What is happening in Wisconsin in simple terms.

A unionized public employee, a Tea Party member and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches over and takes 11 cookies and then says to the tea partier, "Watch out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie."

FiredupMissouri is reporting the Missouri House passed legislation to phase out the state's corporate franchise tax today, which will cost the state up to $87.5 million in lost revenues every year when it's fully enacted.

As far as I know, no plan has been put forward detailing how many teachers will lose their jobs if this becomes law. Or how high tuition will need to go. Or how taxes will need to be raised on working people so that the already wealthy can pay a little less.

Firedup provides this link to this video posted by the Missouri News Horizon, in which Speaker Steve Tilley makes it clear that "he is in no hurry to move ahead" on right to work for less legislation.



ON WISCONSIN!

What we got for our $14,500* -- Billy Long votes last week include approving a 7 million dollar decal for a race car

Here are some selected votes cast by Congressman Billy Long on amendments to H.R.1 last week:

Eliminates Financing for Planned Parenthood(H.AMDT.95)
This amendment proposing cutting the entire $317 million program of aid for family planning. It would also bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds for any purpose.
Long voted YES to eliminating financing

Reduces Financing for the N.E.A.(H.AMDT.52)
Citing the high federal deficit, many Republicans have questioned the need to support arts programs with government financing. This amendment was introduced to reduce financing for the National Endowment for the Arts back to fiscal 2006 levels (about $21 million).
Long voted YES to reduce financing for the NEA (not sure if he got the N.E.A.'s confused on this one or not.

Restores $50 Million in Heating Subsidies for the Poor(H.AMDT.55)
The chamber rejected this effort by Representative Charles F. Bass, Republican of New Hampshire, to add $50 million back to the budget for the Low Energy Assistance Program, which provides heating subsidies for the poor.
Long voted NO to restoring funding.

To Reduce Funding for Amtrak(H.AMDT.75)
There were enough supporters of the rail service in the chamber to defeat this amendment, which would have slashed the service's budget by $447 million.
Long voted YES to reduce funding.

Cancels F-35 Jet Engine Program(H.AMDT.16)
This proposal to cancel the alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would cut an additional $450 million and save up to $3 billion over the next several years. It won bipartisan support and overcame the opposition of House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio
Long voted YES to cancel the alternate engine program.

To Reduce Financing for Iraq by $1.5 Billion(H.AMDT.18)

This amendment would have eliminated $1.5 billion allocated for security forces in Iraq. "If we are going to be cutting Pell grants and energy research and heating assistance for families here in the United States, we certainly should take a hard look at Pentagon spending as well," the amendment's sponsor, Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, said.
Long voted NO to reducing financing for Iraq by $1.5 billion.

To Eliminate Financing for the Draft Boards(H.AMDT.37)

The amendment's sponsor, Representative Peter A. DeFazio, Democrat of Oregon, called the Selective Service System "a dead bureaucracy that does nothing and never will do anything." He urged that the $24 million allocated for 2011 be eliminated.
Long voted NO to eliminating financing for draft boards.

To Eliminate $19 Million From Defense Budget (H.AMDT.11)

This amendment would strip nearly $19 million from an operations and maintenance account. "I realize the amount of savings in this amendment is relatively small compared to the overall defense budget, but I think the point has to be made here that the defense budget is not sacrosanct," the amendment's sponsor, Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said to no avail.

Long voted NO to eliminating $19 million for the Defense Budget.

Prohibits Government Sponsoring of Nascar Cars(H.AMDT.92)
This amendment would prohibit the Defense Department from sponsoring cars in Nascar races. According to the amendment's sponsor, Representative Betty McCollum, Democrat of Minnesota, the Army, Navy and National Guard have all sponsored race cars. "Incredibly, over the past decade hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have subsidized race car owners and millionaire drivers in the name of military recruitment," she said.
Long voted NO, keeping the 7 million dollar decal on the #39 Ryan Newman car.


Make up your own jokes.

*Long's monthly government paycheck is around $14,500. This $14,500 does not include his per diem and his gov't paid health insurance plan.

Contrast this to the average Social Security benefit received by retirees in the 7th Congressional district which is around $13,000.

Contrast this to the average wage of Springfield which, as reported in Sunday's SN-L is around $30,000. Long makes more on the government payroll in two months than the average Springfieldian makes in a year.

Billy Long butts into your sex life and it ain't pretty!

If you wrote a letter to Congressman Billy Long regarding the Title X Family Planning funding, this is the reply you probably received:

Thank you for contacting me regarding Title X Family Planning funding; I appreciate hearing from you regarding an issue important to constituents of the Seventh District of Missouri.

As you may know, the United States House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1, a bill continually funding the federal government's operations until September 30 of this year. An amendment sponsored by Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana prohibiting federal taxpayer funding of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliates through the Title X Family Planning programs was introduced and approved; I voted for the Pence amendment along with 246 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

I supported the amendment because Planned Parenthood and its affiliates participate in abortion services. Even if this organization claims funding is set aside for non-abortion purposes, there is no guarantee the money will be spent that way. Moreover, if it is proven that federal funding was only used by an organization for non-abortion purposes, it frees up the organization's other funds to be used for abortions.

I have also signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, also authored by Congressman Pence. This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act, prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Human Services from providing any federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of such assistance, the entity will not perform abortions or provide any funds to any other entity which performs abortions.

Abortion is an intensely personal issue which inspires deeply-felt passion on both sides, and I recognize the strong feelings it evokes. I strongly oppose abortion and am 100 percent pro-life; I will continue to advocate for that position in the U.S. Congress. I support efforts to reduce the number of abortions in this country, and I also support efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that a "right to abortion" does not exist within it. In addition, nearly every year, Congress addresses whether taxpayer dollars should be used to fund abortions and abortion-related services. I believe that those services should not be provided using the tax revenue from citizens who hold fundamental moral and religious objections to abortion.

There will always be differing views on important issues, and I fully respect and consider both sides. The people of the Seventh District of Missouri have consistently voiced their opposition to abortion and federal funding of abortion. I appreciate you letting me know your thoughts and look forward to continuing to represent all my constituents in Congress.

For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the Seventh District, I invite you to visit my website at http://www.long.house.gov.

"The people of the Seventh District of Missouri have consistently voiced their opposition to abortion and federal funding of abortion." -- again with the absolutes. I am part of "the people" of the seventh District and I don't think the government has any business in anyone's sex life. Apparently Billy Long does.

"Crazy Eddie" brings his silliness to Springfield

First read this account of who showed up for Ed Martin's hearing in St. Louis last week.



Listen as Martin fires the first shot in his war to kill medicare.



"Crazy Eddie" brings his silliness to Springfield tomorrow night. It's at the Drury Inn & Suites. The St. Louis 'hearing' was at the Drury Inn up there also.

B.O.S.S. Business Owners Supporting Sheriffs

While attending his local Sheriff’s academy, Dr. Robert O'Block witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that budget cuts had on his Sheriff's Office. Realizing, his county was not alone, he conceived the concept for a national program that would increase public awareness on the funding issues affecting Sheriffs and help to promote community partnerships nationwide.

In 2010, he created, and trademarked, B.O.S.S., Business Owners Supporting Sheriffs, to encourage business owners and civic leaders nationwide to incorporate and use in their own communities.

At the official web site, www.BOSSheriffs.org, community leaders and Sheriffs can find all of the information, resources, and tools needed to establish independent B.O.S.S. chapters in their own counties.

Dr. O'Block's professional career spans a lifetime of work within the field of law enforcement. At only 19 years old, he served as a police dispatcher, at 20 he worked full time as a city patrol officer and attended college full time, and by the time he reached the age of 24, he had graduated from college four times and obtained three graduate degrees in three distinctive fields. He became a college professor at the young age of 25 and by 27, published his first book, Security and Crime Prevention. Dedicated to the field of law enforcement, Dr. O'Block continued to serve as a reserve sheriff deputy (without pay) as he taught criminal justice full time at the university. Always a high achiever, he departed from the world of Academia at the age of 40, to further develop and merge his passions for law enforcement and education with his entrepreneurial and visionary spirit. Acknowledged and recognized for his many personal and professional achievements, Dr. O'Block's biography is also listed in the following publications: Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in America.

Committed to expanding knowledge and opportunities through continuing education and advanced credentialing, Dr. O'Block founded the following five professional associations:

American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (ACFEI),

The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS),

The American Psychotherapy Association (APA),

American Association for Integrative Medicine (AAIM).

The International College of The Behavioral Sciences, (ICBS)

Dr. O'Block is also the Publisher of three professional peer-reviewed journals and the author of three books:

Journals

The Forensic Examiner®,

Inside Homeland Security®,

Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association®,

Books

Security and Crime Prevention,

Crime Justice Research Sources,

The 7 Steps to the Cure of the Souls.

Attune to the many needs of the law enforcement community, Dr. O'Block continues to strive towards finding creative solutions for enhancing the personal and professional lives of the many men and women, who are so passionately committed and dedicated to this profession.

Legal Notice: Dr. Robert L. O'Block, nor any of his companies or subsidiaries, shall accept, receive, or require any revenues, fees, of any other forms of compensation from the BOSS program, or from the use of this trademark. The BOSS program is strictly established as a trademark and tool to promote community partnerships for the support of Sheriffs. Chapters of BOSS will not be governed, managed, or r

I like Ike

"This is what I mean by my constant insistence on 'moderation' in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid,"

Is Billy's new BFF?

From Miracle Reports, "The National Center for Reporting and Investigating Miracles":

Some time ago, Dr. Robert O'Block, founder of the Society for the Cure of Souls, discovered the WatchWORD BIBLE video series produced by WatchWORD Worldwide. After viewing the series, Dr. O'Block was inspired by the program's innovative and effective method of broadcasting the word of God to viewers. Enthusiastic about the program and its mission, he contacted Jim Fitzgerald, developer of the series. Through their interactions, he learned that Fitzgerald's mission was to provide the series to Muslims living in Arabic nations and all over the world. To do this, Fitzgerald would need the assistance of Arabic translators to interpret the WatchWORD BIBLE series and express the Biblical teachings of the series in the Arabic language. He would also require financial support to get his project underway.

While driving on a road he didn't normally travel, Dr. O'Block noticed a church set on a beautiful hill. It was called Immanuel Lutheran Church. The church, small, white, and simple, was perched in an idyllic setting surrounded by mature trees and green lawns. He felt drawn to the church, and diverted his route in order to drive into its parking lot.

After parking his car behind the small building, He entered the church and found the doors open. He called out, and got a response from a small office inside the building.

There he found Vincent Will, pastor of the church, studying in his tiny office filled to near bursting with books that were stacked from floor to ceiling.*

Dr. O'Block felt compelled to discuss the WatchWORD BIBLE series he had discovered earlier with him. During their discussions, Dr. O'Block mentioned the important mission that Fitzgerald, the developer of the series, had embarked on, to provide the New Testament via satellite broadcast to Muslim nations.

Pastor Will was intrigued by Fitzgerald's mission and decided he wanted to help. He drove from Springfield, Missouri to Oklahoma to meet with an elderly retired oilman he knew to discuss the project. He believed this Christian man would be happy to provide financial support for Fitzgerald's project, and he was correct. This gentleman, who was in declining health, took action and agreed to support Fitzgerald's mission in any way he could. He happily pledged substantial financial support to help Fitzgerald get his project underway.

Fitzgerald now had the means necessary to embark on what would become one of the most important missions of his life. He contracted the work of Arabic translators, and the project was officially in operation.

Dr. O'Block is proud to see the great progress the WatchWORD BIBLE series is making in Arabic nations across the globe.

* Pastor Vincent Will, former pastor for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Springfield, Missouri, has passed away. However, his wife Eunice Will still volunteers much of her time at Immanuel Lutheran.

Readers interested in Biblical-based counseling or spiritual direction and those who are already engaged in Biblical counseling are encouraged to join The Society for the Cure of Souls, a professional organization of Christian Spiritual Directhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifors and Biblical Counselors. It is also recommended that you refer to the book The 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls, written by Robert L. OBlock. For more information, to join The Society for the Cure of Souls, or to purchase a copy of The 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls, visit The Society for the Cure of Souls website at www.cureofsouls.com.

Not much to read, but look at this.

Now read this

Also read this.

Now read this.

A long piece, but read this.

Read this.

Bungalow Bill's Conventional Wisdom also weighs in on this subject.