Budget fixes unfinished as Legislature's formal sessions end for year Nov 23, 2009
Murphy's further amendment called for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to furnish a study of the impact on the state economy and the cost to the Commonwealth, including an analysis showing the impact to the taxpayers, the practice of other states, and anticipated changes in employment. Republicans predicted the study amendment would not lead to a serious effort and accused Democrats of trying to avoid a vote on the rate reduction. (Georgetown Record, MA)
More of this story Nov 22, 2009
With Carvalho were Executive Assistant Gary Heu, Administrative Assistant Beth Tokioka, Finance Director Wally Rezentes Jr., Planning Director Ian Costa, John Isobe from the county office of boards and commissions, and County Engineer Donald Fujimoto and various other DPW staff including Troy Tanigawa, Allison Fraley and Rick Renaud. Also present were several Kaua i Police Department officers, including Assistant Chief Roy Asher and acting Capt. Mark Scribner. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Report: Johnson Offered To Pay Accuser Nov 22, 2009
Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, who's on the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. (KCRA 3, CA)
Will city of Lodi escape layoffs? (1) Nov 22, 2009
As crafted now, the budget only eliminates the city's senior planner position because the planner's work load will be streamlined with other positions in the Community Development department, Deputy City Manager Jordan Ayers said at a Monday Budget and Finance Committee meeting ... Lodi's Budget and Finance Committee discussed the city's budget Monday night. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
Goodnight from the museum Nov 22, 2009
And he had also just finished arguably the most arduous job connected to the Sydney Olympics: chairman of SOCOG's finance committee ... Sherman set about restructuring the museum's finances, founding a President's Circle, then a foundation of about 30 benefactors and fund-raisers to build an acquisitions fund. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Late TV listings Nov 22, 2009
Guests: Jun Qian, associate professor of finance. Boston College Carroll School of Management; and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. (Boston Globe)
WHAT THEY ARE NOT SAYING...about the comprehensive water deal? Nov 22, 2009
According to the Department of Finance, in 2014 -15, almost 10 percent of the state s income will pay for debt repayment, not for education or public safety. SBX7 6. (San Andreas Calaveras Enterprise, CA)
Senate Begins Debate Next Month on $848 Billion U.S. Health-Care Overhaul Nov 22, 2009
Senator Reids claim that the cost is $848 billion is the ultimate Washington gimmick, at taxpayers expense, said Senator of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance Committee ... Another issue is whether to help finance the plan with a 40 percent tax on high-value insurance policies. (Bloomberg -- US)
OUR VIEW: For some, county pay raise looks good Nov 22, 2009
Board member Mike Weaver, who chairs the finance committee that prepared the budget, told the board that the present rate of inflation is actually below zero. The budget projection for sales tax revenue is expected to be 230,000, a drop of 130,000 from what the 2009 budget forecast. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Public weighs in on citys $179M deficit Nov 22, 2009
More than 40 speakers offered their opinions to a crowd of about 100 at the San Diego Speaks public forum held by the councils Budget and Finance Committee at Hoover High School in City Heights ... To leave your own suggestions on the budget, residents can call (619) 236-6934 or e-mail budgetandfinance@sandiego. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
ELECTION 2008: Rue Furch offers experience in West County politics (1) Nov 22, 2009
SW: The Board of Supervisors recently made campaign finance changes to allow much larger individual contributions to candidates ... This gets me back to what campaign finance reform is all about. (Sebastopol Sonoma West Publishing, CA)
Jenkins: 'We will be making cuts nobody ever dreamed of' Nov 22, 2009
After hearing Raha s forecast, Tom and House Finance Committee Chairman Ross Hunter, D-Medina, offered familiar ideas for raising revenue nothing unprecedented ... Ed Orcutt, the lead Republican on the Finance Committee. (Longview Daily News, WA)
NH ethics panel to investigate rail contract Nov 22, 2009
David Fink, who owns rival railroad Pan Am Systems, believes Milford Democrat Peter Leishman got preferential treatment in bidding on the use of the state-owned rail line between Wilton and Bennington because Leishman is a member of the House Finance Committee. In August, the state attorney general's office cleared state officials of any criminal wrongdoing, but the New Hampshire Union Leader reports that the ethics committee recently voted to do its own investigation into whether Leishman... (Concord Monitor)
Senior CPC official meets Seychelles leaders Nov 22, 2009
Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, was welcomed Thursday evening at the airport by the general secretary of the People's Party of the Seychelles, Danny Faure, who is also finance minister. During their meeting, Zhou said the CPC and the People's Party have maintained close and friendly cooperation since the two parties forged ties in 1979 and played positive roles in promoting the relations between the two countries and the friendship between... (Xinhuanet, China)
Reid Health Bill Has Hidden Perks for Chiropractors Nov 22, 2009
got into the Senate Finance Committee version of the bill ... Benefiting from a well-financed lobbying campaign and influential supporters, the manufacturers won language in the Senate health committee bill _ and in the House-passed health overhaul legislation _ giving them 12 years of protection from generic competitors. (Newsmax)
Letter: CNS endorses Newman override Nov 22, 2009
CNS believes the Newman repair plan is sensible and cost-effective and joins the board of selectmen, the Finance Committee, the School Committee, the PPBC, the League of Women Voters and the Massachusetts School Building Authority in endorsing this project. Please vote Yes for Newman on Tuesday, Dec. 8. (Needham Tab, MA)
Schumer, centrists working on public option compromise Nov 22, 2009
Schumer and Conrad never reached an agreement and Conrad's provisions ended up part of the healthcare bill approved by the Finance Committee, of which both senators are members. Reid's bill includes both Conrad's co-ops and the opt-out version of Schumer's public option. (TheHill.com)
Agency mergers in Barbour's proposal Nov 22, 2009
The Department of Banking and Consumer Finance ... In contrast, the merger of the secretary of state's office and the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance would save about $1 million, Hipp said ... The Banking and Consumer Finance Department, which regulates most financial institutions, employs 59 people; its budget is more than $6 million, said John Allison, banking commissioner. (The Clarion-Ledger)
New jail a go, now to justify cost Nov 22, 2009
The final cost to taxpayers also will depend on whether the county borrows to finance the expansion and how long it takes to pay back the debt. The most likely funding plan is to issue bonds to start work right away, then pay them off with sales tax revenue over eight years, which would cost an estimated total of $84 million. (Athens Banner-Herald)
GOP seizes mammogram issue Nov 21, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said the Senate health-care bill he authored "doesn't do one single thing to change current law related to the way coverage decisions are made.". "Those decisions will be based only on science and thorough review, just as they are today," said Baucus, D-Mont. (AZCentral -- News)
Housing fee foes, backers face off Nov 21, 2009
Those working in the business and commercial development industry pointed out that the city needs to work harder to find additional sources of funding to finance affordable housing so it does not continue to tap just developers and businesses ... Housing Commission Chief Executive Rick Gentry reassured the group that in addition to having a consultant study the fee structure and the basis for imposing such a levy, it would also include a review of other sources of funding used elsewhere to... (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Botax? Nip/Tuck Levy To Help Health Plan Nov 21, 2009
the Finance Committee chairman, and Peter Orszag, Obama's budget director, although neither man's staff acknowledges having hatched the scheme. In the end, Reid revived it simply because "we needed money to make the bill work," his spokesman Jim Manley said. (KIRO TV, WA)
WHAT THEY ARE NOT SAYING...about the comprehensive water deal? Nov 21, 2009
According to the Department of Finance, in 2014 -15, almost 10 percent of the state s income will pay for debt repayment, not for education or public safety. SBX7 6. (San Andreas Calaveras Enterprise, CA)
NIA exposes militant-politician-bureaucrat-contractor nexus in Assam Nov 21, 2009
"The main activity of the DHD-J after 2006 was to siphon off government funds through extortion with the help of elected members of the Council, contractors, and government servants, in order to finance their subversive activities," the NIA charge sheet, a copy of which is available with IANS, said. The NIA was entrusted by the central government in June 2009 to investigate a criminal case after Assam police arrested two DHD-J rebels in April with Rs. (India Times, India -- Community News)
School Committee moves against Feoffees Nov 21, 2009
Finance Committee Chairman Jamie Fay encouraged the School Committee to make the vote to rescind. People might think with the prior vote all they had to do was ask for an extension of time. (Ipswich Chronicle, MA)
