ny legislature http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for ny legislature Copyright 2008 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:03:34 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/ny+legislature Stogies and Slots: How to Plan a Cigar-Friendly Gambling Vacation http://www.artwoo.com/article/stogies-and-slots-how-to-plan-a-cigar-friendly-gambling-vacation http://www.artwoo.com/article/stogies-and-slots-how-to-plan-a-cigar-friendly-gambling-vacation#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:15:29 +0000 governor ed rendellriver cree casinopublic smoking bannew jersey state legislaturecigar loverscigar storesed rendell http://www.artwoo.com/article/stogies-and-slots-how-to-plan-a-cigar-friendly-gambling-vacation
Which made it all the more surprising, for many , when the Nevada legislature imposed a public-smoking ban in 2006. That ban doesn't yet apply to Las Vegas gaming floors - there is such a thing as tradition, after all. But Atlantic City recently took Nevada's ball and ran with it: the has instituted a smoking ban, effective October 2008, which includes the area's famed casinos.

All of which raises the question: where can a gambling smoker still enjoy a cigar?

Well, part of the answer depends on timing. Ontario, Canada, long a major vacation destination for gamblers, also banned smoking in casinos in 2006. This decision was particularly lamented by American visitors to the area, who took advantage of the Canadian casinos' proximity to that sell banned-in-America Cuban cigars (though it's technically illegal for Americans abroad to buy Cuban cigars). Ontario's casinos acknowledged these smokers' concerns, successfully petitioning the province's legislature for permission to build special "smoking shelters." So you can smoke cigars during your visit to an Ontario casino - just wait till you're off the gaming floor and in the outdoor shelter.

Elsewhere in Canada, consider Edmonton, Alberta - or, actually, just west of it. Though public smoking is banned in Alberta, due to a 2006 ban, the Enoch Cree First Nation has voted to exempt its own casino from this ban. So visitors to the can light up.

Pennsylvania remains another possibility. Casinos fought successfully to be exempted from the statewide smoking ban passed by in June 2008. As of summer 2008, you can no longer smoke cigars in most Pennsylvania bars and restaurants, but you can smoke in casinos located outside Philadelphia. That leaves such places as Pittsburgh (with the Majestic Star casino slated to open in late 2008), Bethlehem (the Sands Bethworks Casino, also under construction), and a handful of other locations.

The Michigan legislature recently adjourned for the summer without deciding whether not to pass a statewide smoking ban. In the meantime, Wayne County recently passed a ban that exempts casinos. This means that the non-Native owned casinos of Detroit will continue to be able to compete with the state's several large Native American-owned casinos, which will not be subject to any statewide ban.

Biloxi, Mississippi, remains a favorite for Southern gamblers who like to smoke, owing to its lack of a statewide smoking ban. Though some larger Mississippi cities have banned public smoking, Biloxi remains a smoke-positive place, rendering its nine casinos attractive destinations for a smoker-gambler.

South Dakota casino owners, meanwhile, are relishing the prospects created by a statewide smoking ban recently passed in neighboring Iowa. According to reports in local newspapers, casino owners in North Sioux City are hoping Iowa's ban will drive smoking gamblers to the state's many casinos - while they worry that South Dakota might pass a similar law in the near future. After all, half the population of the United States currently lives in an area (state, city or town) where public smoking is proscribed to at least some extent - and the popularity of such bans seems on the increase. Even Mississippi's state legislature is considering one. So light 'em while you've got 'em - and no matter where you are, whenever you gamble, check before you light up. It's not fun to be ejected from a casino!CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo and Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.]]> Business, Ethics, And The Law http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-ethics-and-the-law http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-ethics-and-the-law#comments Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:27:14 +0000 unethical business practicesethical fashionmilton friedmanargument statesethical mannerconsumersmake money http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-ethics-and-the-law make money. Why would an individual or group of people start a business if he did not want to make money? An argument that is generated by some is: "Should profits be the only function of a business?"

The desire for businesses to make money can sometimes lead to what is considered . Keep in mind the words unethical and unlawful are two separate terms with two separate meanings. One side of the that ethics should not play a part in business as long as the business abides by the law of the land then they should not concern themselves with ethical behavior, but they should act in the best interest of the organization. The other side of the argument states that for an economy to function in a capitalist fashion that businesses must act in an regardless if their actions are legal under law.

contends that the sole responsibility of business is to increase its profits. Robert Almeder maintains that if capitalism is to survive, it must act in a socially responsible ways that go beyond profit making. The views of these two individuals go to the heart of the argument. This author believes that after reading their material that the views of both are exaggerated. I do believe that a business's responsibilities do go beyond what is legal. A business has a responsibility not only to the owners or stockholders, but also to the consumer who trust the business is acting not only in a legal manner but a safe and as well. If a business goes out of its way to act in an unethical fashion then the business has broken their trust with the consumer. Once a business loses the trust of their then profits will plummet. Seeing that profits are the primary function of a business then it is in the businesses best interest to maintain a trusting relationship with the consumers and continue to act in safe and ethical manner.

Keeping in mind that it is not the purpose of a business to propose or to dictate legislature nor ethical behavior to the individual, a business should not be held accountable for what a small population of consumers consider unethical. If the practice of the business is out in the open and hazards of their products are readily published and do not present the possibility of death involuntarily to the consumer then legislature should not dictate ethical behavior to business nor individuals for that matter. Joseph Brochin owns and operates http://Brochin.net. An IT and Telecommunications Solutions provider and consultant. http://brochin.net ]]> The Lemon Law In Florida - Stating The Law As It http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-lemon-law-in-florida-stating-the-law-as-it http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-lemon-law-in-florida-stating-the-law-as-it#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2006 08:00:10 +0000 florida lemon lawautomobiles in floridalemon law attorneysmopedsconsumersunited statesdemonstrator vehicles http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-lemon-law-in-florida-stating-the-law-as-it consumers' money if the vehicle applies to certain conditions set forth by the Legislature. This law is commonly known as Florida's automobile 'Lemon Law,' or popularly known as lemon law Florida.

Most of the states in protect consumers from vehicles with manufacturing or other defects. The law stated to prevent consumers from defective vehicles is known as Lemon Law. Lemon law Florida applied to new or sold or long term leased in Florida. Lemon law Florida enables consumer to get repaid within a certain period of time if the vehicle turns out to be a lemon. According to lemon law Florida a vehicles is termed to be a lemon if it calls for multiple repairs in a short span of time. Usually a lemon car works cheaply or breaks down several times immediately after the purchase.

Lemon law Florida applies to only new or demonstrator vehicles sold in state of Florida. Lemon law Florida also applies to vehicles leased in Florida, if such vehicles are lease-purchased. Lemon law Florida is also applicable to vehicles in cases where lessee is responsible for the repair of the vehicle. Lemon law Florida does not cover trucks weighing more than ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight, off-road vehicles, vehicles which are purchased for purposes of resale, motorcycles and , or the living facilities of recreational vehicles.

Information on lemon law Florida can be obtained from various websites that provide information about or United States. Consumer guide for lemon law Florida can be obtained from hotline number 1-800-321-5366, or 1-850-488-2221 for consumers outside Florida. This phone line should be answered between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time. To file a suit for lemon law Florida one should consult who specialize in lemon law for Florida. Consumer guide to the explains consumer rights, gives steps to follow to resolve problems and contains a toll-free number for the Lemon Law Hotline and a form the consumer can use to notify the manufacturer of chronic defects and time out of service for repair.

