Crap & Trade
l3wis 
South Dakotans
I guess the working stiffs were not invited
How clever is this? Have an economic forum on a Thursday morning so the regular Joe cannot show up.
And invite a CEO of company that is very anti-union and pays their employees next to nothing.
Then top it off by inviting the party of NO’s #1 cheerleader ironic Johnny.
I’ll pass. Thanks anyway.
Can I get a tax credit to?
Federal income tax credits are now available to South Dakota employers who hire unemployed military veterans or young adults who aren’t attending school or working.
I think the tax credits should come with some kind of guarantee the employer will pay above scale after a 90 day review. I see this as a way for employers to not only save money on taxes but save money on wages. Why are we rewarding employers who pay low wages? Only in South Dakota!
To qualify, veterans must have served on active duty and been discharged or released and received unemployment payments for at least four weeks.
The disconnected youth are people between 16 and 24 years old who lack basic skills. Employers can save up to $2,400 in tax credits by hiring people who qualify.
Other target groups include welfare recipients, veterans, ex-felons and food stamp recipients.
And we should be surprised that employers oppose the Employee Free Choice Act.
God I love it when I’m right
“Jodi, run and get me another box of tissues, the state doesn’t love us anymore.”
“We aren’t lacking road projects. We’re lacking dollars for those road projects and that’s what the stimulus bill could really do to help us,†Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said.Â
Gee, too bad you didn’t spend some of the record tax revenue over the past 6 years on those projects instead of building crap we didn’t need. And all of sudden Highway 100 is the project of the freaking century.
“That’s such an important roadway for us and this area. And we really need to get that road finished so we can develop on that east side,†said Mayor Munson.Â
Develop the Eastside? How about filling some of these empty retail spaces we have now before building more. If Target wants a new road out there, have them pony up.
But Dave also cries to the Gargoyle Leader about not getting his dirty grubs on the money;
“I don’t think it’s going to create that many jobs,” Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said of the state’s priority list. “To me, the stimulus program was to build infrastructure and create jobs.”
Over a month ago I addressed the council that we may not see much money in Sioux Falls from Mr. Stimulus Bill because of our low unemployment rates (don’t really need to create jobs in a place that doesn’t need any creation). At the time, I was talking out of my ass and figured I would be eating crow. Well guess what’s on the City Hall menu for lunch today.
I warned that borrowing money and paying for these projects up front gives the appearance in Washington that Sioux Falls is doing AOK and we don’t need Washington’s assistance. I also said that main purpose of the stimulus was to provide jobs where they are needed – that’s not in Sioux Falls.
“Quite honestly, we’re not sure what to make of all this,” he said. “If this is the whole plan,” Hanks added, “I’d be terribly disappointed. If you want to get people back to work, the best way is through the local level.”
Well guess what, Mayor Hanks, the rest of South Dakota is whole lot worse off economically then Rapid City or Sioux Falls. I commend Rounds for taking care of the entire state first before bowing to the two largest cities. Maybe Jodi can spare some of those tissues.
No time for Doddlers
While many states have made their lists of “ready-to-go” projects available for public review, others have resisted.
Only a fraction of the projects will receive money and watchdog groups say some state officials fear angering constituents if a project appears on a wish list and gets scratched.
So we might be $85 million short in tax revenue this year, and you have no clue where we could spend the money? As Archie Bunker would say, “GEEEEEEEEEEZ”