Pacific Progressive

AC-NET and CSUF Create a New Graduate Course Geared at Developing Clean Tech Entrepreneurs

The Anaheim Center for New Energy Technologies (AC-NET), announces an important education initiative to foster the long term development of Orange County’s clean technology community. 

In partnership with Cal State Fullerton’s (CSUF) Center for Sustainability, AC-NET will sponsor a graduate course designed to help the next generation of clean technology entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market. AC-NET has worked closely with CSUF to identify an instructor who will teach graduate students the art of applying science and business disciplines to transform a clean technology idea into a market ready product.   

“This graduate course represents an example of the type of partnership I envisioned when I first introduced AC-NET in 2008 – a partnership between education, business, and public institutions that will contribute to Orange County’s prosperity by building a clean technology community,” said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.

The graduate course, titled Environmental Studies 595T, Energy in Modern Society will begin on June 1 and run through July 9, 2010 during CSUF’s summer session. Students enrolled in the course will get hands-on experience with product development through analysis of business plans submitted to the 2010 AC-NET Clean Tech Business Plan Competition (Competition) and possible interaction with the participating entrepreneurs.

Additionally, students will also view the final day of Competition on June 23, 2010 when $40,000 in prize money will be awarded during the Tech Connect World Conference and Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center.   

As Medicare Pay Shrinks, Some California Docs Hike Patient Fees

By Christopher Weaver, KHN Staff Writer

This article was published by Kaiser Health News.

This story also appeared on NPR's health blog, Shots

One California cardiology group has confronted steep Medicare cuts with a tactic that may irk patients who already face soaring health costs in that state: Beginning April 1, Pacific Heart Institute, in Santa Monica, will charge some patients annual fees ranging from $500 to $7,500, in addition to the regular fees paid by patients and insurers.

Related Audio

All Things Considered: Cardiologists Fight Medicare Cutbacks

This steep fees provide an unusually vivid example of a phenomenon called "cost-shifting," one of the many reasons economists say your health insurance costs so much. 

The premise is that doctors and hospitals charge privately-insured patients higher rates to make up for the lower fees paid by Medicare and other public programs, as well as uncompensated care for uninsured people. One report refers to cost-shifting as a "Hidden Health Tax."

The new annual fees were announced in a Feb. 25 letter to patients of the nine-doctor cardiology group. The fees will offset recent cuts to Medicare, the letter says, and will help cover things like "Direct doctor/patient e-mail communication" and "Notification of non-urgent laboratory and test results."

Out of Pocket Consumer Spending on Health Care in 2008 Topped $138 Billion

From the Editor's Desk at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In 2008, Consumer Expenditure Survey estimates of aggregate health care expenditures (excluding health insurance premiums, nursing home care, nonprescription drugs, nonprescription vitamins, and topical and dressings) totaled $138.5 billion.

[Chart data]

Out-of-pocket hospital care expenditures—spending for inpatient hospital rooms and services provided by facilities such as general-care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse hospitals, and birthing centers, plus outpatient/emergency room care—were $21.1 billion in 2008.

Out-of-pocket expenditures for all services provided and billed by physicians were $22.0 billion.

Spending on dental services was $30.7 billion.

Expenditures for other professional services—for example, the services of chiropractors, acupuncturists, marriage counselors, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, physical therapists, psychologists, substance abuse professionals, and certified medical massage therapists—were $11.2 billion.

Prescription drugs spending was $43.0 billion in 2008; medical supplies spending, for items such as hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses, $10.5 billion.

These data are from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, which collects information about out-of-pocket spending on health care and other expenses from consumer units throughout the United States. A comparison of Consumer Expenditure health care data and data from other sources appears in "Out-of-pocket health care expenditures: a comparison" (PDF) in the Monthly Labor Review, February 2010 issue.

Related TED articles

Consumer expenditures | Health care

How Orange County is Doing - 2010 Community Indicators Report Available

Orange County is the fifth largest county in the United States.  The county has more residents than there are in 22 states including Nevada, Utah, Iowa and Idaho.  So, how is this big state sized county doing?  The 2010 Community Indicators Report shows a changing population and a mixed bag for if we are better off now than a few years ago.  The report is a compendium of county information which is handy to have if you are making decisions, advocating for decisions, or trying to learn more about your community.

