Cleaver: Walked out of debate because it was embarrassing

cleaver is rep from kansas city, missouri.  I think he is also a preacher

cleaver is rep from kansas city, missouri

Green New Deal: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

language

Lawrence's Last Word: Freshman Representative Questions Equifax CEO | Th...

Emerson among GOP lawmakers pressing 'supercommittee' to back new revenues

Emerson among GOP lawmakers pressing 'supercommittee' to back new revenues

click link

from article:

WASHINGTON • Rep. Jo Ann Emerson planned to join a collection of House members holding a variety of political views at a news conference Tuesday advising the debt panel to look hard at new money sources in the race to meet its deficit-cutting deadline next week.

The event is a follow-up to a recent letter signed by Emerson and 39 other House Republican -- joined by 60 Democrats -- telling the panel that "all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table."

With a Nov. 23 deadline fast approaching, Emerson, of Cape Girardeau, is reflecting growing pessimism in Washington that the 12-member supercommittee will reach agreement on a package that would reduce borrowing by at least $1.2 trillion over the next ten years.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/emerson-among-gop-lawmakers-pressing-supercommittee-to-back-new-revenues/article_8918b2f0-0f0f-11e1-b0db-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1dsXFWV5A

------------
cutting social security, medicare and medicaid at election time is not a wise move.

Seniors, Guns and Money By PAUL KRUGMAN

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/opinion/13krugman.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/opinion/13krugman.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

click link

from article:

"This has to be one of the funniest political stories of recent weeks: On Tuesday, 42 freshmen Republican members of Congress sent a letter urging President Obama to stop Democrats from engaging in “Mediscare” tactics — that is, to stop saying that the Republican budget plan released early last month, which would end Medicare as we know it, is a plan to end Medicare as we know it.


Now, you may recall that the people who signed that letter got their current jobs largely by engaging in “Mediscare” tactics of their own. And bear in mind that what Democrats are saying now is entirely true, while what Republicans were saying last year was completely false. Death panels!

Well, it’s time, said the signatories, to “wipe the slate clean.” How very convenient — and how very pathetic."

more at times

Broken Promises: House Republicans Vote to End Medicare

alas, campaign vows and actual voting are two different things. anyone really believe teabag radicals would keep their word?

gop put one over yet once again on seniors

Call Congress on November 30th --2010

Call Congress on November 30th to Protect Social Security!


The Social Security Works & Strengthen Social Security (SSS) Campaign wants your help in flooding Capitol Hill with thousands of phone calls to protect Social Security on Tuesday, November 30, a national call-in day. The goal of each call will be to urge elected officials to oppose both benefit cuts to Social Security and the raising of the retirement age. As time nears for the full Fiscal Commission to release their official proposal, it will also be important to urge elected officials to oppose the Commission’s proposals to cut Social Security.

The SSS Campaign is providing an email message, call-in script, and the following phone number for November 30: 1- 866-529-7630. Watch for these materials to come by e-mail from the Alliance next week. Tell Congress “NO!” to Social Security benefit cuts, and to keep their hands off Social Security!

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healthcare bill HR3962 voting and passage

Morning folks.

As you know, the healthcare bill HR3962 is not single-payer nor is it universal. We have discussed bits and pieces of this bill at our meetings.

This is the voting on the lame bill in districts we have Soar 11-3 members:

Missouri Il
------- ---------
Clay: yes Costello: yes
Carnahan: yes Shimkus: no
Akin: no
Emerson: no
Luetmeyer: no
Ike Skelton: no (democrat)

------for the most part: dem: yes, repubs: no-----------------

This bill barely passed with 220 for and 215 against. One republican did vote for the bill by the way and about two score traitor dems voted against. Where are the fearless leaders cracking the whip in congress? Where is number one and who knows the Obama plan? If you do, please contact for it looks pretty leaderless at this point and time.

