Energy tax could be biggest levy ever in the U.S.
The vice president for an energy research center says the administration of President Obama is working now on what could end up being the biggest levy ever in the history of the United States, a tax expected to cost $2,000 per household. "The cost of all energy will go up, consumers and businesses and everyone who drives a car, heats their home, goes to a job that uses energy, will pay more, either through the loss of their job or the actual cost of electricity by almost $2,000 a year," said Dan Kish, the senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research.

House Republican Budget Would Confront Hard Choices and Rein in Budget Deficits
Answering President Obama's challenge for critics to present alternatives, the House Republicans have offered a responsible budget blueprint that: Borrows $3.6 trillion less than the President's budget; Would create $23,000 less debt per household than the President's budget; Keeps federal spending just above 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)—the same level as before the recession; Avoids all tax increases and even simplifies the overly complex tax code; Includes a temporary moratorium on earmarks; and Begins reforming the unsustainable costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The House Republican blueprint provides a strong contrast to President Obama's plan to saddle Americans with historic tax increases, runaway spending, and a doubling of the national debt. It would rein in spending, simplify taxes, and lessen the debt burden on American families. This plan also confronts the long-term costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It should be taken seriously by anyone concerned with rising government spending and debt.

North Korea missile splashes into Pacific
North Korea has launched a missile as threatened with a report the second stage landed in the Pacific Ocean about 1,100 miles from Japan. North Korea had informed international authorities that it planned to launch a rocket sometime between Saturday and Wednesday to put a satellite into orbit. But the U.S., South Korea, Japan and others suspect it is a cover for testing a long-range missile for the North, which has nuclear weapons. Leaders from those countries had warned Pyongyang not to proceed with the planned rocket launch. Japanese government sources reported it appeared to be a long-range missile. Such a test would be a first step toward putting a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of reaching Alaska and beyond.

US jihadist in Somalia
A man who calls himself an American promotes holy war in Somalia in a video posted this week on an Islamic militant Web site. A U.S. government contractor who tracks extremist propaganda says the footage is the first to show what may be an American with a senior role in al-Shabab, a Somali group the State Department considers a terrorist organization with links to al-Qaida.

HHS Nominee Faces No Questions from Senate Tax Committee About Her Tax 'Errors'
Just two days after she revealed that she owed nearly $8,000 in back taxes, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius faced largely friendly questioning from the Senate Finance Committee Thursday – with no questions at all asked about her tax situation. The committee has jurisdiction over tax issues.

Anglican Dean: Abortion is a Blessing
The new Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has given a sermon describing abortions as a "blessing" for the women who undergo them. The Rev Katherine Hancock Ragsdale also thinks that the people who run abortion clinics are "heroes" and even "saints". Ms Ragsdale, speaking in Birmingham, Alabama, said that "when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion - there is not a tragedy in sight - only blessing."

US News, PBS Media Host Bonnie Erbe Defends View More Abortions Needed
US News & World Report contributing editor and PBS television show host Bonne Erbe came under fire for her celebration of abortion increases in light of the sour economy. Now, the media wallah is defending her position after hearing news that the use of food stamps has risen. The use of food stamps, according to Agriculture Department figures, rose in all but four states during January and three states saw usage rise more than five percent. "I blogged earlier this week about the rise in birth control usage and abortion due to the recession," Erbe writes today. "These figures back up my assertion that the last thing young, unemployed, or already large families should be doing is creating more mouths to feed." Erbe complained more abortions are needed because "foods banks nationwide are reporting shortages and it's only going to get worse."

University to student: Endorse 'gay' or leave
A lawsuit has been filed against Eastern Michigan University, accusing the school of tossing a student out of a graduate counseling program because she refused to endorse homosexuality as morally good. Julea Ward filed suit after she was dismissed from the school's counseling training for not affirming homosexuality and then refusing to recant her beliefs in "disciplinary proceedings," according to the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom. WND called president Susan W. Martin's office for comment and was referred to a media relations office, where officials did not respond. But David French, senior counsel for the ADF, said, "When a public university has a prerequisite of affirming homosexual behavior as morally good in order to obtain a degree, the school is stepping over the legal line."

