THIS IS HOW TO FIX CONGRESS

Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below. A. Two Six year Senate terms B. Six Two year House terms C.One Six year Senate term and three two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure, No Pension: A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. 3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people. 4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans. 5. Congress will no longer vote them a pay raise, pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people. 8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work. Author Unknown

Should Local and State Governments Cut More Positions?

Under the headline "Nobody Gets Fired Except Governors In Recessions," Joe Mysak writes in his column for Bloomberg News (12/30) that "any expectation that state and local governments would use the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression to reduce their biggest expenditures is proving to be wishful thinking." While companies have cut slightly more than six percent of their jobs since December 2007, local and state governments have cut only "132,000 positions – 0.66 percent" since August 2008, the month they stopped adding jobs. Of the two, local governments have cut 117,000 positions out of 14.6 million workers, while states have cut 15,000 of their 5.2 million workers, according to sources he cites. Mysak concludes, "Hearing state and local officials talk about reducing headcount is like listening to an 8-year-old announce he's going to bed. You don't believe it."


Is the same logic, or rather illogic being applied to our own little slice of Heaven known as Suffolk? It will be interesting to see if the “Empire” on Market Street is trimmed at all this budget cycle to save us all and perhaps reduce taxes. With everyone trying to do more with less, why is it that the employment levels and resulting costs within our local government seem safe and the rest of us have to pay top rates? In a service organization like government, personnel cost are the number one expense in the budget and the most rational place to look for at least some cuts, one would think... While no one likes to see another lose a job, especially in this economy, we all know that there just are not the rivers of honey flowing that we saw in the mid-2000’s growth boom. Given the fact that revenues are falling and taxes are just to high for the economic realities of the day in this hard economy, it may be time to trim positions and finally lower taxes. And please don't play the game that our mil-rate is so low. It is all relative to basis values and the argument does nothing for actual costs to the citizen, especially with all the new fees they always seem to tack on each year... If you don't spend it, you don't need to tax for it, simple.

We were all told last year that “Suffolk has a lean and hard budget”. Then we find out that this” lean and hard budget” really had so much fat in it, that it could absorb all the revenue cuts the economy could throw its way and still have a surplus for rainy-day funds and bonuses of well over $3,500,000.00… What will we see in the coming budget, show or substance?

If you use the budget sheers properly and early on, you don't have to use the AX, later...

Roger A. Leonard, MPA
Suffolk…

HOW TRUE IT IS

A gentleman wrote in the SNH that he believes the U. S. Senate is a “house of ill repute.”

Thomas R. Lord Sr. went on to suggest the vote on Health Care in the Senate was proof that body of government is a house of prostitution with a Madame in charge. Pretty strong language…I wish I had written it. He is right on especially when he points out if we were guilty of buying votes we’d be in the slammer because it constitutes a felony.

I figure Mr. Lord is a courageous patriot. What say you?

CLARIFICATION

Over on the right side of Inside is Bob's Corner where just for the heck of it I write an occasional column as I did in the SNH for about 15 years. I finished my story of World War II but like Forest Gump I still felt like running. Well my, I thought humorous, article this morning about dogs has already suffered an attack, one lady emphatically wrote that she likes dogs just as they are. I figure I must point out the truth. My wife and I have buried, over many years, Jaboff, Jigger, Skipper, Tina, another doxy, Sandy, and several cats. Our pet cemetery here in Suffolk is loaded with animals of all sorts, that belonged to us or our kids who live in the area. My oldest brother was the first Director of Leader Dogs For The Blind, headquartered in Rochester, Michigan. At that facility, when we left that state there were 14 trainers and over a hundred dogs in training. That school was started in the forties.And is sponsored by Lions Clubs all over the country. There were constant rejects and we found homes for many of them. We have known and loved animals since our marriage 64 years ago. But I would redesign the noisy pets.

LET US HEAR THE CITY'S DEFENSE

In a recent post IS team member Debra Wahlstrom charged the city with using a worthless report form used to judge RFPs submitted to the city. In this case the charge was for the way Obici restoration RFPs were treated by the city administration. The charges were further substantiated by comments, three in fact, pointing out the city's useless report form, perhaps a deliberate way to escape conversation with the those who submit RFPs. If true these are serious charges. We hope youu are following that Post and comments. They are worth a read and could be very important whenever a resident deals with the city. We would like to hear from the city officials. We know that more than 45,000 computers have logged on to IS.

