From RCP:

AP:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has made it official-he’s running to become California’s next governor.

The 41-year-old mayor used the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook to announce on Tuesday that he was seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Newsom could face 71-year-old Attorney General Jerry Brown and 64-year-old Lt. Gov. John Garamendi in next year’s Democratic primary. Brown was governor from 1975 to 1983.

NRO:

Over at Economist.com, French economist Thomas Piketty and the Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards posted their responses to each other on whether we should tax the rich more. (For part one of the debate, go here.) Piketty, who argued yesterday that the rich should be taxed at 80 percent, continues to make the case for his punishing tax rates.

After explaining that, basically, the rich can be taxed heavily because they have nowhere to go and they won’t stop working anyway, hence revenue will not suffer that much, he makes an even weirder argument:

This brings me to my last point. The main objective of raising marginal tax rates on the rich is not to raise additional tax revenue, but rather to keep top compensation under control and to curb the grabbing hand. In fact, the proposal that I am making - introducing a 80% marginal tax rate on all annual incomes in excess of €1m, leaving the rest of the tax system unchanged-would probably raise limited additional tax revenue.

In other words, it’s punishment for punishment sake.

Politico:

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that concern over carbon dioxide gasses was being overblown.

“The idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment, it is almost comical,” Boehner said. “Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, when they do what they do, you have more carbon dioxide.”

Asked by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos whether or not this meant that greenhouse gas reduction was not an issue Republicans thought needed to be addressed, Boehner replied, “I think it is an issue, the question is what is the proper answer and what is the responsible answer”

CNS News:

(CNSNews.com) - University of Notre Dame alumni and financial supporters on Thursday launched an online campaign to withhold donations to the Catholic school until the Rev. John Jenkins is replaced as president.

ReplaceJenkins.com is calling for the appointment of a president who “is committed to the authentic identity of Notre Dame” and “grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

“We feel strongly that the University should not honor President Barack Obama, given his well known commitment to abortion in the broadest possible context,” the Web site says.

Coalition representative Joe DiFranco, a ‘57 alumnus, said Rev. Jenkins’ decision to “honor” President Barack Obama by inviting him to speak at Notre Dame’s commencement and awarding him an honorary degree “calls into question Father Jenkins’ judgment and leadership.”

Cato:

According to The Washington Post, the study found that “students who used the vouchers received reading scores that placed them nearly four months ahead of peers who remained in public school.” In a statement, education secretary Arne Duncan said that the Obama administration “does not want to pull participating students out of the program but does not support its continuation.” (more…)

HT RCP:

MSNBC Video

Science Daily:

Results of the study indicated that children who received over-the-counter melatonin treatments experienced significant improvements in total night sleep durations, sleep latency times, and sleep-onset times. Mean sleep duration was longer on melatonin than placebo by 21 minutes, sleep-onset latency was shorter by 28 minutes and sleep-onset time was earlier by 42 minutes.

According to the senior author, Beth L. Goodlin-Jones, PhD of the M.I.N.D Institute at the University of California Davis Health System in Sacramento, Calif., treatment with over-the-counter melatonin supplements benefits children of all ages, which helps alleviate some of the additional stress that parents of special-needs children experience.

RCP:

RCP blog:

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe announced today that Bill Clinton, for whom McAuliffe is a longtime friend and fundraiser, will hit the trail with him in Richmond and Roanoke on Monday April 27.

“We’re thrilled to have President Clinton join Terry on the campaign trail,” McAuliffe campaign manager Mike Henry stated in a press release. “As a former governor and close friend of Terry’s, he’ll talk with Virginians about why Terry is best suited to turn Virginia’s economy around. And as America’s last great job-creating President, he’ll help make the case as to why Terry will be Virginia’s next great job-creating governor.”

