Milford Democratic Town Committee blogs

House spending bill slashes environmental protections

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:05:07 -0500

By Eric W. Dolan
Monday, July 25th, 2011 -- 7:56 pm

Environmental groups are aghast at proposed legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which they claim is "larded up with giveaways to polluters and corporate donors."

The U.S. House of Representatives began debate Monday on the Fiscal Year 2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The House Appropriations Committee approved the legislation by a 28 to 18 vote on July 12, allotting $27.5 billion in spending for the Department of the Interior, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Service, and various related agencies.

The legislation includes an 18 percent funding cut for the EPA and a 7 percent cut for the Department of the Interior.

"The House of Representatives, led by anti-environmental Republicans, are sharpening their knives to gut key health and wildlife protections that could benefit millions of Americans," Marty Hayden, Vice President of Policy and Legislation at Earthjustice, said in a statement. "These are no small cuts; this is a complete butchering of environmental safeguards."

The Attack on the Middle Class

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:13:56 -0600

So, at the same time that the governors of Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and New Jersey are demanding more and public-private union employee sacrifices, the Republicans in Washington are using the budget fight to roll back the rights and protections of American workers. Their spending priorities and so-called continuing resolution of last week showed their hand. They (Republicans) voted to take away the workers' ability to repeal unjust and unfair and illegal actions in the workplace by getting rid of the national labor relations board. They voted to undermine the wages of construction workers. They voted to rollback workplace and safety protections guarantee by federal law. All of this while protecting the corporate interest they have sought to cut education funding and critical support for workers and the need for job training, and, yes, even kids in Head Start. These rights and services help to build and sustain our nation's middle class in the last century, making the United States the greatest economic power in the history of the world. TRANSCRIPT

House GOP Proposed Cuts to Education

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:24:22 -0600

Title 1, Head Start, Special Education, Pell Grants are just a few areas that the House GOP propose to cut in the upcoming federal education budget.

House GOP Looks to Slash Education Spending

But it's not just the low income and special education children that will be targeted. The GOP is taking a sledge hammer to education funding.

PROMISES MADE, PROMISES BROKEN

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 08:00:46 -0600

When the new Republican majority took control over the U.S. of Representatives this week, not only did they break some of their Pledge to America, they broke their own rules as to how they would conduct the "people's" business.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow noted Thursday that the party had only been in power for some 33 hours when they had already made, by her count, at least eight serious missteps.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/maddow-gop-declares-war-promises/

Maybe the Republicans were just kidding.

CONGRATULATIONS

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:40:30 -0500

Congratulations to all of the candidates on their victories,to all of volunteers on their hard work and to all of the voters who came out to cast their votes.

U.S. Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal

U.S. Representative Rosa L. DeLauro

Governor-elect Dan Malloy

Lt. Governor-elect Nancy Wyman

Attorney General-elect George Jepsen

Secretary of the State-elect Denise Merrill

Treasurer Denise L. Nappier

Comptroller-elect Kevin Lembo

State Senator (14) Gayle Slossberg

State Representative (117) Paul Davis

State Representative-elect (118) Kim Rose

State Representative (119) Richard Roy

Judge of Probate Beverly Streit-Kefalas

Democratic Registrar of Voters Antoinette Carey

****The certification of the official results is scheduled to take place on November 25, 2010.****

VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 06:06:55 -0500

All over the U.S. Democrats have been outspent. Whether it's by self-funded millionaire candidates (Linda McMahon/Tom Foley) or shadow groups funded by billionaires (Crossroads GPS = Karl Rove) or global business organizations (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), Republican candidates and their surrogates have spent millions of dollars in this election cycle.

"Citizen's United" Supreme Court ruling stating that corporations are people allowed this to happen. Corporations may be considered "people" under this ruling and therefore allowed to influence the elections through money and advertising, but in this election, we still have something they don't have under their control.

******We have the right, privilege and the ability to vote.******

Vote for People over Profits.

Vote for smart government over the privatization or defunding of government services.

Vote for people who believe that the government must work for the common good.

Vote Row B for the Democratic Team.

Is This What the The Republicans Want to Repeal?

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:39:32 -0500

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW HEALTH CARE LAW

1. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES: What are health insurance Exchanges, and when do they launch?

2. PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS: What is the Patient's Bill of Rights and how does it affect me?

3. PRE-EXISTING CONDITION INSURANCE PLAN: How do I know if I qualify and apply for insurance under this new program?

4. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS: Which small businesses qualify for health insurance tax credits, and how do I know if my business qualifies?

5. SENIORS AND MEDICARE RECIPIENTS: What actions are being taken under the Affordable Care Act to strengthen Medicare?

Find out what the new health care laws means for you.

What about the American People?

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:43:30 -0500

October 25, 2010

"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

-- Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in an interview with the National Journal, describing his goal in retaking the Senate.

link

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GOP says compromise not on the agenda if they retake the House

By Michael O'Brien - 10/22/10

Republicans aren't interested in compromising with President Obama on major issues if they retake the House or Senate, a senior GOP lawmaker said.

