Monthly Archives: August 2009
There's No Reset in Politics
There is no way to go back in time to fix the mistakes you made, and this applies to everything in life, including politics. Perhaps, Creigh Deeds should realize this.
Cash for Clunkers = Fail
On Monday, the Cash for Clunkers program will be ending, as the $3 billion that the government provided for the program has run out earlier than expected. The Wall Street Journal reports that both Chrysler and General Motors have started to give dealers money to help the dealers, while waiting for the funds from the Department of Transportation.
Many dealers had to stop participating in the program due to the delays in payments. Meanwhile, the government (surprise, surprise) is behind on the payments. I wonder why…could it be due to this news?
Let's see the Fruits of Jody Wagner's Budget Predictions
Governor Tim Kaine released his budget that was filled with several shortfalls. He actually projects that the budget will be down by $1.2 billion, in addition to $300 million in shortfalls from last year.
Meanwhile, the blame just doesn’t go to Kaine for his part to overestimate the budget. Former Secretary of Finance and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Jody Wagner, predicted more revenue than what was coming in. Wagner’s duties were simple, as she had to craft the budget and setting the revenue. During her tenure, the budget projections were over by 20 percent, the state debt grew significantly, and depleted the Rainy Day Fund. Talk about huge oversight. Is this who we want as Lieutenant Governor?
Bill Bolling has warned about the disastrous consequences that these budget projections would have on the Commonwealth’s economy.
“The budget shortfalls that Governor Kaine announced today are serious, but they should not surprise anyone. I have been warning for the past two years that the current state budget is based on overly optimistic revenue projections and that huge budget shortfalls would be the result. This is what happens when you base your budget on money you don’t have to make promises you can’t keep.“For the past four years we have based our budget on overly optimistic revenue projections, the use of one-time revenues to pay for ongoing programs, spiraling amounts of state debt and raids on the rainy day fund. That is not fiscally responsible and we cannot continue to manage Virginia’s finances this way.
“Unfortunately, the budget shortfalls we are facing in the current fiscal year may only be the beginning of our long term fiscal challenges. We will likely face additional budget shortfalls in the 2010-2012 biennium when the federal stimulus dollars we used to balance the budget last year run out. In fact, those shortfalls could be larger than the shortfalls we are experiencing in the current fiscal year.
“Going forward, we must make certain that our budgets are based on realistic revenue projections, reduce spending to match available revenue and eliminate the budget gimmicks. This will require us to make many difficult choices, but these are the same kind of choices that families and businesses have had to make in recent months, and the people of Virginia expect state government to live by the same economic realities that they must live by.”
The fruits of Jody Wagner’s budget projections are a bitter pill to swallow for Virginia.
Ready for more taxes?
If Creigh Deeds is elected Governor, one of his first acts will be to raise the gas tax. Right now, families in Virginia are already tightening their budgets, and one more tax will definitely add to the stress.
Here's a blast from the past!
Remember the times when Congress used to be funny. Gosh, wouldn’t it be great if former Rep. James Traficant ran again?
The Whole Foods Health Care Approach
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, has written one of the best op-eds about health care reform. Upon reading this article in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, his health care reform plan makes more sense from a free market, limited government, and individual perspective. This plan put more incentives to the people, giving them the option to take control on improving their own health.
Here are some of the highlights:
- ?Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs). The combination of high-deductible health insurance and HSAs is one solution that could solve many of our health-care problems. For example, Whole Foods Market pays 100% of the premiums for all our team members who work 30 hours or more per week (about 89% of all team members) for our high-deductible health-insurance plan. We also provide up to $1,800 per year in additional health-care dollars through deposits into employees’ Personal Wellness Accounts to spend as they choose on their own health and wellness.
Money not spent in one year rolls over to the next and grows over time. Our team members therefore spend their own health-care dollars until the annual deductible is covered (about $2,500) and the insurance plan kicks in. This creates incentives to spend the first $2,500 more carefully. Our plan’s costs are much lower than typical health insurance, while providing a very high degree of worker satisfaction.
