27 July 2009

We need Health Care in America that is Sustatinable and Market Driven

“You come in and you’ve got a bad sore throat, or your child has a bad sore
throat or has repeated sore throats. The doctor may look at the reimbursement
system and say to himself, ‘You know what? I make a lot more money if I take
this kid’s tonsils out.'" -
President Barack Obama at Wednesday's press
conference

Today's article is from the Monday, July 27, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal newspaper features an article titled, Dr. Obama’s Tonsillectomy. For more on health care reform, read the Public Interest Institute's Brief: A Healthcare Prescription for Iowa.

There's a better direction for the U.S. Congress to proceed with Health Care Reform. Reject Pelosi-ObamaCare and embrace ideas like the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center:
  • Create Value
    Improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with U.S. health care. Decrease medical errors, costs and waste.
    Read details.
  • Coordinate Care
    To increase value, patient care services must be coordinated across people, functions, activities, locations and time. Patients must actively participate in this process.
    Read details.
  • Reform the Payment System
    Change the way providers are paid in order to improve health and minimize waste.
    Read details.
  • Provide Health Insurance for All
    Provide guaranteed, portable health insurance for all individuals, giving them choice, control and peace of mind.
    Read details.
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26 July 2009

Economic News: Unemployment, Recovery and Impacts

The Friday, July 24, 2009 edition of Burt Folsom.com. Folsom, a professor of United States economic history, features an article titled, What do we do with 11.7% unemployment. For more on the politics of the 1920s read Public Interest Institute Brief: Governing by the Founder's Constitution: The Presidency of Warren Harding.

Exclusive: Economists surveyed see slow recovery -USA Today
The beginning of an economic recovery appears to be just a few months away but unemployment will continue to ...

Second wave of foreclosures possible - Philadelphia Inquirer‎
... is not being funded at a level necessary to deal with the rising unemployment rate, Dodd said. Stephanie Butler, senior counselor at Mount Airy USA in ...

Bernanke Sees High Jobless Rate, Even in Recovery -New York Times
Latest government data show the US unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, the highest since 1983. "We're doing everything we can to support the economy. ...

Some are saying it may not be til 2011, until unemployment moves in the right direction. With Pelosi-ObamaCare, increasing Federal debt and Big Government on the rise, the private sector has reason to feel a little concerned about jobs and business climate.

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20 July 2009

How are the nation's Governors responding to Washington DC today?

Today's article is from the Monday, July 20, 2009 edition of The Washington Times. The Times features an article titled, Governors resist footing federal projects' bill. For more on the Administration's Keynesian economic policies read Public Interest Institutes Brief titled: Follow the Constitution rather than Keynes.
"Governor Jindal has seen enough, as a health-care policy expert, he
strongly believes that the House Democrat[ic] plan would be a disaster for the
long-term health of the American people, and the long-term health of the
economy." -
Curt Anderson for Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

Morning Fix: Jindal Rises Again -Washington Post ‎
"Governor Jindal has seen enough," said Curt Anderson, a consultant for Jindal. "As a health-care policy expert, he strongly believes that the House ...

The Heritage Foundation reported on Facebook on July 20, 2009: Governors Balk at Obama Health Plan

President Obama just got turned down by America’s governors. Obama wanted governors to endorse his proposed overhaul of health care, but ran into opposition over the runaway costs, as reported by The New York Times. Instead he got this:
Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, a Democrat, said he feared Congress was about to bestow

“the mother of all unfunded mandates.”
“Medicaid is a poor vehicle for
expanding coverage,’ added Mr. Bredesen, a former health care executive. “It’s a
45-year-old system originally designed for poor women and their children. It’s
not health care reform to dump more money into Medicaid.”
Mr. Bredesen was
far from alone in his concern. “As a governor, my concern is that if we try to
cost-shift to the states we’re not going to be in a position to pick up the
tab,” said Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington, also a Democrat.
“I’m
personally very concerned about the cost issue, particularly the $1 trillion
figures being batted around,” said Gov. Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Democrat
who served in the Clinton cabinet and ran for president against Mr. Obama.

Governors worry that Obama’s plan for a major expansion of Medicaid not only will break the bank in Washington, but also in the states—since they would be required to kick in part of the costs. That would worsen the multi-billion dollar shortfalls they already must address. Problems with the governors could be enormous for the White House. As The Heritage Foundation’s Dennis Smith wrote:

Congress and the Obama Administration are banking on using Medicaid to provide
coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. As many as one-third of those who
are uninsured could end up on Medicaid if it is expanded to 150 percent of the
federal poverty level. . . . State opposition could be a tremendous blow to
health care reform. Governors can be game-changers if they mobilize before
momentum is built behind specific legislation that expands Medicaid.
National Write Your Congressman web site reports ...

