Items from Around the Web 9/2/10

Friday, September 3, 2010

"Senator Gillibrand plans to focus on key areas of the Farm Bill that will have major influence on New York, including access to financing, new market opportunities, assistance for specialty crops, and investments in renewable energy."

GLOW Gillibrand Agriculture Economy

"The fact is, New Yorkers feel they're not being heard, that too much business is happening behind closed doors and too often the system only benefits the special interests that have way too much power. That's why I am traveling the state during August recess to promote my transparency agenda and let New Yorkers know that making Washington work for you is one of my top priorities."

GLOW Gillibrand Reform

"Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Wednesday visited Rochester to talk about transparency measures she is advocating for in the Senate."

GLOW Gillibrand Reform

"Not long after I was old enough to cast my first vote, I realized that with American citizenship came a birthright to my summer home."

GLOW Miscellaneous

"The lawyers say that the ratio would be unfairly complex to calculate and could encourage false comparisons. But the real problem is that C.E.O.’s and corporate boards would have to justify — to shareholders, employees and the public — what are sure to be some very large gaps between pay at the top and pay for everyone else."

GLOW Financial Reform

"On Monday, Labor Day, Mr. Obama will attend the Milwaukee Laborfest, a family-oriented union gathering. He will deliver a speech on the economy in Cleveland on Wednesday, and will hold the news conference on Friday."

GLOW President Obama Economy


"The Affordable Care Act helps make it easier for employers to provide health benefits. This year, small businesses are eligible for health care tax credits and starting in 2014, small businesses with up to 100 employees will have access to state-based Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchanges, which will expand their purchasing power. Additionally, the Business Roundtable estimated that provisions in the legislation could save $3,000 per person in health costs.

In less than a day, two new studies have confirmed that the Affordable Care Act will deliver significant benefits to small businesses."

GLOW Health Care Reform Small Business

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Posted by Judith Hunter at 12:17 AM 0 comments

Items from Around the Web 9/1/10

Thursday, September 2, 2010

"In their first upstate debate, Democratic candidates for state attorney general took on issues from taxing cigarettes sold on reservations to whether they would investigate funding of a mosque near Ground Zero.

And which of the contenders — all from downstate — is most connected to western New York."

GLOW 2010 New York Attorney General

"We are grateful that Schumer spearheaded this timely effort to help consumers. We hope that we can stimulate interest in this landmark legislation and ensure its prompt passage."

GLOW Schumer Consumer Protection

"Either way, a couple of tax cuts along these lines could make good additions to a bill extending the Bush tax cuts for households making less than $250,000 a year. Economically, the extra cuts would have a bigger impact than an extension of all the Bush cuts. Politically, this kind of bill would force opponents to explain why they instead wanted smaller tax cuts for middle-class families and businesses and a bigger one for the affluent. "

A good explanation of the economic impact of different types of tax cuts.

GLOW Taxes Economy

"In a remarkable tableau at the White House, Mr. Obama, flanked by the leaders of Israel, the Palestinians, and the only two Arab states with whom Israel has made peace, vowed to do everything within his power to achieve the comprehensive agreement that has eluded negotiators since Israel was established. "

GLOW Foreign Policy President Obama

"The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has plunged by almost two-thirds in the past decade, a dramatic shift after years of growth in the population, according to a new report by the Pew Hispanic Center. "

GLOW Immigration


"President Barack Obama announces the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq in a prime time address from the Oval Office, Tuesday."

GLOW President Obama Iraq Video

"While House Republican Leaders in Washington have spent the past month measuring the drapes, Republican candidates across the county were facing tough stories on everything from coming out in favor of privatizing Social Security... failure to pay taxes... ethics problems... arrest warrants... to even a candidate lying about their role in driving a truck off the road because it was carrying negative mail pieces from a rival campaign.

Here is a sample of August's local coverage of Republicans' problems:"

GLOW 2010 Congress Republican Hypocrisy

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Posted by Judith Hunter at 12:17 AM 0 comments

Items from Around the Web 8/31/10

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

" 'Business Facilities' magazine has recognized the Rochester metropolitan area, particularly Genesee and Livingston counties, as one of the top food-processing regions in the country."

GLOW Agriculture Economy Genesee County Livingston County

"What Republicans need from their leaders in Washington, despicable place though it may be, is what Gingrich gave them in 1994: the appearance of a plan for governing the country; a set of answers other than 'no.' So long as the best they can come up with is firing Larry Summers, Democrats have a fair chance of avoiding disaster."

