Day: May 8, 2009

The Budget Goes Under The Knife

Pres. Obama wants to offset some of the Federal spending by cuts in the budget.  A noble idea but how will that help?  And just how effective will the cuts be at making the government more fiscally responsible?

White House aides said the president plans to release a list of 121 programs from weapons systems to education to the cleanup of abandoned mines where savings could be found.

He is under pressure to signal a willingness to tackle budget deficits amid White House projections that the government shortfall will reach an enormous $1.75 trillion in the current 2009 fiscal year.

The administration expects the deficit to drop to a still-high $1.17 trillion in the 2010 fiscal year that begins in October.

The proposals will be included in a new White House book of terminations, reductions, and savings, as well as a separate appendix detailing line-by-line spending. Next week, the administration expects to release a volume of “analytical perspectives” explaining its decisions more fully, as well as new tables outlining its projections for spending, taxes, and deficits.

Other cuts include eliminating the Education Department’s Paris attache, which the White House estimates will save $632,000, and a $35 million long-range radio-navigation system that the administration found was obsolete because of global-positioning satellites.

Several housing and education programs are also likely targets for elimination. OMB has found that the American Dream Downpayment Initiative, which helps first-time buyers purchase homes, “is too small to operate effectively,” and the Community Development Loan Guarantee program does not properly encourage large-scale local developments.

Obama also wants to tighten tax laws for U.S. multinational companies and wealthy individuals who invest overseas. The White House estimated the proposal would save $210 billion over the next decade, but the idea, which faces strong opposition from businesses, has received only a lukewarm reception in the U.S. Congress.

Republicans have charged that Obama’s budget would hamper economic growth by increasing the size of government and exacerbating deficits. Obama has pointed out that he inherited a more than $1 trillion deficit from former President George W. Bush, a Republican.

Deficits have skyrocketed since last year as the recession has weakened revenue and the government has spent billions to bail out troubled financial institutions and to throw a lifeline to distressed U.S. automakers General Motors and Chrysler.

Granted that the proposed cuts amounts to less than 1%,  it is a start and should continue.  But to say that the budget is under the knife is just plain wrong……it is more like taking the stem out of the apple…..does very little to the apple, but you feel that you have accomplished something.

2009 Anal-Ocity

Joe the Plumber has been allowed to speak again  (why?)  and as usual whatever he says is good for an “Assie” Award, besides the fact that he is a wannabe that has no idea what he is speaking on.

In an interview with Christianity Today our boy Joe was asked about same sex marriage and his response was this:

“At a state level, it’s up to them. I don’t want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it’s wrong. People don’t understand the dictionary–it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It’s not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do–what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we’re supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual.   And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing.

You must love this guy, he is a wealth of anal statements.

When Marie Osmond Speaks……

Will the LDS church be listening?  Marie Osmond talks openly about her daughter, her faith and gay marriage.  Her 21 year old daughter is openly gay.

And her comments do seem to suggest she supports what the LDS Church does not.  “I believe everyone should have the right to share homes and finances with somebody that they care about. You know, on those types of things, I am very supportive. When it comes to marriage, you know, I think civil rights need to be for all.”

“Everybody has a right to believe what they believe. But I do think everyone has a right to have civil rights.”

Marie seems to go against her brother, Donny, as well as the LDS Church, but she shows courage and a sense of reality.  She has grown out of that “Donny & Marie” days and has become a woman with a mind and courage.  Kudos…Marie!

Maine Joins The Expanding List

Maine became the fifth state to authorize same-sex marriages, the second to do so with legislation, and the fourth to do so in New England.

Of the six states in the region, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont already recognize gay marriage, and the two that don’t—New Hampshire and Rhode Island—are moving rapidly in that direction. New Hampshire is expected to authorize same-sex marriage before the end of the month.

Maine’s Democratic Gov. John Baldacci signed the bill into law despite previously stating his opposition to gay marriage. In a statement, he explained his change of heart: “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”

The New England action comes on the heels of Tuesday’s historic vote by the District of Columbia City Council to recognize gay marriages performed in other states—seen by many as the first step toward legalizing same-sex marriage in the nation’s capital. Once the bill is signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty, as expected, it will go before Congress, which has 30 days to review the bill. If Congress doesn’t act within 30 days, the bill becomes law automatically.

But all is not well.

Maine officials say gay marriage opponents are challenging a new law allowing same-sex couples to wed.

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said Thursday that opponents filed a challenge under the state’s “people’s veto” provision.

It allows for a referendum to overturn laws if opponents can collect enough signatures.

In other news from the Northeast on same sex marrigae–The New Hampshire legislature has passed a same sex marriage bill.   If New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch signs the bill or lets it become law without his signature, his state would become the sixth overall to allow gay marriage and the fifth in New England.