January 28, 2008 Opposing view: Mandatory insurance is wrong way to go by Judy Dugan & Jamie Court - Op-Ed Commentary Those who argue that the bill would reduce the costs of the current system need to read the bill closely, since the medical-insurance complex's charges are uncapped and unregulated in the bill. Drug companies, for instance, recently dropped their opposition after the bill's bulk-purchasing mechanism was neutered. Incidentally, the industry then gave $400,000 to Núñez's term-limits extension measure, Proposition 93. Núñez and Schwarzenegger can still provide subsidies to the poor, universal coverage for kids and make the rules of the insurance market fairer. They should reject the insurance industry's demand that the state be converted to a customer delivery system for an inefficient and unregulated private market....read more September 25, 2007 Mandatory health insurance? No sale by Jamie Court - Op-Ed Commentary Forcing citizens to buy an expensive, unregulated private product is nothing less than taxation without representation. If California were to follow the Massachusetts model for mandatory private insurance purchase (the only one in the United States), Californians would have to prove on their tax returns that they were insured or face tax penalties....read more September 18, 2007 Mandatory health care won't curb costs by Host: Doug Krizner / Commentator: Jamie Court (FTCR) Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton laid out her plan for health care yesterday, which includes mandatory health insurance. But commentator Jamie Court says demanding more cost-effective coverage would be a better solution....read more August 11, 2007 Share the fruits of state-funded research with taxpayers by John M. Simpson - Op-Ed Commentary When venture capitalists provide money to companies they require clearly spelled out conditions and expectations. There is no reason it should be any different when Wisconsin's taxpayers put their hard-earned dollars on the line to fund research. They are entitled to insist upon maximum public benefit for their investment....read more August 7, 2007 Stem cell grant picks ill-served by secrecy by John M. Simpson, Op-Ed Commentary The stem cell committee should direct that scientific review of building projects be handled like the facilities review -- in public. As it stands now, the two-step process is apparently premised on the notion that it's unwise to risk embarrassing an institution for its lack of scientific ability, but it's all right to say it doesn't know how to construct a decent building. That approach serves neither scientist nor architect, but especially not the public....read more July 14, 2007 California group turns up heat on WARF stem cell patents by John M. Simpson - FTCR (Op-Ed Commentary) The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation have filed our formal comments with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office supporting its rejection of human embryonic stem cell patent claims asserted by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation because the claimed advances are obvious in the light of previous stem cell research....read more May 15, 2007 Expose state's stem cell funding to sunlight by John M. Simpson - Op-Ed Commentary Stem cell research is such a potentially contentious field, so fraught with political minefields, that it is imperative the public funding process be completely transparent. For the long-term benefit of the research, every opportunity to build public faith in the Maryland commission's procedures must be taken....read more May 10, 2007 THE MARKET'S THE PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE by ANCHOR: KAI RYSSDAL - COMMENTATOR: JAMIE COURT (FTCR) There are two things you can mention to almost any CEO in this country that will provoke an immediate response, one is global warming and how to balance protecting the environment with protecting the economy. The other is health care and how companies can protect their bottom lines. Safeway CEO Steve Burd launched a health care reform effort this week. Burd and three-dozen other Fortune 500 CEOs are calling for a market solution. Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says that's great, but the market is the problem....read more April 13, 2007 Patent ruling isn't a blow to UW's research leadership by JOHN M. SIMPSON - Op-Ed Commentary Wisconsin will remain a leader in the field because of Thomson and his colleagues' work, and research firms will continue to locate near UW because of the proximity to its vibrant scientific community. But officials from a self-serving foundation with its own narrow agenda cannot be allowed to elbow their way to the table by waving undeserved patents that are ultimately detrimental to researchers everywhere....read more March 8, 2007 Universal Health Plans Take Wrong Approach by Jamie Court (FTCR) - Commentary The state legislature is considering proposals by the Governor and legislative leaders to provide health insurance for all Californians. Commentator Jamie Court says unfortunately the debate is less about what Sacramento can do for us, than about what politicians can do for their biggest contributors....read more |
