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The U.S. Senate election enters its final “do or die” days as President Obama heads to the Hub today to try to save his domestic agenda with a last-ditch pitch for Democrat Martha Coakley, while insurgent Republican Scott Brown criss-crosses the state on a wave of anti-Washington momentum.

“Initially, I thought it was me against the machine, but now it’s us against the machine,” Brown told a cheering crowd at a Plymouth campaign rally yesterday. Brown has vowed to help defeat the president’s flagship health-care legislation.

While some earlier reports indicated the Boston Herald and perhaps other MSM sources were giving balanced coverage to the special election in Taxachusetts the example presented here is not a case in point. It may be that the need to increase readership in the advent of a serious GOP challenge to the long held liberal lion’s seat in the US Senate has been discarded. Scott Brown’s lead in the polls may have caused the MSM to remember which political party butters their bread.

But the excerpt above may be enough coverage for Scott Brown in this otherwise Martha Coakley dominated report from the Herald. Voters are growing increasingly angry about politics as usual that people like President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed would end as of the 2008 presidential campaign and the 2006 midterms, respectively.

The far left and perhaps most liberals are angry at President Obama for not ending the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan immediately as well as adopting many of his predecessor’s policies on matters like Gitmo and the Patriot Act. Now, in the face of 2010 elections next November Democrats are all over the map on how to get re-elected as party leaders try to force an unpopular agenda on the nation while ignoring pressing issues like jobs, deficits and astronomical national debt.

Certainly members of the GOP and conservative voters oppose wins by the Democrats. But now independents are heavily favoring Republican candidates after feeling suckered in the last election. And liberals are not exclusively supporting Democratic candidates or incumbents. The fates of Senators Nelson and Landrieu may make that case this fall.

For the President to alter his schedule to accommodate Coakley’s failing campaign with a whistle stop speaks volumes on the trouble her pursuit of Ted Kennedy’s vacant senate seat faces.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Two shining examples of elected Representatives in the House allowing their votes to be bought for so-called health reform are Bart Stupak and Joseph Cao. A pair in the Senate likewise demonstrate the 60 vote fraud that is the Democratic party’s reform, Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson.

After a brief review of manager’s amendment of Senate Majority Leader and vote buyer (with your money) Harry Reid a search of the vague and openended legislative item produced 19 references to abortion. From instances of where federal funding is prohibited for abortions to where it is allowed and various provisions demonstrating differences between federal and state wiggle room on the topic Reid’s back room deals are a masterpiece of arrogance and ignoring public opposition to this bill.

One might not expect provisions regarding firearms possession and similar items within a bill on health reform but that merely emphasizes the culture of corruption in Washington and a common description in most legislation allowing ‘and for other purposes’ to cover any deal POLS make.

Here are a few less contentious references to the Harry Reid manager’s amendment.

There are arrangements for using an arbitrary percentage to determine among other things rebates to premium payers under certain circumstances.

from the amendment….

In determining the percentages under paragraph (1), a State shall seek to ensure adequate participation by health insurance issuers, competition in the health insurance market in the State, and value for consumers so that premiums are used for clinical services and quality improvements.

‘‘(3) ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary shall promulgate regulations for enforcing the provisions of this section and may provide for appropriate penalties.

Sure, the public sector, aka, your government will ’seek to ensure’ participation, competition and value for the consumer in a role in which it has never succeeded. But you can bet they will come up with penalties. After all, what a better way to raise more revenue from the private sector to waste on more governmet interference. It’s like you paying a thief to rob you.

On the issue of more bureaucracy and more waste comes another

‘‘(d) MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT DATA CENTERS.— ‘‘(1) FUNCTIONS.—A center established under
subsection (c)(1)(C) shall— ‘‘(A) develop fee schedules and other database tools that fairly and accurately reflect market rates for medical services and the geographic differences in those rates;

The devil’s in the details…..

‘‘(B) use the best available statistical methods and data processing technology to develop such fee schedules and other database tools; ‘‘(C) regularly update such fee schedules and other database tools to reflect changes in charges for medical services;
‘‘(D) make health care cost information readily available to the public through an Internet website that allows consumers to understand the amounts that health care providers in their area charge for particular medical services; and ‘‘(E) regularly publish information concerning the statistical methodologies used by the center to analyze health charge data and make such data available to researchers and policy makers.
‘‘(2) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—A center established under subsection (c)(1)(C) shall adopt by laws that ensures that the center (and all members of the governing board of the center) is independent and free from all conflicts of interest. Such bylaws shall ensure that the center is not controlled or influenced by, and does not have any corporate relation to, any individual or entity that may make or receive payments for health care services based on the center’s analysis of health care costs.
‘‘(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit a center established under subsection (c)(1)(C) to compel health insurance issuers to provide data to the center.’’.

And one tiny example of how YOUR government will raise costs not only on established transactions but new ones.

‘‘(e) STANDARD HOSPITAL CHARGES.—Each hospital operating within the United States shall for each year establish (and update) and make public (in accordance with guidelines developed by the Secretary) a list of the hospital’s standard charges for items and services provided
by the hospital, including for diagnosisrelated groups established under section 886(d)(4) of the Social Security Act.’’.

