Waive Me
Today’s column shines more light on the latest outbreak of waiver-mania. Take note below of another West Coast liberal company on the golden ticket list — REI.
The San Francisco Business News follows up on reporting by Jamie Dupree of Cox Media Group and Matthew Boyle of The Daily Caller and attempts to rationalize the waivers by pointing out that local health insurance mandates made the waivers necessary because premiums would have skyrocketed otherwise. Which is exactly what opponents of top-down mandates have predicted and underscored all along. No wonder they don’t want to talk about it.
Selective enforcement has been a hallmark of Obama’s culture of corruption from day one.
The waiver list is here. There is still no list of waiver-seekers who applied and were denied.
Related: From Doctor Zero at Human Events – How to get an Obamacare waiver.
Previous:
5/16/11 Waiver-mania: Now, nursing homes lobby for Obamacare pardon; Update: San Francisco’s escape hatch
4/4/11 Shhh: HHS grants more Obamacare waivers, considers new 2012-2013 scheme
3/25/11 The Weiner Waiver Wormhole
2/7/11 Look who makes RomneyCare/MassCare’s waiver decisions (Hint: Rhymes with Ess-Eee-Eye-You)
1/28/11 Waivers for Favors: Big Labor’s Obamacare escape hatch
1/26/11 The real snow job in D.C.: Obamacare waivers skyrocket to 729 + 4 states; 4 new SEIU waiver winners
1/24/11 Investigating Obamacare Waiver-mania
12/10/10 Obamacare Waiver-mania! continues: List tops 222
11/17/10 Dude, where’s my Obamacare waiver?
11/14/10 Waiver-mania! The ever-expanding Obamacare escapee list
10/6/10 Obamacare waivers: Torquemada Sebelius spares McDonald’s, unions
9/30/10 Will there be a McDonald’s Inquistion now? Torquemada Sebelius tightens the screws
***
Waive Me
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2011
Hear that? It’s the escalating cry of American employers and workers trying to hold on to their health care benefits in the age of stifling Obama health insurance mandates: Gangway! Gangway! Save me! Waive me!
Obamacare refugees first began beating down the exit doors in October 2010. As I’ve documented since last fall, waiver-mania started with McDonald’s and Jack in the Box; spread to Dish Networks, hair salon chain Regis Corp and resort giant Universal Orlando; took hold among every major Big Labor organization from the AFL-CIO to the CWA to the SEIU; roped in the nationalized health care promoters at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (whose board of trustees includes health care czar Nancy Ann DeParle); and is now gripping entire states (Maine, New Hampshire and Nevada all recently got in on the act).
The latest to catch the waive? West Coast liberals.
Yes, smack dab in the middle of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s congressional district, a cluster of San Francisco small businesses is among the latest recipients of get-out-of-Obamacare passes. As Jamie Dupree of Cox Media Group and Matthew Boyle of The Daily Caller pointed out this week, there are at least two dozen Bay Area companies — including bars, restaurants, hotels, tourist shops, real estate and auto firms — that have secured temporary, one-year reprieves from the federal law. It’s the San Francisco Treat that voters didn’t foresee until after the bill was rammed down their throats.
Another noteworthy waiver winner: Seattle-based REI. The trendy Pacific Northwest outdoor equipment retailer’s progressive CEO and Democratic campaign donor, Sally Jewell, appeared with President Obama in 2009 to tout White House health care reform initiatives. Two years later, REI snagged a waiver to protect the health benefits of a whopping 1,180 workers from the very tentacles of the big government bureaucrats Jewell embraced at Obama’s roundtable.
To date, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has granted federal health care law exemptions to more than three million American workers covered by more than 1,300 unions, companies and insurers who had voluntarily offered low-cost health plans with annual benefits limits. Meddling Obamacare architects outlawed those private plans — nicknamed “mini med” plans — in the name of “patients’ rights.” But without special waivers, the escapees would have been forced to hike premiums or drop insurance coverage altogether for mostly low-wage, seasonal and part-time workers.
Among the most recent union affiliates to secure pardons from the one-size-fits-all health policy that their bosses spent hundreds of millions of dollars of worker dues lobbying for:
– Teamsters Local 485 Health and Welfare Fund in Brooklyn, N.Y.
-_- Detroit and Vicinity Trowel Trades Health and Welfare Fund_
– Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1182 Security Benefits Fund_
– CWA Local 1183 Health and Welfare Fund
-_- Bakers Union and Food Employees Labor Relations Association Health and Welfare Fund
_– Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois Home Care and Child Care Fund_
– United Food and Commercial Workers San Diego Employers Health and Welfare Trust_
– Welfare Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 15, 15A, 15C, 15D AFL-CIO
-_- United Steelworkers Local 1-0318 Health and Welfare Trust Fund_
– United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices Local 198 AFL-CIO Health and Welfare Trust
_– Teamsters Local 617 Welfare Fund in Ridgefield, N.J.
