Free Republic

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) - The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Thursday against extending 36 undeveloped gas and oil leases in U.S. waters off the state's central coast, setting up a confrontation with the federal government over the panel's authority. Some commissioners said they expected the state to sue the federal government in an effort to prevent the extension of the leases, which could lead to additional offshore drilling. "It's amazing, the level of risk that the California coastline is being put to," Commissioner Steve Padilla said. "This is something I do not understand. The benefits of this economically are...

Sorry for the vanity, but I do respect the opinions of the posters on this board, who also possess a great wealth of information. With that said, I am in the process of buying a car, and wanted your advice. Here is the deal. I am a young attorney at a large corporate law firm. I have about $40,000 to spend. I need something that I can drive clients around in, yet hopefully is fun to drive, reliable, and that my estemeed colleagues will not view with disdain. I am not opposed to buying a used car, and would prefer...

Gov. Richard J. Codey is working on a plan to bolster the state's Transportation Trust Fund with a temporary increase in the gasoline tax and additional money generated by privatizing the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway, according to a published report. The Record of Bergen County, citing an unnamed administration source, reported in Thursday's editions that the plan calls for a small gas tax increase to be pushed through shortly after the Nov. 8 election. The increase would be rescinded or phased out after the lease deal is signed and begins to generate cash. The Transportation Trust Fund...

A U.N. treaty governing the oceans could clear the way for U.S. oil companies to tap deep oil and gas reserves offshore, which supporters say would bolster America's energy security. But that access might be blocked, because conservatives opposed to the multinational treaty are fighting hard to keep a strong Senate majority from ratifying the pact. When Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice called in January for prompt ratification of the treaty, she gave American oil companies their best hope yet to tap oil and gas reserves lying under thousands of feet of seawater. <snip>.......... In 2003, about 62 percent of...

The Texas Department of Transportation is continuing its work on the Trans-Texas Corridor which may have a major impact on Milam County. Although it started out as Rick Perry's dream in 2002, it is quickly becoming reality. The 'Corridor' that may have a direct effect on Milam County has been named TTC-35 because it extends from Oklahoma to Mexico and parallels I-35. TTC-35 would be up to 1,200-feet wide and have six lanes for passenger vehicles and four lanes for trucks. Also, it would include six rail lines and a 200-foot utility zone. TTC-35 would be 800 miles long. In...

Senate Commerce Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., is seeking records from Boeing's financial adviser, Salomon Smith Barney, in an effort to learn more about specific costs related to the Air Force's plan to acquire Boeing 767 aircraft for use as airborne tankers. In a letter sent Monday to the company's parent company, Citigroup, McCain asked Chief Executive Officer Charles Prince to produce a series of documents that he hopes will provide an accurate accounting of any hidden lease costs in an agreement negotiated earlier this year between Boeing and the Air Force for the lease of 100 tankers. A compromise...

Senate removes provision to aid Boeing tanker deal By Amy Svitak, CongressDaily The Senate late Thursday removed a provision in its version of the fiscal 2004 $87 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill that could have paved the way for approving the Bush administration's controversial plan to lease Boeing commercial 767 airplanes as refueling tankers. Prior to a voice vote, Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, offered an amendment that removed a requirement for the Pentagon to describe alternatives for replacing the Air Force's fleet of KC-135 tanker aircraft. The provision was added by the committee during its markup, and...

Proposed Lease at Former Camp Daybreak Site Purpose: To provide information for the proposed non-profit real estate lease at the former Camp Daybreak Site at Coralville Reservoir. General Description: The lease area includes an approximately 106+ acre tract of Federal land north of North Liberty, Iowa, along Coralville Lake. The Girl Scouts formerly leased the area for use as Camp Daybreak. The Corps proposes to lease the area to Muslim Youth Camps of America (MYCA) for development of a summer resident camp with off-season use by other non-profit groups. MYCA proposes to construct a main lodge, winterized cabins, and a...

California GO, Lease Ratings Placed on CreditWatch Negative Due to Budget Uncertainty Analyst: David G Hitchcock, New York (1) 212-438-2022; Alexander M Fraser, Dallas (1) 214-871-1406 Publication date: 02-Jul-03, 12:46:50 EST Reprinted from RatingsDirect NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) July 2, 2003--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today it placed its 'A' rating on California's $26.8 billion general fund-supported general obligation debt and $6.7 billion state general fund lease-supported debt on CreditWatch with negative implications, reflecting the state's lack of progress in adopting a fiscal 2004 budget and the diminishing prospects that meaningful structural budget reform will result from an...

Audit finds Pittsburgh airport leasing to Army below market The Associated Press3/26/03 3:59 AM PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh International Airport officials leased property to the Army for 76 percent below fair market value, according to a federal audit. The airport lost $252,000 in the lease of 25 acres, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General found. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the lease and could require the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which owns the airport, to recoup the money. Airport authority spokeswoman Joann Jenny said the lease was created by county officials in 1998 and the authority...

Uncle Sam wants them, but a swanky Manhattan apartment group has no room for the country's military personnel and reserves. Prospective tenants at 13 luxury apartment buildings owned by New York City megadeveloper Donald Zucker must sign a waiver stating they aren't in the military before they can get a lease - a violation of city law. "[The waiver] has to be filled out in order for the lease to be approved," a manager at Manhattan Skyline, which runs the buildings, told The Post. The first sentence of Zucker's "nonmilitary affidavit," obtained by The Post, reads: "The tenant has advised...

[Source: <http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtondc/oregonian/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news/1026993413147730.xml>] More From The Oregonian Washington D.C. News Effort to limit Klamath Basin farming fails 07/18/02 JIM BARNETT WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House on Wednesday rebuffed an effort by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to limit planting of commercial crops in two Klamath Basin wildlife refuges, but not before the proposal fanned an argument over urban and rural priorities. Blumenauer, who represents the Portland area, proposed ending production of alfalfa and row crops such as onions, potatoes or sugar beets on 2,000 acres of leased lands, saying the ban would cut water consumption, trim use of pesticides and protect wildlife....

Microsoft licensing deadline looms Analysis Partly to blame for IT doldrums? By Egan Orion: Tuesday 16 July 2002, 09:01 IN TWO WEEKS Microsoft will slam the door shut on customers used to its former pay-as-you-go software sales policies. As of August 1st, IT organisations that haven't knuckled under to Microsoft's Licensing 6.0 initiative will be facing significantly higher costs, if and when they do finally upgrade their servers, desktops, and office software. We've read that all recalcitrant customers' subsequent licensing cost penalties might be up to 45% -- but we'll get back to that shortly. The dark rabbit-hole leading one...