The Political Bridge

JIMPENCEASKSGOVERNORFLETCHERTHEFOLLOWINGQUESTIONS:WHOARETHEYERNIE?ISPEABODYENERGYONEOFTHEM?

SEETHEWORKOFJIMPENCEONTHEDAILYSHOW(byMattGuntermanofMitchDitch,KY)

OnMondaynight,TheDailyShowwithJonStewartwillfeaturesomefootageshotbyKentucky'sveryownJimPenceoftheHillybillyReport.comandacontributorforDitchMitchKY.com.

WhenthehistoryofKentucky'sblogosphereisonedaywritten,thathistorywillnotethatamongthemostprolific,dedicated,andcertainlymostuniquecontributorswasJimPenceofHardinCounty.For,inhisretirementfromadecidedlyindustrial-eracareer,JimtooktoandtookontheInformationAge,andintheprocesshemoldeditandtaughtusallathingortwoabouthowtouseiteffectivelyandcreatively.

Jim'sniche,bytheway,isdigitalvideo,andhisworkisknownforitsbitingwitandunrepentantorneriness,astylehehasrightlyandproudlylabeled"hillbilly." Hehastraversedthestaterecordingtheintersectionofnational,state,andlocalpoliticsinKentucky,and
--throughtheInternet--hehasmadethatmaterialaccessibletotheentireworldandhasinfact,givenittohistory.

Andtheworldisusingit.

Yousee,whileperusingYouTubeforvideoofWesleyClarklastweek,aresearcherforTheDailyShowwithJonStewartcameacrosssomeofJim'sfootageofClarkinthefallof2006stumpingforDemocratCol.MikeWeaverinhiscampaigninKentucky'sSecondCongressional
District. TheyimmediatelycontactedJim,offeredtohavethevideossentovernighttotheirstudios,andhavesaiditwillaironMondaynight.

CONGRESSMANYARMUTH’SVERYGOODWEEK:GETTINGFEDERALMONEYTOHELPTHE3RDDISTRICT’SECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

(Washington,DC)CongressmanJohnYarmuth(KY-3)announcedtodaythattheHouseCommitteeonAppropriationshasapprovedhisrequestfor$231,000forMetaCyteBusinessLabstohelplaunchhealthandsciencestartupcompanies.

"ThislabwillhelpLouisvilleremainonthecuttingedgeofscientificadvancesandcreategoodjobsforourcommunitybysupportingthebackboneofoureconomy:oursmallbusiness,"CongressmanYarmuthsaid.

ThelabwillhelpMetaCyteaugmentexistingservicesforsmallbusinessesinLouisvillethatdevelopcommercialtechnologiesandemerginglifesciencecompanies. Itwillbeequippedwithresourcestosupportdiscoveryresearch,validation,andfurtheringoftechnologiesindisciplinessuchascellandmolecularbiology,biochemistry,biomedical,analytical,organicandinorganicchemistry.Smallbusinesseswillusethelabtoconservefunding,dedicatingmostcapitaltotechnologydevelopmentattheseearlystages.

"WeareabsolutelythrilledthatCongressmanYarmuthwasabletosecurethisfunding,asitwillprovideanamazingboostforMetaCyteandoursmalllifesciencebusinesses,"saidSteveGailar,MetaCytePresidentandCEO.

MetaCyteisasubsidiaryoftheLouisvilleMedicalCenterDevelopmentCorporation(LMCDC),whichisajointventureofMetroLouisville,theUniversityofLouisville,NortonHealthcare,andJewishHospitalandSt.Mary'sHealthcare.

TheprojectwasapprovedyesterdayaspartoftheFY08FinancialServicesAppropriationsbill,whichprovidesfundingfortheSmallBusinessAdministration. ThebillheadstothefloornextweekforconsiderationbythefullHouseofRepresentatives.

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Toberemovedfromthisemaillistpleasereplywiththeword"Remove"inthesubjectline.

UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives
319CannonHouseOfficeBuilding*Washington,DC20515

202.225-5401phone*202.225.5776fax

CONGRESSMANYARMUTH’SVERYGOODWEEKCONTINUED:FIGHTINGTOENDPOVERTYINAMERICA

(Louisville,KY)Today,CongressmanJohnYarmuth(KY-3)announcedlegislationthatwillincreasetheEarnedIncomeTaxCreditforsingle,childlessworkersearninglessthethan$16,400/year.

RaoulCunningham,PresidentoftheLouisvilleNAACPhailedthelegislation,saying,“IncontrasttotheBushAdministration,thisproposalgivesataxbreaktothosewhoaremostinneed-notthewealthiest,andwecommendCongressmanYarmuthforitsintroduction.”

