Good morning, Washington. Have you had a chance yet to pick up your extra special copy of the “world economy is in the crapper edition” of the Washington Post? The best part is the art, which we haven’t been able to find online: two large images, side-by-side, one of a grimacing Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and the other a line graph depicting just how bad things are at this point — you know, the line, it keeps going down as travels left to right across the page. Last night we heard a lot of people asking each other whether they had any money tied up in any of the firms that went under most recently. Most popular answer: I was already broke, so this shouldn’t change anything. If there’s an economist in the reader threads this morning, maybe you can fill us in: if you don’t have anything to lose, could that actually put you in a better position to weather this storm than the people who do?
PG County Considering Furloughs: Yep, you know it’s bad out there when you start seeing words in headlines you have to remind yourself what they mean it’s been so long since they appeared in print. The AP says that Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson is seriously considering putting 5,900 employees on two-week, unpaid furloughs to try to get a handle on a projected $57 million budget shortfall. Yikes. Could you go without a paycheck for 2 weeks? As you might imagine, the unions are pissed.
Maryland Slots One Step Closer: The endless, ongoing battle to put slot machines on the ballot in Maryland took one step closer, when the Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling clarifying the measure’s language. It’s really perfect timing considering how badly everyone needs a distraction from the fact that they’re bleeding money after making a long series of bad bets. Oh, wait.
Briefly Noted: The D.C. Council is back in session today … Percentage of Virginians who lack health insurance is on the rise … Hit-and-run driver strikes 2 children … Washington Gas says order to respond to calls within a time limit threatens public safety.
Photo by staceyviera
