Friday, April 26, 2019

Who Wants to Impeach the President?

Today's News about People Who are Talking about Impeachment





The Ponder does not support impeachment.

DeGette: The president’s actions constitute a prima facie case to merit an impeachment investigation
Source: Diana Degette (D-CO, 1st)
April 23, 2019
The Mueller report details many instances in which President Trump actively attempted to interfere with the investigation into his campaign’s potentially treasonous ties with Russia. The president's actions are clearly beneath the high personal, ethical and legal standards our founders envisioned in the executive branch, and, as such, constitute a prima facie case to trigger an impeachment investigation.

Read more...



Thursday, April 25, 2019

Social Media

Today's News from the Lawmakers





Facebook expects up to $5B FTC fine
Source: Politico
April 24, 2019
...Facebook faces scrutiny over a cascade of other privacy mishaps over the past year. Researchers this month revealed hundreds of millions of records on the social network's users were left unprotected on Amazon's cloud servers. Facebook disclosed in March that it had insecurely stored hundreds of millions of user passwords. And The Wall Street Journal reported in February that a slew of well-being apps shared sensitive user data with the company.

Read more...




Ponder this...

Today's News about Things to Ponder



Motorcycle Shipping Quotes


Should Natural Born Citizenship Be a Requirement for All Federal Elected Offices?
Source: American Thinker
April 24, 2019
...It is fitting, albeit ironic, that Omar, a naturalized American citizen, by raising an accusation of dual loyalty and self-dealing against other Americans, has opened the door to a conversation about whether natural born citizenship should in fact be a requirement for the very office she holds.

Read more...




Surveillance

Today's News about Surveillance Issues





CDT Leads Coalition of Over 100 Organizations Opposing DHS Surveillance of Activists, Journalists, and Lawyers
Source: Center for Democracy and Technology
May 1, 2019
The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) led a coalition of over 100 organizations in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging it to cease any targeting of activists, journalists, and lawyers based on their First Amendment-protected speech and associational activities. The coalition demanded that DHS address alarming reports of surveillance activity by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that jeopardizes First Amendment rights and access to legal counsel, and may violate the Privacy Act of 1974.

Read more...



New Documents Reveal DHS Asserting Broad, Unconstitutional Authority to Search Travelers’ Phones and Laptops
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation
May 1, 2019
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the ACLU asked a federal court to rule without trial that the Department of Homeland Security violates the First and Fourth Amendments by searching travelers’ smartphones and laptops at airports and other U.S. ports of entry without a warrant.

Read more...



When License-Plate Surveillance Goes Horribly Wrong
Source: The New York Times
April 24, 2019
The pitfalls of automated policing, where one piece of bad information can lead to a guns-drawn confrontation.

Read more...




Children and Minors

Today's News about Children and Minors





Congressman Cárdenas Introduces the End Debtor’s Prison for Kids Act
Source: Troy Cardenas (D-CA, 29th)
April 24, 2019
Right now, across this country, young people are being held in detention centers not for crimes they committed at home or in school, but because they can’t afford the legal fees of our justice system.

Read more...




Prescription Medication

Today's News about Prescription Drugs




Spanberger Announces Support for Bipartisan Bill to Increase Competition in the Pharmaceutical Marketplace, Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Source: Abigail Spanberger (D-VA, 7th)
April 24, 2019
Spanberger is now a cosponsor of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act of 2019, which would prohibit pharmaceutical companies from participating in certain anti-competitive practices that block cheaper generic drugs from entering that market. The bipartisan bill would increase competitive options for prescription drugs by cracking down on pharmaceutical companies’ ability to delay access to generic versions of expensive brand-name drugs.

Read more...



Drug Take-back Day
Source: Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN, 9th)
April 24, 2019
The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is this Saturday, April 27. From 10AM - 2PM, you can properly dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to support ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic that is facing our communities.

Read more...



Cummings Releases Report on the Soaring Prices of Diabetes Drugs in his District
Source: Elijah Cummings (D-MD, 7th)
April 24, 2019
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, released a Committee Staff Report on the prices of diabetes drugs for seniors and the uninsured in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. More than 30 million people in the United States, including more than one in four seniors, have diabetes. Patients with diabetes rely on prescription drugs, including insulin, to help manage their conditions.

Read more...



Following Prescription Drug Roundtable, Rep. Davids Supports Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Source: Sharice Davids (D-KS, 3rd)
April 24, 2019
“During our roundtable discussion, I heard from so many families in the Third District who are struggling to pay for the prescription drugs that they or their loved ones depend on to survive. These bills would help drive down prescription drugs prices and increase transparency and oversight, giving our families some much-needed relief,” said Davids.

Read more...



Cummings Releases Report on the Soaring Prices of Diabetes Drugs in his District
Source: Elijah Cummings (D-MD, 7th)
April 24, 2019
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, released a Committee Staff Report on the prices of diabetes drugs for seniors and the uninsured in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. More than 30 million people in the United States, including more than one in four seniors, have diabetes. Patients with diabetes rely on prescription drugs, including insulin, to help manage their conditions.

