A Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum on Protecting Our Constitutional Rights

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

Below is a message from Florida's Attorney General Bill McCollum on "Protecting Our Constitutional Rights".

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Protecting Our Constitutional Rights
This week, I announced my intent to review whether an individual mandate currently included in the federal health care legislation violates the U.S. Constitution as well as our individual rights and freedom. The mandate levies a tax or a fine on anyone who chooses not to purchase health insurance coverage ? a tax on doing nothing at all.

Congress has defined powers upon which it can act, like the Commerce Clause where the Supreme Court has required some economic activity to be affected by interstate commerce. However, the individual mandate is different than any other requirement the federal government imposes in that it regulates non-activity.

I am very concerned about the implications of this mandate and have called on my fellow Attorneys General to join me in my legal review. As the new year approaches, I look forward to getting answers for our citizens and protecting them from something that may have crossed a Constitutional boundary.

 


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Evelyn out.

SAINT PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A NEW ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

On December 16, 2009, the Saint Petersburg police department launched its new online reporting page. On this page crimes such as Criminal Mischief, Harassing Phone Calls, Identity Theft, Lost Property, Theft, and Vehicle Burglary can be reported online.

How does it work? The reporters fills out a short questionnaire with the details of the crime and they will receive an email confirmation. They can also print a copy of their reports. A police officer/ report writer will contact the victims at a later date.

This new reporting system is strictly for reporting crimes that are not 911 related.  These reports include those crimes involving fire arms or physical assaults.

Persons unable and/or not wanting to use the new system may still make their reports by call the Saint Petersburg Police Department's non-emergency line at 727-893-7780. All persons using the new system must be at least 18 years of age.

SAINT PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ONLINE REPORT

Evelyn out.

Obama Travels to Copenhagen for United Nations' Climate Summit

POLITICO Breaking News:
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President Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 for the United Nations summit on climate change, a White House official told POLITICO.

For more information...http://www.politico.com

The Senate Health Reform Bill Shuts Out Illegal Immigrants and Denided The Use of Taxpayers' Funding For Abortion

POLITICO Breaking News:
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The Senate health reform bill will not allow illegal immigrants to get benefits and prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion, reports Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad. He said that unlike the House bill, there's no surtax on the wealthy, but there is a Medicare payroll tax of 1.95 percent on couples who earn more than $250,000 annually. The reimbursement rates for the public plan will not be tied to Medicare, and co-ops will still be offered.

For more information...http://www.politico.com

U.S. President Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

POLITICO Breaking News:
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From the AP: The Norwegian Nobel Committee says U.S. President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

For more information...http://www.politico.com

Buyer Beware: Unbeknown to Online Buyers So Called "Cash Discounts" Companies Can Leech Bank Accounts"

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

Beware of online services that offer to give you a percentage of you purchase price back on online orders. What these services do is deduction up to $10 - $13.00 per month from your checking account. Many customers do not understand that when they hit the so-called "cash back" or "special cash back "shopper discount", they have unwittingly given these companies access to their checking account by way of their credit and/or debit cards.

And what to these customers get in return? NOTHING!  The so-called discount company will give customers the line that they are receiving huge saving on each online purchase, but the truth is that many online stores will give their customer those saving with their online sales and promotions automatically when offers.  In short, customers are better off not clicking away their checking accounts to unscrupulous companies offering further discounts. Victims of such unethical practices can cancel such accounts and request a full refund of deducted funds.  However, if the company doesn't want to refund the funds or attempt to lead customers into a further commitment, a complaint can be filed against them with Better Business Bureau with positive results. Usually the customer will find that the company has a long list of complaints.

Two such companies are:
1. Great Fun, a service provided by Trilegiant Corporation at https://www.greatfunsite.com 
2.  Shopper Discount and Rewards, a Webloyalty.com, Inc. at http://www.webloyalty.com/.


So, what appears to be a great deal at the end of that order transaction really is not, so be satisfied in knowing that you have ready gotten the best deal for your dollars from the company you trust, and don't push that so-called special discount/saving/refund button at the end!



Evelyn out!

Unemployment Up

NPR BREAKING NEWS:

Unemployment Up To 9.8 Percent; Payrolls Down 263,000

The Labor Department said the unemployment rate was the highest since June 1983 and payrolls had now dropped for 21 consecutive months.


More at NPR.org:
http://n.npr.org/NPRI/jN49606986_178845.htm

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