U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) released the following statement after working with U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard officials to have the 11 Haitian nationals aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter moved to the Broward Transitional Center for processing:
“The flight to sea from Haiti or via neighboring Caribbean islands to the United States is a perilous journey that tragically results in a loss of life as was the case earlier this week. Many Haitian Americans in Florida and on the island nation are still unaware if their loved ones are safe and my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with these families during this trying time.
“I want to commend the hardworking men and women from the Coast Guard who served as first responders to an unfolding nightmare. These 11 individuals were eyewitnesses to human tragedy and will now be able to make their credible claim of fear, receive due process and legal representation. They will be able to share with our law enforcement community valuable information about these unscrupulous smugglers who show a total disdain for human life by engaging in such criminal activity. This situation is no less tragic but at least legal recourse is available to those who survived this horror on the high seas.”
Friday, May 15, 2009
U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek Regarding the Decision to Move 11 Haitian Nationals from the Coast Guard Cutter to the Broward Transitional Center
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Democrats React to Marco Rubio's "No" Agenda As He Announces Senate Run
From the FDP:
Reacting to former Marco Rubio's announcement that he will run for U.S. Senate on a platform of saying no and obstructing President Obama's change, Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff released the following statement:
"At a time when Florida needs real leadership, Marco Rubio is just following George W. Bush and Republicans in Washington, offering only more of the same stale politics and failed polices.
"In announcing his candidacy, Rubio made it clear that his entire agenda if elected is to just say no - no to President Obama's efforts to jumpstart Florida's economy and create jobs, no to allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families, and no to any solutions aimed at solving the many problems facing the Sunshine State and our nation.
"While Rubio has recently joined the Rush Limbaugh wing of the Republican Party in just saying no, as the sponsor of the largest sales tax increase in Florida's history, Rubio's recent rhetoric on taxes doesn't fit his record.
"Rubio is the Godfather of Tallahassee's Republican culture of corruption. As disgraced former Speaker Ray Sansom's mentor, Rubio taught Sansom how to personally benefit from bringing home the bacon. After delivering millions of tax dollars for Florida International University, Rubio turned around and got a $69,000 per year part-time job at the school... sound familiar? Unfortunately, that is only the tip of the iceberg to Rubio's ethics problems. As Speaker, Rubio was involved in countless ethics scandals revolving around sweetheart mortgages, legislative favors for big donors, highway contracts, and other shady dealings.
"Democrats are organized and energized to bring change to Florida in 2010. We look forward to a strong Democrat winning this Senate seat to help implement President Barack Obama vision of change and join Sen. Bill Nelson in representing Florida in the tradition of Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles."
Monday, May 4, 2009
Leon Democrats support fundamental health care reform
The movement for health care reform got a push locally this week when the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting a Congressional bill for universal coverage.
H.R. 676 calls for a Canadian-style single-payer system that goes beyond proposals being considered by the Obama Administration.
H.R. 676 is building support throughout the country. Coupled with its companion Senate bill, S. 703, its proposals remain perhaps the most cost-effective national legislative option presented to date to address the growing demand for health care reform.
At $7,129, America’s per capita health care cost is double that of most other industrialized nations. But our system performs poorly by many comparisons and it leaves 47 million without coverage, according Physicians for a National Health Program whose Capital City Chapter in Tallahassee was a driving force in getting Leon County Democrats to support H.R. 676.
At their Monday meeting, DEC members made it clear their embrace of single-payer principle wasn’t ruling out support for any subsequent proposals by Obama, but that as a grassroots political party it was important to let national leaders know local member preferences.
The text the DEC resolution, linking the H.R. 676, along with other health care resources can be found at http://www.leondems.com.
Bill by Senator Justice to Stop the Frivolous Use of Public Funds on its Way to the Governor
From the Senate Dems:
Local governments inappropriate spending of public funds to advocate for or against an issue will be prohibited under a measure that has passed through the Legislature. It is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
Sponsored by Senator Charlie Justice (D- St. Petersburg), Senate Bill 216 passed 37-0 after an unsuccessful attempt by Senate Republicans to amend the bill with language that would resurrect controversial leadership funds. Leadership funds would be one more slush fund for political contributions akin to the infamous 527’s or CCE’s that Senator Justice has spent his career trying to regulate.
