Midnight Blue Says

The British government is proposing to decentralize the NHS (National Health Service) into a  health system that is more physician and patient driven; while Obamacare is determined to drag America into the dark ages of medicine.

Practical details of the plan are still sketchy. But its aim is clear: to shift control of England’s $160 billion annual health budget from a centralized bureaucracy to doctors at the local level. Under the plan, $100 billion to $125 billion a year would be meted out to general practitioners, who would use the money to buy services from hospitals and other health care providers.

The plan would also shrink the bureaucratic apparatus, in keeping with the government’s goal to effect $30 billion in “efficiency savings” in the health budget by 2014 and to reduce administrative costs by 45 percent.

Well, the good news is that if these reforms do go through within the NHS, Americans will have a place to go for treatment when Obamacare fails them.

H/T: Fausta

The Heritage Foundation makes no bones about how unworkable, un-affordable and unsafe Obamacare really is now that we get to see what is in the bill (thank you, Nancy).

Exactly one hundred days ago today, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. The President promised that the law would extend access to high quality care to the millions of uninsured Americans, while at the same reducing costs and overall health spending.

Forget it. It’s not going to happen. It is clear that none of these promises will come true; instead, the legislation is likely, even certain in some cases, to make existing problems worse.

Senators Coborn and Barasson have released a report on the real impact of Obamacare – check it out HERE. Sorry, Virginia, Obamacare in NOT free.

“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it”  Nancy Pelosi

The progressive Democrat leadership promised America that their overhaul of healthcare, adding an additional 30 million individuals into a government controlled insurance plan would cut costs and not add additional taxation to the middle class.

Two reports released last week confirm what critics have been carefully explaining – the overhaul of healthcare will increase costs at a higher rate.

A report by economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department said the health care remake will achieve Obama’s aim of expanding health insurance — adding 34 million Americans to the coverage rolls. But the analysis also found that the law falls short of the president’s twin goal of controlling runaway costs. It also warned that Medicare cuts may be unrealistic and unsustainable, driving about 15% of hospitals into the red and “possibly jeopardizing access” to care for seniors.

CBO estimates 4 million Americans will face Health care fines:

A separate Congressional Budget Office analysis, also released Thursday, estimated that 4 million households would be hit with tax penalties under the law for failing to get insurance.

April 15, 2010 – an infamous day for Americans who pay taxes.  Speaking of taxes, today is a good day to find out more of what we can expect from Obamacare.

The Heritage foundation has listed 18 taxes found in the Democrat Obamacare scheme – Deep Impact

These taxes will cost taxpayers 503 BILLION between the years 2010 and 2019. The burden of this taxation will fall on the middle class.  NOTE: This figure does not include the imposition of a sugar tax and VAT, these will be in addition to the taxes included in Obamacare.

Mike Pence laughs at the Democrats ridiculous claim of being the party that cut taxes more than any previous Congress:

Someone better tell GloZell.  Can’t wait to see her reaction when she is forced to purchase insurance for her and her seven rug rats or face jail time.  How many times have you attended a townhall or Kill the Bill rally and have been treated to a healthcare sob story. These despondent obamacare supporters are quick to share the cost of the medication needed to sustain their life and how it is impossible for them to afford the medication:

What goes without saying is their near religious believe that Obamacare will take this hardship away from them and never again will they have to pay for medication.  The problem is – they are living in a fantasy of their own making regarding Obamacare. In the real world, they will be forced to purchase a health care plan more expensive than they are now and will have to pay additional fees for specialized medication.

Obamacare Myth of the Century – Free healthcare for all

Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors’ offices, human resources departments and business groups.

“They’re saying, ‘Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?’ ” said Carrie McLean, a licensed agent for eHealthInsurance.com. The California-based company sells coverage from 185 health insurance carriers in 50 states.

McLean said the call center had been inundated by uninsured consumers who were hoping that the overhaul would translate into instant, affordable coverage. That widespread misconception may have originated in part from distorted rhetoric about the legislation bubbling up from the hyper-partisan debate about it in Washington and some media outlets, such as when opponents denounced it as socialism.

“We tell them it’s not free, that there are going to be things in place that help people who are low-income, but that ultimately most of that is not going to be taking place until 2014,” McLean said.

Repeal, Defund, Replace, Reform…repeat as necessary until November 6th 2012

Several corporations last week have shed light on how Obamacare is stripping them of  job creating capital. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Democrats decided to raise taxes on companies that do the public service of offering prescription drug benefits to their retirees instead of dumping them into Medicare

• AT&T’s $1 billion,
• Deere & Co., $150 million;
• Caterpillar, $100 million;
• AK Steel, $31 million;
• 3M,$90 million
• Alero Energy, up to $20 million
• ZERO – Number of Congressmen/women, Senators or Presidents required to use Obamacare.

Read more of the coming redistribution of capital at GOP Leader Board

My fellow Bank of Kev Blogger, Andrew Ian Dodge, is featured on a Maine news channel speaking on the passing of the disastrous health care bill:

Andrew calls out the fatal flaws of this healthcare scheme. It is amazing to note that this bill passed with bipartisan objection.

Today, Obama and Democrats have resurrected plank 21.

H/T: The Clampdown

Three simple words to bring health care back to being patient centric, not politician centric. Three words that can dial back our nation’s dramatic lurch towards insolvency.

