NADO is a Washington D.C. based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery and comprehensive strategies.
The Association Innovates Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of regions and local communities. Award-winning projects were honored during NADO’s 2015 Annual Training Conference Oct. 24-27 in New Orleans.
‘‘Building on the unique strengths and challenges of each region and community, award recipients continue to promote sustainable economic growth not only now, but for many years to come,’’ (Terry) Bobrowski said. ‘‘And I am pleased to announce that this year over 100 regional development organizations were selected to receive NADO’s 2015 Innovation Award.
(MR.) Rapp, who is the first from West Virginia to be elected to this board, will be working on infrastructure and economic development projects across the region. ‘‘I will not only be representing West Virginia, but the whole East Coast,’’ he said. ‘‘It is truly an honor to be apart of it.’’ Lord have mercy that he is the best to be found for the whole East coast?
Okay, lets try this; the board had an opening and he most likely volunteered? Remember this is a guy who never saw a photo op or a microphone he could not embrace? Plus and this is really scary, we now have a Fire Chief with less time to do Fire Chief duties and a Mayor who now has less time to do Mayor's duties. Mr. Rapp's qualifications are the John Mansville site? Think twice; vote once.
Unemployment rates fall in two-thirds of U.S. states WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in 32 U.S. states last month as employers nationwide added the most jobs of any month this year.
Jobless rates rose in just three states in October and were unchanged in 15.
The unemployment rate has tumbled below 4.5 percent in 21 states, including Texas, Colorado, and Virginia. That’s a historically low level that may help push up pay in the coming months. Can we hope to be in one of the unchanged 15 and not the 3 with more jobless? Lets face it folks, sometimes no gain is better than a loss?
A new taxpayer bailout to cover up ObamaCare’s failure?
By Betsy McCaughey November 20, 2015 | 8:58pm
And my Friends and Neighbors; the good news just keeps a comin'.Nearly all insurers are bleeding red ink trying to sell the unworkable plans. Without a bailout, more insurers will abandon ObamaCare, pushing it closer to its demise. A bailout would benefit insurers and the Democratic Party, which is desperate to cover up the health law’s failure. Ironically Democrats (including Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders) bad-mouth bank bailouts but are all for insurance-company bailouts. Truth is, it’s a ripoff for taxpayers, who shouldn’t have to pay for this sleazy cover up.
The pressure is building on Republicans in Congress. Industry groups like the American Health Insurance Plans and giant insurers are joining with the Obama folks to lobby ferociously for a bailout.
United Health care’s Thursday bombshell rattled investors, health-plan subscribers and ObamaCare partisans. The insurer currently covers more than half a million ObamaCare plan subscribers in 23 states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The insurer announced losses of $425 million on ObamaCare plans, and CEO Stephen Hemsley said, “We cannot sustain these losses,” and “we saw no indication of anything actually improving.”
Hemsley pointed to enrollees who were older and sicker than expected and in many cases gamed the system by waiting until they were ill to sign up. “We can’t subsidize a market that doesn’t at this point appear to be sustaining itself.”
When United Healthcare speaks, the industry listens. It’s the nation’s largest insurer. And the problems it faces are slamming all insurers.
According to the consulting firm McKinsey, insurers lost billions selling ObamaCare plans in 2014, and the losses are mounting again this year. On Friday, Aetna also conceded it is losing money on ObamaCare.
Similar pressures already have forced a dozen insurance ObamaCare co-ops out of business, including the New York giant insurer Health Republic. If enrollments continue to stagnate, it’s likely other insurers will follow United Healthcare and jump ship.
On Thursday, the administration tried to calm insurers, sending them a written memo full of promises. Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services vowed to go to Congress for full funding to reimburse insurers for their losses.
At issue is the Affordable Care Act’s so-called “risk corridor” program. Profitable insurers are supposed to pay into a fund every year to help unprofitable insurers. But with nearly all insurers losing money on ObamaCare, there’s not enough money in the pot. Insurers requested $2.9 billion to offset their 2014 losses, and were told they would get only 13 cents on the dollar, because the pot is so empty.
That shortfall pushed several co-ops into bankruptcy, including Health Republic. United Healthcare also said it was a reason for its reluctance to stay in ObamaCare. But too bad for insurers. They’re in business to take risks and either make money or lose it.
The risk-corridor program shouldn’t be used to funnel taxpayer money to insurers. But the administration is trying to weasel around it and get Congress to fill the pot with taxpayer dollars. That’s what makes it a bailout. And crony capitalism.
When Obama tried this last year, Republicans in Congress stopped it. In the coming weeks, count on Obama and congressional Democrats to try slipping insurance-bailout money into the spending bills being rushed through Congress as the year closes.
It appears however that in spite of the huge losses and shut downs by many of the Health Care companies, the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of which are local Highmark is affiliated, are all in to support and continue to build on the Obamacare program. Interesting I think?
Best be emailing, calling the folks in D.C., to try and stop this.
I noticed at 8:21 on 22 November, that they fixed the Calendar for the 3 Dec Meeting on the John Mansville Clean up. You are welcome Mr. Rapp; it what I do. 'nuff said.