GAHC Members and Friends,

 

If you are unfamiliar with the "Germans in America" series previously broadcast by WQPT, (Digital Channel 24.1 and 24.2 or Cable Channel 10) or would like to see it again, take note of the following episodes on Monday evenings through Novermber, 2011. Programs begin at 9:00 p.m.

 

Monday, Nov. 7
"Into the Promised Land" A group of German-Americans from Loose Creek, Missouri travel to Germany in search of their roots.

 

Monday, Nov. 14
"The Price of Freedom" Recalls the stenuous ordeals faced by the first German settlers to arrive in Texas.

 

Monday, Nov, 21
"Little Germanies" German-speaking communities bloomed all over the country in the second half of the 19th century.

 

Monday, Nov. 28
"A People Disappears" German-Americans try to keep their identity under wraps as intolerance grows during the world wars.

More Than 500 Illinois Employers Participated in Month-Long Effort

SPRINGFIELD - November 10, 2011. In honor of Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) Governor Quinn today announced a successful month of job fairs aimed at putting Illinois Veterans back to work. Hosted by the Governor's Office and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the fairs are a special statewide effort to help Veterans find employment and inform employers about tax credits that encourage business development. More than 500 Illinois employers have participated in this special series of job fairs.

Today's Veterans' job fair in Orland Park is the latest in the series of events that highlight Governor Pat Quinn's effort to grow jobs and connect qualified job seekers with ready-to-hire employers. IDES director Jay Rowell and Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) director Erica J. Borggren will attend today's fair to support the hiring effort.

"Veterans have served their state and their country, and Illinois makes a special effort to ensure that those returning home from service are able to transition into the job market," Governor Quinn said. "November is Hire a Veteran Month, and we want to help our servicemembers to put their valuable skills to use here at home for Illinois employers."

The Orland Park job fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Avenue. This is the ninth Veterans' job fair so far this year, with other events held across the state in Chicago, Naperville, Bloomington, Belleville, Mt. Vernon, Carterville, Bartonville and Effingham.

"The men and women of our Veteran community are true national heroes," IDVA director Borggren said. "Veterans are proven and committed public servants, and all of Illinois stands to benefit from an empowered Veteran community."

A state income tax credit of up to $1,200 is available to businesses for each qualified Veteran who is hired. Additionally, employers may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $4,800 through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

Veterans are sought-after employees for their service training, which includes respect for authority, embracing responsibility and success operating in team-based environments. Servicemembers also often have advanced training in technology, manufacturing, construction and logistics.

Success and attendance has grown each year at the statewide Veteran job fairs, which were started in order to recognize the value that Veterans bring to the Illinois workforce. Invited businesses include those whose positions demand the skills military Veterans hone in the service. All Illinois job fairs are open to everyone, and individuals attending should bring resumes and be prepared for brief interviews.

"IDES is Illinois' employment agency, and our job is to put people to work," said IDES Director Jay Rowell said. As we approach Veterans Day, it is wholly appropriate to emphasize the skills of these brave men and women and to show how these skills will help employers succeed."

Illinois has added 37,700 jobs so far this year and 81,000 jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois after 23 consecutive months of declines. January 2010 also marked the plateau of the unemployment rate after 33 consecutive month-over-month increases. Since, the monthly unemployment rate has declined 15 times and increased four when compared to the previous month.

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LAKE JACKSON, Texas - See below for statement from campaign of 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul.

From National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton:

"Ron Paul's 'Restore America Plan', which some have called the boldest plan to reduce the federal deficit, proposes $1 trillion in federal spending in the first year, and it balances the federal budget in year three of a Paul Presidency. 

"The plan cuts spending by ending the costly unconstitutional foreign wars, and cuts foreign welfare, corporate welfare, and overgrown federal bureaucracy.

"These cuts are made so that those who are dependent on domestic spending programs such as Medicare aren't endangered through a sudden change in benefits.

"Mitt Romney's economic plan makes only nominal cuts yet it manages to cut spending from Medicare benefits, the same benefits on which many elderly Americans have come to rely. 

"That's a shame because not only are the cuts disingenuous but the protections seniors are counting on are absent from a proposal that Mitt Romney regards as 'bold' and fair.

"Ron Paul's ambitious plan also cuts taxes, authorizes a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve, and reins in dangerous government intervention by curtailing runaway spending and regulatory overreaches.

"Today's government-imposed economic weakness demands action.  Ron Paul is the only candidate with the experience and plan to get Americans back to work and create lasting prosperity."
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Who Is Newt Today?

Government-mandated healthcare OK

 

According to Newt:

"All of us have a responsibility to help pay for health care."

(Wall Street Journal)

"I agree that all of us have a responsibility to pay ? help pay for health care."

