(21 Jan 2021) A federal socio-economic transformation has begun. Social media, big tech, Amazon Web Services (largest % of Internet traffic), the deep state, big banks, Hollywood, teachers / professors, voting procedures, newspapers, CNN, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, 10%-for-big-guy Biden, Schumer and Pelosi will try to crush Republicans to clone California (CA) at the federal level and create a 1-party political system. Democrats have had a majority of seats in the CA Assembly starting in 1959 (except for 4 years), a majority in the CA Senate starting in 1957 and a majority of CA U.S. House seats since 1959 (except a tie 1 year).

(21 Jan 2021) Authoritarian 10%-for-big-guy Biden has started his social engineering of the U.S. economy. He is reducing the supply of oil and increasing the price of gasoline and heating oil to encourage people to buy expensive electric vehicles, instead of promoting individual liberty that is inherent in a free market.

(20 Jan 2021) 158 million adults worldwide named the U.S. as their desired future residence. With 1 minor per adult, the increase in population would be 316 million. The current population is 330 million. The combined number of adults desiring to live in Canada, Germany, France and Australia was 161 million. (Source: 10 Dec 2018 Gallup)

(11 Jan 2021) The top 3 emitters of carbon dioxide (% of global) from 2005 (Kyoto Protocol) to 2018 were China 27.8%, U.S. 15.2% and India 7.3% . India’s emissions increased 106%, … China’s increased 55% … U.S.’s emissions decreased 12%. (Sources: 7 Dec 2019 Oilprice.com, 9 Dec 2019 Yahoo)

(13 Dec 2020) Booker, Gillibrand and Warren are sponsoring the Justice for Black Farmers Act … 20,000 grants annually for 10 years … costing taxpayers $80 billion … “purchase at a price not greater than fair market value, available agricultural land in the United States; and convey grants of that land to eligible Black individuals at no cost to the eligible Black individuals”. Next, will be $10,000 grants for every female ($1.67 trillion) to compensate for the socio-economic impact suffered because men would not let women vote until 1920. That is how Democrats will buy women’s votes. Citizenship for 14 million illegal aliens is how Democrats will buy Hispanic votes. I am a descendant of members of the Friends Church (Quakers). They migrated to Virginia Colony because of persecution by the Church of England. They refused to pay taxes because a portion went to the Church of England. Their crops and livestock were confiscated and sold to pay their taxes. Because of this discrimination based on religion, I demand that all descendants of Quakers receive reparations ... $100,000 each would be nice. (Source: 24 Nov 2020 Big League Politics)

(28 Nov 2020) “Has a doctor or other healthcare provider ever told you that you have a mental health condition?” 45.9% of white liberals age 18-29 said “yes”, compared to 20.9% of white conservatives. 34.8% of white liberals age 30-49, compared to 16.9% of white conservatives. (Source: 19-24 Mar 2020 Pew American Trends Panel)

(27 Nov 2020) Is anyone protesting for income equality in professional sports? Is anyone protesting for more whites to be included on black-dominated ball teams? Is anyone protesting because blacks are appropriating a game (basketball) that was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a white man? Is anyone advocating for more short people to play basketball? Is it fair for players who contribute the least to the game to sit on the bench the most?

(7 Nov 2020) Nearly 70% of known or suspected aliens in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) custody last year had been convicted of a non-immigration related offense. The federal government spent more than $162 million last year to incarcerate tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens for committing crimes that included rape, murder, kidnapping and terrorism. (Source: Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Homeland Security report)

(23 Oct 2020) In 2013, households spent an average of $14,319 on food, clothing, health care and entertainment; and paid $13,327 in taxes. In 2015, the amounts were similar … $16,053 and $15,548, respectively. In 2019, the amounts were reversed … $18,335 and $18,764, respectively. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey)

(29 June 2020) As of April 30, almost 1.1 million payments totaling nearly $1.4 billion had been sent to dead people. (Source: 25 June 2020, GAO-20-625 Report to the Congress)

(29 June 2020) 56% of the total known black and white homicide offenders in 2018 were black, but the black population was only 13%. Instead of screaming racist, assaulting, looting and burning; do something constructive about blacks killing people.

(5 June 2020) Continuing income will be sufficient to pay 90% of benefits starting in 2027. The analysis used data as of 31 December 2019. The situation is worse now because of lower payroll-tax income resulting from millions more people being unemployed. (Source: 22 Apr 2020 OASDI Board of Trustees)

(5 June 2020) Sen. Rand Paul introduced an amendment to the 2020 funding bill approved by the Democrat-controlled House to reduce spending by 2% for the commerce, science, justice, transportation, housing, urban development, agriculture and interior departments. There are 53 Republicans, but Paul’s amendment was defeated, receiving only 24 votes. During Bush's 95 full months, the debt increased at an annual rate of $630 billion. During Obama's, the annual rate was $1.180 trillion. During Trump's 40 full months, the annual rate was $1.743 trillion. In FY 2012, interest on the national debt was $360 billion ... $459 billion in FY 2017 ... $558 billion in last 12 months (nearly the combined federal FY 2019 cost of the 4 largest welfare programs: Medicaid $419 billion, refundable portion of earned income and additional child tax credits $96 billion, food stamps $71 billion, housing assistance $51 billion).

(31 Mar 2020) The Social Security Trust Fund is estimated to be depleted in 2034. In 2035, a reduction of 23% in benefits will be required. (Source: 22 Apr 2019 Board of Trustees)

(31 Mar 2020) More than 50% of the buyers who took advantage of the electric-vehicle tax credit made more than $200,000 per year. In 2016, 78% had adjusted gross incomes of more than $100,000. Only 1% made $50,000 or less. (Sources: IRS, Pacific Research Institute, Congressional Research Service)

(31 Mar 2019) Finland's entire government resigned on March 8 over its failure to achieve social welfare and health care reform. Finland's extensive welfare systems are under financial pressure as the nation's population ages, yet reform plans remain politically controversial. Sound familiar? The national Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has the highest decision-making authority, and local governments are responsible for providing health care to residents. Taxes pay 75% of health spending. 90% of doctors work for the government. (Source: 8 Mar 2109 BBC)

(31 Mar 2019) In 2014, 63% of households headed by a non-citizen reported that they used at least one welfare program, compared to 35% of native-headed households. Medicaid 50% vs 23%, food 45% vs 21%, California 72% vs 35%, Texas 69% vs 35%. (Sources: Census Bureau, 2 Dec 2018 Center for Immigration Studies)

(7 Mar 2019) There are about 24,500 injection drug users in S.F. and 16,000 students enrolled in S.F. Unified School District’s 15 high schools. (Source: S.F. Health Department)

(22 Feb 2019) Panera Bread's socialist pay-what-you-want Panera Cares closed its last restaurant due to the business model's unsustainability. Students ate without paying and homeless patrons visited the restaurant every day. (Source: 6 Feb 2019 Dailywire)

(22 Feb 2019) In the last 7 years, over 4,000 illegal aliens have been incarcerated for sexual assault in Texas. 62% of them were sexual assaults against children. (Source: Chief of the Intelligence Counter-terrorism Division with the Texas Department of Public Safety)

(7 Feb 2020) 2018 new car registrations in the EU were 57% gasoline, 36% diesel, 4% hybrid and 2% electric. 2018 global car sales were 1.5% electric. (Sources: Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles, JATO Dynamics, 4 Feb 2020 Reuters)

(2 Feb 2019) Approximately 95,000 non-citizens currently have a matching voter registration record in Texas. Approximately 58,000 have voted in 1 or more Texas elections. (Source: 25 Jan 2019 Texas Secretary of State)

(2 Feb 2019) Federal costs for the largest welfare programs in 2017 were Medicaid ($374 billion), the refundable portions of earned income and additional child tax credits ($79 billion), and food stamps ($70 billion). (Source: 3 July 2018 Single Mother Guide)

(2 Jan 2019) Medicaid 50% and 23%, respectively ... food 45% and 21% ... cash 31% and 19%. (Sources: Census Bureau, Center for Immigration Studies)

(2 Jan 2019) More than half of electric-car buyers claiming the tax credit make more than $200,000 per year and nearly 80% make more than $100,000. (Sources: IRS, Pacific Research Institute)

(3 Dec 2018) In June, there were 73 million people enrolled in Medicaid. Total spending was $557 billion in FY 2017, with 62% paid by the federal government and 38% financed by states. In July, 38.9 million people received food stamps (SNAP). The annual cost was $68.1 billion. (Sources: 25 Oct 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation, Dept. of Agriculture)

(3 Dec 2018) In 2016, the top 1% of taxpayers paid 37.3% of the federal individual income tax. The top 10% paid 69.5% and the top 50% paid 97.0%. (Sources: IRS, 16 Oct 2018 Bloomberg)

(13 Nov 2018) In each of the 5 years from 2013 through 2017, at least 51% of residents under 18 lived in households receiving government assistance based on the households’ low income. (Source: Census Bureau)

(21 Oct 2018) 1,127,167 immigrants received their permanent residence last year … 4th highest annual level in the past 100 years. 72% in W.V. want less immigration … 70% in Louisiana, 65% in Ohio, 64% in Tenn., 64% in Mich., 63% in Missouri, 63% in Nevada, 62% in Texas, 62% in Ariz., 62% in Florida, 61% in Montana, 61% in Idaho, 60% in N.C. Even liberal N.Y. (57%) and California (56%) want less immigration. (Source: NumbersUSA)

(20 Aug 2018) Providing Medicare for everyone would increase government spending by $32.6 trillion for a 10-year period (2022-2031). Other studies of socialist Bernie Sanders’ 2016 plan ranged from $24.7 to $34.7 trillion. (Source: 30 July 2018 Associated Press News)

(20 Aug 2018) N.J. has a minimum wage of $8.60. People who support a more authoritarian government want $15 by 2024. A study completed in May concluded 31,889 jobs would be lost … 10,473 age 16-19 … 4,900 age 20-24. (Source: May 2018 Employment Policies Institute)

(18 Aug 2018) When Trump took office, there were 107,000 401(k) accounts with a balance of at least $1 million. Now, there are 168,000. (Source: 16 Aug 2018 CNBC)

(18 Aug 2018) A total of 57,820 known or suspected aliens were in DOJ custody at the end of FY 2018 Q1. Of this total, 42,284 people had been confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be aliens. Approximately 16,233 aliens in USMS custody required housing in state, local, and private facilities, which cost $1.46 million a day. Criminal aliens arrested in Texas between 2011 and 2018 who had prior interaction with DHS resulting in the collection of their fingerprints: more than 663,000 criminal offenses; 1,351 homicides; 7,156 sexual assaults; 79,049 assaults; 815 kidnappings; 44,882 thefts. (Source: 7 June 2018 Dept. of Justice)

(10 June 2018) Maryland Obama Care insurers CareFirst, BlueCross and BlueShield plan to raise rates on the exchanges for 2019 by 18% for an HMO plan and 91% for a PPO plan. Kaiser Permanente, the state’s other Obama Care insurer, asked for a rate increase of 37%. (Source: 8 May 2018 Washington Examiner)

(10 June 2018) Health committees in California’s Assembly and Senate have passed bills to provide Medicaid benefits to adult illegal aliens … minor illegal aliens already qualify. The annual cost may be $3 billion. (Source: 21 May 2018 POLITICO)

(9 June 2018) The Medicare Part A Trust Fund (hospital, home health following hospital stay, skilled nursing facility and hospice care) is estimated to be $0 in 2026, 3 years earlier than predicted last year. In 2026, revenues will be sufficient to pay 91% of costs and decline to only 78% in 2039. (Source: 2018 Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees Annual Report)

(10 May 2018) Texas produces more than twice the amount of wind, solar and other renewable electricity as California, while California’s retail electric rates were 89% higher than Texas’ in 2017. (Source: 7 May 2018 Forbes)

(29 Apr 2018) In 2011, there were 157 federal programs that supplied benefits to low-income people … $60,000 per household that was below the poverty level. The median income of all households in the U.S. was $50,054, lower than welfare household’s average benefits. Medicaid was the largest … a combined federal and state cost of $434 billion to 69 million people. Food stamps was second … federal cost of $78.4 billion in 2012 to 46.6 million people. (Sources: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Carleson Center for Welfare Reform).

(21 Apr 2018) Immigrants are increasingly better-educated, but are also increasingly not entering the workforce. Nearly 17% of recent immigrants in prime working age are on Medicaid and nearly 13% receive food stamps, exceeding rates for native-born residents. (Sources: Center for Immigration Studies, 18 Apr 2018 Washington Times)

(2 Apr 2018) The war against cigarettes started with warning labels and progressed to attempting to abolish cigarettes with ever-increasing taxes. Now, coffee is the target. California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act requires companies to post an ominous warning label for products that contain chemicals that can cause cancer, including acrylamide. It is produced in the coffee roasting process. Attorney’s can sue on behalf of the state and keep some of the civil penalties. The Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT) sued approximately 90 companies. The CERT’s attorney drinks a few cups of coffee a day. Nearly half of the companies have agreed to post warnings. 7-Eleven, BP West Coast Products (gas station convenience stores) and Yum Yum Donuts Inc. agreed to pay $900,000, $675,000 and $250,000 respectively. In the first phase of the trial, the judge ruled the companies failed to show that the level of acrylamide won’t result in one additional case of cancer for every 100,000 people who drink coffee. In the second phase, the judge ruled the companies are not entitled to a less strict standard because they failed to show health benefits from drinking coffee. The third phase will determine civil penalties. In 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (cancer agency of the World Health Organization) removed coffee from its “possible carcinogen” list. (Source 29 Mar 2018 Associated Press)

(29 Mar 2018) If my Medicare taxes and premiums had been placed in a private account and earned no interest, my Medicare premiums would have paid for my Medicare benefits. When I die, my heirs would receive $47,000. Instead, they will receive nothing from Medicare.

(29 Mar 2018) If my Social Security taxes had been placed in a private account and earned only 4.50% per year, the current monthly income would be equal to the monthly after-tax payment I receive. When I die, my heirs would receive $339,000. Instead, they will receive nothing from Social Security.

(28 Mar 2018) In 2017, the estimated homeless people in 49 states decreased by 12,322. There was an increase of 16,135 in California. (Source: Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)

(28 Mar 2018) There were 1,227,579 federal tax returns electronically filed through 18 April 2017 for tax year 2016 by illegal aliens with identification numbers that did not match the numbers on the W-2 forms in order to receive tax refunds. Over 1 million were valid numbers stolen from people and the others were fabricated. (Sources: Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS)

(22 Feb 2018) In FY 2017, ICE made 143,470 arrests of illegal aliens. 73.4% of those arrested had criminal convictions. Convictions included 57,438 for dangerous drugs, 31,919 for assault, 15,918 for larceny and 1,531for homicide. (Source: 13 Dec 2017 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Report)

(29 Jan 2018) States with the highest percentage of people in poverty during 2014-2016: California 20.4 (39% Hispanic), Florida 18.8 (26% Hispanic), Louisiana 18.4 (32% black). States with the lowest percentage in poverty: New Hampshire 8.8 (92% white), Iowa 8.8 (86% white), Vermont 8.6 (94% white), Minnesota 8.0 (80% white). (Sources: 21 Sept 2017 Census Bureau Supplemental Poverty Measure, Kaiser Family Foundation)

(29 Jan 2018) Illegal aliens between 15 and 35 are slightly over 2% of Arizona's population and are about 8% of the prisoners who entered Arizona state prisons between January 1985 and June 2017. These illegal alien prisoners are 45% more likely to be gang members than are U.S. citizen prisoners. (Source: 11 Jan 2018 Crime Prevention Research Center)

(26 Jan 2018) Laredo, TX 33.0% (96.4% Hispanic), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 31.4% (59.6% Hispanic), Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 29.3% (90.8% Hispanic), Las Cruces, NM 27.1% (59.6% Hispanic), Fresno, CA 25.6% (49.3% Hispanic), Visalia-Porterville, CA 25.2% (57.3% Hispanic), Albany, GA 25.0% (72.8% black), El Centro, CA 24.6% (86.0% Hispanic). (Census Bureau, City-Data)

(20 Jan 2018) In 2016, law enforcement agencies that employed 586,446 officers providing service to 83% of the nation's population reported that 57,180 officers were assaulted. In 2017, police shot and killed 987 people, including 19 unarmed black males (1.9% of those killed). (Sources: FBI, Jan 2018 Washington Post)

(11 Jan 2018) Red Robin eliminated the "food runner" position in 2017 as a labor-cost-saving measure to offset minimum wage hikes. This year, the 570-restaurant chain is eliminating the "busboy" position to save $8 million. (Source: 9 Jan 2018 Independent Journal Review)

(2 Jan 2018) In Sept 2017, there were 37,557 confirmed illegal aliens in federal prisons and U.S. Marshals Service custody, and an additional 21,209 foreign-born still under investigation by ICE to determine their status. (Source: 21 Dec 2017 Dept. Of Justice)

(21 Dec 2017) 150.5 million individual federal income tax returns were filed for the 2015 tax year. Only 99.0 million paid any income tax. 34.2% paid no tax. 59.1% who did not pay income taxes received $89.6 billion in cash from the IRS (refundable tax credits) after $5.7 billion was applied against income taxes and $10.0 billion against all other taxes. The $89.6 billion was simply another welfare program. (Source: 20 Dec 2017 Townhall)

(9 Dec 2017) Illegal aliens cost states $89 billion a year and cost federal taxpayers $46 billion a year for education, welfare, law enforcement and medical care. These costs include the offsets of taxes paid by illegal aliens. The $89 billion includes California $23.0 billion, Texas $11.0 billion and New York $7.5 billion. (Sources: Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1 Dec 2017 Washington Examiner)

(9 Dec 2017) St. Louis has had a Democrat mayor since 1949 and is 46.5% black. Baltimore 1967 and 61.2%. Detroit 1962 and 79.2%.

