A lot of conservatives from across Indiana are interested in not just winning back the US Congressional Seats we lost in 2006, but also our state’s House of Representatives, which we tragically lost as well.
I’ve written before that thanks to the immediate results of Governor Mitch Daniels’ amazing first term, Indiana has faired somewhat better [...]
Here's the best article I could find on the very important bill passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate on Tuesday, reforming child abuse laws and prevention within this state: Worcester Telegram and Gazette, by John Monahan: Child abuse protections approved/Legislature redefines laws, intervention. (It is interesting that when both the Boston Globe and the Worcester Telegram and Gazette -
Here's the best article I could find on the very important bill passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate on Tuesday, reforming child abuse laws and prevention within this state: Worcester Telegram and Gazette, by John Monahan: Child abuse protections approved/Legislature redefines laws, intervention. (It is interesting that when both the Boston Globe and the Worcester Telegram and Gazette -
Several new Illinois laws went into effect on Sunday, June 1, and the Illinois legislature has approved and sent various other legislation to Governor Blagojevich for signature. Let’s take a look and see how they will affect your legal situation...
We already showed you one clip from last week's FRC press conference, in which Mat Staver blatantly lied about the possibility of the CA ruling leading to legalized polygamy. Now check out this clip, wherein FRC head Tony Perkins has...
A husband and wife are campaigning for a friend who is contesting the local elections. They both become so busy that they do not think of anything else but about the elections - so much so that they communicate about everything in political language.One night the husband wants to have sex desperately, but seeing the wife busy doing some work, goes to her and says, "I would like to put my candidate
A husband and wife are campaigning for a friend who is contesting the local elections. They both become so busy that they do not think of anything else but about the elections - so much so that they communicate about everything in political language.One night the husband wants to have sex desperately, but seeing the wife busy doing some work, goes to her and says, "I would like to put my candidate
A husband and wife are campaigning for a friend who is contesting the local elections. They both become so busy that they do not think of anything else but about the elections - so much so that they communicate about everything in political language.One night the husband wants to have sex desperately, but seeing the wife busy doing some work, goes to her and says, "I would like to put my candidate
Yesterday, the Ohio House passed a bill that would allow legal gun owners to carry their weapon in a car. Today's Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Senate is expected to follow suit, and Governor Strickland is expected to sign this measure into law.
The bill both allows people with a license to carry guns in parking garages, and prohibits landlords from barring tenants from owning or carr
They're still locked in a legal battle over who should set tuition, but they apparently agree on how much tuition should be. Just days after lawmakers approved a $66-billion budget that includes a 6 percent tuition hike for Florida undergraduates,...
By Bob Johnson • The Associated Press • April 26, 2008Alabama residents will begin receiving federal economic stimulus tax rebate checks next week -- about $600 for most single taxpayers and $1,200 for most families -- but they may not be able to spend it all in one place.Barring quick action by the Alabama Legislature, some of the federal tax rebate will have to go to pay state income taxes. A bill that would exempt the federal rebate checks is stalled as the Legislature enters the final six days of the 2008 regular session.The bill to exempt the rebates from state income taxes is waiting to be considered in the House and still must go to the Senate. The bill is stalled behind the state's education budget and a controversial corporate income tax measure.Debates on the corporate income
The implications of BC government regulations governing slaughterhouses and on-farm meat processing continue to ripple. At the forefront of the movement to bring sanity and viability to the legislation is NDP MLA Corky Evans. Here he speaks at the BC legislature:
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Budget negotiatons: Day 6 -- Lawmakers hideBudget updates from John Stamper at Pol Watchers:FRANKFORT -- House and Senate budget negotiators have decided to take their business behind closed doors.After pledging to iron out their differences over the state budget in public, members of the House-Senate conference committee used state police to keep media and lobbyists away from their meeting room Saturday afternoon.Large white shades were pulled down over the windows of the meeting room to block any view of what was going on inside...
The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill (LB 1048) that would provide birth certificates to parents of stillborn infants at 20 or more weeks' gestation, the AP/Hays Daily News reports. The state currently issues certificates of fetal death for fetuses that die at 20 or more weeks' gestation.
Well, today we homeschoolers had our "big day," so to speak. LB 1141, a bill which would have rather drastic effects on home education in Nebraska, was heard before the education committee today and it seems that 1/6 of the state's homeschoolers turned out to listen to the hearing.I arrived twenty minutes early and the overflow room had already overflowed. I was directed to another room and it wasn't long before yet another overflow room was overflowing to the point of opening another one. Somewhat nervously, I even submitted my own written testimony.I wish I had mentioned to the lady I handed my written testimony to that I was willing to give an oral testimony. But I thought that all the slots were taken...little did I know someone was unable to make it. It wouldn't have mattered tha
Virginia has taken another step forward in liberalizing blue laws when it comes to the sale of distilled spirits.The Virginia Senate passed a bill permitting Virginia ABC stores to open on Sunday in cities with populations of at least 100,000, meaning consumers in places like Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond and Chesapeake may soon be able to purchase distilled spirits on Sundays. Virginia ABC stores are already open on Sundays in Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and in the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Manassas, Manassas Park, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.Nationwide consumers can buy spirits on Sunday in 34 states.
I didn't even hear about this new law until yesterday, but it is about to come into effect very soon. This from the Non Smokers Rights Association (aka: Anal Brainwashed Chicken Shit Association): Since the last revision of this document in April 2006 there has been some encouraging news. In November Gordon Campbell, the Premier of British Columbia, announced that the BC government will be bringing in a province-wide smoking ban in all public places by January 2008. This time, there will be no allowances for designated smoking rooms. This comes as welcome news to workers in that province's hospitality industry, whose lungs have been treated as second-class since 2001 when the government overruled the WCB's 100% smoking ban. Too bad the government is waiting until 2008 to clear the air, but better late than never. Congratulations to our colleagues in BC who worked so hard to help their government see the light!The government is also going a step further by March 2008, as Miss 604 poi
Following the marathon 164 day legislative session in 2007, the Arizona State Legislature announced today that they are working towards a significantly shorter 2008 legislative session. In fact, they are pledging that the session will be the shortest on record.“We really built a lot of bridges during the 2007 budget debate,” said Speaker of the House Jim Weiers, “It should really be a snap to get everyone together and make this happen in record time. I’m sure that the Governor is going to be more than willing to work with us.”In recent years, the legislative session has dragged on to record lengths, boasting some of the longest in history. This legislature wants to be remembered for taking the opposite approach. It is rumored that the Legislature is seeking acknowledgment from the world famous Guinness Book of World Records.“Like I have said before, let’s put all of this partisan stuff behind us for now and focus on what’s important…” said Senate Minority Leader Mar
What ever happened to the concept of 'one person one vote'? Take a look at this video to see the Texas Legislature in action while voting on bills. If this is the way it is supposed to work, I think I'll just vote for everyone in my neighborhood in the next election. Ah, Democracy in action...
Okay, it is now time for me to vent. Now I am really frustrated. We have endured many tax increases under Gov. John Lynch’s new budget. Lynch’s budget increased state spending by 17.5%. The fee to register a car was increased 20%, the cigarette tax was raised 28 cents, we had a turkey hunting fee increase. There are also increases to court filing fees, telephone taxes, and on and on it goes.
Then there is the talk about taxing milk, soda, beer, and candy. These taxes would equal a sales tax. A limited sales tax, but a sales tax none the less. After you institute a limited sales tax, a full sales tax is sure to follow.
Now I start to get aggravated, and then it gets worse. (more…)
This from Scott Johnson in the Cincinnati Post. State formula is unfair to schools in Northern Ky. If you follow Northern Kentucky, you have gotten wind of the storm that is hitting Boone County schools.The storm's origin dates to 1989, with the Kentucky Supreme Court's landmark Rose v. Council for Better Education decision. This ruling produced the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and a funding formula, "Support Education Excellence Kentucky" (SEEK).In Rose, the Court held:"The system of common schools must be substantially uniform throughout the state.""The children who live in the poor districts and the children who live in the rich districts must be given the same opportunity.""This obligation cannot be shifted to local counties and local school districts."The future of 18,000 students, Boone County's quality of life and the future of similar districts around the state will ultimately be touched by the strategy that deals with this Frankfort whirlwind. Although there is a te
Measure Will Reimburse Borrowers for Federal Recapture Tax
NEW YORK, New York - Priscilla Almodovar, President and Chief Executive Officer of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), today commended the State Legislature for passing a bill that will greatly enhance the attractiveness of SONYMA mortgages and boost the agency’s efforts to market its mortgages to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers.
The measure will allow SONYMA to reimburse borrowers required to pay the federal recapture tax, which SONYMA borrowers may be liable for subject to certain conditions such as time of sale, sale price and the income of the borrower.
Governor Spitzer is expected to sign the legislation into law.
“This bill is part of our efforts to improve the marketability of SONYMA mortgages. The ‘recapture tax’ causes undue concern and worry in what can already be an overwhelming process for many working families buying their first home,” Ms. Almodovar said. “What we at SONYMA a
Wisconsin state Sen. Pat Kreitlow thinks that a state better known for its beer than its wine should allow retailers to offer beer samples to customer. Currently, state law allows retailers to offer 3-ounce wine samples to customers, but not beer. Sen. Kreitlow's bill would allow retailers to offer customers two 3-ounce samples of beer between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.The bill could come up for a vote in early May.