Blue Dogs Stand Firm on Health Care

The fiscally-conservative Blue Dog coalition of lawmakers in the House is not happy about the way health care legislation is moving through Congress. Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Chairman of the Blue Dogs’ health care force, said on Monday that “the leadership has misread this…one” when they ignored Blue Dog requests to be included in drafting measures for health care reform.

“I think between the financial crisis, the auto bailout, the omnibus ... the
stimulus bill, the energy bill, I think it’s reached a point where not only the
Blue Dogs are saying, ‘Let’s slow down here.’ The people back home want us to
stop the spending, they want us to have time to read these bills, they want us
to have time to debate and understand these bills, and they don’t see that
happening.”
- Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)

But, the leadership doesn’t get it, said Ross.

“I think they underestimated the Blue Dogs on this … We’re more united than
we’ve ever been, and so it’s not as easy as inviting one member in after the
next and finding out what their pet project is and helping them with their pet
project for their vote. This is much bigger than that.” -
Rep. Ross

Ross said the legislation in its current form will not have the support of Blue Dogs. His tough stance against the overhaul bill drew praise from fellow Blue Dogs and other supporters in Congress.

“He’s doing a good job, and he’s right. When you’re right, you get a lot of
support. Mike has told the Speaker he wants health care reform, but there
need to be changes. So far the message isn’t getting through, for whatever
reason. I don’t know where they’re coming from on this.”
- Rep. Collin
Peterson (D-MN)
"He’s expressing a huge sentiment shared by many in our Caucus. We’re trying
to save the bill and do what the president says we need, which is to control
costs.”
- Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA)


Table of Contents from the nwyc.com:

Blue Dogs Stand Firm on Health Care
Senators Ask House Members for Advice
Exploring an Overhaul of REAL ID
Health Measures Could Weaken Economy
Consumer Financial Protection Authority

peace

18 July 2009

Let's be careful to expand the Federal responsibilty in Health Care


We need to get back to the basics in our American society. Equality, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are basic values that our country was founded on.

But, we are moving far from that. Credit Scores, Nanny State, Big Government, a lack of personal responsibility, government health care ...

Health Care Reform appears to be more of the same. More of the same, in what is wrong in Washington DC and what is wrong in our American society today.

"No, Mr. Chairman. In the legislation that has been reported we do not
see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the
trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount. And on the
contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for
health care costs."
- Doug Elmendorf, Director of CBO

We need to promote personal responsibility and Liberty again.

It will not be found through expanding the role and size of governments, whether it be at the Federal, State or local level. Of course, local government and local control are far better than a large central government.

  • We need to get back to traditional mortgages and credit financing.

  • We need to encourage personal responsibility again.

  • We need to move away from Big Government.

  • Limited government is the pathway America was built on.

  • Health Care Reform is required, but it should remain market driven with proper government oversight.
Oversight is the right role for our government. As you may recall, there were concerns voiced several years ago regarding the need for greater Federal oversight ahead of the 2008 Financial Crisis. A concern many Europeans have about American society is when private corporations get too closely connected with politicians.

The private sector is where the solution can be found in health care and in how our way of life should play out. It comes with better oversight and public policy. It begins with a return to Equality, Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. It is found in Limited Government. Those values that make America the country it has been and can be again.

peace

17 July 2009

Stimulus, Stimulus and Stimulus... it covers just about everything!

Of course, only about 10 percent of the stimulus has actually been distributed to date. The State of Michigan it was announced this week that state's unemployment rate topped 15 percent.
Some cash-strapped states and school districts are signaling a major
expansion of charter schools to tap $5 billion in federal stimulus funds,
despite strong opposition from some teachers unions. -
Rob Tomsho

The Friday, July 17, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Charter schools gain in stimulus scramble. Cash-Strapped States, Districts Signal Expansion of Public-Education Alternative Despite Some Teachers' Strong Opposition.
For more on charter schools read Public Interest Institutes's Brief titled: Charter schools in America: will they be successful?

Some other articles to consider regarding Charter Schools and the Federal Stimulus...

Fenty Alters Proposal To Close Budget Gap - Washington Post
About $125 million will come from the city's rainy-day fund and $188 million from President Obama's economic stimulus package. ...
Patrick charter school plan could net fed funds -Belmont Citizen-Herald o
Patrick on Thursday framed the charter school push in moral terms, as a tool to close significant performance gaps along ethnic and income lines, ...
Morton Kondracke: Who will Congress put first - children or ... -San Gabriel Valley Tribune
So far, Congress has robustly backed Obama and Duncan's efforts with $100 billion in the economic stimulus package for education, including $10 billion to ...

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16 July 2009

The Impact a Supreme Court selection can have on the Second Amendment



The Thursday, July 16, 2009 edition of The Star Tribune features an article titled, Sotomayor: from guns to Perry Mason. For more on the constitutional significance of the Second Amendment read Public Interest Institutes's Brief titled: Do citizens have the right to keep and bear arms? and District of Columbia v. Heller.

NRA Opposes Sotomayor, Cites 'Hostile View' of Gun Rights‎ - Wall Street Journal blogs
The NRA criticized several of the positions Sotomayor had taken on Second Amendment rights. “It is only by ignoring history that any judge can say that the ...

Don't Mess With Sotomayor - Washington Post

Sen. Graham's Second Round of Questioning at Judge Sotomayor's ...‎ - Washington Post

On a local note, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley questioned Sonia Sotomayor in 3Rd round of questions on July 16, 2009. Senator Grassley's questioning was not directly related in any way to the Second Amendment, Transcript from the Washington Post and focuses on "stare decisis." Senators Grassley and Leahy discuss Sotomayor o... - YouTube

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12 July 2009

A touch of England for the City of Marion and a pedestrian-friendly look planned

Marion considers big changes for central corridor - The Gazette
Roundabouts, a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare with fewer vehicles, mixed-use development and green space are part of a new vision for downtown Marion.

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10 July 2009

Local Health Care Reform forums scheduled, while Washington discusses Health co-ops

"I've heard more positives than negatives on co-ops from Republicans, if
it's one and the same (government-run plan), it would be problematic, definitely." - Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
The Friday, July 10, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Democrats Open to Idea of Forming Health Co-Op. For more on health care reform, read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled The Missouri Plan: A Free Market Approach to Health Care.

Consumer-Driven
Health-Care Policy
Public Input Tour
Co-Sponsored by Patients United Now and
Public Interest Institute

July 13 - Des Moines

July 14 - Cedar Rapids/Iowa City

July 15 - Davenport/Bettendorf

For more information, click
HERE

To RSVP, call 319-385-3462

Read background on
health-care policy issues
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09 July 2009

Governor Chet Culver likely will have to tap State's Cash Reserves to balance budget

"I would say that it's highly unlikely that he wouldn't have to tap the cash
reserves for his authority at least to balance the budget for '09."
- State
Auditor David Vaudt

Governor Chet Culver will likely tap cash reserves. Culver and the Democrat controlled Iowa Legislature unveiled a strategy of bonding to help fund Iowa's record budget.

"The rating agencies also gave Aaa credit ratings to Enron, Freddie Mac and
Fanny Mae, and we know what happened to them. So I don't place a great deal of
reliance on what the credit agencies are doing from a due diligence standpoint."
- David Vaudt

The Thursday, July 9, 2009 edition of The Quad City Times features an article titled, "Reserves likely needed to balance Iowa's budget." For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "Iowa's State Budget: Spending Our Way to a Crisis Again."

“The governor is acting like this was an accident or an oversight. That
is not what happened. The governor and Legislative Democrats made a
calculated decision to not couple with federal law and force Iowans to
payback tax returns because they needed the money for their spending plans.
House Republicans stand ready to correct this error.”
- Iowa Minority
Leader Kraig Paulsen
Democrats Made Calculated Decision to Tax Iowans - Iowa House Republicans

Governor Chet Culver and the Democrat controlled Iowa Legislature unveiled the a strategy of bonding to help fund Iowa's record budget.

"The rating agencies also gave Aaa credit ratings to Enron, Freddie Mac and
Fanny Mae, and we know what happened to them. So I don't place a great
deal of reliance on what the credit agencies are doing from a due diligence
standpoint."
- David Vaudt

Plunging revenue causes new problems -Stateline.org - Stephen C. Fehr
The Legislature already cut spending 7 percent for the budget year that started July 1. Iowa finished the 2009 budget year as much as $161 million in the ...