Lemon law Florida covers defects or conditions that impair the use of the automobile. The automobile can also be proved to be hazardous or unsafe for use. According to lemon law Florida any defects pertaining to the automobile should be duly reported to the manufacturer or any authorized servicing agency. Lemon law Florida states the first 24 months after the purchase of any automobile as Lemon Law Period for that automobile. If the manufacturer fails to conform the vehicle to the warranty after a reasonable number of attempts to repair these defects, the law requires the manufacturer to buy back the defective vehicle and give the consumer a purchase price refund or a replacement vehicle. The law does not cover defects that result from accident, neglect, abuse, modification or alteration by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent. About The Author: Earl Powers, US Lawyer and Lemon Law Attorney expert at Aquest Group LLC ( http://www.lemon-law-attorney.com ) publishes other articles related to Lemon Law Attorney at http://www.lemon-vehicle.com and http://www.what-is-the-lemon-law.com ]]> Early Wine Research http://www.artwoo.com/article/early-wine-research http://www.artwoo.com/article/early-wine-research#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:29:33 +0000 california wine industrypersonal reimbursementgrape culturevine cuttingsclimate conditionscalifornia legislaturesenate committee http://www.artwoo.com/article/early-wine-research
In 1861 Governor Downey appointed Col. Haraszthy to head a commission to go to Europe for the purchase of selected varieties to be planted in different parts of the State. He went abroad carrying letters from the Secretary of State, visiting principal vineyards and wineries in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. With practical knowledge of soil and at home in California, he selected the leading species of vines, had them tagged, bundled, and shipped to America. He spent $12,000 of his own money for 100,000 vines of 1,400 different varieties.

On his return he prepared an elaborate report of his trip, accounting in detail for all the monies expended, and described the methods of all the famous wineries he had visited. His book, ", Wines and Wine-Making," is a collector's item today. It reads as lightly and amusingly as a best-selling travelogue. However, when the report was presented to the for approval and , it was wholly rejected!

Civil War was by then raging between the North and South. A five-man on Agriculture voted three to two not to accept the report, or the vines, or to pay the bill. The three nays were Northern Republicans who suspected the Colonel of Confederate leanings!

Col. Haraszthy held the vines for a year, hoping the legislature would reconsider his report. They refused again. Disgusted and disappointed, he returned from the State Capitol and looked at his priceless stock of . His desire to be of further service to the came to an end. To realize something from his investment he offered the vines for sale. In lots of twenty, fifty, or one hundred they were distributed, indiscriminately, all over the State. Identifying tags, so carefully attached in each country, were lost, smudged, or ignored by the new owners.

This partisan stupidity of the legislature dealt the industry a crushing blow from which it has never fully recovered. The task of identifying grape species still goes on today; vintners sometimes quarrel with experts over certain types, such as Trebbiano. The finest species, which would have been accorded special care under the Colonel's supervision, were discarded by most vineyardists of that time because they gave a small yield. The precious blood of these grapes is only now becoming fully appreciated.

In the late sixties, after conveying his Sonoma vineyard to a cooperative association, Col. Haraszthy left California to begin a new life in Central America. Wines and vines had given him a thoroughly disappointing life, and with some degree of vindictive determination he turned to raising sugar cane on a large scale. After only a few months of this new life he missed his footing while crossing a tropical stream, fell into the swirling waters and was devoured by alligators.

Col Haraszthy's career was a personal tragedy of heroic proportions. Like the central figure in a noble drama of Aristotelian conception he perished because of his virtue. However, his spectacular career as an ardent wine enthusiast established the basis of the modern wine industry, particularly when it comes to Chardonnay. The vines he selected, even at random planting, raised the standard quality of California wine to such an extent that the industry enjoyed considerable expansion in the years immediately following.Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in fine wines, the history of vineyards, and interesting varietals, such as Trebbiano. For an incredible selection of fine wines, please visit http://www.wineaccess.com.]]> Hawaii University Degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/hawaii-university-degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/hawaii-university-degrees#comments Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:20:01 +0000 hawaii west oahuuniversity of hawaiifour years laterwindward community collegecollege of agriculturemarine biology researchcampuses http://www.artwoo.com/article/hawaii-university-degrees University of Hawaii?

The Hawaii Territorial Legislature established the and Mechanic Arts in Honolulu under terms of the U.S. land grant legislation in 1907. Only ten students begin classes with thirteen staff in September in 1908.

The campus was renamed College of Hawaii and moved to its present location in Oahu's Manoa Valley in 1912. Some six years later, a William Kwai petitioned the legislature to grant the college a university status leading to the establishment of the University of Hawaii in 1920.

In 1931 the university absorbed the Territorial Normal and Training School (now known as the College of Education) and graduated its first PhD student in Dr J. S. Phillips. , Professor Gregg Sinclair founded the Oriental Institute, predecessor of the federal government sponsored East-West Center, setting the agenda for the University of Hawaii's ever growing prominence in Asia-Pacific expertise.

The University of Hawaii's community colleges system was established in 1964, with Honolulu, Kapiolani, Kauai and Maui . As at this writing, it has evolved into 10 campuses and dozens of educational, training and research centers across the Hawaiian Islands.

The 1970s saw the addition of , the William S. Richardson School of Law, Hilo College of Agriculture and University of Hawaii-West Oahu and a few years later, School of Architecture and School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology.

A generous gift by Ed Pauley purchased the Coconut Island, known to millions people around world as the Gilligan's Island for expanded . The university set records by offering the country's first master's degree in an indigenous language, Hawaiian language, and also becoming the first institution to successfully clone multiple mammalian generations such as the Cumulina mouse

The 10 University of Hawaii campuses and educational centers on six Hawaiian Islands provide unique opportunities for both learning and recreation. The university is Hawaii's engine for economic growth and diversification, stimulating the economy with jobs, research and skilled workers. The university academic offerings range from certificate and vocational training programs right up to PhD degrees.

So Hawaii is not just a holiday vacation destination with fascinating tourist attractions, it is also firmly anchored in the area of education as shown by the international credibility of the University of Hawaii. Chris Chew is a researcher. More articles on http://hawaii-vacations-holidays.blogspot.com and http://universityeducation.blogspot.com ]]> Michigan Schools Shore Up A Failing School System http://www.artwoo.com/article/michigan-schools-shore-up-a-failing-school-system http://www.artwoo.com/article/michigan-schools-shore-up-a-failing-school-system#comments Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:27:10 +0000 michigan schoolscurrent systemmoneyprogressivestudent achievementrisenunions http://www.artwoo.com/article/michigan-schools-shore-up-a-failing-school-system progressive and innovative methods to improve and graduation rates, the continue to shore up the current failing system, according to The Detroit News. Rather than improving the , teachers' act as oversight bullies, the Michigan schools appear to follow their dictates, and legislators just keep pouring into the Michigan schools, while complaining that funds are limited.

First, money is not the issue. While inflation has at a rate of 21 percent, funding for the Michigan schools has risen by of 71 percent. The state legislature funds the Michigan schools annually at the tune of $13 billion, and Michigan schools teachers are among the highest paid educators in the United States.

