The Bank of America is moving to equalize the cost of health care for same-sex couples on bank-sponsored health-care plans.

Presently, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) forbids the federal government from recognizing the validity of same-sex marriages. So under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for same-sex partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a spouse or dependent. Additionally, gay employees cannot use pretax dollars to pay for their premiums — unlike their opposite-sex married counterparts.

However, starting next year, B of A employees with same-sex partners will begin receiving reimbursements for the extra taxes they pay for health insurance.

According to the New York Times:

The banking giant will provide the reimbursement once a year, and it will be calculated for each employee on an individual basis. “We regularly review our benefits plans to ensure they meet the diverse needs of our employees,” said Ferris Morrison, a spokeswoman for the bank.

Bank of America also says  this option will only be offered  to gay couples,  since heterosexual domestic partners have the option to marry and avoid the extra taxes.

Related articles

• Bucks: Bank of America Equalizes Health Costs for Gay Employees (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Pres Obama: Months Not Years Until DOMA Struck Down In The Courts (lezgetreal.com)

After a volatile trading session, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up nearly 430 points Tuesday, on news the Federal Reserve has pledged to keep short-term interest rates near zero for at least another two years.

In the wake of the economy’s fading pace and the stock market’s recent plunge, many analysts had been expected the Fed would show that it was willing to provide more financial support.  And In a contentious afternoon meeting, the Fed did just that when it signaled that the central bank expects to keep short-term interest rates low for an extended specific period — “at least through mid-2013.”

That announcement appears to have energized some investors, who looking were for any scrap of good news after seeing the global decline that hit the markets following the contentious US debt ceiling negotiations and Standard & Poor’s downgrading of the U.S. credit rating late last week.

The Dow closed up 429.92 points, or 4%, to 11,239.77, its biggest gain of the year, after having fallen 635 points in reaction to that downgrading at closing bell yesterday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index also soared 53.07 points, or 4.8%, to 1,172.53, as did the Nasdaq composite, which jumped 124.83 points, or 5.3%, to 2,482.52.

The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury rose following the Fed’s statement, pushing the yield down to 2.28% from 2.34% late Monday.

The U.S. Treasury Department plans to sell $72 billion in bonds this week. Its first auction was held Tuesday, during which the government sold $32 billion in 3-year notes. The bid-to-cover ratio, a measure of demand, came in roughly in line with other recent 3-year note auctions — an indication that investors are not afraid to stash their cash in Treasuries, even with the warning from S&P

However, even with today’s rally, the Dow is still down 2.9% year to date, the S&P 500 is down 6.8% and Nasdaq is off 6.4%. Productivity of U.S. workers also slipped 0.3% during the second quarter, after falling 0.6% the prior quarter. Labor costs rose by 2.2%.

Reflecting the extreme continued investor anxiety caused by those figures, gold futures, settled at $29.80, or 1.7%, higher at a record $1,743.00 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.  Earlier, gold prices hit a record intraday high of $1,782.50 an ounce. Crude-oil futures also slid below $80 a barrel for the first time in nearly 10 months to settle at $79.30 a barrel, while the U.S. dollar lost ground against both the euro and the yen.

Related articles

• Federal Reserve to keep rates low through 2013 (cbc.ca)

Investors bailed out of stocks and ran to the few “safe havens” left to them, as they responded to Standard & Poor’s decision to downgrade the United States’ credit rating with a massive sell off that had the Dow Jones industrial average finishing the day down 634.76 points.

The concern about the U.S. credit rating was amplified when Standard & Poor’s announced Monday morning that it was also downgrading the debt of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which rely on U.S. government guarantees.

But traders said much of the pessimism Monday resulted from broader concerns about the economy. Worries about the U.S. economic recovery have been building since the government said that economic growth was far weaker in the first half of 2011 than economists expected.

Combined with Fridays US credit rating downgrade, and a  lack of investor confidence, stocks ended up with their worst day since the financial crisis in the fall of 2008 and extended Wall Street’s sudden, sharp decline that have seen stocks lose 15 percent of their value in just two and a half weeks.

The Dow ended the day down 634.76 points, or 5.5%, to 10,809.85.

Last week, the Dow Jones industrial average fell almost 700 points. That was its biggest weekly point loss since 2008, during the financial crisis.

The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell even more abruptly, finishing the day down 79.83 points, or 6.6%, to 1,119.55, its worst day since December 2008, with every stock in the benchmark index ending in negative territory.

The Nasdaq Composite Index plunged 174.72 points, or 6.90 percent, to close at 2,357.69.

The Vix, the measure of market volatility and fear among investors, shot up 50 percent, in its steepest rise since February 2007.

Gold set a record, up $61.40 an ounce to settle at $1,713.20.

Crude oil, natural gas and other commodities fell sharply on worries that a weaker global economy will mean less demand. Oil fell 6.4 percent to $81.31 per barrel, its lowest price of the year.

Stock markets worldwide also took a hit. The main stock index fell almost 4 percent in South Korea and more than 2 percent in Japan. European markets as well opened and fell, with Germany down 5 percent and France 4.7 percent.

Related articles

• Dow, NASDAQ plummet after S&P downgrade (bizjournals.com)
• U.S. stocks rocked by credit cut; Dow off 635 pts (marketwatch.com)
• Dow Jones industrial average plunges 600 as market rout continues – Los Angeles Times (news.google.com)
• Summary Box: Stocks plunge after US downgrade (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

05 August 2011
by Bridgette P. LaVictoire

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s says it has downgraded the United States’ credit rating for the first time in the history of the ratings.

The credit rating agency says that it is cutting the country’s top AAA rating by one notch to AA-plus. The credit agency said late Friday that it is making the move because the deficit reduction plan passed by Congress on Tuesday did not go far enough to stabilize the country’s debt situation.

A statement issued by the company this evening said:

We have lowered our long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’ and affirmed the ‘A-1+’ short-term rating.

We have also removed both the short- and long-term ratings from CreditWatch negative.

The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government’s medium-term debt dynamics.

More broadly, the downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges to a degree more than we envisioned when we assigned a negative outlook to the rating on April 18, 2011.

Since then, we have changed our view of the difficulties in bridging the gulf between the political parties over fiscal policy, which makes us pessimistic about the capacity of Congress and the Administration to be able to leverage their agreement this week into a broader fiscal consolidation plan that stabilizes the government’s debt dynamics any time soon.

The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. We could lower the long-term rating to ‘AA’ within the next two years if we see that less reduction in spending than agreed to, higher interest rates, or new fiscal pressures during the period result in a higher general government debt trajectory than we currently assume in our base case.

On Aug. 5, 2011, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ’AA+’ from ’AAA’. The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. At the same time, Standard & Poor’s affirmed its ’A-1+’ short-term rating on the U.S. In addition, Standard & Poor’s removed both ratings from CreditWatch, where they were placed on July 14, 2011, with negative implications.

The transfer and convertibility (T&C) assessment of the U.S. — our assessment of the likelihood of official interference in the ability of U.S.-based public- and private-sector issuers to secure foreign exchange for debt service — remains ’AAA’.

Rationale

We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and will remain a contentious and fitful process. We also believe that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration agreed to this week falls short of the amount that we believe is necessary to stabilize the general government debt burden by the middle of the decade.

Our lowering of the rating was prompted by our view on the rising public debt burden and our perception of greater policymaking uncertainty, consistent with our criteria (see “Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions,” June 30, 2011, especially Paragraphs 36-41). Nevertheless, we view the U.S. federal government’s other economic, external, and monetary credit attributes, which form the basis for the sovereign rating, as broadly unchanged.

We have taken the ratings off CreditWatch because the Aug. 2 passage of the Budget Control Act Amendment of 2011 has removed any perceived immediate threat of payment default posed by delays to raising the government’s debt ceiling. In addition, we believe that the act provides sufficient clarity to allow us to evaluate the likely course of U.S. fiscal policy for the next few years.

The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy. Despite this year’s wide-ranging debate, in our view, the differences between political parties have proven to be extraordinarily difficult to bridge, and, as we see it, the resulting agreement fell well short of the comprehensive fiscal consolidation program that some proponents had envisaged until quite recently. Republicans and Democrats have only been able to agree to relatively modest savings on discretionary spending while delegating to the Select Committee decisions on more comprehensive measures. It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. In addition, the plan envisions only minor policy changes on Medicare and little change in other entitlements, the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability.

Our opinion is that elected officials remain wary of tackling the structural issues required to effectively address the rising U.S. public debt burden in a manner consistent with a ’AAA’ rating and with ’AAA’ rated sovereign peers (see Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions,” June 30, 2011, especially Paragraphs 36-41). In our view, the difficulty in framing a consensus on fiscal policy weakens the government’s ability to manage public finances and diverts attention from the debate over how to achieve more balanced and dynamic economic growth in an era of fiscal stringency and private-sector deleveraging (ibid). A new political consensus might (or might not) emerge after the 2012 elections, but we believe that by then, the government debt burden will likely be higher, the needed medium-term fiscal adjustment potentially greater, and the inflection point on the U.S. population’s demographics and other age-related spending drivers closer at hand (see “Global Aging 2011: In The U.S., Going Gray Will Likely Cost Even More Green, Now,” June 21, 2011).

As we have already said on LezGetReal, the decision by the Republicans to play chicken has hurt us all. Their obsession with destroying President Barack Obama has created a situation where the United States is now in real and serious threat of damage. Where as the US economy was once heading into a second recession, now it is heading into a depression. Job growth is unlikely in the near future, and the problems that the economy is already having will just get worse because of this reckless disregard for the future of America.

It was Jon Stewart who basically said that he was against this idea of no government, but that is what these people want. The Republicans are doing what they can to ensure that there will be no American government. As India and China have a burgeoning middle class who can buy stuff from American companies, the megacorps are looking for new places to find cheap labor, and given the instability in Africa, they are choosing to implode the United States rather than allow a recovery.

On Monday, the stock market will crash. The big question now is, will it take the nation with it, or will the Republicans finally wake up and act like the patriots that they claim that they are and raise revenue and really get our financial house in order.

During the market’s wildest day in recent memory, the Dow Jones industrial average swung 416.41 points from its session high of to its intraday low, before finally closing the day with marginal gains in the last hour of trading. The S&P 500 also covered 50.02 points from peak to bottom, before finally ending the day lower, this despite a U.S. Labor Department report that said the country’s economy generated 117,000 jobs in July.

At closing bell, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 60.93 points, or 0.5 percent, at 11,444.61, while the Standard and Poor’s 500 index fell 0.69 point, or 0.1 percent, at 1,199.38 and the Nasdaq composite lost 23.98, or 0.9 percent, at 2,532.41.

Commodities were relatively stable. Crude oil rose 25 cents a barrel to $86.88, while gold fell $7.20 an ounce to $1,651.80.

For the week, the Dow fell 5.8 percent, losing nearly 1000 points after plummeting over 500 points Thursday. The S&P 500 was down 7.2 percent and the Nasdaq was off 8.1 percent, closing a trading week that saw all three indexes showing their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis

Fears over a slowdown in the U.S. economy and increasing economic turmoil in Europe have rattled investor confidence.

In Europe, debt problems are spreading, threatening the both the Italian and Spanish economies. In the U.S, a possible debt default was averted earlier this week, but concerns remain. Chief among them, less spending by consumers, which is leading to lackluster growth by both manufacturing and service companies and too few new jobs to lower the unemployment rate significantly.

Investors also worry that the federal government is more likely to hurt the economy than help it. Instead of more spending, the government is trying to reduce its budget deficits by spending less.

Speaking Friday, President Obama said his administration remains focused on lowering the nation’s unemployment rate as the 2012 election approaches.

“We have to create more jobs than that each month to make up for the more than eight million jobs that the recession claimed,” said Obama. “We need to create a self-sustaining cycle, where people are spending, and companies are hiring, and our economy is growing. And we have known that will take some time.”

Related articles

• Stocks mostly lower after a day of wild swings (csmonitor.com)

Stocks edged narrowly higher Wednesday after initial deep losses, snapping an eight-day streak of losses.

The trading day started with steep declines after reports showed the U.S. services sector had softened and factory orders fell last month, adding to economic worries that this was the beginning of a second drip recession. After an hour of trading, the Dow had tumbled 166 points.

However, buyers came back into the market after a Wall Street Journal report said that three former top Federal Reserve officials had suggested the central bank may consider a new round of stimulus measures to help boost the economy. By the mid-afternoon, stocks had reversed their declines and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose one-quarter of one percent to end the day at slightly more than 11,896.

The S&P 500 was also up one-half of one percent to close at just above 1,260. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced nearly one percent to 2,693.

European stock prices closed sharply lower. London’s Financial Times index fell 2.3 percent to end the day at 5,585. The CAC-40 index in Paris plunged 1.9 percent to finish at 3,455. The DAX index in Frankfurt fell 2.3 percent to close at nearly 6,641.

In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei index slid more than 2 percent to finish at 9,637. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 1.9 percent to finish the day’s trading at nearly 21,993.

Gold traded at $1,663.40 per ounce, up $21.50 from Tuesday.

The dollar fell against the yen and the euro.

Related articles

• Dow edges higher, breaking an 8-day losing streak (chron.com)

As leaders in Washington conclude their debt-ceiling political kabuki  averting the potential economic disaster that would have come with the US government defaulting on its loan payment, the Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 150 points Tuesday, as investors worried that the debt-ceiling agreement could further weaken an already sluggish economy and plunge the economy into a recession.

The Dow was off  265.87 points, or 2.2%, to 11866.62.

Foreign stock markets sold off heavily, with the Spanish and German markets sinking more than 2%.

The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index shed 21 points, or 1.6%, to 1266, led lower by industrial and consumer-discretionary stocks. All 10 sectors in the S&P 500 traded in negative territory, leaving  the S&P 500  at a 2011 closing low.

The technology-oriented Nasdaq Composite gave up 46 points, or 1.7%, to 2698.

Treasury bonds continued their startling three-day rally. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note plunged to a nine-month low of 2.62% from 2.75% on Monday.

New reports showing U.S. manufacturing grew at its slowest pace in two years in July, now have Wall Street’s attention focused on indications of a global growth slowdown that is reviving fears of recession.

Investors scrambled into gold and U.S. Treasury bonds, perceived havens, as talk on Wall Street turned to whether the economy might be headed back into recession.

Today’s selling was driven by a government report that showed consumer spending suffering its worst decline in June since September 2009 as consumer spending fell 0.2%, compared with the 0.1% increase that economists expected.

Combined with a related rise in personal savings, the economic news indicated that the American public, barraged with pervasive warnings about the debt ceiling and reeling from chronic unemployment, are further cutting back on their discretionary spending.