MSNBC's David Gregory: But that is the individual mandate, is it not?

"It's a variation on it."

(National Review)

"In 2008, according to an AP report, Gingrich suggested 'insurance mandates for people who earn more than $75,000 a year.' Two years later, he was telling Sean Hannity at Fox News that health insurance mandates were unconstitutional."

(CS Monitor)

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"Did Newt actually think Freddie Mac's business was sound, or was he just earning his $300,000?"

http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/flashback-newt-took-300000-from-freddie-mac-to-stop-congress-from-making-much-needed-reform/

Who Knows?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28108013/How_Freddie_Mac_Splashed_Cash_to_Halt_Regulation

"Internal Freddie Mac budget records show $11.7 million was paid to 52 outside lobbyists and consultants in 2006. Power brokers such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were recruited with six-figure contracts.

 

"The Bush administration and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan were sounding the alarm about the potential threat to the nation's financial health if the fortunes of the two mammoth companies turned sour.

"Pushing back, Freddie Mac enlisted prominent conservatives, including Gingrich and former Justice Department official Viet Dinh, paying each $300,000 in 2006, according to internal records.

"Gingrich talked and wrote about what he saw as the benefits of the Freddie Mac business model."

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Springfield, IL...The Illinois House of Representatives voted Wednesday to close the pension loophole that allowed two teachers union lobbyists to earn huge state pensions after serving for a single day as substitute teachers.


State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) co-sponsored House Bill 3865, which would prohibit employees of teachers unions from participating in the state's Teachers' Retirement System. It requires the lobbyists already in the system to forfeit all pension credit earned. HB 3865 passed the House unanimously and will go to the Senate for consideration.

"Today we close the book on another shameful chapter of Illinois history," Morthland said. "These guys were lobbyists masquerading as teachers. They took advantage of a pension loophole that allowed them to receive a teacher's pension after subbing for just one day in the classroom. That's a slap in the face to hard working teachers across Illinois. As a member of this union and as the husband of a member of this union, I'm appalled that it has gotten this far."

A Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV investigation found that two lobbyists with no prior teaching experience were allowed to count their years as union employees towards state teacher pensions after subbing for a single day in 2007.


According to the Tribune report, Steven Preckwinkle, the political director of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and fellow IFT lobbyist David Piccioli were the only people who took advantage of a small pension window opened by state lawmakers just a few months earlier. The law allowed union officials to get into the Teachers' Retirement System and count their previous years as union employees after quickly obtaining teaching certificates and working in a classroom. Preckwinkle and Piccioli could collect nearly $3 million in pension payouts, based on their union salaries and years of union credit.


"Illinois' pension systems face serious financial problems, with more than $85 billion in unfunded liability," Morthland said. "I'm glad to join my House colleagues in voting to stop these egregious abuses of pension loopholes."

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Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been working to restore public access to data on malpractice payouts, hospital discipline and regulatory sanctions against doctors and other health professionals and to hold accountable the federal government official who shut down access to this information.  Today, the responsible agency reopened the public part of the database but imposed restrictions.  Grassley made the following comment on the new version.

"HRSA is overreaching and interpreting the law in a way that restricts the use of the information much more than the law specifies.  Nowhere in the law does it say a reporter can't use the data in the public use file to combine that with other sources and potentially identify doctors who have been disciplined in their practice of medicine.  This agency needs to remember that half of all health care dollars in the United States comes from taxpayers, so the interpretation of the law ought to be for public benefit.  It's also hard to see how HRSA has the resources to require the return of supposedly misused data or how that would even work.  It seems the agency's time would be better used in making sure the database is up to date and as useful as possible.  I'm seeking opinions from legal experts on HRSA's interpretation of the law.  And I continue to expect a briefing from HRSA on this situation, including participation from the person who pulled the public data file after a single physician complained that a reporter identified him through shoe leather reporting, not the public data file.  One complaint shouldn't dictate public access to federally collected data for 300 million people."

Details of Grassley's prior inquiries are available here and here.

How Americans Rate Their Diet Quality

A new TV feature is available on the USDA FTP site. The new feature can also be seen on USDA's YouTube channel and downloaded as a video podcast. See below for details.

FTP Download instructions:

The host: ftp://ocbmtcmedia.download.akamai.com

User name: usdanews

Password:  Newscontent1

Filename: diet perception feature

The new file is in QuickTime Movie (H.264 ), MPEG 4, MPEG2 and HDV.

YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXY9mbpgXHg&feature=channel_video_title

video podcasthttp://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/usda-down-to-earth-video-podcast/id461819504?uo=4

RSS feed: http://downtoearth.usda.libsynpro.com/rss

Please email bob.ellison@usda.gov if you have problems or suggestions.

