Quick hits

• Apparently Congress is going to use accounting gimmicks to hide the cost of health care legislation.

• The minimum wage is set for another hike next month, which is just one more burden on business during a recession. If two consenting adults agree to work for a wage lower than some artificial minimum, why should the government interfere?

• California, with the highest taxes in the country, is $15 billion in the hole. This should be food for thought for those who think that Bush's biggest crime was cutting taxes and that higher taxes would solve the country's fiscal problems. It's the spending, stupid!