Archive - March 4, 2014

Reported by Jonathan Pearson (Micronesia 1987-89) Advocacy Director for the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 President Obama submitted a Fiscal Year 2015 budget to Congress which requests virtually the same level of overall funding for the State Department and other international affairs programs, including the Peace Corps. The President is requesting $42.6 billion for the State Department and other International Affairs programs, about a 0.2% decrease from spending in the current fiscal year. The Peace Corps fared only marginally better, as the President is requesting $380 million for the fiscal year that begins next October. That’s a one million dollar increase from current funding, which is about 0.3% above current funding. Pearson reports that RPCV Congressman Sam Farr  is expected to begin circulating his annual “Dear Colleague” letter, urging support for increased funding for the Peace Corps.

VOTE TODAY FOR KINKY FRIEDMAN (BORNEO 1967-69) Willie Nelson’s bud Kinky Friedman wants to become Texas’ next Agriculture Commissioner. So it should come as no surprise that he’s made the upcoming election “a referendum on lifting the prohibition on pot and hemp.” “Prohibition simply doesn’t work,” Friedman writes on his campaign website. “Lifting the prohibition is not about long-haired hippies smoking dope; it’s about the economy, the environment, water conservation, education, the border, health care, criminal justice (and injustice!). It’s about the future of this great state.” On the homepage of the site, it reads in big letters: “Kinky Says Legalize Now!” Musician, author, humorist and political hopeful, Friedman is best known as the leader of his band, the Texas Jewboys. These days he’s set his sights on making a difference working at the highest level of state government. Friedman has lost several previous races but is trying again to win the upcoming . . .