Barbara Boxer Canned Responses

I want the world to see the pathetic responses received from Senator Barbara Boxer. It is shameful for her to received any pay from our tax dollars. I consider that she probably gets thousands of email and letters from her constituents; however, there is no excuse for the incompetent and patronizing attitude reflected in her responses. Can anyone tell me from reading her letter below the subject of my email? Can anyone see that she actually answered my concerns? And this is the person California elected. Throughout the campaign, people were given a choice and asked that before voting, take the time to review her record, her record of NOTHING, her empty suit. Californians, you ignored her record, you should be ashamed of yourselves for electing one of the most LAME senators in the entire congress. Your elected officials should work for you. If she has worked for anyone or any group in our once golden state of California, you'd better speak up, because I don't see her working for Californians.

Dear Friend:

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your views with me. Your comments will help me continue to represent you and other Californians to the best of my ability. Be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers legislation on this or similar issues.

If you would like additional information about my work in the U.S. Senate, I invite you to visit my website, http://boxer.senate.gov. From this site, you can send a message to me about current events or pending legislation, access my statements and press releases, request copies of legislation and government reports, and receive detailed information about the many services that I am privileged to provide for my constituents. You may also wish to visit http://thomas.loc.gov to track current and past federal legislation.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate hearing from you.

Barbara Boxer

United States Senator


Please do not respond to this message. If you would like to comment on legislation, please visit my website and use the correspondence form at http://www.boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm

Barbara Boxer and her staff should be ashamed of themselves for putting out this garbage. She should have been the one put out as garbage.

The Obama Change

With all the bickering going on in Congress regarding the tax increases for the so called 'rich,' the email I received recently and cited below seems appropriate for sharing.

People really need to take a hard look at The Obama's and Congress' idea of tax increases and what they will do to regular Americans and small businesses. Liberal progressives don't want to extend those tax cuts for anyone earning over $250,000 a year. We get emails and snail mail often from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the California Teachers Association (CTA), and the National Education Association (NEA), asking us to write or call our congressional representatives demanding that taxes be increased for the rich...the job creators...and the more charitable people of this nation. ARE THEY CRAZY? Have they looked at the ramifications tax increases will have on our limping economy?

Do you actually think that all the kids who voted for Obama and his change will understand this?

John G. Is 63 years old and owns a small business. He's a life-long Republican and sees his dream of retiring next year has all but evaporated. With the stock market crashing and new taxes coming his way, John assumes now that he will work to his dying day.

John has a granddaughter. Ashley is a recent college grad. She drives a flashy hybrid car, wears all the latest fashions, and loves to go out to nightclubs and restaurants. Ashley campaigned hard for Barack Obama. After the election she made sure her grandfather (and all other Republican family members) received a big I told-you-so earful on how the world is going to be a much better place now that her party is taking over.

Having lost both roommates, Ashley recently ran short of cash and cannot pay the rent (again) on her 3 bedroom townhouse. Like she has done many times in the past, she e-mailed her grandfather asking for some financial help.

Here is his reply:
________________________________________

Sweetheart, I received your request for assistance.

Ashley, you know I love you dearly and I'm sympathetic to your financial plight. Unfortunately, times have changed. With the election of President Obama, your grandmother and I have had to set forth a bold new economic plan of our own...."The Ashley Economic Empowerment Plan." Let me explain.

Your grandmother and I are life-long, wage-earning tax payers. We have lived a comfortable life, as you know, but we have never had the fancier things like European vacations, luxury cars, etc. We have worked hard and were looking forward to retiring soon. But the plan has changed. Your president is raising our personal and business taxes significantly. He says it is so he can give our hard earned money to other people. Do you know what this means, Ashley? It means less for us, and we must cut back on many business and personal expenses.

You know the wonderful receptionist who worked in my office for more than 23 years? The one who always gave you candy when you came over to visit? I had to let her go last week. I can't afford to pay her salary and all of the government mandated taxes that go with having employees. Your grandmother will now work 4 days a week to answer phones, take orders and handle the books. We will be closed on Fridays and will lose even more income.

I'm also very sorry to report that your cousin Frank will no longer be working summers in the warehouse. I called him at school this morning. He already knows about it and he's upset because he will have to give up skydiving and his yearly trip to Greenland to survey the polar bears.

That's just the business side of things. Some personal economic effects of Obama's new taxation policies include none other than you. You know very well that over the years your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in cash, tuition assistance, food, housing, clothing, gifts, etc., etc. But by your vote, you have chosen to help others -- not at your expense -- but at our expense.

If you need money now sweetheart, I recommend you call 202-456-1111. That is the direct phone number for the White House. You can also contact the White House here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

You yourself told me how foolish it is to vote Republican. You said Mr. Obama is going to be the People's President, and is going to help every American live a better life. Based on everything you've told me, along with all the promises we heard during the campaign, I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to transfer some stimulus money into your bank account. Have him call me for the account number which I memorized years ago.

Perhaps you can now understand what I've been saying all my life: those who vote for a president should consider the impact on the nation as a whole, and not be just concerned with what they can get for themselves. What Obama supporters don't seem to realize is all of the money he is redistributing to illegal aliens and non-taxpaying Americans (the so-called "less fortunate") comes from tax-paying families.

Remember how you told me, "Only the richest of the rich will be affected"? Well guess what, honey? Because we own a business, your grandmother and I are now considered to be the richest of the rich. On paper, it might look that way, but in the real world, we are far from it.

As you said while campaigning for Obama, some people will have to carry more of the burden so all of America can prosper. You understand what that means, right? It means that raising taxes on productive people results in them having less money; less money for everything, including granddaughters.

I'm sorry, Ashley, but the well has run dry. The free lunches are over. I have no money to give you now. So, congratulations on your choice for "change." For future reference, I encourage you to try and add up the total value of the gifts and cash you have received from us, just since you went off to college, and compare it to what you expect to get from Mr. Obama over the next 4 (or 8) years. I have not kept track of it, Ashley. It has all truly been the gift of our hearts.

Remember, we love you dearly....but from now on you'll need to call the number mentioned above. The man you selected for change has the money we would have given to you. Just try and get it from him.

Good luck, sweetheart.

Love, Grandpa

Good luck to those of you still unemployed--good luck finding a job, and good luck in getting charitable organizations to help you out. Hey, maybe the unions can help you out.

Email To the AFSCME Union Leadership

After receiving an email from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I decided to write back to them. The following is my email to the AFSCME. At the bottom of my letter is the email they sent me:

Union leadership,

How about jobs? Wouldn’t it be better to create jobs for those unemployed? Since when has an unemployment check helped the unemployed except in the short term? My daughter has been unemployed for over two years, she needs help, but she needs it in the form of a permanent job.

I think it is time for the unions to stop this attack on the private sector. I seriously think those so called ‘millionaires’ WILL create jobs if you give them certainty by maintaining the current tax rates that have been in place for over a decade. Taking away the existing tax rate is a TAX INCREASE that we do not need in this deep jobless recession.

You are looking at the glass as if it was half full, but in fact, IT IS HALF EMPTY and will remain empty if the government INCREASES taxes for anyone, and that includes businesses, large and small. Now is not the time to cut private industry off at the knees, stop being selfish and blinded by your one-sided rationale and act responsibly for the sake of the millions of non-public service sector jobless people. We don’t need any more union jobs, you won't see an increase in union jobs whatsoever regardless of the outcome to the tax rates; in fact, with the fiscal toilet most states are in because of the high cost of public sector employees, there will not be an increase to public sector jobs for many years to come. We need private industry jobs to take us out of this recession now, to bring in the much needed revenues to states and federal governments from the employees they employ, to create more jobs that the unemployed desperately need.

Please STOP your campaign to denigrate the job creators, they (private sector) can and will bring us out of this jobless recession if we give them certainty.

A very disappointed union member that would opt out of the union if I could...

This is the email I received from the AFSCME:

Dear xxxxx,

We've got just 15 days to get it done.

