Daily Archives: 09/11/2013

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Paying for implants


Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

You’re stuck paying when implants fail. Really.Hip and knee manufacturers make billions marketing their products to younger and younger Americans. But they don’t back them up with a warranty, leaving  patients or taxpayers on the hook for their cost if they fail. Join our campaign to demand they warranty implants!Take action

 

 

 

 

You’ve likely seen the TV ads for knee and hip replacements. These implants are big business in America, and why not? Who doesn’t want to feel better, play longer.

But there’s something important you don’t know. Most hips and knees aren’t required by the FDA to be proven safe and effective before they’re implanted in our bodies.

And despite manufacturer claims that implants are safe and of high quality, the largest U.S. companies won’t back them up with a warranty if they fail – dumping the cost to replace them on patients or taxpayers. Really?

Join our campaign to demand implant makers warranty their products. You shouldn’t pay for their failure!

Just like the warranties that cover defects in cars and computers, artificial knees and hips should come with a guarantee so the manufacturer – not you or Medicare – pays to replace them due to a defect. Already more than a million surgeries are performed each year, and that’s expected to reach 4 million by 2030 as industry markets these joints to younger Americans.

When an implant fails, it can require complex revision surgery that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Recently, Johnson & Johnson recalled a metal hip after one in eight patients needed it replaced within just five years. Our research found that all the major hip and knee makers have recalled a product, or line of products, in the past decade.

Without a warranty, it’s unclear who pays: the patient, the insurance company, or Medicare – which taxpayers end up covering. Only one major manufacturer has a warranty, and it’s just on one knee product. For all other hips and knees, companies aren’t on the hook for the replacement cost, despite implants ringing up billions in annual sales.

These companies make big money marketing new knees and hips to us. Demand they back their products with a warranty!

By taking action, you’ll be joining tens of thousands of other consumers sending an email directly to manufacturers’ headquarters. The more emails we can send, the more we can hold companies accountable for their products!

Sincerely, Lisa McGiffert, Consumers Union Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Small business and ACA


Hangout with the SBA and Cover Oregon to find out
The third in a series of three Google+ Hangouts brought to you by the SBA and Cover Oregon will discuss what small businesses need to know about Oregon’s Health Care Marketplace, Cover Oregon, and how they will access coverage through the web portal. Cover Oregon will address specific small business needs including:

  • How to request real-time carrier quotes including available plans and rates
  • The process to search for and select a medical plan and dental plan for employees
  • How to set up the open enrollment period for employees
  • The process for e-signature and carrier submission

Have additional questions about how the health care law will impact your business in Oregon? Watch the earlier Hangouts that covered specific topics of the Affordable Care Act like the Marketplace and the Small Business Tax Credit.

The first Hangout described the new Health Care Marketplace in Oregon, Cover Oregon. Through Cover Oregon, employers and individuals will be able to shop for health insurance plans and access financial assistance to help pay for coverage. The second Hangout covered the small business tax credit available under ACA and the eligibility requirements to qualify for it.

Join us September 17, 2013, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. and learn how Cover Oregon can help you.

Registration is not required for these Hangouts.  Simply click on SBA’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/sba or Google+ Page www.google.com/+sbagov and tweet your questions using the hashtag #CoverOregon.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t Be Fooled


By 

Republicans Try to Force Even More Budget Cuts

The government will shut down in 20 days – just nine congressional work days — unless Congress passes a bill to keep funding it. And while most of the media focus has been on the GOP’s unceasing effort to defund, delay, and undermine Obamacare, Speaker Boehner (R-OH) is plotting another, more hidden plan to lock in damaging and unnecessary austerity for the rest of the year and possibly into 2014.

Boehner has promised that to avoid a government shutdown, he will ask the House to pass a “clean” short-term budget resolution, simply extending current spending levels while a longer-term deal is worked out. That may sound reasonable, but hidden behind Boehner’s deceptive claims are some pretty dirty truths.

First of all, current spending levels are already painfully and unnecessarily low, but Boehner’s plan would go even further and lock in another round of deep cuts to domestic spending.

But it doesn’t stop there. Boehner’s plan actually increases defense spending by $20 BILLION compared to the sequester, while leaving spending on non-defense discretionary programs at unacceptably low levels.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) crowing about the cuts they are trying to force on Democrats and the president:

“In signing a CR at sequester levels,” Cantor wrote, “the president would be endorsing a level of spending that wipes away all the increases he and congressional Democrats made while they were in charge and returns us to a pre-2008 level of discretionary spending.”

Wait, there’s more! On top of all of this, House Republican leaders have devised a convoluted scheme to try and trick rank-and-file Republicans into not shutting down the government over Obamacare while still being able to somehow claim they defunded the law. This “smoke and mirrors” plan is already being derided by the Tea Party and recent polling found that just 6 percent of voters think delaying and defunding Obamacare is the right path forward.

(This final scheme comes on top of a separate GOP demand issued today that Democrats either agree to delay Obamacare for a year or Republicans will refuse to increase the debt ceiling, thus creating a world economic calamity.)

