Dear Catherine, It's Jeanne Shaheen's Fault

Someone shared this letter from Seacoast Online with me.  Catherine Jones, a Portsmouth resident, beleives that a public option is the best solution for what ails our states health insurance problems.  I guess she's never heard of Jeanne Shaheen or SB 711.

Here's Catherine's Letter.

Nov. 26 — To the Editor:

Here in New Hampshire, we have pitifully few health insurance companies to choose from and the coverage cost is astronomical.

We definitely need the choice of a public option, especially for those uninsured or under-insured.

Let's stop letting the for-profit insurance companies set the terms of coverage.

Catherine Jones

[link]

Catherine. 

New Hampshire used to have a thriving and diverse insurance industry until then State Senator Jeanne Shaheen introduced SB 711 and got it passed and signed into law.

During the 1994 session of the New Hampshire legislature, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, then a state senator, responded to BCBS by sponsoring SB 711. It went into effect January 1, 1995. Among other provisions affecting the state's insurance industry, the measure:

Required insurance companies to guarantee-issue individual health insurance policies. Companies were prohibited from denying coverage to any person or eligible dependent.

 

Imposed price controls, in the form of modified community rating, on individual health insurance premiums. Premiums could be modified or adjusted only for age, not health status.

Prohibited insurers from increasing premiums by more than 25 percent until January 2000.

Any of that sound familiar?   Must insure everyone.  Can't deny coverage.   Price controls.  Can't increase premiums based on health status.

Thanks to Shaheen the Insurance market in New Hamsphire disintegrated.

While health insurance coverage was little affected by Shaheen's reforms, consumer choice was badly damaged. By 1997, the number of commercial health insurers serving New Hampshire dwindled to five from a previous high of 12. Those remaining in the market reduced their insurance offerings to cover only high-deductible, catastrophic-type health insurance plans.

BCBS thanks to its size had a virtual monopoly but eventually could not even afford to provide individual health insurance policies under Shaheens rules. 

Shaheens fix had trashed the market.  The state had to find ways to roll back the affects to salvage what remained.  While they made some strides, as late as 2004 the market had still not recovered.

At this point we are still reeling from the effects of Shaheen Care for New Hamsphire.

That, Catherine, is why we have, if I may again quote you..." pitifully few health insurance companies to choose from and the coverage cost is astronomical." 

A do-goody democrat senator over-regualted the market, drove up costs, drove out competition, and created an enviroment where the only way to stay in business was for whomever remained to charge a fortune.

The same thing will happen with Obama Care on a national scale, except everyone will eventually end up in the public plan.  And when that plan can't sustain costs, service and access will suffer.  And so then, will we.

The laws of economics do not care what regard a bunch of progressives have for constitutional law.  It will happen.

So. Still think we need a public option?  Jeanne does.  She may be a differnet kind of senator now but she didn't learn a damn thing from her last effort at "Reform."  That's what happens when you ignore history.  You get failed reforms all over again.

Source: Heartland Institute.

NHDP- Business As Usual

You run across the darndest things sometimes.  Like this press release from the NHDP back in late September chiding Frank Guinta's campaign for accepting $2500.00 dollars from the  CIGNA PAC.  Seems Mayor Guinta  wrote an op-ed not long after in which he (according to the thrust of the NHDP press release) promoted CIGNA's health care interests.  Of course Frank was promoting the same interests back in August before CIGNA sent him any cash.  You remember August?   When the Mayor's announcement of a town hall forced then MIA congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to actually hold some of her own? 

Oh but there's more. 

Did the NHDP happen to notice that for 2010 the CIGNA PAC has spent more on democrats than republicans?  That would include donations of $3K to Harry Reid's campaign and $5K to Steny Hoyer's.  Now I can't say for certain, but I don't think Cigna gave them more money because they share a common opinion about the issue with Frank Guinta. 

But here's Hoyer's ideas just for a sense of scope.  Notice the complete lack of similarities.

