Kentucky legislators will probably be back in Frankfort in late May to discuss tax reform. Meanwhile, Tennessee, a state with no income tax, continues to eat our lunch economically. And Missouri advanced a bill this week to get rid of their income tax.
Ohio is looking at exempting college graduates from state income taxation for five years. This is the kind of game-playing and manipulation Kentucky has traditionally used to pick winners and losers rather than incentivize income generation across the board.
As more of our neighbors figure out that taxing incomes hurts productivity, Kentucky is going to have to come around. Sooner would be better than later.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pres. Obama, don't ignore these kids
President Barack Obama seems determined to cancel the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
Disgraceful.
Disgraceful.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Party labels and bad politicians
Congressman Geoff Davis, in an interview with WLAP's Leland Conway, expressed frustration with citizen groups who don't support bad Republicans. He is going to have to get used to it.
Davis said:
"A lot of conservative groups like Club for Growth and others unfortunately spend all their time going after Republicans. As I've shared, it would be nice if they tried to defeat a liberal now and then."
The Club for Growth shouldn't have to spend any of their resources going after bad Republicans. Rep. Davis isn't one of those bad Republicans, but blind support for the party label won't advance conservatism.
Here's a little help from the archives:
Davis said:
"A lot of conservative groups like Club for Growth and others unfortunately spend all their time going after Republicans. As I've shared, it would be nice if they tried to defeat a liberal now and then."
The Club for Growth shouldn't have to spend any of their resources going after bad Republicans. Rep. Davis isn't one of those bad Republicans, but blind support for the party label won't advance conservatism.
Here's a little help from the archives:
This goofy rhetoric sounds familiar
Newspaper columnist Dana Milbank sounds like the auto industry executives bemoaning the end of the world as we know it without bailouts to return them to the lifestyles to which they had grown accustomed.
The idea that scrutiny of government would die without newspapers is a figment of some newspaper guy's imagination.
And besides, Kentucky already has a long (and silly) history of bailing out newspapers.
The idea that scrutiny of government would die without newspapers is a figment of some newspaper guy's imagination.
And besides, Kentucky already has a long (and silly) history of bailing out newspapers.
Think before you kiss your sister
Saving money by consolidating Kentucky's 120 counties into some smaller -- and less accountable -- number of governmental units is the public policy equivalent of kissing your sister.
Martin Cothran weighs in:
Here's more.
Rooting out ways to save money on local government is a very worthwhile pursuit, but not at the expense of creating bigger government.
Martin Cothran weighs in:
"The only thing that the consolidation of counties will do is to take the government of localities out of the localities themselves and place it in the hands of bureaucrats outside of the community being governed."
"Cothran's Rule of Government Efficiency plainly states, "There is No Such Thing." And one of corollaries of this Rule is: "The Bigger the Government Body, the More Inefficient It Is.""
Here's more.
Rooting out ways to save money on local government is a very worthwhile pursuit, but not at the expense of creating bigger government.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Choosing sides in 2010 Senate races
The Kentucky Club for Growth has made a name for itself calling out Republicans who go squishy on keeping government from growing out of control.
More here.
"According to CQ Moneyline, the following Senators have donated money to Arlen Specter's campaign:
Mitch McConnell
John Cornyn
Lamar Alexander
Orrin Hatch
It may be expected that the GOP Senate Leader would donate to incumbent GOP colleagues up for reelection. But McConnell was not listed as a donor in Jim Bunning's recent report, suggesting a different explanation may be needed."
More here.
Bunning says Dem primary helps him
Senator Jim Bunning just said the intense primary battle between Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway will make the 2010 race easier for him.
He said he has dropped his fundraising goal from $10 million to $7 million because he believes his opponents will spend much of their money going against each other.
He said he has dropped his fundraising goal from $10 million to $7 million because he believes his opponents will spend much of their money going against each other.
Very interesting email
Just got the following message on Facebook:
I'm not going to the protest, but I appreciate the approach. What do you think?
Subject: Upcoming McConnell Protest - Read Disclosure though!
This group is made up of a diverse members that agree that Senator Bunning "was right" when he opposed the financial industry bailout. He really was and history will prove it!
It follows logically that Senator McConnell "was wrong" when he bowed to the financial industry and strong-armed the bailout.
I'm writing to let the Anti-McConnell crowd know about an upcoming protest of the Senator outside his speaking engagement at the upcoming U of L Brandeis School of Law Graduation on May 9th in Louisville.
However, I don't want to trick anyone...This protest is specifically targeted at Sen. McConnell's stance on the Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA) which I'm pretty sure Sen. Bunning shares as he voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. and voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. So if you are responsible and progressive like me, despite Sen. Bunning's act of courage, I hope you'll be joining me in supporting Jack Conway for that Senate seat, as well as helping us protest McConnell at the event linked below.
If you are conservative when it comes to social justice, please forgive this heads up, and keep up the fight against stupid government bailouts! And if you're a Republican, please don't make it a partisan issue, you have many allies across the aisle that oppose corporate bailouts.
