Showing posts with label Repealing Obamacare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Repealing Obamacare. Show all posts

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Bill Introduced to Repeal Obamacare’s Individual Mandate

Source: House Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH, 12th)

Washington, D.C. - September 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH), chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, introduced legislation that would repeal Obamacare’s individual health insurance mandate.

“We need to put patients and families, not the federal government, in charge of their own health care,” said Tiberi. “However, the individual mandate is forcing Americans to purchase plans they don’t want, don’t need, and can’t afford to use. This legislation would provide relief to Americans who are trapped in overpriced and unreliable Obamacare plans and eliminate the threat of an unfair fine from the IRS.”

“Obamacare’s individual mandate fundamentally alters the relationship between the government and the governed, severely limiting individual freedom,” said Burgess. “Since its conception, the individual mandate has been a direct attack on our personal liberty. This bill will provide the American people immediate relief from this overstep.”

Click Here to read H.R. 3725.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Uncertainty looms ahead for GOP effort to repeal and replace Affordable Care Act

Alaska Dispatch News

WASHINGTON – Congressional Republicans on Friday glumly confronted the wreckage of their seven-year quest to abolish the Affordable Care Act, blaming each other and President Donald Trump for the dramatic early-morning collapse of the effort but finding no consensus on a way forward.

Some GOP lawmakers clung to long-shot hopes that some version of the legislation might be revived and that a deal might yet be struck before the fall. But the Senate's rejection early Friday of a last-ditch, bare-bones proposal to roll back just a few key planks of the law left GOP leaders with few options for uniting their sharply polarized ranks.

Hours later, House Republicans gathered in the Capitol to take stock of the situation. Some raised the prospect of abandoning their long-standing pledge to "repeal and replace" the ACA and instead working with Democrats to shore up weak spots in the law known as Obamacare. But Trump signaled little interest in that approach, leaving many lawmakers baffled about how to proceed.

"I'm not a prophet," said Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., who helped push an earlier version of the repeal bill through the House. "I don't know what comes next."

[Democrats urge investigations into Trump administration efforts to pressure Murkowski]

Politically, the collapse of the repeal effort is potentially devastating for Republicans. It leaves Trump without a significant policy achievement in the critical first six months of his presidency; it casts a pall over the party's coming drives to pass a budget and overhaul the tax code; and it exposes GOP lawmakers to rising anger from their conservative base.

Read more...


Wednesday, July 26, 2017

The Senate’s Latest Obamacare Replacement Effort will not improve the Nation’s Health, Affordable Care Act

Washington, D.C. - July 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) --The below is a statement from John Auerbach, president and CEO, of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) on the Senate’s motion to proceed.

“Each new iteration of Obamacare repeal legislation has failed to do what a health bill should: improve the nation’s health.

We know—according to the Congressional Budget Office’s scores on any number of the attempted bills—that tens of millions of people will quickly lose access to health insurance and the preventive services and programs which keep them from developing debilitating and costly chronic diseases.

That is, simply, the opposite of what a bill—intended to improve the nation’s health—should do.

Continued attempts to eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund would irreparably harm the nation’s health. States and communities rely on the hundreds of millions of dollars they receive annually to work on the critical health issues—including the opioid epidemic, lead poisoning, obesity, tobacco use and vaccine-preventable illnesses—facing their citizens.

To date, any funding included in repeal legislation for the opioid crisis has been nowhere near enough to solve the problem and will not make up for the substantially larger cuts to Medicaid and the Prevention Fund.

Estimates have found that the total coverage cost for people receiving treatment for substance misuse disorders could reach $220 billion over the next decade. And, people with substance misuse disorders often suffer from additional health problems – for example, mental illness and chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes – and need the routine access to care and services provided by Medicaid. As such, substance misuse treatment must remain part of the Medicaid integrated care system.

TFAH encourages the Administration and Congress to start over and create a true healthcare bill that will improve upon Obamacare, keep people covered and safeguard the nation’s health.”

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.

=====Event Announcement=====

School Choice Debate to be held August 3!

RNC Statement on Senate Health Care Bill

Washington, D.C. - July 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on the Senate's vote on the motion to proceed towards Obamacare repeal:

"Republicans answered President Trump's call, taking another step towards fulfilling our promise to the American people to implement a better health care system," said Chairwoman McDaniel. "As Obamacare continues to collapse, millions of Americans are suffering from skyrocketing costs and crumbling marketplaces, yet Democrats continue to obstruct and resist. It is unfortunate that not a single Democrat agreed to proceed to vote on any fixes whatsoever to this disastrous Obamacare law. It’s time for the political games by Democrats to end. Americans deserve better.”

Friday, July 21, 2017

Lawmakers to Trump: You Can’t Pass this Buck

Washington, D.C. - July 20, 2017 (The Ponder News) --A group of 36 Democratic lawmakers, led by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Mark Pocan (D-WI), called on President Trump to stop trying to pass the buck on the future of health care and instead explain his health care proposals and answer direct policy questions from members of Congress, just as President Obama did when the Affordable Care Act was developed.

This call for President Trump to attend a public congressional forum on health care comes in response to the President’s latest efforts to duck responsibility for the failure of the Republican health care bills and the future of health insurance markets, telling reporters on Tuesday: “We’re not going to own it. I’m not going to own it. I can tell you the Republicans are not going to own it.”

In today’s letter, the members of Congress pointed out that assigning blame without engaging in tough policy choices is beneath the office of the President: “As the elected leader of our nation, we are concerned with your continued silence on this national health care debate. Short tweets and brief statements are not policy positions.”

“With more than twenty million Americans projected to lose their health insurance – a reality you recently described as “mean” – as a result of the bills under consideration to date, we respectfully request the opportunity to ask you questions about your vision and to discuss how we can move our country forward on a bipartisan basis, just as President Obama offered in 2010,” continued the lawmakers.

The full text of the letter is as follows:



President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

Now that the Senate repeal effort has fallen short, we write to invite you to address the American people and their elected representatives in Congress to explain your vision for improving health care in this country.

On February 25, 2010, then-President Barack Obama held an extensive public discussion with members of Congress on how to improve our nation’s health care system. The Obama health care summit lasted seven hours, involved congressional leaders from both political parties, gave voice to opponents of the President’s proposal, and gave the American people a chance to hear directly from the country’s leaders about the policy recommendations that would ultimately impact their families and livelihoods. Just a few weeks before this well-televised event, President Obama appeared at the congressional Republican retreat to answer questions directly from members of Congress.

When the Affordable Care Act was crafted, congressional leaders held over 100 hours of hearings, considered a total of 239 bipartisan amendments, and allowed members of Congress and the public nearly five months to examine the text of the ACA before the bill was voted on in the House. During this time, members of Congress and President Obama held hundreds of town halls and health care-focused public events across the country.

As the elected leader of our nation, we are concerned with your continued silence on this national health care debate. Short tweets and brief statements are not policy positions. The American people, every one of whom will be impacted by changes to our health care laws currently under discussion, deserve to hear the specifics of your vision for a more affordable and better health care system.

With more than twenty million Americans projected to lose their health insurance – a reality you recently described as “mean” – as a result of the bills under consideration to date, we respectfully request the opportunity to ask you questions about your vision and to discuss how we can move our country forward on a bipartisan basis, just as President Obama offered in 2010. As Congress considers sweeping changes to our nation’s health care laws, it is important the Congress and the public have the opportunity to understand your views and how your policy choices will impact the nation.

Sincerely,


=====

Events Announcements


Gun Rights Policy Conference September 29, 30, Oct 1. Click HERE for Information!

Overflowing with Thankfulness Conference (September 7-9) Click HERE For more information

ACTION ALERTS!



Urge your senators to push for a clean repeal of Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, and ban any funding to abortion providers.

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Are you considering Suicide? If you need help right now, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741. -- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Senate to take up bill to repeal Obamacare without replacement plan...(and more...)

State agencies warn of 'pink' synthetic opioid drug threat
KCCI (Des Moines, Iowa)
July 17, 2017

The Iowa Department of Public Health, Department of Public Safety, Poison Control Center and Office of Drug Control policy issued an advisory Monday to warn Iowans of a new synthetic opioid drug threat recently discovered in Iowa.
Read more...

Now For The REAL News: Time To Investigate John Podesta For Ties To Russia (For Real)
Clinton News
July 12, 2017

With not a single shred of evidence other than Hillary Clinton shrieking “Russia!” and all of her media lapdogs responding in kind to affirm it as gospel truth, the witch hunt against President Trump over his alleged involvement with the Russian government to supposedly steal the 2016 presidential election continues. Meanwhile, actual real evidence of Clinton’s former campaign manager, John Podesta, having accepted millions of dollars from Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials is so far being ignored as if it never happened.
Read more...

Weapon policy verbiage gets new twist
Daily Sentinel (Le Mars)
July 12, 2017

Courthouse security was a key issue at Tuesday’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisor’s meeting. That was the case because a new law passed by the Iowa legislature states no city or county may ban firearms in their courthouse.
Read more...

FBI data show cases of children murdering their parents is rare
KWGC TV-6
July 12, 2017

The crimes draw lots of attention, but official statistics show these cases are rare. The most recent FBI data from 2014 showed 169 people were killed by family members younger than themselves. The data doesn't distinguish the exact relationship. But the data also shows in 2014, there were over 14,000 murders across the United States. Parricide was only a small fraction.
Read more...

Senate to take up bill to repeal Obamacare without replacement plan
Des Moines Register
July 17, 2017

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced late Monday that the Senate will give up on its bill to replace Obamacare and vote instead on legislation to repeal the law within two years.
Read more...

YES, YES, YES!!! THAT is what we have been waiting for!