In Missouri, folks voting against this lame bill will most likely not get an endorsement from SOAR 11-3 and hopefully none will get AFL-CIO support in upcoming 2010 election.

Note: since the senate has yet to pass a bill and the bills combined, look for furture eroding of healthcare for the nation.

Note two: I still have a healache from watching the "soap opera" unfold Saturday on C-Span. I also feel like throwing-up as I read some of the "victory" statements on healthcare. WE WON NO VICTORY. Ask those going to die shortly for they lack access to quality health insurance (over 100 each day by the way).

How can you tell this congressman is lying?

Answer, his lips are moving.

Like many a politician rejecting healthcare reform, lyies and mistruths, spin and bull. Beware fools speaking for the public.

GOP 4 page healthcare brief of June 18th, 2009

Below is the document that the talking heads are making a fuss over from yesterday. I urge folks to read.

http://camp.house.gov/UploadedFiles/House_GOP_Solutions_Group_Outline_Health_Care_Plan.pdf

I believe GOP is mistaking insurance reform (very much needed) with healthcare reform. I do not believe this plan is a good one, but read for yourself and this will be gone over at next meeting in July.
--------------------------------


House GOP Solutions Group Outlines Health Care Plan
to Increase Affordability, Accessibility, Availability

Commonsense Health Care Reform to Lower Costs and Increase
Access and Quality at a Price Our Country Can Afford

Republicans believe there are a number of potential areas for common ground to work
with President Obama to improve health care for all Americans. Republicans are
promoting commonsense reforms that make health care more affordable, reduce the
number of uninsured Americans, and increase quality at a price our country can afford---
while making sure that Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it.

The House Republican Health Care Solutions Group has been working for months on a plan, listening to the American people, talking to doctors and patients, collecting input, and studying and debating ideas. This process has resulted in the broad outline of a health care reform plan that the solutions group hopes will receive bipartisan support.

The health care reforms outlined are designed to:

1. Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American,
regardless of pre-existing health conditions.
2. Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan
that would: a) eliminate the health care coverage that more than 100 million
Americans currently receive through their job; b) limit your choice of doctors and
medical treatment options; and c) result in the federal government taking control
of your health care.
3. Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans
the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs.

4. Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not
government bureaucrats.

5. Improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease
management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-
threatening diseases.






Making Health Care More Affordable for All Americans:
More Americans will gain access to quality health care once its costs are brought under control. The first step in lowering health care costs is to eliminate the unnecessary overspending in our current system.

Doctors order unnecessary tests to avoid being sued and every insurance company has its own codes and forms patients and doctors need to fill out. The Chief Counsel to the
Health and Human Services Inspector General even went so far as to say that “building a Medicare fraud scam is far safer than dealing in crack or dealing in stolen cars, and it’s
far more lucrative.”

To lower the costs of health care, the Republican plan:
• Brings greater fairness to the tax code by extending tax savings to those who
currently do not have employer-provided insurance but purchase health insurance on their own. This provision would provide an “above the line” deduction that is equal to the cost of an individual’s or family’s insurance premiums.
• Provides immediate substantial financial assistance, through new refundable and
advanceable tax credits, to low- and modest-income Americans.
• Recognizes that many Americans who have not yet hit retirement age but may be
changing jobs or have lost a job often face higher health care costs. To help those
aged 55 to 64, the plan increases support for pre- and early-retirees with low- and
modest-incomes.
• Recognizes that one of the largest obstacles for many small businesses when it comes to
retaining current employees or creating new jobs is the cost of health insurance. The
plan allows states, small businesses, associations, and other organizations to band
together and offer health insurance at lower costs.
• Implements comprehensive medical liability reform that will reduce costly,
unnecessary defensive medicine practiced by doctors trying to protect themselves from overzealous trial lawyers.
• Provides Medicare and Medicaid with additional authority and resources to stop
waste, fraud, and abuse that costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
• Creates incentives to save now for future and long-term health care needs by
improving health savings accounts and flexible spending arrangements as well as creating new tax benefits to offset the cost of long-term care premiums.
• Gives financial help to caregivers who provide in-home care for a loved one.

