Can You Believe it? Unfortunately, Yes We Can!

By Jeb Bradley

Joe Castiglione, the inestimable radio play-by-play announcer of the Boston Red Sox, has called two World Series victories. When the last out was recorded, Joe finished his play-by-play with words that rang through all of New England: “Can You Believe It?”

The “unbelievabilty” of the Red Sox winning two World Series has passed, but the unbelievability of what is happening in Concord and Washington continues to grow – the polar opposite of Red Sox Nation’s joy.

In Washington, spending escalates unchecked, the deficit hemorrhages red ink, and the overall debt frighteningly approaches unsustainablity. The 2009 deficit was $1.42 trillion. It is likely to grow in 2010 and is estimated to average nearly a Trillion Dollars for the next ten years. The total debt hit $12 Trillion, an eye popping $39,000 for every American man, woman, and child. 

Taxes are also set to go through the roof. Unless Congress acts before year’s end, each tax bracket for individual Americans will climb, the marriage penalty reappears, and small business expensing provisions disappear. Taxes on investment income – particularly tough on seniors, will jump precipitously and the death tax will come roaring back. In 2013 a new .9% increase in the Medicare payroll tax goes into effect as well as a 3.8% tax on investment income. In 2014 a federal tax on health insurance will be added to the tax-soup. Meanwhile, Washington is abuzz with talk of a staggering new Value Added Tax.

All of this is against the backdrop of the Unemployment Rate hovering near 10%.

The view from Concord is similar. Spending increased by 23% over the last two budgets and the State now faces a $220 million deficit despite nearly draining the so-called Rainy Day Fund. The next budget gets even worse as one-time federal money disappears and the deficit explodes past $600 million. These deficits are despite the 38 new or increased fees and taxes including the job-killing income tax on small business owners known as the LLC Tax. Now Governor Lynch is proposing new taxes on tobacco products and higher property taxes as the State shifts ever more costs to cities and towns.

While Congress and Concord flounder with deficit spending and taxes, 52,508 of our New Hampshire friends and neighbors are out of work and scant progress has been made to reverse the hardship of job loss.

Just when one would think conditions could not get much worse --- they have.   Despite the overwhelming need to create jobs for Americans, Washington has spent the last year concentrating on health care reform. Unquestionably, insurance reforms dealing with pre-existing conditions, insurance cut-offs during illness, and life-time limits were overdue. However, what Congress produced is “reform” that will cost at least $1 trillion over ten years, drive up costs for states, reduce choices for consumers, increase taxes, cut Medicare for seniors, increase insurance costs, further increase the deficit and debt, and lead to more government take-over of health care in America.

Given health care reform problems, the flawed political process used to pass it, and the significant majorities of Americans fundamentally opposed to the federal legislation, why would New Hampshire Democrats eagerly follow their Congressional brethren and attempt to pass New Hampshire’s version of health care reform? Unbelievable perhaps, but that’s precisely what Concord Democrats are proposing.

In a little noticed move late last week a non-germane amendment was scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday April 27^th to ostensibly be added to legislation that had previously passed the Senate: SB-455. This amendment will give the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) virtually carte-blanche authority to adopt any and all rules to implement health care reform in New Hampshire per the federal legislation. This type of unfettered authority for the NHID would leave the Legislature almost totally devoid of any say over health care policy in New Hampshire – an almost unprecedented transfer of power from elected officials to an unelected government agency.

Federal health care reform is now the law of the land. But, before Concord Democrats kowtow to an all knowing federal government and cede control of health care policy to the Insurance Department, consider the following: 

The most significant federal mandate --- that states show progress creating so-called health exchanges --occurs in January 2013. Exchanges must be implemented by January of 2014. This amendment does not need to be jammed through now without proper scrutiny, and --- if even necessary --- can and should be fully vetted in the next Legislature.

Furthermore, the NHID would have authority to commit taxpayers to more generous Medicaid benefits than required under the federal law. This decision must be left to elected officials more accountable to taxpayers.

Twenty one states have joined the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of key provisions of health care reform. Shouldn’t New Hampshire wait for the outcome of this challenge before simply blessing the new federal law?

Lastly, national elections will be held in just six months. There could well be a political shift in Washington that may dramatically impact the status of the federal law. Yet, another reason to wait!

Regardless of whether the new federal law is good or bad or some combination– it is simply unfathomable that Concord Democrats would transfer all implementation of the law to an unelected bureaucracy.

