The Apollo Alliance!
Mr. Jones was a long-time board member and Mr. Brown has this organization’s support for his proposed legislation called “Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act.
We recently wrote to Mr. Brown asking him to vote “NO” on the Cap & Trade Legislation; this is his reply:
Thank you for sharing your views about clean energy legislation.
Effective clean energy legislation will reduce climate pollution and promote the production of renewable energy—but most importantly it will ensure the creation of new clean energy jobs and industries. Clean energy legislation must also ensure the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and protect consumers by keeping utility rates affordable. We must work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by making America a global leader in clean energy manufacturing.
For this reason, I recently announced legislation called the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act. This legislation, which was included in the House energy bill, would support manufacturers' transition to the clean energy economy and ensure clean energy jobs are created here in the U.S. This legislation would create a revolving loan fund for small and medium size manufacturers to retool and expand facilities to produce clean energy technology and energy efficient products. It is estimated this measure will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
I appreciate hearing your input on this important topic. As clean energy legislation continues to be discussed in Congress, I will work to ensure that an unfair burden is not placed on Ohio families and businesses. I will only support legislation that creates new jobs and economic opportunities across Ohio.
Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
In other words, reading between the lines, he’s voting “yes” on Cap & Trade!
Incidentally, at the time Mr. Brown announced this legislation (June 17, 2009—how’d we miss this one OHIO???), his Senatorial website proclaimed:
"Brown Announces New Bill Providing $30 Billion in Funds to Help Auto Suppliers, Manufacturers Retool for Clean Energy Jobs"
"In Anticipation of Comprehensive Energy and Climate Legislation, Senator Joins Business, Environmental Leader to Announce Plan to Respond to Industry Credit Crisis, Invest in Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing"
“Brown was joined today by clean energy, business, and labor leaders in announcing this initiative. The IMPACT Act is supported by the Apollo Alliance, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Blue Green Alliance, Campaign for America’s Future, Environmental Defense Fund, High Road Strategies, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, MAPA Group, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Policy Matters Ohio & Ohio Apollo, Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), Shepherd Advisors, Solar Energy Industries Association, United Steelworkers, and United Automobile Workers.”
“The only way to put our existing manufacturing sector to work and to scale up to meet the new demand created by the cap-and-trade program is to have a dedicated source of funding for investments in component manufacturing,” Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Apollo Alliance said. “We are proud to support Sen. Brown’s bill, which will allow manufacturers across the country to tap into clean and efficient energy markets.”
On the same day, the Apollo Alliance website announced:
“Apollo Alliance Joins Sen. Sherrod Brown to Introduce Bill to Help Manufacturers Retool for Clean Energy Economy”
Then, as recently as September 22, 2009, the Apollo Alliance Daily Digest stated:
“Senator Sherrod Brown (D. - Ohio) wants to add money for clean energy manufacturing to the climate bill. Senator Brown’s IMPACT ACT - a plan to implement a $30 billion dollar revolving loan fund to strengthen green manufacturing - was influenced by the Apollo Alliance’s GreenMAP.”
We have a few questions for Mr. Brown. First, though, allow us to refresh your memory.
The Apollo Alliance helped draft the stimulus package that was passed earlier this year.
Harry Reid has even thanked The Apollo Alliance for helping with the final bill.
On their own website, The Apollo Alliance states, “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – Opportunities for Cities and States is a memo prepared by Apollo’s research associate, Elena Foshay, that begins to answer some critical implementation questions. The memo summarizes the clean energy, good job elements, answers a few frequently asked questions and discusses strategies for state and local leaders to implement.”
Question: Is it a coincidence then that Mr. Brown, who cast the deciding vote to pass the Stimulus,
(“The bill passed the Senate late Friday night with a vote of 60-38 after Democratic leadership held the vote open for several hours to allow one member, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, to return to Washington to cast the deciding vote)
is now working with the “architects” of that monstrosity on more legislation?
Enter SEIU and Mr. Gerald Hudson, International Executive Vice President, SEIU.
Mr. Hudson is on The Apollo Alliance Board of Directors.
Mr. Brown has a daughter that works for SEIU (sorry to drag her into this, it’s not about her).
Mr. Brown has, over his career, received $40,750 in campaign contributions from SEIU.
Question: Mr. Brown, have you sold Ohio’s vote on (more than one piece of legislation) the Cap & Trade legislation for Apollo’s verbal and financial support?
In our opinion, there seems to be an extreme conflict of interest here, Mr. Brown--do you represent Ohio or The Apollo Alliance and SEIU?
"“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”--Sir Walter Scott
Looks like Mr. Brown has some explaining to do!
P.S. Think any of Ohio's news outlets will look into this?
http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=9F3064D8-3F11-4FC5-9E3D-5FE77E102B8C
http://apolloalliance.org/press-releases-2009/apollo-alliance-joins-sen-sherrod-brown-to-introduce-bill-to-help-manufacturers-retool-for-clean-energy-economy/
http://apolloalliance.org/digest/?tag=sherrod-brown
http://apolloalliance.org/feature-articles/states-cities-and-the-stimulus-package/
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/13/congress-readies-final-vote-b-stimulus/
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Joe Biden Coming to Cleveland
Like Santa... Joe Biden is coming to town! Well Obama would be Santa -- Biden would be like Joe the Elf --but close enough and you get the point.
Biden will be in town to attend a fund raiser for Rep. John Boccieri and Rep. Zack Space. I trust these two do not need an introduction.
Being the gracious hosts that we are here in Cleveland-- of course we will give them a warm welcome!
Clear your calendar for that date and stay tuned for details.
Biden will be in town to attend a fund raiser for Rep. John Boccieri and Rep. Zack Space. I trust these two do not need an introduction.
Here's one measure of how worried Democratic strategists are about next fall's congressional elections: Freshman Rep. John Boccieri of Alliance and second-termer Zack Space of New Philadelphia are telling supporters that Vice President Joe Biden will be raising money for them in Cleveland on Oct. 26th. (Cleveland.com)
Being the gracious hosts that we are here in Cleveland-- of course we will give them a warm welcome!
Clear your calendar for that date and stay tuned for details.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Sherrod Brown pushes harder for public option while George Voinovich warns of "gag order"
Was hoping not to have to post and have a nice weekend, but this story was just posted on:
www.cleveland.com
and we felt it was too important to let go by.
Time to step up the calls/emails/letters OHIO!
Sherrod Brown pushes harder for public option while George Voinovich warns of "gag order"
By Stephen Koff, The Plain Dealer
October 02, 2009, 6:05PM
With Sabrina Eaton
Washington, D.C. -- Ohio's two U.S. senators re-entered the health care debate Friday, as usual from different perspectives, with Democrat Sherrod Brown petitioning colleagues to include a government insurance option while Republican George Voinovich said he worried about benefit cuts to seniors.
Brown is seeking other senators' signatures for a letter he'll give to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid next week. "We are concerned that -- absent a competitive and continuous public insurance option -- health reform legislation will not produce nationwide access and ongoing cost containment," the letter says. "For that reason, we are asking for your leadership on ensuring that the merged health reform bill contains a public insurance option."
Voinovich voiced concern about a different aspect of the proposed health care package, which would save money in part by ending extra payments the government gives to private insurance plans for covering health care for senior citizens.
About a quarter of the nation's seniors are in these plans, called Medicare Advantage, and the plans get more taxpayer money than traditional Medicare pays its providers. In turn, Advantage plans often provide additional services such as vision or dental care. Some insurers say they might have to cut services or go out of business if the government pares back its subsidies. Dueling government studies and testimony suggest that both sides could be right -- that Advantage plans are not as cost-effective for taxpayers as Congress originally planned, but that the plans might pare back services if cut.
Humana, Inc., a leading insurer, recently advised its Advantage patients to contact lawmakers to state their concerns about potential cuts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in turn told providers to stop sending communications that could mislead seniors.
"Seniors on Medicare should not be subjected to misleading information about their Medicare benefits," HHS' Nick Papas told the Associated Press. He said that "certain communications from a major insurance company" may have violated regulations.
Voinovich on Friday joined the complaints of other Republican lawmakers, some of whom have vowed to hold up nominations of President Barack Obama's health nominees because of what they say is a gag order on insurers.
"I don't see how Medicare's 'gag order' helps seniors," Voinovich said. "Over the past several weeks, I have talked to many Ohio seniors who are very happy with their Medicare Advantage coverage and who deserve to know if the benefits they are currently receiving are going to disappear. The way I see it, this is a violation of First Amendment rights, and I hope that the Secretary will consider reversing the Department's decision."
Also on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Moreland Hills, Ohio, to help Democrats raise money for upcoming congressional elections. She told The Plain Dealer in a telephone interview that she expects the final health care package to include a public insurance option.
"We will have a bill that lowers costs, improves quality, expands coverage and retains choice," Pelosi said. "If you like what you have, you can keep it. That can only happen if we pass this bill. The current system is unsustainable."
www.cleveland.com
and we felt it was too important to let go by.
Time to step up the calls/emails/letters OHIO!
Sherrod Brown pushes harder for public option while George Voinovich warns of "gag order"
By Stephen Koff, The Plain Dealer
October 02, 2009, 6:05PM
With Sabrina Eaton
Washington, D.C. -- Ohio's two U.S. senators re-entered the health care debate Friday, as usual from different perspectives, with Democrat Sherrod Brown petitioning colleagues to include a government insurance option while Republican George Voinovich said he worried about benefit cuts to seniors.
Brown is seeking other senators' signatures for a letter he'll give to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid next week. "We are concerned that -- absent a competitive and continuous public insurance option -- health reform legislation will not produce nationwide access and ongoing cost containment," the letter says. "For that reason, we are asking for your leadership on ensuring that the merged health reform bill contains a public insurance option."
Voinovich voiced concern about a different aspect of the proposed health care package, which would save money in part by ending extra payments the government gives to private insurance plans for covering health care for senior citizens.
About a quarter of the nation's seniors are in these plans, called Medicare Advantage, and the plans get more taxpayer money than traditional Medicare pays its providers. In turn, Advantage plans often provide additional services such as vision or dental care. Some insurers say they might have to cut services or go out of business if the government pares back its subsidies. Dueling government studies and testimony suggest that both sides could be right -- that Advantage plans are not as cost-effective for taxpayers as Congress originally planned, but that the plans might pare back services if cut.
Humana, Inc., a leading insurer, recently advised its Advantage patients to contact lawmakers to state their concerns about potential cuts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in turn told providers to stop sending communications that could mislead seniors.
"Seniors on Medicare should not be subjected to misleading information about their Medicare benefits," HHS' Nick Papas told the Associated Press. He said that "certain communications from a major insurance company" may have violated regulations.
Voinovich on Friday joined the complaints of other Republican lawmakers, some of whom have vowed to hold up nominations of President Barack Obama's health nominees because of what they say is a gag order on insurers.
"I don't see how Medicare's 'gag order' helps seniors," Voinovich said. "Over the past several weeks, I have talked to many Ohio seniors who are very happy with their Medicare Advantage coverage and who deserve to know if the benefits they are currently receiving are going to disappear. The way I see it, this is a violation of First Amendment rights, and I hope that the Secretary will consider reversing the Department's decision."
Also on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Moreland Hills, Ohio, to help Democrats raise money for upcoming congressional elections. She told The Plain Dealer in a telephone interview that she expects the final health care package to include a public insurance option.
"We will have a bill that lowers costs, improves quality, expands coverage and retains choice," Pelosi said. "If you like what you have, you can keep it. That can only happen if we pass this bill. The current system is unsustainable."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Like the final vote for the Stimulus, Sherrod Brown's vote will determine the outcome of the "Cap & Trade/Pollution Reduction Bill"
We all want a clean, healthy environment for ourselves and for the future of our children, but at what cost. As you read this article, please remember that “The Obama administration has privately concluded that a cap and trade law would cost American taxpayers up to $200 billion a year, the equivalent of hiking personal income taxes by about 15 percent.“
“A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration's estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.”
Mr. Brown might have an extra $1761 just laying around to fork over, but we don't, do you?
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/61057-climate-bill-hinges-on-ohios-sherrod-brown
THE HILL
Climate bill hinges on Ohio’s Sen. Brown
By Alexander Bolton - 10/01/09 06:14 AM ET
Sen. Sherrod Brown holds the key to delivering a bloc of Midwestern senators crucial to passing climate change legislation that faces strong bipartisan opposition.
The Ohio liberal has been working diligently behind the scenes on behalf of manufacturers, seeking concessions from two Democrats who share his views on most other policy matters.
Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) released a draft of their legislation Wednesday, and already Brown has won a few battles. But he and senators from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan say there’s still work to be done. Leaving their concerns unanswered could derail one of the Obama administration’s highest priorities.
“They understand a couple big things about this,” Brown said of Boxer and Kerry during a sit-down interview with The Hill. “They don’t get the votes from Midwestern industrial-state senators unless manufacturing is a major component of this.”
Reducing carbon emissions is a major objective for Democrats. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said the Senate bill, which seeks to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, puts Americans “one step closer” to being more energy-independent.
Republicans have blasted that approach as an energy tax that would cost jobs. Complicating matters is the handful of Democrats who have echoed that complaint. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday called the Boxer bill a “disappointing step in the wrong direction.”
In early May, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) predicted climate change legislation would be more difficult to pass than healthcare reform, noting that the biggest obstacle would come from Democrats in states “down the middle of this country.”
Brown is weighing all of that while answering questions in his office on the seventh floor of the Hart Building, which until last year was occupied by then-Sen. Obama (D-Ill.).
For starters, he thinks the Senate climate change bill needs to invest significantly more to help U.S. manufacturers, which face a competitive disadvantage with companies in China and other countries with less strict environmental rules.
Brown wants Boxer to increase the size of rebates to manufacturers that consume large amounts of energy, and give more assistance to small- and midsized manufacturers trying to retool their businesses to compete in the clean-energy economy.
Perhaps most controversially, Brown wants the Senate to consider imposing tariffs on foreign competitors operating in countries with lax rules for greenhouse gas emissions.
“Carbon dioxide emissions expand if a company closes down in Toledo, Ohio, and moves to Shanghai, where the emissions standards are weaker,” he said. Brown describes this phenomenon as “carbon leakage.”
Democrats such as Sens. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Carl Levin (Mich.) and Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) say they have the same concerns as Brown and acknowledge that he has been a leading advocate for industrial states.
“His voice on manufacturing is really important,” said Stabenow of Brown.
Levin estimated the votes of six to 10 Democrats and “a few Republicans” could depend on what help is given to domestic manufacturers.
“A number of us that come from manufacturing states are determined that those states are going to be treated fairly,” said Levin. “We’ve got to bear this responsibility for the sake of the environment, but it’s got to be shared fairly. I agree with Sherrod Brown.”
Ten Senate Democrats wrote a letter to Obama in August urging that “clean-energy legislation not only address the crisis of climate change, but include strong provisions to ensure the strength and viability of domestic manufacturing.”
Several of those lawmakers said they were reviewing Boxer’s climate bill on Wednesday.
The climate debate presents a tricky problem for Brown, who won election to the Senate in 2006 by campaigning as a liberal populist. He is the most liberal senator from Ohio since the late Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio), who spent his career fighting what he viewed as the excesses of business.
While Brown is a solid supporter of labor unions, he has teamed up with the business community to protect the interests of manufacturing companies in the climate change debate. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) wrote a letter to Brown last week endorsing his proposal to set up a $30 billion Manufacturing Revolving Loan Fund to help small- and medium-sized businesses restructure their production lines for a new economic landscape.
But Brown says protecting manufacturers is a necessary step to protect workers.
“Climate change has to be substantively a jobs bill and has to be sold as a jobs bill,” said Brown.
Ohio is the quintessential presidential battleground state, and political experts say that Brown’s 2006 election was greatly helped by the growing unpopularity of former President George W. Bush as well as ethics scandals that rocked the Ohio Republican establishment.
Since winning election, Brown has tacked somewhat toward the center of the political spectrum, said Paul Beck, a political scientist at Ohio State University specializing in electoral politics.
“He’s had to represent the whole state, and he’s had a very visible presence in rural areas in small towns,” said Beck, who added: “Ohio is very middle-of-the-road.”
While climate change legislation isn’t popular among many Republicans, Democrats from industrial parts of the state such as Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown are worried that new restrictions will add to the pressures on communities that have struggled mightily as manufacturing jobs have steadily eroded.
“Climate change is a tough issue for Ohio Democrats,” said Beck. “In his heart of hearts, Brown would want to be more supportive of the Democrats’ plans, but the electorate is holding him back.”
Brown acknowledges this, to an extent. He says that he primarily sees climate change as “a moral issue for the next number of generations, but my second-biggest interest is that it’s really about jobs and manufacturing — we can do it that way.”
“A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration's estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.”
Mr. Brown might have an extra $1761 just laying around to fork over, but we don't, do you?
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/61057-climate-bill-hinges-on-ohios-sherrod-brown
THE HILL
Climate bill hinges on Ohio’s Sen. Brown
By Alexander Bolton - 10/01/09 06:14 AM ET
Sen. Sherrod Brown holds the key to delivering a bloc of Midwestern senators crucial to passing climate change legislation that faces strong bipartisan opposition.
The Ohio liberal has been working diligently behind the scenes on behalf of manufacturers, seeking concessions from two Democrats who share his views on most other policy matters.
Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) released a draft of their legislation Wednesday, and already Brown has won a few battles. But he and senators from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan say there’s still work to be done. Leaving their concerns unanswered could derail one of the Obama administration’s highest priorities.
“They understand a couple big things about this,” Brown said of Boxer and Kerry during a sit-down interview with The Hill. “They don’t get the votes from Midwestern industrial-state senators unless manufacturing is a major component of this.”
Reducing carbon emissions is a major objective for Democrats. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said the Senate bill, which seeks to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, puts Americans “one step closer” to being more energy-independent.
Republicans have blasted that approach as an energy tax that would cost jobs. Complicating matters is the handful of Democrats who have echoed that complaint. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday called the Boxer bill a “disappointing step in the wrong direction.”
In early May, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) predicted climate change legislation would be more difficult to pass than healthcare reform, noting that the biggest obstacle would come from Democrats in states “down the middle of this country.”
Brown is weighing all of that while answering questions in his office on the seventh floor of the Hart Building, which until last year was occupied by then-Sen. Obama (D-Ill.).
For starters, he thinks the Senate climate change bill needs to invest significantly more to help U.S. manufacturers, which face a competitive disadvantage with companies in China and other countries with less strict environmental rules.
Brown wants Boxer to increase the size of rebates to manufacturers that consume large amounts of energy, and give more assistance to small- and midsized manufacturers trying to retool their businesses to compete in the clean-energy economy.
Perhaps most controversially, Brown wants the Senate to consider imposing tariffs on foreign competitors operating in countries with lax rules for greenhouse gas emissions.
