January 27, 2009

Though it's not widely known, psychoanalysts as a professional group are proactive on a number of social issues including homosexuality. During the organization's Winter 2009 Meeting held January 14 - 18 in New York, the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) approved a position statement regarding homosexuals and bisexuals serving in the military. Full release.

Political considerations threatened today to strip funding for family planning from President Obama's huge economic stimulus package, despite Obama's earlier pledges to support the programs and their high level of public approval. Full release.

Cities, towns, and counties throughout the United States face the deepest and most severe economic downturn in 50 years, and extraordinary action is required to maintain critical public services in the face of dwindling revenues. Navigating the Fiscal Crisis: Tested Strategies for Local Government Leaders analyzes previous recessions and highlights actions local governments have taken to alleviate such crises. Commissioned by ICMA, the organization that advances professional local government management worldwide; and developed by researchers at the Alliance for Innovation, the report explains how many jurisdictions achieve excellence in the face of adversity and identifies strategies local leaders can use to navigate the current challenge and turn crisis into opportunity. Full release

As unemployment rates rise, the housing crisis deepens and 401Ks continue to deplete, it should come as no surprise that America's trust of its financial leaders and institutions has plummeted. To study the financial implications of eroding trust, Paola Sapienza (Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University) and Luigi Zingales (University of Chicago Booth School of Business) have created the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index, publishing the first wave of results today. The accompanying research shows just how deep America's declining trust runs and how strongly it contributes to the country's financial problems. Full release

The Super Bowl is not even being played in Pittsburgh, but that isn't stopping fans from across Steelers Nation to descend upon this sports mecca to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals. VisitPittsburgh, the region's official tourism agency, estimates that Super Bowl Weekend will result in roughly $2.4 million in direct spending in the Pittsburgh region. "We can thank the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation for a serious tourism boost to the local economy," said Joe McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh. Full release

The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading authority on fitness and one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world, today announced its support of the appointment of Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN, to the role of Surgeon General of the United States because of his passion for inspiring Americans to lead healthier, more active lives. As part of ACE's support, the organization has sent a letter to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the honorable Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chair. Full release

The non-partisan Consumer Watchdog called on Google today to cease a rumored lobbying effort aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records in the current version of the Economic Stimulus legislation. Consumer Watchdog called on Congress to remove loopholes in the ban on the sale of medical records and include other privacy protections absent from the current bill such as giving patients the right to an audit detailing who had accessed their medical records and how the records were used. Full release

President Barack Obama has dropped a campaign promise he made to small businesses in February of 2008 when he said, "98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees. Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It's time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php) Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement tonight on a new report issued by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office that analyzed the entire American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: "The Congressional Budget Office's first analysis of the entire House recovery bill makes clear that which experts have been saying all along: the American Renewal and Reinvestment Act provides immediate stimulus to help create jobs and makes long-term, targeted, and responsible investments to keep our nation's economy growing for years to come." Full release

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