(7 Nov 2017) Since 2000, the federal government has subsidized $3.7 billion in tax-exempt bonds for stadium construction. Of the 45 stadiums constructed between 2000 and 2016, 36 took advantage of the tax-free bonds. (Sources: Bloomberg, Brookings Institute)

(22 Oct 2017) In 2015, 1% of the federal income tax returns paid 39.0% of the taxes ... 10% paid 70.6% ... 50% paid 97.2%. 34% of the returns paid no income tax. (Source: 13 Oct 2017 National Taxpayers Union)

(22 Oct 2017) Requested Obama Care premiums in Florida for 2018 will increase an average of 44.7%. Molina Healthcare requested the highest increase … 71.2%. In 2013, an unsubsidized plan comparable to an existing silver plan would have cost a family of 4 an average of $7,200. In 2018, the average unsubsidized cost for the same family will be $17,000. There were 21 participating insurers in 2015 … 19 in 2016 … 14 in 2017 … 9 in 2018. 42 Florida counties will only have 1 health insurer participating on the exchange in 2018. (Sources: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, 8 Oct 2017 Washington Free Beacon)

(5 Oct 2017) The 3 largest contributions to the Center for Community Change Action (active in anti-Trump resistance) in 2015 were $3 million from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (food), $2.35 million from the Ford Foundation (motor vehicles) and $1.75 million from the Open Society Foundation (George Soros). (Source: 4 Oct 2017 Washington Free Beacon)

(28 Sept 2017) Illegal aliens (12.5 million) and their citizen children (4.2 million) cost taxpayers a net $115.9 billion each year, reflecting $19.0 billion they pay in taxes. The costs to state and local governments are $89.0 billion, including $44.4 billion for education. The cost to federal taxpayers is $45.9 billion, including $17.1 billion for medical. (Source: Sept 2017 Federation for American Immigration Reform)

(28 Sept 2017) Here is a list of new taxpayer-supported NFL stadiums in the last 10 years: Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium), Dallas Cowboys (AT&T Stadium), New York Jets and Giants (MetLife Stadium), Minnesota Vikings (U.S. Bank Stadium), Atlanta Falcons (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), San Francisco 49ers (Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara). 2 more coming soon: Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, Las Vegas Raiders. There is an $83 million taxpayer debt on 2-decades-old renovations to the Alameda County Coliseum that the Raiders are abandoning. (Source: 27 Sept 2017 Townhall)

(24 Sept 2017) Amnesty for the 723,000 illegal alien minors enrolled in the DACA program would result in green cards that lead to naturalization. Then, chain migration starts for each one's extended family that could result in 3,037,000 more. (Source: 19 Sept 2016 NumbersUSA)

(24 Sept 2017) In 1938, 11% of black children were born to unwed mothers. Today, about 75% of black children are born to unwed mothers. In 1960, only 22% of black children were raised in single-parent families. In 2010, more than 70% of black children were raised in single-parent families. Only 8% of black married-couple families live in poverty. Poverty in black families headed by single women is 37%. (Sources: 1938 Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences, 20 Sept 2017 Townhall)

(20 Aug 2017) In 2015, large percentages of young adults (18 to 34 years old) lived with their parents ... NJ 46.9, CT 41.6, NY 40.6, MD 38.5, FL 38.3 and CA 38.1. When their parents die, they will probably be dependent on taxpayers for Medicaid, food stamps, earned income tax credit and housing assistance.

(20 Aug 2017) Medica, Iowa's only Obama Care insurer, has proposed a 57% premium increase for 2018. (Source: 17 Aug 2017 Fox News)

(14 Aug 2017) In 2014-15, there were 16 Interior Dept. programs that awarded 701 grants to purchase $815 million worth of land. Interior "does not centrally track information about grants awarded for the purpose of acquiring land" and many of the grant recipients did not report their land inventories to the department programs that funded them, which violated federal regulations. (Sources: 2 Aug 2017 Interior Dept. Inspector General, 3 Aug Daily Signal)

(6 Aug 2017) Illegal alien families received $1.28 billion in Los Angeles County welfare money during 2015 and 2016 ... more than 58,000 families received a total of $602 million in benefits in 2015 ... more than 64,000 families received a total of $675 million in 2016. During the first 5 months of 2017, more than 60,000 families received a total of $181 million. (Source: LA County Dept. of Public Social Services)

(6 Aug 2017) 1,332 counties (over 40%) will have only 1 health insurer operating on the Obama Care exchanges in 2018. 40 counties will have no choice. Average premiums increased by 21.6% in 2017. (Sources: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 28 July 2017 Associated Press)

(6 Aug 2017) In North Yorkshire, England, hospitals have decided to reduce expenses by denying hip and knee surgeries to smokers who refuse to quit, and to those overweight with body mass indices above 30. The British National Health Service and the U.S. Veterans Health Administration are 2 of the last remaining socialized health care systems in the world. Both systems have single-payer government-run health insurance, and the government owns the hospitals and employs the doctors. (Source: 4 Sept 2016 Forbes)

(23 July 2017) San Francisco elementary and middle schools will have the devil's brew known as chocolate milk eliminated when they open this fall ... eliminated in the high schools in the spring. Los Angeles banned it over a period of 6 years before serving it again. Schools serving only white milk wound up with far less milk consumed and more thrown in the trash. (Source: 16 July 2017 Hot Air)

(23 July 2017) Since 2006, 90% of all tax credits for buying electric vehicles went to people with incomes in the top 20%. (Source: July 2015 Haas School of Business, University of California-Berkeley

(9 July 2017) The FCC's Lifeline program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), helps low-income, fake and dead people pay for phone and Internet service. Lifeline paid $1.5 billion in subsidies last year to more than 12 million households. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed 3.5 million Lifeline accounts during its 3-year audit and was unable to confirm eligibility for 1.2 million. Investigators also found that thousands of active Lifeline accounts belong to non-existent or dead people and that the FCC has provided little to no substantive review of the program during its 30 years of existence. Undercover investigators applied to work for a company that contracts with Lifeline providers to verify applicants’ eligibility. The company hired them without background checks or interviews and then paid them as they enrolled fake applicants in the program using fabricated eligibility documentation. USAC is supposed to audit telecom providers to make sure they’re paying their share of contributions into a fund for the Lifeline program. In its audit, the GAO reported that the corporation never audited more than 0.5% of the providers. (Sources: Government Accountability Office, 5 July 2017 Sacramento Bee)

(9 July 2017) In April 2017, the average price of gas (up to 10% ethanol) sold was $2.38. The price of E-85 (average 70% ethanol) was $2.74, adjusted to reflect the lower energy content. (Source: energy.gov)

(6 July 2017) In 2016, Diet Pepsi sales decreased 9.2% and Diet Coke decreased 4.3%. (Sources: Beverage Digest, 19 Apr 2017 Fortune)

(1 July 2017) In 2008, Oregon experimented with expanding Medicaid to low-income adults to assess the effects on health outcomes over 2 years. Data was obtained from 6,387 adults who were randomly selected for Medicaid coverage and 5,842 adults who were not selected. "Medicaid coverage generated no significant improvements in measured physical health outcomes in the first 2 years," (Source: 2 May 2013 New England Journal of Medicine)

(1 July 2017) An employee of Democrat Party affiliate Harrisonburg Votes plead guilty to fabricating 18 Virginia voter registration forms using names, addresses and ages at random from Democrat data. Virginia removed more than 5,500 noncitizens from voter lists, including 1,852 people who had cast more than 7,000 ballots. In 2012, 3.2 million to 5.6 million noncitizens were registered to vote in the U.S., and 1.2 million to 3.6 million of them voted. (Sources: May 2017 Public Interest Legal Foundation, Harvard / YouGov, Just Facts, 19 June 2017 Washington Times, 27 June Townhall)

(30 June 2017) Medicaid enrollment has increased from 29 million in 1990 to 74.5 million in April 2017 ... an increase of more than 150% over a period when the population increased 30%. Medicaid covers 16.6 million more than Medicare. Medicaid costs $574 billion, 175% more than the $209 billion in 2000. In 1967, 95% of men 25 to 54 years old were working ... 85% now. Among all people 25 to 54 years old not working, 53% are on Medicaid. Among men 25 to 54 years old not in the military, 21% are on Medicaid. (Sources: Manhattan Institute City Journal, Census Bureau, 28 June 2017 Townhall)

(30 June 2017) Czar Obama claimed the 23 tax-funded non-profit health insurance co-ops created by Obama Care would successfully compete with for-profit commercial insurance companies and drive down health care costs. Minuteman Health was awarded $156.4 million in taxpayer-funded loans in 2012 and 2013, and is withdrawing from the Obama Care exchanges in 2018, leaving only 4 co-ops in operation. Very little, if any, of the $1.24 billion in federal start-up and solvency loans to the failed co-ops will be repaid. (Source: 28 June 2017 Washington Free Beacon)

(28 June 2017) In 2014, Seattle passed a minimum-wage law that increases gradually to $15 per hour in 2018. Starting in 2016, the minimum was $10.50 to $13, depending on business size, benefits and tips. The law has increased wages by 3%, but monthly pay decreased by $125 because of reductions in hours. The law also caused a loss of 5,000 jobs. (Sources: Univ. of Washington, 26 June 2017 National Bureau of Economic Research)

(22 June 2017) McDonald's announced it will have digital ordering kiosks in 2,500 U.S. restaurants by the end of this year. (Source: 20 June 2017 CNBC)

(22 June 2017) Democrats have had the majority of seats in both the Illinois House and Senate starting in 2003. Moody's Investors Services downgraded the Illinois credit rating to the lowest of any state. The state currently has $130 billion in unfunded pension obligations. (Sources: Wikipedia, 20 June 2017 Fox News)

(22 June 2017) Anthem, the second-largest health insurer, announced it plans to pull out of Obama Care individual plans sold through government exchanges in Indiana and Wisconsin next year. (Source: 21 June 2017 Fox News)

(19 June 2017) The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) spends $200 million a year on travel ... first-class airfare, private helicopter excursions, and stays at luxury hotels that cost more than $1,000 a night ... more than it spends fighting AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria combined. The U.S. provides 25% of WHO funding ... more than any other country. (Sources: Associated Press, 13 June 2017 Citizens Against Government Waste)

(8 June 2017) Clinton's 1996 welfare reform bill included a provision for able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food stamp (SNAP) to get a job. Obama's 2009 stimulus bill allowed states to ignore the work provision, causing the number of able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps to more than double … from 1.9 million in 2008 to 3.9 million in 2010. In 2013, Alabama waived the work requirement. The requirement was reinstated for 54 Alabama counties in 2016 and the 13 remaining counties in 2017. Food stamp participation among able-bodied adults without dependents fell by 85% in those 13 counties in the first 4 months of 2017. (Sources: 2012 Congressional Research Service, 6 June 2017, Independent Journal Review)

(8 June 2017) This year, Anthem is the only insurer to sell Obama Care individual plans in all 88 Ohio counties. Next year, it will not sell any plans in Ohio through the government exchange, leaving 18 Ohio counties with no insurers selling Obama Care individual plans through the government exchange. (Source: 6 June 2017 CNBC)

(24 May 2017) There are 39 states that use the Obama Care exchange for individual policies. From 2013 to 2017, the average monthly premiums increased from $224 to $476. The average at least doubled in 20 states and at least tripled in 3 states. (Sources: Dept. Of Health and Human Services, 23 May 2017 FOX News)

(24 May 2017) California’s current total annual general-fund budget is less than $200 billion. SB 562 would impose a single-payer health care system costing taxpayers $400 billion per year, including administrative costs. All medical care for every resident, including illegal aliens, would be covered with no premiums, co-payments or deductibles. The bill does not include any method to pay for the cost. (Source: 22 May 2017 LA Times)

(21 May 2017) ICE has arrested more than 41,000 individuals who are either known or suspected of being in the country illegally. This reflects an increase of 37.6% over the same period in 2016. Nearly 75% of those arrested during this period in 2017 were convicted criminals. (Sources: Dept. of Homeland Security, 18 May 2017 FOX News)

(18 May 2017) In 2016, 39% of illegal aliens who were free pending trial failed to show up for their hearings. (Source: 17 May 2017 FOX News)

(17 May 2017) ICE arrested only 3,402 out of the 527,127 who overstayed their visas in 2015. There was a backlog of 1.2 million cases to be investigated. In 1996, Congress mandated an electronic entry / exit system to track foreign visitors, but the system was never created. Congress approved a biometric system in 2004 and has appropriated funding 6 times, but the system has not been implemented. (Source: DHS Inspector General, 4 May 2017 NumbersUSA)

(9 May 2017) As of 25 March 2017, there were 45,493 foreign-born federal-prison inmates. 3939 were U.S. citizens. Only 26 had been granted relief due to asylum claims. (Source: 2 May 2017 Dept. of Justice)

(30 Apr 2017) The top 1% of wage earners made 15.0% of the income and paid 38.3% of federal income taxes in 2013. (Source: June 2016 CBO)

(24 Mar 2017) Only 7% of black high school seniors are proficient in math. By the 4th grade, 26% of Hispanic students are proficient in math and 21% in reading. By their senior year, 12% are proficient in math and 25% in reading. Of those who graduate, only 1 in 4 is college prepared and less than half of those who go to college graduate. (Source: 18 Mar 2017 Fox News)

(24 Mar 2017) There were more than 54,000 births to illegal-alien parents in Texas that were paid by Medicaid ($116 million) in 2015. Automatically being a citizen, each baby qualifies for Medicaid until their income exceeds a certain amount. (Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission)

(13 Mar 2017) If my Medicare taxes and premiums had been placed in a private account and earned only 0.15% per year, my Medicare premiums and the interest during the period I have been on Medicare would have paid for my Medicare benefits. When I die, my heirs would receive $43,300. Instead, they will receive nothing from Medicare.

(13 Mar 2017) In 2010, Aquion Energy received a Czar Obama "stimulus" grant of $5.2 million to build a large-scale manufacturing plant to produce batteries to store solar and other renewable energy. The company also received $16.6 million from Pennsylvania and committed to create 341 new jobs and retain 70 existing employees. In Feb. 2016, the company requested a 2-year extension to create the jobs promised, having created only 50 jobs. In Jan. 2017, Aquion received a North American Company of the Year Award at the Cleantech Forum. Aquion has halted operations, filed for Chapter 11 (reorganization) bankruptcy on Mar. 8 and is seeking a buyer. (Source: 10 Mar 2017 FOX News)

(5 Mar 2017) 17 million people were receiving food stamps (SNAP) at a cost of $17 billion in 2000. In 2016, there were 44 million at a cost of $71 billion … at least 20% were receiving food stamps in Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon and Tennessee. (Sources: Dept. of Agriculture, 3 Mar 2017 FOX News)

(3 Mar 2017) A few days before Czar Obama signed Obama Care, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that 23 million people would obtain insurance through the program's exchanges by 2017. Now, the CBO said the actual number for 2017 would be 10 million. CBO originally projected that 21 million would remain uninsured, but the number is now estimated to be 27 million. Obama Care is responsible for covering an additional 12 million with Medicaid and providing subsidies to 9 million individuals to purchase insurance on the exchanges. (Source: 24 Jan 2017 Washington Examiner)

(26 Feb 2017) 61% of the nation's estimated 11 million illegal aliens (1.15 million in NYC, 1.00 million in LA, 0.58 million in Houston) live in 20 major metro areas ... 17 of them are sanctuary cities. 36% of the U.S. population lives in those cities. (Sources: Pew Research Center, 9 Feb 2017 Washington Examiner)

(26 Feb 2017) The lifetime net cost (benefits minus taxes paid) of each illegal alien is $74,722. (Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine)

(26 Feb 2017) The collapse of the economy has resulted in 74.3% of the population losing an average of 19 pounds. 81% percent of the households are living in poverty. (Sources: Venezuela Living Conditions Survey, 20 Feb 2017 CNBC)

(26 Feb 2017) The interest on the national debt was $318 billion in FY 2003 ... $360 billion in 2012 ... $433 billion in 2016. (Source: Treasury Dept.)

(5 Feb 2017) In 1970, only 4.7% of residents were foreign born … 13.3% in 2014 (27.1% in California). The 42.4 million foreign-born had 16.7 million U.S.-born children under 18. The largest number of foreign-born were born in Mexico and lived in the U.S. an average of 21 years as of 2014. Only 26.7% were U.S. citizens. Among people 25 to 65, 8.0% of U.S.-born did not have a high-school education … 19.0% of foreign-born arriving after 2010. The median annual earnings for U.S.-born full-time adult employees in 2014 was $46,172 … $35,129 for foreign-born arriving after 2010. In 2014, 29.5% of Mexican immigrants and their U.S.-born children were below the poverty level, compared to 9.8% of U.S.-born non-hispanic whites. (Source: Census Bureau)

(5 Feb 2017) In 2016, only 4% of Obama Care Exchange regions had 1 health insurer and 67% had 3 or more. In 2017, 36% had 1 insurer and 45% had 3 or more. Average silver-plan (most popular option) monthly premiums (50-year-old non-smoker) for 2014 to 2017 have increased ... $434, 453, 496 and 554, respectively. During the same time, average annual medical / drug deductibles increased ... $2480, 2658, 3075 and 3703, respectively. (Sources: Jan 2017 Avalere Health, 2 Feb Daily Signal)

(31 Jan 2017) The net gain in health care coverage in 2014, 2015 and the first 9 months of 2016 was 16.5 million, including an increase in coverage by Medicaid of 13.8 million. (Source: 24 Jan 2017 Heritage Foundation)

(28 Jan 2017) Bush gave $616 million to the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program and Czar Obama gave more than $7 billion. The money went to schools with low academic achievement and graduation rates below 60%. The program had "no significant impact" on reading or math test scores, high school graduation, or college enrollment. (Source: Jan 2017 Dept. of Education)

(28 Jan 2017) Czar Obama gave the U.N. more than $610 million for 2017 ... more than any other country. Japan was second at $268 million. (Source: U.N. budget report)

(15 Jan 2017) A 5-year, $29 million Environmental Protection Agency study report stated, "Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPA's ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally. Because of these data gaps and uncertainties, it was not possible to fully characterize the severity of impacts, nor was it possible to calculate or estimate the national frequency of impacts on drinking water resources from activities in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle". The report cited no cases in which such contamination was confirmed. (Source: Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States, EPA/600/R-16/236F, 2016)

(22 Dec 2016) Premiums for a midlevel Obama Care plan in states with HealthCare.gov are increasing an average of 25% next year, driven by lower-than-expected enrollment and higher medical costs. About 1/3 of the counties will have only 1 marketplace insurer because some major commercial carriers have left the market. Subsidies will increase to $42.6 billion for 2017. (Source: 21 Dec 2016 Associated Press)

(16 Dec 2016) Elon Musk's companies (Tesla Motors, SolarCity and Space Exploration Technologies) have benefited from $4.9 billion in government support (grants, tax breaks, factory construction, discounted loans and environmental credits that can be sold). (Source: 30 May 2015 Los Angeles Times)

(15 Dec 2016) In 2014 and 2015, there was an increase of 5.86 million people covered by individual-market health insurance policies and a decrease of 3.60 million with employer-market policies (net increase of 2.27 million). Additionally, there was an increase of 10.39 million covered in states that expanded Medicaid / CHIP and an increase of 1.36 million in states that did not expand Medicaid / CHIP. (Source: 31 Oct 2016 Heritage Foundation)

(15 Dec 2016) The Dodd-Frank legislation required publicly-traded companies to report their chief executive's compensation and their workers' median pay to the SEC. Armed with that information, Portland, Oregon is levying a 10 or 25% surcharge on the business tax paid by any of the approximately 550 companies that pay the tax if their CEO-worker ratio exceeds threshold values. (Source: 7 Dec 2016 New York Times)

(9 Dec 2016) Federal student loans total nearly $1.3 trillion. Of the $352 billion in loans with payments made based on income made in the years 1995 to 2017, $137 billion (39%) won't be repaid. $108 billion will be forgiven and $29 billion will be discharged because of death or disability. (Sources: Nov 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO), 6 Dec Washington Examiner)

(9 Dec 2016) The largest 150 metro areas were analyzed. McAllen / Edinburg / Mission, Texas won the prize. 2 categories were considered: "educational attainment" (percentages with high school up through graduate school diplomas) weighted at 80% and "quality of education" (public school rankings, quality of colleges, number of students in top 200 colleges, racial and gender gaps in the "educational attainment" category) weighted at 20%. McAllen / Edinburg / Mission is 86.1% Hispanic and received a score of 6.8. Ann Arbor, Michigan was the highest rated with a score of 94.9. (Source: 25 July 2016 WalletHub)

(3 Dec 2016) Earlier this year, 69.2% of residents age 18 to 64 had private health insurance, including people with Obama Care via the exchanges ... the same rate as in 2005. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))

(3 Dec 2016) 75.6% of non-Hispanic whites under 18 live with both parents ... 38.7% of blacks. 76.4% under 18 in households not receiving food stamps are living with both parents. 60.8% under 18 in households receiving food stamps are living with 1 parent.

(20 Nov 2016) The most U.S. military killed in action in Afghanistan in 1 year was 440 in 2010. There have been 685 homicides in Chicago in 2016 through mid-Nov. The last time Chicago exceeded 700 in 1 year was 704 in 1998. Chicago's record is 940 in 1992. (Sources: iCasualties, Chicago Tribune, DNAinfo, abc News)

(16 Nov 2016) In 2015, migrants in the U.S. sent almost $25 billion in remittances to Mexico … money earned in the U.S. and spent in Mexico. (Source: 14 Nov 2016 Associated Press)

(15 Nov 2016) The number of Hispanics born in the U.S. who are between 18 and 64 years old and not in the labor force has increased from 2.3 million to 4.9 million from 2000 to now. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau)

(15 Nov 2016) In 2014, there were 7.9 million illegal aliens working or looking for work. The states with the largest percentages of their workforces being illegal aliens were Nevada (10.4), California (9.0) and Texas (8.5). Illegal aliens are 22% of the crop production workforce, 22% of private household employment, 21% of the landscaping industry, 19% of the apparel manufacturing industry, 19% of the building maintenance sector and 18% of the dry cleaning/ laundry industry. Illegal aliens outnumbered legal immigrants 26 vs 20% in farming jobs and 15 vs 12% in construction jobs. Illegal aliens made up only 2% each of management, professional and office support workers. (Source: 3 Nov 2016 Pew Research Center)

(10 Nov 2016) The government has published seasonally-adjusted month-by-month employment data since January 1939. Manufacturing employees outnumbered government employees every month until August 1989. In October 2016, government employment was 22.2 million, compared to 12.3 million manufacturing employees. The 22.2 million government jobs exceed the individual populations of 48 states. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 Nov 2016 CNSNews)

(10 Nov 2016) 75% of U.S. military deaths and 87% of injuries in Afghanistan have taken place during Czar Obama’s reign. (Sources: Dept. of Defense, Breitbart News)

(7 Nov 2016) 73,137,154 people benefitted from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in August … 22.5% of the population. (Sources: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Census Bureau, CNSNews)

(5 Nov 2016) Operating a yellow cab in New York City requires purchase of a medallion, starting at about $350,000 to $400,000 on nycitycab.com. In 2014, they cost over a $million. Competition from rideshares like Uber and Lyft caused the decrease. In April 2015, cabs had 84% of the trips. In April 2016, it was 65%. (Sources: Morgan Stanley, 12 Oct 2016 Business Insider)

(5 Nov 2016) Because of an increase in the production of milk, the price has dropped. In order to subsidize dairy farmers, the Dept. of Agriculture bought $20 million worth of cheese in August and plans to buy another $20 million. (Source: 25 Oct 2016 Daily Signal)

(2 Nov 2016) In 2017, there will be 5 states with only 1 insurance company offering health insurance plans through the Obama Care exchanges … Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma, S. Carolina and Wyoming. Since the exchanges opened, the number of people with medical insurance has increased by 20 million. In July, there were 72,810,267 people enrolled in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Virtually all costs are paid by taxpayers ... redistribution of income / wealth ... from those who earned it to those who did not. This was an increase of 15,393,550 since the Obama Care exchanges opened. The increase in these 2 programs is 77% of the additional 20 million with medical care. In 2015, 118,395,000 people had government health insurance at some point during the year ... 37.1% of the population ... Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, military and veterans. (Sources: Census Bureau, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kaiser Family Foundation, 26 Oct 2016 Obama Care architect Jonathon Gruber, 26 Oct Townhall)

(2 Nov 2016) The number of insurers participating on the Obama Care exchanges is likely to drop from 232 this year to 167 in 2017. 20% of consumers will have only 1 insurer to choose from. 17 of the 23 co-ops created have failed. The 2nd lowest cost Silver plan premiums for a 40-year-old non-smoker making $30,000 per year will increase an average of 25% across the 39 states serviced by the online marketplace HealthCare.gov. This increase is larger than in any previous year. The largest percentage increases in major cities will be: Phoenix 145, Birmingham 71, Oklahoma City 67, Minneapolis 55 and Philadelphia 51. The largest decrease of the major cities will be Indianapolis 4. (Sources: Obama administration, 24 Oct 2016 Kaiser Family Foundation, 25 Oct Daily Signal)

(2 Nov 2016) Obama Care exchange Silver plan premiums were calculated using the rates for a 40-year-old non-smoker in major cities in all states and D.C. The largest percentage increases from 2015 to 2016 were: Nashville 38.4, Oklahoma City 34.7, Billings 33.6, Denver 32.2, Anchorage 31.4, Honolulu 31.0, Boise 30.0, Minneapolis 28.4, Charlotte 25.5, Portland 22.5 and Sioux Falls 20.2. The largest percentage decrease was Seattle 10.6. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation)

(27 Oct 2016) The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is being sued over immigration's destructive impact on resources and open spaces. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires "any agency considering an action that will affect the environment to analyze and publicize those effects”. DHS and predecessor Immigration and Naturalization Service have ignored NEPA's requirement. Current immigration policy will add over 100 million people to the U.S. by 2065. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that taxpayers must pay $1 trillion for water projects to meet the growing immigration population that the federal government mandates. (Sources: Immigration Reform Law Institute, 19 Oct 2016 NumbersUSA)

(26 Oct 2016) 408,870 illegal aliens were apprehended trying to cross the border in fiscal year 2016, compared to 331,333 in FY15. Approximately 80% of the illegal aliens that the Border Patrol apprehended were released, rather than immediately deported. (Sources: National Border Patrol Council, 17 Oct 2016 Dept. of Homeland Security)

(25 Oct 2016) In 2013, electricity production and federal utilities received $21 billion in direct cash outlays through federal programs, tax benefits, research and development funding, loans and guarantees. Wind received $5.9 billion, solar $5.3 billion and coal $1.1 billion. Wind produced 4.4% of the electricity, solar 0.2% and coal 39%. (Source: Energy Information Administration)

(25 Oct 2016) Between 600,000 and 900,000 bats are killed in the U.S. each year by wind turbines ... collisions with blades and barotraumas (low pressure created in the wake of spinning blades). The 125-turbine Wildcat Wind Farm in Indiana is going to slow or stop the turbines between sunset and sunrise, and purchase 253 acres for a bat summer habitat in order to legally continue killing bats. The 355-turbine Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Indiana is going to stop the turbines during low-wind conditions between sunset and sunrise to reduce fatalities by an estimated 50%. (Source: Bioscience, 17 Oct 2016 Anderson Indiana Herald Bulletin)

(12 Oct 2016) The 5-turbine wind farm off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island is supposed to generate enough electricity for 17,000 homes. The construction cost will be $17,650 per home. Under a 20-year agreement, the regional utility company will receive 24 cents per kilowatt hour with guaranteed increases over time. The U.S. average for electricity is 12.3 cents. (Source: 4 Sept 2016 Washington Post)

(8 Oct 2016) An audit found that in 2013 and 2014, Medicare paid out 14,530 claims totaling $9.27 million for 481 illegal aliens. (Source: Sept 2016 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Inspector General)

(4 Oct 2016) In 2014, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) began investigations to test whether the federal health care exchange and state marketplaces were able to detect and stop applications that fraudulently claimed subsidized health coverage. Their applications contained false proof of income, false documentation of citizenship and 9-digit identification numbers that began with zeros. 11 of 12 fake applications received subsidized coverage. On 25 June 2015, Czar Obama said, "This law is working exactly as it's supposed to". In 2015, 10 of those 11 with fake applications were re-enrolled for coverage with subsidies, even though 8 of the 10 failed the preliminary identity check. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that subsidized health coverage through Obama Care will cost taxpayers $866 billion over the next 10 years. (Sources: 25 June 2015 CNN, 12 Sept 2016 GAO, 13 Sept Citizens Against Government Waste)

(24 Sept 2016) Czar Obama and wannabe-czar Clinton vowed to bankrupt coal companies. Now, the United Mine Workers of America union cannot afford the miners’ pension and health care plans because they have fewer dues-paying members. No problem ... the union lobbied Congress and S.1714 was approved by the Senate Finance Committee 18-8 to provide a taxpayer-funded bailout. Obama and Clinton should provide the bailout. (Source: 22 Sept 2016 Daily Signal)

(24 Sept 2016) Nonelderly adult immigrants without high school diplomas will create an average net fiscal cost (benefits received minus taxes paid) in both their generation and their second generation of $231,000 (present cost ... amount the government would have to invest today at inflation plus 3% to cover the net cost over the next 75 years). The cost over that period would be $640,000 in constant 2012 dollars. 4 million of this category of immigrants have arrived since 2000 and continue to reside here. The net present cost of these immigrants is $924 billion. (Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine)

(24 Sept 2016) A few years ago, California installed sensors to measure methane and hydrofluorocarbon gases resulting from cow farts and poop at dairy farms. Gov. Moonbeam signed Senate Bill 1383 on Sept. 19 to require the State Air Resources Board to regulate these "short-lived climate pollutants". The legislature declared these gases are "powerful climate forcers that have a dramatic and detrimental effect on air quality, public health and climate change". The requirement is 40% below the levels that existed statewide in 2013. Implementation of a Board-approved strategy must begin by 1 Jan. 2018. (Source: 19 Sept 2016 California Legislative Information)

(22 Sept 2016) The 65-page 2014 IRS Form 990 filed by the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation shows $7.8 million was spent on travel and $5.2 million on charitable grants (only 5.7% of its 2014 budget). $34.8 million was spent on salaries, compensation and employee benefits. (17 Sept 2016 Daily Caller)

(18 Sept 2016) In early 2017, Fiat Chrysler will stop making cars in the U.S. -- will only make pickup trucks and SUVs in the U.S. Cars will be made in Mexico and Canada. The average manufacturing hourly wage in Mexico is $2.20, compared to $20.46 in the U.S. Ford will start making all its small cars in Mexico over the next 2 to 3 years. (Sources: 28 July 2016 USA Today, 14 Sept FOX Business)

(18 Sept 2016) San Francisco, followed by Washington D.C. and Seattle. (Source: The Economist)

(3 Sept 2016) So far this year, Chicago (population 2.7 million) has recorded more people shot and more homicides than LA and NY combined (population 12.5 million). (Source: 2 Sept 2016 The Constitution)

(3 Sept 2016) The USPS, an independent agency of the U.S. government, has not received taxpayer dollars since the early 1980s, except for subsidies associated with overseas and disabled voters. The USPS has lost more than $40 billion since 2010, including more than $3 billion in the first 9 months of this fiscal year. It owes tens of billions of dollars for Treasury loans and payments to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). Democrats want to eliminate the pre-funding requirement for benefits and pensions, increasing the risk the USPS will request taxpayers to fund these obligations. Federal law requires private companies to fully fund their pensions, but not retiree health benefits. The USPS has over 600,000 employees and millions of retirees. Congress required funding of their retiree health benefits because the office that manages federal retiree benefits argued the entire federal health benefit fund would otherwise be at risk. (Source: 24 Aug 2016 Townhall)

(30 Aug 2016) In June, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Health Net announced they would end coverage in Pinal County. It could become the first county in the U.S. to lose Obama Care coverage as Aetna announced it is pulling out of Arizona. 9700 are presently covered by Obama Care in Pinal County. (Sources: Dept. of Health and Human Services, 16 Aug 2016 12 News KPNX-TV)

(28 Aug 2016) D.C. mandated a base wage of $10.50 in July 2015 and restaurants lost 1,400 jobs in the first half of this year. The minimum wage was increased to $11.50 in July 2016. Neighboring suburbs in Maryland and Virginia have lower minimum wages ($8.75 and $7.25, respectively), and restaurants added 2,900 jobs. (Source: 25 Aug 2016 Townhall)

(28 Aug 2016) Job growth in the Chicago area’s leisure and hospitality sector sunk to a 5-year low after a $1.75 an hour minimum wage hike (from $8.25 to $10) went into effect in July 2015. The annual growth was only 1.1% for the Sept-Nov 2015 period. Bay Area leisure and hospitality job growth also slumped to a 5-year low after San Francisco and Oakland adopted the highest city minimum wage in the country ($12.25 an hour) in the spring of 2015. After rising close to 5% a year, leisure and hospitality industry hiring slowed to just 2.2% in the Sept-Nov 2015 period compared to a year earlier in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, employment rose 4.9% compared to a year earlier in the rest of California. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 Jan 2016 Investor's Business Daily)

(27 Aug 2016) In 2008, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Firearm Tracking Unit recovered 893 firearms in 762 cases. 78.7% of the perpetrators were carrying a gun that did not belong to them. 91.8% of the perpetrators were male and 83.5% were black. Blacks were 24% of the population. (Source: July 2016 Social Medicine)

(27 Aug 2016) In 2015, there were 45.8 million benefitting from food stamps (25.5% of blacks, 20.8% of Mississippi residents, 14.2% of U.S. population, 6.3% of Wyoming residents). They received $70 billion, compared to $15 billion in 2000. (Source: 2016 Trivisonno, 2016 Statisticbrain)

(25 Aug 2016) In Sept. 2009, Czar Obama made the following statement about Obama Care: "My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition." In 2017, residents eligible for Obama Care in 1,121 counties will have only 1 or 2 insurance companies to choose from that sell individual policies. In 664 of those counties, there will be only 1 company, compared to 225 counties this year. There will be 5 states (Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming) with only 1 company. South Carolina had 9 companies in 2013 and Oklahoma had 8. (Source: 23 Aug 2016 Daily Signal)

(23 Aug 2016) Only 2% eligible for Obama Care in 2015 had only 1 health insurance company as an option. In 2017, 17% may have only 1 option. Currently, there are 5 entire states set to have 1 option in 2017. (Source: 19 Aug 2016 New York Times)

(21 Aug 2016) After the bailout, Italy's Fiat ended up buying all of Chrysler, incorporating in the Netherlands and moving their headquarters to London. In early 2017, Fiat Chrysler will stop making cars in the U.S. -- will only make pickup trucks and SUVs in the U.S. Cars will be made in Mexico and Canada. The average manufacturing hourly wage in Mexico is $2.20, compared to $20.46 in the U.S. (Sources: 28 July 2016 USA Today)

(19 Aug 2016) Aetna sells individual health insurance exchange policies in 778 counties in 15 states. In 2017, it will sell in 242 counties in 4 states (Delaware, Iowa, Nebraska and Virginia). (Sources: 16 Aug 2016 Dallas Morning News, 16 Aug Townhall)

(16 Aug 2016) In 2014, in order to meet EPA mandates for different types of fuels, companies exported 111 million gallons of ethanol made from corn in the U.S. to Brazil and imported 54 million gallons of ethanol made from sugar cane in Brazil to the U.S. Why? Ethanol from sugar cane is an “advanced” biofuel and ethanol from corn is not. (Source: 26 March 2015 U.S. Energy Information Administration)

(16 Aug 2016) In 2014, blacks were 13% of the population and committed 53% of the homicides with the race of the offender known. Whites were 77% of the population and committed 45% of the homicides. (Sources: FBI, Census Bureau)

(16 Aug 2016) During the 90 full months of Czar Obama's reign, the national public debt increased by $8.80 trillion to $19.43 trillion, at an annual rate of $1.17 trillion. During Bush's 95 full months, the debt increased $4.98 trillion at an annual rate of $0.63 trillion. Obama's rate is 1.86 times Bush's. Bush was bad ... Obama is horrible.

(24 July 2016) Asian 3.8%, non-Hispanic white 4.2%, Hispanic 5.6% and black 8.3%. The rate for 16-19 year-old blacks was 30%. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(24 July 2016) Asian $49,886, non-Hispanic white $46,588, black $32,832 and Hispanic $31,025. (Source: 2015 Census Bureau)

(23 July 2016) Electricity production as a percentage of capacity for plants entering service in 2020: nuclear 90%, natural gas 87%, coal 85%, hydroelectric 54%, wind 36% and solar 25%. (Source: 21 July 2016 U.S. Energy Information Administration)

(21 July 2016) In 2014, there were 8,124 homicides with firearms. That same year, there were 18,893 prescription opioid overdose deaths. (Sources: FBI, National Institute on Drug Abuse)

(18 July 2016) Czar Obama claimed the 23 tax-funded non-profit health insurance co-ops created by Obama Care would successfully compete with for-profit commercial insurance companies and drive down health care costs. With the folding of Connecticut's HealthyCT and Oregon's Health Co-Op, only 8 of the 23 co-ops are left. Very little, if any, of the $1.24 billion in federal start-up and solvency loans to the failed co-ops will be repaid. (Source: 12 July 2016 Washington Free Beacon)

(11 July 2016) In 2014, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the effects of an increase in the federal minimum wage ... to $10.10 an hour by 2016 and then adjusting annually for inflation. One of the conclusions was that 500,000 jobs would be lost due to staffing reductions. (Source: BOSS Magazine)

(4 July 2016) Loans, contracts and grants, but not debt forgiveness: (1) Afghanistan $7.26 billion, (2) Israel $3.12 billion, (3) Jordan $1.14 billion, (4) Pakistan $0.98 billion, (5) Kenya $0.89 billion, (21) Mexico $332 million. $332 million a year would help stop the influx of illegal aliens. (Source: 15 June 2016 InsideGov)

(4 July 2016) Since 2005, consumption of diet soda has fallen by more than 27%. In the last 15 years, the volume of diet soda decreased from nearly 30% of all carbonated beverages to approximately 25%. Diet brands have accounted for 94% of all soda declines since 2010. (Source: 16 June 2016 AOL)

(2 July 2016) Ford gave the F-150 truck an aluminum body, smaller turbocharged engines and a lighter steel frame to meet the government's 2016 emission and fuel-economy mandates. The initiative took 6 years and cost more than $1 billion. 40% of the F-150s don't comply with the 2016 mandates. By 2025, the targets will be much more stringent. (Source: 16 June 2016 Bloomberg)

(18 June 2016) The number of firearms possessed by civilians has steadily INCREASED: 242, 259, 294 and 310 million in 1996, 2000, 2007 and 2009, respectively. However, homicides with firearms have steadily DECREASED: 10,129 - 9,528 - 9,199 - 8,874 and 8,124 in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014, respectively. (Sources: FBI, ATF, Congressional Research Service)

(18 June 2016) The California Air Resources Board Chairwoman has said all internal combustion engine cars must be off the road by 2050 to meet Gov. Brown’s target of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by that time. Currently, only 3% of cars sold in California are zero-tailpipe-emission models. (17 June 2016 LA Times)

(16 June 2016) In April 1 to April 15, the average price of gas (up to 10% ethanol) sold was $2.06. The price of E-85 (average 70% ethanol) was $2.39, adjusted to reflect the lower energy content. (Source: Dept. of Energy)

(11 June 2016) The number of new illegal aliens increased from 700,000 in 2012-13 to 1.1 million in 2014-15. The number of new legal immigrants increased from 1.6 million to 2.03 million during the same time period. (Sources: Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, June 2016 Center for Immigration Studies)

(28 May 2016) Czar Obama claimed the 23 tax-funded non-profit health insurance co-ops created by Obama Care would successfully compete with for-profit commercial insurance companies and drive down health care costs. The co-op program was funded with $2.5 billion in 2010. Insurance regulators are liquidating the 12 co-ops that have closed their doors. Most of the $1.2 billion provided to the failed co-ops isn't expected to be paid back. 8 of the remaining 11 are in an "enhanced oversight" program or are operating under a federally imposed "corrective action plan" because of poor financial conditions. (Sources: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 27 May 2016 Daily Caller)

(28 May 2016) "More than $305 million in federal taxpayer dollars were sent to Oregon state for purposes of implementing a state exchange to benefit the people … The state exchange never came to fruition, and the money is gone." The website never worked … people enrolled with paper forms and then re-enrolled in the federal exchange. Cover Oregon was dissolved in March 2015. There has been no effort by the Dept. for Health and Human Services to retrieve the lost funds. (Source: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

(21 May 2016) California passed a law to allow illegal aliens to get driver licenses and developed a 3-year $141 million program to implement it. 650,000 licenses were issued to illegal aliens last year. The state hired 1,000 temporary DMV workers, opened 4 new processing centers, extended office hours and provides subsidized auto insurance through the California Dept. of Insurance for low-income illegal aliens using Spanish-language media. Annual premiums are as low as $241 for coverage that is less than what is mandated for other drivers who purchase policies through private insurance companies, paying a statewide average of just below $2,000 per year. The subsidized insurance pays victims less than regular policies, leaving them with insufficient protection in the case of accidents caused by illegal aliens. (Source: 21 May 2016 FOX News)

(20 May 2016) Bill Clinton signed a cash-welfare law in 1996 that imposed a 5-year lifetime limit on eligibility, but some states waived the limit. Effective in 2012, Maine reinstated their five-year limit, but allowed recipients to qualify for exemptions from a list of 8. Since then, the number of recipients declined 62%. Maine waived work requirements for food stamps in 2008. In July 2014, Maine reinstated the work requirements for childless adults and certain others. The number of food stamp recipients dropped from 13,332 in December 2014 to 1,886 in Sept. 2015, an 86% decline. Incomes for able-bodied adults without dependents who left the food stamp program increased 114%.

(18 May 2016) Self-service kiosks will be made available to the more than 6,000 Wendy's franchises. Individual restaurant managers will decide whether to install them as an alternative to having human beings take customers' orders. Wendy's might also introduce ordering and payment systems using mobile devices next year. McDonald's is also experimenting with self-service kiosks. (Source: 13 May 2016 Watchdog.org )

(15 May 2016) Kansas was spending $5.5 million per month on food stamp benefits for able-bodied adults. Only 21% were employed and 40% of those employed were working fewer than 20 hours per week. Kansas overturned its exemption from federal work requirements and it now spends $1.2 million per month. 49% of the individuals who left the food stamp rolls found employment within 3 months and 60% found employment within 1 year. Half of those who left the rolls and are working have earnings above the poverty level. (Sources: Foundation for Government Accountability, 25 Apr 2016 Daily Signal)

(15 May 2016) Harvard biologist Dr. George Wald (Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine): "civilization will end within 15 or 30 years ... unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind" -- Stanford professor Dr. Paul Ehrlich: "100-200 million people per year will be starving to death during the next ten years ... population will inevitably and completely outstrip whatever small increases in food supplies we make" -- North Texas State Univ. professor Peter Gunter: "by the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine" -- Life magazine (folded in 2000): "solid experimental and theoretical evidence" to believe that "in a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution ... by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching Earth by one half" -- David Brower (Sierra Club executive director): "childbearing [will be] a punishable crime against society, unless the parents hold a government license ... potential parents [should be] required to use contraceptive chemicals, the government issuing antidotes to citizens chosen for childbearing" -- Kenneth Watt: "You’ll drive up to the pump and say, fill’er up, buddy, and he’ll say, I am very sorry, there isn’t any ... by the year 2000, there won’t be any more crude oil" (Source: 22 Apr 2016 Daily Caller )

(29 Apr 2016) If my Medicare taxes and premiums had been placed in a private account and earned only 0.94% per year, my Medicare premiums and the interest during the period I have been on Medicare would have paid for my Medicare benefits. When I die, my heirs would receive $49,600. Instead, they will receive nothing from Medicare.

(29 Apr 2016) In 2017, the company will remain in only 6 of the 34 states where it sold Obama Care insurance. (Source: 25 Apr 2016 Daily Signal)

(24 Apr 2016) SunEdison, a renewable energy development company with $16.1 billion in liabilities, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Their stock was over $33 per share in July of last year. Trading was closed on April 21 at $0.34. (Source: 21 Apr 2016 CNBC)

(24 Apr 2016) A week after California Gov. Brown signed into law a 50% increase in the statewide minimum wage (from $10 to $15 per hour) by 2022, the Univ. of California Berkeley chancellor sent a memo to employees announcing that 500 jobs will be cut over the next 2 years. The city’s minimum wage is $11. (Source: 22 Apr 2016 Newsmax Finance)

(23 Apr 2016) "California minimum wage hike hits L.A. apparel industry: The exodus has begun" ... This title was for an article in a very liberal newspaper. No problem. Democrats will buy the votes of the unemployed with Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance, cash welfare, earned income tax credits, subsidized utilities and subsidized transportation. (Source: 16 Apr 2016 Los Angeles Times)

(17 Apr 2016) Houston (a slave owner) school district trustees voted to rename 7 district campuses currently named after confederate leaders at an estimated cost of $1.75 million. Similar actions have occurred elsewhere based on the issue of slavery. Will people demand that presidents be dishonored? Will they demand that the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial be torn down ... and that they be removed from Mount Rushmore? They both owned slaves while president, as did 6 others. In addition, 4 more owned slaves, but not while president. (Sources: Western Washington Univ. librarian Robert Lopresti, 7 March 2016 Texas Scorecard)

(27 Mar 2016) In 2015, the top car sales in the U.S. were Toyota Camry (429,000), Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Nissan Altima. The top SUV sales were Honda CR-V (346,000) and Toyota RAV4. The top 3 pickup trucks were Ford F-Series (780,000), Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram. Toyota Prius (hybrid) sales were 114,000, but only 4,000 Toyota Prius Plug-In models were sold. Tesla sold an estimated 27,000 (total for S and X models). (Source: Good Car Bad Car)

(27 Mar 2016) If people rent a room or their whole house in San Francisco to vacationers, they have had to register with the City and pay a 14% "hotel" tax. Now, they will also have to submit an itemized list of all the "furniture, appliances, supplies, equipment and fixtures" used in their rentals, specifying the costs and acquisition dates. After the assessor’s office calculates depreciation, their "business personal property" will be subject to a tax of slightly over 1% of its value. (Source: 17 March 2016 San Francisco Chronicle)

(27 Mar 2016) 57% of illegal alien households get food assistance and 51% get Medicaid. In 2012, 87% of illegal alien households with children benefitted from at least one welfare program. There is a worker present in 95% of illegal alien households. Illegal alien households obviously have low incomes. 820,000 illegal aliens have been arrested, tried and convicted. (Sources: Migration Policy Institute, Center for Immigration Studies, 9 Sep 2015 Breitbart, 14 Mar 2016 Breitbart)

(20 Mar 2016) The number of legal and illegal immigrants and their children is 18.9% of the total population, up from 6.6% in 1970. Traditionally, 250,000 immigrants are admitted each year. Since 2000, the number has increased to 1.5 million each year. (Source: Center for Immigration Studies)

(13 Mar 2016) If my Social Security taxes had been placed in a private account and earned only 4.48% per year, the current monthly income would be equal to the monthly after-tax payment I receive. When I die, my heirs would receive $339,000. Instead, they will receive nothing from Social Security.

(11 Mar 2016) In 2013, 44.2% of residents paid no federal income taxes. 33.7% of the returns filed paid no income taxes and received a check from the IRS. (Sources: IRS, 17 Feb 2016 Daily Signal)

(8 Mar 2016) In October 2015, there were 45,368,265 food stamp (SNAP) beneficiaries ... cost taxpayers $5.73 billion per month. (Sources: Dept. of Agriculture, 12 Feb. 2016 Washington Free Beacon)

(8 Mar 2016) The Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank provides subsidized financing for foreign firms and governments to purchase American exports. In 2015, The Boeing Company spent the most ($21.9 million) in lobbying the Ex-Im Bank. Who benefitted the most from Ex-Im Bank loan guarantees and total financing? Boeing ... 69% and 44% of the totals, respectively. (Source: 9 Feb. 2016 The Hill)

(15 Feb 2016) In Dec. 2015, the average price of gas (up to 10% ethanol) sold was $2.35. The price of E-85 (average 70% ethanol) was $3.07, adjusted to reflect the lower energy content. (Source: Feb 2016 Dept. of Energy)

(15 Feb 2016) In 2008, California voters authorized selling $9.9 billion in bonds for a high-speed rail system that is currently to be 520 miles long at a cost of $68 billion. Only 63% of the parcels needed for the first 29 miles have been purchased. (Source: 7 Feb 2016 Associated Press)

(5 Feb 2016) MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) cost $8.5 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2009 (starting July 1) and is projected to cost $14.7 billion in FY 2016. (Source: Mass Taxpayers Foundation)

(26 Jan 2016) The Oakland, California Walmart had 400 employees and closed on January 17, but the two in San Leandro (approximately 1.5 and 4.5 miles away) will not close. Oakland has a minimum wage ($12.55 per hour) that is 25.5% higher than San Leandro's. Oakland does not reveal store sales-tax revenue, but the Walmart store was in the top 25. (Source: 22 Jan 2016 Daily Signal)

(24 Jan 2016) 92% of Detroit 8th-graders cannot read proficiently. (Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education, 20 Jan 2016 Daily Signal)

(24 Jan 2016) 9.6% of college graduates indicated that Judith Sheindlin (“Judge Judy”) was on the U.S. Supreme Court. (Source: research by GfK for Jan 2016 American Council of Trustees and Alumni)

(18 Jan 2016) Puerto Rico (P.R.) was claimed for Spain in 1493 by Columbus during his 2nd voyage. In 1898, following the Spanish American War, Spain ceded P.R., the Philippines and Guam to the U.S. under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. In 1946, the U.S. recognized the Philippines as an independent nation. The U.S. should do the same with P.R.

(18 Jan 2016) 46.7% of young blacks (18-29) without a high school diploma and 34.4% with only a high school diploma are unemployed. Among young Hispanics, 33.0% and 25.1%, respectively, are unemployed. (Source: NumbersUSA)

(8 Jan 2016) In 2013, the top 1% (ranked by adjusted gross income, AGI) of federal personal income tax returns had 28.9% of AGI and paid 37.8% of the taxes. In 1980, they paid 19.3% of the taxes. In 2013, the top 50% of returns paid 97.2% of the taxes. (Source: National Taxpayers Union)

(2 Jan 2016) Only 45% of non-pediatric primary care physicians accept new Medicaid patients and 72% accept new Medicare patients. (Source: 30 Oct 2015 Kaiser Family Foundation)

(2 Jan 2016) Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid) covered 12.7 million people (1 of every 3) in July 2015, up from 7.6 million 4 years earlier. The 2016 fiscal year budget is $91 billion, up from $59.3 billion 4 years ago. Groups in California have filed a federal civil rights complaint alleging that Latinos are being denied access to health care because Medi-Cal does not pay doctors enough (nationally, only 69% of doctors accept Medicaid patients and the patients wait an average of 42 days to see a doctor). (Sources: Health Affairs, California Dept. of Health Care Services, 31 Dec 2015 Los Angeles Times)

(5 Dec 2015) In 2013, the top 1% of federal tax returns by adjusted gross income paid 38% of the taxes. The top 10% paid 70% and the top 50% paid 97%. The bottom 50% paid only 3%. (Source: National Taxpayers Union Foundation)

(5 Dec 2015) Maine reduced food stamp (SNAP) enrollment from 256,000 in Feb. 2012 to 197,000, in large part due to eliminating the work-requirement waiver. Non-disabled residents between 18 and 49 without children are required to work at least 20 hours per week, volunteer at least 24 hours per month or attend vocational training in order to receive food stamps. Those who are caring for an incapacitated adult, are currently receiving substance abuse treatment, are in school at least half-time or are pregnant, are exempt from meeting the new requirements. (Sources: Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services, 19 Nov 2015 Daily Signal)

(5 Dec 2015) The average total company-provided health insurance premium increased from $9,447 per employee in 2011 to $11,032 in 2015. The employee portions averaged $2,026 in 2011 and $2,490 in 2015. Employees averaged another $2,208 in out-of-pocket costs (such as copayments and deductibles) in 2015. The average total employee cost increased from $2,001 in 2005 to $4,698 in 2015. (Source: 11 Nov 2015 USA TODAY)

(5 Dec 2015) In the 2010-11 school year, only 22 of the 51 government-college athletics programs with the most revenue were profitable, excluding institutional subsidies. Only 23 of 228 Division-I athletics programs were profitable. (Sources: USA Today, 15 May 2012 and 19 May 2013 SB Nation)

(20 Nov 2015) Last spring, Volvo became the first company to import cars from a plant in China. General Motors (GM), after agreeing to a new union contract that is expected to increase its U.S. labor costs, plans to import Chinese-made cars (Buick Envision) early in 2016. GM has 58,000 employees at 11 joint ventures, 2 wholly owned foreign enterprises , a research and development center, a test facility and a parts / repair / maintenance facility in China. GM sold 3,539,970 vehicles in China in 2014 ... more than it sold in the U.S. / Canada / Mexico.

(20 Nov 2015) In 2013, illegal aliens sent $22 billion back to Mexico ... money that will be spent in Mexico. (Source: FOX News Latino)

(20 Nov 2015) California will extend Medi-Cal (Medicaid) to all illegal alien children ... approximately 170,000. There is legislation to expand the eligibility to all illegal aliens ... 51% of them have incomes low enough ($32,913 for a family of 4) ... 58% in Los Angeles County. (Sources: Public Policy Institute of California, 13 Nov 2015 FOX News)

(8 Nov 2015) 23 nonprofit insurance companies (consumer oriented and operated plans (co-ops)) launched in 2013 as a result of Obama Care. 12 have collapsed, costing taxpayers $1.2 billion in government-backed loans. (Source: 3 Nov 2015 Washington Times)

(8 Nov 2015) Maine re-implemented a work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents enrolled in the food stamp program (SNAP). Enrollment reached a high of 255,663 recipients in February, 2012 and has decreased to 199,157. (Source: 15 Oct 2015 Daily Signal)

(8 Nov 2015) Tesla has received $315 million in 4 years from federal and state programs that redistributed money from other car companies ($3 million, $32 million, $130 million and $150 million in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively). In 2014, Tesla sales were $3.2 billion with a net loss of $294 million. Tesla said the prices of its cars in China could be reduced by 33% if they were made in China. Negotiations with the Chinese government to allow production are underway. Tesla electric cars are assembled in California and the Netherlands. Will Tesla cars be imported to the U.S. from China? (Sources: 16 Feb 2015 Forbes, 23 Oct Wall Street Journal)

(31 Oct 2015) Prior to the vote on bonds to pay for California's high-speed train between Los Angeles and San Francisco 7 years ago, the estimate was $33 billion dollars. Cost projections, including 2 additional spurs, rose to $98 billion in 2011. The budget was cut to $68 billion (LA to SF) by eliminating the 2 spurs. (Source: 24 Oct 2015 Los Angeles Times)

(30 Oct 2015) Vermont adopted universal health care in 2001, but abandoned it 3 years later because it was too expensive. As a result of collecting signatures, Colorado will vote on taxpayer-funded health coverage (ColoradoCare) for everyone under 65. In addition to the 7.65% tax on payroll that employers pay for employee Social Security and Medicare, they will pay an additional 6.67%. In addition to the 7.65% of their wages that employees pay for Social Security and Medicare, they will pay an additional 3.33%. There will also be a 10% tax on all non-wage income of everyone under 65. The percentages can be raised once a year by a majority of voters under 65. (Source: ColoradoCare Yes)

(29 Oct 2015) Washington’s state minimum wage is $9.47 per hour. In June 2014, Seattle passed its own minimum wage of $11 an hour starting 1 April 2015. Seattle’s wage increases to $15 by 2017. This year, through September, the state gained 5,800 restaurant jobs and Seattle lost 700. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Oct 2015 American Enterprise Institute)

(29 Oct 2015) 23 nonprofit insurance companies (consumer oriented and operated plans (co-ops)) launched in 2013 as a result of Obama Care. Czar Obama originally requested $6 billion from Congress. Fortunately, Congress lowered funding for the co-ops and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services disbursed $2.4 billion in start-up and solvency loans. 22 of the 23 co-ops lost money in 2014. 6 of the 23 have collapsed, including the largest (New York). The 6 collectively received $762 million. 420,000 will lose their insurance for 2016. (Source: 15 October 2015 Daily Signal)

(29 Oct 2015) In 2003, 30% thought the federal government posed "an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". Now, it is 49% ... too many laws / government too big 19%, violations of freedoms / civil liberties 15%, gun control / violating 2nd Amendment 12%, too much involvement in private lives 10%. (Source: 21 September 2015 Gallup)

(9 Oct 2015) Texas Medicaid amounts to almost 25% of its general revenue appropriations. Medicaid's growth has caused total state spending for the current 2-year budget on health and human services ($74.5 billion) to exceed total education ($73.9 billion) for the first time in Texas history. Approximately 80% of health and human services spending is Medicaid. Nearly 70% of Texas physicians will not accept new Medicaid patients. (Source: Sept 2015 Texas Public Policy Foundation)

(9 Oct 2015) Per a new law in California, all government and private post-secondary schools that receive state money for student financial aid must handle sexual assault accusations according to the standard that "affirmative consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual activity … lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent". The frequency of "ongoing" consent during sex is not defined.

