ThinkFast: June 11, 2009

The American Medical Association (AMA) is letting Congress know that it will oppose creation of a government-sponsored public health insurance plan, a key plank of Obama’s reform package. The Huffington Post notes that the AMA “has fought almost every major effort at health care reform of the past 70 years.” Obama will deliver a speech to the AMA on Monday.

While some small-business groups have been against requiring companies to purchase health insurance for employees, the Small Business Majority has a new report concluding that “proposals now being considered by the Obama administration and Senate leaders could save small companies tens of billions of dollars a year in health care costs — even if there is a mandate for employer coverage.”

“Judge Sonia Sotomayor once described herself as ‘a product of affirmative action’ who was admitted to two Ivy League schools despite scoring lower on standardized tests than many classmates,” according to videos released to the Senate Judiciary Committee. She also defended the value of diversity, saying, “I accept that different experiences in and of itself, bring merit to the system.”

Congressional Democrats and the White House reached an agreement yesterday that will allow Guantanamo Bay detainees to be transferred to the U.S. for trial as long as they are not “jailed here permanently.” If passed, the decision “would effectively ratify the administration’s decision earlier this week to move” Ahmed Ghailani to New York to face capital charges for bombing the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

“The economy delivered two upbeat reports Thursday: New claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected in the most recent week, to 601,000 and May retail sales rose by the largest amount in four months.”

According to RealtyTrac, “U.S. foreclosure activity for May ebbed from April’s record, but mortgages still failed at a staggering pace as President Barack Obama’s rescue programs had not had time to fully take root.” Foreclosure filings “dipped 6 percent in the month but increased 18 percent from May 2008, marking the third highest month on record.”

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — the U.S., France, Britain, Russia and China — along with Japan and South Korea “reached agreement Wednesday on a draft U.N. resolution that condemns North Korea’s recent underground nuclear test and imposes additional military, financial and trade sanctions on the communist state.” The draft could be considered by the full, 15-member Security Council as early as tomorrow.

Gun-control advocates said yesterday’s shooting at the Holocaust Museum “highlights the need for lawmakers to reconsider efforts to ease the District’s tough gun laws and allowing firearms into national parks.” “Congress should think very hard about their responsibilities for public safety before weakening gun laws in our nation’s capital,” said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

“The Obama administration will announce plans today to tighten scrutiny of mountaintop coal mining, in an effort to reduce environmental damage from operations that shear off peaks and fill Appalachian valleys,” the Washington Post reports. The policy changes will not end the practice, but are aimed at curtailing its worst impacts, according to administration officials.

And finally: MTV has announced that the 23rd season of its reality show “The Real World” will be filmed in Washington, DC. The show’s creative and executive producer, Jonathan Murray, said, “Young people have never been more engaged in what’s happening in this country and Washington, DC, is the perfect place for The Real World cast to express their opinions and pursue their passions.” DC Mayor Adrian Fenty agreed, saying it was a “pleasure” to have the show come to the city.

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