The Reed Act... and the controversial Maine mural

Maine has made national news again. A few days ago, the governor had a mural removed from the headquarters of the Maine Department of Labor. The reason: it appears members of Maine's business community felt the mural depicted Unions in a most favorable light... and that was not business-friendly. Now the U.S. Department of Labor wants Maine to return federal grant money which helped fund the artwork. 

At the Maine Department of Labor's website I found some general information about the Reed Act under "Frequently asked questions, at #9, paragraph #2. Under the "Reed Act Provisions of Title IX of the Social Security Act," at pg 17, Section H.1 explains that capital improvements to state-owned buildings are allowed if the building is used for administering unemployment insurance programs; it also mentions recapturing the federal government’s share of the market value of the improvement if the use ends. 

There's more about the Reed Act at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Under certain circumstances, the funds transferred from the U.S. Department of Labor to a state's unemployment trust fund can be used to pay extended or emergency benefits, and even regular benefits. The United States government collects money directly from businesses, through legislation called FUTA - Federal Unemployment Tax Act, and passes most of it along to the individual states.  

Anxious to put the issue to rest, the Republican party in Northern Maine is trying to raise money to pay the feds back, so the governor can get back to redecorating. I have an idea: put the mural back up to avoid paying the federal government back, but put it in upside down to send a message about the whole affair. First of all, I think the federal government should not have approved use of Reed Act funds by Maine, then being governed by John Baldacci, for the expensive artwork; it obviously was not essential to the administration of unemployment insurance benefit programs.        

New DEP Commissioner for Maine, Darrly Brown - ineligible?

Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, or amendments passed under it, Brown appears ineligible for the position of Commissioner for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. An environmental lawyer, Steve Hinchman, has asked the United States Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the issue. Apparently not a single lawyer in all of the government offices or in the legislature picked up on the "conflict" or dared to speak out about it. Hinchman said 

... everybody in Maine has been sort of willing to stick their head under a rock and ignore it.

I have no clue as to Brown's qualifications - or equally importantly, whether he's honest and committed to the people of Maine - however, if the governor feels so strongly that Brown is the man for the job, then he needs to work on repealing that portion of the Clean Water Act which makes individuals who've recently worked for companies involved in environmental issues ineligible. 

Tonight - The first "Government Corruption Crisis Conference"

That's exciting! There were over 700 participants in the conference. William (Bill) Windsor hosted the conference; click on the headline above to get to his website. 

Bill says he's willing to work on a solution indefinitely... or as long as it takes, just as long as others are willing to work with him. At his website, Bill describes a case involving "breach of contract." Apparently that was what lead him to work on reform. We've got alot in common. Bill writes:   

When I became involved in all of this, I was very naïve.  I felt that the judicial system was fair and honest, so I was confident that the courts would vindicate us.  

Healthcare professionals arrested... this makes me SICK!

One hundred and eleven defendants have been charged in the hugest healthcare fraud bust! It took place this morning, Attorney General Holder explains in the video... click on the headline.

And then there's Maine... where politicians who commit healthcare fraud are elevated, by their colleagues, to high-ranking positions in state government such Robert Nutting has been, to Speaker of the House! From "GOP lawmakers still back Nutting as speaker":

Nutting declared the pharmacy business bankrupt, leaving the state and feds with no way to collect $1.2 million in overpayments.

Lawmakers are obviously out-of-touch with their constituents; most of the readers who commented about Nutting in the following story aren't buying the former pharmacy-owner's story. "Nutting says $1.6 million Medicaid overbilling was honest mistake."

Protests in Egypt turn to celebration - Mubarak steps down

Wow, I can't believe it's been nearly two months since I last wrote. Soon I'll have more time to write; my temporary job in Fort Kent, helping the disabled and elderly understand their complicated Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, is about to end.

What's happened in Egypt should give Americans some confidence that when people pull together in numbers and demand change, they can get it.

I recently learned about a project started by some friends in Maine. Go to the "Grassroots" Groups and Projects tab to read about the "Project to Stop Federal Tyranny." Apparently, CD's are available for distribution to legislators.

