We Just Declared 5K of Teaching Expenses on Our Taxes

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Tuesday April 06, 2010 · 9:19 PM PDT

2010/04/06 · 21:19

Every day of my life I feel blessed. I have a fantastic wife, a three-month-old son who sleeps twelve hours uninterrupted each night, a nice house, car and good parks nearby.

I also have a good job. I am in my twelfth year as a public school teacher. The kids are good. We have lots of funding problems, but we survive. And the job allows me to live a good middle-class life. That's the dream, right?

Anyway, I don't really think about it much, but I always spend a little bit of my money every day out of pocket to do my job. My wife is also a teacher and she does the same.

We have a little black box where we throw the receipts after we return home. Again, we don't think about it much until tax time rolls around. Well, I just did the taxes. And we declared $5,000 in teaching expenses.

DingellDem

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Monday March 29, 2010 · 5:48 PM PDT

2010/03/29 · 17:48

Channel 7, WXYZ TV in Detroit is reporting that the ninth suspect in the Hutaree militia case in Michigan has been apprehended:

WXYZ TV Detroit

Links from prior to the apprehension:

WXYZ TV

Adrian Daily Telegram

Hillsdale Daily News

DingellDem

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Friday March 05, 2010 · 2:15 AM PST

2010/03/05 · 02:15

Flint-area Democrat Dan Kildee ended his bid for Michigan governor last night, according to reports cited by the Detroit Free Press:

Kildee Out

Lack of UAW support was cited as the reason for Kildee's departure.

This move seems to make it a two-person race for the Democratic nomination. On one side is Andy Dillon, the pro-life, anti-teacher, pro-Republican Democrat. On the other is the telegenic populist Mayor of Lansing, Virg Bernero. My apologies to fans of longshot candidate Alma Wheeler Smith.

Obama to Deliver Spring Commencement Address at U of Michigan

DingellDem

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Friday February 12, 2010 · 4:08 AM PST

2010/02/12 · 04:08

Obama at U of M

President Barack Obama will deliver the spring 2010 commencement address at the University of Michigan. At the ceremony, to be held on May 1 in Michigan Stadium, Obama will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. He will be the fourth sitting president to visit U-M in Ann Arbor, following George H.W. Bush, Gerald R. Ford and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Given the fact that Michigan Stadium holds 110,000, this might also be a good time for people in the area to see the president speak. I have not seen ticket details, yet.

Michigan might not be able to win at football or basketball anymore, but we've got a finalist in the Jeopardy college tournament. And now we've got the president.

Go Blue!

Denise Ilitch Out of MI Gov Race; Is Bernero the Guy?

DingellDem

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Wednesday February 10, 2010 · 7:01 PM PST

2010/02/10 · 19:01

Derek Melot, political reporter/blogger at the Lansing State Journal, reports that Denise Ilitch has decided NOT to run for the Democratic nomination in the Michigan governor's race.

Ilitch Drops Out

No reason is given. However, the immediate spin is that this helps clear the field for populist Democratic Mayor Virg Bernero of Lansing. Bernero's biggest rival for the nomination is MI House Speaker Andy Dillon.

Dillon has many enemies, given his backroom deals with Republicans during recent budget negotiations. He is also opposed with vehemence by unions like the Michigan Education Association and United Auto Workers. A straight-up Dillon vs. Bernero race would be difficult for Dillon to win.

Lansing City Pulse: Virg Could Win

DingellDem

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Saturday February 06, 2010 · 6:58 AM PST

2010/02/06 · 06:58

All we see today are people advocating government cuts. But government programs - social security, medicare, free and reduced lunch program - do a lot of good. And these programs are often very cost-effective.

Example: The Free and Reduced Lunch program provides breakfast and lunch to more than 30 million children from low-income families each day. The program cost $9.3 billion in 2008.

So, here's some rough math: Divide $9.3 billion by 300 million total U.S. residents. That's $31. Divide $9.3 billion by 140 million federal taxpayers and the result is $66.

