Thanks to the Institute for Health Freedom for sending me this article-

Why health insurers welcome Obama’s plan to tame them

By Jacob Sullum
Reason.com
March 10, 2010

"We allow the insurance industry to run wild in this country," President Obama declared on Monday. "We can't have a system that works better for the insurance companies than it does for the American people."

Yet Obama's plan to tame health insurers would boost their business, protect them from competition, and guarantee their profits, all at the expense of consumers and taxpayers. It is therefore not surprising that the insurance companies, while they object to the president’s rhetoric and quibble over some of the details, are happy to be domesticated. Here are five ways in which Obama would help insurers while pretending to fight them:

The individual mandate. What industry wouldn't welcome a law requiring everyone in the country to purchase its product? The insurers' only objection to this edict—which would force young, healthy people who don’t want insurance to subsidize the care of older, sicker people who do—is that the penalties for failing to comply are not severe enough.

The employer mandate. Requiring businesses to buy medical coverage for their employees brings the insurers more conscripted customers. It also shores up a perverse system of employer-provided health insurance that insulates consumers from prices, limits their choices, and weakens competition.

Subsidies. Allocating taxpayer money to help individuals and small business buy medical coverage makes customers less price-sensitive, allowing insurers to charge more than they otherwise could.

Regulations. Obama wants to dictate the details of what he considers to be minimally acceptable medical coverage, including the size of deductibles and the extent of benefits. This policy, which forces people to buy pricier policies than they would choose on their own, is like decreeing that all Americans should buy a Nissan Altima with GPS, a sunroof, and leather seats, even if they would prefer a Hyundai Accent.

Limits on competition. Obama pays lip service to the idea of letting health insurers, like other insurers, compete for customers across state lines. But his minimum coverage requirements would undermine a major benefit of such competition: the ability to escape a particular state's restrictions on the policies insurers can offer.

If Obama's plan works as advertised, it will be a huge boon to insurers. As he himself notes, "they're going to have 30 million new customers" thanks to the government's mandates and subsidies.

To distract us from the favor he is doing for insurers, Obama claims to be getting tough with them by demanding that they take all comers and charge them all the same rates, without regard to health. While abolishing risk-based pricing contradicts a basic principle of the insurance business, the industry has to weigh the loss of that freedom against the gain of government-guaranteed revenue.

Despite his talk about reining in "excessive" premium hikes, Obama's plan commits him to keeping insurers financially sound so they can provide the coverage he is promising. Federal regulators, like their state counterparts, will find that "you can't separate the underlying solvency of companies from the rates they charge," as Wisconsin’s insurance commissioner recently told The New York Times. "From a consumer protection standpoint," Kansas' insurance commissioner agreed, "the most important thing we do is ensure the solvency of companies."

In essence, then, Obama's plan would use money forcibly extracted from taxpayers and policyholders to keep insurers healthy. He says this arrangement means "insurance companies would finally be held accountable to the American people."

The collectivist language is telling. I don't want insurance companies to be "accountable to the American people"; I want them to be accountable to me, as a consumer. That situation, which is also the best way to bring costs under control, can be accomplished only by promoting choice, increasing competition, and removing the barriers that prevent consumers from receiving and responding to price signals.

Insurers may prefer the security of Obama's domestication to the uncertainty of scrounging for customers in a free market. But why should we bear the cost of their care and feeding?

Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason and a nationally syndicated columnist.

© Copyright 2010 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Source: http://reason.com/archives/2010/03/10/insurers-gone-wild

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ALERT ONLINE AND COMMENT

Nancy Pelosi needs 216 "Yes" votes to pass the Senate's healthcare reform bill in the House.  As long as the House Republicans stand united, 38 Democrat "No" votes will be needed to defeat the bill.  President Obama has asked the House to vote by Thursday, March 18th.

