Washington Times (blog) | Jason Chimera ejected for charging Adam McQuaid; Shanaban? (VIDEO) Yahoo! Sports (blog) Minutes earlier, Washington went down a forward when Jason Chimera was ejected after this hit on Adam McQuaid of the Bruins: Chimera was given a five minute major for charging and a game misconduct. It was later announced that McQuaid would not return ... Chimera ejected for charging penalty. More discipline to come? Jason Chimera ejected for charging Adam McQuaid (video) Jason Chimera ejected after hitting Adam McQuaid |
Friday, March 30, 2012
Jason Chimera ejected for charging Adam McQuaid; Shanaban? (VIDEO) - Yahoo! Sports (blog)
afukakuja.wordpress.com
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Anchor BanCorp gets extension on U.S. Bank debt - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
ignatiywulyxura.blogspot.com
The extension relieved Madison-based Anchot BanCorp from reducingits $116.34 million debt on the line of credit to $60 milliohn by Monday to meet an automatixc principal reduction of the loan commitment. Under the amended agreement, however, Anchor must pay off the entirw loan byMay 29. "This amended credit agreementywith U.S. Bank provides us with additional time needed to work towardsz finalizing a financing strategy appropriate to the realitiesof today'sx capital markets," said Doug Timmerman, chairman and CEO.
"Atg this point we are waiting for the capitapl markets to warm to thefinancial sector, which will help position us to implemenyt an appropriate long term capitapl strategy," Timmerman said. If the debt is not U.S. Bank, based in Minneapolis, could seize Anchor BanCorp in a foreclosure proceeding since the debt is securedby stock, according to Anchor's regulatory filings. Anchor BanCorp ABCW) is the holding company for AnchorBankin Wisconsin. It has 74 full service offices and two loan originationonly offices, all in Wisconsin.
The extension relieved Madison-based Anchot BanCorp from reducingits $116.34 million debt on the line of credit to $60 milliohn by Monday to meet an automatixc principal reduction of the loan commitment. Under the amended agreement, however, Anchor must pay off the entirw loan byMay 29. "This amended credit agreementywith U.S. Bank provides us with additional time needed to work towardsz finalizing a financing strategy appropriate to the realitiesof today'sx capital markets," said Doug Timmerman, chairman and CEO.
"Atg this point we are waiting for the capitapl markets to warm to thefinancial sector, which will help position us to implemenyt an appropriate long term capitapl strategy," Timmerman said. If the debt is not U.S. Bank, based in Minneapolis, could seize Anchor BanCorp in a foreclosure proceeding since the debt is securedby stock, according to Anchor's regulatory filings. Anchor BanCorp ABCW) is the holding company for AnchorBankin Wisconsin. It has 74 full service offices and two loan originationonly offices, all in Wisconsin.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Mercer survey: Execs take brunt of salary cuts in
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
Only 56 percent of executives are expectec to see an increas e in base paythis year, compared to more than 70 percen of office, clerical and technical staffers, accordingv to early figures from Mercer’s 2009/2010 U.S. Compensationm Planning Survey. Those managers that do get a raise, however, will see a 3.5 percengt hike versus 3.1 percent for office/clerical/technical Likewise, executives fare worse when it comesz tosalary freezes. Forty-four percent of companies plan to freeze executive salaries in 2009 and 15 percenyin 2010. Only 28 percent plan salary freezeswfor office/production/service employees this year, and 11 percent next year.
Pay raise s are more likely inthe manufacturing, information technologyt and engineering sectors, while marketing, finance and saleas employees are seeing their paychecks decline, according to Mercer’s Market Pulse Report. “Whilee salary increases overall arerelatively low, certain jobs are buckinyg the trend with increases nearly twice the rate of the overall market,” said Susan Haberman, U.S. regional leadert for informationproduct solutions. “Organizations are paying more for thesre positions since theysupport company-specific Mercer surveyed more than 640 organizationws for its Market Pulse Report, and about 850 for its Compensatiobn Planning Survey.
