Shaun Bill elected term ends in 2017 [Not running for reelection. It seems he is running uncontested for Morton Park District Commissioner. Three positions and three candidates.]
Clint Heinold elected term ends in 2017 [Not running for reelection.]
Kelly Scarfe elected term ends in 2017 [Not running for reelection.]
Michelle Bernier elected term ends in 2019
Note: [ ] = my additions
Roe vs. Wade decided January 22, 1973 = 44 years ago as of January 22, 2017
Over 44 years of government sanctioned murder of our own children. Evil personified!
ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß ß
One month after the 44th year of the illegal, unconstitutional Roe vs. Wade decision, approximately 84,931 babies within the womb have been murdered because of federal government sanctioned evil based upon one million murders of babies within the womb per year. And the murders continue day after day. What has Congress done to stop the unconstitutional murder of our own children?
Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý
Petition to defund the United Nations:
http://madisonproject.grassrootsaction.us/defund-the-united-nations-h/
The UN is a completely failed organization. It needs to be defunded
¨ For its attacks on the sovereign State of Israel,
¨ For its promotion of and support for murdering babies within the womb and the radical homosexual agenda.
¨ For supporting and promoting the scientific nonsense of man-made global warming,
¨ And for its call for one world government in direct violation of the sovereignty of the United States of America.
¨ Then, the US needs to get out of the UN and get the UN out of the US.
Petition: Defund Planned Parenthood [Planned Murderhood]
http://liveaction.org/petition/
“Planned Parenthood [Planned Murderhood] received over $500 million in forced taxpayer funding last year [fiscal year]. I stand with my fellow Americans in a nationwide call to defund the nation’s largest abortion [murder of babies within the womb] corporation.”
Video: https://www.facebook.com/liveaction/videos/10154979597013728/?utm_source=Live+Action&utm_campaign=ae72609e00-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b50982edcd-ae72609e00-86729901
Donate: https://donate.liveaction.org/checkout/donation?eid=115314?utm_source=autoreplyemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pppetition
Petition to Defund Planned Murderhood NOW!: https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/congress-must-de-fund-planned-parenthood-immediately.html
“Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood [Planned Murderhood] Immediately
Target: United States Congress
Region: United States of America
Website: www.LifeNews.com”
NO organization, including Planned Murderhood, which is involved in any way with the sinful, evil, barbaric practice of murdering babies within the womb should ever receive our taxpayer money!
Petition: http://nationalprolifealliance.com/lacAM_petition.aspx?pid=0219&npla=EH17
Abolishing the murder of babies within the womb by Congressional law will actually be faster and more effective than waiting on the court. Right now there are five justices on the court who support the murder of babies within the womb. The four radical Leftist justices appointed by Democrat Presidents and Justice Kennedy. Therefore, to even have a chance of the court reversing, we need two more Constitutional Justices and the second one has to replace one of the five pro-murdering babies within the womb justices. Even then, it would take a couple of years, at least, to get the case through the court system.
Passing a law of Congress is the best way of ending the terror of our American holocaust. The best way to abolish the murder of babies within the womb. The best way to stop any State from passing a law allowing the murder of babies within the womb. And it is also best constitutionally.
Life for all persons within the United States including babies within the womb is guaranteed and protected by the Declaration of Independence, Amendment V of the United States Constitution, and Amendment XIV of the United States Constitution. No court, no government body, no individual can constitutionally sanction the murder of babies within the womb. All such decisions, laws, and regulations are patently unconstitutional and illegal and should be immediately abolished by Congress by law!
Statistically, everyday of delay over 2,700 babies are murdered in the womb through abortion using 1 million abortions a year as a baseline. It is past time to attack the evil of murdering babies within the womb on every front with every legal weapon we can use until the murder of babies within the womb is abolished completely throughout the United States and its territories. Murder of babies within the womb is a horrendous evil that needs to and must be terminated.
