Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/79941
6A Daily News – Friday, August 24, 2012 Romney: Mass. health care plan better than Obama's DENVER (AP) — Claiming health care bragging rights, Mitt Romney said Thursday his plan to provide health insurance to everyone in Massachusetts was supe- rior to the one it inspired, President Barack Obama's much-debated national law. ''My health care plan I put in place in my state has everyone insured, but we didn't go out and raise taxes on people and have a unelected board tell people what kind of health care they can have,'' Romney said in an interview with CBS' Den- ver affiliate, KCNC. The law signed by enjoyed support from both political parties, and the Republican candidate argues that health care reform should remain a state prerogative. Tropical Storm Isaac could shake up security plan for GOP WORLD BRIEFING right now where we don't know what's going to happen,'' Gee said. ''My primary concern right now is that we will lose resources.'' Akin seeks small cash donations convention TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — followed the same outline — a private insurance system with an expanded government safety net. But there are some impor- tant differences. The federal law is national, and most of its important provisions are binding even in states that oppose it. Romney's law was a state effort that Romney in 2006 sought to expand health care but did not guarantee coverage for all. Romney and Massachusetts lawmakers decided that rather than reinvent the entire health care system, they would instead close a series of holes, allowing the vast majority of residents to keep their existing plans. Obama's law basically Tropical Storm Isaac could force a shakeup of the security plans for the GOP convention in Tampa, because about half of the expected offi- cers come from other parts of Florida and some could be forced to stay home for the storm, authorities said Thursday. More than 3,500 offi- cers from 59 law enforce- ment agencies from around the state are scheduled to come to Tampa to patrol the streets as the convention opens Monday. About half would come from outside Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa. About 1,700 National Guard troops were already expected to help with patrols. Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff David Gee said the num- ber could increase if other law enforcement agencies don't end up sending offi- cers. The storm is forecast to start affecting South Florida on Monday and could reach the Tampa area by Tuesday. ''We're in a situation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Abandoned by deep-pocketed nation- al groups, Missouri Rep. Todd Akin is passing a collection plate among his remaining supporters, asking for a few dollars at a time in hopes of sustain- ing a Senate campaign threatened by his remarks about women's bodies and ''legitimate rape.'' Akin claimed Thurs- dent by 2020. ''This is not some pie in the sky kind of thing,'' Romney told voters in Hobbs, the heart of New Mexico's oil and gas industry. ''This is a real achievable objective.'' The cornerstone of Romney's plan is opening up more areas for offshore oil drilling, including in the mid-Atlantic, where it is currently banned. He also wants to give states the power to establish all forms of energy produc- tion on federal lands, a significant shift in current policy that could face strong opposition in Con- gress. Afghanistan, Marine Gen. John R. Allen, said Thurs- day that while the reasons for the killings are not fully understood, the effect of Ramadan fasting is likely among the caus- es. day to have taken in more than $100,000 during a two-day online fundrais- ing drive that he portrayed as a grassroots effort to circumvent ''party boss- es'' who demanded that he drop out. But the six- term congressman will need much more than that to replenish a campaign account already dimin- ished by a hotly contested primary. ''It's very difficult, when you have the limited base we have in Missouri, to send emails out asking for $3 at a time,'' said Pat Thomas, secretary of the Missouri Republican State Committee who has worked as a coordinator for numerous candidates. ''I don't know how to build a war chest to do that.'' forward without the fire- power of well-funded political groups that had Akin now has to go His proposals make lit- tle mention of renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar, backed by President Barack Obama. Romney has deep ties to big oil and raised more than $7 million from industry executives dur- ing a campaign fundraiser in Texas earlier this week. planned to pummel Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill with negative television ads. If his money runs dry, Akin could confront a dif- ficult choice: whether to end his candidacy or adopt a bare-bones strate- gy relying on social media and socially con- servative activists to counter the millions of dollars of mass media advertising expected from McCaskill and her allies. Romney says N. American energy independence achievable HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Seeking to reset his eco- nomic message, Republi- can Mitt Romney pledged Thursday