Thursday, March 9, 2017

News: Murder, Defense Appropriations, Repealing Obamacare, Women, Eating Dogs and Cats, Missiles, Financial Scams, Wiretapping, Whistleblowers, Education

Police: Solano County man kills daughter-in-law with hammer
SFGate
March 8, 2017

A 63-year-old man was arrested after confessing that he beat his daughter-in-law to death with a hammer in the garage of their Suisun City home because she disrespected him, police said Wednesday.
Read more...

Congressman Andy Biggs’ Statement on Passage of FY17 Defense Appropriations Act
Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th)
March 8, 2017

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017. This bill appropriates $577.9 billion for the Department of Defense ($516.1 billion in base discretionary funding and $61.8 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations / Global War on Terrorism funding). After voting on the bill’s passage, Congressman Andy Biggs released the following statement:
Read more...

Bilirakis Gives Remarks During Debate on the American Health Care Act
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL, 12th)
March 8, 2017

During a key House committee debate on the American Health Care Act, the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) highlighted constituents who faced problems due to the ACA.
Read more...

Reps. Bishop, Johnson Re-Introduce Bipartisan Mobile Workforce Bill in 115th Congress
Mike Bishop (R-MI, 8th)
March 7, 2017

Congressman Mike Bishop (MI-8) has re-introduced his third bipartisan bill in the 115th Congress with support from Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-4), the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2017. The bicameral legislation, once again led by Senators John Thune and Sherrod Brown, simplifies state income tax requirements for employees who work multiple days per year outside the state of their residence.
Read more...

Blumenauer on GOP Health Care Plan: “Stop This Trainwreck”
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd)
March 9, 2017

Today, despite stringent opposition from Democrats, the House Ways and Means Committee took its first step in moving the Republican “health care” proposal toward the House Floor. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) voted against the bill and released the following statement:
Read more...

Bonamici Statement on International Women’s Day
Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR, 1st)
Mar 8, 2017

Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement in recognition of International Women’s Day:
Read more...

BORDALLO STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam)
Mar 8, 2017

Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today released the following statement regarding International Women’s Day.
Read more...

Boyle Introduces Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017
Brendan Boyle (D-PA, 13th)
March 7, 2017

“The fact that this legislation is even necessary today is astonishing. It is past time for us to outlaw such a cruel and barbaric practice once and for all. The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 will finally make it illegal to slaughter animals most of us think of as family members. It is my hope that, with the passage of this bill, the United States will no longer be party to this disgusting practice,” said Congressman Boyle.
Read more...

Feinstein, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Veterans’ Recruitment Bill
Senator Dianne Feinstein - (D - CA)
March, 9 2017

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined 7 Senate colleagues to cosponsor the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act, which will prioritize the U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant applications of law enforcement agencies who use that funding to hire veterans. This legislation was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and also cosponsored by Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Dean Heller (R-Nev.).
Read more...

Senators Introduce Legislation to Limit Spending on Nuclear War-Fighting Missiles
Senator Dianne Feinstein - (D - CA)
March, 8 2017

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 7 other senators in introducing legislation that will limit funding for a new nuclear-armed air-launched missile, also called the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO). The cruise missile would be more precise and could be launched without warning, putting pressure on other nuclear-armed states to keep their arsenals on high alert and increasing the risk of nuclear war. Cruise missiles also come in both nuclear and non-nuclear varieties, so the use of a non-nuclear missile against another nuclear-armed state could be mistaken for a nuclear strike, leading to unintended nuclear war. The missile and its refurbished warhead will reportedly cost between $20-30 billion over twenty years to build. Specifically, the legislation caps funding for the missile and its warhead at 2017 levels until the Trump administration submits a Nuclear Posture Review to Congress.
Read more...

Flake Introduces Resolution to Protect Consumers from Overreaching Internet Regulation
Senator Jeff Flake - (R - AZ)
March 7, 2017

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, today introduced a resolution to repeal economically harmful broadband regulations issued by the Obama administration.
Read more...

Senators Gillibrand And Collins Announce New Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Seniors From Financial Scams
Senator Kirsten E.Gillibrand - (D - NY)
March 7, 2017

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced the Senior Financial Empowerment Act, new bipartisan legislation to protect seniors from financial fraud.
Read more...

Senators Graham And Whitehouse Request Warrant Applications And Court Orders Related To Possible Wiretapping Of President Trump, Trump Campaign, Or Trump Tower
Senator Lindsey Graham - (R - SC)
March, 8 2017

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, today sent a letter to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Acting Deputy Attorney General requesting information on possible wiretapping of President Trump, the Trump campaign, or Trump Tower.
Read more...

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Whistleblowers
Senator Chuck Grassley - (R - IA)
March, 8 2017

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Reauthorization Act and the Follow the Rules Act Wednesday. These bipartisan pieces of legislation would provide greater protections to federal government whistleblowers.
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Senate acts to protect authority of states to manage their own schools
Senator Michael B. Enzi - (R - WY)
March 9, 2017

The Senate voted today to rescind a Department of Education regulation that directly contradicted a bipartisan education bill Congress passed in 2015, which put control back in the hands of states and parents.
Read more...