Metro officials have reported a shooting outside the Pentagon station, near the entrance to the military facility. The shooting has put the Pentagon on lockdown and has closed the station. Three people reportedly were shot.
Chris Layman, a spokesman for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, said that two of the people shot are Pentagon Force Protection Agency police officers. He was not certain of their condition. He said they have one person in custody, according to The Washington Post.
The Pentagon Metro Station has been closed and trains are being diverted to the Pentagon City station.
Washington Examiner
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Unhealthy Hype
BY: Thomas Sowell
Do we really want to sacrifice world-renowned quality for the sake of vague promises of cost savings?
With all the controversies, charges, counter-charges and buzzwords swirling around the issue of medical care in the United States, there is a lot to be said for going back to square one and asking just what is the fundamental problem.
The quality of the medical care itself is not the problem. Few — if any — countries can match American medical training or medical technology, or the development of life-saving pharmaceutical drugs in the United States. Most countries with government-controlled medical care cannot come close to matching how fast an American can get medical treatment, particularly from specialists.
Political hype is no reason to throw all that away. In fact, policies based on political hype over the years are what have gotten us into what is most wrong with medical care today — namely, the way it is paid for.
National Review
Do we really want to sacrifice world-renowned quality for the sake of vague promises of cost savings?
With all the controversies, charges, counter-charges and buzzwords swirling around the issue of medical care in the United States, there is a lot to be said for going back to square one and asking just what is the fundamental problem.
The quality of the medical care itself is not the problem. Few — if any — countries can match American medical training or medical technology, or the development of life-saving pharmaceutical drugs in the United States. Most countries with government-controlled medical care cannot come close to matching how fast an American can get medical treatment, particularly from specialists.
Political hype is no reason to throw all that away. In fact, policies based on political hype over the years are what have gotten us into what is most wrong with medical care today — namely, the way it is paid for.
National Review
Congressman Taylor's office announces legislative effort to repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement
Statement from the office of Congressman Gene Taylor:
NAFTA and similar free trade agreements have resulted in a 29% decline in U.S. manufacturing employment since 1993. NAFTA discourages investments in U.S. manufacturing facilities and accelerates the erosion of our industrial base.
In 1993 prior to the United States entering into the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. had a trade surplus of $1.7 Billion with Mexico . By 2007 this trade surplus turned into a massive deficit that peaked at $75 Billion. As our economy declined in 2009 our trade deficit with Mexico dropped to $47 billion. Our trade deficit with Canada in 1993 was $11 Billion prior to NAFTA. By 2008 the trade deficit swelled to $78 billion and dropped to $20 Billion with the decline of the economy in 2009.
Congressman Gene Taylor said that “I voted against this legislation in 1993 because I knew that this trade agreement would lead to a decline in jobs and our industrial manufacturing base. Just look at what happened when the Department of Defense needed to rapidly build Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.”
He went on to explain that “In 2007 the DoD decided to increase the number of MRAPs in Iraq and bought 17,700 vehicles. Because of our diminished manufacturing capacity, it took 9 different contractors working together to build all of these vehicles. The decline in our manufacturing base left the contractors without a trained workforce to build these vehicles. This led to delays and choke points in production and overall delivery of the MRAPS. This was a logistical nightmare. Without a sufficient industrial base capable of mass production, we are forced to spend more tax-dollars because each contractor had to train workers and re-invent the parts for production. In some cases, we were dependent on foreign countries. These contractors had to literally re-invent the wheel or purchase the tires from France and Israel .”
The United States has lost 29% of its manufacturing base since 1993. Almost 5 million jobs have left the U.S. and never returned. Before 1993 U.S. manufacturing jobs were responsible for approximately 17 million jobs. By 2009 U.S. manufacturing employment dropped to about 12 million workers. Mississippi has been hit particularly hard losing 39% of its manufacturing jobs. 240,000 people worked in manufacturing jobs prior to NAFTA. As a result of this trade agreement, 93,000 jobs have left the state.
Taylor concluded by saying “Timing is everything in life and it’s the right time to pass this legislation. Proponents have had more than enough time to make this work – It didn’t.”
NAFTA and similar free trade agreements have resulted in a 29% decline in U.S. manufacturing employment since 1993. NAFTA discourages investments in U.S. manufacturing facilities and accelerates the erosion of our industrial base.
In 1993 prior to the United States entering into the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. had a trade surplus of $1.7 Billion with Mexico . By 2007 this trade surplus turned into a massive deficit that peaked at $75 Billion. As our economy declined in 2009 our trade deficit with Mexico dropped to $47 billion. Our trade deficit with Canada in 1993 was $11 Billion prior to NAFTA. By 2008 the trade deficit swelled to $78 billion and dropped to $20 Billion with the decline of the economy in 2009.
Congressman Gene Taylor said that “I voted against this legislation in 1993 because I knew that this trade agreement would lead to a decline in jobs and our industrial manufacturing base. Just look at what happened when the Department of Defense needed to rapidly build Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.”
He went on to explain that “In 2007 the DoD decided to increase the number of MRAPs in Iraq and bought 17,700 vehicles. Because of our diminished manufacturing capacity, it took 9 different contractors working together to build all of these vehicles. The decline in our manufacturing base left the contractors without a trained workforce to build these vehicles. This led to delays and choke points in production and overall delivery of the MRAPS. This was a logistical nightmare. Without a sufficient industrial base capable of mass production, we are forced to spend more tax-dollars because each contractor had to train workers and re-invent the parts for production. In some cases, we were dependent on foreign countries. These contractors had to literally re-invent the wheel or purchase the tires from France and Israel .”
The United States has lost 29% of its manufacturing base since 1993. Almost 5 million jobs have left the U.S. and never returned. Before 1993 U.S. manufacturing jobs were responsible for approximately 17 million jobs. By 2009 U.S. manufacturing employment dropped to about 12 million workers. Mississippi has been hit particularly hard losing 39% of its manufacturing jobs. 240,000 people worked in manufacturing jobs prior to NAFTA. As a result of this trade agreement, 93,000 jobs have left the state.
Taylor concluded by saying “Timing is everything in life and it’s the right time to pass this legislation. Proponents have had more than enough time to make this work – It didn’t.”
Bill seeks to help Miss. blues musicians
The Mississippi Legislature has passed a bill lawmakers hope will lead to financial help for the performers who established the state’s legacy as the “birthplace of the blues.”
The bill allows the Mississippi Blues Commission to raise private funding for struggling musicians. It amends the law that created the commission, which is charged with promoting the state’s blues heritage. The bill will allow the commission to “raise and expend grant funds to provide assistance to any blues musician in need.”
The bill passed the House earlier in the session and passed the Senate this week, but was held on a motion to reconsider. The bill would become effective July 1.
The Clarion Ledger
The bill allows the Mississippi Blues Commission to raise private funding for struggling musicians. It amends the law that created the commission, which is charged with promoting the state’s blues heritage. The bill will allow the commission to “raise and expend grant funds to provide assistance to any blues musician in need.”
The bill passed the House earlier in the session and passed the Senate this week, but was held on a motion to reconsider. The bill would become effective July 1.
The Clarion Ledger
Tea Party Amendment
Fiscal Crisis: Tea Partyers have made it clear they don't trust politicians — Democrat or Republican. Their historic uprising may now have a surefire way to stop politicians from spending us into the abyss.
In what promises to be a consequential election year, Republican leaders are eager to get the masses who make up the Tea Party movement on their side. But Tea Partyers remember that the GOP Congress and GOP president themselves spent way too much — even expanding the fiscally doomed Medicare entitlement program. Some Tea Party leaders even accuse Republican spendthrifts of practicing socialism.
GOP Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Mike Pence of Indiana and John Campbell of California may have just hit on a way of focusing the energy of a movement that's been accused by Democrats such as former Senate aide and Forbes columnist Dan Gerstein of being "incoherent, indiscriminate" and "all over the place" in its complaints.
The three have proposed a Spending Limit Amendment to the Constitution that would restrain the federal government to the average expenditures of the post-World War II era — 20% of the U.S. economy. It would take a declaration of war or a two-thirds vote by Congress to waive the spending constraints.
Tea Partyers will no doubt be impressed by the fact that the idea comes from no less than Thomas Jefferson. In 1798, the Declaration's author wrote: "I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government."
There really is no credible argument against the idea. In common-sense fashion, the constraint would be suspended during a declared war, and any other real emergency would surely be recognized as such by two-thirds of lawmakers.
Investors Business Daily
In what promises to be a consequential election year, Republican leaders are eager to get the masses who make up the Tea Party movement on their side. But Tea Partyers remember that the GOP Congress and GOP president themselves spent way too much — even expanding the fiscally doomed Medicare entitlement program. Some Tea Party leaders even accuse Republican spendthrifts of practicing socialism.
GOP Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Mike Pence of Indiana and John Campbell of California may have just hit on a way of focusing the energy of a movement that's been accused by Democrats such as former Senate aide and Forbes columnist Dan Gerstein of being "incoherent, indiscriminate" and "all over the place" in its complaints.
The three have proposed a Spending Limit Amendment to the Constitution that would restrain the federal government to the average expenditures of the post-World War II era — 20% of the U.S. economy. It would take a declaration of war or a two-thirds vote by Congress to waive the spending constraints.
Tea Partyers will no doubt be impressed by the fact that the idea comes from no less than Thomas Jefferson. In 1798, the Declaration's author wrote: "I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government."
There really is no credible argument against the idea. In common-sense fashion, the constraint would be suspended during a declared war, and any other real emergency would surely be recognized as such by two-thirds of lawmakers.
Investors Business Daily
State: Charity used for personal gain
By STEVEN G. WATSON
A Ridgeland-based chairty is being operated for personal gain, in part because it has the highest paid charity bingo director in the state and reports the least amount of charitable giving, according to testimony during a hearing this week.
Bill Murphy is the highest paid charity bingo director in the state according to testimony at a Secretary of State hearing Tuesday to determine if the charity should be closed.
The charity, Fine Arts Institute of Mississippi or FAIM, operates the Boxcar Bingo parlor in Desoto County and has been under fire in recent months for alleged acts of fraud.
Murphy is currently involved in two appeals - one with the state Gaming Commission and another with the Secretary of State's office.
The state Gaming Commission, which governs charitable bingo, would not renew FAIM's license.
The Secretary of State's Office, which governs all charities, is attempting to revoke FAIM's charitable status.
Tuesday, at an appeal hearing with the Secretary of State's office, Murphy's salary was scrutinized by the prosecution which questioned why FAIM paid him $155,000 in 2008 and spent only $22,000 on actual charity.
Madison County Journal
A Ridgeland-based chairty is being operated for personal gain, in part because it has the highest paid charity bingo director in the state and reports the least amount of charitable giving, according to testimony during a hearing this week.
Bill Murphy is the highest paid charity bingo director in the state according to testimony at a Secretary of State hearing Tuesday to determine if the charity should be closed.
The charity, Fine Arts Institute of Mississippi or FAIM, operates the Boxcar Bingo parlor in Desoto County and has been under fire in recent months for alleged acts of fraud.
Murphy is currently involved in two appeals - one with the state Gaming Commission and another with the Secretary of State's office.
The state Gaming Commission, which governs charitable bingo, would not renew FAIM's license.
The Secretary of State's Office, which governs all charities, is attempting to revoke FAIM's charitable status.
Tuesday, at an appeal hearing with the Secretary of State's office, Murphy's salary was scrutinized by the prosecution which questioned why FAIM paid him $155,000 in 2008 and spent only $22,000 on actual charity.
Madison County Journal
District 3 Congressman Harper discusses Fragile X from the House Floor
On March 3 over 140 National Fragile X Foundation advocates visited Capitol Hill educating their Members of Congress on the potential for effective treatments, raising awareness for this disorder and sharing their personal stories. U.S. Representative Gregg Harper shared his personal story on the floor of the House of Representatives.
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