'HACKED E-MAILS FUEL CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE'

(Wall Street Journal) -- WSJ.com repots, "The scientific community is buzzing over thousands of emails and documents ... that some say raise ethical questions about a group of scientists who contend humans are responsible for global warming." According to the story, the emails -- which were obtained by a group of hackers -- "include discussions of apparent efforts to make sure that reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations group that monitors climate science, include their own views and exclude others. In addition, emails show that climate scientists declined to make their data available to scientists whose views they disagreed with." See the WSJ.com story at <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125883405294859215.html>

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED?

Do you know someone who thinks the government should be running health care and our banks? The next time you talk to them, read them the following list:

• Up to 12 different agencies are responsible for administering more than 35 food-safety laws.


• There are 541 clean air, water, and waste programs spread out over 29 agencies.


• 40 different programs aimed primarily at job training are administered by at least 7 different federal agencies.


• 50 different programs to aid the homeless are administered by at least 8 different federal agencies.


• 9 different agencies operate 27 teen-pregnancy programs and 11 agencies administer at least 90 early-childhood programs.

These are just a few government-run programs. I'm sure you could think of some yourself.

'HEALTH CARE SURTAX WOULD HURT ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE'

(Budget & Tax News) -- The Heartland Institute reports that "the top tax rates in 39 states would climb above 50% under a plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation." "'This proposed tax increase will be levied at a time when Americans can least afford it and will affect countless small businesses that file individual returns,' including sole proprietorships, S Corporations, and partnerships, said economist Jonathan Williams, director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council. ... 'This tax increase is a job killer, plain and simple,' Williams added." See more at <http://www.heartland.org/publications/budget%20tax/article/25914/Health_Care_Surtax_Would_Hurt_Economy_Health_Care.html

IRS ANNOUNCES 2010 STANDARD MILEAGE RATES

The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 50 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The new rates for business, medical and moving purposes are slightly lower than last year’s. The mileage rates for 2010 reflect generally lower transportation costs compared to a year ago.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study.

Revenue Procedure 2009-54 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.

ONLY IN AMERICA (CANADA IS PART OF AMERICA YOU KNOW)

'Being ‘happy’ on Facebook leads to denial of claim for depression'

(Insurance & Financial Advisor Web News) -- IFAwebnews.com reports that "when a Canadian woman posted photos of herself on a beach vacation and partying at a Chippendale’s club, the insurance company that had been paying benefits for nearly 18 months because of her inability to work due to major depression found the postings to be anything but 'mundane.'" The insurance company "halted benefits payments to the Quebec woman after an investigation found photos of her in less-than-depressed situations. ... Nathalie Blanchard is fuming because she says that vacations and partying are part of her therapy." See the story at <http://ifawebnews.com/2009/11/23/being-happy-on-facebook-leads-to-denial-of-claim-for-depression/>

MORE ON THE HEALTH CARE BILL

'Governor: Health Care Bill Represents $624 Million in Unfunded Mandates for Neb.'

(Governor's release) -- On Friday, Gov. Dave Heineman sent a letter to Nebraska’s U.S. senators and congressmen regarding the health care reform proposal being considered in the U.S. Senate. The Governor's letter reports that one version of the Senate health care bill would create an estimated unfunded mandate of more than $127 million during the bill's first five years. If the state provided optional expanded coverage during FY 2011-13, costs to the state would total more than $497 million, for a combined total exceeding $624 million. See the release at <http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/news/2009/2009_11/20_health_care_bill.html>

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The White House and the Senate
Democrats are working on a new
jobs bill. The White House said this
new jobs bill could create twice as
many non-existent fake jobs as
the last one."
Jay Leno