The Fairness of the Proposal

Slowdown
New York Times Headline (5/2/2013): U.S. Spending Cuts Seen as Key in Slowing Growth

New York Times Accompanying Article: Without the impact of federal cuts and higher taxes, Ms. Swonk estimates, annual economic growth would be close to 4 percent, above the 2.5 percent pace she is expecting in 2013.

Apparently the Times could not squeeze "higher taxes" into the headline!


Promotional
The measure was promoted by House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has led the chamber for nearly three decades. Ahead of Thursday's vote, Mr. Madigan acknowledged that the pension problem flowed partly from lawmakers and governors enhancing retirement benefits over the years and not always weighing the costs of their decisions. A spokesman for Mr. Madigan said the speaker accepts his share of blame, but was one of many who contributed to the problem. (WSJ, 5/2/2013)

This on public pensions in Illinois. Kudos to Democrat Madigan for at least acknowledging that he and others ginned up public employee pensions. It will take Democrats to correct these problems. 


Ain't No Sunshine
Fate is fickle, power cyclical, and nothing is new under the sun. Especially in Washington, where after every election the losing party is sagely instructed to confess sin, rend garments and rethink its principles lest it go the way of the Whigs. And where the victor is hailed as the new Caesar, facing an open road to domination. (Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, 5/2/2013)

Krauthammer's column is an indictment of the Obama presidency, but we'll focus only on this opening which is sage advice for any political party. 


Roll Coll
The vote on Governor Shumlin's gas tax hike in Vermont (from VTGOP.org): 

Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – YES
Claire Ayer (D-Addison) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – YES
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – YES
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
John Campbell (D-Windsor) – YES
Donald Collins (D-Franklin) – YES
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – NO
William Doyle (R-Washington) – NO
Margaret Flory (R-Rutland) – YES
Sally Fox (D-Chittenden) – YES
Eldred French (D-Rutland) – ABSENT
Peter Galbraith (D-Windham) – YES
Robert Hartwell (D-Bennington) – ABSENT
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Norman McAllister (R-Franklin) – YES
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – NO
Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland) – YES
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D/W-Washington) – NO
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Diane Snelling (R-Chittenden) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – NO
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – YES
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES
David Zuckerman (P-Chittenden) – YES

Remember those who voted "yes" every time that you fill up.