| Lobbyists advise anti-lobbyist
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Republican Mitt Romney said Thursday he could govern in the country's best interest because "I don't have lobbyists running my campaign," although Washington insiders are on his senior staff and registered lobbyists are top advisers. One of them, Ron Kaufman, chairman of the Washington-based Dutko Group, regularly sits across the aisle from Romney on his campaign plane, participates in debate strategy sessions and just last week accompanied Romney to a lunch in Myrtle Beach with Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. Another adviser, former Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn., is chairman of Romney's policy committee. He also is chief executive officer of Clark & Weinstock, and his corporate biography says he "provides strategic advice to institutions with matters before the legislative and executive branches of the federal government." "I think it's time for Washington – Republican and Democrat – to have a leader who will fight to make sure we resolve the issues rather than continuously look for partisan opportunity for score-settling and for opportunities to link closer to lobbyists," Romney said during a news conference.
Extra! UIdaho Student Found Shot to Death
After a year or two on the job, they make good money and benefits, in addition to the amenities of living in this area. How many in our county are paid $30.00 to $45.00 or more an hour, including benefits? A number of them are two teacher families, and have an RV and boat parked in their driveway. The IEA is a UNION!
While, there are many dedicated, excellent teachers, a lot only look at the bottom line, and are able to hold our children hostage until they get more salary and benefits. Arpie: I just got out my December 06 pay stub so I could tell you what last year looked like. At age 48, having taught since 1981, my gross pay was a little less than $46,000 last year. Subtract from that $7,000 in taxes, including social security: $6,000 for my familys health insurance, and $3,000 for my half of my retirement, and the total dwindles quickly as it does for anyone that is trying to support a family.
School has a Means to lead
Means' daily charges are more than 2,100 students in 10th through 12th grades who attend classes at the district's central campus. The sheer number of youths under his supervision makes establishing personal relationships, or even having face-to-face interaction, diffi cult.
Part of it is just being present, Means said.
"It's a challenge. I try to be out in the hallway" when students are changing classes, he said.
He also does lunch duty at least two or three times a week.
"And it's going to various activities, whether that's the school musical or athletic events," he said.
Often, parents tell Means that they hope their children have never been in his office. But the truth is, it probably is a good thing if they have.
Jeff Thelen's Blog
Hi everybody. I'm back from really slacking off from the blog over the holidays. This week, it's just a few random thoughts. How many people are sick at your home, office or school? Seems like everyone in this newsroom is fighting some sort of bug right now. My symptoms are a sore throat, tiredness and aches and pains. I have no congestion, but my nose only runs at night. Wierd, isn't it? Alison Struve blows her nose so much she sounds like a foghorn. Stephanie Luisier and chief photographer Randy Bise both have that "sick sound" when they talk. Was it just me or did the Badgers seem a little unfocused and unprepared for their bowl game? Perhaps it's the long layoff between their last regular season game and the contest on January 1. It was a sort of a fun game to watch, even if it was rather sloppily played.
News Briefs
Information, Tickets & Travel has Entertainment '08 Books on sale while supplies last for $18 each. Save up to 50 percent off dining out, up to 70 percent off travel, along with big savings on shopping services and entertainment. Purchase yours today, and keep it for yourself or gift it away. For more information, call Information, Tickets & Travel at 777-3525. Want to buy a new home? A Home Buying 101 class will be held 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center. Learn tips on what's needed when considering the purchase of a home. Call 777-4681 to sign up. Learn winter driving skills A Winter Driving 101 class will be held 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3 at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center.
New home construction drops by largest amount in almost 30 years
Other metro-east communities, such as Belleville, Mascoutah, Smithton, Maryville and Godfrey, recorded declines of 15 percent to 25 percent. Economists said the current housing slump has already surpassed the 1990 downturn and will likely rival, if not surpass, the prolonged housing downturn in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period when the Federal Reserve was pushing interest rates to the highest levels since the Civil War in a successful effort to halt a decade-long bout of high inflation. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, is forecasting that median sales prices for existing homes will fall by 2.5 percent for all of 2007, which would be the first annual price decline on records that go back four decades. "I think this housing downturn will be unprecedented in terms of its breadth across the country and in its severity," Zandi said.
UT-Austin leery of opening a medical school
Whether Austin will ever get a medical school is a long-standing question fraught with politics, money and bureaucracy. This much has become clear recently: The University of Texas System is eager to establish such a school, but its flagship campus in Austin is not so sure it wants to be the host. If a medical school were to be opened here, it's more likely it would be a satellite of one of the UT System medical campuses in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Galveston rather than a unit of UT-Austin. The UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is studying the feasibility of a branch in Austin. .
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