House Starts Talks on Debt Ceiling & 2014 Budget

From Tea Party Patriots --

Next week, the House Committee on Ways & Means is having two important hearings. Below are some basic details to be aware of:

First, on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing for Members of Congress who have submitted or cosponsored bills in the 112^th and 113^th Congress that address spending prioritization if the debt ceiling is breached. From the Committee’s website:

Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing examining the government’s ability to prioritize its obligations and continue operations should the U.S. Treasury reach its statutory debt limit. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 A.M.

Oral testimony at this hearing will be limited to Members of Congress who have introduced or co-sponsored legislation related to the government’s ability to continue operating when the debt limit has been reached during the 112^th or 113^th Congresses. However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Subcommittee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

While it is unlikely the debt ceiling will be breached, this could be a very informative hearing to see which Members of Congress have various ideas to prioritize spending.

On Thursday, another hearing is scheduled – the annual Ways & Means hearing with the Secretary of the Treasury. With the President’s budget scheduled to arrive on April 10, the hearing is being held the next day:

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) today announced that the Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing on President Obama’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2014.  The hearing will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2013, in 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 A.M.

BACKGROUND:

On April 10, 2013, the President is expected to submit his fiscal year 2014 budget proposal to Congress.  The proposed budget will detail his tax proposals for the coming year as well as provide an overview of the budget for the Treasury Department and other activities of the Federal government.  The Treasury plays a key role in many areas of the Committee’s jurisdiction.

In announcing this hearing, Chairman Camp said, “The Ways and Means Committee is committed to comprehensive tax reform that eliminates tax loopholes, simplifies the code, and lowers rates.  Tax reform that accomplishes these goals can strengthen our economy, create more jobs and allow American workers to start seeing an increase in their paychecks again.  This hearing will provide both the Committee an opportunity to review the President’s tax proposals and Treasury Secretary Lew the opportunity to describe how the Administration intends to work with the Committee and Congress to pass and enact comprehensive tax reform.”

While the President’s budget is mostly a formality in general, and especially since it’s over two months late, the hearing should be very informative as to whether or not we’ll actually have normal order for the budget process in Fiscal Year 2014. (I think it’s highly unlikely, given the major differences between the House and Senate budget resolutions, but it’s always possible.)

The function of these hearings is mostly to give Members the ability to create soundbytes for constituents and the media.  However, occasionally, good things come out of these hearings – Senator Cruz’s recent hammering of Attorney General Eric Holder is one example of this. Hopefully, the two hearings will be more like the latter, and less like the former.

OH Senate President Kieth Faber & Rep. Matt Huffman question Governor John "I Love Obamacare" Kasich's Medicaid Expansion

As Governor Kasich continues criss-crossing the state trying to sell his shameful, untruthful and morally bankrupt argument for expanding an unsustainable Medicaid expansion in Ohio under Obamacare, Ohio Senate President Kieth Faber and OH Rep Matt Huffman speak out on the perils of this fiscally irresponsible and financially unsustainable proposal.

While Faber & Huffman should be applauded for speaking out, the OH Representative from the Cleveland area who serves on the Finance Committee, Rep. Marlene Anielski (614)644-6041 (click here to email), is leaning towards Medicaid expansion and refuses to even return constituent phone calls.

From Lima Ohio.com --

LIMA — On the same day that two powerful state legislators — Senate President Keith Faber and state Rep. Matt Huffman — laid out a case why the state needs to move cautiously before accepting federal funds for Medicaid, Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in Ohio’s Appalachian foothills extolling his proposal to expand the coverage.

Such is the battle that continues to play out among fellow Republicans over Medicaid, a tug-of-war that is soon to come to a head. It pits lawmakers who are trying to rein in government spending against the leader of their party who is on a crusade to help the poor with money provided under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The battle is becoming so intense that a core of Republicans spent part of last week’s “spring break” in Columbus trying to figure out a deal that would convince the governor to alter his push.

“Our colleagues in the General Assembly could design a better system to take care of the people we all care about,” Faber said Wednesday during a meeting at The Lima News.

