Hog Lagoons Bill Passes the General Assembly This Week

From the Associated Press:
Legislators have given final approval to a measure that would phase out hog lagoons used by swine farmers to manage waste. The open pits, where waste is typically flushed from barns to be later sprayed on fields as fertilizer, have long been considered a menace by environmentalists and neighbors. The Senate voted unanimously to accept House changes to the bill sponsored by Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin. The measure needs only Gov. Mike Easley's signature to become law. Most of its requirements will become effective Sept. 1.

The bill, which was among several introduced this year to offer a permanent answer to the long-running fight over lagoons, blocks permits for the construction of any new anaerobic lagoon and sprayfield. It orders the state Environmental Management Commission to issue permits only for waste systems that meet high standards governing the elimination of contaminants into water, soil and air. The measure allows a new lagoon to be built to replace an existing one that is in imminent danger of failure, though state regulators insist the parameters are too narrow to allow cheating by farmers who simply want to replace an aging system on the cheap. Hog lagoons have an effective life of about 25 to 30 years.

The bill also allows up to 50 farms to take part in an experimental program to generate electricity by capturing methane emissions from the lagoons. The measure acknowledges the expense of new waste systems with a cost-sharing program for farms that agree to convert to the new technologies.

For the next five years, the state will cover 90 percent of the cost, up to $500,000 for each applicant. The state share drops to 80 percent in 2012 and to 75 percent in 2017. The hope is that, once some farms have the systems in place, the cost will drop as the systems are improved and demand for them grows. North Carolina is second only to Iowa in hog farming, with close to $7 billion in annual sales and 10 million animals.

Read More at News & Observer 07/26/07 New limits are likely for hog-waste lagoons

North Carolina Democrats Make Communities Safer by Passing 9/11 Commission Recommendations

NCDP Chair Jerry Meek today applauded North Carolina’s Democratic Congressional Delegation for keeping their promise to make our communities safer and more secure. This week, Congressional Democrats voted to implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations-- something Republicans like Richard Burr, Howard Coble, Virginia Foxx, Sue Myrick and Patrick McHenry, who voted against the bill, refused to do for the last three years.

In July 2004, the 9/11 Commission announced its recommendations for how to avoid a future terrorist attack in the United States. For three years, Republicans put their partisan loyalty ahead of our nation’s security, first by resisting Democratic efforts to appoint the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission in the first place, then by joining President Bush in ignoring the Commission’s recommendations.

But this week, Democrats in Congress voted to send a long-overdue bill that finally implements the 9/11 Commission recommendations to the President’s desk. The bill would tighten screening of air and sea cargo, strengthen transit security, improve oversight of our intelligence and homeland security systems, and allocate $3.3 billion to help communities improve communications among first responders—a major problem during both the September 11 attacks and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Republicans have fought us every step of the way,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek. “But Democrats scored a victory for the American people today by sending the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations to the President’s desk. The time has come for Republicans to stop standing with the President and start standing up for the people of North Carolina.”

Read full report

Read more at wikipedia.org

Read more at NPR Audio Chronicle http://www.npr.org/911hearings/

Recent Votes

Recent Senate Votes

Troop Withdrawal Amendment - Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting)

During the Defense Authorization bill debate, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on this amendment that would have set a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Sen. Richard Burr voted NO......
Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted NO......


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College Cost Reduction Act - Vote Passed (78-18, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate approved this bill to increase the amount of aid to college students.

Sen. Richard Burr voted NO......
Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted YES......

Write to: Richard Burr Write to: Elizabeth Dole
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Recent House Votes

Energy/Water Development Appropriations, FY2008 - Vote Passed (312-112, 7 Not Voting)

This $31.6 billion bill would fund the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation for the upcoming fiscal year.

Rep. Walter Jones Jr. voted Not Voting......

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Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations, FY2008 - Vote Passed (276-140, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed this $153.7 billion bill that would fund the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education for the 2008 fiscal year.