Restore the Constitution
Take Back the Nation
I am a Christian, Constitutionalist, conservative
Isaiah 1: 1-31 (NIV)
The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem [Applicable to the United States today, in my opinion. GOD is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. HE is righteous, just, and true yesterday, today, and tomorrow!] that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me [The United States has and is rebelling against GOD!]. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel [the United States] does not know, my people [the United States] do not understand.’
Woe to the sinful nation [the United States], a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel [the United States] and turned their backs on him.
Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil.
Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom [destroyed by GOD because of homosexual sin!], we would have been like Gomorrah [destroyed by GOD because of homosexual sin!].
[Read Genesis 18 and 19 for the Biblical account. Genesis 19: 23-29 (NIV)]
“By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he [GOD] overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities [A righteous act by a righteous GOD WHO destroyed evil people who refused to repent from their evil. And yes, I believe the account and so did JESUS the SON of GOD. HE referenced Sodom and/or Gomorrah several times. Matthew 10: 15 (NIV) “Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”]—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.
So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he [GOD] brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.”
This is also why homosexual radicals attack Christians who speak out against homosexual behavior. Christians who know the Bible know that homosexual behavior is sin punishable by spiritual death. There is NO “right” to homosexual behavior and people are NOT born homosexual. Homosexual behavior is learned behavior. Therefore, people do not have to be involved in the behavior and people can repent and STOP being involved in the behavior!]
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom [the United States]; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah [the United States]! ‘The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you [the present or the future for the United States?]; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening [the present or the future for the United States?].
Your hands are full of blood [the present for the United States as we as a nation MURDER over a million babies a year through government sanctioned abortions!]!
Wash and make yourselves clean [Will we?]. Take your evil deeds out of my sight [Will we?]; stop doing wrong [Will we?]. Learn to do right [Will we?]; seek justice [Will we?]. Defend the oppressed [Will we? Who are more oppressed than murdered babies?]. Take up the cause of the fatherless [Will we? GOD’S family structure not man’s]; plead the case of the widow [Will we? GOD’S family structure not man’s].’
‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient [Stop rebelling], you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her—but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.
Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: ‘Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.’
Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish. ‘You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.’”
“ACTION ALERT: Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization
From: Act for America
February 28, 2017
The opportunity to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization is at our fingertips. Now is our time to strike while the iron is hot.
As you know, the Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest Islamic terrorist organization in the world, and has served as the mothership for radical jihadists for almost a century.
No longer!
Now that the two bills affirming that the Muslim Brotherhood be designated as a foreign terrorist entity have been reintroduced in the 115th Congress, we must once again take advantage of our influence on Capitol Hill and let our elected officials know how strongly we feel about the necessity of this designation.
Please call and/or send our pre-written email to your elected officials, and tell them to support the passage of The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act.
It has been introduced in the House of Representatives, once again by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, (H.R. 377) and in the Senate by Senator Ted Cruz (S. 68).
You can send our pre-written email to your federal legislators by simply clicking here.
Our advocacy tool will automatically identify your legislators in the House and Senate (including their office phone numbers if you prefer a phone call over an e-mail) [I prefer e-mail since you can keep a record of what you said. A phone call does not provide that record.] and in a matter of minutes your opinion on this important issue will reach their offices.
It’s that simple!
We must not waste any more time, our [The Obama Administration’s refusal] reluctance to properly name this enemy allows it to operate financially unfettered, while continuing to spread terror and violence across the globe.
The time is now!
Again, click here now to send your message of support for these two bills to those who represent you in the U.S. Congress!
Thank you for your continued help. We look forward to seeing the passage of these bills thanks to your patriotic activism.