Also, use this free ftp client if you have problems.

http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type+client

FEATURE - How Americans Rate Their Diet Quality

INTRO: Are people learning the healthy eating information being directed at them? A U-S-D-A study aimed to find out. The U-S-D-A's Bob Ellison has more. (1:30)

 

A NEW U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STUDY SAYS AMERICANS KNOW THEY SHOULD BE EATING HEALTHIER EVEN IF THEY DON'T THINK THEY ARE. THE U-S-D-A'S ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE COMPARED DIET PERCEPTION SURVEYS FROM NINETEEN NINETY ONE AND FROM TWO THOUSAND SIX AND FOUND THAT PEOPLE IN THE OH-SIX SURVEY WERE MORE FAMILIAR WITH FEDERAL DIETARY ADVICE.

 

Christian Gregory, USDA ERS: People are really starting to comprehend that education programs and information in the media and from physicians is really starting to kind of click with people.

 

AND WHILE THOSE SURVEYED DON'T BELIEVE THEIR DIETS HAVE CHANGED, THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A HEALTHY DIET IS HAS CHANGED.

 

Gregory: The healthfulness of the diet hasn't changed much. So we really think that there is some suggestive evidence that it's the information environment and people's comprehension of that information that's really changing. But all of this information basically has kind of gotten through and you basically evaluate your diet today and say, "Hmm...that might not be that great".

 

GREGORY SAYS THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO STUDY IF HEALTHY EATING INFORMATION IS AFFECTING PEOPLE'S ACTUAL DIETS AND NOT JUST THEIR PERCEPTIONS.

 

Gregory: We need to know more about how effective nutrition education programs, especially those that are funded by and sponsored by the USDA.

 

MORE DIET PERCEPTION STUDY INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT E-R-S DOT U-S-D-A DOT GOV AND HEALTY EATING GUIDELINES CAN BE FOUND AT CHOOSE MY PLATE DOT GOV. FOR THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I'M BOB ELLISON.

USDA Down To Earth Video Podcast

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Volunteers honor legacy of Dubuque veteran by "paying it forward" to Veterans' Freedom Center

 

Dubuque, IA - At 8:30 this morning, just two days before Veterans Day, dozens of volunteers from across the tri-state area gathered to put up drywall, paint, and help renovate the new home of the Dubuque Veterans' Freedom Center during the first-ever Andrew Connolly Day of Service.

The day of service honors the legacy of the late Andrew Connolly, a Dubuque native and Iowa National Guard veteran who never stopped urging others to "pay it forward" in every aspect of their lives.  Before he passed away on August 26, 2011, after a battle with spinal cancer, Andrew Connolly could often be found at Dubuque's Veterans' Freedom Center, a place close to his heart.

"Andrew's life was committed to serving others," Braley said.  "Whether he was with his wife, Jenny, or his son, Brody, or serving overseas in Iraq, or advocating on Capitol Hill on behalf of other veterans, Andrew led by example.  The mantra he often repeated was 'pay it forward.'

 

"We organized today's day of service to honor and commemorate Andrew's selfless spirit and 'pay it forward' to the Dubuque Veterans' Freedom Center.  I hope this day grows in its scope and significance from this point forward - it's a fitting tribute to a man who was so focused on helping others despite a life that dealt him a very challenging set of circumstances."

Braley joined Jenny Connolly, the Freedom Center, and local groups to organize the day of service.  Braley spent his time putting up new drywall.  Volunteers were given custom Andrew Connolly Day of Service t-shirts.

Andrew Connolly worked hard to help his fellow veterans.  In May, the US House passed the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, a bill Braley introduced to expand grant programs for permanently disabled veterans to remodel their homes and make them more disability-accessible

# # #

Herman Cain Leads GOP Poll in Three Critical Swing States

Presidential candidate Herman Cain leads the Republican field in three important swing states according to Quinnipiac University's first "Swing State Poll" of the 2012 campaign cycle.

Mr. Cain polls GOP voters in Florida, with 27 percent of the vote, a six percent lead over nearest challenger, and in Ohio, with 25 percent, a five percent lead over nearest challenger. In Pennsylvania, Mr. Cain and Gov. Mitt Romney tie at 17 percent.

For the past 50 years, these three states have predicted the presidential winner. Since 1960, no candidate has won the presidential election without carrying at least two of these states.

"My message of real solutions and real leadership continues to resonate across the country. The American people are tired of career politicians and Washington insiders. They are hungry for an authentic candidate," said Herman Cain. "I appreciate the vote of confidence from the voters of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania and I deeply appreciate all of the support my campaign is receiving from every state in our great country."

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Friends,

We did it.

But we can do more!

