Cap and Trade Fraud Investigation

US Court Orders Records Unsealed In Cap-And-Trade Fraud Case
By Ian Talley, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. legislators have obtained a court order unsealing documents in a case involving a multi-million-dollar cap-and-trade fraud.

Republican legislators say the records--due to be opened to the public in early January--could shed light on the potential challenges of policing a new, trillion-dollar commodities market that would be created under climate legislation that Congress is considering.

In a rare filing by House lawyers, Reps. Joe Barton (R., Texas) and Greg Walden (R., Ore.), the ranking members respectively of the Energy Committee and the Oversight Subcommittee, asked a federal district court in California to unseal all the closed records regarding the successful prosecution for fraud of Anne Masters Sholtz, a former California Institute of Technology economist.

Lawmakers say Sholtz's case could expose the weaknesses of a federal cap-and- trade system because it involved the same market mechanism meant to cut emissions.

In particular, said one Republican aide, the case may shed light on the challenges of prosecuting fraud in such a system.

Sholtz, who helped design a small California cap-and-trade program, allegedly hustled New York Investment firm AG Clean Air out of more than $12 million between 1999 and 2001 by selling fake emission credits.

Despite an estimated $50 million to $80 million in claims against her in bankruptcy filings and nine complaints, she pleaded guilty to one of six counts of wire fraud in
2005. Sholtz received what the lawmakers say was a veritable slap on the wrist for the felony--a sentence of five years probation with one year of home detention.

"Did they not have enough proof? Did they have good leads, but faced practical difficulties? Were there witness, evidence, strategic problems? These are the questions that we hope to answer with the unsealed documents," the Republican aide said.

United Conservatives of Virginia: Lawyers: Can't Afford Them, Can't Kill Them

Lawyers: Can't Afford Them, Can't Kill Them

Trial lawyers buy Democrats in Congress
Examiner Editorial December 21, 2009
Neither of the Obamacare proposals now before Congress includes a medical malpractice reform provision despite the fact that the public wants one -- and that it would cut annual health care costs by $200 billion. A medical malpractice reform provision would protect doctors from expensive lawsuits filed by avaricious class-action plaintiffs' attorneys who have driven malpractice insurance rates into the stratosphere. Judging by Federal Election Commission data on the political contributions of people associated with the top 15 class-action plaintiffs' law firms, it's no accident that malpractice reform is not part of health care "reform": Trial lawyers are investing heavily in their Democratic friends who control the White House and both chambers of Congress.

OOPS!!!

I saw this late last night after the FreedomWorks event, but was too tired to post it.

Washington Post -- 7 on defense panel scrutinized

A sloppy staffer for the House Ethics committee accidentally left a July report on a public server and now the committee's primary job -- providing cover for members of the House under fire for bad actions -- is in jeopardy on a number of cases.We got to see a bit about perennial problems for Reps Charlie Rangel and Alan Mollohan, but no news there (except that the FBI was sniffing around Mollohan again). But we got an eyeful on the relationship between the PMA defense contractor lobbying group and Rep. John Murtha and his merry band of earmarkers on the defense appropriations subcommittee

If you've already had your breakfast or just have a strong stomach, it's certainly must reading.

Take it away, Carol Leonnig "The investigations by two separate ethics offices include an examination of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), as well as others who helped steer federal funds to clients of the PMA Group. The lawmakers received campaign contributions from the firm and its clients.

A document obtained by The Washington Post shows that the subcommittee members under scrutiny also include Peter J. Visclosky (D-Ind.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.). The document also indicates that the House ethics committee's staff recently interviewed the staff of Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) about his allegation that a PMA lobbyist threatened him in 2007 when he resisted steering federal funds to a PMA client. The lobbyist told a Nunes staffer that if the lawmaker didn't help, the defense contractor would move out of Nunes's district and take dozens of jobs with him."

Surprises on the Votes To De-fund ACORN

The R's voted yes across the board.

Kudos to Democrats Boucher, Nye, and Perriello for doing the right thing.

Shame on Connolly for not voting. Typical dhimmicrat. Time for him to go.

The two NO votes came from Virginia's very own expert on domestic violence, Jim Moron, and Bobby Scott from the 3rd District. Our rural constituents have been badly served by Scott, and his days are now numbered.

Anyone who can face the public they serve after voting to continue funding for an organization that should be prosecuted under the RICO statutes, needs a dose of reality.

We will do that at the ballot box in 2010.

