Jack's Blog
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Posted by
Legislative Staff
on
November 10, 2009
When pitching Pelosi's plan for the economy, Democrats produced a report claiming their plan would keep unemployment under 8%. It's clear now however, that Pelosi's spending scheme (the so-called "stimulus") has failed. Late last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their Employment Situation Summary showing that the unemployment rate soared to 10.2% in October. The chart below, courtesy The Heritage Foundation, shows just how drasticly they got it wrong:
Posted by
Jack
on
November 09, 2009
Last night, Jack returned to Savannah after Saturday's late night vote to pass Speaker Pelosi's takeover of the nation's health care. WTOC's The News and WJCL/WTGS's The Coastal Source were on hand to cover his return and get an update on health care. To view the clips, click below: From WJCL's The Costal Source: From WTOC's The News:
Posted by
Press Staff
on
November 09, 2009
In case you missed it, the Detroit News featured a great article today. NOTE:Democrats are revealing that putting the country back to work is a lesser priority than passing their social agenda. If that weren't true, they wouldn't even consider any measure that would raise taxes on job creators. Higher taxes, particularly on business, always result in fewer jobs. Both the health care and climate change bills will trigger huge tax hikes for every taxpayer. Jobs a low priority for Democrats By Nolan Finley, Detroit News November 8, 2009 Americans are angry with Washington as much for what it isn't doing as what it is. What it isn't doing the most is paying attention to the still-raging economic disaster. Last week's job numbers show unemployment nationally bumping past 10 percent and surpassing 15 percent in Michigan. Unemployment keeps climbing, even though President Barack Obama and Congress nine months ago committed $787 billion to creating jobs. Since then, neither the White House nor Congress has spent a minute honestly analyzing whether the stimulus program is accomplishing its goal, and if not, what other approaches might work. Instead, the administration is spinning dismal economic reports into positive news, allowing both it and Congress to ignore the economy while they pursue their ideological ends. It ought to infuriate anyone who's lost a job, can't find a job, is worried about his job or lives in a community ravaged by a lack of jobs that Congress devotes nearly all of its energy to arguing about health care. The promise of health care reform was not what got Democrats elected. Voters tossed Republicans on their fannies for ruining the economy, not because they didn't enact wildly expensive social programs. But while the economy tops every list of public concerns, job creation is not the hot topic in Washington. In fact, Democratic leaders, obsessed with reworking America, have proved more than willing to sacrifice precious jobs during the worst economic climate in a half-century. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., rammed an energy-rationing bill through her Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week without a single Republican member in the room. The bill would greatly limit America's ability to produce the energy it needs to fuel an economic rebound. In other words, it's a job killer. Democrats are revealing that putting the country back to work is a lesser priority than passing their social agenda. If that weren't true, they wouldn't even consider any measure that would raise taxes on job creators. Higher taxes, particularly on business, always result in fewer jobs. Both the health care and climate change bills will trigger huge tax hikes for every taxpayer. Democrats have learned nothing from history. During the Great Depression, each time the economy showed a spark, President Franklin Roosevelt snuffed it out with another tax increase or regulatory burden. Obama is making the same mistake and justifying it by claiming health care and climate change are so urgent they can't be delayed until the economy recovers, and perhaps we can afford the costs. But one in 10 American workers are unemployed -- one in seven in Michigan. Surely, that's the most urgent priority. If it doesn't become so soon in Washington, the tea bags being hurled at the Capitol will turn into pitchforks. Nolan Finley is editorial page editor of The Detroit News.
Posted by
Spokesblogger
on
November 09, 2009
Late Saturday night, when Speaker Pelosi wooed just two more votes than she needed for her takeover of health care she did so by allowing an amendment which would prohibit abortion under the plan. Now that she's cleared the hurdle, it appears the "Sneaker" Pelosi and her liberal friends are ready to turn back on their agreement. The Washington Post has the full story:
...But abortion-rights supporters are vowing to strip the amendment out, as the focus turns to the Senate and the conference committee that would resolve differences between the two bills. Although House liberals voted for the bill with the amendment to keep the process moving forward, Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.) said she has collected more than 40 signatures from House Democrats vowing to oppose any final bill that includes the amendment -- enough to block passage...It's clear the fight isn't over. We'll keep fighting to defend the right to life and to make sure your tax dollars are not used to pay for abortions.
