Citizens for Common Sense

Lead-Paint Rule Counterproductive
Next month will mark the second anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule, known as RRP, under which contractors who work on houses built before 1978 must be trained and certified to work safely with lead paint, which can have a negative neurological impact on young children. The rule kicks in when at least six square feet of painted surface will be disturbed. If you hire someone to work on your home who is not requiring you to sign a "Renovate Right" pamphlet, that person is breaking the law and could face steep fines. (More >>>)

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill Passes House 
The House passed national concealed carry reciprocity legislation on Wednesday evening by a vote of 272-154.
The bill, H.R. 822, is intended to allow persons who hold a concealed carry permit from one state to also carry anywhere in the country, with the exception of Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Though the bill passed by a wide margin, it was not without controversy on the pro-gun side of the debate.  In previous alerts, GOA has pointed out several flaws in the legislation.
* It forces Vermont residents (who do not need a permit to carry) to either obtain an out-of-state permit or to push their state to pass a more restrictive concealed carry law than it now enjoys; (More>>>)

If You own a House
EPA's new lead safe regulations are onerous and outrageous, requiring contractors to do their work in a "lead safe" manner that will cost the home owners thousands of additional dollars and potentially subject contractors to future litigation.

Some of the new requirements:
      Contractors must preclean the home, Yes clean before work begins.
      Contractors must remove all furniture from areas being worked on or completely wrap those items in plastic.
      The area being worked on must be isolated from the rest of the house.
      All debris must be either wrapped in plastic or places in plastic trash bags before leaving the containment area.
      Workers must wear protective overalls, respirators, rubber gloves, booties, and glasses
      A special HEPA vacuum costing $500.00 or more has to be used, the filters costing approx, $125.00 each has to be replaces after each job.
      Caution tape and warning signage has to be places throughout the job site.
      The outside of the house has to be protected with plastic and signage as well.
      So far the EPA has required contractors to pay them $300.00 for the privilege of doing these things and we have had to attend an 8 hour class costing an additional $200.00 for certification.
      EPA fines for violators is $37,500.00 per incidence. But the homeowner can do all the work, contamination they want, without taking any of the above precautions.

These regulations translate to thousands of additional dollars that home owners will have to shell out. The kicker is, homeowners cannot refuse these measures. If they hire a contractor, electrician, plumber, painter, or any one else who disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a house built prior to 1978 prepare to be screwed. Approx. 80% of the housing in our area was built before 1978.

Contact you Congressmen and US Senators now and ask them to reinstate the Opt-out clause which would allow you the home owner to decide for yourself if you want to pay for these extraordinary measures.

John D

P.S. A completer set of rules are at www.epa.gov

Tax dollars to build mosques
The State Department is sending Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf - the mastermind of the Ground Zero Mosque - on a trip through the Middle East to foster “greater understanding” about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States. However, important questions are being raised about whether this is simply a taxpayer-funded fundraising jaunt to underwrite his reviled project, which is moving ahead in Lower Manhattan.(More>>>)

Comment Please Radio Show
Tuesday March 8, 2011
John DiPrimio hosted a program on  called "Comment Please" on WNPV1440 AM from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. The archive of the show is posted below.

Tuesday March 8, 2011

Dear Freedom Action Activist,
Are you as angry as I am about the federal ban on standard light bulbs? 

I hope so because Freedom Action is launching a national grassroots campaign to overturn the ban on incandescent light bulbs at www.FreeOurLight.org, and we need your involvement.  Click here to sign the petition to Congress now. (More >>>)  

Washington Passes Secret Energy Tax

ALERT: It looks like the climate bill debate has already been decided by Washington and voters didn't even have a chance to say "NO!" A staggering $65 billion dollars has been transferred from the private sector to fund the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is government created entity that is choking companies in the northeast with huge tax increases in the name of the environment. Our tax dollars are funding this secret climate initiative. Soon RGGI will expand to every state and stick you with astronomical energy prices. (More>>>)