OBAMA, THE ELECTION AND THE ECONOMY
Well, more election and economic news today, none of it good for our President or for us. Sales of previously-occupied homes took the largest monthly drop, 16.7%, in 40 years in December. To quote AP, the number sank ” more dramatically than expected”, the new phrase in use for economic reports, after ‘unexpectedly’ has been worn out. And with the expiration of the home buyers tax credit, and no significant improvement in employment, it may get worse for the real estate and housing industries. But, remember, the same anger that elected Scott Brown also elected Barack Obama.
Also, a report from Texas about stimulus spending. As part of the package, Congress boosted the spending by the Energy Department for weatherization of homes owned by low-income people by giving it an additional $5 Billion. That’s right $5 Billion. Now, a year later, only $441 million has been spent, and Texas reports that 49 houses have been weatherized under this program in the last year. That’s right, 49. One more than 48, one less than 50.
Also, on yesterday’s news shows, the Obama administration could not keep their numbers straight on jobs created and saved by the stimulus. Robert Gibbs on Fox News Sunday claimed 1.5 million, David Axelrod on CNN claimed 2 million and Valerie Jarrett on Meet The Press claimed “thousands and thousands” . What a circus this White House is; unfortunately, it’s a very expensive one and we are paying for it even if we don’t want to.
More 2010 news. Beau Biden, son of the Vice President, announced he will not run for his father’s seat this year, virtually conceding it to Republican Mike Castle. First District Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry, a Democrat, has announced he is not running for reelection, the 6th Democrat to so announce. Noted political analyst Stuart Rothenberg said yesterday that he considers 58 House seats held by Democrats to be in play in November, up from 47 last month, and 14 GOP seats are in play. Right now, it’s possible that the next Congress will see Republicans holding the former Senate seats of President Obama and Vice President Biden to go along with the Republican in Ted Kennedy’s seat.
On the state front, there is a hearing you need to call the Senate about, tomorrow, the 26th, at 10 AM before the Senate Judiciary committee, on SB 6396, the so-called assault weapons ban. It does much more than that and you need to contact the Senators and urge a no vote. I don’t have the names in front of me but you can find them at washingtonvotes.org and then call 1-800-562-6000.
Other stupid bills are HB2388 which would skyrocket the tax on cigars and HB2493 and SB 6443 which would place the sales tax on gum and candy. The revenue side of the equation is not the problem, it’s the spending but they just don’t get it. These taxes would raise very little money and hurt industries that employ people at a time when we should be encouraging the creation of jobs and controlling the spending.
More later. I will announce an event Wednesday evening, a viewing party of the President’s State of the Union speech. You all are invited. Details to come later today.
11 Responses to “OBAMA, THE ELECTION AND THE ECONOMY”
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HB2493 and SB 6443 which would place the sales tax on gum and candy. So, Washington now wants to tax kids?
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LBMonroe says:
Am I to understand that in Texas they have weatherez 49 homes for only 441 million dollars? I think I’m a new weatherization contractor in Texas!!!! Unless, of course, Queen Chris can get that same low price up here. Man, that goverment stuff sho does save money…..
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John in Puyallup says:
Kirby,
What irons do you have in the fire?
How is life treating you?
Have you caught up with Season 3 of Burn Notice? (There was a Marathon on Thursday on USA network)
Hope things are moving forward for you.
John in Puyallup
(Who attended that first Mariners game outing you held) -
Dawn says:
Kirby,
Don’t forget SB 6452 that would restrict the ability of pro-life pregnancy centers to help women the way they have been for the last 30+ years. On Wednesday, January 27, The Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care will hold a hearing to review the merits of potential legislation that would serve to target pregnancy support organizations with excessive regulations that would not apply if they provided abortions or abortion referrals. For those of you interested in defending our local and state pregnancy centers from a direct attack, follow this Blog. It has all the info needed at this time. http://www.protectpregnancycenters.blogspot.com/
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Joe from Everett says:
RE; BHO’s aod to Middle class families,
Just one word: RUN!
Seeing what he has done for the economy, auto’s, etc. Forget it, buster.
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Elliott Nielsen says:
I have got to tell you, that under normal circumstances, I would gladly go to this party. Even when Clinton was still in office and giving the SOTU address, I had no problem watching him give it. But I can’t stand listening to Obama. I get sick to my stomach almost everytime I hear his voice. I think it’s probably rooted in the fact that I know, with every word that man speaks, my freedom is being ripped away. So I can only stand to listen to him in short spurts that are typically the length of a soundbite on a radio show, no more.
So I wish I could make it to your party tomorrow, but I’d probably be wheeled out on a gurney. God bless.
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Lyn says:
If I read the Texas paragraph correctly that works out to $9 million per house. That means they have enough money left to do 506 more houses. The local Home Depot must be salivating… I wonder what the ROI is on energy savings per house.
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Betsy Madan says:
Hey Kirby!!
So glad to have found you!!!
Just wondering, (and forgive me if you’ve already talked about this), what you think about Sarah Palin throwing her very powerful voice behind John McCains election campaign???? I am personally stunned as are 99% of the THOUSANDS of responses on her Facebook page.
Wanted to get your thoughts!!
Thanks buddy, and God bless YOU today! -
Ken Mortland says:
“…. And with the expiration of the home buyers tax credit,…..” As my daughter is buying a house in Kenmore this week, I’m more aware than I would otherwise be. Both of the home buyers tax credits has been extended, I believe until April 30th.
The Edward Jones investment group is fairly positive about the beginnings of an economic recovery, I learned yesterday. They acknowledge that unemployment is still bad and may get worse. But the overall picture, to them,looks more positive. Take that for what it’s worth to you.I can only hope the Texas weatherization stats are seriously behind the times. Such phenomenal costs would shock even a Democrat. Do you have any info on what else the money went for? Surely they didn’t spend that much on 49 houses!
As for the assault weapons bill, I’m not sure what this has to do with recent events. I don’t seem to recall that an assault weapon was used in any of the six recent police murders. (Please correct me, if I’m wrong on that.) I expected to see some sort of new hand gun legislation, but not assault weapons. Seems more than somewhat opportunistic to me.
Looked up the bill and read the bill analysis. Not sure to what else you are referring. It includes descriptions of weapons covered by the bill, how a currently legal owner may retain the weapon, what new owners must do with them, what the penalties for violation would be. If there’s something else I’m missing, let me know. In the meantime, will email Senators to oppose.
Regarding election news, it seems historically consistent that, having obtained a filibuster proof majority, the majority party would lose its head and over reach itself. Parties never seem to learn the lesson of moderation or to apply it when they have a solid majority. On this issue, Pogo was right. With the new Supreme Court decision opening up a whole new field of independent expenditures, this is going to be a interesting, busy, and noisy election cycle.
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I stand corrected! On rereading the bill analysis, I now see that semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines are included in the definition of “assault weapons”. This would both be a new feature of the law and connect the bill to recent events.
I am of the opinion that, when the Constitution was written, personal hand guns were the possessions of the elite and not a common man’s weapon. They were too expensive for ordinary men to purchase and, therefore, not likely to be under consideration, when the right to bear arms was being crafted. Muskets, shotguns, and the new and expensive “rifles” were the focus of that consideration. I would, therefore, be more tolerant of regulations on hand guns.
The right to bear arms would, however, seem to apply to “assault weapons”, as that is the modern way of referring to guns used to protect a population of people from attack by invaders or an overzealous government. The concerns about an overzealous government grew out of our conflict with the English king and the refusal by England to allow “Americans” the status of Englishmen. We were not represented in that government, therefore, revolution was a more reasonable option than it is today. We live in a functioning republic, in which we have the right to choose representatives and to replace any whom we dislike and can successful defeat at the ballot box. Those options would seem to be our best defense against an overzealous government.
This bill, however, still warrants opposition, as it denies legal citizens without felon records from owning a weapon that would appear to be covered by the “right to bear arms”. It should be approached with serious reservations. I believe laws already exist that should have prevented the perpetrators of recent police murders from possessing the weapons used in those murders.
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