In today’s news update we look at new health care plan links and into the situation of the spy cams at a US high school.
Republican Doctors Offer to Make White House Call for Health Care Summit
A Republican congressman who serves as co-chairman of the House Doctors Caucus is requesting President Obama include representative doctors at his health care summit on Thursday.
Though the guest list for Thursday’s event won’t be finalized until Wednesday, Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy, who is also a psychologist, has asked Obama to request participation from the 20-plus members of Congress with health care experience.
Obama Details Plan to Expand Health Care to Uninsured
WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday laid out for the first time a detailed legislative proposal for overhauling health care, largely sticking with the approach passed by the Senate with unified Democratic support in December but making concessions to the House version as well.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening a probe into allegations that a US high school used laptop cameras to monitor students.
The investigation is the result of a class action suit filed last week against Lower Merion School District.
School student Blake Robbins was told last November he had been accused of “improper behavior in his home” – and the evidence for this behaviour was a photograph of him in his bedroom taken via his laptop’s camera.
Updates In Haiti
Haiti aid efforts hampered in critical hours
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) — Impassable roads, a bottleneck at the damaged airport, an unreachable dock and not enough equipment to unload supplies kept much of the world’s help Friday from desperate Haitians.
With thousands of people trapped under the rubble since Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake, every minute mattered. Officials said the window of opportunity to save many lives was closing.
Burst of Mobile Giving Adds Millions in Relief Funds
In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, many Americans are reaching for their cellphones to make a donation via text message. And plenty of them are then spreading the word to others on sites like Twitter and Facebook.
The American Red Cross, which is working with a mobile donations firm called mGive, said Thursday that it had raised more than $5 million this way.
Health Reform
Massachusetts vote could threaten health reform
Democrats envisioned a smooth passing of the baton in the January 19 special election to fill the seat of the late Edward Kennedy, a political giant who died of brain cancer in August after holding the seat for 46 years.
A victory would maintain the Democrats’ 60-seat Senate majority, allowing them to overcome Republican procedural hurdles that could block reform of the $2.5 trillion healthcare sector, Obama’s top legislative priority.
Wall Street
Intel shares fall on ‘peaking’ fear despite strong quarter
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) – Shares of Intel Corp. fell early Friday after the semiconductor giant reported strong fourth-quarter results that won rave reviews from Wall Street, but also triggered worries about a peak in earnings growth.
In today’s news update, we provide links regarding the U.S. job market, AIG Payouts and health care priorities.
Obama Returns to Job One — Jobs
President Obama hoped to put the Christmas Day terror scare behind him — at least temporarily — by saying Thursday that the “buck stops with me” and setting in motion a streamlining of intelligence efforts and a ramping up of passenger screening.
Today, he returns his focus to jobs after the latest unemployment report showed the jobless rate stuck in double digits.
N.Y. Fed Told AIG to Shield Payouts
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York told American International Group Inc. not to disclose key details of their agreements to make big payouts to banks in the insurer’s regulatory filings in late 2008, according to a set of email exchanges released Thursday.
House Democrats discuss health care priorities
Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives briefed party members on Thursday on healthcare talks with the Senate, with competing approaches on taxes and the shape of new insurance exchanges topping the list of priorities.
In today’s news update we’ve provided links on the health care filibuster, oil and stem cell therapy.
Democrats Unite to Break GOP Health Care Filibuster
Moderate and liberal Democrats unified behind a health care overhaul bill in the Senate today that critic Sen. John McCain dubbed “one of the great Bernie Maddoff gimmicks.”
Democrats broke a Republican filibuster in the wee hours of the morning and inched their sweeping $871 billion health care package toward passage before Christmas.
Oil hovers above $73 ahead of OPEC meeting
Oil prices hovered above $73 a barrel Monday ahead of an OPEC meeting where investors expect the cartel to keep production levels unchanged.
By mid-afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for January delivery was up 14 cents to $73.50 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The January contract, which expires later on Monday, rose 71 cents to settle at $73.36 on Friday.
Traders also have begun to watch the February contract, which was up 43 cents to $74.85 on Monday.
Athersys Inks Deal With Pfizer on Stem-Cell Therapy
(Reuters) – Athersys Inc said it sold the rights of its stem-cell therapy to treat inflammatory bowel disease to Pfizer Inc, the world’s biggest drugmaker, and shares of Athersys nearly doubled in value.
Under the agreement, Pfizer will pay Athersys $6 million upfront and up to $105 million in milestones for the investigational stem cell therapy, MultiStem.
Athersys may elect to co-develop the therapy with Pfizer and both the companies will share expenses as well as profits and losses on an agreed basis, beginning at late-stage study, it said in a statement.
