No, they don’t. They care about the religion of environmentalism, and for entirely political, corrupt, and socialist ideological reasons. By the numbers, global wealth – free market capitalism – is the single best thing for the environment, but that is exactly the opposite of what the lefty politicians are aiming for.

Let’s put it another way: If environmentalists really cared about the environment, wouldn’t they be trying to assess the state of the climate as accurately as possible instead of colluding globally to mislead the rest of the world with false science and poor data which could only lead to the misuse of funds that could be used to solve real environmental problems? And why are they still trying to hide the data? For reference, this is what real science looks like.

Why do I care about all of this? Because it’s my money they’re spending on political ideals that I not only don’t believe in, but that I can empirically show are bad for all parties involved except for corrupt politicians.

The Democrats just gave Fannie and Freddie blank checks.

$2 million dollars spent to caulk 7 homes.

I always hear, “You’re feet don’t look that big.” I suppose it’s because I’m 5′8 ½ and blessed with long legs. Since I wear size 11 shoes, I know first hand how frustrating it is to go shopping for shoes. You spot a pair of “must haves.” Mustering up as much of hope as you can, you approach the sales clerk and quietly ask “Do you have this in a size 11?” The clerk heads to the back only to come out empty handed. Disappointment, anger, envy and general disdain for women with smaller feet sweeps over you like a flood. Just as you’re about to walk out the door, you overhear a lady ask the clerk for the exact same pair of shoes in a size 8. The next thing you know the size 8 lady glides by you with her new shoes. Yes, that’s how the “other half” live. You wonder if designers and retailers even know we exist.

Finally, shoe designers are taking note that women with big feet want gorgeous shoes just like their tiny footed sisters. Since I wear size 11, I can tell you that we don’t mind spending money when it comes to buying a pair of shoes that are the perfect fit and style. While some manufacturers and retailers are still reluctant to cater to the oversize women’s shoe market, others realize there is a real need to provide quality, stylish shoes for full-footed women. Retailers and manufacturers who service the $11 billion a year oversize women’s shoe market realize there is a great opportunity to increase their visibility and profitability.

In the last 15 years there has been a dramatic increase in the size of women’s feet. The women’s plus-size shoe segment of the market has been growing at over 10% a year in the last 15 years, while the women’s shoe industry has been experiencing a rate of 1-2% a year. Statistics show that 12.3 million women in the US can’t find shoes that fit correctly. They’re either too small or too tight which forces many women to look for shoes in the men’s shoe department.

Kudos to the Internet retailers and brick & mortar stores who provide stylish designer shoes in our size. Here are just a few:

Internet Shoe Retailers

• Zappos.com
• Payless.com
• 6pm.com
• Shoes.com
• Onlineshoes.com
• Shoebuy.com
• Endless.com
• Designershoes.com
• Nordstrom.com

Shoe Stores

• Nordstrom’s
• Macy’s
• Payless
• DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse)
• JC Penny’s
• TJ Maxx
• Target

Andrea Pace, creator of Your Feet Make You Unique. She proudly wears size 11 shoes and she is committed to helping women feel better about the size of their feet and walking in their own shoes. You’ll find valuable shopping tips, articles and more for women who wear size 10 and up… Visit http://www.yourfeetmakeyouunique.com today and get your FREE Ultimate Plus-Size Shoe Guide.

My Links : shoes cheap

Mr. and Mrs. Obama, the undocumented occupants of the White House, have said that we all have to sacrifice.

Demonstrating their commitment to shared sacrifice, the Obama’s scaled back their Christmas, I mean HOLIDAY, vacation in Hawaii to ONLY TWO WEEKS! He has earned it, after all.  After a year where his only accomplishment was calmly watching legislators from his democrat party drain the treasury, anybody can see why Mr. Obama would be exhausted and in need of a vacation. The Obama’s even went on Priceline to bargain shop for accommodations.  Would you believe ONLY $4,000 per night for their modest 7,000 square foot mansion?  And in a further demonstration of sacrifice, the Obama’s elected not to spend excessive amounts of taxpayer money by renting all of Hawaii for their two week stay.  They cut back to just renting the two houses next door for all the friends and “associates” they flew in for the holidays.

