State, local revenues soared until 2007: census

"Before the U.S. recession delivered a one-two punch to state and local economies, most cities and states experienced five years of rapid revenue and spending growth, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report."

"From 2002 to 2007, state and local government revenue increased 69.6 percent to $3.1 trillion, while expenditures rose 29.5 percent to $2.7 trillion, according to the Census Bureau report released on Wednesday."

"Over a third of 2007 revenue came from taxes, the report found. Property tax revenue totaled $383.14 billion in 2007, up by 37.2 percent from 2002, and equal to 30 percent of overall tax revenue, according to the Census."

Obama awards $5 billion for medical research

"President Barack Obama has announced $5 billion in government grant money to help pay for research into cures for cancer and other diseases."

"The president said "we know that that the work you do would not get done if left solely to the private sector." He said he is making a "historic commitment" to new research to save and enrich the lives of people. Obama said the money from the $787 billion economic stimulus law represents the "single largest boost" to biomedical research."

Senate Cap & Trade Bill

"Here is a summary of the new Cap and Trade bill introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. John Kerry. The Democratic plan tracks a bill approved by the House earlier this year, weighing in at 821 pages in all."

"If you want to read the actual bill text that relates to these sections, you can download it from Sen. Kerry's website at http://is.gd/3OUUu ."

Jacksonville loses 23,000 jobs

"Jacksonville lost 23,000 jobs, down 3 percent in August."

Jacksonville City Council passes rare tax hike

"With only minor dissent, the Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday night approved a billion-dollar 2009-10 budget balanced with the help of a rare property tax rate hike. The 9 percent rate increase, to 9.27 mills, boosts the average homeowner’s tax bill about $75 a year."

"City Council members Daniel Davis and John Crescimbeni opposed the tax increase, while Davis went further, casting the lone dissenting vote against the compromise budget."

"In the end, after several private meetings between Mayor John Peyton and Clark, a compromise agreement was reached that restored everything but the 3 percent cuts. A $10 million contingency fund was set aside in case union negotiations fall short of the desired salary rollbacks."

"To avoid some of the pitfalls experienced this year, Clark wants to begin working on the 2010-11 budget as soon as possible."

1. Iran: "New Site Is Part of Our Rights"

"Iran said Tuesday it would soon give international nuclear inspectors a timetable to visit the country's newly disclosed uranium enrichment facility. Meanwhile, the country also insisted that the plant is "part of our rights and there is no need to discuss" the plant at talks Thursday with with U.N. Security Council in Geneva."

"The facility, which was revealed to the international community last Friday by Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France, is thought to be capable of producing nuclear material for one weapon each year once it is completed, but Iran maintains that the enrichment program is meant only for energy production."

More cities are putting social services under one roof

"Many cities facing an increase in demand for social services are turning to a one-stop, centralized office to handle the challenge."

"The idea behind Neighborhood Place is to centralize resources such as health care, education, employment and juvenile justice."

"Other cities that have looked at Louisville's model include Atlanta, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., Miller says. "We want everyone to be able to access these services without anything getting in their way."

Recession pushes income gap between rich, poor to record

"The wealthiest 10% of Americans — those making more than $138,000 a year — earned 11.4 times the $12,000 or so made by those living near or below the poverty line in 2008, according to newly released census figures. That ratio is an increase from 11.2 in 2007 and the previous high o11.22 in 2003."

"Household income declined across all groups, but more sharply for middle-income and poor Americans. Median income fell last year from $52,163 to $50,303, wiping out a decade's worth of gains to hit the lowest level since 1997. the median is the midpoint — half of households made more, half less."

Few Eating Enough Fruits, Veggies

"Only 14% of U.S. adults and 9.5% of U.S. teens meet the government's goals for eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to a new CDC report."

"30. Florida and Oregon: 15.6%"

JEA Rate Increase Might Not Mean Higher Bill

"The base rate for electricity, water, and sewage is going up on the first of October. JEA's Gerri Boyce said the average costumer will see an increase in those utilities."

"And then their base rate will go up about 6 dollars, a little over six dollars, and water and sewer will go up a little bit," Boyce said."

"She said despite that, the average fuel charge will drop about 13 dollars. That is decreasing because it costs less to by the fuel to power the plants that produce the energy.
"And when all is said and done, their rates will be a $1.85 less," Boyce said."

Poverty increasing in Florida, survey finds

"New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show poverty is increasing in Florida, revealing the recession’s impact even before the most massive layoffs began."

"The American Community Survey found that 13.2 percent of people in Florida were living in poverty in 2008, up from 12.1 percent the previous year. Only one other state — California — saw a bigger increase."

