NYTimes Article
Summary: 9.5 millions Americans have signed up to receive government healthcare. Even thought they think they achieved their goal of over 9.1 million subscribers, a good number of those people haven't payed their premiums yet, making them almost in purgatory until they pay up. Florida has the largest amount of people who signed up at 1.3 million people, followed by California at 1.2. According to the Obama admin 70% of people selected the middle plan, and 19 percent chose the bronze, which has lower premiums but higher deductibles/out of pocket expenses.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
4/2 Koch Brothers
NYTimes Article
Summary: The two brothers will spend approximately $900 million on the 2016 Presidential election. This new plan would let the Koch's organization to operate at the same financial level as both the Republican and Democratic parties. The main contributions would be from the brothers, but around 300 other donors would pitch in to make this the most expensive campaign in history. The goal is to spend $889 million which would align with how much each party will likely spend on their candidate.
Summary: The two brothers will spend approximately $900 million on the 2016 Presidential election. This new plan would let the Koch's organization to operate at the same financial level as both the Republican and Democratic parties. The main contributions would be from the brothers, but around 300 other donors would pitch in to make this the most expensive campaign in history. The goal is to spend $889 million which would align with how much each party will likely spend on their candidate.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
3/2 House GOP Anti-Abortion
CNN Article
Summary: House Republican leaders decided to cancel a vote on an anti-abortion bill. Instead of voting for this bill, they will instead schedule a vote for a bill banning tax payer funded abortions. The cause for the change is simply that the GOP leaders could not find enough support to pass the bill in their favor. They view the second bill as more optimistic. Although the second bill has already been discussed last year leading one member to say, "Maybe we can Xerox your [Republicans] testimony from last year". The cause of the change stems from a few Republican congresswomen who said that it could hurt the GOP's reach to women and young voters.
Summary: House Republican leaders decided to cancel a vote on an anti-abortion bill. Instead of voting for this bill, they will instead schedule a vote for a bill banning tax payer funded abortions. The cause for the change is simply that the GOP leaders could not find enough support to pass the bill in their favor. They view the second bill as more optimistic. Although the second bill has already been discussed last year leading one member to say, "Maybe we can Xerox your [Republicans] testimony from last year". The cause of the change stems from a few Republican congresswomen who said that it could hurt the GOP's reach to women and young voters.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
2/2 State of Economy from Ground Level
NYTimes Article
Summary: The economy is soaring to new heights. Unemployment is down and the creation of new jobs is at the fastest rate since the late 90's. Across the country there are many people who are doing great, while others who are struggling to get by. In Denver, a man lost his almost $18 an hour job in 2010 only to find work at a thrift store where he works in exchange for a little under $200 in food stamps. In Boston, a democrat is critical of Obama saying that sure there is some improvement, but not as good as the hype that Mr. Obama has been singing. The President is most likely fully aware of this, yet is trying to keep his somewhat low image up.
Summary: The economy is soaring to new heights. Unemployment is down and the creation of new jobs is at the fastest rate since the late 90's. Across the country there are many people who are doing great, while others who are struggling to get by. In Denver, a man lost his almost $18 an hour job in 2010 only to find work at a thrift store where he works in exchange for a little under $200 in food stamps. In Boston, a democrat is critical of Obama saying that sure there is some improvement, but not as good as the hype that Mr. Obama has been singing. The President is most likely fully aware of this, yet is trying to keep his somewhat low image up.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
1/2 State of Union Address; Obama move past hardship
NYTimes Article
Summary: Obama will make the annual State of the Union address to the American people tonight, January 20, 2015. “I see this as the president returning to the theme of class warfare,” said Representative Adam Kinzinger, Republican of Illinois. He, like many other Republicans, view the President's address as attacking the wealthy, instituting higher tax rates. Likely, the Republican controlled Congress will over rule Mr. Obama's plans, as he has said he will veto three key Republican bills; Keystone XL, cutting costly regulations and adjusting the convoluted health care law. It will be interesting to see what the President says he will do, how much he will accomplish (without Congress backlash) and the reaction of many to his un-American agenda.
Summary: Obama will make the annual State of the Union address to the American people tonight, January 20, 2015. “I see this as the president returning to the theme of class warfare,” said Representative Adam Kinzinger, Republican of Illinois. He, like many other Republicans, view the President's address as attacking the wealthy, instituting higher tax rates. Likely, the Republican controlled Congress will over rule Mr. Obama's plans, as he has said he will veto three key Republican bills; Keystone XL, cutting costly regulations and adjusting the convoluted health care law. It will be interesting to see what the President says he will do, how much he will accomplish (without Congress backlash) and the reaction of many to his un-American agenda.
