State Treasurer Jonathan Miller delivered another taxpayer-funded contribution to his Democratic Party today. He met with WKYT's Bill Bryant to tape an episode of Bryant's "Newsmakers" program to air tomorrow.
In the interview, Miller claimed gubernatorial challenger Steve Beshear isn't just a one issue candidate.
I'm still waiting for a certain brave legislator to file the bill to abolish the state treasurer's office. Jonathan Miller is the poster boy for this important action.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Did We Learn Anything From Barbara Erwin Mess?
Does anyone expect the Kentucky Board of Education to do the right thing for Kentucky's children at their meeting tomorrow?
Governor Fletcher is inexplicably missing the opportunity to publicly weigh in on this most important function of state government.
The yellow dogs at KEA aren't going to support his re-election under any circumstances. Might as well encourage the Board to pick a no-nonsense commissioner.
Governor Fletcher is inexplicably missing the opportunity to publicly weigh in on this most important function of state government.
The yellow dogs at KEA aren't going to support his re-election under any circumstances. Might as well encourage the Board to pick a no-nonsense commissioner.
Following Hillary Off The Wrong Cliff
A lot of otherwise right-thinking Americans are starting to talk about how America has no choice but to go for some form of HillaryCare.
Meanwhile, a Canadian doctor says we are moving down the road to socialist healthcare while other nations are coming our way:
Meanwhile, a Canadian doctor says we are moving down the road to socialist healthcare while other nations are coming our way:
Canadian doctors, long silent on the health care system's problems, are starting to speak up. Last August, they voted Brian Day president of their national association. Day has become perhaps the most vocal critic of Canadian public health care, having opened his own private surgery center and challenging the government to shut him down.
And now even Canadian governments are looking to the private sector to shrink the waiting lists. In British Columbia, private clinics perform roughly 80% of government-funded diagnostic testing.
This privatizing trend is reaching Europe, too. Britain's Labour Party — which originally created the National Health Service — now openly favors privatization. Sweden's government, after the completion of the latest round of privatizations, will be contracting out some 80% of Stockholm's primary care and 40% of its total health services.
Since the fall of communism, Slovakia has looked to liberalize its state-run system, introducing co-payments and privatizations. And modest market reforms have begun in Germany.
Yet even as Stockholm and Saskatoon are percolating with the ideas of Adam Smith, a growing number of prominent Americans are arguing that socialized health care still provides better results for less money.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Treasury Secretary Pushing Tax Reform
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is talking today about reducing corporate taxes across the board:
This is a terrific development. Come on guys, you can do it...
In an opinion piece published last week, Paulson did not make any specific recommendations for ways the tax code should be changed. But he said areas that should be examined include taxes that discourage capital formation, the current tax depreciation system which does not treat investments uniformly, and targeted tax provisions that add to the complexity of the tax code and contribute to the estimated $40 billion that businesses spend annually on compliance.
This is a terrific development. Come on guys, you can do it...
Stopping "Domestic Partner" Benefits
The Family Foundation is leading the way on getting the legislature to drop Greg Stumbo's "Boyfriend Benefits Plus" program.
Supporters of fiscal sanity on this issue will meet Monday at 2pm in the Capitol Rotunda.
The Senate has already passed SB 5 and the House Democrats are sitting on it.
Supporters of fiscal sanity on this issue will meet Monday at 2pm in the Capitol Rotunda.
The Senate has already passed SB 5 and the House Democrats are sitting on it.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Courier Journal Hides Truth In Plain View
Okay, let's say you see a headline in a newspaper that -- oh, I don't know -- carries the water for Kentucky's liberals day in and day out. The headline looks pretty innocuous. In fact, it reads "U.S. seeks $1.4 mil. over Broadway Cinemas."
Snore, right?
Unless you really care about something called Broadway Cinemas, you could be forgiven for not even reading the story.
But let's say you do anyway. Here it is:
Of those who managed to get past the bland headline, how many people realized "Gerald A. Neal" is a liberal state Senator from Louisville?
Neal should have to declare this as an in-kind contribution to his re-election campaign.
Snore, right?
Unless you really care about something called Broadway Cinemas, you could be forgiven for not even reading the story.
But let's say you do anyway. Here it is:
The U.S. Attorney's office in Louisville is suing Raymond M. Burse, Gerald A. Neal, and Walter P. Porter of Louisville, seeking nearly $1.4 million for the Small Business Administration.
The government claims the three guaranteed an SBA loan to the company that attempted to develop a former Winn-Dixie grocery at 13th and Broadway into Broadway Cinemas.
Burse, Neal and Porter have not made payments to the SBA since 2001, the government claims. In addition to $1.39 million, the government seeks daily interest of $189.57 since May 31.
