Some relief?
Bits ‘n Pieces
By Bob Robinson
Sept. 14. 2010
From Rasmussen Reports…
Gangster Government Stifles Criticism of Obamacare
Washington Examiner columnist, Michael Barone
"There will be zero tolerance for this type of misinformation and unjustified rate increases." That sounds like a stern headmistress dressing down some sophomores who have been misbehaving. But it's actually from a letter sent Thursday from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans -- the chief lobbyist for private health insurance companies.
Sebelius objects to claims by health insurers that they are raising premiums because of increased costs imposed by the Obamacare law passed by Congress last March.
She acknowledges that many of the law's "key protections" take effect later this month and does not deny that these impose additional costs on insurers. But she says that "according to our analysis and those of some industry and academic experts, any potential premium impact ... will be minimal."
Well, that's reassuring. Er, except that if that's the conclusion of "some" industry and academic experts, it's presumably not the conclusion of all industry and academic experts, or the secretary would have said so.
For the full story, copy and paste…
From the Columbus Dispatch…
Joe Hallett commentary
Strickland struggling to swim against Republican tide
The results of last Sunday's Dispatch Poll indicate that Gov. Ted Strickland might soon need a game-changer to win a second term.
A superior performance in Tuesday night's first televised debate against Republican nominee John Kasich would help. A major gaffe by Kasich would help Strickland even more.
Don't count on either. Although Kasich sometimes shoots from the lip, he has too much experience in front of cameras as a former commentator for Fox News to say anything really damaging to his cause.
Like a canary in a cage, Strickland is trapped in an environment not of his making, seemingly with no way out beyond the hand of providence. The recession has put Ohio voters in a punishing mood. Strickland is their whipping boy. Kasich only has to say, "I was not governor when Ohio lost 382,000 more jobs."
Strickland acknowledged in Delaware on Thursday that he is struggling against a Republican tide.
"Let me be straight with you: The political climate right now is like salmon swimming upstream," he said. "But let me remind you, those salmon always get upstream. They get to where they're going. I think I'm going to get to where I need to be."
Still, there is no discounting the voter anger that dripped from the Dispatch Poll, which showed Kasich ahead by 12 points. Patty Hart, 50, a substitute teacher from Ashland, summed up the sentiments of many when she said she would back Kasich because, "I don't see new jobs or businesses coming to Ohio."
For full story, copy and paste…
From the Akron Beacon Journal…
Bipartisan choice
Thanks to George Voinovich the U.S. Senate will move this week to approve a package of incentives for small business. The Ohio Republican will join Democrats to achieve the necessary 60 votes to end debate on the measure.
Voinovich told the Washington Post the country doesn't have time for partisan ''messaging.'' He understands the difficulty in gaining access to credit. Among other things, the legislation would route $30 billion to community banks for lending to small businesses. Both parties play political games. What's refreshing is to see a lawmaker say: Enough.
From Associated Press…
Boehner says he'd support a middle-class tax cut
By Douglass Daniel
WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader John Boehner says he would vote for President Obama's plan to extend tax cuts only for middle-class earners, not the wealthy, if that were the only option available to House Republicans.
Boehner, R-Ohio, said it is "bad policy" to exclude the highest-earning Americans from tax relief during the recession, and later Sunday he accused the White House of "class warfare." But he said he wouldn't block the breaks for middle-income individuals and families if Democrats won't support the full package.
Income tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush will expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts and Obama signs the bill. Obama said he would support continuing the lower tax rates for couples earning up to $250,000 or single taxpayers making up to $200,000. But he and the Democratic leadership in Congress refused to back continued lower rates for the fewer than 3 percent of Americans who make more than that.
The cost of extending the tax cuts for everyone for the next 10 years would approach $4 trillion, according to congressional estimates. Eliminating the breaks for the top earners would reduce that bill by about $700 billion.
Boehner's comments signaled a possible break in the logjam that has prevented passage.
Have a great day and feel safe and secure. Big Brother watches over us.
Watch for more Bits ‘n Pieces as they occur. Good stuff? Bad stuff? You decide.
Bob Robinson is the retired editor of The Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio. If you wish to receive notification of his comments, opinions and reports when they are posted, send your email address to: opinionsbybob@gmail.com. Feel free to express your views.
No comments:
Post a Comment