Senator Bob Casey in town

Senator Bob Casey gave one on the most passionate speeches on health care  that I have ever heard. He threw out out a lot of statistics about how the ACA has covered thousands of people in Luzerne County. Then he gave examples of people who have benefited from the law.

The longer he talked about health care the more angry he got about the sabotage of the ACA

Some much about the Sleeping thing that the Republicans are pushing

We had an election and nobody got killed. We got through it

For every apocalyptic prediction in the aftermath of the election yesterday I want to remind my friends that we will get through it. Depending on your point of view either Dubya or O'Bummer was the worst thing that has ever happened to this country. Somehow we got through it.

That being said there is some real danger out there.

Trump doesn't seem to be interested in public policy unless it can be reduced to a sound bite so the Republican Congress will set the agenda and he will go along with most of it.



Just on Healthcare. 

They will repeal the Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare) leaving over 20 million people without health insurance.  They have to do this, the base will rebel if they don't.

Speaker Paul Ryan's budget outlined a plan to close the VA Medical Centers and make Medicare into something of a coupon system. They call it premium support. Frank Luntz is a master of language

Changing Medicaid to a block grant to give states "flexibility. "  Most of the money (over 60%)  pays for people in Nursing Homes  like my Mom.

Obamacare is opposed until you tell people that you kids can stay on your policy until they are 26 or preventive procedures are covered with no deductible. If you have an illness (preexisting condition)  you can't be denied coverage.

The headlines tell us that  premiums have increased dramatically this year but how much  would they go up without this law? No one knows.

Kidnapped by K-Mart

After all the drama of the last 2 weeks the Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government until early next year. The sad thing about it it is is almost the same deal that was agreed to before  the September 30th deadline. So in a way the Republicans actually got a policy victory in continuing to fund the government at levels that included the sequestration.

 But that wasn't good enough at the time so they overreached by demanding that the Obamacare be defunded to keep the government open and not default on the debts that the Congress had already run up. That wasn't a negotiating position, it was a ransom note and the President was right to reject it and refuse to negotiate. He stated he was protecting the office for future President's both Democrats and Republicans. A minority of one house house of Congress cannot demand a repeal of settled law and threaten to crash the world economy if they don't get their way. If my Republican friends want to repeal the Affordable Care Act you need to win the next election.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz took them down this rat hole and it may help his ambition to win the 2016 Prez nomination. He raised a ton of money in the last few weeks and millions signed his "petition." His petition is just a mail/email list so he can go back and hit people up for more money.

As the deadline approached the ransom demands were reduced. First it was repeal Obamacare then delay it for a year. When that was met with a steady no from the White House and the Democrats  the ransom was to reduce to medical device tax which wasn't taken seriously. You're really not going to blow up the economy over a tax on stethoscopes and tongue depressors.

At this point it started to remind me of the film Ruthless People when Bette Midler screamed " Do I understand this correctly? I'm being marked down?  I've been kidnapped by K-Mart!"

The debt ceiling has has been pushed off until February and CR lasts until January. Keep an eye on the new improved super committee that is supposed to report in December and come up with a new way to screw people on Social Security. .

Statements from our local Congresscriters.

 The first from my 3rd fav GOP guy:

Rep. Lou Barletta Statement on House CR and Debt Limit Vote

 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, tonight voted for legislation to fund the federal government through January 15, 2014 and extend the debt limit until February 7, 2014.  Barletta issued the following statement:

 

“I never wanted the government to shut down, nor did I want to default on America’s financial obligations.  After weeks of attempts at negotiations and many House votes to reopen the government, I believe we are finally on a path to move forward and get back to the work of governing the country.  While the final legislation we passed tonight does not even approach what I would have preferred, my love for this county and my concern for the well being of her people trump everything. 

 

“We cannot risk a default on our financial obligations, which would damage our standing in the world and threaten the retirement accounts of countless millions of Americans.  With this action, we reopen the government, restore needed services, get people back to work, and ease global financial concerns.

