03 Oct 2011

Road to Recovery by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

By Sen Chuck Grassley

As Americans stare down a road of economic uncertainty, the White House has issued yet another spending plan that it says will put Americans back to work.  Shoveling more tax dollars out the door can't make up for the President's first stimulus plan that turned out not to be so shovel-ready after all.

Adding insult to injury, the President is pitching to pay for his $447 billion plan by raising taxes.  He says it's a matter of fairness.  Fair to whom?  Raising taxes on small business owners will not help create jobs.  Instead of rewarding risk and ambition, the President's so-called Buffett Rule would siphon away job-creating capital and investment for Main Street and send it to Washington to spend.

Considering Washington's poor track record for prudent fiscal stewardship, it doesn't make sense to believe that raising taxes on the wealthy will solve Washington's deficit disorder.

Just consider a recent audit by the internal watchdog at the U.S. Justice Department.  The analysis revealed extravagant spending on the taxpayer's dime, including conference fees charging $16 per muffin and $8.24 per cup of coffee.  Has the federal bureaucracy even heard of sticker shock?  The taxpaying public deserves better.  The audit exposes yet another example of the type of excessive, wasteful spending that tells taxpayers Washington just doesn't get it.  In fact, spending by the Justice Department on conferences has increased from $48 million in 2008, to $73 million in 2009 and $92 million in 2010.

And yet the President is trying to score political points with what he's calling the Buffett Rule, named after the billionaire investor who likes to say he doesn't pay enough taxes.  First, let's be clear on one point.  No one is stopping Warren Buffett from sharing more of his income with Uncle Sam.  But it's irresponsible and disingenuous for the President to portray the Buffett Rule as the solution to the federal government's enormous budget shortfall.  In fact, the Buffett Rule is just another, more complicated version of the Alternative Minimum Tax, or AMT.  The AMT, originally intended to tax a small number of rich individuals who didn't pay any federal tax, now hits millions of middle-class families.  Those wealthy who don't want to pay any tax will always have an army of lawyers and accountants to help them.  An additional AMT isn't going to change that.

What's more, penalizing risk-takers and job creators will not help grow the economy. Strangling small businesses with red tape doesn't help create jobs.  We need public policy to promote wealth creation, not to stifle ambition.

As policymakers, analysts and investors try to find a pulse in the U.S. economy, American households are hesitant to spend and businesses are bracing for slower growth.  With 25 million Americans looking for work, job creation is priority number one. Consumer confidence won't recover without paychecks.

Partisanship and poll-driven ideology such as the Buffett Rule need to take a back seat. Instead, Washington needs to let America's entrepreneurs; innovators and risk takers get America back on the road to economic recovery.

Congress gave the green light to ramp up America's entrepreneurial spirit with passage of the America Invents Act.  As a sponsor of the bipartisan patent reform legislation signed into law in September, I worked to protect inventors' rights and shift innovation and investment in our economy into the fast lane.

The new law gives fast-track approval process to start-ups, cutting an average wait time. When entrepreneurs need critical investment to get their business off the ground and running, patent ownership can mean the make-or-break difference.

Getting ideas, inventions and goods to the market sooner will help foster economic growth and employment on Main Street USA.  The America Invents Act addresses the backlog at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and recognizes the outdated patent review system slows innovation with costly litigation and delays.

The newly updated patent laws will give America's scientists, researchers and engineers an edge in the global marketplace.  Public policies that clear the way for American businesses to compete and give consumers what they want will help put America on the path towards long-term prosperity.  Washington needs to steer clear of regulatory roadblocks and burdensome taxes that would send the U.S. economy in the wrong direction.

