CSX Railroad Relocation in Mississippi
Topic: Government
Hello all!

I was surprised that $700 million was added to the hurricane relief fund to finance the relocation of CSX rail lines in Mississippi.

What are the rail road dependent businesses along Mississippi's Gulf Coast going to do when they no longer have rail road access?

What will the Cities and the State of Mississippi do when taxes paid by Northrop Gruman and other businesses leave Mississippi because they do not have rail road access?

How much will Senator Trent Lott's plan actually cost?

Some of the total costs will involve: environmental studies, engineering designs, negotiate and purchase additional rail road right-of-ways (including eminent domain acquisitions), construct new rail roads and bridges, abandon the existing rail lines along the Gulf Coast, construct the new Highway 90 infrastructure on top of the existing rail route, abandon and remove the existing Highway 90 infrastructure, and the loss of taxes due to rail dependant businesses moving to other cities and/or states.

A recent article mentioned that the costs could cost in excess of $2 billion. I think this is a low figure.

If you thought hurricane Katrina was bad, just wait until Senator Trent Lott gets his pork project financed by U.S. Taxpayers.

Let your elected governmental officials know what you think about this plan. After all... your tax dollars will be paying for this.

Let me know what you think. Until next time... I am... and will always be Frank

Financial Crimes and Fraud Schemes
Topic: Government
Hello everyone!

From time to time I get emails and letters asking my help to transfer money from Nigeria and other countries to my bank account in the U.S.

They always offer me a huge percentage of the transfered funds.

These offers are illegal. The people who send these offers are out to take your hard earned money.

The U.S. Secret Service are constantly working to prosecute these criminals.

To learn more... visit the The U.S. Secret Service web site for more information.

When you do get an email offer... forward the email to 419.fcd@usss.tres.gov and delete it from your computer.

I know several people who have lost money because they trusted these people.

I hope you are not their next victim.

Until next time... I am and will always be... Frank

Internet Fraud
Topic: Government
Hello again!

The internet is a great place to do business and keep in touch with people you know. It is also a vehicle for taking advantage of people. However, the IRS has established one way of fighting fraud.

Yesterday, the Internal Revenue Service announced in publication "IR-2006-49, March 27, 2006" that the IRS established an electronic mailbox for taxpayers to send information about suspicious e-mails they receive which claim to come from the IRS. Taxpayers should send the information to: phishing@irs.gov

With everybody helping, people that would do harm to you can be put out of business.

Until next time... I am, and will continue to be Frank...

Lead Safe Work Practices
Topic: Government
I attended a Lead Safe Work Practices seminar today. The Environmental Protection Agency is working to reduce the number of lead poisoning cases in the United States.

All houses built in and before 1978 should be tested for potential lead hazzards.

The EPA has created a brochure to be given to people who purchase, lease/rent, or work in (and neighbors of) homes containing lead paint. Violation of EPA and OSHA standards have legal consequences.

Home sellers, landlords, renovation contractors, and real estate agents are responsible by federal regulations to comply with informing people of the possible lead hazzards. In fact, the responsible parties are required to get a written receipt from the people they hand the lead hazzard brochure to.

Special equipment and supplies are required to be used by renovation contractors. I have researched some of the suppliers and provided links to their websites for your convenience.

Let me know when you have any questions. Until next time, I am and will always be Frank...
Read More...

Disposable Coveralls X- Lg Keep your skin and clothes protected when performing messy maintenance tasks. Made from DuPont Tyvek, these lightweight and breathable disposable Coveralls are virtually impenetrable to paint spray and splatter, dirt, and dust. Features include a built-n hood, full zipper front, elastic wrists, ankles, and face opening. One size fits all. Coveralls Sh. Wt. 2 lbs.

Katrina Fund, Alabama's Landlord-Tenant Bill and Mobile Gas Rates
Topic: Government
There were three items in today's Mobile Register that caught my eye. I read that Bayou La Batre, AL was finally getting assistance towards getting back in the shrimping industry. Bayou La Batre is normally a very productive shrimping town in South Alabama. It was severely hit by hurricane Katrina. But it should be getting some relief next month because of the efforts of past Presidents Bush and Clinton. They established The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to help those hurt by Katrina and later by federal assistance programs that excluded them from getting back on its' economic feet. If you remember, FEMA stopped the Coast Guard from recovering shrimp boats stranded by Katrina. I applaud both Bush and Clinton for their initiatives.

The Mobile Register also reported that the Alabama House of Representatives passed the Landlord-Tenant Bill yesterday. This is an important step in raising the quality of life in Alabama. I understand that both landlords and tenants agreed to the final bill. The actual bill can be found at the Alabama Legislature's Web Site. You can search HB287 and read the bill in its' entirety. It is up to the Senate to approve the bill before it becomes law next year.

Also, Mobile Gas is in the news again. The PSC has been investigating why Mobile Gas is billing its customers higher rates than nearby gas distributers in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Public Service Commission mistakenly investigated whether or not meter readers were inflating customers' actual gas usage. Fortunately, PSC Commissioner George Wallace Jr is now investigating the wholesale prices (and hopefully Mobile Gas internal cost factors) that Mobile Gas pays for our gas. I got a breakdown of Mobile Gas cost factors in my current bill. It shows 14% of the billing that has nothing to do with supply costs (55%), operation and maintenance expenses (16%), nor taxes (15%). Ever since the Mobile Register published its' article comparing Mobile Gas rates v.s. nearby area rates, Mobile Gas has been sending tips on how to save on our gas bills. The one thing they missed was moving out of their jurisdiction. Most of their suggestions had to do with insulation improvements to rental housing that tenants have no control over. However, the IRS have incentives for energy efficient homes that homebuilders and homeowners can use to cut their tax obligations. Take a look at my 2/21/06 post for the IRS pdf file links.

Until next time... I am and will always be Frank