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Archive for June, 2015
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Jun
15
Chat On
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Sarah Kliff: Under Obamacare, America’s Uninsured Rate Has Fallen 35 Percent
14.1 million Americans have gained health plans since Obamacare’s coverage expansion began in 2014.
An additional 2.3 million young adults gained coverage between 2010 and 2013 — after Obamacare began requiring employer plans to offer dependent coverage through age 26. Federal officials say this is the largest drop in the uninsured rate since 1965, when Medicare and Medicaid began.
A new report from Health and Human Services finds that the uninsured rate has fallen from 20.3 percent prior to the health-care law down to 13.2 percent at the start of 2015. This is a 7.1 percentage-point decrease in the uninsured rate — or, to put it another way, a 35-percent decline in the number of Americans who lack insurance coverage. “Nothing since the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid has come close to this kind of change,” says Richard Frank, assistant secretary for evaluation and planning at Health and Human Services.
More here
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RT to spread the word: America's uninsured rate is the lowest it's ever been → go.wh.gov/8Ey8Yz #ACAWorks http://t.co/iF0uPFFuRg
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015Under Obamacare, America’s uninsured rate has fallen 35 percent bit.ly/1GtCnTb http://t.co/qKdA1F6tky
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Vox (@voxdotcom) June 25, 2015****
"The Affordable Care Act still stands, it is working, and it is here to stay." —@POTUS: go.wh.gov/9WT6nm #ACAWorks
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 27, 2015"So far more than 16 million uninsured Americans have gained coverage." —@POTUS on the Affordable Care Act: go.wh.gov/9WT6nm #ACAWorks
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 28, 2015****
"We’re going to keep working to make health care in America even better and more affordable." —@POTUS: go.wh.gov/9WT6nm #ACAWorks
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 28, 2015"If you’re a parent, you can keep your kids on your plan until they turn 26." —@POTUS: go.wh.gov/9WT6nm #ACAWorks
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 27, 2015****
The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.
And it's benefiting millions of Americans → go.wh.gov/8Ey8Yz #ACAWorks snpy.tv/1TPbUZq
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015Amen.
go.wh.gov/8Ey8Yz #ACAWorks http://t.co/VLHINdv9dU
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015
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President Barack Obama: A Hard Day’s Work Deserves A Fair Day’s Pay
It’s been a good few days for America. On Thursday, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the Affordable Care Act. It is here to stay. And, Democrats and Republicans in Congress paved the way for the United States to rewrite the rules of global trade to benefit American workers and American businesses. On Friday, the Court recognized the Constitutional guarantee of marriage equality. With that ruling, our union became a little more perfect — a place where more people are treated equally, no matter who they are or who they love. These steps build upon America’s steady progress in recent years. Out of the depths of recession, we’ve emerged ready to write our own future. Our businesses have created 12.6 million new jobs over the past 63 months — the longest streak on record. More than 16 million Americans have gained health insurance. More kids are graduating from high school and college than ever before. But more work lies ahead, if we are to succeed in making sure this recovery reaches all hardworking Americans and their families.
We’ve got to keep making sure hard work is rewarded. Right now, too many Americans are working long days for less pay than they deserve. That’s partly because we’ve failed to update overtime regulations for years — and an exemption meant for highly paid, white collar employees now leaves out workers making as little as $23,660 a year — no matter how many hours they work. This week, I’ll head to Wisconsin to discuss my plan to extend overtime protections to nearly 5 million workers in 2016, covering all salaried workers making up to about $50,400 next year. That’s good for workers who want fair pay, and it’s good for business owners who are already paying their employees what they deserve — since those who are doing right by their employees are undercut by competitors who aren’t. That’s how America should do business. In this country, a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
More here
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Mike Dorning: Obama Plans To Expand Overtime Eligibility For Millions
The Obama administration plans to raise the wages of millions of Americans who work more than 40 hours a week by requiring their employers to pay them overtime. Workers who earn as much as $970 a week would have to be paid overtime even if they’re classified as a manager or professional, based on draft rules to be announced as soon as Tuesday, said an administration official. Many employees now receiving as little as $455 a week, or $23,660 a year — below the federal poverty line for a family of four — aren’t entitled to overtime pay because they are classified as managers exempt from overtime pay. The regulations, from the Labor Department, would take effect in 2016, said the official, who asked for anonymity because the plan hasn’t been announced. Workers in retail stores and restaurants are among most likely to be affected.
