"With French Like That, Who Needs Enemies?"

"There is little left for one to do in America, but watch televised coverage of the French protests and start stockpiling food and fuel. We are a moment away from that very existence, only when it starts here in America, the protesters won’t be trying to get more from the government. The way Obama has painted the world, they will be seeking goods from their fellow citizens, citizens who will not give it up without a fight. And that is how the outcome will be so massively different from France."

Iraq Racks Up Budget Surpluses While U.S. Debt Grows

NEWSMAX

"Iraq has run annual budget surpluses each year since the United States invaded and ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003 — while the U.S. pumped more than half a trillion dollars into Iraq and ran deficits in every one of those years.

In the 6-year period from 2004 through 2009, the Iraqi government amassed a surplus of $52.1 billion, with up to 92.1 percent of its revenues coming from oil exports, according to an audit by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

During that same period, deficits in six consecutive years boosted the overall U.S. national debt from $6.9 trillion to $12.3 trillion.

Part of that increased debt can be attributed to the $624 billion the U.S. has spent fighting the war to overthrow the Iraqi regime and help the Iraqis set up a democratic government, the GAO observed.

Despite Iraq’s surpluses, on July 29 the U.S. Congress approved $1 billion in “emergency” aid to the Iraqi government, and President Barack Obama is seeking another $2 billion in his fiscal 2011 budget, CNSNews reported.

The GAO also disclosed that the Iraqi government held as much as $32.2 billion in cash on deposit at banks and financial institutions.

“GAO believes that Congress should consider Iraq’s available financial resources when it reviews the administration’s fiscal 2011 budget request and other potential future budget requests for additional funds to train and equip Iraqi security forces,” the GAO stated in its audit report.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, America’s budget deficit exceeded $1.3 trillion for fiscal 2010, which ended Sept. 30 — the second greatest deficit as a percentage of GDP since World War II.

The greatest? The previous year’s $1.4 trillion deficit."

UPDATE: Jones and Onslow Counties - 6th District

July 1, 2010 I want to begin this week by saying, if I’ve seemed a little partisan in my last couple of updates, I apologize. Sometimes, the people in charge can make things a little frustrating. Today marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, and, we have a budget! Listed below are a few of the problems with this $20.6 billion budget. 1. It doesn’t address the $3 billion shortfall expected for next year when stimulus money and temporary taxes are due to expire 2. $175 million in additional debt without voter approval 3. Uses lottery money that was allocated for school construction to help balance the budget- a broken promise 4. $2 million for coastal wave energy research to “capture the energy of waves” Tuesday, while we were debating the budget, our State Treasurer, Janet Cowell, sent the following statement in a press release regarding a provision in the budget: “Underfunding the pension system by $310 million is a short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible way to balance the budget. Pension contributions function like credit card debt in that they are contractual obligations with compounding interest. Left unpaid, the next bill gets bigger and harder to pay. Legislators are setting themselves up for a $1.2 billion pension bill in 2011 – a year in which the projected budget shortfall is $3 billion. It is my responsibility as Treasurer to sound the warning call that we are starting down a dangerous path. I urge legislators to uphold the 69 year tradition of meeting our pension obligations lest we go the way of too many credit card debtors who find themselves in a deep hole they cannot get out of.” This is interesting because this is what we, as Republicans, have been arguing from the beginning of the budget process- that we need to look ahead to next year and make sure we’re looking out for the state’s future economic climate. Get ready for the worst train wreck the state’s ever seen next year. Bill of the week- I want to know what you think. We heard House Bill 1726, Improve Child Care Nutrition/ Activity Standards, in the Health Care committee yesterday. The bill would require that the Division of Child Care Development recommend nutritional guidelines for child care facilities. The recommendations include: Limiting or prohibiting the serving of whole milk to children two years of age or older or flavored milk to children of any age Limiting or prohibiting the serving of more than six ounces of juice per day to children of any age Limiting or prohibiting the serving of juice from a bottle Creating an exception from the rules for parents of children who have medical needs, special diets, or food allergies Is this something the state should be regulating? Senator Harry Brown

July Edition Of Washington Watch

July Edition of Washington Watch with Congressman Jones

Rep. Jones speaks with Rep. Howard Coble, who represents the 6th district of NC, about various issues facing our nation.

Watch it HERE.