Tag Archives : Build House

Energy & Environment — Dems eye increased oil profit tax after record quarter

Democrats are once again eyeing oil company profits after the firms recently posted record profits. Meanwhile, scientists are linking a type of PFAS to liver cancer.  

This is Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. For The Hill, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Wyden introduces bill on ‘excess’ oil profits

Legislation introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) would double excess-profit taxes on oil companies making over $1 billion a year.  

The bill, the Taxing Big Oil Profits Act, would impose a 21 percent tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies making more than $1 billion annually. Excess profits are determined by current profits minus a normal 10 percent return on investment.  

• “Our broken tax code is working for Big Oil, not American families. While Americans pay more to fill up their gas tanks, Big Oil companies are raking in record profits, rewarding their CEOs and wealthy shareholders with massive stock buybacks, and using special loopholes in the tax code to pay next to nothing in taxes,” Wyden, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement.   
• The legislation would also impose a 25 percent excise tax on oil and gas corporation stock repurchased by the company. The bill specifically cites ExxonMobil’s recent announcement that it will buy back $30 billion worth of stock in 2023 and Chevron’s announcement that it will buy back $10 billion in stock by the end of this year.   

Additional context: The announcement comes after big oil companies reported record profits between April and June – when gasoline prices spiked following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) cosponsored the bill, along with several other Democrats.   

Kind of like a windfall tax? Congressional Democrats introduced similar legislation earlier this year as gas prices reached record highs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

However, Wyden’s office clarified that unlike those proposals, Wyden’s is tied to profit margins rather than the price of oil. Although gas prices have now been trending downward for several weeks, Democrats were quick to point to both the Russian invasion and the industry’s record profits, often citing the several thousand unused leases currently held by the oil and gas industry on public lands. 

Read more about the bill here.

Study links ‘forever chemical’ to liver cancer

Scientists in a new study have identified a link between “forever chemical” exposure and the development of the most common type of liver cancer. 

One specific type of forever chemical, called perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), may have a particularly strong connection to the manifestation of this deadly disease, according to the study. 

• PFOS is one of thousands of humanmade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and is found widely throughout the environment.
• Notorious for their presence in jet fuel firefighting foam and industrial discharge, PFAS are a set of toxic chemicals found in a variety of household products, including nonstick pans, waterproof apparel and cosmetics. 

While prior research in animals have suggested that PFAS exposure increases the risk of liver cancer, Monday’s study — published in JHEP Reports — is the first to confirm a connection in human samples. 

“Liver cancer is one of the most serious endpoints in liver disease and this is the first study in humans to show that PFAS are associated with this disease,” lead author Jesse Goodrich, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Keck School of Medicine, said in a statement. 

Scientists demonstrated a “probable link” between PFAS and six conditions — diagnosed high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer and pregnancy-induced hypertension — in 2012, as part of a settlement in West Virginia. 

But in the past decade, researchers around the world have conducted a plethora of studies identifying both potential and more definitive links between PFAS and other illnesses. 

Read more here, from The Hill’s Sharon Udasin.

GASOLINE PRICES DIP BELOW $4 NATIONALLY: GASBUDDY

By at least one count, the national average gasoline price fell below $4 on Tuesday for the first time since March.  

Gas price website GasBuddy reported that the average wwas $3.99 nationally. Another price aggregator, the American Automobile Association, listed the average price as slightly higher on Tuesday at $4.03 cents per gallon.  

Gasoline prices have been falling for weeks after peaking in June. The drop is likely to bring some reprieve to both consumers and Democrats – as the GOP has sought to make the high prices a big campaign issue ahead of the midterms. 

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis predicted in a video accompanying the announcement that prices could fall between an additional 10 and 25 cents per gallon in the coming weeks.

FEELING CHIPPER?

President Biden signed into law on Tuesday bipartisan legislation to provide billions of dollars in incentives to the domestic semiconductor industry and fund scientific research that proponents say will help boost U.S. competitiveness and solve supply chain challenges. 

“Today is a day for builders. Today America is delivering,” Biden said at the bill signing event at the White House. “And I, honest to God, believe that 50, 75, 100 years from now, people who will look back on this week, they’ll know that we met this moment.” 

The bill — formally known as the CHIPS and Science Act — passed the Senate and House at the end of July, after more than a year of work on Capitol Hill and multiple iterations of the legislation. 