Kasich, meanwhile, was in Jackson County arguing a much simpler case.

The governor told a Republican gathering that by accepting Obama’s expansion of the Medicaid program, $13 billion in taxpayer money would come back to Ohio from Washington over seven years.

“This is money that residents have already paid in federal taxes,” Kasich said.

Faber bristles at such talk. He said the plan Obama has put forth feels like an ultimatum more than anything, and said long-term funding of the program is troublesome at best.

“They essentially loaded the revolver and pointed it at the states, and said do this or else,” Faber said. “Nobody really believes this is free money from heaven. You’re essentially borrowing it from China and giving our kids the bill. And then the question is, how sustainable is it? Is it going to stay? You can’t back out of it.”

Without flexibility, the Celina Republican said, “It’s fraught with peril, no matter which way you go.”

Huffman said the problem is that government thinks in “small bites” of time instead of 10 to 20 years in the future. He compared the proposed Medicaid expansion to the funding problems of Social Security, noting it “appeared to be OK and financially affordable at the time, but here we’re looking back now 45 years later, and the whole thing is a disaster.”

Huffman doesn’t want to make another two-year decision that ultimately will be a bad decision over time.

“It’s gotta stop. At some point, the system is going to collapse,” the Lima state representative said.

Local effects

The Medicaid expansion would help individuals who earn up to 138 percent of federal poverty, roughly $15,000 annual income for an individual and $32,000 for a family of four. Many of these individuals who aren’t insured are likely working low-wage jobs without benefits. They may have to limit working because of a mental health condition that isn’t severe enough to qualify for disability.

For local businesses and organizations, the expansion would assist in a variety of ways.

For the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties, the expansion would help many of their clients by opening up their annual funds to programming beyond health care assistance.

“We’re very concerned for the overall health of our community. We are currently using resources to pay for some of these services. This [Medicaid expansion] would help us to restore some of our programming,” said Phil Atkins, associate director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. “Many of our clients need services that even expanded Medicaid won’t pay for. … It won’t pay for things like housing. It won’t pay for things like getting people ready for jobs.”

Without the expansion, the board has to be more selective in what they can do for community members. Sometimes that even means rationing health treatments for clients.

At Baton Rouge Health Services Community in Lima, the Medicaid expansion would help about 10 percent of its workforce who work part time without benefits.

“Given that we’ve already endured quite a bit of Medicaid cuts on the reimbursement side, I think having some sort of a relief from the health insurance coverage would really help skilled nursing facilities,” said Georgiana Saffle, president at Baton Rouge.

Leaders from both local hospitals, Lima Memorial Health System and St. Rita’s Medical Center, expressed support for the Medicaid expansion in newspaper columns they wrote for The Lima News in February.

“We are already caring for people regardless of their ability to pay as part of our mission to improve the health of our communities,” wrote Bob Baxter, CEO of St. Rita’s Health Partners. “Expanded Medicaid Eligibility would allow our charity funds to go further and more equitably spread the cost of care.”

Alternative ideas

While Faber and Huffman agreed health care coverage is needed in certain situations, such as those who suffer from mental health problems or those who don’t have benefits through their low-wage jobs, not everyone should necessarily be included within the 138 percent of poverty threshold.

They said the program may not have the best incentives for people.

“The system has to have incentives for people to improve their lives, and not simply service what they want at the moment,” Huffman said. “And when you do that, it’s painful to people. When you say you can’t get this, unless you’re job training, unless you’re getting your education, unless you’re drug-free.”

Huffman also discussed the possibility of larger medical organizations using other monies to care for the poor. Some GOP members, such as Barbara Sears, of Toledo, have also discussed using more state funds than federal funds.

Kasich says state funding is off the table.

“Some in the legislature think we can spend state of Ohio money and reject the federal money. … I won’t tolerate it,” Kasich told the Columbus Dispatch. “We’re not going to make you pay twice. … That’s not acceptable.”

The Kasich administration has been negotiating with the White House since November to use federal funds to pay for some people to buy private insurance.

