Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Gallup Poll shows Americans Support Healthcare Reform

A Gallup Poll published today shows that by a slim margin, American adults support the recently-passed bundle of reforms to the nation's healthcare industry. 46% of those identifying themselves as "Independents" call the legislation a "good thing" while 45% call it a "bad thing."

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

How Health Care Reform Affects Higher Education

The historic health care legislation passed by the House of Representatives this week not only means sweeping health care reform but also revamps the federal student loan program.

In short, the bill, attached to the health care legislation, "would end government payments to private, commercial student lenders, leaving the government to lend directly to students. It would also redirect billions of dollars to expand the Pell grant program for low-income students, and to pay for other education initiatives."

To fully understand the impacts of the bill on student lending, please explore these links.

From The Washington Post: "Obama's student loan plan moving forward with health bill"

From The New York Times: "Deal Gives New Life to Overhaul of Student Loans"

From National Public Radio: "Health Care Reform Could Revamp Student Lending"

From GoCollege.com (higher education blog): "With Health Care Vote, Congress Puts an End to FFEL Student Loan Program"

Census Workers Available at City Hall

Here's a story from AppIndie.org reporting that Census workers will be available at City Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week, Wednesday and Friday for anyone with questions about or needing assistance with their census form. Mayor Bond urges all members of the community to submit their census form.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Health Care Reform Media Roundup

In the wake of the passage by Congress of the much-debated and historical health care reform bill, here's a quick rundown of the breadth of coverage in the last few hours:

CSPAN healthcare hub: includes links to streaming video from CSPAN-3: Speaker Pelosi's press briefing, the House vote on the bill and reconciliation, House floor debate, President Obama's remarks, and comments from Senator McCain; in text, the vote tally and text of the bill

NYTimes news analysis: David Sanger worries about the consequences of the passage of this major legislation without a single Republican vote

Fox News: reports on brewing legal challenges to the law

The Washington Post: discusses the logistics of what will happen next, including President Obama's signing ceremony tomorrow. This article was posted at 2:20 today.

Full text of the health care reform bill

The historic H.R. 3962, the bill to reform healthcare insurance was passed by The House of Representatives, having already passed the Senate. Click the link above for the entire text of the bill, made available by the Government Printing Office at www.gpoaccess.gov.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Deficit Reduction Financing Act of 2010

Going through the Maryland General Assembly is House Bill 1533, the Deficit Reduction Financing Act of 2010.
Features:
  • would repeal the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund and the Stem Cell Research Commission
  • would repeal some requirements that contractors pay their employees minimum wage
  • would provide that retirees eligible for a prescription drug plan under Medicare would not be eligible for the State precription plan
  • would reduce General Fund appropriations for state-funded institutions of higher learning by at least 50 million dollars
  • would eliminate 1,000 positions in the USM.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Digital Americana

Digital Americana bills itself as the first digital literary journal, which is not to be confused with online literary journals, of which there are thousands.
DA is designed for the Apple i-pad and includes, according to the magazine's web site, "insightful articles, interviews, and of course, the best fiction.
Featured extras include compelling short independent films, indie music, modern animation, comic illustration, and photography from talented artists around the world."
The site requires Quicktime for all its features to work.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Video: Special Collections Vol. 1

Below is a video highlighting materials that Mary-Jo Price has in Special Collections pertaining to coal mining in Western Maryland and its role in the origin and early history of this university.