Let's be clear.  The Buffett Rule would not help the U.S. avoid a double-dip recession or encourage employers to put Help Wanted signs in their storefronts on Main Street.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
03 Oct 2011

Senate votes on continuing resolution

By Grassley Press
"There's widespread support in Congress to fund assistance for Americans who have been hit by natural disasters.  We have an obligation as an insurer of last resort and need to keep that commitment.  The only thing different this year is the effort to offset some of the cost, in order to establish more fiscal responsibility in Washington in the face of deficits as far as the eye can see and in response to the clear message sent last year by voters.  The Senate majority leader drew a line in the sand that didn't need to be drawn.  There's bipartisan and bicameral support for necessary funding to keep the government operating, including assistance for disaster recovery."
03 Oct 2011

Grassley Presses for Additional Information on Conference Expenditures Review

By Grassley Press

Grassley Presses for Additional Information on Conference Expenditures Review

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today asked Jacob Lew, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to provide further information about his review of conference expenditures throughout the federal government.

The government-wide review comes on the heels of an audit report released by the Department of Justice's Inspector General that revealed the department paid $600,000 for event planners, in addition to paying an average of $32 for snack packs and $16 for muffins at conferences held at venues across the country.  The report also showed a 53 percent increase in conference expenditures at the Justice Department from 2008 to 2009.

The audit included information about conferences held at four-star hotels.  When questioned about the high-priced hotel by the Inspector General, the response from the Justice Department was that a four-star hotel was chosen because, "Only a four or five star hotel was capable of providing the level and quality of services expected by senior executives and other political appointees."

"No economy can rationalize a 53 percent increase in conference expenditures between 2008 and 2009, let alone an economy that is facing 9 percent unemployment and stagnant job growth," Grassley said.  "Whether it's $16 for muffins or $600,000 for event planners, these are expenditures that can and should be looked at for cost savings measures.

The Inspector General's office has stated publicly that it stands by the report.

Here is a copy of the text of Grassley's letter to Lew.  A signed copy can be found here.

 

September 26, 2011

 

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

 

The Honorable Jacob J. Lew

Director

Office of Management and Budget

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20503

 

Dear Mr. Lew:

 

I am pleased to hear that you are directing a government-wide review of how taxpayer dollars are spent on conferences in response to a report that the Department of Justice (DOJ) paid $16.00 per muffin at a recent conference.  The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is standing by its report despite arguments by some that it may have miscalculated the figure in its investigation of conference expenditures.

 

If the OIG made errors in its report, I hope that it will step forward and correct the record.  Nevertheless, I would note that even by Hilton's own accounting, DOJ spent $4,200 on 250 muffins, 200 pieces of fruit, 15 gallons of coffee, and 30 gallons of iced tea.  That amounts to $16 for only one muffin, less than one piece of fruit, 8 ounces of coffee, and 15 ounces of iced tea.   By anyone's account, that's excessive spending.  Additionally, while a DOJ spokesperson has suggested that the package included the cost of meeting space, the OIG report itself made clear that DOJ had negotiated with the hotel to provide that particular meeting space without charge as part of a larger agreement on other conference expenses.

 

The more important story from the OIG's report is that DOJ increased total conference expenditures by 53% from $47.8 million in 2008 to $73.3 million in 2009.  That's a $25.5 million increase in the first year of the Obama administration.   As I have been saying, this kind of spending is unacceptable given the economic realities most Americans are facing right now.

 

Please explain why the cost of conference expenditures increased so dramatically at DOJ in 2009.  I also have additional questions about your September 21 memorandum to executive department and agency heads.   Is it intended that each agency's OIG be involved?  Will the findings of these inquiries be made public, in addition to being compiled for the Vice President?  I understand that each agency is to respond back to you by November 1, and I look forward to hearing their reports.

 

Thank you in advance for ensuring that your response arrives no later than October 3.  Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Tristan Leavitt of my staff at (202) 224-5225.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles E. Grassley

Ranking Member

 

cc:        The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

 

Ms. Cynthia A. Schnedar

Acting Inspector General

U.S. Department of Justice
03 Oct 2011

First Army shapes full spectrum simulation exercise

By Robert Saxon
LEAVENWORTH, Kan.-Fingers tap away furiously on computer keyboards while friendly and mock enemy maneuver graphics flash across large screens as National Guardsmen from Kansas participate in a 'first-of-its-kind' exercise designed to test the full range of their combat leadership and Soldier skills.


More than 350 Soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard's 35th Infantry Division headquarters are participating in a newly developed seven-day simulations exercise labeled an FSX, or Full Spectrum Exercise, at the headquarters building here, September 20-26.

