Classmates Bills

Bill S. 1067: Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act of 2011: -  Tom Nguyen


H.R. 3403: Save Christmas Act -Justin Juliano


S 1853: Postal Service Protection Act of 2011-  Kathleen Quinn


Bill for Constituent Letter:


H. Res. 211

Political Cartoon # 3

1. Is Newt Gingrich just running as president to promote his new book?
2. Can Gingrich be taken seriously as a presidential candidate?
3. How does the media view Newt Gingrich?

Terry Gross Interview

Facts/Details:

1. Jeffrey Rosen is a law professor at George Washington University
2. WE should assume we are being monitored at all times
3. Social media is not regulated by the Constitution
4. Nothing is private
5. The GPS case has the potential to be the most important case of the decade
6. None of the amendments give clear answers to the questions we have regarding privacy
7. The fourth amendment prohibits the government from unreasonable searches and seizures.
8. Germany has a greater concern for data collecting than the U.S does.
9. The Patriot Act expanded the amount of surveillance the government could do without a warrant
10. Twitter was pressured by Senator Joseph Liberman to remove pro-Taliban tweets.

Questions:

1. How does the advancement in technology influence the privacy concern?
2. Is it fair for the government to wire phones?
3. Should all information on the internet be available to be searched?
4. Should boundaries for protection and privacy be set up?
5. What should the government due with the expanding social media networks?

Electoral College Reform

Facts/Details:

1. The Electoral College triples the political clout of voters.
2. Independent parties have no opportunity with the current system
3. There are a total of 538 electoral votes and a candidate need a majority of 270 for election.
4. The electoral college is not one a single entity.
5. The electors elect the president, not the people.
6. A president can win the election without the majority of the popular vote.
7. The Electoral college affects campaign methods.
8. The Electoral College makes campaigning in some states more important than others.
9. Candidates don't even have to campaign in states where they know their political party is favored.
10. The smallest number of electoral votes in a state is three.

Questions:

1. How would the process of correcting this system begin?
2. Would states with more electoral votes be against a change?
3. Can this current system be changed, or do they have to get rid of it altogether?
4. Are electors elected by the people?
5. Is it fair for a candidate to win the popular vote, but not the electoral votes?

My opinion is that this current system has to go immediately. I hate what it is doing to the campaigning of candidates, Not every state is as important which is not fair. In hindsight, you could win just the top 6-7 states and almost win the election. Also, I hate the fact that you can get the majority of the popular vote, but not win the election. I don't see the problem with just a straight-up election like that, and that is what I would want it changed to. 

National Debt

1)  How much does the national debt cost each person, approximately? - To find how much the national debt costs each person, you have to look at the debt clock. Right now, that answer would be $48,327. This number keeps growing at a catastrophic rate and hopefully this issue will be solved in the near future.
http://www.usdebtclock.org


2) Can the U.S. print more money and pay off our debt? - It seems like a simple sure-fire way to get rid of the massive debt, but it's not that easy. Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a loss of real value in the internal medium of exchange and unit of account in the economy. It may hurt the U.S. dollar, but is it worth it?  It all comes down to the U.S. Treasury.
         "The Treasury has the power print money to pay its bills. That would create the danger of too much money in the hands of the public and, thus, inflation, but the Federal Reserve has options to neutralize this problem. The Fed holds on its balance sheet about $2.6 trillion in securities, mostly Treasury bonds. As the Treasury prints money to pay its bills, the Fed could sell bonds to the public to keep the amount of money in circulation from rising."
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-05/news/bs-ed-debt-limit-20110701_1_treasury-bonds-debt-ceiling-debt-limit-impasse


3)  What is the number one contributing factor to our debt? -  The answer isn't what, but who. 






China is the number contributing factor of our national debt due to all the money we borrowed from them?

National Debt Political Cartoon

Questions:

1. What is the difference between debt and deficit?
2. Who owns the national debt?
3. How can you make a contribution to reduce the debt?

