West Virginia News

Monday, October 22, 2012

Local Judicial Corruption In WV Social Security Office Could Topple National SSA Commissioner

Problems Within The Social Security Administration Are Mounting... by Jack Swint

What began back in late 2010 as a regional SSA scandal alleging fraud and 'case-fixing' of disability appeal claims with the Office of Disability Adjudication Review (ODAR) office in Huntington WV, now has federal authorities and US Senators focusing their attention on the national ODAR offices too. According to an inside confidential source involved with the Office of Inspector General's Office, (OIG) as the total magnitude of both the local WV scandal and overall problems within the entire ODAR completely unfolds, government officials will ultimately hold SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue accountable for what occurred.

"It's my understanding that between this scandal and other problems within his office, Astrue will be replaced at the end of his term." President Bush appointed Astrue in 2007; his six-year term ends January 19, 2013.

Since assuming his role as Commissioner, Astrue has been plagued with problems that seem to be ever mounting. There is the unsolvable three-quarter of a million plus backlog of pending disability appeal claims that sit idle years before a final decision is rendered. A high number of SSA employees are leaving the agency, and the ongoing debate on how SSA officials will fund Social Security benefits for current recipients and future generations. Now, there is the recent US Senate Subcommittees report addressing problems of policy abuse and procedures by additional Administrative Law Judges in other ODAR offices across the country.

The subcommittee began their fact-finding inquiries after this website and national media exposed how former Huntington WV Judge David Daugherty had circumvented SSA disability procedures when he and lawyer Eric C Conn were allegedly mass approving SSA disability appeal cases with little to no court hearings, conflicting medical evidence or proper judicial consideration. Daugherty is also accused of re-directing other Eric Conn cases to himself that were already assigned to other judges. During the time period between 2005 to 2011, Daugherty's overall approval rate averaged 96 to 98% compared to national average of 40%. Daugherty was approving 100% of cases where Eric Conn represented the claimant.

The Senate Subcommittee, headed up by US Senators Carl Levin and Tom Coburn, released their findings (PDF file titled "Minority Staff Report") on September 13, 2012. They made 8 specific recommendations for much needed needed changes in ODAR procedures. The recommendations are to:

1) Require government representatives at all ALJ hearings to ensure key evidence and issues are properly presented. 2) Reduce instances in which SSA ALJ's overlook evidence. 3) A need to strengthen the quality review processes. 4) Close the evidentiary record. 5) Strengthen use of medical listings and expedite updated job list 6) focused training for ALJ's. 7) Strengthen consultative examinations. 8) Reform the medical-vocational guidelines.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Yes We Can…. Not Reelect Obama As President

In Simple Terms - Let's Hold Obama Accountable

While appearing on the "Today Show" with host Matt Lauer in 2009, Obama stated that "I will be held accountable" for his term as president. Also during that same interview, Obama claimed that within the first 3 years of his presidency, he would cut the deficit in half and rebound the economy. He was so trying to be confident in this interview that he goes on to tell Matt Lauer, "If I don't have this done in 3 years, then theres going to be a one term proposition."

By his own admissions, Obama clearly understands that he should be held accountable, he clearly understood what he meant when he told Matt Lauer that if he (Obama) failed to cut the deficit in half and get the economy on the rebound, he would be a one-term president. The election is 20 days from now, lets hold Obama accountable and let's help him keep his word.

Yes We Can - Not Do This Again

As the election nears and the candidates enlighten us with speeches and debates, like last night's 2nd meeting between the candidates, keep one thing in mind. Barack Obama hasn't said anything new in 4 long years that he didnt promise already. His platform is the same scenario that he so eloquently portrayed on January 26th, 2008 while giving his "Yes We Can" speech in South Carolina. You remember that speech, the one that filled Americans with hope, comradery and changes, which the majority never came.

Here are a just few excerpts from that speech. After you read them, tell me if Obama has fulfilled enough of his promises to give the American people a reason to believe again? Better yet, to believe in him again.

Obama: We're up against the idea that it's acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election. But we know that this is exactly what's wrong with our politics. This is why people don't believe what their leaders say anymore. This is why they tune out. And this election is our chance to give the American people a reason to believe again.

Obama: But as hard as it may seem, we cannot lose hope, because there are people all across this great nation who are counting on us, who can't afford another four years without health care, that can't afford another four years without good schools, that can't afford another four years without decent wages because our leaders couldn't come together and get it done.

Obama: Theirs are the stories and voices we carry on from South Carolina. The mother who can't get Medicaid to cover all the needs of her sick child. She needs us to pass a health care plan that cuts costs and makes health care available and affordable for every single American. That's what she's looking for.

Obama: The teacher who works another shift at Dunkin' Donuts after school just to make ends meet, she needs us to reform our education system so that she gets better pay and more support and her students get the resources that they need to achieve their dreams.

Obama: The Maytag worker who's now competing with his own teenager for a $7 an hour job at the local Wal-Mart, because the factory he gave his life to shut its doors, he needs us to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas and start putting them in the pockets of working Americans who deserve it and put them in the pockets of struggling homeowners who are having a tough time and looking after seniors who should retire with dignity and respect.

"Yes, we can. Yes, we can change. Yes, we can."

Obama: Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can seize our future. And as we leave this great state with a new wind at our backs and we take this journey across this great country, a country we love, with the message we carry from the plains of Iowa to the hills of New Hampshire, from the Nevada desert to the South Carolina coast, the same message we had when we were up and when we were down, that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we will hope.

Hope For What?

He is still giving us the same speech format that began in 2007 and continues now. Which is Obama's biggest problem, open-ended empty, hollow promises. Everybody knows his policies have failed to turn the economy around. His actions have raised, not decreased the national debt. It's now at over $16 trillion compared to $10.6 when he took office.

