The REAL COST of ObamaCare!

In a letter Thursday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Caterpillar urged lawmakers to vote against the plan "because of the substantial cost burdens it would place on our shareholders, employees and retirees."

What this means, as reported here, is that companies big and small are going to look at the additional costs imposed on them and figure out which costs can they pass on to their customers and which costs do they eat. One way to eat those costs is to either not hire new employees or to shed some of the employees they have.

In the competitive big equipment world this will be a difficult calculation for Caterpillar. They face stiff competition around the world.

Combine these predictable actions by companies along with reduced consumer spending as taxes begin to reduce take-home pay and you have a prescription for poor economic activity and even poor long-term economic outlook.

Resistance!

Eight Ways ObamaCare will grow Government

From here, Eight Ways ObamaCare will grow Government:

1. Obamacare creates a new, government-run assisted-care insurance program to compete with existing private plans. CLASS Act, as it’s called, is essentially a new entitlement, and its proponents promise it won’t cost the Treasury a penny. That’s what Washington used to say about Social Security.

2. Obamacare creates a Medicare panel to cut payments for ineffective procedures and prescriptions. The panel will override the wishes of patients and physicians, just as it has in countries where it’s already been tried, such as Britain.

3. Obamacare expands Medicaid eligibility by as much as one-third, increasing taxpayer liability for entitlements at the exact moment Washington needs to contain entitlements

4. Obamacare gives the federal government the power to specify what every insurance plan must cover, and doesn’t touch the hundreds of state-level benefit mandates that are already in place. And, by the way, it’s a power that Washington will immediately use — both the House and Senate bills contain new mandates.

5. Obamacare creates dozens of new offices, bureaucracies, committees, programs, and authorities — more than 110 in the Senate bill — to implement the law and develop new regulations, including the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

6. Obamacare forces states to set up health-insurance exchanges to foster competition. Massachusetts has already tried this, with no reduction in premiums.

7. Obamacare substitutes more government for patient choice by gutting Medicare Advantage (an option through which seniors can receive their Medicare benefits in the form of private insurance plans) to pay for new entitlements and new services.

8. Obamacare will push the government’s share of national health spending well past the 50 percent level forever.

9. I know I only told you eight, but I "deemed" you needed nine: ObamaCare sets up the medical system to provide "free" healthcare insurance to the 20-30 million illegal imigrants he wants to give amnesty to.

Oh, yes, and we forgot to mention the penalties if you don't comply: fines and potential jail time. And more intrusion from the IRS.

What is an Impeachable Offense?

Impeachment is a formal process in which an elected official is accused of unlawful activity, and which may or may not lead to the removal of that official from office.

Why is that important? Because this weekend, the House of Representatives may take a scaple to the Constitution in order to slither through the odious ObamaCare bill. Instead of an up or down vote, for which Pelosi may not have the votes, they will use a slight of hand to "deem" that the Senate bill was passed, as described here.

That would mean that Pelosi, with the urging of President Obama, has circumvented Article I section 7 of the Constitution. They both took on oath to uphold the Constitution. By knowingly bypassing the Constitution, they have broken their oaths.

Should they be impeached?

Can you make a few more phone calls to defeat ObamaCare?

If your fingers aren't raw yet, you can still help keep the capital phone lines clogged and send a message to undecided representatives to vote NO on ObamaCare.

All the information you need is summarized here!

What do average Americans think about IRS Healthcare powers?

In the previous post, we reported on this article from The Hill.

What do average Americans think of this? Here are some comments from The Hill article:

These are just a few of 484 comments received on the article,

Screw the IRS and all the tentacles of the fed reserve. Don't be sheeple. Rise up. Take it back. They will not give it willing, so do what is necessary. Grow a pair.
BY Roman Bacqwhet on 03/18/2010 at 19:50

What liar poser godwannabe thugs
BY tara metcalfe on 03/18/2010 at 19:55

Our politicians will regret this crap. Here we have a mountain of arrogance, fully charged with incompetence. An ideological tool to force the people to take a medicine they do not wish to take. But it's for our own good, and government sure knows what's good for the people, right? The heavy hand of this government is no longer one that helps the people. This is the back of the hand that punishes the people! Next thing you know we'll be told that we're lucky to have such a caring government! Where other nations have heard this BS before? This is how government creates enemies out of the people. This is how democracy collapses.
BY picomanning on 03/18/2010 at 19:56

I would rather die a free man than to give up my God given right to liberty and self-direction!I will NOT pay the (heathcare) tax!I will NOT pay the fines!I will NOT go to federal prison!If anyone in the federal government cares to test me on this,bring it on baby!
BY Guy Cooper on 03/18/2010 at 19:57

