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Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Company Will Provide Medication For Dying 7-Year-Old Josh Hardyovide
After intense public scrutiny, Chimerix will provide medication for Josh Hardy, 7, who has been suffering from a bone marrow disorder as a result of cancer treatments.
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Obamacare Just Keeps On Tanking
How I pray we don’t get so numb to the endless nightmarish stories of Obamacare that we become fatalistic and resigned to its continued existence. As an antidote to that, I submit another update.
First, Unite Here — a major union for the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry and airport industries — has issued a report concluding that Obamacare will result in wages being reduced by up to $5 an hour, reduce worker hours and exacerbate income inequality. The report, titled “The Irony of ObamaCare: Making Inequality Worse,” states: “Ironically, the Administration’s own signature healthcare victory poses one of the most immediate challenges to redressing inequality. … We take seriously the promise that ‘if you like your health plan, you can keep it. Period.’ UNITE HERE members like their health plans.”
Next, let’s look at some very interesting — and compelling — “hard data” from Forbes on the difficulties people will have finding doctors under this exasperating law. Forbes obtained its data from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield “because it is regarded to offer higher quality plans in both the commercial market and on the exchanges.”
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First, Unite Here — a major union for the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry and airport industries — has issued a report concluding that Obamacare will result in wages being reduced by up to $5 an hour, reduce worker hours and exacerbate income inequality. The report, titled “The Irony of ObamaCare: Making Inequality Worse,” states: “Ironically, the Administration’s own signature healthcare victory poses one of the most immediate challenges to redressing inequality. … We take seriously the promise that ‘if you like your health plan, you can keep it. Period.’ UNITE HERE members like their health plans.”
Next, let’s look at some very interesting — and compelling — “hard data” from Forbes on the difficulties people will have finding doctors under this exasperating law. Forbes obtained its data from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield “because it is regarded to offer higher quality plans in both the commercial market and on the exchanges.”
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CATCHES CONDOMANIA AT FIRST ANNUAL ‘CONDOM OLYMPICS’
Thomas Jefferson, the foremost American son of the Enlightenment and author of the Declaration of Independence, is also the father the University of Virginia. So proud was he of this achievement, when he died in 1826, Jefferson had it inscribed on his gravestone and did not mention that he also happened to be the third President of the United States.
Flash forward to 2014: The University of Virginia is hosting Condomania, the first annual “Condom Olympics,” billed as a "festival of free food, free games, free prizes, free condoms, free lube, and free online coupons" that guaranteed "information about proper condom use, safe and effective forms of birth control, STI testing, screening, and prevention, sex facts, and trivia."
All of this is funded by your tuition fees and taxpayer contributions. But don’t think of it as merely the inane romps of crazy college kids: serious questions will be answered at this UVA-sponsored event. For instance, "Who Would You Rather: Beyonce or Jenifer Aniston?" Moreover, it should be quite informational: "14 mind-blowing things you need to know about threesomes" will be explored.
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Flash forward to 2014: The University of Virginia is hosting Condomania, the first annual “Condom Olympics,” billed as a "festival of free food, free games, free prizes, free condoms, free lube, and free online coupons" that guaranteed "information about proper condom use, safe and effective forms of birth control, STI testing, screening, and prevention, sex facts, and trivia."
All of this is funded by your tuition fees and taxpayer contributions. But don’t think of it as merely the inane romps of crazy college kids: serious questions will be answered at this UVA-sponsored event. For instance, "Who Would You Rather: Beyonce or Jenifer Aniston?" Moreover, it should be quite informational: "14 mind-blowing things you need to know about threesomes" will be explored.
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"Pay Up"
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has two words for BP – pay up. Last week, that court rejected the oil giant's attempt to stop businesses in the Gulf from collecting on losses resulting from the 2010 oil disaster. BP claimed that the companies were trying to recover “fictitious losses,” but the New Orleans court didn't buy it. In a 2-to-1 ruling, the judges upheld an earlier ruling against BP, and said that an injunction on BP payments to Gulf businesses should be lifted. These payments are part of a settlement that BP agreed to back in 2012 – a settlement that the oil company said was “good for the people, businesses and communities of the Gulf, and in the best interests of BP's stakeholders.” The company is simply trying to back out of the deal after underestimating the full amount of claims from local businesses. Instead of the $7.8 billion dollars that BP planned to spend, they estimate that the total cost of claims will be over $9 billion. But the fact is, there's no dollar amount that can replace our sea life, and no price high enough for destroying our Gulf. If BP wants to avoid future claims from oil-related disasters – there's one easy way for them to do so – stop drilling for toxic fossil fuels.
BREAKING NEWS: GOP Candidate Wins Florida Election
Republican David Jolly defeats Democrat Alex Sink in Fla. House race largely seen as a referendum on ObamaCare and campaign strategies for 2014 midterm elections.
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Connecticut Officer Reportedly Placed on Leave Over This Facebook Comment to Gun Owner
A Connecticut officer with the Branford Police Department has reportedly been placed on extended leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation after he allegedly told a Facebook user he couldn’t wait to “bang down your door and come for your gun.”
Connecticut resident John Cinque, whose passionate remarks to lawmakers on the state’s new gun registration laws went viral, provided screenshots of a Facebook conversation involving Officer Joseph Peterson to the conservative blog Freedom Outpost. The officer is reportedly a “long-time friend” of Cinque’s.
The heated debate reportedly began over Connecticut’s new gun control law that technically turned gun owners who refuse to register their semi-automatic rifles and/or high-capacity magazines into felons overnight.
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Michigan Woman’s Death Unnoticed For 6 Years Because Her Bills Were On Autopay
Last week, a woman in Michigan who was found dead in the backseat of her Jeep, which was parked in her garage. No neighbors remembered seeing her around since maybe 2008, and the bank started foreclosure proceedings. A contractor making repairs on behalf of the bank found the homeowner, who lived alone and was estranged from family. How could such a thing happen?
It turned out to be a strange perfect combination of thoughtful neighbors, a job requiring lots of travel, automatic bill payments, a nice cushion of savings, and strained family relationships. Reporters pieced together that the woman was laid off from her job in finance at Chrysler in the fall of 2008, and co-workers there were the last people to see her alive.
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It turned out to be a strange perfect combination of thoughtful neighbors, a job requiring lots of travel, automatic bill payments, a nice cushion of savings, and strained family relationships. Reporters pieced together that the woman was laid off from her job in finance at Chrysler in the fall of 2008, and co-workers there were the last people to see her alive.
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MICHIGAN RIGHT TO WORK: 8,000 TEACHERS REFUSING TO PAY UNION DUES
Just over a year ago the state of Michigan passed a right-to-work law ruling that the state's teachers cannot be forced by law to belong to a union as they had been before. Since then the state teachers union has claimed that it lost only a few members. Still the union was also forced to admit that 8,000 teachers have stopped paying dues.
In October of last year, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) made the claim that "99 percent" of its members remained happily unionized despite the state's ten-month-old worker freedom law.
It is true that the union has allowed some teachers to leave without opposition as long as they had filed their separation papers last year in August, the one month during the year that the union claims teachers are "allowed" to leave. State law does not sanction this. It is only a union policy.
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In October of last year, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) made the claim that "99 percent" of its members remained happily unionized despite the state's ten-month-old worker freedom law.
It is true that the union has allowed some teachers to leave without opposition as long as they had filed their separation papers last year in August, the one month during the year that the union claims teachers are "allowed" to leave. State law does not sanction this. It is only a union policy.
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House Republicans Release Scathing Report on Lois Lerner: Could Contempt Charges Follow?
House Republicans released a scathing 144-page report Tuesday detailing Lois Lerner’s involvement in the IRS’ targeting of conservative groups, the latest development in what could perhaps lead to contempt charges.
The report, which was released without Democrats signing off on it, states Lerner “created unprecedented roadblocks for Tea Party organizations” and “worked surreptitiously to advance new Obama administration regulations that curtail the activities of existing 501(c)(4) organizations.”
Lerner, the former head of the agency’s tax exemption unit, apologized last year for the IRS’ inappropriate targeting of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. She later invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, resigned from the agency and has since refused to answer any questions about her possible involvement in the targeting.
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The report, which was released without Democrats signing off on it, states Lerner “created unprecedented roadblocks for Tea Party organizations” and “worked surreptitiously to advance new Obama administration regulations that curtail the activities of existing 501(c)(4) organizations.”
Lerner, the former head of the agency’s tax exemption unit, apologized last year for the IRS’ inappropriate targeting of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. She later invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, resigned from the agency and has since refused to answer any questions about her possible involvement in the targeting.
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Maryland's Factory Farms Should Pay Their Fair Share
By Wenonah Hauter
Big chicken-processing companies generate 1.5 billion pounds of fowl waste annually in Delmarva (the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia tri-state area), and it's choking the Chesapeake Bay.
Each year, Marylanders pay a small tax that goes toward the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (BRF). Isn't it fair to expect the poultry industry to pay, too?
Maryland Sen. Richard Madaleno and Delegate Shane Robinson recently introduced the Poultry Fair Share Act (PFSA). When you have 305 million chickens on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, that's a lot of poultry waste polluting the bay.
In early February, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley was quick to threaten to veto the bill — which had little chance of passing into law — because he thinks he will send a strong message to Iowa ahead of the caucuses that he stands for farmers.
O'Malley has long had a close relationship with Maryland's poultry industry, but it's really big chicken companies, not farmers, that O'Malley is lobbying for. And, as the Baltimore Sun recently pointed out, his veto message raised more than just a few eyebrows while questioning why he won't hold the state's industry accountable for its waste problem.
Big chicken-processing companies generate 1.5 billion pounds of fowl waste annually in Delmarva (the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia tri-state area), and it's choking the Chesapeake Bay.
Each year, Marylanders pay a small tax that goes toward the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (BRF). Isn't it fair to expect the poultry industry to pay, too?
Maryland Sen. Richard Madaleno and Delegate Shane Robinson recently introduced the Poultry Fair Share Act (PFSA). When you have 305 million chickens on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, that's a lot of poultry waste polluting the bay.
In early February, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley was quick to threaten to veto the bill — which had little chance of passing into law — because he thinks he will send a strong message to Iowa ahead of the caucuses that he stands for farmers.
O'Malley has long had a close relationship with Maryland's poultry industry, but it's really big chicken companies, not farmers, that O'Malley is lobbying for. And, as the Baltimore Sun recently pointed out, his veto message raised more than just a few eyebrows while questioning why he won't hold the state's industry accountable for its waste problem.
You Just Can’t Fix Stupid
Pasquotank County Deputies charged four people in connection with an attempted break in at a local gun shop.
“It is kind of like the whole red neck saying, ‘you just can’t fix stupid,’” David Pritchard said.
Pritchard says he saw stupid first hand early Sunday around 7 a.m. That’s when three men tried to break into his gun shop, Bull Shooter’s Supply on Bayside Road.
“I have no idea how they intended to get inside,” Pritchard said.
A neighbor who lives just down the street from the gun shop noticed the suspect’s car. He then saw three men dressed in all black get out and head towards shop. The neighbor made two calls. One to Pritchard and the other to 911.
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“It is kind of like the whole red neck saying, ‘you just can’t fix stupid,’” David Pritchard said.
Pritchard says he saw stupid first hand early Sunday around 7 a.m. That’s when three men tried to break into his gun shop, Bull Shooter’s Supply on Bayside Road.
“I have no idea how they intended to get inside,” Pritchard said.
A neighbor who lives just down the street from the gun shop noticed the suspect’s car. He then saw three men dressed in all black get out and head towards shop. The neighbor made two calls. One to Pritchard and the other to 911.
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Rt. 13 North Closed
There's been a bad accident on Rt. 13 North near Sherwood Ford. One overturned vehicle. North bound lanes are now closed.
Monthly Job Creation Averages: Reagan 233,000; Obama 61,000
The Obama White House really hopes you remain as ignorant as possible about recent American history. That is especially true when they announce monthly job numbers, like those that came out yesterday. The Labor Department has announced that 175,000 jobs were created in February. The U6 unemployment rate - the real unemployment rate that includes the underemployed and those who have given up looking - was 12.6 percent.
Now the White House wants you to think that 175,000 is a good job creation number. It's not. But if you don't ave historical context in which to view the number, you might not recognize that. So let’s put the 175,000 jobs in perspective.
During Ronald Reagan’s first term, the average per-month newly created jobs was 233,000. That wasn't a phenomenal month that prompted them to throw a celebration. It was the average. And keep in mind that the population of the United States 30 years ago was 81 million less than it is today. That means we were a 25 percent smaller country, so you would expect the job creation numbers of that era to trend smaller as a result.
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Now the White House wants you to think that 175,000 is a good job creation number. It's not. But if you don't ave historical context in which to view the number, you might not recognize that. So let’s put the 175,000 jobs in perspective.
During Ronald Reagan’s first term, the average per-month newly created jobs was 233,000. That wasn't a phenomenal month that prompted them to throw a celebration. It was the average. And keep in mind that the population of the United States 30 years ago was 81 million less than it is today. That means we were a 25 percent smaller country, so you would expect the job creation numbers of that era to trend smaller as a result.
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Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Reports Most Recent Arrest 3-11-14
Somerset County (MD) Sheriff's Office
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office reports most recent arrest
Charles Edward Collins of Princess Anne was arrested 2-28-14 for driving on a revoked driver’s license, driving on a suspended driver’s license, and driving without a license. Collins was released on signatures pending court actions.
Leslie Lynn Benton of Wenona was arrested 3-2-14 for driving on a suspended driver’s license, and a stop lamp violation. Benton was released on signatures pending court actions.
Shaneka Carlisa Woolridge of Glenn Dale Maryland was arrested 3-2-14 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, and driving in violation of license restrictions. Woolridge was released on citations pending court actions. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by deputies in the area of UMES Blvd, Princess Anne.
Mrs. Helen David Remains Discovered / Confirmed
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland has identified the human remains that were discovered on Sunday March 9th 2014 in South Point as Mrs. Helen David. Mrs. David had gone missing from her Carefree lane home in South Point on Memorial Day weekend 2013. Several extensive searches were conducted for her throughout the past year.
Mrs. David suffered from a form of dementia and had been known to wander off from time to time.
The investigation into the cause and manner of her death is still continuing.
We would like to acknowledge and thank all of the allied agencies that assisted in the search and investigation of Mrs. David’s disappearance. We would also like to thank the community and the media for their support in attempting to locate Mrs. David.
Mrs. David suffered from a form of dementia and had been known to wander off from time to time.
The investigation into the cause and manner of her death is still continuing.
We would like to acknowledge and thank all of the allied agencies that assisted in the search and investigation of Mrs. David’s disappearance. We would also like to thank the community and the media for their support in attempting to locate Mrs. David.
Legislation Pushes Involuntary Mental Health Treatment
Maryland lawmakers are moving to make it easier to medicate mental hospital patients against their will, while examining the idea of court-ordered therapy for mentally ill people who aren't hospitalized.
The legislation is based partly on recommendations from a panel convened by Gov. Martin O'Malley after the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. That case prompted a national debate about the adequacy of care for mentally ill Americans.
But while some mental health advocates have long sought additional tools to better manage treatment — for the sake of the patient and public safety — the proposals have created a rift in the health care community. Some argue such measures are inhumane and unconstitutional.
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The legislation is based partly on recommendations from a panel convened by Gov. Martin O'Malley after the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. That case prompted a national debate about the adequacy of care for mentally ill Americans.
But while some mental health advocates have long sought additional tools to better manage treatment — for the sake of the patient and public safety — the proposals have created a rift in the health care community. Some argue such measures are inhumane and unconstitutional.
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GOVERNOR O’MALLEY VISITS PRE-SCHOOL PILOT SITE TO PROMOTE EXPANSION OF HIGH QUALITY PRE-K
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor O’Malley visited Downtown Baltimore Child Care, a pilot site for universal pre-kindergarten, to read to students and highlight the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s proposal to expand pre-kindergarten options for students in Maryland.
“There is no greater ladder into the middle class than a quality, world class education. That’s why we’ve made the better choice to make record investments in Maryland’s top ranked public schools and worked to hold down the cost of college tuition to national lows,” said Governor O’Malley. “Expanding pre-k to more families will build on that success by ensuring that more children arrive in kindergarten fully ready.”
“Universal Pre-K will allow all of Maryland’s families to build strong educational foundations for their children, and give more of our young people the opportunity to succeed,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “By working together, we’re going to expand high quality early education to help close the achievement gap in communities throughout our state, ensuring brighter futures for more of Maryland’s students.”
“There is no greater ladder into the middle class than a quality, world class education. That’s why we’ve made the better choice to make record investments in Maryland’s top ranked public schools and worked to hold down the cost of college tuition to national lows,” said Governor O’Malley. “Expanding pre-k to more families will build on that success by ensuring that more children arrive in kindergarten fully ready.”
“Universal Pre-K will allow all of Maryland’s families to build strong educational foundations for their children, and give more of our young people the opportunity to succeed,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “By working together, we’re going to expand high quality early education to help close the achievement gap in communities throughout our state, ensuring brighter futures for more of Maryland’s students.”
No Smoking on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach is banning smoking on the boardwalk and bandstand area of the Delaware resort town this year and will limit smoking to designated areas of the beach.
Rehoboth Beach commissioners and the mayor voted Monday to limit smoking. The ban also includes the city's parks.
Commissioner Stan Mills says the smoking ban will reduce litter, pollution and health risks. The ban will not include e-cigarettes because there is no litter or smoke.
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Rehoboth Beach commissioners and the mayor voted Monday to limit smoking. The ban also includes the city's parks.
Commissioner Stan Mills says the smoking ban will reduce litter, pollution and health risks. The ban will not include e-cigarettes because there is no litter or smoke.
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Ron Paul Asks "Can We Afford Ukraine?"
Officially, US debt stands at more than $17 trillion. In reality, it is many times more. The cost of the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq may be more than six trillion dollars. President Obama’s illegal invasion of Libya cost at least a billion dollars and left that country devastated. The costs of US regime change efforts in Syria are likely thus far enormous, both in dollars and lives. That’s still a secret.
So who in his right mind would think it is a good time to start a war with Russia over Ukraine? And worse, who would commit the United States to bail out a Ukraine that will need at least $35 billion to survive the year?
Who? The president and Congress, backed by the neocons and the so-called humanitarian interventionists!
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So who in his right mind would think it is a good time to start a war with Russia over Ukraine? And worse, who would commit the United States to bail out a Ukraine that will need at least $35 billion to survive the year?
Who? The president and Congress, backed by the neocons and the so-called humanitarian interventionists!
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Rescuers Rely On Narcan To Help Overdose Victims
Attorney General Eric Holder announced Monday that he would like to see law enforcement trained on and equipped with Naloxone, a medicine used to treat drug overdoses.
While police officers might not carry it in the DC area, all ambulances do.
Naloxone goes by several names, and many D.C. area paramedics know it as Narcan. Prince George's County Fire and EMS has used the remedy for years.
"Narcan is a opiate antagonist. It's used to counteract the side effects of an opiate overdose," says Lt. Kristine Piazza with Prince George's County Fire and EMS.
Naloxone helps victims who have overdosed on drugs like heroin, morphine, Dilaudid, fentanyl, oxycodone, Demerol, codeine and methadone. Piazza says she has used the drug many times on patients in the field.
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While police officers might not carry it in the DC area, all ambulances do.
Naloxone goes by several names, and many D.C. area paramedics know it as Narcan. Prince George's County Fire and EMS has used the remedy for years.
"Narcan is a opiate antagonist. It's used to counteract the side effects of an opiate overdose," says Lt. Kristine Piazza with Prince George's County Fire and EMS.
Naloxone helps victims who have overdosed on drugs like heroin, morphine, Dilaudid, fentanyl, oxycodone, Demerol, codeine and methadone. Piazza says she has used the drug many times on patients in the field.
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SFD Calls For Service 3-10-14
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 23:51:44Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 23:05:47Nature: Automatic AlarmAddress: 701 E Naylor Mill Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 22:47:00Nature: Assault EmsCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 22:19:29Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 19:30:06Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 19:24:21Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 18:22:34Nature: Emergency UnknownCity: Salisbury
- Monday March, 10 2014 @ 16:09:58Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
Four Black Teen Thugs Surround, Attack WOMAN While Walking Dog In So-Called “Knockout Game”
This is so pathetic and cowardly. How is it that four teenagers can be so bereft of conscience that they decide to surround and attack a 36-year-old woman who is just out walking her dog in Brooklyn? How does that happen?
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TSA Purchases 1,980 Sticks Of Dynamite To Go With Their 3.5 Million Rounds Of Ammo
According to one estimate, since 2012 the Department of Homeland Security has stockpiledmore than 1.6 billion bullets, mainly .40 caliber and 9mm. DHS also reportedly purchased2,700 Mine Resistant Armor Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) to go with their bullet stockpile.
ATK is one company that won a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to provide 450 million rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in 2012.
TSA, an agency within the DHS, purchased 3.5 million rounds of .357 SIG caliber training ammunition in September.
Recently TSA purchased 1,386 pounds of dynamite to go with their ammo.
The Activist Post reported:
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ATK is one company that won a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to provide 450 million rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in 2012.
TSA, an agency within the DHS, purchased 3.5 million rounds of .357 SIG caliber training ammunition in September.
Recently TSA purchased 1,386 pounds of dynamite to go with their ammo.
The Activist Post reported:
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Why Rand Paul Will Win The 2016 Primaries, And The Presidency
You have probably seen all of the ridiculous speculating about the GOP nomination in 2016. This is still speculating, but my sincere hope is you don’t think it’s ridiculous too.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is laying the foundation for his presidential bid in concrete and steel.
First, forget about Jeb Bush unless you want to hand Hillary eight years in the White House. The latest Rasmussen poll shows her leading Jeb in a general election 47 percent to 33. His name is Bush and to the general public the specifics of how smart he is doesn’t matter one iota.
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Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is laying the foundation for his presidential bid in concrete and steel.
First, forget about Jeb Bush unless you want to hand Hillary eight years in the White House. The latest Rasmussen poll shows her leading Jeb in a general election 47 percent to 33. His name is Bush and to the general public the specifics of how smart he is doesn’t matter one iota.
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U.S. Public Pensions Need More Than Investment Windfall
Double-digit annual returns for most U.S. public pension systems over the past two years have done little to shrink the yawning deficits facing many of them after a decade of inadequate funding, according to analysts and recent data.
Thanks to a robust stock market, most systems have enjoyed windfalls recently, with investment returns far exceeding projections. Even so, many are still struggling with shortfalls. In some cases, they have worsened as state contributions fail to keep pace with what is needed to pay beneficiaries.
Roughly half of U.S. state pension plans have worrying gaps between what they have promised retirees and the funds on hand to pay benefits, according to most analyses.
http://www.moneynews.com/Economy/Public-Pensions-Investment-Windfall/2014/03/10/id/556982
Thanks to a robust stock market, most systems have enjoyed windfalls recently, with investment returns far exceeding projections. Even so, many are still struggling with shortfalls. In some cases, they have worsened as state contributions fail to keep pace with what is needed to pay beneficiaries.
Roughly half of U.S. state pension plans have worrying gaps between what they have promised retirees and the funds on hand to pay benefits, according to most analyses.
http://www.moneynews.com/Economy/Public-Pensions-Investment-Windfall/2014/03/10/id/556982
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 3-11-14
The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating a case of a recovered body in the South Point area. Sunday at about 1742 hrs. a waterman was working in the area of Bay Landing Rd. in South Point when he discovered what appeared to be a body. The subject called 911 and the Maryland State Police responded to the scene and confirmed a body in an extreme state of decomposition, was in the water at that location. The Worcester County Bureau of investigation and the Worcester County Sheriff’s office also responded to the scene to begin an investigation and recovery efforts.
The Identity of the body and the cause of death have not been determined. The body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for further investigation.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office along with the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Natural Resource Police, and the Worcester County Bureau of investigation has been investigating the disappearance of a Mrs. Helen David form the South Point area since Memorial Day 2013. It is unknown if the body recovered is in fact the body of Mrs. Helen David. The Medical Examiner will determine the identity of the body. Until then the Missing person case for Mrs. David will remain open.
The Identity of the body and the cause of death have not been determined. The body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for further investigation.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office along with the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Natural Resource Police, and the Worcester County Bureau of investigation has been investigating the disappearance of a Mrs. Helen David form the South Point area since Memorial Day 2013. It is unknown if the body recovered is in fact the body of Mrs. Helen David. The Medical Examiner will determine the identity of the body. Until then the Missing person case for Mrs. David will remain open.
The Only Statistic Americans Need To Know To Understand Obamacare Is The Mother Of All Epic Failures
OBAMACARE EXCHANGES ARE SCARCELY IMPACTING THE UNINSURED
Most observers have tried to judge Obamacare’s progress on how many people have signed up on the federal and state exchanges. The administration, likewise, has tried to define “success” in terms of how many people have registered–a moving target, of course, as exchanges have proved unworkable and numbers have been lower than expected.
But this entire approach is deeply flawed. Having a lot of people sign up for insurance on an Obamacare exchange may be a good thing, or it may be a bad thing. If people are buying insurance on an exchange because their employers terminated their coverage on account of Obamacare, that’s a bad thing. If people signing up already had insurance, but lost it because of Obamacare, that’s a bad thing too. So the real question is, how many people are enrolling on the exchanges who didn’t already have health insurance, or would have had it but for Obamacare?
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Most observers have tried to judge Obamacare’s progress on how many people have signed up on the federal and state exchanges. The administration, likewise, has tried to define “success” in terms of how many people have registered–a moving target, of course, as exchanges have proved unworkable and numbers have been lower than expected.
But this entire approach is deeply flawed. Having a lot of people sign up for insurance on an Obamacare exchange may be a good thing, or it may be a bad thing. If people are buying insurance on an exchange because their employers terminated their coverage on account of Obamacare, that’s a bad thing. If people signing up already had insurance, but lost it because of Obamacare, that’s a bad thing too. So the real question is, how many people are enrolling on the exchanges who didn’t already have health insurance, or would have had it but for Obamacare?
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Students Pay Higher Health Care Costs To Cover Sex Change Operations
For young people, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an unmitigated disaster. Higher costs, worse care…the nightmare goes on.
Now it looks like students at one college will pay a few dollars extra per year to cover sex change operations:
University of Illinois trustees today approved a student health insurance plan for the Urbana-Champaign campus that will for the first time cover gender reassignment surgery, a benefit they approved for the Chicago campus last year.
The trustees’ 8-2 decision came after about 20 minutes of discussion and followed public comments by two students and an employee who counsels the university’s transgender students.
Trustee Dr. Timothy Koritz and student trustee Michael Cunningham voted against it.
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Now it looks like students at one college will pay a few dollars extra per year to cover sex change operations:
University of Illinois trustees today approved a student health insurance plan for the Urbana-Champaign campus that will for the first time cover gender reassignment surgery, a benefit they approved for the Chicago campus last year.
The trustees’ 8-2 decision came after about 20 minutes of discussion and followed public comments by two students and an employee who counsels the university’s transgender students.
Trustee Dr. Timothy Koritz and student trustee Michael Cunningham voted against it.
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Proposed Ban On E-Cigarettes In Public Places Draws Opposition
Maryland became the latest in a series of states struggling with how to regulate electronic cigarettes this past week when a bill aiming to ban them in public places was heard in a House committee.
Most e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, and don’t even emit smoke the way traditional cigarettes do. But many worry that the vapor they produce could be harmful if inhaled second hand and that, by making nicotine inhalation publicly acceptable again, e-cigarettes encourage teen addiction.
“We’ve had teachers and parents approach us about teachers in the classroom and substitute teachers vaping in front of students and we don’t believe that’s a social norm we’re trying to push forward,” Donald Shell of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene told the House Economic Matters Committee.
