| Pawlenty rips DFL for gas tax increase
Governor Pawlenty ripped DFL lawmakers on Tuesday for over-riding his veto of the transportation package, which comes with a $6.6 billion price tag and a gasoline tax increase of at least five and a half cents.
The Governor predicted the tax increase would be a big November election issue, and that it could lead to Republicans re-taking control of both the state House and Senate.
Pawlenty says he expects a "tax revolt" among "hard working Minnesotans" against the gas tax.
"They had their day yesterday," Pawlenty said. "But now taxpayers will have their day."
He also said the bill will cause further budget problems, when the state issues its budget forecast on Thursday. That forecast was already expected to show a shortfall.
The Minnesota Legislature voted Monday to override Gov.
Job market softening, data shows
EMPLOYERS sick and tired of the current labour shortage should take heart from the latest SEEK Employment Index figures, the on-line job advertising company says. The index, which measures the ratio of new job ads to job applications, rose by 0.7 per cent in February, indicating it was marginally more difficult for employers to fill positions than it was in January. However, SEEK sales director Joe Powell says when looked at in the context of a 4.9 per cent fall in the past quarter, the index suggests long term relief may be in sight for staff-strapped employers. "The data for the last three months suggests the economy may be approaching a turning point," Mr Powell said. "It will be reassuring to employers that the gap between demand and supply may finally be starting to close." The data indicates the employment market is starting to soften.
GM: Possible pitfalls could derail rebound
But this year, GM also must begin anteing up cash to set up a massive health care trust for hourly retirees. The automaker has to come up with $34 billion over several years to contribute to the fund, created as part of last year's labor pact with the United Auto Workers. GM's ability to spend in other areas of the business will be affected if it can't secure financing under favorable terms. .
Yeager runway to close to make room for hangars
Officials at Yeager Airport plan to close a runway to make more room for general aviation hangars and potential new aviation-related businesses. The airport's governing board voted Wednesday to shut down the 4,750-foot crosswind runway, used mainly by smaller private aircraft. The closure would also help the 130th Airlift Wing proceed with development plans that include building two new hangars and adding ramp space to allow four additional C-130s to be based at Air National Guard facility. The idea of closing Runway 15-33 to create additional development space for the mountaintop airport is a key component in Yeager's master plan update, now in its draft stage. "We are now parking as many commercial airplanes as we can at the terminal area, although the new rental car facility, when complete, will give us one more space," Yeager Airport Director Rick Atkinson said.
Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring, don’t panic…
Bernard wants a property crash which is more than a little unusual considering the negative impacts this would have on a large part of NZ's population. Does Bernard stand to benefit from such an event? I guess this blog was posted before todays Labour govt's shared equity proposal which is sure to place a rocket under the currently cooling house market. The reduction in Auckland residential property prices/volume of sales is a mere blip for the simple reason that it's projected 2020 population is circa 2 million. It is a truth that 'they aren't making any more land'. Other (mainly rural) parts of NZ will not fare so well. It is widely accepted that residential property is a sticky market i.e. people are reluctant to sell for less than they paid, and in an environment of strong wage growth only a modest proportion of home owners will find themselves in a position where they have to sell (unless of course the divorce and death rates Bernard refers to skyrocket!?).
New Investment Property in Italy: Period Apartments Tuscany
David Stanley Redfern Ltd, has just added another fantastic value stunning Tuscany investment property to their burgeoning port-folio of the finest investment opportunities in the industry. Potential investors with an eye on a holiday home in Italy should definitely take a look at Capannori luxury apartments, nr Lucca in Tuscany, on the DSR website. There they will find a charming period style apartment complex, with 1 bedroom apartments just 174,000. While that is slightly more expensive than our other property in Tuscany, it is still a very reasonable price for such a beautiful property in a high tourism area.
The Cappanori apartments are ideal as holiday homes, with the potential to make a good returns from rental when not in use. That is because areas like this are major tourism destinations, especially from western countries, and from the high end of the market with a lot of disposable income.
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