Archive for the ‘ Government & Politics ’ Category

Stimulus Watch for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The web site StimulusWatch.org has a nice listing of projects that are “shovel-ready” for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The site is nice because it lists a description of each project and allows users to vote for against each project whether money from federal stimulus funding should go towards each of these projects. It’s a nice overview what the people want and what they don’t want.

Here are some highlights.

The citizens of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania seem to be interested in the following:

  1. Water and Sewer Line Replacements, Upgrades and Elimination of Combined Stormwater/Wastewater Lines into seperated lines (+6)
  2. Reconstruction /repaving of 75 Streets (+7)
  3. Installation of rooftop wind turbines on public sites, including their grid connections (+5)
  4. Purchase natural-gas powered mass transit buses, including downtown trolley buses (+9)
  5. Build Regional Rail Stop at HBG. International Airport (+10)

And here is a list of projects that the citizens of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania are not interested in:

  1. Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project: Complete upgrade and expansion of all sidewalks, curbs, streetlights, street furniture. Intersections and signage of central business district (already designed) (-5)
  2. Obstruction Removal Work at Harrisburg International Airport (removal of vacant power plant, other out buildings) (-12)
  3. Construction of 2 downtown hotels (-32)
  4. Construct and open first-ever Ex-Offender Re-Entry and Job Training Center, including equipment (-6)
  5. Construction of Department of Public Works Building (-6)
  6. Build citywide Rec Center & Skating Rink (-8)
  7. Hire Community Relations Coordinator and 5 support staff (for greater police-public interaction, crime watch group support, public information role) (-5)
  8. New, energy-efficient bus stops with LED information screens (-5)

It will be interesting to see if any federal stimulus funding goes towards the projects that the people are in favor of. And of course, which projects get funding because of favortism which seems to happen most of the time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The White House Blog

I am amazed at how times are changing. It seems like the last two presidential elections have been very heavily involved with social networking sites and new forms of media to gain attention.

Now with our new President the White House has it’s own blog! Needless to say, I have subscribed to the rss feed to keep up to date on the happenings of our government. Maybe this is old news but I just found it thanks to Ross Karchner and thought I would share it with my readers.

Living on Food Stamps

This will be interesting to follow. Sean Caleb of CNN is finding out what it is like to live on food stamps for one month. Since he doesn’t qualify to use this program, he found that the most a single person can qualify for is $176 per month. That’s about $6.28 per day. Can you live on $6.28 per day?

Some statistics from his report already:

  • 31 million Americans rely on the food stamp program
  • In Louisiana 1 out of 6 people uses food stamps
  • Food stamps are actually now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Bailout Accountability vs. Child Support

I couldn’t help but link these two subjects together. With all of the news of large corporations getting bailout money from the government we often see these companies making the news when we see how the money is being spent. Big bonuses and new corporate jets for everyone! Ok, so I am exagerating a bit there. But it has taken the public eye because it is our taxpayer money that is going to these companies. We hope that they will be able to turn their companies around and pay every penny back with interest.

Maybe now more people will understand the anger people feel who pay child support. This is something we have felt forever and yet our concerns fell on deaf ears. Leaving the sexist comments out of this topic because I know that both men and women can pay child support. Our money goes to Domestic Relations which is then sent to the custodial parent. The custodial parent can then spend that money any way they like. They do not have to prove to anyone that the money is spent on the child. Yet not a single person seems to care about this situation. There is absolutely no accountability on the custodial parents part.

As for the person who pays the child support, we are held very accountable. If we decide to not pay, we go to jail. If we miss a payment, we are no longer eligible to purchase a home. These child support laws differ from state to state, and county to county. But I wish the laws would change so that us child support paying parents can see some documentation as to how the money is being spent on our children. Just the way all of us Americans would like to see how the bailout money is being spent by the corporations. We want to see a return on our investment!

Charisse Pempengco to Perform at Obama Inauguration

Never before have I heard of Charisse Pempengco. Until today. Who is she? She is a filipino with an AMAZING voice! Just watch this video for a taste of what this girl can do. I had no idea such an amazing voice would come from this girl!

The Starometer says that she will be performing “God Bless America” and “One Moment in Time” at the pre-inaugural party on January 18th in Washington D.C. I would actually like to see her sing the National Anthem at the inauguration. We shall see.