The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched an investigation of scheduling practices at its hospitals in Texas.
Reported by NavyTimes 5 hours ago.
VA wait times investigated in Texas
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What it’s like to interview with Y Combinator
Alex Klein is the co-founder of YogaTrail. This post originally appeared on the YogaTrail blog. YogaTrail is a global yoga directory, created and maintained by a team that’s based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Since launching the site last summer, we’ve built decent traction, generated some revenue, and are just now reaching the point of “ramen profitability.” Things are going well – but living and working in Northern Thailand occasionally has us wondering if perhaps ‘Team YogaTrail’ is a little bit isolated. We think we would have much to gain by connecting with some mentors and learning things from veterans in the startup world....This story continues at The Next Web Reported by The Next Web 4 hours ago.
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Netflix Adds $1 To Monthly Streaming Subscription Price For New Members Only
The bad news: If you’re thinking of subscribing to Netflix’s streaming program, you’ll be paying $1 more than those customers already signed up. But the good news for Netflix veterans? Existing subscribers won’t see a price hike for two years, the company says.
It’s the first time Netflix has raised prices in three years, but we’ve had some time to … [More] Reported by The Consumerist 4 hours ago.
It’s the first time Netflix has raised prices in three years, but we’ve had some time to … [More] Reported by The Consumerist 4 hours ago.
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Udall calls for VA to broaden waiting list probe
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico is calling for federal authorities to broaden their investigation into alleged secret waiting lists at veterans hospitals.
Reported by NavyTimes 5 hours ago.
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Gloucester mayor Chris Chatterton finds himself in Forbes...
WORLD renowned American business magazine Forbes has written affectionately about Gloucester mayor Chris Chatterton's recent visit to South Korea. The high-flying publication wrote at length about the unveiling of a multi-million pound memorial to the Gloucestershire Regiment who fought during the Korean War. Mr Chatterton attended the ceremony in the city of Paju along with dwindling numbers of veterans who were said to have been 'treated like heroes'. Paju mayor In-Jae Lee masterminded the...
Reported by Gloucester Citizen 4 hours ago.
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Homeless veterans can get help at May 21 Stand Down in Salisbury
Homeless veterans can get help at May 21 Stand Down in Salisbury
Reported by ajc.com 4 hours ago.
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SaaS-Based TMS Software Provider, UltraShipTMS, Named Finalist in Two Categories of 2014 American Business Awards
Leading Supply Chain Software Provider Recognized for IT Team of the Year and Customer Service Department of the Year. Transportation management system developers and support teams earned praise for providing exceptional products and support services.
Fair Lawn, NJ (PRWEB) May 09, 2014
UltraShipTMS, an emerging leader in TMS software to automate and optimize transportation management, was notified today that it has secured finalist status in the 2014 American Business Awards or “The Stevies” as they are referred to. The team of innovative developers and programmers behind the UltraShipTMS transportation management and optimization software was nominated for IT Team of the Year recognition; and Ultra’s renowned Client Services and Support Department was nominated for Customer Service Department of the Year. Both nominations were selected by the ABA’s specialized judging committees as finalists, ensuring each group will take home Gold, Silver or Bronze at the upcoming presentation ceremonies later this year.
“Again, the Stevie’s judges have validated the quality of our efforts, both in the development of world-class, SaaS-based transportation management software and the service our organization delivers in support of these award-winning tools,” said Ultra President Nicholas Carretta referencing the Gold Stevie and People’s Choice award his company earned for Transportation Product/Service of the Year for 2013.
Ultra’s Director of IT, Darren Graham added, “Our team deserves this recognition for the tireless efforts and countless hours they’ve logged in continuous pursuit of excellence in TMS software product design and development. The team has absolutely earned this high praise.”
Director of Application Development, Shannon Potter, the leader of Ultra’s Client Services and Support Department offered congratulations to the support and service staff saying, “I have never encountered a group of people more committed to service excellence than the professionals manning our service and support desks. I am glad to see the business community validate what I have known for years – that Ultra support is as good as it gets in this industry.”
