Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Posted on January 5, 2012

Political leanings: Democratic/Liberal

Spending target: Unknown

One of the most influential groups in Washington, SEIU represents about 2.1 million workers in health care, government service and property service professions. It spent more than $70 million during the 2008 elections and an additional $54 million during the 2010 midterms, putting it high on the list of the top-spending PACs in both years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry announced on Nov. 16 that the labor union was endorsing President Barack Obama?s 2012 reelection campaign. In a blog post on the union?s website, Henry wrote that ?President Obama is the only candidate for president who shares our vision of America as a land of opportunity for everyone.? Obama garnered SEIU?s backing during the 2008 campaign as well, though not as early as this time around. The union?s political action committee (SEIU COPE) spent more than $27 million in 2008 supporting his candidacy through advertising and other election communications.

In a press release announcing its most recent endorsement of the president, the union committed to engaging its members, their families and friends and the general public through a ?robust campaign,? using phone banks, door-to-door canvassing and increased fundraising. The Wall Street Journal reported that Henry declined to say how much the union intends to spend in total. But, as of Dec. 30, 2011, the group has spent more than $14 million of the more than $22 million it has raised for federal elections in 2012.

Back in July, SEIU partnered with Americans United for Change, a liberal advocacy group, to run television ads ? in four Republican House districts ? during the debate over whether to raise the federal debt ceiling. The ads described Republicans in Congress as ?driving us toward the edge of the cliff,? ?recklessly risking default? and ?recklessly risking jobs.? And in August, SEIU launched another media campaign accusing Republicans of ?voting to take care of the wealthy? instead of focusing on jobs for the middle class.

In 2010, we found that the group played ?fast and loose with its facts? in a TV ad attacking then-Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, a moderate Democrat who faced a liberal primary challenger. SEIU ran?several such false, misleading or distorted ads against the incumbent Democrat, who survived her primary challenge but lost in the general election. In addition to the midterm elections, the group also got involved in the health care debate and the Ohio governor?s race in 2010.

Source: http://factcheck.org/2012/01/service-employees-international-union-seiu-2/

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'Cable Guy' tours country for History Channel

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Funny man Dan Whitney, the Blue Collar Comedy crew member known as "Larry the Cable Guy," says Louisiana and Alaska are among the states that gave him great fodder for the second season of his History Channel show "Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy," which premieres Jan. 11.

The show takes quirky and humorous approaches to interesting people and places across the country. Season two opens with Whitney's venture to the Alaska frontier, where he goes on a stakeout with authorities to catch illegal moose hunters, learns some moose calls and helps one of the state's top moose scientists with an experiment.

Whitney said he also made an unannounced visit to the home of former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

"She was a good sport," Whitney said with a laugh. "She didn't shoot me or anything."

Whitney said he made repeat visits to Louisiana to tape segments for his show because "there are so many interesting things to do there."

During a trip to New Orleans a few months ago, he met with a voodoo priest, ate beignets at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter, helped decorate a Mardi Gras float and marched in a street parade. He returned to Louisiana in December for a nutria hunting expedition in a south Louisiana swamp.

"I didn't even know what a nutria was," said the Kentucky native who now lives in Florida. "My show tries to be funny but informative too. We talk about why it's important to get rid of the nutria, how they're doing a lot of damage down there."

The nutria is a rodent native to South America that is believed to have been accidentally introduced into coastal Louisiana in the 1930s. It wreaks havoc on the state's fragile wetlands by devouring the roots of erosion-stopping marsh plants. They also damage banks and levees by burrowing. Louisiana holds periodic nutria hunts in which hunters turn in tails as proof of a kill.

Whitney said he addresses those subjects in his show and even gets a taste of some fried nutria meat.

"It was kind of like eating rabbit," he said. "It's a little gamey, but it's not that bad."

Whitney has been to about 65 cities for the taping of the show's two seasons. Season two premieres Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. EST on the History Channel and includes stops in more than a dozen states, among them Florida, New York, Maryland, Colorado, Virginia, Georgia and Ohio.

The Blue Collar Comedy troupe ? formed more than a decade ago ? includes comedians Whitney, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-05-People-Cable%20Guy/id-aa3d7a330a0047d0bd1e97f39b60619d

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Personal Bankruptcy Canada: Decrease of Nearly 20 Percent in Canadian Personal Bankruptcy Filings in 2011 - Consumer Proposals Are On the Rise

Despite an uncertain global economy, levels of bankruptcy have actually decreased by 19.1 percent across Canada, according to the Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.

