Representative Mike Ross, D-Arkansas, a conservative “Blue Dog” Democrat told CNN Wednesday he and other group members may vote to block House Democrats’ health care bill from passing a key committee if they don’t get some of the changes they want. [CNN]

The conservative Democrats don’t believe the legislation contains sufficient reforms to control costs in the health care system and believe additional savings can be found. Their letter to leaders raised concerns about new mandates on small businesses. Blue Dogs also say the bill fails to fix the inequities in the current system for health care costs for rural doctors and hospitals.

If seven Democrats vote with Republicans against the bill, it would fail to advance to the House floor. There is a whole slew of Blue Dog Democrats. You can find the list here. [Read more →]

Ross Miller, Secretary of State of Nevada has issued the following:

It is my pleasure to share the news that we are diligently working to develop the State Business Portal. Once operational, Nevada will be the first state in the country to maintain a comprehensive business portal. I believe it will revolutionize the ease of transacting business with government. Assembly Bill 146, sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera, establishes this one stop shop where businesses can conduct most, if not all, of their transactions with Nevada state government. Our vision is that businesses will be able to access licensing, permitting, regulatory, and taxation requirements through one portal, a new website that will be created just for your use. The cost/benefit analysis says the Business Portal could net the state as much as $49 million in the first five years. That doesn’t count what you in the private sector would save. You can find more information inside this report. [emphasis added] [Read more →]

Sometimes you come across a document written long ago and you can’t make sense out of it. It makes me recall a lease agreement for land in Virginia one of my ancestors signed way back in 1771. It was in English but trying to figure out the meanings of some of those words and expressions they used back then was difficult.

You may find some help if you also encounter that problem. Take a look at the National Archives. No, not the one in Washington, D.C. The one for the United Kingdom. The National Archives is the UK government’s official archive, containing almost 1,000 years of history, with records ranging from parchment and paper scrolls through to digital files and archived websites.

Believe it or not there is a word for studying old handwriting, it is called paleography. So if you have the problem take a look at the link above and see if if will aid you in solving it.

At least that is what Senator Reid says.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that he expects to see a health care reform bill finalized by early next month and he expects it to include a government-run health plan to compete with private insurers. [Las Vegas Review Journal]

Republicans, however, aren’t so sure they like the idea. They do not want the government to unfairly drive private insurers out of business and it is too much interference in the health care system. [Read more →]