   

Nobel Peace Prize chair empty

From the New York Times:

Mr. Liu, 54, a professor, poet, essayist and campaigner for human rights, has been an irritant to the Chinese authorities since helping resolve confrontations between the police and students in Tiananmen Square. Mr. Liu was detained in December 2008, after co-writing the Charter 08 call for human rights and reform, and is currently serving an 11-year sentence for the crime of “incitement to the overthrow of the state power and socialist system and the people’s democratic dictatorship.”

Nuts! Nutting screws state, but may become Speaker of House?

Robert Nutting, owner of now bankrupt True's Pharmacy, was recently elected by fellow legislators as speaker... unanimously! Give me a frickin' break!  

Despite the recent revelations that Nutting left the state and federal Medicaid programs with the $1.2 million in bad debt, Republicans and even some Democrats have said it will not harm his chance to become speaker.

True's Pharmacy was marking up rubber gloves and adult diapers by as much as 153%. The allowable markup was apparently 40%. Here's a link to a story which states, "Medicaid overpaid Trues by $531,792.73."

Maine's new legislature elects three new officers

Finally, I can't wait! Click on the headline to read about the newly-elected Maine bureaucrats. And Paul LePage and other governors-elect, apparently met with President Obama last week! Major items on the discussion list: homeland security and the president's healthcare overhaul. Click here for that news flash. 

William Schneider, who was elected to the office of Maine Attorney General, will have to handle the aftermath under A.G. Mills', regarding the "no wrongdoing" finding in prisoner Victor Valdez' death in a Maine prison, which I blogged about recently. 

Schneider, who is wheelchair-disabled, talked about how the law regarding the rights of the disabled in Maine (passed in 1971) compares to states which never enacted such discrimination legislation Here's that May 10, 2001 story: Maine A Pacesetter In Rights For The Disabled . In it a U.S. Supreme Court case was mentioned: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF UNIV. OF ALA.V. GARRETT (99-1240) 531 U.S. 356 (2001). The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Rehnquist, narrowed the avenues available to state government employees with disabilities, who had claims of discrimination against their employers. On March 06, 2001, John McManamy wrote And Justice for All?; the article will help you understand the ruling, which has alot to do with the Eleventh Amendment, and states' sovereign rights.  

And finally, I just wanted to say Goodbye, and good riddance, to the old administration. And here are a few stories about wind energy in Maine... a topic which is receiving much attention these days.  

Wind power's assualt on Maine
Baldacci touts investment, renewable energy

Sanders on Fed transparency

Senators Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman are the only two Independent Senators in the U.S. Senate! You'd think that being Independent would make these guys popular. Well, maybe Sanders is; but Lieberman has only a 25% approval rating! According to the Wiki anyway. 

Sanders introduced legislation last fall which would break up companies deemed "too big to fail" into smaller ones.

Care to comment about Cybersecurity? Nobody else did. A bill was proposed this summer which some senators said had no "kill switch."  

Reform advocates want further investigation into Maine prison inmate's death.

In November of 2009, Maine prisoners wrote to the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, concerned about the abuse of a fellow inmate, Victor Valdez. Valdez was a non-English speaking, near deaf, dialysis patient with a heart condition. A spokesperson for the Coalition wrote to officials at the Maine Department of Corrections, who did nothing to investigate the allegations. One week later, Victor Valdez was dead! 


An investigation by the Maine Deputy Attorney General William Stokes found no foul play.  The last time Valdez was seen alive was when he was dragged away by guards; tubes had been pulled from his arms, and he was bleeding. His body cremated because it was the least costly method for his family, no autopsy was performed. A federal investigation may follow. 

Stan Moody, formerly a reverend at the prison where Valdez spent his last days, thinks churches should get involved. 


Dennis Dechaine, convicted of murder in 1989, mentions Stokes in a letter which he wrote after a suicide attempt.