Call Your Representative Now
Email Your Representative Now
For Freedom,
ACT for America
Legislative Action Center: https://cqrcengage.com/act/
Donate: https://actforamerica.nationbuilder.com/donate?utm_campaign=aalert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actforamerica
The link: http://cqrcengage.com/act/app/onestep-write-a-letter?0&engagementId=276273
“Tell your Representative that you support the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act
Your information below is required for verification purposes. If you click ‘Remember me’ at the bottom of the page, you will not have to re-enter your information before making any future e-mails or phone calls through our site. Once the form is completed, click ‘Submit’ at the bottom of this page and you will be directed to a pre-written email to help you express your views on this very important issue.
Enter your zip code and click ‘Check Zip Code’ to continue [Need zip code to determine your House Representative and Senators]
| Check Zip Code [Red button to the left side of the page] |
DEMAND FULL REPEAL of OBAMACARE
Petition: http://madisonproject.grassrootsaction.us/demand-full-repeal-of-obamacare/
From: Senate Conservatives Fund
RyanCare = Obamacare 2.0
March 8, 2017
“Fellow Conservative:
The new health care bill written by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) has been released, but it does not repeal Obamacare [It does NOT repeal Obamacare.].
Of course, GOP leaders are calling it ‘repeal’ in the hopes that they can trick the voters long enough to pass it. Then, when the dust settles and Americans learn the truth, it will be too late.
The truth is that RyanCare keeps Obamacare’s most expensive coverage mandates, it keeps much of Obamacare’s costly Medicaid expansion, it continues to impose penalties on people who don’t keep their coverage, and it continues to provide government subsidies using a new entitlement program [It DECIDES winners and losers just as all government enacted programs do that try to manipulate what is suppose to be a free market economy.].
Between the regulatory structure, the Medicaid expansion, and the subsidies, RyanCare is Obamacare 2.0.
Republicans campaigned on full repeal [They lied.] and they even put a clean repeal bill on President Obama’s desk in 2015 [Because they knew it would be vetoed. They were playing games to give the appearance of wanting to repeal Obamacare.]. But now that the election is over and they are writing the bill they really want, they have abandoned repeal and are only making minor changes to the law.
THIS is why Americans are so upset with Washington!
The sad, but unavoidable, fact is that RyanCare will not lower costs and improve access to health coverage [or improve healthcare], but it will cause Republicans to own the disaster that follows [Making them the scapegoats instead of the Left. Talk about turning victory into defeat overnight. The Left must be secretly gloating over this Republican incompetence. Or, is it duplicity?].
TAKE ACTION
Conservatives in the House and Senate know that RyanCare is fundamentally flawed and breaks the promises Republicans made to the voters, but they are going to come under intense pressure from GOP leaders to compromise their principles.
The establishment wants them to give up the chance to pass the right policies in exchange for an immediate, yet hollow victory.
Please call the House and Senate members listed below and urge them to oppose RyanCare and to insist on full repeal of Obamacare [And only repeal. Repeal do NOT replace.] which was passed in 2015 and promised to the voters.
Since this bill is being passed under budget reconciliation, Republicans can pass it with a simple majority in the Senate. The same repeal bill Republicans passed in 2015 can be passed now.
Encourage the lawmakers listed below to hold strong and to keep their promise to truly repeal Obamacare. While the establishment may accuse them of blocking repeal, that is a flat-out lie.
Also, remind them that they will never regret doing the right thing, but they will regret passing this bill that continues Obamacare and it’s failed health care policies forever. The voters gave them the ability to repeal this terrible law and now they need to deliver.
If we can get 20 to 25 Republicans in the House and 3 to 5 Republicans in Senate to hold firm, GOP leaders will be forced to scrap RyanCare and pass the repeal bill they promised.
Finally, please don’t get discouraged. The GOP establishment has always been bad on Obamacare and the grassroots have always had to force them to support repeal. That hasn’t changed. We have succeeded in keeping them committed to repeal in the past and we can do it again now.
Thank you for standing strong for freedom and for doing so much to fight for our country’s future.
