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Uber Issues an Empty Threat to Cease Operations in California

"On Monday, the New York Times ran a quixotic op-ed from Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.... [He] casts the blame for gig workers' sorry lot on our 'outdated' employment system that forces workers to choose between benefits and freedom. Economists and drivers counter that giving Uber drivers the benefits of full-time employees, like health insurance and paid-time off, is vastly preferable to 'flexibility.' "

Improving Retirement Security for America's Workers

Feb. 6, 2019, hearing. Includes written testimony of witnesses: [1] Diane Oakley, National Institute on Retirement Security; [2] Nancy J. Altman, Social Security Works; [3] Cynthia McDaniel, Missouri-Kansas City Committee to Protect Pensions; [4] Roger W. Crandall, MassMutual; [5] Luke Huffstutter, Annastasia Salon; [6] Robin Diamonte, United Technologies Corporation; and [7] Andrew G. Biggs, American Enterprise Institute.

Retirement Crisis Grows as Cities Raid Pension and Health Plans

"For years if not decades, top fiscal managers in a mix of cities, counties and states didn't put away what's now hundreds of billions of dollars for civil service workers. Now, the same class of public sector executives are taking steps to cut these retirement packages. The question is not whether the cuts are coming, but how will they unfold."

This Week's Other Huge (But Little-Noticed) Fight: Wall Street's Newest Scheme

"When ... people seek expert guidance in rolling over their 401(k) accounts into other investment vehicles, many are unaware that financial professionals they consult are often acting as salesmen, operating under 'suitability' legal standards which too often allow these advisors to offer biased and self-interested advice. A clear 'fiduciary' standard would require these professionals to provide optimal guidance from the client's perspective. That's what the debate over measures such as [the Retail Investor Protection Act (H.R. 2374)] is really about."

The 'Cadillac' Health Plan Is a Myth

"Before concluding that such luxurious plans are the sole preserve of supposedly greedy city workers, keep in mind that by the estimate of one health economist, as many as 75 percent of employer health plans could fall under the 'Cadillac' umbrella over the next decade. Reasonably good insurance -- you know, the kind that covers all of your medical needs, without making you pay an arm and leg out-of-pocket every time you need to use it -- has stealthily become the new Cadillac. However much the reputation of General Motors may have fallen in recent years, this seems like a bit of a stretch."

Abolish the 401(k)!

"In these defined contribution plans, savings by individual workers received favorable tax treatment. But the risks, including risks from poor investments and the chance that you will retire during a stock market downturn, fall entirely on the individual. Even worse, many working-class and middle-class Americans with 401Ks are stealthily fleeced by money managers, who charge high and often difficult-to-find fees for allocating retirement money among stocks, bonds and other assets."

Michael Moore's Scathing, Important Look at the U.S. Health Care System

Excerpt: [T]here is no mistaking the passion and political intelligence at work in 'Sicko.' It's both a more finely calibrated film and one with more far-reaching consequences than any he's made before. Moore is trying to rouse Americans to action on an issue most of us agree about, at least superficially.

Navigators to Play Important Role as Marketplace Launch Nears

"Consumers can call on 'navigators,' trained people who will provide face-to-face assistance. Or, it is hoped, the navigators will call on them. These helpers will hang out at church picnics and beauty salons, and even go door to door. Ideally, they will be people well-known in the neighborhood, working through established groups. After the navigators undergo training and pass a test, their job will be to point out differences in plans so enrollees can decide which would best suit their needs and income."