Statement by Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, about the Initiative Petition to repeal the individual mandate in the universal health care law in Massachusetts.
Today, as a group of extremely concerned citizens, from a variety of walks of life, we
will file the necessary paperwork with the Attorney General's office to give the voters of
Massachusetts the chance to repeal the most onerous portion of the state's universal health care
law. -- the individual mandate.
Further, we hope to have a conversation with the voters of Massachusetts about the real impact
of the universal healthcare law and what it portends for the future of our citizens.
We know from talking to people across the state that there is a large coalition of voters
representing a wide variety of viewpoints who oppose the individual mandate. Today we are
launching a massive campaign to gather the signatures necessary to place this question on the
ballot. We will also be launching a website: www.repeal-romneycare.com in the very near
future to keep the public informed about our progress and to give groups the resources they need
to help with this very important effort.
We want quality, affordable, and ethical health care for all. We are deeply concerned with
information which has been published in the past two years which shows that the state health
plan is running out of money and assumes that rationing is the solution. We in Massachusetts
already have the highest premiums and the longest waits for doctors in the country and things
are getting worse.
We at Massachusetts Citizens for Life have worked very hard over the past two years to prevent
and then defeat Obamacare. Once Obamacare is overturned, the rest of the country will be fine
but we in Massachusetts will still have to live under its prototype. Repealing the individual
mandate is a start toward better health care in Massachusetts.
It looks as though Harry Reid will allow a vote on Wednesday!
Of course, we know that Senator Scott Brown will vote for repeal. It would be good to call him to thank him pre-emptively for his expected vote.
He has been in the "Kennedy Office", which those of you who have been down know is palatial. It looks as though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would like that office and will move in any day, so this may be our last chance to call Scott at this number in the palace.
Please call right now, (617) 565-3170 or (202) 224-4543. This will count as your "thank-you" call, also.
"The role of the courts is not to look for expansive opportunities to invalidate an act of Congress - it is to rule narrowly as possible and leave intact the intent of the legislation. So I'm sure that will be a matter of intense discussion and debate as this case moves forward in the courts." said Obama aide, David Axelrod from a makeshift office in the West Wing.
"Today's ruling - issued by Judge Vinson in the Northern District of Florida - is a plain case of judicial overreaching. The judge's decision contradicts decades of Supreme Court precedent that support the considered judgment of the democratically elected branches of government..."
Well, overturning "the considered judgment of the democratically elected branches of government" when they did not "rule as narrowly as possible" to "leave intact the intent of the legislation" is exactly what the Supreme Court did when they legalized abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. And, apparently Judge Vinson's decision is much better reasoned and better written that Justice Blackmans's travesty!
RE: NRLC urges "yes" vote on H.R. 2 to repeal Obama health care law
Dear Member of Congress:
On behalf of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the nationwide federation of state right-to-life organizations, we urge you to vote in favor of the repeal of Public Law 111-148, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," when repeal legislation (H.R. 2) comes before the House of Representatives on January 12.
Nearly everyone expects Judge Hudson's ruling that the individual mandate in Obamacare is unconstitutional will be appealed to the Supreme Court.
"Everyone" also agrees that Justice Elena Kagan, having served in the Obama Justice Department, will recuse herself. If so, even if Justice Kennedy votes to uphold the individual mandate, the vote would be 4-4. If there is a tie, Judge Hudson's ruling stands.
Everyone is assuming fair play just as everyone did when Obamacare was supposed to go to Conference Committee and then come out for a legitimate vote, which would have allowed Sen. Brown's vote to kill it.
Kagan has recused herself on a number of cases. When she was nominated, however, there was much talk among her supporters that she would be a sure vote on Obamacare. If she planned to recuse herself, Obama would not have nominated her. It is quite likely that Kagan has no intention of recusing herself on Obamacare.
The only thing that will ensure that Kagan behaves properly is a huge public outcry. I know writing a Letter to the Editor is not an easy thing to do, but Kagan does not belong in Obamacare decisions and we must make sure she recuses herself. Please write to your daily and weekly papers. All you have to say is that the ruling will go to the Supreme Court where Justice Kagan, having served in the Obama Justice Department, must recuse herself. If it doesn't get printed, call to remind them you are waiting to see it.
Your letter will have a real impact! I'd love to see a copy. Hey, it is good to be pro-active! Anne
A federal judge in Virginia ruled today that the individual mandate, a key provision of Obamacare, is unconstitutional. This is the most significant legal setback so far for the plan.
We knew that this would be one of the easier parts of the law to find unconstitutional and Virginia one of the easier places, but it is still "huge".
Remember also that Congress forgot to put in a "severability clause". If the Supreme Court finds one aspect of Obamacare unconstitutional, that could invalidate the whole thing.
Reminder: we will be delivering our Repeal Obamacare Petitions to the ten Massachusetts Congressmen on Jan 24, 2011 at the March for Life. Please return your completed petitions before then. You can keep collecting signatures until Obamacare is repealed, but we do want to have as many petitions as possible to deliver at the March.
