Press Releases

CEI on Obamacare Debacle

2010-03-22T13:09:35Z

Gregory Conko:

Doctor/patient relationship -

"The great tragedy of today’s health care legislation is not simply that it seeks to exert more control over the provision of health insurance and medical services per se, but that by doing so, it takes us farther and farther into a future in which the relationship between physician and patient will be irreparably severed."

Gov't control means less power for consumers -

"The legislation seeks to cut hundreds of billions of dollars out of Medicare, while spending those “savings” and hundreds of billions more in new tax revenue to subsidize private sector health insurance coverage. The inevitable end result will be less and less decision-making power in the hands of American health care consumers."

Fatal conceit of central planners -

"As in any kind of economic transaction, someone needs to determine what’s worth paying for. When government picks up most of the tab, giving every patient every treatment that might possibly provide some benefit is a surefire way to bankrupt the public fisc. The fatal conceit of health care central planners is their belief that they can use cost-benefit or comparative effectiveness analysis to determine, with precision, which patients ought to receive which treatments."

Demise of innovation -

"In the near term this means that, in order to cut costs, countless patients are likely to receive inappropriate treatments. In the long run, this will put a drag on medical innovation, as R&D expenditures will shift to respond to the price signals sent by government. We won’t have the treatment innovations that patients want and need, but those that government bureaucrats find most appropriate for the median voter. Everybody else will be out of luck."

> Read the full commentary by Gregory Conko on Openmarket.org.

Hans Bader:

Obamacare means massive new taxes on investors & married couples -

"The new tax on investors is a classic example of the marriage penalty, since it kicks in at $200,000 if you are single — that is, $400,000 for an unmarried couple — but only $250,000 for a married couple."

Fallacy of CBO estimates -

Amazingly, the CBO, under orders from Democratic leaders, has understated the bill’s cost for the first decade by including the present fiscal year — in which ObamaCare is not yet law and thus has no costs — while excluding its last year from cost calculations. The result was to reduce the projected price tag for the bill from $1.2 trillion to $940 billion.

> Read all the latest CEI commentary on health care issues at Openmarket.org.

Guinta For Congress - Historic Step in the Wrong Direction: Carol Shea-Porter Abandons Her District

2010-03-22T13:06:09Z

Historic Step in the Wrong Direction

Carol Shea-Porter Abandons Her District In Favor of Washington’s Ruling Class

Manchester - In a historic step in the wrong direction, Carol Shea-Porter ignored her constituents and casted a vote for Washington’s ruling class. Today’s passing vote on the government takeover of 1/6 of our economy was taken despite months and months of attempts by New Hampshire residents to change Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s mind. Her vote in favor of this monstrous government takeover of our health care signifies that she agrees with Nancy Pelosi that raising taxes, cutting Medicare, and making the Internal Revenue Service the enforcement arm on your health care decisions is good for New Hampshire families and small businesses.

“This was a misstep of historic proportions. Carol Shea-Porter, Nancy Pelosi, and Washington’s ruling class misplayed their hand on this issue. They chose to give politicians and bureaucrats in Washington more power while ignoring the pleading of families and small business right here in New Hampshire. The voters of New Hampshire have my word that if elected, I will work to repeal it. New Hampshire deserves real and honest reforms; reforms that take into account the rights of the state and the needs of its residents. What we have gotten from Congresswoman Shea-Porter is just another soon to be failed big government program,” said First Congressional District Candidate Frank Guinta.

Final Health Care Bill Passes House with Shea-Porter Support

2010-03-22T13:02:33Z

Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed historic health care legislation that will lower costs, expand coverage, and reduce our nation’s deficit. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will reduce the deficit by $143 billion in the first ten years. The bill will now go to the President’s desk for signature.

“ I voted for this legislation because it will lower costs for middle class families, expand coverage to 95% of Americans, and reduce the deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years ,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “ It also ends discrimination against people who have preexisting conditions, strengthens Medicare solvency, and allows the 30% of young Americans who do not have insurance to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26.

“There have been a lot of misconceptions about this bill, and I would like to set the record straight. If you like your coverage, you can keep it. If you have Medicare or TRICARE, you will keep it. If you have insurance through your employer, you will keep it. This legislation will improve coverage and lower costs for people who already have insurance, and it will provide access to affordable coverage for those who don’t. This legislation will also help families avoid financial ruin because someone happens to get sick. And it will help protect seniors by closing the Medicare donut hole.

“Nearly 100 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt first spoke about the need for universal health care. Since then, members of both parties have worked to make health care a right, not a privilege. I was proud to vote for this bill, which I know will provide great benefits to New Hampshire families.”

