Google, in an effort to stop Congress from passing legislation that would directly affect them and their income, spent nearly $4 Million, $3.76 Million to be exact, in an effort to lobby and sway opinion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Tech companies lobbying is nothing new. Congress holds the power to pass laws and bills that can affect these and many other companies. Being that they have a lot of money, they can put some of that money towards influencing a politician and supporting in their favor.

It’s a dirty business, but it happens every single day across all sorts of different topics and issues.

Via Yahoo! News:

“The amount that Google Inc. spent making its political points from October through December is by far the company’s highest lobbying tab for any three-month period since Google’s Washington office opened in 2005. The total compared with a lobbying budget of $1.24 million during the final three months of 2010 and $2.38 million in the third quarter of 2011.”

They nearly doubled the amount of money they spent on lobbying in 2010 which was $5.2 Million. For the total of 2011, they spent $9.7 Million on persuading politicians. Compare that to Microsoft who only spent $7.3 Million lobbying last year.

 ”Google’s lobbying expenses have been rising steadily against a backdrop of intensified U.S. government scrutiny of the company’s acquisitions and business practices. The focus has been prompted by complaints alleging that Google is abusing its dominance of the lucrative Internet search market to stifle competition and muscle its way into other markets.”

How do you feel about powerful companies lobbying Congress and politicians?

Google Spent Nearly $4 Million To Lobby Politicians Last Quarter is a post from: The Inquisitr

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has announced that she is officially stepping down from her Arizona congressional seat that one year earlier nearly cost her life.

Giffords announced her departure from her Arizona seat in a touching YouTube video in which she states:

“Arizona is my home. Always will be. A lot has happened over this past year,” while adding, ”I don’t remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers, and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do.”

Gabrielle Giffords goes on to note:

“So to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week.” While adding, “I will return. And we will work together for Arizona and this great country.”

Here’s the entire Gabrielle Giffords YouTube video:

Giffords has spent the last year recovering from a bullet wound to the head which required the congresswoman to undergo various surgeries and painful and slow rehabilitation. It was just several months ago that she returned home with Astronaut husband Mark Kelly and began her rehabilitation in an outpatient capacity.

In supportive statements on her YouTube page fans of the congresswoman wrote:

“Thank you, Gabby Giffords – you are an inspiration, whether Congresswoman or not.”

and

“Not having you in Congress is America’s loss – hope you get really better soon ”

When she will return to politics is anyone’s guess but given her amazing recovery in a rather short period of time I wouldn’t be surprised if it was sooner rather then later.

Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down From Congress In Touching YouTube Video is a post from: The Inquisitr

Though SOPA and PIPA are eating most of the media airwaves (read: none of them except the internet) regarding battles on capitol hill, one knife-to-a-gun-fight scuffle still going strong is that of the millionaire surtax: a left-field favorite being tempered and flouted more than ever by has-been Nancy Pelosi.

The former speaker got aggressive (and it could be argued down-right nasty) regarding her push for higher taxes on the wealthy, insisting that said millionaire surtax should be part of the holiday payroll tax extensions deal.

During her weekly Capitol news conference, Pelosi called the surtax the “simplest, easiest way” to pay for the package that will include extension to the payroll tax holiday, jobless benefits, and the Medicare reimbursement for doctors.

“This is a middle-income tax cut,” Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday. “It is not going to be paid for by a penalty to the middle class. So you have another idea? Tell us why the surcharge is not the best way to go.”

Easy, cowboy. I surrender!

Democrats pushed for the millionaire surtax before the December recess, but heavy Republican opposition slapped it down. Congress passed a 2-month extension for the benefits noted, but it expires at the end of February. Democrats have been hint-hint-hinting that that the surcharge could resurface when the 20-member conference committee meets.

But Pelosi is issuing a definitive challenge to her Republican antagonists, saying Wednesday:

“If the Republicans have some other suggestions, let them put them forward,” she said. “But Democrats are not going to give with one hand to the middle class and take away with the other hand.”

Thanks!

Biting irony aside, whether or not you can agree philosophically with a millionaire surtax, do you think picking fights is the way to go, or that Nancy Pelosi is the face for the product?

I mean, we all know how well harsh rhetoric works for Republicans…

Nancy Pelosi Not Dealing Without Millionaire Tax is a post from: The Inquisitr

JPK may soon be running for congress. Joseph P. Kennedy III, the grandson of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, announced today that he is considering a run for Barney Frank’s congressional seat.

