"Fox News reporter James Rosen pressed State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Tuesday over why it took such a long time to apprehend Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala when he wasn’t even in hiding. In fact, the suspect has conducted several press interviews since the deadly Benghazi terror attacks."Wednesday, June 18, 2014
‘You’re Not Answering’: Pay Attention to How State Dept. Official Responds to Reporter’s Simple Benghazi Question | Video | TheBlaze.com
‘You’re Not Answering’: Pay Attention to How State Dept. Official Responds to Reporter’s Simple Benghazi Question | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"Fox News reporter James Rosen pressed State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Tuesday over why it took such a long time to apprehend Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala when he wasn’t even in hiding. In fact, the suspect has conducted several press interviews since the deadly Benghazi terror attacks."
"Fox News reporter James Rosen pressed State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Tuesday over why it took such a long time to apprehend Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala when he wasn’t even in hiding. In fact, the suspect has conducted several press interviews since the deadly Benghazi terror attacks."
Always hungry after eating?-----China dog-eaters dodge activists with early feast
My Way News - China dog-eaters dodge activists with early feast:
"BEIJING (AP) — Residents in a southern Chinese city that has come under fire for an annual summer solstice festival in which thousands of dogs are slaughtered for food have held their feasts early to avoid attention.
Some residents of Yulin started gathering last weekend and eating dog meat and lychees to celebrate the longest day of the year, ahead of Saturday's actual solstice, state media reported this week. The residents wanted to avoid protests by animal rights activists."
"BEIJING (AP) — Residents in a southern Chinese city that has come under fire for an annual summer solstice festival in which thousands of dogs are slaughtered for food have held their feasts early to avoid attention.Some residents of Yulin started gathering last weekend and eating dog meat and lychees to celebrate the longest day of the year, ahead of Saturday's actual solstice, state media reported this week. The residents wanted to avoid protests by animal rights activists."
Sebelius Blames 'Right-Wing Media' For Obamacare Failures
Sebelius Blames 'Right-Wing Media' For Obamacare Failures | The Daily Caller:
"Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took aim at her “hostile” right-wing opponents Tuesday, in her first speech after resigning her top post.
.....“We had right-wing media, leadership in Congress who was determined on the House side to stop this law at any cost, shadow political organizations, hostile governors, hostile legislators, all working to make sure you couldn’t do the job that was so important,” Sebelius gushed, only once mentioning “our well-known issues with the website” putting a damper on customers getting coverage.
Sebelius even hit states for putting limits on navigators at all, seemingly, despite reports that personal information has already been put at risk.
She hit back at the “relentless obstruction” of those who would put a check on Obamacare staffers asking for customers personal information — “people who were forced with getting fingerprints and paying a fee in order to help people access health insurance.”
She wasn’t alone.
President Obama pre-taped a message for the conference, taking the opportunity to snipe at those who continue to oppose the health-care law in a short video.
“We cannot let up now,” Obama said.”"
"Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took aim at her “hostile” right-wing opponents Tuesday, in her first speech after resigning her top post.
.....“We had right-wing media, leadership in Congress who was determined on the House side to stop this law at any cost, shadow political organizations, hostile governors, hostile legislators, all working to make sure you couldn’t do the job that was so important,” Sebelius gushed, only once mentioning “our well-known issues with the website” putting a damper on customers getting coverage.Sebelius even hit states for putting limits on navigators at all, seemingly, despite reports that personal information has already been put at risk.
She hit back at the “relentless obstruction” of those who would put a check on Obamacare staffers asking for customers personal information — “people who were forced with getting fingerprints and paying a fee in order to help people access health insurance.”
She wasn’t alone.
President Obama pre-taped a message for the conference, taking the opportunity to snipe at those who continue to oppose the health-care law in a short video.
“We cannot let up now,” Obama said.”"
Greta Van Susteren Presses Hillary Clinton on the Constitution: ‘We Have This Funny Little Thing Called the Fourth Amendment and It’s Actually Quite Plain’ | Video | TheBlaze.com
Greta Van Susteren Presses Hillary Clinton on the Constitution: ‘We Have This Funny Little Thing Called the Fourth Amendment and It’s Actually Quite Plain’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:
“Madam Secretary, you’re a lawyer, President Obama is a lawyer, I’m a lawyer and NSA spying on Americans violates the Fourth Amendment. It couldn’t be plainer. If you want to spy on Americans you get a warrant,” Van Susteren said. “What do you think about that?”