Budget tsunami warning - Denver Daily News

State Tax Surprise: Some Have to Pay Back Refund -KCRG - Rod Boshart
“It was a hit to the budget that, frankly, was not an option. “ he said. Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, who tried unsuccessfully to raise the issue in floor ...

peace

08 July 2009

"And if there are going to be limits, who . . . is going to enforce the rules for a system like that?"



"President Obama called it the "right question" -- then failed to answer it.
This was not surprising: The query is emerging as the ultimate challenge in reining in health-care costs that now consume $2.5 trillion per year, or 16 percent of the economy. How will tough decisions be made about what to spend money on? In a country where "rationing" is a dirty word, who will say no?" -
The Washington Post
The Wednesday, July 8, 2009 edition of The Washington Post features an article titled, "In Retooled Health-Care System, Who Will Say No?" For more on this issue, read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "A Health Care Prescription for Iowa."

We need Health Care Reform, but we can certainly argue what that reform should be and consist of.

Health Care Reform Will Succeed This Time, Say Experts -Talk Radio News Service - Laura Woodhead
Speaking at a discussion on health care reform at the Campus Progress National Convention, the experts argued that the mood within the US makes this year ...

Video: Biden Announces White House Deal With Hospitals - The Associated Press
Health Care vs. Rationing - Washington Post
White House, hospitals reach deal on health care - The Associated Press

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06 July 2009

Rising unemployment, mixed views on the Federal Stimulus spending


"This was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, and jobs. And the fact is, it
turned into nothing more than spending, spending, and more spending on a lot of
big government bureaucracy." -
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh)
The Monday, July 6, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Calls grow to increase stimulus spending. For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institutes's Follow the Constitution rather than Keynes.

More misreading? - Dallas Morning News
Any chance they've misread the hoped-for stimulus results? Any chance they've misread what taking over GM is going to mean? Any chance they've misread what ...

Biden: Administration "Misread" Economy - U.S. News & World Report


Cantor: Stimulus Isn't Working - RealClearPolitics
"I don't think anybody can honestly say that we're satisfied with the results so
far of the stimulus. But we believe the stimulus was absolutely
essential."
- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md)
2 Democrat said Sunday that he is not satisfied with the results of the stimulus so far, but it's too soon to consider a second package since not all of the ...

The Stimulus: Six Months Later -National Ledger - Jon Kyl
With some now suggesting a second stimulus package, it's a good time to look at some preliminary results of the first package. In January, the president's ...

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04 July 2009

Happy Birthday America!


Today in History - July 4 -The Associated Press
Today is Saturday, July 4, the 185Th day of 2009. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day. Today's Highlight in History: On July 4, ...

Fourth of July fun facts
- Southtown Star


What does Freedom mean Anyway? - Canada Free Press


Life - Liberty - Pursuit of Happiness America!

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03 July 2009

College Football moves to Capitol Hill next week in the Senate



"I don't think a more accurate description of what the BCS does exists." He
noted that six conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while
others do not. The system, he argued, "intentionally and explicitly favors
certain participants." -
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Hopefully, we will see the BCS and the NCAA move to a +1 system and return the bowl system to original tie-ins. The BCS is supposed to be about getting the #1 and #2 teams in college football into the BCS Title Game.

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City Council takes right approach on Sugar Creek development of Darryl High


Council member Chuck Wieneke said most of the High Corp. proposal seemed to
be that the city was being asked to subsidize a typical, market-rate housing
development. He said it would be a terrible precedent to set and might open up
the council to paying for infrastructure and other help for every new housing
development that comes along.
- The Gazette
Cedar Rapids not ready to assist housing project - The Gazette
The City Council has set aside a proposal for an 81-home development across...

Other Local News as we enter the Independence Day holiday weekend ...

Public Safety News:


UPDATE: Police detained six people tonight in what they called a
methamphetamine investigation after they were called to a house at 1552 Seventh
Ave. SE on a report of a chemical smell.
- The Gazette

Tax concerns and other governmental news:

This is going to be downtown, at the Tree Of Five Season, (that weird steel
tree thing, next to the river) Parking will be on street parking, on first Ave,
2nd, 3rd the parkades, or whatever is close. We are planning on having speakers
so far we have 5 speakers. You can participate by attending, you can bring signs
(anything related to the topic at hand, less taxes, smaller government, less
waste....
- Tim Pugh






Happy Independence Day Holiday weekend everyone!