The Washington Post found that since Obama's presidency began, spending has been going up approximately 5.2 percent a year while The Associated Press put the figure at 3 percent. Either way, it is neither the "lowest pace in nearly 60 years," as Obama claimed. Unemployment is worse than when he took office. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country has 552,000 fewer jobs now than when the president was inaugurated.

Obama also claims that government jobs decreased. Not only during his administration, but also during a recession. That could be true if you count government jobs on state levels that Obama is not directly in control over. The overall state and federal government workforce decreased from 22,576,000 in January 2009 to 22,570,000 in June of 2012. But, if you only take the jobs that Obama is directly responsible for, the totals increased since he has been in office.

Statistics show that in 2009 when he entered office, federal government employment was at 2,061,700. In June 2012 it was at 2,204,100. An increase of 7%.

Five Hundred And Eight Promises By Barack Obama

According to PolitiFact.com, Barack Obama made an extraordinary array of campaign promises. To be exact, 508 pledges on everything from taxing the rich to ending the Iraq war. (Which he has done) He also vowed to safeguard the environment by capping carbon emissions. He pledged to push for comprehensive immigration reform and help homeowners after the housing market crashed. Above all, he would change the tenor of the debate in Washington."

What PolitiFact considered to stand out as not only his his biggest broken promise, but also as an explanation for why so many of his other pledges either fizzled out or failed, was Obama's own failure to bring people together for a bipartisan agenda.

They have been tracking all 508 pledges and keeping a tally throughout his presidency. Take a few minutes and read through each category and stats and rate them as to their overall importance for the country and to you. PolitiFact claims Obama has kept 37% of those assurances. (list here) They report that 16% were flat out broken, (list here) Compromised 14%, (list here) Stalled 10%, (list here) and 22% are still in the works. (list here)

In closing

First, no president will ever keep all of his or her promises made in order to get elected or while in office. Obama is no different, except he went on national TV and made assurances to Americans that he would cut the deficit in half, and rebound our economy. And he placed penalties for himself on those 2 top priorities for America's recovery. "If I don't have this done in 3 years, then theres going to be a one term proposition."

Obama did keep his promise of providing Americans with a national healthcare plan, which will possibly go down in history as his legacy. If it holds up.

Personally, I am forever grateful that Obama brought an end to the Iraq war and he is downsizing the number of US troops in Afghanistan. Hopefully that unbeatable conflict will end soon. But, that's not enough. In simple terms, he is the CEO of this corporation known as the United States of America. If any other CEO performed their job the same way, they would be replaced.

Should we believe Obama the second time around? In his own words, "We're up against the idea that it's acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election. But we know that this is exactly what's wrong with our politics. This is why people don't believe what their leaders say anymore."

Isn't that exactly what he has done? Before and after his 2008 "Yes We Can" speech, Obama said anything he had to in order to get elected. Is he doing that again now?

End Of Story

Jack Swint-Publisher

West Virginia News

E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com

Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com

Twitter: @WVNewsOnline

LinkedIn: Jack Swint

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Are You Aware Of What Actually Drives The Price Of Gasoline?

Economics - Commodities And Politics Also Play A Role In The Overall Cost

As you're pulling up to the gas pumps next time, pause to think about what it is that determines the price you're paying for that gasoline. It may surprise you who is profiting the most from your fill up.

Demand For Gasoline

This is an easy answer: The number of people who are using fuel for transportation primarily sets change in the demand for gasoline. As the number of people driving grows, so will the demand and a predictable impact on the gas prices.

Demand For Crude Oil In The US And Abroad

The raw material for gasoline is crude oil. It is traditionally measured in barrels, and 1 barrel equals 42 gallons. The United States has abundant supplies of oil, from the deep-water regions of the Gulf of Mexico to the tight oil resources throughout North Dakota and Montana. Combined with Canada's oil resources which is one of the largest in the world, North America has enormous potential to add new reliable supplies to the market. And, the U.S. has one of the largest and most advanced refinery systems in the world.

If you've ever read anything about the Middle East, then you certainly know that it is the center of the world's oil supply. That region sits on top of what is known as liquid gold. Expert's estimate the region holds more than 700 billion barrels of oil in its various fields and reserves, or roughly 56% of all the world's resources.

Another large supplier of oil to the US is Venezuela. The Energy Information Administration's most recent reports in 2012, shows that the United States has been importing an average of 869 thousand barrels a day of oil from OPEC member Venezuela just during the first 6 months of this year. (Which has some critics claiming Obama policy is aiding Hugo Chavez's OPEC Regime)

Cost For Crude Oil Production

Global markets set the actual price of crude oil, where buyers and sellers constantly react to supply and demand factors. Crude oil is by far the largest factor in the price of a gallon of gasoline. It accounts for 64 percent of the $3.85 average current retail price per gallon of regular gasoline according the US Energy Information Industry. To put that in perspective, about $2.46 of the average gallon of gas is due before the refinery touches the crude oil.

Also, people have a misconception that companies can control the cost of gasoline by controlling the supply chain, and that is just not the case. According to reports, U.S. crude oil production in 2010 was 5.5 million barrels per day. But U.S. refineries processed 15.2 million barrels of oil per day, which is almost three times more oil than was produced in the U.S. That means our refineries have to purchase millions of barrels of crude oil at market prices from outside the US just to produce gasoline and other products for American consumers.

Example, in 2010, ExxonMobil alone spent $198 billion purchasing oil around the world for its refining operations.

Refining And Cost To Produce Gasoline

The viscosity of oil ranges from light to heavy grades and by the amount of impurities it contains. The price for oil that is widely quoted is for light/sweet crude. This type of oil is in high demand because it contains fewer impurities and takes less time for refineries to process into gasoline. As oil gets thicker, or "heavier," it contains more impurities and requires more processing to refine into gasoline.

