The Path to Filibuster Reform
Harry Reid says that in the next congress we could finally have filibuster reform.

Rep. Ryan’s Tax Roadmap Falls Short of His Revenue Goals
Republican Rep. Ryan’s proposal would raise taxes on 90% of Americans while also decreasing revenue. It would be hard to come up with a more harmful proposal.

Do Americans oppose health-care reform? Why?
Klein reviews Gallup poll numbers on Health Insurance Reform that shows that the biggest obstacle to people supporting the bill is a lack of understanding of what the bill is.

How the filibuster was invented
A quick history lesson that shows the origin of the filibuster.

With all the misconceptions floating around and many questions still left unanswered, it’s more important now than ever before to understand exactly what reform is, what it will do, and to call your members of Congress to encourage them to vote for this historic bill.

Why do we need reform?

There are many reasons we need health insurance reform, but the most important is to ensure that all Americans can receive the preventive and life-saving care they need, while at the same time stopping insurance companies from making outrageous profits on the sick.

Aside from making insurance affordable, reform also will reduce the country’s deficit and create jobs – another top issue facing our leaders. We’ll save costs by reducing the waste and abuse that resides in our current system; we’ll create millions of jobs by raising wages and strengthening the economy; and we’ll cut the deficit by almost $1 trillion during the next two decades.

What will President Obama’s plan mean for me?

Despite some of the misinformation, if you like your current employer-provided insurance, Obama’s plan will allow you to keep it. If you buy your own insurance, you will benefit from new protections against insurance company abuses.

If you don’t have insurance at all, the plan will allow you to choose among providers from the same marketplace where members of Congress buy their insurance. It also will provide tax credits to make insurance more affordable and you’ll benefit from the same protections against insurance company abuses.

If you own a small business and want to provide your employees with insurance, you can receive tax credits, making it easier for you to provide that coverage. And for your family and friends that have Medicare, Obama’s plan will not cut their benefits, and will actually extend the Medicare Trust Fund for more than nine years.

Most importantly, the plan will make sure that you’re never denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and that you will never be privy to arbitrary insurance premium increases.

The future.

Passing health insurance reform is not only important to us now, but it’s important to our futures and to future generations who will inherit our legacy and our doings.

If we don’t pass reform, as many as 17 million additional people will become uninsured by 2019, and up to 275,000 people could die prematurely during the next 10 years.

On top of that, the average family’s healthcare costs will increase from $13,000 to $24,000 – nearly doubling – by 2020. All of this will happen while big, profitable insurance companies are allowed to continue increasing insurance rates and making more money.

If you’re one of the majority of Americans who think Obama’s plan sounds like a better alternative, now is the time to make your voice heard. Do what you can to spread the word about the importance of passing health insurance reform. Call and e-mail your members of Congress, talk to your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors.

We are knocking on the door of a better future for ourselves and future generations. Let’s do what we can today to make sure every American can have a brighter tomorrow.

You can find and spread the truth about reform here

And you can find you representative and give them a call here

Young Adults Gain From Reform: Coverage To Age 26 In Senate Bill. The Senate leadership bill will: “Provide dependent coverage for children up to age 26 for all individual and group policies. (Effective six months following enactment).” [Kaiser Comparison, accessed 12/1/09]

Extending Dependent Coverage To Age 26 Is Included In Health Reform. “Extends dependent coverage to age 26: Gives young adults new options. [White House, 2/23/10]

Young Adults 19-29 Are Largest Portion Of Uninsured In The U.S, Mostly Losing Coverage Upon Leaving High School Or College. The Commonwealth Fund reported in their study that, “[y]oung adults, ages 19 to 29, are one of the largest segments of the U.S. population without health insurance: 13.7 million lacked coverage in 2006. They often lose coverage at age 19 or upon high school or college graduation – almost two of five (38%) high school graduates who do not enroll in college and one-third of college graduates are uninsured for a time during the first year after graduation.” The study also noted that young adults account for “almost 30 percent of the nonelderly uninsured,” the largest chunk of the nonelderly uninsured. [Commonwealth Fund, May 2008]

Study: By Getting Kicked Off Of Parents’ Insurance Plans, “Turning 19 Increases The Uninsured Rate Nearly Threefold.” The Commonwealth Fund reported in their study on uninsured young adults that, “[n]ineteenth birthdays are crucial milestones in Americans’ health insurance coverage. Both public and private insurance plans treat this age as a turning point in coverage decisions. Employer health plans often do not cover young adults are dependents after age 18 or 19 if they do not go on to college…A 2004 Commonwealth Fund study found that among employers who offer coverage, nearly 60 percent do not insure dependent children over age 18 or 19 if they do not attend college.” Later in the study, the authors note that “[t]urning 19 increases the uninsured rate nearly threefold.” [Commonwealth Fund, May 2008]

Study: “Of The College Students Who Graduated During 2001 To 2003, 34 Percent Were Uninsured For At Least Of The Time In The Year Following Graduation.” The Commonwealth Fund reported in their study on uninsured young adults that, “[o]f the college students who graduated during 2001 to 2003, 34 percent were uninsured for at least part of the time in the year following graduation, with 13 percent uninsured for six months or more. Based on the experiences of recent graduates, one-third of college graduates can expect to spend at least some time uninsured in the year after graduation.” [Commonwealth Fund, May 2008]

