Budget numbers and expectations for Huntington

According to a recent budget report the city of Huntington has a population of 49,185 and is 15.9 square miles in surface area. The total revenue estimate in 2010 for the city of Huntington is $41,064,610. This figure is up from the $38,785,863 in 2009.

The total expenditure estimate is also on the rise. The estimate for 2010 is $42,135,417 compared to $38,919,497 in 2009. The bulk of the revenue and expenditures comes from a few specific areas. For revenue, they are the Business and Occupation tax and Municipal service fees. For expenditures they are the police and fire departments.

A new budget is on the horizon for the city of Huntington. A study of past budgets and the track record of current Mayor Kim Wolfe, help to shed some light on what the new budget might look like.

In his first year in office, Wolfe has given a new look to the finances of Huntington. In the article, “Wolfe tackles big problems in first year,” written for the Herald Dispatch, Wolfe spoke humbly about his drive to get the city budget where he thinks it should be. He pointed out that his administration has done what the previous one did not – define the $1 user fee. Being true to the city code, Wolfe has used the fee to strengthen the police force and improve the roadways. Topics this budget will most likely focus on will be the freeze of spending by city departments and other financial issues.

Follow up to State of the Union

In President Obama’s first State of the Union Address he took the route I expected him to. The only route he had. He stayed consistent.

In a previous blog I predicted what the President would have to say. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was on par with him, for the most part. Health care, jobs, debt, unity. Obama talked about all the big issues I was sure that he would, and stayed true to the agenda he made for himself last year. He also elaborated on his health care plans, which is what I thought he needed to do to advance the issue one year into his presidency.

During his Address, Obama said, “Because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right not who would otherwise be unemployed.” These are the kind of specific answers I was hoping to hear and predicted Obama would tell his audience. It was hard to predict what he would say because he has been faced with such extreme problems. Perhaps the line, “I don’t quit,” sums it up best. I think I predicted this speech well. The President couldn’t afford to shy away from the big issues, and he didn’t.

A look a the Statement by President Kopp

Marshall president Stephen J. Kopp is making some serious changes to how things are done at Marshall University. The times have changed and the ability to adapt has become more than necessary.

Following Gov. Manchin’s State of the State Address, Kopp issued a statement discussing the current status of the University, improvement that have been made and ways to ensure success and stability for the future. Kopp said that simply sacrificing to stay afloat is not good enough, and that the University must, “emerge from this financial maelstrom stronger, more focused and fully prepared to better serve the needs of our community, our state, out region and, ultimately, our nation.”

This is not an easy time for people in Kopp’s position. The task of making cuts, while still moving the University forward and making it more successful is enough to keep anyone up at night. Kopp’s optimism shines through his statement, however, and it is that bright outlook on the future that can and will make Marshall University everything that he envisions it can be.

Obama Prediction (revised)

012110 – DPT – Obama Prediction

What will President Obama have to say in his SOU?

BY: DAVE TRAUBE

TRAUBUNE

82

President Barack Obama will soon be giving his first State of the Union Address and there are a few things we can expect him to discuss, such as the state of our economy, the status of the ongoing war and healthcare reform.

One thing hehe will discuss is required of him by the Constitution and that is the condition of our country. If past speeches are any indication, this opening section will not only be perfectly crafted but poetically delivered by the president. President Obama didn’t invent the speech, but you could almost say he has perfected it.

One year into his presidency, Obama has the opportunity to help our nations get a better understanding of whether we can, are still trying to, or just simple can’t (In regards to the slogan “Yes, we can.”. If that seems like a vague statement, we must remember the now famous Obama campaign poster with the word “HOPE” emblazoned under it, suspecting that many of those who looked at it and believed in the idea may have been hoping for something a bit different than what others were. A year in I expect President Obama to zero in on any doubt people may have.

