Articles tagged as

Spending

Paul Hodes – Lobbyist?

The Concord Monitor is reporting that Paul Hodes has started a business consultancy. This will have him back and forth to Washington DC for the purpose of connecting northern New England to Washington DC; a lateral move from his role as congressman when he was trying to sign New Hampshire away to Washington DC.

Washington, DC: INSANITY REIGNS!

What are we going to have to do to stop these insane cretins who are running and ruining our country? These idiots are actually in charge! U.S. sets $223B deficit record…for ONE MONTH!

Sebelius Admits to Obamacare Double tap

Double TapFans of the movie Zombieland might understand the post title right away.  In the movie the lead protagonist, "Columbus" has a set of rules he always follows which he believes are the only reason he is still alive after the world is turned into Zombieland by a mutant strain of Mad Cow disease that turns almost everyone into crazed, flesh eating zombies.

Rule #1 is cardio.   You need to be able to run away from Zombies.

Rule # 31 is Check the back seat.  Always look to see if there is a Zombie in the back of the car before you drive away in it.

Rule # 3, beware of bathrooms.  Zombies seem to be able to sense when you are at your weakest.

Rule #18 Limber up.  Wouldn’t want to come up lame.

And Rule #2?  Double Tap.  It is not a waste of ammo to put another round into the head of a zombie to make sure they are down for the count.

So who stumbles into my metaphor but Obama Zombie and Health and Inhuman Services Minister Kathleen Sebelius.  Note to the left–no, I am not suggesting we double tap her, I am suggesting she and the democrats of the 111th congress–and all your lying or deluded selves included– have double-tapped the Taxpayers.  Sebelius has just admitted to a congressional committee that a huge chunk of money they claimed was going to offset the costs of Obamacare is the legislative-accounting equivalent of a double tap.

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The Real Reason For Raising The Drop Out Age To 18?

I can tell you from long discussions about the various pathways to “graduation” that the goal is more geared toward getting kids through school on paper to make the numbers look good. Any reasonable path to that end is considered a win, but by any traditional standard it is anything but a public school success story.

The Cost of Defining “Adequate” In Merrimack NH

AppleA funny thing happened on the way to the ‘off-hand comment’ on the Merrimack TEA facebook page.  I was accused of not using "real and accurate data" and that my "rhetoric was not doing anyone any good."

Nothing surprising there I suppose but to stay on point–what was it I said that earned me such a response?

I announced that if you took the total Merrimack School budget and divided it by the total student enrollment that it cost more than  sending your kid to UNH.  This appears to have riled some people up.  In fact someone sent me a nice itemized list of the "costs" of sending your kid to UNH for a year just to prove I was wrong, and to justify how Merrimack’s cost per child wasn’t as much.

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#2 Semi-Occasional Quote: Democrats brought us to this….

From Red Meat Conservative via RedState.com:  As we prepare for battle over budget and entitlement reform, we must remember who originally orchestrated our fiscal ruin. We must ‘pin the tail on the donkey’. Let’s punish the plunderers, not the new generation of taxpayers. To be sure, Republicans must share the blame: They have been complicit—and … Read more

Press Release: Congress Frank Guinta on the Continuing Resolution

For Immediate ReleaseContact:  J. Mark Powell(202) 226-8530 GUINTA STATEMENT ON A SHORT-TERM CONTINUING RESOLUTION “I won’t vote for a stopgap spending bill that doesn’t contain meaningful cuts in federal spending.” (Washington – February 28, 2011)    Rep. Frank Guinta (NH-01) released the following statement on a short-term Continuing Resolution. Background:    On February 19th, the House passed … Read more

Two Congressmen And A Free Throw

HR 1 The US House just finished it’s work on HR1, cleaning up after democrats who in 2010 abrogated yet another  obligation when they found themselves incapable of writing the budget they really wanted right before an election.

The liberal-progressives wanted more spending but that was not politically advantageous.  And since the single driving-force behind all Democrat decisions is politics the budget got relegated to the back of the bus, where the electorate’s short attention spans were meant to forget that democrats were never fiscally conscious representatives–they just tried to play them on the campaign trail. 

But avoiding the high profile budget battle was more evidence that they had something to hide. The Democrat House majority was appropriately sedated and placed under observation, while the Senate saw minor adjustments but no change in leadership.  So the process of changing our spending ways would still have to go through a Democrat controlled Senate and across the desk of a President who thinks the words "spending cuts" are just a rhetorical flourish used to provide cover for more spending.

Obama’s budget is proof enough of that.

But Obama only proposes a budget.  The House is in charge of spending.  So the new Republican congress went to the back seat of the Hopey-changey bus and picked up the budget obligations abandoned by the 111th congress.  This wwas a free shot at changing the fiscal direction of the country before writing their own first official budget, which was not due until later in 2011.  It was a gimme, a free throw, but one that had to survive the democrat Senate and the Spender in Chief.

So how did it turn out?

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Obama and Jobs

President Obama says he is focusing on jobs.  Is that good or bad?  In 2009 and 2010 he said he would “focus like a laser” on jobs.  Yet we suffer from the longest high unemployment since the great depression with no end in sight.   


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Belknap County – Employee Compensation

The "invisible" level of government in NH is that at the County level – most people "get" their local town or city level, and at the State.  How often, though, do people know about County level? Or that their NH Representatives (their "County Delegation") not only help set the spending at the State level, but at the County level as well.  Sure, the Commissioners help to craft the budget, but it is the NH Reps from that County that finalize it.

And here in Belknap County, as with all levels of Government, the largest expenditure is always labor.  Here is the total compensation (thanks to loyal reader Tom) we "bosses" pay our employees (after all, it is we taxpayers that hire and fire, and set the compensation of, our employees via our elected politicians).

So, fellow bosses – you good with what we are paying?  Or are some a bit out of line in your thinking? I’ve also sorted the data other ways as well, but I have one OBVIOUS question:  WHY are these two positions paid so high?

Citizens Council Director 104,229 7,604 111,833
Economic Dev Council Director 100,840 9,036 109,876

Remember – your property taxes pay these levels of compensation – and as you mull that question over, ask yourself, in this time of economic distress, my favorite question:

What is the Proper Role of Government?

And are these kinds of positions "absolutely necessary" – or "nice to have when thing are flush, rich, dumb, and happy?" Remember – the "invisible level of government" – did you know these folks got this?  Do you even know what they do???

Hey, you in the other Counties!  Send me your numbers – do a Right To Know if you have to!  Let’s find out who has the highest numbers!

Note: I think a couple of the position’ numbers are not quite right – that the benefit level is the same as the wages – am checking into that.

Annul Compensation Report Fiscal Year: 2009 – 2009
Gross County Paid Total
Department Description Wages Benefits Compensation





NH – Administration Social Services Director 63,267 63,267 126,535
NH – Nursing – RN Registered Nurse 103,139 21,300 124,439
Dept of Corrections Superintendent 98,948 24,755 123,702
Finance Chief Administrator & Finance Officer 92,373 24,737 117,110
Citizens Council Director 104,229 7,604 111,833
Economic Dev Council Director 100,840 9,036 109,876
County Attorney County Attorney 89,164 19,852 109,016
Sheriffs Dept Deputy 80,554 26,274 106,828
Administrator Administrator 86,649 19,353 106,001
NH – Administration Director of Nursing 79,687 23,672 103,359
NH – Nursing – RN Registered Nurse – F/T 76,285 22,748 99,032
NH – Nursing – RN Registered Nurse – F/T 76,862 18,469 95,331
NH – Nursing – LPN Licensed Practical Nurse – F/T 74,751 18,657 93,409
Sheriffs Dept Deputy 67,080 25,042 92,122
Sheriffs Dept Sheriff 74,968 16,579 91,547
Dept of Corrections Correction Officer 45,593 45,593 91,186
Sheriffs Dept Sergeant 65,806 24,880 90,686
Dept of Corrections Registered Nurse 72,038 18,407 90,444
Sheriffs Dept Sergeant 69,332 20,741 90,072

Rest are after the jump:

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#1 Semi-Occasional Quote: We are our own fiscal disease….

The excellent Kevin Williamson, from "Travails, Chinese and American" in the pages of National Review Online, March 7, 2011. Notes Williamson (picture on right): "Our worst problem is that democratic governments lack the kind of robust fiscal controls that prevent the political class from pillaging the productive economy to feather the nests of its own members … Read more

And they think that Rail Service in NH would be profitable??

Bumped: Given that Tim’s post is saying that the NHRTA (NH Rail Transit Authority) should be ridden out of NH out on a rail (pun intended), I decided to highlight the cost of the Downeaster – the most popular rail in NH could not exist without huge taxpayer subsidies. Avg % Fare per Subsidy / … Read more

Merrimack Starts A TEA Party

Former Merrimack Town councilor Mike Malzone has decided he has had enough. What tipped him over the edge? An 11 pm town meeting decision to implement pay as you throw after just about everyone had gone home.