I'm talking about helping out-of-work Americans and fixing the Bush tax cuts — the ones that give a huge, permanent, tax break to the richest 2 percent while working families struggle just to get by. Benefits for millions of unemployed workers will expire at the end of the month, yet Congress is talking about more tax cuts for millionaires. We've got to make sure they do the right thing.

Please, send a message to your member of Congress and senators today. Urge them to end the Bush tax cuts for the rich, and extend unemployment insurance to every American who is out of work.

The Bush tax cuts for the rich are set to expire at the end of the year. Some in Congress want to make them permanent. That's a terrible idea. The wealthiest Americans should not be given permanent tax breaks while desperately-needed public services continue to be slashed, and 2 million people lose their unemployment on December 1. What we need right now is a recovery that works for everyone — not another millionaire bailout.

Here's what we’re telling Congress: Extend unemployment benefits for Americans struggling to find a job and keep the tax cuts for middle-class families, but let them expire for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. Working families are already stretched too far. If that sounds fair to you, I hope you'll add your name to our petition right now, and make sure Congress does the right thing for working families.

Frankly, the richest Americans don't need a helping hand these days. Just two years after the financial collapse, Wall Street is already handing out its biggest bonuses in history -- more than $144 billion. Rather than extending tax cuts for people on Wall Street, we need to help the folks on Main Street — the other 98% of the country -- who need jobs and public services to stay afloat.

Add your voice, and make sure Congress hears us: It's time to stop the handouts to the top 2% of America, and do the right thing for the rest of us. During this fall's election, voters across the country overwhelmingly said that America needs a recovery that works for everyone: not a millionaire bailout that would create a $700 billion budget gap over the next 10 years. Right now, it’s working families — who have been struggling to do more with less and less — that need a break, not CEOs.

You can bet that Congress is already hearing from the millionaires. Make sure they hear from the rest of America, too. There's no time to lose. Please act now:
http://action.afscme.org/c/51/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=907

In solidarity,

Charles Loveless
Legislative Director
AFSCME

California, Not So Golden

To all the democratic voters in California, I don't respect you, I personally feel you are misguided, and if you can't see the destruction that the democratic politicians have done in the last FOUR decades (yes, 40 years of a democratically led legislature), turned this once 'golden' state into a sewer of debt and handouts, then you deserve what you have.

In an article posted on Investors.com, "The 'Golden State' Still Doesn't Get It," the author states it very clearly, California currently:

has a 12.4% unemployment rate,

has suffered a loss of 34% of the state's industrial base,

with just 12% of the U.S. population, has one third of the nation's welfare recipients,

has a budget gap for 2009-10 of $45.5 billion, or 53% of total state spending,

has the nation's highest sales tax,

has the third highest income tax rate in our nation,

is dead last in ranking for job creation,

is 32nd in state competitiveness,

is home to 25% of ALL of America's illegal immigrants costing citizens of this state $10.5 billion a year,

and has $500 billion unfunded pension liabilities for union/state/public employees.

Actions have consequences: voters who continue to vote for miscreant politicians, those with no ideas or intentions for cutting spending, balancing budgets, and easing taxation and regulations, will continue to see the degradation of California. I pray that Californians will wake up, before the next election in 2012, to the reality, the tragedy, brought on by the uninformed and the poorly prepared voters, who, like the three monkeys, hear not evil, see no evil, and speak no evil, and continue to follow the misguided direction of their malfeasant leaders.

ObamaCare Changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

These are some updates to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program coming on line because of ObamaCare. The only question I have is whether premiums will be going up as they seem to be doing for the rest of the nation?

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a result of this legislation, Federal employees will soon see important improvements in their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage, including expanded family member eligibility and enhanced benefits.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, beginning January 1, 2011:

Children will be eligible for coverage under their parent’s FEHB Program Self and Family enrollment until they turn age 26.

All FEHB Program plans will cover recommended preventive care services without additional out-of-pocket costs to enrollees.

All FEHB Program plans have eliminated any lifetime limits and annual limits on essential health benefits.

In addition:

All FEHB Program Plans will cover comprehensive smoking cessation benefits that include coverage for counseling, medications, multiple quit attempts with no annual or lifetime limitations and no enrollee cost sharing.

The attached fact sheet provides more information on changes to the FEHB Program and the Federal Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS) Program under the ACA. You can also visit www.opm.gov/insure for up-to-date information about all the Federal Benefits Programs.

VOTE "NO" ON CA PROP 25

California voters,

PLEASE VOTE NO ON PROP 25!!!

VOTE NO ON PROP 25 ON NOVEMBER 2ND.

In November you will have a chance to vote on Prop 25. This prop is very bad; on it's surface, one would think this will be okay, this will let our congress pass the budget bills they have been unable to pass, making it easier for them to pass budgets and if they don’t they will be financially penalized. But, the only thing this prop does is relieve them of their duty and responsibility to enact RESPONSIBLE budgets; our governor states "if you do a budget by simple majority, again, there is one party that will make all the decisions. I think it needs the input of both of the parties because you can see the first thing (Democrats) did was come up with borrowing or a tax increase." INPUT IS REQUIRED FROM ALL PARTIES!!! This is a fact, the democrats response to budget woes has been to increase taxes--this does not work for me and it should not work for you either. Responsible spending is the key here, not more taxing.

“One main argument made by opponents of Proposition 25 is that regardless of the claim of its supporters that it would not allow taxes to be hiked without a supermajority vote in the state legislature, there's a "poison pill" provision in the language of Prop 25 that actually would allow tax increases to be enacted with a simple majority vote.

The clause in Proposition 25 that opponents say would allow this says, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law … bills providing for appropriations related to the budget may be passed [by] a majority." Another section of Proposition 25 says, "This measure will not change the two-thirds vote requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes." On August 5, 2010, a Superior Court judge ruled that Prop 25 did not maintain the 2/3rds requirement to raise taxes.

Steve Merksamer, attorney for the opponents, says that the "notwithstanding any other provision..." clause means that Prop 25 is "a fraud on the voters."

From Ballot-Pedia California Proposition 25, Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget (2010)

Letter to Nancy Pelosi

I received this letter to Nancy Pelosi, dated August 11, 2009, via email and felt that it must be shared nation-wide. I think many Americans feel as this man does, I know I do. I did check to verify, using Snopes, to ensure this was a true document; it turns out it is correctly attributed to this good man, Dennis L. Guthrie, an attorney with the Charlotte, North Carolina, law firm of Guthrie, Davis, Henderson & Staton:

Dear Ms. Pelosi:
I write to you out of utter disdain! You are as despicable and un-American as the traitor Jane Fonda.

I am a soon to be 65 year-old who has voted in every state and local election since 1966. I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats alike. I have worked on campaigns for both Republicans and Democrats, white and black. I served the country that I love in Vietnam , as my son did in the Middle East . I was awarded two bronze stars. I have been involved in politics since age 6 when my father was campaign manager for a truly great American Congressman, Charles Raper Jonas, who worked for his constituents and his country, and was to be admired, unlike you.

You obviously haven’t read the Constitution recently, if ever, the Federalist Papers, or even David McCullough’s book on John Adams. You ought to take the time while riding around in your government provided luxury executive jet to do just that. You represent Socialistic and even Marxist principals that our founding fathers tried to avoid when setting out the capitalistic republican form of government represented by our Constitution.

I find it interesting that you and your husband are multi-millionaires with much of your fortune being made as a result of your “public service”. You have controlled legislation that has enhanced your husband’s investments both on and off shore. At the same time you redistributed the wealth of others. Our system of a free market economy is being destroyed by the likes of you, Harry Reid, and now our President. You ride around in a Gulfstream airplane at the tax payer’s expense while criticizing the presidents of companies who produced something for the economy. You add nothing to the economy of the United States ; you only subtract there from.

I would like to suggest that you return to the city of fruitcakes and nuts and eat your husband’s canned tuna and pineapple produced by illegal immigrants and by workers who have been excluded from the protection that 90% of the legal workers in the United States have.

I await your defeat in the next election with glee.

Don’t ever use the term “un-American” again for protesters who love this country and are exercising their rights upon which this country was founded. By the way, while I served in the Army, I was spit on by the same type of lunatics who support you and who you probably supported in the 60’s and 70’s. You are an embarrassment to all of us who served so that you would have the protected right of free speech to call us un-American. But at the same time, I have the right to write you to notify you that I consider you to be un-American, as do the majority of the people of this formerly great country. You are a true disgrace to most of the people who served this country by offering themselves for public service in the United States Congress.

I feel certain your aides will not share this letter with you, but I intend to share it with many.

Let's help this man fulfill his 'commitment' to Pelosi by forwarding his thoughts to everyone in your address book! By the way, for verification purposes, Snopes link to Mr. Guthrie's letter is here.

Potential Discretionary Costs of Implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Obama spins it again. When will this less than presidential guy start to be honest with the American people?

The CBO advised a few days ago that ObamaCare (PPACA) would cost taxpayers and additional $115 billion, putting the bill over $1 trillion dollars (and counting). Obama and his administration immediately advised the American people, through a series of press releases and television news programs, that he would veto any funding bills for those portions of the bill if necessary. Not so fast though, according to the CBO, most of that $115 billion are for ongoing programs that are already being funded. Obama and Congress are not likely to stop funding these portions of the bill since they are already ongoing and some of the appear to be legitimately required budget items. Does Obama think the American people are stupid? When will he stop patronizing the public? He is being disingenuous when he tells the American people he will veto these portion of the bill.

The CBO states in their document, "Additional Information on the Potential Discretionary Costs of Implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)," the following:

The potential discretionary costs identified in both CBO’s earlier analysis and the letters provided on May 11 include many items whose funding would be a continuation of recent funding levels for health-related programs or that were previously authorized and that PPACA would authorize for future years. Some of those items include:

• Section 3129 – Extension of Medicare rural hospital flexibility program ($0.1 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5207 – Funding for the National Health Service Corp ($9.1 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5312 – Funding for Parts B-D of Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (relating to nursing workforce development) ($2.7 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5401 – Centers of Excellence ($0.5 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5402 – Scholarships, loans and educational assistance relating to students from disadvantaged backgrounds ($0.6 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5601 – Federally qualified health center grants ($33.6 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 5603 – Wakefield emergency medical services program ($0.1 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 10221 – Indian health improvement act ($39.2 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

• Section 10412 -- Automated defibrillation ($0.25 billion over the 2010–2019 period)

CBO estimates that the amounts authorized for these items exceed $86 billion over the 10-year period (out of the roughly $105 billion total shown in the table that was provided along with the May 11 letter). Thus, CBO’s discretionary baseline, which assumes that 2010 appropriations are extended with adjustments for anticipated inflation, already accounts for much of the potential discretionary spending under PPACA.

In addition, there are a number of other items that could overlap some or even by a considerable amount with current law activities assumed in CBO’s baseline.

How much more will the health care take-over cost the American people? As the CBO continues to refine their score of the bill, I'm sure we will hear more on the subject of 'additional costs.'

The most important question now is when will it end, November 2012 perhaps? One could only be hopeful.

TRICARE ALERT!!!

This article, "Gates: Spending 'gusher' now off," in Politico, is a must read; specifically, on page 2, Secretary Gates talks about cutting TRICARE costs by increasing premiums and co-pays for military members:

The military’s health care system, called TRICARE, is another area that Gates said needs cutting.

“Leaving aside the sacred obligation we have to America’s wounded warriors, health-care costs are eating the Defense Department alive, rising from $19 billion a decade ago to roughly $50 billion – about the entire foreign affairs and assistance budget of the State Department,” Gates said in his speech.

It’s a perennial fight between the Pentagon and Congress, which loathes cutting such benefits – particularly for soldiers who have been fighting the nation’s wars for nearly nine years, and one the Pentagon tends to lose. But Gates wants Congress to back his request to raise the premium and co-pay.

