AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday he will hold off on any decisions on state policy under the Affordable Care Act until after the November election and until President Barack Obama clarifies how provisions of the act will be implemented following the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legality of the law.
“After November everyone is going to gear up for the January sessions and the states will be dealing with the issues in January and so will the federal government,” LePage said. “The fact of the matter is they are already giving extensions for things that were supposed to happen in 2014.”
LePage said an example is the exchanges where the uninsured will be able to buy health insurance with some getting subsidies to help pay the health insurance premiums. He said Maine should let the federal government create the exchange for the state because it would be less expensive, but clarified he has not made a decision on the issue.
“We have got to wait to get the answers on how everything is going to work, who is responsible for what and when they are responsible,” LePage said.
The governor was on a conference call Tuesday morning with several other GOP governors to discuss the Affordable Care Act and what it will mean to the states. He said they decided to write Obama with a list of questions about the court ruling and what it means to implementing the act by the states.
“The problem with the Supreme Court decision is they didn’t give us the answers,” LePage said. “They just said it’s either constitutional or not constitutional. But they don’t tell the president or us, the states, what we have to do.”
He said although he will not decide what to recommend to the Legislature until after there are answers on implementation questions and until after the election, he said he does not see how Maine can expand Medicaid as required by the law.
“We are already above most of their minimums,” LePage said. “We have bills we have to pay. We owe the hospitals $500 million; we can’t be expanding when we can’t pay our bills.”
The governor said the election will determine the future of the law and if Mitt Romney wins, the law will be repealed. He said if Republicans control Congress it will be repealed and he believes there is a possibility it will be repealed if Democrats control Congress.
Repeal of the law likely would be held up in the U.S. Senate even if the GOP takes a majority of the chamber because Republicans would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.
Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud is confident a repeal measure would fail to overcome a filibuster by Democrats.
“The bottom line is that the law is not going to be repealed,” he said.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, said there may be a way around the filibuster through a parliamentary maneuver she was told about just before the recess for the Fourth of July holiday. She said there is an argument that it will only take a simple majority for repeal, but she said that is not certain.
“Stay tuned,” she said.
LePage said during the conference call that the parliamentary issue came up and some governors have been advised it will take only a simple majority to repeal the law.
Michaud, who voted for the Affordable Care Act, said Maine should take advantage of the law’s provisions that would provide additional federal funds for health care. For example, the expansion of Medicaid coverage in the law is fully paid for by the federal government for the first three years, and it will pay for 90 percent of the additional cost after that.
“People are still hurting and I think it is important for the state to take advantage of any program that the federal government may have that does not cost the state additional funding,” he said. “To do otherwise, I think, would not be beneficial to those that desperately need those programs.”
Straight-arm the Feds on this one Paul!
The odds are that Lepage will have a bent wrist on this one.
Michaud is wrong about almost everything, and he’s wrong about obamatax too! Like every other Liberal, Michaud never met a tax he didn’t love!
While extolling the savings for the state on medicaid Michaud conveniently ignores the additional tax burden on the taxpayer for Obamacare. Nothing comes for free. And if the federal government is involved, it will be more expensive as well. This is just another example of how “progressiveness” is regressiveness.
You might want to check your sources. Everywhere I look (neutral corners only) this law saves money and when allowed to do what it sets out to do, will bring the deficit down. But I do agree, nothing comes for free. No sensible person expects the health care system to be free, just equitable.
You might also want to check out CBO’s latest projections on the cost of Obamacare. It has doubled since it was signed into law. And it’s projection will probably double again two years from now. Check out this source:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/1175831
The web address is for a far right wing spin doc for nutcases.
The article included a link to the CBO report. It is sad that you missed that before criticizing.
Does it matter what the web address is as long as the information is accurate? It shouldn’t. The CBO’s increased projections are factual (but not necessarily accurate). If you don’t believe me, look at other major web sites where the same information is cited.
Look at what the CBO itself says. I repeat: http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdf
Also check this CBO summary of ACA from March 2012.
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43080
I don’t understand why the Washington Examiner didn’t mention the revenue side, maybe you should check that out. Please try to keep up!
How about going to the source and reading the whole thing and deciding for yourself. http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdf . Yes the cost projections have gone up, but so have the savings and recouping through penalties. In the end the deficit will come down, insurance rates will come down and that will help you and me at tax time and at premium payment time.
I had already read about the purported cost savings of Obamacare by the CBO before you cited your reference. I had and still have reason to doubt that Obamacare will actually save money because – as I tried to point out earlier – CBO projections tend to be notorious for understating projected costs. For example, remember the drug prescription program instituted by the last Bush Administration? The cost of the program was grossly underestimated as we now know. Furthermore, the cost projected estimates by CBO are still going up with no end in sight.
I really cannot respond as there is no real way to know what in fact will play out. We all have to make decisions on the best information we have. And, the end result still looks better than where we would be without this reform.
Your link takes you to the latest projections before the court ruling – from March 12 . As for that particular projection, if you were to read the entire report at the cbo website: http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-13-Coverage%20Estimates.pdf, I think that you will find that the projections are for the ACA to cost $50 billion less than projected last year.
This excerpt explains how that is:
“…The current estimate of the gross costs of the coverage provisions ($1,496 billion through 2021) is about $50 billion higher than last year’s projection; however, the other budgetary effects of those provisions, which partially offset those gross costs, also have increased in CBO and JCT’s estimates (to $413 billion), leading to the small decrease in the net 10-year tally. Over the 10-year period from 2012 through 2021, enactment of the coverage provisions of the ACA was projected last March to increase federal deficits by $1,131 billion, whereas the March 2012 estimate indicates that those provisions will increase deficits by $1,083 billion. The net cost was boosted by an additional $168 billion in estimated costs for Medicaid and CHIP and $8 billion less in estimated revenues from the excise tax on high-premium health insurance plans. But those increases were more than offset by a reduction of $97 billion in the projected costs for the tax credits and other subsidies for health insurance provided through the exchanges and related spending, a reduction of $20 billion in the projected costs for tax credits for small employers, and a reduction of $107 billion in deficits from the projected revenue effects of changes in taxable compensation and penalty payments and from other small changes in estimated spending….” The report is much longer than this excerpt, but because of the related revenue and tax estimates, the end result is that there is reduction in the 10 year cost.
The CBO is still evaluating how the court ruling will impact the law http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43362. Since the only change in the law vis a vis the ruling has to do with the Medicaid expansion, I expect that is where the ruling will have an impact.
In terms of the “tax” part of Obamacare, 94 percent of Americans (93 percent of the nonelderly) will NOT face a requirement to newly purchase insurance or pay a fine. Nine-eight percent of Americans will either be exempt from paying the fine—because of employer coverage, public health insurance or low income—or given subsidies to comply.
Meanwhile 30 million Americans are gaining health insurance under Obamacare–and of course it’s closing the Medicare donut hole, ending lifetime benefit caps, providing mandatory coverage for preventive care, and ending discrimination against people who have pre-existing conditions.
I already pay for other people’s healthcare through my income tax, which helps pay when people with no insurance get desperately ill and visit the ER. Now many of those people will be required to have insurance.
Health insurance through for-profit insurers is extra expensive because a large percentage of our premium dollars is skimmed off to pay the CEOs’ incredible salaries, and used to fight health insurance reform, instead of being put toward our medical care. Their only motive is corporate profits, NOT public health.
If there is one thing I learned through all my working and retirement years is that nothing the government does is cheap. For starts, the Obamacare law is over 2700 pages long. When you add on all the regulations that are being written to implement the Act, Obamacare will be at least 10 times longer and create a huge bureaucracy like this nations has never seen before in its history. Let me say one more thing: If Obamacare was merely about healthcare I could probably accept it with some reservations. But we still don’t know the entire scope of it. We won’t know until all the regulations to implement the law begin to unravel. I have no doubt the law is intended to make a radical change in the culture, and we will end up losing a lot of personal freedom. America certainly will never be the same.
President Bush’s 2007 budget bill was 1482 pages long. Should that have invalidated it? (“Sorry, Mr. President, get it down to a hundred pagers–50 if you can–and we’ll reconsider”).
Bills are getting longer and longer partly because of increased partisanship. During this Administration, the Republicans have been using all sorts of ways to to stall the lawmaking process. So it’s become necessary to try to account for and specify everything upfront, very thoroughly. Then, of course, they complain a bill is too long.
Now, just in terms of words, the ACA is indeed the longest ever (314,900 words).
Coming in second is a Republican bill–314,832 words, “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users,” 2005, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)
Then there’s 296,111 words, “Consolidated Appropriations Act,” 2005, Rep. James Kolbe (R-Ariz.).
How about 274,559 words, “No Child Left Behind Act,” 2001, Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio)?
You’re upset that we don’t yet know the full scope of the change. Well, the “personal freedom” you’re afraid you’ll lose includes–
The right to be denied health insurance because you were ill once, years ago. The right to have a large percent of your premiums go to a CEO’s $50,000,000 a year or larger salary instead of to your healthcare. The right for the insurer to say “Lifetime cap!” in the middle of your cancer treatment, stopping it cold. The right to prevent 30 million Americans from having health insurance, which harms America’s health and weakens us as a country. The right to make seniors pay more for prescription medications.
One good way to fix Obamatax would be to eliminate every reference to ‘the secretary shall.’ It would not only shorten the bill, but would ensure that we know what it has in it. Even if you READ the whole thing, you don’t know what it will be because too many things are left up to ‘the secretary’ to decide. This monstrosity is open-ended and allows an unelected official to determine who will get what and who will pay what.
You are upset because someone that is ‘unelected’ is going to make decisions? That should be a bonus – they don’t have political lines drawn and aren’t worried about their next election.
Besides – from the banter in this post, it seems that most of you aren’t happy with your ‘elected’ officials anyway.
Then we should just stay the course. America: #1 in cost, #27 in quality!!
I suspect that, if a Reader Comment section was in place back in the 1930s when Social Security was enacted and in the 1960s when Medicare came into being, there would be a comment exactly like yours above. Both of these social safety nets are working and at about a 3% administrative cost. The “must buy” health insurance was a give-away to the health insurance execs who already control Congress just to get the legislation passed. The “must buy” can go away, too.
The Rate Review process also helps protect families and small businesses from
unreasonable rate increases. Rate increases of 10% or more will have to be justified by insurers.
For the real information on the Affordable Health Care act, people should go to http://www.healthcare.gov/law/index.html.
This bill will do a lot to help all Americans with their health insurance. There are many protections for consumers within it and there are programs to aid those who don’t have much money obtain insurance. If people go to http://www.healthcare.gov/law/index.html they will find a wealth of information to explain the act and how it impacts them.