Monday, January 12, 2015
5/1 Data Hacking/Student Privacy
NYTimes Article
Summary:
Today, Monday, January 12, Obama is planning to start talks for legislation that forces companies who have been hacked to be more open when cards have been breached and customer data has been compromised. Dubbed the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act, it would require companies who have been hacked to alert the affected customers within 30 days of the breach. Another act, the Student Data Privacy Act, which will not allow tech companies to make any profit off of tools and software that are used in the classroom. Many critics say that a federal law will be weak and not as strong as the state laws that have been passed in recent years
Summary:
Today, Monday, January 12, Obama is planning to start talks for legislation that forces companies who have been hacked to be more open when cards have been breached and customer data has been compromised. Dubbed the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act, it would require companies who have been hacked to alert the affected customers within 30 days of the breach. Another act, the Student Data Privacy Act, which will not allow tech companies to make any profit off of tools and software that are used in the classroom. Many critics say that a federal law will be weak and not as strong as the state laws that have been passed in recent years
Friday, January 9, 2015
4/1 Health Care Law Alterations
NYTimes Article
Summary:
The Save American Workers Act, passed by a landslide in the House with a 252-172 vote. The ObamaCare plan requires that any business with 50 or more employees has to offer health coverage to those employees who work 30 or more hours a week. Republicans are waging for 40 hours, because many employers are cutting the time that employees work so they do not have to insure them. A cut in hours could be disastrous for the same people that Obama wanted the coverage to be for. However, Pres. Obama is going to veto it and Nancy Pelosi will sustain it. Boehner accused Obama of "obstructing bipartisanship".
Summary:
The Save American Workers Act, passed by a landslide in the House with a 252-172 vote. The ObamaCare plan requires that any business with 50 or more employees has to offer health coverage to those employees who work 30 or more hours a week. Republicans are waging for 40 hours, because many employers are cutting the time that employees work so they do not have to insure them. A cut in hours could be disastrous for the same people that Obama wanted the coverage to be for. However, Pres. Obama is going to veto it and Nancy Pelosi will sustain it. Boehner accused Obama of "obstructing bipartisanship".
3/1 Free Community College
NYTimes Article
Summary:
President Obama wants to start a nation-wide program that offers free tuition to students who, a) attend a community college that advances you to a four year degree and b) those who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. The issue will seem to not go over so smoothly with the newly elected Republican controlled Congress, though. The Federal Government would cover 75% of the average cost of community college and then the state would cover the rest. The problem with Obama's plan is that a state can decide not to participate; leaving 25% unpaid for. Tennessee already has a similar plan to the President's, and it has gone so far so good. It is unknown how far this measure will actually go.
Summary:
President Obama wants to start a nation-wide program that offers free tuition to students who, a) attend a community college that advances you to a four year degree and b) those who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. The issue will seem to not go over so smoothly with the newly elected Republican controlled Congress, though. The Federal Government would cover 75% of the average cost of community college and then the state would cover the rest. The problem with Obama's plan is that a state can decide not to participate; leaving 25% unpaid for. Tennessee already has a similar plan to the President's, and it has gone so far so good. It is unknown how far this measure will actually go.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
2/1 Senate Panel Approves Keystone Pipeline Bill
NYTimes Article
Summary:
A new pipeline, Keystone XL, is ready for the Republican controlled Congress to challenge the Obama administration. The House is going to force the bill on the floor on Friday, January 9, and it will go to the Senate in the coming weeks. However, President Obama says he will use his veto power to strike the bill down. However, from common knowledge, I know that they can get around this lame duck's agenda, by having at least a 2/3's vote in both chambers of Congress. Then his veto is struck down. Republicans argue it will create more jobs and help the economy while Democrats and environmentalists say that it will destroy forests and thousands of acres of land. There are already a few pipelines from Canada to the United States, including the recently completed, Alberta Clipper.
Summary:
A new pipeline, Keystone XL, is ready for the Republican controlled Congress to challenge the Obama administration. The House is going to force the bill on the floor on Friday, January 9, and it will go to the Senate in the coming weeks. However, President Obama says he will use his veto power to strike the bill down. However, from common knowledge, I know that they can get around this lame duck's agenda, by having at least a 2/3's vote in both chambers of Congress. Then his veto is struck down. Republicans argue it will create more jobs and help the economy while Democrats and environmentalists say that it will destroy forests and thousands of acres of land. There are already a few pipelines from Canada to the United States, including the recently completed, Alberta Clipper.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
1/1 Boehner Facing Dissent and Defections in Vote to Remain Speaker of House
Article 1 - First Rotation
NYTimes Article
Summary:
On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, Speaker John Boehner is up for re-election to his Speaker position. Some Republicans are speaking out against the Speaker because they believe that his leadership of the House and Republican majority has been lacking. Especially with news surfacing on Majority Whip Steve Scalise alleging he spoke to a White Supremacist group in 2002 and a Republican New York Representative who pleaded guilty to evading taxes. However, the future seems to go in Boehner's direction; with around 28 votes, and no real successor coming to the front lines, Boehner is not sweating. He has high confidence in his fellow members.
NYTimes Article
Summary:
On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, Speaker John Boehner is up for re-election to his Speaker position. Some Republicans are speaking out against the Speaker because they believe that his leadership of the House and Republican majority has been lacking. Especially with news surfacing on Majority Whip Steve Scalise alleging he spoke to a White Supremacist group in 2002 and a Republican New York Representative who pleaded guilty to evading taxes. However, the future seems to go in Boehner's direction; with around 28 votes, and no real successor coming to the front lines, Boehner is not sweating. He has high confidence in his fellow members.
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