On Monday, the Institute for Supply Management said its index of national factory activity fell to 50.9, the lowest level since July 2009, from 55.3 in June.

Economists had expected a reading of 54.9, a reading below 50 indicates a contraction in manufacturing. As new orders contracted, doubt in being cast on expectations the faltering recovery would quickly regain steam.

Additionally, a report last week showed that gross domestic product only grew at an annual rate of 1.3 percent in the second quarter of the year following 0.4 percent in the first three months, prompting economists to warn of possible relapse into recession.

The results of Gallup’s Job Creation Index also show poor job creation numbers throughout most of the country.  Hiring has remained virtually flat over the past six months, and employers appear to be holding back on their hiring indicating that many companies may be concerned about how much business they expect to get in the future, That report, as well, has investors running for cover.

8-1-11

By LGR Financial News Staff

U.S. stocks were down after the closing bell on Monday, as concerns about weak manufacturing data and worries that ratings firms could still downgrade the U.S. government’s credit overpowered investor relief about a debt-ceiling deal, damped investor confidence.

At the close of U.S. trade today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had lost 110 points, or 0.9%, to 12033, in afternoon trading. Earlier, it briefly fell below 12,000 for the first time since late June. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index also fell 14 points, or 1.2%, to 1278 recently, with all sectors except telecommunications losing ground. The Nasdaq Composite lost 35 points, or 1.3%, to 2721.

European stock markets also closed lower today. France’s CAC 40 was down 2.27%; Germany’s DAX shed 2.86%; Britain’s FTSE 100 declined 0.70%; and the EURO STOXX 50 fell 2.88%.

The price of gold edged up less than $1 to trade at $1,627.28 an ounce.

Wall Street Analysis are saying  stocks took a plunge today after industry data showed that the U.S. ISM manufacturing PMI fell more-than-expected to 50.9 last month from 55.3 in the preceding month, renewing worries about the overall state of the U.S. economy.

Investors were also still fretting over the state of the U.S. debt-ceiling negotiations, in which the House and Senate were expected to vote on the weekend plan during the afternoon. Details of this weekend’s debt pact have some investors worrying that the deal wouldn’t be enough to avoid the threat of ratings downgrades. There also was concern that the length of the talks and severity of recent market fluctuations were beginning to have a long-term impact on the wider economy.

“Clearly what’s going on in D.C. is affecting the overall economy,” Gary Flam, portfolio manager at Los Angeles-based Bel Air Investment Advisors told the Wall Street Journal. “The longer [the debt debates] go on, the more headwinds we face. The bulls’ argument was [that] you’ll have acceleration in the economy in the second half. That’s being called in to question now.”

Related articles

• Dow stumbles on weak manufacturing report (sfgate.com)
• Stocks turn lower on weak manufacturing report (money.cnn.com)

8-1-11

By LGR Financial News Staff

Global markets responded favorably to the news of an apparent end to the debt ceiling crisis in Washington late Sunday with shares in Asia jumping nearly two percent and early signs pointing to a big rise at the opening bell on Wall Street.

As trading day began in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was up 170 points, or about 1.7 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500/ASX 200 index, a measure of Australia’s blue-chip stocks, rose 1.95 percent after opening up 0.36 percent before the announcement.

Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times index began trading up 0.77 percent, while South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI edged up 1.69 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index moved 1.49 percent higher.

Futures contracts predicting the open in New York suggested the Dow could open up close to 200 points, or about 1.5 percent.

However, many big investors still remained cautious after the deal was announced by President Barack Obama Sunday Evening, as it remains far from certain that the debt ceiling deal will help the United States avoid losing its triple-A credit rating for the first time in history. Analysts also warn that there are still risks for the US economy and investors will be closely monitoring jobs numbers due out next Friday.

The debt deal hammered out by the White House and Congressional Leaders on Sunday involves raising the debt ceiling through the end of 2012, there will be $1 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years ($100 billion per year), a bi-partisan “super-committee” comprised of one member of each party from each chamber of Congress will be set up to determine how to best reduce spending and stimulate our economy to report back before November for a vote. Everything will be on the table in this committee.

The deal still needs approval from the full Congress, with the Senate vote tentatively set for 1 p.m. Eastern time on Monday and if it passes, a House vote to be held later in the day.

Related articles

• Asian markets jump as Obama announces US debt deal (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Financial markets show optimism on debt deal (cbsnews.com)

By LGR Financial News Staff

The S&P 500 fell for a fourth straight day, and the market to end mostly lower on Thursday, as buyers stepped back to wait out lawmakers in Washington who are trying to hash out an agreement on the deficit.

The wrangling over the U.S. deficit has boosted volatility as stocks fell throughout the day, leaving insiders saying that investors are skeptical a key vote by Congress would lead to a deal to avoid a default.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended down 62.44 points, or 0.51 percent, at 12,240.11. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 4.22 points, or 0.32 percent, at 1,300.67 points, or 0.05 percent, at 2,766.25, leaving the S&P 500 down 3.3 percent on the week.

The dollar also dropped toward a postwar low against the yen and the yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell 0.02 percentage point to 2.96 percent..

“During the course of the day, it became clear that even if (Republican House Speaker John) Boehner does get the vote, when it’s turned over to the Senate, the Senate is going to reject it. That seems to be the reason for the selling into strength,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.

A vote on a Republican sponsored bill to raise the debt limit was expected after the close of trading today in the U.S. House of Representatives. However the Democratic-controlled Senate is also offering up a competing bill, and Democratic leaders have said the House bill will be defeated in the Senate. Analysts also cite dissension among the ranks of GOP lawmakers as reason investors are less certain that a deal to avoid defaulting on the debt can happen.

Even if a deal is reached and the U.S. doesn’t default, investors are, as well, worried that the country might lose its triple-A credit rating. That could raise interest rates and possibly slow down the U.S. economy, which is still recovering from the worst recession in decades.

Related articles

• Can America avoid debt ‘suicide’ (business.financialpost.com)
• US debt fears hit world markets (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Dollar Approaches Postwar Low Versus Yen Before U.S. Budget Vote (businessweek.com)

By LGR Financial News Staff

Stocks drew back deep into negative territory for a fourth straight session Wednesday amid signs of economic softness and a deepening concern over the impasse on the debt crisis in Washington, D.C.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 164 points, or 1.3%, to 12337, the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index fell 23 points, or 1.8%, to 1308 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 67 points, or 2.4%, to 2773. The Dow has shed nearly 400 points over the course of its losing streak.

The declines were led by technology and industrial stocks, which were among the weakest stocks in the S&P 500 for a second consecutive session. Caterpillar was off 3.7%, United Technologies fell 2.3%, DuPont fell 2.7% and Alcoa shed 3.2%, while 3M fell 1.6% after dropping 5.4% on Tuesday following its earnings results.

Cisco Systems was the Dow’s biggest decliner, dropping 3.7% after rival Juniper Networks reported weak second-quarter results and offered a downbeat forecast. Juniper tumbled 21%.

In bond markets, Treasury prices also slipped today because of a mediocre five-year note auction and another day of continued political gridlock about raising the debt ceiling.

Much of the market pessimism today came after the Congressional Budget Office released reports that said budget plans put forth by both Senate Democrats and House Republicans wouldn’t reduce the deficit by as much as promised, casting a shadow on the latest round of negotiations over the U.S. debt crisis.

Financial experts are now saying even a last-minute measure to raise the debt ceiling might not be enough to satisfy the markets, since the three major ratings agencies are threatening to lower their top AAA scores for U.S. government bonds, a move which could potentially trigger massive interest rate hikes that will further stymie the economic recovery.

The Detroit that's not in the commercial.

While you read this, bear in mind that House Speaker John Boehner has just said that there must be “trillions of dollars” of cuts from the 2012 budget before the House Republicans will vote to raise the debt ceiling. If we do not raise the ceiling, if we default on our debts by so much as 24 hours, we will literally crash the world’s economy. The Republicans are insisting that all of the cuts come from the 12% of our budget that is “discretionary spending” – that means all our social safety net programs, and from Medicare and Social Security. None must come from defense (where we spend almost half the money spent in the world on defense) and there must be no changes to our tax code or increase in taxes. This is blackmail. In any other scenario, threatening an action that would cause devastating consequences unless a payment is received would be a criminal act.

I can’t really say that the Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest Americans ever interested me too much. That changed when I read that there are almost 500 billionaires in America. Billionaires? Whatever happened to millionaires? When did we hit the point where there were more billionaires than the 400? Just to put these 400 in perspective, they hold as much wealth as the bottom 155,000,000 Americans. Allegedly, if we stripped them of all their wealth, it still wouldn’t amount to the national debt. No one is suggesting they be stripped.

The 400 is an interesting list. Let’s get the good guys out of the way first. Forty-three of the 400 have taken the Buffett-Gates giving pledge. Four of them are in the top ten – Gates, Buffett, Larry Ellison and Michael Bloomberg.

The other six in the top ten are Kochs and Waltons. The exemplify almost all of the people who have a company or industry behind their names. These are the owners of companies that, because they are privately held are classified in the tax codes as “small businesses.” HCA Health, which owns hospitals, has 190,000 employees. Cargill has 130,500. The Kochs have 70,000. The Waltons are the largest employers in the world. These business owners qualify for every tax break that is sold to the public as helping “small businesses.” They also have the ability to keep their personal taxable incomes very low. It’s a little complicated. A company owner can draw only as much money as he or she actually needs for personal expenses. With a really, really good accountant and tax lawyers, H. Ross Perot paid less in personal income taxes in 1991 than a family of four with a median income. Twenty of these 400 made their money in the oil and gas industries, which have their own sets of tax breaks and incentives on top of those available to small businesses.

So, what would these small business owners want from our elected officials? The answer is in a simple phrase “tax expenditures.” Those are the hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny little tax breaks, incentives, deductions, exclusions, whatevers that are available to these companies and their owners. “Tax expenditures” is a true government oxymoron. There is nothing expended by the government. These are the things that prevent the government collecting taxes. Calling them “tax barriers” would be more accurate. Even publicly traded companies – companies that issue stock that can theoretically be purchased by anyone – have their own set of “tax expenditures.” Those are the breaks that not only made it possible for General Electric to pay no taxes, but got them over $3 billion from the U. S. Treasury in tax returns – on the taxes they didn’t pay.

103 of the 400 made their billions in hedge funds, money management, investments, leveraged buyouts, equity trading, and venture capitol. While my friend was watching her 401k lose over $60,000 in one day, these people were moving into the billionaire classification. They have one big tax advantage – the capital gains tax rate. Let’s just take one man – hedge fund manager John Paulson. One one deal, the one Goldman Sachs admitted was a shitty one, he turned over a $3 billion profit for his clients. He was gambling that our mortgages would be foreclosed because the people holding our adjustable rate mortgages decided it was better to foreclose than to keep the rates affordable. As the manager of the hedge fund, he only paid the 15% capital gains tax rate on his commission, instead of the 35% income tax rate. That’s a 20% savings. It isn’t just the investors who only pay a 15% tax on the profit they make when they sell stocks, it’s the people who arrange those sales who also benefit from those tax rates. One quarter of these people are on this list because of the deregulation of the financial industry. The capital gains tax was instituted to encourage people to invest in businesses, not to push their brokers into the Forbes 400.

So, what would these 103 want from our elected officials? Repeal of the financial reform law passed last year that didn’t really go far enough to protect us from another stock market dive.

In the #5 and #6 slots on the 400 are the Koch brothers. They are the most blatant and open about their contributions to political causes. They have funded some of the most “respected” conservative think tanks – The Heritage Foundation, The Cato Institute and others, most with very patriotic names. These groups direct conservative public policy. The also funded Americans for Prosperity, the big name in the Tea Party movement. Rupert Murdoch is at #38. He has a whole television and newspaper empire to help protect his $6.2 billion by twisting the news to make people vote for politicians who will then shaft them to help out the top 2%.

There are people on this list who are not doing everything possible to elect Republicans who will protect their “tax expenditures” and repeal financial services reform. George Soros is at #14. Buffett, Gates, the other 41 believe that they should give back in some way. Soros’ MoveOn.org isn’t enough. It isn’t any of these people who are funding organizations that are in the top ten groups funding elections. Only the three largest unions are funding Democrats and are in the top ten. Those unions are being attacked by the people on this list who don’t want to pay decent wages or give decent benefits.

They are also, amazingly, the people who are most resistant to the idea of nationalized health. For decades, other businessmen have said that a nationalized health system is what this country needs to compete in the global marketplace. Thirty years ago, Lee Iacocca said that health insurance added over $1,000 to the price of every American-made car. No one even talks about that anymore. We pay almost twice as much per person for health care as the next most expensive country and don’t crack the top ten for health care delivery. The difference in our costs is in the for-profit nature of our health care industry and the insurance industry, not in superior health care.

To give these people and their companies even more tax breaks, Florida Governor Rick Scott wants to cut $1.6+ billion from education and public services. Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin wants to cut $1 billion. These aren’t cuts that will balance their state budgets. They are just ways to give more money to that top 2% of Americans.

To achieve this, they have convinced a large part of the electorate that the goal is to cut taxes for the 98% of us, to cut off welfare to illegal immigrants who can’t get welfare, to cut off unemployement benefits because those subsistence payments make people lazy. To increase the Waltons’ share of those billions, they spread the doctrine that part-time jobs with no benefits is the new definition of employment. To protect the billions made by those owning retail chains, they are pushing the idea that unions are bad, so that the nascient movement to unionize their own stores will die. It’s been remarkably successful – persuading people that we should strip union workers of their pay and benefits to bring them down to the lower level all of us are supposed to accept. To fulfill the Kochs’ John Birch Society vision, they convince people that immigration is wrong and everyone who isn’t “like us” must be driven out – Jews, Muslims, Hispanics, Asians, everyone who isn’t white and protestant. And when all else fails, they hitch themselves to religious issues like abortion and gay rights to win votes, covering up what they will really do with a smoke screen of piety. They have focused in on two small aspects of the Bible to ignore the overwhelming messages of charity and rejecting wealth. When you’ve got Murdoch’s media network to spread the narrative, and the internet to spread the outright lies and conspiracy theories, it gets really easy to control what people think.