Advisors from First Army, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., are on hand to ensure the exercise remains focused on preparing the 35th ID for potential CEF (Contingency Expeditionary Force) missions.  Over the past few years, the majority of reserve component training was focused exclusively on preparing the units for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan for Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

Exercise director and commander of First Army Division East, Maj. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel says the new FSX allows the command to execute the full range of military operations in a realistic, joint, interagency and coalition environment.  "As the exercise director, my job is to help the division
achieve their training objectives and to influence and shape the exercise by working with the team of senior mentors, trainers and support teams."

First Army oversaw the development of the new simulations training exercise as part of its mission to train and validate reserve component forces prior to an overseas deployment.

Preparations for the FSX began in February 2010 with a series of developmental conferences where representatives from First Army, the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP) at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the 35th ID and the National Guard Bureau met to design the scenario, identify personnel requirements and create the simulations facility layout.  More than 1000 Soldiers, Department of Defense civilians and contractors are taking part in the exercise.

The new FSX is intended to train military operations across the full spectrum of potential missions from high intensity conflict and counterinsurgency (COIN) to stability operations using a simulations
environment.  "In the last two years we have been in stability operationsand COIN operations in both theaters of Afghanistan and Iraq," says David Ruggere, First Army's lead project officer for the exercise.  "Though our soldiers are really skilled at that, the one skill that a lot of maneuver. Soldiers and staff have gotten away from is major combat operations-a gunfight-what used to be called a Warfighter Exercise (WFX)."

The WFX is a much older offensive and defensive combat simulation which traditionally pitted a corps or division-sized unit against an opposing force (OPFOR) in an intense force-on-force simulated battle.

Exercise control team chief, Mr. James Dumolt, MCTP, says the FSX is the first of its kind in the Army and has expanded simulations beyond the WFX in terms of functionality, "What we have added on to that is what we call PMESII: political, military, economic, social, infrastructure and information aspects of the operational environment.

According to Dumolt, the Army is transitioning back to a focus on the combat skills trained during the WFX.  "We've been doing a lot of Mission Rehearsal Exercises (MRX) in the last few years oriented towards Southwest Asia, and really doing a rehearsal to get us ready to go down range to Afghanistan and to Iraq.  We are taking what we learned at the rehearsals, where PMNESII was developed, and add that on to the Warfighter Exercise to create an FSX."

Another "first" for this exercise is the addition of an active component unit as a training audience with the 35th ID in a simulations exercise.  The 555th Engineer Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., is providing unit members to conduct simulated engineer operations in support of the 35th
ID plan.

Lt. Col. Dave Johnson, chief of plans (G-5) for the 35th ID says it's not normal for a National Guard legacy warfighter exercise to have an active component unit participate. "We've broken some new ground in that aspect as well.  We're learning from each other.  They have a really top notch team and they bring a lot to the exercise that we wouldn't have had otherwise."

The Soldiers and leaders associated with the 35th ID exercise see this new full spectrum simulation as a unique challenge and a means of shaping training for future reserve component units.

"This is really the proof of principle test for the Army on the FSX construct as well as the National Guard variant of the FSX.  In the long run, we hope that our lessons learned will help others," says Johnson.  "If we come out of this as a better unit and the Army learns from our actions, and in some cases mistakes, then we've all won and we are all better for it."

Maj. Gen. Wendel echoes those comments and views the new FSX as a critical step forward in First Army's efforts to better prepare reserve component units for a wide variety of future missions and deployments.  "Exercises like these significantly increase readiness and provide opportunities for
leaders at every level to sustain and improve critical warfighting skills."

-30-

03 Oct 2011

Feinstein, Grassley Introduce Bill to Combat Transnational Organized Crime

By Grassley Press

Establishes new penalties for drug traffickers

 

Washington–U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chairs of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, have introduced legislation to help combat the international drug trade.  The Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2011 would provide the Justice Department with new tools to prosecute drug traffickers from foreign countries.

"We cannot sit idly by as transnational criminal organizations find new ways to circumvent our laws," said Senator Feinstein.  "This bill will allow U.S. prosecutors to stay one step ahead of drug trafficking organizations."