Capital rules weighon Japan stocks Nov 21, 2009
Japan's then finance minister, Kaoru Yosano of the LDP, did not attend a meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors in London in early September, which was aimed at determining the priorities of the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 24 to 25. His absence, attributed to health reasons, raised concern about Japan's low-key presence at the ministerial meeting. (Asia Times Online)
Senate bill keeps a place for Mass. Connector Nov 21, 2009
Kerry, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, one of two Senate panels with jurisdiction over the health care bill, also helped block efforts to reduce Medicare payments to doctors in urban areas, and he helped turn back a Medicare rule adversely affecting most hospitals in Massachusetts. He also helped ensure that the bill would let Massachusetts keep a pot of federal Medicaid money it uses to help pay for its subsidized insurance program for low-income people, Commonwealth Care. (Boston Globe)
Latinos, blacks takeharder hit amid recession Nov 21, 2009
The White House, however, pointed to stimulus money that paid for teachers and police officers in big cities, and that financed work projects such as installing solar panels or laying fiber-optic cable. While there are no Hoover Dam projects to employ tens of thousands of people at once, we are touching as many hands as possible, a spokesman said. (Boston Globe)
Sen. Baucus plans to vote for health care bill Nov 21, 2009
Baucus led a key piece of the Senate health care reform by advancing legislation out of his Senate Finance Committee earlier this fall. The Democrat, who has advocated more moderate proposals than other party leaders, has been a key figure in the debate all year. (Montana Standard, MT)
US Fed officials step up asset bubble-watch Nov 21, 2009
Finance officials in Asia say a bubble fueled by the Fed's low rates has already arrived. Fed powers debated. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Fair go, sport Nov 21, 2009
When the ASC's inaugural chairman, the sage and occasionally acerbic Ted Harris, announced the limited budget the federal government had provided for its needed reform of sport, Bond realised the ASC was not going to finance his campaign to retain the America's Cup and left. The Crawford report has effectively recommended a similar future for the so-called elite sports - rowing, water polo, gymnastics, archery, equestrian, winter sports, track and field and all yachts smaller than Bond's... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Durbin changes tune on Sen. Lincoln Nov 21, 2009
JCBY joe cassidy on 11/20/2009 at 16:07Joe Cassidy I agree with you, the only way to do this is to have campaign finance reform whereby corporations are banned from contributing even a single dollar to any campaign ever, then it's back to the people's choice when it is the people's donations that elected officials must count on and use wisely in order to get elected ... So the question is how to get campaign finance reform, especially since those who most depend on Corporate sponsors will never... (TheHill.com)
Sen. Wyden wins big healthcare concession Nov 21, 2009
and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont. have taken a long stride toward locking down the support of Sen. (TheHill.com)
Zimbabwe: Ministers Face Chop, as Biti Acts on Comptroller and Auditor-General Report Nov 21, 2009
Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, told The Financial Gazette this week that he will table before his colleagues in Cabinet the damning report he received from the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Office on public accounts ... The report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on November 3 by the PAC chairman, Tapuwa Mashakada, said as part of giving the office teeth, there should be amendments of governing legislation to compel the Finance Minister to table a remedial plan of action on any... (allAfrica.com)
Microbes on Your iPhone Nov 21, 2009
"market" : {"NAME" : "U.S.", "ID" : "us_market", "TZ" : "ET", "TZOFFSET" : "-18000", "open" : "", "close" : "", "flags" : {}} , "STREAMER_SERVER" : "http://streamerapi.finance.yahoo.com","arrowAsChangeSign" : false,"throttleInterval": "1000" ... Finance partner page. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Report: Johnson Offered To Pay Accuser Nov 21, 2009
Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, who's on the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. (KCRA 3, CA)
Tuition Hikes: Protests in California and Elsewhere Nov 21, 2009
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a group of students on Wednesday protested a plan by the UNC Board of Trustees' audit and finance committee to raise tuition 5. 2% for undergraduates. (Time.com)
