Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Legislative Update for September 14, 2010 Meeting


Federal Legislation


H.R. 6099 and S. 3760 - Auto IRAs

This bill takes away more personal financial freedom. It requires employees (who work for companies that have 10+ employees) to submit to a required automatic payroll deduction toward an "Auto IRA". Of course, the bill is supported by financial companies, such as Putnam Investments, who would benefit from a new class of involuntary customers.

The bill is written in flowery language that attempts sound as if the politicians are just looking out for you, and Putnam's Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. Reynolds had the nerve to pretend that your potential loss of freedom is an event to be hailed. “This is a smart, low-cost idea that can give almost all working Americans a stake in our free enterprise system and help them secure their own futures at the same time. At the end of the day, all Americans would benefit from having a more inclusive, robust retirement savings system.”

It is believed by some insiders that the Auto-IRA is just a first step toward comprehensive nationalization of almost all retirement funds. The thought is that this scheme will be used to finance government-issued debt instruments that foreign investors have been backing away from over the past year, forcing the Federal Reserve to monetize national debt by creating currency out of thin air to buy longer term national debt treasury bonds. This process is analogous to a snake eating its own tail. Those in power know it is unsustainable, and therefore this Auto IRA bill is likely only a first step toward further control of citizen retirement funds, which will effectively act as collateral for the debt byproduct of our suffocating behemoth government.

It should be noted that defeating this plan is not as simple as just voting out Democrats and voting in Republicans in November. Many on the conservative side are also spinning the Auto IRAs in a positive light, such as David John, a leading analyst from the Heritage Foundation.


S. 1619 - Livable Communities Act, introduced by lame duck, Chris Dodd

This bill will usurp power from local and state governments by impose new federal zoning regulations to measure to implementing the United Nations Agenda 21 "Sustainable Development" policy domestically within the United States.

The Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities will be charged with administering two new grant programs. One program will pay for multi-regional comprehensive planning; the other will pay for the projects called for in the multi-regional plans. Nearly $4 billion is authorized to be appropriated. A new Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities will see that "Sustainable Development" policies are implemented throughout the federal government. The Council will consist of cabinet secretaries or their designees. The Council will be authorized to hire a staff to “ensure interagency coordination of federal policy on sustainable development.”

From The Times Examiner:

Land that is designated as “wilderness” occupies more than 107 million acres. “Wilderness is land on which no human activity – other than walking carefully – is allowed.

Dodd’s bill, like all sustainable development propaganda, paints a warm and fuzzy picture of what ‘livable’ or ‘sustainable communities’ should be,” said Lamb. “The propaganda fails to point out that in order to achieve this Marxist utopia, government has to enforce the vision. This means that people must live where government says they must live; in homes that meet the government’s design criteria; and travel to work in vehicles approved by government.

The end result of the comprehensive land use plan is to draw lines on a map, which deprives individuals of private property rights whose land is outside the urban boundary zones – commonly called ‘Smart Growth.’ The value of the land inside urban boundary zones skyrockets, as does the cost of living for all who reside there.

[Henry] Lamb [of Sovereignty International] concludes that: “Dodd’s bill goes a long way to transforming America into what looks a lot like regional soviets where unelected agency appointees draft a plan by which all must live, and then enforce the plan with the power of law. Such a place cannot be described as ‘the land of the free.’ Nor can it be called ‘the home of the brave’ if voters allow this transformation to continue."

According to the non-profit American Policy Center the bill:
  • Is a blueprint for the transformation of our society into total Federal control.
  • Will enforce Federal Sustainable Development zoning and control of local communities.
  • Will create a massive new “development” bureaucracy.
  • Will drive up the cost of energy to heat and cool your home.
  • Will drive up the cost of gasoline as a way to get you out of your car.
  • Will force you to spend thousands of dollars on your home in order to comply.
According to Personal Liberty Digest:

"A carrot and stick policy will be used to get your local government to sign on. The carrot is billions of dollars in grants available if your local government agrees to amend zoning laws that restrict housing in outlying areas, forcing people to give up their homes and land and move into the city center.

"The stick will be denial of the funds and bad publicity generated by “Green” organizations criticizing government officials for turning down free money.

"The rub is the grants will come with strings attached that force local governments to bend to the will of the Feds.

"The idea of these social engineering initiatives is to force people to live in a congested area in high rise buildings with housing on the upper floors and stores on the bottom. The whole area will be linked by mass transit creating the “utopian” communities loved by socialists.

"The result will be higher costs for housing (because overcrowding will make housing space a premium) and goods and services (because of less choice and competition) and less freedom to move about (because cars won’t be necessary and parking space will be prohibitively expensive)."



Yet Another Obamacare Surprise - 3.8% Home Sales Tax

As of January 1, 2013 a new 3.8% home sales tax will be slapped on home sales for anyone who is considered rich ($250,000+/$200,000+ annual gross income, married/single) for capital gains that exceed $250,000/$500,000 for those who are single/married.

Bear in mind these are nominal dollar amounts. Given the rate at which the Federal Reserve is debasing the dollar it is easily possible to see a 10% compounded inflation by 2013, and for inflation to thereafter continue along its parabolic long-trending upward curve. Eventually this added progressive taxation will hit more and more of the middle class.


H.R. 1064 - Youth Promise Act, aka "Cash for Crips"

The official full name of this bill is actually the "Prevention Resources for Eliminating Criminal Activity Using Tailored Interventions in Our Neighborhoods Act of 2009". The bill has 235 House cosponsors.

This bill seeks to spend $1.6 billion in taxpayer money toward rehabilitation centers for urban gang members. Among the services covered by bill are the removal of gang tatoos.

According to Judicial Watch, “The infusion is necessary because budget cuts have forced groups like Homeboy Industries to stop paying gang members to attend work training sessions and carry out maintenance work at centers that offer them a variety of free perks. Some do administrative jobs to help out, but they still get regular checks.”


Virginia Legislation


H.B. 1397 - Nullification of "Cap and Trade" Building Regulations

Delegate Bob Marshall has introduced H.B 1397 for the 2011 Virginia Legislative session to nullify federal building regulations that would be imposed under the impending federal "Cap and Trade" bill.

Here is the bill summary:

Residential energy efficiency standards. Exempts any residential building or manufactured home in Virginia from being subject to federal "cap and trade" legislation if such buildings comply with the Statewide Uniform Building Code. The owner of such building or home cannot be required by the federal government to (i) have an energy efficiency analysis conducted on his residence, (ii) have his residence meet federal energy efficiency standards, (iii) participate in a building performance labeling program, (iv) make modifications to the residence in accordance with federal legislation, and (v) post a label showing the energy efficiency of his home prior to its sale. The bill also prohibits a state agency from assisting any federal agency in the implementation of global warming or climate change legislation.