Taxes

Budget - Chuck Schumer - Congress - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Liberals - President - Republicans - Rights - Senate - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Democrats, Sen. Schumer Shut Down Citizen’s Forum

November 22, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

You know, it is unfortunate that the Democrat Party’s name has the word “democracy” as it root because the modern Democrat Party is 100% opposed to both democracy and our system of government. Senator Chuck “Hitman” Schumer just proved this to be true once again.

Last week Senator Mike Lee (R, Utah) had reserved a room in the Senate and invited a retinue of Tea Party representatives and the folks of Freedom Works to discuss the Tea Party Budget proposal drawn up by Freedom Works.

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Democrats, Sen. Schumer Shut Down Citizen’s Forum”

Banks - Business - California - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Taxes - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

California Ballot Boondoggle Sends Tax Dollars Out of State

November 20, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Despite all the talk of fixing it, California’s budget is still a mess. One of those “fixes” was implemented last summer when the state Legislature increased revenue projections by $4 billion to avoid balancing the budget. Of course, the problem with using such “phantom money” is that it often has a habit of disappearing when you need it most. And it has disappeared just when money for schools is needed. Now deep cuts are on the table. The people lose again.

Naturally the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office recently reported that the state will receive virtually none of the $4 billion in projected revenue, forcing the state to make some tough decisions in the coming weeks. On the table are major cuts to the education budget, including shortening the school year by a week, not to mention cuts to in-home healthcare programs, and programs for people with developmental disabilities.

Obviously Californian’s budget needs all the help it can get but it looks like it’s business as usual in Sacramento. For instance, an upcoming ballot measure sponsored by a career politician would baffle anyone that truly understands the mess California is in. The so-called California Cancer Research Act coming before voters in June, asks California voters to raise taxes by nearly $1 billion for a whole new perpetual bureaucracy. That is unacceptable to voters. Maddeningly this new program doesn’t even guarantee that the money will be spent in the state! Apparently former state Sen. Pro Tem Don Perata, the career politician pushing the measure, thinks Californians who already paying some of the highest taxes in the nation should reach deeper into their pockets just to potentially send that money across state lines to benefit others. And all the while the budget for the education for those same taxpayer’s kids is about to be slashed.

So, what is the “solution” proposed by Democrats in Sacramento? Raise taxes, of course.
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California Ballot Boondoggle Sends Tax Dollars Out of State”

Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Liberals - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Washington Needs a Little Fiscal Fidelity‏

November 20, 2011 by

We all have heard the classic Washington scandal of a Congressman being unfaithful. The indiscretion usually causes a public outcry leading to a public apology and resignation.

But what happens when a member of Congress is unfaithful to the economy?

This video addresses the decades Washington has spent far beyond its means. This overspending has saddled the country with a national debt of over $15 trillion – a point at which it is now hamstringing economic growth. And even now, as the economy begs for attention, lawmakers are unable to make things right.

As millions of Americans sit out of work and a recovery falters, isn’t it time Washington shows a little fiscal fidelity.

Courtesy of www.bankruptingamerica.org

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Senate - Taxes - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston

Dear American, Obama Says You Owe $160,545 of the Federal Debt

November 19, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With the U.S. debt now officially over $15 trillion, to pay it off each working American would now owe more to the federal debt than they make in a year according to a new report by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The debt has now reached $15,033,607,255,920.32 and Terence Jeffery did a few calculations to see what that would mean.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were 93,641,000 full-time private sector workers in the United States in 2010 (and 18,073,000 full-time workers in federal, state and local government). That means the $15.0336 trillion federal debt equals approximately 160,545 per full-time private sector worker.

Calculations also show that the “federal debt equals approximately $197,579 for each American family.”

Rep. Peter Roskam (R, ILL) was saddened to learn of the mounting debt crisis.
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Dear American, Obama Says You Owe $160,545 of the Federal Debt”

Budget - California - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

California Drowning in Budget Waste and Abuse

November 19, 2011 by

-By Matthew Cunningham

Think you came up a bit short trick-or-treating this year? It’s nothing compared to California, whose revenues in October came in $800 million below projections. Overall, California is about $1.5 billion in the red for the current fiscal year, which may trigger some nasty cuts to schools and public safety if revenues don’t start pouring in soon.

