EPA Report: 22 Million Cataract Cases Will Be Prevented by Stronger Ozone Layer Protection

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marked the beginning of Cataract Awareness Month by announcing a new peer-reviewed report predicting that more than 22 million additional cataract cases will be avoided for Americans born between 1985 and 2100 due to the Montreal Protocol. The environmental treaty, signed by 196 countries, was designed to reduce and eventually eliminate ozone depleting substances. Too much UV radiation not only increases the risk for skin cancer, but also increases the risk for cataracts -- a clouding of the eye’s lens that affects more than 20 million Americans age 40 and older.

“Since the 1970s, we have prevented millions of skin cancer cases and deaths through our work protecting the ozone layer,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “I am excited to kick off Cataract Awareness Month by announcing that the science has now enabled us to estimate our impact on cataracts.”

Due to the success of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is predicted to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2065. In the meantime, under a compromised ozone layer, more ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth’s surface. While treatment for cataracts is widely available in the U.S., the costs are high, with direct medical costs estimated to be $6.8 billion per year

For the first time, EPA is able to include data on cataract risk by gender and skin type in the report. However, all people, regardless of gender and skin type, are at risk for cataracts. This is why it is important for adults and children to use eyewear that absorbs UV rays and to wear a wide-brimmed hat.  

The following changes in vision may be signs of cataracts:

• ·         Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, the sense of a "film" over the eyes
• ·         Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or feeling "dazzled" by strong light
• ·        

Information on the report:

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects/index.html.

More information on eye damage: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/eyedamage.pdf.

More information on the Montreal Protocol:  http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/

AG Cuomo Investigates Life Insurance Industry

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION OF LIFE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR DEFRAUDING MILITARY FAMILIES AND OTHERS OF MILLIONS IN CASH PAYOUTS

Subpoenas Served on Prudential Financial, Inc. and MetLife, Inc.; Entire Industry Under Investigation ~Insurers Appear to Have Reaped Hundreds of Millions in Secret Profits While Misleading Families into Putting Benefits into Insurer Controlled, Low Yield, Potentially Risky Accounts

NEW YORK, NY (July 29, 2010) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced his office has launched a major fraud investigation into the life insurance industry for practices that appear to have denied grieving military families and others of millions in life-insurance cash.

Cuomo served subpoenas on Prudential Financial, Inc. and MetLife, Inc. that provide life insurance policies to members of the military as well as nonmilitary federal employees. Cuomo’s investigation has already begun to closely scrutinize how military families and others were misled into putting benefits into insurer-controlled, low yield, potentially risky accounts which reaped millions of secret profits for the insurers.

“It is shocking and plain wrong for these multi-national life insurance companies to pocket hundreds of millions in profits that really belong to those who have lost family members and have already suffered immensely,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “To make matters worse, the insurance industry appears to be hoarding millions that belong to military families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

Specifically, at this stage of the investigation, it appears that rather than receiving an automatic lump-sum payout from Prudential or MetLife upon the death of the policyholder, grieving families are told that the payout will be placed in an interest-bearing account. These accounts, known as “retained-asset accounts,” are controlled by the insurers and referred to respectively as the “Alliance Account” and the “Total Control Account.”

It appears that the substantial interest earned on these accounts mostly benefit and enrich the insurers at the expense of the families to whom the money really belongs. And, beneficiaries are not adequately informed by the insurers of the details of these accounts including the fact that the insurers are making huge profits at the expense of the grieving family.

Specifically, the insurers place the cash belonging to these families in the insurers’ corporate accounts, reportedly earning the companies upwards of 4.8%. The insurers then pay families as little as 0.5% interest, less than half the rate available at some FDIC insured banks. In short, beneficiaries are unaware that the insurers are reaping enormous, secret profits on these accounts, while the families are losing out on significant potential earnings.

Furthermore, because insurers do not put the cash owed to families in banks insured by the FDIC, but instead in the insurer's corporate account, these assets may not be safe, are not protected by FDIC rules, and may be subject to the insurer’s creditors.

Prudential beneficiaries also receive what appears to be a "checkbook," with "checks" bearing the name of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Prudential beneficiaries are not informed by Prudential that these so-called "checks" may not be able to be used to make purchases and are not bank checks at all. Instead, Prudential must send money to JPMorgan Chase before the checks can clear. Prudential beneficiaries are also not informed that under a 2008 law, they have one year to place the death benefits in a Roth IRA and earn tax-free investment gains for the rest of their lives. Thus, real financial harm is suffered by Prudential's lack of disclosure.

The subpoenas Cuomo has issued are broad-ranging and demand comprehensive data from the companies, including but not limited to the production of information relating to how and when beneficiaries are informed of the terms and conditions relating to the retained-asset accounts, as well as data relating to the difference between interest earned by the insurance companies and interest earned by the beneficiaries.

Cuomo has also begun a comprehensive review of the life insurance industry and its practices to determine the extent to which other companies are engaged in these or any other similar fraudulent practices. It appears at this stage of the investigation that some of these practices may be widespread in the industry.

The investigation, led by Consumer Frauds & Protection Bureau Chief Joy Feigenbaum, is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Laura J. Levine, under the direction of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice Maria Vullo and Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice Michael Berlin.

Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today said he has vetoed four pieces of legislation he said would be costly and inefficient to the taxpayers, and challenged legislators to remain focused on addressing the county’s projected budget shortfall for 2010 and 2011.

“Nearly eight months into the year, we have yet to see from the Legislature any proposals that would cut our costs or streamline operations,” said Levy. “The common theme in these resolutions that I have rejected is that they lead to a more costly, less efficient government -- in a day and age where we need less cost, and more efficiency.”  

Leading up to next Tuesday’s legislative meeting, Levy has issued the following vetoes:

I.R. 1164

Sponsored by Legislator Jack Eddington, this charter law would require manpower and deployment changes by the Police Commissioner to be subject to legislative approval.

In his veto message, Levy noted the measure: “…is based upon unfounded assertions, weakens the county’s standing in collective bargaining, and is unwise public policy that benefits the police bargaining unit to the detriment of the taxpayers we were elected to serve.”

Levy said that in 2009, through his negotiations, county taxpayers received $12 million worth of concessions from the PBA in exchange for an agreement on maintaining certain units and commands through 2015; this resolution, he said, would grant those provisions in perpetuity to the PBA for nothing in exchange.

The county executive also noted that the legislation specifically cites the September 2008 redeployment of the Highway Unit from state-owned roads. “…it is time for legislators to give up the Highway Patrol battle on behalf of the PBA and recognize that in two years we have saved taxpayers money, we have been able to provide the same service on state roads and we have gained the service of 55 police officers in our local precincts,” he wrote.

Levy added that the resolution seeks to curb the flexibility and management efficiencies the department has used to control both crime and taxes. He noted that since taking office in 2004:

• Overall crime has decreased by 17.5% (2009 compared to 2003);
• Part I crime has decreased by 11% (murder/manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft) over that same period;
• A greater percentage of police officers are on Sector Patrol (64%, compared to 50% in 2003);
• Centralized, specialty units on gangs, heroin and quality-of-life crimes have been created and deployed as needed to target areas;
• Overtime costs have decreased over the last three years;
• The annual rate of growth in police department spending has been curtailed to approximately 2% (compared to a previous average of more than 6%).

I.R. 1407

This resolution, sponsored by Presiding Officer Bill Lindsay, purports to achieve cost savings through use of light duty officers in various functions. However, Levy said, the measure would hamper efforts to civilianize 50 positions this year in the police department.

“This is the exact antithesis of smart management through civilianization, and a most ineffective method of deploying sworn staff,” Levy said. “

The measure would require the department, before civilianizing a position, to assign a light duty officer to those functions.

Since light duty officers are frequently re-classified, once that officer is reassigned the post may have to be filled by a full duty officer, since a civilian who would have been on the job will no longer be available.

I.R. 1450 and I.R. 1490

These two resolutions, sponsored by Legislator DuWayne Gregory, require the administration to fully execute all not-for-profit agency contracts within 30 days (IR 1450) and to pay not-for-profit agency invoices within 30 days (IR 1490).

 Levy deemed both measures “solutions in search of a problem.” 

 The measures, he said, ignore the fact that his administration has streamlined the process – in working with not-for-profit agencies – to the point where agencies can receive a signed contract within six to eight weeks of the start of the year – far better than the New York State system which is late more than 82 percent of the time in meeting its self-imposed 150-180 day standard.

 “Most outrageous is the clause in the payment resolution that will penalize Suffolk taxpayers with an interest charge on the county if the Comptrollers office and Treasurer’s office could not meet the 30-day payment requirement,” said Levy. The Legislature’s own Budget Review Office estimated the interest surcharge that taxpayers would bear would be more than $640,000 over five years.

Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus

James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, announced today that four crows and one fish crow collected between July 16^th and July 27^th have tested positive for West Nile virus.  The birds were collected in West Islip (2), Bay Shore, Huntington and Medford.

Residents are encouraged to report sightings of dead birds that may have been infected with the virus to the Department of Health Services Public Health Hotline at 631-787-2200 from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

If a bird is not collected for testing residents should use a shovel or wear gloves and double bag the dead bird and dispose of it in the trash or bury it.  There is no evidence that a bird or its remains can infect humans.

West Vile virus, first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter, is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.  The virus can cause serious illness and in some cases death.

Dr. Tomarken asks that residents continue to be vigilant about removing standing water on their property and thereby reducing breeding areas for mosquitoes.  Try to avoid being bitten when outside, especially in the early morning and at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.  Chemical repellents are effective at reducing bites from mosquitoes.  Manufacturers’ instructions should be followed to ensure proper application.

Dead birds found on area properties may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the area. To report dead birds, call the West Nile virus hotline in Suffolk County at 631-787-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

For medical questions related to West Nile virus, call 631-853-3055.

For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

CHRIS COX COMMENTS ON ARIZONA ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW

SMITHTOWN, NY — Today was to mark the effective date of the legislation enacted into law by the Stateof Arizona to defend its citizens against the refusal of the Obama Administration to enforce Federal  law. Critical provisions have just been stymied in Federal court.  In support of Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Legislature, Chris Cox, Republican Congressional candidate in the First Congressional District, issuedthe following statement:
 
"The Arizona legislature passed common-sense legislation to protect their citizens because the Federal government has completely failed to secure our borders.  Along with Governor Jan Brewer, Senator John McCain, and many of Arizona's leaders, I am deeply disappointed that a Federal judge has blocked key provisions of Arizona's law.  The citizens of Arizona have been subjected to criminal aliens, including violent drug gangs, because our borders are porous.  As a Member of Congress, I will support legislation to strengthen border security and enforce Federal immigration laws," said Chris Cox.
 
"Unlike Tim Bishop who wants to reward illegal immigrants with citizenship under what he calls ‘Earned Legalization,’ I support the rule of law and I oppose amnesty," declared Cox.