A Favorite Thing…. Levelized billing.  We’ve all seen a large  increase in our electric bills due to cold weather winter this year.

When I hear  folks  talking about their huge electric bill, I usually ask them if they know about “budget billing”  from South Kentucky RECC. (It’s actually called “levelized billing”) Most people are not aware of this wonderful free service that RECC provides its customers.

The electric bill is averaged each month, making the dollar amount  about the same.         

Because our bill is about the same each month, we know how much to  budget.  We’re not taken by surprise by  big bills in the cold winter months. For example, our December bill was 148.00. In January it jumped to 286.00 and in February it was 287.00.

Now that’s just the amount of electricity. That doesn’t include the environmental surcharge,  Russell County school tax and the vapor light  near our driveway.  

Because, of  levelized billing,  we paid $186 in February, when our total bill was actually $327.

I would encourage all SKRECC customers to get on levelized billing. Call Shelia, Teresa or Kathy, they'll be glad to help you.  It’s one of my favorite things and you’ll be glad you did.

January paychecks. Did you notice your January paycheck was less? More federal taxes were taken out of our  pay checks because the Bush tax cuts were set to expire December 31st.

The tax people (like  many others) were not sure if Congress was going to extend the cuts, so they revised tax tables to reflect the increase in taxes.  Employers would need the new, increased  rates to use in January 2011 for employee  pay  checks.

Congress did extend the tax cuts, but not in time  for  businesses to revert back to the lower tax rates.  

So we got to see what our checks would look like if the Obama tax rates had gone into effect.  Fifty dollars more was taken out of my January 2011 check!  That’s a  $600  increase for the year. I don’t know about you, but  I can put  that $600  to  much better use that the federal government can.  

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all the waste and fraud that surrounds  government programs.  

Keep in mind  as  President Obama’s Re-Election  Campaign begins, that he was very resistant to  extending  the tax cuts.

 He didn’t want to do it.  He wanted to increase taxes on American citizens and their families.  And would have done so, if  the Democrats had controlled the House.

Waste, Fraud and Illegitimate Receivers of Tax Money.  It’s wrong, morally wrong,  that  over $360 million annually of  tax payer money,  is given to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in our country.

They  are responsible for  taking  the lives of thousands  of unborn babies each year. According to PPH’s own filings,  they reported  over 333,000 abortions in 2009 and the number continues to climb.

By getting this large sum of  tax payer money from the  federal government, that frees up their resources to promote  and expand their  abortion agenda.

Last Friday’s  House vote approving Rep Mike Pence’s (R-IN)  amendment stripping Planned Parenthood of all federal funding is long overdue.  

I can’t think of a better place to begin balancing the federal  budget  than  by eliminating all funds to Planned Parenthood,  now and forever.  

The Senate should approve this bill immediately.  We need to contact our Senators and let them know we don’t want any more of our tax money given to Planned Parenthood.

Family Life Today ‘s mission is to provide “Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow.” They have all kinds of wonderful resources and one that I often enjoy is their radio program heard daily on WTHL 90.5 Somerset.   Dennis Rainey, President  of FLT,  and his wife Barbara recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. They have 6 children and several  grandchildren.

Dennis wrote this  about Barbara.  “Do you mind if I shamelessly brag on her for a moment? No, she hasn’t done it all perfectly. She, like me, gets discouraged with her humanity and weaknesses. But she has been a great gift to me.” “When we first married, I thought I knew how much I needed her. Truthfully, I was clueless. I had no idea of all that God had wrapped up in this personal package He’d entrusted to me: Barbara Ann.

In fact, in the last five or six years we both feel like we’ve been learning how absolutely different we are and how much we need each other. God knew what He was doing when He gave her to me.”

It’s been her belief in me that has been my fuel on many a day when my “tank” was running on “empty”. She has known just what I needed.”

“Barbara had a choice. She could’ve been my judge, reminding me where I failed. Or she could’ve encouraged me, respected me, and loved me. Fortunately, she’s truly come alongside me and been my “helper”.

As a result, she has become THE most powerful person in my life.” (Wow! What woman, wouldn’t want to be that and hear that?)

Family Life Today offers a wonderful CD on this topic entitled “What Husbands Wish their Wives Knew about Men.” It’s a   frank, humorous and insightful program, on  why God created  a wife  as a helper… and what that role really means; the most influential ways  a wife can help her  husband; specific things a wife  shouldn’t do … and why; 10 things your husband wishes you knew about him; the power of respect and the importance of sexual intimacy. Go to their website to order (familylife.com)  

Thanks again for reading my column.  Something to think about…” Breathe a prayer of gratitude.

And give those you love an extra measure of affection. Life is fleeting and love is precious. Cherish both.” Till next week.