Much, much less government spending. Hillary and Obama won't do it. Rudy and Mitt won't either.
The Comptroller General of the United States says we are screwed by 2040, when the federal government will only have the money to operate Social Security and Medicaid. Go back to sleep, though. There is no crisis.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
How About A Kentucky Stimulus Package?
Harry Moberly has not just one, but two bills designed to stick it to corporations.
Many of the rest of our legislators are looking for ways to enable more economic opportunity for our citizens.
Like Jim DeCesare.
Rather than work up incentive packages for some companies to do business here, shouldn't we just get rid of corporate taxes and let the government live off the taxes created by the new businesses, new employees, and improved economy?
Many of the rest of our legislators are looking for ways to enable more economic opportunity for our citizens.
Like Jim DeCesare.
Rather than work up incentive packages for some companies to do business here, shouldn't we just get rid of corporate taxes and let the government live off the taxes created by the new businesses, new employees, and improved economy?
Paying For Democracy One Addict At A Time
Senate Bill 5, the "Crowded Field Bill" which passed the Senate yesterday should be killed in the House. We can easily pay for the extra elections by enacting this bill.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
KY Educrats, Your Bathtub Awaits
Education Commissioner Jon Draud, in a letter to Governor Steve Beshear, bemoans the fact that state spending on the Kentucky Department of Education has dropped from $31.7 million in FY 2002 to $24.3 million in FY 2007.
Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.
But this line at the end of the letter takes the cake:
Besides the fact "strong, steady funding" is bureaucratspeak for annual funding increases, there is no convincing evidence that public schools have "shown real progress" in recent years or that funding increases are "the key to maintaining" that illusory progress.
Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.
But this line at the end of the letter takes the cake:
Kentucky has shown real progress over the past decade and a half, and strong, steady funding is the key to maintaining that progress.
Besides the fact "strong, steady funding" is bureaucratspeak for annual funding increases, there is no convincing evidence that public schools have "shown real progress" in recent years or that funding increases are "the key to maintaining" that illusory progress.
Cough Up A Lung On Your Own Dime
Rather than raising cigarette taxes to give politicians more money to play with, wouldn't it be simpler to exclude from receiving Medicaid benefits or state aid anyone who smokes cigarettes or uses tobacco products?
This Isn't The "Taxpayer Transparency" We Need
Rep. Harry Moberly came under intense fire last year for trying to hide more legislative actions behind closed doors. After seeing that, it was surprising to see him file a bill yesterday to open up the secretive "economic development" process by requiring the Cabinet for Economic Development to provide information to the legislature upon request. That could be a good thing.
But you have to read the whole bill, which includes this:
I don't know about you, but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of Harry Moberly being allowed to legally pore over my state tax returns with just my name blacked out.
In case you don't get my objection, let me ask you this: how many taxpayers live at your address?
But you have to read the whole bill, which includes this:
(3) Information that shall be provided upon request includes:
(a) Any information acquired from any records of the Department of Revenue, but excluding the taxpayer's name ...
I don't know about you, but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of Harry Moberly being allowed to legally pore over my state tax returns with just my name blacked out.
In case you don't get my objection, let me ask you this: how many taxpayers live at your address?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Et tu, Senator Borders?
It was bad enough when House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly filed a bill last week to raise the expensive Limited Liability Entity Tax, but today the Senate Budget Chairman Charlie Borders filed exactly the same bill with his name on it.
You are copying homework off the wrong guy there, Senator Borders.
Now that Republicans are on board, this must be another one of those "revenue-neutral tax increases" we love so much.
If you are keeping score at home, candidate Steve Beshear promised to support repeal -- not expansion -- of the LLET and keeps saying Kentucky doesn't need tax increases.
Are you watching this, Governor?
You are copying homework off the wrong guy there, Senator Borders.
Now that Republicans are on board, this must be another one of those "revenue-neutral tax increases" we love so much.
If you are keeping score at home, candidate Steve Beshear promised to support repeal -- not expansion -- of the LLET and keeps saying Kentucky doesn't need tax increases.
Are you watching this, Governor?
Putting Governor Steve Beshear To The Test
Why wouldn't Governor Beshear have the courage to sign an executive order Kentuckians of all political stripes want him to sign?
And no, it's not casinos.
And no, it's not casinos.
Physician, Heal Thyself
What in the world are we doing waiting around for a bunch of career politicians to fix their own pension disaster when all they have done for decades is show a prodigious and embarrassing appetite for gorging themselves on our tax dollars?
First thing, they must repeal this bill. Here's more from BIPPS, including the soon-to-be state legislator with the highest "high three."
First thing, they must repeal this bill. Here's more from BIPPS, including the soon-to-be state legislator with the highest "high three."
