Welcome to “Thursday Numbers” – the first one in April! Sorry for the delay in posting my column today!

If you are a first-time visitor, “Thursday Numbers” is the column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes spiked with a little sarcasm).

This week I write about the Ryan budget, the Affordable Care Act, Ted Cruz, unemployment, the Supreme Court, Unabomber, Chilean inmates, Amazon Fire TV, the Kolarbyn Ecolodge, energy, leaning Democratic, college athletes & unions, NFL cheerleaders and much more!

5,000,000,000,000

According to the New York Times, House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan “laid out a budget plan that cuts $5 trillion in spending over the next decade.”

The NYT also reported to do this Ryan would make steep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, AND completely repeal the Affordable Care Act…

7,100,000

According to the White House, that is how many “Americans signed up for affordable care through the Health Insurance Marketplace during the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment, which ended on March 31.”

On Tuesday, the President said, “The debate over repealing this law is over.”

I don’t think the President saw Paul Ryan’s budget plans…

1,500,000

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz received a $1.5 million advance for his “personal memoir about his controversial days in Washington and his vision for the future.” Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012.

Cruz likes to hear himself talk, so I imagine this book will be a long one…

326,000

That’s how many new claims for unemployment were filed this week according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

123,200

According to Reuters, “On a 5-4 vote, the (U.S. Supreme) court struck down the overall limits ($123,200) on how much individuals can give to candidates, parties and political action committees in total during the federal two-year election cycle.”

I still get one vote just like the rich people – for now at least…

1996

On this date in 1996, Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was arrested. (Source)

300

That’s how many female inmates escaped from a Chilean prison after a magnitude-8.2 earthquake rocked the country.

99

That’s the cost ($99) of the new Amazon Fire TV – a new video streaming device.

71

That’s how much it will cost you to spend a night in Wild Sweden’s Kolarbyn Ecolodge which offers “no electricity, no showers, nothing fancy at all, just natural mystic!” You can also “Learn more about nature and wild animals.”

57

Americans still prefer energy conservation over production by a 57% to 34% margin according to a new poll from Gallup. (Source)

53

Remember back in the early 1990s (at least for two years) when young people (18-29) leaned Republican. That’s not happening these days. According to Gallup, about 53% of young people age 18-29 lean Democratic and 35% lean Republican.

25

According to Rasmussen Reports, “25% of American Adults favor allowing college athletes to form unions. Fifty-three percent (53%) are opposed. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided.”

17

KRTV in Great Falls (MT) reported “On Tuesday morning, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl filed complaints in District Court against two 2010 Legislative candidates, including current Montana Senate Leader Art Wittich. A decision by Motl lists 17 ‘findings of fact’ against Wittich for what Motl calls violations of campaign law.”

Although I don’t agree with how the state of Montana referees campaigns, I have to admit this article about Wittich made me smile just a little…

3

According to CBS in Atlanta, “The National Football League has partnered with an app developer that will allow fans to get an in-seat visit from cheerleaders. Three teams – the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks – used the app last year.”

No, I don’t know if lap dances are part of the service…

 

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