Archive for the ‘Health Care’ Category

At noon today, as promised, Big Government and Big Hollywood websites released audio from a conference call that included taxpayer funded groups to press forward to promote President Obama’s agenda(s) for healthcare, environment, and other initiatives of the Administration. From the posting:

On August 10th, the National Endowment for the Arts, the White House Office of Public Engagement, and the Corporation for National and Community Service hosted a conference call with a handpicked arts group. This arts group played a key role in Obama’s arts effort during his election campaign, as declared by the organizers of the call, and many on the call played a role in the now famous Obama Hope poster.

In this series of audio conversation, we hear Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Engagement make this series of comments to the participants of the conference call:

• “I just first of all want to thank everyone for being on the call and just a deep deep appreciation for all the work you all put into the campaign for the 2+ years we all worked together.”
• “We won.”
• “I’m actually in the White House and working towards furthering this agenda, this very aggressive agenda.”
• “We’re going to come at you with some specific asks here.”
• “I hope you guys are ready.”

She even questions the “legal aspect” of what she can and can’t say as there might appear to be conflicts of interest in the discussion.

Let me answer that specifically- using taxpayers funds, through the NEA, to further the Administrations agenda is NOT the chartered purpose of the NEA or any organizations the NEA funds with that money.

Using the White House, Serve.gov, or any other government office directly or indirectly associated with this Administration is nothing but total impropriety in pushing forth the agenda. It is a blatant disregard of the legislative process where members of Congress are supposed to bring the debate forward. To “ask” the arts community, again funded by taxpayers, to use their creative, marketing, and other skills to drive the debate in a positive direction for this President pushes the envelope beyond the pale. Especially if it means using the NEA purse strings to do so.

Michael “Mike” Yost, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd Congressional District of Florida has this to say:

“I am totally outraged that this administration can use the purse strings of the government through the NEA and other government funded groups to pressure people to fall in line with the Presidents agenda. If this isn’t corruption in government, then it sure must be a very close second.”

After fully reading the article, listening to the audio segments and seeing the chain of events that followed, Yost also had this to say:

“This is but another example of why we must reduce the size of our government. The influence peddling by our government, using taxpayers money to do so, is further indication that everyone has their hand out and are bought and paid for by government. I guess with a $3.5 trillion dollar budget, you can get a lot of influence with just a little pressure from the man up top if it keeps the money coming in.”

This is the reason we must elect principled and dedicated people to office. As Mike believes, “Let’s Take it Back”…in 2010 is all about WE THE PEOPLE taking back the reins of government and bring real ideas that will work to make America great again.

With your generosity and support, we can elect Mike to be your next Congressman from Florida. Help Mike bring the change to Washington that will end this government corruption and bring prosperity to this nation. Make your contribution today.

This morning, Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government/Big Hollywood website released a preliminary expose’ on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) using a conference call to, apparently, do a bit of arm twisting to promote the Health Care reforms of the President. Also on board this call was the lead official of the Serve.gov, Buffy Wicks. Serve.gov has been shown to be nothing more than a portal for “job and service” opportunities with ACORN and other leftist front groups as well.

At noon, we have been promised even more damning evidence of what happened. As reported by various news sources, and seemingly not front page news, there has been over $2 million of NEA money paid out to 16 of the 21 groups who are now on board with promoting the Presidents initiatives.

Michael “Mike” Yost released this statement this morning:

“From all appearances, this Administration has been using every resource available, including government funded agencies, to promote his health care agenda. Using taxpayer funded groups, who have no such authority in their charters to promote political positions, is a violation of the public trust. If using this type of arm twisting, by threats of de-funding anyone who disagrees or fails to get “on board” with the President is shown to be the case, then in my opinion, shows this President will stoop to no level to achieve his agenda.”

Yost further calls this method of pressing issues nothing more than an other example of Chicago style thuggery at its best:

“If this is what we can expect from our government we have in place today, then we the American people are in for a very long ride towards a government that isn’t “FOR the people” of this nation. If what is going to be released is what I think it is going to be, then this will no doubt lead directly to the White House. If Congress fails in it’s duties to get to the bottom of this ordeal, then the American people should take this directly to their Representatives and call for investigations.”

