Jul

31

This Email Got Me Started On the Cash For Clunkers Bandwagon

Posted on July 31, 2009 at 6:47 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National, State | Print This Post | Email This Post | 1 Comment 


From: Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray [mailto:info@ohioattorneygeneral.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:05 AM
To: sowens@columbuslibrary.org
Subject: Scam alert: Watch out for “Cash for Clunkers” schemes

Greetings,

During tough economic times predatory business practices seem to pop up everywhere. And the latest scam that has come across my desk is one that takes advantage of people who want to buy more fuel-efficient cars.

www.SpeakOutOhio.gov/cashforclunkers

A new federal program, known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), provides $3,500 or $4,500 credits to consumers who trade-in less fuel-efficient cars or trucks that meet certain qualifications.

While the program’s official name is the Car Allowance Rebate System, unofficial “Cash for Clunkers” Web sites are popping up, using false information to get consumers’ personal information including names, addresses and social security numbers.

www.SpeakOutOhio.gov/cashforclunkers

Please forward this warning to your family and friends. When it comes to scams, education and prevention are the best weapons.

Sincerely,

Richard Cordray
Ohio Attorney General

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Jul

31

Two Billion More for Cash for Clunkers

Posted on July 31, 2009 at 3:24 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | 2 Comments 


Today, the House of Representatives approved another two billion dollars for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

The House of Representatives voted to provide an emergency $2 billion for the “cash for clunkers” program on Friday…

The New York Times

The funds were appropriated at the expense of other legislation.

The House shoved other business out of the way on its last day before the August recess to rush through a measure to address the cash shortage of the car program. The vote was 316 to 109, with significant support from Republicans as well as Democrats.

The New York Times

It appears that many republicans have jumped on board despite their initial criticism of the program. Still, some are doubtful.

The panel’s ranking Republican, Jerry Lewis of California, complained that Democrats, who have a 256-to-178 majority in the House, were rushing the measure through with too little thought, — “shoveling another $2 billion out the door,” in his words.

The New York Times

What amazes me is that some on the right are saying that because the program was more successful than originally thought, the administration cannot be trusted to reform health care.

Really?

The Obama administration created a program that had never been tried before and was so popular with the American people that most republicans admit we now have to continue funding it. Maybe the Obama administration is thinking of “outside the box” solutions that will carry us past the morass, lies, and incompetence of the Bush administration.

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Jul

30

Breaking - Eligibility Rules Change for Some Cars

Posted on July 30, 2009 at 12:00 am by Madrigal Maniac Under National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


In an article on their web site The Columbus Dispatch is reporting tonight that after an EPA review, some cars that were eligible for the “Cash for Clunkers” program will not be reimbursed by the government due to changes by the EPA. In addition, some who previously had not been eligible will be.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which administers the program was caught by surprise regarding the EPA decision.

At least one dealer does not seem to be that upset by this.

“It’s kind of a raw deal,” said Rhett Ricart, co-owner of Ricart Automotive. “But when it’s all said and done, it’s a good program, and it’s working well so far.”

The Columbus Dispatch

And the effect on consumers and dealers appears to be minimal.

This is a tiny share of the 30,000 vehicles made over the past 25 years that were part of the EPA review completed late last week, the agency said.

The Columbus Dispatch

Still, if you are affected by this it is a big deal to you. There should have been better coordination between the two agencies. Initial accounts at least in Central Ohio appear to suggest “Cash for Clunker’s” may be a big success. However minor, it does not need a glitch like this to give cover to the republican’s who opposed it in the first place.

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Jul

29

Cash for Clunkers is Working in Central Ohio

Posted on July 29, 2009 at 11:25 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | 1 Comment 


The “Cash for Clunkers” program appears to be working in Central Ohio. This is the government program that will give you up to $4500 for your clunker if you buy a new more fuel efficient auto.

Dealers across central Ohio report strong turnout for the incentive, which began in earnest on Friday…

…The effect was particularly notable at Dennis Hyundai on the North Side, which sold 131 vehicles under the program from Friday to Monday.

The Columbus Dispatch

You can find out if your clunker is eligible at the government’s web site cars.gov. At the site there is a lot more information regarding the program including a fuel gauge that shows how much money is left to give to consumers. As of yesterday morning that amount was $858 million.

Still, some dealers are worried there will not be enough money for those who want to participate.

Sales have been so brisk, particularly for lower-priced brands, that dealers are worried they might not have enough cars, and they worry about what will happen when the $1 billion in federal funding is gone.

The Columbus Dispatch

If the money runs out before the end of the program, some in congress are talking about adding more funds. I’m sure these lawmakers are democrats since republicans tried to kill this program.

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Jul

26

How Dumb Does City Council Candidate Matt Ferris Think We Are

Posted on July 26, 2009 at 6:34 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


You have to check out the press page for Republican city council candidate Matt Ferris. It is incredibly misleading.

First, he just released a new poll showing that the citizens of Columbus do not support the proposed .5 percent levy scheduled for an August 4th vote. However, the poll was conducted by Wenzel Strategies. If you go to their web site you will see that amazingly, all of their polls listed on the home page support Republican positions.

Second, he has a link to a Columbus Dispatch article that announces the Matt Ferris plan to balance the city budget. But it’s not a Dispatch article. It takes you to a post from a right wing blogger.

Third, he has a link on the press page to a Dispatch article titled “City’s spending habits baffling to some.” This link is actually to a Dispatch article. It lists some of the myths Columbus residents have about the city over spending as Ferris believes, but then refutes almost all of them.

Finally, he links to an article from Columbus Business First that has the headline “City going with the funding flow for capital projects.” I assume he thought people would think that the city was continuing to fund capital projects despite the poor economy. But the article states the exact opposite. It actually has this quote in the article regarding a project to improve city streets.

But the plan was shelved in mid-June when city officials cut this year’s capital improvements budget to the bone.

As has been posted on this web site many times before, the city has cut its budget as much as it safely can. The city and many Republicans have made a cogent argument for a tax increase. Still, in this case there are those who seem to have the anti-tax gene stamped into their DNA despite compelling evidence otherwise.

Matt Ferris said this recently.

He said Columbus officials have used “smoke-and-mirror numbers” to make the deficit seem worse than it is.

Only a Republican could make this recession brought about by the fiscal irresponsibility of a Bush and Taft administration the fault of the local citizenry. We all know what rolls down hill and now it has hit one of the few rust belt cities that has enjoyed prosperity in the the last 20 years.

I’m sorry Mr. Ferris. I’ll take my financial advice from people who actually appear to care about the poor and the middle class. Smoke and Mirrors? Considering the inaccuracies and misinformation on your web site maybe you should go look in a mirror. Minus the smoke.

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Jul

25

Slots Are Not Additional Money for Schools

Posted on July 25, 2009 at 9:37 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under State | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Ohio Governor Ted Strickland says that slot machines will bring an extra one billion to school funding over time. But already the General Assembly has taken the estimated $933 million expected from slot machines away from the education budget. They did this by reducing funding for education from the General Revenue Fund by the same amount.

That’s also what the legislature does with the lottery. Whatever funding education receives from the lottery is then taken away from the General Revenue Fund’s commitment to the education budget. Moreover, lottery profits are only 3% of the education budget.

Based on numbers from 2008, the one billion the governor talks about will only be about 4% of the education fund. Believe me the General Assembly will reduce education spending from the General Revenue Fund by 4% and find other things to spend that money on.

It is a shell game. However, the governor says he will end the practice.

… Strickland said after the speech to the City Club that he plans to stop that practice after the economy improves and will use the slots revenue for education — amounting to an estimated $1 billion over a two-year budget.

The Columbus Dispatch

How? It is the house and senate that change and eventually approve the budget sent to them by the governor. Strickland could veto portions of the budget he dislikes, but I imagine the General Assembly would have enough votes to override it.

