Kentucky's debt problem is Frankfort's big secret. Meanwhile, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford keeps fighting back.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Doesn't stand for "fantastic"
The National Taxpayers Union released Thursday it's latest Congressional report card for tax and spending votes. Rep. Ben Chandler earned his fifth straight "F" grade.
Sen. Jim Bunning earned one of only nine "A" grades in the Senate. Read the whole report here.
Sen. Jim Bunning earned one of only nine "A" grades in the Senate. Read the whole report here.
Obama the Restructurer
The White House announced Thursday a plan to buy up thousands of cars for the federal government's fleet.
"I will continue to ensure that we are working to support the American auto industry during this difficult period of restructuring," President Barack Obama said.
While Obama continues "ensuring" with our money, of course, necessary restructuring is unnecessarily -- and expensively -- delayed.
"I will continue to ensure that we are working to support the American auto industry during this difficult period of restructuring," President Barack Obama said.
While Obama continues "ensuring" with our money, of course, necessary restructuring is unnecessarily -- and expensively -- delayed.
Kentucky Tea Party List
I think this is all of them up to the April 15 events. Then comes the one at Applebee's Park in Lexington on April 18.
APRIL 11TH:
City: Richmond, KY
When: April 11, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Where: 128 Big Hill Ave
Notes: Event at Wallingford Broadcasting, parking across the street
=================
APRIL 15TH:
City: Bowling Green, KY
When: April 15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: 455 E. Main St.
Notes: Rally at Fountain Square Park and then proceed to the Warren County Justice Center.
————-
City: Elizabethtown, KY
When: April 15, 4:00PM - 6:30PM
Where: Downtown Public Square
Website: http://www.hardincoteaparty.com/home
————-
City: Frankfort, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Capitol Building, Front Steps
————-
City: Lexington, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Fayette County Courthouse
————-
City: Louisville, KY
When: April 15, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Jefferson Square, 6th and Jefferson St.
————-
City: Nicholasville, KY
When: April 15th, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Jessamine County Courthouse
————-
City: Owensboro, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 Noon
Where: City Hall
————-
City: Paducah, KY
When: April 15, 5:30 pm
Where: Dolly McNutt Plaza, between Paducah’s City Hall and the McCracken County Court House
————-
City: Richmond, KY
When: April 15th, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Madison County Courthouse
APRIL 11TH:
City: Richmond, KY
When: April 11, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Where: 128 Big Hill Ave
Notes: Event at Wallingford Broadcasting, parking across the street
=================
APRIL 15TH:
City: Bowling Green, KY
When: April 15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: 455 E. Main St.
Notes: Rally at Fountain Square Park and then proceed to the Warren County Justice Center.
————-
City: Elizabethtown, KY
When: April 15, 4:00PM - 6:30PM
Where: Downtown Public Square
Website: http://www.hardincoteaparty.com/home
————-
City: Frankfort, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Capitol Building, Front Steps
————-
City: Lexington, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Fayette County Courthouse
————-
City: Louisville, KY
When: April 15, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Jefferson Square, 6th and Jefferson St.
————-
City: Nicholasville, KY
When: April 15th, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Jessamine County Courthouse
————-
City: Owensboro, KY
When: April 15, 12:00 Noon
Where: City Hall
————-
City: Paducah, KY
When: April 15, 5:30 pm
Where: Dolly McNutt Plaza, between Paducah’s City Hall and the McCracken County Court House
————-
City: Richmond, KY
When: April 15th, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Madison County Courthouse
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Replacing Hebert with everyone
Louisville's WHAS investigative reporter Mark Hebert, widely regarded as one of the best at digging up official secrets, is leaving his reporting job next month to go to work for University of Louisville.
In a comment on the PageOneKentucky blog, Lexington Herald Leader reporter John Cheves praised Hebert:
Of course, it doesn't have to be that way. If the media folks who are left got together and forced state government to put spending and contracts on the internet for everyone to see, citizens would be safer from the crooks.
In a comment on the PageOneKentucky blog, Lexington Herald Leader reporter John Cheves praised Hebert:
"So now we have one less watchdog keeping an eye on the Kentucky statehouse. Bad news for the citizens, good news for the crooks."
Of course, it doesn't have to be that way. If the media folks who are left got together and forced state government to put spending and contracts on the internet for everyone to see, citizens would be safer from the crooks.
