STUDY FINDS OBAMACARE premiums will be highest in states that did
not vote for President Obama, prompting some lawmakers to say it proves
'law picks winners and losers' across the country. Go Figure!
Conservative Blogger
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
ObamaCare's red state rate squeeze
STUDY FINDS OBAMACARE premiums will be highest in states that did
not vote for President Obama, prompting some lawmakers to say it proves
'law picks winners and losers' across the country. Go Figure!
Obama tweaks message about keeping health plans under ObamaCare
As thousands of consumers receive health insurance cancellation
notices, President Obama is continuing to fine tune his promise that
Americans who like their health plans would be able to them under his
signature health care law.
The president told about 200 of his campaign supporters and health care activists Monday that the administration had promised Americans they could keep their current coverage -- as long as their plans hadn’t changed since ObamaCare was signed into law.
"If you have or had one of these plans before the Affordable Care Act came into law and you really liked that plan, what we said was you could keep it if it hasn't changed since the law's passed," Obama said. "So we wrote into the Affordable Care Act you are grandfathered in on that plan. But if the insurance company changes it, then what we're saying is they have got to change it to a higher standard. They've got to make it better."
Obama said his health care law is making the insurance market better for everyone, even though millions of Americans who buy individual plans have been receiving cancellation notices. He said the notices "can be scary for people," but added they were often getting "a very bad deal."
"The bottom line is -- is that we are making the insurance market better for everybody and that's right thing to do," he said.
The president also acknowledged that technical problems with the health care website to shop for insurance are making it tougher for people to find other plans. He said he's "not happy about it," but promised, "We're going to smooth this thing out."
At least 3.5 million Americans have been issued cancellations, but the exact number is unclear, The Associated Press reported. In a speech at Boston's Faneuil Hall this past week, Obama said the problem is limited to fewer than 5 percent of Americans "who've got cut-rate plans that don't offer real financial protection in the event of a serious illness or an accident."
In the Republican-controlled House, officials say a vote is likely as early as next week on a bill to let insurers continue selling any individual policies that were in effect on Jan. 1, 2013, even if they provide coverage deemed insufficient under Obamacare.
The measure, drafted by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and backed by roughly 100 fellow Republicans, would remain in effect throughout 2014, after which the issue would presumably be reviewed.
"Despite the president's repeated promise of 'if you like your plan, you can keep it,' many Americans are now learning the sad reality that their current plan will no longer exist beginning on January 1," Upton, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement when he announced his legislation last week.
"This legislation is about providing folks the peace of mind that they will be allowed to keep their current coverage if they so choose."
While Upton's legislation permits insurers to sell existing coverage plans that would otherwise be banned, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., introduced legislation during the day to go one step further by requiring it.
Aides told The Associated Press that under her measure, insurance companies would be obliged to continue offering existing paying customers continued coverage under any plans in effect at the end of 2013. No new consumers could enroll.
"A promise was made that if you like your health plan, you can keep it - and I will do everything I can to see that the promise is kept," said Landrieu, who is gearing up for what is expected to be a challenging re-election campaign next year.
The White House declined comment on the two bills.
Both measures are designed to cut through a complicated system in which some plans for individuals that fall short of coverage standards are allowed to continue under Obamacare, while others are not.
The president told about 200 of his campaign supporters and health care activists Monday that the administration had promised Americans they could keep their current coverage -- as long as their plans hadn’t changed since ObamaCare was signed into law.
"If you have or had one of these plans before the Affordable Care Act came into law and you really liked that plan, what we said was you could keep it if it hasn't changed since the law's passed," Obama said. "So we wrote into the Affordable Care Act you are grandfathered in on that plan. But if the insurance company changes it, then what we're saying is they have got to change it to a higher standard. They've got to make it better."
Obama said his health care law is making the insurance market better for everyone, even though millions of Americans who buy individual plans have been receiving cancellation notices. He said the notices "can be scary for people," but added they were often getting "a very bad deal."