“Only the Florida Legislature would try to kill a good bill about campaign finance by opening it up to more unregulated campaign finance. I am proud that after three years, we have passed a good fiscally conservative bill that will protect the taxpayers money from being frivolously spent on political propaganda,” Senator Justice said.
Municipalities all over the state have waged countless campaigns fighting for and against various initiatives, often spending massive amounts of money to advocate a certain position. One instance in Volusia County pitted the cities against a county initiative to consolidate services. Ten cities poured more than $160,000 into a campaign to convince voters to defeat the initiative.
“In this rough economic time, public funds should be spent on services, education and infrastructure. Not political campaigns. I look forward to Governor Crist’s favorable support,” Senator Justice concluded.
Senate Bill 216 was sponsored by Representative Janet Long (D - St. Petersburg) in the House.
Text of New Wexler Bill
Text of H. RES. 383: Establishing a select committee to review national security laws, policies, and practices.
April 30, 2009
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. WEXLER, and Mr. CONYERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
RESOLUTION
Establishing a select committee to review national security laws, policies, and practices.
Whereas the Patriot Act gave the Government the authority to spy on and collect information about innocent Americans;
Whereas the National Security Agency spied on Americans for seven years without a warrant in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Fourth Amendment;
Whereas the FISA Amendments Act authorized the Government to collect the content of communications coming into and out of the United States without an individualized order and without any suspicion of wrongdoing;
Whereas Congress has amended our surveillance laws many times since the tragedy of September 11 yet has not received meaningful information about how these new authorities have been used;
Whereas there is no public information about how any of these powerful surveillance tools are currently being used;
Whereas the three provisions of the Patriot Act will be sunsetting on December 31, 2009, and Congress will need to review and amend the surveillance laws this year;
Whereas the United States has Federal laws, including Federal criminal laws, that prohibit the torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of any person in the custody of, or under the control of, the Federal Government;
Whereas in contravention of Federal laws against torture and abuse, and beginning as early as spring of 2002, the Federal Government began to use torture and abuse during the detention and interrogation of its detainees, and to transfer detainees to countries that historically have used torture and abuse during interrogation and detention;
Whereas important decisions on the development and implementation of United States policy on interrogations and detention were made by top White House officials, including presidential directives to set up CIA detention practices, attempting to bar the application of the protections of the Geneva Conventions to certain detainees, and former President George W. Bush's public acknowledgement that he knew his top advisors were meeting to plan and approve interrogations and that he `approved it';
Whereas despite the deliberate efforts by top Government officials to hide the use of torture and abuse by barring the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting detainees held in a secret CIA prison network, destroying 92 videotapes of interrogations, and refusing to provide, even to important standing committees of Congress, key legal memorandums that reportedly were written to try to justify torture and abuse, more than 100,000 pages of already released Government interrogation and detention documents show a deliberate and systematic program of Government-ordered torture and abuse;
Whereas a select committee of the House of Representatives would bring together the expertise and oversight commitment of the committees that have already worked countless hours to determine the truth of what happened;
Whereas a select committee would be able to take a broad look at White House decisions and the role of many departments and agencies, including contractors, in the interrogation and detention practices, without having any jurisdictional limitations; and
Whereas a select committee will bring members of the relevant standing committees together with a dedicated staff to provide intensive investigation, oversight, and recommendation that cannot be accomplished by the committees of jurisdiction working piecemeal:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is hereby established a select committee to review national security laws, policies, and practices (hereinafter referred to as the `select committee').
SEC. 2. JURISDICTION; FUNCTIONS.
(a) Legislative Jurisdiction- The select committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution.