AddedTerryBrooks,ExecutiveDirectorofKentuckyYouthAdvocates,“ThislegislationrevealsaCongressmanwhoistranscendingpoliticsandactiveonevidence.  Thatevidenceisclear.AnexpandedEITCisthebestanti-povertystrategyinthelastthreedecades.  Itsupportsindividuallow-incomeworkerswhilestrengtheningthegeneraleconomy.  CongressmanYarmuth'slegislationisthesmartthingtodo.  Moreover,itistherightthingtodo.”

Inadditiontolifting250,000workersoutofpoverty,thelegislationwillcuttaxesfor7.5millionAmericanworkersbyasmuchas41percent.

ThetextofYarmuth'spreparedremarksisbelow.

Thelastsixyears,evenasthegovernmenthasslashedtaxesfortheverywealthy,millionsofothershavestruggledpaychecktopaycheck,failingtoseeincometrickledownfromtheeverincreasingwealthabove.

Whilethegovernmenthasofferedcreditstomarriedcouplesandparents,single,low-incomeworkerswithoutchildrenhavebeenvirtuallyabandonedbytheirleaders.  Becausetheyareeligibleforvirtuallynotaxrelieforassistance,theyaresaddledwithadisproportionatetaxburden,causingsingleadultsofworkingagetomakeupnearlyone-thirdofallAmericansclassifiedaspoor.

Inanationbuiltonthepremisethatwecouldcreatebetterlivesforourselvesifwejustworkedhardenough,wearetaxingAmericansintoaplacewherethetoolstogetaheadmustbeneglectedsothatbillscanbepaid,highereducationmustbesacrificedinordertobuyfood,andthedreamofadequatelyraisingafamilyisabandonedtopayrent.  Despiteallthetalkofhealthcarebeingaluxuryinthiscountry,itisnotsoforthesehardworkingAmericans;it'sanimpossibility.

ThatiswhynextweekIwillofferlegislationtoexpandtheEarnedIncomeTaxCreditinbothsizeandscope,liftingaquarterofmillionworkersoutofpovertytogivemillionsofourfellowcitizenshopeformorethanmerelyaday-to-daysubsistence.  

IbelievethatinAmericaweshouldberewardingthehardworkofthesecitizens,strugglingtomakeendsmeet;nottaxingthemintopoverty.  ButthatisexactlywhatwearedoingtohundredsofthousandsofAmericans.  

Currently,aworkerearning$11,350ayearistaxedatarateofmorethan12percent,pushingwagesbelowthepovertyline.  ButmylegislationwilldoubleherEarnedIncomeTaxCredit,andcuthertaxesby41percent,keepingheroutofpoverty.  Toalowwageworker,thatadditional$600forcouldmeantwotothreemonthsrent,6monthsofgroceries,ornearlyayear'sworthofTARCtransportationtoandfromwork.  Moreimportantly,itcanhelpliberatetheworkertoresethersightsonlivingouttheAmericandream.

IamproudtosaythatbyexpandingtheEITCforalleligibleworkersearninglessthan$16,400,notonlywillthislegislationinstantlylifttheseworkersoutofpoverty,itwilldramaticallylowerthetaxesofmorethansevenmillionAmericans,100,000Kentuckians,andmorethan20,000hardworkingpeoplerighthereinLouisville.

Anyeconomistwilltellyou,moremoneyinworkers'pocketsincreasesbuyingpowerandbenefitstheeconomy.  Here,unlikethefailedsupplysidemodel,wewillnothopefortrickledownfromthewealthy.  Wewillhelpthosestrugglingatthebottomand,byupgradingtheireconomicstatus,createaspringboardeffectthatenhancestheeconomyasawhole.

TothesevenmillionAmericanswhowillseetheirpost-taxincomerise,thislegislationprovidesanecessaryboostastheyworktobuildcareers,startfamilies,andimprovetheirlives.  Itrewardsworkratherthanwealthandrepresentstheprioritiestochangethedirectionofourcountryandrighthercourse.

KENTUCKYCOUNTRYDAYSCHOOLSTUDENTS,TEACHERS,ADMINSTRATORS,ANDPARENTSFIGHTTOHELPENDWORLDPOVERTYfromKeithWilhelmi,teacheratKentuckyCountryDay

(Maybeyourschooloryoungstercandothesame.)

Iamsoexcitedtosharewhatagroupofaboutadozenmiddleschoolstudentsatmyschool(KYCountryDay),withtheleadershipofmyprincipal,JerryLoewen,andthesupportfromacolleague,RachelRawlings(andme)havedone.Withmuchhelpfrommaterials/e-mailsfromlong-timeRESULTSpartner(andfounderofMANYbanks)BettyMorrow,raisedthe$5,000(admittedlygreatlyhelpedby1/2beingdonatedbyonegenerousparent)andbeguntheprocessofstartingamicrocreditbankwithFINCA!