CIGNA's Chief Medical officer, (that's evil CIGNA to you) Dr. Jeffery Kang, worked with the Clinton White House as a White House Fellow starting in 2004, then as chief medical officer for HFCA, the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.  Besides his CIGNA postion, Kang is also the current president of the eHealth initiative which focuses on better ways to share medical information through technology.  Technology is an Obamacare hot button if you forgot.  eHealth partners with interested groups and industry leaders to advance the concept including AARP and the AMA both of whom have already been bought out in backroom White House deals; both of whom also stand to benefit financially from Obamacare.

But it gets better.

CIGNA hired Heather Podesta's lobbying firm three times in 2009, at $60 K a pop. ($180,000 YTD). But for what might Guinta loving CIGNA hire a left wing lobbyist?

To monitor technology related Health Care proposals in the Stimulus bill. (here)

To monitor the affects of the bill on CIGNA's Medicare administrative monitoring business. (here)

And finally to support changes in the senate version of HR3200, (the chairman's mark) in the form of Max Baucus America's healthy Future act (here) as they relate to employer based insurance.

So big evil CIGNA is supporting the health care bill to protect its revenue streams,  and using left wing lobbyists to do it right.

Want to make that connection between Guinta and CIGNA again? 

And then of course there are the cash for votes of the Blessed Saint Carol of the Church of I've Been Bought and Sold. (May the green jobs goddess smile upon her.)

Carol Shea Porter has taken loads of cash from groups whose interests she has then blindly supported.  

If we limit ourselves to the 2010 coffer it is childs-play to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the NHDP.  How about $10K from Nancy Pelosi's PAC to the future for starters, and another $4K from Nancy for Congress?  Pelosi has already given her $14K for 2010 and it's only November. 

Democrat congressional PAC donations for 2010 are over $43.5K already--all of whom want health care promoted and passed.  Carol has collected well over 100K from unions, PAC's, and special interest groups who would love her to advocate for Obama Care.   And she has.  At every opportunity.  And she's advocates for whatever else Nancy Pelosi tells her to vote for no matter what NH thinks.  And it's all about the money and the power, and her guaranteed party line vote.  But I guess that's OK.

But Mayor Guinta an as yet unelected candidate for congress, after receiving half of what Democrat Obama Care disciple Steny Hoyer got, was bought out by the evil Insurance companies.  That's the message. 

Dumb message.  But keep selling it.  It's simply proving what everyone suspects.  That you are all on the take and pointing fingers at opponents to hide it.  Business as usual for these folks.

And Paul Hodes?  Over $31K in contributions so far for 2010, from Insurance companies.  Now how did he vote?  Hmmmm?

Mr. Hodes Spins A Fairy Tale

Mr. Paul Hodes offered up his wisdom (and cover) on his vote in favor of the democrat health care plan(s) in the Sunday Union Leader.   It contained all the usual lies.  A list of greater goods all at no additional cost.  No fiscal cost.  No cost to access.  No cost to service.  And may the glory of the republic shine upon thee.

That's right.  Mr. Hodes would like us to believe that government can lard up the bureaucracy, take over management, and provide better-cheaper-faster service without adding one dime to the deficit.  He was not trying to be funny.  He actually believe this is possible.

While this kind of thinking usually excludes a six year old from the privilege of having an allowance, Rep hodes considers it resume material for a Senate run.  Looking at the senate I can see why he's arrived at that conclusion.  But that's no excuse to add another barbarian to the horde.   

The overreaching problem is that there are hard and fast rules for supply and demand, cost, quality, and availability, that apply to capitalists and socialists alike.  So nothing in either bill (House and Senate) can produce anything near what Mr. Hodes promises in his editorial. 

But the biggest nose-growing fabrication continues to be related to cost.  And to suggest, as Mr. Hodes does, that this will not impact the middle class, is absurd or so naive as to be criminal--where ignorance of the laws of economics are no excuse. 

What follows is a list of taxes--floated or included--that will be required to produce the desired goal Mr. Hodes describes as not adding "one dime" to the deficit.

