1.    A New York State of mind

New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and members of the Senate Majority Republican Conference launched a new initiative to save taxpayer money, reduce government spending, and increase transparency in government operations. 

The "Accountability in Government Spending" plan includes new Public Expenditure Reports for state agencies, performance-based budgeting requirements, a new public website initiative to allow New Yorkers to track the performance of government programs and submit ideas for reducing spending and stopping wasteful spending, and the goal of reducing spending by 3.35 percent (as directed by Governor Paterson).

"With millions of middle class families tightening their belts to overcome tough economic times, taxpayers have every right to demand that their government operates as openly and efficiently as possible," said Bruno.  Amen Bruno.

2.    A Congressional bill that makes cents

U.S. Representatives Zack Space (D-OH), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Peter Roskam (R-IL) crafted and pushed a bill to change the metallic composition of the penny.  It currently costs 1.7 cents to make the one-cent coin.  The bill's sponsors, who were successful in getting the bill through the House yesterday, stated that by moving away from using copper in pennies, the U.S. Mint can save one billion dollars over the next decade.

"If we continue minting coins with the current metal content," Gutierrez said on the House floor this week, "with each new penny and nickel we issue, we will also be contributing to our national debt by almost as much as the coin is worth. These losses are mounting rapidly, and we need to act immediately to lower the costs of producing the penny and the nickel."

3.    TSA blazing new trails

Transportation Security Agents implemented a new airport screening process at Chicago's Midway Airport that uses color-coded signs similar to those found on ski slopes to expedite the security screening process.  The signs direct passengers to one of three lines: a green circle for beginners, a blue square for intermediate travelers and a black diamond for advanced passengers. Travelers pick the line that fits their experience level, or security workers direct them to the appropriate one after watching them fumble around with their sixteen security bins, shoes in mouth.

The experimental program aims to reduce frustration at security checkpoints and speed up the process, especially for those who can whip off their shoes and remove their laptops faster than Chris Mathews can say Hardball and without the annoyance of repetitive instruction.  And by keeping passengers less angry, TSA agents will be better able to pick out passengers who exhibit signs of stress-an indicator of a potential threat to security.

"This is good stuff," said Clinton Booth of Atlanta, who was heading home from a Chicago business trip. "I've always preferred Midway to O'Hare because it's faster, but it's flowing even quicker now. I love it."

4.    It's gotta be the shoes

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport seized 18,560 pairs of fake Nike athletic shoes and 252 pairs of generic shoes that were put at the tail of the container to conceal the counterfeit Nikes.  Uncle Sam to Nike: never complain about paying taxes again!