BIG SHOT: Reps Gifford, Mitchell, Perriello vote to condemn Slaughter Rule

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-18 18:19:00
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These reps are thought by The Hill to be a "yes" and two "undecided." Sounds like three more "no" votes to me. Remember, we are within two votes of slamming it home (one, actually, but I like safety!). Details: The House just voted on the Cantor Resolution “That the House disapproves of the malfeasant manner in which the Democratic Leadership has thereby discharged the duties of their offices.” Those who voted against the resolution denounced Democrat leadership for their use of the “Slaughter Solution” to deceive the American people. Final Vote: 232-181 R: 0-171 D: 232-10 To put it more clearly, the following 10 Democrats just denounced Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Whip Clyburn, Conference Chairman Larson, and DCCC Chairman Van Hollen and the rest ...

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Will House recon bill surive intact in Senate? "No," Sen. Conrad (D)
posted: 2010-03-18 14:15:00    1 Comments.

Very clear. Toast: FTA: Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said Thursday that it is unlikely the Senate will be able to pass a health care reconciliation bill unchanged from what the House passes. Conrad said the Senate Parliamentarian has declined to make rulings on several issues in the bill that Republicans are likely to challenge under the “Byrd rule.” That rule states that, among other things, every provision of a budget reconciliation bill must have a budget impact and cannot be “extraneous.”

“Although we’ve spent many, many hours with the Parliamentarian, some things he has not yet rendered a conclusion” on, Conrad said. “He wants to hear from both sides before he does.” Conrad continued: “Do I expect there will be some additional Byrd rule challenges that will be upheld? Yeah. I do.”

WOW! Sen. Coburn lays it out: Sell your vote and we will publish it

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-18 13:57:00
Viewed 1795 times. 11 Comments.

SEN. TOM COBURN (R), OKLAHOMA: I want to send a couple of messages to my colleagues in the House. If you voted no and you vote yes, and you lose your election, and you think any nomination to a federal position isn't going to be held in the Senate, I've got news for you. It's going to be held. Number two is, if you get a deal, a parochial deal for you or your district, I've already instructed my staff and the staff of seven other senators that we will look at every appropriations bill, at every level, at every instance, and we will outline it by district, and we will associate that with the buying of your vote. So, if you think you can cut a deal now, and it not come out until after the election, I want to tell ...

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Another flip from Yes to No: Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY)
posted: 2010-03-18 12:45:00    0 Comments.

Rep. Mike Arcuri (D., N.Y.), a sophomore who had a tough go of it in 2008, will vote nay on Obamacare, both on the House floor and in the Rules Committee. The Rules vote is symbolic, since Democrats outnumber Republicans there two-to-one. But the floor vote could go either way. It is obviously a blow to Pelosi's chances of hitting 216.

CBO: Actually, those defict reduction figures are pretty much guesses

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-18 12:07:00
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Dems are touting how this huge new government entitlement is actually and magically going to reduce the deficit over the next two decades. As for the first decade, remember the Democrats gamed the bill so that all of the taxes and fees kick in immediately, but the benefits don't come for four years. So of course, when you collect revenue for ten years and only have to pay benefits for six of them, it would be hard not to make that look "deficit neutral." As for the claim that the deficit would go down in the second decade, a cursory glance at the preliminary CBO scoring letter from Elmendorf letter brings to mind two words: Pure speculation.

The imprecision of that calculation reflects the even greater degree of uncertainty that attends to it, ...

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Update on CBO: Corrupt Dem leaders touting unofficial numbers
posted: 2010-03-18 11:27:00    0 Comments.

Thanks to Avery for the heads-up on today's atrocity rolling off Capitol Hill.

Ranking Republican Paul Ryan responds to an NRO query about the news this morning: “The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that there is currently no official cost estimate. Yet House Democrats are touting to the press — and spinning for partisan gain — numbers that have not been released and are impossible to confirm.

Boy, a final official number that came in over a trillion bucks would really bite them in the a**.

Katie Packer, Exec Dir, Workplace Fairness Institute: “High Road”

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-18 11:14:00
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I spoke with Katie about the yet-to-be-unveiled Obama policy called the “High Road Contracting Policy.” This proposed policy will “score” all federal contractors before the contents of a bid are viewed using criteria designed to maximize the likelihood of an eventual union award: hourly workers with a “living wage”, health insurance, an employer-funded retirement plan and paid sick days.

