Health Reform: A Phone Call from the President

One year ago today, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. It was a historic day, and the law is already making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans like Erick Moberg.

Erick is currently a senior at Michigan State University and his dream is to attend medical school at his grandfather’s alma mater in Missouri. Erick was always interested in medicine, but he was inspired after speaking to the doctors who treated his mother when she had quadruple bypass surgery.

After he graduates this spring, Erick will be taking a year to enhance his skills and prepare his application. Under the old insurance rules, he would have been forced off his parent’s health insurance plan. But now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Erick will be able to stay on his mother’s plan.

We interviewed Erick, and as he told his story, he received a surprise phone call from President Obama

Erick is just one example of the millions of Americans who are being helped by the new law. After just one year, Americans are enjoying:

New coverage options

-Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage in new health plans.

Adults who have been locked out of the insurance marketplace because of a pre-existing condition can now buy coverage through a new Pre-Existing Condition Plan.

-Better quality coverage

-People with insurance are free from worrying about losing their insurance due to a mistake on an application, or having it capped unexpectedly if someone is in an accident or becomes sick.

-All Americans in new insurance plans will receive preventive services without being charged a deductible, co-payment, or co-insurance.

Lower Costs

-Seniors have the freedom to get the care they need, including free preventive care, lower cost prescription drugs, and Medicare they can count on. Nearly 4 million Americans who hit the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” received $250 tax-free rebates, and will receive a 50% discount on brand name prescription drugs if they hit the donut hole this year.

-Up to 4 million small businesses could receive tax credits to make employees’ health coverage more affordable.

-Insurance companies can no longer overcharge consumers just to boost profits and CEO salaries.

Visit www.HealthCare.gov to learn more about the new law and the work we’re doing to deliver the benefits of reform to the American people. For step-by-step instructions on the young adult coverage provision that helped Erick, you can also visit www.facebook.com/YoungAdultCoverage.

Admonition of the Protestors of the Intervention in Libya

By Zach Foster

Part 1: The Libyan Civil War and the No Fly Zone ARE NOT Iraq and Afghanistan

There has been intense criticism of President Obama’s involvement of the United States military in the Libyan Civil War.  Fringe elements from both major sides of the political spectrum are up in rhetorical arms against the President, screaming about how the U.S. will get bogged down in another desert Vietnam.  They’re not wrong to criticize the President for the intervention, but they are wrong for justifying their criticisms with weak and faulty partisan-motivated rhetoric.  However, before the correct criticisms are expounded on, people need to understand how the operations in Libya differ from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the right, many ultraconservatives are taking a short break from still trying to disprove the President’s natural-born status in order to recycle the popular liberal arguments against the 2003 invasion of Iraq and reapply them to the 2011 intervention in Libya.  Many also revile him for being a Muslim whose only aim is to bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power.  A well-reasoned, intelligent, and balanced argument proving this theory has yet to be produced.

Strangely enough, many on the left are also using the same recycled 2003 arguments that the ultraconservatives are enjoying, though the latter seem to have forgotten their origins.  All over the political spectrum, people have themselves in a frenzy and are totally convinced of Libya’s imminence as a desert Vietnam.  At this point it is important for people to ask themselves: which of the two current American wars is a desert Vietnam?

Iraq could have been thought of as such several years ago, for between 2004 and 2007 the conflict did seem to be a quagmire with American troops caught between fighting sectarian militias in some city neighborhoods and Al Qaeda in others, with little or no progress appearing to be made.  That, however, changed significantly after the 2007 troop surge whereupon American troops.  Nowadays, American combat troops have been withdrawn and the involvement of American soldiers in combat operations is miniscule.  The Iraqi army and police are standing their ground against terrorism, which has dramatically shrunk in Iraq.

The only country undergoing nation building whose future is uncertain is Afghanistan.  Progress has been made and this month seven strategic areas are to be completely turned over to the Afghan military and police.  These steps toward stability would never have been possible under previous Afghan governments throughout the three-plus decades of civil war.

On the international stage, Vladimir Putin has harshly criticized the United Nations intervention as a Crusade in the Middle East.  This accusation immediately warrants several responses.  First and foremost, the Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christian and Muslim armies over control of Biblical cities and countries.  Libya was neither in the Bible nor the Koran, and no Christian armies—not even Western armies—have invaded Libya.  Second, let it not be forgotten that the United States military was not the first invading army in Afghanistan.  Who preceded the U.S.?  Ah, yes, it was the Soviet Union!  The same Soviet Union of which Mr. Putin—the accuser-in-chief—was head of the KGB who had troops in Afghanistan operating in conjunction with the Soviet Army.  While the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was a direct defensive response against the 9/11 attacks, orchestrated by Al Qaeda with the help of the Taliban, what was the defensive measure of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?  The current silence is broken only by crickets chirping.  The author of this article also just sneezed, and the sneezing cry almost sounded like “Chechnya!”