“Carbon dioxide emissions expand if a company closes down in Toledo, Ohio, and moves to Shanghai, where the emissions standards are weaker,” he said. Brown describes this phenomenon as “carbon leakage.”
Democrats such as Sens. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Carl Levin (Mich.) and Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) say they have the same concerns as Brown and acknowledge that he has been a leading advocate for industrial states.
“His voice on manufacturing is really important,” said Stabenow of Brown.
Levin estimated the votes of six to 10 Democrats and “a few Republicans” could depend on what help is given to domestic manufacturers.
“A number of us that come from manufacturing states are determined that those states are going to be treated fairly,” said Levin. “We’ve got to bear this responsibility for the sake of the environment, but it’s got to be shared fairly. I agree with Sherrod Brown.”
Ten Senate Democrats wrote a letter to Obama in August urging that “clean-energy legislation not only address the crisis of climate change, but include strong provisions to ensure the strength and viability of domestic manufacturing.”
Several of those lawmakers said they were reviewing Boxer’s climate bill on Wednesday.
The climate debate presents a tricky problem for Brown, who won election to the Senate in 2006 by campaigning as a liberal populist. He is the most liberal senator from Ohio since the late Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio), who spent his career fighting what he viewed as the excesses of business.
While Brown is a solid supporter of labor unions, he has teamed up with the business community to protect the interests of manufacturing companies in the climate change debate. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) wrote a letter to Brown last week endorsing his proposal to set up a $30 billion Manufacturing Revolving Loan Fund to help small- and medium-sized businesses restructure their production lines for a new economic landscape.
But Brown says protecting manufacturers is a necessary step to protect workers.
“Climate change has to be substantively a jobs bill and has to be sold as a jobs bill,” said Brown.
Ohio is the quintessential presidential battleground state, and political experts say that Brown’s 2006 election was greatly helped by the growing unpopularity of former President George W. Bush as well as ethics scandals that rocked the Ohio Republican establishment.
Since winning election, Brown has tacked somewhat toward the center of the political spectrum, said Paul Beck, a political scientist at Ohio State University specializing in electoral politics.
“He’s had to represent the whole state, and he’s had a very visible presence in rural areas in small towns,” said Beck, who added: “Ohio is very middle-of-the-road.”
While climate change legislation isn’t popular among many Republicans, Democrats from industrial parts of the state such as Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown are worried that new restrictions will add to the pressures on communities that have struggled mightily as manufacturing jobs have steadily eroded.
“Climate change is a tough issue for Ohio Democrats,” said Beck. “In his heart of hearts, Brown would want to be more supportive of the Democrats’ plans, but the electorate is holding him back.”
Brown acknowledges this, to an extent. He says that he primarily sees climate change as “a moral issue for the next number of generations, but my second-biggest interest is that it’s really about jobs and manufacturing — we can do it that way.”
GOP members of the Senate Finance Committee must Walk Out Now!
As we all know the health care fight in the Senate Finance Committee is heating up. On Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa won approval for his legislation that requires members of Congress to access health insurance through the exchange that would be created by the health care reform legislation. Other than the Grassley amendment no gains were made and it may have actually gotten worse. Complicating this fight is the so-called "superstar" of the GOP, Governor Bobby Jindal (LA) encouraging the GOP to work with the Democrats. There are still loopholes that will allow tax-payer funded abortions and access for coverage of illegal immigrants -- so our work is far from over! Below you will find our next critical course of action...
WALK OUT NOW!
Stop Government Takeover of Health Care!
Greetings Patriots, Because "We the People" have spoken on deaf ears in Washington, because when we arrived in D.C. to raise our voices, they adjourned and went home. We have had enough of playing by their rules, we prefer to honor the Constitution. This is why we ask our Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee to WALK OUT NOW! This is what you can do to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us!
- Call the Republican Senate Finance Committee Members and tell the to WALK OUT NOW! (Information is listed below. Please scroll down.)
- Email the Chiefs of Staff of Republican Senate Finance Committee Members and tell them you want the Senator to WALK OUT NOW. (Information is listed below. Please scroll down.)
- Email all Chiefs of Staff of the entire Senate Finance Committee and tell them why you do not want the government to take over health care.
- No Government Run Health Care
- No Mandate
- No Reconciliation/Fast Track (using reconciliation for health care reform is corrupt)
Let it be known, that conservative citizens all across the United States demand that the Republican Senators in the Senate Finance Committee stop negotiating and Walk Out for America. We will support this effort and will support the Republican members of the Committee.
Will you please do your part by calling and demand they walk out today?
When calling and emailing, remember the three simple messages listed above. Be sure to let the Chief of Staff know who you are in your community, whether you are a business owner, community leader, teacher, nurse, policeman, fireman, veteran, etc. and why government run health care is not good for you and your family, as well as not good for America.Patriots, it is up to us to stop the government takeover of health care. Please do your part by emailing and calling today.
Time is of the essence and we need to melt the phone lines and email accounts NOW!
We are in this together and together, we are making a difference! All members of the Senate Finance Committee are listed below. We have made it easy for you by giving you the numbers for each of their DC offices, as well as the local district offices. To email them, please click on their name and it will take you to their website. Once on the website, just click on "Contact" and you will be taken to the email form.
Chiefs of Staff Personal Email Addresses
Republican Members of Senate Finance Committee
CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA David Young
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT Jace Johnson
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME John Richter
JON KYL, AZ Tim Glazewski
JIM BUNNING, KY Blake Brickman
MIKE CRAPO, ID Pete Fischer
PAT ROBERTS, KS Jackie Cottrell
JOHN ENSIGN, NV John Lopez
MIKE ENZI, WY Flip McConnaughey
JOHN CORNYN, TX Beth Jafari
* Democrat Members of Senate Finance Committee *
MAX BAUCUS, MT Jonathan Selib
jonathan_selib@baucus.senate.gov
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV Kerry Ates
kerry_ates@rockefeller.senate.gov
KENT CONRAD, ND Sara Garland
sara_garland@conrad.senate.gov
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM Stephen Ward
Stephen_Ward@Bingman.Senate.Gov
JOHN F. KERRY, MA David McKean
David_mckean@kerry.senate.gov
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR Elizabeth Hurley Burks
elizabeth_burks@lincoln.senate.gov
RON WYDEN, OR Josh Kardon
joshua_kardon@wyden.senate.gov
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY Mike Lynch
michael_lynch@schumer.senate.gov
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI Amanda Ranteria
amanda_ranteria@stabenow.senate.gov
MARIA CANTWELL, WA Katharine Lister
katharine_lister@cantwell.senate.gov
BILL NELSON, FL Pete Mitchell
peter_mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov
ROBERT MENENDEZ, NJ Dan O'Brien
daniel_obrien@menendez.senate.gov
THOMAS CARPER, DE James Reilly
james_reilly@carper.senate.gov
Want To Go the Extra Mile? If you have time to go the extra mile, please call these Committee members local district offices. Every phone call counts!