Targeted House Members:

1) According to Representative Tom Price, M.D., the Democrats that need to be targeted are the 37 Democrats who voted "No" last year and 31 others who voted "Yes" but are still considered undecided or are particularly vulnerable this time around.  Dr. Price recommends visiting http://www.nrcc.org/CodeRed/targets/ for a list of these targeted members including links to obtain their contact information.   
Tell them to "VOTE NO."
(39 Democrats voted "No" last year, however Rep. Massa has resigned and Rep. Griffith changed parties and is now a Republican.)

2) The Hill has published a list (CLICK HERE TO VIEW) of 24 Democrats who are a "Firm No, Leaning No, or Likely No" and 80 who are "Undecided."  Please thank the "No" votes for making the right decision and tell the undecideds to do the right thing and "vote NO."

Those on The Hill list marked with an "*" voted for the Stupak anti-abortion amendment last November.  They need to be reminded that "the Senate bill cannot be fixed if the House votes for it."    The Capitol Switchboard is: (202) 224-3121.  Call and tell the operator which office you would like to be connected to. More contact information can be found at http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ and http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml .

3) Also the Tea Party Patriots have a target contact list that includes district contact information.  CLICK HERE to view their list .

Upcoming Events:

March 13, 2010:  Defending the American Dream Summit, Wisconsin Dells, WI.  Doctors wear your lab coats if you are attending. More info at: http://www.fightbackwisconsin.com/index.php?PageID=62 .  AAPS physician members are attending and will speak at the event.

March 13, 2010: "Kill the Bill Rally" with Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on Saturday, March 13 in St. Paul, MN.  AAPS member and former Canadian Lee Kurisko, M.D. will be a featured speaker at the rally.  http://www.minnesotamajority.org/Hidden/KillTheBillRally/tabid/199/Default.aspx

March 16, 2010: The "People's Surge to D.C."   People are coming from all across the country to look their Congressmen and Senators in the eye and make it clear that this is not what is good for our families, businesses, and our country.  The people will not back down and they want their voices to be heard!
More information on this event and other events across the country will be available at http://www.americangrassrootscoalition.org/ and http://www.teapartypatriots.org .

March 24-25, 2010:  Docs4PatientCare Washington DC Policy Conference and House Calls on Congress: http://docs4patientcare.org/events .

June 25, 2010: AAPS Workshop, "Building a Healthy Independent Practice," Atlanta, GA. You can break out of the Third-Party Payment Strait Jacket, before healthcare "reform" puts you to work for big insurance or the govt!  http://www.aapsonline.org/atlanta/

September 16-18, 2010: AAPS 67th Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City featuring Canadian physician and hero of medical freedom, Jacques Chaoulli, M.D. http://www.aapsonline.org/2010am/

Friends,

We have stopped this government takeover of health care so far.  We are now in overtime and our opponent has the ball on the goal line ready to score!  Are you going to walk away now or are you going to stand strong and defend your position so we can win this game?  It is our game to win, but it is going to take all of us standing shoulder to shoulder.  The time is now or never!  We will never have this opportunity again.  

Next Tuesday, on March 16th, the people of this country will once again flood Washington, D.C. to have their voices heard.  There is more information about that visit below.  You can also visit American Grassroots Coalition for additional information on making travel arrangements to Washington, D.C.

If you are mad as hell and want to win this game, then this is what you can do to help the rest of the team.  This is a two week plan and we will be adding more information as we progress through the next week.  Remember, we must take action every single day!  There is no time for rest right now.

Monday, March 8th: Make calls.  Send Faxes. Send Emails.  You can do all of these things after hours.  You can check American Grassroots Coalition for up to the minute target lists and contact information.

Tuesday, March 9th: Moms & Seniors go to local district offices. Take a senior citizen with you.  Let them have their voices heard.  Moms, tell these staffers at the offices how you feel, and how concerned you are for your family!

Wednesday, March 10th: Medical Professionals (you do not have to be a physician) visit local district offices. Be sure to wear your medical attire. Let these offices know that you are not going to sit back and let the government takeover our health care system!

Thursday, March 11th: Veterans go to local district offices. Our veterans are so special. They have a voice like no one else.  Veterans, let these offices know that you fought for her once and you are fighting for her again!

