PeoriaStory

A must read story on the national economy: how greed is destroying the America we once knew

PEORIA -- Here is an amazing story that tells the real truth about wealth and poverty in the USA.

It's a must read, and a reply to those moaning about debt, deficits, and even poverty. 

A sample: 

"Doesn’t the wealth belong to the super-rich? Didn’t they earn it fair and square? Isn’t that the way it’s always been?

Not by a long shot. The amount of wealth that flows to the super-rich is determined by our public policies. It’s all about how we choose to share our nation’s productivity."

That's right -- there is plenty of money and wealth in the USA to meet all needs, if the wealth is properly shared through public policies.

That's the truth.  The facts. And that's why elections matter -- Congress and the president determine these policies.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Corporate Tax Loopholes

Here's an interesting and outrageous news release from the groups named below:

Loopholes for Sale: Campaign Contributions by Corporate Tax Dodgers

Thirty Companies Contribute $41 Million to 524 Members of Congress, Receive $10.6 Billion in Tax Rebates

A new report released Wednesday, March 21 by Illinois PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) found that thirty unusually aggressive tax dodging corporations have made campaign contributions to 524 (98 percent) sitting members of Congress, and disproportionately to the leadership of both parties and to key committee members.

The report, Loopholes for Sale: Campaign Contributions by Corporate Tax Dodgers, examines campaign contributions made by a total of 280 profitable Fortune 500 companies in 2006, 2008, 2010 and to date in 2012 and will be available at www.ctj.org/loopholesforsale.

Loopholes for Sale  focuses on campaign contributions by 30 companies – dubbed the “Dirty Thirty” – that a previous Illinois PIRG/CTJ study found collectively paid no federal corporate income taxes between 2008 and 2010 while receiving $10.6 billion in tax rebates and spending millions to lobby Congress. Altogether, these companies spent $41 million on campaign contributions during the four most recent election cycles, with each member of Congress receiving $58,000 on average (top recipients and donors listed below).

“These aggressive tax dodgers left nothing to chance by making campaign contributions to all but ten current members of Congress,” said Illinois PIRG Director Brian Imus. “The pervasiveness of that money across party lines speaks volumes about why major proposals to close corporate tax loopholes have not even come up for a vote.”

PAC contributions from these thirty corporations were most concentrated among leadership in both parties and the committees that control tax policy in both chambers of Congress. An average of $84,859 went to current members of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is 66 percent more than the average House member not on that committee. All but one Senate Finance Committee member, Maria Cantwell of Washington State, received an average of $83,209, which is 28 percent more than the average Senator not on that committee.

“It seems the only thing the two parties can agree on is that we shouldn’t even try to get more tax revenue from profitable corporations,” said Steve Wamhoff, Legislative Director at Citizens for Tax Justice. “Corporations’ public filings with the SEC show that even big, profitable corporations pay nowhere near the 35 percent statutory tax rate and some pay nothing at all, thanks to the loopholes in the tax code. It’s outrageous that lawmakers seek to reduce budget deficits by cutting health care, education and other public investments all Americans depend on while doing nothing to end this corporate tax avoidance.”

The top five Congressional recipients of contributions since 2005 from the 30 no-tax companies were:
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) - $379,850.00
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) - $336,5000.00
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) – $320,900.00
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO and former House Minority Whip 2003-08) – $220,500.00
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - $177,001.00

The top five corporate contributors since 2005 are:
Honeywell - $6,469,277
Boeing - $4,049,250
General Electric - $3,390,850
Verizon - $3,201,550
FedEx - $2,595,900

“We need to achieve equality in our campaign finance system. Only then can we hope to successfully fix our government’s undue favor to powerful special interests, which is on full display in our tax code, and amplify the voices of ordinary citizens in the halls of Congress.” concluded Imus.

 

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Illinois PIRG Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer Americans meaningful opportunities for civic participation.

 

Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ), founded in 1979, is a 501 (c)(4) public interest research and advocacy organization focusing on federal, state and local tax policies and their impact upon our nation (www.ctj.org).

