Obamacare bad medicine for jobs

Imagine yourself an employer who is looking at what the national health care plan will cost to cover each employee.  Many, if not most of our businesses are in a fight to keep the doors open, let alone adding more to the price of employing each worker.

The outlay for an employee does not end with writing a paycheck, and potentially increases total compensation by more than 40%.  Unfortunately, some workers are unethical, indolent, or incompetent and end up as a loss to the business.  The bottom line is employees are a great expense and risk and only of value if the amount they produce exceeds all the associated costs.  To some this may sound a cold, but business owners also have families to feed and business bills to pay.

In steps national health care adding onerous paperwork to shuffle and more employee costs.

The types of changes that employers could have to make include offering preventive care without copayments and instituting an appeals process for disputed claims that follows new federal guidelines. The law already requires all health plans to extend coverage to young adult children until they turn 26. Such incremental changes can nudge costs up.

The Obama administration said the draft regulation is an early version undergoing revision. Nonetheless, the leaked document was getting widespread interest Friday in lobbying firms that represent employers and insurance companies and on Capitol Hill.

I see six ways that employers will deal with the new requirements.

1)    Avoid hiring
2)    Consider layoffs
3)    Pass costs on to consumers in the form of increased prices of products and services
4)    Cancel or severely limit raises and benefits
5)    Drop employer covered health benefits and pay the fine
6)    Closing their doors

The looming national health care mandates do not promote a good environment for private sector jobs.

This Monday Liberal Democrats in New Jersey have scheduled a hearing at the Trenton Statehouse to propose resolution SCR108.  The resolution speaks of a utopian health care system without interjecting reality.   Governor Christie has not committed or declined New Jersey joining the collective states’ lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare.  SCR108 is urging Governor Christie not to join the lawsuits.

Monday presents an opportunity to join with Americans for Prosperity members and others to testify and voice your objections to SCR108.

Statehouse-Trenton
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
Monday, June 14, 2010 – 10:00 AM
Meeting – Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton , NJ

National health care SOB’s

As heard on the Mark Levin Show the phone number for the main switchboard number at Congress in DC is: 1-877-SOB U SOB (1-877-762-8762).  Imagine that!  Here is the link to find and contact your US House of Representative directly, even on the weekend.  Target members to contact are listed on Smart Girl Politics.

Mark Levin is the president of Landmark Legal Foundation, constitutional scholar, and a dynamic talk show host.  Of great interest is the Levin Landmark draft suit against the possible procedural passage of the national health care bill by the US House of Representatives.  You can read the 9-page “Slaughter Rule” Complaint on Landmark Legal Foundation.

Visit Americans for Prosperity for more information and rallies that are planned.

Get this, here are a few paragraphs from CNS news.

If Congress passes the Senate health-care plan, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, American families will be required by federal law to buy a federally approved health insurance plan that will cost a minimum of $12,000 per year–and on average, will cost $15,000 per year–whether their employer or the government helps them with the premium or not.

But even the bare-bones, minimum coverage required by the individual mandate in the bill–known as the “Bronze” level insurance plans–would cost families an estimated $12,000 to $12,500 a year, Elmendorf told Snowe.

At “bronze” level, an insurance plan covers only 60 percent of medical services.  “Silver” level plans cover 70 percent, and “Gold” level plans cover 85 percent or more.

This is a bad deal.  Doesn’t sound like the one Congress gets.  For that matter if we should be allowed to get the same health care Congress has, why don’t they just put us in their plan which already exists?

Because this really is not about health care, it’s about the taking of our money and control of our lives.

This research from Heritage Foundation provides even more information to place an educated call to Congress.

“Honk Against the Healthcare Takeover”

UPDATE: Good news.  Congressman Adler has announced that he will be voting “NO”.

The national health care plan is unable to stand the test of a full Congressional vote.  A vast majority of citizens opposing the so-called “reform” of the system have put great pressure on US Senators and House members.  As a result of the citizens demand that they indeed be heard, enough in Congress are concerned about voting for the massive alteration of health care as presented.  Low on votes, Congress appears to be gearing up to vote using reconciliation.  There are two very good recommended writings in the NY Post that describe some of the backroom deals and the process itself.

Twisting Arms

Expect the tactics to get even dirtier now.

Nancy’s Nutty New Rules

House members are being told that they must vote for the Senate bill as a procedural step. But the bill would then be only a presidential signature away from becoming law. That is, House members might end up voting for the Senate’s Cornhusker Kickback, Louisiana Purchase, “Cadillac” tax, abortion coverage and other unpopular provisions — and then find it’s all become law.

What can we do?

On Tuesday March 16th at 12-noon you can join other activists who see many evil aspects in the Democrat conjured plan.

“Honk Against the Healthcare Takeover”

Drive around your Congressman’s office honking your horn.  Bumper stickers and signs will alert people that you condemn the government taking over the health care system and transforming it into another national bureaucracy.

For more information on NJ and other states, visit Americans for Prosperity.

Americans for Prosperity-NJ has identified a number of New Jersey Congressmen who are likely to support the national health care bill.  Click on their name to get directions.

Representative	DC Phone	DC Fax	Office
Representative Robert E. Andrews (D - 01)	202-225-6501	202-225-6583	Haddon Heights
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D - 06)	202-225-4671	202-225-9665	New Brunswick
Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D - 08)	202-225-5751	202-225-5782	Paterson
Representative Steve Rothman (D - 09)	202-225-5061	202-225-5851	Hackensack
Representative Donald M. Payne (D - 10)	202-225-3436	202-225-4160	Jersey City
Representative Rush Holt (D - 12)	202-225-5801	202-225-6025	West Windsor
Representative Albio Sires (D - 13)	202-225-7919	202-226-0792	Bayonne

AFP will be at the office of Congressman John Adler (D-03) who has not yet decided on his vote.  You can join up with AFP at Congressman Alder’s office, 28 North Maple in Marlton, NJ at 12-noon on Tuesday March 16th.

Or express your discontent by either driving to, or contacting one of the Representative offices above.

No reconciliation petition

American Thinker has posted the link to sign the Freedom Works “No reconciliation” petition.  Click on the photo above to send your message.

I have added American Thinker to my blogroll.  You will find their writing is diverse and very informative.  Here is a great read on home visits embedded in the national health care bill.  Their articles will keep you busy during the times my blog is idle.

Mark the date to confront DC-February 25

Americans for Prosperity has announced a summit this Thursday February 25th at 11:30am.  The same day that Obama is holding his summit, supposedly bipartisan, on national health care.  If health care is to be bipartisan then the current 2,400 page bill should be scrapped and the Republicans should be included from a new beginning.  Bipartisan does not mean simply inviting us to the ‘party’ when it is ending.  It is important for us to support the Congressional Members that are standing with the majority of Americans who do not like the current proposals.  If you are unable to attend, there is a link below to call your Congressperson.

Here is more from Americans for Prosperity.

I hate to tell you, BUT the battle to stop the takeover of our health care is not over.
In 6 days, on February 25, President Obama will hold a “Health Care Summit” where he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will unveil their “new” health care plan that they are currently writing in secret behind closed doors.
The Left is hoping their “summit” will be the game-changer they need to re-launch their scheme to take over our health care system.
You and I need to make sure that does not happen.
At Americans for Prosperity, we’re holding our own Critical Care: The Patients’ Summit to deliver a simple message:  the American people have rejected this trillion-dollar takeover of health care. So Congress should start over from scratch, or better yet, focus on policies that create jobs and get our economy moving again.
First, we’ll gather outside the Blair House at 9:30 a.m. on February 25 where President Obama will be hosting his “summit.”  We’ll make sure attendees like Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid hear our message as they head inside.
Then, beginning at 11:30am we will hold our own Critical Care: The Patients’ Summit at the JW Marriott in DC.
If you can’t join us in person in Washington, you can still be a part of the Patients’ Summit. We’ll be Webcasting live online at AmericansforProsperity.org.
Between now and President Obama’s “summit,” we need to email and call our senators and member of Congress to tell them in advance that the American people do not want another big-government, tax-and-spend, freedom-crushing piece of legislation to come up again.
So, I’m asking you to CLICK HERE to call your elected representatives today.
It’s fast.  It’s easy.  More importantly, it makes a difference.
The Left is hoping that we have moved on from the health care battle.  They’re thinking that President Obama’s “summit” is their big chance to get the ball rolling again.
A lot of senators and congressmen are wondering if the mood of the American people has changed.
We’ve got to show them in a crystal clear fashion that the American people simply do not trust the Washington politicians with our health care.
Thanks for all you’re doing and let’s keep fighting.

