Health Care: No One Supports The Status Quo

Information we need to know that most media is not telling! --bc
GOP.com, 7/17/2009 - Republican Proposals Decrease Costs, Increase Access Without Government Takeover: President Obama On Wednesday: “So make no mistake, the status quo on health care is not an option for the United States of America.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Health Reform And America’s Nurses, The White House, 7/15/09)

GOP PLANS CHANGE STATUS QUO, MAKES INSURANCE CHEAPER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
RNC Chairman Michael Steele Outlines GOP’s Common Sense Solutions For Health Care Reform. “Republicans support common sense reforms that will control cost, preserve quality and provide the health care that Americans deserve. Our plans will: Reduce and control individual costs. Protect the doctor-patient relationship. Preserve and improve quality & choice. End lawsuit abuse in order to reduce costs to consumers. Responsibly reform health care without further bankrupting the country.” (RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Memo To Republican Leaders, 6/30/09)

Houston Chronicle: GOP Ideas “Blessedly Free Of Loud Political Rhetoric.” "The Republican plan emphasizes preserving health care choices for individuals while bringing down costs, which have soared since 1993, the last time reform was attempted… The plan is earnest and blessedly free of loud political rhetoric. GOP leaders appear to have received the message that most Americans really do want a workable solution to this problem, as does most of the nation's business community, which labors under competitive disadvantages internationally on its account." (Editorial, "Minority View: Give The Republican Proposal For Health Care Reform A Respectful Hearing," Houston Chronicle, 6/18/09) [HC link not good, hyperlink goes to an alternate site].

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) Outlined Sound Steps Towards Covering Uninsured. “To get to the problem of uninsured, we have to equalize the tax code. Business provides health insurance for its employees. If an individual buys insurance, it is not deductible. Number two, we should be incentivizing wellness programs. Targeting smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and lack of exercise. Safeway have been able to cut health-care costs by incentivizing employees to take good care of their health. Those are the kinds of steps that we could take to really address the problem of access and cost without scrapping the finest health care in the world.” (FOX News’ “America’s Newsroom,” 7/16/09)

House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) Said GOP Plan Will Increase Affordability, Accessibility Of Health Care. “House Republicans have offered a better solution to make health care more affordable and accessible. Our alternative plan will let patients and doctors – not government bureaucrats – make critical and personal decisions about their health care. It will ensure that Americans who like their health care plan can keep it, unlike the House Democrats’ proposal, which would force as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage. And it will not raise taxes on small businesses and put even more jobs in jeopardy at a time when middle-class families already are hurting. It’s time for Washington Democrats to abandon their ‘go it alone’ approach and work with Republicans on true reform that expands Americans’ access to affordable health care.” (Rep. John Boehner, “Boehner Statement on White House Announcement with Hospital Executives,” Press Release, 7/8/09)

House GOP Health Care Solutions Group Proposed Principles To Increase Access, Reduce Costs. "Republicans are looking at solutions to: (1) Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions; (2) Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: (a) eliminate the health coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job, (b) limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options, and (c) result in the federal government taking control of your health care; (3) Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs; (4) Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats; (5) Improve Americans' lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases." (Rep. Roy Blunt, "Health Care Solutions Group," Press Release, 6/17/09)

REPUBLICANS HAVE OFFERED RANGE OF REFORM ALTERNATIVES

First Comprehensive Health Reform Bill Introduced This Year Was Sponsored By Senators Coburn (R-OK) And Burr (R-NC), Congressmen Ryan (R-WI) And Nunes (R-CA). “The President reiterated a false choice that is damaging the open, honest health care debate that we deserve. The President frames the debate as: The government must take over the management of health care OR continue with the failed status-quo of today. He continues to challenge his critics by asking, ‘What is the alternative?’ He knows that there are alternatives – better alternatives where the patient, not the government, is at the center of health care in America. He knows that we have introduced the Patients’ Choice Act of 2009. He knows this, and is simply hoping that the American people don’t know it. It should be noted that Democrats haven’t yet introduced a bill – we have. The Patients’ Choice Act (pdf) [See THOMAS H.R. 2520] is a real proposal with actual legislative text, demonstrating that we can have universal health insurance in this country without the government taking it over.” (Rep. Paul Ryan, Op Ed, "The False Choice Versus The Patients' Choice," The Journal Times, 6/11/09)

Bill Supports Patient-Centered, Not Bureaucrat-Centered, Health Care. "'The Patients' Choice Act of 2009' transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. 'The Patients' Choice Act' promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more." (Rep. Paul Ryan, "Senators Coburn, Burr, And Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward On Health Care Reform," Press Release, 5/20/09)

Congressman Shadegg (R-AZ) Introduced “Improving Health Care for All Americans Act.” “[The bill] takes a radically different approach in contrast to what has been discussed by President Obama as well as Democrats in both chambers. It gives people choice and places American families back in control of their plans and their health care. This legislation will reduce the cost and improve the quality of health care while expanding access and portability.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

• Tax Credits, Not Government-Run Plan, Will Improve Access. “The bill allows Americans who don’t have employer-sponsored care or those not satisfied with their employer-sponsored plan to buy their own plan on the same tax-advantaged basis their employer enjoys. Americans who pay income taxes get a dollar for dollar reduction in their tax bill up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family. Americans who don’t pay income taxes get the same amount from the government to buy a policy of their choice; $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)
  
