Rational Review » RRND NewsThe premiere libertarian web journal of news and commentary on politics and cultureUS: Senate reaches agreement on tax-relief package- September 17, 2008 &8220;Senate leaders said Tuesday that they had broken a months-long impasse over a tax-break package that would bring billions of dollars in relief to individual and business taxpayers, developers of clean-energy resources and people threatened by the alternative minimum tax. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and his Republican counterpart on the panel, Charles ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51896 CA: Budget approved despite governors threatened veto- September 17, 2008 &8220;The state Legislature approved a budget early this morning despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger&8217;s threat to veto the spending plan on the grounds that fiscal changes approved by lawmakers do not go far enough. The budget, already a record-breaking 78 days late, would close a gap of about $17 billion for the fiscal year that began ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51892 FDA defends plastic linked with health risks- September 17, 2008 &8220;With scientists at odds about the risks of a chemical found in plastic baby bottles, metal cans and other food packaging, the government on Tuesday gave consumers some tips on how to reduce their exposure to BPA even as it said the substance is safe. A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee met as a ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51891 TX: HS student told rosary is gang symbol- September 17, 2008 &8220;A Texas teen claims she is forbidden from wearing a rosary around her neck in school because the Catholic prayer beads are a gang symbol, MyFOXDFW.com reported. Tabitha Ruiz was stopped by security guards at Seagoville High School in Dallas last week and told to take off the silver and ruby beaded rosary, a gift ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51890 AZ: Farmers sue state over stolen funds- September 17, 2008 &8220;State officials violated the U.S. and state constitutions when they took money from a trio of agriculture funds to balance the state budget, farm interests charge in a new lawsuit. It&8217;s the latest blow against the budget, which has drawn complaints far and wide as agencies and the people who rely on them grapple with ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51889 TN: Kurita files as write-in, claims stolen election- September 17, 2008 &8220;State Sen. Rosalind Kurita, whose razor-thin, 19-vote Democratic primary victory was invalidated over the weekend, declared herself a write-in candidate Monday for her seat in the November general election. The move may result in a rematch against her opponent, attorney Tim Barnes, who is expected to be declared the primary winner. Kurita filed Monday morning ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51887 Alaska AG: State employees wont honor subpoenas- September 17, 2008 &8220;Alaska&8217;s investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power, a potentially damaging distraction for John McCain&8217;s presidential campaign, ran into intensified resistance Tuesday when the attorney general said state employees would refuse to honor subpoenas in the case. In a letter to state Sen. Hollis French, the Democrat overseeing the investigation, Republican Attorney General ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51888 CA: Budget impasse ends no new taxes- September 17, 2008 &8220;The budget deal that ended the longest fiscal standoff in California history contains this lesson: antitax sentiment is alive and well. Political leaders here passed a budget to close a $15.2 billion deficit early Tuesday, ending 11 weeks of stalemate in which Republican lawmakers held firm to a no tax hike pledge &8212; even as ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51886 House OKs bill allowing more offshore oil drilling- September 17, 2008 &8220;The House of Representatives on Tuesday night passed an energy bill clearing the way for more oil drilling off U.S. coasts, but not nearly as much as Republican leaders wanted. The bill was passed by a vote of 236-189. Many Republicans opposed the bill because it would allow new oil drilling only between 50 and ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51885 NM: Val Kilmer for Governor- September 17, 2008 &8220;Val Kilmer for governor Gov. Bill Richardson helped fuel speculation about the actor possibly running for governor of New Mexico when he told television reporters last week, &8216;I like the idea.&8217; Richardson&8217;s term ends in 2010. Richardson acknowledged he hasn&8217;t talked with Kilmer and doesn&8217;t know whether he&8217;s seriously considering a bid for the governorship, ...http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51884 |