BY WHITNEY BURDETTE
The Parthenon
For city employees, the Huntington budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 could mean layoffs and cuts in their departments’ budgets. Despite the recent approval of the 1 percent occupation tax, the city’s budget remains unchanged, meaning the city’s economic future still looks bleak.
Deron Runyon, director of finance for the city, said Council members don’t want to count on money that they have not yet received.
“It has been approved and is expected start July 1, but there is still the issue that this has never happened before and is new to West Virginia,” Runyon said of the controversial tax. “Because of the potential for court action, we did not budget any of those revenues in our budget.”
Runyon said revenues collected from the occupation tax will not fund things such as payroll or employee benefits. Instead, the money will be used for one-time capital projects such as public works or paving.
“It’s not going to be used for more police, more fire, more administrative employees,” Runyon said. “That’s why it was not budgeted."
Although the tax is controversial, members of City Council said the city cannot provide services without the additional revenue.
“If the city has no money, we can’t fix potholes,” said Councilwoman Sandra Clements after February’s State of the City address. “Nobody wants more taxes, but in order to have services, you have to pay taxes.”
The final budget stands at $39.8 million without grants, which is consistent with the past three fiscal year budgets. About $4.6 million of that comes from the city service fee, also known as the user fee. The occupation tax will replace the weekly $3 fee.
Runyon said City Council wanted to increase the paving budget, so Council asked several departments, including police and fire, to decrease their budgets so the paving budget could increase. The police department receives about 27 percent of city revenues while the fire department receives about 26 percent, according to the budget. The street department only receives 4 percent.
“We submitted a $600,000 budget for paving and they wanted something closer to $1 million in paving,” Runyon said. “That was one of the reasons we had to go back and pull money from each department.”
Although each department requests funds based on its needs, City Council has the final say in the budget and can move money, cut budgets and eliminate positions.
The city has cut positions in a few departments because of budget concerns.
“With administration and public works, we reduced six or seven positions,” Runyon said. “Three of those have happened already, and more are expected to happen.”
Runyon did not specify whether those cuts were permanent.
Although the police department has seen a budget cut, it will not have to eliminate any positions, Runyon said. The fire department wanted to fill four vacant positions July 1 but will have to wait until January. Runyon said three retiring firefighters have to take a slightly lesser payout because of budget constraints.
“When they leave, they get some money for vacation and sick time and things like that,” Runyon said.
The typical payout for retirees is around $50,000. Runyon said the finance committee analyzed the specific retirees to determine their individual payouts.
Runyon said the city must also consider the rise and fall of utility prices throughout the fiscal year.
“This year, fuel costs were probably budgeted a little low,” Runyon said. “Utilities have gone up in some areas, so we have to make some adjustments for the current year.”
Runyon said cutting budgets is nothing new. If expenses exceed revenue, the committee looks at department budgets to see where it can make cuts.
“Everyone always asks for a bit more than we can give them, unfortunately,” Runyon said.
Mar 30, 2011
Police, fire departments unfazed by budget changes
By Whitney Burdette
The Parthenon
Huntington’s two largest departments are unaffected by changes to their budgets after giving up several hundred thousand dollars to the paving fund.
Both the city’s police and fire departments gave up almost $200,000 after members of City Council decided to increase the funds for street paving, said Deron Runyon, director of finance for the City of Huntington.
“Each department is affected differently,” Runyon said. “Police and fire are completely different in the things they do, and their budgets are different because of that.”
Police Chief Skip Holbrook said the $134,000 cut in funding does not impede police service.
“It does not interfere with our services,” Holbrook said. “It takes us right to the edge before it does affect a position or service.”
Runyon said the police department has not eliminated any positions, but it must rely on grant money to supplement its account. This includes money from Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Agency and DARE, among others.
These grants allow the police department to move money among accounts, Holbrook said.
“We felt comfortable enough to move some money from specific items and that will allow us to come up with the money,” he said.
He also said the department will refrain from vacant positions. The fire department will also hold off on filling vacant positions until January, Runyon said.
Although each department requests a specific amount of money based on its needs, City Council has the ultimate authority to decide the final budget.
“They approve it at a departmental level,” Runyon said. “They make the ultimate decision.”
Mar 28, 2011
City Council Meeting or Circus?
I didn't preview this meeting, but nothing would have quite prepared me for the circus that was Monday's City Council meeting. At the start of the meeting, two citizens aired their concerns before Council. One man, Mr. Pyles, was quite angry about a number of things. He began by berating Council on the occupation tax, saying West Virginians are "overtaxed." He then began talking about drug use, saying he saw many of his family members die because of drug use. He went over his allotted time, prompting Councilman Mark Bates to bang his gavel several times and shouting to Mr. Pyles that his time had expired.
