Bergdahl release arrangement could threaten the safety of Americans, Republicans say

Amid jubilation Saturday over the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from captivity by the Taliban, senior Republicans on Capitol Hill said they were troubled by the means by which it was accomplished, which was a deal to release five Afghan detainees from the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Top Republicans on the Senate and House armed services committees went so far as to accuse President Obama of having broken the law, which requires the administration to notify Congress before any transfers from Guantanamo are carried out. ✧ “Trading five senior Taliban leaders from detention in Guantanamo Bay for Bergdahl’s release may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all Americans. Our terrorist adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans.

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Cover Oregon Gets Federal Nod for Health Insurance Exchange

Yesterday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) gave Oregon conditional approval for its plan to operate a health insurance exchange – called Cover Oregon – which will help connect thousands of Oregonians to health coverage. Oregon was among the first six states in the nation to receive conditional approval of its “blueprint” application. Read more at Cascade Business News... Read More......

Economist Walter E. Williams loves greed

What human motivation gets the most wonderful things done? It's really a silly question, because the answer is so simple. It turns out that it's human greed that gets the most wonderful things done. When I say greed, I am not talking about fraud, theft, dishonesty, lobbying for special privileges from government or other forms of despicable behavior. I'm talking about people trying to get as much as they can for themselves. Let's look at it. Read more at Townhall.com... Read More......

Kansas returns health insurance exchange grant

REUTERS, 8/9/2011 by Alina Selyukh (Hat tip: Steve)

• Brings returned grants amount to some $90 million
  
• HHS likely would have to set up Kansas exchange

WASHINGTON - Kansas became on Tuesday the second U.S. state to return a large federal grant meant to help it create a prototype health insurance exchange as part of the Obama administration's healthcare overhaul. ✧ Republican Governor Sam Brownback said the state would give back the $31.5 million it received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to become an early leader, along with six other states, in establishing health insurance exchanges that other local government could use as a model. Read more at Reuters... Read More......

OR House approves creation of health insurance exchange, coverage for all

THE OREGONIAN, 06/07/2011 posted by Bill Graves

he Oregon House today gave final passage to a bill that will create a government-regulated health insurance marketplace called an exchange, extending coverage to nearly all residents. Senate Bill 99, which creates the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange as a public corporation governed by a nine-member board, passed easily by a 48-to-12 vote this afternoon. The bill is on its way to the desk of Gov. John Kitzhaber, a supporter, for his signature. Rep. Jim Thompson, R-Dallas, co-chair of the House Health Care Committee, introduced the bill during a 30-minute debate and noted that the federal government will create a health insurance exchange for Oregon if the state doesn't build its own. Read moreat OregonLive...

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Belmont Club: The Janus Shield

4/26/2011 by Richard Fernandez - The National Journal says the administration is negotiating a legal framework with Russia that would allow it to exchange sensitive technical information with Moscow, including data on missile defense.

[Excerpt] 39 Republican Senators wrote to the President in mid-April this year and urged him not to enter into any agreements that would give Russia a “red-button” veto over missile defense, including the transfer of sensitive technology. The letter seems to object precisely to the kind of sharing contemplated by the Defense Technology Cooperation Agreement which “would not require congressional approval”. Read more at Belmont Club...

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