Media Hit

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a Ways and Means Committee-led bill stopping the IRS from targeting donors to tax-exempt organizations. The measure, the Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act (H.R. 5053), passed 240-182.

Is reform of our criminal justice system really possible given, the vast divide between Republicans and Democrats in Congress? One conservative joins me today to say "Yes!" and explains why.

"Donald Trump has released his health care plan after being pressured into doing so," Dr.nMerrill Matthews noted in Forbes in March. "He should have taken a little more time. Though six of his seven points—they aren't developed enough to be called proposals—are standard Republican fare, they are too vague and superficial to determine what Trumpcare would be like."

Both parties’ front-runners in the race for the presidency say they’ll grow the economy, but their plans differ. So from your wallet’s point of view, who’s better for you?

"It’s a fair question as to how long health insurers can continue to provide the cost-sharing discounts unreimbursed," said IPI's Dr. Merrill Matthews. 

While Obama can talk the bark off a banyan tree, he cannot make Americans hallucinate prosperity. Obama is the only U.S. chief executivein history not to preside over even one year with 3 percent GDP growth, as the Institute for Policy Innovation’s Tom Giovanetti observes.

By a 419-0 vote, the House approved the Email Privacy Act (HR-699), which would protect the content of people's emails and electronic communications (see 1604260014). Approval of the measure, which updates part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, was hailed by privacy and technology associations, which said ECPA lagged behind the rapid advancement of technologies such as cloud computing.

"I think there will be some significant number who identify as Republicans who will be grousing pretty seriously," said Michael Barone during a luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel on Wednesday, featured speaker for the Institute for Policy Innovation.

“Instead of scrolling first through Netflix and then through your cable video on demand offerings, WheretoWatch.com is a one-stop shop to see what options are available to you to get to the specific movie or TV show you’re looking for," said IPI. 

Merrill Matthews, a longtime HSA supporter, said the “qualified health plan” rules issued by the administration in early 2013 were “great news” and that HSA plans could end up being the favorite option in ObamaCare exchanges. Now it appears as though the administration has succeeded in quietly killing off HSAs, at least in the individual market.