Tag Archives: politicians

‘Zombie Alert’ is for real: U.S. government shenanigans, May 2018

Incomplete (i-e ‘Tip of the Iceberg’) list of U.S. Federal/State/Local Government self-destruct revelations for May 2018:

Tax Foundation: Average Per Capita Property Taxes: How Does Your State Compare?

New York Times: Federal Tax Cuts Leave States in a Bind

CNBC: Here’s how the new federal tax law may impact you

ALABAMA: Lowest local tax collections per capita in the U.S. 

ALASKA Analysis by state officials finds that requiring people who receive Medicaid to work won’t save the state government money, and police continue to investigate one of their own for rape.

Legislature bans smoking in bars, restaurants 

State lawmakers ask for support from other U.S. states to fight Canadian mining ops

ARIZONA: Gov-na gives teachers a taxpayer funded raise

The most politically corrupt state in nation?

ARKANSAS:  Lawsuit says judaeo-christian-islamic Ten Commandments display at the Arkansas state Capitol violates 1st Amendment

Governor’s son arrested on DWI charge

$377-thousand USD taxpayer funded grant for cyber security program linking a high school with Little Rock Air Force Base 

Gov-na Asa and the Corruption State

Work requirement OK’d for Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion

CALIFORNIA: Proof the Golden State’s economy sucks as Democrat state senators wants to nearly triple taxpayer funding for the ever expanding number of low income people

Neo-Nazi Senate candidate kicked out of California Republican Party

Marijuana tax cut could be in jeopardy as revenue lags behind

Federal taxpayer funded USA (U.S. Army) contractor DynCorp issued a layoff WARN for its Fort Irwin NTC operations, 27 jobs gone by the end of July. Federal taxpayer funded USAF (U.S. Air Force) contractor Unisys issued a layoff WARN for its ops at Edwards Air Force Base, 90 jobs gone by mid-July.  Federal taxpayer funded USAF contractor JT3 issued a shutdown WARN of its ops at Edwards Air Force Base, 746 jobs gone by mid-July!

California cop tied to Mexican Mafia and Armenian organized crime

He Paid for His Mentos. Then an Officer Pulled a Gun on Him.

COLORADO: Gov-na signs bills improving state’s immigrant driver’s license program

Failed state employee payroll plan ends up costing state taxpayers $5-million USD!

CONNECTICUT: A man arrested for holding up a “cops ahead” sign near a police checkpoint

Gov-na signs bump-stock gun ban

A former Connecticut Gov-na released from federal custody

Connecticut Joins Effort to Overturn Electoral College

DELAWARE: State Department of Health and Social Services warning of new killer heroin 

State Department of Justice revealed that more than 200-thousand residents had their facebook data stolen

FLORIDA: Miami police officer relieved of duty after a video showed him kicking a suspect in the head

Gov-na takes part in controversial embassy opening in Jerusalem 

Federal government lies about record low rate of unemployment?

Florida ban on smokable medical marijuana ruled unconstitutional

Florida gets $19-million federal taxpayer dollars for elections-cybersecurity

Palm Beach accidentally sends real ‘zombie alert’ to residents 

GEORGIA: New law changes how you can drive

Gubernatorial Candidate Points Gun at Teen “who’s interested in one of my daughters”

Gov-na signs bill to tax online sales

GUAM: The territorial government issued an additional $2-million USD in tax refunds

3-month tax amnesty begins

Gubernatorial candidates discuss Guam decolonization

Guam hit with Agent Orange?

Gov-na claims there are no H2B immigrant workers on the island

HAWAII:  Residents scrambling for masks the government says won’t protect them from deadly VOG

Hawaii Gets An ‘F’ For Its Transparency On State Government Spending

Hawaii first state to ban sunscreen (what happened to blaming Global Warming for coral reef deaths?)

Volcano eruption puts $5M dent in Hawaii tourism industry

IDAHO: Aircraft maintenance contractor PKL Services issued a shutdown WARN for their taxpayer funded ops at Mountain Home Air Force Base, 103 jobs gone by July!

The super-expensive (for taxpayers), heated governor’s race you aren’t paying attention to

Taxpayers forced to pay transgender women’s attorney fees

Who’s behind that printed voter guide in your mailbox, and who really paid for it?

