Congress Unlikely to Extend Hand to Ailing States

Congress unlikely to extend hand to ailing states
Cut spending, raise taxes and fees, and accept billions of dollars from Congress. That's been the formula for states trying to survive the worst economy since the 1930s. As Republicans prepare to take control of the House and exert more influence in the Senate, it's clear that option No. 3 will soon wither. States will continue to face substantial Deficits over the next few years, but they will have to get by with the end of stimulus spending and less financial help from the Federal Government. ...

Congress unlikely to extend hand to ailing states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cut spending, raise taxes and fees, and accept billions of dollars from Congress. That’s been the formula for states trying to survive the worst economy since the 1930s. As Republicans prepare to take control of the House and exert more influence in the Senate, it’s clear that option No. 3 will soon wither. States will continue to face substantial Deficits over the next few years, but they will have to get by with the end of stimulus spending and less financia...

Congress Unlikely To Extend Hand To Ailing States
WASHINGTON — Cut spending, raise taxes and fees, and accept billions of dollars from Congress. That's been the formula for states trying to survive the worst economy since the 1930s. As Republicans prepare to take control of the House and exert more influence in the Senate, it's clear that option No. 3 will soon wither. States will continue to face substantial Deficits over the next few years, but they will have to get by with the end of stimulus spending and less financial help from the...

State Budget's Unlikely To Get Aid From Congress In 2011
WASHINGTON — Cut spending, raise taxes and fees, and accept billions of dollars from Congress. That's been the formula for states trying to survive the worst economy since the 1930s. As Republicans prepare to take control of the House and exert more influence in the Senate, it's clear that option No. 3 will soon wither. States will continue to face substantial Deficits over the next few years, but they will have to get by with the end of stimulus spending and less financial help from the...

Gov. Pat Quinn (D, IL) about to destroy IL Amazon affliliates?
It’s certainly looking that way: the Democrat-run (Democrat-dominated) State Legislature has just passed a bill to tax online purchases (via Points and Figures, via Instapundit): the bill is just waiting for Governor Pat Quinn’s (D) signature, which is almost certainly inevitable.  In fact, the state of Illinois is going to raise taxes across the board - because that’s what Democrats do .  Business is good; raise taxes.  Business is bad; raise taxes.  Business is in a

Government Spending Per Minute: $6.85 Million
House Republicans on Thursday trimmed about $35 million from the House's operating Budget, a move that Speaker John Boehner hailed as "a strong signal" of the new Congress' "commitment to making the tough choices necessary to end Washington's job-killing spending binge." But while $35 million is a lot of money to the Average American, it's worth thinking about just how "strong" a signal the House really sent. Consider: According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the government's pr...

Krugman Debunks the Texas Miracle
by eschipul The state of Texas is a gargantuan right-wing policy laboratory, spewing noxious governing ideas across the country just like our refineries pollute the air. We’ve had a Republican Governor since 1995 and the Republicans have controlled the both houses of our State Legislature for the past decade — and recently won a super-majority in the House. The result? One of the highest Poverty rates in the United States to go with a massive Budget Deficit. These are tough times f...

Christopher Brauchli: Can Republicans Reconcile Earmarks and the Federal Budget?
"A little wanton money, which burned out the bottom of his purse." -- Sir Thomas More, Works [c. 1535] Five hundred million dollars seems like a lot until one realizes that it's only a small part of an approximately $3.6 Trillion dollar Budget. Viewed in that light, it's hardly worth mentioning except in a column such as this. It is also a testimonial to the endurance of Earmarks. One of the many things Republicans decided should wait until the new Congress took charge in 2011 was the adoptio...

Illinois Budget Math: Hike Taxes by $7 Billion, Use it to Borrow $12 Billion
Or, how to turn a dynamic state economy into a basket case in just a few years. As you know, Illinois has raced past California to claim the mantle of most fiscally irresponsible state. Its bonds are just a tad above junk status and it has to patch up a $13 billion hole-half its general fund Budget-within days, to pay a back-log of unpaid bills and cover a missed payment to the public Employee Pension fund. (Then they’ll have to do it all over again next year.) Because the  ...

Paul Ryan Promises to Eat His Tie if ObamaCare Reduces Deficit
Of all the insolent falsehoods we've been fed by oligarchical collectivists lately, the most insulting to our intelligence may be the whopper that government seizure of the healthcare industry will, instead of adding even more massively to the Deficit than other entitlement programs, magically reduce it. Fortunately there is at least one countermoonbat in Congress willing to call a lie a lie. On the Mark Levin Show, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) addresses the phony numbers pushed through the Congression...

CHairMaN BuN S iS iN Da HouSe
chairman conrad, senata sessions, and udda members of da committee, thank yous fa dis hope atunity to offa my views on current economic conditions, recent Monetary Policy actions, and issues related to da federal Budget. me's thinkin da Economic Outlook ?the Economic Recovery dat began a year and a alf ago is continuin, although, to date, at a pace dat as bin insufficient to reduce da rate of Unemployment significantly. da initial stages of da recovery, in da second alf of 2009 and in early 2010...