"Drug cartels are continually evolving, and this legislation ensures that our criminal laws keep pace," said Senator Grassley.  "This legislation closes a loophole abused by drug traffickers that intend for drugs to end up in the United States but supply them through an intermediary."

The Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2011, S. 1612, has three main components:

• Establishes penalties for drug trafficking activity when individuals have reasonable cause to believe that illegal drugs will be trafficked into the United States;

• Ensures current penalties apply to chemical producers from other countries (including producers of pseudoephedrine used for methamphetamine) that illegally ship precursor chemicals into the U.S. knowing these chemicals will be used to make illegal drugs.

• Ensures that members of any conspiracy to distribute controlled substances will be subject to U.S. jurisdiction when at least one member of the conspiracy intends or knows that illegal drugs will be unlawfully imported into the U.S.

This bill supports the Obama Administration`s recently released Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

 

###
03 Oct 2011

Governor Quinn Announces Japanese Manufacturer Investing $35 Million to Expand Illinois Facility

By Katelyn Tye

Continues Business and Economic Trade Mission throughout Asia

SPRINGFIELD - September 26, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Japanese manufacturer Sakae Riken Kogyo Co. is investing $35 million to expand its Peru facility and create 25 new Illinois jobs. Today's announcement is one of several business and economic partnerships the Governor has announced during his trade mission throughout Asia, and builds upon his aggressive goal of doubling exports by 2014.

"The relationships we're building as a result of our outreach in the Asia market will help Illinois maintain its global standing and create jobs for us at home." Governor Quinn said. "This project is another example of a strong Japanese company making the decision to locate or expand its domestic operations in Illinois where a company can not only thrive but build for the future."

Sakae Riken Kogyo Co, which is operating under the name of Eakas Corporation, will expand its existing facility in Peru from 257,000 square feet to 537,000 square feet in order to support its next generation of manufacturing. Eakas Corporation produces plastic parts and other decorative trims for the automotive industry. Completion of the new plating line will make Eakas the only manufacturer in North America to provide color molding, paint, hydrographics™ and chrome decorative finish components under one roof.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is providing a $675,000 Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) Flex Grant to the village of Peru to assist with local infrastructure improvements in support of the facility. Illinois' CDAP program - known nationally as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program - supplies federal funding for community-based projects. Communities with populations of 50,000 or less can apply for CDAP-Flexible Opportunity grant funding to support a variety of projects that provide significant community benefits but fall outside of other CDAP program parameters.

"The Peru facility will provide a much greater global presence for Eakas Corporation, with farther reaching global expansion slated in the future for Sakae  Riken," said Tom Mori, president, Eakas Corporation. "The long-term, outstanding effort by the current and past Eakas employees has allowed Eakas to enjoy the reputation of being an outstanding supplier of decorative parts in the automotive industry and is the primary reason why we are expanding in Illinois. This project wouldn't have been possible without the outstanding efforts of Governor Quinn, the state of Illinois and the city of Peru."

"We live in an increasingly global society and our global partnerships will be key to our long-term economic growth," said DCEO Director Warren Ribley. "Through our aggressive set of business programs, we're able to help businesses of all kinds grow and prosper."

The state of Illinois is also providing Eakas with a $50,000 grant through the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program. DCEO is administering a $334,250 business investment package consisting of tax credits spread out over a 10 year period to support job creation, and a job training grant to help the company's workforce remain on the cutting edge. The company is also eligible to receive local benefits from being located in an Enterprise Zone. The city is providing enhanced infrastructure capabilities including waste water treatment and electrical capacity.

"I would like to thank everyone from the city of Peru that participated in helping bring this $35 million expansion effort to Peru, our partners at the state of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Eakas Corporation for their confidence in the city of Peru," said Scott J. Harl, Mayor of Peru.

While in Japan, Governor Quinn is attending the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association's annual meeting and talking with a number of Japan-based companies that have a presence in Illinois.

For updates on Governor Quinn's trip, visit www.Illinois.gov or follow him on Twitter at @GovernorQuinn. More information about Illinois trade and business opportunities can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's website at www.illinoisbiz.biz.

