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Hispanic Business Groups Campaigning for Colombian Trade Pact
Flanked by a group of Republican senators, Hispanic business leaders Wednesday announced a grass-roots effort to persuade the House to pass the Colombia free trade agreement. Groups Spar over Allowing European Companies to Be Sued Over Holocaust-Era Claims Holocaust survivors and Jewish organizations disagreed at a Senate hearing Tuesday on whether to allow European insurance companies that denied Holocaust-era claims to be sued in U.S. courts. Rare Footage Seeks to Rekindle U.S. Romance with Space Fifty years ago, it was the stuff of science fiction: sending human beings into space. U.S. Presses Iran on Missing American A State Department official Thursday called on Iran to release information about the disappearance of a former FBI agent from South Florida who vanished on a business trip there more than a year ago. Panel Told Florida Tomato Pickers Subjected to Slavery Slavery exists in the tomato fields of Florida, a U.S. Senate committee was told Tuesday. Lawmakers Urge Iraq to Fund Refugee Assistance Warning that the flood of refugees who have fled Iraq could become an enormous security and humanitarian crisis, a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on the Iraqi government Thursday to earmark $1 billion for refugee relief. Democrats Pledge to Seat Florida Delegates Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean pledged Wednesday to seat Florida's delegates at the party's national convention this summer. Funds Misuse Was Behind Resignation of White House Cuba Aide The White House announced Friday that a former special assistant to the president's resignation was tied to allegations of misuse of federal money. Medicare Changes Worry Patients, Oxygen Suppliers Jean Henry needs a constant flow of nearly pure oxygen to stay alive, but she says planned Medicare changes may make it more difficult for her to get it. Questions and Answers about the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds Here are answers to common questions about the Social Security and Medicare trust funds: Congress Urged to Act Soon on Social Security, Medicare Warning that the two major entitlement programs for the elderly face long-term financial problems, the government's Medicare and Social Security trustees Tuesday urged Congress to act soon. High Court Says Companies Can Cut Health Benefits for Those Over 65 In an action likely to have an enormous impact as the Baby Boom generation retires, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider whether it is unconstitutional for employers to reduce health-care benefits for retired workers once they qualify for Medicare. Ten Areas to See Competitive Medicare Bidding for Some Equipment Medicare officials announced Thursday they expect to save about $1 billion next year by using competitive bids to purchase medical equipment and supplies in 10 geographic regions around the country, including Palm Beach County. Congress Members Back Call to Raise Tomato Pickers' Pay Some of Congress' most liberal members joined labor and human rights groups Thursday in likening the plight of tomato pickers in South Florida to slavery, and called on fast food giant Burger King to boost the pickers' pay. Bush: More Cuba Change Needed for U.S. to Shift Policies Marking the fifth anniversary of Cuba's "Black Spring," when 75 dissidents were arrested and imprisoned, President Bush said Friday that recent changes in the island's political leadership are not enough to cause a change in U.S. policy. McCain Needs Half the Hispanic Vote to Win, Martinez Says The Republican presidential nominee will need to win about half the Hispanic vote in order to be elected in November, Sen. Mel Martinez said Wednesday. As It Ages, U.S. Faces a Shortage of Geriatricians As the baby boom generation reaches old age, Americans will face a serious shortage of doctors specially trained to treat the elderly. FDA Chief Says His Agency Will Be More Proactive on Health Issues The head of the Food and Drug Administration said Friday his agency plans to take a more proactive role in protecting the nation's health and called on Congress to adopt a series of reforms to safeguard food and drugs produced worldwide yet consumed in the United States. Report: Health Care Spending to Double in a Decade Americans are likely to spend nearly twice as much on health care a decade from now, and the costs will shift from private insurance to Medicare as the baby boomer generation ages, federal analysts are reporting Tuesday. Obama Campaign Denounces Israel E-Mail as Smear Sen. Barack Obama's campaign on Friday denounced an e-mail circulating around the country that claims his advisers are "Israel haters," calling it a "smear" and "outrageous." Sugar Industry Drops Bid to Restrict Trade The sugar industry announced Friday it was abandoning efforts to insert a provision in the