SLC- According to insiders behind Sundance the the Utah State Legislature, several months ago top legislators offered to have a resolution read on the floor of the Senate thanking Sundance for all it does for Utah and the millions of dollars it brings to our economy every year. Then because of gay rights, it never happened.

Back in December, two leading Utah Senators approached the heads of Sundance and offered to pass the resolution thanking them on the first day of the 2010 Legislative session. Sundance was, of course, thrilled as the money that rolls in every year from the film festival is one of the largest contributors to the local Utah economy. Then, the senators came back in the beginning of January and made a threat: Pull the film “8: The Mormon Proposition” or we won’t do the resolution. Sundance’s response: Stick it.

My extreme congratulations to Sundance Film Festival and Robert Redford for not cowing to prejudice of our state’s theocracy!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH meeting features DAVID LITVACK, Utah House DEMOCRATIC LEADER. Legislature is now in session and his presentation will be both interesting and informative.

Luncheon is $17.00; sign-in/networking begin 11:20 AM; meeting begins promptly at Noon. RSVP required by Thursday noon. bglarson@comcast.net or 801-254-9432.

Embassy Suites Hotel, 600 South West Temple.

Tonight, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address.  This oughta be realllllly good and provide plenty of fodder for commentators.  Governor McDonald will deliver the GOP response.

As all objective observers realize, the President is in an awfully tough spot.  He is out of money yet faces overwhelming challenges, many of which he volunteered for with his “only the federal government is big enough…” line.  I do believe he is coming to realize the limits of what government can do, or should even try.  His second challenge is that he is a very sensitive guy who tends to strike back at any criticism rather than either a) ignore it, or b) deal with it.  As I’ve written before, I am still waiting for him and his administration to quit blaming his predecessor.  Folks, this is unprecedented; I have never heard of a President continuing to point the finger at his predecessor this far into a Presidency.

So the President has to confront the twin challenges of a system that has been overwhelmed to the point of breakdown, and his own persona and way of dealing with being an executive.

Which reminds me why legislators are so profoundly unsuited for executive positions, and why we normally elect Governors rather than Congressmen to be President.  Legislators legislate, the mark of their success is to pass the bill and get it signed into law.  After that, their job is essentially done.  The Executive is an entirely different creature, it is his job to execute.  Legislators ponder and debate and have a specific defined success point.  Executives figure strategies, direct efforts, conduct sales and oversight and follow through, and don’t have a specified defined end point … the job just goes on and on.

President Obama is struggling to make the transition from partisan legislator to bipartisan executive.  His speech to Congress and the Nation tonight will provide insight as to where he stands in that journey.  He needs our good thoughts, and critical review/constructive criticism.

G’nite all, and may God continue to bless America!

Legislators were supposed to be civilized, an epitome of social class, a special group who represented the people but were acceptable to higher class society. Sadly, not everyone was trained in civility.

In Argentina, legislators started off throwing chairs :

By all accounts, Taiwan’s legislators are the worst behaved with these scenes and images a surprisingly common occurrence :

In retrospect, the fact that Hong Kong’s Legco only has 3 madmen makes it look quite pale in comparison :

Even in Russia, they have incidents :

Of course, we paid them millions a year so we might as well get our money’s worth back in the form of daily entertainment.

The past few decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the attention given by producers to their relations with various publics. There are many facets to public relations, which makes it difficult to develop a concise all-encompassing definition.

Public relations practice is the art and social science of analyzing trends, predicting their consequences, counseling organization leaders, and implementing planned programs of action which will serve the organization’s and the public interest.

Given the potential, advertising may provide an efficient instrument of communication in furthering the public relations of various firms.

Producers may have many “publics” to consider, including stockholders, employees, customers, prospective customers, professional educators, legislators, and citizen voters. All these and others have some interest in, and association with, specific firms. The attitudes that individuals and groups of people have toward the policies and practices of specific business institutions can have an important bearing on strikes, work slowdowns, consumer patronage, education of youth, and business legislation.

The means and ends of “public relations” advertising by producers are diverse. Generally, however, there is a common purpose—to favorably influence one or many of the firm’s public, in an inceasingly independent society.

My Consultancy–Asif J. Mir - Management Consultant–transforms organizations where people have the freedom to be creative, a place that brings out the best in everybody–an open, fair place where people have a sense that what they do matters. For details please visit www.asifjmir.com, and my Lectures.

Dear Jana:

The 2009 Idaho Legislative session was an extremely long one. It seemed the agenda of the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch conflicted and very little was accomplished. Is there a better way for the two branches to work together for the good of Idaho?

Yes. The starting place is with RESPECT. As a former legislator, I respect the law-making process and the people who are dedicated to it. As governor, I will listen to the Legislators and work together to prioritize the needs of the citizens of Idaho.

The constituents of each district are served by the Legislators, but they are also served by the governor, who must view the entire state as a whole. Our state government is made up of different branches responsible for different jobs: both the legislative and executive (governor’s) branches of government have the mutual goal of doing what’s best for the state, but from different points of view.

We must work together toward that goal—we cannot dig our heels in on either side.

This story is from ABC News. (H/T Gates of Vienna)

Excerpt:

Through interviews with former employees and members of Congress, as well as extensive document searches, ABC News has learned new details about the services offered by the Office of Attending Physician to members of Congress over the past few years, from regular visits by a consulting chiropractor to on-site physical therapy.

“A member walked in and was generally walked right back into a physician’s office. They get good care. They are not rushed. They are examined thoroughly,” said Eduardo Balbona, an internist in Jacksonville, Fla., who worked as a staff physician in the OAP from 1993 to 1995.

“You have time to spend to get to know your patients and think about them and really think about how you preserve their health going forward,” Balbona said. “We’re not there to put on Band-Aids. We were there to make sure that everything possible that could be done [is done] to preserve that member of Congress.”

And Gates of Vienna had this fun video to go with the story:

Waiting lists for thee, but not for me!

Charged with insurance fraud

Former Suffolk County Legislator George O. Guldi was indicted for a second time this year Thursday, September 17, in a Riverhead courtroom, on unrelated felony insurance fraud charges stemming from a fire that destroyed his Westhampton Beach home nearly a year ago.

Mr. Guldi was indicted in August for his alleged role in a $82 million mortgage fraud scheme.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota’s office, Mr. Guldi refinanced his home at 9 Griffing Avenue two years ago, taking out a $1.4 million mortgage from Countrywide Home Loans, a division of Bank of America. An accidental fire destroyed Mr. Guldi’s house on November 30, 2008, according to Thalia Stavrides, a prosecutor with the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said that Mr. Guldi submitted a claim to the insurance company after his house burned down and received a check for $853,000, money that was supposed to be used to rebuild the home, which is now in foreclosure. If the home was not rebuilt, Countrywide Home Loans would have applied the insurance money to the outstanding mortgage.

Prosecutors said that about $163,000 is now left in the bank account in which Mr. Guldi had deposited the $853,000 check. They also said that he forged the endorsement of Countrywide Home Loans when he deposited the check. Prosecutors froze the account.

Mr. Guldi, who was wearing a blue suit and red bow tie, surrendered to the district attorney’s office on Thursday morning. While in handcuffs, he was arraigned later the same morning in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverside.

Mr. Guldi was charged with insurance fraud in the third degree, grand larceny in the second degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, and forgery in the second degree, all felonies, according to authorities.

Mr. Guldi stood expressionless as his attorney, Anthony LaPinta of Hauppauge, entered his not guilty plea.

“We will continue to fight for Mr. Guldi,” Mr. LaPinta said after the indictment was unsealed.

Mr. Guldi was released after posting $500,000 bond and left the courtroom without speaking to reporters.

