Study says docs for public-private option, but specifics needed

by Kay B. Day

A qualified healthcare practitioner administers an intramuscular immunization to a woman.[Photo Credit: James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.]Media is touting a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, ‘Physicians’ Views on a New Public Insurance Option and Medicare Expansion,’ with results indicating, “Overall, a majority of physicians (62.9%) supported public and private options.” One area that touched a nerve is Medicare—58.3% of respondents supported an expansion of Medicare to Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 years. Primary care physicians were the most likely to support a public option and that’s no surprise—they’re on the front lines and various proposals in Congress will address inequities in provider fees for this group. A summary of the study is available online for free at The Journal website.

Few Americans would disagree healthcare needs reform. But the term ‘healthcare reform’ means different things to different people. A late afternoon phone call yesterday reminded me the service I receive from my insurance company for the premiums we pay is where I think reform should start.

Frustration with existing system
After a recent doctor visit for a minor problem, I received a letter from the healthcare provider telling me to call my insurance company. The letter said, “Your Insurance Carrier has requested that you call them directly to update your insurance information. They need to know if you have other insurance that may be primary. They will only accept this information from you.”

Click to read more ...

As Constitution Day approaches, states mull options to limit Washington

By Kay B. Day

The Library of Congress said James Madison came to be known as the "Father of our Constitution...among the most influential delegates at the Constitutional Convention" in 1787.[Lithograph after a painting by Gilbert Stuart, circa 1828, from the digital collection at the LOC.] September 17 is Constitution Day, so it seems appropriate that states are rallying in an effort to combat a federal government expanding beyond its historically legal powers. Two bills, HR 2454 and healthcare legislation in progress, will affect the daily lives of every American. A columnist at The Tenth Amendment Center said the states have a ‘nuclear option’ on healthcare—nullification.

The Tenth Amendment Center is calling attention to September 17 because on that day in 1787, members of the Constitutional Convention signed the draft of the document that is the keystone for liberty. As Congress attempts to expand the powers of the federal government to historic levels, the Center’s founder Michael Boldin said in a news release, “This year seven states have passed sovereignty resolutions under the 10th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”

Laws passed by states include nullification of some federal firearms regulations. Boldin added, “[T]hree states are considering constitutional amendments allowing residents to effectively opt out of any future national healthcare plan.”

More than 2 dozen states have passed or are in the process of trying to pass state sovereignty resolutions.

In a column at the Center website, Josh Eboch addresses the means some in Congress have threatened to use to ram healthcare legislation through with a simple majority, a process rather ridiculously called ‘reconciliation.’ If Dems ram historic legislation down the throats of American taxpayers, there will be nothing friendly about it. Eboch said this would be a “strategic error” and a “miscalculation.”

Click to read more ...

Obama TV: Healthcare address should tackle AARP contradictions and the uninsured

by Kay B. Day

Tonight at 8 p.m. we’ll have another episode of Obama TV, with President Barack Obama addressing a joint session of Congress about healthcare. Hopefully the president will be honest with Americans about legislation that will affect a significant part of our economy and a very private aspect of our lives. AARP tried to clear confusion about various proposals in the organization’s Bulletin (Sept., ’09), print edition.Unfortunately even AARP managed to muddy some waters.

There’s a feature about the proposals Congress is considering. The feature aims at clearing up “myths.” Within that feature there’s the question, ‘Will Medicare be eliminated or gutted to pay for reform?” The answer: “No. It’s inconceivable...” Then the “facts” are presented. After stating “It’s true” the proposals “seek to save billions from Medicare costs,” the writer assures us the government aims to pay doctors “more fairly” and to “reward providers for quality of care instead of (as now) paying them a fee for each separate service; reducing waste and fraud; and reducing preventable hospital readmissions.”

There’s truth submerged in what follows: “All the proposals would cut the amount of subsidies now paid to Medicare Advantage private plans, which cost an average of 14 percent more per person than traditional Medicare does.” So we ditch the subsidies and that could make those private plans more efficient. But said AARP, cutting subsidies could also cause private plans to “raise premiums, reduce benefits or withdraw from Medicare.” AARP said the proposals will add more preventive services and might narrow the Part D “doughnut hole.” [pg.16]

Click to read more ...

