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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Rising health care costs put focus on illegal immigrants - USATODAY.com

Rising health care costs put focus on illegal immigrants - USATODAY.com:
"Data on health care costs for illegal immigrants are sketchy because hospitals and community health centers don't ask about patients' legal status. In California, a 2004 study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform put the state's annual cost at $1.4 billion.

But while they account for less than 2% of national medical spending, their growing presence is a problem in places such as eastern North Carolina, one of the nation's poorest areas.

Statewide, illegal immigrants accounted for one in four new residents from 1990 to 2004, according to a University of North Carolina study. The state ranks ninth in the nation for illegal immigrants with more than 300,000, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

For hospitals, "the burden of the uninsured immigrant is huge," says Jeff Spade, vice president of the North Carolina Hospital Association. "It's exploded the amount of work that they have to do."

Steven Camarota of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies says offering non-emergency Medicaid to illegal immigrants would be more expensive than leaving them uninsured and in need of occasional hospital care. In those cases, hospitals lose money, and taxpayers pick up the tab.

"Either you enforce the law and don't have so many illegals, or you shut up about the cost," he says."

San Francisco goes further, adding adults at local expense. Some cities, including New York, encourage illegal immigrants to use public services such as health clinics without risking deportation.

At Duplin General Hospital, the challenge is staying afloat. Because so many patients are seniors on Medicare, low-income residents on Medicaid or uninsured people who can't pay their bills, it's difficult to turn a profit. "We're living off reserves," CEO Harvey Case says.


Monday, January 21, 2008

Controversy blurs King’s vision - Examiner.com

Here's a Baltimore politician with clarity of vision:

Controversy blurs King’s vision - Examiner.com:
"Del. Jill Carter, daughter of the late civil rights activist Walter Carter, said symbolic incidents shifted attention from substantive issues such as “dilapidated schools, lead poisoning, poor housing and, in general, lack of opportunity,” making meaningful dialogue on race difficult.

“We shouldn’t be upset about a noose unless there is a neck in it.”"

Saturday, January 12, 2008

O'Malley wants to expand DNA testing -- baltimoresun.com

This headline doesn't refer to DNA testing for better health (which might actually be a good idea). No, since it came from The MD Democratic governor, it's stupid and probably unlawful.

It refers to the liberal governor's plan to forcibly take DNA information from people arrested yet uncharged with crimes, the state retaining thier most personal information - that of their own bodies. the information will be held in a reposititory or database on the off-chance that these people will commit crimes in the future.

Did anyone see the movie Minority Report? Let's do things to people because they might do something else. This smacks of that.

One of the mysriad problems is that DNA samples will be taken only upon arrest, not conviction. Hmm, innocent until proven guilty? Replace the word "proven" with "believed." Ah, the liberals are absolutely amazing in the power they hope to wield. And in their disregard for the US Constitution.

I'm hoping that for once the ACLU will do the responsible thing and jump into this issue on the side of the fourth amendment, concerning illegal invasion, search and seizure.

O'Malley wants to expand DNA testing -- baltimoresun.com

Saturday, January 5, 2008

It's 'little dear' justice in city -- baltimoresun.com

It's 'little dear' justice in city -- baltimoresun.com:

The following is from Gregory Kane's article this morning:

"The building from which Young issued this ruling was paid for with your tax dollars. Your tax dollars pay the salary of everyone who works in the building. You are the ones who pony up every tax dollar Maryland lawmakers hose you for to fund what's laughingly called the juvenile justice system in this state.

"From where I sit, that makes you entitled to know everything that goes on in a juvenile court hearing. Yes, and that includes the names of the juvenile offenders. You're entitled to know everything from their names to when a light bulb breaks to when a toilet backs up."

I hesitate to use the word "demand," but would strongly like to see the Maryland Legislature do a top-to-bottom review of the MD juvenile justice system, making changes, such that it is more open and transparent to the people who are victims of the crimes committed by these children. In fact, recent events may lead one to conclude that we may be entering a social era where "juvenile justice" is obsolete.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Clinton: Time to digitize all Americans' medical records | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

In an era of identity theft and insurance companies who rate you or deny coverage based on one's health and possibly even DNA profile, is this good policy? I'm agin it; too easily accessed and hacked. And it might be illegal re: the Fourth Amendment.

Clinton: Time to digitize all Americans' medical records | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

Contrast her plan with this story, where sears opens its information to all, and we can see the danger.

http://techdirt.com/articles/20080104/010843.shtml

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Monahan confirms letter was altered - Examiner.com

I only hope that people in Maryland understand the ramifications of this. It means that not only was the Maryland Constitution violated, but now we have falsification of official documents at the legislative level, and obstruction. Additionally, the Md attorney general, Doug Gansler, is downplaying the entire matter, which itself means he is not concerned about allegations of illegal procedures and laws broken in the process of making law that governs the entire state. Apparently, the majority - Democrats - have no regard for the law, the irony being that they themselves are the lawmaking body for the State.

This is huge, huge, huge.

Monahan confirms letter was altered - Examiner.com:
"Annapolis (Map, News) - The chief clerk of Maryland’s House of Delegates confirmed a document was fabricated to falsely prove the validity of laws passed during Maryland’s special session, a lawyer said Wednesday."

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Dana Milbank - Iowa's Show Goes On, Mostly Without Iowans - washingtonpost.com

It seems the big networks are taking sides in a big way in this election.

Dana Milbank - Iowa's Show Goes On, Mostly Without Iowans - washingtonpost.com:
"The event was put together by CNN. The supporters in the crowd were mostly from out of state, sent here by the campaigns at the cable network's invitation to serve as a backdrop for the live shots.


And the whole thing was being broadcast by the CNN Election Express bus, parked outside Buzzard Billy's and carrying equipment worth more than $1 million: four-path HD satellite transmission, random access digital video server, LED studio lights, 12 high-definition TVs, a 42-inch plasma set, and, of course, an onboard shower and makeup table."