Federal deficit totaled $1.23T through August

Federal deficit totaled $1.23T through August, adding pressure to lawmakers looking for cuts

•  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal budget deficit reached $1.23 trillion in August. The third straight $1 trillion-plus deficit adds pressure on Congress and the White House to reach agreement on a long-term plan to trim government spending.

The Treasury Department said the deficit grew by $134.2 billion last month. At that rate, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the deficit will total $1.28 trillion when the budget year ends in September. That would nearly match last year's $1.29 trillion imbalance and come in below the record $1.41 trillion hit in fiscal 2009.
A congressional panel is seeking agreement on $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade. CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf warned the committee on Tuesday that spiraling interest payments could swamp the government's ability to pay for its operations and could spark a financial crisis if nothing is done.
Interest on the debt is the fastest growing category of the budget, according to the Treasury report. Payments totaled $233 billion through August, up 15 percent from the same period a year ago.
Revenues totaled $2.06 trillion through August, up 7.6 percent from a year ago. Tax receipts have increased as more people have gone back to work. Government spending totaled $3.3 trillion through August, an increase of 3.8 percent from the same period in 2010.
President Barack Obama is expected to send the committee his recommendations to trim the deficit next week.
Obama has also recommended a series of tax hikes to pay for his $447 billion job-creation proposal. He wants Congress to limit itemized deductions for charitable contributions and other deductions taken by families making over $250,000 a year, close loopholes for oil and gas companies, change the tax treatment of corporate jets and require investment fund managers to pay higher taxes on certain income.
Republicans have rejected those ideas in the past.
Before 2009, the deficit had never come close to $1 trillion in a single year.
The government last recorded a budget surplus in 2001, when revenues were $127 billion greater than spending. The surpluses were expected to total $5.6 trillion over the next decade.
But the deficits grew again after President George W. Bush won approval for broad tax cuts, pushed a major drug benefit program for seniors and launched the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2008, Bush's last full year in office, the deficit reached $454.8 billion, a record at that time. And when the economy plunged into a deep recession, the yearly imbalance topped $1 trillion.
Higher spending on unemployment insurance and food stamps, and a sharp contraction in tax revenues, widened the deficit. And it grew even more after the Obama administration backed a $787 billion stimulus program to boost the economy.
The deficit also widened after Obama and congressional Republicans agreed to extend Bush's tax cuts for two more years and include a one-year cut in the Social Security payroll tax in an effort to give the sluggish economy a boost.
Obama is seeking to extend an expanded payroll tax cut for another year as part of his jobs initiative.

 

Israeli Airport Security Device - We need this in the USA

 

Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body  scanners at the airports.

 

You step into an armored booth that will  not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on your person.

Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling.

 It will also eliminate the costs of a long and expensive trial.

You're in the airport terminal and you hear a  muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement:

 "Attention to all standby passengers, we now have a seat available on flight 670 to London. Shalom!"         

Brilliant

Dear Florida Governor, Dear Lt. Governor, Dear Florida Legislators:

  

I am not quite sure where you get your information from, but claiming that creating an oversight agency for homeowners associations would create more unwanted regulation and would hamper the creation of new jobs is about as far from the truth as the claim that Florida's economy is steadily recovering. No matter what certain folks are telling you, there is lots of abuse going on in Florida's community associations -- and the word is out. All over the nation newspapers report about the many problems in Florida's communities -- and the professionals claiming that all these "conspiracy" theories are urban legends are plainly disingenuous. Best example: The Nevada construction defect lawsuit scam: http://www.ccfj.net/HOANVfraudcasesmerged.htm

More than 100 guilty pleas are expected during the next few weeks, before the main conspirators go to trial. 

Nichols, the conspirator who pleaded guilty, admitted that he was given cash payments for his assistance in purchasing the properties, obtaining HOA membership status, rigging elections and using his position to manipulate the HOAs' business to enrich the co-conspirators at the expense of the HOA and legitimate homeowners. Take a look who the main conspirators are: Well-known and "highly respected" professionals and attorneys.

Do you honestly believe that this well-functioning scam was only used in Nevada?

The professionals, who consider these community associations as their private cash cows, try to cover up the obvious: The serious problems in our communities are increasing by the day. And they clearly abuse the owners trying to protect their investment.

Look at what is being done to homeowners trying to inspect financial records -- just trying to see where their money is going. They are being charged outrageous fees -- not allowed by the statutes -- and are placed in parking lots in Florida's heat.

Look at this example and the pictures. Demand is made for $245 for record inspection in the sun:

http://www.ccfj.net/CCFJRecReqEXP.htm

Or how about this picture?

Comment of the homeowner: "When I arrived at the garage of HOA President (Scott Ubillos), for the inspection appointment, there was only a lidded plastic tub with folders in it on the floor. The Boards' intention must have been for me to sit on the floor.  The "good" news it was only about 90 degrees and the mosquitoes almost ate me alive.  I brought my own beverage, table, chair, and office equipment to accomplish the review."

Homeowners are abused like this because "The Powers To Be" know full well that these owners can't afford to file a lawsuit -- and that they can treat them like dirt -- and violate Florida laws -- without having to fear any repercussions.

An oversight agency is not a regulatory agency in the meaning of the word, it's an agency supposed to protect about 2.5 million homeowners and their families against outright abuse. And as long as our Florida legislators are willing to wear blinders, retirees and snow birds -- and investors -- are afraid to come to Florida.

