Udall Helped Close Sweatshops; Schaffer Caught in Another Lie

Want to know one big difference between Rep. Mark Udall and Bob Schaffer? One has worked for a decade to revoke labor and immigration exemptions from the Mariana Islands and the other worked to implement Jack Abramoff’s plans to keep those exemptions in place. Mark Udall has done the morally correct thing by cosponsoring Rep. George Miller’s initial reform bill in 1999 as well as two successive bills.

Bob Schaffer took the low road when he attacked those brave enough to publicly describe the human rights abuses. His actions turned even more deplorable this year when he recommended the guest-worker program from the Islands as something the U.S. should adopt as a model. A series of lies and distractions have been issued from his campaign ever since that recommendation.

Ending the exemptions should bring the textile industry closer in line to what we expect state-side. That said, it’s not as if the Department of Labor has been advocating for workers here under the Bush administration either. No, it will take a Democratic President and a progressive Congress to enforce the laws we already have on the books. The same laws that have been ignored for seven years.

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In additional Mariana Island sweatshop cover-up news, Bob Schaffer has been caught in an additional lie. An important diary was posted today at SquareState. Previously, Bob Schaffer and his puppet-master Dick Wadhams told the press and the public that Bob’s trip to the Islands while a Representative was handled by Calif.-based Traditional Values Coalition, which Schaffer described as a religious group “concerned with human rights.” Wadhams used this organization as a distraction, saying Bob didn’t know if Jack Abramoff was associated with it. As it turns out, that wasn’t so.

Some hard-working folks went to the CSU Congressional Archive and searched through Bob Schaffer’s records from his term as Representative. According to an August 24, 1999 memo from Susan Wadhams (Dick Wadhams’ since-deceased wife), the Preston Gates D.C. lobbying firm arranged the trip. Preston Gates arranged this trip for their clients, the CNMI, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers, and the Western Pacific Economic Council. The connection comes in quite easily: Jack Abramoff was the lead lobbyist for these accounts. Will Dick Wadhams continue to lie to the public by insisting Schaffer didn’t even know of Abramoff? Puh-leeze!

The same memo contains an itinerary for Schaffer and his wife’s trip to the Islands. Between the touring of historical sites that he’s admitted to and the parasailing pictures and the meeting with government officials, exactly when did Schaffer have time to visit 20 factories? We’ve seen one picture of him in a factory. It seems obvious that there should be additional evidence of his activities, whether in final itinerary form, his extensive investigative note-taking or pictures. If he was doing what he says he was doing. Right now, we only have his campaign’s commentary of activities and a growing body of items showing his activities and the two aren’t agreeing very well.

This fringe rightie has no business representing the people of Colorado ever again.

Long Hit & Quick Hits 5/12/08

Climate change and social justice. Two concepts that don’t ordinarily show up together in a discussion of either. The Progressive States’ Network issued a dispatch a while back that did just that. Some of the concepts presented included “Cap and Dump”, where lower-income communities could see no improvement of industrial emissions caps. Too often, polluters and commodity traders make most of the decisions regarding cap and trade schemes. Local governments need to make sure they’re heavily involved in these processes. Too many examples exist of corporate irresponsibility.

Cap-and-trade systems aren’t the most efficient or fair choice to implement, I think. Carbon taxes seem to me to be a better alternative. One reason is they apply to every carbon source. If a cap-and-trade system is implemented, emissions allowances must be auctioned off, not given away. The European Union made this mistake while setting up their initial market. I think I’ve read that to date, emissions aren’t down, nor are they steady. Emissions in the European market have continued to increase, although perhaps at a slower rate. The U.S. must not make the same mistake now that we have the opportunity to learn from Europe’s decisions.

The PSN Dispatch notes that a recent Brookings Institution paper presented a mechanism to help offset the cost of a carbon tax on lower-income households. The paper calls for the creation of an environmental earned income tax credit in the personal income tax that would be equal to the employer and employee payroll taxes on initial earnings (up to a limit). The tax credit could be financed by revenue raised through implementing the carbon tax. Economic analysis in the study shows that properly enacted rebates would completely offset any increase in costs by a carbon tax, a truly important consideration.

Another good point: new and better jobs in low-income communities can help fight the disproportionate burden of climate change on those communities. Specifically, environmentally beneficial jobs and economic growth can do quite a bit to offset that burden.

Those are some of the highlights I picked up from the report. Click on the link above to see the whole thing for yourself. They also include a large amount of additional resources as links from the Dispatch.

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A well laid out diary with maps of the Democratic Presidential contests held thus far. It’s a little long, but worth the read.

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The successful Colorado Forest Restoration Pilot Program extension has been passed by both chambers of the Colorado legislature. CO SB08-71, sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs, will provide $1 million annually through 2012 to help consumers implement forest treatment projects to reduce wildfire fuels.

The bill being send to Gov. Ritter couldn’t have come at a better time. One recent study estimated that every lodgepole pine forest from Pueblo to Wyoming will be decimated by the pine beetle infestation within five years, which is very bad news for the forest ecosystems and the state’s watersheds.

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The Colorado Wildlife Commission tackled what it saw as shortcomings in the oil and gas commissions’ plans for drilling, as required by CO HB08-1298. Chief among their concerns included timing restrictions, surface-occupancy limitations and reclamation. The issue of reclamation was a major point of discussion, which is appropriate given the industry’s track record of leaving land even remotely similar to how it existed prior to drilling. Here’s hoping the CWC’s work does some good.

How Will Rep. Salazar Treat the 2008 GI Bill of Rights?

So, Rep. Salazar, which is it? Will you vote to block H.R. 5740, the new GI Bill of Rights, with your Blue Dog caucus? Or will you stand up for the troops whose occupation you have continued to fund?

And can you imagine the outcry that the right-wing machine would initiate if Democrats were threatening to vote against something with “Bill of Rights” in the title? Wake up Dems, this one is a gimme. Push hard on this bill and watch a couple more competitive House seats flip to Democratic control this November. It could also happen with a Senate seat or two.

Mars & Space News Roundup

On Sunday, May 25, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Phoenix Lander is scheduled to physically land on the Red Planet, near Mars’ arctic region. Phoenix is designed to study the history of water and the habitability potential in the Martian arctic’s ice-rich soil. Science museums across the country will carry a live feed from NASA during the landing sequence. If you’re in the Denver area, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is already selling tickets to the event. Some details:

Phoenix on Mars—Live!
Sunday, May 25
4:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Phipps IMAX Theater
$7 member adult, $10 nonmember adult, $5 child/student
For reservations, call 303-322-7009 or 1-800-925-2250, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Additional Mars news includes revitalized plans for a sample return mission. The Mars Science Laboratory could begin the process of collecting samples. A dedicated sample return mission could launch in 2020. Scientists and engineers are busy poring over the avalanche of data already sent by current Mars probes.

Bob Schaffer/Jack Abramoff Strategy Fails (Finally)

Zappatero has a post on a Mariana Islands development. The Bob Schaffer/Jack Abramoff strategy of not extending U.S. protections to the Mariana Islands has finally run into a brick wall: Pres. Bush yesterday signed a bill that passed overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress to extend U.S. labor law to the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Global Warming Denyers: Take Responsibility!

Something the right-wing parroted over and over since I can remember is taking responsibility for your actions. It was used to great effect when St. Ronnie Reagan bashed on people receiving welfare in the 1980’s, claiming too many of them were driving Cadillacs, among other ridiculous claims. “Take responsibility for your actions,” the right would scream at anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. George Bush has provided thousands of examples of how the same advice just doesn’t apply to Republicans, the Iraq occupation and Hurricane Katrina being just two examples.

I wrote about one recent example just over a week ago after I read that Dennis Avery, a “Senior Fellow” at the Heartland Institute, wrote and widely published an article, “500 Scientists with Documented Doubts of Man-Made Global Warming Scares”. The biggest problem with that article? Many of the scientists listed never gave their consent to be listed. So the scientists did what they should have done: asked to have their names removed from Avery’s propaganda. Then what happened?

Via frankbi, a few things have happened. First, the title was changed:

The title of the 14 Sep press release has been changed from

500 Scientists with Documented Doubts of Man-Made Global Warming Scares: Alphabetical List

to

500 Scientists Whose Research Contradicts Man-Made Global Warming Scares

This happened between 2 May and 4 May. Were any of the scientists’ names removed? Of course not! That wouldn’t jive with the propaganda, now would it. I mean, Exxon and other corporations have paid millions of dollars to have their crap spewed by “reputable institutions”. Admitting they were lying wouldn’t achieve that goal.

Now, the debacle has reached a wider audience: the New Zealand media. You know, New Zealand, where science is actually respected. The U.S. corporate media? They likely think this is how things should happen. Now, H.I.’s President Joe Bast says there will be no further changes either to the title of the paper or those cited as supporting its flawed conclusions.

This constitutes a complete disregard for accepted methodologies within responsible, professional organizations. This constitutes a complete lack of “taking responsibility” for one’s actions. This serves as just the latest example of why the right-wing is slowly losing influence: their actions and intentions just aren’t credible. I haven’t heard one way or the other, but I wonder if legal pressure is being considered. I know if my name were on that list, I’d do everything (legal and ethical) I could to remove it.

The problem really manifests itself when “analysts” (propagandists) from the Heartland Institute or the Independence Institute get attention in the corporate media. They’re brought on as guests to right-wing radio shows and invited to write columns in major newspapers, as though they’re serious, neutral professionals. And what’s the first thing they always parrot? That peer-reviewed science journal articles constitute junk science, and their “science” is without bias.

This case demonstrates something very important: if the denialist propagandists lie and act unethically so easily, why are they taken seriously by the corporate media? Because they’re connected and they have an agenda.