– Teamsters Local 734 Welfare Fund in Chicago
– Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 60 Health and Welfare Fund
– New York State Nurses Welfare Plan for New York City Employed Registered Professional Nurses
The ultimate goal, it bears repeating, is to force a massive, revolutionary and irreversible shift from private to public insurance designed by government-knows-best bureaucrats.
Pelosi and the Golden Ticket Administrators in Washington deny preferential treatment for waiver beneficiaries. But the stench of waivers-for-favors won’t be dispelled until and unless the Obama administration releases a full list not only of those who won exemptions, but also of those who applied and were denied.
With San Francisco businesses caught with their hands in the waiver jar, Pelosi’s office could do nothing else but pout: “It is pathetic,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, “that there are those who would be cheering for Americans to lose their minimum health coverage or see their premiums increase for political purposes.”
It is far more pathetic to have cheered, as Pelosi did on the one-year anniversary of Obamacare, the law’s onerous benefits limits from which thousands of her own constituents have now been exempted.
Once again, the rest of America wants to know: Dude, where’s my waiver?
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How about this, Mr. O’Bama?
Let ALL of us have a waiver!
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Insanity reigns…..
San Fran Nan may never have read the Obamacare Bill, but it seems pretty obvious her constituents have.
It’s like someone issuing life vests to the rats as the ship fills with water.
No waivers!!! Make them stay on the ship with the rest of us. It will only add to the groundswell to repeal this POS.
Obstetrician 1: Get the EEG, the BP monitor, and the AVV.
Obstetrician 2: And get the machine that goes “PING!”
Obstetrician 1: And get the most expensive machine in case the Administrator comes.
Patient: What do I do?
Obstetrician: Nothing, dear, you’re not qualified.
Bills of attainder for me but not for ye.
Whatever happened to equal protection under the law?
Oh…I forgot…some are more equal than others…
I wonder,what is the cost of a waiver?
The Obama Admin. isn’t going to hand these things out for free.
Attention liberal fascist trolls! RSS, ILMC, where are you? Please post a logical and concise defense of your administration! This topic ain’t about doin’ the Dougie, it’s actually relevant! Defend your Marxist leaders!
All the waivers are for one year.
Obama wants to know who contributed what to whom.
All the waivers have gone to contributors/fundraisers for the Democratic Party.
Want your waiver extended? You know what you need to do. We’ll be checking on you.
MM said:
( That’s a Wonka Golden Ticket for those keeping score btw? )
As Michelle points out, we need to see the list for those *Denied*. That would be very telling indeed.
The waivers are for one year and then they have to reapply. I am praying that before a year has passed, this whole debacle will be over and the bill will be repealed by the SCOTUS. It is possible, you know. THEN, we can concentrate of cleaning out the garbage from DC. If we all pull up with gigantic dumpsters, we might be able to get them all in one trip.
Just came back from Japan. Used their medical system and paid 9650 Yen for a 30 minute examination by ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) doctor. Scopped my nasal passages with a camera to look at vocal fold. Equivalent of about $110 Canadian, or similar in USD.
So, dont fret my friends. If America goes to a single payer system, you will be able to travel to Japan for good healthcare. I was able to get an appointment within 2 hours of requesting one, and although english was a problem when communicating with the doctor, I was able to draw pictures and communicate effectively with the MD so as to help her in treating me.
And furthermore, if you do go to a single-payer system only, which of course is CommieObammie’s desired goal, you can join other specials nations such as North Korea, Cuba and Canada in how they administer healthcare.
As an aside, did you know that the Canadian government is putting legislation is place that will allow all foreigners who visit Canada to access and pay for private care at hospitals and doctors offices, but will still restrict Canadian citizens from having such rights. The same thing will come to America. Only foreign visitors to the U.S. will have the rights to private healthcare in the future.
OK, I have a somewhat stupid question…these waivers are only good for a year right? THEN WHAT? Will they be back on the sinking ship with the rest of us suckers?
My guess is that it’s not really a one year waiver but one of those “we’ll slip in under the waiver wire” and not be looked at in the future as having been in violation of the law.
No one seems to have addressed this as of yet.
Where, indeed, are the trolls? It’s just this sort of topic that I enjoy reading their convolutions of logic defending their master.
Please, please little trolls come back and enlighten us. I won’t laugh. I promise.
With all the nose holders around here, I doubt you’d find much support for this.
