Here is Your Chance to Address your Town Leadership

On Thursday March 19th the SRTC will be hosting an Open Forum for the residents of Seekonk. All Residents are invited.

The event will be held at the Library from 6pm to 8pm.

We are collecting questions and topics in advance, so if you have one, post it in the comments section.

More details will be posted here as we get them.

American Thinker: How to Wreck the American Economy

American Thinker: How to Wreck the American Economy

While the lessons of the 1930's and 1970's are obvious to all except Barack Obama and his amen chorus, there is another major factor that exists today that was not in play in either of those two previous periods.

The ideal of a world economy is in fact becoming a reality.  This has come about as a result of the advent of new technology, global communications and enormous shipping capacity.  Countries such as China, India and many other former third world economies have become major players in global trade (they were not in the 1930's or 1970's).

These countries have begun to develop their own middle class and raise the overall standard of living for their populations.  In order to compete and continue this growth they must attract businesses and investment capital to their shores and be aggressive in their export activity.  They can do so because of cheaper labor costs, lower taxes, fewer regulations and a benign legal environment. 

The American worker now does truly compete with those in other countries and not just in the manufacturing sector.  American companies too must compete and in order to do so are increasingly opening operations themselves or in joint ventures in these nations.   Gone are the days when virtually everything we consumed was produced here or by our and European economic hegemony we were able to control world trade.

Instead of creating a positive business environment in the United States, we are doing everything possible to become fully uncompetitive in the world market. 

1) The corporate income tax (state and federal) is among the highest in the world.  

2) Litigation and legal costs are unprecedented anywhere and yet the current administration passes and proposes more measures which will result in additional expenses from the filing of specious lawsuits. 

3)  The prospect of the "Union Card Check" bill passing is real and will result in placing even more financial and operational burdens on U.S. businesses. 

4)  U.S. corporations are subject to a myriad of existing and now more proposed environmental, employment, pension and financial reporting rules and regulations at the federal, state and local level. 

5) The Obama administration, in it's few short weeks, has shown it's willingness to demonize business to achieve it's political objectives as well as mandate how these companies are to be run, what benefits they must provide and what wages they must pay to this or that group.

Faced with these prospects more United States based corporations are looking to move their operations overseas.  At the same time foreign based companies are having second thoughts about opening facilities in the U.S.  I am an owner of a company that works with various countries primarily in Africa to provide equipment and financing for major capital projects.  We have an office in the United Kingdom and the U.S.  Often we talk to suppliers worldwide that have plans to open new facilities.  Within the past month one such company, looking to open a plant somewhere in  North or Central America, has decided not to consider this country because of the political and economic climate.  The new jobs created would have been 500+.

The Obama Administration's has chosen to spend its way out of this recession while increasing government involvement in the day to day lives of Americans and American business.   Governments cannot create wealth, the only way to get out of this current debacle is to create more wealth and that can only be done by the people and businesses of this country.   More money must be kept in their hands to spend and invest and an environment created wherein U.S. based companies are competitive in today's global economy. 

If we continue on the course Barack Obama has chosen not only will job creation cease but unemployment will reach double digits, inflation will rival that of the 1970's and jobs lost to countries overseas will never return.

The misguided policies of this Administration must be fought; the long term health of this magnificent country is truly at stake.

HUMAN EVENTS Article: SURPRISE! Dems Break Promise: Stimulus Bill to Floor Friday

Michael Kreyssig has sent you an article from HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE with the following personal message:



SURPRISE! Dems Break Promise: Stimulus Bill to Floor Friday
by Connie Hair

In a press conference Thursday, the House Republican leadership spoke candidly about being kept out of the House-Senate conference on the Obama-Pelosi-Reid so-called “economic stimulus” bill.  They confirmed they had not yet seen the text of the bill as of 4 p.m.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he was unsure how many Democrats would vote with Republicans again on this bill but that he thought Republicans “may get a few” Democrats to side with them.  The fact that the Demos have now broken their promise to have the public able to see the bill for 48 hours may drive more Dems into the Republican camp.

“[I] don’t know, ‘cause they haven’t seen the bill either,” Boehner said.

