Headlines
A Secret Santa With White House Connections Brings Christmas Cheer to Sick Children
Some sick children in Texas just got the surprise of their young lives: Santa Claus dropped by the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas to hand out toys. But this surprise visitor wasn’t just one of Santa’s legion of merry helpers. This…
Congress Kicks the Can Down the Road: Chapter 100
In recent years as Congress actually struggled to reduce the nation’s debt – a goal that has now all but disappeared in the nation’s capital – the media took to referring to lost opportunities for Congressional action as “kicking the…
The Top U.S. Healthcare Story For 2014: Cybersecurity
As with every year, there was no shortage of big healthcare stories in 2014. Several publications made good lists and not surprisingly ‒ Ebola appeared at or near the top of many. I do think Ebola qualifies as the top global…
Medicare appeals office cuts seniors’ waiting time to see a judge in half
The federal office responsible for appeals for Medicare coverage has cut in half the waiting time for beneficiaries who are requesting a hearing before a judge. The progress follows an announcement in January that officials were going to work through…
Obama renews tax provisions, creates tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities
President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday that temporarily extends dozens of costly tax breaks for millions of businesses and homeowners, commuters, teachers and others. The measure also allows people with disabilities to open tax-free savings accounts. The law extends the…
Jeb Bush to ‘actively explore’ 2016 presidential bid
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has decided to “actively explore” a presidential bid after conversations with his family over Thanksgiving, he said in a Facebook post Tuesday. While Bush had been making steps toward a presidential bid with recent speeches in…
AMAC: The myRA is Illegal, Illogical, and will add to our Debt
Once again President Obama has passed legislation without Congressional approval. He simply issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Treasury Secretary to issue a new regulation without the need for a law authorizing his action. How could he justify doing that?…
Treasury Finalizes Rules For New Retirement Savings Account: The myRA
A new retirement savings vehicle, the myRA (my retirement account), is now one step closer to being available after the Department of the Treasury’s final regulations became effective December 15, 2014. The myRA was first announced earlier in 2014 by…
Are the Democrats allowing Social Security to twist in the wind?
In these waning days of the Democratic Senate, the majority is taking advantage of a muffed procedural maneuver by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to confirm a passel of otherwise stalled executive branch appointees. Carolyn W. Colvin, who President Obama nominated last…
Senate Cancels Vote on Obama Social Security Pick
President Barack Obama’s pick to head the Social Security Administration has run into more trouble after Senate Democrats canceled a procedural vote on her nomination. Obama nominated Carolyn W. Colvin to a six-year term as commissioner in June, and Colvin’s…