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  • Cutbacks at Jackson Health System will affect everyone's healthcare in Miami-Dade
    Mar 14, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    If facilities are closed down, Kosnitzky said, patients are "going to sit home, get sicker. Consider Jackson Memorial's emergency room, ground zero for the county's poor and uninsured. That's huge." Stierheim has become a volunteer advisor to Jackson.
  • Ax would fall on college graduation initiative in healthcare bill merger
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Hill
    ...senators to cut $8 billion slated to improve the quality of early education programs and $3 billion for a program to help high school students stay enrolled and graduate.The funding was included in the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which the House passed in July.The student lending legislation would allow the federal government to originate student loans, saving taxpayers an estimated $61 billion to $67 billion over 10 years, and fund Pell Grants to low-income college...
  • Battery plant is confirmed for Holland
    Mar 13, 2010 — Detroit Free Press
    ...battery cells for 50,000 to 200,000 vehicle battery packs a year. LG Chem's new 650,000-square-foot lithium-ion battery plant is one of four projects under way in Michigan that are using federal grants meant to jump-start advanced battery production in the U.S. To build the plant, LG Chem secured a $151.4-million grant from the Department of Energy. An incentive package from the state includes a $100-million advanced battery cell tax credit and a $25.2-million tax credit for job...
  • Don't forget to claim special tax breaks for 2009
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Dallas Morning News
    You must close on the home on or before June 30. The tax credit also was expanded to include longtime homeowners who buy another primary residence. Retirees will get a $250 credit as well. The Making Work Pay credit is either phased out or unavailable for higher-income taxpayers.
  • EDITORIAL
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Kansas City Star
    But bad roads, teacher-scarce schools and emptying the state's jails also tend to have a negative economic impact. Mark Parkinson's plans to cut state highway money, the Kansas Legislature this week tentatively approved a new passenger rail plan.
  • Feds push short sales to help families
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Morning Call
    She has depleted her savings and started to fall behind on her mortgage payments, so she's now seeking a short sale. The government is using the same criteria for this program that it used for an earlier one to help people renegotiate their mortgages.
  • Jay Nixon proposes sweeping cuts, consolidations
    Mar 13, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, offered support for the consolidations of departments. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, said he believed Nixon was still "trimming around the edges" at the budget. It would merge a very small department with a very large one: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has 1,746 staffers.
  • President Obama's final challenge on healthcare: corralling votes
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Hill
    Assuming every House member votes, 37 is the maximum amount of defections Democrats can afford.
  • Railway Exchange, Macy's projects move ahead
    Mar 13, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Much of the first phase of TIF funding -- $8.4 million -- will be used in the store remodeling, Young said. Efforts Friday to reach Yackey and Bruce officials were unsuccessful. City officials said Yackey and Bruce could close on the purchase in April. Young said Yackey told her the Macy's remodeling will begin immediately after the developers sell the $7 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits a city agency has allocated to the project.
  • Tax credit foe gains a ally in Gov. Nixon
    Mar 13, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    That bill would collect future sales taxes in the life science industry to create a business growth fund. The state is overpaying, and tax credits are underperforming." Nixon isn't yet saying how much of his $500 million in cuts might come from tax credits. And he and Crowell seem to differ in their approach.
  • Two top home builders here look to expand
    Mar 13, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    That's very, very encouraging." McBride, the local builder that has long led the St. VanPamel said the company also is looking at subdivisions that stalled after other builders put in streets, sewers and other infrastructure. Louis. Pulte doesn't disclose sales projections, VanPamel said.
  • Antiabortion religious leaders urge lawmakers to pass Senate health bill
    Mar 12, 2010 — Washington Post
    We believe that the provisions below provide extensive evidence that longstanding restrictions on federal funding of abortion have been maintained. More than 30 million Americans may finally gain access to a health care system that is affordable -- providing families, children and seniors with fundamental care that is essential to human dignity. Cynthia L. HaleSenior PastorRay of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, GADr.
  • BRIEF
    Mar 12, 2010 — El Paso Times
    ...-- EL PASO -- Prospective homeowners can learn the ins and outs of buying a home at a workshop on March 20. The discussion will be on credit score requirements and financing options with an onsite lender. Prospective homeowners can learn how to take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit or the $6,500 Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit. The workshop, sponsored by Vision Realty and Patriot Mortgage, will be at 10:30 a.m. at 1790 Lee Trevino, Suite 101. ...
