Reuters

“Both (bills) encourage a new marketplace that would have a common set of rules to enable the health insurance market for small business to work better than it does today by increasing efficiencies and economies of scale,” says Len Nichols, director of the Health Policy Program at the Washington, D.C.-based New America Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy group. “They represent the bipartisan agreement we need for small business and all Americans to secure quality, affordable health coverage.”  LINK

Reflecting the considerable uncertainty brought on by Olmert's decision, Ghaith Al-Omari, advocacy director for the Washington-based American Task Force on Palestine, offered a pessimistic assessment.

"In my view, it seals the fact that there will be no conflict-ending deal by the end of this year," said Al-Omari, who was a member of the Palestinian negotiating team during the failed 2000 Camp David U.S.-backed peace-making effort.

Al-Omari said he did not think Olmert had the moral authority to negotiate a deal and said his chief negotiator and possible successor, Israeli… more

...Democratic candidate Barack Obama has outlined a range of ambitious programs, from rebuilding the nation's bridges to extending health care to the nation's 47 million uninsured, that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Republican John McCain hopes to make Bush's 2001 and 2003 income-tax cuts permanent, cut the corporate tax rate and simplify the tax code. These measures could dramatically slash federal revenue.

"While each of them is running on one agenda, whoever wins, the day they enter office another is… more

Daniel Levy, an analyst at the New America Foundation, said the administration did not yet appear willing to concede defeat, but argued that Israel was simply in no position to conclude a peace deal given the cloud over Olmert.

"It's not actually helpful to try to force a piece of paper through because the Israeli political system cannot absorb such a development," he said. "Politically speaking, fortunately or not, fairly or not, Olmert is a dead man walking." LINK

..."I think the important lesson is - they get a range of savings that is reasonable. It suggests there is a growing consensus that these elements are what are needed for change to happen," said Len Nichols, a healthcare economist at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan research group...LINK

..."I think the important lesson is - they get a range of savings that is reasonable. It suggests there is a growing consensus that these elements are what are needed for change to happen," said Len Nichols, a healthcare economist at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan research group...LINK

. . . Stephen Burd, senior research fellow at think tank New America Foundation, said some lenders were having financing problems. "We just don't think the government should let the loan industry define the terms of the intervention." . . . For the complete article, go to Reuters.com.

Reuters | Obesity and Low Birthweight Mar Health of Kids

Rising obesity rates and a large percentage of children born with low birthweights are dragging down the overall health of American children in their first decade of life, according to a report tracking the health and well-being of young children in the United States.*

While U.S. children overall have seen improvements in their well-being in recent years, American children aged 6 to 11 are four times more likely… more

Simmering Domestic Issues Face Next U.S. President (Reuters News)

. . . "It is an agenda waiting for the president, rather than an agenda the president gets to set," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan group that advocates fiscal discipline. more

Gaza Crisis Complicates U.S. Peace Efforts (Reuters Africa)

...Several Middle East experts said the United States was naive in believing it could ignore Hamas.

"Wishing Gaza away will not work," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator now with the New America Foundation.

"You have to somehow have an arrangement that does not exclude Hamas and invite them to be the spoiler. If you don't do that, the elephant will keep sticking its trunk out the room… more