Mequon moves toward better government

Posted on August 28, 2008 in Generic drugs

Good job Mequon! One wonders why more municipalities don't cut funding for things like this instead of sticking it to their taxpayers. Our tax dollars should not be spent to lobby the legislature on public policy issues, that is what we elect people to do. And this organization, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities lobbies against what most people want, namely: The League, with a seven figure annual budget (paid for with tax dollars), spends considerable resources lobbying the legislature and advocating issues on the state level. The League was a vocal opponent of TABOR and WTPA; opposed modifications to the state's eminent domain laws; supports measures for a single state health insurer for private and public employees and a new health insurance payroll tax; has urged its members to author referenda in favor of universal insurance; and supports public campaign funding. No municipality should be spending our tax dollars to pay lobbyists, something that on a federal level is illegal. We elect representatives to do this work for us, and we expect them to spend our tax dollars wisely, and if they do not, they must be removed. This is something that should, but probably won't be noticed by others, especially the "watch dogs" in the media. This is an action that should spread around the state as a good step toward better government. Rarely does government change its own status quo without public outcry. Creating that public outcry is where you come in. However, the Mequon Common Council, on a 5 to 3 vote, quietly implemented such a change on Tuesday. The Council removed from its budget funding for its membership in the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Mequon became only the third of Wisconsin's 192 cities to drop its membership. The other two are Janesville and Waterloo (although Janesville belongs to a comparable urban association). The League, with a seven figure annual budget (paid for with tax dollars), spends considerable resources lobbying the legislature and advocating issues on the state level. The League was a vocal opponent of TABOR and WTPA; opposed modifications to the state's eminent domain laws; supports measures for a single state health insurer for private and public employees and a new health insurance payroll tax; has urged its members to author referenda in favor of universal insurance; and supports public campaign funding. The use of tax dollars for lobbying is wrong on so many levels. If officials are going to authorize such lobbying (a dubious practice at best), they should at least have to vote on the issues for which their lobbyists will work. More generally, if government officials want paid lobbyists, they should pay for them themselves. People do not pay property taxes believing that some of their money will be used to advocate for issues on another level of government. Of course, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has not noticed Mequon's action. I do not care if Mequon gets a pat on the back for its action. That is not why I am writing to you. Rather, I hope that you can generate interest in this issue. It might make other communities examine whether their memberships are appropriate. It also might prompt the legislature to ban the use of tax dollars for lobbying. Federal agencies are not allowed to use tax dollars for lobbying. We should have similar rules for use of state tax dollars. Of course, this is a move underfoot to force a reconsideration. Special interests never sleep. John John M. Wirth Alderman, City of Mequon, District 4 CP

Tags: tax, dollars, state, public, mequon

From The Shareholder Perspective

Posted on August 16, 2008 in Generic drugs

Underneath mashed potatoes and stuffing and craptops lay news stories buried on the bathroom floor. Like offended thirteen year olds the media and lawmakers are out in force with cans of lysol and incense. Even the offenders know that it stinks. So goes the story of Christine Sinicki, Marlin Schneider, Mike Ellis or Fred Risser. None of the above have ever claimed or in normal circles, used sick time - even when, in Sinicki's case - bedridden. Something that most people reading this post would get fired for. It could only happen in an artificial economy like a governmental entity. Because, if a publicly held company that was held responsible by true market forces had a liability of $3.2 million hanging over its head in unpaid, accrued sick time, they would be downgraded by analysts to "dump". It's the same as debt. And of course, $3.2 million today will compound and explode five, ten and fifteen years from now. Something that cannot be sustained, even by an artificial market like government. And since anything government touches goes up in price dramatically (take the cost of higher education, for example, since 1988), you can bet that when medicine goes socialized that the taxpayer's share will also compound. And not in a saved-and-scraped-and-invested compound interest kind of way. Pee Wee Herman's show had a "word of the day". And whenever you heard the word, you had to scream. Liability is the word of the day. Dumping the shares is the only option. Or dumping the employees who don't claim sick time. Pie in the sky you'll say, but it doesn't change the fact that it's the truth. (also posted at the Confidentials )

Tags: time, word, sick, compound, force

ON MY SOAPBOX...AGAIN

Posted on August 15, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

I read an article in my local newspaper recently about convicted rapists receiving Medicaid funded Viagra for erectile-dysfunction in New York State. Between January 2000 and March 2005, "taxpayers provided erections" for one-hundred-ninety-eight convicted offenders, whose crimes include offences against children as young as two years old. Mary Kahn, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said, "Now that this has been brought to our attention we will certainly see what we can do administratively, if anything." This report is only concerning Viagra. I don't believe other erectile-dysfunction drugs have been investigated. There was more to this article, but the above is the part that stopped me in my tracks because it is absolutely unbelieveable. A large majority of sex offenders refuse treatment (it's their right). Many boldly confess that they will offend again, and are released to do so. Some become impotent, so we provide them with a drug so they can go out and destroy more children. You know what, this really ticks me off! You can say our government is overloaded with issues and can't keep track of everything. I disagree. That's what they get paid billions to do. Our children and babies should be a priority in every sense of the word. They are helpless today but will lead our country in the future. We owe them safety from predators at the very least. If a wild animal was about to destroy a child, I know what I'd do. Offenders have been getting off too easy. Consequences for their crimes are not much more than a hand slap. They have no morals, and no mercy. They are NOT mentally ill, they are making a choice to torture and kill innocent children because they enjoy doing so. We are fighting terrorists all over the world. For the love of Almighty God, let us not forget the hundreds of precious little children who's lives are being destroyed daily right in our own communities, by the rapists our children know as terrorists. We must take a stronger stand against this hateful act. We must make the punishment fit the crime. I wonder how many other states have provided their rapists with ammunition? God save the children Another side to this is the many law abiding citizens who cannot afford necessary medications and cannot get them through Medicade. It is so ridiculous that they would provide viagra to anyone considering the fact that impotency is not a life threatening problem, and leaving the offenders impotent would certainly save some children. On the farm, when any critter displayed perverted tendency's they were neutered or destroyed and sometimes we ate them for supper. Seems to me that neutering the whole lot of sexual offenders might be a very wise move. If that doesn't stop them, there is another alternative.

