TresSugar

States Struggling: Budget Crises Lead to Desperate Measures

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:01:09 -0700

If you thought your wallet was feeling light, it's not just you - states are feeling the budget crunch just as hard - with unique ways to manage the money meltdown.

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has just threatened to pay state employees federal minimum wage in an effort to push lawmakers to agree on a budget. Even though minimum wage hikes up today, it would still mean thousands of workers would only take home $6.55 an hour (which is still $1.45 an hour less than CA's minimum wage.)

The budget stall comes as Republicans and Democrats battle to bridge the $15.2 billion budget shortfall California is facing. Republicans want to deal with money crisis through cuts, Democrats are angling for more taxes. Schwarzenegger says he won't sign a budget unless it contains improvements like a rainy day fund to help the state through tough times. Hmm. Just like we're supposed to have at home!

Also in the category of, "Governments! They're just like us!" Gas! Though consumers have been concerned about the price of fuel for months, state budgets - especially for driving heavy departments, like the police - are way overdrawn on fuel bills. To see how cops have to carpool, read more.

In Montana, where the Highway Patrol sometimes has to drive up to 100 miles to answer a call in their fuel inefficient Crown Victorias (a big ol' 15 m.p.g) they've busted their budget by $340,000 in gas bills alone. Where's the money coming from? The personnel budget. No new cops 'til the tanks get filled.

Over in New Mexico, they're in similar straits, and are waiting for the governor to call a special legislative session to get their gas card paid off. They're trying to though! In addition to carpooling whenever they can, one Lieutenant says, "we have asked officers to shop around and know where the cheapest gas is to buy." Shopping for gas - that won't take time out of the "keeping us safe" part of the day or anything.

Nevada is $1 million dollars over budget on gas. Their solution is getting officers to drive less. So less patrolling, more speed-trapping. If you're headed through the Silver State, watch for smokies under the overpasses - they'll be sitting there, saving fuel.

Are any of these state measures to save, smart? What's the solution when states are as pinched as taxpayers - the same ones who give the states money to begin with?

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What Was Your Worst Summer Job?

TresSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Before we all get the fabulous jobs that express our personalities and true abilities - we often have to suck it up in crap jobs.

Yes, they help us build character. Yes, we learn how to budget small amounts of money, learning the valuable fiscal lesson that no amount of saving will buy us a trip to Paris and allow us to purchase our dream wardrobes on a part-time, minimum-wage salary. And the most important lesson of all is we learn how to be employees - dealing with annoying bosses, rude customers, and weird co-workers.

I wore many hats as a teen. I served cocktails (yes, you can do that legally in Texas even if you're not old enough to drink); I slaved in a fast-food joint; and I cashiered behind the counter of a fancy French bakery. (There, I picked up two habits - one which I still have, the other which I've rid myself of: the desire for strong coffee, and the ability to smoke an unfiltered Gitane cigarette. Ouch!)

The worst Summer job I ever had? Grocery bagger. I accidentally smashed children's fingers, forgot people's food in their shopping carts (trust me, I still remember the unhappy woman who returned to retrieve her forgotten watermelon), and worst of all, I endured the hot sun on my delicate skin. I lasted a day. What was your worst summer job?

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Child Slavery in the US? Wealthy Immigrants Bring "Hired" Help

LibertySugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:00:42 -0800

Well, this is just great. Behind the gated and planned communities of Southern California housewives aren't just employing children as drug dealers, they're smuggling children into the US to work.

As affluent immigrants move here from Africa, where the rich think nothing of employing children for little to no money, many bring children with them to employ for meager wages ($30-per-month meager). The US State Department found that in the past year, children from at least 10 African countries were sent to the US and Europe to work as maids.

To learn about one former child slave who found justice, if that's even possible, read more.

The family that brought Shyima over when she was 10 from Egypt was reported by a neighbor. After a long court battle - where the couple tried to claim her as their child - they pleaded guilty to forced labor and slavery. They were ordered to pay $76,000, which hardly seems like enough but is the amount she would have earned at minimum wage; sentenced to 22 months (wife) and three years (husband) in prison; and deported upon release. Shyima was adopted, finished high school, and at 19 now wants to become a police officer.