And that is after less than an hour reviewing Harry Reid’s manager’s amendment. Which brings to mind the often stated criticism that few if any in Congress have read the bill or anything related to it. Yet they are content to pass it with sixty liberal Senate votes. You have to ask yourself why?

It’s all about money and power and has nothing to do with reform of anything.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Much has been made of Senator Ben Nelson ‘holding up’ the Dems on passing scam health reform. Could it be that Senator Nelson simply wants stuff for his vote? Is this any different than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid buying Senator Mary Landrieu’s vote or Obama buying Cao’s vote? That includes the bogus Stupak Amendment in the House. So what does Senator Ben Nelson say in his own press release on the topic?

NELSON COMMENTS ON ABORTION COMPROMISE

December 17, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson praised provisions in an abortion compromise adding new teen pregnancy initiatives and tax credits for adoption, while saying that the language working to ban public funding of abortion is not sufficient at this point.

Senator Nelson said today a proposed compromise he’s studied does not yet ensure that a longstanding federal standard barring public funding of abortion would be maintained in the Senate health care bill the Senate has been debating this month.

Nelson said without further improvements the compromise is not sufficient.

“The compromise adds important new initiatives addressing teen pregnancy and tax credits to help with adoptions,” Senator Nelson said. “These are valuable improvements that will make a positive difference and promote life. But as it is, without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient.”

Senator Nelson reiterated that he will not be able to support a cloture motion needing 60 votes to end debate on the underlying Senate bill if certain language in the bill remains. The existing language allows public funds to pay for abortion, thus relaxing the longstanding Hyde amendment.

He said today that he is open to looking at additional attempts to maintain the federal restriction on public funding of abortion.

###

If Ben Nelson is so concerned about abortion, where is his concern, outrage or even mention of the following:

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SUBJECT: Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b(f)(1)), prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive Federal funds from using those funds “to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning, or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions.” The August 1984 announcement by President Reagan of what has become known as the “Mexico City Policy” directed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to expand this limitation and withhold USAID funds from NGOs that use non-USAID funds to engage in a wide range of activities, including providing advice, counseling, or information regarding abortion, or lobbying a foreign government to legalize or make abortion available. The Mexico City Policy was in effect from 1985 until 1993, when it was rescinded by President Clinton. President George W. Bush reinstated the policy in 2001, implementing it through conditions in USAID grant awards, and subsequently extended the policy to “voluntary population planning” assistance provided by the Department of State.

These excessively broad conditions on grants and assistance awards are unwarranted. Moreover, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning programs in foreign nations. Accordingly, I hereby revoke the Presidential memorandum of January 22, 2001, for the Administrator of USAID (Restoration of the Mexico City Policy), the Presidential memorandum of March 28, 2001, for the Administrator of USAID (Restoration of the Mexico City Policy), and the Presidential memorandum of August 29, 2003, for the Secretary of State (Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning). In addition, I direct the Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID to take the following actions with respect to conditions in voluntary population planning assistance and USAID grants that were imposed pursuant to either the 2001 or 2003 memoranda and that are not required by the Foreign Assistance Act or any other law: (1) immediately waive such conditions in any current grants, and (2) notify current grantees, as soon as possible, that these conditions have been waived. I further direct that the Department of State and USAID immediately cease imposing these conditions in any future grants.

This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE, January 23, 2009.

That’s right! With each successive change in presidential administration in the US the abortion tennis match continues. When a Republican occupies the White House the Mexico City Policy is reinstated. When a Democrat occupies the White House it is rescinded. So where’s your concern about that Mr Nelson?

Another item related to the never ending abortion debate is the Hyde Amendment. It captures the conservative compromise on the topic. Agreeing to certain limited uses of abortion for circumstances that do not demonstrate abortion’s usage as contraception for dummies.

reference to The Hyde Amendment…..

H.AMDT.185 (A008)
Amends: H.R.2518
Sponsor: Rep Hyde, Henry J. [IL-6] (offered 6/30/1993)AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment to prohibit the use of any funds appropriated in the bill for any abortion except, when it is necessary to save the life of the mother or when the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

POPULAR TITLE(S):
Hyde Amendment (identified by CRS)

STATUS:

6/30/1993 3:00pm:

Amendment (A008) offered by Mr. Hyde.

6/30/1993 3:26pm:

On agreeing to the Hyde amendment (A008) Agreed to by recorded vote: 255 - 178 (Roll no. 307).

6/30/1993 3:28pm:

Mr. Armey demanded a separate vote on the Hyde amendment (A008).

6/30/1993 4:00pm:

On agreeing to the Hyde amendment (A008) Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 256 - 171 (Roll no. 309).

And even though one could make a reasonable argument in support of the Hyde Amendment there are othe equally reasonable arguments to the contrary. Meaning those who face the above challenges still have other choices albeit problematic ones.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Another sneaky Saturday in the Senate — and Teddy K’s ghost rises again (Michelle Malkin) 

The excerpt below from President Obama demonstrates the rhetoric does not always mirror performance.

