President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to "dismantle government bureaucracy," enlisting the help of billionaires to achieve his goals. Federal workers with memories of Trump's first term are scared.
The partial federal government shutdown is one week old, but economists are still saying that its impact in Southern California and elsewhere will be limited.
Susanne Whatley: Business analyst Mark Lacter, why is that?
Mark Lacter: If you look back on the history of these things, Susanne, you see that the disputes are resolved before too much damage gets done. As for Southern California, I notice that KPCC's Alice Walton was asking around over the weekend about the shutdown, and most folks gave it a shrug. The regional economy is just too diversified - and not especially tied to federal employment. You have about 46,000 federal workers employed in L.A. County in one capacity or another - that's out of a workforce of nearly 5 million. And, now it appears as if the federal employees who have been furloughed are going to receive their back wages whenever the shutdown finally ends.
Whatley: That still might make things dicey when it comes time to pay the monthly mortgage...
Lacter: ...but at least money will be available before most folks run into serious liquidity issues. That's what the shutdown really comes down to - inconvenience rather than dislocation. And, you see this with the various government services affected: the E-Verify website is down - that lets business owners know whether the people they're wanting to hire can work legally in the U.S., which obviously is important. The Small Business Administration has stopped processing loan applications, and the Federal Housing Administration is reporting delays in its loan processing, which could mean a home buyer might not complete his or her paperwork all that quickly.
Whatley: But, what if this were to go on for months?
Lacter: Well, then it would create problems, but nobody really thinks that's going to happen. The real issue, not just nationally and regionally - but globally - is the refusal by Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The deadline is a week from Thursday, and - of course - there's been all sorts of debate about what this would mean for the economy.
Whatley: All right, so what would this mean for the economy?
Lacter: Well, no one knows exactly. But, then again, no one knows exactly what would happen if you fell out of a airplane without a parachute. I just wouldn't want to test it out. And, of course, let's keep in mind that these are manufactured crises - not reflective of anything that's going on with the real economy. It's certainly not reflective of anything that's going on in L.A., which saw a big jump in payroll jobs for 2012 - actually it was the sharpest increase since 2005, and nearly double the national rate (that's despite an unemployment rate that remains very high in certain parts of Los Angeles).
Whatley: What about some of the big locally based companies?
Lacter: Well, if your company is publicly traded, there's a good chance your shares took a dip these past few days. Going back to September 18, the Dow has lost almost 700 points, which - percentage-wise - is not very much, but it is reflective of how uneasy Wall Street has become. Public companies based in the L.A. area are taking it on the chin - Disney, Amgen, Mattel, DirecTV - their stock prices are all down going back to the middle of September.
Whatley: Even so, hasn't this been a good year for the stock market?
Lacter: It has - those local companies are up anywhere from 13 percent 30 percent year to date, and the Dow is up 14 percent year to date. Of course, the stock price of a company doesn't always match the amount of money it makes, and this year, even before worries about the debt ceiling, the numbers haven't been as good as they should be at this stage of a recovery. And, that's why there's particular concern about next week. You do have to wonder whether a default could have ripple effects involving trade, consumer spending, the dollar - who knows what? Now, it's still a pretty good bet that saner heads will prevail, although there are no guarantees - and again, if worse came to worse, do you really want to be jumping out of that plane? Guess we'll find out.
Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com.
This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.
The state's online registration for Covered California has been up for a couple of weeks, and reaction has been mixed.
Steve Julian: Business analyst, Mark Lacter, what's your take on how well Californians are getting into the Affordable Care Act?
Mark Lacter: It's hard to get a good read, Steve, because it's hard to measure the success of what is really a new marketplace. If you're basing it on the number of unique visitors coming to the Covered California website, well, then the program clearly has attracted lots of interest - they had almost a million visitors during the first week of eligibility. But, maybe a better measure would be the number of people whose applications actually have been received by the insurance companies that are going to handle the claims. If that's your measuring stick, then the numbers have been far smaller so far. Now, it's worth pointing out that California - and particularly L.A. County - have a higher percentage of households without insurance than other parts of the nation, and so you'd expect there to be lots of interest.
