Bad Deeds for 10-29-2011

 

House Republicans’ Spending Cuts Destroyed 370,000 Jobs – Last spring the GOP succeeded in passing massive spending reductions as part of a continuing resolution that kept the government operating. According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, those cuts will result in the destruction of roughly 370,000 jobs.

 

The Republican Party Hates Bikes – Over the past few months, as Republicans have focused their attention on cutting what they see as wasteful government spending, they’ve zeroed in on a surprising new target: bicyclists, and the programs that serve them. Only $928 million per year is devoted to what’s known as a “transportation enhancement” program, which provides funding for projects—including rails-to-trails conversions, bike lanes, and bridges—that make cycling safer, and thus more viable as a commuting option. But as Congress gears up to reauthorize the massive transportation funding bill this year, Republicans are arguing that states shouldn’t be forced to use scarce transportation funds to encourage bike commuting.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told the Washington Post, “We can no longer have silly priorities get in the way of real needs.”

States spend only about 1 percent of all transportation funds on projects devoted to cycling or pedestrian improvements. Yet Republicans see this as an area ripe for cutting. Over the summer, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) targeted DC’s nascent Capitol Bikeshare program, which provides cheap rental bikes at subway stations and other strategic locations in the Washington Metro area (including northern Virginia) to encourage bike commuting. The program has been wildly successful and has inspired other cities to replicate it as a good way of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution (not to mention obesity). But Cantor sees only waste.

 

Eric Cantor Cancels Lecture When He Finds Out That the Public is Invited – U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, the Republican majority leader in the U.S. House, canceled his scheduled speech at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business because if was going to be open to the first 300 people who showed up. Cantor wanted the audience restricted since he was going to be talking about how to keep the top 1% at the top.

 

Drilling and Oil Field Services Company CEO Gets $100 Million Cash Plus Another $26 Million in Stocks to Leave Post – Eugene Isenberg, the outgoing CEO of Nabors Industries, will be given a $100 million cash payment as he drops the CEO title but remains chairman of the board. The $100 million cash payment is more than the $72 million in net income the company reported for the third quarter of this year.

Put as an hourly wage for a working stiff on a 9 to 5 job, that’s something like $48,000 per hour.

The drilling and oil field services company said in a filing with the SEC Friday night it will take a $100 million contingency liability in the fourth quarter related to the payment to Isenberg.

The filing makes reference to pay information on pages 29-31 of Nabors’ most recent proxy statement, where a table seems to indicate Isenberg also would realize another $10.1 million in stock options and $16 million in stock shares.

 

Gun Instructor Refuses to Teach Liberals, Obama Voters, Muslims – A radio ad for a concealed handgun class at Keller’s Riverside Store in Mason, located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, is causing controversy.

“We will attempt to teach you all the necessary information you need to obtain your C.H.L.,” the ad stated. Forty-five seconds in, the advertisement added a disclaimer.
“If you are a socialist liberal and or voted for the current campaigner in chief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision as under the law.”

The ad continues, going on to say,”If you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class with no shame; I am Crockett Keller, thank you and God bless America.”

 

Republican Texas Land Commissioner Pushes for Confederate Flag on Texas License Plate – Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson urged a state board on Thursday to move ahead with consideration of a controversial license plate displaying the Confederate flag.

 

Most News Outlets Fail to Issue Correction to Incorrect Story About Expensive Government Muffins – After initially giving solid coverage to an incorrect story about the Department of Justice paying $16 per muffin at a meeting, only 37 out of 223 articles published on the story issued a correction. Media Matters also showed that both print and broadcast were culpable for a lack of correction, with major network morning and evening news shows failing to issue any follow up on the initial story when its validity was in question.

Regards,

Jim

There are only four countries in the entire world that have a more unequal distribution of wealth than the United States. And how is that working for Zimbabwe?