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Saturday, October 31, 2009
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM POLITICO MAFIOSO!
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Obamacare: Startling New Revelations Scare Public
Obamacare: Startling New Revelations Scare Public
By Floyd and Mary Beth Brown
First, we learned that a $500 billion cut in Medicare will dramatically affect the quality and quantity of healthcare available to America's senior citizens. Grandma's access is being slashed to add illegal immigrants and twenty-somethings into the insurance system. However, this revelation pales in relation to what we heard this week. Here's the latest shock: Average current health insurance premiums with likely triple under Obamacare. The new data comes from a well regarded, state-by-state study conducted for WellPoint, Inc. The most dramatic premium boosts will hit young people.
These are the actual individuals that often opt out of insurance plans now.
Reaction from the Obama White House was swift and harsh. Linda Douglass, Obama's healthcare spokesperson, had the audacity to compare the health insurance firm with tobacco companies. Since the White House refuses to argue the facts, they instead turned to using one of their favorite tactics, which is demonizing any voices of dissent. The reason for the dramatic insurance premium increases is the result of Obamacare regulations.
Read More and Comment:
Public Option Titanic Strikes Iceberg, Fleeing Senators Take to the Lifeboats By Robert Romano
10/30/2009 The unsinkable ship of ObamaCare—expected into port as long ago as last July—has hit an iceberg. And it now appears that there are few, if any, airtight compartments left to help it stay afloat as it flounders gracelessly on the cresting waves of public opinion.
Just a day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that the Senate version of ObamaCare would contain the costly so-called “public option,” the embattled Democrat suffered several key defections against the plan.
The first Senator to head for the lifeboats was Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), who promised to join Republicans in filibustering the “public option.” He said he would vote against the bill “even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line.”
Lieberman has hit the nail on the head. There is no taxpayer “opt-out.” So, even if states ultimately determine that they are opting out of the “public option,” taxpayers in that state would still be forced to pay for government-run health care for everyone else. And by ALG’s own estimates, that could cost some $2.1 trillion over ten years once fully implemented.
The “public option” has been drawing key opposition for more than a week now. Last week, it was Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) who warned Reid against including the “public option.” She said it would likely suffer the same fate as Medicare and Medicaid, the other two unsustainable health care entitlements the federal government has already enacted.
She said, “Why don’t we fix the two public options we have now instead of creating a third one… I think if you asked, do you want a public option but it would force the government to go bankrupt, people would say no.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
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Congressman Franks: 'New' Democrat Health Care Plan Just More of the Same Failed Ideas
Franks: 'New' Democrat Health Care Plan More of the Same Failed Ideas
October 30, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks today released the following statement on the heels of Democrats' official unveiling of their health care proposal:
"Yesterday morning, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats officially unveiled their 'new' health care proposal on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. However, despite their attempts to brand H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962 as a new take on the health care debate, in reality, the bills are the same terrible ideas that Democrats have been stubbornly pushing for the last nine months, and prove once again that liberal, Nancy-Pelosi-Democrats have not heard the outrage of the majority of Americans who clearly oppose a government takeover of our health care system.
"These bills are incomprehensibly large expansions of the size and scope of the federal government. The two bills contain an incredible 2,000 pages filled with new bureaucracies and red tape with which average Americans seeking simple, affordable health insurance will now have to struggle. And Democrats' insistence on including a so-called 'public option' in their proposal, despite months of vocal protests from hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country causes me to wonder who, exactly, these 'Representatives' are representing. I'd suggest that they certainly do not reflect the interests of the majority of Americans, who have consistently indicated that they do not want to see passage of any sort of 'public option,' which will undoubtedly pave the way for a complete government takeover of our health care system.
"And in a shocking display of fiscal irresponsibility, H.R. 3961 accounts for an incredible $200 billion in un-funded proposals, and Democrats have made it clear they have absolutely no idea how they will pay for any of them. In other words, in the midst of an economic recession and a health care crisis, Democrats are seeking to 'improve' the situation by spending hundreds of billions of dollars that they don't actually have, violating every empty spending promise, including PAYGO, they have made to the American people over the last view years. It also flies in the face of President Obama's campaign promise to never support a bill that is not completely paid for. This is on top of the nearly $900 billion cost H.R. 3962 is currently expected to incur— and we all know the historical inaccuracy of the federal government when estimating the cost of new bureaucratic programs.
"Unsurprisingly, in a vain attempt to cover the costs of so many new and expanded federal programs, the Democrats' bill would impose numerous new taxes, including a 5.4% tax that would primarily be shouldered by small businesses, a penalty tax on those who do not acquire health insurance coverage, taxes on a wide variety of health plans (including HSAs and HRAs), and a 2.5% tax on medical devices, to name a few.
"Furthermore, by not specifically and thoroughly preventing the federal funds involved in the bill from being funneled toward paying for abortions, the proposal would amount to the largest expansion of abortion-on-demand since Roe v. Wade.
"America's health care system does need to be reformed. But requiring the federal government to seize all control of our health care system, removing the decision-making process from the hands of patients and doctors and placing it into the hands of government bureaucrats, is not the kind of reform the American people are looking for.
While the two newly-introduced health care bills (H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962) are currently projected to cost about $1 trillion to fund, that remarkable figure will nonetheless likely prove much lower than the actual cost, given historic precedent. For example, when Medicare passed in 1965, the Congressional Budget Office predicted it would cost $12 billion per year by 1990; in reality, the cost of Medicare in 1990 was over nine times greater than projected -- about $110 billion. Likewise, the Medicare expansion of 1987 was projected to $1 billion annually, by 1992; the actual cost was $17 billion.
Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
October 30, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks today released the following statement on the heels of Democrats' official unveiling of their health care proposal:
"Yesterday morning, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats officially unveiled their 'new' health care proposal on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. However, despite their attempts to brand H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962 as a new take on the health care debate, in reality, the bills are the same terrible ideas that Democrats have been stubbornly pushing for the last nine months, and prove once again that liberal, Nancy-Pelosi-Democrats have not heard the outrage of the majority of Americans who clearly oppose a government takeover of our health care system.
"These bills are incomprehensibly large expansions of the size and scope of the federal government. The two bills contain an incredible 2,000 pages filled with new bureaucracies and red tape with which average Americans seeking simple, affordable health insurance will now have to struggle. And Democrats' insistence on including a so-called 'public option' in their proposal, despite months of vocal protests from hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country causes me to wonder who, exactly, these 'Representatives' are representing. I'd suggest that they certainly do not reflect the interests of the majority of Americans, who have consistently indicated that they do not want to see passage of any sort of 'public option,' which will undoubtedly pave the way for a complete government takeover of our health care system.
"And in a shocking display of fiscal irresponsibility, H.R. 3961 accounts for an incredible $200 billion in un-funded proposals, and Democrats have made it clear they have absolutely no idea how they will pay for any of them. In other words, in the midst of an economic recession and a health care crisis, Democrats are seeking to 'improve' the situation by spending hundreds of billions of dollars that they don't actually have, violating every empty spending promise, including PAYGO, they have made to the American people over the last view years. It also flies in the face of President Obama's campaign promise to never support a bill that is not completely paid for. This is on top of the nearly $900 billion cost H.R. 3962 is currently expected to incur— and we all know the historical inaccuracy of the federal government when estimating the cost of new bureaucratic programs.
"Unsurprisingly, in a vain attempt to cover the costs of so many new and expanded federal programs, the Democrats' bill would impose numerous new taxes, including a 5.4% tax that would primarily be shouldered by small businesses, a penalty tax on those who do not acquire health insurance coverage, taxes on a wide variety of health plans (including HSAs and HRAs), and a 2.5% tax on medical devices, to name a few.
"Furthermore, by not specifically and thoroughly preventing the federal funds involved in the bill from being funneled toward paying for abortions, the proposal would amount to the largest expansion of abortion-on-demand since Roe v. Wade.
"America's health care system does need to be reformed. But requiring the federal government to seize all control of our health care system, removing the decision-making process from the hands of patients and doctors and placing it into the hands of government bureaucrats, is not the kind of reform the American people are looking for.
"The American people must continue to speak clearly about their opposition to this thinly veiled attempt to enact policies that could actually bring about the collapse of our health care system, which, with all its flaws, is still among the best in the world. And Congress must finally respond with policies that will accomplish the injection of more competition into the health care market, while adhering to the free market principles that are have been the engine of our unparalleled economic system."
While the two newly-introduced health care bills (H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962) are currently projected to cost about $1 trillion to fund, that remarkable figure will nonetheless likely prove much lower than the actual cost, given historic precedent. For example, when Medicare passed in 1965, the Congressional Budget Office predicted it would cost $12 billion per year by 1990; in reality, the cost of Medicare in 1990 was over nine times greater than projected -- about $110 billion. Likewise, the Medicare expansion of 1987 was projected to $1 billion annually, by 1992; the actual cost was $17 billion.
Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Governor Jan Brewer Announces New Deputy General Counsel, Deputy State Land Commissioner
Vanessa Hickman appointed Deputy State Land Commissioner
Christy Myers Smith to join Brewer’s legal team
PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer today announced that Christy Myers Smith, a commercial real estate attorney, will serve as her new Deputy General Counsel. Vanessa Hickman who has served in the Brewer administration since May has received a promotion to join the State Land Department as Deputy State Land Commissioner under State Land Commissioner Maria Baier.
“I am delighted that Ms. Smith has agreed to join my excellent legal team,” said Governor Brewer. “Her experience in working with local and international clients in the area of governmental affairs, as well as the State Legislature, will serve my office well. It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with Ms. Hickman over the past several months. Her focus on real estate development, land use planning and zoning will be a tremendous asset to the State Land Department and to my administration.”
The focus of Ms. Smith’s legal career has been commercial real estate development and finance, handling land use and zoning matters for clients in Arizona and across the country. Most recently, she served as Assistant General Counsel for SunCor Development Company where she was responsible for legal and corporate governance for the company whose divisions include commercial development and construction, urban mixed use, master planned communities, community homebuilding, golf courses, mortgage finance and property management. Prior to joining SunCor, Ms. Smith was an attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy and Squire Sanders & Dempsey where her focus was also on commercial real estate.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University, graduating Cum Laude. She received her Juris Doctor Degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, graduating Cum Laude.
Ms. Hickman was appointed to fill the vacancy of Deputy State Land Commissioner created by the resignation of Jamie Hogue. “Throughout the course of her tenure at the Land Department, Jamie established a reputation for being a sound thinker and a true problem solver who significantly helped modernize and make the agency more efficient,” said Commissioner Baier.
“We are all grateful for her service. The Land Department is delighted to welcome Vanessa, who is an extremely experienced and gifted real estate lawyer. We know that Vanessa will help significantly in our pursuit to create and enhance the value of our state trust land and therefore provide additional funding to our public schools and
other beneficiaries.”
Vanessa Hickman has an extensive and broad legal background. She has practiced law with several firms, including Withey Morris, PLC where she focused on the areas of infrastructure and real estate development, land use planning, zoning, entitlement and development agreements. She also practiced law with the firms Wilenchik & Barness, P.C. and Wilcox & Wilcox, P.C. focusing on real estate litigation, family law, employment law and general civil litigation.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Arizona State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree from the Arizona State University College of Law. Ms. Hickman has been a member of the State Bar of Arizona since 2004.
