June 2009
We received a number of e-mails after we said, in our article "Pushing for a Public Plan," that "the average monthly payment for workers with employer-sponsored coverage is … $280 for a family policy." It seems that a lot of you weren’t satisfied with the finding, which is from the Kaiser Family Foundation. A sampling: My Family policy with BCBS had a $500 [deductible] for all 3 members and my bill was $800 a month. We now have a group policy for all 5 members of our... Click to read more
Summary Former Sen. Fred Thompson said on "Meet the Press" that "the 45 million … figure of uninsured is probably about twice the real number of people who can’t afford insurance or don’t have access to it really." He’s not the only one saying that the number is inflated. We find that many of the numbers cited are accurate, but may need to be seen in context to get a true picture. The Census Bureau estimates that 45.7 million lacked health insurance at... Click to read more
Three days after launching the iPhone 3GS, Apple had sold more than 1 million units. Source: Apple Read More →
Summary Liberal groups have hit TV and radio with ads praising the idea of a public health insurance plan, an option that President Obama and other Democrats support as part of changes to the health care system. But the ads lack context and could well mislead the public: A TV ad by Health Care for America Now asks, "What if we stripped away the 13 billion dollar insurance company profits?" Our answer: It wouldn’t make much of a difference. The ad fails to mention that the figure... Click to read more
Q: Is Obama planning to increase the federal tax on gun ammunition by 500 percent? A: No such proposal has been made by the Obama administration. And nobody in Congress has introduced any bill to increase the 11 percent federal excise tax on ammo. Click to read more Read More →
The first U.S. Open Championship was held in October 1895 on the nine-hole golf course of Rhode Island’s Newport Golf and Country Club. Source: United States Golf Association Read More →
The voting age in Iran is 18. Source: CIA World Factbook Read More →
Q: Is it true that Al Gore’s mansion uses significantly more energy than the typical home? A: The main claim in a chain e-mail was true when the original message began making the rounds in 2007. Since then, the Gores have made several changes to their home. Click to read more Read More →
The literacy rate in Iran is estimated at 77 percent (83.5 percent for men and 70.4 percent for women). Source: CIA World Factbook Read More →
The word "solstice" comes from Latin and means "sun stands still." Source: National Geographic Read More →