Read more...




Space

Today's News about Space





Rep. Jason Crow Leads Letter Calling on U.S. Space Command to be Based at Buckley Air Force Base
Source: Jason Crow (D-CO, 6th)
April 24, 2019
“Colorado has a proud aerospace tradition and Buckley Air Force Base is a powerful testament to that. As a former Army Ranger and member of the Armed Services Committee, I know the threats facing our country in the 21st century and the role that space will play in our national security. Buckley - and Aurora - is the right place for U.S. Space Command. We have the right infrastructure, a talented aerospace workforce, and the community support to ensure the success of U.S. Space Command,” said Rep. Jason Crow. “Placing Space Command at Buckley Air Force Base would be an incredible gain for Aurora and the Denver metro area and a boon for our economy. Space Command would fuel job growth for decades to come and solidify Colorado’s role as the global aerospace leader.”

Read more...




Natural Disasters

Today's News about Natural Disasters



books


Missouri Delegation Urges President Trump to Support Disaster Declaration for Areas Impacted by Severe Flooding
Source: Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
April 24, 2019
“The severity and magnitude of the flooding has caused several communities to be evacuated and has resulted in the destruction of homes, farms, and businesses,” the delegation wrote. “We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. Along with our fellow Missourians, we appreciate your attention to this request and stand ready to assist in any way possible.”

Read more...




Worker's Rights

Today's News about Worker's Rights


Find Elf The Musical Tickets here

Following Supreme Court Ruling, Cicilline Plans Hearing on Workers’ Rights
Source: David Cicilline (D-RI, 1st)
April 24, 2019
“It is disappointing that the Supreme Court is taking the side of big corporations once again. This ruling undermines the rights of working people to band together and hold corporations accountable. It’s just wrong.”

Read more...




Health Insurance

Today's News about Health Insurance




Statement from Chairman Yarmuth on CBO Report on Single-Payer Policy Considerations
Source: House Committee on the Budget
May 1, 2019
“Last summer, I promised that if I became Chairman of the House Budget Committee I would hold hearings on single-payer health care. To jump start that process, I immediately requested this report from the CBO to help us examine the important policy considerations associated with single-payer health systems and their potential impact on the federal budget, national health care spending, and access to care.

Read more...



FAH Leader Reacts to CBO Report on Single-Payer
Source: Federation of American Hospitals
May 1, 2019
Today's CBO report on single-payer health care raises sobering questions. But what needs to be asked, is it worth the risk of upending health care for every American when the law on the books already contains a roadmap to universal coverage? Instead of such a high stakes gamble, lawmakers should build upon the current foundation so we can continue to improve quality and affordability for families across the country.

Read more...



CBO report looks at policy considerations for single-payer health system
Source: American Hospital Association
May 1, 2019
Establishing a single-payer system would be a major undertaking that would involve substantial changes in the sources and extent of coverage, provider payment rates, and financing methods of health care in the United States, according to a report released today by the Congressional Budget Office. The report focuses on key design components and considerations for policymakers interested in establishing a single-payer system, but “does not address all of the issues that the complex task of designing, implementing and transitioning to a single-payer system would entail, nor does it analyze the budgetary effects of any specific bill or proposal,” CBO notes. Among other topics, the report includes high-level discussions about hospital ownership, provider employment and payment rates, but does not make any recommendations.

Read more...



AMA on ruling blocking administration’s Title X restrictions
Source: American Medical Association
May 1, 2019
“Judge McShane’s ruling is a victory for patients, physicians and the open conversations that are essential to improving health outcomes. In siding with patients and doctors in this case, the judge decisively said the free exchange of medical information is an essential patient right. The AMA will not stand by when the government interferes with the patient-doctor relationship by foisting a gag rule on physicians. Patients trusting their doctors is the foundation of good health, and there must be open communication about health care options.”

Read more...



Scalise Statement on Louisiana Efforts to Protect Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions
Source: Steve Scalise (R-LA, 1st)
May 1, 2019
"As we have been working to fix serious problems with our healthcare system in Washington, I have also been following the healthcare debate in the Louisiana Legislature. We should all want a quality healthcare system that lowers costs, gives patients more choices, and protects people with pre-existing conditions from higher costs, while also improving the quality of care for everyone.

Read more...



Burgess Acts to Protect North Texans’ Health Care
Source: Michael Burgess (R-TX, 26th)
April 24, 2019
“Association health plans expand opportunities for Americans to choose insurance that meets their needs, and for employers to provide quality insurance to their employees. As a physician who once owned my own practice, I am encouraged that these plans allow employers, by partnering together, to offer quality coverage that can be more affordable,” said Dr. Burgess. “This strategy is working – in North Texas, several chambers of commerce already have begun offering health plans to their members through the North Texas Employer Health Plan Cooperative. Although federal courts have jeopardized the individuals in North Texas and around the country who are covered by existing association health plans, I have introduced this legislation to protect Americans’ access to quality care.”

Read more...