The consequences of allowing the Republican agenda to succeed are in our past – the past we don’t teach anymore because we have allowed history to be downgraded. Before unions, we worked in sweatshops where we died from unsafe conditions – fibers in the air crippling our lungs, locked doors that trapped us during fires, mines that collapsed. Before food stamps, our seniors ate cat food and poor children suffered developmental problems because of poor nuitrition. Before Medicaid and Medicare people died because they couldn’t afford simple medical care. Before Roe v. Wade, thousands of women were permanently maimed and died of illegal abortions. Before the Civil Rights movement, not only blacks, but Hispanics, Asians, Jews, anyone considered “different” suffered killings, physical abuse and denial of basic rights. Millions died of influenza in over-crowded tenements. There are real reasons these programs came into being. There are real reasons unions were founded. There are real reasons we took the promise of equality into new laws and new protections. In the world before World War I, that Pollyanna world that is evoked when Tea Party candidates talk about taking our country back, a few people became fabulously rich, a small number became comfortably rich, and the majority lived just one step ahead of starvation, disability, disease, and early deaths. Only one heir of those fabulously rich is still on the 400.

There are 303 million of us who are getting screwed by this agenda. The challenge is to make half of us see the facts and understand just what they are getting if they take back our country – to the 19^th century.

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Related articles

• Tax Inequities Explored (lezgetreal.com)
• Read President Obama’s Speech – Defending Core Democratic Beliefs (lezgetreal.com)
• Defense bill ups health care fees, vets to oppose (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Ethan Rome: Republicans Give Trillions to Health Insurance Companies (huffingtonpost.com)

I decided to post the text of the President’s speech because sometimes the eye goes further than the ear! The Speech shed light on the role of Government. Transfer of money from the poor to give to the rich is un-American. This speech reads according to what side you are on.  The President went for the jugular and called out the bogus bullshit of the Republicans. Best of all is his flagrant refusal to renew tax cuts for the wealthy.

Rachel Maddow noted on her evening show that “Today is a benchmark Day in the Obama Presidency.”

President Obama’s speech today, as prepared for delivery:

“What we’ve been debating here in Washington for the last few weeks will affect your lives in ways that are potentially profound. This debate over budgets and deficits is about more than just numbers on a page, more than just cutting and spending. Its about the kind of future we want. It’s about the kind of country we believe in. And that’s what I want to talk about today.

“From our first days as a nation, we have put our faith in free markets and free enterprise as the engine of America’s wealth and prosperity. More than citizens of any other country, we are rugged individualists, a self-reliant people with a healthy skepticism of too much government.

“But there has always been another thread running throughout our history – a belief that we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation. We believe, in the words of our first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, that through government, we should do together what we cannot do as well for ourselves. And so we’ve built a strong military to keep us secure, and public schools and universities to educate our citizens. We’ve laid down railroads and highways to facilitate travel and commerce. We’ve supported the work of scientists and researchers whose discoveries have saved lives, unleashed repeated technological revolutions, and led to countless new jobs and entire industries. Each of us has benefited from these investments, and we are a more prosperous country as a result.

“Part of this American belief that we are all connected also expresses itself in a conviction that each one of us deserves some basic measure of security. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, hard times or bad luck, a crippling illness or a layoff, may strike any one of us. ‘There but for the grace of God go I,’ we say to ourselves, and so we contribute to programs like Medicare and Social Security, which guarantee us health care and a measure of basic income after a lifetime of hard work; unemployment insurance, which protects us against unexpected job loss; and Medicaid, which provides care for millions of seniors in nursing homes, poor children, and those with disabilities. We are a better country because of these commitments. I’ll go further – we would not be a great country without those commitments.

“For much of the last century, our nation found a way to afford these investments and priorities with the taxes paid by its citizens. As a country that values fairness, wealthier individuals have traditionally born a greater share of this burden than the middle class or those less fortunate. This is not because we begrudge those who’ve done well – we rightly celebrate their success. Rather, it is a basic reflection of our belief that those who have benefited most from our way of life can afford to give a bit more back. Moreover, this belief has not hindered the success of those at the top of the income scale, who continue to do better and better with each passing year.

“Now, at certain times – particularly during periods of war or recession – our nation has had to borrow money to pay for some of our priorities. And as most families understand, a little credit card debt isn’t going to hurt if it’s temporary.

“But as far back as the 1980s, America started amassing debt at more alarming levels, and our leaders began to realize that a larger challenge was on the horizon. They knew that eventually, the Baby Boom generation would retire, which meant a much bigger portion of our citizens would be relying on programs like Medicare, Social Security, and possibly Medicaid. Like parents with young children who know they have to start saving for the college years, America had to start borrowing less and saving more to prepare for the retirement of an entire generation.

“To meet this challenge, our leaders came together three times during the 1990s to reduce our nation’s deficit. They forged historic agreements that required tough decisions made by the first President Bush and President Clinton; by Democratic Congresses and a Republican Congress. All three agreements asked for shared responsibility and shared sacrifice, but they largely protected the middle class, our commitments to seniors, and key investments in our future.

“As a result of these bipartisan efforts, America’s finances were in great shape by the year 2000. We went from deficit to surplus. America was actually on track to becoming completely debt-free, and we were prepared for the retirement of the Baby Boomers.

“But after Democrats and Republicans committed to fiscal discipline during the 1990s, we lost our way in the decade that followed. We increased spending dramatically for two wars and an expensive prescription drug program – but we didn’t pay for any of this new spending. Instead, we made the problem worse with trillions of dollars in unpaid-for tax cuts – tax cuts that went to every millionaire and billionaire in the country; tax cuts that will force us to borrow an average of $500 billion every year over the next decade.

“To give you an idea of how much damage this caused to our national checkbook, consider this: in the last decade, if we had simply found a way to pay for the tax cuts and the prescription drug benefit, our deficit would currently be at low historical levels in the coming years.

“Of course, that’s not what happened. And so, by the time I took office, we once again found ourselves deeply in debt and unprepared for a Baby Boom retirement that is now starting to take place. When I took office, our projected deficit was more than $1 trillion. On top of that, we faced a terrible financial crisis and a recession that, like most recessions, led us to temporarily borrow even more. In this case, we took a series of emergency steps that saved millions of jobs, kept credit flowing, and provided working families extra money in their pockets. It was the right thing to do, but these steps were expensive, and added to our deficits in the short term.

“So that’s how our fiscal challenge was created. This is how we got here. And now that our economic recovery is gaining strength, Democrats and Republicans must come together and restore the fiscal responsibility that served us so well in the 1990s. We have to live within our means, reduce our deficit, and get back on a path that will allow us to pay down our debt. And we have to do it in a way that protects the recovery, and protects the investments we need to grow, create jobs, and win the future.

“Now, before I get into how we can achieve this goal, some of you might be wondering, ‘Why is this so important? Why does this matter to me?’

“Here’s why. Even after our economy recovers, our government will still be on track to spend more money than it takes in throughout this decade and beyond. That means we’ll have to keep borrowing more from countries like China. And that means more of your tax dollars will go toward paying off the interest on all the loans we keep taking out. By the end of this decade, the interest we owe on our debt could rise to nearly $1 trillion. Just the interest payments.

“Then, as the Baby Boomers start to retire and health care costs continue to rise, the situation will get even worse. By 2025, the amount of taxes we currently pay will only be enough to finance our health care programs, Social Security, and the interest we owe on our debt. That’s it. Every other national priority – education, transportation, even national security – will have to be paid for with borrowed money.

“Ultimately, all this rising debt will cost us jobs and damage our economy. It will prevent us from making the investments we need to win the future. We won’t be able to afford good schools, new research, or the repair of roads and bridges – all the things that will create new jobs and businesses here in America. Businesses will be less likely to invest and open up shop in a country that seems unwilling or unable to balance its books. And if our creditors start worrying that we may be unable to pay back our debts, it could drive up interest rates for everyone who borrows money – making it harder for businesses to expand and hire, or families to take out a mortgage.

“The good news is, this doesn’t have to be our future. This doesn’t have to be the country we leave to our children. We can solve this problem. We came together as Democrats and Republicans to meet this challenge before, and we can do it again.

“But that starts by being honest about what’s causing our deficit. You see, most Americans tend to dislike government spending in the abstract, but they like the stuff it buys. Most of us, regardless of party affiliation, believe that we should have a strong military and a strong defense. Most Americans believe we should invest in education and medical research. Most Americans think we should protect commitments like Social Security and Medicare. And without even looking at a poll, my finely honed political skills tell me that almost no one believes they should be paying higher taxes.

“Because all this spending is popular with both Republicans and Democrats alike, and because nobody wants to pay higher taxes, politicians are often eager to feed the impression that solving the problem is just a matter of eliminating waste and abuse –that tackling the deficit issue won’t require tough choices. Or they suggest that we can somehow close our entire deficit by eliminating things like foreign aid, even though foreign aid makes up about 1% of our entire budget.

“So here’s the truth. Around two-thirds of our budget is spent on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and national security. Programs like unemployment insurance, student loans, veterans’ benefits, and tax credits for working families take up another 20%. What’s left, after interest on the debt, is just 12 percent for everything else. That’s 12 percent for all of our other national priorities like education and clean energy; medical research and transportation; food safety and keeping our air and water clean.

“Up until now, the cuts proposed by a lot of folks in Washington have focused almost exclusively on that 12%. But cuts to that 12% alone won’t solve the problem. So any serious plan to tackle our deficit will require us to put everything on the table, and take on excess spending wherever it exists in the budget. A serious plan doesn’t require us to balance our budget overnight – in fact, economists think that with the economy just starting to grow again, we will need a phased-in approach – but it does require tough decisions and support from leaders in both parties. And above all, it will require us to choose a vision of the America we want to see five and ten and twenty years down the road.

“One vision has been championed by Republicans in the House of Representatives and embraced by several of their party’s presidential candidates. It’s a plan that aims to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next ten years, and one that addresses the challenge of Medicare and Medicaid in the years after that.

“Those are both worthy goals for us to achieve. But the way this plan achieves those goals would lead to a fundamentally different America than the one we’ve known throughout most of our history.

“A 70% cut to clean energy. A 25% cut in education. A 30% cut in transportation. Cuts in college Pell Grants that will grow to more than $1,000 per year. That’s what they’re proposing. These aren’t the kind of cuts you make when you’re trying to get rid of some waste or find extra savings in the budget. These aren’t the kind of cuts that Republicans and Democrats on the Fiscal Commission proposed. These are the kind of cuts that tell us we can’t afford the America we believe in. And they paint a vision of our future that’s deeply pessimistic.

“It’s a vision that says if our roads crumble and our bridges collapse, we can’t afford to fix them. If there are bright young Americans who have the drive and the will but not the money to go to college, we can’t afford to send them. Go to China and you’ll see businesses opening research labs and solar facilities. South Korean children are outpacing our kids in math and science. Brazil is investing billions in new infrastructure and can run half their cars not on high-priced gasoline, but bio-fuels. And yet, we are presented with a vision that says the United States of America – the greatest nation on Earth – can’t afford any of this.

“It’s a vision that says America can’t afford to keep the promise we’ve made to care for our seniors. It says that ten years from now, if you’re a 65 year old who’s eligible for Medicare, you should have to pay nearly $6,400 more than you would today. It says instead of guaranteed health care, you will get a voucher. And if that voucher isn’t worth enough to buy insurance, tough luck – you’re on your own. Put simply, it ends Medicare as we know it.

“This is a vision that says up to 50 million Americans have to lose their health insurance in order for us to reduce the deficit. And who are those 50 million Americans? Many are someone’s grandparents who wouldn’t be able afford nursing home care without Medicaid. Many are poor children. Some are middle-class families who have children with autism or Down’s syndrome. Some are kids with disabilities so severe that they require 24-hour care. These are the Americans we’d be telling to fend for themselves.

“Worst of all, this is a vision that says even though America can’t afford to invest in education or clean energy; even though we can’t afford to care for seniors and poor children, we can somehow afford more than $1 trillion in new tax breaks for the wealthy. Think about it. In the last decade, the average income of the bottom 90% of all working Americans actually declined. The top 1% saw their income rise by an average of more than a quarter of a million dollars each. And that’s who needs to pay less taxes? They want to give people like me a two hundred thousand dollar tax cut that’s paid for by asking thirty three seniors to each pay six thousand dollars more in health costs? That’s not right, and it’s not going to happen as long as I’m President.

“The fact is, their vision is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America. As Ronald Reagan’s own budget director said, there’s nothing ‘serious’ or ‘courageous’ about this plan. There’s nothing serious about a plan that claims to reduce the deficit by spending a trillion dollars on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. There’s nothing courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don’t have any clout on Capitol Hill. And this is not a vision of the America I know.

“The America I know is generous and compassionate; a land of opportunity and optimism. We take responsibility for ourselves and each other; for the country we want and the future we share. We are the nation that built a railroad across a continent and brought light to communities shrouded in darkness. We sent a generation to college on the GI bill and saved millions of seniors from poverty with Social Security and Medicare. We have led the world in scientific research and technological breakthroughs that have transformed millions of lives.

“This is who we are. This is the America I know. We don’t have to choose between a future of spiraling debt and one where we forfeit investments in our people and our country. To meet our fiscal challenge, we will need to make reforms. We will all need to make sacrifices. But we do not have to sacrifice the America we believe in. And as long as I’m President, we won’t.

“Today, I’m proposing a more balanced approach to achieve $4 trillion in deficit reduction over twelve years. It’s an approach that borrows from the recommendations of the bipartisan Fiscal Commission I appointed last year, and builds on the roughly $1 trillion in deficit reduction I already proposed in my 2012 budget. It’s an approach that puts every kind of spending on the table, but one that protects the middle-class, our promise to seniors, and our investments in the future.

“The first step in our approach is to keep annual domestic spending low by building on the savings that both parties agreed to last week – a step that will save us about $750 billion over twelve years. We will make the tough cuts necessary to achieve these savings, including in programs I care about, but I will not sacrifice the core investments we need to grow and create jobs. We’ll invest in medical research and clean energy technology. We’ll invest in new roads and airports and broadband access. We will invest in education and job training. We will do what we need to compete and we will win the future.

“The second step in our approach is to find additional savings in our defense budget. As Commander-in-Chief, I have no greater responsibility than protecting our national security, and I will never accept cuts that compromise our ability to defend our homeland or America’s interests around the world. But as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen, has said, the greatest long-term threat to America’s national security is America’s debt.

“Just as we must find more savings in domestic programs, we must do the same in defense. Over the last two years, Secretary Gates has courageously taken on wasteful spending, saving $400 billion in current and future spending. I believe we can do that again. We need to not only eliminate waste and improve efficiency and effectiveness, but conduct a fundamental review of America’s missions, capabilities, and our role in a changing world. I intend to work with Secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs on this review, and I will make specific decisions about spending after it’s complete.

