(Submitted by Jonathan Parker, Executive Director, Idaho Republican Party)
In Idaho and across the nation, we see health care costs and insurance premiums rising at three times the speed of wages. As a result, Americans are often left with either no healthcare or life crushing debts for health concerns that are out of their control. We need well thought out and responsible action on health care reform—reform that truly preserves our liberty and stabilizes our economy.
Instead, we see a Democrat controlled Congress shoving through unsustainable, budget crushing proposals. The House currently commends a bill that will add $239 billion to the deficit over the next decade. Moreover, to reduce this bill’s price tag to the astonishing figure of $239 billion, Democratic Congressmen have proposed additional taxes on upper income Americans and on one of the most crucial segments of our economy, small businesses.
Small businesses make up 97% of employers in Idaho, and their success is critical to our economic recovery and long-term growth. We all know that this nation’s success depends on the hard work and ingenuity of our small business owners. Small businesses provide Idahoans with everything from engineering and legal services to our morning coffee. A tax increase is a surefire way to add thousands to the ranks of the unemployed in Idaho and prolong this devastating recession.
Republicans in Idaho are dedicated to innovative, sustainable solutions to this nation’s health care crisis, but they refuse to back a trillion dollar spending debacle following in the footsteps of the stimulus package. A plan we can all get behind will cut costs, especially by reining in administrative excess, will protect the doctor-patient relationship, will increase the mobility of healthcare, and will provide affordable healthcare plans to the families and businesses of America.
The Obama administration purports to solve these problems by sending our nation further into debt. Obama’s current plan will have the government “compete” with private industry, but will in fact undercut insurance companies and run them out of business. This will force millions into the government plan. According to a Lewin Group study, as many as 119 million Americans will be forced into the government plan when this so-called competition takes place. All of this happens with Obama continually saying that if you like your doctor, you can keep him. We must stand up against this bold-faced lie.
Obama and the Democratic Congressmen are playing the same old political games. All thoughtful critics are classified by Obama as naysayers, or “defenders of the status quo.” First off, Republicans see as well as anyone the necessity of healthcare reform. We must end abuse and reign in unsustainable costs. Pre-existing conditions can no longer exclude Americans from adequate healthcare. At the same time, Republicans know that this complicated and critical issue cannot be rammed through Congress in two months, and it cannot be tainted by political motivations.
The facts are simple: the current plan is untenable, will push us towards national bankruptcy, raise our taxes, and greatly take away from our liberties. We need healthy, thorough debate that leads us to lead to a bipartisan solution that is fiscally responsible and represents the will of America.
Popularity: 5%
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It WAS all he had to say about it!
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The ONLY answer (IMHO) that makes any sustainable sense…
Completely redact the Federal Tax Code to one sheet of paper.
10% for EVERY individual above the poverty line.
10% for EVERY business DOING business in the US.
10% for EVERY US business DOING business outside the US.
ZERO EXEMPTIONS
ZERO WRITE-OFFS
ZERO LOOPHOLES
Lowers EVERYONES taxes
Increases Federal Revenue THROUGH THE ROOF (because the high-end political contributors no longer have their own private Tax Exemptions)
EVERYONE’S medical and upper education is now PAID FOR…FULLY.
Now…contradict THAT!
Easier said than done DJ.
If it were easy, it would have been done a long time ago.
No, unfortunately it will never happen because the people who benefit most from the current situation are the only people who can change it, our elected representitives. And we all know, regardless of which side of the aisle they occupy, they’ll never do ANYTHING that won’t benefit them directly.
Remember…a politician has two and ONLY TWO duties.
To get elected.
To get re-elected.
Sad but true…
Unfortunately the ones with the biggest loopholes have the most power.
Mr. Parker –
Frankly, I don’t care which doctor I have, too many of them are incompetent anyway. From my experience, every single one at EIRMC does more to line his own pockets than provide quality, or even correct medical care. If the Idaho Republicans are truly interested in actually providing medical care to the Idahoans that either do not have any, or are under-insured, perhaps a state program that would provide health care options to our poor should be implemented.
However, since the Idaho Republican party is more interested in fighting the threat of federalism, now that it has a Blue rather than a Red flavor than looking out for the needs of our increasing disadvantaged person, I do not expect much.
Both parties have disappointed me greatly over the years, as neither has lived up to my expectations of good, responsible government anytime in the last 2 decades, but until the Republicans have a better solution, it might be better to stay quiet. At $1.2 trillion for the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no actual economic benefit to the United States, the Republican Party has a more expensive track record right now.
