Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
CBS’s Bob Schieffer Interviews Dem. Elijah Cummings, Ignores His Relationship With Lois Lerner
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Earlier this week, Town Hall revealed that former IRS official Lois Lerner fed tax information from the conservative group “True the Vote” to Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Cummings is the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, and recently made headlines for his confrontation with Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) over Lois Lerner’s recent testimony before the committee.
Despite this new report, CBS’ Bob Schieffer failed to bring up the IRS scandal at all during his interview with Cummings on Face the Nation on Sunday April 13. Instead, Schieffer found time to discuss liberals’ newest talking point, that women get paid less than their male counterparts.
According to Town Hall:
New IRS emails released by the House Oversight Committee show staff working for Democratic Ranking Member Elijah Cummings communicated with the IRS multiple times between 2012 and 2013 about voter fraud prevention group True the Vote. True the Vote was targeted by the IRS after applying for tax exempt status more than two years ago.Further, information shows the IRS and Cummings' staff asked for nearly identical information from True the Vote President Catherine Engelbrecht about her organization, indicating coordination and improper sharing of confidential taxpayer information.
Instead of asking Congressman Cummings about this damaging new report surrounding the IRS scandal, Schieffer ignored the entire issue, and focused on ObamaCare and equal pay for women for the entirety of the interview.
The CBS host even falsely claimed that the GOP did not support equal pay for women: “Marsha Blackburn says Republicans are actually for equal pay for women. But yet, it was blocked in the Senate by Republicans…What is going on here?”
Given that Schieffer had the opportunity to interview the ranking Democrat on the committee leading the IRS investigation, it would have made sense to ask Cummings about the scandal, or the Democrats' questionable relationship with IRS agents.
See relevant transcript below.
Five Global Seed Banks That Are Protecting Plant Seed Variety
Almost all food begins with a seed. Even when people eat meat or other animal products, those animals were most likely fed on grasses or grains that began as seeds. Seeds are the basis of plant life and growth, and without them, the world would go hungry.
The world is home to hundreds of thousands of species of plants, and it requires a diverse variety of seeds to satisfy nutritional and environmental needs. Today, Nourishing the Planet takes a closer look at five seed banks that aim to protect biodiversity and help feed the world.
The world requires a diverse variety of seeds to satisfy nutritional and environmental needs.
1. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project, Wakehurst, England
How many plant species can you think of? Of the roughly 400,000 known species, the Millennium Seed Bank Royal Botanical Gardens, which were constructed by King Henry VII and are now considered aUNESCO World Heritage Site. Focused on conserving seeds from plants that can be used for food production, the Millennium Seed Bank currently holds seeds from over 10 percent of all plant species.
aims to conserve 25 percent in the form of seeds by 2020. The seed bank is located on the grounds of Britain’s
Millennium in Action
The Royal Botanical Gardens has been collecting research on seed saving since 1898 and has had a formal seed bank for 40 years. In recent years, it has concentrated on collecting seeds from environments that are most vulnerable to climate change. In addition to developing new crop varieties that are more adaptable to changing environments, the Millennium Seed Bank Project has implemented an international education program in an attempt to preserve ecosystems worldwide. A large part of its educational outreach program has taken place in rural regions of Africa, in countries including Kenya, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Namibia. Promoting projects from nutrition to forestry to sustainable agriculture, the Millenium Seed Bank Project is working to feed the world and sustain the environment.
2. Navdanya, Uttrakhand, India
Since 1987, Vandana Shiva, who created Navdanya, has dedicated her life to protecting seed diversity. Navdanya is an agricultural research center that seeks to protect seed biodiversity and the livelihoods of small farmers. The organization believes that people should have a right to save and share seeds, and has created a seed bank that conserves only unpatented seeds.
Navdanya in Action
Since its creation, the Navdanya seed bank has conserved around 5,000 crop varieties, focusing largely on the preservation of grain species. The 54 community seed banks that Navdanya has piloted have preserved nearly 3,000 species of rice alone. In addition to protecting seed biodiversity, Navdanya aims to spread agricultural information through educational campaigns.
3. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Svalbard, Norway
Preserving seeds for long periods of time requires extremely cold temperatures and low humidity. That’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located deep in the permafrost-covered mountains of Svalbard, was deemed the ideal site for a global seed bank. Funding for the seed bank, built from the remains of an abandoned mine, was provided largely by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the aim of permanently protecting agricultural and plant biodiversity. The vault has the capacity for 4.5 million seed samples and currently houses over 430,000 specimens, including samples from Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Tajikstan. Genetically modified organisms are allowed in the seed bank only after evaluation and approval and must be specially sealed to prevent the spread of genetic modification to other samples.
