Lobby Reform/Constitutional Question.

A bill that mandated full disclosure of earmarks passed in the U.S. House today. Its called the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. Shall this bill become law, hopefully there would be less government waste. Here are a few highlights of the Bill
Congress's proposed lobby and ethics reform
• Requires that all member-directed spending, or earmarks, be identified on the Internet at least 48 hours before a vote, in a searchable form "if feasible."
• Bans gifts to members of Congress and staff from lobbyists and their clients, including free meals and tickets to events.
• Strips pensions and other retirement benefits from lawmakers convicted of bribery, perjury, or similar crimes.
For more information visit this link
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0801/p01s03-uspo.html?page=1

Also, Congress passed H.R.3093. In this bill, funding would be suspended needed to enforce the 11 to 12 prison sentence of Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean. This bill attempts to do what President Bush is suppose to do, pardon them. While I support the bill's intentions, the bill is unconstitutional. America pay attention, this is what happens when we have a president that refuse to enforce the law and protect the boarder.
For more information visit this link
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congpardon.htm?nl=1

Good News in Iraq

There's Good news in Iraq,
Iraq's soccer team won the Asian Cup after beating Saudia Arabia.
Read more
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0730/p01s02-wome.html

CAMPAIGN FINANCE ALERT

July 20th, 2007
The Missouri Supreme Court on July 19 unanimously struck down a state law allowing unlimited campaign contributions and other changes to our campaign finance laws. This decision means that the state’s campaign contributions limits and laws are now similar to those during the 2006 election cycle. It is imperative that Missouri Republicans stay within the court-ordered campaign contribution limits and abide by the rules in place during 2006. The Supreme Court has not ruled on whether contributions already made will have to be returned. We will keep you updated as the issue develops. To read the Supreme Court opinion, go to: http://www.courts.mo.gov/Courts/PubOpinions.nsf/0f87ea4ac0ad4c0186256405005d3b8e/91b8b8cf4837c2bd8625731d0064ee58?OpenDocument
If you have questions regarding how this decision impacts your committee, candidates or organization, do not hesitate to call Emily Kliethermes at 573-636-316 or email her at ekliet@mogop.org
UPDATE: Click here to read the advisory statement from the Missouri Ethics Commission.

8 out of 18 Iraqi benchmarks

According to the President's July 12Th Assessment Report, Iraqi government and security force have met 8 out of 18 Benchmarks. Of the 8 that have been met

• Form a constitutional review committee and complete review
• Enact and implement legislation on procedures to form semi-autonomous regions
• Support Baghdad Security by establishing political, economic and media security
• Provide 3 trained and independent Iraqi brigades
• Make sure that Baghdad security does not help terrorist or insurgents
• Establish a plan for joint security stations
• Protect minority rights
• Allocate $10 billion for reconstruction

Of the ones not met

• enact de-ba'athifications legislations
• enact legislations that would ensure equal distribution of hydrocarbon
• form election commission- mixed result
• enact amnesty legislation
• enact strong disarmament legislation
• give Iraqi commanders the authority to make decision without interference
• make sure the Iraqi security force is enforcing the law
• reduce the level of violence
• Increase the number of independant security forces
• insure government official aren't undermind

You could read the full report at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/iraq/2007/FinalBenchmarkReport.pdf

Buchanan Sees a Hillary Make-over

By Ebony Hairston Bay Buchanan

Bay Buchanan-Former Treasurer of the United States-CNN Commentator, Author of The Extreme Makeover of Hillary Clinton had a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Manchester. A small crowd accompanied by robust spirits was at the book signing..
She began by outlining the basis for her book. She started of looking at Sen. Clinton’s reputation as a moderate. This she feels is a myth. She sighted many examples of why she felt Hillary Clinton is not a moderate and is not cut out to be President of the United States. She also spoke of the research process she went through. She noted that her sources were taken from both the left and the right. She said she felt Sen. Clinton was dishonest and sighted some examples that were personal in nature. She took issue with Clinton’s Senate record. She accused her of not standing up for her points of view and flip-flopping. There was a question and answer session at the end of the talk. The question one heard on more than one occasion was who could beat Hillary. After some back and forth she gave several answers. Her picks range from Mitt Romney, who she said could raise the money to Fred Thompson. Soon she was ready to leave traveling all over for a world wind book tour.

Down with the N-word

I hope this is the start of a new trend. Recently the NAACP held a funeral for the N-word. The NAACP is trying to get rappers, black stars, and every day back people to stop using the word. As a black man, I never used the N-word and I can't understand how other black men or women could find justification in using this word. http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/7/9/130631.shtml?s=ic

Interview with Sherman Parker

By Ebony Hairston
June 23, 2007


An Interview With:

Sherman Parker-Former State Representative, and founder of an African American Republican Group

How did you get interested in politics?

SP: I grew up around politics. The news was always on in my house. I loved current affairs. I never ran for any office in high school or college.
In high school I went to Boy State and met Bob Holden and Vince Shamel.
I caught the political bug.

How did you get your start?
SP: My first job ever was for the City of St. Louis City Hall. I got to sit in on aldermanic meetings and got to meet the alderman and the mayor. The only thing was, I was a Republican and I knew they were all democrats.

So, next I did an internship with Senator Kit Bond in college. I was going to the University of Vermont which is very progressive. I made lifelong friends there and pledged Delta PSI. Then I worked for Katherine Hanaway...

You are a Republican and you believe more African Americans should be Republicans. What does the Republican Party have to offer African American people?

SP: I believe that there needs to be a balance, and that African Americans need to be represented in both parties so our voices are heard no matter who is in power.

I believe that Republicans have something to offer African Americans in terms of educational reform, and economic development. For example, for subsidies that help people renovate buildings and start small businesses.

One issue that you seem to be concerned about is domestic violence, what got you interested in this issue? Do you have a plan to combat domestic violence and can you give me some details on it?

Without going into too many details mine as in many families we had our own run in with domestic violence. I was contacted by a constituent who was involved in a domestic violence incident and the police came to break it up and let her husband leave with his firearms. If there is a drug bust and and the police see guns when they come to arrest people they take every thing but not with domestic violence. I wrote a bill to close the loophole that allows abusive spouses to keep their firearms when they are removed from a domestic dispute. I don’t think it will ever be passed in Missouri. There is more grand standing than problem solving.


Another issue you feel is important is health care. What is wrong with the U.S. health care system that needs fixing?

SP: It is too expensive; there are 46 million uninsured, and its not so high quality.

What do you think we should do about it?

SP: I like the Massachusetts plan. I think the states will be a testing ground. There are new things that Governor Matt Blunt is doing. I think we should cover the young

One popular issue is national security? Are we safer than we were at 9/11? What do you feel still needs to be done?

SP: We are safer than we were at 9/11, but we need to secure the borders, North and South. The Canadian border needs a great deal of work. We need a troop presence, border stops.

Do you plan to run for office again?

SP: Yes, I plan to run again.

What are some of your latest initiatives?

SP: An African American Republican group, Missouri Spectrum.