The net effect will be to compel workers to join unions in order to get work.

Yet another payback in the works by the Obama Administration.

Pop over to Liberty Pundits dot com to hear the audio - runs a little less than 15 minutes.

Homeowner introduces two robbers to 2nd Amendment: One dead, one fled

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-18 10:37:00
Viewed 244 times. 0 Comments.

Okay, this will be the best story you read all day. Via Instapundit.

Police said the homeowner, Dave Henry, had just returned home from work and was pulling into his garage when he saw a suspicious car near his home. That's when they said two suspects got out of the car and tried to rob the homeowner. However, Henry pulled out his own gun and a shootout started. One of the suspects, identified as David Lee Butler, 37, was shot and killed by Henry. The other suspect got away. Police said Henry had a concealed weapons permit and is not facing any charges.

Full article...

McCain's lead over Hayworth shrinks to 7
posted: 2010-03-18 10:17:00    0 Comments.

Johnny Mac is also under the all-important 50% support level.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Arizona GOP Primary voters shows McCain ahead 48% to 41%. Three percent (3%) favor another candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.

Following the announcement that Sarah Palin would campaign for his reelection, McCain opened up a 53% to 31% lead over Hayworth in January. The two men were in a near tie in November.

By my math, McCain's lead shrunk from 21 to 7 in two months. Hmmm.

CBO: Obamacare costs $940 billion
posted: 2010-03-18 10:01:00    0 Comments.

And in the world of Washington speak, somehow spending that much cash actually lowers the deficit by $130 billion. I have a better idea. How about we just not spend $940 billion in the first place? After all, if you are trying to trim your budget, you don't go buying a Lamborghini on a credit card.

One more thing. Isn't it funny how CBO can score a bill without an actual bill. Hmmm . . .

USA Today editors: The Slaughter Rule is a 'gimmicky, cynical trick'
posted: 2010-03-18 09:47:00    2 Comments.

Keep in mind USA Today wholeheartedly supports this health care takeover, but even they are disturbed by "deeming" a bill passed without a vote in the House.

[House] leaders are mulling a rule that would allow the chamber to "deem" the Senate's version of health legislation as passed, without actually having to vote on it. Imagine how useful this trick would be in daily life. You could make unpopular decisions without actually appearing to make them. That excruciating Thanksgiving dinner at your brother-in-law's? You "deemed" that you attended. . . .

It's understandable that some House Democrats wouldn't want to cast a direct vote on the Senate bill . . . before moving to change it. But a procedure this transparently gimmicky just adds to the cynicism surrounding the bill and opens it up to unnecessary court challenges.

Biden bombs at Correspondents' Dinner
posted: 2010-03-18 09:29:00    1 Comments.

Biden is funnier when he isn't trying to be funny. This stuff is so lame, he should have gotten the hook. More, if you can stand them, at the link.

- "I just got back from five days in the Middle East. It's great to be back to a place where a boom in housing construction is a good thing."

- "Liz Cheney is here tonight. Liz has been on a tear. Now she's questioning if Tom Brady is a Patriot." Meh, said the crowd. "What the hell, it was worth a try."

- On moving to Washington: "I voted for public housing all my career -- never realized how good it actually is!"

Shocker: Boxer now trails Campbell in CA Senate race
posted: 2010-03-18 09:04:00    0 Comments.

Sure, it's within the margin of error, but Campbell is leading. The pollster moves the race to "toss-up."

In hypothetical match ups with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) in the general election, Campbell leads Boxer, 44% to 43%, while Boxer leads Fiorina, 45% to 44%, and tops DeVore, 45% to 41%. Both findings are within the survey's margin of error.

GOP gears up for health bill lawsuits
posted: 2010-03-18 09:01:00    0 Comments.

Mark Levin is one, but other right-wing legal eagles (they have two right wings) are gunning for this abomination as well. It's the Slaughter Rule and the individual mandate in the crosshairs.

The looming Congressional showdown over health care reform has set Washington’s legal war rooms whirring in preparation for court battles over any health legislation that moves towards President Barack Obama’s desk.

Republican lawyers say they’re conducting research and drafting arguments for lawsuits that could be filed within days or weeks, particularly if House leaders decide to go forward with a “deem & pass” rule that would not permit a freestanding vote on the Senate-passed health care reform bill.

GOP: We can kill 40% of the bill in Senate reconciliation
posted: 2010-03-18 08:49:00    0 Comments.

A nice, slow strangle in the Senate, if (a big if) it makes it out of the House.

Democrats might like to think that health care reform is all but a done deal if it clears the House, but the Senate is where Republicans have been plotting for months to sentence it to a painful procedural death.

Republican aides have been mining the Senate’s arcane parliamentary rules for an attack that aims at striking elements both broad and narrow from the bill, weakening the measure and ultimately defeating it. Their goal is to force changes that leave Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) without 51 votes to pass it, or at the very least, that drive it back to the House for a second vote that drags out the process and saps Democratic resolve.

Major defection: Floor Whip Lynch "no" based on Slaughter Rule
posted: 2010-03-18 08:48:00    0 Comments.

Lynch is not on The Hill's list - meaning he was considered a "yes" vote. Ah, toast in the morning ... smells like victory.

FTA: Lynch, who serves as one of Pelosi’s key vote counters, said he also can’t support a proposed “deem and pass” procedure that would allow Democrats to vote to strip out controversial portions of the Senate bill and then “deem” that the entire package has passed without a second, direct vote.

“It’s disingenuous,” said Lynch, who considers unfair a Senate provision to tack a surcharge on higher-end health plans. “It would really call into question the credibility of the House.”

Idaho first: Law forces AG to sue federal govt if HC mandate comes
posted: 2010-03-17 22:23:00    4 Comments.

Idaho took the lead in a growing, nationwide fight against health care overhaul Wednesday when its governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance. Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states. Constitutional law experts say the movement is mostly symbolic because federal laws supersede those of the states.

Um, no, it is not mostly symbolic. It's a 10th Amendment argument, you morons. The federal government has not right to operate in this area. It is reserved to the states.

Survey of latest HC whip counts

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-17 21:49:00
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We'll start with a lib source - Fire Dog Lake: Original post yesterday. Update is not dated. No - 206 Leaning No - 3 Undecided - 17 Leaning Yes - 15 Yes - 191 Democrats need 26 of a combination of the 13 potential No-Yes flip votes and the 22 potential Yes-No flip votes. So they need 26 out of the remaining uncommitted 35. If you’re counting leaners, Democrats need 11 of the last 17 uncommitted. Next - Washington Examiner: Dated today (3/17/10) at 4:31PM 209 no, 204 yes, 18 undecided There are 431 members of the House, 253 Democrats and 178 Republicans. All the Republicans oppose the bill. At the moment, GOP sources believe that more ...

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Walgreens: No new Medicaid in Washington - reimbursement below cost
posted: 2010-03-17 19:21:00    4 Comments.

OK, now what, Barry? Add more patients? Pathetic ...

FTA: Walgreens will no longer accept new Medicaid patients in Washington state as of April 16.

The pharmacy company, which operates 121 stores in the state, will continue filling Medicaid prescriptions for current patients.

In a news release, the company said its decision to not take new Medicaid patients stemmed from a "continued reduction in reimbursement under the state's program."

The company says that under the current payment structure, the state Medicaid program is reimbursing Walgreens below its cost to break even on nearly 95 percent of brand-name medications dispensed to Medicaid patents.

Mark Levin: I will immediately sue the president if they use the Slaughter Rule

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-17 17:52:00
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Don't think he won't. These liberals are battling the modern day version of the Founding Fathers, who, of course, stomped tyranny into the Atlantic Ocean.

Landmark will immediately sue the President, Attorney General Eric Holder and other relevant cabinet members to prevent them from instituting this unconstitutional contrivance. “Landmark has already prepared a lawsuit that will be filed in federal court the moment the House acts. Such a brazen violation of the core functions of Congress simply cannot be ignored. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution is clear respecting the manner in which a bill becomes law. Members are required to vote on this bill, not claim they did when they didn’t. The Speaker of the House and her lieutenants are temporary custodians of congressional authority. They are not empowered to do permanent violence to our Constitution.”

Full article...

CBO's latest: TARP to cost us $109 Billion

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-17 17:08:00
Viewed 107 times. 1 Comments.

Barry then: "In the first round of repayments" from financial institutions that received TARP money, "the government has actually turned a profit." Barack Obama on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 in a statement at the White House.

Reality now: $109 Billion loss.

5 minutes with your mom and her doc: HC reform is gonna hurt

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-17 16:39:00
Viewed 108 times. 1 Comments.

This video is particularly interesting to me. The patient is very typical of an elderly person, and the doc is just explaining the facts of HC. Add this to the mix: New England Journal of Medicine reports that 46.3% of primary care physicians feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine.

Pro-life Undecided Rep. Kaptur leaning "no"
posted: 2010-03-17 15:26:00    0 Comments.

The 50+ undecideds only need to break six or so to the "no" side to defeat this bill. Here's one leaning our way.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) is an adamantly pro-life Democrat, who says the Senate health care bill's abortion language is unacceptable to her. Though she voted "yes" on the House package in November, she's now suggesting she might vote "no" on the final legislation.

Kaptur said she's spoken to Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), another pro-life Dem who's signed off on the Senate's abortion language, but didn't find his reasons persuasive.

Good morning, Health Care!

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-17 11:25:00
Viewed 169 times. 1 Comments.

Tough day at the presses for HC:

Newspapers Report Bad News For Dem Efforts On The Health Care Process, The Premiums, The Deficit Reduction, The Popularity, The Pressure Tactics, The Timing, And The Votes

The Process: Dems “Struggled Tuesday To Defend Procedural Shortcuts”

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Democrats Struggled Tuesday To Defend Procedural Shortcuts They Might Use To Win Approval For Their Proposals In The Next Few Days.” (“Democrats Consider New Moves For Health Bill,” The New York Times, 3/17/10)

ROLL CALL: “House Republicans Had Democratic Leaders Tied In Knots Tuesday Trying To Defend A Special Rule To Enact The Senate’s Health Care Bill Without A Separate Vote, even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insisted she had not yet decided whether to use it.” (“Plans In Flux On Health Vote,” Roll Call, 3/17/10)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “House Democrats Are So Skittish About The Piece Of Legislation That Is Now The Vehicle For Overhauling The Health Care System — The Bill Passed By The Senate In December — that they are considering a maneuver that would allow them to pass it without explicitly voting for it.” (“Democrats Consider New Moves For Health Bill,” The New York Times, 3/17/10)

Full article...

New GOP governor in place, Virginia goes all-in on offshore drilling
posted: 2010-03-17 09:01:00    1 Comments.

Elections have consequences, and now even the Democrats in Virginia want to be with the cool kids on drilling.

Never has the political climate in Virginia so favored offshore drilling. Most Virginia leaders -- regardless of their political party -- have expressed interest in joining Alaska, Texas, Louisiana and other states in setting up offshore platforms to drill for oil and natural gas.

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and fellow elected Republicans strongly back the proposal, as do most members of the state's congressional delegation, including both U.S. senators, who are Democrats.

The General Assembly passed a pair of bills during its annual session that show the divided legislature's support for drilling -- one that backs exploration, development and production 50 miles off the coast, and another that directs 70 percent of any future drilling royalties to state road improvements

Cowboy AG Holder: We's gonna keel dat bin Laden

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-17 08:57:00
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Image President Bush saying these words: "We will be reading Miranda rights to the corpse of Osama bin Laden. He will never appear in an American courtroom." And for a bit of backtracking, but still on message: "He will be killed by us or he will be killed by his own people so he won't be captured by us." Yes, those sounds echoing through the cavernous newsroom of the NYT are the cackles of liberal journos guffawing about another story that wrote itself:

Full article...

WaPo: Hey, the Slaughter Rule could be sorta . . . unconstitutional
posted: 2010-03-17 08:55:00    0 Comments.

Second front-page story in as many days from WaPo highlighting this crooked procedure.

An obscure parliamentary maneuver favored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) suddenly ignited Tuesday as the latest tinder in the year-long partisan strife over reshaping the nation's health-care system, triggering debate over the strategy's legitimacy and political wisdom. . . .