“You would be hard pressed to find a rule change or an executive order that would reach more middle class workers than this one,” said Jared Bernstein, a former economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The median U.S. household income of $54,600 in April was $1,600 short of the amount at the start of the recession in December 2007, according to inflation-adjusted estimates from Sentier Research. Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute, a research group partly funded by labor unions, has estimated that the higher salary threshold would expand overtime to as many as 15 million additional workers.
More here
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A hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay. That's why I'm announcing my plan to extend overtime protections. twitter.com/huffpostpol/st…
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President Obama (@POTUS) June 30, 2015.@POTUS: A hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay huff.to/1HuKg0B
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HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) June 30, 2015****
We have details on the overtime rule, "most sweeping policy undertaken by the president to assist the middle class." politi.co/1dtpEHU
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Timothy Noah (@TimothyNoah1) June 29, 2015Big: WH will raise overtime threshold to $50K, source familiar says, confirming Bloomberg report bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 30, 2015****
Lib economists think raising overtime threshold is single biggest exec action O can do for middle class: washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-lin…
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Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 30, 2015Republicans are going to hate Obama's new overtime rule, but they can't do anything about it: washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-lin…
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Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) June 30, 201530
Jun
15
Coming Up
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30
Jun
15
Early Bird Rise and Shine
Today
President Barack Obama, surrounded by Cabinet officials and members of Congress, signs a series of bills during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Included in the bills signed is the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015
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President Barack Obama’s signature is seen on H.R. 1295 Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The president signed into law two hard-fought bills giving him greater authority to negotiate international trade deals and providing aid to workers whose jobs are displaced by such pacts
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The two trade bills @POTUS signed today will put American workers first → go.wh.gov/gMn4fm #LeadOnTrade snpy.tv/1JtpxdM
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015President Obama's trade deal will lock in the strongest labor protections ever → go.wh.gov/gMn4fm #LeadOnTrade http://t.co/6ASH30MPqS
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015****
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President Obama's trade deal will:
Protect our oceans.
Combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
Combat illegal logging. http://t.co/e3xxmqMy3X
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015"The second bill...renews and expands the Trade Adjustment Assistance program" —@POTUS #LeadOnTrade http://t.co/tdDdVJTWyE
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White House Live (@WHLive) June 29, 2015****
President Barack Obama and President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff  visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at 2015 MORE Impact Awards Luncheon at The Newseum
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Video Here
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Check out @FLOTUS' remarks about #LetGirlsLearn. What are YOU going to do to help? whitehouse.gov/the-press-offi…
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Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) June 29, 2015****
Actress Robin Wright
29
Jun
15
Chat Away
On This Day: President Barack Obama and President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
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Jun
15
What Did SCOTUS Do Today?
SCOTUS grants review in 4 cases, including affirmative action (the Fisher University of Texas case).
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015SCOTUS denies review 14-410 in Google v. Oracle regarding copyright protection for computer software.
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015****
SCOTUS 5-4 upholds use of midazolam in lethal injection. Breyer & Ginsburg would reconsider constitutionality of the death penalty.
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015SCOTUS 5-4 upholds independent state commission that draws federal congressional districts, taking that power from the state legislature.
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015****
Truly shows the pettiness and privilege of Fisher. She was not qualified, but because she’s white, the heavens must always grant her everything. At the end of the day, more whites benefited but she’s butthurt because 5 Black and Latino students were granted admission. The privilege is disgusting
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A reminder that Fisher was a mediocre student who never would have gotten in. propublica.org/article/a-colo… http://t.co/7p1aJMnzhf
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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) June 29, 2015SCOTUS 5-4 invalidates EPA regulations refusing to consider costs in determining whether to regulate power plants' air pollution.
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015****
Supreme Court rules 5-4 in favor of Arizona's redistricting commission: buff.ly/1KktIas
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National Journal (@nationaljournal) June 29, 2015#BREAKING Supreme Court shoots down EPA clean air regulation usat.ly/1InMTjt
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USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 29, 2015****
Note: today's EPA ruling involves different section of law than upcoming climate regs on power plants legal-planet.org/2015/06/24/wha…
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Bill Scher (@billscher) June 29, 2015#SCOTUS says EPA must take cost into account when setting pollution limits for coal-burning power plants. #CleanAirAct
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NPR News (@nprnews) June 29, 2015****
In dissent, Justices Breyer & Ginsburg question whether the death penalty remains constitutional.
