Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama�s budget today will outline his ideas for how the government may spend more than $3 trillion in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1. There�s no similar document accounting for where taxpayers� money actually goes.� At least three federal sources tally spending, each following its own rules to produce a different total. For the 15 Cabinet-level agencies and Social Security, the White House Office of Management and Budget put expenses at $3.18 trillion in fiscal 2010, the last year for which data are complete. Ask the Census Bureau, and the amount rises by $13.1 billion to $3.19 trillion. USASpending.gov, a website Obama championed as a senator, accounts for $2.23 trillion of spending. (For an interactive graphic, click here.) Continued at �.. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-13/obama-budget-proves-unique-with-no-other-source-for-3-trillion.html

Obama's proposed budget is a mixed bag for Connecticut

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Malloy's projected surpluses look like fiscal sleights of hand

Malloy should take stock before spending more

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PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

FINANCIAL CRISIS

LIST: Providence, Rhode Island's Top 25 Retiree Salaries and Current Pensions Based on 5% and 6% COLAs (WPRI-TV)

Below is a list of Providence�s top 25 retiree salaries � detailing the salary at the time of retirement and the current pension payout.

Mayor Angel Taveras says the city�s retirees must accept reduced pension and health care benefits in order for Providence to avoid bankruptcy.

http://www.wpri.com/generic/news/local_news/providence/providence-financial-crisis-top-pensions

Title/Time of Retirement	Annual Salary/ Time of Retirement	Current� Pension
Fire Chief	$63,510.72	$196,813.08
Deputy Assistant Fire Chief	$52,594.88	$162,944.04
Deputy Assistant Fire Chief	$52,593.32	$161,487.24
Fire Equipment Supt II	$56,146.36	$156,870.60
Deputy Assistant Fire Chief	$52,594.88	$148,839.84
Assistant Fire Chief	$57,782.40	$145,520.88
Fire Equipment Supt II	$50,885.12	$137,336.04
Lieutenant	$41,379.00	$135,702.72
Fire Battalion Chief	$48,349.60	$135,092.28
Captain	$46,581.60	$129,354.84
Fire Equipment Supt II	$48,349.60	$126,854.28
Fire Chief	$69,806.88	$123,599.16
Fire Captain	$33,671.04	$123,105.00
Husband Was Fire Chief	$63,510.72	$119,791.20
Patrolman	$39,481.52	$117,318.60
Fire Captain	$36,435.36	$116,426.52
Husband was Police Chief	$58,336.72	$114,725.64
Battalion Chief	$53,144.00	$113,331.60
Fire Prevention Captain	$36,701.60	$113,126.04
Lieutenant	$33,398.56	$112,796.28
Man in Charge BOC	$30,865.12	$110,505.96
Fire Equipment Supt II	$50,612.64	$110,225.64
Fire Equipment Supt I	$63,510.72	$109,611.60
Fire Marshall	$42,423.68	$109,329.24
Captain	$43,360.20	$109,256.16

The States with the Strongest and Weakest Unions - 24/7 Wall St.

Posted: February 13, 2012 at 6:57 am� 247wallst.com

9. Connecticut
> Pct. Workers in Unions: 16.8%
> Union Workers: 258,666
> Change in Union Membership, (2001 � 2011): +11.3% (3rd largest increase)
> Change in Union Membership, (2010 � 2011): +0.6% (19th largest increase)
> Total Employed (2011): 1,540,072 (28th most)

Connecticut only has the 28th largest working population in the country, but it has the 18th most union members. More than a quarter of a million employees were union members, or 16.8% of the state�s working population, up slightly from 16.7% in 2010. Connecticut�s strong union representation comes almost entirely from the public sector. Nearly 65% of government workers in the state were union members � the second-highest share in the country, behind only New York.

6.� Rhode Island
> Pct. Workers in Unions: 17.4%
> Union Workers: 78,744
> Change in Union Membership, (2001 � 2011): +3.6% (6th largest increase)
> Change in Union Membership, (2010 � 2011): +6.1% (tied, 9th largest increase)
> Total Employed (2011): 453,504 (8th fewest)

Rhode Island has one of the smallest working populations in the country � just 453,000 workers in total. Representation by Rhode Island workers in unions, however, is quite high. This is especially the case in the public sector. Of the state�s government workers, 62.6% were in public unions, the fourth-greatest percentage in the U.S. In the past year, while public sector unions have increased slightly in total membership, the percentage of government workers in unions has dropped.

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Providence, Rhode Island's Mayor Will Move to Suspend City Pensioners' 5% and 6% COLAs to Avoid Bankruptcy (with video - Ted Nesi / WPRI-TV)

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Bill Moyers: Money Throws Democracy Overboard� Bill Moyers and Michael Winship, Moyers & Co.: "Watching what's happening to our democracy is like watching the cruise ship Costa Concordia founder and sink slowly into the sea off the coast of Italy, as the passengers, shorn of life vests, scramble for safety as best they can, while the captain trips and falls conveniently into a waiting life boat. We are drowning here, with gaping holes torn into the hull of the ship of state from charges detonated by the owners and manipulators of capital." �. President Obama -- who kept his distance from Priorities USA Action and used to call the money unleashed by Citizens United a "threat to democracy" -- has declared if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. He urges his wealthy supporters to please go ahead and back the super PAC. "Our campaign has to face the reality of the law as it stands," his campaign manager Jim Messina said. To do otherwise, he added, would be to "unilaterally disarm" in the face of all those Republican super PAC millions. So much for Obama's stand on campaign finance reform -- everybody else is doing it, he seems to say, so why don't you show me the money, too?� When all is said and done, this race for the White House may cost more than two billion dollars. What's getting trampled into dust are the voices of people who aren't rich, not to mention what's left of our democracy. Continued at �.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-moyers/money-throws-democracy-ov_b_1276769.html

With Spotlight on Super PAC Dollars, Nonprofits Escape Scrutiny� Unlike super PACs, which are required to identify their donors, social-welfare nonprofits such as Crossroads GPS and Priorities USA -- also referred to as �dark money� groups -- don�t have to disclose contributions to the FEC, although they are supposed to report spending on political ads within a day or two. The nonprofits have to disclose their annual revenue and expenses to the IRS, but often delay such filings. A few have not yet filed their taxes for 2010. Continued at http://www.propublica.org/article/with-spotlight-on-super-pac-dollars-nonprofits-escape-scrutiny

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U.S. Defense Department can't account for billions for Iraq, audit ...

January 29, 2012|By Josh Levs, CNN� Iraqis work on a construction project in Baghdad in October 2003.� The U.S. Defense Department cannot account for about $2 billion it was given to cover Iraq-related expenses and is not providing Iraq with a complete list of U.S.-funded reconstruction projects, according to two new government audits. Full Report at http://articles.cnn.com/2012-01-29/middleeast/world_meast_iraq-us-audit_1_iraq-reconstruction-audit-deals-special-inspector-general?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST

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Madoff Trustee Sues Koch Industries to Claw Back Ponzi Proceeds Wall St Journal Feb 10, 2012� http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2012/02/10/madoff-trustee-sues-koch-industries-to-claw-back-ponzi-proceeds/

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Visit http://PensionTsunami.com Daily for Pension Info from Around the Country!

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Passports... for a price - Reuters -� Feb 13, 2012 For decades, the two-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis exported sugarcane to keep its economy afloat. When sugar prices fell, St. Kitts began to sell an even sweeter commodity: its citizenship.

For USD 250,000, a foreigner can buy full rights as a citizen there. The transaction can take as few as three months and applicants need never visit the nation's sandy shores. Read complete article at http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/special-report-passports-forprice_666398.html

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Obama Housing Plans vs. Reality Will anything come of the Obama administration's plan for homeowners? by Cora Currier | @coracurrier� Feb 14, 2012� ProPublica� The Obama administration recently unveiled a string of proposals to help struggling homeowners [1] and get the housing market back on its feet � part of the administration�s �We Can�t Wait� election year to-do list [2]. Of course, the White House has made big promises before about helping homeowners, only to see them disappoint time and again. Here are the latest proposals, whether they are anything new and whether they stand a chance of going anywhere. Continued at �. http://www.propublica.org/article/obama-housing-plans-vs.-reality

More coverage: Foreclosure Crisis: Banks and Government Fail Homeowners

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Helland: Property Tax Reform Passes Iowa House� By Ashlee Kieler� Patch.comHF2274 is the only bill in the property tax debate that addresses the problem at the heart of the matter�.government spending. This is the only bill that will result in a lower tax bill for the all payers, specifically residential property taxpayers.� HF 2274 will reduce Iowan�s property tax bills by over $1.2 billion in the next eight years. This taxpayer money will be put to work hiring Iowans and helping family budgets. The House and the Governor have worked hard in an open and transparent process to include ideas from both sides of the aisle. Ideas from all parties involved were considered in crafting a bill which spares residential homeowners from the drastic shift that will result under current law. It focuses on small Iowa business and prevents cities from experiencing catastrophic shortfalls. Continued at �. http://johnston-ia.patch.com/articles/helland-property-tax-reform-passes-iowa-house

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