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Most e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, and don’t even emit smoke the way traditional cigarettes do. But many worry that the vapor they produce could be harmful if inhaled second hand and that, by making nicotine inhalation publicly acceptable again, e-cigarettes encourage teen addiction.
“We’ve had teachers and parents approach us about teachers in the classroom and substitute teachers vaping in front of students and we don’t believe that’s a social norm we’re trying to push forward,” Donald Shell of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene told the House Economic Matters Committee.
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Victim Has JAW BROKEN In Latest KNOCK OUT GAME Attack
The New York police have released a surveillance video of another “knockout game” attack. (You know, the game liberals told us doesn’t exist.) This time, the victim is 23-year-old Kyle Rogers, who suffered a broken jaw.
Rogers calls it a “coward move.”
Rogers had just left his friends at a bar on Spring Street and was walking north on the Bowery when the attack occurred around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. He was knocked unconscious and taken to Bellevue Hospital.
“I guess when I fell and hit the ground, I split this open, my eyebrow, and my chin from the punch,” he said of his injuries.
Rogers said he didn’t know his attacker and his assailant didn’t say anything to him before punching him.
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Rogers had just left his friends at a bar on Spring Street and was walking north on the Bowery when the attack occurred around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. He was knocked unconscious and taken to Bellevue Hospital.
“I guess when I fell and hit the ground, I split this open, my eyebrow, and my chin from the punch,” he said of his injuries.
Rogers said he didn’t know his attacker and his assailant didn’t say anything to him before punching him.
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Dog Found 3-9-14: UPDATE
We just found this male dog wandering near the road and our house. He is very friendly and seems well taken care of except he is dirty. he did not have a collar. We are keeping him in our fenced in yard. Please call or text 443-366-2885 if he is yours.
Do Most Americans Agree With Democrats On The Issues?
According to the many experts, Republicans are expected to hold the House and could even take the Senate. This seems to be a perplexing turn of events for many in the media.
“Poll: Democrats’ advantage on key issues is not translating to a midterm-election edge,” reads the headline of a Washington Post piece by Dan Balz and Scott Clement examining the guts of a Washington Post-ABC News poll — which, in turn, is titled “Democrats hold issue advantage, but not on 2014 midterm vote.”
Take health care. The authors explain that despite “the problems with the health-care law’s implementation” (because only the “implementation” has been problematic, right?), “Democrats maintain an edge over Republicans on which party Americans trust to deal with the issue, by a margin of 44 percent to 36 percent.”
In hypothetical terms, Democrats do hold a lead on the “trust” between the two parties — a lead that has significantly contracted since Barack Obama held 20-point leads on a Republican challenger back in 2008. More significantly, though, what the authors left out of the story was that 15 percent of extraordinarily sensible voters say they don’t trust either party to handle their health care choices.
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“Poll: Democrats’ advantage on key issues is not translating to a midterm-election edge,” reads the headline of a Washington Post piece by Dan Balz and Scott Clement examining the guts of a Washington Post-ABC News poll — which, in turn, is titled “Democrats hold issue advantage, but not on 2014 midterm vote.”
Take health care. The authors explain that despite “the problems with the health-care law’s implementation” (because only the “implementation” has been problematic, right?), “Democrats maintain an edge over Republicans on which party Americans trust to deal with the issue, by a margin of 44 percent to 36 percent.”
In hypothetical terms, Democrats do hold a lead on the “trust” between the two parties — a lead that has significantly contracted since Barack Obama held 20-point leads on a Republican challenger back in 2008. More significantly, though, what the authors left out of the story was that 15 percent of extraordinarily sensible voters say they don’t trust either party to handle their health care choices.
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SC Wants To Require Some Food Stamp Recipients To Prove They’re Looking For Jobs
After a public flirtation with requiring food stamps be used only to buy healthier foods, Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration has decided to take a different course and require more food-stamp recipients find a job.
The S.C. Department of Social Services said Friday it will seek a federal waiver for a pilot project that would require many food-stamp recipients in Bamberg, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties to prove they either have jobs or are looking for employment.
In its announcement of the proposed “SNAP Work 2 Health” waiver, Social Services cited an Ohio State University study that found Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients gained more weight the longer they received food stamps.
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The S.C. Department of Social Services said Friday it will seek a federal waiver for a pilot project that would require many food-stamp recipients in Bamberg, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties to prove they either have jobs or are looking for employment.
In its announcement of the proposed “SNAP Work 2 Health” waiver, Social Services cited an Ohio State University study that found Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients gained more weight the longer they received food stamps.
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CELEBRATE SAFELY THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY
On Saturday, March 15, Ocean City will again be garbed in green for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities. This is always a joyous weekend but the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is reminding party-goers to celebrate safely and designate a sober driver.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 269 people have been senselessly killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. This St. Patrick’s Day, the OCPD is partnering with the Maryland Highway Safety Office to combat impaired driving offenses and will be heavily enforcing drunk driving throughout the holiday weekend.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 269 people have been senselessly killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. This St. Patrick’s Day, the OCPD is partnering with the Maryland Highway Safety Office to combat impaired driving offenses and will be heavily enforcing drunk driving throughout the holiday weekend.
EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS DURING ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVITIES
The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to expect traffic delays this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, as the Delmarva Irish-American Club host their 33nd Annual Parade and Festival. The tradition, which has become one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in Maryland, will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2014. The parade begins at 12 noon at 61st Street and marches south on Coastal Highway to the 45th Street Shopping Center.
In order to offer an ample amount of space for the parade’s participating floats, bands and motorized units, southbound traffic with be reduced to one lane from 63rd Street to 43rd Street. Northbound traffic will remain open, however, no left turns or U-turns will be allowed along the parade route from the northbound lane including 62nd Street.
