First Edition — November 26, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The Wall Street Journal:
Schumer Says Focus On Health Law Was A Political Mistake For Democrats
Democrats smarting from this year’s midterm losses need to embrace their pro-government roots and refocus on coherent policies to help the middle class, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said Tuesday, citing the 2010 federal health-care law as a political miscalculation. Mr. Schumer, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, suggested his party has veered from this focus to its detriment in recent years. (Crittenden, 11/25)
Politico:
Chuck Schumer Joins Criticism Chorus
Democrats’ top message man Chuck Schumer criticized how his own party handled Obamacare’s political strategy on Tuesday, joining a list of prominent Democrats who’ve chastised their own party in recent days as they struggle to come to terms with a crushing defeat earlier this month.
Schumer commented at an event in Washington that Democrats “blew the opportunity the American people gave them” by concentrating on health care during the teeth of the recession in 2009 and 2010, calling it a focus on “the wrong problem.” (Everett, 11/25)
The Washington Post:
Schumer: Democrats ‘Blew’ Opportunity By Focusing On ‘Wrong Problem’ — Health Care
Schumer, who voted for the health-care law and has championed it, suggested that he voiced similar concerns to colleagues back when the law was being crafted but was overruled by others who saw the moment as the best possible chance to reshape the nation's health-care system. "We should have done it. We just shouldn't have done it first," he said of what is considered by many Democrats to be President Obama's signature accomplishment. (Sullivan, 11/25)
USA Today:
Schumer: Democrats Can Win If They 'Embrace Government'
“Democrats must embrace government. It’s what we believe in, it’s what unites our party and, most importantly, it’s the only thing that’s going to get the middle class going again,” Schumer said Tuesday. “If we run away from government, downplay it, or act as if we are embarrassed by its role, people won’t vote for our pale version of the Republican view — they’ll vote for the real McCoy.” (Camia, 11/25)
The Wall Street Journal:
On Twitter, Obama Loyalists Counter Schumer On Health Law
[L]oyal Obama aides and former staffers pushed back hard against Mr. Schumer on Tuesday — taking to Twitter to upbraid the veteran New York lawmaker for his comments. Former speechwriters Jon Lovett and Jon Favreau, along with former White House spokesman Tommy Vietor and current White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer all weighed in on the controversy via social media. Mr. Lovett devoted several tweets to defending the president, mincing no words and saying “a pretty good test for Democratic candidates is whether they view Schumer as someone to listen to or someone to tolerate.” (Tau and Andrews, 11/25)
The Washington Post:
Illegal Immigrants Could Receive Social Security, Medicare Under Obama Action
Under President Obama’s new program to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, many of those affected will be eligible to receive Social Security, Medicare and a wide array of other federal benefits, a White House official said Tuesday. ... Federal law says that people who pay the [payroll] taxes [for those programs] and are deemed “lawfully present in the United States” can collect benefits under those programs when they become eligible. They may also receive survivor and disability benefits. “If they pay in, they can draw,” White House spokesman Shawn Turner said by e-mail. (Tumulty, 11/25)
Politico:
Margaritas, Grocers Caught Up In FDA Menu Rule
Big chain restaurants are on board: They pushed for a national standard to override a patchwork of state and local menu labeling rules. McDonald’s adopted its own nationwide labeling in 2012. But grocery store and convenience store chains, the likes of Whole Foods, Sheetz and 7-Eleven, are expected to put up a fight about slapping calories next to their kale salad, nachos and Big Gulps. Movie theaters and the alcohol industry are also expected to fiercely protest being included in the mandate. A year from now, the calorie counts will have to be posted on menus right next to food items ... The rules apply to chains if they have more than 20 locations. (Bottemiller Evich, 11/25)
The Washington Post:
People Literally Have No Idea How Many Calories Are In Their Food
America is about to find out how many calories are in their favorite dishes and snacks — and it could be a pretty big wake-up call. After years of delay, the FDA on Tuesday approved sweeping new rules that will mandate calorie counts at many places where Americans eat out — chain restaurants, movie theaters, pizza joints, vending machines and more. ... The big news is that the FDA rules are more comprehensive than expected, given the strong industry pushback since the menu labeling provision was included in the 2010 health-care law. (Millman, 11/25)
The Wall Street Journal:
Insurers’ Listings Of In-Network Doctors Often Out Of Date
Many insurers are offering smaller networks of doctors in their Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans this year. But those networks may be even narrower than they seem, physicians and regulators say, because the lists often include names and addresses that are erroneous or out-of-date. In some cases, the doctors shown as participating in plans have moved, retired or died, surveys show. Others are listed under the wrong specialty, work in hospitals full-time and don’t see outpatients, or don’t accept the plan being offered. (Beck, 11/25)
The Associated Press:
Facing Health Law Hikes, Consumers Mull Options
Consumers across most of America will see their health insurance premiums go up next year for popular plans under President Barack Obama's health care law. But it will take time for families to figure out the best bang for their budgets — even as a bigger political battle brews over the program's future. For many people, government subsidies will cushion the hit. And there's a new factor: Returning customers who are savvy about health insurance and prepared to shop for a better deal. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 11/25)
The Washington Post:
Feds Can Save Money By Examining Health Plans During Open Season Until Dec. 8
The holiday season also means Open Season for federal workers, retirees and their families. ... They have until Dec. 8 to change their health, dental and vision insurance companies and flexible spending accounts. Next year, average premium rates for the 8.2 million people covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will increase about 3.8 percent. Dental coverage premium rates will go up an average of 1.7 percent and vision benefits an average of 1.5 percent. FEHB is the nation’s largest employer-sponsored health benefits program, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). (Davidson, 11/25)