Capitalism

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - DOL - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Government - House of Representatives - Jobs - Liberals - Policy - President - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Unemployment - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Tell Obama and Congress to Halt The Assault on Small Business

September 3, 2010 by

From the folks at the Free Enterprise Alliance, a group of free market advocates backed by the construction industry.

Appearing on televisions in places near and far, ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance this week will launch a new ad asking travelers to look around, find a representative, and tell them to Halt The Assault on free enterprise, small business, and jobs.

The FEA says they’ve booked time at on CNN’s Airport network, so this ad will appear right where our Congressmen are going to be as they make their way home for the holiday!

From the group’s About Us page:

At the heart of the Free Enterprise Alliance’s mission is the belief that while we need government for common sense regulations, the scales have tipped too far in favor of government intrusion and its advocates. The Free Enterprise Alliance believes small business and entrepreneurs grow jobs and our economy, not union bosses and federal bureaucrats.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Computers - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - FCC - Free Trade - Government - Inernet - Liberals - Net Neutrality - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

The Right Needs to Wake up to Net Neutrality

September 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If you are as worried as I am about the left’s effort to force ever larger amounts of big government onto our lives, then you should be looking into the issue of Net Neutrality. To that end a few times a week I’ll be posting some links and info about Net Neutrality to help you all get your feet wet on this important issue.

I am happy to announce that I am being joined in this effort by the United States Internet Industry Association (USIIA). Dave McClure, President and CEO of the USIIA, will be offering op eds for you to post on your blog or to share with others.

Mr. McClure’s first op ed for your use is titled Internet Regulation Would Take a Toll on Pennsylvania’s Economy and is posted at Anita MonCrief’s new site EmergingCorruption.com. (If you would like a Word Document of this op ed CLICK HERE)

USIIA has some useful articles and studies on the Publications Page of its website that might help you learn a bit more about Net Neutrality.
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The Right Needs to Wake up to Net Neutrality”

Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Illinois - Illinois Chamber of Commerce - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Lobbyists - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Let’s Honor Illinois Workers by Putting Them Back to Work

September 2, 2010 by

From the Illinois Chamber of Commerce…
What Issues Are Most Important to You?

Dear Friends,

This Labor Day weekend, Illinois legislators will out in full force, claiming to be pro-jobs.

But we know better. If they are all pro-jobs — then why do we have such a dismal jobs climate? Why does our economy continue to suffer?
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Let’s Honor Illinois Workers by Putting Them Back to Work”

00Publius Contributor - Budget - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Paul Ryan - Republicans - Taxes - Unemployment - Warner Todd Huston - Wisconsin

Paul Ryan: Obamanomics Has Failed

September 1, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Paul Ryan (R, Wis) and former Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Holtz-Eakin came together early this week to lambaste Obama’s failed economic policies.

In a conference call to supporters and the press, CBO Director Holtz-Eakin said that there is “no evidence” that “the stimulus has really worked” and that Obama’s Keynesian fixes simply won’t work.

There is nothing about Keynesian stimulus that is going to fix those problems. The spending by the government has gotten worse, has not solved the housing problem, and has also not been successful. Instead, the key to more rapid economic growth is going to have to be the business sector and international trade.

Representative Ryan echoed that assessment, saying:
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Paul Ryan: Obamanomics Has Failed”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

(14th District) Hultgren Says Repeal Obamacare

August 29, 2010 by

The Daily Herald reports on Republican Randy Hultgren’s ideas on Obamacare as he races to the finish line to become the congressman from the 14th District.

Hultgren told attendees of a luncheon in St. Charles last week that changes created in the new law do nothing to address the cost of health care. He said he would’ve voted against both the major Democratic versions of the law and will work to undo “Obamacare.”

“I think Republicans blew it on this,” Hultgren said of the new law. “But I think Democrats blew it even more. We need to get rid of what we’ve got. Let’s repeal it.”

