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Recent Connecticut Blogs
September 10, 2009 - 02:20 PM
Announcing a new Meetup for The Connecticut 9.12 ers!
by Rosa Fini, M.D. - Connecticut Coordinator
What: Tea Party Express comes to Bridgeport
When: September 11, 2009 1:30 PM
Where: (A location has not been chosen yet.)
the tea party express bus is coming to BPT :
NOTE: join us for this mega-rally in Bridgeport, CT this Friday!
ANN COULTER TO JOIN TEA PARTY EXPRESS
Conservative author and pundit, Ann Coulter, has confirmed her participation at the Tea Party Express rally in Bridgeport, CT this Friday, September 11,2009 at 1:30pm. The rally will be held at Baldwin Plaza (behind the courthouse) located at 1061 Main Street in Bridgeport, CT.
More details on the Bridgeport Tea Party Express rally can be found online -HERE.
Let's be sure to have an extra-large crowd on hand, so that the media can
see that the momentum for the Tea Party Express continues to grow.
Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/Hamden-Stamford-Glenn-Beck-Meetup-at-SBC/calendar/11338050/
When: September 11, 2009 1:30 PM
Where: (A location has not been chosen yet.)
the tea party express bus is coming to BPT :
NOTE: join us for this mega-rally in Bridgeport, CT this Friday!
ANN COULTER TO JOIN TEA PARTY EXPRESS
Conservative author and pundit, Ann Coulter, has confirmed her participation at the Tea Party Express rally in Bridgeport, CT this Friday, September 11,2009 at 1:30pm. The rally will be held at Baldwin Plaza (behind the courthouse) located at 1061 Main Street in Bridgeport, CT.
More details on the Bridgeport Tea Party Express rally can be found online -HERE.
Let's be sure to have an extra-large crowd on hand, so that the media can
see that the momentum for the Tea Party Express continues to grow.
Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/Hamden-Stamford-Glenn-Beck-Meetup-at-SBC/calendar/11338050/
Comment (0 Comments)
September 09, 2009 - 06:06 PM
A Doctor's Perspective on Health Care Reform
by Rosa Fini, M.D. - Connecticut Coordinator
Our health system honors the patient; it's in our oath: first do no harm. However, HR 3200 would do great harm to many, and it must not allowed to be passed.
Contained in this bill is disturbing language which drastically alters the doctor-patient relationship, breaks confidentiality, creates conflict of interest between doctors patients' health needs (where doctors are actually rewarded for under-treatment and care rationing), re-writes standards of care as based on pre-designated performance criteria (based on what--Improvement of health or money expenditures?). The government would erode innovation by enacting mandates on drugs (controlling what drugs are available), it would become involved in population control by setting mandates for family planning services, even setting time frames for couples to have children, it is specific in its direction to "restrict enrollment of special needs plans." The government shields itself from monopoly lawsuits, severely penalizes via taxation those businesses and individuals opting to not enroll, sets up a mechanism for auto enrollment when switching plans, ensures care to all aliens, and exempts taxation of these same aliens. There is even language in here that the government will use "groups" to inform and
educate the public.
Most disturbing is the non-language. There is the creation of Health Benefits Advisory Committee, which will develop recommendations (ALL recommendations) to give to the DHHS Secretary, who would review them and decide what gets adopted. The committee consists of the Surgeon General, 9 non-federal and 8 (maximum) federal members appointed by the President, and 9 members appointed by the Comptroller General. Clearly, what gets covered is determined by who gets appointed. Where does this lead us? Certainly away from patient-centered medical care, and in the area of abortion, this is nothing short of political trickery--the sord abortion is not mentioned, but the reality of funding is very real.
This legislation is an insult to the American public. I'd love to know who actually penned it.
**
Could it be someone like Dr. Ezekial Emmanuel who advises the President on health matters? He has raised the possibility of a "complete lives" system which advocates for rationed care, and made a career of examining why the doctor-patient relationship should be altered, why the good of the collective should be prioritized over the individual, Indeed, this advisor believes that the very best part of the Hippocratic oath should be null and void , so doctors would not be beholden to the individual patient.
