Star Parker - Being Strangled by Government

Columnist Star Parker talks about how government, which is the greatest growth industry in America is strangling economic activity. Read Parker's views here:

Star Parker - Being Strangled by Government

Holder Weighs Answers to Tough Questions

One has to wonder with the U.S. Government now borrowing three billion dollars a day (yes that is billion with "B") if suing the State of Arizona for passing a law that simply enforces the federal law on border security is the best use of our resources. Three Democrats from Arizona, each running for re-election in the U.S. House of Representatives, don't think so. They are urging the Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder to drop plans to file a lawsuit against their state. Read their thoughts here.

    Holder has not commented lately on his Arizona plans. Reportedly, the Attorney General is still trying to decide if the forces of Radical Islam are a source of terrorism around the globe. And as such, it is unclear whether Holder will decide first, what his answer is on the question of Radical Islam as a source of terror, or to borrow more money so he can sue Arizona. Both seem to be tough questions for him.

Holder Weighs Answers to Tough Questions

State's tax amnesty program reeling in residents

From the Santa Fe NewMexican - by Kate Nash - Paying taxes may never be popular, but it looks like the state's tax amnesty program could be. So far, 2,000 people have made inquiries about the program, under which individuals and businesses who disclose unpaid taxes that were due before 2010 won't have to pay penalties. The program, announced June 7, doesn't forgive the taxes owed. The state expects the amnesty, for which delinquent taxpayers must apply by Sept. 30, could raise about $7 million. Of that, $5.5 million would go to the state's general fund, while $1.5 million would go to various local governments, depending on where it was collected. So far, 180 people have applied. Because it takes a few months for the Taxation and Revenue Department to establish what a taxpayer owes, it's unclear how much the state is on track to collect, department spokesman S.U. Mahesh said. Residents will have 180 days to pay back taxes in order to avoid having to pay interest. Read more

State's tax amnesty program reeling in residents

Elena Kagan Confirmation Hearing Begins Today

President Obama's counsel in the White House is convinced Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan (left) will prove herself "Supremely Qualified." Robert Bauer made the prediction during a conference call last week. The confirmation hearings for Kagan, the president's second Supreme Court nominee since he took the oath office begin in the U.S. Senate today. Read the details here:

Elena Kagan Confirmation Hearing Begins Today

Frank Rich Gets Final Say on McChrystal

News New Mexico has posted a number of columns on the firing of General Stanley McChrystal. New York Times columnist Frank Rich (left) offers his viewpoints on the McChrystal firing, the situation in Afghanistan, and the media circus surrounding the event. It is always interesting to read the Rich take and see which media rival(s) he takes a swipe at. This week the obligatory swipe is at ABC's George Stephanopolis and the Washington Post (a usual suspect). Read the Rich column here:

Frank Rich Gets Final Say on McChrystal

Only in Washington D.C.

The U.S. House of Representatives extended special exemption privileges to special interests in a bill it passed to curb the influence of special interests. The status of the so-called Disclose Act in the U.S. Senate is still very much in doubt. Clearly this must be described as reform Washington D.C. style. By the way, all three New Mexico House members (Rep.'s Lujan, Henrich, Teague left to right) voted for this bill. Read the details here:

Only in Washington D.C.

Dig This: A Narcotics Tunnel Discovered

U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered a 130 foot long drug smuggling tunnel that spanned the width of the Rio Grande near the Bridge of the Americas Friday. News New Mexico searched the news wires for any comments from President Felipe Calderon on this development. Calderon remained silent. Unconfirmed reports have placed Calderon in Mexico City where he is said to be collaborating with U.S. Justice Department officials as composes his next scathing attack on the State of Arizona for its inexplicable paranoia over drug smuggling and border security. Read details of the tunnel here:

Dig This: A Narcotics Tunnel Discovered

Rest of G-20 Resists Obama's Call to "Borrow & Spend"

President Obama might have a difficult time convincing leaders from other G-20 nations to listen to his ideas on stimulative fiscal policies. It would seem that the credit markets have already strongly signalled to many countries in Europe that they are already default threats (i.e. Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain). Though the global markets are still willing to loan the White House three billion dollars every day for the continued "stimulation" of the U.S. economy (view U.S. debt clock here), the markets have tightened the credit terms and pointed in the direction of austerity elsewhere. Read details of this aspect of the G-20 summit in Toronto here:

Rest of G-20 Resists Obama's Call to "Borrow & Spend"

A.P. - Border Shooting Victim an Active Smuggler

According to Associated Press reports the fifteen year old Mexican boy killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during the apprehension of a border security violator had a long history of engaging in human smuggling activities and being arrested on the U.S. side of the border. The records A.P. reviewed show that Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca had been arrested at least four times since 2008 and twice in the same week in February 2009 on suspicion of smuggling illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border. Read the details here:

A.P. - Border Shooting Victim an Active Smuggler

World Cup Bid Ends for U.S.

When it comes to soccer, Ghana is a tough foe. The tiny African nation proved too much for the U.S. soccer team in the Round of 16 game yesterday at the World Cup in South Africa. Read the game story here:

World Cup Bid Ends for U.S.