According to Ken Cohen, vice president of public and government affairs for ExxonMobil Corporation, refining oil works in an easy way. First, crude oil is put into a boiler and turned into a vapor, from there, the vapor moves into a distillation chamber where it is turned back into a liquid. Different types of oil are formed depending upon the temperature they were distilled at. Gasoline, for example, is distilled at cooler temperatures than residual oils that are used to make products, such as asphalt and tar.

Like any product, there are costs to manufacture it, so the manufacturer tries to recover those costs, plus make a profit when it goes to sell the finished product. The refining portion of a gallon of gasoline has, on average, accounted for about 11 percent of the price per gallon in 2011, according to EIA data. That means that a little less than 40 cents per gallon would be due to refiners' costs, wages, equipment, financing, plus their profits.

Now in August 2012, its up to 18 percent of the price per gallon or roughly $.69 cents a gallon owed to refiners.

Cohen states that during that same period in 2011, the U.S. market price for gasoline coming out of refineries was on average about 7 cents per gallon (-2 percent) below the refiners' cost of crude oil alone, and before accounting for their costs of upgrading the crude into gasoline. So, they were taking a loss before starting out and refineries faced a market where domestic gasoline prices were very weak relative to global crude prices.

How does that happen? Refiners are "price takers" that operate on relatively low profit margins that are highly dependent on the market demand for petroleum products. That means at times, the value of a petroleum product coming out of the refinery isn't enough to cover the costs of obtaining and refining the crude oil.

Distributing And Marketing Gasoline

After the crude oil is refined into gasoline, the distribution process begins. First, the gasoline leaves the refinery largely by way of pipelines to local terminals. Distributors then load their trucks and transport the gasoline to a service station outlet. Each step in the distribution chain includes its own labor, capital equipment and other expenses that must be recovered by operators. These operators must also compete to sustain their profitability while also paying taxes and overhead costs.

The current average cost added to a gallon of gasoline in the US for distribution & marketing is $.38 cents.

Based on recovering these costs of getting gasoline to the service station and the costs of marketing it to consumers. Retailors generally set their pump prices within their competitors prices. And on top of all that, they have to collect mandatory state and federal gasoline taxes from the consumer. The majority of stations are now independents or are owned by either local business owners or network retailers. Only a very small percent are owned by their logo brand corporate office.

State And Federal Taxes

So how much does the government collect in tax revenue on a gallon of gas? You will be surprised; it is the second largest contributing cost to a gallon of gasoline. In January 2011, the American Petroleum Institute Tax Table combined state and federal taxes which shows a combined average of $.43 cents per gallon nationwide. California charges the most with $.66 cents per gallon, while Alaska is the least at $.26 cents.

Other notable states for high taxes are New York, ($.65) West Virginia, ($.50) Washington ($.55) and Indiana ($.61.)

Lower taxed states on gasoline include, Wyoming, ($.32) South Carolina, ($.35) Arizona & New Mexico, ($.37) and Oklahoma. ($.35)

Economics And Politics

Global factors affect the crude oil market. Adding more supplies of crude oil to the marketplace can help put downward pressure on the price of a barrel of oil. But first, the oil needs to get to market.

This is where economics are trumped by politics even as the U.S. economy remains weak. The recent moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the decision to deny the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to U.S. refineries, are just two examples of U.S. political decisions that serve to keep supplies out of the market.

The "Big Oil" industry has also (unfortunately) made it into the current election arena by Obama himself, in the form of TV ad campaigns for reelection and as a topic in last week's presidential debate. While addressing the deficit on national TV, Obama claimed some oil companies are receiving "corporate welfare" because of tax breaks they are eligible for under section 199 of the tax code, which he feels some don't deserve. Obama also has at least one TV ad promising that he will "eliminate oil subsidies" if reelected. He has been criticizing the oil and gas industry for taking "billions a year in taxpayer subsidies."

These legal tax breaks are one of the saving graces the US oil industry has to fall back on for their overall losses in costs for production, distribution and mere existence. It is safe to say, if Obama or any other president were to do away with these subsidies, the price we pay for gas would skyrocket even more.

Summary

Oil is one of the world's most important commodities, and as a result, the nations that control the bulk of the world's supply have a great deal of power over its availability. The supply of oil in the world market has an impact on its price, and the fluctuations are passed on to consumers, especially in nations that use a lot of oil, such as the U.S. Oil prices are also determined by quality and ease of refining.

Investors have the option of investing in oil futures, which they have an influence on the price of oil that is reported in the media. All in all, the oil market is quite complex, and a better understanding of how the oil gets from the ground to you, in all its forms, will hopefully help you to understand and deal with fluctuating prices. It should also be noted that there is no solid market for companies to make money. A competitive market just provides the opportunity, not a guaranteed profit.

Bottom line, the economics behind a gallon of gas are pretty straightforward. It's the policies behind access to U.S. energy resources that are less certain, but critical to our energy future.

End Of Story

Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint
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Saturday, October 6, 2012

Whats Under Marcellus Shale? 38 Trillion More Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas

US Geological Survey Estimates Utica Shale Holds Enormous Reserves Of Natural Gas & Oil... by Jack Swint

Although the Marcellus Shale is the current drilling target for natural gas, and is considered to be one of the largest deposits in the world, there is yet another rock unit with enormous potential named the "Utica Shale," and it is only a few thousand feet below the Marcellus. It will be more expensive and difficult getting to those new deposits because of the thousands of additional feet it will take in drilling to reach Utica's natural gas. But, according to recent findings from the US Geological Service, (USGS) it will be well worth the effort.

When the yield of Marcellus Shale wells start to decline, the USGS estimates there is approximately 38 Trillion Cubic Feet of natural gas waiting for drilling companies to extract an keep a continuing stream of NG for many years to come. Plus, there is an estimated 940 million barrels of oil and 9 million barrels of natural gas liquid by-products like propane and ethane.

The USGS released its report (linked below) this past Friday and it shows the Utica Shale covers from West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania Maryland and New York. Drillers are just beginning to tap into the deeper Utica. To date, Pennsylvania and Ohio have issued 452 Utica well permits and 178 wells have been drilled, according to the most recent state data. Information on permits for West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia were not readily available.