We have already heard from you that whomever wrote the comments to Wahlstrom's Post should be a member of the IS team. Great idea unless he is of more value unnamed. We thank him for his revealing comments.

Was the Scoring Tool Fair?

In a December 21, 2009 editorial in the Suffolk News Herald, the city’s Director of Media and Communications gave the folks at the Suffolk News Herald a hand-slap. Ouch! I read the editorial and then decided to look at the Request for Proposals for the Obici House Renovation and Reuse. I wanted to answer the question: Was the actual RFP a fair tool?

To answer my question, I studied the scoring tool included in the RFP to determine its effectiveness as a fair tool for evaluating proposals. Why is this important? The scoring tool is what is used to award the points for each proposal – it is the place where all of the work done by firms is finally scored for merit. The scoring tool is the most important part of the RFP. So here goes.


The scoring “matrix” for the Obici House Renovation and Reuse proposal was included with the RFP handout. You see, the purpose of an evaluation tool is to ensure a valid, reliable, and bias-free evaluation of proposals while awarding points to projects. A valid scoring tool simply means that the tool evaluates what you wanted to evaluate. I would expect to see actual statements from the proposal included in the tool. A reliable scoring tool means that if you put the proposals in front of two or more people for scoring, the scores will be similar. A bias-free tool means that the scoring will be fair – no matter what persons, organization, or entity turned in a proposal. Each firm has an equal chance from the scoring side of the evaluation.

The first thing I want to do is to address the top part of the evaluation matrix – which is not really a matrix. This is simply a scoring guide. I want to commend the city for including a scoring guide in the proposal packet. That is evidence of working toward a fair process in terms of scoring the proposals. But, the scoring guide isn’t yet a valid, reliable, or bias-free scoring tool. Let me show you why.



In order to get an Outstanding, a firm must achieve 8-10 points. There is nothing in this scoring tool that tells firm members what has to be achieved in order to receive those points. What does a firm have to have in the proposal in order to get an 8? What makes it a 9? What makes it a 10? How does someone who is scoring the proposals know to give a firm an 8, 9, or 10? What makes an 8 different from a 9?

In the 4-7 Points category, a firm meets expectations and is fully qualified and has adequate experience. Why wouldn’t that be an outstanding in terms of points? What would make a firm lose points here? What is different in a proposal that receives a 4 from one that receives a 7?

In the 1-3 points category, a firm will have minimal experience. What designates minimal experience? Also what does “less than expectations” mean? What does”less than desired level/insufficient documentation” mean? What gives a firm a score point of 1? A score point of 2? A score point of 3?

In the 0 Points category, what does “not documented” mean? The whole proposal is not documented? A part of the proposal or section is not documented?

These areas do not correspond on a one-to-one basis from the proposal – as they should. Each entity (e.g., city, firms submitting a proposal) should know EXACTLY each score point looks like in each area being evaluated. The scoring tool is not yet valid because there is no connection between the tool and the requirements in the RFP.

For example, look at number 1 below: Obici House Renovation, Restoration and Re-Use Plan and Property Management Program to include Architectural and Historical Preservation. What does a firm have to specifically do from the RFP requirements to get a score of 10? A 9? An 8? Since the information about how a firm achieves each score point is not there, the scoring system is flawed. A firm trying to use this tool to guide its work cannot tell what it specifically needs to do to achieve a level 8, 9, or 10 – or any other level for that matter. There is nothing that aligns the overall score system to the RFP requirements.



Another thing I’d like to address with this score system is that the way it is designed; everything counts the same. A firm can earn just as many points for having a complete proposal as it does for the actual proposal ideas. A scoring tool is also a communication tool – communicating to firms what is most important to pay attention to because it’s most important to the city. The scoring tool does not do this at all. Again, the scoring tool is not aligned to the requirements of the RFP. Even if the information is included elsewhere in the RFP, if the scoring tool is not adequate and aligned, it is a flawed tool.

A high-quality and effective scoring guide will include an actual matrix, which clearly shows how each point can be attained. A high-quality scoring tool will also align to whatever it is the city is specifically looking for in its proposals. Without this, the scoring tool is arbitrary and open to the scoring whims of the scorers. Additionally, the scoring tool will reflect the weight the city places on the items it is scoring.

