Confirmed: Romneycare = Obamacare
Jim Pethokoukis spotlights a new Health Affairs study on how Romneycare laid the foundation for Obamacare, and what it portends for the federal health insurance scene. In short: Expanded government coverage, higher taxpayer costs. Read here for details and analysis. His conclusion:
The authors conclude that based on the Romneycare experience, Obamacare will improve coverage and not kill employer-based insurance, but containing costs will be a “considerable challenge.” That is probably the avenue Romney should use to a) attack Obamacare and b) present his own national health reform. But this study will perpetuate the meme that Romneycare was the prototype for Obamacare. Santorum hammered Romney on this point at the last debate more effectively than any other candidate throughout this campaign season, probably because he understands the issue better than his rivals. We’ll see if he or Gingrich follows up tonight.
No surprises, of course. We already heard from Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber in October:
The Obama administration may have relied much more heavily on Romney’s Massachusetts healthcare legislation as a blueprint for Obamacare than was previously believed.
White House visitor logs obtained by NBC News revealed that three of Romney’s healthcare advisers had up to a dozen meetings with senior administration officials, including one in the Oval Office presided over by President Barack Obama.
“They really wanted to know how we can take that same approach we used in Massachusetts and turn that into a national model,” MIT economist and Romney healthcare adviser Jon Gruber told NBC.
And back in September, I noted the analysis by Suffolk University’s Beacon Hill Institute showing the depths of the economic damage that Romneycare did in the Bay State.
Romney’s baggage. It is so heavy:
The Bay State’s controversial 2006 universal health-care plan — also known as “Romneycare” — has cost Massachusetts more than 18,000 jobs, according to an exclusive blockbuster study that could provide ammo to GOP rivals of former Gov. Mitt Romney as he touts his job-creating chops on the campaign trail.
“Mandating health insurance coverage and expanding the demand for health services without increasing supply drove up costs. Economics 101 tells us that,” said Paul Bachman, research director at Suffolk University’s Beacon Hill Institute, the conservative think tank that conducted the study. The Herald obtained an exclusive copy of the findings.
“The ‘shared sacrifice’ needed to provide universal health care includes a net loss of jobs, which is attributable to the higher costs that the measure imposed,” said David Tuerck, the institute’s executive director.
…Despite Romney’s vaunted business acumen as a successful venture capitalist, Bachman said the former governor “was a little naive about what would become of the law.”
The Beacon Hill Institute study found that, on average, Romneycare:
• cost the Bay State 18,313 jobs;
• drove up total health insurance costs in Massachusetts by $4.311 billion;
• slowed the growth of disposable income per person by $376; and
• reduced investment in Massachusetts by $25.06 million.
And remember that RomneyCare relied on FedGovCare as a sturdy crutch: “He also noted the state’s health-care costs have been heavily subsidized by billions of dollars in federal aid through a Medicaid waiver program.”
The SEIU may be attacking Romney in Floridanow, but Big Labor radicals made out well under Romneycare.
I repeat: RomneyCare and ObamaCare share not only the same ideological architects, but similar waiver programs in part set up to benefit Big Labor – via Boston Globe in February:
Massachusetts regulators granted more exemptions last year to residents who said they could not afford the health insurance required by the state, waiving the tax penalty for more than half of those who appealed, according to state data.
State officials said they excused the majority of waiver applicants in large part because of the protracted sour economy, which made insurance unaffordable for more people. Under the 2006 state law that requires most residents to have coverage, regulators have significant latitude to authorize waivers by taking into account factors such as a home foreclosure.
The number of people seeking exemptions in 2010 was about the same as in 2009, and state figures show that roughly 98 percent of residents were insured last year.
Even as Republicans and many states wage a bitter battle in Congress and the courts to block the mandatory insurance requirement in the national health care law, the provision appears to retain broad acceptance in Massachusetts.
Regulators’ flexibility may be part of the reason.
“We aren’t going to make someone pay just to make them pay,’’ said Celia Wcislo, a director of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and a member of the Connector Authority, which oversees Massachusetts’ health care law and grants the exemptions.
Refresher on the politicized “Connector Authority” via Cato:
When Romney signed his plan he claimed “a key objective is to lower the cost of health insurance for all our citizens and allow our citizens to buy the insurance plan that fits their needs.” In actuality, insurance premiums in the state are expected to rise 10–12 percent next year, double the national average.
…Although there are undoubtedly many factors behind the cost increase, one reason is that the new bureaucracy that the legislation created-the “Connector”-has not been allowing Massachusetts citizens to buy insurance that “fits their needs.”
Although it has received less media attention than other aspects of the bill, one of the most significant features of the legislation is the creation of the Massachusetts Health Care Connector to combine the current small-group and individual markets under a single unified set of regulations. Supporters such as Robert E. Moffit and Nina Owcharenko of the Heritage Foundation consider the Connector to be the single most important change made by the legislation, calling it “the cornerstone of the new plan” and “a major innovation and a model for other states.”
The Connector is not actually an insurer. Rather, it is designed to allow individuals and workers in small companies to take advantage of the economies of scale, both in terms of administration and risk pooling, which are currently enjoyed by large employers. Multiple employers are able to pay into the Connector on behalf of a single employee. And, most importantly, the Connector would allow workers to use pretax dollars to purchase individual insurance. That would make insurance personal and portable, rather than tied to an employer-all very desirable things.
However, many people were concerned that the Connector was being granted too much regulatory authority. It was given the power to decide what products it would offer and to designate which types of insurance offered “high quality and good value.” This phrase in particular worried many observers because it is the same language frequently included in legislation mandating insurance benefits.
At the time the legislation passed, Ed Haislmaier of the Heritage Foundation reassured critics that “the Connector will neither design the insurance products being offered nor regulate the insurers offering the plans.” In reality, however, the Connector’s board has seen itself as a combination of the state legislature and the insurance commissioner, adding a host of new regulations and mandates.
For example, the Connector’s governing board has decreed that by January 2009, no one in the state will be allowed to have insurance with more than a $2,000 deductible or total out-of-pocket costs of more than $5,000. In addition, every policy in the state will be required to phase in coverage of prescription drugs, a move that could add 5–15 percent to the cost of insurance plans. A move to require dental coverage barely failed to pass the board, and the dentists-along with several other provider groups-have not given up the effort to force their inclusion. This comes on top of the 40 mandated benefits that the state had previously required, ranging from in vitro fertilization to chiropractic services.
Thus, it appears that the Connector offers quite a bit of pain for relatively little gain. Although the ability to use pretax dollars to purchase personal and portable insurance should be appealing in theory, only about 7,500 nonsubsidized workers have purchased insurance through the Connector so far. On the other hand, rather than insurance that “fits their needs,” Massachusetts residents find themselves forced to buy expensive “Cadillac” policies that offer many benefits that they may not want.
Governor Romney now says that he cannot be held responsible for the actions of the Connector board, because it’s “an independent body separate from the governor’s office.” However, many critics of the Massachusetts plan warned him precisely against the dangers of giving regulatory authority to a bureaucracy that would last long beyond his administration.
Industrial-strength nose plugs can’t cover the stench.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
Obama’s latest campaign angle: I’ve been saving America from wild Republican debts
May 24, 2012 04:33 PM by Doug Powers
55 Comments
Biden: Tea Party stopped us from growing the economy
May 23, 2012 01:55 PM by Doug Powers
44 Comments
Catholic lawsuit against Obamacare mandate cites 1993 legislation written by Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer
May 22, 2012 04:35 PM by Doug Powers
48 Comments
Illinois Republicans flirting with cigarette tax hike for Obamacare — and a reminder about Orrin Hatch
May 21, 2012 11:03 AM by Michelle Malkin
32 CommentsA 2012 campaign must-read: The conservative survival guide to Mitt Romney
May 21, 2012 10:23 AM by Michelle Malkin
159 CommentsHigh school fined $15,000 for… selling soda pop during lunch
May 19, 2012 01:29 PM by Doug Powers
101 Comments
Categories: 2012 Campaign,GOP,Health care,Mitt Romney
JustOneMinute
» Barack, Youthful Leader!JustOneMinute
» Patterico And The Brett Kimberlin GangBabalu Blog
» U.S. Manned Space Flight in The 21st CenturyVillainous Company
» Must Read Post of the Day. Possibly, the Year
Well, I don’t like Romney. Never have. But, right now, none of the leading Republican candidates really excite me.
Excellent job Michelle. THANK YOU
What a pathetic we’re in as Americans….
HOW did we get so conned and enslaved?
I left out MESS
Nancy Pelosi & Bill Maher favor Mitt over Newt!!