HOMERGOPRANO FOOTBALL PROGNOSTICATOR NFL WEEK #8
LAST WEEK: 7 - 6
OVERALL 72 - 30
WEEK #7 WAS THE WORST WEEK I HAVE HAD THIS SEASON SO FAR. BUT I PICKED THE MOST CRUCIAL GAME, CARDS vs GIANTS CORRECT (THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS). ARIZONA CARDINALS CONTINUE TO ROLL THIS WEEK vs CAROLINA!
Sun Nov 1, 2009
DEN @ BAL BRONCOS 30 - RAVENS 27
NYG @ PHI EAGLES 35 - GIANTS 31
HOU @ BUF TEXANS 35 - BILLS 21
CLE @ CHI BEARS 24 - BROWNS 21
SEA @ DAL COWPIES 35 - SEAGULLS 14 IN THE FUTILITY BOWL 2009!
MIA @ NYJ JETS 35 - DOLPHNS 31
SF @ IND COLTS 45 - 49ERS 30
STL @ DET LIONS 24 - RAMS 10
OAK @ SD CHARGERS 40 - RAIDERS 14
JAC @ TEN JAGUARS 24 - TITANS 21
MIN @ GB VIKINGS 35 - PACKERS 31
CAR @ ARI CARDINALS 40 - PANTHERS 21
Mon, Nov 02 2009
ATL @ NO SAINTS 45 - FALCONS 24
Byes: Bengals, Chiefs, Patriots, Steelers, Buccaneers, Redskins
Friday, October 30, 2009
Match Michael Steele
THIS IS THE BEST POLITICAL COMMERCIAL OF 2009!
Created by BRAD MARSTON - Candidate for MA State House!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS HILARIOUS VIDEO!
Created by BRAD MARSTON - Candidate for MA State House!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS HILARIOUS VIDEO!
TS Health Care Review Board "Twitter Storm" #ocb50
The TS Health Care Review Board is awaiting Pelosi to roll out Senate Health Care Bill this morning. Volunteers will be reviewing the Bill and bloggers will be writing about their findings. They will then be submitting their blogs to Twitter Group to tweet their articles.
We need all tweeters on deck on this one. I will be updating tweet texts on this thread as the bloggers submit their articles. Also, check Twitter hashtag #obc50 for texts to tweet, instructions and updates.
Thank you all who have volunteered to help with this project. We all have a job to do. Let's make a difference. Let them hear you roar on Twitter this morning. Go Team Sarah!
JOINE THE LIST HERE http://twitter.com/freedomist/obc50
Follow me HERE for updates http://twitter.com/sheridanfolger
UPDATE: BILL IN. BE ON ALERT TO START TWEETING FINDINGS
http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
PLEASE RETWEET
BREAKING: Comprehensive List of Taxes In House Democrat Health Bill http://tr.im/Du3H #tcot #hcr09 #hcr #obc50 #ocra #obamacare
TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE 17 HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. Page #: 296 Line #: 16 SEC. 501 #tcot #obc50 #hcr #obamacare #taxes
Did you know that the word "penalty" is mentioned 113 times in the newest #Healthcare bill? #obc50 #tcot #iamthemob #hcr #obamacare
HCR Bill Pg 196 EMPLOYMENT TAXES ON EMPLOYERS 8 NOT PROVIDING ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE #tcot #obc50 #hcr #taxes #obamacare
Gov't to legislate Pain Research, page 1493 line 14 http://bit.ly/gy2Bs #obc50 #healthcare #tcot #obamacare #hcr
Did you know that the word Tax is mentioned 214 times in newest #Healthcare bill? #obc50 #hcr #ocra #taxes #obamacare
HOLY COW !! Look at All New Taxes in Today's House Version of Obamacare http://tr.im/Du3H #tcot #obc50 #obc #hcr #gop #sgp
$100 A Day FINE Under Mandated Excise Tax (Page 310) on Employers whose workers fail to satisfy HCR requirements. #obc50 #tcot #obamacare
RT @MicheleBachmann 10 Facts Critical About the Dems 1,990-Page Health Care Bill http://bit.ly/1R41UN #obc50 #iamthemob #tcot
*Government Panel for Senior Care Decisions (Pages 649-661) Comp for providers with less senior care costs #tcot #obc50 #obama #care #hcr
HCR Bill: Individual Mandate Surtax (Page 296): For individuals who fail to obtain qualifying coverage.#tcot #obc50 #obamacare #hcr #taxes
HCR Bill: Abortion Funding Is Permitted Under Pelosis's Bill. Abortion Coverage (Page 110) #tcot #obc50 #obc #hcr #obamacare #prolife
HCR Bill: Health Czar (Page 133): More bureaucracy, Gives power to this individual over Health Insurance Plans. #tcot #obc50 #obamacare
HCR Bill. Obligated Service Requirement (Page 1220) Mandated service to work off student loans and scholarships. #tcot #obc50 #obamacare
Pg 94 - Section 202(c) prohibits the sale of private individual health ins. policies, beginning in 2013 http://tr.im/Dtpa #obc50 #tcot #hcr
Federal Funding In HCR Bill. Pg Page 110 - Section 222(e) http://tr.im/Dtpa #tcot #obc50 #obamacare #hcr #iamthemob #912
Pg 111 Se 223 establishes a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to dictate the health plans that all individuals must purchase. #obc50 #tcot
Pg 336 Sec 551 iadditional job-killing taxes, in the form of a half-trillion dollar “surcharge,” Small biz hit hardest. #obc50 #tcot #912
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 1 http://ow.ly/xvfB #obc50 #taxes #tcot #obamacare #tcot #sgp #tlot #hcr
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 2 http://ow.ly/xviY #obc50 #regulation #tcot #obamcare #sgp #tlot #review
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 3 http://ow.ly/xvnx #obc50 #review #afn50 #top50 #tcot #gop #tlot #hcr
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 4 http://ow.ly/xvrH #obc50 #review #afn50 #top50 #tcot #gop #obamacare #sgp
#Healthcare Reform includes govt' regulation of vending machines. What's that all about? http://tinyurl.com/y9ja7nv #obc50 #tcot
Healthcare Reform to "standardize recipes" http://tinyurl.com/y9ja7nv #obc50 #tcot #ocra #obamacare #iamthemob
#Healthcare Reform permits funding for #abortion on pg. 100 http://tinyurl.com/ykyuncd #obc50 #life #sba #obamacare #ocra
#Healthcare Reform permits funding for #abortion on pg. 110 http://ow.ly/xHFa #tcot #obc50 #life #sgp #spwbt #ocra
#Healthcare bill includes Obligated Service Requirement (Pg 1220) to satisfy repayment 4 scholarship/ loans http://ow.ly/xHLI #obc50 #tcot
http://twitter.com/sheridanfolger
We need all tweeters on deck on this one. I will be updating tweet texts on this thread as the bloggers submit their articles. Also, check Twitter hashtag #obc50 for texts to tweet, instructions and updates.
