Slow Burn

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Our Long-Suffering Government Agencies
Most government travel budgets have been cut this year by 30 percent, the result of an administration directive forcing managers to make difficult policy decisions about whom to send, where to send them and for how long. The result, agency officials say, is a government that cannot conduct essential business and is embarrassing itself abroad. (NYT, 8/18/2013)

Nice try by the Times, but we are not buying it. Whenever revenues are down at private corporations the travel budget is one of the first things to get cut. Until sequestration, the government never had to act responsibly because it would just order up more money...from taxpayers. That game is over, at least for now. 


Rejection
The state appeals court ruled 2 to 1 on Thursday that the state’s right-to-work law applies to 35,000 unionized state employees, rejecting a lawsuit filed by labor unions. The measure went to court after questions were raised because the Michigan Civil Service Commission, which sets compensation for state employees, has separate powers under the state Constitution. The law prohibits forcing public and private workers to pay union dues or fees. (NYT, 8/15/2013)

Exciting stuff! We know what happens when workers who are forced to join unions and pay union dues are no longer forced to pay union dues. They don't pay union dues, thus starving Democrats of campaign contributions. It's all good. 


Belief System
Biden allies believe he could run on some of the accomplishments Mr. Obama notched over two terms. If the economic recovery continues, Mr. Biden could run on the basis that he was a partner in combating the recession. Unemployment hit 10% in the first year of Mr. Obama's term and as of July was down to 7.4%. (WSJ, 8/18/2013)

Sit down for this one. Biden may run on the Obama economy. Where is that sharp knife we keep around here?