Election 2008

The first debate: relevant snippets for those in government

seniorexec — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:03:00 GMT

Last night, in the heart of Oxford, Mississippi, Jim Lehrer of the PBS show NewsHour moderated the first presidential debate. While the planned topic was foreign policy, its scope expanded due to recent events in the financial and political world. With over 90 minutes of questions and answers and banter between the candidates on security and the economy, OhMyGov! found just a few moments relevant to those in the government from a spending freeze to Google for government.

Mr. Lehrer: What priorities would you adjust as president, Senator McCain, because of the financial bailout cost?

Senator McCain: ...Well, look, look, we -- no matter what, we've got to cut spending. We have -- as I said, we've let government get completely out of control...The point -- the point is -- the point is we need to examine every agency of government...I think that we have to return, particularly in defense spending, which is the largest part of our appropriations -- we have to do away with cost-plus contracts...We now have defense systems that the costs are completely out of control...So we need to have fixed-cost contracts.

So I know how to do this, because I've been involved in these issues for many, many years. But I think that we have to examine every agency of government and find out those that are doing their job and keep them and find out those that aren't and eliminate them. And we'll have to scrub every agency of government.

Senator Obama: But -- well, I'm not willing to give up the need to do it, but there may be individual components of it that we can't do...But -- but John's right that we've got to make some cuts...I worked with Tom Coburn, the most conservative - one of the most conservative Republicans, who John already mentioned, to set up what we call a Google for Government, which says that we are going to list every dollar of federal spending to make sure that the taxpayer can take a look and see who, in fact, is -- is promoting some of these spending projects that John's been railing about...

Mr. Lehrer: Excuse me -- excuse me, if I may, Senator. I'm trying to get at that you all -- one of you is going to be the president of the United States come January, at the -- in the middle of a huge financial crisis that is yet to be resolved. And what I'm trying to get at is how this is going to affect you not in very -- in small ways, but in major ways, and the approach you would take as -- to the presidency.

Senator McCain: Well, how about a spending freeze on everything but Defense, Veteran(s) Affairs and entitlement programs?

Mr. Lehrer: Spending freeze?

Senator McCain: I think we ought to seriously consider, with the exceptions of caring for our veterans, national defense and several other vital issues.

Mr. Lehrer: Would you go for that?

Senator Obama: Well, the problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are currently underfunded. I want to increase early childhood education. And the notion that we should freeze that when there may be, for example, this Medicare subsidy I think doesn't make sense.

Watch the clip courtesy of C-SPAN and for the full debate go to C-SPAN's debate hub.

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McCain proposes limiting salaries of bailed out mortgage execs

Andrew B. Einhorn — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:33:00 GMT

In a statement made yesterday, John McCain, a staunch free market advocate, suggested that the salaries of mortgage company executives bailed out by the federal government's $700 billion borrow-from-your-child's future plan should be limited to $400,000.

"...the major point is that no CEO of any corporation or business that is bailed out by us, that is rescued by American tax dollars, should receive any more than the highest paid person in the federal government," said McCain.

The message from McCain is clear: you screw up, you pay for it...kind of. While $400,000 a year seems like a substantial sum of money to most people, executives running large investment firms make millions, and many experts think limiting their salaries will reduce participation in the fed's bailout program. Given the alternative, bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine those at the helm of these financial institutions would sink their ships, reputations, and futures for higher salaries today. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. In fact, Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy, has already allocated $2.5 billion in bonus pay for its executives.

McCain admonished the greed of Lehman executives, asking the poignant question: "If they're bankrupt, where did they get that?"

Where indeed. And why would executives take bonuses for bankrupting their own business? By the same logic, they should pay all those individuals that defaulted on their loans and caused this mess in the first place.

If these firms, which all lobbied hard to be deregulated (i.e. government free), want help from the federal government now after repackaging mountains of risky debts as safe investments, they should be required, like every other individual and small business, to pay for their own mistakes to the extent possible. That means selling all corporately held homes, deferring all bonus pay, liquidating those corporate jets - maybe Palin can sell them on eBay for them, and putting up some of their own money for a change.

