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Federal Register Watch by Mike Powers October 28 - November 1, 2002 What freedoms have you lost this week? OCTOBER 28, 2002: Commodity Credit Corporation – Income limits for recipients of farm subsidies. This rule implements the provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding limits on the income of persons eligible for the handouts. It allows any farmer to qualify for the program as long as their average adjusted gross income for the preceding three years does not exceed $2.5 million per year! Welfare for wealthy farmers. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27227-filed
Environmental Protection Agency – Request for nominations to the Good Neighbor Environmental Board. The EPA is seeking nominations of candidates to be considered for appointments to fill vacancies on the board. The Board is responsible for providing advice to the U.S. President and Congress on environmental and infrastructure issues and needs within the States contiguous to Mexico in order to improve the quality of life of persons residing on the U.S. side of the border. Be a good neighbor and sign up today! http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27347-filed
Department of Transportation – Announcement of $7 million in grants to private bus operators for adding wheelchair lift equipment to over-the-road buses. The DOT’s Federal Transit Administration announces the selection of FY 2002 projects to be funded for the Over-the-road Bus Accessibility Program, authorized by Section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The funding helps private operators to comply with the DOT’s over-the-road bus accessibility rule that mandates handicapped accessibility. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27374-filed
OCTOBER 29, 2002: Fish and Wildlife Service – Proposal to list the western gray squirrel as endangered. Endangered squirrels? http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27297-filed
Commodity Credit Corporation – Announces the creation of a new program to purchase farmland to protect it from “urban sprawl.” This rule establishes a new federal program, known as the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), whose purpose is to purchase conservation easements for the purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land. The ruling claims that development of valuable farmland places the “future food security of the nation at risk.” The bureaucrats obviously do not understand how markets work. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-26888-filed
OCTOBER 30, 2002: Internal Revenue Service – Open Meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. Notice that the next open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel will be held by telephone on Thursday, November 14, 2002, from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. The panel is soliciting public comment, ideas, and suggestions for improving customer service! I have a suggestion – how about removing me from your mailing list? http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27636-filed
Minority Business Development Agency - Solicitation of applications for the Native American Business Development Center (NABDC) Program. The MBDA is seeking competitive applications from organizations to operate a NABDC in the state of New Mexico. Approximately $564,000 will be available over a period of three years for the winning applicant. According to the evaluation criteria, individuals eligible for assistance under the NABDC Program are “Native Americans, African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanish-speaking Americans, Aleuts, Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indians, Eskimos and Hasidic Jews.” Wouldn’t it be easier just to say no white guys allowed? http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27573-filed
OCTOBER 31, 2002: Indian Health Service – $700,000 in Grants available for Indian Women’s Health Demonstration Program for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. The goal of the program is to establish and/or improve American Indian and Alaskan Native women’s health services. Native Americans have received more government subsidies per capita than any other race. Yet, they suffer the highest rates of alcoholism and unemployment, and life on the government-controlled reservations is considered poor by American standards. Do subsidies work? You be the judge. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27679-filed
International Trade Administration – Antidumping duty review on stainless steel pipe fittings from Korea. More anti-free trade nonsense from the Bush administration. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27711-filed
NOVEMBER 1, 2002: Agricultural Marketing Service – Notice of the availability of state grants through the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. States are encouraged to apply for federal assistance ($5 million in FY2002) to assist organic producers and handlers certified to the National Organic Program. Welfare for politically correct farmers. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27768-filed
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled – Purchase of government goods and services from politically correct vendors. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27824-filed
Drug Enforcement Agency – The feds announce their aggregate production quotas for Schedule I and II controlled substances for 2003. According to the DEA, these government quotas are necessary for the “medical, scientific, research and industrial needs of the United States, for export requirements and the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks.” The quotas include 840,000 grams of marijuana, 700,000 grams of opium, and 171,000 grams of cocaine. Federal drug pushers? http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27882-filed
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November 6, 2002 |
