Free Republic

The way State Rep. Marty Seifert figures it, taxpayer money effectively pays the $374,341 yearly compensation for the Walker Art Center director, and there's $59 left over for arts programming. He bases the calculation on the $375,000 the state gave the Walker last year. The Walker is among dozens of nonprofit groups that get state appropriations or grants and pay outrageously high salaries, Seifert, R-Marshall, said Thursday. He proposed legislation to cut off state funding to nonprofits that pay salaries higher than the cap for most state executives, $114,506. "Unfortunately, many nonprofits beg for donations from the public and the...

He is one of the richest Senators in Government. When someone is elected president, it means the Secret Service has to protect the President and his family as well as his property. The Kerry's have five US properties not counting the several foreign properties they own too. The cost to run these homes are more than what the average American could afford, even if the rent was free, and all you had to pay the water, gas &electric. Including ground keepers, maintenance, pool, and house keepers. To be President would require the taxpayers to pay for all that now if...

First let me say, I am not big on asking for help. I hope you see that these boys at Northwest Airlines need some Freeping.

SACRAMENTO - Last year, prison guards received ``fitness pay'' worth $33.2 million -- nearly a sevenfold increase from 1999 -- even though they're no longer required to even take a physical fitness test, much less pass one. The guards' union proclaims its members walk the toughest beat in the state, but the cost of their contract has been under mounting scrutiny because the state is relying on borrowing billions to balance the books. Legislative critics complain about what they call overly generous salary provisions, and say that point is brought home by a close look at the fitness pay given...

Just noticed yet another news story on CBS morning program reflecting on the "reasons" for rising gasoline prices. Upon reflecting, I realize that local prices have gone up 10 cents per gallin in the last week and a half. So, I must ask: What in the world is going on? I know that I recently read that OPEC has cut production several times in the last few months. I am also hearing that refining capacity is streached thin. What's going on? You would think with the profits waiting to be grabbed, that capacity would be up, not down. Furthermore, what...