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VT lawyer wants to charge President for murder

OhMyGov! — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:31:00 GMT

A candidate running for Vermont's Attorney General position has promised to charge and attempt to prosecute President Bush for the murder of 4,000 soldiers in Iraq if elected, the Associated Press reports.

Apparently, Charlotte Dennett, who's running for the AG slot, said if elected, she would appoint Vincent Bugliosi, a former Los Angeles County district attorney who convicted Charles Manson as a special prosecutor in the case. Bugliosi already has a strategy in place for prosecuting the President in his not-too-subtly titled book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder.

Dennet, as reported by AP, stated that any state AG would have jurisdiction in a case against the President since Bush committed "overt acts," including the military's recruitment of soldiers in Vermont and alleged lying about the threat posed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in speeches that were aired in Vermont.

"No man, even the president of the United States, is above the law," said Bugliosi.

William Sorrell, the state's current Attorney General, disagrees, doubting that he has the legal standing to legally prosecute Bush.

"The reality is, in my view, that unless the crime takes place in Vermont, then I as the attorney general have no authority under Vermont law to be prosecuting the president," Sorrell told AP.

The White House failed to comment on any of the comments, but Republican National Committee Spokesman Blair Latoff dismissed Dennett's statements as ridiculous.

"It's extremely disappointing that a candidate for state attorney general is more concerned with radical left-wing provocation than upholding the law of Vermont," Latoff said. "These incendiary suggestions may score points among the most fringe elements of American society, but can't be settling for anyone looking for an attorney general."

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Republicans using alleged racist to bolster ethnic votes

Andrew B. Einhorn — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:07:00 GMT

Realizing that this year more than ever, the Republican Party seems too white to represent ethnic populations, Northern Virginia Republicans are staging a "unity" rally tomorrow to draw in ethnic voters to Republican causes. And who better to embody unity and speak of racial tolerance than former Virginia Senator George Allen, who lost his seat in 2006 to Senator Jim Webb predominately for uttering a racial slur during a campaign rally.

During the rally, Allen repeatedly called a 20-year-old Indian volunteer from democratic now-Senator Jim Webb's campaign "macaca."

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere," said Allen.

So what does it mean? Well, macaca refers to a monkey that inhabits the Eastern Hemisphere. In some European cultures, macaca is considered a racial slur against African immigrants.

Republicans say that the "unity rally will draw 1,000 people," but given the lineup of all white speakers, which include Allen, Reps. Tom Davis and Frank Wolf, and the whitest of them all, former Virginia Governor James Gilmore III, one has to wonder just how out of touch the party is with what a real minority outreach effort looks like. Although the part is reportedly "targeting Korean, Arab, Chinese, Taiwanese and Latin American communities across the county through phone banks and door-to-door visits," the effort is drowned out by the menagerie of white politicians running the rally.

If republicans truly wish to make a dent in Obama's lion's share of minority voters, they need a lineup of speakers that denotes racial tolerance, immigration tolerance, and English-only tolerance while promoting the party's low-tax, pro-entrepreneur tenets. Item one of the to-do list should be dumping Allen from the speaker's list and adding some minority speakers at their minority rally.

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Palin's questionable government expenses and the bigger picture

Andrew B. Einhorn — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:14:00 GMT

This week, the Washington Post broke a story about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin billing taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her home while in office. Without actually incurring expenses, Palin collected a government per diem allowance for meals and lodging while residing in her own home.

"Palin, who earns $125,000 a year, claimed and received $16,951 as her allowance, which officials say was permitted because her official "duty station" is Juneau, according to an analysis of her travel documents by The Washington Post."