Tom McCallister, who speaks at almost all City Council meetings, also expressed concern that council members had not made him aware of a Sanitary Board meeting after he had asked to attend. He is concerned taxpayer money is being misspent. Later during the meeting, the council discussed an increase in filing fees that would require new businesses to pay $75 for building inspections instead of the current $15. McCallister expressed concern, saying the increased fee coupled with the occupation tax would deter businesses from locating in Huntington. He was so angry he left the meeting.
Pyles again blew up when the issue of new police surveillance cameras was discussed. The police department and council want to purchase four new cameras to monitor possible criminal activity, mainly in Sandra Clements' district. Pyles became very angry, accusing Council of spying on Huntington residents. He called surveillance cameras "unethical." He then proceeded to tell Council they should concentrate more on rehabilitating drug addicts in the city and spreading the Gospel. He was also concerned that students at Huntington High are taught evolution. Several council members began to question Pyles' point, which led to an exchange between Pyles and Councilman Ritter. Pyles called Council a group of "thieves and liars," and Ritter asked Pyles if he wanted to "take it outside." Bates called down Ritter, who said he didn't appreciate being called a thief.
Despite the silliness, Council did get through its agenda and make some decisions. I covered City of Huntington for The Parthenon and attended a few Council meetings, but this was by far the least boring. McCallister usually makes an appearance to air some concern, so his ridicule of Council was nothing new. I don't ever remember him being so angry that he left before the meeting was half over, though. I've never seen Pyles, and I'm sure Council never wants to see him again. However, he promised he would return just to remind Council how angry he is with them. Here's the kicker: Pyles is from Barboursville. I may attend the next Council meeting just to see if Pyles does return and what the mood is like. I'm sure it will be very entertaining.
Tom McCallister, who speaks at almost all City Council meetings, also expressed concern that council members had not made him aware of a Sanitary Board meeting after he had asked to attend. He is concerned taxpayer money is being misspent. Later during the meeting, the council discussed an increase in filing fees that would require new businesses to pay $75 for building inspections instead of the current $15. McCallister expressed concern, saying the increased fee coupled with the occupation tax would deter businesses from locating in Huntington. He was so angry he left the meeting.
Pyles again blew up when the issue of new police surveillance cameras was discussed. The police department and council want to purchase four new cameras to monitor possible criminal activity, mainly in Sandra Clements' district. Pyles became very angry, accusing Council of spying on Huntington residents. He called surveillance cameras "unethical." He then proceeded to tell Council they should concentrate more on rehabilitating drug addicts in the city and spreading the Gospel. He was also concerned that students at Huntington High are taught evolution. Several council members began to question Pyles' point, which led to an exchange between Pyles and Councilman Ritter. Pyles called Council a group of "thieves and liars," and Ritter asked Pyles if he wanted to "take it outside." Bates called down Ritter, who said he didn't appreciate being called a thief.
Despite the silliness, Council did get through its agenda and make some decisions. I covered City of Huntington for The Parthenon and attended a few Council meetings, but this was by far the least boring. McCallister usually makes an appearance to air some concern, so his ridicule of Council was nothing new. I don't ever remember him being so angry that he left before the meeting was half over, though. I've never seen Pyles, and I'm sure Council never wants to see him again. However, he promised he would return just to remind Council how angry he is with them. Here's the kicker: Pyles is from Barboursville. I may attend the next Council meeting just to see if Pyles does return and what the mood is like. I'm sure it will be very entertaining.
Mar 23, 2011
Cedar Grove Council Meeting
I went to a very short council meeting last night. They really didn't talk about much, and two of the five members were absent. A copy of the agenda was not made available, but I did get a copy of the minutes. One thing the council talked about was paying the town's bills. I don't ever remember the Huntington City Council talking in a meeting about paying bills, so I found this interesting. They didn't specify what bills they were paying.
Another thing they talked about was the Small Cities Block Grant. The town is hoping to get some money from this grant, so council accepted a resolution to submit an application to the Small Cities Community Development Block Planning Grant. They applied for a similar grant a few years ago that allowed the town to replace old, worn-down playground equipment. They've been talking in recent years about adding more to the playground, so if the application is accepted and the grant awarded, this may be where that money goes.
Most of the equipment members of the town crew use are beginning to show their age, including the garbage truck. The mayor, James Hudnall, said he has been working with members of the House of Delegates to procure money for a new garbage truck. The "meth bill" proposed in the legislature in the most recent session was also discussed. Hudnall said he attended a meeting at the Kanawha Co. Sheriff's Office to show his support for the bill. Unfortunately, many meth labs have been discovered and dismantled in the Cedar Grove area over the past few years. This bill before the legislature would have made medicines with pseudophedrine, a key ingredient in meth, harder to get. However, the bill did not pass.
