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  • Bill aims to change state retiree benefits
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Decatur Daily
    ...employees to work more years to qualify for employee health insurance benefits as retirees. In addition, the state could end the practice of accepting years of service with a local government as time served toward state retirement health insurance benefits. HB 649 by Rep. Jamie Ison, R-Mobile, sets out minimum lengths of time state employees must serve to qualify for state retirement benefits, including health insurance coverage. A public hearing on the bill is set for...
  • Corporate Justice At Our Expense
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    Sheldon WhitehouseThe Supreme Court’s recent slim majority decision in Citizens United has opened floodgates that long prevented corporate cash from drowning out the voices of American citizens in election campaigns. The ruling continues an increasingly clear pattern of the court’s activist conservative bloc. Second, decisions overrule well-established law and well-settled precedent.
  • Graham To Obama: Time To 'step It Up'
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who meet with Obama at 3 p.m. Thursday — have worked on a reform framework.
  • House Democrats try to stay on offense heading into 2010 midterms
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    None of that quartet of districts made "Red to Blue" including the seats of Reps.
  • No backup plan if I-80 tolls rejected
    Mar 10, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Biehler warned. People often ask if the state has a backup plan to generate transportation funding if the I-80 tolls aren't approved by the Federal Highway Administration, said Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Monroeville, head of the state House Transportation Committee. "There is no plan B," Mr. Markosek said. "Act 44 of 2007, which included the I-80 tolls, was plan B." Mr.
  • Square Feet: New Airport, Northwest Florida Beaches International, to Open
    Mar 10, 2010 — New York Times
    But the airport, Northwest Florida Beaches International, is also noteworthy because it is perhaps more of a real estate project than an effort to address a pressing transportation problem. Joe Company, the Florida developer that donated the land for the new airport and is the driving force behind the project. The existing Panama City-Bay County International Airport handles 11 departures a day, with about 160,000 departing passengers a year.
  • State Pitches New $352 Million UConn Health Center Plan As 'Partnership'
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Hartford Courant
    Cato Laurencin, dean of UConn's School of Medicine and the university's vice president for health affairs, said having a rejuvenated hospital would help attract doctors and research funding. Yale Cancer Center is now the only program in the state with that designation, which comes from the National Cancer Institute, although Hartford Hospital's program has been designated a community cancer center. One, in 2007, called for building a $495 million, 352-bed hospital to replace Dempsey.
  • EDITORIAL
    Mar 9, 2010 — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
    Congestion at the Tower 55 rail crossing has been a headache for years. Fort Worth-based BNSF, despite hard times, had net income of $2 billion on revenue of $13.8 billion last year. The Regional Transportation Council, the body's transportation planning arm, is contributing $322.1 million toward construction of the Southwest Parkway/Chisholm Trail tollway from downtown Fort Worth to Cleburne.
  • First grandma keeps low profile
    Mar 9, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    Robinson also enjoys going to Las Vegas. Shields, 59, has visited his sister at the White House three times, most recently for a large family gathering at Thanksgiving. One is the White House staff. "The staff there is awesome. The kids, Sasha and Malia, they really love and respect her.
  • High Five project to connect Dallas trails to northern neighbors
    Mar 9, 2010 — The Dallas Morning News
    ...north or south. But thanks to a $4.2 million project, the High Five's days as a trail obstacle are about to end. Two path sections under the High Five, connecting the Cottonwood Trail, are scheduled to open in May, weather permitting. "For anyone wanting to travel by bike or walking long distance, this is almost the only way to get north into the Far North Dallas, Plano and Richardson area from kind of central Dallas," said Jared White, a project manager with the Dallas...
  • Michelle Obama donates ball gown to Smithsonian
    Mar 9, 2010 — USA Today
    Obama's donation has added significance since hers is the first gown worn by a first lady of color. The new gallery will feature a total of 10 inaugural dresses.Wu joined Mrs. He also liked Jackie Kennedy's white dress.
  • Obama back on the campaign trail, this time for health care
    Mar 9, 2010 — USA Today
    This time, the goal is not the White House, but a final health care bill. We were sent there to solve the big challenges." As with any campaign, average Americans speak at Obama's rallies to discuss their health care problems. The health care campaign also has its share of political intrigue.
  • Reid files to run for fifth term
    Mar 9, 2010 — Las Vegas Review-Journal
    Reid's filing for re-election comes the same day that figures show Nevada's jobless rate remained unchanged from December to January, stalling at 13 percent, while unemployment in Clark County surged to 13.8 percent. Nevada's employers cut 25,300 jobs during the month, according to the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. In a statement before he filed, Reid said the economic recovery act, or stimulus bill, prevented things from getting worse in Nevada and the...
