In late June, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, Mike Flood, convened an Ad Hoc Committee meeting that is part of the special LR 542 process to deal with the projected 2011 - 2013 budget shortfall. It seems as if our legislature is too eager to accept federal money and federal strings.
The Obama Administration recently submitted a report on the United States to the United Nation's Human Rights Council for the "Universal Periodic Review". Does the President have the authority to subject the United States to review of an outside entity? Is the President undermining our sovereignty?
Funny how spending a generation of not teaching what America is about will produce a generation that...has no real idea what America is all about. In addition to teaching the basics of American history in schools, the heritage of the country was once considered proper subject matter for TV, even in prime time.
The City of Lincoln, Nebraska is in debt and recently took on an arena project that will cost much more than the $300 million+ projected. Mayor Chris Beutler and the City Council, despite these facts, have painted themselves into corners and are hard pressed to resist demands for all services to remain in place.
Grassroots in Nebraska proposes a toast to Federal Judge Royce C. Lamberth for carrying out his duties as a judge precisely as he should. We find it very unfortunate that too many judges take the opportunity of a case to legislate from the bench. It may be a little known fact that judges are not only not to engage in "making law", when the intent of the law is very clear they are not even supposed to interpret it. In these instances, the action required is quite clear.
When considering how to get out of the way of the growing red ink tsunami gushing out of D.C., one of the first questions that comes to mind is what states can do about it. Many federal programs could be rejected by states, but they aren't. Obviously, they want the money. Prior governors and legislators have opted to accept federal funds in an effort to tout how much they accomplish while in office, handing the strings and increased obligations to the next set of officials.
It's tough, trying to live up to so much hype. It's particularly troublesome when a guy is granted status as the Second Coming or a super hero. Jib Jab, maker of some very funny political videos, gives us a glimpse of the President's super power potential. It's just too bad he seems to have forgotten where he put the suit...
Nebraska's Ben Nelson apparently is better at cutting deals than a Persian bizarre rug salesman. In addition to securing "The Cornhusker Kickback" in exchange for his healthcare vote, it seems Nelson also made sure he obtained some big money to provide himself with political advertising cover. The Democratic National Committee provided $500,000 for Nelson to run a flurry of TV ads in Nebraska to calm down angry constituents.
The gulf coast oil spill was and is a horrible disaster with consequences that will last for years to come. But when one looks at the "big picture", the oil spill is dwarfed by the tsunami of red ink that promises to suck everyone into its wake. The life boats are well within our reach - they are located right within in our own states.
The City of Lincoln budget has been in trouble year after year. One of the reasons is the very loud folks who show up at every turn to demanding that every city program remain in place. Grassroots in Nebraska has a new feature: The Whine List. Some recent attendees of a City Council meeting are a first "honorees".