HEALTH CARE – SO EASY A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT

1 – Restrict punitive damages in malpractice suits to $750,000.
2 – Enact a federal coding standard… require all medical insurance companies to use the same system. If the industry won’t standardize itself, this is an appropriate role for the federal government.
3 – Repeal all laws that restrict which companies can operate in certain states.
4 – Prohibit employers (including government) from providing health insurance for employees. Instead, require them to provide a cash amount consistent to what they are currently paying for the policy today.

This allows all insurance companies to operate anywhere, with no protected territories.
This eliminates unnecessary overhead due to proprietary legacy billing systems.
This eliminates the motive for trial lawyers to jack claims to get rich. Trial lawyers can’t sue someone for 85 bazillion dollars for having a sponge sewn up inside them. Consequently, malpractice insurance is cheaper.
Employers no longer have the overhead associated with administering a health care benefit.
Each person/family can now go out and buy their own policy.

5 – Abolish Medicaid and Medicare.
6 – Establish a reasonable income limit (use current Medicaid eligibility guidelines + 20%) and give the poor a voucher to go buy their own policy.

Cost to enact? The government will need a small bureaucracy to administer the voucher program. This would best be handled at the state or county level and should be funded federally with some of the money that we no longer spend on Medicaid or Medicare.

Benefits: Former state dependents (Medicaid recipients), now become empowered consumers. They probably can’t add more cash to the amount of their voucher to buy an upscale policy. Many of them will become ruthless price hawks, trying to get the most coverage for that money.

A basic flaw our current system is that my health insurance does not work for me. They work for my employer. If they don’t give me the service I want, I have no recourse. Under the plan I listed above, every insurance company will be responsible to every customer. They will be forced to compete in a market that they had previously not. If Single Mom has Allstate health insurance, and Geico offers free dental, don’t you think she’ll switch? If Busy Businessman is getting hassled trying to get his claims paid by Nationwide, don’t you think he’ll find a hassle free company? It’s self policing.

Stigma – Do you know how hard it is to find a dentist that takes Medicaid? Some folks are also embarrassed having to tell someone that they are on government assistance. This plan removes that stigma. No health care provider will know how you paid for your insurance.

Some government oversight is in place because insurance companies will have to justify rate increases (affects the cost of vouchers) to Congress.

HR 45 is a bad bill on many levels.  The largest problem is that it is indicative of the lack of respect for state sovereignty.  The pending legislation regarding a national emissions standards bill is another example.  Requiring the automakers to manufacture vehicles that conform to a national standard is one thing.  Forcing states to spend money to enforce it on existing vehicles is entirely another.  Forcing poor people to scrap their perfectly good vehicle is abominable.  Forcing small garages to yet again invest in thousands of dollars worth of new equipment is another travesty.  Do you know any small garages that do inspections?   Ask them how they feel about it.

We can get all worked up about the gun bill, or the car bill, or whatever else comes down the pike… or we can address the real, underlying issue.  The federal government simply does not have the right to impose any of these regulations.  It is amazing to me how backward the public regards this issue.  The majority actually think that the states have to prove the case.

Arguments in favor of federal regulation rest on two legs:

US Constitution, Article 1 Section. 8. Clause 3:

“Congress shall have power to… To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;”

and clause 18:

“The Congress shall have Power – To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”

This does not however, support most federal regulation.  Let’s use the emissions regulation as an example.  The federal position will be that states must comply in order to keep interstate commerce regular, in the sense that we won’t have cars on one state that can’t be sold in another.  That’s pretty weak isn’t it?  It’s also wrong.  Since some states do have emissions regulations, it can be argued that the federal government can regulate the auto industry to meet the emissions requirements of the most stringent, thereby facilitating interstate commerce.  Realize also, that this regulation can only be applied to a car that will be sold.  In the absence of a transaction, the federal government has no power to regulate.  If I don’t plan on selling my car, there is no legal case that would support requiring me to adhere to a federal emissions standard.  The only way it can be justified is if it is made part of the process for an interstate vehicle sale.

So, who has the case to prove?  Not the states.  The tenth amendment reads:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

New Hampshire (or any state) need only assert its right to be free of this federal regulation (prohibited to it by the states).  The federal government must then make the legal case showing that emissions regulation is “necessary and proper” legislation to regulate interstate commerce… with the point being that it helps interstate commerce.