BOTTOM LINE: Republicans have scheduled just 9 days of work in September and aren’t even planning on being here the week before funding for the government runs out. Passing a partisan spending plan with only GOP votes is just another waste of time that makes it more likely that the government will shut down because of GOP intransigence, demands for damaging austerity, or both.

For a detailed brief from the Center for American Progress on how all of this adds up — or doesn’t — click HERE.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

UCS


The $11 Trillion Reward

It’s no secret—the American diet of unhealthy, processed foods is killing us. More than 725,000 Americans die from heart disease and stroke each year. We can shrink this number through healthy eating, but we need our government working for—not against—us. Our new report, The $11 Trillion Reward, shows just how damaging current U.S. food policy is—favoring cheap, processed foods over fresh fruits and veggies—and what we can do to improve it. Check out the report, share it on Facebook and Twitter, and read on for more important updates! —Karla

This Just In
Watch: The real cost of junk food WATCH: The real cost of junk food If Americans ate just one more serving of fruits or vegetables a day, we could prevent 30,000 deaths each year. The benefits of healthy eating are clear, yet our government spends billions subsidizing processed foods like chips and soda that undermine our health, while fruits and vegetables get very little support. Watch our new video to see just how damaging current U.S. policy is—and what you can do to change it. MORE
Ask a Scientist
Jeffery O'HaraJeffrey O’Hara Agricultural Economist “What is UCS doing to encourage American farmers to grow more vegetables and fruit that would be healthier for our diets given that so many of them are dependent on government subsidies to grow commodity crops like corn and soybeans?”—Lanni Isenberg, Newton, MA It is not an accident that the U.S. agricultural landscape looks the way it does. Farm policy plays a critical role in influencing which crops are grown. Today, excessive subsidies are directed to “commodity” crops such as corn and soybeans that are used as animal feed and ingredients in processed junk foods. At the same time, as I describe below, federal farm policy restricts fruit and vegetable production. To make matters worse, significant obstacles exist in some communities for those wishing to use nutrition assistance benefits to buy healthy food at local markets.  MORE

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Do you have a question for UCS scientists? Submit your question today.
Science in Action
Act now for a healthier Farm Bill DEADLINE: Act now for a healthier Farm Bill There are just days left to win support for healthy food and sustainable agriculture in the Farm Bill, which sets U.S. food policy for the next five years. Despite the importance of this legislation, Congress is locked in ideological battles that threaten to derail chances to pass this legislation before the current law expires at the end of the month. If this happens, programs that support healthy food and sustainable agriculture will suffer the most. If you’ve already contacted your elected officials, now is the time to contact them again. Tell Congress: The time is NOW to pass a Farm Bill that puts healthy food and farms first!
Black History

~~ the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


visitors-memorials-eve

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.  Following the prayer and the pledge, there will be a moment of silence to pay tribute to the thousands of Americans whose lives were taken on September 11, 2001.

 Following any Leader remarks, the time until 2:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 There will be a bipartisan, bicameral remembrance ceremony of the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks at 11:00am tomorrow on the East Front of the Capitol.

Members will gather in the rotunda at 10:45am.

The Senate is in a period of morning business for debate only until 2:30pm, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees and Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be a bipartisan, bicameral remembrance ceremony of the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks at 11:00am on the East Front of the Capitol.  Members will gather in the rotunda at 10:45am.

As a reminder, there is an order to adopt the motion to proceed to S.1392, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, with the concurrence of the Republican Leader. Discussions continue on the appropriate time to turn to its consideration.

The Senate has adopted the motion to proceed to S.1392, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013. By consent, no amendments or motions relative to Syria or the use of military force are in order during the consideration of the bill. The time until 6:00pm is equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees. There will be a period for debate only to allow for opening statements on the bill (Wyden 20 minutes, Murkowski 20 minutes, Shaheen 15 minutes and Portman 15 minutes). Senators will be notified if and when any votes are scheduled.

The following amendments are pending to S.1392, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 :

The Merkley amendment #1858 (standby power usage study) is pending

Senator Inhofe asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to consider Inhofe-Carper amendment #1851 (to modify the federal purchase of renewable energy requirement). Senator Vitter objected. Senator Vitter wants an agreement to vote on his healthcare amendment before any other amendments are considered.

 Senator Udall (CO) spoke about an amendment on energy retrofitting of schools that he would like to call up but will refrain from offering until there is no objection to setting aside the pending amendment.

Senator Bennet asked consent to call up amendment #1847 (commercial real estate landlords and tenants). Senator Vitter objected.

Senator Klobuchar asked consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Klobuchar amendment #1856 (retrofitting nonprofit buildings). Senator Portman objected on behalf of Senator Vitter.

The Senate is in a period of morning business until 7pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. We expect to resume consideration of the energy efficiency bill tomorrow morning.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.222, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Save for Retirement Week, including raising public awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement vehicles and increasing personal financial literacy.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Last Floor Action:
10:02:01 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The
House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the
House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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