Thanks for a great factual resource!
So you’d rather keep fattening ins co. and drug co. CEOs?There is NO human reason why an ins co. CEO should make $19.1M a year and do nothing but “deny until they die”
The federal government operates the most efficient and the cost effective delivery system in the nation through the VA. Your comment ignores the facts and relies on partisan rhetoric. We need reality based solutions not bumper stickers.
The historical fact is that all government programs get very bloated and unsustainable.
Yeah, just look at the military!
The historical fact shows that healthcare corporations will do anyting they can to increase profits, including disqualifiying for “pre-existing conditions, lifetime caps, “un-proven treatments and any other way they can not have to pay a claim.
You have a valid point. That happens when competition is eliminated as we have seen in Maine and most other parts in the nation where insurers may not operate across state lines.. Several years ago there were at least 5 insurers in Maine. By the time the LePage Administration came into existence there was only one left. The others were driven out on account of excessive state government regulations and unrealistic requirements.
You correctly mentioned disqualifying factors insurers used to increase profits. Conservatives legislators in Washington had been trying for years to address these factors with legislation, but the liberal arm of the legislature stopped them at every turn because they feared that if the legislation proved beneficial they would never be able to get some form of national healthcare enacted into law. People have short memories, don’t they?
That said, the healthcare system needed fixing no doubt. But it didn’t need an overhaul where the baby was essentially thrown away with the bathwater. That is exactly what Obamacare is intended to do.
I wonder, though, how much effort was made by conservative legislators to create laws that would hinder big corporations….
The proposed laws they introduced time after time were intended to bring about more competition and to address deficiencies in the system that concerned a lot of people. Besides, all these proposals made sense to nearly all our congressmen. But as I stated earlier, they also posed a threat to the liberal arm that wanted a more comprehensive reform like a national health care system in place.
I hate to burst your little bubble but Mike Michaud is spot on. If LePage does not sign on then there will be many who will not receive insurance coverage. I am sure that will please many of the public and should help LePage get re-elected. (not)
There are too many questions that haven’t been answered and I’m sure Lepage isn’t the only governor waiting for answers!
Whats up with these Dim Witted Republicans? The Democrats had to Pass “their” healthcare reform plan for them and they still don’t know how to proceed!
Are they really that stupid or are they just a bunch of phoneys??
Have you read the law and do you understand it because if the answer is yes, take some time here and explain it, in detail. And be precise when you explain the part about being penalized (taxed,LOL) for not buying health insurance. Obama evidently lied about it not being a tax increase but we’re used to him lying.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/09/obama-mandate-is-not-a-tax/
Even Romney says it is not a tax
That was yesterday, check out today!
snort – he flip flopped …..
Get over he Tax thing , it’s constiutional regardless of what Grover says!
Besides,
It’ a “Penalty Tax” you couldn’t see that one it’s because of the “Blinders” not because of a lie!
Actually it is fine and a fine indicates you have broken the law by not buying insurance. So by not doing what the government demands you do by not purchasing insurance you be will imprisoned because if you refuse to pay the fine that is where you will end up.
No one will be imprisoned for not buying health insurance. There is no provision in the bill for criminal penalties, at most you will have the penalty taken from your tax refund.
Stop listneing to talk radion and Fox News for you information about the ACA. They are lying about it.
You may not be imprisoned but the fine is cheaper than buying insurance. That means if you are young and healthy you may choose to forgo insurance for the fine and save yourself $3-4000 annually.
Of course maybe you do need surgery for that cancer that crops up. So all you need to do is sign up as there is no requirement for pre-existing conditions. Maybe you get in an accident and wake up in a hospital…. there is no problem signing up then either for your continuing care. No pre-existing conditions remember?
Yes, the fine you decide to pay will go towards paying for insurance and if you want to be a leach on society then that is your perogative but you would think RW would be agasint
////
If you refuse to purchase insurance, you will pay the fine through your income tax. Individuals failing to pay the penalty will not be subject to criminal penalties so being imprisoned is not an option. Most people will want health insurance so will buy insurance as they do now, and they will have many protections from the rapacity of health insurance companies. This law will also help the millions who want health insurance but are denied due to health conditions or who cannot afford to purchase plans. Exchanges are supposed to provide a number of plans from which to choose so people will have options. There are subsidies available for people who do not fall under low income guidelines but who do not earn enough to purchase insurance policies. The law will make the lives of Maine people more secure where health care is concerned.
LePage, Collins and Republicans in general are being jerks over the idea of helping to make our lives easier and more predictable with respect to health insurance and the care we can expect to get. Collins wants to repeal the bill so that your insurance company will no longer be subject to rules which inhibit their ability to make a fortune as they deny you care; impose limitations and caps on the care you can receive; drop you when you get cancer or have a stroke or heart attack; refuse to provide care for a child with a serious health problem; all while they give shareholders and CEOs fat checks.
Penalty: The annual penalty for not having minimum essential coverage will be the greater of a flat dollar amount per individual or a percentage of the individual’s taxable income.
For any dependent under the age 18, the penalty is one half of the individual amount.
The flat dollar amount per individual is $95 in 2014; $325 in 2015 and $695 in 2016.
After 2016, the flat dollar amount is indexed to inflation. The flat dollar penalty is
capped at 300% of the flat dollar amount. For example: A family of three (two parents and one child under 18) would have a flat dollar penalty of $1737 in 2016; A family of four (two parents and two children over 18) would have a flat dollar penalty of $2,085 in 2016 because the 300 % cap would apply.
The percentage of taxable income is an amount equal to a percentage of a household’s
income (as defined by the Act) that is in excess of the tax filing threshold (phased in at
1% in 2014; 2% in 2015; 2.5% in 2016).
For example: If an individual has a household income of $50,000, the percentage would be 1% of the difference between $50,000 and the tax threshold (which is $9,350 for an
individual in 2010). Assuming the tax threshold is $10,000 in 2014, this individual
would be subject to a percentage penalty of $400. Because this percentage
penalty is greater than the flat dollar penalty for 2014 (which is $95), he would
pay the percentage penalty.
Generally, the annual penalty is capped at an amount equal to the national average premium for qualified health plans which have a bronze level of coverage available through the state Exchange.
(PPACA §§ 1501 and 10106 adding IRC §5000A(c); § 1002 of Reconciliation Bill).
Enforcement: The penalty will be paid as a federal tax liability on income tax returns and is enforced by the Treasury. Individuals that fail to pay the penalty will not be subject to criminal penalties, liens or levies.
Even Mitt Romney says it is not a tax.
And at most 1-2% of Americans will be penalized for not buying healthcare insurance. AND they can avoid the penalty by getting health insurance.
You know I keep hearing all you conservatives complaining about a tax increase. I have yet to see where President Obama put a ban on all tax increases. As far as I have been able to assertain, he has yet to sign fielty to Grover Norquist like all but a few Republicans in Washington.
It’s Lepage’s job to know what the law says. He can read, can’t he? Or is he just a lazy teapartier?
Almost as dumb as Dems.
Yes.
Perhaps both.
Funny how Romney isn’t even calling it a tax.
That is because Romney believes like the Justices (Kennedy, Scalia etc.) who took the mandate at its written word ; unconstitutional mandate / penalty under commerce clause.
The federal government tried to argue for the commerce clause, but it became obvious it was unconstitutional…so it was settled out as congressional taxation, which congress can do for just about anything.
Like I said before.
We sometimes don’t have any problems with lies, if we benefit from them.
If he were to call it a tax, then he would have to agree that it is constitutional. He doesn’t agree that it is constitutional. He agreed with the majority of the court who didn’t think it was a tax.
really if the majority disagreed with the decision then how was it upheld?
Romney doesn’t think, he responds!
I thought the whole state had received a waiver on this foolishness.
Not only was the state not granted a waiver on this. It has not been granted medicaid waivers that the governor built his budget on . When those chickens come home to roost we will have another Governor created budget crisis to deal with. While I am a conservative who believes in fiscal restraint I do not believe in fantasy based decision making, or withholding critical information from the legislature until they have already made decisions.
Ahum, Oh, Rep. Michaud, when we take advantage of any Federal Program as you suggest here, we get the money from people’s paychecks, that is less money we all have, if we are one of the lucky few who have a job. We have to pay taxes to the federal government and state government, just saying…
With his attude towards democrats, there will never be unity for what’s good for the people of Maine. He really should have listened to olympia, he could have learned something. Division does not help ALL of the people of our state , whom he woks for.
You are talking about Paul LaPage aren’t you? He is a state unto himself, welcome to LaPage Maine.
Almost by definition now,any pol works for their half of the electorate.
God Bless our President Obama and his graciousnessosity! Our nation needs him more now than never with his Obamaness.
President Obama will reign supreme forever in our hearts and in the role as Dear Leader of whatever country he decides.
3/1o – You tried too hard with a limited skillset. Humor just isn’t your schtick.
You’re a generous grader.
i am voting obama…payback for legalizing
fireworks lepage!
Thank God! You go Pitbull.
by the way, how many minorities make up
lepaege cabinet? how about his office staff?
there is no way you can label this man a bigot if that’s what you’re implying you should be ashamed of yourself
Why don’t you apply.
Isn’t his daughter a minority?
I’m sure you would be voting an Obama ticket regardless.
First the tea party parrot republicans dragged their feet on exchanges saying they wanted to wait until after the Supreme Court had ruled on the constitutionality of ACA. Now the court has ruled and has found that ACA meets the constitutional test. What do the tea party parrot republicans do? What they have been ever so good at doing for the last three years……..drag their feet. After failing to get the ruling they wanted from the Supreme Court they are now placing their hopes on a big republican win in November’s election.
you don’t really think the tea party is done do you? you’re going to be so surprised to find out a few democrats and some of us independents are tea party believers if that means we’ve had enough goverment!
To be totally honest with you I hope the tea party isn’t done. Having said that I should probably clarify what I mean. When the tea party first started out the stated purpose was to cut government spending which I am all in favor of. How could anyone in their right mind not be in favor of that. Unfortunately along the way it got hijacked and in way too many cases became almost a hate group. It is possible for people to have differing opinions and still get along. That has been going on since the beginning of time. Just because you do not see things the same way I do does not make you or me a bad person, just two people with differing opinions. It wasn’t until the tea party parrots came along with an agenda far different then the original purpose of the tea party and started demonizing those who didn’t share their ideology 100 % and started calling those who’s opinion differed from theirs names like traitors, communist, socialist , fascist, un-American and things like that that I soured on the tea party. I grew up during the 1950’s and calling someone a communist was one of the vilest names you could call someone.
