Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Showing posts with label Federal Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Budget. Show all posts
Monday, August 06, 2012
Sunday, August 05, 2012
GOP Alternative to ObamaScare
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Read more: http://newsok.com/claims-by-obamacare-backers-about-lack-of-gop-alternative-are-unfounded/article/3696764#ixzz22VrTa8nM
Claims by Obamacare backers about lack of GOP alternative are unfounded
SUPPORTERS of President Barack Obama's health care law claim conservatives offer no alternative other than a return to an untenable status quo.
NEWSOK RELATED ARTICLES
In reality, Republicans have produced bold reform proposals that would allow officials to both repeal and replace Obamacare.
Oklahoma's own U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, introduced the Patients' Choice Act in 2009 (along with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and others.)
Coburn's plan would grant individuals the same tax advantages employers get for purchasing health insurance. That would greatly benefit Oklahoma's countless self-employed farmers, ranchers and other entrepreneurs, as well as uninsured workers.
Coburn's bill also gives every American a $2,290 tax credit (or $5,710 per family) to buy health insurance. The tax credit would cover the employee's share of a policy while the employer continues to cover the rest, as occurs currently. Any remaining tax credit money could be used for a health savings account covering routine medical expenses.
The legislation reforms Medicaid by giving low-income families an additional $5,000 on top of their tax credit. That would provide a family $10,710 to buy insurance coverage outside of Medicaid. Coburn notes that 40 percent of doctors and hospitals nationally refuse to accept Medicaid patients due to low payments. His plan would therefore improve low-income families' access to health care.
On the other hand, Obamacare doesn't address Medicaid's problems; it merely supersizes the program.
Coburn's bill calls for state insurance exchanges giving citizens access to a wide range of insurance products with guaranteed coverage regardless of age or pre-existing conditions. Unlike Obamacare, Coburn's plan isn't financed by cutting Medicare funding, and it doesn't require new spending or new taxes. One independent estimate predicted Coburn's bill could save $70 billion and provide coverage to a majority of uninsured Americans.
Ryan, budget guru of the U.S. House, has called for transforming Medicare to a premium-support payment for currently younger workers and increasing competitive bidding in the system. He also wants to convert the federal share of Medicaid spending into a block grant for states, indexed for inflation and population growth, allowing state-level reforms.
Liberals who decry repeal efforts act as though Obamacare has resolved health care problems. It hasn't. Surveys indicate many experienced doctors are considering retirement due to the law and fewer people may enter the medical profession.
Steve Jacob, adjunct faculty with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, estimates the United States will need to produce an additional 24,000 doctors annually for 20 years to meet demand under Obamacare. He notes one in four Oklahoma physicians is 60 or older, and Oklahoma has only 69 primary-care physicians for every 100,000 residents.
Health care costs are predicted to skyrocket under Obamacare. Jacob estimates the average family premium in Oklahoma will be $22,128 by 2020 under Obamacare, compared with $13,006 in 2010. Oklahoma employees' share will nearly double while deductibles will surge to $5,200 from $1,977. The average Oklahoma employee share of the premium and deductible combined would comprise about 12.5 percent of median household income.
Obamacare is clearly unsustainable. It lacks buy-in from patients and doctors; its financial impact on government finance and private incomes will be devastating.
Obamacare won't improve our health care woes. Coburn and Ryan show there are sustainable alternatives to improve patient coverage without breaking the bank.
Read more: http://newsok.com/claims-by-obamacare-backers-about-lack-of-gop-alternative-are-unfounded/article/3696764#ixzz22VrTa8nM
Fiscal Malfeasance: Democrats are Scofflaws
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Upon reading this article from TheOklahoman you should decide for yourself who should be considered misfits and possible fiscal terrorists. Democrats have been unlawfully withholding budgets from the American people and do not seem remorseful or apologetic for this oversight. Senator Coburn has worked hard to hold down expenditures of taxpayer money but he is alone in the forest.
Upon reading this article from TheOklahoman you should decide for yourself who should be considered misfits and possible fiscal terrorists. Democrats have been unlawfully withholding budgets from the American people and do not seem remorseful or apologetic for this oversight. Senator Coburn has worked hard to hold down expenditures of taxpayer money but he is alone in the forest.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Economy
Political Cartoons - Political Humor, Jokes, and Pictures, Obama, Palin ~ August 16, 2011 - 90799
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Sunday, August 07, 2011
No Dent in Deficit Anytime Soon - Seeking Alpha
Bill Gross: No Dent in Deficit Anytime Soon - Seeking Alpha
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
A PLEDGE TO AMERICA
A PLEDGE TO AMERICA
America is more than a country.