To another man’s credit, Dmitry Medvedev showed evidence of growing a spine by publicly and sharply criticizing Putin’s comments.  Well done Mr. Medvedev!

Continued in Part 2: The CORRECT reasons to criticize the intervention

Four Freedoms in the 21st Century

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner will deliver the keynote address “The Four Freedoms Turn 70: Ensuring Economic, Political, and National Security in the 21st Century,” at the American Society of International Law’s 105th Annual Meeting on 24 March, 2011.

Assistant Secretary Posner, recently returned from a week in Egypt, will speak about how the slogans from

Tahrir Square

echo Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms,” and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The speech will discuss the Obama Administration’s integrated approach to human rights and elaborate on the relationship between national security and economic, social, and political rights.

Assistant Secretary Posner will deliver his address from 9:30-11:00 AM on March 24 at the Ritz-Carlton,

1150 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

. His speech will be streamed live via Fora.tv.

For further information regarding Assistant Secretary Posner’s participation in this event, please contact Evan Owen at owene@state.gov or 202-647-4747.

For further information regarding the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law, please contact Sheila Ward at sward@asil.org or 202-939-6018.

Credentialed members of the media desiring to cover the event must register with the American Society of International Law at asil.org/pressreg.

They hate us because we bomb them, says Libertarian Chair

WASHINGTON - Giving little thought to the lessons of history, President Obama has begun attacking Libya with the full support of virtually every member of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans. Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement today:

"President Obama's decision to order military attacks on Libya is only surprising to those who actually think he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. He has now ordered bombing strikes in six different countries, adding Libya to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen.

"While the justifications vary in each case, the disturbing common thread is that these are all predominantly Muslim countries. And the goodwill expressed by Arab people about Obama in opinion polls early in his administration has completely vanished: in the most recent Zogby survey, 85% expressed an unfavorable opinion toward the United States, eclipsing the 83% negative opinion in the final year of the Bush administration.

"Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi is no friend of liberty, but the military involvement of the United States in the rebellion against him threatens to undermine the credibility of the resistance to his rule and turn him into a hero. As news of both actual and rumored killings of innocent civilians by American bombs spreads throughout the Arab world, the hatred which spawned the 9/11 murderers will continue to grow. Finally, what if Gadaffi still manages to defeat the rebels? Faced with the choice of losing face or upping the ante with an escalation of military involvement, this could turn into yet another disastrous campaign. And as Steve Chapman put it in an article in Reason magazine, 'Most of the people endorsing an attack know less about Libya than they do about playing the oboe.' When will we ever learn?

"Libertarians advocate the foreign policy eloquently described by Thomas Jefferson at his inauguration: 'Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.' Just as the Founding Fathers expressed admiration for the 'Swiss Model' of armed neutrality that has managed to keep Switzerland out of the vicious wars of Europe for hundreds of years, we should embrace the idea that the purpose of an American military is the defense of American soil, period. As Senator Barack Obama said in criticizing the Bush administration, 'The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.'

"The Constitution of the United States requires an explicit Declaration of War in order for this country to engage in hostilities with foreign nations. Obama, after dithering for two weeks, has joined the list of presidents who chose to launch wars on their personal say-so in direct contravention of the Constitution.

"I don't know how many times we have to endure administrations, both Republican and Democratic, who shoot first and ask questions later. Probably for as long as we continue to elect Republicans and Democrats to office."

The Libertarian Party platform includes the following:

3.1 National Defense

We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets and civil liberties. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Better Benefits, Better Health for Small Businesses

This week, we will be marking the one year anniversary of enactment of the Affordable Care Act and kicking off the Better Benefits, Better Health Initiative. This initiative will highlight the important information consumers, families and businesses need to get the benefits of reform.

We’re kicking off the initiative by highlighting some important information for small business owners. Small business owners and their employees have always gotten the short end of the stick, paying an average of 18% more for insurance that often covers less than the policies sold to their larger competitors. And small businesses lack the purchasing power that larger employers have. That's changing thanks to the health care law signed by President Obama one year ago.

Thankfully, the Affordable Care Act is helping small business owners get quality affordable coverage for their families and their employees.

Here are some important things to know:

If you own a small business with fewer than 25 full time-equivalent employees, you may qualify for a small business tax credit to help offset the costs of covering your employees.  Small business owners can visit www.irs.gov/sbhtc to learn more.

We estimate that up to 4 million small businesses could be eligible to receive these tax credits to make employees’ health coverage more affordable. And the tax credits will be worth a combined total of $40 billion over ten years.

Employer-based plans that provide health insurance to retirees ages 55-64 can get financial help through the www.errp.gov to learn more.

If one of your workers has been uninsured because of a pre-existing condition, he or she may be eligible to join the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.  To find out about plans available in your State, please visit: www.pcip.gov.

If you are in a new insurance plan, insurance companies cannot charge you or your workers a deductible or copays for recommended preventive services, like mammograms and flu shots. Click here to find a list of preventive services that will be covered without copays.

