What Others Are Saying

As the debate heats up in the Senate more and more people are speaking out, voicing their concerns about the pending legislation. Below are just a few quotes that we thought deserved repeating.

“What Others Are Saying”
Reactions to the Senate Health Care Reform Bill

“These bills, as they stand, are budget-busters.”
David Broder, “A budget-buster in the making,” The Washington Post, November 22, 2009

“[T]here are no provisions to substantively control the growth of costs or raise the quality of care. So the overall effort will fail to qualify as reform…. In discussions with dozens of health-care leaders and economists, I find near unanimity of opinion that, whatever its shape, the final legislation that will emerge from Congress will markedly accelerate national health-care spending rather than restrain it. Likewise, nearly all agree that the legislation would do little or nothing to improve quality or change health-care's dysfunctional delivery system.”
Dr. Jeffrey S. Flier, dean of Harvard University Medical School, “Health „Reform‟ Gets A Failing Grade,” The Wall Street Journal, November 17, 2009

“[T]here's not much reform in this bill. As of now, it's basically a big entitlement expansion, plus tax increases.”
Robert Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, “A budget-buster in the making,” The Washington Post, November 22, 2009

“While this bill does a better job than the House version at reducing the deficit and controlling costs, it still doesn't do enough…. I worry about what the final bill will look like.”
Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, “A budget-buster in the making,” The Washington Post, November 22, 2009

“About the best that can be said about the Senate health care bill that Harry Reid revealed this week is that it's marginally less destructive than the House monster. By a hair. Its $1.2 trillion cost (more like $2.5 trillion if you discount the accounting gimmicks), multiple and damaging new taxes, and new regulations will make health insurance more expensive for most Americans while reducing the quality of medical care.”
Editorial, “The End of HSAs,” The Wall Street Journal, November 23, 2009

“What a good country or a good squirrel should be doing is stashing away nuts for the winter. The United States is not only not saving nuts, it‟s eating the ones left over from the last winter.” William H. Gross, managing director of the Pimco Group, “Wave of Debt Payments Facing U.S. Government,” The New York Times, November 22, 2009

“Americans shouldn't be fooled by this play-acting. The only way to improve this bill is to defeat it and start over.”
Editorial, “The Senate‟s Health-Care Act,” The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 2009

“Recently, the White House signaled that it will get serious about reducing the deficit next year – after it locks into place massive new health care entitlements. This is a recipe for disaster, as it will create a new appetite for increased spending and yet another powerful interest group to oppose deficit-reduction measures…. the bills are fiscally dishonest, using every budget gimmick and trick in the book: Leave out inconvenient spending, back-load spending to disguise the true scale, front-load tax revenues, let inflation push up tax revenues, promise spending cuts to doctors and hospitals that have no record of materializing, and so on…. Getting long-term budgets under control is hard enough today. The job will be nearly impossible with a slew of new entitlements in place.”
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, “The Coming Deficit Disaster,” The Wall Street Journal, November 20, 2009

Devin and Dave hit up the Million Med March

It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, but that sure didn't stop concerned health care providers from showing up at the state capitol to voice their greivances with the government-run health insurance legislation coming out of the House and Senate.

Here was the main speaker for the event, Dr. Rich Roth




Here's a young man that came to listen to what the health care professionals had to say, but he also had a few ideas of his own!



The powers that be also thought it would be a good idea to put a megaphone in Dave's hand as well... this was the result.

Read the U.S. Chamber release on Ried's bill

A Missed Opportunity to Enact Meaningful Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today expressed disappointment with the newly released Senate health overhaul legislation, citing several provisions as improvements over other legislation, but pointing out core concerns the business community has voiced for many months that continue to be ignored by legislators.

“We acknowledge that there are improvements over other bills, including provisions that offer more choice and competition by allowing interstate compacts to purchase insurance, national plans that provide relief from some state barriers, and the ability for more small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to purchase health plans,” said Bruce Josten, executive vice president of government affairs at the U.S. Chamber. “But this bill still contains a government-run health plan and an onerous employer mandate, it taxes working Americans, slashes Medicare, spends over a trillion dollars, and—after all this—CBO tells us 24 million Americans will still not have health insurance.”

The Chamber continues to oppose the creation of a new government-run health plan, regardless of provisions that postpone their creation or allow a state to opt-out, because the state’s residents will still be taxed to fund the plan for residents of other states. In addition, the Chamber has criticized forcing employers who may not be able to afford it to offer government-approved health insurance to employees.  The Chamber believes the path to a healthier economy is to cut taxes, not to raise them by $500 billion.

 

“We will continue to work with legislators to try to achieve responsible and meaningful health reform,” Josten continued. “However, many parts of this legislation are a step in the wrong direction.  The bill now contains two AMT-like taxes that will eventually explode and hurt the middle class—the so-called ‘Cadillac’ plan tax, and the Medicare payroll tax. And why is there still no meaningful medical liability reform?  Is currying favor with the trial lawyers worth passing up $50 billion in CBO verified savings?” 

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called for health reform that controls skyrocketing health care costs, ends pre-existing condition exclusions and allows everyone to purchase health plans at a fair price.  Reform needs to create a real, vibrant market where the nation’s more than 1,000 insurance companies will compete for business.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

LANDRIEU CONSIDERING VOTING FOR REIDS SENATE BILL!!!

IT LOOKS LIKE MARY LANDRIEU HAS FORGOTTEN THE LESSONS LEARNED WHEN SPEAKING TO CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA. WE NEED TO GET ON THE PHONE WITH HER AND HER STAFF NOW TO REMIND HER HOW LOUISIANA FEELS ABOUT GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE!

HERE IS HER OFFICE NUMBER IN DC
(202) 224-5824

CALL HER AND TELL HER THAT YOU ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF SENATOR REID'S BILL!

Congressman Cao delivers merged House bill to local libraries

Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao recently did the good citizens of New Orleans a solid: he had copies of the merged House bill sent to a number of local libraries. Read below for the entire release:

Cao Office Delivers Health Care Bill to Local Libraries

 
 
New Orleans, LA – Soon, Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District will have better access to the new House health care bill, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
 
By 3pm CST today, the Office of Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) will deliver the most recent version of the entire 1,990 page bill to the following 17 local libraries and 2 law schools.
 
Cao headed home from DC Thursday evening to digest the new bill. (SEE VIDEO HERE) He said: “I’m going to be spending my weekend reading every page of this bill to prepare for next week’s vote. The bill was just released yesterday and contains some major changes to the earlier proposals. I want to make sure that my constituents have an opportunity to read this bill, too because it will impact everyone.”
 
Orleans and Jefferson Parish constituents should be aware that the provided copies of the health care bill are reference documents only and cannot be removed from the institutions.
 
Congressman Cao has been extremely engaged in the national health care debate. He has met on several occasions with White House Health Care Czar, Nancy-Ann DeParle and hosted her during a public telephone town hall that went out to over 62,000 households. He has also had several briefings on the health care legislation from experts with the Congressional Research Service and hosted 11 health care town halls during August recess.
 
The bill is also available on his website at www.josephcao.house.gov .
 
 
Algiers Regional Branch
3014 Holiday Drive
New Orleans, LA, 70131
10 am - 7 pm, Mon. - Thurs.
10 am - 6 pm, Fri.
(504) 596-2641
 
Alvar Branch
913 Alvar Street
New Orleans, LA, 70117
10 am – 5 pm, Mon-Thurs & Sat
(504) 596-2667
 
Children's Resource Center
913 Napoleon Avenue
New Orleans, LA, 70115
10 am - 6 pm, Mon. - Thurs.
10 am - 5 pm, Fri.
1 pm - 5 pm, Sat.
(504) 596-2628
 