Of course, California didn’t get into these dire straits by accident. Years and years of reckless overspending pushed the state over the fiscal precipice resulting in the sorry state of affairs we’re seeing today. Apparently, despite billions in cuts to education and other critical programs, some people still haven’t gotten the message. Consider the so-called California Cancer Research Act, pushed by a former legislator. This nearly billion dollar tax increase not only would duplicate existing programs, but would spend up to $16 million annually on additional overhead and up to $117 million a year for new buildings and facilities. In short, it would create another new bureaucracy to pay for, even though we can’t pay for the programs already on the books.

California dug itself into the hole it’s in by giving in to wild spending schemes time and time again. Perhaps this June, voters will finally get the message.
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California Drowning in Budget Waste and Abuse”

Business - California - Capitalism - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Energy - Ethics - Liberals - Natural Gas - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rancho Cordova Blast Fine Too Low to Assure Future Public Safety

November 15, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In 2008 a pipeline operated by Pacific Gas & Electric exploded destroying several homes and killing 72-year-old Wilbert Paana. Since that time authorities have been attempting to determine what sort of fines PG&E should face for its negligence. Recently administrative law judge John Wong proposed that a fine of $38 million — and an end to the whole matter — would be enough. But is this enough to assure the protection and safety of California’s ratepayers?

To his credit, Judge Wong rejected an even lower proposal of a $26 million fine noting that if found guilty the utility would face at least a $97 million if found guilty of all the charges and safety violations leveled against it. Yet, he’s willing to let PG&E get away with less than half of what it could face were it to go the distance in the courts.

Whatever is fair or not, though, one thing must be noted. PG&E’s board recently rewarded CEO Peter Darbee with a $35 million severance package even though he presided over multiple violations of safety including that Rancho Cordova incident that took the life of Mr. Panna, not to mention eight more deaths in the San Bruno incident. He also headed up the utility as it wasted $46 million on the ballot initiative Prop 16 which was an attempt to enshrine in law PG&E’s California monopoly.
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Rancho Cordova Blast Fine Too Low to Assure Future Public Safety”

Budget - Conservatives - Entertainment - Ethics - GOP - Government - Republicans - Talk Radio - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

An Example of Why Radio Host Michael Medved is No Conservative

November 10, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Michael Medved is touted as a “conservative” radio host from the Salem Radio Network. But just how conservative is he? One has to wonder with his constant dismissive attacks against any and every conservative politician. But this week he revealed another reason why he is less conservative than he pretends.

Medved started his political life working for the Kennedy’s in the 60s, so like many young people he started out as a liberal. But from his radio show yesterday it seems pretty plain that he never really turned the corner from a big government liberal to a true conservative. He obviously still has a ton of far left beliefs in the wondermentatudenousness that is government.

The subject of Obama’s tax on the Christian Christmas icon, the Christmas tree came up on his Tuesday radio program. Obama floated the idea that a 15 cents per tree federal tax should be put on Christmas trees this year to fund another bloated boondoggle government agency.
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An Example of Why Radio Host Michael Medved is No Conservative”

Banks - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Contact Super Committee: REAL Debt Reduction MUST Include Entitlement Reform

November 10, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

American Action Network has created a Facebook application to help you contact the liberal members of the Super Committee to urge them to include entitlement reform in the budget negotiations now going on in Washington.

American Action Network’s effort to put pressure on super committee liberals to include entitlement reform in the debt deal can be seen at their new Contact the Super Committee Facebook Page.

This allows users to tweet, Facebook and email the super committee liberals with the messaging, “Real debt reduction must include entitlement reform! Do not play politics with our children’s future.”
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Contact Super Committee: REAL Debt Reduction MUST Include Entitlement Reform”

Budget - Business - California - Democrats/Leftists - Earmarks - Economy/Finances - Ethics - GOP - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Los Angeles - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ripping Off California at the Speed of High Speed Rail

November 9, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of President Obama’s favorite go-to items to “stimulate” the economy is building new rail lines, especially high-speed rail. Many states have been smart enough to cancel the high-speed rail projects, but oh, not California. California’s project rolls inexorably onward. Still, California does help show the rest of the country why high-speed rail is a boondoggle that should be avoided.

The high-speed rail line that is being built between San Diego and San Francisco was initially sold to California voters as a $40 billion project with Prop 1A back in 2008. That’s a lot of cash, certainly, but its proponents said if it brings jobs to build it and improves the jobs situation in both cities after it’s built, it would be a good investment.

Prop 1A passed with just under 53% of the vote and was supposed to begin ferrying passengers by the year 2020. But now it has been found that the completion date and the $40 billion estimate both are, well, a bit off.
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Ripping Off California at the Speed of High Speed Rail”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Jobs - Liberals - President - Regulation - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Death By Regulations: Has Obama Lost Senator Blanche Lincoln?

