99.5% of illegal immigrants get approval for legal status; high number raises concerns about fraud

99.5% of illegal immigrants get approval for legal status; high number raises concerns about fraud - Washington Times

But the high rate leaves others wondering whether the administration is doing all it can to weed out fraud or potentially dangerous illegal immigrants in DACA, or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, as it’s formally known.

“You really have to wonder who they’re giving deferred action to, and what kind of risk they represent to us,” said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies. 

“The screening process is much less for DACA than it would be for a green card, and so it’s all that much more susceptible to fraud.”

DACA is seen by many as a test-run should Congress pass a broad legalization for most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Partnership with 'Pure Michigan' paid dividends last year, Experience Grand Rapids officials say

Partnership with 'Pure Michigan' paid dividends last year, Experience Grand Rapids officials say | MLive.com
"Last year’s local partnership with the “Pure Michigan” marketing campaign attracted an incremental 381,100 visits to the area, yielding a local impact on the economy of $101.5 million, officials of Experience Grand Rapids said.
Experience Grand Rapids, the official destination marketing organization for Kent County, said the figures were calculated by Longwoods International, a leader in tourism research.
Experience Grand Rapids invested $250,000 in a $500,000 "Pure Michigan" marketing campaign that showcased Grand Rapids, according to a news release issued Monday, April 22."

Existing Home Sales Fall as Prices Rise Most Since 2005

Existing Home Sales Fall as Prices Rise Most Since 2005:
"The National Association of Realtors said on Monday that existing home sales edged down 0.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million units.
Economist polled by Reuters had expected home resales to rise to a 5.01 million-unit rate."

RACING AHEAD

RACING AHEAD | Daily Telegraph Tim Blair Blog:

How confident was the Sydney Morning Herald that the Boston bombers were associated with the Tea Party? So confident that last Friday it ran this teapot terror image:



The associated article, which has one or two problems of its own, actually applauds thoughtful media reaction: 

We’re witnessing something truly remarkable: media outlets almost sticking to reporting what they know, and not racing ahead of a terrorism story. 

Meanwhile, the hunt for the elusive Tea Party murderer continues.

Nothing is “Fair” About Congress Changing the Rules on Businesses After Twenty-One Years

Nothing is “Fair” About Congress Changing the Rules on Businesses After Twenty-One Years:

Is A $3 Million IRA Sufficient For Retirement?

Is A $3 Million IRA Sufficient For Retirement? - Forbes:

The Internet Sales Tax Rush

Review & Outlook: The Internet Sales Tax Rush - WSJ.com:
"The Enzi plan would require a centralized tax collector for each state or for a group of states that would gather both state and local levies from the online merchants.
His office concedes that could still mean 27 or more different auditors of a Web-based business—which is better than 9,600 but hardly qualifies as simplicity.
The drivers of this rush to tax are Wal-Mart WMT -0.41% and other big retailers that can more easily absorb the costs of collection than can smaller competitors.
Also supporting the bill is Internet giant Amazon, which coincidentally now sells its own tax compliance service to other merchants.
Adding to the lobbying muscle are state and local governments.
The politicians believe they'll collect tens of billions of dollars in taxes that are already owed by shoppers on remote sales but rarely paid."

Americans Run Towards the Fire

Americans Run Towards the Fire - Kurt Schlichter - Page 1

We’ve seen the footage of 9/11 where injured people are clearing the area while long lines of rescuers head into the carnage. But those folks departing are often helping the injured or the fearful, even as the grim firefighters trudge toward their fate, utterly unwilling to allow those trapped in the towers to be lost without a fight.

The Americans on Flight 93 didn’t wait for rescue. They knew what lay ahead and chose death on their feet fighting to save others on the ground over cowering in their seats.

The Americans who ran toward the wounded on Patriot’s Day in Boston showed courage not just because they willingly faced the bloody slaughter of an anti-personnel IED but because, as everyone knows, terrorists delight in planting follow-on devices to kill those coming to the aid of the original victims. Watching video of the Massachusetts Army National Guardsmen ripping through the metal barrier to use their combat lifesaver skills on the wounded, you could see the right shoulder insignia one wore. It was a “Screaming Eagle” 101st Airborne “combat patch,” earned in action in Iraq or Afghanistan – maybe both. That American warrior knew exactly what the risks were, and he didn’t hesitate.

MAYBE BLOOMBERG SHOULD FOCUS ON THIS INSTEAD OF BIG GULPS: Jew-Hatred On The NYC Subway.

Instapundit » Blog Archive » MAYBE BLOOMBERG SHOULD FOCUS ON THIS INSTEAD OF BIG GULPS

MAYBE BLOOMBERG SHOULD FOCUS ON THIS INSTEAD OF BIG GULPS: Jew-Hatred On The NYC Subway.

A harrowing scene occurred recently on the New York City subway when a group of teens approached and harassed a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke. The ringleader, a self-identified Muslim teen, threatened to kill the man and added, “They should have killed all of you.” When police confronted the belligerent 17-year-old at a stop in Brooklyn, a mob formed. As the crowd filmed the scene and yelled at the policemen, one young woman began beating a cop before being arrested.
It’s unclear from the Daily News report whether the mob knew exactly who or what they were defending. It’s conceivable they thought they were protesting the needless arrest of a black teenager, not endorsing the anti-Semitic conduct that led to the young man’s arrest. There’s also no evidence from this report that the 17-year-old insulted and threatened the Jewish passenger out of any religious motivation. We wouldn’t be surprised if he is simply a jerk.
Whatever the motives for the attack and for the mob’s reaction, one can’t help but be appalled. Since its founding, America has been one of the safest and most welcoming countries for Jews, judged against any time period, and New York has played a particularly important role in this regard.

It is, indeed appalling.

Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 10:30 am

PUNCHING BACK TWICE AS HARD: West Virginia teen returns to school with NRA shirt, classmates’ sup…

Instapundit » Blog Archive » PUNCHING BACK TWICE AS HARD
West Virginia teen returns to school with NRA shirt, classmates’ support.
A West Virginia teen who was arrested and suspended for wearing a National Rifle Association T-shirt to school returned to class Monday wearing the same shirt that got him into trouble.
Jared Marcum, 14, was joined by about 100 other students across Logan County who wore shirts with a similar gun rights theme in a show of support for free speech.

"That’s how you respond to this sort of thing."

For The First Time, Average Michigan Government Employee Compensation Exceeds $100K

For The First Time, Average Michigan Government Employee Compensation Exceeds $100K [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"The average combined cost of salary and benefits for a state worker jumped to $104,067 in 2011-12, increasing from $97,883 in 2010-11."

No change: Consumers Energy president reiterates utility's plans to close Muskegon's B.C. Cobb plant

No change: Consumers Energy president reiterates utility's plans to close Muskegon's B.C. Cobb plant | MLive.com:
"Federal Clean Air Act regulations on the amount of particulates, nitrogen dioxide and mercury stiffen for coal-power plants in 2015.
Consumers Energy’s expected move to close B.C. Cobb, which employs 116 people, is a significant blow to the Muskegon community.
The plant is Muskegon County’s largest taxpayer, although its value diminished to $134.5 million in 2012 for taxing purposes under an agreement with the city of Muskegon and the company."