Only 56 percent of executives are expectec to see an increas e in base paythis year, compared to more than 70 percen of office, clerical and technical staffers, accordingv to early figures from Mercer’s 2009/2010 U.S. Compensationm Planning Survey. Those managers that do get a raise, however, will see a 3.5 percengt hike versus 3.1 percent for office/clerical/technical Likewise, executives fare worse when it comesz tosalary freezes. Forty-four percent of companies plan to freeze executive salaries in 2009 and 15 percenyin 2010. Only 28 percent plan salary freezeswfor office/production/service employees this year, and 11 percent next year.
Pay raise s are more likely inthe manufacturing, information technologyt and engineering sectors, while marketing, finance and saleas employees are seeing their paychecks decline, according to Mercer’s Market Pulse Report. “Whilee salary increases overall arerelatively low, certain jobs are buckinyg the trend with increases nearly twice the rate of the overall market,” said Susan Haberman, U.S. regional leadert for informationproduct solutions. “Organizations are paying more for thesre positions since theysupport company-specific Mercer surveyed more than 640 organizationws for its Market Pulse Report, and about 850 for its Compensatiobn Planning Survey.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
UMKC, Johnson County Community College reach credit-transfer agreement - Kansas City Business Journal:
humojo.wordpress.com
Curators of the University of Missouri, on behalf of UMKC and the JCCC Board of Trustees, will sign an articulation agreement Wednesday at JCCC. The agreement guarantees that UMKC will accept and applu designated freshman and sophomor e credits from JCCC associate degree programw towardUMKC bachelor’s degree programs, consistent with the treatment of non-transfer studentg credits, UMKC said in a Tuesday “As an urban-serving university, UMKC is dedicated to making highe r education accessible to all students and forminf meaningful partnerships with area institutions,” Mel UMKC’s vice chancellor of student affairss and enrollment management, said in the “This articulation agreement with Johnson Countty Community College is just one way we affirmk that commitment.
” UMKC also offers the Metrk Rate, a program that allows residentws of Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte countiees in Kansas to pay in-state tuitiomn for undergraduate study.
Curators of the University of Missouri, on behalf of UMKC and the JCCC Board of Trustees, will sign an articulation agreement Wednesday at JCCC. The agreement guarantees that UMKC will accept and applu designated freshman and sophomor e credits from JCCC associate degree programw towardUMKC bachelor’s degree programs, consistent with the treatment of non-transfer studentg credits, UMKC said in a Tuesday “As an urban-serving university, UMKC is dedicated to making highe r education accessible to all students and forminf meaningful partnerships with area institutions,” Mel UMKC’s vice chancellor of student affairss and enrollment management, said in the “This articulation agreement with Johnson Countty Community College is just one way we affirmk that commitment.
” UMKC also offers the Metrk Rate, a program that allows residentws of Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte countiees in Kansas to pay in-state tuitiomn for undergraduate study.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Knicks links: Mike Woodson era moves to 5-0 - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
afukakuja.wordpress.com
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Knicks links: Mike Woodson era moves to 5-0 The Star-Ledger - NJ.com By Alex Raskin, NJ.com Knicks blogger Drew Hallowell/Getty ImagesIman Shumpert and Carmelo Anthony have helped interim Knicks coach Mike Woodson stay perfect in his brief tenure with the team. Wednesday night's game is supposed to be the last meeting ... |
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Mediation ordered on Veranda Park building - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
obofym.wordpress.com
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Karen Jenneman on June 22ordered Azzouz’s related firm and the bank to mediatde their dispute on the partially built-ouy Offices at Veranda Park 1500 Azzouz on May 6 file d a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the Middlew District of Florida on behalt of , the entityg that owns his 55-unit building, just one day before it was scheduled for a foreclosure VP Phase IV and other related companies owed $15.32 million to mortgage holder Fifth Third Bank, whicgh on May 7 filed a motion asking the judger to either allow the foreclosure to continuse or dismiss the bankruptcy case.
Fifth Third claimed VP Phasd IV filed the petition just to stop the foreclosurre and thatthe single-asset entituy had no reasonable prospects to reorganize undert Chapter 11, the filing said. The decisiojn by Jenneman allows the bankruptcygto continue, said VP Phasw IV attorney Norman Hull, owner of Orlando-baserd law firm Norman Linder Hull PA. Azzouz was directed to turn on utilitiew and provide proof of insurance to Fifth Third on or before June 29, as well as file his reorganization plan by Aug. 5., Hull Azzouz could not be reachedrfor comment.
