Tag: ACA (page 2)

By Rick Manning

Republican Washington, D.C. insiders have spent the past month wagging their fingers at tea party types and telling anyone who will listen that these people just don't understand realpolitik and the "politics of the possible."

In a first reveal of what constitutes the Beltway Republicans "possible", Fred Upton, the inert chairman of the House Commerce and Energy Committee has introduced legislation to deal with the Obamacare problem of the day - people are losing their health insurance due to regulations propagated by the Obama Administration.

After bruising battles trying to stop, delay or defund Obamacare, Upton's politics of the possible is language that would allow, if they wanted, health insurers to continue to offer this year's plans to customers next year.

Apparently rather than push for a real solution to Obamacare now that some Democrats are approaching panic mode as their constituents and supporters are getting the higher premiums and dropped policies that the Ted Cruz's of the world tried to prevent, the possible politics crowd is choosing to push legislation that delays the problem for another year, and allows the politicians to blame the insurers when policies are cancelled.

"Bait and switch," a term he uses to describe the promises and ultimate product, is no stranger to any government program designed to help so many.  He writes:

"In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the United States leads the world in health care research and disease treatment.

For the 85% of Americans that have health insurance, the access they have to cutting edge, life saving technologies is among the very best in the world.

But not every American has insurance, with upwards of 49 million being uninsured, according to the 2010 Census.

The question for policy makers in Lansing and in Washington should be what to do to help the 15% gain access to the quality care that the rest of us have.

Unfortunately, Washington and Lansing's answer has been to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In 2010, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the widely unpopular and flawed Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Among the provisions of this act is enticing Michigan to put an additional 300,000 citizens on Medicaid with the promise that the federal government would pay for taxpayers' additional costs.

When the expansion was first voted on in the House, I supported it. This wasn't really Obamacare, we were told. This was Michigan getting its fair share back from Washington.

It initially seemed like a good deal for Michigan taxpayers, who receive back only $0.80 for every tax dollar they send to Washington.

But there was more to the bill.

And There are R's in congress about to cave on this?

This ad mocks Peters Washington record, and abuses the pure Michigan campaign slightly.

The garden party, held on Sunday at a local small business, was attended by Republican US Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land, State Senator Darwin Booher, State Representatives Ray Franz (R-101), Bruce Rendon (R-103), and other local politicians and interested citizens.  Booher announced he "would not be voting for medicaid expansion" during a part of the program where elected officials and prospective candidates spoke.

Booher has also spoken out against the "outrageous fine" levied on Mark Baker of Baker's acres for the heinous crime of trying to farm in Michigan.

Hune, R-Hamburg, recently mentioned that his office has received an innumerable number of phone calls from constituents that were transferred to the office from `robo-calls' they had received regarding Medicaid expansion. However, many of them do not understand the phone calls they are receiving and some seniors are even mistaking it for changes to Medicare.

Hune says

"These robo-calls appear to be intentionally misleading! These calls prompt you to press one to speak to our office or it automatically transfers you. Either way, many are mistaking it for being originated by my office. I repeat that we are not responsible for these calls."

Interest groups have launched a campaign that automatically sends phone calls to many of the Michigan Senate offices recently. He understands the frustrations of those receiving the calls:

"I apologize to my constituents who are receiving robo-calls from shadowy interest groups scripted to sound as if it was coming from our office, which is not the case. Aside from these calls being very persistent to homes in my district, many of my constituents don't know who called them or why, and are confused by the automated statements made before they are transferred. These robo-calls are a product of questionable, pro-Medicaid expansion groups that don't have the residents of the 22nd District's best interests at heart.

Those interested in the Medicaid expansion issue should do exactly what I am doing: research the issue and come to a well-thought-out conclusion.

We always welcome the comments and concerns of our constituents. If they have questions on Medicaid expansion, they should reach out to my office at 855-JOE-HUNE."

Yessiree folks.  Keep an eye out for those " questionable, pro-Medicaid expansion groups ".

The committee resolution states

IT IS THE SENSE of the 14th CDRC Officers and Members that expanding Medicaid at the behest of the federal government runs contrary to the principles of the Republican Party, which opposes government-run health care, economic interventionism, and federal control of private industry.

THEREFORE, we recommend, to those representing our district in the Michigan House and Senate, a NO vote on HB 4714 or any other legislation pertaining to an expansion of state Medicaid eligibility and funding, or the implementation and funding of any health care exchange associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act within the State of Michigan.

Adopted at a regular meeting on July 16, 2013

And this is not the ONLY Republican committee to do so.

A recent letter to President Obama looks for the most part like things we have said for years.  That the ACA is deeply flawed legislation which never had the appropriate vetting done, was rushed, and frankly will have negative impacts that were predicted, yet ignored.  James Hoffa writes:

"Dear Leader Reid and Leader Pelosi:

When you and the President sought our support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you pledged that if we liked the health plans we have now, we could keep them. Sadly, that promise is under threat. Right now, unless you and the Obama Administration enact an equitable fix, the ACA will shatter not only our hard-earned health benefits, but destroy the foundation of the 40 hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class.

Like millions of other Americans, our members are front-line workers in the American economy. We have been strong supporters of the notion that all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. We have also been strong supporters of you. In campaign after campaign we have put boots on the ground, gone door-to-door to get out the vote, run phone banks and raised money to secure this vision.

Now this vision has come back to haunt us." ..read more

We warned you.  We told you it was a lie.  We advised against such socialist manifestations of public policy, but your boots on the ground guaranteed the demise of your "hard earned benefits".

And there isn't an executive order that would stand a constitutional test even by THIS liberal court which would support a carve out, or fix for this fundamental destruction of our way of life, Mr Hoffa. This president is not a friend to the United States, and the two you write to are fully owned by this corrupt administration.

The question is, will you put boots on the ground to support more of the same or follow through with what appears to be the spark of an epiphany? How many times will you allow the master to kick you.

Before you bite his leg.