Why are Democrats voting yes on Health Care Reform?
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Kucinich, Senator Gillibrand, oh the list could go on and on. What reason do they all have in common to vote yes?
It seems that not much has changed since 1940.
Here come the Republicans
So far coverage of the Senate race for the junior seat held by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has focused on the lack of competition that has been engineered by the Democrat Party. That lack of competition may have meant to imply that the re-election campaign faces no opposition, but such a thought would be erroneous. Already I have presented the 3rd Party candidate Jan Johnson, now I will delve into the Republican candidates.
At this time there are 3 potential candidates among the Republican Party that Sen. Gillibrand may face come November. They are: Bruce A. Blakeman, Joseph J. DioGuardi, and David Malpass.
What is known about this candidate is that he has been around for some time. This is no novice to politics as the New York native has held positions as a Councilman on the Hempstead Town Board and was a member of the Nassau County Legislature in the mid-90’s, before running for the New York State Comptroller ticket in 1998. After that loss, Blakeman became a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2001 by appointment of Gov. Pataki. He held that position until July 2008 when the term expired. In 2009, Blakeman ran for the Mayor of New York City before he stepped down and supported the re-election of Mayor Bloomberg.
Mr. Blakeman is a practicing lawyer at Abrams Fensterman law firm in New York City and Lake Success. He went to school at Arizona State University and California Western University Law School.
DioGuardi is far better known among the potential Republican candidates. He is a former member of Congress from 1985 – 1989. He was the first practicing certified public accountant elected to the House of Representatives. His record is noted for his attention to fiscal policy, including his efforts to better manage Government spending via the Chief Financial Officer’s Act, which was passed in 1990. The CFO Act was designed to mandate each department of the Government to have a CFO to better manages spending and reduce waste.
Another item that DioGuardi is noted for during his time in Congress is his action on behalf of the 1.1 million African Americans that have fought on behalf of America during and since WWI. Prior to the actions of DioGuardi there was not a single Congressional Medals of Honor awardee that was African American, though the contributions in WWI and WWII are well known and noted. Since the 1986 legislation was enacted 9 African Americans have been given this Award, correcting the historical injustice to some degree.
Since leaving office he has remained active, having established a nonpartisan foundation, Truth In Government. He has been a keynote speaker about Government spending and the national debt. In 1997 he was published by Texas Society of CPAs on an article discussing the real mangnitude of the national debt.
Those that are younger, and/or less motivated by politics, will more likely be aware of Mr. DioGuardi as the father of Kara DioGuardi. As I am told she is a judge on American Idol.
Is the former Bear Stearns’ chief economist, who went on to create Encima Global. Encima Global is an economic research and consulting firm serving institutional investors and corporate clients. Like DiGuardi, Mr. Malpass is a CPA and has worked in the past for Arthur Andersen.
Also no outsider to politics Malpass served in the Reagan and Bush Administration from February 1984 and January 1993, as deputy assistant Treasury secretary for developing nations, a deputy assistant secretary of State, Republican staff director of Congress’s Joint Economic Committee, and senior analyst for taxes and trade at the Senate Budget Committee.
While not a frontline personality, Malpass was involved with various aspects of several pieces of legislation that are well known: 1986 tax cut, the Gramm-Rudman budget law, the savings-and-loan bailout, and NAFTA.
All of the potential Republican candidates are not household names. Much of their past efforts are prior to the last decade and thus outside the memory of younger voters. No matter which of these candidates (or any others that emerge) gains the Republican Party ticket, they will have to aggressively introduce themselves to the New York State voters. But in that regard they are on equal footing with the appointed Senator Gillibrand according to recent polling.
As I have stated previously when discussing each of the candidates for the junior Senate seat, M V Consulting, Inc. advocates for none of the candidates at this time. Our effort is only to present each candidate, their views, positions, and camapign promises as the November mid-term elections approach. Thus voters will have a better understanding by which to pick whatever candidate they believe is best for New York State and the Senate.
How good is it?
Today we see that President Obama has canceled his trip overseas, because of the Health Care Reform Bill. It’s the same reason that a visably irritated President Obama was interviewed by Fox News Brett Baier on Wednesday. Because even as calls for a vote on Sunday race through the pundits and news media, the House lacks the votes to pass the Bill.
President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Majority Leader Harry Reid have all said, for months on end, that they will pass the Health Care Reform no matter what obstacle is before them. Obstacles include the majority of Americans that do not want this Bill for over half a year and other Democrats that object to various parts of the Bill. Republicans are not an obstacle in that they had no ability to prevent the passage of the Bill for an entire year, and only recently gained the ability to block the Bill in the Senate by 1 vote.
When the concept of “all means possible” is considered, few imagined what is currently on-going. Rather than altering the Bill such that Republicans (even 1 Republican) might vote for it, or even providing “perks” or earmarks (you could even call it a bribe if you wish) to Republicans to gain their vote as was done with Sen. Nelson of Nebraska and others, Democrat leadership has gone a unique route. Taking a completely partisan approach, Dems have decided to use every arcane, odd, and rarely used legal trick to pass Health Care Reform. They have gone so far as to potentially use a “deem and pass” rule to bypass even voting on the Bill and just allowing it to reach the President for signing.
Considering that this Bill has been tossed around for a year, that it has undergone multiple revisions – so many in fact that neither the President nor Speaker Pelosi know what is currently in the Bill (as they both have publicly stated), and it is overwhelmingly opposed, you have to wonder how good is it?
If I wanted to give a group of people ice cream, say butter pecan, and the majority of those people said no thank you it would be no big deal. I could offer them a different kind of ice cream, or offer something else, or scrap the idea. But instead I push the butter pecan ice cream idea since a few like it. Still people resist because some are allergic, some hate pecans, some don’t eat ice cream and most others would just like a different flavor. I insist, tying the ice cream to their job and pay. I tell some that if they agree I will give them cash, others a better job, some a better review. I tell a few they will be fired if they don’t agree. The rest I just ignore. Then I plan on putting the ice cream in thier hands and watching them eat it.