The problem with the Michigan schools current system is that they are not working hard enough to improve it for the children. They have some excellent educators that work hard for their schools, putting every effort into helping students excel under the current policies and resources. The community should be very grateful for their dedication. Yet, the Michigan schools are still operating under old standards -- pump more money into teacher benefits (for which teachers' unions also benefit), rather than the students.

The state recently approved an increase in the per student funding rate that should be going toward improving student achievement. Yet almost the entire $216 per student rate is underwriting healthcare and retirement costs for Michigan schools employees, according to the newspaper.

With a statewide dropout rate of nearly 25 percent (some districts in Metro Detroit are as high as 60 percent), Michigan schools administrators need to do some serious housecleaning on the current system. When the newspaper surveyed students and their parents, it found that only 30 percent of parents insist their children remain in school. Only 12 percent of students found coursework challenging; 83 percent believe that their coursework is not relevant.

Teachers who speak up or attempt to effect change in the current Michigan schools system are shutdown by the strong, organized and vocal teachers' unions and administrators of the Michigan schools. They both seem to like things as they are.

Some progressive teachers have publicly recommended that school grade levels be reorganized; the current pay system for teachers be replaced with pay-for-performance measures; and parents be allowed to send their children to the schools of their choice (charter, public, private or home school) -- as is done in many states. The teachers' unions quickly silenced these progressives.

The teachers' unions give no particular evidence as to why these recommendations should not be considered, nor do they offer any solutions, except for their recent proposal -- guaranteed yearly pay raises for teachers. They are aggressively pushing for the state legislature to write an amendment into the state constitution that guarantees funding for annual teacher pay raises. Where is the accountability?

With all the problems of student achievement, it is time the Michigan schools stop catering to the teachers' unions and focus on improving student achievement. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more on Michigan schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Michigan/index.html ]]> Los Angeles Schools Strongly Opposed To Takeover By Mayor Villaraigosa http://www.artwoo.com/article/los-angeles-schools-strongly-opposed-to-takeover-by-mayor-villaraigosa http://www.artwoo.com/article/los-angeles-schools-strongly-opposed-to-takeover-by-mayor-villaraigosa#comments Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:27:16 +0000 los angeles schoolsantonio villaraigosasidestepmayorsplacatesubsetincurred http://www.artwoo.com/article/los-angeles-schools-strongly-opposed-to-takeover-by-mayor-villaraigosa Antonio Villaraigosa to take over a of the . Recently, the mayor's school reform team announced its latest round of changes to the bill in order to some possible problems to it passing.

Last month, according to the Los Angeles Times' August 8, 2006 article, Los Angeles Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry F. Miller made certain speculations about the bill. He believes, if the bill is passed, the following may occur:

• Some power could shift from the City Council to Villaraigosa; • Additional costs may be by the cities that are served by the Los Angeles schools; and • These same cities, as well as the Council of , could incur certain legal liabilities.

Legal responsibilities and costs could shift with the power, since the bill gives responsibility for the subset of Los Angeles schools directly to Villaraigosa, who dominates the Council of Mayors with an 80 percent vote. The Council of Mayors consists of Villaraigosa, representatives from the County Board of Supervisors, and representatives of 27 other cities that are served by the Los Angeles schools.

The recently announced changes to the bill are to the officials and representatives of the 27 other cities concerning Miller's speculations, as well as protect the legislation from being defeated due to criticisms from opponents who are aligned with the Los Angeles schools officials, who are strongly opposed to the takeover.

The new language added to the bill does the following:

• Budget administration for the Los Angeles schools will remain with the City Councils of the cities served by the school district, as it currently stands. This eliminates the possibility of additional costs being incurred by any of the cities served.

• Responsibility for any lawsuits or legal issues will remain with the Los Angeles schools, even though Villaraigosa will be making most of the decisions. This ensures that the County of Los Angeles and the cities involved will be held blameless.

• The takeover of the Los Angeles schools subset is now likened to a school district authorizing a charter school. It is hoped by Villaraigosa's team that this language will sidestep the state constitution provision that requires public schools to be overseen by established school systems.

Kevin Reed, general counsel for the Los Angeles schools, was quite critical of the bill's new language, especially concerning legal responsibility. He also said the comparison of Villaraigosa's takeover to a charter school, which was developed by Villaraigosa's legal advisor Thomas Saenz, was erroneous. Charter schools submit to more oversight than will Villaraigosa, if the bill becomes law.

Reed also pointed out a conflict of interest for Saenz, who is also an appointed board member of the County Office of Education. A spokesperson for the mayor said Saenz would resign, if the bill becomes law.

Villaraigosa has some backers for his bill, which will soon be reviewed by the legislature. The bill, however, has many questionable provisions in its language and many strongly opposed to it. Opposition comes not only from the Los Angeles schools officials, but also from many of the city representatives on the Council of Mayors, who already see Villaraigosa controlling too much of their concerns. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information on Los Angeles schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Los-Angeles/index.html ]]> The Environment Agency Tells Businesses Not to Waver http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-environment-agency-tells-businesses-not-to-waver http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-environment-agency-tells-businesses-not-to-waver#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:50:32 +0000 nitrogen oxidessulphur oxidescredit cruncheconomic slowdownpollution incidentsrisk assesmentenvironmental reform http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-environment-agency-tells-businesses-not-to-waver credit crunch.

The Environment Agency makes no such suggestions.

In fact, after the publication of its 'Spotlight on Business' report, it is urging exactly the opposite; that - despite troubled economic times - businesses should not falter in their commitment to the environment.

The warnings were made on the back of what makes impressive reading on the improvement of environmental issues in the business sector. This, the 'Spotlight on Business' report shows:

"Industry sectors that have reported to us since 1998 have:

1) Improved air quality by cutting (SOx) by 69 per cent, fine particles (PM10) by 53 per cent, (NOx) by 12 per cent.

2) Reduced waste by 14 per cent.

3) Cut the number of serious by almost half from 884 to 462 since 2000."

The report cites some substantial cutbacks, and details the success of its fines and system:

"As a result of Environment Agency prosecutions the courts handed out £3 million in fines as well as almost 8 years behind bars and more than 170 days of community service.

Businesses have benefited from our risk-based approach to regulation and we will continue to work closely with them in the future to build on these successes."

But the Environmental Agency - despite the improvements - does not believe that should be used as an excuse for a slowdown in . It believes that business should operate on the same legislature, with the same level of commitment.

Indeed many of the Environmental Agency's supporters link good environmental policy with a strong economy; it is believed that long term stability can be guaranteed with the introduction of sustainable and renewable energy, which cost less to run and maintain than the current fossil fuel systems.

This is also the thinking behind the newly proposed 'Green New Deal', which will look to tackle economic recession with the creation of jobs in a new, vastly expanded 'green collar worker' jobs sector.

The plan proposes that a vast environmental reform program, developing a wealth of new sustainable energy plants, and investing in Green Building, could create numerous jobs for the unemployed, alleviating a burden on the economy.

Certainly, the Envrionmental Agency has no plans for relaxing its legislation regarding businesses. In the report, they outline their thoughts for the future :

"1) We are now seeing the impacts of climate change and must adapt to it as well as trying to mitigate the causes. Using resources like water and energy more efficiently, and minimising waste are just three ways we can do this.