After all, the enemy with the R next to his name is acceptable if chosen for purposes of keeping out the enemy with the D next to his.
Gotta love that logic.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I will.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Soon the waivers will go into shock treatments. Like the TARP, we could ended up paying the price of rationed cares.
Hee hee hee hee hee….
I won’t laugh either. Right…and who will know if I do? I LOVE being on a blog! You can burp and fart without your blog friends having a clue what a slob you are. So, trolls, join us, will you?
What do you bet that there is NO list of those who’ve been denied a waiver — because everybody who has applied for one has gotten it.
I want MY waiver…
I’m waiting for San Fran Nan’s office to come out with the liberal logic talking point of: “The waivers are only for one year at a time. Clearly these organizations will stop requesting a waiver when Obamacare has the desired effect of lowering health care costs for everyone.”
I swear it’s coming. And they’ll be able to say it with a straight face.
As I point out on my blog …
Never mind the pajamas … We blog in the nude!
Pajamas Media eat your heart out!
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Yep.
And every lib-troll imaginable will parrot it ad nauseum.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
By the way happy …
The invitation still stands for you to come hang out at our humble digs. Pasadena Phil as well …
Oh yeah, I forgot. I am Pasadena Phil.
Still trying to figure out how that works living here on the East Coast …
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
This one issue alone should provide enough grand jury evidence to prosecute the biggest players in the Communist Democrat Party…
I miss the good old days when members of Congress used to shoot and cane each other.
Let’s not be so foolish as to leave out their willing accomplices in the Socialist Republican Party…
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Happy, I’m sure it’s all Incense and Peppermints in your case.
So in summery Obama Care is something that our elected representatives in their benevolence granted to We The People. They acknowledged that they would NEVER consider subjecting themselves to such a program. If you are a Friend of the adminstration you can be exempted from the benevolence. If you are an old guy like me who is not a Friend then you get No exemptions and No health care…..Doesn’t seem fair, but it is a Change.
happyscrapper said:
Thanks but no. While occasionally entertaining in their alternately fumbling/lashing-out approach to disinformation, they’re more counter-productive than they’re worth.
As Conservatives, we’ve got one last shot to get this right. And I for one have no design for becoming distracted ( their sole objective ) on the issues and our few remaining choices.
Let ‘em rot. Making for “Politics as Entertainment” may be fun for them, they have nothing to lose? Another Obie term cements Greece, and they never even had to pony up for airfare.
I think that’s the beginning of the conversation that continues as follows:
“How much have you contributed to Obama in the past three years?”
“Well, I uh…”
“Yeah, I got your waiver alright – right here.”
I’ll support a “waive me” movement.
Except, your boss, Reid, and Obama all claimed that the helath care law would reduce premiums and expand coverage. This statement coming from the office of then Speaker of the House should be used to point out that even the former speaker admits the health care law is a failure.
I see it as the Dem’s have a double goal. One would be the above mentioned and the other has to do with this:
How much you want to bet that towards the end of the year of the waiver they will be told to make a donation to the Dem’s to recieve an extension.
So the double goal would be to get as many of the unwashed masses onto govt dependency to ensure votes; while at the same time shakedown businesses for cash to avoid the regulations. Sounds very much like the Chicago way to me.
A month before your waiver expires you (or your company/union) will ‘coincidently’ get a friendly letter from the DNC. Any one want to guess what the letter will say?
Hmmm, the noob is strong in this one.
I take too long to preview my posts.
Nope, it is just great minds think alike
***
One man. One vote. Equal opportunity and equal treatment of all persons–regardless of race, sex, age, ethnic background, political party, or residence location. Basic Constitutional rights.
***
Special carveouts for political cronies and favored groups, races, ethnic buddies, and financial supporters. Basic socialist / marxist / communist actions. Brought to you by our first communist president–Comrade Obama!
***
Community organizing at its finest. It sure worked out well in the old U.S.S.R, Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Waivers for the politbureau members, procto exam style “finger waves” for the rest of us peons. BOHICA–here it comes again!
***
John Bibb
***
OK…It’s TIME to rally in the stands. Everybody up. Time to do the WAIVE!!
Just as a test, we applied for waiver, we were denied last week. If you aren’t a Democrat or don’t employ enough potential Democrat voters, you can’t get one.
It is just that simple.
Doesn’t matter if the botox queen had something to do with this or not, it makes her and her district look bad. See, she should have read the bill.
Harry Reid waived (with HHS connivance) the entire state of Nevada. It pays to be a friend of Obo!
I was just going to post your comment with a link. Guess it is pay-back from dingy for all those ‘found’ votes last election? This is getting out of hand fast for the friends of bho and team to get these waivers!