Rep. Walter Jones Jr. voted NO......
Write to Walter B. Jones

Border Patrol Agents Need Pardon

In light of President George W. Bush’s recent commutation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s prison sentence, North Carolina Congressman Walter B. Jones has written a letter to again call on the President to pardon U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean.

“I am writing to express my deep disappointment that U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean remain unjustly incarcerated for wounding a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border,”
Jones wrote.

“While you have spared Mr. Libby from serving even one day of his ‘excessive’ 30-month prison term, agents Ramos and Compean have already served 167 days of their 11 and 12-year prison sentences,” Jones wrote.

“By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking them.”

“Mr. President, it is now time to listen to the American people and members of Congress who have called upon you to pardon these agents,” Jones continued. “By granting immunity and free health care to an illegal alien drug trafficker and allowing our law enforcement officers to languish in prison – our government has told its citizens, and the world, that it does not care about protecting our borders or enforcing our laws.”

“I urge you to correct a true injustice by immediately pardoning these two law enforcement officers,” Jones concluded.

Send your letter to Bush
Urgent Appeal for Presidential Pardon Two Border Patrol Agents Being Railroaded for Political Purposes

College Cost Reduction Act of 2007

The College Democrats of America applauded House Democrats for standing up to President Bush’s irresponsible veto threat and passing the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 [HR 2669]. After promising last year to make college more accessible and affordable, Democrats kept that promise by passing the Reduction Act, which would increase the size of Pell grants for poor students, cut interest rates for student loans, cap monthly loan payments at 15 percent of a student’s discretionary income, and slash subsidies for the scandal-plagued student loan industry by $19 billion. [New York Times, 7/11/07]

Instead of joining Democrats in helping make college more affordable for more Americans, President Bush and Republicans in Congress continue to put their special interest friends first and stand in the way of long-overdue reform.

“Democrats today kept their promise to help make college more accessible and affordable for millions of students, but the Bush Republicans continue to stand in the way,” said CDA President Lauren Wolfe. “Making sure young Americans have every opportunity to attend college is not a partisan or political issue, it is a pressing national issue. America’s young people expect and deserve leaders who understand that expanding education is the key to a stronger America.

“Instead of joining Democrats in helping students and their families find urgently-needed financial aid, the Bush Republicans continue to put their special interest friends in the student loan industry first. Considering how important the youth vote will be in 2008, Republicans who stand in the way of college opportunity for young people should expect to pay a heavy price in 2008. Instead of threatening to veto this bill, President Bush should join Democrats in expanding educational opportunities for millions of aspiring, hard-working students.”

CDA has consistently supported efforts to help students and would-be students attend college. During the 2006 election cycle, CDA mobilized students across the country by demonstrating that President Bush and the Republican Congress refused to combat skyrocketing student loan rates. The Reduction Act would cut loan rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent. At its upcoming National Convention on July 26-29 in Columbia, South Carolina, CDA will train thousands of college students from around American in how to hold their members of Congress accountable.

The Senate will soon consider its companion bill, the Higher Education Access Act (as yet unnumbered). Both bills will overhaul the student aid and debt relief system and make college more affordable for students and their parents. Also, the Senate is considering the Higher Education Amendments (S. 1642), which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act.

Write or call Sen. Dole
Write or call Sen. Richard Burr

Write or call President Bush today and ask him not to veto this

comments@whitehouse.gov.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

Lady Bird Johnson Remembered

First Lady of the United States (November 1963 to January 1969) Claudia "Lady Bird"Johnson will be buried next to her husband and former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in the family cemetery on the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, Texas today.

Johnson died at her home in Austin Wednesday at age 94. In a two-hour funeral service planned by Johnson herself, 1,800 mourners honored the former first lady through her favorite hymns and in family stories told by her two daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Johnson Turpin and three granddaughters.

Bill Moyers said, "Lady Bird Johnson wasn't just concerned about wildflowers and beautification. Yes, she planted flowers, but she also loved democracy and saw a beauty in it. This shy little girl from Karnack, Texas, grew up to show us how to cultivate beauty in democracy. She served the beauty in democracy as she did the beauty in nature."

