Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Cash only Health Care Gets Cheaper-NYT
The veil is slowly being lifted for people who pay for their own health care. This is extremely important since HSAs are growing like wildfire and more and more people will be negotiating their own prices. This has got to be good.
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The varying reimbursement schedules, negotiated between the nation's 850,000 providers and more than 6,000 health plans, have been kept all but secret. Consumers almost never get information on prices before treatment. Even insurers do not know what other health plans are paying.
Despite the complexity, the Internet has begun to open a window on this surreal world, allowing consumers to compare costs and, occasionally, to discover affordable alternatives.
Tennesseans WILL RAISE their own taxes
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In a light turnout, Coffee County residents over-whelmingly approved the three-quarter cent increase in the sales tax.
Overall, about 15 percent of the county's 28,534 registered voters — 4,426 — cast ballots either through early voting, absentee or at the polls yesterday. Slightly more than half the votes — 52 percent — were cast either by early voting or by absentee ballots.
The question was approved by a 3-to-1 margin in Manchester and the rural precincts and by a 2.5-to-1 margin in Tullahoma. Countywide, slightly more than seven out of 10 voters were in favor of the increase.
The increase was approved in every precinct and in only one — Tullahoma's Hands-On Science Center — was the vote close with the count 23-18 in favor.
Mall of America Wants $234 taxpayer millions
Let us hope the politicians in MN are not this stupid...what is the Mall of America going to do? MOVE!! In the name of all that is holy, we hope MN taxpayers don't get burdened with this humongous boondoggle of corporate welfare.
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This year, the megamall wants $181 million from state taxpayers to build an 8,000-space parking garage. That's the centerpiece of a package of state and local subsidies worth about $234 million, money the Mall of America says it needs for a $1.9 billion expansion that would double its size.
Last year, state legislators didn't vote on a measure that would have redirected more than $200 million of its future property tax bill toward construction. This time, the mall wants city and state taxpayers to share the burden.
Doggy diner bill moves forward In Wash State
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OLYMPIA -- Animal lovers in the state are one step closer to being able to dine out with their dogs. A bill that would allow people to bring their dogs to restaurants passed out of committee Tuesday, but health officials still have some concerns.
OLYMPIA -- Animal lovers in the state are one step closer to being able to dine out with their dogs. A bill that would allow people to bring their dogs to restaurants passed out of committee Tuesday, but health officials still have some concerns.
The bill would allow leashed dogs to sit with their owners in outdoor seating areas of restaurants, bars and cafes during a three-year trial period. For businesses to participate, the city they are located in would first have to pass an ordinance approving the practice.
27% Metro Nash Employees Live outside County
How many of us get hit pretty hard in our pocketbooks when the annual Metro property taxes are due?
Some of us do but not all. Last year, there were 10,700 Metro employees. But 27 percent of them, almost 3,000 of them, don't have to worry about paying Metro property taxes. They don't live in Davidson County but draw their Metro employee paychecks and pension checks. For instance, there are 1,100 and 84 Metro firefighters. Almost 45 percent of those firefighters live in counties other than Davidson where they get to pay lower property taxes. I guess it's no big deal. Some of Mayor Bill Purcell's top directors don't have a Metro address, either.
MS gave away $148K per job to Toyota
Mississippi politicians gave away $148,000 of the taxpayers money to Toyota for each of the "expected" jobs created.
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Open Govt will follow Open Markets?
Looks like it in China.
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BEIJING, Feb. 27 -- The Communist Party cautioned China's increasingly impatient reformers and intellectuals Tuesday that political liberalization and democracy are still a long way off despite the rapid pace of economic change over the past two decades.
The warning, in an article attributed to Premier Wen Jiabao in the official People's Daily newspaper, constituted the party's first known response to a bubbling up of political debate as China prepares for an annual session of its legislature and an important Communist Party congress that is scheduled for this fall.
TDOT Chief of Staff Now a Lobbyist-Gas Tax Hike?
Phil Williams, as always, is looking out for taxpayers. Great REPORT. TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely's Chief of Staff became a lobbyist. Do you think you or I could get the same kind of access that she now has????? Of course not.
Does this make a Gas Tax Hike more likely? YEP
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Does this make a Gas Tax Hike more likely? YEP
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But tax watchdog Drew Johnson of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research says it says something about how the state hands out tens of millions of dollars in consulting contracts.
"Obviously, this person is well-connected through their previous job -- and there's some value in that to this company," Johnson says.
Here's how it works:
When a contract becomes available, TDOT staff -- in this case, Jones' former colleagues -- evaluate and score the firms to see who might be best for the job.
Then, a consultant selection committee meets and comes up with a final list -- in most cases, a list of three -- to recommend to the commissioner. Jones sat as an ex-officio member of that committee when she was at TDOT.
Finally, the commissioner picks the winner, and he doesn't have to give anybody a reason.
Nicely: "I do have quite a bit of latitude, you're right."
Trust your own good common sense? YEP
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Medical Study Biases
Medical studies are seriously biased by interested funders and by tolerance for sloppy methods. Here are four examples.
1. A recent PLoS Medicine looked at 111 studies of soft drinks, juice, and milk that cited funding sources.
22% had all industry funding, 47% had no industry funding, and 32% had mixed funding. ... the proportion with unfavorable [to industry] conclusions was 0% for all industry funding versus 37% for no industry funding .
2. Last February the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that in 487 studies, those whose method left more room for fudging "found" higher accuracy of diagnostic tests:
The quality of reporting was poor in most of the studies. We found significantly higher estimates of diagnostic accuracy in studies with nonconsecutive inclusion of patients ... and retrospective data collection ... Studies that selected patients based on whether they had been referred for the index test, rather than on clinical symptoms, produced significantly lower estimates
3. In 1995, the Journal of American Medical Association reported that of 250 studies of treatments, those with easier fudging similarly "found" stronger effects:
Compared with trials in which authors reported adequately concealed treatment allocation, ... Odds ratios were exaggerated by 41% for inadequately concealed trials and by 30% for unclearly concealed trials ... Trials that were not double-blind also yielded ... odds ratios being exaggerated by 17%
4. In 2005, the Journal of American Medical Association found that of medical studies since 1990 cited 1000 times or more, 1/3 were contradicted by replications, and 1/4 had no replication attempts:
Of 49 highly cited original clinical research studies, 45 claimed that the intervention was effective. Of these, 7 (16%) were contradicted by subsequent studies, 7 others (16%) had found effects that were stronger than those of subsequent studies, 20 (44%) were replicated, and 11 (24%) remained largely unchallenged. Five of 6 highly-cited nonrandomized studies had been contradicted or had found stronger effects vs 9 of 39 randomized controlled trials (P = .008).
The obvious question is: how can we produce medical estimates that correct for such biases? And why don't we?
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
100 File Suit Against Murfreesboro Annexation
These homeowners were not allowed to vote on the issue of annexation. Forced annexation is taxation without representation, plain and simple. We wish these homeowners the best in their legal fight against Mayor Bragg and the City of Murfreesboro. Kudos to John Emison and www.citizensforhomerule.com for helping these citizens and many others like them over the last 20 years.
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The homeowners filed the lawsuit last Thursday and pursued legal help from Knoxville-based Citizens for Home Rule, a group dedicated to helping fight unwanted annexation.
"The governing body of the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has no power to provide any services to the citizens and residents of Rutherford County," the lawsuit states.
Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg said he hopes the issue will eventually be resolved.
"We did not take the action lightly," Bragg said. "We as a city staff and as a council spent considerable time learning and educating. I believe all parties have been and will be heard."
Monday, February 26, 2007
Poll: Oak Ridge Residents OPPOSE Corp Welfare
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OAK RIDGE — The majority of Oak Ridge residents surveyed are against the city providing $10.5 million for site preparations for a new shopping center.
OAK RIDGE — The majority of Oak Ridge residents surveyed are against the city providing $10.5 million for site preparations for a new shopping center.
That’s the key bottom-line figure in a city-funded survey to gauge sentiment on a proposal to help a Brentwood developer prepare the Pine Ridge site for a "power center" anchored by a SuperTarget.
"It’s going to be a tough sell to the community," said University of Tennessee political science professor John M. Scheb. "It’s pretty clear there’s a lot of opposition to it."
Scheb was paid $5,000 by the city to conduct a poll of residents, and 405 citizens responded to the 11-question phone survey, conducted Feb. 12-17.
The survey shows that 61 percent of the respondents don’t think the city should spend the money, and only 17 percent are in favor of it.
A few "minor" exceptions to new ethics rules
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WASHINGTON — Lawmakers have continued to take trips paid for by outside groups since the House voted last month to restrict who can pay for such travel.
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers have continued to take trips paid for by outside groups since the House voted last month to restrict who can pay for such travel.
House travel records show that 19 members since Jan. 5 have accepted airfare, meals and lodging from special interests, including groups that employ lobbyists. The records were compiled by the non-partisan PoliticalMoneyLine.
The trips demonstrate that lawmakers "are trying to see what they are going to get away with," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the liberal-leaning watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
No name Pres Survey for 5 SE States
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A new Elon University survey (release, results) of 719 adults conducted 2/18 through 2/22 in six Southeastern states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia) using an open ended question, which did not present respondents with candidate names, to measure presidential primary vote preference finds:
- Among 302 respondents likely to support a Democratic candidate for president (MoE +/- 5.75), 30% volunteer support for Sen. Hillary Clinton, 14% for Sen. Barack Obama, 8% for former Sen. John Edwards, and 45% said they either don't know or it is "too early to tell."
- Among 226 respondents likely to support a Republican candidate for president (MoE +/- 6.65) , 21% volunteer support for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 16% for Sen. John McCain, and 56% said they either don't know or it is too early to tell.
Please note that while the *release* includes crosstabulations by individual states, but does not specify the size of each state subgroup. The total number of interviews among self-identified primary voters across all states sampled is already quite small (n=302 for Democrats and n=226 for Republican).
Detroit Schools paid $1.6 Mil for Art
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The purchases identified by the Free Press -- made through the same Detroit gallery since 2002 -- raise questions again about the cash-strapped district's spending decisions. Earlier this month, the Free Press reported that the district spent more than $1.3 million in the past year on travel, meeting and catering expenses even as it closed schools to cut costs.
The purchases identified by the Free Press -- made through the same Detroit gallery since 2002 -- raise questions again about the cash-strapped district's spending decisions. Earlier this month, the Free Press reported that the district spent more than $1.3 million in the past year on travel, meeting and catering expenses even as it closed schools to cut costs.
139 count indictment for spending OPM
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It's a bizarre account of the adventures of a millionaire pol whose over-the-top greed makes recently convicted ex-congressmen Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney seem like penny-ante pikers. If this indictment is accurate, Vincent J. Fumo is a man driven by a compulsion to get somebody else to pay for everything his heart desires, including the aforementioned tiki torches, gourmet paint, vacuum cleaners and bobblehead dolls.
It's a bizarre account of the adventures of a millionaire pol whose over-the-top greed makes recently convicted ex-congressmen Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney seem like penny-ante pikers. If this indictment is accurate, Vincent J. Fumo is a man driven by a compulsion to get somebody else to pay for everything his heart desires, including the aforementioned tiki torches, gourmet paint, vacuum cleaners and bobblehead dolls.
"Fumo stated to a close confidant his philosophy that a person is best advised to spend 'other people's money,' " the indictment states. "Fumo often referred to this goal by the acronym 'OPM.' "
But don't get the impression that Fumo was completely selfish. That would be wrong. The man had a big heart, and consequently he allegedly used $50,000 of other people's money to provide the good citizens of Bristol, Pa., with a statue of a heroic war dog.
By all accounts, Vincent J. Fumo is a man of wealth, taste and charm. A hotshot Philadelphia lawyer and director of a bank founded by his grandfather, he is the proprietor of four homes -- a 33-room mansion in Philadelphia, a 100-acre Pennsylvania farm, a beach house on the Jersey shore and what the indictment calls "a multi-million dollar oceanfront home" in Florida.
In 1978, Fumo, who is a Democrat, was elected to the state Senate. A skillful pol, he quickly rose to power, becoming head of the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee, a post that put him in charge of dozens of Senate employees. According to the indictment, he worked them to the bone.
FBI probes $1.25 B in NJ "Christmas Tree" Grants
As federal prosecutors try to dig deeper into the spending practices of New Jersey legislators, they might struggle to identify an elementary piece of any case -- the paper trail.
Senators and Assembly members added more than $1.25 billion in last-minute spending to the state budget in the past five years, agreeing to let taxpayers fund pet projects that typically escape public disclosure or debate.
