NLPC Staff

Rangel Fined $23K For Using Rent-Controlled Apartment as Campaign Office

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Rangel photoIn response to a Complaint filed by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has entered into a conciliation agreement with Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and his so-called National Leadership PAC (NLP). The FEC found that “there was reason to believe” that Rangel and NLP violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by using a rent-stabilized apartment as a campaign office. Rangel and NLP agreed to pay a fine of $23,000. Click here to download a 23-page pdf of the Conciliation Agreement. Click here to download a 16-page pdf of NLPC’s Complaint.

The Complaint was based on articles in 2008 by David New York Times reporter David Kocieniewski that detailed how Rangel lived in three adjoining rent-stabilized apartments and used a fourth as a campaign office. This coverage prompted a more far-reaching examination of Rangel’s finances that led NLPC to discover that Rangel failed … Read More ➡

What the Legal Services Corporation Doesn’t Want Congress to Know

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LSC logoNLPC Chairman Ken Boehm has submitted this written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which is holding a hearing today on funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC):

Members of the House Committee on Appropriations are certainly used to hearing from representatives of federally-funded programs about the good work done by such programs and why they need many millions more in taxpayer funds, despite the unsustainable national debt. This year the Legal Services Corporation has submitted a FY2013 budget request for $470 million.

As someone who served in senior positions within the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) from 1989-1994 (Counsel to the LSC Board, Director of the Office of Policy Development), I would like Congress to know what LSC does not want them to know.

Most funding for LSC-funded programs comes from non-LSC sources – not LSC.

But you would not find this important … Read More ➡

Energy Secretary Chu Has To Go

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NLPC Associate Fellow Paul Chesser was interviewed on Cavuto on the Fox Business Network on March 13. Here is a transcript:

Neil Cavuto: Well, Energy Secretary Steven Chu back on the Hill and backpedaling.

Unidentified Congressman: Are you saying that you no longer share the view that we need to figure out how to boost gasoline prices in America?

Steven Chu: I no longer share that view. These prices well could have – well affect the comeback of our economy and we’re very worried about that and so of course, we don’t want the price of gasoline to go up. We want it to go down.

Neil Cavuto: All right. So Steven Chu actually backing off what he had said back then but Paul Chesser of the National Legal and Policy Center still says the guy’s got to go and now. You know, I know he’s … Read More ➡

SPECIAL REPORT: Why Immelt Needs Obama: General Electric Is a Bank, and It’s Too Big to Fail

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Special Report coverNLPC Associate Fellow Fred N. Sauer asserts that General Electric is no longer a great industrial company, but is now dominated by its General Electric Capital Services (GECS) division. Contrary to the conventional wisdom of the financial media that GECS has been GE’s strength in recent years, Sauer argues that GECS is dangerously reliant on short-term financing to support its own lending. The result is a company ultimately dependent on political influence to mitigate the risk, creating opportunities for the well connected, like Warren Buffett.

Click here to download an 18-page pdf version of the Report.

The role of CEO Jeffrey Immelt is explored and unfavorably contrasted to that of Jack Welch, his predecessor. Sauer charges that GE’s executives have put increasing their own compensation above the interests of shareholders- and taxpayers.

 

 … Read More ➡

Modica Criticizes Tax Credits to GM Dealers Selling Chevy Volts to Gov’t

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UAW Bonuses Add Insult to Injury

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Last night, NLPC President Peter Flaherty criticized GM’s bonuses to United Auto Workers while the company is stil deep in the hole to taxpayers. He appeared on CNN’s Situation Room. Here’s a transcript:

Candy Crowley: New evidence that General Motors has made a big financial comeback after taxpayers bailed out the auto giant a few years ago. The company proudly announced it has posted record profits, but critics aren’t happy about the way GM is spending that money. Here’s our Lisa Sylvester.

Lisa Sylvester: Hi there, Candy. Well, all three U.S. automakers are back from the brink. GM had a very profitable year in 2011 with its North American operations. Now the question is, though, should those profits be shared with the workers, even though U.S. taxpayers are still on the hook for the company?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Lisa Sylvester (voice-over): November 2008, the CEOs of the big three … Read More ➡

Luxury Carmaker Fisker Looking for More Taxpayer Money

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Gov’t Conflict of Interest on Chevy Volt Probe?

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NLPC Associate Fellow Mark Modica last night discussed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation of the Chevy Volt fires with Gerri Willis on the Fox Business Network. Here’s a transcript:

Gerri Willis:  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, says the Chevy Volt, the controversial electric car the Obama administration has touted as a major step forward, step forward towards a green future is perfectly safe to drive. But does the government have too much of a vested interest in the Volt?  Joining us now is Mark Modica from Philadelphia, of the National Legal and Policy Center associate fellow. Welcome to the show, Mark. It’s great to have you here. Look, we can trust NHTSA on this, right? I mean, they are a federal agency. Do you disagree?

Mark Modica:  Yes, considering that their … Read More ➡

Consumers Should Select Cars, Not Government

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NLPC Associate Fellow Mark Modica says it is time to end tax credits and subsidies for electric vehicles. He is interviewed by Neil Cavuto on the Fox Business Network on Friday, January 6. Here’s a transcript:

Neil Cavuto:  Meanwhile, a Fox Business Alert that is going to be a topical issue, drivers paying more to fill up. But it doesn’t look like they’re getting fed up with the gas guzzlers. Gasoline now at its highest price ever for the start of the year. It’s still rising. But look what else is rising. Sales of really big vehicles like the Dodge Durango, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, so much so that Chrysler is adding, adding over a thousand jobs to build them. Former GM bondholder Mark Modica says the car buyers are going for the gas guzzlers. So D.C. should stop fueling its green car agenda?  Mark, you do raise an … Read More ➡