Archive for February 2009
$100 billion of lost revenue – flown the coop…
Obama To Target Tax Havens In Budget
Sam Stein stein / Huffingtonpost.com
As part of the budget that he will introduce this Thursday, President Barack Obama will call for the closure of tax havens that allow companies to pay greatly reduced tax rates, an administration official tells the Huffington Post.
The inclusion of “funding for a robust portfolio of IRS international tax compliance initiatives” could help Congress make up an estimated $100 billion of revenue that is lost when companies set up what are often P.O. box addresses in locales like the Cayman Islands. (Read the whole story)
Real Simple – Hiding income so as not to have to pay tax dollars, it is tax evasion.
AIG & Citi – BAD CREDIT RISK
Let us apply their same lending rules back on them. BAD Risk – NO
HEALTH-CARE FRAUD – A Billion Dollar Business!
Since 1986 False Claims Act judgments and settlements against fraud feasors have totaled over $20 billion. Below are the top 20 recoveries to date. NOTE that all 20 of the top 20 are health-care and BIG Pharma related! These are the very companies that you rely upon… They all inform that are looking out for your health. They bombard your every TV hour with ads informing you of the latest drugs and procedures they have to cure all the illnesses they conjure up and then promote… It’s really your pocket book that they are concerned about!
Please consider BOOKMARKING http://www.taf.org so as to be an informed consumer!
THE TOP 20
1- Tenet Heathcare — $900,000,000 under the False Claims Act
2- HCA — $731,400,000 under the False Claims Act
3- Merck – $650,000 under the False Claims Act
4- HCA — $631,000,000 under the False Claims Act
5- Serono– $567,000,000 under the False Claims Act
6- TAP [Taketa-Abbott Pharmaceutical] Pharmaceutical Products Inc. — $559,483,560 under the False Claims Act
7- Schering Plough — $255,000,000 under the False Claims Act
8- Abbott Labs– $400,000,000 under the False Claims Act
9- Fresenius Medical Care of North America (National Medical Care) — $385,000,000 under the False Claims Act
10- Cephalon – $375,000,000 under the False Claims Act
11- Bristol Myers Squib — $328,000,000 under the False Claims Act
12- SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories Inc. doing business as GlaxoSmith Kline — $325,000,000 under the False Claims Act
13- HealthSouth — $325,000,000 under the False Claims Act
14- National Medical Enterprises — $324,200,000 under the False Claims Act
15- Gambro Healthcare — $310,000,000 under the False Claims Act
16- Schering-Plough– $292,969,482 under the False Claims Act
17- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals — $266,127,844 under the False Claims Act
18- St. Barnabas Hospitals — $265,000,000 under the False Claims Act
19- Bayer Corporation — $257,200,000 under the False Claims Act
20- Schering-Plough — $255,000,000 under the False Claims Act
You can read all the details regarding the fraud judgements & settlements here
Members of Congress Offer Prescription for GM Competitive Disadvantage
Feb 20,2009 Healthcare-Now - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and two other Members of Congress today sent a letter to the CEO of General Motors, Mr. Richard Wagoner, Jr., to propose a different kind of auto industry rescue plan that eliminates the competitive disadvantage of inflated health care costs.
As health care costs continue to spiral out of control, the brunt is borne in large part by employers that provide health care. General Motors and other U.S.automakers have significantly higher health care costs than their international competitors — as much as $1400 per car. In the letter, Members of Congress point out that the adoption of H.R. 676, the United States National Health Care Act, would level the playing field and stimulate the economy.
Under H.R. 676, all American residents would receive a National Health Insurance card. The card would be good for health care services at all health care facilities across the country in the National Health Insurance system. Families would be able to choose any licensed doctor and any hospital. There would be no premium, deductible or co-payment. No one would receive a bill for any medically necessary health care services, and by eliminating inefficiencies, the plan would cost the same amount of money that is now spent on health care.
Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and John Conyers (D-MI) also signed the letter.
Socialism – that Evil word!
To all you who think the United States is not a socialist country, think again! Like it or not, BIG change is on the way… And, this might not be as bad as you have been brainwashed to believe? Read the post from Oct 5th (LINK) I would like to have day care, education and health-care provided for my tax dollars! A job might be nice too!?!
Socialism defined: Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating public or state ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equal opportunities for all individuals, with a fair or egalitarian method of compensation.
Nationalizing troubled banks may be the only answer - By Kevin G. Hall | McClatchy
WASHINGTON — Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan thinks it’s necessary. His successor, Ben Bernanke, doesn’t rule it out. From editorial pages to the blogosphere to boardrooms, this is the question on many minds: Should the United States nationalize some banks?