 

 

###

03 Oct 2011

Davenport Parks and Recreation - Ward 4 Meeting Update

By Kenneth Asta
Please note that the Davenport Parks and Recreation Ward 4 meeting held on Tuesday, October 4th has been moved to the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre (2nd Floor Lecture Hall) located at 1717 W. 12th St.  Meeting time will remain the same time from 6pm-8pm.
03 Oct 2011

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST OPENS FOR 2011-2012

By Rachel Gillespie

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST OPENS FOR 2011-2012

BEING AN AMERICAN ESSAY CONTEST FOCUSES ON CONSTITUTION

Students and Their Teachers Compete for Cash Prizes Up to $1,000

Arlington, VA - U.S. high school students and their teachers are invited to participate in the Bill of Rights Institute's sixth annual Being an American Essay Contest.

The largest contest of its kind in the country, the Being an American Essay Contest explores the Founding principles outlined in the Constitution. The contest is administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a non-profit educational organization in the Washington, D.C. area devoted to educating young people about the Constitution and Founding principles. The 2011-2012 contest is sponsored by the History Channel.

"This contest is unique in that it gives students the opportunity to think about the important Founding principles communicated in our Constitution," said Dr. Jason Ross, Bill of Rights Institute Vice President of Education Programs. "This context is vital to helping students see their Founding principles as a meaningful part of the American experiment of self-government."

Specifically, students are asked to share their thoughts on the Constitution by answering the following question: "How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?"

The top three student winners from each of the five geographical regions will be awarded cash prizes of $1,000 (First Place), $500 (Second Place), and $250 (Third Place). Teacher sponsors for each student winner will also receive a cash prize of $100.

"The contest not only honors and awards sponsoring teachers, but also equips them with free lesson plans and other supplemental materials that meet state and national academic standards so they can easily incorporate the essay contest into their classrooms. The Contest is really a tribute to the excellent work teachers do in the important task of civic education," said Ross.

Over 80,000 students have participated in the essay contest since it began in 2006.

"We are pleased to support the Bill of Rights Institute's Being an American Essay Contest," said Dr. Libby O'Connell, SVP, Corporate Outreach and Chief Historian, History Channel. "The contest encourages students to think critically and truly makes the past relevant in their lives today."

Complete contest details can be found below.  Further information, including submission criteria, lesson plans and background information on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Founders and the Founding principles are available at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Contest.

 

MEDIA FAST FACTS:

BEING AN AMERICAN ESSAY CONTEST

2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR PARTICIPATING REGIONS:

North Eastern Region:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

Southern Region:
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia as well as Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands

Mid-Western Region:
Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin

Central Region:
Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming

Western Region:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington as well as Guam, American Samoa, and American Armed Forces Schools Abroad (APO)

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: Bill of Rights Institute, Arlington, VA.

The Bill of Rights Institute, founded in 1999, is a nonprofit educational organization. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.

FUNDING PROVIDED BY: History Channel (New York City, NY).

CONTEST GOAL: To help promote dialogue among students and teachers about American Founding principles. The Essay Contest serves as a key part of the Bill of Rights Institute's mission to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.

ESSAY QUESTION: "How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?"

ELIGIBILITY: Students in grades 9-12 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and are either attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, being home-schooled, or participating in a GED or correspondence school program but are no older than 19 years of age.  Military bases and U.S. territories are also invited to participate.

ESSAY LENGTH: No more 1,000 words.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

  • Adherence to Essay Question
  • Originality
  • Organization
  • Writing Style
  • Depth of Analysis

JUDGES: High school teachers

STUDENT CASH PRIZES: Three cash prizes per region will be awarded to students:

  • First Prize: $1,000 each
  • Second Prize: $500 each
  • Third Prize: $250 each

TEACHER CASH PRIZES: Cash prizes of $100 will be awarded to the teachers of all winning students:

CONTEST START DATE: September 17, 2011

DEADLINE FOR ESSAY SUBMISSIONS: December 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. All essays must be submitted at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Submit.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: February 2012

WEB SITE AND CONTEST GUIDELINES: www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/Contest

03 Oct 2011

Senate Designates October as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month"

By Rick Martin

Senate Designates October as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" 

 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate today adopted a resolution designating the month of October 2011 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" to raise attention to the problem of prescription medicine abuse, especially by teen-agers.  Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa co-sponsored the resolution as co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee. 