(b) Investigative Jurisdiction- The select committee shall study and make recommendations about the effectiveness of past and present United States law enforcement, national security and intelligence activities and the extent, if any, to which unlawful, improper or unauthorized activities were engaged in by or on behalf of any Federal, State, or local government official, including--
(1) the effectiveness and efficiency of past and present law enforcement, and national security and intelligence policies, programs, and activities;
(2) the development and implementation of policies or practices regarding the capture, detention, transfer, extra-judicial rendition, and treatment of individuals by United States Armed Forces, law enforcement and the United States intelligence community, including policies intended to conceal the fact that a person has been detained by, or at the direct request of, the United States;
(3) the development and implementation of policies or practices regarding domestic surveillance activities, or the surveillance of United States persons abroad;
(4) the adequacy of past and present congressional oversight mechanisms and impediments to access to information necessary to conduct proper oversight; and
(5) such other related matters as the committee deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
SEC. 3. COMPOSITION.
The select committee shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Speaker, of whom 3 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the minority leader. The Speaker shall designate one member of the select committee as its chairman. A vacancy in the membership of the select committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
SEC. 4. PROCEDURE.
(a) Rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply to the select committee where not inconsistent with this resolution.
(b) The select committee is authorized to--
(1) require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance and testimony of any person (including at a taking of a deposition by counsel or consultant of the committee), and the production of such things; and
(2) adopt a rule regulating the taking of depositions by a member, counsel, or consultant of the committee, including pursuant to subpoena.
SEC. 5. REPORTING.
The select committee shall report to the House from time to time the results of its investigations and studies as it may deem advisable. At least one public report shall be filed with the House not later than December 31, 2009, and shall include legislative recommendations based on its findings.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) Expenses- There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House such sums as may be necessary for the expenses of the select committee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the chairman of the select committee and approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House Administration. Amounts made available under this subsection shall be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
(b) Staff and Travel- In carrying out its functions under this resolution, the select committee may--
(1) appoint, either on a permanent basis or as experts or consultants, any staff that the select committee considers necessary;
(2) prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the staff;
(3) fix the compensation of the staff at per annum gross rates that do not exceed the highest rate of basic pay, as in effect from time to time, of level V of the Executive Schedule in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code;
(4) terminate the employment of any such staff as the select committee considers appropriate;
(5) reimburse members of the select committee and its staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their functions for the select committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting of the select committee held in the District of Columbia; and
(6) obtain detailees or staff from the executive or legislative branch of the Government, who shall be deemed staff of the select committee.
SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND WINDUP OF AFFAIRS.
The select committee shall cease to exist on December 31, 2010.
SEC. 8. DISPOSITION OF RECORDS.
Upon dissolution of the select committee, its records shall become records of such standing committee or committees as the Speaker may designate.
April 30, 2009
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. WEXLER, and Mr. CONYERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
RESOLUTION
Establishing a select committee to review national security laws, policies, and practices.