 

 

______________________

 

Brian Imus, Director

Illinois PIRG

328 S. Jefferson, Suite 620

Chicago, IL 60661

312-544-4433 x 210

cell: 312-399-3834

www.illinoispirg.org

 

Santorum: demagogue

EAST PEORIA -- Rick Santorum on March 19 addressed a large crowd from a low stage in a strip mall parking lot at Fondulac Plaza. 

This white, working class crowd -- the NASCAR shirts, the Cat hats, the babies and young children in tow -- could not have been more different from the student and upscale Romney crowd at Bradley University.  (See Romney story below.)

They were more enthusiastic for the candidate, though not everyone was applauding as Santorum lambasted President Obama and Obamacare.  He said that's why he's running for president, to oppose the president's Affordable Care Act. 

He offered no alternative except "freedom," presumably for comfortable males like himself, with no fear of pregnancy or bankruptcy if a health crisis strikes.

He mentioned his support for "life" -- e.g. he's anti-reproductive freedom for women, several times.

He said though all nations think they're exceptional, America IS exceptional, and that it shouldn't apologise to anyone.

He rattled the sword a little towards Iran, claiming that Obama had not helped the people there who revolted in 2009.  They're Persians, not Arabs, he said. So?

Does he want a war with Iran?  He didn't say what he would have done, but he did say Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, a veiled threat.

Meanwhile in the rear, the Ron Paul crowd kept up steady heckling ("bring the troops home" and "no war") and held up their large signs.  When Santorum made the mistake of asking the crowd who is the best man for something or other, they quickly shouted out "Ron Paul."

He promised the crowd good jobs, conveniently ignoring the fact that their pickup trucks and SUVs in the parking lot were purchased with union-scale pay.  He didn't mention unions, which built the prosperity of the working class in the USA.

He called the Obama administration and the Democrats "evil."

He seems to feel that magically cutting taxes and bureaucracy and entitlement programs (good bye Medicare, etc.) will bring new prosperity to everyone, a weird form of trickle down economics.

Santorum is a better speaker in front of a crowd than Romney, but he's also a demagogue, appealing to chauvanism and emotion, ignoring facts and logic.
He obviously likes hearing the sound of his own voice.

I never lived through the Hitler rule in Germany, but old newsreels show chanting crowds that seem a little like what I saw in this parking lot.  ("USA-USA-USA")  He could be dangerous if he gets enough power.

After he droned on for 45 minutes, I'd had enough and left to beat the traffic which promised to be fierce when everyone tried to leave.

As I headed for the car, a youth approached me with a bucket, asking if I would donate to the campaign.  "No," I said, and kept going.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Romney: boring

PEORIA -- One of the most lackluster political rallies I've ever seen took place March 19 on the Bradley University campus, featuring the GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney as introduced by Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria.  It was a snoozer.

The large crowd of students and others hung around the outdoor event, curious to see a national candidate with the entourage of satellite TV trucks and national reporters, but with little enthusiasm for the candidate. Most were standing, flanking a small seated audience.

Vendors selling Rommey buttons and shirts found few customers. I didn't see anyone wearing either. The crowd's applause and cheers were tepid, and there were a few jeers and boos.

And there were plenty of hecklers, some with Ron Paul and Planned Parenthood signs.  Crowd managers tried to make some people take down the signs, but were unsuccessful.  Some stood their ground, and the managers apparently gave up.

Giant Ron Paul signs hovered at the rear of the crowd, in plain view of the candidate.  He's probably seen them before.

A poorly set up sound system didn't help matters.  Those outside the inner circle could not hear all the questions. They could barely hear Romney who at least knows how to speak up, but they couldn't see him very well because the stage wasn't very high. 

After a speech that droned on about 'economic freedom' - yeah, freedom to exploit others - the first question concerned birth control, prompting Romney to launch into an attack on "free" things. 

He would end federal funds not only for Planned Parenthood but for PBS and Amtrak, saying we all have to sacrifice. That didn't thrill the crowd.