Mr. Guldi, who lost his bid Tuesday for the Democratic Party nomination to run for his old county seat, is due back in court on Tuesday, September 29—the same day he is due back for a conference to discuss the charges related to the mortgage fraud scheme. Authorities said that the charges are unrelated.

Source: The Southampton Press

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) today applauded the American Legislative Exchange Council for adopting a resolution opposing insurance bad faith legislation.

The ?Resolution Opposing Unfair and Unbalanced Insurance ?Bad Faith? Legislation? urges state legislatures to adhere to traditional principles of contract law and oppose legislation designed to:

Create new or expansive private causes of action; Dilute existing standards for bad faith insurance claims handling; and Provide for recovery of new extra-contractual damages, including damages multipliers, punitive damages, and one-way awards of attorneys? fees.

?This resolution will be an effective tool in opposing trial-bar-backed efforts in the states to drastically increase the volume of litigation and expand insurer liability beyond reasonable levels,? commented Paul Tetrault, NAMIC state affairs manager. Tetrault, who serves on ALEC?s Civil Justice Task Force, noted that while bad faith bills are typically described in favorable terms by sponsors, the resolution recognizes that such bills hurt consumers by increasing costs that are ultimately borne by those who purchase insurance.

?The resolution also stresses the way in which the threat of excessive bad faith liability can interfere with the proper functioning of the claims settlement process, hindering insurers? ability to detect fraud, which can result in payment of meritless claims,? Tetrault observed.

There has been a tremendous amount of legislative activity during the past year involving bills that would expand insurer bad faith liability, Tetrault pointed out. ALEC?s resolution notes that bills were introduced this year in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.

?Going forward, this resolution will help to show these bills for what they are ? efforts to expand litigation and liability at the expense of consumers,? Tetrault asserted.

© Copyright 2009, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

NAMIC Applauds Governor for Nixing Helmet LegislationMileage-based auto insurance in our future?

The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775.  You have had 234 years to get it right; it is broke.

Social Security was established in 1935.  You have had 74 years to get it right; it is broke.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938.  You have had 71 years to get it right; it is broke.

The War on Poverty started in 1964.  You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to the poor; it hasn’t worked and our entire country is broke.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965.  You have had 44 years to get it right; they are broke.

Freddie Mac was established in 1970.  You have had 39 years to get it right; it is broke.

Trillions of dollars were spent in the massive political payoffs called TARP, the  Stimulus, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.  None of them show any signs of working, although ACORN appears to have found a new patsy: the American taxpayer.

Cash for Clunkers was established in 2009 and went broke within days!  It took good dependable cars (that were the best some people could afford) and replaced them with high-priced and less-affordable cars, mostly Japanese.  A good percentage of the profits went out of the country.  And the American taxpayers take the hit for Congress’s “generosity” in burning three billion more of our dollars on failed experiments.

So with a perfect 100% failure rate and a record that proves that services you shove down our throats are failing faster and faster, you want Americans to believe you can be trusted with a government-run health care system that comprises 20% of our economy?

With all due respect …. Are you out of your minds?

Klaus-Heiner Lehne: software patent legislator and lobbying consultant (en)
Klaus-Heiner Lehne: Lobbyingberater und Koordinator für Softwarepatente (de)

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.” -Edward M. Kennedy

Much will be written about Ted Kennedy (here’s a pretty good warts-and-all assessment from Gawker) by folks far more talented, erudite and knowledgeable than I.  But here’s my two-cents: our biggest loss, besides an old school liberal who fought the good fight for nearly half a century, is that of an accomplished legislator.  And I mean that as a high compliment.

