Powerless Portland Police?

Apparently, the mayor of Portland, OR plans to introduce to city council next week a proposal to disarm the local police department. Not the whole force, mind you, but those responding to non-emergency calls. To pay for this new program, the city cut their mounted patrol. The police union is saying something different.

Portland Police Association president Daryl Turner says the PS3s will not respond to calls for service without a sworn officer, but they may provide support by manning the front desks at precincts or waiting for tow trucks at car accidents. That's a much smaller, less public role than what Portland mayors have pledged—and some observers say keeping the officers off the streets is a bait-and-switch.

As a matter of public policy, this proposal might actually have merit. Sending unarmed officers on emergency calls is not smart, but the lower priority calls? I am open to hearing why every officer on every call must be armed to a level that they could take on a banana republic, but it's going to have to be a really good reason. Law enforcement, like many other government sponsored entities, suffers from mission creep. Dialing back what they respond to might be a solution, but certainly reducing the number of situations in which the officer arrives for armed conflict might impact how law enforcement is perceived in their communities.

It was just a TV show and Mayberry is hardly what America looks like today, but Sheriff Taylor didn't need a weapon to enforce the law in his town. We should be asking ourselves what we can do to make our communities safe without subjecting ourselves to a police state (see what I did there?). It's something to think about...

RELEASE: LaRose Seeks to Update Ohio's Drug Abuse Laws

COLUMBUS — State Senator Frank LaRose (R-Copley) yesterday introduced legislation to ensure that Ohio's drug abuse laws appropriately reflect the potency of fentanyl and address its growing prevalence in overdose deaths.

"The alarming number of recent fentanyl related deaths is a serious concern," said LaRose. "This legislation has the potential to save lives by getting these highly potent drugs off our streets."

Fentanyl, a drug typically prescribed in clinical settings, is used as a powerful synthetic opiate to treat or manage pain after surgery. In some instances, the drug is prescribed to treat patients with chronic pain who are tolerant of other opiates.

In 2014, fentanyl overdoses resulted in 502 deaths, according to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health. This number is nearly 6 times higher than the previous year.

The legislation would change what constitutes a “bulk amount” in order to adequately recognize the seriousness of the illegal use and trafficking of fentanyl. The bill establishes that five milligrams or more of fentanyl or an amount equal to or exceeding one gram of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that contains any amount of fentanyl and that is not in a final dosage form manufactured by an authorized manufacturer constitutes a bulk amount for the purposes of drug offense laws.

The bill also harmonizes state law with federal law by adding lisdexamfetamine to the Ohio schedule of controlled substances. Lisdexamfetamine is used to treat ADHD and hyperactivity and is at a high risk of being abused, especially in juveniles.

RELEASE: St. Rep. Pelanda’s Bill Strengthens Ohio’s Record Sealing Law

COLUMBUS—State Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) today announced that the Ohio House has passed House Bill 164, legislation that strengthens Ohio’s Conviction Record Sealing Law. Rep. Pelanda was a joint sponsor of the bill.

 

House Bill 164 alters the Conviction Record Sealing Law to allow a person who is convicted of an offense to apply to have the conviction sealed if the penalty for the offense has been changed so that convictions for that offense can now be sealed since the date of conviction.

 

By making this change, the law coincides with other recent actions taken by the General Assembly to make the state’s justice system more rehabilitative. Oftentimes, the sealing of a record can provide assistance with employment and can allow those who may not have previously been eligible for such opportunities because of their records to be fairly considered.

 

“For many, the sealing of a record or its expungement can provide assistance with employment opportunities and enhance the likelihood of personal success which might otherwise be denied,” Rep. Pelanda stated.

 

The bipartisan legislation passed with a vote of 93-1 and will now be under consideration by the Ohio Senate.

