She rammed a bill through the senate a measure declaring that no federal employee will receive more than the prez--$400,000. In the House, the fate of the bill is uncertain, but it really doesn’t matter much. After the first year, the wages of the board members will be paid by the bosses they’ll be watching.

‘Weak’, ‘sluggish’?--"Five of the biggest bankruptcies in [U.S.] history occurred last year"--The Economist, January 4.

...meanwhile--"The financial industry endured its worst drops in business volumes in a decade in the final quarter of 2002 and is poised to shed thousands more jobs."--The Times, London..

Tough on crime--Since 1972 at least 200,000 workers in the United States have been killed on the job. That figure doesn’t include deaths from job-induced illnesses--miners’ black lung, etc. For these 200,000 killings, eight people have gone to jail. The maximum sentence? Six months.

Consistent--"Executive sentenced in ‘94 blast--A former Rocketdyne official gets probation for violations linked to two scientists’ deaths"--Los Angeles Times, January 28

‘Attention!’--"A 10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. curfew was to be imposed on people under 18 by Perlis State government in Malaysia. The chief minister said it was to prevent them from visiting karaoke bars, video arcades...and to discourage loitering."--January 11 news item.

Just because they can afford it--According to the East Valley Tribune, Arizona’s governor has crafted a plan to bolster the public school budget by, in effect, laying a greater tax increase on wealthier towns like Scottsdale. The folks there seem quite p.o.’d. State Sen. Carolyn Allen from Scottsdale declared, "I cannot, with a clear conscience, support something that picks on our people because they’re more affluent."

Anything but subsidies--"Vermont--In response to a drop in milk prices that’s threatening the farming industry, state legislators are considering a plan to send experts to help struggling dairy farmers manage their businesses. The program would include University of Vermont extension specialists, veterinarians and other experts to guide farmers."--News item.

‘If you’d like to make a call...’--"AT&T Credit Outlook Reduced to Negative"--News headline.  
 
 
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