John Harvey — Debt Ceiling Theatrics

What we are witnessing in Washington is a travesty. A small group of Republicans is holding our economy hostage. As usual, the casualties will be innocent, hard-working people who have absolutely nothing to do with this debacle. In fact, it’s already started.

I say the following as someone who is not particularly a fan of the Affordable Care Act: it was introduced, debated, passed, signed into law, and declared constitutional. Then it’s chief architect was reelected. Republicans have voted to repeal it over forty times, and each time they have failed. It’s done. It’s over. It’s law.

Of course, one should be permitted to argue for changes or even repeal, that’s how the process is supposed to work. BUT, to decide to shut down the federal government, throwing American citizens out of work, because you didn’t get your way time after time is despicable.

Forbes
Debt Ceiling Theatrics
John T. Harvey | Professor of Economics, Texas Christian University

Travis Gettys — Kentucky’s insurance exchange rolls out smoother than most thanks to good web design

Kentucky’s insurance exchange rolls out smoother than most thanks to good web design (via Raw Story )

Quality web design is being credited in part for the smooth rollout of Kentucky’s health insurance exchange, which earned praise in its first couple of days in operation. The rollout of the Kentucky’s health insurance exchange was smoother than…

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The Huffington Post — Hot Mic Catches Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell Discussing Their Actual Government Shutdown Concerns —

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) were caught on a hot mic Wednesday discussing talking-points for the shutdown by local news station WPSD 6.

"I just did CNN and I just go over and over again 'We're willing to compromise. We're willing to negotiate.' I think... I don't think they poll tested we won't negotiate. I think it's awful for [Democrats] to say that over and over again," Paul said.

"Yeah, I do too and I, and I just came back from that two hour meeting with them and that, and that was basically the same view privately as it was publicly," McConnell agreed.

Paul added, "I think if we keep saying, 'We wanted to defund it. We fought for that and that we're willing to compromise on this', I think they can't, we're gonna, I think... well, I know we don't want to be here, but we're gonna win this, I think."

The Huffington Post

Hot Mic Catches Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell Discussing Their Actual Government Shutdown Concerns

Igor Volsky — Headlines Capture Huge Demand For Obamacare Across The Country: ‘A First-Day Rush,’ ‘Busy Start,’ ‘Strong Early Interest’

Heavy demand for information clogs AFA servers across the country.

Officials charged with implementing the law don’t expect the visits to immediately translate into sign-ups, pointing to the experience in Massachusetts, where uninsured people visited the website multiple times before eventually enrolling in health care reform.

Think Progress
Headlines Capture Huge Demand For Obamacare Across The Country: ‘A First-Day Rush,’ ‘Busy Start,’ ‘Strong Early Interest’
Igor Volsky