Today in the Ohio Senate

 

 

Today in the Ohio Senate
Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Senate will consider the following during today’s session (1:30 p.m.): 

• Protecting Kids with Asthma: Substitute House Bill 39, sponsored by Representatives Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) and Anthony DeVitis (R-Green), prepares staff to respond in the event that a child has an asthma attack by permitting schools to stock inhalers and allows trained personnel to respond.
   
• Safeguarding Victims of Domestic Violence: Following an Ohio Supreme Court decision, SB 76 was introduced by Senators Kevin Bacon (R-Minerva Park) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), to better protect victims of domestic violence by clarifying Ohio law to permit the prosecution of offenders who had actual notice of a protection order and recklessly violated the terms of the order. 
   
• Raising Awareness about Asthma: Sponsored by Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) Senate Bill 124 designates May as "Asthma Awareness Month" and May 5 as "Childhood Asthma Awareness Day". According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma affects 20 million Americans. Asthma is a chronic, incurable disease that can be serious—even life-threatening.
   
• Raising Awareness about Bartter Syndrome: Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Senators Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) and Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), designates May 30 as "Bartter Syndrome Awareness Day". Bartter Syndrome is a rare disorder that affects the kidneys, causing an imbalance of potassium, sodium, chloride and other substances in the body. The incurable disease can result in premature birth and other life-threatening circumstances.

The Downside to DeWine's War on Prescription Pills

There is an article in the Washington Post in which Attorney General Mike DeWine says,

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R), whose office has focused on the heroin epidemic, said he was astonished at how easily pill addicts made the switch.“There used to be some psychological barrier to heroin,” DeWine said. “That barrier is gone today.”

I don't know what the number is, but I suspect the number is a lot higher than the AG's office would care to admit; there are people who had to switch to heroin because of efforts to hamper illegal distribution of prescription drugs that effected and affected patients with legitimate need to control their pain.

Don't get me wrong, I applaud the AG for dealing with an out of control problem, but I fear that in the zealousness and righteousness of taking prescription drugs off the streets we may have gone too far and pushed people who would otherwise have stayed with their doctor's planned prescriptions on to illegal narcotics.

The article is about trafficking, but DeWine's point was important enough that I felt compelled to speak about.  Maybe I'm wrong about this entirely or not at all, I don't know; but it sure would be reassuring to hear from our government that they are at least aware of the problem of their own causing.

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform in Ohio

Those of you who have been following my "Blogging for Dollars" exploits for the Heartland Institute know that I have written about this topic quite a bit.

This just in: "State Representative Robert McColley (R-Napoleon) will be holding a press conference tomorrow to discuss legislation he is introducing that will work to reform the process known as Civil Asset Forfeiture. Supported by various organizations such as FreedomWorks and the Justice Action Network, the bill would strengthen and clarify Ohio law to protect due process and individual property rights."

I look forward to learning more about this bill as the subject came up several times when I was trying to get in at the Ohio House before three "unnamed" state representatives told the Speaker that wasn't a good idea. 

This blog firmly stands with proper application of the law.  Due process is a vital protection against the tyranny of government. 

RELEASE: Rep. Sprague Joins Community Leaders to Discuss New Initiative in Preventing Opioid Abuse

Columbus—With National Recovery Month in full swing, State Representatives Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) and Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) held a news conference this morning to urge quick action on H.B. 248, their bill to compel health insurance companies to cover the cost of opioid pain medications formulated with abuse deterrent properties. The bill is currently before the House Health and Aging Committee.

The legislators were joined by a wide array of supporters representing the medical community, addiction services providers, law enforcement, and community leaders. Dr. Elizabeth Lottes, Maryhaven Research Institute noted, "Abuse deterrent properties make a pain pill harder to crush or melt and therefore harder to abuse. When the FDA approved the first abuse-deterrent formulation, data show instances of snorting or injecting that particular drug dropped by as much as 70 percent. This is a tool we need in the fight against opioid addiction."

Representative Sprague said, "According to the most recent state statistics, there were 2,110 overdose deaths in 2013. Despite the best efforts of our behavioral health community and our law enforcement, the numbers just keep rising. By making tamper-resistant pain drugs more widely available, we can begin to turn that around."

Representative Antonio explained that insurance companies sometimes decline to pay for the abuse-deterrent form of an opioid drug because similar drugs without tamper-resistance properties are less expensive.

"People who abuse prescription pain pills are more likely to end up in the hospital and more likely to need outpatient treatment," she pointed out. "If we can prevent abuse, prevent an overdose, we can save those costs. So H.B. 248 is a good financial strategy as well as being a way to help save lives and keep families from suffering the consequences of drug abuse."

“For patients who need pain medication, it is impossible for prescribers to know if these medications might end up in the hands of an abuser,” said Delaware County Sheriff Russell Martin. “The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 70 percent of medications that are abused are stolen, given away or somehow diverted from the patient who actually needs the prescriptions for a medical reason.”

September is National Recovery Month. The observance began in 1989 to raise awareness that effective treatment can help those suffering from addiction and behavioral health issues to lead healthy and productive lives. More information is available at: http://www.recoverymonth.gov/recovery-month/about-recovery-month.

Becker Introduces HB 210 - Confiscated Weapons Shouldn’t be Destroyed

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representative John Becker (R-Union Township–Clermont County) introduced HB 210 to prevent law enforcement agencies from destroying confiscated firearms. "I cringe when I'm watching TV and I see a table full of firearms headed for destruction. Many of those firearms are collectors' items and/or have a high monetary value. With HB 210, they will be used within the law enforcement department, sold to licensed firearms dealers, or turned over to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Regardless, the department selling the firearms will keep the proceeds and reduce their demand for additional taxpayer dollars," said Becker. He went on to say that, "HB 210 is a win-win for law enforcement, firearms collectors, sportsmen, and taxpayers”. HB 210 had its first hearing this week in Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.

Ohio House Sends “Boater Freedom Act” to Governor

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House of Representatives today concurred on Senate changes to House Bill 29, also known as the “Boater Freedom Act,” which establishes conditions for watercraft safety inspections.

House Bill 29 specifies that the state’s law enforcement personnel may only stop a vessel if they have reasonable suspicion that the vessel or vessel’s operator are in violation of marine law or otherwise engaged in criminal activity. Currently, a boater on Lake Erie may be stopped by a state watercraft officer, local marine patrol, or the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a safety check, sometimes multiple times in one day.

“House Bill 29 eliminates these intrusive boat searches in the state of Ohio,” said State Rep. Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont). “With the governor’s signature, House Bill 29 will become law in time to effect the remainder of this summer’s boating season This is a common sense approach to the issue as we have seen these random and arbitrary stops become far too common.”

Ohio’s boating industry contributes an estimated $3.5 billion to Ohio’s state economy annually and supports as many as 26,000 full-time jobs. Approximately 3 million Ohioans—nearly one in four—participate in boating-related activities each year. In addition, the seven Ohio counties that border Lake Erie experienced an $11 billion investment in tourism in 2011, with more than 117,000 jobs and $3 billion in employee wages.

House Bill 29 now awaits Governor Kasich’s signature.

Congressman Gibbs Statement on Obama’s Executive Orders on Gun Violence Reduction

Release:

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) released the following statement following President Obama’s remarks this afternoon on gun violence:

“In the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shootings last month, it is imperative that we not let the memories of those 26 innocent victims be politicized by either side of the debate. President Obama today announced several executive orders and proposals, some of which come with a significant cost, and it will take some time to review the details of his plan.

“Without debating the specifics of all that the President released today, I want to say that I agree with him that we must identify ways to ensure that our children are safe and protected from those who wish to do them harm. However, I do not believe that hampering the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners is the way to achieve that goal. We must have a national discussion on treating mental illness and ways to better enforce current laws.

“Now is not the time to use this tragedy as an exploitation for the gun control lobby. Doing so demeans the memories of those innocent lives that were so tragically taken.”

