Deficit

Mark Neumann's "truthful" math: Facts are pesky, pesky things

September 28, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

NeumannThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Politifact (I like to call it Politifactoid) feature today examined a statement by former GOP congressman and current US Senate candidate Mark Neumann and judged it "truthful." His statement:

Did you know that if the federal government spent $30,000 on behalf of every family of four or group of four in America, that the federal budget would be balanced today? They’re spending $46,000 on behalf of every family of four in America today, every year."

Which is the logical equivalent of saying this: If you trimmed the human population of Earth back down from the current seven billion to two billion, you'd balance the eco-system and save the planet. That may be true, just as Neumann's comment about the federal budget deficit may be true, but the devil, as usual, is in the details.

Scare Tactic Backfire: No Confidence in Republicans On Deficit

September 27, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Last week my neighbor was asked to take an automated phone survey on "the deficit crisis."  Ho hum, huh?  We live in Mo Brooks' district and no matter what our Congressman is asked, he manages to work "" into his response so we hear a lot about it.  Everyone hears it since Republican rhetoric has elevated the issue to the level of "existential threat."  The twist on this particular phone survey is that my friend was offered A FREE CRUISE (absolutely FREE except for a few minor "fees") for taking the survey.  We laughed about how the Republicans have hit rock bottom with their talking point when they have to bribe folks to take their surveys.

Walker's union-busting law: "It's a floor wax! No, it's a dessert topping!"

September 22, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Channel 58 in Milwaukee tonight followed up earlier reports in other news outlets on the decision of most state public employee unions to decline participation in the state's new annual "recertification" process -- which requires costly union member elections to decide whether the unions will retain their formal collective bargaining designations.

 

After quoting various union officials who said that the provision was designed to make it nearly impossible for unions to succeed, and that the annual requirement would be expensive to pursue, the news reporter contacted Gov. Scott Walker's office asking whether the recertification provision was indeed designed to kill collective bargaining. According to the newscast, the entire response from the governor's press office consisted of this sentence:

 

"No.