Posted on 04/20/2002 1:11:40 PM PDT by 4Freedom
The USDA Rural Development Puerto Rico announced Thursday the availability of $31 million in federal funds to aid the economic development of rural communities.
This is the first time the Bush administration has assigned funding through the USDA for these types of projects, agency officials said.
Of the amounts, $19 million has been set aside for grants to develope essential community facilities in eligible areas "with extreme high unemployment and severe economic depression," said Jose Otero Garcia, state director for USDA Rural Development Puerto Rico.
The facilities could be childcare centers offering services not available through the municipal government, the USDA informed. To qualify, the facility must be in an area where the unemployment rate is greater than 19.5 percent, Otero said.
At least 25 towns could qualify for the grants, based on unemployment statistics for February compiled by the Department of Labor and Human Resources.
The towns are Fajardo, Florida, Luquillo, Manati, Morovis, Naguabo, Yabucoa, Anasco, Villalba, Camuy, Aguada, Aguadilla, Moca, Patillas, Ciales, Guanica, Isabela, Las Marias, Maunabo, Quebradillas, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Utuado, Orocovis and Vieques.
Other towns may qualify, depending on the March unemployment report.
There are two deadlines for submitting projects: May 3 and Aug. 16, Puerto Rico's proposals will compete with the rest of the U.S. mainland for funding, Otero said.
The $31 million includes a $12 million allocation to fund projects developed by nonprofit organizations or low-income communities.
The money will be granted through the Rural Community Development Initiative to a community "intermediary" that will distribute it within the community, Otero said.
"The intermediary provides a program of technical assistance to recipients to build their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas," Otero said. The intermediary must have at least three years of experience.
Through this initiative, the USDA will assign matching funds through grants ranging from $50,000 to $1 million. Applicants must prove they have the cash or confirmed funding commitments to qualify for these grants.
So far, the USDA has received requests from nonprofit groups in Camuy and Las Piedras. The application deadline for these grants is July 2.
After granting the funds, the USDA assigns personnel to monitor the use of money, an agency spokesman said.
"This is the first time the Bush administration has assigned funding through the USDA for these types of projects, agency officials said."
Unless I miss my guess, this is the first time any administration has dared to abuse the U.S. Taxpayers by doling out USDA funds, to Puerto Rico, for these types of projects.
We can fix it. What we need is an Amendment for Taxes and Funding. [1] Abolish all forms of duties, taxes, levies, and excises other than a sales tax. [2] Set the tax rate at 10% federal, 10% state, 10% county. [3] Forbid any exemptions, exceptions, or exclusions.
The federal government would be forced to live within a budget. The extravagant generosity with which Congress and the President spend are money would still be distasteful but at least there would be a limit.
We vote them out of office. Rules can only go so far. The beauty of our Constitution is the fact that it is very terse. Attempts to legislate common sense into Congress will only produce bureaucracy as evidenced in the state constitutions of Texas and California and the incredibly complex tax code.
I do have a couple suggestions:
Replace the 17th Amendment. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. That Amendment violated Article 5 no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. The states are not represented in the federal governement. The people are represented directly in both. Returning power to the states would help. The 17th Amendment was created to end partisan deadlocks and backroom deals. It was passed by people who did not fully understand the intent of the framers.
A replacement amendment could give the governor the choice of any candidates receiving votes if the legislature was unable to choose within one week. Plus I would have three Senators per state so that one would be elected every two years to keep the Senate in the minds of the people.
Amend Article 1 Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. The article does not specify how Representatives of the House represent their states. I would specify that each member represents the state as a whole and will be elected in the state at large. In other words, I would eliminate districts. No more incumbency. No more safe seats. No more pork (well maybe less pork). No more gerrymanders. Reduced negative campaigning. Reduced two party lock on the system.
tar·iff (trf) n.
A list or system of duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods.
A duty or duties so imposed.
A schedule of prices or fees.
If we go back to the early 1800s tariff revenue comprised more than 90% of the federal government budget.
This fell during and after the US Civil War in 1860 as alternative sources of funds became necessary to finance the war. Another major decline occurred in the early part of the 1900s shortly after the Constitution was amended to allow the collection of personal income taxes.
In the 1990s, more than 70% of federal government revenue came from payroll taxes which consists of both personal income taxes and social security taxes. In contrast, less than 1.5% of revenue came from customs duties. Of course, due to the size of the US federal budget, that still amounts to over $18 billion in tariff revenue.
Does any Freeper know anything about the USDA-located "Graduate School"?
Export taxes are already forbidden by the Constitution. Import taxes were an experiment that failed. They didn't produce enough revenue and the United States uses them mainly to prop up failing industries and redistribute wealth. The most recent example is the import tax on foreign steel. It has the effect of increasing the price of goods in every industry that uses steel. Meanwhile the steel mills are still dying. Everyone pays higher prices to keep a dinosaur in business.
Hopefully you already know enough about the income tax experiment of 1913. Not even a hundred years and the thing is a wreck. The IRS is a monster and the code is so unwieldy that no one person can understand it.
I mean a single simple sales tax on goods sold within the borders of the United States. Everyone pays. Every pays the same rate. Every controls how much he pays.
INDEPENDENCE NOW!
BTW: Tell your fellow Freepers about how the majority of the population receives either food stamps or the EBT card, and how if it wasn't for the US military and tax breaks from Uncle Sugar that you would be more of a third world country than you already are. ;-)
BTW: Hope all is well in Boricua-land. In all honesty, I would be for the status quo were I to live down there. For now, let me raise a rum and coke to you. ;-)
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