California’s Hidden Deficit: Unemployment Insurance Fund Owes $2.6 Billion
This story was co-produced with KQED's The California Report. Listen to it here.
Seventeen states have been forced to borrow federal money because their unemployment insurance trust funds have run dry — but even among this group one state stands out from the rest.
California, which now owes $2.6 billion, has the most indebted trust fund in the nation. For the last month, the state has been borrowing at a rate of about $30 million per day.
State workforce department officials estimate that by the end of 2010, the … more…
Plan to Pay Sick Nuclear Workers Unfairly Rejects Many, Doctor Says
Carla McCabe spent a decade building nuclear bombs at the sprawling Rocky Flats complex near Denver. When she developed a brain tumor … more…
‘Abuse’ Raises Question About Law for Disabled Workers
A scandal rocking an Iowa town of barely 250 has ballooned into a statewide story. But it has national implications.
Last month, FBI … more…
The Numbers Behind Govs’ Refusal of Stimulus Bucks
Unemployment insurance benefits have been in the spotlight ever since Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and several other Republican governors … more…
The White House’s Latest—Iffy—Stimulus Jobs Estimates
A few weeks ago, we cast a skeptical eye on the job creation estimates the Obama administration had attached to the stimulus bill. Well, … more…
Unemployment Benefits Can Help—If You Can Get Them
The idea of unemployment benefits, like any form of insurance, is to have a safety net when disaster strikes.
But hundreds of … more…
Bush Moves Forward With ‘Secret’ OSHA Rule
Remember that "secret" Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule? The one that would make it tougher to protect workers from … more…
With 800,000 Unemployed Set to Lose Benefits, Congress Leaves Town
While Congress managed to pass a $700 billion financial-industry bailout before breaking for over a month to campaign, legislation to … more…
Will Congress Bail Out the Jobless?
While the bailout bill has been stuffed to the gills with tax breaks, one group not included in the list is nearly 800,000 laid-off U.S. … more…
OSHA: The Incredible Shrinking Fines
What good is a big fine if it's never collected? That's what we asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after we looked … more…
Acting Tough: When Cameras Leave, OSHA Penalties Wither
Editor's note: A shorter version of this story was originally published Tuesday on Salon.
After an explosion tore through a sugar … more…
June 22, 2009
Textbook Factory Owes Workers Thousands Jim Dwyer, New York Times, June 22, 2009
April 07, 2009
Laid-Off Workers Await Stimulus Health Insurance Aid Rick Schmitt, Kaiser Health News, April 07, 2009
April 03, 2009
Audit Faults $681,379 Payment to OSHA Consultant R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, April 03, 2009
March 26, 2009
Stimulus Projects Include Wage Requirements Scott Bauer, AP, March 26, 2009
March 16, 2009
Labor Secretary Proposes Suspending Bush Farm Rules Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, March 16, 2009
January 22, 2009
Lobbying Rules Surpass Those of Previous Presidents Dan Eggen and R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, January 22, 2009
January 13, 2009
Farmworkers Sue Bush Admin over Easing of Safety Protections Courthouse News Service, January 13, 2009
January 09, 2009
Bill Easing Unionizing Is Under Heavy Attack Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, January 09, 2009
December 22, 2008
Blago Scandal Spotlights SEIU’s Use of Political Tactics Kris Maher and David Kesmodel, Wall Street Journal ($), December 22, 2008
December 15, 2008
Union-Founded Nonprofit Spent Zero on Its Aim in 2 Years Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, December 15, 2008
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