Obamacare

SCOTUS grants review of religious objections to contraceptive coverage in ‘ObamaCare’

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ProtestorsThe broadly expanded “religious liberty” argument which is being wielded like a sword by the religious right to exempt themselves from having to comply with any law with which they disagree as a matter of a “personal sincerely held moral conviction or religious belief” is once again being  wielded against contraceptive coverage in the Affordable Care Act aka “ObamaCare.”

This is the natural progression of appeals resulting from the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (.pdf). The coming decision on the birth-control mandate will have the title of the first such case filed at the Court: Zubik v. Burwell.

Lyle Denniston at SCOTUSblog writes, Court to hear birth-control challenges (UPDATED):

On Friday, for the fourth time in three years, the Supreme Court agreed to rule on challenges to the new federal health care law — this time, religious non-profit institutions’ objection to the Affordable Care Act’s birth-control mandate, which requires employers to provide their female employees with health insurance that includes no-cost access to certain forms of birth control.  The Court accepted parts of all seven cases on that issue filed with it under the ACA.  It has not yet spelled out how those will be consolidated for a hearing — planned for late March.

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When good people do bad things by not voting

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It may be time to revisit the eternal question Why good people do bad things in the context of voting behavior, specifically NOT voting even when their own self-interest is at stake.

Ballot-boxOn Tuesday, Kentucky held an election for governor. According to the Secretary of State’s web site, Unofficial Election Results, there are 3,201,852 registered voters in Kentucky, but only 982,259 bothered to vote, for a shockingly low 30.68% voter turnout, which is even lower than the low 46.37% voter turnout in last year’s midterm election with a marquee race between  Senator Mitch McConnell and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes that received so much national attention.

Kentucky voters elected  far-right Republican Matt Bevin governor over Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway.  From GOP ‘con man’ to newly elected governor:

A year ago, the right-wing candidate, who’s never served a day in public office, launched a primary fight against incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Republicans quickly labeled Bevin a “con man” who lies “pathologically.” The first-time candidate was exposed a man who lied about his educational background, and who even struggled in the private sector — his business needed a taxpayer bailout.

At one point, he even delivered a speech at a cockfighting gathering and then lied about that, too.

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Tea-Publicans renew their war on Planned Parenthood and ‘ObamaCare,’ threaten to crash the economy

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Tea-Publicans were opposed to the “reconciliation” process before they were for it (when it suits their need to feed the GOPropoganda machine). The only principle they have is whatever works for us.

EddieMunsterThe GOP’s alleged boy genius and Ayn Rand fanboy, Rep. Paul Ryan, “the zombie-eyed granny starver from Wisconsin” who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee and is the heir apparent to Speaker of the House after a vote next week, drafted a reconciliation bill that partially repeals “ObamaCare” and defunds Planned parenthood for a year. “No healthcare for you!”

The Hill reports, House passes partial ObamaCare repeal:

The House voted along party lines on Friday to approve a budget reconciliation bill that would repeal parts of ObamaCare and halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Only seven House Republicans voted against the partial ObamaCare repeal bill, though it has become a target of opposition from 2016 presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), as well as powerful groups such as Heritage Action for America.

The final total was 240-189. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), a vocal opponent of abortion, was the only Democrat to break ranks.

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The lunatics have taken over the asylum with House GOP reconciliation bill

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LunaticsTea-Publicans cried “tyranny!” when Democrats used the reconciliation process to pass necessary budget bills over GOP obstruction when they controlled the House and Senate.

But now that Tea-Publicans want to repeal “ObamaCare” and defund Planned Parenthood, and they are in control of the House and Senate, these hypocrites suddenly loves them some reconciliation.

President Obama has promised a veto, and Tea-Publicans have no hope of overriding his veto. The lunatics have taken over the aylum and are acting out in a partisan temper tantrum — a looming government shutdown be damned.

The budget package moving in the House this week is creating a headache for Senate Republicans. House’s Planned Parenthood fight is problem for GOP senators:

The budget package, which under budget reconciliation rules cannot be filibustered in the Senate, will block money for Planned Parenthood and gut ObamaCare.

The problem: It’s unclear whether Senate Republicans can gather the 51 votes needed to approve it.

Three Senate Republicans are on record as opposing an end to federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

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The GOP’s ‘Planned’ government shutdown may be averted, but only temporarily

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Since the TanMan, Weeper of the House John Boehner, announced this morning that he is quitting at the end of October, the GOP’s “Planned” government shutdown may have been averted, but only temporarily.

The mutineers of the GOP House Freedom Caucus just lost any leverage they held over the Tan Man with Rep. Mark Meadows’ resolution to vacate the speakership. Boehner’s response was “Oh yeah! You can’t fire me, I quit!” Boehner is now a freed man who can negotiate with Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats for a “clean” CR spending bill before he surrenders his gavel, because there is nothing they can do to him.

Debt-celing-hostage-crisis-2-what-now-468The “clean” CR is only short-term, to December 11. Do you know why this is? Because that is when the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the federal debt ceiling will be reached, CBO: Debt ceiling will be hit by early December, so Tea-Publicans can tie their annual lunacy over the federal debt ceiling together with the next CR to take the country hostage again, and maybe give Americans a government shutdown just in time for Christmas.

Here is the latest developments. On Thursday, the Senate rejected the effort to strip funding from Planned Parenthood as designed:

The Senate on Thursday rejected a short-term spending bill that would defund Planned Parenthood, thwarting the opening move by Republican leaders to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

Senators voted 47-52 on ending debate on the short-term continuing resolution, well short of the 60 votes needed. The legislation would have funded the government through Dec. 11.

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