The recent transportation budget passed by the Ohio Legislature included extended benefits for unemployed people. Longer time to collect unemployment benefits, and some help on the healthcare front as well.
Is this legitimate citizen support? Or just a feather for election time caps? If it is legitimate, is it wise? Do we need to deepend the deficeit even further? And what do we do with these extended benefits once the situation is back to normal, and most return to work?
Let me know what you think on this issue, from the stimulus at large to these extended benefits in specific to the auto and bank bailouts. What's your take?
Post comments, leave me a Wall post on Facebook, Twitter it, or shoot me an e-mail at john.macgregor at g mail.com! I'll post a recap on Monday with everyone's response.
Wednesday
Monday
Latest Headlines...
Latest Headlines, from the Columbus Dispatch, as of 344pm Sunday, 4/5/09:
Man Dead, Woman Injured in Eastside Shooting
Man Killed in Shooting in East Side Alley
2 OSU Students Robbed at Gunpoint Near Campus
Man's Body Found on Westside Lawn
What the hell? Is this really the uptick in violent headlines I think it is? I'm used to seeing one every couple days, but three in one? Is this spring fever gone bad?
And it also makes me think...for each one of these that hits the news, how many others don't? I can't even wrap my head around a life where this sort of stuff is the the norm. I also can't wrap my head around how many people can't imagine a life where it ISN'T the norm. What's it gonna take till we figure out a way to get along without killing each other?
Man Dead, Woman Injured in Eastside Shooting
Man Killed in Shooting in East Side Alley
2 OSU Students Robbed at Gunpoint Near Campus
Man's Body Found on Westside Lawn
What the hell? Is this really the uptick in violent headlines I think it is? I'm used to seeing one every couple days, but three in one? Is this spring fever gone bad?
And it also makes me think...for each one of these that hits the news, how many others don't? I can't even wrap my head around a life where this sort of stuff is the the norm. I also can't wrap my head around how many people can't imagine a life where it ISN'T the norm. What's it gonna take till we figure out a way to get along without killing each other?
Sunday
Just When You Think Twitter Isn't Much Use...
...something like this pops up. I follow the website Columbus Underground on my Twitter page, and this morning they tweeted something that caught my eye...COTA bus changes. I've got a bit of a thing for public transit (even if I don't use it nearly as much as I should/could) so I thought it was worth checking out. Here's the CU article...COTA is adding a Hilliard-OSU express, as well as several other adjustments. You can get the full list there.
There's bigger news from Iowa, because on Friday gay marriage became legal in that great farming state. It blows my mind, because a state that's as rural (and typical conservative as rural states are) as Iowa is able to recognize a basic human right, but California and Ohio aren't. I mean, seriously? 3/50th of the country is moving in the right direction...but we need a few more states to reach critical mass.
The North Korean satellite launch was a monstrous success...! At least, according to the North Korean government. As the BBC will tell us (and I trust the BBC infinitely more than my own government sometimes, never mind the North Korean one) the rocket launch failed, and the satellite with its sing-a-long payload never reached orbit. President Obama took the opportunity to push his arms control agenda, telling us, "This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons."
That's a bit more than I intended to post today...but that's what happens when I'm putting off other work ;-) Have a good rest of the weekend!
There's bigger news from Iowa, because on Friday gay marriage became legal in that great farming state. It blows my mind, because a state that's as rural (and typical conservative as rural states are) as Iowa is able to recognize a basic human right, but California and Ohio aren't. I mean, seriously? 3/50th of the country is moving in the right direction...but we need a few more states to reach critical mass.
The North Korean satellite launch was a monstrous success...! At least, according to the North Korean government. As the BBC will tell us (and I trust the BBC infinitely more than my own government sometimes, never mind the North Korean one) the rocket launch failed, and the satellite with its sing-a-long payload never reached orbit. President Obama took the opportunity to push his arms control agenda, telling us, "This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons."
That's a bit more than I intended to post today...but that's what happens when I'm putting off other work ;-) Have a good rest of the weekend!
Friday
Get Your Lawmaker to Marry You! ...the News Roundup
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.
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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