to create 3 mil- lion jobs and more than $1 trillion in revenue by ramping up offshore oil drilling and giving states more control over energy production on federal land. Romney, reviving a long-elusive goal pushed by presidents and presi- dential candidates for decades, said his plans would make the U.S., along with Canada and Mexico, energy indepen- attacks WASHINGTON (AP) — American and Afghan officials are expanding the range of explanations for a surge in ''insider attacks'' on U.S. troops, adding on Wednesday the theory that the burden of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan combined with the sum- mer heat may have prompted more Afghan soldiers and police to turn their guns on their Ameri- can partners. Whatever the underly- ing reasons, the attacks are taking a toll and rais- ing questions about the risk of American and other coalition troops working side by side with Afghan troops as advis- ers, mentors and trainers. The close contact is an essential element of the U.S. strategy for putting the Afghans in the lead combat role as the U.S. prepares to pull out its last combat troops at the end of 2014. Commander says strain of Ramadan fasting is factor in The top commander of coalition forces in will fast during the day places great strain on them,'' Allen said, adding that the stress may have been compounded by Ramadan falling during the heat of summer and the height of the fighting season. He acknowledged that hunger and heat are not the primary causes for the killings, but it is among many ''different and complex reasons for why we think this may have increased'' lately. He also cited Taliban ''The idea that they infiltration of Afghan security forces and per- sonal Afghan grievances against U.S. troops, who Afghans have in some cases accused of being brutish and insensitive to local culture and customs. SEAL author who wrote account of bin Laden raid could face legal trouble WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy SEAL who wrote an account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden under a pseudonym was identified Thursday as Matt Bissonnette, who retired from the Navy last summer. Bissonnette was first identified by Fox News. One current and one former U.S. military official con- firmed the name, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss mili- tary personnel matters. The book, ''No Easy Day,'' is scheduled to be released Sept. 11, with the author listed under the pseu- donym of Mark Owen. Pen- guin Group (USA)'s Dutton imprint, the publisher, asked news organizations Thurs- day to withhold his identity. ''Sharing the true story of his personal experience in 'No Easy Day' is a coura- geous act in the face of obvious risks to his person- al security,'' said a statement by Christine Ball, Penguin Group spokeswoman. ''That personal security is the sole reason the book is being published under a pseudonym.'' Special Operations Command spokesman Col. Tim Nye said the retired SEAL could be endangered by being identified, which could also expose those active-duty SEALs the author worked with in the killing of bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan last year. Schedule of Events Thursday, August 16th • Miss Corning Program Veteran's Memorial Hall, 6 pm Monday, August 20th • Missing Olive Contest Clues Begin Wednesday, August 22nd • Annual City Water Festival Thursday, August 23rd • Olive Festival Mixer Northside Park, 6 - 8 pm Sponsored by the City of Corning Bell Carter Breakroom, 6 - 8 pm Look for directions from the parking lot. For More Information: Call 530.824.5550 www.corningcachamber.org Bell Carter Foods Rolling Hills Casino Les Schwab Tires Friday, August 24th Olive Festival Parade Solano Street, 6 pm •Farmer's Market 3rd & Yolo, 6 - 8:30 pm • "Corning Does It Bedder" Bed Races Solano & 6th Street, 7 pm Saturday, August 25th All Events at Woodson City Park Come early - Parking is Limited •Pancake Breakfast, 7 - 11 am •Fun Run/Walk Registration, 8 - 8:45 am •Fun Run/Walk, 9 am •Arts, Crafts, Food Booths, 10 am - 4 pm drowning SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Rodney King had been drinking and was on drugs when he plunged into a swimming pool and accidentally drowned in June, a coro- ner's report released Thursday concluded. The report confirmed a Rodney King death was accidental •Music & Entertainment, 11 am •Children's Activities, 11 am •Fireman's Hose Down, 11 am •Cook-Off Judging, 1 pm •Talent Show, 2 pm •Raffle Drawing, 3 pm •Corning Rotary Olive Drop, 3 pm Hispana Americana News Round Table Pizza Corning Observer Corning Rotary Club Interland Business Jamison Properties DM Tech Olive Pit previous police conclu- sion that King died by accident, and the case will be closed, Rialto police Capt. Randy DeAnda said. ''It concludes our Corning Police Department Red Bluff Daily News Corning Fire Department City of Corning All Star Auto Recycling Blaze 103.5 investigation,'' he said. ''Basically, our investiga- tion revealed the same conclusion and now that we have the toxicology, it basically reinforces that.'' King, whose video- taped beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 led to deadly rioting, had long struggled with addic- tion.