March 23, 2010
Posted by JP in Politics.add a comment
March 22, 2010 | 5:40 PM ETSenate Republican Wants to Make President Obama Use New Health Care Reform
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-IA, in his usual scrappy form, has announced that he will introduce an amendment this week, during reconciliation debate, that mandates that the President, Vice President, and the entire Obama Cabinet get their health insurance through the newly-created exchanges.
Grassley, with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, one of only two physicians in the chamber, succeeded in getting an amendment approved last year to the Senate bill that the House just passed and the President will sign Tuesday at 11:15am, that says all members of Congress must get insurance through the exchanges.
BUT — in a last minute twist, before the Senate bill became law, Democratic leadership got their staff and committee staff exempted from the requirement. Their reason stated at the time was that these staffers deserve consistency in their coverage, which they get through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
Grassley is not likely to win on this amendment, because Democrats are trying to keep any changes at bay. Any change whatsoever, and the bill must go back to the House for consideration. No Dem wants to risk a Round 2 in that chamber.
“It was hard enough the first time,” one senior Senate Democratic leadership aide told Fox.
Grassley said, in a statement released to reporters, “It’s only fair and logical that top administration officials, who fought so hard for passage of this overhaul of America’s health care system, experience it themselves. If it’s as good as promised, they’ll know it first-hand. If there are problems, they’ll be able to really understand them, as they should.”
Perhaps it’s just me, but I feel that anything Congress does that effects the way of life for the American populace should be imposed upon them as well. If those elected in to office feel that the Bills they pass are good enough for the people then they should be good enough for themselves also.
Proposed Congressional Pay Cuts… March 8, 2010
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Congressional pay cuts are in the news, and it is about time….
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., last week introduced a bill to cut pay for members of Congress by 5 percent – the first pay cut in 77 years – to help chisel away at the national debt. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I’m leading by example and I hope my colleagues will join me,” she said. The current salary for a member of the House is $174,000, so the pay cut would amount to about $8,700.
I will be the first to stand up and say that the proposal by Rep Kirkpatrick is not nearly enough, and long overdue. However, I will give her kudo’s for at least making an effort to do the right thing. Additionally, I’m surprised that this proposal has come from the left side of the aisle, not what one would expect, but I suppose that the concept of personal responsibility and political ideology don’t always go hand in hand…
I applaud Rep. Kirkpatrick though, what she proposes is most definitely the right thing to do, even if it is little more than a token gesture – it is a welcome gesture and one that should be embraced and passed by the entire legislature.
Consider for a moment that to date, Congress has utterly failed to do the job that it is supposed to do, and if anyone worked for me that repeated and consistently failed to do their job, well…. they wouldn’t be working for me anymore.
If my input counted for anything, I would suggest that the 5% cut be increased to 10% and that additional ‘perks’ be reduced, or eliminated, as well.
From Kiplinger we see this:
A base lawmakers’ salary, for instance, is now $165,200 (a little higher for House and Senate leaders). There is a cheap but excellent federal health care plan and life insurance. Plus free outpatient care from military hospitals. There is an inflation-adjusted pension plan that’s almost three times as generous as the typical private sector pension, and there’s a special thrift-savings accounts, a kind of 401(k) plan, that comes a one-to-one match up to 5% of a member’s salary.
On top of that, they’re given a sizable budget of $2 million to $4 million a year for office administration and staff expenses. There is a furniture expense account, subsidized mass mailings to constituents (known as the franking privilege) and free income tax-return preparation assistance. In addition to all that, members also receive a special tax deduction for maintaining a second residence, and yet more, there are the numerous foreign trips (spouses included) often to exotic places hosted by nonprofit groups. House members, but not senators, can also keep frequent flier miles they rack up on official travel and use them for personal trips later.
What’s more, members have exclusive use of the Congressional Research Service to do their legwork. There is free use of broadcast taping studios, free reserved parking at the office and at Washington-area airports and a free member-only gym and pool, expedited passport services and of course the well-appointed and subsidized members’ dining rooms.
Cheap Federal Health Care plan? The American populace is going bankrupt to try to get any type of health care…
Free outpatient care from military hospitals? Absolutely ridiculous. I’m a disabled vet and I get substandard, as-space-allows care if any. Why should elected officials get something better than me when I’m supposed to be guaranteed that care?
Don’t even get me started on the pension plan and the “401k” plan… I’m all for them being able to contribute to a personal retirement account, but should my tax dollars match their personal funds for that plan? They don’t match my personal funds if and when I’m able to afford to contribute.
