George Washington owes $300,000 in library late fees

By GottaLaff

The Father of Our Country stiffed a public library? What kind of example will this set for the kiddies? First he chops down a cherry tree, now this?

What next, we find out his teeth were his own and he hated wigs? What's happening to this great country of ours?! Say it ain't so!

Oh no. I just had a thought. The Tea Baggers. Just think of the chopped liver they'll make with this:

A New York library is pretty sure that long-deceased President George Washington owes about $300,000 in late fees.

Staff at the New York Society Library discovered papers recently that showed Washington in 1789 borrowed the 12th volume of the "Commons Debates" and a copy of "Law of Nations," yet never returned either tome.

Next thing you know, we'll see signs at Tea Tantrum rallies that say, "Washington's team didn't pay fines! Why should we?

The New York Daily News has more.

BREAKING: Mark Sanford will plead no contest to ethics charges

By GottaLaff

Via a Yahoo e-mail alert:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) SC gov will plead no contest to ethics charges, pay $74,000 in fines over travel, spending.

That's all I have. Details coming.

All my previous posts on the Sanford scandals here.

UPDATE via another alert:

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Judge finalizes divorce of SC Gov. Mark Sanford, ending his 20-year marriage to wife Jenny.

BaucusThink: Fine the uninsured, but no public option

By GottaLaff

UPDATE via Emptywheel: (H/t: Eric B. and watergatesummer)

But, as William Ockham points out, it's actually Liz Fowler's health care plan (if you open the document and look under document properties, it lists her as author). [...]

[I]n the two years before she came back to the Senate to help Max craft the Max Tax plan, she worked as VP for Public Policy and External Affairs at WellPoint.

So to the extent that Liz Fowler is the Author of this document, we might as well consider WellPoint its author as well.

Here's a snapshot of my state of mind at the moment: STFU Baucus.

There. I feel better.

He's just dandy with fining uninsured families up to $3,800 while waving toodle-oo to the public option.

Oh what the heck, one more time: STFU Baucus:

The plan from Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana would make health insurance mandatory, just like auto coverage. It would provide tax credits to help cover the cost for people making up to three times the federal poverty level. That's about $66,000 for a family of four, and $32,000 for an individual.

But those who still don't sign up would face hefty fines, starting at $750 a year for individuals and $1,500 for families. The maximum penalty on individuals would be $950.

That should go over well during the Great Recession of 2009.

H/t: Watergatesummer

Sen. DeMint hit with FEC fine over contributions

By GottaLaff

So the FEC still functions? Where are their judgments on John McCain's campaign?

Federal Election Commissioners have approved an agreement by which Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) campaign will pay a $25,000 fine for accepting contributions above legal limits, according to files made public Friday.

The freshman senator, who has emerged as a leading conservative voice, accepted $68,000 in excessive contributions during his 2004 bid to replace ex-Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-S.C.). [...]

The FEC also released judgments against Kalyn Free, who ran for the Democratic nomination in Oklahoma’s 2nd District in 2004, and against Suzanne Haik Terrell (R), who narrowly lost a 2002 challenge to Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

The judgment against Terrell requires the candidate's committee to refund more than $625,000 in contributions and pay a fine of $42,543 for accepting illegal corporate contributions. Several individuals will pay fines ranging from $2,500 to $8,000 for their roles in the campaign.