Learn to discipline your emotions, because if you don’t your enemies will use them against you. – Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.

This week’s topics include government spending, Heroes Act, unemployment claims, coronavirus deaths, Ben Sasse, surveillance, 2020 Census, Trump’s approval rating, drunk driving sentence, and much more!

3,326,683,000,000

In the first seven months of the fiscal year, the federal government spent a record $3,326,683,000,000 while bringing in only $1,845,379,000,000 in total receipts—thus running a record deficit of approximately $1,481,303,000,000. (CNS News)

I wonder if Trump’s plan is to bankrupt America.

3,000,000,000,000

The $3 trillion Heroes Act—a massive piece of economic rescue legislation proposed by House Democrats on Tuesday—includes a provision for another round of stimulus checks sent directly to Americans, though Senate Republicans suggest the bill may be “DOA.” (Forbes)

It’s a proposal. What should happen is the Republicans should counter with their proposal and then they find a compromise.

2,981,000

In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 2,981,000, a decrease of 195,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 7,000 from 3,169,000 to
3,176,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,616,500, a decrease of 564,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 7,000 from 4,173,500 to 4,180,500. (DOL.gov)

83,720

That’s how many people have died from the coronavirus in the USA. (Reuters)

Last Thursday the deaths numbered 73,808.

77

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) won Nebraska’s GOP Senate primary Tuesday, defeating a challenger who sought to make an issue of the senator’s occasional criticism of President Trump. Sasse, who is running for a second term, comfortably defeated Nebraska Republican Matt Innis, a Marine Corps veteran and business owner. With 63 percent of precincts reporting, Sasse won with 77 percent of the vote compared to Innis’s 23 percent, according to the Associated Press. (The Hill)

Ben Sasse and John Thune are my favorite GOP Senators.

59-37

The U.S. Senate narrowly blocked an amendment on Wednesday that would have prevented law enforcement from collecting information on Americans’ internet habits without a warrant, as the Senate moved toward a reauthorization of divisive surveillance tools. The Senate defeated the amendment sponsored by Republican Senator Steve Daines and Democrat Ron Wyden by 59-37, just short of the 60 votes that would have included it in legislation to renew three surveillance tools used in national security investigations that expired two months ago. (Reuters)

Freedom is not free…

45

That’s Montana’s rank in the 2020 Census self-response, which is the same as last week. Montana has a 50.2% response rate that makes it rank #45. Last week Montana had a 48.8% response rate. Minnesota leads the nation with a 69.1% rating. The average is 59.0%. (Census.gov)

Montana needs to have a great count to have a chance at getting a second U.S. House seat.

43.6

That is President Trump’s approval rating. His disapproval rating is 51.9%. (FiveThirtyEight.com)

7

MTN News reports that Jared Parsons was convicted of driving drunk and crashing into an Evergreen house, which killed teenager Erin Howk while she slept, has been sentenced. Montana District Court Judge Robert Allison sentenced Parsons to 17 years in the Montana State Prison, with 10 of the years suspended.

Seven years for killing someone while driving drunk is a slap in the face of Erin Howk’s family. The Judge should have given him the maximum sentence allowed with no part suspended. Montana should be ashamed of how weak the drunk driving laws are in the state. No Judge should be re-elected with sentences like this.

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