Monday, February 28, 2011

Canadian Doctor Lotteries

Chances for Local Government Union Pay Reform Good in House; Questionable in GOP Senate

Chances for Local Government Union Pay Reform Good in House; Questionable in GOP Senate [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"Among the features that upset its critics most, the law governing binding arbitration with local police and fire unions does not allow arbitrators to first consider the ability of a local government to afford the pay raises that are being demanded by unions.
Local officials say this creates a situation where union salaries can only go up, even if the local government can’t afford it.

“There is never a ‘win’ where concessions are made in arbitration,” said Samantha Harkins, legislative associate for the Michigan Municipal League, a lobbying organization for municipalities across the state.
“It’s never a cost-going-down situation.”

Public Act 312, the law that requires binding arbitration for police and firefighter unions when they cannot agree to a contract with their municipalities, has been considered a problem for years by municipal officials and many in the GOP.
Today, with Republicans in firm control of the entire Legislature and the governor’s office, there is a serious effort brewing in the Michigan House to eliminate PA 312 altogether.

But the major obstacle may come from within the Republican Party’s own ranks.
Last week, speaking to the MIRS newsletter (www.MIRSnews.com), GOP Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said a repeal of PA 312 was not on his agenda."

Video - FOX News Reporter Gets Hit During Live Broadcast From Wisconsin

RealClearPolitics - Video - FOX News Reporter Gets Hit During Live Broadcast From Wisconsin
"While reporting outside the Wisconsin state capital, FOX News correspondent Mike Tobin is struck by a pro-union protester.
The demonstrators were chanting 'FOX News lies.'"

Grand Haven Blockbuster kaput

West Michigan News from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper
"There will soon be one less choice in the area to get the latest movie releases.
The Blockbuster store at 520 N. Beacon Blvd. is closing its doors."

President, Hillary Clinton flub Mideast

President, Hillary Clinton flub Mideast--Michael A. Walsh - NYPOST.com
"'It's 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep,' it began.
'But there's a phone in the White House and it's ringing.
Something's happening in the world.
'Your vote will decide who answers that call.
Whether it's someone who already knows the world's leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world . . . Who do you want answering the phone?'

Now we know the answer: neither of the above."

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tea Party rally Arizona |

Tea Party rally Arizona Tea Party Patriots Republicans The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment
"Antsy for results, tea party supporters gathered for a weekend strategy summit say they’re intent on making sure the Republicans they helped return to power last fall live up to promises to dramatically change course in Washington."

My goal is to hold them accountable here in Muskegon too!

Articles & Commentary

Articles & Commentary
"A crucial distinction has been lost in the debate over Walker's proposals:

Government unions are not the same thing as private sector unions.

Traditional, private sector unions were born out of an often bloody adversarial relationship between labor and management.
It's been said that during World War I, U.S. soldiers had better odds of surviving on the front lines than miners did in West Virginia coal mines. Mine disasters were frequent; hazardous conditions were the norm.
In 1907, the Monongah mine explosion claimed the lives of 362 West Virginia miners.
Day-to-day life often resembled serfdom, with management controlling vast swaths of the miners' lives.
And before unionization and many New Deal-era reforms, Washington had little power to reform conditions by legislation.
The labor-politician negotiations can't be fair when the unions can put so much money into campaign spending.
Meanwhile, government unions have no such narrative on their side.
Do you recall the Great DMV cave-in of 1959?
How about the travails of second-grade teachers recounted in Upton Sinclair's famous schoolhouse sequel to 'The Jungle'?
No?
Don't feel bad, because no such horror stories exist.

Government workers were making good salaries in 1962 when President Kennedy lifted, by executive order (so much for democracy), the federal ban on government unions.
Civil service regulations and similar laws had guaranteed good working conditions for generations.

The argument for public unionization wasn't moral, economic or intellectual.
It was rankly political."

50,000 NAMES

TNOTW

50,000 NAMES

(Carved in the Wall)

Our heros!



Union Chief Doesn't Condemn Comparisons of Wisconsin's Walker to Hitler

Union Chief Doesn't Condemn Comparisons of Wisconsin's Walker to Hitler - FoxNews.com
"On several occasions over the past two weeks of demonstrations in the Wisconsin capital of Madison news media have zeroed in on signs that liken Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and recently ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Appearing Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was twice asked whether he found the tone at the nearly two-week long demonstrations 'wrong' or 'inappropriate.'

Trumka did not answer,"

Another Obama supporter who embraces "liberal love".

why marrying a good speller is important

Governor Sean Parnell: "Let Alaska help put America back to work"

Governor Sean Parnell: "Let Alaska help put America back to work" - The Note
"“More domestic oil production, not less, better secures our nation and grows our jobs at home.”"

We need oil and jobs.
And American oil is here, cheap and creates jobs.
Why does our president keep our energy and new jobs from our country's citizens?

Union Bile Runneth Over

FoxNews.com - MICHAEL GOODWIN: Union Bile Runneth Over
"Wherever you look, the bile runneth over.

Beyond making fools of themselves with juvenile comparisons, the 'social justice' crowd is inadvertently proving that public-sector unions are a privileged class.

