Guarino

Hagan's SCHIPs Dodge, and Other Aspects of Slouching Toward Socialized Medicine

Greensboro is very excited to have Kay Hagan in the U.S. Senate.  But we received a dose of reality, almost like a slap in the face, when she voted in favor of confirming Timothy Geithner in spite of his tax problems. 

We then learned (HT: Sam Hieb) that she had promised to find a compromise on tobacco taxes associated with the SCHIPs children's health insurance bill.  But when it came time to offer her amendment to avert the tobacco taxes, she quickly withdrew it in accordance with the wishes of her party leadership.  The economic interests of her home state are secondary.  

Why did she do it?  Under the Dome explains: 

"Less than a month into my service here in the U.S. Senate," Hagan told the Senate, "I'm faced with a situation in which the health of thousands of my state’s children are at odds with a key industry in North Carolina."

"But ultimately," Hagan said, "I had to vote on behalf of the 10 million low-income and disadvantaged children this bill helps."

But is it true?  Of course not.  Medicaid serves the low-income and the disadvantaged.  SCHIPS is a lower middle class entitlement that enables families to avoid paying premiums for covering their kids on their group health insurance coverage.  It is an income transfer from the larger group of taxpayers to this particular group that has kids.

Says Kimberly Strassel in the Wall Street Journal regarding the final form of the bill that was passed:

Initially designed for children of working-poor families, this new Super-Schip will be double in size, and even kids whose parents make $65,000 a year will be eligible. The program will also now cover pregnant women and automatically enroll their new arrivals. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 2.4 million individuals will drop their private coverage for the public program.

Meanwhile, the stimulus bill stealthily would bring many more people under government-sponsored health care-- and would forbid the states from applying income tests in some cases!

Under "stimulus," Medicaid is now on offer not to just poor Americans, but Americans who have lost their jobs. And not just Americans who have lost their jobs, but their spouses and their children. And not Americans who recently lost their jobs, but those who lost jobs, say, early last year. And not just Americans who already lost their jobs, but those who will lose their jobs up to 2011. The federal government is graciously footing the whole bill. The legislation also forbids states to apply income tests in most cases...

A GOP proposal to limit subsidies to Americans with incomes under $1 million was accepted during markup, but had disappeared by final passage. In this new health-care nirvana, even the rich are welcome...

The "stimulus" also hijacks Cobra, a program that lets the unemployed retain access to their former company health benefits -- usually for about 18 months. The new stimulus permits any former employee over the age of 55 to keep using Cobra right up until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. And here's the kicker: Whereas employees were previously responsible for paying their health premiums while on Cobra, now the feds will pay 65%. CBO estimates? Seven million Americans will have the feds mostly pay their insurance bills in 2009.

The bill even takes a whack at the private market. Under the guise of money for "health technology," the legislation makes the government the national coordinator for electronic health records, able to certify what platforms are acceptable. This is an attempt to squelch a growing private market that is competing to improve transparency and let consumers compare providers and costs. In liberal-world, only government should be publishing (and setting) health-care prices.

Add it up, and Democrats may move 10 million more Americans under the federal health umbrella -- in just four weeks! Good luck ever cutting off that money. Meanwhile, the Democratic majority is gearing up for a Medicare fight, where it may broach plans to lower the eligibility age to 55. Whatever costs accrue, they'll pay for by slashing the private Medicare Advantage option.

The stimulus bill also provides for "comparative effectiveness research" that will enable the government to exert pressure in the marketplace to determine which medical tests and treatment should be paid for, and which should not be.  This would dovetail well with the agenda Tom Daschle has had to establish a federal health board for this same purpose.

And we also learn that Daschle, the nominee for HHS Secretary who is expected to be the chief mover of legislation to bring "universal health care", also has some income tax problems of his own.  Of course, when this type of thing happens to Democrats, it tends not to matter too much.  It is a mere public relations obstacle to be overcome with the complicity of the mainstream media.

We have had our own examples locally with Mayor Yvonne Johnson and State Representative Earl Jones.

In any case, it appears that we are on track to witness an unimpeded, incremental march toward socialized medicine that the national Democrats are plotting to implement over the next several months.  Part of that plan-- the SCHIPs expansion-- has come to fruition. 

Greensboro's own Kay Hagan will be in there with her party leadership, every step of the way.  And it appears if Daschle's nomination survives, it appears she will likely vote to confirm him based on her actions on the Geithner nomination. 

Small matters like non-payment of income taxes by high-ranking leaders do not appear to bother Greensboro Democrats.  They just think it is important that the overall governmental structure provide for the collection of lots of taxes from those that are law-abiding.

We should be so proud of our freshman Senator.  She fits right in.

Civic Boosterism in Greensboro

Roch Smith:

Just as the overuse of antibiotics results in new resistant bacterial strains, Greensboro's liberal applications of boosterim are having the unintended consequence of spreading G.L.U.M.M. -- Greensboro Leaders Unresponsive to Mediocrity and Mendacity.

GLUMM is caused when the boosterism antibodies mistake real and urgent infections for Greensboro Disease and launch their suppressive actions on any target that has negative implications for Greensboro. It manifests in symptoms of blindness, deafness, dumbness, paralysis, coddling the incompetent and a fear of being impolite. Mediocrity and mendacity flourish unabated as a result.

GPD Officer Speaks Out On New Gun Violence Initiative

I received an e-mail last night from a GPD officer who was reacting to the announcement this week of the new departmental initiative on gun violence.  Recall this was undertaken in response to the cluster of murders that had occurred in Greensboro last week.

This officer points out that the city already has a gun violence task force.  It was staffed by a lady named Cathy Vance, who was nebulously (but prominently) accused of inappropriate surveillance of black professionals in the community.  The officer relates the following:

If there ever was an innocent victim in this whole affair it was Cathy Vance.

Cathy was one of the main reasons we have a Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF). The VCTF is made up of two detectives who look at every case in Greensboro involving a firearm. They try to determine where firearms are coming from, who is using them and supplying them. In a nutshell, back when White was chief, the task force was put together to address gun violence in this city.

Cathy spent her time helping identifying potential targets for federal prosecution. In addition she was tasked with putting together call-ins where people with violent histories were told to either clean up their acts or face going to either state or federal prison. It was a fairly successful program. It was heart-breaking to see what happened when politics and racial allegations were leveled against her. Bledsoe did a very good job of addressing this in one of his pieces.

What all of this means is the following: This past week Chief Bellamy gave his knee jerk press conference. One part of his plan was to address determining where guns are coming from and looking for suppliers. In addition he wants to seek tougher prosecutions. Is it not interesting that he already has a group in place to do this but now we have to seek support or help again? Either the man is clueless of what his own agency already does or is trying to reinvent the wheel. I have told you before and I will say it again this town is in need of some real leadership.

The unit is still up and running. It was never shut down and only two officers have ever been assigned to the unit. The officers assigned to the task force are cross trained with ATF and work with them quite closely.

What I have a problem with is the knee jerk reactions that cause one to have a press conference and act like now is when we are going to start addressing something for the first time. The field officers and other units have been doing their jobs. The majority of the officers in this agency are good men and women who unfortunately have had their agency hijacked by people who have dragged the department’s good name through the mud. We need good leadership and sadly I am starting to believe that we need to find it from outside the agency. When you see a story like the one involving Cathy Vance it ought to scare everyone into realizing if they could do that to her they could do that to anyone.

These matters should be laid at the feet of the person who created the problem. If that is the Chief of Police then so be it, but I suspect if the truth was known the real culprit is the man really trying to run the police department and that is the City Manager.

NBC Censors Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad

A Catholic group called Fidelis attempted to purchase ad time during the Super Bowl for a pro-life TV commercial.  NBC turned the group down, claiming the ad was too political.

It turns out the ad has been making the rounds in the blogosphere; and many of us have already seen it.  

Now think about some of the trashy commercials you typically have seen run during the Super Bowl in the past.  When you consider those, it is understandable how some might feel that NBC is engaging in censorship when it rejects this particular ad.  If you view the YouTube below, I recommend switching to "full screen mode":

Lojko Speaks Out on GPD Surveillance Incident

In response to a post over at Ben Holder's blog regarding the infamous GPD surveillance incident involving certain black professionals that was hyped by the city during 2006, Matt Lojko-- who was part of the command staff at that time-- saw fit to speak out.  Cathy Vance, the female GPD employee who was victimized as a result of the investigation into the affair, had earlier posted at the same blog. 

Here is what Lojko said:

The manner in which Cathy Vance was treated by the Greensboro Police Department and the City of Greensboro is outrageous and heartbreaking.

From Cathy’s beginnings as a volunteer with the GPD and later as a full-time employee, she distinguished herself as an outstanding and dedicated worker who truly loved her job. Literally, every commanding officer she ever worked for had nothing but glowing comments about her personally and the quality of her work. Cathy was the perfect fit for the position of Violent Crimes Task Force Coordinator.

I couldn’t help but imagine, as I read Jerry Bledsoe’s article on this incident, that I was witnessing an innocent person being victimized – much like a wife being emotionally and physiologically abused by the husband who supposedly loves and cares for her over an issue that isn’t even true. Regrettably in my 27 years in law enforcement, I witnessed far too many incidents like this. Those situations made me sick and angry then and even more so now.

Why did this happen? Why didn’t Internal Affairs and Chief Bellamy believe Captain Rick Ball when he quickly stepped forward to explain the situation? Why did Cathy Vance have to go through the ordeal of an IA interrogation when the truth was already known? Why did Chief Bellamy and the City Manager go public with information that, at best, was incomplete? These are all legitimate questions worthy of answers.

Maybe I’m naïve, but I refuse to believe that the citizens of Greensboro feel that what happened to Cathy Vance was in the public’s good.

Matt Lojko, Jr.
Captain (Retired)
Greensboro Police Department

The Disciplined NC Probation Officer and GOP State Legislators

A probation officer is assigned to monitor a certain drug dealer.  The officer had reason to suspect he was dealing, and searched his car.  The drug dealer cried "harassment", and the probation officer was reprimanded by his superior.

Greensboro residents, does this story line seem vaguely familiar?

In any event, this story, initially published in the News and Observer, prompted Carter Wrenn to make a suggestion to Republican state legislators: hold a public hearing, and call in the probation officer and his two supervisors to talk.  He also suggested demanding a weekly update from the governor on the state's 15,000 lost parolees.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Blagojevich Ousted: A Retrospective, and Looking Forward

The news that Rod Blagojevich was ousted by the Illinois State Senate causes me to look back on a photograph I had posted previously.  It depicts the former Governor enjoying a light moment with Barack Obama and Mayor Daley:

 

There is one unfortunate aspect of the Blagojevich situation.  All those old alliances now have to be ended-- indeed, they have to be dropped like a hot potato, and renounced.

One of the great under-reported stories of the Obama presidency is that, right around the time of the inauguration, it was announced U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had issued subpoenaes involving three members of Obama's staff, including Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett.  If it had been a Republican president, we would have known about it.  Indeed, we scarcely would have been able to avoid it.

And John Kass weighs in regarding what lies ahead for Blagojevich:

It is the federal building, where U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald works.

It's time to cut a deal, Rod, if they'll let you. You'll do prison time, sure, and you'll have to testify against Cellini and many others. But don't think others aren't lining up to bury you with their own testimony to save themselves.

Consider the silence. The silence in the state Senate after you stopped speaking on Thursday. The silence of friends. The silence in your body as you run. The silence of federal prison.

There's one thing to do, former governor. Start talking.
 

I now will return once again to my local/state reporting.  Sorry folks, I couldn't resist.:)

Greensboro's Legislators: A Time for Levity

It has not been the happiest time of late for area conservatives.  So when the opportunity arises for finding humor in everyday political situations, we need to seize it.

We learned over at Sam Hieb's blog today some pretty funny circumstances surrounding several of our local progressive legislators. 

First, we learn that Senator Kay Hagan is seeing fit to support the SCHIP expansion even though it relies on tobacco taxes.  She had apparently promised to "find a compromise" on this particular type of taxation which is of great significance to North Carolina.  Imagine some of her supporters feeling pangs of disappointment and despair as she votes in Washington against her home state's economic interests in order to expand a welfare program.  But she was such a good soldier, if we had only known...

And then we learn that Senator Hagan was dead wrong about the Senate swimming pool being closed to women.  But hey... the false accusation and the demonstration of bravado standing up to the good-old-boy system in the Senate made for some great media attention early in her term.  If you are Senator Hagan, it doesn't matter if you err, because your political intentions are pure.

Hey, maybe Don Vaughan's elevator didn't get stuck after all.

Meanwhile, recall that the city of Greensboro is trying to prevent the Jordan Lake Rules from coming into effect.  This is a set of environmental requirements that would generate severe costs for Greensboro.  Pricey Harrison is our environmentalist state legislator, and reportedly she is refusing to help the city with the effort to oppose these rules. 

In some respects, it is pretty ironic that the liberals in our Greensboro city government are seeking to evade the requirements of environmental regulations.  Does anyone remember how the city has engaged in self-promotion over its adoption of various "green" practices and technologies?  Does anyone remember all the positive publicity the city was granted because of that?  But hey, even Greensboro progressives have their limits-- and then they find out that old Pricey, a member of the club, won't go along.

Finally, Under the Dome has been asking various state legislators what should be done to close the devastating $2 billion budget gap in Raleigh.  They approached our own Alma Adams.  The outcome? 

What two things would you cut in the state budget? Adams said she doesn't have any idea yet where to start cutting.

Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "Hopefully we won't have to do that," she said.

Let not your hearts be troubled.  It should be apparent to the reader that Representative Adams has complete command of the situation.

Americans for Prosperity Agenda for North Carolina

Jeff Sykes posts regarding the North Carolina state legislative agenda developed by Americans for Prosperity.

Yep, I can support much of that. 

Greensboro's Homicide Cluster, and the GPD's New Gun Violence Initiative

Within the last week or so, the city of Greensboro had three murders within a period of several days.  Almost immediately, Chief Bellamy of the GPD called a news conference discussing new initiatives to curb gun violence.

It made me wonder whether this was a preemptive strike, from a public relations standpoint.  It made me wonder whether this was an attempt to manage public perception in anticipation of further criticism of the department's lack of effectiveness in reducing crime.

The News and Record reports here.  Cara Michele provides further details.  Michele is absolutely right that we should not accept the level of gun violence we have in our community.  Ryan Shell over at Greensboro Politics linked to the actual document.  E.C. Huey comments further.  David Wharton expresses mock comfort.  And Doug Clark expresses hope the new approach will be effective.

In order to evaluate what happened at Chief Bellamy's press conference, we need first to think back to the Buracker report-- i.e., the report of the consultant hired by the city to increase the department's effectiveness and efficiency.  I had analyzed that report here previously. 

But then, we also need to think back to a presentation given by Gary Hastings of the Police Department at a meeting of the City Council several weeks ago.  He discussed the city's implementation of the Buracker Report.  Of the 227 recommendations in the report, Hastings said 109 had been addressed, and work on 66 of them had been completed.  He discussed several specific initiatives taken to comply with the report's recommendations.  City council members have been receiving periodic updates with respect to the department's progress. 

I had previously noted at this blog that the city did not adopt Buracker's recommendation that field level supervision be at least at the level of a sergeant.  Quality of supervision has been a significant issue in the department; but Buracker's recommendation was essentially watered down by upgrading somewhat the level of qualifications that corporals hold, and retaining them as supervisors.

The recommendation for 79 additional staff in the department has faded into memory.  There was some discussion at a recent council meeting about possibly adding 31 new non-sworn positions, but a statement was made that the city does not have the money to hire all the new staff Buracker  recommended.  This is a matter of priorities, of course.

It remains unclear whether all the units Buracker slated for additional evening/night/weekend coverage are complying with his recommendation.

There are always a number of staffing vacancies in the department.  Some new police academy graduates are forthcoming.  Mitchell Johnson suggested "staffing ahead of vacancies'' -- hiring extra staff in anticipation of vacancies, a suggestion that had been made previously-- but it is unclear whether that will be happening.

Finally, I had previously pointed out that the city's political culture would naturally eschew aggressive police approaches-- for instance, the implementation of "broken windows" theory-- for obvious reasons. 

What does this all have to do with gun violence and the Bellamy's press conference?

While there was an effort to shape perceptions earlier this week with respect to the recent cluster of homicides, there are still serious questions as to whether the city is doing all it should to bring crime levels down more aggressively.

Ironically, some of Bellamy's plans announced this week sound a lot like "broken windows". There is also a stated intent to pay more close attention to those offenders on probation and parole. If these measures are implemented faithfully and consistently, indefinitely into the future, that would be a good thing.  But if these are merely transient measures adopted for PR purposes, there will be little effect.

The problem with broken windows, of course, is that it will result in more young black males having unwanted interactions with police.  It will result in more arrests, and more going to jail.  Our local political culture, however, has not always wanted more criminals getting arrested, and more criminals going to jail or prison. 

Indeed, it seems most of the forces that prevail around here have been working assiduously against those goals.  We have a district attorney who has seemed to be cozy with defense attorneys based on the list of contributors to his campaign.  We have a magistrate's office that has developed a reputation for setting bail unrealistically low, and turning loose on society dangerous criminals.  We have an influential county commissioner who has devoted his energies toward assuring that as few people go to jail as possible.  We have a state Division of Community Corrections that has systematically dropped the ball with respect to managing those on probation. 

We also have the Simkins PAC and the Pulpit Forum, both of which in various ways have adopted an anti-police stance that has the effect of undermining law enforcement. We also have the Melderec con Simkins phenomenon that contributes further to the overall picture.  And as a result, we have had a police department that has adopted a reactive, limp-wristed approach.

I hope Chief Bellamy, after three years on the job, is finally going to start doing aggressive, proactive law enforcement.  I hope he recognizes that enforcing the law for small offenses is very important in order to drive crime rates downward, and to prevent larger offenses like gun-related violence.  And I hope he genuinely acts in contravention of the political expectations that have prevailed in this area far too long.

State Needs Zero-Based Budgeting

The state of North Carolina faces a budget shortfall of $2 billion this year, and it seems the number is going up nearly every day as new information becomes available.

Via Dome, State Rep. Paul Stam is suggesting that the state adopt zero-based budgeting:

Traditionally, the budget is based on incremental increases or decreases from the previous year's budget. But Stam argues legislators should do a wholesale rewrite of the state budget, looking at each individual expense.

"We need to go back and see if the stuff we added in decades ago is still working," he said. 

In addition, Stam said he wants to know if the state's Medicaid program has the proper controls in place to determine if providers and recipients are eligible to receive payments. He argues that could save several hundred million dollars.

Years of free spending are now taking their toll.  The state Democratic leadership is hoping that Obama's stimulus package will help bail them out at least to some extent.  But the proper solution is fiscal discipline.

Update: Governor Perdue's administration fails to identify all the reductions necessary to close the gap.

Greensboro Water Demand Remains Below Projections

Mike Baron has a new post that incorporates recent data demonstrating that water demand in Greensboro remains well below what projections had been.  And that is in spite of the fact that the city has not had an ongoing, systematic water conservation emphasis.

Check it out.  And also check his blog later in the week, because he says another post is being planned.

Update: Mike tells more about how local political/governmental leaders undermined water conservation and even refused water purchases from surrounding areas as the Randleman Dam proposal was being advanced.

The GPD, the Greensboro Partnership and the City Council

A few days ago, I had a post here that discussed Action Greensboro's contribution to the Simkins PAC; and that also discussed some larger issues with respect to the Greensboro Partnership, of which Action Greensboro is part.  That apparently triggered a post by Roch Smith, who in turn triggered some posting by Ben Holder.

Ben, who is very resourceful, was able to post on YouTube the video from the 2006 City Council meeting at which Pat Danahy, the director of the Greensboro Partnership, spoke.  I am taking the liberty of posting that video below. 

I invite readers to view it in its entirety, and make their own judgments.  In retrospect, it makes all those who spoke appear a bit silly.  They were engaging in mutually sycophantic behavior.  Moreover, they made certain claims that time has since disproved.  They made judgments about various aspects of the GPD fiasco and the surveillance episode without getting all sides of the story, and without getting as many of the facts as they could.  They made promises regarding future public disclosure that still have not been honored.

In any event, this particular episode provides more evidence regarding how misguided our "local business establishment" is, and how conflicted it should feel in view of its full-fledged unapologetic participation in our local machine politics.  Click the arrow to witness a mutual back-scratching exercise that is, well, breathtaking:

Perdue Education Appointment Raises Questions

Yesterday, Governor Beverly Perdue made a bold move with respect to the state's educational system.  She appointed Bill Harrison to serve both as chairman of the State Board of Education, as well as Chief Executive Officer of the system. 

