Rita Crundwell sentenced

for the Dixon fraud.   $53 million will get you almost 20 years.   http://www.cbsnews.com/crimesider/?keyword=rita+crundwell&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Moody's lowers Britain's bond rating

for first time from AAA http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/23/george-osborne-britain-aaa

Sequestration impact on each state

is detailed here by the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/sequestration-state-impact/    You can use the draw down menu to find your state and the resultant impact.

The article discussing this is located at this link http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/white-house-releases-state-by-state-breakdown-of-sequesters-effects/2013/02/24/caeb71a0-7ec0-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboPNE
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McKinsey helps rethink infrastructure issues

And whoever knew that roads and bridges could be such an interesting topic? 

The video with Madelein Albright and other speakers is interesting as it is talking about infrastructure being looked at differently than mere government concern.   Climate change, and other issues show that some of our present actions may not be sustainable; the images will make you think about this in ways you may have taken for granted before.   McKinsey Consulting group is looking at this from a more systemic approach.    http://www.mckinsey.com/features/infrastructure   The role of politics, what has been tried that is not working and other factors are discussed.

http://www.mckinsey.com/features/infrastructure/judith_rodin   The video and transcript discuss challenges facing Asian cities where the demographics mean burgeoning populations in Asia in years to come. Also the challenge of the weak municipal governance, and absence of municipal funding authority. How interesting that a NFP foundation (Rockefeller Foundation) and for-profit consulting groups is assisting in this national and international governmental planning and accounting topic.

City of Houston implementing pension standard

and the bleak outcome on net assets from this.   http://www.chron.com/opinion/king/article/New-accounting-rules-put-city-s-net-assets-at-risk-4283476.php

State and local government

revenue sources....check out this report from the tax foundation.  http://taxfoundation.org/article/where-do-state-and-local-governments-get-their-revenue

States with a sales tax sting

This references work published by the Tax Foundation.   The perspective of this article is toward retirees.
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/encore/2013/02/12/states-where-sales-taxes-sting-retirees/

If you are interested in seeing a list of the state rates try http://taxfoundation.org/article/state-and-local-sales-tax-rates-2013

Also an article from that site...http://taxfoundation.org/article/new-state-and-local-sales-tax-data-tax-foundation

Detroit needs some cash

or the concern is that it could, in very short time be the largest U.S. municipal bankruptcy.   The options are described in this article.   http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/opinion/detroit-sinks-with-belle-isle.html?_r=0

Please don't tax the CPA! (or other professional services)

 Hawaii,  New Mexico and South Dakota, who in their sales tax on professional services do not exempt the CPA are not the only states to be aware of in changing times.   Shifting from manufacturing to services is part of the culprit as this tax becomes more prevalent on services.   Notice in this advocacy article from the AICPA how it points out that states who had taxes in place eliminated them for complexity issues.   http://blog.aicpa.org/2013/02/tentacles-of-state-tax-on-professional-services-may-reach-cpas.html

Federal government lawsuit against Standard and Poors

trying to revamp the agency which is seen as flawed.   We need the bond rating agencies, but the conflict of interest inherent is troubling.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/four-years-later-reform-of-rating-agencies-bogs-down/2013/02/06/20be38a4-7095-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html

This article from USA today used a sausage analogy that was somewhat creepy....if you like sausage that is.   http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/02/05/justice-states-sue-sp/1892647/

Saying goodbye to Canadian pennies

Slowly but surely, the Canadian penny will be seen in circulation less and less.  Royal Canadian mint will stop distributing.  Even Google got in on the act to pay some homage to the cent.   http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/04/canadian-penny-last-day/