Posts tagged ‘Health Care Reform’
DPVA: It’s time for Cuccinelli to “Come Clean” on Cost of Frivolous Health Care Lawsuit to Taxpayers
I’m not sure what is more troubling: the fact that Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is choosing to waste taxpayer money on a frivolous lawsuit challenging the recently passed federal health care reform law or the fact that he won’t come clean on what the actual costs are to the taxpayer?
In a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Virginia Democrats, Cuccinelli chose to hide information on the cost of the lawsuit versus coming clean with Virginians. Well it’s time for Cuccinelli to come clean and stop using the resources of the Attorney General’s office as a slush fund to further his political agenda.
As DPVA Political Director Don Mark rightfully noted, in email earlier today, “as we all know, a lawyers greatest asset is his time and Cuccinelli has still refused to divulge how much time his office is spending on this ideological lawsuit.”
The Democratic Party of Virginia today chose to call him out on his evasiveness and filed a second FOIA request. Nice job, but I’m not holding my breath on the Cooch “coming clean!”
Virginia Democrats File Additional FOIA, After Cuccinelli Refuses to Answer Taxpayer Questions
DPVA: ‘Virginia’s Attorney General appears to have gone rogue’
RICHMOND – Virginia Democrats filed a second Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on Tuesday, after his initial response avoided answering any questions on the resources expended on a federal health care lawsuit.
Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director David Mills asked Tuesday for Cuccinelli to come clean with Virginia taxpayers about how much taxpayer-funded staff time was going into Virginia v. Sebelius, Cuccinelli’s health care lawsuit against the federal government. The DPVA’s second FOIA included requests for:
The schedules of Ken Cuccinelli, Solicitor General Duncan Getchell and Deputy Attorney General Wesley Russell for the month of March; a log of communication between Cuccinelli and national Republican political organizations about the lawsuit; a log of communication between Cuccinelli and 13 other state attorneys general who filed suit; communication between Cuccinelli and Governor Bob McDonnell regarding the health care legislation; a list of current Office of Attorney General staff and their salaries.
The full FOIA filed Tuesday is below. In an initial FOIA response issued last week, Cuccinelli’s office had refused to give any information about the resources used on lawsuit preparation. That response is available here: http://www.vademocrats.org/page/-/FOIAresponse033110.pdf.Mills released the following statement Tuesday on the DPVA’s second FOIA:
“Virginia’s Attorney General appears to have gone rogue. Ken Cuccinelli refuses to provide any information to Virginia taxpayers about how much taxpayer-funded attorney time and office resources he’s wasting on a frivolous health care lawsuit against the federal government. In an attempt to find these answers, we have filed another FOIA request with the Office of the Attorney General.
“Based on his response to our initial FOIA request, Ken Cuccinelli has clearly chosen the path of hiding information rather than openness. Furthermore, we have serious questions about his use of the working paper exemption to cover up political communication with parties outside of Virginia.
“We will continue to respectfully ask the Attorney General to be accountable to the taxpayers who pay his salary. While Mr. Cuccinelli has been focused on scoring political points, he has shown little interest in openness with Virginia taxpayers. He has tried to obfuscate at every turn, while thousands of Virginians demand answers.
“Attorney General Cuccinelli has personally said that he believes this lawsuit is about ‘defending the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia.’ [RTD, 3/27]. And yet he also claims that this purported all-important battle for the integrity of the Constitution is only going to cost the Commonwealth $350.
“Based on his office’s statements and response to our initial FOIA request, it seems Ken Cuccinelli wants Virginians to believe that attorneys in his office have devoted no staff time, held no meetings, and diverted no resources of any kind despite the priority he claims to have placed on this lawsuit. Ken Cuccinelli can’t have it both ways: You can’t claim something is a priority in your office and try to pretend it comes cheap.
“We will continue asking the Attorney General for answers through the formal FOIA process. But we ask that Mr. Cuccinelli choose the simpler route: stop ducking answers and come clean with Virginia taxpayers about exactly what resources he is using on this lawsuit.”
