St. Louis Personal Injury Weblog of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Obama Confident about Stimulus

From the Associated Press via the Huffington Post: "Obama On Stimulus Bill: "I'm Confident We're Going To Get It Passed," by Liz Sidoti--

Looking beyond expected House approval of his $825 billion economic stimulus plan, President Barack Obama said Wednesday the nation is at a "perilous moment" requiring swift and decisive action. "We don't have a moment to spare," Obama said in the East Room of the White House, just hours before a crucial House roll call vote.

The measure intended to steady the ricocheting economy was expected to pass, but likely with little of the bipartisan support that Obama wanted. The issue then goes to the Senate where the new president hopes to draw more GOP backing.

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri, products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents.

Opposition to Obama Stimulus Plan

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "GOP walks thin line in opposing stimulus," by Patrick O'Connor--

Congressional Republicans face the tough task of opposing an economic stimulus plan proposed by President Obama – without opposing Obama himself.

So expect the GOP to heap plenty of blame on the congressional Democrats who authored the legislation while shielding the popular new president from any of the mud slung at his allies.

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents

Heath Ledger and the Oscars

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Ledger's family 'proud and excited' by Oscar nod"--

Heath Ledger's family said Friday they were "proud and excited" by his posthumous Academy Award nomination, but that it could not heal the pain caused by his untimely death.

Exactly one year after he died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, Ledger was nominated for best supporting actor for his portrayal of deranged criminal mastermind the Joker in the Batman movie "The Dark Knight."

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents

Halt to All Pending Bush Regs

From Reuters via Yahoo! News: "WHouse stops pending Bush regulations for review"--

President Barack Obama's new administration ordered all federal agencies and departments on Tuesday to stop any pending regulations until they can be reviewed by incoming staff, halting last-minute Bush orders in their tracks.

"This afternoon, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel signed a memorandum sent to all agencies and departments to stop all pending regulations until a legal and policy review can be conducted by the Obama administration," the White House said in a statement issued just hours after Obama took office.

--Posted by St. Louis personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents

Passengers Recount Plane Crash

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Passengers in NY plane ordeal marvel they're alive," by Samantha Gross--

The most terrifying moment came when Vallie Collins was caught in the back galley of the plane — water seeping in from exits that would open only a crack, and dozens of passengers bearing down on her, frantic to get out.

"Trying as hard as we could to push both of those doors," Collins said, recounting the moments after Flight 1549 touched down on the Hudson River on Thursday. "And the flight attendant said: `We probably only have two minutes.'"

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck acci

Obama and His Treasury Nominee

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Can Obama save Geithner?" by Amie Parnes and Craig Gordon--

Barack Obama picked Timothy Geithner to save the U.S. economy.

But now, Obama has to save Geithner first.

Geithner’s tax problems surfaced publicly Tuesday – but Obama’s team has known about them for at least six weeks, waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to push him through the Senate Finance Committee, despite the blemishes on his record, according to documents from the committee.

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents and Missouri truck accidents, and all other types of injury cases.

Bush: The Final Press Conference

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Bush defends presidency in final news conference," by Jennifer Loven--

President George W. Bush said Monday in the final news conference of his presidency that he would ask Congress to release the remaining $350 billion in Wall Street bailout money if President-elect Barack Obama asks him to do so. But he said Obama hasn't so far.

Requesting the money before Bush leaves office next Tuesday would take the burden off Obama's shoulders of making his own appeal for more money from a program that is extraordinarily unpopular with many lawmakers and much of the public.

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents and Missouri truck accidents, and all other types of injury cases.

War in Middle East Continues

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Israel, Hamas defy UN call for cease-fire," by Matti Friedman and Ibrahim Barzak--

Israeli jets and helicopters bombarded Gaza Friday and Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets on at least two cities as both sides defied a U.N. call for an immediate cease-fire.

One Israeli airstrike killed two Hamas militants and another unidentified man, while another flattened a five-story building in northern Gaza, killing at least seven people, including an infant, Hamas officials said. Israeli aircraft struck more than 30 targets before dawn, and there were constant explosions after first light.

--Posted by Alton Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents and Missouri truck accidents, and all other types of injury cases.

Presidents at the White House

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Obama hails 'extraordinary' moment with presidents," by Ben Feller--

Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club. In an image bound to go down in history, every living U.S. president came together at the White House on Wednesday to hash over the world's challenges with the president-elect. There they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder in the Oval Office: George H.W. Bush, Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

"This is an extraordinary gathering," Obama said, looking plenty at ease in the humbling office that will soon be his.

--Posted by Madison County Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents and Missouri truck accidents, and all other types of injury cases.

Large Tax Cuts Planned

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News--"Dem aide: Obama supports $300B tax cut plan," by Philip Elliott--

President-elect Barack Obama, commencing face to face consultations with congressional leaders Monday, is embracing an unexpectedly large tax cut of up to $300 billion. Obama said the country faces an "extraordinary economic challenge."

Besides $500 tax cuts for most workers and $1,000 for couples, the Obama proposal includes more than $100 billion for businesses, an Obama transition official said. The total value of the tax cuts would be significantly higher than had been signaled earlier.

--Posted by Madison County Illinois personal injury lawyers and the Alton Illinois car accident attorneys of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., handling lawsuits for accidents in Missouri and Illinois, personal injury Illinois and Missouri , products liability Illinois and Missouri, workers' compensation, medical malpractice Illinois and Missouri, Illinois truck accidents and Missouri truck accidents, and all other types of injury cases.