Daily Archives: January 25, 2013

Court says Obama appointments violate constitution

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate last year to appoint three members of the National Labor Relations Board, a federal appeals court ruled Friday in a far-reaching decision that could severely limit a chief executive’s powers to make recess appointments.

The decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit marked a victory for Republicans and business groups critical of the labor board. If it stands, it could invalidate hundreds of board decisions over the past year, including some that make it easier for unions to organize.

When Obama filled the vacancies on Jan. 4, 2012, Congress was on an extended holiday break. But GOP lawmakers gaveled in for a few minutes every three days just to prevent Obama from making recess appointments. The White House argued that the pro forma sessions – some lasting less than a minute – were a sham.

Read more at AP News

Free tax preparation in Williams.

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WILLIAMS—A free tax preparation experience at the Episcopal Church in Williams for people with incomes less that $51,000. The St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 202 W. Grant street; on the corner of Second Street and Grant. The tax preparation meetings will be Thursday, January 31 from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm. There will be two more opportunities on Thursday, February 28th and March 21 from 5 to 8 pm on each day.

There will also be tax preparation services at the Grand Canyon Recreation Center at 2 Mohave Street, Williams. The dates are Friday, February 8 from 5-8 pm and Mondays, February 11 & 25 and March 4 & 11 from 10 am to 1 pm.

You will need to bring (1) a picture ID for taxpayer and spouse, Social Security or ITIN cards for all household members, (2) all tax papers, such as W2 and 1099 forms and other proof of income, (3) name, address and tax ID of child care provider; Amount of money paid to child care provider last year, (4) account and routing numbers for direct deposit. If filing jointly, both spouses must be present to sign the return. A copy of last year’s tax returns are helpful.

In Flagstaff, tax preparation will be available at the Coconino High School, 2801 Izabel Street on Saturdays from January 19 to April 13 from 9 am to 4 pm. Used the south entrance. Also at the Lura Kinsey Elementary at 1601 S. Lone Tree Road on Wednesday, April 3 and Thursdays January 31, February 14, February 28 and March 14. The time is 4:30 to 7:30 pm each day.

A third location is St. Pius at 2237 E. Cedar Avenue on Tuesdays, February 5 & 19, March 5 & 26 and April 9 from 4 to 7 pm. They will host one more on April 15 from 9 am to 4 pm.

There will also be sessions at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church basement at 224 S. Kendrick Street. The times are from 1 pm to 4 pm on Thursdays February 7 & 21, March 7 & 28, and April 11.

The Family Resource Center at 4000 N. Cummings Street will host tax preparation volunteers on Fridays, February 1 & 15, March 1 & 15 and April 5 from 4-7 pm.

Goodwill, 2225 N Steves Blvd Tuesday: February 12 & Wednesday 27 9:00am-1:00pm

Interested parties can call 888-635-0545 or visit the United Way of Northern Arizona for more information. New locations may be added.

Gun Owners Refuse to Register Under New York Law

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After Democrats in New York rammed a sweeping assault on the right to keep and bear arms through the legislature that failed to exempt police officers from the draconian restrictions, gun owners and even some lawmakers are planning what has been dubbed potentially the largest act of civil disobedience in state history. According to news reports, gun rights activists are urging everyone to defy far-left Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new registration mandate while daring authorities to “come and take it.”

Analysts say the legislation, passed in a frenzy last week in the wake of the Newtown shooting, represents the most brazen infringement on the right to keep and bear arms anywhere in the nation. Among other points, the so-called SAFE Act seeks to limit magazines to just seven bullets, require virtually all of the estimated one million semi-automatic rifles in the state to be registered with authorities, mandate reporting of patients who express indications that they may have thoughts about hurting themselves or others by doctors, and more.

Aside from being unconstitutional, experts on gun violence also point out that the draconian schemes are a bad idea: Studies have repeatedly shown that more guns lead to less crime, and the phenomenon is obvious across America — just compare Chicago or D.C. to Alaska or Wyoming. The mandated reporting requirements for doctors, meanwhile, have come under fire from across the political spectrum. Whether it will even be possible to enforce the bill, however, remains to be seen.

Preparations are already being made for mass resistance. “I’ve heard from hundreds of people that they’re prepared to defy the law, and that number will be magnified by the thousands, by the tens of thousands, when the registration deadline comes,’’ said President Brian Olesen with American Shooters Supply, among the biggest gun dealers in the state, in an interview with the New York Post.

Even government officials admit that forcing New Yorkers to register their guns will be a tough sell, and they are apparently aware that massive non-compliance will be the order of the day. “Many of these assault-rifle owners aren’t going to register; we realize that,’’ a source in the Cuomo administration told the Post, adding that officials expect “widespread violations” of the new statute.

Read more at The New American

Sandy victims left out in the cold during arctic blast

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The brutal cold snap affecting much of the country is taking a devastating toll on victims of superstorm Sandy, many of whom are camped out in tent cities or living in homes without power, heat or running water.

Hundreds of people in New York’s Staten Island and along the Jersey Shore are still without basic necessities nearly three months after the devastating storm struck.

“Many families in Union Beach are using space heaters to warm upstairs,” said Jeanette Van Houten, a resident from the small New Jersey town that was among the hardest-hit communities. “There’s people with no heat, no electric, but they are staying in the house because it’s better than having to deal with FEMA and having to leave hotels every two weeks.

Read more at FOX News