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 safety and feedom, business and more.
Obamacare
Convicted Felons May Become Obamacare Navigators
When asked if a convicted felon could become an Obamacare navigator and acquire sensitive personal information, Sebelius said yes.
Obamacare Restrictions Lead Brooklyn Couple to Consider Divorce
If they lived together unmarried, they would qualify for the subsidies and could literally save hundreds of dollars a month on their health care. Critics of Obamacare have called this pricey decision the “marriage penalty.â€
Loyal Obama Supporters Canceled by Obamacare
After their current plan got canceled, the couple would be enrolled into a more expensive, less valuable plan, which meant a higher deductible, a higher out-of-pocket maximum, higher hospital costs and possibly higher costs for doctor visits and drugs.
Top Obama Health Adviser Says Obamacare Delay ‘Not an Option’
“We are still at the beginning of a six-month open enrollment that ends at the end of March, and there’s plenty of time to sign up for the new plans,†U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the Senate Finance Committee.
Unions May Get Health Law Tax Relief
Weeks after denying labor’s request to give union members access to health-law subsidies, the Obama administration is signaling it intends to exempt some union plans from one of the law’s substantial taxes.
Personal safety and freedom
Former NSA Codebreaker: I Tried to Tell People About Government Spying
“The data that was being taken in was all about United States citizens,†he said. “They’re destroying our democracy is what they’re doing.â€
Obama Secret Service Agent: “It’s Worse Than People Know … and I’m Not Trying to Scare Youâ€
“This is not about Republican or Democrat, it’s about liberty, pure and simple, and this administration has done more to damage our individual rights than any that has come before it.â€
New Jersey to Hold Fugitive ‘Safe Surrender’
New Jersey law enforcement authorities are launching a “safe surrender†initiative that allows nonviolent offenders with arrest warrants to have their cases resolved quickly, often without jail time.
Navy Blimp Returning to Baltimore Region
The 178-foot airship, which is owned by the government and primarily used for research, will continue a mission to test aerial mapping sensors for the Army starting Nov. 12.
Nation’s Poor Stands at 49.7 Million, Higher Than Official Rate
Among states, California had the highest share of poor people, hurt in part by high housing costs and large numbers of immigrants, followed by the District of Columbia, Nevada and Florida.
Business and technology
Google Breaks Silence on Mystery Barges
A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that the barges are “an interactive space†to teach people about its technology.
Twitter Prices IPO at $26 per Share
Twitter will raise $1.8 billion to fund future expansion by selling 70 million shares, which will open for trading this morning on the New York Stock Exchange.
Cautious Consumers Seen Curbing U.S. Economic Growth
Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, is forecast to have expanded at its slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.
Dow Jones Average Closes at a Record 15,746.88
There wasn’t any major economic news or blockbuster earnings. But that didn’t stop investors from pushing the Dow to another record on Wednesday.
Bleak Unemployment Report for October May Not Be so Bad
The ugly figures will reflect the government’s partial shutdown, which coincided with 16 days in October. The trends for the job market will likely reverse themselves in coming months.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