Friday, March 12th: Nationwide rallies at local district offices for 1 hour at 12 noon local. Let's make it a special point for all of us to go during our lunch hour if at all possible.

**Monday-Friday**  Please go anytime you can to visit a local district office! Make it a point to have these offices covered all day.  Be sure to sign into the register at the office and take a handwritten letter, such as the one below:


Dear Congressman or Senator,

I do not want you to vote YES on ANY government takeover of health care legislation that is being presented in the House or Senate. You must vote NO.

There should be no compromise when it comes to my life and my health care. There should be no vote for reconciliation.

I am an American citizen and your vote effects me and my family.  I expect you to represent my wishes!

Monday, March 15th: Make calls.  Send Faxes.  Send Emails.  You can do all of these things during the day and after business hours.

Tuesday, March 16th: Rally in DC and Nationwide at local district offices. Americans For Prosperity also has sent out an alert to honk at 12 noon that day while you are driving in your car.

If you can't go to DC on March 16th, please visit your local district offices to have your voices heard and show solidarity with those in DC. Our sources from the Hill tell us that the vote is likely to happen between March 16th and March 18th. If you are able to go to DC, please RSVP here.

If you are doing a rally at your local office please RSVP here, so we can let others know. This is a team effort, and we are part of your team. Whatever you need, please let us know!

Wednesday, March 17th - Friday, March 19th: If you are in D.C., please visit your Representatives and Senators.  If you are not in D.C., please continue to visit local district offices! Make calls.  Send Faxes.  Send Emails.  The calls, faxes, and emails can all be done during the day and after business hours.

Saturday & Sunday, March 20th & 21st: Town Halls for March Madness! In August we had some amazing town halls! They really made people and lawmakers stop and think about this health care legislation. Let's do it again! Host a town hall in your community and invite your Senator and Congressman.  More details on this next step will be available on American Grassroots Coalition within the next day or two.  Thanks for your patience.

If you are interested in hosting a town hall please contact Jennifer Hulsey at hulsey1873@gmail.com. If you have a town hall scheduled please go to www.americangrassrootscoalition.org/states and post your town hall according to your particular state. You may include specifics in the commentary section.  We need town halls all across the country. So, please share this information with your family and friends.

TOGETHER, We the PEOPLE, CAN STOP THE MARCH MADNESS!

Thank you for all that you do!  Keep up the good work!  We will win this game!

Thanks,
Amy Kremer
678.495.8271

Tea Party Express , Director Grassroots & Coalitions (teapartyexpress.org)
American Grassroots Coalition, Co-Founder (americangrassrootscoalition.org)

Looks like some possible corruption at very high levels of government in NY...

Dear Congressman King,
    President Obama trying to "fast-track" ObamaCare through the Congress is similar to disgraced former NYS Gov. Eliot Spitzer "fast-tracking" the legislation through the New York State legislature that authorized his hand-picked Insurance Superintendent, Eric Dinallo, to approve the merger and conversion of non-profit health insurers HIP and GHI into a for-profit corporation.
    So far, the conversion has been prevented with Mr. Spitzer resigning as Governor after being involved in a prostitution scandal, and Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo resigning on July 2, 2009. Mr. Dinallo was replaced by James Wrynn on August 20, 2009.
    After being confirmed by the NYS Senate, Mr. Wrynn agreed to meet with myself and a group of NYPD/FDNY retirees on October 26, 2009 to discuss our concerns regarding former governor Spitzer creating a public corporation where he, former Senator Joseph Bruno, who also resign after being convicted of corruption, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver would have control of the anticipated $3 to $5 billion proceeds from the initial sale of EmblemHealth stock if HIP/GHI was converted from a non-profit to a for-profit corporation under EmblemHealth.
(NOTE: Emblemhealth is a "shell" corporation formed by the board of directors of HIP and GHI. )  
    Since Mayor Bloomberg, the Consumers Union, the Medical Society of New York and many other organizations, including the NYPD Superior Officers Association Retired publicly opposed this proposed conversion (see attached Bloomberg memo), I filed a "Freedom of Information" request for the Independent Audit reports of HIP, GHI and EmblemHealth.
    This FOIL request was recently denied by the NYS Insurance Department based on the objections of the Board of Directors of HIP and GHI stating that since EmblemHealth, the "shell" corporation formed by the HIP/GHI boards was a "holding company", EmblemHealth was not subject to NYS's "Freedom of Information Laws".
    Since in letter dated July 2, 2009, I previously requested Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate Mayor Bloomberg's complaint contained in the attached memo, given the fact that to date Mr. Cuomo has ignored Mayor Bloomberg and our complaints, I respectfully request that you and the appropriate members of Congress look into this matter for the following reasons:
 
