ObamaCare Causes Insurance Premium Hikes
Back in March, Congress narrowly passed the 2,400 page ObamaCare law that was suppose to help “lower costs in the health care system.” Beforehand, countless economists warned of the costly unintended consequences that may occur. 130 economists signed a letter to the White House stating that “the health care bill will increase spending on health care and will increase the cost of health coverage.” Unfortunately, President Obama ignored their wise advice by signing the health care overhaul bill into law.
Almost six months later, we have already begun to see these harmful unintended consequences take effect. According to the Wall Street Journal, ObamaCare will force health insurers to raise their premiums in coming weeks:
Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the [ObamaCare] law, according to filings with state regulators. These and other insurers say Congress's landmark refashioning of U.S. health coverage is causing them to pass on more costs to consumers than Democrats predicted… Many carriers also are seeking additional rate increases that they say they need to cover rising medical costs. As a result, some consumers could face total premium increases of more than 20%.
Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. For every extra benefit that Congress mandated that health insurers provide there is an extra cost. One provision of ObamaCare is that children—or adults—must be allowed to stay on their parent’s insurance up to the age of 26. Since this government mandate is likely to cost health insurers a significant amount of money, they have no choice but to pass this extra cost onto consumers.
Like virtually every government intervention in the market, ObamaCare will accomplish the exact opposite of what the law was intended to do. The National Center for Policy Analysis found that state governments forcing insurance companies to provide certain mandated benefits drove up the cost of insurance as much as 30 percent. Additionally, the law is likely to cost far more than the Obama administration’s projection of $950 billion. A new independent study finds that ObamaCare may cost taxpayers as much as $2.7 trillion during its first ten years of full implementation.
Here is a chart from the Wall Street Journal showing some of the health insurance companies that will likely be rising their rates due to ObamaCare:
In order to prevent the coming health insurance premium hikes, we must work towards repealing the bureaucratic nightmare of ObamaCare. In the House, there is a discharge petition sponsored by Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa) that would repeal the entirely of ObamaCare. Thus far, the petition has 170 of the 218 signatures required to force a vote on the motion regardless of the speaker’s objections. However, 6 Republicans and 31 Democrats who voted against ObamaCare have yet to sign the petition—the Republicans include Mark Kirk of Illinois, Joseph Cao and Charles Boustany of Louisiana, David Reichert of Washington, and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia (Rep. Castle of Delaware says he intends to sign the petition once he turns from Congressional recess.) Please contact your representatives and tell them to sign a petition to repeal ObamaCare (H.R. 4972) to prevent the cost of healthcare from rising due to needless government intervention.
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:31:06 +0000
Sign Making on Saturday
Many who are traveling to the 9/12 March on Washington have been asking if there will be sign making opportunities as there were last year. The answer is YES! Tea Party Patriots is graciously hosting a sign making party at the Hyatt Capitol Hill. Here's all the details:
When: Saturday, September 11, 10 am to 10 pm
Where: Hyatt Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave NW (easy to find from Union Station)
Contact: Diana Reimer: 267-446-7124 or Julia Hodges: 601-906-9780
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:06:31 +0000
Obama v. Kennedy on Tax Hikes
During President Obama’s speech in Cleveland, he indicated that he still wants to raise taxes on small businesses making over $250,000 a year on January 1st. He criticized House Minority Leader John Boehner for wanting to extend tax cuts to the "rich" claiming that these were "not new ideas." He stated:
Make no mistake: he and his party believe we should also give a permanent tax cut to the wealthiest two percent of Americans. With all the other budgetary pressures we have - with all the Republicans' talk about wanting to shrink the deficit - they would have us borrow $700 billion over the next ten years to give a tax cut of about $100,000 to folks who are already millionaires.
It is true that tax cuts are not a new idea. In 1964, Democratic President Kennedy’s tax cuts represented 8.8 percent of the budget—far greater than even the Bush or Reagan tax cuts. While the federal government faced a budget deficit, Kennedy favored “an across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in personal in corporate income taxes.” Kennedy’s tax cuts reduced the top income tax bracket from 91 percent to 70 percent. In the eight years that Kennedy’s tax cuts were in effect, tax revenue actually doubled. In fact, every time that a President has dramatically lowered taxes, tax revenue has increased. According to Kennedy,
It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now.
