Healthcare
In the United States, many people purchase health insurance to help them cover the sometimes high cost of healthcare services.
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation without some sort of universal healthcare systemConnecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care: The Case For Single Payer, Universal Health Care For The United States (June 4, 1999) and the proposed implementation of an American universal healthcare system has become one of the platforms of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign.BarackObama.com: Healthcare
updated 2010-07-17 07:21:49
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Obama State of the Union
Text of President Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House
Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.
It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable – that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain.
These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, and one people. Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history’s call.
One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum ...
updated 2010-07-17 17:32:44
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Obama Health Plan Live Debate
Mr. Obama indicated that he wanted to allow for all Americans to see the conversation between the various members of the government aimed at seeking a resolution that has caused great consternation and dissension throughout the country on the issue.
When Mr. Obama ran for office in 2008, he made a campaign promise to allow for transparency in the government, and that one way to accomplish this would be televise meetings such as this so that Americans could be more engaged in important issues.
During 2009, both the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed similar health care bills. But neither measure was sufficient enough to bridge the gap in differences between the bills so that a compromised measure could be sent to the White House for approval.
Additionally, the Senate measure was passed while the Democrats enjoyed a 60-seat super-majority. Since the election of Republican Scott Brown from Massachusetts to take the seat formerly occupied by the late Edward Kennedy (who was a Democrat), this appears to be the first step by Mr. Obama and the Democrats at working with Republicans in the Senate, where they are no longer filibuster-proof.
updated 2010-07-17 17:31:05
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Obama 2010 Budget
On February 2, 2010, President Barack Obama unveiled his proposed budget plan for the coming year.http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DJ9S800.htm
According to several published reports, the proposed budget that he is sending to Congress for their approval is set to exceed $3.8 trillion. Among the highlights include an increase in spending to assist those battling unemployment; increasing taxes on those earning an annual salary of $250,000 or more; and place a freeze on all non-essential government programs.
These would exclude military and homeland security budgets, and the proposed freeze on the spending would last for three years. Doing so, according to the administration, would produce a projected savings of $250 billion. Social Security and Medicare would also not be impacted by this proposed freeze of spending.
The proposed $100 billion of the budget that is aimed at a measure to create new jobs is less than the $174 billion bill passed by the House of Representatives back in December of 2009. The budget proposal would also provide for a one-year extension of the stimulus-created "Make Work Pay" tax credit.http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/01/pf/taxes/obama_budget_tax_changes/index.htm?hpt=T1
updated 2010-07-17 17:29:14
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Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission, often referred to as FTC, is an independent agency of the United States government and its main purpose is to promote consumer protection and to prevent anti-competitive business practices such as a monopoly. The FTC was established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/about.shtm
The Federal Trade Commission work is performed by the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Competition and Economics, Commissioners, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Competition and the Bureau of Economics.
The Commission consists of five Commissioners who serve a seven year term. They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioners report to Congress on all its actions.
The Bureau of Consumer Protection's purpose is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive and fraudulent practices via consumer protection laws that were enacted by Congress and trade regulation rules that the Commissioners issued. Their work includes investigations into industries and companies, court litigation, rulemaking proceedings and anything else that could impact consumers.
The Bureau of Consumer Protection consists of The Division of Advertising Practices, The Division of Consumer and Business Education, The Division of Enforcement, The Division of Financial Practices, [[The Division of Marketing Practices[[, The Division of Planning and Information and Division of Privacy and Identity Protection.
The Bureau of Competition enforces antitrust laws, oversees mergers, and investigates existing business practices.
The Bureau of Competition consists of Merger Enforcement, Nonmerger Enforcement, and Research and Policy Studies.
The Bureau of Economics provides ...
updated 2010-07-17 05:08:01
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FTC Blogging Rules
The Federal Trade Commission announced on October 5, 2009 that it plans to regulate blogging and other comments on the internet by requiring bloggers to disclose payments for reviews and other financial relationships.http://www.newsday.com/business/monday-national-business-briefs-1.1502786
The FTC will revise rules regarding endorsements and testimonials in advertising that have existed since 1980. Advertisers' use of platforms such as blogging, Facebook and Twitter to promote their products have led the FTC to make changes in disclosure requirements.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/business/media/06adco.html?_r=1
Beginning December 1, 2009 bloggers and users of social media who review products must disclose all connections with advertisers. Free products and even cash payments are frequently given to bloggers and other reviewers without any disclosure to the readers. Celebrities must now disclose any relationship to companies whose products they promote, whether the medium be traditional, such as television, or new, such as Twitter. The new rules aim to bring the regulation of traditional and new media closer together.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/business/media/06adco.html?_r=1
updated 2010-07-17 05:51:52
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White House Health Care Summit
When he ran for the office of President during the 2008 Election campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama indicated that one reason he could be counted on by voters to impact meaningful change during his tenure in office was to provide much more openness to the process of making relevant change. In fact, President Obama came under fire late in 2009 for refusing to allow C-SPAN to televise specific sessions of negotiation between members of both parties.
As a result, the President decided to host a summit of sorts involving an attempt at bi-partisanship in passing a health care plan that is best suitable for all American citizens. CNN is among the networks being granted access to televise the summit live.
The reason for the summit is to attempt to reach an attainable compromise so that some kind of Universal Health Care plan can be passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. In 2009, both the House of Representatives and the Senate each passed differing versions of Universal Health Care. However, there were too many differing variables to allow for one legislative body to pass the others plan and allow for it to be presented to the chief executive for passage.
The ongoing issue of whether a comprehensive national health care plan could be and/or should be passed by Congress led to a serious bogging down of government along party lines during 2009. Additionally, many have suggested that Republican election victories in the November 2009 gubernatorial races in ...
updated 2010-07-18 02:30:09
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Serve.Gov
Serve.gov is an online resource for information on community service and volunteering. The government website was created by the Obama administration on June 21, 2009.Gather: "United We Serve" - A Challenge to Volunteer by President Obama (June 21, 2009) Official Site: Serve.gov
The purpose of Serve.gov is to help people find places in their own communities where they can volunteer. People are also encouraged to create their own programs of volunteering where they live. The site provides information on the United We Serve summer 2009 service initiative.http://www.serve.gov/about.asp
updated 2010-07-17 21:30:26
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Paygo
- 2001/2003 President Bush tax cuts would be renewed
- The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
- Updating doctors' Medicare payments
- Changing estate taxNewsweek: Obama's Pay-Go Flameout (June 10, 2009)
