In its final flurry of activity for the year, Congress passed a bill to allow unlimited contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
This will do more immediately for the stock market than it will for reforming healthcare in America, though that may not be all bad. If you have some money you want to tuck away in a tax-advantaged account, the HSA is going to be a new way to do it.
Creating new and better ways for people to invest more in equities is good for America. The Ownership Society is one that is less likely to fall for socialist utopian schemes like government-run healthcare. As more and more Americans come to own stocks, the mostly-Democrat plan to kill America's healthcare system might get harder to sell.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Hey, It's A Culture Of Corruption!
Unbelievable. Down in New Orleans, they just re-elected Rep. William "Bribe Money In My Freezer" Jefferson to another term in Congress.
These guys are really going to try to make this fun.
These guys are really going to try to make this fun.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Might Ben Chandler Reconsider Gov Race?
Now that new House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is chatting up the idea of putting the House of Representatives back on a five day work week, I have to wonder if Rep. Ben Chandler might take another look at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort.
When Ben went to Washington, he spoke openly of his appreciation for the three day work week that allowed him to be home in Versailles four or five nights a week. That left him sleeping in his D.C. office only two or three nights a week. That will be ending in January. Ben will be on the couch nearly full-time.
Frankly, I think one the best things Tom DeLay did as Majority Leader was cut back on the number of days the House was in session. Unwinding this reform just gives them more time to make more laws we could do without.
When Ben went to Washington, he spoke openly of his appreciation for the three day work week that allowed him to be home in Versailles four or five nights a week. That left him sleeping in his D.C. office only two or three nights a week. That will be ending in January. Ben will be on the couch nearly full-time.
Frankly, I think one the best things Tom DeLay did as Majority Leader was cut back on the number of days the House was in session. Unwinding this reform just gives them more time to make more laws we could do without.
Don't Just End The War, WIN It
The incoming House Intelligence Committee Chairman, Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), said today "If the president is serious about the need for change in Iraq, he will find Democrats ready to work with him in a bipartisan fashion to find a way to end the war as quickly as possible."
I don't think it is just semantics to demand that our representatives stop talking about ending the war and start talking about winning it.
Meanwhile, the Ayn Rand Institute, provides this interesting essay which at least puts the focus where it belongs -- on defeating Islamic totalitarianism militarily.
Of course, ARI is wrong to suggest we should have left Iraq alone and bomb Iran instead. Hindsight and the Iraq Study Group provide political cover for the president's critics, but little else at this point.
I don't think it is just semantics to demand that our representatives stop talking about ending the war and start talking about winning it.
Meanwhile, the Ayn Rand Institute, provides this interesting essay which at least puts the focus where it belongs -- on defeating Islamic totalitarianism militarily.
Of course, ARI is wrong to suggest we should have left Iraq alone and bomb Iran instead. Hindsight and the Iraq Study Group provide political cover for the president's critics, but little else at this point.
Why People Don't Take Global Warming Seriously
Read about a Canadian wacko who crucified Santa in front of his own house to send a message about how materialistic people are destroying the world.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Harper To Attack Fletcher's Right Flank
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Billy Harper's campaign manager is preparing "to raise attention to issues" which Harper disagrees with Governor Ernie Fletcher on, such as spending too much money on public projects and raising taxes on Kentucky businesses.
Harper's campaign manager Stan Pulliam also said today Harper is in favor of school choice legislation.
Harper's campaign manager Stan Pulliam also said today Harper is in favor of school choice legislation.
It's Cold Outside
Yes, climate change is real.
But it has to be tough for even the most faithful adherent to the notion of mass death by greenhouse gas to get very excited when the morning temperature is nine degrees. One degree over the next century (maybe) with a cause we can do something about (maybe) just doesn't justify the hysteria.
If the moderate position on climate change is that we should cut down on pollution, then I'm a moderate on climate change. Buy long-lasting, low mercury, fluorescent bulbs for the energy savings. That's an easy thing we can all do that will help. Follow some of these tips as well.
