Citing concerns about the recent use of RNC spent $2,000.00 at a depraved club near Los Angeles, Tony Perkins (head of the Family Research Council) told people not to donate to the RNC. In the letter he expressed his dissapointment that the RNC is happy about their use of Ted Olson for their campaign finance lawsuit. Ted Olson is also fighting hard in California to overturn Prop 8. Mark DeMoss has already closed his checkbook to the RNC after problems earlier this year.
GOP congressional leaders seem to be disenchanted with the current RNC leadership as well. The RNC is having a hard time with fundraising already. If Michael Steele can't fundraise and work with the congressional leadership, why is he chairman again?
(I am not advocating removing Michael Steel from chairman, just curious what the answer to that question is.)
Friday, April 2, 2010
They Should Have Read the Bill...
The story of the healthcare bill was the story of backroom deals, thousand+ page long manager amendments forced on the full floor at the last moment, avoiding the committee process, etc... Al this resulted in congressman being unable to read the bill (something RPV helped Congress with), and inevitably things were surprisingly included and omitted from the bill.
The best known mistake was Democrats omission of coverage of preexisting conditions for children. There was also the exemption of House and Senate staff from the bill.
However some conservative was able to sneak in $250 million in funding for abstinence education. I'm sure Democrat activists wish that aspect had been stripped from the bill. I tip my hat to the conservative with the spine and ability to include this funding in the bill.
The best known mistake was Democrats omission of coverage of preexisting conditions for children. There was also the exemption of House and Senate staff from the bill.
However some conservative was able to sneak in $250 million in funding for abstinence education. I'm sure Democrat activists wish that aspect had been stripped from the bill. I tip my hat to the conservative with the spine and ability to include this funding in the bill.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
How will the Student Loan provisions affect me?
Legislators stuck several new Student Loan provisions into the recently passed-and-signed-into-law Healthcare Bill, but haven't had time to gloat because of trying to quell the uprising that has ensued the signing.
Because of the "brush off" method used to get new student loan provisions through, there has been immense confusion as to what really is changing and how. After a little research, I hope this can quell some of that confusion.
Q: What does the overhaul of student lending do?
A: Basically, it cuts banks out of the government-backed student loan business. Money for the loans has come either directly from the government or through private financial institutions, which have collected billions of dollars in federal subsidies to protect against default.
Under the changes, banks will no longer act as middlemen, and all colleges and universities must switch to the direct lending program by July 1. Many already have made the switch in anticipation of the new law.
Private lenders can still make student loans that are not backed by the government, and they will continue to have contracts to service some federal loans. But the new law represents a significant change in what has been a multibillion-dollar business for the banking industry.
Q: What will Obama do with the money? How will this affect students and their parents?
A: A chunk of the savings will go toward Pell Grants for college students — to award more grants and to provide larger amounts. Community colleges and institutions with predominantly minority populations also will receive funding.
Q: OK, what exactly is happening to Pell Grants?
A: More than $40 billion will go toward the grants, which are targeted toward students from low- and moderate-income families. Between 2013 and 2017, the maximum award will increase to $5,975 from $5,550. The administration also expects more than 820,000 additional awards to be made by the 2020-2021 academic year because of the changes.
Some of the money will address shortfalls in the Pell Grant program that developed because students were qualifying for more and larger grants. More than 6 million students received such grants in the 2008-09 academic year, an increase of about 50% from a decade earlier, according to the College Board.
Q: How else will students benefit?
A: Students who have low incomes or meet certain other eligibility requirements and who take out loans after July 1, 2014, will see their payments limited to 10% of their discretionary income after graduation. Current law caps payments at 15% of income.
For students who make their loan payments on time, the government will forgive the balance after 20 years, instead of 25. Public service workers — teachers, nurses, police officers and those in the military — will see any remaining debt forgiven after just 10 years of repayment.
Q: What's in the new law for community colleges?
Community colleges, which enroll more than 6 million students and are growing fast, will receive $2 billion over the next four years for a competitive grant program to provide training and education programs. The grant program was created in the economic stimulus bill enacted last year, but never funded.
Q: What about funding for institutions that serve mostly minority student bodies?
These colleges and universities will share $2.55 billion in additional funding over the next decade.
Q: Does anybody lose as a result of the changes?
A: Banks and other financial institutions. Sallie Mae, the biggest student lender, has about 8,500 employees in the student loan program and has said close to one-third of them may lose their jobs as a result of the overhaul. Sallie Mae still will have contracts to service federal loans.
Virginia Offshore Drilling: A Victory, a Smokescreen, or Both?
The big news of the day is that President Obama announced he supports drilling off the coast of Virginia. Some are viewing this as a victory for Bob McDonnell. He campaigned hard on the need to drill offshore, and use the procedes to fund transportation. The next step is to get congress to approve a bill that will give VA at least 37.5% of the royalties from the sale of the oil. If this can be accomplished VA will have found a major new revenue source for transportation.
While Virginian's are excited some House Republicans are not as excited. Rep. Mike Pence views this as a smokescreen and a vote buying move for Obama's cap and trade bill.
Bob McDonnell, congratulations on your victory. Movement on this issue from a president this liberal is certainly a pleasant surprise. Hopefully we can beat cap and trade, and still open up offshore drilling off the coast of VA.
While Virginian's are excited some House Republicans are not as excited. Rep. Mike Pence views this as a smokescreen and a vote buying move for Obama's cap and trade bill.
The President's announcement today is a smokescreen. It will almost certainly delay any new offshore exploration until at least 2012 and include only a fraction of the offshore resources that the previous Administration included in its plan. Unfortunately, this is yet another feeble attempt to gain votes for the President's national energy tax bill that is languishing in the Senate.
