April 2013


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Ex-Hostess Workers Land Sweet Deal, Taxpayers Foot Bill


The Hampton Roads Messenger 15 It’s difficult to accurately judge


the DOL’s actions when they won’t release the data driving the decision. But while Kushner may have seen the globalization boogeyman in the information he reviewed, it wasn’t reflected in data compiled by the DOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.


Since 2007, the commercial Jazz Festival FROM PAGE 1


personal and touching performances. Rounding out the Friday show will be Leela James, an up and coming artist whose hit “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” will certainly get a hold on everyone in the audience.


Saturday’s show features the


FLUFF FILLING: The U.S. Department of Labor has been short on specifics regarding its claim that Hostess went out of business because of foreign trade.


BY TRAVIS PERRY OSAWATOMIE — It’s been


four months since the iconic Twinkie began disappearing from store shelves nationwide. While some have speculated the golden sponge cake could survive the apocalypse itself, its undoing was something else entirely: unreasonable demands from an uncompromising labor union.


Apparently the federal government


didn’t get the memo. Officials at the U.S. Department


of Labor claim it wasn’t the decision of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to go on strike that finally brought about the Twinkie’s demise, but rather the increased import and sale of products from Hostess’ foreign competitors.


Wait, what? As a result of the DOL’s unique


interpretation, more than 18,000 former Hostess employees are eligible for thousands of dollars in extra assistance above and beyond standard unemployment insurance, funded through the department’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program — and your tax dollars.


We’ll forgive you if you’re


confused, so were we. And so was Dan Lara, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Commerce, who said the federal decision was “kind of strange.”


Even former Hostess executives


say otherwise. Shortly after filing for bankruptcy in January 2012, Hostess


stated that its inability to compete was “primarily due to legacy pension and medical benefit obligations and restrictive work rules,” not foreign trade.


Still, the DOL is sticking to its


guns and defending its decision to help retrain, re-employ or relocate the displaced workers. But despite the determination, the federal agency has been vague on exactly why it believes Hostess was overpowered by global competition.


TAA certifying officer Elliott


Kushner detailed the agency’s position in an official opinion released in February. The report is chock-full of government legal-ese but skimps on specifics, stating that “increased imports contributed importantly” toward Hostess’ closure.


When pressed for more detail,


Kushner punted, deferring to the DOL’s department of public relations, which regurgitated the same talking points. An agency spokesperson said the opinion was reached based largely on confidential business data requests, as well as customer surveys and aggregate data from the International Trade Commission.


Drilling deeper, things don’t get


much better. The DOL can’t say exactly how much each worker will receive, though according to a breakdown of TAA benefits it could be in excess of $10,000, depending on a number of factors.


If half the former Hostess


employees take advantage of benefits at that level, the taxpayer bill could possibly hit $90 million.


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three lead singers from New Edition, this time calling themselves Heads of State. Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, and Ralph Tresvant individually would be great; together as a group they are sure to completely knock out fans wherever and whenever they perform. Also appearing will be Fantasia, whose new album is climbing the charts like never before. And, as icing on the cake, long time festival favorite George Benson will perform. To add a bit of local flavor, Forte Jazz Band featuring Brian Pinner will open the show.


Health Care FROM PAGE 6


as of Oct. 1 -- not as an insurance carrier, but as the equivalent of a shopping mall where consumers can shop for and compare the best rates available.


Although people can still


purchase insurance through private exchanges, those eligible to receive federal subsidies in purchasing health insurance will have to go through the Exchange. That also applies to small businesses. Schlattman estimates some


bakery industry as a whole has seen a steady increase in the weekly wages of employees, which has equated to a nearly $2,000 bump in annual compensation. Additionally, total industry employment hit a six-year high in October 2012, just before Hostess went under, peaking at nearly 149,000 workers nationwide.


Sunday features a command


return engagement of Jill Scott who rocked the house last year. Appearing with Jill will be the super-hot trio of Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank. Like Heads of State, not only will they sing their individual hits, but they will also perform as a group their hit from their recently released album. Smooth Jazz returns to the festival with perennial favorite Bob James & David Sanborn featuring Steve Gadd and James Genus. Local Hampton Jazz fans will also delight in this year’s Sunday opener Karla Crump, well-known throughout the Tidewater area.


Ticket prices are $58.50 each show


for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All are subject to applicable service charge and handling fees. Tickets for all three performances are now on sale at the Hampton Coliseum. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call 800-745-3000. All seats are reserved.


66,000 small businesses which employ 50 or fewer employees earning up to 50,000 a year are likely to qualify for a 35 percent tax credit for their insurance plans. That credit will rise to 50 percent in 2014.


Asked by reporters how


Maryland's undocumented immigrants fit into the ACA, panelists said that population would have to continue to rely on fee-based services at federally funded health clinics or emergency rooms. But Maryland, the panelists emphasized, is aggressively devising outreach programs to insure legal immigrant residents can take full advantage of the ACA.


HRM's Photos of the Month Alpha Phi Lambda Chapter Holds Youth Inspirational Breakfast


On Saturday March 30, 2013, the Norfolk-Virginia Beach chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held its 18th Annual Youth Inspira- tional Breakfast at The Murray Center on Brambleton Avenue in Nor- folk. This year's speaker was Dr. L.D. Britt, Brickhouse Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School.


During his talk, Dr. Britt told the young people assembled about his background, education, and experiences in medicine. Dr. Britt told audience of the importance of finding a role model, and focusing on doing your best to emulate that role model. He also emphasized the value and virtue of hard work.


Each year, the Youth Inspirational Breakfast brings talented and ac- complished professionals in various fields to address middle school and high school African American males on the importance of continu- ing their education and service to their communities.


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