Author Archives

July 23, 2019-Study: the US could have averted about 15,600 deaths if every state expanded Medicaid

The United States could have averted about 15,600 deaths if all 50 states expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, new research suggests. The Affordable Care Act initially expanded Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income people, to everyone making less than 138 percent of the federal poverty line. But a 2012 Supreme Court ruling weakened the policy, allowing states to reject the

Read More »


July 23, 2019-The cruelty’s the point: Trump to take food stamps from working families, elderly, disabled people

The Trump administration failed in its efforts to kick millions of people off of food stamps in last year’s Farm Bill, so it’s taking another stab at it now with a proposed rule to force—and this is the administration’s figure—3 million people off the program. The rule would restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for households who have savings or other assets. Have

Read More »


July 23, 2019-PALLONE OFFERS A FIX FOR SURPRISE MEDICAL EXPENSES

New Jersey congressman wants to extend state’s control effort to the rest of the country Surprise medical billing is an issue whose time has come. New Jersey passed a law last year tightening up on the practice. Now U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to do the same for hospital patients throughout the country.“They’re going to

Read More »


July 23, 2019-FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS MEDIATION IN GREYSTONE PSYCHIATRIC LAWSUIT

Plaintiffs allege conditions at Morris County hospital are dangerous for staffers and patients alike A federal judge has ordered New Jersey officials to enter mediation with attorneys for patients and staff at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital who claim in a lawsuit that conditions there are dangerous and potentially deadly. In issuing her order Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, rejected a bid for

Read More »


July 21, 2019-Trump to Cut Medicare and Social Security If Re-Elected

Trump is promising massive spending cuts if re-elected next year. While the article doesn’t specifically state that the two programs Republicans have been trying to kill since their conception will be cut, I think we can read the writing on the wall.  Despite the GOP’s cries about reducing spending during the Obama years, when the deficit was actually going down, we are seeing record

Read More »


July 19, 2019-NJ URGED ‘TO GET CREATIVE’ ON TAX INCENTIVES, FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Call comes amid a stalemate between the governor and leading legislators over the future of state economic-development efforts Despite the stalemate between Gov. Phil Murphy and Democratic legislative leaders over New Jersey’s major tax-incentive programs, some lawmakers think now is the perfect time to push for new tax breaks aimed specifically at spurring the construction of affordable homes. Read more


July 12, 2019-All children have the right to family – joint position statement

All children have the right to family life, yet children with disabilities are disproportionately deprived of this right. The reasons are multiple, including the lack of practical and financial support to families with children with disabilities, governments failing to invest in community-based services, and a strong push by professionals to place children in specialised institutional settings. Under international law, governments are now under clear

Read More »


July 11, 2019-Assisted living builders sue Englewood, claim bias against disabled and Orthodox Jews

ENGLEWOOD — Developers of an assisted-living facility accused the city of discriminating against individuals with disabilities and Orthodox Jews, in a federal lawsuit filed last month.  In the complaint, filed June 28, 431 E Palisade Avenue Real Estate LLC and 7 North Woodland Street LLC allege that the city’s zoning code is unconstitutional because it segregates assisted-living facilities to a small area. The plaintiffs want

Read More »


July 10, 2019-Trump’s push for census citizenship question could really hurt New Jersey. Here’s how.

WASHINGTON — Once again, a policy coming out of the White House could hurt New Jersey more than most other states. This time, its President Donald Trump’s call for the 2020 census to ask respondents whether they are American citizens, a question that could reduce the number of people filling out the forms, especially those in the country illegally. Read more