Reid: Cantor should not be in debt limit talks

Ahhhhh, the headline says it all. Anytime Harry Reid doesn't like someone then that person's stock goes up in my book!

By LAURIE KELLMAN - Associated Press | AP – 2 hrs 27 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says House Majority Leader Eric Cantor should not be part of the debt limit negotiations. He's calling the Virginia Republican congressman "childish."

Reid says Cantor's conduct during the sensitive White House talks have shown, in Reid's words, "he shouldn't even be at the table." Reid says other congressional leaders are negotiating in good faith as an Aug. 2 deadline approaches for raising the debt limit.

That's when the Obama administration says the government would begin defaulting if no agreement is reached to raise the borrowing limit. Leaders of both parties and the business world have said that a default would be catastrophic.

The daily talks ended Wednesday with Obama and Cantor clashing, and the president leaving the room. They resume late Thursday afternoon.

http://news.yahoo.com/reid-cantor-not-debt-limit-talks-140004596.html

 It seems to me that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has been getting under the skin of a few people lately. Like the House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and yes even POTUS himself Barack Hussein Obama, Mmmmm! Mmmmm! Mmmmm!

Could it be that Mr. Cantor has been actully standing up for what most of us would like to see the Federal Governmnet do and that is "CUT SPENDING!!!" Could it also be that Mr. Cantor is actully making a stand against and saying "NO NEW TAXES!!!"

If that is true then I tip my hat to Mr. Cantor for a job well done so far.

Anytime you get under the skin of Barack Hussein Obama Mmmmm! Mmmmm! Mmmmm!, you deserve the "Golden Oar Award" for stirring the pot if you get my drift.

EPA: High-ethanol fuel blend safe to use

If you believe this dribble then I have prime real estate in South Central Florida for sale. E15 will eat at all of your gaskets and cause all kinds of trouble.

Nathan Hurst/ Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington— Drivers shouldn't worry about using gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol, a key Environmental Protection Agency official said Thursday amid deep insistence from Republican lawmakers and automakers that such use could damage engines.

GOP members controlling the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee overseeing energy and environmental legislation used the Thursday hearing on allowing so-called E15 fuel to be sold nationally to criticize the EPA's decision to move forward with a controversial waiver allowing the sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol.
Currently, ethanol blends of up to 10 percent are the norm at gas stations across the country, and the EPA has approved a waiver allowing up to 15 percent.

Margo Oge, director of the agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said her scientists conducted extensive research showing that "no unusual damage was found compared to control vehicles tested with normal gasoline."

But that claim came as both lawmakers and auto manufacturers alike cried foul. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., insisted the wavier — which would allow fuel stations to sell gasoline mixed with up to 15 percent ethanol, but not require its sale — isn't a "science-based decision" and warned that automakers had come out strongly against approval.

Auto industry leaders circulated letters among Capitol Hill reporters this week, opposing the introduction of E15 into the American market.

Despite restricting the sale of E15 for use only in vehicles model year 2001 and higher, the manufacturers said they were unable to ensure that their customers wouldn't encounter problems by using the fuel.

Some of those same manufacturers — including Detroit's Big Three — have autos designed to burn E85, which is only 15 percent gasoline.

But those that aren't, manufacturers warn, could encounter reduced engine lifespan, poor performance and costly repairs. Officials with groups representing small engine manufacturers echoed that sentiment at Thursday's hearings.

The EPA approved an orange-and-black label for E15 pumps in late June, which will have to be applied to any equipment dispensing the 85 percent gasoline, 15 percent ethanol blend. That label warns against use in cars with model years earlier than 2001 and in motorcycles, boats and gas-powered lawn equipment.

nhurst@detnews.com
(202) 662-8738 From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110708/AUTO01/107080340/EPA--High-ethanol-fuel-blend-safe-to-use#ixzz1RkWZ5Oxo

Taking Back Our Country Part 1 - New Federal Tax Code

New Federal Tax Code

With a debt approaching 14 Trillion dollars, yes I said 14 Trillion, Now 14 Trillion looks like this… $14,000,000,000,000, leaves you with the question “Where do you start?” In my humble opinion you start with the Federal Tax Code. The KEY to taking back our country is getting control of our money.

Tackling the Federal Tax Code is actually very simple. You SCRAP the existing system. The current Federal Tax Code is over 64,000 pages thick and is full of corruption and it needs to be REPLACED with a new Federal Tax Code that I believe should be what is commonly known as a Value Added Tax (VAT). I prefer to call it what it is a National Sales Tax. Now this is not a new idea but I believe it could be the answer to our dysfunctional tax code.

The National Sales Tax will replace ALL Federal Taxes, Fees and any revenue enhancement programs excluding Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid has to be addressed separately which I will go into at another time.

So how will this National Sales Tax work?

