The IRS fined more than 7.5 million Americans who didn’t have health insurance in 2014, even as Obamacare subsidies flowed to people who didn’t even exist.
The Treasury Department reported last week the number of Americans who faced fines because of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate was significantly higher than the Obama administration expected. For 2014, the IRS projected that roughly 6 million would face fines, but the final total was 1.5 million higher.
It was the first year in which buying health insurance was made mandatory under the ACA, with penalties of $95 or 1 percent of total income – whichever was higher – for people who did not comply.
The average penalty collected for the 2014 tax year was about $200, the IRS reported.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, July 31, 2015
Police Report
Ocean City police officers arrested Craig Konzier, 24, of Pittsburg, Pa. for assaulting multiple people and resisting arrest.
On July 25, police observed nightclub staff escorting Konzier out as he was fighting them and refusing to leave, the report stated.
Police reported Konzier bit one of the employees on the chin and removed a chunk of flesh from his face. Additionally, he allegedly bit an emergency medical technician on the hip.
When police attempted to arrest him, Konzier resisted and bit an officer on his thigh, drawing blood, according to the report.
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Billions in loans may save pensions or sink New Jersey
The U.S. government should rescue troubled state pension plans with billions of dollars in long-term, low-interest loans, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney proposedon Wednesday.
The trillion-dollar question is whether it would save pensions or sink states deeper in debt. That’s the amount of underfunding public retirement plans collectively face in the 50 states, according to a Pew Foundation study.
“A federal plan to restructure the pension debts would cut annual payments and save the taxpayers money,” said Sen. Sweeney, D-West Deptford.
Sweeney said New Jersey now needs to pay $6 billion a year for the next 30 years to erase its $51 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. He calculated the annual payment would be cut in half to $3 billion with a $50 billion loan from the Federal Reserve at an interest rate of 1-percent a year.
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The trillion-dollar question is whether it would save pensions or sink states deeper in debt. That’s the amount of underfunding public retirement plans collectively face in the 50 states, according to a Pew Foundation study.
“A federal plan to restructure the pension debts would cut annual payments and save the taxpayers money,” said Sen. Sweeney, D-West Deptford.
Sweeney said New Jersey now needs to pay $6 billion a year for the next 30 years to erase its $51 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. He calculated the annual payment would be cut in half to $3 billion with a $50 billion loan from the Federal Reserve at an interest rate of 1-percent a year.
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CAMPAIGN 2016: Clinton campaign releases health and tax information
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign releases a health statement -- her doctor says she has a thyroid condition and 'seasonal allergies,' but is 'fit to serve as president' -- along with some tax returns.
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CAMPAIGN 2016: State Department releases more Clinton emails
The State Department has released a new batch of Hillary Clinton emails, which according to a source contain more information that was retroactively classified.
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Cop helps elderly man who drove to his house by mistake
Sgt. Xavian Watson says he got home — in Charles County — last Thursday to find a pickup truck in his yard, and a man standing nearby.
When Watson asked what went on, the man said, “I was trying to get to Maryland.”
“I was like, ‘sir, you are in Maryland’,” Watson tells WTOP.
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Data in Clinton’s ‘secret’ emails came from 5 intelligence agencies
WASHINGTON - The classified emails stored on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private server contained information from five U.S. intelligence agencies and included material related to the fatal 2012 Benghazi attacks, McClatchy has learned.
Of the five classified emails, the one known to be connected to Benghazi was among 296 emails made public in May by the State Department. Intelligence community officials have determined it was improperly released.
Revelations about the emails have put Clinton in the crosshairs of a broadening inquiry into whether she or her aides mishandled classified information when she used a private server set up at her New York home to conduct official State Department business.
While campaigning for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, Clinton has repeatedly denied she ever sent or received classified information. Two inspectors general have indicated that five emails they have reviewed were not marked classified at the time they were stored on her private server but that the contents were in fact “secret.”
Of the five classified emails, the one known to be connected to Benghazi was among 296 emails made public in May by the State Department. Intelligence community officials have determined it was improperly released.
Revelations about the emails have put Clinton in the crosshairs of a broadening inquiry into whether she or her aides mishandled classified information when she used a private server set up at her New York home to conduct official State Department business.
While campaigning for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, Clinton has repeatedly denied she ever sent or received classified information. Two inspectors general have indicated that five emails they have reviewed were not marked classified at the time they were stored on her private server but that the contents were in fact “secret.”