But it has to be tough for even the most faithful adherent to the notion of mass death by greenhouse gas to get very excited when the morning temperature is nine degrees. One degree over the next century (maybe) with a cause we can do something about (maybe) just doesn't justify the hysteria.
If the moderate position on climate change is that we should cut down on pollution, then I'm a moderate on climate change. Buy long-lasting, low mercury, fluorescent bulbs for the energy savings. That's an easy thing we can all do that will help. Follow some of these tips as well.
Tax And Spend
For some insight into how Congressional Democrats are going to push tax increases, read this.
Borrow and Spend is not much better, but at least no one is trying to push it as a good for you.
Borrow and Spend is not much better, but at least no one is trying to push it as a good for you.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
I Wouldn't Have Told That
Tericka Dye is the Kentucky high school teacher who lost her job when it was discovered that she had appeared in a pornographic movie. Given that her skin flicks were a decade old when they were discovered, I'm not sure she should have been fired. And now that she is trying to get her old job back, I am sympathetic to her cause.
Or at least I was.
In this news story, she admits that she hasn't worked since she was fired and is, instead, living off child support payments paid to her four children. If that is the case, she has bigger problems than just not being able to get back into the classroom.
Or at least I was.
In this news story, she admits that she hasn't worked since she was fired and is, instead, living off child support payments paid to her four children. If that is the case, she has bigger problems than just not being able to get back into the classroom.
Right To Work Bill In Holding Pattern
No one thinks Employee Choice legislation will pass this year in Kentucky, but a bill may be filed anyway.
To his credit, Governor Ernie Fletcher has never backed down from his support of this important policy that three-quarters of voters support.
To his credit, Governor Ernie Fletcher has never backed down from his support of this important policy that three-quarters of voters support.
Gore Must Be Running For Dem Nomination
Remember when a rash of post office shootings by disgruntled mail workers gave rise to the saying "he went postal?"
Well, let's just say Former VP Al Gore went "global warming" yesterday in an obvious pander to the extreme Left.
What exactly do you mean by "worse than a civil war" Al?
And seriously, we all know Al just says things for effect these days, but when he said the Iraq War was the worst strategic mistake in the history of the United States it got me thinking about what was actually the worst strategic mistake in our nation's history.
I'd say slavery. Without this particular labor situation, the American South would have likely industrialized as fast as the North and we would be a much wealthier nation now.
Well, let's just say Former VP Al Gore went "global warming" yesterday in an obvious pander to the extreme Left.
What exactly do you mean by "worse than a civil war" Al?
And seriously, we all know Al just says things for effect these days, but when he said the Iraq War was the worst strategic mistake in the history of the United States it got me thinking about what was actually the worst strategic mistake in our nation's history.
I'd say slavery. Without this particular labor situation, the American South would have likely industrialized as fast as the North and we would be a much wealthier nation now.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
So This Is What The Problem Is?
In a conference call today with reporters, Senator Jim Bunning explained why he is less than enthusiastic about Governor Ernie Fletcher.
"I've had a good relationship before he became Governor and it became strained because of his chief of staff," Bunning said.
Who, Stan Cave? No, Bunning explained.
"The first one," Bunning said.
Oh.
"I've had a good relationship before he became Governor and it became strained because of his chief of staff," Bunning said.
Who, Stan Cave? No, Bunning explained.
"The first one," Bunning said.
Oh.
Bullying By Another Name Is Menacing
Senator Julian Carroll made a big deal earlier this year about schools lacking a "policy" on bullying by students.
The Senate paid no attention to him or his silly bill.
That has turned out to be a good thing. When kids go too far at school, we don't need another set of regulations for teachers and administrators to fool with. Menacing is already against the law.
The Senate paid no attention to him or his silly bill.
That has turned out to be a good thing. When kids go too far at school, we don't need another set of regulations for teachers and administrators to fool with. Menacing is already against the law.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Geographical Shift In House Leadership
In January, the Kentucky House Republicans appear very likely to elect Rep. Dwight Butler (R-Harned) their new Minority Whip.
Butler's district is out toward the western part of the state. Current Whip Ken Upchurch's district lies next to Minority Leader Jeff Hoover's district along the Tennessee border.
