Friday, December 03, 2004
SUVs and Pick Up Are Choking the Roads and Air
Census data shows that there is one pick up truck for every six people in Missouri and one SUV for every 15 people. In addition, 89 percent of Missouri drivers are behind the wheel of a SUV, pickup or mini van, according to the census data. SUVs and pickups, of course, don't have to conform to federal fuel standards because they are exempted under an antiquated law that designates them as farm vehicles. These gas guzzlers are a major source of air pollution and the cause for a majority of traffic accidents. To read the report click below.
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Thursday, December 02, 2004
Kerry Camp Joins Ohio Recount Drive
Washington Post, Dec. 1:
Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign asked an Ohio judge yesterday to allow it to join a legal fight there over whether election officials in one county may sit out the state's impending recount.
A pair of third-party presidential candidates, who said that reports of problems at the polls on Election Day are not being addressed, are forcing the Buckeye State to recount its entire presidential vote. But David A. Yost, a lawyer for Delaware County, just outside Columbus, won a temporary restraining order last week blocking any recount there. He told the Columbus Dispatch that a second count would be a poor use of county resources. President Bush won the mostly Republican area handily, unofficial results show.
Lawyers for the Kerry campaign asked to join Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik and the National Voting Rights Institute in the fight to force the county to participate in the recount. "If there's going to be a recount in Ohio, we don't want it to exclude Delaware County or any other county that might decide to follow Delaware County's lead," Kerry lawyer Dan Hoffheimer said. "It should be a full, fair and accurate recount."
Bush won the critical battleground state by approximately 136,000 votes, a victory that also won him a second term. ...
[read more]
Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign asked an Ohio judge yesterday to allow it to join a legal fight there over whether election officials in one county may sit out the state's impending recount.
A pair of third-party presidential candidates, who said that reports of problems at the polls on Election Day are not being addressed, are forcing the Buckeye State to recount its entire presidential vote. But David A. Yost, a lawyer for Delaware County, just outside Columbus, won a temporary restraining order last week blocking any recount there. He told the Columbus Dispatch that a second count would be a poor use of county resources. President Bush won the mostly Republican area handily, unofficial results show.
Lawyers for the Kerry campaign asked to join Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik and the National Voting Rights Institute in the fight to force the county to participate in the recount. "If there's going to be a recount in Ohio, we don't want it to exclude Delaware County or any other county that might decide to follow Delaware County's lead," Kerry lawyer Dan Hoffheimer said. "It should be a full, fair and accurate recount."
Bush won the critical battleground state by approximately 136,000 votes, a victory that also won him a second term. ...
[read more]
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Bush Shits on Small Business
Well, whatya expect department:
St. Louis Business Journal
...The Small Business Administration's most popular loan program no longer will get a federal subsidy.
In approving a bill to fund most of federal government over the next year, Congress eliminated $79 million in funding for the SBA's 7(a) loan program. That means the higher fees paid by lenders and borrowers that went into effect in October will remain in place.
The Bush administration strongly supported ending the 7(a) subsidy. Congress decided the money was needed elsewhere.
Now that the subsidy has been eliminated, fees on borrowers and lenders must cover all the program's costs, including any defaults on the government-guaranteed loans.
Critics say the higher fees are making the loans too costly for many small businesses.
"These higher costs, which are nothing more than a new tax, will put small business loans out of reach for many of our nation's entrepreneurs," says Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee.
St. Louis Business Journal
...The Small Business Administration's most popular loan program no longer will get a federal subsidy.
In approving a bill to fund most of federal government over the next year, Congress eliminated $79 million in funding for the SBA's 7(a) loan program. That means the higher fees paid by lenders and borrowers that went into effect in October will remain in place.
The Bush administration strongly supported ending the 7(a) subsidy. Congress decided the money was needed elsewhere.
Now that the subsidy has been eliminated, fees on borrowers and lenders must cover all the program's costs, including any defaults on the government-guaranteed loans.
Critics say the higher fees are making the loans too costly for many small businesses.
"These higher costs, which are nothing more than a new tax, will put small business loans out of reach for many of our nation's entrepreneurs," says Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee.
God Bless Helen Thomas
... Helen, go ahead.
Q Why are we killing people in Iraq? There are many men, women and children being killed there. I mean, what is the reason we are there, killing people, continuing. It's outrageous.
MR. McCLELLAN: The reason we are there is the same reason the international community is, is united in helping Iraq -- the international community is united in helping Iraq move forward on a free and peaceful and democratic future. I think you can look to the recent commitments from the United Nations, from the European Union, from the recent meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh last week, there is a united front from the international community in working together to help the Iraqi people realize a free and peaceful future. There are terrorists and other Saddam loyalists who continue to seek to derail that transition to democracy, but they will --
Q They are fighting for their own country.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- they will not prevail. And we are there to partner with the Iraqi people as they work to realize a better future, one that stands in stark contrast to the past of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime.
Q Why are we killing people in Iraq? There are many men, women and children being killed there. I mean, what is the reason we are there, killing people, continuing. It's outrageous.
MR. McCLELLAN: The reason we are there is the same reason the international community is, is united in helping Iraq -- the international community is united in helping Iraq move forward on a free and peaceful and democratic future. I think you can look to the recent commitments from the United Nations, from the European Union, from the recent meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh last week, there is a united front from the international community in working together to help the Iraqi people realize a free and peaceful future. There are terrorists and other Saddam loyalists who continue to seek to derail that transition to democracy, but they will --
Q They are fighting for their own country.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- they will not prevail. And we are there to partner with the Iraqi people as they work to realize a better future, one that stands in stark contrast to the past of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Target Offers Marijuana for Sale
