OBSNews: Breaking Business and Politics News

Profiles of Success: Helen Gutch of Curves Fitness, Citrus Heights, CA

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:31:17 +0000

Profiles of Success Host Patrick McGilvray Interviews Curves Fitness Owner, Helen Gutch, About Success and Fitness For Women

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - Citrus Heights, CA women's fitness gym owner Helen Gutch recently appeared on "Profiles of Success" with host Patrick McGilvray to discuss some of the best ways for women to achieve success in terms of physical fitness, strength, and vitality.

Ms. Gutch eloquently conveyed her passion for helping her members get fit. "We offer not only strength training and cardio workouts, but a fabulous weight loss program called Curves Complete. It's about losing fat and inches, and it definitely helps women gain more muscle," said Ms. Gutch.

As for her solution to trying and failing to stay fit as a solitary venture, it's simple: "You can all borrow willpower from another member." She explained that the community of her members is truly what makes the difference for many of them in reaching their long term goals of becoming stronger and healthier.

For more information contact Helen or her staff at:

Telephone: 916-729-2878

Physical address: 8071 Blvd. Citrus Heights, CA

Internet:

www.ilovecurves.net/C-Citrus%20Heights/Index.html

www.curves.com and search 95610

Profiles of Success: Simple Traditions Compassionate Cremation Services of Carmichael, CA

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:45:24 +0000

Profiles of Success Host Patrick McGilvray Interviews Simple Traditions Compassionate Cremation Services Spokesperson Susan Doorflinger

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - Susan Doorfliger, company spokesperson for Simple Traditions Compassionate Cremation Services, Inc. of Carmichael, CA recently appeared on Profiles of Success. Her company stresses a family-centered and compassionate approach to funeral and cremation services.

Ms. Doorflinger emphasized the empathetic nature of the company she works for and shared her love of helping families cope with the stresses of the grieving process upon losing a loved one. "We help families through the grieving process as best we can by keeping our part of it as simple as possible.

Referring to the fact that the company is 100 percent woman-owned, Ms. Doorflinger commented, "Between the 3 of us here in the office we know how people's hearts are feeling. We've all lost people and understand how heart's are feeling at the time of losing a loved one."

For more information please contact Susan and her colleagues at Simple Traditions, Inc at:

www.SimpleTraditionsInc.com

Telephone: (916) 488-2894

Physical Address: 6825 Fair Oaks Blvd., Ste 215 in Carmichael, CA 95608.

Profiles of Success: Dr. Cort Ehlman of Antelope Chiropractic

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:02:16 +0000

October 21, 2011

SACRAMENTO, CA (OBSNews.com) - The host of Profiles of Success Patrick McGilvray recently interviewed Sacramento chiropractor Dr. Cort Ehlman of Antelope Chiropractic (5800 Antelope Rd., Ste A-5, Sacramento, CA 95842). Dr. Ehlman describes his approach to providing a custom approach to patient wellness in the following video.

Please contact Dr. Ehlman at (916) 729-0311 for more information. www.DrEhlman.com

Sacramento Long Term Care Insurance Expert Discusses Strategies for 2011

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:24:09 +0000

Cost-Effective New Designs Can Really Benefit Consumers

SACRAMENTO, CA (OBSNews.com) - Long term care costs can be staggering for American families, and up to 70% of us will need some type long term care in our lives. For some insight into the long term care insurance industry watch the following short video of Sacramento investment advisor and Certified Financial Planner® Patrick McGilvray.

Mr. McGilvray is the President of Golden Horizon Financial, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. His company is located in Sacramento and provides a full range of financial planning services including innovative approaches for ways to finance long term care costs.

To contact Golden Horizon Financial simply call (916)454-4355 or (888) 465-3408. Or, visit www.GHFMoney.com for more information.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Honors Victims of Tucson Shooting

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:01:33 +0000

By Marie Brown

WASHINGTON, DC (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.Res. 32, honoring the victims of the Tucson shooting. Her remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

“I rise today in support of H.Res. 32, a resolution to honor the victims of the Tucson shooting, including our colleague, and my friend, Gabby Giffords.

“I have seen Gabby’s commitment and dedication to her constituents firsthand. I have had the pleasure to work with her to promote efforts to restore our nation’s competitiveness in manufacturing, and specifically to help create clean energy jobs.

“Gabby is smart, courageous, disciplined, and effective, and, as we have all seen over the last few days, her strength is unwavering. Moreover, she is a dedicated public servant for the people of Arizona.

“Last Saturday, Gabby organized an event to talk with her constituents about their priorities, and their concerns.

“It is heart-breaking, and certainly a tragedy, that six innocent people lost their lives, and an additional thirteen have been critically wounded, all while trying to participate in and strengthen our democracy.

“We are all now reflecting on what brought our country to this point, and how to move forward.

“It is more critical than ever that we work together to make sure that public service continues to bring out the best in our nation’s citizens.

“As everyone in this Chamber can attest, being a Representative is more than a job title. It is what we do, and it is who we are. We meet with our constituents. We listen to them. We advocate for their best interests.

“I would also like to take a moment to honor the other victims of this horrific tragedy.

“Christina Taylor Green, a 9 year old daughter of very proud parents, went to Gabby’s event because she was simply interested in how government works and wanted to learn more.

“Gabe Zimmerman, the 30 year old Director of Community Outreach for Gabby, was there doing his job, staffing and organizing the event for her constituents to speak to their Congresswoman. Gabe also happened to be engaged to be married.

“U.S. Federal District Judge, John M. Roll, who won acclaim, during a career spanning over decades, as a highly respected jurist by his colleagues.

“Phyllis Schneck, a 79 year old senior, who volunteered at her local church.

“Dorwin Stoddard, 76, was a proud husband who used his body to shield his wife from the gunfire. He sadly passed away; his wife survived.

“Dorothy Morris, a 76 year old retired homemaker, who was survived by her husband, George, who was also shot during this tragedy, but survived.

“My thoughts and prayers remain with Gabby, her staff, each victim, and their families during this difficult period.”

Representative Dan Lungren To Serve As Chairman of House Administration Committee

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:49:47 +0000

By Marie Brown

WASHINGTON, DC (OBSNews.com) – Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (R-CA) was recently named Chairman of the Committee on House Administration for the 112th Congress. Mr. Lungren was the Ranking Member of that committee in the 111th Congress.

Rep. Lungren intends to focus his efforts in his term as Chairman on reducing spending and protecting voter rights. He also serves on the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Ranking Member alongside Mr. Brady and I am honored to serve all Americans as Chairman of the Committee on House Administration. With the largest incoming class of new members in 60 years, I am looking forward to continuing their transition into the 112th Congress. The Committee will also do its part in finding ways to reduce spending in Washington D.C. and bring a more efficient, responsible government back to the people," commented Lungren in a released statement.

He continued, “I am also dedicated to preserving the integrity of elections and ensuring all service members overseas have an opportunity to have their vote counted. The Committee will work diligently and will be up to the task of defending this fundamental right for all Americans.”

Freddie Mac Cites Lack of Inflation as Cause of New Record Low Mortgage Rates

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:09:48 +0000

By Marie Brown

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Mortgage rates on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage in the United States again reached a record average low of 4.32% this week, the lowest since surveys began in 1971, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. The low rates are one of the few rays of hope for a battered housing market that recently saw record low numbers of pending home sales following the end of the federal tax credits for homebuyers that cause a lot of buyers to purchase real estate in Sacramento and elsewhere.

The 15 year fixed rate mortgage also saw a record low this week of 3.83%, and the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.54 percent, yet another record.

