Category: Fall 2008 Newswire
Maine to Get Grants for Public Safety and Criminal Justice
GRANTS
Bangor Daily News
Maite Jullian
Boston University Washington News Service
9/18/08
WASHINGTON – Maine agencies this week received federal grants that will help prevent drunken driving, improve highway safety and reduce the number of DNA samples awaiting analysis at the State Police crime laboratory.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety will receive $1 million for drunk driving prevention and $100,000 for motorcycle safety.
“We received all our grants for the 2008 fiscal year,” Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, said. “We are happy. The last couple of years we received around half a million dollars.”
The funds, shared with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, will go to local law enforcement officials throughout the state to enforce alcohol traffic safety and drunk driving prevention programs, and to reinforce training and education programs for motorcyclists.
“In 2005, 23 percent of all drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher,” said Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, in a press release. “I strongly support this grant program and its objective of curbing the scourge of drunk driving.”
The South Portland Bus Service also will receive $294,000 from the Federal Transit Administration to buy a replacement bus.
“These funds will address major transportation issues,” Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a joint statement. “Maintaining highway safety and improving public transportation services will keep Mainers connected and safe.”
The Maine State Police crime laboratory also received two grants this week.
The Justice Department announced that the laboratory will receive $98,000 as part of the Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program which is intended to reduce the number of unanalyzed DNA samples in criminal cases under investigation.
Another $126,000 will go to the compulsory DNA testing of convicted offenders.
Elliot Kollman, crime lab director, said that more money could be used.
He said that the funds have been going down for the past five years because they are intended to reduce the number of cases awaiting analysis.
But as the demand for DNA testing has been increasing, in part because law enforcement officials have become more aware of forensics and use it mainly today for “property crimes” such as burglaries, the number of unanalyzed cases is close as what it was 5 years ago.
“We had 300 to 400 DNA submissions about five years ago and we already have 700 this year,” he said. “Even if we have increased our capacity, we still have 200 cases waiting analysis now. We are pretty much where we were 5 years ago. If we still had 400 cases’ submissions, we wouldn’t need the amount we need now.”
Finally, the Penobscot Nation will receive a $37,000 grant to implement a registry for the tracking and monitoring sex offenders.
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15 Protesters Arrested in Office of U.S. Rep. Barney Frank
PROTESTS
The New Bedford Standard-Times
Courtney Hime
Boston University Washington News Service
September 18, 2008
WASHINGTON – Fifteen advocates for the rights of disabled persons were arrested in U.S. Rep. Barney Frank’s office Tuesday after trying to get his endorsement of their housing agenda.
Randy Alexander, an organizer for ADAPT, said his organization advocates for individuals with disabilities being allowed to live in their communities rather than in nursing homes. The group was in Washington hoping to gain support for their housing agenda, which calls for accessible, affordable, integrated housing, Alexander said.
ADAPT members met in Rep. Frank’s office because they believed the congressman had previously committed to acquiring 500 housing vouchers for people transitioning out of nursing homes and failed on his commitment, Alexander said.
Rep. Frank said the Financial Services Committee never had control over acquiring the vouchers. That responsibility, he said, fell to the House Appropriations Committee.
“To the extent that my committee could vote for the vouchers, we did,” he said, “but I never promised that I would get them.”
Despite the unmet commitment, Alexander said the group was primarily gathering Tuesday for the congressman’s endorsement.
“The folks that went into his office asked for him to support our platform,” he said. “Didn’t ask him to pass anything; didn’t ask for money.”
Bruce Darling, of Rochester, N.Y., was one of the 15 arrested in Rep. Frank’s office. Darling said the group requested to speak to the congressman but were told he was unavailable. When they refused to leave, Darling said the congressman suddenly appeared and began yelling.
“It felt more like he was lecturing us as opposed to looking at the platform,” he said.
Though Rep. Frank said he is in favor of the platform, he said he still told the group to leave because they were being disruptive. When they refused, he asked the Capitol Police to arrest them.
