San Francisco considers banning sale of pets, except fish. Good idea?
(PHOTO CREDIT: THINKSTOCK)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
San Francisco has had its fair share of crazy ideas... but here's one that's not half bad.
The city is considering banning the sale of all pets, except fish.
That would mean everything... from cats and dogs to hamsters, mice, rats, parrots, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, lizards... and on and on. The city's commission of animal control and welfare calls all these critters "companion animals."
The chairwoman tells the San Francisco chronicle that people buy small animals all the time as an "impulse buy"... they don't think about what they're getting into. and after the people decide they no longer want the animals, they often wind up at a shelter or euthanized.
Hamsters are apparently the biggest problem. People buy them because they think they're cute and cuddly... but quickly change their mind once the rodents start biting them or racing around on their exercise wheels in the middle of the night.
The proposed ban - believed to be the first of its kind - would require San Francisco residents who want a pet to either go to another city, adopt one from a shelter, or find it in the classifieds.
Pet store owners are up in arms - they call it a terrible idea and say they'd have to go out of business. Other critics call it an "anti-pet proposal from people who oppose the keeping of pets."
At a hearing last night, city officials decided to table the measure for now.
Here’s my question to you: San Francisco is considering banning the sale of pets, except fish. Good idea?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Agree with judge who says gay marriage ban unconstitutional?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
In a ruling that could have far-reaching implications, a Boston federal district court judge has declared the federal ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.
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Judge Joseph Tauro says the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act - which defines marriage as between a man and a woman - denies same-sex couples equal protection under the law.
Massachusetts believes the federal ban denied benefits - including Medicaid - to gay married couples; and the judge agreed, saying the ban on gay marriage forces the state to discriminate against its own citizens. Same-sex unions have been legal in Massachusetts since 2004.
The judge added that the federal ban also goes against the long history of letting states set their own marriage laws, which they've been doing since before the American revolution. Judge Tauro says that laws that once barred interracial marriage caused as much debate as the current battle over gay marriage.
Gay rights activists are, of course, thrilled with this ruling... calling it a "landmark decision."
Opponents say they're sure the decision will be overturned on appeal. They call the ruling "judicial activism" and the work of a "rogue judge." Noting that, when voters go to the ballot box, they consistently reject gay marriage proposals.
Nonetheless - it's really worth watching what happens from here. So far the justice department is only saying it's reviewing the decision; and hasn't decided whether or not to appeal it.
But if a higher court were to hear an appeal and agree with the ruling, the impact of this decision could spread. It could also encourage other attorneys general who are against the federal gay marriage ban to sue.
Here’s my question to you: Do you agree with the judge who says banning gay marriage is unconstitutional?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
$20 million for centers devoted to Specter and Murtha?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Like most everywhere else, in Pennsylvania - times are tough. But you wouldn't necessarily know it by looking at parts of the state's new $28 billion budget.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/08/art.specter.murtha.jpg caption="FILE PHOTOS: Arlen Specter (l) and John Murtha (r)"]
Governor Ed Rendell is planning to borrow $20 million dollars to pay for new public buildings to be named after Senator Arlen Specter and the late Congressman John Murtha.
The Democratic governor is setting aside $10 million for the Specter Library at Philadelphia University...
He's also earmarking another $10 million for the Murtha Center for Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh. Murtha represented the people of Pennsylvania for 36 years - he died this winter.
And there are other pet construction projects... in all - they total $600 million - all paid for with borrowed money.
This comes as Pennsylvania is taking a scalpel to its budget due to the recession. Social services, for example, are being cut - including those for autism, mental health services, and family crisis. Aid to public libraries is also being cut by nine percent.
So it's no surprise Governor Rendell is coming under fire for spending millions in borrowed money on a library for Arlen Specter.
But the governor says these construction projects are a way to keep more Pennsylvania residents employed and to keep the state's economy "humming."
Here’s my question to you: Is now the time for Pennsylvania to borrow $20 million for centers devoted to Arlen Specter and John Murtha?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Where do you feel the economy is headed?
(PHOTO CREDIT: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When it comes to the economy - it's tough to find much to be optimistic about these days.
For starters, economic confidence is sinking again. A Gallup index shows fewer people say the economy is "getting better" than at any time in the past year.
As for the jobs picture - it just keeps getting more bleak. Last week's employment report showed job recovery hitting a wall - with the U.S. economy losing jobs for the first time this year in June.
