Americans have been jerked around by the rapid serial montages of the "news cycle" to the point where even Rep. Dennis Cardoza, the Pimlico Kid-Annapolis MD, believes he can foist the rhythm on us, mere constituents of His Greatness, with impunity.
So, the Great Pimlico Kid Himself, makes marks on the administration like the all-powerful legislative lion, which he isn't, by introducing a bill to cut the travel budget of the secretary of HUD, like it makes a difference.
Cardoza has become a master of the impotent gesture. He didn't show up at UC Merced, for which he mortgaged his soul in the state Legislature, when Michelle Obama delivered a speech in 110-degree weather, at a commencement ceremony. In the process, he smoothly lied to the McClatchy Washington Bureau reporter for this area, saying personal and professional obligations prevented him from attending the commencement. In fact, as the McClatchy reporter found a few weeks later, the Kid was that the racetrack for a Blue Dog fundraiser at the running of the Preakness.
Cardoza refused to hold any public meetings on health care reform in a place that desperately needs health care, according to other statements he has made in favor of a medical school.
The Kid's medical school plan, like his anti-HUD stand of the moment, rests on a firm principle of the worst kind of government imaginable: complete, total self-interest. Cardoza is irritated with the Obama administration because it isn't "doing enough" on the foreclosure situation. Cardoza represents, and fervently supported the developers in the worst foreclosure-rate congressional district in the nation.
Badlands Journal editorial board
7-30-10
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/07/29/v-print/1511449/fresno-bee-cardoza-gets-more-angry.html
Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, isn't making many friends at the White House these days.
The conservative Democrat has become increasingly angry over the lack of action on the home foreclosure crisis.
Cardoza's district has some of the highest home foreclosure rates in the nation, and he says the administration's plans aren't helping his constituents who are about to lose their homes.
The home foreclosure response by the administration is similar to its response to the Gulf oil spill: Too little, too late, too many excuses. Seems like there's a pattern here.
Cardoza is so angry that he has pushed legislation that would restrict the travel of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.
As Cardoza put it in a telephone interview, his intention is for Donovan and his aides to "keep their sorry asses in
As first reported in Roll Call, Cardoza's amendment would wipe out HUD's $21 million travel budget. He also would prohibit HUD funding for administration and operations to be used for travel.
(The legislation is now part an amendment to the appropriations bill that must be considered to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.)
It's a symbolic measure, but is intended to make a point to the administration that Democratic members are upset over the lack of progress on a foreclosure fix.
Administration officials need to "quit pretending that their programs are going to work," Cardoza said in the interview.
Cardoza also suggested that the Obama administration is too cozy with the banks holding most of the mortgages.
The officials working on the foreclosure problem came from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Cardoza said. They have a conflict of interest and are protecting their old employers instead of looking out for the interests of homeowners.
"The lack of action on foreclosures and the president not coming to district, which he had promised, have me pretty fired up," Cardoza said.
Cardoza Introduces Amendment to Cut HUD Secretary of Travel Funding...Congressman Cardoza's Channel...Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Representing the 18th District of California...YouTube...7-29-10
http://www.youtube.com/congressmancardoza
Legislation to eliminate the HUD Secretary's travel budget was introduced by Congressman Cardoza in response to the failed handling of the foreclosure crisis. The amendment will be considered as part of the 2011 Fiscal Year appropriations bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation.
7-30-10
Modesto Bee
Grim picture: Nearly a quarter of adults in
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/07/30/
In
Among
Children in
The 2007 data come from the Census Bureau's Small Area Health Estimates, which provide county-level health coverage information by age, sex and income category.
Local health officials believe the number of uninsured has grown since 2007 in a county where unemployment has hovered around 20 percent during the recession.
A recent survey by the
The census numbers are older but offer more details on
According to the data, 21,665 (or 19.6 percent) of
People with smaller incomes were more likely to be uninsured.
Almost 30 percent of middle-aged adults earning $40,300 or less for a four-member household didn't have coverage for medical bills.
The rate was 33 percent for men and 27 percent for women in that income category.
Without insurance coverage, people are less likely to have regular check-ups, they postpone treatment for medical conditions and might suffer premature death, health experts say.
Marlene Perez, a health educator for a
Some learn their constant headaches are caused by hypertension.
Others may be diagnosed with cancer.
"The risk is not having the health condition identified early enough to treat them," Perez said. "If they had been screened earlier they might have been able to survive it."
Officials in
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