PELOSI'S GOVERNMENT MANDATED HEALTH CARE BILL, A READER'S GUIDE

As you know, Pelosi's behemoth, Government Mandated Health Care Bill, is a gargantuan monstrosity of almost 2,000 (1,990 to be exact) pages of unreadable gobbledygook and legalese that is virtually impossible for anyone to read or understand, except for the geekiest of bureaucrats. Nevertheless, if you're hellbent on reading the bill in its entirety, you can find the entire text of the bill here.

It's no wonder why they don't read their own bills! I guarantee you that someone of Pelosi's non-existent intellect hasn't read it, which begs the question: Who actually writes these things? For those of us who have a life, below is a "reader's guide" or breakdown of some of the key elements of Pelosi's bill:

Page 94—Section 202(c) prohibits the sale of private individual health insurance policies, beginning in 2013, forcing individuals to purchase coverage through the federal government

Page 110—Section 222(e) requires the use of federal dollars to fund abortions through the government-run health plan—and, if the Hyde Amendment were ever not renewed, would require the plan to fund elective abortions

Page 111—Section 223 establishes a new board of federal bureaucrats (the “Health Benefits Advisory Committee”) to dictate the health plans that all individuals must purchase —and would likely require all Americans to subsidize and purchase plans that cover any abortion

Page 211—Section 321 establishes a new government-run health plan that, according to non-partisan actuaries at the Lewin Group, would cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their existing coverage

Page 225—Section 330 permits—but does not require—Members of Congress to enroll in government-run health care

Page 255—Section 345 includes language requiring verification of income for individuals wishing to receive federal health care subsidies under the bill—while the bill includes a requirement for applicants to verify their citizenship, it does not include a similar requirement to verify applicants’ identity, thus encouraging identity fraud for undocumented immigrants and others wishing to receive taxpayer-subsidized health benefits

Page 297—Section 501 imposes a 2.5 percent tax on all individuals who do not purchase “bureaucrat-approved” health insurance— the tax would apply on individuals with incomes under $250,000, thus breaking a central promise of then-Senator Obama’s presidential campaign

Page 313—Section 512 imposes an 8 percent “tax on jobs” for firms that cannot afford to purchase “bureaucrat-approved” health coverage ; according to an analysis by Harvard Professor Kate Baicker, such a tax would place millions “at substantial risk of unemployment”—with minority workers losing their jobs at twice the rate of their white counterparts

Page 336—Section 551 imposes additional job-killing taxes, in the form of a half-trillion dollar “surcharge,” more than half of which will hit small businesses ; according to a model developed by President Obama’s senior economic advisor, such taxes could cost up to 5.5 million jobs

Page 520—Section 1161 cuts more than $150 billion from Medicare Advantage plans,potentially jeopardizing millions of seniors’ existing coverage

Page 733—Section 1401 establishes a new Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research; the bill includes no provisions preventing the government-run health plan from using such research to deny access to life-saving treatments on cost grounds, similar to Britain’s National Health Service, which denies patient treatments costing more than $35,000

Page 1174—Section 1802(b) includes provisions entitled “TAXES ON CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES” to fund comparative effectiveness research, breaking Speaker Pelosi’s promise that “We will not be taxing [health] benefits in any bill that passes the House,” and the President’s promise not to raise taxes on families with incomes under $250,000

Source of above: Congressman Mike Pence

Other Items of Interest (or shame, disappointment, disgrace, perversion, etc.):

There are approximately 450,000 words of new rules, regulations, penalties, mandates, deception, taxes, and bureaucracy that guarantees "provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending . . . ."

• The word, "Regulation" is used 181 times...
• "Tax" is used 214 times,
• "Fees" is used 103 times,
• "Shall," the strongest word in the English language, is used over 3,000 times!

Pelosi "doublespeak" runs rampant: "government mandate," has become "government option," which was changed to, "public option," which morphed into, "competitive option," which was finally transformed into the more palatable, "consumer option".

In summary, to quote the timeless wisdom of Ronald Reagan:

"Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."

HOUSE GOP LEADER JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH) DELIVERS WEEKLY REPUBLICAN ADDRESS

Delivering the weekly Republican address, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) outlined Republicans’ plan to make health care more accessible and affordable for American families at a price our nation can afford. The address highlights the differences between Republicans’ smart, fiscally responsible reforms and Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) 1,990-page government takeover of health care. More on Republicans’ common-sense health care solutions is available at: http://healthcare.gop.gov.

FULL TEXT OF JOHN BOEHNER'S ADDRESS:

“I’m House Republican Leader John Boehner. At the beginning of this year, I told President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that Republicans would be ready to work with them whenever possible to address the nation’s biggest challenges. I also said that where there are differences, it was our obligation as a party to explain to the American people how we would do things better. And on the ‘stimulus,’ the budget, the energy bill, and health care, we have done exactly that.

“As a matter of fact, only Republicans have offered solutions to lower health care costs and make it easier to obtain quality, affordable coverage without imposing a massive burden on the American people.

“We first released our health care plan in June, and over the last six months, we have introduced at least eight bills that, taken together, would implement this blueprint. You can go right now to healthcare.gop.gov and get all the details, but for now, I just want to share with you four ideas Republicans have proposed:

· Number one: let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines;

· Number two: allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do today;

· Number three: give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs; and

· Number four: end junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.

“These are four smart, fiscally-responsible reforms that we can implement today to lower costs and expand access at a price our nation can afford. Again, you can learn more about these and all the health care initiatives Republicans have supported by visiting: healthcare.gop.gov.

“The best way to get a sense of what Speaker Pelosi’s takeover of health care looks like is to actually look at it. Just shy of 2,000 pages, it runs more than 620 pages longer than the government-run plan Hillary Clinton proposed in 1993.

“This 1,990 pages of bureaucracy will centralize health care decision making in Washington, DC. It’ll require thousands of new federal employees. It’ll put unelected boards, bureaus, and commissions in charge of who gets access to what drug and what potentially life-saving treatment.

“And it won’t come cheap. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill will raise the cost of Americans’ health insurance premiums; it will kill jobs with tax hikes and new mandates; and it will cut seniors’ Medicare benefits.

“We now have a choice: we can come together to implement smart, fiscally responsible reforms to improve Americans’ health care or we can recklessly pursue this government takeover that creates far more problems than it solves.

“It’s clear where the American people stand on this issue. They‘re frustrated and fed up. The ‘stimulus’ bill isn’t working. Unemployment is rising. The debt to be paid by our kids and grandkids is exploding. And now, Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-page government takeover of health care.

“Enough is enough. Breaking the bank and taking away the freedoms Americans cherish is not the answer to the challenges we face.

“This coming week, Republicans will continue to stand on principle, defend freedom, and fight for our better solutions to make health care more affordable and accessible for American families.

“Thanks for listening.”

SCOZZAFAVA RESIGNS: “HMMM... I THOUGHT THE ERA OF REAGAN WAS OVER?"

Rush Limbaugh, in response to the announcement that RINO, Dede Scozzafava, had withdrawn from the NY-23 race, told Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online:

“Hmmm... I thought the 'Era of Reagan' was over? Who was it that said that? Oh yeah, the smart people on our side who told us the only way we could win was with moderate/liberal candidates like Scozzafava. Hmmm...”

This is a stern, clear warning the the Republican Party (smart people) establishment, the East Coast, elitist, Big Government Party #2 types, to quit introducing, supporting, endorsing, and funding liberals like Dede Scozzafava.

When Republican leadership endorses a candidate that, by all accounts, is more liberal than the Democrat in the race, there is a problem. When "good" conservatives like Newt Gingrich, support someone as liberal as Scozzafava, just because there is an "R" next to her name, ignoring that there is a solid conservative like Doug Hoffman in the race, there is a problem. Republican Party leadership (RNC, NRCC) needs to wake the hell up!

The Republican Party wins when it stands on principles. One of the things people appreciated about President Reagan, was that even if you didn't agree with him, you knew where he stood. There is security in that and it resonates with voters. It's called having "principles," and it's unwaveringly putting them before party loyalty or affiliation. Exhibit A:

"I've abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system," George W. Bush

Uh, if they're principles, then you don't abandon them, George. And how has that worked out? Even more fiscal insanity, more unemployment, more bailouts, and further destruction and attacks against "free markets." Oh, and also, the libs now have excuses for their insanity..."Bush started it." And, unfortunately, they're right.

Look how difficult it's been to be the "party of small government." lt's been a joke because the Republican Party and President George W. Bush had the once in a generation chance to reduce the size of the federal government. They didn't, they grew it and in the meantime lost all credibility.

This is representative of the serious consequences that result when party leadership veers from it's conservative principles and tries by be liked by, and get along with, far-left radicals. Believe me, liberals know they are at war and what their mission is. We haven't even realized that a war is occurring while our freedom, rights, and money are being devalued.

The Republican blue-bloods got their brains beat in the past two elections, running the country with Scozzafava types, and look where that got us....a bunch of Marxists running our country from the top down.

The "Era of Reagan" will never be over, unless we end it. Timeless wisdom and principles that have proven throughout history to work, when clearly communicated and carried out consistently, are never out of style. There is a place for liberals, "progressives," Marxists and Communists. It's called the Democrat Party.

The New York Post endorsed Doug Hoffman and provided an excellent case for their support. Here is an excerpt:

New York's 23rd Congressional District lies near Canada, far to the north -- but next week's special election merits attention throughout the state. That's because the Republican candidate in that race, Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, is the product of an obscenely corrupt political bargain by GOP bosses that sells out their party -- and New Yorkers generally.

Because of that, and because so many of her positions ill-serve the interests of New York and the nation, The Post today endorses businessman Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party nominee.

No, Republicans needn't toe the conservative line without any deviation. Moderate GOPers like Rudy Giuliani have managed to stray on some issues without wholly betraying their party.

But a Republican should adhere to certain minimum GOP principles. Scozzafava is just too far to the left too often.

And not only on social matters, like same-sex marriage and abortion. In Albany, Scozzafava has been such a profligate tax-and-spender, she can almost make Speaker Sheldon Silver blush.

With the backing of the ACORN-allied Working Families Party, she supports Big Labor's favorite organizing bill -- card-check -- as well as the federal stimulus, opposed by every House Republican.

The withdrawal of Dede Scozzafava from the Congressional race in the 23rd District of New York, and the ascension of Doug Hoffman, a Republican who is running with the Conservative Party (since the Republican Party supported Scozzafava), is positive evidence that the "Era of Reagan" is alive and well...even in New York State.

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN: "2,000 PAGES OF MANDATES, TAXES, AND BUREAUCRACY"

This morning, House Democrats held a press conference to unveil their health care reform bill, which they claim will expand coverage for all and decrease costs. Sounds good, but once you peel away the “feel good” rhetoric, there’s nothing to be excited about. This 2,000-page bill includes a job-killing employer mandate, an individual mandate that requires Washington bureaucrats to define what kind of coverage is acceptable, burdensome tax increases, Medicare cuts, and a huge expansion of Medicaid that will break already strained state budgets.

You see, the Democrats are playing a game of bait and switch when they talk about the costs of this legislation. For instance, they say that costs will be kept under the arbitrary $900 billion cap that President Obama has requested. Well, they’ll stay under the cap simply by expanding Medicaid eligibility. In other words, they’ll be shifting the costs off one set of taxpayer-funded books to another set of taxpayer-funded books. And, don’t forget: we just had to bail out those states in large part because their Medicaid budgets were bleeding them dry!

Social Security is broke, Medicare is broke, Medicaid is broke – and all of them were created with the best intentions. But we have to face reality. Our deficit is at an all-time high. Our debt is nearing $12 TRILLION with no signs of slowing. We’re on a crash course for financial ruin. This isn’t conjecture, it’s basic economics.

Republicans have put forth alternative after alternative taking a patient-centered approach -- not focused on government, focused on you -- that will keep costs down, but each and every one of them has fallen on deaf ears. They weren’t even considered by Democrat leadership. Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune did a great job highlighting several of these Republican alternatives that won’t break the bank (a bank that’s already bankrupt).

As the Tribune points out:

“Let insurers sell policies across state lines. That would loosen the strangling state-by-state regulations and unleash competition to drive premium prices down.”

“Give people who buy insurance in the private market the same tax breaks as those who get it through employers. Now, employers that offer coverage get a tax break on the premiums they pay for employees. And employees don't pay taxes on the value of the coverage they receive. People who want to buy insurance in the individual market should get the same tax breaks. That would help millions of people acquire coverage.” (That’s what my Health Care Freedom of Choice Act does!)

“Expand the ability of small businesses, trade associations and other groups to set up insurance pools to offer coverage at more attractive rates.”

“Control health costs in part by reining in the medical malpractice system that raises insurance premiums and forces doctors to order tests to protect themselves from lawsuits. Limiting certain kinds of damage awards would reduce spending on health care by about $11 billion in 2009, or about one-half of 1 percent, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Think about that in human terms: Reform would save millions of patients the expense and trauma of unnecessary tests and procedures.”

As this health care debate plays out, please don’t fall for the rhetoric and take a closer look at what the Democrats’ bill really means. If you do, you’ll realize that it’s a prescription for economic disaster.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

SARAH PALIN: "TUNE IN TOMORROW TO HEAR A HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN THAT WILL PROVE TO BE THE GAME CHANGER"

"Mark my words - tomorrow is the game changer! Tune in to hear common sense solutions that bury the false accusations that conscientious members of Congress have no solutions to meet America's health care challenges.

If you're like me, shaking your head wondering why all the miscommunication between Washington and the American people who have been saying, "Please hear what we're saying about our desire for health care reform," then tomorrow will be a refreshing time of clarity for all.

All Americans, and especially colleagues of House Republican Leader John Boehner: please listen to tomorrow's weekly GOP national address. Rep. Boehner will highlight a common sense alternative to Speaker Pelosi's 1,990-page government takeover of health care. I urge you to watch for it. For a preview, go to: http://HealthCare.GOP.gov

You'll hear solutions. You'll hear of real choices based on America's proven free-market principles. You'll know once and for all what the GOP and Independents have been saying all along about alternatives to another big government take over. After tomorrow, you'll know that accusations against the GOP and Independents for not providing solutions are false. Those claims are bogus. There are alternatives. Tune in to Rep. Boehner's address tomorrow to hear them.

I look forward to the game changer!"

- Sarah Palin

TO BALANCE OBAMA'S BUDGET, INCOME TAXES WOULD HAVE TO NEARLY TRIPLE

Federal Spending So High That Even Prohibitive Income Tax Hikes Would Not Balance Budget

Table 1 Federal Individual Income Tax Rates for Joint Tax Returns Current Law Versus Rates Necessary to Erase Deficit 2010
Tax Brackets for Couples Filing Joint Returns	Current Law Tax Rates	Rates Needed to Close Deficit
0 to $16,750	10%	27.2%
$16,751 to $68,000	15%	40.8%
$68,001 to $137,300	25%	68.0%
$137,301 to $209,200	28%	76.2%
$209,201 to $373,600	33%	89.8%
$373,601 and over	35%	95.2%
Note: The rates are the same for single taxpayers, but the brackets vary. For the bottom three brackets, the threshold amounts are exactly one-half what they are for couples. For the top bracket, the threshold is the same for singles as for couples. Brackets are shown for 2009; inflation adjustment for 2010 will be announced in the summer of 2010. Source: IRS and Tax Foundation

Federal income tax rates would have to be nearly tripled across the income spectrum if Congress were to close the deficit in fiscal year 2010, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. Instead of taxing joint filers with rates ranging from 10 percent to 35 percent, tax rates would have to start at 27.2 percent and reach up to 95.2 percent.

"Federal government spending levels are so high that even if policymakers were willing to stop debt-financing government services, the federal tax system in its current form wouldn't be able to raise that much," said Tax Foundation Director of Policy and Communications Bill Ahern, who authored the report, "Can Income Tax Hikes Close the Deficit?"

"If high-income people had to pay a federal tax rate over 90 percent, plus state and local income taxes and other taxes, total tax rates would be well over 100 percent for many households," he said.

If the federal government were determined to close the 2010 deficit, even resorting to higher income tax rates across the income spectrum, the average tax payment of someone making between $75,000 and $100,000 would jump from $7,055 to $20,515. Taxpayers with AGIs over $1 million would see their tax bills climb from $800,000 to almost $2 million.

Even in 2012, when the President's Budget projects a lower deficit, tax rates would still be need to be prohibitively high in order to balance the budget: nearly double, with rates ranging from 18.7 percent to 74.1 percent.

"Economists debate the extent to which modest tax rate increases persuade workers to work less and entrepreneurs to risk less, but there can be little doubt that the high tax rates necessary to balance the budget in the next several years would discourage all income-producing endeavors," Ahern said.

The Tax Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937.