22. December 2009 by admin.

In an interview with Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Politico reported the Reid offered a vigorous defense of the last minute deals cut by fellow Democratic lawmakers, “It doesn’t speak well of the Senators who didn’t secure such deals.”

This rhetoric set off many Washington insiders who gave away the store to ensure a health care bill passage before Christmas. In the words of the President, this was a Christmas present for the American people. Some gift, the taxpayer will be paying the increased taxes and premiums hardly a gift from the government ; tax credits would have suited most taxpayers just fine.

“As part of the deal to win Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s (D- Neb) support, the federal government will fund Nebraska’s new Medicaid recipients. It’s a provision worth about $45 million over the first decade,” said Chris Frates, in “Ben Nelson’s Medicaid deal, in Politico.

Other states that fared well are Connecticut where Chris Dodd (D-Conn) earmarked the construction of a new university hospital. Senator Bernie Sanders (D- VT) was much more excited about the health care bill after it included an earmark worth $10 billion for community health centers. Keep reading

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9. December 2009 by admin.

Yes, liberal Democrat Barbara Boxer of California compared men who use Viagra to women who get abortions and claims she would vote the same way on both issues. Boxer’s claim that insurance companies that cover Viagra for men should also be providing abortions to women sets her apart from most senators.

“We don’t tell men that if they want to make sure their, can buy insurance coverage through their pharmaceutical plan for Viagra that they can’t do it. No, we don’t do that, and I wouldn’t support that. It would be wrong. Well, it’s wrong to single out women and to say to women of this country, they can’t use their own private funds to purchase insurance that covers the whole range of reproductive health care,” Boxer said on the Senate floor.

Boxer goes on to explain to members in her Democratic party that they are showing “a lack of respect for women” regarding their stance on suspending tax-payer funded abortions.

This dissention was in direct response to Senator Ben Nelson-D NE who wrote an amendment for the current health care bill being debated on the Senate floor that strictly hamstrings tax-payer funded abortions. Keep reading

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7. December 2009 by admin.

The recently released medical report that caused a stir within American women regarding mammograms, could cost approximately 11,500 lives due to abstinence of the tests used to screen for deadly breast cancers.

The report stated women in the 40-49 age groups do not need to be tested on a yearly basis because a small number of misdiagnosis could cause panic until the correct diagnosis is made. In these cases it takes more tests and about a month to correct the mistake.

This is a tough sell for women. “I would rather live for a month thinking I have breast cancer than waiting until it’s too late and I die from breast cancer,” says Cindy Harris a 40-year-old nurse. “The tests, in my opinion, save lives, and are worth the cost. Period.”

However, this yearly test could cost or save the federal government millions of dollars per year. Medical literature basically states that mammogram screening for women 40-49 will save the life of one woman in every 1,900 screened. Keep reading

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3. December 2009 by admin.

California Medical Association, the states’ largest doctors group, is the latest organization to jump ship from the $2.5 trillion Senate health care reform bill currently under debate in Washington. They cite, “it (health care reform) would increase local health care costs and restrict access of care for the elderly and low-income patients.”

The large price-tag attached to the health care reform legislation and lack of new jobs has soured the majority of Americans who would like to see the White House concentrate on job creation. The polls tell the tale of an unpopular health care package. Rasmussen Polls show the margin widening for those who do not favor this legislation – 36 percent favor what Washington is offering, while 59 percent do not want this bill.

However, this hasn’t stopped California Senator Barbara Boxer-D from her unwavering support of the largest entitlement program in U.S. history.

“In her rush to pass a massive $2.5 trillion government health care bill, Barbara Boxer has ignored the grim economic reality in her state,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand. “Given her inaction on the most pressing concern facing California voters, it’s no wonder Boxer’s popularity lags so far behind Dianne Feinstein’s.” Keep reading

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30. November 2009 by admin.

With their belly’s full of turkey and stuffing, Senators will now look to dissecting the 2,000 page health care bill. The gigantic legislation is waiting to ignite the passionate Liberals and inflame the Conservatives; the lively debate will surely include fireworks over hot-button issues like the public-option and abortion.

The ensuing discussion will not be pretty, the sausage making process will include various special interests groups looking to take their place in the bureaucratic regulation and average citizens will look to their representatives to make the right decisions regarding an industry that carves out a huge part of the economy and affects every American citizen who visits a health care facility.
Current  poll numbers from Rasmussen show lagging support for the Congressional and Presidential health care bill. Only 36 percent favor the legislation as it is written, while a staggering 59 percent oppose the health care reform package offered by Democrats.

Senior citizens have been following this legislation closer than anyone and have written letters to their Senators in large numbers. The following is a letter written by Senator Ben Nelson-D of Nebraska.

From: senator@bennelson.senate.gov [mailto:senator@bennelson.senate.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 3:44 PM
To: cd
Subject: Responding to your message

Dear Carol:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this critical issue. Keep reading

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20. November 2009 by admin.

A severe recession, double-digit unemployment, record foreclosures and $12 trillion debt doesn’t paint a very rosy picture about the country’s future; Americans across the country are working harder and longer to meet their monthly budget – not Washington D.C.

As Washington prepares for a rare weekend vote, American’s are bracing for the surprises that are sure to pop out of the massive 2,000 page health care reform bill.

An issue sure to take center stage is the payroll tax increase. According to reports, the Senate legislation includes $376 billion in new taxes. These taxes are expected to trickle down to every American.

Experts agree that raising payroll taxes will dampen any new hiring and curtail business expansion, the result will have the opposite effect the American people are looking for.

Page nine of the Senate health care bill discusses the public option. While there may be different ideas as to the viability of the public option, one thing is certain, it in theory is supposed to offer lower-cost health insurance to those who have trouble obtaining insurance. Keep reading

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17. November 2009 by admin.

The House barely passed the 2,000-page health care bill and the Senate is now wading through its own complex version, what many American’s don’t know is all the high-powered endorsements come with a price tag.

Much to the dismay of doctors across the country, the American Medical Association (AMA) supported the President’s health care reform package. The cost for this support came in the form of doctor reimbursements.

According to Dick Morris, doctors faced a 21 percent cut in their reimbursement for Medicare, but if the association backed Obama, the administration promised to make that cut go away. This amounts to Chicago strong-arm tactics, but it worked.

Second, the AARP jumped on board the Obama Health care express. Why? By in large seniors oppose the Medicare cuts and are fearful of the new plan. However, the White House stepped in again and offered a sweetheart deal to those in charge at AARP. Keep reading

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10. November 2009 by admin.

Millions of Americans including those in the country illegally are one step closer to getting health care benefits courtesy of the U.S. government and American taxpayer.

The Nation Council of La Raza (NCLR) is seeking their slice of the health care pie in the nation’s capitol. When it comes to health care reform the NCLR says, “The Senate needs to complete the task and build on the House effort.”

The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization inside America, NCLR has declared their support of several key elements in the health care reform legislation Congress passed over weekend.

A major issue the group is standing behind is the “emphasis on preventative care.”

“The House bill would ensure that illnesses and diseases are detected at the earliest possible stages and it takes tremendous steps to improve health care delivery,” a NCLR statement explained.

In an effort to make up inequalities and health disparities of Latinos, the House bill will identify and eradicate unequal access.

Furthermore, NCLR says “roadblocks to insurance must be eliminated by removing excessive verification requirements that raise costs and increase barriers to health care.” Keep reading

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10. November 2009 by admin.

If the House health care bill squeaks through the Senate and is signed into law by the President, those failing to buy into the health insurance business will face steep fines and even jail time.

According to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, the House version of this trillion dollar health-care boondoggle will pay a fine of 2.5 percent of their yearly salary or face up to five years in prison.

Pelosi’s massive health legislation describes the penalties in section 7203; it is a misdemeanor to willfully fail to pay for health insurance and it is punishable by a fine of up to $25, 000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

In section 7201 it will be a felony to willfully evade purchasing health insurance and it is punishable by five years in prison and/or $250,000 fine.

If American’s would like to pass on jail time, they will need to pony up some serious Benjamin’s by 2016. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that a family of four would have to pay $15,000 per year. Keep reading

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8. November 2009 by admin.

The current Swine flu pandemic gripping the country hits those over 50 and children under-6 months particularly hard.

However, those who most need the specific-strain flu shot are not the ones first in line. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, those over 50 are most likely to suffer death due to the Swine flu.

A California study looked back to flu deaths this year and found 18-20 percent of the 50 and older age group was more likely to succumb to the swine flu pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said the H1N1 is continuing to spread among the U.S. population, however, they don’t see the strain becoming more virulent. So far the CDC has released 31 million doses of the swine flu vaccines, well short of the 300 million-plus Americans living in the country.
In a story from Disabled World titled ‘Map of Latest H1N1 swine Flu Outbreak Cases and Statistics,’ “170 out of 382 deaths in the world are in the United States. The United States only accounts for 37% of the cases, yet we have 44% of the Deaths,” Terri Linnell a concerned resident points out. Keep reading

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