Does that sound democratic? But it is what is happening with Congrerss right now. Most voters are being ignored, like how Senator Gillibrand, Sen. Schumer, Rep. Hinchey have done to letters from consituents in New York State on this Bill. The cash insentive is support from the DNC come re-election time. Reviews would be the President appearing on the campaign trail. Many in Congress have been offered jobs in the Administration, others have had oddly timed promotions for family members in the Government. The Slaughter Rule bypasses the rule of law, forcing this Bill into our hands.
What part of this sounds democratic? At what point does this continuous push sound like it is so good for America that we can’t live without it? How good can this be when Americans are being force-fed this Bill while kicking and screaming? Unless you are of the opinion that Americans are too childish and dumb to understand what is best for them, which I do not believe.
After a year of debate, and speeches, and explainations almost daily the public and most members of the Congress (including Democrats) do not like this Bill. Given that, you have to ask how good it really is?
The Spring collection from Alchemy of England
Yes it has just arrived! The latest additions to the Alchemy of England collection available at Alchemy at World of VASS.
The latest collection features the Rose of Passion collection
In addition you can also find new T-shirts, pendants, rings, and a great new tankard too.
Here is a quick preview of some of the new items
You can only find it at Alchemy at World of VASS.
Thank you for your support.
Where does your Congressman stand?
As we again reach the edge of the precipice, the House of Representatives are lining up on the Health Care Reform. While all Republicans are lined up for a no vote, the question remains with the Democrats. Up until this year Democrats had a supermajority and could not pass the Health Care Reform. Now with just a strong majority Democrats are using every arcane trick and legal path to secure Health Care Reform, though the majority of Americans still oppose the Bill since August 2009.
Democrats are being pushed to vote yes. Many rumors of deals are swirling through D.C., some of them are blatant bribes others just perks. Yet for all the no votes, there is almost no limit of what is being offered and threatened to ensure this Bill passes.
Thus I present a list of those stated to vote no on the Health Care Reform Bill. This is important because many are up for re-election. Some are the very same Democrats that refused to discuss the Bill with constituents during the 2009 summer break for Congress. But most importantly is the thought for voters to become aware of what promises, perks, and deals any of the following might receive after a vote that includes them saying yes.
[as noted by The Hill on 3/16/2010. * -- Voted for Stupak amendment in November ,(Y) -- Voted yes in November, (N) -- Voted no in November ]
If these no’s vote yes, and they seek re-election, you might want to aks them what they got to change their vote – and/or why they chose Party over constituents.
PSA: internet scams
I know that everyone is familiar with all the scams that proliferate across the net. Every day dozens of fake emails hit my inbox and spam filters, just like they do to everyone. But not long ago I was made aware of a friend’s older family member that actually believed they might have qualified for free money from a lottery they never entered in a nation they have never visited. Yet other people I know responded to what seemed like a valid email from a fake paypal and ebay account.
So I submit this video for further help in detecting the internet scams that continue to flood email everywhere.
If you don’t succeed try again
Today President Obama is in Ohio, again proclaiming the virtues of his Health Care Reform Bill that he wants pushed through Congress. This is one of 40 such speeches that he had made on the subject since 2009. In each he has stated that it is vital to the economy and American workers tht this version of the Bill be passed.
Such a huge Bill, with ramifications that will last generations, deserves to be evaluated. The CBO, Republicans, Democrats, independant agencies and many others have all looked at the Bill and come up with vastly different views on what it’s known effects will be, not to mention guesses on what some of the unknown consequences might be. Perhaps one way of viewing what might be the legacy of the Health Care Reform, if passed, is to view the other Act that President Obama promoted as vital to the economy and American jobs – the Obama Stimulus.
The following video details a number of the expenditures under the Obama Stimulus. This is a shortened version of the 102 items presented by Sean Hannity, highlighting some of the most obvious wastes of money time and least beneficial to job creation. While some may dislike Fox News, and/or Sean Hannity, there can be no question to the facts that are the funds that have been allocated to these projects. While there may be some question to the usefulness of each project, there is no question of the failure to create or “save” jobs as detailed at the end of the video.
Thus in comparison to the Health Care Reform the question that must be asked is, if the Obama Stimulus which was designed to only create jobs is incapable of accomplishing it’s task how much confidence can the public have in the Health Care Reform accomplishing its mandate? If the Government cannot navigate the relatively simple path of creating jobs, how can we expect it to help with the myriad paths that are health care for over 300 million Americans?
The to-do list: Jobs – it’s in there
During the State of the Union President Obama said he got the message from voters. The economy and jobs were the 2 items all Americans were concerned about and wanted the Government to focus on. President Obama promised to do what the people wanted.
Then President Obama went back to the White House and did what he wanted to do. Health Care Reform. He’s made perhaps a dozen speeches explaining that Health Care Reform, with it’s mandatory cost to every American and increases in taxes, will improve the economy and thus improve the job market. Which somehow seems to still not be what polls or the elections in Massachuesetts, New Jersey and Virginia were about.
Nevertheless, Health Care Reform is again on the final path to approval. Like it or not it has been manuevered to be able to pass in the most partisan display of political philosophy trumping public opinion ever. Assuming that Democrat leadership can cajole, purchase, pressure, or covince other Democrats to vote in line no matter what their constituents believe.
This opens up the White House to enact new legislation on seperate issues. Most might expect President Obama to move on to job creation, or otherwise improving the economy. Just as he promised to do in the State of the Union Address. Perhaps expecting the Administration to tackle failure of programs designed to help the 11 million homeowners in trouble with mortgages (25% of all mortgages). But that would be wrong.
Next on the plate appears to be immigration reform. An issue very important to Hispanic voters and a big reason for their support in the 2008 election. An issue that has remained dormant along with roughly 85% of all the other 515 campaign promises made by President Obama in 2008. But this is an election year, and Democrats need to try to maintain their majority in Congress. Or at least not lose so drastically to enable a supermajority for Republicans.
