Travel rules eased in new guidelines

 

The House and Senate have approved internal rules banning most lobbyist-funded travel for members and their staffs. But lobbyists can still underwrite one-day trips for lawmakers to visit a site, give a speech, attend a forum or sit on a panel.

And that lobbyist-funded travel has been expanded to allow a second night’s stay in some cases, according to new guidelines the House ethics committee released last night.

That ‘no travel’ thingy worked out well

Kentucky Fried Chicken, uh I meant Fish!

KFC to offer fish for first time
Baltimore Business Journal – 11:45 AM EST Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Chicken restaurant chain KFC Corp. is offering fish for the first time nationally.

In time for the Lenten season, the Kentucky-based company has introduced the Fish Snacker, made of Alaskan Pollack, tartar sauce and a sesame bun. It costs 99 cents.

KFC, a unit of Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), said company President Gregg Dedrick has sent a letter to the Vatican asking for a papal blessing of the sandwich. According to a news release, the Vatican has confirmed receipt of the letter, but as of yet, no blessing has been bestowed.

KFC has about 5,500 locations across the country, including more than three dozen stores in Greater Baltimore. Yum Brands also owns the Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut and A&W All-American Foods brands.

Health care may be 1/5 of what you spend in 2016

 Health care may be 1/5 of what you spend

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press WriterWed Feb 21, 8:42 AM ET

Health care is expected to account for $1 of every $5 spent in the United States in another decade.

That means a rise in out-of-pocket expenses, such as the copays for medicine, from about $850 this year to about $1,400 in 2016, a 5.3 percent annual increase.

The cost of health insurance is projected to rise even more quickly during that same time — 6.4 percent annually.

Over the coming decade, spending on health care will continue to outpace the overall economy. By the year 2016, it will total nearly $4 trillion, economists at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a report being released Wednesday.

Today, the number is closer to $1 out of every $6, or $2 trillion.

Read On!