Kennedy to introduce sweeping national service bill
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff
NEW YORK -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy, sidelined from the Senate as he undergoes treatment for a malignant brain tumor, plans to introduce a sweeping new national service bill tomorrow to recruit 175,000 Americans of all ages to do service work in health, education, environmental protection and anti-poverty programs, with their work partly subsidized by the federal government.
The plan, meant to build on national service initiatives that began under former President Kennedy and expanded under former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, would provide an estimated $5 billion over five years to encourage citizens from kindergarteners to retirees to get involved in community organizations -- including faith-based groups -- on a series of programs targeted at national problems.
The new corps members would be paid modest salaries to spend a year working on specific national problems. Employers would be eligible for tax cuts for giving workers time off to do community service, while a new venture capital fund would also be created to boost the creation of new service organizations.
The measure is the first major piece of legislation the ailing Massachusetts lawmaker has presented since being diagnosed with a brain tumor in May. While the senator does not plan to return to Washington full-time until January, staff and colleagues say he has been working assiduously from his home in Cape Cod, following legislation, talking to fellow senators, and sponsoring amendments to bills.
The service plan - crafted by Kennedy over the past eight months with Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah -- is meant to marry the two parties' often competing approaches to community service, encouraging the volunteerism advocated by many Republicans while providing federal financial assistance requested by some Democrats.
"What this bill is saying is, we need both,'' said Alan Khazei, founder of City Year, a Boston-based youth community service group and a chief advocate of the new bill.
The measure will be unveiled tomorrow in concert with a national symposium on national service in New York. Former President Bush -- who initiated a "1,000 Points of Light'' program to encourage volunteerism -- and former President Clinton, who helped create Americorp, a federally funded program to encourage national service -- are set to appear in videos touting the benefits of community work. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy, is scheduled to be at the event along with Queen Noor of Jordan, dozens of military officials and numerous members of Congress and community activists.
Current national service programs are working well, Kennedy staffers said, and the new plan would build on them. The Peace Corps, President Kennedy's program to help developing countries with basic needs, would also be expanded.
But the new plan, staffers said on condition of anonymity, would be aimed at people of all ages. While many volunteer programs now attract young college graduates willing to work for low salaries before settling into better-paid job, the Kennedy-Hatch plan would give older Baby Boomers an opportunity to take time off for community service, perhaps transitioning into a second career.
Retired people generally not sought out by community service organizations would be encouraged to get involved and eligible for an "Encore Fellowship'' to extend their tenures beyond one year. Schoolchildren, meanwhile, would be taught to incorporate a "lifetime of service'' into their lives, starting with smaller efforts such as food drives, aides said.
Kennedy has been absent from Washington since May, except for a single appearance to cast a dramatic, determinate vote on a measure to block scheduled cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. The Massachusetts lawmaker also made a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention last month in Denver, despite having awoken the morning of his address with kidney stones.
But Kennedy has continued to work despite his illness, issuing dozens of statements and signing onto several bills and amendments since he became ill.
Khazei said Kennedy has been working on the national service plan consistently since January, eager to take advantage of interest shown by both John McCain and Barack Obama, their parties' respective presidential nominees.
"He hasn't skipped a beat. He hasn't missed a day. He get more done from the Cape than most of us do in a week,'' Khazei said. "He's a hero.''
"It's appropriate that he's doing legislation on public service, because Ted Kennedy symbolizes public service," said Representative Jim McGovern, a Worcester Democrat. "It's inspiring."
thanks for trying to increase the size of government yet again...
It's amazing, our Senior Senator can come up with creative, innovative, and important legislation and submit it to the Senate will out recovering from a brain tumor but Obama can't create or submit any important legislation during his entire short life in politics. And there are STILL people going to vote for him because he represents "CHANGE". I ask you WHAT CHANGE do you think you are going to get? Change can have negative impacts as well. To all you Obamaites, this article should give you pause before you brainlessly pull the lever for Obama. Compare his record against Kennedy's then define to yourself what change really means. Don't just be a horse being pulled to water becuase I can guarantee you the water won't be there when we arrive.
Go for it! WE all need to be held responible for our country.
There is no need for such legislation. A complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
There is no need for such legislation. This is a complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
Does it ever end? National Service? What the freaking hell. Stop stealing taxpayer money to pay for projects that will be chosen for political reasons rather than true need. We don't need bigger government and we don't need any kind of national service program. If you want to help people, get out in your own communities, spend your own money, and help. Don't make others subsidize you at the point of a gun.
