Too Late to Apologize

Hat tip James T. Harris.

Jobless Claims Up

Ouch.

The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance climbed unexpectedly last week.

There were 473,000 initial jobless claims filed in the week ended Feb. 13, up 31,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised 442,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

Obama’s Uninformed

This man is completely out of touch or a liar.  Take your pick. 

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama hailed Wednesday’s one-year-old economic stimulus law as a solid accomplishment that staved off another severe economic depression and kept up to 2 million Americans on the job.

Does he remember the promises made when he signed the stimulus bill (8% unemployment, revitalizing infrastructure, etc.)?  Did he read the hundreds of stories of waste and pork in the bill?  Did he see the countless stories about the fraudulent counting of jobs “saved” or created? 

I suspect Obama did see those stories.  If that’s the case, then he is a liar.

Obama to Meet With Dalai Lama

Good. 

U.S. President Barack Obama will host the Dalai Lama at the White House on Thursday despite China’s warning that the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could further damage strained ties.

Trillion Dollars in Unfunded Liabilities

Wisconsin is no exception.

States may be forced to reduce benefits, raise taxes or slash government services to address a $1 trillion funding shortfall in public sector retirement benefits, according to a new study that warns of even more debilitating costs if immediate action isn’t taken.

The Pew Center on the States released a survey Thursday of state-administered pension plans, retiree health care and other post-employment benefits in all 50 states that blamed a decade’s worth of policy decisions for leaving them shortchanged.

The result for some states will be “high annual costs that come with significant unfunded liabilities, lower bond ratings, less money available for services, higher taxes and the specter of worsening problems in the future,” the study said.

Challenge Day Canceled For Good

Good.

The anti-bullying program scheduled to take place at West Bend High School this month was canceled — again.

   “Challenge Day” at West Bend High Schools will not be taking place — in any capacity — district administrators said Wednesday.

   Three daylong workshops for students were originally slated for Feb. 16 to Feb. 18 and were to be funded entirely by a state Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse grant.

It’s good because this was a program fraught with concerns that weren’t properly vetted. 

But because a nonrefundable deposit of $12,800 was been invested in the program, district officials were working with event organizers to devise an alternative, staff-focused program.

   After an in-depth review of the program’s materials and further communication with Challenge Day representatives, the district decided to again cancel the program.

   “We really were not satisfied with the end product,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Ted Neitzke.

   The district is obligated to reimburse the grant.

So here we have a situation where a program that never should have been approved was scheduled and dollars were committed.  The superintendent canceled it because it didn’t go through the proper process.  If the taxpayers are going to be stuck with a $12,800 bill, will anyone at the district be held accountable?  Who approved it?  Who decided to spend nearly $13,000 without following protocol?  Will they be reprimanded or fired? 

You want names? 

According to the superintendent, Maryjane Burdge, Ted Neitzke, and Kathy Zarling were involved with putting this together.  Will they be held accountable for their incompetence in this matter?  Time will tell.