Touch them and you die from a thousand insults.
One Democratic congressman wanted the real thing. Rep. Michael Capuano of Boston said Wisconsin protesters should 'get a little bloody' to protect bargaining rights.

He later apologized, but too late to rescue the era of civility President Obama urged after the Tucson shooting.
Civility doesn't stand a chance against the entitlement culture of unions and their political puppets."

Michigan state rep's. health benefits

This is from a letter sent by Ludington TPer InfoRod.
The cost for these benefits is likely similar to those of other state, city and county union employees.
And, of course, they do not include pension benefit costs.
I agree with InfoRod, big time!

The attached letter from State Representative Tom McMillin provides an insight into what benefits we as taxpayers provide.
I mentioned this at our last LATP meeting but really didn’t give it a good look until today.
For instance, how do you feel about paying the following approximate premiums for each and every one of our Representatives?

Medical: $ 998.28
Vision: 11.33
Prescription: 241.20
Dental: 149.78
Total monthly premium: $1,400.59
($16,807 per year)

Rep. McMillin is one of a number of Republicans who are attempting to pass legislation that will require full transparency in Michigan government.
As you look through the attached I believe you will find many reasons why it is so important for an elected official to remain in office for six years so as to retain these benefits for life. (They do have to pay 10% of the cost of the plan to remain insured).
How many other public officials receive similar perks for holding office?
As we are seeing a tremendous burden reported by our schools to support retirees, how can we also support the many elected state officials for life?
How many others we don’t know about are receiving something similar from the taxpayers?

Isn’t it time to provide true financial transparency from our schools all the way to the upper levels of state government?
Don’t we as employers have a right to be able to monitor how our money is spent?

The old argument of additional labor to report financial information should now be invalid now that nearly everything is reported in electronic form.
Since Rep. Ray Franz is also supportive of transparency in government then please let him know how you feel.
Once the Republicans lose control, there is little likelihood the Democrats will support this type of legislation.

It seems the party of big business labor treats us as taxpayers just too stupid to understand how best we should be spending our money.

Fiscal responsibility has been a mandate provided by the electorate to the GOP. Isn’t it time we make sure they enforce it?

InfoRod
Ludington Tea Party - group coordinator

Feeling the Love

RightMichigan.com Feeling the Love
"Look at this guy's face.
Just before he reaches out to grab the camera.
Pure.. hate?
I really dislike having to ascribe emotion to others without knowing them, but I just thought I would guess.
Anyhow, I have yet to see any tea party activist behave this way.
And I am proud to say so.
I will tell you, this was typical of the disrespect these people offer those who oppose their entitlement mentality."
(click the link above for the disgusting behaviour demonstrated on the video)

California pension costs: Facing up to the funding gap

California pension costs: Facing up to the funding gap - latimes.com
"Many state and local government employees have been promised pensions that the public couldn't have afforded even had there been no crash."

Lucianne.com News Forum - Thread

Lucianne.com News Forum - Thread
"Let's see. We have an America-hating Entitlement Junkie, Queen Grievance I, jet-setting around the world during the quasi-depression her husband both exacerbated and prolonged, joined by a few hundred close friends and her pampered brood, feeding their faces and living quite large on our dime, while lecturing us about sacrifice and reminding us of what Barack will and will not 'let us do' with our lives.

What's not to love?"

A Warning Regarding Michigan's $10 Annual "Recreation Passport"

A Warning Regarding Michigan's $10 Annual "Recreation Passport"
"If you're a Michigan driver renewing your license plate, you'll notice a new choice on your renewal form this year:

__YES! I want my Recreation Passport for an additional $10!
__No. This vehicle will not be used to enter state parks and recreation areas.

As a Michigan state Representative, I opposed legislation creating the 'Recreation Passport' because I knew the state intended to use the misleading language above.

Let me be clear, because the state is not:
You can select 'No' and still enter your vehicle into a state park or recreation area.
That is the law.
You will, of course, have to pay a (non-annual) gate fee, but your vehicle is not irrevocably banned for one year as the language above implies."

Isn't it refreshing that we have a US rep. who actually informs his constituents?

| Kathleen Parker | Doomed At CNN

John Ziegler Kathleen Parker Doomed At CNN Mediaite
"There is also an interesting secondary element to Parker’s demise which might make media pundits a little more hesitant to attack Sarah Palin.

Since the 2008 election, many of her biggest media critics have found themselves out of a job.
Keith Olbermann, Rick Sanchez, David Shuster, Alan Colmes, Campbell Brown, John Roberts, Larry King, Harry Smith and Parker are all prominently mentioned in my documentary and all of them have been let go from TV jobs since Obama got elected.

Coincidence?
Perhaps, though I have no doubt that if the media wanted to create a narrative here there would be more than enough data to justify it. Regardless, if Chris Matthews is smart, he might want to be careful."

Peek Inside Red Bull’s Toy Box

Peek Inside Red Bull’s Toy Box Autopia Wired.com
"SALZBURG, Austria — This city is well known as the birthplace of Mozart, the backdrop for the Sound of Music and simply for being a beautiful place.
But thanks to worldwide interest in caffeinated energy drinks and Dietrich Mateschitz's desire to share his love of aircraft and race cars, one of this city's newest places to visit is known as Hangar 7.