The first year of Obama’s presidency has been, out of necessity, strongly tied in to working to reduce the economic downturn that our country and, indeed, the entire world has been faced with. In certain ways, the financial structure of our country is being remodeled and President Obama’s efforts are largely responsible for that. The list of economically themed programs includes industry bailout, deficit spending, job loss and creation and economic stimulus, to name a few. He will definitely address the economy and not only what he has done to help it, but what else can be done to help American regain its footing.

In Obama’s inaugural speech, he said that the former administration did not do its job properly and he was ready to get back to unifying politics that have not been watered down and worn out. I think in this speech he will talk about what has he done to support that claim. This is the arena where he has the opportunity to explain any issue he wants to, with a worldwide audience. If he does so with every one of these topics, it can assumed he feels good about the job his administration has done in each area. If not, or if he is silent on specific ones, different conclusions can be drawn.

Many critics and supporters alike agree that the theme of Obama’s presidential campaign was one of responsibility: by the citizens, in the business world, and within the government. Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs, even said before the inauguration that the core theme of the speech was, “getting our country back on track.”

One year later, I expect the President to tell us how he has accomplished this. Answers to the tough questions are what the public want to hear and we will soon found out how Obama will answer have to say.

President Obama’s party has just suffered a shocking loss in the recent Massachusetts election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. Whether this signals a shift in the public’s support of the president, or an opportunity for him to re-engage the imagination of the people will hopefully be answered in his address.

The future holds the answer, and the upcoming State of the Union Address may contain some clues on what it will be.

First Huntington Sanitary Board Meeting

This semester I will be attending the monthly meetings of the Huntington Sanitary Board and then blogging about what goes on during these gatherings. My first meeting was last week, on Jan. 20.

According to members of the board this was a very routine get-together. The meeting was divided up into eight parts and totaled under an hour, with the largest amount of time being devoted to an executive session where all the citizens in attendance had to wait in the hallway while the staff discussed a personnel issue. The other sections of the meeting were minutes, finances, field operations, plant operations, administrative, good and welfare (questions and comments), and the discussion of when future meetings would be.

The most interesting part of the meeting was the administrative section. Matt Taylor was attending as a city representative. He gave updates on current projects already underway, heard suggestions from the board, and fielded questions about future projects. The two most important issues he discussed with the board were the actual amount of time left to complete current projects, and how the sanitary departments remaining stimulus money will be spent.

The meeting ended with the board deciding to advance with “green” projects that had been on the back burner and then it was adjourned. Everyone was very friendly and courteous to me and I was the same, likewise. Mayor Wolf even took a moment of his time to thank me for coming and let me know when the next meeting would be so that I could attend.

Predicting President Obama's first State of the Union Address

012110 – DPT – Obama Prediction

What will President Obama have to say in his SOU?

BY: DAVE TRAUBE

TRAUBUNE

President Barack Obama will soon be giving his first ever State of the Union Address and there are a few subjects we can expect him to discuss. One such thing is required of him by the Constitution and that is the condition of our country. If past speeches are any indication, this opening section will not only be perfectly crafted but poetically delivered by the president. President Obama didn’t invent the speech, but you could almost say he has perfected it.

From the beginning of his public campaign for the presidency, his speaking skills generated public support with passion rarely seen in this country. That momentum allowed him to become the nation’s first African-American president, and his charm made people believe his campaign slogan that, “Yes, we can.”

One year into his presidency, the nation is getting an understanding of whether we can, are still trying to, or just simple can’t. If that seems like a vague statement, we must remember the now famous Obama campaign poster with the word “HOPE” emblazoned under it, suspecting that many of those who looked at it and believed in the idea may have been hoping for something a bit different than what others were.

The first year of Obama’s presidency has been, out of necessity, strongly tied in to working to reduce the economic downturn that our country and, indeed, the entire world has been faced with. In certain ways, the financial structure of our country is being remodeled and President Obama’s efforts are largely responsible for that. The list of economically themed programs includes industry bailout, deficit spending, job loss and creation and economic stimulus, to name a few. He will definitely address the economy and not only what he has done to help it, but what else can be done to help American regain its footing.

In Obama’s inaugural speech, he said that the former administration did not do its job properly and he was ready to get back to unifying politics that have not been watered down and worn out. What has he done differently to support that claim? What new and better directions has the government taken in the last year? How has our international standing risen or fallen? What progress do we make in the conflicts on foreign soil we find our troops engaged in? How goes the war on terror? This is the arena where he has the opportunity to explain these issues to a world-wide audience. If he does so with every one of these topics, you can assume he feels good about the job his administration has done in each area. If not, or if he is silent on specific ones, you may draw your own conclusions.

Many critics and supporters alike agree that the theme of Obama’s presidential campaign was one of responsibility: by the citizens, in the business world, and within the government. Obama’s Press Secretary, Rob Gibbs, even said before the inauguration that the core theme of the speech was, “getting our country back on track.”

One year later, what will the president say along these lines? Will he be able to inspire the support of this country again by the words he speaks and the ideals he represents?

President Obama’s party has just suffered a shocking loss in the recent Massachusetts election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. Does this signal a shift in the public’s support of the president, or an opportunity for him to re-engage the imagination of the people?

The future holds the answer, and the upcoming State of the Union Address may contain some clues on what it will be.

State of the Union Addresses and President Obama.

As President Obama gears up for his latest State of the Union Address I will also be gearing

up to analyze it. To get me in the proper frame of mind I have done some background research

on several other presidents addresses and also on a few of the major speeches Obama has given.

I analyzed speeches from Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagen.

Here are my results. I found a memorable line from each speech, picked out a one or two

word theme, and also wrote a short description of the overall feel from each president.

President: Abraham Lincoln

Date: Dec. 6, 1864

Words: 5,865

Estimate Time: None

Memorable Lines - “Privileges like these would render the possession of such securities to the amount limited most desirable to every person of small means who might be able to save enough for the purpose. The great advantage of citizens being creditors as well as debtors with relation to the public debt is obvious. Men readily perceive that they can not be much oppressed by a debt which they owe to themselves.”

Theme - The Cost of War

In Lincoln’s address it is evident that he is dealing with a world much different than the one we currently live in. The interesting thing is, of course, how similar it also is. A few of the things Lincoln touches upon, such as national debt or the impact of war, and this speech demonstrates why. Though not as famous as the Gettysburg Address, it demonstrates Lincoln’s grasp of a topic such as national spending, which seems more mundane than war but is ultimately of equal importance for the county’s health.

President: John F. Kennedy

Date: Jan. 14, 1963

Words: 5,740

Estimated Time: None

Memorable Lines - “The present state of our economy is disturbing. We take office in the wake of seven months of recession, three and one-half years of slack, seven years of diminished economic growth, and nine years of falling farm income.”

Theme - Fiscal Responsibility

There seems be a philosophical difference between the present approach of government stimulus spending and health care reform during an economic downturn and Kennedy’s call for a tax cut and tax reform, which he did during this third State of the Union address. Kennedy did not advocate cuts in government spending but, instead, called for the nation to use its resources wisely. This is very similar to what President Obama supports today. They both believe that the government cannot have its hands tied in the rebuilding of a nation.

President: Ronald Reagen

Date: Jan. 27, 1987

Words: 3,847

Estimated Time: 34 minutes

Memorable Lines - “Let's roll up our sleeves and go to work and put America's economic engine at full throttle.”

“Now, from foreign borders let us return to our own, because America in the world is only as strong as America at home.”

Theme - Resolve to Restore

Ronald Reagan’s 1987 State of the Union speech ends in much the same way that current President Obama’s campaign began, talking about America’s position on the world stage. This is the address in which Reagan acknowledges errors in Iran. Reagan plans to position America to succeed in the future, but his point seems to be that the nation’s economic core must be strengthened at home before attempting too much beyond its shores.

President Obama

State of the Nation – February 24, 2009

Memorable Line - “The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation.”

Theme - Active Optimism

Relatively new to office at the time, President Obama’s State of the Nation was very honest. He acknowledged that the situation America was in was did not offer easy solutions, and that many of today’s problems stem from the apathy of yesterday. Nation’s tend to make their own destinies, however, and the current crisis will not be overwhelming. Housing plans and programs to put money into the hands of the American people are highlights of the speech, as well as a call to unity that President Obama, as have many past presidents, highlights.

Cairo Speech – June 4, 2009

Memorable Line - “Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis.”

Theme - Difficult Diplomacy

It would be easy to assume that this speech has been one of Barack Obama’s most difficult speeches to date. In speaking about our military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, using the wrong words is not an option for the President of the United States. He did not start the war but cannot afford to let it end in failure for either America or Iraq.

First 100 days – April 29,2009

Memorable Line - “We will rebuild a stronger nation, and we will endure as a beacon for all of those weary travelers beyond our shores who still dream that there's a place where all of this is possible.”

Theme - Expectation and Achivement

In his review of his first 100 days in office as President of the United States, Barack Obama said that he as proud of what he had accomplished so far but not at all satisfied. With expectations heavy upon him, following a campaign run that built momentum unlike any in history, Obama commented on getting his promises accomplished and what would time frame would be required. He also talked about fair expectations of him and how he was going to, “lay a new foundation for growth.”

Gov. Manchin's State of the State Address

Gov. Joe Manchin stuck with familiar themes in delivering his State of the State Address on Wednesday night. As is often the case with an incumbent politician, he accentuated the positive accomplishments from his time in office, even while proposing a mid-year cut in the state’s budget because of declining revenues due to the world’s current economic struggles.

Marshall University and the town of Huntington have a part in the role Manchin sees the state of West Virginia playing in our nation’s future. Much of that comes from his encouragement of a college education. It’s easy to criticize political leaders, but the leadership of West Virginia certainly has echoed the governor’s words that, “success starts in the classroom,” by its actions. Manchin also gave insight into projects he had enacted in previous addresses. For example, the PROMISE Scholarship was born of a dedication by the state to get more West Virginia kids to enter the world of higher education. The hope, of course, was that they would stay in West Virginia upon graduating, which hasn’t happened at any higher percentage than before the PROMISE was enacted. In any event, enrollment is up in our state institutions and the state’s government has played an integral part on that.

Of benefit to Marshall students would be the governor’s attempt to freeze tuition rates in our state for the upcoming school year. Rising costs of college and tighter restrictions being forced upon the PROMISE Scholarship would make this an important step in helping more people achieve a college level education.

There would be the potential of a hidden cost for students of a tuition freeze, though. Would Marshall respond to a tuition freeze by raising other fees? Would services offered to students be reduced or compromised? Would the number of classes be cut or the size of classes be increased? Would the quality of the food being served in the school’s dining hall get worse?? [No, it’s not likely that last concern could happen. If you’ve eaten at one lately you know what I mean!]

Even though the issues of stimulus package spending, clean water funding and small city block grants are all important for our city and state, it is Manchin’s involvement in our state education, which focuses on developing more trained workers and employing them in the state, that would directly effect the Huntington community the most. Manchin’s address could even be called the “E Speech,” meaning that it focused around education, economy, and energy. It is education, however, that helps the other two areas succeed in the state of West Virginia.

Despite the requested budget cut of 3.4%, the Governor took a very positive stance about our state and its economic condition. The economic hard times that have hit the country have not been as harsh in West Virginia as in other parts of the nation. Manchin is due some credit for that and, understandably, that was made known in his address. Of course, the point is sometimes made that West Virginia doesn’t rise as high as other states during the good times so it doesn’t have as far to fall during the bad, but in any event it seems to be weathering the current economic turmoil fairly well.

As far as well-spoken politicians go, Manchin is among the best. He sounds as if he knows what he is talking about and confidently shares examples of his success from around the state. He represents West Virginia well on the national stage. I think that he did exactly what he has done in past years to contribute to his own political success Wednesday. He proudly spoke about what’s right with the state of West Virginia and offered solutions for what is wrong.