New EPA Regulations Will Close 20% of Electricity Coal Production, RAISING RATES & KILLING JOBS

Over the next 18 months, the Environmental Protection Agency will finalize a flurry of new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury, smog, ozone, greenhouse gases, water intake, coal ash—it’s all getting regulated. And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling.

Industry groups such the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, and the American Legislative Exchange Council have dubbed the coming rules “EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck.” The regulations, they say, will cost utilities up to $129 billion and force them to retire one-fifth of coal capacity. Given that coal provides 45 percent of the country’s power, that means higher electric bills, more blackouts and fewer jobs. The doomsday scenario has alarmed Republicans in the House, who have been scrambling to block the measures.

Article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/getting-ready-for-a-wave-of-coal-plant-shutdowns/2011/08/19/gIQAzkZ0PJ_blog.html

Federal Governments Regulatory Overreach Smothering Economy

Last year, President Obama promised Americans a recovery summer. This year, he's given us a regulatory summer. He's thrown a giant wet blanket on economic recovery and has given Americans a summer of more burdens, more costs and more rules.

BARRASSO: Regulatory overreach smothering economy - Washington Times

Governments Unintended Consequences

Special thank you to this fellow Blog for the video: http://www.can-you-hear-us-now.com/

Study Reveals State Revenue Declining From Tobacco Sin Tax

Like many states, Arizona’s public finances are in miserable shape. And much of the state’s budget trouble can be attributed to a decade-old decision to finance an expansion of low-income health insurance coverage with revenue dependent on tobacco industry profits.

A little more than a decade ago, the state grew its low-income health insurance rolls, claiming the new enrollees would be paid for by revenue from a deal with tobacco industry. Now, with smoking rates (and tobacco industry revenues) falling, a budget crisis brewing, and a growing number of individuals eligible for Medicaid, the state has chosen to pare back its health coverage for low-income adults.

Starting July 8, the state’s Medicaid program will implement changes expected to reduce the program’s rolls by 117,000 single, childless adults over the next year. After much delay, the Obama administration last week finally granted Arizona permission to go through with the cuts, but only grudgingly. "We regret the action Arizona is taking," a federal Medicaid official told The Arizona Republic.
Read the entire article here:
http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/06/smoked-out

For the report click here:
http://www.arizonatax.org/publications/special_reports/Tobacco_Taxes.pdf

Political Cowards Love The Sin Tax

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-09-21-column21_ST_N.htm

Politicians have rushed to raise these new levies as if they're the policy equivalent of rescuing kittens. In the past fiscal year, 11 states have increased cigarette taxes, while five states upped their gas taxes. (Yes, even driving is seen as a sin in some quarters today.) Earlier this year, Colorado stopped exempting sugary drinks and fatty snacks from a 2.9% sales tax, while Washington state hiked taxes on beer and soda. And the proposals keep coming: Californians will vote in November whether to legalize and tax marijuana, more than 130 Maryland General Assembly candidates have signed a pledge to vote for a 10-cent tax on all alcoholic drinks, and in Oregon, the Public Health Division is pushing for a soda tax.

CEO Gives Obama a Piece of Her Mind

"I inherit a mess everyday, your job is to fix things and get people to work together for a common goal."

United States Post Office: The HUGE LIE

December 2010 was the first of two raises before talk began about a shortened work week, eliminating Saturday deliveries. They have also offered $20,000 bonuses to non union workers to retire early.
See all related links here:

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A very special THANKS to twitters @Bconsdr8 for the linked history!

The U.S. Postal Service has lost $5.7 billion so far this year and will require significant help from Congress to get back on track, USPS officials said Friday.
http://ht.ly/5WN2r

The Postal Service continues to face long-term financial challenges and despite significant cost reductions will reach its statutory borrowing limit by the end of the fiscal year and default on a number of obligations to the federal government, officials told reporters. USPS has a $5.5 billion payment to its retiree health benefits fund due Sept. 30.

The Federal Trade Commission includes a long list of implicit subsidies the Postal Service receives that are not available to private companies,” said Issa in the letter to APWU President Cliff Guffey. The letter notes that “the Postal Service is exempt from, among other items, federal, state, and local income tax, all state and local taxes (including property tax), and vehicle registration and titling fees.”

The letter also notes that USPS has access to borrowing directly from the United States Treasury at very low rates. As of the end of Fiscal Year 2010, the Postal Service had $4.1 billion in debt with an interest rate below 0.3% as well as an additional short-term revolving credit line of $3.4 billion at an interest rate of 0.206%.

These subsidies are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually, Congressman Darrell Issa asked the union not to mislead the American people.

Ray Stevens On The Obama Budget Plan

Unhappy about Obama’s budget?
So is Ray Stevens!