Health+Care

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - President - Senate - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Harry Reid Wants to Vote on a Phantom Bill (Dem Dirty Tricks Edition)

November 19, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Either today or later this week, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev) wants the Senate to vote on a “motion to proceed” on the Senate’s version of the healthcare bill. That wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that it has barely been seen by anyone in the Senate. At least not as far as most Senators are concerned. Why is that? Because the bill has not been shown to them with sufficient time to study it, that’s why.

What Reid wants is for the Senate to vote to proceed on a bill that has not been seen, not read, not studied by the very Senators from whom he wants to force a vote. If this bill is so important, why isn’t it imperative that our Senators actually get to see the thing they are expected to vote on?

And that isn’t the worst of the unconscionable dirty tricks that Reid is playing with this “important” legislation. He’s also planning on a bait and switch tactic once he gets his vote to proceed.
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Harry Reid Wants to Vote on a Phantom Bill (Dem Dirty Tricks Edition)”

Barack Obama - Business - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Senate - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Tax Reform Illinois: Pelosi’s Heinous Helathcare Bill

November 17, 2009 by

Dear Illinois Patient,

Last weekend, Representatives Bobby Rush (IL District 1); Jesse Jackson (IL District 2); Daniel Lipinski (IL District 3); Luis Gutierrez (IL District 4); Mike Quigley (IL District 5); Danny Davis (IL District 6); Melissa Bean (Il District 8); Janice Schakowsky (IL District 9); Deborah Halvorson (IL District 11); Jerry Costello (IL District 12); Bill Foster (IL District 13); and Phil Hare (IL District 17), voted in favor of HR 3962, Nancy Pelosi’s national health care bill. There are dozens of heinous elements in this bill, but here is a short sample of the contents:
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Americans for Tax Reform Illinois: Pelosi’s Heinous Helathcare Bill”

Barack Obama - Business - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Republicans - Socialism - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Democrats Rejected 11 Amendments Forcing Congress to Enroll in Obamacare

November 11, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

CNSNews is reporting that the Democratic leadership rejected 11 amendments to the healthcare bills that would have required Congress to suffer under the same onerous healthcare legislation the they would force upon the rest of the country.

Republicans offered various schemes, some that would require only Congress to join Obamacare, some that would require even members of the Supreme Court, the president, the vice president and other federal employees to give up their generous Federal Employees Health Benefit Program.

“If Congress forces our constituents into a public option plan over time, then members of Congress should be expected to do the same,” Rep. Howard McKeon (R-Calif.) told CNSNews.com.

It is curious that Democrat members of Congress can sit there in Washington with a straight face and tell us lowly voters that Obamacare is best for us, yet steadfastly refuse to force themselves to exist under that same plan.

If Obamacare is so wonderful, why exactly are Democrat Congressmen so averse to suffering the same fate as the voters? It is obvious that they know the truth about Obamacare. It is a disaster and they know it. Otherwise, why would they fight so hard to stay out of it?
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Democrats Rejected 11 Amendments Forcing Congress to Enroll in Obamacare”

Abortion - Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dems: Anti-Abortion Amendment to be Striped Out Later (Stupak Doesn’t Matter)

November 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

At the last minute Representative Bart Stupak (D, Mich.) was successful in getting Speaker Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership to approve an amendment that would prohibit federal spending on abortion added to its nationalized healthcare bill passed and sent to the Senate over the weekend. But a senior Democrat says that the Stupak amendment will be stripped from the bill if the Senate returns the bill for approval.

Of course, the only reason that the House healthcare bill was passed out of the House at all was because of the Stupak Amendment, still left-wingers in Congress are vowing to strip the final bill of one of the only measures that appeals to moderates.

