Obama headed to Iowa after The House passes Health Care bill

You may find the following Monday, March 22, 2010 article was published in The Washington Post. titled, "A look at the health care overhaul bill" of interest.

The Public Interest Institute suggests the following on the ideology of reform, read: "Let the Market Work, Government Won't."

President Obama heading to Iowa City to promote Health Care Reform.

Obama To Speak About Health Care In Iowa City‎ - WCCO - Mike Glover
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ― President Barack Obama will speak about health care Thursday in Iowa City, marking passage of the historic legislation by returning ...

As National Write Your Congressman Reports on Monday, March 22, 2010 ...

Health Care Overhaul Bill: Democratic leaders in the House have promoted legislation designed to remake the nation's health care system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) posted a preliminary $940 billion cost estimate for the bill. President Obama canceled a planned trip to Asia to help push through the legislation. The House voted and passed the health care package on Sunday, March 21, with floor action to follow in the Senate as early as this week.Republicans were thwarted in a bid to bar Democrats from using a rule that allowed them to clear the Senate-passed health care overhaul and to pass a reconciliation bill after making changes to that measure. (H.R.4872)

Budget Math Hinders Health Care Bill: House Democrats had difficulties crafting a final health care bill that would achieve a five-year deficit reduction of more than $100 billion. The problem delayed what party leaders hope will be a final vote on the measure to Sunday.Under the little-known rules for budget reconciliation, a bill passed through the expedited parliamentary process must produce a greater deficit reduction than the legislation it amends. Since the Senate health care bill would produce $104 billion in deficit savings in its first five years, according to the CBO, the final bill — which will include changes to the Senate bill — must provide more savings. (H.R.3590) (H.R.2847)

Hammering home reform - The Economist
Barack Obama’s health reforms cross the most important threshold

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It's Time to Push Back on the Expansion of the Federal Government in America

We believe in Limited Government and Limited Spending in our country! We believe that our country needs to focus again on Liberty! That Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is important to Americans. Equality and Property Rights cannot be forgotten, but Liberty and Personal Responsibility are crucial for our Republic. Our President and Elected Officials need to get the financial house in order for our Country.

Today's article is from the Monday, January 4, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal is titled, Deficit, Budget Woes Need Solutions as U.S. Nears the Precipice. For more on this issue, read: Institute Brief: Cutting Federal Spending Must Be a Top Priority.

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Is Inflation in our future after Economic Crisis and Election of Mr.Obama?

The Monday, September 21, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Fed faces test on inflation. For more on the Federal Reserve, please read Public Interest Institute's brief titled The mythology of Fed control of the economy.

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RIP - Walter Cronkite: America's Most Trusted Man in America

The Thursday, September 10, 2009 edition of The Washington Post features an article titled, "Cronkite, Icon of Truth and Trust, Hailed at Memorial." For additional information on the topic read, the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "The Most Trusted Man in America."

It's hard to trust anything these days with the expansion of government at all levels.

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The Path to Recovery is Limited Spending and sticking to the Constitution

The Wednesday, September 2, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, U.S. economy gets lift from stimulus. For more on economic policy ideas read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled, Follow the Constitution rather than Keynes.

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State Spending outpaces State Revenues in most States

No sooner had state lawmakers around the country gone home after spending
months plugging ...

The Monday, August 31, 2009 edition of The Washington Times features a story titled, State, local services hit as revenues fall. For more on the importance of cutting taxes to raise revenue, read Public Interest Institutes's brief titled, Historical success of tax cuts.

Other reviews of state spending vs. state revenues across the USA.

Conn. and Pa. state budgets still in limbo -The Associated Press
Erik Arneson, a spokesman for the Senate Republicans in Pennsylvania, frames the debate as a choice between cutting spending to match revenues, ...
What Now for State Budget? - Industrial Laser Solutions
Pennsylvania lawmakers begin to make concessions to pass budget ... - The Patriot-News

Mo. cuts $7 million from tourism budget -Bizjournals.com

Missouri has had to cut spending and lay off workers as tax revenue dropped and shoppers pulled back on spending. The state expects nearly $7.4 billion in ...
Your letters, Aug. 30, 2009 - St. Joseph News-Press

It's time to bring back the virtue of limited spending.

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Choice is important, whether it be Health Care or our K-12 systems of Edcuation in the USA

Choice is important in both Health Care and in Education in the USA.

The consumer is often best protected when there is competition in the marketplace and options for the consumer to select.

The Friday, August 28, 2009 edition of USA Today features a story titled, L.A. school board OKs school choice plan with private operators. For more on the issue of school choice, read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled School Choice in America and Iowa: The Time for Change is Now.

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What's up on the Health Care discussion: VA pamblet and Budget Strains

Page 21 is a bit creepy. I'm not defending or complaining at this point. I'm
just saying why are enough people concerned that the VA book was pulled from the .gov website and we're hearing that section is being removed from HR3200? ...I finally found the book online (thanks Deb) - and I kept a copy. - A person on Facebook wrote

Your Life, Your Choices -www.docstoc.com
Your Life Your Choices Planning for Future Medical Decisions: How to Prepare a Personalized Living Will Your Life Your Choices Planning for Future Medical Decisions: How to Prepare a Personalized Living Will Authored ...

The Monday, August 24, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, Budget pain spreads to energy-rich states. For more on economic recovery policy ideas, read Institute Brief: The American Option.

In the State of Iowa, newcomer Christian Fong, the Western Iowa native, who is a businessman here in Cedar Rapids, released his first radio advertisement that was critical towards the use of bonds by the current governor. In speaking engagements, Fong often speaks about the dangers of generational debt.