Making Health Care More Available & Accessible for All Americans:
The Republican plan reduces the number of uninsured Americans by wisely targeting this population and helping Americans keep health care coverage regardless of a change in or loss of a job.






To expand availability and accessibility of health care coverage, the Republican plan:

• Makes it easier for Americans to keep health care coverage regardless of a change in
or loss of a job.
• Encourages states to create a Universal Access Program by establishing and/or
reforming existing programs to guarantee all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses, have access to affordable coverage.
• Strengthens employer-provided health coverage by helping the 10 million uninsured
Americans who are eligible, but not enrolled in, an employer-sponsored plan get
health care coverage. The plan does this by encouraging employers to move to opt-
out, rather than opt-in rules.
• Helps employers offer health care coverage to their workers by reducing their
administrative costs through a new small business tax credit.
• Recognizes that not all high school and college graduates are able to find a job that
offers health care coverage after graduation. By allowing dependents to remain on
their parents’ health policies up to the age of 25, the number of uninsured Americans
could be reduced by up to 7 million.
• Provides flexibility to Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries by allowing them to apply
the value of their benefit to a health plan that better meets their needs than the one-
size-fits-all government program.

Promoting Healthy Living and Quality Care for All Americans Now and Tomorrow:
Innovations in treatment and access to quality health care information are critical to
ensuring Americans receive the best possible care. It’s no secret that patients in other
countries are often denied care or die waiting to get access to the top treatments.
To promote prevention and wellness while ensuring every American has access to high quality health care, the Republican plan:

• Promotes prevention and wellness by giving employers and insurers greater flexibility
to financially reward employees who seek to achieve or maintain a healthy weight,
quit smoking, and manage chronic illnesses like diabetes.
• Rewards high-quality care, instead of encouraging health care providers to order more
and unnecessary services.
• Uses new and innovative treatment programs to better coordinate care between health
care providers, ensuring that those with chronic disease receive the care they need and
do not continue to fall through the cracks.
• Encourages the creation of health plan finders to provide patients with the tools to
easily find the right health plan that best meets their needs.






• Gives patients access to health care information so that they can identify and select
health care providers who deliver high-quality care at a lower cost.
• Makes health care more convenient by eliminating bureaucratic red tape to expand
access to Community Health Centers that are so critical to underserved areas, both in
large cities and in rural America.
• Encourages home care and independence for patients rather than forcing individuals
into institutionalized settings.
• Promotes seniors' access to the doctors they need by modernizing Medicare
reimbursements.
• Provides incentives to physicians who enter the field of primary care, helping to
ensure all Americans have access to the doctors they need.
------------
note, the picture did not copy, but Roy Blunt is listed atop. Also, one might note the number of Frank Luntz's talking points included in their short work. Frank's piece is on our blogs by the way

More reps join Hr676

Seven More Reps Sign On to HR 676; House Holds Single Payer Hearing

Since May 20 seven more US Representatives have signed on to HR 676,
national single payer health care sponsored by Congressman John Conyers
(D-MI), bringing the total, including Conyers, to 83. The full list is
here: http://unionsforsinglepayer.org/ Click on 111th Congress

