Obamacare

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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AHCCCS Community Forum in Tucson re: Governor Ducey’s Medicaid ‘reform’ plan (AHCCCS Care) on Wednesday

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Tucson is scheduled to hold the last Community Forum by AHCCCS for Governor Ducey’s so-called Medicaid (AHCCCS) reform proposal to stigmatize the working poor who are on AHCCCS medical care.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Casino Del Sol, Ballroom B, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, AZ.

WHAT: On August 3, 2015, Governor Ducey announced his plan to modernize Arizona’s Medicaid program, i.e., AHCCCS CARE.

Arizona’s DRAFT Section 1115 Demonstration request with more detailed information on the proposal can be found on the link below:

AZ DRAFT Section 1115 Demonstration Program Template (8/17/2015) [PDF]

AZ DRAFT Section 1115 Demonstration Program Narrative (8/18/2015) [PDF]

Community Forum Presentation [PowerPoint]

Comments and questions will be taken at the meeting but can also be submitted:

By Email: PublicInput@azahcccs.gov

By Mail: AHCCCS, Office of Intergovernmental Relations, 801 E. Jefferson Street, Mail Drop 4200, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Let’s just say that the governor’s proposal has not been well received by the public and medical providers at the public forums held to date, nor should it. The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports, 1st public hearings on Medicaid changes find wide opposition:

We-Love-ObamacareArizona Gov. Doug Ducey wants able-bodied Arizonans on the state’s Medicaid program for the poor to pay into health savings accounts  and be charged co-pays for some services, but those proposals and others he’s touting got a tough reception at the first meeting where the public was allowed to weigh in.

Health care providers and patients said the governor’s proposals would likely end up costing the state more money by discouraging people from getting treatment until they are far sicker. And their blunt assessment will be passed on to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which must approve a waiver to allow them to go into force.

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