Author Archives: Admin

New Coburn report exposing Market Access Program

Staff Report

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) today released a new oversight report, “"Treasure MAP: The Market Access Program’s Bounty of Waste, Loot and Spoils Plundered from Taxpayers” highlighting more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars indirectly subsidizing the advertising costs of some of the most profitable agriculture companies and trade associations doing business overseas.

Many of these company brands are recognizable as household names, such as Welch’s, Sunkist, and Blue Diamond.  Despite their combined $2 billion in sales in 2009, Treasure MAP shows how these companies received more than $6 million in 2012 from taxpayers for product promotion. Also receiving millions from taxpayers for private overseas advertising are the agricultural trade groups whose members include Tyson Foods, Purina, Hershey’s, Georgia-Pacific and Jack Daniels. With a multitude of other agriculture, and fiscal priorities facing our nation, this report shows it is time to reduce funding for the Market Access Program (MAP).

“At a time when we are cutting funding for our troops, taxpayers cannot continue to subsidize the filming of Reality-TV shows in India, wine tastings for foreign journalists and even ads for pet shampoo,” said Dr. Coburn. “We need to make tough choices.”

Among the key findings the report exposes:

•  Blue Diamond Growers almond company has received more than $28 million from MAP since 1999 to market its almonds overseas.

•  Reality TV fashion and design show in India, Let’s Design, received $20 million.

•  One of the world’s biggest sellers of fresh fruit, Sunkist Growers, received $34.1 million since 1999.

•  California raisin growers received $31.7 million since 1998 to promote branded image California Raisins, internationally.

•  A company specializing in organic hair products for dogs, cats, and horses, including “Boost! Volumizing Spray” and “Freeze! Hair Hold” hair sprays for dogs, Espree Animal Products, receives MAP funds to boost sales in the U.S. and overseas.

Examples of overlap and duplication:

•  Prunes and plums are already directly targeted for assistance by USDA through the California Prune Board ($3.6 million, 2010) and the California Tree Fruit Agreement ($2.5 million, 2010), the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association ($9.6 million, 2010) brags in a recent association newsletter that “CropSource International of Walnut Creek, CA has been a part of the WUSATA’s Branded Program since 2004, when they received $50,000 towards marketing their Sunsweet® brand prunes and prune juice in New Zealand (NZ).”   The Organic Trade Association, a MAP funded organization, also promotes dried plums.

•  The Popcorn Board, funded by USDA at more than $250,000 annually, promotes American popcorn and related products.  Similarly, Food Export, USA ($11.2 million, 2012) recently assisted a Nebraska-based gourmet popcorn maker with sales in Japan.

Click here to read “Treasure MAP: The Market Access Program’s Bounty of Waste, Loot and Spoils Plundered from Taxpayers”

Bill Christiansen announces for mayor

David Arnett, Publisher

Former
City Councilor Bill Christiansen officially began his race for Mayor of Tulsa Tuesday
morning at 10 am with a press conference and rally in Helmerich Park on South Riverside
Drive.  Anyone following city politics
even casually knew of his interest, but this event made it official. 

While this
will be the first non-partisan mayor’s race in Tulsa history, it is significant
to note that Christiansen has long identified as a Republican as does the
current Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. 
Christiansen also claims “Conservative” which many mark a contrast
with the incumbent Bartlett. 

Christiansen
was introduced to the audience by Daniel (Dan) Keeting who spoke in glowing
terms of their history and his conviction Christiansen should and will be the
next mayor of Tulsa.  Brother of former
governor Frank; Dan Keating is President of Summit Consolidated Group, a
national brokerage and insurance company.   He is a past president of Valley National
Bank in Tulsa where he presently serves on the Bank’s Board of Directors.  Keating has been a delegate to three
Republican National Conventions.  He is
the Chairman of the City of Tulsa’s Transportation Advisory Board and is a
member of Oklahoma Wesleyan University Foundation Board of Directors.

In his
remarks, Christiansen said, “I established my business in Tulsa in 1972 and, looking
back forty years later, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

Christiansen
said he is starting his campaign early to meet with as many residents as
possible telling The Tulsa World’s Brian Barber, “I want to go out and build
relationships and listen to the citizens.”

