Myanmar health care broken under military rule

ZEE PHYU KWIN, Myanmar (AP) ? In her long scarlet sarong, crisp white shirt and nurse's cap pinned neatly in place, Khin Aye Nwe looks as though she belongs in a modern hospital. Instead, the midwife's clean sandals scuff across the dusty cement floor of a dilapidated clinic in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta.

She covers a territory spanning 15 villages with 3,000 people, delivering babies, immunizing children and treating everything from malnutrition to malaria in an area where 80 percent of young children and pregnant women are anemic.

For half a century, such work was almost completely ignored by the secretive military-run government, which starved virtually every sector of the budget except defense. Now, with the dramatic change that has given Myanmar an elected government, there are hopes for improvement, but the country faces a long climb. Under military rule, it spent less than $1 per person on health in 2008, minus donor money, and ranks among the lowest countries in nearly every category of health care funding.

Despite the neglect, Nwe and a small army of other dedicated women have continued to fan out across the country's vast rice basket to help the sick. They walk, ride buses, climb inside rickety boats and hop on the backs of motorbikes to reach patients who have no other source of medical care.

The work is exhausting, and Nwe knows no matter how hard she pushes herself, it will never be enough to help everyone. But she says now, for the first time, there's reason to hope.

"I'm not seeing it here yet," she says, softly. "I haven't seen the improvements or changes yet, but I think it will come."

The excitement following a wave of political reforms and historic international visits is easily felt in bigger cities such as Yangon, formerly named Rangoon, where T-shirts adorned with pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's face are hawked at roadside stalls and Western business people are filling up hotel rooms.

But a half day's drive away into the delta, it's harder to sense that energy among the poor who live meal-to-meal in flimsy thatch huts on bamboo stilts along coffee-brown rivers and rice paddies.

After being isolated from the rest of the world for so long, many are used to expecting very little in a country where running water and electricity are still considered luxuries in many areas.

For years, the U.S. and others used economic sanctions to pressure the junta to clean up its dismal human rights record and allow democratic reforms. As international donor aid poured into nearby countries, with Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos receiving $52, $34 and $67 per capita respectively in 2010, Myanmar got $7.

That, combined with the junta's disregard, meant most people in Myanmar, also known as Burma, had to pay for what little health care they received, or do without.

Wracked by corruption and mismanagement, the country's overall health care system was ranked second worst in the world by the World Health Organization in 2000. The government spent the least of any country worldwide on health in 2009, as a percentage of the country's gross domestic product.

Its people pay the price in many ways:

? Myanmar has Southeast Asia's highest death rates for newborns, infants and children under 5.

? AIDS kills an estimated 18,000 people a year, and the country remains one of the hardest in which to receive HIV treatment.

? Tuberculosis is at nearly triple the global rate, and Myanmar has the highest number of malaria-related deaths in the region.

? More than 90 percent of pregnant women and 70 percent of children in coastal and delta areas suffer worm infestations, a major cause of malnutrition.

And all this is happening in a resource-rich country that was once the envy of its neighbors.

"Decades of disinvestment in health by Burma's rulers, coupled with the collapse of the education system and censorship, have left the country's public health system in ruins, without sufficient trained personnel or supplies to adequately offer basic, affordable health services for most Burmese," said Dr. Vit Suwanvanichkij of Johns Hopkins University.

The lack of care is obvious at the country's main hospital, Rangoon General in Yangon. Its once stately British colonial red-brick facade sprawls across a huge campus, but the grounds are cluttered with filth and weeds and food vendors sell cheap snacks to patients' relatives near open sewage gutters.

Inside one ward, dozens of patients are packed into an open room. Some drift in and out of sleep while others twist in obvious pain as family members fan them.

As the country continues opening its doors to the outside world, historic visits such as last month's by President Barack Obama are symbolizing a new era.

A parade of high-ranking global health officials also have recently filed through the country, taking stock of what's left of the health system and vowing to help rebuild it. UNAIDS last month named Suu Kyi a global advocate to raise awareness of stigma and discrimination against HIV patients, a daunting problem in the country.

Myanmar has taken a few encouraging steps. Its new health minister, Dr. Pe Thet Khin, is a pediatrician with firsthand knowledge of the challenges.

In the U.S. earlier this year, he said he hoped new partnerships and collaborations with foreign universities would improve the quality of the country's health system. He added that infant, child and maternal health was considered a top priority.

He said the country is producing enough doctors, nurses and other health workers but that the quality was "a bit compromised" due to a lack of funding. "The economy, as you know, was not very good over the past 20 or 30 years, partly because of sanctions but partly because of some mismanagement," he said.

The new government has quadrupled the health budget, but it is still low and much of the increase went to paying health workers' salaries. National studies are also needed to provide a clearer picture of the true state of health, especially from restive areas where ethnic minorities have been at civil war for decades and travel was previously forbidden.

"The system here is so far behind," said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS country coordinator.

Myanmar once had a strong health and education system and could recover, he said, "but it's just going to take time and it's going to take a serious commitment from the international community, not just financial but technical."

Off the rocky, rutted dirt track in a faraway corner of the Delta where midwife Nwe works, UNICEF ? not the government ? has been running a program that provides vitamin- and mineral-packed sachets called Sprinkles to 3,000 children under age 3. The micronutrients are added to food to help ward off anemia caused by a lack of iron in an area of the country routinely hit by flooding and disasters ? Cyclone Nargis killed more than 100,000 people in 2008.

Nwe quickly rattles off a wish list of improvements she'd like to see: more health workers and supplies, better infrastructure and transportation for staff and patients.

But she's also quick to note that the government has doubled staffing at the local health center to deal with the heavy patient load. Doubled, that is, from one to two.

It's a very small thing, she knows, but it's enough to make her hope for more. And that's something she never would have dared in the past.

___

Follow Margie Mason on Twitter: twitter.com/MargieMasonAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-health-care-broken-under-military-rule-041940214.html

heart shaped box lucid 2012 ncaa tournament bracket matterhorn chris harrison girl scouts printable bracket

dadanape: kudals: Recreation And Sports: Hunting Report ...

Posted by prebroiled in Uncategorized

0 Comments

13Dec

Source: http://floralwhite.w3bookmarks.com/technology/recreation-and-sports-hunting-report-classification-page-110/

Meteor Shower August 2012 jessie j jessie j David Boudia David Rakoff Bourne Legacy Chad Johnson

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Source: http://disturbialyrics365.theministercoach.com/777/recreation-and-sports-hunting-report-classification-page-110/

hangout todd haley kareem abdul jabbar miramonte elementary school mark jenkins super bowl commercials 2012 mia

Source: http://blog-michael-jackson-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/recreation-and-sports-hunting-report.html

hilary duff michigan state michigan state city creek center andrew luck pro day josh johnson kim kardashian flour

Source: http://isomorphic-sprinkling.blogspot.com/2012/12/recreation-and-sports-hunting-report.html

yelp huntsville al channel 2 news adrienne bailon yelp stock honda classic news channel 5

Source: http://wesletoughoue.blogspot.com/2012/12/recreation-and-sports-hunting-report.html

nh primary david crowder band natalie wood van halen annalynne mccord billy the kid neville

Source: http://dadanape.blogspot.com/2012/12/kudals-recreation-and-sports-hunting.html

black history groundhogs day paula abdul cinnamon challenge lou dobbs rock salt david letterman

There's an App for That: Apps for Job Seekers | Business 2 Community

These days, there seems to be a mobile app for absolutely everything, and job seekers have not been forgotten. Search ?jobs? in the Android or iTunes stores and you can spend hours browsing through the hundreds of apps that have been developed to promote jobs, give advice, and prepare you for the interview.

Below are six apps that I have personally used and highly recommend to those who are looking for a job, preparing for an interview, or trying to develop their network and personal brand.

Indeed (free) ? this app was developed by the fastest growing job search site and provides you with access Indeed?s enormous database of jobs aggregated from all over the web ? including Monster and Careerbuilder. You can share jobs, read company reviews, and in some instances, apply online.

Monster Interviews (free) ? this app developed by Monster.com provides users with the opportunity to track and prepare for their job interviews. Read through job interviewing tips or practice answering common interview questions.

MindTools DX (free) ? this an app full of quizzes and articles to help you assess and develop your professional skills. Use this app to enhance your leadership, time management, communication, decision making, and project management skills.

