North Carolina Senate presents tax reform: takes from the poor, gives to the rich. Would increase taxes of a family of four making $30k by $1,000. Reduces taxes of family of four making $500k by $22,000.

RALEIGH — A far-reaching plan proposed by Republicans in the state Senate would slow government spending and affect the wallet of every North Carolinian as it slashes income tax rates and raises the cost of food, prescription drugs and more than 100 tax-exempt services.

Senate leader Phil Berger outlined the forthcoming legislation Tuesday, calling it a $1 billion tax cut that is the largest in state history.

“This is a huge change in [...]

REPORT: White House Sells Meetings with Obama for $500k

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd criticized Monday the new fundraising efforts of President Obama’s dark money group, Organizing for Action, calling a scheme for high donors to meet regularly with Obama “the definition of selling access.”

http://freebeacon.com/chuck-todd-on-ofa-fundraising-this-just-looks-bad/

Romney On The 47%: Complete Video

Runs 1 minute.  This is the main clip, recorded secretly at the Boca Raton home of Marc Leder, CEO of hedge fund Sun Capital Partners.

Here are 2 good links on the subject:

Washington’s tax break obsession is why 47% pay nothing

18,000 households earned at least $500k in 2011 and paid no income taxes

Romney quotes:

“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what.  All right, there are [...]

Shocking stat from WSJ: As many as 500k of Greece’s 2m private workers haven’t been paid in at least 3 mos. #BreakingPoint.

Illegal Immigrant Guilty Plea [MS irrigation company whacked w/$500K fine, possible prison]

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) -

The owners of a Ridgeland irrigation company pled guilty to harboring illegal aliens this morning.

The U.S. attorney’s office says Paul and Barbara Love, owners of Love Irrigation, were charged with improper use of social security numbers and hiding the fact they hired illegal workers from immigration agents.

As part of a plea agreement the couple has said they will pay a fine of $515,000.00.

They could also face up [...]

Newt Gingrich was between $250K and $500K in debt to Tiffany’s

In 2005 and 2006, the former House speaker turned presidential candidate carried as much as $500,000 in debt to the premier jewelry company, according to financial disclosures filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Gingrich, who represented Georgia in Congress for two decades, retired in 1999. But his wife, Callista Gingrich, was employed by the House Agriculture Committee until 2007, according to public records. She listed a “revolving charge [...]

There is no such thing as a “jobless recovery”.

Just a little note on unemployment as I was away last week – my annual 3 days with no cell phone or internet. Please note the quarterly numbers at the bottom of the post if you think things are actually getting better:

W/Ending ……. 2010 ……. 2009 ……. 2008 ……. 2007 ……. 2006
1/2/2010 … 645,446 … 731,958 … 521,311 … 499,979 … 475,889
1/9/2010 … 804,922 … 959,791 … 547,506 … 506,059 [...]

I worked around college students for several years and can see the erosion up close and personal.

Student loans today include living expenses. That was certainly not true years ago when I went to college. The interest on those loans needs to be paid each year, which from what I see most parents are doing the paying. That was not true years ago either, because most parents didn’t have any extra money since they had more mouths at home to feed.

Bush’s goal to have more people become [...]