INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a need for more support related to the Affordable Care Act, Cornerstone Broker Insurance Services Agency opened a new office at 4500 Rockside Road, Independence, OH 44131. The new office will provide health insurance...
Reported by PR Newswire 2 hours ago.
Insurance Brokers and Agents Welcome Cornerstone Broker Insurance Services Agency to Northeast Ohio
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God Save the Queen - She Is Unique
She is the best-known woman in the world, and she has been since 1952 when Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, at age 25, became Queen Elizabeth II. Although she has a huge list of titles, she is to most people simply The Queen. And she has been the only British monarch in most people's lives: She has always seemingly been there.
Once Queen Elizabeth was young and quite pretty; now she is old and quite beloved. She works very hard, whether it is presiding over meetings with prime ministers -- she has dealt with 12 of them, starting with Winston Churchill -- or applying herself to an endless schedule of charity events. She has visited 116 countries. I have always wondered at her incredible tolerance, no endurance, at watching cultural events in faraway lands: How many children's choirs, folk dancers or synchronized gymnasts can a human being watch? In the case of the queen, the number seems to have been infinite.
When she came to the throne, she set off a surge of hope in Britain and the Commonwealth. Popular mythology, as I remember, held that a new Queen Elizabeth would bring a revival of fortune for Britain -- the second Elizabethan period would be as great as the first Queen Elizabeth's reign, from 1558 to 1603.
After World War II, Britain was adjusting to a new order in most things, including the social changes introduced by the Labor government immediately after the war, such as national health insurance, and the recognition that Britain was no longer be the preeminent world power, ruling a quarter of the world. The empire was shrinking, and Britain felt exhausted and lessened.
But the new, young queen signaled hope, and the royal family shot to a position of public adulation. I remember covering the wedding of the queen's sister, Princess Margaret, to the photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, when Britain went was in a kind of royal hysteria. That began to fade as the decade wore on, and that marriage began to creak and eventually dissolve.
As royal scandals multiplied and Britain became a trendsetter in fashion and the arts, Princess Diana, during and after her marriage to Prince Charles, stole much of the queen's thunder.
The queen said her worst year was 1992, which she famously called an "annus horribilis" in a Nov. 24 speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession. Newspapers wondered whether the monarchy was finished and whether it would either give way to a republican Britain or to one where the constitutional monarch was of little importance, as in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
But Queen Elizabeth persevered and, she just turned 89, is more loved than ever. She is slightly old-fashioned, even as Buckingham Palace is anxious to remind us she emails and tweets.
She is a fabulous piece of English bric-a-brac in her omnipresent hat and gloves. Though perfectly dressed in her way, she is not a fashion idol. She was a fine horsewoman. She attends cultural events, but seems only to have a passion for horses and dogs. Critics have faulted her for how limited she is in some ways. It may be that at this point, she is as much an anachronism as the monarchy, and there is strength in that.
No longer do comedians make fun of her piping voice and her ability to ride out gaffes, like the time in Canada when she read the wrong speech, having forgotten which city she was visiting. The British might have come to love her for her famously dysfunctional family -- even Charles, her quirky son and heir to the throne. Scandals have touched all of her family, excepting herself and her husband Prince Philip, although one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting told me that he was busy in that circle when he was young.
When she does die, Britain will enter into the most extraordinary period of mourning, followed a year or so later by a coronation. The change will be enormously expensive, from the queen's burial to the coronation of the king. Tens of thousands of items stamped with ER (Elizabeth Regina) or the queen's face, including mailboxes, stamps and the 20-pound note, will have to be changed.
Happily and gloriously, after 62 years as queen, Elizabeth is, physically as well as emotionally, part of British life. She is also, in a way, the world's queen.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 1 hour ago.
Once Queen Elizabeth was young and quite pretty; now she is old and quite beloved. She works very hard, whether it is presiding over meetings with prime ministers -- she has dealt with 12 of them, starting with Winston Churchill -- or applying herself to an endless schedule of charity events. She has visited 116 countries. I have always wondered at her incredible tolerance, no endurance, at watching cultural events in faraway lands: How many children's choirs, folk dancers or synchronized gymnasts can a human being watch? In the case of the queen, the number seems to have been infinite.
When she came to the throne, she set off a surge of hope in Britain and the Commonwealth. Popular mythology, as I remember, held that a new Queen Elizabeth would bring a revival of fortune for Britain -- the second Elizabethan period would be as great as the first Queen Elizabeth's reign, from 1558 to 1603.
After World War II, Britain was adjusting to a new order in most things, including the social changes introduced by the Labor government immediately after the war, such as national health insurance, and the recognition that Britain was no longer be the preeminent world power, ruling a quarter of the world. The empire was shrinking, and Britain felt exhausted and lessened.
But the new, young queen signaled hope, and the royal family shot to a position of public adulation. I remember covering the wedding of the queen's sister, Princess Margaret, to the photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, when Britain went was in a kind of royal hysteria. That began to fade as the decade wore on, and that marriage began to creak and eventually dissolve.
As royal scandals multiplied and Britain became a trendsetter in fashion and the arts, Princess Diana, during and after her marriage to Prince Charles, stole much of the queen's thunder.
The queen said her worst year was 1992, which she famously called an "annus horribilis" in a Nov. 24 speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession. Newspapers wondered whether the monarchy was finished and whether it would either give way to a republican Britain or to one where the constitutional monarch was of little importance, as in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
But Queen Elizabeth persevered and, she just turned 89, is more loved than ever. She is slightly old-fashioned, even as Buckingham Palace is anxious to remind us she emails and tweets.
She is a fabulous piece of English bric-a-brac in her omnipresent hat and gloves. Though perfectly dressed in her way, she is not a fashion idol. She was a fine horsewoman. She attends cultural events, but seems only to have a passion for horses and dogs. Critics have faulted her for how limited she is in some ways. It may be that at this point, she is as much an anachronism as the monarchy, and there is strength in that.
No longer do comedians make fun of her piping voice and her ability to ride out gaffes, like the time in Canada when she read the wrong speech, having forgotten which city she was visiting. The British might have come to love her for her famously dysfunctional family -- even Charles, her quirky son and heir to the throne. Scandals have touched all of her family, excepting herself and her husband Prince Philip, although one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting told me that he was busy in that circle when he was young.
When she does die, Britain will enter into the most extraordinary period of mourning, followed a year or so later by a coronation. The change will be enormously expensive, from the queen's burial to the coronation of the king. Tens of thousands of items stamped with ER (Elizabeth Regina) or the queen's face, including mailboxes, stamps and the 20-pound note, will have to be changed.
Happily and gloriously, after 62 years as queen, Elizabeth is, physically as well as emotionally, part of British life. She is also, in a way, the world's queen.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 1 hour ago.
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GOP Leaders Divided Over Preserving Obamacare Subsidies Until After the 2016 Election
Senate Republican leaders are seriously considering legislation that would extend health insurance tax credits through the 2016 election even if the Supreme Court invalidates them later this year. Three top Republicans told Bloomberg Politics on Tuesday they are preparing a...
Reported by Newsmax 23 hours ago.
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Texas Senate Passes Measure To Cut Insurance Payments For Abortions
DALLAS, May 5 (Reuters) - Health insurers would be prevented from covering the cost of abortions except in medical emergencies under a bill approved on Tuesday by the Republican-dominated Texas Senate.
Private health insurance plans and those offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace could still provide coverage for abortions in cases where the woman's life is at risk.
Republican backers of Senate Bill 575 said its purpose is to prevent consumers morally opposed to abortion from paying for the procedure.
Most Democrats opposed the bill because it does not include exemptions for cases of rape or fetal abnormalities.
Ten states currently prohibit all health coverage plans from including abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks reproductive health policy. (Reporting by Lisa Maria Garza; Editing by Jon Herskovitz and Sandra Maler)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 1 day ago.
Private health insurance plans and those offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace could still provide coverage for abortions in cases where the woman's life is at risk.
Republican backers of Senate Bill 575 said its purpose is to prevent consumers morally opposed to abortion from paying for the procedure.
Most Democrats opposed the bill because it does not include exemptions for cases of rape or fetal abnormalities.
Ten states currently prohibit all health coverage plans from including abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks reproductive health policy. (Reporting by Lisa Maria Garza; Editing by Jon Herskovitz and Sandra Maler)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 1 day ago.
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Austin benefits company grows with Houston-area acquisition
Fringe Benefit Group, an Austin-based health insurance provider that specializes in benefits for hourly and part-time workers, has acquired Employer Plan Services Inc. of Houston. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition allows Fringe, which administers benefits to more than 150,000 individuals throughout the U.S., to handle claim payments internally instead of delegating that service to a third party contractor. CEO Travis West told Austin Business Journal that the move will improve…
Reported by bizjournals 23 hours ago.
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Government Using Subprime Mortgages To Pump Housing Recovery - Taxpayers Will Pay Again
Submitted by Jim Quinn via The Burning Platform blog,*It seems hard to believe, but your government is purposely recreating the mortgage debacle of 2007 and putting you on the hook for the billions in losses coming down the road.* In their frantic effort to generate the appearance of economic recovery they are willing to gamble with taxpayer’s money while luring unsuspecting blue collar folks into buying houses they can’t afford. During the previous housing bubble, greedy Wall Street bankers, deceitful mortgage brokers, and corrupt rating agencies colluded to commit the greatest control fraud in the history of mankind. This time it is your government, aided and abetted by the Federal Reserve, that is actively promoting the lending of money to people incapable of paying it back. And again, you the taxpayer will be on the hook when it predictably blows up.
The FHA, created during the first Great Depression, is supposed to be self-sustaining through mortgage insurance premiums charged to homeowners, just like Fannie, Freddie, Medicare, Social Security, and student loan lending were supposed to be self- sustaining through taxes, fees, and interest. This agency was supposed to promote homeownership for lower income Americans, but has been used by politicians as a tool to capture votes, payoff crony capitalist benefactors, and as a Keynesian stimulus tool designed to kindle a fake housing recovery. They entered the fray at the tail end of the last Fed/Wall Street created housing bubble, insuring a huge number of subprime mortgage loans from 2007 through 2009. The taxpayer has already had to bail out this incompetent, politically motivated, joke of an agency to the tune of $1.7 billion in 2014.
Edward J. Pinto, a former Fannie Mae official, estimates that under standard accounting practices the agency is already insolvent to the tune of $25 billion. Mark to fantasy accounting hasn’t just benefitted the criminal Wall Street cabal, but also the bloated pig government housing agencies – Fannie, Freddie and the FHA. The FHA’s share of new loans with mortgage insurance stood at 16.4% in 2005 and currently stands at 44.3%. This is a ridiculously high level considering the percentage of first time home buyers is near all-time lows and low income buyers have lower real median household income than they had in 2005. Distinguished congresswoman Maxine Waters, who once declared: “We do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and particularly Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Frank Raines.”, prior to them imploding and costing taxpayers $187 billion in losses, thinks the FHA is doing a bang up job. Her financial acumen is unquestioned, so you can expect another bailout in the near future.
