The rising cost of health benefits and prevalence of chronic diseases has increased the significance of employer wellness programs. These programs encourage healthier lifestyles and may help reduce health care costs, with numerous large firms suggesting that the programs save the average employer $3.27 for every dollar spent on them. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions … Continue reading
Reducing the Trade Deficit with China: Repealing the Crude Oil Export Ban
With much of the current energy conversation surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, many Americans have forgotten, or may not even know, about another energy issue that might just be more important: the crude oil export ban. Since the 1970’s, the U.S. government has prohibited U.S. oil producers to export crude oil internationally in order to … Continue reading
A Federal Balanced Budget: Not a Cure-All, but Definitely Not a Bad Idea
To all the people who believe that a constitutional requirement forcing Congress to pass a balanced budget every year will make the federal debt (and yes, there is a difference between a debt and a deficit: deficit being how much money we have to borrow per year, debt being how much money we have borrowed … Continue reading
ACA’s Effects on Primary Care Physicians
With the influx of insured patients skyrocketing due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as our growing and aging population, the demand for primary care physicians is at an all-time high. By 2020, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has predicted that we will be in need of 20,400 more primary care … Continue reading
Creating Character in Common Core
Common Core, which is currently enacted in forty-five states, outlines math and reading standards in order for students to be career and college ready. However, in today’s work force, career and college ready skills demand more than the mastery of reading and math. According to the Hart Research Associates, ninety-five percent of employers agree that … Continue reading
There Are Two Sides to Every Story: The Minimum Wage Dilemma
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama requested that Congress raise the minimum wage and challenged his opponents within Congress to live off $15,000 a year. The current Federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 an hour, and the president is asking that it be increased to $10.10 an hour as a way to … Continue reading
Are We There Yet? A review of U.S. Natural Gas Exports
A year ago, after the overthrow of Ukraine’s president and the ensuing crisis, industry leaders in the U.S. pushed to change regulations that prevent liquid natural gas (LNG) exports. If Ukraine had truly wanted to break free from Russian influence, it would have had to eliminate its dependence on Russian gas. However, during that critical … Continue reading
Lock In Drug Abuse
“I looked at that menu, and I just couldn’t control myself!” How many times have you walked into a restaurant planning to order a salad but instead got a whopping 2,000 calorie steak meal? We’ve all faced shortages of self-control, trading in short-term gain for long-term strain. Choosing the inferior food option is only one … Continue reading
Where the Power Really Is: Netanyahu’s Visit and its Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy
John Boehner’s recent invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in front of a joint meeting of Congress in March has infuriated the Obama Administration. The White House claims they were never consulted about the invitation and did not know that Netanyahu was coming until Boehner announced it publically, which Obama Press Secretary … Continue reading
In Sickness and in Health?
It’s the middle of the workweek and you wake up to prepare for work only to find you have the flu. Some Americans are then faced with the question of, “Should I stay home and lose a day’s pay, or should I tough it out and head to the office?” President Obama wants to make … Continue reading
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