“The American people have a right to know what’s in this bill,” Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind) told HUMAN EVENTS after the press conference.  “Every member of Congress -- Republicans and Democrats -- voted to post this bill on the internet for 48 hours, 48 hours ago. We’ll see if the Democrats keep their word.”

Actually -- as of 5:15 pm, the Democrats had broken their word. The stimulus bill -- which we still haven’t seen -- will be released late tonight and will be brought up on the House floor at 9 am tomorrow.

The following statement was released by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer at 4:57 p.m.:

"The House is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow and is expected to proceed directly to consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment conference report. The conference report text will be filed this evening, giving members enough time to review the conference report before voting on it tomorrow afternoon."

Meanwhile, at an earlier presser Thursday, Pelosi -- while talking about legislation regarding school construction funds -- said it was vital to see the language of a bill before making decisions.  ReadtheStimulus.org had the following quote:

“With all of this you have to see the language. You said this --- I said that --- I understood it to be this way --- you know, we wanted to see it in writing and when we did that then we were able to go forward."

"Around here language means a lot. Words weigh a ton and one person's understanding of a spoken description might vary from another's. We wanted to see it. And not only just I had to see it, I had to show it to my colleagues and my caucus. We wanted to take all the time that was necessary to make sure it was right."

Congressional members are also exchanging barbs via the popular social network Twitter.  Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) twittered, "Don't know when we're going to vote. Will the no votes delay vote just because they can? Speed is important. They know that."

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) twittered back, “Those in favor of speed over commonsense may just be afraid of letting the People know what they are ramming through.”


-----------
Read more articles like this at HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE!
http://www.humanevents.com/

Democratic Governor starts the "TAXING OF EVERYTHING"

So it all begins, tax our candy, soda, water and anything else the democrats can think of! Oh and I forgot, the 27 cents per gallon of gas for our vehicles,

making us the # 1 in the nation of gas tax, "real smooth governor" keep on helping us taxpayers every way you can. Oh and great job of putting all of the debt of the big dig, run up by a private agency making the taxpayer not responsible. However your reform will now make the taxpayers responsible for all 2.2 billion run up by this private entity, which by the way collected tolls to pay this off! And we thought the feds knew how to bailout private business! Keep an eye on the vote for the 3 tier health care payment for state employees, I have a feeling the people that vote to institute it will be exempted from their own law, just like their 5.5% pay raise! I bet Damico goes along with the gas tax approval after all he is great at spending everyone's money except his own.

What Snow Removal

The winter rolls along at a good pace and the plowing of the Towns streets and sidewalks stinks. We as taxpayers bought new trucks, plows and spreaders where the hell are they? All of the side streets remain snow covered and quite icy, the sidewalks are a disaster for the children to use to get to school. It seems the DPW superintendants policy is wait until the storm ends and go plow. The safety of the

motoring public is not an issue to try to save money on. As taxpayers we deserve the action of DPW that they be out pretreating before the storm hits, and to stay on it until it is over. The plows should push all the snow back as close to the curbs as possible to keep the catch basins open for flooding, then and only then should the sidewalks get cleaned. I would rather see the money spent on salt for winter than the great brand new street sweeper the Town bought last year and sits under a silver tarp in the DPW yard. If it was used more than once I would be surprised. The taxpayers deserve the best available roadways to get to and from work seeing they foot the bill for all these services we supposedly get.

The Future of America...

Obama 'Hope' poster artist arrested in Boston

By Milton J. Valencia and Mark Shanahan

Boston Globe

Shepard Fairey, the controversial street artist riding a roller coaster of publicity with his red, white, and blue posters of President Barack Obama, was arrested last night on his way to DJ an event kicking off his exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Fairey, a 38-year-old known for his countercultural style, was arrested on two outstanding warrants and was being held at a police station, according to a police official with knowledge of the arrest who requested anonymity.

Police could not describe the nature of the outstanding warrants last night, but said they were based in Massachusetts.

Fairey has been arrested at least 14 times, he has told the Globe.