Others advising President Obama are John Holdren, who claims that children aren't human beings until they are 2 years old. Another is Cass Sunstein, who advocates assessing quality of life based on QALY, a statistical analysis of whether a person's life is worth the cost of care.
THIS PATH IS UNACCEPTABLE--and it doesn't have to be!
We must do everything possible to maintain a patient-centered health system. At its best, our health system is the best. In innovations in tech, pharma, medical research, and accessibility of care we are the best in the world, which is why our survival rates for severe diseases such as cancer are way
above other countries.
We do have dysfunctions in our system. We spend too little on preventative care, too many of the working poor can't afford care, which reflects in our survival rates, as seen by the statistics in the recent OECD report comparing countries' health systems. We have a high infant mortality rate, but here the data is skewed b/c the USA counts preemies as live births and other countries do not. We are also a bit schizophrenic as a nation in our approach to birth. On delivery wards nationwide, we are delivering premature babies in one room, and then aborting the same-aged (or OLDER) baby next door. This is a shameful reflection on this society, very poor prevention practices.
McKinsey and Company did a great analysis of how we spend our health dollars and offer an innovative way of looking at health care from. It took dollar expenditures and re-worked the information from an outlay model (MD, hospitals, drugs, home health, etc) to the perspective o out-of pocket and insurance payments of seven broad categories of diagnosis. If people paid for elective and preventive/routine care with some insurance supplementation, significant insurance dollars would be re-routed to chronic care care, end-of-life, & catastrophic care, the system automatically saves $3B
Our Federal government, always short-sighted, has allowed the national entitlements to become overwhelming. It can't handle Medicare, or Medicaid, or Soc Sec, or the interest on the National debt. It couldn't implement the clunkers program appropriately, last month it took out 35M from Medicare's
compassionate home care-Congress cut out the singular mechanism of savings in Medicare*--and* it sent stimulus checks to prison inmates.
* It cannot be allowed to administer 1/6 of our economy: health care. And certainly never to the tune of $9T or more in government debt spending!*
Clearly our government has a load of challenges-I'd say its OVERWHELMED by challenges!!-- and *we don't need a government public option health plan to hyper-speed our economy into oblivion!*
What we do need is:
1. Freedom of insurance portability
2. Freedom from restricting preconditions
3. Real choice, with real market competition at the state level, maybe with Health Insurance Exchanges, kind of like what you and your family enjoy from Congress right now
4. Reforms in tort and antitrust laws, so doctors have the freedom from practicing defensive medicine and freedom to build efficiencies among groups.
5. Address fraud and corruption in the system: get accountability in government for medicare and in communities for gaming the system
6. EMPOWER THE PATIENT-incentivize healthy choices for patients and help us doctors to nudge patients to embrace healthy living.
What we need STAT is an injection of common-sense into this discussion.
Have our representatives not seen that ALL the polls show the same result? Gallop, CNN, NPR, NYT, Rassmussen, CBS, WSJ, EVEN NBC!, and, presumably FOX, show that the majority of Americans do Not support a public option.
Passing HR 3200, or any bill with the public option or a pseudo-public option, would grievously ignore the will of the people.
The biggest crisis in this country is a government which ignores the people, undermines our freedoms, and puts our capitalist economy at risk.
My parents came from Italy, poorer than poor-they had never seen indoor plumbing or a toilet until they arrived on our shores after WWII. They put me and my siblings through college, and me through medical school. I am living proof that our country has many great gifts to offer.
Twenty-one years ago I took an oath to first do not harm-and ever since then it has been a part of who I am.
Our representatives took an oath just a few short months ago to preserve our freedom and uphold our Constitution. We will shortly see whether this defines them. Or will they prove to be puppets of partisan politics?