Kennedy said:

“I am announcing today my intention to explore a candidacy for the United States Congress in the Fourth District of Massachusetts.”

Frank announced that he was retiring earlier this year and that his seat will be vacant come election season. Kennedy also announced earlier this year that he was resigning as a prosecutor in the office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.

Kennedy said:

“My decision to look seriously at elected office is grounded in a deep commitment to public service and my experience — both my own and that of my family — in finding just, practical, and bipartisan solutions to difficult challenges. It is a commitment instilled in me at a young age and one that inspired me to join the Peace Corps after college and to become a prosecutor after law school.’’

In his announcement, Kennedy also took a few swings at Washington, saying that the government is saddling the next generation with “unsustainable debt.”

Kennedy said.

“Then when it comes time to restoring fiscal sanity to our budget, we see the middle class and the poor take the hit while the wealthy get more tax breaks.”

Reuters reports that Joseph P. Kennedy III is the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy. His great-uncles are were the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy and the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

Kennedy said that he will make his final decision to run for congress soon.

Do you want to see another Kennedy in politics?

Joseph P. Kennedy III Eyes Barney Frank’s Congressional Seat is a post from: The Inquisitr

The destruction of the Twin Towers changed America forever. The events of 9/11 made it abundantly clear to every single citizen that terrorism was about to become a major factor in their existence. However, it is doubtful that when President Bush announced America’s “War On Terror”, the average American could anticipate just how much this new war would change their lives. As we begin 2012, we are still living under the intrusive eye of the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Prison is still full of accused terrorists. The much despised Transportation Security Agency (TSA) continues strip searching grand mothers in wheel chairs and sticking their hands down the pants of 5 year old kids. To make matters worse, Big Sister Janet Napolitano hinted that Americans might be subjected to even more intrusive security with this comment on the Charlie Rose Show, “Terrorists are going to continue to probe the system and try to find a way through. I think the tighter we get on aviation, we have to also be thinking now about going on to mass transit or to trains or maritime. So, what do we need to be doing to strengthen our protections there?”

The American people have reached the boiling point over being exposed naked on potentially harmful body scanners while the even elderly and the very young are given physical searches that would lead to molestation charges in any civil society. Whether or not they are willing to continue to accept this on-going violation of their human dignity, not to mention possible violations of the Constitution, remains to be seen. We do know for a fact that the Airline Industry is going broke and the volume of flyers is falling steadily. Major carriers are filling for bankruptcy and certainly the TSA’s policies have not been helpful in convincing passengers to fly. Many Americans have decided to drive or take other alternative transportation and the struggling economy has led to many families cancelling their travel plans altogether.

There is an on-going debate about the effectiveness of the methods used by the TSA. Despite the fact that every single person boarding an airline in the United States is screened, there have been several alarming lapses in security, including the notorious Christmas Underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The very fact that this man was whisked through security in Amestredam, Holland exposed one of the biggest flaws in the TSA octopus. Air travel is international and until the TSA permits American carriers to be responsible for providing their own, additional security in foreign airports, American citizens are at the mercy of foreign governments when they travel outside the USA. Not only do we need private professional security of the highest standards to be used by American Carriers when they fly from foreign destinations, but all foreign carriers flying into the USA should be required to meet the same standards. The citizens of the United States should not have to suffer endless intrusions into their lives and risk to their very existence because some foreign governments or foreign carriers may refuse to properly secure their airlines. The FAA maintains a list of the safety of all foreign airlines and certainly lack of proper security should land any carrier on the banned section of the list.

When it comes to setting policy on how to protect travelers, the TSA has chosen what many many experts in the field feel is the least effective method. Despite a 2012 budget of 8 billion dollars and 58,000 employes, the TSA has failed many internal security tests with as many as 75% of the simulated bombs getting through screening. Even outside agencies, including newspapers and television stations, have exposed how they were able to repeatedly smuggle simulated contraband through security and find many alternative routes into secure areas of the airport that bypassed all the security checkpoints. To compound the problem, the TSA airport staff is composed of mainly low pay, hourly workers with little, if any, security training. There have even been documented cases of convicted criminals working the screening lines at our major airports. Reports abound of personal property disappearing from passenger’s luggage, abusive treatment by TSA staff and a general atmosphere of “Comply or Else.” We wonder how many Americans know that they can be charged with a felony if they object to the intrusiveness of the screening and attempt to leave the airport once they have entered the controlled security area. So much for the right to say “No” when a person feels their rights, their faith or their dignity is violated.

According to those who have worked in the field of Airport Security and terror prevention, there is a better way. It is called Behavioral Profiling. This method, which is in no way related to the politically in-correct and frankly in-effective method of Racial Profiling, has been used to perfection to protect the world’s most endangered airports in Israel. Behavioral Profiling involves using highly trained professionals at the security checkpoints instead of the vast legions of barely trained wage slaves, of which the TSA is so enamored. These professionals observe passengers and anyone else who happens to be in the area for any telltale indications of unusual behavior. They also ask direct questions of every single person about to board an airline. Simple, straight forward questions like “Who are you?, “Where have you been?”, “Where are you going?”, “Why are you going there?” and “Did anyone ask you to add anything to your luggage or carry on baggage?”. They observe the behavior and listen carefully to the traveler’s replies. If answers appear out of the ordinary or the passenger’s behavior does anything to indicate the need for a more extensive examination, they are then taken to a private area for an in-depth security screening. No one is putting their hands down the pants of a child in public at an Israeli airport. Respect for privacy and a calm, polite professional demeanor is expected of every member of the Israeli Airport Security Services.

The Israeli system works and it works well, because in addition to the fully trained security personnel at the airports, from the moment a traveler buys their ticket, Israeli security is checking for any factors that might indicate anything out of the ordinary. For example, someone who buys a one way ticket in cash, then requests a window seat over the wing, would be flagged, in advance, for a full security screening at the airport. Someone who enters an airport carrying an empty suitcase would be put through a high level screening because the Israelis would want to know if that person had already placed a bomb, if they were perhaps using the suitcase to try to conceal something they planned to steal from the airport or if they were trying to test the security. According to Shlomo Harnoy, the former chief of the Israel Security Agency’s Aviation Security Department, bloated agencies like the TSA, that spend billions on ineffective methods, are not the solution. He said, “Whoever is concentrating on stopping old ladies bringing a bottle of mineral water on to the plane will not find the terrorist, or the bomb. The old lady is not a suicide bomber and the bottle of water is not a bomb component.”

Of course, the TSA and  its enablers in the White House and Congress have some standard, pat replies to any attempt to bring the TSA back under control. Instead of taking steps to emulate the best airport security in the world, they moan the United States is too big to use the Israeli system and continue to treat all Americans like suspects. Rather than end the burden on the budget of 58,000 employees, 44,000 of whom are members of a union for Federal workers, the big spenders in Washington continue to roll out more and more costly programs to “protect” Americans from the threat of terror. Despite the fact that the TSA continues to fail at its mission and the Airline Industry is in the toilet, partly because passengers are sick and tired of being treated like criminals, there are no indications the TSA plans to change its methods and stop making travelers feel like actors in a bad porn movie. Many Americans have simply had enough and are quite happy to discover the charm and beauty in their own communities during vacation time, rather than go through another round of choosing between back scatter radiation or a “touch your junk” pat down. Meanwhile, we move another step closer towards a Police State and the economy suffers. We would hope the political elite who run the country might wake up to the fact that Americans are fed up, but then again, there hasn’t been a really good miracle since Moses parted the Red Sea and Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fish.

Airport Security In America – The TSA vs The American Citizen is a post from: The Inquisitr

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has scheduled a press conference to take place later this afternoon, reportedly to announce his intent to retire from Congress.

The 70-year old Nelson has been at the center of major ad buys by nearly everyone in both parties as well as a few outside groups, and is thought to have become one of the most endangered Democrats in the Senate. In the upcoming 2012 election, 23 Senate Democrats will have to defend their seats, as opposed to just 10 Republicans.

Due to the high-stakes of the 2012 election and the strategic need for Democratic wins in the Senate should President Obama see a second term, many party officials have been lobbying Nelson to stick around for at least one more term. However, Nelson himself has been hinting for weeks that a heavy decision regarding his political future has been in the works, and would be announced before the year’s end.

At this time, it is not known who the Democrats would select to run in Nelson’s place. There have been a few suggestions that former Nebraska Governor Bob Kerrey, himself a former Senator, could be the party favorite.

At this time, Kerrey has refused to say whether or not he would consider running for Nelson’s seat, but also hasn’t ruled it out.