Meanwhile, other buildings in the $1 billion Veranda Park are facingfseveral issues, including bankruptcy, pending foreclosurde auctions, lawsuits and liens. Some of those include: The Residences at Veranda Park, a 157-unitt residential condo building at 4000Grands Ave., is scheduled to hit the foreclosurde auction block July 14 if Azzouz’s ownership VP Phase III LLC, doesn’rt pay $59.7 million owed to Wachovias Bank NA/Wells Fargo and Regionsx Bank. • Gene Chambers, Chapter 7 trustee for an individuao who paida $41,424 deposit to VP Phass III for a residential filed a breach of contract suit againsyt VP Phase III on June 10.
The trustew is attempting to recover that claiming VP Phase III did not complete the condo by thepromisefd two-year time frame. • Commercial Ventures Orlando LLC, an Azzouz-owned entity that owns the CVS inVerandaa Park, filed a Chaptere 11 bankruptcy petition on May 5. The entitg owes a total of about $1.5 million to securec creditors andnearly $5,000 to unsecured creditors, court documents said.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Karen Jenneman on June 22ordered Azzouz’s related firm and the bank to mediatde their dispute on the partially built-ouy Offices at Veranda Park 1500 Azzouz on May 6 file d a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the Middlew District of Florida on behalt of , the entityg that owns his 55-unit building, just one day before it was scheduled for a foreclosure VP Phase IV and other related companies owed $15.32 million to mortgage holder Fifth Third Bank, whicgh on May 7 filed a motion asking the judger to either allow the foreclosure to continuse or dismiss the bankruptcy case.
Fifth Third claimed VP Phasd IV filed the petition just to stop the foreclosurre and thatthe single-asset entituy had no reasonable prospects to reorganize undert Chapter 11, the filing said. The decisiojn by Jenneman allows the bankruptcygto continue, said VP Phasw IV attorney Norman Hull, owner of Orlando-baserd law firm Norman Linder Hull PA. Azzouz was directed to turn on utilitiew and provide proof of insurance to Fifth Third on or before June 29, as well as file his reorganization plan by Aug. 5., Hull Azzouz could not be reachedrfor comment.
Meanwhile, other buildings in the $1 billion Veranda Park are facingfseveral issues, including bankruptcy, pending foreclosurde auctions, lawsuits and liens. Some of those include: The Residences at Veranda Park, a 157-unitt residential condo building at 4000Grands Ave., is scheduled to hit the foreclosurde auction block July 14 if Azzouz’s ownership VP Phase III LLC, doesn’rt pay $59.7 million owed to Wachovias Bank NA/Wells Fargo and Regionsx Bank. • Gene Chambers, Chapter 7 trustee for an individuao who paida $41,424 deposit to VP Phass III for a residential filed a breach of contract suit againsyt VP Phase III on June 10.
The trustew is attempting to recover that claiming VP Phase III did not complete the condo by thepromisefd two-year time frame. • Commercial Ventures Orlando LLC, an Azzouz-owned entity that owns the CVS inVerandaa Park, filed a Chaptere 11 bankruptcy petition on May 5. The entitg owes a total of about $1.5 million to securec creditors andnearly $5,000 to unsecured creditors, court documents said.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Canned pot seized in drug bust - Windsor Star
jiqatili.wordpress.com
Canned pot seized in drug bust Windsor Star By Dalson Chen, The Windsor Star March 16, 2012 11:49 AM Empty cans seized by Windsor police in a drug raid on March 14, 2012. Investigators believe the cans were being used in a marijuana packaging and trafficking operation. |
Friday, March 16, 2012
Banks bend for commercial property owners - Kansas City Business Journal:
stony-coating.blogspot.com
Banks seem more receptive now to loan such as adjusting the amountr due on the loan toallow what’s knowhn as a short because they don’t want more foreclosedd properties on their books, said owner of Orlando-based . “We’re seeing a total changs in the commercial real estate market in In addition, Dan Colachicco, regional manager for , had a clienft whose lender extended a defaulted loan for five years, shiftede it from an amortizing loan to one that’s interest-only, allowecd six months of payment relief and paid overdue real estatee taxes. “Some banks are going to some lengths to avoid takinb backreal estate.
