Don’t look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on health care overhaul. A government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They’re locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Barack Obama’s signature issue at stake.
Tag: government
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Costco Accepts Food Stamps: Trend at Wholesale Clubs, Grocery Stores
Filed under: Personal Finance, News, The Economy, Savings, Budget
Leading wholesale retailer Costco has announced that it will now accept food stamps in its stores nationwide. This news comes as a shock to many, who see Costco as catering to elite shoppers. Yet, this should not be surprising as more Americans than ever are using government assistance to feed their families — 10 million people have gone on food stamps in the last two years alone. This is leaving shopping clubs like Costco and Sam’s scrambling to attract an entirely new realm of consumer, who may not be technically “poor.”
Up until recently, some wholesale clubs were skeptical poor people would be willing to pay the $50-a-year membership fee or would be interested in buying food in the bulk quantities for which the stores are famous.
But now, in this economy, stores are battling for every dollar and see a big potential market in the growing ranks of food-stamp recipients. From warehouse clubs to supermarkets and mom-and-pop groceries, stores are retraining their cashiers and hanging new signs to welcome such customers.
”Certainly this economy was a wake-up call,” Costco chief financial officer Richard Galanti recently told investors. ”It is not just very low-end economic strata that are using these.”
… The U.S. Department of Agriculture said nearly 200,000 retailers nationwide now accept food stamps, 20 percent more than in 2005.
Executives at Costco are finding that poorer families are actually eager to pay the $50 dollar membership fee to take advantage of the fact that the company now accepts food stamps. And the retailer believes that poorer families will actually save more money in the end by buying in bulk, even if the initial investment seems high.
If you need to join the ranks of the 39 million Americans on food stamps (also known as Electronic Benefits Transfers), there is no reason to be ashamed. In fact, now is a better time than ever to seek out government assistance in buying food if you need it. The social stigma attached to food stamps is essentially gone as so many people are in need, and now more companies than ever are rising to meet the needs of this customer. You might be surprised to learn that you qualify.
Learn how to apply for food stamps, or about the WIC program, and click below to learn about some of the thousands of retailers that accept EBT. Check your local retailers for more shopping options.
Major Retailers That Accept Food Stamps
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Method Man: Arrested for Tax Evasion
Filed under: News, Celeb Updates, Legal
Grammy Award-winning rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man turned himself in yesterday to the Staten Island District Attorney on felony charges related to a $32,799 tax bill from 2004 to 2007.
The 38-year-old rapper-actor (born Clifford Smith) was also in hot water with the government in 2008. He owed the IRS $52,503 in payments, and, as a result, his Lincoln Navigator SUV was repossessed.
Judging from all of his debt, one would think that the ‘Soul Plane’ actor is suffering from a case of memory loss. And that just may be the case in this scenario.
“Myself, I’m a pothead,” he told the New York Daily News in March. “Sure [the tax department] sent letters to my house, saying, ‘We need this money.’ They started sending them in 2002. Here it is 2009, and I never paid this s–t because I don’t think like that!”
Although Smith may have a slight disability, district attorney Daniel Donovan claims the rapper can still face prison time.
“Taxes are the burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an ‘average Joe’ on the street or a high-profile rap artist,” he said in a statement. “Because of the alleged action of people like Mr. Smith, law-abiding citizens face higher taxes and reduced government services. Failure to properly report and pay your taxes is a crime against all citizens and will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”
Following his arrest on Oct. 5, Method Man was arraigned and released. He is due back in court Dec. 9. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison.
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Money Blast: What You Should Know about Credit Scores
Filed under: Personal Finance, Dr. Boyce Money, News, The Economy
Financial News You need to know:What you need to know about credit scores: Get educated on what it takes to have the score you need. Your credit score can affect whether you get the job you want, as well as the cost of your insurance. Additionally, the formulas used by companies to calculate credit worthiness are changing as we speak.
What social security underfunding means for your retirement: Social security is financially sick. African Americans are going to be hit the hardest, since we have the least wealth to prepare for economic challenges. Find out what all this means for your retirement, as the retirement landscape in America is going to change dramatically in the future.The federal government may continue to help first time home buyers: Many people don’t know about the $8,000 tax credit the Obama Administration is giving to first-time home buyers. Well, the government is considering extending the credit, which can add to your personal bottom line.Students are borrowing more money than ever to attend college: Along with the cost of healthcare, Americans are finding it more and more difficult to pay for their children to go to college. In fact, most young people under the age of 40 are going to die in debt. This does not have to be the case, since there are less expensive ways to pay for school if you seek out alternatives.
