STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Wednesday, 5 December 2012

[Demeter]

5. Sen. Graham: Obama move on defense layoff notices 'patently illegal' OCTOBER 1

http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/industry/259517-graham-says-hell-block

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says that he will do anything he can to block the Obama administration from reimbursing defense contractors for severance costs if the firms don’t send layoff notices to employees.

The Obama administration issued guidance Friday that said defense firms’ costs would be covered if they have to layoff workers due to canceled contracts under the across-the-board cuts set to take effect Jan. 2....The layoff notices have become a politically charged issue because they could have come just four days ahead of the election because of a 60-day notice required by federal law for mass layoffs.

Graham and other Republicans were livid after the Obama administration issued the guidance on Friday telling contractors that their legal costs would be covered due to canceled contracts under sequestration, but only if they did not issue layoff notices before sequestration occurs — and before the November election.

“I will do everything in my power to make sure not one taxpayer dollar is spent reimbursing companies for failure to comply with WARN Act,” Graham told The Hill in a phone interview Monday. “That is so beyond the pale — I think it’s patently illegal.”

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

Legislator seeks answers on layoff notices from defense contractors

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2012/10/legislators-seek-answers-on-layoff.html

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government reform committee sent a letter to the heads of 10 defense companies asking about the legal justification for not issuing notices of potential layoffs due to sequestration.

Across-the-board defense cuts, known as sequestration, are set to go into effect Jan. 2, but the Obama administration has told defense companies there's no need to issue advance notice generally required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

U.S. Rep. Darrel Issa, R-Calif., who chairs the House committee, wants to know if the companies have sought legal advice, Federal News Radio reports. Republican legislators say the White House doesn't have the legal authority to ask companies not to comply with the WARN Act.


BASICALLY, OBAMA TOLD THE CONTRACTORS THAT LAYOFFS WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN ON JANUARY 2ND, TO BEGIN WITH...AND THAT SHOULD ANY LEGAL PENALTY RESULT, THE US WILL COVER IT.

AND THE CONTRACTORS BOUGHT THE ARGUMENT.

AND LORDY! ARE THE GOP PISSED!