“Above all, we must strive to have a healthy, viable FHA that can continue to facilitate homeownership for first-time and low-income home buyers, while standing ready in the unfortunate event of another housing downturn.”
How could politically motivated government apparatchiks insuring subprime mortgages with down payments of 3.5%, using weak underwriting standards, easing restrictions on borrowers with past foreclosures, in a housing market poised to drop by 20% when this next Fed/Wall Street housing bubble pops possibly go wrong? The entire faux housing recovery, which has driven average home prices up 30% since 2012, has been driven on the high end by The Wall Street hedge fund buy foreclosures in bulk and rent scheme, along with hot money cash from Chinese and Russian oligarchs, while the low end is being propped up by Fannie, Freddie, and the FHA with their brilliant idea to insure 3.5% down payment mortgages to future foreclosure aspirants.
*We have the employment to population ratio at 35 year lows. We have had stagnant real wage growth since 2008 as low paying service Obama jobs have replaced higher paying production jobs. We have real median household income at 1989 levels and still 9% below the 2008 peak. We have mortgage applications 56% below the 2005 peak and hovering at 1996 levels. We still have 4 million homeowners underwater in their mortgages. We have housing starts languishing 40% below the long-term average. We have the home ownership rate of 63.8% at quarter of a century lows. We have mortgage rates at all-time lows. And we have home prices soaring far above the inflation rate and wages because the Federal Reserve, in collaboration with the Federal government decided to create another housing bubble (along with stock and bond bubbles) to rectify the disastrous consequences of their last housing bubble.*
This is the absolute perfect point in time when the FHA thinks it is necessary for them to lure low income, low IQ, credit challenged dupes into the housing market. Risky mortgages are increasingly being underwritten by thinly capitalized non-banks and guaranteed by the FHA. In 2012 the large Wall Street banks represented 65.4% of FHA-backed loans. That number is now 29.6%, as even the risk seeking Wall Street criminal banks have come to their senses and realize loaning money to people that won’t be able to repay them will end badly – AGAIN. In their place, dodgy mortgage brokers (non-banks) now represent 62.2% of the FHA lending. Of course, once these low life mortgage brokers make the loans, Wall Street will package them, get a AAA rating from their bitches at S&P or Moodys, and then peddle them to yield seeking pension plans and life insurance companies. Sound familiar?
*If you thought the FHA was supposed to help young, employed, first time home buyers who have a limited credit history, you would be badly mistaken.* There is a reason first time home buyers only make up 29% of all home buyers, near the all-time low. Over history, when the housing market was not being manipulated by warped Federal Reserve monetary policies and government intervention, first time home buyers accounted for 40% to 45% of all home sales. Even with all-time low mortgage rates, courtesy of the Fed’s ZIRP, the lack of jobs, crushing student loan debt, low wages, and over-priced homes has kept traditional young buyers out of the market. But, the FHA’s goal is to convince anyone who can fog a mirror to get into the housing market before it’s too late.
To get some perspective on how the FHA is actively creating the next multi-billion dollar taxpayer bailout, you need to understand FICO credit scoring. Here are the categories:
• Excellent Credit: 781 – 850
• Good Credit: 661-780
• Fair Credit: 601-660
• Poor Credit: 501-600
• Bad Credit: below 500
The average FICO score of all Americans is 687, barely above the Fair Credit level. The average for Americans getting a mortgage is 724, down from 750 in 2012, as the reckless mortgage brokers have taken share from the banks. It is only rational that people with good credit should be the only people borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars for 30 years. Not in the eyes of the FHA and their politician overseers, who buy votes by doling out free shit to their constituents. Why not houses? You can get an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 500, so long as you have a 10% down payment. And once you hit a 580 credit score, you only need a 3.5% down payment. Credit scores below 600 mean that you have significant derogatory information on your credit report. In other words, you have proven to be a deadbeat. Credit scores below 600 are the result of missing multiple payments on credit cards and auto loans; having multiple collection items or judgments; and potentially having a very recent bankruptcy or foreclosure. Sounds like someone I’d loan money to.
After financial institutions lost hundreds of billions (covered by American taxpayers at the point of a gun through TARP) by peddling low or no down payment mortgages for $500,000 McMansions to deadbeats with no willingness or means of repaying, the percentage of low down payment mortgages rationally plunged from 77% to 60% for first time buyers. Low down payment mortgage loans are a high risk proposition. It wasn’t that long ago when a borrower had to put up 10% to 20%. If you can’t save enough for a 10% down payment then you probably shouldn’t own a house. If your down payment is less than 8%, you are immediately underwater as the costs to sell a home usually total 8% of the selling price. The percentage of first time buyer mortgages with a low down payment mortgage has risen to 66% in the last year and is headed higher, as the FHA is pushing hard on their 3.5% down payment loans.
As a general risk guideline, your monthly mortgage payment, including principal, interest, real estate taxes and homeowners insurance, should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. Total debt to income generally cannot exceed 43% of your gross monthly income. These guidelines have worked for decades in assessing whether a borrower can afford a mortgage. Why would an arrogant bureaucratic agency, controlled by politicians like Mel Watt and Maxine Waters, follow standard industry risk standards when they are only gambling with taxpayer funds? The FHA is exempt from the qualified mortgage requirement of a 43% debt-to-income ratio. Many loans have a debt-to-income ratio above 55%. Even worse, the FHA only looks at mortgage payments in their calculation. What do you think the odds are of a borrower with a 580 credit score, making $3,000 per month with a $1,500 monthly mortgage payment, of defaulting? They would be high under normal circumstances, and will be off the charts after the next financial bubble bursts and millions are put out of work again.
People who are serial defaulters with 580 credit scores cannot expect to get the lowest rates. They should expect to see interest rates that are at least three percent higher than interest rates awarded to borrowers with good credit. Even the 3.5% down payment requirement is flexible for the FHA. The FHA is perfectly willing to accept a gift or inheritance as a down payment. So, you could have no savings, a 580 FICO, a 50% debt-to-income ratio and a gift from your parents and that would be sufficient to get you a loan. And it gets better. The transaction can be designed with the buyer paying a higher price but getting a credit for closing costs that covers the 3.5% down payment and other fees. Therefore, a serial deadbeat can purchase a house with a government guarantee without putting up one dime of their own cash. Sounds like a great deal for the taxpayer.
I have personal experience with a current FHA mortgage transaction as my 79 year old widowed mother is in the midst of selling the 900 square foot row home that she has lived in for 58 years in the first ring of suburbs outside of Philadelphia. It was once a vibrant middle class neighborhood of working folk, but has been gradually decaying as the old guard dies off and is replaced by lower class Section 8 tenants. She is selling ten years too late as prices have dropped 30% since 2005. She asked $72,900 and received an offer within two weeks of $66,000, with a $4,000 closing credit. My siblings and I didn’t expect her to get an offer in the 60s, as the dump next door was sold for $30,000 and went Section 8 a couple years ago. Anyone buying this house is destined for another 30% loss over the next ten years. So we told her to take the offer before it was too late.
My brother and I met the realtor at her house after work a couple weeks ago. We sat around the dining room table that had seen so many family gatherings over the last half century and discussed the particulars of the deal and the buyer’s background. It was an enlightening glimpse into the Federal government’s futile attempt to engineer a housing recovery on the backs of hard working tax payers with good credit. The buyer is a 20 something guy living with his parents, with a girlfriend and a young kid. He reportedly makes $29,000 per year. His girlfriend was not on the mortgage application. The only logical explanation is she has bad credit. He is putting 3.5% down and getting an FHA guaranteed mortgage. The $4,000 closing credit will cover his 3.5% down payment and closing costs. He evidently has no money to put down when purchasing this home. Sounds promising.
As a high risk borrower he will be lucky to get a 5.5% rate mortgage. In a world where risk mattered, it should be 7.5%. He should thank Ben and Janet for encouraging this type of mal-investment across the country with their 0% interest rate policy. His monthly cost to own this home would be approximately $800, or about 33% of his monthly gross income. Of course, no one brings home their gross income. The $800 would be about 40% of his take home pay after taxes. He did arrive at the house in a nice car, so it is very likely he has at least one auto loan of $20,000 or more. If he doesn’t have a dime to put down on the house, he is likely acting like a true American and rolling a $10,000 credit card balance at 17% interest. His total debt payments assuming a six year auto loan at 3% and making the minimum payments on his credit card would total at least 55% of his monthly gross income. Lucky for him, the FHA doesn’t worry about his non-mortgage debt payments.
So this guy comes home each month with about $2,000 of income and pays out $1,300 in debt payments, leaving him $700 to pay for health insurance, food, utilities, cable, cell phones, entertainment, and any vices he and his baby momma may have. If this isn’t a recipe for default, nothing is. No bank in their right mind would loan this man $66,000 for 30 years at 5.5%. That’s where the crooked nonbank mortgage companies enter the scene, just as they did when their patron saint Angelo “the tan man” Mozilo was roaming the land doling out billions in subprime mortgages while cashing in his stock options in 2005. Remember back in the glory days from 2002 through 2007 when mortgage company fronts, staffed by used car salesmen, pizza delivery guys, and convicted criminals peddled no-doc, negative amortization, liar loan, subprime slime to every Juan, Bubba and Lakeisha, filling the derivative pipeline for Wall Street to destroy the financial system? They’re back.
*These parasites don’t worry about individual risk, financial risk, or systematic risk. They care about upfront fees and their ability to package their toxic subprime mortgages and dump the risk on someone else before it all blows up again. They are willing to issue mortgages to people unlikely to repay because there is a big difference between the risk that faces the company, and the risk that faces the blood sucking founder of the mortgage front. It’s a perfect opportunity for shysters and scumbags. You set up a mortgage company, and take extraordinarily opulent commissions on all loans you book. In this Fed created paradise of low interest rates, investors are desperate for yield. An FHA loan provides the opportunity for an investor to receive a good yield and a guarantee from the Federal government – aka YOU THE TAXPAYER.*
The conscienceless CEO and executives of these MBS machines revel in the vast commission revenue as the loans are booked. These companies retain little or no capital on their balance sheets. Instead, they pay dividends to the owners as quickly as possible, before the bottom drops out. When the next Fed induced financial crisis happens the mortgage company will go bankrupt, but the slimy owners will walk away unscathed. These fly by night operations are booking as much business as possible before the music stops playing. When the music stops, the taxpayer will be on the hook again, as the FHA will need a $25 billion to $50 billion bailout. The FHA is flying under the radar, still in the shadow of equally insolvent Fannie and Freddie. Their mission is supposedly to help lower income people achieve the American Dream, but their politically motivated actions today will lead to millions of borrowers experiencing an American Nightmare and taxpayers footing the bill for their crackpot Keynesian scheme, aided and abetted by the Janet Yellen and her Fed cronies.
