NoCoPolitics.com

Markey Makes Herself a Target

According to Politico:

Those likely to find themselves with targets on their back after the 219-212 vote: freshman Reps. Harry Teague of New Mexico, Betsy Markey of Colorado, John Boccieri of Ohio, Thomas Perriello of Virginia and Alan Grayson of Florida and second-termer Zack Space of Ohio.

Here's the analysis of Markey:

Markey

Like Teague, Markey hails from a heavily rural interior West district that is traditionally friendly to Republicans and views environmental restrictions warily.

President George W. Bush received 58 percent of the vote in Markey’s 4th District in 2004.

But running against a weak incumbent, former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Markey rode President Barack Obama’s coattails to victory last year.

Despite lobbying from several agricultural and energy groups, Markey supported the bill — support that was notable as she had shown independence earlier this year by opposing the House Democratic budget.

Markey didn’t respond to a request for comment about her vote.

Not mentioned is the active lobbying by chambers of commerce and business groups.

The Uninsured

David Harsanyi takes the 46 million number apart, piece-by-piece.

One of the most persistent examples of modern-day statisticulation is the sufficiently true claim that 46 million (it becomes 50 million when senators really get keyed up) Americans are without health insurance.

Taking apart the different groups that make up the 46 million number, Harsanyi identifies:

The temporarily uninsured:

According to the CBO, 45 percent of the uninsured are uninsured for four months or less...

Those who already qualify for another government program but have not signed up:

The CBO estimates that as many as 15 percent of the chronically uninsured are already eligible for help. The Urban Institute (hardly advocates of free-market fundamentalism) found that 25 percent of the uninsured qualify for some program.

Those who might be able to afford insurance:

Turns out that 8.4 million uninsured Americans are making $50,000 to $74,999 and 9.1 million more are making more than $75,000.

The young:

Then again, 27 percent of all adults in their 20s (many, I presume, without offspring) choose not to have health insurance.

(Come to think of it, I've been part of the "uninsured" at a few different times in my life.)

It's the End of the Quarter!

(In other words, tomorrow the fundraising e-mails from candidates will slow down a bit.)

The National Nag

It's bad enough when overly-ambitious municipalities get in the business of spending your money to tell you all of the things you should have learned from your mother.  ("Turn off the light when you leave the room!  Do you think we have stock in the electric company?")

In England, the nannies control the federal government.

The "Climate Change Minister" just put out a nag list to tell you how to be a better Briton.

Here are the recommendations:

"Take a quick shower rather than a long bath."

... Of course, a long bath is presumably better than a long shower, right?  So if you're going to spend a lot of time in the bathroom, we'd probably rather have you soaking.  More clarity, please. 

"Don't waste food: Plan menus ahead, make shopping lists and use leftovers wisely."

... Clean your plate?  But... but... what about the "obesity epidemic"?  And does anyone find it kind of annoying that the government is now telling people to "make shopping lists"?  What's next: "Don't play golf in a thunderstorm"?

"Save on car fuel bills by chaning up a gear a little earlier and keeping your tyres correctly inflated."

... You mean you're still driving a car?  Shame on you.

"Don't use the tumble dryer in good weather - hang out your clothes instead."

... Unless, of course, your neighborhood has a nuisance ordinance against clotheslines.

"Turn the thermostat down by one degree Celsius."

... And if you live in California, the government will do it for you.  ("Celsius" is some sort of degree of temperature that foreigners use.  Substitute "Fahrenheit" and it makes sense.)

"Boil less water when making a cup of tea."

... Really?  We're going to save the world by boiling less water per cup?  What's next: "Use fewer candles on your child's birthday cake"?  ("Tea" is some sort of hot beverage that foreigners drink.  Substitute "coffee" and it makes sense.)

"Use energy efficient light bulbs."

... Just don't throw them away.

Cap-and-Trade Endgame

I like this summary:

Tonight, 50 Democrats lost their jobs and this bill is dead in the Senate.

(Including Betsy Markey.  You don't vote against every chamber of commerce, every farmer, every rancher, every small businessperson... heck, every ratepayer in the 4th CD and get re-elected.)

Knives Don't Cut People... People Cut People

(... thinking about a slogan for the upcoming fight against Obama's knife ban.)

Oh, yes.  You read that right.  Knife ban.

Hunters, whittlers and Boy Scouts, beware - your knives may soon be on the government's chopping block.

The Obama administration wants to expand the 50-year-old ban on importing "switchblades" to include folding knives that can be opened with one hand, stirring fears the government may on the path to outlawing most pocket knives.

Maybe they could just go with this:

The first “anti-stab” knife is to go on sale in Britain, designed to work as normal in the kitchen but to be ineffective as a weapon.

The knife has a rounded edge instead of a point and will snag on clothing and skin to make it more difficult to stab someone.

It was invented by industrial designer John Cornock, who was inspired by a documentary in which doctors advocated banning traditional knives.

I can see it now: New legislation that offers a government rebate when you trade in your stab-friendly knife for the new, nanny-approved model.

(h/t Instapundit)

It's Official: The Nannies Control the Left

File this as the ultimate "Dead Head sticker on a Cadillac" moment.

The Green Party fights against head shops on Haight Street in San Francisco.  (You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried.)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Lawmakers agreed unanimously Tuesday to snuff out new shops that sell pot-smoking paraphernalia in the heart of San Francisco's one-time hippie district.

The Board of Supervisors approved a three-year moratorium on new businesses in the Haight that sell the smoking equipment.

At least a dozen businesses sell rolling papers, roach clips and glass water pipes along Haight Street, a popular destination for tourists nostalgic for the Summer of Love.

...

Mayor Gavin Newsom will consider signing the bill, his spokesman said.

"When even the Green Party politicians are opposing head shops, you know it's a legitimate issue," Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said.

Can we now dispense with the notion that the left stands for anything other than government control?

The Pressure's On Markey

So... is she going to side with Colorado business or the White House?

Behind the scenes, the administration worked furiously to help the Democratic leadership garner support for the legislation. Obama, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other administration officials have been calling skeptical lawmakers from both parties for weeks. Energy adviser Carol Browner met with several on-the-fence lawmakers Thursday.

Emanuel met Wednesday with Kratovil and a group of other Democratic freshmen: Reps. Bobby Bright of Alabama, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Larry Kissell of North Carolina, Betsy Markey of Colorado and Mark Schauer of Michigan. Minnesota Democrat Tim Walz was invited for a Thursday meeting.

"Cap and Trade Is a Tax. And It's a Great Big One."

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI):

The Threat to Business

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is jumping into the fight over the trillion-dollar energy tax known as the Waxman-Markey "cap-and-trade" legislation.  

A vote is expected in Congress tomorrow.

From the Chamber's newsletter minutes ago:

Tomorrow, Friday June 26, the US House of Representatives will vote on the controversial "Cap and Trade" climate change proposal.  

 

This bill limits the amount of traditional energy needed to run our economy, increases the opportunity for lawsuit abuse, and creates new regulations and higher prices that will make it harder for the business community to prosper.

Please call 4th Congressional District Congresswoman Betsy Markey TODAY and ask her to vote NO!

 

Call Congresswoman Markey at 202-225-4676.

Or, use the US Chamber of Commerce's Action Center to send an email to Congresswoman Markey.  Click here to send your email.