Dem Senators Tell Biden to Reject GOP Medicare Plan

Five Democratic senators are calling on Vice President Joe Biden to reaffirm his commitment to leaving Medicare unchanged during budget and deficit negotiations.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/06/dem-senators-tell-biden-to-reject-gop-medicare-plan/#ixzz1OVkVSRkS

Saftey Oorah!

5 American Soldiers Killed in Iraq Rocket Attack.

At the height of the surge of U.S. forces four years ago to combat sectarian violence that nearly tore Iraq apart, there were about 170,000 American troops in the country. The number then was gradually drawn down to below 50,000 when Washington announced it had ended its combat operations ten months ago.

 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/06/06/us-military-5-american-soldiers-killed-in-iraq/#ixzz1OVjcJLYS

How debt ceiling issue will hit ordinary americans in wallet

The ongoing debate surrounding America's looming debt ceiling is big news inside the Beltway and in the press, but for many of us, even the phrase "debt ceiling" sounds too far removed from daily life to be of much interest. But ignoring this latest political battle would be a mistake: How the government handles the nation's debt limit will directly affect our personal finances in all sorts of important ways.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/06/06/how-debt-ceiling-issue-will-hit-ordinary-americans-in-wallet/#ixzz1OViSep24

spending and gov. shutdown

On Friday afternoon, a scrum of reporters clamored around freshman Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) in the Speaker's Lobby just off the House floor. The scribes peppered Huizenga with questions about the impasse between Republicans and Democrats over spending and the possibility of a government shutdown.

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/04/04/spending-fight-four-theatres-conflict#ixzz1IZD4dL5H

U.S. Says Libya Costs at $550 Million So Far

WASHINGTON—The U.S. military intervention in Libya has cost the government about $550 million so far, with much of the price tag coming from munitions such as Tomahawk missiles, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

PBS

The latest revision of House Resolution 1, the House of Representatives’ budget-cutting bill for the 2011 fiscal year, removes all federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB is the federal corporation that distributes funds to public broadcasting systems like PBS and NPR.

The resolution is aimed at trimming the entire federal budget and, in February, the resolution was passed in House and is now in the hands of the Senate.

PBS had this to say about the legislation:

The elimination of funding for public broadcasting approved by the House of Representatives threatens millions of citizens throughout America with the loss of services that they rely on, especially parents and children. PBS’ nearly 360 member stations will be severely impacted… PBS and independently owned and operated public television stations are America’s largest classroom, available to all of America’s children. PBS’ educational programming… prepare[s] children for success in school and opens up the world to them in an age-appropriate way and builds critical skills in young students. Costing about one dollar per person per year, public broadcasting is an effective, efficient use of leveraged tax

dollars – a public-private partnership that delivers far-reaching services that Americans trust and value.”

NY Bicycle License

A controversial proposal to require registration fees for bicycles died in Albany Thursday after being criticized by politicians around the state.

But it wasn't the only proposed bills in the state Legislature involving bicycles. Others would exempt bikes and bike helmets from sales tax and provide a $50 tax credit for adult bike purchases and a $25 credit for kids' bikes.

"I really honestly can't believe we need to be discussing this here today," Dinolfo said.
"This is something we have to take a stand against today before it gets any traction," said Dinolfo, who brought to the news conference a child's tricycle that she said would require a license under the proposed legislation.
"We simply cannot afford another tax on everyday people here in New York state," Dinolfo said.

A few hours later, the bill was pulled.

According to a summary of the bike registration bill on the state Assembly website, the fees for personal bicycle licenses would have generated about $1.9 million initially, plus recurring annual revenue of $375,000.
Other legislation would require owners of commercial bicycles to not only register their bikes and pay $50, but obtain casualty insurance.

That bill does not mention additional annual fees.