BUSINESS
November 25, 2013 | By Chad Terhune, This post has been updated, as indicated below.
In a departure from most medical privacy cases, Anthem Blue Cross said it accidentally posted online Social Security or tax identification numbers for about 24,500 California doctors. [Updated 1:03 p.m. PST Nov. 25: An Anthem spokesman said Monday that 24,500 doctors were affected, up from the previous 5,900 figure issued by the company. ] Anthem, a unit of insurance giant WellPoint Inc., said the private information was mistakenly included with its online provider directory for about 24 hours late last month.
BUSINESS
February 12, 2013 | By Michael Hiltzik
You might not realize this if you've been listening to all the warnings about "entitlements" emanating from Congress, but Social Security remains the nation's most popular government program -- and the vast majority of Americans want lawmakers to protect it, without cutting benefits. In fact, a sizable majority want Congress to raise benefits. Those conclusions, drawn from a recent opinion poll conducted for the National Academy of Social Insurance, an organization of social insurance experts, are worth keeping in mind as President Obama addresses the state of the union tonight and as budget battles continue in Washington.
BUSINESS
January 2, 2013 | Michael Hiltzik
Whatever the ultimate shape of the "fiscal cliff" solution that has preoccupied all Washington, and a fair swath of the rest of country, in the final days of 2012 and into the new year, Americans of all walks of life should be asking themselves this question: How do we like being conned? The deal, passed by the Senate on New Year's morning, was made final late Tuesday when the House of Representatives signed on. Its essential elements include expiration of the President George W. Bush-era income and capital gains tax cuts on couples' incomes over $450,000, and a modest increase in the estate tax. Unemployment benefits and tax credits for lower-income families will be extended.
NEWS
May 9, 2012 | By Jon Healey
Democrats have seized on a looming increase in the interest rate on certain federal student loans as their latest wedge issue, hoping to portray Republicans as caring more about the wealthy than they do about working-class and middle-income college students. Those students might want to spend a few moments studying how Senate Democrats planned to come up with the money to pay for one more year of cheaper loans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to start debate on his student loan interest rate proposal Tuesday, knowing full well that he didn't have the 60 votes needed to stop a GOP filibuster.
NEWS
December 19, 2011 | By Lisa Mascaro and Kathleen Hennessey
After calling lawmakers back to Washington, the GOP-led House postponed votes Monday intended to reject a compromise measure to extend President Obama's payroll tax break for 160 million working Americans. Republican leaders were rethinking strategy after a lengthy closed-door meeting with rank-and-file Republicans who oppose the Senate-passed bill that would continue for two months the tax break, which expires Dec. 31. Votes are now expected Tuesday, but Republican resistance has put the fate of the tax cut on an uncertain course.
NATIONAL
December 15, 2011 | By Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau
A partisan standoff in Congress over President Obama's payroll tax cut for 160 million working Americans threatens to shut down the federal government as early as this weekend, leaving lawmakers to finish the year careening toward yet another budget crisis. A must-pass bill to keep the government running has become tangled in the politics of continuing the payroll tax break, which shaves workers' Social Security tax from 6.2% to 4.2%. If the tax cut is allowed to lapse after Dec. 31, workers would have to pay an extra $1,000 a year, on average.