It's bad enough to be from Middletown (And I mean that in total sympathy; I have a soft spot for the place) without getting a $37,500 traffic ticket on the job. Wow. Just...wow.
The Transportation Bill I mentioned made it through the House and Senate without any issues. On to see if Strickland signs it...and since he helped negotiate the final form, I'll be a lil puzzled about a veto.
Tom Letson wants to be able to marry you, which is why he proposed a bill in the Ohio House to allow lawmakers to perform civil marriages (since we know they're not "unions" here in Ohio).
And let me digress here for a bit. I take serious issue with the fact a majority of people in this state think that homosexual couples don't deserve to marry. It's in the top three reasons why I'm conflicted about living here. I bet these were the same people who thought blacks should have their own water fountains too.
On that note, time to leave for the week. You kids have fun and don't do anything too dangerous over the weekend.
Wednesday
Negotiations Bear Fruit on Transport Budget
So you remember me blogging about Strickland's transportation plan? Negotiations between Senate Republicans, House Democrats, and the Governor's office created a compromise bill. Main items? (From the Columbus Dispatch)
- Truck speed limit will rise from the current 55mph for commercial vehicles to 65mph like the rest of us.
- Construction zone cameras are nixed, no ifs ands or buts.
- Cops still won't be able to pull you over for not wearing your seat belt (they have to have another reason to pull you over).
- The Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati-Dayton rail line is moving along, with the Senate Republicans agreeing to let the Controlling Board have the final say (letting the planning/approval process move forward in time to compete for federal funds.
- Strickland wanted to raise the cost of regular vehicle registration $5.75, but that was rejected. Other fees like vanity plates WILL go up to raise State Patrol funds.
- The negotiating teams also worked out extra unemployment benefits for some workers (though I'm kinda lost on why this is in a transportation bill).
Total price tag? $9.6 billion. I don't see anything that gets me all riled up...but I haven't tracked down the actual legislation and dug through the details, either. I'm mostly curious to see what happens with the rail line...we really, really, really need to push mass and rapid transit much more than we typically do.
Monday
North Korean Missile Launch: Merely a Sign of More Trouble to Come
North Korea is launching a missile. One it claims is for putting a satellite into space. Yeah, whatever. Most of us know that a missile powerful enough to put a satellite into orbit is also powerful enough to put a nuke into Kansas City. Or anywhere else on the planet, for that matter.
So we can all agree (for the most part) this rocket launch in just over a week is a not-so-thinly veiled threat.
Are the North Koreans going to drop a nuke on us? I really, really doubt it. So does everyone else who matters. In fact, Defense Secretary Gates made it clear there isn't any military action planned.
(Side note: I'm linking to Fox News against my better judgement. I'll explain below).
While the Fox News program makes it sound as if we're not able to shoot down the missile, we totally could. Admiral Keating said we were prepared to, and I don't doubt for a minute we have the capability to shoot that tin can out of the sky.
Political will to shoot it down? THAT is what's lacking. The Obama Administration isn't prepared to commit an act of war, and I think that's the right stance. North Korea knows no good will come from open violence, so they aren't going to commit any. Why should we shoot first?
We shot first in Iraq, and see where that got us? Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
As this AP story says, the issue is the breakdown in disarmament talks. Once the missile is launched, North Korea is in violation of UN agreements on balistic activity. Then, the world can either ignore this blatant disregard for international law...or add sanctions against North Korea.
North Korea made it clear that if sanctions happen, they won't continue with the nuclear disarmament talks. THAT is a problem...but not one we can solve easily by starting a war.
Rock and a hard place. This is why all Presidents turn grey and wrinkly after only a few years in office.
So we can all agree (for the most part) this rocket launch in just over a week is a not-so-thinly veiled threat.
Are the North Koreans going to drop a nuke on us? I really, really doubt it. So does everyone else who matters. In fact, Defense Secretary Gates made it clear there isn't any military action planned.
(Side note: I'm linking to Fox News against my better judgement. I'll explain below).
While the Fox News program makes it sound as if we're not able to shoot down the missile, we totally could. Admiral Keating said we were prepared to, and I don't doubt for a minute we have the capability to shoot that tin can out of the sky.
Political will to shoot it down? THAT is what's lacking. The Obama Administration isn't prepared to commit an act of war, and I think that's the right stance. North Korea knows no good will come from open violence, so they aren't going to commit any. Why should we shoot first?
We shot first in Iraq, and see where that got us? Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
As this AP story says, the issue is the breakdown in disarmament talks. Once the missile is launched, North Korea is in violation of UN agreements on balistic activity. Then, the world can either ignore this blatant disregard for international law...or add sanctions against North Korea.
North Korea made it clear that if sanctions happen, they won't continue with the nuclear disarmament talks. THAT is a problem...but not one we can solve easily by starting a war.
Rock and a hard place. This is why all Presidents turn grey and wrinkly after only a few years in office.
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