More than 3,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Finalists were chosen by more than 150 business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May. More than 150 members of several specialized judging committees will determine Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging, to take place May 13-22.
About UltraShipTMS
UltraShipTMS offers award winning software-as-a-service solutions to leading shippers in food production, packaging, retail and other industries. UltraShipTMS and the LoadFusion transportation optimizer provide a single-source solution for optimization, transportation and settlement for in- and out-bound shipping across all modes of transport. Built and supported by a brilliant team of transportation industry veterans and software developers, UltraShipTMS is an emerging leader in the supply chain management industry. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
Fair Lawn, NJ (PRWEB) May 09, 2014
UltraShipTMS, an emerging leader in TMS software to automate and optimize transportation management, was notified today that it has secured finalist status in the 2014 American Business Awards or “The Stevies” as they are referred to. The team of innovative developers and programmers behind the UltraShipTMS transportation management and optimization software was nominated for IT Team of the Year recognition; and Ultra’s renowned Client Services and Support Department was nominated for Customer Service Department of the Year. Both nominations were selected by the ABA’s specialized judging committees as finalists, ensuring each group will take home Gold, Silver or Bronze at the upcoming presentation ceremonies later this year.
“Again, the Stevie’s judges have validated the quality of our efforts, both in the development of world-class, SaaS-based transportation management software and the service our organization delivers in support of these award-winning tools,” said Ultra President Nicholas Carretta referencing the Gold Stevie and People’s Choice award his company earned for Transportation Product/Service of the Year for 2013.
Ultra’s Director of IT, Darren Graham added, “Our team deserves this recognition for the tireless efforts and countless hours they’ve logged in continuous pursuit of excellence in TMS software product design and development. The team has absolutely earned this high praise.”
Director of Application Development, Shannon Potter, the leader of Ultra’s Client Services and Support Department offered congratulations to the support and service staff saying, “I have never encountered a group of people more committed to service excellence than the professionals manning our service and support desks. I am glad to see the business community validate what I have known for years – that Ultra support is as good as it gets in this industry.”
More than 3,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Finalists were chosen by more than 150 business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May. More than 150 members of several specialized judging committees will determine Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging, to take place May 13-22.
About UltraShipTMS
UltraShipTMS offers award winning software-as-a-service solutions to leading shippers in food production, packaging, retail and other industries. UltraShipTMS and the LoadFusion transportation optimizer provide a single-source solution for optimization, transportation and settlement for in- and out-bound shipping across all modes of transport. Built and supported by a brilliant team of transportation industry veterans and software developers, UltraShipTMS is an emerging leader in the supply chain management industry. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
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Epic Games Crowdsources Free Unreal Tournament Revival
A team of veterans have began work on the project, which Epic Games intends to build as a collaboration between the studio, UT fans, and developers.
Reported by PCMag.com 4 hours ago.
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Live: National Day of Honour for Afghan veterans
Canada will remember its Afghan veterans today.
Reported by canoe.ca 4 hours ago.
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Flag to go from Harper to G-G after veterans group expresses concern
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will hand over a Canadian flag that has become a key Afghanistan war memento to the Governor-General, a last-minute change that comes after a veterans group said it was upset that the Prime Minister would receive the flag on behalf of Canadians
Reported by Globe and Mail 4 hours ago.
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From service to the screen: Making the move from the military to Hollywood
With more veterans seeking work in show business, Hausmann-Stokes and Mike Dowling, a Marine K9 dog handler-turned-actor, founded Veterans in Film & Television.
Reported by FOXNews.com 3 hours ago.
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Putin Flies to Crimea After Moscow Celebrates Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Sevastopol after Moscow’s Victory Day Parade. It is his first visit to Crimea since Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine on March 22. He will watch a military parade in the port city as the peninsula celebrates victory over the Nazis.Putin flew to Crimea after Moscow held one of the biggest Victory Day parades in their history to commemorate 69 years since the end of World War II.