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02 July 2009

State Governments: IOUs for California, while Iowa needs clean up its own Budget



The decision to issue IOUs, officially called "individual registered
warrants," will cost California heavily. The state will have to repay the
warrants with millions of dollars in interest. Investors will likely charge
California more for the short-term loans the state relies on every year as
it waits for tax revenue. Issuing IOUs also sends a negative message to Wall
Street about the state's financial shape. - The Wall Street Journal


The Thursday, July 2, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal newspaper features an article titled, "California Lays Plans to Issue IOU's to Creditors." For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "Iowa's State Budget: Spending Our Way to a Crisis Again."


More stories on California's budget woes ...

How California's Fiscal Woes Began: A Crisis 30 Years in the Making -TIME - Kevin O'Leary - ‎ 01, 2009 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses a joint session of the legislature discussing the state's budget crisis and the necessary steps ...



Turning to the State of Iowa, State Representative Christopher Rants (R- Sioux City) commented in his blog on July 2, 2009 the following ...

Net tax revenues came in $161 million below the estimate of
the revenue estimating conference for fiscal year 2009 which ended Wednesday.
For those who love to know the details it breaks down this way:$57.7 million
reduction in gross revenue$72.3 million in increased refunds$31.0 million in
increased school infrastructure refunds to districts -
Christopher Rants
Act Now to Balance the Budget - Christopher Rants, State Representative Iowa House District 54

A state parks budget squeeze -Omaha World-Herald - Paul Hammel
In Iowa, all state agencies took a 15 percent budget cut. The unmown grass is already evident in many Iowa parks, an Iowa official said, including popular ...

State's budget woes deepen - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - Rod Boshart
"The Iowa Constitution requires our state to operate with a balanced budget yet the fiscal year that ended yesterday leaves Iowa with an unbalanced budget," ...

Other States budget woes ...

State Budget Woes Worsen As Deadline Arrives -NPR - Deborah Tedford
Brian Sigritz, of the National Association of State Budget Officers, said California, Mississippi and Rhode Island has special challenges in passing their ...

State budget woes to hit consumers - Credit.com News
Tax hikes and budget woes: States crunched - CNNMoney.com
News roundup: Budget battles coast-to-coast - USA Today

Budget Vetoes Leave Ariz.'s Fiscal Woes Unresolved -Northern Arizona Today - Paul Davenport, Jonathan J. Cooper
Jan Brewer avoided a shutdown of state government Wednesday by signing a budget bill from the Legislature, but her vetoes of other spending proposals leave ...

Discussion: How would you solve AZ budget woes? - KVOA.com
Many states facing budget woes - Huntington Herald Dispatch

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01 July 2009

Bad News: 'Cap and Trade' and challanges in State Budgets

In the 220 years of our republic, there may have been worse pieces of
legislation enacted by Congress than the Waxman-Markey bill, but none readily
comes to mind. The Senate needs to take a stand and stop this disastrous act
from passing into law. - Robert Zubrin

The Costs of the Cap -and-Trade Bill - Roll Call
McKinley and other Republicans note that Culver can pull $50 million from
the state's cash reserves of about $400 million without legislative approval,
and there was a $44 million surplus in the budget approved by the Legislature.
That roughly $94 million appears far short of the expected shortfall.
-
Ames Tribune

The Wednesday, July 1, 2009 edition of The Ames Tribune features an article titled, "Iowa sees budget gap as fiscal year ends." For more on this issue, read "Iowa's State Budget: Spending Our Way to a Crisis Again."
“Governor Culver has allowed the budget mess to become far too problematic
for him to handle on his own – we have gone from having a projected deficit to
an actual deficit. He needs to call the Legislature back for a special session
to balance the budget. He then needs to ask the Legislature to reduce the budget
for the coming year by an equal amount.
Everyone in the state has seen this day coming, except for Governor Culver. Taxpayers and local governments cannot afford a ‘wait and see’ approach any longer. Action is needed now.
It is time to quit worrying about the political ramifications of admitting that we have a deficit and get about the business of fixing it. Governor Vilsack put aside
partisan politics and called a special session in 2001 and 2002 to balance the
budget after revenues declined; Culver needs to do the same.”
- State Rep.
Christopher Rants

Rants Call for a Special Session to get Iowa’s Fiscal House in Order - The Iowa Republican

The impact of 'Cap and Trade' and our State Budget situation don't provide a lot of confidence for future planning and expansion. We see foreclosures mounting in the USA. We see unemployment concerns and we see both the Federal and State governments living beyond sustainability.

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