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House Passes Bill Taxing AIG and Other Employee Bonuses – Kabuki Theater
Michelle is RIGHT about referring to the passage of the House Bill today exacting 90 per cent taxes on AIG and other companies who enjoy government bailouts employee bonuses as Kabuki Theater.Denouncing a “squandering of the people’s money,” lawmakers voted decisively Thursday to impose a 90 percent tax on millions of dollars in employee bonuses paid by troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies.
In some cases the bonuses might be taxed 100 percent leaving the recipients with nothing.
The House vote was 328-93. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate and President Barack Obama quickly signaled general support for the concept.
“I look forward to receiving a final product that will serve as a strong signal to the executives who run these firms that such compensation will not be tolerated,” the president said in a statement.
“We want our money back now for the taxpayers,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “It isn’t that complicated.”
Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he expected local and state governments to take the remaining 10 percent of the bonuses, nullifying the pay-outs.
The bonuses are outrageous but it was President Obama who signed the economic stimulus bill that allowed them – whether he knew or understood they were in the bill. And, it was Timothy Geithner’s Treasury Department that asked Senator Chris Dodd to insert a provision in last month’s $787 billion economic- stimulus legislation that had the effect of authorizing American International Group Inc.’s bonuses.
But, the Kabuki Theater comes from Flap’s own Congressman, Elton Gallegly and the fact this TAX AS A WEAPON legislation is a BILL of ATTAINDER which is prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.
From Congressman Gallegly’s Press Release:“As a person with a lifetime record of opposing tax increases, today I voted for a bill to tax bonuses awarded to executives who received federal bailout money. It was the least the House could do to reclaim hard-earned taxpayer money from Wall Street firms who insult American taxpayers by rewarding those responsible for our economic crisis.
“It’s not the bill I would have preferred. I wanted to vote for the Republican alternative that would have recouped 100 percent of the bonuses. It would have done so by denying future federal funds to any company who did not recoup bonuses paid out under previous bailouts. It also would have required Treasury Department approval before companies could give future bonuses. I believe the bill would have been more effective and would have passed constitutional muster.
“Unfortunately, my Democratic colleagues—who stripped language banning bonuses from the stimulus bill and therefore allowed these payments—did not give members an opportunity to vote on the better bill.
“Right now, this was the only bill available to prevent AIG and other companies who receive bailout money to know of my outrage at giving outlandish bonuses to executives who failed the American people. These companies must get the message that the American people will no longer tolerate this behavior. Therefore, I voted for this bill.
“I look forward to working with my Democratic colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that will fix this loophole.â€
The AIG bonus bill is a JOKE. The Democrats are blaming Bush and everyone knows the REAL culprits are Timothy Geithner, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama.
The Democrats are running for cover and Flap’s Representative should have voted NO today and for any additional federal government bailouts PERIOD.
Technorati Tags: AIG, Elton Gallegly, Timothy Geithner, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama
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Elton Gallegly Re-Elected to Congress in California’s 24 District
GOP Representative Elton Gallegly and wife, Janice
In a Democrat year, where Barack Obama won California by over 20 points, Republican Representative Elton Gallegly has won re-election to California’s 24th Congressional District.Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, beat challenger Marta Jorgensen, a Democrat from Solvang, for the 24th Congressional District seat.
Gallegly has represented the district — which includes part of Santa Barbara County most of Ventura County, except for the coastal areas of Oxnard and Ventura — since 1986. Jorgensen won the right to oppose him with her surprise victory in a three-candidate Democratic primary. With 100 percent of the precincts counted, Gallegly had 57 percent to Jorgensen’s 43 percent.
Congrats to Elton for his election victory. As my Congressman, Flap has always been pleased with the outstanding representation Gallegly has given all of his constituents.
Technorati Tags: Elton Gallegly
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Re-Elect Elton Gallegly for United States Congress – California 24th District
Representative Elton Gallegly R-Simi Valley and Flap, June 3, 2008United States Congressman Elton Gallegly from Simi Valley, California deserves re-election to California’s 24th Congressional District.
Gallegly who has lived in the district for over 40 years is:
- Senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee;
- Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Europe;
- Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence;
- Has met with more than 50 heads of state, government delegations, or members of foreign legislative bodies here and abroad;
- Senior member of the House Judiciary Committee;
- Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law;
- Senior member of the Natural Resources Committee.
The Ventura County Star, a left-wing leaning district newspaper says the following in their endorsement:
Rep. Gallegly has taken a hard stand against illegal immigration, which many Ventura County voters support. He opposed the Bush administration’s immigration-reform plan, saying it granted amnesty to illegal immigrants.
He also opposed the $700 billion financial bailout plan, stating in an Oct. 3 press release: “The underlying reason for our economic problem is that people are in homes they can’t afford and for which they never should have qualified. This was only compounded by tens of thousands of people, including illegal immigrants, who were given loans without proper scrutiny and often put no money down and made few payments, if any at all. Add to that greedy Wall Street scoundrels, unscrupulous mortgage brokers, and an ocean of consumer debt and it is easier to understand how we got into this mess.” The bailout bill, he said, did not address those problems.
Rep. Gallegly supported President Bush’s decision to go to war in Iraq and he is opposed to pulling out now.
He is in favor of offshore oil drilling and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
After more than two decades in Congress, Mr. Gallegly serves on the Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Natural Resources and Intelligence committees. He takes constituent service seriously and has the experience and seniority to continue to ably represent Ventura County voters.
Flap agrees and will be casting his vote for his friend and Congressman Elton Gallegly tomorrow.
Technorati Tags: Elton Gallegly
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Michael Tenebaum Watch: Panel Confirms Election
GOP Attorney Michael Tenenbaum with former Chairwoman, Leslie Cornejo of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee
GOP Attorney and twice defeated California 24th Congressional District candidate Michael Tenenbaum has been confirmed as eligible to represent District 6 on the State Bar Board of Governors, seven weeks after winning election.While the ballots in that election were canvassed July 10, certification of the results was delayed because of what officials said were questions about where the winner actually practiced law.
Only 19 percent of the district’s attorneys participated in the balloting. Redlands attorney Bryan Hartnell, who was supported by all the major bar associations in the district, lost by 118 votes, while Riverside attorney A. Benjamin Aames came in third.
District 6 encompasses the Inland Empire counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, as well as the coastal counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.State Bar rules require that a governor’s principal place of practice be located within the district that governor represents. When questions were raised about Tenenbaum’s law practice address – which is a mail receiving service – the State Bar launched an investigation.
Tenenbaum has maintained that he practices from his Thousand Oaks home, and a committee appointed at the direction of the Bar of Governors has now accepted that assertion.
As Flap said before, if Tenenbaum could substantiate that he worked at home, despite his mailing address being a “The Mail Shop” he was good to go. And, he has.
Michael Tenenbaum will assume his seat on the California State Bar’s Board of Governors on September 27th.
Update:Incoming State Bar President Holly Fujie welcomed Tenenbaum to the board in a press statement issued Friday.
“I am looking forward to a substantive and hardworking year with this board,†she said, “and Mr. Tenenbaum will make an important contribution to this on behalf of his District Six constituents.â€
The State Bar’s decision came one day after Tenenbaum had filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, asking that his election be certified. In his own press statement, Tenenbaum said he would now dismiss the suit.
He also noted that the seven weeks it took the State Bar to certify him was longer than it took the Palm Beach, Fla., canvassing board, the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court to certify George W. Bush as the winner of the 2000 presidential election.
“That’s unfortunate not only for the lawyers in this state whose dues were wasted on an unnecessary bureaucratic process,†he said, “but also for the citizens of California who expect the Bar to use its resources more judiciously.â€
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Michael Tenenbaum Watch: The California State Bar Flap Part 2Michael Tenenbaum Watch: The California State Bar Flap
Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
Michael Tenenbaum to Challenge GOP Congressman Elton Gallegly in GOP Primary Election
Technorati Tags: Michael Tenenbaum, Elton Gallegly
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Michael Tenenbaum Watch: The California State Bar Flap Part 2
GOP Attorney Michael Tenenbaum with former Chairwoman, Leslie Cornejo of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee
Flap wrote yesterday that GOP attorney and twice defeated California 24th Congressional District candidate Michael Tenenbaum is being investigated by the California State Bar after his election to its Board of Governors.Now, Flap has obtained additional information that may shed some light on the FLAP.
The State Bar Board of Governors Friday authorized President Jeffrey Bleich to appoint a committee to inquire and to report back to the board as to whether Michael Tenenbaum, the newly elected board member from District 6, is eligible to serve.