"The bottom line is -- is that we are making the insurance market better for everybody and that's right thing to do," he said.
The president also acknowledged that technical problems with the health care website to shop for insurance are making it tougher for people to find other plans. He said he's "not happy about it," but promised, "We're going to smooth this thing out."
At least 3.5 million Americans have been issued cancellations, but the exact number is unclear, The Associated Press reported. In a speech at Boston's Faneuil Hall this past week, Obama said the problem is limited to fewer than 5 percent of Americans "who've got cut-rate plans that don't offer real financial protection in the event of a serious illness or an accident."
In the Republican-controlled House, officials say a vote is likely as early as next week on a bill to let insurers continue selling any individual policies that were in effect on Jan. 1, 2013, even if they provide coverage deemed insufficient under Obamacare.
The measure, drafted by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and backed by roughly 100 fellow Republicans, would remain in effect throughout 2014, after which the issue would presumably be reviewed.
"Despite the president's repeated promise of 'if you like your plan, you can keep it,' many Americans are now learning the sad reality that their current plan will no longer exist beginning on January 1," Upton, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement when he announced his legislation last week.
"This legislation is about providing folks the peace of mind that they will be allowed to keep their current coverage if they so choose."
While Upton's legislation permits insurers to sell existing coverage plans that would otherwise be banned, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., introduced legislation during the day to go one step further by requiring it.
Aides told The Associated Press that under her measure, insurance companies would be obliged to continue offering existing paying customers continued coverage under any plans in effect at the end of 2013. No new consumers could enroll.
"A promise was made that if you like your health plan, you can keep it - and I will do everything I can to see that the promise is kept," said Landrieu, who is gearing up for what is expected to be a challenging re-election campaign next year.
The White House declined comment on the two bills.
Both measures are designed to cut through a complicated system in which some plans for individuals that fall short of coverage standards are allowed to continue under Obamacare, while others are not.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Graham says he'll continue to block Obama nominees unless he gets Benghazi info
WASHINGTON – South Carolina Sen.
Lindsey Graham reiterated his pledge to block all of Obama’s nominees
for executive branch positions until Congress is allowed to hear
testimony from those on the ground during the Benghazi terrorist attacks
in 2012.
“I shouldn’t have to do this – to make these threats,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Graham says there are still too many unanswered questions about the Sept. 11 attack in Libya that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
While there have been a number of Capitol Hill hearings on the deadly attack in Benghazi, Graham is among a group of lawmakers who say they aren’t satisfied with the information provided and want more.
“I don’t think it’s over the top to find out what happened to four dead Americans,” he said. “I don't think it’s over the top to talk to survivors. The State Department interviewed these survivors.”
Along with Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the attack.
Graham has been asking for the FBI’s transcripts of interviews with State Department and CIA survivors who were evacuated to Germany after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate.
In an Oct. 28 letter Graham, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Julia Frifield, referred to "significant risks" and "serious concerns about having the survivors of the attack submit to additional interviews."
Graham and other Republicans believe the transcripts will show the survivors told the FBI it was a terrorist attack and made no mention of a video or anti-U.S. demonstration at the consulate.
“So I’m going to block every appointment in the United States Senate until the survivors are being made available to Congress,” he said.
Graham also called on fellow lawmakers in Washington for help.
“The only way this will work is if my GOP colleagues get behind me and Democrats too and support my request to find out exactly what happened,” he said.
“I shouldn’t have to do this – to make these threats,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Graham says there are still too many unanswered questions about the Sept. 11 attack in Libya that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
While there have been a number of Capitol Hill hearings on the deadly attack in Benghazi, Graham is among a group of lawmakers who say they aren’t satisfied with the information provided and want more.
“I don’t think it’s over the top to find out what happened to four dead Americans,” he said. “I don't think it’s over the top to talk to survivors. The State Department interviewed these survivors.”
Along with Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the attack.
