According to certain Democrats, the more Marxist types, some states are sicker than others. (Or is it some pigs are more equal than others?)
Harry Reid is running behind in the polls for reelection in Nevada. In New Jersey Republicans have a good chance of winning the governor’s spot. Charlie Schumer smells money no matter what the source. And their sufferings have been noticed by other Marxists determined to destroy the American free enterprise system.
As in Orwell’s inciteful but depressing writing, “Animal Farm” pigs are more equal than others. Check out this bit of quick reading about Marxist rule. It should have been required reading during your high school years as it was during mine.
One Plan, Two Plan, Red Plan, Blue Plan?
After further review, the Baucus plan (and its residual amendments) seems to create two “reform” plans, one for red states and the other for blue states. In classic have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too form, Senate proponents of government-run health care have passed mandates, but not fully funding the legislation. As a result, many states that are already facing significant budgetary shortfalls will soon be forced to contribute $37 billion to finance ObamaCare. Unfunded mandates are onerous enough, but it’s particularly upsetting to learn that some (red) states are expected to contribute more than other (blue) states. Consider this:
- Nevada. Home to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada won’t pay increased Medicaid expenses for the first five years under ObamaCare. Thanks to a deal structured by Mr. Reid, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island and Michigan each qualify for a provision requiring the federal government-and by implication, other states-to pick up the tab. As Mr. Reid explained, these states are “suffering more than the most.”
- New York. New Yorkers must be suffering, too, because Senator Charles Schumer, member of the Senate Finance Committee, has managed to ensure that his constituents-and those of 17 other mostly blue states-don’t pay the 40% tax on their health benefit plans at $21,000, like most Americans, but instead at $25,000.
- New Jersey. Home to Senate Finance Committee member, Senator Bob Menendez, as well as the facilities of 15 of the world’s largest 20 pharmaceutical companies, Mr. Menendez made sure to include in the Baucus Bill a $1 billion tax credit for companies investing in drug research and development.
- Michigan & Massachusetts. Working in tandem, Senators Stabenow and Kerry protected unions, too. They included in the Baucus bill a provision which set aside $5 billion for a reinsurance program designed to defray the medical costs of union members.
Join the Light of Day Campaign! The blue-state-subsidies embedded in the Baucus Bill aren’t about health care, they’re about subsidizing political allies and punishing political enemies. Imposing harsher taxes on political opponents and their constituents – Americans who don’t want government-run health care in the first place – simply doesn’t pass the ‘what’s right’ test.
Fortunately, you have a way to fight back: join the Light of Day Campaign. Encourage your Congressional representatives to support a three-day waiting period before any vote on the health care legislation, instead of producing a bill one week after the vote. Exposing middle-of-the-night, you-scratch-my-back amendments such as those discussed above will place legislation before the light of day and let Congress and the American people understand what American taxpayers are buying and who will be paying the price.
(Jeanette Nordstrom sent me this note.)
Filed under: National Politics