Far left Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, Fla.) has vowed that the anti-abortion amendment will be gone by the time the bill comes up for a final vote after the Senate debate. Pro-abortion activist and Democratic Congressman from Colorado Diana DeGette has been passing around a letter to her far left colleagues vowing not to vote for a future healthcare bill that does not include abortion funding. She has announced that 40 House Democrats have signed her pledge.
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Dems: Anti-Abortion Amendment to be Striped Out Later (Stupak Doesn’t Matter)”

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - House of Representatives - Joe Wilson - Liberals - Senate - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan

November 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Does Joe Wilson or any of his colleagues on the Hill care about the Constitution?

I participated in a conference call last Friday with Representative Joe Wilson (R, SC) who wanted to rally the troops against Pelosi’s healthcare bill. He also talked of Afghanistan, as well. But I think he made a revealing comment about the Constitution that distresses me.

Rep. Wilson started off his comments with his condolences to the families of the victims of the criminal actions at Fort Hood which had only recently happened at the time. “As a 21-year veteran of the military myself with three sons in the Army, one in the Navy, and a nephew in the Air Force, I truly do have a deep sympathy for the families at Fort Hood,” Wilson said.

Wilson then went into the issues of the day and said he was pleased to see the “clean sweep” that Republicans in Virginia saw in the governor’s race there.

This has also been an extraordinary week with the elections on Tuesday in the state of my ancestors, Virginia. I’m so grateful for the Commonwealth that there was a clean sweep and as it pointed out to me the Republican clean sweep there was for limited government and extending freedom is in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

Wilson also remarked that Jon Corzine, the incumbent Dem. gov. in New Jersey, had some “pretty strong things to say about me” and was happy that he lost his re-election bid.
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Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes

A Response From my Senator and My Reply

November 9, 2009 by

-By Richard J. Little

In response to a careful crafted, time consuming, and painstakingly written personal letter and multiple faxes/emails I recently sent to one of my state’s United States Senator, I received this beautifully worded but totally impersonal email form letter from Senator X (or, more likely, one of the staff) who is a member of the Democratic party:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to universal health care coverage. I understand your concerns.

When it comes to health care, our families and businesses are in a serious crisis. High health care costs are causing cuts in benefits and increases in premiums, adding to the ranks of the uninsured at alarming rates. But the impact of this problem goes beyond individual families. Skyrocketing health care costs make our businesses less competitive in the global marketplace and cost us good-paying jobs. We are already paying for the uninsured through overuse of the emergency room-the most inefficient and expensive way of providing care.

I believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. There is no doubt that the problems we face are complex, but there are real solutions. We can create a system that is uniquely American and shares the cost between the government, businesses, and individuals in a way that is fair and equitable. Now is the time to show the political will to tackle these issues because there is so much at stake. I am committed to working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to find solutions to America’s health care crisis.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to do so again if my office can be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

X
United States Senator

In the faint hope that I will get responsive and representative governance from my Senator since according to public opinion polls my view are in line with a majority in my state and the nation at large, I took another huge block of my time to respond to the kind form letter:
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A Response From my Senator and My Reply”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL

November 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has come to this, America. Democrats have decided that if you don’t agree with their policies, you are to be fined. And if you don’t pay the fine, you are a criminal and will be sentenced to jail. That’s right, Democrats are criminalizing dissent.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has decided to leave language in her heatlhcare bill that criminalizes and prescribes jail time for any American that does not want to buy private healthcare insurance. Think of this, America. I am telling you that the U.S. Congress has decided to force you to buy the product of a privately owned corporation! The power of the U.S. federal government has never been used to purchase something from a private company but here comes San Fran Nancy to do just that. But, let’s face it. She is only taking her cue from the big guy and his “Chicago way” sort of political thuggery.

The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a letter (Download pdf file) in reply to Representative Dave Crump’s inquiry about the matter of the criminal penalties of refusing to buy healthcare insurance should Pelosi’s version of Obamacare pass.
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Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some House Dems that Might Be Persuaded to Vote No on Obamacare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ken Marrero over at Blue Collar Muse reminds us that there are a few Democrats that could possibly be persuaded to vote against House Speaker Pelosi’s healthcare bill.