Ohio House Passes Bill That Creates Statewide Arson Registry

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House of Representatives today passed Senate Bill 70, legislation that creates a statewide registry for arsonists. Among other things, the bill requires people convicted of arson, including out-of-state, to register with the sheriff in the county of the offender’s residence.

“Senate Bill 70 will provide law enforcement officials with more resources to monitor convicted arsonists whom are often repeat offenders,” said State Representative Danny Bubp (R-West Union), who carried the bill in the House. “With the passing of this legislation, we will potentially save more lives and reduce the damage to personal property, public buildings, forests and farmland. We are sending a clear message to arsonists that we will not tolerate this serious crime.”

Each registered offender will be required to reregister annually, in person, within 10 days of the anniversary of the offender’s initial registration date. Additionally, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, or BCII, will establish and maintain a Registry of Arson Offenders and Out-of-State Arson Offenders. It will be maintained for public safety purposes and is not a public record.

The registry will be funded by registration fees collected from offenders, equaling $50 initially and an annual reregistration fee of $25 from each offender or out-of-state arson offender. Offenders who are indigent will be waived of the fee.

The bill passed the House 89-2 and will now be sent to the governor’s office.

Clayton Luckie: 45 Days in Office with 45 Felony Charges

COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett called on leaders in the Ohio Democratic Party to force disgraced Democrat State Representative Clayton Luckie to stop drawing a taxpayer paycheck and resign, as this week will mark day 45 Luckie has received a paycheck while under indictment.

Luckie is under federal indictment for 49 counts of criminal activity in one of the largest FBI investigations of the Ohio Democratic Caucus in Ohio legislative history. Forty-five of these counts, such as theft in office and money laundering, are felonies. Speaker of the House William Batchelder (R-Medina) immediately called for Luckie's resignation when the indictment was issued more than a month ago.

"Enough is enough and the fact that Clayton Luckie continues to take a taxpayer paycheck while facing charges of lying, cheating, and stealing is a disgrace to the Democrat Caucus and an outrageous affront to the people of his district," said Bennett. "Lukie has four times as many felony charges as Bernie Madoff and he still hasn't resigned."

"Chairman Redfern, Minority Leader Budish, and other top Democrats offered lip service and slaps to Luckie's wrist, but have done absolutely nothing meaningful to remove Luckie from office," said Bennett. "Democrat party leaders can force Luckie to resign today."

On November 14, 2006, Luckie, supported by former Governor Ted Strickland, was appointed by the Democrat Party to the 39th House District seat that was vacated by Dixie Allen after she left her seat to run for county commissioner as a Republican. Luckie's October 10th indictment is a result of a continuing investigation by the FBI, which began 19 months ago, into the issue of payday lending legislation in the Ohio General Assembly.

The same investigation resulted in the conviction of former Democrat State Representative Carlton Weddington to three-year prison sentence for bribery, election falsification, and ethics violations. Weddington resigned from office after he was indicted.

Perrysburg Police Arrest Four with Stolen Romney Signs

Release:

Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Liberty Coalition today released a police report from the arrest at 1:00 AM Friday morning by the Perrysburg Police Department of four males, driving in a Ford F-150 Pickup that was filled with stolen Romney campaign signs. The truck’s owner is the Sheet Metal Workers International, Union Local 33 in Parma, OH. Many of the stolen signs were believed to have been put up by members of the Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition according to John McAvoy the President of the Group.

McAvoy described the situation as it was reported to him "This morning 4 men driving a pickup truck registered to the Sheet Metal Union, Local 33 were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property - in the form of a bed full of Romney/Ryan yard signs, some measuring as large as 4'x8'. Also in the truck were tools such as drills, which were possibly used to take the large signs down. The signs were allegedly removed from several private property and business locations across Lucas and Wood County."

He continued by adding "We find it unfortunate that the Sheet Metal Union is involved in such low behavior and actively suppressing freedom of speech during such an important election. We hope the news media will investigate. Wide reports of Romney signs being stolen have been an issue for many weeks, but this is the first we've heard of anyone being caught."