A Special Message From Mike Huckabee:
Contained in this bill is disturbing language which drastically alters the doctor-patient relationship, breaks confidentiality, creates conflict of interest between doctors patients' health needs (where doctors are actually rewarded for under-treatment and care rationing), re-writes standards of care as based on pre-designated performance criteria (based on what--Improvement of health or money expenditures?). The government would erode innovation by enacting mandates on drugs (controlling what drugs are available), it would become involved in population control by setting mandates for family planning services, even setting time frames for couples to have children, it is specific in its direction to "restrict enrollment of special needs plans." The government shields itself from monopoly lawsuits, severely penalizes via taxation those businesses and individuals opting to not enroll, sets up a mechanism for auto enrollment when switching plans, ensures care to all aliens, and exempts taxation of these same aliens. There is even language in here that the government will use "groups" to inform and
educate the public.
Most disturbing is the non-language. There is the creation of Health Benefits Advisory Committee, which will develop recommendations (ALL recommendations) to give to the DHHS Secretary, who would review them and decide what gets adopted. The committee consists of the Surgeon General, 9 non-federal and 8 (maximum) federal members appointed by the President, and 9 members appointed by the Comptroller General. Clearly, what gets covered is determined by who gets appointed. Where does this lead us? Certainly away from patient-centered medical care, and in the area of abortion, this is nothing short of political trickery--the sord abortion is not mentioned, but the reality of funding is very real.
This legislation is an insult to the American public. I'd love to know who actually penned it.
**
Could it be someone like Dr. Ezekial Emmanuel who advises the President on health matters? He has raised the possibility of a "complete lives" system which advocates for rationed care, and made a career of examining why the doctor-patient relationship should be altered, why the good of the collective should be prioritized over the individual, Indeed, this advisor believes that the very best part of the Hippocratic oath should be null and void , so doctors would not be beholden to the individual patient.
Others advising President Obama are John Holdren, who claims that children aren't human beings until they are 2 years old. Another is Cass Sunstein, who advocates assessing quality of life based on QALY, a statistical analysis of whether a person's life is worth the cost of care.
THIS PATH IS UNACCEPTABLE--and it doesn't have to be!
We must do everything possible to maintain a patient-centered health system. At its best, our health system is the best. In innovations in tech, pharma, medical research, and accessibility of care we are the best in the world, which is why our survival rates for severe diseases such as cancer are way
above other countries.
We do have dysfunctions in our system. We spend too little on preventative care, too many of the working poor can't afford care, which reflects in our survival rates, as seen by the statistics in the recent OECD report comparing countries' health systems. We have a high infant mortality rate, but here the data is skewed b/c the USA counts preemies as live births and other countries do not. We are also a bit schizophrenic as a nation in our approach to birth. On delivery wards nationwide, we are delivering premature babies in one room, and then aborting the same-aged (or OLDER) baby next door. This is a shameful reflection on this society, very poor prevention practices.
McKinsey and Company did a great analysis of how we spend our health dollars and offer an innovative way of looking at health care from. It took dollar expenditures and re-worked the information from an outlay model (MD, hospitals, drugs, home health, etc) to the perspective o out-of pocket and insurance payments of seven broad categories of diagnosis. If people paid for elective and preventive/routine care with some insurance supplementation, significant insurance dollars would be re-routed to chronic care care, end-of-life, & catastrophic care, the system automatically saves $3B
Our Federal government, always short-sighted, has allowed the national entitlements to become overwhelming. It can't handle Medicare, or Medicaid, or Soc Sec, or the interest on the National debt. It couldn't implement the clunkers program appropriately, last month it took out 35M from Medicare's
compassionate home care-Congress cut out the singular mechanism of savings in Medicare*--and* it sent stimulus checks to prison inmates.
* It cannot be allowed to administer 1/6 of our economy: health care. And certainly never to the tune of $9T or more in government debt spending!*
Clearly our government has a load of challenges-I'd say its OVERWHELMED by challenges!!-- and *we don't need a government public option health plan to hyper-speed our economy into oblivion!*
What we do need is:
1. Freedom of insurance portability
2. Freedom from restricting preconditions
3. Real choice, with real market competition at the state level, maybe with Health Insurance Exchanges, kind of like what you and your family enjoy from Congress right now
4. Reforms in tort and antitrust laws, so doctors have the freedom from practicing defensive medicine and freedom to build efficiencies among groups.
5. Address fraud and corruption in the system: get accountability in government for medicare and in communities for gaming the system
6. EMPOWER THE PATIENT-incentivize healthy choices for patients and help us doctors to nudge patients to embrace healthy living.
What we need STAT is an injection of common-sense into this discussion.
Have our representatives not seen that ALL the polls show the same result? Gallop, CNN, NPR, NYT, Rassmussen, CBS, WSJ, EVEN NBC!, and, presumably FOX, show that the majority of Americans do Not support a public option.
Passing HR 3200, or any bill with the public option or a pseudo-public option, would grievously ignore the will of the people.
The biggest crisis in this country is a government which ignores the people, undermines our freedoms, and puts our capitalist economy at risk.
My parents came from Italy, poorer than poor-they had never seen indoor plumbing or a toilet until they arrived on our shores after WWII. They put me and my siblings through college, and me through medical school. I am living proof that our country has many great gifts to offer.
Twenty-one years ago I took an oath to first do not harm-and ever since then it has been a part of who I am.
Our representatives took an oath just a few short months ago to preserve our freedom and uphold our Constitution. We will shortly see whether this defines them. Or will they prove to be puppets of partisan politics?
A Special Message From Mike Huckabee:
If you haven't already, I encourage you to visit www.huckpac.com and learn more about this organization and it's efforts to support conservative candidates.
If you are interested in helping me support conservatives nationwide, this is a way to help immediately:
First let me explain where Huck PAC stands on Obama-care.
Huck PAC will not endorse any Republican candidate that votes for the government takeover of health care. And if we have endorsed your campaign, and you vote for this monstrosity of a bill, we will revoke your endorsement immediately.
As Chairman of Huck PAC, I ask that you endorse Huck PAC’s stand with a contribution of $25 or more today. In fact, we are setting a goal of 1,000 donors by noon on September 17th. Reaching this goal will give us the dollars we need to support fiscally responsible candidates who are willing to fight back against the government takeover of health care. I am proud to report that 273 people have already made this commitment since noon yesterday.
Make a contribution today and show the candidates seeking Huck PAC’s endorsement that we are committed to conservative principles and they must be also.
With gratitude,
Mike Huckabee
July 30, 2009 - 10:25 AM
Health Care From A Doctor's Perspective
by Rosa Fini, M.D. - Connecticut Coordinator
Beginning several decades ago, our medical practitioners changed the practice of medicine from a palliative "comfort" model to interventional curative medical care. This was accomplished through the combined advances in research, technology, and pharmaceuticals. Because of these advances, our medical system can easily be considered one of the best in the world.
That doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement. The health care industry is about 16% of our GNP-- it is expensive. But it is also readily available--no one ever gets refused medical care. Physicians, hospitals, clinics will all give care to the best of their ability--without regard to their own compensation or the patient's legality of residency. Unpaid statements are generally written off by the practitioners and hospitals, rarely getting any acknowledgement from the public. Neither does the massive personal debt that an individual takes on in order to become trained as a physician. Yet, medical liability is generally viewed with compassion for the patient, rarely discussed as frivolous, or as a convenient cash cow. All this drives the cost of health care upwards.
Additionally, as a nation we have sections of our population that do indeed strive for health maintenance. But our health care system delivers services to cure disease with certain specialties--pediatrics, OB/GYN, sports medicine-- having a strong basis of preventative medical care. The rest is up to the patient. Poor habits and unhealthy lifestyles may lend a certain independence to one's aura, but it sure is a conundrum of sorts!
