In effect, this new law will assume a very strong corporate welfare function. It will catalyze a tidal flow of money from middle- and lower-income people into the accounts of Guam Music Inc., the corporation that own and operates Guam’s gambling machines.

According to the law, the tax rate for gambling machines shall be 4 percent on gross receipts. In addition, there will be a special 4-percent assessment fee on the income of these gambling machines. So we have a new law that taxes gambling machines at a rate of only 4 percent.

Because the tax rate and fee is so low, this law promotes the wealth and welfare of the Guam Music Inc. much more than the fiscal health of Guam Memorial Hospital.

With this tax and fee structure; in order to generate $1 million for our hospital, Guam Music Inc. must generate $12.5 million in gross receipts. And as GMH has approximately $18 million outstanding debts, gambling people in Guam need to lose $225 million to Guam Music Inc. in order for the law to achieve its formal purpose of paying off GMH debts.

This is a lot of money that will flow from primarily middle- and lower-economic-class people into the account of one company. I contend that this is not in the best interest of the social health of our society.

But, unfortunately, corporate welfare is one of our society’s best-kept secrets. Few of us want to recognize that government regulations and funding streams — on federal and local levels — benefit much more the middle- and upper-class people than poor people. The government pays much more to bolster the welfare of wealthy people and corporations than it pays for the welfare of poor individuals.

Our new Public Law 32-60 is part of this broader development that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Clearly, it will bring more stress and tension into the homes of our poor and middle-class families when they will struggle to make up for the money that they will lose to Guam Music Inc.

Our senators now have to weigh whether the not-intended social costs and negative long term ramifications of Public Law 32-60 are worth the fiscal benefits they hoped it would generate for our hospital. I do not think they are worth it.

And I strongly believe that all our senators, with critical public debate and input, can craft much better and more appropriate funding mechanisms for our public hospital.

But the crazy thing is most of the white people here are okay with anything as long as they get to continue being bigots without having to answer for it.

It has gotten so ridiculous that the republican candidate for governor is running on a campaign promising to bring back laws against giving or getting head, even if you are married.

Go figure white folks.

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When Women Succeed, America Succeeds
This week marks the 165th anniversary of an historic gathering of women who were committed to that singular purpose: to ensure that every freedom, every liberty, and every right belongs to every American.

The Seneca Falls Convention was the first Women’s Rights Convention. Our very Declaration of Independence is echoed in the Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men and women are created equal.

That is why we, the Women Democratic Members of Congress, are so proud to announce an economic agenda for women and families: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families. This agenda is about the future of America’s families and the growth of America’s economy by addressing the following economic challenges:
When women earn equal pay, we know America’s economy will prosper.

When women can have fairness and balance between work and family, we know American society will thrive.

When families can access affordable and high-quality child care, we know Americans will have the ability to return to the workplace.
It is about unleashing the power of our nation’s women and, in doing so, strengthening the middle class – the backbone of our democracy. And when all women succeed, we know America succeeds.

Congresswoman Pelosi joins with with Members of the House Democratic Caucus on the steps of the United States Capitol to announce their new agenda: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families.

Celebrating the Legacy of Nelson Mandela
In honor of Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday, the United States Congress hosted a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol to reflect on his legacy and his values. As we marked his greatness by the reading of his own words, it is important to note that the spirit and the words of Nelson Mandela have permeated the halls of the Capitol for many years and many times.

As Deputy President, Mandela stated: “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched life of hunger and deprivation is to dehumanize them.” Four years later, he returned to the House chamber – this time, as the democratically-elected President of South Africa.

He epitomized the pain of apartheid and the struggle to end it; he was a symbol of the oppression and prejudice that plagued millions across Africa. Yet Nelson Mandela never gave up hope. He never lost faith in the strength of the human spirit. As Mandela once defined it: “courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

When he was released from prison, he had the courage to turn not to hatred, but to love; not to vengeance, but to compassion; not to resentment, but to reconciliation. And that reconciliation was South Africa’s gift to the world.

May we always answer the call for justice, reconciliation, and peace: the call of Nelson Mandela. Happy birthday, Madiba.

Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my website. I am also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.

best regards,