In order to offer an ample amount of space for the parade’s participating floats, bands and motorized units, southbound traffic with be reduced to one lane from 63rd Street to 43rd Street. Northbound traffic will remain open, however, no left turns or U-turns will be allowed along the parade route from the northbound lane including 62nd Street.
Pedestrian Accident Last Night In WOC
The Dispatch
BREAKING NEWS: Pedestrian Accident Last Night In WOC
Shawn J. Soper, News Editor
WEST OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City woman was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident on Keyser Point Rd. on Monday night.
Around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Keyser Point Rd. involving a pedestrian and a driver who fled the scene. Upon arrival, troopers interviewed a witness and collected evidence from the scene suggesting the vehicle that fled was a red truck, possibly a Chevrolet or GMC.
A perimeter was established with the MSP and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after the collision, a Sheriff’s Deputy observed a red Chevy Tahoe on Golf Course Rd. at Route 50 with passenger side view mirror damage.
The driver, identified as Salah Sbeih Ramadan, 64, of West Ocean City, was detained and interviewed. Ramadan allegedly told police he knew he struck something with his vehicle, but did not know it was a person.
Ramadan was charged with failing to return and remain at the scene of a collision involving bodily injury and was released on citation. The pedestrian, identified as Michelle Bowers, 49, of Ocean City, was transported to PRMC in Salisbury by ambulance. Her condition is not known as of Tuesday morning.
BREAKING NEWS: Pedestrian Accident Last Night In WOC
Shawn J. Soper, News Editor
WEST OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City woman was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident on Keyser Point Rd. on Monday night.
Around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Keyser Point Rd. involving a pedestrian and a driver who fled the scene. Upon arrival, troopers interviewed a witness and collected evidence from the scene suggesting the vehicle that fled was a red truck, possibly a Chevrolet or GMC.
A perimeter was established with the MSP and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after the collision, a Sheriff’s Deputy observed a red Chevy Tahoe on Golf Course Rd. at Route 50 with passenger side view mirror damage.
The driver, identified as Salah Sbeih Ramadan, 64, of West Ocean City, was detained and interviewed. Ramadan allegedly told police he knew he struck something with his vehicle, but did not know it was a person.
Ramadan was charged with failing to return and remain at the scene of a collision involving bodily injury and was released on citation. The pedestrian, identified as Michelle Bowers, 49, of Ocean City, was transported to PRMC in Salisbury by ambulance. Her condition is not known as of Tuesday morning.
Delmar In The News Regarding An EPA Investigation
Town of Delmar
You may have seen Delmar in the news regarding an EPA investigation. I'd like to try bring things a little more into perspective. Tetrachloroethene was found by the MDE in our soil while they were doing routine testing. They believe this agent is present as a result of an old dry cleaning store. We monitor our drinking water and report on annual basis. Those results can be found on our website under "notices and info". Those test results indicate that if traces of this agent was found in our drinking water, the amount was insignificant. Please click on the link below to get a better understanding of what will be happening.
Click HERE
Someone Actually Won $2 Million By Playing The Numbers From A Fortune Cookie
Some people swear by their chosen lottery numbers — whether they’re birth dates, anniversaries or the numbers from Lost — but most of those people still fail at winning anything. But when one Bronx great-grandmother decided to try her luck at a recent Powerball, she decided to just go with whatever a fortune cookie suggested — and it paid off. Literally.
The 75-year-old lucky winner tells1010 WINS she won $2 million in the Powerball after a night of Chinese food takeout.
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The 75-year-old lucky winner tells1010 WINS she won $2 million in the Powerball after a night of Chinese food takeout.
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Keeping Better Tabs On Foreign Students
One department might be failing to appropriately monitor foreign students who stay and work in the U.S. for up almost two and a half years, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Sen. Chuck Grassley requested the investigation. He says that the lack of oversight is a potential national security risk. 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon explosions have put more scrutiny on foreign students. Grassley says the program "requires immediate overhaul before another terrorist exploits it." GAO recommends that Immigration and Customs Enforcement use all available information to address potential risks. Homeland Security agrees with the recommendations and says ICE is working with the Counterterrorism and Criminal Investigation Unit to find any risk areas.
Senate Democrats' Donor-Friendly Global Warming Show
On Monday night into Tuesday morning, two dozen Senate Democrats -- members of the party's newly-formed Climate Action Task Force -- plan to hold an all-night, filibuster-like talkathon on the issue of global warming. "Congress must act," Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz, a leader of the group, said in a statement. "On Monday night we're going to show the growing number of senators who are committed to working together to confront climate change."
Senator after senator will undoubtedly join Schatz in insisting that Congress must act. But the Democratic talkathon is not about any action in particular. It's not being staged in support of, or opposition to, any specific legislative proposal. And if there were proposed legislation under consideration, Democrats could just pass it, or at least bring it up for debate and a vote, because they control the Senate with a 55-seat majority. But that, apparently, is not the point of the all-nighter. "The Democratic effort is cause for some confusion," USA Today reported over the weekend, "because these senators are calling for action in a chamber they control but without any specific legislation to offer up for a vote, or any timetable for action this year."
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Senator after senator will undoubtedly join Schatz in insisting that Congress must act. But the Democratic talkathon is not about any action in particular. It's not being staged in support of, or opposition to, any specific legislative proposal. And if there were proposed legislation under consideration, Democrats could just pass it, or at least bring it up for debate and a vote, because they control the Senate with a 55-seat majority. But that, apparently, is not the point of the all-nighter. "The Democratic effort is cause for some confusion," USA Today reported over the weekend, "because these senators are calling for action in a chamber they control but without any specific legislation to offer up for a vote, or any timetable for action this year."