Graham has been asking for the FBI’s transcripts of interviews with State Department and CIA survivors who were evacuated to Germany after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate.
In an Oct. 28 letter Graham, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Julia Frifield, referred to "significant risks" and "serious concerns about having the survivors of the attack submit to additional interviews."
Graham and other Republicans believe the transcripts will show the survivors told the FBI it was a terrorist attack and made no mention of a video or anti-U.S. demonstration at the consulate.
“So I’m going to block every appointment in the United States Senate until the survivors are being made available to Congress,” he said.
Graham also called on fellow lawmakers in Washington for help.
“The only way this will work is if my GOP colleagues get behind me and Democrats too and support my request to find out exactly what happened,” he said.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Deep sleep: ObamaCare site goes offline for extended maintenance
The problem-plagued ObamaCare website shut down Saturday night for
“extended” repairs, according to the Department of Health and Human
Services.
Technicians have shut down HealthCare.gov during weekends since the site launched Oct. 1 but just for a few overnight hours.
The site was scheduled to be offline from 9 p.m. ET Saturday until 9 a.m. Sunday.
"The HealthCare.gov tech team is performing extended maintenance this weekend to improve network infrastructure and make enhancements to the online application and enrollment tools,” agency spokeswoman Joanne Peters said Saturday.
The Obama administration says Americas can still apply for insurance coverage by calling a toll-free number available around the clock.
In recent weeks, the administration has brought in outside experts to assist in getting the site running.
Officials say their goal is to eliminate such problems as volume-related crashes, slow response times and incorrect information before the insurance policies kick in January 1, 2014.
They also have set a goal of getting the site running smoothly by month's end and releasing enrollment numbers by mid-November, as Capitol Hill lawmakers hold hearings about the extent of the problems before the site launch and who knew about them.
Technicians have shut down HealthCare.gov during weekends since the site launched Oct. 1 but just for a few overnight hours.
The site was scheduled to be offline from 9 p.m. ET Saturday until 9 a.m. Sunday.
"The HealthCare.gov tech team is performing extended maintenance this weekend to improve network infrastructure and make enhancements to the online application and enrollment tools,” agency spokeswoman Joanne Peters said Saturday.
The Obama administration says Americas can still apply for insurance coverage by calling a toll-free number available around the clock.
In recent weeks, the administration has brought in outside experts to assist in getting the site running.
Officials say their goal is to eliminate such problems as volume-related crashes, slow response times and incorrect information before the insurance policies kick in January 1, 2014.
They also have set a goal of getting the site running smoothly by month's end and releasing enrollment numbers by mid-November, as Capitol Hill lawmakers hold hearings about the extent of the problems before the site launch and who knew about them.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
What Will Happen When the Government Collapses?
Yesterday, my colleague, Marty Biancuzzo, explained why America is on a path to inevitable economic and government collapse.
After reading Marty’s piece, another colleague asked me: What will America look like after a government collapse?
It’s an important question, and I want to give a satisfactory answer. But I can’t do that in one short column, so I plan to return to this topic several times over the next few weeks. I hope when I’m done you will have a better understanding of where the country is headed.
Now, consider our current situation…
It’s clear that Barack Obama and Congress have no plan to get the dead-in-the-water economy moving. In fact, they appear to be completely incompetent.
Too many Americans are jobless, an excessive number of Americans are dependent on government handouts to eat, and the countless Americans who could contribute to the economic recovery are frozen in place, unwilling to take risks due to an uncertain regulatory environment.
Now, it’s fashionable in some governmental circles to argue that another Great Depression could never happen. Politicians reason that America at present has far more tools to prevent such a cataclysm.
They believe: “things are different this time.” If only they knew how right they were.
It Is Different This Time… It’s Worse
I’ve heard investment advisors, central bankers and politicians use the phrase, “It’s different this time,” so often I want to wretch. This asinine statement is arrogant beyond reason.
Frankly, I believe we’re much more vulnerable to a prolonged depression than we were in 1929.
