Chinese Cyber Attack on Vietnamese Computer Users

The chilling effects of malware Tuesday, March 30, 2010 2:05 PM Posted by Neel Mehta, Security Team. Google Online Security Blog The latest news and insights from Google on security and safety on the Internet.

In January, we discussed a set of highly sophisticated cyber attacks that originated in China and targeted many corporations around the world. We believe that malware is a general threat to the Internet, but it is especially harmful when it is used to suppress opinions of dissent. In that case, the attacks involved surveillance of email accounts belonging to Chinese human rights activists. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these are not the only examples of malicious software being used for political ends. We have gathered information about a separate cyber threat that was less sophisticated but that nonetheless was employed against another community.

This particular malware broadly targeted Vietnamese computer users around the world. The malware infected the computers of potentially tens of thousands of users who downloaded Vietnamese keyboard language software and possibly other legitimate software that was altered to infect users. While the malware itself was not especially sophisticated, it has nonetheless been used for damaging purposes. These infected machines have been used both to spy on their owners as well as participate in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against blogs containing messages of political dissent. Specifically, these attacks have tried to squelch opposition to bauxite mining efforts in Vietnam, an important and emotionally charged issue in the country.

Since some anti-virus vendors have already introduced signatures to help detect this specific malware, we recommend the following actions, particularly if you believe that you may have been exposed to the malware: run regular anti-virus as well as anti-spyware scans from trusted vendors, and be sure to install all web browser and operating system updates to ensure you’re using only the latest versions. New technology like our suspicious account activity alerts in Gmail should also help detect surveillance efforts. At a larger scale, we feel the international community needs to take cybersecurity seriously to help keep free opinion flowing.

The chilling effects of malware

Tim Scott’s Constitutional Amendment Legislation Gets Key Vote in Subcommittee VIDEO

Tim Scott’s legislation to nullify the government-run healthcare legislation received a favorable 3-2 vote this morning in the judicial law subcommittee meeting at the State House.

In November 2009, Scott pre-filed the legislation would protect states’ rights and individual freedoms from a government-run healthcare program. “The federal government’s over reach is layered with problems, the biggest of which is that it is unconstitutional”, Scott said to the committee, which garnered applause from those in attendance.

VIDEO CREDIT: votetimscott

TEXT CREDIT: Tim Scott For Congress

Replace The IRS with a Flat Tax VIDEO

(Washington, D.C., Monday, March 29, 2010) A new video released today by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation (CF&P) explains why a flat tax would be superior to the internal revenue code. Entitled "The Flat Tax: How it Works and Why it is Good for America," the mini-documentary includes a 20-second tutorial showing the simple postcard-sized tax forms that would replace the hundreds of forms in the current system.

"The current income tax system is burdensome, rigged to help the politically well connected, and it makes America less competitive" said CF&P Foundation President Andrew Quinlan. "A flat tax would help the economy and treat all Americans equally."

"America's top fiscal policy goal should be smaller government," added Dan Mitchell, narrator of the video and Cato Institute Senior Fellow. "But fixing the tax code should be second on the list since the current system needlessly reduces prosperity."

Executive Summary

This Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation video shows how the flat tax would benefit families and businesses, and also explains how this simple and fair system would boost economic growth and eliminate the special-interest corruption of the internal revenue code.

For additional comments: Andrew Quinlan can be reached at 202-285-0244 andy@freedomandprosperity.org Dan Mitchell can be reached at 202-218-4615, dmitchell@cato.org

Boehner, Cantor, Pence all Sign Club’s ‘Repeal It’ Pledge VIDEO

WASHINGTON – The Club for Growth today announced receipt of signed and witnessed ‘Repeal It’ pledges from House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the three highest-ranking Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We’re thrilled to have the unanimous support of the top Republican leaders in the House,” said Club President Chris Chocola. “The ‘Repeal It’ campaign has already been a tremendous success, clarifying the debate about health care for the 2010 elections, and forcing Republicans and Democrats alike to annunciate their principles in that debate.”

“I thank Congressmen Boehner, Cantor, and Pence for their leadership. We hope their pledges will lead to unanimous support for the Repeal It project from the House Republican Conference, and finally spur Senate Republican leaders to join the cause, too.”

To date, ‘Repeal It’ pledges have been signed by 60 members of Congress and 229 candidates for the House and Senate. ###

Senator Mitch McConnell Republican Address 03/27/10 VIDEO PODCAST TEXT TRANSCRIPT

PODCAST of the address is available MP3 for DOWNLOAD

Senator Mitch McConnell Republican Address 03/27/10 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

"Hello. I’m Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Earlier this week, the President signed a massive health spending bill that’s been described as historic. Well, Democrats in Washington may measure history by how expensive and intrusive the bill is. But, most people outside Washington see things differently.

“In one of the most divisive legislative debates in modern history, Democrats decided to go the partisan route and blatantly ignore the will of the people. Americans opposed this legislation, and, now they’re clamoring to see it repealed and replaced.

“Democratic Leaders and White House officials may be celebrating their victory this week, but most of the rest of the country is not.

“Most people aren’t interested in celebrating a bill that makes their lives more complicated, takes more out of their paychecks and puts decisions they’re used to making themselves into the hands of federal bureaucrats.

“Most people aren’t celebrating the fact that their insurance premiums will go up. Seniors aren’t popping champagne corks at more than a half a trillion dollars in Medicare cuts. And, job creators, already struggling in a down economy, aren’t doing any cartwheels over all the mandates and new taxes they’ll have to shoulder as a result of this bill.

“We’re already seeing the economic fallout.

“Just two days after this bill became law, the John Deere Company said it will spend an extra $150 million this year alone just to comply with the new law. Illinois-based Caterpillar Corporation said it expects to take a $100 million hit.

“This is bad news for workers, and its terrible news for the broader economy. As the President himself put it during a visit to Caterpillar last year: ‘you can measure America’s bottom line by looking at Caterpillar’s bottom line.’ That was the President a year ago.

“The timing couldn’t be worse. At a moment when millions of Americans are looking for work, Democrats in Washington just voted to spend $2.6 trillion on a health care bill that will make it even harder to create private-sector jobs. The IRS sure gets a boost, though. An estimated 16,500 new workers will be needed there to enforce a brand new insurance mandate that the bill imposes on employers.

“And then there are all the unintended consequences that will inevitably result from a 2,800-page bill that sets up dozens of federal boards and a thicket of new rules and regulations — regulations that we know won’t withstand their first contact with reality.

“In fact, we’re already seeing it. Just one day after the President signed this bill into law, we got word that one of its celebrated early features — a ban on discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions — won’t immediately protect children after all.

“Another promise, requiring insurance companies to let young adults stay on their parents’ plans up to age 26, turned out to be similarly ineffective. In other words, Democrats in Congress just voted to take over one-sixth of our economy, and two of the biggest selling points they used to push it over the finish line already need fixing. Here’s a question: if they can’t get these two things right, how can we expect them to properly manage the rest of it?

“When the White House was questioned about the glitches in the bill, they said the Secretary of Human Services was on the case. They said she’d issue a new regulation to correct the problem. But this is precisely what Americans are afraid of.