  • Census To Redefine Poverty
    Mar 12, 2010 — Politico
    In computing family income, that standard ignores billions of dollars in federal and state benefits. It is to be unveiled in the Census Bureau’s annual poverty report in the fall of 2011, alongside the current official measure. None of these is in the current measure, which leaves family income dramatically undercounted.
  • Charlotte home sales, prices inch up again
    Mar 12, 2010 — The Charlotte Observer
    Those contracts, representing signed deals that haven't yet closed, signal rising demand. February's pending contracts also reached their highest level since October.
  • Chicago Tribune Jon Yates column
    Mar 12, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    Jon Yates Mar. 11, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Avery Anderson will turn 2 in August. To obtain a $1,000 child tax credit, he needed Avery's Social Security number. Neither did the state, which had not received a birth record from the hospital. For months, Anderson tried to obtain the birth certificate, juggling calls between the state, county and hospital.
  • Democratic candidates distance themselves from healthcare reform
    Mar 12, 2010 — The Hill
    Denny Heck, the Democratic front-runner to replace retiring Rep. John Carney; Illinois open-seat candidate Dan Seals; Indiana state Rep. Rob Miller in South Carolina.Those who didn’t respond to multiple messages were: Pike; Wills; Palm Springs, Calif., Mayor Steve Pougnet; Kansas state Rep.
  • Detroit Free Press Susan Tompor column
    Mar 12, 2010 — Detroit Free Press
    If you qualify, the deductions could apply even if you didn't get hired. Not everyone would get this break. Not all canceled debt will trigger taxable income. Or locally, see www.accountingaidsociety.org. You may also call the AARP Tax Aid Information line at 888-227-7669. --Avoid tax scams.
  • Middle East peace efforts: lessons from healthcare reform
    Mar 12, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    A second pertinent lesson from the healthcare process is the need to act quickly. Similarly, a long negotiation process on Middle East peace would allow spoilers to mount attacks that could doom an agreement. A final lesson of healthcare is the need to sell the public on the process.
  • Obama won't promise immigration reform
    Mar 12, 2010 — The Hill
    ...pursue legislation this year.Last summer, Obama vowed to pursue immigration reform in 2010.Obama held three meetings on the politically sensitive topic — one with activists, one with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and one with Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who are working on bipartisan legislation.White House press secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that while immigration and a new comprehensive energy bill are important to Obama,...
  • Oconomowoc planners endorse converting school into apartments
    Mar 12, 2010 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
    In exchange for the credits, developers guarantee they'll rent to people who earn no more than 60% of the area's median income.
  • Parliamentarian's ruling deals blow to healthcare reform chances
    Mar 12, 2010 — The Hill
    Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), assistant to the Speaker.Rep.
  • Plan unveiled for battery plant in Holland
    Mar 12, 2010 — Detroit Free Press
    LG Chem expects to have hired 400 people for the plant. "LG Chem's selection of Holland to house the company's battery cell facility was a balanced decision based on the city's excellent infrastructure and proven, quality workforce," Jae Ham, senior vice president, LG Chem, said in a statement this morning. The factory will be able to make enough lithium-ion battery cells for between 50,000 and 200,000 vehicle battery packs. LG Chem's new 650,000 thousand square-foot...
  • Public safety lobbyists see opportunity this Congress
    Mar 12, 2010 — The Hill
    In addition, the bill has the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).“Sen. They have been pushing for the legislation because they believe only 25 states offer adequate protections for public safety employees’ collective bargaining rights.“This bill mandates a process. And in imposing such mandates, Congress will expand the scope of a state’s obligations, liabilities and costs,” Rep.
  • Reform's fate a question of trust
    Mar 12, 2010 — Washington Post
    I can't remember when Barack Obama said that. Rogers, the White House social secretary, and Mr. The Hill writes: "Seeking to trump Democrats, House Republicans on Thursday approved a moratorium on all earmarks for the rest of the year.
  • Tax breaks can help when you lose your job
    Mar 12, 2010 — USA Today
    In addition, the tax code categorizes job-hunting expenses as a "miscellaneous deduction." You can only deduct the portion of miscellaneous expenses that exceeds 2% of your adjusted gross income. Some taxpayers who receive disability income are also eligible for the EITC. This partnership between the IRS and tax preparation companies allows taxpayers with 2009 AGI of $57,000 or less to prepare and e-file a federal tax return for free.
  • The danger of the status quo
    Mar 12, 2010 — Washington Post
    If health-care reform fails, the status quo is a certainty, while the perfect bill is but a dream. But that approach looks impractical, politically and economically. In interviews, Emory University's Kenneth Thorpe and Stanford University's Alan Garber, two other leading health economists, guardedly echoed his conclusion.
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