Democrat Senator Ben Nelson To Announce Retirement is a post from: The Inquisitr

I still remember the old adage that my parents tried to stuff down my throat as a kid when they were trying to get me to stop doing something while they themselves were doing it – do as I say not as I do. I think most of us have had to deal with that kind of better than thou crap in our lives but it rankles even worse when it comes from the people t hat we elect to represent us in government.

Case in point this whole nonsense around SOPA and how the entertainment back Congress is trying its damnedest to gain control of the Internet at the behest of their corporate backers.

On one hand they tell us that it’s illegal and well .. just plain wrong to download movies and music among other things without paying for them, even though most studies have proven that if you make it easy to buy people will in fact pay for what they download. Then on the other hand as the team at TorrentFreaks found out those self-same politicians are just as guilty of pirating stuff as anyone else.

Since it’s the birthplace of the pending SOPA bill, we wondered how many of the employees there have engaged in unauthorized copying.

The answer is yet again unambiguous – they pirate a lot.

In total we found more than 800 IP-addresses assigned to the U.S. House of Representatives from where content has been shared on BitTorrent. After a closer inspection it quickly became clear the House isn’t just using it for legitimate downloads either, quite the opposite.

Below we’ll list a few of the 800 hits we found on YouHaveDownloaded, which in turn represent just a fraction of total downloads since the site only tracks a limited percentage of total BitTorrent traffic. Again, this is real and confirmed data that is just as good as the evidence used by the RIAA when they sued tens of thousands of people for file-sharing.

I wonder how Microsoft will deal with the fact that someone in the Hill seems to think it’s okay to pirate Windows.

Once again we have those in power thinking and acting in ways that they would see you and me arrested for and spend years in jail.

Me, I’m not the least bit surprised.

Congress just as bad at piracy as those they want to push under the SOPA bus is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Intelligence world will have to settle for only $80 billion dollars this year. Congress has passed their latest spending bills which, while not actually cutting their budget, only keeps the spy world with the same budget as last year.  While this may not sound like such a big deal, the intelligence services are not so happy about having to postpone new hires and new satellite systems they were hoping to put into play this year. Congress left in the budget money allocated for hiring new cybersecurity teams and money to track the finances of terrorists.

While in tough financial times most levels of government spending get cut, and most agencies fight over who will get hit the hardest.  Even now, with Iran pushing forwards to get the Bomb and more conflicts arising throughout the world the Pentagon is seeing its budget cut.  Usually though the Intelligence services are “recession Proof”.  But not so this year.

Also this year, as part of a compromise between Democrats and Republicans to raise the nation’s sovereign debt limit congress prescribed a series of painful cuts to the defense budget if lawmakers could not find $1.5 Trillion dollars to trim from the deficit over the next ten years.  Congress had until thanksgiving to reach a compromise and failed.  These cuts take place in fiscal year 2013.

America currently is running a deficit of over $1.5 trillion dollars a year and has a national debt of over $15 trillion dollars.  Lawmakers from both parties agree this level of debt in unsustainable.  The real question is how much more can be cut from the budget before America becomes less safe?

Still Loaded with Pork, Congress Puts Spy World on a Diet is a post from: The Inquisitr

Congress’ supercommittee has failed in its bid to cut a government debt that stands at an eye-watering $15 trillion.

With deep-running political divisions over spending and taxation, Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement to cut $1.2 trillion of the national debt on Monday. As a result, U.S. and European stock prices were sent tumbling.

And of course, it goes without saying that both sides were quick to blame the other.

President Barack Obama said that a refusal by the GOP to raise taxes on the rich had formed an impassable obstacle to reaching a deal. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans had “never found the courage to ignore the tea party extremists” and “never came close to meeting us half way.” Republican Senator Jon Kyl was also accused of wrecking the deal.

The blame game worked both ways, however. GOP Senator Pat Toomey oversaw a Republican offer during the talks, yet said:

“Unfortunately, our Democratic colleagues refused to agree to any meaningful deficit reduction without $1 trillion in job-crushing tax increases.”

And GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry used the result to attack Obama, and by the sounds of it managed a whole sentence without stumbling. Bravo sir:

“It’s amazing to what lengths he (Obama) will go to avoid making tough decisions.”

Just listen to this mob, taking every opportunity to score cheap political points. It’s almost as though there’s some huge election-style event next year or something.

Congress’ public rating was below 20-percent approval in numerous polls before this announcement. Expect that to dip even lower in the coming days.

