We’re now into the implementation of ‘Obamacare’ (aka the Affordable Care Act), with most but not all states setting up health care exchanges but some states refusing to do so and leaving the job up to the federal government. It’s extremely complicated process, with a lot of economic and political questions in the mix. This afternoon at 4 PM we’re doing a Live Chat with Health Care policy expert Dr. Len Nichols at TPMPrime. Have questions about the ACA implementation or other health care policy and economics questions, submit them now and then tune in at 4 PM.
Chris Van Hollen says he thinks Speaker Boehner may be stalling fiscal cliff negotiations so he can get his Speakership election out of the way first.
This isn’t our usual fare. But with the death of singer Jenni Rivera in a small private plane in Mexico, it reminds me again how common these of musical acts in small planes seem to be. It’s almost like a recording industry cliche, though certainly I don’t mean that to diminish the personal tragedy involved.
I also get that it’s very difficult to get a real sense of ‘commonness’ with high profile events spanning periods of many decades. Read More
It hasn’t gotten much attention yet in the mainstream press. But President Obama is planning on making a big push in his second term to reform the nation’s voting system. This is probably one of the first signs.
Some sort of bipartisan deal to reform the filibuster is under discussion, but senators are playing the talks very close to the vest.
Quickly steamrolled by the conservatives who control the Michigan statehouse, unions are betting that they have enough popular support to either roll back the new right-to-work legislation or use it to drive state Republicans from office in 2014.
Eric Holder suggests national standards for conducting elections are “worth consideration.”
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) announced today that he plans to build a health insurance exchange in his state as mandated by ‘Obamacare’. As you may know, many Republican governors, including New Jersey’s Chris Christie have refused to do so — which is an option states do have under the law. In a statement Otter made it clear that his move doesn’t signal an endorsement of the law but rather his “continued determination for Idaho to be actively engaged in making the best possible choices – to the degree we are allowed – in the interest of more accessible and affordable health care for our citizens.” Read More