"Poverty guidelines are based on family size. The threshold for a family of four is about $22,000 per year or less."

"The Florida Department of Children and Families reported that the number of people receiving food stamp assistance in August 2008 was 1.6 million, up 23 percent from the same month in 2007. In the judicial circuit that consists of Nassau, Clay and Duval counties, that number was 102,737, up 22 percent. To qualify for food stamps, family income must be no higher than 130 percent of poverty before taxes."

"Last month, the number of people on food stamps was up 40 percent in Northeast Florida and 41 percent statewide compared to August 2008."

Wall Street money rains on Chuck Schumer

"Wall Street has showered nearly $11 million on the Senate since the beginning of the year, and more than 15 percent of it has gone to a single senator: Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York."

"Schumer’s $1.65 million take from the financial services industry is nearly twice that of any other senator's — and more than five times what the industry gave to any single Republican senator."

"Of the $10.6 million the industry has given to sitting senators this year, more than $7.7 million has gone to Democrats. Schumer got his $1.65 million; his New York colleague Kirsten Gillibrand took in $886,000; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada received $814,000; Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd of Connecticut scored $603,000; Colorado freshman Michael Bennet got $401,000; and Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas— who will have a big say on the derivatives portion of regulatory reform — got $336,000."

"Among Republicans, the biggest recipient of financial-industry money so far this year is Richard Shelby of Alabama. But although he’s the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee — ground zero for the regulatory reform bill in the Senate — he’s received just $313,000 from the industry this year."

Book Review: The Catcher in the Rye

Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Year: 1945
Type: Fiction
Genre: Drama

Review: This was a quick read. It reminded me of an episode of Seinfeld, not really about anything, but yet very amusing. I was a little disappointed about the ending, however, I just felt a little let down as nothing really happened.

Grade: B+

U.S. Department of Labor awards nearly $59 million to eliminate exploitive child labor in 19 countries

"Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $59 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor in fiscal year 2009 to combat exploitive child labor in 19 countries. The grants will help rescue more than 85,000 children from exploitive labor, and offer them hope for the future through education and training. The grants will also help improve collection and analysis of child labor data and support for the development and implementation of national action plans to address the problem."

"Since 1995, Congress has appropriated approximately $720 million to the Labor Department to support efforts to combat exploitive child labor internationally. As a result of that funding, the department has rescued approximately 1.3 million children from exploitive child labor. "

French arms exports rise 13%

"Deals with countries including Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco have pushed French arms sales up to their highest level since 2000."

"The increase of 13 per cent on last year's sales follows a drive by Nicolas Sarkozy, the country's president, to support defence export companies. The government argues that the industry provides 50,000 jobs in France."

"French companies took new orders worth $9.7bn, meaning they have about seven per cent of the world's arms market, according to the defence ministry's annual report released on Monday."

Key Vote: Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch FY 2010

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010

- Vote Passed (217-190, 25 Not Voting)

The House approved this $4.66 billion bill that funds the legislative branch for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill also includes a continuing resolution to fund government operations after the current fiscal year ends on September 30, as this is the only one of the 12 annual appropriations bills to have been completed.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw voted NO......send e-mail

or see bio

Key Vote: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009

Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009

- Vote Passed (331-83, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would extend by 13 weeks unemployment benefits in states with a jobless rate over 8.5%.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw voted YES......send e-mail

or see bio

Key Vote: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

- Vote Passed (77-21, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate approved this $32.1 billion bill funding the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and related programs for the next fiscal year.

Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES......send e-mail

or see bio

Sen. George LeMieux voted NO......send e-mail

or see bio

Cash-strapped sell their kidneys to pay off debts

"Nearly 7,000 people in the UK are waiting for kidney transplants and 300 died last year while on the waiting list."

City Program Pays for JSO Officers to Get in Shape

"The goal is for them to do this, make that lifestyle change and make that long term change on their own," says HIT Center owner Aaron Marsten."

"The HIT Center trains both JSO officers and JFRD firefighters as part of their new contract with the city, which is worth $442,000 a year. The city pays the entire bill for an eight week training program and nutrition classes for any first responder that shows they have a heart related health problem, including hypertension and obesity."

"Only a small group of 100 has gone through the program so far but there are 480 JSO officers on the waiting list, all of them with a qualified heart condition."

"But he says the city has seen a 700 percent increase in four years in heart related insurance claims from first responders, which is much more expensive than the prevention. Spencer says the cost to treat one first responder hospitalized for a heart attack is $200,000."