Johnson, who was born Claudia Alta Taylor on Dec. 22, 1912, got her nickname in infancy from a caretaker who said she was as "purty as a lady bird."

Read More at The Washington Post or USA Today or The NY Times
or Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Tribute website for memorial schedule and information.

Progress in Iraq

George Bush released his administration's report on the "progress" in Iraq. It's another example of how deep in denial he is about what's really happening. The past three months have been some of the deadliest since the war began, and things are getting worse -- not better.
Read the report

The war in Iraq should never have been authorized, never have been waged, and it must end now.


Take action:
Write a letter

Surgeon-General Silenced

Dr. Richard Carmona, a former surgeon-general who served until 2006, is revealing that Bush administration often silenced him on national health concerns that didn’t flatter the Bush administration. Carmona announced that he wasn’t allowed to speak on stem cells, emergency contraception, sex ed, and that officials tried to water down a report on second-hand smoke.

"Much of the discussion was being driven by theology, ideology, [and] preconceived beliefs that were scientifically incorrect," said Carmona. "I thought, 'This is a perfect example of the surgeon general being able to step forward, educate the American public.' . . . I was blocked at every turn. I was told the decision had already been made -- 'Stand down. Don't talk about it.' That information was removed from my speeches."

Carmona also says he was “discouraged” from attending the Special Olympics because of that organization's ties to a the Kennedys, and that he wasn’t allowed to present the effectiveness of teaching about condoms as well as sexual abstinence.

According to The Washington Post, last year a NASA scientist and other climate researchers claimed the administration made it difficult for them to speak “in a forthright manner” about global warning.

Carmona said that when the administration touted funding for abstinence-only education, he was prevented from discussing research on the effectiveness of teaching about condoms as well as abstinence.

"There was already a policy in place that did not want to hear the science but wanted to just preach abstinence, which I felt was scientifically incorrect," Carmona said.

While the Bush administration regularly puts theology ahead of science, this political interference in public health concerns has a human cost. We may have to wait until a Democratic president is elected to learn the full extent of the damage.

While the surgeon-general was denied the ability to protect the nation's health he was encouraged to speak on a less pressing subject; Carmona says he was ordered to praise President Bush three times on every page of his speeches.

Read More at Washington Post

Read More at Reuters

Read More at New York Times

Get Out of Jail Free Card for "Scooter "

President Bush commuted the sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby yesterday, sparing Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff 30 months in prison after a federal appeals court had refused to let Libby remain free while he appeals his conviction for lying to federal investigators (perjury and obstruction of justice).

President Bush said, "The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today rejected Lewis Libby's request to remain free on bail while pursuing his appeals for the serious convictions of perjury and obstruction of justice. As a result, Mr. Libby will be required to turn himself over to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his prison sentence.

I have said throughout this process that it would not be appropriate to comment or intervene in this case until Mr. Libby's appeals have been exhausted. But with the denial of bail being upheld and incarceration imminent, I believe it is now important to react to that decision.

From the very beginning of the investigation into the leaking of Valerie Plame's name, I made it clear to the White House staff and anyone serving in my administration that I expected full cooperation with the Justice Department. Dozens of White House staff and administration officials dutifully cooperated.

After the investigation was under way, the Justice Department appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald as a Special Counsel in charge of the case. Mr. Fitzgerald is a highly qualified, professional prosecutor who carried out his responsibilities as charged.

This case has generated significant commentary and debate. Critics of the investigation have argued that a special counsel should not have been appointed, nor should the investigation have been pursued after the Justice Department learned who leaked Ms. Plame's name to columnist Robert Novak. Furthermore, the critics point out that neither Mr. Libby nor anyone else has been charged with violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act or the Espionage Act, which were the original subjects of the investigation. Finally, critics say the punishment does not fit the crime: Mr. Libby was a first-time offender with years of exceptional public service and was handed a harsh sentence based in part on allegations never presented to the jury.

Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable. They say that had Mr. Libby only told the truth, he would have never been indicted in the first place.

