February 09, 2009

Four out of five people say they are still buying green products and services today--which sometimes cost more--even in the midst of a U.S. recession. A new study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing and conducted by Opinion Research Corporation reveals peoples' opinions and behaviors about products that claim to be environmentally friendly.
Full release

In the latest issue of The Casey Report, the flagship publication of Casey Research, Managing Director David Galland and Chief Economist Bud Conrad have examined the decline of the Japanese economy since 1990 and note the many similarities, and a few key dissimilarities, to the United States' current crisis. Full release.

While Congress debates an economic recovery bill, many middle-aged and older Americans are finding it difficult to stay above water. According to a recent AARP survey, over half of people 45 and older are having difficulty paying for the basics, such as medicine and utilities with many fearing losing their jobs and health care in 2009. Survey findings ring particularly true in Illinois, where unemployment rates have jumped to 7.6%, while the national average is the highest in decades. Full release.

Tax Analysts, the nonprofit provider of federal, state and international tax news and analysis, is now offering subscribers an online journal that's updated each day with news affecting tax-exempt organizations as well as a rich array of official documents and other features. Full release

Joseph B. Reilly, President/CEO of Centrix Bank, announced today that the U.S. Treasury has made an investment in the Bank through its Capital Purchase Program (CPP). The Bank received $7.5 million as a voluntary participant in the CPP. A voluntary program available only to healthy banks such as Centrix Bank, the CPP is designed to increase the availability of credit to U.S. businesses and consumers. Full release

With President Obama to visit Springfield this week, state leaders and Stop-OMP.org are crying foul with Mayor Daley's most recent comments that the list of stimulus projects are too controversial to list publicly. It is widely believed that one of his projects is the $20 billion "O'Hare Modernization Project" that the FAA and airlines have refused to fund. Full release

Congressional Quarterly Inc., the nation's premier provider of news, analysis and information on Congress, politics and public policy, today announced the launch of CQ Financial Transcripts. The new service provides verbatim transcripts of key government officials as they work to stabilize the financial services industry. CQ Financial Transcripts offers transcripts of interviews, public statements and congressional testimony in real-time or same-day coverage. Full release

Today, at a meeting with state department officials, green groups will recommend that the U.S. Government support a legally binding treaty on mercury at the United Nations meeting next week in Nairobi, Kenya. The groups plan on distributing a letter signed by 50 U.S.-based groups and another 40 abroad, urging President Obama (and copied to Secretary of State Clinton, CEQ Director Sutley and EPA Administrator Jackson) to support a mercury treaty. Full release

According to the latest United States Census Bureau statistics, businesses with fewer than 20 employees account for 90 percent of all U.S. firms and are responsible for more than 97 percent of all new jobs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy released a report on the Census Bureau findings. Full release

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