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From The Idaho Statesman:

Canyon County saw the biggest jump in jobless claims in Idaho in June, rising more than 1 percentage point to 12.2 percent, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. That was the highest unemployment rate for Canyon County since 1983 and the highest of any county in Idaho last month.

The statewide unemployment rate rose a half percentage point to 8.3 percent, while the nation’s unemployment rate edged up one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.5 percent.

In June, 3,400 workers in Idaho lost their jobs, bringing the total number of unemployed people in the state to 62,000 — a record, the Department of Labor said.

Unemployment in the Boise metropolitan area rose four-tenths of a point to 10.1 percent in June. Ada County’s rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.4 percent. Owyhee County recorded Idaho’s lowest rate in June at 3.5 percent.

What is not reported, however, is the drastic impact that this will have for the tax burden of those contributing to the Department of Health and Welfare.

Again, from the Statesman:

The Idaho Food Stamp Program has temporarily dropped its asset test for eligibility to help residents struggling with current economic conditions.

Previously, most people were not eligible for food assistance if they had more than $2,000 in assets, which most commonly consists of savings accounts or vehicles such as boats or RVs, according to a news release.

By temporarily dropping the asset test, Idaho joins 22 other states that have taken similar action. “People seeking food assistance today are some of our most responsible citizens‹they have always worked hard, paid taxes and helped other people in their time of need,” says Health and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong. “It is now time for us to help them as they search for work and struggle to keep a roof over their families’ heads. We are confident that temporary help today will reduce many of the stresses families are facing, so people can concentrate on finding work and becoming self-sufficient again. That’s what we all want.”

Beginning June 1, the state dropped the asset test for one year. By placing a temporary one year limit, state leaders hope the economy will recover and people will be able to find work and no longer need public assistance.

The Idaho Food Stamp Program supplements a family’s nutritional needs. In recent months, the program has experienced record growth, serving approximately 140,000 people in April, up 36% from the previous year.

So how large is the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare? It is the second largest section of the Idaho Budget, right behind the Department of Education. Should this 36% increase in food stamp enrollees continue the current $184,785,100 budget allocation will grow to an even more massive. $251,307,736. That works out to be $164.92 per taxpayer that is to be collected to fund the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

But, something else is amiss here the 36% increase in the number of people needing aid was under the OLD non-asset tested rules.

So, my real question is this: how much will the portion of our taxes that fund the Department of Health and Welfare increase now that the asset test has been thrown by the wayside? Let assume that the number of people who need welfare is directly related to the unemployment rate. This connection will be ambiguous at best, nor will it be tested for accuracy in this hypothetical scenario.

In June of 2008, right before the market really started it severe economic downturn, the unemployment rate was 5.5%. The most recent economic data, through March of 2009, puts the unemployment rate at 8.5%. Let’s also assume that the baseline was June of last year, a figure that represents fairly accurately Idaho’s historical unemployment rate.

Should this premise be accepted, even for a casual debate, then the rate of growth for the Department of Health and Welfare would be a whopping 155%.

The tax consequences? The current budget allocation would grow to a whopping $286,416,905. That would mean $187.96 in direct taxation for every man, woman and child just for the Health and Human services function that the government seeks to provide. For your average family of four, the tax burden will grow to $751.84. Compare that to the current $184m budget, which levies only a $485.04 burden for the family of four.

So, this begs the question: 1) Who authorized the Department of Health and Welfare to throw off the asset tests? and 2) How do they intend to recoup the costs associated with expanding this new benefit? The only answer, of course, in through increased taxation. Sadly, something even the Wall Street Journal has warned it’s readers is all but inevitable.

I don’t make it a habit of checking out the Democratic Party website, but occasionally research and proper perspective balance leads one down that path as a libertarian constitutionalist.

I was greatly amused, ecstatic, that I found this: The Party Of NO

That’s right. House Republicans have stood up to Obama “long enough” (just over 100 days) and Democrats aren’t going to take it anymore.

The Party Of No.

It has a nice ring doesn’t it?

I enjoy being the ‘Party Of NO’. I enjoy delivering NO Republican votes for Obama’s socialism. I enjoy standing strong and united in the face of tyranny. I enjoy opposing Socialism. I enjoy stopping the destruction of our Constitution. I enjoy saying ‘thanks-but-no-thanks’ to government expansion.

This is what I want out of my party. I don’t want expansion of any government program. I don’t want any new government benefits. In fact, given our current budget deficit, we need to give serious consideration to shrinking or ending the benefits we have. Like parents to spoiled children, “no” is the appropriate response when your government is stepping out of line.

This is what Eric Cantor said shortly after the House Republicans stood up and did not deliver a single vote for Obama’s spending bill:

The second-ranking House Republican, Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.), put it more bluntly. “What transpired . . . and will give us a shot in the arm going forward is that we are standing up on principle and just saying no,” he said.

Strong Republican opposition will be the only thing that can stop a nation drunk on excess from finally going over the edge in a radical and transformitory self-destruction.

Locally, here in my home state of Idaho, the House Republicans are fighting one of the first of these battles.

Governor Butch Otter, elected largely for his popular libertarian leaning public perception, has gone from friend of the taxpayer to a plan for the future realist. Arguing that Idaho needs to adequately fund road projects now to avoid increased costs in the future, Otter has effectively alienated himself from the political base of his own party by arguing relentlessly for increased taxes on gasoline. So far, the Idaho House has refused to capitulate to his demands, voting down not once, not twice but voting down gasoline tax increases seven times.

In return, Otter has vetoed 33 bills in an attempt to display his executive power. The Idaho House has given no sign of caving in to Governor Otter who has threatened to prolong the Legislative process until they give in. Indeed, many may be tempted in the face of overwhelming pressure to end this Legislative session and promote more bad public policy of increased taxation and government growth.