Steve Ford, VP of the Marcellus Shale Coalition Group stated, "As more (Utica) wells are drilled and more production data is assessed, reserve figures will likely increase," Forde hailed the Utica as "another game-changing opportunity."

The Coal Industry Doesn't Need Another Game Changing Opportunity

As one old saying goes, "One mans death is another man's profit." This boom for the natural gas industry, may spell additional doom for the staggering coal industry that doesn't need another knockout punch to its already decline in production and lost jobs. All reportedly due to the natural gas industries growth in providing a cleaner, safer and cheaper method to produce electricity.

Compile the EPA's strict regulation and accusations that Obama has declared war against coal, this longstanding and historical industry may just be on its way into extinction.

There have been times before when coal's demise has been prematurely predicted, most notably in the 1980s. This time though, people like renowned University of California's fossil fuel expert, David Victor says it is different. "Coal is on the way out because of the EPA, new regulations and natural gas. We could see coal down at 15 or 20 percent of electric supply over the next decade, that would be a huge change in an industry that historically has relied on coal for 50 percent or more of the electric supply."

According to Arch Coal Company President and CEO John W. Eaves. "Current market pressures and a challenging regulatory environment have pushed coal consumption in the United States to a 20-year low." These job losses come as utilities increasingly switch from coal to natural gas, which has become cheaper as supplies grow.

Natural Gas --VS- Coal

Up until recently, coal supplied 50% of the nations electricity. In 2012, reports show coal and natural gas are equal in their use to produce power. Experts predict that the need for coal will drop to 40% by the end of this year and 30% by the end of the decade. Coal generation decreased 29 billion-kilowatt hours from March 2011 to March 2012, while natural gas generation increased 27 billion-kilowatt hours during the same time period.

Natural gas prices were near 10-year lows this winter, causing some states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania to increase their dispatch of natural gas-fired plants. Newer vintage natural gas-fired units operate at higher efficiency than older, fossil-fired units, which increases the competitiveness of natural gas relative to coal. While natural gas production is on the increase and states are building more and more natural gas fired power plants, coal mines are laying off workers and shutting down coal mines as utilities increasingly switch from coal to natural gas.

According to statistics, gas exploration and production is cheaper, safer and less destructive to the land, (such as strip mining-mountain top removal) it is also more environmentally friendly. According to the Government Accountability Office, power plants that burn coal produce more than 90 times as much sulfur dioxide, five times as much nitrogen oxide and twice as much carbon dioxide as those that run on natural gas do. Sulfur dioxide causes acid rain; nitrogen oxides cause smog; and carbon dioxide is a so-called greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.

Utica's Net Worth

According to an article written by Russ Zimmer with the Coshocton Tribune in Ohio, "At Friday's prices for oil and gas, the USGS believes the Utica Shale contains would be worth about $214 billion. The natural liquids, depending on their exact makeup, could be worth several billion more. To extract these vast amounts, the USGS estimates it would take 110,000 wells in the gas window and another 17,500 wells in the oil window."

End of Story

Jack Swint-Publisher

West Virginia News

E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com

Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com

Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com

Twitter: @WVNewsOnline

LinkedIn: Jack Swint

Links

USGS 2012 Report

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

WV Commission President Accepts Contributions But Won’t Pay Back Taxes

Blair Couch's Campaign Taking In Cash From Major Corporations Including The Bank He Defaulted Loans On... by Jack Swint

The Wood County WV DuPont Plant, and several of its executive employees, have donated a combined total of $4,000 towards Blair Couch’s reelection bid as county commissioner. E.I.Dupont is his largest company contributor on the list, with $1,000 from its "Good Government Fund." Plant manager Karl Boelter also donated $1,000. Other DuPont executive contributors include, $1,000 from Robert and Annette Fehrenbacher, $500 from Scott Dansey, Sabic plant manager, $250 each from Robin Ollis Stemple and William V. Summers, Jr.

Combine those donations with the recent DuPont fundraiser on August 22, 2012, the company and its executives have donated approximately $6,000 to Couch’s war chest. So, why is DuPont behind Couch’s reelection bid? What could they benefit in donating thousands in cash and becoming involved in county politics?

It could possibly have to do with Couch’s opponent in the election, Attorney Harry Deitzler. DuPont has a vested interest and probable fear of keeping Deitzler as far away from the Wood County Commission as possible. Why? So, Deitzler can’t sit in a position to oversee, regulate and enforce laws that would ultimately effect the current water pollution problems and clean up caused by DuPont's water contamination known as C-8 or Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

It was Harry Deitzler and his co-counsel who brought litigation in Wood County, WV, to force DuPont to clean up the water that the company intentionally contaminated without permission from, or knowledge of, the affected residents. Dupont’s cost for the necessary cleanup to get the Dangerous C-8 chemical out of the water, along with the related health studies to protect the residents, exceeded $100 million. Sadly for the residents, their disease and death risk related to the Dupont’s C-8 contamination of their air and water continues.

The impartial C-8 Science Panel found links between the residents’ C-8 exposure and thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia. The panel studied the medical records of nearly 70,000 affected residents and will return its final report as to all other C-8 linked diseases on October 29, 2012. Separate from the C-8 Science Panel, in June of 2005, a United States Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board announced a preliminary finding that C-8 is a likely carcinogen (cancer causing substance) in humans.

Other Interesting Contributors

Parkersburg’s United Bank President Richard Adams also made a sizable contribution of $1,000 to Couch’s reelection bid. Adams is president of the Bank that lost thousands of dollars on defunct loans made to Blair Couch that he failed to ever pay off. Other United Bank officers that contributed were Joe Wilson $100 and Steve Wilson $100. Ironically, it was Steve Wilson who granted Couch at least one loan that the county commissioner defaulted on.

