Immigration Reform Could Cost Social Security Billions | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance

By Nicole Goodkind

 

Stephen Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration estimates that 3.1 million illegal workers pay into Social Security each year. In 2010, undocumented workers and their employers paid $15 billion to Social Security with no intention of ever collecting benefits -- that year illegal workers only received $1 billion back.

How do working illegal immigrants pay in to and collect Social Security? Some are issued Social Security numbers with their temporary or student visas, others forge documents and were issued numbers by Social Security before they tightened their screening process in 2001, some steal numbers, and others simply make them up.

When workers pay Social Security under numbers that don’t match their names the administration sorts these into their “suspense” file. No one gets credit towards benefits for this money but the money does still go to the Social Security trust fund.

Related: Immigration Is an Economic Issue: Actress and Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria

Over the course of many years, Goss estimates that a total of $150 billion in undocumented workers' money has flowed into the Social Security trust fund. That’s about 8% of the total

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Immigration Reform Could Cost Social Security Billions | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance

Health department fee increases going back to county board | Belvidere Daily Republican

Health board Vice President Jim Cox was at the meeting and he said part of the board’s responsibility is to analyze programs offered by the health department. “We spent countless hours analyzing this permit fee program,” he said. “Compared to surrounding counties, we fall in the mid-range. We felt a 2.25-percent increase was well justified.”

“We don’t charge for everything we do,” Hatfield interjected.

Committee Chairman Mike Schultz said he thought the matter should go back to the full board. He then said he would vote no on increasing the inspection fees.

“We’re sending it back so we can vote it down,” Thornberry said afterward.

The next county board meeting will be March 20.

Click on the following for more details:  Health department fee increases going back to county board | Belvidere Daily Republican

Hostess owner eyes Twinkies return by summer - chicagotribune.com

Daren's father, Dean Metropoulos, teamed up with Apollo Global Management to offer $410 million for Twinkies and other snack cakes. Their offer was to serve as the minimum offer for the business but no other bidders emerged.

Besides the iconic Twinkie, Hostess' snack cake line also includes cakes, which include CupCakes, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos.

Click on the following for more details:  Hostess owner eyes Twinkies return by summer - chicagotribune.com

Byron power plant official defends response during power outage

Local media picks up on the Japanese news coverage of the Byron incident.

 

When the shift managers and operators have discussion of what to do next, and they decided to go to the diesel generator to get the power back in," said Dempsey.

It's those eight minutes that an article in the Japan Times points to as a critical failure and could have resulted in severe consequences.

"That day we did have a steam release," said Dempsey.

Click on the following to view the TV news click:  Byron power plant official defends response during power outage

Community Building Mural unveiling

As a Boone County Board member I received this invitation.  So I guess everyone out there—should also feel invited.  I will try to make it if you do

 

Lack of funds might halt Belvidere bus service in 2014 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

RRSTAR.COM

Lisa Brown, RMTD’s marketing and public relations specialist, said ridership is steadily growing, hitting a high of more than 1,400 rides in August 2012. There were 141 rides during the first month of service.

“In Belvidere, with limited funding we needed a route and stops that would put the bus in a centralized location with respect to the overall city geography and hit up major destinations or locations important to the passengers,” Brown added.

Lack of funds might halt Belvidere bus service in 2014 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Illinois Tollway: Illinois Tollway to hold meetings on I-90 work. - chicagotribune.com

By Richard Wronski, Tribune Reporter

March 12, 2013

The meetings will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Huntley Village Hall, 10987 Main St.; and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Belvidere Oasis, at I-90 milepost 24.

The work includes:

•Roadway rebuilding and widening to six lanes will begin in the eastbound lanes between the Elgin Toll Plaza and I-39 in Rockford.

•Bridges on I-90 over the Kishwaukee River, Mosquito Creek, Coon Creek, U.S. Route 20, Sleepy Hollow Road and the Union Pacific Railroad will be rebuilt, as will nine local bridges that carry traffic over the tollway.

•Interchange improvements are planned at Business U.S. Highway 20/State Street in Rockford and Lee Street in Rosemont.

•Work will continue on the new Illinois Highway 47 interchange on I-90 in Huntley. The new interchange is scheduled to open by the end of the year. Six new ramps are being built with all-electronic toll plazas. The bridge carrying Highway 47 traffic over I-90 will be rebuilt.

Click on the following for more details:  Illinois Tollway: Illinois Tollway to hold meetings on I-90 work. - chicagotribune.com