November 7, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last year for the 2010 midterms Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln was in trouble with her reelection. Up until 2010 most felt her seat was a safe one but Democrat challengers pushed the sitting Senator to a runoff that she barely won. 55% of her constituents opposed her.

Lincoln welcomed the support of President Obama who cut an early ad for the Senator portraying her as a “populist crusader.” Still, Lincoln lost her her reelection bid to Republican John Boozman.

Obama may have come to Lincoln’s aide in 2010, but it doesn’t look like Blanche is returning the favor in 2012. Lincoln is leading a charge against the Obama administration’s regulatory orgy by taking the chairmanship of a new group called Small Businesses for Sensible Regulation.
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Death By Regulations: Has Obama Lost Senator Blanche Lincoln?”

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - New York - New York City - President - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

New York Billboard Campaign: ‘Congress Must Cut $1.5 Trillion’

November 5, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Bankrupting America has started a new billboard campaign in both New York City and Washington DC urging the so-called “Super Committee” to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget this November.

As the supercommittee continues to meet behind closed doors, it’s important they remember what is at stake. Millions of Americans sit out of work, cost of living is rising, and uncertainty continues to hamstring a recovery. They must keep in mind that they’re not working in a vacuum. The policies enacted within the halls of Congress send ripples throughout the country and the world.

So we decided to place some high-profile reminders for the the members of the supercommittee – that Americans are still watching. We placed billboards in Times Square in New York City and in Washington D.C. telling the supercommittee we remember your promises of fiscal responsibility and commitment to place the federal government’s spending back on a sustainable path.

Keep your promise. Check out the billboards below.

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New York Billboard Campaign: ‘Congress Must Cut $1.5 Trillion’”

Budget - Business - California - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Los Angeles - Regulation - Taxes - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

Ballot Measure Boondoggle – High Speed Rail Costs Balloon to $100 Billion

November 4, 2011 by

By Steve Maggi

Nearly $100 billion. That’s what High Speed Rail is now going to cost California taxpayers – more than double the costs initially promised by the proponents of Prop 1A, which contained the initial taxpayer financing for the project.

2033. That’s when the HSR project is now expected to be completed – 13 years after it was initially supposed to be completed.

So, in the three short years since voters were sold this bill of goods, the costs have gone up $50+ billion and the time to complete the project has doubled. How could that be? Maybe the cost of labor has skyrocketed, despite unemployment being in double digits? Or maybe the cost of purchasing land for the tracks has dramatically increased, despite the real estate market being down? Or – just maybe – the special interests that pushed High Speed Rail didn’t give voters all the facts when they sold this program in 2008.
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Ballot Measure Boondoggle – High Speed Rail Costs Balloon to $100 Billion”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Jobs - Liberals - President - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Regulations So Far Cost Us $84.8 Billion And Climbing Weekly

November 2, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There is a lot of talk about the high cost of regulations (in fact, a lot of talk from me about them). But how do you put a number on that cost? Well Sam Batkins of the American Action Forum has been keeping a running tab not only on the high cost of the regulations themselves but also the man hours it takes Americans to implement them and the cost is staggering.

Every Friday Batkins reviews that week’s new regulatory onslaught, makes his calculations and thus far Obama’s regulatory juggernaut is costing Americans $84.8 billion bucks. But that isn’t the last of what it will cost Americans. In order to implement these regulations, to make sure business and individuals are following the rules, it will cost Americans 88.2 million annual man hours to do the paperwork, file the reports, and follow the Internet-based reporting procedures in order to satisfy the rules.

Imagine this burden of worker’s time wasted just to make sure we follow regulations! It is obscene.
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Obama’s Regulations So Far Cost Us $84.8 Billion And Climbing Weekly”

Budget - California - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Liberals - Los Angeles - Regulation - Taxes - Transparency

$200 Million of Calif. Taxpayer’s Money Spent With No Accountability

October 31, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Stephen Kruiser
Voter-Approved First 5 LA Program Spends $200 Million of Taxpayers Money without Oversight

As the Los Angeles Times reports, a recent independent audit of the First 5 LA Commission revealed massive problems with the agency, including lack of accountability, spending oversight or competitive bidding. First 5 LA is part of a statewide program created in 1998 by Prop 10, a measure which was supposed to use funds from a tobacco tax to promote health and education of young children. According to the audit, it’s not exactly fulfilling its mission. From the Times:

An audit by Harvey M. Rose of San Francisco found First 5 LA’s commission was unable to monitor money that was being spent “since monthly programmatic expenditures are not presented relative to a budget.” Auditors also concluded the agency was overstaffed while under-spending on programs for children.