Our health care delivery is complex, and the need for cost containment is apparent. But, it should not deter medical advances in technology and pharmaceuticals, and cannot be accomplished without some attention to tort reform. And certainly, the public should be able to look at the inefficient agencies that are currently at work via Medicare, Medicaid, and the Massachusetts health care system, to know that government programs bread inefficiency and corruption. The last thing our country needs is to get more government agencies so that more decisions about health become politicized. We need only to look at other countries efforts to know that such systems become beacons for lobbying groups which are not interested in the public's health!
It seems to me that emphasizing the positive choices individuals can make--instead of searching for innovative taxation schemes--and getting back to "doing what's right" would go a big way in stemming spiraling health care costs.
That doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement. The health care industry is about 16% of our GNP-- it is expensive. But it is also readily available--no one ever gets refused medical care. Physicians, hospitals, clinics will all give care to the best of their ability--without regard to their own compensation or the patient's legality of residency. Unpaid statements are generally written off by the practitioners and hospitals, rarely getting any acknowledgement from the public. Neither does the massive personal debt that an individual takes on in order to become trained as a physician. Yet, medical liability is generally viewed with compassion for the patient, rarely discussed as frivolous, or as a convenient cash cow. All this drives the cost of health care upwards.
Additionally, as a nation we have sections of our population that do indeed strive for health maintenance. But our health care system delivers services to cure disease with certain specialties--pediatrics, OB/GYN, sports medicine-- having a strong basis of preventative medical care. The rest is up to the patient. Poor habits and unhealthy lifestyles may lend a certain independence to one's aura, but it sure is a conundrum of sorts!
Our health care delivery is complex, and the need for cost containment is apparent. But, it should not deter medical advances in technology and pharmaceuticals, and cannot be accomplished without some attention to tort reform. And certainly, the public should be able to look at the inefficient agencies that are currently at work via Medicare, Medicaid, and the Massachusetts health care system, to know that government programs bread inefficiency and corruption. The last thing our country needs is to get more government agencies so that more decisions about health become politicized. We need only to look at other countries efforts to know that such systems become beacons for lobbying groups which are not interested in the public's health!
It seems to me that emphasizing the positive choices individuals can make--instead of searching for innovative taxation schemes--and getting back to "doing what's right" would go a big way in stemming spiraling health care costs.
The sky is falling or at least Washington seems to think so. And because they do, get ready for new taxes, new spending and new regulations. The nanny state is alive and well and if you don't listen and do what Washington tells you to do, you might just get hit on the head. So watch out this morning when you leave your front door, because you never know what might hit you
On August 22nd Huck PAC supporters will gather to meet one another and make phone calls on behalf of Huck PAC endorsed candidate Bob McDonnell. Bob is running for Governor of Virginia. He has what it takes to be a great leader for Virginia.
Our goal for the day is to make 10,000 calls to Virginia voters. We are asking participants at each House Party to make a few calls using their cell phones. You do not have to make calls to attend a Party and participation is FREE. We will provide the lists of voters names and phone scripts for everyone willing to participate.
First though, we need House Party hosts. If you are interested in hosting a House Party or want more information please contact Katie Beth Harris at Huck PAC or call Huck PAC at 501-324-2008. Her email is katiebeth.harris(at)mikehuckabee.com.
As we identify House Party Hosts we will add their party information to the map below.
View August Huck PAC House Parties - Aug. 22nd in a larger map
D - Day
D-Day ~ June 6 ~ 65 Years Ago Today
Sixty-five years ago today our brave soldiers began the march of liberation across Europe that would bring the fall of the Third Reich and give freedom to millions. D-Day, a massive invasion force that would breach the German defenses along the French coast and begin the march to total victory over the next fourteen months. 400.000 were to give their lives in battle after battle across Europe and the Pacific. Once the victory, the only ground we asked for was a place to bury our war dead.
