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My Question is why?
This past Friday my vehicle was vandalized in the in the parking lot of the Indian River Mall, It had been Keyed from the Hood to the rear end, and for Good measure the rear hatch back was also keyed. Was it the make and model of my vehicle, it's Color or was it the decals on my car, note: none political, These decals declared my love of Country, My fellow Veterans, or was it the unit and branch of My military service, or was it the Red White and Blue auto tags. The letters DMV stand for Disabled Military Veteran, Not the Department of Motor Vehicles. Being 100% Disabled, I was parked in a disable slot, where there we're countless open slot through out this parking lot, Was this the reason for the vandalism?
as for my reason for being there, I am a Volunteer ,In the Victory Center Store, to help raise funds to buy additional vehicles for the Veterans Council, to Transport, Our wounded warriors and disabled Veterans to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fl.
I gave 32 years of my life to the Military, and I feel part of that time, was to give this person the right to voice his freedom of speech, If that what it was. Yes this act brought back the hurt We Vietnam veterans felt, back in the sixties, When We we're degraded by Our Fellow Countrymen.
My hope that the disrespect isn't still here, I have retired but, I am still Serving, my fellow Veterans, God and Country!
CSM Edgar C.Britt U.S.Army Ret
Sebastian,Florida
Please note both the Mall Security Officers and the Deputies from the IRCSO ,Were most helpful , I most sincerely Thank them all. Active Service Jan. 1949 - Oct. 1981 /2 tours Vietnam and one over nighter " Son Tay Raider " 21 Nov. 1970
Senator Pacheco Votes for Improvements to Transitional Planning for Students with Special Needs
BOSTON – Massachusetts students with special needs will be better prepared to get a job, go to college and live on their own under legislation passed unanimously by the Senate on Thursday that aims to improve transition planning and services required by federal law, Senator Pacheco announced.
We should be providing individuals with specials needs every opportunity to be successful in life,” said Senator Marc Pacheco D-Taunton. “This legislation will ensure these students have adequate transitional planning resources made available that will put them in the best position to be successful.”
Once a student with special needs turns 22 in Massachusetts, the school system is no longer responsible for providing services, making proper transition planning essential. The bill will directly benefit students with special needs between the ages of 14 and 22 when transition preparations become most important. Currently, because of lacking state standards, special educators through no fault of their own can be unprepared to provide transition services.
Under the bill, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will establish an endorsement program by which licensed special education teachers and rehabilitation counselors can receive the additional training and field experience necessary to qualify as transition coordinators.
Educators and advocates believe that higher standards and a new focus on transition planning will help alleviate some discouraging trends.
For example, Massachusetts Advocates for Children reports that the national unemployment rate for adults with special needs is approximately 70 percent. In Massachusetts, the dropout rate for students with special needs is 50 percent higher than typical students (5 percent compared to 2.5 percent). Additionally, they are less likely to graduate from high school and “three times more likely to live in poverty as adults.”
According to recent testimony on the bill from Debra Hart, director of education and transition for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston: “Current research supports that the best possible employment outcome for people with disabilities is integrated paid employment; meaning competitive employment – a real job earning a living wage in the community. Yet of the 4,000 students ages 16-26 enrolled in the Massachusetts vocational rehabilitation system, only 25 percent had an integrated employment outcome.”
Additional testimony from colleges and universities indicated an ability and willingness to offer transition services coursework. Contingent upon the bill’s passage, UMass Boston is ready to make use of a $1.25 million federal grant to develop courses for special educators to earn a transition services endorsement.
The bill now goes back to the House for enactment
Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change holds hearing on Clean Air Act rules
Testimonials predict billions in healthcare savings and nearly 10,000 jobs created statewide as a resultBoston- The Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change held a hearing at the Statehouse today on two new rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act.
The rules, known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule, are intended to reduce hazardous air pollutants found in power plant emissions. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule requires states to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ozone or fine particle pollution in other states. The Mercury and Air Toxics Rule will set technology-based emissions limitation standards for mercury and other toxic air pollutants, reflecting levels achieved by the best-performing sources currently in operation.