Whereas the Patriot Act gave the Government the authority to spy on and collect information about innocent Americans;
Whereas the National Security Agency spied on Americans for seven years without a warrant in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Fourth Amendment;
Whereas the FISA Amendments Act authorized the Government to collect the content of communications coming into and out of the United States without an individualized order and without any suspicion of wrongdoing;
Whereas Congress has amended our surveillance laws many times since the tragedy of September 11 yet has not received meaningful information about how these new authorities have been used;
Whereas there is no public information about how any of these powerful surveillance tools are currently being used;
Whereas the three provisions of the Patriot Act will be sunsetting on December 31, 2009, and Congress will need to review and amend the surveillance laws this year;
Whereas the United States has Federal laws, including Federal criminal laws, that prohibit the torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of any person in the custody of, or under the control of, the Federal Government;
Whereas in contravention of Federal laws against torture and abuse, and beginning as early as spring of 2002, the Federal Government began to use torture and abuse during the detention and interrogation of its detainees, and to transfer detainees to countries that historically have used torture and abuse during interrogation and detention;
Whereas important decisions on the development and implementation of United States policy on interrogations and detention were made by top White House officials, including presidential directives to set up CIA detention practices, attempting to bar the application of the protections of the Geneva Conventions to certain detainees, and former President George W. Bush's public acknowledgement that he knew his top advisors were meeting to plan and approve interrogations and that he `approved it';
Whereas despite the deliberate efforts by top Government officials to hide the use of torture and abuse by barring the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting detainees held in a secret CIA prison network, destroying 92 videotapes of interrogations, and refusing to provide, even to important standing committees of Congress, key legal memorandums that reportedly were written to try to justify torture and abuse, more than 100,000 pages of already released Government interrogation and detention documents show a deliberate and systematic program of Government-ordered torture and abuse;
Whereas a select committee of the House of Representatives would bring together the expertise and oversight commitment of the committees that have already worked countless hours to determine the truth of what happened;
Whereas a select committee would be able to take a broad look at White House decisions and the role of many departments and agencies, including contractors, in the interrogation and detention practices, without having any jurisdictional limitations; and
Whereas a select committee will bring members of the relevant standing committees together with a dedicated staff to provide intensive investigation, oversight, and recommendation that cannot be accomplished by the committees of jurisdiction working piecemeal:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is hereby established a select committee to review national security laws, policies, and practices (hereinafter referred to as the `select committee').
SEC. 2. JURISDICTION; FUNCTIONS.
(a) Legislative Jurisdiction- The select committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution.
(b) Investigative Jurisdiction- The select committee shall study and make recommendations about the effectiveness of past and present United States law enforcement, national security and intelligence activities and the extent, if any, to which unlawful, improper or unauthorized activities were engaged in by or on behalf of any Federal, State, or local government official, including--
(1) the effectiveness and efficiency of past and present law enforcement, and national security and intelligence policies, programs, and activities;
(2) the development and implementation of policies or practices regarding the capture, detention, transfer, extra-judicial rendition, and treatment of individuals by United States Armed Forces, law enforcement and the United States intelligence community, including policies intended to conceal the fact that a person has been detained by, or at the direct request of, the United States;
(3) the development and implementation of policies or practices regarding domestic surveillance activities, or the surveillance of United States persons abroad;
(4) the adequacy of past and present congressional oversight mechanisms and impediments to access to information necessary to conduct proper oversight; and
(5) such other related matters as the committee deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
SEC. 3. COMPOSITION.
The select committee shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Speaker, of whom 3 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the minority leader. The Speaker shall designate one member of the select committee as its chairman. A vacancy in the membership of the select committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
SEC. 4. PROCEDURE.
(a) Rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply to the select committee where not inconsistent with this resolution.
(b) The select committee is authorized to--
(1) require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance and testimony of any person (including at a taking of a deposition by counsel or consultant of the committee), and the production of such things; and
(2) adopt a rule regulating the taking of depositions by a member, counsel, or consultant of the committee, including pursuant to subpoena.
SEC. 5. REPORTING.
The select committee shall report to the House from time to time the results of its investigations and studies as it may deem advisable. At least one public report shall be filed with the House not later than December 31, 2009, and shall include legislative recommendations based on its findings.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) Expenses- There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House such sums as may be necessary for the expenses of the select committee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the chairman of the select committee and approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House Administration. Amounts made available under this subsection shall be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
(b) Staff and Travel- In carrying out its functions under this resolution, the select committee may--
(1) appoint, either on a permanent basis or as experts or consultants, any staff that the select committee considers necessary;
(2) prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the staff;
(3) fix the compensation of the staff at per annum gross rates that do not exceed the highest rate of basic pay, as in effect from time to time, of level V of the Executive Schedule in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code;
(4) terminate the employment of any such staff as the select committee considers appropriate;
(5) reimburse members of the select committee and its staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their functions for the select committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting of the select committee held in the District of Columbia; and
(6) obtain detailees or staff from the executive or legislative branch of the Government, who shall be deemed staff of the select committee.
SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND WINDUP OF AFFAIRS.