So does MSM & corrupt spineless GOP RINOs!! Our choice is clear!!
I am for Newt!
If Fed (our money) helped pay for RomneyCare then where is the extra money help going to come from when RomneyCare kicks in as ObamaCare?
Making a few pay for many isn’t a Republic. We haven’t been a Republic for seventy or eighty years now.
Having this kind of info brought to light is a hell of a lot more valuable than Hannity’s “shut up and pick someone” approach.
The fact that the left’s panties get in a bind every time Newt and president are said in the same sentence speaks volumes to me. Of the 4 candidates, Romney is the least favorable. He’s a east coast liberal republican. PERIOD! Although, with a conservative senate and conservative house, even he would be just fine!
i am no fan of the slop that is leftover in the “r” cesspool, but! whoever makes it out we are going to vote for, aren’t we? some of my best “guys” are long gone, and we are soon to find the bottom of the barrel, and nose plugs will be needed. as long as it is not paul, but even he is better then obama. can we have a redo?
If Obamacare is implemented, the America we knew is over. It has been the Socialists #1 goal for decades for that reason.
I refuse to believe Romney who claims he will repeal Obamacare ever will. He has NEVER backed off what he did in MA. He supports today the individual mandate.
That is THE REASON why Romney is a no go in my book. We cannot take the risk of him keeping Obamacare in place.
FLAWED GOP CANDIDATES
I think people who claim Obamacare = Romneycare have a limited understanding of our constitution.
States can do a lot of things that the Feds cannot do, that is how our system was set up. The federal government has enumerated rights, the states take everything else. I don’t see how someone can be for State’s rights, and not see the issue here.
There is absolutely nothing unconstitutional about a State creating an individual mandate, nor is there with a State creating a property tax. The federal government though is not able to do either. Why? Its the constitution stupid.
So it is very possible to be both against Obamacare, while simultaneously being for a State’s right to experiment with things like an individual mandate. Romney’s baggage is not as heavy as you think.
This is also why block grants for medicaid would be good, because each state could experiment.
Romney gave Mass (a small fairly wealthy state) what the people there wanted, it doesn’t make Obamacare legitimate.
The wife has been a coding mgr at hospitals for 30 years.Obamacare codes are being phased in now and the paperwork for them has tripled and will triple again when fully implemented.Guess who will be paying for that.
No surprise at all. I believe that Romneycare is one of the biggest reasons team Obama wants to face Romney as the nominee. Couple that with the image team Obama will portray Romney as part of the rich elite and Romney’s inability to be able to effectively defend why Capitalism is good for everyone is making team Obama salivate at the idea of running against Romney.
Not only do they NOT excite me…they disturb me. Deeply. Romney and Gingrich are both terribly flawed. Thanks GOP! You did it again. Our only hope is…The Supreme Court rules against Obamacare AND we take Congress in this election.
southparkconservative: “Block grants for Medicaid would be a good thing”. That is if you believe Medicaid is a good idea.
You’re right about “what the people there wanted”. A state does have the right to be dragged down by the weight of it’s own incompetence. They wanted it now they have it.
And this is why nobody has really taken charge in the GOP race. There isn’t ONE SINGLE CANDIDATE whom we can trust to do what is necessary to roll back OweBowMao’s excesses! Gads, I wish Sarah was running!
Sarah couldn’t be effective either unless we have the senate and the house.
It’s already been determined that 20,000 jobs “isn’t that many” Prog Agenda casualties.
.
Amen Sister
Anybody know the details of MA care under Romney and how it changed after he was over ridden on key points and then after he left? If a state is crazy enough to want that then I guess they can but I would like to know Mitt’s exact role in the process. Not just MA care in general.
Look, the way I see it. We are our own worst enemy. When we lose this election we can blame ourselves just like we can blame ourselves for being where we are today.
No kidding. I work as a medical insurance billing tech and the we are going through the training on the new requirements under the billing portion of the Obamacare law. It is seriously going to slow down the billing process, require a tons more paperwork, new or seriously updated billing software systemes that are in compliance with the new requirements and cause more people to be doing a whole lot more CYA. All this is going to do is cause prices to skyrocket in an attempt to recoup the costs of the new law.
The only thing that I know for certain is that MA has the highest healthcare premiums in the nation.
LO3E in 2012!
