Happy Anniversary ObamaCare!

One year later and nothing has “changed.” See how Obamaville is “celebrating” today’s milestone. (ObamaCare411) More > …

We Want A Divorce: At the one-year anniversary of ObamaCare, states need to stand up and reject big government

At the one-year anniversary of ObamaCare, states need to stand up and reject big government

By Ed Hassell

 

Well it’s been one year since the big day—how do you feel?

On March 23, 2010, the sweeping national health care reform now known as ObamaCare was signed into law. One year later, we’ve already seen its many horrible habits in the unforgiving light of day. To describe the law as an unhappy marriage with the plurality of people in the United States is an understatement, which opinion polls have continually shown since the beginning.

Our struggling states, facing a collective $175 billion shortfall, are still suffering through horrible economic woes—yet they continue to take federal money to implement ObamaCare (sort of like the woman in denial who continues to take a beating from her husband in the name of love or some other excuse). United States Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has even bragged that over 48 states have taken at least one million to begin setting up state exchanges—that includes Republicans.

Until the issue of the law’s constitutionality is resolved in the Supreme Court, states may argue that they have to take the much-needed money now necessary to implement the law with all of its costly mandates, but that will prove to be a costly mistake down the line. In return they’ll be stuck with billions more in debt for 2014 (when most of the law goes into effect) and beyond—not to mention state exchanges completely controlled by the federal government, which ultimately decides all the governing rules.

As pointed out by National Review writer Michael Cannon in his article, “ObamaCare Can’t Be Fixed”: “Affordable plans will disappear because ObamaCare requires all purchasers to buy whatever coverage Kathleen Sebelius mandates as ‘essential,’ a definition that will grow even broader.”

In sum, the administration’s socialist goal of a single payer system appears more likely with every million passed out to the states. The more financial help the states take from the administration, the harder it will be to undo this law and start over with something that actually works—which sounds like the ‘pimp-like’ plan of the administration all along. Make them dependent on public assistance and, like a crack addict, they will be broken and subsumed into their habit.

This is why it is so important to get the Supreme Court to hear the issue of constitutionality of this law sooner than later. And also why states must take a stand now and return ObamaCare monies before it is too late.

Then there’s the matter of Pelosi’s “poison pill”: Congressional Democrats tucked away billions in self-funding provisions hidden in ObamaCare that we’re only beginning to learn the horrible details about—details that will bankrupt states and add trillions to our already unsustainable 14 trillion in debt.

Plenty of people who have followed ObamaCare have offered their top 10 failures of the law on this anniversary. It’s worth noting some of the common problems.

Instead of rosy administration forecasts that the law will decrease the deficit—the Congressional Budget Office says that it will actually increase it by $260 billion through 2019. Not what we need right now. Pelosi et al also said it would create jobs—where are those hiding? Instead employers are being forced to cut jobs or move full-timers into part-time positions that are not mandated to get health insurance; note: the CBO also predicts 800,000 jobs will be lost.

And what about those state costs already mentioned? Medicare accounts for 22 percent of state budget and ObamaCare creates a massive expansion that will cost states $118 billion through 2023. Say goodbye to whatever shoddy education and law enforcement you already had—and hello, complete ignorance and lawlessness. What about Medicaid mandates: New York State alone would be forced to shell out $66 billion over the first ten years, according to Cannon.

“Every new bureaucracy is itself a constituency for more government,” wrote Cannon and he couldn’t be more correct.

But at least we’ll save money on premiums, right? Um . . . not exactly. The CBO estimates the average American family will pay $2,100 more when the law is fully implemented (10% to 13% increase). And the list of lies and failures goes on and on.