"Schoolchildren, meanwhile, would be taught to incorporate a 'lifetime of service' into their lives, starting with smaller efforts such as food drives, aides said."
how vile. childhood indoctrination, national socialism, this one just has it all. i guess that worked for the USSR and the reich, too. so, who shall we annex when our progressives' economic non-policy drives the people into poverty? canada or mexico? i bet you can get cheaper labor from mexico with "strategic partnerships."
and don't worry, "conservatives," mccain will put the emphasis on "national" instead of "socialism" for you, while you totter down the same exact path -- different scenery, of course -- to the same third-world, debt-enslaved end.
Couldn't those people be put to work productively?
Oh yeah, government is killing the economy.
Effin' Kennedys.
Taxes "would provide an estimated $5 billion over five years."
I'm tired of being taxed for BS like this. Stop stealing from me to satiate your political ambitions.
dave,
were you aware that the single largest increase in the size of government occurred under G.W. Bush? didn't think so.
population gets bigger, government gets bigger. pretty simple equation. get your head out of the sand.
to try and use this as ridicule towards someone who's actually in the game trying to make the world a better place is asinine.
roberto clemente once said, "if you're not trying to help others, you're wasting your time on the planet." i bet you're wasting your time on the planet.
I personally have no interest in paying more tax dollars for a program to recruit 175,000 Americans to be lowly paid bureaucrats. However, what is even worse is that the lobbying group responsible for this (an elitist group called ServiceNation) used to say on their website (before they whitewashed their site under pressure from the libertarian movement) that they support this "voluntary" big government program as a stepping stone to later implementing "Universal National Service." This needs to be stopped. Ted Kennedy does not symbolize "public service" to most Americans. He symbolizes big government, high taxes, socialism, and other things that most Americans despise (including most residents of Massachusetts, as Carla Howell's proposal to abolish the State Income Tax shows). Americans want REAL CHANGE (low taxes, no more wars, no more anti-civil liberties legislation, no more Imperial Presidency, no "National Service" garbage, and a Balanced Budget), not more of the same failed Democrat and Republican policies that have been running this country into the ground for 112 years.
I hope service advancing historic preservation - so valued by the late First Lady - will be eligible.
Every totalitarian government promotes government service." Free nations like Switzerland did it the right way and remained uninvaded and non-UN for over half a century.. The Imperialist One World Monopolists started media controls and wars like Cuba and The Phillipine's slaughter at the start of the 19th century. We got a Draft (National service Bill) in 1916 that wasn't rescinded until Vietnam's demise. Please Mother State!! I'd rather do it myself!!! Wake Up Americans, and join www.campaignforliberty.com...Reread your Constitution and write Teddy a big NO letter..
Other famous politicians have over the years made demands that people should forget their personal wants and needs and subject themselves to the needs of the many - which almost always came to mean the prevailing political party. Let's review:
Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao, and FDR.
Remember how many had to be "eliminated" as impediments to their success?
Hmmmm?
Hes a Hero? No. He is a murderer. Mary Jo is still dead. Maybe he can get a 17 year old service worker to operate on his brain,if he thinks its such a good idea. What a disgrace.
How long before "national service" is more narrowly defined as joining the military? It would hold down anti-draft dissent!
Honestly, I think we are a stones throw away from rounding up "enemies of the state" and putting them in "work programs". This country is headed done the tubes and it is because of idiotic government policies like this.
Heil Hitler!
"Ask not what you can do for your country."
No, I didn't forget the rest. That just seems to be all there is anymore.
I'm afraid that this rotten piece of socialistic garbage will get passed simply because Kennedy is about to die.
We all benefit from those who serve around us whether we're aware of it or not. We also benefit, whether we realize or not, when we reach out with the intention of serving. The costs to government go down from the direct, economic benefits that come from service. Encouraging people to do what they want to do--help and connect with their neighbors and while doing that, cut government costs--is smart policy. Thank you Service Nation. (I served in the Peace Corps Honduras 1989-1991).
Ask any American if they want to end government schools, eliminate "social security" or reduce the scope and size of the military and the majority will say no.
Americans are like the proverbial "Frogs Desiring a King" by Aesop, looking for a father figure to take care of them from cradle to grave. And like the stork in Aesop's fable, citizens are gobbled up by their "king". They deserve what they get. Like most of the oligarchs in the U.S., I have nothing but contempt for the average, fat, lazy and ignoble American. Vive la Service National. You want it, you can have it.
-e
When I was 22 I served in the Peace Corps for three years in Latin America. It changed my life, my view of the world and of my country. I am now 66 years old and a grandmother about to vote for Barack Obama. Why? Because he has given me hope that once again Americans can care more for their country than for themselves. I love my country but I have been completely discouraged by the direction it has taken in these past couple of decades.
Let's get over the "me first" attitude that seems to prevail. Time for folks to stop moaning and step up to the plate..
But the happy part of the story is "Kennedy is about to die" Now young interns wont need scuba equipment anymore.
But the happy part of the story is "Kennedy is about to die" Now young interns wont need scuba equipment anymore.
Kindergartners? Off mommy's nipple and onto the government nipple
National Socialism. Everything old is new again.
Let the white-Christian (original American ) opt out for a sheer fairness reason ; they have been totally " raped " by our corrupt , anti-white ,unconstitutional political parties for many, many decadent decades. Among unfair, unconstitutional, racist " civil rights " laws , voter rights laws, affirmative action , quotas, genocidal pogrom/ethnic/ racial cleansing of America's-original country forming peoples, the Euro-stock , by passage of non-representative 1965 Immigration and Reform Act; Original Americans have been reduced politically , economically from 89 percent of the total population to approximately 68 percent now and falling like a rock from a cliff to the glee of liberals/Marxists everywhere, domestic or foriegn. The seeds were sown to destroy our " republic " in' 65 by Sen. Kennedy, et al and not a whimper of protest from any original-American; wake up; your extermination is around the corner; stop " diversity " now !
National Service is one of those half-baked ideas that sounds much more close to a Soviet or Nazi Germany type of "service", but additionally, to force taxpayers to foot the bill, again, for another government program is beyond reason, especially since the government has never had a good track record in anything it touches.
We need to be held responsible for our own responsibilities before we can begin to be held responsible for others whilst growing government even more.
This is nothing more than a ploy to grow Big Non-Profit. Their directors and CEO's apply for grants, claim to be doing the Lord's work, and take home nice salaries while their little peon volunteers are conned into believing that they're saving their souls.
I think I just threw up in my mouth.
Sorry Virginia, not quite true that"The costs to government go down from the direct, economic benefits that come from service". First off, they are not "costs to the government", they are "costs to the taxpayer". Do you think the 5 billion provided by the "bill" would rain from heaven? If you want to "help and connect with your neighbors", by all means, do, I commend you and will do so likewise. Please do not ask me to pay you for it, and I will not ask you to pay me for it. If you would like a paycheck, then get a regular job. We are all free to do that as much as we want. There are many worthy private organizations out there right now that would love for you to help that do not waste taxpayer money to help people. These government programs will simply steal resources from them by offering a crappy little paycheck for your "service". I am also quite sure the administrative costs of such a program would far outweigh any so-called economic benefits that might be claimed.
Didn't good ol' uncle Adolf Hitler have a similar program?
Fascism anyone?
As soon as you realize this will in due course be compulsory as corporate groups benefit, you realize this is the return of feudal slavery.
As Libertarians, we oppose this.
M. Gilson
R. Swanson
J. Chorgo
A. Kovolyak
K. Gilson
Kira Gilson
Libertarian Club
Pinellas, Florida
When will we stop associating anything positive with something that Government must be involved in. I am all for service and I donate time and money for causes in my community. Now Ted wants me to pay the government to help people to volunteer. Can people now not even volunteer without the Government helping? With all of this nation's debt if people can't see the absurdity of this plan we deserve to be the socialist nation these clowns want to move us towards. And spare me the Republicans waste money on X, so its ok argument. I am not a Rep or Dem, lets call waste when we see it regardless of party.
I pay into the National/ State service bill for the first 5 months of every year. The gov't takes our money, our time, our lives. I thought we had a revolution in the pursuit of life, liberty and property and to break the chains of a gov't taking all of these things. We all benefit when the gov't doesn't steal from us and give to themselves. We can all be more charitable and help others peacefully when we are not stripped away of all of our resources at the threat of a gun. Don't give your money (taxes) to the gov't, they take your property, don't pay your tickets, they take your money, your car, your livelihood. Keep upsetting them the take you to jail. They have our guns, our money, our property. What do we get? More laws, more taxes, more soldiers and now they want us to pay more in tribute? No Thanks!
To Virginia concerning "Encouraging people to do what they want to do--help and connect with their neighbors and while doing that, cut government costs--is smart policy." ----you did read the part concerning the 5 BILLION dollar price-tag associated with this bill?
Where did the government get that money? Was it from the goods they produced? No, government produces nothing. It only takes by force and gives it away.
Fact is we are going National Socialist now, no matter who is elected. McCains "Country first" and Obama's "we need to get outside of ourselves" nonsense is leading us down a very dark road.
To Virginia concerning "Encouraging people to do what they want to do--help and connect with their neighbors and while doing that, cut government costs--is smart policy." ----you did read the part concerning the 5 BILLION dollar price-tag associated with this bill?
Where did the government get that money? Was it from the goods they produced? No, government produces nothing. It only takes by force and gives it away.
Fact is we are going National Socialist now, no matter who is elected. McCains "Country first" and Obama's "we need to get outside of ourselves" nonsense is leading us down a very dark road.
Here's another case of government trying to foment its culture of incompetence in those few remaining institutions that actually take some of the money the receive and do good for people. Don't think that "federal" funding, i.e. funds stolen from taxpayers, will be given to non-governmental institutions without a whole string of conditions, thus effectively making them quasi-governmental once they accept the funds.
For the brilliance and promise of private, government-backed efforts, take Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae: perfect examples of how parasitic, non-productive government shills bankrupt even further a nation whose primary export is debt - to fund these kinds of asinine efforts, and the war plundering of Halliburton and Blackwater in Iraq.
As always, the evil-doers are after the hearts, minds and now the bodies of the youth.
Hitler would be proud of the advances made by national socialism, especially the recent coup that gave herr leaders the lion's share of the US mortgage market.
So is Teddy going to give all the kids brown shirts too?
I want government to be reduced, not expanded. I want taxes to be decreased not increased. I want Uncle Sam's hand out of my pocket rather than looking for ways to get his other hand in my other pocket. Encourage volunteerism. If people want to serve this country, let them volunteer for the military like I did. Let them work through their churches to help people. Please do not create more government bureaucracy to pay people to accomplish nothing excpet for taking money from taxpayers. Just because Kennedy's name is associated with this idea does not make it a good thing. I am sure he really thinks this is the right thing to do but I don't. I believe Government has a tendency to mess things up rather than make them better.
"The first obligation of every citizen must be to work both spiritually and physically. The activity of the individuals is not to counteract the interests of the universality, but must have its result within the framework of the whole for the benefit of all."
If you agree with this, then welcome to the NAZI party! This is point # 10 of the NAZI party platform.
Wake up you fools, we are being led down the primrose path.
Kids in school should have no requirements for a food drive. School lunches are up and there are many low income families who have difficulty with that as is. The cake that kid would have to bring to a bake sale is much more important on that family's dinner table. Charity begins at home. It would cause undue stress on children with the pain of possible embarassmendt of what they could contribute. Enough pain on children!! A lot of problems would be solved here if true help were given with true heart. Who is going to buy that cake anyway?
Senator Keneday for his office help, or his yacht? What is the selling price, you say?
Patricia A. Mahan
How can I see and obtain a copy of the actual text of the act introduced on September 11, 2008.?
Serving is great and I'm all for it...minus the whole part where people are forced into it. Our government is easing us into a basic "draft" only they're sugar coating it so it seems we have a choice. Both candidates have committed to it.....up the military...even the people at American's for National Service Act....the most of them are vets...hell they've been militarized, why shouldn't all of us be? Right? Let me tell you...they'd better send some big m'effers to get me...it'll take more than a gun to pull me away from my kids...and I swear I'll get one of them in the process. Even the media is coating it over....very little is being said....WTF is up with our world? End the wars and stop slinging sh** at other countries...then we won't need a bigger military.
This is excellent! Hooray for Sen. Kennedy, encouraging Americans once again to extend helping hands to our citizenry who really need it. We spend so much $ on helping animals in this country, all the while children are suffering from parents that have to work several jobs, or can't get work. It is such a contrast. By spending a relatively small amount, if the citizenry would really get behind this program, we could accomplish so much! Let's go for it!!
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