How will immigration reform, essentially making the 12 million illegal alien criminals (because entering the nation without documentation is still a crime) citizens, improve the economy? Theoretically it will bring in more tax revenue – revenue that has already been spent decades out. Of course it would also mean increasing the number of people available for Government aide, increase the scope and difficulty of enacting the Health Care Reform, require even more Government growth, and encourage future illegal aliens to enter the nation seeking the same kind of deal. Then there is the universal voter registration, which I discussed previously.
The net result is another Bill that should take months to discuss and refine, that is going to instead be pushed forward to votes in the Senate in a month.
But perhaps then the president will be free to address the 9.7% unemployment rate, and the 19.7% underemployment rate that is plauging the nation? Not exactly. The next issue up is the revival of Cap & Trade. A Bill that lives up to the President’s promise of “neccessarilly skyrocketing” energy costs. A Bill that will increase electricity costs by 150% or 300% according to some estimates, not including the passed through costs from energy producers new and higher taxes. Which does not even touch on the thought that any product manufactered in the United States will cost more due to the increased cost of creating the goods and transporting them to consumers. But this issue is important to those that believe, absolutely, in global warming and the need for making America (and America alone) “green”. And it is an election year.
Could America see the President focus on job creation and improving the economy along with helping homeowners after the Cap & Trade Bill? Well considering that the Bill has sat quietly in Congress through half of 2009, probably not. Like Health Care Reform, the votes don’t exist for Cap & Trade. If they did it would have already passed Congress while Democrats maintained the supermajority. Thus it too is an issue that requires months of debate, and more than a few “special” incentives, to even get the Democrat majority to get in line.
If we imagine that President Obama and Congress align all the stars just right, that they make all the “deals” (or bribes and/or earmarks if you prefer) needed and rush headlong into all of the above issues, and then they further pass every version of every Bill before it is written or reviewed by Congress, jobs and the economy are still not in the forefront of the Obama Administration or Congress.
Because there is the mid-term elections to take on. That’s months of fund-raising and dinners with elites in each Party. That’s television commercials artfully championing any positive aspect of a candidate and highlighting every wrong of an opponent – even if either is only a contrived fact. That’s internal debates at Primaries (when and where Party officials were unsuccessful in blocking competition, ie. Senator Gillibrand), followed by external debates between the Parties candidates. Shaking hands and kissing babies takes a lot of time these days.
Thus, it is very likely that based on the current objectives of the Obama Administration and Congress that the Economy and Jobs will not be addressed in any meaningful manner before December 2010, if not January 2011. By that time President Obama will be working on his next State of the Union, where he will promise even more sincerely that he has heard the public’s voice.
Don’t you feel more confident now?
Presidential donation is less than charitable
Last year President Obama got a Nobel Peace Prize for his future efforts towards peace. Another first for the President, whether or not you may believe he deserved the award. But along with the Nobel the President was given $1.4 million. At the time I questioned why the President, already a millionaire, didn’t give the money to charity – or to the IRS since his policies indicate he believes that the Government can redistribute that wealth better than he could.
It has only taken 5 months for President Obama to decide what to do with his prize money. Ignoring the interest that even a modest bank account makes from that kind of money, the prize will be ditributed to charities.
Fisher House – $250,000
Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund – $200,000
College Summit – $125,000
Posse Foundation – $125,000
United Negro College Fund – $125,000
Hispanic Scholarship Fund – $125,000
Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation – $125,000
American Indian College Fund – $125,000
AfriCare – $100,000
Central Asia Institute – $100,000
I have no problem with the President giving the Nobel Prize money to charities. I have no problem that this is an example of how individuals can give and make an impact without the need of guidance by the Government about where that money should go. But what I do question is the timing.
Why did President Obama wait till now to make the donations? He could have donated the money the day he got the Award. Or after making his Nobel speech on international television, seriously drawing attention to the organizations he gave to. He could have made the donations after the problems in Haiti, side by side with Presidents Clinton and Bush, or even beside the First Lady in her television commercials.
At none of these points did President Obama act. Not that he had to, but he chose not. So why is he acting now?
Right now the President is suffering from the lowest approval ratings of his Presidency. He is actively involved in ramming a massively unwanted and unpopular partisan Health Care Reform Bill through Congress. He has begun efforts to discuss immigration reform, an equally unpopular issue. He is reviving efforts to pass the Cap & Trade Bill, which is unpopular and potentially life-changing (to the worse) for millions of Americans.
At the same time Congress, with abysmally low approval ratings of their own, is gearing up for re-election campaign mode. This is happening as the knowledge that support from the White House equates to massive losses for Democrats (3x so far this year), and the general feeling that ANY incumbent is in danger of being elected out of office.
Suffice to say that President Obama needs a PR boost. He needs something that no one can question and will look good with every key demographic Democrats will need. The donations went to veterans, young Americans going to college, minorities, and those in desperate need in Haiti. What positive and unquestionable organizations indeed.
I love it when those that can help others do so. Charity is a great thing. But charity is not about bragging rights or approval ratings, nor efforts to pass legislation and getting re-elected. Such actions cheapen what is being given, it sullies the good done.
I’m sure President Obama had every intention of giving the money away from day one. I just find it insulting and crass to see him time the donations to his, and other elected officials, political benefit.
What we can expect from Health Care Reform
Taking a moment to step back from the political philosophies that are in favor or opposed to the Health Care Reform Bill that is currently being moved through Congress, what is it we can envision if it becomes reality?
It’s a hard question. There is no absolute answer that can be formulated. But if we look at other Obama Administration policies that have been enacted we can get an idea of what might be part of the results.
