Reconciliation
Recap: I wasn't a big fan of the SOTU; it's okay if China's GDP passes ours; and Mitch McConnell's honesty is a marvel.
Elsewhere:
1) The United States of Shame.
2) Should life be more like videogames?
3) More people should read Rortybomb.
4) I'll be talking SOTU on Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell tonight.
By
Ezra Klein
| January 26, 2011; 6:38 PM ET
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There are now more than 700 entities that have been granted DeathCare waivers.
http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/approved_applications_for_waiver.html
Where do I get mine?
Posted by: msoja | January 26, 2011 7:42 PM | Report abuse
Ezra,
Today's NYT front page story, "NRA Stymies Firearms Research" doesn't seem to have gotten the attention it deserves. The non stop coverage of the state of the union has pushed everything else to the side. Would be appreciated if you took a look and helped publicize the story.
Posted by: wswest | January 26, 2011 7:54 PM | Report abuse
Ezra and all:
I created the United States of Awesome in response to the US of Shame: http://ilyagerner.tumblr.com/post/2949172565/maps
Comments and criticisms very welcome.
Posted by: Ilya_Gerner | January 26, 2011 8:14 PM | Report abuse
Well done on the Last Word! The Republican Medicare Solution discussion was fascinating! Thank you.
Posted by: gbcree | January 26, 2011 8:39 PM | Report abuse
Today was a truly remarkable day in history.
Richard S. Foster, the chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, testified (actually testified -- under oath) during a hearing (an actual hearing, not a pep rally in the Capitol Vistors' Center) in the House of Representatives, that Paul Ryan's Roadmap has potential to lower medical costs. Moreover, Foster testified that “There is some potential for the Affordable Care Act price reductions, though I’m a little less confident about that.” Perhaps a continued stream of factual information from CMMS will mitigate the false statements bandied about by PPACA advocates and will aid public understanding of the PPACA's financial failings.
While Foster was giving testimony, H.R. 2 -- the PPACA repeal bill recently passed by a sizeable bi-partisan majority in the House -- was placed onto the Senate Calendar pursuant to Senate Rule 14.
Because recent filibuster reform efforts failed, however, a handful of obstructionists may still be able to thwart the will of The People. A copy of the senate calendar showing HR 2, a great achievement of The People and their duly elected representatives, is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=senate_calendar&docid=sc008.pdf.
Once the defunct PPACA is finally buried, the discussion of fiscal responsibility can begin in earnest.
Posted by: rmgregory | January 26, 2011 8:43 PM | Report abuse
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