Professor Morris assigned my class a worksheet for understanding a city budget, specifically the city of Huntington. What we found was the city of Huntington gets the most revenue from the Business and Occupational tax, which was $17,395,121 for 2010. The next highest was the municipal service fees, at $5,900,000 for 2010.
The highest expense was on police, at $11,580,414, for 2010. The second highest expense was the fire department at $10,411,811 after an adustment, for 2010.
The most recent story about Huntington's budget referenced the budget freeze Gov. Joe Manchin put in place for West Virginia. Mayor Kim Wolfe said he is hoping the freeze will help balance the budget and that there are some things it won't effect, such as job hirings. Jim Insco, Huntington City Councilman, said it will affect the user fee and the Business and Occupational tax.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The State of the Union 2010
President Barack Obama gave Americans the yearly pep talk, also known as the State of the Union address, Wednesday evening. Most of it was expected, though there were a few parts I didn’t see coming.
The beginning of his address started out as I figured it would, with a notable list of what he has accomplished. I was a little reminiscent of the first day back to elementary school listening to a student tell what he did over the summer. It was a good list, nonetheless. He focused on the Recovery Act, also known as the stimulus package. He listed how he has provided tax cuts to working families, saved 2 million American jobs and extended or increased unemployment. Obama also shared with Americans some difficult things we are facing, as I expected, like the current unemployment rate, noting that one out of every 10 Americans is unemployed. He also had to mention that we are still at war. He intended to share some hope as well, by committing to have troops out of Iraq by August and supporting the freedom for gays in the military, neither of which I expected.
There were other things I didn’t expect to hear, like his plan to freeze government spending over the next three years. He also did not talk about health care reform or education nearly as much as I thought he would. Obama also was unexpectedly comedic, getting a good laugh several times during his speech, adding a lightheartedness to the evening. Maybe he was just keeping the options open in case this whole president thing doesn’t work out.
The beginning of his address started out as I figured it would, with a notable list of what he has accomplished. I was a little reminiscent of the first day back to elementary school listening to a student tell what he did over the summer. It was a good list, nonetheless. He focused on the Recovery Act, also known as the stimulus package. He listed how he has provided tax cuts to working families, saved 2 million American jobs and extended or increased unemployment. Obama also shared with Americans some difficult things we are facing, as I expected, like the current unemployment rate, noting that one out of every 10 Americans is unemployed. He also had to mention that we are still at war. He intended to share some hope as well, by committing to have troops out of Iraq by August and supporting the freedom for gays in the military, neither of which I expected.
There were other things I didn’t expect to hear, like his plan to freeze government spending over the next three years. He also did not talk about health care reform or education nearly as much as I thought he would. Obama also was unexpectedly comedic, getting a good laugh several times during his speech, adding a lightheartedness to the evening. Maybe he was just keeping the options open in case this whole president thing doesn’t work out.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
President Kopp's response to Gov. Manchin's SOS
Stephen J. Kopp, president of Marshall University, responded to Gov. Joe Manchin’s State of the State address Friday by an e-mail directed to faculty and staff. Even though Manchin’s message included an action to reduce State appropriations by 3.4 percent, Kopp was positive about the success Manchin has had in keeping West Virginia in good economic standing. He was also positive that Marshall University can withstand a decrease in funding, but did make it clear that changes will have to take place.
Kopp pointed out that there are already things in the works that will improve the financial situation Marshall is facing. The physical therapy and pharmacy programs Marshall is looking to acquire are expected to benefit the university by attracting new students and by keeping those students through a strong and desirable program. The endowment-based research program is another positive financial move for the university, as it will bring money to the university without requiring financial responsibilities from the university. Kopp mentioned many environmentally-friendly improvements Marshall is making that are also a financial plus. Finding ways to conserve water, decrease power usage and decrease food waste are helping Marshall’s budget.
Kopp has a Sustainability Department devoted to the task of finding ways to save money, and he is looking for any ideas and suggestions others may have to help Marshall’s financial situation.
Kopp pointed out that there are already things in the works that will improve the financial situation Marshall is facing. The physical therapy and pharmacy programs Marshall is looking to acquire are expected to benefit the university by attracting new students and by keeping those students through a strong and desirable program. The endowment-based research program is another positive financial move for the university, as it will bring money to the university without requiring financial responsibilities from the university. Kopp mentioned many environmentally-friendly improvements Marshall is making that are also a financial plus. Finding ways to conserve water, decrease power usage and decrease food waste are helping Marshall’s budget.
Kopp has a Sustainability Department devoted to the task of finding ways to save money, and he is looking for any ideas and suggestions others may have to help Marshall’s financial situation.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Anticipating the State of the Union 2010
President Barack Obama will give his State of the Union address to the American people this week and many are speculating on what he will say.
Like presidents before him in similar situations, he is likely to speak openly and candidly about our country's struggles with unemployment, a troubled economy and war, as well as the progress we have made in those same areas, in addition to the success of his stimulus plan and environmental accomplishments.
