News 2 Febuary 2009

Interactive Map: Recovery Beyond the Beltway The House of Representatives’ $825 billion Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act is of the scale and breadth necessary to begin tackling the economic chaos that President Barack Obama has inherited from former President George W. Bush. The various spending programs and tax cuts contained in the plan will help communities across the entire nation. This map shows state-by-state allocations for the aspects of the plan for which we could establish where the money is going. This constitutes 66 percent of the total cost of the package. The map also shows the proportion of the funds that will help each state balance their budgets rather than providing additional funding for specific programs. Read more

A Stimulus Plan With Dual Goals - Reform and Recovery -WASHINGTON — As President Obama and Congress barrel toward the latest emergency program to resuscitate the American economy, one question is looming over their search for a cure: Can the government fashion a fast and efficient economic stimulus while also seizing the moment to remake America? Read more

Obama says will reverse Bush labor policies WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to reverse labor policies from his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, that unions have long contended favored employers over workersRead more

You, sir, are an idiot"I had the pleasure this morning of appearing on Warren Olney's "To the Point" public affairs show, broadcast every Friday morning on Santa Monica's KCRW. The topic was bipartisanship and the stimulus plan, and the guests included David Sirota, fast emerging as one of the more prominent left-wing critics of the Obama administration,Read more

Kosmas urges Senate to give Florida its 'fair share' of eduction dollars
Brevard school district tops state in music instruction Brevard County has 23 of the 28 music-demonstration schools statewide, according to a new listing from the Florida Department of Education. Read more

Goodfellas' aided State Farm downfall So long, State Farm Florida. Thanks for nothing.Read more

Section 8 rent relief to end for about 380 families MELBOURNE -- A federal rent subsidy program that helps needy families each month is in a financial crisis, and about 380 such families in Brevard County will be cut off from the assistance on March 1. Read more

The Obama administration not likely to impose tougher restrictions on executive pay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is not likely to impose tougher restrictions on executive pay on most firms receiving aid under the government's $700 billion financial rescue program, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. Read more

Springsteen calls Wal-Mart CD deal a mistake NEW YORK – The Boss is owning up to a mistake. In an interview with Sunday's New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn't have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest hits CD. Read more

News 22 December 2008

USA Today vs EPA on Schoolyard Air
 Recently, USA Today published a series of alarming articles about air pollution near schools. It plotted school locations against results from an EPA model, and found that 435 were likely to have dangerous levels of pollution; then, it took air samples near 95 schools and found elevated levels of toxic chemicals outside 64 of them. Read more...
Madoff talked softly, wrote big DC checks:
Bernard Madoff, Wall Street's alleged Ponzi king, made political donations to Washington types which evidently bought him some access in here. Read more....
Sands' losses could be in the millions
House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands, D-Weston, reported his net worth last year at $7.3 million, most of it in cash investments that now could be wiped away by the alleged Ponzi scheme of Bernard Madoff. Read more...
Commentary
Tis a sad day when the sharks start feeding on each other, Oh I apologize to sharks for that last remark!
Property Developers Request Bailout:
Some of the biggest U.S. property developers are asking for government money in the face of $160 billion in maturing commercial mortgages next year, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Read more
Commentary
Help! The sharks are feeding on us! Maybe it's time to get out of the waters! They sure wish that a gopher turtle or scrub blue jay would go to Congress for them

The Obama stimulus: Bigger and better than ever

In Bonita, Florida, the city council is fast-tracking a road-improvement program while crossing its fingers and hoping that the Obama stimulus plan will pick up the bill. In Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, local leaders have already prepared a $98 million "wish list" for a slew of environmental cleanup projects. Read more....

Chicago Workers Occupy Factory

From Chicago IMC: The worker occupation of the Republic Windows and Doors factory on Chicago's Goose Island by members of UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America) Local 1110 went into its third day on Sunday, and workers have vowed to continue the occupation until they are paid back pay and benefits, or until the plant is re-opened. Read more...