Governor Lynch had previously – and correctly -- spoken out against unfunded mandates in the federal law that will substantially increase costs to New Hampshire taxpayers. Now however, executive agencies indicated these new costs are apparently acceptable. 

Just as apparent, Concord Democrats are simply falling into line and embracing whatever decree and judgment Washington orders.

Thus Concord Democrats are hoping to slip this unprecedented amendment through quickly with at best cursory review. Given their record on taxes, spending, deficits, and a faltering economy it’s no wonder they would want to push this through before anyone notices.

Can you believe it? Unfortunately---Yes We Can!



Six Steps to Fix Obama Care

With the passage of Obama-care, many Americans feel as if government has slapped us in the face. And that's probably putting it mildly.  Predictably, many are calling for a repeal effort after the coming November elections. While speaking about "repeal" makes people feel better, it will not happen. Here's why: 

There are not enough Democrat seats up for election in the US Senate to establish a veto-proof majority; conservatives need to capture 27 seats for a veto-proof Senate, and only 15 are up for election this fall.   

In the House, we need to win 112 seats to become veto-proof; while all indications are there will be significant conservative gains in the House in November, retaking 112 seats would be a turnaround of epic proportions.  Thus, any repeal passed, even with new Republican majorities in the House and Senate, will be vetoed by the President, and the House and Senate will have the required votes to override the veto. 

There are, however, steps we can take to mitigate ObamaCare's assault on our personal freedoms and our free enterprise system. At the same time, Congress can implement the true reforms we do need, without the shameful Congressional bribery and special interest payoffs that were needed to pass ObamaCare. 

First, Congress should reverse the Medicare cuts the Democrats dumped on our seniors. These cuts will harm seniors' health and will drive up their medical costs dramatically.  Reversing them is the right thing to do. 

Second, Congress should pass legislation requiring all elected members, congressional staff and Executive staff to use the ObamaCare plan for as long as it remains law. We must put an end to exemptions of the ruling elites from the policies and laws they enact for the people they are supposed to serve. 

Third, Congress should deny funding for ObamaCare using the appropriations process. This will immediately stop the government takeover of our health care system comprising16% of our national economy.

Fourth, Congress needs to implement real health insurance reform, including (1) "loser-pays" tort reform requiring the losing attorney to pay some of the costs; (2) negating state restrictions on insurance competition; (3) requiring portability; (4) providing better tax incentives to businesses that insure employees; and, (5) allowing families to deduct the full cost of health insurance from federal income tax. These actions will significantly reduce health insurance costs; they will not raise taxes, and they will make health insurance available to all but the very poor. 

Fifth: As a nation, we can provide a safety net for those who are truly unable to afford health insurance. It makes no sense -- and it costs a huge amount -- to care for them in hospital Emergency Rooms. Options we should consider include:

•  
  • expanding Medicare and means testing participants
  • providing additional tax deductions to people under certain income thresholds
  • eliminating fraud and waste in the current Medicare system
  • further expanding the availability and use of Medical Savings Accounts 

Everything should be on the table, except creating a massive, expensive and inefficient government health care bureaucracy.  

Sixth, and perhaps most importantly, Americans must remain active and vigilant. By staying energized and working hard, we can capture enough seats in 2010 to stop the runaway spending and massive expansion of government we have seen during the past year. If a Republican/fiscal conservative wins the White House in 2012, only then might we be able to repeal ObamaCare and accomplish the fiscally responsible and still-much-needed reforms to address the problems with the health insurance industry. 

True health insurance reform will requires us to think long-term, use all our resources and consider all possible options. But we cannot and must not accept the huge expansion of government bureaucracies and costs that was just signed into law. With your help, I am confident that we can send this healthcare debacle - and Mr. Obama - on a well deserved march into history.



Healthcare Summit or ObamaCare Resurrection?

At a place called Blair House, President Barack Obama played host to a select small group of legislators to find "common ground" for passage of a healthcare reform bill.

Well, that was the White House's version, anyway. That's not what happened!

In reality, the so-called "summit" was an elaborate magic show, complete with sleight of hand, illusion and elaborate misdirection - all designed to resuscitate the once-thought-dead “ObamaCare” bill.

This political theater took place in the space of seven and a half hours.  The President had already destroyed the credibility of the meeting on Monday by publishing his Trillion Dollar plan that looks, coincidentally, a whole lot like the discredited Senate version of ObamaCare - including abortion funding!

We were expected to believe that legislators could deal with over two thousand pages of a bill that amounts to a government takeover of an estimated 16% of our economy in just a few hours! Unbelievable!