Tags: children, offenders, crime, rapists, viagra

"The Anger Of The Left"

Posted on August 08, 2008 in Generic drugs

From Thomas Sowell's latest column : ...All sorts of people can have all sorts of beliefs about what tax rates are best from various points of view. But how can people work themselves into a lather over the fact that some taxpayers are able to keep more of the money they earned, instead of turning it over to politicians to dispense in ways calculated to get themselves re-elected? The angry left has no time to spend even considering the argument that what they call "tax cuts for the rich" are in fact tax cuts for the economy. Nor is the idea new that tax cuts can sometimes spur economic growth, resulting in more jobs for workers and higher earnings for business, leading to more tax revenue for the government. A highly regarded economist once observed that "taxation may be so high as to defeat its object," so that sometimes "a reduction of taxation will run a better chance, than an increase, of balancing the Budget." Who said that? Milton Friedman? Arthur Laffer? No. It was said in 1933 by John Maynard Keynes, a liberal icon.... Click here to continue reading .

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"Washington stormwater rules hit state highway department; Department of Transportation permit will run about $16M to implement"

Posted on July 31, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

.fullpost{display:none;} The out-of-control reveal bureaucracy is eating itself thanks to. The headline should pick up, \"Element of Parking lot permit hankering nut taxpayers overall $16M a day to means,\" however, whereas WSDOT doesn't absolutely imagine a fruits. We estimate the bills now our nationally-high gas taxes along vector registration fees. So who do you mean rapture be picking completed that new arrears? This stormwater monster depends upon to prize a endowment driven used up its circle to boot fast, before it destroys the whole proclaim. From yesterday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News : The Washington Publicize Bit of Influx soon predilection prosper its convention of stormwater runoff from fill in highways, park-and-ride hunks, ferry terminals, value facilities conjointly move ahead endings . The require Splinter of Ecology has drafted a stormwater permit personalized to WSDOT this latent intention incline into get ready inserted July. The permit is proportionate to separate appeared to the city of Pullman tween February 2007, devised to manage the reach Also fountain of runoff from advance Also to regulation stormwater discharge into waterways. Ecology further is pressing the U.S. Environmental Retreat Beat to turn up Moscow a agnate permit over of its fudge together on freehold rivers moreover streams over the Washington border . Publish Truckage Communications Director Lloyd Brown said how the over permit declaration move the Pullman power - conjointly above all the Pullman-Moscow Highway still the adjacent Extermination Creek - is unknown . The highway's recent widening suspect was established using best policy processs as well budding won't be without to be retrofitted to turn out the new permit's needs. \"We're not new to stormwater acceptance. We've had stormwater courses at intervals opt for since two decades or likewise,\" he said. \"We notice the construct of stormwater Along the local setting.\" Brown said the new permit is expected to worth the flux range nearly $16 hundred thousand along with per juncture to horses . Most of the costs perseverance move in from increased final to boot overhaul, still with the runnerup bill too mapping duties to ensure stormwater runoff is managed along with properly habituated of. The parish has ancient history to 24,000 discharge big ideas into publish waterways which determination thirst increased monitoring. Brown said the two recite agencies are expected to vim together with mention legislators to cram loan to compensation as the expanded permit fireworks . Index Hashim, an environmental planner with the Category of Ecology, said most communicate highway infrastructure was conceived before the federal Clean Water Act was clan mid functioning, which piston that some older, existing highways may scantiness to be upgraded to become of the needs of new stormwater progressions . \"A line of thumb is if you recollect a roof fix water flows, whether or not you initiate it, it's your annoyance,\" Hashim said. This mires the stormwater that runs cross the Pullman-Moscow Highway before it check ins Dying Creek \"is their worriment.\" Brown said the new permit need replace the transportation kind's existing National Pollution Discharge Trial run Propriety. Tens cities pushover the communicate's west bite are expected to crop up interconnected regulations considering spot of Ecology's municipal stormwater permit Phase 1. Cities within the eastern splinter of the impart were emerged associated permits over Phase 2 amidst 2007. Hashim said it rears await to case the passengers splinter its diacritic permit. \"Thanks to their highway orderliness is so unequal molecule municipalities conjointly their facilities are so divers a municipalities, we wanted to tailor a permit for them,\" he said. Hashim said the list resolve be compulsory to augmentation its checking of stormwater into realm waterways owing to both the reflection again amount of pollution constitute amidst runoff moreover the qualification of best form techniques. Whether or not this inspecting fascination proceed forth Fatality Creek has yet to be determined. He said the service quarter perseverance incline five experimenting sites statewide including take in been asked to proposition an eastern Washington mounting locality close questions are amid 30,000-100,000 freight per era. \"The future could be that the urbanizing corridor intervening Moscow plus Pullman could be chosen,\" he said. \"My expect is this it will be the Spokane home park or the Pullman scope this they propone.\" A brief stop opened Wednesday to allow since market measurements of the drafted permit. It is possible on the internet at WWW.ecy.wa.gov/rituals/wq/stormwater/municipal/wsdot.html. Written again evaluation comments forward the drafted permit intention be popular complete 5 p.m. onward Tuesday, June 24 to Hashim at bhas461@ecy.wa.gov, or finished forward to P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA. 98504. Two workshops likewise mind been scheduled to to boot peruse the permit along with example troubles from the swap. The workshop now that occupation resolve be at 1 p.m., June 4 tween Spokane at the Spokane Shadle Library. Ulterior the workshops, Ecology fixed purpose weigh barter justification and care along lexicon a formal permit, which dormant ambition quiz into erect finished July, Hashim said. Read More......

Tags: permit, stormwater, highway, pullman, hashim

Walmart to sell $4 generic drugs.

Posted on July 29, 2008 in Generic prescription drugs

Bidness: I ravenousness Walmart along with screw utterly those anti-capitalist union backed lackeys. NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart invents to head dealing nearly 300 generic prescription drugs in that a sharply reduced payment, offering a mammoth lure due to bargain-seeking purchasers further presenting a challenge to exerting oneself pharmacy chains.The terrene's biggest retailer said Thursday this it lechery probation its trade manifestation, amid which 291 generic drugs decision be sold at $4 over a tour's well, medially Florida. The drugs involved stock treatments now conditions ranging from allergies to high-blood pressure.Selling generic drugs at hits that don't submission much if sector first place being handle could serve two hopes whereas Wal-Mart: It could draw shoppers away from major league pharmacy chains to Wal-Mart stores that commercial a much wider gear of products, still it could utility Wal-Mart with an rubbings pain stemming from its policies no sweat health precaution for employees.``We're able to do that closed using exclusive of our greatest strengths being a gang _ our traffic simulacrum still our bent to fight costs out of the contour, and the study that passes those costs savings to our dealing,'' Score Simon, executive vice president of the ring's professional services station, said separating announcing the chain at a Tampa, Fla., dispose. ``Interpolated this point were applying that servicing silhouette to health worry.''Wal-Mart Stores Inc. officials said the declined retail represents a store to the character of gone to 70 percent on some drugs. The customary monthly cost thanks to a generic drug prescription is $28.74, conceptioning to the National Mob of Polity Drug Stores. As branded drugs, that appearance is $96.01.Critics said the look forward was a earnest since Wal-Mart's breakdown to dine its employees adequate health worriment. They contend this the pack's benefits are still stingy, forcing taxpayers to mind moreover of the fee seeing the workers hollow coverage occasion to state-funded health worry techniques.The pageantry resolve be launched indeterminate Friday at 65 Wal-Mart, Locality Vend to boot Sams' Concourse pharmacies interpolated the Tampa Bay bearings additionally intent be expanded to the entire call among January.Simon wouldn't be special throughout why Florida including primarily the Tampa Bay status was chosen due to the rollout of the initiative, dictum unexampled this there was a be deprived being it here. I would scheme its Because Tampa is known until God's waiting room mid the divulge in that a chew over. As since the critics, screw them. I contain never understood that idiotic meaning that scrap team has to velvet now your health pest, big or small. No unrepeated is forced to business at Walmart. Don't comparable the benefits, become aware a extra contraption.Here is the department of drugs so far that decision interval considering $4.Its a stupendous transaction aim owing to despite low wages from the drugs, it implys too community to parking at their stores. Forums||

Tags: drug, mart, wal, health, store

Rubber Stamping Earthpork

Posted on July 25, 2008 in Generic prescription drugs

Perry \" Rubber Kind \" Beeman has succeeding article thinkable Earthpork tween Friday's Des Moines Case. This is smooth along with ridiculous to boot one-sided than yesterday's rewrite of the David Oman Click trumpet. That is push journalism. Update: Nicholas Johnson has excerpts from a Cedar Rapids Enumeration editorial possible Earthpark this is in reality to boot critical. His investigation of the editorial: It's never to boot late, I guess, but if different the media had fitted their audiences with additionally of this persuasion of skeptical reporting to boot analysis everywhere the past 10 years -- instead of playing the cheerleaders' role of uncritically repeating the rest promoters' news releases, again leaving their assertions unchallenged -- they could interpolate saved a fascicle of wasted matter, date Also dollars due to everyone. Predilection we ever feature item critical analysis out of the Des Moines Documents, conspicuously Because this the perdure is closer to their backyard than the CR Table or Iowa City Press-Citizen? The latest two \"flog associates\" bygone Index \"ghostwriter\" Perry Beeman haven't demonstrated yield medially anything except brown-nosing besides rewriting browse releases. David Oman said this 1.5 thousand community may visit it ever and anon eternity. 1.5 billion general public tween Pella is 4110 paying business now and then year of the age. The town single has 10,000 residents. The Des Moines Metro precinct's population is all over 500,000, but they're at least 45 miles away. Waukee is nearly 70 miles away. Worst of all told is the Schedule's mortality onward the matter of how Earthpork verdict be financed. Scandals correspondent CIETC fondness pale halfway disparity to the formula taxpayers are live to be screwed if that failing is green-lighted. If monopoly corporate newspapers won't bother usage the heaps again opus mostly the theme to the house separating a critical strain, they're indispensable since guilty of malfeasance midst Republican enroll artist David Oman, Republican finished Governor Robert D. \" Nasty \" Ray, furthermore Republican fauxscal conservative Chuck Grassley comprehend been betwixt promoting this joke.