Orange County is becoming less white - 46% of residents identify themselves as non-Hispanic white, 34% are Hispanic and 16% are Asian/Pacific Islander.  The white non-Hispanic population is declining while the other groups are trending upward.

 Along with this shift in ethnic make up, there is a shift in jobs.  In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Orange County at 107 out of 200 metro areas ranked for business climate.  This is a 15 point decline from 2008 (ranked 92) and an 80 point decline from 20045 when the county was ranked at 27.  The cost of living is relatively high, even in the recession, making it hard for employers to attract and keep workers.  Wages in the higher paid occupations (computers and engineering) are showing declines in recent years.  The major growth industry for Orange County is the low wage, no benefits tourism industry. Add to this a decline in the number of technology related undergraduate degrees granted by local universities and you start to see a picture of a changing Orange County.

Other subjects in the report are:

• State and local finances
• Housing and commuting

Tomato Time - April 10

You could plant from dawn to dusk and still not plant every variety of tomato!  Whether you are a novice or a pro, you’ll enjoy learning about tomatoes:  the many varieties, their culture, diseases and pests, growing in the ground vs. growing in containers – and finally, how to use them.  Come hear the Master Gardeners on the “A to Z” about tomatoes. 

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

Garden Workshops will be held from 10 AM to noon at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

Treasury Blacklists Mexican Drug Gangs

by: Yana Kunichoff, t r u t h o u t | Report

This article was published by Truthout.

Truthout / CC BY-NC 3.0

The Treasury Department Wednesday imposed  financial sanctions on 54 members of two powerful Mexican drug cartels blamed for the recent spike in border violence under a law that allows the government to freeze their bank accounts.

The move targets "principal lieutenants and enforcers" of the powerful Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, a splinter group of former Gulf cartel hit men. In a statement released Wednesday, Adam J. Szubin, director of the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control, said these gangs are "responsible for much of the current bloodshed in Mexico."

Under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the sanctions ban Americans from doing business with blacklisted groups and freeze any US assets held by people on the list. These US Treasury sanctions are similar to those imposed against terrorist financiers and weapons dealers, which attempt to block their access to the international banking system. Szubin also said the action would assist the Treasury Department's targeting of drug supply networks.

Fairgrounds Deal Must Get Done or Property Faces Another Sale

Costa Mesa and Orange County have the once in anyone's lifetime chance to keep the Orange County Fairgrounds as a fairground and they need to make that deal happen. On March 17, 2010, all of the bids, including the high bid of $56.5 million from Craig Realty, were rejected by the Governor.  At the same time, the Governor restated that the Fairgrounds will be sold, it's just a matter of who will buy it and at what price.

Right now, Costa Mesa and Orange County are negotiating, trying to come to terms with the big check they need to write to keep the property from becoming a shopping mall, stadium, casino, a sea of high density housing, or worse.  They need to work quickly because DGS is working on the next sale event for the Fairgrounds. Given the circus the last one created, rest assured that DGS will do everything in their power to make sure the deal goes down next time.  

It has also been noted that Peter Buffa, a former Mayor of Costa Mesa whose son works at the Fairgrounds, has been hired by Craig Realty to find a way for Craig Realty to stay in the deal.  Why should an outlet mall developer be taken in as a partner in running the Fairgrounds?  If Costa Mesa and Orange County need a partner to operate the property, there are much better choices that Craig Realty.  The elephant in the room with any participation by Craig Realty is why do they want to be involved when they are real estate developers?  Do they want to get a toehold by building a shopping arcade at the Fairgrounds? Would they ever push the partners to start to break off pieces of the property for more intensive retail and residential development?  It's better for Costa Mesa and Orange County to find a better partner than Craig Realty now rather than later when attempts to change the property are made.

The property has attracted inquiries from as far away as Asia. Think about that for a minute - the Orange County Fairgrounds being sold to a group of Asian land developers who want the highest dollar for their investment.  How will Costa Mesa City Council and the Orange County Supervisors justify their letting the Fairgrounds slip out of their grip to their constituents?

