13 State AGs Threaten Suit over Health Care Deal

COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 31, 2009 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Republican attorneys general in 13 states say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska's political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action, according to a letter provided to The Associated Press Wednesday.

"We believe this provision is constitutionally flawed," South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and the 12 other attorneys general wrote in the letter to be sent Wednesday night to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

EBSA - COBRA Premium Reduction Extension

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended on December 19, 2009 by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 DOD Act) provides for premium reductions for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. To qualify, individuals must experience a COBRA qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of a covered employee's employment. The involuntary termination must occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on February 28, 2010. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage that began on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to 15 months.

Update - Links

New links have been added for IATA (International Air Transport Association) under the Airline Industry News link and for CRA (Civil Rights Act, 1964) under the U.S. Government link.

Pilots Union Faults Feds for Lack of Terror Alert

DALLAS (AP) -- The pilots union at American Airlines says federal officials failed to notify crews on planes in the United States about the attempted terror attack aboard a Northwest jet on Christmas Day.

The Allied Pilots Association said Wednesday it would lobby Congress to require that federal officials notify all flights in the air -- no matter where the flights started -- as soon as they learn of a possible attack on another plane.

Delta Formally Takes Over Northwest

Delta Air Lines Inc. has received government permission to operate its namesake service and its Northwest Airlines subsidiary as a single carrier, a Delta executive said Thursday.

The single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration allows Delta to put its code on Northwest flights and phase out the Northwest name.
That process will be complete in the first quarter of 2010. For now, travelers won’t notice anything different.

Janitors on Delta, United Planes End Boston Strike

BOSTON (AP) -- Janitors who clean Delta and United airlines planes at Boston's Logan International Airport have ended their 24-hour strike.

The more than 100 Aramark Corp. employees clean toilets and remove trash from planes parked overnight. They say many have received wages of between $8 and $9 an hour with few or no benefits.