ObamaCare is such a complex failure that it simply can’t be fixed as it is written. Now is the time to fully repeal it and start over with a responsible plan. Providing health coverage to more Americans and fixing our broken health care system can be done without bankrupting the country. But it needs to start with states taking a stand on principle and returning their ObamaCare money. As a wise man once said, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

 

 

Pence: ‘Power of the Purse will kill ObamaCare’

Indiana Rep. Mike Pence said in an interview with Stuart Varney, “if Congress cannot repeal ObamaCare outright it will make every effort to make sure the law cannot be funded.” The proof will be in his Purse! (Newsmax) More > …

The Cooch on the Constitutionality of the individual mandate

Read VA AG Ken Cuccinelli’s testimony from this morning’s House Judiciary Committee hearing. (ObamaCare411.com) More > …

Sign the petition and force Harry Reid to vote on ObamaCare

This monstrosity of a law raises taxes and lowers health care quality. It has been found unconstitutional by two federal judges, the latter of which completely threw it out. We need to keep the pressure on! Watch this video then go to GOPTrust.com and sign the petition today. (YouTube) More > …

Click to watch the video

What is Rep. Steve King’s definition of defunding ObamaCare?

The House Rules Committee has rejected Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) proposal to fully defund ObamaCare.  King wanted to add to the continuing resolution (which funds the federal government) the following amendment:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available in this Act or any previous Act may be used to carry out the provisions of Public Law 111-148 [Affordable Care Act], Public Law 111-152 [Reconciliation Act], or any amendment made by either such law.”

There are two ways to defund ObamaCare.  Much of ObamaCare’s funding is only “authorized to be appropriated.”  Both the House and Senate must pass appropriation bills in order for that spending to occur.  One way to defund ObamaCare is not to pass such appropriation bills.

But not all funding must be approved via appropriation bills.  Steve King has found $105 billion that can be spent regardless.  The authors of the Affordable Care Act and related health care reform legislation cunningly inserted “mandatory” self-funding provisions.  Frequently, these take the form of transferring moneys from one place to another.  The money is already out there, so to speak.

The following is a perfect example of a self-funding provision from the Affordable Care Act (Section 3026(f)):

“(f) FUNDING.—For purposes of carrying out this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund…and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust…$500,000,000, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for the period of fiscal years 2011 through 2015. Amounts transferred under the preceding sentence shall remain available until expended.”

This single sentence provides $500 million for ObamaCare without the need for further approval by the House and Senate.  Steve King’s proposal would have stopped the use of any money going towards the implementation of ObamaCare.

Republicans quashed King’s idea because it was pragmatic to do so.  Continuing resolutions are joint resolutions, which means both House and Senate must approve them.  The Republican majority in the House could have passed the continuing resolution with King’s amendment attached, but the Democrat majority in the Senate would have rejected it.  Even if the Senate passed it, Obama promised to veto it.

King’s amendment to fully defund ObamaCare not only would have shut down the government (the consequence of having no continuing resolution to fund it), but it would have deep-sixed the House Republicans’ budget cuts in the continuing resolution itself.  To preserve these budget cuts, King’s proposal was quickly killed.

King’s idea was too risky from the Republicans’ point of view.  Until a more appropriate opportunity presents itself, much of ObamaCare will remain self-funded. 

ObamaScare: Mark Levin rips into press for double standard

Apparently there’s no such thing as a Judicial Branch in Obama’s House. (NewsBusters) More > …

Cuccinelli wants to dance early with the Supremes

The Cooch will seek immediate review by the U.S. Supreme Court of the state’s constitutional challenge to the federal health-care overhaul, a rare legal request to bypass the appellate court and ask for early intervention from the nation’s highest court. (Washington Post) More > …

Click to watch this morning's "America's Newsroom" interview on Fox News Channel

 

Texas AG: Feds playing delay game on ObamaCare ruling

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appears on Fox to discuss the Florida ruling by Judge Vinson on ObamaCare. He says that government lawyers are now playing a legal delay game that adversely affects the country. (YouTube) More > …

Video: On the record on Kagan

Former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, who began the 26-state lawsuit against ObamaCare last March, talks about why Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan may need to recuse herself from an eventual ObamaCare decision. (YouTube) More > …

Click to watch the video