Lexington Institute:

What is the cost to the United States economy attributable to a lack of basic English skills? There are currently over 11 million English learners living in the United States, including over 5 million currently attending elementary and secondary schools. This paper utilizes data from the 2000 Census as well as a range of sources to estimate that $65 billion annually in wages are lost due to poor English language skills.

Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Confidence among U.S. small businesses was stuck at 35-year lows in March, with employers stepping up layoffs even as the recession-hit economy shows some signs of improving, according to a survey.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said in a survey released on Tuesday that its index of small business optimism fell 1.6 points to 81.0 from February, the second-lowest reading in the organization’s 35-year history.

RCP:

From RCP:

From RCP:

Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM is no longer interested in buying smaller rival Sun Microsystems Inc at any price, CNBC reported on Thursday, although many investors appear to believe a deal was still possible.

Citing sources close to Sun, CNBC said the high-end computer maker had approached International Business Machines Corp earlier this week to ask it to return to the negotiating table, indicating that Sun would be flexible about price.

WSJ:

Meanwhile, back in the Minnesota Senate recount, the three-judge panel reviewing the race has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner. Republican Norm Coleman intends to appeal to the state’s Supreme Court, while Democrats and the press corps pressure him to surrender. We hope Mr. Coleman keeps fighting, because the outcome so far hangs on the fact that some votes have been counted differently from others.

The Star:

Last week in Prague, President Barack Obama said he would lead an effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

You can imagine the reaction in foreign capitals. (”He said what?“) Many of Obama’s counterparts no doubt smiled a knowing smile: another American full of utopian ideas.

As Obama put it to a large crowd in Prague’s central square, “I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”

Surely he knows this isn’t going to happen.

Robert Haddick, a former Marine officer who blogs at Westhawk.blogspot.com, put his finger on why the “Global Zero” option is a complete fantasy.

RCP:

AFP:

The New York Times unveiled plans on Thursday to eliminate several weekly sections of the newspaper in the latest cost-cutting move at the prestigious but financially troubled daily.

The Washington Post, meanwhile, announced a sweeping editorial reorganization at the newspaper and details of its plan to merge its currently separate print and online operations into a single newsroom.

The Times said it was doing away with several weekly sections “in a bid to save millions of dollars” in ink, paper and freelance reporter costs, absorbing them into other parts of the newspaper.

The Star:

Perhaps the best evidence that Kansas is about to get a new governor? A whole bunch of state workers waxing the Capitol floors, hauling out dozens of chairs and installing a sound system on the second-floor.

Is there a swearing-in ceremony in the works?

You wouldn’t know by asking the administration of Gov. (for now) Kathleen Sebelius. They’re as tight-lipped as ever, offering no public comments about the transition of power.

Letter to editor in The Star:

Recently University of Kansas Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere told employees and retirees the university would no longer offer 20 percent discounts to athletic events nor provide retired faculty free tickets to Lied Center events, thus saving $451,000, about the equivalent of 11 employee salaries (4/3, Local).

KU gives few benefits to its faculty. Many universities provide free tuition to faculty children and health insurance to retired faculty. Not at KU. Recently KU began charging retired faculty to park on campus, formerly a perk. About the only benefits retired faculty received have now been rescinded.

LJ World:

For the first time, a Kansas University student will be a contestant on the television game show “Jeopardy!”.

Mark Petterson, a 21-year-old from Prairie Village, is one of 15 students competing in the “Jeopardy!” 2009 College Championship. The winner takes home a $100,000 prize.

The two-week competition will be broadcast nationally starting May 4.

NRO:

SPIEGEL: The new US president, Barack Obama, directed a video address to the Iranian nation three weeks ago, during the Iranian New Year festival. Did you watch the speech?

Ahmadinejad: Yes. Great things are happening in the United States. I believe that the Americans are in the process of initiating important developments.

SPIEGEL: How did you feel about the speech?