"The iron will of the Soviet people, their fearlessness and stamina saved Europe from slavery. It was our country which chased the Nazis to their lair, achieved their full and final destruction, won at the cost of millions of victims and terrible hardships," Putin said in a speech to the military and war veterans gathered on Red Square.
"We will always guard this sacred and unfading truth and will not allow the betrayal and obliteration of heroes, of all who, not caring about themselves, preserved peace on the planet."
Unfortunately, due to the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, 2014 is the first time the two countries did not celebrate Victory Day together. While Moscow held parades, the new government in Kyiv canceled all Victory Day celebrations in fear of violence and retaliation from pro-Russians.
#Moscow #RedSquare #VictoryDay parade pic.twitter.com/yT8KJoxMXF
— Balkan news (@NewsBalkan) May 9, 2014
140th military parade on Victory Day in #Moscow's Red Square ' http://t.co/lu3bsr4GS6 ' #Russia #VictoryDay #WWII pic.twitter.com/vDbPW7UlxZ
— Russian Embassy, UAE (@RusEmbassyUAE) May 9, 2014
Fighter jets streaking over Red Square #VictoryDay #Moscow #Russia pic.twitter.com/U9yuJVuU9w
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) May 9, 2014
This WW2 vet had Ukrainian and Crimean pins on (Stalin one too). Was thrilled #Crimea is part of #Russia again pic.twitter.com/tiLPaVNfeG
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) May 9, 2014
These two North Korean officers came to watch, as did reps from most countries. They passed before I got a good pic pic.twitter.com/wX8WyScYzl
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) May 9, 2014 Reported by Breitbart 3 hours ago.
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Gloucester Old Boys say thank you to club legend Stan Turner
THE Stan Turner testimonial match between Gloucester Old Boys and Gloucester Combination Veterans ended in a 35-35 draw. The game, played as a thankyou to club stalwart Turner for all he has done for the club over the past 45 years, was hard fought. Committe member Michael Brabham said the game was played in a "barbarian style", as both sides looked to throw the ball around, but neither could clinch the entertaining game. Turner has captained the first, second and third XVs and has been fixture...
Reported by Gloucester Citizen 3 hours ago.
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Texas VA clerk: Hospital fudged books
CNN's Drew Griffin reports on allegations that another VA hospital had a secret waiting list for veterans.
Reported by CNN.com 3 hours ago.
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TechBridge Digital Ball Celebrates the Power of Philanthropy and Technology
2014 Digital Ball raises $1.2 million to subsidize development and implementation of technology projects and programs for the nonprofit community. Nonprofit Exchange - world's first crowdfunding website to fund IT projects for nonprofits - launches.TechBridge is pleased to announce that the 14th annual Digital Ball raised $1.2 million in cash and in-kind donations to subsidize the development and implementation of a wide range of technology projects and programs for the nonprofit community. One hundred sponsors, including presenting sponsor Accenture and marquee sponsors Avaya, Dell, Infor, Insight, and The Coca-Cola Company celebrated the mission of TechBridge at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
Digital Ball co-chairs Karen Renner, CIO of Novelis, and Bill VanCuren, CIO of NCR Corporation were joined by more than 60 industry peers who served as Digital Ball Hosts. The black-tie event attracted more than 840 technology, business and nonprofit leaders and guests.
The evening honored the Atlanta Step-Up Society (ASUS) with the presentation of the 13th annual Technology Innovation Award, given by Accenture. ASUS serves as an emergency shelter and employment program for homeless veterans as they rebuild their lives and recover from addictions.
The organization was chosen from a field of 41 applicants by a panel of Atlanta's technology leaders to receive more than $30,000 in TechBridge services, software and cash to implement its technology vision. ASUS will use the award to streamline the process of soliciting and retrieving donations for its thrift store, computerizing its current manual, paper-based system and enabling the growth and application of transferrable computer-literacy skills.