Word has it that Pelosi is going to try and strong-arm her bill to a floor vote this Saturday, so if you want to stop this bill, call the following Congressmen and voice your opinion.

  • Michael Arcuri (NY-24th)–(202) 225-3665
  • Steve Dreihous (OH 1st)–(202) 225-2216
  • Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th)–(202) 225-2542
  • Debbie Halverson (IL-11th)–(202) 225-3635
  • Steve Kagen (WI-8th)–(202) 225-5665
  • Betsy Markey (CO-4th)–(202) 225-4676
  • Tom Perriello (VA-5th)–(202) 225-4711
  • Loretta Sanchez (CA-47th)–(202) 225-5711
  • Vic Snyder (AR-29th)–(202) 225-2506
  • Zack Space (OH-18th)–(202) 225-2965

I should remind readers that if you call these on-the-fence Democrats it’s far more effective if you are from their District, though. Just random calls from across the country will mean far less than the calls of actual constituents.

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the jobs of the “Whip” position in Congress is to count votes so that the leadership has an understanding of what sort of support their legislative efforts have. These Whip counts are often made public knowledge (but not always) and The Hill has reported the latest counting of House Democrats and where they stand on the Pelosicare/Obamacare bill.

So, if one of your Congresscritters is on this list as a “yes” vote or is leaning “yes,” contact them immediately and voice your opposition.

As of noon on 11/06/09:

YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Yes
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Tom Perriello (Va.) Held many town halls this summer
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) Yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)
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Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare”

Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Speech - Free Trade - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Do YOU Want to Do Something About Obamacare?

November 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Are you itching to join the fight to help stop Obamacare? Well a coalition of free market groups have come together to offer voters a way to get involved in the fight. It’s called HighNoonForHealthcare.org.

This site gives you tools to write, call and tweet Congress to urge them to stop Obamacare.

The website is sponsored by quite a few groups. Groups such as the National Taxpayers Union, The American Conservative Union, the Hispanic Leadership fund, The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and many, many more.

Click on the image below to go right to this resource:

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Republicans - Rights - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

House to Vote This Weekend?

November 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Apparently, Speaker Pelosi is getting a bit concerned that this healthcare fight is getting out of her control (do ya think?) and she wants to force a vote through this Saturday.

For his part, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says, HR 3962 is a “freight train of runaway federal spending, bloated bureaucracy, mandates and higher taxes.”

Pence is correct that the iron boot of Obama’s government will come down on the necks of each and every citizen if these mandates and this government intervention comes to pass. Obamacare will make healthcare more expensive, harder to get, and of lesser quality. In truth, there is no other possible outcome as has been seen in every country that has tried it already.

Mike Pence on the House Version of Obamacare:


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House to Vote This Weekend?”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Journalism - Liberals - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

SPN 2009 Conference: Final Day

November 4, 2009 by 8 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Wednesday session began with a breakfast address by James K. Glassman the former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State during the George W. Bush administration. He spoke on Internet freedom (as opposed to net neutrality) and expressed his hope that a thousand Internet flowers would bloom without onerous regulation squelching it all. (I’ll add some photos later once I return home. All the camera stuff is packed up for the trip home at his time)

Mr. Glassman is about to begin his new role as the executive director of the forthcoming George W. Bush Institute to be housed in Dallas, Texas at the soon to be built G.W. Bush library.