The self-proclaimed government waste crime fighter also charged the state of Alaska for travel expenses incurred while transporting her children to official out-of-town missions. But as scandalous as it all appears, Alaskan officials say Palin was entitled to write off personal expenses and take a per diem, even while at her own house.

According to Alaska's finance director, Kim Garnero, under Alaskan law, this is all kosher. The governor's office is exempt from elaborate travel regulations.

"The governor is entitled to a per diem, and she claims it," said Gubernatorial spokeswoman Sharon Leighow who went on to clear Palin's actions of any impropriety.

"As a matter of protocol, the governor and the first family are expected to attend community events across the state," she said. "It's absolutely reasonable that the first family participates in community events."

At the end of the day, the Post article fails to show any impropriety on the part of Palin, but is successful in pointing out that she, like most, takes advantage of the perks of her job. If the people of Alaska have a problem paying to fly her family around, they could put pressure on their state representatives to change the law. But if they are OK shelling out the $44,000 in travel expenses used to transport her family to annual fish and game events, then that's their prerogative.

There is another angle to this situation that few are willing to admit: our nation's leaders are underpaid.

Consider that even the governor of a barren state like Alaska has a big job that oversees the lives of close to 600,000 people, nearly 53,000 state and local employees, and countless moose. What would a typically private sector CEO expect in compensation for being in charge of 53,000 employees? The short answer: millions.

For the most part, government job salaries for non-executive level employees remain fairly competitive with the private sector, especially at the federal level. OhMyGov! conducted research on this topic and found the sectors near identical, when benefits were removed from the equation.

State employees aren't quite so lucky, making up to 25 percent less on average than their private sector counterparts. Even if this deduction is applied to governors, a salary offer of $125,000 a year for managing 53,000 people would be a joke in the private sector, and rightly so. A non-supervisory GS-14 pushing papers at the federal level is capable of making just as much. This just doesn't seem fair.

The pay gap between private and public sector salaries also exists among federal senior executives, attorney generals, surgeon generals, the Vice President, judges, and very arguable, members of Congress, all of whom max out under $210,000 a year for jobs they would be paid two to three times more for in the private sector.

Is it fair to pay those with the greatest responsibility for running the government less competitively? More importantly, does knowing they are underpaid make these individuals more inclined to reach for the cookie jar and milk the system for all the free meals, travel benefits, and connections they can get? History and Gov. Palin's record suggests it does.

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Obama, McCain tax plans: more similar than you think

Andrew B. Einhorn — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:57:00 GMT

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain delivered an effective, albeit slightly subdued speech while accepting his party's nomination last night. The content of the speech centered around his experiences as the son of a general, a prisoner of war, and as a maverick legislator working in a bipartisan way to shake up Washington - all tenets of the campaign. As expected, McCain also made a point to highlight his desire to cut taxes, while stating his opponent, Barak Obama, wants to raise them.

"We believe in low taxes, spending discipline and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor...I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them...I will cut government spending. He will increase it."

The tough tax talk is essential to winning over the republican base and painting Obama as a classic "tax and spend liberal," but the closer one looks, the more complex the tax situation becomes. Recently, the non-partisan Tax Policy Center examined the tax plans proposed by both McCain and Obama and found the differences to be less predictable than expected.

According to the Tax Policy Center, "both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years" without substantial budget cuts to accommodate them. Without budget cuts, at the current spending rate, "Obama’s tax plan would boost the debt by $3.5 trillion by 2018. McCain’s plan would increase the debt by $5 trillion."

Over a period extending from 2009-2018, TPC estimates that Obama's plan would decrease tax revenues by $2.9 trillion, while McCain's plan would reduce taxes by close to $4.2 trillion. But who is benefiting from these cuts?

Those affected by the cuts differ mostly at the upper end of the income spectrum. As expected, McCain would cut taxes across the board and give the biggest cuts to the highest-income households who currently pay the most. On the contrary, Obama would hand larger tax cuts to low and moderate-income households. He intends to pay for these cuts by increasing taxes on those making over $600,000 per year.