The Florida legislature last week swapped its controversial merit-pay plan for teachers for one that would give school districts more say in how many teachers are rewarded and why.The Merit Award Program would replace the Special Teachers Are Rewarded, or STAR, plan that has been forcefully opposed by teachers’ unions across the state and invited a court challenge from the Florida Education Association, a merged affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.By this month, 19 of the state’s 67 districts had not adopted STAR, although that meant they would lose their share of $147.5 million in additional state money for the 2006-07 school year. Union locals in 46 of the 67 districts rejected the reward system, but some districts decided to forge ahead with it anyway.Union leaders said last week that the Merit Award Program, also known as MAP, is an improvement over past merit-pay versions. Unlike STAR, the program would be subject to collecti
The state attorney general’s office wants lawmakers to ramp up penalties for thieves who use computers to steal personal or financial information. If approved, the proposed legislation would turn e-mail solicitations asking for personal information and spyware-type programs into felony-level offenses - for both first-time and repeat offenders. Under current state law, offenses [...]
The following request was sent by one of our Hawaii owners regarding SB 750. Please read this if you are a Hawaii vacation rental owner as it will impact all owners in the state of Hawaii should it be passed. If you have a rental in another part of the world, you still may want to support this issue and fax letters. If vacation rental owners band together as a strong voice, there will be enough precedents set, worldwide which will help to dissolve any future issues. Please read the sample letter as presented below and the examples of points you can make in your letter. There are fax numbers below for faxing your letters, so that your voices can be heard.IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ, WRITE and FAX LETTERS ASAP.We are getting the word direct from the sources at the capitol that SB 750 (which allows the State to give TAT (transient accommodation tax) information to the County for the purpose of seeking non permitted TVRs(transient vacation rentals) and B&Bs) may be shelved. There is a debate ri
The County collects approximately $6.5 million per year from the bed tax. It has reallocated the funds for other purposes and now is willing to put some of it back to the cause that led to the tax initially. Either return the whole bed tax to its original purpose or eliminate it. I favor eliminating the bed tax entirely. If it were eliminated local hotels would have the option to set rates and fund tourism promotion voluntarily. Then, if the funding works, it will be continued. If it is a waste of money, it will be ended. Residents of Erie County win under either scenario.
After months of lobbying, the Erie County Legislature late Thursday unanimously agreed to dedicate $500,000 from bed tax dollars towards the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and some related organizations.
Source: Legislature allocates $500,000 to tourism - Business First of Buffalo:
Technorati tags: bed tax, Erie County, tourism, funding, Buf
Some people just never give up.
Three months after South Dakota voters rejected an abortion ban at the polls by a 56-44 margin, state legislators have introduced another "sweeping abortion bill…that supporters hope will lead to a legal challenge of Roe v. Wade"
The ban rejected in November was "extreme, allowing for abortion only in instances to prevent the death of a woman. The revised ban, titled the "Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act,' offers additional exceptions, though they are very narrowly defined"
The Maine Senate voted 137 to 4 in favor of a resolution opposing the federal Real Id Act. Please click this link to let your Congressional officials know that you are opposed to this act.
The problem with the law is that it is very vague. The details regarding what personal information is to be collected and stored, and how it will be used, will be left up to unelected bureaucrats.
While you are at it, urge Congress to stop passing laws that allow bureaucrats to fill in the details.
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George Holt pled guilty today to two misdemeanor counts of filing fraudulent sales tax returns. The returns were for 2003 & 2004. The amount involved was over $19,500 which translates to over $37,000 with interest and penalties. The Judge already stated he will not impose jail time, even though up to 2 years is possible. Holt must pay the $37,000 prior to his sentencing hearing. According to Frank Clark, Holt’s job as a legislator is not affected by the misdemeanor counts.
Lynn Marinelli is reelected as the majority leader of the legislature.
2007 continues on the same path as 2006.
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Hattiesburg, Mississippi - Drive down any city street and bet on spotting an establishment that repulses somebody. . . . The latest type of business under that kind of microscope is the storefront operation known most commonly as a payday loan store.
Nashua, New Hampshire - BACKGROUND: Six years ago, New Hampshire removed caps on the interest that can be charged on payday loans, and the state is now seeing usurious interest rates on this type of short-term borrowing.
In January, 2006 The Pennsylvania Legislature introduced a 6% Sales Tax on Advertising (STONA), to " help lessen the burden of property taxes. "
Homeowners would average about $900 annual saving.
The plan would make it possible to cut school property taxes on owner-occupied residences at least 40 percent.
Pennsylvania generates $225 billion each year. A 6% STONA would transfer 13.5 billion