  • Short-staffed agency overseeing high-speed-rail effort draws fire
    Mar 9, 2010 — USA Today
    ...got $2.3 billion for a 220-mph route between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Florida, which got $1.3 billion to develop a 168-mph rail corridor between Tampa and Orlando.Most of the rest went to smaller projects to increase speeds on Amtrak routes or plan for future projects in 11 other rail corridors linking large cities.Congress added $2.5 billion more for high-speed rail to the Transportation Department's 2010 budget, and the White House has asked for $1 billion more next...
  • Smog-cutting status reviewed
    Mar 9, 2010 — The Charlotte Observer
    ...impact emissions. Steinman said no rapid transit project or highway has any significant impact on the city meeting its pollution goals. He said cars that emit fewer smog-producing pollutants will be responsible for the area's ozone reductions -- not a single transit project or highway. The air-quality plan assumed there wouldn't be a streetcar running through central Charlotte. Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess said the streetcar should be included, and said it's likely the...
  • The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., Merlene Davis column: E-mail shows racism is tenacious
    Mar 9, 2010 — Lexington Herald-Leader
    I asked how Jane was doing, he told me she was in bad shape, in a nursing home, has Alzheimer's and no longer recognizes anyone, how sad. Political humor. Later, when the criticism began to fly from several of the recipients and the mayor of Nashville, Baker apologized. But, last I heard, Michelle Obama is not the president. Why is Michelle such a lightning rod for such attacks couched as jokes?
  • Dems' rosiest outlook in years for gov seat
    Mar 8, 2010 — Houston Chronicle
    If this election is about Obama and health care, Bill White loses. He said that Texas, in better shape than most during the recession, still has the highest number of unemployed in its history.
  • Express toll lane project on I-95 being scaled back
    Mar 8, 2010 — The Baltimore Sun
    The authority plans to open it in 2013-2014 -- earlier than it would have had the ramps been part of the plan -- with two tolled lanes in each direction. Tolls would fluctuate according to demand, going high enough at peak times to keep the express lanes free-flowing. Legislative analysts outlined how the system's need for revenue could affect individual facilities' tolls for two-axle vehicles.
  • Express toll lane project on I-95 being scaled back: Roads, bridges, tunnels to get redirected money for upkeep
    Mar 8, 2010 — The Baltimore Sun
    Legislative budget analysts -- though not the authority itself -- have outlined a scenario under which tolls for the Baltimore Harbor crossings and the Bay Bridge would double by 2013. Tolls would fluctuate according to demand, going high enough at peak times to keep the express lanes free-flowing. Legislative analysts outlined how the system's need for revenue could affect individual facilities' tolls for two-axle vehicles.
  • Green Party in California trying to stem shrinking numbers
    Mar 8, 2010 — San Jose Mercury News
    For example, he said, the party is trying to get instant-runoff voting in San Jose on the November ballot. Also, they say, Greens defected because they wanted to vote for liberal Ohio U.S. Rep. The initiative would establish a single primary open to all registered voters.
  • Obama Brings Health Pitch To Pa.
    Mar 8, 2010 — Politico
    He appealed to Democrats who are undecided by shaming the politics at play, even making a rare reference to President Bill Clinton’s failure to get health care reform. The issue is not politics.”The president was harsh in his assessment of insurance companies. The event was partially standing room only, but even those with seats stood on their feet for most of Obama’s TK-minute speech.
  • Obama: Greedy health insurers show need for reform
    Mar 8, 2010 — The Philadelphia Inquirer
    Louis, in the swing state of Missouri, to continue pressing his case. Pennsylvania is also a swing state, and Montgomery County is home to many independent voters who have been trending Democratic in recent national elections. But the latest polls suggest many independents are skeptical of a health care overhaul.In his speech Obama railed against the greed of health insurance companies.
  • OPINION
    Mar 8, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Obama did win the election, and still we're in a funk. Obama and his new-age, multiracial coalition represent a trend -- or a political aberration. The case for the trend theory is well-established. He didn't see that the Carter election was but an aberration in something important and something Southern -- but not the important Southern trend he thought he was observing.
  • Recent $237,000 In Transportation Funding Part Of A $152 Million Award
    Mar 8, 2010 — The Hartford Courant
    ...state legislator on Friday called the grant "disappointing and disheartening," and The Courant on Saturday described the award as part of a competitive program. But on Saturday, state Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie called the news reports "misleading," and praised the state's record for getting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money. "Connecticut has fared extremely well in ARRA funding for transit and highway projects, and we are putting these dollars -- and...
  • Regional group looking at consulting costs
    Mar 8, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Verbanac, a former aide to the late Sen. Peduto said the SPC doesn't need anyone in Mr. Verbanac said he is not a lobbyist, SPC is not allowed to lobby, and Mr.
  • The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., Merlene Davis column
    Mar 8, 2010 — Lexington Herald-Leader
    Political humor. Later, when the criticism began to fly from several of the recipients and the mayor of Nashville, Baker apologized. But, last I heard, Michelle Obama is not the president. Why is Michelle such a lightning rod for such attacks couched as jokes? Isn't she just as human, just as much a woman as Laura Bush and other first ladies?
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