(9 Oct 2015) Trump said, "un-Republican thing for me to say" pledging "to take care of everybody" when it comes to health care. He said he’d cut a deal with hospitals to take care of everyone, and that "the government’s gonna pay for it". He also said, "eminent domain for the public good is a good thing". (Sources: 27 Sept 2015 60 Minutes, 6 Oct FOX News)

(9 Oct 2015) The 5 states with the most debt per taxpayer were N.J. $52,300; Conn. $48,600; Ill. $45,000; Kentucky $32,600 and Mass. $27,400. Majorities in 4 of those 5 states voted for Czar Obama in 2012. The 5 states with the most surplus per taxpayer were Alaska $52,300; N.D. $28,400; Wyoming $22,600; Utah $4,200 and S.D. $4,000. Majorities in all 5 of those states voted for Romney in 2012. (Source Sept 2015 Truth in Accounting)

(9 Oct 2015) In 2013, Nebraska had the highest average wind electricity production as a function of capacity ... 43.7%. Tennessee had the lowest ... only 18.4%. However, Nebraska has very little capacity (812 MW) compared to Texas (15,635 MW). (Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA))

(9 Oct 2015) In 2004, there was a transfer of roughly $1 trillion in economic resources from the incomes of the top 40% of households to the bottom 60%. The average household in the top 20% paid $69,704 in taxes, and received $21,515 in benefits and services. The bottom 20% paid $4,251 in taxes, and received $29,015 in benefits and services. (Source: 15 Sept 2015 Heritage Foundation)

(3 Oct 2015) The 1% California state income tax returns with the highest AGIs pay 45% of the taxes. In 2012, the 1% federal returns with the highest AGIs paid 38.1 % of the taxes. (Sources: IRS, 22 Dec 2014 Tax Foundation, Calif. Dept. of Finance, 2 Oct 2015 CNBC)

(3 Oct 2015) The Fiat 500e (electric) car is about the size of a fully enclosed golf cart (7.55 feet wheelbase) and has a range of 87 miles. It is so expensive (base model = $31,800 plus destination charge), it is only sold in California and Oregon. They are the only 2 states that force taxpayers to subsidize buyers.

(3 Oct 2015) In 2010, Thomas Melone, CEO of Allco Renewable Energy, petitioned to block Cape Wind, an offshore wind electricity project (130 turbines) in Nantucket Sound federal water. He claimed the project would affect his ocean view and reduce the value of his $15 million beachfront property in Edgartown, Mass. Now, Allco has issued scathing criticisms toward Vermont residents who claim clear-cutting of forest for Allco’s Chelsea Solar electricity project planned for Bennington's Apple Hill area will boost highway noise, destroy the natural wind buffer that protects homes in the area and affect their view. In a brief filed with the Vermont Public Service Board, Allco claimed, "The Chelsea Project will advance the goals of fighting the devastating impacts from climate change. Whatever the unsubstantiated and private concerns ... may be, they pale in comparison to the benefits provided by the Project." (Source: 19 Sept 2015 Watchdog)

(21 Sept 2015) Illegal aliens are: (1) 3.5% of the population, (2) 13.6% of all offenders sentenced for crimes, (3) 12% of all offenders sentenced for murder, (4) 20% of all offenders sentenced for kidnapping and (5) 16% of all offenders sentenced for drug trafficking. Between 2008 and 2014, legal and illegal aliens in Texas committed 611,234 crimes, including nearly 3,000 homicides. (Sources: Census Bureau, Sentencing Commission, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Bureau of Justice Statistics, Texas Dept. of Public Safety)

(21 Sept 2015) In 2014, there were 115,470,000 with government health insurance at some time during the year ... 61,650,000 Medicaid and 50,546,000 Medicare. (Source: 16 Sept 2015 CNS News)

(21 Sept 2015) In a California poll, 48% indicated Medi-Cal (virtually free health care for low-income people) should be available to illegal aliens ... 69% of Latinos and 68% of Democrats agreed. The state budget includes $40 million in Medi-Cal funds for all people under 19, including illegal aliens, in low-income families. Medi-Cal is the name of Medicaid in California. 32.4% of California's population is covered by Medi-Cal. (Source: 15 Sept 2015 Los Angeles Times)

(21 Sept 2015) The Council of the District of Columbia empowered the Board of Physical Therapy to create occupational licensing laws for personal trainers that are scheduled for a Sept. 22 vote. These authoritarian politicians think people are too stupid to select someone to help them exercise. No state licenses personal trainers. They would be required to register with the mayor's office and pay a fee. A draft of the rules would require personal trainers have a four-year degree. (Source: 15 Sept 2015 Watchdog)

(4 Sept 2015) In 2014, MassHealth (Massachusett's Medicaid for low-income residents) spending surged 19%, partly because the state's online insurance exchange crashed. About 300,000 people were placed in MassHealth temporarily, regardless of their income. (Source: 2 Sept 2015 Boston Globe)

(4 Sept 2015) 51% of immigrant-led households receive at least 1 kind of government benefit based on their low income, e.g., cash welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance; compared to 30% for native-led households. 76% of immigrant-led households with children receive at least 1 benefit. (Sources: 2012 Census Bureau Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2 Sept 2015 Center for Immigration Studies)

(2 Sept 2015) Sage grouse birds are not listed as "endangered" or "protected" ... there are between 200,000 and 500,000 of them in 11 states. The government has spent more than $400 million on sage grouse conservation since 2010 and $211 million will be spent over the next 3 years with nearly half to buy conservation easements ... land that can only be used for grazing and cannot be developed for other purposes. This will almost double the bird's protected habitat to 8 million acres by 2018. (Source: 28 Aug 2015 FOX News)

(30 Aug 2015) Deportation of American citizens isn't an option. Deportation of illegal aliens is the only option. Where their children will live is up to the parents, not me. I respect family autonomy and the authority of parents. I don't think I know better than parents. I believe in freedom. It was their choice to come here illegally. It was their choice to have a child here who became an American citizen. It is now their choice to either keep their family together and take their child with them when they return to their home country or not. If they decide to leave their child behind, that is their problem, not mine.

(30 Aug 2015) In 2014, GM delivered 3.54 million vehicles in China and 3.41 million in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. (Source: General Motors)

(30 Aug 2015) In 2014, Boston gave out a $200 gift card and a promise of protection from prosecution as long as the gun wasn't directly connected to a crime for each of 410 guns turned in. The goal was to take illegal and homemade guns off the streets in order to reduce gun-related violence. Non-fatal shootings have increased 43% this year. (Source: 24 Aug 2015 Media Research Center TV)

(30 Aug 2015) From 2004 to 2014, food stamp (SNAP) participation increased from 24 million to 46.5 million. Fewer than half are children and elderly. The program cost $74.1 billion in 2014. (Source: 22 Aug 2015 Daily Signal)

(22 Aug 2015) 25,226 families received government assistance despite exceeding income thresholds. The taxpayers will pay $104.4 million over the next year for government housing units occupied by over-income families. (Source: Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General)

(20 Aug 2015) From January 2010 through May 2015, wind-generated electricity in California averaged only 11% of capacity in January and peaked at 42% in June. (Source: 11 Aug 2015 Energy Information Administration)

(16 Aug 2015) 71% of 2015 bachelor-degree recipients will graduate with an average student loan of $35,000. Only 14% of 2015 college seniors have steady, career-type jobs lined up after graduation. (Sources: After College, Edvisors, 8 May 2015 Wall Street Journal)

(16 Aug 2015) In April 2015, the average price of gas (up to 10% ethanol) sold was $2.42. The price of E-85 (average 70% ethanol) was $2.77, adjusted to reflect the lower energy content. (Source: April 2015 Dept. of Energy)

(16 Aug 2015) North Dakota's costs for expanding Medicaid under Obama Care are higher than had been projected. The revised cost estimate has increased from $2.9 million to $8.2 million for fiscal 2017. (Sources: Dept. of Human Services, 19 July 2015 Associated Press)

(8 Aug 2015) Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance ran a $39 billion deficit in 2014, the 5th consecutive year of cash-flow deficits. (Source: 29 July 2015 Heritage Foundation)

(8 Aug 2015) The Social Security disability trust fund will run out of money in late 2016 and trigger an automatic 19% cut in benefits. (Source: 22 July 2015 Associated Press)

(8 Aug 2015) Federal law requires able-bodied adults without dependents to work at least 20 hours per week or lose food stamp benefits after 3 months. In 2006, only 6 states had waived the work requirement. Now, 44 have waived the requirement. 4.8 million are receiving food stamps due to the elimination of work requirements. To be eligible for food stamps in 2000, 47 states had asset tests. Federal law states one is eligible if liquid assets are less than $2,000 ($3,250 in homes with disabled or elderly members). Now, asset tests are gone in 35 states, and weakened in 5 others. The removal of the asset test has added 1 million people to the program. (Sources: Foundation For Government Accountability, 14 July 2015 Townhall)

(8 Aug 2015) After SF raised its minimum wage from $10.74 to $12.25 per hour, Chipotle restaurants increased its prices all across the menu by an average 10.5%. Chipotle restaurants in cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago and Orlando saw increases averaging 0.5% across all items. Next year, SF's minimum wage will rise to $13, followed by $14 in 2017 and $15 in 2018. (Sources: William Blair weekly survey, 6 July 2015 Investor’s Business Daily)

(25 July 2015) ICE released 36,000 convicted criminal aliens in 2013 and 30,000 in 2014. (Source: House Judiciary Committee)

(25 July 2015) 41.7% of the federal criminal cases that U.S. attorneys filed in district courts in fiscal 2014 were in the 5 districts along the U.S.-Mexico border (Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Western Texas and Southern Texas). 5,832 criminal cases were filed in Western Texas and 5,517 in Southern Texas, each more than the total of 5,257 cases filed in the 17 districts that stretch from the Western District of Washington to the District of Maine. The defendants found guilty in the 5 districts along the U.S.-Mexico border equaled 36.6% of those found guilty in all 93 districts. Of the criminal defendants found guilty in the magistrate courts, 93.8% were in the 5 districts along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Source: Dept. of Justice)

(25 July 2015) In 2012, there was a monthly average of 52.25 million low-income people (21.3% of population) benefitting from a government assistance program. (Source: Census Bureau)

(18 July 2015) In 2013, 42.5% of Hispanics living below the federal poverty level were under 18 ... 38.4% of blacks ... 21.8% of whites ... 20.6% of Asians. (Source: Census Bureau)

(18 July 2015) In the first 6 months of 2015, California issued 397,000 driver licenses to illegal aliens and 362,000 to legal residents. (Sources: California Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 18 July 2015 Fox News)

(18 July 2015) During Jan.-Aug. 2014, there were 276 counties in 42 states plus D.C. that refused to comply with ICE detainers. The largest numbers of detainers refused were in Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Alameda and San Diego counties in California; and Miami-Dade County in Florida. (Source: 8 Oct 2014 Dept. of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Systems & Analysis)

(18 July 2015) At least 121 murders have been committed by criminal aliens that were released by the U.S. government since 2010. There are 168,680 convicted criminal aliens living in the U.S. who have been issued final orders for deportation. There are another 179,018 convicted criminal aliens living in the U.S. who are currently in deportation proceedings. In the first 8 months of 2014, there were 8100 deportable illegal aliens, including 3000 felons, that were released after arrest in approximately 300 sanctuary cities after ICE had issued a detainer seeking custody. In the first 5 months of FY2015, only 181 companies were investigated by the federal government for hiring illegal workers, compared to 3000 in FY2013. (Sources: Center for Immigration Studies, Sen. Sessions, Sen. Grassley)

(18 July 2015) What was originally estimated in 2005 to cost just $328 million with a cap of $880 million, has grown to an incredible $1.73 billion. (Sources: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, American Prosperity)

(6 July 2015) In 2013, the state of Washington gave Boeing the biggest tax break in history, $8.7 billion through 2040. Since then, Boeing has moved more than 3,500 jobs to other states (South Carolina, California, Missouri and Oklahoma) and another 2,000 transfers are in the works. The Washington legislature did not make the taxpayers' gift contingent on any Boeing action. (Source: 20 May 2015 Fox News)

(6 July 2015) In 2014, the Teamsters and its affiliates spent nearly $5.9 million on lobbying and political contributions. One of its main legislative targets was passage of the pension reform law that allowed the Teamsters to start reducing benefits. The law allows multiemployer pension funds to cut benefits to employees and retirees if the plan is underfunded by at least 20%. The Teamsters has begun informing employees and retirees that their pension benefits may soon be cut. (Source: 21 May 2015 Washington Times)

(6 July 2015) Los Angeles recently hiked its minimum wage to $15 an hour and unions strongly support the ordinance. Now, the unions are lobbying the city council to exempt unionized companies from the higher rate. If they get their way, only unionized companies could pay less than the new minimum wage. An exemption would enable unions to offer businesses lower wages in exchange for unionizing. (Source: 29 May 2015 Daily Signal)

(5 July 2015) A household of 3 eligible for food stamps, AFDC, Medicaid and utilities subsidies could receive $1,743 per month, compared to a minimum-wage earner's after-tax pay of $1,159. It is no surprise only 40% of the adult population is employed or looking for work. The population declined for the first time in 2006, and has decreased from more than 3.8 million to less than 3.6 million. (Source: 29 June 2015 Puerto Rico - A Way Forward)

(5 July 2015) The $2.2 billion Ivanpah solar power project in California's Mojave Desert is supposed to generate more than a million megawatt-hours of electricity each year. After 15 months, the plant is producing just 40% of that amount. (Source: U.S. Energy Dept., 15 June 2015 National Center for Policy Analysis)

(25 June 2015) A 1937 law that allows the Dept. of Agriculture to manipulate the prices of crops by controlling the supply that reaches the marketplace resulted in a 1949 marketing order that allows raisin farmers to form a committee that decides how much of the crop must be turned over to the government each year. The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that it is unconstitutional for the government to force raisin farmers to give up part of their annual crop for less than it's worth. The Court rejected the government's argument that the plaintiff voluntarily chose to participate in the raisin marketing order when he decided not to grow a different crop. Justice Sotomayor, chosen by Czar Obama, was the lone dissenter. Her support for a more authoritarian government was evident when she argued the raisin supply control program was constitutional because it did not deprive the plaintiff of all property rights, it just limited the amount of potential income the plaintiff could earn from part of his raisin crop. (Source: 23 June 2015 Associated Press)

(25 June 2015) In 2012, an average 21.3% participated in major government assistance programs for low-income people. Medicaid had the highest participation rate … 15.3%. Food stamps was 13.4%. The black participation rate was 41.6% … Hispanics 36.4% … Asians / Pacific Islanders 17.8% … non-Hispanic whites 13.2% … female head-of-households 50% … did not graduate from high school 37.3%. (Source: 28 May 2015 Census Bureau)

(25 May 2015) Chicago's credit rating was reduced 2 notches, leaving municipal bonds at "junk" status. Government-employee pensions are so underfunded, the shortfall will be nearly 6 times the city's annual budget. The pension debt, quadruple what it was 10 years ago, is $60,000 per household. The Illinois Supreme Court said pensions are sacred, so defaulting is not an option. (Sources: Illinois Policy Institute, 12 May 2015 Moody's, 19 May Fox News)

(25 June 2015) A production study of all 14,450 organic farms reported that organic corn, rice, spring wheat and lettuce yields were respectively 30, 41, 53 and 70% lower than respective conventional yields. (Source: 2008 Dept. of Agriculture)

(25 May 2015) National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE) executive Shelton Snow (also an air traffic controller) sent a lengthy audio message to members of the NBCFAE who hoped to pass the personality test known as the "Biographical Questionnaire" that is required by the FAA. It instructed FAA job applicants how to cheat on the exam. "There is some valuable pieces of information that I have taken a screen shot of and I am going to send that to you via email ... as you progress through the stages refer to those images so you will know which icons you should select." (Source: 22 May 2015 FOX Business)

(25 May 2015) The federal government has 18 food assistance programs administered by 3 agencies that benefit 109.9 million people (individuals who participate in more than 1 program are counted multiple times). Food Stamps (SNAP) were provided to 46 million at a cost of $74.6 billion. The school lunch program cost $11.3 billion ... the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) cost $7.1 billion ... nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico cost $1.9 billion. (Source: Government Accountability Office (GAO))

(25 May 2015) The total cost (adjusted for inflation) per government-school student for a K-12 education graduating in a given year increased more than 180% from 1970 to 2010. The number of school employees increased more than 90%. The number of students increased less than 10%. Science test scores decreased slightly, and reading and math scores stayed the same. (Sources: Cato Institute, 21 Mar 2015 Townhall)

(22 May 2015) In 1970, the hybrid government-private National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) was created. Since then, Amtrak has received $45 billion from federal taxpayers. In 2012, 40 of the 44 routes lost money. This year, 74% of the $1.9 billion of costs will be paid by the taxpayers. (Sources: 1 Mar 2013 Brookings, 13 Nov 2013 Congressional Budget Office (CBO))

(22 May 2015) Hawaii is shutting down its struggling state-based health care exchange (Hawaii Health Connector (HHC)). It has 37,000 enrollees, far short of the roughly 70,000 needed to raise enough money to sustain it. In March, Obama Care told HHC the exchange was out of compliance because it was not financially self-sustainable. New enrollments were halted on May 15. HHC will transfer to a temporary system by Sept. 30 and enrollees will have to sign up in healthcare.gov for 2016. HHC, established by Obama Care, has received $204.3 million in federal grants to build and sustain the exchange it is closing. (Source: 9 May 2015 Honolulu Star)

(18 May 2015) Dairy Queen became politically correct and a hypocrite at the same time. It is going to delete soda from its kids’ menu. However, the kids’ vanilla ice cream cone has more calories (170, 150), more fat (4.5, 0 g), more sodium (75, 30 mg) and more cholesterol (15, 0 mg) than a kids’ Pepsi (Source: Dairy Queen).