It was interesting to compare a small city council meeting to that of a larger city. The problems facing Cedar Grove are very different from the problems facing Huntington. The way the two cities communicate with residents is also very different. For example, I've never heard of Cedar Grove's council holding budget hearings open to the public. If they do hold these meetings, I've never heard about them. Cedar Grove also does not have a website of any kind, so finding out how to contact members of council or the mayor is a little harder than it is in Huntington. However, because Cedar Grove is so small, everyone knows everyone else so contacting our representatives is not difficult.
Another thing they talked about was the Small Cities Block Grant. The town is hoping to get some money from this grant, so council accepted a resolution to submit an application to the Small Cities Community Development Block Planning Grant. They applied for a similar grant a few years ago that allowed the town to replace old, worn-down playground equipment. They've been talking in recent years about adding more to the playground, so if the application is accepted and the grant awarded, this may be where that money goes.
Most of the equipment members of the town crew use are beginning to show their age, including the garbage truck. The mayor, James Hudnall, said he has been working with members of the House of Delegates to procure money for a new garbage truck. The "meth bill" proposed in the legislature in the most recent session was also discussed. Hudnall said he attended a meeting at the Kanawha Co. Sheriff's Office to show his support for the bill. Unfortunately, many meth labs have been discovered and dismantled in the Cedar Grove area over the past few years. This bill before the legislature would have made medicines with pseudophedrine, a key ingredient in meth, harder to get. However, the bill did not pass.
It was interesting to compare a small city council meeting to that of a larger city. The problems facing Cedar Grove are very different from the problems facing Huntington. The way the two cities communicate with residents is also very different. For example, I've never heard of Cedar Grove's council holding budget hearings open to the public. If they do hold these meetings, I've never heard about them. Cedar Grove also does not have a website of any kind, so finding out how to contact members of council or the mayor is a little harder than it is in Huntington. However, because Cedar Grove is so small, everyone knows everyone else so contacting our representatives is not difficult.
Mar 22, 2011
Preview: Cedar Grove Council Meeting
I'm going to the Cedar Grove Council Meeting tonight. I live in a very small town and the city does not have a website or any way of communicating an agenda, so I have no idea what they will discuss.
Mar 3, 2011
Non-profit journalism
Non-profit organizations are important to society and journalists have an obligation to report on them. Unfortunately, this beat is often neglected so the public must research these organizations themselves or go uninformed. Many members of the public donate time or money to a variety of non-profits ranging from animal abuse organizations to churches or synagogues. It is important for the public to know how and where their money is being spent. It is up to the reporter to disclose this information. Luckily, we have organizations such as Guidestar to make this easier.
The Huntington Area Food Bank is an affiliate of the United Way of the River Cities and has been since 1984. According to 2009 tax returns, HAFB had a revenue of $4,499,577 and expenses of $4,397,399. The organization has assets totaling $637,665 in 2008. In 2009, the assets totaled $739,848, an increase of 13 percent. The director, Jon H. Rickey, is the only paid staff at HAFB. His salary in 2009 was $33,389.
HAFB is located at 1327 Seventh Ave., Huntington. The phone number is 304-523-6029 and the website is www.hafb.org.
HAFB makes available on the website its IRS 990 Form.
EDIT: Rickey was the director of HAFB in 2009. The current director is Leigh Anne Zappin. She is not mentioned on the 2009 tax return.
The Huntington Area Food Bank is an affiliate of the United Way of the River Cities and has been since 1984. According to 2009 tax returns, HAFB had a revenue of $4,499,577 and expenses of $4,397,399. The organization has assets totaling $637,665 in 2008. In 2009, the assets totaled $739,848, an increase of 13 percent. The director, Jon H. Rickey, is the only paid staff at HAFB. His salary in 2009 was $33,389.
HAFB is located at 1327 Seventh Ave., Huntington. The phone number is 304-523-6029 and the website is www.hafb.org.
HAFB makes available on the website its IRS 990 Form.
EDIT: Rickey was the director of HAFB in 2009. The current director is Leigh Anne Zappin. She is not mentioned on the 2009 tax return.
Feb 28, 2011
Faculty Senate Follow-up
I've been to Faculty Senate meetings in the past, and this one was a little different. For whatever reasons, many committee leaders did not show up to give their reports and President Stephen Kopp was also absent. As a result, this meeting was very short compared to the ones I've attended in the past.