The FHA has $64 billion of liabilities on their balance sheet supported by $3 billion of capital. They are currently accelerating their guarantees to subprime borrowers with 3.5% down mortgages. Fannie and Freddie will purchase mortgages with only 3% down payments. Wall Street issued $1 trillion of mortgage backed securities last year, with the Fed buying 20% of the issuance as part of QE3. If this sounds like a replay of the waning days of the last Fed induced housing bubble, it’s because it is. Both debacles have been fueled by the mal-investment created by an easy money, excessively low interest rate environment, designed to benefit bankers, billionaires, politicians and mega-corporations. The Fed already has $1.7 trillion of Wall Street generated toxic mortgage debt on its bloated balance sheet. By the time this imminent catastrophe runs its course, there will be another trillion of toxic mortgages polluting their insolvent balance sheet.
To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, *anyone who wants the government and Federal Reserve to create a housing recovery, deserves to get it good and hard, like a four by four to the side of their head.* Subprime mortgages, subprime auto loans, and subprime student loans driven by preposterously low interest rates are the liquefying foundation of this fake economic recovery. Most rational people would agree that loaning money to people who will eventually default is not a good idea. But it is the underpinning of everything the Fed and government apparatchiks have done to keep this farce going a little while longer. *It will not end well – Again.*
Reported by Zero Hedge 1 day ago.
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Senate Republicans Pass Anti-Obamacare Budget Plan
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly passed a Republican budget plan that prescribes deep domestic spending cuts to eliminate deficits by 2024 and aids the party's goal of trying to dismantle President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.
The first combined House-Senate budget in six years passed 51-48 with all Senate Democrats and two Republicans voting against it, presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.
Senator David Vitter, a Republican who is running for Louisiana governor this year, did not cast a vote.
The non-binding resolution does not go to Obama's desk to be signed into law. Instead, it helps guide Congress' consideration of government agency spending bills and serves as a Republican fiscal policy manifesto that will influence 2016 election campaigns.
The blueprint would slash spending on the social safety net, education, infrastructure and other domestic programs by $5.3 trillion over 10 years with no tax increases. At the same time, it boosts defense spending next year by adding about $38 billion to an off-budget war operations account.
Senate Republicans hailed it as the first balanced budget plan since a 2001 surplus, hoping to score points among voters worried about mounting U.S. debt levels.
"American families know they can't live on borrowed money, and neither can the federal government," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi. "This balanced budget shows these families that if they can do it, so can we."
But most of the prescribed cuts will be ignored, as the new budget plan does not instruct congressional committees to implement them. Instead, the "reconciliation" instructions are focused on easing the way to repealing the Affordable Care Act.
These provisions will allow Republicans to use procedural tools to pass such legislation with only a simple majority in the Senate, rather than a near-impossible 60-vote threshold that would otherwise be needed.
While Obama is certain to veto any Republican bill to repeal his biggest domestic policy achievement, he may be more willing to compromise on changes to "Obamacare" if the U.S. Supreme Court in June strikes down the law's health insurance subsidy mechanism in many states.
In debate on Tuesday, Democrats played up the hardships that would result from the budget's deep cuts to food stamps and healthcare for the poor, as well as college tuition grants.
"That's what they want to run on? Be my guest," said Democratic Senator Richard Durbin, referring to the 24 Republican senators seeking re-election in 2016 (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Eric Beech and Lisa Lambert)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 22 hours ago.
WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly passed a Republican budget plan that prescribes deep domestic spending cuts to eliminate deficits by 2024 and aids the party's goal of trying to dismantle President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.
The first combined House-Senate budget in six years passed 51-48 with all Senate Democrats and two Republicans voting against it, presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.
Senator David Vitter, a Republican who is running for Louisiana governor this year, did not cast a vote.
The non-binding resolution does not go to Obama's desk to be signed into law. Instead, it helps guide Congress' consideration of government agency spending bills and serves as a Republican fiscal policy manifesto that will influence 2016 election campaigns.
The blueprint would slash spending on the social safety net, education, infrastructure and other domestic programs by $5.3 trillion over 10 years with no tax increases. At the same time, it boosts defense spending next year by adding about $38 billion to an off-budget war operations account.
Senate Republicans hailed it as the first balanced budget plan since a 2001 surplus, hoping to score points among voters worried about mounting U.S. debt levels.
"American families know they can't live on borrowed money, and neither can the federal government," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi. "This balanced budget shows these families that if they can do it, so can we."
But most of the prescribed cuts will be ignored, as the new budget plan does not instruct congressional committees to implement them. Instead, the "reconciliation" instructions are focused on easing the way to repealing the Affordable Care Act.
These provisions will allow Republicans to use procedural tools to pass such legislation with only a simple majority in the Senate, rather than a near-impossible 60-vote threshold that would otherwise be needed.
While Obama is certain to veto any Republican bill to repeal his biggest domestic policy achievement, he may be more willing to compromise on changes to "Obamacare" if the U.S. Supreme Court in June strikes down the law's health insurance subsidy mechanism in many states.
In debate on Tuesday, Democrats played up the hardships that would result from the budget's deep cuts to food stamps and healthcare for the poor, as well as college tuition grants.
"That's what they want to run on? Be my guest," said Democratic Senator Richard Durbin, referring to the 24 Republican senators seeking re-election in 2016 (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Eric Beech and Lisa Lambert)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 22 hours ago.
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Rant Time
May 5 – Gold $1193.80 up $6.20 - Silver $16.56 up 14 cents
Rant Time
*"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost."… Billy Graham*
GO GATA!
As is almost always the case, the price of gold was leaned on at the standard PLAN A time in London when The Gold Cartel traders reported for work, but their nudge was thwarted pretty quickly. Gold took off again going into the Comex trading hours and managed to reach $1200 where it was stopped dead in its tracks. James Mc early this morning…
Rules are rules
Bill,
Yesterday’s circled number was $1186.30, and while gold slightly exceeded it, and the 1% rule at the end of the day there was a clear gravitational pull bringing it back. After the 6:00 PM access trade opened it was clearly being held in check for the next 7 hours right around $1186. Cartel rule #1 is also apparent today; with the high tick so far exactly today’s circled number of $1198.70. As of 10:10 AM gold is getting the kitchen sink thrown at it at +1%. As always any big nearby number such as $1200 is irrelevant. It’s all about control, and the fact that $1200 is nearby is just coincidence. The cartel has proven over and over they will stop gold rallies at ANY number, as long as it is the prescribed percentage.
As tiresome as it is to talk about there are 2 big looming potholes for gold. The first arrives this week in the form of NFP Friday which is usually a cartel biggie. The next one arrives 3 weeks from today on May 26th, which is June option expiration. If history is a guide I am issuing a full Washington General warning for both days. Fleecing idiots trading paper gold and executing MOPE to perfection has been the winning formula for the crooks. Never mind an exploding trade deficit (with the implications of negative GDP leading to QE-MOAR) or any other bullish news for gold. For the cartel rules are rules.
The outrageous manipulation on a daily basis has rendered all analysis akin to being on a ride through a carnival funhouse. The cartel’s use of distorted mirrors, strobe lights and smoke make any critical examination virtually useless. Is COT data accurate? Is Comex warehouse inventory data accurate? What % of Comex trading is merely HFT algos disrupting flow? What % of the commercials are cartel banks, and what portion are true hedgers and/or mines? Who is behind the gigantic O.I. in silver? Who is behind the enforcement of the cartel rules? Just what the hell is going on at Ft. Knox, or anywhere gold is allegedly stored? As CP pointed out years ago gold secrets are a higher priority than even nuclear secrets.
James Mc
The silver action is intriguing, when not annoying. Much focus here of late on that price action and what it all might mean. The biggie today is that it was stopped again, like yesterday, right at its massive downtrend line…
After making a $16.68 high, JPM and allies put the damper on the price for the rest of the Comex session, like they did yesterday. CLEARLY, it must blow through $16.70 to BEGIN to do what so many of us are waiting for. To get back into the big leagues silver must then take out $18.50, with the next stop at $22. Once those objectives have been cleared, silver will have completed one of the largest bases imaginable, which should support a MOON SHOT.
The next three hours of trading on the Comex will be a predictable yawn … you can take that one to the bank. The good news is that this week has been a winner so far and each time the bums slam the gold/silver prices, they refuse to stay down.
The AM Fix: $1187.40. The PM Fix: $1197.
The gold open interest fell 9002 contracts to 401,699. The silver open interest was down 2436 contracts to 175,374.
With hours to kill as gold and silver have no chance of getting anywhere further, it is rant time.
Another six degrees of separation story that might hit home with some Café members. First off…
Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by a 1990 play written by John Guare.
***
Perhaps this ramble may be of assistance and value to Café members. There is no doubt that Six Degrees theory is valid in so many different ways.
Friday night I began to have a pain in my abdomen and it was hard to sleep. On Saturday morning the pain was intense on the lower right side of the abdomen and appeared to be spreading. As a former pro football athlete, you are trained to overcome pain and move on. Figuring it would go away, I lifted weights for an hour and then walked a few miles to pick up a pair of new sneakers (sorely needed).
After having some trouble sleeping Saturday night, the pain was worse when I got up early on Sunday. I wished I could call my superb doctor of many years (still a competitive rower and only a few years younger than me). That is what I would have done if he was open, but not the case on Sunday.
I hate going to hospitals and seeing doctors … did not even have health insurance until a few years ago. But, had nothing else to do on Sunday morning, so I thought I should go to Baylor Hospital’s Emergency room after all the whackos had cleared out from too much nonsense on Sat night.
Never have been to an emergency room in my life. Was clueless what to expect. Figured to be hanging around for hours waiting to be seen … was prepared for anything. Never was so surprised … the efficacy of their operation at Baylor was THE BEST. Was seen after 15 minutes. No filling out a zillion pieces of paper, just the basics of who I was and on to what my so-called emergency was.
They got me a room quickly, which had to be rearranged because the last patient was a psycho and they had taken most everything out of the room that the nutcase could use to hurt the staff. It was amusing watching the orderly move so much back in to make it feel more than a detention cell.
When taking my shirt off to put on my nightgown, the attending nurse (who had been asking me numerous health questions) noticed a rash on my lower back on the right side. "What rash?" I queried. She showed me. Immediately, she said, "SHINGLES," which made no sense to me. The pain was in my abdomen, but it WAS only on my right side.
This cool young doctor came in and told me what the drill would be … an MRI and all blood tests imaginable, and that it would take hours. So, I ended up watching Law and Order on the tube and enjoyed the morning after being wheeled around to get MRI’d in this big tube thing.
Thought I was handling it all quite well … possibly in wait for the doctor to come back and tell me I have an inoperable cancer of the stomach, or that I would need to be admitted immediately for some other urgent surgery. Handling it well, right?…
*My blood pressure was sky high on the first go around and the doctor was concerned (it went back down to a normal area, which it has been for some time).
*Then could not get into the men’s room near me because of a lady in distress, so I went to the next one. Got lost coming out and ended up at the other side of the ER layout. When asking where to go, I kept getting sent to another room, where this lady was dealing with her own issue. What the heck? Turns out she was a Murphy too. What are the odds of that?