“As governor I would end the use of taxpayer money to fund lobbyists and
veto any budget that is not balanced.” - Christian Fong

Fong begins statewide radio ad campaign; Dems cry ‘foul’ - The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Christian Fong is on the airwaves with a statewide radio campaign. ...

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The U.S. Federal Government needs to promote limited spending

"The large deficit and the grim longer-term fiscal outlook also will
continue to play a big role in the debate over domestic priorities, such as
health-care overhaul." - The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, U.S. deficit projection trimmed for 2009. For a historical example of the importance of following constitutional government, read Institute Brief: Governing by the Founder's Constitution: The Presidency of Warren G. Harding.

Attempts are being made to stimulate demand by channeling resources into areas
that government planners consider socially beneficial. For example, a bonus is
given to individuals who trade in their “clunkers” for sub-compact fuel
efficient cars. In the end, such programs will prove futile and result in a
misallocation of resources. - Fred Buzzeo

An Analysis of Production and Consumption Based Economic Stimulants - The Market Oracle
The answer is clear: The government should return money to its rightful owner, the taxpayer; eliminate excessive spending and budget deficits; and encourage ...

I believe in letting the free market correct itself and letting competition
rather than the government decide "winners" and "losers." I’m doing everything I
can to prevent the Washington, D.C., mindset of government growth and spending
sprees from infecting our state. - State Sen. Luann Ridgeway (Mo.)

Stopping excessive spending not easy - Sun Tribune
The 2010 budget amounts to a 3 percent increase in spending — yet our income (tax revenue) is down 4 percent. Your federal tax dollars came back to us via ...

Of course, the spending spree by the Federal Government can cause difficult challanges to state and local budgets. Federal stimulus money is only short-term.

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Pass the Ketchup and Mustard, but can we please hold and stop the Rationing of Health Care path

"Although administration officials are eager to deny it, rationing health care
is central to President Barack Obama’s health plan. The Obama strategy is to
reduce health costs by rationing the services that we and future generations of
patients will receive." - Martin Feldstein

The Wednesday, August 19, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, ObamaCare Is All About Rationing. For more on health care reform, read Institute Brief: A Healthcare Prescription for Iowa.

Ketchup / Catsup History
Original ketchup contained no tomatoes

"But do Americans really want government bureaucrats
dictating access to care based on their perception of one's worth to society?
This question goes to the heart of the problem with rationing: A stranger far
from the scene decides who gets care and who doesn't. The person making these
decisions knows neither the patient nor the health care provider, yet he or she
is charged with the responsibility of allocating scarce resources among a
demanding population rather than providing the best possible care." - Ken
Connor

Ken Connor: Elderly should keep a close eye on health debate - Tallahassee Democrat

A Washington Times editorial on Aug. 18 criticized the claim that private
insurers “ration” care: “There
is no more rationing by private insurance companies than there is rationing at
the grocery store. In a private system, consumers can buy more
expensive health insurance plans if they want better benefits. Similarly, in a
grocery store, if you want more food, you pay more money. There is no rationing
in either case.”

CNN Devotes Six Minutes to Health Care 'Rationing' Proponent -Business Media Institute
At one point in the segment, Roberts asked why rationing is a “dirty word” in the health care debate when it already “goes on all the time in the corporate ...

A key component in a quality health care system is choice. Here are recommendations from 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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It's grassroots: Americans are concerned about Washington D.C. Health Care Reform talk

About 60,000 senior citizens have quit AARP since July 1 due to the group's
support for a health care overhaul - AARP spokesperson

The Tuesday, August 18, 2009 edition of USA Today features a story titled, AARP loses members over health care stance. For more on health care reform, read Institute Brief: Deafness is Treatable, If You're Listening.

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Good News ... Obama steps back on Public Option in discussion in Health Care Reform

The Monday, August 17, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, Chances Dim for a Public Plan. For more on health care reform, read Institute Brief: More Government Is Not The Answer.

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We need to slow down and not rush Health Care Reform

Some want to argue that we have been waiting since Truman for health care reform. But, clearly that is not correct. First, single payer health care is not the only remedy or option for health care reform in the USA. By the way, Medicare in the State of Iowa should be a good indication to voice 'No' for single payer health care ran by the Federal Government.

One size does not fit all when it comes to health care.

"The debate over health care reform is being shaped by an unlikely player -
Sen. Mike Enzi, the media-shy Republican from Wyoming. Although the Democrats control both houses, reporter Greg Hitt says Enzi's support could be a factor
down the road." - The Wall Street Journal

The Thursday, August 6, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Sen. Enzi Won't Rush Into Health-Bill Deal. For more on health-care reform, read the Public Interest Institute Brief: Let the Market Work, Government Won't.

Market driven health care example:

"To those who say that the free-market doesn’t work, I send you to the
cosmetic surgery clinics. Many baby boomers frequent these clinics. Their
insurance doesn’t pay. They choose to look younger. The number of people getting
treatments has increased by 5 or 6 times, while the costs have either gone down
or remained stable. This is also true for elective laser vision surgery. As
recently as 10 years ago, the cost was double what it is today. There is
virtually no wait time and outstanding results.8 The free-market works, if it
has the opportunity." - Deborah Thornton

The concerns with public controlled and driven health care are sustainability, equality, rationing, choice and quality. We encourage to visit the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center for more information on health care reform.

• 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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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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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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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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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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"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

CQPolitics.com - Chiropractic Economics

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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 ...

Video: Fiscal emergency in California - RT
Schwarzenegger can't terminate California money woes - Reuters
Arnie's ious Amid California Budget Woes - Sky News

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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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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