At the end of every meeting, people in the gallery are given five minutes to speak to the Senate. Usually it is a member of the faculty, but at Thursday's meeting, a student from the Department of Housing and Residence Life spoke about a new tutoring program in the residence halls.
Karen Mitchell, from the math department, established a festival of learning on campus last year and spoke at length about continuing it. She was very passionate about allowing students the opportunity to display and present their research from various classes and encouraged professors in attendance to enter their students' work in the festival.
I think I may go to the next Faculty Senate meeting in a few weeks and compare that meeting to last weeks'. It would be interesting to see what, if anything, is different.
At the end of every meeting, people in the gallery are given five minutes to speak to the Senate. Usually it is a member of the faculty, but at Thursday's meeting, a student from the Department of Housing and Residence Life spoke about a new tutoring program in the residence halls.
Karen Mitchell, from the math department, established a festival of learning on campus last year and spoke at length about continuing it. She was very passionate about allowing students the opportunity to display and present their research from various classes and encouraged professors in attendance to enter their students' work in the festival.
I think I may go to the next Faculty Senate meeting in a few weeks and compare that meeting to last weeks'. It would be interesting to see what, if anything, is different.
Feb 24, 2011
Faculty Senate
I am going to this afternoon's Faculty Senate meeting. I have not seen an agenda, so I don't know what will be discussed. I've been to Faculty Senate meetings in the past as a reporter for The Parthenon, so I have an idea of what to expect. I'll post tomorrow what the meeting was like.
State of the City followup
The mayor's State of the City speech Feb. 14 painted a bleak economic future for Huntington. He spent a lot of time talking about the economy and how the budget was planned without any additional revenue sources. The city must wait until the Home Rule Board approves the occupation tax before any income sources are identified.
He also spoke about cutting jobs and funds from all departments. Councilwoman Sandra Clements said no one likes lay offs because everyone needs a job, but the city has to do what it has to do and they will have to learn to work within their resources.
In all, it was pretty interesting to hear first-hand about the city's problems.
He also spoke about cutting jobs and funds from all departments. Councilwoman Sandra Clements said no one likes lay offs because everyone needs a job, but the city has to do what it has to do and they will have to learn to work within their resources.
In all, it was pretty interesting to hear first-hand about the city's problems.
Feb 13, 2011
City Council/State of the City preview
I'm going to the Huntington City Council meeting tomorrow evening. I've been to these meetings before, when I had the City of Huntington beat for The Parthenon, so I have a pretty good idea of what they'll discuss. I took a peak at their agenda, available online, City council representatives will consider issues such as zoning, purchase of gasoline for city vehicles and purchase of software for the Huntington Police Department, among other things.
But before the actual meeting, Mayor Kim Wolfe will give his second State of the City address. I've reviewed articles about last year's speech, so that gave me a general idea of what I should expect tomorrow. Last year, Wolfe proposed furloughs for city employees, so he will probably talk about how successful that was. He may even propose extending that. He will also probably talk about taxes. A big issue last year was the 1 percent occupation tax. The mayor will talk about that and whether it was as successful as he intended. The city's economy has been an issue as well, so the mayor will probably also address that.
But before the actual meeting, Mayor Kim Wolfe will give his second State of the City address. I've reviewed articles about last year's speech, so that gave me a general idea of what I should expect tomorrow. Last year, Wolfe proposed furloughs for city employees, so he will probably talk about how successful that was. He may even propose extending that. He will also probably talk about taxes. A big issue last year was the 1 percent occupation tax. The mayor will talk about that and whether it was as successful as he intended. The city's economy has been an issue as well, so the mayor will probably also address that.
Feb 10, 2011
DuPont's filings with the SEC
In researching DuPont's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, I came across several documents.
The most interesting, and the one that says the most about the company, was the 10-Q earnings report, which listed the company's assets, revenues, expenditures, liabilities and stockholder equity. This report shows just how much money the company earned and spent in the 10-Q and is probably a vital document for stockholders so they can see how the money they invest is spent.
Another part of this document is the CEO Certification. This is a document where the CEO of the company signs off on the 10-Q earnings report and agrees that everything in the report is correct. The company's CFO also signs off on his own document saying the same things.
I also found several statements of acquisitions. This is like a receipt that shows when a person or company purchases stock in DuPont. It lists things such as addresses, company name and the type of form filed.
DuPont also corresponds with stockholders. I found several examples of these correspondences, published on company letterhead, that were sent to stockholders and filed with the SEC.
Reading these documents was like reading a different language. I didn't understand much of what I read, and it is hard to know exactly what to look for when you don't understand the documents. If I'm ever assigned a business beat, I'll have to teach myself how to maneuver the SEC website and research companies, stock filings, acquisitions and mergers and the like if I want to be a good reporter. This assignment really showed me that I still have a lot to learn in terms of research and understanding things outside politics.
