Rhode Islands Scary State Treasurer – Forbes
Just what kind of fees are we paying in Rhode Island under the current treasurer’s “alternative” investments?
When profits cloud your vision: tar sands
It's fitting that I concluded yesterday by writing about the lack of positive headlines. The first headline that I saw is maddeningly negative, so much so that I want to walk to work everyday for the rest of my life. I never want to be in a driver's seat anymore. I would rather ride my bike or take a train. However, this will not happen.
Exxon's duck-killing pipeline won't pay taxes to oil spill clean-up fund
By Ryan Koronowski, April 2, 2013. Source: Think Progress
A technicality has spared Exxon from having to pay any money into the fund that will be covering most of the clean up costs of its Arkansas pipeline spill.
The cleanup efforts themselves took a sobering turn as crews found injured and dead ducks covered in oil.
The environmental impacts of an oil spill in central Arkansas began to come into focus Monday as officials said a couple of dead ducks and 10 live oily birds were found after an ExxonMobil Corp.
Providence Zombie Protest Gets Talked About Again
Once again, the Providence Zombie protest is in the national education spotlight! Also in the spotlight, however, is some very bad behavior on the part of a teacher. Totally unacceptable and terrible role modeling!
Sheldon Whitehouse: Helping Rhode Islanders out of the Doughnut Hole
Sheldon Whitehouse helped create legislation that keeps thousands of Rhode Islanders from falling into the Medicare Doughnut Hole, a kind of financial and medical hell where you must pay for all your prescription drugs out of pocket. But the real question is: can he convince people to stop eating doughnuts all together? Then we’d be talking real change — LOL! From the Whitehouse Press Office:
Senator Whitehouse to Provide Cranston Seniors with Update on Medicare Doughnut Hole Savings
Providence, RI – This Monday, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts will meet with Cranston seniors to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and give an update on how the law is saving money for Rhode Islanders.
Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, thousands of Rhode Island seniors fell into the so-called Medicare “doughnut hole” and were forced to pay the full cost of their prescription drugs. Senator Whitehouse heard from many Rhode Islanders who were hurt by the doughnut hole, and successfully fought to eliminate it as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts is chair of the RI Healthcare Reform Commission, an appointment made by executive order of the Governor. The commission is the body in state government that is leading an open and collaborative process, overseeing the implementation of health reform in Rhode Island.
At Monday’s event, Senator Whitehouse and Lieutenant Governor Roberts will provide an update on how much money seniors in Cranston and across Rhode Island have saved as a result of the new law.
EVENT: Whitehouse and Roberts to Provide Update on Medicare Savings
WHO: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts
WHEN: Monday, April 8th
11:30AM
WHERE: Cranston Senior Center
1070 Cranston Street
Cranston, RI
Futurity.org – Patients don’t want to be bargain hunters
When’s the last time you called up your local doctor and asked for a price schedule?
The simple, boring reason why disability insurance has exploded
Interesting article on the rise in disability.
The simple, boring reason why disability insurance has exploded.
This is What Education Funding Looks Like
Good news for the middle schools of the United States, as Sen. Whitehouse champions new legislation to fund struggling middle schools.
Whitehouse Announces Legislation to Improve Middle School Achievement
Providence, RI – Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed announced the introduction of the Success in the Middle Act, legislation to improve our nation’s middle schools. At the press conference, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, Providence School Superintendent Susan Lusi, and Gilbert Stuart Middle School Principal Edward Halpin shared their support for the legislation and discussed its benefits for Rhode Island children.
“When children reach high school unprepared, it is often too late for them to catch up,” said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and lead sponsor of the Success in the Middle Act. “This legislation will help struggling middle schools prepare students for the academic rigors of high school, and put children on the path to college or a career early on.”
“I applaud Senator Whitehouse for leading this effort to target reforms to the middle grades, a critical time when too many kids can fall off track and fall behind. This legislation will provide additional resources to improve our middle schools and help kids reach their full potential and successfully transition to high school, college, and the workforce,” said Reed.
“The middle school years can be a difficult, transitional time for children. In Providence, we have put a lot of effort into providing support and services both in and out of school for our middle school students. Senator Whitehouse’s ‘Success in the Middle’ legislation would significantly enhance the ability of communities across our nation to ensure that all students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and in the rest of their lives,” said Mayor Angel Taveras.
“We are grateful to our Senators from Rhode Island for their ongoing commitment to education, and especially to that of our most at-risk students,” said Providence Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Lusi. “This bill would bolster our efforts to ensure that the critical middle school years are full of strong academics, positive school cultures and supportive structures to ensure student success.”
The Success in the Middle Act would help disadvantaged middle-grade students reach their full potential by providing federal grants to underachieving school systems. Senators Whitehouse and Reed announced the reintroduction of the legislation at Gilbert Stuart Middle School in Providence, a school that could benefit from passage of the Success in the Middle Act.
An earlier version of the Success in the Middle Act was originally introduced in the Senate by Barack Obama before he was elected President, and was then championed by Senator Reed. Senator Whitehouse will introduce a new version of the bill next week when the Senate goes back into session.
Employee health-plan options shrinking to one with a high deductible – The Washington Post
From what I understand, Obamacare is supposed to make it impossible to have a health care deductible of more than $2500. Which is high, but I guess it could always be higher.
Employee health-plan options shrinking to one with a high deductible – The Washington Post.
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