Look at the Senate today, filled with grandstanding buffoons, focused primarily in self-promotion, ideological purity and their own petty interests.  Despite a Democratic majority, we have the craven Harry Reid leading the party, always with a quick answer as to why he can’t pursue the agenda of his own party (he’s been doing this since GWBush was in office, and continues to do so, despite a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate); DINOs like Dianne Feinstein (who won’t meet with constituents to discuss health care and, who I’ve heard from a reliable source who worked in the Senate, is rather a dim bulb); insane wingnuts like Tom Coburn (who wants abortion to be outlawed under any circumstance) and Sam Brownback (who doesn’t believe in evolution.  “Ew!  Too sciencey.”)

Senator Kennedy, despite whatever personal flaws he may have had (I’d rather have a functional alcoholic senator than a non-functional sober one), was able to shepherd bill after bill after bill through the Senate.  Some highlights:

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the National Cancer Act of 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974, the COBRA Act of 1985, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996 and 2008, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program in 1997, the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, and the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009.

He fought for the poor, the oppressed, those who our society had overlooked or passed by.  And he was able to work with Republicans in order to reach consensus and get laws passed – and how better to measure the effectiveness of a member of the Senate?  A senator who is able to legislate…  Imagine all that could be achieved if we had just a handful of current senators (of either party) who were even half as effective at deliberating and passing legislation.  And look how much we achieved having just one Ted Kennedy…

As JFK said, “To whom much is given, much is required.”  Ted Kennedy was given much and gave us much more in return.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever…He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him.”
–Kennedy Family Statement, upon the death of Edward Kennedy

“Today I lost a treasured friend.”
–Senator Orrin Hatch

“It was the thrill of my life to work with Ted Kennedy.”
–Senator Harry Reid

“No one has done more than Senator Kennedy to educate our children, care for our seniors, and ensure equality for all Americans.”
–Rep. Nancy Pelosi

“We have known for some time that this day was coming, but nothing makes it any easier. We have lost a great light in our lives and our politics, and it will never be the same again.”
–Senator John Kerry

“Maria and I are immensely saddened by the passing of Uncle Ted. He was known as the Lion of the Senate, a champion of social justice and a political icon. Most importantly, he was the rock of our family, a loving husband, father brother and uncle….Teddy inspired our country through his dedication to health care reform, his commitment to social justice, and his devotion to a life of public service…Teddy taught us all the public service isn’t a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life, and his legacy will live on.”
–Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Governor of California, and husband to Edward Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver

“He was quite an extraordinary human being. He had a characteristic that I think is critical for great leadership: he had courage. He was willing to take on really major issues and stay with them and find a way to get them done. I think that’s one of the things that President Lyndon Johnson so admired in him. They both loved the Senate. Ted loved the Senate. And he turned it into an Institution. He was one of those rare Senators who could make it work. And you have to live in Washington, to live in this world, to understand how difficult that is, and what an extraordinary and precious quality that is.”
–Joseph Califano, former Chief Domestic Advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, and currently Chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University

“Ernest Hemingway once said, ‘Everyone is broken by life. And afterwards some are strong in the broken places.’ He [Ted Kennedy] was broken by life again and again, some of his own making, some by the assasinations of his brothers and the deaths of his family. But he did become strong in those broken places”…”I think he will be a giant in the Senate in his own right. Forgetting the legacy of being the patriarch of the Kennedy family after his brothers died. In the old days of the 19th century: Webster, Calhoun, and those Senators who are considered much bigger than President. We don’t even remember in the 19th century Fillmore, Pierce and those characters. The Senators stood out. He made his mark in the Senate, and brought the Senate up to the dignity that he himself gave to it. He will be a giant in the senate and thats his leg. That even is bigger and different as a legislator than his brothers were. [sic]
–Doris Kearns Goodwin, NBC News Presidential historian

“An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has just lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.”
–President Barack Obama

“May it be said of our Party in 1980 that we found our faith again.
And may it be said of us, both in dark passages and in bright days, in the words of Tennyson that my brothers quoted and loved, and that have special meaning for me now:
“I am a part of all that I have met
To [Tho] much is taken, much abides
That which we are, we are –
One equal temper of heroic hearts
Strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end.
For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
–Ted Kennedy; his concession speech at the 1980 Democratic National Convention

