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Daily NewswireNational/PoliticalPalin: More Troopergate drip, drip The Washington Post reports, that Palin “wrote e-mails that harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed an internal affairs investigation into his conduct. .... Per NBC’s Aram Roston and Amna Nawaz, the head of the troopers Union in Alaska, John Cyr, says that Gov. Palin is using her office to "demonize" her ex-brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten. Cyr also says the union is filing an ethics complaint against Palin on behalf of Wooten. He says the union is accusing the governor's office of violating Wooten's rights. "The Governor is using her bully pulpit to demonize this man," Cyr said. It’s worth noting that the troopers union, the Public Safety Employees Association, is an AFSCME local. Trooper's union files an ethics complaint against Palin / WOOTEN: Investigation sought into possible breach of confidential files. The union representing state Trooper Mike Wooten has filed an ethics complaint against Gov. Sarah Palin and members of her administration charging a possible unlawful breach of Wooten's confidential personnel and workers' compensation files. ... Interest in what has become known as "troopergate" is attracting huge attention because of Palin's rocketing political fortunes. John Cyr, executive director of the Public Safety Employees Association, said Thursday a British media organization has offered Wooten $30,000 for an interview. "Mike Wooten is not accepting those offers," Cyr said. Related articles
84,000 jobs cut in Aug.; jobless rate hits 5-year high of 6.1% The unemployment rate zoomed to a five-year high of 6.1% in August as employers slashed 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike. The Labor Department's report, released Friday, showed the increasing toll the housing, credit and financial crises are taking on the economy. The jobless rate jumped to 6.1% in August, from 5.7% in July. ... All told, the number of unemployed rose to 9.4 million in August, compared with 7.1 million a year ago. Economists predict more job losses ahead, pushing the jobless rate to 6.5% or higher next year. ... Average hourly earning rose to $18.14 in August, a 0.4% increase from July. Economists were forecasting a 0.3% gain. Over the past year, wages have grown 3.6%, but paychecks aren't stretching as far because of high food and energy prices. Palin’s record poor on LGBT issues Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin supported a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Alaska and opposed domestic partner benefits for state employees there. Clinton loyalist unmoved by Palin speech A Democratic National Convention delegate for Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the convention speech delivered by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) would not be influencing Clinton loyalists to vote for GOP nominee John McCain. “John McCain’s Vice Presidential pick is going to have only one affect on Clinton loyalists. It reinforces our support for Barack Obama,” said Mary Botkin, senior political coordinator for Oregon’s American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Todd Palin is Bankrolling Union Smears and Efforts to Defeat His Wife Many of you probably watched Sarah Palin accept the Republican Party's Vice Presidential nomination last night. Ironically, her husband - a member of the United Steelworkers (USW) union - is actually funding efforts to smear and defeat her. Today, National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix released an open letter (.pdf) to Todd Palin, informing him that he has the right to cut off the forced union dues being used to defeat a McCain-Palin ticket. Palin pressured Wasilla librarian WASILLA -- Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so. According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. CBS Poll: McCain, Obama Tied The presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain is now even at 42 percent, according to a new CBS News poll conducted Monday-Wednesday of this week. Twelve percent are undecided according to the poll, and one percent said they wouldn't vote. This is in contrast to a poll conducted last weekend, where the Obama-Biden ticket led McCain-Palin by eight points, 48 percent to 40 percent. The Party in Power, Running as if It Weren’t The nominee’s friend described him as a “restless reformer who will clean up Washington.” His defeated rival described him going to the capital to “drain that swamp.” His running mate described their mission as “change, the goal we share.” And that was at the incumbent party’s convention. After watching two political conclaves the last two weeks, it would be easy to be confused about which was really the gathering of the opposition. As Senator John McCain accepted the Republican nomination for president, he and his supporters sounded the call of insurgents seeking to topple the establishment, even though their party heads the establishment. Obama Camp Turns to Clinton to Counter Palin Senator Barack Obama will increasingly lean on prominent Democratic women to undercut Gov. Sarah Palin and Senator John McCain, dispatching Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to Florida on Monday and bolstering his plan to deploy female surrogates to battleground states, Obama advisers said Thursday. Westmoreland calls Obama ‘uppity' Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term "uppity" to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday. .. "Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said. Asked to clarify that he used the word “uppity,” Westmoreland said, “Uppity, yeah.” Volunteers encourage union members to vote for Obama Before Sen. John McCain appeared on television sets across Bucks County Thursday night dozens of area union workers tried to bring Barack Obama into hundreds of Bucks County homes. About three dozen volunteers from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations met with 174 union members Thursday night to encourage them to vote for Obama. .... AFL-CIO spokesman Andrew Gaffney said that the volunteers — members of the electrical workers, state, county and municipal employees, communications workers, nurses, letter carriers and bakers unions — were each given a packet, a list of homes of area AFL-CIO members and went door-to-door stumping for Obama. Palin's Efforts to Reform Health Care Are Complicated When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took office, she inherited a vexing health-care problem common to many states: whether to let small clinics compete freely against hospitals for such services as outpatient surgery and MRIs. Palin