September 29, 2009

Could? Could?!?!?!?!?!

Public plan debate could pit Democrat vs. Democrat - Yahoo! Finance

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to consider whether the government should offer its own insurance plan for the middle class in competition with private carriers. A public option is the top goal for liberals, but it has no Republican support and moderate Democrats say the Senate will never go along.
So Tuesday's debate is expected to pit Democratic liberals against moderates.
Although the public plan isn't expected to get a majority of the panel, supporters say at least they'll know where everybody stands.
Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., is already in the hot seat -- accused of being lukewarm, if not downright hostile, to the government option.
Two liberal groups are launching a hard-hitting television and Internet ad featuring a young father from Montana. Bing Perrine, 26, in need of a heart operation, uninsured and deeply in debt, looks straight into the camera and asks Baucus, "Whose side are you on?"

September 28, 2009

Attention Mr. President: Here is How to be a fiscally Responsible Democrat

Deeds pledges to walk tight fiscal line - Washington Times

Fiscal conservatism for Virginia has been a sound course that must be maintained at time when the state is grappling with pockets of double-digit unemployment and the federal debt is ballooning, said Democrat R. Creigh Deeds.
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate told The Washington Times in an interview that Virginia's attitude toward business and the requirement to keep the budget balanced have put the state in a comparatively good position. At the same time, he said, he sees improving education and transportation infrastructure and not job creation as the state's primary role in helping fuel prosperity.
"I think it's paid off for us to be fiscally conservative and frugal, a relatively low-service state. It is part of the reason why we continue to be named the best state for business in the country," Mr. Deeds said Saturday while driving between campaign stops in Bedford and Roanoke.

September 26, 2009

Endorsement: Ohio Governor

Massachusetts Blue Dog is pleased to endorse John Kasich (R-OH) for governor of Ohio



John Kasich for Governor of Ohio Biography

While Ohio’s problems are daunting, I believe they are fixable – but only by creating a business environment that rewards investment and increases wages. With forward-thinking, solutions- oriented leadership, we can transform Ohio into a model of job creation and economic vitality that other states will want to follow. To succeed we must:

lower taxes – Create a tax climate that allows Ohio to compete with other states to attract new businesses, foster job creation, and keep our precious, existing jobs here

make government more efficient and effective – Skinny-down state bureaucracy to ensure taxpayers are getting their money’s worth, and reform state government into a 21st century partner with Ohio's job creators – not one that punishes business with outdated or unnecessary regulation;

transform our education system – Help our kids achieve, compete and succeed to meet the workforce demands of tomorrow’s economy

end the influence of special interests – Build common-sense solutions to our problems and kick out those who, for too long, have kept us from fixing all that is wrong in our state

September 17, 2009

US may extend real estate tax credit

Time For a Compromise?

Here is my proposal:

Extend the $7,500 credit through 2010 for couples making up to $250,000.

Deal?




Senator John Isakson, a Georgia Republican, said yesterday he is “talking
to everybody and anybody’’ in an effort to drum up support for a bill that would
extend the program through the end of 2010, almost double the credit to $15,000,
and remove restrictions that prohibit individuals who already own homes or earn
$75,000 ($150,000 for couples) from receiving the tax break. The bill, first
introduced in June, failed in a 47-to-50 Senate vote last month.

September 13, 2009

Tom Harkin is Delusional

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin predicted today that a health-care reform bill would pass Congress before Christmas, with Republican votes.
Speaking in Indianola at his annual Steak Fry fundraiser, Harkin also declared that the legislation would “have a strong public option.”
Establishing government-run insurance plans that Americans would have the option of buying has been one of the most controversial aspects of the health-care reform bills before Congress.


There is no way that anything with a "Public Option" is going to pass the Senate. Period.

Two Key Senate Votes Come Out Against Public Option

Snowe, Collins Will Not Back Public Option -- Political Wire

More proof that the "public option" is all but dead
comes from the two senators Democrats hoped might side with them in supporting
the measure in a
health care reform bill.Sen.
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) said President Obama "should take it off the table" since
it would "give real momentum to building consensus," reports
The Hill.Meanwhile, Sen. Susan
Collins (R-ME) said she would not even support a "trigger" option in any
legislation, meaning a provision to delay a public option and allow health
insurance companies to lower costs
on their own, according to the
Washington Post.

This is pretty much the death knell for the public option

September 12, 2009

Bob McDonnell Should not have a f***ing shot at becoming Governor of Virginia

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time - Blogs from CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Bob McDonnell, the normally-disciplined Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, mistakenly blurted out the F-bomb during a live radio interview on Friday.
Appearing on Washington-area radio station WTOP, McDonnell was sparring with host Mark Plotkin on the topic of transportation funding.
Plotkin asked if McDonnell would consider an increase in the state gasoline tax to help fund the transportation budget. McDonnell said no, and uttered the expletive during his response.
"So no tax will be raised during your four-year term?," Plotkin asked.
McDonnell answered: "I'm going to find other ways to be able to fund transportation. I've outlined twleve f—ing funding mechanisms that are creative, that are entrepreneurial."