Of course, the President never had any intention of finding "common ground."  In fact, the invitation to the summit came with a PS:  If you don't go along with me, I have "reconciliation" ready in the wings!

The “fix was in." And from what we can see, this eleventh-hour attempt to ram socialized medicine down the throats of the American people is more dangerous than any that has gone before.

There was an even more telling activity going on behind the scenes this week by utilizing the same technologies and strategies that propelled him into office.

President Obama, who has failed to effectively govern throughout his first year in office, has re-hired his campaign staff to try to regain the popularity he enjoyed while running for office!

The highly orchestrated political theater we witnessed on Thursday would be merely pathetic if it wasn't such a dangerous and dishonest abuse of presidential power. The pressure is mounting as ultraliberal activists redouble the use of corrupt "Chicago-Style" politics of coercion and bribery that have so dramatically overshadowed Capitol Hill for the last year.

Here's just one measure of their audacity: When the American people cried, "Foul!" over the Cornhusker Kickback, the President then decided to extend the exorbitant bribe that bought Senator Ben Nelson to the ENTIRE SENATE!

Now, we have a sort of "Omnibus Kickback" on the table – all of it paid for by you and me, the hapless American taxpayers!

We need to respond to this challenge by calling our representatives in Congress with the clear message: "NO TO OBAMACARE!" Call Sen. Gregg: 202-224-3324, Sen. Shaheen: 202-224-2841, Rep. Hodes: 202-225-5206

Dick

Richard H. (Dick) Olson

Jaffrey, NH 03452-7105

Hear me, See me

How apropos that “The Who” stood in the middle America’s largest stage, the Superbowl, and sang the words “Hear me, See me” from  Tommy. Isn’t this the current feeling of the country’s political arena? The citizens are screaming, “Hear Me!” Even after Massachusetts sent Scott Brown to deliver the message personally, the administration still isn’t getting it.

Here in New Hampshire there seems to be one person in the arena approaching the floor and he is asking what we want, want we need and he is listening. He is answering the tough questions and offering commonsense solutions. That man is congressional candidate, Frank Guinta. Mr. Guinta has been holding Town Hall style meetings across the state and is actually listening to the concerns of “We, the people.” He is not throwing the uncomfortable questions back into the box or telling people that he knows better, what is best for them. Nor is he asking any person to identify their party affiliation. He is listening to all of the people. I’ve been struck by the genuine conversations he has been having with the Granite State’s residents. Yes, conversations, not lectures.

Frank Guinta is listening to the tax payers of New Hampshire, I am confident that he will bring an independent voice to congress, one that is representative of all of our state’s residents so that the cries of “Hear me!” will finally be heard, our legitimate concerns addressed and responsible solutions respectfully offered.

Victoria Sullivan

Manchester,  NH

Letter to AARP Regarding Support of Healthcare Legislation

Addison Barry Rand, CEO

AARP

601 E. Street, NW

Washington, DC 20049

Dear Mr. Rand,

As members of AARP for 17 years, we vehemently oppose the organization’s support of the administration’s health care legislation. We do not support any part of a government-run healthcare system. CANCEL OUR MEMBERSHIP EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!

We:

• Oppose the $400 billion cut in Medicare.
• Oppose ending the Medicare Advantage program that helps offer low cost supplemental coverage to the elderly for hearing aids, eyeglasses, and a variety of benefits not covered by Medicare. Now the only way to supplement Medicare will be Medigap coverage, largely offered by the AARP that is both more expensive and less comprehensive.
• Oppose the fine of $1,000 on the uninsured will not induce them to get coverage. To be covered, they would have to pay between 8 and 12 percent of their income before they get any subsidy. How would a $1,000 fine induce them to pay that much to get coverage?
• Oppose the rise of insurance premiums by $1,700 per family per year.
• Oppose a bill that provides for a 40% tax on health insurance premiums.
• Oppose taxes on Medical devices like pacemakers, heart valves, artificial limbs, replacement hips and knees.
• Oppose Taxes on those who have to pay 7 1/2 percent of their income in medical costs that will no longer be deductible.
• Oppose the legislation that will limit deduction of our premiums only if payments reach 10% of their income. THIS IS A TAX ON SICK PEOPLE!

Under “Managed Care”, our choices will be limited much like a HMO.

Does the AARP support government paid abortions or minority preferences to doctors and health care providers? This is a provision!

In conclusion, we do not support any thing that our government would be involved in because it will cost more, provide a more complex system and would control my rights given me by our constitution.   

Sincerely  

Richard H. & Katherine E. Olson