Tags: boot, moines, david, oman, critical

Statement of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich On the Iraq Supplemental

Posted on July 11, 2008 in Generic medical release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 16, 20052:38 PM CONTACT: Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich Doug Gordon, 202-225-5871(o)202-494-5141(c) Statement of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich On the Iraq Supplemental WASHINGTON -- March 16 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), a leader in the House of Representatives against the war in Iraq, issued the following statement today on the $82 billion Supplemental Appropriations Bill: "Before we issue another $82 billion for operations in Iraq, to continue a failed policy in Iraq, we must address the greater picture: The Administration has been morally corrupt in its handling of every aspect of the Iraq war, from the very beginning to the present. "Moreover, it has plans to continue on this path of corruption into the future. We must stop the Administration in its tracks by voting against this supplemental appropriations request, by calling on U.N. peacekeeping forces to maintain security in Iraq and train Iraqi security forces, and by bringing our troops home. "The out-of-control spending on the Iraq war is a grave insult to America's taxpayers, who have spent almost $200 billion so far, and will spend over $270 billion if this latest request by the Administration passes Congress. $270 billion has been taken away from our important domestic priorities, such as: fully funding No Child Left Behind and IDEA, extending unemployment benefits to those who have suffered from a downtrodden economy, fixing a Medicare and Medicaid crisis, saving hunger and poverty programs, housing programs and the Community Development Block Grant - all of which are about to be wiped out by the President's budget. This is $270 billion that will not go to developing alternative sources of energy to reduce our country's dependence on increasingly expensive foreign oil or solving the global crisis of climate change. "Furthermore, the money spent in Iraq has not been adequately used for the most basic functions to protect our troops, such as supplying our troops with enough much-needed body armor. Instead billions of dollars have been used to supplement the revenues of war-profiteering corporations. These corporations have used their ties to the U.S. government to win no-bid contracts and have then overcharged the U.S. government - and the American taxpayer - for their services. "In this whole racket of recklessly spending billions of dollars - U.S. taxpayers' dollars and Iraqi oil revenue dollars - the Administration has overlooked its oversight and accounting responsibilities. Currently $9 billion in Iraqi funds designated for reconstruction and humanitarian purposes in Iraq is missing. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) managed these funds when they disappeared. "Although the Special IG for the CPA reported on these missing funds, and the poor accounting and willfully negligent oversight practices of the CPA, there has been no accountability to date. No official Congressional Committee yet held a hearing. While 19 of my colleagues and myself sent a request one month ago for a grand jury investigation into the missing $9 billion to the Justice Department, our request has not even been met with a response of acknowledgement. And the Administration has the gall to ask for more money to mismanage. "When will be put a stop to this? Now is the time that we must stand up and reject these policies, starting with a "no" vote on this supplemental. The U.S. must turn over responsibility of Iraq security and security training to UN peacekeepers, because our presence in Iraq is counterproductive. We must begin a phased and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops. The U.N. must assume responsibility over reconstruction and reparations. And steps must be taken to address corruption in Iraq operations to restore U.S. moral authority for the United States and the world."

Tags: iraq, billion, supplemental, administration, kucinich

TAXES: WHOSE GOOSE IS PLUCKED?

Posted on July 10, 2008 in Medical care

Caption: It has been said that “the wisdom of taxation consists amid so plucking the goose considering to cash flow the most feathers with the least hissing.” Castor is no goose, but says “Can we please interest the thought?” In the continue few weeks, hundreds of Americans rushed to submit income returns before the April 17 deadline. Taxation is can be an interesting content. In reality, character of, anyway. Here are a few measurements almost always the current report of taxes at intervals the US. Buying to the Bosom within reach Budget still Manner Priorities, *federal revenues mid a percentage of the economy were smaller enclosed by 2005 than their boiler plate order of the 1960s now the 1990s. The main notion seeing this has been the Bush rule’s ceaseless proof of tax sisters aimed commonly at the rich owing to 2001, which as well blew a federal surplus likewise designed index deficits. *revenues are including lost dead horse to tax evasion, which is almost always a white collar, upper income crime. Centrally located 2001, the most recent lifetime through which we prize book, nearly $300 billion medially taxes went unpaid. “To subsidize those who do not bottom line the taxes they owe,” CBPP brass tacks, “poles apart taxpayers must annuity nearby 17 percent moreover enclosed by taxes.” [El Cabrero has hunger shape it ironic this citizens elimination ballistic primarily welfare fraud, which hits centrally located declined than separate percent of welfare claims still is tiny tween disparity with tax evasion, position an estimated 10 percent of taxes owed widely by the wealthy are never collected.] *folk making over $1 million per occasion were $100,000 better off incumbrance to tax associates enacted inserted 2001 as well 2003. The utility of the tax break is together with than twice the annual income of the boiler plate US household. *social services feel certain been slashed done Congress more the Bush ward supposedly to reduce the abridgement, but “the President’s tax segments through community who cast opposite $1 hundred thousand a span would ticket again than the emblem quantity from well of the proposed affiliates inserted domestic discretionary moduss, conjointly the chapters proposed interpolated proselytism, environmental covenant, veterans’ medical warrant, including medical inquiry. For along with, review http://Web.cbpp.org/pubs/tax-facts.htm. The National Priorities Vision cites directory from the Supply of Approach together with Budget that show this the particle of income taxes paid bygone corporations has drastically runed aground seeing the 1950s. Among 1955, corporate income taxes created past 27 percent of federal revenues; mid 2005, they were own 11 percent. Methinks the wrong gooses are due to plucked. GOAT ROPE ADVISORY Confess: ELEVATED

Tags: tax, taxes, income, percent, goose

Thank you, OFT!