Can you believe that?!?!  What amazing solidarity with the average American!  What compassion for those out of work, and for those working their a$$es off to pay for Obama’s vacation!  Our Dear Leader never ceases to amaze me.

And what’s even better, the Obamassiah is helping others to sacrifice as well.  By staying in Hawaii for two weeks, Obama is giving many workers on the island two weeks off from their dreadful jobs while sacrificing their paychecks.  As a side benefit, the revenue that these people will not be forced to generate won’t be available to the companies for which they work, possibly causing them to close down.  This will ensure that the spirit of sacrifice lives on for weeks, months, and perhaps years to come.

Thank you, Mr. Obama!  We couldn’t have sacrificed so much without you!

Some Businesses Say They Will Be Grounded By Restrictions

POSTED: 4:58 pm HST December 21, 2009
UPDATED: 12:05 pm HST December 22, 2009
HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is expected to be in the islands for the holidays. The nearly two-week-long vacation may prove costly to some island businesses.

For many local flight schools and air tour operators it has been a difficult economic year. Now, their companies will encounter even more financial turbulence with the president’s visit.

Mark Jones prepares planes to take off at George’s Aviation. The business heavily relies on flight training for a big part of its income. Those training flights will be largely grounded as part of the safety measures in place during Obama’s stay in Windward Oahu as temporary flight restrictions, or TFRs, will be in place.

“Within a 10-mile radius around Kaneohe Bay, only airlines, air am will be able to fly. That excludes the area around Honolulu Airport. There is another restricted area between 10 to 30 miles from Kaneohe Bay,” Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

“Flight training is not approved of 30 miles of the president. So, effectively that will shut down the flight schools from training,” Jones said.

Some helicopter tours and charter flights may be allowed to fly. However, Pat Magie’s seaplane tours will be sunk by the restrictions.

“We can’t fly tourists. We can’t train. We’ve got an enforced two-week vacation without pay,” Magie said.

Why will some flights go up and other not? It comes down to security. The same security you face when you go to the airport.

Tour companies have been told they may be allowed to fly if Transportation Security Administration inspectors check out passengers and aircraft at a central airport location.

“We can’t do that. We’re on floats. We can’t land at the airport. So, they said, ‘You can’t fly then,’” Magie said.

For many air tour companies, things were just starting to take off after a rough fiscal year. Now, some, like Magie, will face more financial uncertainty after a very costly Christmas.

“We’ll probably lose $20,000 to $30,000 out of this,” he said.

Air tour companies have already had one meeting with federal agencies over the restricted air space. Some still hope to come up with a solution that will keep them flying and the president safe over the holidays.

So they say money makes the world go round. Once again I have no idea who they are but this time they are WRONG. Credit makes the world go round and round. Having a good credit score is key to living a comfortable financial life. No, I’m not saying that you should get a million credit cards and live off of them. However, as young adults, building solid financial portfolios now can save us a bulk of headache and heartache later. So how to do it?

For starters get a good job, if you haven’t already done so. You can’t borrow if you don’t have the means to pay the money back. So go out there and get a stable, welling paying job at a reputable company. If you’re not qualified for such a job, you have some back tracking to do in the education and career departments but thats another post.

After you’ve gotten a good job or maybe not so good but well-paying job. Get your credit report from annualcreditreport.com. Remember that they are the ONLY authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law and be sure to get all 3 reports. Be careful of copycat sites that may charge fees and other services for a monthly cost.

Develop a budget for all your needs. You know, all the things you need to have in order to survive. Be very realistic! If you know that you NEED to go out once a month in order to be sane, please by all means factor that into the “needs budget”. We don’t want you going crazy because you’re trying to save money. However, do remember that paying off debt is a need. After the needs, comes the wants, things that you just want. Some of my wants are going out to dinner or brunch with friends, going to the club and buying shoes.  Figure out how much money you’ll need for each budget. Write it down and hold on to it, you’ll need it for when you’re looking at that credit report.