But, these low rates don’t mean that buyers will be jumping back into the market with both feet because the job market is still experiencing massive difficulties and jobs are not being created quickly enough to help drive down persistently high unemployment rates. The national unemployment rate is still stuck at 9.6%, while the rate of unemployed workers in Sacramento is a miserable 12.7%.

“We’re definitely seeing fewer buyers looking for homes with the expiration of the federal tax credit, but home prices have seemed to stabilize in recent months, and everyone’s hoping that 2011 sees an improved job market which should help our local Sacramento real estate market,” commented real estate broker Patrick McGilvray, president of TheHomeBuyingCenter.com, a Sacramento real estate brokerage. McGilvray added that the low mortgage rates in Sacramento are helping qualified buyers get into a new home.

Home Buyers May Have an Edge over Sellers

On Wednesday, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, said that the recovery in the housing market could take as long as a decade. “Home sales will remain soft in the months ahead, but improved affordability conditions should help with a recovery,” he said. “But the recovery looks to be a long process. Home buyers over the past year got a great deal, and buyers for the balance of this year have an edge over sellers. For those who bought at or near the peak several years ago, particularly in markets experiencing big bubbles, it may take over a decade to fully recover lost equity.”

On the national housing front the real estate market seems to have stopped its free-fall. According to Amy Crews Cutts, the deputy chief economist for Freddie Mac, "House prices, however, appear to be firming. Home prices rose 2.3 percent between the first and second quarter of this year, reaching the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the S&P/Case Shiller® National Home Price Index . In addition, 15 metropolitan areas in the 20-City Composite Index experienced annual house price growth in June, compared to 13 in May and 11 in April."

One thing that almost all market watchers agree on is that we’ve still got a long way to go to get the national and local economies fully functioning again with a sober and predictable real estate market.

NARAL Pro-Choice California Applauds Judg'es Ruling on Constitutionality of Same-Sex Marriage

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:44:05 +0000

By Meghan Doran

San Francisco, CA (OBSNews.com) – NARAL Pro-Choice California today hailed last week's federal judge’s decision that will allow same-sex couples in California to get married. State Director Amy Everitt called the judge’s action another sign of progress following the recent landmark decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger that overturned Proposition 8.

“The pro-choice community shares a common bond with the LGBT community as we fight to be free from political interference in our most personal and private decisions, including marriage and the right to choose whether and when to have children,” Everitt said. “We celebrate this victory now and will stay committed to protecting reproductive rights and marriage equality, as demonstrated by our support for progressive candidates.”

NARAL Pro-Choice California’s political action committee, PrivacyPAC, recently endorsed John Laird (SD 15), one of California’s first openly gay legislators and former chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. In a special election on August 17, Laird will face Sam Blakeslee who opposes anti-discrimination legislation and has never voted for a pro-choice or pro-LGBT bill.

In addition, PrivacyPAC endorsed Dr. Richard Pan (AD 5), who is running against Andy Pugno, the purported author of the recently overturned Proposition 8 and general counsel for ProtectMarriage.com.

“Dr. Richard Pan exemplifies the united front of the pro-choice and LGBT communities as evidenced by his work to help pass a resolution in support of marriage equality and his public opposition to three burdensome parental-notification ballot measures,” Everitt said.

Upon receiving the PrivacyPAC endorsement, Dr. Pan said, “The LGBT and women’s reproductive rights causes are united in the core values of freedom and progressive policy and we must all join together in a collective voice to fight for equal rights for all.”

Both Laird and Pan addressed supporters at a recent PrivacyPAC event, The Choice Connection, aimed at tapping into the pro-civil rights energy of the Millennial generation.

As the case moves through the court system, NARAL Pro-Choice California stands in solidarity with advocates for marriage equality and the LGBT community to protect our most fundamental right to privacy.

About NARAL Pro-Choice California:

NARAL Pro-Choice California is a statewide organization that works through the political and legislative systems to fulfill our mission:

To develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.

California's nationwide influence is unquestioned; maintaining the state's strong pro-choice orientation is a national priority. NARAL Pro-Choice California works on both the state and national levels to protect and defend a woman's right to choose.

Meghan Doran is the Assistant State Director for NARAL Pro-Choice California.

Online Broadcasting Sytems - OBSNews.com

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:08:05 +0000

Congresswoman Matsui Hosts Small Business Lending “Speed Dating” Workshop

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:17:06 +0000

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui hosted a “Small Business Access to Capital Workshop” at the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) regional office in Citrus Heights. The workshop provided small business owners an opportunity to meet with a dozen small business lenders and resource organizations from around the region to discuss issues facing them as they apply for expansion and operating loans.

“As we continue to put Sacramento’s economy on the path to recovery, this workshop will give small business owners the opportunity to sit down with lenders and learn how to competitively position themselves for loans,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we are relying on them to create jobs and nurture our recovery. Right now, supporting Sacramento’s small business community is one of the best things we all can do to revitalize our region and put people back to work.”

Congresswoman Matsui’s office hosted the workshop with the assistance of the SBA, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center, and the numerous participating lenders and resource organizations from around the region.

“In these trying economic times it is always prudent for business owners to have full knowledge of their options when it comes to access to capital,” said Jim O’Neal, SBA Sacramento District Director. “This forum sponsored by Congresswoman Matsui offers a unique opportunity to get first-hand input from a number of lenders and technical assistance providers in one location.”

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Home Mortgage Interest Rates Continue Slide to Reach New Lows

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:36:35 +0000

By Marie Brown

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - Real estate market watchers across Sacramento and the nation can continue to enjoy a strong tailwind in the form of continued low interest rates for home loans. Home lending giant Freddie Mac recently reported that the average rate for four types of home mortgage loans reached their lowest levels since 1971.

Part of the reason for the continued decline in mortgage rates is because the prices on Treasury securities has increased. This creates a correspondingly lower yield for the Treasuries, and, because mortgage loan rates almost always follow suit.

Rates on 30 year fixed mortgages averaged 4.49% compared to last Thursday's week end rate of 4.54% 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans carried an average rate of 3.95%, off from 4% the week prior.

While not as historically low as the 30 year loan, the 15 year rates are the lowest since 1991.

For Sacramento area home buyers the news is welcome, and real estate brokers are hoping that recent investments in technology along with downsizing during the housing crunchwill help their firms.

Sacramento real estate broker Patrick McGilvray, president of TheHomeBuyingCenter.com commented, "We had to adjust our business model during the housing downturn to rely less on office space and more on technology to better serve and stay in touch with our customers."

Another broker based in Sacramento, Dan Jacuzzi, president of
Century 21 Select Group, said that his firm had continued to consolidate other brokerage offices stretching from the Sacramento area all the way up to Lake Tahoe and Reno. "The continued challenges of the Real Estate Market have created the opportunity to join forces with a number of great companies in our region to achieve economies of scale and expand our technology platform to allow agents to better serve home buying customers."

Continued low rates, Jacuzzi added, "Definitely are helping prospective home buyers by keeping payments affordable now and well into the future."

Lowest Mortgage Rates in Sacramento Since 1971, Freddie Mac Says

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:30:07 +0000

By Marie Brown

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - For borrowers interested in buying a home in Sacramento or across the nation there is good news in that mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that mortgage rates have fallen to record new lows.

The average rate of 4.56% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage loan was down one one-hundredth of a percent from the previous week. This rate is the lowest since 1971. 15 year fixed loan rates were down to 4.03% from 4.06% the week before.

Part of the explanation for the record low rates may lie with the choice of investors worldwide to move their money into risk-free US Treasury securities. But, with the safety, yields are suppressed and mortgage rates generally track Treasury debt yields.

Homebuyers have yet to flock back to the housing market in large numbers despite record low rates for over a year. Despite this, industry watchers say is still a lot of opportunity in the market for bargains on first time homes, new homes, short-sales, and bank-owned homes.

According to Patrick McGilvray, President of Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com, the low rates on mortgages have spurred greater website traffic, but that home buyers and sellers are not completing as many transactions. "We're seeing more buyers interested in buying a home here in Sacramento, but we all wish the economy and company payrolls were in better shape overall, because until the problems with unemployment ease it's going to be difficult to see a strong rebound in the housing sector."

60 Congressional Members Send Letter to the President Demanding Action on PACE

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:09:47 +0000

Speaker Pelosi Joins Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Thompson, Steve Israel and 56 Additional Members In Calling for Immediate Action to Continue Innovative, Successful PACE Program for American Homeowners, Businesses and Municipalities

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) sent a letter with the support of Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), and 56 additional Members to President Barack Obama urging him to use all of the avenues available to him to reinstate the Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which has proved to be a successful resource for homeowners and for municipalities that want to reduce their energy consumption. Specifically, the Members requested that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) immediately publish revised guidelines that would allow PACE financing programs to continue while ensuring that both taxpayer and private mortgage investments are protected.

FHFA recently announced it would no longer allow responsible homeowners to use the PACE program, despite the strong interest counties and consumers across the country have shown in the program, and the strong support for the program from the Department of Energy (DOE), Congress, and others. Accordingly, the 60 signers of today’s letter encourage the President to exercise all of his authority to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the PACE program, especially at a time of continued economic insecurity for millions of American families and businesses.

“San Francisco has long been a leader in clean energy development and energy conservation, as evidenced by the City’s $150 million GreenFinanceSF PACE program,” said Speaker Pelosi. “I will continue to work with my Congressional colleagues to a arrive at a speedy resolution while continuing our efforts to encourage energy conservation and job creation.”

“As our nation strives to be the leader in clean energy, the PACE program has proved to be an effective way to get Americans back to work and restore our economy,” said Rep. Matsui, the author of the letter. “And at a time when our nation’s unemployment rate hovers around 9 percent, effectively killing the PACE program - as FHFA has done - will have a severe impact on our economy, our local communities, and our goal to establish energy independence. American families, businesses, states, and municipalities alike are counting on this program to be restored.”

The PACE program has already created or saved thousands of jobs across the nation. According to the latest estimates, for every 100,000 homes that are retrofitted, with an average expenditure of $10,000, more than 10,000 jobs would be created. The program encourages individual residents to “green” their homes by purchasing energy efficient home improvements to lower their monthly energy costs, which helps spur domestic manufacturing. Moreover, states and localities are heavily financially invested in PACE’s success and clarification and restoration of the program is urgently needed to serve the public interest.

“PACE programs are an important part of the push to create a green economy and reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” said Congressman Thompson. “They create jobs, and are an exciting way for homeowners to reduce their energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in California, which has already taken significant steps to ensure that PACE programs are available to 70% of Californians by the end of 2010. And our district has been a national leader in getting these programs up and running – lending institutions should not interfere with these great green energy programs.”

“My congressional district on Long Island is home to a successful home retrofit program and is set to expand PACE programs to additional communities. Now our programs are at risk of shutting down. PACE programs are helping homeowners save money on their energy bills, making energy efficiency affordable and helping our clean technology businesses grow. The Administration has been supportive of PACE and I am hopeful they will explore all possible options to ensure PACE programs continue,” said Rep. Israel.

Co-signers of Matsui’s letter include: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mike Thompson, Steve Israel, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Howard Berman, Earl Blumenauer, Lois Capps, Dennis Cardoza, Russ Carnahan, Kathy Castor, Judy Chu, W.L. Clay, Gerald Connelly, Susan Davis, Diana DeGette, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Bob Filner, John Hall, John Garamendi, Gabrielle Giffords, Jane Harmon, Martin Heinrich, Maurice Hinchey, Michael Honda, Jay Inslee, Mary Jo Kilroy, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Betsy Markey, Carolyn McCarthy, Jerry McNerney, George Miller, Grace Napolitano, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Thomas Perriello, Chellie Pingree, Jared Polis, Laura Richardson, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Tim Ryan, John Salazar, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, John Sarbanes, Adam Schiff, Bobby Scott, Brad Sherman, Louise Slaughter, Jackie Speier, Pete Stark, Betty Sutton, Paul Tonko, Nicky Tsongas, Diane Watson, Peter Welch, and Lynn Woolsey.

A copy of the letter to the President is available by CLICKING HERE.

House of Representatives Passes Critical Flood Insurance Legislation Impacting Sacramento

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:45:22 +0000

Matsui Language Included in Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act Are Win-Win for Sacramento

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010. This bill includes two provisions sought by Congresswoman Matsui that are critically important to flood zone designations and the cost of flood insurance in the Sacramento region. Representative Matsui has fought for several years on behalf of Sacramento homeowners, to implement these changes – together with the completion of the 200-year levee work going on in the Natomas Basin – would bring down insurance rates and improve public safety. Rep. Matsui continues to make flood control her top priority.

“As many of my colleagues can attest, providing the security and safety of the Sacramento region is my number one priority in Congress,” Matsui said on the House floor today while managing debate on H.R. 5114. “And even as we near passage of provisions I have been working tirelessly on for the last year, I will continue to advocate for the people of Sacramento – the most at-risk river city in the country. I am proud to be part of the solution and to help make sure residents of Sacramento – and other flood-prone communities around the country – can afford to purchase the flood insurance they need to protect their homes and businesses.”

Congresswoman Matsui has repeatedly sought a modernization of federal flood zone designations. Current federal policy does not always take into account local and state spending on levee improvements. By 2011, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) and the State of California will have spent upwards of $350 million repairing Natomas’ levees, however FEMA’s current flood zone certification process does not always take that local and state funding into account. Last year, Matsui introduced H.R. 1525, which would fix this problem, and has been included in H.R. 5114.

The Congresswoman is also well aware of the financial strain full priced mandatory flood insurance is putting on her constituents. This spring, she testified in support of provisions that would reduce the shock of higher insurance rates by phasing them in over five years and to make such a provision retroactive to areas that have already been remapped. Under H.R. 5114, after an area is remapped rates would increase 20% a year for five years from the low Preferred Rate Policy plans until they reach full actuarial value, as opposed to jumping to $1,300 overnight. This provision is retroactive to September 2008, meaning, if enacted, lower flood insurance rates for Natomas homeowners are within reach.

The Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act would also reauthorize FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to enter into and renew flood insurance policies through fiscal year 2015, providing certainty to our recovering housing market that flood insurance will be available. The bill would implement other essential reforms to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the NFIP.

Two other items of note to Sacramento homeowners is that this legislation allows low-income homeowners to pay flood insurance premiums in installments (as opposed to one lump sum) and raises maximum coverage limits for flood insurance policies. New coverage limits are $335,000 (up from $250,000) for residences; $135,000 (up from $100,000).

“In my district, current maps placed Natomas in an AE flood zone and triggered the Federal requirement to carry flood insurance for these homeowners,” Matsui said. “SAFCA is working with the Corps of Engineers and the California Department of Water Resources to implement an aggressive and ambitious levee improvement plan to achieve a 200-year level of flood protection. In keeping with this objective, H.R. 5114 would make certain that responsible homeowners across the country continue paying into the NFIP without adding risk to the floodplain.”

The NFIP was last reauthorized in 2004, prior to Hurricane Katrina. Authorization for the NFIP lapsed in 2008, and since then it has been sustained by a series of temporary extensions, which has caused uncertainty in the recovering housing market. The current extension is set to expire at the end of September of this year.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. The NFIP is the primary source of reliable, affordable flood insurance, providing 95 percent of the nation’s flood insurance policies, with covering 5.6 million households and insuring $1.2 trillion in property. The NFIP must be reauthorized so homeowners and businesses can obtain affordable insurance before a catastrophe occurs.

The Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

To watch the video of Congresswoman Matsui managing debate on the House floor today and other videos relevant to her work on increasing Sacramento’s level of flood protection, please visit her YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=783460B021DFFBD9

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

UC Davis Medical Center Among Top 50 US Hospitals

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:48:46 +0000

High rankings for orthopedic and cancer specialties

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) — The UC Davis Medical Center is considered among America's 50 best hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report. The recognition will be published online on July 15, 2010 as well as in the August print edition.

With more than 5,000 hospitals in contention, the University of California at Davis' specialties of orthopedics and cancer were ranked 35th and 50th respectively.

“We are delighted with this recognition from U.S. News,” commented Ann Rice, the CEO of the UC Davis Medical Center. “It is one of several indicators we use to monitor our ongoing efforts to provide excellent patient care and improve health outcomes for our community, the region and beyond.”

Only two other hospitals in Northern California ranked higher for cancer, the UC San Francisco Medical Center and the Stanford Hospital and clinics.

The director of UC Davis' Cancer Center, Ralph deVere White, said, "We are one of only 65 hospitals in the country with a cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, and have recently expanded our reach through our Cancer Care Network of community hospitals in Truckee, Pleasanton, Merced and Marysville. This recognition represents our national standing as a community resource that is doing all it can to better people’s lives through excellent cancer care.”

UC Davis Medical Center's Excellence in Orthopedics
Joining Davis in the ranks of the top 50 hospitals in the US for orthopedic excellence were UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Hospital and Clinics and John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

According to Dr. Paul DiCesare, medical director and chair of orthopedic surgery at UC Davis, “The UC Davis Department of Orthopedic Surgery is a leader in state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery, research and education, with a world-renowned Level 1 trauma center and a musculoskeletal research center that are among the nation’s most sophisticated and interdisciplinary,” he said. “Our program, encompassing nine sub-specialties, a 24-hour Level 1 Trauma Center and Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, plus access to the latest clinical research trials, ensures one-stop coverage and the best available care.”

The U.S. News and World Report survey also recognized that a 2.8 registered nurses on duty per patient bed ratio was among the highest anywhere in the country.

U.S. News and World Report Hospital Ranking Criteria
The Best Hospitals 2010-11 issue ranks medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties, and examines death rates, volume, balance of nurses and patients, reputation and the availability of medical technology, among other measures.

UC Davis Medical Center is a comprehensive academic medical center where clinical practice, teaching and research converge to advance human health. Centers of excellence include the National Cancer Institute-designated UC Davis Cancer Center; the region's only level 1 pediatric and adult trauma centers; the UC Davis MIND Institute, devoted to finding treatments and cures for neurodevelopmental disorders; and the UC Davis Children's Hospital. The medical center serves a 33-county, 65,000-square-mile area that stretches north to the Oregon border and east to Nevada. It further extends its reach through the award-winning telemedicine program, which gives remote, medically underserved communities throughout California unprecedented access to specialty and subspecialty care. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter.

Author's Disclosure: The author is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the UC Davis Health System, a non-paid all volunteer board.

Rep. Doris Matsui Fights for Sacramento's Unemployed

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:34:34 +0000

Congresswoman Urges Relief for Thousands Impacted by Recession

By Marie Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) today voted in favor of H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2010. Her vote on this legislation could help provide critical financial relief for those hurt by the recent prolonged economic crises.

“I am pleased that the House of Representatives was able to pass this long over-due extension of unemployment benefits, and provide families in Sacramento and across the nation with the financial assistance they need to get through these difficult economic times,” said Matsui.

“But it is both shameful and embarrassing that Republicans in the Senate have tried time and again to block the passage of an extension of these benefits, which has resulted in several failed attempts to pass this legislation. Never before has Congress allowed extended unemployment benefits to lapse while the unemployment rate was near 10 percent. The Senate must act swiftly to put in place the benefits that families – who were laid off a direct result of the economic collapse – need just to make ends meet,” continued the Congresswoman.

In the Senate, efforts are being made on a piece of legislation that will extend unemployment benefits, but without success an estimated 1.7 million people will lose benefits by July 3. Estimates for California indicate more than 300,000 people will be affected. The actual number of affected should be much greater given then fact that many recipients of unemployment care for dependent family members.

“We must all remember the sad fact that we are living in difficult times and that people are not looking for a hand out – they are looking for a hand up - while they continue to look for employment opportunities,” added Rep. Matsui.

"The Bill Collector" Movie Delivers Suspense-Filled Adventure and Partners With Google's New YouTube Rentals For On-line Distribution

Sun, 23 May 2010 00:02:56 +0000

By Patrick McGilvray

Entrepreneurial production team from Sacramento created film for $55,000 and is partnering with pioneering online video rental service

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – "The Bill Collector" by executive producer Bruce Blumen starring Jason Bortz as John Black is a disturbing thriller set amidst our debt-ridden modern American society. It's an edgy and violent thriller about a debt collector run amok and, thankfully, the gore factor is not a central part of the movie, unlike movies that might cost one hundred to one thousand times the budget of this locally-produced film.

Yes, that's right. One thousand times what it cost to make this movie would be $60,000,000. I have no doubt a director could have spent that amount of money on turning Blumen's screenplay into a film, but this version was memorable, jarring and made for just $55,000.

The producers hope to recoup that and make a profit in the next year because of a partnership with Google's YouTube Rentals fledgling online video-on-demand rental service. Hollywood Beware!

This film delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense and is also a good movie because it provokes one to think about it after one watches it. That's a real compliment in these days of media saturation and sometimes too-expensive films that fail to register in the memory once one walks out of the theater.

"The Bill Collector's" Local Premiere in Sacramento

An enthusiastic crowd filled the Crest theater on Friday night to witness the premiere of this locally-conceived, filmed, and produced film. The fact that this movie was made for $55,000 and is a partner in Google-YouTube's pioneering rental on-line on-demand service makes it even cooler.

Local film veteran Brett Allen, S.O.C. was the director of photography whose work on a share-of-profits basis compensation was, ''invaluable alongside the terrific acting as well as film-making talents of Jason Bortz," according to producer/director Peter Oakes.

If the producers can execute on their business plan and make money because of on-line distribution then they might well be helping to write a brand new chapter in film history. Think: YouTube grows up and people can get 'real jobs' creating 'real films' that people will happily pay $4.00-$5.00 to watch (and prices will no doubt go down as films get older).

How cool is that? All an aspiring filmmaking team, or heck, just a talented auteur with drive and some technology, now has to do now is make a movie good enough for say 10,000 people to watch and they can make a profit. I'll say it again, Hollywood Beware!

Star Jason Bortz Makes the Film Come Alive in a Bad Way

John Black, the lead character works for a collection agency that values only the fact that he brings in money on past due debts no matter how he gets it. He violates every debt collection law on the books and is a consistently smarmy drunk who shames others as he shames himself in a tortured spiral of depression, alcoholism and madness. Watching him at times is like drinking mayonnaise by the cupful.

The American addiction to debt is mock-celebrated by Black when he taunts a recent Eastern European immigrant who has run-up substantial credit card debts, "Now you're a real American," he says. Later, Black on his own time, and based on information about the immigrant he learned during the debt collection process proceeds to terrorize and rob the man's wife to take what little of value they have for his own gain.

There is sparse explanation in the film from the fictional San Francisco Bay Area town of Nova's chief of police as to why John is among the dregs of humanity, but there's also apparently a place for him in capitalism's vast machinery. He's apparently good at what he does and his amoral approach to his on-the-job conduct makes his boss Roger Bell, portrayed by Joseph Largé, a happy man because it brings money in the door.

Downward Spiral of Depravity

John drinks more booze than coffee for breakfast and lamely makes come-ons at women in bars that he knows are mere buffoonery. In the end, everything about the man is wrong and his fixation on a woman on his debt collection work list becomes the focal point around which this thriller really starts to turn.

Martha Morgan is ably played by Bonnie Jean Shelton, who portrays a widow who suffers through repeated phone calls by Mr. Black about her debts as she tries to get her life back on track following her husband's death. Black's terrorizing of Martha and her daughter Molly intensifies his madness, resulting in horrific moments that are tastefully rendered. The film culminates in a taut and well-choreographed battle for survival that grips the viewer and will move a viewer to the edge of her seat.

Even if the producers of the film don't make millions of dollars in profits from this film, I'm betting that they'll get far more than 13,785 people willing to download the movie from Google's new YouTube service or something like iTunes for a $3.99 rental. And if they can do it and break-even then the sky's the limit for independent film-makers with real entrepreneurial ambitions all over the world.

Talk about liberating an entire medium in less than a decade. Long live the digital revolution!

☺☺☺☺ - 4/5 smileys for film quality and overall coolness

* For a behind the scenes look at the making of the film please see 2nd Assistant Director Angela L. Gibson's article for Examiner.com about the making of the film.

Sac Metro Chamber's Perspectives 2010 to Feature Governors Howard Dean and Sarah Palin

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:50:53 +0000

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) — Former governors Howard Dean and Sarah Palin will appear October 15, 2010 at the Sacramento Convention Center for the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce's Perspectives 2010.

“We are pleased once again to bring dynamic speakers whose current contribution to our nation’s political dialogue will captivate the Perspectives audience,” commented Matt Mahood, president & CEO of the Sac Metro Chamber.

Other speakers on the lineup will be announced soon.

Governor Dean was a six term governor of Vermont and is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a 2008 candidate for president, and the founder of Democracy for America

Dean and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are well-known to be on opposite ends of the political spectrum and that is exactly what organizers are hoping to provide to their audience, namely differing viewpoints.

Over 3,000 of the region's business leaders are expected to attend what has become a destination public affairs forum and networking event.

“We have great pride in how we balance our speaker line-up,” said Mahood. “The goal of Perspectives is to offer just that—points-of-view on major themes echoing through the world’s headlines.”

Previous Perspectives guests include:

Karl Rove, Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Tom Daschle, Sen. John Edwards, Secretary Madeleine Albright, Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Secretary William Bennett, Gov. Ann Richards, as well as other notables including U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, President George H.W. Bush, Gen. Colin Powell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Condoleezza Rice and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Tickets for the all-day event are $195 for Metro Chamber members and $275 for nonmembers and are available online with full speaker biographies at www.MetroChamber.org/perspectives or by calling 916-444-1919.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Rep. Doris Matsui Introduces Legislation to Bolster Sacramento's Clean Tech Industry

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:15:13 +0000

Puts Forth Plan to Provide Domestic Manufacturing and Foreign Export Assistance for American-Made Products

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C.(OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) introduced the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010 to boost the competiveness of U.S. clean technology industry in the U.S. and international marketplace. This will have an enormous impact on the Sacramento region, and help further the region’s progress toward becoming a clean-tech capital. The bill is co-sponsored by leading Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including House Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), Chairman Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

Currently, our nation’s clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its international competitors, particularly in exports abroad. According to a U.S. Senate Report released in January 2010, the U.S. clean technology industry exported about $7.7 billion in products and services last year compared to China’s $22.7 billion and Germany’s $19.6 billion increases in exports. Moreover, the Department of Energy has found that the increase in exports of green technology could reach $40 billion per year and could create more than 750,000 jobs by 2020.

The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund – to be administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce – to help increase the competitiveness of American-made clean technology industry here in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. The newly-created Fund would support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and serve to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad.

The Matsui legislation would help also strengthen America’s domestic clean tech manufacturing industry by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology industry at home. In turn, that will help American companies increase their demand and create new, good jobs in communities like Sacramento.

“The U.S. must be a leader in manufacturing and exporting clean technologies, not one that becomes dependent on foreign energy products,” said Rep. Matsui. “This legislation will enhance the U.S. standing in the race to clean energy by coordinating a national strategy to increase the competiveness of the U.S. clean tech industry here in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. Sacramento is poised to become a national leader in clean tech. This legislation will provide much-needed resources to strengthen and grow our local businesses in Sacramento as they expand into the global clean tech marketplace. This legislation sends a strong message to businesses around the world that America is serious about being a leader on producing clean energy.”

“Right now, the global market for environmental goods and services is estimated at $700 billion,” said Chairman Rush. “This means that the future of the overall U.S. economy not only depends upon a vibrant domestic market but strong American leadership in the rapidly expanding green economy. At present, only six of the top 30 global companies that lead in this sector are American owned. This must change. This bill will help innovative U.S. companies close this global gap. I’m committed to working with my colleague, Rep. Matsui, to do all I can to assure the passage of this legislation.”

“I am proud to join with my friends, Representatives Matsui and Rush, in introducing this important legislation, the Clean Energy Export Act,” said Chairman Emeritus Dingell. “It is part and parcel to the President’s goal of doubling exports in five years and gives wonderful incentive to American companies to design and manufacture the environmentally friendly technologies of tomorrow. Initiatives such as the one proposed in this bill will help our country gain a competitive edge in the export of the technologies the rest of the world wants and needs.”

“Clean energy technology will be a critical component of tomorrow’s economy, with the potential to create thousands of jobs and provide domestic energy without harming the environment,” said Rep. Eshoo. “China and European Union nations realize this potential and are investing heavily in this developing industry. We have two choices: invest now, make America #1 in the world, and help our companies succeed, or watch other nations corner the global market. The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010 will position our nation to compete and become the world leader in this increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

Local Support for Clean Tech Deep and Wide in Sacramento

Steve Kircher, Chairman and CEO of Solar Power, Inc., a solar company based in Roseville, added his support for the legislation, stating: “We remain very enthused about building high quality manufacturing in the United States for solar technologies, specifically at McClellan. This legislation will certainly be helpful. We can’t build a business that relies solely on selling products into Sacramento County. We currently sell our products into Europe, Asia and Australia and it is our firm intent to sell the products we will be making at McClellan throughout the world.”

Greg Brehm, Distributed Renewable Energy Resource Director at OPDE U.S. Corporation, a solar manufacturer locating its American headquarters at the Port of West Sacramento also expressed support for Rep. Matsui’s legislation saying, “OPDE U.S. Corporation enthusiastically supports Congresswoman Matsui’s efforts to enact the ‘Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010.”

The OPDE U.S. Group includes Mecasolar U.S., which produces its Spanish-designed solar PV tracking equipment near the Port of West Sacramento, CA, U.S.A. from U.S. made steel. Mecasolar’s trackers have demonstrated increased energy harvest by up to 40% for solar farms around the world. “And Proinso, the distribution arm of OPDE U.S., views the Congresswoman’s bill as an opportunity to increase exports of this U.S. manufactured clean technology equipment,” Brehm added.

KEY PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2010:

The legislation would create a “Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund” administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to ensure American clean energy technology firms have the information and assistance they need to be competitive both at home and abroad.

Specifically, the Fund would serve to require the International Trade Administration to:

1. Assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance and find and navigate foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad.