You're kidding, right, Gov. Beshear?
Gov. Steve Beshear was out Wednesday afternoon pimping a DVD about avoiding fraud. From the press release:
We don't know (though I was sorely tempted to call and ask) if the DVD includes any information about protecting ourselves from politicians who lie about tax increases, efficiency studies, pension reform, spending transparency or who engage in counterproductive, excessive regulation and pander to labor unions at taxpayer expense. I doubt it, don't you?
We don't know (though I was sorely tempted to call and ask) if the DVD includes any information about protecting ourselves from politicians who lie about tax increases, efficiency studies, pension reform, spending transparency or who engage in counterproductive, excessive regulation and pander to labor unions at taxpayer expense. I doubt it, don't you?
Kentucky Tea Party just getting started
Last month's tea party in Lexington helped generate a lot of interest across the state in citizen activism.
It's just going to get bigger.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Tax Day Tea Parties at lunchtime in towns across the state and nation on April 15. The big crowds so far have been weekend crowds. How many people will take time on a Wednesday to go to these rallies? I don't know. It might be a little discouraging for people who haven't done much -- or any -- such events.
I've organized and promoted several political events. Some have gone well and some have been complete flops. Some of the April 15 events may not be very big, but organizers will do well to focus instead on the people who do take the time to show up and get to work immediately on the next event.
In fact, it would probably be a good idea to plan another event immediately and promote it at the April 15 event.
By the way, I will emcee the Richmond Tea Party this Saturday, April 11 at 4:00 at Wallingford Broadcasting and will be back in Richmond on April 15 to speak at their Tax Day Tea Party.
At both, we will be promoting the April 18 Bluegrass Tax Liberation Day at Applebee's Park in Lexington.
See how that works?
It's just going to get bigger.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Tax Day Tea Parties at lunchtime in towns across the state and nation on April 15. The big crowds so far have been weekend crowds. How many people will take time on a Wednesday to go to these rallies? I don't know. It might be a little discouraging for people who haven't done much -- or any -- such events.
I've organized and promoted several political events. Some have gone well and some have been complete flops. Some of the April 15 events may not be very big, but organizers will do well to focus instead on the people who do take the time to show up and get to work immediately on the next event.
In fact, it would probably be a good idea to plan another event immediately and promote it at the April 15 event.
By the way, I will emcee the Richmond Tea Party this Saturday, April 11 at 4:00 at Wallingford Broadcasting and will be back in Richmond on April 15 to speak at their Tax Day Tea Party.
At both, we will be promoting the April 18 Bluegrass Tax Liberation Day at Applebee's Park in Lexington.
See how that works?
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Shut up and eat your stimulus, part two
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting Republicans who voted against the Spendulus bill by saying they oppose tax cuts.
Interestingly, these same people understood that borrowing money from the future to spread it around today is a bad idea as recently as two years ago.
Interestingly, these same people understood that borrowing money from the future to spread it around today is a bad idea as recently as two years ago.
Speak up, Mayor Newberry
With less than two months before the start of a three-week federal trial against five former Fayette County jail officers accused of abusing inmates and conspiring to keep their activities quiet, it's worth mentioning again that Mayor Jim Newberry claimed last June to know who the other FBI targets are.
Maybe his 2010 election opponent could tell us something. Hello?
Maybe his 2010 election opponent could tell us something. Hello?
Monday, April 06, 2009
More Tea with Leland
Plan on making the trip to Richmond this Saturday, April 11, for a Tea Party featuring WLAP's Leland Conway. Starts at 4pm.
Details here.
Details here.
Wonder if Gov. Rell would take pork IOU?
Ahead of Tuesday night's NCAA women's basketball championship game between University of Louisville and University of Connecticut, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear bet Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell a ham that U of L will win.
Given Gov. Beshear's broken promises about not raising taxes, cutting government waste, and making state spending more transparent, we have another, unexpected reason to hope the Cardinals win.
Given Gov. Beshear's broken promises about not raising taxes, cutting government waste, and making state spending more transparent, we have another, unexpected reason to hope the Cardinals win.
Mongiardo retires part of 2004 campaign debt
The breathless media coverage Monday about Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo raising $420,000 in the first quarter of this year to run for U.S. Senate misses one minor detail (click image to expand):
Politicians who don't understand why burying taxpayers in debt is bad may begin to get the picture when they have to hit up donors to finance a six year old campaign bill.
