IRS to pay $70M in Employee Bonuses Despite an Obama Administration Directive to Cancel Discretionary Bonuses

The rules do not apply to the IRS …

And the hits keep on coming from the IRS. According to Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa the IRS  is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts enacted this year. Sequestration has caused many government agencies and departments to furlough employees, but not the IRS, they get bonuses. Of course this probably has nothing to do with the fact that the IRS is in charge of enforcing Obamacare and they get special treatment. Of course this bonus payout comes in the wake of the IRS targeting scandal of conservative organizations and the lavish, out of control wasteful spending of tax payer dollars on conventions where they seemed to have lost the receipts.

The Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts enacted this year, according to a GOP senator.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa says his office has learned that the IRS is executing an agreement with the employees’ union on Wednesday to pay the bonuses. Grassley says the bonuses should be canceled under an April directive from the White House budget office.

The directive was written by Danny Werfel, a former budget official who has since been appointed acting IRS commissioner.

“The IRS always claims to be short on resources,” Grassley said. “But it appears to have $70 million for union bonuses. And it appears to be making an extra effort to give the bonuses despite opportunities to renegotiate with the union and federal instruction to cease discretionary bonuses during sequestration.”

The IRS said it is negotiating with the union over the matter but did not dispute Grassley’s claim that the bonuses are imminent.

 

CNN Poll: Barack Obama Approval Rating Falls to 45% Amid Continuous Scandals

Don’t look now but Nixon’s Obama’s approval ratings are tanking amid scandals.

According to a recent CNN poll. President Barack Obama’s approval rating has sunk to 45% while 54% disapprove of his handling of his job. It is his lowest rating in a year and a half. So why the free-fall? Can you say scandals and the fact that the American people are being to not only lose trust in government, but specifically lose trust in Obama. The scandals are starting to catch up with Obama and how could they not? With Benghazi, the IRS, AP, James Rosen, NSA, the State Department and lest we forget Fast and Furious, it is simply amazing his approval rating is at 45%. Obama also go low marks on handling the economy and the federal budget. Also, as reported at the Politico, for the first time in his presidency, the poll also found less than half of respondents believed Obama was honest. In all, the poll showed Obama to be a complete failure.

Full poll can be read HERE (pdf).

The president’s approval rating stands at 45%, down from 53% in mid-May. And 54% say they disapprove of how Obama’s handling his job, up nine points from last month. It’s the first time in CNN polling since November 2011 that a majority of Americans have had a negative view of the president.

“The drop in Obama’s support is fueled by a dramatic 17-point decline over the past month among people under 30, who, along with black Americans, had been the most loyal part of the Obama coalition,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The president also dropped 10 points among independent voters, from 47% last month to 37% now, with Obama’s disapproval among independents jumping 12 points to 61%.

Snapshot of poll from Business Insiders:

•General job approval is down from 53% in May to 45% now.
•Approval on the economy is down 2 points, to 42%.
•On foreign affairs, Obama has fallen 5 points to 44%.
•On illegal immigration, Obama’s disapproval is up to 56%.
•49% of respondents say Obama is honest/trustworthy, a big drop from 58% in the last reading.
•Among those aged under 30, Obama has seen a 17% (!) drop in approval.

More from The Politico, Obama losing support from Independents and the youth vote.

The drop in support for Obama was especially steep among young voters and independents. With voters ages 18 to 29, Obama’s approval numbers dropped 17 points, according to CNN’s polling director. Among voters ages 18-34, 48 percent approved of the job Obama is doing and 50 percent disapproved.

Independents’ approval of the president dropped 10 points, to 37 percent, and disapproval was up 12 points, to 61 percent.

White House Defends Barack Obama’s African Boondoggle … Obama’s $100M Africa trip ‘great bang for our buck’

White House defends Obama’s $100 million trip to Africa as a ‘great bang for our buck’.  Obama was also supposed to be the smartest president ever and care about the middle class as well. As stated at Michelle Malkin, wasn’t these the same people who said that investments into Solyndra (VIDEO) and other green energy companies were the same? How did that “bang for our buck” work out for America? Oh, that’s right, they are bankrupt. Maybe the comment that should be emphasized is when Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said, ”the White House doesn’t determine the cost of security.” Actually, Obama nor Michelle Obama care what it cost the tax payers is more accurate. Just curious, what part about the African safari was a “bang for our buck”? Even though it has since been canceled because the WAPO actually questioned and criticized the event, the fact of the matter is it was initially planned. The occupants of the White House not only don’t care about the cost of the security, they care little about any tab they make the struggling tax payers pay. America, its not just the IRS who has been pissing our money away, you can start by auditing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to see where our money has gone.

