“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
― Aristotle
Utah lawmakers have reacted with contempt for a planned weapons training convention to be held for 200 Utah teachers tomorrow.
The Utah Shooting Sports Council has said they usually gather around a dozen teachers each year for training to carry concealed weapons but this year demand skyrocketed after the tuition was offered for free.
The powerful lobby claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut has been the catalyst for the massive interest, but Carol Lear, a chief lawyer for the Utah Office of Education said that the move was a 'terrible idea.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2253497/Its-terrible-idea-Controversy-200-Utah-teachers-given-concealed-weapons-training-wake-Sandy-Hook.html#ixzz2GFihZl1T
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The employer "can only perform the background check after a conditional offer has been made and the employer makes a 'good faith determination' that the job position is of a sensitive nature." Sensitive nature is, however, not defined. In fact, if an employer is permitted to make a criminal history inquiry in connection with any employment decision, the employer first must provide the individual with written notice. The notice must advise: (1) that the employer will conduct the criminal history inquiry upon the written consent of the individual; and (2) if any adverse employment decision is made as a result of the information, the individual will have an opportunity to present rebuttal evidence.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/12/eeoc_protected_classes.html#ixzz2GFkGd2ZT
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Big Labor hopes it’s a sign that Mr. Obama will step into the fray on behalf of union workers more openly during his second term, whether it’s stopping an expansion of right-to-work laws in states or working toward labor’s bigger dream of approving “card check,” which is federal legislation that would make it much easier for nonunion workplaces to organize.
“I am very confident that in his second term he will speak out a lot more forcefully on any number of issues,” said Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland and D.C. chapter of the AFL-CIO. “I would encourage the president to simply speak out more, use the bully pulpit of his office and be even more supportive when workers are actually engaging in those struggles.”
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/26/unions-dream-big-for-obamas-2nd-term/#ixzz2GFl1mjsb
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These seven simple commonsense steps are adapted from a post I published on my blog after the horrific Newtown massacre. Our hearts ache, but we are not completely helpless or hopeless in the face of evil and the unknown. And we are not alone. This Christmas, cherish life, keep faith, and practice self-empowerment.
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President Obama will return to Washington from Hawaii Thursday while First LadyMichelle Obama and her daughters plan to continue their vacation, adding at least $100,000 and probably more than $200,000 to taxpayer costs for the excursion.
Instead of accompanying her husband home on Air Force One, Mrs. Obama will fly on her own Air Force jet at a later date and require security and staff to remain in place in Hawaii for the length of her stay, which reportedly could extend until January 6.
The White House does not reveal the price tag for the Obamas’ vacations. But an estimate can be made given several known and likely expenses.
http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/12/26/michelle-remain-hawaii-costing-taxpayers-100k/___________________________________________________________________________________________
Newark — Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, gave $100 million to the Newark public schools in hopes of encouraging contributions as small as $5 and $10 from everyday people, but that never happened. The City of Newark released dozens of emails to The Star-Ledger late on Christmas Eve to comply with a Superior Court order. Among the behind-the-scenes details never disclosed, the emails showed the Newark philanthropist Ray Chambers wanted to arrange a million-dollar donation, but a top aide to Mayor Cory Booker dismissed it as too small. Indeed, the heavily redacted emails provide a windowhttp://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/cory_booker_releases_secret_em.html
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The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), hit hard by the collapse of the housing bubble, is still making risky loans on the taxpayers' dime, and may need a bailout in 2013.
An exhaustive study of the subject by the American Enterprise Institute's Edward Pinto reveals some shocking statistics:
An estimated 40 percent of the FHA’s business consists of loans with either one or two subprime attributes—a FICO score below 660 or a debt ratio greater than or equal to 50 percent (based on loans insured during FY 2012). The FHA’s underwriting policies encourage low- and moderate-income families with low credit scores or high debt burdens to make risky financing decisions—combining a low credit score and/or a high debt ratio with a 30-year loan term and a low down payment. A substantial portion of these loans have an expected failure rate exceeding 10 percent.
Across the country, 9,000 zip codes with a median family income below the metro area median have projected foreclosure rates equal to or greater than 10 percent.These zips have an average projected foreclosure rate of 15 percent and account for 44 percent of all FHA loans in the low- and moderate-income zips.
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Reacting Tuesday to passage of Egypt’s divisive new constitution, the State Department chose not to directly criticize its Islamist character, noting only that “[m]any Egyptians have voiced deep concerns” and calling for peaceful dialogue.
“We hope those Egyptians disappointed by the result will seek more and deeper engagement,” department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a Christmas Day statement. “We look to those who welcome the result to engage in good faith. And we hope all sides will re-commit themselves to condemn and prevent violence.”
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The Social Security program ran a $47.8 billion deficit in fiscal 2012 as the program brought in $725.429 billion in cash and paid $773.247 for benefits and overhead expenses, according toofficial data published by SocialSecurity Administration.
The Social Security Administration also released new data revealing that the number of workers collectingdisability benefits hit a record 8,827,795 in December--up from 8,805,353 in November.
The overall number of Social Security program beneficiaries—including retired workers, dependent family members and survivors and disabled workers and their dependent family members—also hit a record in December, climbing from 56,658,978 in November to 56,758,185 in December.
In 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was an average of 112.556 million full-time workers in the United States, of whom 17.806 million worked full-time for local, state or federal government. That left an average of only 94.750 million full-time private sector workers in the country.
That means that for every 1.67 Americans who worked full-time in the private sector in 2011, there is now 1 person collecting benefits from the Social Security administration.
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