Let’s start with the Obama Stimulus. Initially priced at $787 billion, it was proposed to save the American economy from an impending imminent collapse. The fear at the time was that the unemployment rate would escalate to 8.5%, which would signal a depression greater than in the 1930’s. The public was assured that after passage several things would happen:
Over a year later we now have the reality of the Obama Stimulus. Unemployment has reached as high as 10%, and currently sits at 9.7%. Underemployment for the nation is 19.7%. Economists for the President admit that it is possible for unemployment to rise again this year, and at best the year will end with unemployment at 9.5%.
So far the majority, roughly 70% or more, of all jobs created by the Stimulus are Government jobs. Many of the private sector jobs have been temporary, with those employed returning to unemployment within the year.
The accountability initially was proven by multiple news organizations to be flawed. Within the first weeks of the reports of the government and recovery.org, discrepancies as high as 18% in some States were identified. Continued refinements in the figures resulted in additional discoveries of further errors including the math the government used to calculate a created job (which included a portion of any job that received a pay increase), the allocation of millions to non-existant State districts and organizations, and the disappearance of hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of dollars.
Though it was a campaign promise, and given the subjective nature of earmarks, thousands of earmarks were included in the Obama Stimulus. Those earmarks went to both Parties.
To date the number of jobs created is massively in dispute, even within the Obama Administration alone. Estimates range from 600,000 to 2 million jobs. Various members of the Obama Administration have been quoted as stating anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of jobs created. Also the Administration has fluctuated on how much of a further impact the Stimulus will have going forward. Ultimately, the one fact that is without question is that 4 million Americans lost their jobs in 2009, nearly doubling the number of unemployed.
In addition, several unaccounted problems occured due to the speed in which the Obama Stimulus was passed. One of those was the prevention of families to continue to receive food stamps and welfare. While exact national figures are unknown, the AP reported at least $38 million in food stamps being denied families in 2009.
Lastly, the cost of the Obama Stimulus inceased by $75 billion in the first year alone. Thus the total cost is $862 billion, with expectations for further cost overruns in each of the following 3 years. This also has the effect of increasing the national deficit in excess than the interest rate on the short-term, and exponentially over they long-term.
Going in a seperate direction is the Making Home Affordable Program. The cost was $75 billion dollars, and it was stated to provide homeowners facing mortgage an alternative by which to keep their homes. It’s target were 4 million homeowners in delinquency and potentially or actually facing foreclosure. It was estimated that this program would be able to affect 75% of those that applied.
To date 180,000 people have been helped by this program. An additional 350,000 people are in the trial program, with many of them expected to lose their homes to foreclosure. The net effective rate, for those that qualified under the restrictions of the program, is currently around 33%.
Throughout 2009 the number of home mortgages that were in delinquency broke 28 year record highs. The numbers continue to increase in 2010. For all of 2009, 2.8 million homes were foreclosd on according to RealtyTrac. The expectation for 2010 is a loss to foreclosure of 3 million additional homes. Currently 11 million homeowners (roughly 25% of all homeowners) have a home with a mortgage that exceeds the value of the property.
Without going any further we can extrapolate several thoughts to the Health Care Reform if passed in the current form.
None of the above accounts for political manipulations, further changes in this legislation, the economy, and/or any other legislation enacted now or in the future. Again, this is not factual but based on the most likely outcomes based on current Obama Administration programs and proposals. If we were to factor in historical outcomes of similar programs, like Medicare or Social Security, many of the likely outcomes increase in cost, problems, and severity.
Given the likely results of passage of the Health Care Reform, it become clear why the public opinion of this Bill is and has been so low. What is not clear is why politicians continue to promote the Bill in opposition to their voting constituents.
Eric Massa – the bluster and the let down
“So why are you here?” – Glenn Beck to Eric Massa
It was a question that many were asking during and after the interview between Glenn Beck and Eric Massa. The former NY Representative Massa had set the stage before appearing on the Glenn Beck show, declaring that he was forced out and that manipulation from the very top of government were the cause of his fall from grace. Such claims were enough to draw in Beck and Larry King.
You may not hear much about how Beck tried to get answers on the claims of corruption. He did, throughout the interview. You may not hear how Beck tried to understand how Congress works behind closed doors, or where the public should look to attack the corruption in Government that we all agree exists – in both political parties. You likely won’t hear about the frustration and anger that grew in Beck as he went back time and again to ask “Give us a name,” and “We have the shovels, tell us where to dig the dirt.”
Eric Massa stated mid-way into the program that he was not going to do anything except tell his version of events and go away after his subsequent interview with Larry King. He backed off his accusations against Rahm Emanuel, while trying to dance the fence with a claim that it did happen. He admited his wrong-doing, though he claimed it was not sexual or criminal. But he could not answer the simple question of why, if any of his statements before resigning his office were true, he would simply walk away rather than fight the good fight.
When Glenn Beck announced that he would have Massa on the program there was an electricity in the air. Because up until he appeared there was a small chance that the public would get to find out where the corruption was in Washington D.C. and given that window of opportunity we were ready to act. But it just seemed to good to be true. We all had that shred of doubt that the veil could be removed so easily. Even before the interview started Beck announced at the top of the show that he was unsure what we might or might not learn.
In the end Eric Massa gave the nation a disservice. He weakened the national trust in Government, he widened the gap between the Parties and within the Democrats. He sullied the good people he was elected to represent. He wasted the time of the audience of Glenn Beck and Larry King. He was drowning and trying to take as many with him as he could.
I don’t blame Beck, or Larry King for that matter. They were doing what they are supposed to do. Address the controversies and issues of the day. In the case of Beck, he tried to further give the public insight on how our nation is governed. But he wound up getting used, for whatever reason that Massa had that I could not dicern.
It could have been a great moment for the nation. It could have been a moment where a hero stood up among the politicians and polispeak. It could have been a moment that actually led to the “Change you can believe in” that America is still waiting for.
What it was instead was more akin to sour grapes, and the last breath of a wasted political career. It might have been good television, if you like soap operas, but it wasn’t what Massa had alleged prior. All that’s left now is the damage, to Beck and King and the nation.