Hultgren said he’s particularly disappointed in what’s become known as the “1099 provision” of the new health care law. The provision requires companies to submit a report to the IRS for every business-to-business transaction made that exceeds $600. Critics view the provision as a nightmare of paperwork and accounting for as many as 30 million small businesses.

“This is going to kill small businesses,” Hultgren said.

Check out the rest of the article to see what his opponent, Bill Foster, said about Obamacare.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

How To Keep An Economy Down

August 28, 2010 by

-By From US Congressman Peter Roskam

If you haven’t been paying attention to the tax cut debate yet, you need to take a few minutes to find out how Democrat Leaders in Congress are set to deliver a one-two punch to the American public in the form of higher taxes on families and small businesses. At this time of economic uncertainty and sluggish growth, an across-the-board tax increase on families and individuals promises to keep the economy on its knees.

Starting January 1, 2011, new tax rates will kick in across the board, raising taxes on American families and small businesses by a staggering $3.8 trillion, from those in the lowest tax bracket and continuing all the way up the economic ladder. The Tax Foundation, a non-partisan, independent research organization estimates that an average family of the Sixth Congressional District will see their income taxes increase $1,972. At a time when many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, this misguided policy will take more money out of the pockets of individuals in order to fuel more of the wasteful government spending that is on track to triple our national debt.
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How To Keep An Economy Down”

AFL-CIO - Capitalism - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Public Employees Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

AFL-CIO Joins Communists, La Raza, ACLU, Other Unions in Voter Registration Drive

August 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like the AFL-CIO is no longer even trying to hide the fact that it no longer sports a traditionally American political outlook. The labor union has announced that it is joining a voter registration drive called One Nation Working Together. This coalition is filled with some of the most extremely leftist groups in America today including the ACLU, Enviro extremists, La Raza, Code Pink, various anti-war groups, and the Communist Party USA.

This new move by the AFL-CIO finds hearty support from the People’s World newspaper, a publication dedicated to communism and the “direct descendent” of the communist Daily Worker newspaper.

The AFL-CIO joins the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), The Center for American Progress, Green For All, USAction, and many others. The effort is being headed by United for Peace and Justice.
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AFL-CIO Joins Communists, La Raza, ACLU, Other Unions in Voter Registration Drive”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Government - Liberals - President - Stimulus - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cash For Clunkers Hurting Lower Class Car Buyers

August 26, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In yet another see-I-told-you-so moment, Obama’s cash for clunkers program is now hurting lower income folks who wish to buy used cars by driving costs up an average of $1,800 above what used car prices were at this time last year.

In August of 2009 I wrote that Obama’s cash for clunkers program would “soon be materially hurting the lower middle classes” that aren’t rich enough to buy new cars. With the rule that the cars turned in under the clunkers program had to be destroyed many thousands of good, serviceable used cars were summarily removed from the used market. Fewer cars on the used market means the ones that are left will see higher prices. It’s a simple supply and demand principle here. Apparently Obama was blissfully unaware of such a simple truth.

Now a report on Edmunds Daily, a car shopping advice service website, is saying that used car buyers are seeing an average of $1,800 more on their purchases. On larger-sized autos it’s even higher.

So middle and lower class Americans are almost $2,000 behind before they even decide to try and buy a used car.
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Cash For Clunkers Hurting Lower Class Car Buyers”

Business - Capitalism - Economy/Finances - Environment - Jobs - Liberals - Spain - Taxes - UAW - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston

UAW Joins Push For ‘Green Jobs’

August 26, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The United Auto Workers has announced that it will join a coalition of unions called the BlueGreen Alliance in an effort to push “green jobs.”

I was amused by what BlueGreen Alliance founder Leo Gerard said of this addition to the group.

“The American auto industry is poised to lead the world in the production of cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars and advanced vehicle technologies,” said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, a founder of the BlueGreen Alliance. “The members of UAW, working people who make America’s vehicles, are a welcome addition to our effort to create millions of good jobs while protecting the environment for future generations.”