I asked him if he could keep in mind the danger that state taxation presents to the Internet and urged him not just to focus on the federal threat that the Obama administration is presenting at this time. He agreed and I am hopeful that this subject will form a part of his future strategy.
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SPN 2009 Conference: Final Day”

Anti-Americanism - Britain - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Europe - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Senate - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Don’t Copy Europe’s Mistakes: Less Government Is the Right Way to Fix Healthcare

November 3, 2009 by

In this Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation video, Eline van den Broek explains that government interference is driving up healthcare costs in America and warns that European style health “reform” will make the situation even worse. Based on what has happened in Europe, she explains that universal health coverage is not the same as universal healthcare, that insurance mandates mean more government control, and that price controls simply do not work. More Information: www.freedomandprosperity.org

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - Socialism - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Mark Kirk: What’s Inside the Pelosi Health Care Bill?

October 30, 2009 by

Representative Mark Kirk (R, Ill) has sent out a letter with his take on Obamacare…

Yesterday, Speaker Pelosi introduced her health care bill (H.R. 3962) and I introduced a Republican alternative (H.R. 3970). I believe we should pass some key reforms and reject others because they will harm our health care and our economy. Here are the reforms that I am backing:

1. The Medical Rights Act: Prevent the government from interfering with the decisions that you and your doctor have made about you and your family’s care.

2. Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse: Save billions in improper fraudulent payments.

3. Reducing Expensive Defensive Medicine: Lawsuit reform and fully electronic medical records to avoid duplicate tests and procedures.

4. Lowering Insurance Costs: Give Americans the right to buy insurance from any state in the union; provide tax breaks to individuals buying their own insurance; and innovation programs to eliminate pre-existing conditions.
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Rep. Mark Kirk: What’s Inside the Pelosi Health Care Bill?”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

S.C. Democrat: ‘Cadillac Tax’ Violates Obama’s Promise

October 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative James Clayburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, is expressing reservations about the “excise” tax on so-called Cadillac healthcare plans currently in the Senate’s version of Obamacare.

Clayburn, the House Democratic Whip, said that this excise tax violated Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class.

“I do not want to see anything jeopardize the president’s promise not to raise taxes on the middle-class,” Clyburn told MSNBC. “And that could very well get us there.”

Clayburn joins Big Unions in denouncing the tax plan as an attack on the middle class.

The high-end healthcare excise tax plan in the Senate’s Baucus bill is supposed to be levied on insurance companies, but it is clear that these taxes will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums. And then only if insurance companies even bother to offer such high-end plans to tax in the first place.

In place of the tax on Cadillac plans in the Senate bill, the House plan would penalize taxpaying families with a combined income of $1 million annually and individuals that earn more than $500,000 a year.
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S.C. Democrat: ‘Cadillac Tax’ Violates Obama’s Promise”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

10 Facts Every American Should Know About Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-Page Gov’t Takeover of Health Care

October 30, 2009 by

-By Representative John Boehner (R-OH), 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.
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10 Facts Every American Should Know About Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-Page Gov’t Takeover of Health Care”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Health - Liberals - President - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Healthcare Failures

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Is Obama “Nixonifying” the White House? Many think he is…

During the campaign, Obama promised transparency on healthcare as he is wont to do. So far, all the Democrats have done, however, is meet behind closed doors. That’s bad enough but as the days pass we are discovering that the White House has assembled its own Nixonian enemies list.

Apparently, this is a video that the GOP leadership played for Senate Republicans during a recent policy luncheon to help them in their deliberations. These videos are not often seen outside the offices of the Senate.

Senator Kyle mentioned this during a press conference today:

…we saw a little film clip of the president during the campaign, in his shirt sleeves, out talking to a group of folks. He said, “When I’m elected president you’re going to see this health care legislation written in the open. It’s going to be on C-SPAN, and you’ll be able to see all the different people arguing to see whether they’re on your side or they’re on the side of the drug companies and the insurance companies and so on. But you’ll be able to see that process on C-SPAN.

Republican senators and members of the media highlight President Obama’s failure to live up to his pledge to conduct health care negotiations in full view of the public. Senators and media members also highlight the White Houses alarming tendency to seek to punish those who dont share its views.


