News
California's 'billionaire tax' could bite harder than advertised
2+ hour, 57+ min ago (452+ words) The ostensible purpose of the tax, per its sponsors, is to "save California's healthcare system from collapse," though money is fungible and the state has spent itself into an $18 billion deficit for the 20262027 budget, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's…...
Auditors submitted 24 fake applications for subsidized health insurance. Only 1 was denied.
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (345+ words) Government auditors tried to enroll 24 fictional people in health insurance plans offered via the Affordable Care Act exchanges'the marketplaces where taxpayer-subsidized health insurance plans are available for purchase. Only one of those applications was denied. Auditors with GAO created four…...
Should the U.S. have a public health insurance plan?
6+ mon, 2+ day ago (138+ words) Gene Epstein | 7.18.2025 3:15 PM Jacob Hacker and David Goldhill debate the resolution: "The government should offer to all Americans a health insurance plan that would compete with private insurance plans." Jacob Hacker is arguing for the affirmative. He's a professor of…...
Social Security and Medicare are racing toward drastic cuts—yet lawmakers refuse to act
6+ mon, 3+ week ago (677+ words) Considering recent news, you may have missed that the 2025 trustees reports for Social Security and Medicare are out. Once again, they confirm what we've known for decades: Both programs are barreling straight toward insolvency. The Social Security retirement trust fund…...