1.  According to NYC records, in 2006, HIP had cash reserves of over $900 million and on March 10, 2005 HIP purchased a for-profit health care insurer named ConnectiCare for $354 million when, according to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance, ConnectiCare, which operated in Massachusetts, had a net worth of only $4.0 million.
 
2.  Since President Obama is saying that his health care reform bill will include investigating the "waste,  fraud and corruption" that appears to be endemic to New York City's health care system, I believe the  Congress should look into why HIP would pay hundreds of millions of dollars for a small out-of-state health care insurer whose credit rating in December 2003 was lowered by Standard and Poor's from "marginal" to "weak", after ConnectiCare took out a $115 million bank loan that allowed ConnectiCare's owners, "The Carlyle Group" and "Liberty Partners", two Wall Street private equity firms, to get a dividend on their investment in the ConnectiCare.   
 
3.  In addition, as stated above, since HIP paid $354 million for a health insurer whose net worth was only $4.0 million, and Attorney General Cuomo has ignored Mayor Bloomberg's complaint that the conversion of HIP/GHI to a "single for-profit entity could increase health care costs by hundreds of millions of dollars" for New York City taxpayers, I fail to see how any New York member of the House, or the U.S. Senate, can support "fast-tracking" President Obama's health reform bill that would add millions of dollars to New York State's health care costs without first ensuring New York City's health care insurers are being run in the best interest of New York City's taxpayers and their active and retired employees, including the members of the NYPD Superior Officers Association Retired.
 
If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
 
Best regards,
 
Jack Coughlin, Director and Newsletter Editor
NYPD Superior Officers Association Retired

PS: Please feel free to pass the above and Mayor Bloomberg's attached members to the other members of Congress and U.S. Senate for their consideration as well.

Great news out of Virginia for those who oppose corporte welfare and coerced purchasing of insurance from the Federal government. See ALEC press release

According to our D.C. intelligence, the House would be in session this evening voting on the Senate-passed “healthcare reform” bill—if Speaker Pelosi had the votes.

She is likely to call the roll immediately if she gets them, so as to not allow time for introspection or reconsideration. The  Leadership does not want Congress to go home for Easter break without having it “done”—lest wavering congressmen get exposed to their constituents.

According to the latest CNN poll, only 25% of Americans favor current legislation; 73% want Congress to stop, or start over.

Click to read more ...

Dr Amerling has a good article explaining why ObamaCare is just the attempted continuation of assault against the private practice of medicine which is both an art and science by the technocratic elite whose top down one size fits all formula for medical care is destorying American Medicine. 

ObamaCare: The Threat to Physician Autonomy

Listen online or by phone
Congressman John Boehner will also join to discuss jointstate/federal effort for health care reform
Fri. Feb 26 at 12:30 pm
BY WEBCAST:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/squareonemedia

 BY TELEPHONE:(712) 432 3900  285110# is the event codeMore than 25 state legislators from across the country will hold their own “virtual” health care summit on Friday, Feb. 26 at 12:30 p.m. to respond to the White House event held on Thursday.
Did they hear anything they think will actually work?
Is there more bi-partisanship in the states?
And what are their suggestions for reform that will actually work without devastating their already-shrinking budgets?