New York Times Budget Puzzle

• I saved $366 billion dollars by the year 2015
• I saved $1,209 billion dollars by the year 2030
• 63% came from savings from spending cuts
• 37% came from savings from tax increases
• Easy choices were reducing the military because I feel there aren't too many foreign threats still there. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on defense and there hasn't been a serious threat since 2001. I also felt it was necessary to increase taxes to the rich. They are getting paid more so they would be able to handle it. It was difficult to raise the taxes on any middle-class person. It was also difficult to move the social security age up or anything that dealt with something that could affect me in the future. Any economic decision was tough because I believe that has the biggest impact on this country and any decision made could have a big effect on the country and its future.
• It would be a lot harder with Congress because it is hard to get people to agree on different important issues. With two different parties, views and ideologies are on opposite spectrums so a decision that would pass would be hard to come by. Until the political party system is resolved and fixed, it will be hard to get anything done.

President Research

Sources + Lessons:
1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/woodrowwilson - Wilson taught to promote America as a place of democracy and safety. War and turmoil in countries existed across the World, and Wilson tried to show that the United States would welcome anybody with open arms. 


2) http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1919/wilson-bio.html - Wilson teaches the dangers of corruption. He enforced the changing of the tariff, the revising of the banking system, the checking of monopolies and fraudulent advertising, the prohibiting of unfair business practices, and the like. He demanded equity in the economy.


3) http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/wilson/essays/biography/1 - Although church and state should never mix, Wilson used the same ideals and morals of his religion. He never let it affect his policies and actions in office, but he used it as a guideline to make fair and pious decisions.


4) http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWwilsonW.htm- Although most presidents liked to engage in war to solve the majority of the problems, Wilson believed in peace. On the 8th January, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson presented his Peace Programme to Congress. Compiled by a group of US foreign policy experts, the programme included fourteen different points. The first five points dealt with general principles: Point 1 renounced secret treaties; Point 2 dealt with freedom of the seas; Point 3 called for the removal of worldwide trade barriers; Point 4 advocated arms reductions and Point 5 suggested the international arbitration of all colonial disputes. If there was a diplomatic way of something to be done, Wilson would do it.

5) http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/wilson.htm- A lesson that would be very beneficial today is that Wilson always tried to compromise because he knew legislation had to be passed and things had to be done. He could bring parties together for the greater good of the government.

1)

H.R. 1905: Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011

112^th Congress: 2011-2012

Status: This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Explanation: Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. [Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011 12:04PM]To strengthen Iran sanctions laws for the purpose of compelling Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening activities, and for other purposes.

Details:

1. Directs the President to impose specified sanctions on a person who knowingly: 
   (1) makes specified investments with respect to Iran's ability to develop petroleum resources; 
   (2) sells, leases, or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, information, or support that could facilitate Iran's domestic production of refined petroleum products; 
   (3) sells or provides to Iran refined petroleum products, or provides goods, services, technology, information, or support that could contribute to Iran's ability to import refined petroleum products; or 
   (4) exports or otherwise facilitated transshipment to Iran of any goods, services, technology, or other items that would contribute to Iran's ability to acquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, or acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons.
2. Sets forth exceptions to such sanctions for:
   (1) the procurement of certain defense articles or services;
   (2) eligible products to designated countries or instrumentalities;
   (3) products, technology, or services under contracts entered into before the date on which the President publishes in the Federal Register the name of the person on which the sanctions are to be imposed;
   (4) spare or component parts, or information and technology that are essential to U.S. products or production, and related servicing and maintenance; or
   (5) medicines, medical supplies, or other humanitarian items.
3. Defines sanctions to include:
   (1) prohibitions on Export-Import Bank assistance,
   (2) prohibitions on loans from U.S. financial institutions and other financial services,
   (3) prohibitions on foreign exchange and other banking transactions,
   (4) prohibitions on property transactions, and
   (5) export and procurement sanctions.
4. Requires the President to:
   (1) initiate an investigation into the possible imposition of sanctions when the SEC receives a report that an issuer or its affiliate has engaged in the cited activities, and
   (2) determine whether sanctions should be imposed on the issuer or the affiliate concerned. States that, except to meet U.S. international obligations, the Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) shall exclude from U.S. entry, a person who is an agent, official, or a representative of the government of Iran; and
   (2) presents a threat to the United States or is affiliated with terrorist organizations. Restricts the movement of such persons in the United States.

Campaign Ad Techniques

1) Fear: The ad tries to frighten you into voting for the candidate (or at least not voting for his/her opponent)- http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964
Unless the opposing candidate did something very serious or potentially dangerous to his election, then this kind of ads are not effective.