CamCard ($ 2.99) ? this app allows you to scan and organize business cards. It?s a great way to keep track of your network. It saves your cards on the Cloud, so you can access them from multiple devices and you can share a card using a QR code.

LinkedIn (free) ? the app version of the largest professional networking site out there ? with many of the same features. Access your messages, groups, and network updates on the go.

Job Interview Question & Answer by Career Confidential (free or paid) ? this app is a good way to go through and practice some of the most popular interview questions. You can practice your answers and watch videos of ?good? answers to help you prepare.

Using apps like these is a great way to search jobs, build your network, and polish your brand, all in the palm of your hands.

Author:

Mike Spinale is a corporate Human Resources leader at a healthcare information technology company located outside of Boston, Massachusetts and is an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University. He has over eight years of experience in HR and management including career counseling, recruitment, staffing, employment branding, and talent management. Mike has dedicated his HR career to modern views on the field ? HR is not about the personnel files ? it?s about bringing on the best talent, ensuring they?re in the right seat, and keeping them motivated and growing in their careers. In addition, Mike is the author of the CareerSpin blog where he offers advice and opinion on job search, personal & employment branding, recruiting, and HR. Mike is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College. He is also a board member of the Metro-North Regional Employment Board, a board which sets workforce development policy for Boston?s Metro-North region, and an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Northeast Human Resources Association.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/mobile-apps/theres-an-app-for-that-apps-for-job-seekers-0352151

London 2012 basketball London 2012 Slalom Canoe Alex Morgan Misty May Treanor Lolo Jones Aly Raisman Marvin Hamlisch

UN court orders release of Argentine ship in Ghana

BERLIN (AP) ? A United Nations court ordered the immediate release Saturday of an Argentine navy training ship seized by Ghana two months ago at the request of an American hedge fund.

The ARA Libertad was detained Oct. 2 in the port of Tema as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from Argentina's economic crisis a decade ago. Argentina appealed to the U.N.'s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the ship's release, arguing that as a warship the Libertad is immune from being seized.

In an expedited ruling, the court ordered that Ghana "forthwith and unconditionally release the frigate ARA Libertad" and ensure the ship and its crew can leave Ghanaian waters. It also ordered that the vessel be resupplied as needed.

Detaining the ship was "a source of conflict that may endanger friendly relations among states," the court said.

The ruling left untouched the parties' rights to seek further international arbitration on the matter.

Argentine Economy Minister Hernan Lorenzino hailed the decision and vowed to continue fighting what President Cristina Fernandez has called "vulture funds," with which the country is locked in a series of legal battles.

"Argentina will continue to defend itself from the financial pirates," Lorenzino said via Twitter on Saturday. "Vultures, you won't succeed, with the ship nor with the debt."

Ghana courts ordered the ship held on a claim by Cayman Islands-based NML Capital Ltd. Its owner, American billionaire Paul Singer, leads a group demanding payment in full, plus interest ? about $350 million ? for dollar-based Argentine bonds bought at fire sale prices after Argentina's 2001-2002 economic collapse forced a sharp devaluation of its currency.

The vast majority of bondholders accepted about 30 cents on the dollar years ago, and that is roughly what the holdouts led by Singer initially paid for the bonds.

Susana Ruiz Cerutti, the head of Argentina's sea tribunal, was quoted by the Telam state news agency as praising the ruling for being unanimous and for siding with the vessel's captain, who had been accused of contempt.

It wasn't immediately clear when the ship would be allowed to set sail. The director-general of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, Richard Anamoo, told The Associated Press that "it is not the port authorities that are holding the ship. We were only implementing a (Ghanaian) court order."

Argentina defense minister, Arturo Puricelli, said later at a news conference that a charted plane would deliver 98 more sailors to Ghana on Wednesday to join the skeleton crew that stayed with the Libertad. He estimated the sailing ship would return to Buenos Aires by Jan. 9.

___

Associated Press writers Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires and Francis Kokutse in Accra, Ghana, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-court-orders-release-argentine-ship-ghana-145551007--finance.html

shroud of turin warren sapp the masters i robot the big c the visitor king of kings

Higher Business Bureau Ratings Of Internet Hosting Companies ...