The Bay State looks good in red.

By Marlowe, Guest Blogger

A much-anticipated special election in Massachusetts has become a referendum echoing the voice of voter’s displeasure with their current representation, or lack of same in Washington. More importantly this election has national repercussions. US Senator Elect Scott Brown represents the 41st Republican vote breaking the barrier of the 60 votes that would be needed for Democrats to have the majority control on passing bills.  In order to pass on health care and every other issue the Democrats in Congress would need to rush them through, before Brown is seated, or distort the use of a maneuver called reconciliation.  Either of these would probably mean political suicide for Democrats in November.

Citizens across the country watched this campaign gain steam steadily since September of ‘09 as Scott Brown, slowly at first, then with ever-increasing speed, gained momentum as his message got out. Massachusetts voters realized that he had conservative principles, and that he was their way of sending a message to Washington. The majority of voters were tired of the way business was being conducted and they didn’t feel properly acknowledged or that their representatives were even listening.  The voters have been watching the reports on closed-door Democrat debates, bargains with lobbyists, and special deals exempting unions from the Cadillac tax on health care.

Coakley took Christmas week off from the campaign, perhaps confident that she was sure to win in a low-turnout special election, and avoided debates and speeches.

Brown’s momentum increased and donations started to flow in, as much as  $1.5 million in one 24 hour period as Scott continued to travel the state in his “200,000 mile pickup truck”, meeting future constituents and getting his message heard. By now it was December 30, and the freight train was going downhill.

Martha Coakley had by now lost the 30-point lead she enjoyed early in the campaign.  The Senate’s passage of the health care bill seemed to seal her fate, and at this point Brown was almost neck-and-neck with the Democrat. The DNC and other DEM organizations seemed to take the seat for granted, and did not engage in the process until the week before the election.

The voters of Massachusetts noticed, and increasingly the rest of the Nation, and by the time the Democratic establishment went into action Brown was ahead by 2 or 3 points. The train had gained more speed, and Bay Staters realized they could win this election and send a message, Their message, the first of 2010, said that they were not happy with Health Care, The Economy, and the arrogance of the White House and Congress.

If anyone was in doubt about the White House and Congress being out of step with the people and under estimating their anger it was totally apparent when Barack Obama himself appeared Sunday in a last ditch attempt to salvage the campaign, and rally the voters.  The Voters of Massachusetts were not impressed or fooled, and Scott Brown’s lead increased.

By Election Day Tuesday, the White House, as people were still voting, was blaming Coakley for the eminent loss, not the political environment in the state. They had thrown her under the bus just as they had done in Virginia much earlier with Creigh Deeds in the Governor’s race.

Health care passage may be in real jeopardy if the Dems don’t try to pull some tricks, and Cap and Trade is probably done.

The people have spoken, and will most certainly speak even more loudly in November as other Senators and Congressman must surely be worried about their jobs, and may not want to continue to Walk the Plank for their party knowing the consequences.

A single seat in the Senate has never been more critical than right now, and hopefully we will gain more Republican seats in November as awareness spreads in our great nation.

The Bay State has spoken, and it looks good in red.

Under government control, prepare to be controlled

There are some interesting comments in this CNBC video interview with Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA).

As consumers we have a choice to avoid doing business with the institutions who pay excessive bonuses. This would send a message more powerful than any government controls, and it is a free market concept.

Note the following on the below video:

The timing game change on the bank bailouts,  “We’re moving that up now”.  (If they can change the rules on the banks, they can change them on any of us, including health care.)

Selective targeting of certain institutions. (More government selection & control over business.)

Small and mid-size business loans to increase employment.  (Good way to expedite a business meltdown.)

The special deal that unions may get on the health care taxation. (Who will make up the difference?)

Get the health care bill through and get it done then make corrections. (Doesn’t this just make one warm & comfy?)

Health care US Senate-call alert

From Americans for Prosperity-Patients First Project.

The health care debate in Washington is reaching a turning point. Speaker Pelosi has temporarily gotten her way in the House and Leader Reid is preparing to ram his government-run health care proposal through the first 60 vote hurdle before the Thanksgiving break next week.

Any vote for this bill is a vote to support government-run health care. Period. While you might hear some argue for a distinction between procedural and substantive votes, beware of Washington rhetoric. Whether it is a vote for cloture or final passage, any vote moving the Reid bill closer to your doorstep is a vote in support of government-run health care.

The only thing between these bills that will take away your health care options: you. Millions of Americans made their voices heard at town hall meetings in August. Washington heard your voice then and it significantly slowed Speaker Pelosi’s plans. We need to do it again with the Reid bill.

Call your Senator. Tell him to vote against cloture on the motion to proceed. Americans deserve to see the bill.

Leader Reid spent six weeks crafting this bill behind closed doors yet he’s likely to ram through a cloture vote (i.e., procedural gimmick) as early as this weekend! You, the American public, have a right to know what’s in the bill before it’s voted on. With the bill certain to add to the deficit and span well over 1,000 pages, we need to slow down and make sure this process is done right.

Call your Senator today and tell him to vote against cloture on the motion to proceed. Let them know that a vote for cloture on a government-run health care bill is a vote for government-run health care and you won’t stand for it.

The Obama-Pelosi hustle

After a long day of listening to the mostly emotion based pro and logic based con arguments on Obama-Pelosi national health care, it all came down to the last 15 minutes.  The bill passed the US House of Representatives last night, 220-215.  Joseph Cao, is the lone Republican “yea” vote on H.R. 3962. Thirty-nine Democrats voted “no”.

Scroll as close as you can to 746 on the 14 hour and 32 minute tape to hear the closing statements on the bill.  Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) provides us a lot of information, including page numbers and sections to key in on analyzing.  His statement really blew me away.

This is a short clip of what the new national health care bureaucracy is expected to look like.

On November 6th the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation updated their estimate on the direct spending and revenue effects of the national health care bill.  Here it is for any interested budget geeks.

If you wish to listen to your particular representative you can do so here.

The US Senate has not yet had a vote on their bill proposal.  After a US Senate vote, both the House and Senate bills would then need to be reconciled, final votes cast by Congress, then signed into law by Obama.  There is still time for us to be proactive, hopefully with the help of an even larger congregation of disillusioned Americans.

The House national health care that passed would affect our country and way of life in many profound ways.  Per Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), the massive 2,000-page bill contains the word “shall” 3,400 times.  Shall means that there will be 3,400 pervasive mandates to the health care industry, bureaucracy, businesses, and citizens of our country.

My gut feeling on this national health care proposal is the same as that when watching the 2008 Presidential election results.  Unassuming citizens elected an ideologue President.   Obama has now surrounded himself with many others who share in a radical transformation of our country.

The Americans voted for a change in administration, but the Obama-Pelosi hustle that is charging at us may not be what the voters had in mind.

Rally coverage

It is expected that the US House will be voting on the national health care later this morning.  I was unable to attend the DC rally on Thursday but Mike Proto was there.  Check out his great videos and writing here, here, and here.

 

US House of Representatives