Here’s the truth: Today’s monetary manipulation may forestall a bust, but it can’t change the fact that one is inevitable. And when it arrives, it’ll be more devastating and difficult to solve than in the past.
Don’t believe me? Well, I’ve identified seven reasons why we are in fact worse off today than we were leading up to the crash in 1929.
And don’t think that Congress or a presidential administration will save you from these problems. Sadly, when things begin to get tough, Washington D.C. only protects their own.
Tune in Next Week http://www.capitolhilldaily.com/2013/04/government-collapse/
Today’s column is merely the beginning of a journey. For the next few Fridays, I will construct an answer to the question: What will America look like after a government collapse?
Next week, I want to talk about the Fed. Most people don’t realize just how insidious the institution really is… I promise that it’s doing nothing more than stealing your wealth and lining bankers’ pockets. I’ll tell you all about it next week.
Until then I remain,
Your eyes on the Hill,
Floyd Brown
After reading Marty’s piece, another colleague asked me: What will America look like after a government collapse?
It’s an important question, and I want to give a satisfactory answer. But I can’t do that in one short column, so I plan to return to this topic several times over the next few weeks. I hope when I’m done you will have a better understanding of where the country is headed.
Now, consider our current situation…
It’s clear that Barack Obama and Congress have no plan to get the dead-in-the-water economy moving. In fact, they appear to be completely incompetent.
Too many Americans are jobless, an excessive number of Americans are dependent on government handouts to eat, and the countless Americans who could contribute to the economic recovery are frozen in place, unwilling to take risks due to an uncertain regulatory environment.
Now, it’s fashionable in some governmental circles to argue that another Great Depression could never happen. Politicians reason that America at present has far more tools to prevent such a cataclysm.
They believe: “things are different this time.” If only they knew how right they were.
It Is Different This Time… It’s Worse
I’ve heard investment advisors, central bankers and politicians use the phrase, “It’s different this time,” so often I want to wretch. This asinine statement is arrogant beyond reason.
Frankly, I believe we’re much more vulnerable to a prolonged depression than we were in 1929.
Here’s the truth: Today’s monetary manipulation may forestall a bust, but it can’t change the fact that one is inevitable. And when it arrives, it’ll be more devastating and difficult to solve than in the past.
Don’t believe me? Well, I’ve identified seven reasons why we are in fact worse off today than we were leading up to the crash in 1929.
- In 1929, America had by no means the social problems we face today.
- In 1929, the federal government had very little debt. Today, we have a staggering $16.5 trillion in debt.
- In 1929, most state governments weren’t facing insolvency. Today they are flat-out broke. We have $4 trillion in unfunded pension liabilities at the state level, thanks to decades of union control of local government. There were no public employee unions in 1929.
- In 1929, we didn’t have Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, much less Obamacare. Our obligation to these entitlement programs will consume our entire federal budget in a few years.
- In 1929, the costs associated with illegal aliens were non-existent. Today, in California alone, it costs $10.5 billion to pay for the incarceration, health care and welfare costs of illegal aliens.
- In 1929, today’s massive government dependency culture was unheard of. Today we have food stamps and dozens of other housing and welfare programs. Indeed, over 100 million Americans are now dependent on the Federal government for something.
- Taxes were significantly lower in 1929 than today, even as a percent of family income. Most businesses paid no taxes in 1929, and today we have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. Sales and FICA taxes didn’t exist. Today’s combined total of income, sales, local, state, gas and property taxes amount to the highest burden in our history.
And don’t think that Congress or a presidential administration will save you from these problems. Sadly, when things begin to get tough, Washington D.C. only protects their own.
Tune in Next Week http://www.capitolhilldaily.com/2013/04/government-collapse/
Today’s column is merely the beginning of a journey. For the next few Fridays, I will construct an answer to the question: What will America look like after a government collapse?
Next week, I want to talk about the Fed. Most people don’t realize just how insidious the institution really is… I promise that it’s doing nothing more than stealing your wealth and lining bankers’ pockets. I’ll tell you all about it next week.