ADAPT members also were arrested in the offices of Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Including the 15 in Frank’s office, a total of 52 persons were arrested.
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, said all of the arrestees were charged with unlawful assembly. While some were held longer than others, all were released on Tuesday.
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Congressional Leaders Given Short Notice for AIG Briefing, Senator Says
TUX
New Hampshire Union Leader
Jenny Paul
Boston University Washington News Service
September 18, 2008
WASHINGTON – A Tuesday night meeting called to brief congressional leaders on the federal government’s $85 billion takeover of insurance giant American International Group, Inc. was pulled together so quickly that Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) didn’t have time to change out of the tuxedo he had planned to wear to a black-tie gala that evening.
Gregg, the senior Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, attended the 6:40 p.m. meeting at the Capitol dressed for an award ceremony at the National Archives to honor Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson. Gregg said an aide told him about the meeting at 6:15 p.m., so he rushed from his Washington, apartment to the Capitol, where Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and top congressional leaders were gathering.
“It was a very sober meeting,” Gregg said. “I mean, you’re dealing with a major economic event, which has massive implications for a lot of people…because AIG is the insurer essentially for most of the banking system of this country, so if it had gone under, it would have taken a lot of banks with it.”
After the briefing, Gregg said he returned to his apartment to pick up his wife, Kathy, who had flown from New Hampshire to attend the gala. They made it to the National Archives in time to hear McPherson’s speech, he said.
“We’re big supporters of the Archives,” Gregg said. “I think they’re really one of the unique resources of our nation.”
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N.H. Soldier Will Receive Bonus, Congressman Says
BONUS
New Hampshire Union Leader
Jenny Paul
Boston University Washington News Service
September 18, 2008
WASHINGTON – A soldier from Keene, N.H., who returned from Iraq in July will receive a $3,000 refund from the military for bonus pay that was given to him and later revoked, Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) said Thursday.
Kevin Steven Clark II, 24, was promised a $14,000 bonus for agreeing to serve in a combat unit when he visited an Army recruiting office in 2005, said his mother, Jane Clark. After enlisting, Clark was sent to Ft. Stewart, Ga., and then served in Iraq for 15 months. Spc. Clark received $3,000 of the bonus before military officials told him that he had been sent to Iraq with a unit that did not qualify for the bonus and ordered him to repay the money, his mother said.
“He was paying this back while he was in combat,” she said of her son, who is currently stationed at Ft. Stewart.
Jane Clark and her husband asked Hodes to help their son after hearing the congressman interviewed on a local radio show last spring. Hodes secured the refund after writing to Defense Secretary Robert Gates to explain the situation.
“This was a case that seemed to cry out for help,” Hodes said. “I wanted to make sure that especially when it involves somebody who’s put their life on the line for this country that the U.S. government is going to do right by the person. That is my job.”
In a letter to Hodes, military officials said Spc. Clark was “erroneously paid” the bonus because his unit did not qualify for it, but the money would be refunded “as a matter of equity.” Hodes said Army officials shouldn’t be calling the bonus payments a mistake.
“It’s hard for me to believe that they can say that with a straight face when they’re paying him the money back,” he said. “I think the mistake was the Army’s practicing a bait-and-switch on a brave soldier.”
The bonus “was contingent on successful completion of training and assignment to a designated unit as determined by Department of the Army,” Maj. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman, said in an e-mail Thursday.
Jane Clark said her son wants to attend college to study special education after he is discharged from the military in December. Her son was told he would receive his refund within 30 days.
He is working with military officials to see if he is eligible to receive the rest of the $14,000 that was promised, she said. The decision of whether to pay the full bonus rests with Army officials, Hodes’ office said.
Kevin Clark is not allowed to speak to the media about the matter because he is still an active member of the military, his mother and representatives from Hodes’ office said.
“We’re really happy that working with Congressman Hodes has gotten the ball rolling and gotten the Army to see that these kids deserve their money,” Jane Clark said. “They’re over there protecting us and fighting in a nasty war. And if you promise someone something, you need to follow through.”