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Brent Kendall (@brkend) June 29, 2015Supreme Court Says Use Of Lethal Injection Drug Is Legal n.pr/1C1FqFY
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NPR News (@nprnews) June 29, 2015****
Another 5-4 #SCOTUS decision: Arizona may use a commission to draw lines for congressional districts (as opposed to by legislature).
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NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) June 29, 2015Breaking: SCOTUS rules Commissions to battle gerrymandering ARE constitutional
Ginsburg 5-4 opinion, big victory for campaign reformers
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Ari Melber (@AriMelber) June 29, 2015****
Just in: Justices Breyer and Ginsburg call for broader evaluation of whether the death penalty is constitutional at all, in dissent.
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Ari Melber (@AriMelber) June 29, 2015.@SCOTUS overturns Obama administration mercury air pollution rule yhoo.it/1InOqWS
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Yahoo News (@YahooNews) June 29, 2015****
SCOTUS denies review 14-410 in Google v. Oracle regarding copyright protection for computer software.
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(@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015A lot of people are going to write a lot of hot-take tweets and articles acting like the EPA case is more momentous than it is.
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Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) June 29, 2015****
@studentactivism isn't it just basically saying they have to consider costs earlier in the process?
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Arya Underfoot (@mzbitca) June 29, 2015Yes, and I'm told that plays a significant role in shaping the policy, but it's not earth-shattering. @mzbitca
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Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) June 29, 2015****
Trust and believe President Obama is not going to be waiting years to fix this BS from the SCOTUS
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Emily Atkin: BREAKING: The Supreme Court Will Allow Coal Plants To Emit Unlimited Mercury
Power plants will continue to able to emit unlimited mercury, arsenic, and other pollutants thanks to the Supreme Court, which on Monday invalidated the first-ever U.S. regulations to limit toxic heavy metal pollution from coal and oil-fired plants. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, commonly referred to as MATS. The EPA had been trying to implement a rule that cut down on toxic mercury pollution for more than two decades. But the Supreme Court majority opinion, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, said the EPA acted unlawfully when it failed to consider how much the regulation would cost the power industry before deciding to craft the rule.
“EPA must consider cost — including cost of compliance — before deciding whether regulation is appropriate and necessary,” the opinion reads. “It will be up to the [EPA] to decide (as always, within the limits of reasonable interpretation) how to account for cost.” The decision doesn’t mean power plants will never be subject to regulations on toxic air pollutants. Instead, it means the EPA will have to go back to the drawing board, and find some mechanism to consider how much it will cost the power industry. Until another version of MATS is approved — a process that often takes years — power plants will have no limits on their emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, and other toxins. In other words, the rule is effectively delayed.
More here
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The Supreme Court is in recess for the summer. #SCOTUS
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Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 29, 2015@chrisgeidner DETENTION FOR SCALIA CHRIS
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darth!™ (@darth) June 29, 201529
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Rise and Shine
On This Day: President Obama looks out the window from the cell where Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid legend, was once jailed on Robben Island, on June 30, 2013
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Today (all times Eastern)
2:05: President Obama Signs the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act & the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015
6:0: Hosts a working dinner with President Rousseff of Brazil
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.@TheObamaDiary: Your west coast peeps are at it again! Almost makes you want to accept that Amk private plan ride? http://t.co/rc3NmmzTmR
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Vick C. (@sonamie) June 29, 2015Our beauuuuuuuuuuutiful westie TODers (and LL)!!!!
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On This Day
President Barack Obama listens to former prisoner Ahmed Kathrada as he stands in former South African President Nelson Mandela’s cell during a tour of Robben Island Prison on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, June 30, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama and First lady Michelle Obama tour the cell block on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held captive near Cape Town, June 30, 2013
President Obama greets Archbishop Desmond Tutu as he arrives at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, June 30, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family tour a limestone quarry where prisoners would work at Robben Island outside Cape Town, South Africa, on June 30, 2013
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Morning everyone!
29
Jun
15
Early Bird Chat
On This Day – Pete Souza: “A quiet moment inside Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell as the President embraced Sasha while the Obama family was listening to Ahmed Kathrada recount his years spent imprisoned here on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, initially in this prison cell. Kathrada was imprisoned at Robben Island for 18 years.” June 30, 2013
The Obama Diary 
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