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| Bill H. has shared a video with you on YouTube: After Buddy de Cat carves his Halloween Pumpkin, strange things start to happen... BOO!!! | |
Dear William,
Thank you for contacting me about hydraulic fracturing. It is good to hear from you.
Hydraulic fracturing is a technique that is used on the majority of oil and natural gas wells. The practice has been in use for more than 60 years. The states have primary experience regulating oil and natural gas development, including hydraulic fracturing. The State of Wyoming updated its oil and natural gas regulations last year. Federal laws and regulations are also applicable, including those related to water resources as well as chemical storage, disposal, reporting and safety. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently conducting a study on the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water.
On March 15, 2011, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) introduced S.587, a bill that would repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, of which I am a member.
Please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind should this measure come before the full Committee for a vote.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your views. I hope you will stay in touch.
Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan's Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #OWS is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to expose how the richest 1% of people are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.
Occupy Wall Street is a horizontally organized resistance movement employing the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to restore democracy in America. We use a tool known as a "people's assembly" to facilitate collective decision making in an open, participatory and non-binding manner. We call ours the NYC General Assembly and we welcome people from all colors, genders and beliefs to attend our daily assemblies. To learn more about how you can start a people's assembly to organize your local community to fight back against social injustice, please read this quick guide on group dynamics in people's assemblies.
If 2,000 Tea Party activists descended on Wall Street, you would probably have an equal number of reporters there covering them. Yet 2,000 people did occupy Wall Street last Saturday. They weren't carrying the banner of the Tea Party, the Gadsden flag with its coiled snake and the threat "Don't Tread on Me". Yet their message was clear: "We are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%." They were there, mostly young, protesting the virtually unregulated speculation of Wall Street that caused the global financial meltdown.
One of New York's better-known billionaires, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, commented on the protests: "You have a lot of kids graduating college, can't find jobs. That's what happened in Cairo. That's what happened in Madrid. You don't want those kinds of riots here."
Riots? Is that really what the Arab Spring and the European protests are about?
Perhaps to the chagrin of Mayor Bloomberg, that is exactly what inspired many who occupied Wall Street. In its most recent communiqué, the Wall Street protest umbrella group said:
"On Saturday we held a general assembly, two thousand strong. … By p.m. on Monday we still held the plaza, despite constant police presence. … We are building the world that we want to see, based on human need and sustainability, not corporate greed."
Speaking of the Tea Party, Texas Governor Rick Perry has caused a continuous fracas in the Republican presidential debates with his declaration that the US's revered social security system is a "Ponzi scheme" Charles Ponzi was the con artist who swindled thousands in 1920 with a fraudulent promise for high returns on investments. A typical Ponzi scheme involves taking money from investors, then paying them off with money taken from new investors, rather than paying them from actual earnings. Social security is actually solvent, with a trust fund of more than $2.6 trillion. The real Ponzi scheme threatening the US public is the voracious greed of Wall Street banks.
I interviewed one of the "Occupy Wall Street" protest organizers. David Graeber teaches at Goldsmiths, University of London, and has authored several books – most recently, Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Graeber points out that, in the midst of the financial crash of 2008, enormous debts between banks were renegotiated. Yet only a fraction of troubled mortgages have gotten the same treatment. He said:
"Debts between the very wealthy or between governments can always be renegotiated and always have been throughout world history. … It's when you have debts owed by the poor to the rich that suddenly debts become a sacred obligation, more important than anything else. The idea of renegotiating them becomes unthinkable."
President Barack Obama has proposed a jobs plan and further efforts to reduce the deficit. One is a so-called millionaire's tax, endorsed by billionaire Obama supporter Warren Buffett. The Republicans call the proposed tax "class warfare". Graeber commented:
"For the last 30 years, we've seen a political battle being waged by the super-rich against everyone else, and this is the latest move in the shadow dance, which is completely dysfunctional economically and politically. It's the reason why young people have just abandoned any thought of appealing to politicians. We all know what's going to happen. The tax proposals are a sort of mock populist gesture, which everyone knows will be shot down. What will actually probably happen would be more cuts to social services."