So, First 5 LA is spending too much on public employees and not enough on kids. Not to mention doling out $200 million without a competitive bidding process and operating with such a lack of oversight that there’s no way to determine if the agency has signed agreements “for inappropriate purposes or with unqualified vendors or grantees”. Sounds like standard operating procedure in California, which has seen similar accountability and oversight problems with other initiative-created agencies as well.

And yet, former pro Tem and career politician Don Perata is pushing another measure – the so-called California Cancer Research Act – to create yet another unaccountable bureaucracy with six political appointees that can spend nearly a billion each year, including millions on staff salaries and pensions and overhead. With huge budget problems and public pension costs spiraling out of control, the last thing California needs is another big-spending bureaucracy with no oversight or accountability.

The measure is slated for the June 2012 ballot in California.

Anti-Americanism - Banks - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - EPA - Ethics - Financial Reform - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Policy - President - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - The Law - Unemployment - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Business Roundtable: Regulations Are Killing Business

October 28, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Friday I attended an informative business roundtable meeting of Chicago-area small businessmen who came together to discuss how government intervention and its avalanche of regulations are killing jobs and businesses not only in Illinois, but nation wide. Some of the stories were chilling, to say the least. These trials go to show how anti-business the most famously capitalist country in the world has become. No wonder we can’t get out of this second great depression!

The event was held at the headquarters of The Rabine Group in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Rabine Group is a group of nationwide companies that specializes in driveway paving, roofing, and other contracting work. The company is headed by owner and CEO Gary Rabine.

Filling out the panel was Moderator, Brian Kelly of Bulk Lift International; Gary Rabine, The Rabine Group; Garrett Patten, Patten Industries; Randy Truckenbrodt, Randall Industries, Inc, and Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, Rauschenberger Partners.

The panel began with some of the regulatory horror stories experienced by the panel. Each story illustrated how government stands in the way of job creation, small business, and expansion, and how government is not working hand-in-hand with small business but actually fosters an inimical relationship. The panel showed how the oppressiveness of these regulations actually tempts business to break laws just to be able to carry on with business.
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Business Roundtable: Regulations Are Killing Business”

Anti-Americanism - Banks - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Jobs - Liberals - Regulation - Republicans - Socialism - Stimulus - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute CEO Tillman Is Just Plain Wrong About ‘Occupy’

October 28, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, penned an op ed in the Chicago Tribune touting what he claims is the common ground between conservatives and the Occupy Wall Street leftists who have trickled into the streets across the country. I hate to say it, but his op ed was puzzling and its base concept — that conservatives and these Occupy nuts should work together — is incredibly off base.

Before I get into Tillman’s points, though, let me say that I generally support the good works of the Illinois Policy Institute. I’ve covered many of its events in the past, I’ve worked closely with some of its members, and I’ve met Mr. Tillman many times at many events. I repost the Institute’s email blasts on my sites, as well.

I will continue with my support of the Illinois Policy Institute (don’t call them IPI because some other organization has that trademarked and they get mad) despite this disagreement with Mr. Tillman. They often do very good work.

OK, now that that’s out of the way… Tillman, my friend, you are soooo wrong!
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Ill. Policy Institute CEO Tillman Is Just Plain Wrong About ‘Occupy’”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Government - Liberals - President - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

Obama: Transparency? Who Needs it?

October 27, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In another breach of trust between President Obama and the American people, Obama has once again broken a promise to change the business-as-usual habits of Washington. As a candidate and early in his presidency Obama claimed he’d bring an unprecedented transparency to Washington. But now it looks as though he’s OKayed his agencies to lie about the records they hold.

Obama’s Justice Dept. floated a proposal that if records sought by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests are exempt from the eyes of the American people, why, they should be able lie and pretend such records don’t even exist.

This has transparency watchdogs a bit miffed, to say the least. Both the ACLU and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) issued a press release decrying the situation. Obama’s move threatens to “destroy integrity in government,” they say.
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Obama: Transparency? Who Needs it?”

Banks - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Financial Reform - Government - History - House of Representatives - Jobs - Liberals - President - Socialism - Taxes - The Great Depression - Warner Todd Huston

The Rise of the Obamavilles

October 26, 2011 by

Remember back in the 30s when disgruntled WWI veterans and homeless Americans created shanty towns called “Hoovervilles“? They felt failed by an uncaring president in Herbert Hoover.