The bill includes more than $50 billion in incentives for manufacturers of semiconductors, or chips, to build domestic semiconductor plants. It also includes more than $80 billion for the National Science Foundation authorized over five years to support innovation and research. 

Read more here from The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Alex Gangitano.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• ‘The Sacrifice Zone’: Myanmar bears cost of green energy (The Associated Press) 
• As temperatures rise, industries fight heat safeguards for workers (The Washington Post) 
• Biden wants minerals, but mine permitting lags (E&E News) 
• Ford raises price of electric F-150 Lightning by up to $8,500 due to ‘significant’ battery cost increases (CNBC) 
• Russian Oil Flows Halted Through Pipeline to Central Europe (Bloomberg)

💻 Lighter click: New meme just dropped.

That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill’s Energy & Environment page for the latest news and coverage. We’ll see you tomorrow.

READ THE FULL VERSION HERE

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New Jersey issues first drought watch since 2016

Officials in New Jersey announced a statewide drought watch on Tuesday for the the first time in six years — urging residents to conserve water amid persistent dry conditions.

The issuance of a drought watch is the first step in the Garden State’s three-stage drought advisory system, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The watch serves to “sow public awareness” about the stress on state water supplies and encourage voluntary conservation measures, per the DEP.

If conditions in the state do not improve, the declaration of a drought warning or drought emergency with mandatory restrictions could become necessary, the DEP warned.

“Stream flow and ground water levels are falling below normal for most of the state and some reservoirs are showing steep rates of decline as hot and dry conditions continue,” DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said in a statement.

“While water conservation is always important, it becomes critical during prolonged dry and hot periods like New Jersey has been experiencing,” LaTourette continued. “If residents and businesses do all they can to reduce water demand, together we can ensure ample supplies in the coming weeks and months.”

Because more than 30 percent of water demand in New Jersey’s suburban areas serves outdoor purposes in the summer, the DEP advised residents to cut back on watering of lawns and landscaping. Reducing car washing and nonessential uses — such as hosing off driveways and sidewalks — is also critical, according to the DEP.

New Jersey’s last drought watch or warning occurred in October 2016, when the DEP placed 14 counties under a warning due to ongoing precipitation deficits. The most recent drought emergency occurred in March 2002.

“The DEP is continuing to closely monitor drought indicators,” the agency said. “DEP will continue to inform the public, local governments, and water systems of future actions to mitigate the risk of more severe conditions.”

Also on Tuesday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) issued a drought advisory in his state, asking residents to likewise take a variety of voluntary conservation measures.

A drought advisory — last issued in September 2020 — precedes a drought watch in Rhode Island.

“While our water supply is designed to withstand drought, Rhode Islanders should be aware of the current conditions,” McKee said in a statement.

“As a precaution, I encourage residents and businesses to consider taking water conservation measures,” he added.

Source: TEST FEED1

Hillicon Valley — US warns against North Korea cyber capabilities

U.S. officials warned that North Korea is increasingly using crypto heists to fund nuclear weapons programs.  

Meanwhile, Facebook’s parent company Meta is changing course with new product features and a focus on the metaverse as the tech giant vies to maintain its top spot in the industry amid increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny.  

This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hill’s Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

North Korea cyber capabilities worry US

North Korea is increasingly using its crypto heists to fund its nuclear weapons program, worried U.S. officials say. 

“I’m very concerned about North Korea’s cyber capabilities,” Anne Neuberger, the Biden administration’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said recently during an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). “They use cyber to gain, we estimate, up to a third of [stolen crypto] funds to fund their missile program.” 

“That’s a major issue, whether it’s attacks against cryptocurrency exchanges or use of information technology workers in various countries,” Neuberger said.  

She added that North Korea’s expansion of its missile testing is a top priority for the U.S., which is taking multiple steps to counter Pyongyang’s cyber threats, including imposing sanctions against criminal groups and seizing stolen digital assets. 

Read more here.

NORTH KOREAN CRYPTO HACKS ON THE RISE

Cybersecurity experts are warning against the rapid growth of cryptocurrency theft led by North Korean state-sponsored hackers following a series of heists targeting blockchain firms. 