Rotten ACORN

Within its shell, ACORN contains all the makings of an intriguing government political conspiracy movie: drama, injustice, organized crime, election fraud, intimidation, violence, money, lies, extortion and a presidential candidate.[1]

If you are a patriotic, middle class American who spends most of your time working for your family and enjoying your FREEDOM, you have probably not been bothered by the sounds of an ACORN dropping before now. But, while you were sleeping peacefully at night, the roots of Socialism have broadened its reach, without determent right into the foundation of the White House.[2]

Allow me to enlighten you to the ways of a radical community action group that could impact your way of life forever. ACORN is an acronym that stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Its mere definition contains hints of Socialism as it claims to be a group advocating for low- and moderate-income families that addresses housing, schools, neighborhood safety, health care, job conditions, and other social issues.[3]

Beneath that surface lie violence, intimidation, threats, race baiting and direct physical attacks on property, people and the legal establishment. Without going into the myriad details, many ACORN policy proposals are widely considered to be in line with the far left wing of the Democratic Party.[4]

If you are asking yourself what could possibly be so ‘bad' with a group that in theory advocates for low income families, then you've just given yourself the reason this group has been allowed to thrive in America with little scrutiny and under the radar of main street observation until now.[5]

In truth, ACORN is the most virulent, organized crime group in this decade...and it is funded by YOU. Put simply, ACORN is ripping off the taxpayer through Congressional hand outs.[6]
In fact, ACORN was recently due to receive nearly $700 million of the $700 billion dollar bailout bill until Republicans in the Senate redlined it.[7]

Allow that to sink in for a moment: $700 million from the US for an organized crime group. Yes, ACORN has been receiving Obama campaign funding, but what's worse is that ACORN leaders are actively extorting money from banks, mortgage brokers and Congress. To add insult to injury, ACORN is costing Americans millions to investigate all of its criminal activities across America. And then there's the end of the democratic process through valid elections.[8]

Yes, ACORN is behind much of the rampant voter fraud.[9] ACORN has been involved with fraudulent voter registrations for years.[10]

In fact, Missouri has 8 ACORN guilty pleas on record (for 2006 violations of federal voting laws) just this year. Many other states are investigating many hundreds of cases of voter fraud in their jurisdiction.[11]

We have compelling evidence that ACORN has been involved in fraudulent voter registration since early in the 2007 launch of the Obama campaign. But we don't stop at faulty funding and voter fraud. Obama's community organizational skills are synonymous with totalitarian tactics as its leaders use violence, intimidation, threats, racial baiting and direct physical attacks on property, persons and the legal establishment.[12]

When you shed the shell, there is just no good to the group known as ACORN. It is corrupt and without any upside. With a group like ACORN running rampant in government and shaking hands in Washington, why not legitimize the Bloods and The Crypts? They too are street gangs but they just happen to push drugs instead of bogus registrations drives and sub-prime mortgage deals.

Uncle Sam should be putting ACORN at the top of its list as internal terrorist groups, yet the red, white and blue sense of justice seems to be crumbling. Many numbed citizens just roll their eyes at groups like ACORN simply because America has unfortunately become deadened to the idea that politicians have ulterior motives, nameless agenda's and behave unscrupulously at times.

However, the rest of this American story is without filtering or fear. The disturbing reason more ACORN activities go un-prosecuted is because the FEC as well as the FBI have refused to open investigations out of fear of rocking the Obama campaign.[13]

The MOST disturbing fact you need to know about ACORN is that its organizers have terrorized the Federal justice and law enforcement system into NON-action. How can one group get away with so much? Because ACORN has many Democratic backers in Congress who work tirelessly for its perpetuation and the head ACORN nut is Senator Obama.[14]

In fact, Senator Obama is so entwined in ACORN it has become a career and campaign double helix in his DNA. If you're asking yourself what Obama has to do with ACORN, consider this:Obama has served ACORN as its attorney, has been its direct action trainer, its mentor, its contractor, and its PRIMARY illegal campaign funder. ACORN is part of the ‘Community Organizing'experience his evil empire would like to bring into the White House.[15]

American men and American women should be recognizing that mother freedom is on the brink of extinction with one single NUT trampling all over liberty. Who will be left sleeping peacefully at night as the ACORN marks the beginning of Socialism in America brought to you courtesy of Barack Obama?[16]

With ACORN intact or worse, empowered in the White House, American Democracy will be a legend long gone. Socialism and criminality will be the rule.

[1] Rotten Acorn http://www.rottenacorn.com/

[2] IBD Editorial http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=307579834298611

[3] Special Report: Rotten Acorn
http://www.rottenacorn.com/downloads/060728_badSeed.pdf

[4] Discover the Networks.org http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupprofile.asp?grpid=6968

[5] National Review http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=

[6] New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/09embezzle.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[7] Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,431804,00.html

[8] National Review http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/clyne200410311142.asp

[9] Fox News http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/02/voter-fraud-watch-could-acorn-scandal-in-washington-have-been-avoided-with-photo-id/

[10] Michelle Malkin http://michellemalkin.com/2008/03/13/more-left-wing-voter-fraud-allegations-against-acorn/

[11] Rotten Acorn http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html

[12] IBD Editorial http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=306457496204115

[13] Texas Darlin http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/breaking-whistleblower-ignored-by-doj-fec-fbi-200-million-in-fishy-obama-donations/

[14] Real Clear Politics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/acorn_obama_and_the_mortgage_m.html

[15] IBD Editorial http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=302914868143810

[16] IBD Editorial http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=303605575673142