Senator Gillibrand on voter concerns
The race for the New York junior Senate seat is considered likely to go to a Republican in November. Part of that is due to the lack of knowledge about the appointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand among voters in New York State. But there are other reasons that are even more the cause.
In August of 2009 the nation was filled with concern about the Health Care Reform and what it might mean to their lives. Democrat supporters across the nation had a choice to make, face their constituents in town halls and explain why they supported the Bill or hide from the masses. Senator Gillibrand chose to hide, along with Senator Charles Schumer.
Given that choice, I sent a letter to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer on August 11th. In that letter I asked 21 specific questions about the Health Care Reform Bill that they were supporting in the Senate. The simplest of those questions was
“Have you personally read and understood all 1000+ pages of the proposed Health Care Reform Bill?”
On September 10th I received a response from Senator Gillibrand. Not one of the 21 questions asked of Sen. Gillibrand – from a member of the press and a constituent – was answered by the reply. The full VERBATIM response can be seen at http://www.mvass.com/2009/09/17/senator-kirsten-gillibrand-responds-to-michael-vass/. That link will be very important in a moment.
The response, while hardly worth the time it took to cut and paste I suspect, was at least a response. A subsequent letter to Senator Gillibrand, on Sept 16, 2009, requesting a reasoning for her vote in favor of the now defunct ACORN went unanswered.
Since that time the debate over the Health Care Reform Bill continued unabated. The length of the Bill grew almost in proportion to the public sentiment against the Bill. In December of 2009, Senator Gillibrand along with Senator Schumer voted to pass the Senate version of the Bill, even before a final written copy of the Bill existed.
On February 20, 2010 as President Obama prepared to present his compromise Bill on the Health Care Reform to the public, I again wrote to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Schumer. I reiterate that I am both a member of the press and a constituent, being a resident and business owner in New York State. The letter in Febrary contained 4 questions for the Senators. The most simple questions being
I ask if you have read the final written version of the President’s modification that will be offered for reconciliation?”
On March 8, 2010 I recieved the answer from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The response, arriving at 5:29pm came from Senator@Gillibrand.senate.gov. This response was an OBVIOUS cut and paste response NOT to the questions asked. This can be verified by the drastically different fonts between the response and the signature portion of the email.
Far worse is the fact that the response on March 8th was a VERBATIM COPY of the exact response sent to me on September 10, 2009. The March 8, 2010 letter can be seen at http://www.mvass.com/2010/03/09/senator-kirsten-gillibrand-responds-to-vass-letter-on-health-care-reform/
Today at 10:30am I contacted the New York City office of Senator Gillibrand. I requested an on the record official answer as to why Senator Gillibrand sent out a cut and paste copy of a response from 6 months prior. I requested an official response to why, as a member of the press and a constituent of Senator Gillibrand, I received a response that failed to address, to even consider, the questions asked of my representative in the Senate. And I requested an offical response as to why throughout 7 months Senator Gillibrand seemingly willfully refused to answer the most simple of questions – if she has read ANY version of the Health Care Reform Bill that she ardently supports against the will of voters in New York State.
I was asked (by the press liason) which office I had sent my letters to [several went via regular mail and email to both the New York and Washington D.C. offices of Senator Gillibrand], as if that was a reason for the copied boilerplate response. I was told that there was no answer available for me for any of those points. I was further told that I would receive a response via telephone. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office was notified that I would publish my post shortly after 5pm today. As of this post I have received no response, via email or telephone.
While I do not advocate for any candidate for the junior Senate seat of New York, I present this for the consideration of the voters in New York State. The question voters should ask themselves is if they want a Senator that is willing to go against their views in Washington D.C., and at the same time unwilling to answer even the most simple question that constituents might have. Do the voters in New York want an elected official that cares seemingly so little that they recycle 6 month old boiler plate responses rather than address a single concern, or even updating the boiler plate response.
America has a representative democratic government, yet the responses of Senator Gillibrand seems woefully in opposition of that style of governance. I would suggest to blogs, organizations, and other members of the press (outside of the major media conglomerates), as well as voters, to ask questions of their elected officials as well. I will be more than happy to publish ANY verified authentic question and the VERBATIM response of the elected official. Because elected officials ARE accountable to the public.
As always, I will provide ANY and EVERY response from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Charles Schumer, and any elected official that I may speak with or chooses to respond to any item that I write. Those responses will always be VERBATIM.
I invite Senator Gillibrand to contact me to explain the emails that have been sent, the failure to respond to a member of the press and constituent, and to address any issue facing the residents of New York State and the nation (in that order).
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand responds to VASS letter on Health Care Reform
The following is the VERBATIM response received on March 8, 2010 from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand via Senator@Gillibrand.senate.gov. This letter was in response to a letter sent to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer on Febrary 20, 2010.
I want to point out that this letter from Senator Gillibrand is a VERBATIM COPY of the letter sent by Senator Gillibrand on September 10th, 2009.
March 8, 2010
Dear Mr. Vass,
Thank you for writing to me about the current state of our healthcare system. I appreciate your point of view and share many of your concerns. I believe that it is vital that we act now to bring forth health care reform solutions that will lower costs for those currently covered by private insurance, strengthen Medicare for seniors and allow every American to access quality and affordable health care.
Our healthcare system is currently badly broken. Over the last ten years, health care premium increases have far outpaced earned wages and forty-seven million Americans, including three million New Yorkers, are currently uninsured and an additional 25 million are underinsured. With our current economic situation, many Americans are losing their insurance coverage when they are laid off from their jobs. Even people who thought they were adequately covered with the health insurance they purchased later learn that they are not when facing a catastrophic diagnosis. This is unacceptable. No family should be one health care emergency away from bankruptcy. Congress must act to provide stability in the health insurance industry.