I could go on but I’m starting to get myself ticked off. So let it suffice for now to say that I commend Rep. Kirkpatrick for what she is proposing and suggest to her, and her fellow law-makers, that serious reductions in salaries and benefits be implemented until the Legislature does, and continues to do, the job they are supposed to do.
Economic stimulus…. December 4, 2009
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Much news floating around regarding the economy, jobs, the effectiveness of the horrendously expensive stimulus packages passed by Congress, and the reality of any actual stimuli. For the most part I find most of what is coming out of the various talking heads in the Government to be nothing short of wishful thinking.
Most of the ‘job creation and saving’ reports seem to be more about engaging in statistical gymnastics intended to put a new coat of paint on a condemned building. My main point of consternation is the jobs ‘saved’ rhetoric. How in the world can anyone put a figure on such an intangible?
For the government to say that money they poured into the building of freeway overpass somehow saved 12-15 jobs is absolutely nonsensical. For them to credit the re-employment of an existing highway construction worker as the ‘creation’ of a new job is equally unsettling.
I am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV. I work in retail, on the front lines of the state of the economy in the real world, and this is what I see:
First the good news
More people are buying things. This increase in customer traffic bodes well for the state of the economy. In my store the customer traffic has increased by about 11% since July ’09. However, the news on this front isn’t all wine and roses. My store is a discount retailer, so my increase in customer traffic is juxtaposed with a corresponding decrease in the shopping malls and department stores. Long story short? It isn’t that more people are buying but that the same people are buying where they can get more for their money.
Now the bad news
While my customer traffic has increased significantly, the amount of money spent on each shopping excursion remains relatively flat. Simply put; more customers are shopping in my store but spending the same amount, or slightly less, than they used to.
This ‘good news/bad news’ paradigm tells me this about the state of the economy:
While many are frustrated with all the doom and gloom of the economic future, they still need things, so they will still buy things. However, what they will do is buy those things where they can get them cheaper, and they will buy only the specific things they need and not shop for extra stuff. Their money is used for needs, not wants. Unfortunately, economic growth is anchored in the purchase of wants as much as needs.
Conversations with many of my customers also reveals some truth about the economic world:
Many are frustrated at the slowdown of their personal economic growth (non-existent cost of living pay raises and forced furloughs which further reduce their income). Many are uncertain of their chances of remaining employed in the future, and many are truly upset that they see no opportunity to move to other employment to improve their situation beyond their current state (simply being thankful they have a job no matter how much that job sucks or how insufficient the income).
I understand that the people who spent billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to stimulate the economy feel a need to try to justify their actions and show some sort of improvement as a result of those actions, but really, are the American people considered to be so stupid as to believe the rubbish? The stimulus was, and is, a good idea – something has to be done to jumpstart the country out of this horrific recession. However, the way the money was (and is being) spent, is far from effective.
Put the money in the hands of the people who need it and who will do something with it to actually cause stimulus. Help business survive and grow so they can hire, promote, and continue to employ. The strength of our economy has been, and always will be, based on the strength of business, large and small, not the banks and massive corporations who hoard the money to make their bottom lines look good. Not government construction jobs that last a few months or weeks, but in the Mom and Pop shops that produce and provide services, pay taxes, and hire a new delivery driver or cashier.
If you are going to spend money we don’t really have, then spend it on something that will actually produce results.
Pelosi is a punk… August 10, 2009
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned the health care debate up a notch Monday, penning a column along with her top deputy that questioned the patriotism of those disrupting town hall meetings to air their complaints.
Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claimed such behavior is “simply un-American.”
It’s hardly the first time Pelosi, who earlier this year accused the CIA of lying to Congress and repeatedly has called Republicans unpatriotic, has employed some serious name-calling to characterize her opponents’ views.
The jab Monday drew swift scorn from Republicans and critics who say the health care demonstrations are as American as apple pie.
“I, like most Americans, would find that kind of characterization of citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to be offensive,” Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., told FOX News. “There’s nothing more American than letting your elected representatives know how you feel about important issues facing the nation.”
The DNC lies…. August 6, 2009
Posted by JP in Discussion, Politics, Venting.1 comment so far
I’m angry. I’m very angry.
In recent weeks there has been vigorous debate over the Health Care plans working their way through Congress, and much of this debate is being seen in protests during ‘town hall’ meetings and the like.
It seems though that the DNC, the democratic leadership in D.C., and even the White House has chosen to spew lies and filth about those American citizens who are exercising their right to free speech – simply because the feelings and ideas they are expressing do not conform to the ideas and plans of the DNC and its automatons (the White House).
The White House has called the uproar at recent town halls on health care “manufactured outrage.” Senator Harry Reid calls the concerned citizens speaking their minds “loud, shrill voices.” Nancy Pelosi called protesters Nazis, who are “carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care.” There is no evidence on this whatsoever.
