Labor

Exchange Tackles Rising Health Costs

October 10, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

“Rising health costs are the single biggest problem we face,” the Menomonie non-profit administrator told me. She saw double digit inflation in health insurance costs for years. “We are having a serious talk with our employees about options. None are good.”

“With the drop in milk prices,” the Tomah dairy farmer told me. “Health premiums now take up a quarter of our milk check.” Insurance premiums for the farmer and his brother add up to over $900 a month. “What can you do to help?” he asked.

This week I unveiled a bill to create affordable health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals. An exchange is a competitive marketplace where health insurance companies compete for business.

For small businesses, farmers and others who buy insurance on their own, a well run exchange does two things. First, exchanges give small groups big buying power. No longer are you on your own buying insurance for just yourself or your business.

Second, the exchange provides information not now available to small businesses and people who buy insurance on their own. Consumers can clearly compare plans.

Protests Grow Nationally, Locally

October 9, 2011 by Blue Oklahoma

The ongoing Occupy Wall Street protest in New York and its spinoffs, such as Occupy OKC, are part of a broader movement expressing general frustration and even outrage with growing wealth disparity and a lack of economic justice in this country.

The movement's strength, of course, is just what the establishment pundits and media claim is its weakness, which is a decentralized, inclusive and local focus. It seems messy and without a precise frame but any movement that can really challenge the status quo will be diametrically opposite in shape and tone to what it challenges.

Its historical roots are protests in late nineteenth-century Gilded Age, which came after similar, growing wealth disparity between the wealthy and the middle-class, and protests in the 1930s in the Great Depression era, which led to worker protections and Social Security.

10/12: Join Rep. Heinrich's Live Telephone Town Hall on Jobs and Manufacturing

October 8, 2011 by Democracy for N...

From Congressman Martin Heinrich:
We’ve always been proud to be a country that makes things. Our manufacturing tradition has long been a source of both pride and good-paying jobs. Now, at a time when millions are still out of work, it’s our responsibility to build on that tradition to create jobs, strengthen middle class opportunity, and secure our nation’s leading place in the world economy.

Earlier this year, I launched a “Make It In America” tour. I’ve been traveling across central New Mexico meeting with employees and touring small businesses and high-tech manufacturing companies. I’m highlighting how encouraging innovation, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship is creating new jobs at home and growing our economy.