So my main message in today’s meeting was very simple: that America’s banks received extraordinary assistance from American taxpayers to rebuild their industry — and now that they’re back on their feet, we expect an extraordinary commitment from them to help rebuild our economy.

Minus an extensive review of bank failures over time Mr Obama’s comment that banks are ‘back on their feet’ may be premature. A list of failed banks as of this writing from the FDIC lists 142 bank failures since the Messiah took office. If everything that happened on former presidents’ watches are their responsibility then by Mr Obama’s habit of blaming Bush it would be fair to say Obama is responsible for the 142 bank failures. That would suggest his agenda is not changing the rate of bank failures.

Likewise Mr Obama and his crew indicated their agenda would not see unemployment over eight percent. Obviously it has been over ten percent and is currently hovering at that number. That does not include those who are underemployed and may not cover the hopelessly unemployed or those whe have given up the search. Yet Obamanation continues to tout their ability to create jobs and save the economy.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has focused on ramming his so-called health insurance reform down the throats of American taxpayer whether they like it or not. His press release section is short on jobs information but there is some.

Harry likes to claim his ideas are necessary. And economists tell us that if we do nothing, those costs will continue to climb and climb.’ What Harry doesn’t tell you is his ideas will raise the cost of healthcare. Administration’s Own Actuary Says The Dem Bill Increases Health Care Costs.

A second report on the same topic is….

CMS: Reid Bill Raises Health Care Costs $234 Billion. What Harry is really means is: “We Would Do Almost Anything To Pass A Health Care Bill”

But good ol’ Harry is on the job for jobs. Washington, D.C.—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement this afternoon after his White House meeting with President Obama to discuss job creation initiatives to spur America’s economy:

“I had a productive meeting with President Obama this morning. The initiatives that he outlined in his speech yesterday and that we discussed this morning will help small businesses grow and hire new staff, invest in transportation and infrastructure, and give incentives to homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. He has proposed positive, attainable steps to make sure more Americans have a good job to go to every morning.

Get real Harry. And just what hoops does small business have to jump through to get help from the government that usually means tradeoffs and not doing as you would if left to operate freely? Ooh, investing in transportation and infrastructure. Make work, taxpayer funded projects. Sure, Harry, that’s been done before with exactly what you would get now. Temp jobs with no economic upside beyond a temp paycheck for some. Incentives for homeowners is the same game. Give a break to one taxpayer at the expense of other taxpayers. Government does not create anything except more bills. Fondly referred to as deficits and national debt.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is on Harry’s page. Two press releases echoing the liberal agenda for false economic improvements. Item number one is here. And item nuimber two is here. More debt by use of taxpayer dollars to fund jobs for other taxpayers and those who do not pay taxes.

“Today’s meeting is further evidence how focused President Obama and Congress are on taking more action to keep creating jobs. Absolutely! All the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put the economy back together again. But they all parrot the agenda spin and sound bites.

Fight for effective and limited government. Not the crap the liberals are selling.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Liberals were right. President Bush and the rest of the GOP really screwed up with TARP. It’s part of that Republican fall from grace that allowed the current Democratic party majority in Washington. Oops, liberals were not right. They just hopped on the bandwagon with the rest of America in rejecting too big too fail and other economic nonsense.

President Obama engages in the same foolish rhetoric as other liberals do. But with his foolish talk comes more dangerous policies and action. Sometimes politiely bashing President Bush and others Obama wants it both ways. He continues to repeat his O-pinion that the Bush administration is responsible for the economic mess in the US. He rejects everything Bush. Well, not exactly. His Bush bashing does not include the walk the walk part. If Bush was so bad and TARP was part of it, why do you continue with the TARP thing Barry? Because like all socialist liberal agendas the taxpayer money in TARP can be converted to Mr Obama’s plans. He wants it to pay for his jobs scam. As do other liberals in DC and elsewhere.

Those are make work jobs. They do not add to the economy or create or save jobs. They just add to the nanny state mentality. The New Deal is here again. 70 plus years ago FDR began subsidizing agriculture. How’d that work out for American family farms? They’ve all but disappeared. Social Security is another nanny state idea. It cannot continue forever. But many have come to expect it and soon it will be gone. LBJ and Medicare is a similar story.

The porkulus spending from the ‘recovery’ act legislation had as its first transactions paying to keep staff and programs in education as well as extending Medicaid. That’s now. Not FDR, LBJ or some other lib, that’s now. Obama, Reid, Pelosi and the rest of the Obamanation are nanny staters through and through.

Nanny, nanny, nanny. Suck the life and independence out of every citizen over decades to grow the dependence on oversized government. Allow others to control your life. That’s the Obama agenda. Here’s more of what is presented here in video.

But if you are conservative and a freedom loving American you probably will like the following two versions of the next video.

And to complete the video presentation for this post the following is offered.

and

There would have been more text in this post but thanks to Allison the snow thing has kept us busy in the upper Midwest today. More posts will follow on Obama, liberals, the New Deal and the one they’re trying to impose again.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Just as the GOP has historically been characterized as blindly supporting ‘big business’ to the detriment of the ordinary citizen the Democrats have a reputation of being tax and spend liberals. Recent losses for the GOP in the 2008 presidential election and the 2006 midterms are at least in part due to a Republican fall from grace on conservative principles such as fiscal responsibility. Now that the Democrats are the majority party they have chosen to describe their Congressional minority opponents, the GOP, as the party of ‘no’. Members of the public who share the GOPs opposition to the Democratic party’s political agenda have likewise been labeled something less than American.

A topic not receiving the attention it may deserve as well as some related reports may help readers see through the fog that is politics as usual in the US Capitol. The topic has been called the Tobin tax. The prospect of a so-called Tobin tax, floated last month by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is already provoking nervous U.S. financial companies to lobby for its defeat. Democrats, including Oregon Representative Pete DeFazio and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, this week proposed taxing large transactions in stocks and derivatives. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the idea has a “great deal of merit.”

In general, the idea is to impose a tax on all investment transactions. As if there were not enough taxes (actually too many) on investments and everything else already. When was the last time you heard of a tax being repealed? And if you can cite an example, can you be sure it was not reborn in another piece of legislation? Far worse, an idea like the Tobin tax is appealing to tax and spend liberals for one reason. If the tax can be successfully imposed on investments, how long will it be until ALL financial transactions have a new tax?

Tax Cheat Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would have you believe he is looking out for the little guy not unlike liberals in general. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, throwing cold water on a plan by congressional Democrats to tax financial transactions, said banks and other market participants would find ways to circumvent the expense.

“There’s a real risk that retail investors, who’ve got fewer choices, they end up bearing the cost of the tax,” he said.

But that is not the end of the Geithner story on the Tobin tax. “Just to be frank about it, there’s a lot of people in the business community and the academic community who are not confident that that particular proposal would be that powerful,” Geithner said. “But we’re going to keep looking at it.”

Along with other Democrats of course, Speaker Nancy Pelosi favors the Tobin tax. Maybe in light of Geithner’s remarks she changed her story. But that doesn’t mean she is giving up on new ways to spend your money.

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said Thursday that unused money in the Treasury Department’s financial rescue plan would be used to pay for a new job-creation package.

Pelosi said she favored using funds in the Troubled Asset Relief Program to finance initiatives aimed at kick-starting growth in the moribund jobs market.

In doing so, she effectively ruled out implementing a tax on financial transactions by banks and other financial institutions.

Pelosi said she still favored a tax in principle but the U.S. would have to work with other countries to implement such a levy.

Not long after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act became law it was reported about 25% of the money went out the door. All of it was used for one of two things. Saving jobs and programs in education to payback the NEA for their votes. And more money to spend on Medicaid. Never mind that TARP funds were criticized as private sector bailouts that would never be repaid by companies considered to be too big to fail. Any concern then about taxpayer money can be ignored now that Pelosi and friends are targeting that taxpayer money for other programs in their agenda. This should make you wonder how that wonderful ‘health insurance reform’ (once called healthcare reform) will work out for you.

BTW, most Americans are not buying into Geithner’s agenda as Treasury Secretary.

Upbeat Conservative News, POLL: Geithner Performance Stinks

More voters cast their ballots in 2008 for hope and change with Obama/Biden than the ‘ticket for America’ of McCain/Palin. The main issue was the economy. A year later the economy is still in the tank. Hope and change informed us unemployment would not exceed 8% if their plan was enacted. Unemployment was above ten percent and is still at ten percent in the latest reports. Every Democrat in office in one way or another is supporting tax increases and spending in support of the liberal agenda. President Obama now owns the economy and everything else. Yet there is little evidence that the hope and change selected will be delivered. The information above demonstrates the real agenda. And you’re paying for it with fewer and fewer jobs.

Correct the mistake in 2010 and beyond.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

From Newsmax…..

AMA Members Revolt Over Obamacare Endorsement

Friday, November 6, 2009 6:54 PM
By: David A. Patten

The American Medical Association (AMA) is facing a rebellion from some of its members, who have introduced a resolution to revoke the organization’s endorsement of the Democrats’ healthcare proposals.

How about THAT endorsement, Mr President!!!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Another example of how political motivation blurs the lines in the GOP on being a politician or standing for conservative values.

Republicans are unanimously opposed to the sweeping legislation.

Signaling the unease of some freshman Democrats in swing districts, Rep. John Adler of New Jersey said Friday he will vote against the bill. Mr. Adler, who won his first term in 2008 with 52% of the vote, said the House bill “does not do enough to contain costs.”

He added, “Congress should not pass a bill that costs more than $1 trillion” over 10 years.

Are Republicans unanimously opposed to HR3962 and the other healthcare reform plans proposed by the Democrats for purely political reasons or because this reform violates conservative principles? There is the distinct possibility current reforms violate sections of the US Constitution as well but that’s another story for another time. As is the question of why this unanimous GOP opposition is not demonstrated on other issues like illegal immigration?

The Democratic majority has been unable to produce party unity on healthcare reform as reports indicate the Saturday vote on HR3962 may be delayed. Vulnerable Democrats are worried about the 2010 elections. The GOP has similar concerns about their possible comeback in those same elections. And yet both parties seem unwilling to accept widespread rejection by the public and respond responsibly. The fight is purely political.

The Senate may not be able to arrange a vote until next year. That would take a toll on Obama’s first term. The liberal agenda now seems destined to ride completely on the outcome of healthcare reform legislation. If incomplete into next year their 2010 aspirations are vulnerable. But the GOP may suffer along with them as voters express their anger at the ballot box.

As this fiasco continues other issues suffer from neglect, incompetence or both. The President’s support is fading. Congressional approval ratings are still in the tank. There is no economic recovery. Unemployment has reached a new high above 10% and some say it is actually higher. And all politicians can do is play politics with an issue most regard as secondary at best.

Shelve the damn healthcare issue for now. Attend to national security, national defense, border control, immigration enforcement and domestic policy related to economic matters. In other words, limited government that reduces taxes, national debt, deficits and spending. If those items are ever effectively solved then revisit healthcare reform if anyone other than liberal politicians is interested.

Until then, get conservative or get out.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

If you are not motivated to pour over thousands of pages of legislation to determine for yourself how healthcare reform will affect you here’s an alternative. On October 29, 2009 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi unveiled the latest bill aimed at passage in the House of Representatives in order to pursue President Obama’s political agenda. Her announcement reflected in a press release available on her website provides insight into an impossible dream.

According to Pelosi……

“This is why this legislation is important: affordability for our middle-class that lower costs for every patient, reins in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, limits out of pocket costs, and lifts the cap on what insurance companies cover each year.

Translation::

Every item in the quote above suggests the cost to the patient for healthcare will be reduced or limited from whatever it is now. If the patient is not going to pay the increasing costs for their own healthcare, who will? You might want the answer to that question. And even if you believe the insurance companies are the villains as the liberals suggest, you cannot be so naive as to think there are no legitimate costs to providing healthcare insurance. And those costs are rising.

If you do nothing to lower the actual cost of providing healthcare how do you lower the cost to the patient? You get someone else to pay it for them. And that may include the patient themselves in terms of new taxes on their income, etc. In addition, if you expect the insurance company to absorb the increasing costs of healthcare with no mechanism for actually lowering the costs, they will go out of business.

Another claim by Pelosi…..

“That said, the bill is fiscally sound. It will not add one dime to the deficit as it expands coverage, implements key insurance reforms, and promotes prevention and wellness across the health system. The bill will expand coverage, including a public option to boost choice and competition in the health insurance reform.

Translation:

The key here is Pelosi claims it will ‘expand coverage’ and yet magically ‘not add one dime to the deficit’. So the Speaker claims costs will be reduced for patients and coverage will be expanded yet there will be no increase in the deficit. You have to ask yourself how that is possible? She says reform will ‘rein in premiums, co-pays and deductibles’. Out of pocket expenses will be lowered and insurance coverage will be expanded. How does she do that without someone else to pay for it? The math does not work. And don’t think for a minute that the wealthy in this country can cover the entire tab for what the liberals propose.

And yet another claim by Pelosi…..

“Good morning. It is with great pride and with great humility that we come before you to follow in the footsteps of those who gave our country Social Security and then Medicare, and now universal, quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

This may be the only true statement in the Speaker’s press release. Remember how Congress dealt with Social Security and Medicare in terms of the budget. Sometimes it was on the budget. And sometimes it was off budget. The reason was its drag on government accounting. As the baby boom grew the population and the ratio of those paying for benefits versus those receiving benefits headed toward insolvency. Deficits were hidden by taking the costs off budget.

What? You thought Nancy could make the costs go away by waving her magic wand?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

source: http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1424

Time to ratchet up contact to your elected reps. As the healthcare reform saga continues in the nation’s capital those in the majority confirm the loyal opposition is not the party of ‘no’ but the only ones trying to eliminate insane portions of current proposals in Congress.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday failed in their bids to strengthen provisions to prevent both taxpayer funding of abortions and illegal immigrants from obtaining access to government tax credits in the health care reform bill.

There you go. Taxpayer funding of abortions and opening the door wider for illegals to obtain more healthcare services meaning billions of public funds will extend benefits to those who are citizens of a country other than the United States. This improves healthcare for Americans how?

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, hoping to cull support for his reform proposal, told Democrats he’s open to reworking some of the new taxes in the bill, including the tax on high-valued insurance plans

Harry Reid and company have the task of reconciling two Senate committee bills before they reach the Senate floor next week. How is that going to happen based on the markup process that has been the longest in fifteen years? Rather than proposing legislation that would benefit Americans across the board there is a mix of takeaways and givebacks to accommodate the political agendas of various politicians. There is no way this so-called reform will improve healthcare in the United States. But it will raise taxes.

The only certain outcome of liberal healthcare reform is more taxes and less control for individuals over their healthcare decisions. Each version proposed in Congress has come with a slightly lower estimate on costs over the life of the legislation. Based on previous experience with government forecasts for government programs with the possible exception of the CBO indicate the actual costs will exceed any current estimates. The CBO can only predict based on information available at the time and since the various versions change on an almost daily basis that task is made nearly impossible. You can be sure it will cost more than anyone will tell you now.

More taxes, spending, deficits and national debt totals that will only benefit those not paying the bills as well as forcing taxpayers to cover the cost of many items that they oppose. There is simply no benefit to current healthcare reform proposals except for those making them. It’s a political power grab and a dangerous game to play given mounting debt and financial uncertainty. The money to pay for it does not come out of the sky but the pockets of Americans who simply cannot afford more expense during a recession. Nor can they afford to pass this debt on to their children and grandchildren. Especially when those future generations will likely gain nothing from the massive expense.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Democrat Sen. Tom Carper: Read the bill? Are you kidding me! (Michelle Malkin)

Upbeat Conservative News, Dems Don’t Understand Health Bill

Below are three reactions on Paul Kirk replacing the late Ted Kennedy in the US Senate until a January special election takes place. Following the three expected sentiments from the President, Senate Majority Leader and House Speaker is a more enlightening analysis of one, Paul Kirk.

Statement by The President on The Appointment of Paul Kirk as US Senator From Massachusetts

“I am pleased that Massachusetts will have its full representation in the United States Senate in the coming months, as important issues such as health care, financial reform and energy will be debated. Paul Kirk is a distinguished leader, whose long collaboration with Senator Kennedy makes him an excellent, interim choice to carry on his work until the voters make their choice in January.”

Reid Reaction To Interim Appointment Of Paul Kirk To Vacant Massachusetts Senate Seat

Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement upon the news that Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts has designated Paul Kirk as the interim successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy:

“Ted Kennedy’s impact will endure for the life of this body and his values will continue to serve as a guiding principle for those of us who served with him. But as Senator Kennedy would say, ‘the work goes on,’ and today’s news of Paul Kirk’s appointment ensures that the commonwealth of Massachusetts will have an effective advocate as they await the results of the special election in January.

“As a former staffer and associate of Sen. Kennedy and member of the board of directors for the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Paul Kirk embodies the values of Sen. Kennedy. He also has a long-standing appreciation of the issues that matter to the great people of Massachusetts. I look forward to welcoming Mr. Kirk as he works with Sen. Kerry to represent Massachusetts in the Senate.

“Governor Patrick made a wise, thoughtful choice by naming Paul Kirk as an interim successor to Sen. Kennedy. I also appreciate the diligent work of the Massachusetts Senate and House leadership for understanding the importance of securing full representation for Massachusetts in the United States Senate.”

Pelosi Statement on Appointment of Paul Kirk to Vacant Massachusetts Senate Seat

Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts announced that he has appointed Paul Kirk as the interim successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy:

“Paul Kirk will be a voice of reason and passion in the United States Senate. His belief in public service and commitment to the causes of social justice, equality, and opportunity for every American make him an outstanding choice to carry on the torch of Senator Ted Kennedy.

“Paul Kirk will be an effective advocate for the people of Massachusetts, and I look forward to welcoming him to Congress and working with him to advance the cause of health care for all, energy independence, and economic growth in the coming months.”

And now for the enlightening analysis…..

Barack Obama has a narrative he likes for his health-care fight: Obama, on behalf of sick people and the whole economy, battles the well-funded special interests who profit from the status quo while his opponents spread lies.

But there’s another narrative being told by the facts most of the media ignore, and Paul Kirk could provide the awkward punctuation:

Obama is fighting to subsidize health insurers and drug companies, is cutting deals with drug lobbyists, and now his ally Deval Patrick has brought in a revolving-door drug-industry lobbyist to hit the game-winning RBI.

You really should read the rest of this piece. Click on the highlighted text above to go to the full story.

It is still a time where we need to voice public opposition to the corruption in our nation’s capital. More events like 912dc and the tea parties across the country are the order of the day. Paul Kirk is one more special interest lobbyist that the Messiah in Chief claimed would be a thing of the past. It is another vindication for Joe Wilson’s phrase ‘you lie’. Lies are all that appear to be coming out of Washington DC.

How can so-called healthcare reform legislation be anything but corrupt when corruption is all that is producing it?

At the very least, contact your elected reps and express your disatisfaction including advance notice of your vote against them in 2010.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

08/25/2009

Pelosi: Fiscal Discipline Must Be the Order of the Day

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the updated deficit forecast:

“Today’s deficit projections are a legacy of Bush Administration fiscal policies that turned our surpluses into deficits and led the way toward an economic and financial crisis that has required historic short-term intervention. If pay-as-you-go principles had been in place for the last 8 years, this deficit would be $5 trillion smaller over the next decade.

“We are working with President Obama to restore fiscal responsibility and to ensure that statutory pay-go, already passed by the House, is signed into law. Under President Obama’s leadership, we have ended the Bush-era practice of hiding the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – gimmicks and accounting tricks that have no place in our budget process. And working with the President, Congress has laid out a budget blueprint that reduces our deficit, lays a new foundation for job creation and economic growth, and invests in more broadly shared prosperity for all Americans.

“But we cannot reduce the deficit in the long-term without getting health care costs under control. Nor can health care reform add to the challenge. That is why our health insurance reform is fully paid for and will not increase the deficit.