Legal scholars disagreed about whether it would be a constitutional way to pass the legislation. Yet even critics said they doubt that the procedure would put the measure at risk of being struck down by the courts.

"I feel pretty confident it is unconstitutional," said Michael W. McConnell, director of Stanford Law School's Constitutional Law Center . . .. "What a court would do about it is a murkier problem."

Barone: Dems are at least 10 votes short on health care
posted: 2010-03-17 08:46:00    0 Comments.

My sense is that the current Democratic leadership is at least 10 votes short of the 216-vote majority. So far none of the 37 November no votes has publicly committed to voting yes, not even Dennis Kucinich, who objects to the legislation because it doesn't go far enough. And some of the yeses, like Bart Stupak, sponsor of the abortion funding ban in the House bill, are committed noes.

All of which explains why House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn told McClatchy Newspapers that the bill may be delayed till Easter or even after. He's telling the Democrats who are trying to make the bill just go away by refusing to commit to vote yes that party leaders will insist on a vote. But he's also confessing that they still don't have enough votes to go to the floor.

Kirk: Obama's a one-termer
posted: 2010-03-17 08:37:00    3 Comments.

Politico chastises: People in Illinois don't like such inflammatory partisan meanness. Huh? He is, in all likelihood, a one-termer.

Appearing before a Republican audience in the Chicago suburbs Friday, Rep. Mark Kirk, the GOP nominee for Senate, sought to rally the partisan crowd with language about President Obama that may not sit well with some Illinois voters.

“We are on the way to making this guy a one-termer," Kirk said of Obama . . .. The congressman was speaking in the context of how, with a Republican president, the GOP may be able to repeal healthcare legislation before much it goes into effect.

Aside from calling the president "this guy," Kirk's prediction of an Obama re-election defeat in 2012 puts him out of step with how most residents of the state feel about their own president.

Census Reminder: You're an American
posted: 2010-03-16 21:24:00    1 Comments.

If you are so inclined to participate, the correct answer to Census Question 9, which asks about your race, is to check "Some other race" and fill in "American..." The shameful division of Americans into skin-colored interest groups only encourages racial discord. And the use of Census data to apportion votes by drawing congressional districts is, in the words of Justice Thomas, political apartheid.

Rush nailed this during his show last Thursday. I love it.

RUSH: (R)emember, now Obama's using this. This going to be used for reapportionment... It's going to be used for welfare spending, entitlement.. They have got races I've never heard of identified on this!

CALLER: (chuckling)

RUSH: So I want you to check the box that says "other" and write in "American."

Boxer lead down to single digits
posted: 2010-03-16 20:14:00    0 Comments.

How does running the table sound to you guys?

Boxer leads Tom Campbell (R), 43% to 41%, tops Chuck DeVore (R), 46% to 40%, and beats Carly Fiorina (R), 46% to 40%.

Patriot Room Radio #60 Slaughter House Rules

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-16 20:08:00
Viewed 85 times. 2 Comments.

The circumvention of the Constitution brewing in the House is simply beyond understanding. So we explain in 27 minutes, including a detail vote count. We also touch on a some polls, the further collapse of the NYT, and a few other fun topics. Every episode of our podcasts is here and on iTunes. You can subscribe on either site. You can also hear us on the Liberty Pundits Network (on demand) and on Radio for Conservatives (Weekday edition broadcast 8:00PM ET Tuesdays and 10:00AM Wednesdays; Weekend edition at 9:30AM-11:00AM ET Saturdays and Sundays). If you're looking to jump right in, pop over to Liberty Pundits here. Send questions for our next podcast to Bill ...

Full article...

Congressional Phone Lines Maxing Out on Capitol Hill
posted: 2010-03-16 19:22:00    0 Comments.

Nice. Keep it coming. You can use the House switchboard via 202-225-3121. Here's a starting point, found at Hugh Hewitt's blog.

Enthusiasm Gap Widens
posted: 2010-03-16 19:20:00    0 Comments.

A bit of a pickle the Dems have put themselves in:

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC survey found a 21-point enthusiasm gap -- with 67% of Republicans saying they are very interested in the November elections, compared to just 46% of Democrats.

