Macaca
08-15 07:28 PM
Honest and Open Thievery (http://www.reason.com/news/show/121947.html) The limits of Congress's ethics reforms By Jacob Sullum, August 15, 2007
In a letter posted at Congress.org, a constituent praises Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) for his "brilliant intellect." As evidence, Mitchell's admirer cites the congressman's vote for the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
The margin by which the act passed�411 to 8 in the House, 83 to 14 in the Senate�takes some of the shine off Mitchell's brilliance. Still, he's probably smart enough to realize what his colleagues evidently understand: Congress's new honesty and openness are not what they're cracked up to be.
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires that special appropriations added by individual legislators be listed in an online database at least 48 hours before they come to a vote. Critics such as Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) complained bitterly about a loophole: Congressional leaders can certify that a bill contains no earmarks, and there's no way to challenge that determination.
A deeper problem is that publicity does not deter wasteful, parochial spending that legislators want to publicize. Consider what happened last month when Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) challenged a $100,000 appropriation for a prison museum near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The earmark's sponsor, Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), defended the honor of Leavenworth County, bragging that "we probably have more prisons...than any other county in the United States." She indignantly added that "the local residents are proud of their heritage and rightly so," since Leavenworth has hosted the likes of George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Nazi spy Fritz Duquesne.
The House approved Boyda's earmark by a vote of 317 to 112. Later she told The New York Times, "Democracy is a contact sport, and I'm not going to be shy about asking for money for my community."
So far this year the Democratic House has approved spending bills that include some 6,500 earmarks, not quite keeping pace with the Republicans' record of nearly 16,000 in 2005 but more than twice the whole-year total of a decade ago. Far from shaming legislators into fiscal restraint, the Times reports, "the new transparency has raised the value of earmarks as a measure of members' clout" and "intensified competition for projects by letting each member see exactly how many everyone else is receiving."
Congressional shamelessness likewise may undermine the goals of the new Senate ban on anonymous holds. A hold occurs when a senator refuses to let a bill or nomination proceed by unanimous consent, thereby requiring the measure's supporters to muster 60 votes to allow consideration of the measure.
Holds obviously can be used for purposes that offend supporters of limited government�to extort pork, for example, or obstruct fiscal reform. But any tool that blocks legislation is apt to do more good than harm. Notably, the hold's defenders include fiscal conservatives such as Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) as well as big spenders such as Robert Byrd (D-W.V.).
Still, it's hard to find fault with the new requirement that senators publicly identify themselves and state their reasons when they block legislation. We just shouldn't expect too much as a result of this openness. As with earmarks, legislators don't try to hide their actions when they're proud of them, even if they shouldn't be. Interestingly, no one put a secret hold on the secret hold ban.
Transparency may also prove overrated as a way of preventing lobbyists from influencing legislators by arranging campaign contributions. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires public disclosure of "bundles" totaling $15,000 or more in a six-month period. Like the new attention to earmarks, highlighting these donations may simply spur competition, as K Street's denizens strive to keep up with their neighbors.
Although honesty and openness are surely preferable to dishonesty and secrecy (in politics, at least), they're not an adequate solution to a government that does too much and is therefore a magnet for people seeking gifts and favors. If a pickpocket becomes a mugger, he becomes more open and honest, but that doesn't make him more admirable.
In a letter posted at Congress.org, a constituent praises Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) for his "brilliant intellect." As evidence, Mitchell's admirer cites the congressman's vote for the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
The margin by which the act passed�411 to 8 in the House, 83 to 14 in the Senate�takes some of the shine off Mitchell's brilliance. Still, he's probably smart enough to realize what his colleagues evidently understand: Congress's new honesty and openness are not what they're cracked up to be.
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires that special appropriations added by individual legislators be listed in an online database at least 48 hours before they come to a vote. Critics such as Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) complained bitterly about a loophole: Congressional leaders can certify that a bill contains no earmarks, and there's no way to challenge that determination.
A deeper problem is that publicity does not deter wasteful, parochial spending that legislators want to publicize. Consider what happened last month when Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) challenged a $100,000 appropriation for a prison museum near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The earmark's sponsor, Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), defended the honor of Leavenworth County, bragging that "we probably have more prisons...than any other county in the United States." She indignantly added that "the local residents are proud of their heritage and rightly so," since Leavenworth has hosted the likes of George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Nazi spy Fritz Duquesne.