The Washington Post was kind enough to create an exceptional graphic of the tax plans. It clearly shows that both candidates intend to impose significant tax cuts, although Obama differs in his tax increase on the wealthiest groups.

According to the TPC, by 2012, under Obama's plan, middle-income taxpayers would be keeping five percent more of their paychecks, or nearly $2,200 annually. The cuts are paid for by the top one percent of earners who would face an average tax increase of $19,000 annually or 1.5 percent.

For that same wealthy group, the Maverick would cut taxes by 9.5 percent, increasing after-tax income by more than $125,000. Not leaving out the little guy, McCain would also decrease taxes for the middle-incomers by about 3 percent, amounting to $1,400 annually.

Both candidates also wish to keep the estate tax or death tax, which places a tax on estates passed down from the deceased to their heirs. The tax is dreaded by many as double taxation, since it taxes an estate that was already taxed when purchased and while owned. It's also notorious for breaking the banks of inheritants, who without cash on hand are forced to sell the estates just to pay the tax due on them to Uncle Sam. The current estate tax rate varies with the value of the estate inherited from 20-55 percent.

Obama wants to increase the estate tax rate to 45 percent with a $3.5 million exemption - anything under that amount does not get taxed. McCain wants that exemption higher at $5 million, and hopes to set the estate tax rate at 15 percent.

Of course, the differences don't end there. Businesses have much at stake in this election, like any other, and should be closely monitoring the tax proposals of the candidates. Thankfully, TPC has provided a breakdown of the various tax proposals of most interest to businesses. If you care not about them or the economy, this may be a good time to stop reading.

On business taxation, Obama differs from McCain the most. Obama wishes to increase the maximum tax rate on capital gains and qualified dividends to 20 percent, increase the payroll tax for those making over $250,000 (he has not provided additional details), and close tax breaks for multinational companies.

Both candidates want to eliminate tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies and simplify the tax filing process in some form or fashion.

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How would Gov. Palin influence government?

Andrew B. Einhorn — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Last night, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin absolutely rocked the Republican National Convention with a powerful, well-delivered speech aimed at rallying the Republican base, showcasing her own "executive experience" and trivializing the experiences of her rival, Barak Obama.

The speech laid plain many of Palin's beliefs, which line up with traditional republicans. These include being aggressive in the fight against terrorists while painting the zeitgeist as "a crucial hour for our country," promoting family values - she was not afraid of parading her own family for political gain, being fiscally conservative - which she said she demonstrated by selling the corporate governor's jet on eBay and cutting the budget, taking a hard line approach against Iran, and achieving "victory" in Iraq. She went on to express support for drilling for more oil and gas in Alaska and elsewhere, expanding the use of clean coal, and obtaining energy independence from foreigners.

"Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines ... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources."

Of course, some of the achievements she touted were exaggerations, such as her objections to the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," which she actually supported before being elected Governor and became against once sworn in. She also promoted herself as an outspoken anti-pork barrel legislation advocate to the likes of John McCain, despite working with lobbying firms to obtain tens of millions of pork dollars while Mayor of Wasilla.

"I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere," said Palin.

Stretching the truth aside, Palin was savvy in catapulting herself to leadership status while denigrating Obama's experience as little more than feel-good community outreach.

"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities...there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."

The Obama roast went on for another few minutes, painting him as a reckless, economy-smothering promoter of higher taxes for individuals and corporations and bigger government. This is the traditional attack-dog role of the VP and a predictable republican stance against a very liberal democrat.

What wasn't included in Palin's speech were her more right-wing beliefs. These include her desire to teach creationism in school alongside evolution, privatize health insurance, and overturn Roe v Wade. Palin also opposes stem-cell research and is a card-carrying NRA member, though in Alaskan bear country who could blame her? And surprisingly for a global warming fighter like McCain, Palin says she remains unconvinced that global warming is exacerbated by humans, even as the roads in her home state cave from melting ice underneath them.