2) Much has been done to limit point source pollution. We need to continue this work as well as tackling diffuse pollution. There are still too many hazardous chemicals in the environment, and damage is still being caused by nutrients coming from products like detergents and fertilisers."

Perhaps most importantly, though, is their message to those in the business sector who continue to ignore environmental legislature:

"We need to tackle non-compliance and the companies that deliberately break the law to make a quick profit. They harm the environment, threaten people's health, and damage the reputation of legitimate industry".

What the Environmental Agency makes clear, then, is that - even with economic recession - envrionmental policy must always remain central to business.

Companies looking for a break better start looking elsewhere.Ryan Whatley is the Green Business expert at EcoSwitch The environmental social network.]]> Conservative Report Applauds Bush And Progress Of Florida Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/conservative-report-applauds-bush-and-progress-of-florida-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/conservative-report-applauds-bush-and-progress-of-florida-schools#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:27:02 +0000 florida supreme courtflorida schoolsgovernor jeb bushattended floridamckay scholarshiphoover institutionkoret task force http://www.artwoo.com/article/conservative-report-applauds-bush-and-progress-of-florida-schools Koret Task Force is a group of scholars and conservative think tank. The group released a nine-month review report in September that commends on his efforts to reform the .

The results were formally announced at an Orlando Hotel with the members of the Task Force and Bush present, as well as Representative Ralph Arza, a Republican from Hialeah and chairman of the House Pre K-12 Committee.

Paul E. Peterson, the editor for the report, commended Bush's implementation of voucher programs, especially the and Corporate Tax Credit programs, both of which pay for students to attend private schools (McKay covers disabled children and the Corporate program covers impoverished children). He called the programs "trendsetters" for the rest of the nation. Peterson also praised the newly implemented merit-based pay system for Florida schools teachers, the first statewide program of its type in the United States.

The report encouraged the state legislature to restore the Opportunity Scholarship Program for the Florida schools, which the ruled as unconstitutional in January. The program enabled students who had schools graded as "F" twice within four years to use state money to attend private schools.

The report stated that Florida schools students had made "impressive" gains in reading and math on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (F-CAT) since 1998. The Florida schools also are better than the national average in closing the achievement gap between minority students and whites.

The Task Force recommends that the Florida schools accountability system should place more emphasis on student growth, rather than overall performance. Another recommendation is for a less centralized control of Florida schools with more room for individual schools to decide how to spend classroom funding.

The report supports Bush's efforts to repeal the class size reduction amendment, passed by voters in 2002. Besides being too costly for the Florida schools, Peterson stated that very little evidence supported its benefits and recruiting enough experienced teachers is difficult.

Though the study was intentionally conducted by academics in order to distance it from political views that frame the current educational debate, many question the validity of the report. Mark Pudlow, spokesman for the Florida Education Association, the state's teacher union, particularly took issue with the report's recommendation to make the probation period for Florida schools teachers five years versus three, noting that it takes away more teacher involvement. As to the other results found by the report, he said they were exactly what the Union expected, with Bush supporters funding it.

The $250,000 report was privately funded with the aid of two Republican donors -- Outback Steakhouse founder Chris Sullivan and Ft. Lauderdale cardiologist Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah. Both men have donated extensively to GOP causes, including Bush's campaigns.

Representative Arza said he would fight to protect the governor's reforms, as well as to implement the recommendations of the task force to the legislature, including the repeal of the class size reduction amendment for the Florida schools.

"We have made progress in this state over the last eight years," noted Bush at the ceremonies. "We know, because we measure. It's one of the guiding principles of what we do." Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Florida schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Florida/index.html ]]> Property Tax Implications Of Purchasing San Diego Real Estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/property-tax-implications-of-purchasing-san-diego-real-estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/property-tax-implications-of-purchasing-san-diego-real-estate#comments Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:27:05 +0000 mello roosproperty tax ratesgeneral discussionproperty tax issuestax exempt bondsprop 13california http://www.artwoo.com/article/property-tax-implications-of-purchasing-san-diego-real-estate general discussion of various factors impacting property taxes in San Diego, . The reader should consult their tax advisor for definitive guidance about and not rely soley on the informaton below.

are capped in California due to the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 (""). Prop 13 was a ballot measure approved by the voters of California to limit property tax increases. The legislation also mandated that any future increases in property tax rates have the support of two-thirds of the Legislature for approval. This provision dramatically limited the ability of the legislature to increase taxes.

The property tax rate in California is 1% of the assessed value of real estate, plus any bonds, fees and special charges. Properties can only be reassessed when there is a change in ownership or when new construction is completed. Unless one of these reassessment conditions exists, Prop 13 allows for annual increases of up to 2% of a property's value.

The passage of Prop 13 dramatically limited the legislatures ability to increase taxes. Despite this, municipalities desired a mechanism to subsidize the building of infrastructure for new developments, so in 1982, the Capital Facilities Act was passed. The act is better known by its legislative authors, Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Mike Roos (i.e. Mell-Roos Assessment).

According to the San Diego County Assessor, "Mello-Roos districts are established by local governments at the request of a developer to finance specific public facilities and services such as schools, roads and libraries. Mello-Roos districts were authorized by state law in 1982. This law allows any public agency to establish a Mello-Roos district, which then can issue the necessary tax-exempt bonds and impose fees to pay off these bonds." Communities or districts that impose a Mello-Roos fee are distributed throughout the County but are most common is large new subdivisions.

In addition to the 1% tax rate allowed by Prop 13, Mello-Roos fees are a separate charge on the property tax bill. The duration of Mello-Roos fees are linked to the amount of time needed to pay off the bond, which is typically 20-25 years. Mello-Roos fees range from $174 to over $3000 annually, and the average fee for San Diego communities was $1,488 in 2006.

To get a general idea about the amount of property taxes you would owe annually on a property, multiply the purchase price of the property by 1.2%. For example, if you purchased a $400,000 home, your annual tax due would be around $4,800, plus special assessments (if applicable), and Mello-Roos fees (if applicable).

Consumers should be aware that tax rates for a particular area can increase as news bonds are added or decrease if bonds are paid off. In addition, Special Asssessments (if any) for new infrastructure can also impact tax rates.

When considering the purchase of real estate, single-family homes, condominiums or townhomes in San Diego (particularly in newer communities), propspective buyers should find out if the property has Mello-Ross or other Special Assessment fees, how long these fees will continue, and if the fees increase annually.

Over 1 million tax bills are sent out every year in San Diego County by the County Tax Collector. The tax period in San Diego covers the period from July 1st to June 30th. The amount owed is based on the assessed value of the property as of January 1st. The tax bill is mailed out in September or early October, and is due in two equal installments; first payment is due December 10th and the second payment is due April 10th. State law does not allow for extensions to pay the tax bill and late payments are subject to a penalty of 18% APR. For those wishing to pay by credit card, the Discover Card is the only option at this time.

For more information about property tax issues in San Diego or to obtain a definative answer to your property tax questions, contact the San Diego County Assessor or your tax professional. http://www.sdhomedatabase.com http://www.pacific-beach-homes.com http://www.riverside-homes-for-sale.com ]]> Find Low Cost Health Insurance In New York http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:14:59 +0000 low cost health insurancelow cost healththey will receivebest healthbeneficialsmall businesssmall businesses http://www.artwoo.com/article/find-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york insurance in New York is difficult enough if you are not employed, so it should not be too difficult task if you are employed, right? Wrong. Many employees of es in New York are not offered low cost health insurance through their employers. This is not to the employers or the employees, since many people choose their jobs based somewhat on the benefits .