On January 1, 2011, the top income tax bracket will rise from 35 percent to 39.6 percent. If history is any indication, these high taxes will discourage production and lead to a decrease in tax revenue. In the end, the “rich” will end up paying fewer taxes due to Obama’s proposed tax hikes.
Tax cuts are a proven method of decreasing the deficit and expanding job growth. As the video below shows, Obama should take a lesson from one of his Democratic predecessors:
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:13:27 +0000
9/12 Volunteers
Folks,
It is hard to believe that the 9.12 March on D.C. is just a few days away. We will need a large group of volunteers to help us out throughout the day. As a volunteer you will have a lot of responsibility, but nothing a dedicated activist cannot handle. Most of your responsibibilties will be helping direct traffic and answering any of our guests questions. I also want to make it clear that being a volunteer is fun and will give you great access to other activists throughout the country. You do not have to fear missing any of the event as you will have a front row seat to all the action.
If you are interested in being a volunteer for the historic 9.12 March on Washington please make sure you can attend our volunteer training session on 9.11 from 3-4pm at FreedomWorks HQ. If you are interested and able to attend our volunteer session please contact Emily Kinney at 912volunteer@gmail.com or by phone at 571-269-9454.
I wish you all safe travels on your way to D.C. this weekend. I look forward to meeting you all as we unite our voices once again during this historic march.
Publ.Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:53:48 +0000
Road Closures on 9/12
This is an important announcement regarding the 9/12 Remember in November March on Washington: please be aware of road closures on 9/12.
Many heavily traveled roads, especially those coming from Virginia, will be closed due to the Nation's Triathalon on Sunday, September 12. From 6 am to 1pm the following roadways will be closed:
Independence Ave, 14th Street - 23rd Street
Ohio Drive, Riverside and Channel side, entire road. Golf course patrons will still have access from 395.
Whitehurst Freeway
Potomac River Freeway northbound
Potomac River Freeway southbound
Rock Creek Parkway, entire road
Memorial Bridge, (Arlington Memorial Circle will remain open)
Lincoln Memorial Circle
27th Street between K Street & Virginia Avenue 15th Street, Independence to Constitution
23rd Street, between Constitution and Independence
Henry Bacon Drive
Daniel French Drive
Maine Ave west of 395S
East Basin Drive, entire road (no access to 395S)
Buckeye Drive, access to Ohio Drive, riverside
Clara Barton Parkway, both directions between Chain Bridge and the Access road to MacArthur Blvd north of the Glen Echo turnaround.
Cabin John Parkway, both directions, entire road.
Please make other plans to get into the city or use the metro (which is also under construction). No matter your form of transportation, please add extra time to your trip to accomodate these challenges.
Publ.Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:10:08 +0000
Obamacare’s Devastating Consequences: II
It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong. – Thomas Sowell
Obamacare’s Devastating Consequences: II
Health care reform has passed. The legislative process exposed the machinations of federal politics. Mis-using bribes, mendacity and obfuscation the power elite cobbled together enough votes for passage. Many Americans are outraged at the process.
Further Americans are skeptical of the product. Numerous citizens are repulsed by the mandates and regulations. Others are skeptical of the legislations efficacy, believing their medical care will decline and costs will rise. Reading the polls, Democrats are coached to say, “It does some good. Now, we need to fix it.”
Missing and totally ignored was the free exchange of ideas which is the essence and greatness of a free society. A free society excels because of the limitless exchange of ideas, goods and services. Competing ideas are open to being scrutinized by everyone, resulting in enhanced opinions, judgments and products. The Obama Administration snuffed the free exchange of ideas. The power elites – Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their subordinates - have imposed their will on America, which is impeeding good health care, stifling the economy and restricting personal freedom.
Were there health care alternatives oriented to individual freedom? Certainly. Here is one example:
Indiana state employees have personal health savings accounts. The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) is utilized by 70% of state employees with HIP state employees selecting and purchasing their pharmaceutical and medical needs. Moreover, HIP saves the employer and employee money and encourages good health practices and advances personal health care selections. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels explains Indiana's plan in an interview with The Foundry of the Heritage Foundation:
… state coworkers have had the choice of Health Savings Accounts in lieu of traditional health care plans. The first year this option was made available, some 4 percent of us signed up for it. Six years later, more than 70 percent of our 30,000 state workers have opted for the personal account.