In addition, insurance companies are prohibited from capping the dollar amount of care you or your employees can receive in a lifetime, or dropping coverage due to an honest mistake on an application when someone gets sick.  And they have to spend at least 80% of your premium dollars on health care and quality improvements instead of overhead, salaries or administrative expenses – or provide you and your workers a rebate.

A Lett​er from Representa​tive Jeff Denham

March 18, 2011

Dear Friend,

 

This week was a difficult week for all Americans. Japan, one of our closest international allies, was hit with a disastrous earthquake which caused a devastating tsunami and damaged their nuclear reactors.  Japan is now beginning their efforts to recover and rebuild the regions impacted by the tsunami.  My heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with all people suffering a loss from this tragic event.

 

There was also an increased uncertainty among Americans this week because of the global energy market and the rising price of gas. Already a major concern of drivers and families across the country, gas prices became even more unsettled because of the unrest in Libya and the nuclear reactor aftermath in Japan. While we cannot control worldwide events that cause market uncertainty and surging prices, we can control the amount of energy exploration and production we undertake domestically. We can no longer afford burdensome government policies that are driving up gas prices, inhibiting our ability to create American jobs and decrease our debt. We must increase domestic production now.

 

As of this week, I am a cosponsor of two bills that will significantly increase domestic energy exploration and drilling along the Outer Continental Shelf and open ANWR for oil and gas production.  I did this because we need to put Americans back to work and decrease our dependence on foreign entities for energy. The Committee on Natural Resources, which I am a member of, held an oversight hearing yesterday to figure out how we can harness American resources to create jobs and address rising gasoline prices.  We heard from and questioned several energy experts about America's vast energy reserves on federal lands. 

 

In a continued effort to do more with less and cut government spending, Congress passed the second short term bill that will fund government operations for three more weeks, through April 8th. In total, the Continuing Resolution contains $10 billion in savings that are in line with our initial cuts proposed in H.R. 1.  House Republicans are leading the effort to end out of control spending and clean up the spending mess in Washington, but now it is time for the Administration and Congressional Democrats to step up to the plate and act.  They need to join us in cutting spending in order to make our business climate competitive again and get people back to work. 

 

Frank Buckles, the last surviving American World War I veteran, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. Flags around the country were flown at half staff to honor and celebrate the exemplary life that Mr. Buckles lived.  In the hard times our country is facing, we should all take time to honor and remember those how continue to risk their lives for our country every day.  

 

On Wednesday, I published an Editorial in the Modesto Bee outlining my position on High-Speed Rail (HSR) in California. I have always supported the concept of HSR in California. However, we must have a solid business plan that shows people and investors how this system is going to be run and paid for before more money is thrown at the project. So far, California does not have that. I am working with the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide aggressive oversight of California's HSR project and ensure that there is a plan that includes adequate cost controls, the transparency valley farmers deserve and the oversight taxpayer's demand. Until a feasible plan is created, California leaders should have the choice to allocate the funds from HSR to Highway 99 in order to see immediate results and create jobs now.

 

I am looking forward to the upcoming week in the district. I will be hosting Ray Appleton's show on KMJ 580 radio on Wednesday afternoon. Tune in and listen to discussions about High-Speed rail, rising gas prices, what Republicans in the House are doing to solve the budget crisis or call in to ask me about issues on your mind. Additionally, be sure to check my website or stop by my offices to stay up to date on my latest work and to talk to me and my staff.  I look forward to seeing you out in the Valley next week. 

 

We have been connecting with more and more people on the website, but please tell your friends and family to follow me on twitter and facebook.

LP Monday Message: Japan and Libertarian principles

Dear Friend of Liberty,

It's with great sadness that I read about the natural and nuclear disasters in Japan. I feel sympathy for the victims of these tragedies, and I hope the best for them as the tragedies continue to unfold and as they struggle to recover.

I've been asked by several people what Libertarians think about the events in Japan.

It's times like these that I like to rely on our Libertarian Party principles, and also look to what some of the top libertarian think tanks are publishing on these issues.

There's obviously no libertarian plan to prevent earthquakes or tsunamis. However, there is plenty written to inform us about how government policies affect our exposure and reaction to natural disasters.

The Independent Institute's Lighthouse newsletter recently listed several articles discussing Natural Disasters and Economic Reasoning.

I found this piece from the Cato Institute particularly interesting (cato-at-liberty.org/bastiat-on-the-japanese-tsunami/), especially where Tom Palmer asks if you've ever heard anyone claim that World War II helped get the U.S. out of the Great Depression.

I certainly don't trust governments or most news outlets to give a libertarian perspective on what's happening around the world. It's great to have so many libertarian advocacy groups, and the Libertarian Party plays an important part in disseminating this research to our members and candidates.

On a separate topic, last week we sent a press release announcing our new lawsuit against the FEC.

You can help the Libertarian Party's efforts to protect our free speech rights by donating today. If you would like your donation to help support this lawsuit, please type "FEC lawsuit" in the comment section at the bottom of the form.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict

Executive Director

Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.