“Madam Secretary, you’re a lawyer, President Obama is a lawyer, I’m a lawyer and NSA spying on Americans violates the Fourth Amendment. It couldn’t be plainer. If you want to spy on Americans you get a warrant,” Van Susteren said. “What do you think about that?”Our moron president wins another one-------Canada OKs oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast
Canada OKs oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast:
TORONTO (AP) — Canada's government on Tuesday approved a controversial pipeline proposal that would bring oil to the Pacific Coast for shipment to Asia, a major step in the country's efforts to diversify its oil exports if it can overcome fierce opposition from environmental and aboriginal groups.
Approval for Enbridge's Northern Gateway project was expected as Canada needs infrastructure in place to export its growing oil sands production.
TORONTO (AP) — Canada's government on Tuesday approved a controversial pipeline proposal that would bring oil to the Pacific Coast for shipment to Asia, a major step in the country's efforts to diversify its oil exports if it can overcome fierce opposition from environmental and aboriginal groups.Approval for Enbridge's Northern Gateway project was expected as Canada needs infrastructure in place to export its growing oil sands production.
The project's importance has only grown since the U.S. delayed a decision on TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline that would take oil from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The northern Alberta region has the world's third largest oil reserves, with 170 billion barrels of proven reserves.
Enbridge's pipeline would transport 525,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta's oil sands to the Pacific to deliver oil to Asia, mainly energy-hungry China.
About 220 large oil tankers a year would visit the Pacific coast town of Kitimat and opponents fear pipeline leaks and a potential tanker spill on the pristine Pacific coast.
Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said Canada's national interest makes the pipelines essential.
He was "profoundly disappointed" that U.S. President Barack Obama has delayed a decision on the Texas Keystone XL option, and spoke of the need to diversify Canada's oil industry.
Ninety-seven percent of Canadian oil exports now go to the U.S.
Sports story of the day-----Man tried to throw football stuffed with drugs into prison yard
Man tried to throw football stuffed with drugs into prison yard | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"LANSING — A Detroit man is facing felony charges after he allegedly tried to throw a football containing drugs, cell phones and other contraband into the yard of a state prison in Jackson on Sunday.
The throw came up short and the football landed between two fences at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility and did not land in the yard where prisoners exercise, said Trooper Toby Baker of the Michigan State Police Jackson post.
A prison officer who was in the parking lot saw the man throw the football — which contained heroin, marijuana, tobacco, three cell phones and chargers — and he was apprehended at the scene."
"LANSING — A Detroit man is facing felony charges after he allegedly tried to throw a football containing drugs, cell phones and other contraband into the yard of a state prison in Jackson on Sunday.The throw came up short and the football landed between two fences at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility and did not land in the yard where prisoners exercise, said Trooper Toby Baker of the Michigan State Police Jackson post.
A prison officer who was in the parking lot saw the man throw the football — which contained heroin, marijuana, tobacco, three cell phones and chargers — and he was apprehended at the scene."
Exclusive: USAF General Running for Congress Calls for ‘Aggressive Leadership’ After Tea Party Surge
Exclusive: USAF General Running for Congress Calls for ‘Aggressive Leadership’ After Tea Party Surge:"While America’s enemies circle, the Obama Administration’s foreign policies (or lack thereof) have been a focus point for conservative (and some liberal) critics. When asked about Obama’s foreign policy, Rayburn quipped,
“Oh, I’m sorry; you said that the Obama Administration has a foreign policy? I must’ve missed that…”
With a hint of disgust, General Rayburn hammered away, saying, "
"Come-back city Detroit" story of the day-----Man Killed In Detroit Carjacking Attempt
Man Killed In Detroit Carjacking Attempt - WDTK AM:
(Detroit, MI) -- A Detroit man is dead and a woman is recovering after both are shot in an attempted carjacking.
It happened Saturday evening at a gas station on 8 Mile Road at Dequindre and it was all caught on the surveillance system.
