Dallas DA Encourages Prosecutors to Carry Handguns

In the wake of the tragic murders of two prosecutors, and one's spouse, in Kaufman County, Texas, county courthouses across Texas are promising beefed up security. While these plans will certainly include more armed guards, the District Attorney in Dallas County is advising its prosecutors to take their own steps for personal protection. “We encourage our prosecutors to have a security handgun license, as long as they do it within the letter of the law,” a DA spokeswoman told local CBS News. 2 Apr 2013

Obama Green Loan Recipient Fisker Preps for Bankruptcy

Fisker Automotive, a darling of the Obama Administration's push for green energy and electric cars has hired the powerful Chicago-based Kirkland Ellis law firm to explore a potential bankruptcy filing, according to reports. The car company, which received a federal $593 million loan guarantee in 2009, furloughed 200 US workers at the end of March to conserve cash. Its bankruptcy would be the latest high-profile failure of Obama's "green energy" loan program. 2 Apr 2013

Egg Roll Organizers Should Take Over White House Tours

On Monday, thousands of kids from around the country are participating in an annual Spring tradition - The White House Easter Egg Roll. The White House said it expects more than 35,000 visitors to the White House lawn for a day of festivities. Unfortunately, none of these visitors will be able to tour inside the White House. Obama cancelled public tours, citing automatic sequester cuts. Fortunately, however, the annual Egg Roll isn't organized by the White House, so the tradition continues for its 135th year. 1 Apr 2013

SC 1: Sanford Political Comeback on Line Tuesday

On Tuesday, former SC Gov. Mark Sanford faces former County Councilman Curtis Bostic in a run-off election for the GOP nomination in South Carolina's 1st District. Bostic finished a distant second in the crowded 16-candidate primary in March. Sanford received about 20,000 votes against Bostic's 7,000. Sanford would appear to have the edge going into Tuesday's run-off, but special run-offs elections are highly volatile and unpredictable. 1 Apr 2013

Obama Wants 'Gang of 8' to Give Him Immigration 'Legacy'

For the first four years of his Presidency, President Obama took no action on reforming our immigration system. In the lead-up to the November elections, he, again, promised to make immigration reform a priority. Since his reelection, however, he has offered no substantive proposals for reform. Now that Senate negotiators appear to be nearing a deal, however, Obama has made it known that he sees reform as part of his "legacy." Obama is always ready to claim credit after others have done the work. 1 Apr 2013

Business, Labor Cut Deal for Immigrant Prevailing Wage

A sticking point in negotiations over an immigration reform deal has been the business community's desire to have a consistent, reliable visa process for guest workers and unions' fear that such a system would depress wages. On Saturday, negotiators for the two sides announced they had reached a deal. Under terms of the deal, the US would provide up to 200k visas a year for low-skilled workers and the law would require that these workers would be guaranteed to earn either an amount equal to US citizens' wages or the "prevailing wage", whichever is higher. If enacted, the deal would represent an unprecedented intrusion into the labor market. 30 Mar 2013

NY Taxpayers Subsidize Minimum Wage Hike

Minimum wage hikes are the poster children for the law of unintended consequences. Mandated wage hikes crowd young and low-skilled workers out of the labor force and reduce the availability of entry-level jobs critical to advancement up the job ladder. New York, apparently, wasn't satisfied with these well-documented distortions and has added an entire new category to disrupt the labor market. The state has hiked the minimum wage, but also established a refundable tax credit to cover the higher wage costs, but only for workers 16-19 making exactly the new minimum wage. 30 Mar 2013

State Auditor: CA Net Worth Negative $127.2 Billion

At end of the week, California's State Auditor released its annual financial report for the state. The report, compiled by Auditor Elaine Howle, found the state has a net worth of -$127.2 billion. If the state were a business, it would be a candidate for liquidation. 30 Mar 2013

Eyewitness: First Daughters' Security 'Shut Down' Idaho Store

The Secret Service security detail for First Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama "shut down" an Idaho retailer in the latest turn of their spring break vacation, according to an eyewitness. President Barack Obama recently cited Secret Service staffing issues due to sequester cuts as the reason for cancelled White House tours. 29 Mar 2013

KY Dems Pin Hopes on Grimes, Despite Checkered Family History

Democrats are convinced that Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is vulnerable in next year's midterm elections. Even the most vulnerable Senator, however, needs an opponent in order to lose. Actress Ashley Judd floated, and then quickly deflated, her own trial ballon about opposing McConnell. Dem hopes now seem to be focused on 34-year-old Alison Lundergen Grimes to challenge McConnell. She comes into the race with considerable family baggage. 29 Mar 2013