Inland Empire Progressive

After 9/11, Republicans argued forcefully that the expansion of the National Defense Authorization Act and the PATRIOT Act were necessary safegards for the protection of the American people. This dramatic expansion of Executive Power was unprecendent in recent history. Warrantless wiretapping and targeted assassinations was something unheard of before that fateful day in 2001. When Democrats tried to add civil liberties amendments or roll back some provisions, Rep. Gary Miller and the Republicans accused them of having a Pre-9/11 mentality. However, when the economic crisis hit, Congressional investigations into unlawful and unethical behavior was left unchecked. The Frank-Dodd Act's weak regulation of the financial left the To Big To Fail banks in place and did nothing about derivatives, credit default swipes, and other dangerous financial instruments. Rep. Gary Miller, a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, and his Wall Street allies argue ...

Listen: Election 2012: In Inland Empire, Economic Distress May Drive Voters: The California Report | The California Report *Correction: The 31st is where Rep. Gary Miller is running, not the 35th. From redistricting to Ontario Airport, the talk in political circles is about two words: Local Control. With so much talk about local control, how is it that we, the residents of the Inland Empire, are now in the process of becoming renters to Orange County and LA interests.  Right now foreclosed homes are being auctioned off to outside interests for the highest bet. These outside interests may be thinking that they are helping by providing employment. But what is the cost? Local residents have little to no say in shaping the future of the Inland Empire. The building industry is heavily backing Rep. Gary Miller in the 31st Congressional District race. I wonder if the loss of local control was the price that was paid.