| Rep. Rohrabacher: Bush's last State of the Union 'demanding'
Even some Republicans had some problems with what they thought was a little heavy-handedness by the president to Congress. "The demanding tone totally overstated the president's political capital,'' said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach. "His lame duck status was not helped by making demands on Congress.'' Sen. John McCain skipped the speech while Democratic contenders Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama were there. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, secured a place on the center aisle of the House chamber and embraced the president despite being almost always opposed to his policy initiatives. ECONOMY Bush's goal Stimulus package with taxpayer rebates, business tax breaks.
Negotiation, communication can forestall foreclosures
Joseph Ripplinger is a man on the verge of losing his house. A semi-retired handyman at 66, Ripplinger has turned several times to the equity in his stucco bungalow in south Minneapolis to pay medical and credit-card bills. He and his wife, Marlys, a newspaper carrier and part-time nursery clerk, bought the house in 1975 for $24,900 and raised their four children there. But it was the refinance he did last December that got him in trouble. Within days of signing the papers, Ripplinger began to realize he couldn't afford the terms of the $186,500 loan. They include an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that -- as near as he can understand -- started at 1.75 percent and climbed to 8.625 percent by last month. He can't afford to refinance again. A prepayment penalty likely would cost him $6,000.
Property tax vote won't be the last word
With the housing market stalled and the economy flirting with a recession, Florida voters decided Tuesday they could not afford to take the long view on tax reform. They overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, unable to resist an increased homestead exemption and the opportunity to take Save Our Homes tax savings with them if they move. Self-preservation in a difficult time trumped any concerns over unfairness or a reduction in government services. The approval of the constitutional amendment was a big win for Gov. Charlie Crist. He fulfilled his 2006 campaign pledges to increase the homestead exemption and make Save Our Homes benefits portable. He led the campaign for the amendment as legislators who voted for it hung back. Now we will see if he can make good on his pledge to protect public schools from any Amendment 1-related cuts.
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