So… isn’t it time we started making federal lawmakers and administrations do their job?  Isn’t it time that we started requiring our state lawmakers to do theirs?  Instead of hand wringing and helplessly accepting every new regulation… just say no.  The legal burden is clearly on the federal government to prove why they have the power.  It is not incumbent upon the states to prove their rights… they’re written down pretty clearly.

Steve

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Tim Phillips, President of Americans for Prosperity and Senator Jim Demint (R-SC) gave a great conference call Town Hall meeting last night. Approximately 11,000 concerned Americans called in. Both Mr. Phillips and Senator Demint gave short introductions, and then took questions from the callers. Senator Demint answered the questions while running back into the Senate chamber every so often to vote, or introduce an amendment to strip the pork out. This was an amazing, and encouraging example of fiscal conservative activism, and an inspiring leader.

Senator Demint made it clear that his first goal was to defeat the legislation. However, realizing that with the help of some shaky Republicans like Senator Snowe from Maine, the legislation may pass. Consequently, he is doing everything he can to minimize the damage that will be done by this bill. When a caller asked the Senator if the economy was as bad as the news made it out to be, and did we really need a stimulus, he replied clearly that it would be better to do nothing than pass this bill. This bill will add $10,000 of new debt to every family in America. We just can’t afford that.

You can learn more about the bill at http://nostimulus.com While you are there, please sign the petition expressing your opposition to this bill. This petition will be delivered to the floor of the Senate before the vote, which is expected Friday. There are also buttons there for you to call media, and email elected officials. Make no mistake, as Americans learn more about this plan, the support drops every day. One recent poll has it at 30%. Senators up for re-election may choke and not vote for this if we can show enough opposition.

You can also go to http://www.jimdemint.com and express support for a jobs plan that ensures that businesses will be profitable, and therefore hiring… and ensures that people will spend… all by reducing taxes and leaving the money where it will do the most good. After all, it doesn’t cost anything to not take money.

Did you know that we have achieved a level of indebtedness that makes China think twice before lending us money? They are losing confidence in our ability to pay our debts. What if this spending package doesn’t work? At some point, the tap gets turned off. We need real solutions that rely on creativity and free enterprise that are sustainable and permanent. Our current level of debt is so high that if we were to apply to the European Union for membership, we would be denied as a debtor nation. They have standards. I’m embarrassed.

Americans for Prosperity and Senator Demint are doing everything that I hoped a Republican grassroots coalition would do. Let’s make it work. Please commit a little time to do the following. It’s important, and just might make the difference.

1 – Go to http://nostimulus.com and at least sign the petition. If you have time, use the tools there to send an email to an elected official. We don’t have time for letters to the editor, we need fast impact.

2 – This one is critical. Call 202-224-3121. When the Capitol switchboard answers, ask for your Senator. Tell them that you want them to vote against this spending plan. If you have time, call someone else’s Senator as well.

3 – Ask someone else to make the same call.

4 – Go to http://www.jimdemint.com and give him a quick thank you for his efforts. Check out his one page, zero cost stimulus package:

http://demint.senate.gov/public/_files/2009-02-02_DeMint_Jobs_Plan_Summary.pdf

Please, make the phone call in item 3. If we can jam the switchboard, the main stream media, heck even MSNBC will report it and then maybe they’ll blink, and not pass the package. Call 202-224-3121, ask for the Senator of your choice, and express your outrage.

It was a very good night to be a Conservative activist.

Steve

Send this to everyone you can.

Steve Smith

nhrepublican@gmail.com

603-826-5996

Several states have felt so encroached upon, that they have felt the
need to issue resolutions to the federal government regarding their
proper role… as defined by the Constitution.  Arizona, Missouri, and
Washington have followed our lead and introduced similar resolutions.
We believe that Texas is next.  It is high time that we started
obeying our own laws, and high time that we said no to more federal
power grabs.  Please read:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0006.html

States’ Rights: Gun Control, Involuntary Servitude, Martial Law: HCR6
Title: affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.
Public hearing: 1:00 PM Thursday, Feb 5, LOB 203, 33 N State Street,
Concord

Please contact the committee members and ask them to pass HCR6.
Here are their email addresses:

lars@taybre.net
mbaldasaro@comcast.net
alexis.chininis@gmail.com
dennis.fields@leg.state.nh.us
kpanne@juno.com
georgekatsiantonis@hotmail.com
kriseroberts@live.com
todd.smith@leg.state.nh.us
frank.emiro@leg.state.nh.us
jtwo101588@aol.com
valerie.hardy@leg.state.nh.us
cynthiapsweeney@yahoo.com
baldwindomingo@yahoo.com
sarah.hutz@unh.edu
pgmff@comcast.net
mike.rollo@leg.state.nh.us

Some members don’t have email addresses:
Rep. Leo Pepino (603)624-1476
Rep. Robert Haley (603)668-7832
Rep. Thomas Katsiantonis (603)627-9652

Thanks for your help.