After a few laughs, I was led back to my room and waited for the doctor. The first few words out of his mouth could change my life forever and there was nothing to do but wait to hear what the pain was all about.
Before I could think "the dread" further, he opened the door and quickly said, "All your tests are NORMAL." They were the sweetest words I ever heard. BUT, he said he thought the nurse was right that it was SHINGLES, so he gave me some medicine to be taken immediately.
No matter, I was not going on Death Row and didn’t have to quickly go home and get my laptop to do my daily commentary when I woke up from a surgery. (I actually almost brought it to the ER when I first went in anticipation of the worst.)
Now, I know how painful shingles is supposed to be. Everyone, for the right reasons, shudders on hearing of it because it is so painful … BUT compared to hearing my pancreas, appendix, liver, or kidney was blowing up, this news was a delight to hear.
Trying to keep this as short as possible, the doctor gave me two meds (pills) for shingles, which I began to take immediately. One was a steroid of sorts. What an eye opener. Feeling very good yesterday, I went to my gym. My weightlifting was the strongest in memory. My bike ride was the fastest in a long time. No wonder some of these famous athletes hit so many home runs. No wonder Lance Armstrong did what he did. What I took were three rinky-dink pills and I could feel the new strength in 24 hours. What a stunner!
On my way out of the gym, I ran into this sharp lawyer whom I have gotten to know and we did the usual cordial hellos and "How are you doing?" This time when he did his friendly query, I responded by saying I spent four hours in the ER at Baylor on Sunday. Naturally, he scrambled over to find out what was going on.
So glad I brought it up. He then told me that his wife, whom I have met briefly, had the same thing … shingles, and that the pain was nowhere near where her rash was, just like me if that is what I have. He went on to say how painful it was, but she beat it. And, if that is what I have, so will I … no matter what lifestyle changes that requires.
While in purgatory here, waiting to find out really what I have, my hope it is that it is SHINGLES, because that is something I can deal with and it is up to me to beat any immune issues that caused the problem.
What I have learned in this process and perhaps might be of help down the road to some Cafe member…
*Go to Google about any ailing symptoms you might have. When it came to what to do about stomach pain, they said follow your gut about whether to go to an emergency room. What a true hoot that was. The Google drill can give you some greater clarification of what you are dealing with and how to respond without wasting time.
*When you have terrible, unexplained pain, deal with it and don’t wish it away. The faster we confront our health demons, which we all have, the better chance of a satisfactory outcome.
*Don’t be afraid of the ER at a major hospital, silly as that may sound to most of you. I was shocked at how good the experience was. Baylor got right to my ER issue.
*Thank goodness for quality health insurance. How lucky I was all those years with my own self insurance program. That could have been a distant memory, very quickly. My entire ER experience cost $69.
That’s it. If all I have is SHINGLES, I am a lucky guy. It can be beat. Perhaps that old football slogan of "no pain, no gain," learned all too well making it to a starting wide receiver with the Patriots so long ago, will take on a new meaning after all these years.
As for Six Degrees of Separation … when I can be directed into another patient’s room by mistake twice, another Murphy, how can this not relate so quickly to all of us and confirm that fabulous notion. Most important to me is that it appears that I will be around to do all I can on behalf of GATA to defeat The Gold Cartel and their heinous price suppression, market manipulation maneuvers.
On that note, it is ironic that the more GATA is proved correct, the more we are shunned. It appears that Jack Nicholson’s famous quote, "You can’t handle the truth!!" in the movie A Few Good Men, is so apropos for the mainstream media gold world, leading gold/silver company executives, and most of the entire gold/silver industry.
And that is the way it appears it will be until this market manipulation nonsense blows up and the decimated U.S. public is clamoring for answers. An essence of what GATA has had to say all along is that interference in the free market process, by manipulating the prices of gold and silver, was going to end badly because it has ruined free market price discovery. It has been deliberate and nefarious.
GATA was initiated back early in 1999 to expose the price manipulation scheme, to inform the public in a myriad of ways … one of those being going to Congress numerous times. Can you say House Speaker Hastert, or James Saxton of the Joint Economic Committee, or Ron Paul? We have been there and done that …including a visit with James Silvia of the Senate Banking Committee.
The meeting with Hastert was on May 10, 2000, nearly 15 years ago…
*GATA Delegation Makes Significant Progress in Washington*
On Wednesday at 11:30, the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee consisting of Chris Powell, Reginald Howe, Frank Veneroso, a State Senator and myself met with one of the most powerful politicians in Washington. It was only going to be a 15 minute meeting. It lasted 45 minutes.
At the end of the meeting, we were excused from the room for several minutes. When the people we met with returned, we were told that they were going to try and set up a meeting with another influential politician at 2 o'clock, but that we would have to call at 1:30 to confirm.
We were stunned to learn at 1:30 that this politician had said, "I am aware of the issue," and that he wanted to meet with the GATA delegation. The meeting took place and six members of his staff also attended. What was most remarkable is that this politician left the floor of Congress to attend our hastily arranged, unscheduled meeting.
This politician asked many questions and was very focused on what we had to say. So much so, that he was annoyed when a staff member left to deal with some other pending issue, saying that this was more important. He told us he had read our biographies before coming to the meeting and was a bit taken aback when he was handed the "Gold Derivative Banking Crisis" document to him with his name and state on it.
This knowledgeable politician said that he and his staff would look into our contentions and suggested that we might meet again. After this very intense one hour meeting, he returned to Congress which was in session.
From there, we went on to meet with Dr. John Silvia, the Chief Economist of the Senate Banking Committee. I could tell he had spent some time on our presentation because he had highlighted material that I had sent to him. Frank, Reg and Chris did a terrific job (as they did in all the meetings) explaining what we have learned through our extensive research. That meeting also lasted an hour and Dr. Silvia took copious notes.
Yesterday, I passed out 88 of the documents to the staff of all the Senators and Representatives on the banking committees. They were told to look for an open letter to all of them in Monday's Roll Call.
That was some schlep. For the Senate I went to the Dirksen, Russell and Hart buildings. For the House I went to the Rayburn, Longworth and Cannon buildings. It took me the entire day, but was well worth it. Congressman Lee Terry of Nebraska could not have been nicer and said he would read the document on his way back to his native state this weekend.
I was struck by how different all the buildings were. AND HOW BIG. Most were about 100 yards long and were circular for traffic flow. I made the mistake of buying new shoes for the trip. Now, my feet are all blistered. Big booboo.
My last stop was the Rayburn Building and I smiled as I went by The Gold Room.
It was the opinion of the entire Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee delegation that the trip was far more fruitful than any one of us dreamed possible. However, as we all know, that was just our first salvo. There is much to be done to win the day and we are already planning our next course of action.
When our adversaries realize how far we have come, we know that they will go all out to discredit us. If yesterday's meetings were any indication of making a serious impact on those who count in Washington, the other side has their work cut out for them!
Bill Murphy
***
Our afternoon meeting was with Spencer Bachus, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy at the time.
So where are we now, almost 15-years later? That will depend on who you talk to.
Taking on the richest and most powerful people in the world is not an easy task. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe GATA could have come up with so much documentation about how valid our claims are and have it so ignored. No one in the world could have done a better job at documenting the evidence of the gold price suppression scheme than Chris Powell. No finer guy than him, or more dedicated and diligent in getting the facts out there.
Think about it. GATA has held four incredibly successful conferences; in Durban, South Africa; in Dawson City in The Yukon; right outside of Washington, D.C.; and in London at the Savoy Hotel, which 400 people attended from 38 countries. To a person they said it was the finest conference they ever attended.
Little did all of us know at the time what The Gold Cartel had in mind, as that was in August of 2011. One month later, gold soared more than $260 to over $1900 and has been going down ever since.
At the same time, other asset prices have soared due to money creation. What no one EVER asks in the mainstream Muppet world is why would gold and silver get bombed at the same time other assets as stocks, diamonds, real estate, and art took off? The incongruity of it all makes no sense, unless you know what GATA knows and the enormous effort that The Gold Cartel is doing to affect their own reality. That (their) reality will go on until the blowup, which is only a matter of time.
So, GATA carries on to win the day on all this nonsense, which is going to hurt so many innocent people who have no idea what the rich and powerful have done to enrich their own fortunes. Few seem to care at the moment what GATA has to say, BUT THEY WILL when all heck breaks loose.
GATA will win the day in the end and we need your support to carry on. What we are dealing with is historic… and will DWARF the Madoff and Enron scandals, etc. in terms of the enormity of it all.
At some point GATA’s efforts are going to prove out by revealing how thwarting the free market process was disastrous. You never know exactly when our efforts will pay off for all of us who believe in exposing the truth about the financial world's machinations. With all so copacetic for the moment, few care. As said, that is all going to change.
GATA needs your help to spread awareness about what is really going on behind the scenes. Most everyone is clueless. Despite what we are encountering, GATA intends to carry on … and, as we do, it will expose the biggest financial scandal in American history.
The facts could not be clearer right now of what GATA explained when we went to Washington in 2000. Back then this topic was not even on the radar screen. To win the day we need your support to keep on keepin’ on. Having stayed on this obvious mission for so long, it is only a matter of time now before the importance of what GATA has claimed for so long makes it to center stage. The rich and powerful will not change their stance, but as things get ugly for the regular people like you and me, they are going to demand answers to the dramatic chaos.
We need some firepower to deliver that message to the world as it manifests itself. The world will want to know what happened and why, hopefully so it does not happen again. From what I know, all of us support various causes because we believe it will make a difference. While so few care now, thanks to the decimation of the gold/silver industry, courtesy of the antics of The Gold Cartel, GATA is still standing tall and telling it like it is.
If you agree and want to support GATA’s efforts, go here:
http://www.gata.org/node/16Going to send this to zerohedge because it is a prominent truth teller and a brilliant resource. May this be another feather in their cap. If anyone in zerohedge land would like to chat further on this monumental issue, you can reach me at midasnh@aol.com.
***
As expected many hours ago, it was a vintage Gold Cartel day ... total lockdown ... and that was despite a weak dollar, oil rising above $60 per barrel, and a stock market that was crushed. As usual, nothing matters except what The Gold Cartel can get away with. James Mc had it pegged at 9:30 this morning.
The shares didn't like the action either. The XAU lost .53 to 72.93. The HUI lost 1.30 to 178.71.
Guess it was a good day for a rant.
MIDAS
Bill Murphy
www.Lemetropolecafe.com Reported by Zero Hedge 21 hours ago.
Rant Time
*"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost."… Billy Graham*
GO GATA!
As is almost always the case, the price of gold was leaned on at the standard PLAN A time in London when The Gold Cartel traders reported for work, but their nudge was thwarted pretty quickly. Gold took off again going into the Comex trading hours and managed to reach $1200 where it was stopped dead in its tracks. James Mc early this morning…
Rules are rules
Bill,
Yesterday’s circled number was $1186.30, and while gold slightly exceeded it, and the 1% rule at the end of the day there was a clear gravitational pull bringing it back. After the 6:00 PM access trade opened it was clearly being held in check for the next 7 hours right around $1186. Cartel rule #1 is also apparent today; with the high tick so far exactly today’s circled number of $1198.70. As of 10:10 AM gold is getting the kitchen sink thrown at it at +1%. As always any big nearby number such as $1200 is irrelevant. It’s all about control, and the fact that $1200 is nearby is just coincidence. The cartel has proven over and over they will stop gold rallies at ANY number, as long as it is the prescribed percentage.
