“More than 200 companies have joined a boycott of (Glenn) Beck’s program,” reports the Washington Post. “A handful of advertisers, such as (IPhone owner) Apple, have abandoned Fox altogether.”
We can only assume this Apple “boycott” was prompted by what CBS’s Katie Couric (quoting the Fox commentator’s critics) describes as Beck’s “inflammatory, unfair, despicable, hateful rhetoric.” This same hyper-sensitive-to-hate-speech Apple, by the way, has just launched an IPhone application featuring Che Guevara’s quotes. Yes! “
http://bigjournalism.com/hfontova/2010/03/30/apple-boycotts-glenn-beck-promotes-che-guevara/
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
More on that last post, deducting for long-term care...
I should have titled that last post "here we go again". The more I read about the hidden long-term health care plan in Obamacare, the more I'm reminded of Social Security, and other government programs that started out with "good intentions". The program is supposedly funded by deductions from paychecks, all on a sliding scale based on age. What happens when the government has a slush fund of dollars that they're supposed to save for the future? Uh, well, they can't keep their money-grubbing, gotta-have-another-government-trinket hands out of the pot. You know where this one is headed. I understand that you have to opt OUT of the program, but can't say that with absolute certainty. It could be that it's a voluntary opt in --- at least for now. Try opting out of Social Security or some of those other fun deductions from your pay check.
How many hidden surprises to come in Obamacare???
Little-Known Health Care Law Provision Is a Budget Buster, Critics Say
While Congress spent the last year debating how to provide health insurance for the uninsured, a little-known provision slipped into the heath care law that could cost some Americans upwards of $2,000 a year.
The Class Act, otherwise known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act, is the federal government's first long-term care insurance program.
Under-reported and the under the radar of most lawmakers, the program will allow workers to have an average of roughly $150 or $240 a month, based on age and salary, automatically deducted from their paycheck to save for long-term care...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/26/little-known-long-termhealth-care-provision-budget-buster-say-critics/
---
A few of our other Political blogs:
http://jmacpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://barracudababes.blogspot.com/
http://republicancandidates.blogspot.com/
http://republican-news-sweep.blogspot.com/
http://gfpteapartynews.blogspot.com/
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://goodgovernmentga.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpitstop.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpotluckblog.blogspot.com/
---
While Congress spent the last year debating how to provide health insurance for the uninsured, a little-known provision slipped into the heath care law that could cost some Americans upwards of $2,000 a year.
The Class Act, otherwise known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act, is the federal government's first long-term care insurance program.
Under-reported and the under the radar of most lawmakers, the program will allow workers to have an average of roughly $150 or $240 a month, based on age and salary, automatically deducted from their paycheck to save for long-term care...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/26/little-known-long-termhealth-care-provision-budget-buster-say-critics/
---
A few of our other Political blogs:
http://jmacpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://barracudababes.blogspot.com/
http://republicancandidates.blogspot.com/
http://republican-news-sweep.blogspot.com/
http://gfpteapartynews.blogspot.com/
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://goodgovernmentga.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpitstop.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpotluckblog.blogspot.com/
---
Next in Obamacare...
Germany has a new plan in place to save on healthcare costs... they are only going to allow drug companies to charge whatever they need or like for one year. After that, the government will set the prices.
Put yourself in the position of owner of a drug company. You spend billions and years to develop a drug. Your motivation? Probably a combination of wanting to make money, keep your company afloat and maybe somewhere in the mix is a desire to do good and help people, a good feeling about keeping a whole bunch of people working and who knows what else. But no matter what, the bottom line is... the bottom line. You have a responsibility to your employees, your stock holders and those who depend on you. Take away the profits and why do what you're doing?
So along comes the German government. They tell you to feel free to make a profit the first year, but after that they'll determine how much you get paid for your investment. Their motivation? Keeping healthcare costs down.
Now, tell me what you are going to do as a drug company? First thing is you'll probably close up shop in Germany and move to a country that will pay you for your investment, labor, technology and innovation.
Currently the United States is churning out the majority of new stuff, the break-through drugs and cutting edge technology. However, with the advent of Obamacare who knows how much longer we'll have a free market.
Back to Germany. You've closed up shop and taken your wares elsewhere. You're willing to sell the first year, but what's the incentive to sell your $100 a pill drug at $5.00 a pill and take a loss? or have to prove that it's really worth maybe $80 a pill minus your profit and thus Germany should split the difference and pay you $90? Of course, I haven't read the details, but chances are the government probably has something in place that says if you sell the drugs the first year then you're obligated to sell at their price for x number of additional years.
The folks in Germany will start heading to hospitals in other countries to get the drugs and treatment, or they'll buy on the black market.
However, another monkey wrench is on the horizon. The entire world is moving toward 1984 type handling of drugs. Pretty soon there won't be a country left in the world that's willing to pay companies for their investment in developing new drugs (and probably other products soon).
Are these short-sighted Obama-types unable to see what the end result of their meddling will be? Do they really think they can FORCE people to be "good", to want to spend their time slaving for years to cure a disease at minimum wage?
The reason the United States has prospered way beyond anyone's expectation has been its free market. We have big hearts, but they're practical hearts, too. We understand that creating a drug that cures a disease can also keep many, many people employed, keep food on tables, and give people incentives for WANTING to keep their eyes hovering over a petri dish.
I hope people across the world are seeing where we're headed. Obama, Pelosi and friends are trying to move America into the European mold. Beware and watch the rest of the world closely to see where these misguided fools in control of our government are trying to drag our great country.
3/27/10 German drug plan ‘will hurt investments’
A plan by the German government to cut prices of patented drugs will ultimately harm investments in developing new medicines, Eli Lilly chief executive John Lechleiter said on yesterday. The German health minister on Friday unveiled a plan to save taxpayers about €2bn ($2.7bn) by giving drugmakers the right to charge their own prices on brand-name drugs only in the products’ first year on the market.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=351472&version=1&template_id=48&parent_id=28
Germany confirms compulsory drug price deals
11 March 2010
Germany’s Health Minister Philipp Rosler said yesterday that he will require drugmakers to negotiate lower drug prices with public health insurers “as soon as possible,” and that a price freeze and mandatory discounts will operate until they reach such agreement. Enabling legislation for the country’s new drug pricing structure is will be presented to parliamentary groups soon and will in place “by the end of the year at the latest,” the Minister said, in an interview with the daily newspaper Bild.
http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=17540
3/8/10 The End of Free Drug Pricing in Germany?
According to local press, Germany's health minister Philipp Roesler is about to open fire against the branded drug industry with a proposal to break the sector's so-called 'price monopoly' and force them to negotiate lower prices directly with insurers. Until now, Germany has been one of Europe's last bastions of "free" upfront drug pricing. Sure, the hurdles come afterwards, but both there and in the UK drug firms have--until now--been allowed to set more or less the price they like for new drugs.
http://www.europharmatoday.com/2010/03/the-end-of-free-drug-pricing-in-germany.html
12/19/02 Germany to reduce drug prices despite agreement with big pharma
Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:00:00
New York - The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that despite a previous agreement between Germany's government and some of the world's largest drug companiesincluding Pfizer Inc, Merck & Co, and GlaxoSmithKlinethat it would not cut drug prices for 2 years in return for a $206 million donation to its public health system, Germany does plan to cut drug prices after all, by 6% next year.
http://www.theheart.org/article/182739.do
Put yourself in the position of owner of a drug company. You spend billions and years to develop a drug. Your motivation? Probably a combination of wanting to make money, keep your company afloat and maybe somewhere in the mix is a desire to do good and help people, a good feeling about keeping a whole bunch of people working and who knows what else. But no matter what, the bottom line is... the bottom line. You have a responsibility to your employees, your stock holders and those who depend on you. Take away the profits and why do what you're doing?
So along comes the German government. They tell you to feel free to make a profit the first year, but after that they'll determine how much you get paid for your investment. Their motivation? Keeping healthcare costs down.
Now, tell me what you are going to do as a drug company? First thing is you'll probably close up shop in Germany and move to a country that will pay you for your investment, labor, technology and innovation.
Currently the United States is churning out the majority of new stuff, the break-through drugs and cutting edge technology. However, with the advent of Obamacare who knows how much longer we'll have a free market.
Back to Germany. You've closed up shop and taken your wares elsewhere. You're willing to sell the first year, but what's the incentive to sell your $100 a pill drug at $5.00 a pill and take a loss? or have to prove that it's really worth maybe $80 a pill minus your profit and thus Germany should split the difference and pay you $90? Of course, I haven't read the details, but chances are the government probably has something in place that says if you sell the drugs the first year then you're obligated to sell at their price for x number of additional years.
The folks in Germany will start heading to hospitals in other countries to get the drugs and treatment, or they'll buy on the black market.
However, another monkey wrench is on the horizon. The entire world is moving toward 1984 type handling of drugs. Pretty soon there won't be a country left in the world that's willing to pay companies for their investment in developing new drugs (and probably other products soon).
Are these short-sighted Obama-types unable to see what the end result of their meddling will be? Do they really think they can FORCE people to be "good", to want to spend their time slaving for years to cure a disease at minimum wage?
The reason the United States has prospered way beyond anyone's expectation has been its free market. We have big hearts, but they're practical hearts, too. We understand that creating a drug that cures a disease can also keep many, many people employed, keep food on tables, and give people incentives for WANTING to keep their eyes hovering over a petri dish.
I hope people across the world are seeing where we're headed. Obama, Pelosi and friends are trying to move America into the European mold. Beware and watch the rest of the world closely to see where these misguided fools in control of our government are trying to drag our great country.
3/27/10 German drug plan ‘will hurt investments’
A plan by the German government to cut prices of patented drugs will ultimately harm investments in developing new medicines, Eli Lilly chief executive John Lechleiter said on yesterday. The German health minister on Friday unveiled a plan to save taxpayers about €2bn ($2.7bn) by giving drugmakers the right to charge their own prices on brand-name drugs only in the products’ first year on the market.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=351472&version=1&template_id=48&parent_id=28
Germany confirms compulsory drug price deals
11 March 2010
Germany’s Health Minister Philipp Rosler said yesterday that he will require drugmakers to negotiate lower drug prices with public health insurers “as soon as possible,” and that a price freeze and mandatory discounts will operate until they reach such agreement. Enabling legislation for the country’s new drug pricing structure is will be presented to parliamentary groups soon and will in place “by the end of the year at the latest,” the Minister said, in an interview with the daily newspaper Bild.
http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/article.aspx?id=17540
3/8/10 The End of Free Drug Pricing in Germany?
