{^_^}

rightsideupinthegwn on October 8, 2009 at 10:25 AM

Ed needs to see this!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/10/07/ehealth-auditor.html
Another article:
For $327 an hour, one former aide wrote to another former aide
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/649032

and see what happens when you get a left-of-centre government that is allowed to spend your $$$ on health care

right–you are so right!

There is a huge scandal brewing in the Provice of Ontario, over wasted health care spending.

Google “eHealth,” scandal” and “Ontario”, and see what happens when you get a left-of-centre government that is allowed to spend your $$$ on health care.

AJB on October 7, 2009 at 8:32 PM

Did you read the amendment, there pimp?

donkichi on October 7, 2009 at 8:38 PM

Good point. What’s in the bill?

On the surface, it sure looks great.

But it’s directed solely at one company:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:SP2588:

S.AMDT.2588
Amends: H.R.3326
Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (submitted 10/1/2009) (proposed 10/1/2009)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To prohibit the use of funds for any Federal contract with Halliburton Company, KBR, Inc., any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any other contracting party if such contractor or a subcontractor at any tier under such contract requires that employees or independent contractors sign mandatory arbitration clauses regarding certain claims.

Text:

SA 2588. Mr. FRANKEN (for himself and Ms. Landrieu) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 3326, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes; as follows:

On page 245, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:

Sec. 8104. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any existing or new Federal contract if the contractor or a subcontractor at any tier requires that an employee or independent contractor, as a condition of employment, sign a contract that mandates that the employee or independent contractor performing work under the contract or subcontract resolve through arbitration any claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.

[Page: S10070] GPO’s PDF (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply with respect to employment contracts that may not be enforced in a court of the United States.

So what’s the point?

If it can be enforced in the US, it’s already moot. And if you sign a contract that signs away your rights, that’s absurd – both that the contract can be written that way, and that anyone would sign it.

Also, why isn’t somebody in the service just killing these guys? Nobody in my platoon would’ve blinked if we killed some rapist and buried him in the desert. I was there in 2005 and I’d've happily slain every one of Jones’ assailants (if the rest of my platoon didn’t kill them first).
—
AJB, objectively, Al Franken is trying to write a bill of attainder. It’s not quite one, but the intent is clear. Also, what contractor does he have lined up to do the jobs they’re doing over there right now?

As Al Franken’s anti-military hard-leftists stripped the military of resources, they had to hire outside contractors (which pissed me off then and still now). Is he making funds available for more support MOSes to open up? Or is he just throwing the entire company out based on a few employees who should’ve been stabbed in the throat and left to bleed out in the desert – which is now going to result in reduced resources for the troops?

Objectively, he’s angry with Halliburton (big surprise), and he’s trying to hurt them. In this case, some Halliburton employees gave him the tools to do so. This is neither endemic nor institutionalized throughout KBR/Hall. (unlike the ACORN comparison I’m sure you’re dying to make) – these are individual contractors operating outside company policy. Objectively, his end result is going to cut off KBR/Hall.’s support network for US troops. None of this will get Jones justice, but it will hurt US troops.

If he were pushing to phase them out completely and put in support MOSes back into rotation, I’d be supportive. But as is, this looks like an emotional attack that aids neither Jones nor the military, and is simply a blatant partisan attack on KBR/Hall.

I loathe KBR & Hall’s role as well, since there should be support MOSes doing those jobs, and they should be filled by US troops, who aren’t going to skim off the top or get engaged in criminal activity because they’re beholden to the UCMJ. KBR in particular goes back for decades to when LBJ & Kennedy were hiring them in Vietnam.

Really interesting findings there, batterup! The republicans in Congress ought to hire you to go over this, it sounds like, to hand them their next talking points, although it sounds like Rove and Kraut are up on it as well. ;)

I did NOT work that hard just for the privilege of paying even more taxes than I already do to support society’s moochers and losers.

I have no doubt I’m not alone in my thinking or personal story. As Rush says, achievement is being punished.

DerKrieger on October 7, 2009 at 8:49 PM

“You are a chump” …. per the US Congress

Here are some of the areas they have passed their costs on to others:

For example, the sustainable growth rate (SGR)
mechanism governing Medicare’s payments to physicians has frequently been modified (either through legislation or administrative action) to avoid reductions in those payments. The projected savings for the proposal reflect
the cumulative impact of a number of specifications that would constrain payment rates for providers of Medicare services. In particular, the proposal would increase payment rates for physicians’ services for 2010, but those rates would be reduced by about 25 percent for 2011 and then remain at current-law levels (that is, as specified under the SGR) for subsequent years. Under the proposal, increases in payment rates for many other providers would be held below the rate of inflation

Physicians and other providers will be paid 25% less for their services in 2011 and below the rate of inflation every year after. These are businesses with employees, businesses that will now be paid 25% less for the services they provide.

From the CBO, other areas where “savings” happen:

The provisions that would result in the largest budget savings include these:
 Permanent reductions in the annual updates to Medicare’s payment rates for most services in the fee-for-service sector (other than physicians’ services), yielding budgetary savings of $162 billion over 10 years. (That calculation excludes interactions between those provisions and others—namely, the effects of those changes on payments to Medicare Advantage plans and collections of Part B premiums.)
 Setting payment rates in the Medicare Advantage program on the basis of the average of the bids submitted by Medicare Advantage plans in each market, yielding savings of an estimated $117 billion (before interactions) over the 2010–2019 period.
 Reducing Medicare and Medicaid payments to hospitals that serve a large number of low-income patients, known as disproportionate share (DSH) hospitals, by almost $45 billion—composed of roughly $22 billion each from Medicaid and Medicare DSH payments.