Prosecutor Bill Stokes implied that I should not be allowed to continue appealing my case because I failed to make my case in previous efforts. That's the sort of flawed reasoning that drives me to distraction. Stokes' office first argued against DNA testing and now it's arguing to keep a jury from ever hearing the results of that testing. His office also fought to keep any discussion of alternate suspects from a jury.

Many Mainers (I estimate about half) believe Dennis is innocent and deserves a new trial; convicted by a jury after select evidence--which would not benefit the state's case--was withheld by prosecutors on Stokes' team.  


 

Online commenting reopened in Maine Today papers!

I didn't write about this when I heard about it because I couldn't find any new stories about it. Well tonight I discovered that the ban on online comments was lifted shortly after it was placed. Just click on the title to read the story.

"Social Mess, The Liberal Legacy" by James Cook

I just started reading "Social Mess, The Liberal Legacy" by James Cook. This minibook of essays, only 45 pages, was sent to me by Investment Rarities Incorporated... free! It's full of ugly truths about America's welfare system.

At the link there's a toll-free number if you want to order it as well as another of Cook's books, which I plan to order; it's called "Full Faith and Credit, a Novel About Financial Collapse." 

Georgia and the right to travel

I had heard about the proposed legislation in Georgia to remove restrictions on traveling. If you have an interest in protecting your unalienable right to travel, you must read House Bill 875.  

We the People, do have the right to travel from one location to another. To detain an individual who is traveling, without having good reason for doing so, is a violation of the Fourth Amendment right to privacy, right against illegal seizures and searches!  

I want to thank my friend, Cynthia of Maryland, for pointing me to the information regarding the proposed legislation in Georgia, which she posted on her website at Wordpress. Cynthia has been riding her personal automobile although she has returned her license to the state... and she has not been bothered by law enforcement. She took other measures when she voluntarily returned the "driver's license," such as sent letters to the Department of Motor Vehicles, law enforcement in her county, etc. You'll find more information regarding travel at Cynthia's website.   

The Patriot's Toolbox

I got a postcard today from the Heartland Institute, and on it:

"The Heartland Institute hopes to put hundreds of thousands of copies of The Patriot's Toolbox into the hands of grassroots activists in the coming months."

According to the postcard, the Heartland's mission it is to "discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems." Click here to order the free book, "The Patriot's Toolbox," or call the Heartland Institute at 312 377-4000

State-owned Bank of North Dakota

Have you ever wondered if a bank were owned by a state, how it would operate? This one in North Dakota has been around since 1918.

And wouldn't you know, the federal government is attempting to regulate it out of business, preventing it from making student loans. Here's the story. 

The Flynn's

Jack and Margy Flynn have been winning in the courts! They've beat the judges in their own game in cases in New Mexico; they live in Maine now. I'm gonna keep in touch with them.

http://www.citizensoftheamericanconstitution.org/

Ohio Sovereignty Amendment - Oooohhhhh!

Listen to The Jim Trafficant Show and learn about individual, state, and federal rights.

The People's Constitution Coalition of Ohio

Where's the note?... dot com

Here's a link to a website where you can apparently find out where your mortgage note is.

Maine man getting new trial after prosecutorial misconduct

I blogged about this in May when the state allowed Assistant District Attorney Mary Kellett to argue against a new trial for Vladek Filler, despite she'd been found guilty of prosecutorial misconduct! 

What a waste of taxpayer dollars, and an embarrassment for Maine. A website was created to assist with costs of trying to get Filler a new trial in State of Maine v. Vladek Filler.  

Jailed without good reason!

I"ve added a new page and called it "Behind Bars" If you know someone who's in jail who clearly shouldn't be, send me some information and I'll consider posting it.

Dick Simkanin - Texas tax protester - Video series
Dennis Dechaine - Maine convicted of murder in 1989 

Harry Reid and Viagra

In August U.S. Senator for Nevada, and Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D) ran this ad   criticizing his opponent, Sharron Angle, for wanting to eliminate the Department of Education. Angle-the Republican nominee for Reid’s seat whose been endorsed by the Tea Party-believes the responsibility for providing education should lie with state and local government, not with federal government... and she cites the 10th Amendment as the authority for that power.

