NHDP - NH Republicans Double Down on Failed O'Brien-Bradley Cuts to Critical Access Hospitals, LCHIP, Scholarships

Senate Republicans follow through on O'Brien Promise to slash NH budget

Concord - New Hampshire State Senate Republicans revealed this afternoon they plan to continue the failed O'Brien-Bradley budget policies voters rejected last fall with 300 million dollars in cuts.  Already they have vowed to cut dedicated funds for LCHIP, scholarship programs for underprivileged students, and reduce funding even below the reckless O'Brien-Bradley budget levels for critical access hospitals.  But even those programs combined aren't likely to add up to the 300 million dollars in cuts Republican Senator Morse is calling for. 

"Jeb Bradley's Tea Party Republican caucus is doubling down on the same failed budget policies from 2011 that killed hundreds of New Hampshire jobs, made the largest cut to public higher education funding in American history, and devastated essential services for thousands of Granite Staters," said New Hampshire Democratic Party Communications Director Harrell Kirstein. "What else will the Tea Party Senate Republicans put on the chopping block?  Are they going to make deeper cuts to the University and Community College Systems, forcing another round of costly tuition increases?  Will they slash domestic violence prevention funding again? What about funding for snow plows for next winter?"

Last May, disgraced Speaker O'Brien promised that if re-elected he would "go further next year, paring as much as $400 million more." [Nashua Telegraph, 5/8/2012] Almost one year to the day from O'Brien making that Tea Party oath, Republicans in the Senate announced they will be following through on his disastrous plan. 

"Clearly Republicans in Concord didn't learn anything from last fall's elections when voters rejected the O'Brien-Bradley budget's mindless cuts undermining education and quality of life in communities across the state," continued Kirstein. "Instead of trying responsible ways to balance the budget while investing in priorities that will grow the economy and move New Hampshire forward, they are reverting to the same failed Tea Party policies of the past."

NRSC - Shaheen's Unaffordable Care Act

April 22, 2013

Shaheen's Unaffordable Care Act

Last week, the architect of President Obama's signature health care law "stunned administration officials," saying openly he thinks it's headed for a "train wreck."  "I just see a huge train wreck coming down," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., told Obama's health care chief during a routine budget hearing that suddenly turned tense.

Not good.

Then yesterday, On Meet the Press' "Press Pass," Former Obama advisor Zeke Emanuel (Rahm's brother) said that Obamacare's uncertainty is driving up premium costs. "No one, not the hospitals, insurers, or the federal government, know how many people are going to come in. Are they going to be a broad representation of the uninsured or will only the sick come in? That is a big fear of the insurance companies. That why you're seeing an increase in the rates. They're worried, we'll only get the sick, we're going to pay a lot of money, so we're increasing the rates because of uncertainty."

Really not good.

Democrats responsible for the Affordable Care Act – including Jeanne Shaheen- promised that ObamaCare would make health care "more affordable." However, since President Obama took office, average Americans have seen the cost of health care increase by $3,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

ObamaCare - or the Unaffordable Care Act - is not just a “train wreck” for families trying to understand and cope with the new law. It's a disaster for Democrat Jeanne Shaheen who is responsible for it.

Heritage - Update on Obamacare Costs, Marriage Debate, & Immigration

The Dangerous Allure of Medicaid Expansion

How will your state fare if your governor chooses to expand Medicare? A few states would save money when the federal government kicks in their share, but most would lose money. Regardless of whether the state or federal government pays, the massive increase in spending will ultimately be borne by you, the taxpayer. Read analyst Drew Gonshorowski's analysis of the impacts of expansion on your state in his blog post. And, check out how your own state will fare.

Obamacare Drives Up Health Care Prices

The first cost estimate of Obamacare came in at $898 billion, but after the law was passed the government revised the cost to a figure nearly double that, or $1.85 trillion. On the third anniversary of the passage of the health care law analyst Alyene Senger explains in her blog post the increasing costs and what we're likely to face in the future. Even thought the worst tax increases and mandates don't go into effect until next year, Heritage created a collection of infographics that depict the impacts Americans are already feeling because of this new law. 

Heritage's Marriage Expert Debates Piers Morgan 

Ryan Anderson, co-author of the book "What is Marriage," debated Piers Morgan and Suze Orman on CNN. Watch Anderson as he maintains his composure and sticks to the facts while facing a hostile host and studio audience. Learn his arguments by reading  "What You Need to Know About Marriage."

What is the Definition of Amnesty in the Immigration Debate?

Americans recognize the vital importance of lawful immigration in part because it brings important economic and cultural benefits to the country and to the immigrants. Congress should encourage lawful immigration and discourage amnesty, which discourages respect for the law, treats law-breakers better than law-followers, and encourages future unlawful immigration. Learn more about the history of amnesty programs and what immigration policies actually work by reading Heritage Senior Vice President David Addington's Backgrounder, Encouraging Lawful Immigration and Discouraging Unlawful Immigration.

Upcoming Events

Resource Bank Registration Deadline     April 1               Register Here

Resource Bank Meeting                          April 24-26

Governor Hassan Announces $1.6 Million Federal Grant to Help NH Improve Health Care Through Innovation

Office of NH Governor Maggie Hassan

Funds Will Allow State to Develop Comprehensive Health Innovation Plan

CONCORD - Governor Maggie Hassan announced today that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded up to $1.6 million in federal funds to develop a State Health Care Innovation Plan to improve quality and reduce growth in health care costs through improved coordination. The State Innovation Model grant program, issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will allow New Hampshire to develop a strategy to transform the health care delivery system through multi-payer payment reform and other state initiatives.

"Innovating in health care is critical for reducing the growth in health care costs and improving the quality of care for all of our people," said Governor Hassan. "New Hampshire has led the way in health care innovation through initiatives like accountable care organizations, and these federal funds will allow us to develop a comprehensive strategy to continue our progress and strengthen our health care system."

New Hampshire's plan will lay out a framework for aligning consumer access across delivery system "silos," payer support for outcomes-based long term care services, and global accountability for cost-effectiveness and outcomes.

A central tenet of the transformation activities will target opportunities for improved coordination across systems for individuals who are either in need of or at-risk for needing long-term support services; this population will be targeted due to the complex health needs and the cross-cutting nature of the services and payments needed to coordinate their care. Through this process, New Hampshire will leverage ongoing activities in the development of the new system and align the ongoing state and national quality initiatives with the new system.

New Hampshire has six months to submit its plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and will use its Health Care Innovation Plan to apply for an anticipated second round of awards

For more information on the grant please go to: http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/State-Innovations <http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/State-Innovations> . To learn more about other innovative models being tested by the CMS Innovation Center, please visit:  http://innovation.cms.gov/

CEI Today: I, Pencil premier 11/15, California's ballot measures, Europe's ghouls & goblins, and Obamacare costs

CALIFORNIA'S BALLOT MEASURES - IVAN OSORIO

Openmarket.org: California Unions Uber Alles?

In the media coverage of the presidential election, one state that is unlikely to get much attention is California, which appears to be solidly in President Obama’s column. Yet that doesn’t mean that Golden State voters don’t face some important decisions on November 6. Two very different ballot measures will help determine the trajectory of government growth in California — and given California’s size and influence, potentially throughout the nation.  > Read the full commentary at Openmarket.org

 

> Interview Ivan Osorio

 

EUROPE'S HALLOWEEN GHOULS & GOBLINS - MATTHEW MELCHIORRE Real Clear Markets: European Politics Increasingly Resemble Halloween Politics in Europe is beginning to resemble Halloween. Trick-or-treaters like Greece and Spain come to the doorstep of Germany and the European Union for bailout money. But these visitors are not polite neighborhood kids asking for a Snickers bar. These are the characters that bring on eye rolls every Halloween as they walk up the front steps. >View the article on Openmarket.org > Interview Matthew Melchiorre

OBAMACARE COSTS - HANS BADER Openmarket.org: Obamacare Will Increase Health Insurance Costs In California, Washington, D.C., And Elsewhere California officials concede that their state’s Obamacare exchange will hike premiums for policyholders by up to 25 percent. In the District of Columbia, small businesses are being forced to buy overpriced insurance on an Obamacare exchange by the “District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority.” Obamacare also increases costs to taxpayers.  Obamacare will increase welfare spending by reducing levels of employment, leading to more people being poor enough to qualify for means-tested government benefits.> Read more at Openmarket.org > Interview Hans Bader

Read more... Government promotes research on automated cars The threat striking fear into the hearts of weary airline travelers everywhere Investigators: Operation Fast And Furious Was Product Of “Deliberate” Obama Administration Strategy

COMING NOVEMBER 15... The Competitive Enterprise Institute is proud to announce a new ambitious film project: an animated adaptation of I, Pencil by Leonard Read. > View the I, Pencil trailer

CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.  For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org.  Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.