No surprise, Gillibrand and Schumer support Buffett Rule.

Sen. Charles Schumer assured critics of the Buffett Rule that “we don’t begrudge wealth in this country, in fact, it is part of the American dream to apply yourself and become successful.” However, he argued that the “middle class can no longer bear the burden of reducing our deficits alone,” and that there needs to be “shared sacrifice.” via Capitol Confidential » Gillibrand, Schumer commit to support ‘Buffett Rule’ in showdown vote Monday.

Sen Schumer swears he and his fellow liberals don’t begrudge wealth but his actions prove otherwise. I can’t imagine anyone that feels that a wealthier person should pay less in taxes than a poorer person, but the Buffett Rule is more about getting back at the rich.

There are better ways to fix the tax code, like for one, scrapping the whole thing and simplifying it to a few rates and maybe a half dozen deductions. The Buffett Rule only add to the complexity of the IRS and worse pits Americans against each other.

Would you attend a virtual high school?

I would! Well, maybe. I’m not sure.

But that’s the point isn’t it? The traditional high school with a 1,000 kids, lockers, sports, lunch, and the occasional academic course is dying. K-12 is a good idea for  some but what about new alternatives. Fairfax county is trying to be innovative:

It’s a reimagination of the American high school experience. And it’s a nod to the power of the school choice movement, which has given rise to the widespread expectation that parents should have a menu of options to customize their children’s education. via Fairfax County considers creating virtual high school – The Washington Post.

I’m not sure if this is the greatest idea but I like people being entrepreneurial. And parents, if your kids went, excuse me, signed on to this school they’d be just fine.

The UK reducing child benefits via truancy fines.

Headteachers should be able to impose increased fines on parents whose children miss school without a valid reason and the money will be docked automatically from child benefit if they fail to pay, a government adviser has said. via Truancy fines should be deducted from child benefit, says behaviour adviser | Education | The Guardian.

Let me get this straight, in the UK they pay parents a benefit to have kids, then force kids to go to government schools, and if the kids don’t go to the government school they charge a fine. That entire process is too complicated and worse borderline tyrannical. How does government managing this process help anyone, other than government?

Do you even know what a health exchange is?

Me neither.

However, NY State will begin the process of setting one up thanks to a Gov Cuomo executive order. This is in the hopes that the Supreme Court won’t overturn the Patient Protection and Affordable Act and the Federal government will come through with it’s promise of $2.6 billion.

The order sets up a market place for health insurance plans to compete and provide the best price to consumers. Cuomo’s order envisions that the exchange would be paid for with $2.6 billion in federal tax credits and eventually be self-sustaining by 2015. The order also calls for regional committees composed of members from the health, insurance and business community. via Cuomo issues executive order for statewide Health Exchange – YNN, Your News Now.

What concerns me the most is the idea that the program will be self-sustaining by 2015. The phrase self-sustaining can mean many things:

  • the federal government will continue to fund it,
  • New Yorker taxes will increase (again), and/or
  • people are forced to participate.

Either way, it doesn’t sound like individual liberty. Nor does a state run health exchange sound like a free market. The only thing I hear is more government programs, regulations, spending, and taxes.

Why did Gov. Cuomo start this program so early when everything is up in the air?

 

Sen Klein’s bill gets tough on drug thieves, but will it work?

Drugs are a problem and it’s important the government take appropriate action. NY State Sen Klein proposed a bill that on the surface makes sense: tougher sentencing for pharmacy crimes. But I’m not sure it’s the best solution:

Under Klein’s bill, a person breaking into a pharmacy with a deadly weapon would face up to 25 years in prison, up from the current 15-year maximum.

Stealing prescription drugs worth less than $1,000 would go from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to four years behind bars.

The punishment would grow depending on the size of the illegal score, topping out at 25 years behind bars for anyone stealing more than $50,000 in prescription drugs.

via State Sen. Jeff Klein’s bill gets tough on drug thieves  – NY Daily News.

What are some alternatives to longer jail sentences and larger fines that you think might work?

Another politician that just won’t let go.

