Thadius
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Joined: 10/11/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
Gateway Pundit: What earthquake in Hawaii? In 1868 there was a major earthquake in Hawaii that killed 77 people. In 1975 an earthquake in Hawaii killed 2 people.
Fox News: OBAMA: I am certain that we've made sure, for example, that any burdens on states are alleviated, when it comes to what they're going to have to chip in to make sure that we're giving subsidies to small businesses, and subsidies to individuals, for example.
BAIER: So the Connecticut deal is still in?
OBAMA: So that's not — that's not going to be something that is going to be in this final package. I think the same is true on all of these provisions. I'll give you some exceptions though. Something that was called a special deal was for Louisiana. It was said that there were billions — millions of dollars going to Louisiana, this was a special deal. Well, in fact, that provision, which I think should remain in, said that if a state has been affected by a natural catastrophe, that has created a special health care emergency in that state, they should get help. Louisiana, obviously, went through Katrina, and they're still trying to deal with the enormous challenges that were faced because of that.
(CROSS TALK) OBAMA: That also — I'm giving you an example of one that I consider important. It also affects Hawaii, which went through an earthquake. So that's not just a Louisiana provision. That is a provision that affects every state that is going through a natural catastrophe. Now I have said that there are certain provisions, like this Nebraska one, that don't make sense. And they needed to be out. And we have removed those. So, at the end of the day, what people are going to be able to say is that this legislation is going to be providing help to small businesses and individuals, across the board, in an even handed way, and providing people relief from a status quo that's just not working.
BAIER: OK, the Florida deal, in or out?
OBAMA: The Florida deal —
BAIER: Paying for Medicare Advantage, exempting 800,000 Floridians from —
OBAMA: My understanding is that whatever is going to be done on Medicare is going to apply across the board to all states.
From your link.
Um, Hawaii did go through an earthquake... two in fact, according to your article. He mentioned it was an example. He did not mention it was a recent event.
I guess the funniest part of this discussion is that the senator involved has a different take on why this deal is important, at least the reasoning why it isn't a "special" deal. She stated in a recent interview that the reason for this ammendment was that the Federal govt was claiming that LA realized a 40% increase in income per capita, and that they were going to change the payout table that applied to Louisiana. She further stated that the increase in income was from all of the federal funding and insurance money that rolled in to cover the destruction of Katrina.
More to the topic of the thread.
A few of the quotes from the President yesterday were very interesting. "This is the biggest middle class tax break in history", "This is the biggest deficit reduction in history" and the usual quote about "The American people deserve relief immediately".
Is this even a tax break for the middle class? Does the president figure in the new mandates, possible penalties, and taxes on "cadilac plans" (the only groups that get this tax phased in are unions and government employees).
I suppose only in Washington D.C. can spending $2.2 Trilliion over the next decade and a half be considered saving money, and through such spending allow for reducing the deficit. The reduction of the debt is all smoke and mirrors. I won't belabor the usual points about scoring 10 years of new tax revenue against 6 years of benefits. One only need look at where they started the scoring for this latest CBO report, it uses fiscal year 2010 as the starting point, which makes a huge difference when looking at the numbers. For starters, because the "doctor fix" isn't included in the bill the report is some $400 Billion off. To make things even more rosey as of Mar 1st this year the 20% cut to pay doctors actually did occur, which gets counted in the scoring of the bill(s). Which makes for another $200 Billiion in imagined savings for the fiscal year. Further, there are no numbers associated with the 150+ new offices and beauracracies that are created with these bills, are they going to be run by volunteers and donations? Assuming that they are only staffed by 1 person making the median income of a government employee, we are looking at, at least $21 Million a year for salary and payroll costs.
Finally, if we deserve relief and the benefits being spoke of now, why do we have to wait for the benefits to kick in 4 years? The only benefit that I know of that actually starts immediately when this bill becomes law, is the allowing children with pre-existing conditions to buy health insurance, while worthwhile and something I support, why not start the rest of the benefits as well? Or in the alternative, since these changes will obviously take time to implement, have them start 2 years from the date of signing.
I am a fairly simple man, and have grown wary of the misinformation from both sides of this debate. I don't need to understand all of the complicated tables and substitutions of paragraphs, to realize that if the simple questions can't be answered in a common sense way somebody is most likely trying to get away with something.
_____________________________
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb
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RE: Obama says 3,000% lower insurance payments are poss... - 
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