“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
The Empire Center examines Albany’s OPEB iceberg as it gets bigger. “The liability for other post-employment benefits, or OPEB, reflects the net present value of continuing state health insurance coverage available to all employees who retire directly from a state government payroll after at least 10 years of service.” The growing deficit affects all New York State taxpayers and must be rectified.
Almost 97% of respondents in our most recent Weekly Poll said that the U.S. economy will continue to surge under President Trump, and new figures this week bear that out.
For our new Weekly Poll, I have a follow-up question of sorts: What do you think is the MOST IMPORTANT economic indicator for middle-class Americans? I look forward to seeing your answers – our Wrap-Up readers are a pretty smart group!
The 2017 Trump tax cuts have been one of the main catalysts for economic growth – but unfortunately much of this tax relief (especially reductions for middle-class families and small businesses) are only temporary.
There are growing calls to make this tax relief permanent – what do you think is the BEST reason to do so? That’s the second question in our new Weekly Poll.
Democrats not only want to undo President Trump’s tax cuts, they want to ramp up spending to the tune of $32 trillion with their hairbrained “Medicare for All” socialized health care plan.
Of course Kirsten Gillibrand is on board – she’s always eager to jump on any leftist bandwagon. If she and Bernie Sanders get their way, the government would actively ration health care, sabotage workers, and drive up taxes beyond anyone’s worst fears.
What word do you think BEST describes the “Medicare for All” proposed by the left? That’s the third and final question in our new Weekly Poll.
Not a great week for Andrew Cuomo: His hypocrisy is showing in his rush to embrace Catholic teachings that are politically convenient. Cuomo’s corruption is clear in his use and abuse of our tax dollars for his reelection campaign, and his fiscal irresponsibility is sparking congressional action. And this week we saw more proof that his economic schemes are bad for everyone.
Let’s end on a happy note: Republicans “took a knee” at this week’s Trump rally in Florida – but for all the right reasons.
While we are talking about the duplicity of Governor Cuomo, we agree with today’s NY Post editorial that points out Andrew Cuomo would rather fight the press than answer to corruption. He has come a long way (the wrong way) since he promised to clean up Albany’s dysfunctional political culture in 2010. Maybe, back in 2010, he thought dysfunctional only meant not getting a budget done on time or that a budget should include items that do not belong in the budget. This much is obvious, the man campaigning for Governor in 2018 has radically changed from the man who campaigned in 2010. Back in 2010, Andrew Cuomo said, “When I was growing up, state government was a source of inspiration,” this state government has been a source of degradation.” Eight years with Governor Andrew Cuomo at the helm and the state government is on the verge of losing yet another congressional district due to the loss of population.
The Daily Signal informs us how school security should be improved in 4 easy steps.
Imagine if you bought stock Apple stock in Apple, Inc.’s initial public offering (IPO) on December 12, 1980 at $22.00 per share. Since that time Apple’s stock has split two for 1 on three separate occasions: 1987, 2000, and 2005. Today it became the first trillion-dollar public company. (I’ve invested – not in stock, rather buying Apple products — and helped Apple achieve this historical moment!)
David French has an excellent article on the 3D-Gun Debate: Separating Truth from Fiction, well worth reading and should silence the progressive rage on the issue currently circulating on the Internet. Washington Free Beacon weighs in with NRA’s calling out politicians and media’s campaign of misinformation on the 3D plastic guns. As the NRA points out, undetectable guns have been illegal for 30 years.
The NY Post editorial hits us with another unacceptable headline today: Even more evidence of Cuomo pay-to-play corruption. The editorial ends with “But when multiple major Cuomo officials and donors are headed to prison for corruption, the governor is anything but an innocent bystander.”
Investor’s Business Daily tells us that income tax revenues are up 9% this year — good news for the deficit, however, spending is also up. Revenues are up by $31B, but spending is up by $115B. Spending is and has always been the problem. Some in Congress really do “get it.”
Rich Lowry notes in his NY Post column, Like it or not, America is now seriously debating socialism, “Vermont, the home of Sen. Sanders, abandoned a single-payer proposal after the Democratic governor concluded that it wasn’t fiscally sustainable. Despite its Democratic super-majorities, California gave up on a single-payer proposal last year for the same reason — the projected cost was twice as much as the state budget.”
Larry Horist notes in his column that the bright shining star of the Democratic Party, Alexandra Ocasia-Cortez, (who has made this debate plausible) is (thankfully) not ready for prime time and may just be the best gift democrats have for our right of center nation.
Former State Senator and Chairman of the NYS Conservative Party, Serphin R. Maltese, himself a Veteran of the Korean War, sent this note out to his many friends over the weekend and we wanted to take this opportunity to share it with you our readers.
On July 27th, 1953, the Armistice ending 3 years of war in Korea was signed in P’anmunjom, in Korea. Now on the 65th Anniversary of that date, 55 Coffins of our Heroic American Warriors are being returned Home. I was then a Corporal serving in the 45th Infantry Division at nearby ChunChon, Korea. We All celebrated “The End Of the War”. Little did we know that it would take more than 65 years to see the Return Home of the Bodies of our Missing in Action Heroes. There are 7,704 (MIA) Missing in Action U.S. Service Members still not Home. More than 140,000 Korean War Casualties in all with 102,000 (WIA) Wounded and 33,652 (KIA) Killed In Action. After decades of ongoing talks, as Veterans and Americans, we gratefully Thank our President Donald J. Trump for his successful Humanitarian negotiations to repatriate the Bodies of our Buddies who never came Home to their Families. We Thank God for Their return and look forward to their speedy Identification and return, so that All Their Missing Comrades In Arms will also come Home At Long Last.