Factors that may increase your chances of personal bankruptcy: Bankruptcies are skyrocketing due to the recession. There are things you can do to avoid bankruptcy, like negotiating with creditors or keeping a budget. Also, things like carefully noting the quality of your health insurance can make a difference as well.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University, a prominent black speaker and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. -
Five Things You Might Not Know About The Black American Worker
Filed under: Careers, News, The Economy
It’s no secret that the recession is hitting African-Americans especially hard. Last month black unemployment stood at 14.5 percent, vs. 8.6 percent for whites. However, nearly 18 million blacks are still toiling in the civilian labor force, representing over 11 percent of America’s 155 million workers. As the country enjoys a day of rest on Monday to celebrate all working Americans, Black Voices is taking time to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the black worker with five facts you might not know…
1) She Brings Home The Bacon
The black worker is more likely to be female; but then again, there are simply more black females. Fifty-three percent of black workers age 20 and over are women, while 47 percent are men – commensurate with their representation in the overall population.2) The Tax Collector in the Mirror
It’s not surprising that a black person is more likely than a white one to be a bus driver or a health care aide. But did you know that blacks are also more likely to be tax examiners or collectors; dietician or nutritionists; crossing guards; bill collectors; and telemarketers?3) On The Government Payroll
Who says big government is a terrible thing? While facing discrimination in many sectors, blacks are more likely to work for the federal government than other Americans. We represented 17.8 percent of the federal workforce in 2007 compared to 10.1 percent of the general population4) Bearing the Union Label
For years blacks have been more likely to work in a union, bringing them 12 percent higher wages than their non-union counterparts. However, black union participation has been falling for years, from nearly 32 percent in 1983 to less than half that today. In 2008, 14.5 percent black workers were union members vs. 12.2 percent of white workers. It’s no wonder that on average blacks are….In More News About Black Workers:
+NAAIA is Recruiting Black Insurance Professionals
+Dr. Boyce and Michel Martin on NPR Discuss the Minimum Wage
+Dr Boyce Money: First Black Female to Run Fortune 500 Company
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=633153&pid=633152&uts=1252096128http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swfBefore These Stars Quit Their Day Jobs…Mary J. Blige and other stars had important jobs before they were famous, even if they may have been low-income. What are the most underpaid and underappreciated professions?Getty ImagesBefore They Were Famous
Mary J. Blige is known for her creatively coiffed crown of hair for good reason…
Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
Mary J. Blige:
At-Home Hairdresser
From Starpulse.com: “Blige spent the first few years of her life in Savannah, GA, before moving with her mother and older sister to the Schlobam housing projects in Yonkers, NY. Her rough life there produced more than a few scars, physical and otherwise, and Blige dropped out of high school her junior year, instead spending time doing her friends’ hair in her mother’s apartment and hanging out.”Mary started to make her own way in the world in a profession that many take for granted. The at-home hairdresser is a very important staple of many communities, as she uses her skills to help women who can’t afford a professional salon to stay pampered and beautiful. We salute you!
Getty Images
Denzel Washington is no stranger to the hair business himself…
John Shearer, WireImage
Denzel Washington: Barber
From Tiscali: “It’s often been said that the boy picked up his desire to act from the flamboyant communication that went on around him at this time. He certainly picked up a desire to work – the family ethic was very strong – and young Denzel found himself labouring in barber shops and beauty parlours from the age of 11.”The neighborhood barber is an important institution in many communities. Even though they don’t get paid much, men’s salons are like private social clubs that allow them to relax and connect at an affordable price. Workers in these establishments not only groom the body — they soothe the soul.
WireImage
Ellen is known for her dancing, but she used to be a different kind of mover back in the day…
Jordan Strauss, WireImage
Ellen Degenres: Car Wash Driver
From CareerBuilder.com: “I actually liked my first job. I was driving cars out of a car wash, you know, once the car comes out, you get in and you wipe it. That was exciting to me to drive the nice cars and wipe down the [dashboard] with Emerald.”We often take for granted all the folks at the local war wash. They may be working for little more than tips, but they keep our cars clean and fresh, making a huge positive impact on our daily lives.
WireImage
Jennifer Lopez has displayed a high level of discipline and organization in plotting her megastar career. She must have learned those skills during one of her first jobs…
Steve Granitz, Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez: Legal Assistant
From 2spare.com: “Long before Jennifer Lopez sang, danced and acted her way to superstardom, she briefly traded in her velour tracksuit for a suit of the pin-striped variety while working at a law office.”It’s hard to imagine someone as driven as Jennifer Lopez being an assistant, but J.Lo paid her dues by helping her bosses meet their goals. It’s hard for anybody to put others first, but that’s what assistants do in every field. They deserve to be appreciated for this.
WireImage / Getty Images
Before Angela Bassett became a huge star in front of the camera, she earned her living doing business on the other side of the lens…
Michael Tullberg, Getty Images
Angela Bassett:
Photo Researcher
From Yuddy.com: “After working as a beauty salon receptionist and photo researcher, Bassett got started with her acting career in New York Theater, after which she landed her first role-as a prostitute-in the 1985 TV movie ‘Doubletake,’ starring Richard Crenna and Beverly D’Angelo. The following year she landed her first official film role as a TV reporter in ‘F/X.’”Whenever we look at a magazine, or in a book with pictures, we are seeing the work of some one like Bassett in her early career. We never think of the faceless, nameless men and women who look for all the photos that illustrate concepts, news and ideas in every facet of our daily lives, ranging from Web sites to education. But every one of those photos was hand-selected by someone, most often an anonymous, but dedicated and not-too-well-paid pro. What would life be like without all the hundreds of pictures we enjoy every day?
Getty Images