The most interesting, and the one that says the most about the company, was the 10-Q earnings report, which listed the company's assets, revenues, expenditures, liabilities and stockholder equity. This report shows just how much money the company earned and spent in the 10-Q and is probably a vital document for stockholders so they can see how the money they invest is spent.
Another part of this document is the CEO Certification. This is a document where the CEO of the company signs off on the 10-Q earnings report and agrees that everything in the report is correct. The company's CFO also signs off on his own document saying the same things.
I also found several statements of acquisitions. This is like a receipt that shows when a person or company purchases stock in DuPont. It lists things such as addresses, company name and the type of form filed.
DuPont also corresponds with stockholders. I found several examples of these correspondences, published on company letterhead, that were sent to stockholders and filed with the SEC.
Reading these documents was like reading a different language. I didn't understand much of what I read, and it is hard to know exactly what to look for when you don't understand the documents. If I'm ever assigned a business beat, I'll have to teach myself how to maneuver the SEC website and research companies, stock filings, acquisitions and mergers and the like if I want to be a good reporter. This assignment really showed me that I still have a lot to learn in terms of research and understanding things outside politics.
Jan 27, 2011
President delivers in State of the Union speech
President Barack Obama achieved two of his greatest campaign promises in 2010, but he did not dwell on these Tuesday in his State of the Union speech.
Although health care reform and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” were two important measures passed by Congress, Obama said it is now time to “move forward” and “win the future for America.”
Obama acknowledged the debate surrounding health care reform, which House republicans have voted to repeal. He said he is willing to work with them to improve the plan.
“If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I’m eager to work with you,” Obama said.
To sway republicans, Obama cited a few ways health care reform is helping struggling senior citizens and students.
“As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage,” he said. “So instead of refighting the battles of the last two years, let’s fix what needs fixing and move forward.”
Obama’s way of moving forward includes funding innovation, reforming education and repairing America’s infrastructure. Although the economy is an important aspect of each of the areas Obama outlined, he did not give an in-depth plan of how to fix the economy.
He did, however, acknowledge the deficit, saying the government cannot afford to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.
“Before we take money away from our schools, or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break,” Obama said.
He pointed out that ending the tax break should not be seen as a punishment on those who earn more, but should be seen as ensuring everyone is on an even playing field.
The government should also help tackle the deficit, Obama said. He proposed freezing annual domestic spending, which would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade.
A big contributor to the deficit is the war in Afghanistan. Since the war began in 2003, the government has sunk billions of dollars into the region. In his 2010 State of the Union speech, Obama proposed withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan by August 2011. Obama has since changed that plan, saying Tuesday troops would begin to arrive home in July.
Obama pointed out that not everyone in the military comes from the same background. He said some are white, black, Latino, Asian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and some are gay.
“Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love,” Obama said, referring to the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited homosexuals from serving.
Perhaps the biggest theme of the night, however, was bipartisanship. In support of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot Jan. 8 in Tuscon, some members of Congress elected to break tradition and sit together despite political party. However, Obama said this new seating arrangement doesn’t mean anything if they can’t work together.
“What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow,” the president said.
Throughout the speech, Obama encouraged democrats and republicans to work together and put party politics aside.
“We have our differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our constitution,” Obama said.
Bipartisanship is another of Obama’s big campaign promises. He has already delivered on two. Let’s see if he can make it three.
Although health care reform and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” were two important measures passed by Congress, Obama said it is now time to “move forward” and “win the future for America.”
Obama acknowledged the debate surrounding health care reform, which House republicans have voted to repeal. He said he is willing to work with them to improve the plan.
“If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I’m eager to work with you,” Obama said.
To sway republicans, Obama cited a few ways health care reform is helping struggling senior citizens and students.
“As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage,” he said. “So instead of refighting the battles of the last two years, let’s fix what needs fixing and move forward.”
Obama’s way of moving forward includes funding innovation, reforming education and repairing America’s infrastructure. Although the economy is an important aspect of each of the areas Obama outlined, he did not give an in-depth plan of how to fix the economy.
He did, however, acknowledge the deficit, saying the government cannot afford to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.
“Before we take money away from our schools, or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break,” Obama said.
He pointed out that ending the tax break should not be seen as a punishment on those who earn more, but should be seen as ensuring everyone is on an even playing field.
The government should also help tackle the deficit, Obama said. He proposed freezing annual domestic spending, which would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade.
A big contributor to the deficit is the war in Afghanistan. Since the war began in 2003, the government has sunk billions of dollars into the region. In his 2010 State of the Union speech, Obama proposed withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan by August 2011. Obama has since changed that plan, saying Tuesday troops would begin to arrive home in July.