Julian: So the question, then, is how many folks turn into actual policyholders paying actual premiums each month.
Lacter: The truth is nobody knows, which is why state officials want to sign up as many people as possible in the early going when the program is getting so much attention. This is especially true for younger and healthier people who are needed to help offset the cost of caring for older and sicker people.
Julian: And, that's also why any computer glitch can be such a headache...
Lacter: That's right. Covered California did run into problems in the early going, but everybody agrees that things are going much better than the federal website, which is the default site used by folks in states that don't have their own program to oversee the health care laws. That federal site has been an utter disaster. So, by comparison, California is ahead of the game.
Julian: It's a work in progress, even here.
Lacter: Very much so. The California website still doesn't have a way for enrollees to find out which doctors and hospitals are included in each health plan. And, that's a big deal because insurance companies are limiting the options available as a way of keeping premiums low. So, it's possible that the doctor you had been using for your individual insurance plan will not be on the list of doctors that can be used for one of the cheaper plans. Of course, for someone who doesn't have any health coverage, none of that is likely to matter.
Julian: And then, there's the continued threat of a U.S. default...
Lacter: You know, Steve, this is like watching the beginning of a bad traffic accident in slow motion - and we're all pretty helpless to do anything about it. And, so are the financial markets, which are moving back and forth not based on what's going on with the economy or with any industry, but on the latest press conference out of Washington. One thing we do know is that if the nation does go into quote-unquote default - and we're not even sure what that might mean - but if Wall Street and somehow declares this a major crisis, it's going to be bad.
Julian: Who gets hit?
Lacter: It'll impact anyone who has a retirement account, any business wanting to borrow money, and potentially it's going to impact the budgeting of the state. You know, one of the things we were reminded of during the Great Recession was how reliant California has been on higher-income individuals who make a lot of their money through the stock market and other investments. So, when those folks do well - as they have been over the last year - the state coffers will do well. And when they don't, as was the case in 2008 and 2009, the state takes a huge hit because there's not enough tax dollars coming in. Gov. Brown and others have tried to lessen the reliance on those top tiers - so far without success.
Julian: And the state's budget situation is so much better than it was a year or two ago.
Lacter: That's the real pity. And, even if the House and Senate reach a temporary agreement on the debt ceiling, it's just a matter of weeks or months before another deadline crops up - and more uncertainty for the financial markets. I guess Chick Hearn would have called this nervous time.
Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com.
This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.
Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 6:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center
Are you a student or recent graduate passionate about making a difference? Join us this fall for our virtual information sessions hosted by the Partnership for Public Service! Our Call to Serve team is excited to guide you through the pathways to impactful careers in the federal government. The Partnership’s Call to Serve team will share:
Entry-level government opportunities, including internship and fellowship programs.
Practical tips to navigate the federal hiring process.
Tools for effectively searching government jobs.
This is a unique chance to gain valuable insights and set yourself on a path to make a meaningful impact in the federal government. Don’t miss out—spaces are limited, so secure your spot today by signing up here. Participants are required to sign up on our website, do not sign up via Handshake!
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivers a speech on his economic outlook, followed by a question and answer session.
While the Fed seems committed to a December rate cut not all signs in the CPI data on Wednesday were encouraging.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.By Megan Myscofski
Governor Gavin Newsom went to Washington, D.C. this week to meet with California’s Congressional Delegation and the Biden Administration and advocate for federal funding to the state before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Newsom told a Spectrum News reporter in the capital that he has concerns the state will lose some federal funding — which Trump threatened while campaigning.
“I guess that's what people voted for, but I got to tell you, a lot of folks will be hurt if we don't push back,” he said.
Newsom said he’s advocated for funds related to the environment, disaster relief and health care.
That includes two Medicaid waivers — one to put more funds towards behavioral health treatment, and another to renew the state’s MCO tax, which California voters just approved through Proposition 35.
The governor also pushed for more federal land protections, clean air and water support, and approval on several waiver requests to support the state’s climate and emissions rules.