-----------------------------------------------------

H.R.676
Title: To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (83)
Latest Major Action: 1/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COSPONSORS(83), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 2/11/2009 Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 1/26/2009
Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] - 3/17/2009 Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 1/26/2009
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 2/23/2009 Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 2/11/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 3/3/2009 Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 2/23/2009
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 4/21/2009 Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 1/26/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/26/2009 Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 2/23/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 1/26/2009 Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 2/3/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 2/23/2009 Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 1/26/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 1/26/2009 Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 6/15/2009
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 1/26/2009 Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 1/26/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 1/26/2009 Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 1/26/2009
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/26/2009 Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 2/11/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 2/11/2009 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 1/28/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 6/2/2009 Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 2/23/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/26/2009 Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 1/26/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 6/11/2009 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 2/23/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/26/2009 Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 2/23/2009
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 6/12/2009 Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 2/11/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 3/5/2009 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/26/2009
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 2/3/2009 Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 1/26/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 2/23/2009 Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 2/23/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 1/26/2009 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 1/26/2009
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 1/26/2009 Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 3/17/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 3/24/2009 Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 5/20/2009
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [NM-3] - 3/24/2009 Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 2/23/2009
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 6/12/2009 Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 1/26/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/26/2009 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 3/3/2009
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 3/24/2009 Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 1/26/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 3/19/2009 Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 2/11/2009
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/26/2009 Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 1/26/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 5/20/2009 Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 1/26/2009
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 3/19/2009 Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 3/3/2009
Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] - 1/26/2009 Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] - 1/28/2009
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 3/30/2009 Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 2/23/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 3/5/2009 Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 2/23/2009
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 2/23/2009 Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 6/9/2009
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 2/23/2009 Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 1/28/2009
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] - 1/26/2009 Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 3/31/2009
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 2/23/2009 Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 3/19/2009
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 1/26/2009 Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 2/23/2009
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 2/11/2009 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 1/26/2009
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 2/23/2009

more congressional testimony

This is another two vids of health-labor committee single payer hearings. Well worth watching:

-----------------------------


-----------------

House labor and health committee hears from Single Payer Healthcare folks

Yesterday, the House committee on Labor and Health heard from single payer folks and folks whom do not agree with them. Here is some of the testimony:

Full committee meeting vidio on C-span and is one hour and 45 minutes. Odd that the national media said almost nothing about this committee meeting and its significance.

Of course, many pundits have proclaimed "single-payer" dead in the past. Single-payer folks were of course excluded from most of the Obama healthcare summits and most know single-payer folks were excourted from the Senate in handcuffs last month.

more details of today's arrest of single payer folks

The senate committee had single payer folks arrested. Then they went on to discuss how to tax your health care benefits. Good day for the senate, our buddies and I thought John McCain lost the election.

This, my friends, should be a great topic of conversation.

-------------------------------------------------------


Senate Considers Tax Increases For Healthcare Reform

Members of the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday weighed options to implement a federal tax increase to pay for a national healthcare plan.

The Committee is faced with the task of finding feasible options to pay for a healthcare plan that will cover 46 million uninsured people at an estimated cost of about $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

According to the Associated Press, the package is expected to include both spending cuts as well as tax hikes. Senators are weighing options that range from raising taxes on alcohol and sodas as well as restrictions on health care related tax breaks.

On the campaign trail last year, President Barack Obama criticized John McCain’s plan to tax benefits for employer-provided healthcare. Now, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., is considering a similar plan, and Mr. Obama’s aides have reported that the president will consider the option as well.

Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told the committee that the plan would encourage people to spend more on medical services.

"It gives the greatest benefit to those with the highest incomes, although they are the group that least needs help paying for health insurance," Greenstein said.

According to the AP, employer-provided health insurance is not taxed, resulting in lost federal revenue of about $250 billion each year.

Additionally, Medicare is expected to be out of funding needed to pay hospitals by 2019, although some suggest that the recession could exacerbate the problem, according to Reuters.
"Finding money that we can all agree on will not be easy," Baucus admitted.

At the start of the hearing, a group of nurses in attendance were outspoken in protesting their exclusion from the witness table as supporters of government-run health care programs.
Several others in the audience then spoke out in favor of a single-payer system before being removed from the hearing room, according to C-SPAN.