Democrats
MAX BAUCUS, MT
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-2651 Fax: (202) 224-9412
Billings, MT Phone: (406) 657-6790
Bozeman, MT Phone: (406) 586-6104
Butte, MT Phone: (406) 782-8700
Great Falls, MT Phone: (406) 761-1574
Helena, MT Phone: (406) 449-5480
Kalispell, MT Phone: (406) 756-1150
Missoula, MT Phone: (406) 329-3123
Glendive, MT Phone: (406) 365-7002
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-6472 Fax: (202) 224-7665
Beckley, WV Phone: (304) 253-9704 Fax: (304) 253-2578
Charleston, WV Phone: (304) 347- : (304) 347-5371
Fairmont, WV Phone: (304) 367-0122 Fax: (304) 367-0822
Martinsburg, WV Phone: (304) 262-9285 Fax: (304) 262-9288
KENT CONRAD, ND
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-2043 Fax: (202) 224-7776
Minot, ND Phone: (701) 852-0703 Fax: (701) 838-8196
Grand Forks, ND Phone: (701) 775-9601 Fax: (701) 746-1990
Bismarck, ND Phone: (701) 258-4648 Fax: (701) 258-1254
Fargo, ND Phone: (701) 232-8030 Fax: (701) 232-6449
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
Washngton, D.C. Phone: (202) 224-5521
Farmington, NM Phone: (505) 325-5030
Las Cruces, NM Phone: (575) 523-6561
Roswell, NM Phone: (575) 622-7113
Santa Fe, NM Phone: (505) 988-6647
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-2742 Fax: (202) 224-8525
Springfield, MA Phone: (413) 785-4610 Fax: (413) 736-1049
Fall River, MA Phone: (508) 677-0522 Fax: (508) 677-0275
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
Washington, DC Phone: (202)224-4843 Fax: (202)228-1371
Dumas, AR Phone: (870)382-1023 Fax: (870)382-1026
Jonesboro, AR Phone: (870) 910-6896 Fax: (870)910-6898
Fayetteville, AR Phone: (479) 251-1224 Fax: (479)251-1410
Texarkana, AR Phone: (870) 774-3106 Fax: (870) 774-7627
RoN WYDEN, OR
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-5244 Fax: (202) 228-2717
Bend, OR Phone: (541) 330-9142
Eugene, OR Phone: (541) 431-0229
La Grande, OR Phone: (541) 962-7691
Medford, OR Phone: (541) 858-5122
Portland, OR Phone: (503) 326-7525
Salem, OR Phone: (503) 589-4555
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
Washington, DC Phone: (202)24-6542 Fax: (202)228-3027
Albany, NY Phone: 518.431.4070 Fax: 518.431.4076
Binghamton, NY Phone: 607.772.6792 Fax: 607.772.8124
Buffalo, NY Phone: 716.846.4111 Fax: 716.846.4113
Hudson Valley, NY Phone: 914.734.1532 Fax: 914.734.1673
Long Island, NY Phone: 631.753.0978 Fax: 631.753.0997
Rochester, NY Phone: 585.263.5866 Fax: 585.263.3173
Syracuse, NY Phone: 315.423.5471 Fax: 315.423.5185
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-4822
Detroit, MI Phone: (313) 961-4330
Grand Rapids, MI Phone: (616) 975-0052
Flint, MI Phone: (810) 720-4172
Marquette, MI Phone: (906) 228-8756
Traverse City, MI Phone: (231) 929-1031
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
Washington, DC Phone: 202-224-3441 Fax: 202-228-0514
Seattle, WA Phone: 206-220-6400 Fax: 206-220-6404
Vancouver, WA Phone: 360-696-7838 Fax: 360-696-7844
S
pokane, WA Phone: 509-353-2507 Fax: 509-353-2547Tacoma, WA Phone: 253-572-2281 Fax: 253-572-5879
Richland, WA Phone: (509) 946-8106 Fax: (509) 946-6937
Everett, WA Phone: 425-303-0114 Fax: 425-303-8351
BILL NELSON, FL
Washington, DC Phone: 202-224-5274 Fax: 202-228-2183
Coral Gables, FL Phone: 305-536-5999 Fax: 305-536-5991
Tampa, FL Phone: 813-225-7040 Fax: 813-225-7050
West Palm Beach, FL Phone: 561-514-0189 Fax: 561-514-4078
Tallahassee, FL Phone: 850-942-8415 Fax: 850-942-8450
Jacksonville, FL Phone: 904-346-4500 Fax: 904-346-4506
Davie, FL Phone: 954-693-4851 Fax: 954-693-4862
Fort Myers, FL Phone: 239-334-7760 Fax: 239-334-7710
ROBERT MENENDEZ, NJ
Washington, DC Phone: 202.224.4744 Fax: 202.228.2197
Barrington, NJ Phone: 856.757.5353 Fax: 856.546.1526
THOMAS CARPER, DE
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-2441 Fax: (202) 228-2190
W
ilmington, DE Phone: (302) 573-6291 Fax: (302) 573-6434Georgetown, DE Phone: (302) 856-7690 Fax: (302) 856-3001
Republicans
CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-3744 Fax: (202) 224-6020
Council Bluffs, IA Phone: (712) 322-7103 Fax: (712) 322-7196
Davenport, IA Phone: (563) 322-4331 Fax: (563) 322-8552
Des Moines, IA Phone: (515) 288-1145 Fax: (515) 288-5097
Sioux City, IA Phone: (712) 233-1860 Fax: (712) 233-1634
Waterloo, IA Phone: (319) 232-6657 Fax: (319) 232-9965
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-5251 Fax: (202) 224-6331
Provo, UT Phone: (801) 375-7881 Fax: (801) 374-5005
St. George, UT Phone: (435) 634-1795 Fax: (435) 634-1796
Ogden, UT Phone: (801) 625-5672 Fax: (801) 394-4503
Cedar City, UT Phone: (435) 586-8435 Fax: (435) 586-2147
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-5344 Fax: (202) 224-1946
Augusta, ME Phone: (207) 622-8292 Fax: (207) 622-7295
Bangor, ME Phone: (207) 945-0432 Fax: (207) 941-9525
Biddeford, ME Phone: (207) 282-4144 Fax: (207) 284-2358
Portland, ME Phone: (207) 874-0883 Fax: (207) 874-7631
Presque Isle, ME Phone: (207) 764-5124 Fax: (207) 764-6420
JON KYL, AZ
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207
Tucson, AZ Phone: (520) 575-8633 Fax: (520) 797-3232
JIM BUNNING, KY
Washington, DC Phone: 202.224.4343 Fax: 202.228.1373
Hopkinsville, KY Phone: 270.885.1212 Fax: 270.881.3975
Owensboro, KY Phone: 270.689.9085 Fax: 270.689.915
Louisville, KY Phone: 502.582.5341 Fax: 502.582.5344
Hazard, KY Phone: 606.435.2390 Fax: 606.435.1761
Lexington, KY Phone: 859.219.2239 Fax: 859.219.3269
MIKE CRAPO, ID
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-6142 Fax: (202) 228-1375
Caldwell, ID Phone: (208) 455-0360 Fax: (208) 455-0358
Coeur d' Alene, ID Phone: (208) 664-5490 Fax: (208) 664-0889
Idaho Falls, ID Phone: (208) 522-9779 Fax: (208) 529-8367
Lewiston, ID Phone: (208) 743-1492 Fax: (208) 743-6484
Pocatello, ID Phone: (208) 236-6775 Fax: (208) 236-6935
Twin Falls, ID Phone: (208) 734-2515 Fax: (208) 733-0414
PAT ROBERTS, KS
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-4774 Fax: (202) 224-3514
Topeka, KS Phone: (785) 295-2745 Fax: (785) 235-3665
Wichita, KS Phone: (316) 263-0416 Fax: (316) 263-0273
Dodge City, KS Phone: (620) 227-2244 Fax: (620) 227-2264
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
Washington, D.C. Phone: (202) 224-6244 Fax: (202) 228-2193
Reno, NV Phone: (775) 686-5770 Fax: (775) 686-5729
Carson City, NV Phone: (775) 885-9111 Fax: (775) 883-5590
MIKE ENZI, WY
Washington, DC Phone: (202) 224-3424 Fax: (202) 228-0359
Cheyenne, WY Phone: (307) 772-2477 Fax: (307) 772-2480
Cody, WY Phone: (307) 527-9444 Fax: (307) 527-9476
Jackson, WY Phone: (307) 739-9507 Fax: (307) 739-9520
Casper, WY Phone: (307) 261-6572 Fax: (307) 261-6574
JOHN CORNYN, TX
Washington, DC Phone: 202-224-2934 Fax: 202-228-2856
Harlingen, TX Phone: 956-423-0162 Fax: 956-423-0193
Lubbock, TX Phone: 806-472-7533 Fax: 806-472-7536
San Antonio, TX Phone: 210-224-7485 Fax: 210-224-8569
Austin, TX Phone: 512-469-6034 Fax: 512-469-6020
Tyler, TX Phone: 903-593-0902 Fax: 903-593-0920
Dallas, TX Phone: 972-239-1310 Fax: 972-239-2110
Also, please do not forget to forward this email onto everyone in your address book or a minimum of at least 5 people. We need to grow the grassroots army! Together, we can make a difference!
You are the heart and soul of the Tea Party Movement. Thank you for promoting the causes of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets with us!
Your Tea Party Patriots National Coordinator Team
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
We know this is a really long article, but it is extremely important--Senate could vote on Public Option as soon as next Thursday!
These 2 articles are definitely worth your time. After you have read them, please, take some time to write/call/email any/all Senators and tell them "NO PUBLIC OPTION".
You can do a mass mailing at:
http://www.emailsenators.com/
Send emails to both Dems & Republicans (Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, is on the fence right now).
FIRST ARTICLE:
- The Foundry - http://blog.heritage.org -
Morning Bell: Government-Run Health Care by Next Thursday?
Posted By Conn Carroll On September 30, 2009 @ 8:58 am In Health Care | 40 Comments
The Washington Post front page blares today: “Prospects for Public Option Dim in Senate.” [1] Don’t believe it. Yes, the Senate Finance Committee did vote down two amendments that each would have added a government-run insurance plan to the committee’s health care bill. But two key Democrats who voted against Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s (D-WV) public plan, Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Tom Carper (D-DE), voted for Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) version.
According to an independent analysis [2] of Senate Democrat public statements on the public option, that raises the number of Democrats on record supporting a public option from 47 to 49. Moreover, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairmen of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, told the liberal “Bill Press Radio Show” yesterday that Democrats “comfortably” [3] have the remaining votes to reach 51 and pass a public plan once the debate moves to the House floor.
But what about Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) claim yesterday that, “No one has been able to show me how we can count up to 60 votes with a public option.” That may be true, but it is also irrelevant. The question is not whether Democrats can muster 60 votes to pass Obamacare; they only need 51 votes to do that. The only time the number 60 will be relevant is when the Senate votes on whether to end debate and vote on the final bill. This is a separate question. We can see Senators from red states like Ben Nelson (D-NE), Blanch Lincoln (D-AR), and Kent Conrad (D-ND) voting against an amendment creating a public option. But voting with Republicans against their party and against their President to support a Republican filibuster? That would take a lot of courage. It would guarantee that these Democrats would face fierce opposition from their leftist bases back home. Just ask the left’s new whip for the public option, Michael Moore. Speaking to women’s groups and unions in Washington, DC, yesterday, Moore warned [4]:
To the Democrats in Congress who don’t quite get it: I want to offer a personal pledge. I – and a lot of other people – have every intention of removing you from Congress in the next election if you stand in the way of health care legislation that the people want. That is not a hollow or idle threat. We will come to your district and we will work against you, first in the primary and, if we have to, in the general election.
Moore is, of course, the perfect spokesman for the public option. He is in Washington promoting his new film “Capitalism: A Love Story” in which Moore argues that “Capitalism is an evil, and you can’t regulate evil.” [5] A more succinct summation of theory behind the public option does not exist. While supporters of the plan, including the White House, insist that the purpose of the public option is to bring “choice and competition” to the health care, nothing could be further from the truth. As Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anthony Weiner (D-NY) [6] Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein, and Noble Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman have all candidly admitted, the public option is nothing more than a Trojan horse for a single-payer, government-run health care system. [7] Moore even told Rolling Stone magazine [8] this summer:
If a true public option is enacted — and Obama knows this — it will eventually bring about a single payer system, because the profit-making insurance companies won’t be able to compete with a government run plan and make the profits they want to make.
