Oct

21

October 21, 2009 – 9:30 pm by Michael

WP
“Alarm Bell on Health Reform”
Sen. Wyden (D-Oregon) has been a longtime supporter of health reform. But he warned in September that the plan offered by the Senate Finance Committee “would cost lower-income Americans too much and give many people too little choice of insurance plans.” Not to mention, it would FORCE you to get health insurance: “Those without coverage would face a fine of as much as $3,800…he said, “They’re going to say, ‘Huh? Health-care security means I pay a whole lot more than I’m paying today or I get to be exempt from it, or I pay a penalty?’ They’re not going to say that meets the definition of health-care security.”"

Politico
“Breaking down the Baucus bill”
A look at the Senate Finance Committee bill. “Baucus put the cost of his bill at $856 billion. It would require nearly all Americans to carry insurance and employers to help cover the costs of providing government subsidies, while prohibiting insurance companies from dropping or denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions…The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cost $774 billion over 10 years and cover 94 percent of Americans. It would leave 25 million people uninsured in 2019 — a third of whom are illegal immigrants — compared with 17 million in the House bill.” On how to pay for the plan: “Baucus proposed an excise tax on insurers for their top-of-the-line plans.”

NYT **
“To Explain Longevity Gap, Look Past Health System “
This article takes a fascinating look at why our health system is supposedly so terrible. It turns out that our medical system is actually quite good, and the longevity gap is due to getting sick more often, lifestyle choices (smoking), etc. A must read.

NYT **
“Health Care Overhaul and Mandatory Coverage Stir States’ Rights Claims “
Some states are looking at constitutional amendments as a way to shield their residents from mandatory coverage. ““States can no more nullify a federal law like this than they could nullify the civil rights laws by adopting constitutional amendments,” said Timothy Stoltzfus Jost…“They’re essentially saying that state constitutions are meaningless,” [Mr. Emmer] said, “and I disagree.”"

WP
“White House Seeks Renewal of Surveillance Laws”

NYT
“Justice Dept. to Limit Use of State Secrets Privilege”

WP
“Administration Won’t Seek New Detention System”

NYT Op-Ed
“An Incomplete State Secrets Fix”

ChattahBox
“White House Eyeing Phasing Out of Fossil Fuel Subsidies”

WP
“Regulating Carbon”

NYT
“Refitted to Bury Emissions, Plant Draws Attention “

NYT Op
“It’s Easy Being Green”

Grist
“Scientists identify “safe operating space for humanity” in seminal Nature study”

WP
“Senators Ready a Bill on Greenhouse Gases”
“Cuts Deeper Than House’s, Carbon Offsets Cheaper”

NYT
“E.P.A. Moves to Curtail Greenhouse Gas Emissions “

NYT
“Government Urges Changes to Google Books Deal”