Smoke Em After You Buy Em…In New Hampshire

Right off the bat, thanks to Matt at Red Hampshire for reminding me about Ken Wyler’s bill to cut the cigarette tax by $0.10 cents per pack.  (HB 156) I’ve been queuing up a post on this having written about it often and what better time than now to unload it.

First the basics.  Wyler thinks cutting the tax by a buck a carton will actually increase revenue by attracting more out of state traffic.  Ken is correct.  A larger cut would be better, but I guess we can crawl before we walk.  And with that in mind, lets review why it will raise more revenue.  And I’m not even going to have to go back very far for a decent flashback.

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A Democrat’s Idea Of Tough Choices

Obama’s budget is out. It raises tax revenues by adding more taxes. It is reported that the deficit will increase by as much as 7 trillion dollars as a result. (That’s $7,000,000,000,000.00). It defends all the abusive spending of the past two budgets by ignoring the trillions in new spending and debt. It will set records for a third and forth consecutive trillion plus budget with record setting deficits.

How big do we really want our Government to grow?

Remember, as you look at this graph – this is not due to inflation: This isn’t like a car, or a house, where the price has risen pretty much because of inflation. This is because of the expansion of government, and that government has become more expensive. Remember too – as Government takes more from … Read more

Democrats, Trains And HB 218

De railedThe Union Leader has a great editorial in this mornings Sunday News titled "Free Trains."  It is great for several reasons the least of which is that it mirrors concerns I have been expressing for years.  That no matter who pays to build them, someone has to pay to keep them.  That would be New Hampshire Taxpayers. But Democrats are aghast that the NH House would dissolve the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority–the head of a beast seeking to force commuter rail upon us–because hey it doesn’t cost anything.

But it does cost and it could lead to something that costs us even more in the future.  A lot more.

December 2009 at NH Insider – I hit it out of the park when someone compared road taxes to rail taxes.

Passenger rail costs are not limited to the root infrastructure itself.  That would be rails versus roads.   Taxpayers would have to subsidize passenger rail-cars, fuel the cars, maintain the cars, probably pay the workers and their benefits, and support the entire system when it fails to turn a profit, which will be always and probably forever.   While roads have some other infrastructure nothing compares to rail.

In contrast people buy their own cars, and pay for their own fuel and maintenance.  They may buy the car to get to a job that’s probably not funded by taxpayers either. (Except in Concord) Taxpayers do not need to subsidize any of that where with rail we’re supporting all of it.  So there is no possible apples to apples comparison to road and rail taxes. 

The state also makes a lot of money on registration fees and fuel taxes for road vehicles, tolls and license plates, and some towns rely so heavily on registration fees that even minor reductions can cause budget issues.   Passenger rail offers no comparable net increase in revenues and in all likely hood a net loss.  So Passenger rail risks reducing revenues and increasing tax obligations for no significant greater good. 

Read the whole thing here. 

But that’s hardly the most pressing point about the ongoing illusion of free commuter rail…

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Supporting A Corrupt Business

Would you stand up in a public hearing and defend an organization implicated in aiding illegal activity, sexual abuse, statutory rape and sex trafficking?  What kind of people would?  How about democrats, union members, and greedy corporate stooges on the take? (oh, my!)

If it was anyone but Planned Parenthood, the national media sensation that admits it has a ‘training’ problem, the professional left would be storming the castle not just to demand why taxpayer dollars were begin given to these criminals, but when the bastards were going to be rounded up and put on trial.

There would be bus loads of angry folks protesting outside executives homes, harassing staff and customers.

Left wing bloggers, even at that sad little web site Blue Hampshire, would be disconnecting their brains from their keyboard, bellowing about the injustice and abuse, the violation of civil rights, and another destructive association by a political party full of hateful bigots and misogynists who view women as second class citizens.  A few of them might even ponder running a few people down in the crosswalk.

But this is Planned Parenthood, a national business, a big business, that makes plenty of money while using its status as a “health care provider” to milk taxpayers for money it does not even need.  And there are still a few people here in New Hampshire willing to stand up and say incredibly stupid things in defense of a business model that seems incapable of protecting the interests of the young girls it claims to champion from a life as an underage sex slave.

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“Retard” Makes A Comeback

In a moment of honesty, John Gage, the head of the American Federation of Government Employees Union (AFGE), calls elected officials who want to cut government pay “Mentally Retarded.”

Don’t Say There Is No Place To Cut.

Privatize the public school system and shift the educators, staff, maintenance, and transportation and facility costs off the books, along with converting public benefits and pensions into the same kind of programs the rest of the private markets have, and you would see property tax rates plummet.

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