Would you want to move -- risking your life savings -- into a state where the legislature allows homeowners to be abused by so-called professionals and/or scam artists? You seriously might want to rethink your position on an oversight agency for HOAs. Resort gambling will for sure create a good source of revenue for the State of Florida, but it will not revive the real estate market. In order to achieve that you need again retirees, snowbirds and investors to bring their money to Florida!

Regards,

Jan Bergemann, President
Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.

WHAT PETS WRITE IN THEIR DIARIES

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary....








8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!


8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary








Day 983 of my captivity....

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe, for now...

  The site is badly in need of funds. My providing current levels of service are in danger!! Please pay for membership if you can, your support is badly needed!! Thank you all and GL! -

9-11

  The truth is nothing has changed in thousands of years and I wish people would see it. You still fight and die for the kings, the nobles and land owners to preserve their power and money .Instead of one king today we have all of congress as well and the nobles are the rich and powerful corporations. They lobby the kings to get them to invade countries to help increase their wealth. Guess what? we are still the same serfs that work the jobs and pay taxes just like it was thousands of years ago.

Obama passes amnesty by executive order Written by Gil Guignat Border & Immigration, Breaking News, Featured 2011   Last Friday, with no fanfare, no press coverage, and with every effort made to hide his actions from the American people, President Obama enacted the DREAM Act by executive order. Opposed by a majority of the American people and twice defeated in Congress, the DREAM Act grants amnesty to any illegal alien residing in the United States if s/he agrees to enlist in the U.S. Military or enter college. The Obama administration memo from the John Morton, Director of I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) directs I.C.E. Agents now to use"prosecutorial discretion" with regard to enforcing immigration laws. Director Morton says that Obama Administration policy directs border patrol agents not to enforce immigration laws: "When ICE favorably exercises prosecutorial discretion, it essentially decides not to assert the full scope of the enforcement authority available to the agency." You read that right. According to the Obama administration "favorable"enforcement means NOT enforcing the law! According to one of the first press reports to break this important story, the new Obama policy is cut and dry: "federal immigration officials do not have to deport illegal aliens if they are enrolled in any type of education program, if their family members have volunteered for U.S. Military service, or even if they are pregnant or nursing." Arizona and the voter ID law Just recently Obama's Department of Justice (DOJ) blocked Arizona from enforcing its voter ID law. Arizona is one if not the biggest portal of illegal immigration in the nation with half a million illegal aliens coming through the state annually. Arizona's Attorney General Tom Horne recently stated that he believed that blocking of the law facilitated massive voter fraud by illegal aliens. "Attorney General Tom Horne accused the Obama administration Tuesday of trying to thwart Arizona's voter-ID laws in a bid to get more illegal immigrants to the polls - presumably to cast ballots for the president and Democrats. Horne acknowledged that a brief filed by the Department of Justice in a case to be heard next month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals centers around the agency's argument that Arizona's law requiring proof of citizenship to register is pre-empted by federal law. But Horne, a Republican, told Capitol Media Services he sees something more sinister." More. The 2012 presidential elections First we have amnesty passed by executive order then we have President Obama's DOJ blocking voter ID in Arizona. What could possibly be the president's motive? If you wish to review the entire immigration directiveclick here. This story has the potential to bring the Obama Administration to its knees. The momentum can be on our side and just e-mailing it to others can create a critical mass. Don't assume you have no power. You do!

 

 

 

Ex-Aventura condo manager charged with grand theft

Article Courtesy of The Miami Herald

By Lidia Dinkova

Published September 7, 2011

  

Lourdes Rodriguez, the former manager of the Atlantic II, is accused of taking nearly $500,000 from the condo association.

More than a year after a complaint was filed with authorities that an Aventura condominium association manager had embezzled about half a million dollars from the association, the State Attorney’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for the confessed suspect, according to Aventura police.

Lourdes Rodriguez, 48, the former general manager of the Atlantic II, has been charged with grand theft and organized fraud, according to Aventura police. The charges are first-degree felonies.

Since the release of the arrest warrant, Aventura police have searched for her without any luck.

“I have exhausted all of my leads as far as trying to find her,” Aventura Det. Emilio Perez said Friday.

Aventura police do not believe Rodriguez is anywhere in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The saga began in February 2010 when auditors alerted the association’s board that Rodriguez had been receiving a salary higher than what was approved, said Gary Green, president of the Atlantic II board.

Green said the board hired an accounting firm to analyze the condominium association’s account. According to the firm, Rodriguez had allegedly taken about $506,956 from the association from January 2007 to February 2010. The majority was used to pay unauthorized credit card charges and the rest was taken as unauthorized payroll overpayments, police said.

“This was somebody with whom I had been working with very closely for years,” Green said in an interview in April. “She seemed to be honest. I was fooled.”

When the board members confronted her in February 2010, Rodriguez, who had worked at the association since May 2004, confessed and resigned.

“She said she was very sorry, very embarrassed and wanted to make it up to us,” Green said.

Two weeks later, on Feb. 22, Rodriguez e-mailed residents, apologizing and blaming her actions on a gambling addiction.

“What has made me lose everything I love, my job, my friends, my home, has been an addiction to gambling,’’ she wrote. “I don’t have words to express the shame, humiliation, and hurt that I feel,” Rodriguez added. “I have no words to express this and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Rodriguez told board members she wanted to pay back the association but she acknowledged she lacked the funds to do so, Green said. In the e-mail, she vowed to repay the association “no matter how long it may take.”

The association has recouped about $400,000 from its insurance company.

In April, Green said the condominium board has hired a management company, AKAM On-Site, to handle the association’s accounts. Green did not return a telephone call on Friday.