Now that your credit report in hand, its time to understand what all the numbers mean to you. Take your time, read it thoroughly and check for any mistakes or fraudulent activity. If they are any, be sure to contact the creditor, as well as the credit reporting agency. ALWAYS make contact in writing via certified mail, in addition to phone calls. Keep a dated record of who you spoke to and what you talked about. Send a confirmation letter via certified mail outlining what was discussed and what solution was reached. Ask for a written reply while your on the phone and in your letter. Once you have that covered, make sure that all of your accounts are up to date and paid in full. If you do owe money to any creditors tackle the high interest rate debts first. Call them up and see what you can do. Pay off as much as you can to start than set up a comfortable payment schedule to continue to make payments. When you’re done paying a debt off request that the account be closed by the consumer if you no longer wish to do business with that company. Repeat this until you no longer have any debts and are on a regular payment history with all of your creditors.

In the meantime, keep ONLY ONE low-interest major credit card and use it only to pay for monthly bills that you would normally pay in cash. Save the money that you were going to use to pay the bills and pay off the monthly balance of the card. This way you will be building your payment history positively without spending extra money.

Open three bank accounts. Yes, I said three. Two checking accounts and one savings account. If you have direct deposit with the option to split your pay, do it. It’s one of the easiest ways to manage your income without lifting a finger. Okay, back to these accounts.

• Checking account number one is for your needs budget. Whatever your total amount was for your needs budget is the amount that should be in checking account number one by the 1st of each month. So if your total monthly needs are $836. Be sure that account has at least $836 in it by the first of the month. DO NOT GET A DEBIT OR CHECK CARD FOR THIS ACCOUNT. Only use checks to pay bills or go to the bank to make withdrawals.
• Checking account number two is for your wants budget. Same as before but in this case you can have a debit or check card with this account.
• Last but not least… the savings account. Put whatever you remainder is into a high interest savings account. This is your emergency money. Do not touch it unless it’s an emergency!

Build these accounts and become familiar with maintaining them. Pay all of your bills on time. Keep using the low-interest credit to pay bills and always pay it back in full using the “needs” back account. Keep this up and your credit score will rise. Be sure the evaluate your expenses, budget and income periodically to stay on track. And order your credit report every year and before any major purchases that involve financing to know what your credit says about you.

Only one party.

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas, got everything they wanted, enjoyed time with family, and stuffed themselves with tons of delicious food. I know I did. My stomach hates me, but it’s well worth it.

Anyway, even though it was a short week, there were a couple of stories that hit home and can help you as you begin to make your resolutions for 2010.

On Monday, a writer on MoneyNing wrote this piece about the constant battle many face from “frugal naysayers,” people who will encourage you to spend more money.

Now, before you get all upset when someone questions your spending habits, consider two things:

• the source of the comments; and
• the situation (no, not that Situation).

If the person who is criticizing you is in loads of debt, can’t balance a checkbook to save their life, and has no real concept of what it is to manage money … then just take it with a grain of salt. You have a plan and you know what you’re doing. Move forward and know that you are making the spending decision that aligns most closely with your goals and philosophies.

Now, if the person criticizing you is someone you happen to trust, then take a step back and look at the situation at hand. Here’s an example: Last March, after I had received my tax refund and was looking to join a gym near my old job in Manhattan, I settled on joining Crunch. Crunch has locations all over Manhattan — and they are almost all different prices per month. I was strongly considering saving $20 per month to go to the location in Lower Manhattan in the financial district — which would have required me to buy a separate subway pass to get there — instead of the one on 38th and Broadway I could walk to from the PATH or my job. Just because it was cheaper.

My friend told me to take a moment and realize how stupid I was being — and she was right. In the end, it would have cost me more to go to the Crunch in the financial district because of the extra time and money I’d have to spend commuting there. (Also, a month or so later that location closed, which would have screwed me over.) I didn’t see that right away; all I saw was the fact that that location was $20 cheaper per month than the one in Midtown. Sometimes it takes another point of view from an outsider to set you straight, and other times, it’s unnecessary white noise. Do your best to assess it on a case-by-case basis.

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that charge cards are making a comeback. Now, did you know there was actually a difference (and a whole set of different products) between a charge card, which makes you pay back the balance in full each month, and a credit card, which allows you to carry a balance?

I didn’t, either.

There are a whole lot of pros and cons to going with a charge card, which is outlined fully in the WSJ article. Obviously you should research any credit or charge card before you make a final decision. While there’s a freeing aspect to know that you can’t fall into the trap of carrying a balance with a charge card (because, well, you’re not allowed), I still contend that credit cards are not evil. It just takes discipline.

