Free Republic

Health Reform: As major businesses lay out the impact of ObamaCare in dollars and jobs, two things are clear: the costs will be enormous, and the president's vow to focus on "jobs, jobs, jobs" can no longer be believed. Early returns on ObamaCare are coming in, and they belie proponents' claims of job creation and cost reduction. The costs will increase. They are merely being shifted to the states and to America's businesses, large and small. AT&T, the country's largest telephone company, announced Friday it will take a $1 billion first-quarter charge related to the new health care law. The...

Deere Says New Health Care Reform Law Will Increase 2010 Expense By $150 Million After-Tax MOLINE, Illinois (March 25, 2010) — Deere & Company announced today that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law this week will adversely impact its expenses for fiscal 2010. As a result of the legislation, the company's expenses are expected to be about $150 million higher on an after-tax basis, primarily in the second quarter. This impact was not included in the 2010 outlook for net income attributable to Deere & Company of approximately $1.3 billion disclosed in the company's first-quarter earnings...

MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Russia has seen over $1.5 billion (925 million pounds) of company deals unveiled, but a longer term step-change in business between the nations will depend on Moscow boosting the rule of law. "We need the confidence that things are going to remain stable, that the ground rules are going to remain stable," Samuel Allen, chairman of U.S. farm machinery maker Deere. , told reporters while announcing an investment of $500 million into Russia within the next five to seven years. .... A breakthrough at these talks would serve as evidence both...

Bomb scare clears John Deere Posted By TRIBUNE STAFF ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A bomb scare sent workers home yesterday at John Deere Welland Works. According to a police press release, at about 5:30 a. m. an unknown male made a phone call to the plant on Canal Bank Road. He said a bomb would go off in the plant but provided few details." ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Police are seeking public assistance in finding the person who made the call. Anyone with information is urged to contact Smith at 905-688-4111 ext. 3345."

Pontiac, SC - It has been announced in local media (Columbia, SC) that the John Deere plant in Pontiac, SC, is being shut down. The plant has been subject to twice weekly protests by Southern heritage supporters since October, 2000. The protests, organized by Dean Weems, were the result of John Deere management firing two employees due to their love of their heritage. Bill Van Der Hoff, a mechanic, was fired for refusing to remove a 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch Confederate Battle flag sticker from his personally owned tool box. Another employee, Gary Waller, was fired for the ...

BOSTON - In a trailblazing pairing of robotics and tractor companies, iRobot and John Deere announced plans Monday to build a 9-foot-long semi-autonomous battlefield vehicle. Burlington-based iRobot Corp. will adapt the artificial intelligence technology used in its Roomba vacuums and portable PackBot military robots for a two-seat John Deere utility vehicle similar to ones the Pentagon (news - web sites) already uses. The Military Robotic Gator, or R-Gator, will be the first of its kind to use off-the-shelf technology, making it easier and less expensive to produce than existing, custom-made vehicles, the companies said. While the Pentagon is expected to...

John Deere Looks to Hire Soldiers Wednesday, March 24, 2004, 6:56:10 PM From the KCRG-TV9 Dubuque Newsroom Businesses like John Deere in Dubuque are hoping to hire soldiers who are returning from active duty. John Deere is involved with the Army's PAYS program. PAYS stands for Partnership for Youth Success. The program allows Army recruits to select a company and job category for future employment. The Dubuque works has 10 to 20 soldiers on its list. Deere hopes to hire them over the next several years as their military commitments expire. John Deere companies nationwide expect to hire more...