Political Prostitution On Parade

In addition to Louisiana Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu, who sold her vote in favor of Obamacare for somewhere between $100 and $300 million dollars in added benefits that will help her re-election efforts, we can now add the name of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat Nebraska to the list of politicians who have sold their vote.

And what is the price that induces liberal Democrat Senator Nelson to abandon his pro-life supporters and bend over for his masters in the Democrat party?

Under the new abortion provisions, states can opt out of allowing plans to cover abortion in the new insurance exchanges the bill would set up, to serve individuals who lack coverage through their jobs. Plus, enrollees in plans that do cover abortion procedures would pay for the coverage with separate checks -- one for abortion, one for the rest of any health-care services.

Nelson secured full federal funding for his state to expand Medicaid coverage to all individuals below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Other states must pay a small portion of the additional cost. He won concessions for qualifying nonprofit insurers and for Medigap providers from a new insurance tax, and was able to roll back cuts to health savings accounts.

Federally funded abortions and extra goodies for the residents of his state paid for by the rest of us. Said another way, non-Nebraska taxpayers will be funding additional benefits for Nebraska that Nelson will tout and use to buy votes.

Virtually every reputable poll shows that American citizens do not favor this Obamacare plan and yet the liberal Democrat party and it's mushminded members continue to try push it down our throats. Thanks to political prostitution this onerous 2000 plus page bill is closer than ever to becoming the law of the land.

Is it any wonder that faith in elected officials is lower than ever?

$100 Million Healthcare Bribe

What is the current price for the support of one U.S. Senator for the massive, Senate healthcare bill? It appears that the price is currently pegged at $100 Million dollars.

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section that covers two pages defining which states would qualify for federal Medicaid subsidies in the event of a major natural disaster within the past 7 fiscal years. Boiled down to plain english, this section applies to one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu. Senator Landrieu is considered a key vote if the takeover of healthcare by the federal government is to be passed.

In very plain language, Senator Harry Reid has inserted into his healthcare takeover bill a $100 million bribe if Senator Landrieu votes for passage.

$100 million for a single vote.

In all fairness, what is not known is whether or not Senator Landrieu will accept the bribe. Only time will tell if she has the courage to stand up and vote against a very bad bill or if she decides that supporting her political party is more important than support her country.

Hopefully there are enough voters who's concerns are greater than receiving more federal money who will contact Senator Landrieu and demand that she do the right thing. After all, $100 million is a mighty small price for a lifetime of government controlled healthcare.

For those that actually enjoy reading convoluted writing, the actual text of the section is shown below.

SEC. 2006. SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT TO FMAP DETERMINATION FOR CERTAIN STATES RECOVERING FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d), as amended by sections 2001(a)(3) and
2001(b)(2), is amended— (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection (y)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (y) and (aa)’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(aa)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal medical assistance percentage for a fiscal year for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State shall be equal to the following:
‘(A) In the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), increased by 50 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5.

‘‘(B) In the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection for the State, increased by 25 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection.

‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State’ means a State that is one of
the 50 States or the District of Columbia, for which, at any time during the preceding 7 fiscal years, the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and determined as a result of such disaster that every county or parish in the State warrant individual and public assistance or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act and for which— ‘‘(A) in the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5, by at least 3 percentage points; and ‘‘(B) in the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection by at least 3 percentage points.

‘‘(3) The Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State under paragraph (1) shall apply for purposes of this title (other than with respect to disproportionate share hospital payments described in section 1923 and payments under this title that are based on the enhanced FMAP described in 2105(b)) and shall not apply with respect to payments under title IV (other than under part E of title IV) or payments under title XXI.’’.

Further information regarding this subject can be found on The Note.

Universal helath care is NOT a RIGHT

Sorry Hillary, Barack and all the other polpigs beating the drums but universal health care is not a right. It is not even a good idea. Especially if all it means is 'someone else pays'.

Would I like someone else to pay for my health care costs? Hell yes, who wouldn't? In fact, I would be happy to just be able to afford decent health insurance. But not if it means another bloated, government mangled program that serves no purpose other than to inflate costs and assure a hefty income to a select few.

Face the facts folks, all government programs are paid for by taxpayers, you and me. You may think you are getting a great deal
but someone is going to have to pay for it and that someone is the TAXPAYER. For the record, TAXPAYER means you and me.

Health care is expensive, far more than it needs to be. Is it because of greedy doctors scheming to rip you off so they can buy another BMW? Is it because of the evil insurance industry more interesting in profits than in providing service? Is it because of excessive government interference or ridiculous malpractice suits and settlements? The answer to all is 'to some degree, yes'. But the big reason costs are so high is because we are willing to pay the inflated costs. And why are we so willing to pay the price? Because we simply send the bill to someone else to write
the check.

Not only are we willing to pay these high costs but we do so for purely elective reasons. For instance:

1. Vanity surgery - lasix, liposuction et. al.

2. Junk medicine - pick any of the diseases du jour such as the latest magic cure for obesity

3. TV-esque heroic efforts - "House" is not real life folks

4. Emergency room visits for non-emergency issues (a simple cold is not an emergency)

Beyond these reasons, there is also our fear of aging and death, a fear brought about through a lack of true faith, a fear that power hungry polpigs are all to willing to exploit.

Can health care costs be brought down without massive government intervention? Without a doubt. The key rests with us folks, the common citizens who pay for everything. Start by accepting the fact that you are going to die someday and there is nothing modern medicine can do to change that fact.

Next, take personal responsibility for your own health. If you are fat, cut down on what you eat and exercise more. If your kid has the sniffles give them chicken soup and tuck them into a warm bed for a day or two. When you do actually need to go to the doctor, ask about the prices and alternatives.

Health care is a complex topic and I do not mean to minimize the importance of a good health care system. But folks, the solution to every complex problem starts with simple steps.

Last but not least - never believe a polpig who tells you that health care is a right and that they will give us good health care. They are a large part of why it is so expensive and can not be trusted to do anything that will actually benefit us.