Thank you all who have volunteered to help with this project. We all have a job to do. Let's make a difference. Let them hear you roar on Twitter this morning. Go Team Sarah!
JOINE THE LIST HERE http://twitter.com/freedom
Follow me HERE for updates http://twitter.com/sherida
UPDATE: BILL IN. BE ON ALERT TO START TWEETING FINDINGS
http://docs.house.gov/rule
PLEASE RETWEET
BREAKING: Comprehensive List of Taxes In House Democrat Health Bill http://tr.im/Du3H #tcot #hcr09 #hcr #obc50 #ocra #obamacare
TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE 17 HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. Page #: 296 Line #: 16 SEC. 501 #tcot #obc50 #hcr #obamacare #taxes
Did you know that the word "penalty" is mentioned 113 times in the newest #Healthcare bill? #obc50 #tcot #iamthemob #hcr #obamacare
HCR Bill Pg 196 EMPLOYMENT TAXES ON EMPLOYERS 8 NOT PROVIDING ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE #tcot #obc50 #hcr #taxes #obamacare
Gov't to legislate Pain Research, page 1493 line 14 http://bit.ly/gy2Bs #obc50 #healthcare #tcot #obamacare #hcr
Did you know that the word Tax is mentioned 214 times in newest #Healthcare bill? #obc50 #hcr #ocra #taxes #obamacare
HOLY COW !! Look at All New Taxes in Today's House Version of Obamacare http://tr.im/Du3H #tcot #obc50 #obc #hcr #gop #sgp
$100 A Day FINE Under Mandated Excise Tax (Page 310) on Employers whose workers fail to satisfy HCR requirements. #obc50 #tcot #obamacare
RT @MicheleBachmann 10 Facts Critical About the Dems 1,990-Page Health Care Bill http://bit.ly/1R41UN #obc50 #iamthemob #tcot
*Government Panel for Senior Care Decisions (Pages 649-661) Comp for providers with less senior care costs #tcot #obc50 #obama #care #hcr
HCR Bill: Individual Mandate Surtax (Page 296): For individuals who fail to obtain qualifying coverage.#tcot #obc50 #obamacare #hcr #taxes
HCR Bill: Abortion Funding Is Permitted Under Pelosis's Bill. Abortion Coverage (Page 110) #tcot #obc50 #obc #hcr #obamacare #prolife
HCR Bill: Health Czar (Page 133): More bureaucracy, Gives power to this individual over Health Insurance Plans. #tcot #obc50 #obamacare
HCR Bill. Obligated Service Requirement (Page 1220) Mandated service to work off student loans and scholarships. #tcot #obc50 #obamacare
Pg 94 - Section 202(c) prohibits the sale of private individual health ins. policies, beginning in 2013 http://tr.im/Dtpa #obc50 #tcot #hcr
Federal Funding In HCR Bill. Pg Page 110 - Section 222(e) http://tr.im/Dtpa #tcot #obc50 #obamacare #hcr #iamthemob #912
Pg 111 Se 223 establishes a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to dictate the health plans that all individuals must purchase. #obc50 #tcot
Pg 336 Sec 551 iadditional job-killing taxes, in the form of a half-trillion dollar “surcharge,” Small biz hit hardest. #obc50 #tcot #912
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 1 http://ow.ly/xvfB #obc50 #taxes #tcot #obamacare #tcot #sgp #tlot #hcr
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 2 http://ow.ly/xviY #obc50 #regulation #tcot #obamcare #sgp #tlot #review
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 3 http://ow.ly/xvnx #obc50 #review #afn50 #top50 #tcot #gop #tlot #hcr
Team Sarah: Health Care Bill Review Board - Post 4 http://ow.ly/xvrH #obc50 #review #afn50 #top50 #tcot #gop #obamacare #sgp
#Healthcare Reform includes govt' regulation of vending machines. What's that all about? http://tinyurl.com/y9ja7nv #obc50 #tcot
Healthcare Reform to "standardize recipes" http://tinyurl.com/y9ja7nv #obc50 #tcot #ocra #obamacare #iamthemob
#Healthcare Reform permits funding for #abortion on pg. 100 http://tinyurl.com/ykyuncd #obc50 #life #sba #obamacare #ocra
#Healthcare Reform permits funding for #abortion on pg. 110 http://ow.ly/xHFa #tcot #obc50 #life #sgp #spwbt #ocra
#Healthcare bill includes Obligated Service Requirement (Pg 1220) to satisfy repayment 4 scholarship/ loans http://ow.ly/xHLI #obc50 #tcot
http://twitter.com/sherida
Reid's Bait-And-Switch Tactics By DICK MORRIS
Published on TheHill.com on October 27, 2009Printer-Friendly Version
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had two problems. How would he get the healthcare bill out of the Senate Finance Committee without revealing the glaring potential fissures in his party over the public option on healthcare? And how could he lend a veneer of bipartisanship to a one-party bill?
