Author Archives: billmanzi

Geithner Unveils a Plan Short on Details

Posted on February 10, 2009 by billmanzi

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner unveiled the Obama program to shore up the country’s financial system today, but key details of the plan are yet to come. The lack of detail sent stocks lower, with the Dow Jones down three hundred … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Obama Pitches the Stimulus

Posted on February 10, 2009 by billmanzi

President Barack Obama held his first press conference, dealing primarily with the stimulus package due to be voted on in the Senate today. He spoke of some of the real problems that folks outside of Washington are facing, and will … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 40 Comments

The Gas Tax Trial Balloon

Posted on February 10, 2009 by billmanzi

A leak out of the Patrick Administration yesterday floated the potential for a gas tax hike of 27 cents per gallon to deal with the state’s transportation system financing. AP reported that figure, citing an internal memo that had been … Continue reading →

Posted in State News | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Florida Governor Charlie Crist to Join Obama

Posted on February 10, 2009 by billmanzi

As President Obama travels to Florida tommorow to pitch the economoic stimulus package he will be introduced at a town hall style meeting by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Republican. Crist issued a statement: “Florida has taken prudent steps to cut … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Baddour Files Mass Trans Bill

Posted on February 9, 2009 by billmanzi

Senator Steve Baddour has filed the legislative act to codify the concepts he announced last month with Senate President Therese Murray. I have attached the act as a pdf, but I have not as of yet seen an executive summary. … Continue reading →

Posted in State News | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Krugman’s Initial Analysis, and This Week

Posted on February 8, 2009 by billmanzi

New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman has weighed in on his blog this morning on the Senate version of the stimulus. He takes dead aim at the “centrist” compromise that would tear out aid to … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 19 Comments

California Closes State Offices

Posted on February 7, 2009 by billmanzi

The State of California, rapidly becoming an economic basket case, has imposed furloughs on state employees that have necessitated the closure of state offices throughout California on a rolling basis. From the New York Times: Californians looking to renew driver’s … Continue reading →

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The President’s Weekly Radio Address

Posted on February 7, 2009 by billmanzi

The President talks about the stimulus package, and the jobless figures that arrived yesterday. He praises the bipartisan group of centrists that appear to have reached consensus on a stimulus package, and highlights some of the massive problems in states … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Unemployment Numbers Rising

Posted on February 7, 2009 by billmanzi

New figures on job losses point to continued pain for American workers, as the economy shed 598,000 jobs last month, driving the unemployment figure to 7.6%. If the current trend continues we will be at double digit unemployment in a … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

School Construction is Stimulus

Posted on February 6, 2009 by billmanzi

In a true sign of just how short sighted the Republican Party is now we have the spectacle of Republican senators, including so called moderates like Susan Collins of Maine, trumpeting the fact that they are working overtime to eliminate … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments