News

2009

May

28

• Single agency may regulate banking. Senior administration officials are considering the creation of a single agency to regulate the banking industry, replacing a patchwork of agencies that failed to prevent banks from falling into the worst financial crisis since the…

26

• Auto insurers going to the dogs. Saikou and Kozette are as safe as dogs can be when they go for car rides. The border collie and boxer are always strapped in tight, says Lonnie Olson, 55, of St. Helen, Mich. Still,…

• Face-lift for foreclosure prevention. The Obama administration is attempting to revive a stalled government foreclosure prevention program that could restore equity to hundreds of thousands of borrowers whose home values have plummeted. After eight months, the program, known as…

25

• France's largess shields many. MENTON, France - In recent years, Jean Beaufranqui and his wife have spent most of their time in Menton, enjoying the sunshine and gentle Mediterranean breezes that have made this little town into a retirement…

22

• Tax on medical benefits gains traction. A new tax on employer-provided health insurance is emerging as a likely option to finance an overhaul of the nation's health-care system, key Democrats say, despite opposition from organized labor and possibly the Obama administration.…

20

• U.S. may add new financial services watchdog. The Obama administration is actively discussing the creation of a regulatory commission that would have broad authority to protect consumers who use financial products as varied as mortgages, credit cards and mutual funds, according to…

19

• Obama wants gas mileage at 35 mpg. Environmental lobbyists scored a big victory on fuel economy rules. President Obama is expected to announce tomorrow that he will boost the nation’s average fuel economy for new models just north of 35 miles per…

• Consumer groups challenge Chrysler bankruptcy (Seek to preserve rights for lemon owners and victims of defective autos). Leading national consumer groups today filed objections in the federal bankruptcy court in New York that is overseeing the Chrysler bankruptcy proceeding, asking the court to preserve the rights of consumers who have suffered or…

15

• Treasury OKs taxpayer bailout money for insurers. The Treasury Department plans to extend bailout loans beyond banks and automakers to six of the nation's largest life insurance companies. The government granted preliminary approval to Prudential (PRU), Lincoln National(LNC), Allstate(ALL), Principal Financial(PFG), Hartford…

14

• A doctors' database for patients. Unless you've had heart trouble in Schenectady, N.Y., you've probably never heard of cardiologist Steven Weitz. But he has made a difference in this leafy town of 60,000 on the Mohawk River. Weitz has helped…

• Reforma de salud a paso redoblado. La Cámara de Representantes debatirá una reforma al sistema de salud estadounidense antes de agosto, declaró ayer la titular de ese órgano legislativo, Nancy Pelosi. "Le hemos prometido (al presidente Barack Obama) que tendremos esta…

13

• Senators weigh tax hikes to pay for health care. Senators are considering limiting _ but not eliminating _ the tax-free status of employer-provided health benefits to help pay for President Barack Obama's plan to provide coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans. Finance Committee Chairman…

12

• Healthcare groups join Obama at negotiating table. Welcoming leaders of the hospital, drug and insurance industries to the White House on Monday, President Obama trumpeted their pledge to work together to contain the nation's skyrocketing healthcare tab. But as the president was…

• Plan conjunto para la salud. El presidente Barack Obama dijo que la promesa de la industria de la salud de reducir sus costos en dos billones de dólares durante una década "marca un hito" en la prolongada búsqueda de una…

11

• Adressing the 'too big to fail' problem. A good clue that a phenomenon has penetrated the public's consciousness is when it gets referred to by shorthand, like "DVD," or "Brangelina." The latest upward-scuttling concept bidding for popular mind-share goes by TBTF --…

• Health groups vow to control costs. Volunteering to "do our part" to tackle runaway health costs, leading groups in the health-care industry have offered to squeeze $2 trillion in savings from projected increases over the next decade, White House officials said…

• Industria médica promete a Obama recortes en costes de salud. La industria de la salud está dispuesta a ayudar al presidente Barack Obama a lograr un seguro médico para millones de estadounidenses ofreciéndole 2 billones de dólares en reducción de tarifas médicas durante los próximos…

08

• Taxing those with insurance to pay for those without. It is an alluring way to pay for the ambitious plan to expand health coverage to the nearly 50 million people who are now uninsured. Simply put, the government would tax the people who already…

06

• Seguros más bajos para las mujeres. La industria de los seguros de salud ofreció el martes terminar con su práctica habitual de cobrar primas más altas a las mujeres. Es la concesión más reciente de las aseguradoras en momentos en que…

04

• U.S. carbuyers showing European ways. Tighter credit, depleted retirement savings and environmental concerns are among the forces reshaping the U.S. auto market into something that looks more like Europe and the rest of the world - where people buy smaller,…