Rep Charlie Rangel has been representing New Yorkers since 1971. 41 years! How long will he serve and is he really effective for his constituents?

The longtime congressman also denied that he was interested in passing off his seat to Wright in a political switcheroo: “I wish people would not infer that I’m crooked and I plan to develop some plan where you vote for me, and you’re going to get Keith in the morning,” Rangel said. “I mean, that’s not right.” via Charlie Rangel: Health Woes Won’t Sideline Me | New York Daily News.

Does Warren Buffett have two rules?

As a major opponent of the President’s proposed Buffett Rule, I found this Buffett quote to be more in line with my views.

I could end the deficit in five minutes.  You just pass a law that says that any time there’s a deficit of more than three percent of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. via Warren Buffett’s 5-Minute Plan to Fix the Deficit – CNBC.

Check out Warren Buffett’s book The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life.

If you haven’t seen this video of President Obama, you’re missing out.

I imagine this would be a critique of me, or just about any of us. This video show’s the power of our words, mainly how our praise may come across superficial. Sure, I’m no fan of President Obama but it’s funny nonetheless.

via OBAMA: All countries are close allies!! – YouTube.

The Buffett Rule is supposed to be about fairness, but fairness as defined by who?

Many years ago, in a galaxy far-far way we decided to go to progressive income tax. As the years passed so did the number exemptions and deductions pass as laws. Subsequently, today’s United States Federal Tax Code has become a major mess.

The Buffett Rule is the basic principle that no household making over $1 million annually should pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than middle-class families pay. Warren Buffett has famously stated that he pays a higher tax rate than his secretary, but as this report documents this situation is not uncommon. This situation is the result of decades of the tax system being tilted in favor of high-income households at the expense of the middle class. Not only is this unfair, it can also be economically inefficient by providing opportunities for tax planning and distorting decisions. The President has proposed the Buffett Rule as a basic rule of tax fairness that should be met in tax reform. To achieve this principle, the President has proposed that no millionaire pay less than 30 percent of their income in taxes. via The Buffett Rule – Business Insider.

Now our President and Democrats want to pass another law, on top of the current tax code, designed to make things fair. As if they’re the arbiters of what is fair.  Instead of passing the Buffett Rule how about being assertive and actually reforming our mess of a tax code?

How long is too long in one political position?

Getting involved in politics I’ve been asked by many people my feelings on term limits. My answer is always the same, voter every election get to decide the term limit. However, sometimes, as in this story for Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, maybe there’s a case for some sort of legislation to help get more fresh faces in elected office; 23+ years in the New York Assembly seems too long.

A lifelong resident of Cohoes, the Democrat served as mayor of that city before he was elected to the Assembly in 1989. In 2007 he became majority leader in that chamber, the highest-ranking legislator from Upstate New York. via Capitol Confidential » Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari set to retire.

You complain about infrastructure? My village uses wood for water pipes.

It’s true, Cazenovia, NY still uses wood for water lines. The repaving the article refers to is on my street too! Even as a guy that bemoans government spending, I think this is a case for swift legislation and government spending.

During the recent repaving of Burr and Williams streets, village employees unearthed a three-foot segment of original wooden water line, which was placed there and used sometime prior to 1890. As much of the existing water lines in the village of Cazenovia were installed around the same time period, local officials have begun to plan for the future of the community’s infrastructure. via Caz village board addresses water infrastructure | Cazenovia Republican.

Utica’s Next Budget Could Be as Tough As This Year’s

Can it get any worse? Yes, it can and will get worse. There are less people and thus less tax revenue.

The city will lose roughly $661,000 in water trust revenue, Budget Director Peter Fiorillo said. It used that much in the 2012-13 budget but doesn’t expect to use more next year.

Pension and health care costs – which rose $2.2 million last year – are expected to rise again next year.

The city is locked into more than $70 million in general fund debt obligations, and the biggest chunk of its budget — employee costs — are directly tied to the services the city provides.

via Utica’s next budget could be as tough as this year’s – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Raising taxes will only work so much. Utica needs to find a way to increase jobs and get people to stay in the city.