Thankfully, more citizens and businesses are taking the threat of climate change seriously. They’re acting of their own volition. They’re actually following the right-wing’s advice and taking responsibility for their actions. Those millions of propaganda dollars spent by Big Energy? It’s turning into a wasted investment.

h/t DeSmogBlog

Quick Hits 5/8/08

The third generation Toyota Prius is due to hit the market in spring of 2009. Road & Track has a little preview of what to expect. It should be slightly longer and have a slightly larger engine. Hank Green at EcoGeek wants to see Toyota move from nickel batteries to lithium-ion technology. I agree with Hank: with gas prices where they are, consumers would benefit from having stronger, longer-lasting batteries. In a couple of years, I predict they will be essentially required.

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I received an email from Russ Feingold’s Progressive Patriots Fund earlier this morning. A second installment has opened up allowing votes for House candidates. Betsy Markey, running for CO-04’s seat, against the odious Marilyn “Mad Cow” Musgrave, is on the list!

Whoever garners the most votes by next Wednesday at 5P will receive $5,000 from the Fund. Every little bit helps and the visibility would do wonders for Betsy’s campaign, I’m sure.

Go vote for Betsy!

Denver Climate: April 2008

The NWS released Denver’s April Climate Summary. April was the 5th driest in Denver’s history dating back to 1872. This follows a dry March for Denver, which ranked as the 3rd driest on record. The snowfall for the winter was below average. Thankfully, temperatures were near average. If that changes in the upcoming months, drought conditions are coming back.

Climate Sensor to Fly on Satellite

This is certainly good news. A previously slashed instrument has been reapproved for inclusion to the NPOESS satellite scheduled for launch in 2013.

NOAA, the U.S. Air Force and NASA agreed this week to restore the Total Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS) to the first NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System). Set to launch in 2013, NPOESS is a new civil/military satellite system that will monitor the Earth’s weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment. The mission will monitor the planet and providing data for long-range weather and climate forecast models.

TSIS will measure the total amount of solar radiation that comes into the earth’s atmosphere- a key data point and factor in climate change.

As mentioned, scientists need those high quality data for inclusion in models. A number of climate change denyers didn’t want that sensor to fly: it’s easier to say something isn’t happening if nobody can measure it accurately. I am very pleased this sensor is once again being included.

Quick Hits & 1 Long Hit 5/6/08

The Climate Security Act needs to be strengthened. You can use the League of Conservation Voter’s action page to request your Senators to do so.

Oil hit $122 per barrel in trading today. That’s double what it was one year ago. That’s more pressure exerted on families’ budgets.

Buyout billionaire Henry Kravis saved $96 million through tax loopholes in 2006 alone. That’s just one buyout billionaire, in one year, making use of one loophole (tax evasion scheme)! Just think how much these private equity crooks are costing taxpayers who are already battling financial hardships and home foreclosures. BraveNewFilms has a video about this and a request for the presidential candidates to close the buyout industry’s tax evasion scheme.

The Bush “administration” has lost 400 employee laptops that conduct delicate, often secret, diplomatic relations with foreign countries, an internal audit has found.

Ironically, the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program is administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), which is responsible for the security of the department’s computer networks and sensitive equipment, including laptops, among other duties.

These are the same idiots who want to convince Americans they can responsibly handle access to information about the lives of Americans while demanding no Congressional oversight. HAHAHAHAHA! I don’t know what’s worse though: the above or the fact that Rep. Steny Hoyer and others are still willing to grant retroactive immunity to proven lawbreaking telecommunications corporations.

Analysts are reportedly torn over what an energy windfall profits tax would do. A few things here: corporations were given tax breaks by President Bush and Congress. Now that Democrats want the breaks to expire, what are Republicans and corporations calling the action? That’s correct: a tax increase. They’re spinning it like the tax was never before applied and woe to the poor corporations that are earning profits in the billions every quarter.

Re-applying fair taxes on the oil corporations could provide long-overdue dollars to renewable energy research and development. There needs to be a much larger focus on the development side of things. Technologies exist to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions - we need to help drive them into the marketplace more efficiently.

If oil corporations raise gas prices to regenerate their ridiculous profits, a majority of consumers will not blame the government. It would be clear at that point which entity was really responsible for excessive prices.

Pro-corporate analysts in the article bring up the fact that Google has a profit margin of 25% while oil corporations have profit margins closer to 10% and nobody is recommending a windfall profits tax on Google. Can you point to an example of how you or your family is paying more for goods because of Google? Oil corporations are directing more of their profits to buying back their stock, enriching stock holders. They should be directing that money to developing refining capacity. They’ve ignored refineries for decades and we’re paying the price for that short-sightedness at the pump.

Of course, the ultimate ideological argument has to be presented: government shouldn’t force movement of monies to R&D, the “free-market” should. The Heritage Foundation gets a nod in the article, with David Kreutzer asking if the government could take this capital and do a better job investing it than shareholders can. David and others aren’t willing to recognize that shareholders haven’t been able to make the correct decisions in the past generation. They’re only interested in further enriching themselves and the rest of us get to suffer for it: high gas prices, geopolitical instability and occupying the Middle East are only a few examples.

I, for one, have no more patience for these greedy vampires. The “free-market” has been unable to act in the interests of our society’s citizens. Taxes need to be reapplied to oil corporations and the richest Americans. They need to invest their fair share into our nation’s infrastructure and long-term interests.