Quality care for the patient, affordability for families and small businesses, and patient choice are all important considerations in reforming our health care system. We need a plan in place that Americans will be able to afford, as well as allow them a true choice between competing health insurance plans. Having a public option, similar to a Medicare-for-all program, would create competition and result in lower health care costs across the board. If you are happy with the coverage you currently have, a public option would also allow you to keep it.
I have been a strong supporter of affordable, quality health insurance for all. I am committed to addressing this important issue and will work with my Senate colleagues on a bipartisan solution.
Thank you again for writing to express your concerns and I hope that you keep in touch with my office regarding future legislation and concerns you may have. For more information on this and other important issues, please visit my website at http://gillibrand.senate.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter.
Sincerely yours,
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator
My response to this letter will follow.
Congressional term limits
Congressional term limits is a subject that rarely ever gets discussed. Obviously Congress and the 2 major political Parties are less inclined to alter their power bases to any substatial degree. But it is a subject I have discussed before. I believe it is an issue well past due. It is something we can alter.
I would love to hear the response of any and all elected officials on this subject. I cannot imagine a reason that Congressional term limits should not apply, but I am open to hear them. Specifically I would like to hear them addressed to the following 8 items. [I did not create this Congressional Reform Act of 2010 but having received it, and read it, I do agree with it.]
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
- A. Two Six year Senate terms
- B. Six Two year House terms
- C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
- A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
- All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
- The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Regardless of personal political leanings, I believe we all can agree on the above. If you do, please pass this on to others. We can make it happen, because We The People are the power of America.
Send it to your elected officials and let’s see how they respond.
Former Rep. Eric Massa
There is no lack of buzz in the political world right now over the resignation of Eric Massa from the House of Representatives. But the main questions that should be asked are generally avoided at this moment.
Eric Massa was a freshman to the House of Representatives. He was also opposed to the Health Care Reform Bill that continues to move forward as a partisan Bill without the majority support of the public. His resignation has been attributed to health concerns, inappropriate comments to a staffer, and now machinations within the Democrat leadership.
This may be an example of sour grapes. A means to get back at those that have not supported Massa as he was ushered out of office in disgrace. But another picture also exists when looked at from the landscape of New York politics and the Health Care Reform Bill.
Currently Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) is undergoing investigation for multiple ethics violations. This is a process that has been in the works for 2 years. Rep. Rangel has repeatedly misreported hundreds of thousands of dollars in income, property ownership, and potentially misuse of Congressional power. This has caused Rep. Rangel to step down as head of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, temporarily at least, but not forced him to vacate his seat. Rangel supports the Health Care Reform strongly.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also supports the Health Care Reform strongly. The junior Senator for New York was not elected to her seat, but was appointed by Governor Patterson (who also holds a position that was not elected). Senator Gillibrand is seeking re-election, and has had all Democrat challengers removed by the Democrat leadership.
Governor Patterson is also familiar with scandal. He has decided to end his campaign to be re-elected as Governor of New York. Currently he has strong opposition to his continuation as Governor, led by New York Democrat leadership. He has been accused of tampering with a witness, and abusing the power of his office in securing Yankee tickets. It is also known that Gov. Patterson angered the White House and Democrat leadership by seeking re-election.
Without addressing the innocence or guilt of any of the elected officials involved, there does appear to be a pattern. That pattern is one in which those that support the Obama Administration and its policies are sheilded while those that are opposed are out of favor and subject to the harshest criticism. Massa claims this is exactly why he was forced out. Which is not dissimilar to comments made by Harold Ford Jr. initially about his decision to not seek the Democrat ticket for the junior Senate seat for New York.
Politics is never a clear path. There is almost always in-fighting and battles over power, clashes of political favor vs political support, and variances of political views in each Party. But the current problems in New York State seem to suggest that active manipulation in favor of political agendas, over the concerns of the public, are in play.
If that is even true in part, it is a violation of the core principles of the nation. It also raises the concerns of what is happening in other parts of the nation.
Eric Massa will be appearing later today on the Glenn Beck program. Far-left blogs are sure to attack every aspect of this program as they regularly do to Beck and Fox News in general. But the question is bigger than a dislike of a news commentator or a news organization. It is what is happening to elected officials, if even part of what Massa says is true.
If true even in part, what does this mean about the Health Care Reform? How does this reflect on the “Lousiana Purchase” (Sen. Landrieu’s $300 million deal to vote in favor of the Senate version of the Health Care Reform Bill) and the “Cornhusker Kickback” (Senator Ben Nelson’s deal for Nebraska). What does it mean in terms of the actions of Rahm Emanuel in enacting legislation? Is there a connection to the repeated swift voting on Bills in the House and Senate, even before many of the Bills have been finished being written? Worse yet, what else might be done as an act of persevation of the political status quo versus the views and opinions of the constituents across the nation?
These are troubling questions. This is a troubling time for America. Eric Massa may just be full of sour grapes. This may just be a cover for his own actions and the repercussions they have brought. But if it is even slightly more than that, if it is accurate… what does this mean for America?
Did President Obama “get it”?
Do you recall the State of the Union Address? You might remember President Obama mentioning that he got it. That the American people wanted to have the Government focus on the economy and jobs.
Since that time, the White House has pushed forward efforts to pass the Health Care Reform under any and all means. That included a 6 hour long “discussion” between Democrats, Republicans and President Obama in which Democrats repeatedly stated that every Republican concern was “in there, just in a different way”.
In addition the Democrat-led Congress has voted to extended unemployment benefits, again. This time ignoring (again) the very rule to balance any spending with an equal source of funding. That cost another $10 billion to the deficit, and didn’t create a single long or short term job.
While that has been happening the Obama Administration has touted the recent unemployment numbers. They tried to champion how effective the Obama Stimulus has been since unemployment has remained at 9.7%. Though they forgot to mention that this numbner only exists because of the roughly 1 million people that dropped off of the unemployment benefits roll (and thus no longer exist to the Government) and that the 1 million jobs for the census are included though they are temprary. And in the cracks was a bit of news about how in many States jobs that were extened because of the Obama Stimulus has dwindled as this illusionary money has been used up.