” That’s welcome news in a marketg that two months ago rankedr No. 10 among the most commercial loan defaults in the Nearly5 percent, or $340 milliojn worth, of Central Florida’s commercial mortgage-backedf security loans were in default in said Horsham, Pa.-based RealPointr LLC. That wave of defaults isn’t quite over yet, as mortgagexs on many more properties financedthrough short-terk loans in 2006-07 are updated this year, said Jeff Sweeney, presiden t and managing principal of in As a result, many banksz are more willing to rework some of those he said. That, in turn, has helped generate property salez — so long as they’re at discounted rates.
“Everything we’ve sold in 2009 has been by more than20 percent, Sweeney said. “That’se what’s selling right now — the distressed, discounted properties. It’s the Memorial Day sale of real ButBishop — whose brokerage business has grow n 30 percent in the past two months said banks are not approving all short-sale prices. Typically, brokers must work harder to get a solid offer in hand beforr the bank will see it as an option besides foreclosure. Many times, lenders look at the real estater involved and determinewhether it’s well-positioned to perforj in the long term, added “Every lender has a different philosophy.
” That philosophgy may be based on whetherf or not the bank is overwhelmed with bad said Van Bogan, chairman and CEO of Orlando-based Florida Bank ofc Commerce. The lenders that alreadhy have a lot of distressed propertied on their books are eager to approve shory sales orother workouts, he said. But the markeyt is improving, so better-leveraged banks aren’ty in a rush. “A lot of banks are holdinb off,” Bogan said, “becaus they believe in a year or so, they’ll be able to get a bettere price.
”
Banks seem more receptive now to loan such as adjusting the amountr due on the loan toallow what’s knowhn as a short because they don’t want more foreclosedd properties on their books, said owner of Orlando-based . “We’re seeing a total changs in the commercial real estate market in In addition, Dan Colachicco, regional manager for , had a clienft whose lender extended a defaulted loan for five years, shiftede it from an amortizing loan to one that’s interest-only, allowecd six months of payment relief and paid overdue real estatee taxes. “Some banks are going to some lengths to avoid takinb backreal estate.
” That’s welcome news in a marketg that two months ago rankedr No. 10 among the most commercial loan defaults in the Nearly5 percent, or $340 milliojn worth, of Central Florida’s commercial mortgage-backedf security loans were in default in said Horsham, Pa.-based RealPointr LLC. That wave of defaults isn’t quite over yet, as mortgagexs on many more properties financedthrough short-terk loans in 2006-07 are updated this year, said Jeff Sweeney, presiden t and managing principal of in As a result, many banksz are more willing to rework some of those he said. That, in turn, has helped generate property salez — so long as they’re at discounted rates.
“Everything we’ve sold in 2009 has been by more than20 percent, Sweeney said. “That’se what’s selling right now — the distressed, discounted properties. It’s the Memorial Day sale of real ButBishop — whose brokerage business has grow n 30 percent in the past two months said banks are not approving all short-sale prices. Typically, brokers must work harder to get a solid offer in hand beforr the bank will see it as an option besides foreclosure. Many times, lenders look at the real estater involved and determinewhether it’s well-positioned to perforj in the long term, added “Every lender has a different philosophy.
” That philosophgy may be based on whetherf or not the bank is overwhelmed with bad said Van Bogan, chairman and CEO of Orlando-based Florida Bank ofc Commerce. The lenders that alreadhy have a lot of distressed propertied on their books are eager to approve shory sales orother workouts, he said. But the markeyt is improving, so better-leveraged banks aren’ty in a rush. “A lot of banks are holdinb off,” Bogan said, “becaus they believe in a year or so, they’ll be able to get a bettere price.
”
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
LCRA water plan submitted to TCEQ, review begins - CBS News
ihituvofy.wordpress.com
LCRA water plan submitted to TCEQ, review begins CBS News The LCRA on Monday submitted the plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The proposal offers methods to manage water downstream from lakes Travis and Buchanan during dry conditions. The lakes provide water for more than a million people ... LCRA unveils new plan for two lakes |
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Business working behind scenes to shape health care reform - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
nazariomuibepu1687.blogspot.com
President Obama has mobilized the grass-roots supporters that helpex elect him to lobb y for his vision of health care which includes offering Americansa government-ruj health plan as an alternatives to private insurance. A coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations plans tospend $82 milliohn on organizing efforts, advertising, research and lobbying to supporr the Obama plan. Business groups, meanwhile, mostluy are working behind the scenes to shape the legislation.