Free school lunches, your kid’s AmeriCorpse ‘job’, that performing arts center you never wanted in the first place, bike lanes for .00001% of constituents? ALL pale in comparison!
Once reliant on The State for our longevity and indeed, our very existence, resistance is futile.
The real problem is trying to come up with any kind of a universal health care model. You can’t do it without resorting to state control in one way or another.
Let’s drop the false dichotomy of having to choose between Rombama and William Jefferson Gingrich. Let’s move on. We have to thin the RINO herd and there are several more to work through.
She couldn’t use the tried & true “Obama Edict” method of governing?
When, pause, the supremes rule in favor of Virginia and the other 26 non-socialist states on Obamacare, will they have the guts to note there is no separation clause and throw the whole bill out?
Wishful thinking, I fear.
Screwed, rescrewed, and screwed again for good measure. Thank you sir may I please have another?
Incompetence? Are you talking about MA or IL?
I am beginning to give up. There are no other choices, except the choice to just watch the government collapse of its own weight and try to start over again. I don’t see any Republicans getting rid of ObamaCare. They will just try to make it “more efficient”. Michelle has convinced me NONE of them are worth voting for. And there is no viable alternative.
What Michelle has not convince me of is the value of voting for someone you don’t like.
Which is why it shouldn’t be tried. Instead of government getting in the way there should be a minimal footprint of government involvement.
Take the majority of those who do not have health insurance. They are the younger healthier crowd who choose not to buy health insurance as it costs more than they figure they will spend in a year going to the doctor. One of the big reasons for this is all the mandatory requirements that many states have for the health insurance policies. Some states require that your policy cover hair plugs, others require all polices cover pregnancy (even if the only person on the policy is a male) and the list goes on and on. Everytime these mandatory coverages get added to the policy the price goes up.
I would be willing to bet that if most 20 somethings could get a basic catastrophic policy for say $20 a month they would get it. This would cover things like the broken leg from a snowboard crash or the need of an apendectomy. The sad thing is you cannot get a policy like that due to all the mandatory requirements.
Then there is the fact that in most cases you cannot shop for inusrance outside you state. Imagine if you were told you could only buy your computer from a store within your state or you could only book your travel with a local travel agent, the costs of these would skyrocket. So why do we do it with health insurance.
Those are just two simple ways that we could reduce the cost of health insurance which in turn would increase the amount of people who would buy health inusrance.
The mandate is the least objectionable aspect of ObamaCare. We object to the Federal Government telling us what medical treatments we can have, what ones we can’t have, and we object to doctors having to answer to the government and not to the patient.
One minor correction: Prog’s can’t implement without resorting to state control! Man, all this fuss over healthcare is making me ill.
In all honesty, we’ve dropped our Trad. MD for all but blood tests, lab work etc. We’ve gone to a Naturopath for years. He’s an MD too but turned his back on the system long ago. Nice Polish Jew, very sensible guy.
All about accountability. Stop making excuses, lose the weight, lower your BP, Get.A.Grip Tough Love (TM) all the way. Any universal plan that doesn’t include ample TL is doomed anyway.
Truesoldier, you are right. Many states already offer a pool in which individuals can purchase health insurance. The rates are strictly set by age and gender and are very reasonable. They cost the taxpayer nothing because they are self-supported.
Mister P said,
I don’t see O’Scare surviving even assuming ( God forbid! ) Teh Wun is re-elected. If this were a mortgage, it would be referred to as a “dry funding”. It was never intended to work.
I switched to a Naturopath last year, when my doctor decided he wanted “tests” (ultrasound, biopsy, scans) because I had high liver enzymes. problem). I am now cured, no intrusive procedures, and even 25 pounds lighter. Its the only way I will go from now on.
I haven’t read all the comments, and I do not recall if Michelle has mentioned something regarding Romney’s father’s ties to Alinsky, but this link is worth reviewing.
Marshall_Will btw, my naturopath can order blood test himself, and I found that I can order my own also. You should check up on that. I got a complete workout and after 4 months of the Naturopath almost all of it was normal.
I don’t think that’s her goal, but it sure appears that way.
1ConcernedMom, good read. Coming from Chicago I was well aware of Alinsky. Obama actions are pure Alinsky. I remember George Romney and his complete disdain for Barry Goldwater. I am not surprised he would be enamored with Alinsky. Its the path to power.