Outside in the cold Tuesday morning, the demonstrators continued their day of the protest with a march amidst a heavy police presence and the ringing of an opening bell at 9:30a.m. for a "people's exchange", just as the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange is rung. While the bankers remained secure in their bailed-out banks, outside, the police began arresting protesters. In a just world, with a just economy, we have to wonder: who would be out in the cold? Who would be getting arrested?
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----- Original Message -----From: Harasym 4 CongressTo: Kermit C. BrownSent: Friday, October 21, 2011 1:32 PMSubject: Re: Don't kill the messengerKermit,The facts are: YOU said this about the report- (GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT):"How much are we going to have to spend to tell the ACLU they are wrong?"
None of the data that Brown and other members of the committee have questioned is "ACLU data." According to the most recent Annie E. Casey Foundation report Wyoming continues to have the highest rate of juvenile confinement in the nation.
And the problem is not the numbers; it is the system. Oops!
Here's another fact Kermit: "The juvenile system has been, and continues to be, a system that is inherently incapable of providing the most effective outcomes for both children and the community. It is tragic that legislators are using this smokescreen to cover up their lack of attention to this important issue."
For someone who is suppose to be an attorney, I'm kind of wondering about your??? I'm guessing that Presbyterian Christians care about their fellow men, women and children, like in love thy neighbor as thy self, and expressing compassion for the less fortunate? How am I doing so far? So... you may remember the spirituality of Christianity, like in Matthew 25: 31-46 which you might have forgotten? Or not?...
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
You can justify and rationalize any which way you want, but sometimes it takes a real man to admit when he is wrong, so take care there Kermit. Thanks for your time.
Have a great weekend, and Good day and good luck!
Best wishes always,
Bill Harasym
"This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in."~Teddy Roosevelt~ In Chicago, ILLINOIS, on June 17, 1912
The problem, in fact, is the numbers. You should get your facts straight.Kermit C. Brown
Representative House District 14
P.O. Box 817
Laramie, WY 82073
(307)745-7358
kermitbrown@wyoming.com----- Original Message -----From: Harasym 4 CongressSent: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:51 AMSubject: Don't kill the messengerDon't kill the messenger!
For the past 50 years the state of Wyoming has refused to provide a uniform justice system for the children of our state. As a result over 80 percent of our juveniles are processed through adult court often with no access to assessment, evaluation, counseling, probation or other appropriate services.
According to the most recent Annie E. Casey Foundation report Wyoming continues to have the highest rate of juvenile confinement in the nation.
In 2010 the Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union released a report, "Inequality in the Equality State: The Damaged Juvenile Justice and Detention System in Wyoming." Unfortunately, the response to this report from the Joint Judiciary Committee has been to try and "kill the messenger."
Instead of responding with concern and well thought out action the committee has denounced the data and Co-Chairman Kermit Brown last week asked, "How much are we going to have to spend to tell the ACLU they are wrong?"
None of the data that Brown and other members of the committee have questioned is "ACLU data." Not one number was researched, collected or documented by the ACLU. All data included in the report came from the most recent and accurate data available from the Wyoming Attorney General's Office and the Department of Justice. In addition, reports dating back 40 years level the same type of criticism as the current reports.
The problem is not the numbers; it is the system. The juvenile system has been, and continues to be, a system that is inherently incapable of providing the most effective outcomes for both children and the community. It is tragic that legislators are using this smokescreen to cover up their lack of attention to this important issue.
LINDA BURT, Cheyenne Executive Director, Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union
Best wishes always,
Bill Harasym
"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless
means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." -Paolo Friere-
----- Original Message -----From: Harasym 4 CongressSent: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:51 AMSubject: Don't kill the messengerDon't kill the messenger!
For the past 50 years the state of Wyoming has refused to provide a uniform justice system for the children of our state. As a result over 80 percent of our juveniles are processed through adult court often with no access to assessment, evaluation, counseling, probation or other appropriate services.
According to the most recent Annie E. Casey Foundation report Wyoming continues to have the highest rate of juvenile confinement in the nation.