If you consider the Tea Party’s history there is little evidence to show it is a hate group. I know, the NAACP cast it as a hate group. That organization’s pronouncement doesn’t make it so. Furthermore, it was not hijacked as you say. So far it has stuck to its original principles of small & less intrusive government, lower taxes, less spending, less but smarter regulations, etc. like most conservatives (not necessarily Republicans) do.
As to your accusation of name calling, it’s no longer the 50’s era. Calling someone a “communist” doesn’t carry the evil connotation it once did. Communism is all but dead in most places with the exception of China and North Korea. Incidentally some of Obama’s friends were at one time Communists. And Obama himself believes in socialism when he calls healthcare “a right”. It’s no more a right than access to food, shelter, clothing, and arguably a job. Is the government supposed to provide all these things as well?
You are obviously much smarter then I could ever hope to be whawell. If you think calling someone a communist just because they do not share the same ideology that you do isn’t evil I guess that in itself says far more about you then anything I could ever write will. For those of us who actually had to take up arms and defend this nation against communism it is considered a vile name to be called.
I meant, the name still carries an evil connotation but not to the extent it used to. That’s why I stated, “‘communism’ doesn’t carry the SAME CONNOTATION IT ONCE DID” (emphasis was added so you don’t misunderstand me this time around). In academia, its philosophy is once again gaining acceptance. By the way, I’m a vet too.
So just because you, in your learned opinion, have decided that the the word “communist” doesn’t carry the SAME CONNOTATION IT ONCE DID” , it is perfectly fine, again in your opinion, to call someone who does not share the same ideology as you do a “communist”? So if I were , like you , to decide that a word, let’s use “pedophile”, didn’t carry the SAME CONNOTATION IT ONCE DID”, it would be fit and proper for me to call you or anyone else that didn’t agree with my ideology a “pedophile”? Like I said before you, Whawell, are much smarter then I could ever hope to be and I thank you for showing me the error of my ways. Oh and by the way whawell, you don’t have to worry about me calling you or anyone else that vile name. I believe that name calling is a sign of ignorance is just a tool that those who blindly follow any ideology resort to when facts are not on their side.
I never stated that name calling is okay as you implied. As a matter of personal choice I generally refrain from calling others names. I also don’t make it a point of patronizing others as you have just done in this comment and previous ones as well. For example: Your opening statement, “So just because you, IN YOUR LEARNED OPINION (emphasis intended here)….”, is very condescending and personal.
Talk about spin. I have , on several occasions, acknowledged that your level of intelligence is vastly superior to mine. You have managed to spin that into it being condescending and personal. You have attempted to justify calling someone a communist as not being such a bad thing by your statement ”
Calling someone a “communist doesn’t carry the evil connotation it once did.” However when someone praises your level of intelligence you accuse them of being “very condescending and personal”. Using your logic it is okay to call someone a “communist”, but calling them smart is offensive . Whawell it won’t be long until the Bangor State Fair comes to town, in the mean time we have you to provide us with the same level of spin that the “roundup” or “tilt-a-whirl” does.
You have my apology for misinterpreting your comment that came across to me as condescending.
That said, I must say if “spin” to you merely means “another point of view”, then I have no qualms about using it providing it is not off-topic. Again, let me repeat, I’m not into naming calling by anyone including myself. I do think however the Obama crowd of supporters, like Obama himself, do have unhealthy socialistic tendencies that make me feel uncomfortable and somewhat fearful for our nation’s future. Our free enterprise economic system has served this country quite well in the past. In my opinion it would be just too bad to see it put aside for a system like socialism that in reality despite claims to the contrary is less equitable and less profitable for all.
Just to make one thing abundantly clear. I am not an Obama supporter by any stretch of the imagination. I feel he has proven himself to be a great campaigner but an extremely poor leader. One only has to look to ACA to prove his lack of leadership skills. Holding a majority in both houses of congress as well as being the resident in the White House the best he was able to do as far as “reforming” (I really do not care for the way that word is used) healthcare was a bill that left plenty to be desired by both sides and failed to address the problem. I truly believe that a strong leader who wished to provide all Americans with access to healthcare would have simply said “medicare” for everyone and would have worked to accomplish that end. That was not what Obama or the democratic leadership did. To me they appeared to be playing a game of “may I” instead of providing true leadership on the issue. I was never a fan of Lyndon Johnson but the man certainly knew how to use the power of his office to get legislation passed. Had Johnson behaved like Obama has “The Civil Rights Act of 1964” would still be being debated in congress today. I am in favor of smaller government and the capitalistic system that has served our Nation so well. From a personal standpoint I and my family have done very well under that system. I also believe that there is a need for government in our lives albeit much less intrusive then that which we currently have. The same goes for government regulations. There has to be a certain level of regulation or else there will be those who for personal gain will take advantage. You and I may disagree on any number of issues which I am sure we do, but while we may disagree I will forever support your right to have an opinion. There are plenty of things wrong with The United States of America and they need to be fixed. It will take reasonable people working together to find solutions to our problems but an us against them attitude is not the cure. Have a great day and enjoy what is left of our Country’s Birthday. Be well Whawell and I look forward to our next discussion.
The Declaration of Universal Rights of 1948 .
Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health
and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the
event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.
All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.
Noticed how the Declaration qualifies its statement starting with, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate…” with the phrase “beyond his control”. Under the capitalistic system the United States has met that standard far better than most socialistic countries. Regrettably the country is becoming more and more socialistic as its inhabitants become more and more dependent on the state for a living. Anyway, this Declaration is not US law.
I hope you watched the program on Fox News station last night entitled “Out of Work”. It dealt with the reality how people are taking undue advantage of our entitlements. For instance, it stated when people’s unemployment benefits run out, fully 1/3 of them “find” work immediately. In other words at least 1/3 were simply milking a very generous system all they could. We can only speculate what the intentions of the rest were while exhausting their benefits for the full 99 weeks.
How many of those jobs pay a living wage and how many were taken just to have some income coming in?
You’re asking the wrong question. The question should be this: Why are at least 1/3 of the unemployment beneficiaries who have work lined up for themselves holding out until their benefits are all exhausted? The reason for this was exposed on the program aired on Fox News Station: the generous benefits themselves. Why work when there is no need to work in order to survive comfortably?
Generous benefits, what a joke.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/05/12/unemployment-benefits-best-worst-states/
Check out those benefits. The best state had an average of $410 a week, it was Hawaii and I can only imagine the cost of living there.
Now look at the worst 10 states and tell me those benefits are generous.
Mississippi $190 a week.
Florida $230 a week to name two.
That is the problem getting information from Fox News
Bill of Rights!
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people.
You forgot the evil nemesis to south of us, the hated Cuba:)
Don’t forget Texas
Interesting concept, “We’ve had enough government.”
Tea Partiers apparently hope to throw off government protection, imagining that will somehow set them free.
Giant corporations love this–The less government power there is, the more corporations gain control of America, and the less power we citizens will have. They’ll be able to do as they please without any regulations to protect the public.
How so Liz, how would these evil corporations gain more power when these evil corporations you talk about are made up of people that live amongst us. Some may even be your friends. Should we make a law to close all of these greedy evil corporations and let the government run them? Is that what your mission is, have us all work for uncle Sam? Imagine the innovation when one is no longer motivated. Your thinking is flawed and your storyline is old and tired. North Korea and China are looking for thinkers like you.
Somehow I doubt that major corporate CEOs live near me. They’re not fond of gravel pits and might turn up their noses at myneighbors’ trailer homes.
The thrust of Republican politics lately has been to close down the evil old government (the one that’s by the people and for the people) and turn its functions over to corporations–entities that are NOT directly responsible to the public.
Take prisons, for instance. They often cost MORE to run than state-run prisons[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/us/19prisons.html?hp]. And the coprporation-run prisons that house kids have turned out to hold kids longer than necessary and even have connections with judges to get innocent kids convicted and sent there–they have a profit motive, after all.
In Mississippi, GEO Group Inc., the nation’s second-largest operator of private prisons, denied young prisoners basic health care and hired guards with known gang affiliations. Sexual molestation was rampant. But GEO had a solid contract with the state and couldn’t be made to hire more guards or gang-free guards, or provide health care.
OK, corporations are officially people. But I don’t want them taking over MY government and if some of them moved in next door, they’d lower property values.
Can a corporation run for elected office? Is it accountable to the public? How about be arrested, put in prison, or be executed? Does a corporation need food, water, or medicine? When God created the universe, did he put Adam and Eve on earth, or was there also a subchapter S or an LLC in the garden of Eden with them too?
Just like humans are God’s creation and are subservient to him, corporations are human creations subservient to us, NOT the other way around.
This may seem a bit like a non sequitor, but under our system, each of the branches of government acts as a check on the power of the others so that no one branch becomes more powerful than the others. The public in turn check the government. Each is beneficial, but regulated in such a way as to prevent tyranny or conversely, mob rule. The private sector too has benefits, but like government should also be regulated to prevent it from becoming too powerful or else it becomes damaging to both people and the government.
Again, government and the private sector are creations of humans, both designed to serve us, NOT the other way around.
T shirt on Amazon
“I’ll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one”
entitled for life- Those “evil corporations” have been controlling the very food I put in my mouth, for at least 20 years………….back in 1990 or so approximately 80% of my preferred diet disappeared, from the grocery shelves. The Corps. sway the demigraphics with seductive ads, use toxic ingredients to serve their buddies bottom line profit……….(aspertame-artificial sweetener, produced by Searle Labs, passed by USDA greased by Donald Rumsfeld’s govt. connections.)
[During the 1950s, manufacturers began lining cans with plastic to fend off bacteria …Trouble is, most can liners contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that can leach into the food. Last year, the nonprofit Consumers Union found it in 18 of 19 canned foods it tested:Progresso Vegetable Soup topped the list ..] Fritolay products hog the market shelves pushing off the better tasting snack treats……..( monopoly makes for higher prices more profit for them) Monsanto rules with an iron hand….forcing GM foods on us ………….Laboratory tests spend oodles of $’s finding combos that are addictive and make people want more…( American’s DIDN”T Used to be fat!) & of course that cost is passed on to the consumer………..You go to a grocery store in Maine ; then cross the border into St Stevens and shop at the Atlantic Superstore……………….They have the best bakery in the area……..and the Canadian shoppers are normal size compared to the ones this side of the border. You’d think they’d be fat with all that delicious bakery stuff. The difference? The Canadian GOVERNMENT has stricter regulations on ingredients that go into processed food. So they aren’t getting all the fat ingredients in their processed food that we are. Campbell’s soup processed inToronto, has different ingredients than that canned here( although I am now wondering about bisphenol in their cans.) Nescafe instant coffee……..is in GLASS jars, not plastic AND IS $1.00 cheaper even with the equal exchange rate. It sure tastes better too.