According to local press, Germany's health minister Philipp Roesler is about to open fire against the branded drug industry with a proposal to break the sector's so-called 'price monopoly' and force them to negotiate lower prices directly with insurers. Until now, Germany has been one of Europe's last bastions of "free" upfront drug pricing. Sure, the hurdles come afterwards, but both there and in the UK drug firms have--until now--been allowed to set more or less the price they like for new drugs.
http://www.europharmatoday.com/2010/03/the-end-of-free-drug-pricing-in-germany.html
12/19/02 Germany to reduce drug prices despite agreement with big pharma
Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:00:00
New York - The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that despite a previous agreement between Germany's government and some of the world's largest drug companiesincluding Pfizer Inc, Merck & Co, and GlaxoSmithKlinethat it would not cut drug prices for 2 years in return for a $206 million donation to its public health system, Germany does plan to cut drug prices after all, by 6% next year.
http://www.theheart.org/article/182739.do
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Distractions, slight of hand, smoke and mirrors...
Has anyone noticed the pattern over the last year? The Rahmites distract us with something idiotic, like the current hoopla over probably-fabricated "racial slurs" and similar, while our Rome, our country, our beautiful free country, is destroyed behind the scenes.
Today's headlines?
The FCC is quietly recommending taxing the Internet...
Waxman & crew are calling companies on the carpet because they've embarrassed the Dems by stating the truth about how the new healthcare plan will hit their bottom line...
and my favorite (gag):
World Mourns As Communist Darkness Falls Upon America
In what is being described as one of the most astounding power grabs in modern history by newspaper headlines around the World, President Obama has succeeded in his audacious plan to remake America into a full fledged godless communist empire barely one year into his term with the enactment into law by the US Congress of his mammoth health care plan innocuously named H.R. 3200-Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and described by one Kremlin legal expert as having “nothing at all to do with health, but everything to do with control.”
There were more headlines, I just can't go back and grab them all at the moment (although we've been furiously posting them on our blogs and Facebook). If you're reading my stuff then you're watching just as closely as I am and could compile your own long, long list I'm sure.
The current distraction is the fake horror that some Democrats have because of a little bit of name calling... This thing with all the hype about a little bit of name calling by ONE, maybe TWO who were at the Tea Party recently is assinine. Ridiculous. Nothing but smoke & mirrors and a fabricated distraction to hold the attention of the koolaid drinkers while Obama and friends poke a hole here, smash a wall there.
I am so irritated at the gullibility of the press, or their collusion, and the way so many in America lap up whatever is tossed their way if some sound-bite news anchor mouths the words.
So lets compile our own list of all the things that were thrown at George W. Bush and conservatives over the past 8 or so years. Give. Me. A. Break.
So many of us are out here yelling in the wilderness. What we want to do is grab those who think everything will be OK, or those who believe it's great that they're getting another hand out, and shake 'em till we rattle a place in their brains for some truth to seep in...
OK, done ranting. It's raining, lightening (very appropriate at the moment) and I need to turn off the computer so I'll have something to rant on another day.
Today's headlines?
The FCC is quietly recommending taxing the Internet...
Waxman & crew are calling companies on the carpet because they've embarrassed the Dems by stating the truth about how the new healthcare plan will hit their bottom line...
and my favorite (gag):
World Mourns As Communist Darkness Falls Upon America
In what is being described as one of the most astounding power grabs in modern history by newspaper headlines around the World, President Obama has succeeded in his audacious plan to remake America into a full fledged godless communist empire barely one year into his term with the enactment into law by the US Congress of his mammoth health care plan innocuously named H.R. 3200-Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and described by one Kremlin legal expert as having “nothing at all to do with health, but everything to do with control.”
There were more headlines, I just can't go back and grab them all at the moment (although we've been furiously posting them on our blogs and Facebook). If you're reading my stuff then you're watching just as closely as I am and could compile your own long, long list I'm sure.
The current distraction is the fake horror that some Democrats have because of a little bit of name calling... This thing with all the hype about a little bit of name calling by ONE, maybe TWO who were at the Tea Party recently is assinine. Ridiculous. Nothing but smoke & mirrors and a fabricated distraction to hold the attention of the koolaid drinkers while Obama and friends poke a hole here, smash a wall there.
I am so irritated at the gullibility of the press, or their collusion, and the way so many in America lap up whatever is tossed their way if some sound-bite news anchor mouths the words.
So lets compile our own list of all the things that were thrown at George W. Bush and conservatives over the past 8 or so years. Give. Me. A. Break.
So many of us are out here yelling in the wilderness. What we want to do is grab those who think everything will be OK, or those who believe it's great that they're getting another hand out, and shake 'em till we rattle a place in their brains for some truth to seep in...
OK, done ranting. It's raining, lightening (very appropriate at the moment) and I need to turn off the computer so I'll have something to rant on another day
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Obama makes 15 recess appointments, including union lawyer
President Barack Obama on Saturday wielded his recess appointment powers for the first time, clearing 15 nominees to assume posts that have remained vacant for months due to insurmountable congressional roadblocks.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/89473-pres-obama-names-15-recess-appointments-including-becker-
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/89473-pres-obama-names-15-recess-appointments-including-becker-
Friday, March 26, 2010
AP: Say, guess what we just found in ObamaCare!
Congress passed the bill without knowing what was in it. Barack Obama signed it without reading it. Now it looks as though the Associated Press reported on ObamaCare without comprehending its content. Readers will have to scroll far down to discover that the elimination of a key tax break that kept retirees on company prescription-medication plans will mean dumping millions of seniors onto Medicare — and that the AP ignored it until now:
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/26/ap-say-guess-what-we-just-found-in-obamacare/
Every day we're going to learn some new horrible side affect or learn of a negative impact this bill will have on our future.
---
A few of our other Political blogs:
http://jmacpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://barracudababes.blogspot.com/
http://republicancandidates.blogspot.com/
http://republican-news-sweep.blogspot.com/
http://gfpteapartynews.blogspot.com/
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://goodgovernmentga.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpitstop.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpotluckblog.blogspot.com/
---
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/26/ap-say-guess-what-we-just-found-in-obamacare/
Every day we're going to learn some new horrible side affect or learn of a negative impact this bill will have on our future.
---
A few of our other Political blogs:
http://jmacpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://barracudababes.blogspot.com/
http://republicancandidates.blogspot.com/
http://republican-news-sweep.blogspot.com/
http://gfpteapartynews.blogspot.com/
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/
http://goodgovernmentga.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpitstop.blogspot.com/
http://politicalpotluckblog.blogspot.com/
---
The Vat Cometh
Charles Krauthammer on Value Added Tax in Townhall:
As the night follows the day, the VAT cometh.
With the passage of Obamacare, creating a vast new middle-class entitlement, a national sales tax of the kind near-universal in Europe is inevitable.
We are now $8 trillion in debt. The Congressional Budget Office projects that another $12 trillion will be added over the next decade. Obamacare, when stripped of its budgetary gimmicks -- the unfunded $200 billion-plus doctor fix, the double counting of Medicare cuts, the 10-6 sleight-of-hand (counting 10 years of revenue and only 6 years of outflows) -- is at minimum a $2 trillion new entitlement.
http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2010/03/26/the_vat_cometh
As the night follows the day, the VAT cometh.
With the passage of Obamacare, creating a vast new middle-class entitlement, a national sales tax of the kind near-universal in Europe is inevitable.
We are now $8 trillion in debt. The Congressional Budget Office projects that another $12 trillion will be added over the next decade. Obamacare, when stripped of its budgetary gimmicks -- the unfunded $200 billion-plus doctor fix, the double counting of Medicare cuts, the 10-6 sleight-of-hand (counting 10 years of revenue and only 6 years of outflows) -- is at minimum a $2 trillion new entitlement.
http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2010/03/26/the_vat_cometh
Thursday, March 25, 2010
So, where were all these companies when Obamacare was being debated???
So where were all these companies BEFORE the stupid Obamacare bill passed? Now they're coming out of the wood works complaining about the big tax hits they're going to take. Guess who's going to pick up that tab? If they have to pay more taxes, the cost of their products goes up and it hits you and I in the pocketbook. It becomes a vicious cycle. We can't afford to buy their products, sales go down, costs go up, people get laid off, sales go down cause there are fewer people earning money, taxes go up, more people on welfare / getting unemployment benefits, less taxes paid, states can't balance their budgets so they cut employees and services, tax revenue goes down, more people on welfare, etc., etc...
ObamaCare’s Immediate Impact: Declining Profits for an Already Weak Manufacturing Sector
With the ink not even dry on the Democrats’ health care overhaul, American manufacturers are already warning about how much it will cost them. Both Deere and Caterpillar are reporting that the bill will result in their reported earnings declining by $150 million and $100 million respectively. A spokesman for Caterpillar noted the bill’s tax “could cause us to consider changes to the retiree prescription drug benefit,” a concern other companies have raised as well. This is just a preview of what is to come from the over half-trillion dollar in tax increases contained in the Democrats’ health care bill -- the largest tax increase in American history.
Caterpillar predicts $100M health care reform cost:
“Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar says the new health care reform law will create a $100 million drag on its first-quarter earnings because of tax law changes.”
Deere says health care law will raise expenses :
"Deere, based in Moline, Ill., is the second company this week to indicate that the new law will increase its costs."
Obama Tax’s $14 Billion Charge Starts at Caterpillar:
"Disclosures by Caterpillar and AK Steel Holding Corp. in the two days since the signing are the first sets of health-care charges that ultimately may shave as much as $14 billion from U.S. corporate profits."
Deere sees $150 million hit from healthcare reform:
"Farm equipment maker Deere & Co expects after-tax expenses to rise by $150 million this year as a result of the healthcare reform law President Barack Obama signed this week."
---
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.ReadMyLipstickNetwork.com
Twitter: @readmylipstick
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
www.Hummingbird-Hollow.com
Twitter: @hhpotterystudio
---
ObamaCare’s Immediate Impact: Declining Profits for an Already Weak Manufacturing Sector
With the ink not even dry on the Democrats’ health care overhaul, American manufacturers are already warning about how much it will cost them. Both Deere and Caterpillar are reporting that the bill will result in their reported earnings declining by $150 million and $100 million respectively. A spokesman for Caterpillar noted the bill’s tax “could cause us to consider changes to the retiree prescription drug benefit,” a concern other companies have raised as well. This is just a preview of what is to come from the over half-trillion dollar in tax increases contained in the Democrats’ health care bill -- the largest tax increase in American history.
Caterpillar predicts $100M health care reform cost:
“Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar says the new health care reform law will create a $100 million drag on its first-quarter earnings because of tax law changes.”
Deere says health care law will raise expenses :
"Deere, based in Moline, Ill., is the second company this week to indicate that the new law will increase its costs."
Obama Tax’s $14 Billion Charge Starts at Caterpillar:
"Disclosures by Caterpillar and AK Steel Holding Corp. in the two days since the signing are the first sets of health-care charges that ultimately may shave as much as $14 billion from U.S. corporate profits."
Deere sees $150 million hit from healthcare reform:
"Farm equipment maker Deere & Co expects after-tax expenses to rise by $150 million this year as a result of the healthcare reform law President Barack Obama signed this week."
---
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.ReadMyLipstickNetwork.com
Twitter: @readmylipstick
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
www.Hummingbird-Hollow.com
Twitter: @hhpotterystudio
---
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Christine O'Donnell's REPUBLICAN opponent doesn't want to repeal Obamacare???
I wrote earlier today asking everyone to get behind Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware election. After I posted the request AP came out with a story about her opponent "Castle not among Republicans calling for repeal of health reform bill". Yowzer. More than ever Republicans need to have a united front and work together. I don't know whether attempting to repeal the bill will be successful. However, I do know we need to give our every effort to trying to stop the bill in every legal way possible. We can't split, we can't have divisions if we're going to stop Obama's plans to have the government take over healthcare and more...
Here's the story:
Castle not among Republicans calling for repeal of health reform bill
3/24/2010, 3:40 p.m. EDT The Associated Press
(AP) — By NICOLE GAUDIANO
Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware voted with other Republicans against health care reform legislation, but he isn't joining his party's calls to repeal the bill.
"While this president is in office, repealing this full law is not realistic and not the best use of our efforts," he said in a statement.
The Senate is considering legislation - already approved by the House - that would make changes to the law. Several Republican lawmakers want to go further and have introduced legislation to repeal it. Many Republican candidates, including Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell of Delaware, are running on that message.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/health/index.ssf?/base/national-16/126946266625630.xml&storylist=health
Here's the story:
Castle not among Republicans calling for repeal of health reform bill
3/24/2010, 3:40 p.m. EDT The Associated Press
(AP) — By NICOLE GAUDIANO
Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware voted with other Republicans against health care reform legislation, but he isn't joining his party's calls to repeal the bill.
"While this president is in office, repealing this full law is not realistic and not the best use of our efforts," he said in a statement.
The Senate is considering legislation - already approved by the House - that would make changes to the law. Several Republican lawmakers want to go further and have introduced legislation to repeal it. Many Republican candidates, including Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell of Delaware, are running on that message.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/health/index.ssf?/base/national-16/126946266625630.xml&storylist=health
Let's get behind Christine O"Donnell in Delaware!
Christine on the other hand comes from a large family, doesn't have the insider, "you slap my back and I'll slap yours" big dollar support, and has strong conservative values, the kind we need in Washington. She's running a grassroots, feet on the ground, campaign. She needs your feet, your support and your good wishes. If you have friends in Delaware, see what you can do to get them on board and behind her campaign.
The "machine" is coming after her with some negative publicity (gee, she isn't rich, as if that's a negative for most of us!). When they start coming after you with a whisper, innuendo campaign, you know you're becoming a thorn in their side.
Christine is one of six children and said her childhood taught her life was "hard, but hard work can overcome anything." She has been a commentator on FOX and other outlets and has been a marketing consultant and political activist. She ran for the US Senate against Biden in 2006 and is running again against Mike Castle, RINO Republican, and a Democrat named Coons.
I hope you'll do a little research, then consider sending a few dollars her way if you can. If we can get a true conservative in Delaware it'll really strengthen our fight for this country.
Red State/ Erick Erickson: Replacing the Old Guard
And if we can, I say we go with Ovide LaMontagne in New Hampshire and Christine O’Donnell in Delaware. Let’s go all and all in for small government conservatives. This year is our last best chance in a long time to get a slate of solid conservatives.
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/03/16/replacing-the-old-guard/
Modcon endorses Christine O'Donnell in Delaware
March 22, 2010
The one authentic conservative running for the U.S. Senate from Delaware this year is Christine O'Donnell, a marketing consulant and TV commentator (FOX and other outlets). Christine is a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment constitutional and social conservative. Her opponent in the Republican primary is Mike Castle, an Arlen Specter-type "Republican" who voted for cap-and-trade. The Democrat in the race, Chris Coons, is an Obamabot who never saw anything in the Obama agenda that he couldn't embrace.
Can Christine O'Donnell win this race? In a Rasmussen Poll last December, she was running a competitive race against hypothetical Democrat candidate, Beau Biden, Joe's son. That poll may have been a factor in Beau's staying out of the race. In the Rasmussen Poll, Christine was outpolling Beau almost two-to-one among Independents.
Christine O'Donnell may well surprise the political world as much as Scott Brown did in MA!
Modern Conservative is delighted to endorse a true "modern conservative," Christine O'Donnell.
Here's a 2008 article Christine wrote for Townhall:
Obama Supports Global Tax From United Nations
For an entire week, Americans watched as Senator Barack Obama took his act on the road, courting the European elitists and cowtowing to an endless array of foreign politicians. At this point it may be easy to take Obama’s “celebri-plomacy” lightly. Yet, his trip highlights a dangerous threat to America’s national sovereignty in the form of his globalist policies that will diminish America’s role in the world and outsource decisions of vital national interest to the United Nations.
http://townhall.com/columnists/ChristineODonnell/2008/08/08/obama_supports_global_tax_from_united_nations
And a 2008 Politico article on her run against Joe Biden:
Joe Biden's other female foe
In his debate with Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday, Joe Biden told the American public that “all you have to do is go down Union Street with me in Wilmington, or go to Katie’s Restaurant” to get a sense of how people feel about the economy.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14268.html
Don't fall into their trap...
I was just listening to a report on Fox News about Democrats having a talk with security (of some sort) in D.C. It seems there have been, or there have been some manufactured, reports of threats of violence against Dems who supported Obamacare.
Unfortunately, whether it's a set up, whether it's true or not, much is going to be made of any type of a loud sneeze from conservatives. Do we have some extreme wacko's? Sure... they have 'em on the left, too.
My big concern is that they could be setting the table for some sort of martial law, worst case. Best case? They ultimately portray us all as nut jobs, unstable crazies.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that they were encouraging some of the extremists, all the while watching them closely so they could stop them in the nick of time. Nothing from this Obama White House would surprise me.
Right now the Obama-types are saying that Republicans are stupid, that our elected Republicans are in disarray among other just as idiotic things. They are painting a picture that is fiction, but you know how the left loves comic book life and will buy into anything if they hear it often enough. Give 'em a good mantra and they'll high five and repeat it ad nauseam.
This White House spends more time plotting how to reach their end goals than they do on actual meaningful policy.
We already know they're hoping to push through immigration "reform", another amnesty package in hopes of sufficient numbers of voters to keep them in power. Cap & Trade isn't off the table. If they can't get their policies enacted through Congress Obama will do an end run around them and get his Czars and other minions to put things in place.
And, just because you and I are involved and aware, don't think the entire country is aware, watching and planning to vote. Go talk to your neighbors in a pleasant social setting and bring up politics. Betcha most of them brush off your concerns, want to change the subject or think it's a bunch of hooey about nothing.
This latest bit about threats of violence is part of the Obama / Pelosi / Rahm long-term plan. They want us on the run, scared to voice our opinions. If some whack-job does do something stupid we're all going to be tarred with the same brush. They'll figure out a way to say that Tea Party groups are inciting violence and will outlaw group meetings if that's what it takes.
Watch closely. Be prepared. Please don't resort to name-calling, threats or let your angst and anger get you into trouble. This is a time when we need to all work together and we need to hold hands in prayerful, peaceful solidarity. Placards, blogs, faxes, petitions, phone calls and signs, yes. Threats, rocks or any kind of violence, definite NO.
Unfortunately, whether it's a set up, whether it's true or not, much is going to be made of any type of a loud sneeze from conservatives. Do we have some extreme wacko's? Sure... they have 'em on the left, too.
My big concern is that they could be setting the table for some sort of martial law, worst case. Best case? They ultimately portray us all as nut jobs, unstable crazies.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that they were encouraging some of the extremists, all the while watching them closely so they could stop them in the nick of time. Nothing from this Obama White House would surprise me.
Right now the Obama-types are saying that Republicans are stupid, that our elected Republicans are in disarray among other just as idiotic things. They are painting a picture that is fiction, but you know how the left loves comic book life and will buy into anything if they hear it often enough. Give 'em a good mantra and they'll high five and repeat it ad nauseam.
This White House spends more time plotting how to reach their end goals than they do on actual meaningful policy.
We already know they're hoping to push through immigration "reform", another amnesty package in hopes of sufficient numbers of voters to keep them in power. Cap & Trade isn't off the table. If they can't get their policies enacted through Congress Obama will do an end run around them and get his Czars and other minions to put things in place.
And, just because you and I are involved and aware, don't think the entire country is aware, watching and planning to vote. Go talk to your neighbors in a pleasant social setting and bring up politics. Betcha most of them brush off your concerns, want to change the subject or think it's a bunch of hooey about nothing.
This latest bit about threats of violence is part of the Obama / Pelosi / Rahm long-term plan. They want us on the run, scared to voice our opinions. If some whack-job does do something stupid we're all going to be tarred with the same brush. They'll figure out a way to say that Tea Party groups are inciting violence and will outlaw group meetings if that's what it takes.
Watch closely. Be prepared. Please don't resort to name-calling, threats or let your angst and anger get you into trouble. This is a time when we need to all work together and we need to hold hands in prayerful, peaceful solidarity. Placards, blogs, faxes, petitions, phone calls and signs, yes. Threats, rocks or any kind of violence, definite NO.
Guess who's exempt?
Good article in New York Post:
Guess who's exempt?
Good old Joe Biden, introducing Barack Obama at the health-care bill-signing lollapalooza in Washington yesterday, leaned over and whispered into the presidential ear (and a nearby open mike): "This is a big f---ing deal."
Sure was -- though not personally to Veep Potty-Mouth, nor to the president.
They're exempt, you see.
Really.
No worrying for them about the personal consequences of ObamaCare's overbearing regulation, worrisome coverage uncertainties and financial confusions.
Same for members of the presidential Cabinet -- and all of their staff members.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/guess_who_exempt_3Ooyvo9LOXqOjXdMNjkwhN?sms_ss=facebook#ixzz0j6Lf09Kc
Guess who's exempt?
Good old Joe Biden, introducing Barack Obama at the health-care bill-signing lollapalooza in Washington yesterday, leaned over and whispered into the presidential ear (and a nearby open mike): "This is a big f---ing deal."
Sure was -- though not personally to Veep Potty-Mouth, nor to the president.
They're exempt, you see.
Really.
No worrying for them about the personal consequences of ObamaCare's overbearing regulation, worrisome coverage uncertainties and financial confusions.
Same for members of the presidential Cabinet -- and all of their staff members.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/guess_who_exempt_3Ooyvo9LOXqOjXdMNjkwhN?sms_ss=facebook#ixzz0j6Lf09Kc
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
'Online Tax Revolt' to Create a First-Ever Virtual Protest of Current U.S. Tax System
A massive tax “revolt” is scheduled to take place on April 15 -- income tax deadline day – but unlike past events, this one will not only involve people coming to Capitol Hill for a rally, it will include a “first-of-its-kind” online march designed for people who can’t come to the nation’s capital. Participants in the Online Tax Revolt will choose an online personality to “march” with those in physical attendance in Washington during a live Web cast... 'Online Tax Revolt' to Create a First-Ever Virtual Protest of Current U.S. Tax System
Monday, March 22, 2010
The "REAL" Stupak... saying he'd vote for healthcare even if it funds abortion...
All along I've been thinking that Michigan's Bart Stupak was just trying to have his day in the limelight, that he was a weasel. I hoped he was being true to his principles, but as you can see and hear from his own lips, very clearly he was willing to sell out all along. As a lib wrote earlier: "Now NO ONE likes him..."
I hope Michigan Right to Life follows the lead of the Susan B. Anthony List. Whether you're pro-life, pro-choice, etc. it's impossible to call this man someone who has convictions of any sort.
Without Stupak the IRS wouldn't now be gearing up to treat your healthcare choices the same way they treat you when you miss a penny on your taxes.
Obama is going to claim a double whammy on this one... he's going to "create" 15,000 - 16,000 new jobs at the same time he just took over healtcare and the education loan business.
Are people watching??? He has the auto industry, the banks, the education system, the healthcare system, he's raising taxes, getting ready to cap & tax us and he's going to have an amnesty bill that gives him the illegal alien vote to keep his butt in office.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Stupak Stripped of 'Defender of Life' Award
Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund Pledges to Drive Out Pro-life Betrayers in November
WASHINGTON, March 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- In response to Rep. Bart Stupak's announcement that he and other self-labeled "pro-life" Democrats will vote in favor of Healthcare reform legislation with the addition of an Executive Order from the White House to address concerns about abortion funding, Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:
"This Wednesday night is our third annual Campaign for Life Gala, where we were planning to honor Congressman Stupak for his efforts to keep abortion-funding out of health care reform-we will no longer be doing so. By accepting this deal from the most pro-abortion President in American history, Stupak has not only failed to stand strong for unborn children, but also for his constituents and pro-life voters across the country.
"Let me be clear: any representative, including Rep. Stupak, who votes for this healthcare bill can no longer call themselves 'pro-life.' The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund will not endorse, or support in any capacity, any Member of Congress who votes for this bill in any future election. Now through Election Day 2010, these representatives will learn that votes have consequences. The SBA List Candidate Fund will work tirelessly to help defeat Members who support this legislation and make sure their constituents know exactly how they voted. We will actively seek out true pro-life candidates to oppose Members who vote 'yes' on this bill, whether it be in general or primary elections. For these Members, it will be a quick downhill slide to defeat in November.
"The executive order on abortion funding does absolutely nothing to fix the problems presented by the health care reform bill that the House will vote on this evening. The very idea should offend all pro-life Members of Congress. An executive order can be rescinded at any time at the President's whim, and the courts could and have a history of trumping executive orders. Most importantly, pro-abortion Representatives have admitted the executive order is meaningless."
Last night, Rep. DeGette told The Huffington Post, "If there was an executive order saying they weren't going to use federal funds in the bill to pay for abortions that would be fine with me."
Today, Rep. Wasserman Schultz admitted to Fox News' Megyn Kelly that "an executive order cannot change the law."
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pointed out today that "only a change in the law enacted by Congress, not an executive order, can begin to address this very serious problem in the legislation."
The Susan B. Anthony List has been leading the fight against abortion funding in health care reform for over a year, spending nearly $2 million on a grassroots campaign of targeted television and radio ads, 1.3 million automated calls, 70,000 patch-through constituent calls, 1.2 million letters and petitions to Congress, two media and grassroots tours in pro-life Democratic districts, television ads in six districts and comprehensive polling in 20 pro-life Democratic districts.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 280,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
http://www.earnedmedia.org/sbal03211.htm
WASHINGTON, March 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- In response to Rep. Bart Stupak's announcement that he and other self-labeled "pro-life" Democrats will vote in favor of Healthcare reform legislation with the addition of an Executive Order from the White House to address concerns about abortion funding, Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:
"This Wednesday night is our third annual Campaign for Life Gala, where we were planning to honor Congressman Stupak for his efforts to keep abortion-funding out of health care reform-we will no longer be doing so. By accepting this deal from the most pro-abortion President in American history, Stupak has not only failed to stand strong for unborn children, but also for his constituents and pro-life voters across the country.
"Let me be clear: any representative, including Rep. Stupak, who votes for this healthcare bill can no longer call themselves 'pro-life.' The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund will not endorse, or support in any capacity, any Member of Congress who votes for this bill in any future election. Now through Election Day 2010, these representatives will learn that votes have consequences. The SBA List Candidate Fund will work tirelessly to help defeat Members who support this legislation and make sure their constituents know exactly how they voted. We will actively seek out true pro-life candidates to oppose Members who vote 'yes' on this bill, whether it be in general or primary elections. For these Members, it will be a quick downhill slide to defeat in November.
"The executive order on abortion funding does absolutely nothing to fix the problems presented by the health care reform bill that the House will vote on this evening. The very idea should offend all pro-life Members of Congress. An executive order can be rescinded at any time at the President's whim, and the courts could and have a history of trumping executive orders. Most importantly, pro-abortion Representatives have admitted the executive order is meaningless."
Last night, Rep. DeGette told The Huffington Post, "If there was an executive order saying they weren't going to use federal funds in the bill to pay for abortions that would be fine with me."
Today, Rep. Wasserman Schultz admitted to Fox News' Megyn Kelly that "an executive order cannot change the law."
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pointed out today that "only a change in the law enacted by Congress, not an executive order, can begin to address this very serious problem in the legislation."
The Susan B. Anthony List has been leading the fight against abortion funding in health care reform for over a year, spending nearly $2 million on a grassroots campaign of targeted television and radio ads, 1.3 million automated calls, 70,000 patch-through constituent calls, 1.2 million letters and petitions to Congress, two media and grassroots tours in pro-life Democratic districts, television ads in six districts and comprehensive polling in 20 pro-life Democratic districts.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 280,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
http://www.earnedmedia.org/sbal03211.htm
CBO Reconfirms Democrats’ Health Overhaul Increases Premiums, Robs Those of their Current Plan, Increases Federal Health Spending, Slashes Medicare
CBO Reconfirms Democrats’ Health Overhaul Increases Premiums,
Robs Those of their Current Plan, Increases Federal Health Spending, Slashes Medicare
Robs Those of their Current Plan, Increases Federal Health Spending, Slashes Medicare
Tonight, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released their latest estimate of the Democrats’ reconciliation bill (H.R. 4278) that the House is expected to consider tomorrow. Three highlights stood out:
- INSURANCE PREMIUMS RISE FASTER THAN IF CONGRESS DID NOTHING. A staple of then-Senator Obama’s campaign speeches was that his health plan would lower the cost of insurance by $2,500. Sadly, the exact opposite is true under the Democrats’ health overhaul. CBO tonight indicated that the reconciliation bill’s impact on premiums would be “quite similar” to what they found for the original Senate Democrat bill. For those who don’t recall, CBO predicted that bill would increase premiums by millions of families by $2,100 per year more than doing nothing at all.
- LOSING THE COVERAGE YOU HAVE. CBO confirms, once again, that the Democrats' government takeover of health care will violate the President’s oft-repeated pledge that his proposal will let people keep the health plans they have and like. Under the Democrats' proposal, CBO estimates that as many as 9 million people whould would be enrolled in employer-based plans now will have to find some other way to get coverage.
- INCREASING, NOT DECREASING, GOVERNMENT HEALTH SPENDING. There have been extensive discussions about how policy-makers need to reduce federal spending on health care because it is growing at an unsustainable rate. CBO’s letter tonight confirms that, rather than slowing this trend, H.R. 4278 actually makes a bad Senate bill worse. Specifically, CBO found that the Senate bill would “increase the federal budgetary commitment to health care” between 2010 and 2019 by about $210 billion. When combined with the reconciliation bill to be considered tomorrow, that figure nearly doubles to about $390 billion.
And in case that wasn’t enough, the Democrats’ increased by $5 billion the Medicare cuts they need to fund their new entitlement, bringing the total amount of Medicare cuts to $528.5 billion. Keep in mind that the Obama Administration actuaries at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated the Senate-passed bill’s one-half trillion dollars in Medicare cuts could threaten seniors’ access to care and bent upward the growth curve for national health spending. The Medicare Actuaries today informed Congress that while they won’t be able to complete an estimate of the new bill before the House vote tomorrow because of the tight timeframe, “it is reasonable to expect that our updated analysis of this legislation… would be generally similar..."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Democrats' Health Bill Does What?!!?!
Eleven Alarming Tax Issues
www.Republicans.WaysandMeans.House.Gov
- Creates a special deal for union members. Starting in 2018, a single union worker in a multiemployer health plan would be completely exempt from the “Cadillac tax” (a 40% tax on high-cost plans) unless the price of that plan exceeds $27,500. In contrast, a single, non-union worker living right next door would start paying that Cadillac tax as soon as the value of her health plan exceeds $10,200.
- Makes a bad surtax worse. Twenty-two House Democrats opposed a surtax contained in an earlier version of the Democrats’ health care bill. That surtax would have started at a rate of 2% and would have applied to Americans earning over $280,000 for singles and $350,000 for couples. Under the current version of the bill, however, the Medicare surtaxes on both earned income (imposed at a rate of 0.9%) and investment income (imposed at a higher rate of 3.8%) feature far lower thresholds – $200,000 for singles and $250,000 for couples.
- Increases taxes on real estate investments. The 3.8% Medicare surtax would hit average, middle-class investors in real estate. A middle-class taxpayer who happens to sell real estate for a significant gain in a particular year would be liable for this new tax, regardless of how low her income might be in other, more typical years. The National Association of Realtors wrote to Speaker Pelosi and Ways and Means Chairman Levin urging that Congress reject this unfair tax increase, especially given the flagging economy.
- Vastly expands IRS powers. According to a new report, the Democrats’ health care bill vastly expands the responsibilities of the Internal Revenue Service and would strengthen the IRS’s heavy hand in dealing with ordinary taxpayers who play by the rules. If this bill becomes law, the IRS may have to hire up to 16,500 additional auditors, agents, and other employees just to enforce all the new taxes and penalties. The bill would empower the IRS to: (1) verify that Americans have “acceptable” health care coverage; (2) fine Americans up to $2,085 or 2 percent of income (whichever is greater) for the failure to purchase “minimum essential coverage”; (3) confiscate tax refunds; and (4) increase audits.
- Imposes new marriage penalties. Because the Democrats’ subsidies for health insurance are solely based on the federal poverty level, if two people make $32,000 per year, they would pay between $6,000 and $10,000 more for health insurance than before they said “I do.” This is because as singles they were poor enough to receive health care subsidies, but as a married couple, these Americans are too rich for federal assistance. A discussion of how a prior version of the bill would have imposed these marriage penalties can be accessed here.
- Breaks the President’s pledge on not taxing the middle class in at least a dozen ways. The Democrats’ health care bill contains at least a dozen direct and indirect tax increases that would break President Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on those making less than $200,000 for singles and $250,000 for couples. These include: (1) a “Cadillac tax” on high-cost plans, (2) an individual mandate tax on Americans who do not purchase government-approved health insurance, (3) an increase in the 7.5% AGI floor for medical expense deductions to 10%, (4) limits on Flexible Spending Accounts in cafeteria plans, (5) increased penalties for nonqualified HSA distributions, (6) other restrictions on Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, and Flexible Spending Accounts, (7) a tax on tanning services, (8) an employer mandate tax, (9) a sales tax on medical devices, (10) a tax on health insurance premiums, (11) a tax on prescription drugs, and (12) a tax on insured and self-insured health plans.
- Ensnares a growing number of people in the Cadillac tax. The Cadillac tax in the Democrats’ health care bill would not keep pace with medical inflation after it comes into effect in 2018, meaning a larger and larger tax hit over time. Beginning in 2020, this tax would be indexed by only the consumer price index. Given that health insurance premiums will likely increase faster than CPI, the Cadillac tax would hit more and more plans each year and take a bigger bite from those already covered
- Repeats the mistakes of the AMT. Instead of learning the lesson of the Alternative Minimum Tax, which hits more and more Americans every year because the exemption level is not indexed for inflation, the Democrats’ bill repeats this mistake by failing to index the exemption threshold for the Medicare surtaxes on both earned and unearned income.
- Forces those with catastrophic costs to pay even more. Current law provides important tax relief to Americans who suffer catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses, permitting a deduction for costs above 7.5% of income. The Democrats’ bill would raise that threshold to 10% of income in 2012 (2016 for seniors and the disabled). This is a particularly hard hit on those with the highest medical costs who can least afford to pay more taxes. And, according to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, more than 95% of the revenue generated from this tax increase would come from taxpayers earning less than $200,000.
- Punishes investment in our economy. Under the Democrats’ bill, the Medicare tax would, for the very first time, apply to capital gains, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and other investment income of singles earning over $200,000 and couples earning over $250,000. Currently, capital gains and dividends are taxed at a top rate of 15%, but those rates are already scheduled to rise in 2011 to 20% and 39.6%, respectively. When the expansion of the Medicare tax is coupled with the already scheduled rate increase, capital gains rates on these types of investment income, long-term capital gains rates would rise by almost 60% next year – from 15% to 23.8% – and the top tax rate on dividends would nearly triple – from 15% to 43.4%.
- Robs Peter and leaves Paul broke. The Senate-passed Tax Extenders bill (H.R. 4213, as amended) includes one-year extensions of important tax relief policies for both individuals and businesses that expired on December 31, 2009. These include the deduction for state and local sales taxes, the R&D tax credit, and numerous energy-related incentives. Just weeks ago, the Senate decided to “pay for” those provisions by making “black liquor” ineligible for the cellulosic biofuel producer credit and by codifying the economic substance doctrine into law. Yet Democrats have now chosen to steal those very same revenue offsets – totaling $28.1 billion – to help finance their trillion dollar health bill instead. This begs the question: To the extent Democratic Leaders decide to adhere to PAYGO on Tax Extenders, what new taxes will they raise to replace all that lost revenue?
www.Republicans.WaysandMeans.House.Gov
Bishop’s Healthcare Vote Important for Georgians to Watch
Last Thursday, I wrote to Congressmen Sanford Bishop and John Barrow asking them to put the needs of their districts and state before their political party, and oppose the healthcare legislation pending before Congress. Now that Rep. Bishop is poised to be one of the deciding votes in favor of the legislation, I am publicly imploring him to vote no for the good of our state.
Unlike Congress, Georgia is obligated to pass a balanced budget every year. In the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression, balancing the state budget has been a monumental task entailing great sacrifices. Teachers and state employees have taken furlough days and we have been forced to close crime labs we would prefer to keep open. All told we have cut more than $3 billion from our state budget in the last 18 months. The state is now operating at 2005 spending levels, while serving nearly a million additional residents.
Congressman Bishop’s vote on healthcare will further devastate our state’s budget. It will eventually result in an additional billion dollars of Medicaid costs per year. The state simply cannot provide basic services such as education and public safety with another billion dollars in spending forced on us by Washington. We all know Congress thinks they have a national credit card with no limit, now they seem intent on roping the states into their spending rodeo.
What’s more, Congressman Bishop’s vote will delay our state’s economic recovery. Among the job killing provisions in the bill, Bishop is voting for is a requirement that triples the penalty for small businesses who do not offer health insurance to their employees. Those mom and pop businesses, the backbone of Georgia's economy, will have to pay an additional $2,000 per part-time and full-time employee. As a small businessman myself, I know that mandate will unbearably squeeze business margins and result in layoffs and delayed hiring.
The current bill also includes an extension of the Medicare tax on all non-wage income. This means that small business owners will see their top rate increased by 20 percent and investment income taxes will increase 60 percent. I can think of no better way to slow our nation's economic rebound.
Sadly, most Americans are unaware of these and other provisions in the healthcare bill because Congress has kept the bill hidden from them and did not unveil until the last possible minute for a Sunday vote. We've seen backroom, sweetheart deals like the Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase, examples of what citizens dislike most about politics today. These provisions mean Georgians will pay not only for increased healthcare costs here, but in other states as well.
This Sunday morning as Congressman Bishop prepares to cast a deciding vote on healthcare, I join the majority of Georgians in praying he does the right thing and votes no.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Michael Barone - Projections from the House's 'deem to pass' roll call
Democrats voted for the rule by a 222-28 margin; all 175 Republicans were opposed. Six members, three Democrats and three Republicans, did not vote; each can be counted on to support his or her party on a final vote.
Of the 28 Democrats voting no, 16 voted against the House health care bill last November: Bright (AL 2), Davis (AL 7), Kosmas (FL 24), Minnick (ID 1), Melancon (LA 3), Kratovil (MD 1), Childers (MS 1), Taylor (MS 4), Adler (NJ 3), Teague (NM 2), McIntyre (NC 7), Shuler (NC 11), Boren (OK 2), Holden (PA 17), Herseth Sandlin (SD 1), Nye (VA 2).
To judge from The Hill’s whip count, almost all of these 16 look like solid noes on the bill, with only Kosmas in doubt. Defying the leadership on a vote on a rule is a pretty clear indication of opposition on the merits. And it’s going to take a lot of persuading to get a member who has cast two safe-harbor no votes to switch, under the glare of publicity, to yes.
Michael Barone - Projections from the House's 'deem to pass' roll call
Of the 28 Democrats voting no, 16 voted against the House health care bill last November: Bright (AL 2), Davis (AL 7), Kosmas (FL 24), Minnick (ID 1), Melancon (LA 3), Kratovil (MD 1), Childers (MS 1), Taylor (MS 4), Adler (NJ 3), Teague (NM 2), McIntyre (NC 7), Shuler (NC 11), Boren (OK 2), Holden (PA 17), Herseth Sandlin (SD 1), Nye (VA 2).
To judge from The Hill’s whip count, almost all of these 16 look like solid noes on the bill, with only Kosmas in doubt. Defying the leadership on a vote on a rule is a pretty clear indication of opposition on the merits. And it’s going to take a lot of persuading to get a member who has cast two safe-harbor no votes to switch, under the glare of publicity, to yes.
Michael Barone - Projections from the House's 'deem to pass' roll call
J.P. Freire - 16,500 additional IRS agents needed to enforce Obamacare
A new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee minority staff estimates up to 16,500 new IRS personnel will be needed to collect, examine and audit new tax information mandated on families and small businesses in the ‘reconciliation’ bill being taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend.
J.P. Freire - 16,500 additional IRS agents needed to enforce Obamacare
Thursday, March 18, 2010
IRS & Obamacare 2... all Americans EXCEPT Illegals...
I've posted a number of things on the IRS involvement in the Democrat's proposed healthcare bill. Wanted to make sure that when you read the Republican Ways & Means press release I shared a few minutes ago that you noted the 2nd to last sentence:
The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.
Welcome to ObamaWorld... Remember the song that goes "we will, we will rock you..."... In ObamaWorld it's "we will, we will, screw you..." Someone out there needs to do some good lyrics to that tune.
Give me back my America... and then friends, assuming we can get it back, lets do a much better job of preserving our America.
The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.
Welcome to ObamaWorld... Remember the song that goes "we will, we will rock you..."... In ObamaWorld it's "we will, we will, screw you..." Someone out there needs to do some good lyrics to that tune.
Give me back my America... and then friends, assuming we can get it back, lets do a much better job of preserving our America.
Republicans Will Get Only 30 Minutes on House Floor to Debate Slaughter Rule
Republicans Will Get Only 30 Minutes on House Floor to Debate Slaughter Rule
(CNSNews.com) – Under the standard procedures of the House of Representatives, Republicans will get only 30 minutes on the House floor to debate the special "rule" being prepared by House Rules Chairman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) that would "deem" the Senate health care bill passed in the House without an actual vote on the bill.
(CNSNews.com) – Under the standard procedures of the House of Representatives, Republicans will get only 30 minutes on the House floor to debate the special "rule" being prepared by House Rules Chairman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) that would "deem" the Senate health care bill passed in the House without an actual vote on the bill.
Ways and Means Republicans’ Report: Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power
Today, Ways and Means Republicans released a new report detailing how the Democrats’ health care bill vastly expands the responsibilities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and strengthens the heavy hand of the IRS in dealing with taxpayers.
“If the Democrats’ health care bill becomes law, the IRS could have to hire more than 16,000 additional agents, auditors and other workers just to enforce all the new taxes and penalties,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI). “It is a dangerous expansion of the IRS’s power and reach into the lives of virtually every American.”
Highlights of report, which is entitled “The Wrong Prescription: Democrats’ Health Overhaul Dangerously Expands IRS Authority,” include:
The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.
The full report can be viewed here.
“If the Democrats’ health care bill becomes law, the IRS could have to hire more than 16,000 additional agents, auditors and other workers just to enforce all the new taxes and penalties,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI). “It is a dangerous expansion of the IRS’s power and reach into the lives of virtually every American.”
Highlights of report, which is entitled “The Wrong Prescription: Democrats’ Health Overhaul Dangerously Expands IRS Authority,” include:
- IRS agents verify if you have “acceptable” health care coverage;
- IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;”
- IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
- IRS audits are likely to increase;
- IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
- IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
- Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)
The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.
The full report can be viewed here.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Idaho first to sign law aimed at health care plan
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho took the lead in a growing, nationwide fight against health care overhaul Wednesday when its governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance.
Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.
Constitutional law experts say the movement is mostly symbolic because federal laws supersede those of the states.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0LSHNfmnWDnZ_JylqiFxeT5GKEQD9EGLNDO0
Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.
Constitutional law experts say the movement is mostly symbolic because federal laws supersede those of the states.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0LSHNfmnWDnZ_JylqiFxeT5GKEQD9EGLNDO0
Westmoreland: Health care bill full of hidden surprises
There are a lot things in the government takeover of health care that my constituents – and most Americans – don’t like.
But liberal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave us subtle warning last week that there’s plenty more hidden in there.
What we do know is bad enough. If we’re appalled by what they’re willing to tell us about, how scary are the policies and backroom deals that they’re hiding from us?
House Democratic Whip James Clyburn (S.C.), the majority’s top vote-counter, said Sunday on Meet the Press that his caucus didn’t yet have the 216 “yes” votes needed for passage.
I’m not sure what’s worse: knowing they have the votes to pass it or knowing they’re just short of having the votes to pass this monstrosity. That’s because we’ve seen what happens when they need extra votes. They buy them with taxpayer dollars, usually in ways that are shockingly unfair to most Americans.
The bill that the House will consider is the Senate bill passed on Christmas Eve, when most voters were safely distracted by travel plans, church services, family dinners and last-minute shopping.
What you may remember from that bill are the huge payoffs for certain states: the Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase and Gator Aid for Florida. There are also political payoffs for unions.
If the House passes the Senate bill, all of these deals will become law – even though not one single person will stand up and defend those outrageous items.
How bad is this Senate bill? Speaker Pelosi admitted Monday that she may resort to parliamentary gimmicks that subvert the democratic process because “no one wants to vote for the Senate bill.”
Well, they shouldn’t vote for it. House Democrats are hearing clearly from their constituents that Americans don’t want this bill. Even beyond the unseemly political payoffs, there are many substantive reasons to oppose this bill. It raises taxes by billions of dollars and includes more than $1 trillion in new spending we can’t afford, cuts Medicare benefits by half a billion dollars, kills jobs by placing mandates on employers, puts health care decisions in the hands of the government instead of the patient, ignores lawsuit abuse, and allows for taxpayer funding of abortion.
With all of these unpopular provisions, it’s little wonder that House Democratic leaders are trying to pull every trick in the book, including an effort to pass the bill without actually voting on it. It’s a strategy stunning for its arrogance and lack of regard for the constitutional process.
Just Sunday, White House adviser David Axelrod said, “I think we're going to have a vote, and the American people are entitled to an up or down vote. We don't want to see procedural gimmicks used to try and prevent an up or down vote on this issue.”
I agree Americans deserve and honest up or down vote on the floor of the House, free of gimmicks. If Democrats are going to pass a bill for a government takeover of 17 percent of our economy, they should have the courage and decency to stand up and cast their votes for it.
Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville) represents Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The IRS & Obamacare...
I'm not sure that it's common knowledge that the IRS has ANYTHING to do with Obamacare... they should, but I really haven't heard much about it in the media or across the blogs. I have scratched my head about this cross-over since day one. Maybe we should be headlining this question or something similar on our blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.: Do you want the IRS involved in your health care? Obamacare puts the IRS smack in the middle of your health care decisions. That should scare any sane person.
| Opening Statement Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight Hearing on the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2009 Report on the Most Serious Problems Encountered by Taxpayers March 16, 2010 (Remarks as Prepared) |
| Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding time. And Ms. Olson, thank you once again for appearing before the Subcommittee to represent the interests of one of the groups most in need of Washington representation – average American taxpayers. You do a great service to our country and I thank you for your tireless advocacy on behalf of those taxpayers. We are holding this hearing today – as we do every year – to examine the most serious problems encountered by taxpayers in their dealings with the federal tax laws and the Internal Revenue Service. This year, however, the timing of the hearing is fortuitous. For if the House Democratic leadership is to be believed, than by the end of the week Congress might have enacted a piece of legislation that vastly expands the scope of the IRS’s responsibilities, and fundamentally alters the relationship between the IRS and taxpayers. That piece of legislation is H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill. I noticed that in this year’s report, Ms. Olson included an extensive discussion on the risks and challenges involved in running social programs through the tax system. Jumping off from that discussion, I would point out that the Senate health care bill creates by far the largest social program ever run through the IRS. While the Senate bill delegate’s enforcement of numerous parts of the health insurance system to the IRS, one of the most troubling expansions of IRS power is the power to approve a taxpayer’s health insurance as sufficient to meet the definition of minimum coverage required to be purchased by law. This is the so-called “individual mandate.” Under the Senate’s individual mandate, the IRS would be in charge of verifying that every American taxpayer has obtained acceptable health coverage for every month of the year. If the IRS determines that a taxpayer lacks acceptable insurance for even a single month, then the IRS would have the power to impose a new tax on that taxpayer, even auditing the taxpayer and assessing interest and penalties on top of the tax. This is an unprecedented new role for the IRS – one that will inject the IRS even further into the personal lives of American families. In a few moments, I intend to ask Ms. Olson to share her thoughts on what problems might arise – both between the IRS and taxpayers, and within the IRS itself – if House Democrats decide to send the Senate bill on to the President and make it the law of the land. Ms. Olson, I look forward to your testimony and your responses. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. |
What's a Dem to do when it can't be done legally?
Rules memo defends Dem plan to pass Senate bill without vote
By Ian Swanson
House Democrats are marching forward with plans to move the Senate healthcare bill through their chamber without actually voting on it.
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/86985-rules-memo-outlines-dem-plan-to-pass-healthcare-bill-without-actual-vote
---
What's a Dem to do when it can't be done legally?
I find it amazing, scary, horrifying that we have reached a place in this country where we now have a dictator in the White House. He is by-passing the Constitution, the very basis of our country, everything that our country stands for to implement something he wants. Not something we the people want or need, something he wants.
There is no doubt that more is at stake here than our health system. If this were truly about health care then there would be no need to circumvent the system of checks and balances that has served our country well since shortly after its creation. Certainly it is not a perfect system, but it is by far more perfect than any in the history of the world.
They have cloaked this health care wolf in the sheep's clothing of saving little Jimmy or whoever they choose as the poor-me story of the day. They pull at heart strings with tales that are distorted and some suckers buy into it. This is a huge, nasty, snarling monster of a wolf.
We are handing more power to Washington and we know enough history to know what the results will be. Hidden in that health care bill is the beginning of the destruction of the greatness that is America. Hidden in the way they go about getting the bill passed is the destruction of the foundation of all that is great about America.
One man is imposing his will on an entire country.
Once he succeeds with this action, what's next? Why stop with the health care bill? They've already tossed education into the mix. Have you ever known any tyrant who was willing to stop with a little bit of power? If Obama, Reid, Pelosi and their crew are able to justify this action, do you really belief they won't put on a similar cloak of righteousness to implement Cap & Trade to save the world? Immigration "reform" to save the needy (or whatever rationale they want to use)?
We are on the edge of jumping onto that proverbial slippery slope. They've already made the leap and are in the air getting ready to slide down the slope that is greased with the apathy of way too many sleeping Americans.
Folks, if you're reading this it's not enough that you go honk your horn in front of your legislators office at noon today. It's not enough to write a blog, Twitter or share your concerns on Facebook (all things I do ;-). You have to go knock on doors, make phone calls and wake up your friends. Educate them. They have to realize that it's not our health care system that is at risk, it's the entire framework of our Constitutional Republic.
By Ian Swanson
House Democrats are marching forward with plans to move the Senate healthcare bill through their chamber without actually voting on it.
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/86985-rules-memo-outlines-dem-plan-to-pass-healthcare-bill-without-actual-vote
---
What's a Dem to do when it can't be done legally?
I find it amazing, scary, horrifying that we have reached a place in this country where we now have a dictator in the White House. He is by-passing the Constitution, the very basis of our country, everything that our country stands for to implement something he wants. Not something we the people want or need, something he wants.
There is no doubt that more is at stake here than our health system. If this were truly about health care then there would be no need to circumvent the system of checks and balances that has served our country well since shortly after its creation. Certainly it is not a perfect system, but it is by far more perfect than any in the history of the world.
They have cloaked this health care wolf in the sheep's clothing of saving little Jimmy or whoever they choose as the poor-me story of the day. They pull at heart strings with tales that are distorted and some suckers buy into it. This is a huge, nasty, snarling monster of a wolf.
We are handing more power to Washington and we know enough history to know what the results will be. Hidden in that health care bill is the beginning of the destruction of the greatness that is America. Hidden in the way they go about getting the bill passed is the destruction of the foundation of all that is great about America.
One man is imposing his will on an entire country.
Once he succeeds with this action, what's next? Why stop with the health care bill? They've already tossed education into the mix. Have you ever known any tyrant who was willing to stop with a little bit of power? If Obama, Reid, Pelosi and their crew are able to justify this action, do you really belief they won't put on a similar cloak of righteousness to implement Cap & Trade to save the world? Immigration "reform" to save the needy (or whatever rationale they want to use)?
We are on the edge of jumping onto that proverbial slippery slope. They've already made the leap and are in the air getting ready to slide down the slope that is greased with the apathy of way too many sleeping Americans.
Folks, if you're reading this it's not enough that you go honk your horn in front of your legislators office at noon today. It's not enough to write a blog, Twitter or share your concerns on Facebook (all things I do ;-). You have to go knock on doors, make phone calls and wake up your friends. Educate them. They have to realize that it's not our health care system that is at risk, it's the entire framework of our Constitutional Republic.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Report that 4 Dems have switched from no to yes on healthcare...
Dear Fellow Tea Party Patriots,
We have just received a report from the floor of the House, from an extremely reliable source, that Democratic Majority Whip James Clyburn is reporting that four Democratic Congressmen that were no votes on the healtcare bill have now switched to a yes vote.
We need you to flood their offices with phone calls, faxes and if local, go by their offices. Especially target Rep. Altmire from Pennsylvania. We need to keep the pressure up and not let up.
Rep. John Boccieri, Ohio, 16th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;boccieri.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3876, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-3059
Local Office Number: (330) 489-4414, Local Fax Number: (330) 489-4448
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
*Rep. Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania 4th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;www.altmire.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-2565, DC Fax Number: (202) 226-2274
Local Office Number: (724) 378-0928, Local Fax Number: (724) 378-6171
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
Rep. Bart Gordon, Tennessee 6th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;gordon.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-4231, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-6887
Local Office Number: (615) 896-1986, Local Fax Number:
Chief of Staff: Donna Pignatelli email: donna.pignatelli@mail.house.gov
Voted No on Health Care
Rep. Brian Baird, Washington 3rd
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;www.baird.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3536, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-2478
Local Office Number: (360) 695-6292, Local Fax Number: (360) 695-6197
Voted Yes on Stupak
We have just received a report from the floor of the House, from an extremely reliable source, that Democratic Majority Whip James Clyburn is reporting that four Democratic Congressmen that were no votes on the healtcare bill have now switched to a yes vote.