•    An income surtax on taxpayers earning more than $500,000 a year,

•    An excise tax on high-cost "Cadillac" health insurance plans that cost more than $8,500 a year for individuals or $21,000 for families,

•    An excise tax on medical devices such as wheelchairs, breast pumps, and syringes used by diabetics for insulin injections,

•    A cap on the exclusion of employer-provided health insurance without offsetting tax cuts,

•    A limit on itemized deductions for taxpayers with a top income tax rate greater than 28 percent,

•    A windfall profits tax on health insurance companies,

•    A value-added tax, which would tax the value added to a product at each stage of production,

•    An increase in the Medicare portion of the payroll tax to 3.4 percent for incomes great than $200,000 a year ($250,000 for married filers),

•    An excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages including non-diet soda and sports drinks,

•    Higher taxes on alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and spirits,

•    A tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage of up to 2.5 percent of their adjusted gross income,

•    A limit on contributions to health savings accounts,

•    An 8 percent tax on all wages paid by employers that do not provide their employees health insurance that satisfies the requirements defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services,

•    A limit on contributions to flexible spending arrangements,

•    Elimination of the deduction for expenses associated with Medicare Part D subsidies,

•    An increase in taxes on international businesses,

•    Elimination of the tax credits paper companies take for biofuels they create in their production process--the so-called "Black Liquor credit,"

•    Fees on insured and self-insured health plans,

•    A limit or repeal of the itemized deduction for medical expenses,

•    A limit on the Qualified Medical Expense definition,

•    An increase in the payroll taxes on students,

•    An extension of the Medicare payroll tax to all state and local government employees,

•    An increase in taxes on hospitals,

•    An increase in the estate tax,

•    Increased efforts to close the mythical "tax gap,"

•    A 5 percent tax on cosmetic surgery and similar procedures such as Botox treatments, tummy tucks, and face lifts,

•    A tax on drug companies,

•    An increase in the corporate tax on providers of health insurance, and

•    A $500,000 deduction limitation for the compensation paid by health insurance companies to their officers, employees, and directors.

Write or call Mr. Hodes and ask him to explain the economics to you.  Ask him how taxes on any part of the industry cannot possibly affect the costs you will pay for this or other things, or affect service or access as he suggests.  It's simply not possible to achieve what he suggests given what we know about the bill(s) and the rules of supply and demand.  To suggest otherwise is either a drug induced delusion or an outright lie.

Tax list courtesy of Human Events

The Serpent Beguiled Me And I Did Eat

Senator Gregg got a letter from some “religious leaders” whose purpose was clearly to connote a state wide overreaching feeling from people of religion; that there is a majority interest in current so-called health care reform and debate as contained in the Senate Bill currently in play.   But a cursory view of the list of signatories and their affiliations demonstrates a liberal self interest from a cabal of  theologians with left leaning agendas and connections.  Wanting the Senate (or House) Health Care bill to pass is as natural to them as it is to pocket-sized socialists Paul Hodes or Carol She-Porter.  This letter is not so much a plea for debate as it is an apple from the serpent.

Most of these “leaders” are Unitarians, Congregationalists, Methodists, and Liberal Episcopalians.  The majority of the signers or their faiths support environmental justice, reproductive freedom, and social justice.  And they are not against using your tax dollars to advance their interests including federal funding for abortions.   

My research shows that some of them are registered democrats and or Obama supporters. (I have not yet searched the entire list).   Some appear to be long time environmental activists.  Another is a fan of "The Golden Compass," by author Philip Pullman the avowed atheist committed to the end of organized religion as we know it.  Something he should know and not promote without reason.  Others openly advocate forms of "justice" that fit the left wing democrat/Obama narrative.

So what is my point?  They are pro democrat advocates and their call for open debtate on matters of reform is fraudulent.   There is no record of them supporting, advocating, or defending any of the dozens of Republican efforts at Health Care reform, or of any objection to those efforts having been abruptly shot down (including amendments) by a partisan democrat majority in both chambers. (Stupak was accepted as a parlimentary vote-getting trick and is of no consequence until reconciliation)

Calling for "open debate" is just a smoke screen for their individual and denomiational support for the democrat agenda.  This is a partisan wolf cloaked in sheep's clothing.  Senator Gregg should see it for what it is and act accordingly.

These "leaders" who affirm that all human life is sacred and state that their moral values compel them to promote and advocate this particular reform, support or condone by association, reproductive rights and death with dignity. That’s killing babies and old people for those not familiar with the argot; things which a majority of Americans are against.  Their values also promote social and environmental justice, which is code for a redistribution of wealth and resource management that invariably shifts decision making power away from you to Washington DC.  That makes them big government socialists.

So they would happily allow the government to use the rule of law to tithe you to advance their values.   

In short, they just want Gregg to get out of the way so that this train wreck of a bill can get passed into law.  And they are using their religious trappings as cover.  They don't want open debate and they never did.  If Gregg wont swallow the Kool aid or take a bite at their apple, they want him to sit down and shut up.

S "CHIP Shot"

I’ve been laying off Fred Morse for the better part of year mostly because he makes it too easy.  Fred is Merrimack’s token socialist wordsmith.  Fred writes letters to the editor (of every paper on God’s still-barely--green earth--evil oil, EVIL!) as often as the editors will let him.  While I commend him on his efforts and his diligence, and respect and protect his right to his opinion, he needs a new schtick.  

In today’s Union leader it’s the standard two-for one sale as Fred again blames George Bush and "Tax cuts for the rich" to resistance to Health care reform, and more specifically “health Care for the Children.”  Ah yes.  It’s all about the children. 

He wonders “what kind of miserable people are we American’s becoming?” 

His lament bemoans our apparent selfishness as we continue to let the rich keep any portion of their own hard earned money while kids are sick with N1H1 "who can’t get care" becasue we haven't rushed through Obamacare.  About how we don't want our own tax dollars used to pay for other peoples health care either.   How dare we all stand around making our own money?   I guess he wants the “Bush Tax Cuts” Repealed now.  Good thinking Fred.  Of course it’s not even relevant.  Fred leaves all the real facts out. 

The kiddies have insurance because fearless leader (Herr Obama) signed the SCHIP reauthorization (HR2) on February 4^th2009, giving children (including those with insurance), complete government funded health care.  Families with incomes of 66K/year (and sometimes more) are already enjoying a form of Obamacare.  For those counting that’s almost 30% above the mean national income making SCHIP about covering more than the so-called needy children and pregnant women the program was developed for.  Illegal immigrants are now covered by SCHIP.   Kids up to age 18 are covered by SCHIP.  There’s no lines no waiting.  It’s the drive-thru version with an additional 32 billion in funding.  How's it working out?  According to Fred, not so good.

And to pay for that (see congressional pay-as-you-go canard) Mr. Obama and congress broke a promise just 2 weeks into the new world order by adding a 0.62/per pack cigarette tax and increasing the taxes on all other tobacco products—most frequently used by people who make 66K/per year or less.  They paid for it by taxing the middle class. 

No mention of any of that from Fred Morse.  Not surprising.   

Of course we are also meant to ignore the fact that Mr. Obama and Kathleen Sebelius had this N1H1 vaccine thing all covered back when there was still snow on the ground and the crisis they were manufacturing—apparently way more crisis than vaccine—was still young like Mr. Morse’ poor uninsured Dickensian Flu victims.   We were told to applaud such pro activeness and await the glory of relief before the next Flu season was upon us.  That, and look, another 32 billion for SCHIP; seemed like a positive sign that the "miserable people" had turned over a new leaf with the new leaf turner up there in the White House.

But it was not to be.  The vaccine, alas, did not arrive through no fault of George Bush or rich people.  But Fred, like most liberals who are whining about how most American's disagree with him, continue to omit or ignore relevant facts in the course of their weeping screeds about the hate and (wealth) that continues to exist in this country. 

Fred's image of Flu stricken children is an illusion.  These Children are already covered by the very government health care he want's you to have.    And they are arguably only sick because Mr. Obama’s team--the people who would be running your health care if Fred Morse had his way--screwed it all up.

But all Fred can think about is how those rich bastards and that damn George Bush are keeping us from socializing everyone’s medicine when it is obvious that what he wants is responsible for the very failure he invokes to justify his cause.

Nice Job Fred.  Socilaized medice still doesn't work.  Thanks for pointing that out.