Nick Carlsen, a blockchain analyst at TRM Labs, said cyber-enabled financial crimes, especially those allegedly conducted by North Korea, have accelerated over the past few years as the East Asian country has become more sophisticated in stealing virtual currency. 

“The threat landscape right now is as bad as I think it has ever been when it comes to financial theft,” Carlsen said during a webinar hosted by the Center for a New American Security on Monday. 

Carlsen was referring to a string of crypto heists this year involving hackers stealing millions of dollars worth of digital assets from blockchain firms. 

Read more here. 

Meta changes course

Meta is shifting to adapt to a changing climate for tech with product updates and a focus on virtual reality. 

But the company is facing a battle on all fronts as it vies to maintain its status — working to convince consumers and investors to embrace CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the company’s future while confronting a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) intent on mitigating Meta’s market power, increasing competition from platforms such as TikTok, industry changes impeding ad revenue and the looming threat of a recession. 

Zuckerberg told investors at the end of July the company is focused on riding two “major technological waves” — artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse. 

The focus on AI is leading to more short-term changes, including updates to push recommended content on Instagram and Facebook. The focus on the metaverse is part of a more long term initiative the company is continuing to invest in. 

Read more here.

Biden signs chips law

President Biden signed into law on Tuesday bipartisan legislation to provide billions of dollars in incentives to the domestic semiconductor industry and fund scientific research that proponents say will help boost U.S. competitiveness and solve supply chain challenges. 

“Today is a day for builders. Today America is delivering,” Biden said at the bill signing event at the White House. “And I, honest to God, believe that 50, 75, 100 years from now, people who will look back on this week, they’ll know that we met this moment.” 

• The bill — formally known as the CHIPS and Science Act — passed the Senate and House at the end of July, after more than a year of work on Capitol Hill and multiple iterations of the legislation. 
• The legislation includes more than $50 billion in incentives for manufacturers of semiconductors, or chips, to build domestic semiconductor plants. It also includes more than $80 billion for the National Science Foundation authorized over five years to support innovation and research. 

Read more here.  

Micron’s investment: The same day as executives at Micron and other chipmakers joined the president at the signing of the CHIPS and Science Act, Micron Technology said it plans to invest $40 billion in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing after Congress approved massive chip subsidies. 

The Boise, Idaho-based chipmaker said that the investment will create 40,000 new jobs including 5,000 highly paid technical and operational roles and bring the “world’s most advanced memory manufacturing” to the U.S.  

Read more about Micron’s investment.

SNAPCHAT ROLLS OUT PARENTAL CONTROLS

Snapchat will allow parents to view who their teen users are connecting with on the app without viewing the content of the messages, the company said in a blog post Tuesday.  

The feature is under the new Family Center on the app, and comes after increased scrutiny from lawmakers over youth safety on Snapchat and other apps.  

Through the Family Center, parents can see who their teen users are friends with and communicating with, but it does not let them view the substance of the conversations.  

Snapchat said the tool is designed to “reflect the way that parents engage with their teens in the real world, where parents usually know who their teens are friends with and when they are hanging out – but don’t eavesdrop on their private conversations.” 

Read more here.

REMOTE VOTING IS HERE TO STAY, FOR NOW

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) extended remote voting for House members on Tuesday, allowing lawmakers to vote by proxy until the end of September. 

In a letter to colleagues, Pelosi said House members will be permitted to vote by proxy through Sept. 26 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In light of the attached notification by the Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, that a public health emergency is in effect due to a novel coronavirus, I am hereby extending the “covered period” designated on January 4, 2021, pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, until September 26, 2022,” Pelosi wrote in the letter. 

Read more here.

BITS & PIECES

An op-ed to chew on: Intelligent life in the universe may be extremely rare — we should look for it anyway 

Notable links from around the web: 

How Facebook helped Axios sell for $500 million (Vox / Peter Kafka) 

This Is the Data Facebook Gave Police to Prosecute a Teenager for Abortion (Motherboard / Jason Koebler and Anna Merlan) 

After Mar-a-Lago search, users on pro-Trump forums agitate for ‘civil war’ — including a Jan. 6 rioter (NBC News / Ben Collins and Ryan J. Reilly)

🐕  Lighter click: The cuddliest potato

One more thing: Clinton pokes fun with merch

Hillary Clinton is poking fun at Donald Trump, highlighting her “But Her Emails” merchandise in the wake of the FBI executing a search warrant on the former president’s Florida home. 