I'm not going to the protest, but I appreciate the approach. What do you think?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Movement marches on
Working on details for Freedom Rallies in Frankfort on May 23 and Lexington on July 4. The naysayers will only be right if we quit. So, guess what?
Keeping our kids safe on campus
A Missouri legislative bill that would allow college students with concealed carry permits to possess firearms on campus passed that state's House of Representatives last week.
Keeping a college campus gun-free just means the law-abiding citizens can't defend themselves and that armed predators can be emboldened. If the bad guys don't know who is armed, they will be much more likely to just stay away.
Kentucky law makes no such provisions for innocent citizens to protect themselves.
Keeping a college campus gun-free just means the law-abiding citizens can't defend themselves and that armed predators can be emboldened. If the bad guys don't know who is armed, they will be much more likely to just stay away.
Kentucky law makes no such provisions for innocent citizens to protect themselves.
Jack in the (mail) box
Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo has sent out a steady stream of press releases reading like Twitter entries recently, publicizing his his every move since he declared himself a candidate for U.S. Senate.
Now his primary opponent seems to be doing the same thing. The latest: Attorney General Jack Conway went to the mail box.
It's going be a long spring watching these two use taxpayer resources to campaign against each other.
Now his primary opponent seems to be doing the same thing. The latest: Attorney General Jack Conway went to the mail box.
It's going be a long spring watching these two use taxpayer resources to campaign against each other.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Bailing out Big College next
The Obama Administration is threatening to turn 529 college savings plans into a federal version of the disastrous Kentucky's Affordable Prepaid Tuition program.
From a White House press release:
And these same people want to make healthcare affordable for everyone, too.
From a White House press release:
And these same people want to make healthcare affordable for everyone, too.
Leland Conway uncovers fear on "Big Left"
The Leftist Myth about the Tea Party Movement
By Leland Conway
First they accused us of racism. When that didn’t work, they said we were organized and funded by the Republican Party. When this was also found to be wrong, they pointed to a recent Homeland Security report and branded us “radical rightwing extremists” capable of any number of terrorist acts. The real story is that the left is terrified of a resurgence of the American spirit of individualism, patriotism and a renewed push for smaller government.
The tea party movement is not the brainchild of some well funded political organization. On the contrary, it is the natural reaction to one. For those who still cling to this argument, consider the following questions.
Where were you when George Soros and Moveon.org was funding much of the so-called “grass-roots” movement to elect Barack Obama as president? Where were you when ACORN was physically breaking into a foreclosed home that a bank had taken back from a perennial deadbeat member of their own group? Where were you when ACORN was paying people in cash and cigarettes to illegally register to vote multiple times?
If the tea party movement is funded by the wealthy Republican elite, then I’m still waiting for my check. So is the Reverend Dan Barnes of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Nicholasville who organized a protest on the courthouse lawn that drew more than 300 angry taxpayers. So is Mica Sims, a stay at home mom who’s fed up with over reaching government and spent her own money to organize an event that drew more than 500 in Lexington. So is Kelly Wallingford, a fed up business man and broadcaster in Richmond Kentucky who opened up his office parking lot for an event that drew more than 100 in Madison County as a prelude to Barry and Janie Spurlock's courthouse rally with 300 supporters.
Not a single one of these events was an "official" event of either major political party.
Sure, lots of Republicans showed up. But whether the media and the left want to acknowledge it, the Republican Party just happens to be full of, well, conservatives. Of course they came out in strong numbers to these events. That’s because Republicans also feel let down by their own party leadership who voted for this terrible spending rampage.
But there were a lot of angry Democrats, Libertarians and Independents at these events as well. I think that is what scares the Left so much. The reality is Obama won the election because Independents swung his way. He lured them with a lot of talk about fiscal responsibility, government transparency and cutting government waste. All promises which he has quickly broken.
Many on the left are trying to point to the "failed policies of the last eight years." This talking point is wearing thin, since those same Independents, and many Republicans have long ago acknowledged that Bush was too big a spender.
That’s why they have a very real reason to be worried about this movement. The only people who care about the "last eight years" argument are the liberal wing of the Democratic party – and there aren’t enough of them to keep congress or re-elect Barack Obama. The independent minded Republicans, Democrats and non-party affiliates see that, not only did President Bush make very poor moves on the economy over the last few months, but Obama made the same moves while stepping on the accelerator.
No, we’re not a Republican-funded bunch of "right wing extremists bent on terrorist acts" gathering at these tea parties. But we are a group of very legitimately angry Americans who see our personal wealth and freedoms disintegrating right before our eyes. That should strike terror into the hearts of the political Left.
By Leland Conway
First they accused us of racism. When that didn’t work, they said we were organized and funded by the Republican Party. When this was also found to be wrong, they pointed to a recent Homeland Security report and branded us “radical rightwing extremists” capable of any number of terrorist acts. The real story is that the left is terrified of a resurgence of the American spirit of individualism, patriotism and a renewed push for smaller government.