Police say video shows the suspect following 21-year-old Shaneqwa Carr back to the vehicle she was a passenger in, and when the driver of the vehicle tussled with the suspect five shots were fired.
The driver, 47-year-old Leslie White, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators are hoping the surveillance system can help them get a positive identification on the suspect."
(Detroit, MI) -- A Detroit man is dead and a woman is recovering after both are shot in an attempted carjacking.It happened Saturday evening at a gas station on 8 Mile Road at Dequindre and it was all caught on the surveillance system.
Police say video shows the suspect following 21-year-old Shaneqwa Carr back to the vehicle she was a passenger in, and when the driver of the vehicle tussled with the suspect five shots were fired.
The driver, 47-year-old Leslie White, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators are hoping the surveillance system can help them get a positive identification on the suspect."
Conundrum-------Even The Feds Admit Minimum Wages Cause Unemployment
Even The Feds Admit Minimum Wages Cause Unemployment | Zero Hedge:
These special certificates are known today as 14(c) permits, and thousands of employers have one. Some studies claim that more than 300,000 Americans work for subminimum wage under the auspices of such permits.
Minimum wage doesn’t apply to everyone.
When Congress first established minimum wage in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, it left a loophole for businesses that employ people with disabilities.
The Secretary, to the extent necessary to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, shall by regulation or order provide for the employment, under special certificates, of individuals ... whose earning or productive capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury, at wages which are lower than the minimum wage.
These special certificates are known today as 14(c) permits, and thousands of employers have one. Some studies claim that more than 300,000 Americans work for subminimum wage under the auspices of such permits.
This isn’t well known. Advocates of minimum wage often base their support for the measure on ethical grounds, claiming that all workers deserve a degree of compensation regardless of their productivity. Such was the reasoning of Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who raised his city’s minimum wage last week to the unprecedented level of $15 per hour under the guise of “equal access and opportunity for all.”
Yet minimum wage advocates rarely address the issue of minimum wage exemptions.
‘A Rabid Foe’: Catholic Leader Blasts Pelosi Over Her Letter Urging Archbishop to Pull Out of Anti-Gay Marriage Event | TheBlaze.com
‘A Rabid Foe’: Catholic Leader Blasts Pelosi Over Her Letter Urging Archbishop to Pull Out of Anti-Gay Marriage Event | TheBlaze.com:
"The civil rights leader also said that Pelosi has no problem when gays and lesbians insult her faith, instead choosing to speak out when Catholic leaders embrace church teaching.
“When gays go naked in the streets of San Francisco, and mock Catholicism in patently obscene ways, Pelosi is never offended,” he wrote. “What offends her is her archbishop’s public defense of the Church’s teachings on marriage. Nice to know what her moral compass looks like.”
"The civil rights leader also said that Pelosi has no problem when gays and lesbians insult her faith, instead choosing to speak out when Catholic leaders embrace church teaching.“When gays go naked in the streets of San Francisco, and mock Catholicism in patently obscene ways, Pelosi is never offended,” he wrote. “What offends her is her archbishop’s public defense of the Church’s teachings on marriage. Nice to know what her moral compass looks like.”
Audit: Michigan improperly spent $160M on Medicaid
Audit: Michigan improperly spent $160M on Medicaid | Crain's Detroit Business:
LANSING — Michigan improperly spent $160 million over three years caring for Medicaid recipients needing in-home services primarily because it failed to obtain invoices and other required documentation from service providers, a damning state audit found today.
...The audit found that the state:
• overpaid 80 agencies $6.8 million by not making sure they met requirements to get higher fees than individual aides.
• hired a contractor in 2008 for $1.4 million to visit DHS county offices over three years to review home health cases, yet the case file reviews were not forwarded to the offices for corrective action on time. The Community Health Department blamed a lack of staff for the delay.
• inappropriately paid $3.5 million for home services when the patients were instead being hospitalized or in nursing homes.
• did not review thousands of W-2 forms returned as undeliverable, missing a chance to crack down on clients fraudulently getting services or their relatives providing a false address to avoid cuts in the clients' authorized service level.
• failed to create a process for caseworkers to refer suspected fraud to the attorney general's office.
