TresSugar

States, Provinces to Cap and Trade Sans Federal Governments

LibertySugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Seven western US states and four Canadian provinces have agreed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 percent before 2020. Proud of the Western Climate Initiative, Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asserted:

We’re sending a strong message to our federal governments that states and provinces are moving forward in the absence of federal action, and we’re setting the stage for national programs that are just as aggressive.

So how will Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec curb climate change? To find out, read more.

The states and provinces will set a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas beginning in 2012. The cap will get smaller every year. All sectors of the economies, from transportation to housing to electricity, will be expected to cut and pay for emissions. Industries, however, will receive allowances for their emissions. One allowance will cover every metric ton of emitted heat-trapping gas, and allowances can be traded on a secondary market.

Are you happy to see the states coming up with climate change alliances, or would it be better if there was a united national plan?

Source and Source

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?

Source

Awaiting Results: The Final Countdown

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:06 -0700

Aw! What a long, strange trip it's been! Jan. 3 in Iowa to June 3 in South Dakota and Montana, Liberty and I are getting a little weepy now that the primary season is all done but the counting. It seems like forever, especially when we dug back through everything that's happened in the past six months. It's almost like a funny yearbook. Take a peek while we wait for the results tonight. Stay sweet, don't change, BFFs etc. - do you remember this?

Hillary's sparkly sweet Christmas wrappingy-goodness television ad, where the gift tags all had presents the tax payers had actually purchased. I wonder if she saved the gift receipts?
Ha! Remember when we thought Super Tuesday might actually determine who was going to be the nominee? So cute and so wrong! Legendary Obama baby picture included.
Some of you might have been psychic? Way back on Feb. 5, 50 percent of you voted for Obama, 30 percent for Hillary. Hmm . . .
Oh, yeah! There was that guy who got in a stabbing fight with his brother-in-law over the candidates. I love the quote that set it all off.
Gloria Steinem's eyebrow raising "secretary" comment? That seems like 100 years ago!
Well, however it turns out tonight, we can all look back on that one shining moment when Barack and Hillary kissed - really kissed - and made up.

What's been your favorite (or most maddening!) moment of the campaign so far?

Source

Front Page: Australia Leaves Iraq, GM to Close Plants, South Dakota and Montana Primaries

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:01:08 -0700

Australia Leaves Iraq: Australia has ended its combat operations in Iraq. One of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a campaign promise to bring the troops home - and they're set to return in a couple of days. Pegging his decision on the actions of the previous government, Rudd said, "of most concern to this government was the manner in which the decision to go to war was made: the abuse of intelligence information, a failure to disclose to the Australian people the qualified nature of that intelligence." Australia's 500 troops have helped to train 33,000 Iraqi soldiers. No Australian soldiers were killed in Iraq.

GM to Close Plants: Car maker GM, in response to a growing shift to smaller vehicles with better gas mileage, said yesterday that it would end production at four factories in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that produce trucks and sport utility vehicles. In perhaps the biggest news of all - the Hummer brand might be discontinued. The CEO says the market shift to smaller vehicles is permanent, "we at GM don’t think this is a spike or a temporary shift.". The company plans to build a new small car in Ohio in 2010. The cuts will affect about 2,500 workers at each of the four plants.
South Dakota and Montana Primaries: Voters head to the polls today in the last two primaries of the six month season. Obama will hold a rally tonight in St. Paul, MN - the site of the Republican National Convention - and Clinton plans what's being called by some, a "farewell speech" in New York. Obama is floating the idea of a “unity meeting” with Clinton to come together and regroup after the long and brutal primary battle with his rival. Check back tonight to see the results (and any major announcements) as they break.

Buns and Chou Chou in: Bionic Buns

GiggleSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0700

What would happen if one of our fave bunnies turned all bionic on us? Duh! He'd fly to a Hanna Montana concert as fast as his little floppy ears would take him!

Fred, the Teen YouTube Sensation, Rocks Out With Friends

GiggleSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:00:00 -0700

When I was a kid and got bored, I went into a closet and read, chased ice cream trucks, or watched re-runs of "Gilligan's Island." Kids these days get famous on youtube! They're not reading as much as I did, I bet! (Yeah, great argument.) Thanks, Bella!