Now to answer my own question – was the actual RFP itself fair to those who used it to develop their proposals? I’d have to say no for the following reasons: (1.) the RFP includes an inadequate scoring tool making it an unreliable tool that is open to bias, (2.) The scoring tool is not aligned with the requirements in the RFP making it not valid, and (3.) The scoring tool does not reflect the weight of items in the RFP further impacting its validity.

I can offer a simple and easy solution. In the next version of the RFP (or any other RFP), simply create a valid and reliable scoring tool that can fairly be used by the city and firms responding to RFPs.

GLAD TO REMAIN OLD FASHIONED

I can’t speak for team members of “IS” but I’m reasonably sure they would join me as I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Sure, it is the “holiday” season, but what have always kept this season sacred and happy are Christmas and the giving of gifts…an idea established more than two thousand years ago. I pay no attention to ACLU, progressives, liberals, activists, and politically correct followers; their work to derail my thinking has had no effect. I suspect the same is still true for the majority of Americans who give short shrift to their attempts to change the nation. It would be a sad and dismal existence if they all had their way. Bravo the Christmas tree, bravo Jesus Christ.

OBAMA EXTENDING HAND TO CONSERVATIVES

Obama and less than half the country’s reps claim a victory with Health Care even though the surviving bill is a tattered remnant of the original. And he had on his team the three most powerfully positioned Liberals, Nancy, Joe, Harry, and a large majority in both houses. We understand why Obama forced this on the citizens and there are those that will pay a price for it. All can see the Democrat poll lines heading south and Obama is now concerned by the enormity of his self made national debt. His attention has not been on creating jobs or the economy and fingers are eagerly pointing at his early mistakes.

It is hard to understand why Obama needs help tackling the debt when he already has more seized power than all prior Presidents plus the House and Senate. two-dozen Czars, a Cabinet of All-stars, and a partridge in a pear tree. But for the very first time he is extending his hand to Conservatives to serve on a debt reduction committee. Would it not be wise for them to decline the “generous” offer? If they take part and his reduction effort fails, we know who gets the blame.

A Good Idea

This is an idea I brought up during the 2008 mayoral campaign as a solution for reducing the burden of costs on citizens. The more effectively and efficiently we run our city and our school system, the more money citizens can keep in their own wallets. Hence, I was thrilled to see the article in the newspaper noting that Isle of Wight is looking into this. Read the article, IOW officials get advice, by Charlie Passut (Suffolk News Herald).

I still think it’s time to look at this idea in Suffolk. Here’s the basic concept. We currently run and manage many duplicate services – one complete set for the school distict and another set for the city. Citizens pay for two of so many of the services we have. What if we consolidated these services where we can? I know, I know – it does make common sense.

It is likely that we can share services for just about every area except personnel. What do you think? Would you support the idea of our city and school district looking for ways to consolidate services? Is this a thumbs up or a thumbs down for you? Tell us what you think – let’s put some ideas on the table.

A SECOND CHANCE

Calling all parents: The city school system wants to know how it can improve.
The division is offering a Web-based survey that asks parents to rate things such as classroom instruction, discipline, facilities, food services, homework, teacher quality, technology and transportation. The division offered a similar questionnaire in 2007 and is looking to compare the results. Pass codes for the survey were mailed home, but participation has been low, spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said.
Good idea but perhaps insufficient coverage; you must have a child in school for your comments to be read. So here we offer another chance for parents to speak up. If your child passed through the system you may be in a better position to evaluate.

THIS WILL WAKE YOU UP

American optimism will be tested next year as Government workers increase but national unemployment remains double digit. Our living standards are dipping, like the dollar, but oil price will rise. Obama has taken control of profit making businesses…mortgage, energy, automotive, health care, banking, and insurance. There is nothing that is untaxed.

Federal, State and Local Governments employ twenty five million Americans. Nine million are collecting weekly unemployment (99 weeks). Every month two million more file for it leaving only 108 million working, down 7.5 million.

When Bush exited, the national debt was 5.8 trillion but is already 7 trillion, projected to be 21 trillion in ten years. But neither total includes the government’s promises for Social Security and Medicare (we have already borrowed 100 trillion from those two funds. And that, dear readers, is the good news.

