Freedom Line Blog

From Gerald P. O’Driscoll at the Cato Institute:

The loss of 263,000 nonfarm jobs is another depressing economic statistic reinforcing the prospects of a jobless and joyless economic recovery. Job losses were widespread, but concentrated in construction, manufacturing, retail trade and government. Employers want to fire, not hire.  The reasons for this lie in Washington, where lawmakers are busy piling on spending, taxes, and mandates.  From an employer’s perspective, each new hire is a liability.  The Obama administration’s economic recovery plan, which was centered on job creation, is now a manifest failure. The stimulus brew it concocted has proven to be an economic depressant.”

This video on school choice is courtesy of ReasonTV.

Political Wire – Sen. Harkin Says No Republicans at the Table
Rep. Smith – Trial Bar v. Tort Reform
Politico – Corzine and Christie Trade Shots
National Review – Reid’s Tactical Error

LA Times – Bernanke Heads to the Hill
The Hill – Finance Committee to Vote Next Week
Washington Post – Unemployment Rate Climbs to 9.8%
NY Times – Michael Moore Should Change his Script

Federal Debt: $11.807 trillion

Recently, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the European Union has been illegally subsidizing Airbus, a foreign competitor to Boeing.

Last year, the Center for Individual Freedom sounded a note of caution over an Air Force decision to award a new $40 billion air refueling tanker contract to Airbus, and not to Boeing.  Now, the WTO’s decision adds fodder to the speculation that the European Union’s subsidies illegally undercut Boeing’s bid for the Air Force contract.

More info here and here.

This is from Senator Jim DeMint’s op-ed in today’s Washington Examiner:

So insatiable is Washington’s appetite to spend that the federal government has not only spent all the money it has, but all the money previous generations were thought to have saved, and now we’re working our way through the money future generations hope to earn. What our government has done is a crime. And yet, almost no one in Washington – in either party – seems interested in the giant iceberg we’re steaming toward… Not when there are deckchairs to rearrange!”

No one knows our health care system better than doctors.  Thankfully, there are several in Congress, including Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who understand that a government-run system would lead to rationing and a lower quality of care.

Here is a clip from one of the recent “Senate Doctors Show.”

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Washington Post – What’s a Cadillac Plan?
WSJ – Canada Considers Private Health Care Options
Political Wire – Toomey Edges Specter in PA
WSJ – Grayson Says No Apology for “Die Quickly” Remark

Rep. Jeb Hensarling – The TARP Trap
Chris Cillizza – Republicans Gain with Independents?
Rep. Steny Hoyer – House Schedule
Politico – Pawlenty Preps for 2012
The Hill – Kerry and Boxer Introduce Climate Change Bill

Federal Debt: $11.804 trillion

After our experience at the 9-12 March on Washington, there is a renewed push to turn that event into another way to persuade Congress that more government is not the answer to what troubles our nation.

If you have a message for your Representative or Senator, please send them here, by responding directly to the You Tube video.  This is a project of the National Taxpayers Union but the effort is shared by all taxpayers and all Americans concerned with runaway spending.

These messages will be burned onto a DVD and delivered to Congress during the current health care debate.  If Congress didn’t get the message during the rally, give it to them one more time.

The common refrain in the Senate is that a bill needs 60 votes (3/5 of the Senate) to pass.   Otherwise, a dedicated cadre of 41 Senators can continue debate on a bill forever, thus killing its legislative prospects.

However, during a process known as budget reconciliation, the Senate is allowed to pass legislation directly related to taxing and spending with only a majority (51 votes) needed.  Thus, as Harry Reid has already pledged, a government-takeover of health care could pass, even with unanimous GOP objection and with several Democratic defectors.

Opponents of a government takeover do have several arrows in their quiver.  Under the “Byrd Rule,” a Senator can make a budget point of order and rule that a certain piece of legislation is not germane to the budget reconciliation process.  It takes 60 votes to overcome a budget point of order.  Thus, any health care bill passed during the reconciliation process would likely emerge from the Senate as a smelly piece of Swiss Cheese, not pie-in-the-sky universal health care.