Said pollster Peter Hart: "If the Democrats are going to close that gap, they've got to get their people excited. And I don't see how you get those people if you vote no on health care reform... I don't think it's about winning the middle. It's really about alienating the base."

Remember Reagan Billboard

by: Scott Martin   posted: 2010-03-16 19:09:00
Viewed 121 times. 1 Comments.

This can be found on I-94 at the northwest edge of the Twin Cities. In Minnesota. Interestingly enough, the only state that did not support Reagan in 1984.

Kucinich to announce his vote on health care Wednesday morning
posted: 2010-03-16 19:04:00    0 Comments.

UPDATE: Howard Finemann reports Kucinich is switching No to Yes. As Kookcinich goes, so goes America? A frightening thought.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a politician with a well-documented flare for the dramatic, will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce how he plans to vote on the controversial health-care bill before Congress... At this point, it's not entirely clear whether there will be a vote or if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will use a procedural tactic to get around it... But if votes are in fact needed, Kucinich's could matter. Last weekend, Kucinich was a firm "no," saying the health-insurance package seemed to favor insurance companies over ordinary Americans. Kucinich wants single-payer, universal coverage. He has pushed for it for years.

Full article...

Obama's 2nd-Cousin: Americans deserve answers before Congress votes
posted: 2010-03-16 18:56:00    0 Comments.

This piece by Milton R. Wolf, M.D. appeared in the Washington Times. Wolf will be on Hannity tonight discussing it.

I wish my cousin Barack the greatest of success in office. However, after many sleepless nights and long talks with my wife and family, I made the difficult decision to "go public" with my opposition to the massive health care reforms under consideration.

I heard about a project put together by volunteers to help citizens like me meet with their representatives in Washington, to ask questions about the health care reform bill...

I learned the hard way that members of Congress supporting this bill are very reluctant to discuss what's actually in it, at least in public. So I'm left with no other choice. I will have to do it for them.

Virginia: McDonnell claims an 80% success rate in assembly
posted: 2010-03-16 18:52:00    0 Comments.

A good day for new GOP governors all around. First Christie, now McDonnell.

The new Republican chief executive said the General Assembly session fulfilled his top priorities -- balancing the budget without a tax increase; job-creation initiatives; and reforms in education...

Assessing his first session, McDonnell said it "was always going to be judged on our ability to timely meet the budgetary challenges in front of us. We have done that..

McDonnell's job-creation initiatives, relying on tax credits to lure industry, totaled about $46 million. He had sought more than $50 million.

His marquee education reforms passed, albeit significantly weakened, including an effort to make it easier to open more public charter schools.

What is an earmark, and why are the pubs jumping off this cliff?

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-16 18:46:00
Viewed 84 times. 1 Comments.

There's a short-sighted battle on Capitol Hill right now, and it may come to a vote tomorrow. Republicans are "swearing off" earmarks for a year. Excited? Don't be. It will save no money, it will shift power to the Executive Branch, and will ignore a practice that began in the First Congress. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is going to bring to a vote tomorrow a one-year moratorium on earmarks. No, the dems won't agree - and then the pubs will do it unilaterally. Even if the dems do agree, it will not reduce the budget. It will merely leave the identification of where to allocate those monies to the Executive Branch. This is not the Appropriation and Authorization system established in the Constitution. This is (and I am being kind) a red herring. ...

Full article...

Keynesian Economics, Exposed
posted: 2010-03-16 18:33:00    0 Comments.

Great piece at Vodkapundit. A tease:

Hitler discredited fascism, by launching wars of aggression and sending millions of Jews, Gypsies, gays, and the handicapped to the gas chambers. And, minus the extent that he started all those wars and killed all those people — well, good for Hitler.

Again, obviously, I’m being facetious.

But I’m not being facetious at all when I tell you that Keynes legitimized fascism, by giving decent, liberal democracies license to tax and spend and borrow in the name of political expedience.

Look, whatever Keynes may have gotten right — I suppose he could wipe his own bottom unassisted — what he got wrong is precisely what bedevils us today. And Keynes, the fascistic bastard, I think got it wrong on purpose.

Let me explain.