Auditors said nearly 3,800 home health providers had felony convictions, including 572 convictions for violent crimes. The state said it has been considering background checks for years, but clients can hire family members to care for them and may be fully aware and accepting of their criminal history.
LANSING — Michigan improperly spent $160 million over three years caring for Medicaid recipients needing in-home services primarily because it failed to obtain invoices and other required documentation from service providers, a damning state audit found today.
...The audit found that the state:
• overpaid 80 agencies $6.8 million by not making sure they met requirements to get higher fees than individual aides.
• hired a contractor in 2008 for $1.4 million to visit DHS county offices over three years to review home health cases, yet the case file reviews were not forwarded to the offices for corrective action on time. The Community Health Department blamed a lack of staff for the delay.
• inappropriately paid $3.5 million for home services when the patients were instead being hospitalized or in nursing homes.
• did not review thousands of W-2 forms returned as undeliverable, missing a chance to crack down on clients fraudulently getting services or their relatives providing a false address to avoid cuts in the clients' authorized service level.
• failed to create a process for caseworkers to refer suspected fraud to the attorney general's office.
Auditors said nearly 3,800 home health providers had felony convictions, including 572 convictions for violent crimes. The state said it has been considering background checks for years, but clients can hire family members to care for them and may be fully aware and accepting of their criminal history.
History for June 18
History for June 18 - On-This-Day.com:
1429 - French forces defeated the English at the battle of Patay. The English had been retreating after the siege of Orleans.
1812 - The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain. The conflict began over trade restrictions.
1815 - At the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was defeated by an international army under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon abdicated on June 22.
1873 - Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote for a U.S. President.
1925 - The first degree in landscape architecture was granted by Harvard University.
1942 - The U.S. Navy commissioned its first black officer, Harvard University medical student Bernard Whitfield Robinson.
1953 - Egypt was proclaimed to be a republic with General Neguib as its first president.
1979 - In Vienna, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) 2.
1983 - Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
2009 - Greenland assumed control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources from the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenlandic became the official language.
International Sushi Day
Birth anniversaries of Oscar-winning songwriter Sammy Cahn (1913-93), financial journalist Sylvia Porter (1913-91), explorer and mountaineer George Mallory (1886-1924)
Happy Birthday! Lou Brock, Paul McCartney, Isabella Rossellini
1429 - French forces defeated the English at the battle of Patay. The English had been retreating after the siege of Orleans.
1812 - The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain. The conflict began over trade restrictions.
1815 - At the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was defeated by an international army under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon abdicated on June 22.
1873 - Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote for a U.S. President.
1925 - The first degree in landscape architecture was granted by Harvard University.
1942 - The U.S. Navy commissioned its first black officer, Harvard University medical student Bernard Whitfield Robinson.
1953 - Egypt was proclaimed to be a republic with General Neguib as its first president.
1979 - In Vienna, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) 2.
1983 - Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
2009 - Greenland assumed control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources from the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenlandic became the official language.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Read These Tweets About the ‘Inevitable’ Return of the ‘Caliphate’ — the Bigger Story Could Be Who Actually Wrote Them | TheBlaze.com
Read These Tweets About the ‘Inevitable’ Return of the ‘Caliphate’ — the Bigger Story Could Be Who Actually Wrote Them | TheBlaze.com:
"A senior adviser to the Department of Homeland Security claimed on Friday that the takeover of Iraqi cities by a deadly terrorist group is evidence that the return of a Muslim “Caliphate” is “inevitable.”
"A senior adviser to the Department of Homeland Security claimed on Friday that the takeover of Iraqi cities by a deadly terrorist group is evidence that the return of a Muslim “Caliphate” is “inevitable.”Want to Know Just How Close the Muslim Brotherhood Is to the Obama Admin? | Video | TheBlaze.com
Want to Know Just How Close the Muslim Brotherhood Is to the Obama Admin? | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"The following is an overview of each of the Islamist figures who have found their place — in some way, shape or form — at the Obama administration’s table."