Well, a few days ago Angle began running a commercial in which she states “Reid actually voted to use taxpayer dollars to pay for Viagra for convicted child molesters and sex offenders”: apparently, Reid didn’t oppose an amendment to the Healthcare bill which will allow it in 2014 if nothing is done to stop it.

Harry Reid at Wikipedia
Sharron Angle at Wikipedia

I couldn’t help but be reminded of a Maine case, Pease v. Kester, in which it's mentioned that Medicaid reimbursed a doctor for performing a penile prosthesis on a convicted rapist! I blogged about it in January, 2010.

Dec 6 2025 update: the first link regarding the case now goes to a library at the Maine School of Law where you can order the case. Put Pease in as plaintiff, and Kester (the doctor) as defendant, and the library's email address will appear and the case number. The decision was in January of 2005. 

Actually while researching I just found the link to the case Pease v Kester.  

Foreclosures halted!

Yesterday, states halt foreclosures due to bank errors! From the story:

"Employees have admitted to signing off on paperwork before signing them and moving forward with the foreclosures. In some cases, forgery is even suspected..."

Today, one bank puts foreclosures in all fifty states on hold until further investigation!

Rothschild documentary - videos

The history, all here, in six videos. From Part 6:

"The wealth, hoarded by this one family alone, could feed, clothes, and shelter every human being on earth."

Talkshoe - Guest speaker Hagan Smith on Rod and Carl's show.

The October 1st broadcast was a great one! Hagan explains, in simple terms, the fraud which many Americans don't even realize we're the victims of! Hagan mentions the Reconstruction Act and tells us how when the southern states walked out of Congress, it was sine die (without setting a date to meet again); so Lincoln set up a military dictatorship, reconvening Congress under the Emergency Powers Act. That act was never rescinded... we've been under military rule ever since.

Hagan also mentions how our money is not lawful; it's nothing but debt notes. Here's a short clip of the show: http://anticorruptionsociety.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/hagan-smith-summary-10-1-10.mp3.

And at this link, Ron Paul explains more about the federal reserve - a bunch of private bankers which Congress gave authority to print money to, though the people never gave Congress the power to do it.

What if there's a tie vote in the Supreme Court?

What if for whatever reason the vote of the Supreme Court ends in a tie? I found the answer at the website Legalknowledgebase. 

When the court is evenly split, the decision of the lower court stands.

"The Creature from Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin

My friend Ted sent a link to this audio - The Birth of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank - How usury destroyed America. The author of the book "The Creature from Jekyll Island," G. Edward Griffin is giving a speech in 1994...

I think I'll also post the link in my "Revolutionary Reports" tab at the top of this page.

Judge Thomas Porteous Impeachment hearings - Louisiana

Federal District Court Judge Thomas Porteous is just one of many dirty judges. Louis Marcotte, a bail bondsmen in Louisiana on September 14, 2010, testifies that most of the judges took cash! Marcotte doesn't want to give their names, because there are too many. State representatives were taking "gifts" too apparently. The number of individuals in the dozens, their names are in the record in deposition # 447; good luck finding it.   

On the second day of the impeachment trial of Thomas Porteous, you'll find Marcotte's statements near the end of the video, at about 01:58:00. Some of the things that the bail bondsman gave to legislators and judges: home repairs, shrimp, ham, turkey, cake and fake Rolex watches. 

According to C-Span this was "the first Senate trial since the impeachment proceedings of President Clinton in 1999."

Attorney Fine freed!

I've recently taken on a full-time job in Fort Kent, temporary until the end of February. 

I've been so busy moving that I haven't told you that Attorney Fine has been freed! Here's the story, which mentions a possible movie deal!

Attorney Fine released from California jail!

Finally... here's the story.

Former Maine prosecutor - GUILTY!

I'm back! I haven't blogged in so long because I've been busy moving.

I heard about James Cameron yesterday. Here's the story!  Cameron was downloading porn on his home computer while employed at the Maine Attorney General's office as a drug prosecutor! This reminds me of another story...