Well, with the Occupy-Whatevers have they created “Obamavilles”?

I’d say they have.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Jobs - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: A Direct Encounter with Occupy Wall Street Protesters‏

October 21, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

I had a direct encounter with the Occupy Wall Street protesters as I was on my way home the other night. The Illinois Policy Institute’s office is a block north of their Chicago base at Jackson Boulevard and LaSalle Street, so I’ve been walking through the crowd almost daily as I go about my business. But I recently stopped and had a real discussion.

It was delightful.

I asked what it is they were upset with and why were they vilifying corporations, noting that their umbrellas, cardboard signs and the ink used to write their anti-corporation messages all were made by corporations.

Like others, I’ve seen the news reports about their supposed demands: a $20 minimum wage, forgiveness of all debt and a socialist-style health care system. As the leader of a free market think tank, it will come as no surprise that I do not support those solutions; they are not economically sound.
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Ill. Policy Institute: A Direct Encounter with Occupy Wall Street Protesters‏”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Jobs - Liberals - President - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

President Continues to Play Politics With the Economy

October 19, 2011 by 1 Comment

The GOP Senate’s video this week is about the bipartisan opposition to President Obama’s most recent stimulus proposal (#Stimulus2). Senate Republicans believe Congress should follow the bipartisan path it recently pursued when it passed the Colombia, South Korea, and Panama free trade agreements (#TradeMeansJobs) and focus on passing other measures that will free businesses to grow and create jobs.

Budget - California - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Liberals - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Another California Tax Hike to Fund a Boondoggle Program

October 18, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

As a result of years of budget deficits and wasteful spending by the state legislature, California faces difficult budget challenges for the next ten years. This bad news is courtesy of a recent analysis of the state’s long-term debt obligations by state Treasurer Bill Lockyer (Download .pdf of Lockyer’s Report). The analysis adds to a growing list of bad fiscal news for California, a state already struggling under the nation’s worst credit rating not to mention suffering the highest unemployment in the country at 12%.

Even as California deals with this financial crisis, a career politician is pushing a ballot measure that would raise taxes by nearly $1 billion — but doesn’t allocate one penny to balance the state budget, pay down its debt, or to fund existing critical programs like education and public safety. This measure, the so-called California Cancer Research Act, would mandate a new bureaucracy with six political appointees that can spend tax money on buildings and salaries and benefits. This includes $16 million spent on overhead and $117 million on new buildings and facilities. These are no one-time expenditures as such spending will continue year after year.

The Golden State is already on the verge of bankruptcy, to be sure, and California can’t afford this kind of spending right now. Californians should expect their legislature to fix the deepening budget deficit and fund existing programs before starting new costly spending programs like this.
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Another California Tax Hike to Fund a Boondoggle Program”

Budget - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Nearly 1/2 of IL teachers contribute nothing toward pensions‏

October 16, 2011 by

Did you know that when it comes to public school teachers in Illinois, paying their own way to retirement isn’t the norm? We took on the task to find out just how much taxpayers can save if all teachers were to pay their required share into the state pension system.

An investigation by the Illinois Policy Institute found that as the state grapples with a public pension shortfall in excess of $86 billion, teachers in nearly half of the state’s 867 public school districts contributed nothing from their weekly paychecks to their pensions. Instead, school districts – and by extension, taxpayers – paid the entire 9.4 percent employee contribution toward these teachers’ pensions, as well as the required employer contribution.

During the 2009-2010 school year alone, taxpayers across Illinois could have saved more than $400 million if teachers had paid their legally required share. Taxpayers deserve to have this $400 million back in their pockets. If you agree, go to our facebook page and like our latest post and leave a comment too. Click here and it will take you there.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Nearly 1/2 of IL teachers contribute nothing toward pensions‏”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Taxes - Unemployment - Warner Todd Huston

Government Kills… Businesses, Anyway

October 15, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A small business named Nice Cream found that government wasn’t very nice to its bottom line. In fact, due to its heavy hand, government froze the company into nonexistence. So much for everyone loving ice cream!

The other day, while discussing the failures of government unions and their pliant, paid-for, lapdog politicians, one of my Publius commenters said that government should “stick to its guns” and turn a blind eye to the needs of the business sector. This commenter wanted government to continue sticking it to the business sector and maintained that business would simply stand there and take it because of the “value they receive” from government. I said that business did react to a bad business climate fostered by government regulations, taxation, and interference. He didn’t think so.