The Committee heard testimony from a variety of sources such as Ken Kimmell, Commissioner of the State’s Department of Environmental Protection, Dr. Heidi Garret-Peltier from the Political Economy Research Institute at UMass Amherst, Dr. Jon Levy, a professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health, and Katie King, Director of Public Policy with the American Lung Association.
According to those testifying, the two EPA rules would essentially require the rest of the country to match standards that have already been put in place here in Massachusetts. While Massachusetts has already been successful in greatly reducing the amount of mercury and other toxins found in our power plant emissions, the State is still heavily and negatively impacted by emissions from neighboring states and those states as far away as the Midwest.
According to Commissioner Kimmell, Massachusetts stands to benefit greatly from the implementation of these rules by seeing health care savings of between $1.5-3 billion annually. This is only a fraction of the $37-90 billion in health care costs that the EPA estimates will be saved nationwide every year. The savings will come in large part to the anticipated reduction of respiratory illnesses caused by air toxins, which account for a significant percentage of medical visits each year. In addition, DEP informed the Committee that the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule could help prevent between 350-390 premature deaths every year, while the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule will prevent approximately 130 premature deaths.
Dr. Heidi Garret-Peltier from UMass Amherst presented to the Committee findings from a report issued by the Political Economy Research Institute in February of last year. According to this report, there will be a net increase of approximately 1.5 million jobs spread across thirty-six states following the implementation of these new EPA rules. Dr. Garret-Peltier informed the Committee that Massachusetts can expect to see a net increase of about 9,400 jobs over a five year period after these rules take effect. Both rules will require certain fossil fuel powered plants to invest in retrofits and cleaner technologies in order to reduce the hazardous particles found in their emissions. During his testimony, Commissioner Kimmell stated that there are Massachusetts based companies which manufacture those devices needed by power plants to comply with the new EPA rules. Increased nationwide demand for these products could lead to additional job growth in Massachusetts.
“The Committee wanted to bring in a panel of experts to discuss these two new clean air rules and how they will affect Massachusetts and the United States once implemented, said Chairman Senator Marc R. Pacheco. “What we found here today was new standards being established across the country that this state already meets and in the end will help us create thousands of jobs, save billions of dollars on healthcare and save lives.”
The Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change intends to compile the data and testimony received at today’s hearing into a briefing to be distributed to the rest of the Legislature.
House and Senate Republicans File Legislation to Freeze Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate
Scheduled Increase Will Burden Small Businesses in Commonwealth
BOSTON – Led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), Representative NAME joined the entire House and Senate Republican caucus in filing legislation to freeze the anticipated unemployment insurance tax rate.
Citing the current economic climate as the reason for this legislation, House and Senate Republicans seek to prevent a tax increase of $220 per employee, or 31%, on the Commonwealth’s businesses. This would mark the fourth straight year that a similar bill has been passed by the Legislature protecting Massachusetts employers from this damaging and unnecessary tax hike.
“Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward in the New Year,” said Representative Jones. “In these tough fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth.”
Although this tax hike triggered on January 1, 2012, employers will not receive the bill for a few more weeks. In the interim, the Legislature has the opportunity to ease the potential burden on the Commonwealth’s businesses.
"It is so important to do everything we can to support businesses in the Commonwealth." said Representative Keiko Orrall (Lakeville-R). "By reducing taxes we will encourage economic expansion and that is what will help us move forward on the road of recovery"
“Unemployment insurance is already a major cost for employers in Massachusetts, and one that relates directly to the number of people they employ,” said Senator Tarr. “A substantial rate increase now will not only imperil a struggling economic recovery, it will also put a new obstacle in the way of getting people back to work.”
In addition to freezing the unemployment insurance tax rate hike in the coming weeks, the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will introduce comprehensive unemployment insurance reform and long-term job creation opportunities for the Bay State.
Senator Pacheco ensures passage of Taunton Home Rule petition
Allows Hope IV grant project to move forward
Taunton- The redevelopment of the Fairfax Gardens public housing community in Taunton took one step forward today as a Home Rule petition cleared the Senate. The petition, filed by Senator Marc R. Pacheco on behalf of the City of Taunton formally allows Trinity Financial and the Taunton Housing Authority to collaborate on this project.
The project will result in the development of 190 units of mixed-income housing utilizing the $22 million HOPE VI grant the City recently received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“I’m very pleased this locally supported legislation cleared the Senate today,” said Pacheco. “The legislation will allow this tremendous project in the City of Taunton to move further in the process. Not only will Taunton benefit by receiving adequate housing, but a significant amount of jobs will be created during a time when they are drastically needed.”
The Fairfax Gardens development, consisting of 150 barracks-style units built in 1951, now houses 150 families. The THA will demolish this 15-acre site and rebuild a mixed-income housing neighborhood. The THA will replace all 150 existing units with 88 new “green” townhouse style units each having front and back yards to replicate the surrounding neighborhood. The existing community center will be renovated and expanded. New streets as well as bike and pedestrian paths will be built, as will community gardens.
The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for further action.
Senator Pacheco Supports Employment Rights Bill
for Victims of Domestic Violence
BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday passed legislation establishing new employment rights for victims of domestic violence that will help victims keep their jobs and increase long-term economic productivity, Senator Pacheco announced today. The vote was 34-0. The bill has wide support from advocacy organizations and the business community.
“This bill allows for what I believe to be a basic human right,” said Senator Pacheco. “No one should have to worry about losing their job after becoming a victim of domestic violence. This will provide a necessary right to victims and I’m pleased to support this initiative.”
The bill requires employers with 50 or more employees to allow up to 15 days of leave, with or without pay, to any employee who is a victim of domestic violence or lives with a family member who is a victim of domestic violence.
Employees can use the leave to obtain medical attention, counseling, housing, protection orders and other legal assistance.
Employers can require employees to provide restraining orders, police reports, medical notes or other official documentation, such as a conviction record or victim advocate statement, to certify that the employee or employee’s family member is a victim of domestic violence.
The bill requires the employer to keep all information about the employee’s leave confidential. Employees must exhaust all available leave, such as vacation and sick time, before seeking leave established under this bill; however an employer may waive this requirement.
Similar legislation was passed by the Senate in the previous legislative session on May 13, 2010 but did not make it through the entire legislative process. It has the support of Jane Doe Inc., the Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Retailers’ Association of Massachusetts.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.
Romney-Gekko 2012 Campaign Unveils Latest Ad:
“Wall Street Veterans For Truth”
Former Romney Colleagues Look Back Fondly On Their Days Together at Bain Capital Getting Filthy Rich Flipping Companies and Firing Workers Faster Than You Can Say “Greed Is Good”
Watch It Here: http://youtu.be/TRG1W3DWhIE
Washington DC – On the heels of Mitt Romney’s “multi-million dollar day” with the “elite of Wall Street”, the Romney-Geckko 2012 campaign, a satirical project of Americans United for Change, unveiled its latest parody ad ‘in support’ of the hundred-millionaire GOP presidential hopeful and former vulture capitalist called "Wall Street Veterans for Truth" (produced by Manatt Media) : http://youtu.be/TRG1W3DWhIE
While reminiscent of the infamous "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads from 2004, unlike the Swift Boaters who attacked Senator John Kerry, the Wall Street Vets admiringly bear witness to Romney's exploits at Bain Capital killing thousands of jobs on the field of capitalist battle and amassing the spoils.
The ad (parody webvideo) features four faux financiers who worked alongside Romney during his stripping and flipping days and believe he should embrace, not white wash, his record of putting profits before peoples’ jobs, among them: Muffy Von Veezacard, of Dewey Cheatum & How LLC; Mortimer Duke of Duke & Duke; Sherman McCoy VI of Strip & Flip Capital; and Louis Winthorpe IV of The Gargoyle Group. The effort follows the debut Romney-Gekko ‘12 ad "It’s Morning Again on Wall Street", modeled on another famous ad, Ronald Reagan’s '84 "Morning in America.”