“The third step in our approach is to further reduce health care spending in our budget. Here, the difference with the House Republican plan could not be clearer: their plan lowers the government’s health care bills by asking seniors and poor families to pay them instead. Our approach lowers the government’s health care bills by reducing the cost of health care itself.

“Already, the reforms we passed in the health care law will reduce our deficit by $1 trillion. My approach would build on these reforms. We will reduce wasteful subsidies and erroneous payments. We will cut spending on prescription drugs by using Medicare’s purchasing power to drive greater efficiency and speed generic brands of medicine onto the market. We will work with governors of both parties to demand more efficiency and accountability from Medicaid. We will change the way we pay for health care – not by procedure or the number of days spent in a hospital, but with new incentives for doctors and hospitals to prevent injuries and improve results. And we will slow the growth of Medicare costs by strengthening an independent commission of doctors, nurses, medical experts and consumers who will look at all the evidence and recommend the best ways to reduce unnecessary spending while protecting access to the services seniors need.

“Now, we believe the reforms we’ve proposed to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid will enable us to keep these commitments to our citizens while saving us $500 billion by 2023, and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that. And if we’re wrong, and Medicare costs rise faster than we expect, this approach will give the independent commission the authority to make additional savings by further improving Medicare.

“But let me be absolutely clear: I will preserve these health care programs as a promise we make to each other in this society. I will not allow Medicare to become a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry, with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs. I will not tell families with children who have disabilities that they have to fend for themselves. We will reform these programs, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment this country has kept for generations.

“That includes, by the way, our commitment to Social Security. While Social Security is not the cause of our deficit, it faces real long-term challenges in a country that is growing older. As I said in the State of the Union, both parties should work together now to strengthen Social Security for future generations. But we must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

“The fourth step in our approach is to reduce spending in the tax code. In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. And I refuse to renew them again.

“Beyond that, the tax code is also loaded up with spending on things like itemized deductions. And while I agree with the goals of many of these deductions, like home ownership or charitable giving, we cannot ignore the fact that they provide millionaires an average tax break of $75,000 while doing nothing for the typical middle-class family that doesn’t itemize.

“My budget calls for limiting itemized deductions for the wealthiest 2% of Americans – a reform that would reduce the deficit by $320 billion over ten years. But to reduce the deficit, I believe we should go further. That’s why I’m calling on Congress to reform our individual tax code so that it is fair and simple – so that the amount of taxes you pay isn’t determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. I believe reform should protect the middle class, promote economic growth, and build on the Fiscal Commission’s model of reducing tax expenditures so that there is enough savings to both lower rates and lower the deficit. And as I called for in the State of the Union, we should reform our corporate tax code as well, to make our businesses and our economy more competitive.

“This is my approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years. It’s an approach that achieves about $2 trillion in spending cuts across the budget. It will lower our interest payments on the debt by $1 trillion. It calls for tax reform to cut about $1 trillion in spending from the tax code. And it achieves these goals while protecting the middle class, our commitment to seniors, and our investments in the future.

“In the coming years, if the recovery speeds up and our economy grows faster than our current projections, we can make even greater progress than I have pledged here. But just to hold Washington – and me – accountable and make sure that the debt burden continues to decline, my plan includes a debt failsafe. If, by 2014, our debt is not projected to fall as a share of the economy – or if Congress has failed to act – my plan will require us to come together and make up the additional savings with more spending cuts and more spending reductions in the tax code. That should be an incentive for us to act boldly now, instead of kicking our problems further down the road.

“So this is our vision for America – a vision where we live within our means while still investing in our future; where everyone makes sacrifices but no one bears all the burden; where we provide a basic measure of security for our citizens and rising opportunity for our children.

“Of course, there will be those who disagree with my approach. Some will argue we shouldn’t even consider raising taxes, even if only on the wealthiest Americans. It’s just an article of faith for them. I say that at a time when the tax burden on the wealthy is at its lowest level in half a century, the most fortunate among us can afford to pay a little more. I don’t need another tax cut. Warren Buffett doesn’t need another tax cut. Not if we have to pay for it by making seniors pay more for Medicare. Or by cutting kids from Head Start. Or by taking away college scholarships that I wouldn’t be here without. That some of you wouldn’t be here without. And I believe that most wealthy Americans would agree with me. They want to give back to the country that’s done so much for them. Washington just hasn’t asked them to.

“Others will say that we shouldn’t even talk about cutting spending until the economy is fully recovered. I’m sympathetic to this view, which is one of the reasons I supported the payroll tax cuts we passed in December. It’s also why we have to use a scalpel and not a machete to reduce the deficit – so that we can keep making the investments that create jobs. But doing nothing on the deficit is just not an option. Our debt has grown so large that we could do real damage to the economy if we don’t begin a process now to get our fiscal house in order.

“Finally, there are those who believe we shouldn’t make any reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security out of a fear that any talk of change to these programs will usher in the sort of radical steps that House Republicans have proposed. I understand these fears. But I guarantee that if we don’t make any changes at all, we won’t be able to keep our commitments to a retiring generation that will live longer and face higher health care costs than those who came before.

“Indeed, to those in my own party, I say that if we truly believe in a progressive vision of our society, we have the obligation to prove that we can afford our commitments. If we believe that government can make a difference in people’s lives, we have the obligation to prove that it works – by making government smarter, leaner and more effective.

“Of course, there are those who will simply say that there’s no way we can come together and agree on a solution to this challenge. They’ll say the politics of this city are just too broken; that the choices are just too hard; that the parties are just too far apart. And after a few years in this job, I certainly have some sympathy for this view.

“But I also know that we’ve come together and met big challenges before. Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill came together to save Social Security for future generations. The first President Bush and a Democratic Congress came together to reduce the deficit. President Clinton and a Republican Congress battled each other ferociously and still found a way to balance the budget. In the last few months, both parties have come together to pass historic tax relief and spending cuts. And I know there are Republicans and Democrats in Congress who want to see a balanced approach to deficit reduction.

“I believe we can and must come together again. This morning, I met with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress to discuss the approach I laid out today. And in early May, the Vice President will begin regular meetings with leaders in both parties with the aim of reaching a final agreement on a plan to reduce the deficit by the end of June.

“I don’t expect the details in any final agreement to look exactly like the approach I laid out today. I’m eager to hear other ideas from all ends of the political spectrum. And though I’m sure the criticism of what I’ve said here today will be fierce in some quarters, and my critique of the House Republican approach has been strong, Americans deserve and will demand that we all bridge our differences, and find common ground.

“This larger debate we’re having, about the size and role of government, has been with us since our founding days. And during moments of great challenge and change, like the one we’re living through now, the debate gets sharper and more vigorous. That’s a good thing. As a country that prizes both our individual freedom and our obligations to one another, this is one of the most important debates we can have.

“But no matter what we argue or where we stand, we’ve always held certain beliefs as Americans. We believe that in order to preserve our own freedoms and pursue our own happiness, we can’t just think about ourselves. We have to think about the country that made those liberties possible. We have to think about our fellow citizens with whom we share a community. And we have to think about what’s required to preserve the American Dream for future generations.

“This sense of responsibility – to each other and to our country – this isn’t a partisan feeling. It isn’t a Democratic or Republican idea. It’s patriotism.

“The other day I received a letter from a man in Florida. He started off by telling me he didn’t vote for me and he hasn’t always agreed with me. But even though he’s worried about our economy and the state of our politics, he said,

‘I still believe. I believe in that great country that my grandfather told me about. I believe that somewhere lost in this quagmire of petty bickering on every news station, the “American Dream” is still alive. . .

‘We need to use our dollars here rebuilding, refurbishing and restoring all that our ancestors struggled to create and maintain. . . We as a people must do this together, no matter the color of the state one comes from or the side of the aisle one might sit on.’

“I still believe as well. And I know that if we can come together, and uphold our responsibilities to one another and to this larger enterprise that is America, we will keep the dream of our founding alive in our time, and pass on to our children the country we believe in. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.”

Washington D.C. – LGBT Advocates Protest National Insurance Conference,Targeti ng American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC) for Discriminatory Practices ; GetEQUAL Protests Injustices on Behalf of Lesbian Couple Denied Claim After Hate Crime Arson Fire.

Today, GetEQUAL — the national direct action and organizing group known for using nonviolent civil disobedience to drive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality forward  — has called for a protest of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) conference taking place in Washington, DC, on Thursday April 14. The National IIABA Conference — one of the largest insurance gatherings of the year — will be keynoted by current Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH).

The group is targeting the conference to put pressure on the discriminatory practices of one of the conference’s member companies, American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC).  After more than seven months, ANPAC — a company based in Springfield, Missouri — still refuses to pay out the homeowner’s policy of a lesbian couple whose house was destroyed in a hate-fueled, arson fire over Labor Day weekend last year.

What:
Protest of Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) National Insurance Conference, targeting American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC) for their discriminatory practices against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community
Who:
GetEQUAL, a national LGBT direct action and civil rights organization
Why:
Protest Injustices Against Lesbian Couple Laura and Carol Ann Stutte
When:
Thursday April 14, 7:00-8:00am, Grand Washington Hyatt (1000 H Street NW)

GetEQUAL is calling for this protest to pressure insurance giant American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC) after the insurance conglomerate refused to pay out a policy on a lesbian couple whose Tennessee home is located outside of Knoxville, TN. GetEQUAL began working with the Stuttes, whose home was burned to the ground and whose garage was spray-painted with the word “QUEERS,” shortly after the incident. Returning from an anniversary celebration weekend over seven months ago to find ashes of their former life, they have been fighting with their insurance company, American National Property and Casualty, simply to honor their homeowner’s policy and allow their family to move forward.

After the fire, the couple filed a claim with their insurance company — American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC), a subsidiary of the giant insurance firm American National Insurance Company, based in Galveston, Texas. To date, the company continues to make the couple’s life a living nightmare — refusing to pay their claim, insisting that they continue to pay on their policy, refusing to pay the couple’s living expenses as detailed in a policy rider, and continually insisting that their paperwork has been lost and must be sent in again and again.

“The lengths that this couple has gone to simply to ask ANPAC to honor their fully-paid insurance policy are horrifying,” said Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL. “No insurance company should treat people the way the Stuttes have been treated, and we’re asking ANPAC’s peers and colleagues to dissociate themselves from such a soul-less and discriminatory company.”

The couple, with the help of GetEQUAL, has been pressuring the company privately and publicly to honor their policy, while the local community has chipped in to help the couple make ends meet and to provide a new insulin pump for their diabetic daughter. They have created an online petition asking the insurance company to pay the claim, which has garnered close to 50,000 signatures from across the country. (The petition can be found at http://bit.ly/f8POvz.)

READ MORE ON LEZGETREAL

GetEQUAL is a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit: http://www.getequal.org. You can follow GetEQUAL on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal, on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL, or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/getequal.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

Some same-sex married couples are refusing to file their federal tax returns separately this tax season, as part of a movement demonstrating that they’re no longer content to quietly comply with the federal law that does not recognize same-sex marriage. And in some cases, these taxpayers will pay Uncle Sam more when they do so. Prior to recent developments in the Courts and introduction of Defense of Marriage Act repeal legislation, same-sex couples have yet been as bold; now it seems the time is right!

Same-sex couples who have married, or who have a legal status equivalent to marriage in certain states, must still file separate federal returns because the government — and therefore the Internal Revenue Service — defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. Say the Article by By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD in a NY Times BLog Post.

“Using that definition, federal tax returns ask taxpayers to check one of five options under their filing status: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. Married same-sex partners typically file their own federal returns either as single or, if they qualify, as head of household, which has more favorable rates than the single filing status.

But many same-sex couples contend that filing as single amounts to lying about their marriage status, and that’s the message behind the “Refuse to Lie” campaign created by gay activists, which is timed to coincide with tax season.

“More people are refusing to lie on those forms, even though the government is telling them to,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group Equality Florida, who plans on filing a joint return with her wife, Andrea. “It would be both dishonest and deeply humiliating to now disavow each other or our marriage and declare ourselves single on our tax form.”

Nina E. Olson, the national taxpayer advocate who acts as an ombudsman for the I.R.S., acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding federal taxation of same-gender spouses in an annual report to Congress. In the report, she said that taxpayers may take a filing position without penalty if there is “substantial authority” to do so, such as a court case that hasn’t been overruled by the United States Court of Appeals. And there happen to be two such cases, which are currently on appeal.

In July 2010, the Federal District Court in Massachusetts declared the Defense of Marriage Act — the federal law known as DOMA that defines marriage as between a man and a woman — as unconstitutional in two cases; now being appealed in the First Circuit. “Thus, there may be substantial authority for same-gender spouses to take certain tax positions as married as long as the Massachusetts district court’s opinions stands,” Ms. Olson said in the report.

The Impetus clear and different to past years and now quite tempting!

The “Refuse to Lie” Web site warns same-sex couples of the risks of filing jointly, and explains different options to both adhere to the law while expressing that they disagree with it. One way to do that would be to put an asterisk by the “single” box, and then indicate at the bottom of the tax form that you are “only single under DOMA.” Another option, the site says, is to attach a note with a similar message.  Read the rest of the article here….

While at LezGetReal we assert the caveat  “Dont Try this at Home “  – and “buyer beware” and we suggest “contact your lawyer and CPA” – we do love the idea of this form of Financial (civil) disobedience!

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

While the rest of the World turns a blind eye to Uganda’s so called ‘Free and Fair’ Elections, a little basic prodding reveals that Uganda treats its Justice with same due – disrespect – autonomous and dictatorial:-Ugandan Parliament has reported the following swift Justice:- The Uganda Parliament exonerates Vice President from CHOGM anomalies.; and is transcribed as follows:-

“Parliament has exonerated the Vice President from anomalies cited against him by the Public Accounts Committee on the Special Audit Report of the Auditor General on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Kinkizi County East MP Chris Baryomunsi moved the motion to exonerate the Vice President calling upon Parliament to waive all charges against the Vice President. With support from Tororo Municipality MP Sanjay Tanna, the legislator said Prof.Gilbert Bukenya had made decisions on behalf of the cabinet subcommittee that he chaired.

The Vice President reaffirmed before Parliament March 31, that all decisions taken had involved technical advice from experts sourced from the various ministries. He denied having ever influenced the procurement process.

Prof. Bukenya said the delayed procurement process could not be attributed to the cabinet subcommittee that he chaired since it only provided policy directives.   The Public Accounts Committee in its report to Parliament had accused the Vice President of hijacking the procurement process, delaying the procurement of vehicles, bypassing the PPDA and later ordering emergency procurement that resulted into massive misuse of public funds.  The Committee had also recommended that Prof. Bukenya should be held liable for the loss of six billion shillings, abuse of office and flouting the PPDA regulations.