Tom Zawistowski, President of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, added "This has been a serious issue all election season all over Ohio. What we have seen is not random theft of a few signs here and there, but instead a literal clensing of entire areas of signs. That has to be planned and executed by someone who has no respect for the law or for free speech." Zawistowski concluded by saying "In Portage County, we had gotten advance notice that lots of signs were going to be taken last night and sure enough entire streets of signs were missing this morning. Most of which were on private property and many that were not near the road. It will be interesting to learn from the investigation if those caught in Perrysburg were being paid by the Union while they were taking the signs. Our member groups will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who are caught taking signs and we encourage anyone that has a sign stolen to file a police report."

The Ohio Liberty Coalition is a coalition of Ohio Liberty Groups whose purpose is to unite conservative grassroots organizations for greater effectiveness in the state and nation, and to provide resources for member organizations to strengthen their groups. The OLC currently has over 75 liberty-minded groups across Ohio who are members of its coalition.

Culture of Corruption Update: Luckie Edition

Check out stories in the Dayton Daily News and the Columbus Dispatch regarding the latest Democrat to get caught up in ethics trouble that just might lead to the second statehouse member from the left side of the aisle to find himself in state prison.

If you only have time to read one story about State Rep. Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton), make it the Dispatch article as there is more beef in it than the DDN story.

Senators Portman and Ayotte Sink Law Of The Sea Treaty

Release:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), ranking member on the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, sent a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in which they announced their opposition to Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Citing significant concerns about the breadth and ambiguity of the treaty, and more importantly, the risks to U.S. sovereignty due to issues regarding enforcement and adjudication, the two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee stated, “After careful consideration, we have concluded that on balance this treaty is not in the national interest of the United States. As a result, we would oppose the treaty if it were called up for a vote.”

Portman and Ayotte continued, “We simply are not persuaded that decisions by the International Seabed Authority and international tribunals empowered by this treaty will be more favorable to U.S. interests than bilateral negotiations, voluntary arbitration, and other traditional means of resolving maritime issues. No international organization owns the seas, and we are confident that our country will continue to protect its navigational freedom, valid territorial claims, and other maritime rights.”

Because the Constitution requires 67 affirmative votes for the Senate to ratify a treaty, and 31 senators have previously signed a letter in opposition and a 32nd senator announced his opposition, Portman and Ayotte’s announcement makes efforts to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty dead in the water in this Congress.



The full text of the letter is below.



July 16, 2012


The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Leader:

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a treaty completed in 1982 and modified in 1994. After careful consideration, we have concluded that on balance this treaty is not in the national interest of the United States. As a result, we would oppose the treaty if it were called up for a vote.

Proponents of the Law of the Sea treaty aspire to admirable goals, including codifying the U.S. Navy’s navigational rights and defining American economic interests in valuable offshore resources. But the treaty’s terms reach well beyond those good intentions. This agreement is striking in both the breadth of activities it regulates and the ambiguity of obligations it creates. Its 320 articles and over 200 pages establish a complex regulatory regime that applies to virtually any commercial or governmental activity related to the oceans — from seaborne shipping, to drug and weapon interdiction, to operating a manufacturing plant near a coastal waterway.[1]

The terms of the treaty are not only expansive, but often ill-defined. Article 194, for example, broadly requires nations to “take … all measures consistent with this Convention that are necessary to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from any source, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with their capabilities.” Article 207 decrees that “[s]tates shall adopt laws and regulations to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources … taking into account internationally agreed rules.” Article 293 empowers tribunals to enforce not only the treaty provisions but also “other rules of international law not incompatible with [the treaty].” Because the treaty authorizes international legislative and judicial bodies to give shape and substance to these and other open-ended commitments, the United States would be binding itself to yet-unknown requirements and liabilities. That uncertainty alone is reason for caution.

