Media

Media Hit | Budget

With bad revenue forecast, can special session be far behind?

With economic recovery described as “a mirage in the desert” and a projected gap between income and spending growing to $1.4 billion, state officials began setting the stage Thursday for a special legislative session that would find ways to cut more from the budget.

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Media Hit | Budget, Tax

Forecast: State to take in $1.4 bil in fewer taxes

The state's tax revenues could come in as much as $1.4 billion lower than previously estimated, a number so big that state lawmakers will have to scramble to come up with a response to the worsening economic news.

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Media Hit | Budget

Deficit 'Super Committee' Selection Sen. Murray Proves Controversial

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has named Democrat Patty Murray of Washington to co-chair a powerful "super committee" charged with finding more than $1 trillion in deficit cuts this fall.

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Media Hit | Financial Reform

Senate needs to move forward on confirming new chief for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The good news is that on July 21 the landmark Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) takes over as the nation’s chief consumer bank regulator. The bad news is that because no director has been confirmed, the Bureau will not be able to effectively protect consumers in the financial marketplace that includes payday lenders, mortgage companies, and credit bureaus.

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Media Hit | Health Care

Health Insurers, Forced to Reveal Financial Data, Tamp Down Rate Increase Requests

Last year, a nasty fight erupted between state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Premera Blue Cross. Kreidler was pushing a bill that would force health insurers into publicly disclosing financial data when they asked for rate increases. Premera was trying to water down the bill, prompting Kreidler to ask, "What don't they want the public to see?" For the most part, Kreidler got what he wanted--and yesterday a handful of companies' filings went public for the first time.