PAC chairman Hon. Nandala Mafabi said Vice President Prof.Gilbert Bukenya had directed the procurement process himself and suspended international bidding for procurement of CHOGM motor vehicles.”

Opposition MPs walked out of the chamber of Parliament before a vote on the motion to exonerate the Vice President was taken by Parliament. Acting Leader of the Opposition Hon. Kassiano Ezati Wadri announced the boycott of Parliament in the chambers saying the opposition will not return to the chamber to handle matters related to the CHOGM report.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

New York Stock Exchange, from Wall Street

Remember those people who didn’t want to pay an additional 3.5% in income taxes, the ones we had to include in the extension of the Bush tax cuts, the ones who were supposed to be creating jobs for the rest of us? Well, they are doing very well, thank you very much.

American households worth $1 million or more rose to 8.4 million, up from 7.8 million in 2009. In 2008, the number of millionaires had dropped 27% because of the stock market collapse, then rebounded 16%in 2009. Pity the poor 3% who still haven’t made it back to millionaire status.

The number of households worth over $5 million grew from 980,000 to 1,060,000 last year, while households with a net worth in excess of half a million also grew 6% to 13.5 million last year. Those worth more than $100,000 rose from 34.6 million to 36.2 million last year. These numbers do not reflect incomes, just “net worth” – the value of such things as real estate and stock portfolios. And if you think owning a house assessed at $150,000 puts you in this bracket, no. The value of your house less what you owe to whatever financial entity holds your mortgage is the net worth of your real estate.

The report from the Spectrem Group made it clear that these people are not convinced of the stability of our national recovery and are being very conservative in their portfolios, protecting their investments instead of risking new ones. In short – they are not willing to create jobs. They just want to hold on to what they’ve got. Gosh, isn’t that what we were all saying when the Republicans in Washington held unemployment benefits hostage to get that 3.5% tax cut extended? Sometimes, being right is a bitch.

Meanwhile, the politicians who most represent them are stripping rights, pay and benefits from those few who still belong to unions and who on average earn less than $75,000 a year.

Related articles

• U.S. Millionaire Population Nears 2007 Peak (blogs.wsj.com)
• America has 8% more millionaires (money.cnn.com)
• Survey: The rich don’t think they’re rich (finance.fortune.cnn.com)
• Many U.S. millionaires do not feel rich enough: survey (reuters.com)
• “American millionaires say wealth starts around $8 million” and related posts (personalmoneystore.com)
• Just how much richer have the greedy politicians gotten in the past two years while telling us it will be years before we recover? (iflizwerequeen.com)
• Millionaires Need $7.5 Million to Feel Wealthy (blogs.wsj.com)

Aspen, Colorado

During the Washington hearings into the financial wheeling and dealing by Goldman Sachs, one of their “shitty deals” was disclosed as having made a $3 billion profit for John Paulson. The deal involved gambling with our mortgages. Paulson was in the middle of the series of purchases and sales of bundles of mortgages. So, what did Mr. Paulson do with the $3 billion on which he would only have paid a maximum capitol gains tax of 15% instead of an income tax of 36%?

In 2010, as one million homeowners were foreclosed, Mr. Paulson bought a $24.5 million estate in Aspen, Colorado. It has a 13,000 square foot house, a sand beach, ponds, a 35-foot disappearing wall of glass, views of the four ski mountains and a media room with leather seats.

The capitol gains tax rate was intended to encourage investment in business. The use of it for taxing the profits in “financial instruments” and for the commissions paid to hedge fund and money managers saved Mr. Paulson $630,000,000 in taxes. I wonder how badly this hedge-fund genius would have had to down-size if he had had to pay taxes at the same rate as us mere mortals. By the by – Planned Parenthood only received $342 million in funding for 2002-2008. Just collecting a fair tax from Mr. Paulson would have funded Planned Parenthood for 13 years.

Related articles

• John Paulson’s Gold Hedge Fund Surges 13.24% In February (businessinsider.com)
• John Paulson Goes To Asia, Paridon’s CIO Exits, BlueGold Rises, Hedge Funds Populate (businessinsider.com)
• Now Doug Kass Is Spreading Rumors About John Paulson Dumping His Gold (GLD) (businessinsider.com)
• Paulson & Co. Clears $1 Billion on Citigroup Shares (dailyfinance.com)
• Hedge Fund Returns in February (businessinsider.com)
• UPDATE 1-Fund manager Paulson gets Hong Kong securities licence (reuters.com)
• Fund manager Paulson gets Hong Kong securities licence (reuters.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Posted by Melanie Nathan- Feb 26-2011-

Returning from Nashville where Carol Ann and Laura celebrated their anniversary, they found a pile of rubble where their dream home once stood. Despite numerous police reports documenting a neighbor that had threatened to burn down their home and who repeatedly told them the “…only thing better than one dead queer was two dead queers…” no arrests have been made. The Stutte home had no gas service and was all electric.

Nearly six months have gone by, and no one has been arrested for the crime. Moreover, the FBI won’t confirm or deny whether they’re investigating the incident as a hate crime. And to top it all off, the Stutte’s insurance company, American National Property and Casualty (ANPC), has not processed the couple’s claim on their house, despite the fact that the Stutte’s ANPC policy guarantees coverage of living expenses for up to 24 months after a disaster like having your house burned to the ground by an arsonist.

Even with witness reports of two explosions and a fireball that could be seen above the treeline, that all waterhoses on the property had been cut and that “QUEER” had been painted on their garage the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Tennesse Bureau of Investigation and FBI have yet to rule the fire as an arson. What is even more disturbing is that the Stutte’s insurance company, American National Property and Casualty has yet to pay on the claim.

Like many homeowners, Carol Ann and Laura had opted for additional coverage in case of total loss. This additional coverage would provide for housing as well as living expenses until the claim was settled. Five months later and not a single penny has been disbursed. Imagine, if you will, how hard it is for some to pay their mortgage from month to month. Now imagine, that not only do you have to pay a mortgage and insurance on a home that no longer exists, but you have to pay for an additional place to live. Why? If they default on their mortgage, their insurance coverage could be canceled.

The the insurance company would be off the hook. Demand that Demand American National Property and Casualty honor their policy with this family. Call them, fax them, or email them. Public pressure will force them to act. The fax link below will allow you to send an online fax using a free fax service. Please, tie up their phone lines, their fax lines. Add your name to this petition and show your support for the Stutte family and your outrage at American National Propery and Casualty (ANPAC). American National Property and Casualty 1949 E Sunshine St # 3-103 Springfield, MO 65899-0002 Phone: (417) 887-0220 Fax: (417) 887-1801 Email: (email form)

An updated petition shows that they were offered $610.00 by the insurance company – yes you read right!!!

This is the Petition that is being campaigned on change.org.  See if you can add to the already 1500 signatures…. Remember these campaigns go a long way to wake people up- especially those who believe discrimination and hate will disappear with silence and subterfuge… Believe that everyone’s fight is that of your own…

http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-american-national-property-and-casualty-pay-lesbian-arson-victims

Related articles

• Same-Sex Couple Sues Neighbor For Alleged Hate-Crime [Law And Order] (jezebel.com)
• North Carolina: Harrased for a Year, Gay Couple Loses Home in Arson Fire (lezgetreal.com)
• Tennessee Lesbians Sue Over Alleged Arson (lezgetreal.com)
• Gay Couple’s Home Destroyed in Arson (advocate.com)

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

4-09-10; By Melanie Nathan, San Francisco

As millions of Americans file their income taxes, here at LGR, we are compelled to call attention to the tax inequities facing same-sex couples as a result of the state and federal laws that refuse to recognize or extend civil marriage protections to same-sex couples.

“Each tax season, same-sex couples sit at their dining room tables and are forced to live a legal lie by checking ‘single’ despite their decades together—arbitrarily dividing up their joint household’s income, expenses, and dependents,” states MEUSA Media Director Molly McKay. “Even in states with domestic partnerships or civil unions, we still have to check ‘single’ on our tax forms because our federal government doesn’t consider us a family.  Then we write checks to the IRS for higher social security taxes because we can’t file jointly, knowing that when we die our families will not even have access to any of the family ‘safety net’ benefits provided by our tax dollars in the form of social security survivor benefits, estate tax deferral, and other programs that we help fund with our tax dollars—but which only heterosexual married couples and their children will enjoy.”

Marriage Equality USA, is an all-volunteer, national non-profit organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Marriage Equality, Inc. began as an idea in 1996 with a handful of activists believing that same-sex couples should have the freedom and the right to civil marriage, and angry that the federal government wanted to pass a law barring LGBT people from this right. The organization was officially founded and formed February 12, 1998, on National Freedom To Marry Day. The New York chapter became so successful that activists in Los Angeles Oakland and San Francisco California, responding to that state’s 2000 anti-marriage referendum, began Marriage Equality California.

In the late autumn of 2000, the national organization, Marriage Equality USA was officially founded. Since then other chapters have formed across the country and are chapters are growing every day. The organization’s sole purpose and focus is to end discrimination in civil marriage so that same-sex couples can enjoy the same legal and societal status as opposite-sex couples.

Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) understands how critical it is for a greater number of voices to be heard and often works in tandem with other state and national organizations. With greater numbers of people working together towards ending discrimination in civil marriage, MEUSA hopes to accomplish in the foreseeable future what truly is the inevitable. civil marriages for same-sex couples.

Polls today tell us that 40 percent of the U.S. public approves of the basic civil right for gay people to marry. With the help of committed individuals and organizations, we are confident that that percentage will continue to grow. Only then can we shape the kind of social climate that will change public opinion embolden our courts to make fair decisions in winning the freedom to marry.

Whenever we protest in the Bay Area, you can be assured the event would not be the same but for  Molly McKay of Marriage Equality, who can always be recognized in her white wedding dress, always the voice for so many! Thanks Molly!

In past years MEUSA has held April 15 Tax Day Protest events,  …………

TAX DAY EVENTS

Sonoma County, California

When:  Thursday, April 15, 2010 3:30 -6:00 PM
Where: Santa Rosa Post Office, 730 2nd St.
What:    Come hold Marriage Equality signs and join us as we partner with members of the ACLU for our tax day raly.  More info is available at: http://aclusonoma.org/pdf/TaxDayDemonstration.pdf !

Yolo County, California

When:  Thursday, April 15, 2010 NOON
Where: Davis Main Post Office, corner of Poleline and 5th
What: Join with the Yolo County chapter of Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA)
and Northern California ACLU at the Tax Day Protest.

Bring yourselves and your signs. We will have signs you can use too.

NO TAXATION WITH DISCRIMINATION
EQUAL TAXES…EQUAL RIGHTS
TAX US? THEN MARRY US!
NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE
TAX US THE SAME…TREAT US THE SAME!
2ND CLASS STATUS IS A 1ST CLASS PAIN AT TAX TIME!

San Francisco & Alameda Counties, California

When: Thursday, April 15, 2010 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Where: Oakland Main Post Office 1675 7th St (1 block off the West Oakland BART Station)
What: Come hold Marriage Equality signs, get folks dropping off their Taxes to honk in support. We have fantastic, fun chants to get the message out!

Southern California:
Event Location:
U.S. Post Office™ – Airport Station
9029 AIRPORT BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009-9998
Time: 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Contact Person:
Jane Wishon or Wade Young, MEUSA  Los Angeles Chapter Leaders
ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org

Alternative: If you can’t make it – copy and print the text below and hand out to co-workers, friends, neighbors

An Explanation of Why We Do This:

Thank you for your willingness to take part in this tax day action in support of marriage equality and federal recognition for same-sex couples. In most states, we are denied equal access to civil marriage, and at the federal level, the Defense of Marriage Act excludes us from over 1,100 protections and benefits. Tax season is a frustrating time for all Americans; for same-sex couples, it is yet another reminder that while we pay income taxes and payroll taxes, we are treated as strangers under federal law—regardless of whether we are legally married under state law. In states where same-sex couples have marriage equality, tax day provides an opportunity to illustrate that although our families assume equal responsibilities and obligations, we are denied equal protection under federal law. With the new Obama Administration in place, we need share our stories and illustrate why the Defense of Marriage Act should be overturned and federal marriage equality granted.

For same-sex couples, tax season begins by having to check the box labeled “single” despite potentially being together for decades. Many tax preparers are unwilling to represent our families because our marital or lack of marital status greatly complicates how to complete our tax paperwork. In addition, many same-sex couples pay tax on their health insurance, and cannot file joint federal taxes even if they file jointly in their states. And although same-sex couples pay equally into Social Security, they are denied the safety net that it provides for their families. Same-sex couples are denied many federal rights and protections, including but not limited to:

• Social security survivor benefits are denied to surviving spouses of same-sex couples.
• Employer-provided health insurance, while tax-free for married couples, is considered income and taxable.
• The right to take time off to care for a sick or injured partner is denied under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

And while many people believe that granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act will end up costing taxpayers, the truth is this would not only generate millions of dollars for state and local governments and businesses (Source: UCLA Williams Institute – http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Econ-index.html), it will save the federal government $1 billion dollars (Source: Congressional Budget Office). When taxpayers learn that denying same-sex couples equal protections costs them money, they listen.lease check back soon for a complete listing of tax day events.

Information from MEUSA website

Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

Posted by Melanie Nathan,
Nathan@privatecourts.com

 From the Mediation desk of Melanie Nathan:

 Since the recession and housing bust, there has been an increasing amount of homes either about to be foreclosed or upside down. Often both or one party may still be feeding community or post separation income into  an unviable  property.    These situations may be remedied by short sales, loan modification, divorce settlements providing inter spousal transfers and indemnifications for debt assumed, or simply by walking away.

This difficult situation adds to the stress of divorce, especially if the parties are not in tandem as to the fate of the property.   Some may want to hold on to the property in the hope of a future upside,  and whomever remains on must be prepared to take responsibility for their share of the holding costs, such as mortgage payments, property tax, maintenance costs and insurance.  If one party decides to hold on, there is no likelihood of the other receiving any cash settlement  for an upside down property, regardless of what went into the property or the dream of a future upside.   

 I have had cases where one spouse holds the property, like the sword of Damocles, over the head of the other, asserting they will be stuck with poor credit, unable to find rental accommodation, in legal trouble, creating fear resulting in the threatened party holding on for longer than necessary.   

 This is where a neutral mediator and/or advice of a consulting attorney is imperative.  The neutral can help the party step out of the dream into reality.  The neutral provides a safe and peaceful environment for joint exploration of the remedies and can facilitate a productive discussion, helping the parties crunch numbers,  call in other  professionals such as CPA or Mortgage expert to assist with the analysis.  