Agenda includes:
Is the federal government overreaching?
State tort reform without federal interference;
How to implement cross state insurance purchases;
Medicaid expansion & how to pay for it;
Constitutional amendment to prevent unfunded mandates
How to best take care of uninsured;
How to lift barriers to charity medical care;
State efforts to block federal individual insurance mandates.

From Curt Levey, Executive Director, The Committee for Justice

More than 25 health care experts, attorneys, scholars and conservative leaders joined together today in a letter highlighting the need for members of Congress and the President to address constitutional and other legal concerns about health care reform.  In particular, the letter (included below) asks the Republican leadership in the House and Senate to raise the profile of these legal issues in connection with tomorrow’s health care summit.
 
Permalink:
http://www.committeeforjustice.org/blog/2010/02/letter-on-obamacare-legal-issues.html
 
February 24, 2010
 
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
The Honorable Jon Kyl
 United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
 
The Honorable John Boehner
The Honorable Eric Cantor
 United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
 
Re: Legal issues in health care reform
 
Dear Senators McConnell and Kyl and Representatives Boehner and Cantor,
 
We and the organizations we represent are united by our concerns about the constitutionality and legal consequences of the health care bills passed by the Senate and House and supported by President Obama. We respectfully ask that you and your colleagues raise these important concerns with the President and members of Congress who support the bills during the February 25 health care summit and during the national debate over health care reform.
 
Our concerns about the constitutionality of the bills center on the individual health insurance mandate.  Attorneys among us have analyzed the issue and concluded that requiring Americans to buy health insurance does not fall within the powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.
 
Moreover, our analysis indicates that if the House or Senate bill were to be enacted and upheld by the courts, the result would be a trial lawyer-driven explosion of health care and insurance litigation.  In other words, not only do these bills fail to constrain trial lawyers’ drain on the health care system, they actually make the problem substantially worse.
 
We have attached two documents which detail the basis for our concerns.  One is a memo by the Conservative Action Project headed by former Attorney General Edwin Meese.  The other is a Wall Street Journal op-ed.  They are also available at the links below.  We encourage you to share these materials with other members of Congress and the President.
 
In sum, we are convinced that the constitutionality and legal consequences of health care reform are far too important to be side issues at the health care summit and in the larger health care debate.  Members of Congress and the President owe it to the American people to address these concerns directly.  Therefore, we urge you and your colleagues to bring the legal issues to the forefront this week and beyond, and we stand ready to provide any help you need.
 
Documents:
http://tinyurl.com/CAP-healthcare-memo
http://tinyurl.com/WSJ-healthcare-oped
 
Respectfully,
 
Jane Orient, M.D.
Executive Director
Association of American Physician and Surgeons
 
Grace-Marie Turner
Founder & President
Galen Institute (for identification purposes only)
former member, Medicaid Commission
former member, National Advisory Council of Healthcare Research & Quality
 
Dan Greenberg
Arkansas State Representative (District 31)
Adjunct Professor of Law
University of Arkansas School of Law
 
Abigail Thernstrom
Vice-Chair
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
 
Dr. John C. Eastman
Professor of Law and Former Dean
Chapman University School of Law
(candidate for California Attorney General)
 
David Rivkin
Attorney
Washington, DC
former official, Reagan and George H. W. Bush Administrations
 
Hans von Spakovsky
former Commissioner
Federal Election Commission.
 
Stephan Thernstrom
Winthrop Research Professor of History
Harvard University
 
Gary Bauer
President
American Values
 
Dr. Richard Land
President
Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
 
Alfred S. Regnery
Publisher
The American Spectator
 
Richard Viguerie
Chairman
ConservativeHQ.com

Colin A. Hanna
President
Let Freedom Ring
 
Curt Levey
Executive Director
Committee for Justice
 
Mario H. Lopez
President
Hispanic Leadership Fund
 
Jim Martin
Chairman
60 Plus Association
 
Penny Nance
CEO
Concerned Women for America
 
Lewis Uhler
President
National Tax Limitation Committee
 
Mandi Campbell
Legal Director
Liberty Center for Law and Policy
 
Susan Carleson
Chairman & CEO
American Civil Rights Union
 
Kay Daly
President
Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
 
Kelly Shackelford
President & Chief Counsel
Liberty Legal Institute
 
Mathew Staver
Founder & Chairman
Liberty Counsel
 
Micah Clark
Executive Director
American Family Association of Indiana
 
Richard W. C. Falknor
Chairman
Maryland Center-Right Coalition
 
Dr. William Greene
President
RightMarch.com
 
C. Preston Noell III
President
Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.
 
Jack Wheeler
President
Freedom Research Foundation

 Mr Roberts does a great job in his article below showing the reality of medicine in American today.   The physician-patient relationship has no friends in DC.  The Republicans and Democrats have done their best to destroy the practice of medicine and create a techno-beauracrtic system filled with technicians, auditors, beauracrats, one-size-fits all programs and high cost low value medicine.

"How Wall St Destroyed Private Medicine" by Paul Craig Roberts

"It turns one's stomach to watch libertarians and "free market economists" defend bureaucratized impersonal health care as "free market medicine." There is no free market present. Corporate lobbies and campaign contributions use government power to create bureaucratized monopolies that destroy medicine for the practitioner and the patient. Wall Street pushes for greater shareholder earnings, which are achieved by denying care."

Full Article- http://www.creators.com/opinion/paul-craig-roberts/how-wall-st-destroyed-private-medicine.html



From our friends at the Alliance for Natural Health;

A newly updated compilation of 70 healthcare bills introduced by RSC Members this Congress:  http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/UploadedFiles/RSC_Health_Care_Bills_Compilation--Late_February.pdf
 
A conservative analysis of flawed Democrat solutions on healthcare and resources for gathering more detailed information:  http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/UploadedFiles/PB_020210_A_Study_of_Flawed_Democrat_Solutions_on_Healthcare.pdf
 
An analysis of the President's healthcare proposal released yesterday (same document as recently circulated by RSC staffer Emily Murry):  http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/UploadedFiles/PB_022310__President_Obama_Proposal.pdf
 
A one-stop shop of RSC healthcare documents and resources:  http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/Solutions/RSCHealthCareDocuments.htm

The following Senators will be joining Sen McConnell at  the Pubilc White House Summit;

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Senate Republican Whip
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Senate Republican Conference Chairman
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Ranking Member Senate Finance Committee
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member Senate Help Committee
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., HELP Committee
Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D., R-Okla., HELP Committee
Sen. John Barrasso, M.D.,R-Wyo.

Its important to contat each of them and tell them not to see out  American Medicine.

A new effort by various free market grouips called the Contract From America is asking for the public to vote for their top ten issues.  The choices include;

DEMAND A BALANCED BUDGET 

Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax hike. (Proposed by: Erik Carter, San Diego, CA)

STOP THE TAX HIKES 

Permanently repeal all tax hikes, including those to the income, capital gains, and death taxes, currently scheduled to begin in 2011.

COMMIT TO REAL GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY 

Every bill, in its final form, will be made public seven days before any vote can be taken and all government expenditures authorized by any bill will be easily accessible on the Internet before the money is spent. (Proposed by: Steve Kulik, Gonzales, Texas; and Steve Hollis, San Francisco, CA)

PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION 

Require each bill to identify the specific provision of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do what the bill does. (Proposed by: Brooke Storrs, Midland, MI)

PASS MARKET-BASED HEALTHCARE & HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM 

Make health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries.

ENACT FUNDAMENTAL TAX REFORM 

Adopt a fair and simple single-rate tax system by scrapping the internal revenue code and replacing it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words—the length of the original Constitution.

END RUNAWAY GOVERNMENT SPENDING 

Impose a statutory cap limiting the annual growth in total federal spending to the sum of inflation rate plus the percentage of population growth (Proposed by: Mark Meckler, Sacramento, CA).

