privatization news stories on Newser

Austria Yanks Alpine Peaks Off Market

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:17:05 CDT

The hills are still alive for the public. Austria has decided to yank prime real estate off the market after residents screamed about the nation's plans to auction off two alpine peaks. "We have suspended the sale to evaluate alternative possibilities," said a spokesman for the agency that buys state...

House GOP Eyes Medicare Privatization

Matt Cantor — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:32:05 CST

House Republicans slammed Democrats for making cuts to Medicare, but now the GOP is mulling a renewed effort to privatize the program, the AP reports. House budget leader Paul Ryan is assessing support for his voucher-based system, in which the government would give seniors a fixed payment; they’d then purchase...

Dems Should Be Scared of This Man—and His Budget

Rob Quinn — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:05:02 CST

President Obama's outreach to the GOP is looking pretty hollow these days: Soon after Obama told Rep. Paul Ryan that there were some aspects of his budget blueprint he agreed with, Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups slammed the radical plan as a vicious, privatizing assault on Social Security and Medicare,...

Wanna Buy the Chunnel? Get it Now From Slash Gordon

Jason Farago — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:38:09 CDT

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is launching a massive $25.3 billion sell-off of Britain's assets, ranging from student loans to the Chunnel linking England and France, in order to reduce record deficits and maintain public expenditures. As the British election draws nearer, the Labor Party is attempting to burnish...

Privatize Abortion Funding to Save Health Care Reform

Nick McMaster — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:04:01 CDT

Abortion threatens to derail the push for health care reform, as opponents use the prospect of subsidized procedures to turn pro-life Americans against the whole plan, writes Meredith Simmons for Slate. Progressives are indignant—abortion is a health procedure, they argue, and should be covered like any other. But excluding...

Lehman Bros. Pondering Privatization

Sam Biddle — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:58:00 CDT

Lehman Brothers’ CEO is considering ways for the company to privatize itself, the New York Post reports. The financial-services firm has seen its share price fall 79% this year—including 15% yesterday—and Richard Fuld is hoping to ward off bargain-hunters. "The idea is why sell to someone else at...

Social Security Reform Dicey for McCain

Dustin Lushing — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:26:45 CDT

John McCain has opened a political can of worms by embracing the polarizing issue of privatizing social security, the Los Angeles Times reports. McCain says making young workers pay into a plan unlikely to benefit them is a "disgrace." Counters a rep for one group planning to fight the GOP...

Senate Moves to Privatize Anemic Restaurants

Matt Cantor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:03:12 CDT

The Senate has voted to privatize its restaurants after decades of losing money, the Washington Post reports. The decision comes after much wrangling among Democrats, split between the $250,000 taxpayer subsidy that keeps the restaurants afloat and the lower wages workers would receive. “You cannot stand on the Senate...

$19B Buyout of Clear Channel Nearly Dead

Matt Cantor — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:30:59 CDT

A $19 billion bid to privatize Clear Channel appears likely to fall through as buyers and financiers bicker—with credit-crunch-induced liquidity woes a major stumbling block, the Wall Street Journal reports. A credit agreement between private equity firms and the banks funding the move has become shaky. “No one wants...