Politicians who don't understand why burying taxpayers in debt is bad may begin to get the picture when they have to hit up donors to finance a six year old campaign bill.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Leland does the math
Obamanomics 101
By Leland Conway
Uh-oh, the ideological left is bragging about President Obama’s big “middle class” tax cut that has just taken effect. Specifically, they are touting what they think it will do for Kentucky. One left leaning website made the optimistic claim that the thirteen additional dollars per week we’ll start seeing in our paychecks will put $800 million dollars back into Kentucky’s economy this year.
On its surface, the potential for an $800 million dollar economic boon sounds like a big deal, until you actually do the math.
First, the legislature in Frankfort just raised cigarette and alcohol taxes. The talking heads parroted the numbers given to them by politicians bragging that it will raise an additional $180 million in tax revenue. So we can cut that optimistic cash infusion from $800 million down to $620 million.
Then, the legislature in Frankfort raised the gas tax. They will tell you that this was not a tax increase, that they merely “froze” the rate at its current level. Don’t buy it. According to Kentucky law, the gas tax was supposed to be a percentage fixed to the wholesale price. Now that gas prices have dropped, they changed the law to their advantage. When prices go back up, and President Obama promises that they will, they’ll just “unfreeze” it again and continue to reap the benefits. Legislators boasted that this shenanigan would bring in an additional $120 million dollars in revenue. Now we can lower our tax cut projection to $500 million.
Next, the federal government is seriously considering cap and trade legislation to wage war against mythical global warming. The U.S. Department of Energy’s own estimates put the lower end cost of this dangerous legislation to each family at $700 additional dollars per year. (In reality, the higher energy costs and other charges will actually cost the average American family upwards of $3100 additional dollars per year.) Using the same whacked out math formula that the aforementioned liberal website used to arrive at the $800 million dollar cash infusion, we can now assume a cost to the commonwealth of an additional $840 million if cap and trade legislation passes. That makes the “middle class” tax cut now worth negative $340 million to Kentuckians.
Ouch.
Don’t blame me; I’m simply using their own math formula and government estimates – which are both overly optimistic. But I’m not done yet. As TV Salesman Billy Mays would say “But wait, there’s more!”
What they are claiming is a tax cut, is actually not a tax cut at all. It’s a tax credit. There is a big difference. A tax cut gives us some of our money back – end of story. This tax credit is actually considered by the government to be taxable income next year for some people. So after they’ve drained our pockets and given us a measly $13 per week, they’ll tax it back. Wow…a tax on a tax cut. Can this get any better?
Using their math formula again, that’s another $80 million dollar hit. Suddenly, Obama’s economic policies which some are claiming will give Kentuckians back $800 million dollars of their own hard earned money, has become a net $420 million dollar loss. Wow.
What started out as bragging about a tax cut becomes a complete charade when you take into account the real effect of Obamanomics, especially here in Kentucky, where we stand to be hit hardest by Obama’s anti-coal rhetoric and coinciding soaring energy costs. Bottom line folks, hold onto your wallets. President Obama, Congress and the Kentucky Legislature are going to cut our taxes until we can’t afford to live.
By Leland Conway
Uh-oh, the ideological left is bragging about President Obama’s big “middle class” tax cut that has just taken effect. Specifically, they are touting what they think it will do for Kentucky. One left leaning website made the optimistic claim that the thirteen additional dollars per week we’ll start seeing in our paychecks will put $800 million dollars back into Kentucky’s economy this year.
On its surface, the potential for an $800 million dollar economic boon sounds like a big deal, until you actually do the math.
First, the legislature in Frankfort just raised cigarette and alcohol taxes. The talking heads parroted the numbers given to them by politicians bragging that it will raise an additional $180 million in tax revenue. So we can cut that optimistic cash infusion from $800 million down to $620 million.
Then, the legislature in Frankfort raised the gas tax. They will tell you that this was not a tax increase, that they merely “froze” the rate at its current level. Don’t buy it. According to Kentucky law, the gas tax was supposed to be a percentage fixed to the wholesale price. Now that gas prices have dropped, they changed the law to their advantage. When prices go back up, and President Obama promises that they will, they’ll just “unfreeze” it again and continue to reap the benefits. Legislators boasted that this shenanigan would bring in an additional $120 million dollars in revenue. Now we can lower our tax cut projection to $500 million.