The National Sale Tax

The National Sales Tax (NST) should have a range between 1% to 5% at the point of sale with NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCLUSIONS. I suggest a 5% NST. For example let’s use that ear of corn you just bought at the grocery store as an example.

When the Farmer bought the seed, fertilizer, herbicide, etc. He would pay a 5% NST.

After the corn is harvested the Wholesaler would pay a 5% NST on the Farmer’s corn crop.

When the Grocery Store Chain buy’s a supply of corn from the Wholesaler they would pay a 5% NST.

That ear of corn you picked out in the produce section of the Grocery Store you will pay a 5% NST.

Of course all the NST paid by the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain is included in the price you pay for that ear of corn. You may ask, “Is that right?” The answer is yes.

All of the actual or estimated taxes that the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain will pay under the current Federal Tax Code are included in the price of that ear of corn. So nothing will change when it comes to passing the cost of doing business.

What will the NST apply to?

The NST applies to all aspects of the U.S. economy. Which means it will apply to agriculture, industry, finance, service, investments, energy, etc., remember I said NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCLUSIONS. For example it will apply to houses, Cars, Bubble Gum, Insurance Policy’s, Lawyer Fees, Gasoline, Food, Medicine, Stocks, Doctor Bill’s, etc. Do you get the picture now?

What is the advantage of the NST over a Flat Tax or the Fair Tax?

As stated above the NST will not exceed 5% at all levels of purchase and applies to all sales without exception. Your income is NOT TAXED!

The Flat Tax of 10% to 20%, which ever rate they decide on will still tax your income and require you to file a return every year just like you do now. Most if not all of the exceptions are eliminated. Check the following link for more information.
A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax Link

The Fair Tax resembles the NST because it does tax you when you buy something. The problem with the Fair Tax is that it will tax you about 25% at the retail level and will have some exceptions and exclusions. Check the following link for more information.
The Fair Tax Link

How do we keep Congress from raising the NST rate or creating new taxes?

We all know that Congress will do their best to raise the NST rate or will create new taxes weather we like it or not so they can spend more money on their pet projects. How do we stop it? It will take a Constitutional Amendment to guarantee that Congress will not pervert the NST.
What will this Constitutional Amendment look like?

Repeal the 16th Amendment.

The NST will not exceed 5% without a National Referendum. There are two exceptions to this rule.
Exception 1: In case of a Natural Disaster Congress can enact up to a 1% increase in the NST above the 5% limit until either the public infrastructure that was damaged is replaced and paid for or it is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in November in a National Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.
Exception 2: In case of a Declared War by Congress, Congress can enact up to a 1% increase in the NST above the 5% limit until either the War is over and paid for or it is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in November in a National Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.

Congress CANNOT increase the NST above 5% without the prior approval of the public through a National Referendum requiring 60% of the vote or more. All increases will be limited to 1% without exception.

Any increase in the NST above the 5% limit CANNOT exceed 5 years. The public must re-approve the previous NST increase in a National Referendum requiring 60% of the vote or more.

The President will have the power of a Budget Line-Item-Veto.

Congress MUST maintain a Balanced Budget.

All Budget Deficits must be balanced with Spending Cuts.

All Budget Surpluses must be applied to the National Debt or in case the National Debt has been paid then it must be refunded to the citizens (above 18 years old) of the United States of America equally.

This new Constitutional Amendment will fundamentally change the way our Federal Government works. It will literally take most of the power of taxation away from Congress and give it back to “The People”. Think about that for a minute. You will through a “National Referendum” for the first time in our history have control over your tax money.

I firmly believe that this proposed Federal Tax Code will bring in the revenue to help balance our budget along with spending cuts.

We must elect people who will truly reform our Federal Government by not adding a bunch of new laws but by repealing old laws.

Wounded Warrior Family Support High Five Tour With Col. John Folsom

On July 2nd, Col. John Folsom came rolling into town on his 18,000 mile High Five Tour across the country to every state capital (including Hawaii & Alaska) to drum up support for the “Wounded Warrior Family Support” project.

The “Wounded Warrior Family Support” mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically.

Wounded Warriors Family Support mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The resort condominium that we own in Orlando, Florida are quiet havens where war torn families can reunite and become stronger.

Please Support the families of our Wounded Warriors by making a donation today! Here is a link to their website…

Wounded Warriors Family Support


The Central Virginia Mustang Club had the honor of meeting Col. Folsom at Richmond Ford. Many of us made donations and signed his 2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. Richmond Ford also gave a generous donation along with many of their employees.

When the time came for Col. Folsom to hit the road the Central Virginia Mustang Club had eight Mustangs escorting him down the highway. Most of the Mustang had peeled off by the time they got to Petersburg except for three of us; we escorted him to South Hill, Virginia.

CVMC wishes Col. Folsom and “Wounded Warrior Family Support” happy trails on the rest of his journey.