Sincerely,
Ken Cuccinelli II
President
Senate Conservatives Action
Please share this on Facebook and Twitter.
STOP RYANCARE
Please urge these Republicans to oppose RyanCare, which fails to repeal Obamacare. Urge them to pass a clean repeal bill like they did in 2015 before the last election.
GOP REPRESENTATIVES
Jim Banks (R-Indiana) – (202) 225-4436
Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) – (202) 225-4531
Bill Flores (R-Texas) – (202) 225-6105
Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) – (202) 225-3484
Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia) – (202) 225-2931
Tom McClintock (R-California) – (202) 225-2511
Alex Mooney (R-West Virginia) – (202) 225-2711
John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) – (202) 225-6673
Mark Walker (R-North Carolina) – (202) 225-3065
Roger Williams (R-Texas) – (202) 225-9896
GOP SENATORS
Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) – (202) 224-2353
Ted Cruz (R-Texas) – (202) 224-5922 [Has already said it will not pass the Senate in its present form.]
Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) – (202) 224-3254
Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) – (202) 224-6551
Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) – (202) 224-5323
Mike Lee (R-Utah) – (202) 224-5444
Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) – (202) 224-4343
Marco Rubio (R-Florida) – (202) 224-3041
Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) – (202) 224-4224
Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) – (202) 224-4254”
Donate: https://secure.senateaction.com/rmCHg/d?c=ce21f27d060c29d3e2f6e9f3aacd0e07
From: The Madison Project
Phony excuses
March 8, 2017
“I just stepped out of a strategy meeting and immediately sat down to write you this email.
By now, I’m sure you’ve read or heard about Paul Ryan’s healthcare bill House Republicans released yesterday to the public . . .
. . . the phony ‘repeal’ that amounts to nothing more than ObamaCare Lite.
If you’re like most conservatives, you’re FURIOUS—and you’re sick and tired of pulling Republican daggers out of your back.
I’m sick and tired of it too.
That’s why I spent the entire morning in a meeting with Madison Project staff and other long-term Capitol Hill strategists on how you and I can force Republicans to REJECT ObamaCare Lite.
Based on our estimates, 15 to 25 Republicans in the House and 3 to 5 Senate must stand their ground and fight to successfully block Paul Ryan’s ObamaCare Lite bill.
Don, this is one battle you and I can win.
But Republicans plan to have the bill in the Senate in as little as three weeks [Sound familiar? Isn’t that exactly what the Left did to pass Obamacare in the first place. The Republicans should be using this speed to defund organizations that murder babies within the womb as a stand alone budgetary bill.].
So time is short to turn up the pressure on Congress.
That’s why I’m counting on you to contribute to our DEFEAT ObamaCare Lite Moneybomb immediately.
The Madison Project is prepared to spring into action and turn up the type of pressure on Congress it’s going to take to defeat ObamaCare Lite.
And I’ve instructed our staff to launch a nationwide grassroots program to turn up the heat on Congress to DEFEAT ObamaCare Lite, including:
1) Contacting up to 10 million Americans using emails like the one you’re reading to help generate tens of thousands of fax blasts to Congress REJECTING Paul Ryan’s ObamaCare Lite bill;
2) Working the conservative news outlets and conducting interviews making the case why members of Congress—especially Republicans—are betraying the will of the majority of folks who elected them if they vote for Paul Ryan’s ObamaCare Lite—and letting them know that they will be held accountable at the ballot box for their vote;
3) Meeting with Congressmen, Senators and their staff to encourage them on your behalf to vote to reject ObamaCare Lite every opportunity.
Madison Project is also working with members of the House Freedom Caucus as well as conservative Senators like Mike Lee, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul on how best to block passage of ObamaCare Lite;
4) Launching an all-out Internet banner blitz targeting vulnerable members of Congress—by name—to encourage their constituents to sign our fax blast, call their offices and email them to make sure they get the message loud and clear:
DEFEAT OBAMACARE LITE!