Next, the federal government is seriously considering cap and trade legislation to wage war against mythical global warming. The U.S. Department of Energy’s own estimates put the lower end cost of this dangerous legislation to each family at $700 additional dollars per year. (In reality, the higher energy costs and other charges will actually cost the average American family upwards of $3100 additional dollars per year.) Using the same whacked out math formula that the aforementioned liberal website used to arrive at the $800 million dollar cash infusion, we can now assume a cost to the commonwealth of an additional $840 million if cap and trade legislation passes. That makes the “middle class” tax cut now worth negative $340 million to Kentuckians.
Ouch.
Don’t blame me; I’m simply using their own math formula and government estimates – which are both overly optimistic. But I’m not done yet. As TV Salesman Billy Mays would say “But wait, there’s more!”
What they are claiming is a tax cut, is actually not a tax cut at all. It’s a tax credit. There is a big difference. A tax cut gives us some of our money back – end of story. This tax credit is actually considered by the government to be taxable income next year for some people. So after they’ve drained our pockets and given us a measly $13 per week, they’ll tax it back. Wow…a tax on a tax cut. Can this get any better?
Using their math formula again, that’s another $80 million dollar hit. Suddenly, Obama’s economic policies which some are claiming will give Kentuckians back $800 million dollars of their own hard earned money, has become a net $420 million dollar loss. Wow.
What started out as bragging about a tax cut becomes a complete charade when you take into account the real effect of Obamanomics, especially here in Kentucky, where we stand to be hit hardest by Obama’s anti-coal rhetoric and coinciding soaring energy costs. Bottom line folks, hold onto your wallets. President Obama, Congress and the Kentucky Legislature are going to cut our taxes until we can’t afford to live.
Tea Party revolution won't be televised
If you can't get the mainstream media to cover your political movement, you just might have to do the job yourself.
Click here to see one outstanding example.
There are more Tea Parties coming. See here and here. Please help spread the word!
Click here to see one outstanding example.
There are more Tea Parties coming. See here and here. Please help spread the word!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Gotta be kidding alert
As hard as it is to believe, some people think President Barack Obama isn't far enough to the left.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Congressman Mike Pence
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) said Rep. Brett Guthrie -- who introduced him -- is the first freshman congressman to chair a subcommittee in the House since Richard Nixon.
Pence thanked Bunning for standing up to the bailouts.
"I'm encouraged. I believe we are on the verge of a great American awakening."
"We walked away from our principles and the American people walked away from us."
"We need to be willing to fight for freedom and free markets."
He got a big applause when he said not one Republican voted for Obama's budget.
"We lost the vote, but I think we won the argument."
"We can't ask hard working families who played by the rules and paid their mortgages to bailout the irresponsible ones."
"The American people don't want to know 'what's in it for me,' they want to know what's in it for America."
Pence talked about a man who had lost his job but came to thank Pence the next day for voting against the banking bailout. He quoted the man as saying "I can get another job, but I can't get another country."
"This administration is poised to take away the rights of health care workers who oppose abortions."
"We've got to recognize that our current crisis is more than economic and financial. It's a moral crisis."
"If the foundations of personal responsibility fail, how can our nation stand?"
"The good and great people of this nation will rally to our cause."
Rousing speech. Very well recieved.
Pence thanked Bunning for standing up to the bailouts.
"I'm encouraged. I believe we are on the verge of a great American awakening."
"We walked away from our principles and the American people walked away from us."
"We need to be willing to fight for freedom and free markets."
He got a big applause when he said not one Republican voted for Obama's budget.
"We lost the vote, but I think we won the argument."
"We can't ask hard working families who played by the rules and paid their mortgages to bailout the irresponsible ones."
"The American people don't want to know 'what's in it for me,' they want to know what's in it for America."
Pence talked about a man who had lost his job but came to thank Pence the next day for voting against the banking bailout. He quoted the man as saying "I can get another job, but I can't get another country."
"This administration is poised to take away the rights of health care workers who oppose abortions."
"We've got to recognize that our current crisis is more than economic and financial. It's a moral crisis."
"If the foundations of personal responsibility fail, how can our nation stand?"
"The good and great people of this nation will rally to our cause."
Rousing speech. Very well recieved.
Trey Grayson speaks
Secretary of State Trey Grayson began his speech by thanking Senator Jim Bunning, calling him a mentor and friend, and wishing him well in his 2010 race.
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