There’s a lot of reasons to be holding Banksters such as Wells Fargo accountable; ripping off veterans is just one.

Last week, The Washington Post had this headline:

Suit alleges banks and mortgage companies cheated veterans and U.S. taxpayers
By Steve Vogel, Published: October 4

Some of the nation’s biggest banks and mortgage companies have defrauded veterans and taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars by disguising illegal fees in veterans’ home refinancing loans, according to a whistleblower suit unsealed in federal court in Atlanta.

The suit accuses the companies, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and GMAC Mortgage, of engaging in “a brazen scheme to defraud both our nation’s veterans and the United States treasury” of millions of dollars in connection with home loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“This is a massive fraud on the American taxpayers and American veterans,” James E. Butler Jr., one of the lawyers bringing the suit, said Tuesday.
(more)

The Seattle Times (and others) picked up on the story:

Investigation sought into VA loans with 13 major banks
By Steve Vogel — The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Following allegations in a lawsuit that 13 major banks defrauded veterans out of hundreds of millions of dollars with illegal fees to refinance home loans, the chairman of a Senate consumer-protection panel Wednesday called on the departments of Justice and Veterans Affairs to release any internal investigations related to the suit.

The whistle-blower lawsuit, first reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, alleges that the banks disguised unallowable attorney fees on refinancing loans guaranteed by the VA. The suit, which was filed in 2006 in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta, was unsealed Monday.

“Yesterday, we learned that abuses of veterans may run even deeper than we previously knew,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Panel and a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
(more)

And a Congressman from Iowa is calling for investigations, too:

Braley calls for congressional probe of banks handling veterans’ home loans
By James Q. Lynch/SourceMedia Group News — October 12, 2011

Rep. Bruce Braley is calling for an investigation of allegations that Wall Street banks have been defrauding veterans and taxpayers out of millions of dollars by intentionally disguising illegal fees in veteran home financing loans.

“If a bank intentionally preyed on veterans who’ve put their lives on the line for this country just to pad their profits, that’s beyond the pale,” Braley, a Waterloo Democrat and member of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, said.

Braley made his request for a probe in a letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Bob Filner.
more)

Not surprisingly, the Strib has pretty much turned a blind eye on the story, except – as far as I can tell – just one Associated Press blurb.

There is simply no doubt Wall Street Bansksters have been ripping off the 99%ers. If you can, you should march with those demanding accountability from Wells Fargo.

And don’t forget: these are peaceful protests.

# # #

OccupyMN.org

mnFairEconomy.org

TakeActionMN.org

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

First, the lawsuit:

Whistle-blower case targets big banks over fees on refinancings for veterans
by KERRI PANCHUK Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

A pending whistle-blower lawsuit accuses 13 banks with charging military veterans hidden fees on mortgage refinancing transactions.

Some of the nation’s big banks — Wells Fargo (WFC: 26.15 +0.08%), Bank of America Corp. (BAC: 6.40 +1.91%), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM: 32.3901 +0.28%)— are listed as defendants in the case, along with ten others.

The case was filed in 2006, but the court unsealed it recently, according to parties familiar with the matter. Bank of America declined to comment, while JPMorgan and Wells Fargo couldn’t be immediately reached.

Filed in the U.S. Northern District of Georgia – Atlanta Division, the whistle-blower lawsuit claims the defendants hid illegal fees when refinancing veterans’ mortgages that were insured by the government to provide the servicemembers with special loan products.

The plaintiffs claim 13 lenders violated a federal statute that prevents financial agencies from imposing “charges or fees against the borrower in excess of those permissible by law.”

(more, at HousingWire.com; copy of lawsuit at VAMortgageFraud.com)

How’s THAT for “screwing supporting the troops” — real “patriotic”, eh?

So, again, with the Wells Fargo, et al bankster lawsuit in mind, I figured I’d head downtown Minneapolis and watch the OccupyMN.org March On Wells Fargo. Oh – I figured I’d take a few pictures, too – let’s look!!!

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy At the #OWS People’s Plaza in Mpls; march on #Banksters #WellsFargo coming up! #StribPol #StribBiz #1U http://twitpic.com/6yu6fb
4 hours ago

The picture!

Now, you’ll hear Right Wing Nut Jobs talking about thugs ‘n such at these Occupations; as usual, reasonable people have no reason to believe what GOPers say. These signs were all over the place; cops ‘n duputies told me those attending have been VERY well behaved – respectful and orderly. No suprise there!

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out” #OWS in Mpls #Banksters #StribPol #StribBiz #1U http://twitpic.com/6yuib4

3 hours ago

The picture!

And yep! The crowd was yelling “banks got bailed out; we got sold out.” ‘Cause, they did and we did. Oh – and don’t forget; Veterans got cheated. Kinda makes ya wonder who else the Banksters cheated, don’t it?

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy Guy walking around w/ a #BradleeDean shirt & camcorder at #OWS People’s Plaza #StribPol http://twitpic.com/6yulvi

3 hours ago

The picture!

OK, the guy looked and acted like a RWNJ taking pictures o’ the participants; so I asked him. He denied it; denied knowing Bradlee Dean – said he just bought the shirt ’cause he’s a Christian and liked the message RWNJ Bradlee Dean’s Street Minions gave him. I told him Christians don’t trust Pharisee’s, so don’t trust Bradlee Dean. Since there was a reasonable doubt that they guy was a RWNJ Tracker, I’m not posting the clear shot I got o’ the guy. Yet.

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy At #Banksters #WellsFargo Mpls office, #OccupyMN fills lobby #StribPol #StribBiz #1U http://twitpic.com/6yup2e

3 hours ago

The picture!

OK, I’m not a professional pho-tog. (Heck), I’m not even a professional journalist – I’m a pundit. Some times my pictures suck; sometimes my writing sucks. So it goes.

Anyway, the protestors packed the lobby at Wells Fargo Corporate HQ in downtown Minneapolis; that’s a replica Wells Fargo stage coach in the middle o’ the crowd. Wish it were a better pic, but hey – so it goes.

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy #OccupyMN leaves #Banksters #WellsFargo HQ shouting “we’ll be back!” #OWS #StribBiz #StribPol #1U http://twitpic.com/6yurqq
3 hours ago

The picture!

Pretty much says it all!

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy #OccupyMN is now basing for #TCFBank; here’s a parting shot from #Banksters #WellsFargo: #OWS #StribBiz #StribPol #1U http://twitpic.com/6yuv1l

3 hours ago

The picture!

Huh??!? “Greed Over People”? Well, ok – but I always say “GOP stands for Greed Over Principles” – which is why I had to take that pic!

The tweet:

TwoPuttTommy Another picture from #OccupyMN at #Banksters #WellsFargo HQ today #1U #StribBiz #StribPol http://twitpic.com/6yvryt

2 hours ago

The picture!

Ruh – roh… Seems that that “another picture” is one I already tweeted… Oh, well – like I said: I’m not a pro, and so it goes.

Here’s a picture I didn’t tweet:

Like I said, those “keep it peaceful” signs were all over the place. And the protesters are.

If you get a chance to get to “The People’s Plaza” between the Hennepin County Government Center and minneapolis City Hall, do it.

The Banksters have been screwing us all, and they need to be held accountible.

Click here for the location.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see me there, too.

# # #

Additional Resources:

OccupyMN.org

mnFairEconomy.org

TakeActionMN.org

Bonus picture!

This nice lady didn’t want her face in the picture; as usual, The Dude Abides.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Bank officials also counter that further legal attacks on them will only delay the recovery in the housing market, which remains moribund, hurting the broader economy. Other experts warned that a series of adverse settlements costing the banks billions raises other risks, even if suits have legal merit. (emphasis added)

These Banksters got some cajones!

And even better for them, they got the GOP covering their backs.

Who’s got yours?

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Executive perks are piling up
There’s chauffeuring, country club memberships and more.

By CHRIS SERRES and PATRICK KENNEDY, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: April 2, 2011 – 11:23 PM

At Hormel Foods Corp., top executives looking for a scenic getaway can relax at a company-owned condo in Vail, Colo. On the way, they can grab a cocktail at an airport lounge where the Austin-based food maker takes care of the membership dues.

At Ameriprise Financial Corp., Chief Executive Jim Cracchiolo receives free chauffeur service, a home security system, personal use of a corporate aircraft and a $35,000 “executive perquisites allowance” — on top of his $18 million in salary and stock options.

And at 3M Co., CEO George Buckley last year received $632,673 in total perks, nearly double his previous year’s take. That included $167,574 in security services.

Executive perks have not just survived the worst economic downturn in five decades. They are flourishing.

Let’s look at that last line again: “Executive perks have not just survived the worst economic downturn in five decades. They are flourishing.”

And those perks are going to guys in the Boardroom who really aren’t suffering financially during this economic downturn, such as Best Buy’s Brian Dunn, who’s compensation has gone up the last three years.