And even though the unemployment rate fell to 9.5 percent from 9.7 percent - this was due mainly to discouraged job seekers not even looking for work anymore. That means they're not counted as part of the labor force.
A whopping 1.2 million people want to work but say they aren't looking because of the weak job market; and it's not so surprising when you consider there are five workers for every available opening.
What's more, many of the people - who worked in sectors like manufacturing and construction - will need entirely new skill sets to switch industries.
Since the start of the recession - 7.9 million jobs have been lost; and it's likely that many of them will never come back.
Even for people who have jobs, it's not necessarily all good. In California, they're looking to cut the salaries of more than 200,000 state employees to federal minimum wage. It's a way to save money since government officials can't agree on a new budget.
To top it all off, the $787 billion in stimulus money is almost all spent. If that was supposed to jump start the economy, then what now?
Here’s my question to you: Where do you feel the economy is headed?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Answer to reforming Wall St. another 68 govt. studies?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's a joke… it's not funny… but it's a joke.
When it comes to reforming Wall Street, Congress decided a big part of the solution is ordering up studies. Lots and lots of studies.
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CNNMoney.com reports the Wall Street reform bill - which passed the House last week, and will likely pass the Senate soon - orders various government officials to conduct 68 studies. 68.
The topics of these studies include ethical standards for financial planners, short selling, improved insurance regulation, private student loans... making it easier to sue lawyers, accountants and bankers who help commit securities fraud and on and on and on...
Lobbyists for the financial sector insist that since the bill is so far-reaching, it requires more studies... adding that it's better to take time to do a study than to make a quick decision and get it wrong.
That's one explanation. But don't kid yourself. Ordering studies is what politicians do when they don't have the guts to make difficult or unpopular decisions. See the general theme of studies is to delay or kill - it's a strategy taught on K Street - that's where the lobbyists make their home.
The worst kinds of studies are those that don't require any follow-up or deadlines - and many of these in the so-called financial reform legislation are in that category.
And if you'd like to know how much all this so-called studying will cost - don't bother asking. Congress didn't appropriate any money for the 68 studies nor did they break down how much these 68 studies will cost. It is past time for the revolution.
Here’s my question to you: Is the answer to reforming Wall Street another 68 government studies?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Fed. govt. suing Arizona instead of enforcing its own immigration laws?
Activists participate in a 24-hour vigil outside the White House to protest the imminent new immigration law in Arizona. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's unlikely the federal government will do anything meaningful anytime soon about immigration; but that hasn't stopped them from suing Arizona for actually tackling this crisis.
The Justice Department lawsuit charges that the Arizona law cracking down on illegal immigrants is unconstitutional.
The federal government says that the state's immigration law conflicts with the federal law - that it would disrupt immigration enforcement and violate the rights of innocent Americans and legal residents.
Arizona's governor, Jan Brewer, calls the lawsuit "nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayer funds," saying the money could be better used against violent Mexican drug cartels. And she has a point.
Meanwhile despite President Obama's repeated calls for bipartisan immigration reform, senior Democrats say they see virtually no chance of Congress taking up such a bill before the midterm elections. No surprise here - wouldn't want to toss around a political hot potato and vote on tough issues before an election.
And - while the federal government twiddles its thumbs, the cost keeps piling up on us, the taxpayers.
A new study claims that harboring an estimated 13 million illegal aliens is costing $113 billion a year. That translates to about $1,100 for every "native headed" household in America.
The report - conducted by an outfit called the Federation for American Immigration Reform - shows the most money goes toward schooling the children of illegal aliens.
Critics describe the group - which aims to end almost all immigration to the U.S. - as "extremist" and they say the report is inaccurate.
Here’s my question to you: Why is the federal government suing Arizona instead of enforcing its own laws against illegal immigration?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Huge tax increase coming in January: What should Congress do?
(PHOTO CREDIT: THINKSTOCK)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
In 2008, President Obama said no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase.
Well, unless something is done in the next six months, that won't be true.
What Americans for Tax Reform calls "The largest tax hikes in the history of America" will go into effect in January of next year when the Bush tax cuts are set to start expiring.
Here's a sample of what's in store for all of us:
Personal income tax rates are set to raise across the board with the highest rate going from 35 percent to 39.5 percent and the lowest rate going from 10 percent to 15 percent.
All the rates in between will rise as well. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out. The marriage penalty returns on the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from one thousand to five hundred dollars per child. The death tax returns with a top rate of 55 percent on estates over one million dollars. Capital gains taxes will rise from 15 percent to 20 percent and taxes on dividends will go from 15 percent to a maximum 39.6 percent.
