Nebraska StatePaper.com vs. the “stimulus”

Posted by neal

Earlier this week, the Nebraska StatePaper.com daily News Update included this opening passage:

We have read a good deal and waited a long time before commenting on the stimulus plan coming from President Obama and Congress. Our view: Whatta’ crock of baloney! The feds appear to be doing nothing more than hitting the reset button for the banks that made the economic mess. Note also, the number of investment banks which have suddenly become holding companies, thus allowing them access to more federal dollars.

I replied, “How much did you read before commenting on the stimulus? Your criticisms are of TARP, a completely separate program.”

I received a response telling me to keep reading about what the banks did. I replied, “Oh I’ve been keeping up on my TARP / stimulus news, but unless something huge and drastic has happened in those past few weeks, the banking / treasury / reserve side of the recovery plans are the realm of TARP. If you have a link that says otherwise, I’d be happy to read it. I always like learning more.”

I never did get a response. But today’s News Update includes this: Continue reading →

Cutting the budget (nose)

Posted by neal

From the San Diego Union-Tribune:

California will become the only state without a poison-control system if the Legislature adopts budget cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the network’s officials said yesterday.

The system, which includes a center at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, offers advice on everything from medication overdoses and snakebites to eating batteries and swallowing weedkiller. It fields about 900 calls per day, with many involving young children.

Schwarzenegger’s spending plan would wipe out the $5.9 million in annual funding for the network.

[…]

Partly by reducing the number of ER visits, the poison control system also helps save about $70 million annually, [Iana Simeonov, director of program development] said.