He couldn't allow a vote on final passage out of the committee with a public option in the bill because he knew that he would lose Democrats and would have no GOP support. But real compromise was always out of the question.
He wanted his public option. So he evolved a strategy where the only bill that would be voted on in committee would be one that did not have a public option, all the while planning for the final product to have one.
So he used the bait of a bill with no public option to hook moderate Democrats like Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and the gullible Republican Olympia Snowe (Maine).
When the bill emerged from Finance, by a lopsided 15-9 vote, it restored to healthcare reform the momentum that had stalled due to the public outrage so evident during the August recess.Then the dexterous Reid capitalized on that momentum to put the public
option back into the bill, reversing the commitment to compromise that allowed the bill to clear the committee in the first place.
This tactic of bait-and-switch offers a foretaste of what Reid will attempt on the Senate floor. He obviously hopes to replicate these tactics in getting the bill through the Senate.
As he did in the Finance Committee, Reid has opened his gambit on the Senate floor by embracing a public option.
He does this for two reasons:
First, he wants to send a signal to the House and Senate militants that his heart is in the right place and that the final bill will probably have a public option.
Second, he needs to have room to compromise so the final Senate version attracts the moderates he needs. First he veers left in order to then swing right.
His next move is predictable. As he awaits House action, he stands firm in backing the public option. And as he nears the point of a Senate floor vote, he will pretend to modify that option in order to attract moderates and perhaps a few stray Republicans. As he and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) did in committee, he will truncate or even abandon the public option to win unanimous Democratic support (and perhaps one or two Republicans).
Then, in conference with the House, he will pull the old bait-and-switch tactic again, jettisoning the Senate bill and embracing a full-throated public option in the final version that will return to the Senate.
At that point, he hopes to use the momentum of House passage and the imprimatur of the conference committee to try to persuade senators, and the public, that it is this bill or no bill and that only a proposal with a robust public option can pass.
The point of this strategy is never to ask moderates to vote for a public option until the final vote after the conference committee. Let them build a record of having opposed the public option to sell back home. Let Reid show that he tried to compromise.
And only put the final test to the moderate senators at the very last minute, when all the momentum is on the side of final passage.If he succeeds, Reid gets a bill with his public option.
But even if he fails and has to delete the public option at the last minute to get Senate support, he will still have gotten the healthcare bill through.
By making such a fuss over the public option, with the connivance of the liberals, he keeps the spotlight away from the Medicare cuts, the end of Medicare Advantage, the inevitable rationing of healthcare, the taxes on the uninsured and the sick and the cuts in medical reimbursement. A bill with all these provisions -- even without a public option -- is pernicious enough!
And these tactics can still produce a bill with a public option.
Will this tactic work? It all depends on the political environment outside Washington. If the bill is only marginally unpopular (the current 40-55), it will probably pass.
But if public opinion moves another five or so points (to, say, 35-60 against), then the moderates will probably refuse to cave in.
Get Sarah Palin's New Book, Free Offer!
Your Healthcare is in Jeopardy - Protect Yourself!
Steve Forbes' Plan to Defeat Obama's Reckless Spending
Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!
Town Halls with Senator John McCain Friday, October 30, 2009 at 2:00pm & Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:00am
In response to the strong attendance and high level of interest at the many town halls, held by Senator McCain in recent weeks, he will be holding two additional town halls on Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st.He will take questions from fellow Arizonans and will provide updates on the current health care debate, Afghanistan, our economy, government spending and many other topics.
If you have a question for Senator McCain or just want to come and hear the conversation please join us.
Town Halls with Senator John McCain
Friday, October 30, 2009 at 2:00pm
Central Christian Church
933 N. Lindsay Road
Mesa, Arizona
Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:00am
Skyway Church
14900 W. Van Buren
Goodyear, Arizona
_______________________________________________________________
We also wanted to share with you some exciting news. Thanks to the help of supporters all across Arizona, John McCain ended the third quarter of 2009 with $5 million dollars cash on hand for his re-election efforts.
We also wanted to share with you some exciting news. Thanks to the help of supporters all across Arizona, John McCain ended the third quarter of 2009 with $5 million dollars cash on hand for his re-election efforts.
Here are some highlights from a recent article in the East Valley Tribune.
Sen. John McCain ended the third quarter with 500 times more cash on hand — $5 million in all — than his closest declared Republican rival, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission."He's clearly on the path to continue raising money in a
substantial amount," said Frederic Solop, a Northern Arizona University political science professor.
A sincere “Thank You” to everyone for your continued support for Senator McCain. We are moving forward at full speed and will continue to reach out to you with campaign news and updates in the weeks to come.
Sincerely,
Shiree Verdone
Campaign Manager
John McCain 2010
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Congressman John Shadegg - Immunity for Insurers Who Wrongfully Deny Care?
Congressman Shadegg is calling attention to a horrendous provision in the health bill that he tried to defeat in committee. The provision is preserved—even extended—on page 140 of the bill released this morning. It is in section 514 of ERISA, and it’s a law that has given insurers immunity from paying damages when they deny recommended care that results in injury or even death to a patient covered by their plan.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!
We’re circulating this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTf1ovODtVs) from the markup so that as many people as possible can see it. Please feel free to link to it or embed on your blog. Now, our only chance to end this injustice is by getting the word out in the next few days.