There are over 20 new or higher taxes in the new health care law and several go into effect on January 1 of next year. The alternative minimum tax will ensnare 28 million families, up from four million families this year, and taxes are set to go up on all types of businesses.
Congress of course knows all this... but they're on vacation and haven't said what they plan to do if anything.
Here’s my question to you: A huge tax increase is coming next January. What should Congress do?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
When do problems blamed on Bush transfer to Obama?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Finger pointing is an age-old past time in Washington. But at some point when you get the job, you also get to own the problems that come with it.
When President Obama took office almost 18 months ago, he had a lot to blame on his predecessor, George W. Bush - the economy was on life support, and the country was fighting two wars half a world away and the country was spiraling ever more deeply into debt. The general mood in this country wasn't so cheery. But a year and a half later, not a whole lot has changed. The economy isn't much better, the wars continue, and the debt has gotten a lot worse.
President Obama is still reminding Americans though that he "inherited" a lot of his problems. Last week, he told attendees at a Wisconsin town hall meeting that the economic woes many are facing are not his fault.
Granted there is still a lot of animosity when it comes to the Bush presidency, but at some point he becomes history and the country must confront the here and now.
Our friends over on CNN.com point out that 41 percent of Americans say Republicans are responsible for our current economic problems. 28 percent point a finger at Democrats, and 26 percent said both parties are to blame, even though in the last two years of the Bush Administration, Democrats controlled Congress.
The debate over whose fault everything is could take on added importance when it comes to the midterm elections in November. Will the voters continue to give the Democrats a pass?
Here’s my question to you: At what point does ownership of problems blamed on George Bush transfer to President Obama?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
What's the answer to America's financial crisis?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The United States' national debt level is the highest it's been since World War II. The Congressional Budget Office is warning President Obama's deficit commission that something must be done - and quickly.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/17/art.debt.clock.jpg caption="FILE PHOTO: A shot of the National Debt Clock on July 13, 2009"]
By the end of this year, it will represent 62 percent of the nation's economy and will rise to 80 percent in 2035. That means that simply paying the interest on the national debt will consume one-third of all federal revenue. And that's the CBO's most optimistic scenario.
Their worst case scenario has the debt hitting 185 percent of GDP by 2035 and interest payments consuming nine percent of GDP, or more than two-thirds of all federal revenue.
And getting to that point is not at all improbable. The CBO says it has just extend the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 for most people, permanently protecting the middle class from the Alternative Minimum Tax, and permanently increasing Medicare payments to doctors, and Presto! We're there.
The president's bipartisan deficit commission has until December to come up with some ideas on how to bring down debt and stabilize the deficit. But none of their recommendations will be binding on anyone. And it's no accident their report isn't even due until after the midterm elections. In the meantime, we have a ticking financial time bomb on our hands and our government is sitting on theirs.
Here’s my question to you: What's the answer to America's deepening financial crisis?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Do you feel as patriotic as you used to?
(PHOTO CREDIT: THINKSTOCK)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
On July 4, 1776, our nation's founders approved the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia and the greatest nation in the history of mankind was born.
Flash ahead and that nation is struggling as she gets ready to celebrate her 234th birthday.
Two wars, a deep and protracted recession, and a loss of confidence in our government to function in our best interests have dampened our spirits. Most of us don't approve of the job our government is doing, and many of us don't even like the people who represent us.
Almost 10 percent of us can't find a job and many more of us work just part time or have given up looking for work altogether. We are overrun with millions of illegal aliens, and our government refuses to seal our borders or for that matter even address the issue. Except to threaten to sue a state like Arizona, which is struggling to cope with the presence of 460,000 illegal aliens and was forced to pass its own law to try to cope.
The country is $13 trillion in debt. States are broke and cities and towns are slashing programs right and left. It's a telling sign that this Fourth of July more and more places are canceling the fireworks celebrations that have marked our independence forever. Places like Glendale, Arizona, Jersey City, and Springfield, Missouri, don't have the money to throw a birthday party for our country this year.
I don't know about you, but as our nation's birthday approaches, I don't feel much like celebrating. I worry about our children and grandchildren, about our senior citizens who can no longer afford to retire, and about what awaits hundreds of thousands of our service men and women who come home bearing the scars of wars in far away places that seem increasingly irrelevant to our daily lives.
Here’s my question to you: Do you feel as patriotic as you used to?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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