Bob Adelmann
Union Threatens to Paralyze Walmart Stores on Black Friday
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union has threatened 1,000 protests against Walmart on Black Friday, while the giant retailer has filed a complaint against such actions by the union with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Spanish Theater Owner Starts “Carrot Rebellion” to Protest Tax Increase
A Spanish theater owner is protesting the VAT increase on his tickets to 21 percent by offering carrots for sale, which are subject only to a VAT of 4 percent, and giving purchasers free admission.
CBO: Balancing the Budget Is “Formidable” Task
The Congressional Budget Office's latest offering of suggestions on how to cut the deficit falls far short of what is needed and admits that making adequate spending cuts will be a "formidable task."
Sen. Coburn's Report Exposes DOD's Wasteful, Non-Defense Spending
Following his office’s publishing of his annual Wastebook last month, Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has now released another oversight report, this one exploring waste and “non-defense” spending in the Department of Defense (DOD), entitled the “Department of Everything.”
One Bear’s Prediction: Massive Market Selloff Coming
Hard-money investment manager Marc Faber predicts that markets could decline by 20 percent, perhaps more, as the economy faces the continued recession and worries about the "fiscal cliff."
Election 2012: Changing Demographics
Pew Research Center predicted Obama would win reelection by 50 percent to 47 percent. They were essentially correct, due to a changing national demographic.
Latest CBO Report All But Guarantees Gridlock Over the Fiscal Cliff
In its latest 14-page report on the impact the “fiscal cliff” would have on the economy in 2013 and beyond, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provided enough ammunition to both sides of the debate to guarantee a standoff in Washington. It would have simplified matters greatly if Doug Elmendorf, the CBO’s director, had simply said: “Pay me now or pay me later. You decide.”
Full Employment Not Expected Until After the Next Presidential Election
A Heritage Foundation study has concluded that a full employment recovery from the Great Recession isn't likely until after the next presidential election in 2016, and even that may be too optimistic.
Debt Ceiling Likely to be Raised Without Fanfare This Time
Although the Treasury warned that government borrowing would hit the debt ceiling before the end of the year, it also said it would use "extraordinary measures" to push off the debt ceiling conversation until the 113th Congress is seated, where it's more likely to be raised without a fuss.
Tax Moves Being Dictated by the Fiscal Cliff
Small business owners, some of whom have spent their lifetimes building their businesses, are unloading them before the end of the year in order to save taxes.
The current capital gains tax rate is 15 percent, but in January it is scheduled to increase to 20 percent, plus the ObamaCare tax of 3.8 percent added on top brings it to 23.8 percent, a jump of 58 percent. Even if a lame-duck Congress extends the present rate of 15 percent, there is no conversation in Washington about repealing the ObamaCare tax, so at best capital gains taxes will increase by 25 percent after the first of the year.