As tiresome as it is to talk about there are 2 big looming potholes for gold. The first arrives this week in the form of NFP Friday which is usually a cartel biggie. The next one arrives 3 weeks from today on May 26th, which is June option expiration. If history is a guide I am issuing a full Washington General warning for both days. Fleecing idiots trading paper gold and executing MOPE to perfection has been the winning formula for the crooks. Never mind an exploding trade deficit (with the implications of negative GDP leading to QE-MOAR) or any other bullish news for gold. For the cartel rules are rules.
The outrageous manipulation on a daily basis has rendered all analysis akin to being on a ride through a carnival funhouse. The cartel’s use of distorted mirrors, strobe lights and smoke make any critical examination virtually useless. Is COT data accurate? Is Comex warehouse inventory data accurate? What % of Comex trading is merely HFT algos disrupting flow? What % of the commercials are cartel banks, and what portion are true hedgers and/or mines? Who is behind the gigantic O.I. in silver? Who is behind the enforcement of the cartel rules? Just what the hell is going on at Ft. Knox, or anywhere gold is allegedly stored? As CP pointed out years ago gold secrets are a higher priority than even nuclear secrets.
James Mc
The silver action is intriguing, when not annoying. Much focus here of late on that price action and what it all might mean. The biggie today is that it was stopped again, like yesterday, right at its massive downtrend line…
After making a $16.68 high, JPM and allies put the damper on the price for the rest of the Comex session, like they did yesterday. CLEARLY, it must blow through $16.70 to BEGIN to do what so many of us are waiting for. To get back into the big leagues silver must then take out $18.50, with the next stop at $22. Once those objectives have been cleared, silver will have completed one of the largest bases imaginable, which should support a MOON SHOT.
The next three hours of trading on the Comex will be a predictable yawn … you can take that one to the bank. The good news is that this week has been a winner so far and each time the bums slam the gold/silver prices, they refuse to stay down.
The AM Fix: $1187.40. The PM Fix: $1197.
The gold open interest fell 9002 contracts to 401,699. The silver open interest was down 2436 contracts to 175,374.
With hours to kill as gold and silver have no chance of getting anywhere further, it is rant time.
Another six degrees of separation story that might hit home with some Café members. First off…
Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by a 1990 play written by John Guare.
***
Perhaps this ramble may be of assistance and value to Café members. There is no doubt that Six Degrees theory is valid in so many different ways.
Friday night I began to have a pain in my abdomen and it was hard to sleep. On Saturday morning the pain was intense on the lower right side of the abdomen and appeared to be spreading. As a former pro football athlete, you are trained to overcome pain and move on. Figuring it would go away, I lifted weights for an hour and then walked a few miles to pick up a pair of new sneakers (sorely needed).
After having some trouble sleeping Saturday night, the pain was worse when I got up early on Sunday. I wished I could call my superb doctor of many years (still a competitive rower and only a few years younger than me). That is what I would have done if he was open, but not the case on Sunday.
I hate going to hospitals and seeing doctors … did not even have health insurance until a few years ago. But, had nothing else to do on Sunday morning, so I thought I should go to Baylor Hospital’s Emergency room after all the whackos had cleared out from too much nonsense on Sat night.
Never have been to an emergency room in my life. Was clueless what to expect. Figured to be hanging around for hours waiting to be seen … was prepared for anything. Never was so surprised … the efficacy of their operation at Baylor was THE BEST. Was seen after 15 minutes. No filling out a zillion pieces of paper, just the basics of who I was and on to what my so-called emergency was.
They got me a room quickly, which had to be rearranged because the last patient was a psycho and they had taken most everything out of the room that the nutcase could use to hurt the staff. It was amusing watching the orderly move so much back in to make it feel more than a detention cell.
When taking my shirt off to put on my nightgown, the attending nurse (who had been asking me numerous health questions) noticed a rash on my lower back on the right side. "What rash?" I queried. She showed me. Immediately, she said, "SHINGLES," which made no sense to me. The pain was in my abdomen, but it WAS only on my right side.
This cool young doctor came in and told me what the drill would be … an MRI and all blood tests imaginable, and that it would take hours. So, I ended up watching Law and Order on the tube and enjoyed the morning after being wheeled around to get MRI’d in this big tube thing.
Thought I was handling it all quite well … possibly in wait for the doctor to come back and tell me I have an inoperable cancer of the stomach, or that I would need to be admitted immediately for some other urgent surgery. Handling it well, right?…
*My blood pressure was sky high on the first go around and the doctor was concerned (it went back down to a normal area, which it has been for some time).
*Then could not get into the men’s room near me because of a lady in distress, so I went to the next one. Got lost coming out and ended up at the other side of the ER layout. When asking where to go, I kept getting sent to another room, where this lady was dealing with her own issue. What the heck? Turns out she was a Murphy too. What are the odds of that?
After a few laughs, I was led back to my room and waited for the doctor. The first few words out of his mouth could change my life forever and there was nothing to do but wait to hear what the pain was all about.
Before I could think "the dread" further, he opened the door and quickly said, "All your tests are NORMAL." They were the sweetest words I ever heard. BUT, he said he thought the nurse was right that it was SHINGLES, so he gave me some medicine to be taken immediately.
No matter, I was not going on Death Row and didn’t have to quickly go home and get my laptop to do my daily commentary when I woke up from a surgery. (I actually almost brought it to the ER when I first went in anticipation of the worst.)
Now, I know how painful shingles is supposed to be. Everyone, for the right reasons, shudders on hearing of it because it is so painful … BUT compared to hearing my pancreas, appendix, liver, or kidney was blowing up, this news was a delight to hear.
Trying to keep this as short as possible, the doctor gave me two meds (pills) for shingles, which I began to take immediately. One was a steroid of sorts. What an eye opener. Feeling very good yesterday, I went to my gym. My weightlifting was the strongest in memory. My bike ride was the fastest in a long time. No wonder some of these famous athletes hit so many home runs. No wonder Lance Armstrong did what he did. What I took were three rinky-dink pills and I could feel the new strength in 24 hours. What a stunner!
On my way out of the gym, I ran into this sharp lawyer whom I have gotten to know and we did the usual cordial hellos and "How are you doing?" This time when he did his friendly query, I responded by saying I spent four hours in the ER at Baylor on Sunday. Naturally, he scrambled over to find out what was going on.
So glad I brought it up. He then told me that his wife, whom I have met briefly, had the same thing … shingles, and that the pain was nowhere near where her rash was, just like me if that is what I have. He went on to say how painful it was, but she beat it. And, if that is what I have, so will I … no matter what lifestyle changes that requires.
While in purgatory here, waiting to find out really what I have, my hope it is that it is SHINGLES, because that is something I can deal with and it is up to me to beat any immune issues that caused the problem.
What I have learned in this process and perhaps might be of help down the road to some Cafe member…
*Go to Google about any ailing symptoms you might have. When it came to what to do about stomach pain, they said follow your gut about whether to go to an emergency room. What a true hoot that was. The Google drill can give you some greater clarification of what you are dealing with and how to respond without wasting time.
*When you have terrible, unexplained pain, deal with it and don’t wish it away. The faster we confront our health demons, which we all have, the better chance of a satisfactory outcome.
*Don’t be afraid of the ER at a major hospital, silly as that may sound to most of you. I was shocked at how good the experience was. Baylor got right to my ER issue.
*Thank goodness for quality health insurance. How lucky I was all those years with my own self insurance program. That could have been a distant memory, very quickly. My entire ER experience cost $69.
That’s it. If all I have is SHINGLES, I am a lucky guy. It can be beat. Perhaps that old football slogan of "no pain, no gain," learned all too well making it to a starting wide receiver with the Patriots so long ago, will take on a new meaning after all these years.
As for Six Degrees of Separation … when I can be directed into another patient’s room by mistake twice, another Murphy, how can this not relate so quickly to all of us and confirm that fabulous notion. Most important to me is that it appears that I will be around to do all I can on behalf of GATA to defeat The Gold Cartel and their heinous price suppression, market manipulation maneuvers.
On that note, it is ironic that the more GATA is proved correct, the more we are shunned. It appears that Jack Nicholson’s famous quote, "You can’t handle the truth!!" in the movie A Few Good Men, is so apropos for the mainstream media gold world, leading gold/silver company executives, and most of the entire gold/silver industry.
And that is the way it appears it will be until this market manipulation nonsense blows up and the decimated U.S. public is clamoring for answers. An essence of what GATA has had to say all along is that interference in the free market process, by manipulating the prices of gold and silver, was going to end badly because it has ruined free market price discovery. It has been deliberate and nefarious.
GATA was initiated back early in 1999 to expose the price manipulation scheme, to inform the public in a myriad of ways … one of those being going to Congress numerous times. Can you say House Speaker Hastert, or James Saxton of the Joint Economic Committee, or Ron Paul? We have been there and done that …including a visit with James Silvia of the Senate Banking Committee.
The meeting with Hastert was on May 10, 2000, nearly 15 years ago…
*GATA Delegation Makes Significant Progress in Washington*
On Wednesday at 11:30, the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee consisting of Chris Powell, Reginald Howe, Frank Veneroso, a State Senator and myself met with one of the most powerful politicians in Washington. It was only going to be a 15 minute meeting. It lasted 45 minutes.
At the end of the meeting, we were excused from the room for several minutes. When the people we met with returned, we were told that they were going to try and set up a meeting with another influential politician at 2 o'clock, but that we would have to call at 1:30 to confirm.
We were stunned to learn at 1:30 that this politician had said, "I am aware of the issue," and that he wanted to meet with the GATA delegation. The meeting took place and six members of his staff also attended. What was most remarkable is that this politician left the floor of Congress to attend our hastily arranged, unscheduled meeting.
This politician asked many questions and was very focused on what we had to say. So much so, that he was annoyed when a staff member left to deal with some other pending issue, saying that this was more important. He told us he had read our biographies before coming to the meeting and was a bit taken aback when he was handed the "Gold Derivative Banking Crisis" document to him with his name and state on it.
This knowledgeable politician said that he and his staff would look into our contentions and suggested that we might meet again. After this very intense one hour meeting, he returned to Congress which was in session.
From there, we went on to meet with Dr. John Silvia, the Chief Economist of the Senate Banking Committee. I could tell he had spent some time on our presentation because he had highlighted material that I had sent to him. Frank, Reg and Chris did a terrific job (as they did in all the meetings) explaining what we have learned through our extensive research. That meeting also lasted an hour and Dr. Silvia took copious notes.
Yesterday, I passed out 88 of the documents to the staff of all the Senators and Representatives on the banking committees. They were told to look for an open letter to all of them in Monday's Roll Call.