Well, here is a story of how one small business was crushed, not by the market but by government. It was crushed because of government “sticking to its guns” and slamming it with idiotic regulations and rules made for multi-billion dollar corporations that did not make sense for small business.
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Government Kills… Businesses, Anyway”

Business - Capitalism - Fox Business Network - Free Trade - Illinois - Warner Todd Huston

Fox Bus. Network’s Cheryl Casone Broadcasts From Chicago on Friday

October 13, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

FOX Business Network (FBN)’s Cheryl Casone will report live from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11 AM/CST. Casone will interview a number of Chicago business leaders and CEOs to get the latest on commodities and market moves.

Cheryl dropped me a note to weigh in on why she’s leaving New York City for Chicago for the day.

Why NOT Chicago? The Chicago Metro Area is home to 27 Fortune 500 company headquarters and 34 S&P 500 company headquarters. They make Chicago their home and now Fox Business has made the CME our home. The city is crucial to Fox Business Network in so many ways.

Look at what Chicago contributes to US GDP. While it doesn’t equal New York, at $532.33 billion in 2010, Chicago is a crucial component to the United States. If Chicago does well, America does well.

The CME has been and still is the hub of US commodities trading. From grain to soybeans to cotton to what Americans pay at their table and at the clothing store begins right here. Fox Business has a unique vantage point our competition doesn’t: we are looking out for everyone not just Wall Street traders.

Chicago’s banking sector is of particular fascination. What are they doing New York is not? I am joined Friday by Stephen Calk the Chairman and CEO of Chicago Bancorp who sees a lot fear in lending right now. He also believes mortgage rates are in store for some volatility.

Personally I love coming to Chicago for the amazing food! From pizza to steak I always bring my running shoes to burn those calories. My good friend Chris Artinian (CEO of Morton’s The Steakhouse) is coming by the CME as well Friday to talk business at his chain and of course food.

Be sure to tune in Friday –DISH Channel 206; DIRECTV Channel 359.
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Fox Bus. Network’s Cheryl Casone Broadcasts From Chicago on Friday”

Americans For Prosperity - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - EPA - Financial Reform - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Jobs - Liberals - President - Regulation - Republicans - Rights - Senate - Socialism - Stimulus - Taxes - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

How Obama Is Bypassing Democracy, Congress and YOU

October 10, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Phil Kerpen has a warning for you, America. He wants to alert you to the fact that Barack Obama is using his powers to create regulations to undermine Congress, ignore voters, and “radically transform America.” But Kerpen also has some good news. There’s a way to stop this left-wing assault on our country. You can find out what that something is in his new book, Democracy Denied: How Obama is Ignoring You and Bypassing Congress to Radically Transform America — and How to Stop Him.

For this book — his first if I am not mistaken — Kerpen, the Vice President for Policy at Americans for Prosperity, has decided no less than to save the Republic. Of course, it’s an uphill battle to beat back the war that has been launched against America for sure.

Why is it an uphill battle? Because the way our country is being torn down is happening in the most subtle way possible. Worse, it is all being done with such ersatz legality, a legitimacy so seemingly ironclad, that most Americans are completely unaware of what is happening. And when they are aware of it they imagine there is nothing wrong with it all.
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How Obama Is Bypassing Democracy, Congress and YOU”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Conservatives - Illinois - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Head of Chicago Tea Party Resigns

October 9, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

After the controversy over his recent legal troubles, Steve Stevlic of the Chicago Tea Party resigned from his post as head of that organization on Friday, Oct. 7.

On the Chicago Tea Party website, Stevlic thanked supporters and apologized for any trouble he may have caused the movement.
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Head of Chicago Tea Party Resigns”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: 9 of the Top 10 are Charter Schools‏

October 8, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

Chicago high schools have long held a tragic reputation. Now, a new group of schools is telling a different story: Students citywide can compete academically when given the chance and a choice.

The Institute’s newest report on education shows that when it comes to ACT scores, nine out of 10 of the top-scoring, open enrollment high schools in Chicago are charter schools. Many of these schools are posting ACT scores previously unheard of for high poverty high schools in Chicago.

And there’s reason to be even more optimistic about these encouraging trends. That’s because this July, Gov. Quinn signed a piece of legislation that will open the door to numerous additional charter schools in Chicago, as well as downstate.

This shows once again that charter schools – by giving parents and students more options in their education – improve the quality of education for everyone in the state of Illinois.
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Ill. Policy Institute: 9 of the Top 10 are Charter Schools‏”