Of those who managed to get past the bland headline, how many people realized "Gerald A. Neal" is a liberal state Senator from Louisville?
Neal should have to declare this as an in-kind contribution to his re-election campaign.
Another Revelation In Fayette Jail Scandal
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry is making plans to move Fayette County Sheriff Kathy Witt over to the Fayette County Detention Center to serve as the new director.
Senate Agrees To Kill Special Session, Then Start New One In Mid-August
The Kentucky House and Senate have agreed today to kick Governor Fletcher to the curb on domestic partner benefits and a laundry list of spending issues.
In exchange, we will probably wind up with some kind of environmental give-aways in addition to subsidies and tax credits for coal-to-liquid technology.
In exchange, we will probably wind up with some kind of environmental give-aways in addition to subsidies and tax credits for coal-to-liquid technology.
More Handwriting On The Wall About Casinos
New Jersey has managed to blow a $58 billion hole in its public employee health plan since 1994. They have had casinos operating in that state since 1978.
Kentucky's public employee health plan is not quite so deep in the red yet. Kentucky's state employees should ask themselves who they want making the tough decisions on funding their future benefits, a second-term governor or one who bravely steps up to the plate when asked about this problem and says this:
Kentucky's public employee health plan is not quite so deep in the red yet. Kentucky's state employees should ask themselves who they want making the tough decisions on funding their future benefits, a second-term governor or one who bravely steps up to the plate when asked about this problem and says this:
Bipartisan False Choice On S-CHIP
The Bush budget expands spending on S-CHIP, the health coverage program for children from low-income families who don't qualify for Medicaid, by $4.8 billion over the next five years.
The Louisville Courier-Journal and liberal media elites across the country are too busy convincing everyone that we really want government bureaucrats controlling healthcare choices in America to quibble with facts:
To compromise, the lefties want Bush to set aside his $4.8 billion increase in favor of the Senate's $35 billion or the House's $50 billion increase.
Unfortunately for us, even Republicans in Congress are going along with the scam.
What we need is more real "reactionaries" to make the case for getting government to at least slow down its takeover of American healthcare.
The fact is the American tradition of freedom combined with our growing appetite for free stuff is giving us expanding numbers of people who abuse their bodies with junk food and sedentary lifestyles and then run in for their taxpayer-supported medical attention when the damage has already been done. It would be cheaper and more humane to incentivize healthier lifestyles by allowing natural consequences to run their course.
That's one reason I'm not a candidate for anything in the current environment. I would let S-CHIP expire this fall. Weaning working, able-bodied Americans off the government teat is critical to our nation's future.
The liberals' exit strategy from this war -- which we are losing -- is to leap head-first into policies China and the former Soviets are running away from as fast as they can. Congressional Republicans who go along with this are no better than useful idiots.
The Louisville Courier-Journal and liberal media elites across the country are too busy convincing everyone that we really want government bureaucrats controlling healthcare choices in America to quibble with facts:
If Mr. Bush ignores compromise, it will prove that, rather than just staunchly conservative, he is reactionary.
To compromise, the lefties want Bush to set aside his $4.8 billion increase in favor of the Senate's $35 billion or the House's $50 billion increase.
Unfortunately for us, even Republicans in Congress are going along with the scam.
What we need is more real "reactionaries" to make the case for getting government to at least slow down its takeover of American healthcare.
The fact is the American tradition of freedom combined with our growing appetite for free stuff is giving us expanding numbers of people who abuse their bodies with junk food and sedentary lifestyles and then run in for their taxpayer-supported medical attention when the damage has already been done. It would be cheaper and more humane to incentivize healthier lifestyles by allowing natural consequences to run their course.
That's one reason I'm not a candidate for anything in the current environment. I would let S-CHIP expire this fall. Weaning working, able-bodied Americans off the government teat is critical to our nation's future.
The liberals' exit strategy from this war -- which we are losing -- is to leap head-first into policies China and the former Soviets are running away from as fast as they can. Congressional Republicans who go along with this are no better than useful idiots.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Reopening A Big Can Of Worms
When a Louisville judge ruled today that Kentucky's law restricting registered sex offenders from living with 1000 feet of places where children congregate is unconstitutional, he did what he had to do.
But when legislators passed the law, they were doing what they had to do as well. Several surrounding states had passed similar restrictions and we didn't want to be a magnet for sex offenders fleeing restrictions in those states.
This will continue to bounce around in the courts, and neighbors of sex offenders will continue to suffer when their streets pop up on sex offender registries.
Legislators will probably have to go back to the drawing board on this one.
But when legislators passed the law, they were doing what they had to do as well. Several surrounding states had passed similar restrictions and we didn't want to be a magnet for sex offenders fleeing restrictions in those states.
