http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/04/05/news/state/131476.txt
This first one is about a company named Paladin Brands and their decision to close two plants. One in Minnesota and the other in Jamestown North Dakota. For the record, the Jamestown plant is one that produces a machine named the Harley Rake and thankfully though the operations aren't moving to China, they are leaving North Dakota for Dexter Michigan. Still it is troubling that this plant used to be family owned until they were bought out by Paladin Brands last year according to the Tribune story.
For the record, here is what a Harley Rake looks like.
http://www.ditchwitch.com/dwcom/Product/ProductView/10618
Now here is another and supposedly unrelated story.
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/04/07/news/local/131552.txt
This story details the complete and total discontent that our political leaders force on us. This time six "Republicans" joined with DemocRATS, by a 27-21 vote, to reject a property tax bill that would have put an substantial rebate into the hands of most North Dakota property owners. Well before this defeat, however, our city, town, and county governments have been increasing property taxes and the first comment to this article has stated that his/her property assessment has risen 100% "in one year." The good news is that both parties do know that there is a problem and that both Sen. Joel Heikamp (D) Hankinson and Dwight Cook (R) Mandan believe that a compromise could be reached. Still, this will not help Paladin Brands since they have already announced plans to ship their jobs out of state. One of the good things is that most people in this state know that property tax reform is needed instead.
Now here is another somewhat unrelated story.
http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=192865
Nationally, the big issue here is that President Bush appointed Sam Fox his ambassador to Belgium without US Senate approval, and here is the issue surrounding his appointment:
Recess appointments are intended to give the president flexibility if Congress is out for a lengthy period of time, such as the four-week adjournment in summer. But Dodd said the law was not intended to circumvent lawmakers' approval.
"This is really now taking the recess appointment vehicle and abusing this beyond anyone's imagination," said Dodd, a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. "This is a travesty."
Bush also used his recess appointment authority to make Andrew Biggs deputy director of Social Security. The president's earlier nomination of Biggs, an outspoken advocate of partially privatizing the government's retirement program, was rejected by Senate Democrats in February.
Presidents since George Washington have made appointments during congressional recesses to fill positions in the executive and judicial branches. Bush has used the authority more frequently than some — but not all — of his most recent predecessors, making 171 so far, compared with 140 for President Clinton over two terms, 77 by his father in one term and 243 by President Reagan during two terms.
Let's Keep in mind that Bush still has a little under two years left as President and that his recess appointment can stay in office until December of 2008. For the most part, this is an award for Sam because he helped fund the 2004 Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Campagin. However the real story is that he is helping to destroy our economy as the founder and chairman of the Clayton Missouri based Harbour Group which specializes in the takeover of manafacturing companies. He may have even helped Paladin Brands take over the entire Harley Rake operations both here in North Dakota and Minnesota. For more on this issue, I suggest you all read North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan's new book "Take this Job and Ship it." It is a good read at a reasonable price, but here is one hint regarding this book, avoid Wal-Mart because you will not find a copy there.
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