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Obama’s Healthcare Failures”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senator Dick “Turbin” Durbin’s Helathcare Poll

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois’ senior Senator, Dick “Turbin” Durbin is sponsoring a poll on the so-called public option on his website this week.

Durbin, who made himself notorious for saying during the Bush years that our troops were just like Nazis, wants to know what you think about the “public option” socialistic government healthcare plans he and his pals in the left-wing, Euroized Senate want to force upon us all.

Ranking your feelings from “0” meaning no support, to “10” meaning greatest support, Durbin wants to know if you want a 50-State public option, an opt-out option, an opt-in option, a trigger plan, or no public option at all.

You can guess which one I chose (hint it’s the last one).

If you are an Illinois citizen, you need to go to this site and tell “Turbin” Durbin that you do NOT want any public option at all.

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - President - Senate - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senate Making Deals With Union Bosses With Healthcare

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Reports have emerged over the behind-closed-doors deal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is desperately trying to make with Big Unions in order to get the waters smoothed for his Obamacare policies. These reports show where Reid’s sympathies lie: with union bosses and not with the voters.

The Hill reported that Reid made “several significant concessions” to organized labor to smooth the way for his healthcare policies.

We’ve reported in the past that Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, has been highly skeptical of Obamacare because of the punitive tax placed on so-called Cadillac healthcare plans. Trumka feels that this tax will hit his membership too hard. For several decades unions have often foregone hourly wage hikes in order to take on richer benefits the result is that union members often have more extensive healthcare plans than most American workers.
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Senate Making Deals With Union Bosses With Healthcare”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Health - Liberals - President - Republicans - Senate - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Gov. Pawlenty Goes Off on Obamacare

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty delivered a red meat assessment of Obamacare and it appears he doesn’t like it much. Pawlenty slammed Obamacare as a “bait-and-switch” and said the president is “corrosive to freedom and liberty.”

In a NewsMax interview, Pawlenty really went after Obama serving a hearty dish of red meat to conservative voters across the country. Gov. Pawlenty is widely considered a prime candidate for president in 2012.

Pawlenty calls President Obama a “movement liberal” and says he’s “projecting potential weakness” to the world with his foreign policies.

“His solutions are federalization of policy, spending way beyond anything we’ve seen in terms of deficit or debt levels, spending the country into bankruptcy,” Pawlenty says. “And what’s behind it is a philosophy that government knows best, a nanny-state mentality on domestic issues that will ultimately be corrosive to the other pillars of our country — to markets, private enterprise, individual responsibility, freedom and liberty.”

As to Obamacare, Pawlenty calls it a bait-and-switch.
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Gov. Pawlenty Goes Off on Obamacare”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Doc Quits! $160,000 Per Year Malpractice Costs the Cause

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Doctor Jacquelline Perlman has had it. After a 12-year career as an OB-GYN doctor she his quitting her practice. One of the major reasons is the exorbitant costs of malpractice insurance.

“I’ve decided to retire from obstetrics,” said Perlman, 42. “It breaks my heart. Malpractice costs are a big part of it. It’s a very sad story.”

Last spring her insurer dropped her and several of her fellow doctors because of the high risk of covering OB-GYNs. Dr. Perlman’s new insurer was to charge $160,000 a year for coverage and that proved too much for Perlman to take.

Perlman noted that over the last five years, as her insurance costs multiplied, her actual income dropped by 20 percent.

So, another good doctor — one that has never had a malpractice case stick to her — leaves the profession. Now, before some of you out there assume the insurance companies is the villain here, let us pinpoint the real villain: trial lawyers.
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Doc Quits! $160,000 Per Year Malpractice Costs the Cause”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

FACT CHECK: Profits for Health Insurance Companies Far From Fat

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Associated Press posted an interesting piece revealing that the health insurance industry is far from the image that Democrats and other leftists want to present. Insurance companies are so often presented as rapacious, fat-cats ripping off all their customers and growing fat on profits. But the AP finds that reality does not quite fit the left-wing image.