A few months ago, it would have been heretical to suggest that Bank of America could become Bank Owned by America. Now, however, the U.S. economy is sinking faster than anyone thought possible, and respected economic authorities are suggesting that temporary bank nationalization, once the domain of Third World basket cases, could be the best solution. (Read the whole story here)
Jobs for 2009 and beyond…
This video is a good representation of where things are headed unless YOU, the America in worker gets serious and motivated enough to participate in making real changes happen. There isn’t one politician that can ,or will do it for you. You have to let your voice be heard!
Nearly three out of five survey respondents from a Peter Hart Research Associates poll report that they would join a union if they could, but workers attempting to unionize currently face a hostile legal environment and are commonly intimidated by aggressive antiunion employers. The Employee Free Choice Act would help workers who want to join a union do so by ensuring fairness in the union selection process with three main provisions: workers would have a fair and direct path to join unions through a simple major¬ity sign-up; employers who break the rules governing the unionization process would face stiffer penalties; and a first contract mediation and arbitration process would be intro¬duced to thwart bad-faith bargaining. (read the whole story)
Passing the Employee Free Choice Act and making it harder for management to threaten workers seeking to unionize would be good for American workers. It would help boost workers’ wages and benefits. And putting more money in workers’ pockets would provide a needed boost for the U.S. economy. Increasing unionization is one good way to get out of our current economic troubles.
Subsidizing COBRA Is Not Enough!
Subsidizing COBRA Is Not Enough–We Need Single Payer
By Andrew Coates, MD–
COBRA is a law that allows you to keep your employer-sponsored health insurance for 18 months if you lose or change jobs. To do so, you have to pay 102% of the cost (the full premium plus a 2% surcharge).
The stimulus package just passed provides for laid off workers, who had health insurance on the job, to receive a subsidy of 65% of the health insurance premium for up to nine months.
According to a report by FamiliesUSA, the national average unemployment benefit is $1,278 monthly. Under COBRA, national family coverage averages $1,069 per month. So laid off workers, in order to keep health insurance for their families, will have to pay more than $375 a month but after nine months will have to come up with the full $1,069.
To keep family coverage under COBRA, with the subsidy, it will cost people who are laid off, on average, almost one-third of every unemployment check. This money will go to a health insurance company, instead of food, housing and school expenses for the family. (Read the whole story)
Best Prices on Health & Personal Care Products
Need help finding a job!
Superman – Michael Moore vs. Wall Street
As I posted a few days back, any Wall Street executive wanting to change careers and become a moviestar should contact Michael Moore. The payoff could be far greater than not doing so. Hey you could make new friends, make a book deal, earn some legit money and help your country all at the same time!
Employment News for February 17th
Governor Schwarzenegger prepares to lay off 10,000, no state budget!
The city of Los Angeles is looking at a budget deficit of more than $400 million, which may mean layoffs.
IBM begins layoffs, won’t say how many?
Chrysler plan seeks $2 billion more in federal aid, will cut 3,000 more jobs…
General Motors Corp. will need as much as $16.6 billion more in federal aid. And estimates cutting 47,000 jobs…
Sorry – I really was looking for a job!
Fighting for Our Homes
Eight million people are at risk of losing their homes because Wall Street abandoned responsible lending practices to gain short-term profits. And the housing crisis is not just a problem for families facing foreclosure – it’s a problem for every homeowner in America. As long as foreclosures persist, home values will keep going down, and everyone loses.
Brave New Foundation needs your help. Have you been affected by the housing meltdown? Foreclosed on? Underwater? Record your story, or the story of a friend, family member, or neighbor, and send it to them. You can also add your written story along with a photo for their online map. (Read more)
Unemployed – Just another day in the neighborhood!
The story is everywhere, in every neighborhood… I don’t think that most can wait on the stimulus package to help… The average American is 3 paychecks away from being broke!
Alternative Medicine – A Spring Forest Qigong Healing Story
For those of you who are sick and tired… And for those who have had no success with the traditional western medicine treatments, for whatever is causing you grief. You may want to consider Qigong. It is a very old Chinese Healing Art and is worth your time to look into, especially if you are not getting well. Western medicine is not but a couple hundred years old. Many alternative treatments are a couple thousand years old, and should not be dismissed…!
Want to be a Movie Star & a Real Hero!
A request from Michael Moore for a few brave people who work on Wall Street or in the financial industry…
Michael is in the middle of shooting his next movie and he is looking for a few brave people who work on Wall Street or in the financial industry to come forward and share with him what they know. Based on those who have already contacted him, Michael believes there are a number of you who know “the real deal” about the abuses that have been happening. You have information that the American people need to hear. Michael is humbly asking you for a moment of courage, to be a hero and help him expose the biggest swindle in American history.