Previously, these positions had been held by two different people.  That had the effect of dissociating policy development from operations.  This split has been considered by some to be the source of some of the problems with public education in the state of North Carolina.

The move has garnered praise in some quarters, but others are taking a wait-and-see attitude.  E.C. Huey comments here.

While it appears on the surface that this is a good move, we need to regard the appointment with skepticism.  Beverly Perdue ran for governor as the candidate of the education establishment.  She seems inextricably tied to many of the failed approaches that have beset public education in our state, and in our nation, for many years.

It may be overoptimistic to suggest that a single appointment is going to fix a system that is misguided from a basic philosophical standpoint.  You can't reform the system unless you get rid of the bad ideas at its core, and replace them with good ideas.

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Harrison is likely to do those things.

Update: An excellent post over at Red Clay suggests Harrison's record is not exactly stellar.

Hagan Votes to Confirm Geithner

In spite of the fact that he had major tax difficulties and would be leading the IRS if confirmed, Kay Hagan in fact voted to confirm Timothy Geithner for U.S Treasury Secretary.

Much excitement has been expressed locally regarding Hagan's ascension to the U.S. Senate.  Is North Carolina proud today of how she voted?   

Another Chapter in My Novel About Cops, DA's and PAC's

A couple of weeks ago, I informed readers of my interest in writing a novel.  I solicited reader input, and appreciate greatly the response thus far.  This is an important fictional work in progress.

Since that time, inspiration has struck me once again.  I now have another proposed chapter to add to my novel.  I must repeat that any resemblance to real world events is purely coincidental.  The basic outline is as follows:

In response to the great disturbance over the monitoring and investigation of minority officers, two white officers are indicted.  The reason for one of these indictments is that a certain minority officer, whom we shall call Stormin', had been blocked from participating in a certain investigation involving another minority officer.  The implication was that he should have been permitted to participate.

Years later, a gritty incident occurs.  During a party at which alcohol consumption was excessive, a minority officer assaults a couple of females.  This happens at a private club for police.  One of the women assaulted is his live-in girlfriend, so the incident should be properly characterized as domestic violence.  His commanding officer, another minority officer who happened to be part of the EEOC complaint against the city, is rumored to have been at the club that night.

The officer who committed the assault was also part of the EEOC complaint.

But anyway, it is Stormin' who is dispatched to respond to the situation. The responsible commanding officer who is on duty at that time, also a minority group member, is reasonably well known to the public.  He had been a key player in the police department controversy; and was one of the main architects of the plan to protect black officers from the consequences associated with wrongdoing.  An incident this sensitive ordinarily would have been brought to his attention as the commanding officer on duty. 

And it turns out the officer who assaulted the two females, including his live-in girlfriend, is not criminally charged at the level he could have been.  He certainly does not go to jail.  He is suspended by the police department; but based on past experience, it is felt he might very well retain his job because his due process rights are to be protected.

The local business establishment had expressed concern in a highly public way-- before the City Council-- regarding the allegedly inappropriate monitoring of minority officers and community members.  But it turns out the same business establishment is found to be giving great sums of money to the PAC.  The respective heads of local government, who are part of the PAC, pledge to adopt the business establishment's plans for the region. 

But the key "local business establishment" giving all this money to the PAC, in reality, turns out to be a consortium of foundations established by the wealthy.

Again, folks, this is a fictional tale.  And I expect that in upcoming months and years, I will have additional chapters to add as new bursts of inspiration strike me.  My imagination is exceedingly fertile; so this promises to be a great book.  Stay tuned.

Mike Baron is Back to Talk About Greensboro Water

Mike Baron is getting his blog fired back up with some more recent information about water demand and supply-- and water bill rates in the city of Greensboro.  Recall how he had demonstrated last year that water demand in Greensboro has been much less than it was projected to be years ago. 

A sampling:

The real reason why your water rates are being hiked every year now (9% January 1st) is threefold; First, because water sales are radically below what was forecast. Water sales have been low for a decade now.

Second, manufacturers, Greensboro’s biggest and best water customers have shut down. That means residential water customers must make up for all the revenue that once flowed into City Hall from Greensboro’s big manufacturers.