Front Page: Bangkok on Brink as Protests Rage

CitizenSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:02:24 -0700

Thailand's prime minister has declared a state of emergency after antigovernment protests and intense violence have continued for days. - CNN
Somali pirates have vowed revenge today for the death of three pirates killed by the US. They promise to kill US and French soldiers. - CNN
The Obamas will host 30,000 people today for the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. - ABC News
A passenger landed a small plane in Florida after the pilot died in flight. - AP
Officials say a woman jumped into the polar bear enclosure at the Berlin Zoo. She was bitten several times. - AP
Hannah Montana topped the box office this weekend, bringing in $34 million in ticket sales. - BuzzSugar
Economist Paul Krugman thinks Republicans have stopped having real policy debates. - New York Times

Source

Front Page: Treasury Unveils $1 Trillion Plan For Banks

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:49:10 -0700

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner unveiled a complex plan today to end the nation's banking crisis. A new federal entity would help private investors buy as much as $1 trillion in devalued real-estate assets. - New York Times
Fourteen people died after a plane crashed into a Montana cemetery last night. - CNN
JPMorgan Chase, which has received $25 billion in bailout funds, plans on buying two luxury corporate jets and a luxury aircraft hanger at the cost of $138 million. - ABC News
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez says comments from President Obama have made him reconsider his plan to send an ambassador to Washington. - Reuters
Three police officers were killed and a fourth is brain dead after a shooting in Oakland, CA, this weekend. - San Francisco Chronicle

Source

Prisons Turning to Teleconferencing to Save Money

CitizenSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:00:07 -0800

Gas prices and strict state budgets have prompted at least 11 states - Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee - to start regularly using teleconferences between judges and inmates. The move is seen as a way to both improve public safety and save cash.

The AP reports that some inmates say they'd prefer to plead their cases in person, but correction officials say the technology offers a fair alternative to spending millions of dollars moving inmates in person. To see how much the trend saves the state per court date and how it's working in Connecticut, read more.

It costs the state of Connecticut at least $1,600 every time it moves one multiple murder suspect (and high security inmate) to appear in a courtroom. In Oct. the state installed teleconferencing equipment in all of its 18 correctional facilities and more than 150 inmates used the system to participate in hearings involving parole, civil and family court, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Social Security Administration.

The state's court system has a working group that may expand the technique. Do you think teleconferencing offers inmates a fair arena to plead their cases?

Source

Who Will Be the Next President? Watch the Results With Us!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:21:46 -0800

Election Night is finally here! We've followed the 2008 Presidential campaign trail from primaries, conventions, debates to every hilarious and unexpected moment in between. East Coast polls have started to close, and we'll be here updating you on the electoral votes as they come in using predictions from pollster and major networks. Join us as we wait for the next American president!

Senator Barack Obama

338

Senator John McCain

156

You can check out all the major headlines of the night right here, and I'll be filling in the results for each state as they come in. To see results, read more.

State	Electoral Votes	State	Electoral Votes
Alabama	9	Montana	3
Alaska	3	Nebraska	5
Arizona	10	Nevada	5
Arkansas	6	New Hampshire	4
California	55	New Jersey	15
Colorado	9	New Mexico	5
Connecticut	7	New York	31
Delaware	3	North Carolina	15
D.C.	3	North Dakota	3
Florida	27	Ohio	20
Georgia	15	Oklahoma	7
Hawaii	4	Oregon	7
Idaho	4	Pennsylvania	21
Illinois	21	Rhode Island	4
Indiana	11	South Carolina	8
Iowa	7	South Dakota	3
Kansas	6	Tennessee	11
Kentucky	8	Texas	34
Louisiana	9	Utah	5
Maine	4	Vermont	3
Maryland	10	Virginia	13
Massachusetts	12	Washington	11
Michigan	17	West Virginia	5
Minnesota	10	Wisconsin	10
Mississippi	6	Wyoming	3
Missouri	11