Free Republic

After months of buildup, lawmakers may finally begin the debate this week on how to provide health coverage to an estimated 6.5 million uninsured Californians. Californians could learn more about the potential costs and details of Democratic leaders' competing bills, which are the most likely vehicles if major changes are to be enacted this year. But among all the weighty issues, the basic debate could come down to how much health coverage a person really needs. At the very least, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- whose own sweeping proposal has yet to be written into any bill -- would like to...

Online Democracy : Surprise ! It Works !! Last week, recently elected NJ Governor Jon Corzine decided he had to DO something about gasoline prices ; so he consulted with his advisors – good Democrats all – then announced he was planning to lower the state speed limit to 55 , and permit “self-service” gasoline sales. I’m sure the environmentalists were pleased with the idea of lowering the speed limit – but the People were not ! For one thing , New Jersey roads are easily the most heavily traveled in the nation – which means residents spend 75 to...

Chicago dog owners who tether their pets for hours on end without food or water would be reined in -- with a two-hour limit -- under a crackdown proposed Wednesday by the City Council's most powerful alderman. "If dogs are tethered in this way, it makes them more likely to bite humans and makes them mean," said Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th). "It's a question of cruelty to the animals. It's a question of responsible care of animals. If people own pets, they ought to treat them responsibly." The Burke-championed ordinance introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting would...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can't say his public works bond proposals aren't getting thorough consideration by the Legislature. Whether he'll like the final product is another question. Legislative committees held nine hearings last week on various aspects of Schwarzenegger's plan, which includes selling $68 billion in bonds to help pay for transportation improvements, water and flood control projects, new schools, courthouses and certain other facilities. There are another 11 hearings scheduled this week, including the first meeting of a two-house conference committee that will try to put together a bond package for voters to consider, possibly in the...

SACRAMENTO – Democratic legislative leaders praised Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget yesterday as the best he's proposed since coming to office in late 2003. Yet they issued harsh criticism in the few areas in which they disagree with the governor. Legislative Democrats say they will fight Schwarzenegger's proposal to freeze cost-of-living increases for the poor and disabled, resist his proposal to cut child care funds for welfare recipients and block his request to give the governor new powers to make midyear budget cuts. They even suggested they might seek voter approval to delay the implementation of Schwarzenegger's pet project: a ballot...

Many of the older generation still have emotional scars from the Great Depression seared into their souls. Even Baby Boomers had parents that lost everything and imparted that fear into their children. It made them life long Democrats and gave that party an almost uninterrupted congressional run from 1932 until 1994. When faced with a suggestion that a New Social Security plan would improve that system, they have a knee jerk reaction to reject it emanating from deep within. I am convinced that no amount of logic, facts or argument will ever change that reaction. It is planted too deep....

Unions are losing members and clout at the bargaining table, but that doesn't mean they aren't still powerful players on the political scene. Now, Big Labor is trying to stop Social Security reform, even if it hurts union members. Unions are supposed to represent their members' interests by negotiating higher pay and better benefits, including pensions. In fact, union pension funds are the single biggest source of investment in the stock market, amounting to an estimated $6 trillion in 2003. Now, the AFL-CIO and individual unions are threatening some investment firms and corporations with pulling out their pension fund investments...

Democrats have good reason to be aghast at President Bush's new proposal for Social Security. Someone has finally called their bluff. They tried yesterday to portray him as just another cruel, rich Republican for suggesting any cuts in future benefits, but that's not what the prime-time audience saw on Thursday night. By proposing to shore up the system while protecting low-income workers, Mr. Bush raised a supremely awkward question for Democrats: which party really cares about the poor? For decades Democrats have pointed to Social Security as a triumph of communal generosity, proof that Americans (or at least non-Republican Americans)...

On Monday, December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into law a Medicare prescription drug benefits package designed to help American seniors pay for their medications. This month, the Kerry campaign released a TV ad attacking President Bush’s Medicare record stating, “The very next day George Bush imposes the biggest Medicare premium increase in history while prescription drug costs still skyrocket.” There are several problems with this ad, namely that fact that 1) Kerry skipped the December 8 vote and 2) Kerry voted to support the increase in Medicare premiums that he now criticizes. The Kerry campaign offers no specifics on...

       The US Army has wasted billions of dollars to upgrade a few hundred tanks to the M1A2 configuration (right), and wants to spend billions to convert more.  The US Army claims that no tanks were lost to enemy fire during the Persian Gulf war, so why upgrade their anti-tank capabilities with a few gadgets which cost twice as much as the tanks themselves?  Tanks remain vital, but the US Army spends half of its operations and maintenance budget for all ground equipment to keep 5000 M1 series tanks ready for World War III with the Soviets.        There is much...

Major proposals from the California Performance Review: --- Major recommendations: - Cut growth in state jobs by 12,000 positions by 2010 - Sell surplus state property on eBay - Eliminate 118 of 339 boards and commissions in executive branch - Combine 11 state agencies and 79 departments into 11 departments - Merge 25 state entities into one California Infrastructure Department - Merge 20 state entities into new Department of Education and Work Force Preparation - Eliminate county superintendent offices and county boards of education - Trim DMV lines by letting Californians renew driver's licenses online and register vehicles every other...

McCain discusses immigration PHOENIX - The federal government has failed to address illegal immigration in the Southwest and needs to wake up, Sen. John McCain told Hispanic leaders Saturday. "It is in our national interest to bring the 8 to 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and allow them an opportunity to become citizens of this great nation," McCain said at the annual conference of the National Council of La Raza. The Washington-based civil rights group and political think tank dedicates itself to promoting Hispanic issues. McCain said federal policy and border enforcement have failed to alleviate the...

  January, 2004By Peter Bagge  

While President Bush has enjoyed strong support for his handling of the war on terror, his recent push to provide legal status to millions of illegal aliens is sparking a sudden surge in negative emotions among many Americans. Radio talk-show hosts Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, and Joseph Farah have all been flooded with callers concerned about the new initiative for immigrant workers, some even raising the possibility of impeachment. The proposal is also a new, frequent topic among those in counseling, with some calling it "the last straw" in their support for Mr. Bush as they deal with heightened fear...

A bipartisan group of legislators and some citizen groups, concerned that current legislative proposals to combat e-mail spam are inadequate, are engaged in a major push for tougher alternatives. The moves come amid intensified lobbying and political maneuvering over the issue. With outrage over spam at fever pitch, Congress is widely expected to pass the first national anti-spam law this year. In the House, a new bill is likely to be introduced this week that its sponsors promise is tougher than legislation offered last month by Reps. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.) and F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.). Although Tauzin and...

It is urgent that you click on the source URL for further information regarding these propsoals in California, Conneticut, Ohio, Nevada. State officials interested in finding new aources of revenue for their bloated budgets are seriously moving to tax Satellite Television. Once they have their way on this issue we can soon expect them to move on taxing Internet connections and transactions made via the Internet. the Source URL has information for contacting the officials in your state.

<p>AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Gov. Angus King said Wednesday he will call a special session to take care of a $240 million budget shortfall before the next Legislature is seated even if no deal emerges first.</p> <p>King, who has drawn up a set of proposals to bridge the budget gap, said he remains hopeful an agreement can win broad support before the full Legislature is called to the State House. The Appropriations Committee plans to open budget hearings next week.</p>

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