The newest proposals from Otter’s office would raise gasoline taxes far in the future and only reflect more of the “buy now, pay later” mentality of debt that got us into this mess in the first place.

This battle is the first of many that Republicans are going to have to face to restore a national identity. We will be tested more now than at any other time in our party’s history. Our ideals are seen as outdated and counter-productive to effective political discussion. However, I will argue that it is because we abandoned our traditional message- lower taxes, less government and personal freedom- to give out political favors to those who would vote for us that we have become ineffective.

The way back is simple- we need to cut government and cut it drastically. It is no longer enough for Republicans to be against new taxes and new growth, we must seek to turn back what we already have. Like the family that is overspent or is facing a sudden and drastic downsize in their income, all things must be on the table to reach that zero-sum game. Remember, just because a government program is doing good doesn’t mean that it is right for government to be doing it at all.

Yes the battles will be tough, but this vision also offers the most hope for the future. We must be able to clearly contrast the government controlled ideals of socialism with that of Freedom and Liberty.

To do that, Republicans must not be afraid to be the ‘Party Of NO’.

As reported in the Statesman:

The House voted 51-15 Wednesday to simplify Idaho elections after a late-session deal revived a bill that failed last month in a Senate committee.

The bill would limit most elections to May and November beginning in 2011. Public schools could schedule levy and bond elections on alternative dates in March and August.

The Legislature would provide $4.1 million annually to pay for elections, as well as $1.5 million extra to help counties buy new voting equipment. The previous, failed measure included just $3.1 million in funding and required schools to pay for elections on alternative dates, something to which senators objected.

Idaho Republicans, in particular, contend the state’s current system, under which as many as 450 elections can be held on multiple dates, creates “stealth” votes at obscure polling places with few taxpayers even knowing something is on the ballot.

Libertarian and constitutionalist Republicans haven’t gotten much of this session- more regulations, more taxes and an increasing dominance to the size, scope and authority of State government.

However, the Election Date Reform bill has the power to implement the most significant changes to empower the voter in quite some time. No more will school districts be able to hide their bond elections on obscure dates, no more will unknown tax districts be able to hide from the public. True accountability to the taxpayers begins with standardized election dates.

But we need to get the Senate to sign off on this bill first. They are planning to head home this week, the House has already done so.

Click Here to get your Senator’s phone number. It’s too late to write or email. You must call. If you’re one of the lucky ones who has your Senator’s cell phone number, send them a text message. Don’t rant, just say Pass the Election Date Reform bill please.

Remember- the Founders intended for all Government to be answerable to the people, we must make sure that our tax elections are consistent with the principle of transparency that they set out for us.

Otter withdraws his bill that would have amounted to raising vehcile registration fees over 600%, the largest vehicle tax increase in Idaho’s history. Apparently, there are still some Republicans out there, well, willing to be Republicans!

John McCain’s sudden rise in the election is very disturbing to me.

Granted, he still trails Romney in the Delegate count by a huge margin AND he still has won only 2 of the 10 completed States. But that doesn’t mean we can’t read into it a bit. Quite simply John McCain is the candidate for more of the same-old, same-old. But I guess considering that the Republicans successfully re-elected GWB with this attitude, its not wonder so many are looking at McCain as our key to keep the White House.

What states are up next? Click here.

Another thing to note in this election process: outright voter fraud. More of the same-old, same-old. I wonder if it will be ‘hanging chads’ again or maybe a Diebold machine that gives the election to a lobbyists favored candidate.

Clintons witness voter fraud at Casinos whose unions endorsed Obama

Canadian Press claims Clinton fraud

New Hampshire GOP election fraud

And lets not forget about the latest ’Tax Rebate’ that President Bush is proposing.  $800 would be refunded for individuals or $1600 for families. Does this sound familiar? It should, is more of the same-old, same-old. Its a re-do of the 2005 tax rebates. It didn’t work then, it won’t work now. How exactly will $1,600 dollars help a family whose ARM is adjusting? How exactly will $1,600 help the family that Micron just laid off? How exactly will $1,600 help the housing market in Idaho, which is 20% out-of-state-investor owned?

And here in Idaho and Idaho Senator wants to use $5,000,000 of your tax money to fund the Special Olympics.  Excuse me? Where does the Constitution authorize that? That Senator sits on the Idaho Special Olympics board. It must be nice to be a Legislator and be able to use money taken by force for your own purposes.

[And a side note: the Special Olympics budget this week went up from $25 million to $35 million. You know EXACTLY where that money is going to come from.]

So lets sum it up: a continued War in Iraq with John McCain, a continued rigged election system to get those in that the cooperate donors and lobbyists prefer, more bad economic policies and increasing taxation for more special projects.

This sudden swing for the status quo means that you the voter will not be able to vote for a real change in the 2008 Presidental race. The Republican Roadmap 2008, which calls for turning back to our creed of lower taxes, less government and family values, will take a second posistion to keeping the White House. It is exactly as I predicted, let us hope the bloggers  and younger voters will become energized once again before it is too late.

Hmmm…. Welcome to 2008!

Isn’t progress great?

The story, here.

It’s nice to know that the stress caused by a blog is indeed legitimate. The blogosphere should take this into considerable thought as we slowly chip away at the effectiveness of the MSM.

Note: I have slowed down my posts for similar reasons, but expect to post at least twice a week this 2008 Presidental Election cycle.

In the coming days I will also introduce the Idaho Legislature 2008 section. Look for a breakdown of the issues to hit the legislators early on in this 2008 session.

Remember- every day the legislature or Congress meets, our rights are being whittled away.

That’s all for now…