“The increase we’re talking about would be laughable to those who have non-governmental health care,” he told reporters, adding that a family of four under TRICARE pays $1,200, compared with what the same family would pay under the federal employee health insurance program: $3,200.

What Gates ignores is the fact that the military people (especially the enlisted) don’t make as much as federal employees in comparable jobs, perhaps he should compare the ratios between health care costs vs salaries; and, oh, by the way, figure into the equation:

--military member having to fend off bullets and watch for IEDs (danger in all aspects of their jobs), which federal employees don’t have to put up with,

--the fact that military families are often being split apart from each other during extended deployments, and,

--the constant uncertainty and hardships that military families have to endure throughout the members' career such as relocations, spouses having to find new jobs, children having to attend different schools and make new friends, saying goodbye to friends, neighbors, and family every three to four years.

If nothing else, the low health insurance costs and co-pays are a promise made to our low paid military families who for hundreds of years have given much, in some cases, their lives, to keep the federal employees, bureaucrats, and the rest of the nation in their cushy, safe, lives.

Given the trials and tribulations that no other sector or industry has to contend with, lower health care insurance premiums and co-pays is relatively a very small price to pay. Our government is willing to pay for health insurance with trillions of our tax dollars with no return on the investment, yet quibbling over $50 billion for military health care that comes with a very large payback—safety and freedom. And, here's another quick question to ponder, how much of your federal and state tax dollars are going to labor union employees to pay for their health care costs? Don’t sit back and hope for the best, write your congressman/women and voice your discontent.

Will TRICARE Cover Adult Children?

Some of us, specifically military, military retirees, and military dependents, currently have TRICARE as our health insurance, and for the most part TRICARE works very well. The ObamaCare bills recently passed through congress FORTUNATELY excluded any changes to TRICARE. However, some people have asked if adult children through the age of 26 can be added to parent's coverage under TRICARE as the ObamaCare bill currently does. The answer to this question is no; it does not allow adult children to be added beyond the age of 21, or 23 (if in college), in it's current form. However, Congress will attempt to ‘fix’ TRICARE, incorporating a nanny state policy with legislation, HR 4923; I hope they don’t screw up anything with this legislation. This is when it gets scary, when they start trying to make changes to TRICARE; sometimes good intentions by clueless people can cause unintentional damage. I know that for some, this new policy may be important to ensure their adult children have some type of medical insurance coverage. For me personally, and other than for special needs children who have always been covered under the existing plan, teaching our children to be responsible adults has always been our family’s goal, this includes instilling the importance of health care, health care insurance, and self support when they become adults. My concern now is how much of an increase in funding will it require to include additional family members? And, does the house resolution include an increase in funding to existing appropriations that will be used to pay the health care costs of those additional persons or will it cut our services to accommodate that increase? In reading the resolution, it does not address any funding other than the additional premiums [“that the Secretary determines on an appropriate actuarial basis] they will receive for additional people and “credited to the appropriation available for the Defense Health Program.” On a positive note, and I say this with tongue in cheek, they are keeping those added premium in the Defense Health Program and not passing them on to the new entitlements in ObamaCare. The bottom line, I do not trust our congressmen/women, those folks in congress can screw up boiling water, so stand by and be vigilant. Below is the text answer to the question of adult children up to the age of 26; it can be found on the Congress.org site:

Will TRICARE cover adult children?

"Will the new health care bill force the military and Tricare to cover children until age 26 as civilian insurance will be required to do?" -- Brad Ortzman, Senior Master Sergeant USAF (Ret).

While most TRICARE beneficiaries have been relieved to hear that their health system will not be changed by the recently enacted health care reform legislation, those with dependent children between ages 23 and 26 may be disappointed. The health overhaul law requires health plans and insurance issuers to provide dependent coverage for adult children until they turn 26, though it does not require them to make coverage available to grandchildren. This provision goes into effect on Sept. 23, 2010. TRICARE, the single-payer health care system for veterans, currently allows beneficiaries' children to stay on their parents' plans through age 21, or up to age 23 if the child is a full-time student. However, TRICARE is governed by a different section of the U.S. code and would not be affected in any way by the new law. Lawmakers are now moving to amend the TRICARE laws to change the maximum age of coverage for dependents from 23 to 26. Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced a bill, (HR 4923), to make this change on March 24, after the health care law had been signed.

-- Frances Symes, Congress.org

Why Health Reform Will Be a Danger to Passive Patients

This article, "Why Health Reform Will Be a Danger to Passive Patients," from U.S. News and World Report, written by Bernadine Healy, M.D., is an excellent 'MUST' read that discusses some of the much overlooked realities for individuals in ObamaCare legislation. Take the time to read the article in its entirely, you'll be more informed on what to expect. In a nutshell, as discussed in the article, this reform will be a danger to everyone, if personal responsibility is not accepted:

*eventually it will have all your medical information, from "sensitive and highly personal, such as past mental-health or marital issues or a distant history of illegal drug use or gonorrhea;"

*treatments will be based on comparative-effectiveness studies not individualized to your genetic make-up;

*a bureaucratic governmental committee will use information from a preventive task force not your specialty physician when ruling on preventive tests covered;

*heavy cuts in other programs and taxes on more affluent people will take effect to pay for about half of the funding requirements, but what is NOT known is the "impact on family budgets of mandates, premiums and copayments, other out-of-pocket costs, taxes, and fines;"

*the individual MUST take control in order to buy the best policy for themselves and manage insurance costs wisely.

Can Americans own-up to this heavy responsibility; as a friend of mine stated, "you can't legislate personal responsibility...and really, THAT is the only solution to the health care crisis."

Letter From My Union, AFSCME, On Health Care Reform

Yesterday I received an email from the international president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I've quoted it below. The link they provided takes one directly to a pre-texted email that goes directly to my House representative with words that basically say, vote FOR health care, blah blah blah... Fortunately, the pre-texted email allows you to change or add to the wording of the email going to my House representative. Since I am against this current farce of a bill that does not lower health care costs and takes our country down that slippery slope to a point of unsustainable debt and perhaps bankruptcy, I reworded my email; I've also quoted it below. I will say, however, that my representative is Darrell Issa (R-CA), and as you know from his many media appearances, he will vote 'no' on this bill (if there is a vote). We all need to take a stand AGAINST this effort. If you have not been able to call your representative, please do take the time to email them as well; or better yet, do both.

The email from AFSCME:

Dear Member,

This is the week we've been waiting for — the week when members of the House of Representatives choose to stand with us or the insurance companies.

The insurance industry operatives and Republican talking heads you see on cable TV say we need to start over and spend another year — or another decade — before we pass reform. They twist the facts to say that the public opposes reform, but what the public really opposes are attempts to water down or kill reform to keep the insurance companies happy.

AFSCME members like you are fighting the good fight and have been a critical voice for the past year in the health insurance reform debate. Together, we've made literally tens of thousands of phone calls and sent even more emails to our senators and representatives. The insurance industry has deep pockets and is doing all it can to kill reform — but we won't let them win. This is our moment.

The bill that the House will soon vote on would end the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions — or deny coverage when you get sick. It would require insurance companies to pay for preventive care. It would also allow parents to keep their unemployed children on their policies until they turn 26. And it would end taxpayer funded subsidies to Big Insurance.

The historic nature of this moment cannot be overstated. The opportunity to end insurance company abuses is a moment for which we have worked long and hard. It is a vote that will affect our children, and their children. Please take a moment now to contact your member of Congress. Tell him/her the time has come to stand up to the insurance companies. The time has come to pass health care reform.

Please go to: http://www.unionvoice.org/cam paign/stand_up_for_reform

Thanks to you, when the history books are written on this struggle, they will read: AFSCME was there.

In solidarity,

Gerald W. McEntee
International President

My email to my representative, Darrell Issa (R-CA):

It is time to end this insanity to take our state, our country, and our future over the cliff. You cannot continue to spend massive amounts of taxpayer dollars on this farce you call health care reform. You cannot enforce price controls on insurance companies without cutting the actual cost of health care provided by doctors and providers--it is foolish and ideological to think that you can, and this will only result in bankrupting insurance companies. It is insane and not logical to think that you will be able to control costs by enacting price controls on insurance companies alone.