Crackdown on illegals produces crime decline
Following a crackdown on illegal immigration, officials in Prince William County in northern Virginia are reporting their numbers reveal a significant decrease in violent crimes committed. The violent crime rate in Prince William County plummeted 22 percent in 2008, according to new reports.

A Majority Catholic Senators vote against 'Conscience Law’
Bishop William F. Murphy, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), also commented on the possibility of conscience laws being revoked saying,"[it] raises a real issue, because the statutes are intended to protect human rights – rights of conscience and rights of freedom of religion," Bishop Murphy said. "So why should everyone be concerned about this? Because if one person's rights can be compromised, everybody's rights can be compromised." Murphy called on all Catholics to respond together to protect these basic "human rights," "The lay men and women of our churches, of our parishes and dioceses across the country have to be the voices of the Catholic Church today. Their voice is stronger than ours in many instances because they are the constituents, because they vote and because the politicians know they need the votes to be re-elected." Yet, 16 Catholic Senators still voted against the protection of these "human rights" including: Begich (D-AK), Dodd (D-CT), Kaufman (D-CT), Durbin (D-IL), Harkin (D-IA), Landrieu (D- LA), Collins (R-ME), Mikulski (D-MD), Kerry (D-MA), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY), Reed (D-RI), Leahy (D-VT), Cantwell (D-WA), Murray (D-WA). The nine Catholic Senators that voted for the amendment were; Murkowski (R-AK), Martinez (R-FL), Risch (R-ID), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Vitter (R-LA), Johanns(R-NE), Voinovich (R-OH), and Casey (D-PA).

SNL goofs on America’s new CEO-in-chief
In which the recession becomes an arena for gladitorial combat between struggling companies, with Emperor Hopenchange delivering thumbs up or thumbs down as appropriate. Not so much “funny ha-ha” as “funny this-isn’t-nearly-as-far-from-reality-as-it-should-be.”

Gov Bashes Rush, But Rush Is Much More Popular in New York than Gov
When Rush Limbaugh announced he was completely leaving New York, putting his Fifth Avenue condo on the market. Gov. David Paterson joked after a speech on Thursday that "If I knew that would be the result, I would’ve thought about the taxes earlier." Gov. Paterson's job performance ratings have crashed thorough the floor, with less than one in five New Yorkers saying he's doing well, a new poll shows. Just 19% of those polled gave him a positive rating, while 78% turned thumbs down, the Siena College poll found. Maloney reported that Limbaugh responded this way: "Well, it has happened again, folks. I've always said if you place a bag of manure in front of a Democrat they will certainly step in it, and New York Governor David Paterson certainly has."

Sheriff Joe’s Troops tell Phoenix Mayor and Police Chief to Shut Up
Maricopa County deputies have a message for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Mesa Police Chief George Gascon and Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox -- "Shut Up!" The deputies and other employees of the sheriff's department rallied at Phoenix City Hall Thursday afternoon. They said they're sick and tired of doing their jobs, putting criminals in jail and saving victims and then being accused of racial profiling by people in power. Sgt. Brett Palmer said, "We're telling these people in power such as Phil Gordon, Mary Rose Wilcox and Police Chief Gascon, shut up! They're ignorant. They don't know what it is they're talking about.

Three Pittsburgh Officers Killed in Shoot Out
A man opened fire on officers during a domestic disturbance call Saturday morning, killing three of them, a police official said. Three officers were killed, said a police official at the scene who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Police spokeswoman Diane Richard would only say that at least five officers were wounded, but wouldn't give any other details.

Millions for Obama Aide Axelrod in sale of firm
As he prepared to take a job in the White House at the end of last year, David Axelrod sold the political consulting firm that helped elect President Barack Obama for $2 million to a group of consultants who helped steer Obama’s campaign. According to a disclosure form released Friday evening by the White House, the firm, AKP&D Message & Media, paid him $897,000 last year, when it had basically turned itself into an arm of the Obama campaign, which paid the company $2.5 million.

