Since the last election, the national budget has been a sore spot between Republicans and Democrats. Government programs such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are leading the debates on reducing the national budget. With all the on-going arguments, our politicians seem to be oblivious of a greater threat to the budget. People with Alzheimer’s … Continue reading
“Bad Romance”: Shale Gas Boom and the Emergence of Strange Alliances
Shale gas discoveries has proliferated in the United States as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, a relatively new technology, has allowed an efficient way to extract shale gas, producing a cheaper and cleaner source of energy than coal. The shale gas boom happening in the United States which has resulted in an economy-boosting decrease in gas prices … Continue reading
Why Does College Tuition Keep Rising?
As a recent college graduate it is hard to ignore the constant increasing cost of higher education. Sure, I may not have to worry about those rising costs now but I have been left with the burden of student loans that I have to repay as I enter into this competitive job market. The question … Continue reading
Indiana’s Exception to Obamacare Leaves Many Without Health Insurance
The State of Indiana has been allowed an exception for one year from the Affordable Care Act and has subsequently denied government incentives to expand Medicaid and has declined to set up an exchange for consumers. This exception is being officially referred to as a health-law “waiver”. This exception was given to Indiana in order … Continue reading
ACA Individual Mandate: Penalty Finalized
On Tuesday, August 27, the IRS issued its final rule regarding the individual mandate to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The rulemaking formally establishes the IRS requirement for most Americans to be subjected to a financial penalty if an individual does not acquire “minimum essential coverage.” The rule will be published … Continue reading
The Bad Policy of De Facto Amnesty
In the past weeks U.S. Representative Steve King, a Republican from Iowa’s 4th district, has emerged as the leader of the anti-immigration reform coalition in the House. Cantaloupes and drug mules aside, King has become the face of conservative opposition to any proposed reform that includes a pathway to citizenship, or even legal status. King’s … Continue reading
The Cost of a Living Wage
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Many states have implemented minimum wages that are higher than that. But, in most places around the country, the minimum wage is not enough to support a family’s basic needs. This is where the debate over implementing a “living wage” comes into play. The living wage, as the … Continue reading
The Dark Cloud Over the Medical Device Tax
The medical device industry currently consists of 8,000+ manufacturers and employs over 400,000 Americans. Over the last seven months, the industry has been subjected to a 2.3% excise tax on all medical device sales – not only profits. The tax has been a primary funding mechanism for the health care overhaul so far. The medical device industry … Continue reading
Corporate Tax Reform: No Longer Revenue-Neutral
Last Tuesday, President Obama delivered a speech in Chattanooga, Tennessee, outlining his long awaited corporate tax reform. The speech called for a revenue-neutral corporate tax reform that lowers the top corporate tax from 35% to 28% for the majority of businesses. Manufacturers’ tax rate will top-out at 25%. President Obama made a statement that the … Continue reading
Steve King: A Representative Who Does Not Represent
With New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner continuing to pursue his interest in photography, one may be inclined to think that public outrage over politics would be focused solely on Weiner’s alter ego, Carlos Danger. However, Representative Steve King of Iowa has managed to grab some of the spotlight for himself by offering his … Continue reading
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