 POLITICAL NEWS UPDATES Page 4Health-Care Bill May Be Stalled by Legislative Crunch Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Raising the U.S. government’s $12.2 trillion borrowing limit tops an agenda of must-pass legislation that imperils Senate Democrats’ ability to pass a health-care bill this year. As the senators struggle to meet President Barack Obama’s year-end deadline to overhaul the health system, they must also act to keep the government running and prevent a 21 percent drop in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Lou Dobbs weighs Senate run in New Jersey Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey as "an intermediary step" that could lead to a run for the White House. Dobbs told former Sen. Fred Thompson's radio program on Monday that he had been urged to run for president and would talk to some people about it. Fewer Americans believe in global warming, poll shows Wednesday, November 25, 2009 The percentage of Americans who believe global warming is happening has dipped from 80 to 72 percent in the past year, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, even as a majority still support a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions. Obama's Nice Guy Act Gets Him Nowhere on the World Stage Tuesday, November 24, 2009 There were only a few hours left before Air Force One was scheduled to depart for the flight home. US President Barack Obama trip through Asia had already seen him travel 24,000 kilometers, sit through a dozen state banquets, climb the Great Wall of China and shake hands with Korean children. It was high time to take stock of the trip. Health Care Reform Tuesday, November 24, 2009 Just 38% of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly two dozen tracking polls conducted since June. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan. Splits widen for Democrats over health reform Monday, November 23, 2009 President Barack Obama’s mission to reform US healthcare vaulted another legislative hurdle over the weekend, but the scramble to secure his own party’s votes sheds light on the messy compromises that may be needed to get it to the finish line. Top-Line Facts About Reid's Health Care Bill Friday, November 20, 2009 Spending: The cost of the bill is $2.5 trillion over 10 years of full implementation (2014-2023). ; Taxes Increases: Taxes will go up $493.6 billion—nearly half a trillion dollars. ; Medicare Cuts: Medicare will be cut $464.6 billion—another half a trillion dollars. ; Total Number of Pages: 2074 ... CBO Letter to Harry Reid, November 18, 2009 Friday, November 20, 2009 Dear Mr. Leader:The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have estimated the direct spending and revenue effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3590, as proposed in the Senate on November 18, 2009. Among other things, the legislation would establish a mandate for most legal residents of the United States to obtain health insurance; set up insurance “exchanges” through which certain individuals ... 10 Things You Should Know About the Health Care Bill Friday, November 20, 2009 U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks (as prepared) on the Senate floor Friday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform: “Democrats have spent six weeks behind closed doors putting together a trillion-dollar experiment in government-run health care that raises premiums, raises taxes, and cuts Medicare. We’ve now had less than 48 hours to look through this 2,074-page bureaucratic nightmare. But here are 10 things that every American should know about this bill. Reid Proposes a 5% Tax on Cosmetic Surgery Thursday, November 19, 2009 Senator Harry Reid’s health care bill included an array of new provisions that are being scrutinized Wednesday night, but one particular tax proposal in particular already has attracted a buzz — a 5 percent levy on elective cosmetic procedures that was quickly dubbed the “botax.” Others suggested it might better be called the “seen-in-public” option. Showdown Set for Health Bill Thursday, November 19, 2009 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid set the stage for a climactic debate in the Senate over health care by unveiling a 10-year, $848 billion bill that would extend insurance to 31 million Americans without coverage. Reid can’t afford any defections on health Wednesday, November 18, 2009 A number of centrist Democrats in the Senate are turning what normally is a simple procedural vote into a cliffhanger. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wants the healthcare debate to formally begin this week, before the chamber recesses for the Thanksgiving break. But the absence of both a final bill and a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has made some centrists anxious about offering their support for an otherwise routine test vote that typically unites a majority party. Sessions to Filibuster Obama’s Judicial Nominee David Hamilton Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Monday he plans to filibuster President Obama’s first judicial pick, Judge David F. Hamilton. Sessions told reporters in a briefing that he will vote “not to consider” the nomination. AP Poll: Americans fret over health overhaul costs Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Americans are worried about hidden costs in the fine print of health care overhaul legislation, an Associated Press poll says. That's creating new challenges for President Barack Obama as he tries to close the deal with a