The so-called "Christmas tree" grants, now the focus of an FBI investigation, dole out money for items ranging from road construction to ball fields to school programs.
But interviews with legislators and other officials and a review of hundreds of Treasury Department documents show the creation of the Christmas tree budget each year is a marvel of old-school politics -- a process that relies more than previously known on a handshake, a nod or a hallway conversation. There is no formal application, no protocol, no public record of where, when or how such grants become budget line items.
MLGW sitting on Mountain of Ratepayer Cash
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It comes as no surprise to any taxpayers in Memphis and Shelby County that the MLGW has given a special deal to Edmund Ford. This is serious and those responsible should resign. However this is a small amount of money compared to the mountain of cash and cash equivalents that the MLGW is sitting on and continues to pile up each year out of the pockets of ratepayers who do pay their bills.
Consider that the MLGW only publishes their financial statements nine to ten months after they close their financial year on December 31. Looking at the 2004 and 2005 statements, the unrestricted cash reserves have increased from $177 million to $230 million. They say that they like to keep on hand 30 days of expenses, which is about $94 million so why do they need the extra $136 million? Could it have anything to do with financing the new proposed football stadium that the Mayor proposes? Actually the current cash after more than 13 months from the last published financial statement is probably over $270 million as they continue to pile up cash at the expense of the rate payers.
It comes as no surprise to any taxpayers in Memphis and Shelby County that the MLGW has given a special deal to Edmund Ford. This is serious and those responsible should resign. However this is a small amount of money compared to the mountain of cash and cash equivalents that the MLGW is sitting on and continues to pile up each year out of the pockets of ratepayers who do pay their bills.
Consider that the MLGW only publishes their financial statements nine to ten months after they close their financial year on December 31. Looking at the 2004 and 2005 statements, the unrestricted cash reserves have increased from $177 million to $230 million. They say that they like to keep on hand 30 days of expenses, which is about $94 million so why do they need the extra $136 million? Could it have anything to do with financing the new proposed football stadium that the Mayor proposes? Actually the current cash after more than 13 months from the last published financial statement is probably over $270 million as they continue to pile up cash at the expense of the rate payers.
City Contractors and Campaign Contributions
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In the last three months of 2006, construction company owner Ron Cornejo and several of his family members donated $500 each to three Wichita City Council members who are running for re-election.
In the last three months of 2006, construction company owner Ron Cornejo and several of his family members donated $500 each to three Wichita City Council members who are running for re-election.
In the same time frame, his company, Cornejo & Sons Construction Inc., won more than $5 million in competitively bid city projects.
We need more public SERVANTS like this
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Georgia Senate is considering a plan that would prevent any buildings, roads or bridges from being named after the chamber's Democratic leader, Sen. Robert Brown.
The plan's sponsor? Sen. Robert Brown.
Brown, of Macon, said he had heard talk of plans to name something for him in his hometown and wanted to make it clear he has no interest in such an honor.
"It was honor enough for me to get elected and serve," said Brown, who has been a senator since 1992 and his party's leader for the past two years. "I don't see the need for anything else."
We need more public SERVANTS like this
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Georgia Senate is considering a plan that would prevent any buildings, roads or bridges from being named after the chamber's Democratic leader, Sen. Robert Brown.
The plan's sponsor? Sen. Robert Brown.
Brown, of Macon, said he had heard talk of plans to name something for him in his hometown and wanted to make it clear he has no interest in such an honor.
"It was honor enough for me to get elected and serve," said Brown, who has been a senator since 1992 and his party's leader for the past two years. "I don't see the need for anything else."
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Interesting Daughtrey Tennessean Op/Ed
Larry Daughtrey makes some good points, the best sales tax has the lowest possible rate and the broadest possible base. But talking about "tax reform" without talking about "spending reform" is pretty much useless. Politicians never want to hear the answer from citizens to the most important question about taxes: "How much government do you want?"
"Tax reform" for politicians means "how do we grow the size of government?"
"Tax Reform" for taxpayers means "how do we keep the tax burden low?"
It's really a debate about iceberg tips. Tennessee is still in dire need of tax reform, which doesn't have to mean income tax.
Each year, more than $5 billion in sales tax revenue slips through the cracks of exemptions created by the legislature. That's because the state's tax policy has long been set on the basis of who has the best lobbyists, not fairness.
Basic truths often get lost in the budget shuffle. Tennessee remains a state where cows and horses eat tax-free food; babies don't.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Ill Legislator wants to force student handwasing
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SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Rep. Mary Flowers wants to clean up Chicago schools - two germy, dirty hands at a time.
Fed up with what she sees as a health hazard for thousands of children, Flowers has introduced legislation that would require Chicago schools to make students wash their hands with antiseptic soap before eating.
"This is all about a way of life for our children," Flowers, D-Chicago, said in a recent interview. "It's a public safety issue that needs to be addressed."
IRS coming after eBay sellers
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As part of his proposed federal budget for 2008, President Bush made what many believe is the first step to more vigorously collect taxes on online sales. Although vaguely worded, the proposal would require "brokers," or middlemen, to collect taxpayer identification numbers from clients and report their sales of personal property to the IRS on a 1099 form if sales surpass 100 transactions or more than $5,000 annually.
Under current law, eBay and other auction sites aren't considered brokers. But definitions can be changed.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Ted and Kay: Citizens Making TN Better
Ted posts the names and addresses of all the Hardin County Commissioners.
Kay lets us know that the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education is now posting their full agenda online in no small part because Kay pushed very hard for this public information to be made public.
Ted and Kay have both worked so very hard, Ted in Hardin County (Savannah) and Kay in Davidson County. They work without any compensation whatsoever and they have both had great difficulty getting basic information from THEIR government. We MUST have more citizens like Ted and Kay if we expect government to bow to the will of the people.
Kay lets us know that the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education is now posting their full agenda online in no small part because Kay pushed very hard for this public information to be made public.
Ted and Kay have both worked so very hard, Ted in Hardin County (Savannah) and Kay in Davidson County. They work without any compensation whatsoever and they have both had great difficulty getting basic information from THEIR government. We MUST have more citizens like Ted and Kay if we expect government to bow to the will of the people.
Losers at Ballot Box, Big Winners as Lobbyists
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The cozy relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists that embarrassed Congress and cost some lawmakers re-election haven't stopped the revolving door between Capitol Hill and the lobbying industry that seeks to influence legislation.
Five of the 39 ex-lawmakers rejected by voters three months ago landed jobs at firms that seek to influence Congress.
National Taxpayers Union 2006 Ratings
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Blackburn, M....... A ......... 81%
Cooper, J.............. D ......... 36%
Davis, L................ D ......... 32%
Duncan, J.............. A ......... 77%
Ford, H................. D ......... 29%
Gordon, B............. D ......... 27%
Jenkins, W............ B ........... 61%
Tanner, J............... D .......... 34%
Wamp, Z .............. C+.......... 56%
State Average.......................48%
Alexander, L......... B+........... 80%
Frist, W................. B+............80%
State Average........................80%
Blackburn, M....... A ......... 81%
Cooper, J.............. D ......... 36%
Davis, L................ D ......... 32%
Duncan, J.............. A ......... 77%
Ford, H................. D ......... 29%
Gordon, B............. D ......... 27%
Jenkins, W............ B ........... 61%
Tanner, J............... D .......... 34%
Wamp, Z .............. C+.......... 56%
State Average.......................48%
Alexander, L......... B+........... 80%
Frist, W................. B+............80%
State Average........................80%
Original Rhapsody in Blue played by Gershwin
Through the magic of the internet, we are able to listen to the original recording with Gershwin and Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. It is completely different than the standard grandiose orchestral presentation. It is jazzy and fun.
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HERE is the MP3 file
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HERE is the MP3 file
More State Legislatures bar electronics on floor
(Maine) acted after a representative observed lobbyists emailing legislators as they debated bills. Also this year, the Oregon Senate has barred "cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices that detract from the decorum" of their august body, copying a rule that was already in place in that state's House.
In recent years, the Colorado and North Carolina state senates also have banned electronic communications while they conduct official business.
"We're a deliberative body, and when you're in [the chamber] you're supposed to be listening," said North Carolina Sen. Tony Rand (D).
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Hamblen County "needs" to raise taxes
Wonder if taxpayers "need" to have their family budgets cut.
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Herbert Harville said he estimates a tax increase of about 25 cents on the current rate of $1.86 per $100 assessed valuation is needed.
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Herbert Harville said he estimates a tax increase of about 25 cents on the current rate of $1.86 per $100 assessed valuation is needed.
Bartlett Mayor talks about "Fee Adjustments"
I'll be willing to bet a very substantial amount of money that if the Mayor was proposing cuts he would call them "cuts" instead of "adjustments."
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Taxpayers lose ground to Govt employees
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A typical full-time state or local government worker made $78,853 in wages and benefits in the third quarter of 2006, $25,771 more than a typical private-sector worker, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The difference was $7,604 in 2000. The compensation advantage holds true for all types of public workers, from teachers to laborers and managers. Better benefits for government workers is the biggest reason for the growing compensation gap.
A typical full-time state or local government worker made $78,853 in wages and benefits in the third quarter of 2006, $25,771 more than a typical private-sector worker, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The difference was $7,604 in 2000. The compensation advantage holds true for all types of public workers, from teachers to laborers and managers. Better benefits for government workers is the biggest reason for the growing compensation gap.
Sweet...new Canon video camera card deck sized
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February 22, 2007 Canon has announced the latest state-of-the-art compact digital still and video camera - the 7.1 megapixel PowerShot TX1 offers 10x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer and can shoot VGA (640 x 480 pixels) movies at 30 fps (in a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio) and can capture high-resolution still images while recording movies, helping to ensure that milestone memories are preserved for picture frames, photo albums and e-mail sharing as well as for video viewing. The TX1 features an enhanced Canon DiG!C III image processor with innovative technology including in-camera red-eye correction and improved Face Detection with Flash Exposure. The enhanced DiG!C III processor enables in-camera red-eye correction with the touch of a button. Available next month, the US$500 TX1 is the size of a deck of playing cards, making it ideal as a permanent companion.
February 22, 2007 Canon has announced the latest state-of-the-art compact digital still and video camera - the 7.1 megapixel PowerShot TX1 offers 10x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer and can shoot VGA (640 x 480 pixels) movies at 30 fps (in a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio) and can capture high-resolution still images while recording movies, helping to ensure that milestone memories are preserved for picture frames, photo albums and e-mail sharing as well as for video viewing. The TX1 features an enhanced Canon DiG!C III image processor with innovative technology including in-camera red-eye correction and improved Face Detection with Flash Exposure. The enhanced DiG!C III processor enables in-camera red-eye correction with the touch of a button. Available next month, the US$500 TX1 is the size of a deck of playing cards, making it ideal as a permanent companion.
Leaf Chronicle endorses Food Tax Reduction
Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle joins the City Paper in endorsing Food Tax Reduction.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Onion Parody: Child Safety Experts Warn
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WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Health and Human Services issued a series of guidelines Monday designed to help parents curtail their children's boundless imaginations, which child-safety advocates say have the potential to rival motor vehicle accidents and congenital diseases as a leading cause of disability and death among youths ages 3 to 14.
[...]
Added McMillan: "Remember, if you see a single sparkle of excitement in their eyes, you haven't done enough."
WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Health and Human Services issued a series of guidelines Monday designed to help parents curtail their children's boundless imaginations, which child-safety advocates say have the potential to rival motor vehicle accidents and congenital diseases as a leading cause of disability and death among youths ages 3 to 14.
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Added McMillan: "Remember, if you see a single sparkle of excitement in their eyes, you haven't done enough."
Solar Power Ready for Prime Time?
"We don't need subsidies, we just need governments to get out of the way and do no harm. They've spent $170bn subsidising nuclear power over the last thirty years," he said.
His ultra-light technology, based on a copper indium compound, can power mobile phones and laptop computers with a sliver of foil.
"You won't have to get down on your knees ever again to hunt for plug socket," he said
Michael Rogol, a solar expert at Credit Lyonnais, expects the solar industry to grow from $7bn in 2004 to nearer $40bn by 2010, with operating earnings of $3bn.
The sector is poised to outstrip wind power. It is a remarkable boom for a technology long dismissed by experts as hopelessly unviable.
Taxpayer funded Campaign advertising?
Is THIS taxpayer funded campaign advertising for Rita Clark? Clearly, it is not necessary to have her picture and name on this web page?
Is THIS taxpayer funded campaign advertising for Fred Sisk?
How many times should elected officials have their picture on the Home Page of the Govt web site: Once? Twice?