The treaty’s breadth and ambiguity might be less troubling if there were adequate assurance that it will be enforced impartially and in a manner consistent with U.S. interests. But that is not so. The United States could block some but not all actions of the International Seabed Authority, a legislative body vested with significant power over more than half of the earth’s surface.[2] Further, the treaty’s judicial bodies are empowered to issue binding judgments even over U.S. objections. In some cases, the United States could elect to resolve disputes before a five-member arbitration tribunal, in which we would choose two arbitrators. But the United States would have no hand in selecting the decisive, fifth arbitrator, unless it could agree with the opposing party.[3] Other cases would be decided by the powerful International Tribunal, which is even less accountable to the United States. Comprised of 21 foreign judges with no guaranteed U.S. seat, the tribunal can resolve any dispute concerning interpretation of the treaty. It has compulsory jurisdiction over disputes concerning the seabed beyond national borders and power to grant preliminary injunctive relief whenever it deems necessary “to preserve the respective rights of the parties to the dispute or to prevent serious harm to the marine environment.”[4]

The method of executing tribunal judgments further concerns us. Unlike many international agreements, key provisions of the Law of the Sea treaty are drafted to be “self-executing,” meaning that certain tribunal judgments would automatically constitute enforceable federal law, without congressional legislation or meaningful review by our nation’s judiciary.[5] As Justice John Paul Stevens noted in a concurring opinion in Medellin v. Texas, the Law of the Sea treaty appears to “incorporate international judgments into domestic law” because it expressly provides that decisions of the tribunal “‘shall be enforceable in the territories of the States Parties in the same manner as judgments or orders of the highest court of the State Party in whose territory the enforcement is sought.’”[6] In other words, the treaty equates tribunal decisions with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. This means that private litigants will likely be able to invoke tribunal judgments as enforceable in U.S. courts — against the government and possibly against U.S. businesses. The United States will have no lawful choice but to acquiesce to tribunal judgments, however burdensome or unfair.[7]

The treaty could also spawn international environmental tort claims directly against U.S. businesses and citizens. A federal law called the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) gives courts the power to hear “any civil action by an alien for a tort … committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States.”[8] Remarkably, even though the U.S. has not yet ratified the Law of the Sea treaty, the treaty has already been invoked as a basis for ATS litigation targeting industrial activities. In a 2002 lawsuit brought by residents of Papua New Guinea against a mining corporation, a federal district court in California held that the plaintiffs had stated a valid ATS claim under the environmental provisions of the Law of the Sea treaty.[9] A panel of the Ninth Circuit agreed.[10] Accession to the treaty would only strengthen ATS claims like this 2002 lawsuit by transforming international environmental norms into a binding treaty obligation.

In short, we are deeply concerned about the treaty’s breadth and ambiguity, the inadequate U.S. input in the treaty’s adjudicative bodies, and the automatic enforcement of tribunal judgments in the United States. Against these risks to U.S. sovereignty, however, we have also carefully weighed the potential benefits of the treaty.

As members of the Armed Services Committee, we are mindful that the Defense Department believes this treaty would help secure the navigational freedom of our fleet. We take this recommendation seriously and recognize that the treaty would provide an additional tool to our diplomatic and military leaders in resolving maritime disputes. We also understand the commercial interests associated with treaty accession. Several U.S. businesses have explained that the treaty would enhance investment in energy development and mineral extraction by increasing certainty about ownership claims. Specifically, the treaty would codify rights to resources in the U.S. exclusive economic zone, the extended continental shelf, and the deep seabed. It would also give the United States a formal role in the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which is now reviewing claims by treaty members in the Arctic.

At the same time, even treaty proponents recognize that these provisions primarily clarify rights that the United States already possesses under customary international law and has other means of asserting. For example, the treaty’s 200-nautical-mile rule defining coastal states’ exclusive economic zones is consistent with longstanding U.S. claims.[11] Moreover, the United States has successfully used bilateral negotiations with Russia and Mexico to define claims to the extended continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic.[12] Similarly, the treaty’s navigational regimes reflect the current practices of the U.S. Navy, and we believe that our maritime interests are best secured by maintaining U.S. naval power beyond challenge.