 

"Prescription drugs are so common that a number of teen-agers use other people's drugs, thinking they're safe," Grassley said.  "This can be dangerous and lead to serious injury.  Parents should educate themselves and their teen-agers about the potential for abuse before it's too late."

 

The text of the bipartisan resolution follows here.

 

S.RES.261 

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'. (Introduced in Senate - IS)

SRES 261 IS

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 261

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 13, 2011

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

RESOLUTION

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'.

Whereas over-the-counter and prescription medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been determined to be safe and effective when used properly;

Whereas the abuse of such medicines can be extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects;

Whereas according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has risen, with 2.5 percent of the population engaging in nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2008 and 2.8 percent of the population engaging in such use in 2009;

Whereas the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health illustrates that the abuse of prescription medications such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives is second only to marijuana, the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States;

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by the National Institutes of Health, indicates that approximately 5 percent of teenagers in the United States report having abused an over-the-counter cough medicine to get high, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs account for 8 of the 14 most frequently abused drugs by students in grade 12;

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey also indicates that the intentional abuse of cough medicine among students in grades 8, 10, and 12 is at 3.2 percent, 5.1 percent, and 6.6 percent, respectively;

Whereas according to research from The Partnership at DrugFree.org, more than one-third of teenagers mistakenly believe that taking prescription drugs, even if not prescribed by a doctor, is much safer than using street drugs;

Whereas the lack of understanding by teenagers and parents of the potential harm of such powerful medicines makes it more critical than ever to raise public awareness about the dangers of the abuse of such drugs;

Whereas when prescription drugs are abused, such drugs are most often obtained through friends and relatives;

Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives teenagers access to websites that promote the abuse of medicines;

Whereas the designation of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' promotes the message that over-the-counter and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled or prescribed, and such medicines can have serious or life-threatening consequences when used to get high or in large doses;

Whereas the designation of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' will encourage parents to educate themselves about the problem of abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, and talk to their teens about all types of substance abuse;

Whereas observance of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' should be encouraged at the national, State, and local levels to increase awareness of the abuse of medicines;

Whereas educational tools, training programs, and strategies have been developed by the national organization that represents 5,000 anti-drug coalitions nationwide and the association representing makers of over-the-counter medicines, in order to help local coalitions demonstrate the best ways to engage and educate parents and grandparents, teachers, law enforcement officials, doctors, other healthcare professionals, and retailers about the potential harms of cough medicine abuse;

Whereas a partnership of nonprofit associations specializing in raising media awareness about substance abuse and organizations that represent the leading makers of over-the-counter drugs have developed a nationwide prevention campaign that utilizes research-based educational advertisements, public relations and news media, and the Internet to inform parents about the negative teen behavior of intentional abuse of medicines, in order to empower parents to effectively communicate with their children about this dangerous trend and to take necessary steps to safeguard prescription and over-the-counter medicines in their homes; and

Whereas educating the public on the dangers of medicine abuse and promoting prevention of medicine abuse are critical components of what must be a multi-pronged effort to curb prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'; and

(2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and activities to educate parents and youth about the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse.

03 Oct 2011

Q&A: Oversight of the SEC

By Grassley Press

Q&A on the Securities and Exchange Commission

with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:        What's the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission?

A:        The SEC was created during the Great Depression, in the wake of the stock market crash of 1929, when the public's faith in capital markets needed to be restored.  The agency is supposed to strengthen investor confidence by providing transparent, reliable information and rules for fair, orderly and efficient markets.  This should help facilitate the capital formation necessary for economic growth and job creation.  When the agency fails to meet its mission, the negative repercussions can impact anyone with investments monitored by the SEC, including investments in pension and other retirement funds.

Q:        How did you get involved in oversight of the SEC?