“Every ‘But her emails’ hat or shirt sold helps [Onward Together] partners defend democracy, build a progressive bench, and fight for our values,” the former secretary of State wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. 

“Just saying!” Clinton said. 

The tweet came the morning after Trump said in a Monday night statement, “My beautiful home Mar A Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., is currently under siege, raided and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.” 

Read more here.

That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill’s Technology and Cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. We’ll see you tomorrow.

READ THE FULL VERSION HERE

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How to watch the NY-12 Democratic Primary Debate on PIX11

NEW YORK (PIX11) — In just a few weeks, New York Republicans and Democrats will cast their vote for who they want in the House of Representatives during the state’s primary election.

One of the most closely watched primary races is New York’s 12th Congressional District. Maps were redrawn using 2020 Census data, pitting two of New York’s leading lawmakers against each other in the Democratic primary. 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Suraj Patel will face off against each other on Aug. 23. Before that, they’ll share their visions for the future of New York and the country in PIX11’s NY-12 Democratic Primary Debate. Viewers will get to hear candidates’ views on crime, the economy, housing and more. 

The debate will air Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 8-9 p.m. on PIX11. Viewers can also catch a livestream of the debate on PIX11.com, the PIX11 News app and PIX11’s Facebook page. Viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts during the debate on Twitter using #PIXDEBATENY12.

PIX11 and Nexstar Media have partnered with CUNY Hunter College for the debate, moderated by PIX11’s Dan Mannarino. Candidates will face questions from PIX11’s Ayana Harry and Henry Rosoff, along with City & State reporter Rebecca Lewis.

More about the candidates in New York’s 12th District:

Carolyn Maloney: Maloney, 76, is one of New York’s most well-known lawmakers. She’s represented part of the state in the House since the 90s. Her current district covers the Upper East Side along with parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Maloney chairs the House Oversight Committee.

Jerry Nadler: Nadler, 75, is also one of New York’s most well-known lawmakers and has also represented part of the state in the House since the 90s. His current district covers the Upper West Side along with parts of lower Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn.

Suraj Patel: Patel, 38, is an attorney and businessman who worked for former President Barack Obama. He narrowly lost to Maloney two years ago by about 3,000 votes. He’s calling for a new face and voice to represent the district in Congress.

Viewers interested in the primary race in New York’s 10th Congressional District can tune in to PIX11 for a debate on Wednesday, Aug. 15. It’s a crowded race to represent a section of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Source: TEST FEED1

Wyden introduces bill to double tax on excess oil profits

Legislation introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) would double excess-profit taxes on oil companies making over $1 billion a year. 

The bill, the Taxing Big Oil Profits Act, would impose a 21 percent tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies making more than $1 billion annually. Excess profits are determined by current profits minus a normal 10 percent return on investment. 

“Our broken tax code is working for Big Oil, not American families. While Americans pay more to fill up their gas tanks, Big Oil companies are raking in record profits, rewarding their CEOs and wealthy shareholders with massive stock buybacks, and using special loopholes in the tax code to pay next to nothing in taxes,” Wyden, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement.  

The legislation would also impose a 25 percent excise tax on oil and gas corporation stock repurchased by the company. The bill specifically cites ExxonMobil’s recent announcement that it will buy back $30 billion worth of stock in 2023 and Chevron’s announcement that it will buy back $10 billion in stock by the end of this year.  

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) co-sponsored the bill, along with Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maizie Hirono (D-Hi.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).  

Congressional Democrats introduced similar legislation earlier this year as gas prices reached record highs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, Wyden’s office clarified that unlike those proposals, Wyden’s is tied to profit margins rather than the price of oil. Although gas prices have now been trending downward for several weeks, Democrats were quick to point to both the Russian invasion and the industry’s record profits, often citing the several thousand unused leases currently held by the oil and gas industry on public lands. 

The Hill has reached out to Exxon and Chevron for comment. 

Source: TEST FEED1

Dem infighting threatens policing package

Lingering disputes between House Democrats have once again threatened action on a series of public safety bills this summer, creating headaches for Democratic leaders while highlighting sharp divisions within the party less than three months ahead of the midterm elections.

The clash pits Democrats facing tough reelection contests in November — “frontliners” who want to vote quickly to bolster the nation’s law-enforcement agencies and defuse GOP attacks about Democrats being soft on crime — against liberals demanding stronger accountability measures aimed at curbing police abuses. 

After delaying action on a police and community safety package before the long August recess, Democratic leaders had hoped to unite the Caucus behind the bills this week, when the House returns briefly to Washington to approve the massive health, climate and tax legislation passed by the Senate on Sunday. Indeed, as they left town late last month, several of the top negotiators had all but guaranteed the vote would happen this week.

“That is what I have asked for, and been told,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), head of the Congressional Black Caucus who is central to the talks, said as Congress was leaving Washington on July 29. 

That timeline has hit a wall, however, in the form of the progressive lawmakers demanding new oversight and other accountability measures. Those voices want a better seat at the table — and to delay any vote on police funding before then. 

“The hope would be that Democrats just do reconciliation this week and that we come back to policing at another time, whenever they can get together on it,” a senior aide with a progressive office said Monday. 

“That would mean the negotiations would be able to continue,” the aide added, “and progressives would be able to be part of those conversations and say, ‘OK, let’s find the accountability language that people can feel comfortable with. And let’s get to a place where this can be a unifying position for Democrats, instead of splitting the Caucus.’”

Democratic leaders are downplaying any divisions, leaving open the possibility that a vote on the public safety package could still materialize this week. 

“Conversations are ongoing,” said a second senior Democratic aide. 

Still, in a week when Democrats are poised to score a huge victory on the climate and health care package — representing a big chunk of President Biden’s domestic agenda — party leaders also don’t want to shine any bright lights on the internal strife over how to approach police funding. 

While the Rules Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to send the Senate-passed reconciliation bill to the floor for Friday’s votes, the policing package is not on the week’s schedule. And several Democratic sources said they don’t expect it to be added. 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday promoted the policing package, suggesting new federal funds are needed to ensure both public safety and accountability in policing, particularly in small, under-served areas. 

“Small towns really don’t have enough funding for police to have accountability,” she said. “There is grave reason for people to be concerned about needing justice in policing, I grant that. But this would have accountability for the first time.”

Yet asked about the timing of the vote, Pelosi declined to comment, deferring to Beatty and the Black Caucus.

“I don’t know, I just don’t know,” she said. “It’s just up to the Black Caucus. I’ll follow their lead on this.” 

Beatty’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week. But the Black Caucus chair had predicted in July that an agreement, while delayed, was also inevitable.

“Obviously we have a big tent. There are people who wanted a variety of things. And so we’ve reached a great consensus that we’re going to get the entire package done,” she said.

Another delay, if it materializes, is sure to infuriate the frontliners, who want to tout their support for law enforcement heading into tough reelection contests in November — and distance themselves from the liberal “defund-the-police” campaign that had hurt moderates at the polls in 2020.

The internal dispute over accountability provisions had already blown up an initial plan to move the police funding package late last month alongside an assault weapons ban, exasperating some of the vulnerable moderates looking to boost their chances in November. 

The critics are focusing the blame for the impasse on the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and certain members of the far-left “squad,” who have threatened to sink police funding bills in the past unless they include strong accountability measures. That wish-list includes provisions like an end to no-knock warrants and a check on qualified immunity, the shield that protects police officers from certain lawsuits. 

“It’s that handful of, you know, five, six people — Jayapal and the squad members — and they’re the ones that once again torpedo the Democratic majority,” said one frontliner, speaking anonymously to discuss a sensitive topic.

“Their feelings were hurt. They weren’t consulted soon enough. They don’t claim they had enough time,” the lawmaker continued. “They don’t want to do anything that might be interpreted as positive for policing in America. I mean, that’s just craziness. I mean, everybody supports the police. If you don’t, you’re a fool.”

The progressives are disputing such charges, saying last month’s “deal” was no deal at all because leaders of the Progressive Caucus had never signed off on it. 

“If you need progressive votes, you need progressives to be at the table with this agreement,” said the progressive aide. “There were people who were not members of CPC who decided on this agreement. To just ask everyone to vote for it, that’s just not going to be successful.”

Other key negotiators throughout the debate have been Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus who has a bill to boost federal funding to smaller police forces around the country; and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), another frontliner whose legislation targets funds to community-centered policing, known as the COPS program. 