Supercommittee Fails to Cut $1.2 Trillion Deficit is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lab tests have been conducted on innocent Chimpanzees since the 1920′s and now a new ape-testing bill in Congress hopes to end the practice completely.

Speaking to the New York Times Wayne Pacelle, President of the US Humane Society says of the bill:

“This is a very different moment than ever before,” and “Now is the time to get these chimps out of invasive research and out of the labs.”

According to Maryland Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett who created the bill the testing of ape’s isn’t just a fight on morale grounds the banning of the practice is expected to save taxpayers upwards of $30 million annually.

Considered one of our closest ancestors, genetically speaking, ape testing has helped produce a vaccine for hepatitis B. The director of one San Antonio primate research lab defends the practice, noting:

 ”It would be grossly unethical not to do research [on Chimpanzees]“

Currently the United States has nearly 1,000 chimpanzees living in research facilities and America is one of just two countries that allow the practice of chimp-testing. In their cages chimps are subjected to injections, blood samples and liver biopsies (done under sedation).

Researchers will have us believe that Chimpanzee testing saves hundreds of thousands of live, do you think the practice of testing various drugs and studying diseases in chimpanzees needs to be stopped or does such testing provide a medical necessity for future medical based developments?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Chimpanzee Bill Reaches Congress, Hopes To End Lab Testing is a post from: The Inquisitr

A group of millionaires banned together on Wednesday to ask Congressional leaders to tax them more.

Two dozen wealthy Americans approached members of the deficit “Supercommittee” and begged to have their taxes increased.

Testifying at a congressional hearing in front of 13 members of Congress the millionaires expressed concern over the country’s fiscal health. Entrepreneur Charlie Fink, a resident of Washington, D.C. said that if the Bush tax cuts do not expire America “is digging itself a big hole by foregoing revenue.” Fink goes on to note:

“Without revenue, we will never solve the problem by giving tax cuts to the wealthy while supporting two foreign wars.”

After hearing from the group Rep. Clyburn told ABC News:

“It was a very refreshing conversation that restored my faith that there are people who, in spite of their financial successes, have not lost their compassion and sense of fair play.”

Speaking about the current state of the fiscal system millionaire Robert Johnson, a former chief economist of the U.S. Senate banking committee said the system isn’t “broken” but is  ”working on behalf of those who designed it in their favor.”

During a press conference Johnson said:

“America is no longer based on markets and capitalism, instead our economy is designed as ‘socialism for the rich’ – it is designed to ensure that the wealthiest people take all of the gains, while regular Americans cover any losses.”

Further explaining the system Johnson revealed:

“It’s a Las Vegas economy where regular Americans put their money on the table and the richest 1 percent own the house. And if the 1 percent happen to lose money, the 99 percent bails them out – covers their losses and then stands by watching while the house does it all over again.”

The members who attended the meeting were all part of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group that formed last November with 45 members who asked President Obama to let the Bush-era tax cuts to the rich expire.

In an open-letter on the groups website they state:

“For the fiscal health of our nation and the well-being of our fellow citizens, we ask that you allow tax cuts on incomes over $1,000,000 to expire at the end of this year as scheduled,” and “We make this request as loyal citizens who now or in the past earned an income of $1,000,000 per year or more.”

In the meantime the Bush-era tax cuts remain in effect, even as billionaires including Warren Buffett have repeatedly said the rich need to be taxed and loopholes in the tax code need to be closed.

Here’s a video of the group addressing the Congressional Committee:

Do you think taxes should be increased for America’s richest citizens?

Millionaires Take To Capitol Hill, Beg Congress To Tax Them More [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Do you approve of the job being done by congress? If you do, you are one of the few. Last month congress’ approval rating fell to a record low of 9 percent. In comparison, 11% of American believe that polygamy is morally acceptable.

So just how unpopular is congress? According to a chart from Senator Michael Bennet, congress is less popular than the IRS, the airline industry, lawyers, Nixon during Watergate, BP during the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Paris Hilton, the United States becoming a Communist nation, and Hugo Chavez. Bennet said that he had a hard time trying to find someone or something less popular than congress. In 2008, only 5% of Americans viewed Fidel Castro in a positive light. Congratulations congress. You’re more popular than Castro.

Bennet created the chart to illustrate just how unpopular congress has become. Bennett said:

“Sometimes I get the feeling that people (in congress) don’t believe that the American people are watching… But they are. They know exactly what is going on. Because they’re living through this economy… Some people thing that congress has always been unpopular. But that isn’t so.  This is congress’ approval rating today. 9%. We’re almost at the margin of error of zero.”

