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Friday 05-02-25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
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Wednesday 05-07-25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
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6:30 Eric Peters from www.EpAutos.com with today’s Wheels Up Wednesday car and politics talk.
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2025/05/06/an-affordable-truck/
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2025/05/07/what-trump-could-do-to-increase-gas-mileage/
https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2025/05/05/the-first-amendment-is-anti-semitic/
7:10 John Deaton, former federal prosecutor, former US Marine, and 2024 GOP Massachusetts US Senate nominee John Deaton available to discuss President Trump’s order for his government to turn Alcatraz into a functional prison once again.
- Trump’s Executive Order: President Trump has signed an executive order to reopen Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay to detain “ruthless and violent” offenders, reversing its 1963 closure due to high costs and infrastructure issues.
- Purpose and Scope: The White House states the refurbished and expanded prison will house inmates involved in organized crime, drug trafficking, and violent gangs, with Trump highlighting it as a strong deterrent for criminals entering the U.S.
- Economic and Local Impact: The reopening of Alcatraz is expected to create jobs for the San Francisco Bay area, with plans to modernize the facility while preserving its historical significance as a former federal penitentiary.
8:10 Leah Vukmir
Senior Vice President of State Affairs
National Taxpayers Union
lvukmir@ntu.org
We discuss more on the 340B pharmacy bill in the Oregon State Legislature HB 2385 and why it needs opposed. Here’s Leah’s Testimony to the legislature.
Monday, May 5, 2025
The Honorable Deb Patterson
Chair, Senate Committee on Health Care
900 Court Street, NE
Salem, OR 97301
Dear Chair Patterson and Members of the Senate Committee on Health Care,
On behalf of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), America’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 2385, a contract pharmacy mandate that fundamentally changes how the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program functions in Oregon.
The 340B program was initially designed to provide affordable medications to low-income and uninsured patients. However, since its inception in 1992, the program has become highly controversial, with mounting evidence that certain providers are exploiting its structure to generate revenue rather than assisting vulnerable patients as intended.
What does this mean? The 340B program has expanded significantly over the years with little transparency or accountability, allowing entities that receive discounted drugs from manufacturers to profit from the price difference, rather than passing those savings on to patients.
Instead of serving the most vulnerable, as the program was intended — those living in low-income areas — there has been a proliferation of 340B pharmacies in more affluent neighborhoods. These expansion pharmacies are owned by for-profit Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and chain drug stores. A 2024 Pioneer Institute Report found that almost half of the 340B Oregon pharmacies supposedly serving the poor are in affluent neighborhoods. Additionally, Oregon 340B hospitals provide less charity care (1.78%) than the national average (2.28%)
I urge you to carefully scrutinize the potential financial implications of HB 2385 for Oregon’s state-funded healthcare programs. Data from other states point to serious financial considerations that you should consider before supporting HB 2385. In Utah, a recently released PEHP fiscal analysis of 340B contract pharmacy mandate legislation found that this policy could increase pharmacy costs for the state’s public employee health program. The report conservatively expects a 10% increase in drugs purchased through the 340B program, resulting in a loss of $1,987,674 in rebates – a cost the state will need to cover.
In North Carolina, 340B entities are billing insured patients in state health plans at higher costs than their discounted acquisition costs and copays are based on a list price, not the discounted price. A recent report released by North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell shows the extent to which hospitals in the 340B Program in North Carolina are overcharging cancer patients through the state’s health plan. Patients are being charged at an average rate greater than five times the cost of cancer drugs. These higher rates are being borne on the backs of patients and all taxpayers in North Carolina. This report only considers cancer medications, so the full extent to which patients and taxpayers are burdened is unknown. Currently, the North Carolina State Health Plan faces a $32 billion unfunded healthcare liability.
Last November, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) analyzed data from Minnesota providers participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Their report details how much 340B hospitals are profiting from the program. Providers earned a net revenue of at least $630 million in 2023, which may only represent half of the total. The state’s largest 340B hospitals benefited the most from the program.
Given these serious financial concerns, I encourage you to ask for a more detailed fiscal and revenue analysis than what has been provided to you already. I would extensively question reports indicating that HB 2385 would have no revenue impact and minimal fiscal impact on your state’s budget.
One final — and not minor — reason to reject HB 2385 is the very real constitutional concern this bill raises. The 340B Drug Pricing Program is wholly governed by federal law. Therefore, states are not in a position to create additional requirements for the program. Based on our research, some half-dozen states are currently embroiled in lawsuits over this issue. Also, just this past December, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia enjoined that state’s 340B law once it appeared likely that the plaintiffs would succeed in their claim that the federal law superseded state law.
Rather than expanding the 340B program without oversight, I suggest you focus on transparency and accountability within the program, especially for hospitals and pharmacies
participating in the state’s health plan. The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal program, and lawmakers should not codify state law around a deeply flawed system. NTU has long advocated for meaningful reform at the federal level rather than state-level mandates that will ultimately increase costs for taxpayers.
Given these serious concerns, I strongly urge you to oppose HB 2385 and instead focus on evaluating and addressing the deficiencies of the 340B program. I humbly offer this advice as both a former pediatric nurse practitioner who worked with the very patients for whom the 340B Drug Pricing Program was intended and as a former Wisconsin state senator who understands how contentious and challenging it is to allocate taxpayer dollars wisely.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with further questions or concerns.
Respectfully submitted,
Leah Vukmir
Senior Vice President of State Affairs
National Taxpayers Union
lvukmir@ntu.org
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Tuesday 05-06-25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
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6:30 Paul Oster, is referred to as ‘America’s Credit Repair Man’. the founder and CEO of Credit Repair Firm Better Qualified in Eatontown, NJ.
“America’s Credit Repair Man”
Paul and I talk about the resumption of collections on college student loans. Paul’s take – The COVID deferment designed to give student loan borrowers more time to pay back student loans ends today. The Department of Education restarts the collection of federal student loans in earnest May 5, 2025 ending a pandemic-era pause that began five years ago. The change however comes at a particularly challenging time for borrowers as the overall economy shows signs of sputtering.
“Those who owe money need to know that there is a way to start paying back student loans without wreckin
g their credit rating – which would have long ranging consequences, says Credit Repair and Credit Management expert, founder of Credit Repair Firm Better Qualified, and ‘American’s Credit Repair Man’ Paul Oster (see short bio below). “The key is to get organized, manage your spending, and make sure you send something every month. All of which is not as hard as it sounds.”
Last month, Education Secretary Linda McMahon vowed to end what she called “the Biden-era practice of zero-interest, zero-accountability forbearances,” saying it puts an undue burden on American taxpayers. In anticipation of what’s to come the Education Department has taken steps to communicate with borrowers, extended hours for default call centers, and was emailing them with instructions on how to contact their loan servicer.
7:35 Former State Senator Herman Baertschiger talks the ethics decision against former Sec of State Shemia Fagen. $1500 fine for all that corruption? This and other topics, too.
8:10 Rebekka Shultheiss, Litigation Counsel for the Freedom Foundation. www.FreedomFoundation.com
Freedom Foundation Urges Supreme Court to Reconsider Mandatory Bar Membership in Light of Janus
Amicus Brief in Crowe v. Oregon State Bar Argues for First Amendment Protections Against Compelled Association
Olympia, WA — The Freedom Foundation has filed an amicus curiae brief with the United States Supreme Court in Crowe v. Oregon State Bar (No. 24-1025), urging the Court to grant certiorari and strike down mandatory bar association membership as a violation of the First Amendment.
The case challenges the constitutionality of compelled membership in a state bar that engages in political and ideological activities not germane to the regulation of the legal profession. The Petitioners argue that such compelled association infringes on their rights to free speech and free association. The Ninth Circuit upheld Oregon’s bar system, while requiring the Bar to at least create a disclaimer when it speaks on topics that are not germane to its role in regulating the legal profession. But the Freedom Foundation’s brief contends the court failed to adequately apply key precedents, particularly Janus v. AFSCME.
“Just as the Supreme Court recognized in Janus that public-sector workers cannot be forced to financially support a union with which they disagree, the same principle should apply to attorneys compelled to join state bar associations,” said Timothy R. Snowball, Litigation Counsel for the Freedom Foundation. “When it comes to entities like unions and bar associations, the act of membership sends a message — and that message may be at odds with an individual’s beliefs or conscience.”
Background:
The brief highlights a striking parallel: public school teachers in California, including Jewish educators, are forced into legal representation by unions that promote antisemitic rhetoric and support political causes antithetical to their religious identities. While Janus freed public employees from paying union dues, many states still have mandatory bargaining units for public employees with a specific union as the exclusive representative of that unit. Even when dues are not required, the law mandates their inclusion in bargaining units that speak for them — mirroring the dilemma faced by attorneys in Oregon and other mandatory bar states.
The Freedom Foundation’s brief argues the Court should revisit Keller v. State Bar of California (1990), which courts have relied upon in upholding mandatory bar membership. It proposes that voluntary associations, like those in New York and Virginia, can effectively serve the legal profession without infringing on constitutional rights. The brief also emphasizes that direct government oversight — not compelled private association — is the appropriate method for regulating the legal field.
With legal scholars, bar members, and constitutional advocates closely watching, Crowe presents a pivotal opportunity for the Court to clarify the scope of First Amendment protections in the professional licensing context.
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Monday 05-05-25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Information
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6:40 Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin, co-authors of Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America
POISONING THE WELL: How
ABOUT POISONING THE WELL
This is the shocking true-life story of how PFAS-a set of toxic chemicals most people have never heard of-poisoned the entire country. Based on original, shoe-leather reporting in four highly contaminated towns and damning documents from the polluters’ own files, Poisoning the Well traces an ugly history of corporate greed and devastation of human lives.
We learn that PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’ found in everyday products, from cooking pans to mascara, are coursing through the veins of 97% of Americans. We witness the pain of families who lost sisters and daughters, cousins and neighbors, after PFAS leached into their drinking water. We discover evidence that the makers of forever chemicals may have known for decades about the deadly risks of their products-because their own scientists have been documenting these dangers since the 1960s. And we see the failure of our government, time after time, to provide basic protections to its citizens.
It is impossible to read this searing exposé without being infuriated by the recklessness of corporate America. But readers will also be awed by the spirit of ordinary people who, while fighting for their own lives, took it upon themselves to fix a broken regulatory system. Heart-wrenching and maddening, stirring and uplifting, Poisoning the Well offers a unique window into the worst and best of human nature. It is essential reading for anyone concerned about the unfettered power of industry and the invisible threat it poses to the health of the nation-and to each of us.
ABOUT SHARON UDASIN
Sharon is an award-winning staff reporter for The Hill, covering Western climate and policy from her home base in Boulder, Colorado. She was the recipient of a 2022 SEAL Environmental Journalism Award, and she spent the 2019-2020 academic year as a Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Sharon came to Colorado after nearly a decade in Israel, where she primarily reported on environment, energy, and agriculture for The Jerusalem Post. Her work has also appeared in a variety of other outlets, such as The Forward, Ensia, The Colorado Sun, National Geographic News, The Jewish Chronicle, The NY Jewish Week, Hadassah Magazine and Condé Nast Traveller. Sharon was honored by The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership and the Pratt Foundation in May 2013 for her significant contribution to environmental journalism in Israel. In addition, she taught a course on Professional English for Media Studies to undergraduate students at the College of Management Academic Studies in Rishon Lezion, in both 2015 and 2017.
Prior to her move to the Middle East,haron was a staff writer at The NY Jewish Week. She earned her MSc from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 2008 and a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. Sharon grew up in New Jersey. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, as well as running, playing tennis, hiking, reading, and gardening..
ABOUT RACHEL FRAZIN
Rachel covers energy and environment policy for The Hill: that’s everything from climate change to gasoline prices to toxic chemicals to renewable and fossil energy. She is originally from South Florida, and she studied journalism and political science at (the very cold) Northwestern University. Previously, her work has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Beast, the Tampa Bay Times, and The Palm Beach Post. .
7:10 State representative Dwayne Yunker, who is being investigated for “Creating a Hostile Work Environment”…this from reading the semi-porno books on the House Floor, which have bee put in our schools by the progs and a pretty sordid agenda.
7:35 Shane Jenkins, Executive Director of Stand in the Gap. Shane Jenkins is former January 6th defendant and is ready to tell his remarkable story.
Learn more about Shane Jenkins here:
- Bio: Shane was a defendant in the January 6th events, having been incarcerated for a total of 46 months—24 of which were pre-trial, and 32 in what is referred to as the DC Gulag. His case went to trial, where he was found guilty on all counts by a jury that many would argue did not represent his peers.
- The Day of January 6th: On that day, Shane was directly beside Victoria White when she was assaulted by police. He himself was also assaulted but managed to assist MDP Officer Blake Miller back to safety amidst the chaos.
- From Adversity to Advocacy: Instead of succumbing to the adversities he faced, Shane turned his experience into a platform for change. While incarcerated, he founded two significant organizations:
- The Real J6: An initiative aimed at sharing personal stories and factual narratives from those who were present on January 6th, providing a counter-narrative to mainstream reporting.
- Stand in the Gap: This organization focuses on advocating for judicial reform, highlighting injustices within the current system, and pushing for changes to ensure fair treatment for all.
- Current Mission: Shane is now dedicating his efforts towards reforming and restoring integrity to America’s justice system. His firsthand experience gives him a unique perspective and an unyielding commitment to this cause.
- Meta Exec apologizes after lawsuit is filed saying AI falsely accused Starbuck of being charged with disorderly conduct at Jan 6 rallyRead more:
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5276077-meta-apologizes-robby-starbuck/
Find Stand in the Gap on social media:
GETTR:
8:10 Dr. Dennis Powers with today’s “Where Past Meets Present” – www.DennisPowersBooks.com
Eagle Point
By Dennis Powers
As settlers made their way towards the Willamette Valley over the Applegate Trail, numbers stopped in Southern Oregon and decided to start their new lives here. With the Jacksonville gold rush as a magnet, pioneers settled in the Eagle Point area in the 1850s to sell their produce to the miners. The Englishman James J. Fryer acquired his property on Little Butte Creek in 1852; he established a general store and planted a fruit orchard. Considered to be the “Father of Eagle Point,” Fryer caused the settlement to grow around his operations.
The area became another center for agricultural production and supplied food—along with Sams Valley to one side and the Medford-Talent area further south—to the Valley. In 1872, the Snowy Butte Mill (now named the Butte Creek Mill) was constructed along the banks of Little Butte Creek. It drew farmers from around the region, as wagons lined the dirt road to the mill to have their grain ground into flour.
Constructed of local pine trees, the four-story, 5,500-square-foot structure had two, four-foot diameter, 1,400-pound millstones that ground the grain; quarried just outside of Paris, the huge stones were shipped around Cape Horn and brought by wagon train from Crescent City to the Rogue Valley. Water was diverted from the creek into the mill’s basement where the water’s weight turned a turbine that powered the equipment.
As the fertile land drew farmers and ranchers, eagles soared overhead and nested high up on a bluff that overlooked the town. In 1877, John Mathews named the town Eagle Point, after the butte with its eagles. The advent of the railroad along the Rogue River limited Eagle Point, as the line passed through Gold Hill, Central Point, and Medford, on its way to Ashland. Farmers had to bring their products to these stations for shipment.
Accordingly, the town didn’t have a commercial center until the early 1900s, when the Pacific and Eastern Railroad arrived in the early 1900s. The city then became incorporated in 1911 and the home to three hotels to go along with its livery stable, blacksmith shop, a few saloons, and rowdy dance halls. Dependent on the fortunes of the timber industry, the town ebbed and flowed with this industry, as the railroad spur served the Medford mills.
Although the construction and operation of Camp White during World War II at what’s now White City was an economic shot-in-the-arm, afterwards this stimulus ended when the camp was torn down. The large available blocks of land brought about a rebirth, however, as seen in the 18-hole championship golf course—designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.—that came into being in 1995 with housing developments clustered about. Eagle Point today is a retirees’ destination and a commuter center to jobs in the area, whether it is the local Walmart or in Medford.
The Butte Creek Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places as the last water-powered grist mill operating commercially this side of the Mississippi. After a disastrous fire on Christmas morning in 2015, however, burned the beloved landmark to the ground, the Butte Creek Mill Foundation was formed and became the owner of Butte Creek Mill. The Foundation raised the moneys over seven years to rebuild the Mill in a historically accurate manner and reopen in 2022.
Seen from Highway 62 and two miles north of Eagle Point, the “Old Wood House” is certainly a draw. Owing to the efforts of Skip Geer, this 1870’s homestead has been preserved in exhibiting what life was like then. Due to its old, weathered condition and Mt. McLoughlin’s background, the Wood House is the most photographed and artist-painted rendering in the Pacific Northwest.
Although orchards and forest lands decades ago stretched as far as one could see, life now is easier and more comfortable. Seeing what life used to be, however, brings about a feeling of thanks to our forefathers.
Sources: Dennis Powers, “Where Past Meets Present,” Ashland, Oregon: Hellgate Press, 2017, Pp. 394-395; “City of Eagle Point: History of Eagle Point,” at Eagle Point History; Old Wood House Website at Old Wood House; Butte Creek Mill website at Butte Creek Mill.