Obama could begin his speech focusing on his administration's accomplishments of the past year. He could point out his stimulus plan and the positive effects it has had on the economy. He could point out his success in bailing out the automotive industry and the banks. Environmentally, he has protected over 2 million acres of land from development and made a difference with his clean cars actions.
Obama will need to address the negatives too. The country is still in a recession, and while progress has been made, America is looking for it to be over. Many people are still out of jobs and businesses are still closing and laying off employees. Obama will have to be honest about these situations, ending on a note of hope. He needs to address the war and the fact that we are still in one. He had given the American people hope that the war would end soon, and that the sons and daughters would be back on American soil, out of Iraqi harm. This has not happened, as Obama has watched and learned and listened, giving him a different perspective on what needs to take place. He has gone against what is popular and made decisions he feels are best for America.
These are the things other presidents before Obama have addressed. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed the American people about the issues of war and of a difficult economy. Kennedy told the American people, “I speak today in an hour of national peril and national opportunity.” Obama is likely to speak this same way, though with maybe a little less peril this year than last. He is likely to give a review of the difficulties involved with the war and the economy, but will ultimately end on a positive note – a note to encourage the American people.
The questionable topic is going to be health care reform. Obama was certainly looking forward to announcing to the American people that the health care reform legislation has passed, giving Americans a more affordable way to get insurance and reducing the number of uninsured Americans. Due to the recent election of Scott Brown into the senate of Massachusetts, the republicans have likely added a vote against Obama’s health care reform the way it stands. This has undoubtedly caused a change in what he was going to say about health care. He must now address what will need to be done to get this going.
In keeping with Obama’s previous speeches, he will be sure to give some positive words to the people about about education, healthcare, employment, war and the economy. He will try to leave us looking forward to what 2010 might bring. As in his 2009 speech to America, he will likely ask us as Americans to “come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis.” He will try to unify us as American citizens and in the end, as before, he will ask God to bless the United States of America.
President Obama will give the State of the Union address on Jan. 27, 2010, at 9 p.m. EST. It will be shown on www.whitehouse.gov/live, as well as channels such as CNN and C-Span.
Like presidents before him in similar situations, he is likely to speak openly and candidly about our country's struggles with unemployment, a troubled economy and war, as well as the progress we have made in those same areas, in addition to the success of his stimulus plan and environmental accomplishments.
Obama could begin his speech focusing on his administration's accomplishments of the past year. He could point out his stimulus plan and the positive effects it has had on the economy. He could point out his success in bailing out the automotive industry and the banks. Environmentally, he has protected over 2 million acres of land from development and made a difference with his clean cars actions.
Obama will need to address the negatives too. The country is still in a recession, and while progress has been made, America is looking for it to be over. Many people are still out of jobs and businesses are still closing and laying off employees. Obama will have to be honest about these situations, ending on a note of hope. He needs to address the war and the fact that we are still in one. He had given the American people hope that the war would end soon, and that the sons and daughters would be back on American soil, out of Iraqi harm. This has not happened, as Obama has watched and learned and listened, giving him a different perspective on what needs to take place. He has gone against what is popular and made decisions he feels are best for America.
These are the things other presidents before Obama have addressed. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed the American people about the issues of war and of a difficult economy. Kennedy told the American people, “I speak today in an hour of national peril and national opportunity.” Obama is likely to speak this same way, though with maybe a little less peril this year than last. He is likely to give a review of the difficulties involved with the war and the economy, but will ultimately end on a positive note – a note to encourage the American people.
The questionable topic is going to be health care reform. Obama was certainly looking forward to announcing to the American people that the health care reform legislation has passed, giving Americans a more affordable way to get insurance and reducing the number of uninsured Americans. Due to the recent election of Scott Brown into the senate of Massachusetts, the republicans have likely added a vote against Obama’s health care reform the way it stands. This has undoubtedly caused a change in what he was going to say about health care. He must now address what will need to be done to get this going.
In keeping with Obama’s previous speeches, he will be sure to give some positive words to the people about about education, healthcare, employment, war and the economy. He will try to leave us looking forward to what 2010 might bring. As in his 2009 speech to America, he will likely ask us as Americans to “come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis.” He will try to unify us as American citizens and in the end, as before, he will ask God to bless the United States of America.
President Obama will give the State of the Union address on Jan. 27, 2010, at 9 p.m. EST. It will be shown on www.whitehouse.gov/live, as well as channels such as CNN and C-Span.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Past State of the State addresses
I have an assignment coming up regarding President Obama’s State of the Union address, and in preparation for it, I have researched the State of the Union addresses of previous presidents. Here is what I found.
President John F. Kennedy came into office at a time when the country was in an economic crisis and a time of war. In his 1961 State of the Union, Kennedy was very candid about the gravity of the financial situation, but his words were not without hope. He spoke specifically about business bankruptcies being at an all-time high, and unemployment being the second highest in history. Businesses were in trouble and the finances of individuals were down.
Kennedy offered a glimpse into his plans to start repairing the damage. For example, he wanted to give more food to those who are unemployed, increase minimum wage, stimulate housing construction and encourage price stabilization.