 What the Fastest Growth in the U.S. Means for Idaho Politics

Rape kit testing backlogged in Idaho state labs

ILLINOIS:  Chicagomag.com: The Illinois Taxes No One Wants to Talk About

Gov-na issues amendatory veto on gun bill

State lawmakers trying to license Illinois gun stores

Illinois needs term limits to protect the people 

INDIANA: Teacher credited with disarming student in Indiana school shooting

Poverty protesters lock themselves to gates at gov-na’s mansion

5 quirky highlights from gov-na’s taxpayer funded trip to Europe 

IOWA:  Female Police Officer Arrested After Alleged Domestic Abuse

Gov-na signs largest tax cut in state’s history 

Iowa Constitution bars new fetal heartbeat abortion law

Three women accuse governor candidate of sex crimes

Gov-na signs Bill Intended to Curb Opioid Overdose Deaths

KANSAS:  Police handcuff driver over ‘vegetation’

13000 state employees may soon get taxpayer funded raises

Gov-na Helps Former Criminals Seeking State taxpayer funded Jobs

Three Things To Know About The State Of Cannabis In Kansas

Kansas approves religious veto on LGBT adoptions

Gov-na gives religious groups access to taxpayer funded welfare programs, even if the religious groups discriminate!

Attorneys press for $1.5-Billion USD more from state taxpayers for schools

Data is so bad on taxpayer funded healthcare (KanCare) that legislative auditors can’t tell if it’s working

KENTUCKY: The gov-na suddenly sold-off many of his out-of state properties in 2017, how much does he still own?

Gov-na and lawmakers take taxpayer funded business trip to Asian Continent

LOUISIANA:  Lawmakers want more taxpayer funding

Louisiana Senate committee’s ‘pretend budget’ meant to calm fears

Tens of thousands of Medicaid recipients could face eviction

Ban on abortions after 15 weeks signed into law

79 new state laws

Louisiana may expand use of prison labor to taxpayer funded construction projects

MAINE: Recreational marijuana is now legal in Maine – sort of. 

How ranked-choice voting is changing Maine campaign strategy

Maine’s taxpayer funded Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) “failed to follow policies and procedures” in one of two horrific child abuse cases.

MARYLAND: Gov-na plans to sign ‘free’ (100% taxpayer funded) community college bill into law

1,900 HONDURANS IN MARYLAND AFFECTED BY ORDER

Maryland becomes 11th state to ban ‘gay conversion therapy’ for minors

Taxpayer funded E-ZPass toll road transponders now ‘free

MASSACHUSETTS: Taunton Police admit Wrong person may have been arrested in stabbing case

ICE agents halt controversial practice of office arrests

State taxpayers funding 800-Megawatt foreign built Offshore Wind Farm!

State taxpayers to give $1.8-billion USD to residential property developers!

MICHIGAN:  Detroit police chief blasts judge in case of man who allegedly cut tether

Flint, Islam and fixing the damn roads.

New Michigan law makes recounts tougher for election losers

State taxpayers continue to get screwed over deal that benefits foreign food company, at local water user’s expense! 

Flint water declared safe, residents say bullshit!

State taxpayers forced to spend $50-million USD on Soo Locks

State taxpayers forced to welcome 150-200 Chinese officials & business executives

Fire marshal says state ignored mandated inspections for 40 years, in past 18 months firefighters battled 1,245 building fires!

MINNESOTA: The state Department of Corrections canceled its contract with food service contractor Trinity Services Group, 279 jobs affected by the end of July!

Minnesota cops can legally have sex with people in custody.

The 2018 session of the Minnesota Legislature was a failure.

Taxpayers forced to spend $1.5-billion USD on infrastructure

Government and private industry motor vehicle registrars demanding that taxpayers fork over millions in ‘rescue funding’ to keep Department of Motor Vehicles ops rolling!

MISSISSIPPI: Baby born at taxpayer funded abortion clinic

Two counties sue state, claim governor can’t close bridges

After eight years Mississippi is still the hungriest state

Despite having the highest rate of food insecurity, federal taxpayers are giving Mississippi $4.5-million USD for election cybersecurity

MISSOURI: FBI investigates gov-na’s ‘associates’

Court Examines gov-na’s Cellphone In Criminal Case

State House committee subpoenas embattled governor

Missouri May Be First State To Get Serious About The Definition Of Meat

MONTANA:  Montana is the first state to enact its own net neutrality rules

Montana deploys chatbot fleet, eliminating thousands of support calls

Outside money flows for Montana’s U.S. senate slot

Taxpayer funded prison hospital has new policies after ‘perceived emergency situation.’

NEBRASKA: Fast moving developments on Nebraska’s death penalty

Gov’na boasts of Japanese investments

Independent wanna-be politicians have little chance of getting on election ballots due to state law

Watchdog discovers lobbyists spent $17-million USD bribing state politicians

NEVADA:  Federal Nuclear Dumping Stirs Statewide Resentment

Nevada Attorney General Rails Against California Laws

Clark County School District announces $68-Million USD deficit due to arbitration agreements, including paying teachers more money  

Taxpayers/utility customers to fund $15-million worth of electric car charging stations

NEW HAMPSHIRE:  Police Arrested a Man for Criticizing Them on the Internet

Highest taxpayer funding rate in the U.S. for college, yet also has the highest in-state tuition rate as well 

Federal taxpayers funding state Syringe Services Programs for addicts, under the guise of infrastructure development!

When a fee becomes a tax

Partially taxpayer funded (through state Office of Planning) Regional Economic Development Center creates loan program for immigrants/refugees (officially called New Americans)

NEW JERSEY:  Fourth Paterson cop arrested by FBI, this time over beating of suicidal hospital patient

School funding shell game negatively affects low-income districts

NEW MEXICO: Call center contractor Convergys eliminating about 1-hundred jobs in Albuquerque due to the expiration of a contract, local news media revealed that Convergys received almost $200-thousand USD in taxpayer funded incentives to create 1-hundred jobs last year!

State Supreme Court reconsidering its ban on the use of taxpayer funds for textbooks in private schools

State taxpayers forced to increase Funding for State Pre-K Program

Data shows increased federal taxpayer funding for New Mexico schools is not improving academic performance

Lottery funded scholarships for New Mexico college students increasing, mainly because of declining enrollments

NEW YORK: Schenectady police officer charged with DWI, after crashing his car near police HQ

Prior Arrests, Yet Still Hired as NYC Correction Officers

Federal taxpayers forced to pay for job training for Two New York Organizations 

NORTH CAROLINA: State government finds an extra $600-million taxpayer dollars?

“Pork” proliferates in the 2018-19 budget

Does the Lottery actually fund education?

NORTH DAKOTA: State tax revenues from oil/gas up 25% due to higher oil prices

OHIO: School Districts Struggle to Cover Lost Transportation Funding

Some Ohio districts miss out on taxpayer funding for construction

Ohio’s school-funding system was bad in 1997; it’s still bad today

Do you know how your schools are funded, gymnastics 

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma approves religious veto on LGBT adoptions

Is education funding crisis self-inflicted?

Can medical marijuana save education

OREGON: Earthquake alert funding and southern Oregon

Oregon receives $1-million USD taxpayer funded grant for endangered species study

Federal taxpayers fund efforts to stop Sudden Oak Death

PENNSYLVANIA: York City Police officer arrested for alleged domestic assault

York City school district is most underfunded per student

PUERTO RICO:  Hurricane Maria Death Toll Could Exceed 4000

Puerto Rico Enters a New Age of Austerity

Inside the Federal Response to Maria: “Is This Really the Best FEMA Can Do?”

FEMA funding running out for hundreds

Universities Get Just a Fraction of Storm Aid

FCC approves additional taxpayer funding for Puerto Rico 

Puerto Rico Is a ‘Geopolitical Black Hole’

The Skilled Worker Exodus

RHODE ISLAND: Providence Mayor spends the most on election campaigns

State taxpayer funding for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be restored

Privatizing Providence Water will hurt Rhode Island ratepayers

SOUTH CAROLINA: Accusations of murder, hypocrisy and playing God in state budget debate on abortion

South Carolina wants more federal taxpayer funding for election security

SOUTH DAKOTA:  The state gets only $500-thousand federal taxpayer dollars per year to provide federally mandated protection for endangered species.