At the risk of repeating myself, let me restate some of the background on Fort Wayne’s homeless issue from last year:

First there was that horrible ice storm that disrupted power and left so many without heat and electricity for a week or two or three during one of the coldest snaps in recent memory.  Within hours what stores were still open for business had sold out of kerosene heaters and emergency supplies.  A state of emergency was declared and the Memorial Coliseum, as well as several other facilities around the city and state, was opened up as an emergency shelter facility for people and even for pets.  Neighbors, friends, and family members hunkered down together to weather the circumstances in general community minded pleasantness and good old fashioned mid-western resiliency.

About a month later, after the debris was cleared away and people were once again tucked warm and safe in their own homes, I was watching the news on TV when a short news statement caught my interest.  The anchor woman said that there were not enough facilities to house homeless women and children, that the city of Fort Wayne said they had not known there was a problem because the homeless shelters had not informed them, and that they were creating a committee to conduct a ten year study and plan to solve the problem, meanwhile there were “unlimited” places available for homeless men.  I searched the TV and newspaper websites immediately and found only one short item on each which essentially reiterated what I had heard.  Over the next few weeks I listened to the TV (I don’t get a newspaper) and heard no more about this issue).

Now again, one year later, I am watching TV and there is a short news item that there are not enough facilities to house homeless women (this time children are not mentioned) during the coldest part of the year, there are “unlimited” spaces for homeless men, the city did not know about the problem because the shelters did not inform them, and the ten year study and plan is still ongoing.

I’m sorry but puhleeze!  Give me a bloody break!  The economy has been going down, down, down.  The jobless rate has been going up, up, up.  The foreclosure rate has been going up, up, up. (Meanwhile notoriously–compared to their corporate colleagues–lower paid state employees take pay cuts or get bumped on cost-of living increases and are asked to put in free days at work WHILE state and federal legislators vote themselves new raises) and NO ONE sees this coming?!

And puhleeze!  A ten-year study?!  Crimony, the whole STATE could freeze to death before they finish THAT one!  It’s 17 degrees (not counting any wind chill factor) outside today, TODAY!  If even ONE person could freeze to death out there today, isn’t that one to many?

Why can’t they use some of that “unlimited” space available to the homeless men?  Move over fellows, INCOMING women and children!  What self-respecting homeless man wouldn’t share.  Okay, so maybe they might want to temporarily hire a security guard to protect the women and children from the non self-respecting homeless men…how much could it possibly cost the city?  Less than a life is worth.

Why can’t they open up any number of buildings that stand empty?  All that is needed in an emergency is heat, a mattress, some bedding, sanitary toilet and shower facilities, and maybe a guard to protect the innocent from the not-so-innocent.  Why can’t they start there?

Why am I not hearing more people scream in outrage?  I don’t get that.  Where are the protesting voices?   Where are the bleeding hearts demanding someone do something, anything, even if it’s inept so long as it’s NOW, before it’s too late?  Is it because no one knows what to do?  Is it because so many are themselves so helpless to help?  Is it because these homeless are women and children?  Because they are poor and destitute?  Because we blame them for creating their own circumstance?  Do we even know who they are?  Do we even care?

Please, someone be outraged with me.  Add your outraged voice to mine.  If it’s happening in Fort Wayne, Indiana it’s happening all over this country.  Let us deluge our Mayors, Governors, Legislators, Congress men and women, President, media representatives…with our outrage:  Do something or we will take back your raises!

SEE ALSO:   http://espottickler.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/bureaucracy-at-its-finest/

Technorati Tags: women, homelessness, cold weather, men, homeless shelters, Fort Wayne, Indiana, bureaucracy, homeless women, homeless men, homeless children, children, pets, ice storm, freezing weather,