In the Strib’s Opinion section is “commentary” from Jason Lewis, “Minnesota’s Mr. RightWingNut” – a proud defender of the GOP’s Boardroom Base :

The rich pay the taxes — that’s a fact
The data is right there in the state’s biennial Tax Incidence Study.

By JASON LEWIS
Last update: April 2, 2011 – 7:21 PM

Every two years the department releases its study, ostensibly designed to show the state’s overall tax burden. And every two years, the tax-and-spend crowd proclaims that the rich are getting off easy.

Gov. Mark Dayton and his fellow “progressives” have been busy pointing to the study in support of their $3 billion tax hike on the state’s top 5 percent of income earners.
.
.
The left cites the study’s findings on taxes as a percent of income as a measure of tax fairness.

Thus, should your household income go up, why, so should your taxes, lest the burden of government fall disproportionately on those left behind. Since sales and property taxes don’t rise with earnings, income taxes must be raised to offset this windfall for the “fortunate few.”

Lewis is full of BS – that’s “B” as in “bull” and “S” as in (stuff) – that Tax Incidence study he’s referring to shows that as income for the very well compensated (i.e., the GOP’s Boardroom Base) goes way up, the percentage of income taxed for all taxes goes down.

Then, in that front page story is this:

Executives worried about the tax bite of these corporate goodies can often rest easy. The reason: Corporate boards often reimburse senior managers for taxes owed on fringe benefits — essentially a “perk on a perk.”

Now THAT is a “windfall” – a Boardroom Perk where the corporation not on only tosses some extra dough at the executive – it picks up the tax tab, too!

That’s the kind of BS that’s just swell in Kochzellerstan, where today’s GOP protects the Boardroom at the expense of everybody else.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Best Buy shareholders may need to be patient. Dunn and his crew bet wrong on consumer appetite for 3-D and Internet-ready televisions, which led to a weak holiday season. That, combined with a hasty retreat from some foreign markets and a gloomy outlook for next year, have helped send Best Buy’s stock price to a two-year low on Friday.

In Wall Street’s estimation, Best Buy is neither learning from the challenges it faces nor changing fast enough. (Strib.com)

Here’s the question Best Buy CEO Brain Dunn asks, in the story:

“The question we’re asking is, ‘What can we do for our customers that nobody else can?’”

Say, Mr. “My Compensation Has Gone Up The Last Three Years”? Here’s the question you SHOULD be asking:

“The question we’re asking is, ‘What are we doing to our customers that nobody else is?’”

And I can answer that question, pal – you used corporate dough to fund a political candidate that – quite frankly – pissed off a whole bunch of your customers – me included.

From ABCNews.com:

Target, Best Buy Angers Gay Customers By Making Contribution to GOP Candidate
Companies Say They Are Supporting Minnesota Candidate’s Stance on Jobs, Not His Anti-Gay Views

Say, Mr. Dunn? You want to give your OWN dough to political candidates (and you have – including Ol’ Smokescreen, Norm Coleman) – hey, knock yourself out.

But you give CORPORATE dough to groups supporting/opposing candidates, like Best Buy did supporting Tom “Get Over It” Emmer, and you’re risking your company’s reputation/bottom line.

I haven’t stepped foot inside of a Best Buy since last summer; same goes for Target. I did stop a few times at Holiday Gas Stations this winter but I bought as little as possible.

Here’s that question Mr. Dunn and the rest o’ Best Buy’s Brain Trust should be asking: ‘What are we doing to our customers that nobody else is?’”

Wall Street should be asking Best Buy that also.

For those upset with what’s happening in Wisconsin, it’s worth noting that Koch Industries, based in Wichita, Kansas, is a privately held, industrial conglomerate. It is involved in everything from fertilizers, raw materials and refineries to cattle, forests and consumer products. In Minnesota, it owns Flint Hills Resources, which operates the Pine Bend Refinery in Rosemount, Minn.

In 2005, Koch bought Georgia Pacific, the huge forestry and wood products company that produces everything from plywood to cleaning supplies, drywall to towel dispensers, office papers to toilet paper. Among Georgia Pacific’s brands:

• Angel Soft, Quilted Northern and Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper

• Brawny, Mardi Gras and Sparkle paper towels

• Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups

• Mardi Gras napkins and towels

• Sparkle, Vanity Fair and Zee napkins

Koch also owns Invista, which manufactures more than a dozen widely known fibers and fabrics found in clothing and household goods. Among Invista’s brands:

• Coolmax, Cordura, SolarMax, Supplex, and Thermolite fabrics

• Polarguard synthetic insulation

• Antron and Stainmaster carpet fibers

• Comforel, Lycra and Tactel fibers

• Dacron fiberfill

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

The salaries of all employees in the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch are decreased by six percent. The salaries of the governor and all constitutional officers, legislators, and judges, except as prohibited by the Minnesota Constitution, article section 5, are decreased by six percent.

And GOPers WOULD whack every State Employee’s pay, including employees of the University of Minnesota – except apparently, they can’t. Presumably, if they could, they would – otherwise, why would they just “encourage” #UMN to do so? Here’s the last line in Section 1:

The University of Minnesota is strongly encouraged to comply with this section as if it were subject to it.

Today, GOPers are “encouraging” all #UMN employees take a hit; down the road, if they can figure out a way, it’s safe to assume they’ll enforce the hit.

Why are Government Employees on the GOPer’s hit list? IMNSHO, it’s this: today’s GOP refuses to raise income taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans – their Boardroom Base. The GOP’s Boardroom Base does NOT pay the same effective tax rate as the rest of us do – and to the GOP, that’s just swell.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: today’s GOP is protecting their Boardroom Base at the expense of everyone. Well, at the expense of everyone they can…

And if they figure out how, #UMN employees are next on the GOP hit parade.

S.F. No. 812, as introduced – 87th Legislative Session (2011-2012) Posted on Mar 14, 2011

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Because the “event” wasn’t “public” – unless you’re a rightwingnut that picks ‘n chooses which part o’ the Constitution you support, and believe pro-democracy protestors don’t have the right to peacefully assemble on puplic property anymore. Fox9 Noise “News” continued that meme after the event:

Walker spoke at Empire Bucket (1360 Livingstone Road, Hudson) at 1:55 p.m. The event was open to the public, and was attended by supporters and protestors alike. (myfoxtwincities.com)

Apparently, to Fox9 Noise “News” — “open to the public” means “stand on the street behind police barricades.” Whatever – the point is reasonable people have good reason to figure that what’s on Faux Noise isn’t quite accurate – but it is “right”!

Once inside, Ol’ “Baseball Bat” Walker spoke to a couple dozen employees. It seemed that they weren’t really thrilled to be seeing/listening to him – we’ll get to that. I had a video camera (it’s not the best, but hey – on a blogger’s salary, at least I got one!), and I simply had to stop taping to send a tweet:

Yep! That’s what Ol’ Baseball Bat Claimed!!! Here’s the exact quote (with a YouTube of it!):

“We did all these things in the first four, five weeks in office. So we got active right away and sent a clear message. The good news even in talking about it in November and December about what we were going to do and then doing it, we’ve already seen success. Last Wednesday we announced numbers statewide for the first month of the year. The private sector created more than 10,000 new jobs in the state of Wisconsin. More than 10,000 new jobs. Much better than the national trend. Much better than nearly every other state across the country. On top of that we saw our unemployment rate go down to 7.4%” — Governor Scott “Baseball Bat” Walker (R=Rightwingerstan) (emphasis added)

Seriously, you can’t make that stuff up. “…numbers statewide for the first month of the year…” Say what??!? So those 10,000 new jobs – AND lowered unemployment – are the result of what Ol’ BaseballBat simply TALKED about, in November and December 2010 – BEFORE he took office??!? Let’s look!

(direct link to YouTube)

TheUpTake.org was there, they have video too:“Scott Walker Opponents Outnumber Supporters 300-8 in Hudson Today”.

Now, at the end of Ol’ Baseball Bat’s talk to the employees, you may have noticed something; I sure did – which resulted in this tweet!

The videos clearly show “no standing o’s” for Ol’ Baseball Bat inside, and protesters clearly outnumbered those duped by the republiCons. When I got to Hudson, I counted 7 there that were blinded by the “right” ( 2 or 3 carried printed signs prepared by “AmericanMajority”) – and when I walked down the line after Ol’ Baseball Bat skeedaddled, I counted 8.

Here’s a sign that tells those opposed to Ol’ Baseball Bat exactly what they need to do:

And Hudson GOPer State Senator Sheila Harsdorf might be recalled, too – along with 7 other Wisconsin GOPer State Senators…

…just don’t expect to see any accurate reporting from Fox9 Noise “News” about it.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

On Saturday, March 12th, there was an explosion at the double-whammied Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan. On Sunday, a local RightWingNut Blogger that tells so many whoppers that a fellow progressive blogger created a tag just for him (“Gross Inaccuracies”) ripped Senator Klobuchar with this headline:

Sen. Klobuchar Picking Winners & Losers

Sen. Klobuchar has joined with Tim Johnson to co-sponsor legislation that picks economic winners and losers:

Mr. Gross Inaccuracies finishes his rant with:

Nuclear power plants, oil refineries and new oil rigs won’t get built because organizations like MCEA won’t let them get built.

If Sen. Klobuchar was interested in proven solutions, she needs to ignore these special interest groups when their agenda runs contrary to the needs of We The People.

Here’s what Mr. Gross Inaccuracies forgets: when, in 1957, Congress enacted the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act – Congress picked nuclear power to be a “winner”.

Yes, that same industry Mr. Gross Inaccuracies is championing now – nuclear power – is only around because over 50 years ago, Congress passed a law saying – in essence – that since nuclear power cannot (at ANY price) obtain liability insurance for it’s operation, if there’s an accident, the kind and generous and good ol’ USofA TaxPayers would pick up the cleanup tab.

No only is Mr. Gross Inaccuracies today’s example of “Those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP” – he’s also a prime example of “Republicans are against federal handouts (except when they’re not).”

Handouts, such as 1957′s Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act…

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Do these people not realize that the “Union Thugs” they’re figuratively bashing are their kid’s teachers??!? Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, in a democratically elected union, (and that’s EXACTLY what Teacher’s Unions are), local Union Reps are indeed among the teachers that greet the kids at the schoolhouse door.

I saw the following, and thought it pretty much summed up today’s RightWingNuts:

Perhaps someone can tell me: who is the thug?

(cross posted at MnProgresiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

(cartoon by Mike Tompson; used without permission via “Fair Use” as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.)

For a take from someone in the Business Community in an area that cuts will affect, I’d like to present the following:

LGA KEY TO STRONG BUSINESSES
By Randy Kehr, Executive Director of the Albert Lea – Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce

I hear the sounds of cutting coming from the State Capitol, and those are sounds that weigh heavy on owners of businesses located in greater Minnesota.

I am the Executive Director of the Albert Lea – Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, and I’ve heard those sounds – the cutting of funding for the Local Government Aid (LGA) program – all too often over the past eight years. Unfortunately, many legislators are of the opinion that those cuts will only affect city hall, ignoring the fact that they also put local businesses at risk.

Everyone who runs a business or lives in rural Minnesota understands that there will be discomfort as the Governor and Legislature address our budget deficit. However, for almost 40 years, the LGA program helped to level the playing field by keeping our property taxes and our city services on an even keel with those in areas with greater tax capacity. That was a policy decision that kept our entire state strong and economically healthy. The decision to drastically reduce or eliminate LGA will also be a policy decision, and as such, should be thoroughly examined in consultation with all the stakeholders before decisions are made. A policy that arbitrarily results in aid cuts will diminish our communities and accelerate the exodus of people and businesses from greater Minnesota. Everyone impacted by such a policy change should have a full understanding of those impacts before proceeding along this path.

Albert Lea is typical of many mid-sized rural cities, and past cuts have already left it and other greater Minnesota communities less competitive and less attractive to families and new businesses. The LGA cuts proposed this year by the legislature will add to that burden. If LGA is severely cut or eliminated, businesses in rural Minnesota could face paying up to double their current property taxes. In Albert Lea, taxes on an average size business could potentially rise from approximately $4,000 to over $8,000 a year. Similar tax hikes could hit businesses located all over greater Minnesota while those in areas with a significantly higher tax base would remain untouched. That does not bode well for our rural economy or for the economy of the state as a whole.

Those who say that taxes won’t rise, that cities will absorb the cuts are apparently unaware of the significant cuts that many cities in greater Minnesota have already made in response to previous unallotments. Services have been cut, employees laid off or retired early and open positions have not been filled. All of these actions have resulted in lower levels of service to the area’s citizens. Additionally, property taxes have already increased in most greater Minnesota cities. Businesses can’t thrive if infrastructure isn’t maintained, police and fire services are cut back, library and city hall hours are reduced and parks and pools closed down. In many cases, those public services have already been cut to the quick. Any additional cutting will negatively impact our cities and undermine our businesses.

For years the LGA program was seen as an investment, and it was an investment that paid off. We had a robust economy, not just in part of the state, but in the entire state, with outcomes that were positive for businesses and cities everywhere. This is not the time to abandon a policy that values strong rural cities and helps rural businesses survive despite today’s tough economy. It is time to stand up for a strong, united State of Minnesota and say “no” to further cuts to the LGA program.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)