The artist was arrested at about 9:15 p.m. as he was about to enter a sold-out dance event at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Northern Avenue, known as "Experiment Night." The event is geared toward a younger-age crowd, with techno-style music, and more than 750 people were waiting for him, some of whom had bought tickets for the event on Craigslist for as much as $500.

Fairey was supposed to appear as a guest DJ for the kickoff of his exhibit, Supply and Demand, which will run through Aug. 16. He was scheduled to go on stage at about 10:30 p.m., and an hour later organizers reported to the crowd that he was arrested.

"We're very disappointed," said Paul Bessire, deputy director of the Institute of Contemporary Art.

"Shepard Fairey is a wonderful artist who created some positive work and we were very pleased to present his work here and around the city. We feel he is an influential artist."

Fairey, a street artist, graphic designer, and political activist, is best known for his "Obey Giant" campaign of stickers, stencils, and posters in the early 1990s.

Most recently, he has achieved fame with the red, white, and blue posters of Obama, emblazoned with the words "Hope," "Progress," and "Change."

The president used the posters during his campaign, and one of the displays in Fairey's exhibit includes a typed letter from Obama that read: "I am privileged to be a part of your art work and proud to have your support."

Fairey was recently seen with Mayor Thomas M. Menino in an event to promote his show, and banners raised at City Hall also announce the exhibit.

At the same time, however, anti-graffiti activists complained that a street artist was going to be the subject of a museum show.

But Bessire said, "We feel he is an influential artist. We were just very pleased and felt fortunate to show his work."

The arrest of Fairey -- who cites linguistic theorist Noam Chomsky with a poster that reads, "I lived with the system and took no offence/until Chomsky lent me the necessary sense" -- helped maintain his counterculture reputation.

"I wouldn't say it's cool he was arrested, but I think it shows he has integrity," said Bill Galligan, a graphic designer. Some in the crowd last night speculated the incident may have been a publicity stunt.

Ginny Delany, a 27-year-old graduate student from Cambridge, said, "It makes him even more of a hero to me.

"The fact that he is arrested for his art shows that it is meaningful tohim and he cares about what he is doing."

David Rosen, a 19-year-old from Allston, said last night that he was disappointed with the arrest, but "I understand that his art requires him to take risks."

Christopher Muther of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Official Pork Thread

Some more figures of what is inside the latest Stimulus Package. Now remember two things.

1) The purpose of this bill is to "jumpstart the economy and create jobs.

2) The amount of money these departments/programs are recieving in this package, set's the benchmark for what they will expect to recieve from future budgets.

***************************************************

$2 billion for FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois from which the DoE pulled funding last year after having determined that the project was inefficient.

$246 million as a tax break to Hollywood for movie producers buying film.
(What....hollywood doesn't have enough money?)

$650 million for the digital TV converter coupon fiasco.
(That many people still rely on rabit ears?)

$448 million to build the headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security.
$248 million for furniture for said DoHS HQ.
(Mahogany baby)

$600 million to buy hybrids for federal employees.

$400 million for CDC screening to prevent STDs.

$1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

$125 million for the Washington sewer system.
(note to contractors: Make sure the pipes heading to teh capital are really really big)

$150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

$1 billion for the 2010 Census.

$75 million for smoking cessation activities.

$25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse programs.

$500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

$10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

$6 billion to make federal buildings green.

$500 million for state and local fire stations.

$650 million for wildland fire management on forest lands.

$1.2 billion for youth activities including summer job programs.

$88 million to renovate Public Health Services HQ.

$412 million for CDC buildings and property.

$500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Maryland.

$160 million for paid volunteers at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

$5.5 million for energy efficient initiatives at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

$850 million for Amtrak.

$100 million to reduce the hazard of lead-based paint.

$75 million to construct a security training facility for State Department Security officers.

$100 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

$200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military

 installations.

$50 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts 

$726 million for the "after school snack program".

The Fierce Urgency of Pork

By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, February 6, 2009
Washington Post


Catastrophe, mind you. So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared "we have chosen hope over fear." Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill.