If you live in New York and work for a business whose owner thinks it is "too small" to offer health insurance, you may be in luck. In 2000, the governor of New York proposed to a comprehensive insurance coverage plan to be made available to New York employees and their families if they do not have health insurance. The New York Legislature ratified the proposal, and the program became known as Healthy NY.

According to Healthy NY, a "small business" is one that has 50 or fewer employees. When a small business has this number of employees, the business feels as if it can not afford to offer low cost health insurance to its employees; however, thanks to Healthy NY, all can take advantage of offering low cost health insurance to its employees.

The even better news is that you do not have to be an employee of a small business to purchase low cost health insurance through Healthy NY. Sole proprietors may also purchase low cost health insurance through Healthy NY.

If you work for a small business in New York that does not offer health insurance because it feels as if it can not afford to, talk to your employer about Healthy NY. Not only with Healthy NY benefit the employees of the business, but being able to offer low cost health insurance to employees will also help your employer because he or she will be able to attract and retain quality employees. http://ezquoteguide.com/health/ Low Cost Health Insurance in New York http://www.myquoteguide.com/Best-Health.shtml Health Insurance Quotes ]]> Florida's Proposed Super-Exemption Is Only A Start http://www.artwoo.com/article/floridas-proposed-super-exemption-is-only-a-start http://www.artwoo.com/article/floridas-proposed-super-exemption-is-only-a-start#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:14:59 +0000 florida real estatereal estate in floridareal estate taxesthat means thatowning real estatereal estate markethome values http://www.artwoo.com/article/floridas-proposed-super-exemption-is-only-a-start Florida real estate these days. In the past month, we've heard a lot of politicians applauding themselves for the passage of important new tax reform bills. They deserve the applause =96 but only if they continue on the path they've begun. This is not the time for them to rest on their laurels. It is important for all of us to remember that the lawmakers have only partially addressed the inequities in the tax situation.

A few facts are indisputable:

overall have doubled in the past ten years.

Save Our Homes has contributed to a serious inequity in the way that the tax burden is apportioned.

The combination of rising and rising taxes has made owning an expensive proposition.

The separation of property owners into "tax castes" has had a serious depressing effect on the Florida .

Tax reform must be a multi-pronged approach which addresses all of these issues.

Ten years ago, legislators realized that the combination of rising home values and rising taxes had created a situation where many long time homeowners were in danger of losing their homes. Because taxes are based on the home's assessed value, the sudden burgeoning of home and property values in many areas doubled and sometimes tripled taxes in a year. In order to address the problem, the legislature passed Save Our Homes. Save Our Homes was designed to limit the rise of taxes on primary residences by limiting the rate by which their tax assessments could rise to 3%. if the home in which you live was assessed at $100,000 last year, this year its maximum assessment is $103,000 even if the actual value of your home rose to $400,000 this year.

Save Our Homes seemed like a good idea. The intention was a good one =96 to ensure that no one was forced out of their home because their tax bill had suddenly become unaffordable.

Unfortunately, Save Our Homes had some unexpected consequences due to oversights in the amendment.

Save Our Homes is not portable. Thus, if you moved from one home to another of the exact same market value, your tax bill could suddenly triple. The effect of this was to "trap" people in homes because they'd be unable to afford the taxes on a new home even though the home had the exact same value. In fact, within a few years of the amendment's passing, most people would have seen tax increase if they moved to a home with a far lesser value.

The effect of Save Our Homes is indirectly tied to the length of time that you've owned your property because the starting assessment is the market value of the home at the time that you bought it. Thus, two people living in identical condo units side by side in the same building could be paying widely different property taxes because they bought their units at different times.

Save Our Homes only applies to primary residences. While this may suit the original intent of the exemption, it has contributed to a rising inequity in tax rates between homesteaders and those who own property but do not live in it. Because municipalities were restricted in the amount of taxes that they could raise from homeowners, more and more of the tax burden fell on the shoulders of business owners, landlords, first time home buyers and snowbirds who own secondary residences here in Florida.

The recent bills passed by the legislature are a positive step. The House bill does two things:

It requires an immediate tax cut which will provide much needed tax relief to all property owners in Florida. Since this bill affects the overall tax revenues, its benefits will be felt by everyone. In addition, the tax cuts do not affect levies tied to education, which has been a major concern for many critics of the proposed tax cuts.

It caps the rate at which taxes can rise and ties it to the rise in per capita income in individual municipalities, counties and districts. Thus, taxes can only rise in sync with rises in per capita income.

The amendment proposed by the Senate addresses the inequities caused by Save Our Homes =96 but does not eliminate them because it does nothing to address the unequal distribution of the tax burden, with the lion's share of it falling on those who own properties that are not their primary residences.

The proposed amendment begins the task of unwinding Save Our Homes, and does so without sharply affecting those who currently benefit from it. It does not, however, address the fact that renters, second homeowners, investors and business owners are unfairly shouldering more than their share of the tax burden. Under the new plan, homeowners will have the option to keep their Save Our Homes cap or move to the new system immediately. In fact, about 73% of homesteaders will benefit from an immediate change, as will new home buyers and first time home buyers. Those who are better off under the old system can elect to stay with it unless and until they move. Landlords and business owners will still pay more than their share of taxes because there is no exemption available to help them keep rents and business expenses low.

Those who purchase new homes will receive the same level of tax exemption as those who have lived in their homes for years, making the new amendment fairer to all homesteaders rather than giving those who have owned their properties longer =96 or who are buying their first homes =96 an unfair extra tax break.

The amendment also includes a personal property exemption for small business owners which will allow most businesses to exempt $25,000 in personal property from the property taxes, a substantial benefit. In addition, it allows the legislature to set lower assessment standards for certain properties, including waterfront and affordable housing properties, reserving the right to make further changes as their benefits become clear.

While the proposed amendment and tax cut are not cure-alls, they are an important first step in the right direction. The Florida Association of Realtors applauds the passage of the tax reform bills and supports the amendment that will be voted on by voters in January. FAR also, however, makes it clear that they will hold lawmakers responsible for finishing the job that they've begun. The new legislation will only mean anything if they continue to work toward restructuring the Florida property tax system to provide equitable distribution to all property owners in Florida =96 even those who do not have a vote. Calum MacKenzie is Broker/Owner of Real Living Southern Homes, a leading residential real estate brokerage serving the New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Land O' Lakes real estate markets. http://www.tampahomes24-7.com ]]> Walking Through the History of St. Thomas http://www.artwoo.com/article/walking-through-the-history-of-st-thomas http://www.artwoo.com/article/walking-through-the-history-of-st-thomas#comments Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:02:26 +0000 emancipation parkcolonial fortscharlotte amaliecaribbean weatherthomas capitalcolonial structurenational historic landmark http://www.artwoo.com/article/walking-through-the-history-of-st-thomas Charlotte Amalie, visitors will find everything from ornate churches and government buildings to and mythical pirate outposts. If you want to experience St. Thomas' fascinating history, there is no better way to see the sights than a walk through Charlotte Amalie amongst the beautiful .