Personal Bankruptcy Canada, a national network for debt and bankruptcy information, demonstrates from June of 2010 through June of 2011, overall personal bankruptcies in Canada decreased from a high of 145,233 in 2010 to 129,392 in 2011. Also notable, all of the Canadian provinces with the exception of Prince Edward Island, realized reductions from 7 percent up to over 16 percent in personal bankruptcies during that same timeframe.

In addition, while bankruptcy levels have fallen, the number of consumer proposals filed has risen nationally by 10.7 percent. Consumer proposals are court-approved debt repayment arrangements allowed for by a provision in Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Consumer proposals are filed with the Canadian courts are facilitated by a Trustee in Bankruptcy. If accepted, the proposal allows individuals to pay down debt at a reduced rate over a pre-determined amount of time, without filing for bankruptcy. A trustee can determine if you qualify for a consumer proposal.

"It's clear that more Canadians are taking hold of their financial future and are looking to consumer proposals for debt relief as an alternative solution to bankruptcy," said David Smith, Trustee in Bankruptcy and Co-Founder of Personal Bankruptcy Canada (PBC). At the PBC blog in his post, "Consumer Proposal - Is it The Right Solution For You?" , Smith states that "the key advantages of a consumer proposal are threefold. First, you keep all of your assets. Secondly, your only income contribution will be the monthly payments to the trustee, and finally, you are legally protected."

For additional information about the trend of Canadian bankruptcies and consumer proposals from 2010 - 2011, see attached "Canada Consumer Insolvencies 2010/2011."

About Personal Bankruptcy Canada, Inc.

Personal Bankruptcy Canada, Inc. is a leading resource for Canadian debt and bankruptcy information. Its network of independent professional trustees in bankruptcy, located throughout the Canadian provinces and territories, are dedicated to helping Canadians overcome and resolve debt and financial problems.

###

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9074480.htm

PRWeb.com 
Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5698902586
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AUTOMOTIVE WORLD 2012 - Fuel Fix

About Fuel Fix

FuelFix.com is your daily must-read source for news and analysis on the energy business. Anchored by business reporters at the Houston Chronicle and other Hearst newspapers, FuelFix incorporates blogs by energy experts, market updates, useful data and a real-time summary of the top ideas, hottest stories and latest news.

Source: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/01/03/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%80%81%EF%BD%87%EF%BD%8D%E3%80%81%EF%BD%96%EF%BD%97%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E7%94%A3%E3%80%81%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%80%81%E3%83%9B%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%81%AA/

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2012 Iowa caucus live blog (photos, video, tweets) (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/182546179?client_source=feed&format=rss

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LA arson suspect cursed US days before fires (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Harry Burkhart watched as his mother was arrested last week on fraud charges from their native Germany, and a day later he exploded in an expletive-laced rant against the U.S. at her court hearing.

The next day, police say, the 24-year-old began a nighttime rampage of arson attacks that terrorized Los Angeles.

Authorities have yet to disclose why they believe that the pony-tailed, 24-year-old Hollywood resident set the fires, but his mother's legal trouble provides one glimpse into the turmoil in his life.

Court documents unsealed Tuesday said Dorothee Burkhart, who is in her 50s, was charged with 19 counts of fraud in Frankfurt, including failing to pay for a 2004 breast-augmentation surgery and pilfering security deposits from renters.

In a brief court appearance, she appeared perplexed, wondering aloud if her son was dead.

At one point, she said, he is mentally ill.

"Where is my son? What did you do to my son?" she asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Nagle.

Harry Burkhart was being held without bail after being arrested in the arson case Monday.

Outside his Hollywood apartment, some neighbors described him as a loner who loitered around the busy commercial strip at night and could be heard arguing with his mother.

But Shlomo Elady, a hair stylist who regularly trimmed Burkhart's long hair, recalled someone who spoke three languages, dreamed of visiting Jerusalem and cared for a sickly mother who had trouble walking.

Elady said he was stunned that the man who lived with his mother above his Sunset Boulevard shop is suspected of torching vehicles, some just steps from his home. The fires caused an estimated $3 million in damage.

"He loved his mom, the way every son loves his mom," Elady said. "He's not a creepy guy."

Burkhart was taken into custody after authorities received a tip from federal officials who recognized him in a security video that showed a pony-tailed man emerging from a garage where a car was set ablaze.

"When they saw the security footage, they recognized him and they contacted the arson task force," a State Department official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigations are ongoing.

The official didn't know her status or what type of visas the pair used to enter the country. As German citizens, they would be eligible to come to the U.S. without a visa for 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program.

A federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the case, said Harry Burkhart was present when his mother was arrested Dec. 28 on a provisional arrest warrant.

Provisional arrest warrants are normally issued when there are criminal charges pending overseas against someone. Ordinarily, U.S. authorities then obtain an arrest warrant through the State Department and the Justice Department.

