Blog

Of Taxes and Real Entitlement

Robin Hood rides to France. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has followed through on his promise to put before parliament a financial transaction tax – calling it a “Robin Hood Tax” – of 0.1% on stock trades to commence in August, according to reports. Absent from the tax: bond sales. Sarkozy also proposed raising the basic consumption tax (VAT) by 1.6 percent, to 21.2 percent, and upping by 2 percentage points the taxes paid on financial profits. His proposed targets of new revenue: an increase in construction of low-income housing and creation of an “industry bank” to make cheaper loans to small and medium companies.

Protest in the USA Blog

The Patient as Profit Center

Why would a company pay an estimated $10 million for access to a patient population? Not the brick and mortar of facility building, nor its machines, computers or other hardware? The answer: the billing opportunity. This is the business model of DaVita, Inc., a Colorado-based for-profit healthcare company that owns and operates more than 1,800 clinics across the U.S.—and some in foreign countries, too.

NNU Blog

Robin Hood actions say 'No to Cuts, Tax Wall Street to Spark Recovery'

Outside the district office of Rep. Charles Rangel, Robin Hood Tax Campaigners from National Nurses United (NNU) and Health GAP found an engaged audience today. These residents of New York’s Harlem are wondering when the recovery will arrive. Their neighborhoods are a mix of shuttered brownstones and half-empty condos, a sign of the realty speculation that somehow, someway never brought decent, affordable housing to Manhattan’s northern-most community.

NNU Blog

NURSE TALK RADIO: Win for Chicago RNs and National Nurses United!

Registered nurses at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center on Chicago’s South Side reached an agreement with hospital officials on their first ever collective bargaining contract that includes significant improvements in patient care protections.

Nurse Talk Radio

NURSE TALK RADIO: Massachusetts Nurses Take “Safe Staffing” to the People!

Massachusetts Nurses Association President, Donna Kelly Williams RN talks about a newly sponsored ballot measure campaign to fight for patient safety and protection.

Nurse Talk Radio

NURSE TALK RADIO: NNU's Michael Lighty talks about the need for a Robin Hood Tax on Wall St.

TUNE IN--It’s time for the Robin Hood Tax! And Michael Lighty, Director of Public Policy for California Nurses Association/National Nurses United gives us all the right reasons why the U.S. should join over 17 European countries who have already implemented the fractional tax. Tune into this sensible discussion. For more information about the Robin Hood Tax visit www.robinhoodtax.org.

Nurse Talk Radio

High-Tech Health Gadgetry: Not All That Glitters Is Gold

We’ve launched a national campaign intended to emphasize the point that all that glitters is not gold. Our campaign describes a number of changes occurring in healthcare delivery at the bedside that RNs believe are putting patients at risk. These include the premature discharge of patients to other settings, including the home, where the burden for care falls entirely on family members.

Deborah Burger, RN

A Tax on Wallstreet Goes Beyond Treating the Symptom

With President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union speech Tuesday night expected to include calls for higher taxes on capital gains and closure of assorted tax breaks for the 1 percent – on the heels of the recent proposal by Representative Chris Van Hollen, the second top ranked Democrat in the House, for revenue enhancements including a version of a tax on Wall Street – it’s clear the campaign for tax justice is making traction in Washington.

Robin Hood Tax

Nurses Week: Celebrating Nurse Power!

Happy Nurses Week! We’re marking this time by celebrating Nurse Power! Throughout the week, we’re highlighting a few moments in our history that show what happens when nurses organize, act collectively and bring about social change.

National Nurses United

Happy 50th Birthday Medicare!

The Medicare and Medicaid bill passed both houses of congress by an overwhelming vote. President Johnson signs it into law on July 30, 1965. Harry Truman was present at the signing and Johnson helped Truman sign-up for Medicare.

Nurse Talk Radio