Obama’s Covert Trade Deal (opinion) New York Times ...THE Obama administration has often stated its commitment to open government. So why is it keeping such tight wraps on the contents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the most significant international commercial agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1995?...
China Is Reaping Biggest Benefits of Iraq Oil Boom New York Times ... “The Chinese had nothing to do with the war, but from an economic standpoint they are benefiting from it, and our Fifth Fleet and air forces are helping to assure their supply.”...
Virginians uneasy over Chinese purchase of Smithfield Reuters ...Smithfield Foods has received a $4.7 billion buyout offer from a Chinese food company. News that an agreement had been reached and was awaiting U.S. government approval sent a shiver through the community, where it is the largest employer with a payroll of nearly 4,000 people...
NM High Court Says State Violated Union Contracts Santa Fe Reporter ... In a victory for two state public employee unions, the New Mexico Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the State Personnel Office violated a 2007 collective bargaining agreement involving thousands of state employees...
TSA chief defends allowing knives on planes LA Times …Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole has delayed a plan to let passengers carry small pocketknives on planes for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But it is clear from a recent speech he gave that he still supports allowing knives on planes...
California Looks To Close A Loophole That Will Hit Corporations Where It Hurts, Their Profits NH Labor News ...California legislators introduced a bill that would fine an employer up to $6000 per full-time employee who ends up on Medi-Cal...
Chicago Closes 50 Public Schools, Spends $100 Million in Taxpayer Funds on Private College Stadium The Real News ...critics note that Chicago is simultaneously transferring hundreds of millions in tax dollars meant for public education to the private sector, including $100 million for De Paul University, a private institution, to build a new sports stadium...
An illustrated history of payday lending in Ohio Plain Dealer ...How did payday lenders get into Ohio? And why won't they leave, even though Ohio voters asked nicely? This illustrated history will give you the highlights of how an industry whose product is designed to push customers into repeat, high-cost borrowing has managed to dig in and thrive, despite numerous attempts by state or federal governments to rein it in...
Maine House OKs "E-Fairness' bill Associated Press ...A bill that would close a tax loophole used by large online retailers faces only a final Senate vote after being overwhelmingly approved by the Maine House. It would close a loophole that allows large online retailers that use affiliates to avoid paying sales tax...
Michigan bill could cut foreclosure redemption period Associated Press ...Michigan lawmakers are considering changes to the state's foreclosure law, including a measure that would significantly shorten the period homeowners have to sell or save their foreclosed property...
Vermont passes law on unclaimed life insurance Associated Press…Retired bus driver Rodger Brassard says he didn’t know he had more than $5,000 coming from his late mother’s life insurance policy, but found plenty of uses for the money. Brassard, 67, of Burlington, was one of the beneficiaries of an audit of insurance companies done by a Connecticut company at the request of several states...
Port of Savannah truck drivers fight for fair working conditions WTOC News ...Truck drivers gathered together Saturday to show their struggle to the Savannah community. Port of Savannah drivers and their families fought for fair working conditions during a community driver forum held at Savannah's Coastal Georgia Center...
Union rejects Marquez contract offer Hanford (Calif.) Sentinel ...Locked in a battle with Hanford cheese plant Marquez Brothers International, Teamsters Local Union 517 officials said Friday that employees overwhelmingly
rejected the company’s latest contract offer...
