Tag Archives: Bandit Gang Writ Large

Homeland Security to subpoena Techdirt over an article comment

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“This week, Techdirt’s Tim Cushing published a story about the Hancock County, IN Sheriff’s Department officers who stole $240,000 under color of asset forfeiture.  Digger, a Techdirt commenter, remarked, ‘The only ‘bonus’ these criminals [the Sheriff’s Department officers] are likely to see could be a bullet to their apparently empty skulls.’  This prompted the Department of Homeland Security to contact Techdirt and ask whom they should send a subpoena to in order to get at the identity of Digger. Masnick is worried that the subpoena, when and if it arrives, could come with a gag order, so he’s publishing now.”

http://boingboing.net/2016/05/06/homeland-security-want-to-subp.html

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Don’t become a casualty of the War on Cash

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“The 21st century has seen the emergence of a war unlike any other. On one side of the battlefield are governments, banks, credit card companies, central banks and other financial institutions. On the other side . . . cash and anybody who uses it.  While proponents of a cashless society would have you believe that terrorists, drug lords and criminals are the only people who would ever use cash, there are more people than you would imagine on what seems to be the losing side of the war.”

http://nomadcapitalist.com/2016/04/27/the-war-on-cash/

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Highway Bill Compromise Funded By Expropriating Big U.S. Banks

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“The highway measure would be financed in part by a one-time use of Federal Reserve surplus funds and by a reduction in the 6 percent dividend that national banks receive from the Fed. The dividend would be reduced by an amount tied to yields on 10-year U.S. Treasuries, currently about 2.2 percent. If Treasury yields rose higher than 6 percent, the Fed wouldn’t pay the banks more. Banks with $10 billion or less in assets would be exempt from the cut.  The Fed’s surplus capital comes from the 12 reserve banks. The highway bill would allow for a one-time draw of $19 billion from the surplus, which totaled $29.3 billion as of Nov. 25.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-01/highway-bill-compromise-reached-by-u-s-congress-negotiators

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The End of Tax Havens?

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“One of [the OECD’s] foremost successes has been the Isle of Jersey. By forcing tax equalisation on Jersey, Jersey has had to decide whether to increase taxation for offshore depositors, or decrease taxes for locals. It chose the latter and, as a result, has experienced a shortfall in the government kitty, resulting in layoffs for public service workers, cuts in funding for road repair, sewage services, education, etc. Jersey appears to be on the ropes as a result. In five or ten years’ time, will the only tax havens be in places like Delaware, where the government-sanctioned tax haven follows the ‘bad practices’ that the OECD has called ‘criminal’?”

http://www.internationalman.com/articles/the-end-of-tax-havens

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Obamacare architect: High-deductible plans overdone

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“One of the chief architects of the president’s health law said Friday the plans offered on government-run exchanges need to be more affordable in order to boost participation rates. High-deductible plans are part of the problem, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel added. ‘We’ve overplayed the high-deductible plans. People are feeling this is less and less insurance. And just more and more, ‘I’m paying out of my pocket.” According to the government, the penalties for not getting health insurance are going up substantially in 2016.  The penalty is calculated as a percentage of taxable household income or per person, whichever is higher.”

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/20/obamacare-architect-high-deductible-plans-overdone.html

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Millions missing after party-loving mayor went on the run

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“Last summer the mayor of a forgotten corner of Brazil went on the run, accused of skimming millions from public funds. Lidiane Leite bragged about how much money she had on Instagram and directed staff back at the office via social media. Known as the WhatsApp mayor, she became an emblem of Brazilian corruption.  ‘I can buy whatever I want,’ she boasted. ‘I’m going to spend money on what I want and I don’t care what people say about me.’  Alarm bells rang. Now, after months of looking into the affairs of small, sleepy Bom Jardim, with its mango trees and cattle, prosecutors believe $4m (£2.7m) may have been embezzled from the public coffers.”

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35242163

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Bahamas’ new 15% VAT ‘a recipe for recession’: economist [2013]

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“The Government is proposing to implement VAT on July 1, 2014, at a rate of 15 per cent, with the hotel industry to be subject to a lower 10 per cent rate.  Sir William called on the government to clarify whether or not it intended to reduce current taxes to make room in the economy for VAT, adding that whether or not officials could strike a balance between existing taxes and the new structure would ultimately determine the strategy’s success.  ‘The public is not expecting to pay the same level of custom’s duties along with everything. If that is so, there is gonna be hell to pay in this economy.'”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/oct/04/vat-move-recipe-recession/

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Oklahoma Official Used Asset Forfeiture to Pay Back His Student Loans

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“An assistant district attorney in the state of Oklahoma lived rent-free in a house confiscated by local law enforcement under the practice of asset forfeiture. His office paid the utility bills. He remained there for five years, despite a court order to sell the house at auction.  Another district attorney used $5,000 worth of confiscated funds to pay back his student loans.  These are just a few of the gems unearthed during a recent hearing on Oklahoma authorities’ liberal use of asset forfeiture to take property from suspected criminals and spend it on personal enrichment.  Unsurprisingly, cops are desperate to preserve the practice.”

https://reason.com/blog/2015/07/22/oklahoma-official-used-asset-forfeiture

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NH City Continues Parking Meter ‘Robin Hood’ Suit, At Taxpayer Expense

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“The city’s expensive attorneys from Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell waited until the LAST possible day they could file to legally file the appeal (PDF). The city has already spent countless dollars on this case and this latest appeal is a further waste of taxpayer funds. The appeal is for the Supreme court to look ONLY at the lower court’s ruling regarding the request for the ‘buffer zone’ injunction. The NH Supreme court has already decided the allegations of ‘tortious interference’, ‘civil conspiracy’, ‘negligence’, and the demand for financial compensation were unfounded and the activities engaged in by the Robin Hooders are protected by the first amendment.”

http://freekeene.com/2015/12/21/robin-hood-case-headed-back-to-nh-supreme-court/

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DOJ Suspends $1.2 Billion Asset Forfeiture ‘Equitable Sharing’ Program

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“The Justice Department has suspended $1.2 billion in payments of asset forfeiture revenues to police departments across the country, citing budget constraints.   In a letter to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies Monday, the Justice Department said it was deferring all future payments from the federal Equitable Sharing Program, which distributes asset forfeiture revenues to hundreds of police departments across the country.  The Equitable Sharing Program allows state and local police, working in conjunction with federal law enforcement, to keep 80% of the proceeds from seized property, while the other 20% goes back into the federal program.”

http://www.buzzfeed.com/cjciaramella/justice-department-suspends-12-billion-asset-forfeiture-prog

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