Five protestors have been arrested and charged with “Disruption of Congress,” according to a Capitol Police spokeswoman.
---
On the Net:
Senate Finance Committee
Story from REDORBIT NEWS:http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=1687565Published: 2009/05/12 15:06:01 CDT© RedOrbit 2005

Single payer folks jailed

----------------------------------------------
the following vid is from: http://labornotes.org/node/2239

Labor notes has some good stuff and I recommend folks view. This is the video of what occured when single-payer folks took their comments to the senate: they were jailed.

Given that single-payer folks have been excluded from the healthcare debate, it is natural some leaders do not wish to hear what they have to say. I do have a few words, but publication of those words would probably be a "term of service " violation of the first order.

Far as I am concerned, those folks jailed are heros. Going to jail for a just cause is not a sin.

-----------------------------------------------------

HR 676 supporters jailed

Supporters of HR676 beware, some of our fearless leaders do not wish to hear you:

http://www.laborforsinglepayer.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94:exclusion-of-single-payer-advocates-leads-to-arrests


Exclusion of Single Payer
Advocates Leads to Arrests

LCS-P National Coordinator Mark Dudzic was among 8 protesters arrested for disrupting the Senate Finance Committee hearing yesterday as they challenged the Committee Chair's refusal to include any testimony from advocates of Single-Payer healthcare reform.
A short video is available of one of the protesters being removed by police:
A number of members of organizations supporting Single Payer Universal Health Care were in attendance at the hearing along with Mark Dudzic. Here is a note sent by Mark late last evening after being released by authorities:

“I got arrested today with 7 other activists as we disrupted the Senate Finance Committee hearing. Bauchus [Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Bauchus, D MT] has been the most arrogant and disrespectful of the committee chairs. I've been encouraging people to draw the line on him and couldn't resist the urge to join them. The other protesters belonged to the Physicians for a National Health Program and the Healthcare Now Coalition.

“I think it was exactly the right thing to do. We got more mileage out of it than if Bauchus had actually scheduled a token single payer witness and we hijacked the theme of the hearing. The associated press piece said something like "The protesters called for putting single payer on the table. Senator Bauchus called for more police."”

(the following from Workers Independent Network Radio) -http://www.laborradio.org/node/11053---(alas, only the text when I tried)

Single Payer Universal Health Care Advocates Denied A Voice At Senate Hearing - 05/06/09
The Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress have pledged to move forward with establishing a new healthcare system for the country, but not everyone has a seat at the table deciding what the best system should be. Jesse Russell has more:

Tuesday morning the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing regarding the future of healthcare in the United States featuring 15 witnesses, however, not a single witness was a supporter of single payer healthcare. Wanting their voices to be heard a number of doctors and advocates stood up at the start of the session and demanded a seat at the table and as they spoke they were immediately escorted out of the room and arrested by Capitol police.
[advocate]: “It's only when the people living in the park and the people living on Park Avenue have the same healthcare that everyone will have high quality healthcare.”

The speakers who stood up were from the organizations Physicians for a National Health Program, Health Care Now, and Single Payer Action. Senator Max Baucus of Montana is the head of the Finance Committee and he is also the leading Democrat in the Senate to receive donations from health insurance companies. Baucus has received more than $400,000 from the companies and their employees. As the head of the committee it was up to Baucus to bring order to the hearing.

[Baucus]: The whole point of this hearing and other hearings is to try and determine the best route and the best option for reforming our country's healthcare system.

Although Baucus said he respected the position of single payer advocates he didn't offer any of the physicians in the audience a seat at the table. President Barack Obama included supporters of single payer healthcare during his hearing in March.

mailto:organizers@laborforsinglepayer.org">organizers@laborforsinglepayer.org
or call Jerry Tucker at 314-968-5534

--------------------------------comments---------------
Good Baucus "respects" HR676 supporters position. Anyone know how much loot he has recieved from Drug and Insurance companies?

"Baucus's campaigns have been health professionals and pharmaceuticals. The health sector has given Baucus at least $2.8 million during his career, more than any other sector with the exception of finance, insurance and real estate companies, which have given him $4.6 million."
from: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/01/power-players-with-health-sect.html
which has a lot, lot more on Baucus the fearless leader

Amazing someone whom gets such gifts has such an open mind on the subject. Taking money from strangers and conducting public work with an open mind, so rare these days. Give me a couple million and we would be buddies, but then again I am not a senator.

Cash is prefered.
----------
By the way, more of the supporter of HR676 are waking up to the idea that some of our ideas are not welcome and folks that supported flipped positions overnight. I suspect more HR676 troublemakers will be seen and heard.

-----------------------------------------

Health care news

Two items of interest in Today's Aliance for Retired Americans newsletter:

U.S. House Moves Forward on Health Care ReformThree committee chairmen in the U.S. House have agreed to work together to pass similar health care reform legislation in their committees before the recess in August. According to CQ Today, Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Henry Waxman (D-CA) Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and George Miller, (D-CA) Chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, made the agreement. These committees have overlapping jurisdiction over health care, and the chairmen hope that their coordinated efforts to pass similar legislation will ensure success with reform efforts. The Senate probably will not be able to move as quickly as the House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will have to schedule more time for debate in his chamber than Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will in the House. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) said last week that he wants his committee to vote on an overhaul in June. A health overhaul in the Senate will have to be approved by Baucus’ panel and by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Sen. Kennedy is recuperating from brain cancer treatment in Florida and has not announced a timetable for his committee to vote on a bill. “Health care reform should come as soon as possible, and it should provide early retirees the option to purchase Medicare coverage. Many of the 5.1 million Americans between 55-64 who lack health insurance are victims of mass layoffs,” said Barbara Easterling, President of the Alliance.

Taxation of Employer-Provided Health Benefits is on the TableThe New York Times reported on Saturday that the Obama administration and Senator Baucus have indicated that they are open to the idea of taxing employee health benefits to offset the costs of health care reform. Eliminating “employer exclusion” would represent a tax increase for working families and retirees with employer provided insurance, and many policy analysts believe that this proposal would hurt efforts to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. The proposal would also undermine health care coverage by causing employers to discontinue the higher cost employee and retiree health care plans, disrupting health insurance for those who have coverage they like. “The Alliance opposes taxing employee health benefits because it would give employers an incentive to walk away,” Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks said. “Americans bargained for these benefits, and have every right to expect to move forward and not backward.”

--------------------------------------------------------------

Comments: the taxing of our meager still existing health benefits is not acceptable and I assure folks that Soar units will respond to such with negative vigor. After all, most of us did not vote for John McCain whose contribution to the health care debate was he wished to tax benefits.

Note two: the exclusion of HR676 folks from the debate on healthcare is a serious political mistake. Employer based healthcare is presently a joke and should be scrapped in favor of something that would work and many models of this around the world. The hell with the insurance companies and big drug companies, Universal Health care now, it is the right of the people to have decient affordable healthcare.

Some of the "consiveridems" better take note. If your plans are to become Republican, do so now before the elections.

Vote on taxing the AIG bonus

The vote passed the House today on taxing the AIG bonus monies. However, the bill must pass the senate (unlikely) and pass a test by the courts. The bill probably would not pass a court text on several grounds.

This is how our congressional folks voted. Note, many a republican switched votes at last minute to support the measure. This creates a problem for them for many signed a pledge not to raise taxes and some consider this vote a trap set by Nancy P, our fearless speaker of the house.

