Soaring deficit may defy forecasts!
"Stagnant unemployment, shrinking tax revenue and a struggling economy threaten to quadruple the size of last year's federal budget deficit, raising more questions about the timing of costly proposals to overhaul health care."
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Fishy statements about health care reform
http://tinyurl.com/oc59qh
Subject: Fishy statements about health care reform
The Honorable Linda DouglassCommunications DirectorHealth Reform OfficeThe White House
Dear Ms. Douglass:
I write in response to the request posted on the White house blog, “Facts are stubborn things.”
If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov .
I call to your attention several fishy statements about health care reform legislation made by a gentleman named Dr. Douglas Elmendorf. He claims to be Director of the “Congressional Budget Office” and has posted frequently about health care reform on his website, cbo.gov. This information takes the form of personal posts on his Director’s Blog, as well as in-depth reports that have the veneer of competent, thorough, impartial professional analysis. The IP address of his site is 206.106.246.254, and his organization has named their hideout the “Ford House Office Building.”
Elmendorf appears to have several hundred followers in his organization, which has extraordinary influence over many in Congress. I understand that some right-wing Members of Congress support and even vote for his annual funding source.
CBO and Elmendorf make extraordinary claims about bills moving through Congress that attempt to implement the President’s plans for health care reform. I bring them to your attention so that you can refute them. I have included these allegations below. Specifically, Elmendorf and his rabble-rousers make the following claims:
The House bill would increase the budget deficit by $239 B over the next ten years. This conflicts with the President’s goal of not increasing short-term deficits.
Ten years from now the House bill would add $65 B to the budget deficit. This conflicts with the President’s insistence that legislation must not increase the deficit in that year.
The House bill would increase long-term budget deficits by ever-increasing amounts, making our long-term debt problem worse than under current law. This of course conflicts with the President’s statements that “health care reform is entitlement reform,” and that health care reform is essential to addressing America’s long-term budget problems.
Rather than “bending the cost curve down” as the President has laudably insisted, Dr. Elmendorf said the Senate HELP Committee bill would “raise the cost curve.”
Under the House bill, in the year 2015 about 8 million uninsured Americans would remain uninsured and pay higher taxes. This would violate the President’s pledge not to raise taxes on anyone earning less than $250,000 per year.
Under the House bill, about 3 million people who now have employer-sponsored health insurance would lose that coverage because their employer drops it, violating the President’s bold promise that no one will lose the health plan they have now.
The President’s Medicare Commission proposal would probably save only $2 billion over ten years, and there is a high probability it would save no taxpayer money. In the long run the saving would be “modest.”
If this suspect “Congressional Budget Office” is publishing disinformation about either health care reform, I hope you can correct it. A lot of important people seem to listen to this Elmendorf guy. Left unrefuted, these claims suggest that the bills being developed in the House and Senate would harm the U.S. economy and millions of Americans in violation of the President’s stated goals.
Sincerely,
Keith HennesseyKeithHennessey.com
Subject: Fishy statements about health care reform
The Honorable Linda DouglassCommunications DirectorHealth Reform OfficeThe White House
Dear Ms. Douglass:
I write in response to the request posted on the White house blog, “Facts are stubborn things.”
If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov .
I call to your attention several fishy statements about health care reform legislation made by a gentleman named Dr. Douglas Elmendorf. He claims to be Director of the “Congressional Budget Office” and has posted frequently about health care reform on his website, cbo.gov. This information takes the form of personal posts on his Director’s Blog, as well as in-depth reports that have the veneer of competent, thorough, impartial professional analysis. The IP address of his site is 206.106.246.254, and his organization has named their hideout the “Ford House Office Building.”
Elmendorf appears to have several hundred followers in his organization, which has extraordinary influence over many in Congress. I understand that some right-wing Members of Congress support and even vote for his annual funding source.
CBO and Elmendorf make extraordinary claims about bills moving through Congress that attempt to implement the President’s plans for health care reform. I bring them to your attention so that you can refute them. I have included these allegations below. Specifically, Elmendorf and his rabble-rousers make the following claims:
The House bill would increase the budget deficit by $239 B over the next ten years. This conflicts with the President’s goal of not increasing short-term deficits.
Ten years from now the House bill would add $65 B to the budget deficit. This conflicts with the President’s insistence that legislation must not increase the deficit in that year.