Considering all these facts in the last month, what might you expect the White House to tackle next? How about Congress?
For the White House the answer is to move onto immigration. Today President Obama will meet with Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to discuss an immigration Bill. This is an attempt to fulfill a campaign promise, and engender support from the left before the struggle for the mid-term elections take hold. How this improves the economy, or creates jobs, is beyond this writer to understand.
One might ask say Sen. Schumer how working on immigration will help the people of New York get jobs; as the State he represents just reported an underemployed rate of 14.3% for 2009, up 6.2% from 2008. But to ask such a question would likely be met with the same response this writer has received from asking the simple question of whether or not Sen. Schumer has read completely any version of the Health Care Reform. Or the question of why he refused to hold any town hall meetings with constituents to justify his support of the reviled Health Care Reform?
The answers to date on these and other questions remains unknown as Senator Schumer (and Senator Gillibrand, as well as Representaitve Hinchey) has refused to answer repeatedly.
As for what Congress is now doing, well it could be called a lot of nothing. There is the ever on-going (over 2 years now) actions with Rep. Rangel, and the resignation of Rep. Massa (both of New York State). There is the push to find a way to pass Health Care Reform in the most partisan manner possible (even though the real question is internal Democrat support). But there is some feeble attempt to address the question of jobs, as the Congress moves closer to passing Obama Stimulus 2 – since the first was so effective.
Overall the question voters and citizens should ask is if any of this is the message they wanted Congress and the Obama Administration to get. Was this what national polls and voters in Massachuesetts meant to give our elected Government? Is this the focus we wanted to have Washington focus on?
Almost 30 days later, the words of the State of the Union seem so much more like campaign promises than goals for the nation.
Doing the most with the least
There is an old saying, that I am probably getting only partially right, that goes
“Blacks can do more with less, because we have to.”
I recall that saying from way back, maybe the 70’s or 80’s. There is no question of how true it was then. But in a “post-racial America” is that still a true statement?
A recent report from a National Sleep Foundation telephone poll of more than 1,000 people from the four ethnic groups (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White) found some interesting data that may hold the answer. Their conclusion, African Americans do more with less every day right now.
The study found that African Americans are more likely to contemplate work issuesand finances, pray, and have sex before going to sleep than any other group of people. In addition African Americans need the least amount of sleep of any of the groups polled. Which is interesting. Whites and Asians were more likely to blame a lack of sleep for harming their work, and negatively impacting household duties and care for their family.
It seems interesting considering that unemployment levels have always been higher among African Americans than any other group. Currently the unemployment rate among African Americans is double the national average. Yet, based on this poll, this is the very same group that does the most work in a day. African Americans accomplish more in a day, we can infer, yet they receive less pay (historically) and are less employed.
When you consider the stereotypes that play out to this day in the media, and among the more small minded, it is the exact opposite of what is found. When you see images of unemployment lines, in any city in the nation, you see images of African Americans and Latinos. Yet these are the groups that work hardest, often at the most menial jobs, and now we have data stating they do so with the least sleep. Which doesn’t even touch on the fact that the majority of people in the nation are White, and logically therefore the main portion of people receiving welfare, unemployment, and other government aide.
There is no direct point to be made here. Just a general observation. That in a “post-racial” time the realities don’t match the expectations that the media continues to promote. Doesn’t it make anyone curious why?
Senator Gillibrand on New York State economy
Yesterday Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was in Binghamton to discuss that small businesses might survive in the current economic downturn. There were several ideas that Sen. Gillibrand suggested
Senator Gillibrand was also recently on the radio (WWRL) to furhter expand on her ideas to help Upstate New York.
Let’s think about just the business aspect of what Senator Gillibrand has said. Keeping manufacturing in New York and the creation of tax credits and loans.
A tax credit is a great idea, if you have the money. It was one of the key concepts of the Obama Stimulus. That businesses would be able to offset part of the cost of new employees with tax credits, making hiring more affordable.
Loans were another idea of the Obama Administration. It too was part of the Obama Stimulus. Billions were put in place for banks and credit unions to give loans to small businesses so they could expand.
Thus the net of the ideas of Senator Gillibrand appears to be more of what has already been put in place since February of 2009.
That concept, in effect for a year, has had a definitive effect on New York State. Unemployment increased to 8.6% as of December 2009 in the Broome County area alone. As of the most recent report, unemployment currently stands at 9.7% for Broome County. For the State the figures are (after being seasonally readjusted) 7.1% January 2009, 8.9% December 2009, and 8.8% January 2010. Comparing 2008 to 2009 the unemployment rate for the State increased by 58.1% to 813,400 in 2009.
Perhaps the most telling stat is the number of underemployed which counts total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers. That figure works out to be 14.3% for New York State in 2009 versus 9.6% in 2008, and 8.1% in 2007.
Somehow, businesses are not improving and many have left the State. Loans have been created, funds allocated, grants granted. Why has there been a net reduction if the plans that Democrats, Senator Gillibrand, and President Obama have championed are so great?
Maybe the fact that taxes continue to increase is a factor. Drawing more money from businesses of all sizes just to pay taxes leaves less for expansion or even staying even. Add to that the fact that to get a grant or loan a business must meet specific government restrictions, and fill out more than a few forms that are hardly simplified, then survive and wait for approval if they will receive it. Thus making the number of people that qualify a small pool, and those receiving the money even smaller. Add to that the fact that tax credits require upfront money that the government does not help with, as mentioned above.
Another item that Senator Gillibrand failed to mention was her support of the Health Care Reform Bill and Cap & Trade. The Health Care Reform Bill increases taxes on businesses, as well as taking funds out of the pockets of citizens mandatorially. The Cap & Trade Bill proposed to skyrocket energy costs by 150% or more, for businesses and individuals. Which then limits the funds to hire workers, plus limiting the funds consumers have to buy the higher priced goods.