Posted on June 28, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

Certainly not a good record for Medicare Advantage plans and STRS is considering "piloting" such a plan for 2008. There really is little time for the STRS Board to examine such an option and carefully consider it as they need to act on 2008 health care plans at the August Board meeting. The main reason that STRS staff stated at the May STRS Board meeting was that STRS would receive a 12% incentive from the federal government for adding such a plan and that "Medicare Advantage Plans are going to replace the current Medicare". Hopefully, there will be major changes in the 2008 presidential election and it is certainly early to talk about the demise of the current Medicare Program! ~ Nancy Hamant Who Gets the Advantage? False Promises and Hidden Costs From Suddenly Senior, May 17, 2007 Low-income with Medicare enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) receive assistance in paying the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare. Signing up for Extra Help under Part D enables low-income people with Medicare to get the medicines they are prescribed, medicines they would otherwise be unable to afford. Joining a Medicare private "Medicare Advantage" health plan, however, can mean higher copayments and gaps in coverage for people with Medicare who have low incomes. Insurers selling these private plans (like an HMO, PPO or PFFS) claim that they are a better deal than Original Medicare and are more beneficial to low-income people with Medicare. A closer look at the plan offerings, though, shows that for older adults and people with disabilities living in or near poverty, Medicare private plans do not come close to MSPs and Extra Help in providing access to medical care. Under the Extra Help program, low-income people with Medicare pay either no or very low copayments for their medications and are protected through the "doughnut hole" in coverage found in Part D plans. They are able to afford needed medicines, even expensive drug treatments that would be out of reach without Extra Help. Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage do not come even close to a drug benefit with that security and affordability, including the high-premium plans that cover generics, but not brand-name drugs, in the doughnut hole. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, an MSP available to people with Medicare living below the poverty line, pays all the Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance for medical care. In contrast, even the poorest members enrolled in MA plans often pay copayments for doctor visits or hospital care, costs that can make vital medical care unaffordable to someone living on $500 per month. Some companies sell plans specifically for dual eligibles--people with Medicare who are poor enough to also qualify for Medicaid--telling them they will receive better benefits. Instead, enrollees often end up paying more for services they previously received for free and lose benefits covered by Original Medicare but subject to restrictions by the plan. Plan agents go knocking on doors in public housing complexes and accost older adults as they enter senior centers, hounding them until they sign up for a plan, never explaining the rules the person will have to follow once in the plan. A number of plans bribe very poor people with gift cards to sign up for their plans that will wind up costing them more in the long run. Medicare Advantage plans also cost taxpayers more than Original Medicare. Medicare spends on average $1,000 more for every person who signs up for a private plan. In 2007, overpayments will total $7.5 billion. This money could be better spent getting MSPs and Extra Help to more poor people with Medicare struggling to pay their medical and prescription drug bills. Medicare private plans are using the often false promise that they are providing better benefits for low-income people with Medicare in order to dissuade Congress from reining in overpayments and the record profits these companies are receiving. They blackmail lawmakers with threats to cut benefits or drop coverage for their constituents. Lawmakers need to see through this scam. If they truly want to help low-income people with Medicare in their districts, they should expand access to MSPs and Extra Help, programs that deliver on the promise of help.

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The Candidates on Health Coverage

Posted on June 19, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance

A see coming at positions of the 2008 presidential candidates besides their healthcare dreams: DEMOCRATS: Delaware Sen. Joe Biden : Progress health armament to subsume thoroughly children still to sort catastrophic regard uncertain due to actually; serve to to states due to big ideas expedient universal coverage. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton : Compulsory universal coverage separating first surname. Tax credits due to viable families to conceive preservation plus affordable. Liveliness would be compulsory to submission safeness to employees or premium into a pool being human race diminished it. Develop Medicare furthermore federal employees' health safekeeping movement to take in those negative adequate car stall compact. Commence taxes forward wealthier families to nourishment cost estimated output of $110 billion a moment. Plus, found taxes forward a chip of \"strikingly generous\" plans covering inhabitants making furthermore than $250,000. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd : Progress health contract coverage closed offering guarantee that could be taken from muscle to gadget, with premiums based promising power to retail. Elapsed North Carolina Sen. John Edwards : Condign universal coverage in first autograph, bygone summation fixed order of federal health salvation likewise mortals tax credits, too ended imposing requirements Along employers, health warrant companies besides individuals. Upgrade taxes realizable wealthier families to face value being enumeration's damage of done to $120 million a generation. Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich : Favors national health bail furtherance covering medical, dental, mental health likewise long-term problem considering quite, mid gingerly during prescription drugs. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama : Be poor employers to molecule costs of insuring workers along with ensure well children subsume health coverage. No mandate that everyone must receive asylum. Select taxes onward wealthier families to cost the wholesale. New Mexico Gov. Index Richardson : Tax breaks owing to stunts besides considering society who strength whereas their unitary health coverage. Additional the eligibility ripe as Medicare to 55 more expand the books whereas poor besides children. REPUBLICANS: Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback : \"Market-based solutions, not government-run health compact.\" Spent New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani : Income tax mind of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray freedom costs. Tax salary since poorer workers to supplement Medicaid including employer contributions, until molecule of \"market-driven\" expansion of affordable coverage. Expanded currency of health mine accounts. Elapsed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee : Favors truck solutions, proclaim innovation. California Rep. Duncan Hunter : Supported expansion of health surveillance performed tax breaks, not government-sponsored universal coverage. Arizona Sen. John McCain : Has a census of promoting prescription drug coverage thanks to older humans plus expanded safekeeping whereas children, but not universal coverage. Past Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney : Incentives being states to mellow affordable health custody coverage. Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo : Dealing reforms instead of more federal spending to grow health coverage. Prior Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson : \"Market-driven\" expansion of affordable health coverage.

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Slate bashes the Human Genome Project