Incidentally, Mr. Parker, your Lewin Group study was provided by an insurance company owned ‘think tank’ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203696.html
Could we have an actual ‘independent’ study, instead of someone arguing for status quo? In other words, how can we trust a study that claims what has been proposed is bad, when they get paid by the companies that have the most to lose from the program should it be implemented?
I personally loathe my insurance company, I hate talking to them, I hate submitting paperwork to have them decide the procedure was ‘unnecessary’ despite being ordered by my very own personal physician. I hate having to come up with the rest of the money the doctors want, after the insurance company declines payment. I hate the smug bast*** in their little offices in Boise, or back east that decide that because there’s a ‘generic’ drug, my wife can’t take what has without adverse side-effects, worked for her for 15 years, that they’ll only pay for a generic that she’s never tried, with who knows what side-effects or one that causes her diarrhea, because it’s cheaper. I hate that my insurance company, with it’s shill doctors think they know more about what is a reasonable medical treatment, without consulting with me, without doing an exam, without anything except an examination of the costs of the procedure or drugs, and making an arbitrary and capricious decision that they won’t pay, and I have to choose, to go without the treatment or pay for it myself. That’s the choice the Idaho Republican party wants me to have. Hobson’s choice.
Please tell me, Mr. Parker, how the Democrats are going to ruin health care worse than the Idaho Republicans already have? Because I’m listening, I really, really am.
While your thinking about your response, please review the following information from AARP
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/state_hcb_09_id.pdf
Because I’d like to also know what you’re going to do about my Mother’s future medical costs. Right now, I have been given the choice of sending my daughter to college, or taking care of the woman who gave birth to me… A ‘choice’ Mr. Parker, your party has led us too, and apparently believes we should celebrate having.
Wooh! Can’t wait to hear the response to that one. Nice post rurallawyer.
The current situation is unacceptable to any rational person. I do not know how much good just throwing money at medical care will do. The vampires will just get fatter.
We need to figure out what the real cost of health care is and what is going to the vampires.
People working in the health care field should make a good living but there are way way too many multimillionaires.
R. Johnson
Ugh, this topic still?
The way I see it, being without insurance currently is the same as having the government foot the bill with one exception — the government will pay less for treatment but will do so immediately, while an uninsured person will pay more for the same treatment over time. Both include an increased wait time (those with insurance and / or proof of cash up front go first) and reduced level of service.
There will certainly be doctors who will work outside of regulations for payment under the table, and I’ll be searching out one of those.
Insurance = FAIL
Gov. Coverage = FAIL
Out of Pocket @ Current Rates = FAIL
We need to cut insurance and government coverage out of the equation in my opinion. Cut the claims processing staff, cut the training and fees on government “insurance programs” and you get a lower overhead. Add leverage for the patient to negotiate realistic rates (options on procedures) and it’s better for both patients and doctors.
Feel free to argue against my points, but I don’t give a damn what you think and your opinion is < my observation.
Get off the government teat you damn sissies. Take care of yourselves or die trying. If you’re worried about having cash in the future to get shit done should something catastrophic happen, put money in the bank and kiss your social security deposits goodbye.
We are (or were) guaranteed the ability to live free and succeed. We aren’t and never have been guaranteed success. The same goes for this Marxist garbage coming down the pike. If we don’t do something to stop it now (and our freedom has already been raped and pillaged), it’ll be a lot harder to do so in 10 years when we’re waiting for our weekly job detail to come in the mail and wondering what our food allowance will be for the week. My oldest will be an adult then, and I’ll happily jump into the line of fire and fight for her right to freedom. You best not be standing in the way when it comes to that.
I’ve had insurance through my employers for the past 15 years and am quite happy. Of course I pay extra for PPO so I can go to whatever Dr I choose, but overall I’ve had no problems with my plan. Sure, rates go up occassionally but so does the price of eggs or milk. If you don’t have insurance tough luck, that’s not my problem and I shouldn’t have to pay for it. Either get a job or pay for it out of your own pocket or move to Canada.
My hubby has actually read the majority of the bill. Keep in mind, it’s about 1000 pages long so this is no small feat. I don’t have the time or energy to type what he said, but we should all be afraid, very afraid. There are several sites summarizing main points of the bill, and of course we will all take it a different way depending on your profession, or if you are a simple consumer of health care. No one wins with this one, even the insurance companies, doctors, or MOST importantly, consumers.
guest2 i dont know if you have kids, but if you have, or whoever has then the same should go for that. I dont want to pay taxes to educate your kids, but unfortuantly i have to.