The public needs to keep an eye on Costa Mesa and the Orange County Supervisors to let them know it's time to get the deal done.  Orange Coast College could be waiting on the taxiway to take off with their offer if Costa Mesa and Orange County can't deliver.  We must keep the Fairgrounds a public property, for all people to use.  Let's not let the Fairgrounds become another hazy summer memory.

Brown vs. Democracy

by George Lakoff, Truthout

This article was published by Truthout

Truthout / CC BY-NC 3.0

With the California Financial Crisis at stake, the impartiality of the California attorney general has come under scrutiny.

Proponents of the California Democracy Act, a ballot initiative that would restore a majority vote for revenue and budget in the legislature, are asking Jerry Brown, the attorney general, for a new title and summary. An exhaustive poll has shown that Brown's title and summary changed the meaning and intent of the proposed initiative by one of the largest margins ever seen in a poll.

The poll was conducted by David Binder Research, one of California's most respected polling firms. The poll showed that the actual initiative for majority on revenue and budget is supported by likely California voters by a 73 to 22 percent margin - a 51 percent lead. But Attorney General Brown personally wrote the title and summary with wording that shifts that favorable margin to a 38 to 56 percent unfavorable margin - a 69 percent shift!

The poll was conducted March 6-11, with a random sample of 800 likely voters with a margin of error of ±3.5 percent. The summary appears on www.CaliforniansforDemocracy.com.

Canyon Power Project in Anaheim is Approved - 200 Local Jobs Will Be Created

The California Energy Commission (CEC)  approved the construction of the Canyon Power Project (Project) in Anaheim.

In a unanimous vote, the five-member Energy Commission adopted the presiding member's proposed decision that recommended licensing the facility.  The Canyon Power Project is designed to meet Anaheim’s power needs, when demand is highest and supply is scarce, by generating up to 200 Megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough power for 150,000 residential customers. 

A variety of sustainable features will also be integrated into the development of the facility; solar panels placed on the rooftops and thermal energy storage units, which freeze air at night and provide the chilled air during the day to reduce peak demand, will be used to run the Plant Operation Building.  With these sustainable elements in place, the Project aims to obtain LEED certification. Mayor Curt Pringle, “and it is a testament to the persistence and innovation of our Anaheim utility team and the support we received from the Governor’s office.  Not only will Anaheim residents and businesses soon benefit from this clean natural gas-fired facility by having reliable local generation, the Project will also help boost the local workforce by employing approximately 200 workers during construction.”

The Project site will be at 3071 East Miraloma Avenue, in Anaheim, in a designated industrial zone that is physically removed from any immediate residential developments. This location was chosen for its proximity to necessary infrastructure, such as an , nearby&nbsprecycled water supply, and natural gas transmission lines.

Construction of the Project is expected to begin in spring 2010 and estimated to be completed by the end of 2011, with power being delivered approximately 12 months after the start of construction.  

For more information visit, anaheim.net/utilities and under “The Latest” section, click on Canyon Power Proje

Doing What Works to End US Hunger: Federal Food Programs Are Effective, But Can Work Even Better

by Joel Berg

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

Download the full report (pdf)

Download the executive summary (pdf)

Event: Poverty Solutions That Work (CAP Action)

Doing What Works project website

In this era of both soaring budget deficits and escalating poverty, there is a great need for the federal government to ensure it is spending its resources as wisely and effectively as possible on the needs of those Americans who require a helping hand during hard times. This objective fits within the mission of the Center for American Progress’s Doing What Works project, which was inaugurated by CAP earlier this year to ensure that each dollar government spends advances ambitious and carefully selected progressive goals.

There is no question that government must address the most basic of human needs—hunger and nutrition. Some federal programs focused on these needs are already very cost effective, among them the SNAP (formerly Food Stamp) and school meals programs, but they could be run even more efficiently.

Making College More Affordable, More Diverse: New Student Loan Measures Will Make College More Affordable, Particularly for Minority Students

By Pedro de la Torre III 

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

The Senate yesterday passed the reconciliation bill in one of the final steps in the year-long struggle for health care reform. But as it did so, it simultaneously approved a proposal that would help millions of young people afford college—especially Latinos and African Americans.

The most important education investment in the bill is $36 billion for the Pell grant program, which provides need-based grants to low- and middle-income students. The bill ties the maximum Pell grant award to inflation to ensure that it maintains more of its value overtime, and increases the maximum award to $5,550 next year.

The reconciliation bill will also make student debt more manageable by lowering the monthly payments required of Income-Based Repayment program borrowers from 15 percent to 10 percent of discretionary income—the amount of your adjusted gross income minus 150 percent of the federal poverty level for your family size and state—and by reducing the amount of time borrowers have to wait for their loans to be forgiven from 25 years to 20 years. And it will invest billions in minority-serving institutions, historically black colleges and universities, college access programs, and community colleges.

Public Opinion Snapshot: Positive Signs for Health Care Reform

By Ruy Teixeira

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

Health care reform, the biggest piece of social legislation passed since 1965, is now the law of the land. This historic achievement is getting some positive reactions from the public now that the painful congressional process has finally ended and there is an actual piece of legislation to consider. Of course, much of the public is still uncertain about what exactly is in the bill and how it will affect them, but these early reactions are nevertheless encouraging. At minimum, they suggest that conservative predictions of a massive public uprising against health care reform were decidedly overwrought.

Consider these findings from a Gallup poll taken right after the House passed the Senate reform bill. In that poll, 49 percent said they thought it was a good thing that Congress passed a bill restructuring the nation’s health care system, compared to 40 percent who thought that was a bad thing. This plurality possibly reflects some individuals moving toward supporting the bill who previously had opposed it because it didn’t go far enough (about 10 to 15 percent of the public). This group, whose opposition to health care bills in Congress has stemmed from progressive rather than conservative priorities, is a plausible candidate for early increases in support generated by the new legislation.

First Orange County Election Academy Being Held

The Registrar of Voters has launched the Orange County Election Academy, designed to teach participants about elections in Orange County, California. This first-of-a-kind elections education program is open to the public, and will be particularly beneficial to those individuals interested in voting, running for office, and the elections process. 

The Election Academy is an 8-week long academic program designed to leave a lasting impact on those who participate in the program. The program will be conducted at the Registrar of Voters´ office in Santa Ana. The curriculum will encompass all election management functions including candidate filing, campaign finance, ballot creation, communications and more. 

"This is a great opportunity for members of the community to learn about elections," said Neal Kelley, Orange County Registrar of Voters. "The academy will provide a first-hand experience of how an election is conducted, from beginning to end." 

To learn more about the Orange County Election Academy including dates and times or to complete an application for the program please visit ocvote.com/academy. 

With 2.4 Million Jobs Lost to China, New Trade Battle Begins

by Art Levine, Truthout

This article was published by Truthout.

Truthout / CC BY-NC 3.0

Concern about massive jobs losses due to unfair Chinese trade practices is reshaping the American political battle lines over trade, with labor winning new and sometimes unlikely supporters in its fight for stronger policies to protect American workers.

"We're picking up new allies, and Senators are signing on to introduce a bill that takes a tougher line on unfair trade than we've seen in the past," Bill Samuel, the AFL-CIO's legislative director, told Truthout. In addition, he believes the administration is more "open" to taking a tougher stance, including possibly ruling that China is a currency manipulator in an upcoming April 15 Treasury Department evaluation - as ongoing high unemployment ramps up the political pressure on the administration and China.

To top it all off, China's screw-you public stance is only fueling anger on Capitol Hill. After meeting with Commerce and Treasury Department officials on Wednesday, China's deputy commerce minister, Zhong Shan, proclaimed, "The Chinese government will not succumb to foreign pressures to adjust our exchange rate." In addition, China reported this week - perhaps even honestly - that it experienced its first trade deficit in six years this month. As Bloomberg news quoted one Chinese economist: "A trade deficit will beef up Chinese leaders' argument in fending off pressure from the US for the yuan [the Chinese currency] to appreciate."

Assm. Pedro Nava Builds Support for Oil Industry Fair Share Act

"Compared to other states, California oil companies are getting a free ride.  California is the only major oil producing state that does not charge an oil severance tax on oil extraction," said Assm. Nava.  An oil severance tax is estimated to provide about $1.5 billion which could be used for education and General Fund expenses.