As you can see, Don, I’m serious about defeating Paul Ryan’s ObamaCare Lite bill.
I’ve had enough of broken promises. Enough phony excuses. Enough weak-kneed politicians afraid to take a stand and fight for you and me and our values.
Today I’m counting on your help to do something about it.
In fact, Madison Project staff are prepared to launch the aggressive program I outlined above—RIGHT NOW.
But the amount we’re able to do depends on the generous help and support of good folks like you.
That’s why I’m reaching out and asking for your most generous financial support.
So Don, can I count on you to make a contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $150, $75, $50 or $35 to help with this critical program.
If that’s too much for you at this time, please consider chipping in a smaller donation of $25, $15 or $10.
Every dollar will help—and every dollar will go directly to this fight!
Now is the time to turn up the pressure on Congress to DEFEAT ObamaCare Lite.
So please, chip in your most generous contribution at once.
Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Drew Ryun
National Director
The Madison Project
https://causes.anedot.com/madisonproject-defeat-obamacare-lite
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/03/obamacare-2-point-0-is-a-gift-to-illegals-oh-and-gop-you-lie
“Obamacare 2.0 is a gift to illegals. Oh, and GOP? You LIE.
Daniel Horowitz | March 07, 2017
One of the most memorable moments of Obama’s presidency was when Representative Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina ([Conservative Review Scorecard grade] D, 65%) could no longer contain his anger as the president touted his signature health care legislation before a joint session of Congress. When Obama promised that illegal aliens would not be able to access the subsidies, Wilson shouted, ‘You lie!’
Sadly, eight years later, Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin ([Conservative Review Scorecard grade] F, 51%) and Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. ([Conservative Review Scorecard grade] F, 40%) are well on their way to tweaking Obamacare and owning it for themselves under the stratagem of calling it ‘repeal and replace.’ Now it appears that we might need Joe Wilson to direct his truth bomb at his own party. If nothing is done, Obamacare 2.0 will contain the same verification provisions as the original version that have enabled illegal aliens engaging in identity fraud to access the subsidies.
On page 37 of the draft legislation released by the Committee on Ways and Means, the bill calls for the use of the same verification methods as spelled out in sections 1411 and 1412 of … Obamacare!
Obamacare was based on verification provisions passed in the Democrats’ 2009 SCHIP bill, which required verification of citizenship but NOT identity. During the Obamacare debate, our side constantly said using the SCHIP provisions would encourage identity fraud and could qualify illegal immigrants for subsidies.
However, this bill would make the situation even worse than Obamacare. Although Obamacare didn’t require photo ID and fingerprints to verify identity, it did harness the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. Thus, officials were at least able to check immigration status against Social Security numbers.
The problem with this bill is that because it tweaks Obamacare and creates a new massive entitlement system through the budget reconciliation process, it cannot have the statutory effect of mandating HHS and IRS work with Citizenship and Immigration Services to use the SAVE database because that issue is outside the jurisdiction of the reporting committees. And no subject matter from other committees can be included in reconciliation.
Thus, to pass Obamacare 2.0 instead of plain repeal via budget reconciliation, Republicans must use weaker verification language.
This latest flaw in the bill illuminates a broader problem with trying to replace Obamacare before the reconciliation process. It’s why Republicans must focus exclusively on repealing the entire concept of the exchanges and regulations as a mandatory way of providing insurance and must allow insurers to offer any plan to any individual [free market competition]. Either way, the subsidies will remain in place for a transition period, so why address the issue now when reconciliation will present problems with verification provisions?
The answer is [establishment] Republicans never had any intention of actually repealing the meat and potatoes of this law.”