So just how close are we to being inflicted with the Obama/Moore dream of anti-capitalist, competition-free, government-run health care? Closer than many realize. Multiple sources on the Hill have told The Foundry [9] that as early as next week, the Senate could be debating Obamacare. Senate Majority Leader Reid has stated an intention to take the HELP Committee product and merge it with the Senate Finance Committee markup that is expected to be over by this Thursday or Friday. Their plan [10] is to proceed to a House passed non-health care bill to provide a shell of legislation to give Obamacare a ride to the House and then straight to the President’s desk.
Quick Hits:
* According to a Government Accountability Office, state and federal officials failed to detect $65 million in Medicaid prescription drug fraud [11], including thousands of prescriptions written for dead patients or by people posing as doctors during 2006 and 2007.
* A historic bridge at Bill Clinton’s Presidential Library is slated to get $2.5 million [12] of federal stimulus money.
* The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank with close ties to President Barack Obama [13], is releasing a report calling on Obama to further break his ‘no tax increase on middle-class families’ pledge.
* A former ACORN field director testified in court [14] yesterday about extra payments to Las Vegas canvassers for bringing in 21 new registration cards in a day.
* In 2008, the median household income in the United States plummeted 3.6% from the year before, and the percentage of people living in poverty soared to an 11-year high [15], according to U.S. Census data.
Article printed from The Foundry: http://blog.heritage.org
SECOND ARTICLE:
Congress’s Secret Plan to Pass Obamacare
by Brian Darling (more by this author)
Posted 09/29/2009 ET
Updated 09/29/2009 ET
President Obama and liberals in Congress seem intent on passing comprehensive health care reform, even though polls suggest it is unpopular with the American people. And despite the potential political risks to moderate Democrats, the President and left-wing leadership in Congress are determined to pass the measure using a rare parliamentary procedure.
The Senate plans to attach Obamacare to a House-passed non-healthcare bill. Ironically, nobody knows what that legislation looks like, because it has not yet been written. Yet many members plan to rubber-stamp Obamacare without reading or understanding the bill.
The Senate Finance Committee worked furiously last week to mark up a “conceptual framework” of health care reform. The committee actually rejected an amendment by Sen. Jim Bunning (R.-Ky.) to mandate that the bill text and a final cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) be publicly available at least 72 hours before the Finance Committee votes on final passage.
The following four-step scenario describes one way liberals plan to work the rules in their favor to get Obamacare through the Senate:
Step 1: The Senate Finance Committee must first approve the marked-up version of Sen. Max Baucus’ (D.-Mont.) conceptual framework. Then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) can say that two Senate Committees have passed a health care bill, which will allow him to take extraordinary steps to get the bill on the Senate floor.
During the mark-up last week, members had difficulty offering amendments and trying to make constructive changed because they lacked actual legislative text and Baucus made unilateral last minute changes. For example, the AP reported that “under pressure from fellow Democrats, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee decided to commit an additional $50 billion over a decade toward making insurance more affordable for working-class families.”
Step 2: Sen. Reid will take the final product of the Senate Finance Committee and merge it with the product of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which passed on a party-line vote in July.
Usually, a bill is voted out of committee, and then the Senate takes up the final product of the committee so that all 100 senators can have a hand in the process. With some help from the Obama administration, Reid will decide what aspects of the HELP and Finance Committee bills to keep.
Step 3: Now, Obamacare will be ready to hitch a ride on an unrelated bill from the House. Sen. Reid will move to proceed to H.R. 1586, a bill to impose a tax on bonuses received by certain TARP recipients. This bill was passed by the House in the wake of the AIG bonus controversy and is currently sitting on the Senate Legislative Calendar.
The move to proceed needs 60 votes to start debate. After the motion is approved, Sen. Reid will offer Obamacare as a complete substitute to the unrelated House-passed bill. This means that the entire healthcare reform effort will be included as an amendment to a TARP bill that has been collecting dust in the Senate for months.
Step 4: For this strategy to work, the proponents would need to hold together the liberal caucus of 58 Democrats (including Paul Kirk who was named last Thursday to replace Sen. Kennedy), and the two Independent senators (Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont). These members will have to all hold hands and vote against any filibuster. Once the Senate takes up the bill, only a simple majority of members will be needed for passage. It’s possible one of the endangered moderate Democrats, such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), could vote to stop a filibuster then vote against Obamacare so as not to offend angry constituents.
Once the Senate passes a bill and sends it to the House, all the House would have to do is pass the bill without changes and President Obama will be presented with his health care reform measure. If this plan does not work, the Senate and House leadership may go back to considering using reconciliation to pass the legislation.
Adopting this secret plan will not strike most Americans as a transparent, bipartisan, effective way to change how millions of Americans get their health care.
Brian Darling is director of U.S. Senate Relations at The Heritage Foundation.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33740
You can do a mass mailing at:
http://www.emailsenators.com/
Send emails to both Dems & Republicans (Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, is on the fence right now).
FIRST ARTICLE:
- The Foundry - http://blog.heritage.org -
Morning Bell: Government-Run Health Care by Next Thursday?
Posted By Conn Carroll On September 30, 2009 @ 8:58 am In Health Care | 40 Comments
The Washington Post front page blares today: “Prospects for Public Option Dim in Senate.” [1] Don’t believe it. Yes, the Senate Finance Committee did vote down two amendments that each would have added a government-run insurance plan to the committee’s health care bill. But two key Democrats who voted against Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s (D-WV) public plan, Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Tom Carper (D-DE), voted for Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) version.
According to an independent analysis [2] of Senate Democrat public statements on the public option, that raises the number of Democrats on record supporting a public option from 47 to 49. Moreover, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairmen of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, told the liberal “Bill Press Radio Show” yesterday that Democrats “comfortably” [3] have the remaining votes to reach 51 and pass a public plan once the debate moves to the House floor.
