Koch Brothers are back supporting candidate in Wisconsin

 

UNDATED (WSAU)  - The Koch brothers will make a $1-million ad buy to support Sen. Ron Johnson’s reelection bid. Their Freedom Partners Action Fund will purchase digital and TV ads.

The Kochs cancelled $2.2-million in ad buys for the incumbent Republican just a few weeks ago.

Johnson is locked in a battle with former Senator Russ Feingold. A spokesman for the political action fund says they’ve seen a change in internal polling in the Johnson-Feingold race. Most public polls show Feingold with a large lead. The latest Marquette University Law School Poll showed Feingold with 48-percent support to Johnson’s 41-percent. That survey was conducted in early July.

Above is from:  http://wsau.com/news/articles/2016/aug/05/koch-brothers-to-buy-ads-for-johnson/

Boone County Health Department repaying nonprofits for incorrect permit fees

•  

• By Adam Poulisse
  Staff writer

  Posted Aug. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM

  BELVIDERE — The Boone County Health and Human Services Committee tabled a recommendation by the county Health Department tonight to change the county food service code.

  That change would require all organizations — including nonprofits — to pay annual food service fees.

  The current code exempts nonprofits from the fee, but a number have been charged for years. As a result, the Health Department is refunding thousands of dollars incorrectly charged to those organizations.

  "The county code has got to change because, right now, this is an absolute bottomless pit of freebies," Director of Environmental Health Bill Hatfield said after the meeting.

  A change in the county code is expected at a future subcommittee meeting.

  The proposal has prompted opposition from organizations and residents who say it would be unfair to force nonprofits to shell out money amid the state's budget impasse. The Health Department says the money lost by not charging nonprofits — $22,000 last year — is prohibitive.

  Hatfield said he doesn't have a record of how many nonprofits were incorrectly charged. However, he said they must show proof when seeking a refund.

  "You (have) to confirm and show documentation, and then it will go through the process," Hatfield said. "There doesn't have to be all of this anger that's going on."

  Belvidere VFW Post 1461 recently was refunded $2,485 in fees that stretch back to 2008. The post offers regular breakfasts that require them to have a food permit.

  Belvidere Moose Lodge is waiting to see if its application for a $2,500 refund is approved, Administrator Ed Fitch said.

  "I understand (the Health Department) has bills, too," he said, "but they should look at trimming the budget somewhere else."

  — Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

• Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160805/boone-county-health-department-repaying-nonprofits-for-incorrect-permit-fees

 

• NEWS ALERT-Posted Thursday night on FB by Boone County Board member Cathy Ward.

• 

  "NOT-FOR-PROFIT FEES in Boone . No decision Thursday night. Long discussion. Health chair Jeff Carlisle started the meeting with very strict rules if the public wants to speak, 3 minutes only, board member Brad Stark kept time to make sure no one went over. Jeff wants more very clear definitions of not-for-[profit before a decision is made. Board member Sherry Gieseke asked VFW and Moose members if they paid a liquor license fee and how much. They (Greg Kelm and Ed Fitch) said they do, $2,500. I asked why that was relevant as liquor fees don't go to the health department. Mrs. Gieseke feels if they have enough money to buy a liquor license, they have enough to pay a fee to the health department for their food permit fees. Keep in mind, however, that the vast majority of not-for-profit groups do not have a liquor license, do how does that fit? She supported the fees a few months ago, too. I maintain that every dollar we take from the not-for-profit groups is money that would go to help the people of our county. We taxpayers pay for the health staff to do their jobs. Should be a simple no vote. So frustrating. Lot of our taxpayers left pretty unhappy."

Judge blocks release of Trump videos in Trump University fraud case

Greg Moran

A federal judge here has decided that he will not allow the release of videotaped depositions of Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump in connection with a class-action lawsuit against the defunct Trump University real estate program.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel — a target of Trump's repeated scorn — also rejected a bid by Trump’s lawyers to get the lawsuit dismissed, a ruling that clears the way for a trial that could be costly for the candidate.

Several media organizations had sought release of Trump’s two videotaped depositions, taken in December and January. Transcripts of the testimony have been released, but Trump’s lawyers fought the effort to make the videos themselves public.