In response to the war going on, Kennedy focused on strengthening America’s military, improving the economy and sharpening diplomacy.
Kennedy was clear that the country’s situation was not the best, he was careful to remain positive. He referred to the time as “an hour of national peril and national opportunity.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt also had a presidency during a time of war, and his 1945 State of the Union referred to that time as “the most critical phase of the war.” Roosevelt said a lot about the war and updated the people on what had already taken place, the good and the bad.
For the present, he said America needed more nurses and needed people to continue working, keeping the country running. He said, “The Lord hates a quitter.”
President Richard Nixon’s 1974 State of the Union was right after a time of war. He spent a lot of time talking about the difficulties America overcame during the previous five years, and was pleased to say, “Tonight, for the first itme in 12 years, a President of the United States can report to the Congress on the state of a Union at peace with every nation of the world.”
Nixon was able to focus on homeland issues, like the economy and education.
President John F. Kennedy came into office at a time when the country was in an economic crisis and a time of war. In his 1961 State of the Union, Kennedy was very candid about the gravity of the financial situation, but his words were not without hope. He spoke specifically about business bankruptcies being at an all-time high, and unemployment being the second highest in history. Businesses were in trouble and the finances of individuals were down.
Kennedy offered a glimpse into his plans to start repairing the damage. For example, he wanted to give more food to those who are unemployed, increase minimum wage, stimulate housing construction and encourage price stabilization.
In response to the war going on, Kennedy focused on strengthening America’s military, improving the economy and sharpening diplomacy.
Kennedy was clear that the country’s situation was not the best, he was careful to remain positive. He referred to the time as “an hour of national peril and national opportunity.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt also had a presidency during a time of war, and his 1945 State of the Union referred to that time as “the most critical phase of the war.” Roosevelt said a lot about the war and updated the people on what had already taken place, the good and the bad.
For the present, he said America needed more nurses and needed people to continue working, keeping the country running. He said, “The Lord hates a quitter.”
President Richard Nixon’s 1974 State of the Union was right after a time of war. He spent a lot of time talking about the difficulties America overcame during the previous five years, and was pleased to say, “Tonight, for the first itme in 12 years, a President of the United States can report to the Congress on the state of a Union at peace with every nation of the world.”
Nixon was able to focus on homeland issues, like the economy and education.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Education plays a big part of the State of the State
Gov. Joe Manchin gave his State of the State address Wednesday evening, and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself interested in some of it.
Manchin emphasized education and there were highlights for college students to pay some serious attention to.
College students in West Virginia have heard the last of tuition increases for at least the next four years, if Manchin has anything to say about it. Manchin proposed a tuition freeze for all technical schools, colleges and universities in West Virginia.
Manchin said this in response to his concern with the staggering statistics of declining college graduation among today’s youth. He said out of 100 students in ninth grade right now, only 16 of them will finish their education and get a diploma. He called the graduation rates “very disappointing.”
Manchin said the United States and Germany are the only Western democracies where the children are less likely to have graduated from college than their parents.
This is shocking. However, the enrollment into college continues to rise. The problem lies in keeping the students enrolled and excelling academically through graduation.
On a positive note, Manchin said community college enrollment has increased for adults by 16 percent.
Manchin said the PROMISE scholarship program is something he is proud to keep going. However, in echoing his concern from his State of the State address in 2008, he is asking the recipients of those scholarships to keep a vow as well.
“I’m asking every PROMISE graduate to make us a promise – to do everything possible to stay in the state of West Virginia,” Manchin said Wednesday.
In 2008, Manchin said he was going to propose a rule for the recipients of the PROMISE scholarship to work in West Virginia or pay back the scholarship.
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission reported about 9,300 students received the PROMISE scholarship from 2008 to 2009.
Manchin praised the success of the Bucks for Brains program, which began in 2008. The program provides funding for research in areas of science and technology at Marshall University and West Virginia University. Manchin said there has been increase in students majoring in areas of technology, engineering, math and science.
In addition to education, Manchin addressed West Virginia’s economy. He said he has had to do the first mid-year budget reduction since being in office.
He did say, however, “We should be proud that the state of our state is still strong.”
Something Manchin seemed pleased to announce was the Boy Scouts of America’s commitment to host the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia for the next 100 years. In addition to this being an honor to the state, he also saw this as an opportunity for more part-time jobs.
For the school system, Manchin is concerned with the lack of attendance of the full 180 days that are required each school year. He vowed to make that a priority.
Bettering the school lunch menu is also a concern. Manchin said this was brought to light by chef Jaime Oliver’s recent television show recorded in Huntington, W.Va. Manchin is hoping there will be an improvement in the quality and nutrition of the food.
Jennifer Garner was representing the program Save the Children, which focuses on the health, education and economic opportunities for 150 communities in the United States. Manchin allocated $1 million for this effort in the rural counties in West Virginia.
With the help of Manchin, West Virginia should be producing college graduates who have eaten well during school, worked part-time jobs at the Boy Scout National Scout Jamboree, and had their tuition paid for, and will be working in areas of technology in West Virginia for years to come.
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