"Look, the time to go along and get along is over," said Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), the chairman of the House Republican Conference. "House Republicans know that.:

snip

Adding to the pressure on GOP leaders not to compromise will be the incoming class of conservative candidates backed by the Tea Party movement.

link

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What happened to creating jobs? What happened to governing on behalf of the American people?

Americans want action and help. We don't need more obstruction, delays and filibusters from the Party of "No".

Vote for the Democratic ticket on November 2nd.

The Right to Know

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:45:11 -0500

How Much Wealth Is Enough?

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:27:59 -0500

United States: Poverty Rate based on Household Income, 2009: 14.3%

United States: Families below poverty level: 9.20%

Connecticut: Poverty Rate based on Household Income, 2009: 8.4%

Milford, CT: Families below poverty level: 333 families or 2.4 % of the population

Milford, CT: Median Household Income: at the time of the last survey was $61,183. The median household income in the U.S. was $41,994.

Milford, CT: Median Family Income in Ithe last complete census survey, the median family income in the community was $71,226. Median family income in the U.S. was 50,046.

Milford, CT: Per Capita Income in Milford in the last full census was 28,882. Per capita income in the U.S. was 21,587.

http://www.americantowns.com/ct/milford-information

In America, the gap between the wealthiest Americans and the poorest Americans is tremendous. The Middle Class is disappearing.

When 1 in 7 people in America currently live in poverty, those benefiting from the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% can surely afford to have their “federal tax rate” increase from the current 35% (starting at $186,825 for individuals and $373,650 for couples) to 39.6% (individuals earning $200,000 and couples earning $250,000).

In other words, Under President Obama’s plan, all Americans would receive a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. Every middle class family would receive the immediate certainty and comfort of knowing their tax cuts were permanently extended. Every American making more than $250,000 per year they would receive a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income.

Election 2010

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:37:49 -0500

Haven't registered to vote yet? Know someone who wants to register? Need an absentee ballot? There's still time. Read on.

Voter Registration Forms are available at the following locations:

Registrar of Voters
(Parson's Complex, 70 West River Street)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

Go in person or request a form to be mailed to you and return it in person or mail back the completed form. Those registering to vote in person will receive confirmation upon registering. Those who mail in a completed voter registration application will receive confirmation through the mail.

City Clerk's Office
(Parson's Complex, 70 West River Street)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

Complete the form in person and the Registrar of Voter's office will retrieve it and when it has been accepted will send you a confirmation of registration.

Download Voter Registration Forms

English Language:

http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671.pdf

Spanish Language:

http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671sp.pdf

The Golden Rule vs. Survival of the Fittest

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:33:21 -0500

There is a great deal at stake in the 2010 election. Bottom line, it comes down to what are our core values as Americans? What kind of people do we want governing us?

Americans are angry, frightened and overwhelmed. People have to dig for news and facts and when they don't know who to believe, many don't believe anyone or in anything. And they don't vote.

If the people who voted to turn Congress over to the Democrats in 2006 and the presidency to Barack Obama in 2008, don't vote for Democrats in 2010, then the Republicans win.

I went to the GOP website to look at their platform. I compared it to an analysis of what Democrats believe. There are major differences between the two parties. While the Democrats are not perfect, at least they believe that the government and society has a responsibility to all of its citizens. The Republican platform puts individual interests above society as a whole.

Read below and make your own comparisons about the two parties. What political party represents your best interests?

Support The Keep Our Educators Working Act

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:16:13 -0500

On April 14, 2010 Senator Harkin Introduced A Bill to Keep Educators on the Job.

The Keep Our Educators Working Act Will Create an Education Jobs Fund.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 14, 2010, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and of the Senate Appropriations panel that funds education initiatives, introduced the Keep Our Educators Working Act. The bill will create a $23 billion Education Jobs Fund to help keep teachers, principals, librarians and other school personnel on the job as states face crippling budget shortfalls.

Health Care Reform Passes the House, Now On To The Senate

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:48:32 -0500

Immediate Benefits of Health Insurance Reform

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:50:56 -0500

If passed, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will provide the following benefits immediately:

Access to Affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions
Access to Quality Care for Vulnerable Populations
No Pre-existing Coverage Exclusions for Children
Re-insurance for Retiree Health Benefit Plans
Closing the Coverage Gap in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit
Small Business Tax Credits
Ensuring Value for Premium Payments
Patient Protections
Extension of Dependent Coverage for Young Adults
Free Prevention Benefits
No Lifetime Limits on Coverage
Protection from Rescissions of Existing Coverage
Prohibits Discrimination Based on Salary
Public Access to Comparable Information on Insurance Options
Health Insurance Consumer Information

http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill46.pdf

DEMOCRATS are moving ahead on this crucial issue. The Democrats are standing on the side of the American people against the unrestricted abuse by the health insurance industry.