Which includes a great diversity involved with the online web hosting organization, it is not trouble-free to become convinced of your definition of the trade. It needs to provide as much as you can inbound links towards the quite a few World wide web sections. Here are a couple superb explanation why retaining an online enhancement corporation may be the top approach to get your online business noticed via the web. These are many of the most widespread webIRESS obstacles, if following attempting the above options youre even now unable to take care of your webIRESS relationship situation it really is highly recommended to make contact with your CFD broker who will have the option to execute even more sophisticated webIRESS troubleshooting. Most top website hosting suppliers include their solutions for just a reduced and highly affordable price. Dependent about the kind of on the internet online business, which kind of intel is about the pager, what needs to be saved (and if cloud is necessary), and all other factors should be regarded as perfectly when evaluating diverse hosts to go with in your server. Look at the small business part of infotrish home and assess ?az strategies to become a jewellery designer?. Any person can set up store on line for as small as $3 per thirty day period, or roughly $36 per yr, not which include domain registration selling prices and taxes, certainly. That?s why, each and every Windows server hosting allows for any Microsoft apps to integrate super fast and effectively when other platforms won?t even guidance individuals programs. This can be key on your success and may guide you be far more effective and much more worthwhile. Two thumbs up for this supplier heading an action previously mentioned to essentially carve out a distinct segment. When i am unsure exactly which hues or combos to use, I sometimes get started trying a number of things, then just take a phase again and try to ask myself what my picked hues are conveying to me. Some of their present celebrity endorsements feature Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhart Jr., Candice Michelle, Anna Rawson, Mark Martin, Erin Kalin, among the individuals. What?s more, you will need to also take into account that apart with the price of the internet internet hosting small business, its consistency and shopper aid solutions issue lots too. This server will come built with multi-processors, meaning that one this type of server can perform a similar way the original a number of servers did. Justhost reseller internet hosting almost sells itself, nevertheless it wishes people today such as you to accomplish the legwork for locating those that match up perfectly because of the products and services available. Proponents of pure text editors and WYSIWYG fanatics will get about as raucous defending their favourite methods as a bunch of football lovers will get about the Premier League. You?ll want to have if at all possible mounted and researched about Linux and Windows. One can find service providers out there or most people that are just commencing out inside of a vocation generating online resources who to get started on with will in many instances will offer you their expertise at an absolutely cheap rate, pretty much to produce up a portfolio. Although, the choice belonging to the webhost will ascertain the efficiency within your websites with regards to ever-increasing the clientele foundation. In conclusion, if an individual hopes to swap domain identify merchants, there?s the option of accomplishing a domain title transfer. To grab their awareness you need to use inverted pyramid way that is most commonly found in the newspaper producing. It is also a great follow to limit using italics because they far too are more durable to read. Everyone at this time seems for much less expensive choices for sale while in the sector and shared hosting seems captivating in such a value. Registering a domain name is going to be handy as we provide 24/7 shopper service, specialised assist, and phone service. Gigs ? If you?re a computer programmer, stage hand, writer, or jack-of-all-trades, it?s possible to pick up a bit of aspect get the job done here. Is there a degree of consistency from a single page to your following that permits you to feel that each website page is part of the more entire? Folk have already been mentally conditioned to key in .com, so dont select some other ending. Just look at that 25% of smartphone customers own and iphone ? or approximately forty two million persons. Whenever they get disappointed and take a look elsewhere, you might have just dropped a possible shopper. The many benefits of utilising this language are bringing about an expanding desire for PHP web builders roughly the globe. The 2nd way fraudulent domain title organisations fraud consumers is by not supplying a domain identify whatsoever. Most of the prime internet hosting expert services deliver offers that include website cupboard space on host servers, domain registration, e-mail companies and vehicle responders. The highest rated facts centre services of a cloud computing alternative vendor offer most suitable fire security by means of most efficient hearth prevention and fire extinguishing units. You can buy an ICon, if you should cant manage an Apple iphone, or actually purchase Ribok should you simply cannot afford an genuine Reebok!

Most Wonderful Web Hosting Service That Gives Cheap But Dependable Internet Hosting Service can provide you with utmost details for Why Select Cpanel Linux Internet Hosting.Be sure to drop by the post for more details!