When we launched the Iowa Fund last week, many people did not believe we could reach our goal of $999,000, but they were very wrong.  Not only did we reach the goal, we exceeded it more than 24 hours early!

Our total is well over $1.1 Million dollars right now, and still climbing.

Together, we have sent a message...A message to the media, the political establishment, and the rest of the American people.

We will not go along with politics as usual. We will not keep quiet.  

This year, We The People of this great nation will be choosing our own candidate for President of the United States!

Tonight I need your help.  In a little while I will be joining the other candidates in another debate. Many seek to destroy our efforts. Many have said that our campaign cannot possibly remain on top.

They are wrong.

I need you to spread the word about the Iowa Fund.  If you haven't had a chance to contribute- now is the time! If you have, would you consider donating again and inviting your friends to do the same? Let's show the naysayers that we will not be stopped!  

Let's push the Iowa Fund so far above our goal that they can't avoid talking about us! Together we can do this!

Thanks,
signature
Herman Cain

 

Herman Cain Leads in Florida According to Rasmussen


The first survey by Rasmussen Reports of likely Republican primary voters in Florida has presidential frontrunner Herman Cain leading the Republican field with 30 percent, six percent higher than his nearest challenger.

This survey was conducted on November 8th and the margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level.

Herman Cain has been consistently leading the Republican pack in Florida since he won the Florida straw poll in September.

Cain Carries the Crowd, Reasserts Economic Plan in Rochester Debate

ROCHESTER, MI

Republican presidential frontrunner Herman Cain received uproarious applause at the latest and ninth debate for Republican presidential contenders at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan Nov. 9. Cain confronted questions about leadership and character head-on, saying, "Over the last nine days the voters have voted with their dollars and they are saying they don't care about the character assassination - they care about leadership and getting this economy going and all of the other problems we face."

The debate discussion went to Herman Cain first for his perspective on Italy and the global economic crisis. Cain said "We must grow this economy...as long as we are stagnant in terms of growth and GDP, we impact the rest of the world... we (must) put some fuel in the engine that drives economic growth which is the business sector. This administration has done nothing but put stuff in the caboose and it's not moving this economy."

The audience booed debate moderators for dredging up allegations from the last week against Cain. Directly addressing questions, Cain responded strongly: "The American people deserve better than someone being tried in the court of public opinion based on unfounded accusations," Cain continued, "I value my character and integrity more than anything else and for every one person that comes forward with a false accusation, there are thousands who would say none of that sort of activity ever came from Herman Cain."

The crowd cheered when questioners steered the debate back to the economy, which led to Cain reiterating his plan to save the US economy: "Uncertainty is what's killing this economy...we (need to) throw out the tax code and put in something bold. Get government out of the way by reducing the regulatory environment."

Cain said he would support the repeal of Dodd-Frank legislation and suggested that government intervention is not the solution to turn around the economy, "The government has no business trying to pick winners and losers...whether through the front door with legislation or through back door through regulation." Cain reiterated that he would work with politicians from both sides of the aisle with the peoples' support, saying, "Provide a compelling solution, and if the (American people) understand it, they will demand it."

 

Georgia State Senator Unterman Endorses Herman Cain for President

Georgia State Senator Renee Unterman (R-Gwinnett) today enthusiastically announced her endorsement of Herman Cain for president.

"This country needs a real leader, a man of Herman Cain's strong character, integrity, and problem-solving capabilities in the White House. This is why I am endorsing Mr. Cain for President of the United States." said Senator Unterman.

Senator Unterman continued, "I have known Herman Cain for many years, and I cannot think of a better person to be our next Commander-in-Chief.

Our country needs someone with bold ideas, who has experience producing positive results. Mr. Cain is a leader with a proven record of turning around troubled organizations. At this pivotal point in American history, this is the experience we need."

"As the sole female Republican in the Georgia Senate, I am deeply honored to have Senator Unterman's endorsement and thank her for her distinguished leadership in Georgia," said Herman Cain.

 

New Cain Video Features Alveda King and Opportunity Zones in Detroit

Detroit - In the city of Detroit, the very face of destructive liberal economics, presidential candidate Herman Cain presents his vision of turning poverty-stricken communities into thriving Opportunity Zones as part of his bold "9-9-9 Plan."

The new video focuses on a desperate city, hungry for jobs, commerce, and true hope; Herman Cain lays out specific plans for returning Detroit to a pinnacle of industrial achievement.

In this video, respected author and conservative activist, Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lends her support for Mr. Cain's vision for economic renewal.

"Where some see economic decline, Herman Cain sees fertile soil for growth," begins the narrative. And the citizens of Detroit seem to feel it can't happen soon enough...

You can see the video on the Herman Cain YouTube channel.

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