We need you to flood their offices with phone calls, faxes and if local, go by their offices. Especially target Rep. Altmire from Pennsylvania. We need to keep the pressure up and not let up.
Rep. John Boccieri, Ohio, 16th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;boccieri.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3876, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-3059
Local Office Number: (330) 489-4414, Local Fax Number: (330) 489-4448
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
*Rep. Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania 4th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;www.altmire.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-2565, DC Fax Number: (202) 226-2274
Local Office Number: (724) 378-0928, Local Fax Number: (724) 378-6171
Voted Yes on Stupak
Voted No on Health Care
Rep. Bart Gordon, Tennessee 6th
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;gordon.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-4231, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-6887
Local Office Number: (615) 896-1986, Local Fax Number:
Chief of Staff: Donna Pignatelli email: donna.pignatelli@mail.house.gov
Voted No on Health Care
Rep. Brian Baird, Washington 3rd
http://www.facebook.com/l/2b51b;www.baird.house.gov/
DC Office Number: (202) 225-3536, DC Fax Number: (202) 225-2478
Local Office Number: (360) 695-6292, Local Fax Number: (360) 695-6197
Voted Yes on Stupak
Obama at Bat, Palin Pitches... and it's g-reeeaaat....
This is one of the absolute BEST videos I've seen... To really appreciate it you have to remember or have heard "Mighty Casey at Bat" from way back when... but even if you haven't you'll still get a kick out of it.
Honk Against The Health Care Takeover Nationwide "Drive."
Tomorrow We Stand As One Against the Government Takeover of Healthcare!
The following was sent to me here in GA. However, it's happening across the country. Be prepared to HONK at your legislators office tomorrow!!!!
Dear AFP Georgia Activist -
If you haven't RSVP'd yet, do it today! Tomorrow we join thousands around the country at NOON at the offices of our legislators as we honk in a a caravan and literally surround them at work with our opposition to the government takeover of health care. Please drive to your legislators office on your lunch break, join AFP GA's Joel Aaron at Rep Barrow's Savannah office or join us in Statesboro tomorrow night!
Best,
Joel Aaron Foster
Grassroots Coordinator
Americans for Prosperity Georgia
The following was sent to me here in GA. However, it's happening across the country. Be prepared to HONK at your legislators office tomorrow!!!!
Dear AFP Georgia Activist -
If you haven't RSVP'd yet, do it today! Tomorrow we join thousands around the country at NOON at the offices of our legislators as we honk in a a caravan and literally surround them at work with our opposition to the government takeover of health care. Please drive to your legislators office on your lunch break, join AFP GA's Joel Aaron at Rep Barrow's Savannah office or join us in Statesboro tomorrow night!
Best,
Joel Aaron Foster
Grassroots Coordinator
Americans for Prosperity Georgia
U.S., U.K. Move Closer to Losing Rating, Moody’s Says
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and the U.K. have moved “substantially” closer to losing their AAA credit ratings as the cost of servicing their debt rose, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The governments of the two economies must balance bringing down their debt burdens without damaging growth by removing fiscal stimulus too quickly, Pierre Cailleteau, managing director of sovereign risk at Moody’s in London, said in a telephone interview... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=a0a8xAghPS8I
Dodd to ram through financial overhaul bill
The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee will unveil on Monday a proposal to revamp the nation’s financial regulations that would empower shareholders to have advisory votes on executive pay and to nominate directors for the boards of public companies through company proxy ballots, several people briefed on the draft legislation said Saturday night.
This article just basically gives you the highlights from the story below... so you may want to skip it & read the NY Times article (or both like I did ;-) Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/14/dodd-to-unveil-financial-overhaul-bill-over-gop-objections/#ixzz0iFS9lXmZ
Dodd to Unveil a Broad Financial Overhaul Bill
The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee will unveil on Monday a proposal to revamp the nation’s financial regulations that would empower shareholders to have advisory votes on executive pay and to nominate directors for the boards of public companies through company proxy ballots, several people briefed on the draft legislation said Saturday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14bank.html?hp
This article just basically gives you the highlights from the story below... so you may want to skip it & read the NY Times article (or both like I did ;-) Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/14/dodd-to-unveil-financial-overhaul-bill-over-gop-objections/#ixzz0iFS9lXmZ
Dodd to Unveil a Broad Financial Overhaul Bill
The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee will unveil on Monday a proposal to revamp the nation’s financial regulations that would empower shareholders to have advisory votes on executive pay and to nominate directors for the boards of public companies through company proxy ballots, several people briefed on the draft legislation said Saturday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14bank.html?hp
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Copy Cat Coffee "Party"
Yesterday they held their "coming out party"... and I gather it was pretty much a flop. Top head count at the coffee shops across the country hosting the lefty groups seems to be about 40. I've only read a couple of accounts, so maybe somewhere they managed to go a bit higher.
I found the whole thing kind of... well, weak. Weak watery coffee, warmed over, luke warm at best.
The Tea Party movement exploded. It wasn't organized, it was and is born of our frustration with Washington, with the way our elected officials are ignoring us, with so many things D.C. It was spontaneous. It still is. It's defying every effort to corral it into something anywhere similar to politics as usual. No matter how many try to infiltrate and distort, it's staying the course and growing.
It encompasses every walk of life and covers the political spectrum.
The Copy-Cat Coffee Party? It's an attempt to counter something that has it's roots deep in America. The Left already has a huge voice in Congress and the White House (OK, they pretty much have it all), and they have the media. They have the schools. They have the unions.
What do the rest of us have, the majority? A voice needing a place to shout. The Tea Party was the right thing at the right time thanks to catalyst Rick Santelli. The Copy-Cat Coffee Party? Not even worth the cost of a cup o' cappuccino.
I found the whole thing kind of... well, weak. Weak watery coffee, warmed over, luke warm at best.
The Tea Party movement exploded. It wasn't organized, it was and is born of our frustration with Washington, with the way our elected officials are ignoring us, with so many things D.C. It was spontaneous. It still is. It's defying every effort to corral it into something anywhere similar to politics as usual. No matter how many try to infiltrate and distort, it's staying the course and growing.
It encompasses every walk of life and covers the political spectrum.
The Copy-Cat Coffee Party? It's an attempt to counter something that has it's roots deep in America. The Left already has a huge voice in Congress and the White House (OK, they pretty much have it all), and they have the media. They have the schools. They have the unions.
What do the rest of us have, the majority? A voice needing a place to shout. The Tea Party was the right thing at the right time thanks to catalyst Rick Santelli. The Copy-Cat Coffee Party? Not even worth the cost of a cup o' cappuccino.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Efforts to stop healthcare vote next week:
The news out of Washington, D.C. the past few days has been bad.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is telling colleagues she is hoping for a vote to push through their government-run healthcare plan this week. Barack Obama has canceled overseas trips to stay here in the U.S. and arm-twist Congressmen & Senators to force this bill through ASAP.
There are no tomorrow's in this fight - we must act now.
American Grassroots Coalition and the Tea Party Express are pleased to announce a major effort this week to stop Obama-Pelosi-Reid from pushing through this health care fiasco - and we need you to join us in taking action.
March 16, 2010 at 10:00 AM EST
Capitol Hill, Taft Park, Washington D.C.
Speakers Include: Congressman Mike Pence, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Congressman Tom Price, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman Phil Gingrey, Amy Kremer of Tea Party Express, Tim Phillips of American for Prosperity, Jim Martin of 60 Plus, Matt Patterson of the National Center for Policy Analysis
The American Grassroots Coalition and The Tea Party Express welcome the American People to bring their LOUD VOICES, Thoughts and Letters to their elected Representatives.
Also, bring your OLD HEARING AIDS to deliver to Congress because… Members are obviously not hearing us or, turning the volume WAY DOWN!
Let’s be LOUD and CLEAR: We are not going anywhere!
Those that can’t join us in DC…please go to your local district offices and tell them how you feel!
HONK – HONK. AT 12:00 PM NOON Americans for Prosperity is asking everyone across the country to honk their horns in protest.
Finally, The Leadership Institute will be hosting FREE Activist Training from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at their offices: 1101 N. Highland Arlington, VA 22201. For more information visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/training/school.cfm?schoolID=16322
WE THE PEOPLE ARE STRONG!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Parliamentarian's ruling deals blow to healthcare reform chances
The Senate parliamentarian has delivered a blow to Democrats by ruling President Barack Obama must sign the broader Senate healthcare legislation before the upper chamber can take up changes demanded by the House.The ruling means House Democrats would have to rely on a good-faith promise that senators will pass the changes after the healthcare bill is signed into law, a difficult prospect at a time when lower-chamber lawmakers have grown distrustful of their Senate counterparts.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/86377-ruling-deals-blow-to-reform-chances
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/86377-ruling-deals-blow-to-reform-chances
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Camp, Brady React to President’s Call to Increase U.S. Exports
“The best way to promote exports is to act on the pending trade agreements.”
Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) today released the following statements in response to the President’s creation of an Export Promotion Cabinet.
CAMP: “The best way to promote exports is to act on the pending trade agreements and open new markets in which we can sell American made goods and services. The President has admitted these agreements could create over 250,000 American jobs, yet Democrats in Congress refuse to work on, let alone pass a new trade agreement. The Democrats' stall tactics on trade are causing us to lose market share and jobs to Europe and Asia.”
BRADY: “Creating another institution will not create meaningful American jobs unless that institution has a mandate to create new markets. Passage of the free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama are cost-free ways to improve the growth of U.S. goods and services exports without creating new institutions. The President’s speech today did not set out a plan for considering them, which is great news for our competitors in Europe, Asia, and Latin America but bad news for U.S. workers.”
Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) today released the following statements in response to the President’s creation of an Export Promotion Cabinet.
CAMP: “The best way to promote exports is to act on the pending trade agreements and open new markets in which we can sell American made goods and services. The President has admitted these agreements could create over 250,000 American jobs, yet Democrats in Congress refuse to work on, let alone pass a new trade agreement. The Democrats' stall tactics on trade are causing us to lose market share and jobs to Europe and Asia.”
BRADY: “Creating another institution will not create meaningful American jobs unless that institution has a mandate to create new markets. Passage of the free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama are cost-free ways to improve the growth of U.S. goods and services exports without creating new institutions. The President’s speech today did not set out a plan for considering them, which is great news for our competitors in Europe, Asia, and Latin America but bad news for U.S. workers.”
----
Me: Just what we need, more government. Not.
House Democrats' 'no' votes are piling up on healthcare reform
More than two dozen Democrats are expected to vote against the healthcare reform bill that will hit the House floor in the coming weeks.
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/86193-house-dem-no-votes-on-healthcare-reform-pile-up
Hoping & prayin' that enuf Dems vote NO to stop this country-killing fiasco. We keep saying that if we can take Congress in November that we can reverse it... but that's not necessarily so. We'll need a strong enuf majority to override a Prez veto. We can stall, we can make some changes if the Dems see that they lost 'cause of this vote, but we may have to wait until Obama is booted out to really undo the damage.