(18 May 2015) In 1961, 43% of money spent on health care was out-of-pocket. By 2010, it had declined to 12%. With Obama Care, it rose to 14.8% in 2012 and to 15.2% in 2013. (Sources: 27 Mar 2012 George Mason Univ. Mercatus Center, Feb 2015 Health Care Cost Institute)

(18 May 2015) 30% of people who have too much income to qualify for food stamps (SNAP) are obese. 32% who are eligible but do not receive food stamps are obese. 40% who receive food stamps are obese … many of them receive Medicaid. (Sources: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2007-2010, Dept. of Agriculture (USDA))

(10 May 2015) The 3 metro areas with the largest positive net migrations during 2010-2014 were Houston, Dallas and Austin (all more than 100,000). The 3 losing the most were New York (more than 500,000), Chicago (more than 200,000) and Los Angeles (more than 200,000). (Sources: Census Bureau, 26 Mar 2015 The Atlantic)

(10 May 2015) In fiscal 2014, individual federal income tax receipts were 8.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Social insurance taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes collected from workers' wages, rose to 5.9% of GDP. (Sources: Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, 31 Mar 2015 Reuters)

(10 May 2015) Sanders first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1972. He was the candidate of the socialist Liberty Union Party and got just 2.2% of the votes. He has stated, "Yeah. I wouldn't deny it. Not for one second. I'm a democratic socialist." He had or has a photo of Eugene Debs, the Socialist Party presidential candidate in 1912, on his congressional wall. (Source: 5 Nov 2006 Washington Post)

(9 May 2015) By the time they are 17 years old, only 17% of black children live with their married biological parents. In 2013, 72% of all births to black women occurred outside of marriage. In Baltimore, 69% of black children live without a father in the home. (Sources: Child Trends, 2011 Pew Research, 2012 Census Bureau)

(9 May 2015) From fiscal 2010 to 2014, crude oil production increased 88.8% on non-federal lands, but decreased 10.2% on federal onshore and offshore leases. (Sources: 30 Mar 2015 Energy Information Administration, 3 Apr Congressional Research Service)

(9 May 2015) Before Obama Care, Assurant Health underwrote its customer's policies, which gave the company a competitive edge. Obama Care prohibited their underwriting. Assurant Health, founded in 1892, had a $64 million loss in 2014. During the first 3 months of 2015, the company reported operating losses of $80 to $90 million. The company will either be sold or closed.

(9 May 2015) In 2009, Exxon Mobil paid $600,000 for killing 85 birds in five states. In Nov. 2013, Duke Energy paid a $41 million fine for killing 14 eagles and 149 other birds at 2 wind farms in Wyoming from 2009 to 2013. In Dec. 2013, Czar Obama finalized a regulation allowing wind electricity companies to obtain 30-year permits to kill eagles without prosecution by the federal government. 573,000 birds and 888,000 bats were killed by wind turbines in 1 year. No solar facilities have been fined. Sources: (Wildlife Society Bulletin, 29 Apr 2015 Institute for Energy Research)

(9 May 2015) Nearly half of the 17 insurance marketplaces set up by 16 states and D.C. under Obama Care are struggling financially, in spite of receiving $4.99 billion in federal grants ($1.07 billion went to California). To ease the fiscal distress, officials are considering raising fees on insurers (will increase premiums), sharing costs with other states and pressing state lawmakers for cash infusions (will increase taxes). In a poll, 42% said that the country is worse off because of Obama Care, and 33% said the health care situation was better since the law was passed. 26% said their family is worse off and 15% said they are better off under the law. 77% said it made their health insurance more expensive and 12% said it reduced their insurance costs. (Sources: Anderson Robbins Research, Shaw & Company Research, 1 May 2015 Washington Post)

(9 May 2015) Greece's borrow-tax-spend policies are not working ... its 2-year bond yield is 28.76%. (Source: 21 Apr 2015 Investing.com)

(2 May 2015) Taxpayers are on the hook for an estimated $2.21 billion in net losses from the federal government's energy loan guarantee programs, including $0.81 billion for loans that have already defaulted. (Source: 27 Apr 2015 Government Accountability Office)

(2 May 2015) Among people 16 to 34 years old, only Spain and Italy of the 22 participating countries scored lower than the U.S. in literacy. In numeracy, the U.S. was tied for last with Spain and Italy. In problem solving, the U.S. ranked last with the Slovak Republic, Ireland and Poland. The top-scoring (90th percentile) in the U.S. scored higher than only one country’s (Spain’s) 90th percentile. (Sources: Educational Testing Service, Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies)

(2 May 2015) In 2014, no one worked in 19.9% of families ("group of 2 or more persons residing together who are related by birth, marriage or adoption"). In single-parent families, 25.6% maintained by women and 17.0% maintained by men had no employed family member. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(2 May 2015) Ivanpah, a solar electricity facility owned by NRG Energy, Google and BrightSource Energy in San Bernardino County, California, killed an estimated 3,504 birds in its first year of operation. 83 different species of dead birds were found. (Sources: H.T. Harvey & Associates, 23 Apr 2015 Desert Sun)

(2 May 2015) From 1945 to 1970, the foreign-born population decreased from 11.0 million to 9.7 million and the average income of the bottom 90% of tax filers increased from $18,418 to $33,621. From 1970 to 2013, the foreign-born population increased from 9.7 million to 41.3 million and the average income of the bottom 90% of tax filers decreased from $33,621 to $30,980. (Sources: Congressional Research Service, 23 Apr 2015 Breitbart)

(26 Apr 2015) Speaking about Republican presidential candidates, a Koch aide said, "If you can't stand up against corporate welfare, how are you going to go in with any credibility and [reform] some of the broader entitlement programs? Corporate welfare is a growing monster that we have to tackle." (Source: 21 Apr 2015 Daily Signal)

(26 Apr 2015) The estimated life-cycle costs (per kilowatt-hour) of electricity for new generation resources completed in 2019 were determined, including the building and operating costs during their assumed lives ... natural gas $66.30, onshore wind $80.30, coal $95.60, nuclear $96.10, photovoltaic solar $130.00, offshore wind $204.10 and thermal solar $243.10. (Source: 17 Apr 2014 Energy Information Administration (EIA))

(26 Apr 2015) In 2007, South Los Angeles (largely poor and minority) residents were significantly more obese than those in the remainder of the city and the data showed a dramatic increase from a similar report a decade earlier. In 2008, the LA City Council voted unanimously to forbid the opening of any new single-building fast- food restaurants in the South LA section of the city. Since 2008, fast-food consumption and obesity rates in South LA have continued to outpace the rest of the city. Despite the ban, the number of fast-food restaurants increased by 10% ... locating in strip malls. (Sources: Rand Corp., 28 Mar 2015 Townhall)

(25 Apr 2015) Sen. Vitter pleaded with the Senate Small Business Committee, which he chairs, to subpoena the secret documents in which the House and Senate each claimed to be a "small business" with less than 50 employees in order to avoid going into the regular Obama Care exchanges ... the same Obama Care exchanges they forced on millions of other Americans. Now 13,700 House and Senate members, and their staffs have signed up as a small business under this false declaration. The committee voted against the subpoena by a vote of 5 to 14. 5 Republicans voted "yes" and all 9 Democrats voted "no". (Source: 23 Apr 2015 American Commitment)

(25 Apr 2015) Over the past 35 years, wind energy, which supplied just 4.4% of U.S. electricity in 2014, has received $30 billion in federal subsidies and grants. In 2010, wind electricity received 42% of total federal subsidies while producing only 2% of the nation's total electricity. Solar got 8% of the subsidies and produced less than 1% of the electricity. As of 2010, 84% of total clean-energy grants awarded by the federal government went to foreign-owned wind companies. (Source: 11 Apr 2015 Newsweek)

(22 Apr 2015) Maine began enforcing new requirements that require non-disabled residents between 18 and 49 without children to work at least 20 hours per week, volunteer at least 24 hours per month or attend vocational training in order to receive food stamps (SNAP). Those who are caring for an incapacitated adult, are currently receiving substance abuse treatment, are in school at least half-time or are pregnant are exempt from meeting the new requirements. If they do not participate in 1 of the 3 requirements, their food stamps are limited to 3 months for a period of 3 years. The number of recipients decreased from 12,000 last year to 2,680 currently. (Sources: Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services, 26 Mar 2015 Conservative Tribune)

(22 Apr 2015) The price of water the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) now gets from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is about $1,000 per acre-foot. The largest seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere is being built in Carlsbad, California. SDCWA has agreed to buy at least 48,000 acre-feet of water from the plant each year (7% of what SDCWA supplies to customers) at $2,014 to $2,257 per acre-foot, depending on how much it buys. (Sources: 28 Feb 2013, New York Times, Apr 2015 San Jose Mercury News)

(22 Apr 2015) During the 74 full months of Czar Obama's reign, the national public debt increased by $7.52 trillion to $18.15 trillion, at an annual rate of $1.22 trillion. During Bush's 95 full months, the debt increased $4.98 trillion at an annual rate of $0.63 trillion. Obama's rate is 1.94 times Bush's. Bush was bad ... Obama is horrible.

(13 Apr 2015) A House-approved bill will increase Medicare payments to doctors by $214 billion dollars over 10 years, depleting the Medicare Trust Fund faster and increasing Medicare premiums. (Sources: Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 26 Mar 2015 Washington Times)

(13 Apr 2015) Last year, there were a lot of self congratulations by Republicans and Democrats when Congress passed a 5-year farm and food stamp bill to reduce long-term spending by about $23 billion. The 2014 farm bill will prove to be the most expensive ever, largely due to the 2 new subsidies and the expanded crop insurance coverage. (Sources: Univ. of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute, 17 Mar 2015 Fiscal Times)

(12 Apr 2015) Of the top 10 soda sales in 2014; Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Mt. Dew and Coke Zero had the largest decreases ... 6.6, 5.2, 3.0 and 2.0%, respectively. (Source: 26 Mar 2015 Beverage-Digest)

(12 Apr 2015) Through January 2015, 11.2 million more people were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP compared to before Obama Care's coverage expansion began, a 19% increase. In the states that expanded Medicaid, enrollment grew by 26% compared to 2013, while states that did not expand it saw an 8% increase. (Sources: Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, 20 Mar 2015 The Hill)

(12 Apr 2015) 26.3% for health care (Medicare, Medicaid and Obama Care), 24.3% for Social Security, 19% for other benefits (federal employee retirement & disability, unemployment and welfare programs), 17% for national defense and 7% for net interest. (Source: 17 Mar 2015 Daily Signal)

(12 Apr 2015) Iberdola, a Spanish company, has received $2.2 billion in subsidies to operate wind turbines in the U.S., making it the largest recipient of federal corporate welfare. Energias de Portugal also operates wind turbines and has received $722 million. Abengoa, a Spanish solar company, has received $605 million. The 50 parent companies receiving the most federal grants and allocated tax credits include 10 that are foreign. (Source: 17 Mar 2015 Daily Caller)

(17 Mar 2015) For 2015, the average monthly premium increased to $364 from $346 (5.2%). The average taxpayer subsidy decreased to $263 from $264. The average enrollee net monthly premium increased to $101 from $82 (23.2%). (Sources: 10 Mar 2015 Dept. Of Health & Human Services, 17 Mar National Center for Policy Analysis)

(17 Mar 2015) In Colorado, more than 340,000 have had their policies cancelled because of Obama Care. Now, the state insurance commissioner has confirmed another 190,000 people will be dropped in 2016 because their plans fail to comply with Obama Care. (Source: 14 Mar 2015 Washington Times)

(17 Mar 2015) In a test given in 23 countries to people aged 16 to 65, scores for Americans 16 to 34 years were very low. Literacy scores were: Japan 305, average 282, U.S. 274 (only 3 countries were lower). Math scores were: Finland 295, average 276, U.S. 255 (lowest). (Source: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD))

(15 Mar 2015) Medicare spending will be cut $455 billion over the next 10 years to help fund Obama Care. Most of the Medicare cuts will be achieved by reducing fees paid to doctors and hospitals. (Source: Congressional Budget Office)

(15 Mar 2015) The Dept. of Agriculture has 15 food assistance programs that cost $108.9 billion in fiscal 2013. The average participants were: food stamps (SNAP) 47.6 million; School Lunch 30.6 million; School Breakfast 13.1 million; and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 8.7 million. (Source: Feb 2014 Dept. of Agriculture)

(15 Mar 2015) If my Social Security taxes had been placed in a private account and earned only 4.48% per year, the current monthly income would be equal to the monthly after-tax payment I receive. When I die, my heirs would receive $340,000. Instead, they will receive nothing from Social Security.

(8 Mar 2015) During the 73 full months of Czar Obama's reign, the national public debt increased by $7.52 trillion to $18.16 trillion, at an annual rate of $1.24 trillion. The increase in the last 12 months was $0.69 trillion. During Bush's 95 full months, the debt increased $4.98 trillion at an annual rate of $0.63 trillion. Obama's rate is 1.96 times Bush's. Bush was bad ... Obama is horrible.

(8 Mar 2015) Oil shipments by rail increased from 9,500 carloads in 2008 to 500,000 in 2014, driven by production in North Dakota and Montana, where pipeline limitations force 70% of the crude to move by rail. Ruptures and fires have prompted Czar Obama to consider requiring upgrades such as thicker tanks, shields to prevent tankers from crumpling, rollover protections and electronic brakes that could make cars stop simultaneously, rather than slam into each other. (Sources: Association of American Railroads, 6 Mar 2015 Fox News)

(8 Mar 2015) Amtrak started operating in 1971, receiving $40 million in federal taxpayer subsidies. Amtrak claimed it would reach the break-even point by 1974. Amtrak has never reached break-even in any year. Since 1981, Amtrak has been required to end its food / beverage service losses, but the law has not been enforced. From fiscal year 2006 through 2012, the food / beverage service lost $609 million. Amtrak sells hamburgers for $9.50 that cost $16.15. (Sources: Amtrak Inspector General, 26 Feb 2015 Daily Signal)

(3 Mar 2015) In 2014, only 0.6% of the 12.5 million vehicles sold in Europe were all-electrics or hybrids. (Source: 3 Mar 2015 Associated Press)

(3 Mar 2015) Production of oil and natural gas on federal lands fell by 19% from 2009 to 2013. Production in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and California fell by 18%. Production from federal land was 33% of the county's entire output in 2009, but only 25% in 2013. (Source: 5 Feb 2015 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research)

(3 Mar 2015) France (the executive branch is currently composed mostly of the French Socialist Party) imposes a 36% marginal effective corporate tax rate, the highest in the world. The authoritarian U.S. has the second highest rate at 35.3%. South Korea, Japan and Germany's corporate tax rates are 30.1, 29.3 and 24.2, respectively. The G-20 nations (19 large countries and the European Union (EU)) account for 85% of the world's economic output and has an average of 26.2%. When the average state levy is added, the U.S. corporate tax rate is 39.1%. (Sources: Tax Foundation, 27 Feb 2015 National Center for Policy Analysis)

(3 Mar 2015) College graduates earn an average of $830,800 more over their lifetimes than high school graduates. However, high school graduates are earning income while many college students are borrowing money. Also, 260,000 with college or professional degrees were making no more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour in 2013. On average, college graduates do not catch up to high school graduates until they are about 40 years old. (Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(22 Feb 2015) In fiscal 2012, Mississippi obtained 45.3% of its total state general revenues from the federal government ... Louisiana 44.0% ... Tennessee 41.0%. On the other end of the spectrum, Virginia 23.5% ... North Dakota 20.5% ... Alaska 20.0%. (Source: 8 Jan 2015 Tax Foundation)

(22 Feb 2015) During the 72 full months of Czar Obama's reign, the national public debt increased by $7.45 trillion to $18.08 trillion, at an annual rate of $1.24 trillion. The increase in the last 12 months was $0.79 trillion. During Bush's 95 full months, the debt increased $4.98 trillion at an annual rate of $0.63 trillion. Obama's rate is 1.97 times Bush's. Bush was bad ... Obama is horrible.

