Bush Unveils $3.1 Trillion Spending Plan
“President Bush sent the nation’s first-ever $3 trillion budget proposal to Congress on Monday, contending that the spending blueprint will fulfill his chief responsibility to keep America safe.”
“The $3.1 trillion proposed budget projects sizable increases in national security but forces the rest of government to pinch pennies. It seeks $196 billion in savings over five years in the government’s giant health care programs — Medicare and Medicaid.”
“But even with those restraints, the budget projects the deficits will soar to near-record levels of $410 billion this year and $407 billion in 2009, driven higher in part by efforts to revive the sagging economy with a $145 billion stimulus package.”
[read whole story]
SEQRA Presentation
Wednesday, February 6, there will be a SEQRA presentation in the Town Hall Auditorium, starting at 7 PM. It will be conducted by Ellen Kost, a member of the town Planning Department. The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) provides guidelines to be followed for many planning actions take by the town, and I am sure that the program will be most informative.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
1. Jim Hayes, NYS Assemblyman, has badly damaged himself by 10 years of doing nothing of substance for the people in this District. He has enjoyed all the fruits of his office without giving back anything except the pits to his public.
Craig Bucki, who has been talking to the people in his district, has been challenging Hayes’ record of nothingness and will expose Hayes’ critically weak record of service to his citizens. Hayes has been lucky to have big money backers up to now, to help him keep his seat at the citizens expense.
I am fed up.
An angry citizen
2. Mary Lou Rath has class. Jim Hayes should follow her lead and listen to the people’s sincere cry for a real political change.
Mary Lou Rath has done the right thing to resign. She will soon have the best of both worlds. The world of spending precious time being grandma to her grandchildren and the world of opening the door to a new voice in her political seat to express his or her new ideas.Assemblyman Jim Hayes has been in politics for over 25 years. He should follow the lead of the gracious Mary Lou Rath and resign at the end of this term to give a new fresh face a chance to make a difference.
A citizen who believes it’s a time for real changes
EDITORIAL: PUBLIC MUST ASK QUESTIONS OF SUPERVISOR MOHAN
EDITORIAL: The Public Must Demand Answers now.
What is his pan to keep down the expenses for the budget years 2009 and 2010?
When Supervisor Mohan said he wants to hold expenses for 2009 and 2010 to the same level as the 2008 budget, he knew there were only 3 ways this could be done.
In 2009, the Town will need an extra $9,000,000 in revenue to meet our expenses due to the increase in health and employee’s benefits. We will also need money for essential infrastructure projects to protect public health and safety. We took 6.5 million out of the Fund Balance in 2008 to balance the 2008 budget. This can’t be done in 2009 or 2010.
THE TOWN HAS 3 CHOICES TO MEET THE FINANCIAL NEEDS FOR THE 2009 BUDGET
A) The Town must increase fees and cut services drastically.
OR
B) We will have to increase our taxes by at least 9 to 11 % to balance the 2009 budget.
OR
C) The final choice the town has to meet the 2009 budges financial demands is to cut 40 town workers, mainly in the Engineering Department, as well as cut sectaries and staff.
If the Supervisor will disclose and explain his plan to hold down expenses in 2009 and 2010, I think the public and the Board would work to help achieve such a goal.
There is too much secrecy in Town government. Supervisor Mohan should step forward with a detailed public plan explaining HOW he will cut expenses. Which alternative is he choosing?
John E. “Jack” Ward Passing Away Notice
After a brief illness John E. “Jack” Ward, of Amherst NY passed into new life on February 1, 2008.
