Yesterday Verizon said, “No.” Today that’s all changed.

“Reversing course, Verizon Wireless announced yesterday that it would allow an abortion rights group to send text messages to its supporters on Verizon’s mobile network.”

““The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect,” said Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for Verizon, in a statement issued yesterday morning, adding that the earlier decision was an “isolated incident.””

“Last week, Verizon rejected a request from the abortion rights group, Naral Pro-Choice America, for a five-digit “short code.” Such codes allow people interested in hearing from businesses, politicians and advocacy groups to sign up to receive text messages.”

“Verizon is one of the two largest mobile carriers. The other leading carriers had accepted Naral’s request for the code.”
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With Cold Temperatures On The Way Higgins Fights for and Secures Additional Federal Home Heating Assistance Funding
Over $13 million in New Funds Released for Residents in New York

At the urging of Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and over 100 other members of the House of Representatives, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to release $131.17 million in additional funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP provides home heating aid for senior citizens and struggling families.

“Local residents living on fixed incomes don’t have the luxury of stretching their budget to cover the heating costs necessary to keep their homes warm and safe during Western New York’s cold winter,” said Congressman Higgins. “With the release of these funds New York State will receive an additional $13,491,614 to distribute to needy seniors and families this year.”

In a letter to the President dated September 13, 2007, Congressman Higgins and his colleagues pushed for the Administration to free up the more than $131 million contingency fund which was set to expire on September 30th.

The funds released this week bring the total delivered nationwide under LIHEAP to approximately $2.16 billion this year.

Legislation would expand access to investment capital for entrepreneurs

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives to pass H.R. 3567, The Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007. The bill reforms Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to assist small business owners, including veterans and women, with obtaining the investment capital necessary to start or grow their operations and improves access to venture capital and angel investments for these entrepreneurs.

“Our nation’s entrepreneurs drive our economy, transforming new and innovative ideas into jobs,” said Congressman Higgins, who was recently selected to serve on the House Small Business Committee. “This legislation will ensure that small businesses have the access to affordable capital necessary to continue to spur economic growth.”

The bill includes the following provisions to address the financing needs of small businesses

Overhauls the SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) and New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) Programs. The SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) and the New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) programs are public-private partnerships designed to aid small firms – in particular those owned by veterans and women and in low-income areas– in acquiring venture capital. The Small Business Investment Expansion Act creates a renewed focus on investment in low-income areas and to veterans and minority owned businesses –three sectors that have historically faced barriers in accessing equity investment.

Creates Angel Investment Program. Angel investors — individuals who invest in start-up companies — are estimated to account for more than 51,000 entrepreneurial ventures a year and are rapidly becoming a common way for startups to obtain capital. This bill builds the first-ever nationwide network of angel groups and partners SBA with these licensed investor groups that invest in start-up small businesses, providing them with matching financing leverage. This new program provides greater taxpayer protection than the Administration’s current investment programs. These programs would work to fill the gaps left by Bush Administration reductions in the SBA’s venture capital initiatives.

Increase Small Business Participation. The bill ensures that small businesses that receive venture capital are not treated any differently than those entrepreneurs receiving traditional financing. The bill includes safeguards that prevent any individual or entity from gaining an unfair advantage, ensures that the investors themselves are small, and prohibits any large companies from being involved. Finally, the bill improves the surety bond program needed for small businesses to do construction — raising the maximum allowable bond amount and decreasing fees for borrowers and surety companies.

The first annual Democratic forum which was organize by Jeanne Vinal was a huge success. I have been involved in politics for over 40 years and this was the first forum I have seen where anyone in the audience could ask questions of any of the Democrats running for office which would affect Amherst.

There was a different feeling in the room, a feeling of truth, passion and caring for the public which I haven’t felt or heard in years. The politicians actually spoke with a sense of honestly and genuine caring for the people of Amherst.

It was the first time I actually listened to Bob Foladare. Bob is one of the three Democrat candidates for our Amherst Town Board. I asked him a tough question which I felt he would try to BS me. He didn’t. He stood his ground, not backing down at all from what he had said from the stage to the audience. He was a breath of fresh air.

Foladare is a fresh new face, filled with excellent ideas ranging from helping our children to helping straighten out the mess Amherst has found itself. Bob’s answers had depth and were well thought out. He had answers for problems that were understandable, rather than the POLITICO junk we have heard for years. It was an evening of shocking but invigorating feelings of hope for our town.

The other two Democrats running for our own Amherst Town Board, Mark Manna and Jerry Schad, each gave a ninety second speech with clarity and heartfelt feelings. They both answered questions with straight-forward answers which made sense. Neither spewed out any of the bunk usually heard from politicians who been around for a while. The veterans usually tell us they are going to lower our taxes and not cut services. They never tell you how they’re going to do this. Why? Think about it. Usually they end up raising taxes and charging more for services.

It was a night unlike any other. A new window was opened which let fresh air fill the room and drove the old choking, political smoke out through the back door.

The other Democrat politicians spoke but only a few had the magic which is needed to help Amherst. One of the sharpest candidates who really knew her stuff was Erie County Clerk Kathy Courtney Hochul. Kathy Kaminski, candidate for Highway Supertendent, was another sharp candidate. Kathy’s promise to remove political appointees in the Highway department rang a bell of truthfulness.

It was only fair to appoint an employee who has worked in the Highway department to be positon of Deputy Supertendent instead the job was given to a Republican Joe Speth,who has worked for years in appointed jobs. He never worked a day in his life in our Highway department. In all fairness Bob Anderson,our present Highway Supertendent, who appoint him should remove him from this patonage job. This is a sick system which hurts the regular workers who should get the jobs not the republican dough boys.

The Naral Pro-Choice America group asked Verizon to work with them and allow Verizon Wireless’ mobil network to be available for a text-message program. Verizon Wireless has rejected that request.

Saying it had the right to block “controversial or unsavory” text messages, Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network available for a text-message program.

The other leading wireless carriers have accepted the program, which allows people to sign up for text messages from Naral by sending a message to a five-digit number known as a short code.
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