Yost further added that:

“If Republican leadership is complicit in not calling for investigations, then they will deserve what they get in 2010. Democrats as well should be up in arms over this, but you can bet that few will even come out of hiding to address this issue. I would bet that Rep. Corrine Brown doesn’t have a clue as to what is happening, and many artists here in the Jacksonville and Orlando areas are funded directly by the NEA.”

After the release of all the information, Mr. Yost will issue further statements.

Please support Michael “Mike” Yost as he tries to bring transparency and leadership to Washington. With you help, we can have real Representation in Congress that will not tolerate this type of activity by this Administration. Contribute today and help elect Michael “Mike” Yost to Congress in 2010.

With the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy, there is little doubt that Democrats will proceed forward with an even greater desire to pass Healthcare Legislation immediately. As a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd District of Florida, I am concerned that there is now a new reason to press forward with H.R. 3200 or any of the proposals from the Senate. Sen. Kennedy’s death will be nothing but a mere distraction from the real, honest debate; reform that works for all American’s. There is little doubt that House and Senate Democrats will attempt to use his death as a means to use healthcare reform, with a public “option” as an honorarium to his legacy.

Republicans need to resolve to not be left out of this debate and return to their roots of Conservative principles-smaller government, less spending, and lower taxes. Otherwise, the people of our country will see a Government option that will cost countless millions of Americans loss of their present coverage, potentially loss of their jobs, and have nothing left as a choice but the government program- and most likely at taxpayer’s expense for their coverage. Our seniors will find that their Medicare will be cut even further and the real prospect of rationing is likely.

Cost estimates for this legislation by the OBM has been anywhere from $1 trillion upwards of $1.6 trillion over a 10 year period. Currently we are experiencing a $1.9 trillion annual deficit and the national debt at nearly $12 trillion and rising. Adding this additional expenditure to our budget will further drive the debt upward and leave the “government option” with no choice but to cut benefits and raise taxes to pay for this plan. Neither is acceptable to most of the American people and fails to meet the President’s goal of “reducing costs”.

There is no question that the average American agrees there needs to be some “health care reform” in order to make the costs of our system more affordable. These need to focus on 3 basic areas to accomplish that goal:

1. Tort Reform. This one aspect alone has the potential to reduce costs by 20%.
2. Health Savings Accounts- available to all and not dependent on an Employer sponsored program to participate along with the tax savings benefits.
3. Eliminate the “state line” aspect of Health Insurance purchases. Anyone can shop in any state for the best plan that is affordable. This brings competition into play much better.

There are other areas of real reform as well, but these 3 aspects alone will reduce healthcare costs by no less than 25-30%. I can totally agree with the President that we must determine to reduce the costs or the system becomes unsustainable. However, as a Conservative, expansion of more government into our lives and our pocketbooks is not the answer when the alternatives above will accomplish the same goal without another $1 trillion dollars of spending. Republicans need to press forward with these 3 objectives and use every legislative means necessary to frame the debate away from a public option that will fail to meet the Presidents goals. To allow Democrats to “leave a legacy” to Sen. Kennedy with a very bad bill is not going to resolve the healthcare costs, but only be self-serving in avoiding real debate.

I believe most Americans are scared- of the massive debt being piled on our children, the policies of Washington that will further make even more people dependent on government, and a tax structure that punishes our wallets and our business and industry. Unless “WE THE PEOPLE” stand for making government work for ALL people and return to our Constitutional Foundation, we may wake up in a couple of years to no country at all. I asked myself “who will stand up for US?”, and I didn’t see any prospects who understood what it was like to live, work, and survive in this economic situation.

I am running for Congress to bring Common Sense and real solutions that will work as they do in our everyday lives. We MUST bring government spending under control and not continue to expand the role of government, much less take on another $1- 1.6 TRILLION of new spending for healthcare “reform” that is not reform, but another government program on the backs of working people.

The strength of our nation lies NOT in our government, but in the resourcefulness of its people. Americans are just that- the most resourceful on earth. Let’s get government out of our way and WE THE PEOPLE can solve our own problems. It is time for us to take a stand and “Let’s Take it Back…” in 2010. Let’s bring Conservative principles BACK to the Republican Party and with a new leadership that will work for ALL Americans.