And so much for the promise to banish the money changers and influence peddlers from the temple. An ostentatious executive order banning lobbyists was immediately followed by the nomination of at least a dozen current or former lobbyists to high position. Followed by a Treasury secretary who allegedly couldn't understand the payroll tax provisions in his 1040. Followed by Tom Daschle, who had to fall on his sword according to the new Washington rule that no Cabinet can have more than one tax delinquent.

The Daschle affair was more serious because his offense involved more than taxes. As Michael Kinsley once observed, in Washington the real scandal isn't what's illegal, but what's legal. Not paying taxes is one thing. But what made this case intolerable was the perfectly legal dealings that amassed Daschle $5.2 million in just two years.

He'd been getting $1 million per year from a law firm. But he's not a lawyer, nor a registered lobbyist. You don't get paid this kind of money to instruct partners on the Senate markup process. You get it for picking up the phone and peddling influence.

At least Tim Geithner, the tax-challenged Treasury secretary, had been working for years as a humble international civil servant earning non-stratospheric wages. Daschle, who had made another cool million a year (plus chauffeur and Caddy) for unspecified services to a pal's private equity firm, represented everything Obama said he'd come to Washington to upend.

And yet more damaging to Obama's image than all the hypocrisies in the appointment process is his signature bill: the stimulus package. He inexplicably delegated the writing to Nancy Pelosi and the barons of the House. The product, which inevitably carries Obama's name, was not just bad, not just flawed, but a legislative abomination.

It's not just pages and pages of special-interest tax breaks, giveaways and protections, one of which would set off a ruinous Smoot-Hawley trade war. It's not just the waste, such as the $88.6 million for new construction for Milwaukee Public Schools, which, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, have shrinking enrollment, 15 vacant schools and, quite logically, no plans for new construction.

It's the essential fraud of rushing through a bill in which the normal rules (committee hearings, finding revenue to pay for the programs) are suspended on the grounds that a national emergency requires an immediate job-creating stimulus -- and then throwing into it hundreds of billions that have nothing to do with stimulus, that Congress's own budget office says won't be spent until 2011 and beyond, and that are little more than the back-scratching, special-interest, lobby-driven parochialism that Obama came to Washington to abolish. He said.

Not just to abolish but to create something new -- a new politics where the moneyed pork-barreling and corrupt logrolling of the past would give way to a bottom-up, grass-roots participatory democracy. That is what made Obama so dazzling and new. Turns out the "fierce urgency of now" includes $150 million for livestock (and honeybee and farm-raised fish) insurance.

The Age of Obama begins with perhaps the greatest frenzy of old-politics influence peddling ever seen in Washington. By the time the stimulus bill reached the Senate, reports the Wall Street Journal, pharmaceutical and high-tech companies were lobbying furiously for a new plan to repatriate overseas profits that would yield major tax savings. California wine growers and Florida citrus producers were fighting to change a single phrase in one provision. Substituting "planted" for "ready to market" would mean a windfall garnered from a new "bonus depreciation" incentive.

After Obama's miraculous 2008 presidential campaign, it was clear that at some point the magical mystery tour would have to end. The nation would rub its eyes and begin to emerge from its reverie. The hallucinatory Obama would give way to the mere mortal. The great ethical transformations promised would be seen as a fairy tale that all presidents tell -- and that this president told better than anyone.

I thought the awakening would take six months. It took two and a half weeks.

Mitt Romney: Stimulate the Economy, not Government

By Mitt Romney

These are extraordinary times, and like a lot of Republicans I believe that a well-crafted stimulus plan is needed to put people back to work. But the Obama spending bill would stimulate the government, not the economy.

We're on an economic tightrope. The package that passed the House is a huge increase in the amount of government borrowing. And we've borrowed so much already that if we add too much more debt, or spend foolishly, we could invite an even bigger crisis.

We could precipitate a worldwide crisis of confidence in America, leading to a run on the dollar or hyperinflation that wipes out family savings and devastates the middle class.

It's still early in the administration of President Obama. Like everyone who loves this country, I want him to adopt the correct course and then to succeed. He still has a chance to step in and insist on spending discipline among the members of his own party.