2. Enhance U.S. Clean Tech Manufacturing firms by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology sector.

3. Develop and Implement a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy.

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Democratic Candidates for California Statewide Office Sound Off on Abortion Rights

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:02:18 +0000

NARAL ProChoice California Hosts Candidate Forum in San Francisco

By Patrick McGilvray

SAN FRANCISCO (OBSNews.com) - On April 10 in San Francisco several panels of candidates vying for the offices of Governor, Attorney General, and Insurance Coommissioner in Caifornia addressed a crowd of about 300 at the Forum for Choice 2010, and event convened for the first time by NARAL ProChoice California (ProChoiceCalifornia.org).

The candidates were interviewed about their views on abortion rights as well as a full range of issues relating to reproductive health issues relevant to women in California. In addition to the panel discussions, the candidates all were interviewed on camera by OBSNews and these videos are all embedded below.*

Former California Governor and former Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown, the Democratic Party candidate for Governor in 2010 was the only candidate in his race to attend as both Republican candidates, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman, declined their invitations.

The candidates in the race for Insurance Commissioner included:

* Dave Jones, Assemblymember (D-Sacramento)
* Hector De La Torre, Assemblymember (D-South Gate)

The candidates in the race for Attorney General included:

* Rocky Delgadillo, former City Attorney for Los Angeles
* Kamala Harris, San Francisco District Attorney
* Chris Kelly, former General Counsel for Facebook
* Ted Lieu, Assemblymemmber (D-Torrance)
* Pedro Nava, Assemblymember (D-Santa Barbara)
* Alberto Torrico, California Assemblymember and Majority Leader (D-Fremont)

CANDIDATE VIDEOS

Governor
Jerry Brown

NARAL - Jerry Brown California Governor Democratic Party Candidate - OBSNews Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Insurance Commissioner

Dave Jones, Assemblymember (D-Sacramento)

NARAL - Dave Jones - Insurance Commissioner - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Hector De La Torre, Assemblymember (D-South Gate)

NARAL - Hector De La Torre - Candidate Insurance Commissioner - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Attorney General

Rocky Delgadillo, former City Attorney for Los Angeles

NARAL - Rocky Delgadillo - Attorney General Candidate - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Kamala Harris, San Francisco District Attorney

NARAL - Kamala Harris - Candidate for Attorney General OBSNews Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Chris Kelly, former General Counsel for Facebook

NARAL - Chris Kelly - Attorney General - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Ted Lieu, Assemblymemmber (D-Torrance)

NARAL - Ted Lieu Attorney General - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Pedro Nava, Assemblymember (D-Santa Barbara)

NARAL - Pedro Nava - ProChoice California - Forum for Choice 2010 - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

Alberto Torrico, California Assemblymember and Majority
Leader (D-Fremont)

NARAL - Alberto Torrico - Attorney General - OBSNews Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

NARAL ProChoice California board member, Kevin Shelley, the former Secretary of State for California and former Assembly Majority Leader, also attended the event and shared his views on access to reproductive rights for women.

NARAL Board Member - Kevin Shelley - OBSNews Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

NARAL ProChoice President Nancy Keenan and NARAL ProChoice California Statewide Director Amy Everitt were also interviewed on OBSNews.

NARAL - Nancy Keenan - President ProChoice America - Candidates Forum for Choice 2010 California from OBS News on Vimeo.

NARAL - Amy Everitt, Statewide Director - Pro Choice California - Forum for Choice 2010 - OBSNews - Patrick McGilvray from OBS News on Vimeo.

* Note regarding embedding these videos
If you choose to embed the videos elsewhere, please feel free to do so and notify news@obsnews.com if you do. Thank you.

Sacramento Bike Activist Launches Vélo & Vintage Fashion Show

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:02:35 +0000

Local "Cycle Chic" Event Aspires to Build Community Around Eco-Friendly Clothing and Human-Powered Transportation Choices

Left to right - Lorena Beightler, Kari Shipman - Photo by Juan Ayora Photography

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Local cycling activist, landscape designer and blogger Lorena Beightler (www.SacCycleChic.com & www.LorenaBeightler.com) loves fashion and bicycling in equal measure and has planned a community building event next month in downtown Sacramento to help celebrate two of her passions.

Her brainchild - Vélo & Vintage - a cycle-chic themed fashion show in which gorgeous models wearing stylish clothes will be actually riding bikes in the show itself on a runway that runs through the already swanky Hot Italian at 16th and Q Streets.

Vélo & Vintage will have two runs (literally) starting at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. at Hot Italian on Second Saturday, May 8th 2010. West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon is slated to be the Master of Ceremonies. The cyclist models are all locals who represent small independent businesses and tend to be passionate about vintage clothing and cycling about the Capital city.

Helping Ms. Beightler organize the event is Kari Shipman, Sacramento blogger (see blog at Juniper James) and expert in thrift and vintage clothing, especially green and eco-friendly fashion. "I am thrilled to be a part of this fashion show because it is about more than just the clothes and the bikes. It's about bringing together two often separate communities here in Midtown and celebrating them for the contribution they bring to our city," said Shipman.

Shipman continued, "It has been a joy to connect with so many wonderful people from the cycling community and be welcomed with open arms. I can only hope as much for Midtown as a whole, in joining and embracing our efforts."

Beightler began planning the show as part of a project that she is working on in connection with Landmark Education's Self Expression and Leadership Program. Above all Beightler says, "I'm passionate about building community, shopping locally, and helping to promote our local economy."

The event is in its first year and organizers plan to continue the fashion show as an annual tradition. Because Beightler had no budget to work with she had to be creative when assembling her team of organizers: Andrea Lepore from "Hot Italian" (www.HotItalian.net) restaurant offered her location for the event. Juan Ayora Photography (www.JFayora.com) took the advertising photos, Luxe Midtown Salon & Spa (www.Luxe-Midtown.com) provided makeup and hair for our photo shoot and will also provide services for the models at the event, and Jake Favour of Romp Creative (www.RompCreative.com) offered his services to design the marketing materials.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Bicyclists Back on Sacramento's K Street Mall Legally

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:20:49 +0000

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - When light rail was installed 23 years ago on the K Street Mall in Sacramento bicyclists were prohibited from riding down the pedestrian mall. Many critics of the city have long pointed out the need for more pedestrian traffic on the mall to help the sometimes nice, but often grungy and scary area.

“Creating greater connectivity for all modes of transportation continues to be a top priority in maintaining a safe and reliable multi-modal transportation system for the City and the region. This is another important accomplishment toward that priority,” said Jerry Way, transportation department director.

Bicyclists across Sacramento, including yours truly, are now infinitely safer because they don't have to try to navigate the hellacious J Street or L Street thouroughfares as much as before. Bikes are still not allowed on in the Westfield Plaza, but that is for obvious pedestrian safety reasons. The fact that K is now open to bikes between 2nd and 4th Streets and 7th to 13th street is good for everybody who cares about Sacramento and the hopefully-great-someday K Street Mall.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Matsui Announces $750k in Federal Funding for Local Smart Grid Training Program

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:57:32 +0000

Sac State Receives Recovery Grant for Workforce Training

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) announced that California State University, Sacramento is one of 33 recipients nationally to receive Recovery Act funds for the development of a new training program to enhance the region’s growing smart grid system. This award totaling $905,348 is comprised of a $749,992 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy; $83,356 in matching funds from the California Energy Commission; and $72,000 in funds and in-kind contributions from the Sacramento Metropolitan Utility District (SMUD). The grant application was supported by Rep. Matsui in a written letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. The collaborative program will lead to a national Smart Grid Workforce Development Network which will accelerate workforce development initiatives.

“The Recovery Act has served not only to stave off an economic crisis affecting all Americans, but to provide Sacramento many opportunities for regional growth,” said Rep. Matsui. “Today’s award comes at the heels of a multimillion dollar announcement for our local community colleges to establish a health training program and builds on last year’s award of $127 million for smart grid implementation in our homes and offices."