Today saw a steady stream of calls to repeal this anything-but-healthcare reform bill.  While this sounds very sexy, the GOP needs to market commonsense alternatives to replace this flawed healthcare bill.  Amazingly enough, the GOP actually have the right ideas to ensure quality healthcare is available and affordable to every citizen in America.

The key points to remember come November and beyond:

• Establishing Universal Access Programs to guarantee access to affordable health care for those with pre-existing conditions.
• Ending junk lawsuits.
• Encouraging innovative state programs.
• Allowing Americans to buy insurance across state lines.
• Enhancing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

The only way one is defeated is by staying down. That is not in my genetic makeup, nor is it in the conservative GOP movement.  Now is the time to focus our energy in supporting conservative candidates who will support commonsense reform in healthcare. There are 219 +2* congressional seats that are now extremely vulnerable come November. Our votes can send a message to DC telling them this is what change looks like.

In case you were not aware, here is a preview of the costs you will be burdened with starting this week:

The CBO says that health insurance premiums would rise by 10 to 13 percent in the individual market, in relation to current law. The Medicare Chief Actuary says that the percentage of the gross domestic product spent on health care would also rise in relation to current law, increasing from 17 percent today to 21 percent in 2019. And, as the CBO reports in its latest scoring, as of 2019 there would still be 23 million people in America lacking health insurance.

What about the 23 million who will be left behind with Obamacare? There are fines for them as well:

Under the reconciliation bill that is now before the Senate, individuals who don’t purchase insurance would be subject to a fine of $325 in 2015 and $695 in 2016. Individuals may be subject to a charge equal to as much as 2.5 percent of their income in 2016, if the total is greater than the flat payment.

Three simply words: Repeal. Replace. Reform.  Repeat as necessary until January 13, 2013

* Jason Altmire (D-PA) and Tim Holden (D-PA) – both voted no simply to save their political career and not in opposition to obamacare. Hence they both will be looking for new jobs come November.

READING, PA – State Representative Sam Rohrer (R-Berks), issued the following statement today in response to the approval in the House of Representatives of President Obama’s healthcare overhaul bill:

“Last night the world watched the U.S. House of Representatives act with stunning disregard for the constitutional rights of every American, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. What passed under the rally call of civil rights and human dignity was in fact one of the strongest challenges to individual freedom in a generation.

In winning passage for the healthcare overhaul using every unsavory procedural tool, threat and backroom promise, they broke faith with their own pledge of openness and transparency. But far worse than hollow campaign promises is the shame in knowing that public officials who knowingly violate their oath to defend the Constitution, commit an act far more injurious to the public trust than bowing to raw politics.

If and when President Obama signs this unconstitutional healthcare bill into law, the roadmap for Pennsylvania’s legal challenge is clear. From the disintegration of the separation of powers between the state and federal government to the misapplication of the Commerce Clause to the lack of congressional authority to apply a direct tax on citizens, the Congress has given us an obvious framework to oppose this bad law.

As Pennsylvania’s Governor, I will use the powers of the office to defend the rights of every citizen to make private decisions, like the purchase of health insurance, for themselves. I will vigorously defend the responsibilities of our elected state legislative bodies, under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, to make decisions about any restructuring of laws that regulate the conduct of health insurance companies and providers. This is simply not the role or right of the federal government.

In my administration, I will never hesitate to defend the constitutional rights of every citizen. This will be my first and highest priority.”

John Hinderaker of Powerline sees a silver lining after today’s gigantic encroachment of government control.

* The health care battle is just beginning. Next, the Senate will try to enact the House’s “fixes” to the original Senate bill. Some Senators say that won’t happen. If not, then President Obama has the option of signing the original Senate bill–now passed by the House–Cornhusker Kickback and all. I assume he would do that, but the resulting blowback from House Democrats, not to mention the American people, would be something to behold.

* The health care bill’s taxes will go into effect promptly, but its substantive provisions are, for the most part, deferred for four years. This means that we have plenty of time to repeal the legislation. Sure, it will take a new Congress and new President. But repealing this disaster of a bill will by a rallying cry for the American people for years to come. Moreover, even if the Republicans only take over the House in November, and not the Senate, won’t it be possible to throw roadblocks in the way of the bill’s implementation? Won’t budget appropriations be necessary to sustain the various federal tentacles the bill seeks to establish? What will happen if the House simply refuses to fund them?

* I’ve never been prouder to be a Republican. The party’s Congressional leaders have fought this battle to the end on behalf of the American people–with intelligence, toughness, persistence and good humor. The contrast between the parties has never been starker than in today’s debate. If any intelligent Democrats were watching–there must be some left–they had to be embarrassed for their party.

* Paul Ryan has emerged as one of the conservative movement’s strongest spokesmen. In the years to come, I think we will hear the words “I’m a Paul Ryan Republican” with increasing frequency.

* The health care debate has energized the conservative movement and awoken the sleeping giant, that is, the American people. The Democrats misinterpreted their electoral victories in 2006 and 2008 as a mandate for socialism. Now a majority of voters are intent on disabusing them of that misapprehension. Just about all of the political energy today is on the right–a remarkable fact, only sixteen months after the Democrats’ high-water mark in November 2008.

* Barack Obama has used his political capital–pretty much all of it–on unpopular legislation that will continue to rile the voters for years to come. As a result, Obama is a remarkably unpopular second-year President. And he hasn’t even experienced any bad luck yet. It is hard to see how he will be able to regain his footing.

So, be of good cheer. To paraphrase a great American, we have not yet begun to fight.

H/T Curt – Flopping Aces