In fact, the insurance industry makes far less profits than other industries. As the AP notes, the Hershey chocolate company even has a higher profit margin than health insurers.

Ledgers tell a different reality. Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That’s anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones.

Profits barely exceeded 2 percent of revenues in the latest annual measure. This partly explains why the credit ratings of some of the largest insurers were downgraded to negative from stable heading into this year, as investors were warned of a stagnant if not shrinking market for private plans.

Ooopsie! Looks like the image of the fat-cat insurance company is not so pat as the far left and their Democrat enablers want you to believe.
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FACT CHECK: Profits for Health Insurance Companies Far From Fat”

Abortion - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Health - House of Representatives - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

40 Democrats Lining Up to Oppose Pelosi’s Abortion Funding in Healthcare Bill

October 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The news is full of the behind closed doors deals being made by Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Pelosi but all is not harmonious in the land of healthcare “reform.”

One example of this is the fight amongst Democrats over abortion funding in Obamacare. Despite claims to the contrary, abortion will be funded by these various healthcare bills floating about in Congress. This fact makes moderate and conservative Democrats uneasy and forms just one of the many disagreements that Democrats are having with Democrats over Obamacare.

The Hill reports on this disagreement that has seen a group of up to 40 House Democrats banding together to oppose abortion funding in Obamacare.
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40 Democrats Lining Up to Oppose Pelosi’s Abortion Funding in Healthcare Bill”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Don’t Shut Us Out of Healthcare Mr. President

October 23, 2009 by

Once again, Obama lies. He castigated Clinton’s attempts to get Hillarycare by saying that she tried to get her healthcare policies passed behind closed doors. He claimed he’d open the debate before the public and get it out from behind those closed doors. Yet, now Obamacare is being created behind the closed doors of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

So, what happened to Obama’s now hoary promise that he’d have a transparent, open government? It’s gone the way of most of his other promises: down the memory hole.

Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

House Speaker Lacks Democrat Votes for ‘Public Option’

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Despite assurances to the contrary, Politico.com is reporting that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif.) does not have the votes to include the so-called public option in the House version of Obamacare making it more likely that a “trigger” will be included instead.

Politico also reports that Obama himself announced support for the trigger option.

Obama told Senate Democratic leadership at the White House Thursday evening that his preference is for the trigger championed by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) — a plan that would allow a public plan to kick in if private insurers don’t expand coverage fast enough, a top administration official told POLITICO. It’s also sign Obama is interested in maintaining a sense of bipartisanship around the health reform plan.

Regardless of the Politco report, however, Speaker Pelosi came out today in a press conference and insisted that the public option will, indeed, be in the bill.

Whatever the final outcome will be, however, this shows that Speaker Pelosi is having trouble manhandling her caucus. This also means that voters still have a chance to affect this vote by calling their representatives and urging them to oppose the public option.
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House Speaker Lacks Democrat Votes for ‘Public Option’”

Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Liberals - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senate Defeats Dem Leader Reid’s ‘Doc Fix’ Plan

October 22, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Roll Call is reporting that the $250 billion extension to the Medicare physician payment program was defeated in the Senate today. Reid couldn’t even get a simple majority losing in a 47 to 53 vote.

Naturally Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev) blames the Republicans. Reid complained that the loss was a result of “activities and actions by the Republican-dominated Washington.” Seriously. A “Republican dominated Washington”? Did Harry Reid miss the fact that the Democrats have majorities in both the House and the Senate as well as holding the White House? How could Washington be “Republican dominated” when the GOP has little capability to affect the debate through the power of majority control?

Roll Call pinpoints the most salient question here, though. If Reid can’t even get this one through with a Democrat majority how is he going to get the rest of Obamacare passed? The GOP, for its part, was ecstatic.
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Senate Defeats Dem Leader Reid’s ‘Doc Fix’ Plan”