Lindsey Churchill works with the Rebuild Paradise Foundation, which supports survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire.
She said federal funds are already challenging to work with because of how slow they tend to roll out.
“When you’re trying to provide programs in a timely manner after a disaster, you don’t necessarily have time to wait a year or longer for that kind of funding,” she said.
She added that she’s also concerned about the Trump administration withholding funding, especially as natural disasters become more frequent and costly.
The criticism comes in the wake of revelations that longtime CBI forensic scientist Yvonne "Missy" Woods routinely deleted and manipulated DNA testing during her nearly 30-year career, creating unreliable results in hundreds of cases.
UCHealth will pay $23 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging the hospital system fraudulently coded emergency room visits submitted to Medicare and the military health insurance program TRICARE.
The Supreme Court has rejected a petition from Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff during the first Trump administration, to move his 2020 election subversion case to federal court.
Elected officials of Nantes, Que., are putting an end to talks with the federal government about the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, citing a lack of communication about the file.
Three Ontario police associations released a statement Wednesday calling on the federal government to implement stricter bail policies, after Toronto police officers were caught in a gunfight between two groups in the city's west end Monday night while conducting a bail compliance check.
Peter Swan, associate professor emeritus of supply chain management at Penn State Harrisburg, will hold a presentation on Nov. 20 to discuss the findings of a Transportation Research Board study he helped compile on the impacts of long freight trains.
President-elect Trump has tapped Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to lead what he's calling the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE. Still, only Congress can create a new federal agency.
Sixteen months after Canada Life took over the administration of the Public Service Health Care Plan, hundreds of thousands of federal retirees are hoping to avoid similar problems now that their dental plan is under the same provider.
Dozens of researchers across Canada have joined a growing chorus of voices urging the federal government to halt the importation of an endangered monkey species for medical research in Quebec.
Federal government departments are still allowed to advertise on TikTok despite mounting security concerns about the social media app, CBC News has learned.
Johnson & Johnson is suing the federal agencies overseeing the 340B program that makes discounted medicines more accessible to uninsured and underserved patients. J&J contends the Health Resources Services Administration can’t legally oppose its plan to implement a new rebate plan for certain 340B drugs.
The post Johnson & Johnson Takes the 340B Drug Rebate Fight to Federal Court appeared first on MedCity News.
By R. SCOTT MOXLEY Thursday, Apr 14 2011: Legendary Garden Grove televangelist Robert H. Schuller once noted, "High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly." The creator of Crystal Cathedral, a best-selling author and star of Hour of Power broadcasts, Schuller has long served as Exhibit A of that credo. In the 1950s, he saw an opportunity to build a profitable church, grabbed it and-thanks largely to donations from poor and lower-middle-class folks trying to win the blessings of God-created an $89-million religious empire with hints of opulence. ... Records also show that the reverend wasn't a cheapskate in one charity case. Indeed, the recipients of his generosity weren't poor at all. They were a wealthy Newport Beach couple, Kenneth and Glenia Reafsnyder. Ken's first wife was a member of Buena Park's Knott family, founders of Knott's Berry Farm. He also palled around with actor John Wayne. In 1995, Schuller agreed to divert $4,000 a month in church donations to the Reafsnyders for the rest of their lives in exchange for a quarter ownership in the couple's home. Ken has since died, but the deal calls on Crystal Cathedral Ministries to continue to pay Glenia. In 2008, the ministry increased the payments to $4,500 a month while reducing its ownership percentage. This means that the church's current 8.5 percent portion of the house has cost more than $1,250,000-$55,000 more than the value of the entire house. Speaking of houses, over the years the Schuller family has purchased oceanfront property in Orange County, a Big Bear vacation house, a San Diego County time-share, a Colorado mansion and a Honolulu condo. Just before filing for bankruptcy, Schuller sold a San Juan Capistrano property that had been bequeathed to the church decades ago and pocketed $22.5 million. The reverend's son, Robert Anthony Schuller, has lived in a $2.2-million oceanfront Laguna Beach dream house worthy of an Architectural Digest feature. Fred Southard, a longtime Schuller aide, lives behind palatial, guarded gates in a 13-room, 13,600-square-foot Newport Coast estate that could fetch $3 million on the open market. ... In court filings, they've remained optimistic that, despite a 50-percent drop in church membership to 5,000 attendees, the ministry can eventually pay off all of the debt. To accomplish that feat, however, the Schuller clan is going to have to stir up the congregation and then, despite all the unsettling revelations, ask them to dig deeper into their wallets.
