Job Killing Health Care Reform

“This isn’t a healthcare bill, this is a tax bill wrapped up in healthcare paper," says the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

http://www.nfib.com/tabid/565/Default.aspx?cmsid=51074

For timeline of how these new taxes will affect businesses (and you, the people), see: http://www.nfib.com/tabid/565/Default.aspx?cmsid=51105

Just to get you started:

In 2010, a small business tax credit will begin. Unfortunately, there are so many hurdles to jump through--that unless you hire less than 10 people and you pay your employees (on average) less than $25,000 per year and you also pay more than 50% of the health care costs will you be eligible for the full tax credit.

And, it's only for 6 years.

In, 2010, a tax on tanning salons. (Note--not sure what that's all about!)

Plus more goodies for 2010 (see the article linked above).

Now, for 2011--more fun and games!

Employers must report employee health benefits on W-2's. For those unconstitutional mandates, of course.

Manufacturers and importers of brand-name drugs will pay several billion dollars in new taxes, to go up every year thereafter. To be passed on to you the consumer, of course. (And I'm not mad at the manufacturer--they have to make a profit in order to develop new medications. Profits AREN'T a bad thing. I'll only give you one hint who I am upset at!)

Limits on Health Savings Accounts of various and sundry sorts.

Plus several other new limits/taxes/requirements on your health insurance.

And there's more in the years to come! Including new taxes on medical equipment (such as your grandmother's wheelchair) beginning in 2013; fewer medical tax deductions in 2013; and small business health insurance taxes in 2014; and many more taxes and disincentives!

Are we having fun yet?

Lies, lies and more lies

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/a_closer_look_at_the_capitol_s.html

When you don't want to discuss the merits (or lack thereof) of the new government controlled health care, you start calling names (remember the red herring? http://politicopolitico.blogspot.com/2009/08/excuse-me-but-its-red-herring.html)

Another claimant for the new "idiot" label, maybe.....

What is This, The KGB?

Companies that have asserted that the new government run health care rules will cost them money (lots and lots and lots of money) are being told they must appear before Congress and verify their claims.

Representative Waxman (D-California) complains that the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) has already decided that health costs will go down--

{of course, the CBO has to "score" or decide on the costs of legislation only with the numbers that the Congress gives them--they cannot use any estimates of costs that contradict Congress when, for example, Congress uses money from unsubstantiated taxes or (basically) illegal sources. In order words, the CBO is hogtied by Congress}

{And, don't forget, no one, according to Madame Speaker, knew what was in the bill before it was passed--as evidenced here: http://politicopolitico.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-mandates-that-we-had-to-pass.html}

and so these companies must be wrong, wrong, wrong!

And, furthermore, these companies must bring along all sorts of internal memos, company records, etc, etc to "prove" their position.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-threaten-companies-hit-hard-by-health-care-bill-89347127.html

And here I thought we had freedom of speech....

Congress to Obama: Quit on Israel Already!

President Obama was rude and crude toward our ally, Israel, last week when the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu came to visit.

Mr. Obama refused to have photographs with Mr. Netanyahu and then left his guest to eat dinner on his own while Mr. Obama went to dinner with his family.

What's this all about? Well, the Israelis are building houses in East Jerusalem, apparently something that is routine, but which Mr. Obama is opposed to because it happened while the Vice-President was visiting Israel. The Israeli response? No way, Mr. Obama.

And what has happened? Well, Obama's Administration looks pretty petty.

And Mr. Obama's stance has hardened Palestinian resolves to talk about "peace", so he has stopped the peace process.

And Mr. Obama has managed to further alienate our only ally in the Middle East, Israel.

Plus, Mr. Obama looks rather silly. Now even Congress is reprimanding him. From the Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171945

"Three-quarters of the House of Representatives signed a bipartisan letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing solid support for Israel and the expectation that differences between Jerusalem and Washington will be smoothed over quickly and in private."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/03/obama_and_netanyahu_pointless.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100329/ts_nm/us_palestinians_israel_usa

More Mandates (That We Had to Pass the Health Care Bill to Know About)

A couple of the new health care mandates that have been discovered in the our new government run health care overhaul:

#1) An elimination of a tax break for retired seniors who are on company-run presciption medication coverage.

