The following is a rundown of the day’s news drawn from other media sources with topics curated just for Money and Markets readers: Obamacare, personal security and freedom, immigration and more!
Obamacare
White House Email Chain Shows Launch Fears
Top White House and health officials feared that HealthCare.gov would not work correctly and would set off a wave of bad publicity, according to emails shortly before the disastrous rollout of the Obamacare enrollment website.
93% of Americans Want to See Obamacare Altered or Repealed
Only 7% of the American public want Obamacare “kept in place.” A full 93% either believe that changes are needed to the law (48%) or want a full repeal (43%).
Healthcare.gov Crashes While Sebelius Tries to Sign Person Up at Media Event
In response to a question from CBS4′s Brian Andrews about what she learned from her visit to South Florida today, the secretary said it’s the frustration so many are feeling.
50 Million to 100 Million Insurance Cancellations Coming
The International Franchise Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have studied the impact and say the president’s health care law has resulted in higher costs and fewer full-time positions.
Small-Business Owner: Obamacare Driving Me to Drink
The founder of early2surg, Sheila Salter, produced a chart showing she was spending $4,584 from her business’ coffers due to Obamacare’s mandate that plans have at least 10 “essential benefits” she didn’t want. She spoke at a hearing about the new health exchanges.
Personal security and freedom
Mental Mayhem Sweeps the Nation
“People are desperate everywhere and it’s sad,” said mental-health advocate Steve Leifman. “Studies indicate that the longer we take to treat someone, the likelier there may be permanent brain damage.”
Congresswoman Attacked, Mugged Near Capitol Building
An attacker knocked the congresswoman to the ground with a hit to the head while she was walking back to her apartment after eating dinner. The attacker took her bag and ran away near 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue — a little less than a mile from the Capitol building.
Multi-million Dollar Welfare Scam Busted
Store owners were purchasing customers’ WIC vouchers and giving the recipient a percentage of the cash value. They would then pocket their cut of the money when the government reimbursed them for the coupons, sources said.
U.S. and UK Struck Secret Deal to Allow NSA to ‘Unmask’ Britons’ Personal Data
The phone, internet and email records of UK citizens not suspected of any wrongdoing have been analyzed and stored by America’s National Security Agency under a secret deal that was approved by British intelligence officials, according to documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden.
New York Police Department: Thieves Still Really Love Apple Devices
The NYPD says that in 2012, nearly 20 percent of all burglaries, robberies and grand larcenies involved Apple products. In total, almost 16,000 apple items were stolen.
Business and technology
Implanting Platinum Jewelry in the Eye
The American Academy of Ophthalmology said there is not “sufficient evidence to support the safety or therapeutic value of this procedure.” It urges consumers to “avoid placing in the eye any foreign body or material that is not approved by the FDA.”
Going to Mars: Billionaire Dennis Tito Plans Manned Mission With Possible 2017 Launch
“It would be a voyage of around 800 million miles around the sun in 501 days,” Tito testified Wednesday at a hearing of the House subcommittee on space.
Google’s Schmidt Sees Encryption Killing Censorship
Protecting Internet traffic with hard-to-crack code may prevent governments from censoring their populations’ communications within a decade, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said.
JPMorgan Chase to Settle Suit for $13 Billion
The settlement announced Tuesday requires JPMorgan to pay $9 billion and provide $4 billion in consumer relief, including principal.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