The House bill would increase long-term budget deficits by ever-increasing amounts, making our long-term debt problem worse than under current law. This of course conflicts with the President’s statements that “health care reform is entitlement reform,” and that health care reform is essential to addressing America’s long-term budget problems.
Rather than “bending the cost curve down” as the President has laudably insisted, Dr. Elmendorf said the Senate HELP Committee bill would “raise the cost curve.”
Under the House bill, in the year 2015 about 8 million uninsured Americans would remain uninsured and pay higher taxes. This would violate the President’s pledge not to raise taxes on anyone earning less than $250,000 per year.
Under the House bill, about 3 million people who now have employer-sponsored health insurance would lose that coverage because their employer drops it, violating the President’s bold promise that no one will lose the health plan they have now.
The President’s Medicare Commission proposal would probably save only $2 billion over ten years, and there is a high probability it would save no taxpayer money. In the long run the saving would be “modest.”
If this suspect “Congressional Budget Office” is publishing disinformation about either health care reform, I hope you can correct it. A lot of important people seem to listen to this Elmendorf guy. Left unrefuted, these claims suggest that the bills being developed in the House and Senate would harm the U.S. economy and millions of Americans in violation of the President’s stated goals.
Sincerely,
Keith HennesseyKeithHennessey.com
city municipal sewage overflows in the Grand River
GR city municipal sewage overflows in the Grand River
"For the second time in three days, heavy rains caused city municipal sewage overflows in the Grand River early Monday.
About one million gallons of sewage overflowed into the river from four locations between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., officials at the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant said.
The overflows followed rainfalls that ranged from 1.94 inches at the treatment plant to 0.89 inch on the city's Northeast Side.
Early Saturday, overflows caused by overnight rains caused the discharge of 34,000 gallons of sewage into the Grand River."
No sweat!
It's the city of Grand Rapids not some scum sucking, tax paying, employer!
"For the second time in three days, heavy rains caused city municipal sewage overflows in the Grand River early Monday.
About one million gallons of sewage overflowed into the river from four locations between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., officials at the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant said.
The overflows followed rainfalls that ranged from 1.94 inches at the treatment plant to 0.89 inch on the city's Northeast Side.
Early Saturday, overflows caused by overnight rains caused the discharge of 34,000 gallons of sewage into the Grand River."
No sweat!
It's the city of Grand Rapids not some scum sucking, tax paying, employer!
GM says new Volt to get 230 mpg in city driving
GM says new Volt to get 230 mpg in city driving
"General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving, more than four times the mileage of the current champion, the Toyota Prius."
No mention of where the Volt gets its "voltage"......oh yeah, it's that nifty plug in the wall.....
"General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving, more than four times the mileage of the current champion, the Toyota Prius."
No mention of where the Volt gets its "voltage"......oh yeah, it's that nifty plug in the wall.....
UNTANGLING THE SPAGHETTI
SteynOnline - UNTANGLING THE SPAGHETTI
"But Obama believes in “the fierce urgency of now”, and fierce it is.
That’s where all the poor befuddled sober centrists who can’t understand why the Democrats keep passing incoherent 1,200-page bills every week are missing the point.
If “health care” were about health care, the devil would be in the details.
But it’s not about health or costs or coverage; it’s about getting over the river and burning the bridge.
It doesn’t matter what form of governmentalized health care gets passed as long as it passes.
Once it’s in place, it will be “reformed”, endlessly, but it will never be undone.
Same with a lot of the other stuff: Keep throwing the spaghetti at the wall. The Republicans may pick off the odd strand but, if you keep it coming fast enough, by the end of Obama’s first year the wall will be a great writhing mass of pasta entwined like copulating anacondas in some jungle simulacrum of Hef’s grotto.
And that’s a good image of how government will slither into every corner of your life: You can try and pull one of those spaghetti strings out but it’ll be all tied up with a hundred others and you’ll never untangle them."
"But Obama believes in “the fierce urgency of now”, and fierce it is.
That’s where all the poor befuddled sober centrists who can’t understand why the Democrats keep passing incoherent 1,200-page bills every week are missing the point.
If “health care” were about health care, the devil would be in the details.
But it’s not about health or costs or coverage; it’s about getting over the river and burning the bridge.