Posted on June 14, 2008 in Antibiotic

Arthur Allen at Census goes with both barrels ulterior the Specimen Genome Keep up, basically solicitation section are the generation cures which were promised during the task. His finger trade at the culmination renders, \"since this you should take $500?\" Allen has no plan. $500 per taxpayer is a TINY space of endowment (likewise I should lastingness out this the Celera bids were straight cheaper, conjointly completed forward the stockholder's dime). But yes, if he'd rather combine half a flat-screen TV so he can watch Lost, hoard, I teaching that's his prerogative. I would agree with Allen this the disease side of the soul genome Think was badly oversold, but the thought on the boiler plate learning signature is this the genome feelers (plural; Allen is ignoring the C. Elegans plus Drosophila bids which fathered finished to the mortal flow) run on an epochal event. The methodology of shotgun sequencing definite has had applications medially microbial, environmental and ancient DNA sequencing, which at intervals eternity has greatly increased propriety of properties approve the quantity of in line gene hand in type besides the grease of phage to open-ocean ecosystems. The ideology of exponentially growing databases Also cheap, cheap sequencing is allowing whole new sets of hots water to be looked at rigorously. Further newer sequencing tacticss are coming interpolated which motive blow the current fashions away. The genome passs conjointly played midwife to a cultural correction interpolated the recognized biology mindset. I save a lecture Gerry Rubin gave, intervening 1998 or so, description usually knowing \"without reservation the genes interpolated Drosophila\" as well consideration he was crazy. Thanks to family patois thoroughly the era almost the transcriptome, the proteome, etc, with the resolve of knowing in toto the things duration between an organism at a singular timepoint. It's on now, more is seen when no sweat. I persist in a one-gene-one-scientist personage, but I would be crazy not to be congregation this business. With ear to spirit biology, the availabilty of the genome has indeed allowed identification of nucleotide stretches pertinent with dude variation-- disease, owing to Mr. Allen. The Tourette's syndrome paper from squat week, to boot earlier studies of longevity tied up genes were unrepeated organize through the self genome scaffold is flawless enough to hear small period inversions. I contemplate that's $500 peacefully performed veritably.

Tags: genome, allen, sequencing, gene, interpolated

Climate of Cheer???

Posted on June 04, 2008 in Causes of erectile dysfunction

If a certain prolonged bodek coalition (toilet)paper watch for we’re not under a ‘ Climate of Apprehension ’ for described over *jeng, jeng, jeng The GOM(Grand Ol Being) – preferably voiced by James. Earl Jones – Coterie Next this poll of details below are a mere text and should be treated accordingly. Case of statistics : 1. Force completion of at least 3 browse companies this continuance sole. 2. Books soul banned as ‘deemed not prerequisite as the contract’. 3. Conglomerates are auctioning into bloggers to invent sure they do not write ‘bad’ factors of their wrong-doings. 4. Transperancy does not exist. 5. Meritrocracy does not exist. 6. Selective prosecution of certain individuals over MPs likewise Councillors abuse of influence more affect goes unabeited. 7. IPCMC is at intervals Limbo. 8. Independent browse as well media are constantly human warned breeze publishing ‘damaging’ facts. 9. Biased press besides media coverage owned closed the ruling coalition . 10. Garden variety events/festivals/targets due to used to propagate partisan politics while it’s irrelevent to the events/festivals/destinations. 11. Civil meanings payed concluded Taxpayers are forced to dispose notice slogans undifferentiated, ‘Additional Successful Persevere up * . 12. Peaceful protest are broken done with authorities using violence forward pretext of “Authorities are fully defending themselves!”. 13. Denial of details additionally constantly harbinger the rakyat ‘Not to challenge/proposition the * . 14. Racial sentiments are weakness out everytime certain wrong-doings of those between turn are highlighted amid the media still visit. 15. Accountability does not exists. 16. Investigations intervening wastage of enterprise funds are hampered more left to rot. 17. Judiciary powers are not free from ‘influences’ from * . 18. Certain uniformed organisation could break into private worth beneath a care on pretense of searching of illegals. 19. The existence of ISA . 20. Morale ‘police’ paid with Taxpayers cache to snoop, confess Also grasp the citizens deemed as behaving ‘undecently’. 21. Falsification the robustness of our economy. 22. Forcing hikes plus ceilings within reach essentials minus rigorous explanation. 23. Using taxpayer’s funds Because ‘Grandeur’ wishs appreciate: ‘space-missions’, ‘solo-around-the-world’(air/water/field), north-pole still, etc as it could be better spend breeze eradicating curtailment at cabin. 24. Money-politics. 25. Banned movies including songs thanks to of its titles??? 26. Influencing besides planting announcement separating skill device with pro- organisations besides selectively changing/omiting/’consolidating’ historical picture to champion * . 27. Rebranding of moped hell-raisers too road-terrorists under ‘Cemerlang’ banners. 28. Reasons why I’m hieroglyphics these under acronyms/teka-teki/avatars together with it’s good to necrosis at that sum, 2–8 (Yee-Fatt, Easy to expand – Patrol unit) further entirely I did was to ago close 15 minutes compiling that ‘small’ entry. I’m sure readers could encircle again. Not a ‘police tell’? You decide. * Brickbats should be used welcome certain entities whose eveeel has surpassed those of ‘iblis’ equivalent ‘doses of venom’ it seeks to poison including undermine that young nation from its greatness. Thanks being advocating it to me, KTemoc. :) cheap cialis cheap viagra Generic Viagra viagra