“This bill hadn’t even been law for 24 hours, and already they’re proposing regulations to cover over mistakes and errors. And we haven’t even seen the last of it.

“I’m sure that soon enough, every American will be reminded of the wisdom of that old observation that ‘government is best which governs least.’

“Look, nobody is satisfied with the health care system as it is. We’ve got serious problems that need to be addressed. Costs are out of control. Too many people are being squeezed out of the market. But, the fact of the matter is, this health care bill doesn’t solve any of those problems. It uses them as an excuse to undermine the things we do best — the wide array of choices, the constant innovations in technology and treatments, and the high quality of care that people all around the world admire about the American health care system.

“Sadly, all of those things will suffer as a result of the bill the President signed this week.

“We can do better. We can expand access to people with preexisting conditions. We can keep people from being kicked off their plans. We can lower costs and premiums. We can do all of these things without undermining the things we do best and without raising taxes that kill jobs in a bad economy.

“The American people know that. That’s why they’ve been clamoring for a different approach, and that’s why Republicans are committed to repealing this bill and replacing it with common sense solutions that achieve the good things that folks on both sides want to achieve without all the nasty consequences we’re already beginning to see.

“Repeal and replace. That’s what Americans really want, and that’s something people far beyond Washington, D.C. will actually want to celebrate.

“Thanks for listening.”

Dennis Lennox on the issues VIDEO

Dennis Lennox is an active member of the Berean Bible Church, a non-denominational community church in Topinabee that his family helped found some 28 years ago. Besides being involved with numerous pro-life, pro-family civic organizations, he is a member of the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited.

Lennox learned the importance of faith, family, and country from his late grandparents, who instilled in him the values he holds to this day. As members of the Greatest Generation, who lived through an economic depression unimaginable in contemporary times, they taught him the importance of fiscal prudence and standing up for what you believe.

While working as a professional hockey official in leagues across Canada and the United States, Lennox also worked for President George W. Bush. After President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were re-elected in 2004, he went on to take positions with Congressman David Camp and Senate Republicans in Lansing.

After gaining first-hand experience in the Legislature, Lennox returned home to serve as chairman of Citizens Against New Taxes, a grassroots coalition that advocates taxpayer rights and fights unnecessary tax increases on working families and small businesses.

He went on to work in the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, helping the Michigan native win the state's 2008 presidential primary.

A leader in Republican politics, Lennox was elected by his peers across Northern and Upper Michigan to represent the 31-county 1st Congressional District at the 2008 Republican National Convention, which formally nominated U.S. Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin as the GOP presidential and vice presidential nominees and approved the Republican Party Platform.

Lennox's record includes a series of bipartisan amendments to the Michigan Constitution. His proposals, introduced by Senator Michelle McManus as Senate Joint Resolution I in 2007, modernized government by removing obsolete and archaic provisions of the Constitution. Lennox's amendments overwhelmingly passed the Senate, achieving a final vote of 27-3.

In 2008, running on a platform of reforming local government, Lennox defeated a two-term Democratic incumbent to become Cheboygan County's Drain Commissioner. He was only one of two Republican challengers in all of Michigan to defeat an incumbent Democrat at the county-wide or higher levels.

After taking office, Lennox fulfilled his campaign promise to abolish the office of county drain commissioner by working with county commissioners and legislators in Lansing to develop a bipartisan proposal to allow Cheboygan County to do-away with the office. His proposal was introduced as House Bill 5216 and Senate Bill 758.

As drain commissioner, he reformed a little-known office that had historically operated with little scrutiny from taxpayers.

Lennox moved his office’s operations back to the county courthouse in the City of Cheboygan to ensure greater access to constituents, who were used to interacting with their elected officials in a central location.

Whether it was preserving water resources in the Great Lakes, working with landowners to write an ordinance to ban phosphorus in lawn fertilizers, helping improve local road infrastructure or stopping Lansing from banning recreational walleye fishing in the state’s third-largest lake, Lennox has consistently stood up, and been a voice, for his constituents.

TEXT CREDIT: DENNIS LENNOX FOR CONGRESS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

VIDEO CREDIT: dennislennox

Don Hooper To the Citizens of the 1st District of Michigan

I cannot sit quietly and watch our country being betrayed by those currently in office. I will never stop trying to defend our country from enemies both outside and within. Therefore, I declare that I will again, run for the office of the 1st District of Michigan in the Federal House of Representatives.

If you are an American conservative, I know what you want, I know exactly what you want because I want the very same things you do.

We dream of living in a free country as secure Americans, a peaceful place where we can enjoy life and prosperity without the uncertainties of incompetent government and it’s agencies, and unelected people, who insist on controlling every aspect of our lives.

Spiritually, we want to be governed exclusively by the rules set for us by God through the scriptures, and culturally, by our American Constitution and The Bill of Rights. These two directives contain the very basic fundamentals of our cultural existence, and are the total requirements necessary for human happiness in this nation as long as we choose to embrace their wisdom without restraint.

The anger of watching our freedom and liberty being destroyed by our own government beckoned me to re-dedicate myself to doing whatever I can to stop this carnage. I know I have to combat this madness in the very place where it was being formulated; the United States Congress.

Most of you know, I ran for the U.S. House of Representatives three times. It was a formidable task running against a wealthy incumbent. For me, funding was minimal and support from the party ticket was 100% non existent. Nonetheless, I have decided I will run for the U.S. House of Representatives once again, on the Republican ticket. Until a third party is assembled there is no hope that anyone can beat Congressman Stupak without running as a major party candidate.

I have much to offer the people of the 1st District; things like integrity, honesty and steadfastness. I need the support and help of the true branch of conservatives in the party. I also need the help of all the Independents from Tea Party action, and all other conservative groups. I believe this includes most of the district’s voting block because they are realize that we are in a precarious position of losing our country to an insane bunch of radical communists, led by the biggest anti-American of all, Barrack Hussein Obama. They must be defeated at all costs.

The following is a brief outline of where I stand on principles:

* Not an attorney
* Not a Politician
* A full history of personal business experience ( I too drive a truck :-)
* I am well educated on the topics
* I know correct history well
* I am experienced
* I understand how corrupt politics work and want to destroy it
* I am totally for America
* I am fully Pro-Life both from conception to Natural death
* I am not for big government - I want it downsized to minimal governance
* I want us out of the United Nations
* I am not afraid to stand up to those who want to make America into something else
* I am a true patriot and conservative - not a declared moderate or liberal non progressive
* I believe there is not place for liberals or social progressives, Marxist or Communists in American government
* I can address issues at three levels of national and international politics - voter level - congressional strata and the subterranean efforts of Anti-American communism and Islamic philosophies
* I understand the national and international monetary systems an their effects on America and the world
* I will vote no on Earmarks. I believe they are congressional blackmail and totally illegal and unconstitutional. They need to be stopped immediately.
* I believe strongly in the second amendment on gun rights
* I support producing our own fossil energy, (oil, coal, etc.)
* I believe the National Education Department needs to be abolished and our public schools under local control where it belongs.
* I believe any takeover of our health care system is unconstitutional and destructive. There are sensible solutions available from sensible people.
* I believe in a force a balanced budget that does not balance itself by increasing taxation. I believe the people should have full representation in taxation.
* I believe serving America is a privilege and as such, I would not accept any retirement payments after leaving the congress.

It goes without saying, I cannot win the office without your support. That support begins with becoming elligible to be on the November 2010 ballot. Please do not leave me alone for gathering the minimal 1300 signatures necessary for candidacy.

You now have an opportunity to sent a representative that does not vote on the so called moderate liberal side. You have an opportunity to a true conservative to represent you.

Contact me to help in gathering petition signatures to place me on the ballot. Please remember, if you sign a petition for another candidate, you cannot sign another's.

I will send petitions to anyone who will take time to gather fifteen signatures. If you truly want a solid candidate to represent you with unshakeable conservative values, I welcome you to the team. Together we can stop a take over of our country by those that do not represent our values and beliefs.

Contact me for speaking, endorsement, questions, or debating engagements below.

Send your emails to: Don.Hooper@Fast-Air.Net Phone: 906-265-9329 Your friend, Don Hooper

TEXT CREDIT: Don Hooper for Congress

Bart Stupak's Opponent, Linda Goldthorpe, Interviewed on WTCM Radio VIDEO

Linda says she quit practicing law for money because she couldn’t offer people any assurance that they’d obtain justice. Watching Congress brought her to the same conclusion. She’d like to see the federal government keep it’s hands off state affairs, eliminate international entanglements, restrain itself to Constitutionally mandated issues, and cease taking personal property through taxation and excessive regulation.

I did not see myself running for Congress until I realized how urgently we need new leadership, leadership that trusts the people and the state and local governments to govern themselves. It’s been a thrill to discover that this simple message of freedom resonates with so many people. I feel passionately about many specific issues, but it all boils down to one uncomplicated thing: we need less government, not more.

– Linda Goldthorpe

Linda’s family has lived in Michigan’s upper peninsula for over a hundred years, at the same site on Big Manistique Lake. A graduate of Northern Michigan University and Thomas Cooley Law School, she and her husband, former US Marine George Miller, homeschool their two teenage sons.

As a pro bono attorney, Linda has watched the decay of our liberties and privacy with real concern, and seeks to halt the devaluation of our dollar and expansion of top-heavy government. Linda believes that limiting government to its surprisingly small Constitutional role would accomplish much towards these goals.

Goldthorpe states, “As your representative, I’ll commit to evaluate government actions and legislation in light of its adherence to the principles of the US Constitution, and fight against unnecessary and costly legislation. I’d like my new colleagues in Congress to get reacquainted with the word no.”


TEXT CREDIT: Linda Goldthorpe for Congress Campaign

VIDEO CREDIT: LindaForCongress

Dr. Dan Benishek For US Congress vs Bart Stupak in Michigan VIDEO

Dan Benishek was born in Iron River, Michigan in 1952. His mother, Helen Kovaleski, was also born in Iron River from parents that emigrated from Poland. His father, Joseph Benishek, was from the Antigo, Wisconsin area and moved to the Upper Peninsula to join the Civilian Conservation Corps and subsequently worked in the local iron mines. He was killed in those mines in 1957 when Dan was five years old. Dan was raised by his widowed mother and his extended family in Iron River working since he was a youngster in the family business, the Iron River Hotel, until he went on to college.

After Dan graduated from West Iron County High School in 1970 he went on to the University of Michigan where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He then went on to Wayne State University School of Medicine where he graduated in 1978. He did a rotating internship in Flint and then returned to Detroit to do his surgical residency finishing in 1983. Dr. Benishek has been serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Iron Mountain working at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital as a general surgeon. Dan has also served the veterans at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center since 1990. More recently, Dan joined to staff at Northstar Health System in Iron River. Dan and his wife Judy live on Chicagoan Lake in rural Iron County and share five children and two grandchildren. Their family enjoys hunting, fishing, cooking and spending time with friends.

TRXT CREDIT: Benishek For Congress | 802 Pentoga Trail Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Tom Stillings response to Obama Healthcare signing 3-23-2010 VIDEO

Tom Stillings, Candidate for Mchigan's 1st Congressional seat, currently held by Bart Stupak, speaks on the President signing into law Obamacare March 23, 2010. Visit stillingsforcongress.com to see more and visit the Facebook link to join and share with friends. TomStillings, Posted March 23, 2010.

Keywords: tom stillings stillings bart stupak stupak obamacare healthcare obama reid pelosi michigan MI-01

Ron Paul - Stupak Deal Illegal And Unconstitutional VIDEO

Earlier today, Ron Paul appeared on Fox News' America Live with Megyn Kelly to discuss the unconstutionality of the executive order on abortion signed by President Obama.

Sarah Palin On The Passage Of Health Care Reform TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Sarah Palin on How to Undo Obama's 'Socializing of America'

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," March 22, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: After a year of concerted effort the Democratic Party finally managed to ram its disastrous health care bill through Congress. The massive tax increases it entails should hit you shortly even though your medical care will not go downhill for a few years.

Now throughout this process we learned what bipartisanship really means to the Democratic Party. There was a lot of talk about getting Republicans on board but in the end the only bipartisanship was in the opposition.

Thirty-four Democrats joined all of the congressional Republicans to oppose this bill. And the road to passing this bill was a bumpy one for the Democrats who had to bribe and bully their own members to eke out 216 votes. And for that and much more they will certainly pay a price in November.

So was it worth it for the Democrats in the end?

Joining me now with reaction to everything that went down yesterday on Capitol Hill is former Alaska governor, Fox News contributor, Sarah Palin.

Governor, it must still be cold in Alaska because I see snow on your roof in the back there. What's the temperature outside?

SARAH PALIN, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: It is springtime, though. It's about 30 degrees so it's warm, it's fine for us.

HANNITY: All right. I prefer 60 or 70 in springtime. But that's warm, I guess, for Alaska.

All right, I think this is a sad day for this country. I think we saw a shredding of our Constitution. I think the rule of law was passed aside. Alcee Hastings said as much.

How severe is this from your perspective?

PALIN: It's severe but let's not be sad about it. Let's be fired up and energized and invigorated and decide no, we're going to do all that we can to take our country back.

Al Sharpton nailed it. He's the one who said today or yesterday he said, you know, this is social — this is part of the socializing of America that Obama had promised. He hit the nail on the head. And those who support such a thing — socialism — OK, be on that side and support things like Obamacare.

But those who love America and don't want to see that transformation of America into some kind of socialized country, let's get on our high horse and start doing all that we can to provide more education, more information to voters so that in these midterm elections they can elect people who will undo what happened to America last night. FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

House of Representatives FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 165 (Health Care)

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 165(Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)
H R 3590 RECORDED VOTE 21-Mar-2010 10:49 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments
BILL TITLE: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

	Ayes	Noes	PRES	NV
Democratic	219	34
Republican		178
Independent
TOTALS	219	212

---- AYES 219 ---

Ackerman Andrews Baca Baird Baldwin Bean Becerra Berkley Berman Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Blumenauer Boccieri Boswell Boyd Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown, Corrine Butterfield Capps Capuano Cardoza Carnahan Carney Carson (IN) Castor (FL) Chu Clarke Clay Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Connolly (VA) Conyers Cooper Costa Costello Courtney Crowley Cuellar Cummings Dahlkemper Davis (CA) Davis (IL) DeFazio DeGette Delahunt DeLauro Dicks Dingell Doggett Donnelly (IN) Doyle Driehaus Edwards (MD) Ellison Ellsworth Engel Eshoo Etheridge Farr Fattah Filner Foster Frank (MA) Fudge Garamendi Giffords Gonzalez Gordon (TN) Grayson Green, Al Green, Gene

Grijalva Gutierrez Hall (NY) Halvorson Hare Harman Hastings (FL) Heinrich Higgins Hill Himes Hinchey Hinojosa Hirono Hodes Holt Honda Hoyer Inslee Israel Jackson (IL) Jackson Lee (TX) Johnson (GA) Johnson, E. B. Kagen Kanjorski Kaptur Kennedy Kildee Kilpatrick (MI) Kilroy Kind Kirkpatrick (AZ) Klein (FL) Kosmas Kucinich Langevin Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Lee (CA) Levin Lewis (GA) Loebsack Lofgren, Zoe Lowey Luján Maffei Maloney Markey (CO) Markey (MA) Matsui McCarthy (NY) McCollum McDermott McGovern McNerney Meek (FL) Meeks (NY) Michaud Miller (NC) Miller, George Mitchell Mollohan Moore (KS) Moore (WI) Moran (VA) Murphy (CT) Murphy (NY) Murphy, Patrick Nadler (NY) Napolitano Neal (MA) Oberstar

Obey Olver Ortiz Owens Pallone Pascrell Pastor (AZ) Payne Pelosi Perlmutter Perriello Peters Pingree (ME) Polis (CO) Pomeroy Price (NC) Quigley Rahall Rangel Reyes Richardson Rodriguez Rothman (NJ) Roybal-Allard Ruppersberger Rush Ryan (OH) Salazar Sánchez, Linda T. Sanchez, Loretta Sarbanes Schakowsky Schauer Schiff Schrader Schwartz Scott (GA) Scott (VA) Serrano Sestak Shea-Porter Sherman Sires Slaughter Smith (WA) Snyder Speier Spratt Stark Stupak Sutton Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Tierney Titus Tonko Towns Tsongas Van Hollen Velázquez Visclosky Walz Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Watt Waxman Weiner Welch Wilson (OH) Woolsey Wu Yarmuth

---- NOES 212 ---

Aderholt Adler (NJ) Akin Alexander Altmire Arcuri Austria Bachmann Bachus Barrett (SC) Barrow Bartlett Barton (TX) Berry Biggert Bilbray Bilirakis Bishop (UT) Blackburn Blunt Boehner Bonner Bono Mack Boozman Boren Boucher Boustany Brady (TX) Bright Broun (GA) Brown (SC) Brown-Waite, Ginny Buchanan Burgess Burton (IN) Buyer Calvert Camp Campbell Cantor Cao Capito Carter Cassidy Castle Chaffetz Chandler Childers Coble Coffman (CO) Cole Conaway Crenshaw Culberson Davis (AL) Davis (KY) Davis (TN) Deal (GA) Dent Diaz-Balart, L. Diaz-Balart, M. Dreier Duncan Edwards (TX) Ehlers Emerson Fallin Flake Fleming Forbes Fortenberry

Foxx Franks (AZ) Frelinghuysen Gallegly Garrett (NJ) Gerlach Gingrey (GA) Gohmert Goodlatte Granger Graves Griffith Guthrie Hall (TX) Harper Hastings (WA) Heller Hensarling Herger Herseth Sandlin Hoekstra Holden Hunter Inglis Issa Jenkins Johnson (IL) Johnson, Sam Jones Jordan (OH) King (IA) King (NY) Kingston Kirk Kissell Kline (MN) Kratovil Lamborn Lance Latham LaTourette Latta Lee (NY) Lewis (CA) Linder Lipinski LoBiondo Lucas Luetkemeyer Lummis Lungren, Daniel E. Lynch Mack Manzullo Marchant Marshall Matheson McCarthy (CA) McCaul McClintock McCotter McHenry McIntyre McKeon McMahon McMorris Rodgers Melancon Mica Miller (FL) Miller (MI) Miller, Gary

Minnick Moran (KS) Murphy, Tim Myrick Neugebauer Nunes Nye Olson Paul Paulsen Pence Peterson Petri Pitts Platts Poe (TX) Posey Price (GA) Putnam Radanovich Rehberg Reichert Roe (TN) Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rogers (MI) Rohrabacher Rooney Ros-Lehtinen Roskam Ross Royce Ryan (WI) Scalise Schmidt Schock Sensenbrenner Sessions Shadegg Shimkus Shuler Shuster Simpson Skelton Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smith (TX) Souder Space Stearns Sullivan Tanner Taylor Teague Terry Thompson (PA) Thornberry Tiahrt Tiberi Turner Upton Walden Wamp Westmoreland Whitfield Wilson (SC) Wittman Wolf Young (AK) Young (FL)

Health Care Vote behind the scenes live Streaming VIDEO

CBS News, Ustream.TV, CBS News behind the scenes live news coverage. Breaking News, Health Care Vote CBS News behind the scenes live Streaming VIDEO

House Health Care Votes Live Streaming Video

C-SPAN Live Stream - Windows Media Format.

House Health Care Votes Live Streaming Video

The House Rules Cme. has cleared the way for the House to take up health care legislation. The committee passed a rule allowing for separate votes on the Senate health care bill and the reconciliation bill. The House is expected to begin the debate in the next hour. C-SPAN offers gavel to gavel coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives.

C-SPAN also offers a variety of public affairs programming including congressional hearings, press briefings from the White House, State Department and Pentagon, campaign and election coverage, and international programming.

90 Seconds to Government Run Healthcare

An explaination of the process Nancy Pelosi and Democrats are using to take away your healthcare.

Keywords: Pelosi health healthcare health care reconciliation Nancy Pelosi Democrats Republicans Congress Government Harry Reid Reid Obama White House Code Red debt taxes

House Leader John Boehner Republican Weekly Address 03/20/10 VIDEO PODCAST FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

House Leader John Boehner Republican Weekly Address 03/20/10 VIDEO PODCAST FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT. Audio of the address is available for download, PODCAST

“Hello, I’m House Republican Leader John Boehner.

“I’m speaking to you from the Capitol, where in a matter of hours, the House of Representatives will vote on health care legislation sure to have a drastic effect on our economy and our lives.

“It was here fourteen months ago that President Obama took the oath of office with a promise to govern from the center. Republicans stood ready to work with our new president and find common ground to address the issues Americans care about.

“Unfortunately, President Obama and Democrats in Washington chose a partisan path and a costly, big-government agenda.

“The trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ isn’t working as struggling families continue to ask: ‘where are the jobs?’ And taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being spent so fast that two trillion dollars has been added to the national debt on President Obama’s watch.

“Now Democrats want the federal government to take over health care, which represents one-sixth of our economy.

“From the beginning, the one thing the American people wanted out of health care reform was lower costs. That’s why Republicans proposed a bill based on common-sense reforms that, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, would reduce premiums for families and small businesses by up to 10 percent. Our bill achieves these goals without cutting Medicare or raising taxes. All of the details are available at HealthCare.GOP.gov.

“The Democrats’ bill, which runs more than 2,300 pages, actually raises premiums and ushers in a massive expansion of government – with roughly 160 new boards, bureaus, and commissions.

“Instead of finding a responsible way to pay for all this, Democrats impose more than half-a-trillion dollars in Medicare cuts and more than half-a-trillion dollars in tax hikes.

“In fact, this bill requires 10 years of tax increases and 10 years of Medicare cuts just to pay for six years of supposed benefits, many of which don’t even go into effect until 2014. That’s not reform.

“It’s clear where the American people stand. They want no part of this bill, and they haven’t been shy about saying so. We’ve seen standing room only crowds at town hall meetings. Rallies in towns and cities around the country. And now, jammed phone lines on Capitol Hill. All of this coming from citizens yelling ‘stop’ at the top of their lungs.

“But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrat Leaders are too blinded by their ‘Washington knows best’ attitude, too out-of-touch with the concerns of working families, to listen.

“Instead of trying to do better, Democrats have packed this bill full of kickbacks, payoffs, and sweetheart deals in order to buy the support of lawmakers and Washington special interest groups.

“Democrats are so afraid of the public’s outrage that they have devised a strategy that would allow them to force this massive bill through Congress without even voting on it. It’s outrageous, and it’s an affront to the principles of representative democracy.

“We were elected to make tough choices, not run from them. And this vote is certainly one of the toughest.

“With that in mind, I asked Speaker Pelosi to have the final health care votes recorded by a ‘call of the roll.’ Under this procedure, each lawmaker will have to stand before the American people and announce his or her vote.

“The stakes are too high, and this bill is too controversial, for anything less than complete transparency and accountability. It’s time to stand up and be counted.

“Don’t let Democrats in Washington take this debate away from you. Don’t let them make this about arm-twisting and backroom deals.

“And don’t let President Obama get away with asking his fellow Democrats to vote for this bill to save his presidency.

“Because this vote isn’t about saving a presidency or a politician. It’s about doing the right thing for our kids and grandkids. It’s about ensuring that freedom and opportunity remain the birthright of our people. And it’s about listening to the hard-working taxpayers who sent us here.

“That’s why the only responsible course of action is to scrap this health care bill. Let’s start over with a clean sheet of paper. Let’s work together on a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs for families and small businesses.

“Republicans can’t beat this bill, but the American people can. It’s not too late to make your voice heard.

“Thank you for listening.”

Boehner to Speaker Pelosi: “Every Member Should Stand Before the American People and Announce His or Her Vote”

Uploaded on February 19, 2010 by House GOP Leader © All rights reserved.

GOP Leader Calls for Special “Call of the Roll” to Require Members to Publicly Announce Health Care Vote on the House Floor. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting that the final health care votes be recorded by “call of the roll” so that every lawmaker is required to publicly announce their vote on the House floor.

“This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress,” Boehner says in the letter to Speaker Pelosi. “As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.”

According to the rules of the House of Representatives, “Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device. … The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of Members, alphabetically by surname.”

The full text of Leader Boehner’s letter to Speaker Pelosi follows. The signed copy is available here in PDF format

March 19, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H232 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

It appears the House of Representatives will proceed with plans to vote this weekend on President Obama’s health care legislation, despite the well-documented objections of the American people to both the contents of the bill and the manner in which the Democratic leadership hopes to pass it.

This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress. As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.

With this in mind, I request that you use your discretion under the Rules of the House of Representatives, Clause 2 and 3 of House Rule XX, to conduct the record vote by call of the roll for both adoption of the Senate health care bill (i.e. the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3590, as passed on Christmas Eve this past year) and for the rule making that bill in order.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

John Boehner

Senate Doctors John Barrasso and Tom Coburn join the House GOP physicians for a press conference VIDEO

Senate Doctors John Barrasso and Tom Coburn join the House GOP physicians for a press conference on why the American people and the nations doctors are opposing the Democrats radical health care reform bill. Polls by Sermo.com and the New England Journal of Medicine show that the nations doctors, not lobbyists masquerading as doctors, are deeply opposed to the Senate bill the House may vote on in a few days.

The doctors will also call attention to the tricks, special deals, and arm-twisting that Democrats are relying on to ram the Senate bill through the House.

WHO: Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Co-Chair GOP Doctors Caucus Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), Co-Chair, GOP Doctors Caucus Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Chairman, Health Care Caucus Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), Rep. John Linder (R-GA)

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter Signs Idaho Health Freedom Act.VIDEO

(BOISE) – Hailing it as a reflection of public dismay with Washington, D.C., and a clear expression of State sovereignty, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter welcomed legislative sponsors to his office at the Capitol today for the signing of House Bill 391 – the Idaho Health Freedom Act.

“Congress and the White House are working out their scheme for pushing through a healthcare ‘reform’ bill that has more pages than the U.S. Constitution has words. I guarantee you that not a single member of the House or Senate has a complete understanding of that legislation any more than they understood all the implications of the USA PATRIOT Act back in 2001,” Governor Otter said. “What the Idaho Health Freedom Act says is that the citizens of our state won’t be subject to another federal mandate or turn over another part of their life to government control.”

The legislative cosponsors of House Bill 391 – Representatives Jim Clark of Hayden Lake, Raul Labrador of Eagle and Lynn Luker Boise, along with Senator Monty Pearce of New Plymouth – joined the Governor at the signing ceremony to celebrate a victory for Idaho’s self-determination.

The Idaho Health Freedom Act also takes into account the work that Idaho already is doing on its own to promote greater accessibility and affordability to healthcare for all Idahoans. That involves working closely to create and nurture public-private partnerships to develop primary care medical homes throughout Idaho, expand medical residency programs, expand the safe and secure electronic exchange of health information, and improve the voluntary enrollment of Medicaid-eligible children.

Governor Otter said it is a different approach to government than some people are used to, but one that respects the source of government authority and resources and understands the limited but crucial role that government should play in people’s lives.

“From addressing the ‘tax gap’ to managing our aquifers, from increasing the potential for charitable giving to reorganizing management of our State parks system, and from our insistence on maintaining a stable and predictable tax structure to our continuing efforts to find savings throughout State government, this has been a productive legislative session,” he said. “We have kept our priorities where they belong – on finding better, more efficient and effective ways to serve the individuals, families and communities with whose tax dollars we are entrusted.” ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2010 10:023 CONTACT: Jon Hanian (208) 334-2100

Governor Chris Christie Budget Address New Jersey Senate and General Assembly TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Remarks of Governor Christopher J. Christie to the Joint session of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly Regarding the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Governor Chris Christie delivers his Budget Address in the Assembly Chambers at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. (Governor Photos/Tim Larsen)

• FY2011 Budget in Brief [pdf 1.36MB]
• Remarks of Governor Christopher J. Christie to the Joint session of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly Regarding the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget [pdf 172kB]
• FY2011 Press Release
• FY2011 Budget Overview [pdf 226kB]

VIEW the VIDEO here: Governor Chris Christie’s Budget Message

Arkansas Republican Senatorial Debate VIDEO

The Republican Senatorial debate is being held tonight at UALR’s William H. Bowen School of Law at 6:30 pm. on March 16, 2010. The debate is sponsored by the Arkansas Federation of Young Republicans KATV anchor Scott Inman will moderate. Seven candidates will attend. candidates have one minute to answer each question.

The only candidate not in attendance will be Congressman John Boozman, campaign manager Sarah Huckabee will stand in.

Questions being asked tonight are taken from the public, ca be posted on the Young Republicans’ Facebook page, sent to their Twitter account or e-mailed to: elizabeth.aymond@arkansasyr.org

KATV reports today that it will not stream the debate live

Links to the Candidates:

• John Randall "Randy" Alexander
• Gilbert Baker
• John Nichols Boozman
• Curtis Coleman
• Kim Dexter Hendren
• Fred Ramey
• Conrad Earl "Colonel" Reynolds
• Jim Holt

California Republican Gubernatorial Debate LIVE VIDEO STREAM

UPDATE 10/12/10: Meg Whitman Jerry Brown California Governor's Debate 10/12/10 FULL STREAMING VIDEO

New Majority - California Gubernatorial Debate 03/15/10 05:35PM





California Republican Gubernatorial Debate 03/15/10 05:35PM

John Boehner I’m Doing Everything I Can To Prevent This Gov’t Takeover Of Health Care From Becoming Law VIDEO

GOP Leader Discusses Health Care, The GOP’s Chances Of Winning The House, The House’s Call for an Ethics Investigation, and Importing Terrorists Into The U.S.

In an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said that Republicans are doing everything in their power to stop the Democrats’ government takeover of health care. Boehner noted that the Democrats’ 2,700-page health care bill, with $500 billion in tax increases and $500 billion in Medicare cuts, has been soundly rejected by the American people. Boehner also discussed the 2010 political environment and Republicans’ chances of winning the House in November. Regarding ethics, Boehner again reinforced that an investigation of what House Democratic leaders and members of their respective staffs knew about the allegations against former Rep. Eric Massa is necessary. Lastly, Boehner discussed the Congress’ opposition to the Obama Administration’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and import terrorists into the United States. Following are excerpts.

BOEHNER ON GOP EFFORTS TO STOP THE DEMOCRATS’ GOV’T TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE:

“I’m doing everything I can to prevent this bill from becoming law. Plain and simple. We’ve offered our ideas. We’ve asked the President to sit down and work with us. They’ve refused all the way through the process. … Well, they had the summit. We’ve offered our ideas and took a couple of Republican bread crumbs and put them on top of their 2,700-page bill. That’s not good enough. And so, what I’m doing is that I’m working with my colleagues to get the American people engaged in this fight. I don’t have enough votes on my side of the aisle to stop the bill. But I, along with the majority of the American people who are opposed to this, can stop this bill. And we’re going to do everything we can to make it difficult for them, if not impossible, to pass this bill.”

BOEHNER ON TAX HIKES AND MEDICARE CUTS IN THE DEMS’ 2,700-PAGE GOV’T TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE:

“We could come to an agreement on probably eight or 10 commonsense steps that you outlined to make our health care system better. But we can’t come to an agreement on eight or 10 things and throw them into a 2,700-page bill and ask my colleagues to vote for $500 billion worth of Medicare cuts – that aren’t going back into saving Medicare, they are going to come out of Medicare in order to pay for this new entitlement program. $500 billion in higher taxes at a time when we’re asking Americans to reinvest in the economy, but no, the government wants to create this new entitlement program.”

BOEHNER ON DEMS STRUGGLING TO PASS A BILL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REJECTED:

“The only bipartisanship that is involved in this town right now with regard to health care, is that there’s bipartisan opposition to what they are attempting to do. … If she had 216 votes in the House, this bill would be long gone. And remember, they tried to do this thing in June and July last year, if they had the votes then, it’d be law. They tried to pass it in September, October, November, December, January, February, guess what? They don’t have the votes. The American people don’t want to take this step toward government-run health insurance. It’s a dangerous step because we do have the best health care system in the world.”

BOEHNER ON THE GOP PROSPECTS OF WINNING THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE:

“There’s no question that the Democrats have a huge outside organization that pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into the political process outside of the campaign finance rules. But I can tell you this; we’ve got more candidates than we’ve ever had. We’ve got better candidates than we’ve ever had. We’ve got a better process of helping to grow candidates and grow campaigns than we’ve ever had. No question that we’re going to get outspent in this election. But I think that we have a chance at winning Republican control of the House, and I’m going to do everything I can to see that it happens. … Listen, it’s a steep climb but it’s doable”

BOEHNER ON ENGAGING AMERICANS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT:

“When it comes to the Tea Party folks, I think our job to listen to them. I’m going to listen to them, I’m going to walk with them, and do everything I can to interest them in working with us to bring about a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government here in Washington.”

BOEHNER ON WHY A FULL ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION OF DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ABOUT THE MASSA ALLEGATIONS IS NECESSARY:

“We’ve seen the trust breakdown between the American people and their Congress. And it’s been clear to me for some time that we have to work here in this institution to rebuild those bonds of trust. And when things like this happen, those who are responsible ought to be held accountable. And in the case of the Member himself, he has resigned. But it’s also pretty clear that there are a lot of people – including some Democrat leaders on the other side – who were, in fact, informed of this. … I don’t know what the answers are. All I’m asking for is the Ethics Committee is to get to the bottom of – what did people know, when did they know about it, and what did they do about it?”

“Listen, when I took over as Leader a little over two years ago, I told my colleagues that I was going to hold them to a higher standard. The American people have every right to expect that highest ethical standards from their elected officials. And it’s in that pursuit, that I think that this investigation is warranted. I don’t know what the outcome is going to be. But I think that the American people deserve the answers and I think the Congress deserves the answers. ”

BOEHNER ON CLOSING GITMO AND WHETHER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WILL IMPORT TERRORISTS INTO THE U.S.:

“Well, no they’re not. They keep saying they are. But they want $500 million from this Congress to rehabilitate this prison in Northwest Illinois. I want to see who the members are that are going to vote for this. I wouldn’t vote for this if you put a gun to my head. … I think we have a world-class facility at Guantanamo. I think it’s the appropriate place to hold these prisoners, and they can do the tribunals right there at Guantanamo. There is no reason to bring these terrorists into the United States, no reason to increase the threat level here because they’re here and their friends might want to come. It makes no sense to me. And I don’t think that the Congress will appropriate one dime to move those prisoners from Guantanamo to the United States.”

Office of the House Republican Leader H-204 The Capitol | Washington, DC 20515 | p. (202) 225-4000 | f. (202) 225-5117 | Click here to email the Republican Leader

Carly Fiorina Releases “Hot Air” Movie chronicling Barbara Boxer’s failed tenure as a U.S. senator VIDEO

In conjunction with her speech at yesterday’s California Republican Party convention luncheon, Carly Fiorina also released a short movie entitled Hot Air, chronicling Boxer’s failed tenure as a U.S. senator. The creative and attention-grabbing movie describes Boxer’s bitter partisanship, her ineffectiveness and her 18-year long record of support for tax hikes, job-killing legislation and big-government spending. It also contrasts Boxer’s failed tenure with Carly’s record of success as a proven problem-solver, fiscal conservative and the only candidate in this race who has ever created a job, met a payroll or had to cut a budget. A new Web site, www.FailedSenator.com was also launched to not only feature Hot Air, but also to engage voters in learning more about the clear choice in this race.

“Barbara Boxer has been a professional politician her whole adult life, and she’s forgotten how the real world works. She has failed to deliver results and stand up for the people who elected her. It’s time for her career as a politician to come to an end,” continued Carly. “I come from the real world, where actions trump talk and problem-solving trumps partisanship. I am running for U.S. Senate because Washington needs a lot more common sense and a lot less hot air.”

Carly for California 915 L Street, Suite C-378 Sacramento CA. (877) 664-6676 contact@carlyforca.com

Condoleezza Rice endorses Meg Whitman; says she’ll get state ‘back on track’

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced her endorsement of Meg Whitman March 2, calling her a “proven leader” who will do what’s necessary to get California back on track. “California is my home and there is only one person running for governor who can lead the way toward rebuilding our state," Rice said. She “is a proven leader who developed a small start-up company into a global economic powerhouse and encouraged entrepreneurialism at all levels of society.

Meg will do what is needed to get California back on track."

"In my experiences in and out of government, I find the most effective leaders to be those who maintain a clear vision, mobilize diverse groups, and inspire them to work together in confronting the most pressing challenges,” Rice said. “That is why I am supporting Meg Whitman.”

Meg is honored to have Rice's endorsement.

"For years I've admired Condoleezza for her passion for spreading democracy around the world and her long commitment to serving our nation. She is truly a model for leadership," Meg said.

Rice served as 66th U.S. Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009, and was the second woman to hold that office. From 2001 to 2005, Rice served as National Security Advisor. Today, she teaches political science at Stanford University and is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.

This important endorsement is another sign of the growing momentum behind Meg's campaign and her message of creating jobs, cutting spending and fixing education.

Meg Whitman For Governor

Senator.Scott Brown Republican Address 03/13/10 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Senator.Scott Brown Republican Address 03/13/10 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Remarks by Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, as provided by the Republican National Committee

Hello, I’m United States Sen. Scott Brown from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

When the people of my state elected me in January, they sent more than a senator to Washington – they sent a message. Across party lines, the voters told politicians in Washington to get its priorities right.

And from my travels and conversation with people throughout this country, they told me that they want their president and Congress to focus on creating jobs and reviving America’s economy. Instead, for more than a year now, we have seen a bitter, destructive and endless drive to completely transform America’s healthcare system.

In January of last year, unemployment hit 7.2% and our economy was hurting badly. But, early in President Obama’s term, he and the Democratic leadership of Congress made takeover of healthcare their first priority.

Today, times are even tougher across our nation when it comes to our economy. Nearly one in 10 Americans are still out of work. And still, the president and Congress are focused on ramming through their healthcare bill, whatever it takes, whatever the cost.

Maybe you remember what President Obama promised in his State of the Union address. He said....

...he was going to finally focus on jobs and the economy for the remainder of this year. I applauded him for that. Well, here it is, it’s almost spring. And what is he out there talking about again? That same 2,700-page, multi-trillion dollar healthcare legislation.

So, an entire year has gone to waste. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and many more jobs are in danger. Even now, the president still hasn't gotten the message.

Somehow, the greater the public opposition to the healthcare bill, the more determined they seem to force it on us anyway. Their attitude shows Washington at its very worst – the presumption that they know best, and they’re going to get their way whether the American people like it or not.

And, when politicians start thinking like that, they don’t let anything get in their way – not public opinion, not the rules of fair play, not even their own promises.

They pledged transparency. Instead, we have a healthcare bill tainted by secrecy, concealed cost, and full of backroom deals – and that’s just not right. They should do better. The American people expect more.

They pledged a true bipartisan effort. Instead, they have resorted to bending the rules, and they now intend to seize control of healthcare in America on a strict party-line vote.

In speech after speech on his healthcare plan, the president has tried to convince us that what he is proposing will be good for America. But, how can it be good for America if it raises taxes by a half-trillion dollars and costs a trillion dollars or more to implement? In addition, how can it be good if it takes another half a trillion dollars away from seniors on Medicare, and still includes all the backroom deals you have been hearing about for months?

Well, for the past year or more, the new establishment in Washington has tried again and again to sell this plan to the American people. But the Americans aren't buying it, and for good reason.

And now, what’s going on is a last, desperate power play. They actually tell us that passing the bill is necessary, if only to prove that something can get done in Washington.

Well, I haven’t been here very long, but I can tell you this much already: Nothing has distracted the attention and energy of the nation’s capital more than this disastrous detour. And, the surest way to return to the people’s business is to listen to the people themselves:

We need to drop this whole scheme of federally controlled healthcare, start over, and work together on real reforms at the state level that will contain costs and won’t leave America trillions of dollars deeper in debt.

This, above all, was the message that the people of my state sent to the president and the Congress in the election over a month ago.

You know some of my Democratic colleagues, you know, are being leaned on mighty hard right now. Speaker Pelosi and others are handing down their marching orders, telling them to vote for this bill no matter what.

Rarely have elected leaders been so intent on defying the public will. For many members of Congress, the time for choosing is near – do what the party leadership demands, or do what the people have asked you to do. If my colleagues don’t mind some advice from a newcomer, I’d suggest going with the will of the people.

After all, from the very beginning of this debate, the American people have called it correctly. In every part of the country, Republicans and Democrats have agreed on serious, straightforward, commonsense healthcare reform. They expect us in Washington to do the same – working together, acting fairly and by the rules, and staying focused on the need to make the American economy as strong as it can be.

That is the business that brought me here on an unexpected journey to Washington. And, it’s the responsibility of everyone sent here to serve our country. We can do better – and I challenge my colleagues and the president to do just that. I’m Sen. Scott Brown and thank you very much for listening. ###

Kevin Cramer Healthcare Statement

March marks Congress’ 9th month debating government-run healthcare. The President now demands Democrats in the House come to a resolution by March 18th - with a vote expected on the 18th or shortly after. On November 7, 2009, Congressman Earl Pomeroy stated, “The bill is far from perfect – but so is our present system” and confidently assured voters that “More improvements will be made when the Senate completes its version of health reform and the two bills are blended into one.”

Congressman Pomeroy held a press conference in late January stating that he would not vote for the Senate version of the bill.

His office has since made attempts to minimize or outright deny these statements that were reported by the Associated Press.

I would like to know where Congressman Pomeroy stands on this issue today?

Where is he going to end up on this issue?

Will he stand with the majority of North Dakotans who oppose government-run healthcare?

Will he stand with the even larger number of North Dakotans that oppose using the budget reconciliation process to push the issue through?

Remember, Senator Conrad has said the budget reconciliation process cannot begin until the Senate bill passes the House - which puts Congressman Pomeroy front and center in this debate.

North Dakotans deserve to know if Earl Pomeroy is a man of his word. We must know if he can be counted on to do what he says and knows represents the will of his constituents or if he will cave to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Time is running out on Congressman Pomeroy. He must stand up and be counted.

When I go to Congress, I will never forget who I work for. No Speaker of the House or Party Boss is going to tell me how I must vote. The people demand a higher standard and I am prepared to deliver on that demand. ####

TEXT and PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Cramer for Congress

Jonathan Paton No More Earmarks

Jonathan Paton is committing to fight against the corrupt earmark process if elected to Congress. He will not request pork-barrel projects; and he won't vote for them. "Earmarks are not based on need or merit, they're awarded based on loyalty to Nancy Pelosi. That's an outrage," Paton said. "Earmarks are the gateway drug to spending addiction. We can't forget that one of the reasons voters ousted Republicans in 2006 was because they had strayed from their principles and lost sight of fiscal restraint.

Democrats have continued and accelerated that trend. Still, today 40 percent of earmarks are requested by Republicans. Both parties have been corrupted by the practice, with it even leading to prison time for some former politicians. We need to stand up to the Washington establishment and say 'no.'"

In the current fiscal year, Congress has awarded $16 billion in earmarks, according to a study by Taxpayers for Common Sense. That's 9,499 individual earmarks.

"Unrestrained spending is one of the top concerns of voters I'm talking to throughout Southern Arizona," Paton said. "It's time to say 'no' to this form of incumbent protection that is pushing us further into debt. I can guarantee that over the next several months leading up to Election Day, we will see more and more projects coming down the pipe and highlighted at press conferences by Gabrielle Giffords and company. While some of these projects may be nice, at what cost are we accepting them?"

Gabrielle Giffords has admitted the process is corrupt -- but she keeps requesting and voting for earmarks anyway, later touting the projects in her campaigns. In 2009, Giffords requested more than $100 million in earmarks. In fact, she originally had to be shamed into releasing her earmark requests by the editorial page of the Arizona Daily Star, choosing first to keep her requests secret from the public.

TEXT CREDIT: Jonathan Paton for Congress

IMAGE CREDIT: Time1948

Jesse Kelly, We need more than earmark reform

Earmarks are only a small part of the problem Tucson, AZ The call for “no earmarks” is little more than a shallow campaign season stunt. The real issue is out-of-control government spending. A deficit is still a deficit, if it comes from earmarks or general appropriations.

The voters are tired of government overspending, whether it is the Arizona Legislature voting for Napolitano’s reckless ’08 budget, or a Congresswoman voting in favor of the pork-filled TARP program. To reduce deficit spending, you need to reduce the size and scope of government.

Jesse Kelly has a consistent record of supporting across the board spending reductions as well as a Constitutionality test for federal spending. The two career politicians in the CD8 race both have records of voting for excessive spending. The voters should not be fooled by talk of ending earmarks or mention of PAYGO. These terms are both the same, election year rhetoric from career politicians.

Jesse Kelly is a Republican candidate for Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District in the southeastern region of the state. For more information on the Jesse Kelly campaign please visit VoteJesseKelly.com or send an e-mail to media@jessekellyforcongress.com.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts addressed students at the University of Alabama Law School VIDEO

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts addressed students at the University of Alabama Law School. Following his remarks he responded to questions from audience members. In response to a student, Justice Roberts said the Senate's confirmation process for federal judges is “broken down ” and stated that President Obama's State of the Union speech degenerated “into a political pep rally.”

Joint Statement by House Republican Leaders on GOP Proposal to Unilaterally Ban Earmarks

Left to Right, Conference Chairman: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Republican Leader: Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Conference Vice-Chair: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Republican Whip: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

The following joint statement was issued today by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN), Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Conference Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Conference Secretary John Carter (R-TX), National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Rules Committee Ranking Republican David Dreier (R-CA), Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Republican Leadership Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR):

“For millions of Americans, the earmark process in Congress has become a symbol of a broken Washington. We believe the time has come for House Republicans to adopt an immediate, unilateral moratorium on all earmarks, including tax and tariff-related earmarks, and we will support changing the official rules of the House Republican Conference to incorporate such a moratorium when a special conference meeting on the matter takes place Thursday. When Republicans take back the House, we will rein in out-of-control federal spending and bring fundamental change to the process by which Congress spends American taxpayers’ money.”

Washington, Mar 10 - Office of the House Republican Leader H-204 The Capitol |Washington, DC 20515 | p. (202) 225-4000 | f. (202) 225-5117 | Click here to email the Republican Leader

Governor Bob McDonnell Senate Passage of Opportunity to Learn Education Reform Agenda VIDEO

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on Senate Passage of "Opportunity to Learn" Education Reform Agenda – House Already Passed Governor's Three Measures to Expand High Quality Public Charter Schools and College Laboratory Schools; Improve and Promote Virtual Learning – March 09, 2010. Stacey Johnson Press Secretary (804) 786-2211

vagovernor, February 10, 2010 Governor Bob McDonnell held an afternoon press conference to unveil The Opportunity to Learn, his education reform legislative package for this current session of the General Assembly designed to offer options and innovation for all Virginia schoolchildren, but especially those who are at-risk or in underperforming school systems. The Opportunity to Learn package is highlighted by measures to facilitate the expansion of high quality charter schools in the Commonwealth, and further utilize and incorporate virtual and college laboratory schools into Virginias public school system. McDonnell was joined at the event by a bipartisan group of Virginia leaders, all united in support of greater educational options for Virginia students. Among those in attendance were former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder; Virginia Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson; Delegate Rosalyn Dance (D-Petersburg); and Senator Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg). Also at todays event were representatives from the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as parents and prospective students at the soon-to-open Patrick Henry Charter School in Richmond. Hampton University President Bill Harvey, a supporter of the legislation, was unable to attend as scheduled due to winter weath

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement following passage this afternoon by the full Senate of his "Opportunity to Learn" education reform agenda. All three of McDonnell's measures to expand high quality public charter schools and college laboratory schools, and improve and promote virtual learning, received broad bipartisan backing. "I applaud the Republicans and Democrats who came together today to help Virginia school children, especially those who are at-risk and disadvantaged, gain more educational opportunities. In the modern economy, education is the coin of the realm. Without a world-class education our young people will not be able to compete with their peers in the global marketplace. States that move proactively to bring innovation, competition and reform to their public schools are not only serving their young people well, they are improving their prospects for future economic prosperity and job-creation. The effort to expand educational opportunity is one that reaches across party lines. The leading champion of this movement is President Barack Obama. Here in Virginia, the coalition supporting more educational opportunities for all our young people includes state Senators like Republican Steve Newman and Democrat Edd Houck, state delegates like Republicans Scott Lingamfelter, Dickie Bell and Chris Peace and Democrats Rosalyn Dance and Jennifer McClellan, as well as the VEA, the Virginia School Boards Association, and the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. Today's passage of our 'Opportunity to Learn' education reform agenda means we will not tolerate a public school student in Virginia having her educational opportunities limited by her zip code.

Steps like we have taken today will bring hope to our young people, new resources to our teachers, and help for our parents. These new reforms will also help greatly in submitting a vastly improved 'Race to the Top' grant application for billions of dollars in federal funds available for states that lead the way in education innovation."

Senator Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg) added, "This positive legislation to reform our public education system and give all Virginia's young people the tools they need to learn and succeed is the result of real bipartisan cooperation in Richmond. This is a great day for Virginia's public schools, our public school teachers and students and parents in every community." # # #

Office of the Governor Robert F. McDonnell