Lockheed Martin Announces Layoffs

Lockheed Martin is making cuts to survive. Is your local government doing the same?

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, or MS2, announced it will lay off between 450 and 550 employees in the U.S. this year. MS2, which employs approximately 14,000 people, introduced a voluntary layoff program to reduce positions before it begins an involuntary layoff action. via Lockheed Martin announces layoffs – YNN, Your News Now.

NY Charter Schools Group Slams Mount Vernon Board of Education

This happens when government is your fund provider.

New York Charter Schools Association president Bill Phillips responded today to a court ruling invalidating Mount Vernon’s Amani Charter School’s charter and he criticized the Mount Vernon Board of Education for its legal actions against Amani. via NY Charter Schools Group Slams Mount Vernon Board of Education | Politics on the Hudson.

Voter Fraud Investigation Lands On Eric Holder’s Doorstep

This is serious proof voter fraud is happening, it’s too easy.

In a shocking new video exclusive to Breitbart.com, James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas demonstrates to the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, just why he should be concerned about lack of voter ID laws – by walking into Holder’s voting precinct and showing the world that anyone can obtain Eric Holder’s ballot. Literally. via O’Keefe’s Latest: Voter Fraud Investigation Lands On Eric Holder’s Doorstep.

The best line is when the guy says, “I’ll be back faster than you can say furious.” Classic.

Picente’s power play?

It’s the last line of the quote that says everything:

“According to the county charter, I am the budget officer,” Picente said. “I am the one who sets the tax rate and puts the budget in play.” But county Board of Legislators Democratic Minority Leader Frank Tallarino, of Rome, said Picente is “trying to assert himself as the most powerful man in the county.” “He is overreaching and making mountains out of molehills,” Tallarino said. “He has a very aggressive attitude.” via Picente’s power play? – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Agressive attitude is probably what won Picente the election. These are desperate times, times that call for aggressive leaders.

Poll Shows Lead For Gillibrand

It’s not surprising that Sen Gillibrand is popular in a state that gives President Obama a 58 percent approval rating.

A Quinnipiac University poll found Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand with a 60 percent approval rating and wide leads over the GOP contenders. via Poll shows strong leads for Gillibrand and Romney in New York : News : CNYcentral.com.

Another way to read the results, Sen Gillibrand is about as popular as President Obama.

Students Protest School Budget Cuts

It’s refreshing that kids get involved and learn more about their government. However, I’m not sure Ms. Lewis’s protest is directed at the right things. Her message is for legislators in Albany:

“I hope our message is education is important and austerity and education, they shouldn’t mix.” Amor Lewis, 14, was barely visible behind her sign, which was a twist on Dr. Seuss’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” Instead, it read: “Oh the Places We’ll NOT Go From the Budget Cuts.” Lewis, a volleyball player, is upset a modified team has been cut, and said she would not have picked up the sport without it. via Students protest school budget cuts, funding from Albany – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Cutting volleyball seems like the best cut for an institution that was established to teach kids, not fund every sport.

Rangel in Office 40 Years

Charles Rangel has been in Congress since 1970. The best term limits are set by the voters every two years. However, 40 years in government is a long time.

Much of the area is located in what was formerly the 15th Congressional District, and been represented by Rangel since 1970 when he defeated another legendary Harlem politician, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Espaillat, first elected to the state Assembly in 1996 and the state Senate in 2010, represents some of the same neighborhoods. via New lines likely to stir up primary race in New York City congressional district | syracuse.com.

How long is too long?

Wasserman Schultz: Republicans Are ‘Rooting For Economic Failure’

Anytime you hear someone classify a whole group (Republicans, women, Muslims, whatever) you know they’re speaking from ignorance:

Wasserman Schultz also attacked Republicans for “turning back the clock for women.” Republican attitudes towards issues like birth control coverage and equal pay laws show “how callous and insensitive they are towards women’s priorities,” she said.

By Alana Horowitz via Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Republicans Are ‘Rooting For Economic Failure’.

But this is politics today. Maybe this has always been politics. Sad.