If you followed the action on the Farm bill just passed through Congress, you can see CLEARLY, which of OUR ELECTED, representatives are serving their corporate masters, and the fewer who are actually representing We the People. Fair Government agencies, NOT bought and paid for, making regulations from Integrity are what is needed. Unhappily the majority of propaganda fed,sheeple, keep voting in, these self serving insatiably greedy, Congress people & the cycle continues. You are NOT ENTITLED to a truly Democratic Government which serves you, any more than you are entitled to food stamps and welfare, jobs, unemployment, etc… …………….you have to work at / think /study/ the issues, and vote smart, not for the celebrity/ popularity contest winner!
These evil corporations will polute as much as they can get away with, treat their employees as bad as they can get away with (lower pay, less safe work environments), provide the least safe product they can get away with, etc.
It is government and their power to regulate that stop the corporations from damaging the environment and the workers, that is why Republicans want a smaller government, so that corporations can do as they wish.
….and make it harder for people to vote. We’re cooked.
government protection? wow! wut do you do for a living?
I don’t work for the government.
A few examples of government protection =
Meat and other foods must be inspected before they can be sold. This protects us from companies that would add decayed or poisonous substances to our food, to enhance their profits (this has happened in China, for example toxic baby formula). This protection has been systematically weakened by corporate interests, but it still exists and can be strengthened.
Regulations reduce the amount of toxins that corporations can spew into our air and soil and water. Again, some of these restrictions have been weakened (and anti-government folks hope to weaken them some more), but they do exist.
Government regulations in the workplace forbid companies from requiring employees to take severe risks that could endanger life and limb; if companies break these rules (and many do), the employees can sue.
There are regulations against child labor and against enslaving workers (e.g., never letting workers leave a property, working them 24 hours a day, raping them, torturing them–now and then, foreign nationals are arrested for such practices with their servants).
But you like the government program that allows us Canadians to come and work in the US, right?
stay home!
The court ruled the ACA was constitutional as a tax – that is all. The problem is that Congress sold it to America specifically as NOT being a tax. The states have the right to ignore this piece of garbage rammed through by Nancy Pelosi, Obama, and our RINO Senators from Maine. All the moonbats are in for a big surprise this November. Taxpayers are sick of the crap.
I want you to pay for your insurance. I do not want to pay for your insurance. But I do now. It is how it works. The money has to come from somewhere. I will not pay this penalty (I think that is a better word in actuality). But some will. Good. I like it when the government recoups money from irresponsible citizens…. individual or corporate.
So… you’re HOPING that your insurance company will be able to set a lifetime cap on your policy’s benefits, so if you develop an expensive illness you and your family will face medical bankruptcy?
So… you YEARN to discover when you shop for a new policy that you can’t buy one anywhere because you have a pre-existing condition?
Only a few short months till Lepage is powerless.
You’ll need to impeach LePage if you want to get rid of him in a few “short months”. He is not up for re-election for another 2 years and 4 months. Right now, in spite of all the bad press, his popularity has been gaining strength. I now hear more and more people telling me they are finally beginning to realize he is taking us in the right direction of prosperity…even school teachers who were not happy with him a few months ago. I won’t predict what will happen in the next election more than 2 years from now. As you probably know, predicting election results more than a few months away is like making predictions an eternity away.
posterity?
We dont need to go backwards!
I didn’t realize I had written “posterity”. Anyway, save your posterior, I meant “prosperity”. I’ll amend my comment.
Hey! It happens!
Just couldn’t resist !
Jake didn’t say gone, he said powerless. He’s right because the House and senate will be loaded with democrats after November. I hope nobody is buying his attempt to “clean up his act a little”, just because November is near. If the Dems don’t seize power in November he’ll revert back to the same old crude, ignorant man that he’s repeatedly shown himself to be. He needs to be stripped of his dictatorship and the only way to do that is vote Democrat across the board.
And I give you that but OBAMA needs to go as well he is a horrible horrible DEMOCRAT
Looks like you were home schooled. Have someone read for you please. Powerless does not mean impeached. There isn’t a republican who wants him near their campaign. Look what happened to Poloquin when Lepage supported him. Lepage is a joke who will pay big time this November.
Jake, Sounds like you don’t understand the power of the executive. Powerless is a relative term especially when you run agencies and set policy and have the veto pen that gives you the ability to negotiate with Democrats.
One could argue that it looks like they were public schooled just as easily as you take a cheap shot at home schoolers.
Nothing wrong with home schoolers, they are usually the 2-3 in their class.
I think the person was saying that the Dempcrats will take back the house and senate in November….which I do NOT see happening with mickey mouse in washington.
LePage is doing the exact right thing. He brings up good points like Maine already is unable to pay its bills – we owe $500 million to Maine’s hospitals. We just passed huge cuts to social programs that this State cannot afford, mainly because democrats kicked out all of those greedy profit mongering businesses that used to provide us with jobs. Now we are a welfare State dependent on government for our basic needs. If the federal government wants to take over health care, then why don’t they do it instead of whine about tea party republicans. Last I checked, Obama is a liberal democrat but apparently lacks the leadership skills necessary to take over America’s economy. He is an empty suit clearly unable to lead this country – one and out!
The question I ask you then is why did he implement all those tax cuts without paying the bills first.
To try to get a business or two willing to risk that doing business in Maine would be a worthwhile venture. Don’t be blinded by the sins of the past.
Like that’s working!
So how’s that working? Maine is in the lowest quintile in per capita job creation in the Union.
Yeah he gave us fireworks that are banned just abolut in every town. How’s that working for ya?
Somewhat off topic but still relevant. There have been a few questions posed in the past few posts. How about this one…What is going to happen when the unrestrained spending of the government of money they do not have drives this entire country over a financial cliff? No country has ever survived 40% taxation of its citizens. The government taxation of our citizens now stands at 44%. Contrary to the belief of some, money does not grow on trees. Either we become fiscally responsible now or we are headed for national ruin. I’m sure all thinking Americans can agree on that, regardless of political affiliation.
Here’s a website that lists the top marginal tax rates in the US, year by year. [http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=213].
Top tax rate 1925-31 = about 25% (having plummeted from 77% in 1918). America sinks into a depression.
Top tax rate in 1932 = 63%. The economy began to pull out of the depression.
1936-1963, top tax rate is in 80% to 90%. Prosperity.
1964-1980, top tax rate 70% to 77%. We’re doing pretty well.
1982, top rate is down to 50%, and drops steadily. 1987, top rate gets into the 30% range and stays there.
2003-2012, top rate = 35%. Prosperity declines.
I checked out the website. I thought I was quoting a reliable source. My bad. The fact remains that this nation nor any other can sustain unlimited government spending without there being ruinous consequences down the line. Congress hasn’t even passed a budget in years. Where does it all end?
I agree with you on one aspect of spending–GW Bush did two crucial things:
1) committed us to spending billions of dollars in two ruinous wars;
2) cut Federal revenue by giving special tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.
This wiped out the budget surplus he had been given by Democrats and spent us straight into deep deficit.
This, I believe, was done on purpose. It’s part of the far-right wing determination to slash social services for the most desperate Americans. It provided a cynical justification–“Gosh, we just don’t have the money anymore!” This is why the special tax breaks continue, even here in Maine, at the same time as our governor argues that a lack of revenue means we can’t comply with the Affordable Care Act–we have to sacrifice public health.
Now the far right pushes hard for “austerity,” a policy that has brought Europe to the brink of Depression II. Austerity starves local communities of money, so more businesses have to lay off employees and then collapse. The tax breaks for the ultra-rich have very clearly not resulted in “job creation,” at least not inside the US. Indeed, the ultra-rich either sit on their money or spend it far from the average American downtown.
I suspect what they want is for Americans to be truly desperate, so they will have to accept whatever poor wages and lack of benefits any corporation offers them. That will increase corporate profits. Large corporations, being multi-national, don’t feel any patriotism toward America, and their higher-ups often don’t even live in the US, or else live in gated communities that are protected from the mess they’re making of this country.
By contrast, stimulus spending puts money into our communities. The far-right argues that because an individual family shouldn’t borrow money if it’s broke, the government shouldn’t do that either. But national economies don’t function like families. (I have citations on these concepts, but it’s time to head off to work.)
Where does it all end?
Turn off Fox!
You are forget that congress did pass a budget in April of last year. Because of little or no spending cuts or tax increases, congress knew they would need to borrow more. Come August of last year, just four months later, the right wing GOP precipitated the ‘debt ceiling crisis’, refusing to fund the budget they themselves passed back in April.
The largest result of the GOP’s manufactured ‘debt ceiling crisis’ was a huge drop in the value of american stocks that took months to recover from.
Why then does revenue to the government increase every time we cut taxes and vice versa? Facts are funny things. Basically you are making the point that less government revenue is better for prosperity.
Wow–magic! Reducing revenue raises revenue. Nope. You are arguing that if you slash a large proportion of your revenue from one source, and an unrelated effect causes your total revenues to rise, you can thank the slashing for the increase.
As the Washington Post noted, “Economists said Bush was claiming credit where little is due. The economy has grown and tax receipts have risen at historic rates over the past two years, but the Bush tax cuts played a small role in that process, they said, and cost the Treasury more in lost taxes than it gained from the resulting economic stimulus…”
“Federal revenue is lower today than it would have been without the tax cuts. There’s really no dispute among economists about that,” said Alan D. Viard, a former Bush White House economist now at the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute…
“Robert Carroll, deputy assistant Treasury secretary for tax analysis, said neither the president nor anyone else in the administration is claiming that tax cuts alone produced the unexpected surge in revenue.
“As a matter of principle, we do not think tax cuts pay for themselves,’
“If growth induced by Bush’s cuts doesn’t explain the surge, where did all those extra tax dollars come from? The short answer is spectacularly high corporate profits and the advancing fortunes of wealthy Americans, economists said.”
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601121.html]
Oh please! We have been trying the trickle down policy of Ronald Reagan for over 30 years. The only jobs being created are those out of the country.
EXACTLY why we need to change the TAX system! Make no mistake people. Its the TAX laws that send businesses running over seas, not labor costs.
The Governor is right to delay doing anything on this excessive money grab (disguised as healthcare) foisted on the American public.
lepage gladly gave a Canadian investment bank $17 million tax payers dollars for nothing. But Lepage refused to lift a finger to bring 600 good paying jobs to Maine.
Don’t be fooled by Lepage’s glad hand. He is a vile a evil man who hates America and Maine in particular.
What I asked was why did he not ensure the bills were paid before he enacted the tax cuts. He is so determined to balance the budget yet he did not ensure the bills were paid before the income was cut. I believe more devious reasons were behind those tax cuts than wanting to entice new businesses to the state. Balancing the budget is important, everybody will need to sacrifice something Democrats and Republicans alike, but getting rid of 200 million in revenue does not make fiscal sense when money is owed to people on such a grand scale.
Because you cut the taxes reduce the states income and force the state to spend less. Unless we return to to liberal rule where they spend and spend then raise taxes and drive out all the big businesses. I will be voting LePage…
You aren’t getting how this all works. All those cuts in government spending are causing taxes to increase because the burden is ‘trickling down’ to local government and my local property taxes are skyrocketing this year. I will pay more towards property tax than I do towards my monthly mortgage payment now. We will pay regardless. LePage is a total fool with no new ideas.
So you don’t get that you can control the spending in your town a whole lot better than we can control the monster that is State spending? So because you don’t understand how to lower and control your town’s budget Lepage is the fool?
Let me ask you did you know you can and should go to EVERY town meeting and voice your opinion? I sure do. I raise cain at the SLIGHTEST proposed increase of any type.
I (with several others) go to every selectboard meeting with a tape recorder and have hired a lawyer. Letting locals deal with large amounts of money is a dangerous thing in this state. Particularly when so very few show up to town meeting or even understand the process. Even said, most selectboards and town halls in small town Maine are not equipped to handle much more than the basics. You’d have to start regionalization and bigger government for these towns of 1-4000.
He was jut making good on his bribe, that he promised for votes!
The Maine hospitals bills are inflated as everyone knows. $25.00 for a single Tylenol, how about check their bills line by line before filling their CEO’s pockets. Now your complaining about Obama showing leadership by putting Mitt Romney’s plan into action. Next thing you’ll be blaming Bush for the 2 wars.
The rolling assumption is that only the insurance costs will be reduced over time, and medical costs never change.
If we expand Medicare/MaineCare, then we are forced to average down the take for hospitals. If we boost the enrollment in Dirigo Health we up the payment to the hospitals an the ante for state tax on Dirigo Health.
If ObamaCare is the law. Then, ”Dirigo Health’ puts up an “Open For Business” sign, by actively bidding for all public employees. Plus, state crafted policy holder bids in the open market ‘state run’ exchanges in order to balance the risk pools.
It could be as big as or bigger than the states own budget.
And you are sure of this because you’ve read every page of the bill [sarcasim].
Then I guess Maine does not owe anything according to your twisted logic. Damn those profits and CEO pay, they are taking all of the free services that we deserve just because.
Nice to see you want CEO’s make millions from ill people. Obama has kicked the republicans on every issue and they are so unhinged they don’t know what to do. Even Romney supports Obama care, get in line Lifer.
That’s to pay for all those who use the ER as their primary care givers and won’t or can’t pay their bill. It gets passed on to those who do.
We can’t afford it!
Marlarky!
Bunch of Cheapskates is a better explanation!
LOL
Prioritizing any service, i.e. healthcare, above the financial stability of a nation, i.e America, is ruinous to all and jeopardizes the financial liberty of its citizens. Let’s look to California as an example of how government should not work. Cities going bankrupt, the state running a 16 billion dollar deficit and this is how the federal government should work too or our state for that matter? No, this is irresponsible and exemplifies an absence of stewardship in the political arena. The opening of a health clinic in Allagash recently, a town with a population of 239 and about 35 minutes from Fort Kent (where there are Dr.’s and a hospital,) is an excellent example of expansive and wasteful healthcare that someone has to pay for. I wonder who?
sure hope he takes OBAMA’s POWER with him
Yes! Time to “Turn Le Page”. I am delighted to see this message on bumper stickers.
Wow – this is a totally uncharacteristic move from the most impulsive Governor in the history of Maine. Good that he’s practicing some self-control. Unfortunate that he’s interfering with the implementation of healthcare reform. Honestly, Obamacare made it through both arms of Congress, was signed by the President and survived a Supreme Court ruling. Does any sane person actually believe that it’s going away? Not in our lifetimes.
I agree with you! He has definately made some very brash decisions, statements and off the cuff remarks. I just hope he sticks to his guns and does right by the people of Maine…..I dunno tho……his reputation precedes him! :P Paul, take this opportunity to do something good and that a majority of the people will back you on.
He is waiting for advice on how to proceed from GOP GOD Grover, MHPC, and Rupert Murdocks mouthpieces.
Or Charlie Webster. Maybe Ole Chuck will unleash some new lie on us. The R’s think he’s Paul Bunyan…
Charlie Webster probably thinks there’s voter fraud at the Supreme Court.
I’m guessing they will have an unacceptable back-door plan while claiming they are waiting, and then foist it on us at the last minute claiming it’s an emergency. Anyone notice a pattern here?
Well we will just have to wait and see if Big Daddy will give the health coverage we all need. I’m so happy that we live in LaPae Maine. Vote for Romney and we will really get have all Baboons we need running the country…
They are in the White House already.
Bad dog, bad dog, you’re forgetting about Congress.
When you call people “baboons” you legitimize other peoples’ use of socialist, communist, and ##** liberal.
All the liberals will have more then LePage to cry about when we pull the voting lever in November and flush the rest of the socialists down the collective toilet back to the private sector.
If that is what Maine wants, that is what Maine will get. Yuck!
Not if real Mainers take action.The power is in our hands!
Ah, yes, those mean old “socialists” who value public health over corporate profits. The ones who think it’s obscene for our health insurance premiums to go toward super-inflated CEO salaries, some of them making more in one day than most Americans earn in a year, rather than toward our health care.
Your ignorance must be blissful.
Can’t teach an old [Schooner] dog new tricks.
Why do you have to be mean? What’s the solution??
Can’t we all be equal partners in being flushed. C’mon JS, try to be helpful. The government is supposed to be “by the people” – “for the people”; flushing just doesn’t sound like the right solution and I wouldn’t suggest that it happen to you no matter how much we might disagree.
when was the last time the USA won a war
WW2
since ww2, all the wars the USA has been in….third
world countries with third world armies ..
lets hope the usa does not get russia or china mad. they
would kick our behinds
Listen, man, I kind of get what you’re trying to say here, but please clarify your statement. Some people might take this as disrespectful toward our servicemembers and veterans, and I don’t think you meant it that way. Thanks.
ok, i modified it
Really? And you are an expert in military affairs? And what does this have to do with health care?
i dont trust anything lepage says
Well, no one totally is wrong 100% of the time. He proved to be an apt leader on the issue of domestic violence. If we are to maintain our own credibility we need to give credit where credit is due. But, for me, this is the only area where he showed true leadership.
And their socialized, single-payer healthcare system.
I can’t understand why Republicans are dragging their feet on the exchanges. It seems like going out of state for competition should be right up their alley. US News lists the top 25 health insurance companies (http://health.usnews.com/health-plans/national-insurance-companies). They also list the top 10 in each state. How hard would it be to make it possible to contact any of these companies to buy insurance, sort of like Amazon.com?
We could even go to the top health insurers in Texas, number one among the red states and a beacon for Maine.
Because it’s someone else’s idea!
If they close their eyes and scream la la la la la they believe this will pass them by.
Good can this be declared treason and a reason to impeach this “gubnor” and all the other redneck republican do nothing “gubnors”. One would hope so.
No he is permitted to keep our people from the care they need. His true goals have nothing to do with you and I. He is in it for the wealthy out of state corporations seeking to exploit our labor and provide as little in return as possible.
just heard a report 2 kids were killed or seriously
injured by fireworks tonight in maine or NH
update
Fireworks explode inside NH home, several injured,children seriously hurt
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/north/12007906189822/fireworks-explode-inside-nh-home-several-injured/
Amazing that so many people want the poor to remain uninsured.
God Bless America!
Does your mother know you are still up?
Brilliant comment.
Petty insult.
LePage must be wary of the criticism he was getting for encouraging a Maine suit against ACA and yet seeing what he could get out of it assuming it reamins. Waiting for November is a copout.
I can’t imagine Pres. Obama telling governors what’s in the bill. Read the damn thing to find out. It’s not the ‘presidents bill’; it was passed by congress. If you voted for it, you should know what’s in it. If you voted against it, then you should know what’s in it. Let’s get cracking. It’s about time you earned your keep other than removing murals and legalizing fireworks. Do your job, governor, and implement this bill that was passed in congress.
There is a lot of misinformation about all the the Affordable Care Act. John Boehner didn’t get it right on Sunday’s Face the Nation. Rush Limbaugh will say anything that ups his ratings. LePage doesn’t care if low income people or small business will get a break on health care costs. He is part of the Party of No where the only thing that matters is that he gets his way. Which is not the way of the majority of Mainers.
Um, Gov LePage….. it is not up to the Supreme Court to tell you what to do. You are a leader. You are supposed to figure that out on your own.
And, I guess he missed all the analysts who laugh at repeal talk. The consensus is that it would cost too much to repeal it. It would set us back even further. Just a bunch of spitting in the wind.
There is no chance it’s going to be repealed. Do your job and implement the law.
Did LeRage forget that Romney initiated this same plan in Mass and then staes it is wrong for the rest of the country? This is what the dictionary describes as a Hypocrite!
I believe Romney feels it is a States Right issue, not over reaching by the Federal Government.
Anything that gives the government more control is not necessarily a good thing.
Both Romney & Obama Suc, and so does Obama-RomneyCare
Both of these _ssh_l_s are the same and if ObamaCare sticks, the instability & unrest you see in other countries will happen here…!!!
I remember old people telling about people were mad about Franklin Roosevelt taking a few penny’s of there pay when Social Security first began. Health care is not cheap, you either are going to pay or want it free, if you want it free, the Republicans will cut you off, at least this will be affordable.
I ask people what they plan to do if they should have some type of catastrophic illness or injury. Their response: blank stare.
I ask what specifically do they not like about Obamacare. Their response: “It’s retarded.”
I am not getting a lot of intelligent answers – all emotion (yet, again!) instead of facts.
The chance of the ACA being repealed are slim. But, what’s the alternative? If you think the GOP is going to do anything about health care after they repeal it, don’t hold your breath. They don’t give a tinker’s damn about health care and never have.
So far, it’s worked well for me, what little of it has been implemented. The tax/penalty applies ONLY to the people who do not have some form of insurance (private or from their employer). Most of the illiterate seem to feel it applies to all Americans.
I have a great idea. Why don’t we all read the ACA and see what it really does. And, please don’t rely on the talking heads on Faux to give you the real skinny on the ACA. Find some reliable information – perhaps, the actual ACA bill? Just a thought.
{ I have a great idea. Why don’t we all read the ACA and see what it really does.}
Have ya noticed that all these nay sayers criticize Nancy Peolosi for her comment that we need to pass it to find out whats in it yet “they” criticize it without knowing whats in it?
All too often. What I have seen in politics in the last couple of decades or so, is the “hardening” of people. I see very little “thoughtful consideration” of differing views. I see emotional reaction and very little logic. The uptick from the ultra-conservative religious right has not helped at all. Their absolutely belief is their religion is absolutely the last word and cannot be questioned or disavowed. When you have absolutes, you have no room for discussion.
I believe a great number of people (myself included) have simply “gone along” with the people who buy into the whole supernatural aspects of some religions. We do this, call it what you may, to placate those who feel they need this. I personally think it is the biggest myth ever foisted upon mankind but I certainly can understand why people need that security blanket called religion. I gain nothing by trying to burst their bubble. If that is their pacifier, so be it. That said, it is getting tiresome to hear them drag it out as a justification for every restriction they wish to impose upon our secular government. Perhaps, the tough economic times is driving a lot of this. Perhaps it is change, but change is inevitable. I don’t know. I just see a great deal more of it.
I also see a complete lack of any recognition of real history, no understanding of civics or how government works, and little comprehension of the logic of the legal world. Calling Chief Justice Roberts a traitor because he can see the logic of ACA as Constitutional shows me people do not really understand much about the law or the Constitution. There have been SCOTUS rulings with which I was displeased, but in reading the decisions, I can see how the Court arrived at the decision they did. The use of the word “traitor” is just an emotional reaction and is not based in fact.
The ACA ruling was not particularly surprising to me. I was skeptical about the Commerce Clause but I would not have guessed the right to tax would have been used to find ACA constitutional. I figured some other means would work but I’m no constitutional scholar by any means. As Roberts said, his job was not to determine whether the law was appropriate but only to determine if it was Constitutional. The “traitor” comment by the neocons was inappropriate and frankly juvenile.
Are you sure that they didn’t abandon him?
The two little children Paul Lepage abandoned up in Canada where too young to kick a sadistic lair like Paul Lepage out of the country.
I wonder is Lepage mentioned to the UMO enrollment office that he was a Canadian citizen with a family in New Brunswick? I bet someone has those records.;)
LePage never misses a chance, does he?
Put up a few signs, make an outrageous comment, get some lackey to clarify that he didn’t mean what he said, he meant something else, go on vacation, hide a mural, insult a few more hardworking people, send out a different poor soul to explain that he really didn’t mean what he said, etc. etc. etc.
Now he tells us he isn’t going to do his job, because he doesn’t understaaaaaand how this law could have been upheld in the first place and he believes that he can wish it away…
Mr. LePage? Get to work! Do the job you are paid entirely too much to do! Act like a governor and stop crying.
DIRIGO! (that means “I Lead”)
This is your chance to be a leader and show other states how it can be done, not by whining and puling about what you don’t like. Suck it up and show that you are up to your job, even though you are OUT the door come 2014!
Yeahayah!
Out the Door In Twenty One Four!
20 1 4
Lepage and his Republican cronnies want to do away with Obama Care and replace it with “I Don’t Care”. Time after time every single Republican who was asked what they had for a plan to replace Obama Care to help Americans gain affordable access to healthcare they couldn’t come up with a credible response. The bottom line is that if the Republicans were even remotely concerned about our healthcare system this problem would have been solved a long time ago. Now for the 31st time we have to endure the theatrical performance of these lamebrains voting to repeal the ACA. This is just more waste of time and money and a way for them to avoid addressing jobs and fixing the economy.
Gov, just do what you are going to do.
We can’t afford to take on any more fed
mandates that will kill the states. The BS
that this is”affordable” is insane.
What? Does this blundering blunderbuss of ignorance think that the law as given to us from the Supreme Court will be overturned? I think NOT. We want affordable care and we want it now.
Mainers, this Fourth of July holiday finds you walking along the sidewalk in your home town. You hear a car approaching and watch as it slows down next to you. A black glass tinted window lowers and out from the darkness emerges a glistening, for sure sweet lollipop and a faceless voice says…..”Want a lollipop?”….. “Come inside and you can have as many as you want.”
The little voice inside of you says “Yell! Scream! Kick!”
Run for your Independence as fast as you can, screaming as loud as you can. Your neighbors are listening. Their doors will fly open. They’ll leap off their flag protected porches and they will flood the street in your defense and their own.
what you ppl do not understand,is that if we do not get everyone insured and we drop coverage for a large number of ppl. is that them 0nes without are going to end up costing more in the long run.emergency rooms being overwhelmed then hospitals going broke. then where do they go not treated and sick with who knows what, on the streets spreading what they have to everyone wow,wake up before its too late………
When you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything. Landslide LePage is full of ideas to destroy programs but when it comes to creating them he is clueless. What a pathetic figure!!!!!!
True, independent patriots are against this law. This law was a fraud in the beginning. No ordinary citizens were granted the privilege of reading the bill before it was voted on. Most of the members of the House and Senate did not read the entire bill. “To find out what is in it, you must pass it” Was the quote from Nancy Pelosi. What kind of government would foster a fraud on the citizens? I’ll answer my own question. A corrupt government. This bill will not do anything it claims to, and will cost trillions of dollars. Why do people put such trust in government? I believe they do because of 2 reasons. Lazy and ignorance.
I am so sick of people calling out other people’s patriotism. Idisagree with most of what you say, and I love America as much, or more, than you do.
I question anyones patriotism who wishes to perpetuate this fraud on the citizens of this Once Great Nation.
Than you hate just about every corporation in this country.
Hey! I’m not pushing LePage on this country. Talk to Charlie Webster about that.
Socialized healthcare sounds so American.
Obama is NOT a foreign born socialist giving away free healthcare. That would be Jesus Christ.
Inferentially I am relieved to read that you believe churchcare would be more effective than Obamacare at giving away free healthcare.
Inferentially you are the same old tired voice of the Republican party.
Factually you are wrong, by my authority.
It’s the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority – Benjamin Franklin
The authority you should be questioning is the elected type, top to bottom.
So says the Republican party that just got 10 million dollars from Communist China by way of a Los Vegus gangster.
http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/Nation/World/2012-06-16-PNI0616wir-mccain-pacsART_ST_U.htm
Paul, dont pull an Obama and break your promise to block this unconstitutional POS
I dont know how Michaud is going to sell this to the conservative Democrats from his district
Unconstitutional? The Supreme Court just said it was. Wake up.
A 5-4 vote is known as a “swing-vote.” It is considered constitutional, however, we must understand, 4 judges found it unconstitutional. To me, that’s something to look into more.
….
One of those judges, Clarence Thomas, just happens to have a wife that has been lobbying against the health care bill, no conflict of interest there is there?
http://prorevnews.blogspot.com/2012/07/clarence-thomas-wife-worked-for-anti.html?amp&
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043607/Supreme-Court-Justice-Clarence-Thomas-failed-disclose-wifes-700-000-salary.html
I haven’t seen any of these “politicians” address those
with religious objections to mainstream healthcare, or those
that live off-the-land, off-the-grid, agrarian types of people. Many live in rural places, off the beaten-path,
that do pay taxes on many things, but also survive by
conducting a lot of business in barter, they and many more, would be
rocketed into a deep financial chasm. Those people are joined by a very large, and growing, part of the populace that “in no way” can afford another bill…!
I am willing to bet that the crafters of this unconstitutional abomination never took the above mentioned groups and others into consideration, or the massive social and religious boundaries it intends to cross.
And just who decides the cost to what income pays what.
From the people that cant balance the US budget, those that get caught ripping off the US every year, sex scandals, bribery and more— and never seem to get prosecuted, you expect me to even consider letting them make that decision in my behalf— Not…!
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA of 1993 aimed at
preventing laws that substantially burden a person’s free
exercise of their religion, which includes “any” federal
mandates. SCOTUS has directly subverted the Constitution
itself, and has put our country on a direct course of national
instability.
If you look around the world today,
countries are falling, governments are dissolving, and people
in general are fed up with corrupt governments. The term
“divided we fall” actually stands for something. Has this
reached that level yet; many feel it’s not too far off.
I hope I am wrong, but a government says we have to pass it,
to see what’s in it, or that attempts to compare auto
insurance to a mandatory governmental healthcare plan is
either smoking dope, or thinks we do…!
Wake-Up Call,,,, Most do consider this to be Un-Constitutional
Does the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA of 1993 allow me to go to Planned Parenthood for whatever reason or need? It probably does – religious freedom includes the freedom to not believe what others do.
Thats between you and God to decide, but as ObamaCare is written now, my payments would go to pay for that.
ObamaCare, outside of being Un-Constitutional, is directly in opposition of my faith, and hence millions are free to opt-out under religious objections.
Be my guest.It is good to follow your spiritual beliefs as long as they do not interfere with mine. Have a great day.
Just as long as yours are not billed to me…!
If you have any insurance now your cost covers me too. All goes into the pot and gets paid Out according to the law. Please lobby for a Christian policy in the exchange! Then you can rest easy. In fact I will push for that along with you. Be well.
Thank you, that shows a willingness to work together, but the current administration isnt willing to bend on this issue. My other objections are that while it removes more freedom to say to our government, it also gives our government the ability to set the amount we have to pay; and those untrustworthy criminals (R&D) will never get anymore of my money.
We are talking about those that cheat on their wifes, cheat on their taxes, do things that would land normal people in prison for years—- and I’m expected to trust them further… Not Gonna Happen…!
You can use that logic for anything. ANY tax or fee you pay might conceivably be used in a manner that you deem for evil uses, so why pay any tax or fee?
Actually, logic is a sign of intelligence.
The founding fathers often said that “we must limit the size of federal the government and the taxes it levy’s”
This is not a “tax”
This is not a “fee”
It cannot be compared to auto insurance
And by saying “we must pass it to see whats in it” is completely without precedent.
If Romney won the election, and had an instrument to repeal this, but then said “we must pass it to see whats in it”— no politician, regardless of their party would support it
“Divided we fall” are more than just words, but a warning that we as a nation could easily go the way of many other countries that have just melted down.
I never used the car insurance argument because I don’t think it’s the same at all. But your reply didn’t address my point (even though the Supreme Court did say it is a tax).
“ANY tax or fee you pay might conceivably be used in a manner that you deem for evil uses, so why pay any tax or fee?”
