LAVISH

PERSONAL

I slept in this morning until 7:30am but awoke to a 3+ and a beautiful morning. I forgot to post yesterday, so today's will be a little longer as I attempt to combine both. I did forget to shut off my cell Friday night when I headed for bed so Marty's call yesterday morning was similar to an alarm clock. I took my am pills, and put my flag out and settled into my Lazy Boy for 2 quick massages. I did return the call call to Marty. And Mary, plese say Happy 30th birthday to Kelli......or was that ...her Birthday is on the 30th? He is finished on that Vancouver project and they left everyone happy. He did send me a few pictures so I think it deserves it's own LINK, Marty's Bragging? They do look sharp.

Friday I did participate in that conference call on health care with President Obama, He was on Air Force One. I am not sure if they were just looking for support (which I do); or if they are looking for comments, it was definitely a pitch for support but they did take 3-4 comments. Mine was not one of them, but I did get a follow up report:

Wally --

Two days ago, President Obama called in from Air Force One to join tens of thousands of Organizing for America supporters on a conference call to discuss our Health Care Organizing Campaign.

In case you missed it -- or just want to hear what happened again -- we've posted the audio from the call.

Listen to the audio and leave a comment here.

On the call the President laid out his goals for real health care reform, talked about some of the personal health care stories he's read from OFA members, and took questions on how we can help win this campaign.

He called on the thousands of participants to host Health Care Kickoff Events on June 6th and participate in OFA's National Health Care Day of Service on June 27th.

Please listen to the call, and pass this note on to any of your friends who might be interested:

http://my.barackobama.com/may28audio


There seems to be a little battle going on here in Oregon between a couple of Unions (mine is not one) and Senator Wyden over whether he wants to tax employee benefits. Senator Wyden ran an ad ( I did not see it but my wife told me about it) and he said the Unions sponsoring the ad had it all wrong.
There was no mention of taxing fringe benefits on the “conference” (robo?) call. I did get to the Labor Appreciation dinner last night and again Judy O'Connor did a wonderful job.

I turned my TV onto the regular fodder channels, C-span, CNN, CNBC and the local news yesterday. They were interviewing the GP of the Auto Workers and reporting on the vote for the recommended contract changes at GM. The contract changes were accepted with a 74% favorable vote.

Today the format changes continue. I think my permanent “Hero's” box is up, but the “pay pal” box for direct connections to MY charities of choice is not complete yet. If it works the way I want a donation there goes to me for distribution to one of the many I list in my “Community Organizers” section. I will try to keep a running tally. I will also try to keep posting the direct link.

And yes, Erin, I will try to get a personal Picture (Judi sent me a couple of good ones, hard at work at my work station. We have good friend who is a professional Photographer coming by today to work on a fund raiser that I will will be reporting on later.

I will still report we have 1 more graduate to celebrate here. Nephew (and Godson) Michael from Evergreen High School. His plan, I believe, is to go to Pasadena Community College in California starting in October. I checked to see how good their Baseball program is. I hope it is “Pasadena City College. If it is the same one I found on line their list of Alumni is very impressive. I am not sure if others will feel the same way, but of the many honored graduates they list is “Jackie Robinson”, along with a number of current MLB, NFL, and NBA players.

POLITICAL

I still don't know what did happen in Astoria last Thursday, but that project was not reported on by CNBC today? Come on Salem, Get behind the President.

Health Care Now ! Is it True? Senator Wyden supports taxing fringe benefits??? When I checked his website I had two concerns, one, the picture had him announcing it with Senator Lieberman ( and you should all know how I feel about him by now) and two, he was concerned about some plans with “Lavish” programs, but he did not define lavish. I did speak to his Labor Liaison last night and expressed my concerns and she said she would relay them.

This is what I got off his website:

The Healthy Americans Act will make quality health care affordable for individuals families and employers.

All employers, along with individuals and the government, will share the responsibility of financing health care. Employers who provide employee health benefits would be required to convert their workers' health care premiums into higher wages for two years after the bill is enacted.
Employees, in turn, would be required to purchase private health coverage with their higher wages. To ensure that health care coverage is affordable, the plan would fully subsidize the premiums for those who live below the poverty line. Those people earning between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line ($10,400 annually per person) would also receive subsidies on a sliding scale to help pay their premiums. The bill also creates a generous standard deduction to help Americans pay for health coverage regardless of whether they get coverage on their own or through their employers.
Employers who don't currently offer health benefits would have to make phased-in "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments," which would be used to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of modest income.
After two years, all employers would make "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments" to the Federal government. These payments are relative to the size of the employer and their revenues.

The plan, known as the Healthy Americans Act, would:
guarantee private health care coverage for all Americans and allow them to choose the health insurance that is right for them;
provide health benefits equal to those that Members of Congress now enjoy;
modernize the employer-employee relationship regarding health care benefits making health care portable from job to job and even allow Americans to keep it between jobs;
provide incentives for individuals and insurers to focus on prevention, wellness and disease management rewarding Americans for maintaining healthy lifestyles;
establish tough cost containment measures that save $1.48 trillion over 10 years;
as demonstrated by the Congressional Budget Office, the plan would pay for itself once the act is up and running by eliminating administrative costs and changing the outdated tax code that gives businesses write-offs for even the most lavish designer health plans; and return surpluses to the government after the first two years of implementation

CNBC has really been pushing the need for and benefits of Natural Gas. Oregon Democrats, are you listening?

President Obama, I am still giving a B+, with that Supreme Court nominee (Yes we Can), but if your Health care plan includes taxing benefits you will for sure fall to a C-.

I didn't get my yellow ribbons up yesterday and I should have taken a roll to last night's gathering, I have a feeling they would have been a big hit.

Bring our people home!

At the 11th Hour, on the 11th Day, of the 11th Month a cease fire was signed to end the war to end all wars in 1918. How's that worked out so far?

SPORTS

Watching Lou vs Joe is as good as watching the play on the field.

Cubs win Friday night got me to 999 on a Friday.

The 9's on Friday bounced right over to Judi at dinner, and I haven't even checked the 9 megabuck's tickets I got Friday yet.

The Mariners are are hurting but that kid from Butte is still shining and deserves more playing time with Kenji on on the 15 day list, They beat Lackey for the first time in 6 games. Does Aardsma remind you of J.J. Putz??

Did you hear that astounding statistic yesterday during the Cubs Dodgers game? They have played 2,624 games in their history and each team has won 1,312. It appears the only difference between the two teams is one lone goat!

I Hope I get to a Beaver game before San Diego pulls all the talent up.


COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS

I plan to get a permanent link for Denise and her walk/run at:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=206439510610&h=VyGOF&u=ohEQM&ref=mf

American Rights at Work adds are getting better all the time.

Are there better Community Organizations than the National Guard or the USO?

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS

I did try to send an email to nephew Daniel. I used the address I had from his deployment in 2008 but I'm not sure if it's the same. I did talk to his mom Fiday night and she said that old address should be good.

Please, I hope everyone can share the American Rights at Work, the MS walk, the March of Dimes walk, The Epilepsy Run/Walk and the Recovery websites; so my taxes and donations can be utilized to their fullest extent.

Whether you attend a church service, a Mosque, G & L gathering, or Synagogue service, please say a
prayer that God; yours, mine or ours; keeps our service men and women in the Palm of their hand.

And even a special prayer for my nephews Daniel, Christopher, Ryan and all the families separated right now.

Mike; I was at 999 and I'm 4+, yesterday, and I am at 1750+- today.

Now don't forget, say your prayers. I'll see you next time on my blog.