federal farm bill that would renew restrictions on the sugar trade between the United States and Mexico. Administration, Major Jewish Groups Oppose Holocaust Insurance Bill The Bush administration lined up with leading Jewish organizations Thursday in urging Congress to reject a bill requiring insurance companies to disclose Holocaust-era records and allowing Holocaust survivors and heirs to sue the companies in U.S. courts. Panelists Warn of Rise in Anti-Semitism in OSCE Countries A new form of anti-Semitism that demonizes Israel for its Jewish character is on the rise, a federal human rights commission was told Thursday. Bush Medicare, Medicaid Cuts 'Dead on Arrival,' Key Congress Members Say President Bush's plan to slash Medicare and Medicaid spending by roughly $600 billion over the next decade received a hostile reception Monday from key members of Congress and elderly advocacy groups. U.S. Mexican Sugar Producers See Chaos as NAFTA Rule Kicks In Fourteen years after approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement, a behind-the-scenes struggle is being waged over one of its last provisions, which starting this month allows the unrestricted trade of sugar between the United States and Mexico. Private Medicare Fee-for-Service Plans Criticized at Senate Hearing Private fee-for-service Medicare plans, the fastest-growing form of Medicare, are both excessively costly and medically inefficient, a Senate panel was told Wednesday. Senate Plan Would Extend Rebates to Social Security Recipients Social Security beneficiaries may qualify for federal rebates under a Senate plan to expand the economic stimulus package. 70 Cities to See Competitive Bidding for Medical Equipment Atlanta, Austin, Dayton, Greensboro and High Point, N.C., are among 70 metropolitan areas that will be covered by a new Medicare rule requiring competitive bidding for durable medical equipment and supplies. Congress Votes to Extend, Not Expand, Child Health Program Backing down from efforts to expand federal health coverage for children in low- and middle-income families, Congress agreed Wednesday to temporarily extend the program until a new president is in office. Experts Take First Step toward Fighting 'Citrus Greening' About 65 federal and state agriculture regulators and experts from industry met for a two-day closed-door "summit" this week to discuss growing concerns over the plant disease known as citrus greening. Despite Concerns, Presidential Candidates Are Quiet about Social Security Two years after President Bush unsuccessfully pushed Social Security reform as his top domestic priority, presidential candidates are again talking about the issue. U.S. Not Ready for a Flood of Long-Term Care Costs, Panel Warns The United States is not prepared to deal with a burgeoning elderly population that is living longer while the costs of long-term care keep rising, a bipartisan national commission warned Monday. Fort Hood Medic-Turned-Patient Keeps Spirits High Army Spc. Kevin Hardin stares intently at a stack of colored "clothespins" on a vertical spindle. His goal: move the pins — each of which has a different amount of tension — from the vertical rod to a horizontal rod inches away. Congressman Says Some Iraq Money Would Be Better Spent on Border Tech The United States should spend more money on technology to secure its border and less money on police actions in Iraq, a member of Congress said Tuesday after a two-day tour along the border with Mexico. House Approves Plan for Natural Disaster Program House of Representatives approved a sweeping plan Thursday to create a federal natural disaster program, responding to a clamor from Florida lawmakers over the skyrocketing cost of homeowners' insurance. Bush Veto Overridden for First Time as Senate Enacts Water Projects Bill Congress handed President Bush the first veto override of his administration Thursday as the Senate voted overwhelmingly for a bill authorizing $23 billion in popular water projects. House Overrides Bush Veto of Water Bill For the first time in President Bush's presidency, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to override his veto, in this case a $23 billion water resources bill. Report Questions Value of Medicare's Part D Spending Medicare beneficiaries filled 13 percent more prescriptions in 2006 than they probably would have and saved an average of 18 percent in out-of-pocket costs as a result of the Part D prescription drug program, according to a report published Thursday in the journal Health Affairs. Martinez Steps Down as General Chairman of Republican Party Sen. Mel Martinez, who became general chairman of the Republican Party 10 months ago in a bid to broaden its base but drew fire for his pro-immigration stance, abruptly resigned Friday. Clinton Says Health Care Plan Effective, Not Government-Run Sen. Hillary Clinton declared Thursday her health-care plan would provide quality health care to all Americans without