Obama pointed out that not everyone in the military comes from the same background. He said some are white, black, Latino, Asian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and some are gay.
“Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love,” Obama said, referring to the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited homosexuals from serving.
Perhaps the biggest theme of the night, however, was bipartisanship. In support of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot Jan. 8 in Tuscon, some members of Congress elected to break tradition and sit together despite political party. However, Obama said this new seating arrangement doesn’t mean anything if they can’t work together.
“What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow,” the president said.
Throughout the speech, Obama encouraged democrats and republicans to work together and put party politics aside.
“We have our differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our constitution,” Obama said.
Bipartisanship is another of Obama’s big campaign promises. He has already delivered on two. Let’s see if he can make it three.
Jan 25, 2011
Revision: Barack Obama State of the Union
When President Barack Obama delivers his second State of the Union address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress , he may find members of Congress are not in their usual seats. That is, if Sens. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have their way.
Last week, the two senators began circulating a letter urging members of Congress to forego tradition and sit together, not on opposite sides of the aisle, in an effort at solidarity following the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., on Jan. 8. More than 40 members of Congress have signed on.
Obama ran on the promise of reaching across the aisle and ending partisanship in Washington. In his 2010 State of the Union speech, Obama said he wanted “all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to overcome our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics." Obama now has a chance to make good on those campaign promises. But it will take a fight.
Republicans are upset with Obama, particularly on the subject of health care reform. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday the House voted to repeal the act.
Health care reform legislation is the jewel in Obama’s crown thus far. He campaigned on getting the legislation passed so all Americans could have affordable health care. After a year, and some debate in Congress, the bill passed. Is it perfect? No, but it has the potential to help millions of Americans.
Health care reform is today’s version of former President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, which provided jobs and government benefits to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. FDR’s initiatives were not widely accepted at the time, like the health care act, but we have grown used to Social Security, Medicare and welfare. These programs have helped people for generations. Who is to say Obama’s health care plan won’t have the same effect on our children and grandchildren?
Health care reform also has the potential to help the struggling economy. This bill has the potential to decrease the budget deficit, which could mean economic improvement. Much like former President John F. Kennedy, Obama took office in the midst of a recession. Kennedy’s remarks in his 1961 State of the Union ring true today. “The present state of our economy is disturbing,” he said. Both Obama and Kennedy faced the daunting task of creating jobs and getting people back to work.
However, the economic circumstances are getting better. The stock market has rebounded and stimulus money has been distributed to fix roads, build schools and create jobs. Jobless claims continue to fall and people are beginning to spend more money on houses and cars. Although the U.S. debt is expected to reach $16 trillion by the end of the decade, the economic situation is improving, thanks to Obama’s fortitude to pass the stimulus act.
Although the issues at home are many, Obama must also address foreign policy, specifically the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While most of the troops have withdrawn from Iraq, nearly 100,000 troops remain in Afghanistan. The U.S. continues to sink time and billions of dollars into the 8-year-old war, and the situation has only improved somewhat. In 2010, Obama promised to have troops out of Afghanistan by this July. But to get Congress, specifically Republicans, to back this idea, Obama must provide a straightforward, realistic plan of action.
Despite Republican opposition, Obama was able to achieve many things during his first year of presidency. Now, with a divided Congress, he must put his campaign rhetoric in action. If ever there was a time for bipartisanship, it is now.
Jan 20, 2011
Barack Obama: State of the Union Op-Ed
When President Barack Obama delivers his second State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, he will find representatives are not in their usual seats. That is, if Sens. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have their way.
Last week, the two senators began circulating a letter urging members of Congress to forego tradition and sit together, not on opposite sides of the aisle, in an effort at solidarity following the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., two weeks ago. More than 40 members of Congress have signed on.
Obama ran on the promise of reaching across the aisle and ending partisanship in Washington. In his 2010 State of the Union, Obama said he wanted “…all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to overcome our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics.” Although it took a tragic shooting, Obama now has a chance to make good on those campaign promises. But it will take a fight.
Republicans are very upset with Obama, particularly on the subject of health care reform. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced Wednesday the House’s intention to repeal the act.
Health care reform legislation is the jewel in Obama’s crown thus far. He campaigned on getting the legislation passed so all Americans could have affordable health care. After a year, and some debate in Congress, the bill passed. Is it perfect? No, but it has the potential to help millions of Americans.
Health care reform is today’s version of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, which provided jobs and government benefits to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. FDR’s initiatives were not widely accepted at the time, like the health care act, but we have grown used to Social Security, Medicare and welfare. These programs have helped people for generations. Who is to say Obama’s health care plan won’t have the same effect on our children or grandchildren?