America is an idea – an idea that free people can govern themselves, that government's powers are derived from
the consent of the governed, that each of us is endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America is the belief that any man or woman can – given economic,
political, and religious liberty – advance themselves, their families, and the common good.
America is an inspiration to those who yearn to be free and have the ability and the dignity to determine their
own destiny.
Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute
a new governing agenda and set a different course.
These first principles were proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, enshrined in the Constitution, and
have endured through hard sacrifice and commitment by generations of Americans.
In a self-governing society, the only bulwark against the power of the state is the consent of the governed, and
regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent. .
An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the
will of the people and overturn their votes and their values, striking down long-standing laws and institutions
and scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people.
An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts
laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.
Rising joblessness, crushing debt, and a polarizing political environment are fraying the bonds among our
people and blurring our sense of national purpose.
Like free peoples of the past, our citizens refuse to accommodate a government that believes it can replace the
will of the people with its own. The American people are speaking out, demanding that we realign our country's
compass with its founding principles and apply those principles to solve our common problems for the common
good.
The need for urgent action to repair our economy and reclaim our government for the people cannot be
overstated.
With this document, we pledge to dedicate ourselves to the task of reconnecting our highest aspirations to the
permanent truths of our founding by keeping faith with the values our nation was founded on, the principles we
stand for, and the priorities of our people. This is our Pledge to America.
We pledge to honor the Constitution as constructed by its framers and honor the original intent of those
precepts that have been consistently ignored – particularly the Tenth Amendment, which grants that all powers
not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people.
We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national
economic prosperity.
We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form
the core of our American values.
We pledge to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, and honest in its
dealings.
We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whom much is given, much
is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes of mankind.
We make this pledge bearing true faith and allegiance to the people we re
Friday, May 27, 2011
Memorial Day cookout will cost you 29% more this year thanks to inflation | Mail Online
Memorial Day cookout will cost you 29% more this year thanks to inflation | Mail Online
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Who besides Democrats, Obama, and Pelosi do we have to thank for the high prices this Memorial Day?
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Solving USA's Financial Problems
I hope this is viewed by many Americans to make sure they understand the issues and problems with getting our fiscal house in order.
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wisconsin Budget Gap: Blame Politicians or Teachers' Unions? - TIME
Wisconsin Budget Gap: Blame Politicians or Teachers' Unions? - TIME
Unions support Tax increases
Budget Shortfall
Conspiracy?
Share the Pain
Sick Teachers?
Bargaining Rights Poll
How beholden are Democrats to Public Sector Unions?
Are Democratic elected officials working as hard for Taxpayers as they do for Public Sector Unions?
Are Public Sector Unions working for Taxpayers, or just the opposite?
Unions support Tax increases
Budget Shortfall
Conspiracy?
Share the Pain
Sick Teachers?
Bargaining Rights Poll
How beholden are Democrats to Public Sector Unions?
Are Democratic elected officials working as hard for Taxpayers as they do for Public Sector Unions?
Are Public Sector Unions working for Taxpayers, or just the opposite?
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Natural Debt as Budget Cuts Loom - TIME
Environmentalists Warn of Natural Debt as Budget Cuts Loom - TIME
Ask any Republican — from the Speaker of the House to a local sheriff — what the biggest problem facing the country is today and you're sure to get the same answer: Debt. Conservatives believe a public debt of $14 trillion and growing is crippling the economy and condemning future generations to penury.
In Wisconsin, new Republican governor Scott Walker says that a $137 million deficit leaves him no choice but to force public unions in the state to accept drastic benefits reductions and curtailed bargaining rights — a stance that has brought tens of thousands of protesters to the streets of Madison. In Congress, the Republican-controlled House has passed a budget that would slash $60 billion in government spending, most of it from discretionary programs. "We're broke," Speaker John Boehner told Meet the Press last week. "It's time to get serious about how we're spending the nation's money."
In Wisconsin, new Republican governor Scott Walker says that a $137 million deficit leaves him no choice but to force public unions in the state to accept drastic benefits reductions and curtailed bargaining rights — a stance that has brought tens of thousands of protesters to the streets of Madison. In Congress, the Republican-controlled House has passed a budget that would slash $60 billion in government spending, most of it from discretionary programs. "We're broke," Speaker John Boehner told Meet the Press last week. "It's time to get serious about how we're spending the nation's money."