Sunset Park Crowds Growing; 500-Plus Turned Out Last Thursday
Sunset Park Party Nights are every Thursday starting at 7 p.m. So far this year Lauren Glick & the Moodswingers, Oh Boy!, British Invasion Experience, Tranzfusion, and Neon Swing X-perience have performed on Sunset Park’s stage.
“The attendance figures for Sunset Park music events have been increasing each year. Last Thursday over 400 people attended the Tranzfusion music event. The week before over 500 people attended the Beatles tribute band music. Great weather is always a contributing factor towards good attendance figures in Ocean City, but good music is needed too … this past spring the Town of Ocean City expanded the seating area of the park with brick pavers. This improvement allowed additional people to sit closer to the stage and has worked out very well,” OCDC Director Glenn Irwin said.
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7th Annual Berlin Peach Festival
August 1, 2015 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Rain Date: August 2, 2015
Berlin, MD: The seventh annual Berlin Peach Festival will be held Saturday, August 1, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., on the grounds of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, 208 North Main Street. Admission is free. Rain date for the festival will be Sunday, August 2, from 11:00 until 4:00. Off-site parking is available at Berlin Intermediate School, with shuttles to and from the festival.
Mayor Gee Williams will officially open the festival with help from Little Miss and Little Mister Berlin Peach 2014. All afternoon, attendees will be able to stroll among the displays, demonstrations and sales tables. Naturally, there will be delicious Delmarva peaches for sale from a variety of Delmarva growers (the type of peach and its grower depends on what is ripe at that time).
Click here to read full press release.
2015 Peach Festival Schedule
Drug Company Profits Soar as Taxpayers Foot the Bill
It was a coincidence hard to overlook: The government released a new report on Tuesday projecting rising health care costs for the coming decade while a major pharmaceutical company issued a new earnings report showing extraordinary profits on the sale of new wonder drugs.
While drug spending increased by a modest 2.5 percent in 2013, it surged by 12.6 percent last year according to estimates in a new report on trends in health care costs by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. One of the major factors was the relatively recent Food and Drug Administration approval of highly effective -- but extremely expensive -- specialty drugs like Sovaldi and Harvoni for the treatment of Hepatitis-C, a potentially fatal liver disease.
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While drug spending increased by a modest 2.5 percent in 2013, it surged by 12.6 percent last year according to estimates in a new report on trends in health care costs by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. One of the major factors was the relatively recent Food and Drug Administration approval of highly effective -- but extremely expensive -- specialty drugs like Sovaldi and Harvoni for the treatment of Hepatitis-C, a potentially fatal liver disease.
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Man freed after being wrongly imprisoned for 17 years is fatally shot in Chicago
CHICAGO — On the day he was finally released from prison after murder charges were dropped, Alprentiss Nash vowed he would use his freedom studying to become a chef, learning about antique cars and traveling.
And in the nearly three years since, he kept true to his word, visiting New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta and learning to ski at a resort in Wisconsin. He also bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 1960 Buick Electra 225 and completed a culinary program.
"He was really happy to be free, and he never talked about his time in prison," said Nash's mother, Yvette Martin. "He wanted to just get past it and be happy. He was overjoyed and excited about building a new life."
But on Tuesday afternoon, Nash's second chance at life came to a tragic end as he was gunned down while leaving a currency exchange in Chicago, according to Chicago police and his family. A person of interest is being questioned, authorities said.
Nash's family believes he was the target of an armed robbery.
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And in the nearly three years since, he kept true to his word, visiting New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta and learning to ski at a resort in Wisconsin. He also bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 1960 Buick Electra 225 and completed a culinary program.
"He was really happy to be free, and he never talked about his time in prison," said Nash's mother, Yvette Martin. "He wanted to just get past it and be happy. He was overjoyed and excited about building a new life."
But on Tuesday afternoon, Nash's second chance at life came to a tragic end as he was gunned down while leaving a currency exchange in Chicago, according to Chicago police and his family. A person of interest is being questioned, authorities said.
Nash's family believes he was the target of an armed robbery.
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Conflict Of Interest? Prosecutor In Freddie Gray Case Once Defended Gray In Court
Now the officers’ lawyers are crying foul.
Rick Ritter on the latest conflict of interest accusations.
WJZ spoke with one of the officer’s attorneys. He says they recently learned about the prosecutor representing Freddie Gray in the past and they’re now investigating it.
Less than three months away from trial for the six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, and controversy continues to swirl.
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Mark Levin's Plunder and Deceit
The “deceit” part of the title comes into play in the way that the plunder has been disguised through artful choice of labels (the Social Security ‘trust fund” that doesn’t exist), misdirection (focusing on the “rights” of those who trespass across our border) and unwillingness to face facts by the political class and the media and academic power structures.
