2011

This is the face of madness

It is always interesting to read 2 perspectives on a topic. Today we have the issue of the fake dust legislation that Noem sponsored. First from The Huffington Post;

WASHINGTON – A bill to ban a farm dust regulation that the federal government has never proposed passed the House Thursday, sailing through easily on a party-line vote of 268 to 150.

The measure, dubbed the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, was purported by its lead sponsor, Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from writing a rule that would require farmers to take onerous steps to control dust from their land.

But EPA administrator Lisa Jackson has said repeatedly that no such rule is in the works. What the EPA does do is review ambient air pollution standards every five years, as required by law, and make recommendations on whether or not to tighten standards.

“We have spent an entire day debating about a bill that does not address an existing problem,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).

“This entire session of Congress has felt to many of us like a trip into Alice’s Wonderland,” said DeGette. “To paraphrase the Cheshire Cat, ‘We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad. … You must be mad or you wouldn’t have come here.’ Sadly for the American people, H.R. 1633 simply underscores the ‘madness’ of this body right now.”

Republicans countered that although no rule was proposed, they worried that someone might file a lawsuit someday to to regulate farm dust.

Now let’s look at what Argue Endorser had to say about all the madness;

WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to block federal pollution limits on the dust kicked up by farms, mines and other rural operations.

The bill sponsored by freshman Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., is a key part of Republican efforts to roll back federal rules and regulations, arguing that government overreach is holding back the economy.

It’s unlikely the bill, Noem’s signature piece of legislation, will go any further. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, and it faces strong opposition in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“Dust in rural America is not the same as dust in urban areas,” said Noem. “It’s common sense that dust from a dirt road is not the same as soot from a car, and it’s common sense that they should be regulated differently.”

So let me get this straight. Noem is sponsoring legislation to prevent the EPA from regulating something they don’t regulate anyway? Huh? Madness is right.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ[/youtube]

Concerned citizen writes to me about the recent approval of the Empire Truck Wash near Skyline Heights

As you may or may not know, the city council approved a new truck wash in Monday’s meeting (Item #16 FF: 25:00) A concerned citizen sent me this email shortly after the decision.

My wife and I have lived in the center of Skyline Heights for the last seventeen years. We moved there because we got tired of the small lot and neighborhood covenants that choked us when we lived in Sioux Falls. We wanted something with a little more privacy on a larger lot. Hence, Skyline. We have over an acre, and good neighbors. When we moved there we were not looking to somehow screw the system. We still spend a lot of money in SF and we, along with ALL those that live there feel impacted by decisions made by our city leaders. We have been promised a lot by the city with regards to how the land east of Flyin’ J would be developed. Bottom line in all this? This land was going to be residential, the Flyin’ J being the LAST exception. So we were told, time, after time, after time by Mike Cooper. Personally I got no problem with Flyin J. The noise has been no issue for us. The decibel levels are still much lower than when we lived in Sioux Falls.

The only real noise pollution we have comes from J & L’s Harley beer parties every weekend thru the summer. Even at that, no real big deal, cuz we’re rarely around on weekends in the summer anyway. But I can assure you big trouble looms in that area. Already the corner of Granite Lane and North 60th Street (Flyin’ J entrance) is a major safety concern. There are accidents there that are outside the norm because of slow moving trucks and overzealous car and bike riders. One biker has already been killed at the J & L intersection. Adding another clot to the Flyin J  intersection spells only one thing for that area. More travelers of the roadways are going to continue to be in accidents in that area. Slow moving trucks negotiating turns, car drivers in a hurry to get to or from work, and partying Harley riders is a perfect storm for a tragedy to happen at that spot. MARK my words. It’s gonna happen. The council and mayor were made well aware of that, but somehow ALL they are interested in is the prospect of a few more minimum wage jobs that are going to be the economic engine that drives our city.

I find it amazing that traffic and safety concerns were never discussed.

Ironic Johnny Thune-Bag says to Hell with consumers and the environment

Image: Hillbuzz.org

First, his big dump on consumers, from my email box;

Today, Senator Thune voted against a cloture motion which would allow the Senate to nominate Richard Cordray to the director of the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).  Basically by not allowing Cordray to even be nominated, Thune (and 44 of his fellow Republicans) are filibustering because the don’t like the idea of a government agency designed to protect the consumer.
I guess they are ok with financial meltdown and ok with billions upon billions of taxdollars being sent to banks and other financial companies in the form of bailouts along with billions upon billions more being loaned to those same financial companies at 0.01% interest (essentially giving them the power to make money at the expense of the taxpayer), but when it comes to enacting some serious reforms to protect the little guy or helping the CFPB to get off the ground, the GOP lines up behind the banks and says no.
Does this really surprise anyone?  The irony in all of this is that while the GOP screams that President Obama hasn’t done enough to improve the economy, they in turn decide it is best to prevent an agency designed to protect consumers and in turn strengthen the financial system from even being considered.  I assume the real purpose of filibusting such a vote is to prevent Obama from securing a “win” because it might help him politically.  Well that and the fact that the GOP collects millions upon millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the banks and their PACs.
It is also interesting to note what John Thune said back in 2005 when discussing filibusters:
“For over 200 years, the Senate has fulfilled its role by giving judicial nominees up-or-down votes – with a majority of senators required to approve a nominee. But now, a minority of the Senate is filibustering certain judicial nominees who fail to pass their own political litmus test. Their actions must stop.”  – Senator John Thune, April 2005

So remove the word “judicial” and tell me how things are any different today than they were in 2005?  Oh yea thats right… in 2005 it was the Democrats using the filibuster so that should be unacceptable.  Now it is the GOP using the filibuster so it is an entirely different issue.  I just have one question – if John Thune isn’t willing to give the job to Cordray it means he is killing a job right? Does that mean instead of a “job creator” he is a “job killer”?  Food for thought.

Second, the environment;

“You finally get to a point where it’s time to make a decision one way or the other,” Thune said. “Clearly my view is that this project should move forward.”

Because, gosh darn, the Chinese can’t get their Canadian crude fast enough. Give it up John, this about the presidential election and campaign contributions to you.

 

Rant-A-Bit Episode #11; Guest Andy Traub

Social media consultant/Build It Downtown activist Andy Traub is our guest on this episode, and he gives us his expert testimony on many issues surrounding the Event Center. Unfortunately, Traub had to leave at the halfway mark, and after his departure Scott and I continued to talk about local and state issues. As with all episodes, you can download this via the iTunes store, or directly download it HERE!

The Pavilllllllllllllllllion wants to forgo infrastructure upgrades next year to bring in a science exhibit

Not sure what to think about this? As you can see at the beginning of the SF city council informational meeting, Director Larry Toll makes a presentation about bringing in a traveling science exhibit, but in order to do it, he must transfer funds from a planned infrastructure project. While I think traveling exhibits at the Pavilion are a good thing, I question this move.

It is no secret that the Kirby Science Center has not been as popular as expected, BUT, I will say this, if they would change their hours to nights (when families are spending time together and parking is free DT), they would get more people in the facility. I still don’t understand the resistance?

If I was the city council, I would approve the transfer of funds on those conditions.