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Jul

24

Jazz & Rib Fest This Weekend (Video)

Posted on July 24, 2009 at 9:44 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


The Jazz & Rib Fest started today in Columbus. It will continue Saturday 11AM to 10PM and Sunday 11AM to 8PM. If you’ve never been, you should go. You’ll get plenty of hot ribs and cool jazz. You can find out all the information about it at the Jazz & Rib Fest web site.

Here’s a video from today.

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Jul

23

One Columbus For Issue 1 Web Site

Posted on July 23, 2009 at 9:52 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


At the beginning of June I posted about a new web site the supporters of Issue 1 had created. At the time I said the site looked new and there wasn’t much information.

Well that has changed. Issue 1 is the .05 percent levy that will help continue services to those most in need. The web site has information on who will pay for the levy, what services will be saved, and it allows you to make a contribution for the good of the cause.

However, I think the most impressive part of the site is the long list of people and organizations who support the levy. You can check it out here.

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Jul

21

Dorrian Clobbers Todd Again (Part 2)

Posted on July 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Yesterday, losing candidate for mayor Bill Todd (R) and long time city auditor Hugh Dorrian (D) debated the tax levy once again. This is part two, you can see my post about part one here. The debate was sponsored by the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government.

Todd has suggested previously that the tax was to enrich the “fat cats” downtown. He suggests that if all the money is for public safety, then it should be earmarked only for police and fire.

Instead, the estimated $90 million to $100 million from higher income taxes “can be for anything the cronies at City Hall want,” said Bill Todd…

Dorrian disagreed with Todd’s proposal.

“There must be something here in Columbus, Ohio, worth preserving,” Dorrian said. “Why is our population increasing?” Dorrian, who has been auditor for 41 years, dismissed the idea of dedicating the tax increase solely to police and fire. Ohio legislators promised in the 1980s that all the money from a state lottery would go toward education, he said. That hasn’t solved the state’s school-funding problems.

While police and fire are an essential part of public safety. They are not the only departments protecting the citizens of Columbus. Here is the logo of Columbus Public Health (CPH).

See Bill! The words public and safer are right in the logo. Here’s an example from today about how CPH keeps the public safe.

The Columbus Board of Health [which governs Columbus Public Health] took away the licenses of two restaurants, Hawa Russia and China Market, this afternoon. In both cases, the city cited persistent, unresolved problems that threatened food safety.

Again that word safety. Columbus Public Health provides this service in addition to others such as TB testing, planning against a flu pandemic, STD testing and prevention, treatment for pregnant women, car seats for poor families, prevention and treatment from alcohol and drug addiction, WIC, dental care for the poor, and many other valuable programs.

Yet, Todd’s view is that if the levy is passed none of the revenues should go to these programs because they are not about public safety. The fact is when you have a strong public health system, the lives of the citizens of Columbus are protected, money is saved, and the jobs of police and fire become a little less stressful. Bill, you do not truly understand the meaning and breadth of public safety. No wonder you lost the race for mayor.

Sources:
Auditor, tax critic debate increase
Columbus Board of Health revokes two restaurants’ licenses

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Jul

16

100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Posted on July 16, 2009 at 9:00 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Sports | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Robert Tuchman has written a book called “100 Sporting Events You Must See Live.” He correctly has the Ohio State versus Michigan game high on the list. In fact it’s number 17. You can see the list here.

But wait a minute. He says you have to see the game at the Big House and not the Shoe. What the hell is he thinking. The Big House is a dump. They dug so far into the ground to build it you almost can’t see it from the outside. The Shoe rises majestically from the banks of the Olentangy river to a height of 13 stories. It’s not even close which facility is the best.

If you want to know what game day is like at OSU, click here for a Texas Tech fans perspective on football Saturday’s in Columbus.


The Shoe has character.







The Big House is a big doughnut.

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