Both critics and defenders of this investigation have made important points. I have made my own evaluation. In preparing for the decision I am announcing today, I have carefully weighed these arguments and the circumstances surrounding this case.

Mr. Libby was sentenced to thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation.

I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.

My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.

The Constitution gives the President the power of clemency to be used when he deems it to be warranted. It is my judgment that a commutation of the prison term in Mr. Libby's case is an appropriate exercise of this power."

Reason for his decision was that the sentence was "excessive".

Would one month have also been excessive?
How long will it be before he has a cushy lobby job or how long will it take to earn back his $250,000 fine as a "consultant"?

This just shows that Pres. Bush has no regard for the rule of law and will do anything to hold on to his dwindling base.

ACTION:This July 4th, it's time to bring checks and balances back again. Click button to sign the petition and send a message to Congress to act now




Read more at Washington Post
Listen at NPR Renee Montagne and Juan Williams
NPR/Morning Edition, July 3, 2007

Stop Drive Through Mastectomies

The Breast Cancer Protection Act of 2007 (S. 459/H.R. 758)
Lead sponsors: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT).

Protections: The bill's protections for those facing breast cancer include:

1. Inpatient coverage: Provides that a health care provider cannot limit hospital stays for mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery to less than 48 hours, and also assures a 24-hour stay for lymph node dissection. While some patients may choose a shorter stay, this choice should be one in which both the doctor and patient concur. No woman should be forced to undergo invasive treatment on an outpatient basis. This bill does not mandate a hospital stay if both doctor and patient feel it is unnecessary.
2. A second opinion: Assures a patient of a second opinion for any cancer diagnosis. A cancer diagnosis must be reliable.
3. Support for lumpectomy treatment: Requires coverage for radiation therapy for patients undergoing a lumpectomy. Together with the assurance of inpatient care, the economic incentive is removed for a woman to select mastectomy simply to reduce the immediate cost of treatment.
   
   Sign the Petition
   
   
   http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php

What a drive thru mastectomy is like.....

Democratic Reunion

Democratic Reunion
Dear Fellow Democrat:

It’s easy to be green and help build our Party by attending or sponsoring a Democratic Reunion event on Saturday, July 28. This year’s theme is energy and the environment.

North Carolina can lead the way when it comes to clean energy, research, and education. But with toxic emissions billowing from our state’s coal-fired and nuclear power plants; rising gas prices; and global warming, we must do more to ensure a greener future.

At minimum, you can attend an event on July 28th. Or better yet, host one in your community. This is a great opportunity to reunite with local Democrats while providing a community service that highlights our commitment to stopping global warming and promoting energy independence.

Become an energy action hero by: conducting a recycling drive; offering “tire checks” to make sure people’s tires are properly inflated; planting trees; writing postcards to unaffiliated voters and asking them to support our efforts to lower gas prices; adopting a highway or beach; distributing energy efficiency tips; and sponsoring a letter-writing campaign to Congress in support of our energy independence and environmental protection legislation.

There’s a lot of talk about energy independence, but not much action. Put your faith and beliefs into action by partnering with other local organizations and faith communities in pursuit of this common mission.

Ready to start? Here are a few simple steps for success:

Plan your event:

You'll need to decide all the event details (When? Where? What?). You will need to reach out to others to build your volunteer team for the event.
Publicize your event:

To post your Democratic Reunion on to the DNC Calendar: http://www.democrats.org/page/content/partybuilderEvents/
And, to post on the NCDP Calendar: http://ncdp.org/submit_calendar_item
Also, be sure your local media knows about the event.
Resources:

Your Regional Political Director will be happy to assist you in event planning, so feel free to be in touch with them.
The DNC will design and provide online palm cards to promote Democrats’ Global Warming/Energy Independence legislation. When you post your event on their site, you will be able to print these for your event.
Help build our Party and support the environment or promote energy independence at the same time. Please sponsor or attend a Democratic Reunion event on July 28th.

With Best Wishes,

Jerry Meek