Now this is a real issue worth talking about.
Some in Frankfort say repeal of the AMC tax would be a bad thing. The Bluegrass Institute says the tax is the bad thing.
Friday, January 12, 2007
"Blogging Mayor" In Illinois A Role Model
Governing Magazine's blog has the story of a small town mayor whose outreach effort is worthy of emulation here.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Mitt Romney In Kentucky
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is coming to Louisville and unlike last time, there is no disaster in Massachusetts that will prevent him from coming.
The then-Governor was scheduled to appear in the Derby City last July to meet with Republicans and talk to legislators about his healthcare plan. Unexpected state business prevented him from appearing, though an aide was on hand to make an uninspiring pitch for universal coverage.
Romney's campaign has been dogged by his evolving positions on some key issues.
The then-Governor was scheduled to appear in the Derby City last July to meet with Republicans and talk to legislators about his healthcare plan. Unexpected state business prevented him from appearing, though an aide was on hand to make an uninspiring pitch for universal coverage.
Romney's campaign has been dogged by his evolving positions on some key issues.
Northup in 2007
So, would Anne Northup be an upgrade in the Governor's Mansion, a downgrade, or just business as usual?
Have to imagine with the former Congresswoman in the race that the field is set. Will the GOP primary be about real issues like fiscal policy and meaninful education reform or, well, not?
For now at least, I am more interested in an upgrade at Attorney General.
Have to imagine with the former Congresswoman in the race that the field is set. Will the GOP primary be about real issues like fiscal policy and meaninful education reform or, well, not?
For now at least, I am more interested in an upgrade at Attorney General.
Democrats Declare War -- On George Bush
Still without a "plan" of their own, Congressional Dems say it is time to expect more from Iraqis. That's just what President Bush said.
There is no reason to believe the anti-war fist-shaking contains any substance now.
I don't believe they will really do anything on this.
There is no reason to believe the anti-war fist-shaking contains any substance now.
I don't believe they will really do anything on this.
Indiana Gambling Expansion On Steroids
Gambling-for-tax-revenue enthusiasts want to put slot machines in 3500 new locations in the Hoosier State.
What's interesting is that even the Louisville Courier Journal sees this gambling revenue deal doesn't work as well as promised.
The last sentence in the editorial -- "There would be more losers than winners." -- is obviously true, but also misses the point. The point is there is far more losing than winning. Taxpayers wind up getting hosed in these set-ups. And the proliferation of illegal gambling is a pretty poor excuse for capitulation to gambling interests. Illegal gambling hits government once when problem gamblers and their families wind up on the dole. Legal gambling hits government twice -- once when families get wiped out and once more when new gambling revenue gets spent on politician-enhancing projects instead of on cleaning up its own mess.
What's interesting is that even the Louisville Courier Journal sees this gambling revenue deal doesn't work as well as promised.
The last sentence in the editorial -- "There would be more losers than winners." -- is obviously true, but also misses the point. The point is there is far more losing than winning. Taxpayers wind up getting hosed in these set-ups. And the proliferation of illegal gambling is a pretty poor excuse for capitulation to gambling interests. Illegal gambling hits government once when problem gamblers and their families wind up on the dole. Legal gambling hits government twice -- once when families get wiped out and once more when new gambling revenue gets spent on politician-enhancing projects instead of on cleaning up its own mess.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Do The Minimum Wage Dance
If your slavish devotion to liberal ideology requires you to support the minimum wage, you really don't want to read this.
Funny Thing Happened To Dem Peace Rally
Congressional Democrats talk tough about how the courageous thing to do is to surrender Iraq to the terrorists, but they can't/won't pull the trigger.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
On Priorities And Polar Bears
Kentucky may not have a Bridge to Nowhere, but we do have a proposed polar bear exhibit at the Louisville Zoo that will not die until it gets $6 million in tax dollars.
Seems like there are a lot of things we could do with that money that would benefit the state more than creating a fake arctic monument to the public welfare.
In fact, the Louisville Zoo would probably benefit immensely from an effort to wean it off tax dollars permanently.
Seems like there are a lot of things we could do with that money that would benefit the state more than creating a fake arctic monument to the public welfare.
In fact, the Louisville Zoo would probably benefit immensely from an effort to wean it off tax dollars permanently.