The House approved Boyda's earmark by a vote of 317 to 112. Later she told The New York Times, "Democracy is a contact sport, and I'm not going to be shy about asking for money for my community."
So far this year the Democratic House has approved spending bills that include some 6,500 earmarks, not quite keeping pace with the Republicans' record of nearly 16,000 in 2005 but more than twice the whole-year total of a decade ago. Far from shaming legislators into fiscal restraint, the Times reports, "the new transparency has raised the value of earmarks as a measure of members' clout" and "intensified competition for projects by letting each member see exactly how many everyone else is receiving."
Congressional shamelessness likewise may undermine the goals of the new Senate ban on anonymous holds. A hold occurs when a senator refuses to let a bill or nomination proceed by unanimous consent, thereby requiring the measure's supporters to muster 60 votes to allow consideration of the measure.
Holds obviously can be used for purposes that offend supporters of limited government�to extort pork, for example, or obstruct fiscal reform. But any tool that blocks legislation is apt to do more good than harm. Notably, the hold's defenders include fiscal conservatives such as Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) as well as big spenders such as Robert Byrd (D-W.V.).
Still, it's hard to find fault with the new requirement that senators publicly identify themselves and state their reasons when they block legislation. We just shouldn't expect too much as a result of this openness. As with earmarks, legislators don't try to hide their actions when they're proud of them, even if they shouldn't be. Interestingly, no one put a secret hold on the secret hold ban.
Transparency may also prove overrated as a way of preventing lobbyists from influencing legislators by arranging campaign contributions. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires public disclosure of "bundles" totaling $15,000 or more in a six-month period. Like the new attention to earmarks, highlighting these donations may simply spur competition, as K Street's denizens strive to keep up with their neighbors.
Although honesty and openness are surely preferable to dishonesty and secrecy (in politics, at least), they're not an adequate solution to a government that does too much and is therefore a magnet for people seeking gifts and favors. If a pickpocket becomes a mugger, he becomes more open and honest, but that doesn't make him more admirable.
wallpaper “I Love You, Man.” The dog
maverick_joe
01-08 12:58 PM
If the Given name and the surname on the passport are swapped does this need to be notified to USCIS?I am a July 2007 485 filer./\/
Blog Feeds
11-25 08:50 AM
Stealth protectionism on the immigration front is surfacing again in Congress. Two odd bedfellows -- self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (D.VT) and A+ anti-immigration lawmaker, Chuck Grassley (R. IA) -- are at it again. Earlier in the year, the duo inserted the Employ American Workers Act into the stimulus legislation (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) -- something I called "Protectionist Turducken" -- to prevent the hiring of H-1B workers by recipients of TARP and Federal Reserve funding. On Nov. 19, they proposed the "Employ America Act," a bill (S. 2804) which would require employers of over 100 workers who...
More... (http://blogs.ilw.com/angelopaparelli/2009/11/immigration-commisars-in-congress-opt-for-protectionism.html)
More... (http://blogs.ilw.com/angelopaparelli/2009/11/immigration-commisars-in-congress-opt-for-protectionism.html)
2011 I saw this movie (I Love You,
sankap
07-10 06:58 PM
This was posted and widely discussed here the night before the print edition published...
more...
chanduv23
04-17 08:56 PM
When I click the link above, I get page cannot be found. can you please tell us what is the issue regarding this???
welcome to iv smsrao ;) ;)
welcome to iv smsrao ;) ;)
NANO3
11-10 09:59 PM
nice background image !
text is weak make it bold or something
text is weak make it bold or something
more...
Dhundhun
08-01 03:09 AM
Most of us are aware that USCIS, taking a positive measure towards not losing EB visa numbers, set Jun 1, 2006 as PD of India/China for Aug and possibly Sep 2008. This is entirely based on approvable I485 applications processed upto Jul 8, 2008 (except some numbers are available for Counsler Processing of I485).
Recent trends indicates direct HARD LUD, a CRIS mail for "Card Production". So it seems that in coming two months no guessing for EB2 because soft LUDs will be rare.
Welcome Aug 2008 and I wish very good luck to approvable EB2 India/China folks.