And third, as water rates radically increase, water use decreases. Just like you turn back your thermostat to save energy, water is becoming so expensive in Greensboro that citizens will use even less of it in the future.

Greensboro expanded its waterworks at the same time that its water sales were declining. In the private sector when sales decline, businesses downsize. However, when you enjoy a monopoly like Greensboro Water and you control the rates that customers must pay, you can continue to expand your operation in spite of declining sales. 

Eric Holder, Part II

Fred Gregory provided the following post:

Is Holder's Nomination as AG in Trouble ?

 

Andrew McCarthy over at National Review online has dropped a bombshell on  Eric Holder's confirmation  testimony.

 

Unpardonable: Holder’s Marc Rich Shuffle

The AG nominee’s 1995 lawsuit refutes his claims of ignorance about the fugitive.

Eric Holder’s intercession on behalf of fugitive Marc Rich is so inexplicable

that he has always viewed ignorance as his best defense. It’s as though Holder believes that a deputy attorney general looks better for having remained studiously unaware of critical facts in a criminal case before throwing his weight around. But that’s Holder’s story, and he’s sticking to it: even if it turns out not to be true."

 

Here is the article.. RTWT

 

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2NmOGNhMDk5NTk3M2ZhZjA1NDhjNWQ5ZmU2YjhkZWQ

 

In the meantime 9/11 Families for a Strong and safe America , led by Debra Burlingame ( sister of the murdered pilot whose plane was used by the terrorists to crash into the Pentagon ) is still on the case.

 

Evidence that Eric Holder twiced perjured himself before Senate Judiciary Committee

She lays out the proof here regarding the possible " P" word.

 

http://www.911familiesforamerica.org/?p=1135

 

Included in this post is an audio link of Debra on the Steve Malzburg radio show discussing Holder's fitness.

Worth the listen.

 

Finally something the MSM totally ignored was the testimony of Stephen Halbrook regarding Holder's previous advocacy positions against 2nd amendment rights . ( Heller case and other positions ) This link contains a fascinating 7 minute C-span video of Mr. Halbrook's testimony in opposition to Holder's confirmation .

 

Here ya go http://www.independent.org/blog/?p=994

 

 

 

Stimulus Bill and Medicaid

We are being told that the intention of the stimulus bill in Washington is to create jobs and get the economy jump-started.  However, it contains little-discussed provisions that affect Medicaid.

The Heritage Foundation reports:

1. Medicaid Bailout: The House bill includes an $87 billion bailout for state Medicaid spending. Supposedly, this federal spigot will expire in two years. But there is simply no reason to believe states will be prepared to meet their Medicaid obligations any more in 2011 than they are today. Medicaid is funded by a formula that matches state spending levels with federal dollars. If we keep bailing states out, they will have every incentive to continue irresponsible spending. For example, Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) significantly expanded health care spending in Illinois while Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN) prudently made “hard choices” to maintain adequate reserves. When the bailout comes, Indiana taxpayers are going to have to pay for the Illinois governor’s mistakes.

2. Medicaid Expansion: The House bill expands Medicaid eligibility to cover unemployed workers whose income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. This provision is supposed to expire in two years, but does anyone really expect political will at the state or federal levels to kick new populations off the Medicaid rolls once states put them on? No. States will push for indefinte expansion of the program and neither the White House nor this congressional leadership is ideologically predisposed to say no. Mark our words, this is a permanent expansion.

It is difficult to see how these provisions will create jobs or stimulate the economy.  These are merely examples of left-wing pork.  They reward and perpetuate bad behavior at the state level, such as that we have seen with the massive expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina in recent years.  And the stimulus bill will also create a temporary "entitlement" that will be very difficult to reverse.  In fact, this is yet another example of incrementalism toward the goal of making socialized medicine a moot point. 

Get the government to cover ever-increasing numbers of lives incrementally, any way you can, and that gets you where you want to go.  Right?

Greensboro's Business Water Rates

In case you missed it, Tony Wilkins posted earlier this week regarding a 300% water rate increase for at least one local business.  He discussed the irony of the city's leaders describing their stance as "business-friendly".  I would hate to see how a "business-unfriendly" government would behave.

We had learned about a year ago some things from Mike Baron, the former water conservation director for the city.  We learned, for instance, that the city is in the business of selling water to generate revenue.  Water, it seems, is a "profit center".