WaPo: Breaking down Obama’s jobs plan

President Obama urged Congress Thursday night to pass a $447 billion plan that he said will get the economy moving and create jobs. The proposal would cost a little more than half of the 2009 stimulus package and, according to Obama, be paid for by additional deficit reduction that he will outline Sept. 19.

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College Republicans respond to Obama's Facebook videos to the young

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House Republicans Unveil $700B Healthcare Plan

Repeated from Benton Co. Republicans July 31 Newsletter - House Republicans Unveil $700B Healthcare Plan
“We are introducing this bill because we support health care reform, but in a way that empowers patients.” This bill gives GOP lawmakers a positive plan to point to when they go home for the congressional August break.

The GOP plan was drafted by Rep. Tom Price, R-GA, a physician. It avoids expanding the federal role in overseeing the health insurance industry. Unlike Dem proposals, it would not set up new federally regulated purchasing pools for individuals and small businesses. Instead, it would allow individuals to use the Internet to purchase lower-cost coverage available anywhere in the country.

The plan would offer tax deductions and tax credits to help make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for individuals. States, associations and small businesses would be allowed to pool together to offer less expensive insurance coverage. It would provide grants to states to help set up high-risk pools for people with medical problems who are denied coverage by commercial insurers. And it would allow employers to automatically sign workers up for the company’s coverage—similar to what’s done with 401 (k) retirement plans.

The GOP will would take on medical malpractice, limiting jury awards for pain and suffering and creating new health courts in which a specially trained judge would hear and decide cases involving medical negligence.

Republicans say their plan is fully paid for, but it hasn’t been assessed yet by the Congressional Budget Office, the official scorekeeper for the costs of legislation.

It’s unclear how far the plan would go in reducing the number of uninsured. Most independent analysts—and the insurance industry—say some sort of requirement to purchase insurance is needed to ensure coverage. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said “we believe we can come up with a plan where every person in the uninsured has access to insurance.” Read More......

Could the Public Option lead to a single payer system?

Obama, in his own words, admitting his Health Care Plan will eliminate private insurance
Obama and the Democrats health care goal is a public option that will ultimately eiminate private employer provided insurance. (Obama S.E.I.U. forum on health care 3/24/07, Barney Frank, Jan Schakowsky all admitting a public option will put the private insurance industry out of business) NAKED EMPEROR NEWS (Hat tip to Morgen at Verum Serum for the 2003 clip) Read More......

Chart: House Democrats' Health Care Plan

On Tuesday, July 14, 2009, House Democrats introduced the latest version of health care reform legislation. To help consumers better understand the 1018 page bill, below is a chart depicting the new mandates, premiums, taxes, and the new process patients and the health care providers will follow to receive coverage.

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House and Senate Republicans highlight plan for Oregon jobs

BUILDING A BETTER OREGON - With more than 236,286 Oregonians looking for work, House and Senate Republicans presented a ten point plan to create lasting and local jobs Tuesday. While Oregon's unemployment rate is the highest in over 25 years, House and Senate Republicans have been pushing proposals to create and sustain jobs for the past two months. ∴ "While the mortgage, grocery and heating bills continue to pile up, jobs are becoming Oregon's newest endangered species," said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). "These proposals are built on the idea that when we empower small businesses and give families extra breathing room in their budgets, they make decisions that are best for them and best for the economy."

House and Senate Republicans spoke about four of the proposals in detail:

1. Reduce income tax withholding tables by 4.2% to immediately put $100 million back into Oregonian's paychecks and create 2,500 jobs, without costing government a penny.
2. Implement the Main Street Incentive Program to encourage home and business owners to engage in capital improvement projects. Creates more than 5,000 jobs.
3. Provide matching funds for public and private airports to improve facilities through a Flight Plan for Local Jobs. The improved facilities will create economic development opportunities for local communities. Using $7.7 million, more than $128 million can be leveraged. The plan would create 2,214 jobs.
4. Reconnect to the federal tax code so Oregonians receiving unemployment benefits won't be taxed. This would give unemployed Oregonians an additional $15 million to help make ends meet.
   

Senator Brian Boquist (R-Dallas) stressed the needs of working and unemployed Oregonians.

"Oregonians are hurting as they face reduced hours and record unemployment," said Boquist. "Every extra dollar in the average Oregonians' paycheck helps pay for winter coats, school books, the heat bill or rent."

Infrastructure investment is a key to long term job growth, according to Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend).

"These projects are planned and ready to go, all they need is the seed money," said Telfer. "This is a small investment for a big return both now, in construction jobs, and into the future when the finished projects will bring tremendous economic benefit to communities all around the state."

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