Topping the blog lists!

You made Thinking Out Loud one of the top ten conservative blogs on "Top Political Blog" site (on April 28, 2012) with an international audience. On February 18, 2013, we hit in the top 50 of ALL political blogs. (This changes all the time, so keep reading.) Thank you.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

RAPID Act or short cut for donor interest?

With all the bruohaha from local environmental groups and paid protestors, I am very surprised that there is no news or petition or any murmur from these groups about this particular bill running through the legislature.

The bill will streamline the current permit approval process for energy, infrastructure, and other construction projects by setting hard deadlines, cracking down on prolonged lawsuits, and consolidating agency management of the approval process from start to finish. It was passed by the House by a bipartisan vote of 229-179.

In a press release from Marino's office:

Marino’s RAPID Act Passes House Judiciary Committee
Washington D.C.—Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 (H.R. 348) today in the House Judiciary Committee:
“I am encouraged by the prospects of advancing and passing reasonable, meaningful and much-need regulatory reforms like the RAPID Act. This Act passed the House in both the 112th and 113th Congresses – every time with large bipartisan support, and I have every expectation it will do so again in the 114th. The RAPID Act’s mission is simple: federal agencies responsible for permitting critical infrastructure and construction projects, especially in the energy sector, must provide approval or disapproval of a project in a reasonable amount of time. This is a positive and significant step in the right direction which helps jump-start many commonsense projects across the country as well as create jobs. I am thankful to Chairman Goodlatte for his leadership on the Committee again and look forward to advancing more regulatory reform bills.”

See the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman, Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) statement below which was released earlier today:
The House Judiciary Committee today approved by a vote of 15-11 the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 (H.R. 348). This bill, sponsored by Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.), streamlines the approval process for federally-funded and federally-permitted infrastructure, energy and other construction projects and delivers faster approvals.
The RAPID Act recognizes that delay and uncertainty in the process for new construction and infrastructure projects, undermines job creation, and economic growth for hardworking Americans.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.) praised today’s Committee vote.
Chairman Goodlatte: “Our country’s burdensome and time-consuming regulatory process only adds to the American people’s frustration with the federal government. Bureaucratic red tape slows the permit approval process for infrastructure investment, and continues to be a barrier for many Americans who look to these jobs for stable employment.
“The RAPID Act would bring accountability and expediency to the permit approval process by setting hard deadlines, instituting oversight on those who control the process, and cracking down on costly and time-consuming lawsuits.
“This legislation will be an open door for the American people who are looking for work in challenging economic times. The RAPID Act is a concrete mechanism that would act as a job creator for Americans across the country, to the effect of 1.9 million jobs annually during construction of the projects, and hundreds of thousands of jobs every year following the completion of the projects.”

And yet, SILENCE from those who are busy screaming about things they can do nothing about. This is something that requires closer scrutiny. Wonder where the naysayers are now.

Agree, disagree . . . it really doesn't matter to me. Just don't let others think for you. Don't believe their spin. Think for yourselves for a change. Don't even just blindly listen to me. I am just the voice in the wilderness bringing these things up for debate. But you know, this is just me . . . . thinking out loud.

Have yourselves a great day.


Charles

(Rep. Mike Kelly - R-PA 3rd District - defends the Act.)

Monday, March 23, 2015

Thinking about voting for Hillary? Read this first . . .

If you are thinking about voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016 . . . all I ask is that you read this first. You can still vote for her if this and all the recent news from Benghazi to her flagrant snubbing of her nose at the law, Congress and the American people does not dissuade you.

And its not a woman thing. I know that will be what many people say. Just like they said (and still do) that any criticism against Obama is a race thing. Which is ridiculous. I could care less if he is black. I just just don't like him, his olitics, his arrogance and his vapid allegiance to everyone OTHER than the America people. Anyway . . .

But read this and then make up your own mind. Don't just believe me. Read and research the truth. Don't be fooled by SPIN. Think For Yourself.

But this is just me . . . thinking out loud!

Have a great day.

Charles


Pike County Historical Society gets grant

Pretty cool news. Pass it along. I will be resuming my blog shortly but will - from time to time - pass along bits of news items. (Mostly because I can't stop being a journalist, even though I have stopped being a journalist for the year to concentrate on other projects - like my CD and books.)

Brown, Peifer Announce Local Cultural and Historical Grant

HARRISBURG – The Pike County Historical Society has been awarded a $4,000 grant by the state’s Cultural and Historical Grant Program, Reps. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Pike/Monroe) and Mike Peifer (R-Pike/Wane) announced today.

 “It is because of the important efforts of the Pike County Historical Society that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy and learn about our county’s history, heritage and culture,” Peifer said. “I thank them for all they do.”

The Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program, run by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), is awarding nearly $2 million in grants to qualified museums and official county historical societies. The one-year grant program is distributing funds designated by the state Legislature to support the preservation of Pennsylvania’s history.

“These funds help the Pike County Historical Society to bolster the good work they already do to preserve history,” said Brown. “Our history plays a significant role in education, especially for future generations.”

To be eligible, museums must be located in Pennsylvania and have annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff person. Historical societies must be designated as a county’s official historical society.

The Pike County Historical Society seeks to maintain and perpetuate the historic legacy of Pike County through preservation, leadership and education. The society acquires, preserves and protects the historical sites, artifacts and records which pertain to the heritage and culture of Pike County.