There are some little talked about provisions in this bill. This is from bill itself and deals with more than AIG in scope. Too bad the way this is worded it probably will not pass a court test in my opinion:

SECTION 1. BONUSES RECEIVED FROM CERTAIN TARP RECIPIENTS.
(a) In General- In the case of an employee or former employee of a covered TARP recipient, the tax imposed by chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year shall not be less than the sum of--
(1) the tax that would be determined under such chapter if the taxable income of the taxpayer for such taxable year were reduced (but not below zero) by the TARP bonus received by the taxpayer during such taxable year, plus
(2) 90 percent of the TARP bonus received by the taxpayer during such taxable year.
(b) TARP Bonus- For purposes of this section--
(1) IN GENERAL- The term `TARP bonus' means, with respect to any individual for any taxable year, the lesser of--
(A) the aggregate disqualified bonus payments received from covered TARP recipients during such taxable year, or
(B) the excess of--
(i) the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year, over
(ii) $250,000 ($125,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return).
(2) DISQUALIFIED BONUS PAYMENT-
(A) IN GENERAL- The term `disqualified bonus payment' means any retention payment, incentive payment, or other bonus which is in addition to any amount payable to such individual for service performed by such individual at a regular hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or similar periodic rate.
(B) EXCEPTIONS- Such term shall not include commissions, welfare or fringe benefits, or expense reimbursements.
(C) WAIVER OR RETURN OF PAYMENTS- Such term shall not include any amount if the employee irrevocably waives the employee's entitlement to such payment, or the employee returns such payment to the employer, before the close of the taxable year in which such payment is due. The preceding sentence shall not apply if the employee receives any benefit from the employer in connection with the waiver or return of such payment.
(3) REIMBURSEMENT OF TAX TREATED AS TARP BONUS- Any reimbursement by a covered TARP recipient of the tax imposed under subsection (a) shall be treated as a disqualified bonus payment to the taxpayer liable for such tax.
(c) Covered TARP Recipient- For purposes of this section--
(1) IN GENERAL- The term `covered TARP recipient' means--
(A) any person who receives after December 31, 2007, capital infusions under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which, in the aggregate, exceed $5,000,000,000,
(B) the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation,
(C) any person who is a member of the same affiliated group (as defined in section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, determined without regard to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b)) as a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B), and
(D) any partnership if more than 50 percent of the capital or profits interests of such partnership are owned directly or indirectly by one or more persons described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
(2) EXCEPTION FOR TARP RECIPIENTS WHO REPAY ASSISTANCE- A person shall be treated as described in paragraph (1)(A) for any period only if--
(A) the excess of the aggregate amount of capital infusions described in paragraph (1)(A) with respect to such person over the amounts repaid by such person to the Federal Government with respect to such capital infusions, exceeds
(B) $5,000,000,000.
(d) Other Definitions- Terms used in this section which are also used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall have the same meaning when used in this section as when used in such Code.
(e) Coordination With Internal Revenue Code of 1986- Any increase in the tax imposed under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by reason of subsection (a) shall not be treated as a tax imposed by such chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under such chapter or for purposes of section 55 of such Code.
(f) Regulations- The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary's delegate, shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
(g) Effective Date- This section shall apply to disqualified bonus payments received after December 31, 2008, in taxable years ending after such date.

------------todays vote by congressional districts. Note: several in Mo and IL switched party line votes---------------------------------------------------

MO
1
Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr.
Democratic
Y
MO
2
Rep. W. Todd Akin
Republican
N
MO
3
Rep. John Russell Carnahan
Democratic
Y
MO
4
Rep. Ike Skelton
Democratic
Y
MO
5
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II
Democratic
Y
MO
6
Rep. Samuel Graves
Republican
N
MO
7
Rep. Roy Blunt
Republican
Y
MO
8
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson
Republican
Y
MO
9
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer
Republican
N

---------------------------------------------Il----------------------------------------------