being run by the government. Wind Damage Provision Pullled from Flood Insurance Bill A Senate measure that would have added windstorm coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program was withdrawn at the last minute Wednesday because sponsors said it didn't have enough support. Vote on Genocide Resolution in Doubt, Pelosi Says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday a vote on a resolution labeling the World War I-era deaths of about 1.5 million Armenians as genocide was in doubt after key Democrats said it would harm U.S. relations with Turkey. At GOP Jewish Forum, Candidates Back Israel and Talk Tough on Iran A parade of Republican presidential candidates Tuesday decried militant Islamic extremism and pledged support for Israel before a large Jewish audience. Medicare Says Its Drug Plan Web Site Easier to Use Hoping to make it easier for beneficiaries to choose a private prescription drug plan, Medicare unveiled an updated Web site on Thursday that allows greater comparisons of price, coverage and quality. Florida Democrats Sue Party over Primary Sanctions Florida's two senior members of Congress asked a federal court Thursday to invalidate the Democratic National Committee's decision to strip the state of its national convention delegates next summer because it scheduled a primary election earlier than the party's rules allow. A Year Later, Foley Fallout Lingers The Republican Party was on the ropes. Bush Vetoes Expansion of Children's Health Insurance Setting the stage for a showdown with Congress, President Bush on Wednesday vetoed a $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Attack on Chronic Diseases Could Save Economy $1.6 Trillion Chronic diseases cost the nation's economy more than $1 trillion a year in lost productivity, and the amount could jump to about $6 trillion by mid-century, according to a report released Tuesday. Medicare Premiums to Rise 3.1 Percent Medicare premiums will increase by 3.1 percent next year, the lowest increase in six years, federal officials announced Monday. Presidential Voters Scrutinizing Candidates on Health Care For the first time in 15 years, health care is a major issue in the presidential campaign, with voters consistently ranking it as one of the top issues government should do something about. Flexible Vessel Will Promote Marine Conservation This is not your grandfather's sailboat, or your dad's Hobie cat. But it may be the next big thing on the water. Study Says a Third of Non-Elderly Face Health Insurance Gaps Nearly 90 million Americans under 65 — more than one out of three — have to contend with a gap in health insurance lasting a month or more, the health advocacy group Families USA says in a report being released Thursday. Group Urges Investigation of Spending on Neil Bush Education Project A nonpartisan ethics watchdog group has urged the Education Department's inspector general to investigate why federal money has been spent on educational products sold by a company founded and headed by Neil Bush, President Bush's younger brother. Diabetes Could Sink Medicare, Study Suggests How big a health threat is diabetes? Diabetes' Growth Could Impact Medicare Heavily How big of a health threat is diabetes? Some Facing High Drug Costs Under Part D The Medicare prescription drug law significantly expanded drug coverage for the elderly, but left many with higher out-of-pocket costs than people covered by employers or the Department of Veterans Affairs, health researchers reported Tuesday. Florida Polling for 2008 Presidential Race Shows Giuliani and Clinton Tied Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are in a virtual tie among Florida voters, with Clinton inching ahead, according to a poll released Wedneday. Florida Senator to Investigate Official for Removing Everglades from Endangered List Sen. Bill Nelson has called for the firing of a high-ranking Bush administration official who recommended deleting Everglades National Park from an international list of endangered sites. Hospitals Say New Medicare Rule Will Cost Them Billions A Bush administration plan to restructure Medicare hospital payments has drawn sharp opposition from the nation's hospitals, which claim the plan would mean a cut of more than $20 billion over the next five years. Congress Poised for Ideologically Charged Battle over Health Care Congress this week is poised to fight a major battle in the ideological war over the future of American health care. Officials Warn of Possibly Too Few Doctors to Treat Future Alzheimer's Patients The number of patients with Alzheimer's disease could more than triple as the baby boom generation ages, but the number of doctors trained in geriatric medicine is declining, a Senate panel was told Tuesday. New Plan Could Make Federal Catastrophe Insurance a Reality In the 15 years since Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida, dozens of bills have been introduced in Congress calling for a national catastrophe insurance program. Not one has passed. Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Posted The Bush administration has announced new rules regarding what documents will be accepted to establish American citizenship in order to receive Medicaid benefits. Should Some Flood Insurance Rates Reflect Real Risks? Congress Hears Both Sides Insurers and Realtors disagreed Tuesday about whether Congress should require the National Flood Insurance Program to charge actuarially based rates for vacation and secondary residences. NASA Watchdog Rejects Congressional Criticism Key members of Congress urged NASA's inspector general to resign Thursday, saying they have lost confidence in his ability to conduct objective and critical investigations of the nation's space agency. Most Doctors Say They'd Limit New Patients if Medicare Pay Cut The nation's doctors are threatening to turn away new Medicare patients unless Congress halts a scheduled Medicare payment cut. To Cut Costs, Medicare Pushing Preventive Services Medicare officials are trying to convince today's grandparents to follow an adage they preached to their children: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sen. Martinez the Man in the Middle on Immigration Sen. Mel Martinez is the man in the middle on one of the most explosive issues in Congress: immigration. Active Hurricane Season Predicted This Year Forget the fact that no hurricanes hit the United States last year. This year's hurricane season is expected to be more active than usual, with three to five major storms forecasted — some of which could strike land. Drugs Importation Measure Passes — With a Catch The Senate agreed Monday to allow prescription drugs to be imported from Canada and other countries — but only if they can be certified as safe. Ocean Energy Moving Toward Reality, Congress Told It sounds like something from a Jules Verne novel: clean, perpetually renewable energy from the oceans that could power the world. Medicare Gets First Attention as Congress Ponders Shaky Entitlements For at least a decade, the trustees who monitor Social Security and Medicare have called for changes to ensure the programs' long-term financial health. Abramoff Ties To Florida Congressman Eyed Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., calls his 2003 golf trip to Scotland with convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff an "embarrassing episode ... and an expensive lesson," but says he's not worried that the Justice Department is looking at the case. Medicare, Social Security Defaults Still Looming The long-term financial prospects for Social Security and Medicare are no worse than predicted a year ago, but the federal retirement and health programs for the elderly and disabled still need major reforms soon, their trustees said Monday. Bill On Negotiating Medicare Drug Prices Stalls In Senate The Senate blocked debate Wednesday on a bill that would let the government negotiate with drug manufacturers for lower Medicare prices. Key Bush Aide Cool To Notion Of National Disaster Insurance Florida Gov. Charlie Crist urged Congress on Wednesday to support a national catastrophe insurance fund, but President Bush's chief economic adviser said the administration would oppose such a program. Prescription Drug Importation May Be Nearer For more than two decades, Congress has been wrestling with the question of whether to allow prescription drugs to be imported from countries such as Canada, where prices are far lower than in the United States. AARP Says Drug Prices Still Outpacing Inflation For the sixth year in a row, manufacturers' prices of brand-name prescription drugs rose last year at roughly twice the rate of inflation, according to a report released Tuesday. Panel Suggests Scrapping Medicare's Doctor Payment System Congress should scrap the way Medicare pays doctors, a government advisory panel suggested Thursday, but it stopped short of offering an alternative to the current system. Funding Cut Means Shuttle Replacement Delay The United States will not have a manned space vehicle for four to six months longer than previously anticipated because Congress failed to pass major spending bills last year, the head of the nation's space agency told a Senate panel Wednesday. Crist Touts Everglades, Disaster Insurance In Washington From the White House to the Capitol, Gov. Charlie Crist urged federal support Monday for the Everglades and a national catastrophic insurance program. With Medicare Costs Rising, Congress Weighs Who Should Pay Congress is facing a bleak choice this year: cut payments to doctors and reduce Medicare beneficiaries' access to care, or let physician payments grow and raise beneficiaries' premiums and co-payments. Poll Shows Backing For Painful Social Security Fixes A majority of Americans support potentially painful proposals to increase taxes and reduce benefits in order to ensure Social Security's