Fear, misunderstanding  and false senses of security ought not stand in the way of moving forward. It is important to pursue the evolving legal remedies.   These cases need to be mediated rather than litigated. Positioning and pos toward resolving all the issues. Using separate attorneys can be counter- productive and may result in wasted precious time, while throwing good after bad. A party can always have a separate consulting attorney on the side.  

 With all this in mind I was delighted to come across an article by Kenneth R. Harney, November 29, 2009, in the LA times: “Professor advises underwater homeowners to walk away from mortgages; Brent T. White, a University of Arizona law school professor, says that it’s in the homeowners’ best financial interest to stiff their lenders and that it’s not immoral to do so.” … read on…   ( A MUST READ!)

“Go ahead. Break the chains. Stop paying on your mortgage if you owe more than the house is worth. And most important: Don’t feel guilty about it. Don’t think you’re doing something morally wrong.

That’s the incendiary core message of a new academic paper by Brent T. White, a University of Arizona law school professor, titled “Underwater and Not Walking Away: Shame, Fear and the Social Management of the Housing Crisis.”

White contends that far more of the estimated 15 million U.S. homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages should stiff their lenders and take a hike.”  

 This Article, a breathe of fair air, served to endorse my sentiment which I have not hesitated to express in mediation. These are unusual times.  Although the facts of each case may seem similar, they all have a distinctive circumstance and the facts must be explored in detail before a strategy is employed. The one piece of generic advice that I can impart is that one spouse should not be held hostage by the other to a hope or dream about the  future of the property, or to any obligation.  Divorce provides a unique opportunity to walk away from the property and leave it in the hands of the Party who does not want to give it up.  The mediator can help draft documents to reflect such an undertaking by one, documenting the discussion that led to the decision.      The change in spousal relationship can have an impact on negotiations with mortgage lenders and indemnities can be established between spouses for an element of protection if the lender pursues the non-owner spouse in the future.  Also of course a plan can be made for both to walk away. 

 Save your money,  and muster up six months of rent instead of paying it into the property. If you have bad credit and need to rent a property you can offer a few months of advance rental.  However BUYER BEWARE – when you pay rental ahead- be sure that the home you are renting is not about to be foreclosed upon as you may find yourself the victim of the Landlord’s inability to pay his/her mortgage.  

 I believe that walking away from an expensive dream opens the door for an inexpensive reality and good nights of sleep. 

MELANIE NATHAN 
nathan@privatecourts.com
www.privatecourts.com
www.divorcemediators.us

People, thanks to the economic crisis, are finally waking up to the fact that we NEED to do this.

MSNBC Reports:

“For the most part, what we’ve seen over the past 20 years has been incremental,” said Norm Stamper, a former Seattle police chief now active with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. “What we’ve seen in the past six months is an explosion of activity, fresh thinking, bold statements and penetrating questions.”

Some examples:

• Numerous prominent political leaders, including California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Mexican presidents, have suggested it is time for open debate on legalization.
• Lawmakers in at least three states are considering joining the 13 states that have legalized pot for medical purposes. Massachusetts voters last fall decided to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of pot; there are now a dozen states that have taken such steps.
• In Congress, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., are among several lawmakers contending that marijuana decriminalization should be studied in re-examining what they deem to be failed U.S. drug policy. “Nothing should be off the table,” Webb said.
• National polls show close to half of American adults are now open to legalizing pot — a constituency encompassing today’s college students and the 60-something baby boomers who popularized the drug in their own youth. In California last month, a statewide Field Poll for the first time found 56 percent of voters supporting legalization.

That poll pleased California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat who introduced a bill in February to legalize marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol — taxing sales to adults while barring possession by anyone under 21. Ammiano hopes for a vote by early next year and contends the bill would generate up to $1.3 billion in revenue for his deficit-plagued state.”

Now there was less support than that for Prop 8, and I sure as hell can’t get married.

The state of California, the world’s 8th biggest economy, is going bankrupt (except a state can’t even file for bankcruptcy). Maybe if we move the state capitol to Wall Street we can get some help? It’s ridiculous that the Obama administration feels they have the right to blow billions on the car industry, just to drive them into 60% government ownership, but you can’t help California out with a lousy twenty four billion? You’ve got trillions for the banks, and nothing for the people of California? The administration thinks we can live without it, we’ll just have to cut some services. Yeah, like teachers, and healthcare. Just “services”, right? Nothing important.

David Cho, Brady Dennis and Karl Vick reported in The Washington Post:

California Controller John Chiang, a Democrat, warned last week that the state was “less than 50 days away from a meltdown of state government.”

While its fiscal crisis is severe, experts say the state is unlikely to default on what it owes, even if it runs out of cash. It can raise money through taxes and other means to assure repayment of its debt. Most likely are massive cuts in public services.

“After June 15th, every day of inaction jeopardizes our state’s solvency and our ability to pay schools and teachers and to keep hospitals and ERs open,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said Friday.

Problems unique to California have made it hard for the state to find a way out of its crisis.”

So a unique way out of it makes the most sense! Check out these great organizations to find out how you can get involved. I am not exaggerating when I say that we need to save California, and this could do it. Hell, it could jumpstart our whole economy! Its the most American thing to do, be creative, be inginuitive. They do say that neccesity is the mother of invention, right? And hey, that hemp grower Thomas Jefferson did alright for us, don’t you think?

NORML

LEgalize.org

“After locating two different companies offering “dentist strength” teeth whitening products online, Cathy took her idea a step further–to save even more money (as if the trials alone weren’t enough). Cathy (with the help of her son, as she quickly admits) was able to obtain TWO different discount coupons that would drop the shipping price for each trial to less than $1.99–meaning she could get her hands on both trials by paying less than $4 total.

“I was amazed… this was a steal, and I just couldn’t be more thankful. I was able to get both of the products, used them one after another, and the difference is astounding. This is better than I would have expected from my dentist.”

Cathy has been able to use the internet to share her secret with thousands through publications such as this one. If you are interested in following her routine, we have provided the coupon codes and links to the trial offers below:

Step 1: Click here for Dazzle White (Use Promo Code: whiteteeth)
Step 2: Click here for Smile Brite (Use Promo Code: smilenow)”

Now this makes a lot more sense than spending hundreds of dollars at the dentist office. Goes to show that even in a recession, you can still find something to smile about, right? I’ve tried these types of products in the past, as well, and they worked wonders on my poor smoke abused teeth. It’s really worth the five bucks, especially if you’ve got a job interview coming up.

“Residents are informed they’re being charged rent to stay in homeless shelters via a notice that’s sent to their shelters and caseworkers. They can appeal the amount in a hearing – but if they can’t pay, they’ll eventually be removed from housing.” Mayor Bloomberg” - NY Daily News

This is horrific, and I’m really shaking my head that seemingly every politician in New York is acting so shocked and horrified. Don’t be an actor, if it’s so wrong and awful Mr. Bloomberg just put a stop to it immediately!

I think this story is touching a lot of people across the country. Many who have been believing the tedious media “every thing’s  getting better” mantra must be horrified to have to contemplate being evicted from being homeless, when the thought of just becoming homeless in the first place was too horrifying to really let themselves imagine. We’re evicting people from shelters already and the economy hasn’t even bottomed out yet. Obama has flat out told us time and time again it is going to get worse before it gets better. I expect to see unemployment up to 14% by the end of the year (the national average right now is like 8%). This means areas hit harder, like where I live in Oakland CA, it could go as high as twenty.

There are tent cities going up around the country.

NBC reports:

“One single mother living in a Manhattan shelter tells the Times she got a letter saying she had to give up $336 of the $800 she makes each month as a cashier. Vanessa Dacosta makes $8.40 an hour at Sbarro. She got a letter under her door at the shelter a few weeks ago saying she’d have to fork up nearly half of what she was bringing in.

For Dacosta, who pays nearly $100 a week on child care for her 2-year-old, paying the shelter is hardly an expense she can afford.”

We all need to speak up loudly and stop these kind of policies before we’re all getting the boot. Speak up now while we still have the means please, everyone. We cannot treat American families like this. We can’t treat any human being like this. It is just plain Un-American.

“It’s not right,” Dacosta told the New York Times. “I pay my baby sitter, I buy diapers, and I’m trying to save money so I can get out of here. I don’t want to be in the shelter forever.”

Now she might not even have that. Its shameful.

This is me and Gina driving back from the Kern River where moms ashes were scattered.

“Term life insurance.”

The first time I heard that word was after I divorced my ex-husband.

I was on my own financially, and I had two toddlers. Since I was self employed, I didn’t take too much of a hit in my income when the divorce happened, but it did affect my health.

If you have ever gone through extreme stress, you might know what I am talking about.

For me, it took it’s toll on my immune system and it seemed like I had the flu for 2 years straight. Every time we would go to family court, I would get chest pains from the anxiety. After I was issued custody of my children and the stress subsided, I did get better health wise, but I seriously questioned my life at that point.

What was going to happen to my kids if something happened to me?

I immediately took out a life insurance policy, along with college funds for my children. When I had to pull out my check book and write the annual premiums out for those policies, I was almost back at the level of stress that causes chest pains – this wasn’t going to be a cheap date!

At the time I opted for a package that was half “term life insurance” and half “whole life insurance”.

Term life insurance is a straightforward type of life insurance where you are insured for a certain length of time, and if you become deceased during that time your beneficiary is paid a death benefit. Whole life insurance is different in that it is a policy over the course of your life span rather than a certain term of time, and with the company I chose this type of policy operated like an investment.

I chose to get both because of the risks associated with each:

-With term life insurance, there was a risk that once my term ran out, I could have developed a medical condition that would exclude me from qualifying for another policy at that time.

-With whole life insurance, there was a risk that my stocks could go down and thus the value of my life insurance as well.

Either way, I had to do a medical exam before I would be insured and I prayed that I would pass with my recent medical problems.

This company had a program which offered “life insurance no exam”, but it was at an outrageous cost. Well now we had a problem. If I had to do a medical exam for this life insurance this meant that the agent would be coming to my home and meeting my family, namely my new girlfriend and two children. I didn’t know how she was going to feel about that. We had normally met at the local Starbucks, but for her to come to my home had me a bit worried.

Nothing happened, it was uneventful, but stressful nonetheless.

I did pass the medical exam and at that time, I named my sister as my beneficiary.

However, a few years later when my girlfriend became my Domestic Partner, I called my agent to have things changed. It was an awkward conversation having to explain my relationship to her and when she came to my house to do the paperwork I just met her outside.

When my situation changed I was added to my partner’s health plan and burial package so I let the term life insurance go to save money each month.

Let me tell you my friends, I shouldn’t have ever done that.

Since then I have been having more health concerns, on top of the fact that the value of the whole life insurance and the children’s college funds lost about 75% of what I put into them. I know I know, that’s the risk you take.

Well, now here I am, Gina and I got married last year, and my mother passed away as well.

My mother was only 52 years old. She had a rough life, and I know that she did everything she could for us children, but in the end she didn’t have life insurance, and so many of her bills were left to my older sister. Now that I am aging, married and settled, “term life insurance” isn’t something I take lightly.

Last week I wrote a post for the Pink Money Post featuring eQuote.com.

That posts mentions that some employees of EQUOTE have relatives in the LGBT community, and they are welcoming to the gay community. I took a look at their site, saw that they have an A+ rating with the BBB, and submitted a free quote just to see how their rates were for the type of coverage I needed. When I saw the words “life insurance no medical”, I was instantly interested, but I honestly thought that the rates could be inflated.

Let me say that I was wrong!

For a 30 year term life insurance, it was cheaper than the shorter policy I took out ten years ago, and for more coverage! The section of the site I looked at was the part that said “Term Life Insurance with No Medical Exam”. I clicked on the button that said “Get a Quote” after I watched the video from the EQUOTE president. After answering a few questions about my medical history such as whether I have a serious medical problem or risky behaviors like reckless driving or extreme sports I instantly qualified, and the process was painless since I didn’t have to draw blood or have a stranger in my home staring at the pictures on the wall.

The next step was to get a quote and like I said the prices were pretty reasonable in my book!

I am going to talk it over with Gina but I think we are going to get the 30 year term life insurance for both of us. She has a small policy from work but I would like to get something to cover us both regardless of what the economy is like. We can both name each other as beneficiaries for our policies without having to conversate with anyone either!

The EQUOTE website will even let me print out my policy right away, and that makes me feel good. I like to keep all of our important paperwork together and having to wait for it in the mail is just one more thing to worry about.

Anyway, I really wanted to share this information with you all, especially the families with children.

Whole life insurance didn’t work for me, maybe it will for you, but life insurance with no medical exam works for me and it might for you too. It’s worth a look and like I said life insurance is not to be taken lightly.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

Zeke Fread, spokesperson for Winter Pride, noted this year’s lack of vendor participation lead to axing the event.

Only half of the $25,000 needed to hold the event was raised. The announcement sparked many to contact WP and offer their assistance but the decision will stand.

The celebration was to be held at Lopez Park on February 28.

In 2006, Hillsborough County decided to not recognize gay pride events. The area’s gay community responded with the first Winter Pride Festival in 2006.

Though WP might be a bust for this year the event remains on the calendar for 2010.

Damn that economy.

California’s current campaign finance laws date to the Political Reform Act of 1974, and is a voter-approved initiative that established disclosure requirements for candidates and campaign committees.

According to the story from the Associated Press, James Bopp Jr., an attorney for ProtectMarriage.com and the National Organization for Marriage said,

“No one should have to worry about getting a death threat because of the way he or she votes. This lawsuit will protect the right of all people to help support causes they agree with, without having to worry about harassment or threats.”

As we have reported here on Lez Get Real, there have been many calling for boycotts. One business has suffered significant loss for one of it’s managers donating $100 to Yes on Prop 8. The Associated Press article had this to say about the backlash some of the Prop 8 backers are feeling:

The lawsuit by Bopp’s clients cites a series of incidents in which those who gave money to support the ballot measure have received threatening phone calls, e-mails and postcards. One woman reported being told, “If I had a gun, I would have gunned you down along with each and every other supporter.”

Another donor had a widow broken, one had a flier distributed around his hometown calling him a bigot and others have received envelopes containing suspicious white power, according to the lawsuit.

Businesses have been threatened with boycotts because people who worked there contributed to the Proposition 8 campaign, the suit said. In Sacramento, the artistic director of the musical theater company resigned after his $1,000 donation to the Proposition 8 campaign was made public, prompting threats to boycott the company’s productions.

One of the things I found interesting is that the lawsuit also asks that the two groups along with “similarly situated persons” would not have to file the final reports on Prop 8 or any future campaigns the groups may take on. That is one of the major reasons they are filing this suit. They believe it’s going to be hard for them to fund future campaigns because people are going to be too afraid to give money.

The removal of the names would only be for the Yes donors. I have a problem with that as well. It is either all or nothing. I also find it interesting that they are claiming this law to be unconstitutional when it is based on the Political Reform Act of 1974, a voter-approved initiative that established disclosure requirements for candidates and campaign committees.

Equality California, the group that led the campaign against Prop 8, also found this lawsuit to have a lot of hypocrisy. In their official statement Executive Director Geoff Kors had this to say,

“This lawsuit could not be more hypocritical. During the Proposition 8 campaign, the very same groups who filed this legal challenge sent menacing letters to Equality California’s donors, as well as corporations, labor unions, and individuals who stood up to discrimination and supported the No on 8 Campaign. Now they are calling themselves the victims. What’s more, these groups are arguing on the one hand that voter initiatives like Prop 8 should never be overturned by courts. On the other, they are asking a federal court to void a campaign reform law that was passed by voter initiative in California. They are asking that donations to Yes on 8 and only Yes on 8, even if illegal, be hidden from the public. This leads us to wonder what they have to hide?”

I think that this is something that will need to be looked at very carefully. Both sides have used the public list of donors to either intimidate or express their anger. We consider voting in the country sacred and private. If people know who you’re giving money to then you are basically tell people how you voted. On the other hand, with all of the pay-to-play politics we have seen lately, isn’t the reporting of where the money is coming from very important?

I think the money needs to be accounted for and we deserve transparency. I believe that the opinion of the California Attorney General is correct, we have allowed a majority to take away a minorities rights. It’s not ok. Their wouldn’t be this type of outrage a protest over some bond issue or even the legalization of marijuana. Keep the laws in place for campaign finance. Next time throw something like this out before it hits the ballot.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Okay, so I know that a lot people don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas. In my home, we celebrate Christmas and many members of our friends and family circle do as well. Christmas means different things to different people, but most often the joy of gift giving is incorporated into the Christmas tradition. Other holidays that are celebrated this season incorporate gift giving as well, and let’s not forget the birthdays and anniversaries some may be celebrating this month. In any case, the holiday season is prime-time for shopping deals and brand name bargains… for me, Christmas shopping is a sport!

As a consumer I am always looking for a good deal, a great product, or a fantastic service that will make my life more convenient. That being said, I took the time to gather a list of the specials you should take a look at before you spend any money this holiday.

The dollars you spend are like a VOTE telling businesses and corporations what you like and want. Spend your holiday dollars with care and make sure you are getting the best deal!

Here my ‘Holiday Deals for 2008’ links and coupon codes for you…

Holiday Shopping Deals
and Coupon Codes ‘08

Classic Closeouts
25% Off All Apparel – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
Use Coupon Code: CJBM

Cosmetic Alchemy
Save $69.99 on The LiBrow and LiLash Combo – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Code

Cosmetic Alchemy
10% Off LiLash w/Free Shipping – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

eFindOutTheTruth
50% Off Any Purchase – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Fashion Bug
Free Shipping on All Orders – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Happy Mothers
Free Shipping on All Orders – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Lane Bryant
Buy One Get One Free! – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Lego Online
Save On Your Order – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
$10 Off Orders Over $100
$20 Off Orders Over $200
$30 Off Orders Over $300
No Coupon Needed

Love and Pride LGBT Jewelry
Up to 70% Off Prices as Marked – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Silicon Mountain
Free Shipping on Every Order – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Shutterfly
Up to 50% Off + Free Shipping – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

The Hair Styler
30% Off Regular Membership – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

Wrapables
Save 60%! – ENDS CYBER MONDAY!
No Coupon Needed

48 Hour Prints
Save 10% on Envelopes – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

6Ave
5% Off + Free Shipping – ENDS JAN 18th
Use Coupon Code: AFL5

Adam & Eve Toys
50% Off Any Item – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Asia Jam
Free Top or Scarf w/purchase over $70 – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: SCARF

Avenue
Free Shipping on Orders Over $75 – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

BabyStyle
20% Off All Toys – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: FUN20

Beauty Bridge
10% Off + Free Shipping – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Calendars.com
Free Gift Wrap w/$20 Order – ENDS DEC 8th
No Coupon Needed

Cooking.com
$40 Off Your $300 Order – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: C94832

Couture Candy
Orders Over $150 Get $10 Off, Free Shipping, & A Free CD – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Cleopatra’s Choice
10% Off on All Orders – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: GLOW

David’s Cookies
Free Shipping on Your Order – ENDS JAN 1st
Use Coupon Code: XMASFS

David’s Cookies
10% Off Your Order – ENDS JAN 1st
Use Coupon Code: XMAS10A

Diva Diamonds
Receive a $50 Gas Card for Orders Over $250 – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: GAS2008

Diva Diamonds
20% Off Your Black Diamond Earrings – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SASBlackER

Diva Diamonds
Free Jewelry Box (No Minimum Purchase) – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SASBox

Diva Diamonds
Free Diamond Ring (w/Qualifying Purchase) – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SASFreeRing

Diva Diamonds
Free Sterling Silver Tiffany Style Bracelet w/Orders Over $250 –ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Diva Diamonds
Free Polishing Cloth (No Minimum Purchase) – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SASCloth

Diva Diamonds
$50 Off Your Diamond Earrings Over $250 – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SASEarring50

Diva Diamonds
Free Shipping on Small Orders ($150 or less) – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: Free150

Diva Diamonds
Save on Your Jewelry Order – ENDS DEC 31st
10% Off Orders Over $100: SAS10off
20% Off Orders Over $200: SAS20off
30% Off Orders Over $300: SAS30off
40% Off Orders Over $400: SAS40off
50% Off Orders Over $500: SAS50off

Dual Action Cleanse
Free Shipping – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Designer Shoes
Free Shipping USA – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: AFREEUSA

eToys
Free Shipping on All Orders – ENDS DEC 14th
No Coupon Needed

eBeanStalk
Free Shipping on Gift Series – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Endless Handbags
Free Overnight Shipping – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Everything But the Music
20% Off of Your Purchase – ENDS TBD
Use Coupon Code: XMAS08

Fragrance Net
Free Shipping in the U.S. – ENDS JAN 30th
No Coupon Needed

Fox Shop Online
Take 15% Off – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: FOXGIFT

FunMum Maternity
Up to 75% Off – ENDS TBD
No Coupon Needed

Game Shark
Free 2-Day Shipping on Orders Over $75 – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

HairProducts.com
Take 10% Off –ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: HPA473

Happy Mothers
$25 Off Any Ameda Breast Pump – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Handango
20% Off Smartphone Software – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

In The Mood Intimates
10% Off Select Items – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Ivy Blue
Free Shipping U.S. – TBA
No Coupon Needed

J Shoppers
Free Delivery Worldwide – ENDS TBD
No Coupon Needed

Kaleidoscope UK
Free P&P – ENDS DEC 25th
Use Coupon Code: KSHJ

Kimmy Shop
High School Musical Messenger Bags 83% Off! – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Kimmy Shop
10% Off on Pokemon – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Lane Bryant
Free Shipping on Orders Over $50 – ENDS DEC 10th
No Coupon Needed

La Senza Lingerie
Free UK Delivery & Gift Box – ENDS TBD
No Coupon Needed

Luggage Pros
Free Shipping and 10% Off Orders Over $100 – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: LP10

Maidenform
Free Shipping With $75 Purchase – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Nickelodeon Shop
20% Off Your Order – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Pingo
50% Off Your Holiday Phone Calls – ENDS DEC 31st
No Coupon Needed

Rainebrooke
Save 20% on Metro Lite Laptop Bags – ENDS DEC 25th
No Coupon Needed

Rainebrooke
Save 10% on Colorful Laptop Bags – ENDS DEC 25th
No Coupon Needed

Rubbermaid.com
Save 10% – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Star Wars Shop
10% Off Everything – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Stumps Prom and Party
5% Off Special Event Decorations – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: PRCJF8

Swimsuits for All
15% Off Select Items – ENDS DEC 9th
Use Coupon Code: 15Off

Size Appeal
Free Shipping – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: SPREE

Size Appeal
20% Off Your Order – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: LS20

Stacy Adams
15% Off Your Order – ENDS TBA
Use Coupon Code: 9942

The Popcorn Factory
Save $5 – ENDS DEC 31st
Use Coupon Code: SNOW5

Tiny Prints
5% Off Your Entire Order – ENDS JAN 15th
Use Coupon Code: AFLHOL

Trampoline Parts & Supply
5% Off Your Purchase + Free Shipping – ENDS DEC 15th
Use Coupon Code: DISCOUNT

Way Spa
Save 10% on Spa Certificates – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Wedding Paper Divas
5% Off Your Entire Order – ENDS JAN 15th
Use Coupon Code: AFLHOL

YumDrop Lingerie
Free Shipping on Orders Over $70 – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

MORE WEBSITES FOR THOSE WHO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS…

Buy Costumes
Christmas Costumes – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Costume Man
Santa Costumes – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Goodwill Too
Lightly Used Christmas Decorations – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Hand Held Items
The Screaming Flying Monkey Christmas Edition – ENDS TBA
No Coupon Needed

Identity Direct
Personalized Christmas Story Book – ENDS DEC 10th
No Coupon Needed

Imaginary Greetings
Phone Calls from Santa – Ongoing
No Coupon Needed

Santa-Claus Letters
$1 Off Your Santa Letter – ENDS JAN 12th
Use Coupon Code: 12AB21

More deals and coupon codes will be added as I find them! Enjoy!

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

Many people have the day off from work today and are choosing instead to hit the malls, shops, and online stores in search of deals and steals for the gifts on their list. I myself am an avoider of long lines, packed parking lots, and fighting over the last deal on the shelf. Instead I prefer to shop online and wait for my purchase to arrive in the mail. Ordering early will ensure that I get my order on time, but when I do, it’s like an early Christmas gift I get to open! Officially, Cyber Monday is the top holiday shopping day for deals online; but today is the day that the online deals will begin since it is the first ‘official’ shopping day of the holiday season. This means you can find deals for Black Friday online, not just locally. This biggest Black Friday Sale online can be found on Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Page. Of course the deals and discounts will be running all season, and I’ve got exclusive coupons and discount codes to share with you all on that, but for today be sure to check out the Black Friday deals in your area and online too. Have fun!

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

To my surprise it was somebody my friend does business with. So when she rang the door again I grabbed the invoices and again closed the door. I mentioned the occurrence to my friend and thought little of it.

About an hour later my friend, who like many is struggling through these economic times, called me in her office to show me her email…. She has written a letter to that individual stating she doesn’t want to do business with somebody who has those views and especially somebody who promotes them. She later went on to address the issue and inform this person on how it was wrong; stating that two of her favorite employees are Gay and that we deserve Equality too.

Unfortunately, this person didn’t see it her way and discontinued business with her.

I am proud of my friend. She took a stand for what is right. So to her I say “Thank You” and ask that you support her business by visiting her website at http://www.toymomsattic.com/. We need to support our friends who make their stance known, and she has a great site perfect for the holidays!

If there’s a toy you need and don’t see it, you can send an email to orders@toymomsattic.com.

To everyone else…

Let’s compile a list of small businesses that support us and do the same for him or her.

Let’s keep our money with our straight allies as well!

Felicia is a newlywed who wants to change the world…One conversation at a time! You can visit her on Facebook here.

This past weekend fires destroyed around 200 homes in California, and they are still burning as I write this post.

Last week we had a earthquake drill across the state to practice emergency procedures in case of ‘The Big One’, which is projected to hit within the next 30 years. The week before that gay couples in California and other states lost the right to marry, and have had their relationships thrown into limbo. Now, more than ever, protecting my family, home, and livelihood has come to the front of my mind.

What would we do if we lost our home? What would we do if we lost one another?? Even more so, what would happen to our children???

Today my wife and I took the time to review our finances, insurance, and investments and I suggest that you do the same.

Estate planning is not fun, but it can give you some serious peace of mind in times of chaos or emergency. We don’t always like to think about negatives, but that doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen. Bad things DO happen, and how prepared you are for hard times can go a long way in how well you overcome adversity or how big of a hit you take financially and otherwise. What would you do if you had 10 minutes to evacuate your home? What would you do if your partner passed away unexpectedly? What would you do if your dog bit someone, your house was robbed, or you were in a car accident? These experiences can be devastating, especially if you have no plan of action.

Now, more than ever, make sure to take the time to review your situation and put a plan in place.

Protecting your assets, and making your wishes known are key. Talk to your family members, tell a trusted person what to do if the unthinkable should happen. Get on the ball and make sure your papers are in order. We had a big discussion on who to put as our ‘contingent beneficiary’. If my wife and I were to pass at the same time, who would control our estate? That was an interesting conversation to have! There are many factors to consider, and I suggest reading an earlier post I put together called Estate Planning for Committed Lesbians.

You will find the service I have been using for legal documents is LegalZoom.com.

They have a comprehensive selection of legal services, including everything you need for planning the future of your estate. Leaving a Last Will and Testament, plus putting in place a Power of Attorney is a priority if you are in a gay relationship. I hope that if you are reading this post, you don’t just blow this off. Planning for disaster is not to be put-off or dismissed as unnecessary. I have seen people lose their homes, money, and/or children too many times not to protect myself and my family. Please, please, please, make it a point – now more than ever – to protect your family and their future. Put a plan in place, and make a big step towards your peace of mind.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

“Australia’s only lesbian community grants program, Lesbians Incorporated (LInc) has announced the availability of a $10,000 grant.

LInc has provided lesbians and lesbian-friendly organisations with financial assistance through its community grants scheme since 2000, distributing over $75,000 for a range of activities.

Lesbians and lesbian-friendly organisations may apply for grants up to $500 at any time and around every 18 months, LInc funds one large grant of up to $10,000.

“In an effort to inspire creativity, imagination, ambition and community, Lesbians Incorporated has created a $10,000 grant category,” said LInc co-convenor Megan Slinning. “It’s the largest single amount we have made available since the start of the community grants scheme in 2000. The successful applicant or applicants will be announced on International Women’s Day next year.”

The article goes on to say:

“The large grant scheme is aimed at supporting innovative broad-based community projects. Applications for projects solely of benefit to individuals will not be accepted. Essential criteria include relevant experience and a detailed budget proposal.

LInc is made up of funds initially donated by lesbians across Australia in the late ’80s and early ’90s through the Lesbian Space Project and other community fundraising projects. Income is derived from invested funds and distributed annually in the form of grants.