Did you know that Republicans sue to find out if their complaint against governor led to ethics investigation? Chris Bragg reports on the lawsuit in today’s Albany Times Union in his article: Is JCOPE eyeing Cuomo?,
Jonathan Trichter, our candidate for NYS Comptroller, has a new video out that you can view here. Here is his latest press release on how our New York State Pension Fund Massively Underperforms under Comptroller DiNapoli. and his “White Paper” on the same subject.
While I am certain this article was not intended to be a pro-life article…it certainly shows that 1) Life is precious and 2) even if a baby is not considered viable, she or he still has a strong chance to live. Rosalie Grace, was born on June 26 and weighed in at a mere 1 pound, 9 ounces, just a bit larger that her mom’s hand. Every aspect of this article was truly uplifting.
Do you think the economy will continue to surge under President Trump – or are you concerned about the left’s destructive agenda? That’s the first question in our new Weekly Poll.
Good news for President Trump is bad news for the media, too – yet another reminder of just how out of touch the biased media has become. The media elites are obsessed with Russia and climate change, while Americans have other priorities.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our country right now? That’s the second question in our new Weekly Poll, and there are plenty of issues to choose from
This week we marked 230 years of statehood for New York – but are we still the Empire State?
Cuomo says ‘ask MTA’ about blue lane dividers he ordered. It is apparent, if the Governor does not like the question posed by reporters, he does not answer it directly. Here is a piece of advice Governor, people will respect you more if you own up to your vanity lapses.
Of course, knowing of your vanity lapses, and the burdensome, unnecessary costs involved, people who are going to be asked to pay a scheduled 4% increase, will continue to find other ways of navigating the city.
I’ve been told there is no place for me in New York State, that I am deplorable, and now I am “complicit in evil.” Fortunately, all the name calling, just makes me stronger. But, I have to admit, I wonder why are all these people who call conservatives names are the same people who decry bullying?
Yesterday we wrote about Gov. Cuomo’s need for the MTA to have New York’s colors in their newly refurbished tunnels, today we learn that Governor Cuomo also needed to have the tunnel’s pylons in New York’s colors, despite the fact it may violate federal standards. Earlier this year we learned about the “I love NY” highway signs that cost $8.1 million, (that must be removed to avoid a $14M fine) now we learn of the “Tunnel Colors.” A few minutes of research, on either proposal, would have saved the taxpayers of New York millions – or at the very least would have had millions for much needed repairs to the subways, bridges, and roadways.
More giveaways…this time to a craft beer brewery. If it is that good, why does it need tax credits?
You may not call it socialism, Mr. Speaker, but those of us whose money you are taking to pay for the programs you like so well, know it is socialism. Take a look at Venezuela and let us know how it is working out there.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s spending spree is spelled out in Seth Barron’s Saturday column in the New York Post. Send his column to everyone you know so they are completely aware of the wasteful spending by Governor Cuomo. You can add this one also, Cuomo had the MTA waste $30M on tunnel vanity project. Governor Cuomo spends your money to feed his ego – not what is necessary to make our subways safer, our bridges and streets safer to drive on or teachers having the necessary equipment to give our children a solid background to succeed in the real world.
Inside Cuomo’s plan to have your face scanned at NYC toll plazas. Yes, you read that right. As you drive your car through certain – eventually all – of New York’s toll plaza’s, “the city is scanning drivers’ visages and feeding them into databases to catch suspected criminals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed Friday.” Big Brother is firmly in charge in New York State; the question is will we really be safer – will criminals be caught, terrorists on watch lists be tracked prior to harming citizens, or is government just collecting data on ordinary citizens?
Math standards are being lowered by New York universities, and the Cuomo campaign is leading the way by manipulating their donation numbers with tiny contributions that make it look like average New Yorkers, not big money special interests, are supporting his reelection.
Corruption, thy name is Cuomo!
Convictions this week for Cuomo’s cronies have turned up the heat on the Governor – and all this corruption has a direct impact on you and me and all New Yorkers.
(All these Cuomo scandals prove yet again what you and I know for a fact: There’s a double-standard for liberals and conservatives. The media’s “guilty until proven innocent” approach to Republicans has been on full display this week.)
Now it’s wait-and-see whether Joe Percoco’s punishment will fit the crime, or if he’ll get the slap on the wrist that Team Cuomo wants for him.
In your opinion how corrupt is Andrew Cuomo? That’s the first question in our new Weekly Poll.
Andrew Cuomo symbolizes not just liberal corruption, but also extremism – he is Exhibit A in the Democrats’ lurch to the left. Their new “dream ticket” tells us everything we need to know about the party’s socialist leanings – perfect for today’s “know nothing” left (but not so perfect for those who value the truth, which brings us back to Andrew Cuomo and his “Chicken Little” routine on abortion).
What do you find most alarming about the Democrats’ lurch to the left? That’s the second question in our new Weekly Poll.
In a week of political hysteria on the left, the Democrats have concocted yet another new campaign slogan: “For the People,” which itself is hysterical (and as Barack Obama shows us, hypocritical too).
What do you think would make a BETTER slogan for the Democrats? That’s the third and final question in our new Weekly Poll – I had some fun with it, and I hope you will too.