Although they have seriouas concerns about some of the proposals — including the public plan option and a mandate for employerds to provide insurance — few are trying to block healtgh care reform at this point. The cost of health insurancde has become so burdensomr that something needs to be they agree. “Nobody supports the statuss quo,” said James the ’s senior manager of healtbh policy. “We absolutely have to have reform.” For most businesw groups, that means reininh in health care costs and reforming insurance marketas so that employers have more choices in the typex ofplans available.
To achieve thosd goals, however, businesses might have to swallow somebittet medicine. An employer mandate tops the list of concern for manybusiness groups, just as it did when Bill Clintomn pushed his health care reformj plan in the 1990s. The Senate bill might includes a provision that would require employers to either providd health insurance to their employees or pay a fee to thefederall government. Some small-business owners don’t have a problem with that, includingb members of the Main Street which is part of the coalition lobbying for theObama plan.
“The way our systemk works now, where responsible employers offerf coverage andothers don’t, leaves us in a situationh with an unlevel playing field,” 11 alliances members said in a statement submitted to the Senate Financwe Committee. “If we’re contributing but other employers aren’t, that gives them a financial advantageover us,” the statement “We need to level the playing field through a systemn where everyone pitches in a reasonable But most business lobbyists contend that employers who can affors to provide health insurance do so alreadty because it helps them attract and keep good Businesses that don’t provide health insurance tend to be “marginallyh profitable,” said Denny Dennis, senior research fellow at the NFIB Researchg Foundation.
Imposing a “play-or-pay” insurance requiremenf on these businesses would cost the economy morethan 1.6 milliob jobs, according to a study. Tax credits coulsd offset some of the costs for providinbgthis coverage, but Gelfand said the credits that are undeer discussion are “extremely limited.” Congress also could exempty some small businesses — such as firmsz with less than $500,000 in annua payroll — from the employer mandate. But many business groups see this proposapl as an attempt to split thebusiness community, not as meaningful relief.
“We oppose small-business carve-outs becausd they make it easier for Congress to apply mandates againstlarger employers,” said Neil Trautwein, vice presidengt and employee benefits policy counsel of the National Retaikl Federation. “It’s also easy for Congress to come back and try to appl the mandateagainst ever-smaller employers. “No matter how good the surrounding healthcare reform, a bill containintg an employer mandate woulrd be too high a pricew to pay for reform,” Trautwein Public plan or market reforms?
President Obama has mobilized the grass-roots supporters that helpex elect him to lobb y for his vision of health care which includes offering Americansa government-ruj health plan as an alternatives to private insurance. A coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations plans tospend $82 milliohn on organizing efforts, advertising, research and lobbying to supporr the Obama plan. Business groups, meanwhile, mostluy are working behind the scenes to shape the legislation.
Although they have seriouas concerns about some of the proposals — including the public plan option and a mandate for employerds to provide insurance — few are trying to block healtgh care reform at this point. The cost of health insurancde has become so burdensomr that something needs to be they agree. “Nobody supports the statuss quo,” said James the ’s senior manager of healtbh policy. “We absolutely have to have reform.” For most businesw groups, that means reininh in health care costs and reforming insurance marketas so that employers have more choices in the typex ofplans available.
To achieve thosd goals, however, businesses might have to swallow somebittet medicine. An employer mandate tops the list of concern for manybusiness groups, just as it did when Bill Clintomn pushed his health care reformj plan in the 1990s. The Senate bill might includes a provision that would require employers to either providd health insurance to their employees or pay a fee to thefederall government. Some small-business owners don’t have a problem with that, includingb members of the Main Street which is part of the coalition lobbying for theObama plan.
