Two headlines suggest a disconnect between the inflation report and real data on gasoline prices
The former reflects a report on data from February while the latter reflects data as of this week. Nonetheless, all the public hears is “prices down” while at the pump the prices are jumping by the hour. No wonder the public tunes out the news.
Filed under Government Information, Uncategorized
The House Science and Tech Committee is learning about PRISM (Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics) and how the University System is working with K12 (using $35 million NSF dollars) to learn how to teach science better, to encourage students to stay interested in math, science and engineering.
There are two members of the committee present (Chair Amos Amerson, and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver).
Now, when the NASCAR cars show up, betcha you can find your representative then.
Filed under Uncategorized
Another in a continuing series of questions on governing
What if you could see every detail, every move of the law making process for any particular topic you care to follow? Would such transparency improve the procees, increase your disgust for government, or make no difference whatsoever?
Filed under Government, Uncategorized
All the talk over the incentives given to KIA (See list from AJC) causes me to ponder what different high tech execs have told me are important incentives for them to locate a business:
There are some others, but these were the most frequently mentioned. Note that tax incentives, property, highways, rail heads and those other singular capital investments were not required.
Filed under Economies, Uncategorized
As legislators feasted upon dinner catered by Proof of the Pudding, others gathered to devour chicken at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner. Those of us awaiting action on bills that will die if not acted upon today, Crossover Day, are also waiting on our dinner.
The canteen in the Capitol Basement wants $3.75 for a Chick-Fil-A sandwich bussed in from across town. Someone mutters that we should get an exec order investigating price gouging on chicken.
There has been drama today (my prose is rhapsodic due to watching 12 hours of drama)… Two constitutional amendments failed to gain the two-thirds majority required (HR 1345 – Faith Based Services and HR 1045 Hope Chest Amendment). These issues will be memorialized on bumper stickers and post cards, as well as neat anjmated web sites in the months to come before the November elections.
Meanwhile, SB 541 was passed in the Senate as they attempt to make the Internet a safer place (never mind that the FCC has ruled Internet communications to be interstate and thuse not subject to state regulation). SB 596 will create a commission to oversee a cord blood bank for capturing adult stem cells (the bank already exists — needs funding though).
Well, it is 8:00 pm, 99.99 % of Georgians (that would be all but 843 people) do not know that their legislators are preparing to take up another 50 bills before the mythical bewitching hour, and 90% or some 7.5 million don’t even realize the legislature is meeting.
And, this is the democracy we are promoting around the world? Hmmm…
Filed under Uncategorized
Finally, after many disappointments, a manufacturer (of the 20th century kind) is locating in Georgia.
Watching attempts to land a big business recruit to Georgia reminded me of the Old Man and the Sea. Only through dogged persistence did the protaganist land his fish — but, at what cost?
Filed under Uncategorized
Marc Canter has a thoughtful piece on where community is — and at the same time exposes the divide between the geeks (politically and socially) and the “real” world.
Filed under Politics, Uncategorized
That is what the Selig Center for Economic Growth says.
Mexicans in Georgia paid about $317 million in state taxes in 2004, according to a report by the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. The report was presented at a conference Wednesday hosted by the Mexican Consulate General in Atlanta and Emory University.
That tax money represents about 2.4 percent of the state’s collection of personal income tax, sales, use, and property taxes, according to the report.
So, how does that contrast with comments made in yesterday’s debate? Can we say “Contradistinction“?
Filed under Immigration, Uncategorized
Column for Wired takes Christian Right groups to task for not telling the whole story on the “success rate” for non-embryonic stem cell research. Continue reading
Filed under stem cell, Uncategorized
Rusty from Georgia writes in the Knoxville Sentinel about the low security used for the email server servicing Ralph Reed’s campaign. So he asks:
Can someone who can’t even run an e-mail server preside over the state Senate?
And, speaking of e-mail, Jay Bookman takes Reed to task regarding his lapse of ethics and the Abramoff affair.
A group called DefCon (Campaign to Defend the Constitution) has paid for advertising to take Reed to task for his past alliances. However, Reed’s campaign manager say we shouldn’t pay heed to these taxpaying Americans (see stories on immigration) as they are “left wing radicals.”
So, begging the question, do tax paying left wing radicals deserve any less voice than taxpaying illegal immigrants?
Filed under Politics, Uncategorized
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