I hate to be a paranoid sounding type, but I don't think they'd be putting all their eggs in this basket if they didn't think it was a very strong basket. I read headlines, articles, listen to stories, discussions, just like all of you... when you pay attention it's easy to see how Obama and friends are chipping away at so many pieces of the foundation of our country. What will our world look like in 2012?
Think about it. There's the Census and all the ramifications. There's the new 4th arm of government, the Unions. Cap & Tax. Czars nudging, shoving, pushing the limits. All the known arm twisting, threats and the normally unknown chest-thumping shower visits. The land grabs. The take over of the health system, the bank and auto industry take-overs. The powers held and enlarged by BHO of the Federal Reserve, etc. I could go on and on.
We are being attacked from so many different directions it's virtually impossible to figure out which battle to fight. We get focused on one battle and they attack in another area under cover of dark.
Ah well, we are all doing the best we can do and fighting as hard as we can. Keep it up, if we choose our battles wisely, if we work together, we can stem the tide long enough to get some sanity back in our government. Of course, I'm not saying that putting Republicans back in there is the answer to everything. We all saw what happened when they had the reins... Hopefully they were adequately chastised and know that we will be watching very closely if we entrust them with our votes once again.
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/86193-house-dem-no-votes-on-healthcare-reform-pile-up
Hoping & prayin' that enuf Dems vote NO to stop this country-killing fiasco. We keep saying that if we can take Congress in November that we can reverse it... but that's not necessarily so. We'll need a strong enuf majority to override a Prez veto. We can stall, we can make some changes if the Dems see that they lost 'cause of this vote, but we may have to wait until Obama is booted out to really undo the damage.
I hate to be a paranoid sounding type, but I don't think they'd be putting all their eggs in this basket if they didn't think it was a very strong basket. I read headlines, articles, listen to stories, discussions, just like all of you... when you pay attention it's easy to see how Obama and friends are chipping away at so many pieces of the foundation of our country. What will our world look like in 2012?
Think about it. There's the Census and all the ramifications. There's the new 4th arm of government, the Unions. Cap & Tax. Czars nudging, shoving, pushing the limits. All the known arm twisting, threats and the normally unknown chest-thumping shower visits. The land grabs. The take over of the health system, the bank and auto industry take-overs. The powers held and enlarged by BHO of the Federal Reserve, etc. I could go on and on.
We are being attacked from so many different directions it's virtually impossible to figure out which battle to fight. We get focused on one battle and they attack in another area under cover of dark.
Ah well, we are all doing the best we can do and fighting as hard as we can. Keep it up, if we choose our battles wisely, if we work together, we can stem the tide long enough to get some sanity back in our government. Of course, I'm not saying that putting Republicans back in there is the answer to everything. We all saw what happened when they had the reins... Hopefully they were adequately chastised and know that we will be watching very closely if we entrust them with our votes once again.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Census hiring blitz of 750,000 to cut jobless rate, offer boost to Obama
The U.S. Census Bureau expects to add up to 750,000 workers to its payroll by May, a hiring binge that could knock the unemployment rate down by as much as a half-point.
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/administration/85711-census-hiring-blitz-of-750000-to-cut-jobless-rate-boost-obama
Heard a bit on Fox & Friends one day last week (?) re: hourly rate being paid to Census temp workers... went as high as $21 or so an hour. I think the lowest rate they mentioned was in Alabama but don't hold me to that, working from memory here. Bottom line is they are paying pretty darn good hourly rates for short-term. There's a test so guess they have some requirements. And, I heard somewhere (maybe on Fox) that there's a hefty, hefty fine for anyone who doesn't keep their mouth shut regarding info...
Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/administration/85711-census-hiring-blitz-of-750000-to-cut-jobless-rate-boost-obama
Heard a bit on Fox & Friends one day last week (?) re: hourly rate being paid to Census temp workers... went as high as $21 or so an hour. I think the lowest rate they mentioned was in Alabama but don't hold me to that, working from memory here. Bottom line is they are paying pretty darn good hourly rates for short-term. There's a test so guess they have some requirements. And, I heard somewhere (maybe on Fox) that there's a hefty, hefty fine for anyone who doesn't keep their mouth shut regarding info...
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Listening to Sebilius...
Heard her twice now. First go around she referenced the poll that showed Americans wanting healthcare reform / change when asked point by point, issue by issue. I'm with them on a lot of the answers. I'd say yes to changing specific things regarding our healthcare / insurance system.
However, if you tagged this phrase to the end of any point-by-point question "and do you want the Federal government and/or Congress to implement the changes" my answer would be the opposite.
Keep Congress, keep Obama, keep Washington D.C., keep the Federal government OUT OF IT.
How're we going to do it? Same way we've done many other things in this country. It starts with all of us out here who've now realized we CAN make a change in not just our government, but in the marketplace. It's OK if we end up making state-level changes, too.
OK, I'm done for the moment. Let's stop Congress from killing healthcare with their government - enlarging bill and then lets tackle the healthcare issue as Americans, as capitalists, as those who pay the bills and support the healthcare / insurance industries.
However, if you tagged this phrase to the end of any point-by-point question "and do you want the Federal government and/or Congress to implement the changes" my answer would be the opposite.
Keep Congress, keep Obama, keep Washington D.C., keep the Federal government OUT OF IT.
How're we going to do it? Same way we've done many other things in this country. It starts with all of us out here who've now realized we CAN make a change in not just our government, but in the marketplace. It's OK if we end up making state-level changes, too.
OK, I'm done for the moment. Let's stop Congress from killing healthcare with their government - enlarging bill and then lets tackle the healthcare issue as Americans, as capitalists, as those who pay the bills and support the healthcare / insurance industries.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Top health insurance lobbyist fires back at the White House
The head of a powerful health insurance group said her industry is addressing executive compensation issues, firing back at the White House for its recent report that highlighted the salaries of senior executives.
Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/85299-bob-cusack-to-me-show-details-232-pm-2-hours-ago-top-health-insurance-lobbyist-fires-back-at-white-house
Got get 'em... Is it any surprise that the Obama White House mob is twisting things to fit their perception of reality????
Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/85299-bob-cusack-to-me-show-details-232-pm-2-hours-ago-top-health-insurance-lobbyist-fires-back-at-white-house
Got get 'em... Is it any surprise that the Obama White House mob is twisting things to fit their perception of reality????
Just in case you're not already calling...
Updated List of a total of 30 Congressmen. CALL EACH ONE
PLEASE call these 30 congressmen below as they represent the Swing Votes who can make a difference. They Voted Yes the first time, but they can be Swayed because they're from districts which Voted for McCain and Palin in the Last Election. They are terrified about their chances in November!
They will know you are not from their district, DON'T WORRY.
JUST TELL THEM, IF THEY VOTE FOR THE HEALTH CARE BILL YOU AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS WILL DONATE MONEY $ TO WHOMEVER RUNS AGAINST THEM IN NOVEMBER!
Call them NOW! The list below shows the number for their DC Office first then their local office, CALL BOTH: Call in the day so you get to talk to a live person, not a machine!
Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411
Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588
Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914
Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 (925) 833-0643
John Salazar (202) 225-4761 (970) 245-7107
Jim Hines (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028
Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757
Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 (630) 406-1145
Baron Hill (202) 225 5315 (812) 288 3999
Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075
Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227
Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 (702) 256-DINA (3462)
Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813
Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500
John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371
Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150
Mike Arcuri (202) 225-3665 (315)793-8146
Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657
Earl Pomneroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355
Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723
Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196
Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038
Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963
Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988
Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200
John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803) 327-1114
Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291
Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422
Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000
Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954
From Reagan Conservatives group on Facebook
PLEASE call these 30 congressmen below as they represent the Swing Votes who can make a difference. They Voted Yes the first time, but they can be Swayed because they're from districts which Voted for McCain and Palin in the Last Election. They are terrified about their chances in November!
They will know you are not from their district, DON'T WORRY.
JUST TELL THEM, IF THEY VOTE FOR THE HEALTH CARE BILL YOU AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS WILL DONATE MONEY $ TO WHOMEVER RUNS AGAINST THEM IN NOVEMBER!
Call them NOW! The list below shows the number for their DC Office first then their local office, CALL BOTH: Call in the day so you get to talk to a live person, not a machine!
Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411
Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588
Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914
Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 (925) 833-0643
John Salazar (202) 225-4761 (970) 245-7107
Jim Hines (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028
Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757
Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 (630) 406-1145
Baron Hill (202) 225 5315 (812) 288 3999
Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075
Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227
Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 (702) 256-DINA (3462)
Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813
Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500
John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371
Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150
Mike Arcuri (202) 225-3665 (315)793-8146
Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657
Earl Pomneroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355
Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723
Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196
Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038
Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963
Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988
Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200
John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803) 327-1114
Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291
Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422
Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000
Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954
From Reagan Conservatives group on Facebook
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
DEMINT: White House land grab
You'd think the Obama administration is busy enough controlling the banks, insurance companies and automakers, but thanks to whistleblowers at the Department of the Interior, we now learn they're planning to increase their control over energy-rich land in the West.
A secret administration memo has surfaced revealing plans for the federal government to seize more than 10 million acres from Montana to New Mexico, halting job-creating activities like ranching, forestry, mining and energy development. Worse, this land grab would dry up tax revenue that's essential for funding schools, firehouses and community centers.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/02/white-house-land-grab/
A secret administration memo has surfaced revealing plans for the federal government to seize more than 10 million acres from Montana to New Mexico, halting job-creating activities like ranching, forestry, mining and energy development. Worse, this land grab would dry up tax revenue that's essential for funding schools, firehouses and community centers.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/02/white-house-land-grab/
Eric Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) will not seek re-election after only one term in office.
According to several House aides – on both sides of the aisle – the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa, who is married with two children, sexually harassed a male staffer.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html#ixzz0h91VtWiN
According to several House aides – on both sides of the aisle – the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa, who is married with two children, sexually harassed a male staffer.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html#ixzz0h91VtWiN
Rangel to give up gavel and take leave while ethics probe continues
Just yesterday he wasn't going to step down, no way, no how... Pelosi was standing by him, although even her support was rather tepid yesterday. Guess Rangel was making his fellow Dems look too bad, he was a distraction, yada yada yada. You know darn well they really could give a flying flip whether he was doing something wrong or not.
Rangel to give up gavel and take leave while ethics probe continues
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced Wednesday morning he's taking a leave of absence as the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee pending the results of an ethics investigation. Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/84677-rangel-to-give-up-ways-and-means-gavel-while-ethics-investigation-continues
Rangel to give up gavel and take leave while ethics probe continues
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced Wednesday morning he's taking a leave of absence as the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee pending the results of an ethics investigation. Read more: http://www.thehill.com/homenews/house/84677-rangel-to-give-up-ways-and-means-gavel-while-ethics-investigation-continues
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