That was some schlep. For the Senate I went to the Dirksen, Russell and Hart buildings. For the House I went to the Rayburn, Longworth and Cannon buildings. It took me the entire day, but was well worth it. Congressman Lee Terry of Nebraska could not have been nicer and said he would read the document on his way back to his native state this weekend.
I was struck by how different all the buildings were. AND HOW BIG. Most were about 100 yards long and were circular for traffic flow. I made the mistake of buying new shoes for the trip. Now, my feet are all blistered. Big booboo.
My last stop was the Rayburn Building and I smiled as I went by The Gold Room.
It was the opinion of the entire Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee delegation that the trip was far more fruitful than any one of us dreamed possible. However, as we all know, that was just our first salvo. There is much to be done to win the day and we are already planning our next course of action.
When our adversaries realize how far we have come, we know that they will go all out to discredit us. If yesterday's meetings were any indication of making a serious impact on those who count in Washington, the other side has their work cut out for them!
Bill Murphy
***
Our afternoon meeting was with Spencer Bachus, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy at the time.
So where are we now, almost 15-years later? That will depend on who you talk to.
Taking on the richest and most powerful people in the world is not an easy task. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe GATA could have come up with so much documentation about how valid our claims are and have it so ignored. No one in the world could have done a better job at documenting the evidence of the gold price suppression scheme than Chris Powell. No finer guy than him, or more dedicated and diligent in getting the facts out there.
Think about it. GATA has held four incredibly successful conferences; in Durban, South Africa; in Dawson City in The Yukon; right outside of Washington, D.C.; and in London at the Savoy Hotel, which 400 people attended from 38 countries. To a person they said it was the finest conference they ever attended.
Little did all of us know at the time what The Gold Cartel had in mind, as that was in August of 2011. One month later, gold soared more than $260 to over $1900 and has been going down ever since.
At the same time, other asset prices have soared due to money creation. What no one EVER asks in the mainstream Muppet world is why would gold and silver get bombed at the same time other assets as stocks, diamonds, real estate, and art took off? The incongruity of it all makes no sense, unless you know what GATA knows and the enormous effort that The Gold Cartel is doing to affect their own reality. That (their) reality will go on until the blowup, which is only a matter of time.
So, GATA carries on to win the day on all this nonsense, which is going to hurt so many innocent people who have no idea what the rich and powerful have done to enrich their own fortunes. Few seem to care at the moment what GATA has to say, BUT THEY WILL when all heck breaks loose.
GATA will win the day in the end and we need your support to carry on. What we are dealing with is historic… and will DWARF the Madoff and Enron scandals, etc. in terms of the enormity of it all.
At some point GATA’s efforts are going to prove out by revealing how thwarting the free market process was disastrous. You never know exactly when our efforts will pay off for all of us who believe in exposing the truth about the financial world's machinations. With all so copacetic for the moment, few care. As said, that is all going to change.
GATA needs your help to spread awareness about what is really going on behind the scenes. Most everyone is clueless. Despite what we are encountering, GATA intends to carry on … and, as we do, it will expose the biggest financial scandal in American history.
The facts could not be clearer right now of what GATA explained when we went to Washington in 2000. Back then this topic was not even on the radar screen. To win the day we need your support to keep on keepin’ on. Having stayed on this obvious mission for so long, it is only a matter of time now before the importance of what GATA has claimed for so long makes it to center stage. The rich and powerful will not change their stance, but as things get ugly for the regular people like you and me, they are going to demand answers to the dramatic chaos.
We need some firepower to deliver that message to the world as it manifests itself. The world will want to know what happened and why, hopefully so it does not happen again. From what I know, all of us support various causes because we believe it will make a difference. While so few care now, thanks to the decimation of the gold/silver industry, courtesy of the antics of The Gold Cartel, GATA is still standing tall and telling it like it is.
If you agree and want to support GATA’s efforts, go here:
http://www.gata.org/node/16Going to send this to zerohedge because it is a prominent truth teller and a brilliant resource. May this be another feather in their cap. If anyone in zerohedge land would like to chat further on this monumental issue, you can reach me at midasnh@aol.com.
***
As expected many hours ago, it was a vintage Gold Cartel day ... total lockdown ... and that was despite a weak dollar, oil rising above $60 per barrel, and a stock market that was crushed. As usual, nothing matters except what The Gold Cartel can get away with. James Mc had it pegged at 9:30 this morning.
The shares didn't like the action either. The XAU lost .53 to 72.93. The HUI lost 1.30 to 178.71.
Guess it was a good day for a rant.
MIDAS
Bill Murphy
www.Lemetropolecafe.com Reported by Zero Hedge 21 hours ago.
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Religious health care: Helping neighbors is at the core of religion
Regarding the article “Cost-sharing ministries offer Obamacare alternative” [Local News, May 3], it is nice to know that Christians are ready to pay the bills for health care. I am a retired Catholic public health nurse and a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act because health insurance is about caring for all of our […]
Reported by Seattle Times 20 hours ago.
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Zenefits cloud-based HR site scores $500 million, valuation soars
San Francisco cloud software company Zenefits will rocket into the startup stratosphere Wednesday when it announces $500 million in new funding, pushing its valuation to $4.5 billion, The Chronicle has learned. The company, which provides human resources functions like payroll and benefits to small and midsize companies, will double its number of employees to 2,000 by the end of the year. Other investors included Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, and Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures. Previous investors Institutional Venture Partners and actor Jared Leto added to their stakes. Almost exactly two years after it was founded in 2013, Zenefits has 10,000 small and midsize companies using its cloud software to manage tasks such as health insurance and payroll. Unlike larger operations, smaller companies typically don’t have access to a Web-based human resources system, so Zenefits provides a single online dashboard to manage everything.
Reported by SFGate 12 hours ago.
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The Jefferson Awards Foundation Honors Highmark Health
The Jefferson Awards Foundation Recognizes Highmark Health as the Country’s First Certified Outstanding Employee Volunteer Organization
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
The Jefferson Awards Foundation, America’s most prestigious and long-standing organization dedicated to activating and celebrating public service, announced today that it has certified its Champion organization, Highmark Health, as an Outstanding Employee Volunteer Organization. Champions are organizations who, in partnership with the Jefferson Awards Foundation, are dedicated to building a culture of service in their communities. For nearly a decade, Highmark Health has recognized employees who volunteer in the community and has made volunteering a part of its corporate culture by actively promoting and supporting these activities. Highmark Health is the first company nationwide, and only health care company in Pennsylvania with the honor of recognizing employees in partnership with the Jefferson Awards Foundation — making the Certified Outstanding Employee Volunteer Organization recognition truly unique.
“The Jefferson Awards Foundation partners with companies nationwide that are dedicated to making public service part of their culture, workplace and communities,” said Hillary Schafer, Executive Director of the Jefferson Awards Foundation. “Highmark Health is unique in its large-scale employee recognition. We are excited to honor the organization with this very first certification.”
A core value at Highmark Health is a commitment to the community. Highmark Health companies are leaders in the health care community and have asked their employees to be leaders in their local communities. The effects of service to communities by employee volunteers are felt in the markets Highmark Health companies serve throughout the country. As a Jefferson Awards Foundation Certified Champion Company, Highmark Health is recognized as adhering to the highest standards and best practices in employee volunteerism, including:· Communicating the purpose of community service through volunteer programs and connecting employees to the company's social responsibility mission.
· Dedicating the resources needed to execute an effective community service and volunteer program.
· Maintaining a feedback loop with volunteers, organizations and communities to optimize employee engagement and maximize the impact of events.
· Supporting employee participation in public service and volunteerism.
· Providing a recognition system whereby outstanding employee volunteers are recognized and their participation in public service is encouraged and celebrated.
“For many of our employees, volunteerism is a way of life,” said Dan Onorato, Executive Vice President, Highmark Health. “They demonstrate their community commitment with thousands of hours spent in support of causes that make life better for their friends and neighbors. Their co-workers take note of their remarkable example in nominating them for recognition with a Jefferson Award.”
A ceremony recognizing the outstanding achievement of Highmark Health’s employees was held on April 27, 2015.
About the Jefferson Awards Foundation
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is the country’s longest standing and most prestigious organization dedicated to activating and celebrating public service. Through our programs JAF trains and empowers individuals to serve and lead in their communities, amplifying their impact through our vast network of media partners, mentors and volunteers. To learn more about the Jefferson Awards Foundation, visit: JeffersonAwards.org or engage with our community on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves 40 million Americans in all 50 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing network in the nation. Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.2 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks. Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark health plans as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.highmarkhealth.org. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
The Jefferson Awards Foundation, America’s most prestigious and long-standing organization dedicated to activating and celebrating public service, announced today that it has certified its Champion organization, Highmark Health, as an Outstanding Employee Volunteer Organization. Champions are organizations who, in partnership with the Jefferson Awards Foundation, are dedicated to building a culture of service in their communities. For nearly a decade, Highmark Health has recognized employees who volunteer in the community and has made volunteering a part of its corporate culture by actively promoting and supporting these activities. Highmark Health is the first company nationwide, and only health care company in Pennsylvania with the honor of recognizing employees in partnership with the Jefferson Awards Foundation — making the Certified Outstanding Employee Volunteer Organization recognition truly unique.
“The Jefferson Awards Foundation partners with companies nationwide that are dedicated to making public service part of their culture, workplace and communities,” said Hillary Schafer, Executive Director of the Jefferson Awards Foundation. “Highmark Health is unique in its large-scale employee recognition. We are excited to honor the organization with this very first certification.”
A core value at Highmark Health is a commitment to the community. Highmark Health companies are leaders in the health care community and have asked their employees to be leaders in their local communities. The effects of service to communities by employee volunteers are felt in the markets Highmark Health companies serve throughout the country. As a Jefferson Awards Foundation Certified Champion Company, Highmark Health is recognized as adhering to the highest standards and best practices in employee volunteerism, including:· Communicating the purpose of community service through volunteer programs and connecting employees to the company's social responsibility mission.
· Dedicating the resources needed to execute an effective community service and volunteer program.
· Maintaining a feedback loop with volunteers, organizations and communities to optimize employee engagement and maximize the impact of events.
· Supporting employee participation in public service and volunteerism.
· Providing a recognition system whereby outstanding employee volunteers are recognized and their participation in public service is encouraged and celebrated.
“For many of our employees, volunteerism is a way of life,” said Dan Onorato, Executive Vice President, Highmark Health. “They demonstrate their community commitment with thousands of hours spent in support of causes that make life better for their friends and neighbors. Their co-workers take note of their remarkable example in nominating them for recognition with a Jefferson Award.”
A ceremony recognizing the outstanding achievement of Highmark Health’s employees was held on April 27, 2015.