This will mean that retirees of large companies who currently have drug coverage through their companies will be dumped into the Medicare system---that Medicare system that our new health care system has been cut by Half-a-Trillion dollars.

So, who's going to pay for this? There's no money in the (governmental health care) funds for this....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmzNv5LYXOA6UM_XmUHdOe9augtQD9ELVL3G1

#2) Restaurant chains with more than 20 restaurants in their company will have to post calorie and nutrition counts on all their menus.

So, what's the big deal? Well, the cost for these restaurants. Small chains estimate that enacting these new health-care rules will cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's not that having this information is a such a bad thing--it's that this information is available and figure-out-able for those who need to know (such as diabetics). Those who need to know currently have to do some homework. But is it okay to ruin some small companies due to government mandate?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXEgwDxFvwY87DuJizvav-WDpMIAD9EK6HA00

Why We Need Legislators that Know the Constitution

One of the more egregious parts of the new health care bill is the demand (mandate) that everyone buy health insurance.

Or be fined, jailed, or something.

This, in many learned people's thoughts, is quite unconstitutional.

But not according to Representative Conyers (D-Michigan). Mandates are absolutely constitutional according to Conyers--

(from CNSNEWS) “What part of the Constitution do you think gives Congress the authority to mandate individuals to purchase health insurance?”
Rep. Conyers: “Under several clauses. The good and welfare clause, and a couple others.”

Unfortunately, there is no "good and welfare" clause.

Look for it--you won't find it.

I need a new label catagory--"Idiots"

Surprise!

Concerning the Executive Order against government funded abortion that was promised to Representative Stupak: "A White House official told Fox, Obama will not sign the Executive Order Tuesday and has set no specific date to do so."

Not to mention the teensy, weensy constitutional problem that the President, as the Executive Branch of the federal government, cannot legislate from his office.

Our New Health Care

This is what I know: our personal medical insurance here at Chez Charnock will be outlawed soon. And we won't have any health insurance.

A few other tidbits:

1. This bill adds over $500,000 billion in new taxes for the American people.

And that's the direct taxes on YOU--not including all the costs of business that will get passed down to us. These are the increased costs mandated by the federal government that businesses will be forced to pay.

2. This health care bill that touted health care for children doesn't cover pre-existing conditions for children--as promised. Something happened on the way to the signing--maybe they forgot to read that bill.

Perhaps Madame Speaker Pelosi was right in that Congress had to pass the bill before they could find out what was in it.

Can you see me shaking my head? This is just absolutely, unbelievably, incredibly, awesomely---ridiculous. I mean, these are our leaders!

3. The biggest (Un)Surprise?

Congress doesn't have to abide by its own laws--they can do whatever they wish about health care coverage.

4. After 10 years, by its own supporters, 24 million people will still be without health insurance.

More head shaking. And jaw dropping. And eye popping.

The Death of our Republic

Truly, that's how I feel. Our Constitution trashed, so many of our rights gone--we are no longer free.

What a horrible end to our beautiful vacation in Italy.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/where_were_you_when_the_republ.html

Madame Speaker on Health Care

"We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it," says Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Is this a democracy or a totalitarian state?

Time to Write

Time to get out the ol' pen and ink and write about health care, which is coming up for vote (unless President Obama can manage to bribe enough people for "yes" votes and/or the Democrats can figure out how to weasel the bill through Congress).

This is what I wrote:

"I am writing to oppose government run health care.
As part of the huge majority of Americans that oppose this bill, I am writing to ask you to vote against this bill.
Any bill that is dependent on back room deals, bribes, and parliamentary tricks to get passed is not in the interest of the American people and should have no part of our democratic, republican system of government.
Thought I cannot vote for you, I can support your opponent, just as I monetarily supported Senator Scott Brown.
Thank you for your time"

Here's how to write: Go and put your zip code in the little box on the side bar, just to the right on this blog. This will take you to FOF's site on contacting your elected officials. Look at the top of the little box on that page--click on "Elected Officials" and then on ""Congressional Directory".

There you will find how to email or write each congressperson. Who to write? I'll get to that in a moment.

Click on "A or B or C...." (you get the picture). As you click on a name, you will go to another page that has a picture (note the guy without a suit on, looking like he just stuck some old snapshot--now, really!!) and will have a tab "Contact". When you click on that tab (look across the top), you can then click on "Contact" again. For many of the congressfolks, you can email them right from the website.

