Category: Kentucky

Pretending things would have been alright with other leadership is just wrong

March 10, 2010 by New Mexico FBIHOP

I think that one aspect of the discussion of New Mexico's budget problems that is glossed over, especially by opponents of Gov. Bill Richardson, is the fact that New Mexico is not alone in this.

The latest was the New Mexico Republican Party's 2002 gubernatorial candidate, and current Lt. Gov. candidate, John Sanchez. Here's part of an interview with Sanchez:

The Republican says the state would be "flush" with cash instead of struggling to cope with massive budget shortfalls. Government would be more efficient - and more effective.

To say that things would have been better off is one thing, but to say that the state would be "flush" with cash seems like something out of Pollyanna rather than reality.

In fact, New Mexico, as bad as it has been, is in better shape than a number of states (California, Nevada, New York, Florida and Michigan in particular would love to switch places with New Mexico).

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities wrote:

But in over half the states, new gaps have recently emerged for 2010, as revenues have fallen short of the projections on which the 2010 budgets were based (even though the projections themselves seemed pessimistic at the time).

Long-term unemployed pay the price for Senate dysfunction

February 28, 2010 by Bleeding Heartland

As long-term unemployment continues to rise, unemployment benefits for many Americans will run out tonight because the U.S. Senate failed to pass a bill extending the benefits late last week. An estimated 1.2 million Americans, including about 75,000 Iowans, stand to lose unemployment benefits during the month of March if Congress does not act. For reasons I don't understand, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid left the benefits extension out of the jobs bill approved by the Senate on February 24.

The following day, the House of Representatives approved a separate bill containing a one-month extension of unemployment benefits, federal subsidies for people on COBRA health insurance plans, current Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, and a few other programs. Democrats tried to bring this bill up for a Senate vote right away, but retiring Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky repeatedly objected to motions for unanimous consent.