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John Graham of the Pacific Research Institute details a few fun facts in this video about HealthCare.gov, but the one that sticks out is this, a letter from Majority Leader Harry Reid to HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius sent on July 21st. The letter seems to indicate that Reid has finally read the health care bill, and after discovering it hurts Nevada hospitals more than it helps them, is complaining to the administration. You can read the full Reid letter here:
In a July 21 letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Service Kathleen Sebelius, the Senate Majority Leader complains that ObamaCare’s cuts to Medicare will “result in a net reduction in payment to Nevada’s hospitals when they are unable to absorb such a cut.” Furthermore, he questions the method used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to calculate the payments to hospitals, and is “very concerned about potential effects on beneficiary access if this regulation is finalized without adjustment.”
But that’s the entire point of the measure you worked so hard to pass, Sen. Reid! Roughly half of the estimated cost of Obamacare is, according to the Congressional Budget Office, paid for by making approximately $455 billion in cutbacks to payments to Medicare providers — read, hospitals and doctors. That’s what it means to control for cost through government mandates. Did you miss a meeting?
Incidents like this illustrate why this ludicrous bill, supported by well-intentioned fools whose inability to understand economics is only matched by their inability to understand human nature, is politically unsustainable. Already politicians like Reid are working to game the system, to exempt their states from the cutbacks made necessary by their own policy decisions, as they do with any government-run industry. Get ready — there’s no end in sight.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
why in the world would some one vote for a law of this magnitude without reading it first.. all the legal mumbo jumbo is to keep the common man clueless about the law.
This just shows what kind of idiots are in the WH.How dumb can they be?That's why you always read documents before signing.Now he knows that he was screwed by his leader.He screwed himself too.These idiots need to be kicked out of the WH.We need to stand together & take back our country.We can't allow this destructive behavior anymore.We need some common sense people in Congress & the WH.Why doesn't someone try to impeach Obama?Our country is in TROUBLE!God help us!
Hey Harry, I got a paper you have to sign NOW. There's no time to read it, just sign it. I'll fill in all the details later.It'll be a good thing, I promise.
Clearly, you folks don't understand the regulatory process. Reid is not referring to the health care reform legislation, he is referring to proposed regulations issued by Health and Human Services to implement the health care reform legislation. It is highly unlikely that Reid would have read the proposed regulations, since the regulations do not involve him in any way whatsoever. The legislation is a rough outline, the regulations provide the details.
As someone who worked within the HHS regulatory process under the prior administration, I think I know a thing or two about it. What's happening here is the only logical consequence of the legislation Reid advocated for and helped pass. It surprises no one.
As someone with experience in the regulatory process, you should know quite well that Reid is not referring to the health care reform legislation, but instead referring to the proposed regulation, which he would not have read prior to its proposal. However, your writing clearly implies that he has “just read the health care bill” which is disingenuous at best, bald-faced lie at worst. You lack credibility.
Yeah, there's no way that commanding the Secretary of HHS to issue regulations over this space, directing her to do so in a manner that saves government costs, and then having rural health care end up on the chopping block could be something anyone with a brain would expect.
Don't make me laugh.
My biggest question is why are we hiding behind only two candidates? Have the parties hidden their atrocious records that well? Why not give the truth to the citizens? There are other choices? It is all about money now, isn’t it? Sharron and Harry have it and the rest of us don’t. I am Jesse Holland and encourage the media to look beyond the promises of party candidates and replace the office, as it belongs, to the state and the citizen’s therein.
Politics as usual it seems. Both parties have betrayed our country and our financial securities. Currently you have congress representatives of each party talking about our failing country. They, the Republicrats, are truthfully responsible and yet, mysteriously, we are calling this good and acceptable? Stand up, think and place your vote with a true voice of the people by selecting Jesse Holland for United States Senate representing Nevada and the citizens. The media has chosen your candidates for the elections, but we, the people, have suddenly accepted their choices? We talk about taking back our rights and country, but we fail to do much about it? Do the right thing and elect Jesse Holland who is easily found online! Even the polls are purchasable. If you leave out the voice of the people, you end up with a bought poll. Maybe your parents were right by saying don’t believe everything you read.
My biggest question is why are we hiding behind only two candidates? Have the parties hidden their atrocious records that well? Why not give the truth to the citizens? There are other choices? It is all about money now, isn’t it? Sharron and Harry have it and the rest of us don’t. I am Jesse Holland and encourage the media to look beyond the promises of party candidates and replace the office, as it belongs, to the state and the citizen’s therein.
Politics as usual it seems. Both parties have betrayed our country and our financial securities. Currently you have congress representatives of each party talking about our failing country. They, the Republicrats, are truthfully responsible and yet, mysteriously, we are calling this good and acceptable? Stand up, think and place your vote with a true voice of the people by selecting Jesse Holland for United States Senate representing Nevada and the citizens. The media has chosen your candidates for the elections, but we, the people, have suddenly accepted their choices? We talk about taking back our rights and country, but we fail to do much about it? Do the right thing and elect Jesse Holland who is easily found online! Even the polls are purchasable. If you leave out the voice of the people, you end up with a bought poll. Maybe your parents were right by saying don’t believe everything you read.
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