Dick Black jumps the shark

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

RICHMOND — A state legislator who once flew to Damascus for a two-hour sit-down with Bashar al-Assad took to the floor of the Virginia Senate this week to say the Syrian president might have been framed with a suspected chemical attack — if the attack happened at all.

“It is not entirely clear that there was an attack,” Sen. Richard H. Black (R-Loudoun) said in a 20-minute speech on the floor of Virginia Senate on Wednesday. “There was a doctor, from the hospital — from the main hospital in Douma — who has said, ‘We haven’t received any casualties. Nobody has been sent in.’ ”

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a global watchdog, has sent inspectors to Syria to try to confirm whether it was a chemical attack that killed dozens in Damascus on Saturday.

Read More

Colbert “Trumps up” Jon Stewart over Zadroga Act

MoonHowler

 

Crooksandliars.com:

Stewart made an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and continued to push Congress to do the right thing, and pass a permanent extension of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Colbert opened his show by having a bit of fun at Donald Trump’s expense and treating his audience to some footage of Trump having a some trouble with a bald eagle in a photo shoot (which we discussed here) and was interrupted by Stewart who explained he was there to draw attention to the cause of the 9-11 first responders and to get Congress to vote yes to extend their health benefits.
Read More

Medicare fraud conviction in the millions

MoonHowler

medicare fraud

Washingtonpost.com:

A federal jury on Thursday convicted a Bowie, Md., couple of orchestrating a multi-year campaign to defraud D.C. Medicaid of more than $80 million between 2009 and 2014, the largest local health-care fraud scheme ever prosecuted in the city.

After a four-week trial in federal district court in the District, the jury deliberated two days before convicting Florence Bikundi, 52, of four counts of health-care and Medicaid fraud and conspiracy, and her husband, Michael D. Bikundi Sr., 63, of two counts of fraud and conspiracy through her company, Global Health Care Services of the District.

Jurors found the couple guilty of eight counts of money laundering and conspiracy through the District-based home health-care firm, and acquitted them of three others.

U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell set sentencing for Feb. 26.

The Bikundis, originally from Cameroon, face up to decades in prison, and potentially deportation, although their attorneys are expected to seek less time.

Virginia had already revoked Ms. Bikundi’s license.  She should have never allowed to be a provider.   As soon as politicians get hold of this story, the Medicare and Medicaid abuse stories will take on a life of their own.  Unfortunately, the losers will be the patients, not these immoral bastards who are bilking the government out of millions of dollars.  Additionally, if someone is getting itchy fingers to deport someone, I would start here, once the prison sentences have been served.

Read More

Christie gets to the heart of it: Pro-life for the whole life

MoonHowler

CBSnews.com:

A video of Chris Christie making an emotional plea for better treatment for drug addicts has gone viral, racking up more than 4 million views on Facebook.

The New Jersey governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate was filmed by the Huffington Post at a recent town hall in Belmont, New Hampshire. He compares drug addiction to his mother’s addition to nicotine from smoking, describing the many lengths she went through to quit.

When she was ultimately diagnosed with cancer, Christie said, “No one came to me and said, ‘Don’t treat her ’cause she got what she deserved.'”

“No one came to me and said, hey listen, ‘You know your mother was dumb. She started smoking when she was 16. Then after we told her it was bad for her, she kept doing it, so we’re not going to give her chemotherapy, we’re not gonna give her radiation, we’re not going to give her any of that stuff — you know why? ‘Cause she’s getting what she deserves.’ No one said that,” he said.

Read More