Also, United Bank is where the county commission keeps most of the counties bank accounts, with millions of dollars in them.

Couch’s Still Delinquent County Taxes

According to county tax records, Blair Couch has not made any attempt to pay his $16,000 in back taxes. In fact, with interest, he now owes $17,308.16. Back in May of this year, we published a story about Couch’s tax problems and defunct bank loans that the Parkersburg Newspaper then wrote a story on. In the Parkersburg article, Blair Couch made excuses for not paying over $16,000 in past due personal property taxes that his Hertz rental business owes in Wood County.

Which is also the same county where he serves as commission president.

Couch asserts that, although he continues to run essentially the very same Hertz rental business, (same location, same sign and same vehicles), he thinks that since he changed the business name, he's technically operating a different business. Under that assumption, Couch feels he does not have to pay the overdue taxes for the time when he operated the Hertz rental business as A. W. Couch, Inc. According to records at the Secretary of States Office, the business is now called "DC Fleet Sales."

But, Couch did state that even though he feels he does not owe the money, he made assurances, in that news article, that he would pay the taxes because "it's the right thing to do." A recent check of County records shows that he has not paid anything on the overdue tax bill. In the past, the Wood County Commission has hired attorney Andrew Woofter to collect delinquent business taxes, but no action has been taken by Woofter or the tax department to collect the monies due from Couch.

When his first Hertz rental business defaulted, there was collateral attached to the loan(s) in the form of his home. But, United Bank never called in the collateral. According to one source, “It is is doubtful that the house could ever have been sold for even the amount still owed. The bank probably would have lost more money by taking it than it would have lost by allowing Couch to keep making payments on the house.”

A second deed of trust on Couch's house, September 30, 2005, is at Book 1315, page 586, shows that United Bank officers James Hayhurst and Steve Wilson granted Couch a credit line secured by the deed of trust on Couch's residence. “I suspect that this is the credit line to A.W. Couch, Inc, which Couch failed to repay to the bank,” says the source.

Subsequently, on February 10, 2006, Couch apparently borrowed more money from United Bank, secured by the two properties that he had purchased on 17th Street (one of which being the lot that he bought from Urban Renewal). The deed of trust from Couch to United Bank is at Book 1340, Page 78.

In closing,

Wood County Commission President Blair Couch not only owes these back taxes, but he has been making personal assurances to pay them for several years now. He promised again as recently as May of 2012. He has yet to pay anything on that debt! If this had been you or me being so delinquent in our taxes over several years, the county would have done everything in its power and authority to have those monies paid long before now.

Including, having the Sheriff sell your property on the courthouse steps to settle that debt. Why can Couch be excluded from that law?

Another question that has gone unanswered is, why United has allowed Couch to use his totally mortgaged home at United, as collateral on additional lines of credit? No bank would ever let an ordinary citizen have a line of credit on those terms. If it was after he became a commissioner than he could be in trouble because elected officials are not allowed to use their position for personal gain. But then again, not collecting the taxes that he owes because of his position as a county commissioner already meets the threshold for the “Hobbs Act.”

Finally, ask yourself this, if Blair Couch can’t keep a promise, that he made in public, to satisfy his delinquent debts. What other promises is he making to the residents and businesses in Wood County that he also won’t keep?

End Of Story….

Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint

Links

Original Story On Commissioner Blair Couch

Parkersburg Newspaper Article

DC Fleet Sales (Blair Couch)
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Monday, September 17, 2012

CIA Stressed Imminent 9/11 Attack Beginning In May 2001

Bush Administrations Reactions To Pre-Warnings Of 9/11 Attacks Are Significantly More Negligent Than Previously Thought by Jack Swint

Contributing Vanity Fair editor and former New York Times Reporter Kurt Eichenwald, wrote a stinging OP-ED piece in the NY Times Monday, September 10, 2012 depicting how he was allowed to view excerpts from non-public documents and interview government officials that when all combined, led him to an inescapable conclusion: “The administration’s reaction to what Mr. Bush was told in the weeks before that infamous briefing reflected significantly more negligence than has been disclosed.”

How seriously did some Federal agencies fear an impending attack on US soil? Eichenwald writes that two members of a government Counterterriorism Group actually told him that during a July 9th, 2001 meeting, one official told them that they should “put in for a transfer so that somebody else would be responsible when the attack took place.” The suggestion was batted down because they said there would be “no time to train anyone else.”

The Infamous Briefing And Not Connecting The Dots

On August 6th 2001, then President George Bush, was presented with a classified document that detailed threats posed by Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network, Al Qaeda. Since 9/11, that one report has been used as the key piece of evidence that American’s have had to accept as the only document that put the White House on notice of the impending terrorist attack on American soil. Who, bragged that it would be of catastrophic measure.

That morning’s “presidential daily brief,” on August 6th was prepared by America’s intelligence agency featuring the now-infamous heading: “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” Administration officials dismissed the document’s significance, saying that, despite the jaw-dropping headline, it was only an assessment of Al Qaeda’s history, not a warning of the impending attack. It’s also the report that the Bush Administration has used up until now to escape having any acceptance of responsibility for that attack.

Now, according to this recent OP-ED story by Kurt Eichenwald in the New York Times, it appears there is more information and “daily brief” documents that he examined along with interviews he conducted with officials that show the White House and other federal officials were, on numerous occasions, made aware of an impending attack as far back as May 1, 2001.

Yes, that August 6th 2001 document is important. But, in order to fully understand the significance of that one report, you have to go back to prior briefs. The ones the Bush Administration would not release. The ones that reporter Eichenwald claim he was allowed to view in part. The ones that he now reports show, “The direct warnings to Mr. Bush about the possibility of a Qaeda attack began in the spring of 2001. By May 1, 2001 the Central Intelligence Agency told the White House of a report that, ‘a group presently in the United States’ was planning a terrorist operation.”

