Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
HOSTESS BRANDS TO WIND DOWN COMPANY AFTER BCTGM UNION STRIKE CRIPPLES OPERATIONS
Hostess Brands Inc. today announced that it is winding down operations and has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities. Bakery operations have been suspended at all plants. Delivery of products will continue and Hostess Brands retail stores will remain open for several days in order to sell already-baked products.
The Board of Directors authorized the wind down of Hostess Brands to preserve and maximize the value of the estate after one of the Company’s largest unions, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), initiated a nationwide strike that crippled the Company’s ability to produce and deliver products at multiple facilities.
On Nov. 12, Hostess Brands permanently closed three plants as a result of the work stoppage. On Nov. 14, the Company announced it would be forced to liquidate if sufficient employees did not return to work to restore normal operations by 5 p.m., EST p.m., Nov. 15. The Company determined on the night of Nov. 15 that an insufficient number of employees had returned to work to enable the restoration of normal operations.
The BCTGM in September rejected a last, best and final offer from Hostess Brands designed to lower costs so that the Company could attract new financing and emerge from Chapter 11. Hostess Brands then received Court authority on Oct. 3 to unilaterally impose changes to the BCTGM’s collective bargaining agreements.
Hostess Brands is unprofitable under its current cost structure, much of which is determined by union wages and pension costs. The offer to the BCTGM included wage, benefit and work rule concessions but also gave Hostess Brands’ 12 unions a 25 percent ownership stake in the company, representation on its Board of Directors and $100 million in reorganized Hostess Brands’ debt.
“We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said Gregory F. Rayburn, chief executive officer. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.”
In addition to dozens of baking and distribution facilities around the country, Hostess Brands will sell its popular brands, including Hostess®, Drakes® and Dolly Madison®, which make iconic cake products such as Twinkies®, CupCakes, Ding Dongs®, Ho Ho’s®, Sno Balls® and Donettes®. Bread brands to be sold include Wonder®, Nature’s Pride ®, Merita®, Home Pride®, Butternut®, and Beefsteak®, among others.
The wind down means the closure of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.
The Company said its debtor-in-possession lenders have agreed to allow the Company to continue to have access to the $75 million financing facility put in place at the start of the bankruptcy cases to fund the sale and wind down process, subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval.
The Company’s motion asks the Court for authority to continue to pay employees whose services are required during the wind-down period.
For employees whose jobs will be eliminated, additional information can be found at hostessbrands.info . The website also contains information for customers and vendors. Most employees who lose their jobs should be eligible for government-provided unemployment benefits.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Obama Says Voting Is The Best Revenge
This comment shows only one thing. The President is not interested in the welfare of the economy or anything else for that matter. He is interested in only one thing: staying in the White House.
When hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi, Louisiana, Bahamas, South Florida, Cuba, Alabama, Florida Panhandle and Eastern North America, President Bush was pounded by the media for not acting fast enough. People in New Orleans were suffering for only 2 days before FEMA began to respond.
The media bias is very evident with President Obama. They have not even kicked up an uproar. It tooks days before FEMA was providing gasoline. There are sections of New Jeresy and New York where people are still without power, food and water. Some are having to eat out of dumpsters. Days and days have gone by and the government's response has been less than stellar. But, the media does not ask why the lack of response.
As the old Hillary Clinton campaign ad asks, "Who do you want answering the phone?"
Think about all of the other times.
Then presidential candidate Obama told us that there would transparency in his administration. What did we get? Closed door sessions and debates on health care. We got the "Cornhusker Kickback" and "Louisiana Purchase" that bought the votes needed to ram Obamacare through Congress. In a debate with Mitt Romney, President Obama said that he liked the term, Obamacare. Why not? It is his legacy.
President Obama promised us a way out of the recession and that we would see unemployment at 5.2% by now. What did we get? Unemployment sitting at 7.9%. 23 million Americans out of work. 47 million on food stamps up from 32 million. Disability claims rising as some people elect to go on disability, because they have exhausted their unemployment benefits.
Presidential candidate Obama promised that he would cut the deficit by half in his first term. What did we get? Each year during his administration the government has run a trillion plus dollar deficit. The government spent almost $400 billion just on interest payment on the $16 trillion national debt. The government is still running without a budget since he took office.
These are all facts and his words. President Obama, on the campaign trail, calls into question Mitt Romney's character and tells us that we cannot believe him. Really, Mr. President?
When hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi, Louisiana, Bahamas, South Florida, Cuba, Alabama, Florida Panhandle and Eastern North America, President Bush was pounded by the media for not acting fast enough. People in New Orleans were suffering for only 2 days before FEMA began to respond.
The media bias is very evident with President Obama. They have not even kicked up an uproar. It tooks days before FEMA was providing gasoline. There are sections of New Jeresy and New York where people are still without power, food and water. Some are having to eat out of dumpsters. Days and days have gone by and the government's response has been less than stellar. But, the media does not ask why the lack of response.
As the old Hillary Clinton campaign ad asks, "Who do you want answering the phone?"
Think about all of the other times.
Then presidential candidate Obama told us that there would transparency in his administration. What did we get? Closed door sessions and debates on health care. We got the "Cornhusker Kickback" and "Louisiana Purchase" that bought the votes needed to ram Obamacare through Congress. In a debate with Mitt Romney, President Obama said that he liked the term, Obamacare. Why not? It is his legacy.
President Obama promised us a way out of the recession and that we would see unemployment at 5.2% by now. What did we get? Unemployment sitting at 7.9%. 23 million Americans out of work. 47 million on food stamps up from 32 million. Disability claims rising as some people elect to go on disability, because they have exhausted their unemployment benefits.
Presidential candidate Obama promised that he would cut the deficit by half in his first term. What did we get? Each year during his administration the government has run a trillion plus dollar deficit. The government spent almost $400 billion just on interest payment on the $16 trillion national debt. The government is still running without a budget since he took office.
These are all facts and his words. President Obama, on the campaign trail, calls into question Mitt Romney's character and tells us that we cannot believe him. Really, Mr. President?
Obama: Shovel-Ready Not as Shovel-Ready as We Expected
Remember, this comment about the $787 billion Stimulus package. At this point, unemployment was supposed to be 5.2%. This figure came directly from the Obama administration. We are at 7.9% which is higher than when he took office.
President Obama keeps saying the same thing, "We created 5 million new jobs." He does not tell you that he is counting the increase from where the econony bottomed out. There are still 23 million Americans out of work. When you are in a hole, climbing up does not change the fact that you are still in a hole.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' U-6 number, which totals the unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, is 14.6%.
President Obama keeps saying the same thing, "We created 5 million new jobs." He does not tell you that he is counting the increase from where the econony bottomed out. There are still 23 million Americans out of work. When you are in a hole, climbing up does not change the fact that you are still in a hole.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' U-6 number, which totals the unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, is 14.6%.
Friday, November 2, 2012
VOTING MACHINES MALFUNCTIONING IN SEVERAL STATES
Across the country, there are reports that voters are experiencing frustration when they cast a ballot for Governor Romney but inexplicably the voting machines registers a vote for Obama.
North Carolina Experiencing Problems With Voting Machines Defaulting To Obama
Guilford County, North Carolina Voters Complaining That Votes Entered For Romney “Defaulted To President Obama.” “The presidential election is just around the corner and voting issues have already become a problem in Guilford County. On Monday, several voters complained that their electronic ballot machine cast the wrong vote. All the complaints were made by people who voted at the Bur-Mil Park polling location. One of the voters, Sher Coromalis, says she cast her ballot for Governor Mitt Romney, but every time she entered her vote the machine defaulted to President Obama.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “Guilford Co. Voters Say Ballot Cast For Romney Came Up Obama On Machine,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/23/12)
In Mesa County, Colorado, Officials Removed “A Voting Machine From Service After A Voter Complained His Vote Was Being Recorded Opposite Of What He Intended.” “Mesa County voters are being urged to double-check their early voting ballots after a machine was removed for possibly skewing a voter’s choices. The Daily Sentinel reports that Mesa County Clerk Sheila Reiner removed a voting machine from service after a voter complained his vote was being recorded opposite of what he intended.” (“Voters Report Faulty Voting Machine Cast Wrong Votes,” The Associated Press, 10/23/12)
Ohio Voters Complaining That Voting Machines Are Defaulting To Barack Obama
