Al Franken's Blog, page 90

New York Times: Franken Pursues Tighter Oversight of Rating Agencies

The Dodd-Frank Act cracked down on the credit rating agencies, the firms that awarded rosy ratings to bonds backed by junky mortgages, but some lawmakers and consumer advocates contend that the regulatory overhaul falls short.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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InForum: Leaders address addiction in tribal communities

White Earth tribal leaders say they won't wait any longer to devise solutions for the devastating addictions that plague their communities.

"We have buried too many young people; have seen too many lives destroyed; too many homes, too many communities damaged," tribal Chairwoman Erma Vizenor said Monday before a crowd of about 300 people gathered in Mahnomen for a substance abuse summit aimed at Native American communities.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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FireDogLake: Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Working Where Applicable

The Government Accountability Office gave a fairly glowing report about the efect of the federal medical loss ratio, a policy inserted into the Affordable Care Act by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) that forces insurance companies to spend 80-85% of their premiums (depending on the type of coverage) on medical treatment, and to rebate customers if they fall short of that ratio. After rulewriting, the MLR in place includes expenses for activities that improve health care quality as treatment, and excludes federal and state taxes and licensing fees paid by insurance companies from the total pot of premiums. Even then, insurance companies interviewed by GAO were eliminating some of the middleman waste in the system to get under the ratio, premium money that wasn't doing anything for real people. Insurers are also lowering premiums as a result. And for the most part, the MLR wasn't stopping insurance companies from doing business. (The PPACA refers to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the below excerpt.)

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Pierce County Herald: Sen. Franken wants extension of payroll tax holiday

Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-St. Paul) is calling for an extension of the payroll tax holiday. The law that lowered the payroll tax from six-point-two to four-point-two percent expires in January.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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WDAY: Senator Al Franken talks about flood diversion

He says disagreements between city governments are wasting too much time. Minnesota State Senator Al Franken was in Fargo today. He stopped by our studio and gave us an opportunity to discuss his thoughts and views on the flood diversion project.

With the 1.7 billion dollar project that would lower the river level through Fargo Moorhead still not finalized….Franken says we need to get a plan together quick. Countless city council meetings continue to discuss the issue. Franken says disagreements on many issues, not only within city governments but also with federal governments, and not being able to come to an agreement, sends a bad message to community members.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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MN Independent: Franken: Lockout could erode congressional support for sugar protections

Until Aug. 1, when 1,300 American Crystal Sugar workers across three states were locked out by management, the successful Red River Valley-based sugar beet industry was viewed as an example of how cooperation between labor and management could yield sweet results. U.S. Sen. Al Franken warns that the lockout may undermine consensus in Congress for some of the sugar industry protections that have made it so profitable.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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MPR: Midday at the State Fair: US Senator Al Franken

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Grand Forks Herald: VIEWPOINT: For the valley's sake, get back to the bargaining table

As a Minnesota U.S. senator, I am a fervent supporter of the U.S. sugar program, which places strict limits on the amount of sugar produced in and imported into the United States, ensuring a stable market and price for American sugar producers, including the American Crystal Sugar Co-op here in the Red River Valley.

Not only do those directly involved in the sugar industry benefit, but the economic vitality of all the communities up and down the valley is tied to the health of the sugar industry, and, in turn, the sugar program.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Burnsville Patch: Reinventing the Economy: Franken Talks Jobs

During the height of the budget brawl at the nation's capitol, Senator Al Franken called together his staff and asked them to take on an apparently impossible task.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Thisweeklive.com: Senator Franken tours Dakota County

No constituent is too young for U. S. Senator Franken's attention on Friday. U. S. Senator Al Franken toured Dakota County in an effort to promote early education, discuss energy policy and job creation by visiting a variety of sites on August 19. Tour stops included the Burnsville Ice Center, Dakota County Technical College, Dakota Electric, and Just Kidding Around Childcare Center in Lakeville.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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