Then on June 22, 2001 the daily brief reported that al Qaeda strikes could be “imminent,” although intelligence suggested the time frame was flexible. Eichenwald states how “An intelligence official and a member of the Bush administration both told me in interviews that the neoconservative leaders who had recently assumed power at the Pentagon, were warning the White House that the C.I.A. had been fooled. According to this theory, Bin Laden was merely pretending to be planning an attack to distract the administration from Saddam Hussein, whom the neoconservatives saw as a greater threat.”

His sources also told him how “Intelligence officials protested that the idea of Bin Laden, an Islamic fundamentalist, was conspiring with Mr. Hussein, an Iraqi secularist, was ridiculous, but the neoconservatives’ suspicions were nevertheless carrying the day.”

So the C.I.A. prepared an analysis that all but pleaded with the White House to accept that the danger from Bin Laden was real. That June 29th, 2001 daily brief included a statement by the CIA that “The U.S. is not the target of a disinformation campaign by Osama Bin Laden.” The reiterated much of the prior evidence and a new CIA interview with a “Middle Eastern journalist in which Bin Laden aides warned of a coming attack, as well as competitive pressures that the terrorist leader was feeling, given the number of Islamists being recruited for the separatist Russian region of Chechnya.”

Eichenwald reports that a CIA brief on July 1, 2001 reportedly shows they continued to stress their fears of an impending attack. That brief also stated that the operation had been delayed, but “will occur soon.” The briefs again reminded Mr. Bush that the attack timing was flexible, and that, despite any perceived delay, the planned assault was on track.

“That same day in Chechnya, according to intelligence I (Eichenwald) reviewed, Ibn Al-Khattab, an extremist who was known for his brutality and his links to Al Qaeda, told his followers that there would soon be very big news. Within 48 hours, an intelligence official told me, that information was conveyed to the White House, providing more data supporting the C.I.A.’s warnings. Still, the alarm bells didn’t sound.”

On July 24, 2001 Eichenwald claims that Mr. Bush was notified that the attack was still being readied, but that it had been postponed, perhaps by a few months. “But the president did not feel the briefings on potential attacks were sufficient, one intelligence official told me, and instead asked for a broader analysis on Al Qaeda, its aspirations and its history.”

In response, the CIA began preparing the Aug. 6, 2001 infamous brief that Bush claims he never acted on because officials never told of a time and place the attacks would happen.

Several weeks later, the attacks happened.

Our Governments History With Denial & Hindsight

History shows that we have considered America as being impregnable and we believed that no one in his or her right mind would attack us on our own soil. Liken to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, allegations surfaced blaming then President Franklin D. Roosevelt of ignoring intelligence reports months before the Japanese attacked.

In fact, on December 4th 1941, Roosevelt received a confidential report warning that the enemy was eyeing up Hawaii with a view to “open conflict.” It described Japan's surveillance of Hawaii under a section headlined "Methods of Operation and Points of Attack." Describing it as being of a general nature but including records relating to the movement of US warships.

Three days after that warning was delivered to the White House, hundreds of Japanese aircraft operating from six aircraft carriers unleashed a surprise strike on the US Navy's base at Pearl Harbour, wiping out American battleships, destroyers and air installations. A total of 2,459 US personnel were killed and 1,282 injured.

Like the CIA warnings that were ignored by President Bush, who was in denial, historians also felt that Roosevelt and his administration were in denial as well. Author-Historian Craig Shirley examined the memo and wrote:

"This memo is further evidence that they believed the Japanese were contemplating a military action of some sort, but they were kind of in denial because they didn't think anybody would be as audacious enough to move an army thousands of miles across the Pacific, stop to refuel, then move on to Hawaii to make a strike like this."

I’m comparing 9/11 to Pearl Harbor insomuch as we now know, there were numerous documented pre-warnings before both attacks. All of the warnings were ignored, and both attacks occured on US soil by foreign enemy. God forbid there is ever another one.

End Of Story…

Jack Swint
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint

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Saturday, September 15, 2012

Laptops For Soldiers Program Still In Need Of Computers

Donate A Laptop Computer To Help Troops Stay In Touch With Loved Ones From Overseas & Find A Job When They Return Home by Jack Swint

According to one Michigan based non-profit organization operated by former military veteran SGT James Payne; if you have an old used laptop computer gathering dust somewhere, but don't know how or where to get rid of it? You can donate it to help overseas troops stay in touch with loved ones at home and or help them in finding a job once they return back to the US.

Since the program began back in 2003, JDS Computer Donations has refurbished and shipped over 800 computers overseas to our soldiers. They also donate them to schools and other non-profit organizations. Payne, now a retired dentist, and his volunteers have received many responses from grateful service members, some of which you can read on their website web site linked below. One from the Executive Officer of Company A, 50th Signal Battalion, is a good summary of the sentiment expressed by others.

"On behalf of the soldiers, NCOs, and officers of Alpha Company, 50th Signal Battalion, I want to express how grateful we are for the donation of laptops to our unit," said Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Quimby. "Especially with the price of telephone minutes being so high, being able to use computers to communicate to loved ones back in the States is a convenience that we do not take for granted. "Your effort in supporting our deployed soldiers is inspiring and represents the true heart of the American people," he concluded.

JDS Computer Donations is part of Any Soldier Inc support team. Both JDS Computer Donations and Any Soldier Inc are supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

AOL is currently teaming up with groups like JDS Computer Donations to provide laptops for veterans to help with their job search.

Remember to Remove Personal Data

Just remember to protect your data and personal information so that it is not recoverable by the next person who uses the computer. There are two ways to do that: you can remove the hard drive and donate the computer without it, or you can use a utility program to wipe the hard drive and overwrite the data you placed on it. If you remove the hard drive, be sure to remove only the drive itself, and replace the rails and screws that hold it in place.

JDS reports it has had to discard computers that were donated with the rails removed. When this is done, there is nothing there to hold a new hard drive, and the machine is basically worthless.