2) Cartoons and Animals: The ad makes its point with cartoon characters or (usually symbolic) animals.- http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1952
This technique is only effective for children, and they can't vote.

3) Overhype:: The ad includes promises that sound good but lack details. - http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2008
This is effective is the wrong way. Fake promises will want me to vote for the candidate less.

4) Family: The ad uses images of ideal families to give you a positive image of the candidate. - http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/curator
Not effective. Oftentimes they appear fake.

5) Put Downs: The ad insults the candidate’s opponent. - http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/curator
Not effective. Makes the candidate look pathetic and not confident.

6)Facts and Figures: The ad uses facts and statistics to support the candidate’s policies. - http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/issue/taxes
Not effective, I don't trust most of the statistics because they could be made up.

3 Assertions:

1. Overall, advertising does little to inform, mobilize, or persuade the voters who watch them. 
2. Advertising has the potential to distort the democratic process.
3. Advertising may in fact worsen a candidates chances of winning.

Electoral College

Facts/Details:

1. Richard Nixon would have defeated John F. Kennedy in 1960 is it were a direct election with a run-off
2. Gore received 51 million votes and Bush received 50.5 million in the 2000 election
3. Each state gets 2 Electoral College votes, regardless of the population.
4. The Electoral College is undemocratic
5. States select their electors by popular vote
6. The Electoral College questions the validity of a nationwide popular election
7. The Electoral College allows candidates to only campaign in swing states
8. There are laws requiring electors to vote for candidate who chose them
9. In most states, the Electoral College works on a “winner-take-all” system: the candidate with the most votes in the state gets all of that state’s electoral votes.
10. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of electoral votes, the U.S. House of Representatives chooses the president from the top three candidates

Questions:

1. Is the Electoral College a fair system?
2. Should the U.S. abandon the Electoral College?
3. Does the Electoral College eliminate the need for nationwide campaigning?
4. How can this system be improved upon?
5. Why should a president lose an election, even though more total people voted for him?

Tax Payer Articles

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=5004&category=&type=Project
Facts:

1. Members of the House and Senate attempted to pack hundreds of special spending provisions into at least 10 bills in the summer and fall, less than a year after congressional leaders declared a moratorium on earmarks, congressional records show.
2. Two senators have publicly called out their colleagues and are introducing legislation that would ban earmarking with the force of law.
3. The moratorium, announced last November in the House and in February in the Senate, is a verbal commitment by the Republican leadership to prohibit lawmakers from directing federal funds to handpicked projects and groups in their districts.
4. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., a critic of earmarks, last year began calling for Congress to have a role again in directing money for road and highway projects in the transportation bill, provided that the process is "open and transparent."
5. The Congressional Research Service found that earmark spending nearly tripled over a 15-year period, to $31.9 billion in 2010.

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=5003&category=&type=Project

Facts:

1. April 2003: The FutureGen Industrial Alliance, a coalition of power produces from around the world, is formed in support of the project.
2. December 2005: The Department of Energy (DOE) and FutureGen Industrial Alliance sign agreement to develop plant.
3. June 2009: Obama administration revives FutureGen with $1 billion from American Recovery Act.
4. October 13th 2011: FutureGen Industrial Alliance announces the retrofit of the oxy-combustion coal fueled power plant is on schedule and test drilling has commenced in Morgan County.
5. November 2011: Ameren and FutureGen Industrial Alliance are in talks to buy the Meredosia power plant and transfer stimulus funds awarded for the retrofit of the power plant

Pending Bills

1)

H.R. 1905: Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011

112^th Congress: 2011-2012

Status: This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Explanation: Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. [Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011 12:04PM]To strengthen Iran sanctions laws for the purpose of compelling Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening activities, and for other purposes.

2) 

S. 1722: Early Learning Proficiency Act

112^th Congress: 2011-2012

A bill to improve early education, and for other purposes.

Status: This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Explanation: Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills and resolutions never make it out of committee. [Last Updated: Oct 22, 2011 6:17AM]

3) 

S. 50: Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act

112^th Congress: 2011-2012

A bill to strengthen Federal consumer product safety programs and activities with respect to commercially-marketed seafood by directing the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission and other appropriate Federal agencies to strengthen and coordinate those programs and activities.