Butler's district is out toward the western part of the state. Current Whip Ken Upchurch's district lies next to Minority Leader Jeff Hoover's district along the Tennessee border.
Fayette GOP Looks To Lee For AG
In advance of tonight's Fayette County Republican Christmas party, insiders report a full-court press effort to enlist Rep. Stan Lee in next year's Attorney General's race.
When Do We Lose If We Don't Surrender?
The Washington Post is excited to get Defense Secretary nominee Robert Gates on the record answering "no" to the question "Are we winning in Iraq?"
This exchange is particularly exciting for them because we have President Bush on the record from October 25 saying "absolutely, we're winning."
I'm glad these people weren't around in the dark days of the Civil War. Any optimism from President Lincoln would have quickly been hung around his neck.
The same nabobs who say Al Qaeda wasn't in Iraq before the war now expect them to stay there and blow each other up if we just leave.
This exchange is particularly exciting for them because we have President Bush on the record from October 25 saying "absolutely, we're winning."
I'm glad these people weren't around in the dark days of the Civil War. Any optimism from President Lincoln would have quickly been hung around his neck.
The same nabobs who say Al Qaeda wasn't in Iraq before the war now expect them to stay there and blow each other up if we just leave.
A Last Ditch Effort To Restrain Spending
Fiscally conservative U.S. House members sent a letter to Speaker Hastert encouraging passage of a Continuing Resolution to restrain the new leadership coming in January from raising spending at least until February.
If they succeed, we will save billions of dollars.
Pretty important stuff.
If they succeed, we will save billions of dollars.
Pretty important stuff.
Tis The Season For Income Redistribution
It's interesting that since the study came out about how liberals tend to be generous with other people's money and conservative's tend to be generous with their own, no liberals have tried to defend themselves against the easy charges of hypocrisy.
Come on libs, where are you?
Come on libs, where are you?
Hating Walmart Full-time A Dem Shakedown
Presidential hopeful and anti-Walmart candidate John Edwards got caught recently turning up his nose at Walmart for a book signing and opting for Barnes & Noble instead.
The Walmart store he snubbed, who he criticizes for their labor practices, pays their employees $7.50 per hour to start. The bookstore he preferred to attend pays only $7.00.
Once an ambulance chaser, always an ambulance chaser; Edwards knows to go for the deeper pockets regardless of the facts.
Similar Democrat wars against the people who make our gasoline and the people who make our life-saving medicines suggest we may be in for a bumpy ride with this new Congress.
The Walmart store he snubbed, who he criticizes for their labor practices, pays their employees $7.50 per hour to start. The bookstore he preferred to attend pays only $7.00.
Once an ambulance chaser, always an ambulance chaser; Edwards knows to go for the deeper pockets regardless of the facts.
Similar Democrat wars against the people who make our gasoline and the people who make our life-saving medicines suggest we may be in for a bumpy ride with this new Congress.
Monday, December 04, 2006
A Compromise With Social Security Bennies
We don't have much agreement about what to do with Social Security. In fact, a hard-core group of Democrats continues to insist there is no insolvency crisis looming on the horizon. That being the case, I thought we might look at one area of easy agreement and a free market solution that will only make the really hard core folks mad.
When you die, Social Security will pay a $255 death benefit to your survivors, presumably so they can make a down payment on a 1986 Chevy Nova.
Why don't we allow use a small portion of Social Security funds so workers can choose to purchase a life insurance policy?
If we are going to burn up all their money on a doomed redistribution scheme that will be out of surplus funds however you count them by 2040, shouldn't we at least allow taxpayers to withdraw a few dollars a month to protect their families when they die?
When you die, Social Security will pay a $255 death benefit to your survivors, presumably so they can make a down payment on a 1986 Chevy Nova.
Why don't we allow use a small portion of Social Security funds so workers can choose to purchase a life insurance policy?
If we are going to burn up all their money on a doomed redistribution scheme that will be out of surplus funds however you count them by 2040, shouldn't we at least allow taxpayers to withdraw a few dollars a month to protect their families when they die?
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