He would deal with the burden of student loans by assuring everyone gets a good job. Yeah, right. He would improve the schools by destroying the teacher unions and tenure. So much for freedom to teach without fear of intimidation.

He even told a story about an entrepreneur who made money but never went to college -- not a very appropriate subject for a college campus rally.

It's been said that Romney has a 'tin ear,' and it was on display at this event.

Let's hope he gets nominated. Obama will eat him alive.

Earlier in the day I also went to a rally in downtown Peoria sponsored by the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, with the participation of Planned Parenthood. Its theme was support of Obama's Affordable Care Act and Medicare, and to attack Republican candidate plans to repeal the benefits.

The Act helps all generation, from seniors to children, leaders said.People there were quite enthusiastic for their cause.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Democratic dinner: lively...

PEORIA -- After the chicken dinner came the firebreathing speeches, at the Feb. 20 Peoria County Democrats Presidents' Day Dinner. 

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and featured speaker Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach blasted the Republicans and urged the audience to stand strong for Democratic candidates this year.

The packed hall at the Itoo Club included many candidates for office. Durbin began by mentioning and praising two Democratic candidates for Congress, Steve Waterworth, a candidate in the 18th Congressional District, and Cheri Bustos, a candidate in the 17th Congressional District.  Both have opponents in the Democratic primary on March 20.

Both attended the dinner, though their opponents apparently were not there.

Durbin said, "what's at stake is the future of organized labor in the U.S."

He noted that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has referred to 'labor stooges', and said the real "three stooges are Newt, Mitt and Rick."

He praised Pres. Barack Obamma, and said he "did the right thing" in the auto bailout.

The new Peoria airport, Durbin said, was built with stimulus funds from the Obama administration. Then with a sly dig at Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, he said Schock voted against the simulus, then "was miffed he wan't invited to the groundbreaking."

Mentioning the banks, Durbin said, "we will fight against those who brought this economy down."

Returning to labor, Durbin said "the best days in modern history were when labor was strong. There should be no apologies as Democrats. I'm proud of labor."

He closed by giving a "shout out" to state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and said "we're going to be ready to fight at all levels."

A recording of Durbin's remarks is posted here.

Durbin Feb 20

Erpenbach, a leader of the Wisconsin legislators who fled the state last year to prevent Gov. Scott Walker from stripping public employees of their collective bargaining rights, said the "irresponsible" governor has "forced everybody to pick a side, even family members."

Public employees made Wisconsin great, he said, but within a month after he took office, Walker attacked them. "It could happen in Illinois.  They're trying to do it in Indiana, Ohio, all over."

"The power brokers" want to destroy the unions, then privatize the jobs, When collective bargaining is destroyed, then funding gets cut. "They claim we're broke. It's easy to get rid of public employees when they have no collective bargaining. Then the Koch Brothers come in and try to get the contracts," he said.

After the 2010 election, Republicans refused to compromise in a state with a history of compromise, Erpenback said. "Walker shattered that with (the threat) of Tea Party primaries if they didn't fall in line."

"In 2010 some people stayed home so we ended up with Scott Walker.  Within a year rights were being lost," including collective bargaining and voting rights, when a photo ID law was passed while DMV centers in rural areas were being shut down.  People who have always voted without a photo ID now would not be able to vote, he said. "Women's right are under attack," as well.

It's happening everywhere, he said. But "there are more of us than there are of them.  The majority agrees with Democrats."

"If I run into somebody who can't stand unions," I remind them that their 40-hour work week, vacation pay and health benefits come from union bargaining, he said. "Their wages are due to what unions have negotiated throughout the history of the U.S." 

A recording of Erpenbach's speech is posted here. 

Erpenback Feb 20

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

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Super PACs eating democracy

PEORIA -- Here's a useful news release: 

 

Auctioning Democracy: The Rise of Super PACs and the 2012 Election

READ THE REPORT: http://www.illinoispirg.org/reports/ilp/auctioning-democracy

EXPLORE THE INFOGRAPHICS: http://bit.ly/xqKMya 

Chicago – Today Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Demos released a new analysis of the funding sources for the campaign finance behemoths, Super PACs. The findings confirmed what many have predicted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Citizens United decision: since their inception in 2010, Super PACs have been primarily funded by a small segment of very wealthy individuals and business interests, with a small but significant amount of funds coming from secret sources.

“Super PACs represent much of what is wrong with American democracy rolled neatly into one package,” said Marites Velasquez, Field Organizer with Illinois PIRG. “They are tools that powerful special interests can use to work their will by drowning out the voices of ordinary Americans in a sea of sometimes secret cash.”

“Super PACs are like kryptonite for our democracy,” added Demos Democracy Counsel Adam Lioz.  “They undermine core principles of political equality in favor of a bully-based system where the strength of a citizen’s voice depends upon the size of her wallet.”

Some of the most striking findings in the report are:

• 17% percent of all Super PAC money in 2010 and 2011 came from for-profit business treasuries.
• 6.4% of the itemized funds raised by Super PACs since 2010 was “secret money,” not feasibly traceable to its original source. A month-to-month analysis of spending in 2010 and 2011 suggests that the months leading up to the 2012 election will see an unprecedented surge in secret money.
• Of all itemized contributions from individuals to Super PACs, 93% came in contributions of at least $10,000.   Only 726 individuals, or 23 out of every 10 million people in the U.S., made a contribution this large to a Super PAC. More than half of itemized Super PAC money came from just 37 people giving at least $500,000.

Illinois PIRG Education Fund offers a recommendation for how the Illinois State Legislature can push back on the influence of Super PACs—pass a bill to protect shareholders. Specifically, the bill should:

• For corporations incorporated in Illinois, require shareholders to authorize, on an annual basis, a political activities budget of up to $X (to be set by corporation). Corporation must achieve a majority of votes representing all outstanding shares.
• For corporations incorporated in another state but registered to do business in Illinois, require shareholders residing in Illinois to authorize spending related to Illinois’ elections.
• Require that fiduciaries voting on behalf of their investors disclose that vote to investors.
• Require that the board of directors must vote to authorize each expenditure over $50,000 within the overall budget approved by shareholders.
• Require individual board member votes and the details of such approved expenditure be disclosed online within 48 hours and to shareholders and the SEC on a quarterly basis.

Auctioning Democracy includes a both the report and series of infographics, available for use (with attribution).

READ THE REPORT: http://www.illinoispirg.org/reports/ilp/auctioning-democracy

EXPLORE THE INFOGRAPHICS: http://bit.ly/xqKMya 

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The Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG) is a non-profit, citizen funded watchdog and advocacy organization

Ax Wall Street: Here's How

PEORIA -- Here's a fascinating article on how to reform/reign in/ax Wall Street.

Here's another way:  How many places where we buy stuff send the profits straight to Wall Street or out of town, to Chicago, New York City, even China? 

Let me count the ways:  GateHouse media, owner of the Peoria Journal Star and many other downstate newspapers. (Rumored to be sending $1 million a month or more out of Peoria to Wall Street to pay off its debt.)

Banks, grocery stores and other national financial and retail chains. (Though the stores do pay sales taxes.)

What places where we do business reinvest the profits and proceeds back into the community?

Think deeply about this insight.  Peoria and most downstate towns, many of which are almost impoverished, need LOCAL enterprises where the profits are invested back into the community, and don't leave town. 

They don't need Bass Proshops.  That and similar enterprises should not receive local tax funds to set up business.

Though the OSF venture in Peoria's troubled East Bluff smacks of corporate welfare, at least OSF is basically a local enterprise. Isn't it? 

Even Peoria Disposal Co., the city of Peoria's waste contractor, is a local business, as is Caterpillar, Inc., though both have far flung enterprises enriching people elsewhere.

Credit unions are also local. 

And it's distressing to see governments buying things from out of state -- insurance, etc., when that money should at least stay in Illinois.

A website and lists of local and Illinois businesses, to make people aware of this distinction, would be helpful.