Status: This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole. Explanation: Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. [Last Updated: Nov 29, 2011 12:05PM]

Death Penalty Political Cartoon

1) What made Rick Perry so pro-death penalty?
2) Why do you think Texas has the highest rate of the death penalty?
3) Do you think illegal immigration and the amount of drugs being smuggled over the boarder have any correlation with Texas's high rate of the death penalty?

Pennsylvania's 2008 Election

PennsylvaniaElectoral Votes: 21

President100.0% of 9,284 precincts reporting

Candidate	Party	Vote Counts	Votes Cast
Barack Obama	Dem	3,192,316	54.7%
John McCain	GOP	2,586,496	44.3%
Ralph Nader	Ind	41,520	0.7%
Bob Barr	Lib	19,926	0.3%

Updated: 11/7/2008 5:11 PM E

Facts:

1. The candidates split the white vote, but Obama was the overwhelming choice among blacks and Hispanics.
2. Obama's victory marked the fifth straight presidential election in which the Democrats carried Pennsylvania.
3. With 96% of precincts reporting, Obama had 2,988,473 votes, or 55%, and McCain had 2,399,080, or 44%.
4. In Congress, longtime Democratic Reps. John Murtha and Paul Kanjorski overcame tough re-election challenges, while another House veteran, Republican Phil English, conceded defeat late Tuesday.
5. Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, sought to help Obama win over those same socially conservative voters by playing up his roots as a native of Scranton in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Congressional Districts

Facts/Details:

1. The 7th district  district encompasses an area of diverse wealth, ranging from blue collar and working class households in the southeastern portions of Delaware County (mostly around in the oil refinery areas of Marcus Hook and Trainer) to the southern and western portions of the affluent Main Line area of Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.
2. The 13th district had been heavily Republican in the past, but has grown more Democratic because of demographic changes and redistricting.
3. Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district is represented by Congressman Mark Critz (D) after a special election was held on May 18, 2010 following the death of Democrat John Murtha.
4. Pennsylvania's fifth district is currently the largest in area of all of Pennsylvania's congressional districts.
5. Pennsylvania's third district is located in the northwestern part of the state and includes the cities of Erie, Sharon, Hermitage,Butler and Meadville.
6. Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002.
7. The heart of the 4th district is a string of mostly white and middle class suburbs.
8. Pennsylvania's first congressional district includes primarily central and South Philadelphia, the City of Chester, the Philadelphia International Airport, and other small sections of Delaware County.
9. Despite a slight Democratic tilt due to the presence of fairly large cities such as Allentown and Bethlehem, the 15th district has elected Republicans recently.
10. The 10th district was one of the 12 original districts created prior to the 4th Congress.

Death Penalty

1) Do other countries have the death penalty? - According to Amnesty International, 139 countries have abolished the death penalty. In 2010, only one country, Gabon, abolished the death penalty for all crimes. During 2010, 23 countries executed 527 prisoners and at least 2,024 people were sentenced to death in 67 countries. More than 17,833 people are currently under sentence of death around the world. The death penalty differs from country to country, and have many variables such as: culture, religion, region, severity of the crime, age, gender,etc. It is different everywhere, but one thing is certain. Everywhere it is highly controversial.


2)What was the first case of the death penalty? - The first known execution in the territory now known as the United States of America was of Captain George Kendall, who was shot by a firing squad in Jamestown in December 1607 (other sources say sometime in 1608), accused of sowing discord and mutiny (some sources say he was also accused of spying against the British for Spain). The next known execution, allso in the Colony of Virginia, was of Daniel Frank, put to death in 1622 for the crime of theft. The death penalty has been around for a very long time, but has not been used as much as people think. Records of the death penalty have only been around since 1930. 


3) How much does it cost to pay for the death penalty?- The death penalty is much more expensive than life without parole because the Constitution requires a long and complex judicial process for capital cases. This process is needed in order to ensure that innocent men and woman are not executed for crimes they did not commit, and even with these protections the risk of executing an innocent person can not be completely eliminated.Over two-thirds of the states and the federal government have installed an exorbitantly expensive system of capital punishment which has been a failure by any measure of effectiveness. Literally hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent on a response to crime which is calculated to be carried out on a few people each year and which has done nothing to stem the rise in violent crime. A capital trial costs $116,700 more than an ordinary murder. trial




http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777460.html
http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/death/history.html