I think she can shift on a dime, and justify it with the nose plugs. I personally don’t get it, because that is what I have been told since 1972.
O/T, yet healthcare-related. I learned yesterday that all tests related to my health concern came out normal. I have a minor issue that is being treated, and I’m feeling good! Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me!
A Modest Proposal
The Tea Party should conduct town meetings and agree to the following:
Tea Party members will support Mitt Romney. We will vote as a block for Mitt Romney.
Here is the price for our support
1) Bohener and McConnell step down from their leadship positions and are replaced by Tea Party members
2) Obamacare is repealed
3) All Democrat sponsored legislation from 2007 and beyond is repealed unless the President can state a good reason why not.
4) The NASA budget is restored and an accelerated program to replace the shuttle is initiated
5) The Ryan budget plan is enacted.
6) The defense budget is restored to the extent that force reductions are cancelled.
7) The border is secured within 120 days
8 ) All immigration and identify theft laws are strictly enforced.
9) Everify is immplemented. Employers who cheat are prosecuted.
10) Sanctuary cities lose all Federal monies of any kind.
11) I get to pick my own light bulb!!!
Agree to that and Romney has our full support
Looks like the attacks on Gingrich are working. Romney is now up 8 percent. Any time someone gets close to Romney we hear the assaults or innuendo (as in Citizen Cain).
Actually, it’s not MM doing the convincing, it’s every revelation from any and all sources, it’s every thing that comes out of the candidate’s mouths, it’s WHO these flawed elitest professional political clowns really are that they aren’t who & what we need to stop the destruction of our nation.
, 1ConcernedMom – always good news. Don’t let doctors scare you
Yes, it all plays, but why should that help Romney, the most flawed of them all?
+10k
( Was that so hard? )
I like it flyoverman, except this: 5) The Ryan budget plan is enacted.- as I think it has no cuts in any year. We need to cut the size of government and Ryan’s plan doesn’t do it.
Unfortunately Romney would gladly agree to this, then turn around and work with the Democrats once in office.
.
Unfortunately with Ryan’s plan it would have to be raised to about 25 trillion dollars.
Mister P,
More power! We’ve enjoyed similar results and way less frustration. Obviously if I’m in a car accident, I’ll need Trad. care, but other than that, we don’t have any use for MD’s that need to ‘Google’ why you’re having side effects from what they prescribed.
Seriously, had it happen. Is ‘this’ what everyone without HC is willing to BK the nation to get?
Spare me.
I agree with the comments made on Ryans Budget Plan. The Ryan Plan is nothing more than a good start.
Lots of work to do in cutting the size, scop, and reach of government.
I was unclear. I apologize. This agreement is with the RNC, not Romney. They need to understand, if they try to weasel out in any way, we walk.
Yes Marshall. I went to a Naturopath in Hawaii in 1974. My MD told me I had nothing wrong with me, that it was all in my head (when a antibiotic quit working). In 3 days with the Naturopath I discovered my problem (he had me give myself an enema every morning). I was infested with round worms. They were completely ruining my bodies own defenses and I was only 25.
I am with you. I do not want any diagnosis (therefore no pre-existing condition applies). I want to be treated holistically. The blood tests are great verifiers, especially when independent.
Now I am with you 100 percent. Yes, Ryan is a start, same with the debt commission. Both are far better than what we have had. But we need a cutter. We need to trim about 1 million federal jobs. I have no doubt the effect of that would be a boom like we have never seen before.
Who is the only candidate to tackle socialized medicine? RP!
Sounds like another Tuesday night at my house. Oh.
1ConcernedMo- glad to hear that you are doing better.
My prescription, and it’s a simple one if you actually do it, is exercise daily, limit sugar intake, salt, and alcohol. Take a vitamin, really I’m serious. I go by the 60% carbs, 20% fat, 20% protein.
I started the workouts when I was 12, for sports reasons, the vitamim at the same time, and the limited sugar, salt, and alcohol when I was 22. I’m over 60 and I’ve had very few colds, flu, and no hospital visits. No diabetes, low cholestrol, or any other problems.
The main thing, I was told, by a friend and Doctor, was the exercise.
Now that is way off topic, but I learned Keep It Simple Stupid, works in a lot of situations.
I would prefer that the debt limit be tied directly to a set percentage of GDP. In otherwords, spending can never exceed say 18% GDP.
I would change that to the current plan is nixed for a better plan that cuts redundant and wasteful spending.