(21 Feb 2015) In 2012, 44% who had just completed a 4-year college degree ended up in jobs that didn't require their degree. Only 10 of the 30 occupations expected to produce the most jobs by 2022 require any formal education past high school. Only 5 require a bachelor's degree. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 Jan 2015 Real Clear Education)

(21 Feb 2015) 18 million legal and illegal immigrants arrived in the U.S. from 2000 to 2015. After subtracting deaths, departures and retirement, the working-age population of immigrants grew 12 million (equal to 3 years of American births) while only 9.3 million additional jobs were created. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for Immigration Studies, 10 Feb 2015 Daily Caller)

(21 Feb 2015) A total of $64.1 billion in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) was claimed in 2012. Because the credits are refundable, EITC recipients need not owe taxes to receive the benefits. $56.2 billion was paid by the IRS in excess of the net taxes the recipients owed. Only $7.9 billion was used for tax reduction. $56.2 billion was actually a welfare program. (Source: 9 Feb 2015 CNS News)

(21 Feb 2015) During the first 4 months of fiscal 2015, federal tax revenues hit a record $1.05 trillion, up 8.7% from a year earlier. Spending was $1.24 trillion, up 8.3%. (Sources: 11 Feb 2015 U.S. Treasury, 11 Feb CNS News, 11 Feb Associated Press)

(21 Feb 2015) Employer sponsored insurance (CBO -2 million, actual -4.9 million), individual market (+8 million, +5.8 million), Medicaid / CHIP (+6 million, +7.5 million), percentage of net gain due to Medicaid / CHIP (50%, 89%). ((Sources: Heritage Foundation, 12 Feb 2015 Daily Signal)

(21 Feb 2015) 87% of federal exchange HealthCare.gov enrollees get subsidies from taxpayers ... 94% in Mississippi and 93% in Florida. The average subsidy is $268 a month. (Source: 9 Feb 2015 Dept. of Health and Human Services)

(21 Feb 2015) 23 nonprofit insurance companies (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans) were created under Obama Care and received $2.5 billion from federal taxpayers. According to the lasted financial filings for 22 of them (Health Republic Insurance of New Jersey was not available), 21 reported loses. CoOportunity, serving Iowa and Nebraska, will be liquidated. (Source: 9 Feb 2015 Daily Signal)

(7 Feb 2015) In 2014, only 11.1% of employees 16 and older were members of unions … 35.7% of government employees … 6.6% of private employees … North Carolina 1.9% of employees … New York 24.6% of employees. (Source: 23 Jan 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(7 Feb 2015) Germany favored solar electricity by providing subsidies and priorities over other sources in supplying the power grid. As a result, new solar installations were 7.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2012. When the favoritism was reduced, new installations dropped to 3.3 GW in 2013 and 1.9 GW in 2014. (Sources: Bundesnetzagentur, 3 Feb 2015 Reuters)

(7 Feb 2015) In Oct., the average price of regular gasoline (10% ethanol) was $3.34, while E-85 (85% ethanol) was $4.07 on an energy-equivalent basis. (Source: Dept. of Energy)

(7 Feb 2015) France's minimum wage is $10.60 an hour. Not surprisingly, every McDonald's has resorted to using touch-screen ordering rather than employees. (Source: 3 Feb 2015 Daily Signal)

(7 Feb 2015) In Nov., only 49.8% of the people in West Virginia were working or looking for work. The national participation rate is 62.7%. North Dakota has a rate of 69.5%. (Source: 14 Jan 2015 Market Watch)

(5 Feb 2015) Since 2007, all net employment growth has gone to immigrants. There were 1.5 million fewer natives 16 and older working in November 2014 than were working in November 2007, but the number of immigrants working increased 2 million. Net employment was up half a million, but all growth went to immigrants. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for Immigration Studies)

(5 Feb 2015) More than 20% of residents are enrolled in Medicaid. The Dept. of Health and Human Services Office Of Inspector General conducted an audit of Medicaid. Appointments were attempted with a stratified random sample of 1,800 doctors listed as accepting patients through Medicaid managed care plans. Fewer than half of the attempts were successful. Doctors had retired, moved, left the group, stopped accepting Medicaid or weren’t taking new Medicaid patients. More than 25% of the appointments were more than 1 month away. 10% were more than 2 months away. (Source: 14 Jan 2015 The Hill)

(2 Feb 2015) In Oct., 19.7% of households were on food stamps. (Source: 13 Jan CNS News)

(2 Feb 2015) Approximately 60% of the newly insured through Obama Care were enrolled in Medicaid. Only 69% of physicians accept Medicaid patients and the patients wait an average of 42 days to see a doctor. (Source: Health Affairs, 14 Jan 2015 National Review)

(28 Jan 2015) The $2.6 billion Cape Wind project, a private operation benefiting from millions in federal subsidies, would have wind turbines installed off the coast of Massachusetts' Cape Cod. 2 utility companies, NSTAR and National Grid, terminated their agreements to purchase 77.5% of the project's electricity when Cape Wind failed to secure financing and begin construction by Dec. 31. Cape Wind had also been unable to find a buyer for the other 22.5%. (Source: 23 Jan 2015 FOX News)

(28 Jan 2015) Michigan has 1.68 million food stamp (SNAP) recipients and 1.56 million public school students. (Sources: U.S. Agriculture Dept., Michigan Dept. of Education, 29 Dec 2014 Breitbart News)

(8 Jan 2015) In 2012, 136.1 million federal personal income tax returns were filed with adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) of $9.04 trillion. Total taxes were $1.185 trillion. The 1% of returns with the highest AGIs reported 21.9% of the income and paid 38.1 % of the taxes. The bottom 90% paid only 29.8% of the taxes. The top 50% paid 96.7% of the taxes. The top 1% paid an effective income tax rate of 22.8% and the bottom 50% paid an effective rate of 3.28%. (Sources: IRS, 22 Dec 2014 Tax Foundation)

(8 Jan 2015) In Nov. 2014, the federal direct student loan balance was $0.81 trillion. In Sept. 2014, the total federal and private student loan balance was $1.13 trillion. (Sources: Treasury Dept., Federal Reserve Bank of New York)

(1 Jan 2015) Sales of leases on 8.1 million acres of federal oil, natural gas, coal and wind energy parcels in 7 states have been on hold since 2008 by the Bureau of Land Management because of sage grouse. The 6-yer delay is in spite of the sage grouse being neither endangered (there are 500,000) or protected. During this time, the national active federal oil / natural gas lease acreage has decreased more than 20% to 26.6 million acres. The regulatory effort related to the sage grouse includes overhauling 99 federal land-use plans. Since 2008, only 1 plan has been completed. (Source: 5 Dec 2014 Associated Press)

(28 Dec 2014) The number of working legal and illegal immigrants has risen by 2 million, from 23.1 million in Nov. 2007 to 25.1 million in Nov. 2014. During the same time period, the number of working Americans born in the U.S. has decreased by 1.5 million. The working-age population grew 11 million. (Source: 19 Dec 2014 Center for Immigration Studies)

(28 Dec 2014) DHS is funded to deport 400,000 immigrants a year, but deported only 102,000 in fiscal 2014. Illegal immigration rose 16% in fiscal year 2014, while deportations fell 24%. (Source: 19 Dec 2014 Dept. of Homeland Security)

(23 Dec 2014) In fiscal 2014, the federal government spent $845 billion on Social Security, $603 billion on Medicare and $305 on Medicaid. (Source: Heritage Foundation)

(26 Nov 2014) For firms that do not offer insurance, the penalty is $3,000 for every employee receiving a subsidy on an Obama Care exchange. However, Czar Obama's executive order covering illegal aliens permits these companies to hire illegal aliens and not pay the $3,000 penalty. (Source: 26 Nov 2014 FOX News)

(23 Nov 2014) So far this year, companies have issued recalls affecting more than 52 million vehicles. That shattered the full-year record of 30.8 million in 2004. Government Motors (GM) alone has issued recalls totaling more than 30 million vehicles this year. (Source: 4 Nov 2014 AP)

(23 Nov 2014) The following quotes were made by Jonathan Gruber at the University of Pennsylvania's 24th Annual Health Economics Conference on 17 Oct. 2013. A portion of his remarks while seated at a table with 2 men to his right were videotaped and posted on You Tube in Nov. 2014. He is a professor of economics at MIT and the director of the National Bureau of Economic Research Health Care Program. He has been described as an "architect" and "writer" of Obama Care, having worked with both Czar Obama and Congress. "Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical to get the thing to pass. This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure CBO did not score the mandate as taxes ... the bill dies if CBO scored the mandate as taxes. It was written to do that. I wish ... we could all make it all transparent, but I would rather have this law than not."

(23 Nov 2014) In 2013, Czar Obama handed out $18.5 billion in renewable energy grants, with $4.4 billion going to solar projects. Ivanpah solar electricity plant (in California) is owned by Google and renewable energy company NRG. The project received a $1.6 billion construction loan from U.S. taxpayers. Now, owners want a $539 million federal grant to pay off their federal loan. From January through August, the plant produced only 25.4% of the power it's supposed to. An NRG spokesman blamed the weather, saying the sun didn't shine as predicted. NRG probably blames global warming for the lack of sunshine. The facility uses thousands of large mirrors on the ground to reflect concentrated beams at towers. The heat generates steam to turn turbines that create electricity. Flying birds mistake the mirrors as water. As they approach, the 800 degrees F solar beams roast them. A recent study called Ivanpah a "mega-trap" that will kill up to 28,000 birds a year. (Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, California Energy Commission, Center for Biological Diversity, 8 Nov. 2014 FOX News)

(10 Nov 2014) The National Automobile Dealers Association, which represents almost 16,000 new-car dealers, is a crony-capitalist organization that inhibits competition. It supports a Michigan bill that prohibits automakers from selling a vehicle "directly to a retail customer other than through franchised dealers," with exceptions for nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Tesla Motors, which operates showrooms but only takes orders over the Internet, would be blocked from selling its electric cars under legislation that awaits Gov. Rick Snyder's signature. (Source: 16 Oct 2014 Bloomberg)

(10 Nov 2014) Only 2 states lost private sector jobs during the first 7 months of 2014 ... Illinois 5900 and Alaska 5200. The states with the largest gains were Texas 254,100, California 162,700 and Florida 117,500. From January 2010 through July 2014, Illinois gained 240,000 jobs and 420,000 food stamp recipients. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16 Sept 2014 Townhall)

(10 Nov 2014) The Head Start Impact Study was a national assessment of Head Start students, following them through the third grade. The positive impact did not last past kindergarten. Tennessee's Voluntary Pre-K program analyzed 3,000 preschool children. The statistically significant gains that preschool students made had diminished greatly by the end of kindergarten and had entirely disappeared by first grade. (Source: 15 Oct 2014 Cato Institute)

(3 Nov 2014) In the 1970s, California doctors were fed up with having to pay skyrocketing medical malpractice premiums ... some plaintiffs were winning pain and suffering awards of tens of millions of dollars. In response, the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) capped pain and suffering awards at $250,000. Now, the trial lawyers have raised $2 million to support a ballot initiative (Proposition 46) to increase that cap to $1.1 million and allow the cap to increase with inflation. It is estimated that health care costs will increase by $9.9 billion annually in California. (Sources: California Medical Association, 30 Oct 2014 National Center for Policy Analysis)

(2 Nov 2014) Flex-fuel vehicles, designed to use either gasoline (10% ethanol) or E-85 (85% ethanol), use an average of 16 gallons per year of E-85. (Sources: Biotechnology Industry Organization, 30 Oct 2014 Washington Examiner)

(2 Nov 2014) "ICE's weekly metrics report includes information on the number of aliens who have been issued a final order of removal, but who remain in the country. As of September 20, 2014, the total number of such aliens was 897,572. Of these, 1.6% (14,629) were in ICE custody. 174,258 of these post-final-order deportable aliens were convicted criminals. Only 4.3% (7,477) of the convicted criminal post-final-order aliens were detained in ICE custody." (Sources: 22 Sept 2014 Dept. of Homeland Security, October 2014 Center for Immigration Studies)

(2 Nov 2014) Some employers are facing health care premium increases as they shift to plans that meet Obama Care requirements. Because the law doesn't penalize companies with fewer than 50 workers that don't offer coverage, WellPoint Inc. has lost about 300,000 people in its small-business-plan membership in 2014. (Source: 29 Oct 2014 Wall Street Journal)

(2 Nov 2014) Thousands of people in Frederick County, Virginia who stated that they are not U.S. citizens on jury duty forms went on to cast votes in elections. Either they failed to tell the truth when they were summoned for jury duty or they cast illegal votes ... both are crimes. Non-citizens are prohibited from voting in all state and federal elections. Also, 40,000 people are registered to vote in both Virginia and Maryland. Maryland issues drivers licenses to legal and illegal aliens. Drivers' licenses in turn make it easier under the Motor Voter law to register to vote. (Sources: Virginia Voters Alliance, 29 Oct 2014 PJ Media)

(29 Oct 2014) Dept. of Health and Human Services insurance company records for people 23, 30 and 63 years old who did not smoke, did not have a spouse or children and lived in the 2 largest metropolitan areas of each state were analyzed. Average premiums for 2014 increased 78.2%, 73.4% and 22.7%, respectively, for men; and 44.9%, 35.1% and 37.5% for women. These increases did not reflect taxpayer subsidies offered to those earning less than 400% of the federal poverty limit. (Sources: Health Pocket, 28 Oct 2014Washington Times)

(29 Oct 2014) On average, Medicare pays doctors 20% less than plans in the private market and Obama Care exchange plans pay 40% less. Obama Care requires insurers who sell plans on the exchanges to keep coverage active for 90 days after a customer has stopped paying premiums. As of May 2014, over 214,000 doctors wouldn't participate in Obama Care plans. (Sources: American Action Forum, 27 Oct 2014 Daily Caller)

(29 Oct 2014) In the first 6 months of this year, enrollment in individual-market health care plans (both on and off the exchanges) increased by 6,254,564 and enrollment in private employer-sponsored group plans declined by 3,788,978 individuals ... a net increase of 2,465,586. At the same time, Medicaid enrollment increased by 5,716,977 in the states that implemented Obama Care Medicaid expansion and by 355,674 in the states that did not implement Obama Care Medicaid expansion. Medicaid recipients pay virtually nothing for their medical treatment ... taxpayers do. (Source: 22 Oct. 2014 Daily Signal)

(16 Oct 2014) Tens of thousands of young families caught crossing the border illegally earlier this year subsequently failed to meet with federal immigration agents. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that about 70% of illegal alien families released in the U.S. never showed up weeks later for follow up appointments. Also, final deportation had been ordered for at least 860 people traveling in families caught at the border since May, but only 14 reported as ordered. (Source: 25 Sept 2014 AP)

(16 Oct 2014) More than 20% laid off in the past 5 years are still unemployed and 25% who found work have a temporary job. During the summer, only 26% sought full-time jobs. (Sources: Rutgers University Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, 22 Sept 2014 USA TODAY

(16 Oct 2014) Iowa's state insurance commissioner approved Wellmark's premium hikes between 11.9% and 14.5%, affecting 19,000 individual policyholders who have Obama Care compliant plans. CoOportunity, one of the main companies offering insurance on the Obama Care exchange, will increase its rates 19%. (Sources: 8 Oct 2014 Des Moines Register, 9 Oct Breitbart)

(16 Oct 2014) D.C. has the highest percentage of black (76%) and low-income (78%) students. Only 10% of students are proficient in reading and math ... the lowest percentage in the nation. Students' chances for college attendance by age 19 are the lowest in the nation. Out of 9 indicators of educational achievement, D.C. received five F's one D+, one C+, and two A's. (Sources: Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on K-12 Educational Effectiveness, 19 Sept 2014 CNS News)

(23 Sept 2014) Unaccompanied illegal alien children have been relocated to every state, stressing local education budgets. The biggest cost is $147.7 million in New York this school year. Louisiana is among the 10 states that have received the most illegal alien children. The state will pay $25.8 million this year, including Jefferson Parish School System's $4.6 million. (Sources: Louisiana Dept. of Education, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Washington Free Beacon, 20 Sept 2014 Townhall)

(21 Sept 2014) The average time an illegal alien has been living in the U.S. is 12.7 years. More than 60% have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, up from 35% in 2000. (Sources: Pew Research Center, 17 Sept 2014 Daily Signal)

(21 Sept 2014) PreferredOne Health Insurance, the largest on Minnesota's Obama Care exchange (59% of individual MNsure sign-ups) is dropping out in 2015 because the government health exchange is unsustainable. The company is losing money on administrative costs for plans offered on the bureaucratic government exchange. PreferredOne had lower rates than any other insurer on the exchange. When their plans disappear, customers will see a significant rate hike if they choose to continue on the Obama Care exchange. (Source: 16 Sept 2014 Daily Caller)

(21 Sept 2014) The cost of Obama Care subsidies that taxpayers will pay for policies purchased on government insurance exchanges for people who earn under 400% of the federal poverty level will be $17 billion this year and $137 billion in 2024. In addition, Obama Care expands Medicaid rolls by providing subsidies to states that make people earning up to 133% of the poverty income level eligible for the program. People signing up for insurance on the government exchange with income below that level must enroll in Medicaid. In 2013, prior to the exchange, the federal government spent $265 billion on Medicaid. In 2024, Medicaid spending will be $570 billion. (Sources: Congressional Budget Office, 15 Sept 2014 CNS News)

(21 Sept 2014) The poverty rate was decreasing when Lyndon Johnson launched the "war on poverty" in 1964. Since its beginning, $22 trillion have been spent (in constant 2012 dollars). Johnson asserted that the War on Poverty would actually shrink the welfare rolls and transform the poor from "taxeaters" into "taxpayers". The poverty rate was 14% in 1967, the same as in 2012. The federal government currently runs more than 80 welfare programs for low income people. Federal and state spending on these programs was $0.94 trillion in 2013. (Source: 16 Sept 2014 Daily Signal)

(16 Sept 2014) Federal, state and local governments will spend a total of $1.4 trillion on health care this year ... a record 46% of the nation's total health care cost. Consumers' out-of-pocket expenses will be only 11%. Medicaid spending will increase 18.4% this year, largely due to 28 states' expansions of their Medicaid programs under Obama Care. The less consumers have to pay for the cost of health care, the more services they will request. (Sources: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 5 Sept 2014 Investor's Business Daily)

(15 Sept 2014) 3725 teenagers in Australia and New Zealand were studied until the age of 30. Controlling for 53 potential confounding factors including age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, use of drugs other than marijuana and mental illness was part of the study. Teenagers who smoke marijuana daily are over 60% less likely to complete high school than those who never use. They are also 60% less likely to graduate college and 7 times more likely to attempt suicide. (Sources: The Lancet Psychiatry, 9 Sept Washington Post)

(15 Sept 2014) In the 1st half of the 1960s, 15% of U.S. college grades were A's. Now, 43% of college grades are A's. 53% of college grads under 25 are unemployed or underemployed.(Sources: Aug 2014 Texas Public Policy Foundation, 3 Sept Portland Press Herald)

(15 Sept 2014) Single Americans make up more than half of the adult (16 and older) population for the 1st time (July) since the government began compiling such statistics in 1976. In 1976, 37.4% of adults were unmarried. In Aug., 50.2% were single. (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8Sept 2014 Bloomberg)

(10 Sept 2014) California has 12% of the U.S. population, but more than 30% of the U.S welfare recipients live there. Half of the state's illegal aliens have been there for at least 10 years. Of the 4.4 million immigrants living in the greater Los Angeles region, 1.1 million are illegal. Illegal aliens make up nearly 10% of the state's workforce. (Source: 19 Aug 2014 Forbes, 3 Sept LA Times)

(10 Sept 2014) Employees at a BrightSource Energy solar plant in California's Ivanpah Dry Lake have a name for birds that fly through the concentrated reflected sun rays and leave a plume of smoke as they ignite in midair ... "streamers". Federal wildlife investigators watched as birds burned and fell to the ground, and retrieved carcasses with feathers charred too severely for flight. The Center for Biological Diversity environmental group estimated 28,000 birds per year will burn and fall to the ground at the plant. (Source: 18 Aug 2014 CNS News)

(9 Sept 2014) In 2012, there were 109,631,000 people in households receiving welfare (benefits based on low-income) ... 35.4% of the population ... more than the 103,087,000 full-time year-round employees. 82,679,000 lived in households with Medicaid ... 51,471,000 lived in households with food stamps ... 22,526,000 lived in households with the Women, Infants and Children program ... 20,355,000 were in households with Supplemental Security Income ... 13,267,000 lived in public housing or got housing subsidies ... 5,442,000 lived in households with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ... 4,517,000 lived in households that received other forms of federal cash assistance. When Czar Obama was elected in the 4th quarter of 2008, there were 96,197,000 people living in households receiving federal welfare benefits. After 4 years, by the 4th quarter of 2012, the number had grown by 13,434,000. (Sources: Census Bureau, 20 Aug. 2014 CNS News)

(9 Sept 2014) Aetna's Obama Care enrollments reached 720,000 by May 20, after the end to the extended open enrollment period. By the end of June, Aetna had less than 600,000 paying customers. (Sources: Investor's Business Daily, 11 Aug. 2014 Daily Caller)

(9 Sept 2014) In 2012, 15% of births were to women who did not finish high school and 23% were to women with only a high school diploma. 42% of mothers ages 15-22 live with their parents. “Women with a non-marital birth are more likely to be poor …women with a non-marital first birth are less likely to ever marry and less likely to remain married if they do marry.” (Source: Census Bureau 2012 Supplement to the Current Population Survey and the 2012 American Community Survey)

(11 Aug 2014) American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Leadership (AFSCME) Council 40 (Madison) reported 32,310 members in 2009. In a May filing, membership had dwindled to 13,256. AFSCME Leadership Council 48 (Milwaukee) reported that its membership was 3405, down from the 9043 in 2010. The unions have taken financial hits as well. Council 40 reported taking in $5.5 million in annual membership dues in the May report, down from the almost $10 million it reported in 2011. Council 48 reported taking in $0.73 million, down from $2 million in 2011. (Source: 12 Aug. 2014 Washington Examiner)

(11 Aug 2014) In 2008, Senator Obama described the Export-Import Bank as "I'm not a Democrat who believes we can or should defend every government program just because it's there ... There are some programs that have been duplicated by other programs that we just need to cut back, like ... the Export-Import Bank that's become little more than a fund for corporate welfare." On Aug. 5, Czar Obama said, "House Republicans can help by reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank ... That is the right thing to do. It's pretty straightforward. And you business leaders can help make clear that it is critical to U.S. business."

