Headlines: October 16, 2008

Massachusetts: Patrick to cut 1,000 jobs from state payroll: Will slash budget $1b; local aid is left intact

"Some of the heaviest cuts, $293 million, are in the state's Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, but there will be no reduction in benefits or eligibility for covered residents....Instead, hospitals and doctors who provide care for MassHealth patients will receive lower reimbursements for the services they provide....Last night, the Massachusetts Hospital Association issued a statement that said the cuts will create 'extreme hardship for many hospitals and the communities they serve.'"

Infant Deaths Drop in U.S., but Rate Is Still High

(The rate is high because our medical care is so advanced that we try to save the lives of babies that other countries don't even count as live births.)

Cuba vs. the United States on Infant Mortality

Myths about single-payer health insurance

Child survival crisis in Caucasus and Central Asia

(Hat tip: Best of the Web and here)

Venezuela’s government looking to establish new 6-hour workday

U.S. officials: Missing Afghan students found in Canada

Officials: FBI investigates ACORN for voter fraud

About 200K Ohio voters have records discrepancies

24,000 Felons Getting Ballots, Despite Eligibility Questions

What Crisis? Kremlin downplays financial woes

Obama Distorts His Abortion Record In Third Debate

Bush Declares Exceptions to Sections of Two Bills He Signed Into Law

Everybody Else Did It: Chris Dodd's mortgage blame game.

"Ludwig remains proudest . . . of his efforts to compel bank compliance with fair-lending laws and his revitalization of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a 1977 law requiring banks to invest in poorer neighborhoods and improve lending and service to low- and moderate-income borrowers. Although branded an 'activist' for his vigorous support of the act . . . he points to the cold, hard facts to justify his tactics. After just one Justice Department referral in the OCC's previous 129 years, Ludwig's tenure witnessed 27 fair-lending cases, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in fines against violators."

ACORN sign-ups in Harris seem legitimate: Nearly 40% of vote forms denied, but registrar sees no intentional foul as group draws fire nationwide

ACORN Does Philadelphia

U.S. official has new evidence of Iranian meddling in Iraq

Regulations of Mass Job Destruction

Should people do not know anything about politics be allowed to vote? (video)

"On Wednesday October 8 the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and four other central banks lowered interest rates in an emergency coordinated bid to ease the economic effects of the financial crisis."