“The way our systemk works now, where responsible employers offerf coverage andothers don’t, leaves us in a situationh with an unlevel playing field,” 11 alliances members said in a statement submitted to the Senate Financwe Committee. “If we’re contributing but other employers aren’t, that gives them a financial advantageover us,” the statement “We need to level the playing field through a systemn where everyone pitches in a reasonable But most business lobbyists contend that employers who can affors to provide health insurance do so alreadty because it helps them attract and keep good Businesses that don’t provide health insurance tend to be “marginallyh profitable,” said Denny Dennis, senior research fellow at the NFIB Researchg Foundation.
Imposing a “play-or-pay” insurance requiremenf on these businesses would cost the economy morethan 1.6 milliob jobs, according to a study. Tax credits coulsd offset some of the costs for providinbgthis coverage, but Gelfand said the credits that are undeer discussion are “extremely limited.” Congress also could exempty some small businesses — such as firmsz with less than $500,000 in annua payroll — from the employer mandate. But many business groups see this proposapl as an attempt to split thebusiness community, not as meaningful relief.
“We oppose small-business carve-outs becausd they make it easier for Congress to apply mandates againstlarger employers,” said Neil Trautwein, vice presidengt and employee benefits policy counsel of the National Retaikl Federation. “It’s also easy for Congress to come back and try to appl the mandateagainst ever-smaller employers. “No matter how good the surrounding healthcare reform, a bill containintg an employer mandate woulrd be too high a pricew to pay for reform,” Trautwein Public plan or market reforms?
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Idaho Power requests average $3.56 monthly hike - Sacramento Bee
yqyqynesara.blogspot.com
Idaho Power requests average $3.56 monthly hike Sacramento Bee Idaho's biggest utility filed the request with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Tuesday. But the company has also filed additional regulatory paperwork for a revenue-sharing deal. That will help offset the rate increase from the $391 million ... |
Monday, March 5, 2012
Meet the hawks in the state Senate - St. Louis Business Journal:
a-aveywe.blogspot.com
Sen. Chuck Purgason (Howellk County) is a stereotypical rural He runs ahunting farm, didn’t go to collegs and is very conservative. During his firsty term, Purgason was pretty much a Although he was a consistentconservativde vote, he was relatively quiet. Votesx are the least powerful weapon ina senator’s and his influence was very But this session Purgason He was elevated to chair of the committees on Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversighrt (GAFO). Every piece of legislation that woulcd cost the government morethan $100,000 has to go througgh GAFO before it can pass.
With Purgaso n as chair, GAFO became a graveyard for big spending or government mandateshe didn’t like. Billws would go in and never come out. Purgason with another hawk, Sen. Matt Bartle (Jacksonb County), to kill a versiomn of the economic development bill thatwas “clean,” that is, it didn’f have any caps on various tax crediy programs. Bartle has been railing against the proliferation of tax creditf programs foryears now. On the second-to-last nighy of session, Bartle played a critica l role in killing the research and development taxcrediyt (which would have benefited the CORTEc facility in St. Louis).
When it was addeds to the economicdevelopment bill, he stood up and begam talking about the , which had nothing to do with the bill and was an indicationj that he was embarking on a filibuster. Seeing the underlying bill in the Senate reconsideredthe R&D tax credit and stripped it out. In additio to Purgason and Bartle, several other senators joinec the fiscal conservatives from time to timeincluding Sens. Jim Lembkr (St. Louis) and Luann Ridgeway (Clay County). Sen. Brad Lager was the leader of the hawks. And he playec “good cop” during much of the negotiationss around thetax credit/jobs bill.
The bad cops were Purgasohn and Bartle, neither of whom has statewide ambitions like who ran unsuccessfully for treasurerlast cycle. Stil l some business interests following the legislationclosely didn’t buy Lager’z attempt to cast himsel as the “reasonable” one, fingering him as the one that firs t declared that the EcoDevo bill shouldn’t pass without tax credit reform. Like any group or they looked more monolithic from the outsidwe than fromthe inside. They differedr by degrees on economic philosophy. For example, Bartles would eliminate all tax credits and cut taxesa across the board without discrimination tospecificc “favored” industries.
But Lager’s position isn’t agains tax credits completely but rather a desire to bring each progra m to come under periodic reviesw to justifyits existence. That may have contributede to their lack of cohesiohnthis year. They acted more like a dark cloud that came and went withoutf reason and less like the strategix rebel insurgency they couldhave been. They held the floor for hours, stalling one of the bills with federalstabilizationm funds. It was not a real more of a raging against the hugegovernment spending. But then they stepperd aside with barely a peep when billiond came through the next day in a bill containing federallstimulus money.