There is a strategy to maximizing all the benefits of Congress recent $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not just applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or tapping into your 401k. In fact, there are actually eight key pieces to the legislation that can assist business owners in one form or another.
complete article
Title: Federal Court Orders EPA to Re-examine Whether Roundup Causes Cancer
Category: Health News
Created: 6/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
Earlier today, Standard & Poor's rating agency lowered the long-term rating of the U.S. government and federal agencies from AAA to AA+. With regard to this action, the federal banking agencies are providing the following guidance to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and bank and savings and loan holding companies (collectively, banking organizations. U.S. Federal Rating: Standard & Poor Lowers Lowers Rating of the U.S. Government from AAA to AA+
Earlier today, Standard & Poor's rating agency lowered the long-term rating of the U.S. government and federal agencies from AAA to AA+. With regard to this action, the federal banking agencies are providing the following guidance to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and bank and savings and loan holding companies (collectively, banking organizations. U.S. Federal Rating: Standard & Poor Lowers Lowers Rating of the U.S. Government from AAA to AA+
This kit provides you with everything you need to know to get your Federal Firearms License (Gun Dealer's License) QUICKLY and EASILY.
The 2005 U.S. federal budget includes just $5 million for the eGov fund. The amount requested for the year was $45 million. Last year the fund received just $3 million, which means over the last two years just $8 of...
A federal interagency committee on government information has drafted "Requirements for Enabling the Identification, Categorization, and Consistent Retrieval of Government Information." This document has insights of value for those in government engaged in making information more accessible through portals and search engines.
Aim/Purpose . The quantitative comparative ex post facto research study covered in this paper aims to fill gaps in the literature by focusing on whether gender influences perceptions of leadership; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and job satisfaction among federal employees within the Department of Justice using empirical data. The study also explores whether there are relationships between the perception of leadership and job satisfaction and the perception of DEIA and job satisfaction. Background. Since 2002, the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has administered the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), which measures employee perceptions of whether and to what extent successful organizational conditions exist in their agencies. Areas currently assessed within the FEVS include training, job satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, management effectiveness, work-life balance, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The exploration of variations in perceptions of leadership, DEIA efforts, and job satisfaction among U.S. federal employees by gender and other criteria are crucial areas for research that are underrepresented in the literature. This is not only important for the United States federal government, which is grappling with high attrition rates, but also for public administrations around the world. Methodology. A quantitative ex post facto research design was used to analyze data from responses of U.S. federal employees working for the Department of Justice. Leadership, job satisfaction, and DEIA were all measured using aggregate scores from pre-determined question sets. Differences based on gender were analyzed using t-tests. Additionally, chi-squares and Spearman’s rank correlations were employed in order to explore whether there is a relationship between the perception of leadership and job satisfaction and the perception of DEIA efforts and job satisfaction among U.S. federal government workers. Contribution. The findings of this study aid in providing empirical data to support the need for federal government leadership to understand the impact of employees’ perceptions on their willingness to continue working in the federal government. The research study was grounded in Public Service Motivation Theory, which centers around factors that motivate individuals to pursue and maintain careers in the public service sector. More specifically, this study supported the public service motivation theory in that it looked at gender as a mitigating factor in public service motivation as well as explored the role of leadership and DEIA as a correlating factor to job satisfaction. The results of this research have practical implications for federal government leaders interested in increasing employee motivation and retention and who should be considering the range of sociocultural and demographic characteristics that have been found in the research to impact employee perceptions and experiences. Findings. The analyses found differences in perceptions of leadership, DEIA, and job satisfaction among United States Federal Government employees based on gender. Additionally, perceptions of leadership and DEIA were both found to influence job satisfaction. The first research question explored in this study used a t-test to consider whether the perception of