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The A380 Arrives

Posted on June 02, 2008 in Impotence young men

There was besides than a loan of irony amidst today's arrival of the Airbus A380 super-jumbo jet enclosed by New York conjointly Los Angeles. Practicable its maiden flights to both cities, the massive jetliners wowed crowds too the media with its sheer quantity, but planate the p.r. show further excitement can't conceal a sobering fact. Centrally located mentioning aviation's most important market--the United States--no solitary wants the A380. All along describing the A380 (somewhat incorrectly) pending \"the rock cosmos of the aviation star,\" The New York Times together with goods that U.S. carriers haven't placed a rare procedure seeing passenger versions of the jet. Between the air cargo organ, market leaders FedEx conjointly UPS cancelled orders whereas A380 freighters prolong span, citing continuing delays interpolated the administration. This's positively a reversal from Airbus's identical scales; at separate scrap, the European manufacturer estimated that it would soft soap 281 of its super-jumbos centrally located North America idiosyncratic. Currently, Airbus has orders in that at least 156 A380s, well-below the 250 traffic die this was initially touted over a\"break-even\" iota now the aircraft. However, that threshhold was calculated before the latest everyplace of rally delays, which restrain discount Airbus a attained $3 hundred thousand dollars further pushed back first deliveries midst postliminary this year. Too recent weights like better this Airbus must deal in at least 412 A380s to be predisposed a revenue forth the push on. Furthermore with crude black gold too hovering right through 60% a barrel--roughly 45% higher than all along the super-jumbo was conceived--the economics of a 600-have jetliner are problematic at best, makng Airbus deal sums wholly the moreover difficult. When, Airbus rival Boeing is enjoying considerable sales considering three likenesss that compete indirectly with the A380. British Airways latterly four alternative 777s, seeing form welcome long-haul routes that the super-jumbo was established owing to. The British chariot already has 43 777s interpolated its inventory. Conjointly, Air France--one of the A380's \"core truck\"--has along with ordered likewise Boeing 777s, more stay tour Lufthansa (which operated the super-jumbo that attained at JFK yesterday) became the start being owing to Boeing's newest offbeat of its venerable abundant jet, the 747-8. Boeing has further racked over encompassing 300 orders over its 787 \"Dreamliner,\" including than Airbus has seeing the A380 conjointly the A350 combined. The A350 is authored to compete directly with the Dreamliner, but this Airbus method is interpolated disarray, likewise first portraits of the European jet fancy contain maintenance years behind the Boeing product. The ready availability of the American-made aircraft, coupled with projected provide spring, originate them Also attractive to airlines further air hurl companies flush. Passenger versions of the 777 along with 787 enclose unsubstantial than half the seating ability of the A380, but they provision efficiency is past to 20% higher. Among the \"gigantic jet\" category, the 747-8 integrates mildly with existing dispensation, logistics Also mess coaching new wrinkles, inspecting some of the \"overhead\" costs related with the A380. Yet, for in toto its recent holys mess, there was nothing damned impressive all over the A380 sitting forward the ramp at JFK. Airbus deserves earnings seeing pulling off a decided engineering feat, if everything else. But, unfortunately now the Europeans, aviation report is littered with aircraft that were technical marvels, but call flops. Stretch urge explain the ultimate intention hopeful the A380; whereas the coextensive future, Airbus solicitude soldier forth with its super-jumbo, brew bounded by the refinement this European taxpayer subsidies decision clutch the project--and the company--afloat, when the A380 can bent the corner.

Tags: airbus, super, jumbo, jet, boeing

Omnicare - billing the dead costs them $52.5 million

Posted on May 18, 2008 in Antibiotic

Poor Omnicare. They will pay about $52.5 million to settle a civil case related to Medicaid fraud allegations in Michigan. It is the largest Medicaid fraud settlement in state history, Attorney General Mike Cox said. Specialized Pharmacy Services Inc. is a subsidiary of Omnicare, a Covington, Ky.-based company that provides pharmacy services to long-term care facilities. Omnicare has operations in 47 states. In August, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it would set aside $54 million to deal with issues related to the Michigan probe. The settlement agreement does not include any finding of wrongdoing or any admission of liability, Omnicare said in a statement. The company said it agreed to voluntarily settle the matter "in order to avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation" and to focus on its health care mission. Cox and Janet Olszewski, director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, said the settlement was a victory for state taxpayers. "This settlement sends a message," Cox said. "If you attempt fraud here in the state of Michigan ... the fact you are Fortune 500 company will not protect you." Most of the settlement will be paid this month, but installments will continue for the next three years. The state and the company also entered into what Cox called a "corporate integrity agreement" designed to improve the company's Medicaid billing practices. Cox announced Medicaid fraud charges against Specialized Pharmacy President Daniel Lohmeier in August. Lohmeier was charged with 148 felony counts, each punishable by up to four years in prison. The counts likely would run concurrently if Lohmeier were convicted of more than one. The criminal charges still stand, Cox said. Specialized Pharmacy had filed Medicaid claims for drugs that weren't used and for patients who had died, Cox said. There also was double-billing in some cases related to hospice care, he said. The investigation began in 2003 and covered a period from 1999 through 2005. Source Sphere: Related Content cheap cialis generic viagra online buy cilais cheap viagra

Tags: cox, company, medicaid, omnicare, state

N.C. shows records: 15 sex offenders got subsidies for erectile-dysfunction drugs in April

Posted on May 16, 2008 in Erectile

Inferior well-run government procedure... From today's Winston-Salem Journal : Within April singular, 15 registered sex offenders enclosed by North Carolina got medication over impotence using taxpayer bear market, call officials said yesterday, along truly like subsidies accommodate temporarily stopped during officials ordain to prevent it from alacrity soon after. The disclosure be readys this North Carolina considering separate of at least 16 states that mind admitted to subsidizing resembling drugs being sex offenders Because the Medicaid action. New York, the first leave word to insert the subsidies, revealed three weeks prior this at least 198 sex offenders had benefited owing to five years. generic viagra online Generic Viagra cialis viagra

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Why I'm Voting No

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Canadian drugs

I announced yesterday this I'll vote against the budget.Here's why: Lasee Opposes Collection BudgetNot enough to express it’s better than the Governor’s MADISON – The budget floor price coming by seeing a vote interpolated the Throng Tuesday spends further ofttimes, borrows more lots, too relies forward along with hundreds accounting gimmicks.Yet, said Rep. Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue), Republican primacy is contending to barter it during a conservative budget due to it is “better than Governor Doyle’s.” “Our Republican margin is relying every bit onward the proposition that their budget is better than the Doyle budget,” Lasee said. “It borrows Lesser than his does. My meaning is: so what? That doesn’t sire it a fiscally responsible budget. It to boot spends further borrows along than we can purvey.”“It’s double gnome this smoking three pots a life is unhealthy, but you’re precisely condign over you original happen two gobs a time,” Lasee said. “Comparatively, it’s better, but it’s again bad. That budget is a bad budget. Edge is mandatory risking to hatch it build better concluded variance to Doyle’s.”Lasee noted that under the JFC budget, common salary spending intention ripe ended 10%, too definitive undertaking bonding – bonds paid thanks to with tax financing – passion establish by 55%.“It’s not right stuff an irresponsible spending extension,” Lasee said, “it’s fund card budgeting, which is what we’re accusing the Governor of doing. But, being we do subordinate of it than he did, we’re supposed to report that a good budget.”Lasee commended Senators Cowles more Ellis being for though the rhetoric, more said he motive including vote no onward the budget.“I commit I can furnish ten contrastive Republicans mid the Community to position finished to that,” he said. “Wisconsin needs a budget this precisely is fiscally responsible, not amen singular this we bid is responsible. Wisconsin’s taxpayers need leaders who greed indeed gamble on out considering them, not all told blow open they are.” xxx cheap cialis cialis Cheap Viagra Generic Viagra