Beloved husband of the late Rita H. Brenon Ward; dearest father of Daniel J., Dennis E. (Michele Iannello), Martha A. Ward and Maureen R. (William) O’Donnell; cherished grandfather of Ann Ward of Florida; brother of Joseph F. (Virginia), James P. and the late Elizabeth A. Ward, all of Great Valley, NY; also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the DENGLER & ROBERTS FUNERAL HOME, 2070 Eggert Rd., Amherst (between Niagara Falls Blvd. & N. Bailey), where the family will be present Sunday and Monday from 3-7 PM, where prayers will be offered Wednesday morning at 10:15 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Benedict’s Church, Main St. at Eggert Rd., Eggertsville at 11 AM (no calling hours on Tuesday). Mr. Ward was a Principal in the Buffalo Public Schools and a decorated veteran of the US Army in WWII. Flowers gratefully declined. If desired, memorials may be made to St. Bonaventure University-Class of 1942 Scholarship Fund, 3261 W. State Rd., St. Bonaventure, NY 14778. Online condolences to www.mem.com
Mr. John Ward, Long Time Democrat, Has Passed Away
Mr. John Ward, a long time Democratic, passed away this afternoon, 2/1/08. Mr. Ward was the proud father of 4 children including Dan Ward, Amherst Town Board Council member, Dennis Ward, Chairman of the Amherst Democratic Party and two daughters Martha and Maureen.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Full details on the wake and Mass will be on this site as soon as possible.
Assemblyman Jim Hayes States, ”I Will Not Be A Candidate For The State Senate”
Statement of New York State Assemblyman Jim Hayes (R-Amherst)
As I said earlier this week, I am very committed to my work as Ranking Member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, working on the State Budget and representing the concerns of the families of Amherst, Pendleton, North Tonawanda and all of Western New York. If I were to run for the State Senate, it would mean committing to a nearly year-long campaign that would be a diversion from these important tasks. Leaving the Assembly would mean that Western New York would surely face the loss of an important leadership post in the State Legislature.I believe I can best serve the people of our community by continuing in the State Assembly, assuring that Western New York has a voice in shaping public opinion and public policy on important issues: fighting for lower taxes on families and
businesses, controlling state spending, reining in state debt and reforming New York State government.
There are several highly-qualified Republican candidates who can run and win and help assure the preservation of the Republican majority in the Senate — which is vitally important to all of New York State. I am making this decision now so the Republican leadership has ample opportunity to recruit the best candidate to hold the Senate seat in this year’s election.Therefore, I have notified Republican leaders in the 148th Assembly District that I will be a candidate for re-election in November and will not be a candidate for the State Senate.
Thank You to: PoliticsNY.com
China’s Inflation Hits American Price Tags
Want another reason to avoid products made in China? They’re not as cheap anymore. Inflation has hit the country and the price of their products reflects that fact.
“Soaring energy and raw material costs, a falling dollar and new business rules here are forcing Chinese factories to increase the prices of their exports, according to analysts and Western companies doing business here.”
[read whole story]
Berkeley Finds a New Way to Make War Politics Local
Berkley. Just the name conjures up memories of the 60’s for those of a certain age. Berkley was the hot spot of liberal voices back in the day. Those voices are speaking up again and it’s the City Council who want the Marines to leave town!
“While the City Council here has little — read, no — sway over foreign policy and distant wars, local parking is a different matter. And so it was that a parking space directly in front of the recruiting station here for the Marine Corps was awarded on Tuesday night to an antiwar group in the hope of running the Marines out of town.”
“In taking on the Marines, the council also directed the city attorney to investigate legal means of ousting the recruiting station, calling the Marines “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in this bastion of liberal politics, 1960s free speech and high-minded nonbinding resolutions.”
[read whole story]
Senate Democrats’ Stimulus Plan Hits Roadblock
For a few brief moments we were lulled into thinking the Republicans and Democrats in Washington were going to play nice and get a tax rebate bill agreed upon and passed. Wrong. There’s dissention in the air once again.
“Backed solidly by the Bush administration, Senate Republicans said on Thursday that they would block a $157 billion economic stimulus package championed by Senate Democrats, who said they would have no choice but to quickly adopt a cheaper, more streamlined plan approved this week by the House.”
[read whole story]
