Mooresville Decatur Times: Tea Party Patriots bent on defunding Obamacare Amy Hillenburg ahillenb@md-times September 25, 2013, last update: 9/25 @ 11:32 am The Morgan County Tea Party Patriots, led by chairman Brent Gentry, had an informative meeting for the public Thursday on the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obama care. They brought in special speakers, including Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, David Blank, physician, businessman and Tea Party activist in Indiana; and Stephanie Kreuz of the Heritage Action for America (regional chairman). They explained their push to defund Obama care in a joint House Resolution 62. The Mooresville Public Library was filled with Patriots and visiting members of the public, curious about how Obama care will affect them. The Patriots are an activist and informative group that strives to educate citizens on the Constitution and issues that face them. They introduced U.S. Representative Todd Rokita’s American Health Care Reform Act. The proposal was written by the working groups members — RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, Working Group Chairman Dr. Phil Roe, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Renee Ellmers, Rep. John Fleming, Rep. Paul Gosar and Rokita. The Patriots believe this is a first step forward in returning to patient-first health care rooted in free market principles. Rokita, a Republican for Indiana’s Dist. 4, wants market forces to direct health care to those who do not have it. The bill would also completely repeal Obama care. Important highlights of the bill include tax deductions to income and payroll taxes of $7,500 per individual and $20,000 per family and applies to employer-sponsored, individual or small-group market plans. The bill would increase maximum contributions to health savings accounts, increases access to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and veterans to use HSAs in future years. Rokita’s plan also ensures affordable coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions an allows Americans to purchase health care across state lines. He wants to restore anti-trust laws to the health insurance marketplace to foster competition and making Medicare claims data public. Blank said news reports are coming out about defunding Obama care every day. “I thought all this was a done deal,” he said. Blank said the ACA will make it difficult for people who have jobs, but make too much money for Medicare and also for small business entrepreneurs. The rush to reduce full-time hours of some employees is proof of that, Blank said. It’s almost easier for them to pay the fines for not insuring workers — but they still don’t have a health care plan. This will put even a higher burden on emergency rooms. He said 300 hospitals have been closed in California and IU Health is laying off more workers; 800 to be exact. “We have the momentum with us,” Blank said. “Seven out of 10 voters have concerns and questions about Obama care. The unions may be ready to jump on board with us because they’ve had promises made to them by the President that haven’t been met (exemptions, etc.). People become agitated when Congress makes rules for the population that its members don’t follow themselves. They are opting out of Obama care.” Not really Constitutional Mourdock said Obama care was ruled as Constitutional by the Supreme Court in 2012, and that Congress has a right to tax. But he said it is really a mandate for the federal government to tell the people that they have to buy something. Mourdock said if nothing is done about Obama care, the Senate could push it on through. Or, the bill could be slowed down by funding it in October and then addressing it in the next election. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said this won’t actually defund Obama care, which gets its funding from Medicare and Medicaid. So Medicare beneficiaries could lost their fully-paid annual wellness doctor’s visit if funding is cut off, and prescription costs could rise. According to C-Span and the Associated Press, the U.S. Senate is debating a motion to proceed to H.J. Res. 59 that will fund the federal government through Dec. 15, but defund the Affordable Care Act. Majority Leader Reid was reported to be attempting to pass an alternative version of Res. 59 without the amendment to defund Obama care. In response, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has made it know that he would filibuster any Senate continuing resolution that makes major changes to what the House has passed. This all may result in the likelihood of a federal government shutdown if the House and Senate cannot agree, the C-Span report stated. The Patriots encouraged citizens to write letters to the editor, contact their reps and use social media skills to sign petitions and navigate the information process.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:35:41 +0000
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