Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Funding for ACORN affiliates blocked; Palin vs. Weiner, in Barbara Walter's opinion; Real cost of government guarantee of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 2 1/2 times more; Obama vs. House on Libya

American Spectator reports: Last week the U.S. House of Representatives voted to block funding to any remaining ACORN affiliates and to "new" ACORN groups that have sprung up over the last year.
The ACORN network of 370-plus organizations is not actually dead, as I've written. It is merely restructuring itself. The lead corporate entity, ACORN, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but the state chapters and other branches of the infamous activist network continue to operate. Other affiliates including vote manufacturers Project Vote and housing bubble generator ACORN Housing continue in business. ACORN Housing changed its name to Affordable Housing Centers of America.
"ACORN is a corrupt criminal enterprise that threatens our democratic system of government by systematically committing voter registration fraud," said King, a longtime ACORN critic. "American taxpayers should not be asked to fund an organization that is dedicated to corrupting the sanctity of every American's vote."
King's amendment turning off the funding spigot was approved 251 to 168.  http://spectator.org/blog/2011/06/06/house-votes-to-defund-acorn-su#
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Caller reports: “[A]nthony Weiner, whom I also know, has a problem,” Barbara Walters said [on The View]. “He can be very sarcastic and very sardonic. And you know there are a lot of times you wish he would not say it. He is a good congressman. He has been an effective congressman. If Sarah Palin can still ride around on her bus and be considered as a possible president, this man can override this, stay in congress and just hope there is another scandal that will take him –”
However, once again Walters contention was protested by Behar, who has a track record of not being a supporter of Palin.
“Let me defend Sarah for 30 seconds,” Behar protested. “The woman has no sex scandal in her dossier, in her arsenal. This is a completely different thing from Sarah Palin. And I want to defend her here.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CNS News reports: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the real cost of the federal government guaranteeing the business of failed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is $317 billion -- not the $130 billion normally claimed by the Obama administration. 
“Specifically, CBO treats the mortgages guaranteed each year by the two GSEs as new guarantee obligations of the federal government,” the CBO report said. “For those guarantees, CBO’s projections of budget outlays equal the estimated federal subsidies inherent in the commitments at the time they are made.”
“In contrast, the Administration’s Office of Management and Budget continues to treat Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as nongovernmental entities for budgetary purposes, and thus outside the budget,” the report stated. “It records as outlays the amount of the net cash payments provided by the Treasury to the GSEs.”  http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/true-cost-fannie-freddie-bailouts-317-bi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Washington Times reports: The White House said Monday that it has an obligation to answer lawmakers’ questions about U.S. involvement in NATO’s mission in Libya, but it wasn’t clear if the administration will comply with a House resolution passed Friday that threatens to withhold funding unless President Obama complies with demands for more information.

For example, the resolution seeks more information about difference between U.S. “political and military objectives regarding Libya and those of other NATO member states engaged in military activities.” It also calls on Mr. Obama to justify why he didn’t seek congressional authorization, warning that lawmakers have a “constitutional prerogative” to withhold funding for an unauthorized use of military forces.
The White House described the resolution, which passed 268-145, as “unhelpful.” Mr. Carney said the administration welcomes any expression of support Congress wishes to give - but it has sent no signal that it actually will seek approval.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/6/white-house-says-it-complied-with-war-powers-act/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No comments:

Post a Comment