Notice how he lumps his union pals in with those creating those new “advanced vehicle technologies.” The unions don’t have as much to do with creating that new technology as it does in merely building them after they’ve been designed. He takes a bit more credit than he deserves.

Still, the main problem with this alliance isn’t that they are taking too much credit for other people’s work, it’s that the idea of “green jobs” is a farce in the first place.
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UAW Joins Push For ‘Green Jobs’”

Budget - Business - California - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Politicians - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Ebay, Adobe, EA Games, Many Others Leaving California For Utah Over Confiscatory Tax Rate

August 25, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Computer software giant Adobe, computer game monster EA Games, and Internet auction king ebay are abandoning California to set up shop in Utah. Why? California’s horrid business climate and high taxes.

Adobe Systems, maker of a suite of graphics programs such as Adobe PDF, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, have announced that they are building a $100 million facility in either Salt Lake City or in nearby Utah County, Utah. The facility will bring thousands of jobs to Utah over the next few decades.

In May the Internet auction company ebay also announced a major new facility to be built in Salt Lake City. The $287 million data center will also bring hundreds of new jobs to the Bee Hive State.

Not to be forgotten, games maker Electronic Arts opened its new facility in July in Salt Lake City where around 100 employees are already at work.
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Ebay, Adobe, EA Games, Many Others Leaving California For Utah Over Confiscatory Tax Rate”

Banks - Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Upper Middle Class Now Seeing Higher Foreclosures in Cook County

August 15, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As the housing bubble began to burst the lower middle class and poor areas of Cook County were immediately hit with mounting foreclosures. But now the upper middle class is seeing a higher rate. This only stands to logic.

As the Obama depression widens, as home prices stay in a slump, and as more and more people lose their jobs it makes sense that the upper middle classes are beginning only now to lose their homes at a higher rate than before. After all, these people have been likely living off savings they had that the lower classes and poor didn’t have to tide them over. But now those savings are being depleted. That and the job losses are reaching up into their income brackets and status.

What all this shows is that the Obama economy is still in horrid shape and getting worse.

The Daily Herald has all the stats in its recent, disheartening article from August 15.

And if you are one of those home owners facing foreclosure or financial troubles, there is a Cook County program that might help.

The program, which got $3.5 million from the county board, is open to county residents who have received a foreclosure summons from the Cook County Court and live in a single-family home, single-family condo or apartment building with four or fewer units. There are no income restrictions.

Those who are eligible can call (877) 895-2444 or use the new web features on cookcountyforeclosurehelp.org to set up an appointment with a housing counselor.

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Upper Middle Class Now Seeing Higher Foreclosures in Cook County”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - El Salvador - Free Trade - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Ohio - President - Stimulus - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ohio’s Dem. Gov. Gave Stimulus $$ to Co. That Exported Jobs to El Salvador

August 9, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

What was it that Democrat President Barack Obama told us about the stimulus? Oh, yeah that it would “save or create” American jobs. Seems like a good idea, right? So what happened in Ohio when Democrat Governor Ted Strickland got his mitts on some of Obama’s stimulus cash? Why he gave it to a company to fund a call center that is operating out of El Salvador, Central America, of course.

Jobs for Americans? Heck no, jobs for El Salvadorans! And why? Because it was a good deal, you see?

Earlier this year Governor Strickland’s Department of Development awarded a $171,300 contract to a company named Parago. This company was hired by the state to operate a call center that Ohio residents can call to take advantage of a rebate program that the state set up so that Buckeyes could buy new household appliances and get a little sumpthin’ back.

Apparently everything was going wonderfully for most of this year until one Ohio resident happened to ask one of the El Salvadoran phone jockeys where the call center was at which they were taking the calls. When the Buckeye was told Central America, said resident became incensed that federal “stimulus” money was going to fund jobs in El Salvador instead of in the United States — like Obama promised it would.
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Ohio’s Dem. Gov. Gave Stimulus $$ to Co. That Exported Jobs to El Salvador”

Australia - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Energy - Environment - Free Trade - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Toilet Paper ‘Down Under’ To Cost More Thanks To Green Policies

August 9, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

First the greenies came to take away our lightbulbs in the U.S. and force us to buy more expensive ones. Now the greenies are on the march in Australia with the unkindest swipe of all: forcing Australians to pay 42 percent more for toilet paper.

In a report recently put out by Tim Wilson of SustainableDev.org (.pdf of report), we find greenism being used as a cover to foster protectionist trade restrictions in Australia. Wilson reveals that toilet tissue companies in Australia are using fake green concerns to keep competing foreign toilet paper products from reaching the country. These restrictive polices will cause the cost of toilet paper in Australia to climb as competition is eliminated.

Further he cites the use of fake green policies serving as cover for restrictionist policies in other countries, too. Not just by governments, but corporations and even unions are using fake green issues to serve their desires to dampen free trade internationally.
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Toilet Paper ‘Down Under’ To Cost More Thanks To Green Policies”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - New York - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Democrats: Say, Let’s Exempt Rich People in Blue States From Tax Hike!

August 5, 2010 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

If this doesn’t exemplify the left’s propensity to act in the mode of for-thee-but-not-me, nothing does. The Wall Street Journal (by way of the Wash. Examiner’s Mark Hemingway) reports that at least one Democrat has suddenly realized that when the Bush tax cuts fade away his state will be hit by a massive tax hike on the same rich people that donate to his election campaign.

The Journal notes that the “irony” of the tax increase coming on January 1 is that the bluest states will be hardest hit. New York, California, Connecticut, and New Jersey will be hit pretty hard and this poses a “problem” for those pro-tax Democrats that will suddenly find rich constituents who will be angry about the new hit on their income.

But, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D, NY) has come up with the perfect solution. Nadler wants to pass a law that exempts his rich constituents and those of other taxpayers in areas with a higher cost of living, i.e. other Democrats. The Journal reveals that Nadler’s new law would “require the IRS to adjust tax brackets proportionally in regions where the average cost of living is higher than the national average.”
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Democrats: Say, Let’s Exempt Rich People in Blue States From Tax Hike!”

Anti-Americanism - Arizona - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Federalism - Frank Salvato - Government - House of Representatives - Immigration/Immigrants - Judges - Law - Liberals - President - Senate - Supreme Court - Taxes - Unions

The United States, 2010: A Rogue Government

August 5, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Frank Salvato

With the recent ruling by US District Judge Susan Bolton, a Clinton appointee, blocking the most contentious parts of Arizona law SB1070, we learn two things: One, that the federal government cannot be forced to enforce federal law, regardless of the fact that the law has been brought to legislation by the constitutional process, and two, that today, opportunistic political ideologues who have schemed their ways to power have all but extinguished good government in the United States of America; government that should be exclusively engaged in serving the best interests of the American people.

To be fair, Judge Bolton’s ruling does not end the issue, not by a long shot. In fact, there is a very good chance that the case surrounding Arizona law SB1070 will make it – and in an expedited manner – to the US Supreme Court. This actually bodes well for the American citizen primarily because today the US Supreme Court has a balance that actually gives an edge – even if ever so slightly – to the US Constitution and, thus, the American people. Judge Bolton’s ruling simply put those sections blocked – or deemed unlikely to withstand a challenge in the judicial system, be it from the ACLU, La Raza or the Holder/Obama Justice Department (which is tantamount to the ACLU and La Raza) – on hold until the courts resolve the issues.
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The United States, 2010: A Rogue Government”

Banks - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Government - Liberals - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

The Era of Obama: Clorox Co. Loses Net Income to Taxes?

