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The going rate for a chief executive at a medium to large toll agency in the US is presently in the range $180k to $190k/year salary. That's the conclusion of a study done for Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority by Cody & Associates, a Cocoa Beach Florida management consultancy specializing in pay issues.

The latest bizarre behavior from a US Government agency comes from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (USEEOC.) It has been threatening firms that have a blanket policy of not considering people with a criminal record for jobs. These twisted federal regulators are arguing such a 'no ex-cons' policy contravenes the Civil Rights Act since it can have a "disparate impact."

Detroit International Bridge Company (DBIC) owner of the Ambassador Bridge has lodged a law suit with US District Court in Washington DC against a catch-all collection of US and Canadian government agencies and officials. Not sued is Michigan state DOT the major sponsor of the rival DRIC bridge and the agency trying to force DIBC to demolish tens of millions of dollars worth of construction for a second bridge span.

The extent of the decline in the US economy in the December quarter (Q4) is becoming clearer. Revised estimates from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show seasonally adjusted real GDP declined 1.6% Q4/Q3 or an annual 6.2% seasonally adjusted. This is a considerably steeper decline than the 3.8% initially released.

BEA now reports real seasonally adjusted DecQ expressed in annual terms:

- personal consumption off 4.3%