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The Destroyer Cometh
A dumbed-down Democratic party runs out of ideas.
Here is a selection of recent headlines: “Jon Stewart Destroys Megyn Kelly,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Fox News’ ‘Spite-Driven Anger Machine,’” “Jon Stewart Destroys What’s Left of Peggy Noonan’s Credibility,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Fox News Over Syria Coverage,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Glenn Beck’s Utopia,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Bill O’Reilly” — there are about 520,000 more — and, not to be missed, “Jon Stewart Destroys Chicago-Style Pizza.”
The sound of terrors is in his ears at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central, and in prosperity the destroyer cometh upon him.
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Here is a selection of recent headlines: “Jon Stewart Destroys Megyn Kelly,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Fox News’ ‘Spite-Driven Anger Machine,’” “Jon Stewart Destroys What’s Left of Peggy Noonan’s Credibility,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Fox News Over Syria Coverage,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Glenn Beck’s Utopia,” “Jon Stewart Destroys Bill O’Reilly” — there are about 520,000 more — and, not to be missed, “Jon Stewart Destroys Chicago-Style Pizza.”
The sound of terrors is in his ears at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central, and in prosperity the destroyer cometh upon him.
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Extra Pension Payments Cut By Senate Committee To Balance Budget
The Senate Budget Committee voted Friday to take $500 million over the next five years from extra payments into the state pension system to balance the budget this year and for the next four.
The money comes from annual $300 million supplemental payments into the state retirement and pension system promised in 2011 when legislators forced state employees and teachers to increase salary deductions for their pensions and pension benefits were reduced for future employees.
“I know how we agonized over this,” said Sen. Jim Robey, D-Howard, who made the motion to amend the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act.
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The money comes from annual $300 million supplemental payments into the state retirement and pension system promised in 2011 when legislators forced state employees and teachers to increase salary deductions for their pensions and pension benefits were reduced for future employees.
“I know how we agonized over this,” said Sen. Jim Robey, D-Howard, who made the motion to amend the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act.
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Union: Obamacare Will Slash Wages By Up To $5 An Hour
A national union that represents 300,000 low-wage hospitality workers charges in a new report that Obamacare will slam wages, cut hours, limit access to health insurance and worsen the very “income equality”President Obama says he is campaigning to fix.
Unite Here warned that due to Obamacare's much higher costs for health insurance than what union workers currently pay, the result will be a pay cut of up to $5 an hour. "If employers follow the incentives in the law, they will push families onto the exchanges to buy coverage. This will force low-wage service industry employees to spend $2.00, $3.00 or even $5.00 an hour of their pay to buy similar coverage," said the union in a new report.
“Only in Washington could asking the bottom of the middle class to finance health care for the poorest families be seen as reducing inequality,” said the report from Unite Here. “Without smart fixes, the ACA threatens the middle class with higher premiums, loss of hours, and a shift to part-time work and less comprehensive coverage,” said the report, titled, “The Irony of Obamacare: Making Inequality Worse.”
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Unite Here warned that due to Obamacare's much higher costs for health insurance than what union workers currently pay, the result will be a pay cut of up to $5 an hour. "If employers follow the incentives in the law, they will push families onto the exchanges to buy coverage. This will force low-wage service industry employees to spend $2.00, $3.00 or even $5.00 an hour of their pay to buy similar coverage," said the union in a new report.
“Only in Washington could asking the bottom of the middle class to finance health care for the poorest families be seen as reducing inequality,” said the report from Unite Here. “Without smart fixes, the ACA threatens the middle class with higher premiums, loss of hours, and a shift to part-time work and less comprehensive coverage,” said the report, titled, “The Irony of Obamacare: Making Inequality Worse.”
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Gov. O'Malley's Office Responds To State Health Exchange Audit
Congressman Andy Harris' office confirmed to WBAL News that federal authorities have contacted him about plans to audit the state's health exchange website.
The investigation is to be done by the federal office of the Inspector General.
And Gov. Martin O'Malley's office is defending the website, while criticizing Cong. Harris' opposition.
Gov. O'Malley's press secretary has responded to a request for comment from WBAL News. The following is an email received from the governor's press secretary, Nina Smith:
The investigation is to be done by the federal office of the Inspector General.
And Gov. Martin O'Malley's office is defending the website, while criticizing Cong. Harris' opposition.
Gov. O'Malley's press secretary has responded to a request for comment from WBAL News. The following is an email received from the governor's press secretary, Nina Smith:
Cong. Harris, like all Congressional Republicans, is opposed to the Affordable Care Act -- they've voted 50 times to repeal it. But remember, because of the ACA, insurance companies can't deny coverage because of a preexisting condition; they can't drop someone if they get sick, and children can stay on their parents' plans until they're 26.
Top Dem Sees New Train Wreck For Own Party
Hillary pal says Obamacare is not only crisis in 2014 election
WASHINGTON – A former high-ranking Clinton administration official and law partner with Hillary Clinton sees potential political disaster for Democrats in 2014 over Obama administration health-care policies.
But it’s not just Obamacare that has Webb Hubbell, former chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and associate attorney general of the U.S., concerned about the political fortunes of his party. It’s what he calls “tinkering with Medicare, the tried and true social insurance program that so many older Americans rely on – which so many future older Americans will rely on, too.”
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WASHINGTON – A former high-ranking Clinton administration official and law partner with Hillary Clinton sees potential political disaster for Democrats in 2014 over Obama administration health-care policies.
But it’s not just Obamacare that has Webb Hubbell, former chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and associate attorney general of the U.S., concerned about the political fortunes of his party. It’s what he calls “tinkering with Medicare, the tried and true social insurance program that so many older Americans rely on – which so many future older Americans will rely on, too.”
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