 

“As a former mayor, I always want to find solutions to problems.  During this prolonged debate, the landscape was continually changing, as were the possible paths to common ground.  I worked hard and kept looking for answers.  In the end, I chose to side with the American people and avoid near certain financial and fiscal disaster.

 

“It’s important to note that this is only a temporary arrangement, and I am sincerely hopeful that many of my concerns about Obamacare and government spending can be addressed as we move past this crisis.” 

Matt will part of the leadership one day unless he goes for a higher office:

Cartwright Remarks on Bipartisan Agreement to Reopen the Government, Prevent Default

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Matt Cartwright released the following statement regarding the bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and pay our bills: 

“Today, the American people have seen Congress reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and avert a default on the nation’s bills.  While the compromise that has been reached will provide our economy with the stability it needs, we must move forward together and do more.

“After more than two weeks spent facing off across a partisan divide differences were set aside to prevent disaster.

“Part of this agreement instructs leaders to name conferees to a budget conference committee.  The hope is that this action will assure Congress continues the work of setting this country on a path to job growth and fiscal sustainability.  The conference committee, which is charged with producing its negotiated budget package in December, is the appropriate place to discuss our differing views on the best way to chart a course for economic growth.

“Now we must return to our most important job – expanding the economy and protecting middle-class families.

“Let’s get together and actually pass a budget.”

End the Tea Party Shutdown

Washington DC (October 9, 2013) – Now nine days into the Tea Party government shutdown, hasn’t the middle class suffered enough?   Not enough for Tea Party Republicans in Congress who continue to throw out absurd ransom demands in exchange for doing their job and keeping the government functioning. Brad Woodhouse, President, Americans United for Change: “Make no mistake: refusing to support clean legislation to keep the government open at the 11^th hour was the act of extortionist Tea Party Republicans plain and simple.  Some Republicans even openly cheered it on.  The anti-government Tea Partiers who are calling the shots in the House demanded a ransom they knew they would never get: killing the Affordable Care Act.

This spot is airing in Harrisburg and I will tune into the local news later today to see if it's on the air in our market. I never really associated Lou with the teabaggers because his claim to fame is the immigration issue. But then again that is a natural fit.

PoliticsPA: “The House passed several bills to keep the government open. The Senate rejected each of them, shutting down the government,” said Barletta campaign spokesman Lance Stange. “Rep. Barletta remains committed to discussing how we can re -open the government and pay our bills whenever the Senate decides to have that conversation.”

Barletta moves the goal post

Rep. Lou Barletta (R) keeps disappointing us. In this whole budget mess he sounded almost reasonable but has reverted to making unreasonable demands for his vote to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling. He voted at first to defund Obamacare and  then to delay the ACA like the rest of the Republicans. When that didn't work out and the government shutdown came along  Lou made a few lists of people willing to vote for a clean continuing resolution but that didn't last long. . Now he wants a repeal of the the tax on medical devices in exchange for his vote to fund the government.

The Republicans complain that the Democrats won't negotiate but there is no need to as the Republicans keep negotiating with themselves. They started off with defunding the ACA , then delay it and now will settle for a repeal of one of the taxes that fund it.

It's a weak position. I suppose the Dems could let them have a vote on the device tax with a promise it will pass the day after they pass a clean CR as way of saving face.

This is more of a worry.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today called for a Constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget as a trade-off for raising the nation’s debt limit as requested by President Obama.

The balanced budget amendment sounds good but it is nonsense. Government finances are somewhat complicated so who decides that the budget is in balance? Will accounting ledgers go to the Supreme Court that will rule on the question 2 years later? The Constitution is about rights and processes not specific policies.

You can argue about the budget but raising the debt ceiling is non-negotiable.  

Tweedledummies

The Debt Limit Farce

Up until 2011 the raising of the debt limit was just a a housekeeping chore that Congress had to go through occasionally. Whichever party that was  in power would vote to raise it  and the opposition against, usually unanimous on both sides. The debt limit was raised 18 times under President Reagan and 7 times when Dubya occupied the the White House

Saint Ronny even warned against not raising the limit:

"The full consequences of a default -- or even the serious prospect of default -- by the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate. Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and the value of the dollar."

When the Republicans took control of the Senate after the 1980 election it was time to raise the debt limit again and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker met with his caucus and told them they had to vote to raise the debt ceiling. He got the usual objections from his members like "I never voted to increase the debt limit in my life", etc.  His response was the American people elected us to govern and now we must show them we are fit to govern. The Republicans then  all voted to increase it and all the Democrats voted against it. 

Now the Republicans are moving on from shutting down the government to threatening to blow up the world economy if they don't get their way. Do you know how many financial instruments are tied to the 30 year T-Bill? Not only in this country but around the world. If the Treasury has to decide between paying the interest on  the debt or issuing Social Security checks or paying other obligations there will be chaos not seen since 1929.

As I have said before these Tea Party people are not conservatives. They are anti-government anarchists. 

There is a way out of this ridiculous situation and Sen. Mitch McConnell of all people came up with it in 2011:

HP:
Under current law, Congress raises the debt ceiling, which allows the Treasury Department to issue more bonds to pay off debts and fund projects that Congress has already authorized. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize or appropriate new spending, but merely settles old bills. 

Yet under McConnell's plan, which he called his "last-choice option," the White House would request an increase in the debt ceiling and Congress could only block that request with a veto-proof super majority -- effectively ceding control over the debt limit to the White House. A super majority would likely be difficult to amass, especially when neither party's leadership genuinely wants the nation to default.

Here we go again

(Photo via The Dish)


After over 40 votes by the House to repeal Obamacare the Republicans now have shut down the government over this unreasonable demand. You would think that they would have learned the lesson from the shut downs in 90's. Albert Einstein said it best.

Shut down or not the health care exchanges start enrollment tomorrow. The real fear of Republicans is that health care reform will work. Bill Kristol warned against that in 1993.

I haven't seen the Democrats this united since Bush tried to destroy Social Security.

Describing these people as conservative is a misnomer. There is nothing conservative in rejecting the result of the last election. It is not conservative to disrupt the function of the government or threaten to default on the obligations of the United States.

These people are anti-government anarchists.

Phil Scollo on the air

10th CD Democratic candidate Phil Scollo comes  out swinging in in his first TV ad in his race against Tom Marino. Usually a challenger's first spot is a warm fuzzy bio piece but Scollo doesn't have the time or the money for that. He hits Marino hard over his 2 votes to end Medicare and cut funding for the Tobyhanna Army Depot, the area's largest employer. In the last sentence he says "I'll protect Medicare from Tom Marino."




PoliticsPA has reaction from Marino Campaign Manager Ryan Barton who confirms that Marino wants to preserve Medicare for current or near retirees. What about the rest of us?

Then says “Instead, Mr. Scollo should be explaining to the hardworking taxpayers of Pennsylvania why he has not paid his taxes.”

Well, he did and explained it in several newspaper stories over the last few days

He got sick and his wife got sick and that almost ruined them financially. How many times have you heard of something like this? Scollo has worked out a payment plan with the IRS so he is not dodging his taxes. The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is a start to ending this kind of nonsense when everything people have worked to build gets wiped out because of an illness.

Borys has the story.

PL: Tom Marino has also had some health problems but he had taxpayer funded healthcare that got him through it.

I wish both gentlemen and the lady a full recovery.

Karen Scollo explains what they had to deal with.

Less than 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was scared--both Phil and I were.

As if that weren't enough, our health insurance company decided to deny me coverage. Suddenly, we had no option but to pay for my cancer treatments out of our pockets. If you've been through these treatments, you know how expensive they are. We were at a loss for words.