Curiel said there is legitimate public interest in having the videos released, but he sided with Trump’s lawyers, who had said releasing the videos would generate so much publicity it would bias potential jurors.

The judge wrote there was “every reason to believe the release of the deposition videos would contribute to an ‘on-going’ media frenzy that would increase the difficulty of seating an impartial jury.”

Full deposition transcripts provide the public with an ample amount of information about what Trump said under oath, Curiel ruled.

Among other things, the transcripts show that Trump was not able to identify instructors who taught the seminars. One of the central fraud claims in the suits — Trump is facing two separate class actions over the business — is that customers were duped by claims that Trump “hand-picked” instructors for the seminars.

Trump has argued the lawsuits are baseless, and that most customers who signed up — with prices ranging from about $2,000 to as much as $35,000 for extended programs — were satisfied. His lawyers contend the claims of “hand-picked” instructors and gleaning the “secrets” of Trump’s real estate empire were nothing more than common sales “puffery.”

In portions of Trump's testimony that have been released, he acknowledged that he plays on people's fantasies.

Curiel, in denying the motion to dismiss the case, said that was a question for a jury to decide, and that the plaintiffs had presented enough evidence to get the claim to trial.

The lawsuit filed in 2013 is a civil racketeering or RICO claim, alleging mail and wire fraud in promoting and selling Trump University, which wasn't accredited as a school. Trump’s lawyers argued the case would expand the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act too far, but Curiel also turned aside that claim.

Under the civil RICO law, a winning side can recover triple the monetary damages — a potentially huge bill for Trump, because the class action covers thousands of Trump University customers in all 50 states.

In May, Trump called Curiel “a very hostile judge” and a “hater of Donald Trump” in an 11-minute attack at a San Diego rally. Later, he said the Indiana-born judge’s Mexican heritage and membership in a Latino lawyers association posed a conflict with Trump's positions on illegal immigration and his promise to build a wall on the Mexican border.

Those comments drew criticism from Republican leaders, and Trump promised to stop talking about the case.

Trial in one of the cases — which covers customers in California, Texas and Florida only — is set for late November.

Above is from:  http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-me-ln-trump-video-20160802-snap-story.html

Health Department and non-profits at odds about financial responsibility of food permit fees

 

 

Health Department and non-profits at odds about financial responsibility of food permit fees

By Cameran Coy | 

Posted: Mon 5:46 PM, Aug 01, 2016  | 

 

BOONE COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) – The Boone County Health Department and local non-profits have been at odds since February about whether or not non-profits should pay for their food permit fees which allow the health department to educate and ensure those serving food are doing so safely.

Flickr / Sara Mohazzebi / CC BY-SA 2.0

The non-profits believe they should not have to pay for the permits since the only source of income they generate is the bare minimum to keep running and any extra money they make goes back into the community. The non-profits say if they start shelling out hundreds of dollars on top of what they already pay, some may just cease to exist. The health department argues that if the non-profits don’t pay the fees, taxpayers will end up paying the costs. The health department said last year the amount of permits handed out would have generated $22,000 and that money had to be covered by taxpayers.

"If you get to putting big fees on all these people, they probably will be discouraged from continuing on with their non-for-profit org. Not all of them, but some of them,” says Greg Kelm, Commander of VFW Post 1461.

"We have to pay the staff for being here and doing those inspections. And if we're not getting any money then it comes out of the tax levy," says Boone County Health Department administrator Cindy Frank.

The non-profits say that it’s ridiculous that the health department only averages two inspections a day, while the health department says that because they have two employees certified to do inspections, that two a day is doing good since one inspection is an all-day event from beginning to end and not just checking a few boxes.

The non-profits around Boone County said they are grateful that recently the health department has reached out to have a sit down and hear their concerns. Both groups say that no matter how it turns out, they are grateful that at least now they have a line of communication and look forward to working this out, as both groups realize the benefit each has on the community.

Above is from:  http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Health-Department-and-non-profits-at-odds-about-financial-responsibility-of-food-permit-fees-388883452.html

 

 

Below is Commander Kelm’s words and comments regarding his public comment to the Health Department Board this afternoon.

