Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news,americast.usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Tue, Nov 10 1992 Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 05:07:26 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Nov. 10, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CLINTON GLOOMY ABOUT ECONOMY: President-elect Clinton painted a gloomy portrait of the economy Monday and said he would use an upcoming economic summit to talk "about the gravity of the situation." Clinton's remarks reflected concern by aides that the nation's economy might be worse than previously presented. Aides say the Bush administration exaggerated employment gains and economic statistics before the election. CLINTON REAFFIRMS FOCUS: Bill Clinton's remarks Monday on the economy seemed designed to at once reaffirm his central campaign commitment to make the economy his top priority. It also lowered expectations about what he might be able to do. His comments collapsed a 20-point rally on Wall Street. Clinton and aides are highlighting an economic summit, being viewed as an early defining movement for his administration. COURT ALLOWS INSURANCE CUTS: Supreme Court action Monday will allow employers to sharply cut health insurance coverage for workers with AIDS or other costly illnesses. Without comment, justices declined to hear the plea of the estate of John McGann, whose Houston employer cut AIDS coverage from $1 million to $5,000 after learning he had the disease in 1987. McGann died last year at 47. 1974 LAW DOES NOT APPLY: Lower courts ruled that the 1974 federal law protecting pension and employee benefits did not bar the H & H Music Co. from cutting an AIDS-afflicted employee's health coverage. The court action affects "self-insured" businesses, the majority of U.S. employers, and enables them to reduce benefits for workers with AIDS, cancer or any other illness with steep medical costs. CONTINENTAL ON WAY BACK IN: Continental Airlines looks like it will come out of bankruptcy reorganization. Continental's board of director Monday announced it OK'd a plan by Air Canada and two Fort Worth investors to invest $450 million. The deal could push the USA's fifth-largest airline out of bankruptcy early next year. Air Canada and the investors will each own 27.5%. A bankruptcy court judge must OK the deal. USA FLUNKS PUBLIC HEALTH: The USA is flunking public health. The American Public Health Association said Monday we have the most technologically advanced doctors and equipment. But we're flunking because of factors such as poverty, high infant deaths, AIDS, poor rates of immunization and violence. Developed countries were compared on access to medical care, environments, neighborhoods and health services. DIVERSE FRESHMEN ARRIVE: The most diverse group of Senate freshmen in history arrived in the nation's capital Monday. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, welcomed 11 new senators: four women, including the first black woman in the Senate, the first Native American since 1925 and six white men. Mitchell said the new freshman class will make the Senate "more representative" of the country. BUSH ADDRESSES REPUBLICANS: President Bush, staggered by the force of a loss he never publicly admitted might occur, Tuesday makes his first post-election appearance. His speech at a dinner for congressional Republicans will be his first since his brief remarks when he returned to the White House the day after the election. Wednesday, he and Barbara head to Boca Grande, Fla., for a five-day vacation. NATIONAL GUARD ON I-295: On the eve of the winter tourist season, the USA's largest auto club has begun advising members to steer clear of I-295 in Jacksonville, Fla., because of sniper attacks. On Friday, National Guard troops started nightly patrols, adding their helicopters and humvees to an already strong local police presence. Three incidents with BB or small-caliber guns were reported over the weekend. FIRST DAUGHTER GOES TO SCHOOL: Chelsea Clinton got her first taste of life as the president's daughter Monday, going to school surrounded by Secret Service and media. While the eighth-grader gave photographers the slip at her Little Rock middle school, questions remain about where she'll attend school in Washington. Private school might be best for security and privacy. But it might also send a negative message. HEALTH GROUPS SUPPORT CLINTON: Health-care groups gave President-elect Clinton more votes of confidence Monday, supporting his quest for health-care reform. They warned against temptation to use quick fixes on a health system that leaves millions uninsured and is beset with escalating costs. Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Washington Business Group on Health were among those praising Clinton's commitment to reform. JUDGE WILL KEEP JOB: New York's highest court said Monday that Chief Judge Sol Wachtler can keep his $120,000-a-year job despite being under hospital psychiatric care. Wachtler was arrested on federal charges of trying to blackmail a socialite who reportedly jilted him. Wachtler, 62, has a bond hearing Tuesday on charges he harassed his former lover, identified as Republican fund-raiser Joy Silverman. TENN. ABORTION LAW ALTERED: A Nashville judge Monday struck down parts of a new Tennessee abortion law that required a 48-hour waiting period and limited abortions to state residents. Judge Hamilton Gayden also changed one part to require that abortions after 18 weeks must be performed in a hospital and that only one parent of a minor must be notified. The judge upheld an informed-consent requirement. DALEY WANTS MONEY FOR SCHOOLS: Chicago Mayor Richard Daley wants to earmark $1 billion from gambling tax revenues for state education. The state would use the money to buy bonds over the next 10 years to pay for schools. Gov. Jim Edgar opposes casino gambling, which goes before lawmakers next week. Daley, a Democrat, is pushing the plan before Republicans take control of the Senate in January. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens at 3240.87 Tuesday after closing up 0.81 Monday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 230.634, up 0.54. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 385.36, up 2.10. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 622.05, up 5.23. SNOW PILES UP IN ROCKIES: Snow packs the Utah and Colorado mountains Tuesday. Northern Washington state will see rain, while sunny, cold conditions cover the rest of the Northwest. Cool, breezy weather will cover most of the Southwest. Clouds will cover the central Plains. Warm humid air will blow across Texas east into Arkansas and Louisiana. The mid-Atlantic region will enjoy sunny weather. News Editor: Kate Coughlin. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution purposes violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM