VA employees rack up $2.6 billion in credit card charges
"Veterans Affairs employees last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at casino and luxury hotels, movie theaters and high-end retailers such as Sharper Image and Franklin Covey — and government auditors are investigating, citing past spending abuses.
All told, VA staff charged $2.6 billion to their government credit cards."
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Feeling the bite of food prices
Feeling the bite of food prices: "High oil prices, the push for alternative fuels and global demand for food are driving the trend.
'I've just started to think about using coupons,' said Taryn Reed, a Minneapolis mother and sometimes Kowalski's shopper, who says she has already begun shopping at supercenters more often and buying store brands.
Faced with $8-a-gallon organic milk and more than $2 for a dozen large eggs, consumers are changing their behavior"
'I've just started to think about using coupons,' said Taryn Reed, a Minneapolis mother and sometimes Kowalski's shopper, who says she has already begun shopping at supercenters more often and buying store brands.
Faced with $8-a-gallon organic milk and more than $2 for a dozen large eggs, consumers are changing their behavior"
Drink Absolut Vodka-- Bring Back Mythical Aztlan
Drink Absolut Vodka-- Bring Back Mythical Aztlan: "'In an Absolut World anything can happen including getting the US-Mexico border straight once and for all.'
...You may become so drunk you might even imagine you're in Aztlan.
*Hic*"
...You may become so drunk you might even imagine you're in Aztlan.
*Hic*"
Fast-tracking climate policies
Fast-tracking climate policies : "The new report probes the edges of executive orders and lays out the authority the next president could use to introduce global-warming policies without waiting for legislation to wind its way through the notoriously slow congressional machine"
Backpack snags on fence; man strangled | Seattle Times Newspaper
Backpack snags on fence; man strangled Seattle Times Newspaper: "In the backpack, an officer found about a dozen 40-ounce bottles full of beer, the report said."
Friday, April 04, 2008
BeldarBlog: Is Obama still smoking while hiding and denying it?
BeldarBlog: Is Obama still smoking while hiding and denying it?: "Is Obama still smoking while hiding and denying it?"
Obama and King - WSJ.com
Obama and King - WSJ.com: "Martin Luther King Jr. died at age 39; today, the 40th anniversary of his death, is the first time he has been gone longer than he lived.
Figures such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have tried to claim his place on the American stage. But at most they have achieved fame and wealth. What separated King from any would-be successor was his moral authority. He towered above the high walls of racial suspicion by speaking truth to all sides."
Figures such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have tried to claim his place on the American stage. But at most they have achieved fame and wealth. What separated King from any would-be successor was his moral authority. He towered above the high walls of racial suspicion by speaking truth to all sides."
Church sues city of Muskegon over denied permit
Church sues city of Muskegon over denied permit
"Planning commissioners cited those comments and also mentioned possible future commercial uses for the former dealership, which they said would be preferable to taking the building off the tax rolls for use as a church.
Acording to the lawsuit, the latter reason for denial is not allowed under a federal law called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act. 'This is a case where the church is being discriminated against in part because of its tax-exempt status -- a clear violation of (the act),' said Dan Dalton, the church's Royal Oak attorney, in a news release."
"Planning commissioners cited those comments and also mentioned possible future commercial uses for the former dealership, which they said would be preferable to taking the building off the tax rolls for use as a church.
Acording to the lawsuit, the latter reason for denial is not allowed under a federal law called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act. 'This is a case where the church is being discriminated against in part because of its tax-exempt status -- a clear violation of (the act),' said Dan Dalton, the church's Royal Oak attorney, in a news release."
Muskegon, Ottawa counties receive $1 million (almost) teaching grant - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com
Muskegon, Ottawa counties receive $1 million (almost) teaching grant - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com: "It's really to prepare teachers to be able to better teach traditional American history,' said Jo Ann Webb, spokeswoman for the Department of Education. 'When they can teach it better, then kids can learn it better.'"
Thursday, April 03, 2008
My Way News - States May Free Inmates to Save Millions
My Way News - States May Free Inmates to Save Millions: "Lawmakers from California to Kentucky are trying to save money with a drastic and potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal: releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison, including drug addicts, thieves and even violent criminals."
