Grapevine: Math is hard for the government

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine…

Math 101

Math can be hard -- especially in government.

Just ask the Social Security Administration.

Even when it is trying to collect money -- it finishes with a deficit.

The Inspector General says $128 million in low-dollar overpayments were issued between 2008 and 2013.

The agency managed to recover 109 million of that.

The Social Security Administration spent $323 million to collect that cash.

So it ended up in the hole -- for over $200 million -- all while trying to save money.

The government has agreed to re-evaluate its process for collecting overpayments.

Deep Breaths

Russia is taking a stand against the spread of cults.

And the number one target -- is yoga.

Two studios received letters from city officials -- informing them to stop holding classes in city facilities.

The Moscow Times reports the letters were issued – quote "in order to prevent the spread of new religious cults and movements."

One teacher admitted to the The Times of London -- everybody is scared and amused.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister was singing a different tune last year -- when he told American officials to do yoga -- to ease what he called their irrational fixation on punishing Russia -- over the annexation of Crimea.

Grammar for the Win

Finally -- punctuation is important.

An Ohio woman fought a parking ticket -- and won -- thanks to a missing comma in the law.

In West Jefferson -- Parking restrictions apply to -- quote -- "any motor vehicle camper -- trailer -- farm implement -- and/or non-motorized vehicle."

The judge found that without a comma between vehicle and camper -- tickets can only be issued to motor vehicle campers -- not cars or trucks.

The appellate judge said the village should add a comma -- if it wants to ticket personal vehicles.

The ticket was revoked and all towing and legal fees -- reimbursed.