Movies such as Normandy, Saving Private Ryan, Midway, and Band of Brothers depict the amazing bravery, courage, and resolve of our Armed Forces throughout this time. There is no true way to tell of the heroism and sacrifices of our troops, one must see it to understand.
D - Day
The American forces who landed numbered 73,000:
The breakdown of United States casualties:
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Links For D-Day Information:
April 29, 2009 - 07:13 PM
Defending The Constitution in Connecticut
by Rosa Fini- Connecticut Coordinator
Across our great nation, our Constitution has been increasingly attacked by special interest groups interested only in serving their particular needs.
This has been particularly evident in Connecticut, where our religious liberties have been attacked twice in two months, and the basis for a healthy society--traditional marriage--has been usurped.
However, thanks to a great mobilization of grassroots conservative citizens and clergy, at least some of the damage has been mitigated if not
outrightly thwarted.
The unconstitutional Church re-organization bill, Bill# 1098, was withdrawn last month. Thousands of emails and letters swamped the newspapers in less than three days' time, and impressed the Judiciary Committee to withdraw the bill from the floor vote. Yet more than 3000 people still mobilized to our state capitol of Hartford in a great show of grassroots strength.
Most recently, Bill# 899 was intended to implement the CT Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. As originally written, this bill
provided no real protection for the rights of religious organizations. Once again, thanks to an outpouring of letters, emails, and calls from concerned
citizens and clergy, the bill was amended to provide exemption for churches and affiliated organizations, such as use of facilities, adoption services,
and foster care.
Other bills pertaining to assisted suicide have died in committee. All this shows how important and valuable it is when we unite in voicing our concerns.
Our Founding Fathers put together an extremely well thought out set of standards which we are so fortunate to have as the basis of our laws. It is
most important that we, the people, maintain these laws and guard against the erosion of our society.
Rosa Fini
Connecticut Coordinator
This has been particularly evident in Connecticut, where our religious liberties have been attacked twice in two months, and the basis for a healthy society--traditional marriage--has been usurped.
However, thanks to a great mobilization of grassroots conservative citizens and clergy, at least some of the damage has been mitigated if not
outrightly thwarted.
The unconstitutional Church re-organization bill, Bill# 1098, was withdrawn last month. Thousands of emails and letters swamped the newspapers in less than three days' time, and impressed the Judiciary Committee to withdraw the bill from the floor vote. Yet more than 3000 people still mobilized to our state capitol of Hartford in a great show of grassroots strength.
Most recently, Bill# 899 was intended to implement the CT Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. As originally written, this bill
provided no real protection for the rights of religious organizations. Once again, thanks to an outpouring of letters, emails, and calls from concerned
citizens and clergy, the bill was amended to provide exemption for churches and affiliated organizations, such as use of facilities, adoption services,
and foster care.
Other bills pertaining to assisted suicide have died in committee. All this shows how important and valuable it is when we unite in voicing our concerns.
Our Founding Fathers put together an extremely well thought out set of standards which we are so fortunate to have as the basis of our laws. It is
most important that we, the people, maintain these laws and guard against the erosion of our society.
Rosa Fini
Connecticut Coordinator
April 29, 2009 - 06:08 PM
Like Minded Individuals Coming Together
by Rosa Fini- Connecticut Coordinator
If there is anyone who can appreciate that life can get busy, it is me! My husband of 18 years and I have 4 children, ranging in ages 17-8years. This means that our oldest is preparing for the college applications process, two other are busy with after-school "fun" (read: mom as chauffeur!), and our youngest is negotiating play dates. Our youngest also has Down syndrome and diabetes, which have become a quiet backdrop to our lives, but does places a further twist on our scheme of things.
Because of necessary advocating for my youngest child in the school system, I became involved in the town government as a district RTM representative. I am by training a pediatrician, although since moving to Greenwich from Trumball, I have not been in practice. Having paid a hefty malpractice "tail" (which is insurance against any potential future lawsuits since pediatric patients have 18 years to grow up!), I decided to enjoy the free time between jobs. When our youngest was born, it was necessary to put off going back to work and now I feel a different calling!