Sense of Events: The soft side of Simon Cowell
Sense of Events: The soft side of Simon Cowell: "The soft side of Simon Cowell
Gerard Van Der Leun says that this is the best five minutes you'll spend today. Righto, that."
Gerard Van Der Leun says that this is the best five minutes you'll spend today. Righto, that."
DNC stance surprises campaigns
DNC stance surprises campaigns
"But the mere presence of Florida and Michigan on the credentials committee raises the prospect of vote-trading or last-minute maneuvering, creating potential confusion for a convention already shadowed by procedural controversies."
"But the mere presence of Florida and Michigan on the credentials committee raises the prospect of vote-trading or last-minute maneuvering, creating potential confusion for a convention already shadowed by procedural controversies."
Mayor adds to stimulus proposal
Mayor adds to stimulus proposal:
"Under the mayor's plan, the city wouldn't borrow the money, but rather enter into an agreement with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., a quasi-governmental agency, to borrow the money. The council would have to sign off on an ordinance authorizing the agreement.
After three payment-free years, the city would use the expected growth in casino revenue to make the annual $29 million payments on the bonds for the next 30 years. That's how Kilpatrick's staff said the city could undertake the projects without raising taxes or cutting from the budget."
"Under the mayor's plan, the city wouldn't borrow the money, but rather enter into an agreement with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., a quasi-governmental agency, to borrow the money. The council would have to sign off on an ordinance authorizing the agreement.
After three payment-free years, the city would use the expected growth in casino revenue to make the annual $29 million payments on the bonds for the next 30 years. That's how Kilpatrick's staff said the city could undertake the projects without raising taxes or cutting from the budget."
'Pig Book' tallies $17.2 billion in pork
'Pig Book' tallies $17.2 billion in pork
"the Democrat-led Congress last year broke a promise to slash pork spending and doled out $17.2 billion for pet projects, including $296 million in earmarks by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — the top spender of the three presidential contenders.........
Congress stuffed 11,610 projects into fiscal 2008 spending bills, the second-highest total ever and more than triple the number of projects in fiscal 2007. The $17.2 billion spent reflected a 30 percent increase over the previous year's $13.2 billion expenditure, according to the 'Pig Book.'"
"the Democrat-led Congress last year broke a promise to slash pork spending and doled out $17.2 billion for pet projects, including $296 million in earmarks by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — the top spender of the three presidential contenders.........
Congress stuffed 11,610 projects into fiscal 2008 spending bills, the second-highest total ever and more than triple the number of projects in fiscal 2007. The $17.2 billion spent reflected a 30 percent increase over the previous year's $13.2 billion expenditure, according to the 'Pig Book.'"
AG - , Track Your Taxes
AG - , Track Your Taxes: "Welcome to Attorney General Mike Cox's
Track Your Taxes Webpage"
Track Your Taxes Webpage"
AG Cox pushes to put state budget online
AG Cox pushes to put state budget online
"Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox joined several Republican legislators making stops Tuesday in Kalamazoo and elsewhere to push for passage of a bill that would put the state budget online.
Sponsored by Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Texas Township, the bill would require the creation of a Web site that specifies how the state spends money.
Cox called for bringing what's been dubbed the 'track your taxes' bill out of committee and to a vote in the House floor.
'The House has had more than enough time"
"Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox joined several Republican legislators making stops Tuesday in Kalamazoo and elsewhere to push for passage of a bill that would put the state budget online.
Sponsored by Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Texas Township, the bill would require the creation of a Web site that specifies how the state spends money.
Cox called for bringing what's been dubbed the 'track your taxes' bill out of committee and to a vote in the House floor.
'The House has had more than enough time"
Worst States For Jobs - AOL Find a Job
Worst States For Jobs - AOL Find a Job: "1. Michigan
Unemployment rate: 7.1 percent
Population: 10,071,822
Mean annual wage: $41,230"
Unemployment rate: 7.1 percent
Population: 10,071,822
Mean annual wage: $41,230"
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