Recent trends indicates direct HARD LUD, a CRIS mail for "Card Production". So it seems that in coming two months no guessing for EB2 because soft LUDs will be rare.
Welcome Aug 2008 and I wish very good luck to approvable EB2 India/China folks.
2010 Aww…. who doesn#39;t love a
kumarkk
09-05 06:35 PM
Can you Please share your experince.
more...
Mahatma
05-03 09:41 AM
Gurus,
here is my situation.
FP done in Nov 2007. Planning a trip to India in Dec 2008 to Jan 2009. What if I receive biometrics during this time? After 1 year of FP, I anticipate that there would be repeat Biometrics done.
Is there a way for us to request Biometrics early? I am going to renew EAD and AP 4 months before expiry (expire in Nov 2008). Will this take care of Biometrics renewal as well?
Thanks for your valuable inputs.
I am Eb1,
PD June 29,2007
TSC
RD Oct 18, 2007
ideally I expected GC to be done before my trip BUT strange are the ways of USCIS.....
here is my situation.
FP done in Nov 2007. Planning a trip to India in Dec 2008 to Jan 2009. What if I receive biometrics during this time? After 1 year of FP, I anticipate that there would be repeat Biometrics done.
Is there a way for us to request Biometrics early? I am going to renew EAD and AP 4 months before expiry (expire in Nov 2008). Will this take care of Biometrics renewal as well?
Thanks for your valuable inputs.
I am Eb1,
PD June 29,2007
TSC
RD Oct 18, 2007
ideally I expected GC to be done before my trip BUT strange are the ways of USCIS.....
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bharat.chandramouli
12-09 12:35 PM
Folks:
I did not see a specific tracker for Advanced Parole applications at the NSC. So, here's my information:
Receipt Date: August 15, 2007
Notice Date: September 30, 2007
Status: Not received yet:mad:
Has any one filed in the same timeframe and received the AP document?
Thanks in advance.
BC
I did not see a specific tracker for Advanced Parole applications at the NSC. So, here's my information:
Receipt Date: August 15, 2007
Notice Date: September 30, 2007
Status: Not received yet:mad:
Has any one filed in the same timeframe and received the AP document?
Thanks in advance.
BC
more...
hnordberg
August 17th, 2005, 05:21 PM
The contrast of the object with the background works well, I think. It is a bit unsharp, though. But over-all I like it.
- Henrik
- Henrik
hot “I Love you, Man,” was
KKtexas
12-08 11:28 AM
Hi All,
I have already moved to AC21 with one of the big firm and now I am planning to move to Small Company. My job duties will remain same and salary will be greater than my labor filled wages. Questions I have are,
1.Does it matter size of new company in terms of money or number employee for continuing my GC process ?.
2. In case of RFE, Will there be question on Ability to Pay on new small company?
Thanks for your time.
Thanks,
KKTexas
I have already moved to AC21 with one of the big firm and now I am planning to move to Small Company. My job duties will remain same and salary will be greater than my labor filled wages. Questions I have are,
1.Does it matter size of new company in terms of money or number employee for continuing my GC process ?.
2. In case of RFE, Will there be question on Ability to Pay on new small company?
Thanks for your time.
Thanks,
KKTexas
more...
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diptam
06-29 09:08 AM
1) If A# is not available so we need to populate it with I-94# ? I got
this weird idea from Point 10 of I-765 form where it says A# or I-94#
Of course in other places it just asks A# ( specially in I-131 form)
2) For I-131 there are lot of doubts - want to double check
a) Class of Admission - ?
b) A# is the very first Information sought !!
c) Date of Intended Departure and Expected length of Trip
d) For how many Trips you intend to use
3) In G-325A Bigraphic form also at the end - it again asks for
ALIEN REGISTRATION NUMBER - what is the that ??
Thanks,
Diptam
this weird idea from Point 10 of I-765 form where it says A# or I-94#
Of course in other places it just asks A# ( specially in I-131 form)
2) For I-131 there are lot of doubts - want to double check
a) Class of Admission - ?
b) A# is the very first Information sought !!
c) Date of Intended Departure and Expected length of Trip
d) For how many Trips you intend to use
3) In G-325A Bigraphic form also at the end - it again asks for
ALIEN REGISTRATION NUMBER - what is the that ??