Steve Smith
nhfirst@gmail.com
603-826-5996

People of NH, in response to the current economic crisis, your state government has decided to give you a 5% cut in pay, effective July of this year.  Have a nice summer.

NH is currently considering HB 583-FN-A-LOCAL, which establishes a 5% income tax to fund education and also strips local control of teachers by making them all state employees.
If those two facts alone are not enough reason to vote against this bill, let’s consider what the bill does not address.

1 – How many additional employees will the state hire to administer this?  Since they claim that all the money is for education, how will these new employees be paid?
2 – How much will the forms costs?
3 – Will there be an efile option?  Who will administer that?  How much will that cost?
4 – How much will it cost to send refunds to taxpayers after they file their returns?
5 – Considering the rural nature of the state, and the lack of any central news service, and the draconian seizure/enforcement methods included in this bill… how will our state government ensure that each and every NH resident is educated about this new program after it is passed, and before it is implemented?  Do they find out when their paycheck is 95% of what it used to be?
6 – Before the state seizes control of the teachers (makes them state employees) from our towns, should the towns be asked how they feel about that?  Do we now in a live in a state where your town government is irrelevant?
7 – Will there be any negative impact on hiring?  I’m assuming the business will be forced to eat the overhead associated with this new bureaucracy.  Do businesses think that their current staff can handle it, or will they need more HR staff, and consequently less production staff?
8 – A provision was included that you could not get a state license or registration if you were not current in your tax payments.   Taxpayers are also required to report changes in income within 6 months of the event, and retain their tax records for 3 years, to be produced upon demand by the tax authority.  (You must have your papers)  If someone is non-compliant in this, guilty of losing papers, will they lose their drivers license?

It’s like I died and woke up in…. Massachusetts.

Steve Smith – Charlestown, NH

They should do one thing at a time, do it well, and then move on

All across America, people are worried that they will be included in the next round of layoffs and lose their homes. Americans fight a daily battle to make do with less. There are people eating ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese trying to save money for that rainy day that always seems to be right around the corner.

Some of our state legislators are either unaware of this struggle, or simply don’t care. A good example is HB 427-FN-A-LOCAL. You can read it for yourself here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HB0427.html. This bill calls for a $25 annual licensing fee for “equines”. Proof of rabies vaccination will be required.

So, big deal… only rich people have horses, right? Wrong. First of all, some people sacrifice a lot to keep horses out of love for the animals. Secondly, is it really the government’s place to stereotype people in this manner?

People who board horses will be affected, as will some farmers. The bill applies to “equine as defined by RSA 436:93”. The definition in RSA 436:93 is as follows – “”Equine” means any member of the equine family which includes horses, mules, asses and zebra.”

Let’s be clear about the motive behind this. There is no public safety issue, no imminent rabies threat; in fact there hasn’t been a case for years. This is simply a way to pick the pockets of a very specific group of taxpayers to raise revenue. Shame on them.

The state government is in the midst of a sweeping review of their budget, and a massive undertaking to cut back costs and expenses. The Sullivan County Republican Committee applauds these efforts.

We must resist the urge for panic measures. We should allow the state to go through their process and then see if we really have a revenue problem. This bill actually states that while they aren’t requesting additional personnel to deal with all the extra work involved in creating and tracking these new licenses and payments, it will add significantly to the workload of an existing “Data Control Clerk II”. Towns are on their own to figure out how to deal with it.

We believe that the best course of action is to not distract the legislature from their most important task, reducing their spending. We should also stop giving already swamped state employees other things to do, and allow them to focus on the massive budget cut mandates that they are already dealing with.

###

For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact:

Steven Smith

Communications Chairman

Sullivan County Republican Committee

http://sullivangop.org

nhrepublican@gmail.com

603-826-5996