Posted by
Spokesblogger
on
November 07, 2009
According to a memo written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, the Department of Health and Human Services may have violated two prohibitions on federal agencies engaging in lobbying or propaganda campaigns in the spending bill that funded the efforts as well as a criminal statute prohibiting such communications. Details from the memo can be found on Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley's website by clicking here and Roll Call's got the full story. Seems strange that HHS would engage in the practice when it prohibited Medicare Advantage providers from communicating with their customers. This story also sounds mighty familiar to a recent story posted here about the National Endowment for the Arts urging funded artists to create art that advances the President's political goals.
Posted by
Legislative Staff
on
November 07, 2009
The CBO estimates that 2.5 million more illegal immigrants will receive healthcare under H.R. 3962 than under H.R. 3200. Under H.R. 3200, CBO estimated that in 2019 there will be “about 17 million nonelderly residents uninsured (nearly half of whom would be unauthorized immigrants).” This equates to approximately 8.5 million uninsured illegal immigrants. Under H.R. 3962, CBO estimated that in 2019, there will be “about 18 million nonelderly residents uninsured (nearly one third of whom would be unauthorized immigrants).” This equates to approximately 6 million uninsured illegal immigrants.
Posted by
Spokesblogger
on
November 07, 2009
There was a TEA Party rally today on the lawn of the Capitol to kill the bill and Jack had the chance to speak. To watch the video, click below:
Posted by
Legislative Staff
on
November 07, 2009
Jack speaks on the House floor during debate on Speaker Pelosi's nationalized medicine bill. In his remarks he exposes the results of Pelosi's plans: a failed "stimulus," bungled Cash 4 Clunkers, the highest deficit in our history, and dithering on national security. Now she wants to tackle health care, by killing jobs, cutting coverage, and raising taxes and premiums. It's time to kill the bill, defeat the Pelosi Plan and advance the cause of patient-centered reform. For more information, visit http://kingston.house.gov/healthcare
Posted by
Press Staff
on
November 07, 2009
The House is currently considering the most profound retreat from freedom in our lifetimes, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962, Rep. John Dingell, D-MI). While conservative concerns with this legislation are perhaps too numerous to list here, what follows are highlights of the key objections that conservatives have expressed about this 2,000-page bill. Raises Taxes: The bill increases taxes by $766.6 billion over ten years that will harm small businesses and middle-class families. The bill also includes billions in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, cutting benefits and raising premiums on seniors. These cuts are not used to reduce the deficit, but instead to create new entitlement programs. Costs: The total cost of the bill is nearly $1.3 trillion (not including the $210 billion “Doc Fix”), when including the cost to states for mandated Medicaid expansion ($34 billion) and authorized discretionary spending for grants, public programs, changes and funding for a variety of agencies that would be responsible for implementing H.R. 3962. Government Takeover: Many conservatives may believe that the bill is a step away from personal, private coverage and choice, to a Washington-controlled healthcare system that rations care, limits choice, and reduces quality, innovation and competition. Constitutionality: The U.S. Constitution and the principle of limited government are tested as never before by forcing Americans to purchase “acceptable” health care coverage or face a tax of 2.5% of modified adjusted gross income. The definition provided in the bill for “acceptable” coverage will surely force some Americans to purchase plans that include coverage they cannot afford, or don’t want or need. Illegal Immigrants: The bill fails to adequately address citizen verification for individuals applying for low-income affordability subsidies, or enrolling in Medicaid/CHIP, or enrolling in high risk pools. Funds Abortions: The underlying permits federal funds to be spent on abortion services Lack of Medical Liability Reform: Trial lawyers get off scot-free as Democrats pay lip service to real medical malpractice reform, opting to hand over money for lawyer-friendly “alternatives” instead of limiting attorneys’ fees or capping damages. Forces Americans Out of Current Plans: The government-run plan will force tens of millions out of the coverage they currently have - while Members of Congress are not subject to the same health care system Americans will have to live by. Increases Premiums: The Democrats’ health care plan will increase premiums. As JCT, CBO and six other studies have shown, imposing new taxes on insurance policies, health care products, and various new insurance regulations will be drive up the cost for patients of all ages in the form of higher premiums. Industry reports found that the youngest 30% of the population will see a 69% increase under the 2:1 age band included in the Pelosi Government Healthcare Takeover Bill. Increases Personal Health Expenditures: CMS Actuaries predicts overall national health expenditures under the bill due to various regulations will jump by 2.1%, or $750.3 billion. Bends the Curve in the Wrong Direction: According to CBO “On balance, during the decade following the 10-year budget window, the bill would increase both federal outlays for health care and the federal budgetary commitment to health care, relative to the amounts under current law.” Courtesy Republican Study Committee
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