President Obama’s $100 million trip to African offers “great bang for our buck,” the White House said Friday.

Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes defended the cost of Obama’s upcoming trip to South Africa, Senegal and Tanzania, which could cost taxpayers as much as $100 million.

He said the White House doesn’t determine the cost of security and argued traveling to the often overlooked region would help the U.S.

“Frankly, there will be a great bang for our buck for being in Africa, because when you travel to regions like Africa that don’t get a lot of presidential attention, you can have very long-standing and long-running impact from the visit,” Rhodes said.

WHAT A JOKE, Americans are suffering and Barack, Michelle and the kids in tow are off the Africa at a $100 million price tag to “We the People” and we get the BS in return that the trip is a great bang for our buck. Who, but a community agitator spends $100 million at a time when so many Americans are struggling? Obama wants people to be divisive and say things about him to be able to say, see the Right is unhinged. When the reality is,  this slacker, scandal plagued president will do anything to take the people’s eye off the multitude of scandals going in in his administration. This president has claimed that he was for the middle class and the poor and demonized the rich 1 prevent. WAKE UP AMERICA … THE OBAMA’S ARE THE 1%!!!

SACRIFICE: Obama & First Family Trip to Africa Will Cost U.S. Taxpayers Between $60 and $100 Million

Title this one, Sequester, what sequester? Or, It’s Good to be King. Or, You Can Go Home Again  ;-)

As reported at the Washington Post, President Barack Obama and his families trip to Africa will be one of the most expensive trips ever and cost the American tax payers between $60 and $100 million. That is correct. As millions of Americans are unemployed, under-employed, and struggle to get by on a day to day basis. This takes place as a record number of Americans are on food stamps and disability. This occurs as so-called sequestration has caused government departments to cut back and furlough workers. Barack Obama has said in the past that every one has to have skin in the game and must sacrifice? That is everyone but him. As Weasel Zippers states, “Just as long as the King and Queen of America enjoy themselves.” This man truly is a community agitator. Who does this at a time that the United States finds itself in record debt?

So let’s understand this, fighter jets will fly in shifts, giving 24-hour coverage over the president’s airspace, a Navy aircraft carrier or amphibious ship, with a fully staffed medical trauma center, will be stationed offshore in case of an emergency but yet Americans were left to die in Benghazi without any military help within an 8 hour range? Really? Furthermore, we are in the midst of questioning the IRS for their lavish and over the top wasteful spending, yet Obama’s jaunt to Africa gets the rubber stamp of approval? The LEFT will be quick to say, well Bush did it. Is that really a defense? I thought Obama wasn’t W? We realize that other presidents have gone on expensive trips as well, but this president is not supposed to be like others. Obama says he cares about the poor and the middle class. Obama claims that he identifies with the common man and plays class warfare. However, this imperial, do as I say, not as I do, let them eat cake president just snubs his nose at the American people and does any damn thing he wants at the expense of ‘We the People”. What a disgrace.

Hundreds of U.S. Secret Service agents will be dispatched to secure facilities in Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. A Navy aircraft carrier or amphibious ship, with a fully staffed medical trauma center, will be stationed offshore in case of an emergency.

Military cargo planes will airlift in 56 support vehicles, including 14 limousines and three trucks loaded with sheets of bullet­proof glass to cover the windows of the hotels where the first family will stay. Fighter jets will fly in shifts, giving 24-hour coverage over the president’s airspace, so they can intervene quickly if an errant plane gets too close.

The elaborate security provisions — which will cost the government tens of millions of dollars — are outlined in a confidential internal planning document obtained by The Washington Post. While the preparations appear to be in line with similar travels in the past, the document offers an unusual glimpse into the colossal efforts to protect the U.S. commander in chief on trips abroad.

[...]

Obama’s trip could cost the federal government $60 million to $100 million based on the costs of similar African trips in recent years, according to one person familiar with the journey, who was not authorized to speak for attribution. The Secret Service planning document, which was provided to The Post by a person who is concerned about the amount of resources necessary for the trip, does not specify costs.

The Weekly Standard reports that after the WAPO questioned the costs of a planned family safari, the White House nixed the plan. So does that mean if we question the entire trip, they will cancel this ridiculous, over-priced boondoggle as well?

Judge Jeanine Pirro Takes on the IRS, NSA, FBI, Benghazi & Susan Rice, From 6/8/13 … Our Founding Fathers Would Not Recognize the America of Today

Judge Jeanine Pirro shreds the IRS, the NSA, FBI, Susan Rice, terrorism and much, much more.

As Judge Jeanine Pirro of ‘Justice with Jeanine Pirro’ stated, Our Founding Fathers would not recognize the America of today. Judge Jeanine Pirro just shreds the IRS, their scandal of targeting conservatives or anyone who has politican dissent against Obama and the extravagant and wasteful spending of tax payers money. Pirro then goes on her rant  … “These bozo’s are not even sure how much was spent on the conference because they did not keep the receipts.  And they’re sorry. There lies the double standard and hypocrisy. As Judge Jeanine opines, “Really? When was the last time the IRS told the target of an audit deducting a business expense for which there was no receipt …no record, no problem bro, we’ll over look it. And don’t tell me you can’t fire these people. Is it just too much trouble, or do they know too much? Can they point higher than themselves?”

Following that Pirro then goes on to question the NSA and FBI for their collection of all the data of Americans to supposedly protect us from terrorist. Pirro was on a roll on this one. At what point is the U.S. Constitution adhered to when it comes to the surveillance of Americans? If it is needed to collect all this data, how come you could not stop the Boston Marathon bombing? America’s trust in government is at an all-time low. Has our Constitution been so damaged that it and our America is beyond repair? This is a must see video.

Tsarnaev Family, Including Terrorists Brothers & Their Parents Received More than $100,000 in Taxpayer Funded Assistance … Nanny State Sponsored Terrorism

It turns out that the Boston Marathon bombing was “Nanny” state sponsored terrorism after all, sponsored by the tax payers of the United States.

As reported at the Boston Herald, The Tsarnaev family, including the suspected terrorists brother Tamerlan & Dzhohkar, and their parents, benefited from more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded assistance. Isn’t that a kick in the pants and make you question why we allow people into the United States and then have them be dependent on the government. Talk about the “Nanny” state gone mad. As discussed at Jammie Wearing Fool, ” and here we thought these grifters came her for political asylum?” With immigration being such a hot button topic these days it makes one really think about just how many of these illegals that they want to give amnesty to are on government assistance. My person opinion is, want to immigrate to the US, no public assistance for 10 years. We cannot afford to have people come to the US who are just a drain on society, let alone want to kill us.

The Tsarnaev family, including the suspected terrorists and their parents, benefited from more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded assistance — a bonanza ranging from cash and food stamps to Section 8 housing from 2002 to 2012, the Herald has learned.

“The breadth of the benefits the family was receiving was stunning,” said a person with knowledge of documents handed over to a legislative committee today.

The state has handed over more than 500 documents to the 11-member House Post Audit and Oversight Committee, which today met for the first time and plans to call in officials from the Department of Transitional Assistance to testify.

Obama White House Knew “Green” Electric Car Maker Fisker Automotive was Failing and Still Gave them More Tax Dollars

CBS News is reporting that the Obama White House knew that the electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. was failing and still gave the “green” company even more money. According to documents, the Obama administration knew as early as 2010 that the company was not meeting standards, yet did nothing to halt the government loan. Fisker had received a total of $192 million of the $529 million loan before it was suspended. I guess Obama would call that a success that his administration did not give them all of the loan. This administration was hell-bent on funding their pet green energy companies at all cost, regardless of the cost and the failings of this companies.

Newly obtained documents show the Obama administration was warned as early as 2010 that electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. was not meeting milestones set up for a half-billion dollar government loan, nearly a year before U.S. officials froze the loan after questions were raised about the company’s statements.

An Energy Department official said in a June 2010 email that Fisker’s bid to draw on the federal loan may be jeopardized for failure to meet goals established by the department.

Despite that warning, Fisker continued to receive money until June 2011, when the DOE halted further funding. The agency did so after Fisker presented new information that called into question whether key milestones — including the launch of the company’s signature, $100,000 Karma hybrid — had been achieved, according to a credit report prepared by the Energy Department.

It is just endless, the number of green energy failures and the wasted tax payers money that the Obama administrations has spend down a “green” energy rat hole. Whether it be Fisker, Solyndra, Abound Solar, A123 Systems, Ener1 and list goes on and on and on.

President Barack Obama Back on the Golf Course … Take First Post Sequestration Round of Golf on Easter Weekend

Neither rain, nor snow, nor high unemployment, nor record number of Americans on food stamps, nor putting brave Americans in harms way of war, nor sequestration will prevent Barack Obama from playing golf.