If it's possible to call Shyima lucky, it could be said. Because child slaves are cloaked behind the curtains of private homes, her case is an exception. Tasks like sorting laundry, taking out the garbage, and ironing shirts can easily be mistaken as chores, so nobody can even estimate how many children are enslaved. And since none of it is considered abusive (at least not physically), cases are rarely prosecuted.

People who keep child slaves not only see themselves as employers but also as benefactors, giving poor children opportunities. Sure, if you call 12-hour work days and no education in a nice American home an opportunity. And many in Africa, including Shyima's parents, do.

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Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:30:40 -0700

Pollution: Is this for real? George W. Bush bids farewell to G8 saying "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter." - Donklephant
Surrogates: Does this apply to Obama, too? McCain says only McCain speaks for McCain. - DailyKos
China: Worth a trip? Jackie Chan Museum coming to Shanghai! – Shanghaiist
Minimum Wage: How much do you know about minimum wage? Test your smarts. - SavvySugar
History: Detailed plans for the first 100 days of the Kucinich administration doesn't make the cut? 100 things we're not putting in the time capsule. – Radar

Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Abortion: No consensus? Parliament vote to reject late-term abortion limits divides Britain's newspapers. -newsblog

Obama: Clinton helped Obama? Detailed explanation of why the long primary battle is good for Obama. -Huffington Post
Attack Ads: More fun to come? Victim of San Francisco values attack ad responds. - Talking Points Memo
Minimum Wage: Bad for workers? Unintended consequences of a wage hike. - Red State

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US Citizenship Requests Down; Price of Wall Up $400 Million

LibertySugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Barriers - financial and physical - could influence the makeup of newly naturalized Americans. After citizen application rates rose 70 percent, from $440 to $675, half as many people have applied for US citizenship in the beginning of this year compared to last year.

To become eligible for citizenship, a person must be a legal permanent resident who has lived continuously in the US for 5 years. Those that do apply sometimes use loans to foot the bill. Immigrant advocates say the fee exceeds processing costs, and they want the cost to be tied to federal minimum wage and funded by Congress.

Meanwhile, the Bush Administration wants an additional $400 million for the partially constructed 670-mile fence along the Texas-Mexico border. The fence, which impacts 480 landowners, already received a $2.1 billion apportionment from Congress in 2006.

By making citizenship more accessible to the wealthy, and spending an exorbitant amount of money on a keep-out wall, does America betray its immigrant heritage?

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You Asked: How Do I Kick My Roommate Out?

DearSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

My roommate moved to Seattle (my town) from Indiana at the end of June after I had secured a lease on an apartment. We had never met before, except online through a mutual hobby. She moved in time to go to an interview for a job she did not end up getting. A month went by before she found work, leaving me to pay the rent in its entirety, with the agreement that she'd pay me back once she found a job. Meanwhile, as she sat at home looking for a job all day, she did nothing to clean the apartment. I would come home from work, do the dishes, clean up the place, make dinner, and then go to bed. Rinse, repeat.

She finally got a job, and then lost it three weeks later. This was not her fault, but regardless, it has been three weeks since she lost her job and she still does not have another. Not even a minimum wage job to tide her over until she finds a web design job she wants. And yet again, she fails to do anything around the apartment.

I can't stand the fact that I'm living with someone I find to be irresponsible. In addition to the lack of cleaning, lack of job, and lack of ability to pay rent on time, I hate her dog. I walk in every night and the dog is all over me. She doesn't do anything to stop it, so I always feel like the bad guy for disciplining it. We are both on the lease. I've already inquired about switching roommates and the landlord said it wouldn't be a problem, but how do I tell her I want her out? She has no money and no job, but I'm simply miserable! - At My Wits End Emma

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear At My Wits End Emma,

Yikes, your situation really does sound miserable. While I understand helping your roommate once, there's absolutely no reason why you should be carrying the weight yet again, so it's time to put your foot down and be firm with her. Everyone knows it's a difficult time to find a job, but she's a grown adult who should have planned for this, or at least gotten a part-time job in the meantime so she can pay her share of the bills.

