Posted by Linda H on 10:42:00 PM
WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama
announced nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next 2 years. These investments will save billions in energy costs, promote energy independence, and, according to independent estimates, create tens of thousands of jobs in the hard-hit construction sector. The $4 billion investment announced today includes a $2 billion commitment, made through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum, to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at no cost to taxpayers. In addition, 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders today committed to invest nearly $2 billion of private capital into energy efficiency projects; and to upgrade energy performance by a minimum of 20% by 2020 in 1.6 billion square feet of office, industrial, municipal, hospital, university, community college and school buildings. This announcement builds on a commitment made by 14 partners at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in June to make energy upgrades across 300 million square feet, and to invest $500 million in private sector financing in energy efficiency projects.
Posted by Linda H on 3:05:00 PM
Posted by Linda H on 11:05:00 AM
WASHINGTON – Nearly 2 million home care workers could qualify for federal wage and overtime protections under a rule being proposed today by the Obama administration.
The effort — the 18th initiative in Obama's "We Can't Wait" campaign against Congress — would overcome legislative inertia and a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that upheld home care workers' exclusion from wage-and-hour standards.
Once classified as companions for the elderly and people with disabilities, most home care workers today are part of a growing $70 billion industry that has doubled in size during the past decade. The nation's over-65 population is projected to grow from 40 million to 72 million by 2030; 27 million Americans will need home care by 2050, the government estimates.
Posted by Linda H on 11:04:00 AM
Dec 8, 2011
WASHINGTON – The Department of Health and Human Services granted more than $14 million Thursday to 45 school-based health centers across the country, increasing the number of children served at the centers by nearly 50 percent.
Clinics receiving the awards are already providing healthcare services to 112,000 children. Funded through the Affordable Care Act, the grants will enable the centers to expand their capacity and modernize their facilities, which will allow them to treat an estimated additional 53,000 children in 29 states.
“Children are the foundation upon which this country will grow,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a press release announcing the grants. “The Affordable Care Act will help ensure our children get the high-quality healthcare they need and deserve.”
Posted by Linda H on 9:35:00 AM
Posted by Linda H on 6:30:00 AM
By Mark Hodesh, Guest Writer
With the economy still in a slump, small business owners like me are doing everything we can to keep our costs down. A particularly troublesome cost for my business is health insurance.
However, I recently learned there are tax credits in the new healthcare law specifically for small businesses that will help us pocket some extra cash.
In Michigan, 85.1 percent, or 126,300 small businesses were eligible for a credit in 2010; 39,600 small businesses qualified for the maximum tax credit that year.
Unfortunately, I saw
a survey from Small Business Majority that said 57 percent of small business owners don't know about the credits. If more small employers took advantage of this opportunity to save money, there would be more cash circulating in our community.
Apple Needs to Make it in America