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a harbinger of profit statements to come, Clorox Co. — maker of numerous household cleaning products — reports that it’s net income was nearly flat despite a one percent rise in revenue.

The reason? Taxes.

Clorox Co. says its fourth-quarter net income was nearly flat, even though its revenue rose one percent, because it paid higher taxes and had smaller margins.

The laundry giant said that it earned $171 million in the last three months and had revenue of $1.52 billion last quarter. Clorox also reports that it expects to earn enough to keep in line with estimates.

So, sales have not been hurt by this recession for Clorox Co., at least. That is a good thing. But that its tax burden went up so much as to flatten its net income is unconscionable.

Businesses are in business to make money not forever break even. Breaking even is no incentive to push for higher achievement and invites sloth and eventual disinterest.

Without innovation and a return on the effort our economy will stagnate even further. As that happens tax receipts fall.

Obama is playing a dangerous game with our economy, folks. It’s one we are all bound to lose.
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The Era of Obama: Clorox Co. Loses Net Income to Taxes?”

Barack Obama - Blogging - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Computers - Economy/Finances - FCC - Inernet - Media - Net Neutrality - Regulation - Technology - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Opposing ‘Net Neutrality’

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

While attending RightOnLine in Las Vegas last week we had the opportunity to attend several discussions of the ill advised plans that the Obama administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has for regulating and controlling the Internet.

I listened to a panel discussion and a stand alone speech on Net Neutrality and the plans the Obama administration has for the Internet will surely stifle the creativity and new business opportunities that are opening up all in the overused name of “fairness.”

Worse, these regulations are all being pushed through without act of Congress and under the guise of the FCC’s assumed powers to affect the Internet. These powers that the FCC imagines itself to have are not codified anywhere in law, but the FCC is moving ahead despite the gray areas. Like most of what Obama does, nothing as silly as “the law” will stop them from surging forward with yet another power grab.
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Opposing ‘Net Neutrality’”

Associated Press - Business - Capitalism - CNN - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Government - History - Journalism - Labor Law - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - New Hampshire - NPR - Regulation - Taxes - Unemployment - Warner Todd Huston

Down Economy: America’s ‘Oldest Family Farm’ Up For Sale

August 3, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a sign of these dismal times, the oldest family farm in America is up for sale because its owners just cannot survive this down economy. After 378 years of contiguous family ownership and operation, the Tuttle family of Dover, New Hampshire is selling its 134-acre farm.

Founded in 1632 by John Tuttle fresh off the boat from the Old World, the Tuttle family farm has moved on with the times, improved and changed to continue operating. But, at long last, this economy is too much for them to bear.

Curiously, the Associated Press worked very hard to downplay the economic side of this argument in its coverage and instead played up the fact that the Tuttles are aging and have decided to discourage their own sons from taking up the family business. The APs story also turned the focus away from the bad economy and toward blaming WalMart and the “growth of supermarket chains.”
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Down Economy: America’s ‘Oldest Family Farm’ Up For Sale”

Anti-Americanism - Banks - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Government - John Armor - Liberals - President - Taxes

Corruption Is Good, In the Right Hands

August 3, 2010 by

-By John Armor

I listened to every word of President Obama’s statement on signing the financial institutions’ “reform” law, Wednesday morning. This was a filthy job, but somebody had to do it. The longest applause during the entire charade was when Obama thanked Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Christopher Dodd for their “tireless work” in getting this bill passed.

Now, class, let’s conduct a brief review. First, not every Act that contains the word “reform” actually reforms or improves anything. As your grandma used to say, “Just because the cat has kittens in the oven, doesn’t make them biscuits.”

Second, this “reform” law doesn’t lay a finger on the two federal lending corporations, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were at the heart of the phony financial instruments which nearly crippled the national economy. Why would they, of all institutions, be left out?
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Corruption Is Good, In the Right Hands”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - California - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Democrats’ Un-American Hate for the Constitution

August 2, 2010 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

California Democrat Pete Stark thinks that the Constitution of the United States is powerless to control the every desire of Democrats. He thinks that the Constitution is not a guide for limited government, but an excuse for intrusive government.