Send your kids to private school if you dont already and stop them being a tax burden to me. Gotta take it if youre gonna dish your sorry ass attitude out.
I hear these arguments “I don’t want the govenment between my doctor and I” BUT Can anybody honestly say they’re 100% happy with their insurance, HMO, PPO or whatever??? If I asked this question to a room full of people who would raise their hands?
Whatever happens in the next few months we can probably agree that nobody will get GREAT healh insurance.
Like I said. Get rid of insurance and keep the government out of things.
I agree with Marcus’ thoughts, get the govt. out of my life and out of our purported “health care” (that is what passes for such and for those that can afford such).
The local republicans and even the national ones, and I and others tried bringing them back to their paleo-con right roots this last election, showed that they are not really dedicated to these ideas at all of getting govt out of peoples lives and stopping empire building. They are against this sort of thing ONLY if it is a democrat doing such or purposing such.
Mr Republican, where was the outrage from you and all the other republicans the last 8 yrs when Bush Jr shredded your purportedly beloved constitution in favor of empire building and more war for profit? Where was you and your colleges outrage when the Patriot Acts I & II (!!) were shoved down our throats?
You NOW all claim to be against taxes. Where was your support for the only presidential candidate that wanted to abolish the IRS? You and your local NEO-cons (scroogle.org such if you are unfamiliar with your roots mr republican) no more want a solution to Healthcare then Bush or Bush Jr wanted to preserve and protect the citizens liberty.
We are tired of the duopoly sir and your two party sham has been exposed.
Here are solutions to healthcare that the local republicans and the national party did not want talked about during the last election, but now have the unmitigated audacity to dare claim that they care or give s hite about.
Couple of key ideas that republicans should have listened to back in ‘08 that they pooh-poohed away…
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Ron_Paul_Health_Care.htm
and
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul339.html
–
Insurance companies & gov’t make healthcare unaffordable
Q: You say that insurance companies and government programs have made health care simply unaffordable. You objected so strongly to Medicaid that, as a doctor, I’m told, you simply treated patients on your own, at your own expense.
A: Well, we’ve had managed care, now, for about 35 years. It’s not working, and nobody’s happy with it. The doctors aren’t happy. The patients aren’t happy. Nobody seems to be happy–except the corporations, the drug companies and the HMOs.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida Oct 21, 2007
Transfer funds from debt & empire-building to healthcare
We have a mess because a lot of people are very dependent on health care. But we’re going broke, with $500 billion going to debt every single year, and we have a foreign policy that is draining us. I say, take care of these poor people. I’m not against that. But save the money someplace. The only place available for us to save it is to change our attitude about running a world empire and bankrupting this country. We can take care of the poor people, save money and actually cut some of our deficit.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida Oct 21, 2007
Socialized medicine won’t work; nor managed care
You don’t have to throw anybody out in the street, but long term you have move toward the marketplace. You cannot expect socialized medicine of the Hillary brand to work. And you can’t expect the managed care system that we have today [to work, because it] promotes and rewards the corporations. It’s the drug companies & the HMOs & even the AMA that lobbies us for this managed care, and that’s why the prices are high. It’s only in medicine that technology has raised prices rather than lowering prices.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida Oct 21, 2007
I’m completely happy with my Insurance. Like Guest2 I also pay the extra for PPO. (its well worth the money in my opinion) I’ve worked for the same company for over 10 years and while nothing in this life is perfect, I’ve had no major problems with my insurance and/or my coverage.
I don’t think putting the govt in charge of healthcare will solve this nations healthcare woes.
What gets me is that everybody is still talking about government sponsored health care, and not about problems in our current health care system. Private insurance is a problem, and our current inflated rates are caused by it almost exclusively. The insurance scam is a problem.
When is the Republican Party going to stop playing Rope-A-Dope with itself?
It is obvious to every single adult in the U.S. that our current medical system is broken beyond repair right now, and with the huge number of baby-boomers reaching the age when most will need much more medical care and treatment, the time for an overhaul is already way overdue.
Are the Republicans willing to wait until the entire system falls completely apart at the side of the road before they will actually come up with a workable plan of their own?
Or are they going to be stuck in the Land Of No until the Republican Party disappears as a viable political entity? The choice is yours… either get your pack going, or sit on the porch and whine while the rest of us take care of things.
Republicans AND Democrats – a pox upon both of their houses. since when have either cared about any of us, much less listened to any of us?
“Republicans in Idaho are dedicated to innovative, sustainable solutions to this nation’s health care crisis”
Then what is the Republican alternative health care solution?
Get rid of insurance, both private and government pushed.
I agree with Marcus, and I can tell you that I know several doctors who feel the same way.
Look at what doctors have to go through just to treat one patient. And no, I’m not on the side of all doctors. This is just to prove the point that insurance is a nuisance. First the appointment is made. They need your insurance info. Then they contact that carrier and confirm. Then you are seen. Usually for only five minutes after you have waited in the waiting room for a half hour minimum. (I once waited for two hours with four sick boys and I was sick also.) After you are seen they then have to submit the information to the insurance company. They then have to wait four to six weeks for approval of treatment and then payment. And then they have to send a bill to the patient for the remainder and then wait for that payment to be paid. Most doctors won’t get that money. Due to dishonest people. So as a doctor for a five minute exam, they have to wait more than a month to get paid.
So, what do you think? Does insurance work? And don’t forget all the insurances doctors have to have. Malpractice, practice, business, and all sorts of other things. I’m glad that none of my children want to be doctors. Work for the government. Everthing is just handed to you there.
If you get rid of insurance companies, the prices on drugs, treatments, and surgeries will go down. But if the government gets involved, they will just require a certain price and gouge out the doctors. All I can say is that if America goes through with this healthcare plan, I may want to move to Canada. At least in Alberta and British Columbia they know how it works. And all the American Doctors and Nurses will move there.
There will never be one right answer. We are all so vastly different from one another. That is just human nature. But to require hard working people to pay for lazy ones, that is just wrong.
As for supporting a mother or sending a daughter to college. Take care of your mother. Both my husband and I had to pay for our own higher education. I just paid off my student loan and my husband is close. I can gaurantee that we both appreciate our education more than our friends that had mommy and daddy take care of it. Paying for your childs college is only going to make them rely on you more. And not appreciate their education.
I hated high school. Absolutely hated it. My parents didn’t push me to apply myself. And I didn’t try on my own. My own fault. I paid for my own two years of College. In high school I was a 2.6 GPA. When I graduated from College I was a 3.8. Hmmm. Go figure.
I have a friend that started college the same time I did and ten years later she finally got a bachelors. Her parents kept paying for her schooling. I have a niece that just barely picked a major and she is starting her fourth year. Mom and Dad paid for that one. Yes they may have student loans to pay off, but they will appreciate it and fill a sense of accomplishment when that last check gets sent.
We have to show by example that life may be hard but there are wonderful rewards along the way. I’m tired of the bandaids and the glossy images. Because of the government we have generational welfare cases. We have people who are afraid to work too many hours because it will decrease their social security benefits. We have unemployed people who only do the minimal to look for jobs because of unemployment checks. The list goes on and on. I even know people who have medicaid for their children and take them to the doctors for everything for a splinter to sniffles. There is absolutely no personal responsibility in this country. It’s hard to be proud of lazy and selfish people. So no wonder so many people are embarrased to be Americans.
boo hoo for the insurance companies
Mr. Parker quotes the Lewin Group predicting horrible outcomes from the public insurance option. What is the Lewin Group? Republicans on the House Ways & Means Committee call it an “independent research firm.” Lewin Group is owned by United Health Group, one of the nation’s largest insurers. United Health recently agreed to a $400 million dollar settlement to the AMA and the state of New York for using skewed data to rip off New York policy holders.
Then, of course, he worries about government rationing. As if I’m not rationed by the policy I have with Blue Shield. For my $350 a month they limit who I can see (my co-pay almost triples for any doctor who isn’t a “preferred provider.”) They limit how much they’ll cover (6 physician visits max, $2500 max for lab work & x-rays, no outpatient physical therapy, no reconstructive surgery, etc.) And they don’t pay anything until I’ve paid my $7500 deductible. That isn’t rationing?
Finally Mr. Parker says Republicans are dedicated to a “plan we can all get behind” that will “provide affordable healthcare plans to the families and businesses in America.” Republicans had eight years to work on that plan. Where is it?
