Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Senator Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund released a report showing that the False Claims Act provides a 20:1 benefit to cost ratio in fighting health care fraud for the federal government.

Grassley is the author of the 1986 law updating the federal False Claims Act.  His qui tam amendments empower whistleblowers to file suit on behalf of the federal government against contractors who fraudulently claim taxpayer dollars.  The law is the most successful tool of the federal government in rooting out fraud against the federal treasury, and has helped recover nearly $35 billion in taxpayer funds that would otherwise be lost.

"Time and time again the False Claims Act has proven its worth to taxpayers.  The law has empowered whistleblowers to come forward, risk their careers and root out the shady characters looking to give the taxpayer a bad deal.  In 1986 the focus was defense contractors.  Now, proving the law's flexibility and value, it's the most effective tool against health care fraud, as evidenced by the report released today.

"The threats to this successful law are constant.  Any efforts to undermine this successful law should be met with skepticism by the courts and Congress."

Embodied Leadership Mentor's 3 Tips for Differentiating Ego from Higher Self

"You've come a long way, baby," wasn't just an ad for Virginia Slims cigarettes during the late 1960s - it was also a dubious signifier for the gains women had made in society.

Since then, women have continued the march for progress, making huge gains in the academic and professional sectors. But have Western women lost something along the way?

"As women, we have spent so much time and effort living up to the standards of a patriarchal society that we've almost completely disconnected from our own deepest, authentic truth," says Leela Francis, author of "Woman's Way Home: Navigating Your Path to Embodied Power," (www.WomansWayHome.com), which includes techniques and tools from her Vividly Woman Embodied Leader Tools and Training.

" 'What do women want?' Sadly, many women today aren't even sure; but by tapping the power of her inner wisdom, a woman can have the life of her dreams."

One key component of birthing one's own dream life is harnessing your intuitive power, she says. This ability to distinguish between ego-driven wants and higher self-wisdom is crucial so that you are making choices in alignment with your personal integrity, she says.

So, just how does one accomplish that? Francis offers the following suggestions:

• Ego isn't bad or wrong, but we do need to be able to distinguish its voice from that of our intuition. The ego has its place; it's a necessary part of our self that allows us to function and strive, but we need to be able to identify what is driving us in each moment. Intuition is the awareness and acknowledgement of being more deeply and meaningfully connected to life. The ego is a self-advocating force that caters to external standards and often gets in the way of higher self-awareness. Learning to recognize the differences between these two voices is a profound way to create more ease and lessen suffering.

• Recognize when ego and intuition are pulling you in different directions. "Having witnessed the outcome of choosing ego over intuition enough times, I've seen how counterproductive ignoring intuitive wisdom can be," Francis says. "I can't help but notice that I sense the most friction when my ego is winning that inner tug of war." The ego is a perpetually hungry creature, never satisfied, whereas higher intuition has a contented nature that aligns with your personal integrity. Wisdom's signals are palpable, but we've become so masterful at ignoring them that we don't recognize them when they occur. Both the ego's plea and intuition's nudging are able to be sensed in one's body as distinctive body sensations. Listen inwardly for these sensations, for example, when someone is trying to sell you something questionable.

• Be available for those intuitive moments in which you can witness yourself, objectively, on every level. Intuitive power gives us a profound ability to see ourselves from a bird's eye view on every level - sensually, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. These intuitive moments don't have to be random; you can cultivate your mind to be more on the look out for sensations that are taking place in your body in each moment, and especially in situations that require you to make a difficult decision or choice. Be aware of your body as it goes through its daily activities and, at the same time, consider all levels of your self when doing so. This higher awareness enables women to have all aspects of their selves peacefully coexist and work together for a more whole and happy life.

About Leela Francis

Leela is the founder and director of Vividly Woman Embodied Leader Tools and Training. A facilitator of groups and individuals for more than 20 years, she's an expert in the field of body consciousness and soulful personal expansion.  Along with her trained staff and apprentices, Leela facilitates Vividly Woman workshops and retreats at beautiful nature resorts all over the continent and appears regularly as a speaker and contributing facilitator at other live & virtual events. Leela divides her time between Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, and the rest of North America.

Coal Valley, IL - 21 October 2013 - Niabi Zoo officials announced today that the Zoo's two Asian elephants, Babe and Sophie, have arrived safely at their new home at the Little Rock Zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas. The elephants, which arrived in Arkansas this afternoon, are currently settling into their new habitat after the drive from Niabi Zoo.