It's his job to set priorities. I hope for America's sake that he knows that a chief executive can't vote "present." He has to say yes to some things and no to a lot of others.

As someone who spent a career in the private sector, I'd like to see a stimulus package that respects the productivity and genius of the American people. And experience shows us what it should look like.

First, there are two ways you can put money into the economy, by spending more or by taxing less. But if it's stimulus you want, taxing less works best. That's why permanent tax cuts should be the centerpiece of the economic stimulus.

Second, any new spending must be strictly limited to projects that are essential. How do we define essential? Well, a good rule is that the projects we fund in a stimulus should be legitimate government priorities that would have been carried out in the future anyway, and are simply being moved up to create those jobs now.

As we take out nonessential projects, we should focus on funding the real needs of government that will have immediate impact. And what better place to begin than repairing and replacing military equipment that was damaged or destroyed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan?

Third, sending out rebate checks to citizens and businesses is not a tax cut. The media bought this line so far, but they've got it wrong. Checks in the mail are refunds, not tax cuts. We tried rebate checks in 2008 and they did virtually nothing to jump-start the economy. Disposable income went up, but consumption hardly moved.

Businesses aren't stupid. They're not going to invest in equipment and new hires for a one-time, short-term blip. What's needed are permanent rate cuts on individuals and businesses.


Fourth, if we're going to tax less and spend more to get the economy moving, then we have to make another commitment as well. As soon as this economy recovers, we have to regain control over the federal budget, and above all, over entitlement spending for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. This is more important than most people are willing to admit.

There is a real danger that with trillions of additional borrowing -- from the budget deficit and from the stimulus -- world investors will begin to fear that our dollars won't be worth much in the future. It is essential that we demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the value of the dollar. That means showing the world that we will put a stop to runaway spending and borrowing.

Fifth, we must begin to recover from the enormous losses in the capital investment pool. And the surest, most obvious way to get that done is to send a clear signal that there will be no tax increases on investment and capital gains. The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts should be extended permanently, or at least temporarily.

And finally, let's exercise restraint in the size of the stimulus package. Last year, with the economy already faltering, I proposed a stimulus of $233 billion. The Washington Post said: "Romney's plan is way too big." So what critique will the media have for the size of the Obama package?

In the final analysis, we know that only the private sector -- entrepreneurs and businesses large and small -- can create the millions of jobs our country needs. The invisible hand of the market always moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government.

Patrick's Budget Proposal

Below is our Governor's revised 09 and fiscal year budget proposal for 2010. With a House power struggle...the Legislature has been robbed of a full month of productivity. Because of this, the legislature is on a fast track to end this fiscal year with a budget out of balance by hundreds of millions of dollars, in violation of the state's balanced budget requirement.
While I am encouraged by some of his provisions, our town, this district... can not be a donor to the rest of the State. It is about time the State House asks less from us, and works more with it!
From Governor Patrick:

FY 09 Budget Revised and FY 10 Budget Filed
We have made the hard decisions involved in cutting spending and finding savings. These are unavoidable given the magnitude of our economic challenges. In some cases, these choices are painful. In others, they further a continuing agenda to reshape government to more efficiently and effectively carry out its mission.
Some of our budget savings reflect the continuing work of modernizing government - especially in health care, as we shift to new models of payment and care that emphasize outcomes, prevention and alignment with other payers. Moreover, in collapsing almost 850 budget line-items into 480 line-items, we are giving agencies the flexibility to manage within tighter budgets and protect priorities to the maximum extent possible.
In difficult times, there is no escaping the need for difficult choices. Some worthwhile programs have gone without funding. Others have experienced severe reductions. No one's priorities have been spared. For example, our initiative to hire new community police officers has not been funded, and the recession will slow our timeline for new investments in our education Readiness Project. Individuals, families, businesses and government at every level will feel the impact.
As has been done here and in other states during previous fiscal crises, we are making appropriate use of additional revenues to offset the need for deeper cuts.
We are using state Rainy Day funds and temporary increases in federal matching funds for state Medicaid spending to balance our budgets. With these cash infusions, we can limit the impact of some spending cuts. Without them, many cuts would be calamitous. We do recognize the danger of over-reliance on one-time resources in balancing budgets. For that reason, we are also proposing budget reforms to curb the longstanding practice of building ongoing spending commitments on the shaky foundation of volatile capital gains revenues.
Education Funding PreservedCuts in aid to cities and towns are unavoidable in today's circumstances, but we have made it a priority to limit the pain. At $3.948 billion, current Chapter 70 funding for public schools is at an all-time high. Though cut during the last economic crisis, we have maintained the current level of spending in both fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2010. Proposals for federal education aid raise additional hope for ultimately reaching foundation levels of spending next year.
Revenue-Raising Measures Implemented
We have also limited the amount of cuts to unrestricted aid for cities and towns in fiscal year 2010 - with the use of revenues from a modest one percent increase in state meals and hotel room occupancy taxes. Cities and towns and property taxpayers would receive additional help to weather the current fiscal storm, through other proposals I am filing to untie the hands of local communities to capture savings and raise revenues within their reach.
We are proposing other dedicated revenues as well. Candy, sweetened beverages and alcoholic beverages are currently exempt from the state sales tax; we propose to remove that exemption both to steer our children towards healthier choices and to support public health programs. Extending the Bottle Bill to non-carbonated beverages will promote recycling. We propose to consolidate 201 separate motor vehicle registry fees into 40, decreasing some and raising others - some of which have not been updated for nearly a decade or more. These fees will be used to support funding in the budget for important transportation needs.
Vital Services Protected
These and other tools have helped us preserve many important services, despite our fiscal challenges. As indicated earlier, we are continuing existing funding for Chapter 70 in both fiscal years 2009 and 2010. We will continue to enroll people in affordable, high-quality health insurance programs without the types of enrollment caps and benefit cuts that were imposed during the last fiscal crisis. Veterans' services have been protected. And numerous other services were spared reductions that would have compromised their ability to help citizens who depend on them.
An Opportunity for Reform
All economies are cyclical, and we will cycle out of this downturn in time. Meanwhile, a fellow governor in another state likes to say that "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste." I share the sentiment. Now is a moment not just of challenge, but also of opportunity. We want to seize the opportunity to confront issues that have been avoided in ordinary times, and make our Commonwealth stronger in the long run.
Building on already-launched efforts to reform our transportation and criminal justice systems and state pension and ethics rules, the Emergency Recovery Plan we announce today lays out a far-reaching reform agenda aimed at making government at every level more efficient, responsive and effective.
New opportunities for municipal revenues and cost-savings will help cities and towns deal with both immediate cuts as well as enduring fiscal challenges. An Article 87 proposal and other legislative language will transform the face of state government - consolidating homelessness services to carry out a more robust "Housing First" strategy; starting to replace fragmented information technology and energy purchasing operations with more streamlined approaches; and replacing administrative silos within Secretariats with "shared services." Reforms to how we budget for volatile capital gains revenues and address retiree health care costs will likewise put the state on sounder fiscal footing for the future.
Looking Forward--The Federal Stimulus Package
We are clear-eyed about the magnitude of our current challenges and what they mean for ordinary people throughout Massachusetts. But with the fiscal framework we outline today - and most importantly, with the resilience and spirit of community that lives within the people of Massachusetts - we remain confident in the Commonwealth and our future.
In partnership with the new Obama Administration and our congressional delegation, we have been working hard to help shape a federal economic stimulus package. While it will not be enough to avoid all of the hard choices we as a Commonwealth have to make, we anticipate significant federal resources to jump-start our economy and cushion some of the personal and fiscal impacts of the recession.
We are laying the groundwork to spend an anticipated infusion of federal resources wisely and effectively - to create jobs quickly and rebuild our infrastructure through new construction projects, protect our gains in education and preserve key state investments in health care and other priorities. We are also putting billions of our own dollars into capital projects to put people to work, and aggressively courting businesses to locate and grow in Massachusetts.
We wrestle with this task understanding that behind every budget line item is some person's best chance, or only chance. That is particularly the case in an economic downturn, as citizens who have lost their jobs, their health insurance or their homes rely on government to help them through to a better day. We also understand that balancing the budget takes multiple tools, not "one-size-fits-all" solutions.
I look forward to working with the Legislature and our other partners in government, business and community leaders, and each and every Massachusetts resident, to build a bridge to our bright future . . . because I still believe that Together We Can.