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/16/nevada-secures-partial-waiver-federal-health-care-/
L
….on the lighter note:
But, but, just wait until ALL the waiver recipients “find out” that the little-blue-pill IS NOT COVERED….by their non-mandated gubm’t-covers-all plan!
(As I have read elsewhere; shouldn’t the ‘little blue pill’ BE the symbol, of the deNOcratic pogrom?)
Everybody see now why it’s a really bad idea to swear into office a man who is not eligible?
They just need to add Government Regulation Waiver Requests to the EO regarding disclosing political contributions during the contracting process.
What a Govt contract? Let’s check the contribution list…
Want a Govt waiver? Let’s check the contribution list…
Show up in the wrong column: REJECT
Next!
rocketman said:
Yes my brother. As MM said when Sean Hannity asked her “What happened to Equal Protection Under The Law?” she replied ( It wound up in the same place with the Beta Max! ) Lol ( para )
Why am I laughing?
Hey, no need to apply for a waiver. Just tell the government that you have one.
The Obamacare bureaucracy is going to be so f*ed up, they’ll never be able to figure out if you were granted one or not.
I’ve got proof:
http://www.house.gov/brady/pdf/Obamacare_Chart.pdf
Since The Usurper got a waiver on the natural born citizen clause, do any of us really need a waiver from unConstitutional Obamacare from an illegitimate President?
Hey and then we have this Gem:
“U.S. employers can expect an 8.5 percent increase in their medical costs next year due in some part to the healthcare reform law!!”
None of the Drooling Trolls dare mention this from their Fearless Leaders “Watch me pull a turd from this hat and try to polish it” book of lies.
Which means an increase in prices, continued stagnation in hiring, lower productivity of companies, and lower quality of goods.
Cripes, till the ObamaCare waivers are tallied up, MM will need a bigger server to list them all! If the lamestream media ever reported this, I would pass out.
“seperate but equal” healthcare
Gotta tell you this one VP. 6:00 this a.m. the “Rent an Amigo” troop was camped in front of the Food Mart (Home Depot ran them off) and a County Mountie parked directly across the lot facing them – waiting for someone to hire one. You’ll actually get pinched here if you get caught hiring them.
I brought the cop a coffee and doughnut and thanked him – and asked him if they also had a cruiser parked in front of the White House. He laughed so hard he spilled his coffee.
Democrats talk a lot about helping the poor at the expense of the rich but when it comes to actions, what do they do? They give stimulus money and ObamaCare wavers to their rich friends based on the support they provide to the Democratic party.
Their class warfare talk is just an act to get their hands on more tax money. Yes, they toss a few crumbs to the poor to buy their votes. But the real money goes to their buddies at Goldman Sachs, Fannie & Freddie, Unions, bloated government agencies, trial lawyers, and ACORN like non-profit organizations. And much of that public money is laundered and returned to them to fund their campaigns and their partisan agenda.
The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center organized the protest against Pastor Hagee for his support of Israel. They receive funding from the State of Texas, The National Endowment for the Arts, and various George Soros non-profit organizations. Somehow these groups are able to fund their highly partisan and anti-religious activities using taxpayer money. How do Democrats keep getting away with this blatant misuse of public funds?
Let us be fair here–these unions paid big bucks to the Bambi campaign; where corruption is endemic this is Business as Usual.
We will be fighting this fight for years so get ready. An election is coming so don’t be just concerned with the White House but get behind House and Senate candidates your trust. One foot in front of the other.
==
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms–>Constitutional Carry
It is a RIGHT-not a license from “our betters”.
Screw the waiver. Where is my Obama Money? Ya know, from his stash? I’m waitin’.
MM’s segment on this topic with Hannity last night was excellent. Brains and looks. I could watch and listen to MM all day long–informative beyond belief.
Hiraghm said:
Talking to a Business Owner in Construction the other day and he said he knows of a lot work waiting in the wings but 2 major things are holding it up – Obama Care and 2012 Vote for President – he said he knows of no business that is or will hire anyone nor will they bid on any job till this is all resolved.
If only Harry Kalas were alive today to call that home run.
You hit that one out Regulus.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Don’t have to guess.
All it will say is:
Amount of Contribution: $___,000.00
Credit Card Number:
Expiration Date:
Security Code:
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Communist indeed, but in no way the first.
Save for Reagan, each and every president we have had, at least since and including FDR and also including at least Woodrow Wilson, have been Communists on some level.
Sure, they’ve called it different things … Progressivism, Liberalism, etc., but it’s all the same government-knows-best philosophy.
Even the Republicans have been guilty.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com