President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney say no to congressional subpoenas

Yahoo -- AP news--

Washington -- President Bush rejected subpoenas for documents from former presidential counsel Harriet Miers and former director Sara Taylor as they rejected plans for White House documents and testimony about the firing of US attorneys. The White House made it clear citing executive privilege that neither one will testify.

Presidential counsel Fred Fielding said Bush had made a reasonable attempt at compromise however, Congress forced the confrontation by issuing subpoenas.

" The assertion of executive privilege was the latest turn in increasingly hostile standoffs between the administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the Iraq war, executive power, the war on terror and Vice President Dick Cheney's authority. A day earlier, the Senate Judiciary Committee delivered subpoenas to the offices of Bush, Cheney, the national security adviser and the Justice Department about the administration's warrantless wiretapping program "

Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee stated "increasingly, the president and vice president feel that they are above the law."

I ran out of time to do a more in-depth article, however, is still raises the question that I brought up for years is where is the checks and balances in our governmental system?

It is well-known, that once someone gets into office that they can just about do whatever they want and it takes an act of God to do anything about it. And in the 21st century, things can happen so quickly that the current process of dealing with a rogue president or governor for example would take too long before the damage is done.

Perhaps, it is time to borrow parliaments idea and add the option of "no confidence" if at the very least to temporary suspend a public officials powers until a full investigation could be done.

Should the customers of PGE bail out OMSI?

Statesman Journal--

Senate Bill 994 proposes to use the 3 % surcharge on Portland General Electric customers in the Portland area in order to bail out Oregon Museum Of Science and industry (OMSI) $4.6 million delinquent loan with money that was intended to fund efficiency measures and renewable energy.

Originally, the 3% public purpose surcharge was passed by the Legislature in 2002 was originally designed to be used to fund Energy Trust of Oregon to promote energy efficiency.

Lawmakers insisted that the surcharge was consistent with the intent of the original proposal and that the loan was given to OMSI based on energy conservation efforts made at the museum's new building.

Tancredo amendment to cut funding for sanctuary city's passes with strong bipartisan support

Tancredo ----

An amendment to HR 2638 offered by US Representative Tom Tancredo which passed the House by 234-189 with strong bipartisan support cuts funding from the Department of Homeland security (DHS) to cities that employ a "sanctuary policy" to illegal aliens.

" The Times, they are a changing," said Tancredo, "This should serve as a warning sign to the White House and supporters of re-introducing an amnesty bill from the Senate. If that legislation makes it to the house, it is in serious trouble." "

The amendment to HR 2638 would prevent cities like Denver and San Francisco, who employ a sanctuary policy for illegal aliens from receiving first responder funds, including law enforcement and terrorism prevention grants, along with other programs.

Related information:
{The Library of Congress HR 2638}--

H.AMDT.294 Amendment (A045) offered by Mr. Tancredo. (consideration: CR H6468-6469, H6494-6495; text: CR H6468)
An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit funds to be used in contravention of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. {summary HR 2638}--

Mexico: almost 300 high-ranking federal police officers have been suspended temporarily

BBC News--

Mexican President Felipe Calderon continues with his promise that he made about his first hundred days in office under a program which he calls "keep Mexicans at home"{Tucson Citizen}-- and to make Mexico a better place for Mexicans to live.

One of his key priorities since coming into office was the fight against drug traffickers, and he is starting by suspending almost 300 high-ranking federal police officers in Mexico in order to tackle corruption within the force.

With dozens of federal officers found working for the country's drug cartels over recent years, officers will now face a "trust test" which will include drug checks, a lie detector, and psychological test. The officer's family and friends may also be investigated and the officer's bank records checked.

" "There are mafias that don't want the situation to change so they can continue to enrich themselves under the protection of corruption and crime," said Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna. "

Those who fail the test will lose their jobs however, those who scored the highest marks will be promoted to regional Federal police chiefs.

A new group "Americans for immigration reform" wants to promote how vital immigrants are to the economy

Houston Chronicle--

Houston business leaders want politicians and the public to know how vital immigrants are to the economy so they are creating a national coalition in Washington, DC called Americans for Immigration Reform.

" "We think that it's the responsible thing to do, to engage in the discussion rather than sit back and wring our hands," said Jeff Moseley, president and chief executive officer of the partnership, which is spearheading the effort. "We know that for Houston and this region to be world-class, there has to be a thoughtful, comprehensive reform to immigration, and now is the time." "

Currently the new group does not have a list of what it is they will be lobbing Congress for, however, the partnership has urged Congress to come up with a temporary worker program that could match workers with employers.

The coalition says that it will counter the arguments made by talk radio and television host who were opposed to immigration reforms, said Jeff Moseley, president and chief executive officer of the partnership.

In Houston, immigration is a hot issue because of the nearly 250,000 illegal workers or 10% of the area job force, which

" "Because of our proximity to the border, we have a significant immigrant community," said Foster, a partnership board member. "We realize that this gets to the very fabric of our community and who we are." "

illegal aliens contribute $27.3 billion to the Houston area's gross regional product.
and that is exactly what we're trying to avoid... Americans being
assimilated in to the Mexican culture in the United States and not the other way around.

additionally, I wish that they would stop throwing "immigrants" in the same category as "illegal aliens". There is a major difference.