long-term financial future, according to a poll released Wednesday. Jewish Group Blasts Romney For Announcing At Ford Site Did former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney show a lack of sensitivity to Jews by launching his presidential campaign Tuesday at the Henry Ford Museum? Leap In Medicare Part B Premiums Predicted Medicare Part B premiums could increase a whopping $15.90 a month next year to $109.40, a 17 percent increase, a forecast released Tuesday found. Democrats Plan Cautious Attack On Medicare's Woes For years, the Bush administration and outside experts have warned that Medicare faces a financial crisis and must be dramatically reformed, but Democrats who now control Congress are taking a go-slow approach to changing the program. Bush's Medicare Plan Draws Objections President Bush's plan to slash spending for Medicare and Medicaid drew a sharp rebuke Monday from the Democratic-led Congress and special interest groups. Blue Dog Democrats Remain Loyal To Fiscal Restraint U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., is administration co-chairman of the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition, an organization of 44 Democratic House members whose primary goal in Congress is fiscal responsibility. Boyd recently sat for an interview with reporter Larry Lipman. Bush Health Plan May Lead To Compromise With Congress President Bush's tax-based health care plan is getting a chilly reception from Congress, but may open the door to bipartisan proposals to cover the uninsured. Florida's Sen. Martinez Elected General Chairman Of GOP Over a smattering of opposition, Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida was elected Friday as general chairman of the Republican Party. House Votes To Require Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to require the federal government to negotiate for lower Medicare prescription drug prices. Medicare Drug Negotiations One Step Closer, But Would They Work? House Democrats have made good on their campaign promise for a bill to require Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. But two government reports concluded last week that negotiations would have little or no effect. Questions And Answers About Medicare Drug Program Confused about the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program? Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau reporter Larry Lipman answers selected questions from readers. Democrats Offer Changes For 'Botched' Medicare Drug Law Calling the government's implementation of the Medicare drug law "botched and bungled," key Senate Democrats said Wednesday they would offer changes to make it less confusing. White House Conference On Aging To Propose Policy Recommendations To Congress Wrapping up a three-day conference on how to deal with the aging of 77 million baby boomers, delegates to the White House Conference on Aging called Wednesday for increased support from government, business, technology and boomers themselves. Bush Urged To Designate January As Jewish History Month Next month will be the first annual American Jewish History Month if President Bush accepts a resolution passed by the House. Once Unable To Identify Mistakes He Had Made, Bush Now Acknowledges Missteps A president who once famously, and in prime time, said he couldn't quickly remember a mistake he had made in office now has taken to acknowledging strategies and initiatives that have not worked out exactly as planned. Ethics, Schiavo Affair Could Hurt Republicans, GOP Lawmaker Says Voter revulsion over Republican ethics lapses and the party's efforts to keep brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive last spring could cost it control of Congress next year, a senior GOP House member said Thursday. Pharmacists Say They're Ready For Medicare Drug Law Amid the gnashing of teeth, pencils snapped in frustration and general befuddlement over the Medicare drug benefit that takes effect New Year's Day, one group is facing it with relative calm: pharmacists. |
Larry Lipman Larry Lipman is the Palm Beach Post bureau chief in the Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau. He is a former president of the National Press Club, a former president of the Regional Reporters Association, and a former president of the Florida Capitol Press Club. He is also a former Paul Miller Regional Reporting Program Fellow. Lipman has been in the Cox bureau since October, 1984. Prior to that he worked for The Orlando Sentinel and the Frederick (Md.) News-Post. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and is an adjunct professor of journalism at The George Washington University. He is married and has one child and lives in Falls Church, Va. Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau 400 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 750 Washington, D.C. 20001-1536 Phone: 202-331-0900 |
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