Wehavesentinour$and,fromourFINCAcontactperson,receiveddetailsregardingthenextstepsintheprocess.OurFINCAcontactpersonis:
KatieTouchton-Leonard
FINCAInternationalInc.
110114thSt.NW
Washington,DC20005
1-202-682-1510ext.274

ThisactionwasanoutgrowthofaprogramcalledGlobal20/20.Quiteafewschoolsnationwideareinvolvedinthisprogram(andoneortwoothers,locally,Ibelieve).

Theprograminvolveshavingstudentspickoneofthe20bigchallengesfacingtheplanet,thatmustbesolvedinthenext20years(hencethe'20/20').Wepickedpovertyandcomingupwithanactiontotaketoaddressthechallenge,whichwasthemicrocreditbank.

Thisdecisionwasbaseduponmyrecommendationtotheadultleaderofthegroup,myboss(theKCDMiddleSchoolDirector)JerryLoewen.

Our'club'of7thand8thgraderswasformedintheFall. Wemettwicemonthly.Toincorporatethe educationaspectaboutpovertythekidswereguidedbyJerry(whowasbasicallyguidedbyme/RESULTSdata,etc); tolearnaboutmicrocreditIsharedinfo/videosfromRESULTS,thenthekidsdesignedapresentationfortheMSasawhole...andlater(withmuchguidancefromJerry)theydesignedandimplementedthesimulationgame(theydiditwithatleasttwo,andIbelieve3ofour6thgradeclasses)....forfundraisingwehada'beansandrice'(insteadofthecafeteria'slunch)day....andwehadabakesale...andwehadafundraisertalentshow.

OurschoolwasoriginallypairedwithaschoolinCanada.Atfirsttheirschoolagreedtojoinourefforts(andraise1/2the$5000)...whentheCanadaschoolchangedtheirmind,aKCDparentofferedtocoverhalfthecost!

WILLMICHAELMOORE’S*SICKO*PUSHUSTOFIXHEALTHCARE?SEETHISVIDEOFROMTHELIBERALVIEWER

ASEGMENTFROM*SiCKO*:“NOTALLDIGITSARECREATEDEQUAL”(warningthissegmentisgraphic)

WHENYOUSEE*SiCKO*REMEMBERTHESEFACTSABOUTHEALTHCAREINKENTUCKY?

OnJune13,TheCommonwealthFund(APrivateFoundationWorkingtowardsHighPerformanceHealthSystems)releaseditsstatescorecardonhealthsystemperformance.Asshownbelow,Kentuckydidnotfaresowellonthisranking.

§ Overall:45(outof50states,plustheDistrictofColumbia)

§ Access:29

§ Quality:38

§ AvoidableHospitalUse&Costs:45

§ Equity^*:19

§ HealthyLives:49

Formoreinformationaboutthisreport,goto:http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=494551

THEANSWERFORWORKPLACEFAIRNESS?IT’SUNIONS,JACK!ByRichardF.Dawahare(businessperson,lawyer,andowneroftheblog--http://peacecow.blogspot.com/)

WorkersandemployersofAmerica…UNITE!Forthatisthemosthumaneandeffectivewaytoincreasethewelfareofall.Unfortunately,thehistoryoflaborrelationsissuchthatworkerstoooftensufferwhenemployershavesurpluspoweranddeficienthumanity.

Indeed,itwasthatimbalancethatoriginallyledworkerstounionize,aprocessthathasliftedworkplacestandardsforeverybody.Wetakeforgrantedsuchprotectionsasthe40hourworkweek,paidvacations,safeworkplaces,minimumwages,healthcareandpensionsthatallflowfromworkersunitinginacommoncause.

Today,sowellentrenchedarethoseprotectionsthatmanybelievetheunionshaveoutlivedtheirusefulness.Popularperceptionblamesunionsforgougingemployers,forcingthemtocloseorre-locate,ordrivinguppricesandmakingthemuncompetitive.

Yetnothingisfurtherfromthetruth.Infact,Washingtonissocaughtinthecorporateclutchthatmanyworkersaresufferinganewunderunscrupulousemployers.Andwhentheytrytoexercise,theirConstitutionalrighttoorganizeemployersareillegallyharassing,threateningandfiringthem,escapingpunishmentundertoothlesspro-businesslawsandaRepublicancontrolledregulatoryapparatuswherethewolvesguardthehenhouse.

