Governors

Nov. 10, 2009 -- Harrisburg – Beginning Nov. 22, Pennsylvanians who are out of work through no fault of their own may be eligible to receive up to 20 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“This latest round of federally funded benefits provides a badly needed financial lifeline to more than 35,000 Pennsylvania families who have exhausted their benefits and need to pay for food, shelter, utilities and other necessities as they seek to rejoin the workforce,” said Governor Rendell.    » read more »

Recovery Act funds will help save and create over 90 jobs in rural Oregon

Nov. 10, 2009 -- (Salem) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced a $4.89 million federally-funded economic recovery grant from Business Oregon to the Ochoco Lumber Company of John Day. The funding will construct a wood pellet fuel facility, helping support the retention of 80 full-time jobs and creating 11 new ones in the community.

The grant opportunity was made possible by the U.S. Forest Service and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Malheur National Forest officials worked in conjunction with Business Oregon staff to make the pellet fuel project possible.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and Legislative Leaders today announced the passage of two Governor’s program bills. The first provides measures to evaluate the costs of mandates on local governments, helping them to control costs and provide relief to property taxpayers. The second closes a loophole in sentencing laws that allowed some violent criminals to become eligible for parole and medical parole earlier than intended.

Both were passed in the extraordinary session that Governor Paterson called to address both the current-year deficit and additional legislation that was not finished at the end of session last June.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags on all state buildings in St. Louis County be flown at half-staff from Nov. 12 to Nov. 18 to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Specialist Christopher M. Cooper, age 28, of St. Louis. Specialist Cooper was a soldier in the United States Army who died on Oct. 30 while serving his country in Babil Province, Iraq.

In addition, Gov. Nixon has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags at state buildings in all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis be flown at half-staff for one full day on Thursday, Nov. 12.    » read more »

Nov 09, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal applauded the grand opening of Northrop Grumman’s new 20,000-square-foot facility in Slidell, La. The new facility combined Northrop Grumman’s Slidell office and Stennis Space Center operations, representing a $4 million capital investment.

This project retained 35 jobs from the Slidell office, created 40 new high-tech jobs at an average annual salary of $47,000 plus benefits and will generate approximately 31 indirect jobs. In addition, this project is expected to generate nearly $1.7 million in new state tax revenues and nearly $1.2 million in new local tax revenues from 2009 to 2018.    » read more »

Highlights Severe Impact on Oyster Industry

Nov 10, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE - Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued the following letter to the Food and Drug Administration urging officials to reconsider new shellfish policy changes, highlighting the severe impact the new policy would have on the oyster industry.

The Honorable Margaret Hamburg, M.D.
Commissioner

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002

Dear Commissioner Hamburg:    » read more »

Governor’s recent trip to Japan leads to investment, more than 100 new jobs in Kentucky

November 10, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Joined by officials from Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced the company will expand its Harrodsburg operation, adding a new advanced fuel system production line to the plant. Furthermore, the expansion could also result in an additional product line for hybrid electric products in the near future.    » read more »

Additional 35,000 kids on track to register in state health insurance program

November 10, 2009 -- LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear joined Congressman John Yarmuth and Mayor Jerry Abramson today to announce that new federal stimulus money will help enroll more children in Jefferson County in the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). One year ago, Gov. Beshear launched a plan to enroll 35,000 KCHIP-eligible children by summer 2010 – a goal the state expects to meet by the end of 2009, six months ahead of schedule.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- AMES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced that the Iowa Transportation Commission today approved a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Local Development grant application submitted by the city of Grimes. The funding is part of the Culver/Judge Administration’s I-JOBS initiative.

“This transportation project in Grimes is part of our state’s work to recover from this nationwide recession,” Governor Culver said. “The I-JOBS transportation funds approved today are supporting infrastructure needs in the Grimes community, while helping to create good jobs for Iowans and build a brighter future for our state.”    » read more »

Agreement Will Aid Region’s Riders During Tough Economic Time

CHICAGO – November 11, 2009. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced an agreement with the Chicago region’s major transit agencies that will prevent fare increases for the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace paratransit services in 2010 and 2011. The agreement was made between the State of Illinois, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

“Access to affordable and reliable public transportation is imperative for Chicago-area transit riders,” said Governor Quinn. “Today’s comprehensive agreement will stabilize public transit and will hold the line against any CTA fare increases for the next two years.”    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Governor Jack Markell of Delaware agreed today on a tri-state partnership for the deployment of off shore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. The three states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating a formal partnership that will build on the region’s significant offshore wind resources to generate clean, renewable energy and a sustainable market that will bring new economic opportunities.    » read more »

Honors Veterans at Los Angeles National Cemetery, Issues Proclamation for Veterans Day

11/11/2009 -- Honoring the service of California’s brave servicemen and women, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today visited the Los Angeles National Cemetery, where he spoke at the Veteran’s Day Program. While there he announced that $5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) job training grants have been awarded by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) ensuring that more than 1,400 former members of the military will receive job training, employment and mental health services, as part of the Governor’s continuing veteran’s jobs initiative.    » read more »

Nov 11, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has authorized $2,000,000 from the Governor's Disaster Fund to provide limited individual assistance for flood and storm victims in 12 Arkansas counties. Arkansans with uninsured damage to their primary residences may be eligible for State aid in Columbia, Franklin, Grant, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Ouachita, Pulaski, Scott, Union and White Counties.

"While we will request a Presidential Disaster Declaration for flooding damage to infrastructure in Arkansas, we don't believe we will meet the federal requirements for individual assistance," Beebe said. "The State can provide limited funds to help uninsured homeowners in the counties hardest hit start toward recovery."    » read more »

Better Positions Wisconsin to Compete for Federal Race to the Top Funds

November 10, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bills 370, 371, 372 and 373, which take the first steps toward reforming education in Wisconsin and ensuring every student has a chance to succeed. Governor Doyle signed the laws at Wright Middle School just days after President Obama visited the school to call for states to make significant education reform. The bills take important steps to align Wisconsin with federal education reform goals laid out by the President and position Wisconsin to compete for Race to the Top funds.    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Nov. 12, in memory of U.S. Army Specialist Aaron S. Aamot of Custer. Aamot was killed last week in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, Nov. 13.

Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.

Source: Washington Governor