House Republicans almost ensure government shutdown

MoonHowler

closed2

New York Times email:

With the federal government careening toward its first shutdown in 17 years, House Republicans chose a hard line Saturday in their attack on President Obama’s health care law, setting up a late vote to attach a one-year delay of the health care law to legislation that would keep the government operating past midnight Monday.

The House Republican package would also permanently repeal a tax on medical devices that helps pay for the Affordable Care Act.

The House will also vote on a separate bill to ensure military forces continue to be paid in the event of a government shutdown, an admission that the outcome of the fiscal showdown is all but sealed.

The decision to choose confrontation over compromise or surrender all but ensures that much of the government will close on Tuesday, barring a last-minute decision to pass a short-term spending bill while negotiations continue.

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About that blogroll

MoonHowler

If the blog roll appears shorter, it is because I just updated it, or to be more honest, I just deleted a lot of dead wood.  A blog, like any other project, gets off the ground with the best of intentions but often falls victim to time and our other endeavors.   When I saw that a blog had not had a new post in 6 months, I generally deleted it.  There is one exception–the VEA blog that relates to the General Assembly.  There are no posts when the GA is not in session.

I also do not include a link to another blog if I disapprove of how the blog is run.  That has come up here as a ‘debate’ of sorts several times.  Elena and I really don’t have to justify why we won’t link to several blogs.  It is generally because of what we see as bad behavior, either as a blogger or a human being, not the political content.  We do link to conservative blogs, even though we might not agree with their content.  In a case or two, we cut the blogger some slack if we like them.  Yea, I know, it just isn’t fair.  However, we buy the ink here.

If our readers know of blogs they would like to see linked, please lets us know.  We will check them out.  We promise consideration at least.  Obviously, a KKK website would be out.  So would a website that repeatedly misrepresents facts, name calls, and relies on ad hominem attacks for content.

The last blog on the blog roll is Earl Hamner Jr’s blog.  I knew his brother many years ago.  Earl is way up in his 90’s now and still as creative as ever.  Not bad for a Virginia boy from ‘down near Scottsville.’   I will cut him some slack about the 6 month time limit.

Are blog rolls even helpful?  Are we too rigid about behavior?  Are local blogs more interesting than national blogs?

Dulles Expo gun show slammed by Marylanders

MoonHowler

Shoppers Attend Gun Show in Chantilly Virginia

NBCWashington.com:

Days before strict gun laws begin in their state, many Marylanders flocked south.

The Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va. hosted a gun show Friday evening, selling many weapons and magazines Maryland residents will not be able to purchase starting Oct. 1.

The bill requires people who buy a handgun to submit fingerprints to Maryland State Police. It also bans dozens of assault-style weapons, but those who owned the weapons before the law goes into effect will be allowed to keep them. The bill also bans 20-round magazines.

Marylanders, like Elgin Fontaine, trekked to Chantilly. Fontaine bought an AR-10 assault weapon, one of the 45 of its kind that will be banned in his state beginning Tuesday.

“The ban is going to wipe out a lot of guns, and this particular style of gun I have is going to be banned,” Fontaine said.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley released a written statement through his spokesperson saying, “The vast majority of Marylanders support these commonsense efforts to reduce gun violence. The new law will take effect Tuesday and it will make families safer.”

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