That is just what we need more IRS intrusion into our lives. Why don't they go after the 100,000 government workers that reportedly owe some 300 million dollars in back taxes instead. This bill is crazy and anyone that votes for it will never get my vote!
BY Feed up with this on 03/18/2010 at 19:58

I feel like I am being directly spit on and our American flag is being burned by a bunch of domestic terrorists. The problem is these terrorists make up the majority of the government and they keep trying to reach further and further into the lives of Americans. We need to stop this assault on our country ASAP!
BY NoBaMa1556 on 03/18/2010 at 19:59

This is the biggest point that no one has been scrutinizing all along! This is the one that people should be screaming mad about and demand the failure of this bill for this reason alone. Why in the world should the IRS be in charge of a "Health Care" bill enforcement? This bill is a blatant sham of a vehicle for the government to get deeper into the pockets of every American taxpayer. This is what this whole scam has been about all along. This is why they are pushing so hard to pass this sham. They need more money to keep spending like they are used to and want more of our money. This has to be stopped. It is merely a tax collection bill,, not a Health bill.
BY kdpvegas on 03/18/2010 at 20:00

It is nearly time to refresh the tree of liberty.
BY Alan on 03/18/2010 at 20:01

Soon it will be time for a good old fashioned All-American tax revolt. Let the fascists expose themselves for the thugs they are. We aren't their slaves. The income tax was the worst thing to happen to this country. The politicians view us as their perpetual income source. We need to dramatically reduce the size of government and let the free market provide us with prosperity. Government can't do that, it can only take wealth from some people and give it to others.
BY Eric on 03/18/2010 at 20:04

ObamaCare expands IRS Powers

Want some more good news about ObamaCare?

Reported here in The Hill.

Subcommittee on Oversight ranking member Charles Boustany (R-La.) said the IRS provision in the bill "dangerously expands, in an ominous way the tentacles of the IRS and it's reach into every American family," he said today during a press conference.

"This is a vast expanse of power," he said.

Boustany said the bill would allow the IRS to confiscate refunds if there are penalties for not buying health care.

Lawmakers have questioned whether the IRS can handle the increased workload to oversee, administer and collect penalties for people who don't buy health insurance.

"This is increasing tax liability and tax scrutiny," said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.).

Ranking member Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said many Americans have already rejected the call for health care reform for other reasons and an expansion of the IRS should only add to call to "kill the bill."


Taxpayers could be required to buy insurance under President Barack Obama’s reform proposal by 2014 or face penalties of roughly $325 per individual that the IRS would collect.

Assuming it becomes law, the Congressional Budget Office expects the IRS will need roughly $10 billion over the next 10 years and nearly 17,000 new employees to meet its new responsibilities under health reform.

Understanding ObamaCare in 90 Seconds

You think Obama's long, single minded, maniacle push toward ObmaCare passage is a long involved process that is impossible to understand?

Not at all!

You can see it right here and it only takes 90 seconds.....better than speed reading!

Hat Tip: Rick L.

This is ObamaCare Reform: The Details

1. Taxes start immediately when the bill becomes law

2. Benefits take up to 4 years to kick in.....We thought this was an "emergency!"

3. This is the path to single-payer, third party nationalized insurance

3. This bill will not reduce the deficit; the tax revenues will never meet projections and the costs will blow over the projections

4. You may be penalized or sent to jail for not buying an insurance policy

5. For the first time you will pay medicare tax on unearned income; interest, dividends, capital gains

6. Nothing in this bill will lower the cost of healthcare

7. Insurance premiums will not go down

8. Government will have the means to control every aspect of your lives in the name of "healthcare cost reduction"

Read more ?here.

What's not to love

We Don't Take Medicaid Here!!!!!!

Walgreens Pharmacies in the State of Washington will stop taking new Medicaid prescription customers effective April 16. And why you ask?

In a news release, Walgreens said its decision to not take new Medicaid patients stemmed from a "continued reduction in reimbursement" under the state's Medicaid program, which reimburses it at less than the break-even point for 95 percent of brand-name medications dispensed to Medicaid patents.

Walgreens follows Bartell Drugs, which stopped taking new Medicaid patients last month at all 57 of its stores in Washington, though it still fills Medicaid prescriptions for existing customers at all but 15 of those stores.

But not to fear; the state is not worried......see below

Doug Porter, the state's director of Medicaid, said Medicaid recipients should be able to readily find another pharmacy because "we have many more pharmacy providers in our network than we need" for the state's 1 million Medicaid clients.

Will those Pharmacy's be conveniently located? Will every town have one? How long will they take a loss on Medicaid?

Welcome to the future of Socialized, Government controlled medicine where costs are not reduced, rather care is rationed to the provider willing to take the lowest profit margin which will lead to lower quality service.