Shea-Porter spoke on the floor of the House Sunday afternoon in support of the bill. Click here to watch her remarks.

Here are some of the benefits the 650,000 New Hampshire residents of the First Congressional District will see from this reform. This bill will:

· Improve coverage for 466,000 residents with health insurance.

· Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 128,000 families and 17,700 small businesses to help them afford coverage.

· Improve Medicare for 102,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.

· Extend coverage to 30,500 uninsured residents.

· Guarantee that 8,900 residents with preexisting conditions can obtain coverage.

· Protect 900 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.

· Allow 49,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.

· Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 38 community health centers.

· Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $35 million annually.

This bill was endorsed by more than 360 leading health advocacy groups including the AARP, the American Medical Association, Alliance for Children and Families, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Association for Cancer Research, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Association on Health and Disability, American College of Physicians, American Council of the Blind, American Diabetes Association, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Group Psychiatric Association, American Heart Association, American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Autism National Committee, Autism Society of America, Brain Injury Association of America, Cancer Action Network, Catholic Health Association, Center for Rural Affairs, Children's Defense Fund, Colon Cancer Alliance, College of American Pathologists, Consumer Action, Consumers Union, Doctors for America, Easter Seals, Families USA, Federation of American Hospitals, HIV Medicine Association, LIVESTRONG, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, National Association of Children’s Hospitals, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Breast Cancer Coalition, National Cervical Cancer Coalition, National Council on Aging, National Disability Rights Network, National Medical Association, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, United Steel Workers, VetsFirst.

AFP - One Final Massive Rally in DC Against the Takeover

2010-03-22T13:00:35Z

Dear Friend,

Today, over 30,000 grassroots Americans - folks just like you - descended on the Capitol for one final rally before the expected House vote tomorrow (Sunday). You would have been proud. CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS

One lady told me she boarded one of our AFP buses at 2:00 a.m. today in Asheville, N.C. in order to get to the rally and then go inside to see her blue-dog Democrat Congressman, Heath Shuler. We later found out that after personally meeting with our members, Shuler would be voting no!

I stood on the stage with a Waco, Texas tea party activist, Toby Marie Walker, who had given up yet another day of her life away from family and work to "send these politicians one final message." And, I talked with Stella Lohmann from Atlanta, GA who told me that "there's no quit in us." She's right.

As members of Congress went into the Capitol for votes, they were confronted by our thousands of activists telling them to "kill this bill" and "keep your hands off my health care."

To give you a feel for the arrogance going on inside the Capitol, Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings (Fla.) actually said the following in a committee meeting which was debating just how the final health care takeover bill will look and how it will come to the floor of the House: "There ain't no rules here, we're trying to accomplish something...All this talk about rules...When the deal goes down...we make 'em up as we go along."

That's the kind of crass political wheeling-and-dealing you and I face as we try to fight and defeat this bill. But, fighting we are. Remember that NovemberIsComing.com petition I told you about? Well, in just over 2 days over 274,000 Americans have signed the petition telling their member of Congress that if you vote YES on the health care takeover now, then I'm voting NO on you in November.

The phone lines inside the House offices were ringing non-stop with your calls today. I know literally hundreds of thousands of emails are pouring into their offices. Click here to call or click here to email your member of Congress today.

As I spoke to the crowd today I could not help noticing in the sea of people a family just to the left of the stage. The grandfather, I assume, was wearing a baseball cap that read "Korean War Vet" and he was holding the hand of a young girl, 7 or 8, who held a small American flag in her other hand. The mom was waving a handmade sign that read "Health care takeover? Not on my watch." Two teenage boys were slapping high fives with each other right behind her with what had to be their dad standing beside them. He was waving a sign that read "From San Diego with love ... unless you pass this bill." Three generations of one family - all the way across the country for one reason: to take a stand at a time when we face a huge challenge.

Trust me, win or lose tomorrow - and I still think we're going to win - with folks like I saw today, we're going to win in the long run if we keep up the fight.

Tim

Like what Americans for Prosperity is doing? Invest in our work by clicking here. We're supported by our more than one million citizen-activists nationwide. Your contribution in any amount will go a long way in promoting free-market policies at all levels of government - local, state and federal. Thanks!