The best place to start a walking tour of Charlotte Amalie's historic sites is Fort Christian, a Danish-built structure dating to the late 17th century. Visible throughout Charlotte Amalie, this vivid red-brick fort is in fact the oldest remaining structure in the Virgin Islands. Having served as a government center and a church after the colonial period, Fort Christian is now a and history museum. After visiting the museum, be sure to visit the roof of Fort Christian for an excellent panoramic view of the harbor.

Directly across the street from Fort Christian, you will see the historic Legislature Building, a beautifully rebuilt . After serving as barracks for Danish police and later for U.S. Marines, the Legislature Building was completed restored in 1956 and has served as home to local lawmakers since 1970.

From the courtyard of the Legislature Building, turn left and follow the sidewalk to the first traffic light. At the traffic light, turn right and look for the Vendor's Plaza on your left. Above this outdoor market, you will find , the site of many official ceremonies and the Virgin Islands' replica of the Liberty Bell.

Directly across the street from Emancipation Park is the Grand Hotel, a 19th century structure that now houses a number of small shops and restaurants. After perusing the unique businesses inside the Grand Hotel, walk towards Fort Christian and turn left up the first narrow road.

At the top of the narrow path, you will come upon one of St. Thomas' most significant churches, the golden Lutheran Church. Known for its large staircase and bright yellow color, the church is one of the most photographed buildings in St. Thomas. Once the official church of the Danish West Indies, the Lutheran Church is still used for services today.

Turning right after leaving the Lutheran Church, you will walk past Post Office Square and a trio of statues. As you continue up Government Hill, you will come upon a street known as Kongens Gade, site of the 99 Steps. Constructed in the mid-18th century, these steps represent the Danes' attempt at city planning near the hilly shores of St. Thomas.

If you choose to follow the street rather than climbing the staircase, you will find the historic Government House -- a building known for its collection of paintings by Camille Pissaro -- on your immediate left. However, if you climb the 99 Steps, you will find yourself on the easiest route to Blackbeard's Castle, one of St. Thomas' most popular sights. Blackbeard's Castle is actually a large watch tower that once belonged to the Danish Fort Trygborg. As Blackbeard's Castle rests atop Government Hill, the structure provides an excellent view of the harbor. Though it is not known when the watch tower came to be known as Blackbeard's Castle, local legend has it that the famous pirate used the watch tower to patrol for rival ships.

The land surrounding Blackbeard's Castle is home to several town house museums, including Villa Notman and The Haagensen House. In each case, these musuems house everything from antiques to valuable Danish furniture. After leaving the area of Blackbeard's Castle, return to the area of Post Office Square and Main Street. After turning right onto Main Street, look on the right for a small street called Nye Gade.

One block up from Main Street at the corner of Crystal Gade and Nye Gade, you will find the pictuesque St. Thomas Reformed Church. Known as the island's finest example of classical revival architecture, the St. Thomas Reformed Church resembles a Roman temple, complete with large supporting columns.

Turning left onto Crystal Gade, you will quickly come upon the St. Thomas Synagogue, the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. Having served an incredibly significant spiritual role during the colonial period, the St. Thomas Synagogue is still used today under Sephardic tradition. As a result, the St. Thomas Synagogue features the traditional sand-covered floor, a symbol of the Jewish flight from Egypt.

Returning to Main Street along the same route, you will be in the heart of St. Thomas' shopping district. Turning right at Main Street and following the road to the end of the shopping district, you will come upon Market Square, a former slave market that now serves as an open-air produce and craft market.

One block further up Main Street, you will find St. Thomas' primary Catholic church, Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Constructed in 1806, the cathedral is known for its ornate murals painted by Belgian artists, Father Leo Servais and Brother Ildephonsus.

While history probably won't be the first thing on your mind while in St. Thomas, the island features a wealth of important sites within a very walkable area. After enjoying the beach and the relaxing amenities of your resort, this simple walking tour of Charlotte Amalie offers a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.Justin Burch writes articles about travel in St. Thomas for the Marriott Resorts.]]> A Smoke at Sea: Cruise Ships Offer Smoking Vacations For Cigar Fans http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-smoke-at-sea-cruise-ships-offer-smoking-vacations-for-cigar-fans http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-smoke-at-sea-cruise-ships-offer-smoking-vacations-for-cigar-fans#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:08:35 +0000 cigar smokerspublic smoking banspiritual defeatship vacationsstate legislaturesfrank sinatranevada legislature http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-smoke-at-sea-cruise-ships-offer-smoking-vacations-for-cigar-fans Nevada legislature imposed a .

The new rule doesn't apply - as yet - to the storied casinos of Las Vegas, where smoking is still allowed on gaming floors. And of course Nevada is hardly the only recent state to impose restrictions on public smoking. Indeed, it joins over thirty states (at this writing) with such laws on the books. If you are reading this from the United States, it is likely that a similar law applies to your area: half the country's population is currently under the jurisdiction of a public-smoking regulation of some kind.

But the idea of a smoking ban passing the Nevada legislature seems almost like a kind of for : after all, what could more epitomize "cigar cool" than the mental image of 's Rat Pack, cigars and drinks in hand, finger-popping their ways through the floor of a Vegas casino?

It just symbolizes a fact that's made passionate smokers' lives a little more difficult over the past decade: in the interest of public health (and out of consideration for asthmatics and others), more and more city councils and are choosing to ban public smoking outright, or are limiting it to certain licensed facilities.

Arguments about the effectiveness or appropriateness of these bans to one side, we can all agree that they mean that smokers have to put a little more energy into planning vacations. For a person who loves the taste of a good cigar, for whom relaxation doesn't become meaningful until there's a stogie involved, there's no point in a vacation where you can't even smoke in your hotel room. With smoking bans underway in Atlantic City (and this ban extends to casinos) and similar one-time bastions of cigar culture, frustrated cigar smokers are turning to a new option: the cruise ship.

And why not? Cruise offer the ultimate chance to "get away from it all," a continuous expanse of blue water, and the opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the country (and world). Few cruises are completely smoke-free, with most offering, at the very least, designated smoking areas that might include cigar bars or lounges. So it's hard to go completely wrong - wherever you book your passage, you'll almost always have at least some chance to smoke.

More and more luxury cruise lines don't allow smoking in living quarters - that's one downfall. After all, the next person using your room might be a nonsmoker, and it doesn't make economic sense for cruise ship directors to designate permanent "smoking" and "nonsmoking" rooms; such a move would involve logistical nightmares during booking. But luxury quarters often include balconies, where smoking is sometimes still allowed.

The recent case of a cruise line headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida gives smokers an indication of what they can expect. The cruise line, according to some reports, lost millions in bookings after instituting a partial smoking ban in 2007. But compared to those bans that have caused smokers such dismay in Atlantic City and Ottawa, the Florida-based cruise line's smoking ban doesn't even apply to the on-ship bars and casinos.

Indeed, the cruise ship industry seems to be following the opposite track of most US states and municipalities - as they grow more restrictive toward smoking, cruise lines are growing more permissive. One completely smoke-free cruise ship line went out of business awhile ago; another once-smokeless line changed its policies to allow some smoking on the boat.

