The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) today called on United Airlines to rethink its outsourcing plans in Kona, Maui and Lihue. United announced in mid-March that it would solicit bids from sub-contractors in an effort to lower the carrier’s costs by outsourcing fleet and passenger service operations…. Keep reading →
Congressional News/Views
Machinists Union, Senator Schatz Urge United Airlines to Keep Jobs in Hawaiian Islands
By businesswireNew GEA Report Details Trends and Substantial Growth in the Global Geothermal Market
By businesswireA new report from the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), released today at the organization’s International Geothermal Showcase in Washington, D.C., reveals the international power market is booming, with a sustained growth rate of 4% to 5%. The “2014 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report” finds almost 700 projects currently under development in 76… Keep reading →
The American Legion’s national commander, Daniel M. Dellinger, told Congress at a hearing today that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leaders must be held accountable for mistakes that result in needless deaths at its medical facilities. “Patient deaths are tragic – preventable deaths are unacceptable,” Dellinger told the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “But failure… Keep reading →
The National Retail Federation today urged Congress to address an increasing threat to retailers: patent trolls. Patent trolls are shadowy entities that purchase overly-broad patents with the sole intent of suing retailers and other end-users of technology that allegedly infringe on those patents. “Trolls’ claims not only affect e-commerce applications and the everyday use of… Keep reading →
The U.S. is on the verge of a period of unprecedented growth, writes economist and author Joel Kurtzman in his latest book, Unleashing the Second American Century: Four Forces for Economic Dominance. Kurtzman directly challenges those who describes the U.S. as a declining power. “The facts are different from what people are saying in Washington…. Keep reading →
New Voter Study Shows Impact of Media on Face-to-Face Conversations That Influence Political Engagement
By businesswireThe TVB (www.tvb.org), the not-for-profit trade association of America’s commercial broadcast television industry, today unveiled a special-edition analysis – People Talking Politics – of the Keller Fay Group and TVB American Conversation Study that looks closely at media’s influence on daily political conversations and engagement. The People Talking Politics analysis was released today at the… Keep reading →
The National Retail Federation today urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Save American Workers Act, which would change the Affordable Care Act’s definition of full-time employment from 30 hours per week to 40 hours. NRF sent a letter to the House saying all votes related to the bill, H.R. 2575, would be considered key votes… Keep reading →
For months the Department of Defense has reiterated that they have no plans to close commissaries. For months military advocacy groups have warned that the Pentagon’s proposal to slash commissary funding would do just that. Last week, before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, a Defense official confirmed that some stateside commissaries might in fact… Keep reading →
The National Retail Federation today called Senate legislation aimed at increasing the federal minimum wage by 40 percent an anti-job tax that would lead to higher labor costs for employers and fewer opportunities for young and entry-level workers. NRF will include votes on the minimum wage as “Key Retail Votes” in its annual voting scorecard… Keep reading →
A group of biofuel trade organizations today sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) encouraging extension of critical advanced biofuel tax incentives — the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit, the Special Depreciation Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property, the Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel… Keep reading →