Previous recipients include Sheila Autonomista Festival, Slit magazine, Scooter Collective, Giggling Gertie comedy workshop and the Women’s Library.

The closing date for applications is January 31, 2009. For more information and to download an application package, visit www.lincgrants.org.au.”

SX News is the leading gay and lesbian newspaper in Australia.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

It is called a boycott, and the word dates back to Ireland. When Captain Charles Boycott refused to reduce the rents of his tenants and even went so far as to evict anyone who spoke out against him, he found himself ostracized. People refused to do business with him. No one would harvest his crops, and no one locally would buy them. By the end of the year 1880, Captain Boycott withdrew from his post, sold his lands, and went to live in London.

Boycotts today are hit and miss. Some entities are so big that they cannot be boycotted. It is hard to really boycott a state, or a business the size of, say, Disney, but you can boycott small businesses.

The power of Pink Money can be seen in Vermont. After 1999′s Civil Union legislation, there was a movement called “Take Back Vermont”. It was something of a disaster. Tourists believed that it was a great marketing campaign to remind them to take a bit of Vermont home. They bought souvenirs such as maple syrup and Vermont made goods and took them home as gifts.

The “Take Back Vermont” also served as a huge target. Businesses found themselves losing customers. Supporters of civil unions and gay rights stopped shopping at the stores. In the larger cities where the gay and lesbian communities are their largest, some businesses failed entirely because they had put up signs saying “Take Back Vermont”. Others survived by having to find outside buyers for their goods. It cost them a great deal of money to move their business out of state. There are some business which did survive the boycotts, but even now, some people would rather go to the next town fifteen to thirty minutes away rather than buy anything from those businesses.

Other businesses, which supported civil unions and gay rights, soon found themselves inundated with orders. Some were able to expand their businesses just with the increase in income as the LGBTI community shifted their resources into buying from them.

None of these businesses were big businesses, but rather the businesses which could least afford to loose customers. If a business is too big, say the size of Wal-Mart, can loose one or even a thousand customers without being hurt, but a small business cannot afford to loose more than a handful.

What we can do, each individually, is use the power of the purse and spend our money where it is needed. After all, if a business can afford to spend a few thousand dollars on a campaign ad, then they can certainly afford all of us shopping somewhere else. It won’t work against something like Wal-mart, K-Mart, Hannifords or Krogers, but it will work against Chuck’s Auto Store, or Lucy’s Grocery.

And we should take those Pink Dollars and spend them where they will support us. We should spend them in stores where we can support our own and our allies. There is power in the boycott. And in this economic climate, those Pink Dollars have more power than ever.

Photo: Rural Vermont, taken by Sei

Sei is a trans-lesbian who lives in Vermont and has a strong passion for LGBTI rights. She has a BA in History and her hobbies include sci-fi, anime, fantasy, action movies, video games, and more. You can visit her Blogger profile here.

How important is the small business vote? Extremely important to this election. So important that a plumber who no one knew about just a few weeks ago has been catapulted to stardom overnight. The McCain campaign claims that Obama’s policies will raise taxes and stifle business growth. Obama says that 90% of small businesses will get a tax cut under his plan and incentive to pay for employee health care. So who is right and who is wrong? Lespreneur did the research and this is what we found. If you want to know who stands in your corner as a small business owner, it’s Barack Obama.

Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Health Care

Obama clearly understands the burden of rising health care costs on the small business owner. Obama’s Small Business Health Tax Credit will work alongside other aspects of his health care plan to lower costs and improve competitiveness for America’s small businesses, including:

Access to a Low-cost National Health Exchange:

The Obama health care plan will provide small businesses with new opportunities to buy low-cost, high quality health plans for their employees through a national exchange similar that will allow small businesses to get the same benefits of spreading risk and administrative costs over a large pool that larger businesses currently enjoy.

Reduced Volatility and Lower Costs by Reimbursing Catastrophic Costs:

The Obama plan will reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums. This reimbursement (often called reinsurance) is particularly important for small business plans, which can be overwhelmed by the costs of catastrophic expenditures for even a single employee.

Investment in Cost Reduction and Quality Improvement Strategies:

The Obama plan will aggressively lower health costs by facilitating broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, and other value-increasing innovations improving chronic care management, and increasing insurance market competition.

What McCain says: McCain simply wants us to shop for healthcare, he wants to provide a 5,000 tax credit for care which on average costs $12,000. The math is simple on this one.

2. Women & Minority Owned Businesses

To create greater opportunities for women business owners who would like to do business with the federal government, Obama and Biden will implement the Women Owned Business contracting program that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, but has yet to be implemented by the Bush Administration. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will strengthen Small Business Administration programs that provide capital to minority-owned businesses, support outreach programs that help minority business owners apply for loans, and work to encourage the growth and capacity of minority firms.

What McCain says: Nothing

3. Bridging the Digital Divide

Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we can get true broadband to every community in America through a combination of reform of the Universal Service Fund, better use of the nation’s wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation technologies, and new tax and loan incentives. As a key step to achieving full broadband access, Obama believes the Federal Communications Commission should provide an accurate map of broadband availability using a true definition of broadband instead of the current 200 kbs standard and an assessment of obstacles to fuller broadband penetration.

What McCain says: Nada

4. Business Incubators

Obama and Biden will invest $250 million per year to increase the number and size of incubators in disadvantaged communities throughout the country.

What McCain says: Zilch

5. Increased Funding and Access to Capital

Barack Obama cosponsored the bipartisan Small Business Lending Reauthorization and Improvements Act. This bill expands the Small Business Administration’s loan and micro-loan programs which provide startup and long-term financing that small firms cannot receive through normal channels. Obama and Biden will work to help more entrepreneurs get loans, expand the network of lenders, and simplify the loan approval process.

What McCain says: He wants to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. So who wins here? You guessed…big businesses. You know the Exxon’s, the JP Morgans, etc…

But don’t just take my word for it, do your own fact checking.

Check out Obama’s complete plan here and McCains not-so-complete plan is available here.

No matter who your candidate is (but I hope it’s Barack Obama) just be sure to cast your vote on November 4th!!

Yours,
Lespreneur

Tammy Freeman is a small business expert, she loves entrepreneurship and finding ways to save a buck or two. She resides with her partner and their children in the Washington, DC metro area. Tammy’s latest venture, “Lespreneur: A Magazine for Lesbian Entrepreneurs” is coming soon to lespreneur.wordpress.com. Her personal musings, rants, thoughts and raves can be found on her blog: Pink Chocolate Sunshine.

As a lesbian mom, I have unique concerns when it comes to my legal issues and financial estate.

I am in a committed lesbian relationship with children from a previous marriage. The issues of child custody, visitation and support are a given whenever children are involved in a relationship. However, a heterosexual marriage is afforded many rights automatically upon union whereas a same-sex relationship has limited to zero rights in many parts of the world. Whenever a person enters a committed relationship they are entering a form of partnership. There are certain responsibilities relevant to the relationship that each party is expected to maintain. The government sometimes has laws and/or programs in place to provide aid and support to those people who might need it if they are experiencing problems with their relationship/partnership. The concerns of the gay and lesbian community are not included in many government systems, and in some parts of the world homosexuality is frowned upon and sometimes illegal, which means zero rights and support for the gay men and lesbian women in committed relationships.

I am fortunate enough to live in an area of the world that offers access to aid and support for the needs of my relationship/partnership concerns.

I have to say that Estate Planning is a must for any family with children, and any persons in a committed relationship. Now when I say committed I mean committed! I don’t mean the girl that you U-hauled with last week, or the guy you’ve been dating on and off for a month. What I am saying is that if you have a stable and healthy relationship and you want to make it permanent (or at least semi-permanent LOL) then you need to consider Estate Planning.

Gay and Lesbian Estate Planning is a whole new frontier!

The goal in taking this path is to provide some security for your estate in the future; especially during the unforeseen ‘hard times’. If you are raising children together, this should take a priority in your life because you have to provide a secure future for them regardless of whether times are hard or not! You can read more about Estate Planning on Wikipedia where you will find a portal with links to all things related to Estate Planning in general.

Be sure to look into information about:

~passing the greatest amount of estate possible to beneficiaries
~paying the least amount of taxes
~avoiding involvement in probate court
~providing for and designating guardians for minor children
and
~planning for disability or incapacity

There are a few special concerns for Gays and Lesbian when it comes to Estate Planning and planning for retirement:

LGBTI individuals are less likely to have strong family support systems in place to have relatives to care for them during aging. They are twice as likely to enter old age living as a single person; and two and a half times more likely to live alone. Because institutionalized homophobia as well as cultural discrimination and harassment still exist, they are less likely to access health care, housing, or social services or when they do find the experience stressful or demeaning. – Gay and Lesbian Retirement on Wikipedia

There are many resources available to those of you in the LGBT Community when it comes to securing the future of your ‘estate’.

Because the rights of gays and lesbians are limited in most areas, you will have to research what LGBT rights are available to you in your area. As for myself, I am a divorced mom in a long term committed lesbian relationship in the State of California. In 2004, Gina and I filed for Domestic Partnership as a way to legalize our relationship. We had to go to a notary to sign the paperwork and then take it downtown and file it. It wasn’t a big deal when you look at the process, but that made us a legal relationship in the eyes of the State which IS a big deal when you consider others who don’t have this freedom. Our status as Domestic Partners gave us the opportunity to qualify for health benefits for the family through Gina’s job which was a big saving grace on our finances. Some places offer limited marriage rights thru Civil Unions, while others offer full marriage rights thru Same Sex Marriage. On June 17th, 2008, the State of California legalized same sex marriage and we got married in a civil ceremony at the county clerks office. Unfortunately Proposition 8 is threatening to take those rights away this Election Day, so we will see what happens with that. To find out what rights are afforded to you in your country you can visit this site.

Other things to look into if you are a lesbian in a committed relationship:

~Legal Name Change for Matching Last Names

~Power of Attorney for Authorization to Legally Act on Each Other’s Behalf

~Durable or Medical Power of Attorney for Authorization to Make Medical Decisions on Each Other’s Behalf Up Until Death

~Living Will or Advanced Directive to Make Note of Your Wishes upon Incapacity

~Last Will and Testament to Make Note of Your Wishes upon Death

~Living Trust to Ensure the Timely Settlement of Your Last Will

~Determining Your Financial Beneficiaries and Naming Them as Such on Your Bank Accounts, Retirement Fund or Pension, Life Insurance. (and anything else that pays a death benefit.) In the U.S. we are working towards Social Security Rights for the Gay Community where you would be able to list your same-sex partner as a ‘permanent partner’ with the Social Security Department.

Plus you might venture into:

~Adopting a Child Together or Second Parent Adoption

One of the sponsors of this blog is Legal Zoom, because I personally use them for my legal needs.

This is not a lawyer service, but a legal preparation service. If you do not have the money to hire a lawyer and want to take the do-it-yourself route, then you should look into Legal Zoom. I’ll give you an example of why you would want to do this. When I had my last name changed to match Gina’s last name, I looked for info online and ended at Legal Zoom.

I ordered their Name Change package for $139 and what I got for that was:

~all the forms I needed
~precise instructions on how to fill out the forms
~the exact directions to follow to process my name change
~directions to the nearest court house and all the phone numbers I would need for filing fees, fee waivers, newspaper announcements, etc.
and
~complete information on what to do after my name change was complete such as for changing my passport and social security card, drivers license and more

There are also self-help resource centers in most court houses that can not give you ‘advice’ but can give you ‘information’. They can review your forms with you and tell you what you need to do if you are not sure.

I recommend any time you have legal stuff to handle that you and your partner block some time out and make a day of it.

Prepare to get in line early, grab lunch together, bring a newspaper to read – whatever it is you do but it will take you lots of time to handle these things if you do it on your own – and bring your checkbook. If you have the finances for an attorney, make sure that it’s a good one and save yourself the hassle by hiring them! If not, it can be frustrating to know that you are standing in line for 2 hours to change your name because you are gay. If you have to take the self-help approach to Gay and Lesbian Estate Planning, I say Legal Zoom and the Self Help Resource Center at the courthouse are huge resources for you!

Here are some other resources for you that you can take a look at online as well:

Why Gays and Lesbians Need Estate Planning
Article: Estate Planning for Gay Couples
Article: Estate Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Estate Planning on Rainbow Law.com
Estate Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples on Self Growth.com
Same Sex Estate Planning from LA Tax Lawyer.net
Domestic Partner Health Insurance 101
Estate Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples Who have NOt Entered Into a Civil Union or Registered as Domestic Partners
GayLaw.org

Plus here are some books that I found on Amazon that might help you in your journeys:

A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
Estate Planning for Domestic Partners
Valued Families: the Lesbian Mothers’ Legal Handbook
Every Trick in the Book: The Essential Gay and Lesbian Legal Guide
and
Everyday Law for Gays and Lesbians: and Those Who Care about Them

Thank you very much for reading this article.

Securing your family’s future is important whether you are gay or straight. Feel free to comment this post with any other ideas you might have for Estate Planning for the gay family. Plus you can always visit the blog community to discuss this topic with other readers. Thank you for visiting and please come back again soon.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

No on Prop 8 has been working hard to raise money to counter the misleading television ads that Yes on Prop 8 has been running, but it isn’t enough. They’ve raised $25.4 million dollars, while we’ve only raised $15.8 million – the difference is HUGE. The bottom line is that No on 8 needs more money, and I feel the best way to help the cause is to spend my money on No on Prop 8 merchandise. When I visited the No on Prop 8 Store I was pleasantly suprised to see that while some of the merchandise I was looking for has been sold out, most of the remaining items have been heavily discounted!

Tees are 20% off, this coffee mug is a whopping 33% off, and most items are now offering a multiple product discount when you purchase two or more of the same item!

I know we can all appreciate a good deal these days what with the economy and all. I know that times are tough right now for everyone financially, but PLEASE, NOW is the time to dig down deep into your couch, under the seat in your car, look into your coat pockets from the party you went to last week for that $5 you might have left in there. If you just don’t have anything to give right now, you just might have to sacrifice something… either a night out, a movie rental, that new pair of shoes. PLEASE GIVE NOW!

If we don’t dig deep now… if we don’t sacrifice now… we will pay the ultimate price on November 4th and that is just ONE month away.

Visit the campaign website and make a donation, and be sure to enter referral code 536, or make a purchase today from the No on Prop 8 Store. Either way, you can be sure that your money is being well spent, on a purpose that is bigger than No on 8 or Yes on 8. It is about equality, fairness, and the right to marry the person you love.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.