An Ohio Voter Claimed It Took Her Three Tries For The Voting Machine To Accurately Record Her Vote. “Joan Stevens was one of several early voters at the polls on Monday. But when Stevens tried to cast her ballot for president, she noticed a problem. Upon selecting ‘Mitt Romney’ on the electronic touch screen, Barack Obama’s name lit up. It took Stevens three tries before her selection was accurately recorded.” (Nick Bechtel, “Problem Found At Board Of Elections,” The Marion Star, 10/31/12)
Director Of The Marion County, Ohio Board Of Elections, Sophia Rogers: “Because Of Her Issue, We Had That Machine Recalibrated.” “Stevens also reported the issue to Sophia Rogers, the director of the board of elections for Marion County. Rogers said the machine worked fine when she and others tried voting on it. No one else had reported problems with the voting machines malfunctioning. Despite no problems with that particular machine, Rogers decided to take all precautions. She contacted the vendor and had them inspect the device. ‘Because of her issue, we had that machine recalibrated,’ Rogers said. ‘I am certain the equipment works properly.’” (Nick Bechtel, “Problem Found At Board Of Elections,” The Marion Star, 10/31/12)
Machines In Missouri Registering Romney Votes For Obama
Missouri Voter Says “She Tried Twice To Touch The Screen And Vote For Romney, But Both Times The Machine Indicated She Was Voting For Obama.” “One voter tells News 4 an electronic voting machine at the St. Louis County Board of Elections mistakenly cast a vote for President Barack Obama even though she voted for Mitt Romney. Diana Neff says the voting glitch happened on October 10 during absentee voting. She says she tried twice to touch the screen and vote for Romney but both times the machine indicated she was voting for Obama.” (Matt Sczesny, “Voter Says Machine Cast Vote For Wrong Candidate Twice,” KMOV News 4, 10/26/12)
North Carolina Experiencing Problems With Voting Machines Defaulting To Obama
Guilford County, North Carolina Voters Complaining That Votes Entered For Romney “Defaulted To President Obama.” “The presidential election is just around the corner and voting issues have already become a problem in Guilford County. On Monday, several voters complained that their electronic ballot machine cast the wrong vote. All the complaints were made by people who voted at the Bur-Mil Park polling location. One of the voters, Sher Coromalis, says she cast her ballot for Governor Mitt Romney, but every time she entered her vote the machine defaulted to President Obama.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “Guilford Co. Voters Say Ballot Cast For Romney Came Up Obama On Machine,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/23/12)
- Elections Officials Assured Voters That “It’s Not A Conspiracy” And The Problem “Can Be Resolved After The Machine Is Re-Calibrated.” “Guilford County Board of Elections Director George Gilbert says the problem arises every election. It can be resolved after the machine is re-calibrated by poll workers. ‘It’s not a conspiracy it’s just a machine that needs to be corrected,’ Gilbert said…Elections officials say the machines have been fixed as of Tuesday, and no problems have been reported since.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “Guilford Co. Voters Say Ballot Cast For Romney Came Up Obama On Machine,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/23/12)
- Election Officials Check The Machines Every Morning And “This Problem Isn’t Unusual.” “Guilford County Board of Elections Director George Gilbert says the problem is the machines needed to be re-calibrated. Election officials say once the machines are rebooted, a new screen appears along with a new ballot…Gilbert says the machines are checked every morning and this problem isn’t unusual. The same issues were reported during the 2008 Presidential Election as well.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “More Voting Problems Reported In Jamestown, Pleasant Garden,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/24/12)
- All Voters “Were Able To Get Their Vote Corrected.” “All of the voters who complained were able to get their vote corrected. As of now, there are no plans to change the way voters will cast their ballots.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “More Voting Problems Reported In Jamestown, Pleasant Garden,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/24/12)
- Guilford County Uses Machines From Electronic Systems Software. “Guilford County switched to touchscreen in 1994. The electronic machines were purchased in 2006 from Electronic Systems Software.” (Scott Gustin, Brandon Jones, And Charlie Glancy, “More Voting Problems Reported In Jamestown, Pleasant Garden,” WGHP Fox 8, 10/24/12)
In Mesa County, Colorado, Officials Removed “A Voting Machine From Service After A Voter Complained His Vote Was Being Recorded Opposite Of What He Intended.” “Mesa County voters are being urged to double-check their early voting ballots after a machine was removed for possibly skewing a voter’s choices. The Daily Sentinel reports that Mesa County Clerk Sheila Reiner removed a voting machine from service after a voter complained his vote was being recorded opposite of what he intended.” (“Voters Report Faulty Voting Machine Cast Wrong Votes,” The Associated Press, 10/23/12)
Ohio Voters Complaining That Voting Machines Are Defaulting To Barack Obama