Should we, the citizens, specify some limits?
Is THIS taxpayer funded campaign advertising for Fred Sisk?
How many times should elected officials have their picture on the Home Page of the Govt web site: Once? Twice?
Should we, the citizens, specify some limits?
Brit Hospitals too efficient, minimum wait times implemented
Not kidding. When you put politicians in charge of health care...
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Mayor wants MLGW surplus for new stadium??
Memphis Watchdog says Mayor Herenton may have his eye on MLGW (Taxpayer owned utility Memphis Light, Gas, and Water) surplus to pay for new stadium:
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Year after year they keep piling up profit when they should be returning these profits to the ratepayers in lower rates. Why do the City Council and the media not investigate this surplus? Could it be that the Mayor has his eyes on this surplus to finance his new stadium as he did with the Water Division of the MLGW which is required to pay $2.5 million per year for the FedEx Arena for over $60 million total. Time will tell but not before the election.
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Year after year they keep piling up profit when they should be returning these profits to the ratepayers in lower rates. Why do the City Council and the media not investigate this surplus? Could it be that the Mayor has his eyes on this surplus to finance his new stadium as he did with the Water Division of the MLGW which is required to pay $2.5 million per year for the FedEx Arena for over $60 million total. Time will tell but not before the election.
2nd Nationwide Poll Shows Rudy and Hillary up
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A new Quinnipiac University national survey of 1536 registered voters (conducted 2/13 through 2/19) finds:
- Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton (at 38%) leads Sen. Barack Obama (23%) and Vice President Al Gore (11%) in a national primary. Former Sen. John Edwards trails at 6%.
- Among Republicans, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (at 40%) leads Sen. John McCain (18%) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (10%) in a national primary.
- General election match-ups show Giuliani leading Clinton (48% to 43%), Giuliani leading Obama (47% to 40%), and Giuliani leading Edwards (48% to 40%). Match-ups pitting McCain against Clinton (46% to 44%), McCain against Obama (43% to 43%) and McCain against Edwards (43% to 42%) are all within the margin of sampling error.
Commercial Appeal: Sin tax not a long term tax
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The governor says he can raise an estimated $219 million a year with the increase, even after the impact that the tax hike will undoubtedly have on sales. That may be true, at least in the short term. But it should not be counted on as a permanent fix for state budgetary shortcomings.
The governor says he can raise an estimated $219 million a year with the increase, even after the impact that the tax hike will undoubtedly have on sales. That may be true, at least in the short term. But it should not be counted on as a permanent fix for state budgetary shortcomings.
Gov ratchets the rhetoric, "vodoo" tax cut
Don't be surprised if the Repubs start reporting stinging sensations, like sharp needles.
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"This tax-cut proposal, it is voodoo," Bredesen said. "It is the worst kind of Washington, D.C., budgeting I have seen in my time as governor."
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"This tax-cut proposal, it is voodoo," Bredesen said. "It is the worst kind of Washington, D.C., budgeting I have seen in my time as governor."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Mayor, could I interest you in a bridge in Brooklyn?
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Mayor W.W. Herenton unveiled his plan for a new football stadium in the Fairgrounds area during a Memphis City Council meeting Tuesday. The mayor said that the money for a multimillion dollar stadium would not be raised through higher property taxes.
Mayor W.W. Herenton unveiled his plan for a new football stadium in the Fairgrounds area during a Memphis City Council meeting Tuesday. The mayor said that the money for a multimillion dollar stadium would not be raised through higher property taxes.
Gov says Repubs pushing an INCOME TAX??
This is going to be a really interesting General Assembly session! We may have to order extra meds for some of our elected officials.
Link Updated Link with Complete AP article
He also said it could be a ploy to get support for an income tax as a replacement.
An income tax proposal spearheaded by then-Governor Don Sundquist, Bredesen's Republican predecessor, failed after years of emotional debate.
Link Updated Link with Complete AP article
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Governor Bredesen says the state would have a fiscal crisis if the tax on groceries is phased out without a way to replace the lost revenue.
A measure co-sponsored by all 17 Republicans in the Senate and 20 Republicans in the House would drop the state's six percent food tax by half a percentage point each year until it is eliminated in the budget year beginning in 2018.Bredesen said in a speech today that it would knock a hole in the state budget.He also said it could be a ploy to get support for an income tax as a replacement.
An income tax proposal spearheaded by then-Governor Don Sundquist, Bredesen's Republican predecessor, failed after years of emotional debate.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Robertson Cnty Wheel/Sales Tax Delayed Again
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The proposed increases of the wheel and sales taxes have been delayed until the March meeting of the county commission due to legal restraints.
At least six months must pass before the sales tax can be placed on another referendum, Dennis Wade said in commission meeting on Monday. The sales tax was voted down when brought to referendum last November.
The wheel tax increase, which was deferred in the January commission meeting to be packaged with the sales tax, would add $30 to the cost of updating vehicle tags, bringing the annual cost to $109.25 per vehicle, County Clerk Susan Atchley said.
Rudy and Hillary in National Primary Poll
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A new Rasmussen Reports automated survey of likely primary voters nationwide (conducted 2/12 through 2/15) finds:
- Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton (at 28%) runs slightly ahead of Sen. Barack Obama (24%), and former Sen. John Edwards (11%) and former Vice President Al Gore (10%) trail in a national primary.
- Among Republicans, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (at 33%) leads Sen. John McCain (19%), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (13%), and former Gov. Mitt Romney (8%) in a national primary.
Politics is Priceless-Thomas Sowell
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The great allure of government programs in general for many people is that these programs allow decisions to be made without having to worry about the constraints of prices, which confront people at every turn in a free market.
They see prices as just obstacles or nuisances, instead of seeing them as messages conveying underlying realities that are there, whether or not prices are allowed to function. What prices are telling San Francisco is that municipal golf courses cost more than they are worth -- not in my opinion, but in the actions of people who are spending their own hard-earned money. But what politician wants to hear that? Politics is priceless.
The great allure of government programs in general for many people is that these programs allow decisions to be made without having to worry about the constraints of prices, which confront people at every turn in a free market.
They see prices as just obstacles or nuisances, instead of seeing them as messages conveying underlying realities that are there, whether or not prices are allowed to function. What prices are telling San Francisco is that municipal golf courses cost more than they are worth -- not in my opinion, but in the actions of people who are spending their own hard-earned money. But what politician wants to hear that? Politics is priceless.
Europe’s Plan to Track Phone and Net Use
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PARIS, Feb. 19 — European governments are preparing legislation to require companies to keep detailed data about people's Internet and phone use that goes beyond what the countries will be required to do under a European Union directive.
In Germany, a proposal from the Ministry of Justice would essentially prohibit using false information to create an e-mail account, making the standard Internet practice of creating accounts with pseudonyms illegal.
A draft law in the Netherlands would likewise go further than the European Union requires, in this case by requiring phone companies to save records of a caller's precise location during an entire mobile phone conversation.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Food sales TAX CUT close to revenue neutral?
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Stennis Institute researcher Judith Phillips says if the grocery tax is reduced, low-income people could be expected to use the tax savings to buy more groceries, and that would have little impact on state revenues.
She says middle- and upper-income people would be likely to spend the extra money on taxable items. That would generate about 18 (M) million dollars in new sales tax collections -- and part of the new money would go to cities.
HERE is a link to the Report
Stennis Institute researcher Judith Phillips says if the grocery tax is reduced, low-income people could be expected to use the tax savings to buy more groceries, and that would have little impact on state revenues.
She says middle- and upper-income people would be likely to spend the extra money on taxable items. That would generate about 18 (M) million dollars in new sales tax collections -- and part of the new money would go to cities.
HERE is a link to the Report
By a vote of 119 to 0 MS House passes tax holiday
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The bill passed (the Mississippi House) 119-0 and moves to the Senate.
Similar proposals have passed the Senate in years past, only to die in the House Ways and Means Committee.
This is an election year.
The bill passed (the Mississippi House) 119-0 and moves to the Senate.
Similar proposals have passed the Senate in years past, only to die in the House Ways and Means Committee.
This is an election year.
Former NC House Speaker pleads guilty
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Black flexed his muscle to prevent a ban on video poker from reaching the House floor for several years, until his legal troubles forced him to let the ban go through. He slipped a landmark provision into the 2005 state budget that made it much easier for chiropractors to gain patients by putting them on an even footing with family doctors. And he helped his fellow optometrists gain business with legislation that required all children to receive an eye exam before entering school. That legislation created such an outcry that it was later removed.
None of these cases would cause much of a stir on Jones Street if it weren't for the measures all three groups took to support Black. State Board of Elections probes found that video poker interests and optometrists provided the speaker with illegal campaign contributions, while three chiropractors slipped him $25,000 in cash and a $4,000 check that he pocketed. On Thursday, Black, 71, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, pleaded guilty to a federal felony corruption charge for accepting the chiropractors' money. He could face as much as 10 years in prison.
Ever hear of SAIC..No? YOU are paying for it.
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SAIC maintains its headquarters in San Diego, but its center of gravity is in Washington, D.C. With a workforce of 44,000, it is the size of a full-fledged government agency—in fact, it is larger than the departments of Labor, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development combined. Its anonymous glass-and-steel Washington office—a gleaming corporate box like any other—lies in northern Virginia, not far from the headquarters of the C.I.A., whose byways it knows quite well. (More than half of SAIC's employees have security clearances.) SAIC has been awarded more individual government contracts than any other private company in America. The contracts number not in the dozens or scores or hundreds but in the thousands: SAIC currently holds some 9,000 active federal contracts in all. More than a hundred of them are worth upwards of $10 million apiece. Two of them are worth more than $1 billion. The company's annual revenues, almost all of which come from the federal government, approached $8 billion in the 2006 fiscal year, and they are continuing to climb. SAIC's goal is to reach as much as $12 billion in revenues by 2008. As for the financial yardstick that really gets Wall Street's attention—profitability—SAIC beats the S&P 500 average. Last year ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, posted a return on revenue of 11 percent. For SAIC the figure was 11.9 percent. If "contract backlog" is any measure—that is, contracts negotiated and pending—the future seems assured. The backlog stands at $13.6 billion. That's one and a half times more than the backlog at KBR Inc., a subsidiary of the far better known government contractor once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, the Halliburton Company.
SAIC maintains its headquarters in San Diego, but its center of gravity is in Washington, D.C. With a workforce of 44,000, it is the size of a full-fledged government agency—in fact, it is larger than the departments of Labor, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development combined. Its anonymous glass-and-steel Washington office—a gleaming corporate box like any other—lies in northern Virginia, not far from the headquarters of the C.I.A., whose byways it knows quite well. (More than half of SAIC's employees have security clearances.) SAIC has been awarded more individual government contracts than any other private company in America. The contracts number not in the dozens or scores or hundreds but in the thousands: SAIC currently holds some 9,000 active federal contracts in all. More than a hundred of them are worth upwards of $10 million apiece. Two of them are worth more than $1 billion. The company's annual revenues, almost all of which come from the federal government, approached $8 billion in the 2006 fiscal year, and they are continuing to climb. SAIC's goal is to reach as much as $12 billion in revenues by 2008. As for the financial yardstick that really gets Wall Street's attention—profitability—SAIC beats the S&P 500 average. Last year ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, posted a return on revenue of 11 percent. For SAIC the figure was 11.9 percent. If "contract backlog" is any measure—that is, contracts negotiated and pending—the future seems assured. The backlog stands at $13.6 billion. That's one and a half times more than the backlog at KBR Inc., a subsidiary of the far better known government contractor once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, the Halliburton Company.
More State Property Tax Talk? fromJohn Morgan
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Comptroller John Morgan and Rep. Charles Curtiss, D-Sparta, say the best way to pay for K-12 schools in Tennessee would be to shift the obligation from local governments to the state.
It’s a big change that may not have support in the General Assembly, but Morgan and Curtiss say it wouldn’t require a tax increase and could be accomplished by redirecting some existing property taxes and sales taxes.
[...]
Comptroller John Morgan and Rep. Charles Curtiss, D-Sparta, say the best way to pay for K-12 schools in Tennessee would be to shift the obligation from local governments to the state.
[...]
Fifteen years later and less than a year after a judge dismissed that suit, the BEP formula has urban counties grumbling louder.
"We ain’t a bit better off than we were 20 years ago," said Curtiss, who is chairman of the Joint Fiscal Review Committee. "We’ve got a system that ain’t working and we just want to tweak it a little."
TV News by Citizens only, all journalists fired
Going well beyond the VJ concept, a Santa Rosa TV station is depending entirely on citizen journalists. Will it be Wayne's World News?
