We need more “blatantly political bills” like this

JM Bell | June 30, 2006

According to today’s Deseret News Senator Hatch thinks Democratic efforts to cut interest rates on student loans by half and increase the number of students eligible for Pell Grants is a “blatantly political bill.” In addition, our very own Senator for life seems to have conveniently found his fiscally responsible side stating “our budget [...]

Minimum Wage – 4th of July Family Fun

JM Bell | June 30, 2006

So, you’re going to spend a little time with the Family this 4th of July?
Like most Democrats in Utah, Family get-togethers are a great time for family members to gather in a circle, around you, and beat you to insensibility with their Sean Hannity talking points. Ah, the holidays.
This year, an especially nerve tickling [...]

Cannon vs. Jacob

JM Bell | June 28, 2006

Let me get something clear right now:
Mr. Cannon didn’t win last night.
Jacob lost. Jacob lost hard.

SAVE THE FLAG!

JM Bell | June 27, 2006

From the Washington Post article:
The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.
The number has increased to four, from three.
From a United States Marine:
Jeff,
As a US Marine, I am [...]

Limbaugh detained at Palm Beach airport

JM Bell | June 26, 2006

***DEVELOPING
Rush Limbaugh detained at a Florida airport.Word is he had a bottle of drugs that were not his, and that this may be a violation of his parole.
***UPDATE From Yahoo News via the AP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after [...]

Valuing work means more than giving it lip service

JM Bell | June 22, 2006

Yesterday on a nearly 52 to 46 nearly party line vote the Senate came up eight short of the 60 needed to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next two years. As always, Republicans argue giving America’s working poor would be a “job killer.” Senators Hatch and [...]

I’m just sayin’

JM Bell | June 20, 2006

I’m just sayin’…
In 1999, the Clinton Administration fined over 400 companies for hiring illegal aliens. In 2004, the Bush Administration fined three
From the Washington Post

This Month’s Mighty

JM Bell | June 16, 2006

Plato’s Cave – The Salt Lake Tribune
I was over in the Tribune Blogs poking around today and I noticed something a little odd: George Pyle (with The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board) absolutely dominates Plato’s Cave. His attention to detail, and his thoughtful and eloquent writing are incredible. Almost as incredible as the sheer tonnage [...]

“It’s a Number”

JM Bell | June 16, 2006

Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow marked the death of the 2500th American soldier by commenting, “It’s a number, and every time there’s one of these 500 benchmarks people want something.” Obviously, to the family, friends, and neighbors of the fallen service members, their loved ones are more than “a number”. [...]

This morning’s funny

JM Bell | June 16, 2006

From the blogger.com spell check program:

Uncle Orrin

JM Bell | June 16, 2006

From this morning’s Tribune article:
“If the First Amendment rights are to be protected, why would they want a statute that takes away First Amendment rights?” Hatch asked. “There’s only one answer to that. To cover their behinds, so they can say, ‘Well, I’m for a statute.’ Well, that’s just the usual dodge that people [...]

Can Utah Republicans make up their mind on dental benefits?

JM Bell | June 14, 2006

“The legislature doesn’t need to approve the Medicaid Dental funding. The Health Department can make that decision themselves.” Rep. Jeff Alexander, (R)Provo
“…the legislature chose not to fund an optional dental program until the comprehensive [Medicaid] study had been undertaken.” Rep. Steve [...]

I’m Blogging This

JM Bell | June 14, 2006

I went to the Utah Bloggers Conference last night, and, let me tell you, it was a great crowd. There were a lot more people there than I expected.
The panel was interesting, Pete Ashdown was compelling (as usual) but, really, my favorite part was meeting people whose blogs I’ve been reading everyday. Being able to [...]

Time to Raise the Minimum Wage

JM Bell | June 13, 2006

Today the House Appropriations Committee surprised everyone with a 32-27 vote to raise the minimum wage over a three year period from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13302871/ for details.
Unfortunately, Republican leaders have indicated this amendment isn’t going anywhere. They plan to strip it from the bill before [...]

Congressman Burridge? I think so …

JM Bell | June 13, 2006

3rd Congressional District Candidate Christian Burridge has had a couple of interesting posts on his blog the last few days. The two most recent are my two most favorite:
The Real Cancer on Society
and the Cannon Brothers Myth Making Machine