  
• Insurance Pooling Will Aid Uninsured, Those Unhappy With Current Coverage. “This legislation creates expanded options for the purchase of low-cost health care from new pooling mechanisms. Today, the only health insurance pool available to Americans is their employer’s pool. Americans not in an employer-sponsored pool buy in what is called the ‘individual market.’ The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act dramatically expands the insurance pools Americans can select to join by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade associations and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer affordable health care packages to their members. Instead of having only one group policy to choose from, under this bill, every American will be able to choose from a number of ‘group plans.’ This will make health care more affordable and portable while not locking individuals into staying at a job simply to keep their health coverage. Families should not be forced to choose between leaving their employer and having health care.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) Introduced “Health Care Freedom Act Of 2009,” Focusing On Choice, Transparency. “Under the Health Care Freedom Plan, Americans would be able to keep the care they have now, but if they are uninsured or unhappy with their current plan, they could access a voucher to purchase health insurance anywhere in the country. This will create a true, competitive market for health care that will lower costs and increase quality. And it levels the playing field so all Americans – regardless of their employment benefits or employment status -- have the same access to quality health care… The Health Care Freedom Plan will also help bring down overall medical costs by reducing expensive malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals and by adding transparency to the industry. This plan also ensures that Americans with pre-existing health conditions have access to affordable coverage through Federal block grants for state high-risk insurance programs.” (Sen. DeMint, “DeMint Introduces Health Care Freedom Plan,” Press Release, 6/23/09) Read More......

Yes, Palin did stop that bridge

Wall Street Journal, September 10, 2008 by Sen. Jim DeMint
"But, you know, when you've been taking all these earmarks when it's convenient, and then suddenly you're the champion anti-earmark person, that's not change. Come on! I mean, words mean something, you can't just make stuff up." -- Barack Obama, Sept. 6, 2008

In politics, words are cheap. What really counts are actions. Democrats and Republicans have talked about fiscal responsibility for years. In reality, both parties have a shameful record of wasting hundreds of billions of tax dollars on pork-barrel projects.

My Senate colleague Barack Obama is now attacking Gov. Sarah Palin over earmarks. Having worked with both John McCain and Mr. Obama on earmarks, and as a recovering earmarker myself, I can tell you that Mrs. Palin's leadership and record of reform stands well above that of Mr. Obama.

Let's compare.

Mrs. Palin used her veto pen to slash more local projects than any other governor in the state's history. She cut nearly 10% of Alaska's budget this year, saving state residents $268 million. This included vetoing a $30,000 van for Campfire USA and $200,000 for a tennis court irrigation system. She succinctly justified these cuts by saying they were "not a state responsibility."

Meanwhile in Washington, Mr. Obama voted for numerous wasteful earmarks last year, including: $12 million for bicycle paths, $450,000 for the International Peace Museum, $500,000 for a baseball stadium and $392,000 for a visitor's center in Louisiana.

Mrs. Palin cut Alaska's federal earmark requests in half last year, one of the strongest moves against earmarks by any governor. It took real leadership to buck Alaska's decades-long earmark addiction.

Mr. Obama delivered over $100 million in earmarks to Illinois last year and has requested nearly a billion dollars in pet projects since 2005. His running mate, Joe Biden, is still indulging in earmarks, securing over $90 million worth this year.

Mrs. Palin also killed the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in her own state. Yes, she once supported the project: But after witnessing the problems created by earmarks for her state and for the nation's budget, she did what others like me have done: She changed her position and saved taxpayers millions. Even the Alaska Democratic Party credits her with killing the bridge.

When the Senate had its chance to stop the Bridge to Nowhere and transfer the money to Katrina rebuilding, Messrs. Obama and Biden voted for the $223 million earmark, siding with the old boys' club in the Senate. And to date, they still have not publicly renounced their support for the infamous earmark.

Mrs. Palin has proven courageous by taking on big spenders in her own party. In March of this year, the Anchorage Daily News reported that, "Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is aggravated about what he sees as Gov. Sarah Palin's antagonism toward the earmarks he uses to steer federal money to the state."

Mr. Obama had a chance to take on his party when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered a sham ethics bill, which was widely criticized by watchdog groups such as Citizens Against Government Waste for shielding earmarks from public scrutiny. But instead of standing with taxpayers, Mr. Obama voted for the bill. Today, he claims he helped write the bill that failed to clean up Washington.

Mr. Obama has shown little restraint on earmarks until this year, when he decided to co-sponsor an earmark moratorium authored by Mr. McCain and myself. Mr. Obama is vulnerable on this issue, and he knows it. That is why he is lashing out at Mrs. Palin and trying to hide his own record.

Mrs. Palin is one of the strongest antiearmark governors in America. If more governors around the country would do what she has done, we would be much closer to fixing our nation's fiscal problems than we are.

Mrs. Palin's record here is solid and inspiring. She will help Mr. McCain shut down the congressional favor factory, and she has a record to prove it. Actions mean something. You can't just make stuff up.

Mr. DeMint, a Republican, is a U.S. senator from South Carolina. Read More......