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Republican Controlled Prince William Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution to Send Cooch a Letter Thanking Him for Frivolous Health Care Reform Lawsuit
In a press release from the Prince William County Democratic Committee today, Chair Pete Frisbie blasted the Republican controlled Prince William County Board of Supervisors for voting to send a thank you note to Cuccinelli (R-VA) for his lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new federal health care reform law.
As I previously wrote, this lawsuit has little (actually, ZERO) chance of being successful on constitutional grounds and would come at a very steep cost to taxpayers. Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, Cuccinelli and Gov. McDonnell (R-VA) should focus on using our currently scarce dollars to fully fund education and fix our transportation problems.
All I can say is wow. I thought the current Stafford County Board of Supervisors were nuts. This takes the cake! Here’s the press release from Pete:
The Republican controlled Prince William County Board of Supervisors have passed a motion along a party line vote to send a letter to Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to thank him for protecting their rights as a result of the law suit against the federal government on the health care reform law on the behalf of all of the residents of Prince William County. This is yet another frivolous lawsuit filed against the Federal Government by Virginia’s right wing ideologue Attorney General.
Click here (Go to the 5:00 mark) to watch the debate and the vote amongst our supervisors for yourself
There was no citizen input on this directive from the Board of Supervisors. The Board has no jurisdiction over the federal health care legislation yet they are spending your taxpayer money on letters when our school system just cut $50 million from their budget.
Board Chairman Corey Stewart has even said that he will bring forth a proposal to the Board of Supervisors to ensure that Prince William County will refuse to implement the health care law that was signed by President Obama.
These actions have become typical of the Republicans on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. Please tell Supervisors Corey Stewart (R-At Large), John Stirrup (R-Gainesville, Mike May (R-Occoquan), Marty Nohe (R-Coles), Maureen Caddigan (R-Dumfries), and Wally Covington (R-Brentsville) to stop wasting our tax dollars on their personal political agendas.
We urge them to focus on the issues that face Prince William County every day — such as home foreclosures, rising utility costs, cuts to our school system and predatory loans — rather than writing letters, resolutions or proposals that support frivolous lawsuits against the federal government.
Help us remind our Supervisors of the priorities that matter to Prince William County residents like you and me and lay the groundwork to take back the Board of Supervisors.
Contact these Republicans Supervisors here…
Thanks so much for everything you are doing to stand with Prince William’s families and support the values we share.
Sincerely,
Pete Frisbie
Chair, Prince William County Democratic Committee
The Cooch has apparently met his match in crazy in Prince William County Chairman-At-Large Corey Stewart (R-Prince William). As Pete notes above, Stewart actually
proposed to refuse to implement what he regards as a costly, unconstitutional Federal mandate. He intends to submit a proposal for consideration by the Board of County Supervisors[, which will refuse to implement the new federal health care reform law in Prince William County].
He made these comments at a recent Prince William County Republican Convention held to select party leadership. He also praised the Tea Party movement and drew comparisons between this movement and the movement that drafted the Declaration of Independence. What a complete nut!
Here’s the resolution that passed, courtesy of the Prince William County Democratic Committee:
MOTION: STIRRUP March 23, 2010 Regular Meeting SECOND: COVINGTON Res. No. 10-243 RE: LETTER THANKING THE VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ACTION: APPROVED WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress passed on March 21, 2010, and the President of the United States signed into law on March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA); and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2010 the Commonwealth of Virginia filed suit against Kathleen Sebelius in her official capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the United States seeking to declare the PPACA unconstitutional (Commonwealth v. Kathleen Sebelius); and
WHEREAS, many other States and private organizations are also seeking to challenge the constitutionality of the PPACA through the federal courts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors wishes to thank the Virginia Attorney General for his efforts, for protecting the rights of Prince William County residents, and to wish him good luck on his efforts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William County Attorney’s Office is instructed to look into whether or not the Prince William Board of County Supervisors could file an amicus curiae brief in support of the Commonwealth’s position in Commonwealth v. Kathleen Sebelius.
