It seems GOP politicians have made the defunding of what they term Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) their primary focus of late, seeking to dismantle it piece by piece since they couldn't take it down through a complete repeal.A Reuters article posted on NewsDaily.com reported the House of Representatives passed a bill two weeks ago that would remove funding for a prevention and public health fund. As early as next week another bill to defund grant money for school-based health centers will also be coming up for a vote.
Next week the House also will vote and probably pass a bill that would remove $1.9 billion in grants to states to fund the creation of state insurance exchanges so that individuals could buy affordable health insurance in their respective states.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that eliminating grant funds to States would only reduce the deficit by about $1.5 billion per year over the next 9 years, but this would not eliminate the exchanges. The result of this action would shift the creation of exchange marketplaces to the federal government, which could cause an inflation of U.S. costs. Not much cost savings there. It appears to be only a temporary band-aid treatment.
So let's see what House Republicans have been accomplishing this year so far:
- Extension of Bush Tax Cuts for the rich (passed)
- Voted to extend Patriot Act (Congress passed a 90 day extension that will expire in May)
- voted to block FCC's net neutrality rules (expected to fail in the Senate)
- voted to block funding for IPCC (the definitive research institution for gathering information about the state of the climate)(expected to fail in Senate)
- Voted to Cut Environmental Programs (failed in Senate)
- Voted to cut spending by $61 billion (failed in Senate)
- Voting to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (failed in Senate)
Hmmm...so far, not so good.
And coming up, more attempts at dismantling Affordable Health Care with an almost certain failure at the Senate/Presidential level. What have the Republicans done about jobs?
Hey Republicans...where's the jobs?
Unfortunately, everything that is being done is blocked either by one side or another. Overall the government needs to get together and come up with ideas that will help both sides rather than just blocking what the other side comes up with. As for healthcare, they should come up with a permanent plan rather than something that "may" work for so many years. These are only very few of the things that have been blocked over the past few years.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I think? I think that they did it in secret so that we wouldn't see just another one of their annoying failures. I actually don't know about healthcare at the moment. Right now it's bringing us into so much deficit, it's not even funny anymore. America will have to pay all this somehow, and *spending more won't help.*
ReplyDeleteI think that we need to get America producing again. There can't be any jobs unless there is something to work for. Back then, America used to be prosperous because we had opportunity. Now, we just outsource. If we want anything done anymore (over the table, not under, Repubs) we need to get this economy stimulated by stopping this healthcare until we can afford it, and getting more industry in America. =\
Just my opinion anyway.
So far, not so good, you say?
ReplyDeleteThe Senate flat-out blocks 5 of the 7, and basically term-limited a 6th; only one item passed and obtained a Presidential imprimatur.
Let's see...to get better, we'd need to successfully de-fund IPCC, eliminate environmental controls, permanently nuke net neutrality, and slash more than the piddly $63 billion the Senate turned up their noses at..?
Take a step back and a deep breath, CC...the Senate is doing its job, and if I had a batting average like that, I'd be the highest-paid player in the National League!
Where ARE the jobs? Funny - they kept asking Obama that, and promised people they'd do the "job" he wasn't doing in getting more jobs out there to the people...and of course, the only way to do this was to continue to offer benefits to corporations and to the rich so they could afford to hire people...what a joke! If these tax breaks and so forth were supposed to be needed to create and give jobs, why weren't the jobs forthcoming during the whole time these benefits were in effect? The want to block funding the places that are employing people which will guarantee more unemployment, and continue to give money to those who don't care at all about the lower middle class on down in our society. And now, dismantling health care....just keep taking things away. The country will soon be yours, Republicans, because everyone else will be dead.
ReplyDeleteWhat has the president done about jobs? What has the president done about spending? You fail to mention that Obama has increased spending and our debt is at record levels. I actually agree with all of the spending cuts. Not only do I agree with the ones listed above, but we need MANY MORE cuts. We can't afford what we have, and Obama wants to tack on healthcare too? Do any government agencies run at a profit? Nope!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate that they are having pay cuts for the rich. The company GE made billions without paying a cent into taxes at all instead they got a refund. It doesn't make sense to keep tax cuts for rich people since they are using tons of tax loop holes to avoid taxes all together. The basic needs such as gas are skyrocketing and it seems to only be effecting lower/middle class families since the rich can easily afford it.
ReplyDeleteThis is nothing new, just another game of bait and switch. Not only does the GOP do this, but the democrats do it too. Both parties sneak things in under the radar all the time. One good thing the house has done is that they said that any bills must be posted where the public can read it 72 hours before a vote. This helps keep them a little honest at least.