Ahmadinejad: Ambivalent. Some passages were new, while some repeated well-known positions. I thought it striking that Obama attached such high value to the Iranian civilization, our history and culture. It is also positive that he stresses mutual respect and honest interactions with one another as the basis of cooperation. In one segment of his speech, he says that a nation’s standing in the world does not depend solely on weapons and military strength, which is precisely what we told the previous American administration. George W. Bush’s big mistake was that he wanted to solve all problems militarily. The days are gone when a country can issue orders to other peoples. Today, mankind needs culture, ideas and logic.

SPIEGEL: What does that mean?

Ahmadinejad: We feel that Obama must now follow his words with actions.

SPIEGEL: The new US president, who has called your aggressive anti-Israeli remarks “disgusting,” has nevertheless spoken of a new beginning in relations with Iran and extended his hand to you.

Ahmadinejad: I haven’t understood Obama’s comments quite that way. I pay attention to what he says today. But that is precisely where I see a lack of something decisive. What leads you to talk about a new beginning? Have there been any changes in American policy? We welcome changes, but they have yet to occur.

WSJ:

Like the old competition to have the world’s tallest building, New York can’t resist having the nation’s highest taxes. So after California raised its top income tax rate to 10.55% last month, Albany’s politicians leapt into action to reclaim high-tax honors. Maybe C-Span can make this tax competition a new reality TV series; Carla Bruni, the first lady of France, could host.
[Review & Outlook] Getty Images

They can invite politicians from the at least 10 other states that are also considering major tax hikes, including Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington, Arizona and New Jersey. One explicit argument for the $787 billion “stimulus” bill was to help states avoid these tax increases that even Keynesians understand are contractionary. Instead, the state politicians are pocketing the federal cash to maintain spending, and raising taxes anyway. Just another spend-and-tax bait and switch.

Politico:

The Environmental Protection Agency declared global warming a danger to public health and welfare on Friday, a ruling that all but ensures widespread regulation of carbon emissions in the United States.

“This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement. “This pollution problem has a solution - one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

The much-awaited endangerment finding requires the EPA to force power plants, auto companies, manufacturers and other major industrial sources of greenhouse gas to cut their emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Reuters:

CARSON CITY, Nevada (Reuters) - Nevada lawmakers on Thursday defeated a proposed prostitution tax that had won support from brothel owners and working ladies willing to do their part to ease the state’s $3 billion budget crisis.

Nevada, one of only two U.S. states that allow some prostitution, is reeling from a deep economic recession that has led to high numbers of foreclosures, dwindling tourism revenues and a gaping budget shortfall.

State Senator Bob Coffin, a Democrat, proposed levying a $5-per-customer service tax on patrons of some 20 legal brothels operating in rural Nevada, all of them outside Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County, where prostitution remains outlawed.

Ben Cunningham:

Link

Northwest suburban voters angry over a sales-tax increase voted overwhelmingly Tuesday in favor of seceding from Cook County.

But don’t expect the county border to be redrawn any time soon. The referendum measures in the townships of Palatine, Barrington and Hanover were advisory, not binding. Extremely high hurdles would have to be jumped before secession came to pass.

Whether the secession movement gathers steam or fizzles out, a message has been sent.Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, who backed a percentage-point sales-tax increase last year, faces voter discontent less than a year before he would go before the voters for re-election.

Ben Cunningham:

Link
Milwaukee Public Schools could save as much as $103 million a year if it operated like a well-run business, according to a much-anticipated report that has Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett taking steps that could lead to a takeover of the system.

The report, released Thursday, concludes that MPS does not have a culture aimed at achieving good results, and is in tenuous financial shape that will worsen without systemic changes.

The report mostly sidesteps the academic side of MPS, concentrating instead on business operations, from busing to lunch programs to purchasing practices to health insurance policies. It found waste in every area - inefficient payroll processing, overqualified maintenance teams, even pencil sharpeners that cost more than $100. The report also found more than five dozen central office jobs with six-figure salaries.

Spending outside the classroom is about a third of total MPS spending.