"The following is an overview of each of the Islamist figures who have found their place — in some way, shape or form — at the Obama administration’s table."Hopee, changee still workin' for ya?--------Price Index for Meats, Poultry, Fish & Eggs Rockets to All-Time High
Price Index for Meats, Poultry, Fish & Eggs Rockets to All-Time High | CNS News:
"The seasonally-adjusted price index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs hit an all-time high in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)."
"The seasonally-adjusted price index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs hit an all-time high in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)."
VIDEO: Marine Arrested and Institutionalized for Facebook Posts Critical of the Government
VIDEO: Marine Arrested and Institutionalized for Facebook Posts Critical of the Government: "Brandon Raub, a decorated Marine who was forcefully admitted to a mental health institution for posting Facebook posts that were at-odds with the Obama Administration’s political agenda, is now suing the federal government for the apparent civil rights violation."First they destroy the family, the nightly dinner and glorify fatness. Now they want to dump broccoli on the young adults?-------First lady: Students shouldn't pick what they have for lunch
First lady: Students shouldn't pick what they have for lunch | TheHill:
"First lady Michelle Obama on Monday blasted back at critics of her school lunch program, arguing parents should ensure their children eat healthy meals.
Obama said parents and school leaders can’t let children make the call to eat pizza and burgers for lunch every day.
“If I let my kids dictate what we have for dinner every day, it would be French fries, chips and candy, but we don’t run our households like that, and we can’t run our schools like that,” the first lady said in an interview with MSN.
“Our job as adults to make sure that our kids eat what they need, not what they want,” she added.
“What we need to do is lend a hand to the schools that are struggling, not roll back the standards and say, ‘Oh, well. The kids don’t like it so let them eat cake.’ We can’t afford to do that,” she said."
"First lady Michelle Obama on Monday blasted back at critics of her school lunch program, arguing parents should ensure their children eat healthy meals.Obama said parents and school leaders can’t let children make the call to eat pizza and burgers for lunch every day.
“If I let my kids dictate what we have for dinner every day, it would be French fries, chips and candy, but we don’t run our households like that, and we can’t run our schools like that,” the first lady said in an interview with MSN.
“Our job as adults to make sure that our kids eat what they need, not what they want,” she added.
“What we need to do is lend a hand to the schools that are struggling, not roll back the standards and say, ‘Oh, well. The kids don’t like it so let them eat cake.’ We can’t afford to do that,” she said."
White House on Missing Lerner Emails: ‘You’ve Never Heard of a Computer Crashing Before?’ | TheBlaze.com
White House on Missing Lerner Emails: ‘You’ve Never Heard of a Computer Crashing Before?’ | TheBlaze.com:
"The IRS said it could not recover an untold number of emails to and from Lois Lerner, the former head of the IRS tax-exempt organizations unit, because of a hard drive crash. That time period — from January 2009 to April 2011 – included a critical time in the IRS’ extra scrutinizing of Tea Party and other conservative groups."
"The IRS said it could not recover an untold number of emails to and from Lois Lerner, the former head of the IRS tax-exempt organizations unit, because of a hard drive crash. That time period — from January 2009 to April 2011 – included a critical time in the IRS’ extra scrutinizing of Tea Party and other conservative groups."If you have money in bond funds, be warned!-------A Horror-Show Called “Fed-Gate” May Be Coming To Your Bond Fund Soon
A Horror-Show Called “Fed-Gate” May Be Coming To Your Bond Fund Soon | David Stockman's Contra Corner:
"The Financial Times is not exactly a rumor mill—-so its recent headline amounts to a thunderbolt:
“Fed Looks At Exit Fees On Bond Funds”
And so the shoes begin to fall.
Owing to the Fed’s brutal financial repression since December 2008 (i.e. zero yield on short-term funds), there has been massive scramble for yield that has driven trillions into corporate and high yield bond funds.
What this means is that liquid funds which would have normally been parked in bank deposits or money market funds have been artificially displaced.
That is, they have been chased by the dictates of the monetary politburo into far more illiquid and risky investment vehicles owing to zero yields in their preferred financial venues.
But now it is dawning on at least some of the more market savvy occupants of the Eccles Building that they have created a monumental financial log-jam waiting to happen.
In their jargon, the migration of trillions into bond funds since the financial crisis has resulted in a sweeping “maturity transformation”.
