A Temporary Solution For A New American Worker

The number of temporary jobs is�on the upswing even though the nation's unemployment rate has stubbornly stayed above 9 percent for 19 months. Some workers say they prefer temporary jobs and the flexibility that comes with them to long-term employment.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/131942175/a-temporary-solution-for-a-new-american-worker?ft=1&f=100

Kirsten Gillibrand Kit Bond Lamar Alexander Lindsey Graham Lisa Murkowski

Senators Fight Over Flight Routes

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2010/12/14/senators_fight_over_flight_routes_247337.html

Condoleezza Rice Daniel Akaka Daniel Inouye David Vitter Debbie Stabenow

Health Reform Wins Another Round in Court

After the Affordable Care Act became law, opponents of reform lined up at courthouses nationwide to file lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of health reform. These kinds of challenges often happen after major legislation is enacted. In fact, legal challenges to the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act were all filed – and all failed. 

Now, lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act are losing in federal court. Today, a federal judge in New Jersey who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush granted the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss a case challenging the constitutionality of the health reform law. You can read media coverage of the decision here.

The case dismissed in New Jersey can now be added to a longer list of cases challenging the Affordable Care Act that have been dismissed by the courts. That list includes:

Sollars v. Reid -dismissed 4/2/10
Taitz v. Obama - dismissed 4/14/10
Archer v. U.S. Senate - dismissed 4/12/10
Heghmann v. Sebelius - dismissed 5/14/10
Mackenzie v. Shaheen - dismissed 5/26/10
Fountain Hills Tea Party Patriots v. Sebelius - dismissed 6/2/10
Coalition for Parity Inc. v. Sebelius - dismissed on 6/21/10
U.S. Citizens Association v. OMB - dismissed 8/2/10
Baldwin v. Sebelius – dismissed 8/27/10
Burlsworth v. Holder - dismissed 9/8/10
Schreeve v. Obama - dismissed 11/4/10

And the decision in New Jersey comes after two previous victories for health reform in the Western District of Virginia and Eastern District of Michigan where judges ruled on the merits of the arguments brought by the opponents of reform. In Virginia, the judge wrote:

“I hold that there is a rational basis for Congress to conclude that individuals’ decisions about how and when to pay for health care are activities that in the aggregate substantially affect the interstate health care market…Nearly everyone will require health care services at some point in their lifetimes, and it is not always possible to predict when one will be afflicted by illness or injury and require care…Far from ‘inactivity,’ by choosing to forgo insurance, Plaintiffs are making an economic decision to try to pay for health care services later, out of pocket, rather than now, through the purchase of insurance. As Congress found, the total incidence of these economic decisions has a substantial impact on the national market for health care by collectively shifting billions of dollars on to other market participants and driving up the prices of insurance policies.”

And in Michigan, a federal judge issued a similar ruling and upheld the law. 

The Affordable Care Act falls well within Congress’s power to regulate under the Commerce Clause, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and the General Welfare Clause. In order to make health care affordable and available for all, the law regulates how to pay for medical services – services that account for more than 17.5% of the national economy. This law came into being precisely because of the interconnectedness of our health care costs, and we need every American to act responsibly to strengthen our health care system.  When people seek medical care without health insurance and don’t pay for it, it adds more than $1,000 per year to the premiums of American families who act responsibly by having coverage.  To lower the cost of health care for everyone, we have to stop making those who act responsibly pick up the health care tab for those who don’t – and that means we need everyone to be a part of the health insurance marketplace.  Just as you can’t wait to get car insurance until you get into a car accident or rely on others to pay for the damages, you can’t wait until you get sick to get health insurance, or rely on the fact that emergency rooms won’t turn you away even if you can’t pay.    

To fix the problem of uncompensated care and the shifting of costs to those who have insurance, the Affordable Care Act requires people who can afford it to carry minimum health coverage beginning in 2014.  For the 83% of Americans who have coverage today, this means they are already taking responsibility for their health care, and will need to do very little.  Many of the 17% of Americans living without health insurance either can’t afford it or have been denied coverage because of a preexisting condition.   The Affordable Care Act provides tax credits to people who need help paying for insurance and hardship waivers to individuals or families who can’t afford it at all.   And the Act expands Medicaid coverage for many lower income Americans.  Those who can afford it, but refuse to buy it, will face a penalty.