“These deficit projections send a clear message: fiscal discipline must be the order of the day as we come out of this recession. Our economic recovery efforts are starting to pay dividends for America’s families. Today’s announcement that consumer confidence and home prices are on the rise represent new signs that our economy is moving in the right direction. And now, we must remain on-track to tackle our fiscal challenges, advance policies to promote job growth, reinforce the foundation of our prosperity, and return the United States to the days of financial stability.”

from MoreWhat.com:

How much proof does one need to conclude Nancy Pelosi does not reside on planet Earth? Fiscal responsibility? Pay-go? Wow!

Trillions in debt, deficit and spending with no end in sight and Nutjob Nancy publishes a press release like this. Nancy, get back on your meds! The press release above should be grounds to have her adjudged incompetent in any court. No sane person could make such statements given commonly available financial data for the US, especially the government,  which Pelosi is a current elected official though she may not be aware of that.

Stanford Matthews

This is a slice from the healthcare reform bill introduced in Congress by Democrats. That can be said since the committee approved it on a party line vote and the GOP may get another bashing from liberals for being the party of ‘no’. But nonetheless THIS IS a Democrat bill. After reading the linked excerpt below feel free to follow it to find out more on this ‘reform’ bill. The question is…… can you find any problems with the little ’slice’ that is presented here?

You might also find a post at Flopping Aces on this topic useful as well. While this blog does not necessarily agree with the characterization of Romney’s role in the Massachusetts version of healthcare reform from 2006 dissin’ the former Presidential candidate from 2008 for the dramatic failure of that state’s plan may be the price one pays for having their name associated with such a bill. But that raises the question of who else was involved and gave their approval of it? Nuff said.

There may be a pressing need to solve problems with healthcare and someone may even have the solution. But the offerings from the White House and Congress may have much in common with past attempts by government to solve problems in the private sector. They simply do not work. But it is fair to say that whatever comes out of Washington to solve healthcare will be something none of us can afford. That is if it looks anything like what is being proposed thus far.

Just one little suggestion for Congress is offered here as an ending note. Just below you will notice the brief description of the bill along with its title. The last four words of the description could be removed from all legislation. ‘And for other purposes’ is just one more free hand politicians should not be given.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
H.R. 3200

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes

SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.

(a) Grandfathered Health Insurance Coverage Defined- Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ‘grandfathered health insurance coverage’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:

(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT-

(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.

(b) Grace Period for Current Employment-based Health Plans-

(1) GRACE PERIOD-

(A) IN GENERAL- The Commissioner shall establish a grace period whereby, for plan years beginning after the end of the 5-year period beginning with Y1, an employment-based health plan in operation as of the day before the first day of Y1 must meet the same requirements as apply to a qualified health benefits plan under section 101, including the essential benefit package requirement under section 121.

Many have said Social Security and Medicare are hopelessly flawed and will fail by going bust or bankrupt. In other words, we cannot afford to continue down this road. In their own words the ‘trustees’ of Social Security and Medicare admit that much. The problem is their prediction or forecast may go the way of most other government forecasts. It will be shown in retrospect, some years in the future, to be a woefully inadequate prediction and things will be much worse than they are currently being stated.

Even with that the excerpts from the report below confirm that government knows these programs are failing. And now they want to add government run healthcare for everyone. You have to be a complete fool to believe this can work. As of the date of this post, even with two committee’s in Congress agreeing on a healthcare bill, neither can determine how to pay for it.

No kidding. That is an always has been the problem with government programs especially Social Security and Medicare. We cannot afford to sustain them. In this green and sustainability crazy world how come those same ECO crazy activists and other liberals cannot find a way to make these programs financially viable? Because just like the other liberal fantasies they cannot make this stuff work. The math isn’t there. The math is not on their side. Even Obama’s own who are now trustees of SSI and the rest cannot keep this myth going. That is why they are working on news ones like healthcare reform. It is nothing more than putting lipstick on the old pig. Ain’t gonna work folks.

There are ways to solve the problem with healthcare but those realities are not being addressed. They do not fit the liberal agenda. With liberals in the White House and a liberal majority in Congress all that stands between us and total financial collapse is the American taxpayer. If you do not revolt now it will all be a moot point when the liberal agenda has been put in place by the POLS in DC. That is no exaggeration.

Please note, the trustees mentioned earlier are listed at the bottom of this post’s reference. Tax Cheat Timothy Geithner, Baby Killer Kathleen Sebelius as well as other less well known Obama tax problem, Hilda Solis and a left over from 2007, Michael Astrue are the part of the Obama brain trust in charge of stiffin’ you on SSI and the rest. How’s it workin’ so far?