- Equalize the tax laws so that that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have the same tax benefits. Now employer health insurance benefits are fully tax deductible, but individual health insurance is not. This is unfair.
- Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines. We should all have the legal right to purchase health insurance from any insurance company in any state and we should be able use that insurance wherever we live. Health insurance should be portable.
- Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover. These mandates have increased the cost of health insurance by billions of dollars. What is insured and what is not insured should be determined by individual customer preferences and not through special-interest lobbying.
- Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. These costs are passed back to us through much higher prices for health care.
- Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost. How many people know the total cost of their last doctor’s visit and how that total breaks down? What other goods or services do we buy without knowing how much they will cost us?
- Enact Medicare reform. We need to face up to the actuarial fact that Medicare is heading towards bankruptcy and enact reforms that create greater patient empowerment, choice and responsibility.
- Finally, revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
If this plan keeps the government from controlling my health care and placing me under a “public option,” then count me in. While health care is a service that everyone needs, it is not a right guaranteed to us under the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. We truly need a health care system that is free of the lobbyists influence, rather one that offers more selections tailored to our individual needs. In addition to health care coverage, we need to take better care of ourselves by exercising and eating healthier foods. However, this is an option that only we can choose, and it is one that can address our high health care costs.
Good News for the 35th House District
There is good news from the 35th House District, as Republican Jim Hyland holds a seven point lead over his Democrat opponent, Mark Keam. Hyland is definitely the right candidate for the 35th, and he recently received the endorsement from the Northern Virginia Technology Council PAC. Hyland is working hard to improve transportation, bring new jobs and boost our economy here in Northern Virginia, in addition to, improving education.
Hyland has been hard at work getting his message out to the 35th, and there is no doubt that he can’t do it without your help.
Landfill and Shady Dealings from Fairfax County
Could there be a new landfill in Lorton? According to the South County Chronicle, Fairfax County officials are working behind the scenes to get a landfill built in the Lorton area. Lorton used to be referred to as “the armpit of Fairfax County,” and it is now becoming an area revitalized with luxury homes. Residents have definitely been opposed to the building of new landfills, and hopefully, they will be able to fight this landfill from being built.
But, this doesn’t even scratch the surface, as the decision has been kept secret by county officials. The talks have been going on since 2007, and it was not until late February until Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity and Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland heard about the status of the landfill proposal. However, the community did not know of the landfill proposal, and they deserved transparency in the process. The community has every right to be angered by this decision.
In fact, the South County Federation sent a letter to Hyland sharing their outrage and demanding that he oppose the landfill. Hyland said, “It does concern me that it could be a disincentive for private investment. However, there is no legal prohibition in the Public-Private Education and Facilities Act from doing so. In connection with CDD landfilling, I would expect to know that the county and our residents’ interest would be well served before entertaining such a proposal.”
Meanwhile, Herrity said that he was bothered by the fact that the landfill had gone to this point without community involvement. Exactly! Where is the transparency? Fairfax County is supposed to be one of the best managed counties in Virginia, yet the community was not informed about the proposed landfill or even had the chance to adequately oppose it, due to the shady nature of the County Executive, Department of Public Works, and others.
Can he take responsibility for anything?
Have you ever noticed that former President Bill Clinton can’t take responsibility for anything? He is always pointing the finger at someone.
I guess he also blames Monica Lewinsky for having “sexual relations” with him too.
Scenes from a Townhall Meeting: Sen. Ben Cardin
At Senator Ben Cardin’s townhall meeting in Hagerstown, Maryland, he received a great question from Robert Broadus about the health care proposal and the fine that would be levied on those who decide not to accept the coverage. Neil Cavuto of Fox News conducted an interview with Broadus about Cardin’s reaction to his question.
Here’s another scene from the Hagerstown townhall.
Cardin’s response seemed very shaky. Perhaps, Cardin should look out in 2010, because the residents of Maryland are not going to continue buying his defense of health care reform that will cost them thousands of dollars.
