According to the headline of a press release on Watson Wyatt’s newest survey findings about employer views, you would think it is steady as she goes: “Companies Remain Confident in Future of Health Benefits, Watson Wyatt/National Business Group on Health Survey Finds,” claims the press release.
But if you actually check the data, the data seem to say employers are ready to bail out.
The mantrum of the last few weeks is that Obama must focus only on the budget and, either explicitly, or implicitly drop a focus on climate change, energy independence, green jobs, just to name a few. The idea repeated through the right wing echo chamber is apparently that it is possible to do only one thing at once, that only once the most pressing thing on the list is completed is it possible to move to item number 2. And then 3. And then 4. . . .
A federal judge has temporarily blocked implementation of a controversial 11th-hour Bush administration rule that would allow people to carry loaded, concealed guns in national parks, wildlife refuges and historical centers, according to the Washington Post.
Continue reading
by gjohnsit, posted with permission
The fact that this announcement came out just one day after the Federal Reserve committed itself to printing money by the trillions, is not a coincidence.
(Reuters) – A U.N. panel will next week recommend that the world ditch the dollar as its reserve currency in favor of a shared basket of currencies, a member of the panel said on Wednesday, adding to pressure on the dollar.
GAO knows. In a report released today, GAO reviews the quality of the methods used by financial regulators and the actions taken when problems were found. It. is. not. a. pretty. picture.
The question of who is to blame for the AIG bonuses and its general performance is much in the news. We have an almost Watergatian inquiry: What did they know and when did they know it?
GAO has produced an overview of events, including a timeline, that should be helpful in understanding these complex issues.
Continue reading
The GAO has issued many studies on information security. This time it was the SEC in the spotlight. The public report does not include all the information. Some has been held back for limited distribution. Here, though, are the findings.
Continue reading
A new study by CUPE, a public sector union in Canada, finds that current approaches to fighting hospital and healthcare acquired infections are ineffective.
Continue reading
Is it, though? The mantrum you hear every where these days is: To get good workers and good work an employer must be able to fire workers. That means just-cause employment, tenure, and union grievance procedures are on the firing line, because, they, well, stand in the way of the “firing” line.
NPR reporter Claudio Sanchez can barely report a story that advocates this position. For example, on March 18, his story starts with:
Continue reading
This past week saw a flood of important reports from GAO. I’m going to post a selection of what I consider the most significant with the GAO summaries. Here is number 2. Just how great are those new secure passports?