The tea party movement is not the brainchild of some well funded political organization. On the contrary, it is the natural reaction to one. For those who still cling to this argument, consider the following questions.
Where were you when George Soros and Moveon.org was funding much of the so-called “grass-roots” movement to elect Barack Obama as president? Where were you when ACORN was physically breaking into a foreclosed home that a bank had taken back from a perennial deadbeat member of their own group? Where were you when ACORN was paying people in cash and cigarettes to illegally register to vote multiple times?
If the tea party movement is funded by the wealthy Republican elite, then I’m still waiting for my check. So is the Reverend Dan Barnes of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Nicholasville who organized a protest on the courthouse lawn that drew more than 300 angry taxpayers. So is Mica Sims, a stay at home mom who’s fed up with over reaching government and spent her own money to organize an event that drew more than 500 in Lexington. So is Kelly Wallingford, a fed up business man and broadcaster in Richmond Kentucky who opened up his office parking lot for an event that drew more than 100 in Madison County as a prelude to Barry and Janie Spurlock's courthouse rally with 300 supporters.
Not a single one of these events was an "official" event of either major political party.
Sure, lots of Republicans showed up. But whether the media and the left want to acknowledge it, the Republican Party just happens to be full of, well, conservatives. Of course they came out in strong numbers to these events. That’s because Republicans also feel let down by their own party leadership who voted for this terrible spending rampage.
But there were a lot of angry Democrats, Libertarians and Independents at these events as well. I think that is what scares the Left so much. The reality is Obama won the election because Independents swung his way. He lured them with a lot of talk about fiscal responsibility, government transparency and cutting government waste. All promises which he has quickly broken.
Many on the left are trying to point to the "failed policies of the last eight years." This talking point is wearing thin, since those same Independents, and many Republicans have long ago acknowledged that Bush was too big a spender.
That’s why they have a very real reason to be worried about this movement. The only people who care about the "last eight years" argument are the liberal wing of the Democratic party – and there aren’t enough of them to keep congress or re-elect Barack Obama. The independent minded Republicans, Democrats and non-party affiliates see that, not only did President Bush make very poor moves on the economy over the last few months, but Obama made the same moves while stepping on the accelerator.
No, we’re not a Republican-funded bunch of "right wing extremists bent on terrorist acts" gathering at these tea parties. But we are a group of very legitimately angry Americans who see our personal wealth and freedoms disintegrating right before our eyes. That should strike terror into the hearts of the political Left.
Narrowing the focus in Lexington
Please join a discussion Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 pm about the need for school choice in Kentucky. We will be meeting at The Inn on Broadway in Lexington.
Bring a friend!
Bring a friend!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Can't stop this
Lexington's July 4 Freedom Rally has been scheduled for the Fayette County Courthouse Plaza. It will start at 3:30 pm.
Spread the word.
We will be promoting this event at Saturday's Bluegrass Tax Liberation Day.
Spread the word.
We will be promoting this event at Saturday's Bluegrass Tax Liberation Day.
A merit hiring mess of their own?
You may have missed a little "isolated accident" merit hiring story in the Louisville Courier Journal Thursday.
Sources report the underwater portion of this iceberg could play an interesting role in the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate as more merit hiring same-old in the Transportation Cabinet comes to light.
What say you, Attorney General Jack Conway?
Sources report the underwater portion of this iceberg could play an interesting role in the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate as more merit hiring same-old in the Transportation Cabinet comes to light.
What say you, Attorney General Jack Conway?
Missing some Big Ed propaganda
Back in 2007, Kentucky's big newspapers picked up their pom poms and cheered on a state report using very questionable data to promote KERA reforms in our public schools.
The Bluegrass Institute's education analyst Richard Innes debunked that effort. The Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center is back in 2009 with a very similar "report," but so far the Big Media effort appears to be missing.
Innes already did his part but, strangely, the Courier Journal and Herald Leader don't appear to be coming to the rescue with their traditional unquestioning support.
Come on, guys! Your bureaucrats need you.
With the death of the discredited CATS testing program last month, Big Education has had a rough spring in Kentucky.
The Bluegrass Institute's education analyst Richard Innes debunked that effort. The Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center is back in 2009 with a very similar "report," but so far the Big Media effort appears to be missing.
Innes already did his part but, strangely, the Courier Journal and Herald Leader don't appear to be coming to the rescue with their traditional unquestioning support.
Come on, guys! Your bureaucrats need you.
With the death of the discredited CATS testing program last month, Big Education has had a rough spring in Kentucky.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Time to reopen the Worley file
Kentucky's Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley is about to get a primary opponent. A "conservative Democrat," Mike Cope of Madison County said his decision to run had a lot to do with Worley's considerable personal baggage.
Cope also expressed dismay with wild government spending and said he has opposed the bailouts.
Cope also expressed dismay with wild government spending and said he has opposed the bailouts.
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