In yet one more example of sequestration for thee, not for me, President Barack Obama was back on the links playing golf.  President Obama went golfing Saturday afternoon with friend and Chicago businessman Marty Nesbitt and White House staffers Michael Brush and Marvin Nicholson.  Despite forcing others to sacrifice, forcing some to lose their jobs and be furloughed, Obama is business as usual playing golf. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was recently asked whether President Obama was going to cut back on his lavish vacations and golf outings. Carney dodged the question of course, I guess we know why. The answer is of course no … cut backs or only for others, not for Obama.

President Obama went back to the links Saturday for the first time in a month, in spite of calls by Republicans to stop playing golf due to the government’s automatic budget cuts.

Mr. Obama played his 115th round of golf as president at Joint Base Andrews, a military base in suburban Maryland, taking a motorcade from the White House to the course. It’s the first time he’s played golf since the budget cuts took effect March 1.

The president’s foursome included longtime friend Marty Nesbit, and White House aides Marvin Nicholson and Michael Brush.

In February, Mr. Obama played a round of golf with Tiger Woods at an exclusive resort in Florida, but hasn’t been golfing at Andrews since December.

The White House continues to be closed to tours to America’s children, but the golf courses remain open to Barack Obama.

Sequester for Thee, Not for Me … Obama’s VP Joe Biden Went Thru $321,665 on Limo Rides in Paris

Joe Biden to “We the People” … Sequester fir thee, not for me … OUI, OUI!!!

More government waste … Not only dis Obama Vice President Joe Biden cost American tax payers a whopping $459,388 on a one night stay at a Paris five star hotel last week, as reported as The Weekly Standard,  he also cost “We the People” another $321,665 for limo fees. Interestingly enough, the VP has a limo that is usually brought in tow when he travels abroad, so these charges must have been for staff. Unbelievable. The Obama administration is crying poor due to sequestration cuts, yet some how they manage to waste nearly $1 million to send this useless VP to Paris.

Ha, ha, ha … They bought it boss that we were for the people, what a bunch of saps

After two items last week on the cost of lodging for Vice President Joe Biden’s early February trip to Europe, other news organizations began to investigate further.  Wolf Blitzer’s show The Situation Room on CNN uncovered a contract apparently also related to the same visit to Paris:

Also on the receipt was $321,665 for a limousine company.

Remember America, this is the 1% Presidency and you voted them back in office. Children are not allowed to take White House tours because that cost too much; however, Barack Obama is allowed to party it up on St. Patty’s Day, Sasha and Malia can go to the Bahamas for Spring Break and Biden can jet off to Paris. Anyone feeling buyer’s remorse and is it any wonder why Obama’s job approval ratings are starting to crater.

Why Can’t Government be more Like Cost Effective Businesses … GOP Lawmaker US Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) Wants a ‘Virtual Congress’ with Telecommuting plan

VITUAL CONGRESS IS A START, TERM LIMITS SHOULD BE NEXT …

US Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) has introduced a resolution that would allow lawmakers to be able to hold hearings, debate and vote on legislation virtually from their district offices. What, our government save money and actually use the 21st century technology at their hands? The barrier to this resolution would be the lawmakers. How are they going to be able to go to the DC parties and be wined and dined by K Street lobbyists if they are at home? Of course the resolution makes all the sense in the world,  make the politicians accountable to their folks back home. Imagine Representatives of the people that are actually available to the people. The people of their district should have more access to them than the lobbyists. What a novel concept.

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) wants to create a “virtual Congress,” where lawmakers would leverage videoconferencing and other remote work technology to conduct their daily duties in Washington from their home districts.

Under a resolution Pearce introduced on Thursday, lawmakers would be able to hold hearings, debate and vote on legislation virtually from their district offices.

While Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer may have recently nixed the Web company’s work-from-home policy to boost its performance, Pearce believes a remote work arrangement may benefit Congress and make lawmakers more accountable to folks in their home districts.

Pearce says the resolution would eradicate the need for members to jet back and forth from their districts to Washington each weekend. This would allow lawmakers to spend more time with their constituents rather than the armies of lobbyists from K St., he argues.

Imagine the costs saved by not having to pay for the endless air travel expenses back and forth from DC to their districts? Imagine if politicians used the very technology that every business pretty much uses today for cost savings measures? Imagine if politicians were home more than in DC and more accountable to their constituents, rather than lobbyists on K street? One has to ask the obvious question, with all of the technological innovations that have taken place just in the past 5 years, how come our government does not take advantage of them and lower the tax burden to “We the People”?