Today's Teamster News 03.12.13

<="http://www.businessinsider.com/puerto-rico-tax-law-act-22-2013-3">This New Puerto Rican Law Makes Wealthy People Want To Move There To Avoid Taxes  Business Insider   ...Billionaire hedge funder John Paulson, who famously bet against the subprime housing market, is reportedly weighing a move to Puerto Rico to take advantage of a new tax law there...
<="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-sec-illinois-pensionbre92a0po-20130311,0,4271389.story">Illinois settles SEC fraud charges over pension fund disclosures  Reuters   ...Illinois failed to inform investors about the impact of problems with its pension funding schedule as the state offered and sold more than $2.2 billion worth of municipal bonds from 2005 to early 2009...
<="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/11/17269402-ex-detroit-mayor-kilpatrick-convicted-of-range-of-corruption-charges?lite">Ex-Detroit mayor Kilpatrick convicted of range of corruption charges  NBC News   ...Prosecutors said that Kilpatrick, 42, steered $83 million in city work to a friend and contractor, Bobby Ferguson, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks...
<="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/03/11/1700341/after-watering-down-financial-reform-ex-senator-scott-brown-joins-goldman-sachs-lobbying-firm/">After Watering Down Financial Reform, Ex-Senator Scott Brown Joins Goldman Sachs’ Lobbying Firm  ThinkProgress   ...During his nearly three years in the U.S. Senate, Scott Brown (R-MA) frequently came to the aid of the financial sector — watering down the Dodd-Frank bill and working to weaken it after its passage — and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash from the industry...
<="http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22763343/congress-wants-role-obama-pushes-trade-agenda">Congress wants role as Obama pushes trade agenda  Associated Press   ...A strong trade agenda, said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah requires close cooperation and consultation with Congress. Members of Obama's Democratic Party tend to oppose "fast track," arguing that trade pacts negotiated by past administrations have resulted in job losses in America and given short shrift to environmental and labor and human rights issues...
<="http://manufacturethis.org/blog/sequester-scuttling-sandy-shape">Sequester scuttling Sandy shape-up?  Manufacture This  ...New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, are still repairing after Hurricane Sandy, five months later. But now there's a new complication: the sequester has taken a bite out of federal aid money...
<="http://www.ktts.com/news/197262391.html">Missouri Senate Backs Union Paycheck Bill  Associated Press   ...The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to a measure that would require public employee unions to seek annual consent to automatically deduct dues from members' paychecks...
<="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826704578354543929974394.html">Judge Cans Soda Ban  Wall Street Journal   ...Mayor Michael Bloomberg was dealt a stinging blow on Monday when a state Supreme Court Judge quashed his plan to ban the sale of large sugary drinks in the city's restaurants and other venues...
<="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/03/liquor_privatization_pennsylva_2.html">Why liquor privatization still faces a long road  PennLive   ...While some legislators say a bill introduced this week to end the state's longtime monopoly is on the fast track, others say they aren't so sure such a swift timetable is in the cards...
<="http://www.indystar.com/article/20130310/NEWS05/303100027">Behind Closed Doors: Americans for Prosperity chapter leader is no stranger to Pence  Indianapolis Star   ...Americans for Prosperity is a national group launched by Charles and David Koch, billionaire brothers and influential conservative leaders who financially supported Pence’s campaign for governor...
<="http://www.startribune.com/politics/196725021.html">Minnesota Poll: Majority supports raising state minumum wage  Minneapolis Star-Tribune   ...But Minnesotans are divided on how high to go, $7.50 an hour vs. $9.50...
<="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/jessica_vanegeren/realtors-asked-for-budget-provision-expanding-foreign-ownership-of-state/article_7c88c158-88c4-11e2-8920-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz2NFiOLjDG">Realtors asked for budget provision expanding foreign ownership of state land  The Cap Times   ...Wisconsin Realtors look to be next in line to benefit from Gov. Scott Walker’s “Wisconsin is open for business” vow...
<="http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/chicago-heights/teamsters-begin-picket-at-thorn-creek-basin-facility/article_01209f19-dca2-5812-a321-5eb8b5ea927c.html">Teamsters begin picket at Thorn Creek Basin facility  NWITimes.com  ... About a dozen Teamsters Local 705 members began pickets Monday at the Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District facility in frustration with the current negotiations for a new contract...
<="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/mar/11/teamsters-rally-in-memphis-behind-republic/">Teamsters rally in Memphis behind Republic Services workers  Commercial Appeal   ...The nation’s second-most powerful Teamster came to Memphis Sunday with Teamsters from across the nation to express their support to sanitation workers employed by Republic Services. About 180 employees are working under an expired contract to serve about 200,000 Memphis-area residents...
<="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/11/5253527/teamsters-educate-city-leaders.html">Teamsters Educate City Leaders About Republic Services' Poor Record  IBT  ...More than 2,000 mayors, city councilmembers, and local administrators at the conference were greeted by Teamsters holding a banner that stated "Republic Services Trashes American Cities." The League of Cities attendees also received leaflets that read, "Tell Republic: Do It Right or Pay the Penalty."...