About the Jefferson Awards Foundation
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is the country’s longest standing and most prestigious organization dedicated to activating and celebrating public service. Through our programs JAF trains and empowers individuals to serve and lead in their communities, amplifying their impact through our vast network of media partners, mentors and volunteers. To learn more about the Jefferson Awards Foundation, visit: JeffersonAwards.org or engage with our community on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves 40 million Americans in all 50 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing network in the nation. Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.2 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks. Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark health plans as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.highmarkhealth.org. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
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Global Health Insurance and Services Company Streamlines Claims Processing with Kofax Mobile Capture Platform
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kofax® Limited (NASDAQ: KFX), a leading provider of smart process applications to simplify and transform the First Mile™ of customer engagement, today announced that a leading global health insurance and services company will deploy Kofax Mobile Capture™ Platform to enable insureds to submit medical claims via mobile devices. The solution is expected to streamline the claim submission and approval process for both insureds and the insurer, transforming a histori
Reported by Business Wire 9 hours ago.
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WellCare Gives $1,500 to Support Fastest Kid Competition to Encourage Youth Physical Fitness and Healthy Lifestyles in Bowling Green, Kentucky
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. gave Western Kentucky University $1,500 to sponsor the 4th Annual Fastest Kid in Bowling Green fitness competition at WKU’s Charles M. Ruter Track Complex.
TAMPA, Fla. (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) gave Western Kentucky University (WKU) $1,500 to sponsor the 4th Annual Fastest Kid in Bowling Green fitness competition at WKU’s Charles M. Ruter Track Complex. This is WellCare’s second consecutive year sponsoring the 100-meter dash competition to promote physical fitness and offer children an opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities in a collegiate setting.
Leading up to this competition, public and private schools across the Warren County School District and the Bowling Green Independent School District held preliminary competitions for grades 1-6. Seventy winners from these preliminary races advanced to the Fastest Kid in Bowling Green competition, where separate 100-meter dash races were held for boys and girls. Winners were named in two categories: grades 1-3 and 4-6.
Winners of the Fastest Kid in Bowling Green competition are:· 1st-3rd Grade Girls – Myra Jones – Holy Trinity
· 1st-3rd Grade Boys – Makayelus Wardlow – McNeil Elementary
· 4th-6th Grade Girls – Natalie Hix – Richardsville Elementary
· 4th-6th Grade Boys – Kyaw Ri Htoo – Briarwood Elementary
“WellCare is committed to supporting efforts that teach children the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Howard Shaps, medical director for WellCare of Kentucky. “By exposing children to fun and rewarding programs like this, we can inspire a love of physical activity to build the foundation for a healthy generation.”
“It is inspiring to watch the energy and enthusiasm these kids put into each race,” said Thomas Harris, WKU assistant director of athletic marketing. “We appreciate WellCare for helping us to create this opportunity for children to compete at a collegiate track and field venue. It may spark an interest that could motivate them to work hard to one day compete at this level.”
“Physical fitness is a part of developing the whole student, which is vital to long-term success in life,” said Rob Clayton, superintendent, Warren County Schools. “Warren County Schools thanks WKU and WellCare for partnering to create this unique opportunity for our children.”
"This event is a great way for our schools to promote physical fitness and recognize students with outstanding talent,” said Joe Tinius, superintendent for Bowling Green Independent Schools. “Bowling Green Independent Schools appreciate WKU Track and Field and WellCare for their continued support of this event."
As of Dec. 31, 2014, WellCare serves approximately 408,000 Medicaid members, 5,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 21,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi’s story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, Prescription Drug Plans and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind and disabled. The company serves approximately 4.1 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2014. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com or view the company’s videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
TAMPA, Fla. (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) gave Western Kentucky University (WKU) $1,500 to sponsor the 4th Annual Fastest Kid in Bowling Green fitness competition at WKU’s Charles M. Ruter Track Complex. This is WellCare’s second consecutive year sponsoring the 100-meter dash competition to promote physical fitness and offer children an opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities in a collegiate setting.
Leading up to this competition, public and private schools across the Warren County School District and the Bowling Green Independent School District held preliminary competitions for grades 1-6. Seventy winners from these preliminary races advanced to the Fastest Kid in Bowling Green competition, where separate 100-meter dash races were held for boys and girls. Winners were named in two categories: grades 1-3 and 4-6.
Winners of the Fastest Kid in Bowling Green competition are:· 1st-3rd Grade Girls – Myra Jones – Holy Trinity
· 1st-3rd Grade Boys – Makayelus Wardlow – McNeil Elementary
· 4th-6th Grade Girls – Natalie Hix – Richardsville Elementary
· 4th-6th Grade Boys – Kyaw Ri Htoo – Briarwood Elementary
“WellCare is committed to supporting efforts that teach children the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Howard Shaps, medical director for WellCare of Kentucky. “By exposing children to fun and rewarding programs like this, we can inspire a love of physical activity to build the foundation for a healthy generation.”
“It is inspiring to watch the energy and enthusiasm these kids put into each race,” said Thomas Harris, WKU assistant director of athletic marketing. “We appreciate WellCare for helping us to create this opportunity for children to compete at a collegiate track and field venue. It may spark an interest that could motivate them to work hard to one day compete at this level.”
“Physical fitness is a part of developing the whole student, which is vital to long-term success in life,” said Rob Clayton, superintendent, Warren County Schools. “Warren County Schools thanks WKU and WellCare for partnering to create this unique opportunity for our children.”
"This event is a great way for our schools to promote physical fitness and recognize students with outstanding talent,” said Joe Tinius, superintendent for Bowling Green Independent Schools. “Bowling Green Independent Schools appreciate WKU Track and Field and WellCare for their continued support of this event."
As of Dec. 31, 2014, WellCare serves approximately 408,000 Medicaid members, 5,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 21,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi’s story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, Prescription Drug Plans and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind and disabled. The company serves approximately 4.1 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2014. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com or view the company’s videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
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How Much Of The Cost Should The Patient Bear?
A striking feature of the insurance offered on the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges is the imposition of very high deductibles. For example, the law allows the deductible to be as high as $6,600 for an individual and $13,200 for a family in 2015. A Kaiser Foundation survey finds that on [...]
Reported by Forbes.com 7 hours ago.
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Zenefits raises $500 million at $4.5 billion valuation
Zenefits, the fastest-growing software startup in recent memory, announced Wednesday a $500 million funding round, setting up the tech firm for more dramatic expansion and the potential upheaval of the health insurance broker market.
Reported by San Jose Mercury News 6 hours ago.
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Aetna's rate hike excessive for small employers, regulator says
For the third time since 2013, California's managed-care regulator has criticized health insurance giant Aetna Inc. for imposing an excessive rate hike on small employers.
Reported by L.A. Times 6 hours ago.
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Survival rates in trauma patients after Massachusetts health insurance reform
A study of survival rates in trauma patients following health insurance reform in Massachusetts found a passing increase in adjusted mortality rates, an unexpected finding suggesting that simply providing insurance incentives and subsidies may not improve survival for trauma patients, according to a report.
Reported by Science Daily 3 hours ago.
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SC senator to filibuster budget over road funding
GOP Sen. Lee Bright of Roebuck promises to spend hours at the podium Wednesday to fight for more road money in the Senate's spending plan for next fiscal year. The budget plan now gives no cost-of-living raise to employees, though it spends an additional $35 million to cover increases in their health insurance premiums.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 5 hours ago.
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Veterinarian Supports 2015 HABRI Study Citing Increase in Health Advantages of Pet Owners
Animal Medical Center of Streetsboro speaks out on recent research citing increasing health benefits for pet owners.
Streetsboro, Ohio (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
Animals make just as good friends as they do pets. Research increasingly shows they are also good for your health. An Ohio veterinarian has been observing this for years and today reports an increase he's seeing with health advantages of owning a pet.
“When animals and humans bond, good things happen. When it comes to pet ownership, there are proven health benefits for people-- including physical, mental and emotional improvements,” Dr. Scott Leffler of the Animal Medical Center of Streetsboro said. Every May, he sees a spike in the energy and health in his four-legged patients’ owners. “They’re getting more exercise. When the weather breaks they start taking their pets for longer walks, going to the dog park, heading to training classes. It shows in their overall health,” Leffler said.
Studies show pet owners fare better with self-esteem, loneliness, illness, depression and activity level. For nearly 25 years, research shows living with pets provides health benefits. “Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and they’re always there for you. I can feel the bond and I see the companionship every day. It makes a difference,” Leffler said.
In fact, 97 percent of doctors believe patients reap health benefits from owning a pet, according to the Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI), a nonprofit research and education organization. A 2015 HABRI survey found 69 percent of physicians have successfully worked with animal patient therapy or treatment. They report interactions with animals improve patients' physical and mental health as well as their mood and relationships with medical staff. Mayo Clinic uses canine assisted therapy, where a dog and their handler go into a hospital room and visit with a patient. Doctors have found that interacting with animals can increase oxytocin levels, a hormone that makes us feel happy and trusting.
At Leffler’s animal hospital, owners frequently come in spouting tales about their pet’s adventures, mishaps or achievements. “Their pets are their children, friends and greatest fans. Somehow the furry ones get them to smile no matter how stressed they are,” he said.
Seeing a pet’s enthusiasm when you walk in the door can be an instant mood-lifting boost. Their tail is wagging, tongue hanging out, the ears perking up. The pet doesn't care if you faltered something at work or failed a test - they’re just happy to see you. According the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, pet owners tend to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, higher survival rates from heart attacks and less needs for visits to the doctor.
Studies have also shown that Alzheimer's patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home. Like any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine -- nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties.
Many pet owners would agree the unconditional love of a pet can fill your heart with love. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have conducted heart-related studies on people who have pets. The findings show pet owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack down the road. For those who have already experienced a heart attack, research also indicates that patients with a dog or a cat tend to have better recovery rates.
Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or about 82.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2013-2014 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).
“As is the case with people, a dog’s health changes with age. Unfortunately, our pets age much faster than we do,” Leffler said, emphasizing the importance of wellness checkups for pets. “As a member of your family, you want your pet to live the longest, happiest and healthiest lives possible,” he added. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association's preventive care guidelines say that dogs and cats should visit the veterinarian at least annually; in many cases, more frequent healthy-pet checkups are necessary.
Scientific research shows human health benefits of owning a pet include:· Lowered Risk of Heart Disease
· Lowered Risk of Hypertension
· Slower Heart Rate
· Reduced Frequency of Doctor Visits
· Increased Capacity of Dealing with Stress/Traumatic Events
· Faster Rehabilitation Following Trauma
· Increased Survival Rates from Heart Attacks
· Relief of Depression/Dementia in Seniors
· Lowered Risk of Allergens in Children
· Increased Chance of Being Physically Active
· Improved Quality of Life
· Lowered Risk of Seizure in Epileptics Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
Streetsboro, Ohio (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
Animals make just as good friends as they do pets. Research increasingly shows they are also good for your health. An Ohio veterinarian has been observing this for years and today reports an increase he's seeing with health advantages of owning a pet.
“When animals and humans bond, good things happen. When it comes to pet ownership, there are proven health benefits for people-- including physical, mental and emotional improvements,” Dr. Scott Leffler of the Animal Medical Center of Streetsboro said. Every May, he sees a spike in the energy and health in his four-legged patients’ owners. “They’re getting more exercise. When the weather breaks they start taking their pets for longer walks, going to the dog park, heading to training classes. It shows in their overall health,” Leffler said.