Health care reform also has the potential to help the struggling economy. This bill has the potential to decrease the budget deficit, which could mean economic improvement. Much like former President John F. Kennedy, Obama took office in the midst of a recession. Kennedy’s remarks in his 1961 State of the Union ring true today. “The present state of our economy is disturbing,” he said. Both Obama and Kennedy faced the daunting task of creating jobs and getting people back to work.
However, the economic circumstances are getting better. The market has rebounded and stimulus money has been distributed to fix roads, build schools and create jobs. Jobless claims continue to fall and people are beginning to spend more money on houses and cars. Although the U.S. debt is expected to reach $16 trillion by the end of the decade, the economic situation is improving, thanks to Obama’s fortitude and to pass the stimulus act.
Although the issues at home are many, Obama must also address foreign policy, specifically the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While most of the troops have withdrawn from Iraq, nearly 100,000 troops remain in Afghanistan. The U.S. continues to sink time and billions of dollars into the 8-year-old war, and the situation has only improved somewhat. In 2010, Obama promised to have troops out of Afghanistan by this July. But to get Congress, specifically Republicans, to back this idea, Obama must provide a straightforward, realistic plan of action.
Despite Republican opposition, Obama was able to achieve many things during his first year of presidency. Now, with a divided Congress, he must put his campaign rhetoric in action. If ever there was a time for bipartisanship, it is now.
Errors galore!
Everyone makes mistakes. It's human nature. However, when you're goal is to inform people, mistakes can be costly. Errors in newspapers cannot be taken lightly. These can lead to a misinformed audience, a ruined reputation and sometimes even lawsuits.
Luckily, the errors in Wednesday's edition of The Parthenon were not bad enough to cause a lawsuit. However, an error is an error and such things need corrected.
Aside from basic copy editing mistakes, the writer of the the story made some factual errors. He reported that the WVU women's basketball team was coming into Wednesday's Capital Class with four losses. In truth, the team only had one loss. The author, or editors, also quoted a paraphrase, essentially manufacturing a direct quote from one of Marshall's women players. This is an egregious error that, if in different circumstances, could lead to a libel lawsuit.
Other mistakes in the stories included a bit of sexism. From looking at the two stories, it seems as though men's basketball is held to a higher standard. The men's team was referred to as "Marshall," while the women's team was simply called "women." From the headline, it seems as though the men's team is representing the entire school, while the women's team represents only females. Saying something like "Marshall men" and "Marshall women" would put the two teams on even playing fields.
As with most Parthenon stories, there were several AP style and mechanical mistakes such as capitalization and punctuation. The semester is new, and Parthenon reporters and editors are still getting their bearings. I'm sure as the semester progresses, readers will see less mistakes in the newspaper.
Luckily, the errors in Wednesday's edition of The Parthenon were not bad enough to cause a lawsuit. However, an error is an error and such things need corrected.
Aside from basic copy editing mistakes, the writer of the the story made some factual errors. He reported that the WVU women's basketball team was coming into Wednesday's Capital Class with four losses. In truth, the team only had one loss. The author, or editors, also quoted a paraphrase, essentially manufacturing a direct quote from one of Marshall's women players. This is an egregious error that, if in different circumstances, could lead to a libel lawsuit.
Other mistakes in the stories included a bit of sexism. From looking at the two stories, it seems as though men's basketball is held to a higher standard. The men's team was referred to as "Marshall," while the women's team was simply called "women." From the headline, it seems as though the men's team is representing the entire school, while the women's team represents only females. Saying something like "Marshall men" and "Marshall women" would put the two teams on even playing fields.
As with most Parthenon stories, there were several AP style and mechanical mistakes such as capitalization and punctuation. The semester is new, and Parthenon reporters and editors are still getting their bearings. I'm sure as the semester progresses, readers will see less mistakes in the newspaper.
Jan 11, 2011
NY Times Blogs
Although a lot of newspapers across the country publish blogs on their websites, many of them are not frequently updated and fall by the wayside. The New York Times bucks this trend. As the country's newspaper of record, NYT publishes several blogs of varying topics and interests. Out of the many blogs this newspaper publishes online, we were asked to review and comment on three.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com is a hodgepodge of blog posts that cover a little bit of everything. I liked this blog and thought the varying topics would appeal to a mass amount of readers. I especially liked the video of the snowfall. That was my favorite post.
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com is the sports blog. I'm not big into sports, but I did like how it highlighted the leading sports news stories, as well as giving coverage to lesser-known (to me, anyway) stories. I really liked the "About Our Bloggers" feature. I think it adds an element of credibility when a reader can see a mug of the writer and learn a little more about them.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com is world news, but it hasn't been updated in a few days. I understand that not everything that happens throughout the world is necessarily breaking news that really affects Americans, but a frequently updated blog would make it more credible. If I were a follower of that blog, I would appreciate more frequent updates, especially if I were an immigrant and wanted to know what was going on around the world.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com is a hodgepodge of blog posts that cover a little bit of everything. I liked this blog and thought the varying topics would appeal to a mass amount of readers. I especially liked the video of the snowfall. That was my favorite post.
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com is the sports blog. I'm not big into sports, but I did like how it highlighted the leading sports news stories, as well as giving coverage to lesser-known (to me, anyway) stories. I really liked the "About Our Bloggers" feature. I think it adds an element of credibility when a reader can see a mug of the writer and learn a little more about them.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com is world news, but it hasn't been updated in a few days. I understand that not everything that happens throughout the world is necessarily breaking news that really affects Americans, but a frequently updated blog would make it more credible. If I were a follower of that blog, I would appreciate more frequent updates, especially if I were an immigrant and wanted to know what was going on around the world.
Writing style
Eugene Robinson is a syndicated columnist based at the Washington Post Post. He is also a frequent guest on my favorite morning talk show, "Morning Joe" on MSNBC. I honestly haven't read a lot of Robinson's work. Some of his columns are picked up by the Charleston Gazette on the weekends, but I'm not an avid follower.
On the show, he seems like a very intelligent, eloquent man who really understands politics. This shows in his writing as well. Robinson is unafraid to tackle controversial topics, both on TV and in print. His most recent column, "Guns and responsibility," takes on the very divisive topic of gun control following the shootings in Tuscon and asks how a man who obviously had mental problems got his hands on such deadly weapons.
Robinson has a very reader-friendly writing style. He sometimes uses words that require a dictionary, but the following sentence may include a slang phrase or cliche. I think this makes Robinson appealing to people of varying education levels. A lawyer in Washington, D.C. and a college student in West Virginia may read the same Robinson column and find it equally enjoyable.
As a columnist, Robinson is writing his opinion. However I as a reader never felt as though he was pushing his views down my throat or forcing his opinion on me. Robinson's opinions are backed by facts based in research or interviews with sources closer to the action. For example, he talked to the Pima County (Ariz.) sheriff about the shootings in Tuscon and why he thinks the incident occurred. He also quoted statistics from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
I noticed Robinson does not use "I" or "me" often in his writing. He gets his views across without having to remind readers that this is what he thinks. I think that is the mark of a good opinion writer. When I read op-ed pieces or editorials, I don't want to see "I think this...." or "My thoughts on this are..." Instead, I want to read a solid, intelligently written argument based in fact. Nowhere in Robinson's writing does he use devices to appeal to emotion, incite anger or create fear.
Robinson's columns are very well thought out and easy to understand. When he appears on "Morning Joe," he does not act arrogant or condescending in any way. This is reflected in his writing, and I think that is why I and many others find him so appealing.
On the show, he seems like a very intelligent, eloquent man who really understands politics. This shows in his writing as well. Robinson is unafraid to tackle controversial topics, both on TV and in print. His most recent column, "Guns and responsibility," takes on the very divisive topic of gun control following the shootings in Tuscon and asks how a man who obviously had mental problems got his hands on such deadly weapons.
Robinson has a very reader-friendly writing style. He sometimes uses words that require a dictionary, but the following sentence may include a slang phrase or cliche. I think this makes Robinson appealing to people of varying education levels. A lawyer in Washington, D.C. and a college student in West Virginia may read the same Robinson column and find it equally enjoyable.
As a columnist, Robinson is writing his opinion. However I as a reader never felt as though he was pushing his views down my throat or forcing his opinion on me. Robinson's opinions are backed by facts based in research or interviews with sources closer to the action. For example, he talked to the Pima County (Ariz.) sheriff about the shootings in Tuscon and why he thinks the incident occurred. He also quoted statistics from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
I noticed Robinson does not use "I" or "me" often in his writing. He gets his views across without having to remind readers that this is what he thinks. I think that is the mark of a good opinion writer. When I read op-ed pieces or editorials, I don't want to see "I think this...." or "My thoughts on this are..." Instead, I want to read a solid, intelligently written argument based in fact. Nowhere in Robinson's writing does he use devices to appeal to emotion, incite anger or create fear.
Robinson's columns are very well thought out and easy to understand. When he appears on "Morning Joe," he does not act arrogant or condescending in any way. This is reflected in his writing, and I think that is why I and many others find him so appealing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)