This woman has not been taking your feelings into consideration, and while I don't feel that two wrongs make a right, I think you should concentrate on yourself right now. Your home needs to be a place where you're comfortable, and your roommate has to be someone you trust and who respects your living space; she clearly doesn't fit that model.

If I were you, I'd just be honest with her. Tell her that it's simply not working out and you no longer want to live together. If she puts up a stink, be aware that you might be the one that has to move since both your names are on the lease. Regardless of who gets the actual apartment, it's very clear that you two are not meant to be roommates. In order to salvage your relationship (if you even want to), I suggest you broach the subject as soon as possible, because something has got to give! Good luck.

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Don't Call It Do Nothing Congress! Passed 1,900 Symbolic Bills

LibertySugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:57 -0700

Congress is on track to pass the least amount of public laws than any other Congress in the two decades of record keeping. So far, the 110th Congress has 294 laws to its name. On the other hand, the House and Senate have passed 1,900 symbolic resolutions.

It may not have ended the war in Iraq, but this year Congress has:

Recognized the Idaho Potato Commission's 70th Anniversary
Recognized soil as an essential natural resource
Designated May 5-9 as National Substitute Teacher Recognition Week
Set July 28 as the Day of the American Cowboy

Shoot! I missed the Day of the American Cowboy. The Wall Street Journal reports that Congress spends one-quarter of its workweek debating and passing such symbolic measures. Congressional Democrats, emphasizing the quality over the quantity of actual legislation, point out that since 2007 they have enacted the largest expansion in college aid in 60 years, increased the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, increased unemployment benefits, and implemented the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Do you think the Democratic Congress should have a chance to further prove itself with a President on its side, or is it time to symbolically kick these lawmakers to the curb in November?

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Pelosi Talks About Impeachment and Her Do-Nothing Congress

LibertySugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:00:15 -0700

The first female Speaker of the House has just released a book, Know Your Power: A Message to American Daughters, in which she encourages America women to make their voices heard. Making her voice heard on the new-book-media tour, Pelosi appeared on The View last week to explain that impeachment was off the table because there is no evidence that Bush committed a crime and in this week's Time, readers asked Pelosi ten questions. Here's what the eleven-term Congresswomen from San Francisco had to say about the topics on Americans' minds.

Why have you taken impeachment off the table as an option for President George W. Bush? I took it off the table a long time ago. You can't talk about impeachment unless you have the facts, and you can't have the facts unless you have cooperation from the Administration. I think the Republicans would like nothing better than for us to focus on impeachment and take our eye off the ball of a progressive economic agenda.

Why do the Democrats insist on blocking oil-drilling when we need the price of oil to drop? Even if they drilled every place [in America], it would not have any impact on the price of oil now. You can't increase domestic supply only by drilling. You have to invest in renewable-energy resources. That's all longer term.

To find out if Speaker Pelosi ever votes against her party, and what she thinks about challenger Cindy Sheehan and accusations that her party controls a "do-nothing" Congress, read more.

How often do you vote to stick with your party against your better judgment? I always say to new members coming in: Follow the C's. We uphold the Constitution, we represent our constituents, and votes can be a matter of conscience. You have to weigh all of that.

The Democratic Congress is perceived by the public to have accomplished almost nothing. What do you say to this? We raised the minimum wage, made college more affordable with the biggest bill since the GI Bill was signed in 1944, passed a historic energy bill with emission standards. But we didn't end the war, and I think that's why people have a negative view of Congress.

What do you think of Cindy Sheehan's challenge to your congressional seat? I have the highest respect for Cindy. She lost her son in the Iraq war. What greater sacrifice could she make? She's won the right - well, every American has the right - to run for office. Come on in; the water's warm.

For more of her thoughts, including those on the economy and her political past, read the whole story.

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Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:30:49 -0700

Iran: Will you watch the whole thing tonight? Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells Brian Williams that his government is not working to make a nuclear bomb. - MSNBC
Novak: Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. - Huffington Post
Sex-ed: Devout Catholic? Nancy Pelosi calls for more pro-choice members to fight abstinence education. - Townhall
American Morals: What do Americans believe? Views on the environment, sex, religion. - Donklephant
Arnold: How does policy impact real people? A state employee's reaction to Schwarzenegger's minimum wage threat. - SavvySugar

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