“This grant highlights Sacramento State's leadership in one of the most pressing issues of our time,” said Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez. “Our University is educating the next generation of innovative workers in the energy sector while developing technology that will help modernize our nation's aging electrical grid. I applaud Congresswoman Matsui along with our partners in the California Smart Grid Center at Sacramento State for their efforts to support our faculty and students in this critical endeavor.”

“Sacramento State has a well established track record of providing access and excellence to the students of our region,” stated Emir Jose Macari, Dean of Sacramento State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and Director of the California Smart Grid Center at Sacramento State. “Our power engineering graduates are in great demand, and many of our alums hold prominent positions in utility companies, energy-related industries, and government agencies up and down the state.”

“Sacramento is becoming a major clean technology capital,” said John DiStasio, GM and CEO of SMUD. “Having a workforce proficiently trained in the complexities of the smart grid is a key component in attracting more clean tech and green tech companies that will transform our region's economy.”

This funding will allow Sacramento State to graduate well-trained electrical engineers with smart grid credentials, adding crucial skills to the area’s workforce that will help meet increasing demand for skilled labor. Electrical utilities predict that as many as 50 percent of their technical staff will be retiring within the next five to ten years. This training program will provide displaced workers across Sacramento with the opportunity to change their careers to the power industry by providing scholarships, continuing education courses, and certificate programs.

Nationally, the programs will focus on training activities that support electricians, line workers, technicians, system operators, power system engineers, cyber security specialists and transmission planners. The selections include support to develop and deploy training programs broadly as well as to conduct actual personnel training for current and future employees. Workers will receive training on the transmission and distribution systems as well as new intelligent grid systems, such as smart meters, phasor measurement sensors and advanced communication networks.

“Sacramentans have laid the groundwork for our community to become a national leader in the clean-tech industry,” added Rep. Matsui. “This grant and the coming training program will engage educators, employers, and hard-working men and women of Sacramento in accelerating our path to greening the city - in turn, providing new job opportunities, ensuring regional economic prosperity for the future, and lowering the cost of living for local families.”

Rep. Matsui has advocated on behalf of smart grid technology on both the House floor and with her work on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Through grants authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this Congress and the Administration have created and preserved regional jobs helping to stimulate the Sacramento economy and improve the community for generations to come. For a list and interactive map of Recovery funding coming to the Sacramento region, including over $200 million for clean tech and green initiatives, please visit www.matsui.house.gov/recovery.

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds Federal Action to Help Struggling Homeowners

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:22:58 +0000

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced adjustments to its Home Affordable Modification Program and the Federal Housing Administration programs to better assist homeowners affected by the economic crisis:

“I applaud today’s action by the Obama Administration to help struggling unemployed and underwater homeowners stay in their homes. This housing crisis has been devastating for many, especially in California were my Administration has taken significant steps to help homeowners. I am proud we have achieved more than a quarter million home loan modifications in California and am confident these new initiatives will have a meaningful impact for even more California homeowners and their communities.”

Governor Schwarzenegger was quick to recognize and react to the housing downturn in 2007, and his efforts have resulted in more than a quarter million loan modifications for California homeowners. Some of his actions include:

In 2007, the Governor forged an agreement with major loan servicers to streamline the loan modification process for subprime borrowers living in their homes.

In 2007, the Governor launched a $1.2 million public awareness campaign to help educate homeowners about options that can help them avoid losing their homes to foreclosures.

In 2007, the Governor established the Interdepartmental Task Force on Non-traditional Mortgages to ensure a coordinated approach to the issues raised by subprime loans.

In 2008, the Governor successfully lobbied the federal government to increase home loan limits permanently.

In 2008, the Governor signed legislation to help protect homeowners by requiring a mortgage holder to provide a 30-day notice to a borrower prior to filing any default notice leading to the foreclosure.

In 2009, the Governor signed a package of bills to increase protections for consumers in the lending market and increase tools for law enforcement to fight deceitful mortgage practices.

California Governor Signed New Homebuyer Tax Credit

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:51:34 +0000

By Caylyn Brown

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 183 providing $200 million for home buyer tax credits. The bill allocates $100 million for qualified first-time home buyers who purchase existing homes and $100 million for purchasers of new, or previously unoccupied, homes.

Eligible taxpayers who close escrow on qualified principal residences between May 1, 2010 and December, 31, 2010, or who close escrow on a qualified principal residence on and after December 31, 2010 and before August 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable contract executed on or before December 31, 2010, will be able to take the allowed tax credit.

This credit is equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000, taken in equal installments over three consecutive years. Under the bill, purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit (i.e. repay it to the state). Buyers also must be at least 18 years old and be unrelated to the seller. First-time buyers are defined as those who have not owned a home in the past three years.

Home Mortgage Rates Rise on Weak Auctions

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:17:39 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – A combination of factors was negative for mortgage markets this week, and mortgage rates ended higher. Large budget deficits and economic troubles in smaller European Union nations made bonds less attractive to global investors. In addition, stock market gains sent the Dow to an 18-month high, which pulled funds out of fixed income investments. Finally, with just one week remaining for the Fed's MBS purchase program, comments from Fed Chief Bernanke about potential future MBS sales added to the pressure in mortgage markets.

For months, investors have been concerned that the enormous supply of debt needed to fund US government spending would force yields on US Treasury securities to rise to attract purchasers. This is what took place this week. Demand was surprisingly weak at all of this week's record Treasury auctions, especially from foreign investors, and yields were pushed higher. Since mortgage-backed securities (MBS) compete for investors with Treasuries, MBS yields rose as well, pushing mortgage rates higher.

In a speech on Thursday, Fed Chief Bernanke added to the volatility in mortgage markets with his comments about the possible timing of future sales of MBS from the Fed's portfolio. To support the economy, the Fed has purchased almost $1.25 trillion of MBS since the start of 2009. The Fed has made clear from the start that it was a temporary measure and that it would eventually sell its MBS holdings when the economy was healthy enough. Earlier this month, Bernanke stated that he did not expect the Fed to sell assets "in the near term". On Thursday, however, his language changed a little. While Bernanke assured investors that MBS sales would be gradual and that they would only take place if the economy were strong enough to handle it, he opened the door for the start of Fed MBS sales at an earlier date than previously anticipated.

Week Ahead

The biggest economic event next week will be the important Employment report on Friday. As usual, this data on the number of jobs, the Unemployment Rate, and wage inflation will be the most highly anticipated economic data of the month. Early estimates are for an increase of about 200K jobs in March. Before the employment data, Personal Income will be released on Monday. The Chicago PMI will come out on Wednesday, and the ISM manufacturing index will be released on Thursday. Consumer Confidence, Construction Spending and Factory Orders will round out the schedule. In addition, the Treasury will announce the size of upcoming auctions on Thursday.

Congresswoman Matsui Votes for Final Health Care Package

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:39:44 +0000

Thanks Constituents for Voicing Their Support for Health Insurance Reform

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D–Sacramento) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives in supporting the final piece of the comprehensive health insurance reform package that will provide access to quality health care for American families and seniors at a price they can afford. The House passed technical amendments to health-care reconciliation legislation today, thereby strengthening the historic health care package that was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday. Together, this historic reform package will make critical improvements in our nation’s health care system and, in doing so, will reduce the national deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years.

Congresswoman Matsui, as a member of the House Rules Committee, delivered remarks on the House floor today advocating for the passage of this final piece of legislation. During her speech, Congresswoman Matsui thanked her constituents for sharing their stories with her, and for their strong support of reform efforts over the past year. Her remarks, as delivered on the House floor today, are below. A video is available here.