Study Author: Two-Thirds Of Uninsured Young Adults Had Problems Accessing Health Care Because Of Cost. Reuters interviewed Sara Collins, author of a Commonwealth Fund report on uninsured young adults: “‘If you ask young adults, as we do in our survey, if you’ve ever had problems accessing health care because of cost — not filling a prescription, not seeing a specialist — two thirds of uninsured young adults say yes,’ [study author Sara] Collins said.” [Reuters, 3/30/08]

Study: “The Majority Of Uninsured Young Adults Are Full-Time Workers.” The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report finding that, “[t]he majority of uninsured young adults are full-time workers. Similar to older adults who are working, employed young adults can have limited access to employer-sponsored coverage. Full-time students comprise only 8% of uninsured young adults.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, June 2008]

Study: “Young Adults In Fair Or Poor Health Are More Likely To Be Uninsured Than Those In Excellent Health.” The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report finding that, “[y]oung adults in fair or poor health are more likely to be uninsured than those in excellent health. While many discussions about uninsured young adults cite their relatively good health as a reason why they have chosen to forgo health insurance, the data show that those in the best health are actually the least likely to be uninsured. About 27% of young adults in excellent or very good health are uninsured, compared to about 40% of those in worse health.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, June 2008]

The zero-sum game of tax cuts to stimulate state economies
A detailed explanation of why the Republican corporate welfare bill in the state legislature will not create jobs and only harm the state’s economy.

A Better Poverty Measure
A history of how the federal poverty line is set and how we might be able to better calculate it in the future.

How Maryland controls health-care costs
An interesting look at how Maryland has achieved effective costs controls for their state in terms of health care.

Lincoln Logs a Challenger as Halter Tries to Halt Her — But are Democrats Spinning their Wheels?
538 uses Arkansas’ democratic primary to examine the reasoning that goes on behind the decision to run a primary campaign against a setting official.

Yes, this is a serious proposal. Republicans in the state legislature don’t think its hard enough for young Arizonans to pay their bills already.

Take action!

There is still time. You can make a difference, and hopefully stop this law from passing. Here is what you can do:

1. Write a letter to the editor of a local paper. We need to get the message out. Too many times bad legislation gets through because people don’t realize what is happening.

2. Call your legislators and make sure they know you oppose this bill.

3. Sign up to join a small group to meet with legislators. Legislators take meetings with lobbyists all the time; now they need to hear from everyday Arizonans!

Together we can make a difference. Take action today!

Could Crist bolt?
A look at how are conservative primary races are effecting American politics.

Which Party Uses Reconciliation More Often? Looks like Harry Reid was Correct
A look at the history of the reconciliation process that might soon be used to pass Health Insurance Reform.

The Bankruptcy Boys
Krugman explains how short sighted Republican budget decisions have push the country towards a large deficit.

John McCain Denies Civil Rights Problem: Arizona Is A ‘Wonderful’ Place For Hispanics
A Story on McCain showing his ignorance or disinterest in the treatment of Hispanics in Arizona.

Why Washington Is Tied Up in Knots
The Times attempts to explain how we got to this divided Senate, and what that means going into the future.

The Democratic plan: Finish this bill
The Whitehouse has released their plan. The final push is coming.

White House Unveils $950 Billion Health Bill To Bridge Differences Between House And Senate Legilsation
More on the President’s healthcare plan, including a comparison between it, and the house and senate bills.

People Trust The Government When The Economy is Good
A look at how public opinion of government is effected by economics, and a good case for why a strong jobs bill should be passed.

Americans still want health-care reform
Klein looks at recent polling that shows American’s still want Health Insurance Reform.

The Substitute
If Cap & Trade doesn’t pass, then can the EPA step in to fill the void, and if so, what would that look like?

Having It Both Ways on Medicare
Krugman calls out republicans for complaining about what they call medicare cuts, while also proposing real medicare cuts.

A First Look at Palin’s Primary Math
It’s never too early to think about 2012, what might the republican primary end up like?

Smoke the Bigots Out of the Closet
Why now is politically a good time to push for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Getting real about Congress
GOP hypocrisy is exemplified by McConnell’s vote on the deficit reduction commission.

America Is Not Yet Lost
Krugman highlights a depressingly comparison between the US Senate and the failed legislature of 18th Poland.

Obama’s Education Budget: Important Investments And Tough Choices
How the Obama White House is working to insure America’s future with a new commitment to education.

The State of the Union: Just the policy
A short version of the SOTU that outlines just the policies mentioned.

Three Myths about Political Independents
A great explanation of independent voters and how many media figures over play the significance of their opinion polling.

After Massachusetts, Road to 218 is Long and Winding
A road map for House democrats to find the votes they need for Health Insurance Reform.

Party polarization is not the same as ideological polarization
An explanation of the important difference between ideological and party polarization, and how they effect today’s politics.