Burkhart had been in court Thursday afternoon. Harry Burkhart launched into an obscenity-laden tirade, saying "(Expletive) the United States!" said Thom Mrozek, spokesman at the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles.

Mrozek said Burkhart was detained and later escorted out of the courthouse. He said Burkhart did not make any specific threats against anyone or property at his mother's court hearing.

Galina Illarionova, who lives in the same apartment complex as the suspect, said through a Russian translator that an agitated Burkhart visited her Sunday and said his mother was having some kind of legal problems.

He told her his mother was in trouble with authorities and wanted Illarionova to attend a legal hearing with him, but he later said he didn't need her help.

A domain name for a website offering appointment-only sensual massage is registered to Dorothee Burkhart. Her name is not mentioned on the website, which states the service is not prostitution.

The series of fires appeared to have stopped with Burkhart's arrest. The onslaught of intentionally set fires kept residents anxious over the holiday weekend in some of the most densely populated areas of the city.

One of Saturday's fires occurred at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex, a popular tourist destination bordered by the Walk of Fame in a neighborhood that includes Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Damaged buildings included a former home of Doors singer Jim Morrison.

Hundreds of investigators, police officers and firefighters raced to deal with the blazes. Police conducted extra patrols all weekend, and the noise of helicopters and sirens persisted virtually nonstop in Hollywood.

The fires forced many apartment dwellers from their homes. There were no serious injuries.

___

Associated Press writers Greg Risling in Los Angeles and Pete Yost in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/terrorism/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120103/ap_on_re_us/us_los_angeles_arson

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German, French stocks up in light trading (AP)

FRANKFURT, Germany ? Global stock markets opened a risk-filled new year still smarting from a rough 2011, as many exchanges remained closed. German and French stocks rose in light volumes as a a reading of manufacturing activity in Europe improved.

Germany's DAX closed up 3 percent Monday at 6,075 while the French CAC-40, which ended 2011 17 percent lower, climbed 2 percent to 3,222. Stocks fell in South Korea and closed flat in Taiwan.

Trading was light with the New York, London and most Asian stock exchanges closed.

Investors appeared to be reassured by European purchasing managers survey index numbers that improved in December from November. Activity in the manufacturing sector was up, but at levels that still show a fifth straight month of contraction.

Many of the world's leading indexes are coming off a down year. Britain's FTSE was off 5.6 percent by year end, Japan's Nikkei fell 17 percent to its lowest close since 1982, and the Standard & Poor's 500 showed zero gain.

Data releases later in the week such as eurozone inflation on Wednesday and German factory orders and U.S. non-farm payrolls on Friday will give traders more grist. The U.S. employment figure is expected to rise by some 150,000 after increasing 120,000 in November.

Markets face an uncertain first quarter as eurozone leaders try to get control of government debt woes that threaten to harm the global economy with another financial meltdown.

Much of the attention in coming weeks will center on Italy, the eurozone's third-largest economy and the focal point of the eurozone's struggle to deal with a crisis caused by heavy levels of government debt. Fears of default on those debts mean that bond investors demand ever-higher interest, making it a challenge for the new government of Prime Minister Mario Monti to roll over euro53 billion ($69 billion) in debt maturing in the first quarter. If a country can no longer borrow affordably to pay off bonds that are maturing, it faces eventual default or a bailout.

Debt woes may be compounded by at least a mild recession over the last quarter of 2011 and the first part of 2012.

In Asia, South Korea's Kospi, which lost 11 percent of its value last year, closed nearly unchanged at 1,826.37. South Korea's tech sector move higher, with Samsung Electronics up 2.1 percent and LG Electronics gaining 2.3 percent. Steel giant POSCO slid 1.1 percent and Korea Electric Power shed 1.8 percent.

Taiwan's TAIEX, which was also open for business Monday, fell 1.7 percent to 6,952.21. Foxconn Technology, the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer, which makes iPads and iPhones for Apple Inc., fell 0.9 percent. Personal computer maker Acer Inc. shed 2.3 percent.

The Asian-Pacific region's major benchmarks, including Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and Australia's S&P ASX 200, were closed.

Last year was one that traders would prefer to forget: most Asian equity indexes closed out 2011 deeply in the red. The Nikkei in Tokyo ended the year at 8,429.45 ? its lowest closing since 1982.

China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, closed Monday, endured a 21 percent loss for the year as the impact of Beijing's multibillion-dollar stimulus faded and the government tightened curbs on lending and investment to cool blistering economic growth.

___

AP Business Writer Pamela Sampson contributed to this report from Bangkok.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120102/ap_on_bi_ge/world_markets

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