Remember that airline commercial that asks “Want to get away?” for those embarrassing moments in life? In the Internet age, there is no getting away when somebody comes up with a truly dumb, ridiculous or just plain bad idea. Clueless California
1| California enacts extensive ‘cap-and-trade’ plan
The details: California’s Air Resources Board voted unanimously to pass America’s most comprehensive cap-and-trade system. The plan will increase the price of electricity, hurt job creation and raise the cost of doing business in the state.
Sad ending
2| Chinese toddler dies after hit-and-run
The details: A Chinese toddler that was run over twice and ignored by passers-by on a busy market street died a week after the accident.
Green funds for Finns
3| Obama-supported car company outsources jobs to Finland
The details: Electric car company Fisker outsourced 500 manufacturing jobs to a rural Finnish firm, after receiving a $529 million loan guarantee from President Obama. The company has financial ties to Al Gore and wealthy Obama donors.
Benefits gone to pot
4| Medical marijuana dealers join union.
The details: Medical marijuana dealers in Colorado voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, gaining access to retirement benefits and political clout.
Living with less
5| Americans’ standard of living plunges
The average individual has $1,315 less in disposable income than he or she did three years ago, according to census data. Real median income is down 9.8 percent since the start of the recession.
Running on empty
6| Maryland faces $1b shortfall
The details: Lower-than-expected revenue will not cover Maryland’s spending commitments next year, and anemic growth will create a $1 billion budget shortfall, state legislators were told. The bleak outlook doesn’t include an $18 billion gap in state employees’ pension plan.
Gerrymandered
7| Controversial redistricting plan approved
The details: Maryland legislators approved a highly gerrymandered congressional map that puts western Carroll County is the same district as Ocean City and splits minority voters in Prince George’s County. State Democrats used redistricting to target 10-term Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s seat.
Structurally unsound
8| D.C. bridges need repairs
The details: Federal data show that 12.3 percent of D.C. bridges are “structurally deficient,” as are 9.4 percent of the spans in Virginia and 6.9 percent of Maryland bridges. Officials also spotted cracks on bridges supporting the newly constructed Intercounty Connector.
Impact implodes
9| Plan to waive teacher evaluations
The details: D.C. Public Schools says it is considering a proposal by D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown to waive Impact evaluations for teachers in the city’s poorest schools. Unevaluated teachers would still be eligible for bonuses up to $10,000.
Trampled turf
10| Protesters ruin grass in square
The details: Tents erected by Occupy DC protesters covering three-quarters of McPherson Square are killing $200,000 worth of stimulus-funded sod recently installed by the National Park Service. Protesters sprinkled grass seed on muddy areas, but have no plans to leave the sod untrod.