How does all this translate to government policy?

Well, as a VP, the reality is that it may never translate to policy unless she takes over the Oval Office as President. If that happens, she will likely cut spending on global warming mitigation and research, ban stem-cell research, promote faith-based funding, work to allow states to teach creationism in schools, appoint conservative judges, continue the Iraq War, attempt to open up more federal lands for drilling, cut the federal workforce and outsource more work to contractors, and provide greater funding to natural gas and clean coal research and development. And like the current Vice President, she might also end up shooting a friend in the face during a hunting trip.

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And the Palin hits just keep on coming

Andrew B. Einhorn — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:51:00 GMT

As much as the political muckraking degrades from the more important but admittedly more boring conversation of "how will they lead us," one can't help but wonder, as the media barrage against Governor Palin continues, what a blunder the McCain camp seems to have made with his pick for a running-mate. Naturally the biggest oversight was by 5 months...of pregnancy in Palin's 17-year-old unwed daughter. But as the media investigation continues, more and more unsavory tidbits are leaking out and altering America's palette for the Alaskan beauty queen turned governor.

The latest discovery appeals more to OhMyGov! readers and all those with a disdain for pork projects (not to be confused with delectable pork products). During her introductory speech late last week, Palin aligned herself with McCain in his war on earmarks, stating she opposed such unnecessary federal spending projects and citing the infamous Alaskan "Bridge to Nowhere" as an example of government waste at its finest.

Well, the media giveth and the media taketh away. Within days, reports whirled that Palin had not only supported the $233 million "Bridge to Nowhere" while running for governor before later denouncing it following her election, but she was also a major pork barrel legislator.

According to the irreverent government spending watchdog, Citizens Against Government Waste, Palin requested 31 federal earmarks worth $198 million from Congress this year and $550 million the year prior for her Alaskan constituents. That equates to $295 per Alaska resident, or $261 per person more than the national average of $34. The group also charged that Palin hired a major Washington lobbying firm while Mayor of the 9,000-person Alaskan town of Wasilla (part of her "executive experience") and subsequently procured $27 million in federal earmarks.

So it appears both McCain and his vetting staff have a lot of explaining to do. Rumors are emerging that the vetting of Palin wasn't as thorough as some would have liked because the campaign tried to keep the VP pick a secret. At the end of the day, it matters not. Palin's secrets are coming to the limelight and the straight talk express, for the moment, seems quite derailed.

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Obama Calls for End of '20th century bureaucracy'

OhMyGov! — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:59:00 GMT

In his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president Thursday, Barack Obama issued a call for government reform that echoed a wide-ranging effort launched by the last Democratic president.

Obama pledged to "go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less -- because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a 20th century bureaucracy."

BREAKING: McCain picks Gay-friendly Alaska Governor Palin for VP slot

Andrew Brett — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:05:00 GMT

John McCain picked Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin today to be his vice presidential running mate.

Some quick reference points about Palin.

Palin is noted for her independence from big oil companies and willingness to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Alaska.
She proposed to eliminate the gas tax for her state in the wake of high oil prices.
She used her veto power to prevent the state legislature from blocking health benefits to same-sex partners of public employees in Alaska.
Palin is strongly pro-life and belongs to Feminists for Life.
She opposes same-sex marriage, but is open to gay lifestyle and culture.
She created the largest operating budget in Alaska's history but paid for it by cutting costs in the construction budget.
In 1984, Palin placed second in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant. Don't be too impressed, the entire state population is about the size of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Palin holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho.
Her husband is an Eskimo that works for BP. Her son is in the Army.

Fast Facts:

Born: Feb. 11, 1964; Sandpoint, Idaho
Family: Married (Todd); four children
Education: University of Idaho, B.S., 1987
Professional Career: Chairwoman, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
Military Service: None
Previous Elective Office: Wasilla City Mayor, 1996-2002; Wasilla City Council, 1992-96