An Ohio Voter Claimed It Took Her Three Tries For The Voting Machine To Accurately Record Her Vote. “Joan Stevens was one of several early voters at the polls on Monday. But when Stevens tried to cast her ballot for president, she noticed a problem. Upon selecting ‘Mitt Romney’ on the electronic touch screen, Barack Obama’s name lit up. It took Stevens three tries before her selection was accurately recorded.” (Nick Bechtel, “Problem Found At Board Of Elections,” The Marion Star, 10/31/12)
Director Of The Marion County, Ohio Board Of Elections, Sophia Rogers: “Because Of Her Issue, We Had That Machine Recalibrated.” “Stevens also reported the issue to Sophia Rogers, the director of the board of elections for Marion County. Rogers said the machine worked fine when she and others tried voting on it. No one else had reported problems with the voting machines malfunctioning. Despite no problems with that particular machine, Rogers decided to take all precautions. She contacted the vendor and had them inspect the device. ‘Because of her issue, we had that machine recalibrated,’ Rogers said. ‘I am certain the equipment works properly.’” (Nick Bechtel, “Problem Found At Board Of Elections,” The Marion Star, 10/31/12)
Machines In Missouri Registering Romney Votes For Obama
Missouri Voter Says “She Tried Twice To Touch The Screen And Vote For Romney, But Both Times The Machine Indicated She Was Voting For Obama.” “One voter tells News 4 an electronic voting machine at the St. Louis County Board of Elections mistakenly cast a vote for President Barack Obama even though she voted for Mitt Romney. Diana Neff says the voting glitch happened on October 10 during absentee voting. She says she tried twice to touch the screen and vote for Romney but both times the machine indicated she was voting for Obama.” (Matt Sczesny, “Voter Says Machine Cast Vote For Wrong Candidate Twice,” KMOV News 4, 10/26/12)
- The Voter Was Able To Cast Her Intended Vote After A Poll Worker Reset The Machine. “Neff says she called over a poll worker who told her, this happens sometimes, and he seemed to reset the machine. After that, Neff says she got to cast her vote correctly.” (Matt Sczesny, “Voter Says Machine Cast Vote For Wrong Candidate Twice,” KMOV News 4, 10/26/12)
Thursday, November 1, 2012
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Elected Officials to Visit El Paso and Mesa Counties for Early Vote Push
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will be making stops in El Paso and Mesa counties Thursday to encourage Coloradans to vote early for the GOP ticket. At each stop, Chairman Priebus, elected officials and Republican supporters will hold Commit to Mitt Early Voting events and make phone calls to remind people to vote early or return their absentee ballots. These events are part of a national effort to reach voters before Election Day and encourage them to cast their ballots for Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. Colorado will play a crucial role in the November 6 election, and with Republicans maintaining a lead over Democrats in absentee and early votes cast, Colorado voters are clearly showing they cannot afford four more years like the last four years.
Our nation is at a turning point. Americans can’t afford another four years like the last four years under President Obama’s failed policies. When Mitt Romney is president, he will work with Democrats and Republicans, put the interests of the American people first, and deliver the real recovery President Obama could only promise. We know he can do it because he’s done it before in business and as Governor of Massachusetts. This election is a choice between the status quo and real change – change that offers promise that the future will be better than the past four years.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Event: El Paso County Early Vote Push
Who: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, COGOP Chairman Ryan Call, U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn
Location: El Paso County Victory Office
205 Sutton Lane
Colorado Springs, CO
Time: 11:45 AM MDT
———————
Event: Mesa County Early Vote Push
Who: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton
Location: Mesa County Victory Office
1114 North 1st Street, Suite 102
Grand Junction, CO
Time: 2:15 PM MDT
Our nation is at a turning point. Americans can’t afford another four years like the last four years under President Obama’s failed policies. When Mitt Romney is president, he will work with Democrats and Republicans, put the interests of the American people first, and deliver the real recovery President Obama could only promise. We know he can do it because he’s done it before in business and as Governor of Massachusetts. This election is a choice between the status quo and real change – change that offers promise that the future will be better than the past four years.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Event: El Paso County Early Vote Push
Who: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, COGOP Chairman Ryan Call, U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn
Location: El Paso County Victory Office
205 Sutton Lane
Colorado Springs, CO
Time: 11:45 AM MDT
———————
Event: Mesa County Early Vote Push
Who: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton
Location: Mesa County Victory Office
1114 North 1st Street, Suite 102
Grand Junction, CO
Time: 2:15 PM MDT
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