If you have any questions about it or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Congressman Shadegg is eager to comment.
For those on Twitter, feel free to RT@ShadeggPress Pg. 140 of the #healthbill extends immunity to ERISA insurers when they wrongfully deny coverage http://tinyurl.com/yzaqnac
Best,
Sara
Sara Mueller
Staff Assistant/Deputy Press Secretary
Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-3)
436 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
If you have any questions about it or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Congressman Shadegg is eager to comment.
For those on Twitter, feel free to RT@ShadeggPress Pg. 140 of the #healthbill extends immunity to ERISA insurers when they wrongfully deny coverage http://tinyurl.com/yzaqnac
Best,
Sara
Sara Mueller
Staff Assistant/Deputy Press Secretary
Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-3)
436 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Congressman Trent Franks Endorses Hoffman in NY-23 Race
October 29, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) today released the following statement announcing his endorsement of Doug Hoffman in the race for the open Congressional seat in New York's 23rd District:"Though I may occasionally differ with a Republican candidate on his or her positions on various issues, I have long believed that the reality of our two-party system dictates it is almost always wisest for conservatives, as well as moderate Republicans, to unite behind the Republican Primary Nominee in order to most effectively attain a numerical Majority that allows us as a party to continue to defend the Constitutional principles that made our nation exceptional.
"When conservative candidates lose in a Republican primary and then run as a third party candidate in the general election, they almost always end up splitting the Republican vote, allowing the Democrat to win and badly hurting the very causes they sought to protect.
"Thus, I have traditionally never supported third party candidates and have instead given my support to the Republican candidate in any general race.
"But in the race for New York's 23rd Congressional seat, I must make an exception.
"The Republican Party has consistently included within
its official platform statements acknowledging society's (and the party's) responsibility to defend those who cannot defend themselves, including unborn babies— even if our very own Supreme Court deems them less than human.
"By nominating Dede Scozzafava, the county party chairs within the 23rd District have chosen a candidate who is radically out of the mainstream on issues that constitute the core of the Republican Party's principles and, just as concerning, someone who does not reflect the values of the 23rd District's constituents.
"In choosing a candidate who, by many accounts, is actually more liberal than her Democrat opponent, and has been endorsed by the most radical groups like ACORN, Planned Parenthood, and the Daily Kos, the local party has recklessly forced voters to choose between voting on a party line or voting on their deepest principles. While desiring to avoid setting a precedent for potential third-party candidates in the future, in this particularly unique case, I am convinced it is necessary to set aside party affiliation and support the candidate that actually reflects the values and principles that make the Republican Party and America herself great.
"While there is room for disagreement on ancillary issues within the Republican party, we must never forget that the principle that gave our Party birth was a compassion for and commitment to protect a class of people the U.S. Supreme Court said was not human. The fervor of that commitment sustained us in the crucible of a horrible civil war. If, in the 21st century, the Republican party should make the tragic mistake of forsaking the defenseless unborn, no measure of success on other fronts, electoral or otherwise, can stop the slide of our party into moral and political oblivion.
"The ghost of the Whig party stands in the shadows of history in stark witness to us all.
"For all these reasons I am pleased to announce my endorsement of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- the only candidate in the race who accurately represents the values we continue to cherish so deeply as Republicans and who I believe will continue to honor and remain true to those ideals in the United States Congress."
Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
ALG to House on Public Option: "Where Do You Stand?"
"Members of Congress are now faced with the ultimate moral dilemma.
Do they want to represent the people of their districts, who do not want
their health care taken over by government, rationed, and watered-down,
nor their taxes raised, the budget broken, and Medicare cut to pay for it? Or
do they represent Nancy Pelosi, who does want all of those things?"
—ALG President
Bill Wilson.
ALG to House on Public Option: "Where Do You Stand?"
October 29th, 2009, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today urged members of the House of Representatives to reject the latest $894 billion "public option" proposal unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
"Members of Congress are now faced with the ultimate moral dilemma," said Wilson. "Do they represent the people of their districts, who do not want their health care taken over by government, rationed, and watered-down, nor their taxes raised, the budget broken, and Medicare cut to pay for it? Or do they represent Nancy Pelosi, who does want all of those things?"
Today, on the steps of the Capitol, Pelosi and Hoyer presented the consolidated version of the "public option" to the nation, as reported by Politico. Debate is slated to begin next week on the House floor.
The entitlement is reported to extend to 36 million people at a cost of $894 billion over ten years. Politico reported that according to the Congressional Budget Office, "the legislation is projected to create deficits over the second five years."
"An entitlement is not 'deficit-neutral' if it will only operate allegedly in the black for 5 years and then leaves taxpayers in the red every year thereafter. This is just one more unsustainable entitlement that Congress is creating. It will raises taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars, cut Medicare by hundreds of billions more, and in the end, will still generate deficits that will ultimately bankrupt the public treasury," Wilson noted.
"All for a non-emergency—over 280 million Americans already have health insurance. The U.S. spends more on health care than any other nation," Wilson added.
In 2007, the U.S. spent $2.4 trillion in total health care spending, and the price tag for health care expenditures, NCHC projects, will rise to $3.1 trillion by 2012, and $4.3 trillion by 2016. As of 2006, the Census Bureau estimates that some 201.7 million, or 71.5 percent of Americans with health insurance, get their insurance privately. 28.5 percent of those with insurance, or 80.3 million, get it from the government.
"Another big problem for Congress is that it intends to only spend on average $2,483 per individual. Only, that's more than $2,000 less than what an average premium actually costs—some $4,700," Wilson said.
"That means this will be below-average, watered-down health care that will only diminish in quality over the years as more private insurers are driven out of business and more people forced onto the government-run plan," Wilson added.
Americans for Limited Government estimates that "public option" legislation will cost more than $2.1 trillion over ten years once fully implemented.
"Members of the House have some soul-searching to do. Nancy Pelosi has completely gone insane if she thinks the American people will support this 'public option' any more than the other six 'public options' that have already been presented," Wilson said.
According to Rasmussen Reports, 57 percent of voters nationwide believe it will raise the cost of health care, and 53 percent believe the quality of care will get worse. And 63 percent "are strongly opposed to a public option if they think it could lead employers to drop the existing coverage they provide employees."
A full 51 percent are opposed to the plan. And according to a recent FOX News poll, Independents, a critical voting bloc in swing congressional districts, oppose ObamaCare by 62 percent to 23 percent.
Wilson concluded by asking representatives, "Where do you stand? Who do you represent? Washington, or your constituents?"
10 Facts Every American Should Know About Speaker Pelosi's 1,990-Page Gov't Takeover of Health Care
Washington, Oct 29 - Members of Congress and the American people are just beginning to look at Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) 1,990-page government takeover of health care, but it’s already becoming clear just how costly and unsustainable this proposal is.
From higher taxes on middle-class families to job-killing mandates on small businesses to cuts in Medicare benefits for seniors, here are 10 facts every American should know about Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-page government takeover of health care:
1. RAISES TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill imposes a range of tax increases on families with income below $250,000, breaking a promise made by President Obama. Tax increases on middle class families include: an individual mandate tax of up to 2.5 percent of income for taxpayers earning as little as $9,350; repeal of a tax break on medicine purchased with funds from an HSA (health savings account); limits to tax relief through FSAs (flexible spending accounts); taxes on medical devices that will inevitably be passed on to consumers; and a new tax on all insurance policies.
2. MASSIVE CUTS TO MEDICARE BENEFITS FOR SENIORS. Despite grave warnings from CBO, FactCheck.org, and the independent Lewin Group that cuts to Medicare of the magnitude included in Speaker Pelosi’s bill would have a negative impact on seniors’ benefits and choices, Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill stays the course and cuts Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars.
3. NO PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill claims to exempt small businesses from the steep eight percent ‘pay or play’ employer mandate. The facts tell a different story. Using Census data compiled by the Small Business Administration, this so-called ‘exemption’ hammers small employers with only, on average, 17 or more employees to new taxes and mandates. The outfits affected employ 70 percent of all small business employees, or 42.3 million workers. Adding to the assault on small businesses, the bill does not index the small business “exemption” amounts, meaning more and more small businesses will be ensnared by this job-killing employer mandate each year.
4. INCREASES THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE. Imposing a new $2 billion tax on insurance policies will be passed on to patients in the form of higher premiums. Changes to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit will, according to estimates by CBO, will raise Medicare Part B premiums by $25 billion and Part D premiums by 20 percent. And imposing an unfunded mandate on the states to pay for the bill’s Medicaid expansion will shift the burden of this expansion on state taxpayers who may experience tax increases to cover the cost.
5. USES GIMMICKS TO HIDE BUDGET-BUSTING COST, PILES UP DEBT ON FUTURE GENERATIONS. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill claims to be deficit neutral, but uses budget gimmickry to hide its massive total cost. Working families across America know they cannot simply decide that a bill they get in the mail doesn’t exist, but that’s exactly what congressional Democrats are doing. In order to meet the President’s ‘target’ spending total of $900 billion, Democrats have simply swept costly provisions under the rug, including the $245 billion ‘doc fix.’
6. IMPOSES JOB-KILLING EMPLOYER MANDATES. Additional taxes on employers and new government mandates that dictate acceptable insurance will place new and crushing burdens on employers. These are burdens that will ultimately fall squarely on the backs of workers in the form of reduced wages, fewer hours or lost employment. CBO agrees that "[e]mployees largely bear the cost of... play-or-pay fees in the form of lower wages." According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s largest small business association, an employer mandate of this magnitude will disproportionately impact small businesses, triggering up to 1.6 million lost jobs. Two-thirds of those jobs would be shed by small businesses.
7. TILTS THE PLAYING FIELD IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT-RUN INSURANCE COMPANY. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill promises not to give the government-run plan advantages over private insurers in the market, but the opposite is true. The bill provides billions in start-up funding for the government-run plan, and while it requires the plan to repay the money over time it does not require the plan to pay interest on this “loan.” This interest-free, taxpayer-subsidized loan is potentially worth millions of dollars and tilts the playing field in favor of the government-run plan.
8. THREATENS CASH-STRAPPED STATES WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill swells the number of Americans on the government rolls by expanding Medicaid eligibility. Medicaid is financed through a federal-state partnership, but the bill dumps nearly ten percent of the mandated expansion included in the bill onto the states. States, already struggling with fiscal constraints, would be left on the hook for billions of dollars due to this unfunded mandate.
9. CREATES A NEW MONSTROSITY IN THE TAX CODE. Starting in 2011, Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill imposes a 5.4 percent tax on adjusted gross income above $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for married couples. Yet, the dollar amounts for which the tax kicks in are not indexed for inflation. We’ve seen this horror film before: the Alternative Minimum Tax, another Frankenstein’s monster of the tax code, also wasn’t indexed for inflation and now affects millions of middle class families with incomes below the Democrat’s surtax.
10. MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURTAIL JUNK LAWSUITS. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill misses a critical opportunity to rein in junk lawsuits and costly defensive medicine. The bill includes only a voluntary grant program to deal with the medical liability crisis instead of including real reform, which would produce tens of billions of dollars in savings, improve efficiency in our health care system and reduce costs for patients and providers.
BONUS: Republicans have offered better solutions to lower health care costs and expand access to quality, affordable coverage at a price our nation can afford. Learn more by visiting healthcare.gop.gov.
"1,990 Pages of Bureaucracy "
GOP Leader: Three things about Speaker Pelosis health care bill are already clear: it will raise the cost of Americans health insurance premiums; it will kill jobs with tax hikes and new mandates; and it will cut seniors Medicare benefits.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!
Washington, Oct 29 - WASHINGTON, D.C. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Democrats unveiled their 1,990-page trillion-dollar government takeover of health care bill: The American people have spoken.
Three things about Speaker Pelosis health care bill are already clear: it will raise the cost of Americans health insurance premiums; it will kill jobs with tax hikes and new mandates; and it will cut seniors Medicare benefits.
The fact that it weighs in at nearly 2,000 pages more than 620 pages longer than the government takeover of health care Hillary Clinton proposed in 1993 is as good an indication as any of just how costly and unsustainable Speaker Pelosis proposal is. There is a better way.
Republicans have offered solutions to lower health care costs and expand access at a cost our nation can afford. You can read about them at healthcare.gop.gov. Democrats need to listen to the American people, and work with us on the real reforms families want and need."
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!
Washington, Oct 29 - WASHINGTON, D.C. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Democrats unveiled their 1,990-page trillion-dollar government takeover of health care bill: The American people have spoken.
Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have ignored them. Through the month of August, the American people let Members of Congress from both parties know that they didnt want a government takeover of health care. That hasnt changed. But instead of listening to the American people, Democrats hid behind closed doors and came back with a bill designed to appease the liberal special interests.
Three things about Speaker Pelosis health care bill are already clear: it will raise the cost of Americans health insurance premiums; it will kill jobs with tax hikes and new mandates; and it will cut seniors Medicare benefits.
The fact that it weighs in at nearly 2,000 pages more than 620 pages longer than the government takeover of health care Hillary Clinton proposed in 1993 is as good an indication as any of just how costly and unsustainable Speaker Pelosis proposal is. There is a better way.
Republicans have offered solutions to lower health care costs and expand access at a cost our nation can afford. You can read about them at healthcare.gop.gov. Democrats need to listen to the American people, and work with us on the real reforms families want and need."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
DEMS in US House Unveil Plan With Public Option, Wealth Tax
Here is the information regarding the health care bill that is dropping as we speak at the Pelosi press conference. The bill is 1,990 pages long and contains a separate 13-page bill to repeal the sustainable growth rate caps on Medicare spending.
The Bill will cost more than $200 billion and is not paid for, which will break Obama’s promise to Congress during his speech.
The bill contains the word “shall” 3,425 times. Though Steny Hoyer just said the bill was open and transparent, they prevented the American people from attending their publicity rally by checking IDs and keeping people out.
Read the text of the bill here:
REMINDER: TONIGHT Andrew Thomas for Attorney General Exploratory Committee Fundraiser - Oct. 29 at the home of Jason Rose
Jason and Jordan Rose
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR AN EVENING WITH
MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY ANDREW THOMAS
TO SUPPORT HIS EXPLORATORY CAMPAIGN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ARIZONA
Thursday, October 29, 2009
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
5630 E. Nauni Valley Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ
SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION: $140
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO JULIA DIAMENT AT (480) 423-1414 OR ATJDIAMENT@ROSEANDALLYNPR.COM
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, YOU MAY STILL MAKE A CONTRIBUTION BY FILLING OUT THE ATTACHED FORM AND MAILING IT AND A CHECK TO:
THOMAS FOR AG EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE
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STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO OBTAIN AND REPORT THE NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, OCCUPATION AND NAME OF EMPLOYER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS AGGREGATE IN EXCESS OF $25 IN AN ELECTION CYCLE. STATE LAW
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Flu Shot Shortage Shows Govt. Incompetence By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on October 28, 2009Printer-Friendly Version
How can the government pretend that it can manage, overhaul, streamline, and reform the health care system in the United States when it can't even deliver enough flu shots to prevent a pandemic?
We have seen the H1N1 virus coming for over a year. It is no surprise that much of America needs vaccination. It was no secret that the flu season was approaching. But, now that it is upon us, we find ourselves pathetically short of shots.
One year ago, the government told us that we would have hundreds of millions of vaccinations available. Then, over the summer, the prediction was that 40 million would be on hand by the end of October. Last month, the estimate was scaled back to 28 million. And, as of late last week, only 11.5 million had been delivered, leaving tens of millions vulnerable and, tragically, likely leading to hundreds of preventable deaths. Given the tendency of the virus to strike the young, many of those deaths will be among children.
It should be a fairly simple task to produce and distribute a vaccine - as we do with regular flu shots each and every year. But it was apparently beyond the capacity of the Obama Administration to manage such a routine feat.
If it can't run the epidemiological equivalent of a two-car funeral, how can Obama promise that the government will do an adequate job of managing the nation's health care system? (To say nothing of two car companies and a trove of banks and insurance firms?)In the debate over health care, the implicit assumption has been that the government can act with competence and timeliness.
The discussion has largely centered on what powers to give the government - not on whether it had the ability to wield this new authority. The bill making its way through Congress empowers the federal government to decide on protocols of health care, penalize excessive costs, and moderate reimbursement fees.
These are all difficult and delicate tasks and involve decision which must be made promptly and wisely for the system to have a chance of working.
Otherwise, endless delays, bottlenecks, and snafus can eventuate. And these failures can have drastic consequences for the health of all Americans.
Do we really have confidence in government's ability to make these decisions? Does its manifest inability to protect us from the Swine Flu do anything to inspire such confidence?
Not so far!
Steve Forbes' Plan to Defeat Obama's Reckless Spending
Flu Vaccines Linked to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!
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