No Smokers Wanted

A Massachusetts hospital is causing a stir after it announced a new policy requiring applicants to submit to nicotine tests. If an applicant for employment at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, Mass. tests positive for nicotine, i.e. they smoke, their application for employment is automatically rejected. Is the hospital taking a stand against a public health nuisance or it is reaching too far into the private lives of it applicants?

Hospital spokeswoman Deb Chiaravalloti defended the policy by telling CBS Boston, “We believe as a health care organization we need to make sure we have a healthy environment for our employees and our patients. Smokers are not a protected class.” The spokeswoman also explained that soon smoking on campus will be banned for employees, patients and visitors.

To a certain extent, the hospital is right, smokers are not protected from discrimination under federal or state law. But if the hospital can refuse to hire smokers because it is a “health care organization” wanting to provide a “healthy environment,” they can also refuse to hire those who test positive for alcohol. Taking it another step, they can refuse to hire someone who is overweight. Drinking and obesity, of course, do not portray a “healthy image.” Should smoking, drinking or eating habits disqualifying a person from employment if they are otherwise qualified for the job?

Here is CBS Boston’s new report on the issue.

Federal Government Can Regulate Internet

The Federal Communications Commission has voted, for the first time ever, to give the federal government the authority to regulate the internet. The Wall Street Journal reports:

“A divided Federal Communications Commission approved a proposal by Chairman Julius Genachowski to give the FCC power to prevent broadband providers from selectively blocking web traffic.

The rules will go into effect early next year, but legal challenges or action by Congress could block the FCC’s action. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on Tuesday called the FCC’s action ‘flawed’ and said lawmakers would ‘have an opportunity in the new Congress to push back against new rules and regulations.’”

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Census Brings Little Change to Mississippi

Though the South witnessed a strong migration to the region betwee 2000-2010, Mississippi’s population growth was not enough to warrant additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Magnolia State, therefore, will retain its four (4) Congressional seats. Over the last decade, Mississippi’s population grew from 2,844,65 to 2,967,297; an increase of 4.3 percent.

The region’s big winner, however, was Texas. The population of the Lone Star State grew by 20 percent. The population growth resulted in Texas gaining four additional House seats. Texas’ Electoral College clout now rises to 38. Texas, despite its positive growth, was not the fast growing state in the Union, as that honor went to Nevada. The Silver State saw its population grow by 35 percent.

New York and Ohio suffered population loses and lost two House seats. Marking a migrational shift to the South, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania each lost one House seat. New York now has the same number of House seats as Florida – 27.

For more information on the Census and how it impacts you, click here.

Va. School Muzzles Christmas Spirit

A group of students attending a Mananas, Va. high school were taught a valuable lesson – candy canes are weapons, Christmas sweaters are impermissible, and caroling is a nuisance. The group of boys were wearing over-the-top Christmas sweaters, singing Christmas carols and tossing candy canes to fellow students when school officials stepped in. It was argued that the candy canes were weapons and, by virtue of tossing the candy others, the Christmas quartet had the “intent to injure” others. The boys were disciplined, but many think the school board overreacted. You can read the full story here.

Government Wants to Regulate Your Internet

If all goes according to plan, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will take a major step towards regulating how Americans use the internet. Under the guise of “net neutrality,” i.e., keeping the internet open to all, the FCC is attempting to regulate broadband pricing by invoking the phone monopoly laws of yesterday. Here is Robert McDowell’s, the Republican commissioner on the FCC, writing for the Wall Street Journal:

“Still feeling quixotic pressure to fight an imaginary problem, the FCC leadership this fall pushed a small group of hand-picked industry players toward a “choice” between a bad option (broad regulation already struck down in April by the D.C. federal appeals court) or a worse option (phone monopoly-style regulation). Experiencing more coercion than consensus or compromise, a smaller industry group on Dec. 1 gave qualified support for the bad option.”

FCC Commissioner, Julius Genachowski, is focusing on three areas of reform: dealing with new issues created by wireless carriers, adding protections for a new online pricing model and reducing the number of avenues providing general access to the internet (internet toll lanes).

The proposed reforms have raised eye brows. Under proposed rule changes, “toll lanes” granting access to the internet would be limited and people would be charged based upon their use. The more you use and download from the net, the more you would pay. Because YouTube and Netflix users could be hit with high price tags, the FCC is trying to find a middle ground in which they can regulate the net.

Aside from impacting consumers, opponents of the plan say the new regulation would undercut investment flowing into technologies associate with the internet.

The talks are ongoing and there is no guarantee net neutrality will advance at tomorrow’s meeting.

Everyone here at HLO wishes you a very Merry Christmas & a

wonderful new year!