It doesn’t matter what form of governmentalized health care gets passed as long as it passes.
Once it’s in place, it will be “reformed”, endlessly, but it will never be undone.
Same with a lot of the other stuff: Keep throwing the spaghetti at the wall. The Republicans may pick off the odd strand but, if you keep it coming fast enough, by the end of Obama’s first year the wall will be a great writhing mass of pasta entwined like copulating anacondas in some jungle simulacrum of Hef’s grotto.
And that’s a good image of how government will slither into every corner of your life: You can try and pull one of those spaghetti strings out but it’ll be all tied up with a hundred others and you’ll never untangle them."
Monday, August 10, 2009
209 Muskegon County residents charged in Social Security scam - MLive.com
209 Muskegon County residents charged in Social Security scam - MLive.com: "It's a huge bust -- by far the most people charged in Muskegon County memory, maybe in history.
Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague and the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, supported by the Muskegon Police Department, announced today that 209 Muskegon-area residents have been charged with felonies or misdemeanors for defrauding the federal government of more than $400,000.
Hundreds of local residents are accused of cashing duplicate Social"
Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague and the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, supported by the Muskegon Police Department, announced today that 209 Muskegon-area residents have been charged with felonies or misdemeanors for defrauding the federal government of more than $400,000.
Hundreds of local residents are accused of cashing duplicate Social"
First 25 defendants arraigned for Social Security fraud - MLive.com
First 25 defendants arraigned for Social Security fraud - MLive.com: "The first batch of 209 defendants charged with cashing duplicate Social Security disability checks in the Muskegon area were arraigned Monday in a hot, packed Muskegon County courtroom.
The 25 individuals, mostly from the Muskegon-area, kicked off the first of hundreds to be arraigned in Muskegon County 60th District Court in the coming weeks."
The 25 individuals, mostly from the Muskegon-area, kicked off the first of hundreds to be arraigned in Muskegon County 60th District Court in the coming weeks."
Great post
Loooong by Lakeside, 8/10/09 21:43 ET
I meant to get back to you about your response to my post about end of life issues. I have been trying for DAYS to find the exact wording of the bill. To say that I am disgusted is putting it mildly. I GIVE UP . Obama ran one of the best campaigns I have ever seen. And I have been watching campaigns carefully since Hubert Humphry's run for the presidency.
Here it is:We ALL know that we need healthcare reform. Even the right wing radio hosts admit to that. If Obama, who ran the slickest campaign I have ever seen in 40 years, can't come up with a plan and present it to the american people in a way that they understand and accept, he does not deserve support. The liberal media has given him everything he could possibly ask for and he has blown it. I mean, they have done everything short of kneeling down and blowing the guy. The truth is he has not convinced the American people that his bill, whatever the he11 it is, has their best interests at heart. The guy who ate dinner with Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorn, who wrote a blurb for Bill Ayers book, and still convinced voters, that he is "centrist" can't manage to convey what the healthcare bill is, and how it will improve what we already have. Something aint right here.
Ronald Reagan inherited HUGE inflation, unemployment, and a "malaise". You NEVER heard him bellyaching like a crybaby about the previous administration. Ronald Reagan, whether you agreed with his politics or not, WAS A MAN. I never expected much from Obama because of his lack of experience, and his coming up from Chicago Politics, but he has proven to be much worse than even I expected. He needs to grow up, stand up like a man with some nads, and show some leadership. And by leadership, I mean, stop whining about what he inherited. He wanted the job, he got it. John McCain, the POW, who had the crap beaten out of him by the North Vietnamese prison guards, would not have acted like this. He would have done what he has always done, taken his punches like a man, and moved on.
If Obama wants us to buy into ANY healthcare plan, he needs to spell out specifically what that freakin.healthcare plan is, tell us how much it will cost us, tell us, as taxpayers, what we will have to pay to foot the bill, and tell us honestly if we will have to give up any of our expectations. If he can't manage to do that, then the dems need to stop referring to the opposition as nazis, mobs, unamerican and blah, blah, blah.
