It took 175 days, a special session, numerous newspaper editorials,
and the threat of a government shutdown, but Speaker Pat Bauer has
finally freed his fellow Democrats and allowed them to vote on a state
budget. After finally passing both the Democrat-controlled House and
the Republican-led Senate, the result is a responsible budget that
protects taxpayers.
You may remember that prior to the start of the special session,
Governor Daniels gave a televised statewide address in which he
outlined five simple conditions he needed met in order to sign a
budget: No tax increases; at least $1 billion left in state reserves;
that legislators cut $1 for every $1 they spent beyond his proposed
budget; that one time funds be spent for one time purposes; and that
no gimmicks were used.
After weeks of grandstanding and foot dragging, House Democrats have
finally joined with legislative Republicans to ensure those conditions
were met.
This budget is good for Hoosiers for a variety of other reasons.
Foremost, when you look around the country, you’ll see most states are
looking at tax increases or massive cuts, including education. Indiana
is doing neither, and that’s a credit to our governor and our
Republican legislators. In fact, not only are we increasing education
funding, but the governor’s ‘education trigger’ has been preserved to
drive more money to our schools if revenues are better than projected.
The budget also addresses many other issues that are important to
Hoosier families, especially as far as the education of our children
is concerned. For instance, there are no caps on the growth of
charter schools; money is provided for a scholarship tax credit that
could help many low-income families send their children to non-public
schools; and for the first time ever, Indiana is exploring the
possibility of online schools that extend learning beyond the
traditional walls of the classroom. These are the kinds of reforms
that will aid Dr. Tony Bennett and his work on behalf of Hoosier kids.
None of this would have been possible without you. We know that
legislators heard your phone calls, read your letters to the editor,
and saw your support for the Republicans’ responsible budget. Thanks
for all that you do, and for supporting our party.
TAMPA — Billy Mays, the TV pitchman whose trademark voice helped sell everything from cleaning supplies to baking soda, was found dead this morning by his wife at his Tampa home. No cause of death has been reported and no foul play is suspected, according to Tampa police.
Mays, 50, was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. at 2853 Bowen Daniel Dr., #1201. His wife, Deborah Mays, found him unresponsive this morning. The Medical Examiner’s Office will complete Mays’ autopsy by tomorrow afternoon.
Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Sto-Rox High School in 1977, he began his career as a salesman on the Atlantic City boardwalk, selling the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby. Working alongside other pitchmen, he developed his style of salesmanship.
At a Pittsburgh home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a Denver-based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom on the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida.
(This reeks like a series of similar events here in Allen County not long ago).
And not just any American Idol system; one that is packed with Marion County heavyweights and tilted toward Luke Messer. P.E. McAlister was, with Jim Kittle, one of the first names supporting Messer).
From: Congressman Mark Souder <souder@mail.house.gov>
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 11:41 AM
Dear Friend:
Knowing of your interest in the energy proposals before Congress, I wanted to take this opportunity to bring you up-to-date.
As you know, over the past several months the House of Representatives has been crafting the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). H.R. 2454 is currently scheduled to be brought before the House for a vote later this week. If enacted the bill would establish a cap-and-trade program that would strive to curb emissions to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. It is never a good time to raise taxes and energy prices on consumers in Northeastern Indiana. In our current economic downturn, it is downright reckless and a prescription for higher unemployment.
One of the most disturbing aspects of this legislation is that its impact falls disproportionately on the Midwest and the middle class. I have attached a map to this email that analyzes the impact of the bill state-by-state. This legislation is a direct assault on hardworking Hoosiers and their families. With many Americans struggling with the economic downturn, the last thing Congress should be doing is deliberately raising energy costs. Taxing consumers is not an energy policy.
Click to enlarge
At the same time, I will continue to support policies that responsibly develop American resources and free us from a reliance on foreign oil. We must support solutions that will keep American businesses competitive in the global economy.
I appreciate the opportunity to keep you informed as Congress prepares to consider this. I also encourage you to visit my website, at www.Souder.House.gov for more information on my work for you in our nations Capital.
Michael Jackson Dies
Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:20PM by TMZ Staff
We’ve just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him. We’re told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We’re told one of the staff members at Jackson’s home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.
Jackson had 13 number one hits during his solo career.
Michael Jackson
Rushed to Hospital in L.A.
Star was in ‘cardiac arrest’
Updated: Thursday, 25 Jun 2009, 4:55 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 25 Jun 2009, 4:49 PM EDT
MYFOXNY.COM – TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Los Angeles. Sources told TMZ that the star was in cardiac arrest and that paramedics administered CPR in the ambulance.
A 911 call came in at 12:21 p.m. at Jackson’s Holmby Hills home in L.A. His mother is rushing to the hospital to be with him.
Earlier today Ivy Tech terminated a friend of former Chancellor Keen, who worked on the Bliss Hall project, which is purportedly where Keen used school funds to rehab a nice living space for himself. Our original story is here.
From the News Sentinel:
Resigned Ivy Tech Chancellor Mark Keen will be forced to pay back to the school more than $5,700 for use of college resources and facilities, according to Keen’s release agreement.
Keen must reimburse the school, with a cashier’s check in the amount of $5,733.73, by July 1, and he will be required to return any college property he holds. The agreement also forbids Keen from pursuing any legal or equitable action against the college, and both Keen and the college shall not “disparage each other,” among other stipulations.
I guess the worker was ushered off campus without notice. Not being aware of the facts surrounding this worker’s release, it’s hard to surmise if the school might be unfairly discriminating.
Developing: Billy Mays, the King of Informercials was found dead this morning in his Tampa Bay home.
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