handful of Democratic doubters in the Senate. Although Americans share a conviction that major health care changes are needed, Democratic bills that extend coverage to the uninsured and try to hold down medical costs get no better than a lukewarm reception. CMS: House health bill will hike costs $289B Monday, November 16, 2009 The House-approved healthcare overhaul would raise the costs of healthcare by $289 billion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the chief actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS report is a blow to the White House and House Democrats who have vowed that healthcare reform would curb the growth of healthcare spending. CMS's analysis is not an apples-to-apples comparison to the cost estimate conducted by the Congressional Budget Office ... Reid Weighs Rise in Medicare Tax Friday, November 13, 2009 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, seeking a new source of funding for the health-care overhaul legislation the Senate could begin debating next week, is considering a proposal to raise Medicare payroll taxes on couples who make more than $250,000 a year, according to people familiar with the discussions. Bush warns of threats to freedom, economic growth Thursday, November 12, 2009 Former President George W. Bush, outlining plans for a new public policy institute, on Thursday said America must fight the temptation to allow the federal government to take control of the private sector, declaring that too much government intervention will squelch economic recovery and expansion. 'A Referendum on This White House' Thursday, November 12, 2009 Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia governors' races last week—despite eight campaign appearances in the two states by President Barack Obama—have unnerved Democrats. Over the weekend, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod tried to calm jittery Democrats who might go wobbly on the president's ambitious agenda by telling NBC's Chuck Todd that next year's congressional elections will be "nationalized." Because they "will be a referendum on this White House," he said, voters will turn out for Mr. Obama. Reid eyes payroll tax hike on wealthy Thursday, November 12, 2009 Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering a plan for higher payroll taxes on the upper-income earners to help finance health care legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate in the next several days, numerous Democratic officials said Wednesday. These officials said one of the options Reid has had under review would raise the payroll tax that goes to Medicare, but only on income above $250,000 a year. House Dem attacks Reid's healthcare plan Wednesday, November 11, 2009 A leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus vowed Tuesday to fight a central part of the Senate's healthcare bill. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-N.M.), the co-chairman of the caucus of House liberals, pledged to fight an "opt-out" public option if it ever comes up for a vote in the House. What the Pelosi Health-Care Bill Really Says Wednesday, November 11, 2009 The health bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bringing to a vote (H.R. 3962) is 1,990 pages. Here are some of the details you need to know. What the government will require you to do ... 'Fuzzy math' could drive health care bill's cost higher Tuesday, November 10, 2009 The official $1.1 trillion price tag for the House Democrats' health care bill excludes dozens of unfunded programs that could drive up costs when future congresses look to fund them. Republicans said the health care bill includes two dozen programs whose funding is listed as "such sums as may be necessary." That amounts to legislative jargon, they said, for "We'll bill you later." Betting Against Obama Health Care Increases as Time Grows Short Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Insurers such as WellPoint Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield and drugmakers are redoubling their efforts to fight proposals to overhaul the U.S health-care system, adding another obstacle as legislative hurdles mount. Obama Draws Criticism for Sitting Out Berlin Wall Anniversary Monday, November 9, 2009 President Obama squeezed in a trip to Copenhagen last month to lobby, unsuccessfully, for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He plans to travel to Oslo next month to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that even Obama has said he does not deserve. And this coming week, he sets out on a weeklong tour of Asia. Democratic consultant says he got a warning from White House after appearing on Fox News Monday, November 9, 2009 Reporting from Washington - At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration. What recovery? Unemployment shoots past 10 percent Friday, November 6, 2009 Just when it was beginning to look a little better, the economy relapsed Friday with a return to double-digit unemployment for only the second time since World War II and warnings that next year will be even worse than previously thought. Boxer Pushes Climate Bill Through Committee Friday, November 6, 2009 Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) pushed the climate bill through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday, but it's becoming clear the bill won't get far before the world meets in Copenhagen. Boxer decided to ignore the Republican boycott of the Climate Bill - and the requirement that 2 Replublicans be present to vote for