leadership among U.S. federal employees differed based on participant gender with significance found. The second research question examined whether the perceived job satisfaction of U.S. federal employees differed based on gender, with statistical significance detected. The third research question focused on whether perception of DEIA differed when gender was explored and the results of the t-test indicated a significant difference in perceptions of DEIA when gender was considered. The fourth research question considered the relationship between the perception of leadership and job satisfaction. A Chi-square and a Spearman Rank Correlation were performed, and a relationship was found to exist. Research question five explored whether a relationship exists between the perception of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives and job satisfaction, with significance found following a chi-square and a Spearman rank correlation. Recommendations for Practitioners. Leadership behaviors of managers and the existence of DEIA policies play a critical role in employees’ job satisfaction and commitment. The recommendations for organizational leadership in the public service sector include addressing gender inequality in work practices and environments and cultivating more inclusive organizational cultures. Recommendations for Researchers. The lack of inclusion of socio-cultural norms in the research on public service motivation is a gap that has yet to be sufficiently addressed and is an area of research that should be explored. Impact on Society. Research on public service motivation in local, state, national, and international government employment can aid organizations in developing strategies for improving recruitment, selection, and retention in public service organizations. This information can advance scientific knowledge on transforming management and leadership practices across sectors. Future Research. Future research can expound on what has been done here by examining in more detail how various identities, and more specifically intersecting identities, within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as other historically marginalized groups, impact such factors as perceptions of leadership, job satisfaction, employee motivation and retention, and work-life balance. Perceptions of specific DEIA initiatives should also be further explored.
Trump, should immediately remove Dettelbach from office, fire every ATF employee and disband the entire rouge department. @ATFHQ
As if gun rights activists have not had enough winning for one week, with the landslide Trump election win. Now, a major victory for gun rights advocates has unfolded in Illinois...
Provincial authorities do not have the mandate for foreign policy, says Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
We got the new Federal Bikes 2021 softgoods in stock. Fresh new colors and new designs!
Hailing from the epicenter of the UK BMX community, Vans and Hastings-based Federal Bikes have partnered on a limited head-to-toe collection, including a fresh take on the Old Skool BMX. Highlighting both brand’s iconic logos, the three-piece collaboration is now available.
Hailing from the epicenter of the UK BMX community, Vans and Hastings-based Federal Bikes have partnered on a limited head-to-toe collection, including a fresh take on the Old Skool BMX. Highlighting both brand’s iconic logos, the three-piece collaboration is now available.
The new BMX frames from Federal Bikes, developed in collaboration with Bruno Hoffmann, Boyd Hilder, and Dan Lacey, are now available. These frames are characterized by their top-notch performance and durability, influenced by these experienced riders.
In addition, there is the Chiller BMX frame, which was created in collaboration with DUB BMX. These frames offer exciting designs and solid performance.
A federal appeals court has ruled the Department of Education improperly rejected Grand Canyon University's switch from for-profit to nonprofit status, granting a key point in the Christian school's appeal of a record fine.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there are "no credible threats" to the District ahead of Tuesday's presidential election, despite several downtown businesses boarding up their buildings and the White House and other federal properties erecting climb-proof fencing along their perimeters.
President-elect Donald Trump is to return to Washington with the distinct advantage of having previously served in the Oval Office. He is wiser.
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a state law that would require classrooms in Louisiana to post the Ten Commandments starting in January.
The paper was never completed after the teacher discovered its use of AI. The high schooler received a zero and was allowed to start again. He was given a D on the second effort.
The post Parents of Hingham student disciplined for using AI await federal judge’s ruling appeared first on Boston.com.
The Russian Embassy called the officials' announcement “baseless” in an emailed statement, saying Russia “has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the United States.”
The post Federal agencies say Russia and Iran are ramping up influence campaigns targeting U.S. voters appeared first on Boston.com.
Construction official says “desperate” proposal won’t address root causes of higher fuel prices but will blow a huge hole in the federal highway trust fund and undermine efforts to fix infrastructure.