Strike The Root

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

  Federal Register Watch

by Mike Powers

December 2 - 6, 2002

 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.

DECEMBER 2, 2002 :

Department of Housing and Urban Development –

Announcement of Funding Awards for the Housing Choice Voucher Program

FY 2002 awards were granted to housing agencies for Section 8 counseling, public housing relocation and replacements, and housing conversion actions.  Over $142 million in taxpayer-confiscated money was awarded.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30363.htm  

Immigration and Naturalization Service –

Implementation of Biometric Border Crossing Cards on Mexican and Canadian Borders

Big Brother will no longer allow non-resident Mexican nationals and “certain inadmissible Canadian citizens” to enter the country using a non-biometric border crossing card (BCC) in lieu of a visa or passport.  All new BCCs must provide biometric information of the individual in question.  Additionally, the individual will not be admitted until the border inspector matches the biometric identifier on the card with the bearer’s corresponding characteristics.  Creepy!  

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30295.htm

International Trade Administration –

Administrative Review of Antidumping Orders on Certain Pasta From Turkey and Italy

It’s a good thing we have the federal government to protect us from buying too much imported pasta!

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30460.htm  

DECEMBER 3, 2002 :

Department of Housing and Urban Development –

Notice of HOPE VI Demolition Grants for FY2002

Federal subsidies are available for the demolition of public housing as well as their construction.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30572.htm  

DECEMBER 4, 2002 :

International Trade Administration (ITA) –

Antidumping Duty Investigation

The Department of Commerce determined that lawn and garden fence posts from China were being sold at “less than fair value,” in accordance with the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930 by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  As a remedy, the ITA will direct Customs to impose tariff rates on future imports ranging from 16.5% to 32.7% -- costs that will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

The Tariff Act of 1930 that authorizes the ITA to take this action, better known as the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act, brought the tariff level to the highest protective level yet in U.S. history.  Jointly sponsored by Representative Willis Hawley and Senator Reed Smoot, both Republicans, the act brought retaliatory tariffs acts from foreign countries, leading to a sharp decline in foreign trade and exacerbating the depression.

The petitioner that initiated the investigation is the Steel City Corporation of Youngstown, Ohio.  This is yet another example of an American company using the government to restrict competition in order to keep prices high and maintain their market share.  

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30770.htm

DECEMBER 6, 2002 :

Commission of Fine Arts -

Announcement of $7 Million In FY 2003 Funding for the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program

Organizations eligible for the grants must be non-profit, non-academic institutions located in Washington, D.C. I’m sure the taxpayers who live nowhere near Washington, D.C. and who will never visit there are thrilled that their hard-earned money is being used for such a worthy cause.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30883.htm  

Department of Energy –

Announcement of $2 Million in Grants Available for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program

According to the Department of Energy, the purpose of this program is “to support research in applied mathematics, collaboratory research, computer science, and networks performed by exceptionally talented scientists and engineers early in their careers.”

The bureaucrats surely enjoy giving away money that does not belong to them.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30917.htm  

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) –

Notice Regarding Federal Flood Insurance Assistance

According to FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) “enables property owners to purchase flood insurance which is generally not otherwise available.”  In other words, it offers taxpayer subsidized flood insurance in areas where private insurers deem the risk too excessive.  FEMA is simply encouraging risky behavior (building and rebuilding in flood-prone areas) while forcing taxpayers to foot the bill.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30911.htm  

Fish and Wildlife Service –

Notice of Meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

The Council’s meeting is designed to “foster partnerships to enhance public awareness of the importance of aquatic resources and the social and economic benefits of recreational fishing and boating in the United States.”

Among the Council’s primary roles is to provide the Interior Secretary with information about the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the National Outreach and Communications Program. The Interior Secretary approved the Strategic Plan in February 1999, as well as the five-year, $36-million federally funded outreach campaign authorized by the 1998 Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act. 

The $36 million question is: Who are they reaching out to as they reach into our pockets?

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30891.htm  

International Trade Commission (ITA) –

Import Investigation of Steel Garment Hangers from China

In response to a petition by three domestic garment hanger producers, the ITA has initiated an investigation of foreign hanger imports from China to determine if the imports are likely to “cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products.”  

No more imported wire coat hangers, ever! 

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-30881.htm  

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