Studies show pet owners fare better with self-esteem, loneliness, illness, depression and activity level. For nearly 25 years, research shows living with pets provides health benefits. “Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and they’re always there for you. I can feel the bond and I see the companionship every day. It makes a difference,” Leffler said.
In fact, 97 percent of doctors believe patients reap health benefits from owning a pet, according to the Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI), a nonprofit research and education organization. A 2015 HABRI survey found 69 percent of physicians have successfully worked with animal patient therapy or treatment. They report interactions with animals improve patients' physical and mental health as well as their mood and relationships with medical staff. Mayo Clinic uses canine assisted therapy, where a dog and their handler go into a hospital room and visit with a patient. Doctors have found that interacting with animals can increase oxytocin levels, a hormone that makes us feel happy and trusting.
At Leffler’s animal hospital, owners frequently come in spouting tales about their pet’s adventures, mishaps or achievements. “Their pets are their children, friends and greatest fans. Somehow the furry ones get them to smile no matter how stressed they are,” he said.
Seeing a pet’s enthusiasm when you walk in the door can be an instant mood-lifting boost. Their tail is wagging, tongue hanging out, the ears perking up. The pet doesn't care if you faltered something at work or failed a test - they’re just happy to see you. According the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, pet owners tend to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, higher survival rates from heart attacks and less needs for visits to the doctor.
Studies have also shown that Alzheimer's patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home. Like any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine -- nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties.
Many pet owners would agree the unconditional love of a pet can fill your heart with love. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have conducted heart-related studies on people who have pets. The findings show pet owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack down the road. For those who have already experienced a heart attack, research also indicates that patients with a dog or a cat tend to have better recovery rates.
Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or about 82.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2013-2014 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).
“As is the case with people, a dog’s health changes with age. Unfortunately, our pets age much faster than we do,” Leffler said, emphasizing the importance of wellness checkups for pets. “As a member of your family, you want your pet to live the longest, happiest and healthiest lives possible,” he added. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association's preventive care guidelines say that dogs and cats should visit the veterinarian at least annually; in many cases, more frequent healthy-pet checkups are necessary.
Scientific research shows human health benefits of owning a pet include:· Lowered Risk of Heart Disease
· Lowered Risk of Hypertension
· Slower Heart Rate
· Reduced Frequency of Doctor Visits
· Increased Capacity of Dealing with Stress/Traumatic Events
· Faster Rehabilitation Following Trauma
· Increased Survival Rates from Heart Attacks
· Relief of Depression/Dementia in Seniors
· Lowered Risk of Allergens in Children
· Increased Chance of Being Physically Active
· Improved Quality of Life
· Lowered Risk of Seizure in Epileptics Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
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Caregiverlist® Announces Hawaii Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index for May 2015
Hawaii seniors needing a long-term stay in a nursing home in their state will pay roughly $139,097.85 a year, the average annual cost based on the daily rates of 52 nursing homes in Hawaii. Medicare does not pay for long-term care, while Medicaid, for low-income seniors does pay for an ongoing stay in a nursing home.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
Seniors in Hawaii looking to plan ahead for senior care options should first understand the daily costs of nursing homes in their area and review the most important factors indicating quality of care. This is because Medicare does not pay for long-term care but does pay for short-term stays in a nursing home, usually as post-hospital stay rehabilitation.
Aloha state seniors needing nursing home care can now view the most recent ratings and costs of nursing homes in their area by using the interactive Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Directory. This month’s update of the Hawaii Caregiverlist® Index, indicates that the average cost of a nursing home in Hawaii is $381.09 a day, or about $11,600 per month. Of the 52 total Hawaii nursing homes, just about half of the homes, 25, score a 4-star rating or higher, with 5-stars being the highest score. A score of 4-star means above average. Less than 25% of the nursing homes rank 1-star, the lowest quality rating, with just 14 nursing homes receiving this score. However, keep in mind that new nursing homes also will receive only a 1-star until they have had a chance to be rated.
Caregiverlist® Rating Criteria National Averages for Hawaii Nursing Homes
May 2015, National Averages Weighting for Rating
2 hours, 28 minutes: C.N.A. Hours per Resident per Day 40%
15.7%: Long-stay Residents with Increasing Activities of Daily Living Needs 20%
1.0% Short-term Residents with Pressure Sores (Bed Sores) 20%
Overall Medicare Star-Rating Score 20%
Caregiverlist® Hawaii Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index
Total Number of Nursing Homes: 52
Average Cost Varies by State
Average Cost of Private Room for Hawaii: $459.75
Average Cost of Shared Room for Hawaii: $302.43
Average Star-Rating: 2.6
Hawaii Nursing Home Star-Rating Results
5-Star: 3
4-Star: 22
3-Star: 9
2-Star: 4
1-Star: 14
The Caregiverlist® rating combines 4 criteria to calculate an overall star-rating with a 5-star rating as the highest and a 1-star rating as the lowest score, as rated against the results for the total number of nursing homes.
The Hawaii nursing home with the highest Caregiverlist® rating is privately-owned Island Nursing Home in Honolulu, Hawaii. The nursing home's semi-private room (they do no offer private rooms) costs $252.00 per day, which is significantly less than the state's average rate of $302.43
Hawaii seniors and their families must remember that nursing homes have become an extension of a hospital stay and many times Medicare health insurance will authorize a hospital discharge directly to a nursing home for rehabilitation after a major medical event has happened. This means researching the right nursing home ahead of time will ease the transition should a medical emergency occur.
Costs of senior care are always a factor when choosing the right senior care option, as many seniors live on a fixed income. The average annual cost of a nursing home in Hawaii is at $139,097.85. Low-income seniors in Hawaii may qualify for Medicaid, with the financial qualification of no more than $2,000 in assets for individuals and a $3,000 limit for couples. Medicaid will pay for long-term care in a nursing home for as long as the senior qualifies for needing care, even if this means multiple years of care until death. Visit the Caregiverlist® Hawaii Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for for more information.Because seniors must private pay for a nursing home if needing care beyond the number of days Medicare will reimburse (usually only up to 100 days), many seniors also explore senior home care and assisted living options. Some assisted living centers also provide nursing home care.
Seniors should review the ratings and costs of nursing homes in their area and then visit the nursing homes which meet their budget availability. Ratings for nursing homes are only a starting point and while the Caregiverlist® Index calculates a custom rating based on the most important criteria for quality, Medicare will only begin auditing the nursing home’s submitted information for C.N.A. staffing next year. Right now all of the information for the nursing home ratings is self-reported.
About Caregiverlist®
Caregiverlist.com® is the premier service connecting seniors and professional caregivers with the most reliable senior care options, highest quality ratings and outstanding careers nationwide. Founded by senior care professionals, Caregiverlist® delivers the efficiencies of the internet to senior care companies by providing online job applications, caregiver training, background checks and industry news. Seniors and caregivers can access senior service information “by state,” view nursing home costs and star-ratings and learn about all senior care options and quality standards. For more information, please visit http://www.caregiverlist.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 06, 2015
Seniors in Hawaii looking to plan ahead for senior care options should first understand the daily costs of nursing homes in their area and review the most important factors indicating quality of care. This is because Medicare does not pay for long-term care but does pay for short-term stays in a nursing home, usually as post-hospital stay rehabilitation.
Aloha state seniors needing nursing home care can now view the most recent ratings and costs of nursing homes in their area by using the interactive Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Directory. This month’s update of the Hawaii Caregiverlist® Index, indicates that the average cost of a nursing home in Hawaii is $381.09 a day, or about $11,600 per month. Of the 52 total Hawaii nursing homes, just about half of the homes, 25, score a 4-star rating or higher, with 5-stars being the highest score. A score of 4-star means above average. Less than 25% of the nursing homes rank 1-star, the lowest quality rating, with just 14 nursing homes receiving this score. However, keep in mind that new nursing homes also will receive only a 1-star until they have had a chance to be rated.
Caregiverlist® Rating Criteria National Averages for Hawaii Nursing Homes
May 2015, National Averages Weighting for Rating
2 hours, 28 minutes: C.N.A. Hours per Resident per Day 40%
15.7%: Long-stay Residents with Increasing Activities of Daily Living Needs 20%
1.0% Short-term Residents with Pressure Sores (Bed Sores) 20%
Overall Medicare Star-Rating Score 20%
Caregiverlist® Hawaii Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index
Total Number of Nursing Homes: 52
Average Cost Varies by State
Average Cost of Private Room for Hawaii: $459.75
Average Cost of Shared Room for Hawaii: $302.43
Average Star-Rating: 2.6
Hawaii Nursing Home Star-Rating Results
5-Star: 3
4-Star: 22
3-Star: 9
2-Star: 4
1-Star: 14
The Caregiverlist® rating combines 4 criteria to calculate an overall star-rating with a 5-star rating as the highest and a 1-star rating as the lowest score, as rated against the results for the total number of nursing homes.
The Hawaii nursing home with the highest Caregiverlist® rating is privately-owned Island Nursing Home in Honolulu, Hawaii. The nursing home's semi-private room (they do no offer private rooms) costs $252.00 per day, which is significantly less than the state's average rate of $302.43
Hawaii seniors and their families must remember that nursing homes have become an extension of a hospital stay and many times Medicare health insurance will authorize a hospital discharge directly to a nursing home for rehabilitation after a major medical event has happened. This means researching the right nursing home ahead of time will ease the transition should a medical emergency occur.
Costs of senior care are always a factor when choosing the right senior care option, as many seniors live on a fixed income. The average annual cost of a nursing home in Hawaii is at $139,097.85. Low-income seniors in Hawaii may qualify for Medicaid, with the financial qualification of no more than $2,000 in assets for individuals and a $3,000 limit for couples. Medicaid will pay for long-term care in a nursing home for as long as the senior qualifies for needing care, even if this means multiple years of care until death. Visit the Caregiverlist® Hawaii Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for for more information.Because seniors must private pay for a nursing home if needing care beyond the number of days Medicare will reimburse (usually only up to 100 days), many seniors also explore senior home care and assisted living options. Some assisted living centers also provide nursing home care.
Seniors should review the ratings and costs of nursing homes in their area and then visit the nursing homes which meet their budget availability. Ratings for nursing homes are only a starting point and while the Caregiverlist® Index calculates a custom rating based on the most important criteria for quality, Medicare will only begin auditing the nursing home’s submitted information for C.N.A. staffing next year. Right now all of the information for the nursing home ratings is self-reported.
About Caregiverlist®
Caregiverlist.com® is the premier service connecting seniors and professional caregivers with the most reliable senior care options, highest quality ratings and outstanding careers nationwide. Founded by senior care professionals, Caregiverlist® delivers the efficiencies of the internet to senior care companies by providing online job applications, caregiver training, background checks and industry news. Seniors and caregivers can access senior service information “by state,” view nursing home costs and star-ratings and learn about all senior care options and quality standards. For more information, please visit http://www.caregiverlist.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
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