Faced with one of the highest taxed States in the nation, proposed increases in energy costs, potentially iminent increases in costs due to the Health Care Reform, and fewer purchases from a growing number of consumers that are underemployed and thus incapable of buying, do loans and tax credits sound like a stimulative action?
Senator Gillibrand sounds positive. The ideas sound like they can have an effect. But when you stop to really look at what has been proposed and the effect it has had in the past, the question becomes why do more of the same?
What does a trillion really mean to you?
As Congress debates the positives and negatives of the Health Care Reform, and insits on spending even more money on yet another Obama Stimulus, amounts of money in billions and trillions are being tossed about. The numbers are so large that a mere 10 years ago the only people using such a term was predominantly astrophyicsts. Truly the numbers are beyond the perspective of virtually everyone on the planet – especially in Congress.
So let’s stop for a moment and try to get some perspective on exactly how much money Congress is planning to spend, and how bad the national debt has become.
Starting from the familiar, $100, let’s work up to $1,000,000,000,000 (yeah that’s a lot of zeros).
Ok, let’s step it up to 1,000,000,000. A small amount according to Congress that spends tens of billions to do anything.
If you just think of a trillion with the simple math of 1,000,000 (which most can envision) it works out like this.
Ok, maybe it still doesn’t make sense. Think of it this way, what can you buy with a trillion dollars? What is a trillion dollars worth?
So far the Obama Stimulus cost $862 billion dollars, $75 billion more than expected in just one year. IF it’s cost overruns are consistent that means it will cost 1.087 trillion at the end of President Obama’s presidency in 2012, conservatively. That number doesn’t count a penny of interest, because every dime of that money was borrowed and must be paid back with interest. It also does not include the proposed $150 billion in borrowed funds proposed for this years Obama Stimulus 2.
The Health Care Reform, if passed, will start at about $950 billion dollars. Considering that everything in the Government cost more than promised we can call it $1 trillion and be insanely conservative. If it is only as successful as Medicare/Medicaide/Social Security it will add hundreds of billions to the national debt, if it is less successful it will add trillions, if it is more only tens of billions.
The national debt currently stands at $12.4 trillion dollars and growing. Which leads to a couple of numbers that we all can understand.
Now that you have a better grasp of the numbers that Congress tosses about without pause, how do you feel?
Binghamton unemployment reflects the nation
Binghamton, New York is my home. It is a central hub for New York State, has one of the major State colleges, and one of the larger cities. In many ways it reflects life across the nation in areas outside of major metropolitan areas like New York City. As such the question is how effective has the Obama Administration and Democrat leadership been?
Today there is news of a drop in the national weekly jobless rate. The number fell to 469,000 or 1,000 less than expected. The 4 week average dropped 3,500 to 470,000. This does not offset the increase of 20,000 to the average since the start of the year, but is being looked at as a positive sign. But another key in the equation is that productivity rose to 6.9% – a sign that employers are increasing productivity without adding new employees. And the national rate is now 9.8%.
Looking at the unemployment rate for Binghamton (Broome/Tioga County to be exact) we see a different situation. Unemployment is now 9.7%, reflecting the national average according to Senior Economist Christian Harris. Worse news is that this is up from 8.6% in December 2009, and a record high according to the Department of Labor.
This is after millions from the Obama Stimulus, the $400 tax credit, the weatherization credit to improve the “green” of homes, and other Government intervention actions. Right now, downtown Binghamton is a mostly vacant area, with roughly half of the new businesses started last year now closed. The unemployment data does not include those that have used up the 26 weeks of traditional unemployment, and the 73 weeks of additional extentions. The data also does not include any of the small business owners that closed their doors, since they do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
Looking at this data, the question becomes what is the most important issue for the public? Is it health care? it is an issue as those that have lost their jobs normally also lose their health insurance. But if a person who has no job or funds cannot pay their rent, will a mandatory payment to a government health program improve their quality of life? Is the important issue how “green” their home and workplace is? Again without a job the electric bill cannot be paid, but if the cost of electricity goes higher the strain on whatever funds are available increases. Thus the “savings” that buying new weatherization – which requires an initial outlay of funds that are unavailable – are never realized. Combining the added cost of a mandatory health insurance, increased energy costs, and/or weatherization costs add up to significant pressure on the average person.
This equation is is not done though. Add in the effect of new taxes, or fees as some are called, on items as wide as sugary food. Add in the effect of bank fee increases to offset the new tax that banks will incur for success and the repayment of the TARP funds. Add in the taxes on higher incomes (even if those incomes no longer exist), and proposed increases in property taxes. And then factor the non-existence of changes in mortgage rates, though the Obama Administration pushed billions into a program to do just that which has failed.
At what point does any of this sound like a situation that is improving? At what point does the main concern (jobs) of the population of Binghamton, and the nation, seem to be addressed?
Given all of this President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, Senator Gillibrand, and Senator Schumer all insist that health care reform is the most critical issue facing the public right now. This group supports and has helped to ram through Health Care Reform, often without various versions being fully written and without any indication that they have read the Bill. This group touts the success of the Obama Stimulus – since 2009 there has been over $18 million spent in Broome County, $273,000 in Binghamton for a net of 225 and 3 jobs created respectively (according to the White House and NONE according to the CBO) – though quick math implies that at least some 1500 or more jobs were lost just since December alone.
Perhaps Binghamton and the nation is on the cusp of an imporvement in the economy. Perhaps the millions spent so far will revive business. Perhaps all of these future improvements will counter all the known ramifications of increased taxes and fees on the average citizen. But that’s a lot of guesswork based on faith in the Government alone.
Has the economy improved? Has the quality of life been enhanced? Have the actions of President Obama, and specifically New York Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer, been the equal at least of the expectations and desires of the public? According to the facts the answer is no. But the mid-term elections are still months away, and there is a lot of Government spending to come. We will see how this all affects America together.