The real issue is not whether the United States will defend its maritime rights, but rather who will have the final say on the scope of those rights. We simply are not persuaded that decisions by the International Seabed Authority and international tribunals empowered by this treaty will be more favorable to U.S. interests than bilateral negotiations, voluntary arbitration, and other traditional means of resolving maritime issues. No international organization owns the seas, and we are confident that our nation will continue to protect its navigational freedom, valid territorial claims, and other maritime rights.

On balance, we believe the treaty’s litigation exposure and impositions on U.S. sovereignty outweigh its potential benefits. For that reason, we cannot support the Law of the Sea treaty and would oppose its ratification.

Sincerely,


Rob Portman Kelly Ayotte

Ranking Member Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Emerging Subcommittee on Readiness
Threats and Capabilities, and Management Support

Chambliss Tells Holder to Look into SWATing

Eric Holder and his JustUs Department don't think that white people can be victims of hate crimes or civil rights abuses. We have seen this in the testimony of J. Christian Adams. We have seen it when the JustUs Department dropped charges they had successfully prosecuted against the New Black Panther Party. We have seen it with the lack of care in regards to conservative bloggers being the victims of something called SWATing. Well, one US Senator has had enough:

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss strongly criticized the Department of Justice on Wednesday for its “notably silent” response to a string of anonymous pranks wherein authorities have been dispatched guns ablaze to the homes of conservative commentators after bogus shooting claims.

Aides to the Peach State pol circulated a letter he sent earlier in the day to the nation’s top law man, Eric Holder, bearing an unusually firm hed: “Chambliss slams attorney general for insufficient response to SWAT-ting.”

The missive didn’t disappoint.

In the month since Chambliss first petitioned Holder to launch a federal probe into the practice, which stung Georgia conservative radio talker and blogger Erick Erickson earlier this year, the senator said he had received only a “cursory, boilerplate response” from Justice Department officials.

“I remain extremely concerned about the danger SWAT-ting presents, and am worried about its use as a tool for silencing political speech,” Chambliss wrote Wednesday. “You and your department should be equally worried about these attempts at intimidation.”

In an accompanying statement, Chambliss implicitly linked Holder’s weak response to his stonewalling a Congressional investigation into a bungled federal gun running operation, for which he was recently found in contempt by the House of Representatives.

“Instead of addressing the dangerous trend of SWAT-ting, Attorney General Holder and the Justice Department have chosen to continue their unresponsiveness to congressional inquiries,” he said.

See, conservatives can't be victims. In Holder's twisted mind, if you are white or conservative, you are just oppressors. This man is not fit to hold the office of dog catcher, much less Attorney General. He is characteristic of this administration that sees itself as rulers rather than as public servants. Yet another reason OBAMA MUST BE DEFEATED!

Gov. Kasich Commutes Sentence of John Jeffrey Eley

Release:

COLUMBUS – Today Governor John R. Kasich announced that he has commuted the death sentence of John Jeffrey Eley to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Eley was convicted in Mahoning County in 1987 for the murder of 28-year-old Ihsan Aydah. Kasich issued the following statement:

“The murder of Ihsan Aydah was a heinous act that warrants severe punishment. In participating in the murder, John Jeffrey Eley, who has limited mental capacity, acted under the direction of another man who was later acquitted. Without those factors it is doubtful that Eley would have committed this crime. Additionally, the former Mahoning County prosecutor who tried Eley’s case now regrets the way the case was handled and its outcome, and has called for clemency. The combined weight of these facts leads me to commute Eley’s sentence to life in prison without parole.

“Murder, under any circumstance, is an atrocious act and this decision in no way diminishes that or the actions of Eley. I pray that the family and friends of Ihsan Aydah can find peace.”

Known Associate of Terror Group Got White House Meeting....