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/03/rino-care-a-more-insolvent-version-of-obamacare-except-this-time-gop-owns-it
“RINO [Republicans In Name Only]-Care: A more insolvent version of Obamacare … except this time GOP owns it
Daniel Horowitz | March 07, 2017
The first thing to understand about the GOP healthcare bill is that it is not merely Obamacare-lite or a bad ‘replacement’ bill. It doesn’t repeal the core of Obamacare in the first place. In fact, the few parts that it repeals or tweaks within a few years will actually intensify the death spiral of Obamacare when mixed with the core regulatory structure, exacerbated by the subsidies that they do keep. And this time, the GOP will own it politically. All of it.
The most dangerous myth about the GOP plan is that it repeals Obamacare. At least if GOP leadership would be honest and say they are too scared to repeal the ACA [Affordable Care Act which is itself a misnomer.] and are just tweaking it a few years from now (after the death spiral is made worse), then we can blame the Democrats for voting for it. Now that a bill codifying Obamacare in the worst possible form is being sold as ‘repeal and replace,’ Republicans have bailed out Democrats from their most toxic political issue without securing a single concession [Sound familiar?].
Regulations, spending, mandates, subsidies, and taxes
The basic structure of this plan is what I outlined last week after the first draft was leaked to the media. There is no discussion of lowering prices, fostering a revolution of choice, competition, portability, cost-consciousness, or breaking down the barriers between consumer and provider. That is because most of the regulatory structure and the exchanges are left in place.
There is no innovation, and no way to lower costs. While some of the regulations are tweaked with more flexibility, the 800-pound gorilla in the room—guaranteed issue mixed with community rating (which is responsible for almost all of the premium hikes)—is left in place. Nor does this bill repeal the mandated essential benefits, which require insurers to cover a specific number of people and sex change operations, maternity care for men, etc [Government should never penalize those who choose to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Government should never reward those who choose to live a destructive lifestyle. Yet, Obamacare does both.].
And even the repeal of actuarial value ‘metal’ requirements (platinum, gold, silver, bronze)—the most positive of the outlined changes—would not take place until the 2020 plans.
Amazingly, while the ‘American Health Care Act’ blows up the insurance market in order to mandate coverage of the sick, it still throws a whopping $100 billion at states in order to further subsidies to the poor and the sick (on top of Medicaid expansion and exchange subsidies).
Furthermore, the existence of the exchanges and the subsidies being steered to those exchanges will force insurers to continue competing for government-run health care that is actuarially insolvent. This continued structure will ensure that startup companies—which lack economies of scale to operate within this rigid (albeit slightly relaxed) structure—cannot enter the market. That is the core of what ails the health care industry.
On top of leaving the regulatory regime and the rigid exchanges, this House bill replaces the income-based subsidies with age-based subsidies—ranging from $2,000 for younger people to $4,000 a year for older enrollees, and as much as $14,000 for a family. It is a massive new entitlement for middle-income and lower-income Americans. It would apply in full for families earning up to $150,000, and then phased out $100 per thousand dollars earned over that threshold. Thus, a family could theoretically get some sort of subsidy well into the $200,000-plus income level [Subsidies paid for by taxpayers. Nothing from the government is “free.” “Free” only changes who pays for it.]
As for Medicaid, the draft plan grandfathers in the entirety of the Obamacare expansion. Worse, it doesn’t freeze future enrollment for another two years, which will incentivize states to massively expand Medicaid before 2020. It also throws another $10 billion to states that never expanded Medicaid.
Between the regulatory structure, subsidies, and Medicaid expansion, this bill is Obamacare. Literally.
But, in fact, the GOP bill is actually worse than Obamacare for two reasons: 1) It will exacerbate the death spiral of fiscal insolvency; and 2) It will destroy the employer market.
The one part of the bill that does actually immediately repeal an Obamacare provision is the immediate elimination of the individual mandate and the employer mandate that requires individuals to purchase and employers to provide health insurance.
By leaving the price-hiking regulatory and subsidy structure in place, yet repealing the individual mandate, this bill will exacerbate the death spiral because people like myself —who are getting crushed with ridiculous premiums—will dump their insurance. Likewise, employers who are now forced to provide insurance will quickly dump their employees from their plans.
