Memorial Helen T. Sharkey, my Ma

I have been in New Jersey this last week, witnessing the passing of my mother, and have not been involved with my web work. Some how in the scheme of my life, the issues of the world have diminished in value. They are small when compared with the issues of living, real living, death, and the true value of family. Ma( Helen) was 94 years old, and was sound of mind till the last series of illness affected her. Ma was received by the Hospice at Toms River Community Hospital, last week. Myself and my brother Dennis and Thom were able to share Ma passing to the next stage, she joined my Dad ( Vince). I believed that she longed to be with Vince for many years. What joy it must be to reunited with our families in the next life! I was with her when she passed quiet in the early hours of the morning. I believe that the services that will follow this weekend are more of an occasion of saying Thank You for all the good that Ma has bestowed on me and my family, friends and the world. For all that is good in me I thank you Ma and Dad, for all the harm that I have been, it falls upon my own devices.
In the fashion of people of hope and joy, we will be having the Gathering of the family before the funeral. Many of the family from far off will be together on this day. Brother , and grand children that live much further then my Florida home.
So I will cry, but mostly from joy that I have been loved by such a great person as my Ma was. Now it is time to get back to the world, in a sense coffee break is over! Please excuse the babel of this post, but to me it has been very newsworthy.
Kevin Sharkey

News 09 Febuary

Obama pushes stimulus with hard-hit Americans ELKHART, Indiana (Reuters) - Warning against paralysis in Washington, an energized President Barack Obama began a new drive on Monday to win passage of an $800 billion economic recovery plan he said would help put millions back to workRead more
Labor Leaders, Environmentalists Unite on Stimulus Bill At the heart of the economic stimulus package making its way through Congress is the creation of jobs in renewable energy and other environmentally friendly services. But a new report released by labor organizers and environmentalists warns that those jobs must be more than green. It says they must comply with standards that can sustain families and fuel the economy Read more
A Government Bailout for the Average American As the Senate dickers over the economic stimulus package, another nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs in January. Read more
UnionBook: A Social Network for Labor Union activists are, well, active. Sometimes that’s a problem on social network sites like FaceBook, MySpace and others that tend to limit an individual’s activity if it exceeds their arbitrary limits Read more
No Welfare, No Work Unemployment has been increasing sharply, but so far state welfare programs do not seem to be rising to the challenge. Despite the desperate economic times, the number of people receiving cash assistance is at or near a four-decade low. Read more
Standing together at Stella Hannah Wolfe reports from the latest demonstration by strikers and their supporters at the Stella D'oro cookie factory Read more

News 07 Febuary 2009

President Barack Obama to participate in town hall-style meetings in Ft. Myers By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 3:53 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) --President Barack Obama plans to participate in town hall-style meetings next week in two cities that have struggled amid the crumbling economy. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Friday said Obama plans to visit Elkhart, Ind., on Monday to tell residents what the roughly $900 billion stimulus plan would mean for them. Obama's original proposal was in the range of $800 billion, but the Senate's version has grown to more than $900 billion. The president also plans a Tuesday trip to Fort Myers, Fla., to try to sell his economic recovery plan, which is being hashed over in Congress. Indiana's Elkhart-Goshen region saw its unemployment rate soar to 15.3 percent in December. In Florida's Fort Myers, unemployment has climbed to 10 percent.

Finding Florida's Finest February 6, 2009
Dear Florida Community Leader: I need you to help me identify the unsung heroes of the Sunshine State. Next month the Congressional Medal of Honor Society will honor three extraordinary Americans who uphold the same ideals of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness as Medal of Honor winners. Fifty-one finalists will be chosen for the Citizen Honors, one from each state and the District of Columbia. Three winners will be chosen from among them to receive the award at a ceremony on March 25, which will be held in the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve traveled up and down Florida for most of my life, and I can tell you we have some of the most amazing men and women who go above and beyond for others every day. To nominate a Floridian for this honor, please go to the form on my website at ttp://www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact/heroes.cfm Nominations must be submitted by February 20. Thanks for helping me find Florida's finest.
Sincerely, Bill Nelson U.S. Senator

