DeMillo talks about the surplus…

Despite spiraling gas prices and other grim economic news that caused them to cut money from some agency budgets, Arkansas officials announced last week that the state ended the fiscal year with a $176.5 million surplus. That amounts to a little under 4 percent of the $4.5 billion in revenue the state pulled during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

In other words, imagine if your annual salary was $50,000 and you ended the year being paid about $52,000. That’s the situation the state is in.

The extra money, plus another $83 million the state already had left over, means lawmakers will return to the Capitol with $259.5 million available in the state’s General Improvement Fund - typically used to fund one-time projects.

Finish off the Grocery Tax…While I think cutting the state’s Income Tax and Property Tax are important, I don’t think you will find consensus for that with this Gov and this Legislature…Having said that, if the Republican caucus could hold together on the either the Income Tax cut or a Property Tax cut, then we might at least make some noise, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on that happening…Also, Beebe is bound by his word to cut the Grocery Tax and I’m inclined to think that if given the opportunity, he might try to maneuver out of his promise…But if he wants to get re-elected, he would finish off the Grocery Tax…

I need to lose weight anyway…From the AFA…

McDonald’s has refused a request to remain neutral in the culture war, choosing to continue support of the homosexual agenda. AFA wrote McDonald’s asking the company do two things:

• Remove McDonald’s name and logo from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Web site listing McDonald’s as a “Corporate Partner and Organization Ally” of NGLCC.
• Remove the endorsement of NGLCC by Richard Ellis, Vice President of Communications for McDonald’s USA, from the NGLCC Web site.

McDonald’s refused both requests. McDonald’s donated $20,000 to NGLCC in exchange for membership in the NGLCC and a seat on the group’s board of directors. The NGLCC lobbies Congress on a wide range of issues including the promotion of homosexual marriage.

This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald’s, or how homosexual employees are treated. It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, choosing to put the full weight of their corporation behind promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.

Pat Harris, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Vice President, Inclusion & Diversity at McDonald’s, responded: “I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our position on diversity.” Notice that Ms. Harris said “reaffirm.” Translated: McDonald’s will not change their policy of supporting the NGLCC and their promotion of homosexual marriage.

Richard Ellis, who is openly homosexual, was given a seat on the NGLCC Board of Directors. He was quoted as saying: “I’m thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and ready to go to work. I share the NGLCC’s passion for business growth and development within the LGBT community, and I look forward to playing a role in moving these important initiatives forward.”

Addressing McDonald’s promotion of social issues, McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner said earlier the company will aggressively promote the issues they approve. In remarks on its Web site, Skinner said: “Being a socially responsible organization is a fundamental part of who we are. We have an obligation to use our size and resources to make a difference in the world … and we do.”

 

The Fix today examines why Romney is not a good choice…

Ask any Romney adviser what the biggest problem for the former governor in the Iowa caucuses — a state where the GOP is dominated by social conservatives — and, to a person, they cite the candidate’s religion.

Polling bears this out. While more than nine-in-ten voters regularly say that a candidate’s race or sex has no impact on whether or not they would vote for him (or her), people are far more willing to admit their hesitation about supporting a Mormon candidate. (Take a look at thisUSA Today/Gallup poll for evidence.)

Evangelical voters, who comprise a substantial portion of the Republican base, are the most dismissive about Mormonism — often regarding it as a cult. Putting Romney on the ticket could well antagonize this crucial voting bloc, which is already not entirely enthusiastic about McCain’s candidacy.

Excellent post on Halter’s people using taxpayer time to promote his liberal agenda, brought to you by Arkansas Journal…Halter is constantly doing the work of Liberals in Little Rock…

There is no excuse to not cut the rest of the grocery tax…

State revenues exceeded budget by $176.5 million for the fiscal year that ended Monday, $81.7 million greater than the state finance office projected in May, Arkansas’ chief fiscal officer said Wednesday.

Higher than expected income tax collections combined with fewer deductions accounted for the disparity, said Richard Weiss, director of the Department of Finance and Administration.

The department had overestimated the money spent on economic development incentives and the Central Arkansas desegregation case, Weiss said.

With between $70 million and $80 million in unspent funds and interest earnings in the General Improvement Fund, lawmakers could have a nearly $250 million surplus available when the Legislature convenes in January, he said.