Thanks,
Diptam
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parthu_r
01-13 04:58 PM
Hi,
I applied for EAD renewal to Nebraska center on Dec 12th.
So far I didn't received the receipt and also my check didn't get cashed.
Did anybody encounter similar situation. If so please let me know what you have done.
Thanks,
Leela
I applied for EAD renewal to Nebraska center on Dec 12th.
So far I didn't received the receipt and also my check didn't get cashed.
Did anybody encounter similar situation. If so please let me know what you have done.
Thanks,
Leela
more...
pictures Dog. i love you man dog. i
fromnaija
10-26 01:41 PM
105-year-old realizes dream of citizenship (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-naturalize26oct26,1,6009025.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california)
The children obtained a green card for their mother and brought her to Palm Desert six years ago, after their father died in Tehran.
She is luckier than most of us as she became a citizen in only six years! Most of us here are still waiting for GC after 10 years!
The children obtained a green card for their mother and brought her to Palm Desert six years ago, after their father died in Tehran.
She is luckier than most of us as she became a citizen in only six years! Most of us here are still waiting for GC after 10 years!
dresses in I Love You, Man calls
iaquil
06-02 10:24 PM
Hi,
I am on L1B with I94 expiring on April 2012 from Company X, I found an employer Company Y who will file my H1B in June/July 2011 under premium processing. If H1B is approved then:
1. Can I work under Company X till Sep end and join Company Y from 1st Oct without any hassel?
2. Will my status will change automatically from L1 to H1 from Oct 1st onwards?
3. Will my new H1b will be valid until April 2012 only? as my current i94 (on L1B) is till April 2012?
4. I can travel to India and return in Sep 2011 using my existing L1B? Will there be any problem in port of entry? I have traveled using L1B to-from India multiple times, but I am concerned now because I will be having H1b approved along with L1B.
5. Is there anything special I have to ask the employer before filing H1b so I can go and return from India on my L1b status?
Will appreciate response.
I am on L1B with I94 expiring on April 2012 from Company X, I found an employer Company Y who will file my H1B in June/July 2011 under premium processing. If H1B is approved then:
1. Can I work under Company X till Sep end and join Company Y from 1st Oct without any hassel?
2. Will my status will change automatically from L1 to H1 from Oct 1st onwards?
3. Will my new H1b will be valid until April 2012 only? as my current i94 (on L1B) is till April 2012?
4. I can travel to India and return in Sep 2011 using my existing L1B? Will there be any problem in port of entry? I have traveled using L1B to-from India multiple times, but I am concerned now because I will be having H1b approved along with L1B.
5. Is there anything special I have to ask the employer before filing H1b so I can go and return from India on my L1b status?
Will appreciate response.
more...
makeup I Love You Man 2009 Dutch DVD
cantonsale10@gmail.com
09-29 10:29 PM
I meant the Last Updated Date and not the case status . Sorry for the confusion
girlfriend I love you man,
akhilmahajan
03-11 12:43 PM
Can the other New England states join this Action Item?
GO I/WE GO. TOGETHER WE CAN.
GO I/WE GO. TOGETHER WE CAN.
hairstyles i love you man dog. i love you
anilsal
06-14 11:41 PM
Why is everyone creating new threads? Just reuse some thread that is conveying this message.
gchopes
10-02 10:51 AM
Starting a new thread to track receipts / check cashed for packages received and signed by M SALCEDO at TSC.
My info:
Pkg signed by M SALCEDO at TSC on 7/27
No CC or RNs.
EB3 India.
Please let me know if you are in a similar boat.
gchopes
My info:
Pkg signed by M SALCEDO at TSC on 7/27
No CC or RNs.
EB3 India.
Please let me know if you are in a similar boat.
gchopes
Rapha1129
02-10 09:17 AM
Hello,
Does anybody know how long is it taking to get back the Prevailing Wage from the SWA?
My company has just started my GC process and the Prevailing Wage is the first step before they can post my job.....
Our lawyers told us about 2 months....is that correct????
Rapha.
Does anybody know how long is it taking to get back the Prevailing Wage from the SWA?
My company has just started my GC process and the Prevailing Wage is the first step before they can post my job.....
Our lawyers told us about 2 months....is that correct????
Rapha.
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