Levin explains the plunder and vanquishes the deceit in a series of lucidly presented and meticulously documented chapters arranged by thematic topics. The first of these following the introduction, Chapter Two, is titled “On The Debt,” and explains to the rising generations how they will be in perpetual servitude to the debt being handed to them by generations that would rather spend and borrow than live within their means.
Keep reading..
This Saturday - A Day Full of Concerts!
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Judicial Watch: Kerry Stalling in Clinton Email Response
Secretary of State John Kerry asked for a delay of nearly 40 days regarding his required response to a lawsuit surrounding the Hillary Clinton email scandal, according to newly released information.
Judicial Watch reports Kerry, who already had been given 60 days to respond to a lawsuit filed by the organization, sought to extend that by 38 days.
The lawsuit asked for Clinton's emails during her time as secretary of state (2009-2013); she has admitted to using a private email address and a private, home-based server to conduct her official government business, a breach of the normal protocol for government workers.
The lawsuit also seeks to get ahold of emails sent and received by other government employees, as other people — including Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin — are alleged to have used a private email address during their time at the State Department as well.
Kerry, according to Judicial Watch, wanted to delay his response to the lawsuit in order to combine it with a similar lawsuit, filed by the Cause of Action Institute. That suit was filed six weeks after Judicial Watch filed its suit.
"Secretary of State Kerry and the Obama administration are obstructing the courts at every turn on the Clinton email scandal," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
More here
Judicial Watch reports Kerry, who already had been given 60 days to respond to a lawsuit filed by the organization, sought to extend that by 38 days.
The lawsuit asked for Clinton's emails during her time as secretary of state (2009-2013); she has admitted to using a private email address and a private, home-based server to conduct her official government business, a breach of the normal protocol for government workers.
The lawsuit also seeks to get ahold of emails sent and received by other government employees, as other people — including Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin — are alleged to have used a private email address during their time at the State Department as well.
Kerry, according to Judicial Watch, wanted to delay his response to the lawsuit in order to combine it with a similar lawsuit, filed by the Cause of Action Institute. That suit was filed six weeks after Judicial Watch filed its suit.
"Secretary of State Kerry and the Obama administration are obstructing the courts at every turn on the Clinton email scandal," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
More here
Federal Judge: I Will Haul The IRS Commissioner Into Court and Personally Hold Him in Contempt Over Lerner Emails
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen has been stonewalling Congress and the courts for more than a year over Lois Lerner's "missing" emails. He's also ignored court orders to produce documentation and now, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan has had enough.
During a hearing yesterday surrounding a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch, Sullivan said he "will haul into court the IRS Commissioner to hold him personally into contempt" after the IRS failed to turn over ordered documentation to the Court. The information ordered included status reports and recovered emails belonging to former IRS official Lois Lerner. Sullivan also noted Department of Justice of attorneys are in the same position for failing to turn over ordered documentation. More details about the hearing fromJW:
During the a status hearing today, Sullivan warned that the failure to follow his order was serious and the IRS and Justice Department’s excuses for not following his July 1 order were “indefensible, ridiculous, and absurd.” He asked the IRS’ Justice Department lawyer Geoffrey Klimas, “Why didn’t the IRS comply” with his court order and “why shouldn’t the Court hold the Commissioner of the IRS in contempt.” Judge Sullivan referenced his contempt findings against Justice Department prosecutors in the prosecution of late Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and reminded the Justice Department attorney he had the ability to detain him for contempt. Warning he would tolerate no further disregard of his orders, Judge Sullivan said, “I will haul into court the IRS Commissioner to hold him personally into contempt.”
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During a hearing yesterday surrounding a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch, Sullivan said he "will haul into court the IRS Commissioner to hold him personally into contempt" after the IRS failed to turn over ordered documentation to the Court. The information ordered included status reports and recovered emails belonging to former IRS official Lois Lerner. Sullivan also noted Department of Justice of attorneys are in the same position for failing to turn over ordered documentation. More details about the hearing fromJW:
During the a status hearing today, Sullivan warned that the failure to follow his order was serious and the IRS and Justice Department’s excuses for not following his July 1 order were “indefensible, ridiculous, and absurd.” He asked the IRS’ Justice Department lawyer Geoffrey Klimas, “Why didn’t the IRS comply” with his court order and “why shouldn’t the Court hold the Commissioner of the IRS in contempt.” Judge Sullivan referenced his contempt findings against Justice Department prosecutors in the prosecution of late Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and reminded the Justice Department attorney he had the ability to detain him for contempt. Warning he would tolerate no further disregard of his orders, Judge Sullivan said, “I will haul into court the IRS Commissioner to hold him personally into contempt.”