Here’s the video of Bennet’s speech.

If Bennet’s video was a little dry, here’s a clip from last night’s “Daily Show” where Jon Stewart explains, among other things, why congress’ approval rating is so low.

Congress isn’t the only government entity with a low approval rating. President Obama’s approval rating has also dropped to an all-time low. 

Why do you think congress’ approval rating is so low? Maybe it’s because they just decided that pizza is a vegetable.

Congress Less Popular Than BP Oil Spill, Lawyers, Paris Hilton [Chart] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the crew involved in the first mission to land on the moon, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, have all been awarded the highest civilian award that Congress can bestow, the Congressional Gold Medal.

The four astronauts received the honor on Wednesday from Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell at a ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda.

“They will tell you that they are not heroes. Don’t listen to them,” said McConnell, as reported by Space.com. “America is only as strong as the citizens we produce and here are four of the best.”

“Gentleman, heroes or not, your acts were heroic,” said Boenher. “Today we add to your many honors, with respect and gratitude, the Congressional Gold Medal.”

Democratic House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi praised the men for their accomplishments, describing them as “four courageous Americans who represented – and still do – the highest hopes of a generation.”

[Image credit: NASA/Stephanie Schierholz]

John Glenn, Apollo 11 astronauts awarded Congressional Gold Medal is a post from: The Inquisitr

In case you were wondering where all of the healthy vegetables were on your child’s lunch menu at school, they’re in the pizza they’ve been eating everyday. Congress recently declared that Pizza constitutes a vegetable requirement even though it only contains an average of two tablespoons of tomato sauce.

After lobbyists spent $5.6 million members of Congress this week shot down a new set of proposed lunch standards from the USDA which would have required anything being called a vegetable to have at least half-cup of tomato sauce. The proposal also asked that schools limit the number of potatoes being served with lunch programs, a proposal that would have cut back on the number of french fries being eaten by children.

The program only affects federally-subsidized school meals and because of the denial the USDA must now delay offering a limited sodium program which would also have increased the number of whole grains children consume.

Speaking of the proposals loss a USDA spokesman said:

“While it’s unfortunate that some members of Congress continue to put special interests ahead of the health of America’s children, USDA remains committed to practical, science-based standards for school meals.”

Now if you excuse me I’ll be heading out to my garden to plant some pizza.

Do you think Congress has overstepped their bounds during a childhood obesity epidemic?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Congress Says Pizza Is A Vegetable After Lobbyist Bombard Washington is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gabrielle Giffords is planning a return to Congress according to a one-page statement made in the upcoming memoir Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope which was written by Gifford’s husband Mark Kelly.

The final chapter of the book titled “Gabby’s Voice” is a simple one-page statement written in a few short sentences in which Giffords says:

 “I will get stronger. I will return.”

The book also reveals the struggles that both Gabrielle and Mark have faced since the time of her shooting. According to Mark the couple were undergoing fertility treatments in an attempt to have a baby. The book also reveals that Giffords has lost half the vision in both of her eyes while Mark goes on to chronicle much of her painful recovery.

In the book Mark reveals that for months Giffords was unable to understand what had happened to her and when asked to remember the shooting her words were short and poignant: “Shot. Shocked. Scary.”

In a more lighthearted moment in the book Mark recalls a funny visit from President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara in which Giffords kept replaying to the former President’s questions with the word “chicken” which was the only thing she could say at the time.

Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope will go on sale November 15.

Will you be running out to pick up Gabrielle’s memoir? Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, liberal or conservative it should be an interesting and engaging read.

Gabrielle Giffords Releases Statement, Vows Return To Congress is a post from: The Inquisitr

One of the more interesting things about Amazon’s new Fire tablet is their own browser called Silk. What makes the browser interesting is that it uses a “split” design that has any browser traffic using Silk going through the Amazon servers.

This apparently has gotten a few folks in Congress concerned because of possible privacy issues. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) has come out saying that the idea of Amazon funneling all the traffic through its servers is bothersome to say the least.

Not to be left out Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has sent a letter to Amazon seeking some clarification on the possible privacy issues. In his letter MArkey is asking:

• What information does Amazon plan to collect about users of the Kindle Fire?
• How does Amazon intend to use this information?
• How will Amazon convey its privacy policy to Fire and Silk users?
• If Amazon plans to collect information about its users’ Internet browsing habits, will customers be able to affirmatively opt in to participate in the data sharing program?

