In Case You Missed It. Birther Leader Orly Taitz Melt Down On MSNBC
Johnny Roastbeef [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Wnp8W9nZg[/youtube]
Saw this yesterday live, while I was at home, sick. Is that a wig?
August 2009
l3wis 
How’s that contingency plan working out?
Remember when local economist Mark Weber warned Sioux Falls about the economy and preparing for the worse? Well guess what, they were not listening, once again;
Sales tax collections in Sioux Falls through July are down 0.4 percent from last year, causing some city councilors to worry that a projected sales tax growth of 4 percent in 2010 is too optimistic.
Eugene Rowenhorst, the city finance director, told the City Council during a budget hearing Monday that sales tax revenues did not grow at all in the first seven months of the year. The council originally had budgeted for a 6.5 percent increase this year, but that later was modified to a projected 2 percent increase.
It’s not like you couldn’t see this coming for months and months. It was pretty obvious that SF was not immune to the recession, but it doesn’t stop Eugene from spinning it even more;
But the fact that the tax revenue is down this far into the year has some councilors worried about next year. During the budget meeting, council member Kermit Staggers questioned why the 2010 proposed budget projects a 4 percent increase in sales tax.
Rowenhorst’s answer was that the economy is expected to improve by next year, and the 4 percent increase is a middle ground between the 2 percent growth that eventually was projected for 2009 and the historic 6 percent to 7 percent increase in sales tax receipts.
“We’re coming out of the recession and getting back to a more normal growth phase,” Rowenhorst said.
Sorry, Eugene, I have trouble taking the word of a man who basically ignored economic trends by not preparing for the worst. I believe Munson did not care what happened with the economy, it is his last year in office, and he had a legacy to build. How do you justify cutting the budget when you can ‘pretend’ everything is going to be fine down the road. I have often been told by many people that Munson is a positive man, and I believe that, but IMO, lying to yourself and the public to get what you want is very negative, very negative indeed. I have been saying it for years that Munson has put his priorities above the public’s best interest, and while McKennan Park residents will be enjoying a new $170,000 shitter and the Rhino’s at the zoo have a new shed to sleep in the rest of us and the next mayor are going to have to figure out how to fix this shortfall and overspending by Munson.
The first thing the next mayor needs to do on day one is fire Eugene and anyone who is loyal to him in the finance office, and employ someone who is in touch with reality.
How nice. The Gargoyle Leader’s Ed Board cares about tax payers, now that we are all flat broke
I had to read this editorial twice to make sure, they were saying what I thought they were. I’m shocked!
The allowance to raise property taxes by 3 percent or the rate of inflation each year is just that. An allowance.
It’s not an automatic function that city officials should customarily build into each year’s budget.
Yes, but that is the nature of socialistic, tax and spend, big government Republicans, they don’t care if the average Joe can make ends meet, they only care about their ‘ends’ and ‘behinds’.
As residents continue recovering from the economic downturn, a respite from property tax increases undoubtedly would be well timed.
Indeed, there are times when even in the face of economic downturns it makes sense to spend in ways that take advantage of unique opportunities – such as issuing needed bonds when interest rates are low.
It’s hard to see how automatically raising property taxes fits into this category, though.
Actually, it’s the exact opposite. The 2010 budget offers a unique chance to hold the line on property tax increases.
City officials need to offer a better reason than they’ve stated why Sioux Falls should pass on this opportunity.
You mean, you agree with Staggers for once? Get out!
Olbermann; Sen. Thune is a bald-faced liar and prochoice
If you missed Olbermann’s special commentary tonight, google that shit tomorrow, I doubled up on healthcare funnies tonight. He called Thune’s ass out tonight about getting government healthcare while denying it to the rest of us, he also told us Thune’s healthcare industry contributions this year:
$1,206,176
About 48 times more then the average South Dakotan makes a year in wages.
Thune, please go away. Please. You are delusional.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWw23XwO5o[/youtube]
Here is the text (H/T – Gus)
Keith Olbermann to Expose Congressional Opponents of Universal Health Care Tonight!
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
We’ve just received an advance transcript of tonight’s Special Comment by Keith Olbermann on his MSNBC show. It is nothing short of brilliant — and if all of America were to hear what he is going to reveal tonight, we are certain the vast majority of Americans would be on the phone to their elected representative immediately, calling for an end to the private, for-profit, rip-off health insurance companies who have wrecked our country.
Here’s a brief section of Keith’s editorial tonight:
“Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas. Leader of the Blue Dogs in the House. You’re the guy demanding a guarantee that Reform won’t add to the deficit. I’m guessing you forgot to demand that about, say, Iraq. You’re a Democrat, you say, Congressman?
“You saw what Sandy Barham said? Sandy Barham is 62 years old, she’s got a bad heart, and she’s hoping her valves will hold together for three more years until Medicaid kicks in, because she can’t afford insurance. Not just for herself, mind you. For her employees. She needs the public option. So do those six people who work at that restaurant of hers, Congressman Ross.
“And why should you give a crap? Because Sandy Barham’s restaurant is the Broadway Railroad Café, and it is at 123 West First Street North in Prescott, Arkansas. Prescott, Arkansas, Congressman Ross. Your home town. You are Sandy Barham’s congressman. Hers, Sir. Not Blue Cross’s and Blue Shield’s, even if they do insure 75 percent of the state and they own you.”
And here’s what Keith has to say about Senator Thune:
“Senator John Thune of South Dakota? You gave the Republican rebuttal to the President’s weekly address day before yesterday. You said the Democrats’ plan was for ‘… government run health care that would disrupt our current system, and force millions of Americans who currently enjoy their employer-based coverage into a new health care plan run by government bureaucrats.’
“That’s a bald-faced lie, Senator. And you’re a bald-faced liar, whose bald face is covered by… your own health care plan run by government bureaucrats.”