That would be a worthy project for the Chambers of Commerce everywhere, instead of lobbying for right wing causes.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

The GOP Gong Show

PEORIA -- Now that the GOP debates are almost over for a while, we hope, there are some startling insights to be learned from them.

A real horror show would begin if one of these clowns happens to get elected president of the US. And it doesn't stop there. Plenty of candidates for Congress agree with them.

They claim to be small government guys but promote policies that place the government in bedrooms and pocketbooks. Freedom for them means only freedom for the rich to exploit people and resources.

They basically agree:

• Roe v. Wade should be overturned.  That would make abortion a crime and send women and doctors to jail. Is this what we want for the 21st century? Amazing. So women cannot control their own bodies, must endure forced pregnancies which could endanger their lives, and even more unwanted babies would be dumped on the larger society. (Half of all US pregancies now are unplanned.)
  

• The states can ban contraceptives because there's no right to privacy in the US Constitution.  The states don't want to do that?  Don't be so sure. In other words states can ban whatever they want to, and the minority has no protection. Amazing.

• Federal law should ban union shops, and mandate so called 'right to work' situations.  What's wrong with this?  It fatally weakens unions, depriving them of the financial resources to adequately represent their members. Goodbye what's left of the middle class.

• Gays and lesbians should be denied the benefits of marriage and adoption, by federal and state law.  Good bye equal protection of the law. 

• Religious organizations taking tax money can discriminate against any group they want to -- gays and lesbians, Islamics, and who knows who else, again by federal law. (And why does tax money go to any religious group? Whatever happened to separation of church and state?)
  

But perhaps the most astonishing contention of all is their demand that Medicare and Social Security be means tested.  Progressives have always resisted this because it diminishes public support if these programs are seen as limited to the (undeserving) poor.

Everyone pays into these programs when they are in the work force, and everyone should benefit from them, and not have the benefits withheld or taxed away.

Actually it's amazing to consider that the Republican candidates want to tax the elderly benefits, Medicare and Social Security, but not the millionaires.

Medicare and Social Security are part of the basic safety net in the USA, and without them, the elderly could easily and quickly be impoverished.  All it would take is  another recession that hits their 401(k) accounts, or fraud which is widespread against the elderly now.  

The mainstream media commentators have done a poor job of probing these issues so far.  

While it's fun to listen to the horserace coverage, it's also very superficial.

Now a word about Ron Paul:  he's too old to be president and sort of nuts but he has performed a valuable function by bringing up excessive military spending and the US empire during the debates. His comments on the folly of the war on drugs were breathtaking.  Too bad these issues sank without a trace.

These are not reasons to support Paul.  He is anti-choice, anti-gay, likely a racist, and his economic theories are crazy. But like the stopped clock, he's occasionally right. The other candidates are never right.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Corporate welfare, continued

PEORIA -- Just in time for the holidays, here's a fascinating article that lays out the facts about corporate wealth and welfare. 

Sample quote: " large corporations use every trick in the book to avoid paying state and local taxes. A recent joint report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and Citizens for Tax Justice reveals that 265 large corporations avoided $42.7 billion in taxes from 2008 to 2010. That’s enough money to hire more than one million teachers! Instead, we are firing teachers in the name of fiscal austerity."

The report, Corporate Tax Dodging in the 50 States, names names.

This is beyond disgusting.  The Occupy movement seeks to turn this around.  It won't be easy, but it's possible, as this article indicates.

Happy holidays.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

And, in addition:  Here's a fascinating list of books recommended  by Ralph Nader. I don't always agree with what Nader does (re: the 2000 election) but these books looks great.

Check this out...

PEORIA -- Aside from Democracy Now, which is always good, one of the best new TV talk/news shows is Up with Chris Hayes on MSNBC (channel 47 on Comcast in Peoria).  It's way better than the network talk shows on Sunday morning.

The Nov. 19 show is especially interesting, with highly insightful news and commentary.

The downside is that it comes on early -- 6 a.m. on Saturdays, 7 a.m. on Sundays.

So set your VCR, DVR or TiVo, record it, watch later.

Or watch it on your computer, links above.

  -- Elaine Hopkins