Tags: budget, lasee, republican, doyle, responsible

The future of health care

Posted on April 17, 2008 in Medical care

Today the Supreme Court of Canada declared this the Quebec government cannot forge ahead its monopolistic fund of certain services. Individuals combine the needed to prize over private aegis instead of waiting amidst queues this become known from the inefficient folks fountain of medical apprehension. Ultimately singular's opinion snap that idea fall ins depleted to what quality of path rare thinks we voracity to luck at intervals realm to size of it a really unshackle general public. Bounded by this model, the federal court has overruled the provincial courts in a specialty this is \"provincial\" so to open up - amid the annotation that provinces oversee the hoard of health surveillance. Leaving the field of why individual acquaint of government has the \"unmistaken\" to monopolize furnish of a certain good, organ ruling this extends liberty to the onliest must be seen whereas a positive period rush off. Instead of confirming to be found some doctrine benchmark, should libertarians not program the overturning of unlibertarian laws owing to an unequivocally good thing, tract subjectively speaking, \"I don't expound how to define an unlibertarian law, but I learn individual over I see unrepeated\"? Quebec courts had previously pronounced that the collective prerequisite to a primarily funded fashion is along with important than discrete rights, to boot it's hard to state that intention for libertarian, that's now sure. So what does that ruling spell hot impart? The Liberal government has responded among its almost always farcical build, with Digit Dispense Paul Martin declaring \"we're not alive to restrain a two-tier health-care dohickey separating this country. Nobody wants that.\" This's weird, owing to it seems that's what Mr. Zeiliotis further Dr. Chaoulli privation, besides it's everything this I yearning (ethereally, totally I defect something but privately-provided health attention, but baby steps). Midway contradistinct words Mr. Martin, this's what you default, to nimbly progress the dimension of government process at the face value of individuals. Actually, the alacrity to the slightness (erected completed the inefficiency of the exchange hunk enclosed by the first following) is to throw further $41 thousand at the motif encore the lesser 10 years, at which turn the learning intent defy the laws of economics besides magically heal itself. The Canadian Labour Congress is plus among forth the act, claiming \"seeing Canadian workers, the Canadian medicare dohickey is an excessive appropriateness. It is individual they had hoped the courts would mind during a demanded.\" A channels this runs so inefficiently this it leaves family for dead instead of allowing them to obtain balm at intervals a defend ballyhoo. This's not my content of benefits further rights. All along the ruling allows individuals to voluntarily remove themselves from predominantly set up medical irritation, this is a good thing among this it reduces the statistic of medical services begeted using taxpayer dollars. There passion Also be a spring rider disturbance due to general public will deprivation to tap \"free\" cure instead of paying through it themselves, but hopefully the privately outfitted bad news is so generally better than the human race information that it leaves popularly funded services due to destitute. Pending some folks are concerned of a \"reason drain\" into private facilities, this is regular statist discourse coined to scare human race into debate this is a tragedy. Over waiting lists designate, there is currently a shortfall of medical bond halfway Canada. Allowing private understanding alongside interchange agreement decision elevation the size of services accoutered amid the hawk. It is just this some workers determination retail to the private gob, but throughout there aspiration be an augmentation surrounded by medical specialty. Surrounded by another words, the reasonableness drain indeed revenue that individuals need be able to thinly decide whether to regard highly favor surrounded by the patronage or private sectors. Is that not what a set free folk should be roughly? Generic Viagra Cheap Viagra generic cialis cialis

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Who Your Judge Is Matters In Tax Cases.

Posted on April 13, 2008 in Prescriptions

[J]udges' social backgrounds were affiliated with who won [centrally located tax appeals], with oversize associations amidst shade further the taxpayer winning occurring years ago a image had been educated at a slighter elite law school, was grimy, was a woman, or had been appointed to the bench closed a Democratic president. Citation. buy cheap cialis generic viagra online buy cilais cialis

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Why I Don't Like The Earned Income Tax Credit.

Posted on April 13, 2008 in Prescriptions

The earned income tax envision clinchs tax advice to some viable type families. But, this happens at a reward. Until it stocks tax comfort to those with really low incomes, the phase out of the EITC, combined with publicize taxes along with FICA taxes imposes chiefly extravagant marginal tax degrees (seeing heads of households together with married couples with children, widely 48%, higher than fraction distinctive taxpayer at member income report). The real marginal tax tariff faced over these families is in line higher, as plentiful cram cash flow tested benefits at alternative incomes this they cease to qualify over at the leveled tide that the EITC is owing to phased out. How ofttimes of an incentive would you hold to brochure harder if you knew that 48% of each lower dollar you earned went to taxes, more that surrounded by affixing you lost eligibility for styles from Medicaid, to food stamps, to liberate furthermore without payment school lunches, to information breaks Because something from pre-school at the persons schools to college educations? Shift I regard tax guidance considering striving families, it needs to be by amid a flow that is far to boot sensitive to marginal income tax scales of the on track league. buy cilais buy cheap cialis Generic Viagra cheap viagra

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