tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post1501476247448104566..comments2023-07-04T19:10:13.362+10:00Comments on Saipan Writer: 328. Fiscal MattersSaipan Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030098267460841286noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post-75970320883722505702009-02-12T18:30:00.000+10:002009-02-12T18:30:00.000+10:00what is ur name .what is ur name .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post-44967458757699272462009-02-12T09:56:00.000+10:002009-02-12T09:56:00.000+10:00Oh yeah. Let's not forget to look for discrepancie...Oh yeah. Let's not forget to look for discrepancies in the budget, too.<BR/><BR/>Like <A HREF="http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=79710" REL="nofollow">the report</A> that we were hiring a lobbying firm (Fleischman Hilliard) in 2008 for $25,000.<BR/><BR/>But <A HREF="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Commonwealth+of+the+N+Mariana+Islands&year=2008" REL="nofollow">the federal disclosures</A> show that we actually spent $60,000 for lobbying in 2008.<BR/><BR/><BR/>This is peanuts compared to our entire budget, but with leaks like this, no wonder we're sinking.Saipan Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10030098267460841286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post-24073128001495216252009-02-12T09:34:00.000+10:002009-02-12T09:34:00.000+10:00Gee, I'm not sure that link takes you to the right...Gee, I'm not sure that link takes you to the right podcast. Try this one: <A HREF="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100597533" REL="nofollow">about the TARP expert Elizabeth Warran (and then click on the podcast link</A>.Saipan Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10030098267460841286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post-51350593633088778982009-02-12T09:28:00.000+10:002009-02-12T09:28:00.000+10:00The Senate has voted to override the veto on the b...The Senate has voted to override the veto on the budget-today's headlines. Good news.<BR/><BR/>Now we need the House, a trickier situation.<BR/><BR/>I hope they do override the veto, not because I think this is stellar budget, but because WE NEED A BUDGET.<BR/><BR/>Open Government--wonderful discussion on NPR this morning. Elizabeth Warren, a brilliant woman from Harvard who is chairing the US Congressional oversight committee on budget.., was discussing the problem with Paulson's sale of Bush's bailout to banks--basically telling Congress they would get par value for their purchase of TARP stock & warrants, when in fact they were getting $2 value for $3 spent--when applied to the billion dollar package that means a lot of money given away.<BR/><BR/>This woman talked about three kinds of Open Government/transparency concepts--1) the technical compliance type where documents (cold, hard, sometimes confusing, meaningless, sometimes with the devil in the details) are disclosed in plain sight-on websites, etc.; 2) the strategic type-seeing the decision-making process; and 3) a third type that she said called for a clearly articulated and honest plan on how we're spending money.<BR/><BR/>(You can listen to her report at <A HREF="http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=100553848&m=100553818" REL="nofollow">NPR-All Things Considered</A><BR/><BR/>Wow! We could use this as a model for figuring out our own Open Government Act--and insist that it be passed by our Legislature!Saipan Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10030098267460841286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822994319220795886.post-27834417543160620622009-02-11T20:46:00.000+10:002009-02-11T20:46:00.000+10:00I think they will override it. Elections are comi...I think they will override it. Elections are coming up, and it is time to put all the blame on everyone else. And of course, we will see a whole lot of bills and action in the next few months.<BR/><BR/>Two things we won't see? The Open Government Act and a part-time legislature. When you are above the law, an open government act cannot apply. And a part-time legislature would make too much common and fiscal sense.<BR/><BR/>Oh well, let's prepare for more empty promises and reasons why the same ol' same ol' should be reelected. Insanity rules!Marianas Pridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214013139672445725noreply@blogger.com