Greece breached the rules of its EU/IMF loan agreement by taking on some 70,000 public sector staff in two years

Greece breached the rules of its EU/IMF loan agreement by taking on some 70,000 public sector staff in two years, undermining efforts to reduce the state payroll, a report has said.

To Vima weekly said the hirings in 2010 and 2011 were highest in local administration, health, the police and culture, where the number of employees actually increased.

It cited a report from the troika of international creditors; the European Union, International [...]

Must-Read News – 9/22/11 – House rejects government funding bill as shutdown looms

Just headlines:

Spain’s CAM Says More Than Half of Developer Loans in Default
Harrisburg controller pushes for bankruptcy
L.A. schools brace for wave of layoffs
German, French Sovereign Risk Surges to Record on Fed Outlook
Cash-starved Brooklyn hospitals face more cuts
Greeks strike amid pain and anger over austerity
Greece to cut pensions, up taxes and fire state staff for bailout
House rejects government funding bill as shutdown looms
Republican Defections Kill Measure Needed to Avoid Shutdown
Fitch downgrades Cook [...]

Two-thirds of Minn. state staff to be furloughed

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s state government began a broad shut down on Friday going into the July 4 holiday after Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach a budget deal.

Parts of the government had already begun to shut down on Thursday ahead of the midnight budget deadline, including some websites and dozens of highway rest stops on one of the biggest travel [...]

Going for a swim? Put on a life vest, county says

People who hope to beat the summer heat by swimming, floating or boating on rivers in King County must wear a life vest or face an $86  fine.

A divided County Council on Monday passed a personal flotation device ordinance by a five to four vote. Opponents said it was an intrusive move by “big government.”

“This Council sometimes thinks it’s everybody’s mom,” said Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, who [...]