Recently, a new piece of legislation has hit the senate floor; one that entails expanding current sanctions on Iran as well as creating new sanctions for the purpose of impeding Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. This bill comes at a time when talks and a Joint Plan of Action (JPA) have already been made in … Continue reading
On January 15th, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) released a review entailing the official series of events that unfolded in Benghazi, Libya on September 11-12th of 2012 as well as findings and recommendations that could have prevented this attack and future attacks on U.S. embassies and facilities abroad from happening. SSCI was … Continue reading
Diabetes is one of the most expensively debilitating conditions there is. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States with a total estimated cost of $245 billion in 2012. A new study published in Global Public Health shows that large amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) found in national food … Continue reading
The way in which the United States elects its presidential candidates is constantly being debated. Following the 2012 presidential election, many states are reconsidering the rules of the game. The current set-up of the electoral college poses problems for the electorate, as do some of the proposed solutions to these problems. The design of the … Continue reading
According to the US Department of Labor, the purpose of Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits is for “workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment.” It provides an additional thirteen weeks of benefits for states experiencing high unemployment. From the US Department of Labor again, State Unemployment Insurance Benefits have the … Continue reading
Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid (D-NV), eliminated the filibuster option in November, killing any chance for Senate Republicans to have a say in executive, appellate and district nominees. In other words, President Obama can put anyone he wants into power with a little help from his friends in the Senate. Traditionally, Senate Rules have … Continue reading
As a public health professional, the emphasis on preventive care is important. It remains to be seen what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can achieve in regards to preventive care. Currently, the ACA requires most health plans to cover a set of preventive services like shots and screening tests at no cost to the insured. … Continue reading
The 1994 passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a major commitment to bolstering the interconnectedness between the United States and Mexico. Since implementation, the two countries have continued to realize increased economic growth and efficiency gains from integrated production. In 2012, Mexico was the second largest goods export destination for the … Continue reading
Broader choice comes with a price. As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) slowly phases in, health policy experts predict a primary care physician shortage gap as well as a deep crack in the patient-physician relationship in the United States to grow deeper over time. Especially if the President doesn’t keep the promise he made to … Continue reading
The EPA recently held 11 sessions for public input on the agency’s new rules to restrict carbon emissions from existing power plants. While large coal interests and major labor unions were represented, the vast majority of attendees represented environmental advocacy groups (or themselves) and favored regulation. Some might suggest that this indicates broad support for … Continue reading
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