It’s easy to dismiss Stark over his long history of distempered public behavior but his core belief is the core belief of the un-American Democrat Party as it exists today. They all, to a man, feel that there is nothing that prevents them from doing just anything they feel like doing. They imagine we are a “democracy” that needs only a winning number of votes to do anything. No law, no principle, no tradition binds them.
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Democrats’ Un-American Hate for the Constitution”

Barack Obama - Capitalism - Commerce Clause - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Health - Law - Liberals - President - Regulation - Taxes - Virginia - Warner Todd Huston

Virginia Challenge of Obamacare Wins One in Court

August 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson refused to dismiss Virginia’s lawsuit against Obamacare, today, allowing the suit against the federal government to continue on to the next stage.

The federal government sought a dismissal of the suit that challenges the Constitutionality of the part of Obamacare that requires every citizen to buy healthcare insurance.

In his report, Judge Hudson said:

The guiding precedent [on the Commerce Clause] is informative but inconclusive. Never before has the Commerce Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause been extended this far. At this juncture, the court is not persuaded that the Secretary has demonstrated a failure to state a cause of action with respect to the Commerce Clause element.

The chief claim of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is that the mandate to buy insurance violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The federal government was attempting to have Virginia’s lawsuit thrown out with the claim that it doesn’t and should be thrown out because it is obvious that Obamacare does not violate the Constitution.

The judge, however, disagreed that it was so obvious and has allowed the suit to go forward.

It is Attorney General Cuccinelli’s contention that the insurance mandates expand federal power to never before seen heights of power in violation of the Constitution. It is an obvious conclusion, too.
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Virginia Challenge of Obamacare Wins One in Court”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Jobs - Lake County - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Good News: Big Money to be Made in Illinois. Bad news: it’s in Government

August 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With recent revelations that the city manager of the small, mostly low-income Hispanic community of Bell, California makes nearly $800,000 a year and that its police chief makes almost $500,000 yearly, the spotlight might be leveled at city employees all across the country. Illinois, as it happens, is no better for the squandering of such cash, it appears.

On July 31, the Chicago Tribune reported that the an executive of the Highland Park, Illinois park district makes $435,203 a year. And then there were the big bonuses.
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Good News: Big Money to be Made in Illinois. Bad news: it’s in Government”

Budget - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

Truth In Accounting’s Sheila Weinberg on CSPAN

August 1, 2010 by

From The Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Sheila Weinberg, Founder & CEO of the Chicago-based Institute for Truth in Accounting, spoke at the Private Solutions in Public Sector Pension Plans conference held by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Her speech highlighted the need to bring FACT based budgeting (download .pdf) to state budget processes.

Her speech starts at the 16:00 minute mark in the video that can be viewed from the CSPAN library. Other speakers at the event included David Walker, President of Peter G. Peterson Foundation, State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-IL), Andrew Biggs, Resident Scholar-American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Dana Bilyeu, Chief Executive-Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada, Jack Dean, Editor-Pension Tsunami, President, Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers, Ray Scheppach, Executive Director-National Governor’s Association, and Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Senior Fellow- The Hudson Institute.

Banks - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Franklin Deleno Roosevelt - Free Trade - Government - History - Liberals - President - Regulation - Taxes - The Heartland Institute - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston - WWI - WWII

Heartland Institute Luncheon: This Recession Caused By Over-Regulation Not Market Failure

July 30, 2010 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I just returned from a nice little luncheon given by the Heartland Institute (www.heartland.org) in beautiful downtown Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of the gathering of free-market supporters and like-minded individuals was to celebrate the life’s work of famed economist and Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman.

The principal speaker was Richard H. Timberlake*, student and friend of the celebrated economist and an accomplished free-market economist in his own right.

