The Matt Denn Dividend

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By leaving the LT Gov's office empty, the state is saving $610,000. Pretty sweet.
Lt. Governor's Office -$610,3000
Knowing this cost $610,000 it is going to be pretty hard going forward for anyone to make the case that we need a Lt. Governor. Other than that, I don't see anything surprising in this Markell budget power-point. Unless I'm missing it, no tax increases. Only cuts to balance the budget. Elderly property tax subsidy cut -$12 million. (Suck it old fart New Jersey losers!), lower debt service -$11.7 million (thanks low interest rates), and presumably nobody is going to get sued this year, -$2 in legal fees.
Thursday Open Thread [1.29.15]

Thursday Open Thread [1.29.15]

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A reader of Dish wrote in after watching Speaker Boner and Majority Leader Turtle's joint interview of 60 Minutes this past Sunday, and offered these observations.
They also acknowledged that the recovery has mostly only benefited the top income-earners while leaving the majority of Americans stuck in neutral. Boehner and McConnell want to “do something” to address income inequality and make sure those on the bottom of the economy have the opportunity to move up. They basically accused Obama of only helping the top 1% (which seems a complete reversal of the stories we’ve been hearing from them the last six years, but I digress). This all sounds good enough to me, since for so long, it seemed the GOP was unwilling to even acknowledge there was an issue with inequality. If they want to blame Obama, I don’t really care so long as they are willing to present solutions. So, the interviewer then asked if they would support raising taxes on top income earners. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support raising the minimum wage. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support Obama’s plan to provide free community college. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support Obama’s plan to expand the Child Income Tax Credit for working families. Answer: Maybe (Boehner mumbles about wanting to help working families but says he needs to further study this idea).
The Republicans really do have an issue and agenda problem. My God, what will they do after Obama is gone? Well, I suppose screaming no to President Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton will suffice until 2025, but then what?

Thursday Daily Delawhere [1.29.15]

Brandywine Academy, on Vandever Avenue in Wilmington's Brandywine Village. The schoolhouse was built in 1798, and served as a school and meeting place until 1870, a year after Brandywine Village…