Lee Bellinger's Executive Bulletin
"Enter Congressman John Mica (R-FL) to the rescue of overpaid, under-worked government employees!
The incoming chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Mica is a powerful backer of continuing the Obama Administration's backdoor bailout of bankrupt state governments.
This state debt nationalization scam is officially known as Build America Bonds (BABs).
Its insidious effect is to enable financially reckless states to borrow even more from bond markets rather than be forced to address their bloated budgets."
Friday, December 31, 2010
Top Ten Charts of 2010
Top Ten Charts of 2010 The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.
"The Top Ten Heritage Charts are below"
"The Top Ten Heritage Charts are below"
New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well
New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well Washington Examiner
"nearly 180 retired employees make over $66,000 year -- in other words, over and above the maximum salary of currently working employees.
In fact, 20 retirees make upwards of $90,000 in retirement, up to $132,360.
Couple this with how notoriously difficult it is to fire a public employee, and you'll see why a public employee crashing a snow plow into a car doesn't rattle city officials."
"nearly 180 retired employees make over $66,000 year -- in other words, over and above the maximum salary of currently working employees.
In fact, 20 retirees make upwards of $90,000 in retirement, up to $132,360.
Couple this with how notoriously difficult it is to fire a public employee, and you'll see why a public employee crashing a snow plow into a car doesn't rattle city officials."
Illegal aliens are illegal and alien
EDITORIAL: Illegal aliens are illegal and alien - Washington Times
"Are 'illegal aliens' simply misunderstood 'undocumented immigrants?'
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Diversity Committee believes so, and it's engaged in a campaign to 'inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting' on the issue.
That may sound nice, but there is nothing insensitive about calling a crime a crime."
"Are 'illegal aliens' simply misunderstood 'undocumented immigrants?'
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Diversity Committee believes so, and it's engaged in a campaign to 'inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting' on the issue.
That may sound nice, but there is nothing insensitive about calling a crime a crime."
Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner
Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner - Telegraph
"Dyson’s latest vacuum cleaner does away with the bag, the cable and most of the appliance as well"
"Dyson’s latest vacuum cleaner does away with the bag, the cable and most of the appliance as well"
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes
Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes - FoxNews.com
"in December, lawmakers engrossed in a busy and lengthy lame-duck session failed to include those penalties in a drug sentencing bill.
When Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed that bill last week, the penalties for synthetic marijuana and BZP were repealed."
"in December, lawmakers engrossed in a busy and lengthy lame-duck session failed to include those penalties in a drug sentencing bill.
When Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed that bill last week, the penalties for synthetic marijuana and BZP were repealed."
Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"The state of Michigan owes the federal government $3.8 billion in unemployment insurance loans and will have to start making $150 million a year on interest payments if Congress doesn’t extend a waiver by Friday"
"The state of Michigan owes the federal government $3.8 billion in unemployment insurance loans and will have to start making $150 million a year on interest payments if Congress doesn’t extend a waiver by Friday"
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com
Review & Outlook: The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com
"You'd think poor Michigan has enough economic troubles without the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission placing a $300 million to $500 million annual surtax on the state's electric utility bills.
But on December 16 FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff announced new rules that would essentially socialize the cost of transmission lines across 13 states in the Midwest.
That region-wide pricing scheme, according to a study commissioned by utility companies, will force Michigan to pay about 20% of as much as $20 billion in new high-voltage transmission lines—though Michigan businesses and homeowners will get little benefit.
Thanks to FERC's new tariff, nearly everything ..."
"You'd think poor Michigan has enough economic troubles without the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission placing a $300 million to $500 million annual surtax on the state's electric utility bills.
But on December 16 FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff announced new rules that would essentially socialize the cost of transmission lines across 13 states in the Midwest.
That region-wide pricing scheme, according to a study commissioned by utility companies, will force Michigan to pay about 20% of as much as $20 billion in new high-voltage transmission lines—though Michigan businesses and homeowners will get little benefit.