This is what happens when Republicans focus on coverage numbers at the expense of lowering costs through the regulatory structure. They achieve neither. While the individual mandate is replaced with a provision mandating that insurance companies charge individuals who dropped their insurance an extra 30 percent when reenrolling, that provision doesn’t take effect until 2019. The adverse selection and death spiral will be terminal by then; the employer mandate is not replaced at all.
Also, the 40 percent Cadillac tax on more expensive health plans is delayed from 2020 until 2025, but not repealed.
Thus, House Republicans have replaced the notorious taxes, regulations, subsidies, and mandates of Obamacare with … taxes, regulations, subsidies, and mandates. Except, this time, Republicans will own it. And that is exactly what the lobbyists for the status quo wanted.
Now that Republicans will have their reputation tethered to Obamacare, they will be forced to consistently continue the hospital bailout program, otherwise known as Medicaid expansion. They will constantly be forced to re-up the individual and corporate cost-sharing subsidies to make up the gap from getting rid of the employer and individual mandates.
This is not a half a loaf, it’s a poisonous loaf
House leadership will tell its members, ‘Look, this isn’t perfect, but isn’t it better to take a half a loaf than no loaf at all [NO! It is better, it is best to get out of the “healthcare business” altogether. The federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in healthcare. NONE!]?’ In reality, this is a poisonous loaf. Again: It doesn’t repeal Obamacare, will exacerbate the death spiral, dump people off employer-based insurance, and force Republicans to own it this time.
Yes, this is one of the rare instances when it’s better to do nothing if they don’t want to do the right thing. There is no upside for a conservative to sign onto this, and only downside. Also, remember that the Senate GOP is even more liberal than the House GOP, so this is the opening bid that will invariably get worse.
Big picture: The result of this bill is that insurance companies will continue to look to government to regulate and subsidize. Thus, insurers will continue to run health care based on government and lobbyists to keep the gravy train rolling, and box out competitors instead of being forced to compete directly with new insurers for consumer business.
Under the guise of promoting expanded coverage rather than decreasing costs, this plan will exacerbate both. Well done, Republicans [Sarcasm well earned by the Republican establishment.].
If nothing else, this is a vindication of those who warned during the primaries that Republicans were lying to us all along.
It’s time for President Trump to lead, or this is over [He has already said that he likes it. He has also said it will be great. He is either extremely naive or lying.].”
Healthcare is not in the purview of the federal government. The United States Constitution says nothing about healthcare. Therefore, under the Tenth Amendment, healthcare falls to the individual States, if anywhere. The Department of Health and Human Services (whatever that means) is, was, and will be an unconstitutional Department of the federal government until the Constitution is amended by legal means. Nothing the Congress, the President, and the federal courts say or do can make it otherwise.
Amendment X
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people [People as used in this amendment is obviously referring to the people of the individual States. Otherwise, it would be redundant.]”
The three R’s:
Republicans
Repeal
Replace
The new three R’s
Reality
Ridiculous
Reprehensible
The Reality is that government can not make healthcare better by government edict. Governments can only make it much worse by deciding the winners and the losers in the market place. Competition through the free enterprise system is the only constitutional answer.
It is Ridiculous to expect government to achieve the unachievable. The Republicans’ Ridiculous, pathetic attempt to repeal and replace proves the obvious.
Reprehensible is the only valid description of the Republican attempt to control the uncontrollable by government manipulation and mandate. The heavy hand of government is not the solution. This is neither repeal nor replacement. It is a failed attempt of reconstruction destined to more failure just as the original Obamacare is, was, and will be destined to failure.
GOVERNMENT, GET YOUR GUILTY HANDS OFF of HEALTHCARE!
Restore the Constitution
Take Back the Nation
For Life, for liberty
Don L. Vance
“With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
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