What to do about Russia
1| Krauthammer says recognizing Georgia is sine qua non.
The Details: Columnist and TV analyst Charles Krauthammer offers eight concrete ways for the U.S. to respond to Russia’s brutal invasion of Georgia, topped by this one: “Reaffirm support for the Saakashvili government and declare that its removal by the Russians would lead to recognition of a government-in-exile. This would instantly be understood as providing us the legal basis for supplying and supporting a Georgian resistance to any Russian-installed regime.”
Slowing down
2| Metro cracks down on speeding bus drivers.
The Details: The need to improve Metro’s safety performance was highlighted last year after two women were run over and killed by a bus at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street. The transit agency’s use of laser detectors to nab speeding bus drivers makes the streets of D.C. safer for everybody.
More power to Maryland
3| Federal loans to build new reactor at Calvert Cliffs.
The Details: Given the nation’s current energy crisis and Maryland’s precarious power predicament — without more generating capacity, rolling brownouts are predicted in as little as three years — helping underwrite this needed project is a wise use of federal funds.
Accused child porn kingpin stays behind bars
4| Judge refused bail to Homeland Security computer expert.
The Details: District Court Judge Theresa Carroll Buchanan ruled that Peter North, accused of distributing thousands of images of child pornography, will remain locked up until his court hearing, after the FBI found evidence that an underage girl had been transported across state lines.
Less tax, more tolls
5| People reduce driving, pay less gas tax.
The Details: But existing roads still have to be maintained and new roads built. Taxpayers for Common Sense proposes eliminating billions in transportation earmarks and instead letting states charge user fees — i.e. tolls — on more roads.
Cold-shouldering an earmark
6| New York’s Attorney General rejects bucks for Elks’ fridge.
The Details: Andrew Cuomo is aggressively evaluating proposed state legislative earmarks. He just rejected a $5,000 grant for an Elks Lodge. Cuomo rejected it because of “insufficient information.” Way to go, Cuomo!
Feds pressure Hoffa to oust local president
7| Labor Department says Hogan was no hero.
The Details: Teamsters national president James Hoffa succumbed to U.S. Labor Department pressure to bar Robert Hogan from the union. Hogan was accused of hiring another former union member as a business agent for a Teamsters local. Feds accused Hogan of using union links to get plush jobs for friends and family members.
Judge clears suit against union
8| Union campaign suffers courtroom setback.
The Details: Arizona Superior Court Judge Douglas Rayes denied a motion by United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) to dismiss a suit brought against it by Bashas’ Family of Stores. The stores claim in the suit that the union committed extortion, trespass, defamation and international interference with business operations. The union is campaigning to organize the company’s work force.
Put oil shale on fast track
9| Minnesota solon introduces bill to open development.
The Details: Rep. Michelle Baumann has introduced The Fast Track Shale Act of 2008, designed to “open up U.S. federal lands that contain oil shale, cut red tape binding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations for commercial development of this shale, and set in place new research and development that will help foster a better process of extracting this form of oil.” Experts say the U.S. has more recoverable shale oil than any other nation on the planet.
Transparency is hot site
10| Missouri government spending site draws big crowds.
The Details: Anybody who thinks voters don’t really care about how governments spend their tax dollars should think twice. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt’s Missouri Accountability Portal (MAP), has drawn more than 10 million hits since its launch several months ago. A dozen states have followed the federal government’s lead in creating Web sites that allow taxpayers to track public spending.
