H2ONUT
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So, does anyone think that ObamaCare will be changed?
New Leaders At The Helm... Healthcare Reform
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Not immediately, but it's going to be great theater in the mean time!
The pigs are at the trough and the swill is flowing. For example, from today's WSJ
...Chris Jacobs, points out that the administration has already given an extravagant gift to the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), a key player in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The AARP provided a big chunk of the $121 million spent on ads supporting the bill's passage, as well as $21 million on lobbying in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. HHS's proposed regulations on Dec. 21 exempted the AARP's lucrative "Medigap" plans from the rate review and other mandates and requirements.
The AARP is also exempt from the new law's $500,000 cap on executive compensation for insurance executives. (The nonprofit's last CEO received over $1.5 million in compensation in his last full year, 2009.) It won't pay any of the estimated $14 billion in new taxes on insurance companies, though according to its 2008 consolidated financial statement, it gets more money from its insurance offerings than it does from dues, grants and private contributions combined. Nor will it have to spend at least 85% of its Medigap premium dollars on medical claims, as Medicare Advantage plans must do; the AARP will be held to a far less restrictive 65%.
The pigs are at the trough and the swill is flowing. For example, from today's WSJ
...Chris Jacobs, points out that the administration has already given an extravagant gift to the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), a key player in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The AARP provided a big chunk of the $121 million spent on ads supporting the bill's passage, as well as $21 million on lobbying in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. HHS's proposed regulations on Dec. 21 exempted the AARP's lucrative "Medigap" plans from the rate review and other mandates and requirements.
The AARP is also exempt from the new law's $500,000 cap on executive compensation for insurance executives. (The nonprofit's last CEO received over $1.5 million in compensation in his last full year, 2009.) It won't pay any of the estimated $14 billion in new taxes on insurance companies, though according to its 2008 consolidated financial statement, it gets more money from its insurance offerings than it does from dues, grants and private contributions combined. Nor will it have to spend at least 85% of its Medigap premium dollars on medical claims, as Medicare Advantage plans must do; the AARP will be held to a far less restrictive 65%.
It sure better be changed- better yet, repealed all together or this group of politicians will be on the way out too.
A- Repeal Obamacare.
B- Then fix the EXISTING system, already in place, to deal with people who have no insurance. It is called MEDICAID.
That is what Obama should have done in the first place but he wanted government to end up controlling all healthcare.
Leave my Insurance and Doctors Alone!
MLauman
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Dumped AARP for that very reason. Still get monthly notices from them and I enjoy sending back empty postage-paid envelopes.
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As I understand it, there are enough republicans in Congress to vote to repeal the bill, but not enough seats in the Senate. So the congressional vote will be symbolic with no hope of passing.
Considering that the President would be likely to veto such a bill even if it reached his desk; one must also consider that there are not enough votes in House to over ride such a Veto.
I find it unsurprising and hopeful that the new house leadership have implemented a rule for all new legislation to be "budget neutral".
I find it unsurprising and depressing that they have chosen to exempt health care repeal and tax reduction legislation from that rule.
It's gonna be a fun couple of years. I can't wait until the debt limit bill needs to be voted upon . . . .
MonacoMike
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Great idea.
H2ONUT
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:huh: What the hell is that?
wish2fish
Active Member
Weren't you in support of the current Health Care Bill?
Well. . . .there actually is a legal limit on how high the National debt can be. It is currently capped at $14T.
Thing is, between the Republicans cutting taxes and spending like drunken sailors and the Democrats not raising taxes and spending like drunken sailors. . .we keep hitting the limit every year or two. We are going to hit that limit in the next few months.
Therefore, one of the following will happen;
1) We will radically cut spending to stay under the limit (i.e. balance the budget instantly)
2) We will radcially cut spending to stay under the limit (i.e. not cut Social Securty, not cut defence, not cut medicare, but rather stop making payments on the National Debt [default on Treasury Bills])
3) We will raise the debt limit and continue spending like drunken sailors.
4) Break the law?
The "fiscal conservatives" have been opposing increasing the debt limit since 2006 (when they no longer were responsible for passing it). Many have campaigned on not raising the limit.
It is gonna be fun.
Who knows. . maybe something good will happen.
I am prepared to be impressed.
Thing is, between the Republicans cutting taxes and spending like drunken sailors and the Democrats not raising taxes and spending like drunken sailors. . .we keep hitting the limit every year or two. We are going to hit that limit in the next few months.
Therefore, one of the following will happen;
1) We will radically cut spending to stay under the limit (i.e. balance the budget instantly)
2) We will radcially cut spending to stay under the limit (i.e. not cut Social Securty, not cut defence, not cut medicare, but rather stop making payments on the National Debt [default on Treasury Bills])
3) We will raise the debt limit and continue spending like drunken sailors.
4) Break the law?
The "fiscal conservatives" have been opposing increasing the debt limit since 2006 (when they no longer were responsible for passing it). Many have campaigned on not raising the limit.
It is gonna be fun.
Who knows. . maybe something good will happen.
I am prepared to be impressed.
I don't understand the question.
The current health care bill, as drafted and approved, reduces the budget deficit. Therefore, repealing the bill increases the deficit.
If they want to repeal the bill completely, according to the rules they established, they need to have offsetting spending cuts because they are doing something to increase the deficit. This increase is bigger than the "big" spending cuts they are currently have been promising.
Sorry for linking to the Washington Post. . .but here is a touch of background from a recent column I read. It reads a bit "left of center"; and I have not had a chance to fact check the article.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/repealing_health-care_reform_w.html
Pack66Dad
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Newly sworn in Representative Michael Grimm (NY-13), elected with tea party support after pledging to repeal health reform, told his local newspaper that he wants government health care for himself because "I... don't have health care and, God forbid I get into an accident and I can't afford the operation... That can happen to anyone."
WTF :huh:
WTF :huh:
Pack66Dad
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just struck me as strange...... and reminded me of this picture:
CROSE
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Another newly elected Republican member of Congress says he will not accept the government-sponsored health insurance plan available to lawmakers.
Rep.-elect Joe Walsh (Ill.), who rode a wave of Tea Party support to defeat three-term Rep. Melissa Bean (D) in November, said he does not believe lawmakers should receive the benefits."I don’t think congressmen should get pensions or cushy healthcare plans," he told the Chicago News Cooperative.
Republicans who staunchly opposed President Obama's healthcare reform plan have come under pressure from Democrats and liberal activist groups to decline their government healthcare benefits upon taking office.
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) penned a letter to GOP leaders that demanded Republican members "walk that walk" and refuse their federally subsidized coverage.
"If your conference wants to deny millions of Americans affordable health care, your members should walk that walk," Crowley wrote to incoming House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). "You cannot enroll in the very kind of coverage that you want for yourselves, and then turn around and deny it to Americans who don't happen to be Members of Congress."
The push began in earnest after Rep.-elect Andy Harris (R-Md.) reportedly complained in a private November meeting that his government healthcare benefits did not begin immediately.
So far, incoming Reps. Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) have declined their government health insurance.
But Walsh's wife is reportedly unhappy with her husband's decision: She has a pre-existing medical condition and will have to purchase her own insurance, according to the Chicago News Cooperative.
Rep.-elect Joe Walsh (Ill.), who rode a wave of Tea Party support to defeat three-term Rep. Melissa Bean (D) in November, said he does not believe lawmakers should receive the benefits."I don’t think congressmen should get pensions or cushy healthcare plans," he told the Chicago News Cooperative.
Republicans who staunchly opposed President Obama's healthcare reform plan have come under pressure from Democrats and liberal activist groups to decline their government healthcare benefits upon taking office.
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) penned a letter to GOP leaders that demanded Republican members "walk that walk" and refuse their federally subsidized coverage.
"If your conference wants to deny millions of Americans affordable health care, your members should walk that walk," Crowley wrote to incoming House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). "You cannot enroll in the very kind of coverage that you want for yourselves, and then turn around and deny it to Americans who don't happen to be Members of Congress."
The push began in earnest after Rep.-elect Andy Harris (R-Md.) reportedly complained in a private November meeting that his government healthcare benefits did not begin immediately.
So far, incoming Reps. Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) have declined their government health insurance.
But Walsh's wife is reportedly unhappy with her husband's decision: She has a pre-existing medical condition and will have to purchase her own insurance, according to the Chicago News Cooperative.
Com, there is no need to research this issue since a pretty intelligent guy like you should be able to conclude they are cooking the books. There is no way on God's Green Earth that Obamacare will reduce the deficit if it is going to subsidize 30 million uninsured with tax increases on the wealthy. There are not enough wealthy folks to pay for this largess. They claim they will reduce Medicare by 500 billion...right. They will reduce themselves right out of office since old folks vote. Some of the uninsured don't really want insurance because it costs too much and they are willing to take the risk. If these people pay the pautry penalty for not having insurance they will be still be ahead and there will not be as much money flowing into the insurance pool to cover the pre-existing condition folks along with other chronically ill people in the insurance pool. The result more government subsidies raising not lowering the deficit.
Look at you employer's health care plan and talley up the costs for both you and them. Compare that to the $2K or so penalty for not offering it and guess what?...you'll be out in the insurance market along with alot of others looking for affordable insurance. So now you and the original uninsurees will be feeding at the trough trying to buy insurance only yours will not be subsidized and theirs will. As the rabbit said to the skunk after having intimate relations - "sorry this all this kind of pleasure I can take!":smt009
Bob - As always you raise interesting and controversial counter points.
Yeah, I understand "cooking the books". However, Health Care Reform made an attempt to quantify costs and reduce spending. If you are all about "reducing spending" and "shrinking government", and "quantifying costs", and then you start doing things without quantifying costs and showing that you are reducing spending. . . . .then the logical conclusion is that you are increasing spending and don't want anyone to know about it.
The broader health care issues (i.e. should we do it) is a seperate topic I lack the time to get into now.
Yeah, I understand "cooking the books". However, Health Care Reform made an attempt to quantify costs and reduce spending. If you are all about "reducing spending" and "shrinking government", and "quantifying costs", and then you start doing things without quantifying costs and showing that you are reducing spending. . . . .then the logical conclusion is that you are increasing spending and don't want anyone to know about it.
The broader health care issues (i.e. should we do it) is a seperate topic I lack the time to get into now.
AKBASSKING
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Bottomline: Obamacare has driven up my insurance primiums 28.5%!! Money from MY pocket.
Fix the issues with healthcare such as pre-exsisting, portability, tort reform.
Not Obamacare..............
Fix the issues with healthcare such as pre-exsisting, portability, tort reform.
Not Obamacare..............
CV-23
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I hope it can be de-funded and go broke. It's about time reality should hit rock bottom. You got to hit bottom before recovering if your stupid and not responsible, Mike.