A:        I'm committed to the work of congressional oversight, and there's a great need for it with the SEC.  Four years ago, based on information from a whistleblower and the work of my investigative staff, I spelled out in a comprehensive report (with then-Senator Arlen Specter) how the SEC Inspector General failed to investigate credible allegations by a former SEC attorney that his supervisor pulled punches in an investigation because of one Wall Street witness' political clout.  The report hit a nerve and, ultimately, the SEC attorney who blew the whistle was vindicated.  Last year, the SEC finally obtained a $28 million settlement from the capital management company in question and paid the attorney years of back pay in a settlement related to his termination.

Adding to that, last March, a new Inspector General of the SEC issued a stinging rebuke of an agency program created more than 20 years ago to help target insider trading and securities fraud by rewarding agency employees who spoke up and shared valuable information.  Last summer, knowing that the SEC missed the biggest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history in the Bernard Madoff case, a colossal mishap that might have been avoided if the SEC had paid attention to whistleblower information, Congress passed legislation I authored to dramatically beef up a whistleblower office inside the SEC.  I'm still working to make sure that office is strengthened as the law calls for, and not weakened by institutional ego.  Every source of information is needed to combat financial fraud.  Both investors and taxpayers are exposed by wrongdoing.  I want to see the SEC embrace whistleblowers because they can help with the mission.  Whistleblowers could help stop another Madoff.

Q:        How can the public have confidence that the SEC isn't too close to the industry it oversees, especially the big players?

A:        A revolving door between agency staff and the investment firms and banks they oversee has led to concerns of coziness and the soft-pedaling of potential criminal cases.  Last year, the SEC Inspector General identified cases where the revolving door appeared to be a factor in staving off enforcement actions and other types of oversight, including cases involving Bear Stearns and the Stanford Ponzi scheme.  I offered an amendment to the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial services reform bill to extend the cooling-off period at financial agencies to two years and to require a list of former agency employees who are representing clients before their former agencies.  Unfortunately, my amendment was blocked by the bill sponsors.  These reforms plus better record-keeping by the SEC are needed to help maintain the regulator's integrity and preserve the public trust in a balanced playing field.

This year, I'm working to make sure the SEC is held accountable for what it does with referrals of suspicious trading activity from one of the biggest and most powerful hedge funds.  How the SEC handled specific referrals will shed light on how the enforcement system works.

I also highlighted the big divide between the stated policy of the SEC and its actual practice of providing information to the securities industry about the criminal law enforcement intentions of the Department of Justice.  The SEC enforcement manual, which was revised after the 2007 Grassley-Specter report, is undermined if the SEC relays to potential targets of investigation exactly what the Justice Department has in store for them.

Separately, I've helped to shed light on the actions of the SEC's former General Counsel David Becker.  After missing the Madoff scam, the top leadership of the SEC let one of its own who profited from a Madoff account craft the commission's position on how to treat Madoff victims.  The agency let this major conflict of interest slide and then tried to cover it up.  After a comprehensive report, the Inspector General has referred Mr. Becker's case to the Justice Department, but the SEC's ethical standards need to be stronger, consistent and uniformly applied from the executive suite to the rank-and-file employees.

 

Q:        Where else have you scrutinized what's going on inside the SEC?

A:        This year, an enforcement lawyer at the agency wrote to me and outlined what he said was the agency's destruction of least 9,000 files between 1993 and 2010, all related to initial inquiries into possible wrongdoing on Wall Street.  The lawyer said these files were destroyed as a routine matter of internal SEC policy, but that the shredding might have compromised enforcement cases against Madoff, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, and the SAC Capital hedge fund.  I pressed for a full accounting.  In response, the National Archives said the SEC "did not have the authority to dispose of" the records in question under federal law.  And, the SEC directed staff to stop destroying preliminary investigative documents until further notice.  Keeping records is common sense in law enforcement.  You never know what might be valuable information.  Complete records also may help keep the agency honest and inoculate against compromised ethics and biases.

The promises of financial system reform will be empty if the top enforcement agency for free and fair markets is ineffective.  I will continue to work for accountability and necessary reforms of the SEC.

 

Friday, September 23, 2011

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar