Your Questions About Green Living

What do you think of Obamas past votes, as opposed to what he is saying now?

Why on the BIG issues that were put before him in office, did he choose NOT TO VOTE. But he voted and pushed for little meaningless things like “Congradulating the White sox on winning the World Series??”

Examples:

2/28/08 Vote 35: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R.3221; New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 : NOT VOTING

2/26/08 Vote 33: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2633; A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. NOT VOTING

2/7/08 Vote 10: H R 5140: H.R. 5140 As Amended; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 : NOT VOTING

4/10/08 Vote 95: H R 3221: Ensign Amdt. No. 4419; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would result from a lapse in the tax law. NOT VOTING

4/4/08 Vote 91: H R 3221: Voinovich Amdt. No. 4406 As Modified; To protect families most vulnerable to foreclosure due to a sudden loss of income by extending the depreciation incentive to loss companies that have accumulated alternative minimum tax and research and development tax credits. NOT VOTING

4/3/08 Vote 87: S RES 501: S. Res. 501; A resolution honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. NOT VOTING

Yet he did vote inbetween all those votes for things like:

3/14/08 Vote 82: S CON RES 70: DeMint Amdt. No. 4339; To provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for providing an above the line Federal income tax deduction for individuals purchasing health insurance outside the workplace. VOTED NO

3/13/08 Vote 77: S CON RES 70: Kyl Amdt. No. 4372; To protect small businesses, family ranches and farms from the Death Tax by providing a $5 million exemption, a low rate for smaller estates and a maximum rate no higher than 35% VOTED NO

Im confused, if he is so for or against these like he says, why didnt he vote? And if he is for small falmilies and those needing insurance, why did he vote against them?? Any help ??

Australia will have a Carbon tax next financial year?

Well the carbon tax didn’t sound as bad as I thought it would be on average citizens, but I still don’t really understand why we have it?

I mean within 1 country I get that if the biggest polluters have to fork out the most cash than there is a definite incentive for big business to research and use carbon saving and renewable energy. I have no issue with the creation and installation of new technologies.

So, so far so good.

What I don’t understand is the low impact it is expected to have. Apparently by 2020 it is predicted to lower the Earth’s global warming impact by 0.0002% (not to screw with statistics, it’s also meant to be equivalent to 40mil cars off the road) which sounds like next to nothing seeing China is expected to have a 500% in carbon pollution by 2015 and India set for 350% by 2015.

I don’t get it, is this really about Australia sticking it’s hand up saying “We support a Global Emissions Trading Scheme, hope you guys come along.” ?

If this is the case than the part of the money that doesn’t compensate citizens cost’s of living or go to grants for big business to develop new technologies is for the Carbon Credits.

This is the bit I’, concerned about. I heard the EU trading scheme had significant amount of fraud going on. I don’t see how this will be any different, if not worse, if any country is buying carbon credits off any other country around the world.

So how are the Credits allocated, per capita? So what happens, countries that use a lot of carbon buy credits off countries that use less than their allotted carbon credits to fund projects that save the environment? Will this include paying to keep the Amazon, which is the point that I’m starting to wonder about what the money will be used for.

Thoughts?

Do you think Foreclosure Bill will help the average person?

Thinking this may be a help to consumers? Wait until you read what the people who you elected are going to do.

First of all this bill is ‘bi-partisan’ and was voted ‘yea’ at 84-12. The Senate has proclaimed it as a package designed to help businesses and homeowners ‘weather the housing crisis.’ The supporters of the bill in the Senate also acknowledge it does little to help borrowers losing their homes.

it actually does nothing to help them at all, there are no provisions for those in duress.

For Builders

The plan gives them large tax breaks. Over a three year period no less.

The same guys who made huge fortunes building homes and condos at inflated prices the last 6 years.

For investors

$7000 tax credits for buying foreclosed properties. This can include big businesses like lenders.

Buying a foreclosed home means going to a foreclosure sale. At this time this will mean 99-100% lenders tax credit as no one else will be there.

$4 billion in grants for communities to buy and fix up abandoned homes.

Grants will probably be given to those that can afford to buy lots of those homes, like large investment firms, lenders, and builders. Local Joe Public will see little of this in my opinion

For the oil companies and their ‘renewable energy divisions.’

$6 billion in unrelated tax breaks. This tax break goes against the Senates own rules regarding revenue increases.

Well, you elected corrupt people to lead, what did you expect. The businesses that made the most money in the last 10 years were Oil companies. They are the ones that will get this $6 billion tip. What the heck is this doing in a foreclosure bill?

Other notes

The plan modernizes the FHA to allow more people to refinance into loans back by ‘the depression-era agency.’

So, if you have good credit and payment history, the FHA will be there for you. Of course that helps no one in trouble at all.

Rumors of what the House will do when it receives it.

Try to reject 25 billion in tax breaks to ‘money-losing’ businesses like home builders.

I think, if I were to be cynical, that only ‘money-making’ home builders will get this.

The House seems to want to drop the tax credit for buying foreclosed properties.

Maybe they are afraid too many regular people may be able to buy a foreclosed home?

For the people

$150 billion for pre-foreclosure counseling and stronger loan disclosure requirements.

The only ‘foreclosure counselors’ will be your lenders. The only ones doing disclosure requirements will be your lenders. Lenders, say hello to another 150 Billion, thanks for the memories.

Tax breaks for ‘first-time’ home buyers and investors in low income rental housing.

You could sum this up as ‘Nobody and slum lords.’

A separate house bill would be paired with it that gives $300 billion to refinance loans for 1 million+ homeowners who ‘might face’ foreclosure.

Keyword ‘might’, this means if you are in foreclosure or probably cannot stop heading towards it you will not be eligible. This is a sad joke.

The White House

George Bush, the President, ‘opposes’ the plan but has no plans to veto the final version coming from the House.

Thanks for ‘almost’ George!

The Bush administration countered those plans Wednesday with its own, far narrower, proposal. It would expand an existing FHA program to allow more homeowners who are facing large rate hikes to refinance into more affordable government-insured loans

And this will preclude everyone in trouble or who already faced huge rate hikes

Would you be mad if Congress stole power from You?

Did you know that Congress is Crushing the renewable energy industry?
The govt is turning its back on the solar and wind industries, Congress is set to vote a new energy bill and they left out ALL benefits for the solar+wind industries! All tax credits for these systems are out the window. it reminds of me of how they killed the electric car…

We are at the whim of big oil companies,

SO MUCH FOR GLOBAL WARMING, this proves that even congress + the democrats dont REALLY believe we are causing global warming.

you can do something now, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-barlow/news-alert-if-you-love-r_b_71888.html

Can the US economy handle $850 billion in new spending?

If Obama Could Enact All Of His Campaign Proposals, Taxpayers Would Be Faced With Financing Over $850 Billion In New Spending Over One White House Term:

Obama’s Health Care Plan Will Cost Up To $65 Billion A Year; Equal To $260 Billion Over Four Years.”[Obama] campaign officials estimated that the net cost of the plan to the federal government would be $50 billion to $65 billion a year, when fully phased in, and said the revenues from rolling back the tax cuts were enough to cover it.” (Robin Toner and Patrick Healy, “Obama Calls For Wider And Less Costly Health Care Coverage,” The New York Times, 5/30/07)

Obama’s Energy Plan Will Cost $150 Billion Over 10 Years, Equal To 15 Billion Annually And $60 Billion Over Four Years.”Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of bio fuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 25)

Obama’s Tax Plan Will Cost Approximately $85 Billion A Year; Equal To $340 Billion Over Four Years.”[Obama’s] proposed tax cuts and credits, aimed at workers earning$50,000 or less per year, would cost the Treasury an estimated $85billion annually.” (Margaret Talev, “Obama Proposes Tax Code Overhaul To Help The Poor,” McClatchy Newspapers, 9/19/07)

Obama’s Plan Would Raise Taxes On Capital Gains And Dividends, And On Carried Interest. Obama’s tax plan includes: “Increasing the highest bracket for capital gains and dividends and closing the carried interest loophole.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama: Tax Fairness For The Middle Class,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/8/08)

Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package Will Cost $75 Billion.”Barack Obama’s economic plan will inject $75 billion of stimulus into the economy by getting money in the form of tax cuts and direct spending directly to the people who need it most.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama’s Plan To Stimulate The Economy,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 1/13/08)

Obama’s Early Education And K-12 Package Will Cost $18 Billion A Year; Equal To $72 Billion Over Four Years.”Barack Obama’s early education and K-12 plan package costs about $18billion per year.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama’s Plan For Lifetime Success Through Education,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 11/20/07, p. 15)

Obama’s National Service Plan Will Cost $3.5 Billion A Year; Equal To $14 Billion Over Four Years.”Barack Obama’s national service plan will cost about $3.5 billion per year when it is fully implemented.” (Obama For America, “Helping All Americans Serve Their Country: Barack Obama’s Plan For Universal Voluntary Citizen Service,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 12/5/07)

Obama Will Increase Our Foreign Assistance Funding By $25 Billion.”Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 53)

Obama Will Provide $2 Billion To Aid Iraqi Refugees.”He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 51)

Obama Will Provide $1.5 Billion To Help States Adopt Paid-Leave Systems.”As president, Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama will provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with start-up costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 15)

Obama Will Provide $1 Billion Over 5 Years For Transitional Jobs And Career Pathway Programs, Equal To $200 Million A Year And $800Million Over Four Years. “Obama will invest $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs that implement proven methods of helping low-income Americans succeed in the workforce.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 42)

Obama Will Provide $50 Million To Jump-Start The Creation Of An IAEA-Controlled Nuclear Fuel Bank. Obama:”We must also stop the spread of nuclear weapons technology and ensure that countries cannot build — or come to the brink of building — a weapons program under the auspices of developing peaceful nuclear power. That is why my administration will immediately provide $50million to jump-start the creation of an International Atomic Energy Ag