Here’s mine for 13 and 14
13 – all Federal employees (to include memebers of Congress, the President and their staff) must contribute to their pensions and healthcare plans at the same rate as the private sector.
14 – all legistlation passed applies to everyone (to include the President, members of Congress and their staff).
Keep frothing up the disgust for the GOP candidates. Its a great strategy that will result in 4 more years of destruction under Obama.
For the most part, I’ve stopped coming to this site because I don’t get any insight other than none of the GOP candidates (who are actually running) are pure enough.
I’m Tea party all the way, but if the choice is between Obama and a GOP that isn’t a Tea party thinker, I’m going to support the milktoast flip flopping moderate and not the outright Marxist.
Put another way, I too am disgusted by the choices remaning in the GOP race, but these are the choices. It’s time to start thinking about defeating Obama and installing a solid Congress that can make a moderate GOP president act like a conservative.
Yes, much of what he says I will agree with. He also encourages alternative medicine it seems. I am actually more libertarian than Paul, so in my mind he doesn’t go far enough. I also appreciate his being a real maverick. The GOP is never going to allow Paul to get nominated, but just maybe he is preparing the ground for his son.
The Senate just failed (in a very big way) to block the raise in the debt ceiling. The vote for 54-42 APPROVING the raise. Forget about overturning veto. That means several Republicans voted for it… again.
For cryin out loud, quit being so subordinate! LOL
Ignore Imacannibalpigmy – she’s just jealous. ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!!!!
Pretty good. In fact why not just move the Federal workers to social security, medicare and 401K plans and eliminate Federal insurance and retirement plans all together. I get upset with the push to reduce entitlements when the federal entitlements get completely ignored.
Also 15. eliminate Executive Orders. We still have the EPA around based on a Nixon execute order. So have only 1 more, which undoes all previous executive orders. We have a legislature for a reason.
When I’m good, I’m very, very good; but when I’m bad I’m better.
While states can do things that the feds can’t, that doesn’t mean that the states should. Don’t forget that MA was founded by socialists who almost died during the first winter. They came for religious freedom, which to them was a the freedom to have their own religious commune.
Romney may have run representing the GOP, but he was really a Moderate Dem. The same goes for Gov.Christie. One party dem states have dems in both parties, which distorts the GOP at the national level.
They really made this happen last summer. I still remember Laura Ingraham scolding the Tea Party Congressman for going against Boehner’s capitulation. She said that the Tea Party can’t govern. In other words as soon as the Tea Party member did what they were elected to do, she told them they couldn’t govern. As long as the GOP worries about “getting the blame” they are useless.
Oh btw: since debt is negative, its really a lowering of the debt floor. But we are in newspeak land these days.
One lefty friend of mine insisted that the bhocare mandate was just like car insurance. I told him no, because the fed gov doesn’t license drivers or require that cars be registered or insured, states do. Further, the feds don’t require that we all purchase cars either.
I cannot speak for all Federal workers, but I know the DoD civilian workforce does pay into SS and Medicare and they are moving in the right direction of a 401k type plan (the thrift savings plan). As of right now you do not have to contribute to it to have the taxpayer pay into it, but it is in the works to change it to at least a matching contribution up to a certain % (closer to what you see in the private sector).
At least it is a step in the right direction.
I would say limit EO’s to things dealing with military orders as that is the role of the President.
End birthright citizenship!
So true. A friend of mine does not drive due to his failing eyesight. When he hears that argument he shoots back with that if the car insurance requirement was just like the individula mandate in Obamacare he would be forced to buy car insurance on a car that he does not even own.
It looks like three of us are coming to a rapid agreement. See its not so hard. Michele, why not take this as a starting point and make it a Modest Proposal for your blog. I am sure Flyoverman wouldn’t mind. We need a proposal to rally around. I am personally tired on stuff getting thrown around. We need a stake in the ground.
What’s gotten lost in the shuffle is, for -any- country, the top priority of their HC system should be to ensure a healthy workforce.
Cannibalizing Medicare wasn’t bad enough, how will all of us feel when your ever dwindling portion of discretionary income goes towards “keeping healthy” those that have never worked ( nor have any intentions of ever doing so? )
Keeping them around.., for ‘what’? So they can collect entitlements longer? Let the trolls have a field day w/ that one. Just don’t herniate yourselves, we can’t afford your free visit.