Votes: Ayes: Caddigan, Covington, May, Nohe, Stewart, Stirrup Nays: Jenkins, Principi Absent from Vote: None Absent from Meeting: None
And here’s the subsequent letter from Stewart, also courtesy of the Prince William Democratic Committee:
Board Letter Thanking Cuccinelli
The Honorable Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II
900 East Main Street
Sixth Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dear Attorney General Cuccinelli:
Attached please find a copy of a Resolution of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. On behalf of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, I am writing to thank you for your efforts regarding your recent law suit Commonwealth v. Kathleen Sebelius.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), which was signed by the President of the United States on March 23, 2010 creates a template for federal action that will affect all levels of government and all citizens for years to come. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors would like to thank you for protecting our residents’ rights by filing this action.
Thank you for your leadership on this very important issue. We wish you good luck on your efforts.
Sincerely,
Corey A. Stewart
Chairman
Attachment
Cc: Board of County Supervisors
County Attorney
County Executive
Virginia Congressional Delegation
Cucinelli’s going to need more then luck to win an unwinnable case. I applaud Pete for standing up to the Republican fringe, which is becoming all too common place throughout the Commonwealth, and being the voice of sensibility and fiscal responsibility on behalf of all Prince William residents.
Starbucks to Offer More Sizes, Republicans Blame Health Care Reform
In a big announcement this morning, Starbucks has introduced two new beverage sizes to its U.S. stores: the Plenta and the Micra.
Hugh Mungis, Starbucks VP of Volume issued the following statement:
Whether customers are looking for a large or small size, the Plenta and the Micra satisfy all U.S. and Canada customers’ needs for more and less coffee. Our size selection is now plentiful.
Republicans have responded by saying “Hell No, You Can’t” and blasting this as a direct result of the recently signed health care reform (HCR) legislation.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) also blasted the new Plenta size as an “attempt by Democrats to kill Grandma and Grandpa.” He also noted that this new size would cause health care costs to “skyrocket.”
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele was most concerned about the Micra size. He worries that children will become “hooked” on Starbucks’ caffeinated beverages and that the HCR provision that allowed for this was nothing more than a “giveaway” to Democrats liberal friends (e.g. Starbucks). He argued that with all of the problems we are facing, there is certainly a “better way to spend money.”
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) of Virginia’s First Congressional District was most concerned on the environmental impact of the Plenta-sized cup. Having attained no significant legislative accomplishments, since being elected in 2007, and having the notoriety of being ranked as of one of the 10 least effective members of Congress, Wittman has decided to change his image and take a stand on this “travesty” by Democrats.
He will introduce a bill tomorrow that will mandate that the Plenta-sized cup be recycled and reused for other purposes. He suggests that the Plenta-sized cup could be used as a popcorn receptacle, rain hat, perennial planter, lampshade, yoga block, milk dish for kittens, soft boiled egg cup or a paper clip holder.
Tea Party folks are also outraged that these new sizes will only be available for coffee-based beverages and not tea. They argue that this is a “huge” waste of taxpayer funds, especially when they receive no direct benefit from the legislation. They have threatened to board any Starbucks truck carrying these new sizes and “destroy the cups.”
Republicans plan to campaign heavily on this issue in the fall and believe that it will resonate with voters, allowing them to win back control of Congress.
Gas Line Cut at Rep. Perriello’s Brother’s Home, FBI Investigating Incident
On Monday, two Virginia Tea Baggers posted what they believed to be the home address of Rep. Tom Perriello (R-VA) online. The only problem is that the address that was posted was that of Rep. Perriello’s brother Bo.
The result, according to the Charlottesville Daily Progress:
Federal and local authorities are investigating a severed gas line at the home of U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello’s brother, discovered the day after Tea Party activists posted the address online so opponents could “drop by” and “express their thanks” for Perriello’s vote in favor of health care reform.
I guess this was the next logical step for teabaggers after they hurled racist and homophobic slurs at Democratic lawmakers (and even some spit) at rallies to protest health care reform this weekend, right? NOT!
This sort of behavior should not be tolerated by anyone, regardless of political affiliation. So how did Republican lawmakers respond to these despicable acts this past weekend?
Rep. David Nunes (R-CA) had the following to say on C-Span this past Sunday:
Yeah, well I think that when you use totalitarian tactics, people, you know, begin to act crazy. I think, you know, there’s people that have every right to say what they want. If they want to smear someone, they can do it…Of course. I think the left loves to play a couple of incidents here or there.