After an extensive and thorough nationwide search, elephant care expert Alan Roocroft selected Little Rock Zoo as the best fit for Babe and Sophie based on a number of criteria that were mutually agreed upon between Mr. Roocroft and Niabi Zoo staff. "Our number one criteria when selecting a facility for Babe and Sophie was that it be located in a warmer climate," said Niabi Zoo Director Marc Heinzman, "and Little Rock Zoo only has a combined week or two each year when their elephants have to be kept inside. That's a major improvement  from the four to six months that we have at Niabi Zoo."

In addition to the warmer climate, Mr. Roocroft and Niabi Zoo staff also focused on the management program and staff experience at any potential facilities. "It was important to us that Babe and Sophie continue to be managed in such a way that would encourage them to stay active and healthy," said Heinzman. "Babe is overweight and Sophie has arthritis. In order to keep these conditions from worsening as they age, they need to be in a management program that has them exercise and stay mobile. Mr. Roocroft was impressed by the condition of Little Rock Zoo's elephant and the knowledge of the Zoo's elephant team."

Alan Roocroft visited Little Rock Zoo in September and prepared a report on his assessment of their management program and facilities, which was recently submitted to Niabi Zoo staff. Babe and Sophie will be joining Little Rock Zoo's one adult female Asian elephant, Zina. Babe and Sophie will be kept together while also adding to a third member to their herd, which were two other important factors to Mr. Roocroft and Niabi Zoo.

Niabi Zoo was assisted in the transport of the elephants by Feld Entertainment Inc., which operates Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Feld Entertainment Inc., the original owners of Babe and Sophie before they were donated to Niabi Zoo, donated their services and transportation expertise to Niabi Zoo. "We're extremely grateful to Feld Entertainment for helping us with what otherwise could have been a very costly procedure," said Heinzman. "Their vast experience with transporting elephants and their equipment was invaluable. Moving elephants is normally extremely costly and dangerous, and we couldn't have done it without Feld Entertainment."

Babe and Sophie, who have been at Niabi Zoo since 2000 and 2003 respectively, will be on loan to Little Rock Zoo. By loaning them, Niabi Zoo retains ownership and oversight of the elephants' future. "It was, and will continue to be, extremely important to us that Babe and Sophie stay together and leave Niabi Zoo for the best possible situation," said Heinzman, "and we're in agreement with Mr. Roocroft that Little Rock Zoo offers that."

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October 21, 2013

Vitter, Grassley reiterate call for transparency, and for EPA to affirm its position; Say next move should apply court decision on a national scale

 

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made the following statements regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision not to seek Supreme Court review of an appellate court ruling that invalidated new Agency wastewater treatment regulations. EPA had revealed in correspondence with Grassley that it had been enforcing a new interpretation regarding the blending of partially and fully treated wastewater at the municipality level that was not part of the EPA's existing regulations and had not gone through proper rule-making procedures. Vitter and Grassley challenged the EPA on such a controversial practice earlier this year.

"I'd call this a modest win for municipalities across the country, reaffirming that EPA can't sneak in a burdensome, new water treatment regulation whenever they want to. This isn't the first time EPA has gotten creative to avoid transparency and established procedure to affect policy changes, and I don't expect it'll be the last," said Vitter. "I urge the EPA to unambiguously and fairly apply the invalidation of this illegal water treatment regulation on a national level."

"EPA said in its court petition that subjecting agency letters to Administrative Procedure Act review would create a 'chilling effect' that would hurt EPA's ability to answer requests about its interpretation of laws and regulations.  This misses the point," Grassley said.  "The court found that the EPA was improperly enforcing an interpretation of the law that was contrary to its published regulations, which is a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.  The fact that the EPA said as much in writing to me simply brought this violation to light.  The solution is not to stop telling Congress what it's up to, but to stop using interpretations that have not gone through the proper rulemaking procedures.  EPA should learn its lesson and follow the procedures in law meant to keep the agency accountable to the public and Congress."

In March 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit decided to invalidate new wastewater regulations disguised as guidance letters. EPA had attempted to explain their letters as a new interpretation of existing rules, but the three-judge panel decided that EPA changed its policy without notice and comment, as required by law.

Vitter and Grassley sent a letter in June to the EPA expressing their concern of how the Agency was moving forward with regulations on the wastewater treatment processes, following the 8th Circuit decision saying they cannot circumvent the Administrative Procedure Act. Click here to read more.

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