Both have argued the value and popularity of helping small, community-based law enforcement agencies, particularly in a time of increased crime and local government budget crunches.  

“I would venture a guess that probably every single member of Congress has either a department in their communities that either receives COPS grants funding, or wants to receive COPS grants funding,” Spanberger told reporters as Congress left for the August break.

She also acknowledged the political advantages of moving the package sooner than later. 

“Certainly, having more time to talk about it is helpful,” Spanberger said. 

Source: TEST FEED1

Lin-Manuel Miranda launches 'Hamilton' contest to support abortion rights

Lin-Manuel Miranda is launching a “Hamilton” contest to raise money for reproductive health care access following what he calls the “devastating attack” on abortion rights by the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“Join me and all the companies of ‘Hamilton’ as we fight for access to care,” the creator and former star of the Broadway smash says in a Tuesday video to kick off the “Ham 4 Choice” contest.

The Supreme Court struck down the landmark 1973 decision, granting a constitutional right to an abortion, in a June ruling.

The contest will raise money to provide “support, access, and travel expenses to those seeking [reproductive] services,” according to organizers, and will “fund grassroots organizations responding to this crisis.”

Entrants who donate $10 or more have the chance to win a trip around the world to see “Hamilton” at stops in Germany, London and New York and to meet Miranda and the show’s cast members.

“We can stand up for every person’s right to make decisions about their own body and their own lives,” a promotional page for the contest states.

“This is not a moment, it’s a movement,” some of Hamilton’s cast says in a video announcing the contest.

Source: TEST FEED1

Addressing what’s wrong with the fee-for-service system in health care

The Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Senate over the weekend includes the largest national investments in health care since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Drug price reform and insurance subsidies will make health care more affordable and more accessible to millions of people.

While voters should rejoice, the deal simply is more of a band-aid (and a very good one) than a cure. There are still gaping holes in the American health care system that frustrate us every time we have to argue over a bill at the pharmacy counter, try to schedule an appointment with a specialist, or stare blankly at an inscrutable Explanation of Benefits statement.

Dissatisfaction with the cost and quality of our nation’s health care system is an American tradition that unites red and blue America, crosses every river, mountain range and city block, and extends into every family, rich and poor.     

We all get sick and we all care for loved ones who are sick. And through it all, we have to cope with the mystery of whether we are getting the right care, or instead, the care that rakes in more dollars for the corporate health care system.

The good news is that, over the years, we’ve made health care better, from Medicare and Medicaid, to the Affordable Care Act, which opened the private health care system to millions more Americans.

Thanks to all of these efforts, the American people today give the health care system among the highest ratings it has ever had. But even with high ratings, about two-thirds of Americans believe we aren’t getting good value in health care, half are worried about affording care, and about one-third actually have to ration care or forgo care altogether. 

There’s an underlying and fundamental problem that’s been unaddressed since the birth of the fee-for-service system. And it’s the fee-for-service system itself. 

Here’s the issue. The incentives attached to the way doctors provide care are completely out of whack. The insurance industry’s emphasis on paying for each and every service puts billing and profits first, not patients’ health and well-being. An emphasis on doing a lot of services and procedures often means your doctor is being pushed to focus on doing more unnecessary and costly stuff, not getting you healthy or keeping you healthy. 

For example, when a patient walks in the door with debilitating back pain, all the incentives bearing down on the doctor are to conduct a never ending-series of X-rays, MRIs, or even perform low-rated and ineffective back surgery. There’s no incentive to look deeper and follow the medical evidence leading to the most effective treatments, which focus on physical therapy, exercise, and strengthen the muscles that support the back.  

We have to tackle the fundamental issues of a system designed to make money by doing more, rather than serving the true health care needs of men, women and children.

Now there’s a movement for change and it’s starting in cutting edge medical groups and other health plans. It’s simple: instead of reimbursing doctors for each service they perform, they’re reimbursed for preventing people from getting sick and keeping them healthy. 

It’s happening at J.P. Morgan Chase, where 285,000 employees and their families now have a system that focuses on better outcomes, invests in promising new ideas and provides personalized care for patients. The same approach is also being piloted at medical groups like Iora Health and Chen Med and community-based groups in Oregon, Minnesota and beyond. 

And One Medical group, which Amazon is set to acquire, also employs these concepts.