As former governor Jeremy Stein succinctly put it,
“It may be the essence of shadow banking is … giving people a liquid claim on illiquid assets.”
What Stein means is that the traditional money markets existed for a reason—even if returns were inferior to what could be obtained in longer duration fixed income securities or investments with equity-like features such as junk bonds.
Corporations and individuals who invested in money market instruments, including bank CDs, were willing to absorb the yield penalty in return for the assurance of absolute daily liquidity that the funds in question required.
But zero return is not a market driven liquidity penalty; it is an arbitrary prohibition imposed on the market by the monetary politburo.
So now we have a giant anomaly.
Trillions of daily liquidity demanding investments are potentially stuck in bond funds which could not provide it during a crisis.
In effect, any attempt by bond funds managers to meet a surge of redemptions calls would make the crisis surrounding the Reserve Prime Fund’s “breaking the buck” in September 2008 seem like a Sunday School picnic."
"The Financial Times is not exactly a rumor mill—-so its recent headline amounts to a thunderbolt:
“Fed Looks At Exit Fees On Bond Funds”
And so the shoes begin to fall.Owing to the Fed’s brutal financial repression since December 2008 (i.e. zero yield on short-term funds), there has been massive scramble for yield that has driven trillions into corporate and high yield bond funds.
What this means is that liquid funds which would have normally been parked in bank deposits or money market funds have been artificially displaced.
That is, they have been chased by the dictates of the monetary politburo into far more illiquid and risky investment vehicles owing to zero yields in their preferred financial venues.
But now it is dawning on at least some of the more market savvy occupants of the Eccles Building that they have created a monumental financial log-jam waiting to happen.
In their jargon, the migration of trillions into bond funds since the financial crisis has resulted in a sweeping “maturity transformation”.
As former governor Jeremy Stein succinctly put it,
“It may be the essence of shadow banking is … giving people a liquid claim on illiquid assets.”
What Stein means is that the traditional money markets existed for a reason—even if returns were inferior to what could be obtained in longer duration fixed income securities or investments with equity-like features such as junk bonds.
Corporations and individuals who invested in money market instruments, including bank CDs, were willing to absorb the yield penalty in return for the assurance of absolute daily liquidity that the funds in question required.
But zero return is not a market driven liquidity penalty; it is an arbitrary prohibition imposed on the market by the monetary politburo.
So now we have a giant anomaly.
Trillions of daily liquidity demanding investments are potentially stuck in bond funds which could not provide it during a crisis.
In effect, any attempt by bond funds managers to meet a surge of redemptions calls would make the crisis surrounding the Reserve Prime Fund’s “breaking the buck” in September 2008 seem like a Sunday School picnic."
Don't forget that politically connected, greedy unions are costing you (an your family) money every day. Every hour............Cost of School Millage Approvals Inflated Because of Prevailing Wage Law
Cost of School Millage Approvals Inflated Because of Prevailing Wage Law [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
One thing voters did not get to decide in recent school millage elections was whether they wanted to pay higher wages for the construction projects that were approved in districts across the state.
Yet that's what will happen because of the state's prevailing wage law, which mandates that union scale wages be paid on construction work funded by taxpayer dollars, regardless of the winning bidder on a contract.
Unless the law is changed before the projects get under way, $35 million of the nearly $469 million voters approved for construction this month will be spent to cover the costs of the prevailing wage, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, a statewide trade association representing the commercial and industrial construction industries.
"Today, the majority of construction workers in Michigan — 80 percent — choose not to belong to a union, yet the state is still basing wages for publicly funded construction on fiscally irresponsible union agreements," said Chris Fisher, president of ABC of Michigan.
"We're not trying to say there was anything wrong with the voters approving the projects.
We're pointing out that the projects would be more cost effective if this outdated law was repealed."
One thing voters did not get to decide in recent school millage elections was whether they wanted to pay higher wages for the construction projects that were approved in districts across the state.
Yet that's what will happen because of the state's prevailing wage law, which mandates that union scale wages be paid on construction work funded by taxpayer dollars, regardless of the winning bidder on a contract.