How To Donate Your Laptop Computer

Ship your tax deductible laptop computers to:

JDS Computers
15441 Fitzgerald
Livonia MI
48154

Shipping is also tax deductible. If you have any further questions, you can e-mail Dr. Payne at: jimpayne35@hotmail.com or JDSComputers@hotmail.com

End Of Story…

Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint

Links

JDS Computer Donations

Military Money-Matters

Any Soldier
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Send WV Attorney General Darrell McGraw Back To Wyoming County

Darrell McGraw’s Shameless Self Promotion Is Costing Tax Payers Money

The following editorial is from HuntingtonNews.Net (HNN) on September 12, 2012…

Darrell McGraw. The man’s name alone evokes deep passions, pro and con. To his followers in the Southern coalfields and elsewhere, McGraw is the last true Democrat running statewide: an unabashed labor liberal who has stood up to business interests for a generation, whether on the State Supreme Court or as Attorney General.

But his detractors are growing in number, as more people question the real motive for McGraw's political career. Take a look at the expense McGraw has amassed at taxpayer expense--in addition to tens of thousands of dollars in trinkets bearing his name.

For example, the elevated election-year spending from McGraw's office is appalling. On one radio station alone, McGraw's office spent $40k to advertise in 2010, $71k in 2011 and a whopping $183k in 2012. The self-promotion spending has skyrocketed in his office. More than any other state officer, McGraw takes advantage of the taxpayers' money to promote himself, just in time for his re-election campaign.

No wonder Patrick Morrisey, McGraw's Republican opponent, has sworn off any future trinket buying if he is elected. We doubt that he'd spend huge amounts of advertising to promote himself on radio stations, either. Morrisey has shown in his first run for statewide office more respect for the West Virginia voter and taxpayer than McGraw has shown in his entire career.

While all politicians are in the self-promotion business, McGraw belongs to a generation of West Virginia "leaders" who showed no conscience as they ravaged the public treasury here. McGraw is the last in a long line of pillagers that started with Governor Wally Barron, then moved on through A. James Manchin's negligence and Arch Moore's deep shame, each of them taking West Virginians for quite a ride.

Well, in case we have forgotten, this is the 21st Century. We're supposed to have put this kind of flagrant ripoff artists back in their crypts, where they can no longer harm the people. Darrell McGraw seems to think of his interaction with the voting public as less of a relationship and more of a game. It's sport for him to see how much he can get away with at our expense. He's been a clever juvenile delinquent over the years, pulling repeated fast ones on the substitute teacher.

But our state needs leadership more than ever before--not-shameless self-promotion, glorifying individual officeholders at our expense.

Perhaps the worst of McGraw's actions is his keeping tens of millions of settlement funds his office receives for lawsuits done in our name. By right, that money belongs to the taxpayers and should deposited in our state's general fund, for our elected legislators to decide best how to spend it--for roads, pension funds, or even a tax break for the weary citizens here.

Instead, McGraw--a kind of Big Government Robber Baron--keeps the money and distributes it as HE sees fit. It takes a certain kind of arrogance to take other people's money like that and spend it on one's favorite charities.

This November 6th is West Virginia's chance to finally send Darrell McGraw back to Wyoming County. We've already sent his brother, Warren, back there. Now it's Darrell's turn.

Note: The above HuntingtonNews.Net editorial does not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of WVNews as stated.

End Of Story…

Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint

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HNN Editorial
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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Is Mainstream Media Biting The Bullet For Homeland Security Officials?

According To Some Corporate Media...Recent Stories Exposing DHS Mass Purchase Of Bullets Is Nothing More Than Embellished & Salacious Conspiracy Theory by Jack Swint

There is no dispute that our government has been buying up large amounts of ammunition. Purchase orders for domestic federal agencies from the Department of Homeland Security add up to at least 1.4 billion rounds of assorted bullets ranging from .357 Magnum to .223 and .40 Caliber rounds. Stories have appeared on the Internet in the last few weeks, provoking articles on a number of both progressive and right-wing websites.

The majority of the ammunition ordered consists of JHP, better known as “hollow point” rounds, which are designed solely for their massive power of destruction to the human body. In short, hollow points are designed to kill, not wound, nor stop, nor provide a deterrent, but to put a human being down for good and in a very ugly way.

Americans are rightfully asking questions. Why is this occurring? Do these purchases occur each year? What is the cost? Is the purchase amount consistent with other annual purchases since September 11, 2001? Are we, the people, the potential targets? Does the government want a shortage of bullets so Americans cannot get any? Why does DHS need all this destructive firepower when agencies like the Border Patrol are still patrolling with beanbag guns?

Another question being asked is…Where is mainstream media during all of this speculation into what our government is up to? Well, the answer is easy. They are taking a bullet for “Big Brother” by downplaying, ignoring and playing spin-doctor to America’s real fear and concerns on this important topic.

Several media moguls, including CNN and the Associated Press found it necessary to publish stories accusing some Americans with creating a conspiracy theory against the government’s gigantic purchase of ammunition's by the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, one writer surmised that this is nothing more than an episode that “illustrates what can happen when a seemingly salacious tidbit gets amplified and embellished on the Internet.” Ironically, if the feds had not posted the original requisition for the 1.4 billion bullets, they would not be feeling so much heat from the public and these fallacy articles by CNN and the Associated Press would not have been needed.

Both articles failed to factually address the overall 1.4 billion-ammunition order. Instead, they explain why the Social Security Administration needs 174,000 rounds of ammo for its 295 or so white collar Office of Inspector General (OIG) agents; who, by the way, have not fired a shot on duty in their entire existence. There is no fear factor here unless you are a lawyer over billing your SSA appeal cases or an Administrative Law Judge with an extremely high rate of approval for people seeking more favorable rulings on their SSI.

Corporate Media also felt it important to mention that these SSA agents need deadly hollow point bullets because they “are the normal police round used for duty ammunition due to their ability to stop when they hit an object as opposed to going through it and striking more objects.” Hit an object? That object is a human being. And, yes, hollow point bullets can both penetrate and exit a human “object” and the result is a ghastly sight.

Nor did their recent articles mention that since 1969, the Geneva Convention outlawed hollow point bullets from warfare. So, why are we using them against are own people? Also, firing range bullets are much less expensive and are not designed for the day to day use of the gun for killing an enemy. One uses the more expensive variety, such as hollow point bullets.

To further cast doubt and downplay the seriousness of DHS’s 1.4 billion rounds of ammo, mainstream media pointed out how this scandal all began. A few months ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ordered 46,000 rounds of hollow point bullets for their wildlife officers. A clerk mistakenly earmarked the ammo to go to the National Weather Service, which is under NOAA. The Internet became engulfed in stories questioning why the Weather Service needed all these bullets? That’s when the purchase orders by DHS were discovered outlining the 1.4 billion rounds. Last week a NOAA spokesperson downplayed and explained that it was a simple “type-o.”

So now, mainstream media is using that “type-o” to support their claim that this is all nothing more than salacious tidbit amplified and embellished on the Internet. Which is in support of the governments attempt to downplay the entire purchase.

The Straw Man Approach

According to definition, a “Straw Man” is a type of argument based on misrepresentation of an opponent's true position. The usage of the term in rhetoric suggests a human figure made of straw, which is easily knocked down or destroyed. To "attack a straw man" is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by replacing it with a similar yet unequivalent proposition and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position.

In this case, both CNN and the Associated Press suggest that they are providing facts, which refute the entire Homeland Security ammo purchase (1.4 Billion) as just Internet tidbits of incorrect or inconclusive information. They achieve this by creating an illusion that the real issue is not why the DHS wants 1.4 billion bullets, but why Social Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration need the ammo they ordered.

Then, they go on to create another illusion for us to believe that hollow point bullets are not deadly as the evidence clearly shows they are. Now, we are to believe that this outlawed ammo is actually great because when shooting someone, these bullets won’t exit the body and injure someone else. It just kills the person they shot instead of wounding them.

In a September 5th 2012 article by InfoWars, Alex Jones writes about corporate media’s job to create fallacious straw man arguments. “It is the job of the corporate media to create fallacious straw man arguments and distract attention from the obvious economic collapse right before our eyes. The real tip-off is that the establishment media is now engaging in a concerted effort to portray journalists asking questions about the unprecedented ammo purchases as conspiracy theorists and ‘rightwing extremists’ who should be dismissed sarcastically as lunatics.”

Another example of media and governments false illusions dates back to 2003 when mainstream news claimed there was solid evidence for a link between Iraq and al Qaeda. Most of us believed that investigators had all but confirmed the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. How did the true situation in Iraq become so grossly distorted in American minds? Falacy promoters like CNN.

Average Cost Of 1.4 Billion Rounds

Another point that mainstream media is not addressing is the cost of these bullets, specifically hollow point rounds, which are more expensive than standard bullets. And, the feds have admitted that they are using the higher cost bullets even for training and qualifications. Research available for the cost per hollow point bullet averages out to be 0.24 cents. This is a .40 caliber round which is the bulk of the DHS order. (Some cost more – less) Standard rounds average out to be .19 cents per round.

If my math is correct, 1.4 billion standard bullets (not JHP) at .19 cents apiece is approximately $266 million. And 1.4 billion JHP rounds at .24 cents apiece is $336 million, which is almost half a billion dollars. The difference in estimation between standard issue and JHP is approximately $70 million. If true, this represents a gross misapplication of funds that should be investigated by a Congressional Hearing, especially if DHS is just stockpiling ammo.

In Closing

Mainstream media has no problem writing about Social Security’s purchase of 174,000 rounds of hollow point bullets and a ‘type-o’ that caused 46,000 rounds to be sent to the wrong agency. But, they won't write about the BIG PICTURE of why DHS needs over 1 billion rounds of ammunition. Some corporate media want to play a “shell game” by diverting the American public from the real issue with a replacement topic of far less importance. They are intentionally taking aim at the least likely danger we face and discrediting the real possible threat by sweeping it under the rug.

On the surface, it appears the media is actually condoning the feds use of the deadly hollow point bullets. They actually try to explain away a bullet that has been outlawed by the Geneva Convention 42 years ago because it causes extreme damage to the human body. It takes some nerve to ask us to believe this ammunition is safer for the general public because it has the ability to stop when they hit an object as opposed to going through it and striking more objects.

Here is another thing mainstream is leaving out, according to retired Army General Jerry Curry; during the Iraq War, the Army ordered 70 million rounds of ammunition per year. That was during a war! Homeland Security ordered up 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition in 2012. What war are they planning?

Related Story: Homeland Security Prepares for Civil War (by Jack Swint)

End Of Story

Jack Swint-Publisher
West Virginia News
E-Mail: WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com
Website: http://WVNewsOnline.com
Blog: http://WestVirginiaNews.blogspot.com
Twitter: @WVNewsOnline
LinkedIn: Jack Swint

Links

CNN Article

Associated Press Article
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West Virginia News

Monday, October 22, 2012

Local Judicial Corruption In WV Social Security Office Could Topple National SSA Commissioner

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Yes We Can…. Not Reelect Obama As President

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Are You Aware Of What Actually Drives The Price Of Gasoline?

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Whats Under Marcellus Shale? 38 Trillion More Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

WV Commission President Accepts Contributions But Won’t Pay Back Taxes

Monday, September 17, 2012

CIA Stressed Imminent 9/11 Attack Beginning In May 2001

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Laptops For Soldiers Program Still In Need Of Computers

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Send WV Attorney General Darrell McGraw Back To Wyoming County

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Is Mainstream Media Biting The Bullet For Homeland Security Officials?

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