Dumb Laws tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1 2008-10-15T20:27:44Z The Club for Growth Blog Movable Type 3.36 Nothing Funny About the Amusement Tax tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10574 2008-10-13T19:38:10Z 2008-10-13T19:43:00Z Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is proposing an increase in the amusement tax to cover a budget shortfall. Cubs fans are still grieving over their team's loss in the playoffs and now this?... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is proposing an increase in the amusement tax to cover a budget shortfall. Cubs fans are still grieving over their team's loss in the playoffs and now this?

]]> Brown Grass Means Jail Time tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10570 2008-10-13T17:53:03Z 2008-10-13T17:55:26Z A man was put in jail because he failed to adequately water his lawn.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org A man was put in jail because he failed to adequately water his lawn.

]]> I'm Sorry tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10542 2008-10-09T13:46:31Z 2008-10-09T13:53:42Z A proposal in Canada called The Apology Act would make it easier for people to apologize for doing something wrong without it later being held against them in court. I love this quote from the article: "However, [Attorney General Mike] Bentley said the bill isn't designed to make it easier for the government to apologize because it should do the right thing regardless." As opposed to private citizens who should do the wrong thing from time to time?... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org A proposal in Canada called The Apology Act would make it easier for people to apologize for doing something wrong without it later being held against them in court.

I love this quote from the article: "However, [Attorney General Mike] Bentley said the bill isn't designed to make it easier for the government to apologize because it should do the right thing regardless."

As opposed to private citizens who should do the wrong thing from time to time?

]]> Perhaps the Stupidest Law Ever? tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10492 2008-10-02T19:43:52Z 2008-10-02T19:45:50Z Michael Cannon at Cato has the details. And, yes, the law comes from California.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org Michael Cannon at Cato has the details. And, yes, the law comes from California.

]]> Dumbness During the Bailout tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10431 2008-09-26T13:28:05Z 2008-09-26T13:31:42Z While the United States struggles through the credit crisis, what is the House of Representatives doing? Passing a resolution "recognizing the 150th anniversary year of the founding of Macy's, Inc."... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org While the United States struggles through the credit crisis, what is the House of Representatives doing? Passing a resolution "recognizing the 150th anniversary year of the founding of Macy's, Inc."

]]> Dumb Law Time Machine tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10426 2008-09-25T16:37:00Z 2008-09-25T16:39:09Z Here's a dumb law from 1908 in New York City.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org Here's a dumb law from 1908 in New York City.

]]> Man Tries to Get California to Sue Him tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10265 2008-09-04T14:03:37Z 2008-09-04T14:05:40Z I like this guy. Great idea.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org I like this guy. Great idea.

]]> Dumb Court Decision About Mad Cow Disease tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10264 2008-09-04T13:28:16Z 2008-09-04T13:47:29Z With caution, I put this court decision under the "Dumb Laws" category only because there are several legal details that might not make it entirely dumb. However, on the surface, it seems remarkably dumb. Apparently, the U.S. Court of Appeals is preventing a beef company from testing its own beef for mad cow disease at its own expense.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org With caution, I put this court decision under the "Dumb Laws" category only because there are several legal details that might not make it entirely dumb. However, on the surface, it seems remarkably dumb. Apparently, the U.S. Court of Appeals is preventing a beef company from testing its own beef for mad cow disease at its own expense.

]]> Dumb Proposal in L.A. tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10257 2008-09-03T18:14:47Z 2008-09-03T18:20:18Z A committee for the Los Angeles City Council is going to consider a proposal that would prohibit people from smoking within 5 feet of restaurant tables that are located outside.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org A committee for the Los Angeles City Council is going to consider a proposal that would prohibit people from smoking within 5 feet of restaurant tables that are located outside.

]]> Dumbness in Knoxville, TN tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10217 2008-08-27T18:04:22Z 2008-08-27T18:06:37Z You need a permit to go out of business in Knoxville, TN.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org You need a permit to go out of business in Knoxville, TN.

]]> The Nanny State = The Richard Simmons State tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10141 2008-08-18T13:07:54Z 2008-08-18T13:12:44Z From the Daily Mail in Great Britain: A bizarre Government-funded campaign is being launched to encourage people to exercise while they’re waiting for a bus. According to the campaign’s organisers, those minutes spent at the bus stop watching the traffic go by could be spent more usefully – by standing on one leg, pointing your toes or clenching your buttocks.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org From the Daily Mail in Great Britain:

A bizarre Government-funded campaign is being launched to encourage people to exercise while they’re waiting for a bus.