Unless the law is changed before the projects get under way, $35 million of the nearly $469 million voters approved for construction this month will be spent to cover the costs of the prevailing wage, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, a statewide trade association representing the commercial and industrial construction industries."Today, the majority of construction workers in Michigan — 80 percent — choose not to belong to a union, yet the state is still basing wages for publicly funded construction on fiscally irresponsible union agreements," said Chris Fisher, president of ABC of Michigan.
"We're not trying to say there was anything wrong with the voters approving the projects.
We're pointing out that the projects would be more cost effective if this outdated law was repealed."
Hopee? We sure got "changee"--------Optimism about the 2014 economy is fading
Optimism about the 2014 economy is fading - Jun. 16, 2014:
"A Census report released Friday shows health care spending was far weaker than expected in the first quarter.
As a result, economists are now forecasting the economy contracted at an annual rate of 1.5% to 2.4% in the first three months of the year, even weaker than the 1% contraction already reported by the Commerce Department.
(The Commerce Department will revise its GDP numbers next week).
If that's the case, achieving 3% growth for 2014 overall will be next to impossible.
The economy would have to grow at around a 4.6% annual pace for the next three quarters in a row.
The United States has not had a growth spurt that strong since late 2003 to early 2004."
"A Census report released Friday shows health care spending was far weaker than expected in the first quarter.
As a result, economists are now forecasting the economy contracted at an annual rate of 1.5% to 2.4% in the first three months of the year, even weaker than the 1% contraction already reported by the Commerce Department. (The Commerce Department will revise its GDP numbers next week).
If that's the case, achieving 3% growth for 2014 overall will be next to impossible.
The economy would have to grow at around a 4.6% annual pace for the next three quarters in a row.
The United States has not had a growth spurt that strong since late 2003 to early 2004."
It's only black on white brutality. No worries. Nothing to see here, folks.......Knockout Game, Jr.? Black Teen Attacks White Child on Camera in Pre-Planned Ambush
Knockout Game, Jr.? Black Teen Attacks White Child on Camera in Pre-Planned Ambush | Truth Revolt:
"On Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio, a 13-year-old black girl viciously attacked a 10-year-old white girl on a sidewalk while a guardian filmed the obvious pre-planned ambush.
The video was posted online and the police are now involved calling it a "hate crime."
The video shows the 13-year-old waiting in the front yard near the sidewalk seemingly minding her own business as the 10-year-old approaches on her scooter. Once in range, the teen girl lunges out and delivers over 20 blows to the helpless little girl's face and head. A female voice from behind the camera phone eventually yells out, "All right (attacker's name)!," calling off the beating."
‘They Keep Coming’: The ‘Rehearsed’ Answers Illegal Immigrants Are Using at the Border to Gain Entry Into the U.S. | TheBlaze.com
‘They Keep Coming’: The ‘Rehearsed’ Answers Illegal Immigrants Are Using at the Border to Gain Entry Into the U.S. | TheBlaze.com:
"Border Patrol agents along the southwest border have been directed not to speak with journalists after the public became aware that more than 47,000 undocumented children have illegally entered into the country over the past eight months. Most of the undocumented children crossed through the Rio Grande Valley sector and many times, they traveled alone."
"Border Patrol agents along the southwest border have been directed not to speak with journalists after the public became aware that more than 47,000 undocumented children have illegally entered into the country over the past eight months. Most of the undocumented children crossed through the Rio Grande Valley sector and many times, they traveled alone."Oh goody!---------------State Budget Shifts Extra Revenue Sharing Funds To Detroit
State Budget Shifts Extra Revenue Sharing Funds To Detroit [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"Fresh off the Michigan Legislature approving a $195 million bailout for Detroit, some elected state officials and the governor are looking to favor the city again, but this time with the statutory revenue sharing.
Detroit is budgeted in 2014-15 to receive $140.5 million in the money taken from sales tax revenue, a $4.2 million increase from 2013-14.
That’s what is proposed in Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget, which is in committee."
"Fresh off the Michigan Legislature approving a $195 million bailout for Detroit, some elected state officials and the governor are looking to favor the city again, but this time with the statutory revenue sharing.Detroit is budgeted in 2014-15 to receive $140.5 million in the money taken from sales tax revenue, a $4.2 million increase from 2013-14.
That’s what is proposed in Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget, which is in committee."
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