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17 Sep 2009 11:04

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U.S.: The Senate Dems’ biggest health-care challenge: Getting 60 votes

  • 59 Democrats (and one Republican) are needed to push it through source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Sep 2009 21:47

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U.S.: Today’s poll: Is the Senate health care plan the answer?

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Sep 2009 10:32

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U.S.: More on the health care bill to end all health care bills

  • For the uninsured The uninsured will be offered a lower barrier to medicaid – 133% of the poverty line. For those between 100% and 300% of the poverty line, subsidies will be available. Between 300%-400%, premiums are capped at 13% – a little high, but still cheaper than right now. source
  • For the uninsured The uninsured will be offered a lower barrier to medicaid – 133% of the poverty line. For those between 100% and 300% of the poverty line, subsidies will be available. Between 300%-400%, premiums are capped at 13% – a little high, but still cheaper than right now.
  • Paying for it The bill, which requires all families to have insurance (or pay a $3,800 fine), asks for employers to defray costs of government subsidies. High-end insurance plans would also be taxed at 35%, and players in the medical industry would help pick up part of the bill. source
  • For the uninsured The uninsured will be offered a lower barrier to medicaid – 133% of the poverty line. For those between 100% and 300% of the poverty line, subsidies will be available. Between 300%-400%, premiums are capped at 13% – a little high, but still cheaper than right now.
  • Paying for it The bill, which requires all families to have insurance (or pay a $3,800 fine), asks for employers to defray costs of government subsidies. High-end insurance plans would also be taxed at 35%, and players in the medical industry would help pick up part of the bill.
  • What’s missing? The big one: There’s no public option. Instead, it relies on nongovernmental consumer cooperatives. Also, Republicans dislike the way cost has been handled and say issues related to abortion and illegal immigration have not been quashed in this bill. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Sep 2009 10:10

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U.S.: The Senate health care plan: The Democrats may not like it

  • $880 billion the estimated cost of the health-reform bill pushed by Sen. Max Baucus, which concedes a lot of things to the GOP to help gain bipartisan support source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Sep 2009 20:33

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Sports, U.S.: Curt Schilling in Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat: Why the heck not?

  • I do have some interest in the possibility. That being said, to get to there from where I am today, many many things would have to align themselves for that to truly happen. I am not going to comment further on the matter since at this point it would be speculation on top of speculation.
  • Former Boston Red Sox star ace Curt Schilling • Discussing a potential Senate candidacy on his blog, “38 Pitches.” It’s one of those things that makes some roll their eyes, until you consider that some really great politicians – Jack Kemp (Bob Dole’s running mate in ’96!) and Jim Bunning – came from pro sports backgrounds. So, why the heck not? He may not have the political clout of Ted Kennedy (and his far-right conservatism might make him a long shot in Massachusetts), but he may be good at the job.  • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Aug 2009 11:05

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U.S.: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is gritting this through his teeth

  • I’m happy for my friend and I’m extremely happy for my state.
  • Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist • On the appointment of one of his close confidants, George LeMieux, as Senator. There’s a subtext here. Crist wants to be Senator in 2010, but it would be bizarre to appoint one’s self to such a job, so he’s having his buddy do it for 17 months, which should be long enough for LeMieux to decide to screw his buddy over and run for Senator himself. LeMieux replaces Sen. Mel Martinez, who resigned from his post to focus on his family. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Aug 2009 21:26

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U.S.: When Mass. last had an open Senate seat, leg warmers were popular

  • 25 years since both Senate seats weren’t filled by somebody source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

26 Aug 2009 03:06

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U.S.: Ted Kennedy’s death creates a scramble for his seat

  • It has a profound impact on Massachusetts politics and elected office. Everything’s going to fall down because everyone will start moving around either jockeying for his seat or for the other positions that could open up.
  • Boston University statehouse program director Fred Bayles • Discussing the “domino effect” Kennedy’s death will have on politics in Massachusetts. Kennedy’s death leaves a reliable Democratic Senate seat open at the peak of the health care debate. While Kennedy had recently pushed for finding a replacement, he made the announcement just days before his death, leaving the state with little time to come up with a suitable replacement. We’re guessing the two-thirds majority stays put. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 5 Comments • Permalink

09 Aug 2009 21:38

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U.S.: Rod Blagojevich is gonna use his blog to tell you he’s a nice guy

“Since his controversial ousting from office …” Wait. Was there anything controversial about Rod’s impeachment, besides the fact that he didn’t like it? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Aug 2009 20:58

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U.S.: Cash reclunked: The senate lets more clunker funds flow

  • 60-37 looks just like the Sotomayor vote source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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