According to the campaign’s organisers, those minutes spent at the bus stop watching the traffic go by could be spent more usefully – by standing on one leg, pointing your toes or clenching your buttocks.

]]> Dumb Letter to the NCAA tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10066 2008-08-08T13:11:47Z 2008-08-08T13:42:06Z From TV Week: [Nine c]ongressmen today sent a letter to NCAA President Myles Brand urging the NCAA to ban alcohol ads entirely from broadcasts. “We find it puzzling that NCAA advertising rules prohibit ads for cigarettes, other tobacco products, organizations promoting gambling and alcohol beverages, yet continue to allow ads for beverages with alcohol content of 6% or less,” said the letter. “Given the devastating problems caused by underage college drinking, much of it in the form of beer, that policy makes little sense and flouts the core value of sports and learning. “Please act to protect the integrity of... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org From TV Week:

[Nine c]ongressmen today sent a letter to NCAA President Myles Brand urging the NCAA to ban alcohol ads entirely from broadcasts.

“We find it puzzling that NCAA advertising rules prohibit ads for cigarettes, other tobacco products, organizations promoting gambling and alcohol beverages, yet continue to allow ads for beverages with alcohol content of 6% or less,” said the letter. “Given the devastating problems caused by underage college drinking, much of it in the form of beer, that policy makes little sense and flouts the core value of sports and learning.

“Please act to protect the integrity of college sports and the health and safety interests of college students, athletes and young fans by ending all advertising during NCAA broadcasts,” the letter said.

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman, R-Calif.; Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.; Lois Capps, D-Calif.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Hilda L. Solis, D-Calif.; Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.; Jim Ramstad, R-Minn.; Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.; and Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

First off, Waxman is a very liberal Democrat, not a Republican. Second, four of these nine congressmen (Roybal-Allard, Capps, Solis, and Grijalva) voted against banning Internet gambling in 2006. How do they reconcile these two diametric positions? It's okay to gamble your life savings away, just don't drink while you do it?

HT: Stu Clark

]]> Dumb Ballot Idea tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10061 2008-08-07T16:48:16Z 2008-08-07T17:05:32Z A proposal has been submitted to California's attorney general for consideration on the 2010 ballot (at the earliest) that would apply a death tax of 55% on all wealth over $20 million. That's bad enough, but the proceeds would not be used to balance the budget or build roads and bridges. No, it would be used to buy stock in Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, Citicorp, J.P. Morgan, and other companies. The goal is to make sure these companies do not drill or contribute to drilling off the coast of California, and to make sure they invest in alternative fuel research and development.... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org A proposal has been submitted to California's attorney general for consideration on the 2010 ballot (at the earliest) that would apply a death tax of 55% on all wealth over $20 million.

That's bad enough, but the proceeds would not be used to balance the budget or build roads and bridges. No, it would be used to buy stock in Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, Citicorp, J.P. Morgan, and other companies.

The goal is to make sure these companies do not drill or contribute to drilling off the coast of California, and to make sure they invest in alternative fuel research and development. Oh, and it would make sure these companies do not loan money to foreign companies at the expense of domestic ones. You know, because globalization is bad, bad, bad.

Hear that sound? That's all of California's millionaires packing up their things and driving their SUVs to Florida.

]]> Dumb Bill of the Year? tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10047 2008-08-06T16:10:36Z 2008-08-06T16:13:44Z HR 6753, sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), would "provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp on the subject of inflammatory bowel disease."... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org HR 6753, sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), would "provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp on the subject of inflammatory bowel disease."

]]> Dumb Taxes and Dumb Exemptions tag:www.clubforgrowth.org,2008://1.10026 2008-08-05T12:58:32Z 2008-08-05T13:02:44Z Every state with a sales tax has an official revenue book that explains what items are taxable and non-taxable. You can always get a chuckle out of some of the explanations. From PAPundit in Pennsylvania comes this gem: One of my favorites: Non-flavored bottled water is not taxable, but if it’s flavored it’s taxable – unless it contains at least 25% juice, in which case it’s not! HT: James Bookstaber... Andrew Roth http://www.clubforgrowth.org Every state with a sales tax has an official revenue book that explains what items are taxable and non-taxable. You can always get a chuckle out of some of the explanations.

From PAPundit in Pennsylvania comes this gem:

One of my favorites: Non-flavored bottled water is not taxable, but if it’s flavored it’s taxable – unless it contains at least 25% juice, in which case it’s not!

HT: James Bookstaber

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