Consumers will smartly ask what all this new payment system means for them and if this is going to upend the health care they currently have. Well, it will mean everything and nothing for them. Patients will still get care from the same doctor and the same insurance they get through their employer or health insurance marketplaces. 

And before Sarah Palin starts in with “death panels,” this isn’t a scary upending of the health care we all have. It’s about making what we already have even better.  

Doctors will finally be talking to each other. The neurologist treating an elderly woman’s dementia will have the same information and will be working with her primary care doctor, cancer specialist, and physical therapist. They will be working together to manage her illnesses and keep her as healthy as possible. They also will be working to keep people from getting sick in the first place. It’s what they were trained to do but now it’s also what they’ll get compensated for. 

And patients? They’ll be healthier, happier and more confident in the care we’re getting. In fact, these reforms are driven by what patients have demanded for decades. For once, the experiences of families are driving the change, not big insurance companies and their lobbyists.

With Congress finally on its way to doing its job on pricing and access, we need the health insurance and provider industries to take the lead in doing what every other private sector industry does to succeed: listen to the customer. Because, even in health care, they’re always right. 

Frederick Isasi is executive director of Families USA.

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Chipotle reaches $20M settlement over sick leave, scheduling complaints

The restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., has reached a $20 million settlement with thousands of its New York City employees over allegations of labor law violations, New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced Tuesday.

The settlement ends a years-long investigation by the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) into claims that Chipotle had shirked paid sick leave and fair scheduling laws.

“Our investigation found that Chipotle did not give employees advance notice of their work schedules, required employees to work extra time without their advanced consent, did not properly compensate workers for schedule changes, did not offer available shifts to current employees before hiring new employees, and did not allow employees to use accrued safe and sick leave,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga in a press conference with Adams announcing the settlement.

Adams noted that businesses like Chipotle are vital to the city’s economy, but chided the company over the investigation’s findings. 

“Workers must be able to plan in their lives. The days of fast food workers as being merely college students, that is just not a reality. Many are parents. Many are sole providers for their families,” Adams said. 

The settlement may impact as many as 13,000 Chipotle employees, who will receive $50 for each week or partial week worked between November 2017 and April 2022, according to the DCWP commissioner. Former employees who worked during that period can also file for compensation.

Mayuga said the agreement is “the largest Fair Workweek settlement in the country.”  

The company will also pay up a $1 million fine to the city, Chipotle confirmed.

“We’re pleased to be able to resolve these issues and believe this settlement demonstrates Chipotle’s commitment to providing opportunities for all of our team members while also complying with the Fair Workweek law,” said Chipotle’s Chief Restaurant Officer Scott Boatwright in a statement Tuesday.

Boatwright added that the restaurant chain has implemented more compliance measures “to promote the goals of predictable scheduling and access to work hours for those who want them.”

Source: TEST FEED1

Missouri puts marijuana legalization on November ballot

Missouri voters will decide whether to legalize the use of recreational marijuana this November, Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft (R) announced on Tuesday.

The petition asks voters if they wish to amend the Missouri Constitution to remove bans on possessing, consuming, delivering, manufacturing and selling marijuana for personal use by adults over the age of 21.

The petition includes a proposed registration card for personal cultivation of marijuana as well as provisions to allow people with nonviolent marijuana-related offenses to petition to have their records expunged.

A 6 percent tax on the retail price of marijuana would be imposed to benefit “various programs.”

“I encourage Missourians to study and educate themselves on any ballot initiative,” Ashcroft said in a statement.

“Initiative 2022-059 that voters will see on the November ballot is particularly lengthy and should be given careful consideration,” he added, referring to the petition number for marijuana legalization.

The use of medical marijuana has been legal in Missouri since 2020. Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana include any terminal condition, cancer, epilepsy, HIV and Parkinson’s disease.

When the use of medical marijuana was brought up for a vote in 2018, 65 percent of Missouri’s voters cast their ballots in favor of the amendment.

Recreational marijuana is currently legal in 19 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C.

News of this petition comes less than a month after Senate Democrats unveiled legislation to end the federal prohibition of marijuana. The bill would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and permit states to “create their own cannabis laws instead.”

The bill faces challenges with opposition from Republicans in the 50-50 Senate as well as from some Democratic senators.

Source: TEST FEED1