Congress is concerned over privacy issues with Amazon’s new Silk browser is a post from: The Inquisitr

As Kim wrote earlier, Congresswoman Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot while she was holding a “Congress on the Corner” at a local Safeway. Thankfully, and contrary to early reports, Giffords has survived the shooting and is expected to fully recover.

As it seems with most outrageous acts like this the attacker, confirmed to be a 22-year-old man named Jared Lee Loughner, has left a trail on the Web with stops at YouTube where he had his own channel, and at Myspace, who has now removed his page.

@jhlaing managed to grab a screen cap of the Myspace page before it was removed and posted it to yFrog:

I had a look at just one of this young man’s videos on YouTube but couldn’t make it through the whole thing. This one is the last one that he posted.

Congresswoman Giffords shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, had a YouTube channel is a post from: The Inquisitr

Way to go all Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Rep. Anthony Weiner of Brooklyn/Queens!

Rep. Weiner gave an impassioned speech yesterday on the House floor because Republicans are blocking funding to monitor September 11th first responders with lasting health issues. Weiner angrily called opponents of the bill out for voting on procedure and not the merits of the bill itself, which will allocate over $7 billion in funds to ensure those who worked in the Trade Center’s ruins those first few dangerous days are properly cared for. TPM helpfully transcribed a portion of Weiner’s two minute rant:

“It’s Republicans wrapping their arms around Republicans, rather than doing the right thing on behalf of the heroes!”

Weiner attacked those who “stand up and say, ‘Oh, if only we had a different process we’d vote yes.’ You vote yes if you believe yes! You vote in favor of something if you believe it’s the right thing! If you believe it’s the wrong thing, you vote no!”

While some may argue Weiner’s rants are grandstanding or theatrical (using the word “heroes,” for instance), the clip is still worth watching, and will hopefully inspire other Dems to get their spines back.

Congressman Anthony Weiner gets loud, calls out GOP for 9/11 health bill is a post from: The Inquisitr

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), one of the most vocal proponents of the new healthcare reform legislation, received a threatening letter containing an unidentified white powder today.

Law enforcement officials responded to the scene on Kew Gardens road at 1:50pm today, and nine people were reportedly decontaminated. Weiner, who represents areas of Brooklyn and Queens, says his office is closed pending identification of the substance. In a statement, Weiner did not address the letter, which reportedly told the Congressman to “drop dead” and cited his work on the healthcare reform bill:

Earlier today an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to my community office in Kew Gardens. The NYPD was immediately alerted and have responded appropriately by sending a Haz-Mat team. Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority is the safety of my staff and neighbors, and the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve the situation.

Rep. Weiner is not the only target in days following the passage of the bill. Talking Points Memo has compiled a map showing locations in which Democrats have experienced vandalism and “serious threats,” including broken windows and cut gas lines.

NY Rep. Anthony Weiner receives threat and suspicious white powder is a post from: The Inquisitr

A recent ruling by the Supremes granting unprecedented rights to corporations to wield influence through campaign donations has drawn widespread ire, most notably by President Obama during his State of the Union address.

In a brilliant piece of satire, a small, Maryland based PR firm is taking the next logical step. A campaign is afoot to get a corporation elected to the 8th Congressional District seat in Maryland. Of course, Murray Hill Inc. is running as a Republican, vying for the seat of Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat. Murray Hill’s campaign manager William Klein explains to the Washington Post:

The firm “wanted to run as a Republican because we feel the Republican Party is more receptive to our basic message that corporations are people, too,” Klein said, adding that his client has no particular beef with Van Hollen.

A bit on the campaign’s official website makes a case for corporations in Congress:

Until now, corporations only influenced politics with high-paid lobbyists and backroom deals. But today, thanks to an enlightened Supreme Court, corporations now have all the rights the founding fathers meant for us. It was their dream to build the best democracy money can buy.

That’s why Murray Hill Incorporated is taking democracy’s next step — running for Congress. Join us and build a vision for the future we can all be proud of. Vote Murray Hill Incorporated for Congress!

You can watch Murray Hill’s campaign ad below- what do you think? Is this going too far or is it a necessary commentary on the undue influence of corporations over legislation? (If it’s the latter, you can also join a Facebook group supporting Murray Hill.)

Awesome: Murray Hill Inc. runs for Congress is a post from: The Inquisitr