The Fix takes a look at the “good” Romney…

Not only is the economy the major issue on a national level, it’s also of vital important in at least four key states — Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — where the manufacturing sector has been shedding jobs and many communities are struggling with high unemployment rates.

snip

Romney fits squarely into the latter category in two swing states — Nevada and Colorado. The former Massachusetts governor’s Mormonism makes him an extremely appealing vice presidential candidate and could well tip a narrow race in McCain’s favor.

This is particularly true in Nevada where it is is estimated that nearly eight percent of the state’s population is Mormon and where, according to one Romney backer, Romney is a “rock star.”

Well, I’ve made it known that having a mormon on the ticket drags the ticket down…While it’s true that it fires up the mormons, it tamps down most evangelicals and even fires up some to actively work against Romney…In the four states listed above, I don’t think you reassure enough of the working blue collar church going folks with a Mormon on the ticket…While Romney helps you in certain circles he hurts you in others and IMHO, he hurts more than helps…

Steve Schmidt takes day to day control…

McCain sources say Schmidt, who ran Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reelection campaign and was a top communications aide in Bush-Cheney ‘04, will coordinate the campaign’s daily pro-McCain and anti-Obama message but also will have an increased role in shaping most every facet of the organization including scheduling, policy, coalitions and surrogates.

Davis will focus more on big-picture issues such as general strategy, helping to plan the convention, picking a vice president and tending to the needs of major donors.

Snip

Mike DuHaime, the former Rudy Giuliani campaign manager and RNC political director who had been split between the RNC and McCain, is likely to take an enhanced role in the campaign.

Further, there is likely to be more structure brought to a political operation that has largely been delegated to the Regional Campaign Managers. The campaign currently has no political or field director. 

Helping Schmidt drive the new daily message will be Matt McDonald, also a veteran of the Schwarzenegger campaign and Bush-Cheney reelection effort, who just started at the campaign a few weeks ago.

McDonald is working with McCain’s press shop in trying to get on offense, sharpening attacks on Obama and pushing a more consistent narrative against the Democrat.

A lot of pundits say that this election is Obama’s to lose…My feeling is that when you break down the 11 key battleground states, if we can’t beat this Liberal in those states, we could be in some very serious trouble…

Obama wants to help the Gay Community in anyway possible…The letter below was sent by Barack Hussein Obama to members of the LGBT Community…When the flag bearer of the Democrat Party is this liberal it really makes you wonder how DINO’s in this state could remain Democrat…

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the opportunity to welcome everyone to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club’s Pride Breakfast and to congratulate you on continuing a legacy of success, stretching back thirty-six years. As one of the oldest and most influential LGBT organizations in the country, you have continually rallied to support Democratic candidates and causes, and have fought tirelessly to secure equal rights and opportunities for LGBT Americans in California and throughout the country.

As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. That is why I support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, and the passage of laws to protect LGBT Americans from hate crimes and employment discrimination. And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.

For too long. issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It’s time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. This is no less than a core issue about who we are as Democrats and as Americans.

Finally, I want to congratulate all of you who have shown your love for each other by getting married these last few weeks. My thanks again to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club for allowing me to be a part of today’s celebration. I look forward to working with you in the coming months and years, and I wish you all continued success.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

I hope everyone understands that in the critical swing states, the God, Guns, and Gays mantra will work very well against Barack Obama…

This fall, NRA members will get automated phone calls, mail pieces and pre-election editions of the group’s three magazines making the case against Obama. More broadly, the group will use an independent expenditure effort to hammer the Democratic nominee via TV, radio and newspaper ads in some of about 15 battleground states in the Midwest and Mountain West.

“We look forward to showing him ‘bitter,’” Cox said, referring to Obama’s statement this spring that some in rural America “cling” to guns and religion out of bitterness.

Since 2000, Democrats have made a conscious decision to avoid alienating gun owners and Second Amendment enthusiasts, as many in the party believe a NRA-stoked backlash cost Al Gore his home state of Tennessee , as well as West Virginia and Arkansas, in the 2000 presidential election. In the days leading up to Election Day four years ago, Democratic nominee Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) even went so far as to symbolically court gun owners, donning camouflage and hoisting a 12-gauge in what turned out to be a goose hunt in more ways than one.