Meeting on Climate Opens With Calls for Urgent Action
COPENHAGEN — A much-anticipated global meeting of nearly 200 nations — all seeking what has so far been elusive common ground on the issue of climate change — got under way here on Monday with an impassioned airing of what leaders here called the political and moral imperatives at hand.
Tightening Fears Send Stock Futures Lower
U.S. stocks rose slightly Monday, as gains in the utilities and health-care sectors were offset by concerns over whether interest-rate increases could come sooner than previously expected.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 8 points, to 10397 in early trading. American Express was one of its best performers, up 1.3% following an upgrade of credit-card companies by analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. However, Bank of America slipped 1.2%, and General Electric fell 1.1%.
How About a Public Option With Private Insurance?
Here’s an angels-on-the-head-of-a-pin question to kick off the week: If the public option offers private insurance, is it still the public option?
To win the favor of few key centrists wary of creating a government-backed insurance plan, Senate Dems may shift from the pure-play public option — a government-run insurance plan — to a plan more like the one used to cover federal employees. The basic idea: Allow people to choose from an array of private non-profit insurance plans, in a system overseen by a government office. To get some idea of how this might work, check out the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Friday’s news roundup includes updates on China, the economy, the fed and health care and its effect on the Democratic Party.
China Pledges Support for Economic Recovery, Urges Free Trade
China’s President Hu Jintao says his country is working hard to increase domestic demand and that Asia-Pacific economies must work together to open up trade.
In a speech at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore, the Chinese president listed his country’s efforts at fighting the global economic crisis.
PENPIX-A look at Fed voters this year and next
Nov 13 (Reuters) – The voting lineup on the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee is about to shift once again.
Every year, four regional Fed bank presidents rotate out of voting seats, making way for four others. The current voting lineup will hold for the FOMC gathering on Dec. 15-16 before the new voters come in at the Jan. 26-27 meeting.
2010: Health care hurting Dems?
“The healthcare battle appears to be helping Republicans running for the Senate,” The Hill notes. “Two Quinnipiac polls released Thursday show the leading GOP candidates in Connecticut and Ohio growing their leads. Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) leads Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), 49-38, and former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has opened his first leads over two potential Democratic opponents.”
Report: More troops needed for Afghan war success
“WASHINGTON — The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan has reported to President Barack Obama that without more troops the U.S. risks failure in a war it’s been waging since September 2001.
“Resources will not win this war, but under-resourcing could lose it,” Gen. Stanley McChrystal wrote in a five-page Commander’s Summary. His 66-page report, sent to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Aug. 30, is now under review by Obama.”
“NEW YORK — The dollar is stronger Monday as the yen and higher-yielding currencies give back some of their recent gains versus the greenback while investors consolidate their positions.
With markets in Japan, Singapore and several other Asian countries closed Monday for holidays, the dollar took advantage of thin conditions to push to an almost two-week high against the yen, although remaining in range.”
“NEW YORK – Crude futures fell Monday as the market’s two biggest cues in recent months, the dollar and equities, both pointed to sharply lower oil prices.
Light, sweet crude for October delivery recently traded $2.63, or 3.7%, lower at $69.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded $2.85, or 4%, lower at $68.47 a barrel.
The dollar stretched a correction into a second day after hitting its weakest point against the euro this year on Thursday, raising the relative cost of commodities priced in the U.S. currency. Oil prices came close to a 2009 high as the dollar weakened steadily earlier this month.”
Obama to focus on innovation in New York speech
“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama travels to New York on Monday to promote his strategy to improve the U.S. economy by spending on education and innovation, as he shifts his focus from healthcare reform to a week of diplomacy and international economic issues.
Obama will talk about his strategy, building on more than $100 billion in economic stimulus funds, as well as regulatory and other initiatives, in a speech at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, a city in eastern New York 140 miles north of New York City, the White House said in a statement.”
In an effort to continue the discussion on health care, while still refraining from bias, today’s post is meant to present to you the other side of the issue.
What are those that are opposed to the points of Obama’s health plan saying?
All points have not been addressed as the controversial nature of the discussion is continually evolving. However, the goal of this post is to give you another snap shot of some of the things that the opposing side is saying, so that when you are engaging in discussions and presenting your opinion, you have information to back your stance, whichever side you may choose.
According to the September 15, 2009 Rasmussen Presidential Tracking Poll, Obama’s ratings after his health care plan speech reflected that 42% support the plan, where 55% are opposed to the plan, an increase in opposition from the 53% last week. According to the same report,
“Following the speech last Wednesday night intended to relaunch the health care initiative, support for the president’s effort bounced as high as 51%. But the new numbers suggest that support for health care reform is now about the same as it was in August.”