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So the next step in Channel 50's evolution will be a nationally watched experiment in local television coverage. Over the next few months, the station's management plans to ask people in the community -- its independent filmmakers, its college students and professors, its civic leaders and others -- to provide programming for the station.
Will they be paid? That's being worked out. Who will cover the harder-edged stories? Some will be culled from local newspaper and TV online sites, Spendlove said, and "other sources" that are still being discussed.
"There will be a loss in local coverage, I'm not going to lie to you," he said. "But there are a lot of other places to get most of that information."
Sugar costs DOUBLE because of OUR GOVT
You and me and millions of other Americans are paying twice as much for sugar as we should because a very small group of lobbyists and campaign contributors have co-opted the power of OUR GOVERNMENT to enrich themselves. Thousands of people have lost jobs in the US because a very small group of lobbyists and campaign contributors have co-opted the power of OUR GOVERNMENT to enrich themselves.
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Americans pay about double the world market price for sugar, a hidden tax that hurts everyone with a sweet tooth. Many beverage and food makers catering to that sweet tooth have long used corn syrup instead of sugar because it's cheaper, but the price of corn syrup is beginning to rise. So now would be a good time for the U.S. government to revisit its destructive farm policies.
This is a classic case of a narrow, vocal lobby — sugar growers — benefiting at the expense of the larger economy. The latest victim of high-priced sweeteners is Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the largest bottler of Coca-Cola products, which announced last week that it would cut 3,500 jobs because of a $1.1-billion loss in 2006. Other soft-drink makers, confectioners and food companies also pay a steep price for the complex system of price supports and import quotas aimed at protecting U.S. sugar growers by insulating them from global market realities.
Prisoners of YouTUBE
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Marylynn Aminrazavi was happy. She was on vacation. Decked out in beach casual—oversized white T-shirt, colorful beach towel, hair in a bun—she leaned back in a chair by the Atlantic Ocean, put on her daughter's iPod, and closed her eyes. Lost in the music, she began to sing along. Loudly.
The song was Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You." Aminrazavi's thin, nasal warble—not to mention her physique (she looks like your mom)—was clearly never intended for mid-90s R&B sex-pop. The resulting scene was comic gold: A 46-year-old suburban mother of two, blissfully unaware, belting out "I'll make love to you / Like you want me to" to the dozens of beachgoers around her.
NEVER Pay Retail for College
Blogger and Econ Professor Martin Kennedy passes along this very interesting site about how to go to college on less than $11.00 per day (Be sure to watch the short video). Very useful information for anyone who doesn't want to spend the typical 40k-50k on college.
City Paper calls on Dept of Rev to CHANGE
The TN Dept of Revenue must change and they must let us KNOW they have changed. Kudos to the City Paper for pointing this out. I happen to agree with and support the agenda of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. Drew Johnson has done a remarkable job of promoting free market, low tax policy solutions. But the TN Dept of Revenue has FAR TOO MUCH POWER over out lives to be this arrogant towards ANY group, agree or disagree. Let us hope the TN Dept of Revenue will change and that Gov Bredesen will hold them accountable.
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Quite frankly, it should not really matter how far off the mainstream any group is when dealing with state government. Whether it is a blogger in their pajamas, a special interest group or just Joe Citizen, state government should crack open like a piñata when asked for otherwise public information.
Commissioner Farr needs to get his department’s collective heart in the right place when it comes to dealing with the citizens of this state. It is not up to him or anyone else in state government to respond to Tennessee residents based on a perception about professionalism. They are public servants, and their first goal should be to serve the public regardless of what they think about the individual on the other end of the telephone or their politics.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Tobacco Tax Revenues Decline Nationwide
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In 2005, tobacco taxes contributed $13 billion to state budgets. But cigarette tax collections that year were down in 15 states compared with the year or years before, according to a study backed by the tobacco industry. States such as New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are all forecasting a drop in revenue.
In 2005, tobacco taxes contributed $13 billion to state budgets. But cigarette tax collections that year were down in 15 states compared with the year or years before, according to a study backed by the tobacco industry. States such as New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are all forecasting a drop in revenue.
Similarly, the federal cigarette tax has been bringing in less money each year since 2002. The amount dropped from $8.1 billion in 2002 to $7.7 billion in 2005, according to the same study.
Good Historical Perspective on Bredesen's Plan
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NASHVILLE -- By proposing education reforms and the biggest increase in school funding of his tenure -- and a tax increase to pay for them -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is following a script written by his three two-term predecessors:
1. Spend your first four years getting the state's fiscal house in order and making incremental improvements in the services and programs delivered by state government, without a tax increase.
NASHVILLE -- By proposing education reforms and the biggest increase in school funding of his tenure -- and a tax increase to pay for them -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is following a script written by his three two-term predecessors:
1. Spend your first four years getting the state's fiscal house in order and making incremental improvements in the services and programs delivered by state government, without a tax increase.
2. Win an easy re-election.
3. Launch your second term with a major new initiative, preferably sweeping education reforms, and work to win legislative approval for the tax increase needed to pay for it.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Govt said to paint the mountain green, so we did!
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Villagers in southwestern China are scratching their heads over the county government's decision to paint an entire barren mountainside green.
Workers who began spraying Laoshou mountain last August told villagers they were doing so on orders of the county government but were not told why, media reports said Wednesday.
Villagers in southwestern China are scratching their heads over the county government's decision to paint an entire barren mountainside green.
Workers who began spraying Laoshou mountain last August told villagers they were doing so on orders of the county government but were not told why, media reports said Wednesday.
Gossip + cellphone = good stuff
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Gossip is not a trivial pastime: it is essential to human social, psychological and even physical well-being. The mobile phone, by facilitating therapeutic gossip in an alienating and fragmented modern world, has become a vital 'social lifeline', helping us to re-create the more natural communication patterns of pre-industrial times.
What is the value of YOUR House?
Type in your address in www.zillow.com and a box will pop up with a "Zestimate." Click on Zestimate and you will get a history of the home value estimate. Great service, its free and not one politician can claim credit for it (although many will probably try to regulate it).
Watches face "unfair" competition?
Watches are quickly losing ground to cell phones, ipods and other electronics which tell time according to this article. Rest assured there is a lobbyist somewhere earning big bucks trying to get government to offer "relief" from the "unfair" competition.
Database of PDF Magazines on the Net
Nice site which catalogs PDF magazines on the net. Mostly art and graphic design. Not for children.
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Friday, February 16, 2007
Should Govt be allowed to be this arrogant to us?
The City Paper is reporting:
Dept. of Revenue says conservative think tank ‘not a legitimate group’
The TN Department of Revenue, like all Departments of State Government, has an extraordinary amount of power over our lives. When this extraordinary power is used with arrogance towards the citizens it creates an intolerable situation.
Could the Department of Revenue declare other groups or citizens to be illegitimate?
Dept. of Revenue says conservative think tank ‘not a legitimate group’
The TN Department of Revenue, like all Departments of State Government, has an extraordinary amount of power over our lives. When this extraordinary power is used with arrogance towards the citizens it creates an intolerable situation.
Could the Department of Revenue declare other groups or citizens to be illegitimate?
$58 million on lobbying in WI
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Madison (Wisconsin) - State Ethics Board officials said today that 755 organizations reported spending a record $58.1 millon lobbying legislators, other elected officials and state agencies in the 2005-'06 legislative session -- a 19% increase over the previous session.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state chamber of commerce, again reported spending the most -- $1.59 million -- trying to influence Capitol decisions and state agencies. That was a 14% increase over what WMC spent the previous session, said Ethics Board Executive Director Roth Judd.
WMC was one of three groups that spent more than $1.5 million on lobbying; the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, spent $1.53 million and Wisconsin Hospital Association, $1.5 million. Of all 755 groups that lobby, 10 reported spending more than $750,000 each; 322 groups reported spending less than $25,000 each.
All groups reported spending 440,000 hours trying to influence bills in the Legislature and state agency decisions, a jump of 18.9% from the previous session. State rules require lobbying groups to report salaries paid staff members who lobby, payments to lobbying consultants, fringe benefits and overhead administrative costs.
Madison (Wisconsin) - State Ethics Board officials said today that 755 organizations reported spending a record $58.1 millon lobbying legislators, other elected officials and state agencies in the 2005-'06 legislative session -- a 19% increase over the previous session.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state chamber of commerce, again reported spending the most -- $1.59 million -- trying to influence Capitol decisions and state agencies. That was a 14% increase over what WMC spent the previous session, said Ethics Board Executive Director Roth Judd.
WMC was one of three groups that spent more than $1.5 million on lobbying; the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, spent $1.53 million and Wisconsin Hospital Association, $1.5 million. Of all 755 groups that lobby, 10 reported spending more than $750,000 each; 322 groups reported spending less than $25,000 each.
All groups reported spending 440,000 hours trying to influence bills in the Legislature and state agency decisions, a jump of 18.9% from the previous session. State rules require lobbying groups to report salaries paid staff members who lobby, payments to lobbying consultants, fringe benefits and overhead administrative costs.
Time for a tax hike in Bartlett?
Bartlett (Shelby County) Mayor says
"In my personal view, people are not looking at us to cut services," Mayor Keith McDonald told members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at a work session Tuesday night.
I certainly hope the Mayor will allow the taxpayers to express their "personal view." These types of articles almost NEVER give the reader historical perspective and show how much tax revenue has grown over recent years. Has Revenue gown as fast as population plus inflation? If so, why can't the city manage to cover costs? Lots of questions need to be answered for taxpayers.
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"In my personal view, people are not looking at us to cut services," Mayor Keith McDonald told members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at a work session Tuesday night.
I certainly hope the Mayor will allow the taxpayers to express their "personal view." These types of articles almost NEVER give the reader historical perspective and show how much tax revenue has grown over recent years. Has Revenue gown as fast as population plus inflation? If so, why can't the city manage to cover costs? Lots of questions need to be answered for taxpayers.
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New Federal Spending Info Site
This is the site that will eventually list all federal spending so taxpayers can search to find who is receiving our hard earned tax dollars. For now it is just for feedback but it does list several helpful sites that already list some federal spending.
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Holy Mackerel-Ark CUTS TAXES again!!
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LITTLE ROCK The Senate today approved a bill to increase the homestead tax credit from 300 dollars to 350 dollars.
The 26-point-nine (m) million-dollar annual tax break would provide relief for 538-thousand homeowners.
The bill passed 33-to-0 has already cleared the House. But the bill still has to return to the House to concur with an amendment before going to Beebe's desk.
LITTLE ROCK The Senate today approved a bill to increase the homestead tax credit from 300 dollars to 350 dollars.
The 26-point-nine (m) million-dollar annual tax break would provide relief for 538-thousand homeowners.
The bill passed 33-to-0 has already cleared the House. But the bill still has to return to the House to concur with an amendment before going to Beebe's desk.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Sales Tax Collections down in Morristown
Will the world come to an end? Will famine and pestilence follow? Probably not. Taxpaying families have downturns all the time. If the city wants some advice on how to handle this downturn, probably be best to pick up the phone and call a few moms, they will be happy to advise.
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It strongly appears the sales-tax gravy train that has funded substantial annual increases in the city of Morristown's budget could jump the tracks this year.
If current collection trends continue, the city will collect approximately $550,000 less in sales tax this year than it did last year, Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley said Tuesday.
"We counted on more money than we're going to get," Crumley said.
Sales Tax Collections down in Morristown
Will the world come to an end? Will famine and pestilence follow? Probably not. Taxpaying families have downturns all the time. If the city wants some advice on how to handle this downturn, probably be best to pick up the phone and call a few moms, they will be happy to advise.
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It strongly appears the sales-tax gravy train that has funded substantial annual increases in the city of Morristown's budget could jump the tracks this year.
If current collection trends continue, the city will collect approximately $550,000 less in sales tax this year than it did last year, Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley said Tuesday.
"We counted on more money than we're going to get," Crumley said.
Epidemic of Alarmism?
Interesting paper on how obesity and other health factors are over-reported in relation to their health risks HERE.
Also, from today's Wall Street Journal, the suicide rate among policemen was reported, in USAToday, to be high relative to the general population. However, when you factor in gender and consider that males have a much higher suicide rate and that 88% of policemen are male, the rate for policemen is only slightly above what you would expect.
Here is a quote from the Health article:
"We found that ... the news media's tendency to report more heavily on the most alarmist and individual-blaming scientific studies, and not simply how they frame individual stories, partly explains how the news dramatize and individualize science. ... These findings support the contention that scientists work as "parajournalists" writing their stories and especially the abstract with journalists in mind. They then frame their research via press releases and interviews with journalists. A reward structure in which, all things being equal, alarmist studies are more likely to be covered in the media may make scientists even more prone to presenting their findings in the most dramatic light possible."