In case you wanted to know more, MSNBC’s First Read has a great primer on reconciliation.

Cato Institute – President Obama’s War on the Poor
Cafe Hayek – Chart of the Year
Political Wire – McDonnell Holds Lead in VA
WSJ – Three-Way Race in NY Could Split GOP Vote

Washington Post – Politics and the Public Option
Washington Times – Trial Lawyers Going Broke
Chris Cillizza – Is Santorum Serious?
The Hill – Sen. Harkin Says Votes Are There for Public Option

Federal Debt: $11.80 trillion

This time, the committee voted against the “moderate” Schumer version of the public option.  The vote was 10-13, with Senators Baucus (MT), Lincoln (AR), and Conrad (ND) voting against government-run health care.

This looks like the death knell of the public option in the Senate, as Senator Schumer and Chairman Baucus both admit that a bill with a public option has no chance of passing the Senate with 60 votes.  However, there are some reports that Senate Democrats might use the budget reconciliation process to push through a public option, requiring only 50 votes.

Call your Senators and tell them to vote “No” on a government-run public option that would result in anywhere from 80-120 million Americans losing their insurance.  Here is the number: 202-224-3121.

Minutes ago the Senate Finance Committee voted against Senator Jay Rockefeller’s (WV) version of a government-run public option.  The vote was a surprising victory for free-market advocates.  The Rockefeller amendment failed 8-15, with Senators Baucus (MT), Conrad (ND), Lincoln (AR), Nelson (FL), and Carper (DE) voting against the public option.

Call your Senators and tell them to vote “No” on a government-run public option that would result in anywhere from 80-120 million Americans losing their insurance. Here is the number: 202-224-3121.

Strangely, this piece comes from the Huffington Post but it’s authored by Dylan Ratigan of MSNBC, who seems to be more open-minded.

His point?  Democrats so often claim that the “market” is broken because health care is expensive and too many people lack health coverage.  Well, one reason that health care is too expensive is because the government helps to create health care monopolies in the states and even prevents consumers from shopping across state lines for cheaper/better insurance.

There is no true “market” for health care if you live in North Dakota where Blue Cross controls 90% of the market.  There is little choice in Maine where Wellpoint controls 71% of the market.  Capitalism works best when consumers have choices between companies.  Health care companies should beg and compete for our business, not the other way around.

Cato Institute – “How American Health Care Killed My Father”
Club for Growth – Fmr. Sen. Bill Frist Supports Individual Mandate
WSJ – White House Seeks to Reform Tax Code
Rep. Steny Hoyer – House Schedule

The Hill – Public Option Plagues Democrats
Politico – Michael Moore Targets Blue Dogs
Washington Post – Rationing Health Care
The Hill – House Begins Work on Net Neutrality

Federal Debt: $11.796 trillion

Cato Institute – Nanny State Doesn’t Like Competition
Rep. Eric Cantor – To Fix Health Care, Start Over
Politico – Schumer Brings in the Money
WSJ – Max’s Mad Mandate

NY Times – William Safire, Political Columnist, Dies at 79
Washington Times – A Health Care Bill to Please Both Parties?
Washington Post – Costly Carbon Cuts
National Review – You Mislead!

Federal Debt: $11.792 trillion

From David Boaz at the Cato Institute:

“[A]s of 2005 there were 18 senators who gained office at least partly through their family ties – sons, daughters, wives, nephews of former senators, governors, presidents, and so on.  The Founders envisioned the Senate as an assembly of wise and accomplished men, chosen for their experience and judiciousness. Political campaigns that favor the handsome, the glib, the panderers, and the best fundraisers are bad enough. But a Senate full of legacies and seat-warmers is especially unfortunate.”