passage - and passed the bill based on a simple majority of people present. ‘Kill the Bill,’ Conservatives Chant at ‘House Call’ Rally on Capitol Hill Friday, November 6, 2009 As House Democrats scrambled Thursday to find enough votes to pass their health care bill, thousands of conservatives marched on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to kill it. “Kill the bill,” protesters chanted as they surrounded the U.S. Capitol. The size of the ‘House Call’ rally took many people by surprise, since the event was called with such short notice. Sen. Burris Cites Unwritten Constitutional 'Health' Provision to Justify Forcing Americans to Buy Health Insurance Thursday, November 5, 2009 When asked by CNSNews.com what specific part of the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals must purchase health insurance, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) pointed to the part of the Constitution that he says authorizes the federal government "to provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country." In fact, the word "health" appears nowhere in the Constitution. Trouble ahead for Democrats Thursday, November 5, 2009 A year after Barack Obama's election stirred broad hopes for change among American voters, persistent high unemployment and the spectacle of continued gridlock in Washington threaten Democratic dominance of the political landscape. Pelosi’s Health Care Bill Would Regulate Snack Machines at Estimated Cost of $56 Million the First Year The House health-care reform plan unveiled last week by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would do more than regulate insurance companies – it would even regulate vending machines. The bill, which is posted online, would require that vending machine operators either create new machines that allow the customer to view nutrition facts or post nutritional information for each product near “each article of food or the selection button.” House GOP pens 230-page health bill draft After months spent criticizing Democrats' health overhaul plans, House Republicans have produced a draft proposal of their own. It's much shorter and focuses on bringing down costs rather than extending coverage to nearly all Americans. GOP sweep: Big governor victories in Virginia, NJ Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year. GOP Senators Boycott Committee Debate on Climate Bill Republicans boycotted the start of committee debate Tuesday on a bill to curb greenhouse gases, protesting that the bill's costs have not been fully examined. The action put a spotlight on the difficulties Democratic leaders face in moving climate legislation this year. House Health Care Bill Neither ‘Durable’ Nor ‘Desirable’ Says Former CBO Director Former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin said the House Democrats' health care overhaul is neither durable nor desirable because it would raise insurance premiums, ration care, and fail to bring down the cost of health care in America. Where Is Reid’s Obamacare Bill? It has been one week since the Senate Majority Leader announced he sent his health care bill to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the American people are still not allowed to see Sen. Reid’s (D-NV) version of Obamacare. Late last week, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) authored a letter to Reid demanding that Senators be given the opportunity to read the same bill that Reid sent to CBO. The American people have a constitutional right pursuant to the First Amendment to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Obamacare Threatens U.S. Medical Education System The federal government will expand its role in training new doctors and nurses under the Democrats' healthcare reform proposals to the point that one prominent surgeon is warning of a federal "takeover" of medical education. The HR 3962 reform bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled last week would provide billions in medical-education grants. Homeland Security Department Gags Local Law Enforcement to Protect 'Privacy' of Illegal Aliens The Department of Homeland Security is gagging local law enforcement agencies around the country to protect the privacy of illegal aliens. Under "revised" 287(g) agreements between the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division and state and local law enforcement agencies, any information about local police efforts to enforce federal immigration law must be cleared through ICE before it can be released to the media or the public. DHS says it is doing this to protect the privacy of illegal aliens. Clunkers: Taxpayers paid $24,000 per car A total of 690,000 new vehicles were sold under the Cash for Clunkers program last summer, but only 125,000 of those were vehicles that would not have been sold anyway, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. Still, auto sales contributed heavily to the economy's expansion in the third quarter, adding 1.7 percentage points to the nation's gross domestic product growth. How Payment By Third Parties Distorts Health Care Decisions Third-party payments are at the heart of much confusion about the cost of medical treatment— and are a major factor in the increased cost of that treatment. In government-run medical systems, the public pays in taxes for its medical care, either wholly or in part, with a share being paid directly by the individual patient. News Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
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