Catching up to Europe

My approval of president Obama just doubled.

I know this is a big statement considering nothing has technically happened yet, but I am strongly in favor of one of his more recently announced intentions: a free two years of community college for high school graduates.

Based off a Republican Governor's plan, the "America's College Promise" would mimic the "Tennessee Promise."

I am a fiscal conservative, and as a general rule, I don't like huge government spending and services. This is an exception. I hate how the burden of college is placed on those who can least afford to pay it. Fresh high school graduates with little to no earning capacity or life experience are expected to foot the bill for the continued education that will improve the lives of themselves and of everyone in society.

I also hope that taxes are appropriately raised so that this does not add to the deficit.

Would you be in favor of raising taxes to cover this?
Is education a right or a privilege?

Here's to hoping my kids, should I be fortunate enough to have any, can get at least two years of community college without suffocating under the rotten waste that is student loans.

More Gay Marriage

As part of a recent court case, Florida county clerks are now issues marriage licenses to same sex couples.

This is the 36th state in which this is legal. My question is, how much longer will it be until laws are standardized across the nation, either allowing or not allowing same sex marriage?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/as-gay-marriages-begin-in-florida-supreme-court-is-set-to-meet-on-issue/2015/01/05/ee0edaf8-9513-11e4-aabd-d0b93ff613d5_story.html

Who's land is it anyway?

In 2012, Governor Herbert signed into law the Transfer of Public Lands Act, demanding that the federal government cede all land held by the fed to the state. This law had a deadline for this to happen of Dec. 31, 2014.

This deadline has passed, yet the fed still holds onto the land. What can or will Utah do in attempt to reclaim this land. Is it a wise idea to try?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/3/utah-to-seize-own-land-from-government-challenge-f/?page=all

House Speaker to Stay Speaker

John Boehner has maintained his position as speaker of the house, despite a challenger from his own party, Representative Louis Gohmert.

What does this mean? A more moderate republican will retain his position in determining house agenda.

Some see Boehner as corrupted from his time in power. This is his third term as speaker and has been a member of congress for 14 years now.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30700674

House Hierarchy

Speaker Boehner is becoming more unpopular with his own party. A representative from his own party, Louie Gohmert of Texas, is challenging him for the position of speaker.

Speaker of the house has quite a bit of power. He can determine the agenda for the house and help push a party agenda.

Current speaker Boehner is a more mainstream Republican while challenger Gohmert identifies with the Tea Party. How will having a more conservative speaker affect how efficiently business gets done?

Personally, I think that it will make it harder to work with the democrats in the white house and congress. However, should Republicans hold majorities in both houses while occupying the white house, Gohmert could be a big asset for the tea party.

http://news.yahoo.com/conservative-representative-king-wont-support-boehner-speakers-job-143741702.html