Why it’s time for some soul searching within the GOP

by Kay B. Day

Photo of President Ronald Reagan, from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. Despite success with the 2008 elections, the DNC isn’t guaranteed future success. They are at present committing the sins of their predecessors—absolute power is a troublesome advantage. As I predicted, a Democratic Congress led by far lefties combined with an inexperienced leftie president, are engaging in record amounts of federal spending.

Despite a promise to go through the budget line by line, President Barack Obama has not done that, instead expanding the government. Despite a promise to reform healthcare, Democrats have failed miserably with the product known as HR 3200, the healthcare bill that will eventually, if passed, result in a single payer system with the government in charge of healthcare. If Waxman Markey (HR 2454) becomes law, Americans will pay more for everything because any product or process emitting carbon will be taxed.

And we must admit to ourselves the Dems are geniuses at tax-grabbing—they’ve explored a national sales tax (value-added tax), taxes on soft drinks, cigarettes and whatever else they can get their mitts on.

And by the way, our milk prices will probably rise since HR 2997 was passed—dairy price supports were raised by Dems. And for the final insulting stroke, a tax dodger heads up the committee writing our tax regulations. Another oversees the Treasury.

Click to read more ...

Kennedy Senate seat brings issue of American royalty into play

by Kay B. Day

Statue of Liberty photo snapped from the window of the plane as we headed to NYC. [Kay B. Day]The United States was formed to throw off the mantle of monarchy, yet we have established an internal monarchy in spite of ourselves. With the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), all eyes are on a replacement.

Kennedy, despite controversy over his direct actions contributing to a young woman’s death at Chappaquiddick, stayed in politics long enough to push statist policies integral to many of our fiscal and social problems today. Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, announced on Monday a special election for January to determine Kennedy’s successor. But Patrick, in a blatant political maneuver, wants to appoint an interim appointment and to do that he needs state law changed. Again.

Democrats already changed the law, in 2004, to accommodate Sen. John Kerry. Dems didn’t want Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, to be able to appoint Kerry’s successor when he ran for president.

Click to read more ...

ABC-WaPo poll says Americans support Obama on energy, but the devil’s in the questions

Updated on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 11:03AM by Kay B. Day, Editor

By Kay B. Day

Dr. Roy Spencer's book 'Climate Confusion' addresses global warming hysteria, analyzing how it leads to bad science, pandering politicians, and misguided policies that hurt the poor.An ABC News-Washington Post Poll taken Aug. 13-17 found Americans support President Barack Obama on energy issues, with 55 percent approving of the president’s energy policy. The poll even found support for ‘cap and trade’—52 percent. When pollsters asked if Cap and Trade lowered greenhouse gases but raised your monthly electrical bill by $10 a month, 58 percent supported it.

But  support dropped to 39 percent if the bill increases by $25 a month--59 percent opposition with 1 percent having no opinion. A major wire service has an article touting Obama's support, with no mention made of negativity when it raises respondents' electrical bill by a mere $300 a year. 

Cost increases cited to respondents are substantially lower than most other projections. The only benign projections from any source are based on figures from the Environmental Protection Agency assessing increases in a range of $98-$140 per year, a far lower figure than others have projected.

The devil’s in the questions on all polls and this poll did respondents no favors.

Click to read more ...

Americans should demand redress for climate legislation passed without being read

“Don’t you think the American people expect us to understand what’s in this bill before we vote on it?”

House Republican leader John Boehner (R-Oh.) addressed that question to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) after Waxman tried to squelch Boehner’s reading select passages from the “Cap and Tax” bill as the GOP accurately calls HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act/2009 [also Waxman-Markey or Climate Change]. Waxman obviously doesn’t favor transparency for legislation sponsored by his party. [Story continues below video.]


First Waxman asked, “Is there any outside limit to the amount of time a leader might take?” Then, more to the point, Waxman asked, “Is this an attempt to get some people to leave before a close vote?”

Click to read more ...