reform

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 29 2011

Some changes have already been implemented

All of this healthcare reform jibber jabber has certainly left many confused. Last year President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Healthcare Act that promises Americans better coverage.

Changes were instituted as of Sept. 23, 2010.

According to the new plan, if individuals purchased or joined a new plan on or after that date, insurance companies must do the following:

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 22 2011

Some changes have already been implemented

As many people know, last year President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Healthcare Act promising millions of Americans better health coverage. From its creation there has been much debate about the law, and many are still unclear of how it affects them individually. Additionally, some Americans are unaware of the changes that have already been implemented.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 30 2010

Groups come together to support reform

The California NAACP State Conference and its affiliated branches recently participated with other NAACP chapters nationwide in press conferences lending support to an initiative pushing the bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010. If this new law, which was already passed in the House of Representatives, is passed in the Senate (and obtains the necessary funding), it will enact a review of America’s criminal justice system and present recommendations for reform.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Apr 15 2010

How does the bill affect you?

Since President Barack Obama was sworn into office, the nation has been on edge about his campaign promise, change. Health care reform has been high on his agenda, especially with the failing economy the previous administration (George W. Bush) so kindly established. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 45 million Americans are uninsured. Twenty percent include African Americans.
Historically, Black health care and coverage have been on the bottom of the totem pole, warranting Blacks to provide care themselves.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Mar 4 2010

New Speaker targets jobs and budget reform

Getting people back to work and approaching the budget in a more human way are two of the top priorities for new Speaker of the Assembly John Perez.
Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat who talked about his humble circumstances growing up that were ameliorated in part by a loving, supportive family, was sworn in as the 68th Speaker of the Assembl Tuesday.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.