Court ruling could mean legal sports wagering headed to South Dakota

South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture resigns after only one year 

South Dakota’s K-12 education leader quits after only six months

TENNESSEE:  900 ‘free’ (taxpayer funded) pre-K classrooms

$9.7-million USD taxpayer funding for attorneys to represent poor residents in court

Illegal immigrant ‘Sanctuary cities’ now illegal in Tennessee

TEXAS: Cop arrested in death of brother, a Harris County sheriff’s deputy

El Paso Police officer raped woman while responding to police call

activist jailed for his Facebook posts reveals secret FBI surveillance on ‘identity extremists’

State Supreme Court sides with short-term renters

Texas ranks 36th nationally in per-student education spending.

“It is shameful that Texas continues to pour millions of taxpayer dollars into fake women’s health centers that operate with no accountability or oversight. In shutting down licensed abortion clinics and instead legitimizing crisis pregnancy centers, Texas officials have made it clear that they do not truly care about the health and safety of pregnant Texans.”Alexa Garcia-Ditta, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas

The federal government took $41,000 from this Texan at a Houston airport six months ago. They never gave it back.

UTAH: A wannabe spy got a job at Utah government agency to send documents to Russia

404 new Utah laws take effect!

Feds give Utah three years to bring ozone pollution down

Facebook gets $150-million taxpayer funded incentives to build a massive data center in Utah

VERMONT: Calling All Remote Employees: Vermont Will Pay You to Move There

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: FCC Announces Additional taxpayer Funding to Help Virgin Islands

VIRGINIA:  Taxpayer funded University of Mary Washington’s newspaper budget was slashed from $13,765 to just $100.

Virginia counties beg for transportation improvement funds

State taxpayers forced to pay record level $154-million USD for the Metro rail system in Virginia, Maryland and D.C.

The state Tobacco Commission claims it will spend 6-million tobacco settlement dollars on creating small businesses, jobs and education

WASHINGTON:  Bellingham Police officer fired after arrest for allegations of beating two men

Bernie Sanders says Seattle based Amazon paid no federal income tax in 2017

WASHINGTON DC: Investigation reveals federal agencies fail at cybersecurity

White House Cracks Down on Unions with Executive Orders

Federal Employees Face Cuts To Retirement Benefits And Pay Freezes

WEST VIRGINIA: HUD wants to know why West Virginia suspended flood recovery

Revealed that West Virginia politicians sat on federal taxpayer funded flood relief for months before releasing it

West Virginia Pursues FCC Mobile Broadband taxpayer Funding

West Virginia wants federal taxpayer funding to fight opioids

West Virginia Super PACs covered up massive out-o-state donations

WISCONSIN: Milwaukee Cop Suspended After Violent Arrest Caught on Video

22 schools get taxpayer funded ‘fab lab’ technology grants

Local governments create their own vehicle taxes to fund road repairs, due to lack of state level funding

WYOMING: University of Wyoming gets 9.77-million federal tax dollars for carbon storage

Yellowstone-Area Grizzly Bears to Be Hunted for First Time in Decades

Politicians want to create taxpayer funded trust to supposedly update and maintain the election system

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Government Shenanigans, April 2018:“BULLSHIT!”

DRUGS, THE AMERICAN WAY, May 2018: “BAG IT, SHIP IT, FORGET IT!”

ObamaCare ACA death spiral, May 2018:“…WILL CREATE DEATHS. THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE. PEOPLE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THIS.” (even doctors are canceling their insurance)

Dumbing Down U.S.A., May 2018:“MORALE HAS NEVER BEEN LOWER.”

Government Incompetence: California politicians hire their own ‘news agency’, with taxpayer money

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Central Basin Municipal Water District, a taxpayer funded operation, with elected officials at the helm, essentially created their own ‘news agency’ to make them look good.

Coghlan Consulting Group is being paid $11,000 per month to write ‘news’ stories that make the elected officials look good, in the hopes of getting re-elected: “This is a serious breach of the public trust. If it was known and approved by the board, it could be interpreted as the use of $200,000 of taxpayer funds as a self-promotion to help them stay in office.”-Terry Francke, Californians Aware

The idea of a ‘news agency’ for the water district came from the consulting firm: “All of us know that getting positive news coverage about the agency is a very difficult challenge. The solution? How about our own news outlet.”-Ed Coghlan, Coghlan Consulting Group

The Central Basin Municipal Water District is already being investigated by Los Angeles County prosecutors for possible fraudulent travel expenses.