I’ve done several such events for some of the conservative think tanks and state policy groups in the Windy City and I enjoy these events in Chicago because I always get the uneasy feeling that our little conclave of right-thinking fellows well met is the last vestige of civilization and that we are putting on the timbers to secure the gates as the barbarians mount their attack. The barbarians of which I speak are, of course, the city full of Democrats and socialists that looms on all sides surrounding our little events.
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Heartland Institute Luncheon: This Recession Caused By Over-Regulation Not Market Failure”

Budget - California - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Public Employees Unions - SEIU - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

SEIU Attacking Fellow Union for Concessions

July 30, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Engineers and Architects Association, a 48,000 member public employees union in L.A., has come under attack from the politically active Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for having the civic sense to realize that the high times of ever rising pay at the taxpayer’s expense is coming to an end.

In a deal about to be voted on, the Engineers and Architects Association agreed to present to its members a new contract that would require them to pay a whopping extra $10 per visit to the doctor (that will put it up to $20 per visit). Also gone would be the $15 a month to “enhance their life insurance and disability insurance” paid by the city. Finally, union members would have to pay five percent of their monthly healthcare premiums.
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SEIU Attacking Fellow Union for Concessions”

Budget - Capitalism - Card Check - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Speaker of House Recommits to Card Check

July 30, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, recently appeared before the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and reaffirmed that she wants to push the woefully misnamed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), or card check, through the upcoming lame duck session of Congress.

This legislation would end the ability of employees to hold a secret ballot leaving them open to union intimidation and would also force federal arbitration on every union vote.

Of course, Pelosi is trying desperately to give big paybacks to unions that donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Democrats in the 2008 election and card check was their dream law.

The bill, however, has met with little enthusiasm in the halls of Congress and has not come to a vote due to a lack of support from all but the most left-wing, committed union supporters.

But in this lame duck session, it is expected that the Democrats will try one last, hard push for all their most unpopular policies in expectation that it’ll be even harder to get them through once the next Congressional session is begun. These Democrats know that they have no support from the voters, but they really don’t care.
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Speaker of House Recommits to Card Check”

Budget - Capitalism - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

The $41.8 Million Cow-Milking Machine‏

July 30, 2010 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

The “Me First” Rally
If you’ve been watching New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in action, you know he doesn’t mince words. In this MSNBC clip, you can watch him take on what he sees as a “me-first” mentality in his home state. New Jersey, like Illinois, is battling a massive state budget crisis—but unlike Illinois, it isn’t considering a massive tax hike. You can read the latest on that development below.
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The $41.8 Million Cow-Milking Machine‏”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Health - Liberals - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

New Chart Reveals the Impossible Complexity of Obamacare

July 28, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Republicans of the Joint Economic Committee have come out with a chart that shows the shocking and just plain idiotic complexity that is Obamacare. (Download .pdf file)

Four months after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously declared “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it,” a congressional panel has released the first chart illustrating the 2,801 page health care law President Obama signed into law in March.

Developed by the Joint Economic Committee minority, led by U.S Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the detailed organization chart displays a bewildering array of new government agencies, regulations and mandates.

Sadly, Obamacare is so complex that even this chart can only show about 1/3 of the foolishness involved. There is so much intertwined, serpentine connections that there was no physical way to even get it all on one chart.


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New Chart Reveals the Impossible Complexity of Obamacare”

Barack Obama - Bobby Jindal - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Energy - Free Trade - Government - Louisiana - Oil - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dan Juneau On Impact of Oil Moratorium on Citizens of Louisiana

July 28, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is a very interesting interview with Dan Juneau, President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). LABI is a combination of the state chamber of commerce and the state manufactures organization and represents the business interests of the state. There are 35,000 members, companies of all sizes in the Pelican State.

Juneau discusses how bad this oil moratorium will be on the economy of the entire Gulf region.


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Dan Juneau On Impact of Oil Moratorium on Citizens of Louisiana”