Every business that is involved in fee-for-service with Medicare will be expected to see a reduction in payment.

Hospitals that traditionally serve low-income patients – you know the ones that Michelle Obama Practices Patient Dumping on- those hospitals are primarily Teaching Hospitals – usually County supported or Charity Hospitals. Baucus is proposing cutting payments to those that serve the poor. This will mean that the costs will be passed on to the County tax-payers and that the Charity hospitals will be overwhelmed. These are not costs that will magically disappear.

The bill also shifts the entire cost of Medicaid for children and chip to the States. As the CBO notes in on Page 9.

There are no savings here – it’s a cheap 3 card Monty shifting costs to the states, the counties, the charities, sticking it to the businesses that serve the poor & elderly. And of course the unconstitutional tax mandate that we must buy Health Care. I only had a few minutes to go over this once, it needs a through going over.

Guess what people, right now Russ Feingold could lose his election next year. My point, hold fast and keep fighting.

rob verdi on October 7, 2009 at 8:55 PM

The question I have about this version of the bill that was reported on: Does this version of the bill contain the public insurance idea, or is it the version with it removed? Because don’t forget, good ol’ Dingy Harry is talking about adding it in AFTER the bill goes to cloture as an amendment, which means that part of the bill IS NOT EVEN BEING REPORTED ON NOW BY THE CBO IN THIS PRELIM REPORT. Hmmm?

Hurry hurry hurry, ya suckers!

Free money and nobody to pay!

Huzzah! Yowzah!

Come and get it!

It’s almost time for an armed insurrection. And I’m not kidding. I will not be forced into socialism or indentured servitude. These people are tearing this nation apart root and branch inn order to remake per their Orwellian fantasy.

DerKrieger on October 7, 2009 at 8:39 PM

I can neither confirm, nor deny, that I purchased my first firearm at a gun show this past weekend.

Oh, who am I kidding? You’re GD right I bought one!

DerKrieger on October 7, 2009 at 8:49 PM

After I got out of the military, I worked my way through college at sixty cents an hour. I started my own business and when I turned sixty-five, I applied for my social security benefits. I later received a letter from the social security administration that said they had no record of my income over a ten year period, which most of that time I was in the service. And, they want to run healthcare?

How about after – 2010 we shred all the paperwork in D.C. and the 57 State Capitals (B.H.O. said it first)and start looking to the Constitution as a new start point.

wheels on October 7, 2009 at 9:23 PM

Wheels. How do we give this plan wheels? It is so, so good; except I would start it earlier.

Thanks.
And now I see that’s what Rove is saying. That just seems like a ridiculously big red light to me, and something that should be highlighted.
The 10 year “deficit reduction” analysis starts counting year 1 at 3 years before the majority of spending starts.

Am I confused? It doesn’t add to the deficit until 2015, but doesn’t it only go into effect in 2013?
MayBee on October 7, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Thank you. My question exactly. This story needs a few days to play out. Things might be clearer then.

joejm65 on October 7, 2009 at 9:11 PM

They start collecting the new taxes immediately, althought the government plan doesn’t kick in til 2013. We get to start paying for everything immediately. It just takes awhile for all of the bills to catch up with the money they collected in advance.

That immediate tax is why employers are cutting health benefits already. They need to avoid the excise taxes, especially in Obama’s failing economy and with all of the other “fees” they plan to use to confiscate our earnings.

Am I confused? It doesn’t add to the deficit until 2015, but doesn’t it only go into effect in 2013?
MayBee on October 7, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Thank you. My question exactly. This story needs a few days to play out. Things might be clearer then.

I will not be forced into socialism or indentured servitude. These people are tearing this nation apart root and branch inn order to remake per their Orwellian fantasy.

DerKrieger on October 7, 2009 at 8:39 PM

They haven’t passed anything yet. Everything depends on what happens with the bill and the results of the mid terms but if they persist on this Socialist path then F**k it. I’m in. Given the choice between fighting to restore the Republic or wussing out and leaving my decedents at the mercy of a bunch of Socialists it’s really not much of a choice..

How about a some calls to your Senator first?

Shtetl G on October 7, 2009 at 8:41 PM

What do you mean first? After all the noise we made and the tea parties attended I’m positive they know where we stand.

Undeniable Laws of Federal progams:

1. Unionize it.

2. Regulate it.

3. Force Private sector out of it.

4. Use the Media to praise it.

5. Tell people they need more of it.

6. Grow it.

7. Rob it (to pay for other programs).

8. Put your friends and politcal supporters in charge of it.

9. Blame others when it fails.

10. Set up another program to monitor it.

11. Grow the regulatory agency that you just set up.

Repeat steps as required.

There you go……..we’re hosed.

We’ll be lucky if we even have a UNITED STATES this time next year at this rate.

I feel a Corazon Aquino moment coming on America.
http://www.paraisophilippines.com/img/edsapeoplepower.jpg