In 2010 the Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union released a report, "Inequality in the Equality State: The Damaged Juvenile Justice and Detention System in Wyoming." Unfortunately, the response to this report from the Joint Judiciary Committee has been to try and "kill the messenger."
Instead of responding with concern and well thought out action the committee has denounced the data and Co-Chairman Kermit Brown last week asked, "How much are we going to have to spend to tell the ACLU they are wrong?"
None of the data that Brown and other members of the committee have questioned is "ACLU data." Not one number was researched, collected or documented by the ACLU. All data included in the report came from the most recent and accurate data available from the Wyoming Attorney General's Office and the Department of Justice. In addition, reports dating back 40 years level the same type of criticism as the current reports.
The problem is not the numbers; it is the system. The juvenile system has been, and continues to be, a system that is inherently incapable of providing the most effective outcomes for both children and the community. It is tragic that legislators are using this smokescreen to cover up their lack of attention to this important issue.
LINDA BURT, Cheyenne Executive Director, Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union
Read more: http://trib.com/opinion/letters/don-t-kill-the-messenger/article_9104003d-8f24-5392-af42-4f21e6ea9077.html#ixzz1bRKQuDhwBest wishes always,
Bill Harasym
"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless
means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." -Paolo Friere-
 October 20, 2011 William Harasym 200 Smith Street, Apt. 410 Sheridan, Wyoming 82801-3842 Dear William: Thank you for contacting me regarding abortion funding under Obama Care. It is good to hear from you. I am opposed to any taxpayer dollars going towards abortion funding. That is why I supported the Stupak/Pitts amendment to the House-passed healthcare bill that passed in the fall of 2009. The Stupak/Pitts amendment passed by a vote of 240-194. This amendment, had it been accepted by the U.S. Senate, would have prevented federal health insurance subsidies from going towards health plans that offer abortion services. This is consistent with the Hyde Amendment, which requires that no federal funding can go towards elective abortions. Under Stupak/Pitts, individuals would have to use their own funds to pay for elective abortions or they would have to purchase separate supplemental coverage that is not federally subsidized. Unfortunately, the final healthcare bill signed by President Obama in the spring of 2010 included the abortion language from the Senate-passed bill and not the Stupak/Pitts amendment. The Senate language is essentially an accounting gimmick that will force pro-life Americans to fund abortions through their insurance premium payments. There is no difference in requiring Americans to fund abortions through tax dollars or through insurance premiums, if both are forced upon them by the federal government. President Obama pledged to fix the abortion language and signed an Executive Order to this effect. There is some disagreement over whether the Executive Order actually brings Obama Care closer to Stupak/Pitts or represents no more than enforcement of the Senate provisions. Regardless, the public should not have to rely on the discretion and generosity of the President, who at any point could rescind even his own Executive Order. With a new Republican Majority in the House of Representatives, I am proud to say that I voted for H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act. Introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), this legislation passed the House on October 13, 2011 by a vote of 251-172. H.R. 358 would return Obama Care to the Stupak/Pitts approach by barring funding from being used to pay for abortions or abortion coverage. The bill clarifies that issuers who do offer elective abortion coverage must also offer a plan that is identical except that it does not cover elective abortion, meaning families would never have to choose between abortion coverage or selecting the plan that otherwise meets their needs. In addition, the bill bars state, local or federal programs or entities in receipt of Obama Care funds from discriminating against medical providers based on their refusal to provide, train in, or refer for abortions. H.R. 358 now goes to the U.S. Senate, where I hope it is regarded favorably. Thank you again for taking the time to write to me. I value your input. If you haven't done so already, I would like to encourage you to visit my website at www.lummis.house.gov. There you can sign up to receive my newsletter, and have access to a wealth of other information. I won't flood your email box, but I will provide you with updates once in a while about activities in Washington that affect our lives in Wyoming. I hope you will sign up so that we can stay in close touch, and I look forward to seeing you in Wyoming. Sincerely, z Cynthia M. Lummis Member of Congress |
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