Earmark disarmament urged as public grows fed up
Guest editorial argues for banning all earmarks in federal spending citing public anger and ethics conflicts. It notes Democratic steps to ban personal earmarks and Republican unilateral disarmament, urging House leaders to extend the move to Senate backed requests and stop related lobbying.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago Tribune
U.S. House
House
Senate
Congress
Washington
Associated Press
Charles Rangel
D-N.y
Ways and Means Committee
Eric Massa
Dn.y
The medicalization of life
Guest columnist H. Gilbert Welch argues that routine late pregnancy ultrasound and electronic fetal monitoring often do not benefit mother or child and increase anxiety and surgery. He cites Cochrane Review findings, notes end of life hospital care trends, and calls for skepticism about overuse of medical intervention in birth and death.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cochrane Review
U.S
Cochrane
Dartmouth Atlas
Medicare
U.S. News & World Report
Republicans oppose Obama pay as you go rule critique
Randy Russo of Cedar Rapids argues that Republicans oppose Obama’s pay as you go budget rule to block it, claiming they lack feasible solutions and pursue tax cuts and privatization of Social Security to undermine government. He condemns partisan obstruction and urges alternate ideas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barack Obama
Obama
Randy Russo
Cedar Rapids
Biased liberal media should face extinction
In Newsweek March 22 Howard Fineman concedes low trust in media and cites a Gallup survey placing journalists with the least respected institutions. The piece argues reporters and editors are largely liberal and discriminate against conservative ideas, suggesting objective media is needed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Newsweek
Howard Fineman
Blaming Big Oil as demand drops and refineries close
As demand collapses and refiners consider cutbacks, critics again accuse oil companies of price gouging. The piece notes regulatory probes exist but finds no clear market manipulation evidence, urging reduced reliance on oil.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times
Ronald D. White
Delaware
Valero Energy
New Jersey
Sunoco
Public Citizen
Santa Monica
Federal Trade Commission
Legislature Budget Cuts Hit DHS and the Poor
Peter S. Fisher of rural Solon argues the Iowa Legislature plans to balance next year’s budget by slashing Department of Human Services staff and aid to low income residents while preserving corporate tax breaks. He notes DHS would lose 27 percent of field staff and over 500 state employees, delaying food assistance and Medicaid, with revenue to fix the system blocked by business lobbying and limited action on closing loopholes. Fisher calls for shared sacrifice and asks why the wealthy’s subsidies remain intact while the most vulnerable bear the burden. He cites IPP and the Iowa Fiscal Partnership as sources for policy analysis.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Department of Human Services
DHS
Des Moines
House
Senate
Also Mentioned on This Page
Eric Mass
H. Gilbert Welch
Department of Veterans Affairs
White River Junction
Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy & Clinical Practice
Watts
Calif
Peter S. Fisher
Rural Solon
Iowa Policy Project
Iowa City
IPP
Iowa Fiscal Partnership
Iowafiscal
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