SUFFOLK CAPITAL SPENDING IN MILLIONS

You can READ ALL ABOUT IT in the Suffolk News Herald this morning. Don’t be frightened, it covers 10 years, about eighty million. Right now we’d just like to see the details on this one. “During the next five years, about 12 percent of the five-year spending plan is dedicated to transportation. About $23 million is earmarked in the plan for roadway and intersection construction.”

If this is for the Highway 58 road widening to help out CenterPoint we’d like to be able to read the details, soon.

OH MY GOODNESS

The Suffolk Sun recently published salaries of various high-ranking Public School administrators. No comment here about the size of the compensation because the benefit package is not included. Those can easily run to an additional twenty five percent and cause you to suck in your breath. We are a bit curious why the figures were published; was it to tease those out of work and struggling to come up with tax dollars? Or did the Sun writer just figure we should know, journalism at it’s best. One might, considering the graduation rate and test score reports, think the comp on the high side. Or might the Sun writer thinks they are low and is about to build a case for comp improvement? Our reaction is, what do all these people do and would a computer program replace about half of these “bureaucrats,” a name given to all employees with titles that mean nothing to the lay reader? Attaching names may or may not help the cause…and note that a purchasing agent makes as much a high school principal. We will leave it up to our readers to comment. Maybe next will be city staff, police, and fire department wages. We have heard much about the combo city/police spokesperson.

FACTS FROM LIMBAUGH

I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11
casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound.No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it say something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.

Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get
$833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each
child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.

THE KING IS DEAD BY HIS OWN HAND

How did he look heavenward to his dad, a man that had devoted his life to his son, and say how sorry he was for being unable to deal with fame and glory his father provided? How could he hug his mother and explain that there was just too much money in his life. No words have been created to lessen the pain and embarrassment suffered by the mother of his children. How does he face Arnold Palmer and say "I can no longer compete with you, sir, you are too far above me." Try to imagine the first time he returns to a PGA tour and stands on the first tee as they announce who he is. When the starter raises the "Quiet" sign, will the fans show respect? Although he has been a generous young man giving to various charities, a madame suggests a weekend with one of her girls could cost as much as $60,000...therefore money meant nothing. Add up what was spent on pleasure during the years of his debility, and what good it may have provided. The emotional damage to his family may come close to the amount of damage he caused the game of golf.

HEALTH BILL EVILS YOU HAVEN'T READ

Dr. Stephen Fraser practicing in Indiana has read the proposed Health Bill and I will provide his notations a little at a time. Worth your read.


Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!

Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice.

Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: Health Care will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals' finances and a 'National ID Health card' will be issued!

Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer.

Page 65 Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN).

More Secret Meetings

I keep hoping to see examples of an open and transparent council in Suffolk. Would anyone help explain why two of the agenda items for the December 16th work session will be held behind closed doors? Why is it important that the update on the Fairgrounds Redevelopment and Revitalization Project be held in secret? Why is it important that discussion related to the Obici House be held in secret? I just want to better understand the rationale here.

AN UPDATE FROM OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma law passed, 37 to 9, had a few liberals in the mix, an amendment to place the Ten Commandments on the front entrance to the state capitol. The feds in D.C., along with the ACLU, said it would be a mistake. Guess what.......... Oklahoma did it anyway. Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. HB 1804. Hope we didn't send any of them to your state. This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake. Guess what........... Oklahoma did it anyway.
Recently they passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegals to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional. SB 1102 guess what........ Oklahoma did it anyway.

When will Virginia have the courage?

What will they do when the time comes?

Detroit Area Municipal Officials Take Pay Cuts.
The Detroit Free Press (12/7, Hall) reports, "Some municipal officials in metro Detroit are taking voluntary pay cuts to help their communities weather the economic storm, and more could follow suit. Livonia's mayor and council members were among 31 city employees who agreed to take a 5% pay cut Tuesday," and "combined with voluntary furloughs by 69 other employees, the city hopes to save a little more than $67,000 last fiscal year and about $213,000 this fiscal year." Meanwhile, "Grosse Pointe City Manager Peter Dame is taking a $5,381 pay cut plus trims in perks with the fiscal year starting July 1. In Milford, planning commission and zoning board authority members halted $25-per-meeting stipends this year, saving about $4,000, village officials said." These "municipal officials making voluntary cuts are joining Oakland, Macomb and Wayne county officials."


Will our locals take such a cut when or if our budget tightens, to relieve some of the pain the tax-payers are feeling? While no one likes to get less, there is a good case that just having a job is a big deal these days... What have you to say?

Roger A. Leonard, MPA
Suffolk...

SORRY CHARLEY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

MR. PRESIDENT WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW 'UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM' THAT THE REST OF US WILL BE ON ?" THERE WAS A STONEY SILENCE AS OBAMA IGNORED THE QUESTION AND CHOSE NOT TO ANSWER IT! IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF SENATORS WERE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS."WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT." AND THEY DID. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY ON THE NEWS THAT THE "KENNEDY HEALTH CARE BILL" WAS WRITTEN INTO THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM INITIATIVE ENSURING THAT CONGRESS WILL BE 100% EXEMPT !
SO, THIS GREAT NEW HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND I... IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OBAMA, HIS FAMILY OR CONGRESS. WE (THE AMERICAN PUBLIC) NEED TO STOP THIS PROPOSED DEBACLE ASAP !!!! THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG !

Snopes states this is mostly false. Not all false, mostly. Go to Snopes and see for yourself

WHO CAN BE TRUSTED

If scientists in this world cannot be trusted then who can? Those brainy ones who have been fudging facts about global warming are still insisting they are right. A believer is Obama who will spend more millions of our money to get to Copenhagen. At least our simpleton, Al Gore, except for making millions, has cancelled his ticket to avoid having the liar label pinned on him. Too late, Al, you have lied to the degree that Bill Clinton is embarrassed to know you. I’d guess you had a money motive for all that malarkey you’ve been spreading for two years…blaming pitiful mankind for the evils of Mother Nature. Perhaps she will find a way to get more than even with you, at least an exploding gall bladder. That would keep you busy for a little while.

CITY ASSUMES NEW STATUS

The citizens group for saving Obici House has been nose-thumbed by the oversalaried city spokesperson, and assistant city manager. Firstly came a bid from the serious group, followed by a flat unexplained rejection, followed by a serious attempt to again pick up the thread and meet with said city officials, somewhat agreed to, followed by, this time, with a punch in the nose "NO." This indicates the Market Sreet lords have have put on bigger britches and feel our city is now above the level where city officials really have to listen or engage in conversation with taxpayers. You know, we used to call it "work something out.

ASK THOSE WHO LIVE THERE

“For residents of Suffolk, the only consensus to be had on hunting regulations was that they should be consistent across the city,” said Deputy City Manager Patrick Roberts in Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He, and it matters not his personal experience with hunting and guns, chaired the public input meeting to get opinions on Suffolk proposed rifle regulations. The magic word is “consistency” as applied across the city and differences between local and state laws. Councilman Barlow summed it nicely, “It’s nice to have it all the same, but the city’s not the same all over,” Of course the chief concern is the use of rifles that can kill at much longer distances than the shotgun. So why not ask just those folks who live near or in hunting areas what they prefer from the standpoint of safety? And ask rifle enthusiasts why they can’t get by with the blunderbuss shotgun. How much more advantage do they want?

BILL COSBY, WILL BE A WRITE –IN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

HERE IS MY PLATFORM:
Any use of the phrase: 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait outside of our borders until you can. We will immediately go into a two-year isolationist attitude in order to straighten out the greedy big business posture in this country. America will allow NO imports, and we'll do no exports. We will use the 'Wal-Mart's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.' We'll make it here and sell it here! When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it coming in here. All retired military personnel will be required to man one of the many observation towers located on the southern border of the United States (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens. Social Security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. Neither the President nor any other politician will be able to touch it. Welfare...Checks will be handed out on Fridays, at the end of the 40-hour school week, the successful completion of a urinalysis test for drugs, and passing grades. Professional Athletes…Steroids? The FIRST time you check positive you're banned from sports...for life. Crime...We will adopt the Turkish method, i.e., the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There are no more 'life sentences'. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for the victim you killed: gun, knife, strangulation, etc. One export of ours will be allowed: wheat, because the world needs to eat. However, a bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil. All foreign aid, using American taxpayer money, will immediately cease and the saved money will help to pay off the national debt and, ultimately, lower our taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask The American People if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision as to whether, or not, it's a worthy cause. The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress. The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc. My apology is offered if I've stepped on anyone's toes...nevertheless GOD BLESS AMERICA!