Also, from today's Wall Street Journal, the suicide rate among policemen was reported, in USAToday, to be high relative to the general population. However, when you factor in gender and consider that males have a much higher suicide rate and that 88% of policemen are male, the rate for policemen is only slightly above what you would expect.
Here is a quote from the Health article:
"We found that ... the news media's tendency to report more heavily on the most alarmist and individual-blaming scientific studies, and not simply how they frame individual stories, partly explains how the news dramatize and individualize science. ... These findings support the contention that scientists work as "parajournalists" writing their stories and especially the abstract with journalists in mind. They then frame their research via press releases and interviews with journalists. A reward structure in which, all things being equal, alarmist studies are more likely to be covered in the media may make scientists even more prone to presenting their findings in the most dramatic light possible."
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Coffee County Early Voting on Sales Tax
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The actual day of the referendum vote is Tuesday, Feb. 27.
County Mayor David Pennington said if the increase passes, the sales tax would go from 9 to 9.75 percent per dollar, bringing additional annual revenue of about $5.2 million for the county and two cities.
Of that, the City of Tullahoma would get $2.1 million, the rural portion of the county would get $1.8 million and the City of Manchester would receive $1.3 million.
Alert the press!! Call the Capitol!!
A new business actually expanded and jobs were created and no taxpayer "incentives" were used for a bribe.
Yes, Virginia, unlike what you have been lead to believe, jobs actually ARE created without politicians having their pictures taken nearby. It happens all the time.
In fact, most new TN jobs are created without politicians anywhere near to take "credit." George Bush doesn't create jobs, Nancy Pelosi doesn't create jobs, Phil Bredesen doesn't create jobs....they only take credit for them AFTER hard working Tennesseans create them.
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Yes, Virginia, unlike what you have been lead to believe, jobs actually ARE created without politicians having their pictures taken nearby. It happens all the time.
In fact, most new TN jobs are created without politicians anywhere near to take "credit." George Bush doesn't create jobs, Nancy Pelosi doesn't create jobs, Phil Bredesen doesn't create jobs....they only take credit for them AFTER hard working Tennesseans create them.
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The 26-acre site, located next to the Roane Regional Business and Technology Park, was sold in a private land deal that took place without any publicly-funded incentive package.
Crete says tax collections from the site are expected to add about $42,000 a year to Roane County's tax rolls.
Dave Goetz responds to earlier post
Just got an email from Dave Goetz about this post and he was concerned that I didn't characterize his interview response correctly. Let me make an effort to clarify:
In the interview Dave did NOT say that NEW sources of revenue would be required if tobacco taxes and lottery proceeds declined in the future and were not enough to fund the education initiatives. He said that growth in existing revenue sources would be sufficient to offset these declines.
In the original post I said, "Dave Goetz, who is a straight shooter, sad NO, at some point in the future, other revenue sources will have to be found."
The point I was trying to make was that sources "other" than the lottery and tobacco tax would need to be used but Dave's point is well taken, I didn't make it clear that he was talking about existing revenue sources.
In the interview Dave did NOT say that NEW sources of revenue would be required if tobacco taxes and lottery proceeds declined in the future and were not enough to fund the education initiatives. He said that growth in existing revenue sources would be sufficient to offset these declines.
In the original post I said, "Dave Goetz, who is a straight shooter, sad NO, at some point in the future, other revenue sources will have to be found."
The point I was trying to make was that sources "other" than the lottery and tobacco tax would need to be used but Dave's point is well taken, I didn't make it clear that he was talking about existing revenue sources.
Giles County Citizen Records incident
Allen Barrett and Fred Winkles were arrested at a school board meeting last year when they attempted to make a public comment. They went through a long, very costly trial and were judged innocent by a jury of their peers.
Recently, in a letter supporting his reappointment as Superintendent of Education for Giles County, Tee Jackson stated he did not have the men arrested. Allen Barrett felt this statement was not true and came to the school board meeting to ask for a correction. During the meeting he had an encounter with the school board attorney. He made a video of his encounter which he has posted on YouTube..
Columbia Herald Article
YouTube video
Recently, in a letter supporting his reappointment as Superintendent of Education for Giles County, Tee Jackson stated he did not have the men arrested. Allen Barrett felt this statement was not true and came to the school board meeting to ask for a correction. During the meeting he had an encounter with the school board attorney. He made a video of his encounter which he has posted on YouTube..
Columbia Herald Article
YouTube video
Dutch Peep Shows get a tax break
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An Amsterdam judge has ruled that peep shows – where sex workers performing strip shows and explicit acts can be watched from booths – are a form of theatre and club owners are entitled to a hefty tax break.
"Admitting customers to peep shows is equivalent to admitting them to a theatre performance," an Amsterdam Appeals Court judge wrote in a ruling published today. "The erotic character of the performance does not diminish that."
The national daily De Telegraaf reported that the owner of the peep show, who was not identified, will receive thousands of euros back from the tax service as a result of the ruling.
We have ringtones, why not HORNTONES
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The Horntones FX-550 system is the first mobile audio system that allows you to customize the sound of your vehicle's horn function using virtually any standard audio file.
Using the latest electronic device and communications technology, Horntones Audio products provide you with a unique capability to personalize your automobile experience with an unlimited variety of sound clips.
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
Tennessee Waltz, Chinese Style
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Nearly 100,000 members of the Communist Party of China were punished last year for corruption, but eradicating graft in the near future remains a huge challenge, a senior official said.
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Nearly 100,000 members of the Communist Party of China were punished last year for corruption, but eradicating graft in the near future remains a huge challenge, a senior official said.
"Solving the problem of corruption in a short time is almost impossible," Gan Yisheng, a senior party discipline and oversight official, told a press conference in Beijing.
Of the 97,260 officials who had been disciplined, over 80 percent had failed to carry out duties, taken bribes or violated the party's financial rules, said Gan, vice secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. (Yikes, sounds scary)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Ultimate Taxpayer Insult
Taxpayer money used to lobby for tax hike
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While Michigan law forbids the use of public funds by state or local government to advocate for candidates or specific ballot issues, it allows them to "provide information" to the public. And if that "information" is sufficiently scary, members of the public might be persuaded to part with more of their money.
Further, if local governments route public money through the Michigan Municipal League, according to a 2001 ruling by then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, it is transformed into private money, since the Municipal League is a nonprofit corporation, not a public body, and the league can take positions on ballot issues.
In this case, the public dollars have been sent through both the laundering and spin cycles, since they have gone from local governments to the Municipal League to the "Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Project."
And the taxpayers have been hung out to dry.
$85 million State Surplus thru 6 months
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee collected one (b) billion dollars in taxes in January, about 35 (M) million dollars more than expected.
The increased tax collections were driven by nearly 14 (M) million dollars more in corporate franchise and excise taxes than expected.The state collected 85 (M) million dollars more than expected in the first six months of the budget year that began July 1st.
Its DONE-Ark Food TAX CUT largest ever
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The Arkansas Senate has given final approval to the state's largest tax cut ever slashing the sales tax on groceries from six percent to three percent. The bill goes to Governor Beebe for his signature.
The tax cut will reduce Arkansas revenues by 252 (m) million dollars over the next two years. It was a centerpiece of Beebe's 2006 campaign for governor.Senators voted 35-to-zero today to concur in a minor amendment from the House, which approved the tax cut 99-to-zero last week.
The Arkansas Policy Foundation says the typical Arkansas family would save 234 dollars annually on its grocery bills.
TN Private Career Colleges provide 34% of workers
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The findings show that private, for-profit career colleges supply nearly 34 percent of the career-level educated workers, about 7,280 students. They have an economic impact of $329.6 million in business revenue, $130.2 in labor income, $10.2 million in state and local taxes and provide 4,288 jobs.
Also of note in the study is the finding that an additional year of schooling in Tennessee at the career college level generates an average income increase of 11.4 percent, or about $2,848. The pay increase is greater in some fields: 17 percent in professional services, 15.4 percent for manufacturing 15.2 percent for utilities, 14.9 percent for health care and 14.8 percent for financial services.
$25,000 per student for what?
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District of Columbia public schools spend $25,000 per student. Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy wonders where the money is going. At a D.C. council meeting on school reform, students made requests.
Among the things that they wanted to see in every public school: "books when school starts," "heat in winter," "air conditioning in summer," "healthy meals," "water fountains that work," "music and art classes," "counselors who are able to help us" and "teachers who care about their students and can teach."
Ohioans Leaving Taxes Behind
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From 2003 through 2005, about 39,000 households left Ohio for states without income taxes, taking $2.1 billion in annual income with them, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Monday, February 12, 2007
A Love Poem for Valentines
Benjamin Rush was a physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence. On the occasion of his 36th anniversary he wrote a poem for his wife. I have never read a more touching love poem. My love for my precious wife and partner for almost as many years, is surely as deep but I doubt that I could ever express it so eloquently. To all of you ladies who make our lives complete, a poem for you. Simply substitute your name and accept our eternal gratitude.
_____
To Mrs. Julia Rush from her husband Benjamin Rush, 36 years after their
marriage.
When tossed upon the bed of pain
And every healing art was vain,
Whose prayers brought back my life again?
My Julia's.
When shafts of scandal 'round me flew
And ancient friends no longer knew my humble name,
Whose heart was true?
My Julia's.
When falsehood aimed its poison dart
And treachery pierced my bleeding heart,
Whose friendship did a cure impart?
My Julia's.
When hope was weak and faith was dead
And every earthly joy was fled,
Whose hand sustained my drooping head?
My Julia's.
When worn by age and sunk in years,
My shadow at full length appears,
Who shall anticipate my cares?
My Julia.
When life's low wick shall feebly blaze
And weeping children on me gaze,
Who shall assist my prayers and praise?
My Julia.
And when my mortal parts shall lay,
Waiting in hope the final day,
Who shall mourn o'er my sleeping clay?
My Julia.
And when the stream of time shall end,
And the last trump my grave shall rend,
Who shall with me to heaven ascend?
My Julia.
_____
To Mrs. Julia Rush from her husband Benjamin Rush, 36 years after their
marriage.
When tossed upon the bed of pain
And every healing art was vain,
Whose prayers brought back my life again?
My Julia's.
When shafts of scandal 'round me flew
And ancient friends no longer knew my humble name,
Whose heart was true?
My Julia's.
When falsehood aimed its poison dart
And treachery pierced my bleeding heart,
Whose friendship did a cure impart?
My Julia's.
When hope was weak and faith was dead
And every earthly joy was fled,
Whose hand sustained my drooping head?
My Julia's.
When worn by age and sunk in years,
My shadow at full length appears,
Who shall anticipate my cares?
My Julia.
When life's low wick shall feebly blaze
And weeping children on me gaze,
Who shall assist my prayers and praise?
My Julia.
And when my mortal parts shall lay,
Waiting in hope the final day,
Who shall mourn o'er my sleeping clay?
My Julia.
And when the stream of time shall end,
And the last trump my grave shall rend,
Who shall with me to heaven ascend?
My Julia.
Goetz: Revenue will have to be replaced
Dave Goetz appeared this weekend on Pat Nolan's NewsChannel5 show, Inside Politics. (an excellent show, by the way.....put it in your TIVO). Pat asked a very direct question about whether lottery and tobacco tax could be depended on to fund the Governor's education initiatives on a continuing basis. Dave Goetz, who is a straight shooter, sad NO, at some point in the future, other revenue sources will have to be found.
HERE is the mp3 audio file (1.5 mins) of Dave Goetz and Pat Nolan (thanks to Bill Hobbs for hosting)
HERE is the mp3 audio file (1.5 mins) of Dave Goetz and Pat Nolan (thanks to Bill Hobbs for hosting)
Taxpayers pay lobbyist to take more of their money
This is surreal, every level of government sees every other level of government as a source of revenue but the real source, of course, is US.
It should be absolutely illegal for any of OUR governments to hire lobbyists, period.
State lobbyists see the Federal govt as a source of revenue
Local lobbyists see State govt as a source of revenue
Guess where ALL that revenue comes from? OUR BANK ACCOUNTS
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There appears to be a growing trend of local governments hiring extra muscle to meet funding goals, and one East Tennessee congressman questions whether that's really necessary.
It should be absolutely illegal for any of OUR governments to hire lobbyists, period.
State lobbyists see the Federal govt as a source of revenue
Local lobbyists see State govt as a source of revenue
Guess where ALL that revenue comes from? OUR BANK ACCOUNTS
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There appears to be a growing trend of local governments hiring extra muscle to meet funding goals, and one East Tennessee congressman questions whether that's really necessary.
McCain Taps Cash he sought to limit
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Just about a year and a half ago, Sen. John McCain went to court to try to curtail the influence of a group to which A. Jerrold Perenchio gave $9 million, saying it was trying to "evade and violate" new campaign laws with voter ads ahead of the midterm elections.
As McCain launches his own presidential campaign, however, he is counting on Perenchio, the founder of the Univision Spanish-language media empire, to raise millions of dollars as co-chairman of the Arizona Republican's national finance committee.
Ultimate irony: Gov teaches US responsibility
The ultimate irony?
The ultimate insult?
A VERY bad joke?
Here is a taxpayer funded website that "website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education."
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The ultimate insult?
A VERY bad joke?
Here is a taxpayer funded website that "website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education."
Link
Utah Lawmakers get $1,100 fm Lobbyists
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Lobbyists gave Utah legislators an average of $1,113 each in personal gifts last year — free Utah Jazz tickets, college football tickets, dinner cruises, golf, nights at the theater, jewelry, trap shooting, meals at fine restaurants and such.
Lawmakers probably received even more, but due to loopholes in Utah law, gifts coming from groups not currently lobbying are not required to be disclosed. So, for example, the Taiwan government flies some legislative leaders to Asia every two years without public filings.
Even among gifts that are disclosed, exactly who accepts what is largely a mystery.
One Reason why power corrupts
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In follow-up experiments it was found that high-power subjects also tended to assume other people had the same information that they had (the "telepathic boss" problem - the boss assumes that everybody knows what he knows and want). They were also less accurate than low-power subjects at judging emotional expressions. There were also anticorrelations between reports of general feelings of being in power in one's life and tendency to take other's perspective. Overall high-power people seem to anchor too heavily on their own vantage point and this impairs their ability to consider what others see, think and feel.
Detecting Lies
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One way to avoid bias is to avoid believing lies. Several blogs specialize in lies, such as Deception Blog and Truth, Lies, and Romance. Here are ten good ways to detect lies:
- Look for inconsistencies
- Ask unexpected questions
- Compare to when they truth-tell
- Watch for fake smiles and emotions
- Listen to your gut reaction
- Watch for microexpressions
- Are words and gestures consistent
- Are they unusually uneasy
- Watch for too much detail
- Focus on the truths you find
I wish we had ways as good to detect self-deception.
State installs Talking Urinal Cakes
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New Mexico has taken its fight against drunken driving to men's restrooms around the state. The state has ordered 500 talking urinal cakes that will deliver a recorded anti-DWI message to bar and restaurant patrons who make one last pit stop before getting behind the wheel.
Summary of 2006 Political Money Flows - KNS
Very informative summary from Knoxville News Sentinel
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2006 campaign contributions and expenditures
(Most of these contributions were made to funds involved in state legislative races.) $379,441 -- from Republican State Leadership Committee to House and Senate Republican caucuses or spent directly on TV ads that attacked Democrats
$345,000 -- from Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Washington, to Tennessee Democratic Party state account $280,000 -- from Service Employees International Union PAC, Washington, to Tennessee Democratic Party state account ($29,500 returned after election) $165,000 -- from Federal Express PAC, Memphis, to partisan caucus campaign accounts on both sides, including $85,000 to Democratic groups and $80,000 to Republican groups $150,000 -- from Volunteer PAC, operated by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee $130,000 -- from Speaker's Fund, a PAC operated by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, to Tennessee Democratic Party's state account $127,000 -- from Plumbers and Pipefitters Union PAC, Washington, including $87,000 to Tennessee Democratic Party state account and $40,000 to Senate Democratic Caucus $100,000 -- from national Democratic Governors Association, Washington, to Tennessee Democratic Party state account $100,000 -- from ATLA PAC, operated by the American Trial Lawyers Association, to the Tennessee Democratic Party state account $67,000 -- from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC to Tennessee Democratic Party's state acount $60,000 -- from RAAMPAC, a PAC operated by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee $55,000 -- from John Templeton of Bryn Mawr, Pa., to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee $40,000 -- from national Republican Governors Association, to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee $36,400 -- from Kelley Beaman, Nashville, to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee. Her husband, Lee Beaman, gave another $25,000. $30,000 -- from AFL CIO, Washington, to Tennessee Democratic Party's state account $30,000 -- from James Haslam, Pilot Oil Co. CEO, to state Republican Party's Legislative Campaign Committee $2,577,943 — Tennessee Democratic Party (state account) $640,060 — Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee (Republican Party, state account) $5,167,066 — Tennessee Democratic Party (federal account) $5,593,779 — Tennessee Republican Party (federal account) $686,188 — House Democratic Caucus $336,988 — House Republican Caucus $538,383 — Senate Democratic Caucus $219,322 — Senate Republican Caucus
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2006 campaign contributions and expenditures
Top 2006 contributors
(Most of these contributions were made to funds involved in state legislative races.) $379,441 -- from Republican State Leadership Committee to House and Senate Republican caucuses or spent directly on TV ads that attacked Democrats
Source: Tennessee Registry of Election Finance
2006 expenditures by major Tennessee political party campaign organizations
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Zillow Home Price Stats for Nashville Area
Scroll down to Nashville
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| County | Q4 Zindex | Q3 Zindex | Q4 2005 Zindex | QoQ Zindex Change | YoY Zindex Change |
| Cheatham | $114,304 | $113,186 | $108,762 | 0.99% | 5.10% |
| Davidson | $147,127 | $146,315 | $134,402 | 0.55% | 9.47% |
| Dickson | $100,615 | $97,327 | $88,269 | 3.38% | 13.99% |
| Robertson | $108,655 | $106,477 | $97,371 | 2.05% | 11.59% |
| Rutherford | $138,165 | $136,394 | $131,668 | 1.30% | 4.93% |
| Sumner | $143,131 | $143,128 | $124,015 | 0.00% | 15.41% |
| Williamson | $310,852 | $303,792 | $266,486 | 2.32% | 16.65% |
Income inequality among siblings
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There is significant income inequality of siblings with the exact same family background. One researcher found that the average annual earnings differential between brothers was about $28,000, compared with an earnings differential of $30,600 for men paired randomly.
That is, after controlling for sex, socio-economic status, religion, education opportunities, race, parental status, etc. (assuming those factors are usually the same for 2 brothers in the same family), there is significant income inequality of $28,000 between siblings within families, which is almost as much as the income inequality in the general population of males ($30,600).
And as Robin Hanson points out, there is also significant non-financial inequality, such as of popularity, respect, beauty, talent, ability, etc., and significant income inequality between the nations of a world, etc. that get very little attention, compared to the attention paid to income inequality among households in the U.S.
There is significant income inequality of siblings with the exact same family background. One researcher found that the average annual earnings differential between brothers was about $28,000, compared with an earnings differential of $30,600 for men paired randomly.
That is, after controlling for sex, socio-economic status, religion, education opportunities, race, parental status, etc. (assuming those factors are usually the same for 2 brothers in the same family), there is significant income inequality of $28,000 between siblings within families, which is almost as much as the income inequality in the general population of males ($30,600).
And as Robin Hanson points out, there is also significant non-financial inequality, such as of popularity, respect, beauty, talent, ability, etc., and significant income inequality between the nations of a world, etc. that get very little attention, compared to the attention paid to income inequality among households in the U.S.
$260 million for 210 jobs??????
In North Carolina they are giving away $260 million of the taxpayer's money to Google to create 210 jobs......this is way beyond insane, it is malfeasance by elected officials.
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Economic incentives are again in the spotlight after Google was promised as much as $260 million in tax breaks and other perks to create 210 jobs.
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Economic incentives are again in the spotlight after Google was promised as much as $260 million in tax breaks and other perks to create 210 jobs.
Prohibit smoking in cars with children?
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A Chattanooga lawmaker has proposed making it illegal in Tennessee to smoke in a car in which a child is a passenger.
State Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, introduced the bill Wednesday and state Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, introduced a corresponding bill in the state Senate.
"It’s not that I’m trying to invade the privacy right of any human being.
If they want to smoke, it’s their private right, but a child doesn’t have any say-so in it," Rep. Floyd said.
A Chattanooga lawmaker has proposed making it illegal in Tennessee to smoke in a car in which a child is a passenger.
State Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, introduced the bill Wednesday and state Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, introduced a corresponding bill in the state Senate.
"It’s not that I’m trying to invade the privacy right of any human being.
If they want to smoke, it’s their private right, but a child doesn’t have any say-so in it," Rep. Floyd said.
"I don't want it" NO to annexation
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The FedEx pilot lives in a Memphis reserve area in far east Cordova, sandwiched between Memphis city proper and the Fayette County line. He was not happy to hear that it and other Memphis reserve areas were thrown into rekindled annexation talk last week.
The FedEx pilot lives in a Memphis reserve area in far east Cordova, sandwiched between Memphis city proper and the Fayette County line. He was not happy to hear that it and other Memphis reserve areas were thrown into rekindled annexation talk last week.
"I don't want it," West said, just finishing up his newspaper at Starbucks on Houston Levee.
"I have no need for city services."
About two months ago, the Memphis City Council paused plans to annex Bridgewater in Cordova and Southeast Shelby County.
Some council members said city services would be overextended while some of the city's previously annexed areas have yet to receive adequate services.
But, in a council committee meeting on Tuesday, the matter resurfaced. Council members were told a bill that could make annexation more difficult might soon be brought to the Tennessee General Assembly.
Doc Travis and the Bachelorette one year later
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She didn't get the fairy tale ending millions had hoped for, but Sarah Stone says, if asked, she'd do it all over again.
Sarah, a Jackson native, made headlines last year when Nashville emergency room doctor Travis Stork gave her the final rose during ABC-TV's "The Bachelor: Paris."
Sarah was one of 25 women who competed against one another to win the heart of the hunky bachelor.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
New Mom creates her own job
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When Shelley Thomas gave birth to a son last year and decided to go back to work, the most important thing she was looking for was something that would provide a flexible schedule.
But instead of searching for the perfect job, Thomas created it. She founded SOLO Solutions, a marketing, communications and public relations firm.
"The name SOLO Solutions and the tag line 'One Source. Unlimited Solutions.' really captures who I am and what I do - I am a solo act, serving as a one-stop shop to achieve solutions for my clients," Thomas said.
Cohen on Colbert
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Racing back to his office, and then to catch a flight back to Memphis, Cohen and his press secretary, Marilyn Dillihay, reviewed the interview, which The Commercial Appeal was not permitted to witness. Dillihay expects the televised edit will show Cohen agreeing to spelling Mississippi with a "y" and saying something disparaging about Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Cohen said he was complimentary in his remarks about the presidential contender and was satisfied, overall, with his performance.
"You are so going to be on TV spelling 'Mississippy'," Dillihay insisted.
The air date for the segment of the show that Colbert calls "Better Know a District" is pending.
Cohen said before the session that U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., had advised against his doing the show, telling Cohen that Colbert ruins reputations and brings Congress into disrepute. Colbert last year asked California Congress member Linda Sanchez to say on camera, "I took money from Jack Abramoff," in Spanish, and she obliged, even though she never had. He then quizzed her, straight-faced, about her nonexistent relationship with the disgraced lobbyist, as Sanchez steamed.
Cohen, though, "felt comfortable. We had a good rapport."
How to talk about books you haven't read
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Obviously I haven't read Mr Baynard's book; but it is in the spirit of his oeuvre that I shall proceed to write about it anyway. The first thing to say about Comment Parler des Livres que l'on n'a pas Lus ( How to Talk About Books that You Haven't Read) is what a wonderfully French concept this is. The French take great pride in their intellectual patrimony, considering themselves to be pretty much the inventors of most forms of high art, something that irritates other nations, especially the Italians, a great deal. For them it is crucial to be able to hold their own in a literary conversation, a mark of cultural honour that is the very essence of French-ness. The trouble is, in these busy times, who apart from Alain de Botton has time to really get to the bottom of Proust?
Obviously I haven't read Mr Baynard's book; but it is in the spirit of his oeuvre that I shall proceed to write about it anyway. The first thing to say about Comment Parler des Livres que l'on n'a pas Lus ( How to Talk About Books that You Haven't Read) is what a wonderfully French concept this is. The French take great pride in their intellectual patrimony, considering themselves to be pretty much the inventors of most forms of high art, something that irritates other nations, especially the Italians, a great deal. For them it is crucial to be able to hold their own in a literary conversation, a mark of cultural honour that is the very essence of French-ness. The trouble is, in these busy times, who apart from Alain de Botton has time to really get to the bottom of Proust?