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Give Peace a Chance
PEACE
Norwalk Hour
Jordan Zappala
Boston University Washington News Service
9/18/08
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The United Nations International Day of Peace – an annual practice of global non-violence and ceasefire celebrated around the world – will be observed on Sunday.
This year’s celebration will begin Sunday morning when U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rings the Peace Bell at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. He will be joined at the ceremony by several U.N. messengers of peace – celebrity ambassadors such as George Clooney, Jane Goodall and Yo-Yo Ma – who have been chosen to promote the work of the U.N. Ki-moon has called for a 24-hour cessation of all hostile action, and for a minute of silence to be observed across the world at noon local time.
Over the past few decades, more and more organizations – both national and international – have joined the call of the U.N. The day has grown to include hundreds of thousands of participants who show their commitment to peace through diverse and imaginative means ranging from dance parties to silent vigils.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell issued a proclamation accepting Sept. 21 as the International Day of Peace in Connecticut.
“I urge all citizens to use this day as an opportunity to make peace a reality in our homes, our communities and between all nations,” she wrote.
Many events will be taking place in southern Connecticut and New York in honor of the 26th International Day of Peace. Here are a few:
Bridgeport
Peace Vigil at Black Rock Elementary School. Students and community members will rededicate the red cedar peace pole installed during last year’s day of peace. 545 Brewster St. Monday at 1:45 p.m. Free.
Shelton and Waterbury
Pinwheels for Peace. Add your pinwheel to the more than 1 million being displayed worldwide. Sunnyside School, 418 River Rd. in Shelton and in Waterbury at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School, 16 S. Elm St. All day on Sunday. Free.
New York City
Stand-Up For International Peace. An evening of laughs in celebration of Day of Peace, Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. Sunday at 8:30 p.m. $20.
Yoga for Peace. As part of a global yoga practice on Sunday, join an estimated 1,000 fellow yogis on the Center Lawn of Battery Park for 108 sun salutations and Kirtan chanting by Anjula. Sunday at noon. $25.
Kirtan Concert by Krishna Das. Special guest speakers Lady Ruth, Dharma Mitra and Swami Ramananda. Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 86th Street and West End Avenue. Sunday at 6 p.m. $15.
Local Woman Receives Adoption Award in Washington
ADOPTION
Norwalk Hour
Jordan Zappala
Boston University Washington News Service
9/18/08
WASHINGTON – An Avon, Conn., professor received an award in Washington Wednesday for her work as an advocate for adopted children with special needs.
Mary Beth Bruder was one of 180 persons honored with the 2008 Angel in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. The award recognizes persons from around the country who have improved the lives of foster children and orphans across the globe.
Bruder, a single mom whose four daughters have all been adopted from China, was honored at a reception Tuesday, and attended a gala event Wednesday night where Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) served as keynote speaker.
During her visit, Bruder also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), who nominated her, to discuss issues relating to adoption, foster care and children with special needs.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Bruder has received this well deserved honor,” Dodd said in a press release. “Connecticut is lucky to have such a dedicated advocate for its children. I hope that her example may encourage other parents to consider the option of adopting a child, particularly one with special needs, who might otherwise be denied a loving home.”
Bruder said the whole experience was “humbling.”
“I got to meet a lot of people who’ve dedicated their lives to this issue,” she said Thursday. “It made me see how much more we need to do in this country to get homes for these kids. There are so many families in America who could do so much to enhance a child’s life.”
In addition to taking care of her girls, Bruder is the director of the A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education at the University of Connecticut, where she is also a professor of pediatrics and educational psychology. She also volunteers with several organizations in China, including Love without Bounds and Chinese Children Charity.
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Focusing on the Crisis on Main Street
BAILOUT
Norwalk Hour
Jordan Zappala
Boston University Washington News Service
9/18/08
WASHINGTON – If Tuesday’s Capitol Hill hearing on the financial crisis centered on so-called golden parachutes for failing corporate CEOs, discussion at the House Financial Services Committee hearing Wednesday swirled around another central point: the effect of the crisis on Main Street.
In front of clicking cameras and a packed room, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson stated emphatically that the entire plan presented to Congress was for the benefit of the average taxpayer – and not corporate giants – because “the ultimate taxpayer protection will be stabilizing our system.”
“Every business in America depends on money flowing through the financial system,” he said.
“We’re trying to protect Main Street,” said Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) before Wednesday’s hearing. “We’re trying to protect 401(k)s, college savings, retirement funds. It’s so students can get college loans. It’s not about Wall Street, it’s Main Street.”
Shays’ 4th District challenger, ex-Goldman Sachs executive Jim Himes, said he would want to ensure taxpayer protection in the pending legislation.
“This bailout cannot be a blank check for Wall Street,” he said Wednesday. “Any bailout should be carefully considered and must include smart regulation, a stimulus package that works on Main Street, and should address runaway executive compensation for companies seeking relief.”
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that if credit is frozen the average American will not be able to lease a car, buy a home or send a child to college. Moreover, he warned, the resulting market downturn would lead to higher unemployment and home foreclosures.
“Credit is the lifeblood of our economy,” Bernanke reiterated in response to repeated questions about the economic impact on the average taxpayer.
Before testifying at Wednesday’s hearing, Paulson faced a lot of criticism for his role in the Federal Reserve takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as well as the takeover of American International Group earlier this month, but he stayed firm in front of the committee on his decisions, insisting that “these steps have all been necessary but not sufficient.”
He reiterated that he was asked to come to Congress without a completed plan on Saturday, and that the oversight and transparency Congress has repeatedly called for were things he believed should be included in the legislation “without undermining the effectiveness of the proposal.”
Shays, in a press release, said, “I believe we can’t cut a $700 billion check to Treasury without strong oversight of this plan, and will be actively engaged in the debate on how to balance emergency relief with significant transparency and accountability.”
Also of concern to members of Congress on Wednesday was the worry that the American public remains in the dark on the details of the crisis itself. Several congressmen called for President Bush to further explain the situation to the country.
In control of legislation now are House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D- Conn.), who have pledged to work with a bipartisan group to address all issues raised at the hearings as quickly as possible.
Shays, a member of the Financial Services Committee who is facing a tight race in November, said he’d like to see Congress vote on the legislation by early next week.
But, he said, “I don’t even think about the impact that this would have on the upcoming election, and I’d like to think that my opponent wouldn’t either. The issues at hand are just too important.”
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More Money for Home Heating Assistance
LIHEAP
Bangor Daily News
Maite Jullian
Boston University Washington News Service
9/17/08
WASHINGTON—Maine will receive more than $7 million in additional home heating assistance for low-income families as part of an emergency contingency fund.
Maine’s congressional delegation announced Wednesday that the administration will immediately release $120.7 million nationwide from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides aid to vulnerable people to help pay their energy bills.
The state’s two senators and two representatives wrote separate letters to the administration earlier in the month asking for additional funds.
Though they said they welcomed the administration’s decision, they added that increased spending remains necessary and that they will keep pushing for additional funds for fiscal year 2009, which begins on Oct. 1.
Rep. Michael Michaud (D) said in an interview that of the $121 million released, more than a fourth, or more than $33 million, will go to New England states, which are identified as needy because of the large number of eligible families that use oil to heat their homes.
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) said in a press release that Maine received $46.5 million the current fiscal year, the most the state has ever received.
She said that she was “pleased” but that the current economic crisis and the increase in energy prices require a more significant increase in the low-income aid program, which totaled $2.57 billion in fiscal year 2008.
“While release of these funds is a positive step forward, we must do more to mitigate this crisis by fully funding the … program at $5.1 billion,” she said.
Rep. Tom Allen (D) said in a statement he is also working to secure full funding for the program.
Sen. Susan Collins (R) said in a press release that she sent a letter last week to Senate appropriators requesting the inclusion of $2.5 billion for next year.