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Monday, February 21, 2011
Graham: Obama role in Wisconsin standoff has been 'inappropriate' - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Graham: Obama role in Wisconsin standoff has been 'inappropriate' - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
"When the president talks about Wisconsin I think that really is inappropriate," he said. "The governor of Wisconsin is doing what he campaigned on ... there was an election on his proposals and he won." Obama said last week that the collective bargaining reform proposal "seems like more of an assault on unions." His campaign arm Organizing for America has also helped coordinate protests in Wisconsin. Graham said that Gov. Scott Walker (R) was open about his plans to reform collective bargaining while campaigning and now should be allowed to fulfill that mandate. "He didn't take anybody by surprise," he said. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), though, said that assuming the Wisconsin standoff was about budget austerity was like believeing that United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez was just trying to wrangle a few more pennies per pound on grapes.
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Major Reforms To Entitlements Can't Be Put Off - Investors.com
Major Reforms To Entitlements Can't Be Put Off - Investors.com: "Procrastination is rarely a cost-free strategy. That is true when it comes to fixing Social Security — as much as the Obama administration and, even more forcefully, its allies on the left may wish to believe otherwise.
Their 'what's the big rush?' message goes like this: The retirement program isn't really contributing to deficits in the short run.
Indeed, its finances are healthy enough so that it can continue paying all promised benefits for more than two decades, until 2037.
Even then, if absolutely nothing is done, Social Security would be able to pay about 75% of promised benefits.
So where's the fire? Here it is. Last year, for the first time in its history, Social Security paid out more in benefits than it received in payroll taxes.
The recession caused this shortfall: Seniors who lost their jobs chose to start collecting benefits earlier, while payroll tax collections fell because of high unemployment and lower wages.
As a general matter, it's true — although less than previously — that Social Security is not a cause of short-term deficits.
In fact, until last year, the surplus in the Social Security trust fund masked the true size of the current deficit. But the 2010 experience is a hint of things to come — soon.
By 2015, Social Security will be increasing the deficit every year, not obscuring it.
Still, that's not the real problem, or the strongest argument against thumb-twiddling. The reason is that making changes now will make it easier to protect the very people that the 'Social Security's not a problem' brigade say they care about.
Need To Act Now
The Social Security trustees make this point every year in their annual report about the system's finances: 'If action is taken sooner rather than later, more options will be available and more time will be available to phase in changes so that those affected have adequate time to prepare.'
The challenge isn't huge, but it is significant. As a useful paper by Charles Blahous and Robert Greenstein for the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative explains, when the trust funds run out, the gap between Social Security revenues and benefit payments will be 1.3% of the gross domestic product — about one-fifth of the projected deficit then.
Yes, Medicare and Medicaid present a bigger challenge, but the Social Security shortfall represents a significant slice of the deficit.
Unlike the health programs, whose solvency ultimately depends on the uncertain enterprise of slowing cost growth, the potential fixes to Social Security are both obvious and reliable.
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Their 'what's the big rush?' message goes like this: The retirement program isn't really contributing to deficits in the short run.
Indeed, its finances are healthy enough so that it can continue paying all promised benefits for more than two decades, until 2037.
Even then, if absolutely nothing is done, Social Security would be able to pay about 75% of promised benefits.
So where's the fire? Here it is. Last year, for the first time in its history, Social Security paid out more in benefits than it received in payroll taxes.
The recession caused this shortfall: Seniors who lost their jobs chose to start collecting benefits earlier, while payroll tax collections fell because of high unemployment and lower wages.
As a general matter, it's true — although less than previously — that Social Security is not a cause of short-term deficits.
In fact, until last year, the surplus in the Social Security trust fund masked the true size of the current deficit. But the 2010 experience is a hint of things to come — soon.
By 2015, Social Security will be increasing the deficit every year, not obscuring it.
Still, that's not the real problem, or the strongest argument against thumb-twiddling. The reason is that making changes now will make it easier to protect the very people that the 'Social Security's not a problem' brigade say they care about.
Need To Act Now
The Social Security trustees make this point every year in their annual report about the system's finances: 'If action is taken sooner rather than later, more options will be available and more time will be available to phase in changes so that those affected have adequate time to prepare.'
The challenge isn't huge, but it is significant. As a useful paper by Charles Blahous and Robert Greenstein for the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative explains, when the trust funds run out, the gap between Social Security revenues and benefit payments will be 1.3% of the gross domestic product — about one-fifth of the projected deficit then.
Yes, Medicare and Medicaid present a bigger challenge, but the Social Security shortfall represents a significant slice of the deficit.
Unlike the health programs, whose solvency ultimately depends on the uncertain enterprise of slowing cost growth, the potential fixes to Social Security are both obvious and reliable.
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Neither US Party Serious About Cutting Deficit: Roubini - CNBC
Neither US Party Serious About Cutting Deficit: Roubini - CNBC
Neither US political party is willing to make the choices needed to bring down the crippling US budget deficits, economist Nouriel Roubini told CNBC.
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