(Though this comment was originally submitted as an article/post, it has been placed here as it is in direct response to this particular post. -Joe)
Great example for your kids My4Sons. Steer them towards working for the govt where everything is “just handed to you there” Hopefully you were just kidding
As for college. Its a waste of time and money these days. You’re better off going to a trade school for 18 months to 2 years to be an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or a 101 other things. You’ll make just as much money and wont have a mountain of debt from student loans to deal with afterwards. Especially in this economy where every other person out there looking for work has a 4 year degree. Nobody in my family ever got a four year degree but we all make good money, well above the national average. For the most part college is a waste unless you intend to be a doctor, lawyer or nuclear physicist.
just my opinion
In response to the title of this thread…
If that does occur, I would personally like to thank The Shrub for getting us the first 90% there.
And it only took him 7-1/2 years and 7,000+ American lives to do it.
BUT…the peop[le who got him SElected DID get a good tax break for a few years. That and only losing a few of the rights put forth in the Constitution, well hell, that’s a plum bargain!
You did a great job Brownie…er..Georgie!
Its amusing how blind you liberals are. Osama…err rather Obamas healthcare isn’t the only thing that is pushing us further into debt. Lets not forget the trillions in bailout this administration has given to the banks and auto companies. And as previously noted, all the money he’s given to the american public in the name of stimulus from clunkers to dishwashers. At least the shrub took 7plus years to do what Mr Hussein has done in less than 6 months. Just wait for the next year or two when inflation goes through the roof because the dollar wont be worth the cotton its printed on and everyone is forking over more money in taxes in order to pay for all these so called stimulus plans.
Yes indeed, it’s amusing how the libs are blind to all of these issues. Come on DJ, I know you can come up with something besides your incessant Bushbashing. Maybe a first step would be to stop living in the past and concern yourself with the obscene amounts of cash Obammy is handing out like candy to every Tom Dick and Harry? We cant change the past but we can do something about the here and now.
Obama reminds me of my little sister when she got her first checking account.. She cant be out of money, she still has checks!
Guest…
“Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it’.
You call my comments Bushbashing and focusing on the past. But answer these questions with a straight face (if you can)…
If Bush had not erased the surplus he was left with (by handing all of his big contributors HUGE tax breaks,) and sent our economy spiriling into debt by giving these same contributing corporations additional tax breaks AND allowing them to move business and jobs overseas with no penalties AND staging a war that was both wholly unnecessary and costly in both treasure and lives, would it have been necessary for anyone to spend these trillions of dollars to help to jump start our economy?
Did you forget that it was The Shrub who sent the first AIG Bailout as well as the first TWO bailouts to banks, at a total of more than 2.2 TRILLION DOLLARS with not ONE syllable of restrictions or requirements of how the money shold be used, or that the institutions who received it would be required to start lending to people and small businesses again (necessary to get the economy going again)?
Have you ever watched anything other than Faux News? I ask because if you did, you’d know that the auto bailout saved more than a million jobs in the auto and related industries, that the cash for clunkers increased business for the auton makers to such an extent that EVERY PENNY of the bailout has already been paid back. Can you say that about all the Iraqi money that was, according to your “trustworthy” (NOT) VP Cheney was going to be paid by Iraqi oil money?
You (conservatives) constantly complain about Obama being all for socialism. How about the corporate socialism being fed to the oil companies, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies? Why don’t you ever cry about that, other than because they are the ones who fund your campaigns?
And finally…if your party is so damned fiscally responsible and knows how to do things right, then please tell me why you came into office with a suprlus and a country that had had ZERO attacks on our soil in 8 years and ON YOUR WATCH we were attacked and our economy weent to hell. And in six of those 8 years you also had a majority in Congress.
No thanks pal. Your party has shown what they can do to…er…for our country and even though I may not agree with everything the Dems are doing now, it’s sure as hell better than what you all did to us the past 8 years.
Yeah, we’re spending a lot of cash now and raising the debt. But ask yourself why. The answer is, because just as the Dems had to the last time they took the White House…
we’re cleaning up YOUR messes.
I was just reading the channel 6 web site and some parents think Obama’s address to schools on Tuesday is going to push the health care plan. Anyone know if the general public can watch his address Tuesday if we don’t have kids in school? Yeah, I know, Youtube it later but I’d like to see it live.
Interesting that none of these right-side whiners made a fuss when Ronnie Ray-Gun did a national address to schools two days after he left office, literally pushing supply side economics, trickle down and open markets with no protection to US businesses or workers.
Even more interesting, neither did those who opposed him.
The “conservatives” in this country have some very valid points and beliefs, many o fwhich I subscribe to. But the people driving their train these days are wacked out and are making the rest of you look like a very large idiot pool.
Reader–I think it’s streaming on cnn.com