I have always treated my credit card like a charge card, paying off the balance in full each month. I don’t spend more than what I have, and it’s a fantastic habit you should resolve to get into for 2010 if you don’t already.

Here’s a quick summary. And then of course the Democrats responded by spending money past our debt limit, and voting themselves a new limit. Just how much debt do we have?

Oh, and Freddie and Fannie are rewarding their executives millions of dollars for a job well done.

The trouble with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money.

Obviously not to create jobs. And we know that it didn’t go to the areas of the country that were the most in need of jobs. Instead, it went to Democrat districts. More proof that it was entirely about pork and corruption. And of course Obama now is complaining about our spending. Amazing.

In its efforts to stave off further reductions in the ratings on its credibility as a debtor, and stabilize its finances going forward, the government of Greece has voted to reduce its spending, and increase taxes (specifically a 90% tax on bonuses for bankers).

Increasing taxes and decreasing government spending are generally considered to be pro-cyclical. A reduction in the credibility of a sovereign debtor is almost certainly also pro-cyclical.

Thought it was about time I gave you a bit of an update.

I dread christmas, due to various reasons; one of them being the loss of a close friend a couple of years ago. This year was no different, I’ve sort of enjoyed the build up, but as today got closer I hated it more.

Well, today is christmas (state the obvious there Steve), and I don’t know if it’s because I went out drinking last night that I’ve been feeling horrible all day. I’ve not wanted to speak to anyone; turned my phone off for a few hours, haven’t replied to many ‘Merry Christmas’ text messages and just in general not being myself. I’ve been quiet, irritable and wishing the world would disappear. I was really tired, so thought I would go for a sleep, but instead I lay thinking, imagining scenarios about what my friends are up to and it scared me.

My imagination does scare me at times, it runs away into a fantasy land, but not the magical kind. The fantasy land my head goes into is the one where everything and everyone is against me almost; in that world I am hated, talked about, people don’t understand me and I don’t like the person this fantasy land makes me feel like I am.

When I get out of the fantasy land, I have a little think and some of the things I feel I do believe, but some of them I refuse to believe.

I’ve lost my train of thought with where this blog was going, so I’m going to watch TV and hopefully something will cheer me up.

Merry Christmas everyone.

-x-x-x-

It came from the Evergreens. With flashy lights, Snuggies and Chia Pets wrapped in pretty paper that would be torn away and the endless commercials urging us to want want want and spend spend spend till your credit card could take it no more. Welcome to the Holiday that concurred all.

Halloween needs to be moved to the beginning of October, by the 31st the stores have moved on. Thanksgiving is just a place holder. in a vast conspiracy, it has been decided that the official beginning of ‘Shopping Season‘ starts the next day. The American tradition of gathering around the family table has been replaced by camping in parking lots for a few days so you can get in on the “Black Friday” sales. Tis the season that we honer the birth of the young Master, Card.  ‘Ho Ho Ho’ has been translated to ‘Spend Spend Spend’.  Welcome to … Christmas!

I remember one friend obsessing in July on what she would get her sister for Christmas, while complaining that the sister never got her anything she wanted.  The endless commercials have convenced us to get the latest gadgets for our friends, and gage just how much they value us by the value of what they give in return. The only ones this really brings joy to are the merchants who sell us all this stuff and the banks who collect the interest year round from the charge cards.  It doesn’t matter if you are Christian or not, A tree must be brought inside the house and decorated with fake snow, lights and other shinny objects as an alter, a place to put the presents. We must all listen to, if not sing, terrible songs about Snowmen, Jingling bells, Raindear and every once in a while something about that Christ person. Why do they keep bringing him up?

The whole Tree thing, “Father Winter”, and the rich giving presents to the poor, is all part of a ‘Winter Festival‘ established before Christianity. Again, in the name of conspiracy, it was decided that since people were used to this winter celebration it would just be given a different name. It would become the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, never mind he was not born on December 25th. Father Winter would become Father Christmas, and then Santa. We would still decorate trees, but in the confort of our homes, and we would give until we were poor. Than put it all away and not having  to care about anyone until the next ‘Winter Festival’.  Wrong!