OFA-New Hampshire Director Tim Arsenault Lauds Passage of Historic Health Insurance Reform

2010-03-22T12:52:28Z

Landmark legislation will end abusive practices by insurance industry, extend coverage to 32 million Americans, reduce cost of care for families and businesses

Organizing for America (OFA)-New Hampshire Director Tim Arsenault released the following statement today regarding the U.S House of Representatives’ passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872):

“Today, President Obama and Congressional leaders scored a major victory for middle-class families and the small businesses that are the engine of our economy. Thanks to their leadership—and the efforts of millions of citizens who made phone calls and engaged in critical discussions in communities across the country—the U.S. House of Representatives has now passed one of the most significant and sweeping health insurance reform measures in our nation’s history. After decades of effort and a year of substantive debate, the decisive vote made by Members of Congress this afternoon will effectively end the worst and most abusive practices of insurance companies; extend coverage to 32 million more people; guarantee families and businesses have more control over their health care choices; and ensure all Americans see our health care costs fall.

“The impact of this historic bill will be felt immediately by millions of Americans. Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to deny coverage to children and adults due to a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to kick students off of their parent’s health insurance when they reach the age of 26. And insurance companies will no longer be permitted to drop insurance for hard-working people all across the country because they get sick.

“We have much to be proud of—and even more to look forward to in the coming weeks and months. Health reform will create 4 million jobs and reduce our national deficit by $130 billion dollars over the next decade alone. At the same time, by passing reform—succeeding where so many others before us have failed despite their best efforts—we are keeping this country moving in the right direction and setting ourselves on the path to future prosperity.

“On this historic and momentous day, OFA-NH supporters join Granite Staters in thanking President Obama and Congress for their leadership—and for ensuring quality, affordable health care is a reality for every American.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which are expected to be signed into law by President Obama within days, will offer immediate benefits to millions of Americans through key provisions including:

1. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)

2. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand‐name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)

3. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co‐payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning January 1, 2011.

4. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re‐insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55‐64. Effective 90 days after enactment.

5. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6 months after enactment.

6. NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE‐EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre‐existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)

7. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.

8. BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.)

9. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co‐payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment.

10. NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.

11. ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective on January 1, 2011.

12. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH‐RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre‐existing condition ‐ through a temporary subsidized high‐risk pool. Effective 90 days after enactment.

13. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires new health plans and certain grandfathered plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice. Effective 6 months after enactment.

14. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.

15. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.

16. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.

17. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in FY 2010.

18. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG‐TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long‐term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide home and community-based services to adults who become functionally disabled. Effective on January 1, 2011.

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Organizing for America (OFA) is a grassroots project of the Democratic National Committee. OFA's network of volunteers and staff is actively working in all 50 states to promote the President's proposals to strengthen America's middle class by creating jobs, passing health insurance reform, building a clean energy economy, improving education, and reining in the excesses of Wall Street.

Bass For Congress - WARNING- TRILLION DOLLAR, TAX INCREASING HEALTHCARE BILL TO PASS TONIGHT

2010-03-22T12:43:25Z

Dear Friend,

Congress passed a TRILLION DOLLAR Healthcare Bill tonight that will raise our taxes and cut Medicare. Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership used confusing, and sometimes questionable tactics to get their own party members’ support. Promises and favors were made, and arms were surely twisted. Favors that will see New Hampshire taxpayer dollars go to pay insurance and medicaid costs in other states like Tennessee, Louisiana, and New Jersey. This is surely not the “Hope and Change” America was promised.

I have the experience and know-how to fix this mess in Washington, starting on day one, but I need your help.

The Healthcare System needs to be reformed, but not by passing a last ditch, politically motivated bill that Democrats think will allow them to keep their jobs. If elected in November, I will work tirelessly to repeal this tainted bill, not to return to the status quo, but to push for real reform that makes healthcare affordable and available to all Americans – without bankrupting our children’s future. This healthcare bill will only dig us deeper into debt.

Please click on the CONTRIBUTE button on this page to support my campaign. With your help, we can fix the mess in Washington together!

NHDP Chair Ray Buckley on the House of Representative's Historic Vote to Pass Health Insurance Reform

2010-03-22T12:13:33Z

Concord -- New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley issued the following statement on the historic vote in the House to pass comprehensive health insurance reform:

"The House passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act brings our country another step closer to guaranteeing comprehensive health care for all Americans. This legislation reins in the insurance companies' worst practices while extending coverage to 36 million Americans and cutting the deficit by more than $100 billion in ten years.

"In the Granite State alone, more than 140,000 people are uninsured, and the number grows daily as rising premium costs make it more difficult for middle class families to afford quality health insurance. Earlier this year, WellPoint Insurance announced that premiums for New Hampshire residents would increase 12 to 13%.