The committee, which is to consist of one current and two former board members, will look into allegations—by persons who have not been publicly identified—that Tenenbaum’s principal office is not located in the district, as required by the State Bar Act.
The non-contiguous District 6 consists of Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Tenenbaum, who defeated Redlands attorney Bryan C. Hartnell by a little over 100 votes, with Riverside lawyer A. Benjamin Aames a distant third.
Tenenbaum told the MetNews Friday that his office is in his home, in Thousand Oaks in Ventura County.
Hartnell and Aames both said they heard reports during the campaign that Tenenbaum actually practiced from an office outside the district, but that they did not investigate and were in no way involved in instigating Friday’s action by the board.
The board directed that none of the members of the committee that will look into the matter come from District 6 or from District 7, which is Los Angeles County. Tenenbaum is a member of the Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, a State Bar spokesperson said.
Hartnell and Aames both said it was unclear what the board would do if it determines Tenenbaum is ineligible. Aames said he hoped that it would order a new election between Hartnell and himself, but said it was also possible that Hartnell, as the second-place finisher, would be declared the winner.
Hartnell declined to speculate as to what action the board might take.
If Michael Tenenbaum is indeed practicing law from his home and uses The Mail Stop as a business address, separate from his home, then Tenenbaum appears to be good to go – assuming his seat on the California State Bar’s Board of Governors.
But, if it is discovered that he is ACTUALLY practicing law at an office outside the area, then he MIGHT be in some jeopardy.
Tenenbaum apparently used his Mail Stop Address as his Congressional Campaign Committe address as well.
Michael Tenenbaum for Congress’s Federal Election candidate information is found here.
Tenenbaum’s campaign contributions detail and an itemization of individual contributions are here.
Stay tuned…….
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Michael Tenenbaum Watch: The California State Bar FlapRepresentative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
Michael Tenenbaum to Challenge GOP Congressman Elton Gallegly in GOP Primary Election
Technorati Tags: Michael Tenenbaum, Elton Gallegly
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Elton Gallegly Watch: Newsletters By E-Mail
Rep. Elton Gallegy talking with Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten; also Ventura County GOP Chairman Mike Osborn talking with Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks, June 3, 2008 – Photo By Flap
From the press release:
Rep. Elton Gallegly announced a program Tuesday to send periodic newsletters by e-mail on a variety of issues.
Residents of the 24th Congressional District can subscribe to the newsletters by visiting Gallegly’s Web site, www.house.gov/gallegly.
“E-mail newsletters are yet another way for me to keep in touch with the concerns of the people of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,” said Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks.
Gallegly’s e-mail newsletters complement other methods residents can use to interact with Gallegly, including e-mail, phone, fax and U.S. mail.
U.S. mail should be addressed to Gallegly’s Thousand Oaks office, 2829 Townsgate Road, Suite 315, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361-3018.
Residents can e-mail Gallegly through the House of Representatives’ Write Your Representative site, forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml.
Signed faxes can be sent to 202-225-1100 in Washington, D.C.; 805-497-0039 in Thousand Oaks; or 805-686-2566.
Gallegly’s phone numbers are 202-225-5811 in Washington, D.C.; 805-497-2224 in Thousand Oaks; and 805-686-2525 in Solvang.
Representative Elton Gallegly’s House website is here. His campaign website is here.
And, Elton’s Facebook page is here. He no longer has a MySpace page.
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Elton Gallegly Watch: Marta Who?
Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
CA-24 Watch: A Democrat Candidate Returns
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Elton Gallegly Watch: Marta Who?
Marta Jorgensen of Solvang, California who had withdrawn from her withdrawal in the Democrat primary race for California’s 24th Congressional District won the right to face off against 22 year incumbent Congressman Elton Gallegy last night.Marta Jorgensen, reached by phone Tuesday evening and informed of the early returns, was incredulous. “You’re kidding! That’s a pretty amazing thing.”
For three weeks during the campaign, Jorgensen had suspended campaigning and announced she was supporting Jill Martinez, a developer of affordable housing and the Democratic nominee from two years ago.
But, saying she thought Martinez and Oak Park insurance agent Mary Pallant were not paying enough attention to Santa Barbara County voters, Jorgensen jumped back in.
“I was certain I had shot myself in the foot on that,” she said. “I thought maybe I’d get 8 or 10 percent.”
With 83 percent of the returns counted, Jorgensen was leading, with 47 percent of the vote, over Martinez, with 32 percent, and Pallant, with 21 percent.