Lets separate our spirituality from the commercialism that this holy day has become. Use this occasion to reflect on whatever your beliefs are, than embrase those beliefs and act on them throughout the year. Lets also separate our expression of love for those around us. Everybody should buy presents for those who’s name starts with A or B in January. C & D in February, E & F in March and so on…. Or just express your love and friendship year round. When I give a gift, it is because I think that person can use it, or that I am moved to share as I am able, not out of ‘obligation’ .  I value spending time and the occasional breaking of bread with loved ones more than any gift purchased because of the date on a calendar.

In Peace and Love,
Robin

But it wasn’t.

Recent studies confirm, again, that tax cuts work better than spending to promote growth. 2 times better, in fact. Guess what Democrats want to do? In addition to increasing spending, they want to increase taxes.

The good folks at The Baseline Scenario have helpfully supplied us with a chart looking at the causes of our increasing deficits.  This was made based upon CBO data by the CBPP. Note that for 2010 the stimulus makes a significant contribution to the deficit. Beyond 2010, it is the Bush tax cuts (extended), the wars and the lingering effects of the recession which cause deficits. The deficits are resulting primarily from decreases on the revenue side. Read the original article for another graphic representation of the deficits and discussion of methodology.

A friend of mine posted this. Originally from Sweasel.com

(Do compare the numbers to Bush. No, really. Please do.)

WE’RE. ALL. FUCKED.

I found this article 5 Ways To Control Emotional Spending on the excellent Investopedia website and I thought that this could really help.  Another article, also on Investopedia 12 Ways To Shop Smarter is also a great read.

I hope these posts will help with issues that overspenders might have, especially in the bonus season .

Full post here.

Crook has been following health-care closely of late.  Obama’s asking for a lot of faith to help pay for this bill in the long-run.

Related On This Site:  From KeithHennesey.Com: ‘My Foggy Crystal Legislative Crystal Ball’

Welcome to spend and tax where the frustration of watching an oversized government apply its magic. the concept of spend and tax started when the stimulus bill was enacted at the beginning of 2009.  The recognition that as citizens of this great country we are indeed progressing into something that is very different from the intention of our founding fathers.

Many concerns rise over individual rights replaced with a more Orwellian view that is very foreign to even our parents and  grandparents.  This page and spendandtax.com in order to put a perspective and inform the citizenry.

Open shot

NEWS

Senate reform bill passes last hurdle en route to passage
December 23, 2009 5:14 p.m. EST

‘On the doorstep of history’ :
Sen. Harry Reid applauds the work of his Senate colleague in moving the health care bill to a final vote.

Washington (CNN) — The Senate health care bill cleared a third and final procedural hurdle Wednesday as Democrats successfully limited remaining debate time on the $871 billion measure.

The Senate voted 60-39 along party lines to set a timetable for likely passage of the bill early Thursday morning.

Democrats also turned back last-ditch motions from Republicans claiming various provisions in the bill, including a mandate that individuals purchase coverage, are unconstitutional.

“It’s long past time we declare health care a right and not a privilege,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said after the vote.

“Today is a victory … for American families,” proclaimed Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana. “Americans won.”

The expected victory for President Obama’s top domestic priority comes after nearly a year of sharply polarized deliberations on Capitol Hill. Any measure passed by the Senate, however, will still have to be merged with a $1 trillion plan approved by the House of Representatives in November.

Increasingly confident Democrats hope to have a bill ready for Obama’s signature before his State of the Union address early next year.

“Health care reform is not a matter of if,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. “Health care reform now is a matter of when.”

If a combined House-Senate health care bill clears Congress and is signed by Obama, it would be the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid over four decades ago.

Republicans have mounted a no-holds-barred legislative campaign against the bill, using a series of procedural maneuvers to slow debate while arguing that the measure will raise taxes while doing little to slow spiraling health care costs.

They’ve also ripped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, for garnering the 60 votes necessary to pass the bill in part by cobbling together a series of “sweetheart deals” for wavering members of the Democratic caucus.

“This bill is a grab bag of Chicago-style, backroom buyoffs,” Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch said Wednesday.

Recent compromises made to win the backing of moderates such as Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut also angered many liberal Democrats and threatened to undermine support for the bill.

Democrats have now held three key procedural votes on the health care bill this week. The backing of all 60 members of the Democratic caucus was required during each vote in order to overcome a filibuster from a GOP minority united in opposition.

