State budgets get adrenaline shot from Clunkers

Edmunds.com estimated that the average clunker sales price was $26,321, meaning roughly $18 billion worth of new vehicles were sold under the program. Multiplied by the average combined state and local sales tax of 7.5 percent, the total tax bill amounts to a loose estimate of $1.36 billion.

"Has the pool been drained as a result of this program for the next couple of months? That is the question," he said.

Click on the following for more details:  State budgets get adrenaline shot from Clunkers - Yahoo! News

Leaders weigh pros, cons of 2 Amtrak routes

How much is the federal and state government willing to spend on this train to Dubuque? 

Federal stimulus money could fund the primary route, from Chicago through Genoa and Rockford to Dubuque, Iowa. But money earmarked for rail upgrades in the state capital plan could then be used for the stretch that goes through Belvidere. That route would use the same tracks between Rockford and Dubuque

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton is pessimistic that both lines would be upgraded

Click on the following for more of the story:  Leaders weigh pros, cons of 2 Amtrak routes - - BusinessRockford.com

CVS, Walgreen have spot flu-vaccine shortages as demand surges

Five vaccine suppliers -- Sanofi, London-based AstraZeneca Plc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis AG and CSL Ltd. of Australia -- are making 114 million seasonal- flu doses, and 251 million swine flu doses for the U.S., according to the Health and Human Services Department.

Click on the following:  Daily Herald | CVS, Walgreen have spot flu-vaccine shortages as demand surges

Robert Reich's Blog

 

The following is Mr. Reich’s statement  from his  October 9, 2009 blog.

Why Obama Should Not Have Received the Peace Prize -- Yet

President Obama's only real diplomatic accomplishment so far has been to change the direction and tone of American foreign policy from unilateral bullying to multilateral listening and cooperating. That's important, to be sure, but not nearly enough. The Prize is really more of Booby Prize for Obama's predecessor. Had the world not suffered eight years of George W. Bush, Obama would not be receiving the Prize. He's prizeworthy and praiseworthy only by comparison.

I'd rather Obama had won it after Congress agreed to substantial cuts in greenhouse gases comparable to what Europe is proposing, after he brought Palestinians and Israelis together to accept a two-state solution, after he got the United States out of Afghanistan and reduced the nuclear arm's threat between Pakistan and India, or after he was well on the way to eliminating the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons. Any one of these would have been worthy of global praise. Perhaps the Nobel committee can give him half the prize now and withhold the other half until he accomplishes one or more of these crucial missions.

Giving the Peace Prize to the President before any of these goals has been attained only underscores the paradox of Obama at this early stage of his presidency. He has demonstrated mastery in both delivering powerful rhetoric and providing the nation and the world with fresh and important ways of understanding current challenges. But he has not yet delivered. To the contrary, he often seems to hold back from the fight -- temporizing, delaying, or compromising so much that the rhetoric and insight he offers seem strangely disconnected from what he actually does. Yet there's time. He may yet prove to be one of the best presidents this nation has ever had -- worthy not only of the Peace Prize but of every global accolade he could possibly summon. Just not yet.

Click on the following to view this and other of Mr. Reich’s blog postings:  Robert Reich's Blog

Republican National Chairman uses Obama’s Nobel Prize as reason to solicit campaign funds.

From:
Michael S. Steele, RNC Chairman

To:
BPYSSON XXXXXXXXXX

Subject:
Nobel Peace Prize for Awesomeness

---

Dear William ,
I'm sure you've heard the news -- Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It's a stunning, if not truly surprising, indication of just how meaningless a once honorable and respected award has become.
What has President Obama actually accomplished? It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.
Even the normally fawning media have expressed shock at the clearly political and unmerited award. But the Democrats clearly see it differently, with DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse stating "the Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize."
Like most Americans, the DNC can't think of one achievement that the president has accomplished, so they resort to their predictable response and standard playbook of demonizing anyone who disagrees with them.
First they call Americans concerned over health care "rabid extremists" and "angry mobs." Now, when challenged to answer the question of what the president has accomplished, Democrats are lashing out calling Republicans terrorists. That type of political rhetoric is shameful.
William , the Democrats and their international leftist allies want America made subservient to the agenda of global redistribution and control. And truly patriotic Americans like you and our Republican Party are the only thing standing in their way.
Help our Party spread the word about the Obama Democrats' dangerous naivete and power grab. Please support GOP elected officials as they work to hold the Democrats accountable to the American people for their failed policies and irresponsible rhetoric by making a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the Republican National Committee today.
Your gift will also help support the recruitment and election of principled candidates who will defeat the Democrats in 2009 and 2010 and promote policies that put America first.

National group challenges Wheaton council over prayer

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and one of its members from Wheaton this week notified Mayor Mike Gresk that the council is violating federal law by opening regular meetings with a prayer. The organization is urging the council to discontinue the practice

the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that prayers during government meetings must be nondenominational and nonsectarian. The foundation's review of invocations given before Wheaton council meetings between March and September found the prayers "rarely, if ever," met that legal requirement.

in DuPage County …. The county board and forest preserve commission both have similar invocations.

Click on the following for more on this story:  Daily Herald | National group challenges Wheaton council over prayer

US-mortgage-backer-may-need-bailout

Is the mortgage crisis over?

Federal Housing Administration, which guarantees mortgages with low down payments, are becoming so acute that some experts warn the agency might need a federal bailout.

some 20 percent of F.H.A. loans insured last year — and as many as 24 percent of those from 2007

the agency now insures roughly 5.4 million single-family home mortgages, with a combined value of $675 billion.

The government is giving as many people as it possibly can the chance to buy a house or, if they are in financial difficulty, refinance it. The F.H.A. is insuring about 6,000 loans a day, four times the amount in 2006. Its portfolio is growing so fast that even F.H.A. backers express amazement

US-mortgage-backer-may-need-bailout: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance