“Fewer Americans got their health insurance from an employer in 2011 (44.6%) than in 2010 (45.8%), continuing the downward trend Gallup and Healthways have documented since 2008. As employer-based health insurance has declined, the percentage of Americans who are uninsured has increased, rising to 17.1% this year, the highest seen since 2008. The 25.2% of… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: February 2012
EPA Finalizes Air Toxic Emissions Standards for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Production Facilities
News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued strong final standards requiring facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride and copolymers (PVC) to reduce harmful air emissions, which will improve air quality and protect peoples health in communities where facilities are located. Exposure to toxic air pollutants, like those emitted from PVC facilities, can cause… Continue Reading
Joint Fact Sheet on Strengthening U.S.-China Economic Relations
Joint Fact Sheet on Strengthening U.S.-China Economic Relations: “Building on the consensus reached by President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama during President Hus January 2011 state visit to the United States, the United States and China affirm that our two countries are promoting the healthy and steady development of the U.S.-China cooperative partnership based… Continue Reading
CRS – European Union Enlargement
European Union Enlargement, Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs, January 26, 2012 “The European Union (EU) has long viewed the enlargement process as an extraordinary opportunity to promote political stability and economic prosperity in Europe. Since 2004, EU membership has grown from 15 to 27 countries, bringing in most states of central and eastern Europe… Continue Reading
The Impacts of Local and Regional Procurement of US Food Aid: Learning Alliance Synthesis Report
The Impacts of Local and Regional Procurement of US Food Aid: Learning Alliance Synthesis Report – Erin C. Lentz1, Christopher B. Barrett and Miguel I. Gómez, Cornell University “Local and regional procurement (LRP), the purchase of food within the country where it is to be distributed or in a nearby country, has been practiced for… Continue Reading
The Cost of Satisfaction: A National Study of Patient Satisfaction, Health Care Utilization, Expenditures, and Mortality
The Cost of Satisfaction: A National Study of Patient Satisfaction, Health Care Utilization, Expenditures, and Mortality “While most health care quality metrics assess care processes and health outcomes, patient experience or satisfaction is considered a complementary measure of health care quality. Patient satisfaction data may empower consumers to compare health plans and physicians, and both… Continue Reading
Treasury Releases FY2013 Greenbook
“Treasury released the Treasury Greenbook, which provides an explanation of the Administration’s revenue proposals for Fiscal Year 2013. The Administration’s FY2013 budget proposes tax policy to boost growth, create jobs and improve opportunity for the middle class.” General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 Revenue Proposals (Released February 2012) Continue Reading
Bankruptcy Filings Slide in Calendar Year 2011
News release: “Bankruptcy filings in the federal courts fell 11.5 percent in calendar year 2011, according to data released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The number of bankruptcies filed in the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2011, totaled 1,410,653, down from 1,593,081 bankruptcies filed in CY 2010. An historic high in… Continue Reading
IMF – Spillovers to Low-Income Countries: Importance of Systemic Emerging Markets
Spillovers to Low-Income Countries: Importance of Systemic Emerging Markets. Author/Editor: Dabla-Norris, Era; Espinoza, Raphael A.; Jahan, Sarwat. February 01, 2012 “This paper documents the expanding economic linkages between low-income countries (LICs) and a narrow group of “Emerging Market leaders” that have become major players in regional and global trade and financial flows. VAR models show… Continue Reading
Report – Sick Of Soot: How The EPA Can Save Lives By Cleaning Up Fine Particle Air Pollution
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must soon update national health standards for fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5), commonly referred to as soota major cause of premature death and a widespread threat to those who suffer from lung and heart disease. The national health standards are critical tools that drive the cleanup of soot… Continue Reading
The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013
“We now face a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. After decades of eroding middle-class security as those at the very top saw their incomes rise as never before and after a historic recession that plunged our economy into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover,… Continue Reading
Bloggers Under Fire "tracks instances of bloggers, Internet users being threatened, arrested, harassed, harmed
Bloggers Under Fire: “As activists and ordinary citizens around the world are increasingly making use of the Internet to express their opinions and connect with others, many governments are increasing their surveillance and censorship capabilities and taking legal or extrajudicial actions against bloggers and social media users. The threats to netizens are increasing. The Committee… Continue Reading