Located at the Salzburg Airport, Hangar 7 could be called the Red Bull toy box.
It is where Mateschitz, who co-founded Red Bull in 1987, stores all his coolest toys.
It is a massive glass-enclosed hangar complete with a changing collection of airplanes belonging to the Flying Bulls.
It's also got an assortment of Formula 1 cars sponsored by Red Bull, along with a handful of racing motorcycles as well."

The Flying Bulls

The Flying Bulls

Yankees' Slugger Rodriguez To Pay 50 Times Less Than Going Rate In Taxes On Lavish West Side Penthouse

Yankees' Slugger Rodriguez To Pay 50 Times Less Than Going Rate In Taxes On Lavish West Side PenthouseCBS New York
"When Rodriguez’s moves into his $6 million, five-bedroom penthouse his tax bill will be $1,150.
In contrast, Stephen and Phyllis Franciosa pay $3,100 in taxes one their one-family home in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx."

School food: What do Chicago students think of healthier school food?

School food: What do Chicago students think of healthier school food? - chicagotribune.com
"During visits to several CPS schools over the last few months, the Tribune heard many accounts of students throwing away their lunches.
Others say they opt for 'cookies and slushies' from the canteen or wait to eat until they get home.
And while some kids said they still like their school meals, the vast majority used the same word to describe the food: nasty."

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Tea Party Bloggers To Monitor Every Memeber Of Congress

Tea Party Bloggers To Monitor Every Memeber Of Congress - ABC News
"Tea Party Bloggers Aim To Monitor Every Member of Congress
Organizer Describes Effort As 'Citizen Journalism Meets Adopt-a-Congressman'
After playing such a pivotal role in the November elections, Tea Party activists vowed they would keep a close eye on Congress.
They weren't kidding.
The Tea Party Patriots, one of the largest organizing groups of the movement, want to assign personal bloggers to track every member of Congress, not just the ones they supported."

The Lady Doth Too Much

The Lady Doth Too Much Opinion The Harvard Crimson
"Given her unelected status, it is inexplicable that the president’s wife needs her own press secretary, her own chief of staff, or her own staff at all, let alone an agenda for them to implement.

While the First Lady wields no formally-mandated power, the institutionalization of her office confers upon her a degree of influence that no unelected or unappointed citizen ought to have.

A candidate’s spouse does not “run” for First Lady.

In fact, we are frequently urged to keep a presidential candidate’s family off limits and collectively tut whenever anyone is so boorish as to violate this unwritten compact."

This brilliant kid must already have a job in place.....

Detroit Pistons' Boycott to Remove Coach Highlights Team's Struggles

Detroit Pistons' Boycott to Remove Coach Highlights Team's Struggles - NBA - NESN.com

"ESPN writer Marc Stein reveals there could be a coaching change in Detroit soon, but the players' actions on Friday, who laughed as their coach was ejected, were 'hideous.'
'Pistons gonna get their new coach. HAVE to.

But benched guys laughing after Kue ejection?
After skipping shootaround?
Unforgettably hideous' Stein tweeted.

Last year, the Pistons missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
With the current team's record and immaturity, they won't be making it this year either.

See the Pistons laugh after Kuester's ejection in Philadelphia on Friday below."

I've never been a pro-basketball fan but I now have a team to root against.......

Who Owns Your Tickets: You or Ticketmaster?

CARPE DIEM: Who Owns Your Tickets: You or Ticketmaster?
READ THIS!

Even FDR Understood: No Collective Bargaining for Public Servants

Pjamas Media » Even FDR Understood: No Collective Bargaining for Public Servants
"These are the reasons why even an ultimate liberal like Franklin Delano Roosevelt agreed with me that there should be no collective bargaining for public servants.
As quoted by Michael Walsh in yesterday’s New York Post, Roosevelt said:

All government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into public service.
It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public-personnel management.
The very nature and purposes of government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with government employee organizations.
The employer is the whole people."

Does Obama Want $8 Gasoline?

Does Obama Want $8 Gasoline? - Investors.com
"A virtual regulatory ban continues today.
At least 103 drilling permits await approval by a federal government that has not approved a single new permit since the moratorium was allegedly lifted last October.

The administration has announced that the eastern Gulf and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts will be off-limits for the next seven years.
The Interior Department has canceled four pending lease sales in Alaska."

We're being lied to: GDP economic growth revised sharply lower

theblogprof: We're being lied to: GDP economic growth revised sharply lower
"...Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity, was revised lower to an annual growth rate of 2.8% in the three months ending in December. The initial reading had been for a 3.2% growth rate in the period.

That's a surprising dip, given that economists were expecting the rate to be revised upward to 3.3%."

While you were watching Wisconsin

While you were watching Wisconsin Michigan Taxes Too Much
"Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement praising committee passage of HR 1593 in Oklahoma that would bring an end to a state mandate that municipalities that have more than a 35,000 population must engage in collective bargaining with public employees:"