So, you have Republican lawmakers like Nunes actually justifying these despicable acts. The only purpose this serves is to fire up the lunatics in the movement and cause them to act out in even more extreme ways.
On Monday, teabaggers decided to raise the stakes by posting what they believed to be the home address of Rep. Tom Perriello, but later realized was later the address of a house that belonged to his brother Bo.
As the Charlottesville Daily Progress further reported:
Danville Tea Party leader Nigel Coleman was one of the two activists who posted Bo Perriello’s address online Monday.
“This is Rep. Thomas Stuart Price Perriello’s home address,” Coleman wrote Monday. “… I ain’t holding back anymore!!”
According to the Politico Web site, when Coleman learned that the address actually belonged to the congressman’s brother, he responded on a blog: “Do you mean I posted his brother’s address on my Facebook? Oh well, collateral damage.”
The result of this over-the-top rhetoric was an incident at Rep. Perriello’s brother’s house where a propane line to a gas-powered grill was cut. Also it is now being reported that his brother also received what is being described as a “threatening” letter in the mail on the same day. The letter was purported to read along the lines of “You’ll have to answer for this [(health care reform)] on judgment day.”
Rep. Perriello issued the following statement this afternoon:
My number one priority right now is ensuring the safety of my brother’s family, and I am grateful to law enforcement for their excellent work. While it is too early to say anything definitive regarding political motivations behind this act, it’s never too early for political leaders to condemn threats of violence, particularly as threats to other Members of Congress and their children escalate. And so I ask every member of House and Senate leadership to state unequivocally tonight that it is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution. Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box.
It’s time for lawmakers like Rep. Nunes to stop trying to justify the behavior of teabaggers and unequivocally condone these despicable acts. This may be all fun and games for Republicans, until someone actually ends up getting seriously injured.
How about House minority leader John Boehner (R-OH) stand up to these nuts by telling them, “Hell no, you can’t!”
You can read more about the threats against lawmakers here.
Harris Poll Finds that Republicans Have Indeed Become a Fringe Party
According to a new Harris poll, Republicans have lost their minds (if that is news to anyone):
On the heels of health care, a new Harris poll reveals Republican attitudes about Obama: Two-thirds think he’s a socialist, 57 percent a Muslim—and 24 percent say “he may be the Antichrist.”
To anyone who thinks the end of the health-care vote means a return to civility, wake up.
Obama Derangement Syndrome—pathological hatred of the president posing as patriotism—has infected the Republican Party. Here’s new data to prove it:
- 67 percent of Republicans (and 40 percent of Americans overall) believe that Obama is a socialist.
- 57 percent of Republicans (32 percent overall) believe that Obama is a Muslim
- 45 percent of Republicans (25 percent overall) agree with the Birthers in their belief that Obama was “not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president”
- 38 percent of Republicans (20 percent overall) say that Obama is “doing many of the things that Hitler did”
All I can say is wow. The Republicans have truly become a “fringe” party.
The poll, which surveyed 2,230 people right at the height of the health-care reform debate, also clearly shows that education is a barrier to extremism. Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped. It’s a reminder of what the 19th-century educator Horace Mann once too-loftily said: “Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge.“
All of this is further evidence why moderate-minded Republicans have been fleeing their party. Republicans are truly out of their freakin’ minds!
What the New Health Care Reform Law Means for You?
Now that President Obama has signed the health care reform bill into law, let’s take a look at some of the key provisions of this bill and what it will mean for all Americans either immediately or in the next six months.
Here are several key provisions of this bill, as also amended by the House-passed reconciliation bill:
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS: offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. This will be effective for calendar year 2010. Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.
…these tax credits will be a huge help for small businesses who are struggling to pay for out of control premiums and will ultimately lead to coverage being more affordable for employees. The money saved by this provision will result in small businesses being able to create new jobs from the money saved and allow them to further grow their businesses. So not only does this bill provide affordable coverage for Americans, but it also creates JOBS…
BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE: provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. This is effective for calendar year 2010. Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.