During the governor’s State of the State address in Lima in February, Kasich told legislators, “Our economy is stronger, our credit is up, we’re doing the right things. … The Lord would not want us to ignore those who are now vulnerable. These are people who played by the rules. They’re hurting.”

The next part of the process is coming soon.

Mike Dittoe, a spokesman for House Speaker William G. Batchelder, told the Dispatch that the Republican caucus has not achieved a consensus on what to do about Medicaid, but expects a bill from the House in two weeks that would show “which direction we’re pointed.”

National Debt over $16 Trillion; Feds Spend $423,500 Studying Condom Skills

Continuing to hear how the Sequester cuts will be so devastating to our country, the negative impact it will create for the poor and less fortunate among us, and how these Sequester cuts are putting thousands of federal workers out of work, we have previously posted on how the IRS spent over $60,000 on Star Trek & Gilligan's Island training videos, over $1.2 Million for studies on Snail Sex & Duck Penises, and $250 Million for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Now, with the National Debt over $16 Trillion, and with youth unemployment rate at 16.2% and the overall unemployment rate at 11.6%, we bring you a $423,500 study with Stimulus funds creating 0 jobs on the condom skills of young heterosexual men....

From The Weekly Standard --

The details of a stimulus grant awarded to Indiana University to study condom use have now been released on a government website. The study, titled "Barriers to Correct Condom Use," is now completed, according to the website, and the university received $423,500 of stimulus funds to perform the study.

The stimulus project yielded a total of 0.00 jobs created, according to the federal government. "No jobs created/retained," the form says under "Description of Jobs Created."
              
"Sexually transmitted infections (STI), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pose significant health risks," a synopsis of study reads. "Consistent and correct use of condoms can be a highly effective method of preventing the transmission of HIV and many STIs, yet studies show that problems with condom use are common. This project is one of the first to examine under controlled conditions the role of cognitive and affective factors and condom skills in explaining condom use problems in young, heterosexual adult men."

It just begs to be asked does a study on condom skills now need to be conducted for middle-aged and elderly heterosexual men?  And since we are all about "fairness & inclusion" will a study need to be done about the condom skills of young and old gay & transgendered him/her's?

How about making a condom to protect us from the government transmitted disease of stupid spending!

NOTE: Due to the Sequester and lack of funds, the Cleveland Air Show & White House tours are still cancelled.

Common Core Standards and Debate

Common Core Debate

(and  it's about time)

Understanding National Common Core Standards and the PARCC Assessment

There are three information forums scheduled in Ohio this month in various locations. Greater Cleveland is one of them. Cleveland Tea Party Patriots, concerned parents, and teachers will have an opportunity to attend and participate in this long overdue discussion. (h/t Marianne G, Mansfield Tea Party)

Cleveland (West side)

WHEN: Saturday - April 13th – 4pm-6pm

Hosted by Concerned Parents & Teachers of Northern Ohio

WHERE: Christ the King Church

             30635 Lorain Rd 

             North Olmsted, OH 44070

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear and discuss the implications of Ohio’s adoption of Common Core Standards with the nation’s leading voices on CCS. We’ll address the issues surrounding parental and local control, quality of instruction, legalities of federal intrusion and the unfunded cost concerns.

• Emmett McGroarty - American Principles Project - Executive Director, Preserve Innocence Project 
• Joy Pullmann - The Heartland Institute - Research Fellow, Education; Managing Editor, School Reform News  
• Jamie Gass - Pioneer Institute For Public Policy - Director, Center for School Reform 
• Heather Crossin - Hoosiers Against Common Core co-founder, education policy activist 

The purpose of this FREE event is to provide the information you need to understand the national Common Core Standards and the new PARCC assessments.

An audience Q&A will follow the panel discussion. Please join us!

Reserve your seat at http://oacc-lorain.eventbrite.com

Be prepared. For advance homework assignment(s) by Michelle Malkin, go here. 

Gov. John Kasich, Medicaid expansion, and 'mean politics'

Yesterday, Gov. John Kasich addressed the City Club Forum to promote his 2-year budget plan. From The Plain Dealer:

Two months after introducing his policy-packed budget plan and launching an all-out sales pitch to pass it, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is no closer to getting what he wants.

So given the bully pulpit Wednesday at a City Club of Cleveland forum, Kasich tried a little bit of everything to freshen up his sales pitch and persuade his fellow -- typically loyal -- Republicans to back at least some of his proposals.

. . .

But between Kasich’s pleas were several acknowledgements that parts of his two-year budget appear doomed, despite GOP majorities in the House and Senate. Republican lawmakers have balked at Medicaid expansion and proposals to raise taxes on oil and gas drillers while extending the state sales tax to include products and services never before subject to it.

. . .

Kasich’s tone of compromise changed, though, whenever the subject shifted to Medicaid expansion. Conservatives have blasted move as the embrace of a flawed system and of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Tea Party activists have threatened primaries against Republican lawmakers who vote for the expansion.

“This nasty, mean politics must come to an end,” Kasich said Wednesday. “When it comes particularly to poor people, there is no partisanship. I don’t care if they’re addicted. I don’t care if they’re disabled. I’m not leaving them behind.”

. . .

“Isn’t it great that when politicians get the office they seek they want ‘nasty, mean politics’ to stop?” Seth Morgan, a conservative activist and former state legislator who has criticized Medicaid expansion, wrote in an email after the event.

“Expanding a broken system is not compassion,” Morgan added. “It’s simply making a bigger broken system.”

Indeed. Last month, The Heritage Foundation posted “Why the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Is Bad for Taxpayers and Patients.” It’s not about health. It’s not about care. And it’s not affordable. 

Obama Urges Lenders to Finance Bad Home Loans - Again!

Even though President Obama still tries to blame George Bush for his inheriting a failed economy, mainly due to the housing market crash that was caused by Democrat meddling, manipulating and forcing housing lenders to make poor loans in the name of fairness -- President Obama now wants to do the same thing.

And as the American public was forced to pay for this first "40 Acre's & a Mule"  failure, they will entice the second round of unsuitable buyers with tax-payer backed programs....

From The Washington Post --

The Obama administration is engaged in a broad push to make more home loans available to people with weaker credit, an effort that officials say will help power the economic recovery but that skeptics say could open the door to the risky lending that caused the housing crash in the first place.

President Obama’s economic advisers and outside experts say the nation’s much-celebrated housing rebound is leaving too many people behind, including young people looking to buy their first homes and individuals with credit records weakened by the recession.

In response, administration officials say they are working to get banks to lend to a wider range of borrowers by taking advantage of taxpayer-backed programs — including those offered by the Federal Housing Administration — that insure home loans against default.

And as in part of the cause for the first housing market bust, lenders will be forced into lending to unsuitable buyers through veiled government coercion and veiled threats of discrimination lawsuits....

Housing officials are urging the Justice Department to provide assurances to banks, which have become increasingly cautious, that they will not face legal or financial recriminations if they make loans to riskier borrowers who meet government standards but later default.

Officials are also encouraging lenders to use more subjective judgment in determining whether to offer a loan and are seeking to make it easier for people who owe more than their properties are worth to refinance at today’s low interest rates, among other steps.

As this forced government lending failed the first time, the American public will again be forced to bailout another "too big to fail" Obama-induced boondoggle. 

North Carolina Passes Background Check for Food Stamp Applicants

From The Washington Times --

The House Health and Human Services Committee in North Carolina voted Tuesday to require mandatory background checks for people seeking welfare and food stamp benefits.

All county Department of Social Services offices will now require background checks for people applying for benefits or for renewing their applications. DSS offices can choose whether they want to conduct formal background checks or simply ask the participant if he or she is in trouble with the law, The Blaze reports.

“We absolutely have to make sure our aid goes to law-abiding citizens first,” said state Rep. Dean Arp, R-Union who co-sponsored the bill. “This is a reasonable provision to ensure that.”

The DSS office will also be required to tell law enforcement agencies if an applicant is a fugitive or is sought for an outstanding warrant.