Congress Rips Obama on Slow Recovery Nov 21, 2009
Members of Both Parties Angry at Geithner and Finance Bill. Font size. (CBS News -- US)
Zimbabwe: MDC Accuses Zanu PF of Rolling Out Terror Campaign Nov 21, 2009
Sources say in the past the money came from the Reserve Bank, under Gideon Gono's 'quasi-fiscal' activities, but with the dollarisation of the economy and the MDC running the Finance Ministry, such siphoning-off of resources is now much more difficult. Be the first to. (allAfrica.com)
Lawmakers grapple with state’s budget deficit Nov 21, 2009
Saturday November 21, 2009. Lawmakers grapple with state s budget deficit , Assistant Editor11/19/2009. (Queens Chronicle, NY)
Berkeley Students Protest Student Fee Hike Nov 21, 2009
Sounds to me like they don't know how to manage their money very well and need to take some classes in Finance from Dave Ramsey ... They need to take some classes in "finance" from Dave Ramsey. (CBS News -- US)
Middlebury Board Hears Concerns on Upgrade Issues Nov 21, 2009
MIDDLEBURY - Police Commissioner Ron Clark and resident Richard Dews, at the Board of Selectmen meeting, Monday, November 16, expressed concern about the Board of Finance's decision concerning the police communications upgrade. The Board of Finance, at a meeting Wednesday, November 4, decided to form a subcommittee to look into the $1 million difference between the bids submitted by Motorola, Inc., and Marcus Communications ... "You have no control over the Board of Finance.". (Voices, CT)
OUR VIEW: For some, county pay raise looks good Nov 21, 2009
Board member Mike Weaver, who chairs the finance committee that prepared the budget, told the board that the present rate of inflation is actually below zero. The budget projection for sales tax revenue is expected to be 230,000, a drop of 130,000 from what the 2009 budget forecast. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Paraprofessionals have their say about pay Nov 21, 2009
By and large the meeting was an information-sharing exercise between the employees and member of the School Committee, which met as the budget and finance sub-committee. In September the paraprofessionals, a small group of employees that provides support to teachers and students during the school day, were shifted from salaried to hourly payroll. (Cohasset Mariner, MA)
City creates position to justify higher wage Nov 21, 2009
Kirby s salary of $87,000 a year would increase to around $90,000 with the addition of the assistant city manager title, said Finance Director Phyllis Shidler. Reader Comments. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
Lee, Collier county golf clubs get face-lifts to attract players Nov 21, 2009
Wyndemere didn't even raise their members' monthly dues to finance construction costs, using existing cash reserves instead. "The economy's going to rebound and then we're going to have an influx of Baby Boomers looking for the best value," Brinkert said. (The News-Press -- Sports)
Senate vote next step on health bill road Nov 21, 2009
Both the House plan and a plan approved by the Senate Finance Committee would limit total out-of-pocket expenses and prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions ... The House package is financed through a combination of a tax surcharge on wealthy Americans and new spending constraints in Medicare and Medicaid. (CNN)
Initial Senate vote looms on health legislation Nov 21, 2009
Tell me, tmh, what would one call a privately financed military ... Baucus chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is under great scrutiny as he has accepted $1. (Montana Standard, MT)
Georgia cant afford its share of ObamaCare Nov 21, 2009
Now that the House has passed and the Senate Finance Committee , Georgias number crunchers have estimated just how unfunded it would be for our state ... The Senate Finance Committees version would be little better: just over $2 billion cumulatively, and more than $400 million a year by 2019. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
UC regents approve steep tuition hike Nov 21, 2009
The vote followed the recommendation the day before by the regents' finance committee. Once they were done, Yudof and the regents addressed a chief concern of the protesters, saying students simply didn't understand that most low-income students won't be affected by the fee increase. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Food: If words were food, nobody would go hungry Nov 21, 2009
It would finance for three years the annual $7 billion that the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a think tank in Washington, DC, estimates will be the bill for developing countries to protect agriculture from the impact of climate change. And it excludes the far greater sums developing countries themselves are promising to farming. (The Economist)
Philip Nickson Nov 21, 2009
He served on the Town of Braintree Finance Committee during the years l96l to l964. He enjoyed music, gardening and antiques. (Braintree Forum, MA)
