Politics

Dodd’s Reform Bill Threatens Power of Federal Reserve

Debt Relief Would Be a Whole New Ballgame
The people of American are looking for debt relief any way they can find it these days, and it appears that the only way true gains in this area are going to be made is if major restructuring of America’s financial regulatory agencies [...]

Senator. Chris Dodd (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

Unemployment Extension Made Official November 5, 2009

Unemployment benefits extended 13 weeks
The unemployment extension, passed November 5, 2009, was included in a bill with the homebuyer tax credit, and now millions of Americans can continue to collect benefits. The homebuyer tax credit was extended to 2010 in April. The unemployment extension means workers whose unemployment insurance was [...]

Image from Blogspot.

$6,500 Homebuyer Tax Credit Officially Extended to 2010

Homebuyer tax credit 2010 now a reality
Congress today passed a bill that extends the homebuyer tax credit, which was set to expire at the end of this month. Homebuyers who initiate their purchase between now and April 2010 will be able to take advantage of a $6,500 deduction in their [...]

Image from Flickr.

Breckenridge, Colorado, Legalizes Pot | Can They Do That?

Penalties for possession removed
The federal government still states that possession of marijuana is illegal, as does the state of Colorado. However, in the city of Breckenridge, Colorado, people who possess less than an ounce of pot will not face any criminal or civil charges.
Yes, on election day 2009, Breckenridge, Colorado, [...]

No more doctors note needed in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Installment Loans: A Strong Option When Credit Access is Limited

Do Race and Ethnicity Restrict Access to Traditional Credit?
You’ve more than likely heard the call to arms “Stimulate the economy!” before. It takes expenditure in order to keep the wheels of commerce flowing. While the current recession has made that difficult – people are still highly unwilling to spend on [...]

Installment loans have been there for people from all walks of life who have been failed by the traditional credit and lending system. (Photo: flickr.com)

Should Government Limit Bank Overdraft Fees?

Over-the-top overdraft fees
The Associated Press reports that some senior congressional Democrats want to draw up legislation that would limit how much banks can charge customers in overdraft fees. Personally, I have been slapped with $105 in overdraft charges before for transactions that equaled a lot less than that, so I [...]

With this debit transaction cost $35 more than you think?

Unemployment Extension Vote Will Decide Fate of Millions

Unemployment extension vote to come
The unemployment extension vote that took place Tuesday cleared the way for the unemployment extension bill to make its way through Congress. The House has passed the bill, which would allow unemployed workers to collect benefits for an additional 13 weeks beyond what is already allotted.
Originally, [...]

Millions of Americans who cant find work could benefit from the unemploment extension vote.

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Not Just for First-Timers

Committee proposes extending tax credit
A Senate committee on Wednesday reached an agreement regarding the first time home buyer tax credit. If they have their way, the first time home buyer tax credit wouldn’t be just for first-time home buyers anymore.
If lawmakers approve, the tax credit will be extended to people [...]

Do you think the tax credit will stimulate home sales?

Sarah Palin to Hawk ‘Going Rogue’ on Oprah

Oprah and Palin to meet next month
It is confirmed, by the Chicago Sun-Times and the New York Times, Sarah Palin will appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” next month, the very day before her book “Going Rogue” hits the shelves.
Needless to say, people have some pretty strong opinions about this [...]

Sarah Palin, image from Wikimedia.

Grandparents Ordered to Evict 6 Year Old | HOA Down!

Let Bylaws Be Bylaws
I’m a parent, so I’m going to proudly display just a bit of bias here. If the homeowners’ association at the Largo, Florida retirement community where Jimmy and Judie Stottler live think it’s a good idea to force them to evict their six-year-old granddaughter Kimberly Broffman, I [...]

It's people like these who voted to evict six-year-old Kimberly Broffman. Not these people specifically, but people like them. You can see it in their eyes. (Photo: flickr.com)

Bernard Kerik Back in Jail for Putting Confidential Info Online

Former commissioner on trial for conspiracy
Bernard Kerik knows that committing tax fraud is a no-no. He made that clear in 2004, when he withdrew his name from consideration for Secretary of Homeland Security. At that time, Bernard Kerik admitted that he had committed tax fraud.
Bernard Kerik had employed an illegal [...]