Smokers will likely want to evaluate cruise line policies prior to booking as there are has examples of ships with almost smoke-free policies. Smoking on such lines may only be permitted in two designated areas - and if you light up anywhere else, you could be kicked off the boat! (That presumably doesn't mean you'll be forced to walk the plank, but it's probably not worth finding out.)

Another rule of thumb mentioned by several travel writers: if you're looking for company as you smoke, go for a cruise line with a high number of European and Asian clientele. Citizens of many of these countries often still smoke in higher numbers than do contemporary Americans, and there is a Spain-based cruise line that currently sports the least restrictive smoking policy out there.CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo and Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.]]> Child Insurance: A Threat? http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:57:30 +0000 legislative inquiriesstate legislaturespublic sentimentmassachusetts societypennsylvania legislaturemassachusetts legislatureextreme poverty http://www.artwoo.com/article/child-insurance-a-threat
In 1889 the introduced a bill to prohibit insurance on children. The idea spread to New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and to Canada. For six long years into Industrial insurance continued their challenge. The most serious of these attacks was that of the of 1895. Charles Coolidge Read was spokesman for the for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and other organizations supporting the bill for the abolition of insurance on children. Sensational newspaper headlines inflamed with stories of starvation, , and suffering alleged to result from industrial life insurance.

When Mr. Fiske offered to answer the accusations through the columns of the newspapers, they refused to accept his statements except as paid advertisements. To put the facts before the public, his statement was printed at regular advertising rates. Next Mr. Fiske spoke in the chambers of many . With the tact and eloquence which had characterized him as a trial lawyer, he called attention to the flimsiness of the accusations, showed that even their few isolated cases when investigated had proved to be false. He successfully challenged his opponents to present one authenticated instance of the terrible effects they charged. His simple weapon was fact. He knew that ignorance and prejudice would be thrust aside by the power of truth. And it was.

In connection with the hearings, Mr. Fiske outlined the accomplishments and the benefits of industrial insurance and discussed the misconceptions that had grown up around it. He emphasized that a business which had been established for 40 years in England and which in two decades in the United States had resulted in the writing of nearly 7,000,000 low cost life insurance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er4uFwT0xvc) policies by the three leading companies must certainly meet a fundamental need. He proved that industrial life insurance was a real necessity to wage earners.

His review of the situation brought about a change in public sentiment. He cited previous investigations of Industrial insurance here and abroad. Pennsylvania had had a legislative inquiry in 1889, and after hearings were held, threw out the bill attacking industrial insurance. The movement in Ohio brought the same result. New York State had con¬ducted an investigation in 1890, and the Legislative Com¬mittees hearings convinced the man who introduced the bill that he had made a mistake, and the Committee then killed it. Mr. Fiske quoted the action of the province of Ontario, Canada, in which the bill to prohibit infantile insurance was not enacted into law. Connecticut, Illinois, and Tennessee all had had the same experience.

After weeks of the sharpest interrogation, the Massachusetts committee shelved the bill. Everywhere the inquiries that threatened Industrial insurance came to an end. At these hearings Mr. Dryden, of the Prudential, and Mr. Rhodes, of the John Hancock, gave valuable testimony, but it was Mr. Fiske who carried the main burden for the defense, and the signal victory was his.

Although the absurd charges that Industrial insurance led to crime and poverty were definitely and finally answered, there remained the hard core of truth in certain serious defects in the conduct of this type of insurance. It was true that the lapse rate was high and that the provisions of the policy were far from liberal. Mr. Fiske saw these as well as any of its sharpest critics, but he was also convinced of the essential good which industrial insurance was doing. He firmly believed that the weak spots in the Industrial business could, with time, be removed.Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in life insurance and the history of low cost life insurance. For a free no medical exam term life insurance quote, please visit http://www.equote.com/.]]> Health Insurance: How We Can Make It Better http://www.artwoo.com/article/health-insurance-how-we-can-make-it-better http://www.artwoo.com/article/health-insurance-how-we-can-make-it-better#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2006 02:27:04 +0000 health insurance companieshealth insurance problemsdoctor healthcause healthdoctors officemalpractice lawsuitsmalpractice insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/health-insurance-how-we-can-make-it-better cause health insurance to continue to stay on the rise.

One of the major problems that cause health insurance to continue to rise is the amount of frivolous that are filed against doctors every year. Even if a doctor does not do anything wrong, they still have to pay the court costs, which usually are paid for out of their . And if a doctor does make a mistake they can pay ten's of millions of dollars in damages. All of this causes doctor's to pay more for malpractice insurance, which translates into higher costs to their patient's so they can continue to survive. One of the best ideas I have heard to help combat this problem, is legislature that puts a cap on monetary awards that are awarded for punitive damages in these lawsuits. Anything over the cap will be given to the state to help pay for schools, roads, and other things for the community. This will slow people down who want to sue just to get rich quick, but will still allow people to sue if a wrong has truly been committed.

Another major problem that causes is the ability of to get out of paying the full amount requested by a doctor. Health insurance companies rarely pay half of what a doctor's office requests, so the doctor's office usually has to eat the lost costs. This causes doctor's offices to raise their prices to help shoulder the burden of these lost profits. An easy solution would be to implement some kind of regulations that would allow doctor's offices to collect the full amount for a visit. These regulations would force health insurance companies to pay the amount that doctor's charge, thus lowering the prices of doctor's visits for all of their patients. You may not be able to transform the insurance industry today (and neither can we, unfortunately) but you CAN visit NC Health Insurance to get the best insurance for your money! http://www.ibdinsurance.com/ ]]> How To Buy Affordable Car Insurance In Colorado http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-affordable-car-insurance-in-colorado http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-affordable-car-insurance-in-colorado#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:25:01 +0000 auto insurance premiumscar insurance premiumsauto insurance reformsauto insurance policydriving without insuranceinsurance buyersinsurance providers http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-buy-affordable-car-insurance-in-colorado car insurance premiums.

If you're like most car in Colorado you can't afford to pay even a penny more for your insurance needs than is absolutely necessary and is not an option =96 not unless you want to risk losing your vehicle and your driver's license for a long, long time.

It's possible that one of the currently in the Colorado legislature will eventually have a positive impact on in the state, but in the meantime here are a few practical suggestions for ways to reduce your cost of auto insurance or to a least keep it at its current level.

First, do your own homework.

Start by checking with your other . Often your homeowner's insurance may offer a nice discount if you purchase your car insurance through them as well.

Secondly, when it comes time to renew your carefully review it rather than just blindly paying it. Talk to your agent. Ask questions.

Start by discussing your deductible. The larger your deductible the lower your monthly premium. Obviously this represents a trade-off, but finding the right balance can save you substantially on your premiums.

If you own more than one car your insurance company should offer what they call a multi-policy discount. If you're entitled to such a discount, make sure you're getting it.

Your age =96 or the ages of others on your policy =96 can affect your monthly premiums. Generally speaking, very young and very old drivers pay higher premiums than other drivers.

While you can't do much about the age of the drivers on your policy, there are things that both young and older drivers can do to help keep costs reasonable. Young people who have had driver's education and who get good grades often get lower premiums as do older drivers who take refresher courses in driver's training.

