TOWNS RETHINK LAWS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
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Immigration has been the hot button topic for months, if not years. Some towns have taken steps to “fix the situation” on their own. Many towns have enacted laws to target illegal immigrants and have found that substantial consequences have followed.
“In the past two years, more than 30 towns nationwide have enacted laws intended to address problems attributed to illegal immigration, from overcrowded housing and schools to overextended police forces. Most of those laws, like Riverside’s, called for fines and even jail sentences for people who knowingly rented apartments to illegal immigrants or who gave them jobs.”
“In some places, business owners have objected to crackdowns that have driven away immigrant customers. And in many, ordinances have come under legal assault by immigration groups and the American Civil Liberties Union.”
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SECT LEADER IS CONVICTED AS AN ACCOMPLICE TO RAPE
Polygamist Warren S. Jeffs was convicted on Tuesday of being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old church member. The jury had been deadlocked at one point and the judge pressed them to continue on.
“The jurors, who began their deliberations on Friday after a week of testimony, announced in a note on Monday that they were deadlocked on one of two charges. The judge, James L. Shumate, pressed them to continue, and then early on Tuesday, for reasons the court did not explain, an alternate juror was substituted for one of the original panel members. A unanimous verdict came a few hours later.”
“When the verdict was read, about 2:30 p.m., Mr. Jeffs showed no emotion, and his followers who had filled the back rows of the courtroom remained silent.”
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HALO 3 ARRIVES, REWARDING GAMERS, AND MICROSOFT
Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, is the richest man on earth but he wasn’t happy. Gates and Microsoft hope that the new Halo futuristic shoot-’em-up game, which is exclusive to the Xbox 360, will persuade more consumers to choose its game machine over the PlayStation 3 from Sony or the Wii from Nintendo.
“Although the Xbox — and Halo 3 — appeals to hard-core gamers, Microsoft’s game machine has been outsold lately by the cheaper and less-powerful Wii.”
“Microsoft has sold nine million Xbox 360s since the introduction of the console in 2005. But Nintendo has sold just as many Wii machines since their debut late last year, largely because their simplicity appeals to a broader group of players. The PlayStation 3, which also was introduced in late 2006, has sold about four million units.”
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GM STRIKE ENDS WITH TENTATIVE DEAL
DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers says it has reached a tentative contract agreement with General Motors following a two-day nationwide strike.
The union says bargainers came to terms early this morning and workers are encouraged to go back to work immediately.
The agreement still has to be reviewed by local union presidents before being voted on by GM’s 73,000 UAW members.
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ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO TO ATTEND COMMUNITY FORUM
Please join Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for a Community Forum Thursday, September 27th, 2007.
Learn how the Attorney General’s Office can help the Buffalo Community. Come hear a discussion of issues that affect you every day:
Health Care, Consumer Protection, Civil Rights, Environmental Protection, Workers Rights, Public Integrity and critical information for parents and students regarding college loans.
Southside Elementary School
430 Southside Parkway
Buffalo
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
6:30 PM
*OPEN TO THE PUBLIC*
Attorney General Cuomo and senior representatives from the New York State Attorney General’s Office will discuss their work in your community and answer your questions.
For More Information Please Call: 716-853-8400 or Visit www.oag.state.ny.us
Office of the Attorney General Information and Complaint Helpline:
1-800-771-7755
For the hearing impaired: 1-800-788-9898
Food & refreshments will be served.
CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS VOTES TO APPROVE BIPARTISAN BILL
CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS VOTES TO APPROVE BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR MORE THAN 10 MILLION CHILDREN
Washington, D.C. – Today, September 25, 2007, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) voted for the Bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) Reauthorization Act. This bill would renew and improve S-CHIP, providing health care coverage for more than 10 million children, including nearly 4 million who will benefit from the expansion of the program.
“I am pleased to vote for this bill, which goes a long way to improve the situation for so many working families across our country that work so hard to make ends meet, yet still cannot afford the escalating costs of health insurance.” Higgins said. “By reauthorizing and expanding the S-CHIP program, thousands of children can have access to vital medical services, like doctor visits, vaccinations, and emergency care, that they otherwise may not receive.”
This bill invests $35 billion in state children health insurance programs like Child Health Plus in New York. The original legislation, created in 1997, was set to expire on September 30, 2007.
Today’s bill represents a considerable compromise between House and Senate negotiators, who have labored for several months on creating a workable solution. The bill would allow a significant expansion of the Child Health Plus program in New York, allowing approximately 268,000 children access to low-cost quality healthcare. The bill would also seek to nullify an August 17th, 2007 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that made it virtually impossible for the State of New York to expand eligibility for the Child Health Plus program to children living above 250 percent of the poverty line.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 265-159. The President has threatened to veto this bill.
HIGGINS SAYS DON’T RAISE WNY TOLLS TO PAY FOR DOWNSTATE MEGA PROJECTS
Talk of Toll Increase Comes as Thruway Authority Fails Prior Commitments for Upstate Improvements
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) is questioning the New York Thruway Authority’s motives for the recently announced 4-year, 20% increase in tolls for drivers traveling along the New York State Thruway. In a letter to Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer, Congressman Higgins asks why the Authority hasn’t followed through with promised improvements along the Western New York stretch of thruway and suspects new toll increases would only be used to fund downstate mega projects like the Tappan Zee Bridge.
“When the Thruway Authority hiked tolls a year and a half ago they promised specific investments in WNY infrastructure, many of which have not occurred,” said Congressman Higgins. “I am amazed by the audacity of this Public Authority which has failed us already and yet they dare to propose a new money grab scheme on Western New Yorkers.”
The Thruway Authority increased tolls in May of 2005, basing the increase on the need to support a $2.6 billion statewide capital improvement plan. In the Capital plan released in 2004, the Authority promised to let $132.4 million in contracts in the Buffalo division in 2007. To date in 2007, the Authority has let $6,953,293.70 in contracts in the Buffalo Division.
The Authority is justifying the latest announcement of a proposed toll increase on revenue shortfalls. Higgins points out that in 2006, the first full year since the 2005 toll hike, the Authority planned to generate revenues of $602 million and actually generated revenues of $594 million, leaving a shortfall of just 1.4%, which is de minimis in the context of the overall Authority budget and does not justify a toll hike of 20%.
“Once again the Thruway Authority is trying to subsidize projects in wealthy New York neighborhoods with tolls from struggling upstate communities,” added Higgins. “They got away with this for too long as they unjustly collected tolls along the I-190 in WNY. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.”
Higgins suspects the Authority is proposing the increase to support work on the Tappan Zee Bridge which connects Rockland and Westchester Counties and is in need of rehabilitation work totaling near $2 billion.
September 25, 2007
Mr. Michael R. Fleischer, Esq.
Executive Director
New York State Thruway Authority
200 Southern Blvd.
P.O. Box 189
Albany, NY 12201-0189
Re: The Proposed Toll Increase and the Tappan Zee Bridge mega project
Dear Mr. Fleischer:
I read with great interest this morning’s report in the Buffalo News in which the Authority claims that toll revenues have fallen behind estimates and that this shortfall justifies the proposed new toll hike. I write today to indicate my strong opposition to this unwarranted increase.
The fact is, in 2006, the first full year since the 2005 toll hike, the Authority planned to generate revenues of $602 million and actually generated revenues of $594 million, leaving a shortfall of just 1.4%, which is de minimis in the context of the overall Authority budget and does not justify a toll hike of 20%.
The Thruway Authority is already shortchanging Western New York by failing to make the essential improvements and repairs which it promised in late 2004 in order to justify its 2005 toll hike. In the 2004 plan, the Authority promised to let $132.4 million in contracts in the Buffalo division in 2007. To date in 2007, the Authority has let $6,953,293.70 in contracts in the Buffalo Division.
I am concerned that part of the motivation for the proposed additional toll hike may be the exploding budget for the Tappan Zee Bridge mega-project. While the existing Tappan Zee Bridge is desperately in need of repair, and need for new capacity in that corridor is beyond doubt, taxing struggling upstate economies to subsidize a mega-project in some of the wealthiest suburbs in the nation is regressive taxation at its worst and is poor public policy.
Last year, the Authority awarded a $147 million contract for repairs to the span, but it is estimated that necessary rehabilitation of the span will cost a total of $2 billion. This is in addition to any costs which would be incurred building a new, additional companion span over the Hudson, which would cost between $9 billion and $14.5 billion, depending on which option is chosen.
If some of the wealthiest suburban communities in the nation need to fix an old bridge over the Hudson and need to build a new one, by all means they should proceed, but the Thruway Authority should not look to tax the struggling upstate economy to pay for this mega-project.
Additionally, please forward to my Buffalo Office the most current edition of the Authority’s multi-year capital plan. I make that request pursuant to federal FOIA and state FOIL laws.
Thank you for your attention to this correspondence.
Sincerely,
Brian Higgins
Member of Congress
IN G.M. STRIKE, BOTH SIDES SEE A CROSSROADS
Many in our area hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but in the end the local GM workers went on strike. After long hours on nonstop negotiating the two sides could not reconcile.
“The length of the walkout may hinge on two crucial questions: How long can the union afford to stay out? And how long can General Motors endure a strike?”
“The United Automobile Workers union wielded its most potent weapon against General Motors yesterday, sending 73,000 workers to picket lines in its first national strike at G.M. since 1970.”
“Union officials said they were left no choice but to strike because General Motors was unwilling to accept the union’s demand that it protect workers’ jobs and benefits.”
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AHMADINEJAD, AT COLUMBIA, PARRIES AND PUZZLES
Many wondered what on earth Columbia University was thinking when they invited Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, to speak. Security was massive as were demonstrations. What could he possibly have to say that Americans would want to hear? He had plenty to say.
“His speech at Columbia, in advance of his planned speech today at the United Nations, produced a day of intense protests and counterprotests around the campus. It was a performance at once both defiant — he said Iran could not recognize Israel “because it is based on ethnic discrimination, occupation and usurpation and it consistently threatens its neighbors” — and conciliatory — he said he wanted to visit ground zero to “show my respect” for what he called “a tragic event.””
“And he said that even if the Holocaust did occur, the Palestinians should not pay the price for it.”
“Lee C. Bollinger, the president of Columbia, under intense attack for the invitationopened the event with a 10-minute verbal assault.”
“He said, “Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator,” adding, “You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated.””
The Iranian president, who was seated 10 feet away from hi”m on the stage, wore a frozen smile. The anti-Ahmadinejad portion of the audience, which looked to be about 70 percent of it, cheered and chortled.”
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CONGRESS SET FOR VETO FIGHT ON CHILD HEALTH CARE
About 6.6 million children are already covered by health insurance. A new piece of legislation, which has broad bipartisan support,would cover four million children, in addition to the 6.6 million already enrolled. The overwhelming majority of those on the rolls are in low-income families.
“Supporters of the legislation, which has broad bipartisan support, mobilized lobbyists — 400 from the American Cancer Society alone — and began advertising to win the votes needed to override a veto threatened by Mr. Bush. The president says the measure, which would renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, costs too much and would be “an incremental step toward the goal of government-run health care for every American.””
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