There are real reforms that can be enacted; you can start with enacting tort reform laws, allow interstate buying of insurance, let people deduct their insurance costs as companies do now, allow health savings account deductions, provide refundable tax credits so individuals can buy their own insurance, and allow small business to pool together to buy insurance for employees in any state.

There are so many more SMARTER actions you can take. A vote FOR this maniacal action by you will equate to my vote AGAINST you in the next election. And, believe me, I will take every action necessary to build a populus to OUST you from your seat.

Health Insurance Bills and the "Deeming" Process

I could not help myself anymore. As much as I want to stay away from the white house website, I just had to send an email to Mr. Obama to let him know how I feel about the health insurance bills currently in congress and their plan to use that demon 'deeming' process. At this point, I feel I have a right to voice my concerns and feelings and I have that freedom of speech, at least for now. Here's what I wrote:

"I am thoroughly disgusted with congress' plan to force a sham of a health insurance bill. I want reform to lower costs and provide coverage for as many people as possible--wanting reform has never been a disputed issue. However, the current bills DO NOT ensure lower costs to anyone and ARE detrimental to the health of our economy. Do you NOT hear me? THE BILLS DO NOT LOWER COSTS AND ARE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR ECONOMIC HEALTH. And, the 'deeming' process congress is threatening to use for passage of these pigs (bills) is unconscionable and borders on malfeasance. For you, sir, to agree with and support the use of this 'deeming' process is in itself an act of treason against our nation. You are a most disgusting and pathetic person. I pity your beautiful children who will, for years, be ridiculed for your mismanagement of our country and your folly."

Thune Amdt. No. 3301; To terminate authority under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and for other purposes

I subscribe to Congress.org's MegaVote update newsletter that advises information on key votes for bills and amendments in both the house and senate and also provides information on my specific representative's votes. Today I received notice that the Thune Amendment to terminate TARP was rejected for insufficient votes; 60 yes votes were required, the final count was 53 (yes) to 45 (no). The newsletter also stated that my representatives, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), had voted yes and no, respectively. I was so angered by Barbara Boxer's no vote and realized that she is and will always be an arrogant elitist. Madam Boxer has lost touch with her constituents, the constitution, her obligation to the people of the United States, and will stop at nothing, endangering the welfare of our entire nation along with her crony progressive liberal senators. I have emailed her regarding the Thune Amendment and suggest that everyone email their senators that also voted 'no' on the amendment. Below is the email I sent, feel free to use the same verbiage:

Madam Boxer, you must be out of your mind and too much of an elitist to understand that main street USA stops spending when they are in too much debt. Your continued spending and voting along party lines regardless of the benefit to bills and amendments I guarantee will oust you from the Senate. I, as one of main street USA's senior middle class, will make ever effort and take any measure to ensure you NEVER hold office again. Consider this your eviction notice.

President for a Day Survey

I received the following email today from American Solutions:

Following up on yesterday's email, it's clear that after Scott Brown's victory and the loss of his filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, President Obama must rethink his options, and his agenda.

And the first real signal of whether or not President Obama took any definitive lessons from the Massachusetts election will be next Wednesday, when he gives his State of the Union address.

So our question for you today is, what should President Obama say next week?

The last question on the survey asked, "What do you want President Obama to speak to in his State of the Union Address?" My answer was simple and to the point:

First and foremost, Mr. Obama should advise us of his plan to resign. It should include his acknowledgment that using enhanced interrogation techniques is a better solution to questioning terrorists, he should admit his mistake in his decision to bring terrorists such as KSM for trial in a civilian court on U.S. soil, he should admit the $787 billion stimulus package did NOT save or create jobs and his plans to return any unused tax dollars, he should advise us that he is dropping his health care agenda, he should acknowledge that he erred in the auto industry take over pandering to the unions and his new plan to correct this malfeasance, and, finally, a sincere apology to the American people for his errors in judgment and agendas that are not in consonance with our constitution.