With the promises of the plan that were outlined in yesterday’s post, “Obama’s Health Care Plan: Snap Shot of the Points of President Obama’s Speech,” there are concerns that are being raised by those on the other side. Today we will focus on some of the specific concerns where we’ll be linking back and quoting several sources.
Issue 1: The Exchange
President Obama’s health care plan includes a type of government insurance plan or a co-op (the Exchange) that will make it more financially feasible for businesses and individuals to purchase insurance. The concern that is raised from those that oppose this plan is that it would eventually drive private insurers from the market, thus offering fewer insurance options.
Public opinion polls suggest that many consumers would like to have the choice of a public plan. But insurance companies and Republican lawmakers say a public plan could drive private insurers out of business and lead eventually to a single-payer system run by the government….Republicans and business groups attacked the bill, which they said cost too much and would discourage small businesses from hiring (New York Times).
Issue 2: Freedom to choose your own insurance plan.
According to CNNMoney.com, with the way the plan is structured the government will dictate the minimum list of benefits.
“Today, many states require these ‘standard benefits packages’ — and they’re a major cause for the rise in health-care costs.
The bills would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to add to the list of required benefits, based on recommendations from a committee of experts. Americans, therefore, wouldn’t even know what’s in their plans and what they’re required to pay for, directly or indirectly, until after the bills become law.”
Issue 3: Consumer driven market in jeopardy.
No longer will the healthy be rewarded for healthy lifestyles and no longer will bargain accounts, such as Health Savings Accounts (HSA) be what they are today. Instead all patients will pay the same rates no matter their particular health condition or age. Thus, those that are younger and typically have lower incomes, will be paying significantly more for their health costs than they actually use, where those that are older and can afford to pay more will not have to pay any more for their health costs, when they are utilizing more services.
The concern is that the market is driven by the consumer. The argument the opposing side presents is:
The bills threaten to eliminate the one part of the market truly driven by consumers spending their own money. That’s what makes a market, and health care needs more of it, not less.
Issue 4: Pre-existing conditions claims are not straight-forward.
According to a Fox News article, there are disclaimers within the bill that denote that the pre-existing conditions claims come with contingencies. For the specific sections it references, visit the full article on pre-existing conditions. The two portions this article expounds on are:
“Policy writers for the government will be allowed to make the insurance you buy cover certain ailments, and not cover others (one of which may be a condition you happen to have, which is pre-existing)…
Policy writers for the government will be allowed to limit the amount, level, extent, or nature of the treatment you get for certain ailments (one of which may be your pre-existing condition).
So who will be writing your insurance policy? According to the President’s plan, a new bureaucracy known as the ‘Health Benefits Advisory Committee.’ It will be made up of 27 people…”
Issue 5: Over ten years the health premium revenue will garner $1 trillion dollars.
“Industry representatives counter that, even if insurers take in more money than they pay out, profit margins are so thin that additional taxes and fees would wind up being passed on to policyholders.
Yet another late complication, according to several Democrats, is the president’s statement that he will not sign a bill ‘if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period. And to prove that I’m serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don’t materialize.’
The $900 billion target is ‘very difficult,’ Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters. ‘This is reducing coverage for poor and working people.’”
In Closing
These quoted items are simply the statements presented by the opposing side. The health care plan is still under revisions and even today the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus released his $856 billion health care plan. As always your comments are welcome and any links or additional information you’d like to share is encouraged.
As always, we’re talking about things that matter… with people who care.
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Photo Credit: The Daily Contributor
Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute joins Dennis McCuistion and marketing consultant, Terry Brock, at Freedom Fest. Michael Tanner presents his perspectives on the Obama health care plan.
Michael Tanner presently heads research into a variety of domestic policies with a particular emphasis on health care reform, social welfare policy, and Social Security. His most recent book, Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution (2007), chronicles the demise of the Republican Party as it has shifted away from its limited government roots and warns that reform is necessary.
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Under his direction, Cato launched the Project on Social Security Choice, widely considered the leading impetus for transforming the soon-to-be-bankrupt system into a private savings program. Time Magazine calls Tanner, “one of the architects of the private accounts movement,” and Congressional Quarterly named him one of the nation’s five most influential experts on Social Security.
According to Michael, the Obama health care plan is,
“essentially government taking over 1/6 of the US economy. Government would then control some of the most personal and private information. Government would tell us what type of insurance to buy, the benefits we would have, how doctors have to practice medicine, and what employees have to carry. It’s top down command and control economics. The Government plan is subsidized by the taxpayer so it can always have lower premiums and higher benefits… You can’t compete against an entity backed by government. That’s like competing against the Mafia.”
Join in for more of Mr. Tanner’s outspoken and cutting edge views on the Obama health care plan. And as always thanks for watching as we talk about things that matter with people who care.
Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive Producer/ Producer
