Approval ratings high as president moves to stem recession woes
WASHINGTON - Large majorities of Americans support President Barack Obama's plans to revive the economy and his efforts to work across party lines, according to a pair of public opinion polls released Monday.
One month into his presidency, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found 68 percent of Americans approve of Obama's job performance.
Sixty-four percent of respondents supported the administration's $787 billion economic stimulus package and the same percentage backed his proposal to prevent housing foreclosures, the Washington Post reported.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Stocks slide, Dow ends at lowest in 6 years
Outlook for economy, banking and corporate earnings dims
NEW YORK - An important psychological barrier gave way on Wall Street Thursday as the Dow Jones industrials fell to their lowest level in more than six years.
The Dow broke through a bottom reached in November, pulled down by sharp declines in key financial shares. It was the lowest ending for the Dow since Oct. 9, 2002, when the last bear market bottomed out.
The move below that level dashed hopes that the doldrums of November would mark the ending point of a long slump in the market, which is now nearly halfway below the peak levels reached in October 2007.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
NEW YORK - An important psychological barrier gave way on Wall Street Thursday as the Dow Jones industrials fell to their lowest level in more than six years.
The Dow broke through a bottom reached in November, pulled down by sharp declines in key financial shares. It was the lowest ending for the Dow since Oct. 9, 2002, when the last bear market bottomed out.
The move below that level dashed hopes that the doldrums of November would mark the ending point of a long slump in the market, which is now nearly halfway below the peak levels reached in October 2007.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bush-era offshore drilling plan is set aside
Obama team eyes renewables, seeks more input on Atlantic, Pacific coasts
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Tuesday overturned another Bush-era energy policy, setting aside a draft plan to allow drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
"To establish an orderly process that allows us to make wise decisions based on sound information, we need to set aside" the plan "and create our own timeline," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced in a statement.
Alleging that the Bush administration "had torpedoed" offshore renewable energy in favor of oil and natural gas, Salazar said he was extending the public comment period by 6 months.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Tuesday overturned another Bush-era energy policy, setting aside a draft plan to allow drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
"To establish an orderly process that allows us to make wise decisions based on sound information, we need to set aside" the plan "and create our own timeline," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced in a statement.
Alleging that the Bush administration "had torpedoed" offshore renewable energy in favor of oil and natural gas, Salazar said he was extending the public comment period by 6 months.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Senate passes $838 billion stimulus bill
Democratic leaders vow to deliver legislation to president within days
President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan has passed the Senate and is on its way to difficult House-Senate negotiations.
Just three Republicans helped pass the plan on a 61-37 vote and they're already signaling they'll play hardball to preserve more than $108 billion in spending cuts made last week in Senate dealmaking. Obama wants to restore cuts in funds for school construction jobs and help for cash-starved states.
Those cuts are among the major differences between the $819 billion House version of Obama's plan and a Senate bill costing $838 billion. Obama has warned of a deepening economic crisis if Congress fails to act. He wants a bill completed by the weekend.
Read ful lstory MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan has passed the Senate and is on its way to difficult House-Senate negotiations.
Just three Republicans helped pass the plan on a 61-37 vote and they're already signaling they'll play hardball to preserve more than $108 billion in spending cuts made last week in Senate dealmaking. Obama wants to restore cuts in funds for school construction jobs and help for cash-starved states.
Those cuts are among the major differences between the $819 billion House version of Obama's plan and a Senate bill costing $838 billion. Obama has warned of a deepening economic crisis if Congress fails to act. He wants a bill completed by the weekend.
Read ful lstory MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cash-strapped states mull new seat belt laws
Changing rules to allow cops to stop drivers opens door to federal money
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Drivers better buckle up or pay the price: More cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists just for not wearing their seat belts.
More than a dozen states that are considering making the switch to primary seat-belt enforcement laws need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.
Read full story MSNBC
Psoted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Drivers better buckle up or pay the price: More cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists just for not wearing their seat belts.
More than a dozen states that are considering making the switch to primary seat-belt enforcement laws need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.
