Gov. Scott attacks The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) “Obamacare”!
An article appeared in the National Review (online) on July 4, 2012. I will summarize the article:
The media has given little to no attention to the Supreme Court’s second ruling regarding the ACA, so-called “Obamacare” in a 7-2 decision striking down a massive and very costly expansion of Medicaid (which is administered by the states). Barely a day after the decision our governor Rick Scott announced that Florida will not expand Medicaid eligibility to 133% of the federal poverty level (as set forth in the ACA). Earlier, Gov. Scott had declined to establish state insurance exchanges, as allowed for (but not required) in the ACA. The left is going absolutely apoplectic over this one two punch to the ACA in Florida, as I will explain.
The savings on the Medicaid side over about ten years to Florida taxpayers who will not have to foot the bill for the Medicaid expansion after 2017 (when the federal government begins the phase down of the additional funds provided from 2014-2017) will be approximately twenty billion dollars. The ACA provides that most of those who would have been eligible for Medicaid will become eligible for subsidies through the ACA exchanges paid in full by the federal government. But, as Rod Serling stated so uniquely in an episode of The Twilight Zone that you might recall; “Ahhh, there’s the rub!”. If Florida refuses to set up the insurance exchange (which Gov. Scott has done) the ACA gives the federal government the authority to step in and set up the exchange itself. Congress has not appropriated any funds for this purpose and, in this political climate, seems very unlikely to do so any time soon!
Now to “the rub”. Those subsidies under the ACA cannot be offered by the federal government, only by the state run exchanges! In my view, the ACA is not only bad law (with a few good provisions which can be resurrected after the current law is repealed) and terrible public policy for the middle class and small businesses but is so poorly drafted as to contain a huge loophole that may render the law unworkable. We can only hope! Here’s an example of how this loophole could work. The subsidy triggers the penalty (tax?) under the ACA for employers with fifty or more employees who fail to provide workers with insurance but only if at least one employee qualifies for subsidies under the exchange. Therefore, if subsidies can only be provided through state authorized exchanges a state could defeat the employer mandate just by refusing to establish an exchange! Apparently, the towering intellects who drafted this legislation missed this! In any case, the Obama administration and our friends at the IRS claim they have the unilateral right to rewrite the ACA to close this loophole (and others). I don’t claim to be a legal genius like the Obama team but I do have a law degree and practiced law for many years. This claim of a unilateral rewrite is certainly open to legal challenge. Maybe the Supreme Court will get it right this time!
The bottom line is that while the media and the political class pontificate and spin the Court’s decision about whether or not the individual mandate is a tax, etc. the real action (as has been the trend for a very long time) is taking place with governors and state legislators in the fight for fiscal sanity against the ACA, better known as “Obamacare”.
Free Phone Frenzy
Your tax dollars at work.
July 4th Mall “Meet-ups”, in Boca, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens!
This past Memorial Day, Monday, May 28th, nearly 30 patriots from the Boca Chapter met up at Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. Dressed in full Patriotic regalia, our group met to honor those who served this great country in our armed services. We met quite early, before there were a lot of people there at the mall, but we definitely left an impression on those who were there.
The purpose of meeting up was to take a stand for our country in a very public way, to simply express our love for our country. Clearly, we had gathered intentionally—dressed patriotically, holding flags, and enjoying fellowship with one another. We gathered in a very open and conspicuous area, which was in the foyer area from the main entrance to the mall on the north side. Loosely organized, there was no official “format” or “program” that we followed. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem, and Al Raden read a list of names- the names of every soldier from Florida who was killed in action since the previous Memorial Day. Ron Gaynor read an excellent short speech from Abraham Lincoln. We closed by singing God Bless America.
As we disbanded, a number of people inquired about our group, and we were equipped with Palm Beach County Tea Party business cards, as well as flyers for our upcoming meeting with Slade O’Brien that we just had in June. In all, we were at the mall for just about an hour.
We greatly encourage everyone who can, to JOIN US to do the very same thing on July 4th! Our respective chapter groups will gather at 10:30 am at Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington, and Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens. Pick the one closest to you, and let your voice be heard! Let us demonstrate solidarity for the future of this country—that there are people who still care—and that the Tea Party is alive and well, and present and accounted for in our communities!!!
Palm Beach County is not Wisconsin
This is Your Wake Up Call!
Today is a very sad day. I am sitting here in Washington, DC with about 50 fellow patriots. All of us were checked out of our hotel room by 6 am this morning and standing on the steps of the Supreme Court by 6:30am. We said the pledge of allegiance, sang patriotic songs, chanted things like “See that flag a flying hi makes me proud as I pass by “, and silently prayed that the announcement that the Supreme Court would declare the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional. As you know, that did not happen and the worst case scenario unfolded. The Supreme Court upheld ACA or “ObamaCare” as it is affectionately called by both sides.
Somber moments for tea partiers!
Should we, the tea party, consider this a win for the opposition and a loss for us. Yes, it was a win for them but we should also consider this a wakeup call for America and especially for the tea party! We have an opportunity now to energize the masses. The Supreme Court declared ObamaCare a tax — a tax for all people, poor, middle income, and rich alike! The administration orchestrated a President Franklin D. Roosevelt-like bait and switch. President Roosevelt first sold social security to the masses as benefit, not a tax; then when challenged by the Supreme Court, he declared it a tax . . . and won! This is exactly what happened today!
Everyone is asking what does this mean? The news reporters asked where is the tea party going from here? Does this signal an end to the tea party? Very quickly the leftists surrounded us and declared that the tea party “does not care about people needing health care.” This could not be further than the truth!
Tea partiers from across the US
after the Health Care decision
Tea party groups across the country are focused on quality health care for any person, irrespective of their income situation and if they want it. Tea partiers believe that we must repeal the ACA in full and replace it with effective free-market based solutions.
Simply stated, the tea party stances are reflective of the majority of the American people. Per a June poll by NYT/CBS, 68% of the American voters want all or part of ObamaCare repealed. Per a YG Network June poll, 92% say they are already satisfied with their healthcare (pre ObamaCare) and 90% say that their health care costs have gone up or stayed the same since ObamaCare passed. Per a June 13th Rasmussen poll, those who strongly favor repeal is almost double those that strongly oppose repeal.
So what does this mean for the tea party? It means that we energize America against this very pervasive tax that will effect everyone. We fight to repeal ACA with a newly minted handle: “Repeal the ObamaCare Tax!”
We need to focus on the costs, on its impact on our economy, the inevitable reduction in the quality of health care in this country, the rationing power of Medicare imbedded in the law, the Medicare payment cuts imbedded int he law, and the overall higher health care costs for every person and every company that must now provide healthcare benefits for their employees. We cannot give up! America’s future depends on our effort!
We are on the steep, slippery slope to socialized medicine! We need to make today a turning point — the first day of our renewed effort to repeal the ObamaCare tax!
County Commission Forum – District 1 Primary Candidates
The Palm Beach County Tea Party, a TAB coalition partner, was a co-sponsor of this event.
PB County Proposes $100M Tax Increase
Tax Day Tea Party Rocks Wellington
On a bright sunny afternoon in the beautiful Wellington Amphitheatre, an exuberant crowd sat on the astroturf and took in the sounds of LEVEL, and the stirring words of Allen West, Dick Morris, Anita MonCrief and many others.
The Tea Party is alive and well and ready to engage in – as some would say, “.. the most important election of our lifetime…”
The event drew a good size crowd, from tea party and 912 “regulars” to members of the “other side” who lined the back of the field with posters critical of some of the speakers and themes. The protest was peaceful though and even these folks seemed to enjoy themselves.
A lot of local candidates, from Congress down to School Board were in the audience, their teams fanning out to collect hundreds of signed nominating petitions, and most with whom we spoke thought the event was very productive for them.