+1000 on the Happy scale!!!
O/T…Obama is always talking about those not paying their “fair share” of taxes. Well it looks like he still needs to look no further than his aides to see those who are not paying what the law says is their “fair share“:
OT: Congratulations to this biker for defending himself.
I finally read through the comments.
Mister P’s comment #68 made me think that since congress has raided social security, why not restore it with what’s been set aside for their retirements? I know, it’s not gonna happen.
So, grant an exemption to this, that, and the other indiviudal, so that you don’t make them pay; and just make me and the rest of the poor slobs who are paying, pay some more….
God forgive me, but…good.
If you write a bad check in the Army as an officer, you can be charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and have your career effectively ended. We need to apply the same standard to these weasels.
The problem is our enemy is paid to fight for their cause – reporters, unions, teachers, NGO’s, judges, bureaucrats, etc. We on the other hand only have ourselves and a few true conservative politicians that are vastly outnumbered….in their own party. So how the hell can it be 1. stopped,and 2. reversed?? Answer – under the current political structure it can’t. Electing more conservatives might slow it down, it won’t stop it – as we have seen the 2010 elections has had very little impact.
You’re right and we’re faced with the fate of our country on the Supreme Court. I’d rather put everything I own on Black 36 and spin the wheel. If the clown is re-elected he stands a good chance of replacing Kennedy and we all know the Republicants will NEVER stand up to a leftist SC nomination – they never have. At that point the fat lady will be singing. So then what?
Mister P #82: Good for the guy he is 65 and out numbered.
I’m afraid though that this won’t turn out well for him.
Spacey, what are you feeding Mr. Cakes?
Can you get it in bulk at Sam’s Club?
And here we have Gingrich pandering on Univision to the Hispanic vote again for the amnesty vote.
LO3E in 2012!
Romney: Don’t like the status quo, vote for me, because I’m er.. um.. different?
Interesting, isn’t it…that is the same thing he says about his Super Pac! He has no control over all the slimy ads because it is separate from him and there is nothing he can do about it.
Gee, what a great POTUS he would make! Sounds like next Romney will blame Bush for something!
Newt and Mitt are both losers, and so are the American People.
You are significantly over-estimating the power of the establishment. We are afraid to try new things because we keep telling ourselves that we can’t win. That is the fallacy that the Tea Party keeps exposing. Is anyone paying attention to what is happening on the ground?
Once those people (like me) who re-affiliated away from either of the two Democratic parties and are meeting in growing numbers in the fabled middle open our eyes and realize the power we wield over the one-party establishment, things will change fast.
For one, we need to force a brokered convention. Stop ignoring that possibility and start incorporating that into efforts to break the stranglehold the dirty money has over “both” parties. If conservatives show up in numbers (not holding their noses and hugging their Republican security blankets) with a mean attitude, we win. It’s that simple.
What is NOT simple is that we can’t seem to persuade the chickens from walking to the chopping block and cutting their own heads off every election. This chronic defeatism is what is stopping us. Show some confidence. The solution is on every single ballot but we just keep chopping our heads off every November by voting for the establishment.
GREAT NEWS!! Thanks for letting us know!
From your post to God’s ears!! Those would be dreams come true. Won’t happen until we get someone who isn’t mostly socialist as our POTUS. I don’t think the current crop qualifies.
Rush is saying that most of the stuff against Newt today are lies. There is a big effort today to dump on Newt en mass. It is working. Just like it did in Iowa. No wonder Newt got angry. I can just imagine how mad he is today!!
I hope this bites Romney in the arse!
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Those punks deserved whatever they got. And I doubt this biker will be charged. It looks like a perfect case of self defense, but ONLY if his gun is legal and they have Conceal and Carry in that state.
Romney care was installed in 2006 and they have 98% participation at a cost of 18,300 jobs, more than $4 billion more state dollars, $25 million in investments and an average added cost of $375 per citizen. It is estimated to run up another 15% of these numbers with a drug benefit.
Anybody know what the rate of coverage was in 2004?
Does anybody know of a republican in MA that opine of the law?
As much as I fully appreciate the economic argument, I have a problem with the federal government changing the current structure to allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. The problem I have is by doing so, it then falls into the realm of the Commerce Clause and gives the Dems an opening to force regulatory changes anyways.
Would that not also cross the line of the 9th and 10th Amendments and give more power to the federal level?