More Rights for Military
Senator Charlie Justice (D- St. Petersburg
February 6, 2009 727-217-7970 TALLAHASSEE - Soldiers, Airman and National Guard will receive significant legal protections while serving their state and country under legislation proposed by Senator Charlie Justice (D- St. Petersburg). This bill will ensure that active duty military will not lose their employment rights or benefits while serving. It also provides that anyone who commits an act prohibited by state or federal law against an active duty soldier or national guardsman is liable for civil penalties. “I cannot overstate how important it is to protect the rights of our bravest men and women who risk their lives to serve their country,” Senator Justice said. “This bill strengthens those protections and ensures that they have the security of a job when they return home.” Senate Bill 206 passed the Senate Military Affairs Committee unanimously earlier this week. It is now headed for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Representative Michael Scionti (D- Tampa) is sponsoring the bill in the House. ###

GOP legislators blocked Obama's Labor Secretary nominee After keeping a low profile while Hilda Solis because of her support of the Employee Free Choice Act, top labor leaders today came out swinging. The right-wing has seized on the newly revealed tax problems of her husband and her unpaid, ceremonial position with a pro-union organization, American Rights at Work, claiming a conflict of interest. Read more

Confirm Rep. Hilda Solis as Department of Labor Secretary If there was ever a time the nation needed a strong secretary of labor, this is it.--New York Times, 1/28/09 Enough is enough. With unemployment at a record high and the nation in the worst economic crises in years, the American people need a strong Secretary of Labor--especially after enduring 8 years of the Bush administration Take Action: Confirm Rep. Hilda Solis as Department of Labor Secretary

AIG and Citi deals gave Treasury least value WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Treasury Department bank bailout program received the least value from its investments in the most troubled surviving institutions -- American International Group and Citigroup, a new report from a watchdog panel showed on Friday Read more

Baltimore takes on foreclosures
BALTIMORE--Some 80 ACORN members and supporters turned out to a town-hall meeting on January 29 to discuss how to address the city's foreclosure crisis and organize ACORN's new "Homesteading Campaign." Read more

Does the stimulus bill include a $5.2 billion payoff for ACORN? Read more

U.S. image picks up, China and Russia worsen: poll LONDON (Reuters) - The image of the United States around the world has improved in the past year while China and Russia's standing in other countries has slipped, according to an opinion poll published on Friday. Read more

Support a recovery plan that Repowers America Call the Senate today -- a vote could happen any time now. Ensure that the economic recovery package focuses on new jobs and clean energy sources that will Repower America. Act now @

Support the Turn Around America Fund We need your help to get out the truth about the Employee Free Choice Act through the Turn Around America Fund. AFL-CIO Turn Around America Fund

Editorial - In Love With a Jersey Smell -Since New York City is the home of Wall Street, which goes up when employment goes down, no one should have been surprised when New Yorkers concluded that a mysterious sweet scent that smelled like a giant Mrs. Butterworth’s spill must have been something really, really bad Read more

News 5 Febuary 2009

Senate Republicans and the Stimulus: Playing Politics When the Economy Burns Tomorrow's job report is likely to be awful. January's job losses could easily top half a million. Read more..

Stimulus: Not worth the trouble in the long run? The new director of the Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf, may have been appointed by Congressional Democratic leaders, but his latest "Director's Blog" posting is unlikely to make Democrats pushing for stimulus bill passage very happy Read more

Senate committee delays vote on Obama labor nominee WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee on Thursday abruptly postponed a vote to confirm President Barack Obama's labor secretary nominee following a news report that her husband may have tax problems. Read more.

One in five Bernard Madoff clients are from FloridaHundreds of prominent South Florida names and institutions -- from Miami car dealer Norman Braman to St. Thomas Aquinas High School -- are on the list of customers who invested money with accused swindler Bernard Madoff. Read more..