Local
observers suggest the early announcement was also timed to carry weight in
political considerations with a bevy of other potential candidates suspected
and, in some cases, reportedly interested in the mayor’s office.  Regardless of the newly “non-partisan” titled
race; well-established advocates and leaders of both parties appear ready to
challenge Mayor Bartlett.

Christiansen
served for ten years on the Tulsa City Council and said, “Tulsa is a good city
and, with the right direction, it can be a great city.”  Political observers noted the comment reflects
common public concern that current Mayor Dewey Bartlett is a nice guy, but not so
much an effective or strong leader.

Christiansen
said, “Tulsa is the best place in the country to work, play and raise a family;
not only for us, but for our children and grandchildren.  It is no coincidence that I decided to make
my announcement here in Helmerich Park across from the Tulsa Police Department’s
Riverside Station – two elements in making the city the best place to work,
play and raise a family are public safety and plenty of good clean neighborhood
parks for our residents.”

“My
priorities are; economic development, public safety, neighborhoods, and
streets,” Christiansen declared.  “Tulsa
must be a city where all businesses can thrive and grow without government
interference.  We need to help existing
business stay and grow here as well as recruit new businesses so that each
person that wants a job has an opportunity to get one.”

On public safety,
Christiansen said, “The people of Tulsa have a right to feel safe in their
neighborhoods and homes.  We need more
police officers – police on the streets. 
My goal will be to restore levels of staffing and service to at least
the level Tulsa had in 2009.”

“A person’s
home is his or her number one asset,” Christiansen said.  “The city should help protect property values
and strengthen their neighborhoods. 
Tulsa is only as vital as our neighborhoods,” he added.

“On streets,”
he said “perception is everything.  We
must continue the aggressive funding for street repair, maintenance and
widening to bring Tulsa’s streets to an acceptable level citywide.  The condition of the streets in your
neighborhood directly affects your home’s value and your personal quality of
life.  Good streets are essential for
Tulsa’s prosperity,” Christiansen added.

Christiansen
also addressed the last mayoral election when he seriously considered running
for the city’s top job by noting the time requirements of his city council
position, his business, and family obligations at that time prevented his race
for mayor.  Now free of the restraint of
his city council job, Christiansen said, “My sons, thankfully, are now taking
over major responsibilities and running the family business.  With reduced time commitments along with the
full support of my family and their understanding of what it will take for a
citywide race; I have decided to run for mayor of this fine city.”

Sunday May
27, Tulsa Today published an interview with former Councilor Christiansen on
efforts to provide public money for infrastructure upgrades at Tulsa
International Airport.  (Click here to read, "No Airport tax needed.")

Saturday June
2, Christiansen held an open house and later client party to celebrate the
occasion of 40 years of success in the aviation business in Tulsa.  (Click here to read “Christiansen Aviation celebrates 40 years of business” by The Tulsa World.”)

The client
party was great fun with music provided by Mid Life Crisis, great local barbeque
and benefit efforts for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.  With hundreds attending that event, it was
clear that Bill Christiansen has developed over the years friends of all
political stripes from both political parties. 
With stunt plane flyovers, antique planes and the latest jet aircraft on
display guests mingled and there was talk of this race. 

This writer
asked Christiansen then about his plans, but he declined to comment on the
record.  At that time with an easy laugh
saying, “Soon my friend.” 

Ten days
later is soon.  As with all candidates regardless of party or, in this case,
newly nonpartisan efforts, Tulsa Today will provide ongoing coverage.

Click here
to reach Bill Christiansen’s “Mayor for all of Tulsa” campaign website. 

Thunder take game 1 in finals 105-94

Rich Lohman, Tulsa Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder were down as many as 13-points in their opening game with the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals in the Chesapeake Energy Arena, but battled back to take game one 105-94.

Miami had a big night from Lebron James (30 points), but it wasn’t enough to overcome the onslaught from Oklahoma City’s pair of all stars.  The Thunder’s Kevin Durant finished with 36 points (17 in the fourth quarter) and Westbrook added 27 (18 in the second half) to go along with 11 assists, eight rebounds and just two turnovers. Durant also grabbed eight rebounds and handed out four assists. Serge Ibaka was the only other Thunder player in double figures with 10 points.