The Affordable Care Act also bans insurance companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.   However, unless every American is required to have insurance, it would be cost prohibitive to cover people with preexisting conditions.  Here’s why:  If insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to anyone who applies for insurance – especially those who have health problems and are potentially more expensive to cover – then there is nothing stopping someone from waiting until they’re sick or injured to apply for coverage since insurance companies can’t say no.  That would lead to double digit premiums increases – up to 20% – for everyone with insurance, and would significantly increase the cost health care spending nationwide.  We don’t let people wait until after they’ve been in a car accident to apply for auto insurance and get reimbursed, and we don’t want to do that with healthcare.  If we’re going to outlaw discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, the only way to keep people from gaming the system and raising costs on everyone else is to ensure that everyone takes responsibility for their own health insurance.  If a court strikes down the individual responsibility provision, then protection for people with preexisting conditions will fall with it. 

In the weeks ahead, there will be additional court cases examining this matter and the health reform law. No one knows how each case will be decided, but in the end, we are confident that health reform will prevail.

Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President for Special Projects

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/08/health-reform-wins-another-round-court

Bill Richardson Bob Casey, Jr Bob Corker Byron Dorgan Carl Levin

End Of Days For Bookstores? Not If They Can Help It

There was a time, not so long ago, when chain bookstores had a pretty bad rep. But in the era of online buying and the e-book, the chains are in trouble -- and new technologies are providing independent bookstores with a lifeline.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/132026420/end-of-days-for-bookstores-not-if-they-can-help-it?ft=1&f=100

Carl Levin Carte Goodwin Chuck Grassley Chuck Hagel Chuck Schumer

Remarks by the President at Christmas in Washington

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

Location: 

National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.

December 12, 2010
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you, everybody.  Please, please have a seat.   
 
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everybody.  I want to thank our wonderful host, Ellen DeGeneres, for being here tonight.  And of course, a special thanks to all of tonight’s extraordinary performers:  Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Miranda Cosgrove, Annie Lennox, Maxwell, Matthew Morrison, the Washington Youth Choir, the American Family Choir, and the United States Army Band Herald Trumpets.  Please give them a huge round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
What a wonderful show here at the National Building Museum -- and we’re grateful that the Children’s National Medical Center is the beneficiary of tonight’s performance.  Day in and day out, the folks there are saving lives and bringing healing and comfort to our children.  
 
This season reminds us that more than 2,000 years ago, a child born in a stable brought our world a redeeming gift of peace and salvation.  It’s a story with a message that speaks to us to this day -- that we are called to love each other as we love ourselves, that we are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper, and our destinies are linked.
 
It’s a message that guides my Christian faith and it focuses us as we think about all those whose holidays may be a bit tougher this year.  We pray for our troops serving far away from the warmth of family and homespun traditions.  We remember those who are out of work, or struggling just to get by.  We hold in our hearts all those who’ve fallen on hard times this holiday season.
 
Because while Christmas is a time to celebrate, a time to sing chorals and exchange gifts, it’s also something more.  It’s a time to rediscover the meaning of words like “charity” and “compassion” and “goodwill”; to do our part for our neighbors; to serve God through serving others.  So from our family to yours, happy holidays, everybody.  Merry Christmas, and God bless you all.  And God bless the United States of America.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

END

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/13/remarks-president-christmas-washington

Barack Obama Barbara Boxer Barbara Mikulski Ben Cardin Ben Nelson

Health Law Will Survive Legal Fight

Holder & Sebelius, Washington Post
In March, New Hampshire preschool teacher Gail O'Brien, who was unable to obtain health insurance through her employer, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. Her subsequent applications for health insurance were rejected because of her condition. With each round of chemotherapy costing $16,000, she delayed treatment because she knew her savings wouldn't last.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2010/12/14/health_law_will_survive_legal_fight_247301.html

Ted Kennedy Thad Cochran Thomas Carper Tim Johnson Tom Coburn

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: The Voice Of Hawaii

The late Hawaiian musician known best for his ukulele-backed rendition of "Over the Rainbow" was a man with a standout voice and tremendous size. At more than 6 feet tall and weighing close to 1,000 pounds, "IZ" died when he was only 38.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii?ft=1&f=100

Chuck Schumer Claire McCaskill Colin Powell Condoleezza Rice Daniel Akaka