British Christianity has left the building
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Thousands of churches face closure, demolition or conversion in the next decade, leading to the demise of some branches of Christianity in Europe, according to experts.
In some parts of the country, former churches are being turned into centres of worship for other faiths. A disused Methodist chapel in Clitheroe on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales is the latest, destined to become a mosque for the town's 300 Muslims.
There are more than 47,000 churches in Britain today, and 42 million people, more than 70 per cent of the population, consider themselves to be Christian. It sounds a lot, but behind the figures lies a story of decline in the country's established religion.
Although the Pentecostal and Evangelical branches of Christianity are growing, worshippers often prefer modern, functional, warehouse-style buildings to the traditional neo-Gothic landscape of British ecclesiastical architecture.
Just one tenth of the nation's Christians attends church, and churches are now closing faster than mosques are opening. Practising Muslims will, in a few decades, outnumber practising Christians if current trends continue.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Railroads hire lawmakers relatives as lobbyists
This is sickening. What else can you say, its just sickening.
Link from the Washington Post
Days after Jennifer Esposito became majority staff director of the House transportation panel's subcommittee on railroads, her father, Sante Esposito, and brother Michael Esposito signed up as railway lobbyists. Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) has just taken a seat on the subcommittee, and in the coming weeks, the railroad industry trade association said, his father and predecessor in Congress, William O. Lipinski (D-Ill.), will register as a railroad lobbyist, too.
This is simply a continuation of the same old pattern of behavior.
Link from the Washington Post
Days after Jennifer Esposito became majority staff director of the House transportation panel's subcommittee on railroads, her father, Sante Esposito, and brother Michael Esposito signed up as railway lobbyists. Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) has just taken a seat on the subcommittee, and in the coming weeks, the railroad industry trade association said, his father and predecessor in Congress, William O. Lipinski (D-Ill.), will register as a railroad lobbyist, too.
This is simply a continuation of the same old pattern of behavior.
Web Working from HOME Trend explodes
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- The number of employees who are allowed to work from home at least one day a month stands at 12.4 million, up 63% in two years.
- Nearly 30 million people do all or part of their work remotely at least one day a month.
- 14.7 million people engage in teleworking full time (hey, that's us!)
- Broadband and wireless use is growing faster in teleworkers than in the general population.
- 40% of teleworkers have a household income over $75,000.
Blount Mayor does battle with citizens
Its much worse than I thought in a previous post, Linda King, who leads the group Citizens for Blount County's Future, answered the County Mayors extreme arrogance with reason and facts. HERE is her letter. The county Mayor is clearly out of control. Her group and Citizens for Better Government lead by Jim Folts are organized and very effective at having their voice heard.
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham apparently believes he must vilify those who disagree with him. This kind of arrogance towards citizens is inexcusable and can not be tolerated by the citizens.
If you live in Maryville/Blount County I encourage you to attend a 7:00PM meeting of these two Citizen Groups on Monday, Feb 19 at the Library in Maryville.
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham apparently believes he must vilify those who disagree with him. This kind of arrogance towards citizens is inexcusable and can not be tolerated by the citizens.
If you live in Maryville/Blount County I encourage you to attend a 7:00PM meeting of these two Citizen Groups on Monday, Feb 19 at the Library in Maryville.
T is for Taxes: Gen Assembly Bills Subject Index
No easy to use online votes database available yet....both Senate and House leaders have promised it??
But there is a nice new subject index for filed bills.
Here is the T section...scroll down a bit for all tax related bills.
But there is a nice new subject index for filed bills.
Here is the T section...scroll down a bit for all tax related bills.
Local TN Govt officials DISCLOSURE forms
Good article in Tennessean by Jessica Fender about the disclosure forms local officials are now required to file.
If you would like to see your local mayor or county commissioner's disclosure form contact the Tennessee Ethics Commission.
If you would like to see your local mayor or county commissioner's disclosure form contact the Tennessee Ethics Commission.
Internet shopping site and bot list
Great list of shopping comparison web sites and shopping bots that will watch your wish list for the best price.
Link
Link
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Largest Tax Cut in Ark History
Ark Gov Beebe's Food tax cut passes the House Committee, it has already passed the Senate and now needs only a House Floor vote
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" If approved by the House, it would represent the largest tax cut in Arkansas' history."
Link
The bill's House sponsor, Representative David Evans of Searcy, says he's been in office when lawmakers had to raise taxes. Evans, a Democrat, said, "It's much better to be here lowering taxes."
The Senate unanimously passed the measure last week, which provides a family spending $150 a week on groceries savings of $234 a year.
" If approved by the House, it would represent the largest tax cut in Arkansas' history."
More men but still mostly women
Link
Of note among the findings: there has been a 3% increase in the percentage of men from 2002 to 2006 who have had cosmetic surgery, showing a growing trend among men. Among patients treated, 79% were women and 21% were male.
FEMA fraud at least $300 million
2007 (AP)— In the neighborhood President Bush visited right after Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. government gave $84.5 million to more than 10,000 households. But Census figures show fewer than 8,000 homes existed there at the time.
Now the government wants back a lot of the money it disbursed across the region.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration has determined nearly 70,000 Louisiana households improperly received $309.1 million in grants, and officials acknowledge those numbers are likely to grow.
Mayor Herenton's appointees make HOW MUCH?
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Yolanda McFadgon, the former head of the mayor's bodyguard detail is also on the payroll. McFadgon served jail time for hiding drug money in her home. She's earning 72-thousand a year as the mayor's Executive Director of Special Services.
Eyewitness News Everywhere tried to find out what the Special Sevices Division was, but was unsuccessful.
Michigan in for another "bloodbath of '83?"
Link
Twenty-four years later, the tax revolt bloodbath of 1983 isn't a fading memory.
That's when then-Gov. James Blanchard proposed an income tax hike in response to a state budget crisis and saw his popularity plummet to levels President George W. Bush has recently inspired. In the aftermath of its approval by Blanchard and a Democratic Legislature, a half million Michiganders signed recall petitions to remove Blanchard from office. He survived.
But two state senators who voted for it didn't. They were recalled.On Wednesday in Lansing, more than a few people, Democrats and Republicans, were wondering whether Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed sales tax increase would set up déjà vu.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
The Face of Big Government-NYC
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Let's take New York City for example. It's FY2006 Budget was a mere $54.9 billion, or larger than any state, save California.
Texas, the second largest state, with 23.5 million people, spent $32.6 billion from its general fund budget in FY2006. Georgia, with roughly the same population as New York City, 9.3 million, spent a mere $16.7 billion in FY2006.
New York City, with about a third the population of Texas, has a budget that's 68 percent larger than Texas's general fund budget. Why? See the face of big government in New York City below, in dizzying flow chart form.
Yes, It IS sweeps week but I still like it
Memphis TV Station VIDEO Promo for 10 O'clock News
Mayor Herenton's friends are making HOW MUCH?
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(interesting that they would host it on YouTUBE)
Mayor Herenton's friends are making HOW MUCH?
Link
(interesting that they would host it on YouTUBE)
Now, THIS is a tax protest!!
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More than 20,000 miners from across Bolivia marched into La Paz Tuesday, tossing bits of dynamite that sent booming explosions echoing through the streets in a protest of President Evo Morales' plans for a steep hike in mining taxes.
Can't BAN SMOKING now
We can't ban smoking now like they just did in Hernando Ms. If we ban smoking in TN then we will take away the tax base that Gov Bredesen is depending on. Doh!
Big Oil profits tax in PA
To bail out struggling mass transit agencies, Rendell proposed a tax on oil companies' gross profits, raising about $760 million. In return, the companies would be exempted from the state's 9.9 percent corporate net income tax.
Rendell sounded more like an early 20th century populist than a chief executive as he railed against what he called excessive oil company profits that came on the backs of motorists.
Rendell sounded more like an early 20th century populist than a chief executive as he railed against what he called excessive oil company profits that came on the backs of motorists.
Quick, Annex before the people can vote
Unbelievable local government arrogance. Several weeks back, the Memphis city council decided not to annex a couple of large areas. Now they may reconsider because of the threat of a new law that may actually require those being annexed approve the annexation in a referendum.
Link
"The issue was revived Tuesday when TaJuan Stout Mitchell, the city's new administrator for intergovernmental relations, warned council members about proposed legislation in Nashville that she says would limit the city's ability to annex by requiring a vote by residents of the area to be annexed.
Link
"The issue was revived Tuesday when TaJuan Stout Mitchell, the city's new administrator for intergovernmental relations, warned council members about proposed legislation in Nashville that she says would limit the city's ability to annex by requiring a vote by residents of the area to be annexed.
"It may be wise to move on the annexation area when you think it wise," she said.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Ark Gov Beebe closer to Food tax reduction
Link
Governor Beebe has reached an accord with House Speaker Benny Petrus on tax cut bills before the Legislature.
Under the deal, House Speaker Benny Petrus would back Beebe's plan to cut the state sales tax on groceries from six cents to three cents. In return, Beebe would support income tax cuts and support reducing taxes that manufacturers pay on utilities.
Small firms create jobs and economic growth
Jeff Cornwall points to a study that indicates small business formation is directly related to state economic growth. Unfortunately, small business growth doesn't provide splashy photo ops for the politicians, They prefer the big splashy corporate openings that are the result of taxpayer funded corporate welfare. Real economic growth, however, is the result of low taxes and economic opportunity for small business, by far the most important source of new jobs.
Link
Link
Texas Gov proposes strong spending limit
Link
"In his State of the State Address, Texas Governor Rick Perry today proposed a strong new constitutional protection for the state's taxpayers. The measure would limit the growth in state spending to a rolling, three-year average of inflation and population growth."
Windfall Tax on Taxpayers
Bill puts it beautifully, Toyota posts a 4th Qtr profit of $3.6 billion and the Governor is trying to stick the taxpayers with a windfall tax if Toyota comes to TN and he won't even tell us how much of our money he is giving away....this is beyond bizarre.
Better service for taxpayers, what a concept
Greene County Clerk's office now open on Saturday. Kudos to David Thompson.
Oak Ridge: High taxes so a few can benefit
Oak Ridge, which has one of the highest property tax rates in the state, continues on a corporate welfare binge. They are giving Target $10.5 million of the taxpayer's money and Nucsafe is getting a tax abatement.
Instead of keeping taxes low for everyone which would encourage economic development across the board, they are picking a few corporate winners and keeping taxes high for everyone else.
Instead of keeping taxes low for everyone which would encourage economic development across the board, they are picking a few corporate winners and keeping taxes high for everyone else.
Mayor Haslam: My budget more important
Why do politicians always assume that the government budget is ALWAYS more important than the family budget? Mayor Haslam in Knoxville found that taxpayers overpayed their taxes by $4.5 million.
Does he assume that the taxpayers, who are his bosses, might like to have this money back in the form of lower taxes? NO, he doesn't, he immediately assumes that the his priorities are more important than, say.....saving for retirement, or paying the house payment or car payment.
Of course he can find projects for the extra money...there is no doubt he could find projects for ten times the money.
Does he assume that the taxpayers, who are his bosses, might like to have this money back in the form of lower taxes? NO, he doesn't, he immediately assumes that the his priorities are more important than, say.....saving for retirement, or paying the house payment or car payment.
Of course he can find projects for the extra money...there is no doubt he could find projects for ten times the money.
MI: Spending cuts NOT tax increases
Link
Michiganders think the state government's financial crisis (Ben's note: read overspending) should be fixed mostly without raising taxes, The Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll found.
Nearly two-thirds -- 64% -- would prefer to rely mostly on spending cuts to solve the state's budget problems.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Great Travel expense article
Tom Humphrey writes a very informative article on State Govt travel and per diem expenses. Here are the links from the article:
Web site: To see travel reports from those in Gov. Bredesen's Cabinet
Members Per Diem and Travel Reimbursements for General Assembly
Web site: To see travel reports from those in Gov. Bredesen's Cabinet
Members Per Diem and Travel Reimbursements for General Assembly
- 1st Quarter
- 2nd Quarter
- 3rd Quarter
- 4th Quarter
HOUSE
- 1st Quarter
- 2nd Quarter
- 3rd Quarter
- 4th Quarter
SENATE
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Rolling Stones gather no taxes-NYTimes
Link
And so, last August, according to details disclosed in documents maintained by the Handelsregister, the trade registry of the Netherlands, Promogroup helped the three (Rolling Stones) performers set up a pair of private Dutch foundations that will allow them to transfer assets tax-free to heirs when they die. Other Dutch shelters that Promogroup has arranged for the three have already paid off handsomely; over the last 20 years, according to Dutch documents, the three musicians have paid just $7.2 million in taxes on earnings of $450 million that they have channeled through Amsterdam — a tax rate of about 1.5 percent, well below the British rate of 40 percent.