Illinois moves to tax online purchases, hits bloggers, small business
Internet Retailer today: Lawmakers in Illinois have voted for a 6.25% tax on online retail purchases. The levy, which still needs the Governor's approval, would apply to goods bought through affiliates of online Retailers that take in least $10,000 worth of annual sales in the state. Illinois Affiliate Tax Will Harm Small Businesses and Reduce Tax Revenue Tax Foundation here. Just got an email from Amazon:

Investing in transportation now
By Sean T. Connaughton Virginia's transportation system needs improvement. Upon taking office last January, it was apparent to Gov. Bob McDonnell the transportation program lacked the requisite funding, transparency and management necessary to address our current and future needs. As a result, he made transportation a top priority. In addition to bringing in a new leadership team, he commissioned very successful audits and reviews of the Virginia Department of Transportation and other transporta...

House Speaker voices support for education
Funding for K-12 education in Georgia has a friend in House Speaker David Ralston. Ga. Politics news, helpful links PolitiFact Georgia » David Wyss: State Governments have little ability to stimulate job growth in the short run. Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said Thursday in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he will try at least to stave off further cuts to public education spending when the Legislature convenes  Monday. “I’m not sure education will be imm...

NJ legislature gets through major efforts to boost economy
As reported on yesterday, Democrats in the statehouse in Trenton were urging their Republican colleagues to join them and work on passing a 30 bill package outlined back in November. Thursday was the first of two days for the state Senate and Assembly to take up roughly a dozen of the 30 bills aimed at giving the state's economy a bit of boost and put it on track to promote higher job growth and create an atmosphere for businesses to operate in order to hire employees and not become a foil to st...

O'Malley to propose $250 million in school construction, aide tells county leaders
Despite a tough Budget year ahead, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) remains committed to spending at least another $250 million on Public School construction, a top aide said Friday. "One of the important things that goes into Student learning is the environment in which they're educated," said Joseph C. Bryce, O'Malley's chief legislative officer. "It remains a priority." Bryce spoke on a panel with Maryland legislative leaders previewing the upcoming 90-day session at a gathering of county officials i...

Between economic and political freedom
In this discourse we are going to concentrate on accumulation as the pre-condition for upward social movement for both the individual and a society. There can never be accumulation of real and empowering capital without a free, secure and stable political space. Great economic capital accumulation can only take place when a society has total control of its political space and positioned to influence every instrument that affects the direction of their collective destiny. So long as someone else ...

Leadership in the House of Representatives
Majority The speaker: John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) is second in line for the presidency, behind the vice president. His most important daily roles will be setting the floor agenda, keeping parliamentary order, and appointing lawmakers to committee and subcommittee chairmanships, as well as to conference committees that craft final Legislation. The Majority Leader: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will have responsibilities including daily, weekly and monthly House floor scheduling; urging the rank and f...

The new Congress's new leaders
HOUSE majority The speaker: John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) is second in line for the presidency, behind the vice president. His most important daily roles will be setting the floor agenda, keeping parliamentary order, and appointing lawmakers to committee and subcommittee chairmanships, as well as to conference committees that craft final Legislation. The Majority Leader: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will have responsibilities including daily, weekly and monthly House floor scheduling; urging the rank...

GOP freshman defends fundraiser
Freshman Republican Rep. Jeff Denham defended the lavish Washington Fundraiser he organized against criticism that it undercuts the austere tone Republican leaders have tried to set around their swearing-in the following day. “This whole thing is about is keeping the majority, making sure that we can put the changes in place, having members that don’t have to be afraid and looking over their shoulders to cast a vote – they should be focused on being here and working,” D...

Capitol Hill rookies jettison Tea on arrival
Incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, center, would not comment on Tuesday night's swanky Fundraiser for freshman Republican lawmakers. (Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images) WASHINGTON — Capitol Hill will be abuzz today with the arrival of a new class of Republican lawmakers who charged into office with a promise to shun the ways of Washington. But even as they publicly bash the capital's culture, many have quietly begun to embrace it. Several freshmen have hired Lobbyists — pre-e...

@SpeakerBoehner, Leading by Example
Today at noon when the U.S. House of Representatives convenes, you don’t need to be in front of a television to watch what’s happening. For the first time ever, Americans can see the proceedings on Facebook — and use the popular social network’s interactive features to discuss and debate. It’s happening on the GOP’s Pledge to America Facebook page. The action begins at noon ET and includes the swearing-in ceremony and remarks by Speaker-designate John Boehner ...

Tea party members of the House turn to lobbyists and fundraisers
WASHINGTON -- Capitol Hill will be abuzz today with the arrival of a new class of Republican lawmakers who charged into office with a promise to shun the ways of Washington. But even as they publicly bash the capital's culture, many have quietly begun to embrace it. Several freshmen have hired Lobbyists -- pre-eminent Washington insiders -- to lead their congressional staffs. In the weeks leading up to today's swearing-in, dozens of the newcomers joined other lawmakers in turning to K Street f...

U.S. House Republican leadership/Leader Cantor set-up social media / web accounts
From the Republican leader’s press office: For the 112th Congress, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and his office can now be found on Twitter as @GOPLeader. In addition, the Office of the Majority Leader presents a new Facebook page - House Chamber - to provide updates on the House of Representatives’ floor schedule in real-time. Here’s a full run-down of where you can connect with Cantor on the web: Twitter: Leader Cantor will take over the account once held by Speake...

The new leadership
HOUSE MAJORITY The speaker: John Boehner, R-Ohio, is second in line for the presidency, behind the vice president. His most important daily roles will be setting the floor agenda, keeping parliamentary order, and appointing lawmakers to committee and subcommittee chairmanships, as well as to conference committees that craft final Legislation. The Majority Leader: Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., will have responsibilities that include daily, weekly, and monthly House floor scheduling; urging the rank a...