When McCain was in his prison camp having the crap beaten out of him, I was a half witted 18 year old protesting the war in vietnam. He has, as far as I know, never referred to me, or anyone else, as "unamerican, mobs, nazis, blah, blah, blah." If McCain could take it, then so can Pelosi, Reid, and any other democrat out there. This crap of referring to opositional, protesting Americans in insulting, disrespectful terms is WRONG. I don't care whether you believe like Obama or not on healthcare. The dems have gone WAAY over the line. Who the he11 do these people think they are talking about American citizens like this. I am Pizzed. Obama needs to grow up; and act like a president. As far as Pelosi and the rest of those liberal dolts go, they aren't even worth my keyboarding skills.
Those out of control townhall meetings have occurred for one reason only: the ineptness of congress and this administration. Give the people a clear picture of what they will get with their bill, not a bunch of unsubstantiated myths based on three or four different bills, that no one understands!
After days of trying to get the exact wording of the document that we are expected to buy into, I am Angry, Obama and his supporters need to stop whining about the opposition and do their jobs. There will always be opposition, adults understand that. He will be successful in promoting his healthcare plan, whateve that is, when he stops b1tching about Bush, and sticks to promoting his own program. To quote Bill Clinton, "This is a full contact sport."
I meant to get back to you about your response to my post about end of life issues. I have been trying for DAYS to find the exact wording of the bill. To say that I am disgusted is putting it mildly. I GIVE UP . Obama ran one of the best campaigns I have ever seen. And I have been watching campaigns carefully since Hubert Humphry's run for the presidency.
Here it is:We ALL know that we need healthcare reform. Even the right wing radio hosts admit to that. If Obama, who ran the slickest campaign I have ever seen in 40 years, can't come up with a plan and present it to the american people in a way that they understand and accept, he does not deserve support. The liberal media has given him everything he could possibly ask for and he has blown it. I mean, they have done everything short of kneeling down and blowing the guy. The truth is he has not convinced the American people that his bill, whatever the he11 it is, has their best interests at heart. The guy who ate dinner with Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorn, who wrote a blurb for Bill Ayers book, and still convinced voters, that he is "centrist" can't manage to convey what the healthcare bill is, and how it will improve what we already have. Something aint right here.
Ronald Reagan inherited HUGE inflation, unemployment, and a "malaise". You NEVER heard him bellyaching like a crybaby about the previous administration. Ronald Reagan, whether you agreed with his politics or not, WAS A MAN. I never expected much from Obama because of his lack of experience, and his coming up from Chicago Politics, but he has proven to be much worse than even I expected. He needs to grow up, stand up like a man with some nads, and show some leadership. And by leadership, I mean, stop whining about what he inherited. He wanted the job, he got it. John McCain, the POW, who had the crap beaten out of him by the North Vietnamese prison guards, would not have acted like this. He would have done what he has always done, taken his punches like a man, and moved on.
If Obama wants us to buy into ANY healthcare plan, he needs to spell out specifically what that freakin.healthcare plan is, tell us how much it will cost us, tell us, as taxpayers, what we will have to pay to foot the bill, and tell us honestly if we will have to give up any of our expectations. If he can't manage to do that, then the dems need to stop referring to the opposition as nazis, mobs, unamerican and blah, blah, blah.
When McCain was in his prison camp having the crap beaten out of him, I was a half witted 18 year old protesting the war in vietnam. He has, as far as I know, never referred to me, or anyone else, as "unamerican, mobs, nazis, blah, blah, blah." If McCain could take it, then so can Pelosi, Reid, and any other democrat out there. This crap of referring to opositional, protesting Americans in insulting, disrespectful terms is WRONG. I don't care whether you believe like Obama or not on healthcare. The dems have gone WAAY over the line. Who the he11 do these people think they are talking about American citizens like this. I am Pizzed. Obama needs to grow up; and act like a president. As far as Pelosi and the rest of those liberal dolts go, they aren't even worth my keyboarding skills.
Those out of control townhall meetings have occurred for one reason only: the ineptness of congress and this administration. Give the people a clear picture of what they will get with their bill, not a bunch of unsubstantiated myths based on three or four different bills, that no one understands!
After days of trying to get the exact wording of the document that we are expected to buy into, I am Angry, Obama and his supporters need to stop whining about the opposition and do their jobs. There will always be opposition, adults understand that. He will be successful in promoting his healthcare plan, whateve that is, when he stops b1tching about Bush, and sticks to promoting his own program. To quote Bill Clinton, "This is a full contact sport."