Obama Team discloses TARP firm ties
Lawrence Summers, a top economic adviser to President Barack Obama, pulled in more than $2.7 million in speaking fees paid by firms at the heart of the financial crisis, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America Corp. and the now-defunct Lehman Brothers. He pulled in another $5.2 million last year from D.E. Shaw, a hedge fund for which he served as managing director from October 2006 until joining the administration. Thomas E. Donilon, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, was paid $3.9 million last year by the power law firm O’Melveny & Myers to represent clients, including two firms that received federal bailout funds: Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. He also disclosed that he’s a member of the Trilateral Commission and sits on the steering committee of the supersecret Bilderberg group. Both groups are favorite targets of conspiracy theorists. And White House Counsel Greg Craig last year earned $1.7 million in private practice representing an exiled Bolivian president, a Panamanian lawmaker wanted by the U.S. government for allegedly murdering a U.S. soldier and a tech billionaire accused of securities fraud and various sensational drug and sex crimes.

Climate Change: Mr. President, We Disagree
President Obama says that "few challenges facing America and the world are more urgent than fighting climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear." In fact, many scientists disagree with the "facts," their certainty, and their interpretation. Over 100 of them have signed the statement that appears in the Cato Institute's newspaper ad.

News and Updates from the Middle East – Free Range International
We will not fight a battle of annihilation until we are (yet again) struck hard by elements originating out of the Pakistani Frontier or Afghanistan. Once that happens - a radiation bomb, a bio weapons attack or even a series of direct small arms attacks like we saw in Mumbai - we may get serious about what we are doing here and start fighting a campaign of annihilation. But I fear we will have to have some great tragedy visited upon us before we even consider getting serious.

Tax Day Tea Parties Growing Across America
While WND has been tracking 400 individual tea parties across the nation, the American Family Association has announced its count is nearing 1,600 – for Tax Day alone. The AFA, planned to coordinate 1,000 Taxed Enough Already, or TEA, parties to be held at 12 p.m. on April 15 in front of city halls across the nation.

KC Tea Party at Liberty Memorial
Join the Kansas Federalist E-Newsline by coming to the Kansas City Tax Day Tea Party at Liberty Memorial on April 15th. Events begin at 4PM. The Tea Party focus will be the repeal of Government Pork and to cut Taxes. Sponsored by Talk Radio 710 and Americans for Prosperity.

Report: Late-Term, Teen Abortions Increase Under Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
A new report indicates the number of late-term abortions and teen abortions in Kansas have gone up under Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. President Barack Obama appointed Sebelius to become his health secretary and pro-life groups are highlighting her pro-abortion record as a reason to oppose her nomination. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment released its preliminary report of abortion statistics for 2008 today.

Wiley the best candidate for Fairway Mayor
Jerry Wiley’s background: Education: BA – Business, Kearney State College
Civic experience: FBI Agent 1973 - 1999 (Los Angeles, New York, Kansas City) specializing in federal criminal investigations. Team Adam Consultant - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Charter Member - FBI Agents’ Association (Regional Representative). Employment: Retired (1999) - Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now self-employed as JW Associates, Inc. Q. Why are you running?
A. I am running for mayor because I cherish Fairway as a residential community and want to help restore many of the principles and values that have made Fairway one of the crown jewels of Johnson County. Q. Name your top three priorities: A. “Fix Fairway.”
1. Restore the public trust and inject transparency into our city government. 2. Govern to preserve Fairway as a residential community in concert with the priorities established by the residents and the budget. 3. Promote and facilitate communication with the residents on major issues and proposed spending.

Foster the best candidate for Roeland Park Mayor
Adrienne Foster’s Background: Education: Graduate of Bishop Ward High School; Bachelors in Public Administration from Washburn University; Masters in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Civic experience: Elected for a two year City Council term in June 2005; Re-elected to the City Council in 2007 for a four year term. Second Vice President of Women in Municipal Government. Secretary of Hispanic Elected Local Officials. Employment: Self Pay Manager in Patient Financial Services at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Q. Name your top three priorities. 1. The most important objective is to restore confidence between the Mayor’s office, the Council and the City Staff so we can effectively govern the community. 2. Secondly I will put measures in place to ensure that we continue on the path of Fiscal responsibility. 3. I will continue to work towards improvements to our city’s infrastructure.

