didn’t meet expectations in Douglas County, and County Manager Dan Holler and crew are scrambling to balance the FY’07 budget. Record Courier

The Reno Gazette Journal lists the most deadly roads in Nevada: I-80 near Lovelock near the Toulon Exit; I-80 near Lovelock near the Derby Field Road Exit; I-80 near Lovelock near the Rye Patch Dam Exit….is there a pattern coming through here? Churchill County near Nightingale Road; Churchill County two miles west of the US 95 junction. No surprises about the reasons: driver inattention, fatigue, and unfamiliarity with the routes. For years before I-80 was completed Lovelock was Speed Trap Central; better speed trap than death trap? Reno Gazette Journal

>Derby calls for extending Medicare RX deadline

>Jill Derby, Democratic congressional candidate for Nevada’s second district, called on the current delegation to extend the deadline for seniors to select a prescription drug plan. The plan now charges a 1% increase in cost for every month elders delay making a selection. Nevada Appeal

That sounds charitable, and leads to our Sunday Homily “Charity begins at Home: And, if you’re a Republican that’s where it stays.”

Edwin Buckham, former DeLay Chief of Staff, collected payments of $1,022,729 during the five year period ending in 2001 from “The US Family Network.” The USFN was, in turn, financed by Abramoff clients. Washington Post

Barbara Bush donated money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that it go toward buying software from Ignite Learning, a company owned by her son Neil “Silverado Savings” Bush. Houston Chronicle

Jack Abramoff’s charity, the Capital Athletic Foundation, collected $6 million but used less than 1% of that on sports related programs for youth. Washington Post

Tom DeLay’s “Celebrations for Children” run by his daughter, Dani DeLay Ferro, does not reveal any names of donors, and does not appear to have done anything charitable? CBS News …Unless one counts golf tournaments, a rock concert, tickets to events in New York for adults. source

Rick Santorum’s “Operation Good Neighbor,” received $501,000 from donors and spent $216,000 on unexplained travel and meetings. Charles Black, a board member of the charity, is a registered Washington lobbyist with BKSH. Pittsburgh Channel

Bill Frist’s “World of Hope” raised most of its $4.4 million from just 18 donors, none of which are named in charity documents. $3 million went to AIDS causes, the rest of the money went to “overhead,” including $456,125 in fees to two firms run by Frist’s political fundraiser Linus Catignani. One firm is jointly run by Linda Bond, wife of Missouri Senator Kit Bond (R-MO). CBS

>Dawn Gibbons’ Interesting Choice of Topics

>“Former state Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons campaigned in Fallon, on Friday in her quest to become Nevada’s next Congresswoman in Washington, D.C.” –not Jim Gibbons’ wife? –not wife of gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons? That part doesn’t come up until the buttom of the article. At any rate she went to a Senior Citizens Center in Fallon and talked about narcoterrorists. Something gives me the feeling that given issues concerning the privatization of Social Security, and the confusion of Medicare part D prescription plans, “narcoterrorism” isn’t one of the most compelling issues for the elders. Lahontan Valley News

Nevada Assemblyman Bob Seale (R-Henderson) announced Friday that he would not seek re-election. LVRJ With Hetrick (R-Gardernville) also announcing a possible retirement, the Assembly Minority Leader position could be up for grabs. The announcement is good news for one of the ethically challenged Republicans in the State Senate, Sandra Tiffany. Seale’s supporters had been urging him to give her a run in the primary.

The Burgundyvillians think they have a “Grazing War.” Elko Daily Free Press
**DB reserves the appellation “Elkoan” for those who display rationality.

>It’s Saturday Morning — Who’s paying how much for your personal data?

>The Clark County, NV government web site, and the site for the Washoe County, NV Clerk’s office aren’t too reassuring that data miners are kept at bay from the personal information of Nevada citizens. BankRate.com notes that there are data mining operations burrowing as deeply into our personal lives as Barrick burrows into Elko County real estate. Those data miners are willing to pay for the nuggets they unearth.

At the national level the Department of Homeland Security, one collector of personal data, is interested in how you pay off your credit cards. The saga of the Soehnges has been widely publicized as an example of our tax dollars at work in the Department of Homeland Security. Walter Soehnge and his wife paid off their JC Penney credit card. Since the payment was “larger than their normal monthly payment” Homeland Security had to be notified, and this set off a “Threat Alert” and froze the account. Scripps-Howard As egregious as this example might be, it’s only the tip of the ice berg (should Global Warming leave any of those things floating around) when it comes to who’s watching us and why.

Closer to home the privacy policies of Clark and Washoe Counties don’t offer much reassurance that what you type in when accessing their websites will stay where you type it.

From the Clark County privacy policy statement: “If personal information is requested on the website or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is treated like any other information provided to the County, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.” …
“Nevada Revised Statute 239.010 states that, “All public books and public records of a governmental entity, the contents of which are not otherwise declared by law to be confidential, must be open at all times during office hours to inspection by any person …” “…Public records are regarded as those records which we generate or receive and then maintain in order to conduct business. Some confidential personal identifiers, such as Social Security numbers and date of birth, are not available on-line, for privacy protection. Questions concerning what specific information is available will be addressed by the individual departments maintaining the data. Check the appropriate departmental webpages for details” (emphasis added)

The Washoe County Clerk offers this notice: “On any page that requires you to submit personally identifiable information, you are affirmatively consenting to its further use.” […]”Access to personally identifiable information, and public records at the Clerk’s Website, is controlled by NRS 239 et seq. Information you supply to us may be subject to disclosure to anyone who asks. Should you have any concerns regarding the possible public disclosure of personally identifying information, you are advised to inquire further prior to submitting any such personal information. Additionally, the Clerk could be subject to court order or subpoena to divulge personally identifiable information.” (emphasis added)

In short, when dealing with both Clark and Washoe counties, it’s up to you to find out where your personal information might be heading before you give it.

Note that it’s not just Homeland Security that’s interested in your financial and personal data. Accurint, Aristotle, ChoicePoint, Choice Trust, DocuSearch, Experian, KnowX, Merlin Data, and Pallorium are too. If you’d like to calculate the value of the data you provide on applications use the Swipe Toolkit.

According to BankRate.com the going rate for your address is $0.50; your unlisted phone number – $17.50; your date of birth – $2.00; your Social Security number – $8.00; and your Military record – $35.00.

Snark: Now isn’t this just the kind of information you need to start your weekend?

>Reid response on Feingold Resolution

>Frankly, I was hoping for something a little stronger from Nevada Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), but after his publicized statements in the media about the Feingold Censure Resolution this e-mail response to one of his constituents seems plausible.

In the opening Reid indulges in a bit of history about the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, and states his concerns about the domestic spying program.

Reid continues: “On February 6, 2006, the Senate Judiciary Committee began a series of hearings on the legality of the President to conduct domestic surveillance; the Senate Intelligence Committee has failed to investigate the matter. I am concerned that this committee is not looking more deeply into the President’s illegal secret wiretapping of Americans.”

The reader is left to ponder which committee is not investigating the issue sufficiently, the Judiciary Committee or the Intelligence Committee. From this perch it doesn’t look like either one of them is diligently pursuing its oversight responsibilities. Although, Senator Specter’s comments show more conviction, if he has the political courage to act on them.

The closing paragraph is almost enough to cause consternation. If the writer has further comments, Senator Reid invites him or her to contact Feingold directly. Sen. Reid’s evidently using the Wait and Watch approach as he closes with: “Please be assured that I will continue to monitor this matter. Should the full Senate consider this legislation, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.”

There are altogether too many ways to parse this closing. Is the Senator saying that he doesn’t hold any hope the measure will survive the Judiciary Committee? Does he hope it will? Is he praying it doesn’t?
Perhaps it’s time to share more of our views with the Senate Minority Leader?

>How to support the troops? Pay them

>Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn visited with troops serving in the Iraq War as questions remained about who’s “supporting” the troops.” Taking the word “support” very literally, as in who is on record supporting increases in military pay, one finds that there are some very different perspectives from the Democrats in Congress and Rumsfeld’s Department of Defense.

Back in February (2006) ten Democratic Senators called for the President to give members of the U.S. Armed Forces more than the 2.2% pay increase in the White House FY 2007 budget. A letter sent by Sen. John Kerry said “The proposal in the president’s fiscal 2007 budget, if enacted, would be the smallest pay raise for the military since 1994.” The Pentagon responded by saying troops received a 29% raise from fiscal 2000 to 2004, and the GAO said that average pay increases exceeded those in the private sector. Washington Post

According to the Pentagon’s Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, annual military pay raises are linked to the increase in private sector wages. Beginning on January 1, 2000 and going through 2006, raises are to be one-half percent above the private sector average increases as measured by the Employment Cost Index. Pay increases beginning in January 2007 are to be equal to the ECI increase. In January 2006 the military pay raise for all grades was 3.1%. If the linkage has declined from one-half percent above the ECI to equal to the ECI, then one has to think that this actually represents a decrease in potential earnings.

The Monthly Basic Pay Table Shows that an E-1 earns a minimum of $1178.10/month, or $14,137.20 per year. E-2’s earn $1427.40/month or $17,128.80 per year. The E-9 rate for an enlisted person is $5394.00/month or $64,728 per year. A top level officer with 26 years service can earn $14,196.30 per month, or $170, 355.60 per year.

Poverty levels defined by the Department of Health and Human Services Continental U.S.Family of 2 $12,490; Family of 3 $15, 670; Family of 4 $18,850; Family of 5 $22, 030; Family of 6 $25,210

An E-2 ($17,128.00) with a three member family is ahead of the poverty line by $1458.00, but below it if the family lives in Alaska (-$2462) or Hawaii (-$892). An E-1 is below the poverty line in the continental U.S. and Alaska and Hawaii, for all sizes of family units.

There are forms of supplemental income that partially alleviate the money crunch for lower level enlisted personnel.
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) pays $187.49 per month for officers; $272.26 per month for enlisted members of the Armed Forces. “The allowance is not intended to offset the costs of meals for family members.”
Imminent danger pay is given for those deployed to a combat zone at a rate of $225.00 per month. Congress or the President can authorize tax exempt areas, although the person must still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Deployed personnel may also receive Family Separation Allowances if the individual has dependants. Type II FSA is $250.00 per month.

It is one thing to compare military wages to an index of private sector earnings, another to compare military wages directly to what an individual could earn in a specific private sector job.

The State of California’s Employment and Development Department estimates that commercial truckers earn an average of $37, 560 per year. Drivers of delivery vehicles can expect an average $26, 681 annual income. The estimated annual income for an auto mechanic is $41,114, for a drywall installer and taper $45,106, and for a data entry keyboarder $26, 627. Janitors in California can expect approximately $23, 257 annual earnings, and veterinary assistants can earn an average of $22,753. All these jobs pay (on the average) more than what an E-2 level enlisted serviceman or woman can expect to earn in one year.

The National Guard is another matter. Some states offer pay differential benefits, others do not. (August 2005) Nearly 140,000 of the 400,000 Guard and Reserve members are on active duty — comprising nearly half of the current force in Iraq and Afghanistan — and about 40 percent take a pay cut when mobilized, according to the Government Accountability Office. A 2000 GAO survey found that those who took a pay cut to serve in the Guard had an average loss of $1,700 a year.

An additional concern is the proposed restructuring of the Guard and their equipment. “Nevada has about 700 Army National Guard and 55 Air National Guard troops supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Las Vegas Sun

Brig.Gen. Cindy Kirkland, Nevada National Guard, is worried about both the restructuring of the Guard, and about the equipment such as the 60 trucks and 120 trailers left behind in Iraq. Reno Gazette Journal Kirkland said the state military can keep up with its homeland-security and disaster-response missions. But the war in Iraq is straining the Guard’s manpower and equipment.
The Nevada Air Guard rotates one C-130 plane at a time to and from Iraq every 60 to 120 days to limit the amount of sand damage to the plane, she said. Otherwise, the unit risks losing the plane and not getting a replacement, she said.
“We agree that there’s a huge price tag that needs to be paid” for the war in Iraq, Kirkland said. “We just think there’s other solutions than cutting the force structure as they have suggested.” Reno Gazette Journal

So, how to support the troops? Let Nevada representatives in the U.S. Congress know that we do appreciate their service — and we are willing to pay for it. Or, ask some multi-millionaire: Is your tax cut so important to you that an E-2’s family could be living in borderline poverty? Is your tax cut so important that Nevada and other western states might have to scramble for helicopters during fire season? Would you be willing to give up your tax cut so that a young man or women serving our country could expect to earn more than a drywall taper in California?