“The health care package that we have the opportunity to finalize today and send to the President for his signature represents years of work – and in some cases decades of work – put in by many of my colleagues here in the House. And it also represents the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans who live one accident away from bankruptcy, one paycheck short of making ends meet. I have heard from many of the families and seniors who live in my district, who have been terrified as they see their insurance rates go up and are fearful of losing their insurance and high quality of care.

“But in between the time this House passed one of the most important legislative initiatives in our lifetime and today, I have started to hear from many Sacramentans with a simple message: ‘Thank you.’ Thank you to this Congress for having the courage to stand-up for what’s right. Thank you to Speaker Pelosi for her leadership in delivering this bill to the American public.

“And I would like to say thank you back to the millions of Americans who voiced their strong support of the health care bill. You may not always be the loudest voice in the room, but that doesn’t mean we don’t hear you.

“Thank you to my colleagues for standing up for the American people in the many hearings, mark-ups, town halls, and floor debates we have had on this issue. I look forward to standing with you today as we pass these improvements to the historic legislation that passed on Sunday. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation, as we stand together to ensure that all people have access to the quality health care Americans deserve - at a cost they can afford.”

For comprehensive information on the health insurance reform package supported by Congresswoman Matsui, including downloadable fact sheets, please visit: www.matsui.house.gov/healthcare

To watch additional speeches by Rep. Matsui in favor of the health insurance reform legislation as delivered on the House floor, please visit: www.youtube.com/RepDorisMatsui

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

Congresswoman Matsui Joins President Obama for Signing of Historic Health Care Legislation

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:41:15 +0000

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) - Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D–Sacramento) joined President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders for the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House of the historic health insurance reform legislation that will provide access to quality health care for American families and seniors at a price they can afford.

“It is a privilege to join President Obama and my colleagues for the signing of this critical piece of legislation that will make a difference in the lives of my constituents and of millions of Americans around the country,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “After hearing from thousands of people across Sacramento, I had the honor of casting a once-in-a-generation vote that finally reforms our health insurance system and puts patients first. The legislation signed by the President today will improve health care for 365,000 Sacramentans with health insurance, while providing coverage to 58,000 Sacramentans who are currently without health insurance.

H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on March 21. A separate bill, H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010—which makes important improvements on the previously passed Senate bill—is now being sent to the Senate for final passage. Together, these two pieces of legislation, both of which Congresswoman Matsui supported, comprise a health insurance reform package that will make critical improvements to our nation’s health care system, and in doing so will reduce the national deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years. It does so by controlling health insurance costs for families struggling in uncertain economic times, improving Medicare for the benefit of millions of seniors, reducing the national deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars, and putting an end to abusive insurance company practices such as lifetime spending caps and coverage barriers for those with pre-existing conditions. For small businesses, this legislation will help lower the premiums they pay to provide their employees with health coverage.

“At its core, this bill is about expanding access to health care and putting American’s health before insurance companies’ profits,” added Matsui. “That is why I have fought so hard to deliver this reform for Sacramento.”

For comprehensive information on the health insurance reform legislation signed-by President Obama and supported by Congresswoman Matsui, including downloadable fact sheets, please visit: www.matsui.house.gov/healthcare

To watch Congresswoman Matsui’s recent speeches in favor of the health insurance reform legislation as delivered on the House floor, please visit: www.youtube.com/RepDorisMatsui

Mara Lee is the Press Secretary for Congresswoman Doris Matsui who represents the 5th Congressional District in California.

Story sponsored by Sacramento real estate broker www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com.

The Only Bipartisanship We Have Seen Is In Opposition To This Health Care Bill

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:23:31 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC (OBSNews.com) – Following a historic vote to reform the nation’s health care system Congressman Lungren (R-CA) gave the following statement:

“Last August my constituents and Americans across the nation rose up and voiced their objections with the Majority’s attempt to completely overturn our health care system. The message was simple, ‘Stop what you are doing and start over.’

“Tonight, Congress has ignored the will of the people and passed a health care bill that adds almost a trillion dollars onto the back of our struggling economy, imposes new taxes on the American people and weakens almost 30 years of precedent by allowing federal funds to be used to fund abortions.

“I have always agreed that there are problems with portions of our health care system and Republicans have offered alternatives to help address those concerns. We were shut out of the process.

“I have worked with other Members to address pre-existing conditions, establish statewide health insurance exchanges to increase consumer choice and meaningful malpractice reform to help control costs. I have co-sponsored legislation that would allow health care consumers to purchase insurance across state lines and I joined Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to repeal the current exemption from the anti-trust laws that applies to health insurance companies.

“It has been a long week and I can assure you that I will not stop fighting to let my constituent’s voices be heard in our nation’s Capitol.”

House Passes Critical Health Insurance Reform Legislation

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:20:34 +0000

Congresswoman Matsui Votes to Ensure Quality, Affordable Health Care for Sacramento Families, Hold Insurance Companies Accountable, and Reduce the Deficit

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, DC (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D–Sacramento) voted in support of the health insurance legislation that has been debated in the halls of Congress and across this country for the past year. She voted to ensure quality, affordable health care for Sacramento families and to hold insurance companies accountable. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was passed by the House today, will now be sent to the President for his signature. A separate bill, H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, which makes important improvements to the previously-passed Senate bill—is now being sent to the Senate for final passage. Together, these two bills comprise a health insurance reform package that will make critical short- and long-term improvements to the current system, while reducing the national deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years.

“I am proud to have voted for a health insurance reform bill that will improve the quality of life for Sacramento families and seniors by controlling costs, strengthening Medicare, and reducing the deficit,” said Matsui. “If we did nothing, the health care system would continue to work for insurance companies, rather than for the American people. Health insurance reform means that insurance companies can no longer deny coverage for pre-existing conditions or drop coverage once one gets sick. Simply put, this bill is about expanding access to health care and putting consumers’ health care before insurance company profits.”

A member of the House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Rules, Congresswoman Matsui played a central role in drafting the health care legislation in the House. She has been a strong advocate for America’s seniors, and worked to include in the legislation provisions that strengthen Medicare, cover the cost of preventive care for Medicare patients, invest in primary care doctors, and provide incentives for coordinated care. The Congresswoman has also been a champion of strengthening and investing in our health care workforce; many components of the bills being passed tonight will create jobs and increase the quality of care for all Americans.

The health care reform package will provide small businesses with incentives and tax credits to provide health insurance for their employees. By lowering the premiums that employers pay for their employees, reform will free up money for jobs and for economic growth. Absent reform, premiums paid by businesses would more than double in the next decade—to a total of $885 billion by 2019—and one in five employers would stop offering coverage to their employees within five years.

Over and above its benefits for small businesses, the health care legislation provides American families the peace of mind they need and deserve. By reining in the worst practices of insurance companies—such as denying health care to people because of pre-existing conditions—the bill will expand access to cover 95 percent of Americans and insure an additional 58,500 Sacramentans who are currently without health care. Additionally, premium costs will go down as much as 60 percent for many Americans buying individual insurance policies, thanks to the tax cuts included in the health reform proposal. This represents the largest middle class tax cut for health care in American history.

“I have heard so many personal stories from my constituents who are struggling to make ends meet and who are being burdened by the current health insurance market,” Matsui continued. “The status quo is not working for people in my district. And if it’s not working for the people of Sacramento, then it’s not working for me. The health insurance reform legislation Congress has approved is an historic achievement that will benefit Sacramentans for years to come.”

For comprehensive information on the health insurance reform legislation passed by the House of Representatives today and supported by Congresswoman Matsui, including downloadable fact sheets, please visit: www.matsui.house.gov/healthcare

To watch Congresswoman Matsui’s comments in favor of the health insurance reform legislation as delivered the House floor, please visit: www.youtube.com/RepDorisMatsui