(11 Aug 2014) In 2006 through 2008, Colorado averaged 35 drivers per year in fatal accidents who tested positive for marijuana. In 2010 through 2012 (with legal medical marijuana), Colorado averaged 57. Now, the sale of recreational marijuana is legal.

(11 Aug 2014) California Democrat Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez learned that residents can’t buy diapers with food stamps (Duh, what food group did she think contained diapers?) and authored a bill. It amends the cash welfare program (CalWORKs) by adding $80 a month to buy diapers for children under the age of 2. The annual cost to taxpayers is estimated to be $100 million. The bill passed the Assembly with no Republican votes and is in the Senate. (Source: 5 Aug. 2014 Fox News)

(11 Aug 2014) The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake severely damaged a span of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge. It was claimed that a replacement span would cost only a few hundred million dollars more than a retrofit of the damaged span. The cost of the new span was estimated to be $780 million with completion in 2007. Only one bid was received ... $1.4 billion. It was completed in 2013 for $6.4 billion. (Source: 10 Aug. 2014 Townhall)

(11 Aug 2014) For the first time, government schools are expected to have less than 50% non-Hispanic white students this fall. (Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, 9 Aug. 2014 Associated Press)

(5 Aug 2014) Social Security and Medicare accounted for 41% of Federal expenditures in fiscal 2013. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) trust fund will be depleted by late in 2016, resulting in automatic 20% reductions in payments to beneficiaries. In 2013, SSDI cost $143.4 billion and had 11.0 million recipients. The Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) fund will be depleted in 2030. At that time dedicated revenues will be sufficient to pay 85% of payments. In 2013, Part A cost $266.2 billion. There were a total of 52.3 million enrolled in Medicare. The Social Security Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund will be depleted in 2033. Thereafter, tax income will be sufficient to pay 3 /4 of scheduled benefits. In 2013, this program cost $679.5 billion and had 47 million recipients. (Source: July 2014 Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees)

(2 Aug 2014) California's state insurance commissioner (a Democrat) said that for 2014, consumers purchasing individual health insurance policies paid between 22% and 88% more than they did last year. (Source: 30 July 2014 Townhall)

(2 Aug 2014) In Jan. 2008, Obama told the San Francisco Chronicle that "under my plan ... electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket. If somebody wants to build a coal-fired plant, they can. It's just that [my plan] will bankrupt them." The average electricity price in June was 14.3 cents per kWh ... a record. The previous record was 13.7. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Navajo Generating Station, the largest coal-fired plant in the West, will produce 1/3 less electricity by 2020 and cease operations in 2044 under a proposal that the federal government adopted. Along with meeting electricity demands in the West, the 2,250-megawatt plant powers a series of canals that deliver water to Phoenix and Tucson, fuels the economies of the Navajo and Hopi Tribes, and helps fulfill American Indian water-rights settlements with the federal government. (Sources: 22 July 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics, 28 July Yahoo - ABC News Network, 28 July Washington Times)

(27 July 2014) Denver homeless shelters say the legalization of marijuana has contributed to an increase in the number of young people living on the city's streets. Urban Peak, which specifically helps homeless youth: the majority of new young people it is seeing say they're in Colorado because of marijuana. St. Francis Center, a daytime homeless shelter: pot is the 2nd most frequently volunteered reason for being in Colorado. Salvation Army's men's shelter: an increase in the number of 18- to 25-year-olds ... a quarter of the increase was related to marijuana, including some who moved hoping to find work in the marijuana industry. (Source: 26 July 2014 Associated Press)

(26 July 2014) In 2014, Government Motors (GM) has recalled 29 million vehicles in North America. (Source: 23 July 2014 Wall Street Journal)

(26 July 2014) 80,000 Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept. residential water accounts are past due ... $43 million. When service to about 7,000 non-payers was shut off, a class action lawsuit on behalf of freeloading residents was filed. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund claimed the shutoffs were racist ("being done in a discriminatory fashion ... the majority of whom are African American"). (Source: 23 July 2014 Townhall)

(26 July 2014) The national average retail price of gasoline is $3.65, compared to $4.82 for E-85 (adjusted for lower energy content to provide comparison based on same miles driven). (Source: April 2014 Dept. of Energy)

(23 July 2014) In 2013, government wage and salary workers had a union membership rate of 35.3%, compared to 6.7% for private workers. The overall rate was 11.3%, compared to the peak of 35% in the mid-1950s. Three of the 4 largest unions are government employees and the 4th is 48% government employees: National Education Association (NEA) with 3.2 million, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with 2.1-million, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees with 1.6 million, American Federation of Teachers with 1.5 million. Virginia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia and Texas do not allow collective bargaining for government employees. (Sources: 24 Jan. 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 July Associated Press)

(22 July 2014) Public Service of New Hampshire bought 38,500 metric tons of low-sulphur steam coal from Russia and transported it nearly 4000 miles to burn at the Schiller electricity plant. (Source: 16 July 2014 Bloomberg)

(12 July 2014) The percentage on welfare [living in a family receiving benefits from any of just 3 programs … Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and food stamps (SNAP)] was first calculated in 1993. The percentage was a record low 12.5 in 2000 and a record high 23.1 in 2011. During this period, the percentage of children 5 and under on welfare increased from 19.8 to 38.0. In 2011, 34.8% of children 6 to 10 and 32.0% of children 11 to 15 were on welfare. Only 14.6% of married families were on welfare, while 55.0% of unmarried female-headed families were. In 1940, 3.8% of births were to unmarried women. This percentage began to increase in 1960, reaching 32.6% by 1992. It remained steady for a few years, before rising to 40.7% in 2012 ... the 5th year in a row over 40%. (Source: Dept. of Health and Human Services 2014 Welfare Indicators and Risk Factors)

(11 July 2014) In 2012, there were 2.7 million immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala … 60% of them illegal aliens. 57% of households headed by an El Salvadoran used at least 1 major welfare program, as did 54% of Honduran households and 49% of Guatemalan households. By comparison, 24% of households headed by a native-born American used at least 1 of these programs. 54% of Guatemalan immigrants between 25 and 65 have not graduated from high school. The figures for Salvadorans and Hondurans are 53% and 44%, respectively. The corresponding figure for native-born Americans is 7%. 32% of Honduran immigrants and their young children (under 18) live in poverty; as do 31% of Guatemalan immigrants and their children, and 28% of Salvadoran immigrants and their children. The corresponding figure for native-born Americans and their children is 14%. (Sources: Census Bureau March 2013 Current Population Survey, July 2014 Center for Immigration Studies)

(10 July 2014) Czar Obama claimed Obama Care would reduce the number of people that go to emergency rooms (ERs) instead of going to a doctor. Because many doctors in California are refusing to accept new Covered California (state exchange established as part of Obama Care) and Medicaid patients because of low payments, the statewide average ER wait time has increased to 5 hours. (Source: KMPH TV in Fresno, California)

(10 July 2014) Each year, federal agencies are required to estimate the amount of improper payments they issued. They include overpayments, underpayments, payments to the wrong recipient and payments that were made without proper documentation. In 2013, federal agencies made $97 billion in overpayments and $9 billion in underpayments. The 3 highest overpayments were for Medicare, earned income tax credit and Medicaid ... $48 billion, $15 billion and $14 billion, respectively. With history as my guide, I am confident the new health program, Obama Care, will be high on this list in the future. (Source: 9 July 2014 Associated Press)

(6 July 2014) 41 New York health insurance companies have requested premium increases averaging 13% for 2015. MetroPlus, the 3rd largest market share on the state's exchange and 44% of the New York City market, is requesting an average 18.5% increase. MVP, which holds 8% on the state's exchange, asked for an average 19% increase. (Source: 2 July 2014 Capital New York)

(3 July 2014) "since World War II ... consider the worst president" ... 33% Obama, 28% Bush, 13% Nixon, 8% Carter

"since World War II ... consider the best president" ... 35% Reagan, 18% Clinton, 15% Kennedy

"Obama administration has been competent in running the government" ... 54% No

"if Mitt Romney had become President ... nation would be better off than it is today or worse off" ... 45% Better ... 38% Worse (Source: 2 July 2014 Quinnipiac Univ. Poll)

(2 July 2014) Starting 13 Jan. 2014, Government Motors (GM) has recalled 25.68 million vehicles in the U.S. for safety-related repairs, equal to more than 9 times their 2013 U.S. sales. (Source: 30 June 2014 USA TODAY)

(30 June 2014) World Bank Pres. Jim Yong said that pension funds should invest in "green assets" instead of fossil fuel companies. Starting 1 Jan. 2002, the STOXX Global 1800 Oil & Gas Index has increased 81.5%, while the RENIXX Renewable Energy Industrial Index has dropped 64.6 %.

(29 June 2014) Medtronic, the world’s largest medical technology company, has announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from Minneapolis to Dublin, Ireland. With the U.S. corporate tax rate at 35%, Medtronic would rather move to where the tax rate is only 12.5%. Medtronic will have more money to invest and grow their company. (Source: 23 June 2014 Townhall)

(24 June 2014) A District of Columbia goal is to reduce auto commuting from 54% of all workers in the district to no more than 25% by shifting to urban transit. In 2012, the average U.S. car and light truck emitted 268 grams of carbon dioxide per passenger-mile, compared to 285 grams for Washington's transit system. Americans spend about a trillion dollars a year buying, maintaining, operating and insuring cars, and subsidizing highways. They travel about 4 trillion passenger-miles per year ... 25 cents per passenger-mile ... 24 cents paid by users and 1 cent by subsidies. In 2012, Washington's urban-area transit system operated 2.5 billion passenger- miles at a cost of $3 billion ... $1.20 per passenger-mile ... 34 cents paid by users and 86 cents by taxpayers. (Source: 6 June 2014 Cato Institute)

(24 June 2014) From 2000 to 2011, the annual amount of coal burned in China increased from 1.5 to 3.8 billion tons. During the same period, the amount burned in the U.S. decreased from approximately 1.1 to 1.0 billion tons. China’s increase was 23 times the U.S.’s decrease. At the same time, the increase in cost of U.S. electricity hurt the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing … we bought more foreign goods and lost jobs. Is our pain worth our very small impact on world pollution? (Source: Apr. 2014, National Geographic)

(24 June 2014) Federal and state Medicaid spending: $72 billion in 1990, $206 billion in 2000 and $401 billion in 2010. Expansion due to Obama Care will inflate Medicaid to $795 billion in 2021. (Sources: George Mason Univ. Mercatus Center, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 17 June 2014 National Center for Policy Analysis)

(23 June 2014) Part of Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" was the Job Corps, a training and placement program to teach trade skills to low-income, troubled youth at least 16 years old. The program is the Labor Dept.'s most expensive, costing $1.7 billion in 2014 for 37,000 participants ... $45,946 each. Students live at the centers courtesy of taxpayers. A 9-year study that began in 1995 quantified the effectiveness of the program. Researchers studied 15,000 who applied for the program and compared the results of the students who attended with those who did not. Wage benefits of Job Corps students disappeared after 4 years. (Sources: 19 May 2014 Washington Post, 22 May National Center for Policy Analysis)

(23 June 2014) Washington, D.C. government schools spent $29,349 per pupil in the 2010-11 school year ... highest among 21 large cities. In 2013, only 17% of 8th graders were "proficient" or "advanced" in reading and 19% in math ... worse in both subjects than all states. The other D.C. students were "basic". (Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, 14 May 2014 Townhall)

(22 June 2014) The Dept. of Agriculture announced a 2-year delay in a regulation that forced schools to provide food that is rich in whole grains. Lasagna and elbow pastas were especially difficult to cook in large quantities. With Czar Obama's wife as a cheerleader, new regulations have been phased in over the last 2 school years. The School Nutrition Association has pushed for delays in many school nutrition changes, citing declining revenue and increased costs. In the 2012-13 school year, almost half of schools experienced lower revenues for their school meal programs and 90% saw food costs increase. (Source: 19 May 2014 Associated Press, 20 May Daily Caller)

(22 June 2014) The average Obama Care Federal Exchange Bronze Plan monthly premium is $289 per month, with $221 subsidized by taxpayers. The Silver plan is $345, with $264 subsidized by taxpayers. 69% of those who qualified for a tax credit pay a monthly premium of less than $100. Nearly 9 in 10 who bought health coverage on the Obama Care Federal Exchange received taxpayer subsidies. This spring, the 2014 subsidies were estimated to cost the taxpayers $10 billion. Now, the estimate is $16.5 billion. Obama Care insurance provisions will cost $1.4 trillion from 2015 to 2024. (Sources: Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Joint Committee on Taxation, Dept. of Health and Human Services, 17 June 2014 LA Times, 18 June Fiscal Times)

(21 June 2014) Arizona is the latest state whose insurers have proposed their premium rates for next year. For major insurers, the rate increases range from a 14.4% hike from Cigna to a whopping 25.5% hike from Humana. Czar Obama claimed his health care plan would cut the average family's premium by about $2,500 per year. (Source: 4 June 2014 Fiscal Times)

(21 June 2014) Most electric cars have a few large batteries. Tesla's have thousands of laptop-computer-size batteries. The base prices of Tesla Model S cars, including destination charges, are $71,070 with a 60 kWh battery system and $81,070 with an 85 kWh battery system. This implies the cost of batteries is $400 per kWh. Therefore, a replacement 60 kWh battery system would be $24,000. The base price of a Honda Accord Sedan LX with an automatic transmission, including destination charge, is $23,545. (Sources: Tesla, Honda)

(21 June 2014) The CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said this about the Fiat 500e electric car, "I hope you don’t buy it because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000. If we just build electric vehicles, we’ll be back in ... Washington asking for a second bailout because we’ll be bankrupt by Christmas." If he increased the price, he would sell fewer and get pummeled for not meeting the government mandated fleet-average miles-per-gallon (mpg). The fuel efficiency standards were put in place by Czar Obama in 2011, and there are separate mandates in California. The 2014 Fiat 500e base price is $32,300. The standard Fiat 500, which has a 4-cylinder engine and gets 40 mpg on the highway, starts at $16,195. Czar Obama provided a bailout for Chrysler, a U.S. company. Since January, it has been 100% owned by Fiat, an Italian company. By the end of the year, Fiat Chrysler will be a Netherlands company with headquarters in London. (Source: 23 May 2014 FOX Business)

(14 June 2014) Transit carries only 1% as much travel as highways. However, 20% of federal gas taxes go towards transit. The subsidies have not increased ridership, which has fallen since 1970, despite $1 trillion in federal subsidies. (Sources: 13 May 2014 Cato Institute, 20 May 2014 National Center for Policy Analysis)

(13 June 2014) Los Angeles County has lost more net jobs than any large metropolitan area in the nation from 1990 to 2013. (Sources: Anderson School of Management, 1 June 2014 Townhall)

(13 June 2014) Medicaid constitutes nearly two-thirds of federal grant money issued to the states. Since 2008, federal Medicaid grants have increased 35% and grants to other health programs have increased 21%. Total non-health federal grants have decreased 5%. (Sources: May 2014 Pew Charitable Trusts, 28 May National Center for Policy Analysis)

(13 June 2014) 60% of funding for rural hospitals comes from Medicare. The rest comes from Medicaid and private health insurance. Cuts for Medicare reimbursement funding and the Oct. deadline for upgrading to electronic medical records are a grave concern to rural hospitals. 18 rural hospitals have shut their doors since the beginning of 2013, more than the combined total in the prior 10 years. (Source: 28 May 2014 Fox News)

(29 May 2014) General Electric has committed to create 1,000 industrial jobs within 3 years ... in France. (Source: 28 May 2014 Reuters)

(29 May 2014) The French government's rail system ordered 341 new trains and then discovered they were too wide for nearly 1,300 of the 8,700 railway platforms. It will cost $68 million to widen the stations. (Sources: Wall Street Journal, 22 May 2014 USA Today)