This will continue to bounce around in the courts, and neighbors of sex offenders will continue to suffer when their streets pop up on sex offender registries.
Legislators will probably have to go back to the drawing board on this one.
The Other Kentucky Dem Primary In 2008
While Hillary Clinton and friends will be ignoring the Bluegrass state's voters next year in our state's meaningless presidential primary, Greg Stumbo and a soon-to-be crowd of Kentucky Democrats will be vying for the right to promote the the agenda of surrender and socialism.
Stumbo announced his plans to run today, but there is no way his fellow Dems allow themselves to be represented by his baggage without a fight. Should be interesting to watch.
Stumbo announced his plans to run today, but there is no way his fellow Dems allow themselves to be represented by his baggage without a fight. Should be interesting to watch.
Maybe We Should Recruit Wisconsin Employers
Wisconsin is trying to pass socialized medicine and, interestingly, they are admitting how outrageous the costs will be. There is at least one bright spot for Kentucky that I see in Wisconsin's self-imposed misery:
In other words, they wouldn't even need subsidies or special tax breaks, just an absence of disastrous health insurance policies. There are enough House Democrats who remember well our debacle in 1994. Our experience should serve as a valuable object lesson for citizens of other states as well as our own.
As if that's not enough, the health plan includes a tax escalator clause allowing an additional 1.5 percentage point payroll tax to finance higher outlays in the future. This could bring the payroll tax to 16%. One reason to expect costs to soar is that the state may become a mecca for the unemployed, uninsured and sick from all over North America. The legislation doesn't require that you have a job in Wisconsin to qualify, merely that you live in the state for at least 12 months. Cheesehead nation could expect to attract health-care free-riders while losing productive workers who leave for less-taxing climes.
In other words, they wouldn't even need subsidies or special tax breaks, just an absence of disastrous health insurance policies. There are enough House Democrats who remember well our debacle in 1994. Our experience should serve as a valuable object lesson for citizens of other states as well as our own.
What's Wrong Boys, You Already Have Casinos!
Property taxes are up in Indiana, and Indianapolis just raised income taxes by 65% to fight crime.
While officeholders everywhere in both parties are set on growing spending and entitlements, and given our mounting troubles with public pensions and illegal immigrants on welfare, when are we going to start shrinking government?
Anyone?
While officeholders everywhere in both parties are set on growing spending and entitlements, and given our mounting troubles with public pensions and illegal immigrants on welfare, when are we going to start shrinking government?
Anyone?
Monday, July 23, 2007
Make KEES Awards More Meaningful
Rep. Carl Rollins (D-Midway) is working up another bill to double KEES awards. It is foolish to be giving more money to kids who couldn't get a 3.0 GPA in high school.
By feeding public money to future college drop-outs, we are just raising the cost for everyone else. I like the idea of raising KEES awards, but only for students who can manage to make solid grades in high school.
By feeding public money to future college drop-outs, we are just raising the cost for everyone else. I like the idea of raising KEES awards, but only for students who can manage to make solid grades in high school.
Making Kentucky Schools Better 2007-2011
The Lexington Herald-Leader has challenged the gubernatorial campaigns to talk about education:
I can't agree more than halfway with the premise that we have backslid under Governor Fletcher. The education establishment which has used its decades at the helm of Kentucky's schools far more effectively to hold us back than anything Fletcher has done since December of 2003, can't really complain about too much except for the use of the ACT exam to better measure achievement.
And I think that is the best thing we have done in a long time.
We must demand that both candidates address education plans for the next four years with specifics. And if Governor Fletcher is looking for another area of his campaign to fine-tune, school choice is just sitting there waiting for him.
Fletcher needs to explain how he would reverse the backsliding of his first term, and Beshear needs to spell out how he'd do better.
I can't agree more than halfway with the premise that we have backslid under Governor Fletcher. The education establishment which has used its decades at the helm of Kentucky's schools far more effectively to hold us back than anything Fletcher has done since December of 2003, can't really complain about too much except for the use of the ACT exam to better measure achievement.
And I think that is the best thing we have done in a long time.
We must demand that both candidates address education plans for the next four years with specifics. And if Governor Fletcher is looking for another area of his campaign to fine-tune, school choice is just sitting there waiting for him.
Subsidizing Bad Career Choices Means We Will Get More Of Them
The U.S. Senate is expected to introduce a bill today that would dramatically expand unemployment benefits for service workers who claim to have lost their jobs to free trade overseas.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Fiscal Conservatives Strike Back
The Kentucky Club for Growth got some well-deserved good publicity today.
A whole lot of what is wrong with our state will go away when more than just a few legislators focus on promoting good policies.
A whole lot of what is wrong with our state will go away when more than just a few legislators focus on promoting good policies.
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