According to Sen. Collins, the program assists 4.5 million low-income families nationally each year, which represents only 15 percent of Americans eligible for assistance under the program. To be eligible the family must earn no more than 150 percent of the poverty level or 60 percent of the state median income. About 48,000 Maine families rely on the program.
Reps. Allen and Michaud said that they also were working on changing the eligibility requirements so that more families would benefit from the program.
“Economically people are hurting,” Michaud said. “They are going to be in desperate need this winter. It is really important that Congress looks at expanding eligibility requirements.”
Allen said in a statement that he also filed legislation to create a $2,000 refundable tax credit for fuel costs and a tax credit for small businesses for the amount they spend on fuel above the Labor Day 2004 price and to raise the Internal Revenue Service’s standard mileage rate to 60 cents.
“Congress must take even bolder action to provide relief from high prices to families and small businesses in Maine and across America,” he said.
While Maine’s delegation pushes for additional funds, President Bush’s proposal for the fiscal year 2009 budget actually reduces funds for the program by 22 percent. The regular fund would be cut from $1.98 billion to $1.7 billion and the emergency contingency fund from $590.3 million to $300 million.
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Bush Announces New Energy Relief Funding for Connecticut’s Low Income Families
RELIEF
New London Day
Dan Levy
Boston University Washington News Service
September 17, 2008
WASHINGTON—The White House announced Wednesday it would direct nearly $7 million in energy assistance funds to Connecticut as part of an effort to help low-income families heat their homes this winter. Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd, Independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney, 2nd district, welcomed the move, but warned that the assistance was not enough to help working families weather the current energy crisis.
The money is Connecticut’s share of more than $120 million of left-over emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds, which President Bush made available. The aid consists of both baseline funds, approved by Congress, and emergency funds, released at the president’s discretion.
Wednesday’s release brings the total amount of emergency funds to Connecticut this year to nearly $24 million. Connecticut had not received emergency home energy aid funds since 2006, when the president directed $3.3 million toward the state.
Bush’s announcement comes a week after New England’s congressional delegation wrote a letter urging the president to release the outstanding funds, which would have expired at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30, according to the members.
“With the winter months approaching, this is very good news for the working families of eastern Connecticut who are struggling to afford their home heating bills,” Courtney said in a statement. But along with Sens. Dodd and Lieberman, as well as Gov. M. Jodi Rell, he called for at least $2.5 billion more in federal funds.
“It is long past time to fully fund [the program]. and I intend to keep fighting,” Dodd said.
Low-income residents can apply for energy grants at one of 12 community action organizations in the state, according to Matthew Barrett, public and government relations director for Connecticut’s Department of Social Services. Barrett said his organization is expecting a spike in applications this year.
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Shays Voted in Favor of Democratic Energy Bill
SHAYSVOTE
Norwalk Hour
Jordan Zappala
Boston University Washington News Service
9/17/08
WASHINGTON – Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) was one of 15 Republicans to vote in favor of the Democratic-sponsored energy bill late Tuesday, despite his highlighting of what he described as the bill’s shortcomings earlier on the House floor.
“I strongly believe in a comprehensive energy policy that includes conservation, renewable sources, nuclear power and American oil and natural gas,” Shays said in a speech before the vote. “H.R. 6899 brings us closer, but is silent on several important issues. I would have particularly liked to have seen revenues derived from these [off-shore drilling] leases directed towards further renewable energy investment.”
The bill – including a compromise on off-shore drilling that does not provide sharing the revenue with the states– was passed by a margin of 47 votes, despite Republican attempts, which Shays joined, to recommit the bill to the Natural Resources Committee, and now moves on to the Senate.
“While this is not a perfect bill, it takes steps to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, increase supply, build a market for renewable energy and promote energy conservation,” Shays said in a press release Wednesday morning. “It is unfortunate the majority did not allow more meaningful dialogue on how we can work together on a bipartisan basis to address our looming energy crisis.”
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