MSU running back Glenn Winston leaves jail, rejoins team
MSU running back Glenn Winston leaves jail, rejoins team
"Glenn Winston's release from the Ingham County Jail came just in time for him to participate in the first practice of Michigan State preseason camp Monday afternoon."
Yes!
Jail is just as good as a really good junior college program!
Plus he's not in debt for school!
"Oh boy, this is gonna be great!"
"Glenn Winston's release from the Ingham County Jail came just in time for him to participate in the first practice of Michigan State preseason camp Monday afternoon."
Yes!
Jail is just as good as a really good junior college program!
Plus he's not in debt for school!
"Oh boy, this is gonna be great!"
Obama Health Care logo-- the latest and strangest controversy in Health Care Reform?
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Obama Health Care logo-- the latest and strangest controversy in Health Care Reform?: "And here is the latest buzz: the Health Care reform logo featured on Barack Obama's website is getting attention for its eerie likeness to dictator propaganda- style depictions. Is this just another contrived controversy against the current administration or is there any validity to the notion that this is a frightening sign of things to come?
Let's compare and you decide."
Let's compare and you decide."
Why democrats win elections
an oldie from an e-mail:
ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS OF WHY OBAMA WON THE ELECTION
From a teacher in the Nashville area:
"We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream"
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees.
They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise.
She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."
She sat down.
The class went wild.
"Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more.
She did not have to.
A discussion followed.
How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
She wasn't sure.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it?
She didn't know.
The class really didn't care.
All they were thinking about was ice cream.
Jamie was forgotten.
Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48 percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."
ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS OF WHY OBAMA WON THE ELECTION
From a teacher in the Nashville area:
"We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream"
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees.
They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise.
She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."
She sat down.
The class went wild.
"Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more.
She did not have to.
A discussion followed.
How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
She wasn't sure.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it?
She didn't know.
The class really didn't care.
All they were thinking about was ice cream.
Jamie was forgotten.
Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48 percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."
Geithner Asks Congress to Increase Federal Debt Limit
Geithner Asks Congress to Increase Federal Debt Limit
"U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asked Congress to increase the $12.1 trillion debt limit on Friday, saying it is 'critically important' that they act in the next two months......
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday the federal government's budget deficit reached $1.3 trillion through the first ten months of fiscal 2009, on track to reach a record high of $1.8 trillion for the 12-month period."
"U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asked Congress to increase the $12.1 trillion debt limit on Friday, saying it is 'critically important' that they act in the next two months......
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday the federal government's budget deficit reached $1.3 trillion through the first ten months of fiscal 2009, on track to reach a record high of $1.8 trillion for the 12-month period."
"would you like some can o peas?"
"The 26-year-old said she then retaliated with her secret weapon: a can of peas stuffed inside a sock that she used to beat her assailant until the homemade weapon ripped and the culprit fled,"
Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree
Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree
"Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials."
"Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials."
Un-American?
A QUESTION: Do you want your medical care controlled by people who think it’s “Un-American” to criticize them?
Norton Shores boosts costs for filmmakers
Norton Shores boosts costs for filmmakers
"City council members decided this week to increase the film permit fee from $50 to $500, citing filmmakers' ability to easily handle the expense and the recent increase in the rest of the city's fees.
City staff had recommended leaving the permit fee at $50 based on fees charged by other communities."
"City council members decided this week to increase the film permit fee from $50 to $500, citing filmmakers' ability to easily handle the expense and the recent increase in the rest of the city's fees.
City staff had recommended leaving the permit fee at $50 based on fees charged by other communities."
Can't find the money!!!!!!
http://tinyurl.com/mf22kw
Despite a new oversight panel, a new special inspector general, the existing Government Accountability Office and eight other inspectors general, those charged with minding the store say they don't have all the weapons they need.
Ten months into the Troubled Asset Relief Program, some members of Congress say that some oversight of bailout dollars has been so lacking that it's essentially worthless.
Despite a new oversight panel, a new special inspector general, the existing Government Accountability Office and eight other inspectors general, those charged with minding the store say they don't have all the weapons they need.
Ten months into the Troubled Asset Relief Program, some members of Congress say that some oversight of bailout dollars has been so lacking that it's essentially worthless.
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has tentatively agreed to raise rates..... an average of 22 per
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has tentatively agreed to raise rates..... by an average of 22 percent
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has tentatively agreed to raise rates for nearly 200,000 of its health insurance customers by an average of 22 percent, a significantly lower rate increase than originally sought.