The issues we are currently seeing in our government have me on very "high alert," and this prompted me to get involved in Huck PAC. I see Huck PAC as a means for like-minded individuals to band together across state lines, and impact the elections of conservatives nationwide.
Why is this important you may ask? Because every conservative vote at the Federal level adds power to the overall policies enacted which influence our entire country. Alone my voice wouldn't add up to much. But added together with others, we cannot be ignored!
Rosa Fini
Connecticut Coordinator
Because of necessary advocating for my youngest child in the school system, I became involved in the town government as a district RTM representative. I am by training a pediatrician, although since moving to Greenwich from Trumball, I have not been in practice. Having paid a hefty malpractice "tail" (which is insurance against any potential future lawsuits since pediatric patients have 18 years to grow up!), I decided to enjoy the free time between jobs. When our youngest was born, it was necessary to put off going back to work and now I feel a different calling!
The issues we are currently seeing in our government have me on very "high alert," and this prompted me to get involved in Huck PAC. I see Huck PAC as a means for like-minded individuals to band together across state lines, and impact the elections of conservatives nationwide.
Why is this important you may ask? Because every conservative vote at the Federal level adds power to the overall policies enacted which influence our entire country. Alone my voice wouldn't add up to much. But added together with others, we cannot be ignored!
Rosa Fini
Connecticut Coordinator
Regarding the bank rescue recently debated in Congress, what most people still are not focusing on is the origins of this fiasco, which can very clearly be laid at the feet of our Democratic Congress.
In an article from 9/30/99 in the NY Times, it was noted that in the 1990's low-income borrowers were eligible for mortgages by reducing down payment requirements. By the end of the 1990's, banks and mortgage companies came under pressure to extend more loans to low-income and poor-credit-risk people via sub-prime rates. Peter Wallison, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute expresses grave concern in this same article "...If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out..."
The House Banking Committee, led by Barney Franks, increased efforts to deregulate Fannie Mae throughout the 1990's. The Boston Globe reported in 1991 that Franks pushed the agency to loosen regulations on loans for 2- and 3 family homes, which at the time were already defaulting at two and five times the rate of single family homes. During this time, Barney Franks had close relationships with Fannie Mae officials. Although no media reported any misconduct, there could not be a more clear conflict of interest in a congressman writing housing and banking laws, having a close relationship with an official from a firm benefiting from those same laws. Subsequent leadership at Fannie/Freddie by Franklin Raines saw the accounting scandals of 2003/4.
Efforts at regulatory changes in 2003 and again in 2005 were consistently blocked by the Democratic-led Congress. Led by Barney Franks, Chuck Schumer, and Chris Dodd, Congress actively blocked reforms. They, along with Barack Obama, each received over $100K in financial support from these institutions in addition to political support from such organizations as ACORN, Obama's primary community organization. The regulatory institutions in turn received legislative support, which may have been significant considering that these Democrats were on the Financial and Banking Committees.
While it is a great thing to help those in need, this timeline of Democratic corruption cannot be ignored.
The 2010 elections must count for real reform!
Like many others across our state and country, I attended a TEA Party Rally yesterday.
So many people are angry, dispirited, even dejected at feeling powerless in the face of our current governance. We must harness our energy and get focused on bipartisan work on broad common-sense issues:
1. restraint in government spending
1. restraint in government spending
2. respect for our Constitution
3. respect for and implementation of religious values in our society.
Our Founding Fathers worked hard, and were very thoughtful and deliberate, to get these core values into a working format for our government. These ideals have broad appeal, and yet still allow for sensitive discussion for individual expression.
Now is the time to reinstitute these basic values into our government. We will be successful with the full force of everyone's voice being heard in every corner of our state! We will succeed with every individual doing his or her part to put voice into action!
Thank you and God Bless!
Rosa
Connecticut Coordinator
Connecticut Coordinator