I remember being angry at the cancer, at the insurance company. We had coverage. We paid the premiums, but they wouldn't cover the chemo. What can you do at a moment like that? What can you say?

At that moment we could have faced bankruptcy -- in addition to the cancer.

Then Phil took on the insurance company, showing them that in fact they had to cover my treatments. It was an intense battle, but he won. He got them to cover the chemotherapy. We pulled together and we survived.

Like many Pennsylvania families, our family has seen its share of ups and downs, especially in the last decade during the financial crisis and economic downturn. 

But my cancer and our fight with the insurance company aren't unique stories. It's an all-too-common American story.

Too many families like ours have faced this type of two-handed battle: trying to survive and trying to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Every family who faces this experiences true tragedy. And many are not as lucky as we were.

Throughout our battle with cancer (and Phil's later prostate diagnosis) we've had to face familiar modern financial struggles as well. Medical bills. Loss of work. But families know how to survive

Cartwright at the convention

Cartwright Joins Democrats in Charlotte

 

PLAINS – Marion and I are here in Charlotte by special invitation by the House Democratic leadership.  We're here to witness and support the historic nomination of Barack Obama for reelection as President of the United States.

This election is a make-or-break moment for the middle class.  We have to bring back the values of balance and fairness that have made our country great. We can't just cut our way to success, we need an economy that’s built to last—one that out-innovates, out-educates and out-builds the world.

We need to rebuild an economy that creates the jobs of the future and makes things the rest of the world buys—not one built on outsourcing, loopholes or risky financial deals that jeopardize everyone, especially the middle class.

The American People Will Face a Clear Choice This Year…

The President cut taxes for every working family, putting more money in the pockets of Americans who need it most. He’s also prevented a middle-class tax increase and extended vital unemployment benefits for Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Now he’s fighting to make sure the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share.

The Affordable Care Act provides stability and security to Americans who have insurance and gives those who don’t the opportunity to afford it. It puts an end to the worst industry abuses, such as cancelling coverage when someone gets sick, and will stop insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charging women more for insurance because of their gender. It already is insuring millions of young Americans, providing patients free preventive care, lowering costs for seniors, and will bring down costs for families and businesses.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act makes it easier for women to challenge unfair pay practices, helping all Americans earn equal pay for equal work.

We either can continue to level the playing field, invest in education, American manufacturing and clean energy—or we can keep giving tax breaks to the wealthiest, let Wall Street write its own rules again, widen loopholes for corporations, and stick veterans, seniors and the middle class with the bill.  I think the choice is obvious, and that's why Marion and I have come to Charlotte this week.

PA 17th CD: Cartwright vs. Cummings

Andrew Seder had 2 articles in yesterday's TL contrasting the views of Democrat Matt Cartwright and Republican Laureen Cummings.

 Cartwright gets ready for fight

 Cummings seeks funds, recognition

Some choice quotes.

 On the Affordable Care  Act

Cartwright

“It’s a great day in America.” He said while he has been in favor of the overall law and what it does, he did not feel it went far enough. He said if elected, he will “work to strengthen” the act.

Cummings

“Not only are taxes enormous, but unemployment is above 8 percent,” Cummings said.

“This decision will reawaken the electorate and those Americans who not only want government out of their lives, but also, who refuse to give the IRS even more power than it already has,” she added. “This decision is a rallying cry to elect those of us who will repeal this law and reform our Byzantine tax code."

The President's  executive order on immigration and deportation

Cartwright

He said he’s not for granting amnesty, but he’s also not for rounding up illegals and deporting them.

“This is America. We don’t put 12 million human beings in boxcars and ship them to the coast to be put on freighters. We don’t do that in this country,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright called the president’s order “a stop-gap measure. I’m not thrilled with it” but it moves the issue ahead until Congress can come together to do the same.

Cummings

“It’s unbelievable that he did it. It can’t stand … It’s appalling that he does the things that he does but it’s not surprising.”

Laureen has set a goal of raising $400, 000 by September and has about $5500 in the bank. Her last FEC report said she raised $300. Matt will not have a problem raising money. Matt said he is not ready to support marriage equality yet but we expect him to get there and suggested using a mobile office to offer constituent services.

I would like to hear what the candidates think of Food Stamps. Andrew may have asked but it didn't make the column inch cut by the editors. 

On June 27th Laureen Cummings posted this to her Facebook wall:

 I know people re-post all sorts of things on Facebook. I know I do it but when I do I agree with the idea. This thing is flying around all the right wing sites including our own Pittston Politics. So does Laureen think that a mother looking for a way to feed her kids in hard times is akin to a wild animal looking for a handout?

I know people who have to use food stamps to feed their families and they are not buying prime rib and lobsters. Most of them work in low paying jobs and are not proud of having to rely on a government a program just to eat, but you got to feed the kids. Sure there are some bad actors who will abuse the system but most of them don't.

When I was growing up my family had to use food stamps from time to time because my father went from one shit job to another and was always being laid off. I cringed when my mother pulled out the food stamp book at the Ack-a-me to pay for the groceries and hoped that none of my classmates spotted us. I skipped the free lunch at school because of the stigma attached and the razzing that would ensue. It really sucks to be poor in this country, then and now.


This guy has never been hungry.

What if Congress mandated that you buy a gun?

Ezra Klein: Congress has forced Americans to buy guns. It’s in the Militia Acts of 1792.

I'm sure that would be fine with my Tea party friends today.

Incidentally, that’s not the only time an early congress mandated that Americans purchase privately sold products:

 In 1790, the very first Congress—which incidentally included 20 framers—passed a law that included a mandate: namely, a requirement that ship owners buy medical insurance for their seamen. This law was then signed by another framer: President George Washington. That’s right, the father of our country had no difficulty imposing a health insurance mandate

Steve Benen:   I suppose Republicans might argue that George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson didn't understand what the Founding Fathers wanted

SCOTUS upholds ACA

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING

ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

 

East Room

 

 

12:15 P.M. EDT

 

 

     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Earlier today, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act -- the name of the health care reform we passed two years ago.  In doing so, they've reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America -- in the wealthiest nation on Earth – no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin. 

 

I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this, about who won and who lost.  That’s how these things tend to be viewed here in Washington.  But that discussion completely misses the point.  Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it.

 

And because this law has a direct impact on so many Americans, I want to take this opportunity to talk about exactly what it means for you. 

 

First, if you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance -- this law will only make it more secure and more affordable.  Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on the amount of care you receive.  They can no longer discriminate against children with preexisting conditions.  They can no longer drop your coverage if you get sick.  They can no longer jack up your premiums without reason.  They are required to provide free preventive care like check-ups and mammograms -- a provision that's already helped 54 million Americans with private insurance.  And by this August, nearly 13 million of you will receive a rebate from your insurance company because it spent too much on things like administrative costs and CEO bonuses, and not enough on your health care. 

 

There’s more.  Because of the Affordable Care Act, young adults under the age of 26 are able to stay on their parent's health care plans -- a provision that's already helped 6 million young Americans.  And because of the Affordable Care Act, seniors receive a discount on their prescription drugs -- a discount that's already saved more than 5 million seniors on Medicare about $600 each.

 

All of this is happening because of the Affordable Care Act. These provisions provide common-sense protections for middle class families, and they enjoy broad popular support.  And thanks to today’s decision, all of these benefits and protections will continue for Americans who already have health insurance.   

 

Now, if you’re one of the 30 million Americans who don’t yet have health insurance, starting in 2014 this law will offer you an array of quality, affordable, private health insurance plans to choose from.  Each state will take the lead in designing their own menu of options, and if states can come up with even better ways of covering more people at the same quality and cost, this law allows them to do that, too.  And I’ve asked Congress to help speed up that process, and give states this flexibility in year one. 

 

Once states set up these health insurance marketplaces, known as exchanges, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against any American with a preexisting health condition.  They won’t be able to charge you more just because you’re a woman.  They won’t be able to bill you into bankruptcy. If you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to get quality, affordable health care as everyone else.  And if you can’t afford the premiums, you'll receive a credit that helps pay for it. 

 

Today, the Supreme Court also upheld the principle that people who can afford health insurance should take the responsibility to buy health insurance.  This is important for two reasons. 

 

First, when uninsured people who can afford coverage get sick, and show up at the emergency room for care, the rest of us end up paying for their care in the form of higher premiums. 

 

And second, if you ask insurance companies to cover people with preexisting conditions, but don’t require people who can afford it to buy their own insurance, some folks might wait until they’re sick to buy the care they need -- which would also drive up everybody else’s premiums.

 

That’s why, even though I knew it wouldn’t be politically popular, and resisted the idea when I ran for this office, we ultimately included a provision in the Affordable Care Act that people who can afford to buy health insurance should take the responsibility to do so.  In fact, this idea has enjoyed support from members of both parties, including the current Republican nominee for President.

 

Still, I know the debate over this law has been divisive.  I respect the very real concerns that millions of Americans have shared.  And I know a lot of coverage through this health care debate has focused on what it means politically. 

 

Well, it should be pretty clear by now that I didn’t do this because it was good politics.  I did it because I believed it was good for the country.  I did it because I believed it was good for the American people.

 

There’s a framed letter that hangs in my office right now.  It was sent to me during the health care debate by a woman named Natoma Canfield.  For years and years, Natoma did everything right.  She bought health insurance.  She paid her premiums on time.  But 18 years ago, Natoma was diagnosed with cancer.  And even though she’d been cancer-free for more than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates, year after year.  And despite her desire to keep her coverage -- despite her fears that she would get sick again -- she had to surrender her health insurance, and was forced to hang her fortunes on chance. 

 

I carried Natoma’s story with me every day of the fight to pass this law.  It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well. 

 

Natoma is well today.  And because of this law, there are other Americans -- other sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- who will not have to hang their fortunes on chance.  These are the Americans for whom we passed this law. 

 

The highest Court in the land has now spoken.  We will continue to implement this law.  And we'll work together to improve on it where we can.  But what we won’t do -- what the country can’t afford to do -- is refight the political battles of two years ago, or go back to the way things were. 

 

With today’s announcement, it’s time for us to move forward -- to implement and, where necessary, improve on this law.  And now is the time to keep our focus on the most urgent challenge of our time:  putting people back to work, paying down our debt, and building an economy where people can have confidence that if they work hard, they can get ahead. 

 

But today, I’m as confident as ever that when we look back five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, we’ll be better off because we had the courage to pass this law and keep moving forward. 

 

Thank you.  God bless you, and God bless America.

Scollo opposes Ryan budget

Businessman Phil Scollo Joins Republican Congressman in Bipartisan Opposition to the Ryan/Marino Budget

Dingman, PA - Businessman Phil Scollo has made bipartisan reform, pragmatic common-sense and job creation early centerpieces of his campaign to represent the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania. Below is a statement from Scollo -- once again reaching across the aisle -- building on Congressman David McKinley's (R-WV) recent statements regarding the Ryan/Marino budget's impact on Medicare and seniors.

"Pennsylvania seniors deserve better. They worked hard all their lives and honoring our promises to our seniors is not, or at least should not be a partisan political issue it should be a national point of pride and unity. 

Opposition to the Ryan/Marino budget is something many Republicans, Independents and Democrats agree on. As Republican U.S. Rep. McKinley said, this budget would privatize Medicare for future retirees thus ending the Medicare guarantee and doubling out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Pennsylvania's seniors, working families and future retirees cannot afford this enormous mistake and they don't deserve this serious slap in the face. My opponent, Congressman Tom Marino, voted for this budget twice, once for each year he has been in office. He owns its disgrace."