The select committee shall cease to exist on December 31, 2010.
SEC. 8. DISPOSITION OF RECORDS.
Upon dissolution of the select committee, its records shall become records of such standing committee or committees as the Speaker may designate.
Meek Urges Crist to Call Legislature into Special Session if $444 Million in Recovery Dollars for Unemployment Insurance is Left on the Table
I am writing again regarding Florida’s non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance (UI) modernization provision of the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this time to urge you to, should it become necessary, call the Florida Legislature back into Special Session to reconsider and enact the necessary legislation.
As the ranks of the unemployed continue to swell around the country with monthly job losses exceeding 600,000, there are now nearly four jobless workers for every job opening in today’s labor market. Florida’s unemployment rate for March, 2009 has surged to 9.7 percent, the highest unemployment rate since 1976. This alarming figure represents 893,000 jobless out of a workforce of 9,210,000, nearly 1 in 10.
The Federal Government is willing to give Florida $444.3 million to use to help this situation, paying for nearly six years of benefits for struggling Floridians who are currently not covered under Florida unemployment law. Yet the Florida Legislature continues to leave this money on the table by their refusal to enact the necessary legislation that would make Florida compliant with the UI modernization provision. Inaction harms not just hard-working taxpayers who fall through the cracks of the unemployment system, including part-time workers, parents with spouses deployed overseas, and the long-term unemployed, but also struggling state employers when they need the help most.
With unemployment rising, the projected balance in the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on June 30, 2009 will trigger a tax rate increase that will become effective January 1, 2010. Yet, the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and the Florida Center for Fiscal & Economic Policy projects that if Florida acts quickly and is able to add funds to the trust fund before June 30th, it would reduce the shortfall between the fund balance and the trigger amount. This would significantly curtail the tax increase required in Florida to help replenish the fund in 2010. NELP calculates that the added UI modernization funding could have the effect of reducing the potential tax increase on impacted employers by $105.6 million. This is a 20 percent reduction from the expected $528 million increase in taxes.
While Florida is expected to make a good faith effort to comply with the UI provisions, the Florida Legislature has the option to repeal these provisions in the future if they should so choose, and Florida would not have to pay back the $444.3 million. I personally solicited this information from Mr. Ray Uhalde, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, United States Department of Labor and, separately, from Mr. Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Labor during the April 23rd Ways and Means Committee hearing on the subject (Video logs of this testimony are viewable on my Congressional website at kendrickmeek.house.gov ).
If the Florida legislature is unwilling to reconsider and act in accordance with ARRA provisions before the end of the extended legislative session ending May 8, 2009, I urge you to call for a special legislative session and include within that call reconsideration of this important issue before the June 30th trigger. Florida taxpayers and businesses are suffering now. The Florida legislature must act now. For members of the legislature to put ideology over the people of Florida in their time of need is objectionable.
Senator Rich's Kidcare Legislation Heads To Governor's Desk
From the Senate Dems:
Parents of children already enrolled in the popular KidCare health insurance program and those eligible, but not yet enrolled, can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the efforts of Senator Nan Rich (D-Weston).
The passionate advocate for children’s welfare succeeded in clearing the last legislative hurdle on Friday when the House signed off on Senator Rich’s bill, SB 918, which now heads to the governor’s desk for signature.
"It is an exhilarating feeling to pass this legislation that will provide access to healthcare to more of Florida's children,” said Senator Rich. “It is the result of three years of collaboration with Representative Bill Galvano and others, as well as the relentless efforts of the child advocates all across the state of Florida. It shows what can happen when we all work together."
Senate Bill 918 is designed to draw down Florida’s share of federal money available under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Re-Authorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). The legislation also reduces the waiting periods from 60 to 30 days for re-enrollment following late premium KidCare payments, among other provisions.
SB 918 doesn’t expand the number of children eligible for CHIP – it accomplishes the more modest goal of helping Florida cover children who are already eligible for the program but are not yet enrolled. In addition the bill will help more children already covered by KidCare remain in the program.
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