Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/255268
Health care law could mean millions fewer people on the job WASHINGTON (AP) — Several million Ameri- can workers will reduce their hours on the job or leave the workforce entirely because of incen- tives built into President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, the Con- gressional Budget Office said Tuesday. That would mean loss- es equal to 2.3 million full-time jobs by 2021, in large part because people would opt to keep their income low to stay eligi- ble for federal health care subsidies or Medicaid, the agency said. It had esti- mated previously that the law would lead to 800,000 fewer jobs by that year. Republican lawmakers seized on the report as major new evidence of what they consider the failures of ''Obamacare,'' the huge overhaul of U.S. health care coverage that they're trying to overturn and planning to use as a main argument against Democrats in November's midterm elections. It's the latest indication that ''the president's health care law is destroy- ing full-time jobs,'' said Republican Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, chairman of the House Education and the Work- force Committee. ''This fatally flawed health care scheme is wreaking havoc on working families nationwide,'' he said. But the White House said the possible reduc- tion would be due to vol- untary steps by workers rather than businesses cut- ting jobs — people having the freedom to retire early or spend more time as stay-at-home parents because they no longer had to depend only on their employers for health insurance. Syrian video shows aftermath of bombing at a mosque BEIRUT (AP) — Men pull a girl from the rubble and haul her onto a dirty sheet of plastic, while another child, coated in white dust save for a red streak of blood from his nose, lies with his crushed leg dangling off a gurney — the grisly aftermath from the dropping of a crude ''barrel bomb'' by Syrian forces on the city of Aleppo. The bombing — one of at least seven such attacks in Aleppo on Tuesday — struck a mosque that was being used as a school, killing at least 11 people, activists said. A video supplied by activists con- tained scenes of the car- nage. It was the latest exam- ple of the heightened use of barrel bombs, devices packed with fuel, explo- sives and scrap metal that are hurled from heli- copters, often indiscrimi- nately. Since Thursday, around 80 people have been killed by barrel bombs used by Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces to try to dislodge rebels from Aleppo, according to figures pro- vided by the Britain- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground. The video uploaded from the rebel-held Masaken Hanano district showed the aftermath of the explosion at or near the Uthman Bin Affan mosque, where adults were teaching children the Quran, said activist Hassoun Abu Faisal of the Aleppo Media Center. Senate sends farm bill to Obama WASHINGTON (AP) — The sweeping farm bill that Congress sent to President Obama Tuesday has something for almost everyone, from the nation's 47 million food stamp recipients to South- ern peanut growers, Mid- west corn farmers and the maple syrup industry in the Northeast. After years of set- backs, the Senate on Tuesday sent the nearly $100 billion-a-year mea- sure to President Barack Obama. The White House said the president will sign the bill on Friday in Michigan, the home state of Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. The Senate passed the bill 68-32 after House passage last week. The bill provides a financial cushion for farmers who face unpredictable weath- er and market conditions. It also provides subsidies for rural communities and environmentally-sensitive land. But the bulk of its cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans. The bill would cut food stamps by $800 million a year, or around 1 percent. House Republicans had hoped to reduce the bill's costs even further, pointing to a booming agriculture sector in recent years and arguing that the now $80 billion- a-year food stamp pro- gram has spiraled out of control. The House passed a bill in September that would have made a cut to food stamps that was five times more than the eventual cut. Those partisan dis- agreements stalled the bill for more than two years, but conservatives were eventually outnumbered as the Democratic Senate, the White House and a still-powerful bipartisan coalition of farm-state lawmakers pushed to get the bill done. Labor, business and veterans pushing for Keystone XL WASHINGTON (AP) — An unusual coalition of lawmakers from both parties, labor and busi- ness leaders, veterans groups and Canada's ambassador to the United States joined forces Tuesday to push for quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Five Democrats joined Republicans at a Capitol news conference to urge President Barack Obama to approve the pipeline following a State Depart- ment report last week that raised no major environmental objec- tions. The $7 billion pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in western Canada to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast. The project has lingered for more than five years and has become a symbol of the political debate over cli- mate change. Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer also spoke at the news conference, along with labor union officials and a retired Navy admiral. A top oil industry lobbyist attend- ed the event but did not speak. 8A Daily News – Wednesday, February 5, 2014 Saigon Bistro NEW BUFFET Lunch Express American & International Food Lunch Buffet Wed-Sat 11 - 2:30 DINNER BUFFET Fri-Sat 5pm-8pm Biscuits & Gravy, Meatloaf, Salad Bar, Sushi, Gumbo, Cajun Shrimp, Sandwiches, Fruit Salad and more Wine & Beer - Catering available 723 Walnut St. Red Bluff • 528-9670 www.TehamaCountyRealEstate.com 530 529-2700 314 Washington St, Red Bluff, CA 744 Main Street, Red Bluff, CA (Across from Clock Tower) Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Glass Art Vase/Plates, Trinket with Crystals Raku/Fine Pottery, Moroccan Lanterns, French Perfumes, Lotion Candles Lavender Sachets, Gift Set Bath & Body Kringle Jar Candles, Meditation Singing Bowls Incense, Chakra, Aromatherapy Candles Crystal/Gemstone Jewelry, Women's Clothing, Beaded Bags and More.... www.redbluff.mercy.org /veincare Get a Leg up on Your Health With the St. Elizabeth Center for Vein Care. Call anytime 888-628-1948 for a referral for varicose vein treatment options redbluff.mercy.org/veincare MEET MERCY Wednesday, February 19, 2014 8:15 am - 3:15 pm Mercy High School Prepared for Success 233 Riverside Way, Red Bluff, CA 96080 For more information or to RSVP, please call us at 527-8313 Guests will be paired with a student of similar interest. The opportunities and experiences that await you at Mercy... • The latest in textbook technology. All Students are equipped with I-Pads! • 100% of our graduates go on to college • Personalized College Counseling • Exceptional Opportunities for Student Involvement • Leadership, Clubs, Community Service, Athletics and Fine Arts • Meet faculty and students • Lunch provided Join us for the day & get a taste of a day at Mercy High WORLD BRIEFING Announcing the Grand Opening of the Los Mariachis Banquet Room on Friday, February 7th Parties - Corporate Events- Reunions - Private Events - Rehearsal Dinners 604 Main St. Red Bluff (530) 529-5154 www.redblufflosmariachis.com