Doris O'Brien is a retired college Speech teacher and banker. She has published two books of humor (Up or Down With Women's Liberation and Humor Me a Little) and for many years contributed light verse to the Pepper 'n Salt column of the Wall Street Journal. She is an avid writer of letters to the editors.
Doris celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in the same year she welcomed her first grandchild. She now lives in Pasadena with a great view of the San Gabriel mountains — and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
She can be reached by e-mail: witsendob at (@) gmail.com
In Case You Were Wondering: The Office of Government Ethics and Use of Government Position and Resources
The public may lose confidence in the integrity of Government if it perceives that an employee is using public office to serve a private interest, and it expects that Government information, property, and time (including the time of a subordinate) will be used to serve the public’s interests. Accordingly:
An employee is required to act impartially: An employee may not make improper use of Government position, title, or authority. An employee may not use Government property, nonpublic information, or time (including the time of a subordinate) for other than authorized purposes. more »
Lost: An Incredible Emporium
Joan L. Cannon recalls: Wanamaker's sold pianos: grand, spinet, or upright; upholstery fabrics, draperies, and kitchen appliances. Everything that our family needed, except for standard groceries and alcohol, could be found at Wanamaker's. Gift items, gourmet treats and fancy chocolates, musical instruments other than pianos, sporting goods and evening clothes, waffle irons and radios were at hand. There was mass-produced and one-of-a-kind art, gift items, radios and phonographs … and on and on. I wish something like Wanamaker's could be created someday when we can look for beauty, utility and art for art's sake in a commercial venue — when we no longer need all our resources for trying to save our species and our planet. more »
What Are the Implications of Repealing the Affordable Care Act for Medicare Spending and Beneficiaries?
This brief explores the implications for Medicare and beneficiaries of repealing Medicare provisions in the ACA. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that full repeal of the ACA would increase Medicare spending by $802 billion from 2016 to 2025. Full repeal would increase spending primarily by restoring higher payments to health care providers and Medicare Advantage plans. The increase in Medicare spending would likely lead to higher Medicare premiums, deductibles, and cost sharing for beneficiaries, and accelerate the insolvency of the Medicare Part A trust fund. Policymakers will confront decisions about the Medicare provisions in the ACA in their efforts to repeal and replace the law. more »
"Operating Under A Cloud of Uncertainty": Janet Yellen's FOMC Press Conference About Raising the Target Range for Federal Funds Rate to 1/2 to 3/4 %
Janet Yellen Following FOMC Meeting: "On financial regulation we lived through a devastating financial crisis that took a huge toll on our economy. Most members of Congress and the public came away from that experience feeling it was important to take a set of steps that would result in a safer and stronger financial system. I feel that we have done that. That has been our mission since the financial crisis; that's what *Dodd Frank was designed to do." more »
