Cigna Jobs Await Senate Vote
It’s down to wire on whether Congress will pass a spending bill that includes a provision added to it that will save Visalia 700 jobs. In a nailbiter the House passed the ominbus bill Thursday by a vote of 214 -212 and now the matter will be headed to the US Senate. President Obama has said he will sign the bipartisan bill.The bill includes what is called a technical fix to Obamacare that would allow health care plans like Cigna- with an office in Visalia – a waiver for their expatriate members to be exempted from ACA rules.Visalia lobbyist Greg Burns of Van Scoyoc Associates says if the Senate balks – there would be a short term bill instead that may not include the expat provisions – leaving our jobs at risk.Cigna has said without a waiver of the Jan 1, 2015 ACA rules – they would close the Visalia office.
Seaport Airlines To Start Visalia Service To Oakland /Burbank
This week Visalia learned that the U.S. Department of Transportation approved the award of an Essential Air Service contract to
to Seaport Airlines for a two year period starting January 1. 2015. Seaport will provide 12 nonstop round trips per week to Oakland and 12 nonstop round trips per week to Burbank (24 total round trips per week), using 9-seat Cessna Caravan aircraft. The annual subsidy will be $1,990,563. Great Lakes Airlines who had the previous contract served LAX only and bid higher than Seaport who will be serving both the LA area and the Bay Area, the first time Visalians can access routes north and south since United Airlines served the community some years back.