Read full story MSNBC
Psoted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Obama announces cap on executive pay
The president says annual senior-executive pay must top out at $500,000, one of the new restrictions he announced for financial institutions receiving bailout cash.
Reporting from Washington -- President Barack Obama unveiled new restrictions on pay for executives at financial institutions receiving federal bailout money today, slamming corporate leaders for "narrow self-interest" in enriching their paychecks with taxpayer money.
"For top executives to award themselves these kinds of compensation packages in the midst of this economic crisis isn't just bad taste -- it's a bad strategy -- and I will not tolerate it as president," Obama said during a White House appearance with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. "We're going to be demanding some restraint in exchange for federal aid -- so that when firms seek new federal dollars, we won't find them up to the same old tricks."
Read full story Los Angeles Times
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Reporting from Washington -- President Barack Obama unveiled new restrictions on pay for executives at financial institutions receiving federal bailout money today, slamming corporate leaders for "narrow self-interest" in enriching their paychecks with taxpayer money.
"For top executives to award themselves these kinds of compensation packages in the midst of this economic crisis isn't just bad taste -- it's a bad strategy -- and I will not tolerate it as president," Obama said during a White House appearance with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. "We're going to be demanding some restraint in exchange for federal aid -- so that when firms seek new federal dollars, we won't find them up to the same old tricks."
Read full story Los Angeles Times
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Debt may do what rain, heat, gloom can’t
Postal service considers cutting one day of mail delivery due to deficit
WASHINGTON - Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery per week, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday.
Postmaster General John E. Potter asked lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.
Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year and, “if current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year,” Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery per week, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday.
Postmaster General John E. Potter asked lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.
Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year and, “if current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year,” Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
House passes Obama economic stimulus plan
President: 'Perilous moment' requires swift action to kick-start economy
WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled House approved $819 billion in spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of President Barack Obama's economic recovery program Wednesday evening, despite Republicans' charges that the bill is wasteful.
"We don't have a moment to spare," Obama declared earlier Wednesday at the White House as Democrats hastened to do his bidding.
A mere eight days after Inauguration Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi heralded a new era. "The ship of state is difficult to turn," said the California Democrat. "But that is what we must do. That is what President Obama called us to do in his inaugural address."
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled House approved $819 billion in spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of President Barack Obama's economic recovery program Wednesday evening, despite Republicans' charges that the bill is wasteful.
"We don't have a moment to spare," Obama declared earlier Wednesday at the White House as Democrats hastened to do his bidding.
A mere eight days after Inauguration Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi heralded a new era. "The ship of state is difficult to turn," said the California Democrat. "But that is what we must do. That is what President Obama called us to do in his inaugural address."
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Byrd, Kennedy stricken at Obama luncheon
Two senators taken away from event for medical attention
BREAKING NEWS
NBC News
updated 9 minutes ago
Sens. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., were stricken Tuesday at an inauguration luncheon for President Barack Obama.
A Capitol police officer stood up at the luncheon and said medical attention was needed.
Kennedy collapsed and was wheeled out on a stretcher from the Capitol luncheon following the inauguration of the 44th president, NBC's Mike Viquiera said. Kennedy reportedly suffered convulsions.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
BREAKING NEWS
NBC News
updated 9 minutes ago
Sens. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., were stricken Tuesday at an inauguration luncheon for President Barack Obama.
A Capitol police officer stood up at the luncheon and said medical attention was needed.
Kennedy collapsed and was wheeled out on a stretcher from the Capitol luncheon following the inauguration of the 44th president, NBC's Mike Viquiera said. Kennedy reportedly suffered convulsions.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Friday, January 16, 2009
Obama's stimulus plan promises new jobs
Engineering, accounting, nursing and IT among likely growth fields
In his weekly radio address on Jan. 10, 2009, Barack Obama said the No. 1 goal of his economic stimulus plan is to create 3 million new jobs in the next two years. Less than 20 percent of them will be government jobs.
What exactly, then, will these jobs be?
Career Web site Jobfox has analyzed Obama's plan and come up with five areas of likely job growth over the next two years, with 22 specific job titles among them. Engineering, accounting, nursing and information technology will all fare particularly well, Jobfox predicts.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
In his weekly radio address on Jan. 10, 2009, Barack Obama said the No. 1 goal of his economic stimulus plan is to create 3 million new jobs in the next two years. Less than 20 percent of them will be government jobs.