I chose NOT to send the pre-printed little blurb from FOF Citizen Action--instead, I chose "Write my own email" and then copied in my little note.

Not everyone will let you write them via email! (I'll get up a list of those folks later.) But many will let you email. So just do it!

Now, whom do you write?

Go to http://beta.hannity.com/pages/stop-obama-care and you'll see a list of those who are voting "yes" to obamacare--I didn't write them.

I wrote those who are unsure ("toss-up"), "leaning No", and "Probably No".

Those who don't take email from non-constituents will get a letter.

That costs money to mail letters, you say?

Well, how much do you think new taxes, increased health insurance premiums, and fewer jobs are going to cost you?

Freedom is not Free.

PS Then don't forget to write your congressperson and thank them for opposing Obamacare if they have done so!

Experiments in Health Care

While the health care reform bill (or bills? reconciliation? who knows?) get their last vetting, let's look at two "experiments" in government run health care and see how that's working:

First, the State of Tennessee, which expanded Medicaid to nearly 1/4 of its residents, adding 500,000 people to Medicaid. This is a cornerstone of Obamacare, which would add about half of the nation's currently uninsured--for a helfty price tag. The results? Sky-rocketing costs and decline in results, i.e. poorer health for those enrolled.

http://blog.heritage.org/2010/03/06/think-medicaid-expansion-is-a-good-idea-think-again/#more-28249

Next, the state of Massachusetts, where the state is now running a universal health care program. Costs again are skyrocketing, and health care is already 47 million dollars OVER budget for 2010! Patients are being threatened with capitation of health services, despite paying the highest health insurance premiums in the nation.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1237112

Unemployment

Only, only, only 36,000 people lost their jobs today.

Again, that "unexpected" word--except Senator Reid (D-Nevada) deemed this figure unexpectedly "Good".

Which may not help his bid for re-election (where he's already running waaayyyy behind--funny thing!?!)

And More Maneuverings by the Oval Office

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/02/white-house-land-grab/

The Executive Office is trying to take over, WITHOUT the states' permission, over 10 million acres across the U.S.

In the name of climate change, preventing oil & gas exploration, and in case the prairie chicken might be endangered.

Did you know that 29% of our country's land belongs to the federal government?

And that Presidents Carter and Clinton added about 56 million acres to the federal pie?

Land that can no longer be used by the states, or by we, the people. And without our consent.

New Additions to the List of Obama's Bribes

President Obama continues to bribe his health care reforms through Congress.

See http://politicopolitico.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-backroom-deals-for-obamacare.html

and http://politicopolitico.blogspot.com/2009/12/obamacare-and-bribes.html for a few of the recent bribes.

The newest? Health care for judgeships: http://weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-now-selling-appeals-court-judgeships-health-care-votes

And now for one of our Allies--Great Britain

Whom this Administration has just "slapped in the face"--

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100028048/hillary-clinton-slaps-britain-in-the-face-over-the-falklands/

More News...

President Obama is going to greatly reduce our nuclear arsenal, to go along with his "transformattional" ideas of nuclear non-proliferation.
It's a one-sided deal--our enemies, unfortunately, haven't agreed to decrease their nuclear arms.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8543897.stm
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/obama_seeking_unilateral_nucle.html

Today, A Preview of Government Run Healthcare

Today, Medicare is being cut by 21%.

The federal government has routinely cut Medicare over the years, but then turned right around and stopped the cuts.

Congress has been doing this "sleight-of-hand" trickery to make the budget look good.

This year, however, the cuts are still there.

Bye, bye health care for our seniors. Even if (and more probably "When") the Medicare payments are reinstated, this will still probably be a wake-up call to doctors to be wary about accepting Medicare patients.

Simply put, doctors cannot see patients at a loss. It's a business as well as a profession--and if you can't pay the light bill, you have to close your office. It's as simple as that.

http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2010/3/1/lawmakers-mull-options-for-averting-scheduled-medicare-payment-cuts.aspx

Oops, Another Small Error in the Global Warming Campaign

It seems that global warming, or any lack thereof, has nothing to do with hurricanes.

This is based on recent research here in America.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7044158.ece