The Heat had four other players in double figures, including Dwyane Wade with 19 points on 7-for-19 shooting and eight assists. Shane Battier added 17 points (one off a season-high) on 6-for-9 shooting, but he managed just four in the second half. Mario Chalmers had a similar game, scoring 10 points in the first half but just two in the second. Chris Bosh added 10 and played almost 34 minutes.

Oklahoma City came out flat, missing five of their first six shots in the first quarter, and allowing Miami to roar out to a 10-2 lead early on.  The Heat lead escalated to as many as 13 points before the Thunder started taking control.  The Thunder guarded Miami a bit loosely in the first half but that changed dramatically in the second when they began locking down on Miami’s players, especially Battier and Chalmers who combined to score 23 points in the first 24 minutes but just six in the last 24.  

The defensive effort of the Thunder, particularly that of Kevin Durant had Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks talking, “We showed a lot of toughness in the second half, but we’ve just won one game. K.D. (Durant) is a terrific player but he’s special because he defends. In our huddles it’s all about defense”

The Thunder are now a perfect 9-0 in the playoffs at home.  The series continues on Thursday night at 8pm in the Chesapeake Arena before shifting to South Beach for three games on Miami’s home court.  Game six and game seven, if they are needed, will be back at home in Oklahoma City.

The game can be viewed on KTUL Channel 8 in Tulsa.

Obama’s Third-Party History

Staff Report

Stanley Kurtz with The National Review recently noted that recently discovered documents shed new light on President Obama’s ties to a leftist party in the 1990s.

Kurtz writes: On the evening of January 11, 1996, while Mitt Romney was in the final years of his run as the head of Bain Capital, Barack Obama formally joined the New Party, which was deeply hostile to the mainstream of the Democratic party and even to American capitalism. 

In 2008, candidate Obama deceived the American public about his potentially damaging tie to this third party. The issue remains as fresh as today’s headlines, as Romney argues that Obama is trying to move the United States toward European-style social democracy, which was precisely the New Party’s goal.
 
In late October 2008, when I wrote at National Review Online that Obama had been a member of the New Party, his campaign sharply denied it, calling my claim a “crackpot smear.” Fight the Smears, an official Obama-campaign website, staunchly maintained that “Barack has been a member of only one political party, the Democratic Party.” I rebutted this, but the debate was never taken up by the mainstream press.
 
Recently obtained evidence from the updated records of Illinois ACORN at the Wisconsin Historical Society now definitively establishes that Obama was a member of the New Party. He also signed a “contract” promising to publicly support and associate himself with the New Party while in office.

Minutes of the meeting on January 11, 1996, of the New Party’s Chicago chapter read as follows:
 
Barack Obama, candidate for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District, gave a statement to the membership and answered questions. He signed the New Party “Candidate Contract” and requested an endorsement from the New Party. He also joined the New Party.
 
Consistent with this, a roster of the Chicago chapter of the New Party from early 1997 lists Obama as a member, with January 11, 1996, indicated as the date he joined.

Click here to read more from The National Review.
 

Fed: Americans’ wealth dropped 40 percent

Staff Report

The net worth of the American family has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, according to government data released Monday, driven by a more than 40 percent drop in their stakes in their homes.

The Federal Reserve’s detailed survey of consumer finances showed families’ median wealth plunged from $126,400 in 2007 to $77,300 in 2010 — a 39 percent decline. That put them on par with median wealth in 1992.

The Fed’s data underscore the depth of the wounds of the Great Recession and how far many families remain from healing. The median value of Americans’ debt did not change between 2007 and 2010. Meanwhile, the housing market crash inflicted particularly severe damage, with the Fed showing that the median value of Americans’ equity in their homes plunged 42.3 percent between 2007 and 2010.

The survey is conducted every three years, and this report offers one of the most exhaustive looks to date at the greatest economic upheaval in a generation. Although there have been some signs that the recovery has picked up steam — housing prices have begun to stabilize and unemployment has fallen — Fed economists said those improvements largely do not change the survey results.

“Recovery from the so-called Great Recession has also been particularly slow,” the Fed said in its report.

Click here for more from The Washington Post.