Stop Obamacare now: Call Congress

Here is the link to the Code Red list of congressmen/women to call to urge them to stop the socialized takeover our our healthcare system.

Call These Folks today and clog the system up!

Swing Districts Oppose Health Reform

The President said last week that everything that can be said has been said about healthcare. Nonetheless, he continues to campaign like a candidate who is 10 points down in the polls. This is bad legislation and the American people know it.

To the point, the The Wall Street Journal ran a story which demonstrated that key House representatives are seeing poll numbers even worse than those for the nation as a whole.

The story ends with this line, These are the constituents of the members whose votes will matter most this week. Perhaps, if this republic is still the people's, those members should heed those they claim to represent.

Obamacare: You gotta watch this!

Watch this video: it says it all and needs no comments from Me.

Hat Tip: Gloria R.

Why count votes? Just declare it done!

There is a very convoluted process taking place outside the glare of camera lights in the House of Representatives. It is a process whereby rules are promulgated only for the purpose of declaring something has taken place that in fact has not taken place. These backroom deals are being put together for Obamacare.

Nancy Pelosi is looking for any way to declare the Senate bill is passed in order to avoid either a real up or down vote, or, to avoid a public surrender of the Democrats Holy Grail legislation.

One thing is for sure: none of this has to do with the will of We The People!

Obamacare Alert 101

How bad do they want this? Is it out of compassion? Is it good for the American people who are too stupid (58% poll hell no!)to know what is good for them?

No, they want this because it is their Holy Grail, the pinnacle of Socialism!!

Say HELL NO to Obamacare!

Cartoon Hat Tip: Susan R

Medical Care: Also subject to law of Supply & Demand

Among the misinformation and disinformation most prevalent in the "Obamacare" debate is the concept of supply and demand. To summarize "if we don't pay for a service, that reduces the cost of the service". No, it does not as pointed out by the great economist Thoma Sowell in this NRO article.

We are already reaping the harvest of this slanted thinking in Medicare, where declining reimbursements to doctors are reducing the number of doctors who will see medicare patients!

So what is the prescription from Obamacare? Grossly stoke demand (free healthcare) while reducing payments to doctors. Reducing the payments to doctors does not lower the cost of service. It will begin to lower the number of doctors who want to remain working as doctors. In particular, it is likely to impact those doctors who have been in the profession the longest and who can afford to get out. You know, the ones with all the experience in treating patients.

A scheme only a government bureaucrat could love!

Reading the Tea Leaves on House Vote: who will switch

Wondering about the inside scoop on who might change votes in the House on Obamacare? Here is an article that takes a very very detailed look at this issue. For real political junkies only.

For the rest of you, it will make your eyes glaze over.

Calling all Democrats: Commit Suicide for Obama

The White House has made it official! Democrats are to vote for Obamacare and their political careers are expendable.

So said White House health reform director Nancy-Ann DeParle who signaled Obama's intention to push the Democratic-crafted bill under Senate rules that would overcome GOP stalling tactics. She goes on to say

more but the fact is Obamacare is so important to Obama (but not the American people) that he is willing to break senate rules on this vote.

Just say Ahhhhhhhhh while he shoves it down your throat. Don't worry if you gag.

Stop the Presses! Dems to ram Obamacare down our throats

After the farce of a Healthcare Summit today, democrats decide they were going full speed ahead to try and ram the bloated socialist Obamacare package.

Trying to show the summit as Republican led gridlock, the democrats will likely try and use the "Nuclear Option" also called reconcilliation to pass the bill through the senate on a simple majority vote rather than the super majority needed for new business bills.

The summit as seen from the democrats “The president walked into a room filled with the entire House Republican Conference. There were no preconditions, his only request was that it be open to the press so that the American people could see the exchange,” the aide e-mailed. “He answered every question with a thoughtful, comprehensive response. He spoke for over an hour and discussed substantive policy issues.

The republican message: A House Republican aide said this would be the party’s post-summit message: "Americans want to scrap the Democrats' massive bill and start over with clean sheet of paper to work on step-by-step, common-sense reforms that lower health care costs."

Wisdon from the Past

Listen to a 1961 speech by Ronald Reagan against Socialized Medicine. Over and over again, this man was so far ahead of his time. One wonders what he would have to say about things today.

Read the background story here.

Obamacare: Bigger and.........Bigger!!!!!

If you didn't much care for the version of Obama care that the election of Scott Brown ground to a halt, don't hold your breath. You ain't gonna like this any better.

Gee, the "public option" isn't there.....but it's replaced by federal regulation of insurance premiums, sure to put the private healthcare insurers down the toilet.

Lots and lots of taxes,,,,,but if all those new tax revenues come in they claim it is deficit neutral. Show of hands please for all who believe that?

Again folks: it ain't about healthcare........it's about control. Control of you and I.