The campaign has also taken to the streets to demonstrate their ‘support.’ Yesterday, as Romney was reportedly being “toasted at the Waldorf Astoria by the vice chairman of JPMorgan Chase and a smattering of other banking executives,” ‘supporters’ were on hand waving the campaign’s signature “Greed Is Good! Romney-Gekko 2012” signs : http://www.flickr.com/photos/au4change/sets/72157628421127429
Visit www.RomneyGekko.com often to see where the campaign will show up uninvited next and follow @RomneyGekko on Twitter.
The Mouse That Roared: One Man’s Fight Against The Bureaucracy
Dale City, VA, September 14, 2011 - Few people in the U.S. would admit they like paying taxes, but as good citizens they do it because it’s the right thing to do. Dr. Keith Caldwell is a citizen who says he believes he “did the right thing but was wronged.” He adds, “I have been subjected to gross incompetence and corruption that resulted in pain and stress that has compromised my health, my family relationships, and my bank account!”
Doctrine of Injustice: A Dunce Cap for the Supreme Court of the United States (Caldwell Consulting & Business Services) by Dr. Keith R. Caldwell, Sr., outlines his five year journey through what he perceives as “a bungling and seemingly-incapable bureaucracy in an attempt to receive justice.” He adds that he believes his well-documented book “exposes the incompetence and corruption that exists within the IRS, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Federal Court System.” Caldwell states that he is sharing the mind-boggling details of his journey so that readers may better educate and prepare themselves in the event his nightmare should happen to them. He adds, “This is no ‘sour grapes’ story about paying taxes – this is a documented account of an injustice that goes all the way up to the Supreme Court!”
Keith Caldwell states his nightmare began in 2006 when he sued the IRS over striking errors that stemmed from an audit of his tax filings for 2003/2004. During the course of that trial he states the IRS initiated another audit for the year 2006 and Caldwell subsequently filed suit to include 2006.
Caldwell states: “The trial judges in both suits issued a favorable judgment for the IRS so I sued the U.S. Tax Court and others in the District Court. The judge in that case dismissed the case based on a DOJ motion to dismiss due to improper service of the defendants, even though the judge had documents in his possession to refute the DOJ claim!”
“After the Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court decision I filed a petition for a writ to the Supreme Court, and this petition was denied. The highest ranking U.S. official who signed an order relevant to the process of my case ended up on the Supreme Court!” says Caldwell. He adds: “This was the ‘last straw’ for me and is the reason why I am asking for the resignation of Elena Kagan (Justice Supreme Court) and Eric Holder (U.S. Attorney General) for failure to perform the duties of their office in good faith.”
Caldwell’s life is typical of many good Americans; he is a hard-working, tax-paying citizen who served his country in the military - a veteran of Desert Storm - who says he believes our system “does not work for the public good.” He describes his experiences when navigating the DC courts as ‘unfathomable,’ adding that he believes this situation will only change when “we get dedicated and committed people working in public service, not those corrupted by self-serving interests.” He wholeheartedly believes and states that “lawyers, judges, justices and government officials used the power of their office in this case to circumvent justice.”
In addition to being a retired Army officer, Dr. Caldwell was employed at the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing & Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture. He was medically retired in 2006 after having served nearly 30 years in public service. He has a Masters Degree from George Mason University and a Doctorate from the University of Phoenix. He is an expert in organizational leadership, labor-management relations, public policy and administration.
Dr. Caldwell says he believes “the IRS, DOJ and DC courts discredited the Constitution of the United States in all facets of my court case.” Adding: “While this fueled the fire for writing my book, it is character and integrity that drove the need for justice - not only for me but for future generations.” Please read more at: www.supremecourtcorruption.com.