[tomder55]

horse sh+t The US has pipelines all over the place....even in Nebraska

[talaniman]

That's what those land owners said... horse $hit!!

[smoothy]

Democrats who oppose Keystone XL pipeline own shares in competing companies | Fox News

Democrats who oppose Keystone XL pipeline own shares in competing companies

[paraclete]

Horseshlt now that's something they don't move by pipeline but I expect you are expert on the production and logistics of horseshlt

[tomder55]

There is over 20,000 miles of pipeling going through Nebraska . The argument against the Keystone line is lame.

[paraclete]

so wall to wall pipelines then I can understand farmers don't want another one

[tomder55]

emminent domain only goes so far as to an easement and the land owners would be given a fair price for the use. Not only that ,but there is already a Keystone pipe route going through the state. This extension would just make the route shorter .Is it the position now of this black robed despotic oligarch that the state doesn't have the power to make eminent domain easements now for infrastructure ? Like I said ....horse sh+t .

[tomder55]

let me see if I can post a pix.... Attachment 45702

[speechlesstx]

70 percent of the landowners have already reached an agreement with TransCanada. The oligarch decided a law intended to bypass their Public Service Commission and allow the governor to approve the route was unconstitutional, a law 2012 law "that received overwhelming support in the Nebraska Legislature."

It's a delay, and the greens will be fighting it tooth and nail again for God knows whatever reason other than apparently they want to increase greenhouse gas emissions and expose us to more truck, train and barge spills.

[tomder55]

yup ,all it's about is a delay tactic. If it goes up the court system this local judge will get smacked down by the higher courts. These enviro-weenies would prefer that the Canadians pipe it to Vancouver so it can be shipped direct to the Chinese.

[talaniman]

Or they could refine their own oil and jack up the price. Ever wonder why they don't?

[tomder55]

no, and I really don't care .They think it's in their best interest to export the crude . Maybe it's just that we are better at it .

[talaniman]

My problem is giving eminent domain to a foreign country, even if they are neighbors and allies.

[paraclete]

so what you are saying is that you have a problem with multinationals and trans border transactions, better abandon NAFTA right now

[talaniman]

TPP is supposed to be the answer to NAFTA, and close the trade gaps but it sounds even worse to me.

[paraclete]

Free trade schemes are a beggar my neighbour policy that often backfires resulting in wealth transfer away from the larger competitor NAFTA is a case in point. Canada and Mexico have benefited far more than the US

[speechlesstx]

How Virginia does 'ethics reform.'

The purported “ethics reform” bills sliding easily through the Virginia legislature include a curious, little-noticed provision.

Under language approved by the Senate and House of Delegates, legislators would no longer be obliged to have their financial disclosure forms notarized.


Why is that important? It means lawmakers would be charged only with a misdemeanor, rather than a felony, for making a false statement about their investments or gifts they’ve received from lobbyists.


Well, isn’t that convenient.


Richmond political leaders have touted the bills as taking a major bite out of corruption, in response to the gifts scandal involving former governor Bob McDonnell (R). Instead, this switch would yank out one of the current law’s sharper teeth.

...


I lack space to describe all of the bills’ shortcomings, but here are some highlights.


First, the centerpiece is a $250 “cap” on gifts to public officials that’s close to meaningless.


The ceiling is not cumulative. So there’s no limit on the number of $250 gifts that a lobbyist or state contractor could give in hope of influencing a lawmaker or other official.


More important, the $250 limit would apply only to so-called tangible gifts, or objects. That is aimed at largesse, such as the $6,500 Rolex watch that McDonnell received via his wife from businessman Jonnie Williams Sr.

But the biggest gifts bestowed by corporations, lobbyists and foreign governments are “intangible” ones, such as overseas trips, weekends at the Masters golf tournament and tickets to FedEx Field.

...


Finally, the bills would not require disclosure of gifts or loans to corporate entities in which a public official owned a stake.

That means there still would be no need for disclosure of payments similar to the large loans from Williams to a McDonnell family real estate venture.


“Somebody could give my law firm a car I could drive, and I wouldn’t have to report that,” said Del. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), the only delegate to vote against the bill.

So instead of tightening rules in light of McDonnell's alleged corruption they just make it easier to get stuff and lighten the penalty for lying. Is there an honest politician left?

[NeedKarma]

Is there an honest politician left?

Nope. Not why they think being a politician is the ticket to financial freedom.Thought that was quite obvious to all.

[speechlesstx]

John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat fossil and Dean of the House is stepping down after 29 terms. Dingell, who will be 88 when he retires said, “I don’t want people to say I stayed too long.”

Um, I think we passed that mark a while back.

Not to worry though, the plan is to keep the seat in the family. His wife Debbie is sure to run and probably be a lock. John got the seat when his father John Sr. passed away after himself serving since 1933.

That's a lot of Dingell.

[tomder55]

all NAFTA did was reduce tariffs ;expand trade ,protect intellectual property ,open new markets for small businesses in all the countries ,boosted US farm exports among other things that specifically benefitted the US economy . I favor regional and bilateral trade agreements . Now if we did not have a bumbling idiot emperor ,some of these summit meeting he's had with Mexico and Canada could iron out some of the negatives.