ANALYSIS/OPINION:
As I have watched the elite liberal media gush over the inauguration of President Joe Biden, I have waited for at least someone to analyze the fascinating difference between President Biden’s inaugural speech and his inaugural actions.
First, I thought the speech was incredibly well-given. The speech promised unity, togetherness and finding common ground it was a speech of classic American bipartisanship and civic goodwill. He promised to reach out to everyone, work with everyone and be an American president, rather than a Democratic, partisan president.
It strongly reminded me of President Barack Obama’s first inaugural address. And, in fact, I had about the same takeaway for Mr. Biden’s speech as I did for Mr. Obama’s: If he leads the way he’s speaking and acts as he says he will he will split the Republican Party and have a large, American governing majority for his entire presidency.
Hours after giving his excellent inaugural speech, President Biden went to the White House and signed 17 executive orders including more than a dozen that totally contradict his pledge of bipartisanship, unity and finding common ground.
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Other headwinds that hit state budgets include: the disproportionate growth of Medicaid spending; a decline in aid due to federal deficit reduction; shrinking tax bases and unstable revenues; and the fiscal plight of local governments. The recession also widened the hole in state pension funding. In 2017, states collectively could cover only 69 percent of their pension liabilities, down from 86 percent before the recession, according to a 2019 Pew report, though levels varied widely by state.
Unlike states, municipalities of which there are more than eighty-seven thousand, including cities, towns, counties, school districts, and other public entities can file for federal bankruptcy protection, known as Chapter 9 under the U.S. bankruptcy code. Though they are historically rare, there have been some high-profile cases, such as Detroit’s in 2013.
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January 13, 2021
A bill under consideration in the Missouri Legislature would allow a voter referendum to hike gas taxes in the Show-Me State.
As the Missouri Legislature is in session for 2021, lawmakers in the Show-Me State will be deliberating proposed legislation that is intended to mitigate some of the state’s lost revenue from the coronavirus-related downturn. This has manifest in a multitude of proposed tax hikes, particularly concerning the state gasoline tax. Proposed Senate Bill 262 calls for a fuel tax hike to appear on the ballot as a voter referendum. The proposed referendum aims to increase Missouri’s current tax of 17 cents per gallon on motor fuel to 27 cents per gallon, increasing by two cents per year over a period of five years. The overall gasoline tax hike is intended to fund comprehensive transportation infrastructure improvements.
The coronavirus pandemic is placing enormous budget pressure on state and local governments, threatening deep and potentially lasting cuts to education, infrastructure, and other important investments.