Having auto insurance is a responsibility for every Colorado driver =96 but finding ways to keep insurance costs down is every Colorado driver's right. Our recommended sites for low rate car insurance online. http://ezquoteguide.com/car/ Affordable Car Insurance Quotes in Colorado ]]> Small Business Cheap Health Insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance#comments Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:27:07 +0000 affordable health insurancebusiness health insurancekansas healthstatecontactgovernor patakibenefit association http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-cheap-health-insurance state your business resides, there may be government help.

For instance, in the state of New York, has proposed and Legislature has approved and enacted a program called Healthy NY. This program assists small business owners in providing health insurance for their employees.

Similarly, the state of Ohio, allows Group Purchasing Arrangements (GPA's). This is where small and large employers may band together to purchase insurance plans and reap the benefit of lower premiums. Some are formed as a result of state legislation/regulation and others GPA's a re formed by associations.

Kansas has the Partners . Their mission is to help reduce the number of uninsured in their state by helping small business so that they may be able to offer to their employees.

A bill introduced on to the House of Representatives by Georgia Democratic Representative John Barrow. The purpose of the bill, H.R. 2073: Small Promotion Act of 2005 is to "...to provide tax subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements..."

This is a proposal before Congress. It would have to be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President before it is law. Get involved, your representative. Tell them to vote in favor of this proposal. After all, we elected them to do our bidding.

Bottom line, if you're a small business, visit your state's web site to see what legislation has been passed in your state. Additionally, check to see if there are program in existence that offer you help in providing health insurance for your employees. http://www.myquoteguide.com/ http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/ http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/ ]]> Finding Low Cost Health Insurance In New York http://www.artwoo.com/article/finding-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york http://www.artwoo.com/article/finding-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york#comments Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:32:07 +0000 provide health insurancestate of new yorklow cost health insurancesole proprietorhealth benefit packageaslony legislature http://www.artwoo.com/article/finding-low-cost-health-insurance-in-new-york state of New York, you may qualify for whether you are a small business, or individual.

In 2000 the enacted regulations in response to the Governor's proposal to make available comprehensive insurance coverage for New York workers and their families who are uninsured. The name of the program is Healthy NY.

This program helps the small business owners (businesses with 50 or fewer employees) to to their employees and their families. Additionally, Workers who are unable to purchase insurance through their employer because the employer doesn't offer insurance and the sole proprietor may purchase coverage directly though Health NY.

All HMO's in the state of New York offer standardized that is made affordable through the sponsorship of NY State. This makes it more affordable for small employers and uninsured employees.

There are certain eligibility requirements for each section:

Small Employer

Business must be located in New York The business must have 50 or less eligible employees 30% of employees must earn $34,000 or less The business must not have provided group health insurance to employees in last 12 months (with certain stipulations) 50% of eligible employee participation and at least one earns $34,000 or less Employer must contribute 50% of premium The employer must offer plan to employees working 20 hours or more and earning $34,000 or less

Individual and Sole Proprietor guidelines:

The individual must live in the state of New York Must be currently employed or have been within the last 12 months Employer does not provide health insurance Have not health insurance for past 12 month period Ineligible for Medicare The annual household income must meet the Healthy NY Income Guidelines

Please see our recommended sources for insurance quotes and low rates. These websites are great sources for information about rates and coverages in the lower 48 states. http://www.myquoteguide.com/Car-Tips.shtml http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home http://www.ezquoteguide.com/health/ ]]> Taliban Infiltrates South Dakota Legislature http://www.artwoo.com/article/taliban-infiltrates-south-dakota-legislature http://www.artwoo.com/article/taliban-infiltrates-south-dakota-legislature#comments Fri, 14 Apr 2006 15:50:09 +0000 south dakotasreligious fundamentalistsrefugee campswal martbordersafghanistandoctors http://www.artwoo.com/article/taliban-infiltrates-south-dakota-legislature Afghanistan's Taliban leaders hiding? Are they cowering in caves near the Pakistani border? Perhaps they own a condo complex in Karachi. More likely they are on a Dude Ranch in America's Heartland.

Remember 1994? overtook Afghanistan and trounced on that nation's women with a vengeance. Being draped in a burga and beaten in the streets was standard fair. Most were banned from treating women, and voting -- no way!

Is history repeating itself? Last week in South Dakota religious fundamentalists passed a measure making it a felony for doctors to perform any abortion, except to save the life of a pregnant woman. No exceptions are made in cases of rape or incest. There was no state wide vote. Déjà vu!

Help for victims of religious extremism in Afghanistan was slow to come. Ultimately, sprang up along the and women's rights organizations broadcasted messages of support into the occupied country via short wave radio. Response to occupied South Dakota's oppression is already being mounted. Refugee camps are springing up along borders with Dakota's more open-minded neighbors, such as Mormonville, Nebraska and Laramie, Wyoming. Citizens of Redecktown, Missouri are collection CB radios to airdrop around Mount Rushmore.

South Dakota's female population has had a mixed reaction to this Red States recent horrific legislation. When Republican Kellie Clueless was asked her opinion of legislative leaders forcing their will on the intimate lives of free American women she said, "Ah um da."

Antiabortion activist, Betty Sue Backwoods was interviewed in the bikini wax isle at a Sioux Falls . Betty Sue was quoted as saying, "I think Rep. Roger W. Hunt is a stone-cold fox and I thank God he puts my religion over everyone else's beliefs. That's what makes America what it is to day." Then she tossed her six children into the cart and sprinted off to check the balance on her EBT card.

Surprisingly, one well known Democrat supported the bill outright. Dr Wantmoremoney, owner of the Back Alley Abortion and Penicillin Clinic, in Pine Nut, SD made several lucrative donations across party lines to illustrate his new found love of Catholicism and loathing of the US Constitution.

As the controversy rages, America's sons and daughters die and kill in Iraq. For what? To protect America from religious fanatics hell-bent on destroying individual freedoms this country was founded on. At least, that is what we are told. Yet, the US Army has not even begun reconnaissance operations around Deadwood.

Meanwhile, in Pierre, Governor Mike rounds added his input. "In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in a statement.

When asked if perhaps a pregnant 12-year-old girl raped by her uncle might be a touch more vulnerable than a pin-sized glob of splitting embryonic cells, Rounds responded by trying to sell this reporter a new auto insurance policy. The policy came complete with the new SD mandated Terrorist Assault Vehicle Insurance attachment for an additional $10.00 per month. My own government now has a 78 Yugo better protected than my uterus.

As for the money that will be wasted fighting this rights-slapping legislation to the Supreme Court, the legislature has laid out a plan sell off more of the Black Hills to special interest corporations in order to finance this loosing battle.

Yes, it would appear the missing Taliban have been found. Religious fanaticism is alive and well in South Dakota. Privacy, individuality and freedom are D.O.A. Perhaps National Guard troops should be searching Jewel Cave in the Black Hills for Osama Bin Laden. It is suspicious that Governor Mike Rounds and Mr. Bin Laden have never been seen together in public. Could they be one in the same?

With each mystery answered a new question arises. For example, when wearing our denim burgas would South Dakota's legislators prefer we women place rodeo buckles on the inside or out? Satirist Nola L. Kelsey is the author of Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin' Country and coauthor of the wicked political/self-help, satire Keeping the Masses Down. Both are available everywhere fun books are sold. More of Nola's work may be read at: http://www.NolaKelsey.com.. ]]>