Like them or not, we’re all pretty clear on what the Tea Party and the far right wing of the Republican Party stand for: opposing President Obama on everything and obstructing government. What do Democrats stand for? Well, that depends. Democrats are fond of nuanced positions. And they’ll run like scared cats at the first […]
Affordable Care Act
Posted inNews & Opinion
Feedback 11/6
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Posted inNews & Opinion
Romneycare’s launch wasn’t successful either
After listening to conservatives’ hysteria over the Affordable Care Act for the last two weeks, it was fascinating to hear Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick talk about his state’s health care program, or Romneycare. The program, a micro version of the Affordable Care Act, served as the ACA’s blueprint. Though the program is wildly successful today, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Games Republicans play
“This isn’t some damn game.” That was John Boehner, digging in his heels last week as he insisted that Democrats negotiate over the Affordable Care Act. Not a game? I don’t know what else Boehner thinks the Republicans are up to. It certainly isn’t the business of running the country. And it’s not democracy (which, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
And we’re shut down…
In the wee hours this morning, it happened; the U.S. government entered a partial shutdown. It’s a statement that just doesn’t look right. We’re all painfully familiar with why we’re in this position. In simple terms, Congress couldn’t come to agreement on legislation that would fund the government. Being Congress and all, the situation really […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Uncle Sam creep show
The origins of Uncle Sam are not exactly clear, but some historians say that references to him go as far back as the 1700’s. Others say that Uncle Sam was a nickname given to Sam Wilson of Troy, New York for creating food care packages for soldiers. James Montgomery Flagg is credited with creating the […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Activist nun makes Rochester stop
The philosophy of the hard right is breathtaking in its strangulation of compassion, and in its self-righteous disregard of history. It is also, says Sister Simone Campbell, just plain bad for the country. Campbell is the executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C. She is coming to Rochester later […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Uninsured can start shopping soon
While the Republican majority in Congress and many Republican governors have spent their time attacking the Affordable Care Act, New York and many other states have been establishing the health insurance exchanges that the law requires.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Buffalo News: Wegmans dropping health insurance for part-timers
[UPDATE] Today, Wegmans released this statement regarding the company’s plans for part-time employee health care benefits: “Even though the new health care law is requiring some changes, we are not going to do anything that will hurt our employees. Wegmans will continue to offer health care benefits for part-time employees, but eligibility requirements will change. This […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Merger news
Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region will merge with the western New York affiliate. The new organization will be called Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York. | The merger should be effective on January 1, 2014, pending approval of state officials since Planned Parenthood’s facilities are treated under law basically as hospitals, says […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
The economic arms race
It’s a mixed metaphor of major proportions: the country’s headed for the fiscal cliff, with the debt ceiling closing in. And Robert H. Frank, professor of economics at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, says we might have to go off that cliff before Republicans realize they’re holding a losing hand.
Posted inSpecial Sections
ELECTIONS 2012: The case against Brooks for Congress
Congressional candidate Maggie Brooks almost never refers to the “people” of Monroe County; they are “taxpayers,” even when the context seems to demand another noun. The subtle bit of messaging aligns with Brooks’ signature and much-touted accomplishment as county executive: freezing the property tax rate.
