WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS…
FYI, I WILL BE FILLING IN FOR DAVID BOZE on Wednesday, April 14, KTTH, 770 AM, 3-6 PM. and, all of next week for Dori Monson on KIRO 97.3 FM, noon-3.
HEADLINE IN MONDAY’S SEATTLE TIMES: MILLIONS OF UNEMPLOYED MAY NEVER RECOVER. Of the 15 million unemployed, 44% have been out of work 6 months or more. Two thirds of these have been out of work a year or more. There are 5.5 unemployed workers for every job opening. Federal spending on unemployment could hit nearly $170 billion this year.
TAX QUOTE OF THE DAY, from the Economist: “Politicians use the tax code to encourage things they like, such as driving hybrid cars, and to discourage things they don’t like, such as work.”
GALLUP DAILY TRACKING FOR THE week ending April 11 puts Republicans ahead of Democrats 48% to 44% among registered voters in Congressional voting preferences. Since the passage of health care reform three weeks ago, Republicans have led or tied three weeks in a row. Gallup called it “rare” that Republicans lead among voters on this issue. ( NOTE: many polls use ‘likely voters’ which is different from ‘voters’ ). Gallup reports that only twice – in 1994 and 2002 – have Republicans shown this strength in this poll question. November is coming.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $31,406 per household in 2010 according to the Heritage Foundation. ( Are you getting your money’s worth? I am if they are spending all of my money on drones and UAVs to kill terrorists, or highways or Gitmo….otherwise, I think not.). This is the highest level in American history. It will collect $18,276 per household in taxes. The difference is the deficit, which equals $13,130 per household. Of the $31,406, $9,950 is for Social Security and Medicare, $6.071 for defense, $5,466 for anti-poverty programs, $1,640 for unemployment benefits, $1,585 for interest on the national debt and $470 for mortgage bailouts.
THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTES SOLAR POWER as clean and non-polluting but there are other hazards when it is used. Solar Millenium, a California firm, planned on placing a 250 megawatt solar plant in the California desert but the California Energy Commission recommended killing the project because of the ground squirrel, considered endangered. Seems the plant would bisect two major populations of the critter which would, in the words of one official, ” preclude the transference of genes, or the connectivity, and the ability of the species to move through that area and pass genes eithrer to the north or south.”
ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, the Obamacare bill ” apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges. But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect…Congress did not specify an effective date for the section excluding lawmakers from the existing program.” Nancy was right, we had to pass the bill to know what was in it.
3 Responses to “WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS…”
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John Knight says:
Kirby, I attended my first Tes Party yesterday @ Bellevue City Hall. I was very impressed with the crowd (+/- 1000)they were orderly, well mannered and educated. All age groups, men and women and blacks and Asians.
The speakers were excellent.
One question emerged, Art Coday is a Rebublican running for Patty Murray’s shoes as is Paul Akers. Will they both be on the ballot?
Will this split the vote?John
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Ken Mortland says:
Health Care and Republicans:
Perhaps these results will be indicative of how folks will vote, come November.Squirrels v. Clean, renewable energy:
Talk about getting your priorities screwed up?I’m sure the California ground squirrel has contributed much to the improvement of humanity and should, therefore, be considered ahead of the needs of humanity for clean, renewable energy.
Man, was Pogo ever right! “We have met the enemy and they are us.”
I wish somebody in Washington state would point out or do an article on the fact that the State’s budget has INCREASED every year for the past 10 years–while they tout “cuts”, the total spending has still increased and we are still paying more in taxes and still facing “deficits” (not increasing as much as we want). When my income didn’t increase, we budgeted and actually decreased our spending . . . in all areas, not just in one and then continued to overspend. The impression given by the media is that the State budget has been cut, which is not true–the overall budget is more, and this has not been told to the general public.