Looking for votes in all the wrong places The Republicans' criticisms of fiscal stimulus legislation are based on their opposition to any government program that isn't ultimately aimed at putting money in the pockets of the rich. So, asks Alan Maass, why is Barack Obama reaching out to them? Read more

Campaign 2010 Begins Democrats launch radio ads attacking 28 House Republicans, taking some facts out of context. Read more..

Disney profits down 32 percent Walt Disney Co. reported a 32 percent drop in profit in its first quarter, with revenue dropping most in its studio division, the company said Tuesday.Read more

News 020409

Tom Daschle and the Populist Revolt Tom Daschle's surprise withdrawal today shocked most Washington insiders -- after all, Daschle had been a key figure in the Senate, Read more..

Is the government outlawing the resale of children's clothing? Read more

Limiting the pay of CEOs You think limiting the pay of CEOs is playing tough? Check this out. Fortune Magazine's Allan Sloan explains just what steps we could take in dealing with the companies who've botched the economy and seem determined to continue on the same path. Read more.

The Moulitsas Deficit Reduction Act of 2009 Here's how it works:Since the only time rich DC party insiders seem to get around to paying their taxes is when nominated to Obama's cabinet, Read more

Is President Obama planning to have the military swear an oath to him rather than to the Constitution? Read more

Pork or a chance to bring home the bacon? The new chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, says "we don't" need a stimulus. The economy will recover on its own, he told Fox News, so what's the worry? Read more..

Only on Wall Street: A $500,000 salary limit is "draconian" In response to the news that President Obama intends to cap salaries for employees of banks receiving significant government aid at $500,000, the New York Times provides us with this whopper:Read more..

Tell Congress: Ban Shark Finning I'm against it! Kevin R. SHARKey

Congress passes children health insurance bill WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Congress approved on Wednesday a bill expanding a health insurance program for children and raising tobacco taxes to pay for it, giving President Barack Obama a big legislative victory a day after his pick to lead a healthcare industry overhaul stepped aside Read more..

News 2 Febuary 2009

Interactive Map: Recovery Beyond the Beltway The House of Representatives’ $825 billion Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act is of the scale and breadth necessary to begin tackling the economic chaos that President Barack Obama has inherited from former President George W. Bush. The various spending programs and tax cuts contained in the plan will help communities across the entire nation. This map shows state-by-state allocations for the aspects of the plan for which we could establish where the money is going. This constitutes 66 percent of the total cost of the package. The map also shows the proportion of the funds that will help each state balance their budgets rather than providing additional funding for specific programs. Read more

A Stimulus Plan With Dual Goals - Reform and Recovery -WASHINGTON — As President Obama and Congress barrel toward the latest emergency program to resuscitate the American economy, one question is looming over their search for a cure: Can the government fashion a fast and efficient economic stimulus while also seizing the moment to remake America? Read more

Obama says will reverse Bush labor policies WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to reverse labor policies from his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, that unions have long contended favored employers over workersRead more

You, sir, are an idiot"I had the pleasure this morning of appearing on Warren Olney's "To the Point" public affairs show, broadcast every Friday morning on Santa Monica's KCRW. The topic was bipartisanship and the stimulus plan, and the guests included David Sirota, fast emerging as one of the more prominent left-wing critics of the Obama administration,Read more

Kosmas urges Senate to give Florida its 'fair share' of eduction dollars
Brevard school district tops state in music instruction Brevard County has 23 of the 28 music-demonstration schools statewide, according to a new listing from the Florida Department of Education. Read more

Goodfellas' aided State Farm downfall So long, State Farm Florida. Thanks for nothing.Read more

Section 8 rent relief to end for about 380 families MELBOURNE -- A federal rent subsidy program that helps needy families each month is in a financial crisis, and about 380 such families in Brevard County will be cut off from the assistance on March 1. Read more

The Obama administration not likely to impose tougher restrictions on executive pay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is not likely to impose tougher restrictions on executive pay on most firms receiving aid under the government's $700 billion financial rescue program, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. Read more

Springsteen calls Wal-Mart CD deal a mistake NEW YORK – The Boss is owning up to a mistake. In an interview with Sunday's New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn't have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest hits CD. Read more