Image of Bernard Kerik from Wikimedia.

Sheila Jackson Lee Squares Off Against Rush Limbaugh

House Rep. says keep Limbaugh out of NFL
When I wrote earlier about the possibility of Rush Limbaugh buying the St. Louis Rams, I kind of thought that whole process had been snuffed out already. Apparently I was mistaken, as yesterday Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in a floor speech said [...]

Sheila Jackson Lee image from Wikimedia. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SheilaJacksonlee.jpg

Record-High Deficit Makes Americans Use Short Term Loans

Deficit high
Short term loans are a popular option with Americans as the deficit reaches record highs.  Budget deficit totals were released, and the federal deficit has surpassed $1.8 trillion, according to the White House.  That’s more than four times last year’s high. It’s reached this level because the stimulus package [...]

Record-High Deficit Makes Americans Use Short Term Loans

GOP Sens Vote 30-9 Against Rape Amendment

Yet Sen. Al Franken’s Amendment Passes, 69-30
Following one of the more vile incidents against a woman in American history, the Senate has voted in favor of Sen. Al Franken’s amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that gives the government the right to withhold defense contracts (no small cash loans, [...]

Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota votes for people over corporations. (Photo: flickr.com)

Obama Wins Nobel Prize, Stirs Controversy

He’s Only the Fourth President to Win the Award

Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919) and Jimmy Carter (2002) preceded him in winning. Now President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. This time, however, some people are skeptical. The Norwegian Nobel Committee says he won due to his “extraordinary efforts [...]

Obama wins the Nobel Prize: For world peace or Miller Time? (Photo: flickr.com)

Congress Calls for Financial Overhaul to Help Debt Relief

Regulating the Banking System
Due to the recession, people are looking for debt relief more than ever.  Credit lenders are no longer as readily available as they once were.  Mortgages are difficult to handle.  The unemployment rate continues to rise.  Because of these problems, the Obama administration is calling for a [...]

Will the Federal Reserve create the framework consumers need to experience debt relief? (Photo: flickr.com)

Debt Relief Aided by a Health Care System Overhaul

Health Care Reform and Debt Relief are Connected
In the midst of the health care reform, many Americans are worried about debt relief.  High medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the nation and many see it as the biggest “ignored necessity.”   Housewife Brandy Giant of Littleton Pennsylvania stated, [...]

Debt relief and health care reform would seem to go hand-in-hand, brothers and sisters (Photo: flickr.com)

Consumers Use Personal Loans as G-8 Nations Brace for Recovery

Will the G-8 Solve the Economic Crisis?
Consumers are still looking to personal loans for financial aid as the world recovers from the recession.  Later this week, the G-8 nations are gathering to discuss the economic recovery.  Despite anticipating change, they warn that it is too soon to announce the end [...]

Consumers look to personal loans to help with finances during this recession. Will gains made at the G-8 conference trickle down and help their finances? (Photo: wikipedia.org)

Will Rush Limbaugh and Dave Checketts Own the Rams?

We Know Rush Claims to Be Football Knowledgeable
Do you find it as interesting as I do that Rush Limbaugh is bidding to take on ownership of the St. Louis Rams NFL football team? Along with St. Louis Blues NHL hockey team owner Dave Checketts, Rush Limbaugh is part of an [...]

Rush Limbaugh as he actually appears. Here's hoping no Rams jersey will be added to his portfolio. (Photo: flickr.com)

SNL, Obama Accomplishments | Fake News Meets Real News

SNL Obama accomplishments skit confusing?
I think some Americans out there are confused when it comes to the SNL Obama accomplishments skit. I think they are confused in a couple of ways. One is the nature of Saturday Night Live and comedy in general. That actually leads to the second point [...]

Warning: This man is not the president. He is an actor who sometimes plays the president. For entertainment purposes only. Image from Wikimedia.