Federal Register Watch

by Mike Powers

March 24 - 28, 2003

 What freedoms have you lost this week?

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.  This column attempts to summarize the highlights (or lowlights) of the Federal Register during the preceding week.  

Instructions for subscribing to the Federal Register can be found at the end of the column.

MARCH 24, 2003:

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (NCD) - CULTURAL DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

The purpose of the NCD’s Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee is to “provide advice and recommendations to NCD on issues affecting people with disabilities from culturally diverse backgrounds.”

Culturally diverse means non-white, in government doublespeak.  Yet another government program where you must be in the politically correct socioeconomic class in order to qualify.

 http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-6909.htmgram 

PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS – CONFISCATING AND VESTING IRAQI PROPERTY (EXECUTIVE ORDER 13290)

President Bush has decided that it’s in the “best interest” of the United States to confiscate “certain property” held by the Iraqi government in the United States for use in the reconstruction of Iraq and to assist the Iraqi people – presumably, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.  

This reinforces the statist maxim that government theft is justified when the intentions of the bureaucrats are noble.  

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-7160.htm

MARCH 25, 2003:

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE – $6 MILLION IN “CHALLENGE GRANTS”

The purpose of challenge grants is to “assist nonprofit organizations in securing previously untapped sources of private funds to build sustainable service and volunteer programs.”

In other words, use government coercion via the seizure of taxpayer money in order to help non-profit organizations collect funds voluntarily.  Only in the context of government does this make sense.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-6968.htm  

MARCH 26, 2003:

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION – ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE  

This notice lists over 140 companies whose employers or employees filed for adjustment assistance.  When approved, adjustment assistance provides taxpayer-funded assistance to former employees of U.S. companies that reduced their workforce due to foreign competition.  

Again, a noble cause.  But it does not justify the theft required to fund it. 

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-7196.htm  

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT – $300,000 IN GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE IN CITIES

The purpose of the program is to fund "empirical research projects on trends in urban areas, that is, social, economic, demographic, and fiscal change in cities.” 

The statists will support the funding of any program, no matter how irrelevant or wasteful, in the name of job security.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-7277.htm  

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