This trend has had a startlingly positive effect on costs for both employees and the state. State employees enrolled in the consumer-driven plan saved more than $8 million in 2010 compared to their coworkers in the old-fashioned preferred provider organization (PPO) alternative. Indiana will save at least $20 million in 2010 because of our high HSA enrollment.
It has also been the source of significant changes in behavior, as state workers with the HSA visit emergency rooms less frequently and are more likely to use generic drugs than co-workers with traditional health care. Hoosiers enrolled in HIP have experienced similar changes in behavior with generic drugs now accounting for 84 percent of all prescriptions used by enrollees.
ObamaCare will most likely destroy HIP and Health Savings Accounts. Worse, the political elite know ObamaCare will not reduce the cost of medicine in America.
Governor Daniels in analyzing the effect ObamaCare on his state found:
Of course, it’s a misnomer to even refer to this (ObamaCare) as “reform.” It doesn’t reform anything. Instead, it perpetuates and magnifies all the worst aspects of our current system: fee for service reimbursement, “free” to the purchaser consumption, and an irrationally expensive medical liability tort system. It’s a sure recipe for yet more overconsumption and overspending.
In a democracy, a politician does not have an ownership-interest in the state. There is no financial gain for wise policy decisions. Nor financial lose for bad decisions.
A politician’s rewards are immediate – power, prestige, and perquisites.
Obviously, Obama, Reid and Pelosi chose power and prestige over better health plans for Americans.
For democracy and freedom to thrive a knowledgeable and active electorate must be vigilant. Join FreedomWorks.
Publ.Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:45:31 +0000
9/12 Attendees: Events on Friday Night
Coming to town early for the 9/12 Remember in November march? There's lots to do on Friday night, including FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey at the National Press Club and thanking the troops outside Walter Reed. Details below.
Option 1. The National Press Club will feature FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey at a roundtable discussion in their Murrow Room entitled “Examining the Tea Party”. Armey will also be signing copies of his latest book, “Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto” which is available for purchase at 6:00pm before the event. The event is free for NPC members and $5 for non-members. Reservations are required, so please email to opus@press.org or call 202-662-7523. You can also click here to RSVP.
Option 2. Join Free Republic outside Walter Reed on Friday night from 6:30 pm until 9:30 ish. Volunteers with Free Republic have been meeting outside Walter Reed every Friday night - in all kinds of weather - since March of 2005 to thank the troops for their service. The event takes place at 7200 Georgia Ave NW, corner of Elder and Georgia.
From the organizers: Signs are appropriate. Flags are encouraged. Politics is discouraged.
This is an extremely uplifting event for the whole family and the Free Republic faithfuls who have been keeping vigil there are amazing to meet. Click here for posts about the Walter Reed nights going all the way back.
Publ.Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:39:12 +0000
WA-Sen: Rossi Ad: "Economic Problems Didn't Start Yesterday"
Washington Republican Senate candidate Dino Rossi: "Our economic problems didn't start yesterday. They've been building for years. Some wanted to ignore them, but I told you the truth. Government spending and debt are out of control, destroying jobs and threatening our future. We need to meet these challenges head on. By controlling spending. Reducing the debt. Ending bailouts and earmarks. Our...
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:55:25 -0500
IL-Sen Ad: Kirk "One Of The Most Independent Leaders"
A new ad touts Mark Kirk's independence.
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:53:27 -0500
DSCC Ad: "Listen" To Ken Buck
The DSCC on Colorado Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck: "The more you hear, the more you wonder."
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:53:25 -0500
WA-Sen: Murray Ad: Dino Rossi Is "Not On Our Side"
A new ad from Sen. Patty Murray's campaign says "Dino chose his Wall Street contributors over protecting our savings. Rossi took the big banks' money, then turned his back on taxpayers."
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:53:20 -0500
WI-Sen: Feingold Ad: "Earned It"
"Russ Feingold's work to provide our soldiers with the support and health care they deserve has earned him the approval of Wisconsin veterans. Russ's fight to protect local jobs from being shipped overseas and create jobs here has earned him the respect of Wisconsin families and small businesses. And his stand against wasteful spending and automatic pay raises for members of Congress has...
Publ.Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:52:54 -0500