GLOW 2010 Republicans

"President Obama declared an end on Tuesday to the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq, saying that the United States has met its responsibility to that country and that it is now time to turn to pressing problems at home."

GLOW President Obama Iraq


"Aides to President George W. Bush weren't troubled by the threat, due to a tech glitch, of losing millions of emails -- the preservation of which is required by federal law."

GLOW Republican Hypocrisy

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Posted by Judith Hunter at 11:09 PM 0 comments

Items from Around the Web 8/30/10

Monday, August 30, 2010

"The attorney general is the highest legal officer in the state, charged with defending the governor, the state, the Legislature and state employees in legal actions."

A review of the role of the Attorney General for New York.

GLOW New York 2010 Attorney General

"The crowded field for the Democratic nomination for attorney general brings varied experiences and the trading of plenty of barbs."

A review of the candidates for Attorney General in the September 14 Democratic primary.

GLOW New York 2010 Attorney General


"As we approach midterm election season, hyperbole is reaching fever height as to who is or is not patriotic. It seems to me that, sometimes, those who wrap themselves in the flag are the least informed, the least caring of others and the most protective of 'me and mine.' "

GLOW Republican Extremism Republican Hypocrisy

"That's why it is imperative that a bill promoted by U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter should become law (the bill is the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act, H.R. 1549), and why it is troubling that the state's major farm group is one of the major impediments to its success."

GLOW Louise Slaughter Public Health Agriculture

"Anyone who remembered the 1990s could have predicted something like the current political craziness. What we learned from the Clinton years is that a significant number of Americans just don’t consider government by liberals — even very moderate liberals — legitimate. Mr. Obama’s election would have enraged those people even if he were white. Of course, the fact that he isn’t, and has an alien-sounding name, adds to the rage. "

GLOW Republican Extremism Republican Obstruction Republican Hypocrisy

"Stepping up a concerted, election-year effort to highlight aspects of the big health care law enacted earlier this year, the Obama administration on Monday announced that more than one million Medicare beneficiaries had received $250 rebate checks as part of the provision to close the gap in prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole."

GLOW Health Care Reform Seniors

"And there’s currently a jobs bill before Congress that would do two big things for small business owners: cut more taxes and make available more loans. It would help them get the credit they need, and eliminate capital gains taxes on key investments so they have more incentive to invest right now. And it would accelerate $55 billion of tax relief to encourage American businesses, small and large, to expand their investments over the next 14 months.

Unfortunately, this bill has been languishing in the Senate for months, held up by a partisan minority that won’t even allow it to go to a vote. That makes no sense. This bill is fully paid for. It won’t add to the deficit. And there is no reason to block it besides pure partisan politics.

Small business owners and the communities that rely on them, they don’t have time for political games. They shouldn’t have to wait any longer. In fact, just this morning, a story showed that small businesses have put hiring and expanding on hold while waiting for the Senate to act on this bill. Simply put: holding this bill hostage is directly detrimental to our economic growth.

So I ask Senate Republicans to drop the blockade. I know we’re entering election season. But the people who sent us here expect us to work together to get things done and improve this economy."

GLOW President Obama Economy Republican Obstruction

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Posted by Judith Hunter at 9:59 PM 0 comments

The Genesee Dems invite you to celebrate the "100 mile lifestyle."

On Sunday, September 12th, the Genesee County Democratic Committee is having a fundraising dinner featuring a unique theme: all local food from within 100 miles. The idea is an offshoot of a project begun in New York City with the idea of promoting meals made entirely with local ingredients, creating food that's fresher and that sustains local farming.

For our purposes, that includes a locally grown pig for roasting, Livingston County wine, side dishes, and desert being pumpkin and apple pies produced using fruit from Wyoming and Orleans counties. On top of that, the Genesee County Dems are proud to host as the guest of honor New York's next Lieutenant Governor, Mayor Bob Duffy.

The dinner runs from 4 to 8 PM on the 12th at Woody Acres on Neid Road in Le Roy. $25 per person, $45 for a couple, or $120 for a picnic table of six. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Lorie Longhany at (585) 409-5373, or geneseedems@gmail.com.

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Posted by Adama D. Brown at 3:04 AM Labels: 0 comments