Preventing Courier Journal Embarrassment
You have got to the kidding me! Read this, from today's Louisville Courier Journal editorial page:
It's nothing new to see the Louisville Courier Journal (newspaper's name not withheld to maximize embarrassment) carry water for another bloated state legislator, but this is ridiculous and precisely why we need more government transparency than the bloated class wants to allow us now.
The current budget crisis is really a test of what legislative independence has become. For more than 30 years, lawmakers pushed for control. Now they have it. But when it comes to the budget, they squander it.
One frustrated legislative staffer recently described how some members operate. He fumed, "Once upon a time, you didn't even have to tell (legislator's name withheld to prevent embarrassment) what was in the budget. Now you have to give him a state park to get him to vote for it."
It's nothing new to see the Louisville Courier Journal (newspaper's name not withheld to maximize embarrassment) carry water for another bloated state legislator, but this is ridiculous and precisely why we need more government transparency than the bloated class wants to allow us now.
He Likes Mike (Huckabee)
Chuck Norris will be on Leland Conway's radio show this morning at 11:35 talking about what he will do to you if you aren't for Mike Huckabee.
You can listen on 630AM WLAP or just click here.
You can listen on 630AM WLAP or just click here.
Monday, January 14, 2008
We Can't Be Broke, We Still Have Checks!
The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee will discuss HB 87 tomorrow. The bill would give $20 million from the General Fund to tobacco farmers.
Who's Your News Daddy?
In our poll-driven world, the news that Fox News has overtaken CNN as a most-trusted news source will upset some people.
Do the math, though, and you will see CNN actually came in third. Number two was my favorite "None of the Above."
Do the math, though, and you will see CNN actually came in third. Number two was my favorite "None of the Above."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Fayette Jail Shake-Up On The Way
The Pepto Bismol is flowing tonight around the Fayette County Detention Center amid intense speculation Director Ron Bishop will be forced out by the end of the month.
It gets better.
Number two man, Deputy Director Donald Leach is coming under fire for consulting work he has done the last couple of years on the strength of a Doctorate in Public Administration degree awarded to him in 2005 from a reputed mail-order diploma mill.
It gets better.
Number two man, Deputy Director Donald Leach is coming under fire for consulting work he has done the last couple of years on the strength of a Doctorate in Public Administration degree awarded to him in 2005 from a reputed mail-order diploma mill.
Why Kentucky Needs Independent Blogs
I don't know whether to be totally shocked or well, not, that the Lexington Herald Leader would do an expose on Kentucky jails today and completely ignore the disastrous Fayette County Detention Center in their own back yard.
Chronicles of Blarney
The Louisville Courier-Journal digs into its archives this morning to point out that they knew two years ago that Kentucky was dramatically overspending tax money.
Perhaps they would have been able to find that story faster if their archives from those days weren't loaded up with stories about merit hiring and other much less important issues than blowing tax money.
Based on the comments by Fletcher and his budget team, a Courier-Journal story published on April 24, 2006, said:
"Unless the state's economy grows at a much higher-than-normal rate -- and much higher than projected -- lawmakers in 2008 will not have money for teacher raises, university improvements or other funding increases without raising revenue or making painful spending cuts in other areas."
Perhaps they would have been able to find that story faster if their archives from those days weren't loaded up with stories about merit hiring and other much less important issues than blowing tax money.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
I Could Have Saved Them The Fifty Cents
The Lexington Herald Leader's Michelle Ku has filed an open records request for FCDC Director Ron Bishop's training records which were reported on here.
Michelle, make sure you look at both copies of the training report -- the one that shows Bishop with a zero and the second one with his name scrubbed off completely to avoid attention.
Michelle, make sure you look at both copies of the training report -- the one that shows Bishop with a zero and the second one with his name scrubbed off completely to avoid attention.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Kentucky Schools Can't Afford Union Thugs
... or prevailing wage.
Governor Steve Beshear is finding it necessary to dump his other grandiose campaign promises. Now that organized labor leaders helped get him elected, what are they going to do? Vote for a Republican?
Kentucky can't afford to carry these guys around. Unfortunately, Beshear is going to have to submit to the union-ectomy willingly, which is something he shows no signs of being ready for. While we wait, we can take comfort in the fact that his idea of collective bargaining for state employees has already been tossed in the trash.
Governor Steve Beshear is finding it necessary to dump his other grandiose campaign promises. Now that organized labor leaders helped get him elected, what are they going to do? Vote for a Republican?
Kentucky can't afford to carry these guys around. Unfortunately, Beshear is going to have to submit to the union-ectomy willingly, which is something he shows no signs of being ready for. While we wait, we can take comfort in the fact that his idea of collective bargaining for state employees has already been tossed in the trash.
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