In part, Rep. McKinley's mailers said, "Congressman McKinley recently voted against the 2012 budget passed by the House because of the plan’s negative impact on northern West Virginia seniors. The plan would privatize Medicare for future retirees, raise the retirement age and keep in place the Medicare cuts included in last year’s healthcare bill. The Congressional Budget Office determined the plan would nearly double out-of-pocket healthcare costs for future retirees."

See the mailers in their entirety here:

"GOPer’s Mailer Attacks House Republicans For Privatizing Medicare And Preserving ‘Obamacare’ Medicare Cuts," by BRIAN BEUTLER, Talking Points Memo, June 21, 2012, Link:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/house-republican-campaign-budget-privatizing-medicare-obamacare-medicare-david-mckinley.php?ref=fpb

Kane leads Attonery General's race

PoliticsPA reports that Kathleen Kane is up big over David Freed in the PA AG race according to an internal poll from the Kane campaign.

Kathleen Kane has emerged from her contested primary with momentum, a poll conducted by her campaign shows. She leads Republican Dave Freed 48 percent to 27 percent.

The hard fought primary with Patrick Murphy definitely raised her name ID and it shows in this poll. I don't discount internal polls like many do because if the polling outfit get's it wrong they lose credibility and aren't likely to get hired again. I think that primary campaigns help the eventual winner unless they get out of hand like what happened in the 2008 10th CD Republican primary contest. Governor Tom Cabot and the PA GOP driving out John Rafferty may have hurt Freed. I'm not ready to declare victory for Kane unlike my friend from NEPartsan  "Kane, I think, is a winner.  I’ll even call it now." I thought that Murphy would win the primary easy, shows what I know. Campaigns matter and there is long way to go. 

David Freed put out a web video that I picked up from his Facebook page. It's titled "I Represent the Commonwealth."

He starts out giving his qualifications saying he is the only  elected prosecutor in the race who has been efficient running his office. Then he gives the crowd of Republicans some red meat  bringing up the death penalty. At 2:20 in the video he says " the drug dealers will not know what hit them when we get into the Attorney General's office." I'm not sure what to make of that statement. Is he admitting that all t he last  Republican Attorney General's have failed in the War on Drugs. More and more  people have been locked up over drug offenses over the last 50 years and yet the poison is more available than ever before. That flies in the face of his statement that we should be smart on crime and should be talking about how to keep people out of jail. How many politicians have promised to lock up all the drug dealers? That's worked out well. Such claptrap. Then he rails against unconstitutional power grabs by the Federal Government like Obamcare  and "unconstitutional" EPA regulations. "We are going to stand up to the Federal Government.." That should work out, after you get sick because your air and water are polluted you won't be able to get health care. Does this guy want to be a prosecutor or a legislator? 

 

Check out his eyes.

Barletta and GOP Distorts CBO Report

Congressman Lou Barletta's campaign sent this out yesterday:

"Remember when the President promised that Obamacare would reduce health care costs? It was one of his key selling points. Earlier this week the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office issued a report that the cost of Obamacare over the next decade is a staggering $1.76 trillion. That’s almost double the $900 billion price tag President Obama promised the American people."

TMB: The Congressional Budget Office released a new report this morning on the costs of the Affordable Care Act, and ever since, Fox News, congressional Republicans, the conservative Washington Times, and a variety of conservative blogs have been pretty worked up about the CBO findings.
They may want to take another look at it...

TPM: CBO’s actual revised estimate is that the “gross costs of the coverage provisions,” — the money used to provide people Medicaid or private insurance — has risen by about $50 billion over the 2012-2021 period since its previous estimate, from $1.445 trillion to $1.496 trillion. That’s the only relevant change to spending projections in the report.

So where are conservatives getting the idea that the cost of the law doubled? When it passed in 2010, CBO said its 10-year outlays would be about $940 billion. But because the law isn’t set to be fully implemented until 2014, when the coverage expansion takes effect, that initial estimate included several years in which the law cost very little. Now that it’s 2012, CBO’s 10-year outlook captures more years during which the law will be in full effect. The law’s price tag appears higher, but its costs in no way doubled.

WONKBLOG: This analysis shows the net cost of the coverage provisions will be about $50 billion less than previously estimated. That implies the law will cut more, not less, from the deficit than previous estimates suggested. In other words, this estimate says the bill is more, not less, fiscally responsible than was previously reported.
One other thing that’s confused some people is that this estimate is looking at a different timeframe than the original estimates. The CBO’s first pass at the bill looked at 2010-2019. But years have passed, and so now they’re looking at 2012-2021. That means they have two fewer years of implementation, when the bill costs almost nothing, and two more years of operation, when it costs substantially more.

Republicans said that they wanted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. I see that they are big on repeal but I haven't heard much about the replace part.

More from Lou: And make no mistake, I am on the record opposing it. I have fought it at every turn. I supported a full repeal as well as systematically taking it apart piece by piece. I even signed on to an “amicus brief” against Obamacare which the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear in the coming weeks.

The White House sent an email reminding me of some the benefits of the new law and I have to ask Lou if he really want's to kick young adults off their parents health insurance? Should seniors have to pay more for prescription drugs? Is holding Insurance companies feet to the fire socialism? Does he want to outlaw coverage for pre-existing conditions or let insurance companies set a lifetime limit of coverage that would result in a death sentence for some people?

Health reform is already making a difference for the people of Pennsylvania by:

Providing new coverage options for young adults
Health plans are now required to allow parents to keep their children under age 26 without job-based coverage on their family’s coverage, and, thanks to this provision, 2.5 million young people have gained coverage nationwide. As of June 2011, 64,798 young adults in Pennsylvania gained insurance coverage as a result of the new health care law.

Making prescription drugs affordable for seniors
Thanks to the new health care law, 247,686 people with Medicare in Pennsylvania received a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole in 2010. In 2011, 235,820 people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole. This discount resulted in an average savings of $662 per person, and a total savings of $156,108,903 in Pennsylvania. By 2020, the law will close the donut hole.

Covering preventive services with no deductible or co-pay
In 2011, 1,509,076 people with Medicare in Pennsylvania received free preventive services – such as mammograms and colonoscopies – or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor. And 54 million Americans with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing, including 236,3000 in Pennsylvania.

Providing better value for your premium dollar through the 80/20 Rule
Under the new health care law, insurance companies must provide consumers greater value by spending generally at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care and quality improvements instead of overhead, executive salaries or marketing. If they don’t, they must provide consumers a rebate or reduce premiums. This means that 3,421,000 Pennsylvania residents with private insurance coverage will receive greater value for their premium dollars.

Scrutinizing unreasonable premium increases
In every State and for the first time under Federal law, insurance companies are required to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10 percent or more. Pennsylvania has received $5.3 million under the new law to help fight unreasonable premium increases.

Removing lifetime limits on health benefits
The law bans insurance companies from imposing lifetime dollar limits on health benefits – freeing cancer patients and individuals suffering from other chronic diseases from having to worry about going without treatment because of their lifetime limits. Already, 4,582,000 residents, including 1,769,000 women and 1,136,000 children, are free from worrying about lifetime limits on coverage. The law also restricts the use of annual limits and bans them completely in 2014.

Creating new coverage options for individuals with pre-existing conditions
As of the end of 2011, 4,567 previously uninsured residents of Pennsylvania who were locked out of the coverage system because of a pre-existing condition are now insured through a new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan that was created under the new health reform law. To learn more about the plan available in Pennsylvania, check here.

I have asked Democratic challengers Gene Stilp and Bill Vinsko for their thoughts on the Affordable Care Act and will publish them when I get them.