Health Insurance -- Open Enrollment Period
Health Insurance -- Open Enrollment Period
https://www.healthcare.gov
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HEALTHCARE |
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MATTIS AND TILLERSON OPPOSE WAR LIMITS, via our colleague Connor O'Brien: "Should Congress opt to
reauthorize U.S. military operations against terrorism it shouldn't set a
deadline or impose limits on geography, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told a skeptical Senate panel on Monday.
"In an appearance before the Foreign Relations Committee,
which appeared prepared to author new legislation, both restated the Trump
administration's position that current authorizations for U.S. military force -
one passed in 2001 for the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan,
and another adopted in 2002 ahead of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq - continue
to provide adequate legal basis for military operations, even as the battle
against Islamic militants has expanded significantly in scope.
"'The 2001 and 2002 authorizations to use military force,
or AUMF, remain a sound basis for ongoing U.S. military operations against a
mutating threat,' Mattis told the panel." (POLITICO's
Morning Defense, October 31, 2017)
WHITE HOUSE VIEWING SOLAR CASE AS A NATIONAL SECURITY
ISSUE: President Donald Trump and his administration are worried that
foreign dominance in the solar manufacturing sector could pose a national
security threat, which might influence the decision of whether to levy import
barriers on the technology, POLITICO Pro Energy's Eric Wolff reports, citing a
White House source.
The International Trade Commission is set to vote this morning
on the potential remedies it will recommend after it ruled last month that U.S.
solar cell and panel manufacturers had been harmed by foreign imports. The
final decision of whether to implement trade barriers and what type rests with
Trump, though he will be guided by recommendations issued today by four ITC
members.
The White House source said the current thinking favors a simple
structure like a tariff or quota. The case's two petitioners - Suniva, which is
in bankruptcy protection, and SolarWorld, whose German parent is in bankruptcy
- have both said they would like to see tariffs implemented but that those
alone would not do enough to protect the U.S. manufacturing industry. Suniva
has proposed establishing a minimum price for imported solar cells, while
SolarWorld says it would prefer a quota as well.
The two companies have argued that a strong manufacturing base
is essential for U.S. security, both for energy supplies and to drive
technological innovation. But the industry lobby group Solar Energy Industries
Association, which opposes trade barriers, says innovation can come from
government support and a thriving market.
"Through investments in solar, the Department of Defense
has been leading the way in making America's energy supply more secure. This
case threatens that very progress," said SEIA CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.
"It's hard to see how devastating the American solar industry supports
national security or puts us at a competitive advantage against the rest of the
world." (POLITICO's Morning Trade, October 31,2017)
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EDUCATION |
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS TALK FARM POLICY: An
unusual mix of groups from the left and the right gathered Wednesday to
identify principles they can rally around heading into next year's farm bill
fight. The meeting, held at Hillsdale College's Kirby Center on Capitol Hill,
was a who's who of conservative groups, including Heritage Action, AEI, Citizens
Against Government Waste, Americans for Prosperity and the Charles Koch
Institute. But alongside them was a strong showing from consumer and
sustainable agriculture groups, which tend to be associated with the liberal
end of the political spectrum, including reps from the U.S. Public Interest
Research Group, Union of Concerned Scientists, Center for Food Safety, and
Environmental Working Group.
Big-tent principles: The meeting was an
early strategy session, with groups kicking around opportunities for reforming
the farm bill. But it largely centered on trying to find goals that the strange
bedfellows could all agree on. In general, the gaggle seemed on board with
cutting off subsidies for wealthy farmers; instituting performance metrics in
farm programs, to ensure taxpayers are getting the best bang for their buck;
and bringing greater transparency to the crop insurance and conservation
programs. "Cut, cap and clarify" emerged as a potential slogan.
Blumenauer sees opening: Rep. Earl Blumenauer told the group he
believes that this farm bill cycle gives farm bill reformers and critics their
best chance yet to bring about meaningful policy change. "I think we have
a unique opportunity to reshape the farm bill, that we've never had
before," the Oregon Democrat said. "It's been impervious to reform in
part because we really haven't been able to coalesce the vast array of
stakeholders who really don't like what's happening."
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE |
Justice Department at odds with DEA on marijuana research, MS-13
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U.S. MILITARY |
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CYBERSECURITY |
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH? - DHS awarded $194,000 to a company that
uses the equivalent of radio frequency-hopping to confuse hackers, according to
an announcement from the department's science and technology wing late last
week. Woodland Park, Colo.-based NexiTech's technology focuses on financial
institutions' storage devices and networks. "The NexiTech security
architecture broadens active defense technologies within the finance sector,
which will be an exciting development for this industry," said Eric Harder,
program manager for S&T Cyber Security Division's Next Generation Cyber
Infrastructure Apex program. [POLITICO's Morning Cybersecurity, October 10, 2017]
MORE ON THE WAR ON 'FAKE NEWS' - The
Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology launched a new effort to
combat the "fake news" and propaganda employed by nation states like
Russia, China and Iran. The think tank's Center for Cyber-Influence Operations
Studies the "weaponization" of the internet and the deployment of
"information warfare and other forms of digitized propaganda,
psychological warfare, political warfare" and other kinds of
"perception steering." "Legacy digital defenses and antiquated
legal frameworks are not equipped to prevent a single unsophisticated 'troll' from
digitally manipulating public perceptions," the institute said in a statement. "Without a quantum-renaissance
in the study and delivery of research into influence operations, America has
limited chances of thwarting resourced and sophisticated information warfare
attacks from adversaries such as Russia and China." [POLITICO's Morning Cybersecurity, October 16, 2017]
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CLIMATE CHANGE |
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WOMEN'S RIGHTS |
The
anti-woman Trump administration just issued rules that threaten reproductive
health care. They're using employers' religious and moral beliefs as an excuse
to discriminate and cut off access to birth control. This is a direct assault on our rights, and
we have to take action NOW. Submit a
public comment and tell the Department of Health and Human Services what you
think of cutting access to birth control.
Here's what's at stake: The ACA requires employers to cover birth
control without a copay. It's a crucial provision that makes access to health
care more viable for women. It addresses discrimination. Why? Because at the end of the day, being
able to decide whether and when to have children has a direct effect on women's
abilities to control our lives regarding schooling, families, careers, and
more. But Trump's rules say that
virtually any employer can deny contraceptive coverage – coverage required by
law – if it objects for religious or moral reasons. Trump's regulations will
take effect immediately. So we're suing.
While we see Trump in court, you need to raise your voice and make clear
that we will not allow the government to use religion as a license to
discriminate. The government is
accepting public comments on this change – can you submit one in opposition? We
need to overload the Department of Health and Human Services with comments that
make this change toxic. No employer
should have the right to deny an employee a benefit otherwise guaranteed by law
for religious or "moral" objections. Blocking our right and access to
contraception is discrimination, plain and simple. And we cannot stand for it. Rise up and submit
a public comment today. >> [Louise Melling, ACLU Deputy Legal Director]
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READ |
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JARED KUSHNER |
NOTE: The news sources here vary. Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here. This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased. Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value. Thank you
NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives.
Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post. Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse. They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended
NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives.
Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post. Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse. They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended
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