Thursday November 21, 2013 - Political Line Morning Rundown

Big day in the United States Senate... Harry Reid appears very close to using the "nuclear option."

 From The Political Wire: Democrats are poised to trigger the Nuclear Option today... 
"It's true in physics and in politics: For every action, there's an opposite and equal reaction. And so after Senate Republican filibustered President Obama's nominees to sit on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals -- not on concerns about ideology or qualifications, but over the president's ability to appoint ANYONE to these vacancies -- Senate Democrats are poised to change the rules via the so-called 'nuclear option.'"
Chris Christie edges Hillary in 2016 polling.... 
PRESIDENT – MISSISSIPPI (PPP)
Chris Christie (R) 49%
Hillary (D) 40%
PRESIDENT – COLORDO (Quinnipiac)
Chris Christie (R) 46%
Hillary (D) 38%

 Rick Scott is losing to Republican turned Democrat Charlie Crist...
According to the poll, Scott has an underwater 42%-47% approval rating, and by a 53%-37% margin voters say he doesn't deserve to be re-elected.
Vermont has built a model to behold for the health insurance market place. Yes, they went there SINGLE PAYER. Through the Medicaid expansion and a small tax increase Vermont will allow every person see any doctor in the state. 

CRUZ CARE... need we say any more... 



Health care spending is growing at the slowest rate on record: According to the most recent projections, real per capita health care spending has grown at an estimated average annual rate of just 1.3 percent over the three years since 2010. This is the lowest rate on record for any three-year period and less than one-third the long-term historical average stretching back to 1965. This slower growth in spending is reflected in Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. 
SURPRISE! Texas doesn't hate Obamacare. In fact they really like, by large majorities in some cases the new healthcare law. The Texas Tribune has laid out the case in their latest article. 

Three-quarters of Texas voters like the idea of tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees. Nearly as many — 73 percent — support creation of health care marketplaces where small businesses and people without health coverage can shop for it.
Prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions has the support of 76 percent of registered Texas voters, and 61 percent, led by Democratic and independent voters, said they would support increasing the Medicare payroll tax on upper-income Americans. 

Massachusetts is set to become the nation with the highest minimum wage in the nation.
The Massachusetts Senate has voted to raise the state's minimum wage from $8 to $11 per hour by 2016 and tie subsequent increases to inflation. The bill, approved by a 32-7 vote Tuesday, would increase the wage for the state's lowest-paid workers in increments over the next three years, starting in July 2014.
Tim McDonnell the Climate Desk's associate producer explains in Mother Jones exactly what we need to do to avoid climate disaster in the future. Explained in 90 seconds...