Federal Judge Says
Health Care Law
is Legal
There’s bad news for the 20 states suing the federal government over the legality of the health care reform law.
A federal judge upheld the authority of the federal government to require everyone to have health insurance. Sitting in Detroit, Judge George Caram Steeh said the government has the authority to require everyone to be covered by health insurance by 2014.
That’s a major blow to the 20 states who are are suing the federal government because they say the law, which requires individuals to have health insurance, is an attempt by the government to overreach its authority
Steeh said that requiring everyone to have insurance would “lower the overall cost of insurance by requiring participation.”
“Without the minimum coverage provision, there would be an incentive for some individuals to wait to purchase health insurance until they needed care, knowing that insurance would be available at all times,” the judge said. “As a result, the most costly individuals would be in the insurance system and the least costly would be outside it,” Steeh said. “In turn, this would aggravate current problems with cost-shifting and lead to even higher premiums.”
The ruling, though non-binding, bodes well for efforts of the Obama Administration to provide all American citizens with health coverage.
It’s something that you think everyone in one of the richest countries in the history of the world would have, especially given the cost to taxpayers to fund a broken health care system that sees many poor people using the emergency room as a primary care clinic.
The court found that
Charitable Gifts Bring Holiday
Cheer to Children’s Organization
the minimum coverage provision of the statute was a reasonable means for Congress to take in reforming our health care system,” Justice Department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler told the AP. “The department will continue to vigorously defend this law in ongoing litigation
It’s also ironic how several of the 20 states suing the federal government over the unconstitutionality of health care reform are already partaking of money provided by the law.
Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada are receiving money provided under the new law to cover the health care costs of retired state employees while also opposing the law. Six of the states are headed by Republican governors.
The rhetoric surrounding health care has been unfairly turned into a debate about freedoms. It seems that common sense is being tossed out while the well-being of our fellow citizens is being discarded.
It’s especially outrageous that one of the plaintiffs in the Detroit suit is the Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm. One would think Christians would be interested in providing as many people as possible with decent health care.
Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the group, told the Detroit Free Press that he will challenge the judge’s order.
“ObamaCare is one of the most oppressive measures in the history of our nation,” Thompson said in a statement. “And it was passed by
Congress, despite overwhelming opposition of the American people. It was not about reforming health care, but government seizure of unprecedented power over our lives.”
It’s this type of non-sensical rhetoric that Obama must do a better job of combating
Being able to go to the doctor and not going bankrupt because you’ve become ill is oppressive? The cost of Americans not having health insurance is simply too great. It is the government who ends up shouldering the costs of those who do not have insurance anyway.
“Almost every single learned scholar who has a reputation in constitutional law knows that this law is constitutional by virtue of the commerce clause, which was decided in the 1930s that the federal government has jurisdiction over economic matters that cross state lines and are significant to the national economy,” John Freeman, Michigan director of Health Care for America Now, a national coalition of individuals and organizations working to reform health care, told the Detroit Free Press. “It is obviously clear, with health care representing one fourth of the economy, that this is going to meet that standard.”
A Florida judge has allowed the 20 state lawsuit challenge to health care reform to go forward. A ruling on whether to dismiss the case is expected next week, but I have a feeling this will end up at the Supreme Court.
The winter holidays are all about giving -- giving thanks, giving gifts, giving to charity. In the past, you might have given your mother a bracelet and made a donation. Today, the line between purchasing a gift for a loved one and helping someone in need has merged.
Some people make donations to a favorite charity in a loved one’s name. Others purchase gifts that donate part of their proceeds to a worthy organization. Now, the skin care company Kiehl’s is collaborating with Jeff Koons to benefit The Koons Family Institute, an initiative of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC).
The Koons Family Institute was created by Jeff Koons, an internationally recognized artist best known for iconic sculptures such as 1986’s “Rabbit” and 1992’s “Puppy.” Koons is less well known as the father of an abducted child. Koons has fought for custody of his son on two continents without success. This experiencehad made him a fervent advocate for protecting children
Koons has partnered with Kiehl’s to raise awareness and funds for child protection through the sale of the Limited Edition Creme de Corps Holiday Collection, which contains four products. Each product in the collection features the artwork of “TULIPS,” a Koons painting from his Celebration Series.
One hundred percent of Kiehl’s Worldwide Net Profits up to $200,000 will benefit The Koons Family Institute and ICMEC. Gift recipients will enjoy the skin-softening
products in the Creme de Corps Holiday Collection as well as knowing that their gift raised money to help children
The Creme de Corps Holiday Collection features three sizes of Kiehl’s Creme de Corps body moisturizer as well as a new product: Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter. The rich, air-whipped butter delivers rich hydration for up to 24 hours with skin-soothing ingredients like shea butter, beta carotene, vitamin E and squalane -- a highly refined moisturizing oil derived from the olive.
For more information, visit www.kiehls.com.
Defining a New
Drug Policy for Communities of Color
From the Grio (by Obama’s Drug Czar, Gil Kerikowske): Drug use affects the lives of millions of people and contributes to many of the other challenges our Nation faces - from public health and safety to economic stability, military preparedness, and quality education for America’s young people.
While drug use and its consequences affect every community in this country, African-American communities have been among the hardest hit.
These consequences include public health problems arising from drug use, children who become part of the child welfare system, and those who become victims of drug-related crime, among other issues At the same time, African-American communities and leaders have long been leading voices in the call for a more balanced national drug policy, as earnest and consistent critics of a policy approach that relied too heavily on the criminal justice system to address a multi-faceted drug problem.
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The Perfect Condiment to Your Sports Experience Is the Internet, Not Ketchup
For sports fans, Microsoft Corp. recently introduced a new way to watch popular sports, like college football and bowl games, college basketball, MLB and NBA, and more, through a customized ESPN app on Xbox 360, the company’s video game and entertainment system. The new application allows users to access over 3,500 live and on-demand sport events from ESPN3.com, including out-of-market games, with an Xbox LIVE Gold membership, which costs $59.99 per year -- or $5 per month -- to users who receive their Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. The system also offers streaming through Netflix.
The blending of television and the Internet has been a developing trend over the past few years. More Americans have become used to relying on the Internet
for TV viewing, and broadband adoption has continued to rise. A recent study by Integrated Media Measurement Inc. found that 20 percent of 3,000 primetime TV viewers surveyed watched some primetime programming online.
Beyond watching videos on the web, Internet-powered television services may be the future for people who prefer to watch movies, and especially live sports, on a large TV with surround sound in the living room. Students and fans operating on a budget may want to consider staying in for the next big sports event.
It’s that time of the year again. The mornings are filled with crisp, cool air, and football stadiums are brimming with school color pride. Students, alumni and families all over the U.S. are in the throes of college football season, but with the rising costs of tuition and dorm living compounded by a struggling worldwide economy, it is becoming more difficult for students and fans to enjoy watching their favorite sports events without breaking the bank.
Attending live sports events can often be costly. While college football tickets can be affordable for matriculated students attending home games, regular college event tickets can run fans up to $60 per game. Additionally each visit to the stadium can include up to $20 per person spent on drinks and food, if not more.
Recognizing these limitations, technology companies are finding alternative ways to provide consumers with more options at home through the Internet -- from movies to TV shows, and now even sports.
One of the most widely recognized of these is Hulu, which has seen tremendous success as an online video service offering hit shows, clips and movies. According to comScore, an Internet marketing research firm, the online video service reached 43 million monthly users at the end of 2009, doubling the number from the year before. Earlier this year, Hulu launched a subscription service, Hulu Plus, on several TV-connected devices for $9.95 a month
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