The Nativism Tax Nov 21, 2009
But the Senate finance committee (probably at White House Chief of Staff insistence) took Wilson's rude outburst seriously enough to insert language into its version of the bill barring illegal immigrants from participating in the at all. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. (Slate)
House committee approves fees for financial institutions Nov 20, 2009
Fees for finance institutions advance ... Fees for finance institutions advance ... "This amendment will end taxpayer-financed bailouts, eliminate too-big-to-fail (firms) and will create a system going forward where we force the big-bank, Wall Street fat cats to pay for any mess they make," said Rep. (AZCentral -- Business)
Community calendar Nov 20, 2009
Hamilton Finance Committee meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, Broadway, Hamilton, Ill. Lee County Genealogical Society meeting 6:30 p.m., Miller House Museum, 318 N. Fifth St., Keokuk. (Keokuk Daily Gate City, IO)
Rage at UC fee hike in L.A., Berkeley protests Nov 20, 2009
Wednesday's vote by the regents' finance committee was also protested at UC Berkeley, where about 1,000 students, faculty and university workers filled Sproul Plaza for a noontime rally. About 300 protesters turned out at UC Santa Cruz. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Agreement reached with BIGMan, LLC. Nov 20, 2009
The bank will finance the project with the WCIDA being the holder of the loan until the building is completed. At that time when all outstanding bills are paid, the bank would write the loan for the exact amount needed with the CED being the responsible party. (Alva Review Courier, OK)
BOTOX TAX IS BACK: SENATE BILL INCLUDES 5% TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC SURGERY... Nov 20, 2009
The Finance Committee considered the tax but dismissed it, in part because it was a public relations battle that senators were not willing to wage. Read the provision after the jump. (The Drudge Report)
Lieberman slams public option, taunts critics... Nov 20, 2009
For Senate Finance Committee Democrats, the connections to the health care industry are wide and deep. Campaign contributions are high and staffers easily jump ship to lobby their former bosses. (The Drudge Report)
FY10 budget OK ... for now Nov 20, 2009
Things are more complicated on the school side, according to Gerry Missal, the director of finance and administration. As on the town side, the budget has held together so far, even with the nearly $110,000 loss in circuit breaker funding. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
San Francisco facing $500 million deficit Nov 20, 2009
Greg Wagner, Mayor Gavin Newsom's budget director, would not provide an exact amount during testimony Wednesday before the Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee, saying the numbers were still being crunched. "We're looking at something well north of $400 million," is all he would offer in his public testimony. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Schools face budget gap Nov 20, 2009
According to Administrator for Business and Finance Buck Creel, the preliminary base is out of balance with available funds by $230,135 ... With state aid to Lincoln down almost 17 percent from fiscal 2009 and expected to continue to drop, the Lincoln Finance Committee set a budget guideline of 0. (Lincoln Journal, MA)
Sec. Geithner defends his job, blames economic woes on Bush administration Nov 20, 2009
Lets start with the economy; The deregulation of the mortgage industry was done in 1998 under the CLINTON administration not under BUSH. For the first six years of the Bush administration, the Senate committee on Commerce and Finance (who oversees lending practices) did a fair job of monitoring and controlling the likes of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It wasn't until the dems took over in 06 that the committee (now chaired by Barny Frank and composed completely of Democrats) began letting Fannie... (TheHill.com)
Barge operators squabble over riverfront turf Nov 20, 2009
If that need develops, he expects private capital to finance any necessary improvements. We can t find any demand for the service to load or unload containers from barges, Hatfield said. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
Regents committee recommends UC fee hikes Nov 20, 2009
(11-18) 14:46 PST LOS ANGELES - -- As hundreds of students rushed the building today where UC Regents were meeting - throwing wet red bandannas meant to look like blood - the regents' finance committee voted to recommend a 32 percent student fee increase, setting off planned protests at several UC campuses ... The fee increase recommended by the UC Regents' finance committee today includes an incremental increase of 15 percent that students would begin paying as soon as next semester, and... (San Francisco Chronicle)