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ACME to buy 94th St. Superfresh
The mostly defunct Ocean Plaza Mall on 94th Street and its anchor store, Superfresh, are almost guaranteed a major shakeup in the coming months as Superfresh’s parent company, A&P, proceeds with its bankruptcy case and sale of stores to ACME Markets.
At the same time, the underused mall’s owner, Continental Realty, is looking at a renewed push toward redevelopment of the site, which was previously blocked by Superfresh’s iron-clad lease of the facility.
Last week, the 156-year old Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, meaning that it will be going through a court-supervised restructuring in order to alleviate the company’s mounting debt.
As part of the move, A&P will be closing 25 supermarkets and selling off another 120, according to industry reports.
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Bill Clinton’s Longtime Mistress Is A Wealthy Blond Divorcee
In a shocking new tell-all The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents, author Ronald Kessleralleges that Bill Clinton is cheating on believed 2016 presidential hopeful wife Hillary with “a buxom blonde mistress” his Secret Service detail calls“the Energizer” — and now The National ENQUIRER can exclusively reveal her identity.
According to The Enquirer, Clinton, 67, has been sneaking trysts with wealthy divorcee Julie Tauber McMahon for years.
Though the 54-year-old mother of three has denied having a sexual relationship with Clinton, a family member claimed the rumors were true.
“It became a running joke in the family,” the insider, who passed a polygraph test, told The Enquirer in 2011. “If Clinton traveled to London, we’d learn Julie was also visiting London. When Clinton went to France, we’d discover Julie was also in France.”
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According to The Enquirer, Clinton, 67, has been sneaking trysts with wealthy divorcee Julie Tauber McMahon for years.
Though the 54-year-old mother of three has denied having a sexual relationship with Clinton, a family member claimed the rumors were true.
“It became a running joke in the family,” the insider, who passed a polygraph test, told The Enquirer in 2011. “If Clinton traveled to London, we’d learn Julie was also visiting London. When Clinton went to France, we’d discover Julie was also in France.”
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Blue Moon Full Moon Rises Tonight: What to Expect
There's a "Blue Moon" in the sky tonight — but that doesn't mean the lunar surface will turn indigo.
Tonight's (July 31) moon will be a gorgeous sight, but it won't look different than any other full moon. The term Blue Moon has come to refer to the second full moon in a given month (since full moons come around about every 29 days, most months only contain one). So set your sights skyward tonight, but don't expect a change in the moon's regular hue. NASA explained the July 31 Blue Moon in a video released earlier this week.
However, there are rare occasions when the moon can appear to turn blue. According to the Science@NASA blog, observers have reported the moon having a bluish tint following volcanic eruptions. These explosions send particulates (like ash and smoke) into the air that scatter red light, but let blue light through, creating a natural blue filter and giving the moon a sapphire complexion. [Amazing Blue Moon Photos by Stargazers]
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Tonight's (July 31) moon will be a gorgeous sight, but it won't look different than any other full moon. The term Blue Moon has come to refer to the second full moon in a given month (since full moons come around about every 29 days, most months only contain one). So set your sights skyward tonight, but don't expect a change in the moon's regular hue. NASA explained the July 31 Blue Moon in a video released earlier this week.
However, there are rare occasions when the moon can appear to turn blue. According to the Science@NASA blog, observers have reported the moon having a bluish tint following volcanic eruptions. These explosions send particulates (like ash and smoke) into the air that scatter red light, but let blue light through, creating a natural blue filter and giving the moon a sapphire complexion. [Amazing Blue Moon Photos by Stargazers]
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MARYLAND’S COMPULSORY AGE OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RISES TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS
Students Must Now Attend School until at Least Age 17
Wicomico County Public Schools wants all students to become college and career ready during their school years and to enjoy that walk across the stage to receive a diploma once they’ve met Maryland’s graduation requirements.
Before now, a small number of students chose not to continue until graduation once they reach the age of 16. But under Maryland’s new Age of Compulsory School Attendance law (Senate Bill 362, signed into law in 2012), the age for compulsory school attendance is now 17, effective July 1. Students can no longer drop out of school when they are 16 years old. In 2017, the compulsory age of attendance will rise to 18.
Students who are 14 and 15 right now (mostly rising 10th-graders) will be required to remain enrolled in school until they are at least 18, as they are likely to be 17 when the age rises to 17 during their junior year (2016-2017), and 18 in their senior year (2017-2018), when the age rises to 18.
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