The speakers covered the bases, some with some new food for thought. MC Brian Mudd from WJNO gave one of the most unusual but highly positive introductions of Congressman Colonel Allen West I have heard, alluding to his national appeal. The Congressman laid out the dangers of another four years of Barack Obama, and assured him (are you listening Mr. President?) that he would most assuredly be voting against the “Buffet Rule” this week.
Anita Montcrief told her tale of finding corruption at the highest levels of ACORN, and then laid out the more current conspiracy between that organization in its new form and the Justice Department to overturn voter ID laws across the country.
Dick Morris, a recent passenger on the Romney train, speculated that Mitt Romney would be one of the best Presidents in history. He asked for a show of hands for “who is more conservative now after 3 years of Obama?” and after seeing an overwhelming yes, tried to convince us that Mitt is too. He also told of the dangers of another Obama term, but suggested that his re-election was definitely not assured.
All in all, a pleasant and stirring day and a good kickoff to the 2012 electoral season.
Some pictures of the event: CLICK HERE to see all the photos at once.
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Cities Propose New Taxing District
This Monday, at a joint meeting of the County Commission and the 15 cities that have brought the lawsuit over the Inspector General funding, a proposal surfaced to create a new taxing district. This is the wrong approach and will likely end up as a ballot question that could ask people to choose between higher taxes (with a new district) or continuing to fund the Inspector General – which 72% of the voters said they wanted.
Read the synopsis on the TAB Website.
TAX DAY TEA PARTY! Congressman Allen West and Dick Morris top the list of speakers.
Print the Flyer:
Join us for a fun, family afternoon of amazing music, picnic food, kids activities, and excellent speakers on Sunday, April 15th from 1:30pm to 5pm. Our guest speakers will include:
- US Congressman Allen West, Florida District 22
- Dick Morris, cable news commentator and political analyst
- Anita MonCrief, ex-liberal and ACORN whistleblower
- Dan Mangru, Fox Business News Mangru Report
- Joyce Kaufman, local talk show radio host on WFTL 850
- Michael Solomon, author and facilitator of the 1st tea party in the US
- Roberto Alonzo (Cuban exile who became a freedom fighter in Venezuela before fleeing to America
- Representative Pat Rooney
- Representative Mark Pafford
- Slade O’Brian, Americans for Prosperity
- Craig Henne, conservative talk radio host
Our master of ceremonies for the afternoon’s festivities will be Brian Mudd, station manager and show host on WJNO AM1290. We are pleased to have Lou Galterio, “The Golden Voice”, sing the National Anthem. Please click here to read more about Lou.
David DiCrescenzo, publisher at The Patriots Press, will give the invocation and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Music will be provided by LeVeL, a West Palm Beach-based band (area code 561) best known for edgy, acoustic rock with elements of classic rock, punk, funk, jazz, acoustic rock, dance music and heavy metal; an amazing sound for all ages. Check it by clicking here and clicking on their sample music videos. A special guest singer will be Brie Goldsobel who will sing original patriotic songs.
The place is the beautiful new Wellington Amphitheater. The address is: 12100 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, FL.
Click here for a description of the facilities. Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy the beautiful afternoon! And here’s a map:
View Tax Day Tea Party in a larger map
For children, the park includes a large, beautiful, and well equipped playground. Parents and grandparents can accompany their children in the playground and still hear the speakers or the music. We will also provide face painting patriotic tattoos, and build-a-bear activities.
This will be fun for the whole family! Ask your friends early so they can join us as well. The park holds 5000 and there will be plenty of parking. Refreshment will be available for purchase. See the menu.
Last but not least, Amy Hair will provide signing for the deaf and HOH. There will also be a special section for the hearing impaired where they can set up their chairs or blankets and comfortably enjoy all the festivities.
Our thanks to AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY for providing the travel expenses for Anita MonCrief! Americans for Prosperity is an excellent alliance partner!