The winner will face incumbent Rep. Elton Gallegly, who easily prevailed in the Republican primary over Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum. Gallegly led, 77 percent to 23 percent.
So, why did this unknown, underfunded and almost random person win the Democrat nomination. I mean are the Democrats that stupid and uninformed?
Timm Herdt at the VC Star says it was the ballot designations:
- Marta Jorgensen – Educator
- Jill Martizez – Businesswoman/Housing Developer (Martinez ran as a minister two years ago)
- Mary Pallant – Insurance Agent
Some discussion over at Calitics, a Left-wing NUTROOTS site supports this thesis:
Nevertheless, let this be a lesson for many Democrats currently considering elected office: among the many other considerations in an election season, don’t overlook the power of a progressive-sounding ballot designation that shies away from anything having to do with business, housing development, insurance or the like. Democrats are fed up with anything related to Republican-sounding industries and are looking for a change–even if they do sometimes look for it in the most shallow ways.
And that, it must be admitted, is actually a good thing.
Thus, the Democrats are fickle and shallow?
Flap says RIGHT. After all, Marta Jorgensen just a few weeks ago begged off campaigning down south in Simi Valley because she could not afford the gas to get there.
By the way, Elton Gallegly now competing for his 12th term in Congress at the last reporting period boasted over $900,000 in his campaign coffers.Marta Jorgensen in November will be another failed Democrat challenger to Congressman Elton Gallegly.
Rate the California 24th Congressional District as SAFE GOP.
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
CA-24 Watch: A Democrat Candidate Returns
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Elton Gallegly Watch: The Post California GOP Primary Party
Rep. Elton Gallegy, R- Simi Valley talking with Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten; also Ventura County GOP Chairman Mike Osborn talking with Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks
Representative Elton Gallegly won his race for the GOP nomination in CA-24 yesterday defeating challenger attorney Michael Tenenbaum by a 77% to 23% margin – a whopping 54 points. This was a wipeout against Tenenbaum who had also run two years previous.
And, Flap was invited to the post election party at The Vineyards in Simi Valley. Interestingly enough this was the same restaurant that Flap had celebrated Gallegly’s first GOP primary win 22 years ago.
On to the the photos:
Rep. Gallegly and Ventura count Sheriff Bob Brooks
Rep. Gallegly and wife Janice
Rep. Gallegly, former California GOP Assemblyman and California State Senate GOP nominee Tony Strickland with wife California GOP Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, Judge-elect Jeff Bennett looks on
Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui V. Irwin and Thousand Oaks Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Glancy
Simi Valley Councilman Glen Becerra
Rep. Elton Gallegly looks at election returns with Darin Henry, Ventura County Republican Party, Area 2 member and Peggy Sadler, Area 4 member
The question of the night: Who of the above will run for the 24th Congressional District when Representative Elton Gallegly ever decides to retire?
Stay tuned…….
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
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Jeff Bennett Wins Ventura County Superior Court Seat
Jeff Bennett, Ventura County (California) Chief Deputy District Attorney has won his race for the Ventura County Superior court bench.The results:
Congratulations to Judge Bennett.Flap had the opportunity to take a few photos of the new judge at Representative Elton Gallegly’s post campaign party yesterday evening:
Representative Elton Gallegly R-Simi Valley and newly elected Ventura County Superior Court Judge Jeff Bennett
Judge Jeff Bennett and family
Judge-elect Bennett will take the bench in January 2009 when Judge Bruce Clark who has previously announced his departure retires.
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Representative Elton Gallegly Breezes to Easy Victory in CA-24 GOP Primary Race
Representative Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, in California’s 24th congressional District easily won GOP renomination in the California Primary Election yesterday. Gallegly bested attorney Michael Tenenbaum by over 4 to 1 in a low turnout GOP primary election.
Gallegy who will face off with Democrat Marta Jorgensen in the November general election will be competing for his 12th term in Congress.
Flap was invited to the Gallegly victory party last night at The Vineyards in Simi Valley just as he was 22 years ago when Gallegly first won the GOP nomination.
Representative Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley and Flap
Gallegly will have an easy re-election campaign in November. More on the race and the “SURPRISE” Democrat nominee later.
Stay tuned……
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California Primary Election 2008 Watch: Elton Gallegly for Congress
CA-24 Watch: A Democrat Candidate Returns