The educational work you are doing with these petitions is mighty! A mighty thanks to you! Anne
The Obamacare Abortion Lie Is Up [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Douglas Johnson from the National Right to Life Committee points out this afternoon that the federally funded Maryland high-risk pool was going to use federal funds for abortion coverage in their new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), too. Just like in Pennsylvania and New Mexico.
(National Right to Life Committee has looked through five states' documentation, and an abortion-funding siren has gone off in three of them.)
After NRLC, NR, the House Republican leader, and others highlighted this from the Pennsylvania and New Mexico plans this week, the Department of Health and Human Services finally issued a release yesterday assuring that they will, in fact, issue guidelines forbidding abortion coverage in the Obamacare federally funded PCIP state programs.
And today, the National Women's Law Center, among others, are upset with the administration for saying they'll do such a thing.
Which means the lie is up: Obamcare never prohibited abortion funding. It's a matter of administrative discretion.
The Obama administration and other Democrats have been hawking the myths that
a) there is some kind of global Hyde amendment that forbids all federally funded abortions and b) the executive order solves all problems.
If a and b were true, how were any state plans approved that were covering abortions?
The truth of the matter is that news today that Maryland was planning on funding abortions in their high-risk pool is but the tip of the iceberg. Don't be surprised if another story drops. And if it's not a high-risk pool. And the administration will have to provide a new myth or actually act as HHS is saying it plans to to prohibit that which is not currently prohibited.
But don't expect them to admit they've been lying to us all this time.
From MCFL:
States are attempting to sneak in abortion any way they can and we have to stop it piecemeal. We need a law!
Congressman Joe Pitts (R, Pa) and Dan Lipinski (D, Ill) have filed HR5111, "Protect Life Act", which would amend Obamacare to restrict the several different ways in which the measure funds abortions. HR 5111 restores the Stupak language to ObamaCare. There are 115 co-sponsors.
So far no Massachusetts Congressmen have co-sponsored the bill. Certainly Congressmen Lynch and Neal, who voted for original language in Stupak, are logical co-sponsors.
Please call your own Congressman urging him or her to co-sponsor HR 5111, the Protect Life Act. Then please contact someone you know who lives in the Lynch or Neal district and make sure that person calls also.
John W. Olver (D-01), 202-225-5335
Richard E. Neal (D-02), 202-225-5601
James P. McGovern (D-03), 202-225-6101
Barney Frank (D-04), 202-225-5931
Niki Tsongas (D-05), Phone: (202)225-3411
John F. Tierney (D-06), 202-225-8020
Edward J. Markey (D-07, 202-225-2836
Michael Capuano (D-08), 202-225-5111
Stephen F. Lynch (D-09), 202-225-8273
William D. Delahunt (D-10), 202-225-3111
Bad Medicine: National Review Online interviews the author of a new Cato Institute report on Obamacare. The financial implications for seniors, workers, people who are unemployed, and young people is even worse than we thought. The report concludes that repeal of Obamacare is the only thing which will save medical care in this country. The author expresses concern about the will of Republicans in Congress to repeal.
The Obama Administration has just allocated $160 million tax dollars for insurance plans in Pennsylvania that cover any legal abortion. http://www.lifenews.com/nat653...
If you are not already working on your Repeal Obamacare Petitions, please go to www.masscitizensforlife.org to print out the petition. You will also see an example of the "push" card. We have thousands of these informative cards for you to hand out which we'll be glad to send to you. Please let us know how many you want and where to send them. Email action@masscitizensforlife.org or call the MCFL office (617-242-4199 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 617-242-4199 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) for your cards.
As you fill petitions, please return them to the MCFL office, 529 Main Street, Charlestown, 02129. You can put one stamp on an envelope that has five petitions in it. So fill five and then five more...
We must get tens of thousand of people to sign the MCFL Repeal Obamacare Petitions! We must put backbone into Congress. If we don't, each of us will have no access to quality health care by 2014 and people will die in droves!
I am ready to send you petitions and cards! Thanks, Anne
We know terrible things in healthcare are coming, and, indeed, have started. Probably you will not be able to read this all at once or you will be sick. It is important for you to know the facts so that you are able to convince people of the need to repeal it. Even if someone does not get upset about abortion funding, you'll be able to find something else which they find offensive.
The media is now claiming there is no way to fight Obamacare in the courts. Hear the real story of the constitutionality of Obamacare at the Mass. Citizens Convention this Saturday.
Hope to see you there! Anne
Timeline of the Democrats Healthcare Package
by Human Events
04/01/2010
Rep. Dave Camp, ranking Republican of the House Ways and Means Committee, has compiled this list of when different aspects of the recently passed healthcare legislation will go into effect.