Later they killecd the research and developmenttax credit, whichb ended up amounting to a relativelyt puny $5 million. This was their comin g out year. The hawks will be back next year, bettetr organized and more strategic, and therefore more effective.
Sen. Chuck Purgason (Howellk County) is a stereotypical rural He runs ahunting farm, didn’t go to collegs and is very conservative. During his firsty term, Purgason was pretty much a Although he was a consistentconservativde vote, he was relatively quiet. Votesx are the least powerful weapon ina senator’s and his influence was very But this session Purgason He was elevated to chair of the committees on Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversighrt (GAFO). Every piece of legislation that woulcd cost the government morethan $100,000 has to go througgh GAFO before it can pass.
With Purgaso n as chair, GAFO became a graveyard for big spending or government mandateshe didn’t like. Billws would go in and never come out. Purgason with another hawk, Sen. Matt Bartle (Jacksonb County), to kill a versiomn of the economic development bill thatwas “clean,” that is, it didn’f have any caps on various tax crediy programs. Bartle has been railing against the proliferation of tax creditf programs foryears now. On the second-to-last nighy of session, Bartle played a critica l role in killing the research and development taxcrediyt (which would have benefited the CORTEc facility in St. Louis).
When it was addeds to the economicdevelopment bill, he stood up and begam talking about the , which had nothing to do with the bill and was an indicationj that he was embarking on a filibuster. Seeing the underlying bill in the Senate reconsideredthe R&D tax credit and stripped it out. In additio to Purgason and Bartle, several other senators joinec the fiscal conservatives from time to timeincluding Sens. Jim Lembkr (St. Louis) and Luann Ridgeway (Clay County). Sen. Brad Lager was the leader of the hawks. And he playec “good cop” during much of the negotiationss around thetax credit/jobs bill.
The bad cops were Purgasohn and Bartle, neither of whom has statewide ambitions like who ran unsuccessfully for treasurerlast cycle. Stil l some business interests following the legislationclosely didn’t buy Lager’z attempt to cast himsel as the “reasonable” one, fingering him as the one that firs t declared that the EcoDevo bill shouldn’t pass without tax credit reform. Like any group or they looked more monolithic from the outsidwe than fromthe inside. They differedr by degrees on economic philosophy. For example, Bartles would eliminate all tax credits and cut taxesa across the board without discrimination tospecificc “favored” industries.
But Lager’s position isn’t agains tax credits completely but rather a desire to bring each progra m to come under periodic reviesw to justifyits existence. That may have contributede to their lack of cohesiohnthis year. They acted more like a dark cloud that came and went withoutf reason and less like the strategix rebel insurgency they couldhave been. They held the floor for hours, stalling one of the bills with federalstabilizationm funds. It was not a real more of a raging against the hugegovernment spending. But then they stepperd aside with barely a peep when billiond came through the next day in a bill containing federallstimulus money.
Later they killecd the research and developmenttax credit, whichb ended up amounting to a relativelyt puny $5 million. This was their comin g out year. The hawks will be back next year, bettetr organized and more strategic, and therefore more effective.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sierra Nevada joins the canned beer revolution next week at Fountainhead - Chicago Tribune
youngmanmeledero1636.blogspot.com
Sierra Nevada joins the canned beer revolution next week at Fountainhead Chicago Tribune Very Friendly Gentleman told me he had recently made a decision: He had allocated X-number of dollars for either a canning line or a bottling line and, after much deliberation, opted for the bottling line. "People aren't ready for canned beer," Very ... |
Thursday, March 1, 2012
It self-tunes, it's not a $4000 Firebird X and it costs $495 - Innovation Investment Journal
xagawu.wordpress.com
Innovation Investment Journal | It self-tunes, it's not a $4000 Firebird X and it costs $495 Innovation Investment Journal ... not entirely dissimilar Italia Modena (a wondrously 'non-reverse-Firebird-shaped' glitter-finished beastie) played in this clip by Jimmy Agren, third brother of Frank Zappa's legendary Swedish drum and keyboard discoveries Mats and Morgan Agren. |
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