Politicians can try all they want, but every year the budget is put into print, and open for all to see. While federal diverting of funds to cover things not approved does happen (both sides), the cases usually come back around to bite the guilty politician eventually.
And this “tax” will be the next Boston Tea Party, and the backlash could very well be as bad as the current conditions in many collapsing countries we see today.
Republicans claim the U.S. has “the best” health care system in the world. What is the basis for this statement? What is their data? Based on cost, our system costs twice as much as every other developed country. OK, then our outcomes are twice as high, right? Wrong, not even close. Life expectancy? Lowest of developed countries. Infant mortality? Worst. Cancer survival? Worst. Percent of citizens covered? Lowest
This is the best system for physicians who make 50% more than other countries’ doctors. And definitely best system for insurance companies who make no effort to conceal they gladly take premiums and then refuse payment.
And people want to continue this health care system? Man, our health care system needs a MAJOR overhaul. Obamacare has its faults, one of which is it doesn’t really take effect until 2014. At least Obamacare deals with the 35 million Americans without insurance. And it does deal with cost without sacrificing quality. Scrapping any or all of Obamacare would be a tragic mistake because it is the only realistic effort at improving our dysfunctional system of delivering health care.
Three questions for lock-step Obama worshipers (Michaud)
Who’s got the stones to enforce it?
What will they do when the majority just says “get stuffed”…?
What provision do they have to keep it from getting overturned?
Of course the governor will hold off any decisions about state policy with regards to the ACA; the MHPC hasn’t given him his marching orders yet – you didn’t actually think he could come up with his own ideas, did you? They need more time to decide how to spin this. November is getting closer and soon the MHPC will be irrelevant.
He is a complete fraud… The GOP is happy… Only in America, can the GOP convince simple minded GOP voters that Healthcare is NO GOOD FOR THEM: FACTS: The federal Government pays 100% of costs for the first few years, and 90% thereafter… The states pay ONLY 10% thereafter… Yes there are small penalties if individuals do not get health care based on income… If you have no income, you pay no penalty… If you refuse to pay, you will not be arrested or IRS will not charge you… LePage is denying EVERYONE health care… PEOPLE WILL DIE…!!! HIS ACTIONS ARE CRIMINAL, CRIMINAL… VOTE HIM OUT….. To deny residents health care that the Federal government is providing for free, IS INSANE…!!! This is why LePage denied support for PBS: PBS EXPOSES GOP LIARS: The GOP does not want you to know the truth: If you have a brain, and want to know what the health care bill will ACTUALLY provide, watch this short video from the nonpartisan PBS News Hour yesterday: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec12/healthcare_07-03.html
Wow……..who do you think pays the federal government? Do they just print money? You are the poster child for so much of what is wrong in this country.
Is it just me or does LePage sound like he’s doing much better with the media lately…
That’s because they’re in the tank for him.The only honest columnist left is Bill Nemitz.
And hide where he did during the Vietnam war as a DRAFT DODGER…
The fact is that he is governor and CAN DO just about anything he wants and this November will solidify his base unless people get out and vote. Those who voted him in knew what they were getting and know what it will take to increase his power. Like it or not they are CAN DO people.
You do understand we’re voting for president this November, not governor right?
So LePen is willing to let Mainers suffer and die to make a political point. Nice
If you knew anything about politics, you’d understand many states are still trying to figh the bill. Many provisions need clarification and we’ll have to restructure THE WHOLE state budget just to accomedate these changes. These changes just don’t happen overnight.
First off, Bravo Governor LaPage, you are a great American. Secondly, a Senate filibuster can be overcome holding the vote via a Reconciliation Vote where only a simple majority of 51 votes is needed just as the Democrats did under Pelosi in order to pass the bill in the first place. Thirdly, can you imagaine any Maine government from state, county, city or town passing a budget as Pelosi said, ” we must pass it first to find out what is in it”, idioits!!!
One Rationale for the Affordable Health Care Act: some people are uninsured and when they go to Emergency Rooms for care, the tax payer ends up paying for the services. This is not ‘fair’ and everyone needs to be insured.
Under Obamacare, if someone does not buy insurance (unless he is one of the gazillion who have been granted an exception) he must pay the IRS a fine. That money goes to the Federal Government. Then, if he needs care he goes to a hospital and the tax payer ends up paying for the services.
The taxpayer is still on the hook for the uninsured, and the Federal Government has a couple extra hundred dollars in the coffer. THAT is the change. Of course with all the extra IRS agents hired to handle this task the tax payer will also have a bigger bill to pay for that aspect.
When Nancy Pelosi pole vaulted over the garden wall to shove this horror on the American people she knew what she was talking about: we won’t know what they did to us until it is done.
Oh for goodness sakes. You had plenty of time to comment. There was a lot of input sought before this bill was passed. You cannot cry foul after the fact if you chose to go about your life without attending to matters of importance to you.
Smart move. regardless of whether you like the Penguin or not. This is Unaffordable Healthcare Fiasco is the US Governments. And you guys want to talk about accountability. Wait until Pelosi, Reid and Obama are long gone, and everyone is scratching their heads asking what could have possibly gone wrong?
The taxpayer money from the federal government is only for a few years and then the states have to pay for the medicaid expansion themselves.
It is a trap.
It is not a good thing.
I would like to see LePage not develop a weak spine and join the other states that have vowed to continue the fight against this boondogle.
After for first few “free” years from the federal government, it then pays 90%
Thank You
All poor people who get sick should just go somewhere and die. If they have any money on them when they go, it should be donated to the Tea Party.
This governor seems to like to wait a lot. Personally, I can’t wait until he’s gone.
You would think if Massachusetts could figure it out Maine could as well…..but LePage would only understand how to do it if the directions were written in crayon……pfffffffft.
I think its cute how liberals talk about parliamentary procedure and having enough votes when their leader just disregarded the law by giving amnesty to millions of illegals. Romney could easily either a) give permanent exemptions to every state (as he said he would do) or b) sign an executive order stating that the law will not be enforced – just like Obama did.
I don’t think it will matter, because the GOP will have more than enough votes to repeal and replace this piece of garbage.
Because of all the bashing that goes on. “We must pass this bill then read it” or something similar to this if I recall. So now that it is passed and the Supreme Court has ruled, no one still knows what is in it or what is supposed to be done with it. Republican, Democrat and all the other parties need to realize that this was bad business to begin with and hope that something is done to correct it.
Because Congresswoman Pelosi doesn’t know what’s in the law (yes, a constitutionally upheld law) that means no one does?
Why can’t we all just make unemotional sense, have our opinions and get along anyway???? Why does anyone have to be to blame? What the Court said is: implement it and then if you see inappropriate parts of the law, challenge it it in court and see if, in implementation, there are parts of the law that are unconstitutional. Sounds sensible to me.
There are not many people who are in the ACA: “Try it, you’ll like it” camp. It’s makes us all nervous. Change is hard. Everything is fixable, though. Let’s move forward and see if we can use the law to make health care accessible and affordable for all. If it doesn’t work, we don’t have to worry about constitutionality and can make changes according to what has been learned.
If it all goes wrong I know Americans can get together and get it right if they stop calling each other names. Both sides of the issue are legitimate points of view and don’t deserve to be denigrated by anyone. By the way, that includes a stop to describing either Governor LePage or President Obama with a derogatory name. I include both their titles, because that’s who they are.
In this article I see pictures of 3 politicians who probably have decent insurance. The Republican/Democrat argument is irrelevant. If I earned 174K(ish) to start as a senator, congressman, or representative, I could certainly afford my premiums and deductible.
Politicians’ benefits are probably the largest form of entitlements (welfare) there is, but we won’t see those benefits reduced in order to tighten the budgetary belt. Our representatives are fully vested after 5 years, meaning retirement package that pays 60K annually (plus other “benefits”)…This is more than most working families are earning each year! It’s true that we need to tighten our budgets, and we need to start by reducing the entitlements we are funding for our “public servants”.
No you won’t see any of the politicians giving up their Cadillac health care plans.
I’d like to hear from the business owners on the site who will have to insure their employees, how do you plan to combat these costs? Just think of the money the state will have to restructure just to combat these costs. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks, and at this point, we’re not even sure if it’s economically feasible for all.
Sure, LePage, you’ll enjoy your state employee healthcare benefits while others go without. How about you give up your family’s healthcare until this is resolved.
The ACA is the law. Waiting for that to change is not the imperative, complying and expandind coverage to Mainers is. GOP governors are willing to let their constituents continue to pay excessive rates and leave too many without coverage. In the end this intransigence will cause businesses and individuals to vote with their feet; moving to where these benefits are available to them.
Maine will remain stuck while other states will progress and improve. Massachusetts has fared very well under their law and more businesses are providing coverage. They have the best system and outcomes in America.
Blame the Republicans!
A very wise choice by the Guv. As only one example of how destructive obamacare is, medical device manufacturers are now saddled with a 2.5% tax. The very companies that are trying to improve our heath are penalized (liberal ideology at work). The med device industry expects it will have to pay $20 billion because of this tax which will cause the loss of 43,000 jobs. Brilliant.
obamacare will collapse this country, the Guv is wise to fend-off reactionary policy.
Don’t worry about them.My brother in law works for one.He has told me about their profit margins.You’re just swallowing the Fox bait.
“The problem with the Supreme Court decision is they didn’t give us the answers,” LePage said. “They just said it’s either constitutional or not constitutional. But they don’t tell the president or us, the states, what we have to do.”
The Supreme court was asked to determine if this was unconstitutional or not (You must know this Pauly) They wasn’t asked to come out with how everything should be implemented, they reviewed it and upheld it.
It is terrible when things don’t go your way, always finding an excuse.
“The problem with the Supreme Court decision is they didn’t give us the
answers,” LePage said. “They just said it’s either constitutional or not
constitutional. But they don’t tell the president or us, the states,
what we have to do.”
Ok…what am I missing here? That’s what the supreme court does, Governor…they rule on whether something is constitutional or not – they don’t make policy…Am I missing something here?
No Jim- Fatty Arbuckle is clueless per usual…….I suspect Fatty isn’t clear on the three branches of government either and what their roles are and are not…..duh.
We will be electing the Maine legislature. That will either increase or decrease his power.
WE ARE UNITED STATES OF WELFARE. Happy 4th of July eveyrone.
Why do we need the gov’t to take care of us. TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
Absolutely and I’m sure you will not be using social security or medicare when you get old because you have made other provisions to take care of yourself!!! Excellent!!!
Social Security is mine that I paid in to, and so in Medicare. BUT I of course will NOT depend on those to take care of me! That is almost worth a huge laugh. I have my own plan and according to my portfolio and advisers I am doing just fine
Sounds good….Once you have ‘used up’ what you have paid into SS and medicare (and all you need is 1 lengthy hospitalization) ….and you’re all out of what you have paid in- you don’t get any extra SS or Medicare….then I guess it good that your ‘portfolio’ is doing well……as I’m sure you won’t ‘use’ more than you paid into SS and medicare.
Too many people rely on the government for everything.
—
Hopefully I have been a responsible American and saved for an event like you speak of along with my OWN PAID FOR health insurance. I should be fine.
You’re supposed to rely on the government. What’s wrong with you?
I am all for helping people, and then there are some who for reasons of their own are in need ..but thankfully I was mentally able and physically able to care for my own. and plan my future without the Gov’t. Amazing what hard work and an honest upbringing does for you
Hard work and being honest doesn’t fit in with being a politician.
—-
And then you wake up from your dream.
….
should be……
—-
Maybe LePage isn’t dragging his feet, just his knuckles.
………
Lepage should just make exemptions to certain groups.
‘Obamacare’ is the GOP health care plan from the ’90’s
The question should be asked …Who is paying Lepage to drag his feet? The insurance companies? healthcare industry? Drug companies? Yeah Obamacare is not perfect but at least it is trying to do something. We cannot continue to sustain the out of control healthcare costs. People whined about the same thing when Medicare and Medicaid came out. They thought the sky was falling and the world was ending but we survived and will survived this. Last year when I went to the Dr’s they charged my ins $75 to squirt warm water and hydrogen peroxide in my ears to clean the build up of wax. And this was not with a machine but with a bulb squirter and a bowl, When someone can realistically justify that then maybe I will consider the perils of Obamacare. Don’t give me the story about operating costs, profit margins etc… Think about it ..a dimes worth of h2O and hydrogen peroxide cost my ins $75
the real reason why republicans don’t like their romneycare -oops sorry, obamacare
A gaffe, Michael
Kinsley famously mused, is what results when a politician
inadvertently tells the truth. Utah Republican Senator Orrin
Hatch came clean about his party’s scorched-earth opposition to
health care reform being championed by President Obama and
Congressional Democrats. Hatch
acknowledged, as I’ve long
argued, that the GOP is worried not that Obama’s health care
initiatives might fail, but that they might succeed.
As he did in his pivotal effort to block Bill Clinton’s health
care efforts starting in 1993, conservative strategist Bill
Kristol warned his Republican allies then as now that that a
victory for President Obama would earn his party the thanks of a
grateful public and guarantee Democratic majorities for the
foreseeable future. In an interview
with CNS Monday, Senator Hatch revealed that was his darkest fear
as well:
HATCH: That’s their goal. Move people into government
that way. Do it in increments. They’ve actually said it. They’ve said
it out loud.
Q: This is a step-by-step approach —
HATCH: A step-by-step approach to socialized
medicine. And if they get there, of course, you’re going to have a
very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because
almost everybody’s going to say, “All we ever were, all we ever
are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party.”
Mikey Michaud needs to answer the question of whether he would have supported the healthcare legislation during its deliberations as a TAX on the middle class? If not, then will he work to repeal it? His statement about flatly declaring that it will not be repealed is just wishful thinking.
The individual mandate penalty (that’s what Rmoney calls it) will affect only 1.3% of taxpayers that have the $$$ but refuse to buy health insurance.
If you already have health insurance – there is no “tax”.
Please try to keep up.
Yessah
> Maine should let the federal government create the
> exchange for the state because it would be less
> expensive
Is that a Republican saying the federal government should handle something that the states were told to do and should do so that they customize it for Maine? And now we should pass our financial responsibility off to the rest of the United States? So it goes from state taxes to federal taxes or just increases the national debt. Emperor LePage now supports increasing the national debt.
I thought that Republicans were strongly in favor of states doing things, not the feds. Mitt Romney is adamant that what was good for Massachusetts when he instituted Romneycare, twin of Obamacare, was good for Massachusetts although not necessarily for the rest of America. (I can’t quite find the logic there. Are people from Massachusetts somehow significantly different from other Americans?) If states are better at it because they are more in tune with their citizens, why don’t Governor LePage and the Republicans get busy setting up the exchanges? Republicans tout the blessings of the market and competition. So why not let the games begin? Are they afraid provisions of the ACA will work?
Yo Penguin – Obamacare is constitutional – it is the Law of the Land.
Obama will be reelected, Charlie Summers will lose to Angus or Dill, and you will have a Democratic Majority in the Maine House and Senate next November.
Thousands of Maine people will receive rebates on their health insurance premiums this summer thanks to Obamacare.
Give it up.
Yessah.
This is just the Penguin’s way of manufacturing a crisis that would not exist if he did his job. Remember … “People Before Politics ” was his slogan . He just didn’t state whom HIS people are. Any Guesses???
Ummm I’m going with his daughter and brother-in-law……did I win?
Isnt name-calling fun, but I bet mine gets pulled and yours doesnt
Atta boy, gov – politics before people!
I’m still trying to figure out the economic sense of how we believe healthcare costs will go down. From what I make of it, it will stay the same but the only difference is that insurance will cover the costs and our tax rates will be dependant on the costs of everyone’s healthcare bills.
As a last resort, why not try actually reading the bill?
Thank you Justin. It is that criticism of the ACA that most people can agree with(and don’t have to call people names about); it doesn’t do the whole job if health care continues to be such a huge percentage of our economy and we don’t find a way to lower the costs and improve outcomes.
It might be interesting (sorry, I’m a wonk) to discuss how we think the industry can improve outcomes while lowering costs. That’s a debate worth having while we move forward with the ACA.
Here we go , do nothing and get left behind. One could get on board with plans, budget and a smooth process but to with hold, do nothing and hope the GOP will be able to change things, ( so to boost the insurance companies stock holdings ) is idiotic and NOT in the best interest of Maine and its citizens. I see nothing wrong with the program, the taxpayer pays regardless and if a poor family has to cough up a few dollars, it may help prevent over abuse for non essential medical care. Now, that is a good thing. Of course, all the stock holders with insurance company stock do not want this as it a stumbling block to the rich get richer. I do not believe in the 2 party outdated system and only believe in the merit of the person. I see Judge Roberts did the right thing and approved it. Lapage needs to get on board as this is how the most powerful court in the land, ruled. To hold back is a Tragedy that will cost Maine in the long run.
The Supreme Court only determines if a challenged law is constitutional or not. LePage clearly doesn’t have a clue about the roles of the 3 branches of government. This is another example of why it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have real politician in a political office.
I found those quotes startling too.
Two Word Replies to Obama & his lackey Michaud-
*Make Me-
*Try It-
*Get___
*___ You
*Registered Voter….!
*try again
*good luck
*Supreme Court
*found constitutional
*nationalized healthcare
*about time
*Registered Voter
Go Ahead-
Make Me-
Not Paying-
Majority Vote…. :-P
Romney’s not winning.
Its times like these that we should have a “none of the above option”
If in such an event, that both are considered political garbage, both parties then have 90 days to come up with an alternative that isn’t so full of _____
Good for you Gov. LePage. Hang in there…..the war is not over.
The Affordable Care Act provides everyone with insurance certain protections as it expands health care coverage for millions of Americans who want insurance but have health conditions that prevent them from getting coverage through insurers; have already been dropped from their insurance plans due to health problems; or who cannot afford insurance policies.
I don’t understand how the subsidy works. That is if the subsidy is only given to Maine if we accepts the Medicaid expansion?
Or, if you have Dirigo Health could you also qualify for the subsidy?
I understand with expansion it changes the payout schedule from the federal government to the state, but not how it could also effect the costs for those enrolled in Dirigo Health, with the benefits paid out to the health provider.
Here is contact information in Maine where you may find help to figure out your particular situation.
Maine Consumer Assistance Program
Consumers for Affordable Healthcare
12 Church St
Augusta, ME 04338
(800) 965-7476
http://www.mainecahc.org
consumerhealth@mainecahc.org
Those under 133% of poverty level were going to be covered by the Medicaid expansion. The subsidies appear to be tax credits for families that fall within 133% and 399% of poverty level. Here is another resource that may help you understand a little better: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2011/Apr/1493_Gruber_will_affordable_care_act_make_hlt_ins_affordable_reform_brief_v2.pdf.
It is a pretty good analysis, but you need to read all of it to get a better idea of how things will work; their methodology; and the effectiveness that they see of the law providing affordable health care to all Americans. Their verdict is that most Americans will be able to afford health insurance, but those with high out-of-pocket expenses will have the most difficulty affording health insurance. Don’t just read one or two paragraphs and give up, though.
Because the Legislature and governor have neglected to start the process of setting up exchanges, they have made it more difficult to assess what is going to happen more specifically for those who are in the position in which you find yourself. Perhaps it will be better to have the federal government set up the exchange, but in doing so, it could leave the state out of the process. Again, why it was important for the Legislature to act. On the bright side, the federal government would most likely do a better job of it for us since it is not tied to an ideological stance that rejects affordable health care for all Americans.
I am happy for the Affordable Care Act since it means that my son, who is seriously ill, may be able to get coverage, now. He is one of the many who needs insurance, but has a seriously debilitating and costly medical condition.
Maine has a law on the books enacted in April, 2012, setting up a position called a navigator to help consumers in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Of course, we may not actually have any navigators in the state. I don’t know. But it looks like we have a start. Maybe some enterprising insurance types can find a way to make this work despite the governor.
I checked US News listing of top health insurance companies in the USA broken down by state. Florida is one of the beacons of conservatives. So I checked to see how many of their top ten insurers are licensed in Maine. Number one in Florida is Blue Cross. It is part of Anthem and licensed in Maine. Second is Humana, also licensed in Maine. Other companies in Florida and other states are also licensed in Maine. So how difficult could it be for Maine to set up an exchange unless the “navigator” requirement is a bottleneck?
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If the Obama thing is reelected, Y’ll are toast. If not, Y’all have a chance. Go with the chance!
…..
Like many Mainers I will be voting for Romney for these hot topic areas.
*Overturn the governmental healthcare mandate
*Defend the 2nd Amendment
*Oppose Quimby Land
“The problem with the Supreme Court decision is they didn’t give us the answers,” LePage said. “They just said it’s either constitutional or not constitutional. But they don’t tell the president or us, the states, what we have to do.” said our brilliant governor……Ummmmmm yeah that’s kinda what SCOTUS does….. determines if something IS or ISN’T constitutional they don’t write policy….perhaps a US history 101 class might be helpful governor (taken at a Florida state university of course) …..what an embarrassment you are to this state.