The House gave final congressional approval Wednesday to the Senate-passed version of the bill to complete the Keystone XL oil pipeline.  As the fight continues, big oil has wasted no time buying off both houses of the U.S. Congress since 2013 – to the tune of 58.8 million dollars by five refinery companies alone.

  

The oil and gas industry gave, on average, 13 times more money to representatives voting ‘YES’ ($45,375) on H.R. 3  compared to representatives voting 'NO' ($3,610).

The oil and gas industry gave, on average, 5 times more money to Democratic representatives voting ‘YES’ ($18,199) on H.R. 3 compared to Democratic representatives voting ‘NO’ ($3,610).

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the sponsor of the legislation, received $222,400 from the oil and gas industry, the ninth most among members of the House voting on H.R. 3. 

Figures for the Senate were comparable, with the oil and gas industry giving, on average, 10 times more money to senators who supported the measure (236,544 dollars). The Senate sponsor, John Hoeven – also a Republican from North Dakota – received 275,998 dollars.

“How can we truly trust legislators to vote in the public interest when they are dependent on industry campaign funding to get elected?” said Pamela Behrsin of MapLight .  “Our broken money and politics system forces lawmakers into a conflict of interest between lawmakers’ voters and their donors.”

(Source:  Maplight)

It’s business as usual in Washington.  Whomever has the most money owns Congress and it certainly isn't "we the people."

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The state of Kansas is facing a shortfall of $344 million for the fiscal year ending in June and nearly $600 million forecasted for the fiscal year starting in July, all thanks to the largest tax cuts in the state's history, signed into law in 2012 by Governor Sam Brownback.

One of the biggest cuts: The profits of small businesses and partnerships were made tax-exempt and companies not eligible for the 0% tax rate may be trying to reorganize themselves so they, too, get the tax break.  The tax-free profits measure is a boon for plenty of entities -- such as partnerships and S Corps -- that are not really small businesses at all.  And the tax-free break on profits is not tied to the numbers of jobs those entities create.

To dig the Sunflower State out of its hole, Brownback and the Republican-led Kansas legislature have to act fast.  One of Brownback's proposals for cutting this year's shortfall is to reduce the state's contributions to the public employee pension fund for the next six months, a controversial move especially considering that the state pension plan is already underfunded.

The governor doesn't need the legislature's approval to temporarily reduce pension funding, but he will for his other big idea, which is to use $201 million in funds from other state programs, such as the state highway fund and its health and environment fund.  In addition, Brownback has responded by cutting funding for public schools and higher education by a combined $44.5 million.  

And what else is Brownback up to?

On Tuesday he issued an executive order, doing away with an order enacted by his predecessor, former Gov. Kathleen Sibelius.  In 2007 Sibelius issued an order expanding workplace protections to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of the state.

With a swipe of his pen,  Brownback wiped out protections offered to state employees facing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

(Sources:  CNN, N.Y. Times)

Failed fiscal policy and discriminatory executive orders.  How can anyone support this loser?  Oh wait... businesses and corporations are paying no taxes while the highway fund, environmental fund, health fund, education and pensions all take it in the shorts to make up the shortfall.

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Sen. Joni Ernst proudly calls herself a "combat veteran" because she served in the Iraq War in a combat zone from February 2003 to April 2004.

Ernst, a Republican, never saw any actual combat, but was a commander of a Iowa National Guard unit that made deliveries in Kuwait and southern Iraq. The unit never fired on the enemy or got fired upon during its 14 months.

"By her definition, everybody who stepped off the plane in Kuwait is a combat veteran," Larry Hanft, a Vietnam veteran who earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, told The Huffington Post. "Joni Ernst is using her military experience to gain a political edge and pull the wool over the eyes of the American people. She's a fraud..."

Ernst is standing by the description of “combat veteran," reports Omaha.com.

“I am very proud of my service and by law I am defined as a combat veteran,” Ernst said in a statement. 

“Just because I’m not an infantryman and I wasn’t kicking in doors, I don’t believe I’m less of a player,” she added.  (Source: Omaha.com)

So, Joni made "deliveries" in Iraq, but is still a "combat veteran"?  Next thing you know Dick "the troll" Cheney will be claiming he is a "combat veteran" for setting foot in Iraq.

I wonder if Joni will get suspended for six months without pay for embellishing her story.

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During the Viet Nam era up to 30,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the draft, including those in the military who deserted and there is a distinction.  

Evading the draft was not a criminal offense under Canadian law, however military desertion was a crime in Canada.  But, desertion from the U.S. military was not in the extradition treaty with Canada.  Notwithstanding this, the Canadian government chose to allow both draft evaders and deserters to stay in Canada without fear of prosecution. Those who evaded the Viet Nam War were welcomed by peace organizations in Canada and received emigration assistance.

Fast forward to today and eight U.S. soldiers who fled to Canada a decade ago as conscientious objectors to the Iraq War have been turned down for citizenship or amnesty in Canada. All eight applications from war resisters to stay in Canada as permanent residents, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds as well as spousal sponsorships, were denied. Four war resisters have received removal orders, including one last month.

As with Viet Nam era resisters, they are also supported by peace organizations in Canada. 

“When we began this whole fight . . . it was very much in the context of a mass anti-war movement that kept Canada out of the war in Iraq,” says Michelle Robidoux, a member of the War Resisters Support Campaign. “And so we began this thing and Canada didn’t go to Iraq and there was tons of support.” But “the government has managed to stretch this out for so long, without giving any answer,” she said.

The Conservative government in Canada has been vocally opposed to granting war resisters refugee or permanent residence status, but the group is not without support.

Parliament passed a motion in 2008 calling on the government to create a program that would allow conscientious objectors to apply for permanent resident status and cease any removal or deportation actions against them. The motion passed a second time a year later, but the government never took action. And in 2010, Bill C-440, a private member’s bill that would have allowed U.S. war resisters to stay in Canada was defeated by only seven votes on its second reading.  (Source: Antiwar.com)

The facts about both the Viet Nam War and the invasion of Iraq are clear.  Both were a mistake, costing the U.S. thousands of lives and billions of dollars.  It is unfortunate that Canada will no longer give sanctuary to those who flee unjust wars.

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