"This landmark reform could not have been possible without the hard work of New Hampshire's Democratic congressional delegation - Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congressman Paul Hodes, and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter.

"Specifically, the legislation includes four key cost savings provisions that Senator Shaheen authored, including measures that will help Americans access more affordable prescription drugs, prevent costly hospital re-admissions, improve the coordination of care, and protect access to comparative effectiveness research so that patients and doctors can make more informed decisions.

"The bill also includes provisions that prevent insurance companies from cutting important coverage for women. Congressman Hodes refused to stop fighting until mammograms, mastectomy stay coverage, direct access to OB/GYNs, and maternity care coverage could not be cut from the plans currently held by 80% of New Hampshire's insured women.

"And thanks to the effort led by Congresswoman Shea-Porter, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will fully close the Medicare 'donut hole.' Eliminating this coverage gap is long overdue, and will alleviate the financial burden placed on thousands of senior citizens in the Granite State, many of whom are on a fixed income and rely on their Medicare coverage to survive."

Ashooh Statement on Health Care Vote

2010-03-22T12:10:52Z

SHEA-PORTER’S POLITICAL ARROGANCE WILL COST NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES

Voters will hold Congresswoman accountable for vote supporting ObamaCare

MANCHESTER – Today, Rich Ashooh, Republican candidate in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, made the following statement regarding Carol Shea-Porter’s vote for the health insurance bill.

“Carol Shea-Porter’s vote to support the Obama-Pelosi health insurance bill over the objections of her constituents shows just how out-of-touch she is with New Hampshire and mainstream America. One of a handful of deciding votes, Shea-Porter’s support for an enormously expensive, bureaucratic nightmare of a bill is another example of her disregard for the future generations who will be bankrupted by this new entitlement.

"If we really want to improve health care in America, let’s start by giving Carol Shea-Porter and Congressional Democrats hearing exams, because they’re obviously not listening to what voters are telling them. I’ve met with voters all over the district about this issue. New Hampshire never asked for this health insurance bill, can’t afford it, and will suffer under the bureaucratic weight of it. If elected, my top priority will be to repeal this bill and to start over on creating a real solution.

“Carol Shea-Porter thinks that she knows what’s best for her constituents despite their persistent, vocal objections to this bill, but voters can no longer afford that sort of political arrogance and will hold her accountable in November.”

NH Election - Know Your Representatives!

2010-03-22T12:08:06Z

Do you know how your representatives in the New Hampshire House are
representing you?

Now you can know. NHelection.info presents a scorecard of 24 critical votes
of the current NH House. These votes represent 12 family oriented or social
votes, and 12 conservative or fiscal votes. With this scorecard you can know
how you are being represented in the House in Concord.

Check it out at http://nhelection.info/scorecard.

Additionally, all Roll Call Votes of the NH Legislature through March 18,
2010 are available at http://nhelection.info/rollcall.

Know your representatives!

Yours for restoring the Republic,

The Statistician

CHQ - Richard Viguerie: Tea Party Movement is Unfettered to Special Interest Lobbyists

2010-03-22T12:06:18Z

(Chantilly, VA) - In a speech to a conference on the nature of the Tea Party Movement, sponsored by the Virginia-based Restore the Founders Vision, Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, expressed hope that the Tea Party movement would re-vitalize the conservative movement and make the Republican Party more responsive to grassroots citizens.

"The populist Tea Party activists add an important fourth leg of the conservative coalition, to go with the social, economic, and defense components. But it will do that in a way that breaks from the self-destructive patterns of the recent past," Viguerie said. "The Tea Party people are unfettered to the political establishment and are not part of the old network of lobbyists and special interests."

Viguerie said the biggest mistake conservatives made in the past was to become an arm of the Republican Party.

"When the interests of the GOP became more important than principles, a lot of conservatives embraced the big government polices of George Bush, Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, and others. At best, conservatives kept quiet when federal spending went way up and deficits skyrocketed. Even today, some prominent GOP legislators embrace earmarks for pork barrel spending," he said.

But Tea Party enthusiasts are not part of the establishment, big-government status quo and don't care whether conservative principles hurt some Republican incumbents, Viguerie said.

Viguerie expressed belief that within the next six years, principled conservatives will have an opportunity to govern America for the first time since the 1920s.

"The Tea Party movement is a revolt of frightened and angry middle class voters against the leaders of both political parties who have lied and betrayed them," he said.

He said that when Republicans regain control of Congress and the White House, it will be significantly different from the last time. "It will be a new and better day for America," Viguerie said.