Hodge and Kanaga Best Bets for JCCC Board
Benjamin Hodge’s Background: Education: Bachelor of science in electronic journalism from Kansas State University Civic experience: Appointed chairman of a county committee on property rights; Kansas House, 2006-2008; Johnson County Community College Trustee Employment: Writer and editor at the news sites www.kansasprogress.com and www.redcounty.com/Johnson. Top three priorities: Increasing the transparency of spending and of the decisions surrounding outside contracts; not increasing taxes; keeping education competitive so families can continue to choose where to spend higher education dollars.

John Kanaga’s Background: Education: Bachelor’s degrees in economics and geography from the University of Kansas, currently attending the University of Kansas School of Law Civic experience: Coalitions director/office manager for Ahner for Congress; volunteer work for various other campaigns in Johnson County; member of the Federalist Society Employment: Law clerk at Skepnek, Fagan, Meyer, and Davis P.A. Top three priorities: Continue the fiscal balance that has allowed the current growth and success of the college; increase non-degree programs for the residents and businesses; make sure people know of the opportunities the college offers.

Kansas City, Mo., cuts 400 jobs
The city of Kansas City, Mo., has announced plans to slash more than 400 positions to balance the budget. The city said in a news release Friday it is eliminating 275 positions that are unfilled and another 141 that had been filled, with all but 18 of the latter jobs coming from the management ranks. The cuts come as the city seeks to reduce its work force by 9 percent. The city employs about 4,000 people.

JOCO City Managers – AIG isn’t the only friend of the taxpayers
Despite troubling economic times Olathe City Manager Michael Wilkes was given a raise Tuesday following his annual performance review. Wilkes’ raise increased his annual salary from $167,000 to $170,340. But he actually earned more last year because he was also given a $10,000 bonus in addition to a 5-percent pay increase. Despite the increase, Wilkes is not the highest paid city manager in Johnson County. That distinction goes to Overland Park City Manager John Nachbar, whose salary is $203,610 after his most recent evaluation last June. Shawnee City Manager Carol Gonzales, who has not received her evaluation this year, already has said she would decline a pay increase, according to Vicki Charlesworth, the city’s assistant city manager. Charlesworth said Gonzales, whose total compensation package is $156,800, wanted to set an example for their organization during tough budget times. Lenexa City Manager Eric Wade also hasn’t received a raise in 2009 following his evaluation earlier this month, said Kim Marshall, the city’s human resources director. Wade’s total compensation is $188,073.

Unions effect Truman Sports Complex
Members of the Cement Masons Local 518 have ended their strike, which had shut down work at the Truman Sports Complex just days before next Friday's home opener for the Kansas City Royals. Cement workers had walked off the job on Thursday in a surprise move, and members of other unions honored the strike. Jackson County officials say the deal was reached Friday after about four hours of negotiations with a federal mediator. Union officials say money had been the main sticking point a day earlier, when members began picketing at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums and other work sites in the area. The masons’ union had been negotiating with Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, which reached a tentative agreement with the carpenters’ and ironworkers’ unions on Tuesday.

Three Kansas City shootings wound four, kill one
Three separate Kansas City shooting incidents early Sunday morning left four people wounded and one man dead. Shortly after 3 a.m., police found a man shot dead in at apartment at 1210 Independence Ave., they said.At about 3:50 a.m., a drive-by shooting into a home, wounded three people near 34th Street and Cleveland Avenue, the assault squad said.

Officer Shoots Car Thief
An Independence police officer shot a man suspected of stealing a car Saturday night. Police said the car was reported stolen about 9 p.m. from the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store at 16801 Gudgell Road. The officer found the car near 35th Street and Lee’s Summit Road, and shots were fired, police said.

Drive By Shooting in KC Wounds Five
Five people were shot in a Kansas City, Kan., parking lot Saturday night as bullets spewed from a sport utility vehicle at Central Avenue and Valley Street. None of the injuries was life-threatening, said Capt. Michael Kobe. Two of the victims were treated at the scene and released, Kobe said, and three were taken to hospitals. Kobe said the shootings occurred about 8:14 p.m. Witnesses told police the gunmen were in a late-model green Chevrolet Suburban. Kobe said the SUV had multiple occupants.

“Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice: all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things.”
– Adam Smith as written in the “Wealth of Nations”

From Proverbs 16:2
“Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.”

Gospel according to Mark 14:1-15:47 1 Now the feast of the pasch, and of the Azymes was after two days; and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might by some wile lay hold on him, and kill him.
2 But they said: Not on the festival day, lest there should be a tumult among the people.
3 And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard: and breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out upon his head.
4 Now there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said: Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 But Jesus said: Let her alone, why do you molest her? She hath wrought a good work upon me.
7 For the poor you have always with you: and whensoever you will, you may do them good: but me you have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come beforehand to anoint my body for burial.
9 Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memorial of her.
10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray him to them.
11 Who hearing it were glad; and they promised him they would give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
12 Now on the first day of the unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the pasch, the disciples say to him: Whither wilt thou that we go, and prepare for thee to eat the pasch?
13 And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith to them: Go ye into the city; and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water, follow him;
14 And whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master of the house, The master saith, Where is my refectory, where I may eat the pasch with my disciples?
15 And he will show you a large dining room furnished; and there prepare ye for us.

Gov. Sebelius invested in coal power, but blocked new coal plant?

News stories yesterday revealed that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius disclosed that she and her husband would need to divest investments in three stocks and a mutual fund to avoid a conflict of interest as HHS Secretary. This suggests many questions:

Why were some of these investments not a conflict of interest for Sebelius as Governor? Are the conflicts of interest statements in Kansas of much value if none of Sebelius’ “problem” investments were ever reported when she was governor?

Where are the “clean energy” folks protesting her investments in “dirty energy” like coal, and other “greenhouse gas” causing energy sources?

The four problem investments for Sebelius were Kronos Worldwide Inc., NL Industries Inc., Westar Energy Inc., and the Fidelity Advisor Energy Fund.

Sebelius filed her 2008 Statement of Substantial Interest (SSI) in April 2008 with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission and it’s available from the Kansas Secretary of State. The Center for Public Integrity published her SSI from April 2006, which lists mostly what was in the 2008 report along with another ownership interest. None of the four investments reported today can be found on her Kansas conflict of interest statements. Are SSIs in Kansas adequate when they miss all four of these investments?

News reports speculated that the stocks Kronos Worldwide and NL Industies could be a possible conflict of interest for Sebelius as HHS Secretary since the FDA regulated these companies that manufactured titanium dioxide.

What about the other two energy-related investments?

Not much can be said about the Fidelity Advisor Energy Fund, since there appears to be four separate Fidelity funds that might have that name: FAGNX, FANRX, FANIX, and FANAX.

Did Gov. Sebelius invest in Westar because of their wind energy project?

But what fraction of Westar’s generation capacity is from wind? The answer was 0% for 2008 since the wind power project was only completed in late 2008. What other generating capacity does Westar have?

At best the new 295 MW will represent a little more than 4.3% of the total. But with the rule of thumb that wind turbines only provide power about 40% of the time, the available capacity would be closer to only 1.8% of the total capacity.

Even with an upper-bound value of 5% wind in an investment, why would anyone invest in a business for only 5% of what it does?

Why didn’t Gov. Sebelius invest in pure wind stocks? Why was Gov. Sebelius investing in a company that had over 50% of power generation from coal, at the same time she was vetoing a new coal plant? Why was she favoring one business over another? If coal is so bad, and Sebelius is so “green,” why was she making money from coal?

If Gov. Sebelius was so committed to reducing greenhouse gases, why was she making money from her investment (coal, natural gas, disel fuels for power) in creating such gases?

Why is this only a conflict of interest now that Sebelius wants to be HHS Secretary?

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