Employment Costs Fall to Record Lows: Forget Those High Wages, Proles

October 30, 2009

“The Employment Cost Index increased 1.5%, the slowest pace since the government began tracking the data in 1982… Wages increased 1.5% in the past four quarters, down from 1.8% in the previous quarter. Benefit costs rose 1.6% compared with a 1.8% rise in the second quarter. These are both record lows.”

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Schumer vs. Emanuel on Health Care Strategy Could Decide the Course Ahead

October 30, 2009

A knife-fight over health care: “Schumer, a New York Democratic senator, is pushing a proposal that allows states to opt out of a public option. Emanuel, who left the House to become President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, has backed Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe’s plan to ‘trigger’ the option if insurers misbehave.”

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Most Ethical Congress Ever Turns Out to Have Dozens Under Ethical Scrutiny

October 30, 2009

The Post snags a report accidentally made shareable on the House server: “House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July.”

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Musharraf Reconsiders Political Career, Weighs in on What's Needed in Pakistan

October 30, 2009

Is Musharraf planning a return? “The man who resigned as Pakistan’s president under threat of impeachment more than a year ago seemed anything but retired. He said he was disturbed by the current government’s performance “on the law and order issue” and lamented the “downward trend” of the country’s economy.”

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Palin's High Risk, High Reward Strategy Shows Why She's Not Running For President

October 29, 2009

Sarah Palin is heading to Iowa, but not for free: she’s charging $100k to appear at a fundraiser and give a speech. Take this as sign number one that she’s not interested in running for office any more. If you want to get in good with the Iowans, you pay them to come listen.

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Things Are Going Swimmingly At Government Motors

October 29, 2009

With all that bailout cash comes oversight and management as Congressional leaders pretend to know thing number one about running a car company. From commenter Richard Cummings at the WSJ Online: “The 535 new board members is exactly the reason I will never buy a General, I mean Government Motors vehicle.”

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Four Races Will Test the Strength of Obama's Majority Coalition

October 29, 2009

Michael Barone: “None of the Democrats seems likely to equal Obama’s 2008 percentages in these states or districts. None may even come close. But Republicans may find it difficult to convert the increasing unease with Democratic policies into Republican (or conservative) victories across the board.”

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Reid Largely Flying Solo In Effort To Shape Final Health Care Bill

October 29, 2009

As Nancy Pelosi announces the House version of the Health Care bill today, “Senate Majority Leader Reid is angling for a favorable CBO score on his health proposals to win support from deficit hawks, even as he keeps those senators, and everyone else, largely in the dark.” Most transparent process ever.

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3.5% GDP Number Significantly Better Than Expectations

October 29, 2009

Thank cash for clunkers and the $8k housing credit: “The world’s largest economy expanded at a 3.5 percent pace from July through September after shrinking the previous four quarters, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Household purchases climbed 3.4 percent, the most in more than two years.”

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Harry Reid's Toughest Votes: Snowe, Nelson, Lieberman, Lincoln All Break Away

October 28, 2009

After announcing the Democrats’ health care bill would include the opt-out public option, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Sen. Olympia Snowe to say he hoped she’d get behind the plan. Good luck with that. Asked Tuesday what Reid would have to change in his bill to get her vote, Snowe said: ‘the whole thing.’”

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