And so, last August, according to details disclosed in documents maintained by the Handelsregister, the trade registry of the Netherlands, Promogroup helped the three (Rolling Stones) performers set up a pair of private Dutch foundations that will allow them to transfer assets tax-free to heirs when they die. Other Dutch shelters that Promogroup has arranged for the three have already paid off handsomely; over the last 20 years, according to Dutch documents, the three musicians have paid just $7.2 million in taxes on earnings of $450 million that they have channeled through Amsterdam — a tax rate of about 1.5 percent, well below the British rate of 40 percent.
Merck and Texas Gov Perry
Link
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass state laws across the country mandating Gardasil for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.
Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.
Over prescribing an issue? Ya think?
Link
Tennesseans use more prescription drugs than any other state in the nation — an average of 17.3 prescriptions for every man, woman and child, according to a new study by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
[...]
"We are over-prescribing. That much is clear," said Dr. William Schaffner, an epidemiologist and chairman of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "It's not that the doctors in all the other 49 states are getting it wrong and we're on the right track. ... It's a matter that has puzzled us for some time."
Why don't we just flush it down the toilet
Last week we learned that 75% of Tennessee lottery scholarship students did not get their degree in four years. Today Joanne Jacobs is reporting that in California, "Only one-quarter of community college students seeking transfer to a four-year college or a two-year degree or certificate succeed within six years, according to a study released Thursday."
If we took 30-40% of the money we are spending on "higher" education and simply flushed it down the toilet, the results would be:
If we took 30-40% of the money we are spending on "higher" education and simply flushed it down the toilet, the results would be:
- Millions of students would not waste 1-3 years of their lives in a college from which they will never graduate. They could start earning an income and building a productive life for themselves much sooner.
- Thousands of teachers and education bureaucrats would find jobs producing real goods and services which their fellow citizens would actually find useful.
- There would be less money for higher educations lobbyists who always show up at budget time saying that with just a little bit more money we can solve the "problems" in higher education.
New OK House Speaker-eliminate income tax
Link
Cargill also supported last year's state income tax cut and advocates eventual elimination of the tax that is the largest source of state revenue.
"The income tax fundamentally punishes work and savings and investment," he said. "Lowering what we believe has been a real inhibitor to economic growth is a key priority for me."
He said he supports replacing the income tax with a consumption tax that would assess taxes based on a taxpayer's rate of consumption.
"As a state we should make it a long-term goal to try to eliminate that income tax outright," Cargill said. "I think it's a discussion worth having. We have to be prudent about it"
Online video and Image editing
Image Editing
http://www.fauxto.com/
http://www.picnik.com/
http://www.picture2life.com/
http://www.preloadr.com
http://www.pxn8.com/
http://www.snipshot.com/
Video Editing
http://www.jumpcut.com/
http://www.motionbox.com/
http://www.fauxto.com/
http://www.picnik.com/
http://www.picture2life.com/
http://www.preloadr.com
http://www.pxn8.com/
http://www.snipshot.com/
Video Editing
http://www.jumpcut.com/
http://www.motionbox.com/
PA Gov Rendell tries the same trick
NJ Gov Corzine promised to use part of the revenue from last years $1 billion sales tax increase to "fund" property tax relief (if politicians really wanted property tax relief they would, of course, simply lower property taxes)
Now 62% of New Jersey residents say they don't believe property tax bills will ever go down:
Now 62% of New Jersey residents say they don't believe property tax bills will ever go down:
Apparently thinking that this sounded like a pretty good switchero to pull on taxpayers, now Gov. Rendell is now proposing to raise the Pennsylvania sales tax by to 7% to "fund" property tax relief, yea RIGHT.Sixty-two percent lack confidence that elected officials "will enact meaningful reforms" to a system that has fostered the highest property taxes in the country. Thirty-two percent said they were very confident or confident.
The survey was conducted late last month as a scaled-down version of a property tax reform plan made its way through the Legislature. A final vote is expected Monday in the Senate, but none of them is expected to lower property tax bills this year -- a point stressed by Corzine himself last week.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Mayor: NO complaining from the citizens
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham (no relation) is very upset that citizens would have the unmitigated gall to complain. A bit of unsolicited advice for the Mayor:
Citizens have a perfect right to tell you they want you to run the county using the current income stream and NOT to raise their taxes. It is YOUR job to carry out the will of the citizens. That is why you were hired. You were NOT hired to condescendingly and arrogantly scold the citizens, who are your BOSSES!! You are a public servant.
Link
Citizens have a perfect right to tell you they want you to run the county using the current income stream and NOT to raise their taxes. It is YOUR job to carry out the will of the citizens. That is why you were hired. You were NOT hired to condescendingly and arrogantly scold the citizens, who are your BOSSES!! You are a public servant.
Link
Mild profanity OK to complain about Govt
Link
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's decision that Montrose Township police officer Stephen Robinson had probable cause to arrest Thomas Leonard in 2002 when Leonard cursed while addressing the township board.
"It cannot be seriously contended that any reasonable peace officer, or citizen, for that matter, would believe that mild profanity while peacefully advocating a political position could constitute a criminal act," the three-judge panel wrote in Friday's decision.
"All our client did was get up at a public meeting and express himself vigorously, and he was arrested for it," said Glen Lenhoff, Leonard's attorney.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Status: Ark Grocery Tax Reduction
The 50% cut in the grocery tax being pushed by new Democratic Governor Beebe in Arkansas has passed the Senate. It is now in the House and the Gov says he has the 62 votes to pass it if members of his own party will just let it out of committee. We wish him success. Hope Gov Bredesen will be inspired by Gov Beebe.
Should College Athletic Depts be tax exempt?
Link
"Twice in the last four months, members of Congress have broached the subject of revoking the tax-exempt status of the NCAA and its member institutions. It's a move that, while not near a reality yet, could cost the Bulldogs Athletic Association millions of dollars and change the entire landscape of college athletics."It's big news because of the impact it could have on us," said Evans, Georgia's athletic director said. "I think it's something that we need to be aware of especially since this is the second time it's being brought up."
University president Michael Adams is a member of the NCAA's finance committee, but he declined to comment for this story. University spokesman Tom Jackson acknowledged the issue will be a high-priority topic at the next NCAA meeting.
The issue first came up in October in the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, but Rep. Bill Thomas, the chairman of the committee and force behind the potential legislation, retired this month. NCAA and college athletic officials hoped the subject would go with him.
Instead, Sen. Charles Grassley, former chairman of the Finance Committee, has taken up the cause.
[...]
"From the standpoint of a Federal taxpayer, what benefits does the NCAA provide taxpayers in exchange for its tax exemption?" (House Ways and Means Committee Chairman) Thomas wrote. "Why should the Federal government subsidize the athletic activities of education institutions when that subsidy is being used to help pay for escalating coaches' salaries, costly chartered travel, and state-of-the-art athletic facilities?"
The sky is falling on Taxpayers in NJ and MI
Pushing the BUDGET CRISIS Envelope
We are approaching the time when most state legislatures will begin considering their 07-08 budgets. A casual observer of State Governments would probably think that high tax states such as Michigan and New Jersey would not have as much problem balancing their budgets as low tax states like Tennessee. When you have more money to spend, it should be easier to satisfy all the wants and needs of the bureaucracy and special interest groups, correct?
Au Contraire Mon Frère, government is larger in these states precisely because so many groups are so adept at pushing the BUDGET CRISIS envelope. The world may not have come to an end last year but, by golly, this year is different. It will come to an end if we don't have more of the taxpayer's money and QUICK.
Here is info about a report that was just issued called Michigan's "defining moment". The report says that services must be cut (That was a bit amateurish, they should always use the word "slash" when referring to cutting the rate of growth, it is much more visceral.) and taxes must be increased.
Perennial high tax state New Jersey raised taxes last year by over $1 billion BUT...the legislature promised to "return" $500 million in property tax reductions this year. Now, I certainly don't want to second guess my Garden State brothers and sisters but are you out of you ever luvin minds? Here is a very clever New jersey editorial with a very appropriate Ground Hog day appraisal of the current prospects for taxpayers ever seeing any of that $500 million.
We are approaching the time when most state legislatures will begin considering their 07-08 budgets. A casual observer of State Governments would probably think that high tax states such as Michigan and New Jersey would not have as much problem balancing their budgets as low tax states like Tennessee. When you have more money to spend, it should be easier to satisfy all the wants and needs of the bureaucracy and special interest groups, correct?
Au Contraire Mon Frère, government is larger in these states precisely because so many groups are so adept at pushing the BUDGET CRISIS envelope. The world may not have come to an end last year but, by golly, this year is different. It will come to an end if we don't have more of the taxpayer's money and QUICK.
Here is info about a report that was just issued called Michigan's "defining moment". The report says that services must be cut (That was a bit amateurish, they should always use the word "slash" when referring to cutting the rate of growth, it is much more visceral.) and taxes must be increased.
Perennial high tax state New Jersey raised taxes last year by over $1 billion BUT...the legislature promised to "return" $500 million in property tax reductions this year. Now, I certainly don't want to second guess my Garden State brothers and sisters but are you out of you ever luvin minds? Here is a very clever New jersey editorial with a very appropriate Ground Hog day appraisal of the current prospects for taxpayers ever seeing any of that $500 million.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Google and the Corporate Mafia extort taxpayers
The article linked below is about how Google in North Carolina is intimidating duly elected representatives into illegal silence. This is far worse than the mafia.
Governor Bredesen is also allowing Toyota and other corporate bullies to intimidate him into conducting public business in private so taxpayers have no idea how much of our money these corporate bullies are extorting......it has got to STOP! I wish that I could find the words to describe this corruption of our government officials.
Link
Governor Bredesen is also allowing Toyota and other corporate bullies to intimidate him into conducting public business in private so taxpayers have no idea how much of our money these corporate bullies are extorting......it has got to STOP! I wish that I could find the words to describe this corruption of our government officials.
Link
As work proceeded on the bill to remove much of its tax burden, Google threatened to end negotiations because legislative staff didn't write exactly what it wanted. Commerce Secretary Jim Fain was asked to "prevail upon" the bill writer.
Indeed, the first set of state documents released from the 13-month negotiations reveal a company obsessed with secrecy and not above bullying, tactics that helped get it tax breaks that could top $100 million over three decades.
"I sort of had to work in the dark," said Sen. Jim Jacumin, a Republican who represents Caldwell County. "That bothered me. They need to respect the laws of the land, even if they're business."
How much was the surplus in 05-06?
According to this report, the State of Tennessee collected $411,000,000 more tax revenue than was initially appropriated by the General Assembly.
According to page 33-34 of the 2006 TN CAFR (Consolidated Annual Financial Report), the excess of revenues over expenses was $909,119,000.
Thats a difference of almost half a billion. I will send some emails and try to find out the reason for the differences in these two numbers.
According to page 33-34 of the 2006 TN CAFR (Consolidated Annual Financial Report), the excess of revenues over expenses was $909,119,000.
Thats a difference of almost half a billion. I will send some emails and try to find out the reason for the differences in these two numbers.
Is TN Ranked 36th or 13th in Personal Income?
State Rankings can be very deceptive. Every special interest group on the face of the earth tries to get press coverage by publishing rankings and giving an award for something or other based on these rankings. Our group, Tennessee Tax Revolt, does it and so do most other advocacy groups.
However, rankings are very easy to manipulate. For example, Tennessee is ranked 36th in the Nation based on nominal per capita personal income. If, however, you adjust Per Capita Personal Income to reflect cost of living and tax burden, i.e., after tax purchasing power, TN ranks 13th in the nation instead of 36th. It is very instructive to see how the rankings change with this adjustment.
Texas and Tennessee both jump up 23 steps in the rankings, the greatest increase for any state. California and New York drop 38 steps, the greatest decrease for any state.
Here is the spreadsheet with all the calcs and sources
However, rankings are very easy to manipulate. For example, Tennessee is ranked 36th in the Nation based on nominal per capita personal income. If, however, you adjust Per Capita Personal Income to reflect cost of living and tax burden, i.e., after tax purchasing power, TN ranks 13th in the nation instead of 36th. It is very instructive to see how the rankings change with this adjustment.
Texas and Tennessee both jump up 23 steps in the rankings, the greatest increase for any state. California and New York drop 38 steps, the greatest decrease for any state.
Here is the spreadsheet with all the calcs and sources
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