Svalbard in Action
Despite being nicknamed the “Doomsday Vault,” Svalbard is a forerunner in global environmental problem-solving and innovation, and frequently hosts events on topics related to food security and climate change. In 2009, the seed vault held an international conference on climate change and the challenges of feeding the world’s growing population. The vault also has hosted influential policymakers including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
4. National Center for Genetic Resources, Fort Collins, Colorado
Located on the campus of Colorado State University, the National Center for Genetic Resources (NCGR) is home to one of the world’s largest gene banks. The center is unique in that it does not simply host seeds, but various types of germplasms, or collections of genetic information, including plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms. In its plant division, the center contains pollen, meristem tissue, and cell cultures. The NCGR strives to ensure that its germplasms maintain the same genetic properties over time, so that traits do not change as reproduction occurs.
NCGR in Action
One of the goals of the NCGR, a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, is to conduct genetic research for the development of new cultivar varieties. The center frequently publishes briefs on nutrition and agricultural methods, and also tracks ecological trends. In August 2012, scientists from the center created two new blueberry varieties known as Gupton and Pearl that are praised for their high yields and flavorful fruit. Also within the department, horticulturalist Joseph Albano of the Agricultural Research Service has recently developed an ecologically cleaner alternative to fertilizers that contribute to heavy metal watershed pollution. In addition to hosting over 8,000 species of seeds, the NCGR contributes greatly to genetic research and agricultural development.
5. Vavilov Research Institute, Russia
Russia has a rich history of botanical studies that have included plant management, disease control, and the recording of plant varieties. The Vavilov Research Institute (VRI) was opened in 1924 and has since expanded into 12 research stations throughout Russia. The stations’ seed banks house a combined total of some 60,000 seed varieties, and their herbariums contain some 250,000 plant specimens. Specializing in berries and other fruits, the VRI holds over 1,000 types of strawberries alone. According to journalist Fred Pearce, nearly 90 percent of seed and plant specimens at the VRI’s Pavlovsk station are not found in any other seed or gene bank in the world.
Vavilov in Action
Seed banks around the world are continuously at risk, and Vavilov is no exception. The VIR is probably most well known for its Pavlovsk station, which during World War II was put under siege by the Axis powers. During the siege, 12 scientists protected the station’s seed bank from destruction, and out of respect for the value of seeds, they starved instead of eating them. Today, this station is once again under attack, but this time the threat comes from developers who wish to build on 227 acres, or three-quarters of the field station’s property. Another station in Krasnodar, Russia, was recently exposed to extreme flooding.
Seeds, not frequently the subject of public discussion, hold the potential to regenerate species, promote biodiversity, and enable ecosystems to adapt to an ever-changing world. Biodiversity in seed varieties is essential to the maintenance of human, plant, and animal life as we know it. Seed banks around the world provide a valuable service by protecting these small but important resources.
The world is home to hundreds of thousands of species of plants, and it requires a diverse variety of seeds to satisfy nutritional and environmental needs. Today, Nourishing the Planet takes a closer look at five seed banks that aim to protect biodiversity and help feed the world.
The world requires a diverse variety of seeds to satisfy nutritional and environmental needs.
1. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project, Wakehurst, England
How many plant species can you think of? Of the roughly 400,000 known species, the Millennium Seed Bank Royal Botanical Gardens, which were constructed by King Henry VII and are now considered aUNESCO World Heritage Site. Focused on conserving seeds from plants that can be used for food production, the Millennium Seed Bank currently holds seeds from over 10 percent of all plant species.
aims to conserve 25 percent in the form of seeds by 2020. The seed bank is located on the grounds of Britain’s
Millennium in Action
The Royal Botanical Gardens has been collecting research on seed saving since 1898 and has had a formal seed bank for 40 years. In recent years, it has concentrated on collecting seeds from environments that are most vulnerable to climate change. In addition to developing new crop varieties that are more adaptable to changing environments, the Millennium Seed Bank Project has implemented an international education program in an attempt to preserve ecosystems worldwide. A large part of its educational outreach program has taken place in rural regions of Africa, in countries including Kenya, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Namibia. Promoting projects from nutrition to forestry to sustainable agriculture, the Millenium Seed Bank Project is working to feed the world and sustain the environment.
2. Navdanya, Uttrakhand, India
Since 1987, Vandana Shiva, who created Navdanya, has dedicated her life to protecting seed diversity. Navdanya is an agricultural research center that seeks to protect seed biodiversity and the livelihoods of small farmers. The organization believes that people should have a right to save and share seeds, and has created a seed bank that conserves only unpatented seeds.
Navdanya in Action
Since its creation, the Navdanya seed bank has conserved around 5,000 crop varieties, focusing largely on the preservation of grain species. The 54 community seed banks that Navdanya has piloted have preserved nearly 3,000 species of rice alone. In addition to protecting seed biodiversity, Navdanya aims to spread agricultural information through educational campaigns.
3. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Svalbard, Norway
Preserving seeds for long periods of time requires extremely cold temperatures and low humidity. That’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located deep in the permafrost-covered mountains of Svalbard, was deemed the ideal site for a global seed bank. Funding for the seed bank, built from the remains of an abandoned mine, was provided largely by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the aim of permanently protecting agricultural and plant biodiversity. The vault has the capacity for 4.5 million seed samples and currently houses over 430,000 specimens, including samples from Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Tajikstan. Genetically modified organisms are allowed in the seed bank only after evaluation and approval and must be specially sealed to prevent the spread of genetic modification to other samples.
Svalbard in Action
Despite being nicknamed the “Doomsday Vault,” Svalbard is a forerunner in global environmental problem-solving and innovation, and frequently hosts events on topics related to food security and climate change. In 2009, the seed vault held an international conference on climate change and the challenges of feeding the world’s growing population. The vault also has hosted influential policymakers including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
4. National Center for Genetic Resources, Fort Collins, Colorado
Located on the campus of Colorado State University, the National Center for Genetic Resources (NCGR) is home to one of the world’s largest gene banks. The center is unique in that it does not simply host seeds, but various types of germplasms, or collections of genetic information, including plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms. In its plant division, the center contains pollen, meristem tissue, and cell cultures. The NCGR strives to ensure that its germplasms maintain the same genetic properties over time, so that traits do not change as reproduction occurs.NCGR in Action
One of the goals of the NCGR, a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, is to conduct genetic research for the development of new cultivar varieties. The center frequently publishes briefs on nutrition and agricultural methods, and also tracks ecological trends. In August 2012, scientists from the center created two new blueberry varieties known as Gupton and Pearl that are praised for their high yields and flavorful fruit. Also within the department, horticulturalist Joseph Albano of the Agricultural Research Service has recently developed an ecologically cleaner alternative to fertilizers that contribute to heavy metal watershed pollution. In addition to hosting over 8,000 species of seeds, the NCGR contributes greatly to genetic research and agricultural development.
5. Vavilov Research Institute, Russia
Vavilov in Action
Seed banks around the world are continuously at risk, and Vavilov is no exception. The VIR is probably most well known for its Pavlovsk station, which during World War II was put under siege by the Axis powers. During the siege, 12 scientists protected the station’s seed bank from destruction, and out of respect for the value of seeds, they starved instead of eating them. Today, this station is once again under attack, but this time the threat comes from developers who wish to build on 227 acres, or three-quarters of the field station’s property. Another station in Krasnodar, Russia, was recently exposed to extreme flooding.
Seeds, not frequently the subject of public discussion, hold the potential to regenerate species, promote biodiversity, and enable ecosystems to adapt to an ever-changing world. Biodiversity in seed varieties is essential to the maintenance of human, plant, and animal life as we know it. Seed banks around the world provide a valuable service by protecting these small but important resources.
Obama has Proposed 442 Tax Hikes Since Taking Office
Since taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama has formally proposed a total of 442 tax increases, according to an Americans for Tax Reform analysis of Obama administration budgets for fiscal years 2010 through 2015.
The 442 total proposed tax increases does not include the 20 tax increases Obama signed into law as part of Obamacare.
“History tells us what Obama was able to do. This list reminds us of what Obama wanted to do,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
The number of proposed tax increases per year is as follows:
-79 tax increases for FY 2010
-52 tax increases for FY 2011
-47 tax increases for FY 2012
-34 tax increases for FY 2013
-137 tax increases for FY 2014
-93 tax increases for FY 2015
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Obama budget with the lowest number of proposed tax increases was released during an election year: In February 2012, Obama released his FY 2013 budget, with “only” 34 proposed tax increases. Once safely re-elected, Obama came back with a vengeance, proposing 137 tax increases, a personal record high for the 44th President.
In addition to the 442 tax increases in his annual budget proposals, the 20 signed into law as part of Obamacare, and the massive tobacco tax hike signed into law on the sixteenth day of his presidency, Obama has made it clear he is open to other broad-based tax increases.
During an interview with Men’s Health in 2009, when asked about the idea of national tax on soda and sugary drinks, the President said, "I actually think it's an idea that we should be exploring."
During an interview with CNBC’s John Harwood in 2010, Obama said a European-style Value-Added-Tax was “something that would be novel for the United States.”
Obama’s statement was consistent with a pattern of remarks made by Obama White House officials refusing to rule out a VAT.
“Presidents are judged by history based on what they did in power. But presidents can only enact laws when the Congress agrees,” said Norquist. "Thus a record forged by such compromise tells you what a president -- limited by congress -- did rather than what he wanted to do.”
Read more: http://www.atr.org/obama-has-proposed-442-tax-hikes-taking-office#ixzz2yuSUWyAz
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