The important thing here is for you to step up as an American and do your duty of shedding some light on this financial collapse. A few good people have already come forward, which leads Michael to believe there are many more of you out there who know what’s going on. Here’s your chance to let your fellow citizens in on the truth. (Read it all here)
Pay Less, Get More!
Support National, Single-Payer Healthcare
The majority of Americans and physicians agree: We need a national, single-payer healthcare system.
Single-Payer healthcare is the only truly universal system that would reduce costs while providing comprehensive care for all American residents.
The only thing missing is the political will of Congress. Here’s what you can do to help: sign up for our mailing list, tell your congressperson you want single-payer healthcare (HR 676), ask us about local organizations in your area, sign our petition, or donate to Healthcare-NOW.
Today was a National Call-In Day, did you do your part? If not, call or write your representative everyday or any day! They need to hear from the majority, not just the health insurance and pharma lobbyist!
NATIONAL CALL FOR HEALTHCARE: February 12, 2009
The California Nurses Association is encouraging everyone to participate in their next National Call-in Day for HR 676.
TAKE ACTION on Thursday, February 12, 2009 – Tomorrow!
CALL CONGRESS, and the President Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121
Find your representatives using your zip code. (ask for your representative’s office).
If your member is a current co-sponsor, thank your rep. and ask him or her to stand firm for HR 676 and actively seek additional co-sponsors.
If your member has yet to co-sponsor HR 676, ask him or her to please become a co-sponsor, select one or two talking points here. (link)
HR676 would provide healthcare through an improved and expanded Medicare model for all with no co-pays, no deductibles, no premiums and no interference in the healthcare professionals’ relationship with patients – no insurance company involvement in clinical decisions. HR676 is a publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare reform plan that would give patients the choice of doctors and providers that many do not have under private, for-profit plans.
The California Nurses Association
Of Interest: “I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country…corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”
This was written November 21, 1864, by President Lincoln
President Obama Addresses Economic Crisis
President Obama held his first-ever prime time press conference Monday evening to outline the state of the economy and why it is crucial to pass his Economic Recovery plan.
7 U.S. states borrowing to pay jobless benefits
NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Seven U.S. states have been forced to borrow from the federal government to cover the rising cost of unemployment benefits, the National Conference of State Legislatures said on Friday.
Michigan already owes the government more than $1 billion, the bipartisan organization said in a statement.
The other states that have been forced to borrow are California, Ohio, New York, South Carolina, Indiana and Kentucky. (read the whole story)
598,000 Jobs lost in January – President Obama’s comments:
“This is not some abstract debate. “It is an urgent and growing crisis that can only be fully understood through the unseen stories that lie underneath each and every one of those 600,000 jobs that were lost this month.”
When exactly will health reform happen?
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus holds the keys to health-care reform; any health-care legislation must pass through his committee. So what he says or doesn’t say is important to those following the twists and turns of the congressional effort to fix our health-care system…
One thing Baucus has been consistent about is his aversion for a single payer system, and CQ presented that message to its readers. CQ reported that, when a questioner asked about single payer, Baucus said: “It may come later but it’s not going to happen in America [any time soon].”
“We’re a different country. We’re constituted differently than European countries,” Baucus said. “There’s more of an entrepreneurial sense [in the United States]. So we’ve got to come up with a uniquely American result. And a uniquely American result will be a combination of public and private insurance.” Read the whole story (link)
Do Something – Contact your representatives now! (link)
31,000,000 in America on food stamps
President Oboma said tonight that “We need to set aside some of the gamesmanship in this town” referring to the opposition he is receiving for his stimulus package. He went on to say that the jobless numbers continue to rise at alarming rates. He also indicated that the package may not be perfect but some big actions need to be taken to put people back to work.
He is right about some big actions and the need for them now! There are 31,000,000 Americans on food stamps. One in six in Louisiana receive government assistance to put food on the table. The problem is indeed BIG!
New unemployment numbers due out Friday. Not expected to be good news!
Is Nancy Pelosi Stoned? – 500 MILLION AMERICANS LOSE JOBS
Maybe Ms Pelosi should take her foot out of her mouth, again! The US population, according to the cia.gov library publications, as of July of 2008 was 303,824,640. That includes the kids! (link)
I would suggest that you send Ms. Pelosi an e-mail, and inquire as to why she makes such absurd statements… She looks a little stoned to me! Either she thinks we are all stupid, or she is!?! (link)