responded with an aggressive, uncompromising and, to date, unsuccessful push to promote competition -- an effort consistent with her free-market ideals, but also welcomed by the medical groups that helped finance her 2006 campaign and an industry lobbyist who served as a top political adviser. The battle Palin has waged over competition in health care has been one of her signature efforts since she became governor in 2007, and it offers a look at how the little-known GOP vice presidential nominee would approach a complicated policy dispute. When she addressed the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night, she said she "took on the old politics-as-usual in Juneau," standing up to special interests and lobbyists. But her efforts to reform health care reveal a more complicated picture. Palin's Problem ... Which suggested McCain's strategy: Make this a referendum on Obama, surely the least experienced, least qualified, least prepared presidential nominee in living memory. Palin fatally undermines this entire line of attack. ... The problem is the inherent oddity of the incumbent party running on change. Here were Republicans -- the party that controlled the White House for eight years and both houses of Congress for five -- wildly cheering the promise to take on Washington. I don't mean to be impolite, but who's controlled Washington this decade? Stage set for 'pivotal' realignment in '08 Sweeping demographic changes in the American electorate are undercutting old assumptions about swing voters and battleground states and making the 60-day general-election campaign that starts this morning even less predictable than usual. ... Some analysts are predicting that the 2008 election — like the one in 1980 that brought the election of Ronald Reagan as president and set the nation on a more conservative course — looms as a landmark contest in which the country is receptive to change. .. Some states that Democratic candidates traditionally target, including West Virginia and Arkansas, are getting relatively short shrift, but the campaign has run TV ads in 14 states that backed Bush in 2004. ... "Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, Alaska — only Sen. Obama could be competitive" in those states as a Democrat, Plouffe said. Soldier Suicides Could Surpass Record Suicides by soldiers this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said, urging military leaders to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars. As of the end of August, there were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and National Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Anadditional 31 deaths are being investigated. If the numbers continue through December as they have been, said Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, they would eclipse the 115 in 2007, 102 in 2006, 87 in 2005 and 67 in 2004. With final Form 990, a brighter spotlight With the release of the final instructions for filling out the IRS Form 990 last week, we've arguably reached something of a milestone. In theory, from now on the IRS and other watchdog groups should have a much better idea of how not-for-profit hospitals account for their charity care efforts. Now, the healthcare industry should face some new challenges. With more standardization between hospitals, it's going to become easier for outsiders to compare charity care levels, both on a regional and national level. Related article from Guidestar: IRS Changes Requirements on Reporting Nonprofit Executive Compensation R.I. Seeks Limits on Medicaid Spending Facing a severe budget shortfall, Rhode Island officials are seeking unprecedented authority to rein in Medicaid spending in a move that has alarmed Democrats in Congress and advocates for the poor. The plan outlined by Rhode Island officials could save the state millions of dollars, but critics say it would limit access to nursing homes, charge poor families more for medical care and potentially establish waiting lists or cut people from the program. They are now urging the Bush administration to reject the state's request for a waiver to cap its Medicaid spending at about a quarter of the state budget without regard to rising health-care costs or the number of families in poverty. Related report from the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities: Rhode Island's Medicaid Proposal Would Put Beneficiaries At Risk And Undermine The Federal-State Partnership State/LocalEditorial: Privatization hangover / State audit of health and human service agencies shows continuing management problems The drive to hire private contractors to take over duties performed by state employees in agencies under the oversight of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission — mandated by the Legislature five years ago — has been a slow-motion disaster. The commission was forced to terminate a major contract with Accenture last year after the attempt to privatize eligibility screening for social service programs caused chaos and erroneously denied services to thousands of qualified Texans. ... A return visit by the auditors this year found that payroll and management problems at the state agencies continue. Texas State Auditor John Keel reported that more than $738,192 had been mistakenly paid out to more than 1,200 former state employees after they had been terminated. Only half of those taxpayer dollars have been recovered. In addition, 43 employees were allowed to take paid emergency leave because of criminal charges, with an average length of 70 days. Nine out of 10 agency supervisors had not received required training, while nearly three-fourths of employees sampled had no performance evaluations in their files. FSSA won't shorten food stamp process The Family and Social Services Administration has dropped a planned speed-up in the processing of food stamp applications because it would cost some people their benefits, Secretary Mitch Roob said Thursday. Under a proposed administrative rule change, FSSA would have cut in half to 30 days the time it gives food stamp applicants to submit required documents verifying their eligibility for benefits. Related article: Journal Gazette: State won't force faster food stamp applications Land deal, lack of certification behind Howe, mental health center closures Selling a prime piece of real estate and not being able to get recertified appear to be what's prompted the state to announce it will close a pair of troubled facilities in Tinley Park, state lawmakers and union representatives say. The Howe Developmental Center and Tinley Park Mental Health Center, which have been stripped of their federal dollars for providing substandard care and lax recordkeeping, could close their doors