Labor

This in via email from Tom Obst:

Are the recent actions of Amy Bishop and Andrew Slack a sign of the times or are they an aberration and no cause for alarm?

The life situations of both individuals were markedly similar. One was unemployed and one was scheduled for unemployment in the very near future. Both felt persecuted and took out their anger on innocent people. One shot and killed three colleagues and injuring more, the other flew his airplane into a building killing an employee and himself while injuring scores of others.

~An investigation into how campaign cash is corrupting America's courts~
February 19, 2010
(VIDEO)
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02192010/watch.html

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Republican members today issued the attached letter to Attorney General Richard Cordray urging him to join their caucus in an effort to challenge the federal health care legislation that is currently being discussed in Washington D.C.

“As more details emerge from the compromises that are being brokered behind-the- scenes, I grow more concerned for the state of Ohio and the hardworking tax payers of our state,” State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.

"Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University"
Email: rwatson@lynn.edu

On Friday February 12, 2010, 7:03 pm EST
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/State-Budget-Woes-A-Drag-On-ibd-483598023....
As Washington works to rev up the economy and spur hiring with yet another dose of stimulus, state and local governments are busily applying the fiscal brakes.

Tax hikes, spending cuts and layoffs top the agenda as states continue to wrestle with severe budget crises that largely can't be deferred by borrowing.

13abc has this story on the City plowing clean a mayor's street. Bell is the current mayor, but the story covers previous mayors. If I was Bell I would put a stop to this asap. It sounds snotty.
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But no other government employees received preferential treatment.

Want your side street plowed first? Move next to the mayor! 13abc's Greg Bilazarian checked in how Mayor Mike Bell's Old Orchard street looked.

Like Central Avenue, the mayor's street was cleaned down to the pavement and the city admits that it's no accident. When the snow falls, the plows head for Hopewell.

Mayor Michael P. Bell today sent to members of Toledo City Council and the City's union leadership an updated forecast for 2010 revenue and the current state of the anticipated deficit. That information is attached electronically to this release. To date the administration has identified $25.6 million in deficit reduction measures.

The Mayor met on Wednesday with the union leaders to present them with the potential cost savings to be achieved through employee concessions, which would affect all employees in all funds and agencies. The concessions and deficit reduction measures, coupled with the ballot initiatives the administration has proposed for council action would remediate the 2010 deficit without seriously affecting the level of service provided to Toledo residents. All measures would nevertheless pursue a long-term improvement in the efficiency of internal operations for the City of Toledo.

On Thursday the administration will meet with representatives from the State Auditors office and on Friday there will be a budget working meeting with members of the administration, city council, department directors and union leaders. Public input sessions are also being scheduled to allow citizens the opportunity to offer suggestions and weigh in on the service priorities they feel need to be addressed.

The Mayor has committed to providing multiple draft budget scenarios to City Council by March 1 to allow them time for discussion and action before the March 31 deadline.

Latest newsletter from Senator Voinovich:
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Currently, the U.S. Debt is estimated at: $12,264,478,112,700

Your share of today's public debt is: $39,934

Spearheading Debt Reduction Task Force Legislation

Fox News has generously placed the full, unedited conversation between Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart online, so we can see precisely how unfairly and deviously Fox edited the interview in order to weaken Stewart's case: A lot!
http://gawker.com/5465299/im-not-saying-your-mothers-a-whore-how-fox-new...

Zachary Roth | February 3, 2010
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/mcconnell_raised_big_b...
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/watch2.html

In the video below Kate talks about being laid off by the Blade during the show and starting her Web site http://rustwire.com/ . Kate's story is talked about in the new book "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again" by Robert McChesney and John Nichols

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following statement after voting against H. J. Res. 45, a bill that would increase the United States’ national debt limit to $14.29 trillion dollars. Congressman Latta also voted against a national debt limit hike on December 16, 2009, less than two months ago.

OSCAR Night will take place on Sunday, March 7 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts. This is the seventh year for the event, which consistently attracts close to 500 attendees.

I can't say who but it is a major employer in Downtown Toledo. This is so sad. I remember back in the 50's when downtown was booming. But times change and I agree with management it is time to make the move.

Offers testimony on cost-containment legislation to improve Medicaid system

Columbus—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) today offered sponsor testimony on House Bill 240, legislation that would fix inefficiencies in Ohio’s Medicaid system.

Ive got an acquaintance who has chosen not to work for a living, and instead live off the government. She also chose to eat herself to an unhealthy state, so because of this, her Medicaid paid doctor advised her to have a bariatric procedure.

She did so about a year and a half ago and has since dropped about 150-200lbs. She's very proud of herself and the weight she's lost, and now like many folks who've gone thru this procedure, she has a pretty large fold of skin where here belly had been.

Saw this on CNET today, how timely it is (or lack of for Toledo). Politicians say let's ban, and research says it does not matter. Those that win are those who feel better for passing such laws.
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The Highway Loss Data Institute, a nonprofit organization funded by the auto insurance industry, compared monthly collision claims in four states that have banned handheld cell phone use before and after the bans took effect.

Article published January 29, 2010
New GOP religion is just grand
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100129/OPINION03...
This President and his administration were delivered a nation and economy on life support a year ago. No one understood whether the world economy would implode, resulting in a global depression.

Fortunately, we have stepped back from the abyss and the economy is slowly recovering, but all we hear from the media is why are we not yet out of the woods.

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R- Bowling Green) made the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union Address this evening.

“Instead of focusing on creating jobs and putting Americans back to work in 2009, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid chose to focus their attention on a $1 trillion dollar health care bill, cap and trade legislation, which would be the largest energy tax levied against American families and business alike, a $1 trillion dollar “Stimulus Package,” and billions of dollars in bailouts.