| VA director advocates for 'families initiative'
DECATUR - Tammy Duckworth knew she could quote statistics all day, but sharing an account about meeting a woman who is without health insurance and can't afford prostheses for her amputated arms and legs told the true story."We need to make sure all Illinoisans have access to affordable coverage," said Duckworth, director of that Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, who also is an amputee. "What kind of country have we become when good families are now without health care insurance?"Duckworth addressed a small crowd on Thursday morning at the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 974 building to advocate for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's "Investing in Families Initiative," which is the proposed budget for fiscal year 2008.The initiative includes the "Illinois Covered" plan to provide insurance to all Illinoisans, the "Helping Kids Learn" plan to invest an additional $10 billion in Illinois schools over the next four years and requiring big businesses to pay a "gross receipts tax," as well as a plan to address the state's longtime pension deficit for thousands of retired state workers."This is a historic budget proposal; it's time to invest in the schools - improve the environment and make it better for students, better for teachers and administrators," said Bob Arya, senior adviser to the governor."We need to reform our tax system; it's broken, doesn't work and is not fair.
MetLife may get new Beijing partner -sources
BEIJING/SHANGHAI, March 22 (Reuters) - The Shanghai partner of MetLife Inc. (MET.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has entered exclusive negotiations to team up with the top U.S. life insurer to restructure its joint venture in Beijing, sources close to the deal said on Thursday. If it goes ahead, MetLife would be able to consolidate its operations in China, a market with huge potential as only fewer than 4 percent of its 1.3 billion population have life insurance coverage. MetLife's premiums in China more than tripled last year to 392.9 million yuan ($51 million). At present, the company has two 50/50 joint ventures in China: United MetLife Insurance Co. in Shanghai and Sino-US MetLife Insurance Co. in Beijing. Its partner in Shanghai is Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd., which is run by the son of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and is an investment arm of the city government.
Blagojevich says "corporate fat cats" oppose his plan
Blagojevich says the companies that raised electric rates are part of the opposition to a massive tax increase that would pay for his health program. He calls them -- quote -- "the same corporate fat cats." The Democratic governor made the comment in Decatur at a stop on his four-day tour to promote the health plan. He wants state government to make sure everyone in Illinois has access to health insurance. Blagojevich proposes an eight-point-six (B) billion dollar increase in business taxes to pay for it. But anger over skyrocketing electric bills has distracted attention from Blagojevich's plan. There have been calls for the governor to take more action on electric rates. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Don’t drive into trouble abroad
If convicted abroad, new laws allow greater exchange of motorists details across Europe that could affect your right to drive in the UK. Exercising your right to testify in your native language or coping with unfamiliar procedures and surroundings may prove difficult without proper legal advice. Check before you pack to ensure you have trouble-free summer holidays! * Exceptionally heavy traffic is predicted by French government roadwatch organisation Bison Fut for every summer weekend until the end of August, with the highest black alert for the Saturdays of 28 July and 04 August. -ends- DAS-710 April 2007 For further information please contact either: Martin Francis, Albion International Communications, on: Tel: 020 8668 3074 Mobile: 07748 96 76 84 Email: AlbionPR@aol.com or Allan Jarrett, Communications Officer, DAS on: Tel: 0117 934 2060 Email: A_Jarrett@das.co.uk or Paul Jacobs, Marketing Communications Manager, DAS, on: Tel: 0117 934 2061 Email: P_Jacobs@das.co.uk DAS Switchboard: 0117 934 2000 .
Former county official arrested for embezzlement
IONIA - A former Ionia County commissioner and current tax allocation board member is expected to be arraigned today on two charges stemming from an alleged embezzlement of money in Ionia.Joseph John Rich, of Lyons Township, was arrested approximately two weeks ago on one count of uttering and publishing - a 14-year felony, and one count of embezzlement - agent or trustee - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a 5-year felony.The Ionia Department of Public Safety and State of Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services, a division of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, investigated the case that led to the current charges. .
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