ButthiscouldsoonchangewhenCongresspassestheEmployeeFreeChoiceAct,alongoverduelawthatwouldrestorebalancetotherelationshipsbetweenemployerandemployee.Specificallyitwouldlettheemployeesdeterminehowtovoteforanewunion,nottheemployers.Currentlyemployerschooseaprocessthatallowsthemplentyoftimetointimidate,threaten,fireandholdmandatoryanti-unionmeetings.

TheActwouldalsostrengthenfinancialpenaltiesforcompaniesguiltyofcoercionorintimidationandrequiremediationandarbitrationwhenmanagementandanewlycertifiedunioncannotagreeonacontract.

MorethanhalfofAmericansworkers,60million,saytheywouldjoinaunioniftheycouldandforgoodreason.Onaverageunionworkersearn30percentmoreandaremorethan62percentmorelikelytohavehealthcoveragethantheirnonunioncounterparts,suchasthoseinthe‘righttoworkforless’states.Bytheway,nothingismoreanti-Americanthansocalledrighttoworkstatelawsthatallownewemployeestorefuseunionmembershipinabusinesswhereademocraticvoteestablishedthatunion.

TeresaJoycewasaunionorganizerwhosufferedunderhostilemanagementatATTwirelessbutenjoyedacompleteturnaroundwhenCingulartookover(Cingularrespectedtheworkersunionvoteandfreelyengagesinacollaborativeprocessthatbenefitseveryone).

InherCongressionaltestimonysupportingthenewlaw,Mrs.Joycenotedthat‘Itisoutrageousandshamefulthattheveryfreedomsthey(herrelativesinWWIIandIraq)fighttopreservearetheveryfreedomsthatareroutinelytrampledonhereathome.Somethingisterriblywrongwithourlawsandourcountrywhenworkersaresystematicallyharassed,threatenedandevenfiredforthesimpleactofexercisingtheirrighttoformauniontoimprovetheirlives.”

Withthemiddleclassrapidlyshrinking,thegapbetweenrichandpoorathistorichighsandapoliticalsystemtoolongindoingthebiddingforbigbusiness,itisessentialtoprotectbasicworkplacefreedomsforallAmericans.CongressmustpasstheEmployeeFreeChoiceActand,aboveall,Kentuckymustreject‘righttowork(forless)’legislation.

IMMIGRATIONPOLICYFROMTHERIGHTbyDavidAdamsofKy.Progress.com(writtenforTheBridgebyDavid)

PresidentLyndonJohnson'swordsabouttransformingAmericaintoaGreatSocietycanbeinstructivetoourcurrentimmigrationdebate,butnotinanyway,hewouldhaveanticipatedorthathisideologicalprogenynowappreciate.Whenhesaid"itisaplacewheremenaremoreconcernedwiththequalityoftheirgoalsthanwiththequantityoftheirgoods,"heinvokedthesocialistbugaboo"materialism"tojustifyentitlementspending.Today,wehearpejorativessuchas"racism"and"nationalism"tossedabouttojustifyaninvasiononAmericansoilattackingthesoftunderbellyofoursociety:ourentitlementsystem.

Americaisturningthecorneronimmigrationandentitlementswiththecurrentunrestovertheproposedgrantingofwholesaleamnestytoillegalimmigrants.Politicianswhofailtoseethecomingeventsintimewillpayaheavyprice.IbelievewhatweareexperiencingisareturntothepaththatmadeAmericagreatandtheonethatwillmakeournationgreaterstill.Thatpathinvolvesmorefreedominourfreeenterpriseandlessentitlinginourentitlementsystem.Wewillaccomplishthisbyexpellingillegalsfromourcommunitieswithoutusingmassivepoliceactionorbybuildingmilesandmilesofwallsalongoursouthernborder.WewillaccomplisharenaissanceinAmericabydismantlingourwelfaresystemanditwillrightlybeginbycuttingoffthoseinthiscountryillegally.

Astheleastproductiveamongthemeitherchoosetobecomemoreproductiveorchoosetoleave,thelightswillstarttocomeonacrossAmerica.Wedon'tneedaguestworkerprogram,weneedAmericanstoseeforeignerscomehereandtrulyriskeverythingtogainwhatwetakeforgranted.Thatdoesn'thappenwhenthenewcomerslivefarbetterhereonwelfarethantheydoathome.

Thecoldfactisthatwecaneasilyaffordillegalimmigration.Anynewpersonwhoisevenminimallyproductiveisanetpositivetooureconomy,evenonallkindsofwelfare.ThisiswhywehavesurvivedsowelldespitegrantingsocialistadvancesbeyondKarlMarx'sdreams.ButthemoreimportantfactisthatwecandoevenbetterforeveryonewithouttheGreatSocietyblusterandlargesse.Itistimewegavethisashot.Andthefirstblowwillbestruckwhenweclampdownongovernmentbenefitsgiventothosewhoarehereillegally.