Here is a summary of the amendments considered during yesterday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing.  Chairman Baucus plans to finish work today and there is a possibility that the full Senate could take up consideration next week.  Be sure to call Congress and tell them what you think about higher taxes and government-run health care: 202-224-3121.  HT: Peter Roff

• Menendez C4:  Ensure and clarify that children qualify as exchange eligible individuals and that there shall be the option of a child-only health insurance option and subsides in the exchanges.  Agreed to by Voice Vote

• Enzi C6:  To provide additional choices to individuals who would otherwise be enrolled in Medicaid throught expansions in this bill.  Rejected 10-13.

• Ensign C14:  Protecting states that saw a Medicaid increase of more than 1 percent from an unfunded mandate.  Rejected 10-13.

• Stabenow C6:  To ensure high quality, specialized care for children and youth with special medical, psychological, social and emotional needs who can accept and respond to the close relationships within a family setting, but whose special needs require more intensive or therapeutic services than are found in traditional foster care.  Agreed to by Voice Vote

• Menendez C9:  Ensuring quality health care for those with autism and other behavioral health conditions.

• Crapo C2: The amendment would prohibit any expansion of the Medicaid program that would result in any additional costs for the States, now or in the future.

• Enzi C9: To exempt any State that the State‘s revenues have declined for 2 consecutive fiscal year quarters from any mandatory Medicaid expansions.

• Enzi C3:  Prior to implementing the employer assessments or fees described in Title 1, Subtitle D, the Secretary of Labor must certify that the implementation of such fees and assessments would not result in a reduction of workers‘ wages or an increase in the unemployment rate.  Passed 21-2.

• Rockefeller #D10:  Revised the Medicare Commission provisions. Passed 15-3.

• Nelson C1:  Strike provisions in Chairman‘s mark (pages 12-13) to allow states to form ―health care choice compacts. Agreed to on voice vote.

• Grassley C9:  This amendment requires states to raise reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers (such as pediatricians, children‘s hospitals, and dentists) providing care for an eligible child to 100% of Medicare levels starting in 2014.  Rejected 10-13.

• Bunning C3:  Amendment amends the Chairman‘s mark to require that any taxpayer who requests an exemption on their tax return from the personal responsibility excise tax be granted an exemption.  Rejected 9-14.

• Cornyn C7:  The amendment would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to annually submit to Congress for consideration the flat dollar amount required of employers under Subtitle D.   In order to take effect, Congress must enact and the President must sign the penalty into law. Failed on a point of order 8-8.

• Nelson D10:  Eliminate the Part D Coverage Gap and Require Drug Maker Rebates for Full-Benefit Dual Eligible Individuals.  Failed 13-10.

WSJ – Biden on the Stimulus
CNN – Tim Russert’s Father, ‘Big Russ,’ Passes Away
Rep. Kevin Brady – Trade is Critical to U.S. Economy
Rep. Steny Hoyer – House Schedule

National Review – Cantor’s Opportunity on Health Care
The Hill – Sotomayor Gets Rookie Treatment
Politico – Obama to Accuse Iran of Secret Nuclear Program
NY Times – Insurance and Choice
The Hill – Justice Ginsburg Hospitalized

Federal Debt: $11.837 trillion

If Democrats avoid the typical route for passing a bill and use the budget reconciliation process (requiring only 51 votes for final passage), then opponents of a government-run system will need to convince several Democrats that the current bills in Congress are complete garbage and must be opposed, even during cloture votes.

Good news has arrived and a reliably liberal voice on the Democratic side, Ron Wyden (D-OR), has stated that he will not vote for the Baucus Bill in its current form.  Other Senators that should be persuaded in the same direction as Senator Wyden: Ben Nelson (D-NE), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Arlen Specter (D-PA), and Mark Warner (D-VA).

If you live in one of these states, call your Senator and let them know that you don’t support a government takeover of health care, individual mandates, employer mandates, higher taxes, or a reduction in your Medicare benefits.  Here is the Senate switchboard number: 202-224-3121.

Here is the Wyden video: