Tim Geithner's In Some Pretty Hot Water

Update II: Ruh Roh ~ Trouble for Geithner? TARP IG Barofsky Has Open Investigation
And ~ Barney Frank Wants Hearings To Probe Geithner, NY Fed And AIG
~~~~~
Update: It's fascinating to read the pushback from apologists on DKos who would put party before country, power before right, corporate welfare before the general welfare and well, you get the point. There's been scads of this kind of trash talk from Democrats leveled at progressives working with conservatives in efforts to hold Ben Bernanke's renomination to chair the Fed, calls to audit the Federal Reserve and calls to investigate Rahm Emanuel's funky timeline from his stint on the board of Freddie Mac through charges of a cover up: "the actions of the White House have blocked any investigation into his activities while on the board of Freddie Mac from 2000-2001, and facilitated the cover up of potential malfeasance until the 10-year statute of limitations has run out."
~~~~~
GAH. How much longer will we have to suffer through the pretense from the White House that their financial advisory house is in order? Is it too much to ask of Obama that he sever himself from Bushco-era disaster-mongers like Tim Geithner and Ben Bernanke?
From FDL ~ Geithner’s New York Fed Ordered AIG to Violate Securities Law in 2008

Yves Smith over at Naked Capitalism commented on a report from Bloomberg News that just about made my eyes pop out of my head. Evidently, Darrell Issa got his hands on some 2008 emails between AIG and Tim Geithner’s New York Federal Reserve, wherein the NY Fed orders AIG to make material misstatements on SEC filings

...Not only were they hiding that AIG was set to pay the banks 100 cents on the dollar, turning the AIG bailout into a second back door bailout for the banks, they were trying to hide the reason that the bailout was needed.

More from Bloomberg news with this ~ Ben Bernanke's ivory tower doesn't have a mortgage

And this ~ Wall Street hubris soars as crisis goes to waste

~*~

Progressive Meet Up Sunday In Lewes To Set 2010 Agenda - Town Hall And Dinner At Five Points

Cape Gazette reports ~ Progressives to meet Jan. 10 in Lewes

A Dining with Progressives dinner and town hall meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 10, at Fish On Restaurant in the Villages of Five Points in Lewes. The Progressive agenda for 2010 will be the topic, and the meeting will be moderated by Sussex County Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach; registered lobbyist John Flaherty; and retired Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control official Bill Moyer. Attendees are asked to submit topics to be included at the meeting by Thursday, Jan. 7, via email to jcabry@gmail.com or call Joanne Cabry at 226-5019. Dining with Progressives provides a forum for civil and open discussion and welcomes all individuals interested in meeting with fellow Progressives.

~*~

Cape Gazette Has A Funny On Lewes Village Centre Vote

Cape Gazette has a funny ~

~*~

Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility ENERGIZE DELAWARE THIS WEEK

SEU IN THE NEWS

Gov. Markell to Announce SEU Energy and Money-saving Plans for State Buildings Gov. Jack Markell and State Energy Secretary Collin O’Mara held a news conference this week to announce a group of state buildings that will participate in an SEU energy waste cutting program, saving the state thousands of dollars and creating a host of new jobs and economic development opportunities.

The SEU’s “energy performance contracts” are tools for financing building and facility upgrades that lock in long-term savings. The project starts with a comprehensive assessment of each building’s energy and water waste and a list of solutions to eliminate them. The contract outlines the terms of financing provided to state buildings to implement the solutions and lock in savings. A portion of the savings is used to repay the cost of upgrading the building. Performance contracts often generate savings on energy and water bills of 20 to 30 percent. Brandywine school district is also looking at taking advantage of the program.

Delaware Leads Nation in Deploying Stimulus Funds for Appliance Rebates USA Today and Philadelphia Fox television news featured stories outlining how states were using the federal appliance rebate ARRA funding. To date, only Delaware has a program up and running. Most other states have a Spring launch scheduled. See board action item below regarding decisions and changes required for using federal stimulus dollars.


Top 10 in 2010 Energizedelaware.org will feature “top 10” energy savings tips to help Delawareans start 2010 by saving energy and money. We will be asking the public to share their tips and finding other creative ways to engage, educate and raise awareness this year. See www.energizedelaware.org.

~*~

Delaware Army National Guard Deploys The 160th Engineer Company And Embedded Training Team To Afghanistan

(presser)

Markell Salutes Delaware Troops Headed to Afghanistan

WILMINGTON – On behalf of every Delawarean, Gov. Jack Markell thanked the Delaware Army National Guard Embedded Training Team (ETT) and the 160th Engineer Company Soldiers at their deployment ceremony today.

The 160th Engineer Company is a Vertical Construction Company, and their mission is to construct, repair, and maintain vertical infrastructures and base camps. Eleven Soldiers of the Embedded Training Team will be working closely with the Afghanistan Police as trainers and mentors to build their capacity for conducting effective law enforcement operations. The ETT Team leader, Colonel Mike Berry, served in the Delaware State Police for 20 years and will be bringing that experience with him.

“While you are in Afghanistan, you will be providing vital services to keep our country safe. You will be sharing your skills, building capacity and infrastructure that will ultimately contribute to the protection, peace and prosperity of so many,” said Markell. “We are all safer thanks to your sacrifice and hard work. As you travel from our soil, please remember that the thoughts, hopes, and prayers of your families--as well as those of your extended Delawarean family--are with you.”

~*~

John Flaherty Writes: Delaware Works To Reduce Carbon Footprint - WDEL 1150 AM Radio News

via WDEL ~

VIDEO: DE works to reduce carbon footprint By: Amy Cherry

Yesterday, Governor Markell announced a new universal recycling plan, and today's he's unveiled a plan to make state buildings more energy efficient. WDEL's Amy Cherry has more. Video Here

Carvel is over 30 years old, and it's one of several state buildings that will be getting a face-lift. Governor Markell says work will begin soon on solar installation and water conservation.

Senator Harris McDowell has long pushed for a plan like this one that doesn't require tax-payer funding. The plan is being touted as the 'first in the nation' to be paid for by so-called green energy savings bonds...provided by the sustainable energy utility.

(presser)
Innovative Partnership Puts People to Work by Improving Energy Efficiency

The Governor announced today a new initiative that could create 375-625 skilled jobs while improving energy efficiency, in partnership with Senator Harris McDowell, co-chair of the State Energy Utility (SEU).

“Getting people back to work and reducing energy consumption without impacting the state budget is one of the best examples of a win/win that you can find,” said Governor Markel. “It’s not just more jobs and less energy used, it’s a significant and sustainable change in the way government uses its resources.”

The State of Delaware and the SEU will be retrofitting state buildings, some of which are over 30 years old, to update the systems that provide heat, air conditioning, electricity and water. Power for these facilities cost $33 million in FY09, but system modernization will significantly reduce energy consumption. The upgrades for the Carvel Building alone will create 65 jobs and reduce CO2 emissions by 8.1 million pounds, which is equivalent to removing about 860 cars from our roads annually.

The SEU is currently putting together a portfolio of $25-35 million worth of energy efficiency projects in municipal, hospital and school buildings.

“The SEU is offering a timely and innovative approach to reducing the cost of state government. Our state buildings are rife with wasted energy and money," said Senator Harris McDowell, co-chair of the SEU. “Cutting energy waste will make more money available for state services, employees, streets and infrastructure. And investments in energy efficiency mean more good-paying jobs and economic development opportunities. In a post-recession economy, it's a no brainer.”

No money from the capital budget will be required for the retrofits. The SEU, under its bonding authority, will provide the up-front financing. Energy services companies will guarantee a certain level of cost savings, and bonds will be repaid from those funds. Additional funding has been committed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We have been working closely with DelTech, the Laborer’s International Union and several nonprofits to ensure that our workers are trained and ready to start,” said Markell. “The initiative could employ hundreds of people across the state in jobs that cannot be exported.”

In addition to the fiscal benefits and job creation, the retrofits will provide significant environmental benefits through the reduction of pollution from fossil fuels, improved public health due to cleaner air, and a reduced carbon footprint.

~*~

Scott Spencer Wants John Carney To Reimburse Funds From 2008 DEM Primary?

(presser)

Congressional Candidate Spencer Requests Carney to Pledge Not to Use Party Donations in Democratic Primary Campaign

In a letter to fellow Democrat John Carney, Congressional Candidate Scott Spencer asked Carney to pledge not to use donations to the Democratic party in his campaign for the September 14th Democratic primary. In the 2008 primary campaign for Governor, Democratic party funds were provided to Carney in his unsuccessful attempt to win the nomination from fellow Democrat and current Governor Jack Markell.
In his letter, Spencer requested that Carney:

• Pledge not to use Democratic party donations in his primary campaign
• Recognize that party donations should only be used for their original intent of supporting Democrats facing Republicans in the general election
• Consider that party donations are critical to the success of fellow Democrats in local races this November
• Repay the Democratic party campaign donations that Carney used in his 2008 primary campaign for Governor to help the campaigns of many Democratic candidates in local races throughout the state in 2010.

As the first candidate in the nation running on Organic Campaign Financing, Spencer’s congressional campaign will not accept Democratic Party funding if offered.

~*~

Pete duPont's Silly Non-Sequitur: Historically, "Climate Has Changed When There Weren't People. Therefore, People Cannot Cause Climate Change" D'OH!

Media Matters reports ~ In WSJ, du Pont misuses scientific data to mislead on climate change

In his January 5 Wall Street Journal column, Pete du Pont used data from the U.K.'s Met Office Hadley Centre, which he misidentified as the "Hadley Climatic Research Unit," to suggest that climate change is not human-caused. In fact, according to the Met Office, "human activities like burning coal, oil and gas, have led to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, causing an enhanced greenhouse effect and extra warming," and as a result, "over the past century there has been an underlying increase in average temperatures which is continuing" and "[g]lobally, the ten hottest years on record have all been since 1997."

I pulled the post title from Larry in the comment section.

~*~

MiniBoone Fan Alert! EP Release Reviews Are HOT HOT HOT

(image by Marielle Solan)
MiniBoone super cool!

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted: Band of the Week: MiniBoone

Of course not everything sent to me is adored the way I immediately fell for the pop hooks and catchy sounds of MiniBoone's debut EP. These six songs are instantaneous, songs that scream to be listened to again and again, and nag at you if you don't listen to them enough times. The songs are eerily similar to too many acts to name, but they span a spectrum of styles and genres that makes it a lot more than any sort of copycat act. They also have truly solid songwriting in their back pocket so that helps a bunch too.

Quiet Color » MINIBOONE: BIG CHANGES

Miniboone has fast become one of Brooklyn’s most energetic and entertaining live bands. Their spastic and nervy live shows have paid off, with mentions in many blogs, including msn.com’s CMJ coverage. The praise is well deserved; their songs are catchy, with jerky, stop-start riffs that recall the best moments of post-punk icons Devo and Talking Heads, with a healthy dose of the modern indie-rock of Arcade Fire and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. And now the band is supplementing their live shows with their first recorded release: The new EP is called Big Changes and it drops on January 26 on Drug Front Records. The release party is at Glasslands on Wednesday Feb. 3rd with I’m Turning Into, Pet Ghost Project

~*~

Godspeed Philip A. Roussel

Godspeed Phil Roussel

NCC Planning Board Unanimously Denies Milltown Square Rezoning

From Councilman Tim Sheldon's desk ~ Recommendation for Milltown Square

20090122SZ - South side Limestone Road, west side Milltown Road and north side Old Limestone Road.Major Land Development Preliminary Plan, Rezoning and TAC Review for Milltown Square proposes to develop a 100,418 square foot mixed use development with offices, retail, restaurant and residential on 8.56 acres. Ord. 09-105 will rezone 8.56 acres from S (Suburban) to CN (Commercial Neighborhood). CD 9.

The Planning Board recommended to DENY the application 7-0-1-1 (1 abstaining and 1 absent). Now it is up to the developer on the next step. Will they still bring it before Council? As soon as we hear, we'll forward that information along.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact ouroffice. Thanks!, Stephanie Rizzo, Legislative Aide to Councilman Sheldon

~*~

Democrats.Com Writes: Let's Draft Ed Schultz for Senate

From the inbox ~

North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan's decision to retire was terrible news. Dorgan always stood with working families, and led the fight against Wall Street deregulation that caused the crash of 2008 and the current Great Recession. Dorgan will be difficult to replace, but there's one outstanding candidate who can do it: Ed Schultz, host of The Ed Show on MSNBC.

Ed Schultz has made his career fighting for average Americans. He adamantly refuses to cater to the Washington Elite - either Republicans or Democrats. He simply fights for what's right, and does it with passion.

Let's draft Ed Schultz for Senate! http://www.democrats.com/ed-schultz-for-senate For the past year, Ed Schultz led the fight for real healthcare reform: Medicare for All, or at least a robust public option. Night after night, he pushed Democratic leaders in Congress to deliver real reform. Because of corporate sellouts like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson, Ed Schultz could not win this fight from outside the Senate. But with Ed Schultz on the inside , the American people would have a ighting chance.

The American people need Ed Schultz in the Senate. Ed, we urge you to run!

~*~

Markell Touts Diane Clarke Streett For Delaware's Superior Court

I like what I have seen and heard from our New Castle County Register of Wills over the years so I relish the news that she's been tapped by Jack Markell for a seat on the Superior Court. Diane Clarke Streett is everything I would wish in an officer of the court. She is humble, respectful of her constituents, smart, hardworking and just a decent soul through and through.

Good On Ya, Jack! Good On Ya, Diane!

(presser)

Markell Will Nominate Diane Clarke Streett To Serve On Superior Court
Streett has Served as State Prosecutor, Asst. United States Attorney, City Solicitor Public Defender and Counsel to Senate and House Committees

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell announced Thursday that he will nominate Diane Clarke Streett of Wilmington to serve as a judge of the Superior Court.

“Diane has the right set of experiences to be a very effective judge on the Superior Court,” Markell said. “She was a prosecutor for many years before becoming a defense attorney. As City Solicitor for Wilmington, she led the city’s law department. Diane has been at the forefront of change during her more than 30 years practicing law. If confirmed, I am sure she will bring that same record of achievement to our Superior Court.”

Streett received her undergraduate and law school degrees from Cornell University. Since then, her varied career has included service as a state prosecutor in Brooklyn, New York, where she was a member of New York’s first sex crimes unit, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C. She also served as assistant counsel in the United States Congress, advising the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Criminal Justice. She has served as City Solicitor of Wilmington and was a Senior Assistant Public Defender for more than ten years. Streett has been the Register of Wills for New Castle County since 2001.

“I’m honored that Governor Markell has chosen to nominate me,” Streett said. “I have spent my career trying to make a difference in the lives of others. If I am confirmed, I will work hard to make a difference for Delawareans as a member of Superior Court.”

A photo and more detailed bio of Streett is available at her website: http://nccde.org/wills/home/

~*~

Angie Basicoonsie To Take Her Rightful Place At The Government Trough, She's Been Sucking From It Long Enough

A little birdie told me that Angie Baicoonsie is movin'on up. In a few weeks she'll be collecting a county paycheck at $75 clams per annum or thereabouts. Yup, the Basicoosie's been hired by her honey, the County Executive himself. So, county taxes will be paying her directly to publish Coons' pressers. At least we won't be subjected to boot lickin' trash like this any longer ~ Coons won't replace Beau Biden New Castle County [uh, Angie, jumping past the DEM primary a tad, are we?]

Executive Chris Coons recently ended speculation by confirming that he will not seek the office of state attorney general when the seat occupied by Beau Biden comes up in 2010. Coons is an attorney with a law degree from Yale who served as in-house counsel for W.L. Gore & Associates for eight years before becoming council president. He was senior editor of the Yale Law Journal and clerked for the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. But Coons, who is in his second and final term as county executive, said he is committed to staying where voters put him. Plus, he wants to keep working on the county's most pressing issues.Coons, a Democrat, said he's ready to throw his support behind the Democratic name on the ballot.

~*~

Let's Not Follow Bushco Into Yemen, Please

via DKos ~

Georgie Anne Geyer cautions against actions being taken against
Yemen and says:

This is what I think history, written a half-century or even a quarter-century from now, will say of all this:

"The United States began the 21st century as the pre-eminent and ndisputedly greatest power in the world. It was the center of science, earning and innovation. Its democratic system was the envy of much of the world, which engaged in different experiments in governance but basically always used the American experience as its systemic and structural basis."

Then, after one attack on New York City in which several thousand Americans tragically died, the United States embarked upon a series of ill-thought-out military adventures across the world that took it into small country after small country, never understanding that its very resence turned people against it. It lost the modesty of its founding fathers, who vowed not to meddle abroad, and began to dream of 'nation-building.'

But in the end, it only de-energized and impoverished its own country, as Asia and particularly China moved in on all levels with economic and diplomatic tools to grasp world leadership."

There were many other ways we could have responded to 9/11 besides all-out wars, such as police and intelligence actions against particular al-Qaida actors, but those paths were not chosen.

~*~

What's Going On With Freddie And Frannie? We Should Be Asking Why They've Become An Unchecked, Unlimited Executive Branch Asset

FDL's David Dayen reports ~ Barney Frank’s Shocking Admission On Fannie And Freddie

The role of Fannie and Freddie today bears no resemblance to the historical role through the decades. Fannie and Freddie came late to the housing bubble and only suffered because they were made to run like a Wall Street firm, massively over-speculating and over-leveraging. Today, as Frank rightly says, Fannie and Freddie are being used as a policy instrument, as an alternative apparatus to financing housing and supporting prices for housing. The uncapping of their debt limit for three years offers an opportunity for Treasury to use them to buy up bad securities from banks, to puchase mortgages whole, or basically whatever they want.

The problem with that is that the GSEs (government-sponsored entities) have effectively no oversight, and Treasury’s free hand to operate with Fannie and Freddie represents a stunning shift of control away from the legislative branch and toward the executive branch. Frank may actually be defending the Administration in this instance, but he should properly be horrified that there are virtually no checks on what Treasury can do with these two companies.

In a great piece, Matt Taibbi explains how partisan politics has limited the scope of inquiry into the failures by basically everyone in the financial system, both public and private.

Meanwhile, Dayen covers the Treasury Department’s uncapping of the debt limit for mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in his post, Waxman On Fannie/Freddie Bailout: “Must Be Conditions Imposed”

While Waxman didn’t appear to know much about the decision, his initial reaction was pretty interesting. “I don’t like the idea of a blank check,” said Waxman, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “What’s even more troubling about this is that Fannie and Freddie are given the imprimatur of being a government entity when they’re not. So I don’t like blank checks. There must be conditions imposed.”

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has promised oversight hearings on the lifting of the cap, which he questioned as possibly “a back-door TARP”. Kucinich now apparently has an ally in Henry Waxman.

~*~

Twitter Buzz: Progressive Radio / MSNBC Talk Show Host, Ed Schultz, May Go For Byron Dorgan's Senate Seat!!

Via emptywheel's twitter ~

RT @lizzwinstead:
Whoa. ND Dems ask @WeGotEd to consider running for Dorgans seat! He just talked about it on MSNBC

More from emptywheel ~

Dorgan: We'll call it health reform and the end of the day, that's what you end up with: the highest prices in the world.

Dorgan: And we are told again and again and again that there's this phony excuse about safety. Just completely phony.

Dorgan: And if I sound a bit sick and tired of it I am. We've been going after this for 8 to 10 years.

Byron Dorgan, 12/15/09: This Congress vote after vote after vote has said 'we stand with the pharmaceutical industry & against competition.'

~*~

Rep. Bill Oberle Says "I'm Out!"

The story's on the Delaware House Minority twitter pages.

~*~

Hot Standby Mode For Nuclear Reactor Set Manually As Salem Unit Is "Put On Ice"

Frieda Berryhill writes ~ Unplug Salem - Salem put on ice

MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO LOSS OF CIRCULATORS AFTER UPTAKE OF RIVER ICE

"A manual trip of Salem Unit 2 was initiated due to a loss of 4 circulators due to an excessive uptake of river ice. Strong northwest winds, freezing temperatures and abnormally low tide levels contributed to the ice formation on the river. The operating crew entered EOP-TRIP-A, appropriately transitioned to EOP-TRIP-2 and stabilized the plant at no load conditions (MODE 3 Hot Stand-by).

"All rods fully inserted on the trip and all systems responded as designed with decay heat being removed via the Steam Dump system, with condenser vacuum maintained. All three AFW Pumps auto started due to low Steam Generator level due to closure of 21-23CN27, low pressure feed water heater inlet isolation valves. There were no other significant equipment challenges associated with the reactor trip.

"Salem Unit-2 is currently in mode 3. The Reactor Coolant System temperature is 547 [degrees] F with pressure at 2235 psig [NOT and NOP]. All ECCS and ESF Systems are available and no ECCS systems actuated during the event. No personnel injuries occurred as a result of the trip. [The Unit 2 reactor trip recovery is uncomplicated. ]."

Unit 1 power was also reduced to 80%. Although the combination of strong northwest winds, freezing temperatures and an abnormally low tide contributed to the ice formation on the river, operators foresee no further complication due to the ice conditions.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will notify the States of Delaware and New Jersey .

~*~

We Expect FOX News To Maintain RNC Talking Points*Yawn*

Media Matters writes ~ Quick Fact: Monica Crowley falsely claims "Republicans have been locked out" of health care debate "from the very beginning"

On Fox News' Happening Now, contributor Monica Crowley falsely claimed that "Republicans have been locked out" of the health care debate in the House and Senate "from the very beginning." In fact, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate Finance Committee bills contained nearly 200 Republican amendments.

~*~

Changes In The wind For Delaware Trash? Kudos To Governor Markell And Secretary O'Mara!!

WNJ reports ~

Gov. Jack Markell said recycling would remain voluntary for homes and businesses under the proposal, unlikely to take full effect before late 2011. But the governor said he would seek approval this year, and said the state should tap proceeds from a dysfunctional bottle-deposit program to subsidize initial program costs.

"The plan I'm putting forward is comprehensive and practical. It's designed to significantly increase recycling, to reduce the burden on businesses, to create jobs and to minimize waste costs," Markell said as supportive legislators, waste haulers and environmental group representatives looked on.

Delaware's large private waste haulers and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority have publicly endorsed the idea, as have some environmental group leaders. The show of solidarity capped more than 30 years of see-saw battling over waste and recycling policies and years of snail-paced gains in efforts to divert trash from landfills. Delaware now has a 51 percent recycling goal, but currently recycles about 30 percent of its wastes.

"We are clearly a way from making that goal, and arguably our goal should be even higher," Markell said, adding that recycling efforts are justified by both economics and environmental benefits.

(presser)

Markell Proposes Statewide Curbside Recycling
For All In Delaware, At No Additional Cost
Proposal Would Change Bottle Deposit System

Gov. Jack Markell Tuesday announced a “universal recycling” proposal to bring curbside recycling to every home and business in Delaware without putting an additional cost to consumers.

“The plan I’m putting forward is comprehensive and practical, designed to dramatically increase recycling, reduce burdens on businesses, create jobs and restrain waste costs,” Gov. Markell said.

Under the framework announced by the Governor:

· All private waste haulers and municipalities would be required to provide curbside recycling service, including a dedicated recycling container and collection at least once every other week. Households and businesses would not be mandated to recycle, but they would have a recycling container and pickup provided to them.

· The current 5-cent-per-bottle returnable bottle deposit would be modernized and transitioned over time to a 2-cent-per-bottle fee. This fee would only apply to beverage containers currently covered by the bottle deposit. The fee would no longer be a returnable deposit and retailers would no longer be required to collect returned bottles. The revenue from the bottle fee would go to help haulers and municipalities with the startup costs of curbside recycling, including helping with the purchasing of recycling containers for homeowners, new vehicles, and other recycling infrastructure.

· The increase in recycling and corresponding reduction in solid waste needing to be landfilled would mean savings to haulers and municipalities from the money they would need to pay the Delaware Solid Waste Authority for use of landfills. This cost avoidance, plus the assistance with startup costs funded through the bottle fee, is expected to make universal recycling cost-neutral to consumers

“The modernized bottle bill will not only continue to fulfill its original purpose of keeping bottles out of the trash, but it will provide the means to increase recycling of all materials over the next several years,” Gov. Markell said. “Making recycling convenient and available to every household in the state is a goal that has long been sought, but the cost has always been prohibitive. However, we believe it is now achievable for no more than consumers will already be paying for trash service, by combining it with the change to the bottle bill.”

Gov. Markell made the announcement from a conference room with a view of the Cherry Island landfill, which will receive less trash if recycling is increased in Delaware. The announcement was attended by representatives of number of groups with a stake in recycling and the bottle bill who are supportive of the Governor’s concept, including municipalities, waste haulers, food retailers, recycling advocates and legislators.

Other aspects of the proposal include:

· TheDelaware Solid Waste Authority would transition out of the business of curbside recycling, which it currently subsidizes at a level between $6 million and $10 million annually. While not preventing the current proposed tipping fee increase, this reduced cost would reduce the need for future increases. A need for future landfill expansion and possible reduction or elimination of the drop-off recycle program would provide additional cost reduction.

· Private waste haulers and municipalities would be provided a target for recycling rates and would face a penalty for not meeting their target. Along with lowering their landfilling costs, these targets would provide haulers and municipalities a reason to aggressively encourage recycling among their customers.

· The Recycling Public Advisory Council, which exists by executive order, would be established in code and provided the role of measuring and monitoring the recycling rates among haulers and municipalities.

· Once fully implemented, the proposal for universal recycling has the potential to create jobs in Delaware. Additional collection by waste haulers and municipalities may create the need for an additional 150 to 200 new jobs and another 100 to 200 jobs could be created by the increased demand for separating and sorting recycled materials.

· The bottle deposit is proposed to be converted to a fee in 2010, with the universal recycling requirement taking effect for haulers and municipalities to be determined, though no sooner than late 2011 or early 2012.

“This plan for universal recycling is a significant step forward for our state, solving the challenge of offering recycling at their home to everyone in the state, without any additional cost above what they will already be paying to throw out all their trash,” Gov. Markell said. “Now, our plan will be to work with all those I’ve mentioned to create the legislation needed, present it to the General Assembly and to bring universal recycling to Delaware.”

~*~

Progressive Change Campaign Committee Fights Back; Asks For Your Help To Keep Byron Dorgan In The Senate

From the inbox ~

Hi, this is Robert Haider -- a PCCC fellow. My senator, Byron Dorgan (D-ND), announced today that he plans to retire after 2010. We need Byron Dorgan. He consistently fights for the little guy against big corporations, even when other Democrats won't.

It may be a long shot...but if thousands of us tell Byron Dorgan we need him to keep fighting for us, maybe he'll reconsider. I just posted on Daily Kos about this, and included video of Sen. Dorgan predicting the current financial crisis 10 years ago.

Can you recommend this post on Daily Kos? Thanks!, Robert Haider, PCCC campaigner (from Grand Forks, ND)

Tell Senator Dorgan Don't Retire!!
[To recommend look for the "tip jar" in the comments and click onto the box next to recommend]
Comment rescue mine: Dorgan - WE NEED YA, BABE ~

I was wondering if an outreach would change his mind. He is said to be 20 points behind in polling against the charismatic GOPer governor. And who can't imagine how sick and tired he is at the dirty dealings he stares down every day down there.

Did Dorgan get Rahmbo threats because of his public accusations about the FDA 'lettergate' timeline that boiled down to reimportation fearmongering. Did his pushback against Tom Carper's hold on his bill after he had the votes to pass it boil down to a disgust so deep he wants to quit? Dorgan is going to need money as much as encouraging pleas to return for the fight. I would bet that the people like Rahm Emanuel and Tom Carper are working hard to punish him. That's how they roll.

Having said that, Byron Dorgan is one of the most honest, the smartest and most courageous souls on the Beltway and I can't imagine the Senate without him. I will do what ever I can to help the PCCC in this heady attempt.

Read more about Tom Carper's role in keeping Byron Dorgan down HERE , HERE and here ~ Ruh Roh, Carper Is Smack In The Middle Of A Brewing Scandal Over Allegedly "Faked" FDA Letter "Probably Drafted Somewhere Else, Like The White House"

~*~

Whereupon Kavips Gets Inside Bob Gilligan's Head And Finds That DEMs Won't Tax The Rich Because It'd Bite The Delaware Hands That Feed Them?

mmmm ~

if I were in [State House Speaker Gilligan's] shoes, I would do the exact same thing… A man needs to get re-elected. And if the population is illiterate and unknowing of all the details, then you had better follow the money if you want to continue to hold power…. And that is what he is doing…

In 1999, 6180 people earned over $200,000 in income. (2.1%) Almost all of those individuals contributed to fund Delaware’s election the following year. Logically, House Speaker Bob Gilligan, along with his compatriot in the Senate, Tony De Luca, knows most of those 6180 people by face and probably half by name. He knows them far better than he knows his constituents living up and down the second street behind his home…

Were I in his shoes, I too would support my friends who got me elected… I too would have to say “no” to taxes in 2010, and trust that my constituents living two blocks behind me, would follow my lead… After all, they never read anything but the News Journal anyway, so my bet on their continued ignorance, is a pretty safe one….

~*~

Oops? New National Guard Recruitment Spot Has That "Nazi Feel"

Watch it and decide for yourself ~ Frightening and Creepy National Guard Ad

In images and music that evoke Nazi Germany, the ad, titled "At This Moment" is such an orgy of militarization-worship, it has to been seen to be believed.

With a comment rescue ~

But the music is genuine Nazi...Karl Orff wrote it in the 1930s, and it was used extensively in Nazi propaganda. It is the music that creeps people out, not the video.

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National Park Service Designation Is Newest Snag For New England's Off Shore Wind Farm

Unfettered view of Cape Cod sunrise is a protected religious rite? huh, and this for a tribe that is vying for a casino.

NYT reports ~

Known as Cape Wind, the project is the nation’s first planned offshore wind farm and would cover 24 square miles in the sound, an area roughly the size of Manhattan. The park service decision [that Nantucket Sound was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places ]came in response to a request from two Massachusetts Indian tribes, [the Mashpee Wampanoag of Cape Cod and the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Martha’s Vineyard ] who said the 130 proposed wind turbines would thwart their spiritual ritual of greeting the sunrise, which requires unobstructed views across the sound, and disturb ancestral burial grounds.

...Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, [whose name translates to “people of the first light” ] said the decision confirmed “what the Wampanoag people have known for thousands of years: that Nantucket Sound has significant archaeological, historic and cultural values and is sacred to our people.”

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Laurel School District's Finance Director Resigned Last Month When Confronted With Evidence Of Theft; No Police Have Been Contacted To Date

Isn't Tom Wagner supposed to closely audit the school district's finances? Why didn't this alleged theft get reported to the police immediately? This is a tale of incredible incompetence ~

The Laurel School Board accepted the resignation of former finance director William S. Hitch Jr. on Dec. 16 after district officials confronted Hitch about the alleged theft.

...[Laurel Superintendent John] McCoy said that when he contacted the school district's lawyer, the legal recommendation was to contact the state education agency. There, officials suggested he contact the state auditor.

...State Rep. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, said he was concerned that district officials turned to state education officials and the auditor rather than police for assistance.

Ya think? (don't forget to read the comments)

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Delaware Liberal Has A Must Read Post: "Democrats Losing Control Of The State House Of Representatives"?

El Somnambulo writes ~ Has Delaware’s 2010 Biggest Political Blunder Already Taken Place?

(via Unstable Isotope) [Gilligan] said point blank that they are not going to raise taxes again. Therefore the budget gap is going to be closed by slashing programs. He didn’t know if state workers were going to take another hit, but he thought that they probably wouldn’t get their pay cut back next year. The state programs mentioned by Gilligan were the following:
- Medicaid – Gilligan discussed the “Missouri solution” which was to toughen Medicaid eligibility

- Universities – Gilligan said that three state universities were a lot for a state with a population of less than 1M people.

- SEED – Gilligan stated that the state now pays for 15 years of school: full day Kindergarten, grades 1-12 and 2 years of college at Del Tech

- Parks – Gilligan stated that the state took over some of the city/county parks in the last decade which has added to the budget woes.

With a comment rescue ~

Gilligan’s list normally would be the “scare” list: “Here’s what we have to cut if we don’t raise taxes.” Normally this is what you say to bring Repubs to the table on tax increases. But by taking tax increases off the table, he botched the tactic.

Dems should call Republicans’ bluff, but first get into a stronger position, a couple of ways:
1. Enact some tough Democratic spending cuts (i.e., not Gilligan’s list). We have to do it anyway by June, so why not do it early and do it our way, rather than appearing to do it under Repub pressure?
2. The first round of cuts won’t be enough, so challenge Repubs to come up with more spending cuts and hang the cuts around their necks. Repubs are always crying about spending cuts, so force them to run on a platform of specific cuts. When you ask Repubs about spending cuts, they never respond by suggesting specific programs and services to be cut. Instead, they have this miasma of ideas for “savings” that don’t actually cut any services. When it comes to making hard decisions about cutting programs and services, they expect Dems to take the heat.
3. Co-opt some of their talking points. Here’s one: They are always going on about the purchasing system, and the waste and lack of accountability with the checkwriting and credit cards. Well, don’t look now but Delaware has a new accounting system initiated by Democrats; when the hell is that coming on line? When it does, Markell needs to create a web site to analyze and loudly brag about the savings. Do it before Repubs claim it was their idea.
4. Get some more Federal money in here to help out the counties and the state. Take credit for it, making reference to specific services that Repubs wanted to cut but were saved by Dems.
5. About the time Delaware is figuring out its budget this spring, Washington will wake up and confront the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Assuming Obama decides to keep his campaign promise to keep the cuts for the middle class (not a sure thing by any stretch), at that time Congress will be debating a specific bill that cuts taxes for the middle class but includes no cuts for the rich. Dems in Congress will have the good fortune to be sponsoring a tax cut bill; all they have to do is dodge mischevious Repub amendments to add back cuts for the rich. The point is, this summer the nation will (hopefully) be debating how much more the rich should be taxed. Delaware should be mirroring that debate. Unortunately we will be debating a tax increase bill rather than a tax cut bill, but those are the breaks.

And add to that this Rasmussen report ~ Voters Agree Only on Taxing The Rich To Pay for Health Care Plan

When it comes to paying for the cost of the proposed health care reform plan, voters are okay with taxing the rich but strongly reject cuts in Medicare and excise taxes on “Cadillac” health plans provided by employers.

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Congress Will Bypass Conference; Harry "I Am Not Bound By That [White House-PhRMA] Agreement" Waxman Will Fight To Lower Cost Of Prescription Drugs

There's news on the health care conferencing process (or the bypassing of conference as the case may be). David Dayen says that Harry Waxman is sticking to his guns in fighting Obama's PhaRMA deal ~

“The differences on the health bill will be hard to reconcile,” Waxman said to about 175 people at the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club. “But that’s our job.”

Discussions are beginning early on the health care bill, although the House is not returning to session until January 12, and the Senate not until a week later. This will not be a traditional conference committee, Waxman said, because the motions to select and instruct conferees in the Senate “would need 60 votes all over again.” Instead, whatever agreements made could be packaged in an amendment to the bills passed by the House and Senate.

While many observers expect the Senate bill to remain largely intact following the conference negotiations, Waxman vowed to fight hard on at least one issue: prescription drugs. “The President and the Senate made very poor deals with PhRMA,” Waxman said, explaining the deal whereby the drug industry offered $80 billion dollars in givebacks in exchange for their support for the overall bill. “Rahm (Emanuel) said that’s OK,” Waxman said, but he noted that under the deal, the industry would get millions of new customers and Americans would still pay far more than the rest of the industrialized world for prescription drugs.

“I have said that I am not bound by that agreement,” Waxman said, noting all the provisions in the House bill which go further than the PhRMA deal.

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Mother Jones Has Plucked The Wingnut Congressional Republican Gold For 2009 Stupid

This is seriously funny all the more because it's true ~ Fools on the Hill: A scorecard

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On Retooling Reagan's Failed Supply Side And Trickle Down Morning In America

Marcos has written a manifesto for America's recovery over at the lake ~ Its the Stupid Economy, Stupid!

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Phillip Bannowsky Writes: Roosevelt's WPA And Today's Artists

From the inbox ~

Friends,
No one has done more to promote a progressive vision in contemporary Delaware literature than Steven Leech, who continues his exploration of progressive roots in his latest posting at the Broken Turtle Blog entitled “Why We Should and How We Can Preserve Our Local Literatures (part 2).”

Leech proposes “a kind of proletarian rediscovery of a nearly lost aspect of American literature” through study of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Tour Guides, published during the Franklyn D. Roosevelt administration and archived at the University of Delaware.

Many of Leech’s stories and personal reflections on Delaware and its political/cultural scene are gathered in Pinhead Magazine.

Steven Leech wrote the introduction to the Delaware Heritage Commission’s 2006 reprinting of Delaware: A Guide to the First State, by the Federal Writers Project of 1938. Leech’s father was a writer with the federal Writers Project.

Join the discussion at Broken Turtle Blog today, and visit the Dreamstreets Archive, site of thirty years of contemporary progressive Delaware literature.
Peace and solidarity,
Phillip Bannowsky

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Peter Jesson Writes: Please Offer Lodging For An Out-Of-State Sestak Campaign Volunteer

From the inbox ~ Does anyone in Northern New Castle County have a room to spare?

I hope you had a good Christmas holiday. I wanted to get in touch with you because the Sestak For Senate campaign is adding new staff beginning on January 4th and we are looking for any supporters here locally who might be willing to host a campaign staffer, either permanently or temporarily.

Finding supporter housing for campaign staff is always difficult, but it is extremely important. In most cases these people are young (early 20s) and will be dedicating all of their time to helping to elect Congressman Sestak. We are looking for anybody who has a guest or spare bedroom that they would be willing to donate to the campaign for one of these staffers. Many of our current staff are already staying with supporters, and I can tell you that they will rarely be home and simply need a private space to sleep and access to a bathroom.

If you know of anybody who might be willing to host a staffer for any period of time, or could help spread the word to anybody who might be interested, I would really appreciate it.

Please don't hesitate to pass along my information as well if anybody has any questions.
Thank you,

Rich Culbert
Sestak For Senate
610.891.8956 (o); 703.431.2221 (c)
Rich.Culbert@JoeSestak.com

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The Nerve Of A Greedy Landowner Who Would Destroy An Entire Ecosystem By Clearcutting Of Apex Forest In Sussex Decried

A letter published in the Cape Gazette ~ Movie ‘Avatar’ teaches a local lesson

These are just some thoughts on the new movie “Avatar.” Be reminded that it is science fiction. It cost an incredible $300 million to make. That is a lot of money. I don’t endorse spending that kind of money on a movie for chrissake; after all it is just a movie if you ask me, but, I have to say that the overall message is priceless.

The film has something to do with an unspoiled world that is interconnected. I mean all living things (intelligent beings, predators, leaf eaters, trees, vegetables) are connected with the next. It’s called symbiosis, I think. Sound familiar? Don’t you know a world where that used to be true?

Anyway, it seems that there’s some mineral located on that world that humans from Earth want so they proceed to mine and take what they want. It’s about economic gain. The word corporation was mentioned. Wall Street was not but I am taking the opportunity to stick that in; forgive me. To make a long story short (ironic, the movie is three hours long), the exploiters - the miners - run into a bit of resistance from indigenous locals. The struggle that ensues is something you should experience from the movie. Whether there is a happy ending or not depends on whose side you’re on. Just remember - we’re talking Hollywood here.

How does this relate to us here in southern Delaware? Hmmm. Has anybodynoticed the clearcutting of Apex forest anywhere near Route 24? Has anyone noticed clearcut deforestation anywhere throughout Sussex? I mean, not just cutting selected trees like a steward of the land should do, but rather clearcut destruction of habitat. I’d be interested to know what laws, if any, protect the land from this kind of catastrophe.

Not that I’m a tree-hugger or anything (I actually am; I love trees), and not that I presume to tell anybody who owns a beautiful forest what they can or cannot do with it - I’d simply be curious to know just what kind of person does these things. What kind of heartless, anti-asthetic, hateful, juvenile money-loving schmuck would destroy an entire ecosystem, and then have the nerve to put a for-sale sign on it.

Human behavior never ceases to amaze me. Destruction of habitat, or at the least total destruction of habitat, should be discouraged in Delaware. That probably isn’t about to happen since those that control these things appear to be in on the decision-making process, and/or are in on the profit machine at the expense of other living beings. But, I’ve got to say, if you really want to know that I, for one, believe that the tree killers should at least be reprimanded in public. Not that it would make a difference or anything.

B.W. Price, Georgetown

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Delaware State Legislators Must Get A Grip On The "Hidden Cost" Of The Development Industry

If you appreciated Mike Mock's rebuttal to Sandra Ware, both published in the Delaware Voice editorial columns of the WNJ last week, you will want to take a look at the follow-up analysis provided by Chuck Mulholland of the Southern New Castle County Alliance on the StayOutOfMyPocket website yesterday (in the forums) ~

This appeared as a Delaware Voice column in the News Journal on January 2, 2010. It is unknown if any member of New Castle County government has read this piece, comprehends the law of supply and demand, or really cares a whit about the existing property owners.

We can, however, document below that there is a reason they follow the same time worn path of approving pretty much everything that comes before them, or "serial approvals", in Mocks words. This statement is also time sensitive due to the escalating concern in northern New Castle County over (2) land use issues that have appeared recently in the News Journal.
Watch the dollar flow (.pdf) ~ Realty Transfer Tax to New Castle County (RTT) chart 2001-2009
Realty Transfer Tax column #1 - State bonded debt column #2
2001 - $19,595,702 ................ $653,700,000
2002 - $22,780,367................. $709,900,000
2003 - $29,232,003................. $854,600,000
2004 - $33,355,682................. $1,012,500,000 BILLION PLUS
2005 - $36,404,967................. $1,026,900,000
2006 - $40,407,088 ................ $1,045,200,000
2007 - $35,410,126 ................. $1,310,900,000 [2007 is the year that New Castle County officials accelerated efforts to produce an "Affordable Housing" ordinance. Does the $4,997,000 (1) year decrease in RTT have any impact on their plans?]

2008 - $32,040,435 ................. $1,376,000,000 [February 2008 New Castle County adopts Ordinance 07-150, which results in submission of over 4300 new residential units for construction. Does the continued drop in RTT, another (1) year drop of $3,370,000, have any impact on New Castle County's expectations?...]

2009 - $16,838,952.................. $1,469,300,000 [2009 New Castle County raises property taxes 25% to cover budget shortfalls, yet every report since then confirms New Castle County still has a "structural budget deficit". Does RTT drive too much of the county's mindset? Is this a proven business model? Is it sustainable? Can the State of Delaware afford to keep piling on debt to backstop such "serial" land use approvals?]

Our State bonded debt now stands at $1,662,200,000 for FY 2010.

Chuck goes on to link this frighteningly large increase in state debt to 1999 when the state voted to increase the county and municipal revenue percentages drawn from the realty transfer tax [our local politicians-developer-land owners got greedy, the legis kept bonding the debt and our state bureaucrats ok'd every project that came across their desks, saying 'nothing to see here, folks, move along'] ~

According to the various pages of the County's financial reports, the shift in the RTT, allowing the county's and municipalities a larger share, was triggered in 1999. From the historical data available above, note that the State's bonded debt in 2001 was $1,653,700,000, and now stands increased by $1,008,500,000 in a (9) year period. "Business as usual"As Mike Mock stated, there is an abundance of approved lots.

In the (2 [WFH]) subdivisions listed in the prior post one can observe hundreds and hundreds of approved, yet unbuilt lots. To Mock's point, when will they be absorbed, especially since it's been years since their original approval, yet the land use councils aren't slowing down.The dropping home values and escalating percentage of underwater mortgages, as well as the pending 237 pending foreclosures scheduled for January 12, 2010 in New Castle County notwithstanding.... It also appears that the cost of providing roads and schools made necessary by repeated residential approvals has borne heavily on State debt. And they are still doing business as usual.

Chuck revealed that Delaware is listed as the 9th worst in the U.S. in tax collection at -17.9% and Leann Ferguson also posted about the controversial Work Force Housing ordinance ~
"Pay to Play in New Castle County"?

Check out this information on Work Force Housing. Find out about Council President Paul Clark's wife Pamela Scott's changes to the WFH language and who benefits. http://www.delawaretalkradio.com/talkblo...y-council/

Let us know what you think of her involvement and Clark's voting "YES" on WFH on 2-26-08. Do you think this is a clear case of conflict of interest?

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Delaware Liberal Contributor, Liberal Geek, Sees The Violent Raping Of Children In Sussex As Good News And A Political Opportunity For DEMs. Nice.

I don't even want to link to the post. Liberal Geek's most humble opinion is that the horror stories in Sussex may have a favorable result for Attorney General Biden's political career. I spotted the post on twitter this morning ~

delawareBNN
DelawareLiberal.Net: Good News, Bad News for Beau Biden: It was a bad December
in Sussex county in the last two wee... http://bit.ly/4qDgRR

Here's my comment rescued (you can get the gist of what an impossible ass I believe this Geek guy to be) ~

Only a Delaware Lib would be so despicably political about the horrible fate of young children at the hands of a monster. TONE DEAF MUCH? OPPORTUNIST on the backs of a horror story? The best chance for Biden to SHINE. Geek, your sense of the pulse of politics has never shown more clearly what a poor judge you are. This post is supremely inappropriate and an embarrassment and an affront to all decent Delawareans. I am so sure that AG Biden appreciates this trash post. Christ.

Meanwhile, I had to listen to two conservative pollsters, Charlie Cook and Stu Rothenberg, on C-SPAN's Washington Journal this morning discuss Mike Castle vs Beau Biden in serious tones, both men advising that 2010 is not the year that they would want to run for Senate with the name of Biden and how Beau should wait another four years. Yeah. Riiiiiight. They claimed that Mike Castle can't be painted as anything but a moderate. I would beg to differ based on his voting record.

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Funny How Corporate Types Can Hate Social Safety Nets As Much As They Love Their Corporate Welfare Programs: On Pete Peterson's Unseemly Desires

I saw a half a dozen blogs referencing this story the other day so I was glad to read that a major pushback is underway to stop the Washington Post's cozy new arrangement with the maniacal anti-social entitlement billionaire Pete Peterson. [read: (pdf) "The False Messiah: Pete Peterson’s Revelations Are Not Gospel"]
David Dayen reports ~ "The Washington Post recently entered into a content sharing agreement to run Fiscal Times stories on their news page. So a man dedicated to fraying the nation’s social safety net now has real estate on one of the nation’s most prominent newspapers, and if this initial story is any indication, will use it to push a deficit-mania agenda as a means to subvert legislative procedure and create momentum for major cutbacks. It’s essentially a buyout of a national news section.

The pushback ~

Dozens of prominent economists have now written a letter to the Washington Post’s ombudsman, protesting the use of Fiscal Times stories in the news section and calling for an end to the content sharing agreement. The effort has been spearheaded by Nancy Altman, author of the book The Battle for Social Security, who has spent her career working on economic security issues. She drafted the letter, which you can find below. In an interview with FDL News, Altman explained her problems with the Washington Post using a Pete Peterson-funded outlet as a content generator.

“What immediately comes to mind is the scandal a few years back when I recall that it came to light that the Bush administration was circulating stories and video that were being run by news outlets as straight news stories,” Altman said. “Obviously, those issuing press releases love for their words to be printed unchanged. The Fiscal Times is not an independent news source, but an entity funded by Peterson, a man with a clear point of view and an agenda.”

The letter is part of a larger effort to rebut the Peterson Foundation’s money and influence with pushback from multiple angles. As the letter notes, over 40 organizations, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Common Cause, NAACP, National Organization for Women and SEIU, have objected to the deficit commission which the Fiscal Times article and Peterson’s organizations in general have promoted. The commission would consist of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans and would have its recommendations automatically acted upon by Congress with an up-or-down vote, without the ability to amend them. The Conrad-Gregg Commission, devised by the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, would make that up-or-down vote a super-majority in both the
House and the Senate, which would actually make it harder to pass the recommendations than regular legislation. However, it would clearly outsource the functions of the legislative branch to an unelected committee, and critics fear that the Peterson noise machine would lead to major entitlement cutbacks rather than a balanced way of dealing with long-term deficits.

“I have heard, but have no idea if it is accurate, that the Peterson forces plan to spend $50 million to influence the vote on the Conrad-Gregg commission proposal, scheduled, I understand, for a vote on January 20,” said Altman, echoing a point made in the Fiscal Times article about an upcoming amendment for the commission that would be tacked on to the next vote raising the nation’s debt limit.

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