Until then I remain,
Your eyes on the Hill,
Floyd Brown
Friday, November 1, 2013
How to Speak 'Politician'
John K. Herr
So you want to learn how to speak "Politician." Terrific!First, you'll have to unlearn traditional English, with its emphasis on making rational thoughts clear through words.
Instead, obfuscate with half-truths -- or better yet, quarter- and eighth-truths.
Express righteous indignation over minor matters. Practice your hyperbole.
Disingenuously criticize things you were guilty of a few news cycles ago. Hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug.
And always read from the talking points produced by your party elders and ideological betters.
Remember, politics is a team sport. You're either Red or Blue. Purple is for plums and Prince.
Let's get started!
DEMOCRAT: Rights.
REPUBLICAN: Freedoms.
DEMOCRAT: "Promote the general welfare."
REPUBLICAN: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
DEMOCRAT: Progressive.
REPUBLICAN: Socialist.
"People begin to see what happens when an entire political party that's drifted into socialism and doesn't hide it anymore, what happens to the country when they get power." -- Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh ShowREPUBLICAN: Conservative.
DEMOCRAT: Extremist.
REPUBLICAN: Failure.
DEMOCRAT: Glitch.
REPUBLICAN: Holding people accountable.
DEMOCRAT: Finger-pointing.
"It shouldn't be about having heads roll or firing people, Piers.... That's what his focus is on right now, not on pointing fingers of blame, but making sure that [the website] works." -- Jay Carney, Piers Morgan Live, CNNDEMOCRAT: End-of-life advisory board.
REPUBLICAN: Death panel.
DEMOCRAT: Greed.
REPUBLICAN: Envy.
DEMOCRAT: Income inequality.
REPUBLICAN: Growth and prosperity.
DEMOCRAT: Closing loopholes.
REPUBLICAN: Raising taxes.
DEMOCRAT: Workers.
REPUBLICAN: Individuals.
DEMOCRAT: Unions.
REPUBLICAN: Labor bosses.
DEMOCRAT: Safety net.
REPUBLICAN: Web of dependence.
DEMOCRAT: Nutrition assistance.
REPUBLICAN: Food stamps.
DEMOCRAT: Nudge.
REPUBLICAN: Coerce.
DEMOCRAT: Right to privacy.
REPUBLICAN: "Leave us alone."
DEMOCRAT: Victims.
REPUBLICAN: Victim mentality.
DEMOCRAT: Disenfranchised.
REPUBLICAN: Inconvenienced.
"It's well-documented that [photo ID] laws disproportionately disenfranchise low-income voters, people of color, students and the elderly, but married women and transgender people (some of whom are married women) are also among those likely to be impacted by the new [Texas] law." -- Katie McDonough, Salon.comDEMOCRAT: Multiculturalism.
REPUBLICAN: Balkanization.
DEMOCRAT: Transparency.
REPUBLICAN: Leaks.
DEMOCRAT: "Culture of corruption."
REPUBLICAN: "Politics of personal destruction."
(Note: this switches back and forth depending on which party is in trouble)
REPUBLICAN: Liberal media bias.
DEMOCRAT: Corporate-owned media bias.
REPUBLICAN: Objectivity.
DEMOCRAT: False equivalency.
REPUBLICAN: "End our dangerous reliance on foreign oil."
DEMOCRAT: "End our dangerous reliance on fossil fuels."
REPUBLICAN: Carbon dioxide.
DEMOCRAT: "Death gas."
"The Environmental Protection Agency formally declared Monday that carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels poses a threat to human health and welfare." -- Washington TimesDEMOCRAT: Blue Dogs.
REPUBLICAN: RINOs.
DEMOCRAT: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..."
REPUBLICAN: "...The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
DEMOCRAT: Modern Family.
REPUBLICAN: Duck Dynasty.
Follow John K. Herr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jherricane
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