East New Orleans Branch
5641 Read Blvd
New Orleans, LA, 70127
10 am - 7 pm, Mon. & Wed.
10 am - 6 pm, Tues. & Thurs.
10 am - 5 pm, Sat.
(504) 596-0200
 
The Edith S. Lawson Library in Westwego                                 
635 Fourth St.
Westwego, LA 70094
10 am – 6 pm, Mon-Sun                   
(504) 349-5912                   
 
Gretna Library                                    
102 Willow Dr.
Gretna, LA 70053                                              
(in library parking lot of the library building)
10 am - 6 pm, Tues-Thursday and Saturday
 (504) 364-2716                  
 
Hubbell Branch
225 Morgan St.
New Orleans, LA 70114
504-366-0657
 
Jane O’Brien Chatelain                                   
2751 Manhattan Blvd.
Harvey, LA 70058              
9 am – 9 pm, Mon-Thurs
9 am – 5 pm, Fri-Sat
1 pm – 5 pm, Sun
 (504) 364-2660                   
 
Lakeview Branch
6317 Argonne Blvd (at Harrison Ave)
New Orleans, LA 70124
10 am - 7pm, Tues., Wed. & Thurs.
10 am - 5 pm, Fri. & Sat.
(504) 596-2638
 
Latter Branch
5120 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA, 70115
9 am - 8 pm, Mon. & Wed.
9 am - 6 pm, Tues. & Thurs.
10 am - 5 pm, Sat.
12 pm - 5 pm, Sun.
(504) 596-2625
 
Live Oak Library
125 Acadia Dr.
Waggaman, LA 70094      
11 am – 7 pm, Mon-Thurs
(504) 736-8475   
 
Main Branch – Louisiana Division
219 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-596-2560
 
Martin Luther King Branch
1611 Caffin Avenue
New Orleans, LA, 70117
10 am - 5 pm, Mon. - Fri.
(504) 596-2695
 
Mid-City Branch
330 N. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA, 70119
10 am - 7 pm, Mon. & Wed.
10 am - 6 pm, Tues. & Thurs.
10 am - 5 pm, Sat.
(504) 596-2654
 
Nix Branch
1401 S. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA, 70118
10 am - 7 pm, Mon. - Thurs.
10 am - 6 pm, Fri.
(504) 596-2630
 
Rosa Keller Branch
4300 S. Broad Street
New Orleans, LA, 70125
10 am. - 6 p.m., Mon. & Wed.
10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Tues. & Thurs.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat.
(504) 596-2660
                                                                                                                       
Terrytown Library                                             
680 Heritage Ave.
Terrytown, LA 70056
10 am – 6 pm, Mon-Sat                    
(504) 364-2717                                                                                  
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                         
Law schools
 
Tulane Law School
Weinmann Hall
6329 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
 
Loyola Law School
526 Pine Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
 

###
 
 Princella Smith
Communications Director
Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao (LA-2)
2113 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
http://josephcao.house.gov/
 
Main: 202-225-6636
Direct: 202-225-3117
E-mail: princella.smith@mail.house.gov
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A Weekend in Alexandria

While I typically reserve my Saturdays for SEC Football (GEAUX Tigers!), the debate over health care reform didn't take the weekend off, so neither did we. Saturday I went up to Alexandria, LA to discuss health care at the biennial Louisiana Federation of Republican Women Conference and met up with my cohort Devin in Lafayette that same afternoon.

While in Alexandria I had the pleasure of listening to countless concerned citizens and their concerns about the current propositions for health care reform, but two seemed to really stand out above the rest.

First, I was able to sit down with Clyde Holloway- Central Louisiana's Public Service Commissioner and former Congressman. Here's the video:




The next video is of Joyce Lacour, a member of the Republican Women, Baton Rouge Pachyderms, and all around informed citizen:

Trust the social worker

Donna Ganier owns her own small business and is a practicing social worker. She's the one that has to navigate the bureaucratic labyrinth that is government health care. Now, just why do you think she's opposed to a public option?