Author: mccrimonvenson834

Filed: Internet
tags: best web hosting for domain registration 2013, best web hosting for new registrations 2013, detailed internet hosting facts 2013, my recommended web hosting 2013, promotional discounts offers for web hosting 2013, search for the best web hosting with excellent servers 2013, web hosting with big discounts for new registrations 2013

Source: http://www.mustreads.info/higher-business-bureau-ratings-of-internet-hosting-companies/

torrey smith oakland raiders Jessica Lange NFL scores week 3 kat dennings Steve Sabol Yom Kippur 2012

SmackDown results: Cesaro def. Sheamus by Count-out, thanks to the strategic ruthlessness of Big Show

All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ? 2012 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This website is based in the United States. By submitting personal information to this website you consent to your information being maintained in the U.S., subject to applicable U.S. laws. U.S. law may be different than the law of your home country. WrestleMania XXIX (NY/NJ) logo TM & ? 2012 WWE. All Rights Reserved. The Empire State Building design is a registered trademark and used with permission by ESBC.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2012-12-14/results

joe pa dead laura dekker stephen colbert south carolina seal seal and heidi klum drew peterson untouchable herman cain south carolina

Hilary Duff Dishes On Introducing Dogs To Baby Luca, Reveals Plans For More Children

Hilary Duff gave birth to her first child - son Luca - in March, and the new mom is treasuring every minute of motherhood.

So, is the 25-year-old actress planning on giving little Luca a baby brother or sister any time soon?

PLAY IT NOW: Hilary Duff Talks Motherhood, Whether She?ll Have More Kids & New Dog-Themed Book

"[My husband] Mike and I are literally so obsessed with Luca. We're like, 'He's perfect -- we should just [have] one and [be] done,'" Hilary told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Friday's Access Hollywood Live, when asked if she and Mike want to have more children. "But I think once your baby starts getting older, you miss that baby phase and you go in for round two.

Adding, "I think maybe [we'll have another baby] when [Luca] is two or three."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood?s Hottest Moms & Their Loveable Little Ones

For now, the actress - who recently took to Twitter to proudly announce she's once again fitting into her pre-baby skinny jeans - said she's content with just one little man for now, as he's very curious and keeps her on her toes.

"He's into everything. I'm like, running around the house trying to keep up with him -- he's so fast," she said. "He loves the Christmas tree... he's just busy."

An avid dog-lover (she recently contributed to the new book, "A Letter To My Dog: Notes To Our Best Friends"), Hilary explained how she helped prepare her pups for Luca's arrival in order to quell any possible canine jealousy.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Can?t Get Enough Of Duff! Adorable Shots Of Hilary Duff!

"We kicked the dogs out of the bed about a month before Luca came so that they didn't blame the baby for why they couldn't sleep in the bed anymore," she said. "And we gave them a blanket to smell that Luca's smell had been on in the hospital and it worked!

"Mike brought Luca in, I came in, gave the blanket to the dogs and loved on them and said 'Hi,' and they've been fine with him," she added.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Dogs & Their Stars

"A Letter To My Dog: Notes To Our Best Friends," which also features contributions from Oprah Winfrey, Kristin Chenoweth and more, is available in stores now.

-- Erin O'Sullivan

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hilary-duff-dishes-introducing-dogs-baby-luca-reveals-214625757.html

san antonio spurs greta van susteren tony parker the five year engagement chris kreider correspondents dinner 2012 white house correspondents dinner 2012

The Web We Lost

The tech industry and its press have treated the rise of billion-scale social networks and ubiquitous smartphone apps as an unadulterated win for regular people, a triumph of usability and empowerment. They seldom talk about what we've lost along the way in this transition, and I find that younger folks may not even know how the web used to be. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JR1kUnuFuTI/the-web-we-lost

ll cool j amy schumer amy schumer Prince Harry Vegas pictures Avril Lavigne Microsoft Tropical Storm Isaac

Tualatin Landscape Lighting Professional | Electrical Contractors

Landscape lighting will not only add visual appeal to your property, it will also raise the value of your home. Landscape lights are a cost-efficient home improvement that offers great return on investment in the form of added function and higher property value. . From motions sensors to automatic outdoor lighting systems, our Tualatin Landscape Lighting Professional can install it all. Your

The professional electricians at AC Electrical Contractor, LLC ?provide 24 hour emergency service and pride themselves as master at their craft for over 8 years. ?AC Electric LLC?is a family owned electrical contracting business owned and operated by Robert Gandarilla. Call us ?today ??(503) 910-3514 . ?The company is fully licensed to work in Oregon, and offers many services such as professional Sherwood electrical wiring, commercial electric, new construction, panel upgrades, landscape lighting,?troubleshooting,? lighting repairs, outlet repairs, and home generators.