But the polling discredits their charges. According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, on Obama’s effort to overhaul of the health-care system, 52 percent disapprove of his handling of the issue while 39 percent approve. Disapproval jumped 10 points in the last month alone, and 60 percent of Independents – a key voting block – disapprove of the plan. Bottom line: the outrage is real.
Despite the legitimacy of the public’s concern, demonizing democracy has become pretty common these days for the left. They wrote off the tea parties as fabricated and claimed they were funded by FOX News . Most of the mainstream media took their cue from them and refused to report on the gatherings. Congressional Democrats sought to reimpose the “fairness doctrine” on broadcasters in order to shut down the one conservative-leaning communications medium, talk radio. And the administration has already tried to label anyone who speaks up as a “radical right wing extremist.”
By dismissing the anger of conservatives, moderates, libertarians, conservative democrats and independents the administration looks out of touch and appallingly arrogant. In fact, it will hurt them even more because Obama promised to listen to the concerns of the citizens, not operate with a tin ear.
Some Dem’s have gone so far as to actually compare protestors with Nazis and claim all protests are fabricated:
Replacing a town hall meeting for a conference call in his district, Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., on Thursday compared his constituents’ behavior to Nazi-era adherents.
“What we’re seeing right now is close to Brown Shirt tactics,” Baird told a local newspaper. “I mean that very seriously.”
In an interview Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the protesters, “I think they are astroturf, you be the judge,” using an expression that refers to orchestrated grassroots.
Now then, let me say this: I am a registered Republican and I have yet to have anyone call me or email me and encourage me to go to a meeting, write a letter, make a call, or ANYTHING to express disapproval with the Democrat’s attempts to forge and force through a faulty health care plan. It just HAS NOT HAPPENED.
So then, I write here in my blog about those things I agree with or disagree with, and I write what I think and feel, not what I am told to write. Apparently though, I’m now being told that if I do express disagreement with the DNC and its plans for the country that I am either a Nazi or a puppet expressing the thoughts of someone else, and that if I stand up and say that these are my thoughts and feelings then I am apparently a liar too.
Ya know… I think need to change the opening of this post; I’m not angry – I’m disgusted. I work hard to make my life, the lives of my family, and the lives of those in my community better, because I am an American and that is what we do. I am a disabled Veteran, I served my country and am disabled because of that service; and because of my sacrifice I feel I deserve a little more respect than to be spit upon by those who are supposed to be serving me.
Congress and the organizations that work with them are not there to dictate my life and cast aspersions upon me and the citizens of this country – they are there to serve the country. Maybe they should re-read the constitution and re-think their reasons for being in office.
Health Care Reform… August 5, 2009
Posted by JP in Discussion, Politics, Venting.add a comment
Health care reform is the hot-button topic of discussion on all news channels and pretty much throughout the county as well. The problem I have is that there is so much being said, with nothing of substance actually being said, that it is hard to fathom what is happening and what isn’t.
What shape will this reform take? No one knows although many cry havoc at what they think might happen.
Will it cost too much and provide too little? Who knows? Many say it will and many say it won’t.
Some on the side of the left continually claim that those on the side of the right don’t want reform in this area, that they want to stay with the status quo – personally I find this claim to be ridiculous and merely an attempt to sling mud to discredit those who would provide thoughtful and wise warning about moving too fast into areas that have not been explored sufficiently.
One problem we face is the might of the Corporations who have vested interests in controlling how this country does or does not reform our health care system. In recognizing this problem, our President promised repeatedly to hold open discussions/negotiations (on C-Span even). Sadly this is a promise that Mr. Obama has broken… Actually he smashed it to pieces and walked away from the rubble.
What we need are specifics, we need factual data that supports, or does not support, the specific elements of any and all proposed plans. We, the American public, need to know what is being discussed, how it will affect us, can we afford it, and will it do what needs to be done. We, the American people, will be living (or dying) with whatever health care reform the government implements, we will be paying for it, we will be subjected to it, and we will either be served by it or harmed by it, and since it is we who will bear the brunt of whatever happens, it is we who must be fully informed during every step of the process – with honest and factually accurate information.
What we do not need is the current state of affairs; we do NOT need closed door discussion by politicians and lobbyists, we do NOT need misinformation, inaccurate information, and outright fabricated information. We do NOT need some form of crap legislation rammed through Congress and thrust upon the American people which will, in all likelihood, not serve our best interests, grow the government exponentially and bankrupt many, if not all, of us.