The conclusion drawn here suggests current healthcare reform is a back door strategy on the third rail of politics. If you are unfamiliar with the terminology simply use you favorite search engine and specify ‘third rail of politics.’ Social security and Medicare are such controversial issues that for decades they have been kept alive with ridiculous infusions of taxpayer funds and no one will fight it for if you touch the third rail you will die. (at least politically speaking) If Obama and Congress are successful in passing their healthcare ‘reform’ it will eventually fold the other social programs into it and we will surely be completely beholdin’ to those who wish to control us and all we earn will go for supporting the state. Just like any other socialist country we will work for the state and they will provide all. All that is available that is, which won’t be much. It never has been with any other political experiment like this in human history. Just ask the former Soviet Union where from each according to their ability and to each according to their need was their founder’s mantra. Ya, keep telling yourself we’re not heading there. Obama is depending on that.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A SUMMARY OF THE 2009 ANNUAL REPORTS
Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees

A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC:

Each year the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds report on the current and projected financial status of the two programs. This message summarizes our 2009 Annual Reports.

The financial condition of the Social Security and Medicare programs remains challenging. Projected long run program costs are not sustainable under current program parameters.

The deficits will be made up by redeeming trust fund assets until reserves are exhausted in 2037, at which point tax income would be sufficient to pay about three fourths of scheduled benefits through 2083. Medicare’s financial status is much worse. As was true in 2008, Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund is expected to pay out more in hospital benefits and other expenditures this year than it receives in taxes and other dedicated revenues. The difference will be made up by redeeming trust fund assets. Growing annual deficits are projected to exhaust HI reserves in 2017, after which the percentage of scheduled benefits payable from tax income would decline from 81 percent in 2017 to about 50 percent in 2035 and 30 percent in 2080. In addition, the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund that pays for physician services and the prescription drug benefit will continue to require general revenue financing and charges on beneficiaries that grow substantially faster than the economy and beneficiary incomes over time.

The projected exhaustion of the HI Trust Fund within the next eight years is an urgent concern. Congressional action will be necessary to ensure uninterrupted provision of HI services to beneficiaries. Correcting the financial imbalance for the HI Trust Fund—even in the short range alone—will require substantial changes to program income and/or expenditures.

Social Security could be brought into actuarial balance over the next 75 years with changes equivalent to an immediate 16 percent increase in the payroll tax (from a rate of 12.4 percent to 14.4 percent) or an immediate reduction in benefits of 13 percent or some combination of the two. Ensuring that the system remains solvent on a sustainable basis beyond the next 75 years would require larger changes because increasing longevity will result in people receiving benefits for ever longer periods of retirement.

Conclusion

The financial difficulties facing Social Security and Medicare pose serious challenges. For Social Security, the reform options are relatively well understood but the choices are difficult. Medicare is a bigger challenge. Its cost growth can be contained without sacrificing quality of care only if health care cost growth more generally is contained. But despite the difficulties—indeed, because of the difficulties—it is essential that action be taken soon, particularly to control health care costs.

By the Trustees:

Timothy F. Geithner,
Secretary of the Treasury,
and Managing Trustee

Hilda L. Solis,
Secretary of Labor,
and Trustee

Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary of Health
and Human Services,
and Trustee

Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of
Social Security,
and Trustee

Not much to get excited about these days. The debut of another Harry Potter movie should be one small bright spot. Of course how small is 104 million on a movie’s first day? Tiny compared to the $600 billion healthcare plan from the Democrats. And even smaller compared to the more likely 1 to 1 1/2 trillion dollar price tag it will likely reach.

Microsoft and Yahoo are haggling about a search engine deal. And in these tough economic times and scaled back consumer spending you have to wonder how the kids got the 104 million to give Harry Potter a good send off? It would seem parents found a way to send the kids to the movies this week even though paying that credit card bill or house payment may be tougher than it once was.

Most would probably say Sotomayor is a lock for the Supreme Court but that doesn’t stop the pundits from analyzing and reanalyzing the hearings and the judge’s resume’, etc. The GOP can go along with Obama or vote against his nominee. They can also filibuster but with the sixty vote liberal advantage what does it matter?

Foreclosures or those in trouble with making payments has risen to a record level and the nation’s 2nd largest bank just posted a profit. Must be nice to have someone take those toxic assets off your books. Yes, bash those who may have made less than wise choices about buying a house and now facing foreclosure. And bash the banks for getting bailouts. It is easy to criticize when the complaint is not directed at yourself. With all the bad news and problems to solve you could think everyone has a share in it and we should look inward for some of the answers.

Healthcare would be one of those problems if not for the political use of that issue to gain power and control over citizens with legislation. You might want to inquire of your elected reps on one feature of the bill approved in committee. If it becomes law, one year from that date employer’s will not be allowed to add anyone to their health plans. Gee, Wally, could that be how the liberals plan on forcing us to take the public or government option? They claim you will be allowed to keep your coverage if you like it. But the plan feature mentioned will make your current coverage really unaffordable when no one else can enter the plan. This is what this post means by bad news.

Maybe we can borrow some of Harry Potter’s magic and tricks to end healthcare reform, reject the SCOTUS nominee and return some sense to the White House and Congress. Remember those promises from the likes of Obama and Pelosi? The culture of corruption is over. Transparency and accountability are the rule. We will change Washington and it won’t be business as usual, etc.,etc. So much for your hope and change.

As for the requisite hope and change joke, you better hope you at least have some change left after Washington gets done spending all your money.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

You cannot find this on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter or any other nonsense location. Oh, and about the guy from Twitter and the hack problem…… who cares?