But what about Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) claim yesterday that, “No one has been able to show me how we can count up to 60 votes with a public option.” That may be true, but it is also irrelevant. The question is not whether Democrats can muster 60 votes to pass Obamacare; they only need 51 votes to do that. The only time the number 60 will be relevant is when the Senate votes on whether to end debate and vote on the final bill. This is a separate question. We can see Senators from red states like Ben Nelson (D-NE), Blanch Lincoln (D-AR), and Kent Conrad (D-ND) voting against an amendment creating a public option. But voting with Republicans against their party and against their President to support a Republican filibuster? That would take a lot of courage. It would guarantee that these Democrats would face fierce opposition from their leftist bases back home. Just ask the left’s new whip for the public option, Michael Moore. Speaking to women’s groups and unions in Washington, DC, yesterday, Moore warned [4]:
To the Democrats in Congress who don’t quite get it: I want to offer a personal pledge. I – and a lot of other people – have every intention of removing you from Congress in the next election if you stand in the way of health care legislation that the people want. That is not a hollow or idle threat. We will come to your district and we will work against you, first in the primary and, if we have to, in the general election.
Moore is, of course, the perfect spokesman for the public option. He is in Washington promoting his new film “Capitalism: A Love Story” in which Moore argues that “Capitalism is an evil, and you can’t regulate evil.” [5] A more succinct summation of theory behind the public option does not exist. While supporters of the plan, including the White House, insist that the purpose of the public option is to bring “choice and competition” to the health care, nothing could be further from the truth. As Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anthony Weiner (D-NY) [6] Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein, and Noble Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman have all candidly admitted, the public option is nothing more than a Trojan horse for a single-payer, government-run health care system. [7] Moore even told Rolling Stone magazine [8] this summer:
If a true public option is enacted — and Obama knows this — it will eventually bring about a single payer system, because the profit-making insurance companies won’t be able to compete with a government run plan and make the profits they want to make.
So just how close are we to being inflicted with the Obama/Moore dream of anti-capitalist, competition-free, government-run health care? Closer than many realize. Multiple sources on the Hill have told The Foundry [9] that as early as next week, the Senate could be debating Obamacare. Senate Majority Leader Reid has stated an intention to take the HELP Committee product and merge it with the Senate Finance Committee markup that is expected to be over by this Thursday or Friday. Their plan [10] is to proceed to a House passed non-health care bill to provide a shell of legislation to give Obamacare a ride to the House and then straight to the President’s desk.
Quick Hits:
* According to a Government Accountability Office, state and federal officials failed to detect $65 million in Medicaid prescription drug fraud [11], including thousands of prescriptions written for dead patients or by people posing as doctors during 2006 and 2007.
* A historic bridge at Bill Clinton’s Presidential Library is slated to get $2.5 million [12] of federal stimulus money.
* The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank with close ties to President Barack Obama [13], is releasing a report calling on Obama to further break his ‘no tax increase on middle-class families’ pledge.
* A former ACORN field director testified in court [14] yesterday about extra payments to Las Vegas canvassers for bringing in 21 new registration cards in a day.
* In 2008, the median household income in the United States plummeted 3.6% from the year before, and the percentage of people living in poverty soared to an 11-year high [15], according to U.S. Census data.
Article printed from The Foundry: http://blog.heritage.org
SECOND ARTICLE:
Congress’s Secret Plan to Pass Obamacare
by Brian Darling (more by this author)
Posted 09/29/2009 ET
Updated 09/29/2009 ET
President Obama and liberals in Congress seem intent on passing comprehensive health care reform, even though polls suggest it is unpopular with the American people. And despite the potential political risks to moderate Democrats, the President and left-wing leadership in Congress are determined to pass the measure using a rare parliamentary procedure.
The Senate plans to attach Obamacare to a House-passed non-healthcare bill. Ironically, nobody knows what that legislation looks like, because it has not yet been written. Yet many members plan to rubber-stamp Obamacare without reading or understanding the bill.
The Senate Finance Committee worked furiously last week to mark up a “conceptual framework” of health care reform. The committee actually rejected an amendment by Sen. Jim Bunning (R.-Ky.) to mandate that the bill text and a final cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) be publicly available at least 72 hours before the Finance Committee votes on final passage.
The following four-step scenario describes one way liberals plan to work the rules in their favor to get Obamacare through the Senate:
Step 1: The Senate Finance Committee must first approve the marked-up version of Sen. Max Baucus’ (D.-Mont.) conceptual framework. Then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) can say that two Senate Committees have passed a health care bill, which will allow him to take extraordinary steps to get the bill on the Senate floor.
During the mark-up last week, members had difficulty offering amendments and trying to make constructive changed because they lacked actual legislative text and Baucus made unilateral last minute changes. For example, the AP reported that “under pressure from fellow Democrats, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee decided to commit an additional $50 billion over a decade toward making insurance more affordable for working-class families.”
Step 2: Sen. Reid will take the final product of the Senate Finance Committee and merge it with the product of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which passed on a party-line vote in July.
Usually, a bill is voted out of committee, and then the Senate takes up the final product of the committee so that all 100 senators can have a hand in the process. With some help from the Obama administration, Reid will decide what aspects of the HELP and Finance Committee bills to keep.
Step 3: Now, Obamacare will be ready to hitch a ride on an unrelated bill from the House. Sen. Reid will move to proceed to H.R. 1586, a bill to impose a tax on bonuses received by certain TARP recipients. This bill was passed by the House in the wake of the AIG bonus controversy and is currently sitting on the Senate Legislative Calendar.
The move to proceed needs 60 votes to start debate. After the motion is approved, Sen. Reid will offer Obamacare as a complete substitute to the unrelated House-passed bill. This means that the entire healthcare reform effort will be included as an amendment to a TARP bill that has been collecting dust in the Senate for months.
Step 4: For this strategy to work, the proponents would need to hold together the liberal caucus of 58 Democrats (including Paul Kirk who was named last Thursday to replace Sen. Kennedy), and the two Independent senators (Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont). These members will have to all hold hands and vote against any filibuster. Once the Senate takes up the bill, only a simple majority of members will be needed for passage. It’s possible one of the endangered moderate Democrats, such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), could vote to stop a filibuster then vote against Obamacare so as not to offend angry constituents.
Once the Senate passes a bill and sends it to the House, all the House would have to do is pass the bill without changes and President Obama will be presented with his health care reform measure. If this plan does not work, the Senate and House leadership may go back to considering using reconciliation to pass the legislation.
Adopting this secret plan will not strike most Americans as a transparent, bipartisan, effective way to change how millions of Americans get their health care.
Brian Darling is director of U.S. Senate Relations at The Heritage Foundation.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33740
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