What exactly, then, will these jobs be?
Career Web site Jobfox has analyzed Obama's plan and come up with five areas of likely job growth over the next two years, with 22 specific job titles among them. Engineering, accounting, nursing and information technology will all fare particularly well, Jobfox predicts.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Napolitano to review controversial REAL ID plan
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's pick to oversee Homeland Security told senators Thursday the agency needs to focus on transportation security and securing biological and chemical facilities in the private sector.
Janet Napolitano, a twice-elected governor of Arizona, said aviation security has improved since the 2001 terror attacks, but more needs to be done to secure transit systems and other modes of ground transportation.
Testifying in her Senate confirmation hearing, Napolitano defended her work on homeland security issues in Arizona and pledged to revisit a controversial and costly program to enhance the security of driver's licenses.
Read full story AZ Central
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Janet Napolitano, a twice-elected governor of Arizona, said aviation security has improved since the 2001 terror attacks, but more needs to be done to secure transit systems and other modes of ground transportation.
Testifying in her Senate confirmation hearing, Napolitano defended her work on homeland security issues in Arizona and pledged to revisit a controversial and costly program to enhance the security of driver's licenses.
Read full story AZ Central
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Friday, January 9, 2009
Jobless rate jumps to 7.2 percent in Dec
Caps year with most annual job losses in the post-World War II era
WASHINGTON - The U.S. unemployment rate bolted to 7.2 percent in December, the highest level in 16 years, as nervous employers slashed 524,000 jobs. The labor market is expected to remain weak as mass layoffs continue.
The Labor Department's report, released Friday, underscored the terrible toll the deepening recession is having on workers and companies, and highlights the hard task President-elect Barack Obama faces in resuscitating the flat-lined economy.
For all of 2008, the economy lost a net total of 2.6 million jobs. That was the most since 1945, when nearly 2.8 million jobs were lost. Although the number of jobs in the U.S. has more than tripled since then, losses of this magnitude are still being painfully felt.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - The U.S. unemployment rate bolted to 7.2 percent in December, the highest level in 16 years, as nervous employers slashed 524,000 jobs. The labor market is expected to remain weak as mass layoffs continue.
The Labor Department's report, released Friday, underscored the terrible toll the deepening recession is having on workers and companies, and highlights the hard task President-elect Barack Obama faces in resuscitating the flat-lined economy.
For all of 2008, the economy lost a net total of 2.6 million jobs. That was the most since 1945, when nearly 2.8 million jobs were lost. Although the number of jobs in the U.S. has more than tripled since then, losses of this magnitude are still being painfully felt.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, January 8, 2009
As His Inmates Grew Thinner, a Sheriff’s Wallet Grew Fatter
DECATUR, Ala. — The prisoners in the Morgan County jail here were always hungry. The sheriff, meanwhile, was getting a little richer. Alabama law allowed it: the chief lawman could go light on prisoners’ meals and pocket the leftover change.
And that is just what the sheriff, Greg Bartlett, did, to the tune of $212,000 over the last three years, despite a state food allowance of only $1.75 per prisoner per day.
In the view of a federal judge, who heard testimony from the hungry inmates, the sheriff was in “blatant” violation of past agreements that his prisoners be properly cared for.
“There was undisputed evidence that most of the inmates had lost significant weight,” the judge, U. W. Clemon of Federal District Court in Birmingham, said Thursday in an interview. “I could not ignore them.”
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
And that is just what the sheriff, Greg Bartlett, did, to the tune of $212,000 over the last three years, despite a state food allowance of only $1.75 per prisoner per day.
In the view of a federal judge, who heard testimony from the hungry inmates, the sheriff was in “blatant” violation of past agreements that his prisoners be properly cared for.
“There was undisputed evidence that most of the inmates had lost significant weight,” the judge, U. W. Clemon of Federal District Court in Birmingham, said Thursday in an interview. “I could not ignore them.”
Read full story New York Times
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
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