Monday, October 22, 2007

Polish election means good news for business.

Yesterday the was an election in Poland. Donald Tusk of the Civic Alliance Party beat Taroslaw Kaczynski of the Law and Justice Party for Prime minister Massive win for Polish opposition. Tusk Promised to Lower taxes, to build closer ties with the European Union, and a business friendly administration. As Christian Science Monitor Columnist Robert Marquand put it, “Sunday's vote decides whether Poland turns inward, chauvinist, and authoritarian under Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski – or flowers into a more open economy and civil society, as well as a closer partner to Europe More nationalism or closer ties to Europe? . While Tusk looks forward to working with the United States, he promised to pull 900 troops out of Iraq. Sunday’s election is similar to the election of Nicolas Sarkozy French voters split on working week.
Alain Bie, a 30-year-old, bartender explains why he voted for Sarkozy, “The owner told me that normally I was restricted to 35 hours a week, but I told him I wanted to be able to work more and make more money.” Sarkozy ran on a motto called, “Work more, earn more.” Tusk promised to lower taxes. It seems that voters are preaching one messages, “Smaller government and lower taxes!”

Monday, October 15, 2007

Gibbons Announces Candidacy for Attorney General

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13,2007
PRESS CONTACT: (573) 356-9616
Gibbons Announces Candidacy for Attorney General
Pledges to Protect Missouri families on Two Day, Nine City Kickoff Tour

ST. LOUIS -Senate President Pro Tern Michael R. Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, announced today he will run to be the next Attorney General for the people of Missouri in 2008. Gibbons, joined by his family, friends, and supporters made the first announcement from life-long hometown of Kirkwood followed by stops in Columbia, Kansas City and Springfield.
"All the people of Missouri deserve to be safe in their homes and neighborhoods, their children protected" he said from his front porch. "Protecting the people of Missouri, protecting our families and children, protecting our homes and neighborhoods, protecting our towns and farms, protecting our lives -that is my number one priority, and is the reason I am running for Attorney General."
Gibbons outlined five visions he had for better protecting Missouri families and bring real change to the office of Attorney General. Gibbons said as Attorney General he would:
• Protect Missouri families by working with law enforcement and local prosecutors to capture and convict criminals and put them behind bars.
• Make sure taxpayer dollars are not wasted on big government so they can be used to fund law enforcement.
• Enforce illegal immigration laws.
• Fight for consumer rights.
• Eliminate conflicts of interest and allow no corruption in his office.

"As Attorney General, there will not be a "For Sale" sign in my office," Gibbons said. "We will implement a better system, in those limited times when we need to hire outside attorneys, that is open and transparent and I will refuse to accept campaign contributions from anyone the office is investigating or prosecuting."
Paid for Missourians for Gibbons, Janet Poppen, Treasurer

Monday, October 8, 2007

SHIP/ What should and shoudn't be done

SCHIP, States Children’s Health Insurance Program, enacted in 1997 to provide health care to poor women and their mothers is now up for renewal. For years, President Bush was campaigning to expand the program; however, when the Democrat control congress passed HR 976 to expand SCHIP, President Bush vetoed it. Bush argued that HR 976 is too costly and would move the nation towards universal health care. The Republican Party is split on whether to support the president’s veto. On of the 18 Republican Senators who voted with the Democrat Senators is Christopher Kit Bond. HR 976 would increase tobacco taxes by 61 cents to pay for an additional 4 million children. See SCHIP Bill Includes Parity Provisions, HR976 summary and HR976-sec701. Senator Bond argue that the tax would hurt the poor. Kit Bond/PressRoom/SCHIP Another Problem with the tobacco tax is there is to contradicting goals. One goal is to decrease smoking, and the other goal. If the 61 cent tax increase would reduce smoking, good. But would about the additional 4 million children that the 61 cent tax increase is suppose to fund? You see how mathematical nonsense HR 976 is? HR976 should be rewritten to exclude the tobacco tax increase or extend the current SHIP to the summer of 2009. If extended to 2009, we’ll have a new congress and hopefully, a Republican majority.

Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, known as North America Union

So what was agreed to and was wasn’t. In March 23, 2005 President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Martin, and Mexico President Fox agreed on initiative of a tri-national effort to secure all three countries against terrorism, secure both borders, and enhance prosperity. Nothing is official yet but good ideas have developed out of the talks.
One idea I like is to fight against internet threats. Recognizing that citizens in all three countries use the internet for commerce, want to work together to protect customers from spyware and illegal spam. I also support a shared watch list on terrorism and information sharing. For more information, go to my Security and Prosperity site on the side of my blog.
/news/releases/Security and Prosperity