Newsalert

Key Details of Democrats' Health Overhaul Bill

2009-11-08T06:14:00.001-06:00

Newsmax

Senate now in healthcare spotlight

2009-11-08T06:09:00.001-06:00

Reuters

California's best years have passed, voters say

2009-11-08T06:07:00.001-06:00

The L.A. Times

House Narrowly Passes Landmark Health Care Bill

2009-11-08T05:33:00.001-06:00

ABC News reports:

In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.

JPMorgan’s Dimon Hires His Father for Bear Stearns Brokerage

2009-11-07T19:36:00.000-06:00

Bloomberg

Health Reform Passes a Big Test, With Obama’s Aid

2009-11-07T16:28:00.001-06:00

The New York Times

Chicago's Warehouse dreams derailed

2009-11-07T16:11:00.001-06:00

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Chicago's vision of a rich future as the nation's transportation and distribution hub has given way to a less-enviable distinction: home to the most vacant industrial space in the country.

A staggering 140 million square feet of warehouse and factory space stands vacant in the metropolitan area, roughly equal to all the office space in downtown Chicago.

An article well worth your time.

'I'm doing God's work.' Meet Mr Goldman Sachs

2009-11-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

The London Times

Which states have the highest standards for students?

2009-11-07T07:26:00.000-06:00

CS Monitor

Obama Tells Michigan Businessman Taxes Are ‘Too High’

2009-11-07T07:19:00.002-06:00

Breitbart TV

Police Pensions and Voodoo Actuarials

2009-11-07T07:07:00.002-06:00

New Geography has an excerpt from Steve Greenhut's new book:

A key argument that public-safety officials use to justify their absurdly high pension benefits –- i.e., “3 percent at 50” retirements that allow them to retire with 90 percent or more of their final year’s pay as early as age 50 -- is this: We die soon after retirement because of all the stresses and difficulties of our jobs. This is such a common urban legend that virtually every officer who contacts me mentions this “fact.” They never provide back-up evidence.

Here is one article I’ve been sent by police to make their point. It was written in 1999 by Thomas Aveni of the Police Policy Council, a police advocacy organization. Here is the key segment: “Turning our attention back towards the forgotten police shift worker, sleep deprivation must be considered a serious component of another potential killer; job stress. The cumulative effect of sleep deprivation upon the shift-working policeman appears to aggravate job stress, and/or his ability to cope with it.

Even more troubling is the prospect that the synergy of job stress and chronic sleep indebtedness contributes mightily to a diminished life expectancy. In the U.S., non-police males have a life-expectancy of 73 years. Policemen in the U.S. have a life expectancy of 53-66 years, depending on which research one decides to embrace. In addition, police submit workman's compensation claims six times higher than the rate of other employees ...”

Steve Greenhut reminds us:

If that were so, there would be no unfunded liability problem because of pension benefits. Police officers would retire at 50-55, then live a few years at best.

You'll want to read the entire article and buy this important new book.

Wal-Mart's Price war, no deals barred

2009-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

The L.A. Times reports:

With another tough holiday season looming, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is ratcheting up a price war that could be good for shoppers but has competitors fearing the worst.

The world's largest retailer has for years snatched sales from department stores, discounters, supermarkets, electronics sellers and mom-and-pop shops. Its intensive markdowns helped drive chains such as Circuit City and Mervyns out of business over the last year.

Deflation of prices is good!

Barney Frank Present When Partner Arrested for Pot

2009-11-07T06:58:00.000-06:00

Fox News

Compromise Reached on Health Care Bill: Anti-Abortion Admendment to Be Given Floor Vote

2009-11-07T06:53:00.001-06:00

The Huffington Post

Texas is the new retirement mecca

2009-11-07T06:35:00.003-06:00

The L.A. Times reports:

Reporting from Galveston, Texas - After trying out Pasadena, Atlanta and Miami, Lilian Junco decided this was the place to retire. Being near her son was the first attraction, but soon she was drawn in by the same combination of features that has lured tens of thousands of others from out of state: Gulf Coast living and super-low costs.

With some of the country's lowest prices for housing, gas and food, no state income tax and one of the most resilient economies in the nation, Galveston and other parts of the Lone Star State are emerging as the new Florida.

This week, Florida disclosed population figures that show a decline of 57,000 over the 12 months ended April 1, the first annual drop since the 1940s. Much of the loss has come in parts of southern Florida that long attracted retirees.

Meantime, other Sun Belt states such as Nevada and Arizona have been hit hard by the recession, and expensive California has long seen more people leave than move in, a domestic migration measure that doesn't include foreign immigration or births.

It appears many Americans don't want to live the SEIU lifestyle.

Virtual Goods Start Bringing Real Paydays

2009-11-07T06:33:00.000-06:00

The New York Times

Top Chicago Cop 'nervous' about likely retirement surge

2009-11-07T06:28:00.000-06:00

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said Friday he is "extremely nervous" that a wave of police retirements next year -- after an arbitrator rules on the new police contract -- will stretch a burgeoning manpower shortage beyond levels he considers safe.

Roughly 1,000 officers are eligible to retire now that Mayor Daley has promised to extend premium health benefits to officers who call it quits at 55. But many are waiting until the contract is settled in hopes that a raise will lock in a higher rate of retirement pay.

Credit card firms hurry to raise rates

2009-11-07T06:23:00.000-06:00

The Boston Globe reports:

Credit card companies are rushing to increase interest rates to historic highs of more than 30 percent, cut credit limits, and add new fees, even for customers who pay their bills on time.

What the PelosiCare will require you to do

2009-11-06T20:15:00.001-06:00

The Wall Street Journal reports:

On Nov. 2, the Congressional Budget Office estimated what the plans will likely cost. An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, for a total of $7,300 a year, which is 17% of his pre-tax income. A family earning $102,100 a year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out-of-pocket, for a $20,300 total, or 20% of its pre-tax income. Individuals and families earning less than these amounts will be eligible for subsidies paid directly to their insurer.

AMA Faces Revolt By State Branches

2009-11-06T17:17:00.000-06:00

National Journal reports:

The Georgia Medical Association is racking up support for a move to force the American Medical Association to rescind its support for the House healthcare overhaul bill as delegates arrive in Houston for an AMA policy

Ex-Phone Co. Worker Convicted of Perjury and Lying to FBI Agents in Connection to Rogue LA Detective Pellicano

2009-11-06T15:07:00.001-06:00

Tickle the Wire

Stephanie Seymour Takes Clothes Off For Vanity Fair

2009-11-06T15:02:00.001-06:00

Vanity Fair

Congress fear their jobs are next

2009-11-06T14:05:00.001-06:00

Politico

ACORN's New Orleans Office Raided By Louisiana Attorney General

2009-11-06T13:21:00.001-06:00

Big Government

Stay Off Fox News: White House Tells Democratic Consultant

2009-11-06T13:13:00.001-06:00

The Chicago Tribune reports:

At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration.

I guess the Obama administration prefers the George Michael run ABC or the FDIC subsidized MSNBC.