Greg Kelm

5 hrs ·

I had 120 seconds (2 full minutes) to speak to the Boone County Health Board today (under public comment) and here is what I said:

Please remember, the Boone County Health Department out of 1.1 million dollar budget, use 88% for wages and benefits for 18 people. Mr. Hatfield was quoted in the Sunday paper saying not getting the fees from not for profits is a bottomless hole.

In my opinion Mr. Hatfield, the bottom less hole is an over staffed over paid health department that is now whining for more money from the not for profits. With a budget of over 1.1 million dollars for 18 people seems a bit excessive. Ms. Frank states all these events on weekends take time from the staff during the week. Well Ms. Frank, why don't you have people staffed on weekends with their days off during the week?

I received a freedom of information act request last Friday from the Boone County Health Department. Did you know by your records Monday through Friday you did not even average 2 full food inspections a day for 2015. That screams inefficiency at its highest level. I wonder how many people are paid to do these inspections? What else are these people really doing that are paid to do food inspections?

Ms. Frank always talks about food-borne illness outbreaks. Again, with another recent FOIA I asked for the last 5 documented outbreaks in Boone County. The health department could not site one.

Food is consumed by all residents in Boone County each and every day. The people that truly keep our food safe is the FDA with their inspections and tests.

Do we really need a 1.1 million dollar health department in Boone County to provide “cushy jobs” for 18 people?

Do we really even need a health department? Could we combine it with another county health department and have good results and maybe save taxper's dollars to get out the health department out of the red?

Do the people who work in our animal shelters let the animals starve and not receive water over the weekend, of course not.

Do our Police and Fire protection just work Monday through Friday? No they are there 24 hours a day 365 days a year and I must add they do an outstanding job.

They are there working weekends like the health department really should be doing, working weekends.

Today 4 board members at least listened to what was said today by myself and Marion Thornberry. In my opinion this “train-wreck” could be sorted out.

Mr. Kelm’s statement is from Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lisa.paulsenrodgers/posts/10209916842898329

Bergdahl's lawyers ask for charges to be dropped over Sen. McCain comments

 

 

© U.S. Army/AP Photo Undated handout photo of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Aug 1 (Reuters) - The legal team for U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl on Monday asked to have the charges against the former prisoner of war dismissed, arguing comments made by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain violated his due process rights.

Bergdahl, 30, is facing a court-martial with a potential life sentence on charges of desertion and endangerment of U.S. troops after he walked away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and became a Taliban prisoner for five years.

Defense attorneys argued in a motion filed on Monday that comments made by McCain and the committee's general counsel, Steve Barney, have unduly influenced his case. The filing quotes McCain as saying last October: "If it comes out that (Bergdahl has no punishment, we're going to have a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee."

"I am not prejudging, OK, but it is well known that in the searches for Bergdahl, after - we know now - he deserted, there are allegations that some American soldiers were killed or wounded, or at the very least put their lives in danger, searching for what is clearly a deserter," McCain added.

The statements, among others, defense attorneys argued, undermine the independence of the military proceeding and violate Bergdahl's rights to due process. The motion said if the charges are not dropped and Bergdahl is convicted, he should at least face no punishment.

"It is not rocket science to see what was wrong with Sen. McCain's comment," the motion says. "His comments - as the Army certainly knows - constituted impermissible meddling in a pending criminal case and an abuse of his authority as chairman of a powerful Senate committee."

Representatives for McCain's office could not be immediately reached for comment, nor could a spokesman for the Senate Armed Services Committee.

U.S. military prosecutors have said Bergdahl sneaked off his post, resulting in a 45-day search that put soldiers' lives at risk and diverted attention from the fight against the Taliban.

Bergdahl was freed in a prisoner swap in May 2014 involving the release of five Taliban leaders held by the United States. The deal drew heavy criticism from Republicans.

The court-martial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 6, 2017. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Above is from:  http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bergdahls-lawyers-ask-for-charges-to-be-dropped-over-mccain-comments/ar-BBv7hPd?ocid=spartanntp

Cullerton repeats demand that Rauner will decide tax hike

 

 

Cullerton repeats demand that Rauner will decide tax hike

Friday, Jul 29, 2016

* This is by no means the first time Senate President John Cullerton has said this about a potential tax hike, but it’s still worth noting…

In June, Illinois legislators approved a stopgap budget that will get the state through the November election and into the lame duck fall session.

