Tag: subsidies

For the appropriate response in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

First, let's have some facts, shall we?  There are 12,385,000 more people of working age (16-64, inclusive) today than there were in September of 2008.  America is not suffering from a contracting workforce.

Period.

We have apparently inoculated ourselves.  In the complaint Halbig v. Sebelius it is shown that an application of the law as-it-is-written means Michigan taxpayers are NOT eligible for subsidies, and NOT subject to the tax (penalties) assessment for failure to obtain insurance. Netright daily reports:

"Under the specific language of the law, tax subsidies (and tax penalties) on individuals and employers only apply in states that created these exchanges. It's right there in black-and-white -- as the availability of subsidies was expressly confined to qualified plans enrolled "through an Exchange established by the State."

Obamacare makes no mention of these subsidies being provided in federal exchanges.

The plaintiff argument on this point is clearly stated starting at about page 10 of the document.

A big THANK YOU to those who stood firm in their resolve against the state run exchange will be repeated as this case moves further along and the act is found even more unworkable as the miserable failure spawned by overreaching NEO-Democrat (read fascist/socialist) operatives in power.  It was theirs.  Let it remain owned by those who have no understanding of the constitution.

Recall that NOT a single (not even the squishy ones) Republican voted for this garbage.

The immigration overhaul passed by the U.S. Senate could put a big squeeze on the budgets of state and local governments.

The proposal does not help states pay for costs incurred by required policy changes, including ramped up English classes and greater access to public hospitals and health clinics.

"Potentially, we are going to create a financial catastrophe for states and localities," said Sheri Steisel, senior federal affairs counsel and a human services expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "The states will end up with the cost and consequences of the federal decision-making, with very little resources to rely on to make up the difference."

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Not that the self-invented Nerd persona since being sworn to his Oath has done a damn thing about that "big squeeze" anyway.  Why Hell, stealth Democrat Rick Michigan has even fought his own Secretary of State, Ruth Johnson, over providing gatecrashers a driver license, squashing voter verification, and placing the Lawless to the front of the line ahead of American citizens.

A point in which all manner of civility is thrown out the window, and people defending what is left of a once-great nation feel the need to lash out.  A breaking point that is regularly exacerbated through such 'government giveaways' as this:

"The free government cell phone program is growing rapidly. The program has grown from 2008 expenditures of $823 million to over $2.2 billion in 2012, helping out between 15-20 million people.

Much to our surprise, there are no regulations that prohibit undocumented immigrants from getting these phones. In fact, based on our research we assume many undocumented immigrants are already using the free government cell phone program to help in landing jobs, to keep in touch with doctors and other medical professionals, to stay in touch with their family, and to reach 911 in emergency situations."

"before long you can start talking on your free cell phone, compliments of the United States government."

But wait, there's MORE!

Once upon a time.

Mayor Janice Daniels in December of 2011 led the opposition in the Troy City Council for an $8.5 million train depot for good reason.  Her opposition to a project that would be built with free money was framed with an understanding that nothing is truly free.  Even after the project was stripped down a month later, and re-presented for a couple million less, she held her ground, and looked at the bigger picture.  Ongoing expenses make the continuing use of the pusher-man's product not nearly as euphoric as when it was offered for free.

The Troy City Council didn't get it, and the vote for the effort was shifted. Even in the face of the citizen commentary that was recorded as 11-7 in opposition to the transit center.  As RightMichigan.com poster Rougman pointed out at the time, its $5,500/sq ft cost was stripped down to $3,100/sq ft (a travesty for its cheapness) and the gold plated accoutrements would have to be withheld.

"By shaving off 400 square feet the project's cost has been lowered significantly. That was some expensive square footage there--roughly coming in at $5,500 per square foot. The smaller and redrawn project will cost a mere $3,100 per square foot which I find absolutely alarming...what kind of slum are these bureaucrats trying to push over on us? No gold toilet seats? No granite counter tops?"

In Mid-December, Senator Carl Levin posted a position piece supporting further battery technology spending by taxpayers in Michigan.  He states:

That's why an announcement in November by the Department of Energy was so important to Michigan. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, a consortium of government, university and private-sector research labs aimed at revolutionizing battery technology.

Fittingly, Michigan is playing a key role in the effort. The consortium, headquartered at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, will include research hubs at Johnson Controls in Holland, and on the University of Michigan campus. Dow Chemical in Midland is also a key corporate partner.

The JCESR is nothing short of a Manhattan Project-styled effort to blow through the technical and economic limitations imposed by existing battery technology. Despite enormous progress that has allowed impressive accomplishments in hybrid vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt, today's batteries are still bigger, heavier, more expensive and lower capacity than we'd like. With technical improvements, we can bring down costs, reduce our dependence on imported oil and protect our environment.

The answer to this challenge is an effort that, as my colleague Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois put it, "brings together, under a single organizational roof, the world's leading scientists, engineers and manufacturers in energy storage and provides them with the tools, resources and market reach necessary to produce major breakthroughs."

Between the sale of battery technology to China, and a dismal failure of LG Chem to realize the investment made:

"But now you're getting it. Reporters who visited the Michigan factory of the South Korean company LG Chem, which got $151 million in stimulus money to manufacture lithium-ion batteries, discovered workers sitting around playing Monopoly and poker. The employees said it wasn't their fault: "What do you do when there's no work?"  "

As far as going all-in with these schemes, one might better be served with the proverbial 'fool me once .." advice.  Frankly, Senator Levin should take the advice given to Harry Reid by the weeper last night.  

Electric car owners now get to be free loaders as an additional benefit of purchasing the Leaf, Volt or other eco-recommended units of transportation.  As Part of the problem with EV solutions has been the short distances they can travel, the feds have made sure seed money is there for charging stations. 8-10 hours of charging can now happen at the I-75/Dixie Highway carpool lot.

And by golly it appears as though there will be no charge for the juice.

"Grand Blanc Township, which already pays for the electricity lighting the carpool lot, will cover the electric cost for the charging station as well. Coulomb Technologies, Inc. provided the electric charger station and the Grand Blanc Community Fund paid for its installation. The project was started with money provided through a federal grant. "

Delicious.