From The Hill:

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-N.Y.) has asked the Obama administration to explain why a member of a known terrorist group was allowed to enter the United States last week and participate in high-level meetings at the White House and State Department.

King wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on Sunday to ask several questions about Hani Nour Eldin's visit last week. Eldin is a member of Egypt's parliament, but he is also a member of Gamaa Islamiya, or the the Islamic Group, which has been linked to violence in Egypt and is a designated terrorist organization.

"Mr. Eldin's membership in the Islamic Group is a matter of public record, and reportedly even disclosed on his Facebook page," King wrote.

"I am aware that there may be legitimate diplomatic reasons to grant a member of a designated foreign terrorist organization a visa to visit the United States, such as for example in furtherance of peace negotiations," he added. "However, the nature of Eldin's visit suggests an absence of full vetting rather than a policy choice, or perhaps a break-down in the screening missions of and coordination among our federal agencies."

King noted that last week, Eldin met with senior State Department officials and reportedly requested the transfer of the jailed leader of his group to Egyptian custody.

Geez, no wonder Obama and Big Sis are pulling back Homeland Security enforcement against illegals....they can't even keep a terrorist from visiting the White House!!!!

Obama and Napolitano Illegally End Enforcement in AZ?

Yep, you read that right....Like the petulant manboy he is, Barack Obama and his synchophantic lunatic Secretary of Homeland Insecurity, Janet Napolitano, are suspending a key program to help enforce the law. From Fox News:

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision on Arizona's immigration law, Obama administration officials announced Monday they are suspending in the state a key program that allowed state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.

The move further weakens efforts by Arizona, and potentially other states, to take the reins on immigration enforcement.

The high court decision Monday struck down three provisions in Arizona's law but left in place a central plank that required local law enforcement during routine stops to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect is in the country illegally.

Obama administration officials and congressional Democrats immediately raised concerns this could lead to "racial profiling," though Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer adamantly denies it. To address those concerns, Obama administration officials moved Monday to pull back on enforcement cooperation with local jurisdictions -- meaning that even if local police step up immigration checks, they'll have to rely on federal officials to make the arrests.

Federal officials said the program known as 287(g) would be immediately rescinded in Arizona. That program was a partnership between federal and local governments, and allowed local authorities to make immigration-based arrests.

Officials also said Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be selective in responding to the expected increase in calls from Arizona and other police agencies about immigration status of people they pull over.

This President's behavior is beyond the pale. His flouting and selective enforcement of the law is disgusting. For someone who talks about sharing and equality, where is the equal protection under the law? J. Christian Adams showed us the Justice Department doesn't believe whites can be the victims of racist attacks or intimidation...Obama doesn't want to prosecute illegal immigrants who violate our laws...He doesn't want anyone showing id to vote, or to show you are a citizen, but you better have it for union meetings and practically everything else....this man is as close to a dictator as we have had since Woodrow Wilson and FDR....

Ohio House Passes Collateral Sanctions Legislation to Remove Barriers to Employment

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representative Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 337, collateral sanctions reform legislation that focuses on the elimination of barriers that ex-offenders often face when trying to obtain jobs after their release from prison.

Collateral sanctions are restrictions, disabilities, or penalties beyond the direct punishment imposed on individuals at the time of sentencing. SB 337 updates Ohio’s criminal statutes to ensure that those who might have a previous conviction or plea of guilty can obtain employment without facing an unnecessary barrier. The House had previously passed its own version of the legislation, which was jointly sponsored by Representative McGregor and Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus).

“Senate Bill 337 offers ex-offenders a better chance of being contributing members of society and staying out of prison by ensuring they aren’t unnecessarily hindered in their job search,” Representative McGregor said. “The bill makes important and reasonable reforms that will help keep Ohio’s prison population down, and I’m proud that the House supported it.”

One in every six Ohioans is an ex-offender. Reducing collateral sanctions will likely reduce recidivism and has the potential to increase payroll tax revenues for local communities