Twenty-fifth Day

Picture of the Space Needle the day I went to Seattle for King County jury duty.

Yesterday I read about TWO pages of my book.

I had one phone call about LJB from a friend; nothing with the family or others.

I've been putting photos of John on Facebook, but nobody else is.  I'm confused, I thought that's what people do.

I want to get back into the swing of my peaceful, productive days like the beginning of the year when I read a book and was calm. Almost there.

***

The beginning of Day Six of the Trump Administration

Trump causes official drama (Presidential actions below) and he causes unofficial drama (Twitter, believes the election he won was rigged with 3 - 5 million illegal votes and that's why he didn't win the popular vote)

As far as official drama through yesterday, according to WhiteHouse.gov, these are the things he’s done:

January 24, 2017

                Executive Order to expedite environmental approvals for High Priority Infrastructure projects. In other words, infrastructure is high on Trump’s list of priorities because it helps with jobs and our economy. Some of the projects (as requested by governors or agency heads) are to be considered high priority by the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  When that’s the case, the Chairman of the CEQ will expedite procedures and deadlines for completion of environmental reviews and approvals for the project. 

                Presidential Memorandum streamlining permitting and reducing regulatory burdens for domestic manufacturing.  In other words – because the Trump administration supports the expansion of domestic manufacturing, this memo advises Agency heads to expedite the reviews and reduce regulatory burdens that affect domestic manufacturing.  The Public has 60 days to contact the Secretary of Commerce to comment on the federal actions to streamline permitting.

                Presidential Memorandum regarding construction of pipelines.  In other words – materials and equipment (steel et al) used for pipelines located in the US be produced in the US.

                Presidential Memorandum regarding construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. In other words – that pipeline is going through. TransCanada Keystone Pipeline L.P. can resubmit their application and all the agencies should consider it approved.

Presidential Memorandum regarding construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. In other words – that pipeline is going through.  Dakota Access LLC has already submitted their applications and the project is mostly complete.  The Memorandum orders the Army Corps of Engineers to review and approve, in an expedited manner, the requests for approvals.

January 23, 2017

                Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze.  In other words – The executive branch has a hiring freeze; no new civilian employees. There will be no vacancies filled and no new positions created (exceptions: military, and national security or public safety as approved by head of agency, and those positions that require Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation).  A plan will be prepared to reduce the Federal Government’s workforce through attrition. 

                Presidential Memorandum regarding withdrawal of the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations and Agreement.  In other words – we will not be a signatory to the TPP.  Note: the treaty was not going to be approved by Congress anyway.

                Presidential Memorandum regarding the Mexico City policy.  In other words – a Foreign NGO must certify they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning using funds from ANY source (including non-US funds) as a condition for receiving US government global family planning assistance.  This memorandum not only reactivates the policy (started in Reagan years and turned ‘on and off’ via Presidential Memorandum ever since) but expands the type of US Aid that will be at risk.  Now, an NGO must certify the abortion stuff in order to get ANY US global health assistance – including AIDS and Maternal and Child Health assistance.

January 22, 2017

January 21, 2017

January 20, 2017 (Friday, Inauguration Day)

                Executive Order to minimize the economic burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act pending repeal.  In other words – the Trump administration supports repeal of the ACA, until such time as it is repealed the agency directors can exercise their authority to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any portion of the ACA that would impose a fiscal burden on anyone.

                Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies. In other words – a few less regulations, please.

SUMMARY:  Stop with the regulations, don’t worry about those environmental reviews, if you’re a foreign NGO and want money from the US government for any health related programs don’t even mention the word abortion, build manufacturing plants, buy and use American steel, stop wasting time and energy maintaining and enforcing that pesky Obamacare, Trump will negotiate trade with countries individually so no need for any alliances, Oil is King, and make do with the employees you have ‘cause you’re not getting any new ones.