by next summer. John Cameron, director of community relations for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents about 600 Howe and mental health center workers, sharply criticized the closures. Up to 800 people could lose their jobs, Cameron said. Kalispell Budget Crunch Results in Five Job Cuts Kalispell’s city government is cutting five positions in an effort to reduce its operating budget for this year, and depending on what the city council indicates at its work session Monday, there could be more cuts on the way. .. Of the positions cut, three workers are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local No. 256. Chapter President Mike Nicholson said the job cuts aren’t layoffs, because in that case the city would be contractually obligated to begin cutting those positions with least seniority. By discontinuing the positions, the union employees are allowed to “bump,” or take a different job with the city – although in this case, Nicholson added, there don’t appear to be any vacancies available to the employees losing their jobs. Judge allows Duluth to lay off workers A St. Louis County judge has ruled that the City of Duluth can lay off full-time employees. Judge Eric Hylden's decision means layoffs that took effect Tuesday will stand, despite a lawsuit filed last week by AFSCME -- the labor unit representing many of Duluth's municipal employees. Negotiators for county, union hammer out pact Negotiators for Onondaga County and its biggest labor union have reached a tentative agreement on a multiyear contract, county and CSEA Local 834 said Thursday. The deal was reached Wednesday as negotiators met for the second time with a state mediator appointed to help them get through an impasse in discussions. Nassau attorney removed from pension system Attorney Carol Hoffman, who was improperly listed as an employee of four Nassau County school districts, has had her membership in the state retirement system revoked, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said yesterday. .. DiNapoli said his office's probe of attorneys improperly listed as employees on school district payrolls is continuing. School board member blasts contracts / Arnold Engel was the lone vote against the agreement with OAPSE Local 727. The Fairfield Board of Education's vote to approve the first of three union contracts Thursday, Sept. 4, was met with internal opposition. Board member Arnold Engel was the lone vote against the agreement reached with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 727. "You can assume there was no plan by this board of education to ever try to save any money for the taxpayers," Engel said. Cuyahoga County, facing deficit 'crisis,' to reduce spending Cuyahoga County must reduce its general fund by 10 percent next year to make up for a growing deficit - a figure that would reach $38 million by 2010 if left unchecked. Department heads have been told to consider staff cuts - either through buyouts, a hiring freeze or layoffs. Sick-days supporters scrap ballot proposal Two months before what appeared to be a likely victory in the Nov. 4 election, the union-led coalition backing Ohio's mandatory sick-days proposal abruptly decided to drop the issue yesterday. Cockrel won't take city's reins from Kilpatrick until Sept. 19 The city breathed a collective sigh of relief when Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced his resignation Thursday, but soon could face the anxiety of the unknown. Among the questions: How will power be transferred over the next two weeks from Kilpatrick to Council President Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr.? Could a fluke of the calendar and election law mean the city will have four mayors in about 16 months? What impact will an FBI probe into City Hall have over the transition? Huntington wants residency ordinance reinstated A Huntington ordinance that requires all civil service employees to live in Huntington city limits was declared void, but the city of Huntington would like to see it reinstated. Douglas Administration E-mails Cause Controversy Internal e-mails released Thursday between Douglas administration officials set off a political firestorm. The administration was forced to release the e-mails after the state employees union made a public document request. The union wanted to know how decisions were made to eliminate 400 state jobs through attrition and retirement. ... Others show administration officials considering renaming some state jobs so it doesn't look like social worker positions are getting cut - but the administration ended up not doing that. Another e-mail chides an agency secretary for complaining about staff reductions. Letter: Choose Duchow On Tuesday, voters have the opportunity to vote for a highly qualified and dedicated public servant as treasurer in Manitowoc County. I chose her as my deputy county treasurer 14 years ago because of her skill and qualifications, both professional and personal. She has excelled in the office and is uniquely prepared for the top job. Cheryl has held significant positions, reflecting the respect she has among those who know her as a steward and member of the Executive Committee for AFSCME Local 986-A, as a member of the Manitowoc County Employees Credit Union Credit Committee, as co-chair of the Farm Bureau's Womens Committee and at her church. Fleming withdraws from Albany Ward III race Albany City Council candidate Glenda Fleming has pulled out of the three-way race for Jeff Christman’s seat in Ward III. .. Meanwhile, she is supporting Frenzel. ... Frenzel is a crew chief in the city of Lebanon water section. He serves on Lebanon’s safety committee and is president of AFSCME Local 2043 in Lebanon. A plan to raise N.J. tolls ... Take two The cost of driving on New Jersey's Turnpike and Parkway would more than double by 2012 in a series of toll hikes that would begin next year, the state Turnpike Authority proposed yesterday. Legislators OK bill that tightens oversight on EMTs For the second time in two years, state legislators have passed legislation to require California's emergency medical technicians to undergo mandatory criminal background checks. In 2007, a similar bill was zapped by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who disliked last-minute changes that would have kept secret details about rescuer misconduct. Union urges state pension plans to consider social issues A national union’s controversial bid to force state pension plans to consider social and other issues when investing in corporate buyout and other “private equity” funds is not expected to include Connecticut, an organizer said Wednesday. Previous Daily Newswires |
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