The agreement reached Thursday with Attorney General Mike Cox is subject to approval by state regulators before it could take effect.
The agreement covers ate increases for Blue Cross customers who have non-group and group conversion policies. Those policies typically are bought by people under age 65 not covered by employer-based or government plans.
Blue Cross originally requested to raise those rates 42 percent to 56 percent earlier this year."
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has tentatively agreed to raise rates for nearly 200,000 of its health insurance customers by an average of 22 percent, a significantly lower rate increase than originally sought.
The agreement reached Thursday with Attorney General Mike Cox is subject to approval by state regulators before it could take effect.
The agreement covers ate increases for Blue Cross customers who have non-group and group conversion policies. Those policies typically are bought by people under age 65 not covered by employer-based or government plans.
Blue Cross originally requested to raise those rates 42 percent to 56 percent earlier this year."
"a historic shift of philosophy" by federal housing officials.
"a historic shift of philosophy" by federal housing officials"
"The agreement calls for the county to spend more than $50 million to build or acquire 750 homes or apartments, 630 of which must be provided in towns and villages where blacks constitute 3 percent or less of the population and Hispanic residents make up less than 7 percent. The county has seven years to complete the construction or acquisition of the affordable housing units."
"The agreement calls for the county to spend more than $50 million to build or acquire 750 homes or apartments, 630 of which must be provided in towns and villages where blacks constitute 3 percent or less of the population and Hispanic residents make up less than 7 percent. The county has seven years to complete the construction or acquisition of the affordable housing units."
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Still Not Getting It?
Still Not Getting It?
"Now it may be that these are essential fact-finding missions for the lawmakers in question and, in the latter case, their wives, but if the GOP is to rebuild its credentials (and yes, they badly need rebuilding) as the party of fiscal prudence, a reputation that could be an enormous asset in 2010 and 2012, these are exactly the stories that we should not be seeing — at least without very good explanation indeed."
"Now it may be that these are essential fact-finding missions for the lawmakers in question and, in the latter case, their wives, but if the GOP is to rebuild its credentials (and yes, they badly need rebuilding) as the party of fiscal prudence, a reputation that could be an enormous asset in 2010 and 2012, these are exactly the stories that we should not be seeing — at least without very good explanation indeed."
Saturday, August 08, 2009
America's Best College
America's Best College
"Most college students, we think, do not march to meals. A goodly number of them drink into the wee hours, duck morning classes and fail to hit the gym with any regularity. But Vetter, 21, is a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., where college life is a bit different."
"Most college students, we think, do not march to meals. A goodly number of them drink into the wee hours, duck morning classes and fail to hit the gym with any regularity. But Vetter, 21, is a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., where college life is a bit different."
Friday, August 07, 2009
Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin: "In May, I told you how the Service Employees International Union’s $61 million investment in Barack Obama paid off with cabinet appointments, executive orders, key personnel slots, and legislative goodies.
Now, the SEIU thugs are looking out for The Boss. In Tampa, Florida and St. Louis today, the Purple People turned out to give cover to members of Congress targeted by Tea Party activists and town hall protesters. For the first time, the town hall protests were marked by physical aggression. More on the St. Louis arrests of confrontational Obamacare activists here. (Just like Obama wanted: “In your face.”) This is no coincidence.
I’m excerpting a portion of my Culture of Corruption chapter on the SEIU. This is what you are up against."
Now, the SEIU thugs are looking out for The Boss. In Tampa, Florida and St. Louis today, the Purple People turned out to give cover to members of Congress targeted by Tea Party activists and town hall protesters. For the first time, the town hall protests were marked by physical aggression. More on the St. Louis arrests of confrontational Obamacare activists here. (Just like Obama wanted: “In your face.”) This is no coincidence.
I’m excerpting a portion of my Culture of Corruption chapter on the SEIU. This is what you are up against."
Cash-strapped Cuba says toilet paper running short
Cash-strapped Cuba says toilet paper running short
"Cuba both imports toilet paper and produces its own, but does not currently have enough raw materials to make it, he said."
Cheryl Crow would love it there!
"Cuba both imports toilet paper and produces its own, but does not currently have enough raw materials to make it, he said."
Cheryl Crow would love it there!
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