Avoiding Obvious Solutions On Healthcare
Speacking on last night's Kentucky Tonight program, gubernatorial wannabe Speaker Jody Richards actually spoke in favor of Kentucky's archaic Certificate of Need laws that are proven to keep medical costs artificially high. He even went so far as to decry the proliferation of technology that would occur without the "protection" of CON laws.
Nice.
Nice.
Monday, January 08, 2007
California Scheming
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is talking about a plan that would prohibit his state's insurers from denying health insurance coverage to people based on their health problems.
That's the same great idea that destroyed Kentucky's health insurance market in 1994.
That's the same great idea that destroyed Kentucky's health insurance market in 1994.
How To Turn A Scandal Into Campaign Freebie
Attorney General Greg Stumbo is touting $500 checks car dealer JD Byrider has been ordered to issue to customers. The whole scandal got started when AG Ben Chandler's Louisville consumer office head Bob Winlock got caught arranging special deals for himself on JD Byrider cars.
Nice spinning, guys. I wonder if Winlock got his $500 check yet.
Nice spinning, guys. I wonder if Winlock got his $500 check yet.
This Should Get Them Worked Up
Again, when you hear "embryonic stem cell research," think "government cheese."
No amount of snark will change the facts on this one, guys. The private sector would be all over the embryos if they worked for this kind of therapy. Embryonic stem cell research with taxpayer dollars is a key plank in the Democratic Party platform.
No amount of snark will change the facts on this one, guys. The private sector would be all over the embryos if they worked for this kind of therapy. Embryonic stem cell research with taxpayer dollars is a key plank in the Democratic Party platform.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
The Next Counterproductive Wage Fix Scheme
If you have enjoyed watching economic illiterates pimp minimum wage increases as serious policy and get away with it, you are going to love the effort to run women out of academia in the name of "gender pay equity."
More than 100 faculty members at the University of Georgia signed a letter of complaint because a national study released in November showed female faculty at the school receive 85.2% as much pay as male faculty members.
Female faculty at the University of Kentucky are at 82.6% and those at the University of Louisville get 78.5%, so the feminist wackos in the bluegrass have so far missed a fabulous excuse to shriek frantically.
Fixing labor costs based on gender at public universities would be impossible to defend if more than sloganeering were necessary. It isn't, of course, so the opportunity shouldn't stay missed for long.
Have at it, ladies. But don't thank me for the heads up. If we force schools to pay female professors above-market salaries, jobs will become more difficult for them to get.
More than 100 faculty members at the University of Georgia signed a letter of complaint because a national study released in November showed female faculty at the school receive 85.2% as much pay as male faculty members.
Female faculty at the University of Kentucky are at 82.6% and those at the University of Louisville get 78.5%, so the feminist wackos in the bluegrass have so far missed a fabulous excuse to shriek frantically.
Fixing labor costs based on gender at public universities would be impossible to defend if more than sloganeering were necessary. It isn't, of course, so the opportunity shouldn't stay missed for long.
Have at it, ladies. But don't thank me for the heads up. If we force schools to pay female professors above-market salaries, jobs will become more difficult for them to get.
Is Kentucky's Future Growth Urban Or Rural?
With all the bubbling turmoil in the state legislature, one element of contention that deserves more attention is whether we want to keep trying to use tax dollars from urban areas to support rural parts of the state.
If we do, how do we make continued transfers less detrimental to both rural and urban communities?
If we do, how do we make continued transfers less detrimental to both rural and urban communities?
Saturday, January 06, 2007
The War On Terror Is About To Change Shape
The term "nuclear deterrent" has much less meaning in a world teeming with suicide bombers than it did during the Cold War. Our fear of the Russians seems almost quaint now; we knew they didn't want to die any more than we did. We have no such comfort in dealing with our Islamic terrorist enemies.
So when military officials in Israel start talking to journalists about planning a nuclear attack against Iran, it is hard to be very surprised. In fact, after reading this I feel almost a sense of relief that it is coming to this now. A nuclear showdown has been inevitable for some time. It will be awful and it will make things worse. But let's get the show on the road.
So when military officials in Israel start talking to journalists about planning a nuclear attack against Iran, it is hard to be very surprised. In fact, after reading this I feel almost a sense of relief that it is coming to this now. A nuclear showdown has been inevitable for some time. It will be awful and it will make things worse. But let's get the show on the road.
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