And to help you welcome in the new year, some 40,000 new laws go into effect today or in the very near future across the USA, when federal, state, and local rules are all taken into account. Eight states will raise the minimum wage, NBC News reported. They include Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, Ohio, Vermont and Florida, NBC News said. San Francisco will become the first city to raise its minimum wage above $10 per hour. The new $10.24 minimum is nearly $3 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, set in 2009.
It's a safe bet that unemployment numbers will be rising again, thanks to the efforts of intrepid lawmakers.
The news isn't all bad, however - unless you happen to be AlGore: his entire line of plug-in cars is being recalled due to fire hazard. The upside is that electricity derived from coal-burning power plants won't be diverted to fuel his "green" dreams any time soon.
Of course, the new year is always a time for considered reflection; a time to look back at significant events of the previous year. In Portland, the list is long, but many point to the sudden doubling of garbage rates by Portland City Council as they unilaterally mandated that each house be given a slop bucket for the kitchen, into which residents will dump all food "scraps" - or else.
Also high on the list was the diversion of ratepayers' water/sewer funds by Portland City Councilor Randy "the fireman" Leonard toward pet projects having no bearing upon the provision of said services - legal action is now underway, which is certain to cost taxpayers tons of additional cash.
No retrospective is complete, however, without Dave Barry's take.
Fifty for $529-million.
Change.
.
Posted by: TMI | January 01, 2012 at 04:27 PM
As I said during his campaign: change is all he'll leave you with.
Posted by: Max | January 01, 2012 at 05:40 PM