News

 

Romney Stands for Privatizing FEMA

Why is politics important right now when funding for emergency disasters is paramount to saving lives in this major storm? Candidate Romney called for cuts to funding Emergency Response programs such as FEMA during his campaign which now will be vital against the Super Storm of Hurricane Sandy.   PolitcoNews

Was Ryan’s Social Security plan inspired by Pinochet?

The VP candidate’s privatization policies are startlingly similar to those implemented by the Chilean dictator. It is also the case that Paul Ryan’s Social Security privatization ideas closely track Koch Brother schemes promoted from the Koch-funded libertarian Cato Institute since 1980, over three decades ago – before Ryan had even hit puberty.  Salon

LA: Close vote looms on privatizing OGB

Louisiana House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin said Tuesday there won’t be any more delays in a vote on whether to privatize the administration of the only remaining Louisiana Office of Group Benefits insurance plan still managed by the by the state. The plan is expected to win easy approval in Senate Finance, but the vote remains close in the House, with both sides saying they have the votes to pass or block the deal.  Monroe News Star

OH: Indiana director supports Ohio’s study on turnpike leasing

Indiana’s toll road lease provided money for vital transportation projects and Ohio is wise for studying its own turnpike lease agreement, the Hoosier state’s transportation director told hundreds of Buckeye officials Tuesday. The Ohio Department of Transportation is conducting a $3.4 million study with Texas-based KPMG Corporate Finance LLC to examine the ways to maximize the financial benefit of the toll road for the state. Jerry Wray, ODOT director, said the study will be completed by mid-November and he hopes to have a recommendation to the state legislature by Jan. 1.  The Newark Advocate

NC: News poll: NC roads not bad enough for tolls

Highways across North Carolina rate a B- grade from state residents, which apparently is a high enough grade to avoid collecting tolls to speed maintenance and construction, according to a WRAL News poll released Tuesday. The roads are good enough that 47 percent of those polled say they oppose the idea of charging tolls to pay for construction or maintenance of highway that might otherwise be delayed or not completed at all. Forty percent said they would back tolls for new or improved highways, while 13 percent weren’t sure. WRAL