Fed Announces Third Quantitative Easing

In an unprecedented move, the Federal Reserve announced today that it will purchase up to $40 billion per month in mortgage-backed securities in hopes of bolstering economic recovery.  According to USA Today, "the Fed has spent $2.3 trillion since late 2008 buying Treasury and government-backed mortgage bonds in an effort to push down longer-term interest rates that consumers and businesses pay to borrow, and to steer investors from bonds into stocks."  Read the full article here.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/business/story/2012/09/13/federal-reserve-decides-to-trigger-third-easing-to-help-economy/57776656/1

Oil Prices Up Following Attack

Oil Prices rise following attack on US consulate in Libya.  Will more unrest cause prices to spike? Read about it here.

http://www.boston.com/business/news/2012/09/13/oil-price-after-attack-consulate-libya/ymw4YWHgWXAWKnskQBuqyI/story.html

Debt Surpasses $16 Trillion

CNBC interviews Senator Lindsey Graham regarding the debt, debt ceiling and other issues relative to the national debt.  Watch the video here:

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000114406

Does Big Spending Run in the Family?

According to public interest watchdog Judicial Watch, President Obama is not the only big spender in the Whitehouse.  In this article from Newsmax.com published today, first lady Michelle Obama is purported to have spent over $1 million of taxpayer money for 16 vacations in the last three years.  Excessive?  Read the details here, and you be the judge:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-vacation-taxpayer-cost/2012/07/19/id/445913?s=al&promo_code=F831-1

Students "Enriched" by Fed Tour

A group of SLCC students were seen leaving their tour of the Federal Reserve Bank today enriched by new information about the Fed as well as by actual money given to them at the end of the tour.  It is estimated that each student left with anywhere from $4.00 up to $400.00.  Shoulda been there!

Tax or Penalty?

Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez's take on the recent Supreme Court decision.

Contrasting Election Year Budgets

Two contrasting budget proposals: Congressman Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" and President Obama's 2013 proposal.

Here are links to each proposal:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/budget.pdf

http://budget.house.gov/uploadedfiles/pathtoprosperity2013.pdf