ReplyDeleteWell, all I can say is instead of taking money from us, the ones with no jobs or little money to cut costs, why dont they cut thier own million/billion dollar incomes and lower those? Why must we suffer? I understand Obama's idea of the health care law, but he is going about it the wrong way. Cutting grants to school-based health centers will only make things worse. What I see is they are cutting everything "free" to MAKE us pay for health care.
ReplyDeleteGOP politicians only look to do things that will directly benefit the. Since all the politicians are well off financially they don't see a problem with everyone paying for their own health insurance. They are extremely selfish and greedy and will do only things that profit or help them out (tax cuts for rich). They fail to realize that there are millions of american citizens who couldn't afford health insurance and would be deathly afraid of going to the hospital because they know they couldn't afford it. All poor people are underrepresented in higher government because even those politicians elected by them were corrupted on their rise to power.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with all of the cuts but the fact still remains that we need to cut spending. Tax cuts for the rich? Makes my stomach churn. Everywhere you look it seems like all of the choices are bad. Lose valuable public programs or go into further debt just to pay the interest on our existing debt. No matter what we decide, someone is going to be happy and someone is going to be irate. That is what happens when you have more than one person in the country.
ReplyDelete$1.5 billion per year debt reduction. That's like a "normal" person throwing $50.00 per year at a $250,000 debt. When will the government be accountable for it's spending? I have to balance my checkbook, why can't they appropriately manage the tax payers money? I'm tired of paying crazy tax rates only to learn that the government has poorly managed my money.
ReplyDeleteCan you say 'pandering'? The GOP is pandering to their base (and that of the Tea Party) and accomplishing nothing as a result. How about cutting further deficit spending by bringing our troops home? How about funding healthcare for all, and help for seniors on Medicare rather than trying to enact Ryan's worthless Medicare vouchers? How about being responsible members of Congress?
ReplyDeleteNah, ain't gonna happen.
I agree that members of Congress are focusing too much on their party's agenda, and minimalizing the well-being of the American people. I think this happens for both parties, but like you, it seems more blatant when coming from Republicans. Among the most frustrating parts for me are the extension of the tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans and the persistence to pass legislation that is destined for failure. When they spend weeks and months debating bills in the House that will certainly be defeated in the Senate or in the Oval Office, they are doing the American people a disservice. I understand that they have reelection in the back of their minds (can't you just hear the negative ads: "John Q passed a bill to repeal the Obamacare plan, yet it was defeated by liberals in the Senate". Little do they mention the fact that the bill was destined for failure, and more meaningful legislation should have been worked on.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has been a bit of a dissapointment for those who voted for him for change. He doesn't fight for what he says he will do. Health care is a perfect example. Where as the health care bill that passed does have some good - it does nothing to control cost - many premiums have gone up in the double digits. A public option would have created competition for the big insurance companies. The "must have" insurance regulation in the current health care bill, without a public option, will enable insurance companies to continue to raise thier premiums and get guaranteed customers. Republicans and Democrats both need to work together to provide affordable health care to middle-class people and to small businesses. Maybe if Congress had to worry about health insurance for themselves, they'd be acting more aggressively to come up with a good plan.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I can't stand politics. Neither party is good in my opinion. They both have their flaws. People who voted for Obama in hope of change are regretting that now. Unfortunately, in wake of the Bin Laden murder, it seems like his popularity is at an all time high.
ReplyDeleteAs a recent college grad, I am angry that the job market is as abysmal as it is, but there isn't much for us to do about that. But it seems like Republicans are doing more harm than good --- that being said, if Trump is running for President in this election, he will be getting my vote.
One of my biggest dislikes about living in this country is that we always seem as if we are more worried about everyone else on Earth, than we are about our own nation full of people.
ReplyDeleteShould our main purpose in the USA, be taking care of the USA? Once every woman, child, and man has a roof over their heads and food in their belly, is it time to help these others accomplish the same.
I can't stand how the government is going about things! They are not helping anyone except for maybe the wealthy. What about the poor? What are they doing for the poor? Absolutely nothing but causing them trouble in my opinion. Inflation is going to cause trouble to the poor. I find it ridiculous, and something really needs to be done to help this country before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteReally irritating on how the wealthy benefit from that tax cut mentioned. Some of these law really portrays how greed really damage things. The economy sounds like its still stuck and will probably won't be rising any time soon.
ReplyDeleteRather worried for those looking for a place to work. Jobs have been rather scarce. Sometimes-it feels like the government forgets about their people at times.
Obamacare cannot be fully funded in addition to all of the other grants and insurance exchanges, in school health care, etc. Those grants and funding allocations are redundant. They need to pick one or the other. The transition period is always the toughest because one element needs continuous funding while the other is being dismantled. Don’t forget about the controversy over Planned Parenthood. Government does not care about the health care as much as they care about the government backed insurance program that will accompany it. That is the revenue generating portion of the equation.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same old stuff over and over again, partisan bickering over everything.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans DO NOT care about YOU. The Democrats DO NOT care about YOU. They both care about THEMSELVES and what they have to do to look good to stay in office. Period. They focus only on what they think their constituents want to hear, make big promises, then do nothing.
Ban ALL political parties. Only then will sheeple actually listen to what those idiots are saying and might actually make decisions using their own minds and not what has been ingrained into their heads by partisan pandering.
As far as healthcare is concerned, don't get me started. Insurance companies are the reason healthcare is so ridiculously expensive. Do away with their for profit status and a lot of the problem would be solved. In Japan, health insurance is required, either gov't or private. Health insurance premiums are one third the cost of those in the US, healthcare is MUCH better, people are healthier and live longer. WHY? Insurance companies there are NON PROFIT organizations.
I completely agree with this article. They are now looking to pass a new bill that is even more absurd and completely undermines the insurance by millions.
ReplyDeleteThey are trying to pass a bill that would make medical expenses no longer tax deductible if your insurance covers abortions. Not if you had one. Only if your insurance covers it.
Sounds like a big load a horse pucky to me. Anything they can pick at to kill the Healthcare bill. I think the new GOP mantra is "Lets screw over those who can least afford it! Yay!!"
I think we as citizens of this country should have been informed of this issue instead of being informed about the Royal Wedding and Donald Trump. The health care system in this country sucks. The HMOs are all after one thing and one thing only, MONEY!! And of course so are our politicians. So basically in looking at this article, the politicians are looking out for themselves, not for the working Americans. As the old saying goes"The rich get richer, the poor, poorer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with you. I'm not liking this Republican-controlled house one bit. Why can't we all just get along? I don't understand how Democrats and Republicans so easily put their own political agendas over the well being of the country. It's just shameful.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping that Obamacare stays healthy.
The current situation in Congress displays a feature of our government that the Founding Fathers purposely engendered. Change is hard to make. The Senate is designed to prevent the passions of the moment from enacting sweeping changes unchallenged. The House is designed to express the current will of the public. In this sense, I personally feel that both branches of Congress are doing as the should.
ReplyDeleteI think change should be slow as it is not at all clear the public at large has a firm grasp as it its collective desires. Elections have produced outcomes that show conflicting desires and aims. In 2004, pundits talked about the Democratic Party facing growing irevelance. However, both 2006 and 2008 showed that this was far from the case. Matters seemed grim for the Republicans in 2008, but 2010 proved an exceptional year for them.
Given this level of radical reversal in public will, I honestly feel it might be for the best that passing and changing laws is difficult. Otherwise the public might well have to live under a law that do not truly desire, or they might have to live without a law that they would honestly rather have on the books.
It's hard to believe that the US is the only civilized country that doesn't have national healthcare. Why do republicans want to stop it so badly? Helping sick people is a good thing, the last time I checked, and it's not going to any major damage to the private healthcare industry. It'd just give people who can't afford private care an alternative.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the previous poster. Neither party is interested in what is in the best interest of the public...this is all semantics.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you brought up the Patriot Act...since the OBL death saga began last week, they are already turning that into justification to renew the expiring provisions or make them permanent. And of course, the majority of the public have no idea how detrimental this would be. They will gladly trade their freedom in the name of *security*.
Universal healthcare is a great idea that IS working in other countries despite what the right will tell you. Sure there are downsides but the upside is that no one will ever have a medical problem and have to worry about not having the money to pay for it and not getting treatment at all. Even if parts of the healthcare is repealed, there are parts that the right won't be able to touch and that is the regulation that the insurance companies face. They won't be able to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and will have to cover children 26 or younger on their parent's plan. The biggest problem is that Democrats wanted the public option in there so that people could choose whether to accept the insurance or not, but Republicans worked hard to take that option out and now the same people who did that are complaining that it is mandatory. They just wanted the public option out of there so it wouldn't pass at all.
ReplyDelete