Final passage of the measure, in contrast, will require only a bare majority in the 100-member chamber.

Enthusiastic top Democrats argue the Senate bill would constitute a positive change of historic proportions. The legislation, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, would extend health insurance to more than 30 million Americans currently lacking coverage while reducing the federal deficit.

The House and Senate bills agree on a broad range of changes that could impact every American’s coverage.

Among other things, they have agreed to subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to roughly $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

They also have agreed to create health insurance exchanges designed to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less-expensive coverage. Both the House plan and the Senate bill would eventually limit total out-of-pocket expenses and prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Insurers also would be barred from charging higher premiums based on a person’s gender or medical history. However, both bills allow insurance companies to charge higher premiums for older customers.

Medicaid would be significantly expanded under both proposals. The House bill would extend coverage to individuals earning up to 150 percent of the poverty line, or roughly $33,000 for a family of four; the Senate plan ensures coverage to those earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four.

Major differences between the bills will be the focus of the conference committee that will try to merge them. House and Senate Democrats are still divided over how to pay for their plans. They are also split on, among other things, language relating to abortion coverage and whether to include a government-run public health insurance option.

The House bill includes a public option; the more conservative Senate measure would instead create nonprofit private plans overseen by the federal government.

© 2009 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

NEWS

Health bill clears last hurdle before passage
Dec 23, 4:36 PM EST
By Erica Werner
Associated Press Writer

From left, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Ariz., Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Sen, Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., confer on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 23,2009, prior to a health care news conference. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Exultant Senate Democrats pushed President Barack Obama’s landmark health care overhaul past a final procedural hurdle Wednesday, setting up a Christmas Eve vote to pass the legislation extending coverage to 30 million Americans.

Democrats voted 60-39 to end a GOP filibuster and move to a final vote Thursday. All 58 Democrats and two independents hung together against unanimous Republican opposition.

It was the 24th day of debate on the 10-year, nearly $1 trillion bill.

“It is now only hours until this Senate will pass meaningful health care reform,” said Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.

“It has been a long time coming,” Baucus said. “I thank God that I have lived to see this day.”

It was the third time Democrats have put up 60 votes on procedural measures since Monday. Final passage requires just a simple majority so Democrats should triumph easily. It will be a big victory for Obama and the Democrats, although the Senate bill will still have to be reconciled with a House-passed version before Obama could sign a final package.

There are some thorny differences between the two chambers, including stiffer abortion curbs in the House bill and a new government-run insurance plan in the House bill that’s not in the Senate version.

The sweeping legislation, crafted over months of laborious negotiations, would dramatically remake the country’s health care system with new requirements for nearly everyone to purchase insurance. The government would provide subsidies to help lower-income people pay for coverage. Unpopular insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions would be banned.

Powerless to stop the bill, Republicans stepped up their attacks, contending the sweeping bill threatened to harm Medicare and add billions to the deficit.

“Tomorrow the Senate will vote on a bill that makes a bad situation worse,” Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said on the Senate floor. “This bill slid rapidly down the slippery slope to more and more government control of health care.”

The final vote is now set for 7 a.m. Thursday, not 8 a.m. as agreed to earlier in the week. It had originally been scheduled for 7 p.m., but Republicans agreed not to use all their debate time so they could leave town earlier for the holidays and avoid bad weather looming in the midwest. On Wednesday, senators advanced the vote from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., suggested moving it up some more and holding it Wednesday night, but Republicans didn’t agree to that.

The last time the Senate voted on Christmas Eve was Dec. 24, 1895, on a military affairs bill concerning employment of former Confederate officers, according to the Senate Historical Office.

Democrats also cast several votes Wednesday turning back points of order raised against the bill by Republicans, including one by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., questioning the constitutionality of requiring most every American to buy health insurance.

Away from Capitol Hill, special deals on Medicaid obtained by some Democrats – notably Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who provided the crucial 60th vote – continued to provoke grumbling. Under the Senate bill the federal government will pay the entire cost of an expansion of Medicaid in Nebraska, unlike other states, which will have to start picking up a portion of the tab themselves after several years.

In New York, state Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos sent a letter to the attorney general and the governor urging them to join other states, including South Carolina, that are considering legal challenges over the issues.

.