Free and Reduced Lunch Program Fact Sheet

DingellDem

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Thursday February 04, 2010 · 6:27 PM PST

2010/02/04 · 18:27

I've got a question: Why not pass major legislation during the lame duck session after this November's election?

Presumably, some Democrats are hesitant to support certain legislation and options like reconciliation because of potential for personal political costs during the upcoming elections.

After the elections, these Dems will either be on their way out the door OR newly-reelected with political winds at their backs and two years to undo any immediate damage.

DingellDem

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Tuesday January 26, 2010 · 7:46 PM PST

2010/01/26 · 19:46

Jockeying for position in the Michigan governor's race has been fascinating. Several weeks ago, the presumed favorite for the Democratic nomination, John Cherry, pulled out. Ever since, there has been a list of announcements and pseudo-announcements.

Among the latest info.:

Congressman Bart Stupak (D, MI-01) has announced that he will NOT run for governor. Link:

WaPost: Stupak Out for MI Gov.

Meanwhile, former Congressman Joe Schwarz (R, MI-07) told Michigan Public Radio that he is interested in mounting an independent race for governor. Link:

MI Radio: Schwarz Independent Bid for Gov.

DingellDem

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Saturday January 23, 2010 · 4:07 AM PST

2010/01/23 · 04:07

I am not one of those who backhandedly celebrates the Brown win in MA as a way towards Democratic Party policy reform.

However, there is opportunity in the new situation. It is time to start making the Republicans vote down good policy.

With 60 votes, the claim of Republican obstructionism never really rang true to me. Democrats really could have had their way if they were united. And that made Democrats completely responsible for failure.

No more.

DingellDem

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Saturday January 02, 2010 · 12:32 PM PST

2010/01/02 · 12:32

This past Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved an air quality permit for a proposed 930 megawatt, $2 billion coal-fired power plant near Bay City, Michigan.

The permitting process has been interesting to watch. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has long talked a good game on "green" energy initiatives. And her administration initially balked at permitting this plant.

In the end, however, the permit was approved. And there is nothing like facts on the ground. A power company with a shiny new coal plant is not likely to be serious about energy conservation, alternative energy or nuclear alternatives. And, given that Michigan still receives 70% of its power from coal, this is a massive missed opportunity.

DingellDem

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Thursday December 31, 2009 · 11:53 AM PST

2009/12/31 · 11:53

I am curious about what the members of this board thought of a potential strategy to change the dynamics of Washington politics: running regional presidential candidates.

Before I write any further, I do want to state that I campaigned and raised money for President Obama in 2008 and I fully expect to do the same in 2012.

However, I also see quite a disconnect between the Washington leadership of both parties and voters in my area. And I am curious if anyone thinks that a fundamental shift in campaign strategy over the long term might have positive results.

DingellDem

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Tuesday December 29, 2009 · 6:15 AM PST

2009/12/29 · 06:15

Much has been made of the tax on "Cadillac" health care plans proposed within the Senate health care bill. Any employer-provided plan with premiums in excess of $8,500 for individuals or $23,000 for families would be subject to a 40% tax on premiums in excess of that cap.

The goal of this "Cadillac" tax is twofold. It would force employers to cut benefits to teachers, firefighters and others with "Cadillac" plans. This would, theoretically, cut the percentage of GDP spent on health care costs. It would also raise an estimated $150 billion to pay for those newly-covered under the health care bill.

My guess, however, is that this plan will just shift costs. And here's why...

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We Just Declared 5K of Teaching Expenses on Our Taxes

Militia Suspect Apprehended: North Adams, MI

Kildee Ends Bid for MI Gov.

Obama to Deliver Spring Commencement Address at U of Michigan

Denise Ilitch Out of MI Gov Race; Is Bernero the Guy?

Let's Learn from Walmart/McDonald's: Publicize Cost Per Person of Good Programs

Pass Major Legislation in Lame Duck Session?

Stupak Out, Schwarz In (?) for MI Gov

Time to Pin Failure on Republicans

MI Approves New $2B Coal Power Plant Permit

Why not run regional presidential candidates?

Won't "Cadillac" Plans Just Shift Costs?