Bob McDonnell, congratulations on your victory. Movement on this issue from a president this liberal is certainly a pleasant surprise. Hopefully we can beat cap and trade, and still open up offshore drilling off the coast of VA.
Al Bedrosian for Roanoke Co. Republican Chairman
Al Bedrosian, homeschool dad, Republican nominee for House of Delegates in 1999, and longtime Roanoke area activist, is running for chairman of the Roanoke County Republican Committee. Al Bedrosian was an early and vocal supporter of Sen. Ralph Smith's successful primary challenge against Brandon Bell, a committed pro-life activist, and someone who is unafraid to challenge the party structure when it is capitulating on our conservative beliefs. He has also been a leader in the Roanoke area homeschool community. This is the kind of person we need running the Roanoke Co. Republican Committee. I would encourage you to read his announcement letter, and vote for him on April 15th.
What would be a better way to celebrate tax day then electing a principled constitutional conservative to chair the Roanoke County Committee? Conservatives, Tea Partiers, homeschoolers, disenchanted voters; this is your chance to do something to make a difference
Because I have a strong interest in our political system and government, I have decided to be a candidate for Chairman of the Roanoke County Republican Party. This election will be held on Thursday, April 15th, (registration begins at 6pm – the meeting starts promptly at 7pm). If you are a registered voter in Roanoke County, I need your vote. You do not have to be a republican or part of the republican party. You just have to be a registered voter in Roanoke County. (If you live in Botetourt – see note below.)
I have decided to be a candidate because I think most of the problems facing our great state and country are because Christian conservatives are unwilling to take a stand. I think the liberals/socialist in America are doing exactly what they should be doing – they are attacking the Christian/Constitutional foundation of this country. And they are doing it because they oppose what it stands for. But where are those that believe in the Christian foundation of America – and believe in freedom? Well, that is why I want to re-energize the Republican party to be what it should be --- it needs to stand for solid Christian / Constitutional principles and it needs to hold its own accountable. We have come to idolize our politicians instead of making sure they are protecting the constitution. We need to educate Americans on why socialism does not work and why our founding fathers set up the best form of government this world has ever seen. We need to get back to a time of personal responsibility and accountability and let the free markets take care of the economy, let the churches and local communities take care of the poor, and we as citizens need to be responsible for ourselves and our families and stop looking to the government for help. When we look to the government to provide more security in every aspect of our lives we lose more freedom. The time is NOW to strengthen the Republican party and hold it accountable to the Constitution. I want to do my part in making this a reality. I want to help find candidates that we can be excited about and not always have to chose the lesser of two evils.
The Mass meeting to elect the Roanoke County Republican chairman will be held on Thursday, April 15th at the Roanoke County Administration Building on Route 419 in Southwest County (near the Shoney’s and Rigazzis - 5204 Bernard Drive, Roanoke, VA 24018). Registration starts at 6pm -- The doors will close at 7pm to start the meeting (with no exceptions allowed). If you are not registered and seated at this time you will not be able to vote. I suggest that you arrive no later than 6:30 to register. This is a great experience to see how our form of government really works from the ground up. Bring your family.
Please email me and let me know if I can count on you for your vote at this meeting. Please pass this email note to your friends!
Thanks
Al Bedrosian
What would be a better way to celebrate tax day then electing a principled constitutional conservative to chair the Roanoke County Committee? Conservatives, Tea Partiers, homeschoolers, disenchanted voters; this is your chance to do something to make a difference
_______________________________________
Because I have a strong interest in our political system and government, I have decided to be a candidate for Chairman of the Roanoke County Republican Party. This election will be held on Thursday, April 15th, (registration begins at 6pm – the meeting starts promptly at 7pm). If you are a registered voter in Roanoke County, I need your vote. You do not have to be a republican or part of the republican party. You just have to be a registered voter in Roanoke County. (If you live in Botetourt – see note below.)
I have decided to be a candidate because I think most of the problems facing our great state and country are because Christian conservatives are unwilling to take a stand. I think the liberals/socialist in America are doing exactly what they should be doing – they are attacking the Christian/Constitutional foundation of this country. And they are doing it because they oppose what it stands for. But where are those that believe in the Christian foundation of America – and believe in freedom? Well, that is why I want to re-energize the Republican party to be what it should be --- it needs to stand for solid Christian / Constitutional principles and it needs to hold its own accountable. We have come to idolize our politicians instead of making sure they are protecting the constitution. We need to educate Americans on why socialism does not work and why our founding fathers set up the best form of government this world has ever seen. We need to get back to a time of personal responsibility and accountability and let the free markets take care of the economy, let the churches and local communities take care of the poor, and we as citizens need to be responsible for ourselves and our families and stop looking to the government for help. When we look to the government to provide more security in every aspect of our lives we lose more freedom. The time is NOW to strengthen the Republican party and hold it accountable to the Constitution. I want to do my part in making this a reality. I want to help find candidates that we can be excited about and not always have to chose the lesser of two evils.
The Mass meeting to elect the Roanoke County Republican chairman will be held on Thursday, April 15th at the Roanoke County Administration Building on Route 419 in Southwest County (near the Shoney’s and Rigazzis - 5204 Bernard Drive, Roanoke, VA 24018). Registration starts at 6pm -- The doors will close at 7pm to start the meeting (with no exceptions allowed). If you are not registered and seated at this time you will not be able to vote. I suggest that you arrive no later than 6:30 to register. This is a great experience to see how our form of government really works from the ground up. Bring your family.
Please email me and let me know if I can count on you for your vote at this meeting. Please pass this email note to your friends!
NOTE: If you live in Botetourt County– the meeting to elect a Republican chairman is on Tuesday, April 20th – I am supporting the current chairman, Doug Gimbert – let me know if you would be able to attend and vote for him.
Thanks
Al Bedrosian
rvhr@cox.net