Trend is Toward Fewer Hours Not More Jobs First, let me offer congratulations to the 165,000 families whose personal unemployment rate went from 100% to 0%, always a joyous event, both in terms of economics, as well as self-worth and esteem, during the last month! Unfortunately, it is widely estimated that the minimum average monthly […]
Peeling Back Another Onion
As I wrote last week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has gotten herself into some hot water concerning her solicitation for donations for non-profit groups that will help with the implementation of Obamacare. She asked for donations from corporations, some of which are regulated by HHS, and foundations. Reuters reports the non-profit “Enroll America” seems to […]
Show Me the Money
The Washington Post had an interesting column a few days ago. It seems Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is asking for more money from health industry officials to help implement Obamacare since Congress is refusing to provide more funds. While the effort is caged as asking for “donations” it does not take […]
Nothing New Under the IRS Sun
By now I am sure you have heard that the IRS targeted and harassed Tea Party and conservative groups that were trying to obtain non-profit status. If a group used words like “tea party” or “patriot” in their organization’s name or the phrase “making America a better place to live” it was enough to raise […]
The 2013 Farm Bill – An Opportunity for Serious Waste Reduction
Although some progress was made last year toward passing a new, five-year Farm Bill, taxpayers should for once be thankful that lawmakers were unable to do their jobs, as the legislation left many programs largely unreformed and opened the door for additional wasteful spending. This week, both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are scheduled […]
Brood DC
All of the mid-Atlantic area is awaiting the arrival of the cicadas. “What are they?” you may be asking. If you are “lucky” enough to live along the Route 95 corridor from North Carolina to New Jersey, you may already know what they are but for the rest of our dear readers they are simply […]
Because They Could
Americans need to take heed to the shenanigans that the Obama Administration has undertaken in response to the sequester, which began March 1. Its action in the recent air traffic control episode to slow down air travel demonstrates arrogance and indifference toward the American people. In response, Congress had to pass legislation to halt the […]
2013 Farm Bill Update – Time to Plant Better Policies
During the 112th Congress, progress was made by both the House and Senate to enact a new Farm Bill. As the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare to mark up draft Farm Bills in mid-May, they should examine the progress, as well as the missteps, that were made during the last Congress. Lipstick won’t change the Farm Bill from being a piggy piece of legislation.
Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft – an Update
April is the cruelest month for most taxpayers, but for a growing number of them, it is the months that follow that do the most damage.
Federal Spending on Disaster Relief is Out of Control
According to an April 29, 2013 article in The Washington Post, the federal government is spending more than previously thought on disaster relief.