Taxpayers for common sense.

First article: Coal Industry Profits
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=4984&category=Energy&type=Project
Five facts/details:
1.) Since 1789, the federal government has provided tax subsidies to domestic coal suppliers in order to ensure the competitiveness of the industry.
2.) Rio Tinto Energy America, one of the largest coal suppliers in the world, has increased its net income nearly four-fold since 2008.
3.) CONSOL Energy’s CEO J. Brett Harvey took home $20.1 million in 2010, over $8 million more than 2008.
4.) Congress should end coal tax subsidies now for an energy source that’s had literally hundreds of years to develop.
5.) Coal prices have steadily increased since 2002.

Second article: Farm Bill Fiasco
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=4938&category=Federal%20Budget&type=Project
1.) Super Committee charged with reducing deficit by $1.2 trillion.
2.) Members of USDA know that cuts are coming to Agriculture when the current Farm Bill expires in 2012.
3.) President Obama proposed $33 billion worth of savings from agriculture.
4.) The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation Congress passes about every five years to create, continue, or modify hundreds of programs relating to agriculture.
5.) The Super Committee needs to stay focused on its job—reducing the deficit—and savings from mandatory spending programs like agriculture should be part of it.

Electoral college reform.

Ten facts/details:
1.) Electoral college is an unreliable device in selecting the President.
2.) Gore won the popular vote in 2000 and lost because of the electoral college.
3.) Nationwide, 2% of ballots were not counted.
4.) Electoral college is outdated and unnecessary.
5.) If Presidents were elected by popular vote, a national recount might have been necessary in 2000.
6.) Framers of the Constitution most likely wouldn't have been in favour of the Electoral College.
7.) All states select the President by popular vote.
8.) An amendment should be made, one that focuses on the shortcomings of the electoral methods and preventing "runaway" electors.
9.) In this system, the only possible deadlock is a 50/50 split in popular vote in a state.
10.) Each state's electoral votes should be cast for the winner of the popular vote for President in that state.

Five questions:
1.) Is there any hope for electoral college reform in the near future?
2.) Do many people believe that the electoral college system is a foolish system?
3.) How long would it take for an amendment to make it through Congress?
4.) Who created the electoral college systems?
5.) How many elections would have had a different outcome if there was no electoral system?

You fix the budget puzzle.

1.) In 2015 I saved $594 billion, and $1629 billion by 2030.
2.) 40% was from tax increase.
3.) 60% was from spending cuts.
4.) I didn't really have a hard time making any decisions because I have such strong opinions. I made decision as if this was an ideal world in which all these decisions could be realistically passed. It was be nearly impossible to pass all these through Congress.

Pending bills.

1.) S. 1489: Health Care Provider and Hospital Conscience Protection Act
- Introduced August 2, 2011
2.) H.R. 2543: Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services Act
- Introduced July 14, 2011
3.) H.R. 3130: Heartbeat Informed Consent Act
- Introduced October 6, 2011

Further research on Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services Act:
Five details:
1.) To direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules prohibiting deceptive advertising of abortion services.
2.) Federal Trade Commission would be required to regulate advertising for abortion.
3.) Places that do not provide abortions can not make it seem like they do.
4.) Places that do provide abortions services can not make it seem like they don't.
5.) Unfair and deceptive act or practice is illegal.

Three questions:
1.) Will this bill be able to get through Congress?
2.) When will the topic of abortion become less controversial? Will it ever be?
3.) How often does this confusion occur?

2008 Pennsylvania election returns.

Facts learned:
1.) Obama was the overall winner of the state.
2.) Obama won over McCain by 10%.
3.) In Philadelphia, Obama was the clear winner.
4.) White vote was split in PA, but the Hispanic and Black vote went to Obama with an overwhelming majority.
5.) 5th straight election in which Democrats won Pennsylvania.

Political Cartoon

1.) What does the giant shoe represent?
2.) Are the people under the shoe a good representation of the people who are a part of the Occupy movement?
3.) Is this an accurate depiction of what's going on in New York?

PA's Congressional districts.

1.) PA's 19th Congressional district was represented by Todd Russel Platts, a Republican.
2.) In the 2000 census, the number of districts decreased from 20 to 19, and in 2010 it decreased again from 19 to 18.
3.) There are 7 Democratic district representatives.
4.) We're in the 7th district, along with Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
5.) Part of Delaware and Philadelphia counties are in the 1st Congressional district.
6.) Parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are in the 2nd district.
7.) Geographically, the 5th district is the largest.
8.) Towards the center of the state, the districts are primarily white and Republican.
9.) In the movie State of Play, Ben Affleck played a Congressman who represented the 7th district of Pennsylvania.
10.) The population in the 7th district is 646,522.