…So you ask what is the donut hole? The donut hole “is the difference of the initial coverage limit and the catastrophic coverage threshold, as described in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program…After a Medicate beneficiary surpasses the prescription drug coverage limit, the Medicare beneficiary is financially responsible for the entire cost of prescription drugs until the expense reaches the catastrophic coverage threshold.” This will provide much needed relief for our seniors…
…The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 3.4 million beneficiaries fall within this donut hole. So despite what Republicans want seniors to think about this bill, it actually increases benefits to our seniors…
…Best of all is that this increased benefit is actually paid for, unlike the Medicare Part D benefit that was passed by a Republican-majority…
HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES: creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55-64. Effective 90 days after enactment.
ENDS RESCISSIONS: bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. This is effective 6 months after enactment.
…Americans now have the comfort to know that if they get sick, their insurance company cannot drop them from coverage. This may seem insignificant to folks who are not sick, but to those that have gotten sick and had their coverage dropped this is a big deal. This will prevent insurance companies from bankrupting American families and potentially save family members from a potential death sentence…
NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. This is effective 6 months after enactment. Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.
…So this new law protects “life” by ensuring that health insurance companies cannot deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. This will be extended to all persons in 2014…
BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE: prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. This is effective 6 months after enactment.
BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE: tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. This is effective 6 months after enactment. Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.
…The ban of lifetime and annual limits on coverage is another win for American families. No longer will they have to choose between a family member’s health and their livelihood…
FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS: requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. This is effective 6 months after enactment.
…Notice the key word “private” here. Republicans tried to scare folks into believing that the private market would disappear, if this bill were passed. This bill strengthens our private market and implements some responsible, cost-effective new strategies. Folks are more likely to go the doctor when they have insurance and preventive care coverage is completely covered. This will help doctors identify significant health issues earlier and save the system a tremendous amount of money in the long run…
NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS: ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. This is effective 6 months after enactment.
…No longer will consumers be subject to an unfair appeals process and will now have access to an independent appeals process. For those of you that have appealed to your insurance company to cover a procedure recommended by your doctor for a child or a loved one, you know how cumbersome and opaque the process. This is provides the transparency and independence so desperately needed…
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL): provides immediate access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition – through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. This is effective 90 days after enactment.
EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE
…For those who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition, you will now have access to a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. This will provide better pricing for you until an exchange is available and until insurers are barred from discriminating against all persons who suffer from pre-existing conditions (2014)…
…Parents will also be allowed to provide coverage for their children up to their 26th birthday. This is huge for many of these children, since because of a difficult job market many of those who are unable to find work have to go without coverage. This will allow their parents to take “personal responsibility” for their children and provide them necessary coverage, while the job market continues to improve and they are able to find jobs of their own…
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS: increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. This is effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS: provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. This is effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
…This increased funding of Community Health Center will help to ensure that patients are seen in a timely manner and will ultimately lead to JOBS. That’s right, JOBS. Not only does this bill provide for much needed health care reform, but it also doubles as a JOBS bill…
These are just some of the immediate changes; there are plenty of other great changes that will be realized in the years to come. Of course, there are always things that can be improved upon and I would welcome any idea that improves upon this new law going forward. The reality is that, although not perfect, this legislation provides the critical framework of long overdue health care reform – one hundred years in the making.
As I mentioned previously, health care reform will also help reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion. Not to mention that CBO has also said that those who already have insurance will experience a decrease in their premiums.
So let’s get something straight: it reduces the deficit, provides many positive health care reform provisions and creates jobs. Oh yeah, the Republicans voted unanimously to reject all of this. It’s bad enough that the party of “no” has regularly given the finger to Democrats, but it’s a whole other thing when they give it to the American people.
So how do Republicans plan on moving forward and working with Democrats on other very important issues facing this country? If you listen to Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.), they don’t plan to:
There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year. They have poisoned the well in what they’ve done and how they’ve done it.
Well that sounds productive. The premise that this statement is based on is fatally flawed. Republicans have been anything but cooperative, up until this point. The fact is that Democrats have tried to work with Republicans, even incorporating several of their ideas into the recently signed health care bill.
The Republicans have simply decided that it is all or nothing and that they don’t want to play ball. This whole “I didn’t get my way on everything, so I’m going to throw a temper tantrum and go home” is not the type of leadership that Americans deserve.
I say let’s give Sen. McCain and other Republicans their wish come November and send them home, starting with Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross)!
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