Obama pledges to 'get people back to work'
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday touted a dip in unemployment and other signs the economy is rebounding, but said much work remains.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama pointed to the latest unemployment figures, showing the nation lost 11,000 jobs in November, about 115,000 fewer than expected. And unemployment declined from 10.2 percent in October to 10 percent in November.
Obama credited the economic stimulus package and other steps by his administration with helping slow the loss of jobs -- the nation had been shedding 700,000 jobs a month earlier this year -- and stabilize the economy, which is growing for the first time in a year.
"We, as a country, are in a very different place than we were when 2009 began," the president said. "Because of the Recovery Act and a number of other steps we've taken, we're no longer facing the potential collapse of our financial system or a second Great Depression."
The latest unemployment figures, he said, reflect a "continuing positive trend." But with 15.4 million Americans still unemployed, he added: "A good trend isn't good enough. Trends don't buy the groceries. Trends don't pay the rent or a college tuition.
"Too many of our neighbors are still out of work because the growth we've seen hasn't yet translated into all the jobs we need."
He said businesses have been wary of adding jobs in a recession and many are relying on temporary help or asking workers to put in longer hours.
"I'm determined to do everything I can to accelerate our progress so we're actually adding jobs again," he said.
To that end, Obama invited 130 representatives of business, labor, non-profits and academe to the White House Thursday for a jobs forum to explore ways to foster economic growth and stimulate job creation. How to do that remains the subject of considerable debate. Some Democrats would like to see a second stimulus package but Republicans argue persistent unemployment shows the first failed.
Obama said he would unveil additional plans in the coming days to help accelerate job growth and hiring.
"I ran for president to help hard-working families succeed and to stand up for the embattled middle class," he said. "And my commitment to you, the American people, is that I will focus every single day on how we can get people back to work and how we can build an economy that continues to make real the promise of America for generations to come."
Study: Medicare cut before, reforms real
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Despite claims the U.S. Congress never lets Medicare savings that lawmakers pass take effect, a study shows the vast majority of Medicare cuts are enacted.
The analysis, by James Horney and Paul Van de Water, former senior Congressional Budget Office officials now at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, examined the history of every Medicare cut Congress approved in the past 20 years -- specifically cuts approved in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2005.
The study authors said virtually 100 percent of the 1990, 1993 and 2005 savings survived subsequent legislative sessions and nearly 80 percent of the 1997 savings survived.
"Today's conventional wisdom is wrong," Horney said in a statement. "Medicare savings have been a big part of all major deficit-reduction packages that Congress has enacted since 1990, and lawmakers have allowed the vast majority of those cuts to take effect."
In addition, claims that the House and Senate healthcare reform bills lack serious cost-containment provisions does withstand close scrutiny, the analysis says.
"These bills contain just about every reform that health policy experts have proposed to slow healthcare costs over time," Van de Water noted. "While we will ultimately have to do much more, the bills take most of the steps that we know enough about to pursue now in the areas that experts view as promising."
Club officials arrested in deadly fire
PERM, Russia, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The owner and the manager of a Russian nightclub where an explosion and blaze caused by fireworks killed 102 people have been arrested, authorities said.
Anatoly Zak, owner of the Lame Horse club in Perm, and manager Svetlana Yefremova have been charged with causing loss of lives by breaching fire safety regulations, Russian Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told RIA Novosti.
At least 85 of about 130 people injured were in critical condition with burned lungs, and 61 were on ventilators.
Authorities said indoor fireworks at a private party caused the explosion about 1 a.m. local time Saturday, and police said 233 people were in the club at the time.
"Most of the victims died of burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, a stampede occurred at the exit," Markin said.
Igor Orlov, regional security minister, said the club's plastic ceiling ignited during the display of indoor fireworks, known as "cold fireworks."
Authorities said they found no evidence of explosive devices, and Markin said terrorism has been ruled out.
The Health Ministry said some of those injured were being flown to Moscow to be treated, and their plane was scheduled to arrive there at 11:30 a.m. local time.
Perm is a major industrial and administrative center in the Ural Mountains, hundreds of miles east of Moscow.
Baucus nominated girlfriend for U.S. post
WASHINGTON, Dec.5 (UPI) -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was having an extramarital affair with an aide when he nominated her to be Montana U.S. attorney, his office said.
Melodee Hanes, formerly the director of the senator's state office, was one of three names Baucus, D-Montana, forwarded to President Barack Obama to be considered for the U.S. attorney job, Roll Call reported.
Hanes withdrew her name from consideration this year after she and Baucus agreed she should do so, the Web site Main Justice reported.
Baucus and his wife, Wanda, separated in April and have since divorced, Roll Call said. Baucus and Hanes, who now live together in Washington, began their affair last year, his office said.
Tyler Matsdorf, a Baucus spokesman, said Hanes obtained her current job in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on her own merits.
Hanes, who is also divorced, began working for Baucus in 2003. Matsdorf said when the couple realized their relationship was no longer a professional one, she decided to leave his office.
Baucus nominated girlfriend for U.S. post
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was having an extramarital affair with an aide when he nominated her to be Montana U.S. attorney, his office said.
Melodee Hanes, formerly the director of the senator's state office, was one of three names Baucus, D-Montana, forwarded to President Barack Obama to be considered for the U.S. attorney job, Roll Call reported.
Hanes withdrew her name from consideration this year after she and Baucus agreed she should do so, the Web site Main Justice reported.
Baucus and his wife, Wanda, separated in April and have since divorced, Roll Call said. Baucus and Hanes, who now live together in Washington, began their affair last year, his office said.
Tyler Matsdorf, a Baucus spokesman, said Hanes obtained her current job in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on her own merits.
Hanes, who is also divorced, began working for Baucus in 2003. Matsdorf said when the couple realized their relationship was no longer a professional one, she decided to leave his office.