Cullerton said he’s willing to work with the governor on a budget “as long as he doesn’t have radical ideas.”

“We look forward to finishing up our budget negotiations, getting a grand bargain and any kind of an agreement has to be with Gov. Rauner’s blessings. We’re not going to have any tax increase unless Gov. Rauner wants it,” Cullerton said.

“And if he wants a tax increase, he’ll determine how much that tax increase will be. But we’ll work with him. But it’s not going to happen unilaterally. It has to be two parties sitting down and willing to compromise and that’s certainly where I am.”

Above is from: http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/29/cullerton-repeats-demand-that-rauner-will-decide-tax-hike/

Boone County Health Department aims to charge nonprofits for food service permits

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Jul. 29, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Updated Jul 29, 2016 at 12:50 PM

BELVIDERE — Boone County Health Department is pushing for a change to county code that will force nonprofit organizations to pay food service permit fees.

Organizations and some residents contend it would be unfair for nonprofits to shell out money for the permits amid a rocky state budget.

Establishments that serve food to the public — be it a chain restaurant like McDonald's, or a local nonprofit's monthly breakfast or weekend cookout — must first obtain a food service permit through the Health Department. However, the county code states nonprofits are exempt from paying permit fees. The fee reimburses the Health Department for time and resources spent issuing the permit, as well as education, tracking, evaluating and inspecting.

Annual permit fees cost $470, the most expensive of the food service permits; short-term permits and lower-risk entities cost less.

Last year, distributing permits to the nearly 30 nonprofits in Boone County would have generated $22,000 for the Health Department. That money had to be made up by the taxpayers, Administrator Cindy Frank said.

"It's going to kill us," she said. "Most not-for-profit events are on weekends, so I have to staff my people to meet that requirement and it takes them out of (weekday) hours."

Frank said the current code may result in some organizations not applying for the permit, which could mean improperly handling food.

"When they're told they don't have to pay for the permit, they don't come in to get the permit, so (we) don't know how they're serving (the food)," Frank added.

The Health Department went before the Health and Human Services Committee earlier this month to recommend the change to the county code. The committee said the Health Department needed to prove the current code is causing a financial hardship. There was no vote.

The Health Department will meet on Monday then return before the health committee on Thursday.

County Board and Health and Human Services Committee member Cathy Ward said she's opposed to nonprofits paying the permit fee.

"I know how hard our not-for-profits work to make every penny," she said.

There are more than 300 fees in the county code including liquor licenses and building permits, but the food permit fee is the only one nonprofits get exemption for.

"This is a bottomless hole," said Bill Hatfield, director of environmental health. "We want everyone who applies for ... a function that requires local government oversight and causes expenses to pay for those expenses."

VFW Post 1461 in Belvidere, 1310 W. Lincoln Ave., has been at odds with the Health Department regarding food service fees for years. The VFW hosts breakfast 10 months out of the year and sells soda and candy bars.

The Health Department charged the VFW $2,485 in permit fees since 2008, until the organization fought and won a refund earlier this year because of its nonprofit status.

They don’t really understand what a nonprofit is,” said Greg Kelm, post commander. “They said we make money but the IRS letter says we are a nonprofit. If the IRS says we are a nonprofit, we are a nonprofit.”

In neighboring Winnebago County, the Health Department charges all nonprofits for food permit fees, except food pantries, Lisa Sprecher, public facilities supervisor, said. Fees in Winnebago County range from $40 for a temporary permit, to $640 for a long-term permit for establishments that seat 200 or more.

Nonprofits across the state faced a difficult time amid the budget impasse, forcing some to close down, or layoff workers and clients to keep services going. Charging the VFW and other Boone County nonprofits the permit fees would be bad timing, Kelm said.

"We are on a tight ship," he said. "If the whole county ran themselves like the VFW runs itself, they wouldn't have financial problems."

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160729/boone-county-health-department-aims-to-charge-nonprofits-for-food-service-permits