SERVICE AREAS
Portland, OR | Lake Oswego, OR | West Lynn, OR | Tigard, OR | Tualatin, OR | Beaverton, OR | Oregon City, OR | Milwaukie, OR | Salem, OR | Sherwood, OR

CONTACT CONTRACTOR
AC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LLC
5 Centerpointe Drive
Lake Oswego,OR 97035
Phone: (503) 910-3514
CCB LIC: #176589

-->

Source: http://www.footbridgemedia.com/electrical-contractors/electricians/tualatin-landscape-lighting-professional/

roman holiday belize adele lyrics best new artist 2012 grammys foo fighters nikki minaj

Merkel coalition stymied by opposition veto on tax cuts

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition has suffered a humiliating defeat by the center-left opposition when lawmakers threw out a plan to cut income taxes by 6 billion euros.

Rejection of the plan, which had been seen as an election-year gift to voters, showed the waning strength of Merkel's coalition nine months before the poll, analysts said.

Despite promises of cutting taxes when it took power in 2009, internal dissent within the center-right government at first blocked the initiative and later it was stymied by the opposition.

"This government hasn't accomplished a thing when it comes to tax reform in the last three years and it doesn't look like they'll get anything done in the next year either," said Gero Neugebauer, political scientist at Berlin's Free University.

"They got off on the wrong foot and never got it right. It shows how weak they really are," he added.

The setback came just before midnight on Wednesday when the center-left opposition Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens used their veto powers in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament representing the federal states, to block the plan.

The SPD and Greens argued there was no scope for tax cuts, especially because they would reduce revenues to states and towns. They said they would have backed tax cuts for ordinary earners if the coalition had raised taxes on higher incomes.

A parliamentary mediation committee, made up of members of both the upper house and the lower house Bundestag spent five hours on Wednesday evening exploring scope for an agreement. But it failed because the SPD and Greens stuck to their guns.

In a further sign of its weakness, the coalition saw a tax deal with Switzerland blocked by the mediation committee. It would have required Swiss banks to levy a punitive charge on an estimated 150 billion Swiss francs ($160 billion) in undeclared funds stashed away by Germans in Swiss accounts [ID:nL5E8NCH6H]

WASTED CHANCES

"The coalition didn't use the chance when it had a majority in 2009 and 2010," said Gerd Langguth, a political scientist at Bonn University. "They wasted time."

Merkel's center-right coalition had a majority in the upper house when it took office in 2009 but Merkel hesitated when the idea of tax cuts was first aired and the coalition lost its upper house majority in 2010.

The coalition was widely criticized at the start in 2009 for cutting taxes for hotel operators, with the Free Democrat (FDP) junior coalition partners plunging in opinion polls after that to around 3 percent from 14.6 percent in 2009.

The FDP had hoped this 6-billion euro tax cut would help to restore some of its lost credibility with voters but the coalition itself was long divided about the tax cut plans.

The Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), had long resisted tax cuts. The public wrangling lasted months and earned Merkel's government the nickname "chaos coalition" in the media.

The coalition agreed to cut income taxes by 2 billion euros in 2013 and another 4 billion euros in 2014.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had hoped the tax cuts would have leveled out the effects of "cold progression", also known as "bracket creep".

These terms describe what happens when tax thresholds are not adjusted for inflation. Workers getting pay rises sometimes see net pay actually fall because they have entered a higher tax bracket.

Thanks to the "bracket creep" in the tax code, the treasury takes in three billion euros in extra revenues each year.

Merkel will seek a third term next September. Her conservatives are well ahead of opposition parties in opinion polls but her allies the FDP may fail to get back into parliament, making a 'grand coalition' with the SPD possible.

(Editing by Gareth Jones and Stephen Nisbet)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/merkel-coalition-stymied-opposition-veto-tax-cuts-183236625.html

Provigil denver post dez bryant Kitty Wells Marissa Mayer Jon Lord weather.com