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

Report: First Daughters Now Spring-Breaking on Idaho Slopes

Local Fox affiliate KMTV is reporting that the First Daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama, are vacationing on the ski slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho. Earlier this week, Breitbart News broke the news that the First Daughters were on a spring break trip in the Bahamas, with Secret Service protection in tow, despite staff shortages that the White House cited in closing tours to the public. 29 Mar 2013

With White House Closed, Biden Takes 3rd Vacation of 2013

This Spring Break, the White House is closed to public self-guided tours. Thousands of students have been turned away in a bid to trim $2 million from the Secret Service budget. The cost-cutting, however, only goes so far. On Thursday, VP Joe Biden jetted off to the luxurious Kawaih Island in South Carolina for a relaxing weekend of sun and golf. It's his third vacation of the year. 29 Mar 2013

NRSC Doesn't Know What Happens in the Senate

For months, I have noted that the GOP has an historic opportunity to take control of the Senate next year. The political map and climate is in their favor, but if they aren't up to the task, a third election-in-a-row will be squandered. Today, the Senate Republican campaign arm is still calling on Senate Democrats to pass a budget. The Democrats passed a budget almost a week ago. NRSC is not ready for prime time. 28 Mar 2013

GDP: Consumer Spending Growth Less Than Expected

Thursday morning, the Commerce Department released its latest revisions to 4th Quarter GDP estimates. Two months ago, preliminary data showed the economy contracting by 0.1% in the October-December period. Today's data showed the economy was essentially flat, expanding by just 0.4%. In a worrisome revision, however, personal consumer spending growth was revised down to 1.8%, from an earlier estimate of 2.2% growth. Consumer spending drives 70% of economic activity. 28 Mar 2013

4 Years Late: DC Power Firm Covers Tracks on Menendez-Melgen Lobbying

This week, Salomon Melgen, the mega-donor to embattled Sen. Bob Menendez, quietly filed paperwork revealing that he had hired the powerful DC law firm Arnold and Porter to lobby on his behalf four years ago, in 2009. The lobbying work concerned allegations that Melgen's clinic had over-billed Medicare by almost $9 million. The new filing indicates Melgen spent as much as $60,000 on lobbying. 27 Mar 2013

Sen. Cornyn: 'Open the People's House'

This Spring Break, thousands of students visiting DC won't be able to enjoy a time-honored tradition - a self-guided tour of the White House. President Obama canceled the tours, asserting that he needed to trim $2 million from the Secret Service budget as a result of the automatic sequester cuts. TX Sen. John Cornyn has blasted this decision and released a video demanding that the "People's House" be reopened to the public. 27 Mar 2013