IL
1
Rep. Bobby Rush
Democratic
Y
IL
2
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
Democratic
Y
IL
3
Rep. Daniel Lipinski
Democratic
Y
IL
4
Rep. Luis Gutierrez
Democratic
Y
IL
6
Rep. Peter Roskam
Republican
Y
IL
7
Rep. Danny Davis
Democratic
Y
IL
8
Rep. Melissa Bean
Democratic
N
IL
9
Rep. Janice Schakowsky
Democratic
Y
IL
10
Rep. Mark Kirk
Republican
Y
IL
11
Rep. Deborah Halvorson
Democratic
Y
IL
12
Rep. Jerry Costello
Democratic
Y
IL
13
Rep. Judy Biggert
Republican
Y
IL
14
Rep. Bill Foster
Democratic
Y
IL
15
Rep. Timothy Johnson
Republican
Y
IL
16
Rep. Donald Manzullo
Republican
Y
IL
17
Rep. Phil Hare
Democratic
Y
IL
18
Rep. Aaron Schock
Republican
Y
IL
19
Rep. John Shimkus

new credit card bill passes house

New credit card rules passed the house this last week. This still has to pass the Senate and get signed by number one to become law.

Law improves situation, but still long way from justice to consumers. Clay and Carnahan were co-sponsors of this bill. Akin from north county voted against the bill and Kenny H. did not vote.




H.R.5244 Title: To amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 2/7/2008) Cosponsors (155) Related Bills: H.RES.1476 Latest Major Action: 9/24/2008 Received in the Senate. House

SUMMARY AS OF: 2/7/2008--Introduced.
Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from using certain adverse information, including information in a consumer report or any change in a consumer's credit score, as the basis for increasing any annual percentage rate (APR) of interest on the consumer's outstanding balance under an open end consumer credit plan, except for actions or omissions of the consumer directly related to such account. (Thus eliminates the universal default for credit already outstanding.)
Bars a creditor from changing any term of the contract or agreement of an open end consumer credit plan until contract renewal, except for specific material reasons already contained in the contract or agreement.
Requires advance notice of credit card account rate increases.
Authorizes a consumer who receives such notice to: (1) cancel the credit card without penalty or the imposition of any fee; and (2) pay any outstanding balance that accrued before the effective date of the increase at the APR and in the repayment period in effect before notice was received.
Prohibits a creditor from imposing interest on credit repaid within the interest-free repayment time period. (Thus prohibits double cycle billing).
Prohibits the imposition of fees on any outstanding balance on a credit card account attributable only to accrued interest on previously repaid credit.
Requires each periodic statement of account to provide specified information on obtaining the payoff balance.
Prohibits a creditor from furnishing information to a consumer reporting agency concerning a newly opened credit card account until the consumer has used or activated the credit card.
Details mandatory pro rata payment allocations by a creditor.
Authorizes a consumer to opt-out of creditor authorization of over-the-limit transactions if fees are imposed.
Restricts the frequency of over-the-limit fees.
Specifies the contents of credit card price and availability information the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must collect and make public semiannually.
Prescribes a standard for the initial issuance of subprime or "fee harvester" cards (accounts requiring first-year fee payments in excess of 25% of the total amount of credit authorized).

MAJOR ACTIONS:
2/7/2008
Introduced in House
9/16/2008
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 110-857.
9/23/2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 623).
9/24/2008
Received in the Senate.

Illinois vote on Economic bailout

Morning:

This is how the fearless ones voted in Illinois on yesterday's bailout package.


How the U.S. House from Illinois voted:
voted
• Rep. Melissa Bean (D-8)
Y
• Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13)
N
• Rep. Jerry Costello (D-12)
N
• Rep. Danny Davis (D-7)
Y
• Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-5)
Y
• Rep. Bill Foster (D-14)
Y
• Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4)
Y
• Rep. Phil Hare (D-17)
Y
• Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2)
N
• Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-15)
N
• Rep. Mark Kirk (R-10)
Y
• Rep. Ray LaHood (R-18)
Y
• Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3)
N
• Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-16)
N
• Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6)
N
• Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1)
N
• Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-9)
Y
• Rep. John Shimkus (R-19)
N
• Rep. Jerry Weller (R-11)
NV
(NV is no vote)