Nothing for our $

Did you expect anything else?

As we watch our elected official fumble and babble municia about why he should take his 5.5% pay raise, I ask if you expected anything less. This was the individual that at town meeting always was voting to raid free cash and stabilization to be the hero. But now that he is in a position to try to get us more, the results are no surprise. He blames Bush and Washington, but do we not have a total Democratic representation there as well as our legislature and Governor here at home? According to them should we not be much better off? Mr. Damico was always good at spending other peoples money in Town, and now he has moved to the state level where the well is dry and getting drier, except for his pay raises. He can lash out at his critics but he chose this path, it was so much easier doing it to others, but now we can all enjoy him fumbling about while state aid gets cut but he does better

To Be; Or Not To Be...

I am annoyed right along with all the watchdog groups out there pointing out all of the corporate extravagance going on by companies that have received government bailout cash. However the companies wasteful spending does not bother me as much as the direction I see the watchdog groups and the government taking us, which is basically the complete acquisition of the private sector into the new socialist state under the guise of protecting the "tax payers money". 

"You are wasting the taxpayers money, so if you want more; you better do as we say." The wimpy CEO's not wanting to give up their lavish lifestyles fold. It's still greed, just of a different nature, and a different revenue stream.

I say if the goal is to protect the tax payers money, then Corporate America should never have been given OUR money in the first place, but since they did get it, and they appear to continue squandering it; cut them off!

But no no, the government will put up its fake fight, with a fake slap on the wrist, and a fake "warning, and then happily continue to purchase the private sector right out from under the American People with their own money. The CEO's won't notice, they'll be cruising around in their new Porsche' 911. It's hard to notice anything at the speeds those babies can achieve! 

Good Times

Obama's First Official Broken Promise

Plitifact.com has a tool called "The Obameter" which they use to track promises made by Obama on the campaign trail or otherwise. They have officially sited his first broken promise.

Broken Promise Number 1: Allow five days of public comment before signing bills

Updated: Thursday, January 29th, 2009 By Angie Drobnic Holan

One of President Obama's major campaign planks was making government more open and accountable. It's a reaction to a habit in Congress of rushing bills through the House and Senate without giving people much opportunity to know what the bills would do. Indeed, sometimes members of Congress don't even know what's in the bills.So Obama pledged during the campaign to institute "sunlight before signing.""Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them," Obama's campaign Web site states. "As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."But the first bill Obama signed into law as president -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- got no such vetting. In fact, the Congressional Record shows that the law was passed in the Senate on Jan. 22, 2009, passed in the House on Jan. 27, and signed by the president on Jan. 29. So only two days passed between the bill's final passage and the signing.The legislation was not posted to the White House Web site for comment in any way that we could find.We see no way the bill could be deemed emergency legislation, even taking the broadest view. The bill overturns the effects of a Supreme Court decision that limited when workers could sue for pay discrimination. Most pertinently, the bill is retroactive to the time of the court decision -- May 28, 2007. Obama earned a Promise Kept from us for signing the law. But it would have the same effect if had been signed a few days later, so it's clearly not an emergency.We asked the White House about this and if they planned to begin posting laws to the Web site for comment soon, but we got no response.Obama signed the measure at 10:20 a.m. About two hours later, the White House posted the bill on its Web site with a link that asks people to submit comments. But the bill was already signed at that point. We recognize that Obama has been in office just a week, but he was very clear about his plan for a five-day comment period, and we can't see why this one needed to be rushed. It is somewhat ironic that with the same action, Obama both keeps and breaks a campaign promise. But there it is -- his first one. Promise Broken.
Sources:
White House Web site, post on the Lilly Ledbetter Act, accessed Jan. 29, 2009Library of Congress THOMAS, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, accessed Jan. 29, 2009