Thanks to FERC's new tariff, nearly everything ..."
--Editorial - NYPOST.com
--Editorial - NYPOST.com
"As long as Mayor Mike is in the dock, let us also note that when it comes to building a mosque near Ground Zero, he has from the start stood behind the First Amendment -- sort of.
That is, he likes the part that gives Muslims the right to build a house of worship just about anywhere they want.
But the part guaranteeing a separation between religion and government?
Not so much.
That much became obvious last week with the release of e-mails demonstrating that City Hall did much more than offer the mosque's organizers routine help.
In fact, it turns out that Team Bloomberg was heavily involved in operating the political machinery needed to ensure that various regulatory agencies approved the controversial project -- which has rightly drawn the ire of many 9/11 survivors and victims' families.
Even to the point of pressing Community Board 1 to cast an approving vote -- so that the chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission could be given the 'political cover' he so urgently sought before his agency denied landmark status to the existing building."
"As long as Mayor Mike is in the dock, let us also note that when it comes to building a mosque near Ground Zero, he has from the start stood behind the First Amendment -- sort of.
That is, he likes the part that gives Muslims the right to build a house of worship just about anywhere they want.
But the part guaranteeing a separation between religion and government?
Not so much.
That much became obvious last week with the release of e-mails demonstrating that City Hall did much more than offer the mosque's organizers routine help.
In fact, it turns out that Team Bloomberg was heavily involved in operating the political machinery needed to ensure that various regulatory agencies approved the controversial project -- which has rightly drawn the ire of many 9/11 survivors and victims' families.
Even to the point of pressing Community Board 1 to cast an approving vote -- so that the chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission could be given the 'political cover' he so urgently sought before his agency denied landmark status to the existing building."
Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism
Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism - Megan McArdle - Business - The Atlantic
"Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism
Japan's budget is in a truly terrifying state.
Reading about the government's behavior reminds me of the worst accounts of compulsive spenders on the verge of personal bankruptcy--a sort of 'What the hell, we're screwed anyway, so let's not think about it and maybe go to Cabo for the weekend.'
The budget's structural position is what is known technically to economists as 'completely hosed'; borrowing now exceeds tax revenue, and debt service costs now eat up almost half of the tax revenue the government collects.
'Unsustainable' is too weak to describe the situation; I don't know how they're doing it now."
Japan is simply America, Michigan, Muskegon, Norton Shores ...a few years down the road.
Will we ever wise up?
"Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism
Japan's budget is in a truly terrifying state.
Reading about the government's behavior reminds me of the worst accounts of compulsive spenders on the verge of personal bankruptcy--a sort of 'What the hell, we're screwed anyway, so let's not think about it and maybe go to Cabo for the weekend.'
The budget's structural position is what is known technically to economists as 'completely hosed'; borrowing now exceeds tax revenue, and debt service costs now eat up almost half of the tax revenue the government collects.
'Unsustainable' is too weak to describe the situation; I don't know how they're doing it now."
Japan is simply America, Michigan, Muskegon, Norton Shores ...a few years down the road.
Will we ever wise up?
Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings
Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings Mail Online
"A Texas pastor caught with more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics insists she was protecting a parishioner's valuables from thieves, not stealing them.
Sandy McGriff, co-founder of the Church of the Living God, was caught by police loading Serita Agnew's goods into her car.
The 52-year-old claims she was picking up a peach cobbler from a friend when she detoured past church member Agnew's home."
"A Texas pastor caught with more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics insists she was protecting a parishioner's valuables from thieves, not stealing them.
Sandy McGriff, co-founder of the Church of the Living God, was caught by police loading Serita Agnew's goods into her car.
The 52-year-old claims she was picking up a peach cobbler from a friend when she detoured past church member Agnew's home."
The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked
American Thinker: The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked
"Ever notice how liberals like to spend money...particularly other people's money?"
"Ever notice how liberals like to spend money...particularly other people's money?"
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)