Clypian Thursday, December 19, 2013 - Volume XL, Issue V South Salem High School -1910 Church St. SE Salem, OR 97302
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President Barack Obama participates in an Affordable Care Act videoconference in the Situation Room of the White House, Aug. 21, 2013.
President Barack Obama recognizes Natoma Canfield, right, during a statement on the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House, May 10, 2013. Photos courtesy of OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO AND PETE SOUZA.
Obamacare Policies Effective in 13 Days LAURA THORSETT / Copy Editor
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he signature piece of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” passed in 2010, went into effect on Oct. 1, 2013. The Affordable Care Act is landmark healthcare legislation that aims to increase health coverage and decrease healthcare costs in the United States, and includes insurance reform and increased coverage for low income people and families. The most controversial reform was the “individual mandate,” a requirement that all citizens get health insurance or face a fine. This insurance can be through an employer (or the employer of one’s spouse, or parent if the child is under the age of 26), a private insurance companies, or, now, through the federal government. Health insurance is, in theory, designed to guarantee that someone can afford health care when they are injured or sick. A person pays a monthly “premium,” and the insurance provider is supposed to pay for all or most medical expenses when the person requires them. However, President Obama alleges that the system is broken and that health care reform is essential to “build a future.” Insurance companies pick and choose what they will pay for, deny coverage to people with “preexisting conditions” and even drop people’s coverage as soon as they were sick, therefore refusing to provide the product that had already been paid for. Since health insurance can be pro-
hibitively expensive, the Affordable Care Act guarantees that low-income citizens can get less expensive plans that meet minimum guidelines from the federal government or their state’s government. Applications for these insurance policies were opened on Oct. 1, and the policies will become effective on New Year’s Day, 2014. Critics ridiculed the health care website, which was not efficiently tested and was extremely glitchy, making it hard, if not impossible, for people to sign up. As of Dec. 1, however, the site was considerably more effective. Those opposed to Obamacare, such as Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), assert that federal and state insurance will be too expensive for taxpayers and that some previously-covered citizens are losing their insurance. “This law is taking people and disrupting their lives. Millions of people are getting cancellation notices. Families are seeing their premiums go up,” Ryan said at a speech in Iowa. However, supporters believe that the Affordable Care Act will actually save money in the long-run. They also say that the policies that people are losing do not, in fact, meet the required minimum guidelines, and those people can get better and less expensive insurance from the government. The first of the subsidized policies will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
Keizer Miracle of Lights CASSIE RAMBEAU / News Editor
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he Keizer Miracle of Lights show, which takes place in the Gubser neighborhood in Keizer, features homes there are covered in Christmas lights and other holiday decorations. “I love Christmas, and it is really fun to see all of the lights and decorations,” said Angela King ‘16. The whole show takes roughly two hours to go through by car, although walking is an option. All cars are required to drive slower than usual in a residential area, the steady pace allows for enough time to see all of the beauti-
fully lit homes. “My favorite part is seeing all of the animal shaped lights,” said Tricia Lin ‘16. The event starts Dec. 6 and is open daily until Dec. 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. While the event is free, donations of canned and nonperishable foods are encouraged. All donated food and money will go to the Marion-Polk Food Share. Last year the event gathered 22,533 pounds of food. This year, organizers hope to exceed that amount. Remember that this event is in a residential neighborhood, organizers are asking the community to show respect towards residents and their property.
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105 million
4.1 billion
Obamacare allows children up to the age of 26 stay on their parents’ health insurance plan.
More than 105 million Americans no longer have lifetime dollar limits on their coverage.
Health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered nearly $4.1 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year 2011.
Vice Principal Jim Safeels to Leave South
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JULIE McGOWAN / Reporter
ice Principal Jim Saffeels is slated to retire from South’s administrative team on Dec. 31. He will take the position of Principal at the Salem Academy High School immediately. Salem Academy is a small, private, Christian school near Lancaster Mall and has about 600 students between grades 7 and 12. Saffeels was asked to apply to the position when it opened last summer. “It was not my plan at the beginning of this fall to do something like this,” Photo by HAYLEY EMORY. Saffeels said. “Really to make it work, I’d have to retire. Counting the cost on that and talking it over with my wife and family, it just seemed like this could work.” According to Saffeels, one of the reasons why he is excited to work at Salem Academy is that it offers a smaller, more focused atmosphere for students that gives him the opportunity to get to know students better. He is familiar with the learning environment because all three of his sons have graduated from the school,
and his wife has taught there for 15 years. “Unlike a public school, students are going to a private school for a whole host of different things… In a big school, it’s easy to get lost. In a small school, you can be involved in everything,” Saffeels said. When asked what his favorite part about working at South has been, Saffeels confidently said, “The students.” Saffeels went on to explain how especially rewarding it has been to watch students who have had a hard time getting through the obstacles high school can present walk at graduation, well-earned diplomas in hand. “That’s even better than Christmas,” Saffeels said. Ultimately, Saffeels has been very happy working with the students and staff here at South; he is in awe of the wonderful teachers that work here, and has learned a lot from them. “South is a great place to be–I am so thankful and grateful for the past three and a half years.” According to Saffeels, the Salem-Keizer district is looking for a new Vice Principal to replace him and interviews will be held in early January after winter break.