The Audacity of Debt: Today's must read from the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal.
Able to cut budgets across the board, leap over deficits in a single bound? Governor Chet Culver will announce 40 cuts today in front of....you guessed it: Reporters! DM Register article here.
Don't read this on an empty stomach: Iowa Democrat leaders released the statement below:
“Democrats are resolved to keep the 2010 legislative session focused on the priorities of Iowans — helping middle class families and small businesses, creating good-paying jobs, and balancing the state budget without raising taxes. We know these are tough times for many Iowans, but we will act responsibly to keep the state’s fiscal house in order without giving up on Iowa’s children.”
So...explain the 2009, 2008, 2007 sessions where you focused on the priorities of Iowans, and exploded our state budget and spending by 20%! Now let's add in the $1 billion + dollars of new I-Jobs debt and help us understand how Iowa has received benefits from your visionary leadership?
The Culver campaign is in deep on this crisis. I would guess Chet is "allergic to blame" and based on his single handed approach to cleaning up the fiscal house without the legislators suggests Culver expects to take full credit for, (how do I say this politely?) "cleaning up his own mess!"
(Insert campaign commercial here: Superhero theme song playing in the background)
Billion Dollar Boost...or bust? If this doesn't hurt you down low, I don't know what will...
The Obama administration notified Illinois Governor Pat Quinn yesterday that they plan to transfer prisoners to the Thomson Correctional facility from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"A White House economic analysis estimates the prison would have an economic impact in Illinois and Iowa of between $900 million and $1.1 billion over a four-year period. This would include construction, operation costs, compensation and visitors.
The forecast said that between 3,180 and 3,880 permanent jobs would be created. About 80 percent of the jobs would go to Illinois residents, while 20 percent would be filled by Iowans."
Here's where this hurts...again: Do the math. 3880 permanent jobs created to guard the 100 detainees from Cuba. This sounds exactly like the efficiencies we'd expect from our federal government!
What will this cost to house each of those 100 terrorists? (Sorry, prisoners, er, "suspects")
Exactly who are the "visitors" they expect and just how much are they spending to stay in the area?