2009
· 2-year tax credit (total cap of $1 billion) for new chronic disease therapy investments
· Medicare cuts to hospitals begin (long-term care (7/1/09) and inpatient and rehabilitation facilities (fiscal 2010)) 2009
2010
· States and federal officials review premium increases
· FDA authorized to approve "follow-on" biologics
· Increase brand name pharmaceutical Medicaid rebate (from 15.1% to 23.1%)
· Medicare payments to physicians in primarily rural areas increase (2 years)
· Deny "black liquor" eligibility for cellulosic biofuel producers credit
· Tax credits provided to certain small employers for health care-related expenses
· Increase adoption tax incentives for 2 years
· Codify economic substance doctrine and impose penalties for underpayments (transactions on/after 3/23/10)
· Provide income exclusion for specified Indian tribe health benefits provided after 3/23/10
· Temporary high-risk pool and high-cost union retiree reinsurance ($5 billion each for 3.5 years) (6/23/10)
· Impose 10% tax on indoor UV tanning (7/1/10)
· Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/10)
· Prohibits lifetime and annual benefit spending limits (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
· Prohibits non-group plans from canceling coverage (rescissions) (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
· Requires plans to cover, at no charge, most preventive care (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
· Allows dependents to stay on parents' policies through age 26 (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
· Provides limited protections to children with pre-existing conditions (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
· Hospitals in "Frontier States" (N.D., Mont., Wyo., S.D., Utah) receive higher Medicare payments (fiscal 2011)
· Hospitals in "low-cost" areas receive higher Medicare payments for 2 years ($400 million, fiscal 2011)
22011010
2011
· Medicare Advantage cuts begin
· No longer allowed to use FSA, HSA, HRA, Archer MSA distributions for over the counter medicines
· Medicare cuts to home health begin
· Wealthier seniors ($85k/$170k) begin paying higher Part D premiums (not indexed for inflation in Parts B/D)
· Medicare reimbursement cuts when seniors use diagnostic imaging like MRIs, CT scans, etc.
· Medicare cuts begin to ambulance services, ASCs, diagnostic labs, and durable medical equipment
· Impose new annual tax on brand name pharmaceutical companies
· Americans begin paying premiums for federal long-term care insurance (CLASS Act)
· Health plans required to spend a minimum of 80% of premiums on medical claims
· Physicians in "Frontier States" (N.D., Mont., Wyo., S.D., Utah) receive higher Medicare payments
· Prohibition on Medicare payments to new physician-owned hospitals
· Penalties for non-qualified HSA and Archer MSA distributions double (to 20%)
· Seniors prohibited from purchasing power wheelchairs unless they first rent for 13 months
· Brand name drug companies begin providing 50% discount in the Part D "donut hole"
· 10% Medicare bonus payment for primary care and general surgery (5 years)
· Employers required to report value of health benefits on W-2
· Steps towards health insurance administrative simplification (reduced paperwork, etc) begins (five year process)
· Additional funding for community health centers (five years)
· Seniors who hit Part D "donut hole "in 2010 receive $250 check (3/15/11)
· New Medicare cuts to long-term care hospitals begin (7/1/11)
· Additional Medicare cuts to hospitals and cuts to nursing homes and inpatient rehab facilities begin (fiscal 2012)
· New tax on all private health insurance policies to pay for comp. eff. research (plan years beginning fiscal 2012)
2012
· Medicare cuts to dialysis treatment begins
· Require information reporting on payments to corporations
· Medicare to reduce spending by using an HMO-like coordinated care model (Accountable Care Organizations)
· Medicare Advantage plans with a 4 or 5 star rating receive a quality bonus payment
· New Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/12)
· Hospital pay-for-quality program begins (fiscal 2013)
· Medicare cuts to hospitals with high readmission rates begin (fiscal 2013)
· Medicare cuts to hospice begin (fiscal 2013)
Dr. Michael New has responded to a recent report trying to claim that more coverage for abortion will lead to abortion reductions.
An article by Patrick Whelan that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine this week has supporters of Obamacare swooning. This article analyzes abortion trends since the enactment of Commonwealth Care in Massachusetts in 2006. The analysis purportedly shows that Massachusetts system of near-universal health care, with subsidies for insurance plans that covered abortion, did not dramatically increase abortion rates. The author then uses this example to argue that the proposed health-care-reform plans would have little effect on the incidence of abortion. However, Whelan's analysis is superficial and provides little useful information about how Obamacare would effect abortion rates nationally.
Since 2000, the number of abortions in Massachusetts have declined at a slow but steady pace. After the enactment of Commonwealth Care in 2006, this decline continued at a similar pace through 2008, the last year for which data is available. At first glance, it appears that the enactment of Commonwealth Care did little to affect abortion trends in Massachusetts. However, some background information is helpful here. First, 2005 is the most recent year for which national abortion data is available. The fact that abortion rates in Massachusetts cannot be compared to the national trend or to abortion rates in other states is a key shortcoming of this article. --read the rest--
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