We need a balanced, open, well-thought, well-crafted, form of health care that will benefit us (the American people – and not just the government and the special interests who at this point have done very few of us any good at all.
Mr. Obama; step up and do what you said you would do. Use your power as President to bend actions of the Congress to a point where they will do what is right for the citizens of this country. At this point I see no aspect of the government – legislative, judicial, or executive – demonstrating an overriding concern to do what is best for we the people rather than themselves.
Palin Steps Down As Governor… July 27, 2009
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican Sarah Palin stepped down as governor of Alaska on Sunday, vowing in a farewell address to continue fighting for Alaskans but giving no hint on whether she will seek an elective office again.
Yes, it is finally official. Sarah Palin has resigned as Governor of Alaska. This is a bittersweet happening in my mind.
As a Governor she was extremely effective and the State of Alaska could be diminished without her leadership.
As a person she is a refreshingly straightforward individual, attractive by most standards, and a seemingly genuine and personable lady. I would have welcomed the opportunity to have her in the national governance if for nothing more than to have her fresh, and people first perspective in the ‘politics as usual’ morass that is D.C.
There has been and still is much discussion as to why Mrs. Palin chose to step down, despite her clear and consistent explanations – the burden of fighting nearly two dozen (ridiculously stupid) ethics charges; her desire to avoid being perceived as a powerless “lame-duck” governor; and a “higher calling,” among others.
“Some are still choosing not to hear why I made a decision to chart a new course to advance the state,”
She said she felt that she had a duty to avoid the “unproductive politics-as-usual of a lame-duck session” and that she could do more for Alaska without the restraints of office.
“With this decision, now I will be able to fight even harder for you, what’s right and for truth — and I have never felt that you need a title to do that,”
I cannot say I completely agree with all of her political views; she is a true conservative and I am moderate in many political/social areas. However, I cannot dismiss her passion for what she believes, her willingness to speak her mind and her demonstrated desire to do what is right for the people she works(ed) for: the citizens.
I wish her well in whatever she does, and if the opportunity should arise that I might assist her in some future venture; I would be willing.
Letter to Mr. Obama February 24, 2009
Posted by JP in Discussion, Politics, Venting.1 comment so far
Re: The fiscal responsibility summit
Mr. President, I watched the news conference yesterday following the summit and must say I was impressed. I voted for you outside of my party affiliation because I felt you were the right person to get the government to work together for the good of the nation.
It is my opinion that now is the time for you to push the mantel of leadership and press the legislators to do what is right. The summit is the first step, what is needed now is your influence, and the power of your office to be the impetus for change in how our Congress acts. It is imperative now that you, as the leader of our nation, push the Congressional leaders to lay aside partisanship and include all players in the work to come.
The ‘task forces’, committees, work groups, what-have-you, that are developed to work on the problems discussed during the summit absolutely have to be bi-partisan, inclusive of dem’s and repub’s, AND business/public entities. All participants must be given full voice and encouraged to set aside ideologies in order to find solutions.
It is your role, in my opinion and the opinion of many citizens like me, to set the ground rules for this collaboration. Do NOT allow the congressional leaders to set up committees and such based on the normal way of doing things. Make inclusion and cooperation mandatory for the work to come.
In my business when I establish a work group to design and implement a project I select members from a broad range of talents and skills and give them a short period of time to demonstrate the ability to work together to get the job done, if things seem to stall, I intervene to help correct the group dynamics, if things don’t improve soon after, I make the choice to either disband the group and rebuild, or replace members who do not seem to want to participate with the ultimate goal in mind.
As the Executive, I see this as your role.
Please, do not allow the legislators to drag their feet and perpetuate the age-old ideological stalemates. Push them to work together, do not accept lack of progress, and give them the understanding that no solution will satisfy all parties, but truly must come from knowing that all sides will have good ideas and that ALL sides must compromise.
Our national problems are not political chess pieces, they are real and effect the lives of millions.
Don’t let the American people down, and don’t let the political hacks serving in office forsake the American people in order to serve the political parties and special interests.
Thank you.
Waning hope…. January 27, 2009
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Golly.
The good feelings sure didn’t last too long. 7 days in office and already the political machine is running rampant as if a new President was never elected.
The Dem’s are touting a $850 Billion ‘economic stimulus’ package that will do little or nothing to stimulate anything other than the growth of the deficit, and all the campaign rhetoric of bi-partisanship and ‘working together’ has already shown itself to be nothing more than empty words.
Let’s look at the facts:
Dem’s drafted and are pushing through a massive spending bill and they have paid little mind to the input of the Republicans. Dem leadership says that they will listen to and consider any Republican idea that they think is beneficial (although the caveat here is that nothing the Republican’s offer will ever stand up to the bogus litmus test of ideas the Dem’s think are beneficial.
The $850 Billion package (the government’s own finance office actually puts the overall pricetag at over $1 TRILLION) is long on spending and short on stimulating anything but national debt. What does the package include?
- $300 million for roads on Indian reservations. [no new jobs, but probably work for contractors]
- $100 million for the Lead Hazard Reduction Program. [ gov't jobs at best, worthy cause maybe.....stimulating?]
- $44 million for “construction, repair, and improvement” of Department of Agriculture buildings,
- $209 million for work on “deferred maintenance at Agricultural Research Service facilities.” [why is this just not in the budget?]
- $245 million to “maintain and modernize the information technology system at the Farm Service Agency.”
- $1 billion (with a B) to the Census Bureau for “Periodic Censuses and Programs.” [what!?!?!]
- $650 million for the Department of Commerce’s Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Program, [TV is a right?]
- $400 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for “operations, research and facilities.”
- $150 million to NASA for “aeronautics.”
- $4.5 billion (with a B) to improve, repair and modernize Department of Defense facilities, restore and modernize Army barracks, and invest in the energy efficiency of Department of Defense facilities.
- $1.7 billion (with a B) for projects to address critical deferred maintenance needs within the National Park System.
There’s also huge increases to food stamps and unemployment benefits…not sure how that math works out (“we’re paying you NOT to work ’cause that creates jobs?)…and funding for Planned Parenthood..
Can someone show me where the creation of jobs comes into play in this list? Where does the general public benefit and how will any of this spending stimulate the economy?
What this all boils down to is the left side of the aisle doing exactly what they have complained the right side of the aisle has done: Shove their own pet projects through the legislative process, increase the size and scope of government, astronomically increase the size of the deficit, and in not one single iota of an idea, do anything to help the citizens of this country in these devastatingly difficult economic times.
President Obama met with Republican leaders today to discuss this package and the process involved in developing it, and he heard a lot of input as to the failure of the Dem’s to actually involve the Repub’s, the failure of the proposed package to stimulate anything useful, and thier ideas for deeper tax cuts and less spending. I wonder though if he will actually do the right thing and put a stop to this nonsense before our country is completely and utterly in the toilet, or if he will cowtow to the Dem’s and let them fund their pork in lieu of helping the nation.
If I were President Obama, I would address the Congress and tell them that the package, as currently designed, would meet only with my VETO, and if they wanted to get something done then they had better go back to the drawing board, include all players in the political machine, and develop a stimulus package that will actually help the country and not plunge it further into economic turmoil.
A Day of Hope… January 20, 2009
Posted by JP in Discussion, Politics, Uncategorized.1 comment so far
I have been silent for many weeks. Time and circumstance have shoved their way into the doors of my life obtrusively, giving me little opportunity to share my thoughts with you (whomever you may be), yet today, a day of hope for renewal has given me the impetus to write some thoughts on the world, and the future.
Today I sat with my youngest child and watched the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America. Today I sat with my youngest child and watched history in the making. That phrase ‘history in the making’ seems cliche, however, today that phrase has true meaning. My son and I witnessed firsthand an event that will be marked in the history books not only as a footnote in American history, but as milestone in the history of the world. Today marked the swearing in of the first African-American to the highest office this nation offers, the peaceful transition of power that marks the ideals of this great country as unrivaled in the world and the placement into the most powerful position in the world of a man who never before in my lifetime could have ever dreamed.
I watched history unfold today, I shared it with my son, and I am renewed in my American spirit as never before.
In a few posts on this blog over the course of the past year I have hovered between support for, and doubt in the ability of our now President, Barak Obama. Yet today, on this historic day, I am relieved of all doubts, I am devoid of all uncertainty and I am hopeful for a stronger and better tomorrow.
As I write this I am mindful of my political, economic, and social convictions. In my life I have moved from the label of Democrat to Republican based on my leanings in many areas. Fiscally conservative, socially moderate, but always centered on the ideals that shape my daily life: Compassion for those who have less than I, determination to make this world and this country a better place for my children and my children’s children, concern to live a life weighing more in security and comfort than toil and strife, and a desire to see those in power politically and socially to do their duty to serve family and country the same way I have, and do, perform my duty.
President Obama said this:
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America – they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
This is my hope today: that our leaders will take these words as warning and guide – do not play the petty games of politics anymore, do not squabble over that which is meaningless in the grander scheme of things, but reach beyond the transient, the furtive (and ultimately useless) grasp for power, reach beyond the minor victories of immediate satisfaction and do that which needs to be done for long-term health and prosperity for this county and this world.
Today is a day of hope.
