Freedom Line Blog

Cafe Hayek – The Post Office: A Model of Inefficiency
Chris Cillizza – Rust Belt Politics
Government Bytes – Obama and Charter Schools
John Stossel – Politicians Don’t Grow Economies
Washington Post – Inflation Declines
Politico – Liberals Revolt Over Public Option
Politico – Boehner Urges PhRMA to Reconsider

Federal Debt: $11.703 trillion

Could the end of the public option mean the end of Obamacare as we know it?

As much as the White House would like to claim that they are the sole source of facts about health care, President Obama recently made some comments that have little factual support in the actual House bill.

For example:

• The White House claims that if you like your health care plan then you can keep it. However, no one agrees.  Even non-partisan estimates agree that up to 100 million Americans could lose their health coverage. The White House can’t guarantee everyone will keep their current plan, despite the President’s political posturing.
• The White House claims that government control won’t break the budget. False. The Congressional Budget Office even noted that the current version of the bill would increase the federal deficit by at least $239 billion.
• President Obama: “I don’t believe anyone should be in charge of your health care decisions but you and your doctor.” But, even the current House bill establishes a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to make decisions, including cost sharing and benefits.

The White House might claim that  it has a monopoly on the truth, but gap between rhetoric and reality on health care reform is about as large as America’s distrust with government-run health care.

A professional dancer?

WSJ – Chances Dim for Public Option
WSJ – Japan’s Economy Recovers
Club for Growth – Club v. NHS
Chris Cillizza – Creigh Deeds’s Presidential Problem
Politico – Health Care Reform Deadline?
Politico – Rangel Goes After Senate
Cafe Hayek – Protectionist Inconsistency

Federal Debt:  $11.699 trillion

The markets don’t like the odds of President Obama’s health care bill passing by the end of this year.  The market gives it just over a 35% chance of success.

“The Secret Plan to Defeat the Right Forever.” This was yesterday’s panel at Netroots Nation, a gathering of liberal and progressive bloggers.

Their plan: eliminate the secret ballot for union votes.  Not quite sure how that alone will ensure generations of voters to flock to the Democratic Party, but it will undermine current labor laws, increase harassment, and empower large labor unions.

The panel should have been: “How to Enrich Big Labor, Crush Worker Freedom, and Increase Donations to President Obama.”

• 33% of voters say Jimmy Carter is the best living former president.
• President Clinton came in second with 29%.
• Voters now trust the GOP over Dems on the issue of health care, 44% to 41%.
• Just 42% favor President Obama’s health care bill.
• Voters trust Republicans on the issue of taxes, 51% to 35%.

All poll results are courtesy of Rasmussen Reports.

WSJ – Year-to-date Consumer Prices Plunge 2.1%
Political Wire – Six Health Care Lobbyists per Lawmaker
Cafe Hayek – Patriotic Protectionists?
John Stossel – The Day the Lights Went Out
Reason – Government Offering Tasty Cookies?
WSJ – More Problems with Boeing Dreamliner
Today Show – Brad Pitt: Libertarian Mayor of New Orleans?

Federal Debt: $11.688 trillion

There is acknowledgement that the US China trade relationship needs to be rebalanced, but little imagination on how to proceed.  Deep down, our leaders and policymakers have convinced themselves that for all its flaws, the old system was better than anything we are going to think of, and that simply restoring confidence will fix everything, at least for as long as they remain in office.” Kenneth Rogoff, Professor of Economics at Harvard University.

Former Representative Pat Toomey is leading Senator Arlen Specter 48% to 36%, according to a new Rasmussen poll.  The election is still over a year away but incumbents who poll under 40% eventually have their titled preceded by “former.”

WSJ–First Victory in Health Care Fight
NY Times–Senator Specter’s Town Hall
David Boaz–Media Failure?
John Stossel–Congress to Aid Lawsuit Abuse
Reason-The Fed and Inflation
Politico–The President’s Rhetoric
Politico–Grassley Retreats at Town Halls

Federal Debt-$11.684 trillion

“Rather than increase government spending and control, we need to address the root causes of poor health.  This begins with the realization that every American adult is responsible for his or her own health,” John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, writing in today’s Wall Street Journal.

According to the Wall Street Journal, economists predict that our recent global economic meltdown has come to an end.   According to the survey, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to increase 2.4% in the third quarter of this year.  However, since employment is a lagging indicator, it may take several more months to see a pronounced decline in the unemployment rate.

WSJ – Obama Defends Health-Care Plan
Club for Growth – Only 32% Favor Government-Run Health Care
Conservatives for Patients’ Rights – The Fight for Health Care Reform
Marginal Revolution – Life Expectancy Stats
Politico – The Democrats’ Senior Problem
Chris Cillizza – Ben Nelson Fights Back

Federal Debt: $11.68 trillion

Proponenets of ObamaCare continue to claim that those of us opposed to a government takeover of health care have not introduced a viable alternative.  Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), however, has introduced The Patients’ Choice Act (S. 1099).

The bill would:

• Equalize the tax treatment of health insurance and provides all Americans with a tax credit for the purchase of health coverage and care.
• Incentivize States to establish Health Exchanges which would guarantee health coverage to any consumer, regardless of health status, age, or pre-existing condition.
• Reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. The Patients Choice Act would change this by using existing data-matching technologies and intelligent payment structures to replace the current “pay and chase” culture with one of “prevent and control” to ensure timely, accurate, targeted payments of taxpayer dollars to providers.
• Prevent Tax Increases and prevent higher deficits.
• No government-run health care plan. Under the Patients’ Choice Act, if you like the health plan you have, you can really keep it.

You can read the bill yourself here.