"The Technology Innovation Award is one way Accenture supports our national nonprofit partners in the communities where we live and work," said Craig Ramsey, managing director, Accenture. "By teaming with TechBridge, we can help organizations like the Atlanta Step-Up Society develop innovative technology that better serves the people in our community. We extend our congratulations to ASUS for winning this year's award."
"The Atlanta Step-Up Society is honored to receive the Technology Innovation Award. We will be able to train and serve so many more homeless veterans with this new technology, and we're thankful to TechBridge, Accenture and the judging panel for helping us expand our mission," stated ASUS Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors, Robert and Martha Barber.
Two finalists, HealthMPowers and the Piedmont Park Conservancy, were also recognized and each received a prize worth more than $2,500, including a TechBridge technology assessment and a cash award.
The evening also marked the debut of the TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange, the world's first curated crowdfunding website where corporations, foundations, and individuals come together to fund TechBridge-vetted IT projects for nonprofits. A 'live' crowdfunding pitch by Dennis J. Gardin, executive director of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, inspired pledges of more than $27,000 from attendees, exceeding the campaign goal of $5,000. More than one-half - $18,025 - in pledges were received within the 60 seconds after Gardin's pitch on the importance of a tech overhaul on the foundation's mission to serve burn survivors.
Campaign match sponsor, Box, contributed an additional $5,000 bringing the total pledged to $32,229. Visit techbridge.org for more information on how you can support or participate in the TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange.
About the TechBridge Digital Ball
The Digital Ball, TechBridge's signature fundraising gala, brings together Atlanta's technology community to celebrate the impact technology can have in strengthening our community. TechBridge's Digital Ball raises funds to support its mission and work throughout the year. Plans for the fifteenth annual Digital Ball are underway. Sponsorship information can be found at www.techbridge.org.
About TechBridge
Founded in 2000, TechBridge is a nonprofit that provides other nonprofits with the tools, resources and relationships they need to apply business strategies and technology to further their missions. This is made possible by support from the TechBridge network of corporations, individuals and foundations. The TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange and the Technology Innovation Award, given by Accenture, provide nonprofits with funding vehicles for their technology needs while TechBridge's fundraising efforts, including its signature gala, the Digital Ball, unite the technology community to celebrate the impact technology can have in strengthening our community. For more information about TechBridge, visit www.techbridge.org.
# # #
Media Contact:
Jacqui Chew, 404-964-6336 | jacqui@ifusionmarketing.com
TechBridge Contact:
Carrie Bates Hastings
Chief Development Officer
404.879.5404 | cbates@techbridge.org
Company Contact Information
TechBridge
Tamara Lopata
100 Peachtree Street NW
Suite 2090
30303
404-879-5416
News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 3 hours ago.
Digital Ball co-chairs Karen Renner, CIO of Novelis, and Bill VanCuren, CIO of NCR Corporation were joined by more than 60 industry peers who served as Digital Ball Hosts. The black-tie event attracted more than 840 technology, business and nonprofit leaders and guests.
The evening honored the Atlanta Step-Up Society (ASUS) with the presentation of the 13th annual Technology Innovation Award, given by Accenture. ASUS serves as an emergency shelter and employment program for homeless veterans as they rebuild their lives and recover from addictions.
The organization was chosen from a field of 41 applicants by a panel of Atlanta's technology leaders to receive more than $30,000 in TechBridge services, software and cash to implement its technology vision. ASUS will use the award to streamline the process of soliciting and retrieving donations for its thrift store, computerizing its current manual, paper-based system and enabling the growth and application of transferrable computer-literacy skills.
"The Technology Innovation Award is one way Accenture supports our national nonprofit partners in the communities where we live and work," said Craig Ramsey, managing director, Accenture. "By teaming with TechBridge, we can help organizations like the Atlanta Step-Up Society develop innovative technology that better serves the people in our community. We extend our congratulations to ASUS for winning this year's award."
"The Atlanta Step-Up Society is honored to receive the Technology Innovation Award. We will be able to train and serve so many more homeless veterans with this new technology, and we're thankful to TechBridge, Accenture and the judging panel for helping us expand our mission," stated ASUS Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors, Robert and Martha Barber.
Two finalists, HealthMPowers and the Piedmont Park Conservancy, were also recognized and each received a prize worth more than $2,500, including a TechBridge technology assessment and a cash award.
The evening also marked the debut of the TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange, the world's first curated crowdfunding website where corporations, foundations, and individuals come together to fund TechBridge-vetted IT projects for nonprofits. A 'live' crowdfunding pitch by Dennis J. Gardin, executive director of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, inspired pledges of more than $27,000 from attendees, exceeding the campaign goal of $5,000. More than one-half - $18,025 - in pledges were received within the 60 seconds after Gardin's pitch on the importance of a tech overhaul on the foundation's mission to serve burn survivors.
Campaign match sponsor, Box, contributed an additional $5,000 bringing the total pledged to $32,229. Visit techbridge.org for more information on how you can support or participate in the TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange.
About the TechBridge Digital Ball
The Digital Ball, TechBridge's signature fundraising gala, brings together Atlanta's technology community to celebrate the impact technology can have in strengthening our community. TechBridge's Digital Ball raises funds to support its mission and work throughout the year. Plans for the fifteenth annual Digital Ball are underway. Sponsorship information can be found at www.techbridge.org.
About TechBridge
Founded in 2000, TechBridge is a nonprofit that provides other nonprofits with the tools, resources and relationships they need to apply business strategies and technology to further their missions. This is made possible by support from the TechBridge network of corporations, individuals and foundations. The TechBridge Nonprofit Exchange and the Technology Innovation Award, given by Accenture, provide nonprofits with funding vehicles for their technology needs while TechBridge's fundraising efforts, including its signature gala, the Digital Ball, unite the technology community to celebrate the impact technology can have in strengthening our community. For more information about TechBridge, visit www.techbridge.org.
# # #
Media Contact:
Jacqui Chew, 404-964-6336 | jacqui@ifusionmarketing.com
TechBridge Contact:
Carrie Bates Hastings
Chief Development Officer
404.879.5404 | cbates@techbridge.org
Company Contact Information
TechBridge
Tamara Lopata
100 Peachtree Street NW
Suite 2090
30303
404-879-5416
News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 3 hours ago.
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Russia Flexes Military Muscle On Victory Day Amid Ukraine Unrest (PHOTOS)
Whipping up both fear and hope in Ukraine, Russia put on a massive display of military muscle on Friday for a holiday celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
At the "Victory Day" parade in Moscow's Req Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Soviet forces had saved Europe and praised his nation's "all-conquering patriotism," CNN reported.
The president then headed to celebrations in Crimea in his first visit to the territory since it was annexed by Russia in March. The Guardian reports that the streets of the Crimean port of Sevastopol thronged with crowds chanting "Russia!", "Victory!" and "Thank you!" as pro-Russia militiamen and bikers tore through the streets.
Pro-Russians fighting Ukrainian troops in eastern Donetsk gathered for quieter Victory Day celebrations as deadly clashes continued to rage nearby. Elsewhere in Ukraine, authorities scaled back Victory Day celebrations for fear of further violence, but veterans held a small rally in Kiev, according to CNN.
The anniversary of the 1945 Nazi surrender is still celebrated in many former Soviet territories. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
At the "Victory Day" parade in Moscow's Req Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Soviet forces had saved Europe and praised his nation's "all-conquering patriotism," CNN reported.
The president then headed to celebrations in Crimea in his first visit to the territory since it was annexed by Russia in March. The Guardian reports that the streets of the Crimean port of Sevastopol thronged with crowds chanting "Russia!", "Victory!" and "Thank you!" as pro-Russia militiamen and bikers tore through the streets.
Pro-Russians fighting Ukrainian troops in eastern Donetsk gathered for quieter Victory Day celebrations as deadly clashes continued to rage nearby. Elsewhere in Ukraine, authorities scaled back Victory Day celebrations for fear of further violence, but veterans held a small rally in Kiev, according to CNN.
The anniversary of the 1945 Nazi surrender is still celebrated in many former Soviet territories. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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Hercules Seeking Veterans for 4th of July Parade
Patch Pinole, CA --Pass the word to an older neighbor who may not use the internet. Reported by Patch 2 hours ago.
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Once A Walmart Boycotter, Obama Now On Cozier Terms With Retailer
WASHINGTON -- There was a time when President Barack Obama refused to shop at Walmart.
Evidently, he's evolved.
The president appear at a Northern California Walmart store Friday morning. The gathering is meant to tout energy efficiency, but it seems to have brought more attention to Walmart's wages -- and to Obama's new comfort level with the world's largest retailer.
Labor groups and progressives aren't happy about it.
"The president's visit sends a terrible message to workers across America," Joe Hansen, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which has battled Walmart for years, said in a statement. "He is lending credibility to a bad actor when he should be joining the calls for Walmart to change."
The progressive online advocacy group CREDO declared the visit "outrageous" and called on the White House to scrap it. Pam Ramos, a Walmart worker employed at the very store Obama is visiting, wrote an op-ed in Salon asking the president to "tell Walmart to pay us enough to cover the bills."
In a Facebook post, Robert Reich, the former labor secretary under Bill Clinton, wondered, "What numbskull in the White House arranged this?"
And on Friday, protesters from the workers' group OUR Walmart flocked to the store in Mountain View, California, to voice their displeasure.
UFCW and its allies may feel slighted by the visit, but they shouldn't be surprised. The Obama administration has publicly lauded Walmart for its practices numerous times in the past. The only difference now is that the White House has lately made income inequality its stated top concern and pushed for a raise in the minimum wage. The proposal has gotten a huge boost from the strikes and protests carried out by workers at retailers including Walmart.
Despite criticizing the company on his first presidential campaign trail, Obama has been happy to align with the world's largest retailer on common causes while in the White House.
In 2011, Michelle Obama teamed up with Walmart to promote her "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. When the retailer announced a five-year plan to reduce salt and fat contents in its food, the first lady stood in front of Walmart banners in Washington, D.C., and called the move "a victory for families" and "a victory for our children."
In 2013, the Obama administration was praising the world's largest retailer again, this time for its commitment to hiring veterans. The president and vice president joined Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon in an event at the White House, applauding the retailer's decision to offer a job to any honorably discharged soldier within a year of their ending active duty.
At the time, the AFL-CIO publicly criticized Obama for taking part in what it saw as essentially a Walmart public-relations campaign. Richard Trumka, the union federation's president, said the president's support was symbolic of "an acceptance of economic failure out of line with America's history or future." (This time, the AFL-CIO is quiet on Obama's visit to the Mountain View Walmart. The labor federation declined comment to HuffPost.)
The White House's coziness with Walmart was a little harder to imagine around the time of Obama's first presidential run. Back then, candidate Obama took the standard progressive line of denouncing Walmart as a low-wage boogeyman. In 2007, the then-senator declared to an AFL-CIO town hall forum that he wouldn't shop at Walmart stores. "As profitable as they are, there's no reason they can't afford to pay" their workers a higher wage, he said.
During Obama's bruising primary with Hillary Clinton, he even lambasted his opponent for her work on Walmart's board of directors. "If [Clinton staffers] want to defend her service to one of the least environmentally-friendly, least labor union-friendly companies in the country, they're welcome to do that," an Obama spokesman said at the time.
But Walmart ties are apparently less damning these days. The president chose Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who was once head of the Walmart Foundation, the retailer's charitable arm, to be his director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2013. Last month, he nominated Burwell to succeed Kathleen Sebelius as health secretary. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
Evidently, he's evolved.
The president appear at a Northern California Walmart store Friday morning. The gathering is meant to tout energy efficiency, but it seems to have brought more attention to Walmart's wages -- and to Obama's new comfort level with the world's largest retailer.
Labor groups and progressives aren't happy about it.
"The president's visit sends a terrible message to workers across America," Joe Hansen, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which has battled Walmart for years, said in a statement. "He is lending credibility to a bad actor when he should be joining the calls for Walmart to change."
The progressive online advocacy group CREDO declared the visit "outrageous" and called on the White House to scrap it. Pam Ramos, a Walmart worker employed at the very store Obama is visiting, wrote an op-ed in Salon asking the president to "tell Walmart to pay us enough to cover the bills."
In a Facebook post, Robert Reich, the former labor secretary under Bill Clinton, wondered, "What numbskull in the White House arranged this?"
And on Friday, protesters from the workers' group OUR Walmart flocked to the store in Mountain View, California, to voice their displeasure.
UFCW and its allies may feel slighted by the visit, but they shouldn't be surprised. The Obama administration has publicly lauded Walmart for its practices numerous times in the past. The only difference now is that the White House has lately made income inequality its stated top concern and pushed for a raise in the minimum wage. The proposal has gotten a huge boost from the strikes and protests carried out by workers at retailers including Walmart.
Despite criticizing the company on his first presidential campaign trail, Obama has been happy to align with the world's largest retailer on common causes while in the White House.
In 2011, Michelle Obama teamed up with Walmart to promote her "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. When the retailer announced a five-year plan to reduce salt and fat contents in its food, the first lady stood in front of Walmart banners in Washington, D.C., and called the move "a victory for families" and "a victory for our children."
In 2013, the Obama administration was praising the world's largest retailer again, this time for its commitment to hiring veterans. The president and vice president joined Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon in an event at the White House, applauding the retailer's decision to offer a job to any honorably discharged soldier within a year of their ending active duty.
At the time, the AFL-CIO publicly criticized Obama for taking part in what it saw as essentially a Walmart public-relations campaign. Richard Trumka, the union federation's president, said the president's support was symbolic of "an acceptance of economic failure out of line with America's history or future." (This time, the AFL-CIO is quiet on Obama's visit to the Mountain View Walmart. The labor federation declined comment to HuffPost.)
The White House's coziness with Walmart was a little harder to imagine around the time of Obama's first presidential run. Back then, candidate Obama took the standard progressive line of denouncing Walmart as a low-wage boogeyman. In 2007, the then-senator declared to an AFL-CIO town hall forum that he wouldn't shop at Walmart stores. "As profitable as they are, there's no reason they can't afford to pay" their workers a higher wage, he said.
During Obama's bruising primary with Hillary Clinton, he even lambasted his opponent for her work on Walmart's board of directors. "If [Clinton staffers] want to defend her service to one of the least environmentally-friendly, least labor union-friendly companies in the country, they're welcome to do that," an Obama spokesman said at the time.
But Walmart ties are apparently less damning these days. The president chose Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who was once head of the Walmart Foundation, the retailer's charitable arm, to be his director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2013. Last month, he nominated Burwell to succeed Kathleen Sebelius as health secretary. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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VFW asks vets about VA health care experiences
Following the firestorm that swept the Veterans Affairs Department this week over allegations of patient appointment delays, off-the-books wait lists and deaths at VA medical centers, the Veterans of Foreign Wars wants to hear from veterans about their VA
Reported by NavyTimes 1 hour ago.
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Gen. Hayden: VA Needs to Get the Facts Out 'Quickly'
The Veterans Administration needs to get the facts out quickly on what happened with the Phoenix VA hospital and claims it delayed medical care that may have led to patient deaths, said Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA said.
Reported by Newsmax 1 hour ago.
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More Pages to Explore .....