Meth lab found along Franklin Blvd

KEZI--

A transient camp with a full-service meth lab was found during a routine cleaning up along the Willamette River was discovered in Springfield near Island Park.
people who travel regular through the area are well familiar with the transients who reside at this location. Not really a surprise is it?

should you lose Your property if you fail to report a crime?

Statesman Journal--

A constitutional proposal won final approval Thursday in the Oregon Senate in which voters will decide to loosen restrictions on whether police agencies should have more power to seize and sell property tied to illegal activity.

The previous 2000 initiative measure required police get a conviction before they can pursue a forfeiture. The measure also said that proceeds from the sale of seized property could not be used to pay for police operations.

The measure adopted Thursday would allow police to keep some of the money they generate.

" If adopted by voters, the measure would allow police to take property that is not related to a specific conviction if the person is found guilty of a similar crime.
Moreover, a person who is not convicted could lose property if he or she KNEW a crime was being committed and failed to stop or report it. "

Senator Ginny Burdick, who supported the measure, called it a compromise approach that was drawn up between law enforcement groups and the American Civil Liberties Union which sponsored the 2000 initiative.

" "This retains protections against unreasonable forfeitures, but it would still allow law enforcement agencies to use this valuable tool against drug traffickers," the Portland Democrat said. "

let me get this straight... if you even KNEW of a crime you could lose YOUR property?

Does anybody else see how this could go so terribly wrong?

it's a tax increase! No, it's a fee increase! Like there's a difference?

Statesman Journal--

House Bill 3551 approved by the Ways and Means subcommittee on transportation and economic development approved a $15 increase in the "fees" to record real estate and other documents at county courthouses across the state.

The new “tax” is designed to reduce homelessness and stem Oregon's housing affordability crisis.

" "We're very excited," said Eugene legal aid attorney John VanLandingham, a longtime advocate for low-income housing. Advocates have sought such a permanent funding source for 17 years, VanLandingham said. "

The plan hit a snag when legislative attorneys ruled that it was a ruled it was a tax increase, not a fee increase, which requires a 60% super majority to pass.

The original package was designed to raise $30 million a year based on an inflated estimate for the number of documents ever recorded each year.

The final package was changed to direct some funds to minority homebuying program.

let me see if I understand this correctly...
a fee is not a tax, and a tax is not a fee, however they both add to the cost.

And raising fees/taxes to buy a house makes houses more affordable?

"It's a floor wax! It's a dessert topping! You're both right!{SNL}--

Who really pays a price for illegal immigration?

The Oregonian--
"Are my parents going to be taken, too?"

Robin's Commentary
In a recent editorial by Steve Duin regarding the round up of 167 undocumented workers at fresh Del Monte's North Portland processing plant, and discussing the aftermath of the raid on the plant brings up an excellent point in my opinion.

What about the children of illegal immigrants?

The children see their parents being hauled off by immigration or in the case of Graciela Barajas, mother of two children who has to explain to her children why now she now can't leave the house between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and why she is wearing a weird looking bracelet on her ankle.

What will the parents tell their children?

What will they say when they ask "Mommy, why is this happening to us, and will this happen to me, too?"
A question that the teachers at Clarendon elementary school had to answer.

""We didn't want to make it too obvious," said Principal Antonio Lopez of Clarendon Elementary School, so he had teachers tell their students they were looking for summer jobs and needed a few suggestions. How many parents work in restaurants, the kids were asked? How many work for PGE or the Port? And how many parents work at Fresh Del Monte?

"Seeing the terror on their faces is something I'll never forget," Meza said. "When you see a kid cry, you aren't human if you aren't disturbed. You can't change the world, but you do what you can." "

under any other circumstances, the children would be placed in therapy to help them cope with the trauma of their parents being ripped away from them. Do we put these children in therapy? Do we punish these children for their parents actions?

Nevertheless, who is really at fault?

The people who cross the borders illegally or the system that doesn't stop them

How can Hispanic students improve academically? Start turning off the Spanish-language television sets

Fox news--

San Francisco --
This advice comes from Arnold Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself from Austria when asked Wednesday night at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists when he was asked how Hispanic students can improve academic performance.

" "You've got to turn off the Spanish television set" and stay away from Spanish-language television, books and newspapers ... "I know this sounds odd and this is the politically incorrect thing to say and I'm going to get myself in trouble," he said. "But I know that when I came to this country, I very rarely spoke German to anyone.""

Schwarzenegger's comments did not sit well with some of the audience members.

" "I'm sitting shaking my head not believing that someone would be so naive and out of it that he would say something like that," Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, said Thursday, immigrants need Spanish-language media to stay informed and "function in this society" "

Pilar Marrero, the political editor for the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion, chuckling that many Hispanics to not have time to learn English, "they're too busy working"

Rafael Olmeda, president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) said most most members would agree with the governor statements.

" "Most people I've spoken to walked away believing that he was trying to say that we must learn English to succeed in American society," Olmeda said. "

In the past, Schwarzenegger has been criticized by Democrats when he said that Mexican immigrants who "tried to stay Mexican" when they come to the US are urged to learn English and US history and "to make an effort to become part of America."
good advice from somebody who has been there, e.g. Schwarzenegger. "I very rarely spoke German to anyone."
However, negative statements such as "many Hispanics do not have the time to learn English" and being offended by feeling that they "MUST learn English to succeed in American society" are not exactly helping to make a positive impact on immigration issues.