LET US SAVE 

Allow young Americans the choice of opting out of Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, creating both real financial security in retirement through the freedom to own your personal retirement savings, and reducing the long-term unfunded liabilities of the federal government

PROTECT INTERNET FREEDOM 

No regulation or tax on the Internet. (Proposed by: Andrew Ian Dodge, Harpswell, ME)

GIVE PARENTS MORE CHOICES IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN 

Improve American education by reforming the broken federal role through eliminating ineffective and wasteful programs, giving parents more choices from pre-school to high school, and improving the affordability of higher education.

PASS AN “ALL OF THE ABOVE” ENERGY POLICY 

Authorize the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries and reduce regulatory barriers to all other forms of energy creation, lowering prices and creating competition.

PROTECT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 

Prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using funds to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in any form, including requiring “localism” or “diversity” quotas. (Proposed by: Lori Roman, Annapolis, MD)

RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVT 

Create a Blue Ribbon taskforce that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs, assessing their Constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states. (Proposed by: Benjamin Tessler, Washington, DC; and Douglas Mainwaring, Potomac, MD)

PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS 

Block state and local governments that receive federal grants from exercising eminent domain over private property for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues. (Proposed by: R.M. House, Woodstock, GA)

REJECT CAP & TRADE 

Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures. (Proposed by: Jan Heinricks, Spring, T

STOP THE PORK 

Place a moratorium on all earmarks until the process is fully transparent, including requiring a 2/3 majority to pass any earmark.

AUDIT THE FED 

Begin an audit of the Federal Reserve System. (Proposed by: Judy Pierorazio, Parkville, MD)

NO MORE BAILOUTS 

The federal government should not bail out private companies and should immediately begin divesting itself of its stake in the private companies it owns from recent bailouts. (Proposed by: Mike Ware, Mountain View, CA)

STOP CAREER POLITICIANS & CURB LOBBYIST POWER 

Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require Congressional term limits. (Proposed by: Marylou Petriccione, Raleigh, NC)

SUNSET REGULATIONS & ENACT FUNDAMENTAL REGULATORY REFORM 

Sunset all regulations in order to eliminate those that are wasteful, unconstitutional, and ineffective, and place strict limits on the ability of agencies to create regulations. (Proposed by: Jim Armstrong, Morgantown, WV)

LET US WATCH

Its important for all Americans to go online and vote now.

The American Grassroots Coalition has a new petition telling the Repubilcans not to sell out.  A few of the issues addressed in the petition include:

We will not support any legislation that includes:

*An individual mandate to purchase insurance;
*Establishment of government insurance, whether through a public option or direct program;
*Government funded abortions;
*Unfunded expansion of Medicaid that bankrupts state budgets;
*Interference in the patient doctor relationship;
*Increase in taxes or the national deficit;
*Any programs that increase the cost of health insurance and health care.

Boycott Pfizer’s Medications:

A CALL to ACTION FOR THOSE OPPOSED TO OBAMACARE 

How do YOU feel about Obamacare and  government dictating your coverage and cost, and controlling your treatment options?  If you are like the majority of Americans, you don’t like it.

The latest polls show that a staggering 61% of the American public is opposed to the costly Senate and House healthcare bills that are the President’s signature legislation to push through this year. 

Never before have so many Americans expressed this degree of opposition to proposed legislation.

Never before have we seen Congress completely shut out the voice of the people. 

Never before have we seen such blatant, arrogant disregard for “We The People” who have taken the time to read the bill, taken time to write letters, to send emails, to make calls, and even to march in rallies and halls of Congress.

We feel it is time for a massive grassroots action that WILL get attention.  We feel it is time to hit the proponents of Obamacare in the pocketbook.

We are two physicians who are concerned about what will happen to quality of care under Obamacare.  We are upset that physicians and patients are betrayed by backroom deals perpetrated by the major players without regard for what is best for patient care.

Jeffrey Kindler, CEO of Pfizer, was featured in a Wall St. Journal editorial as supporting the Administration’s efforts to radically transform the health industry.   Mr.Kindler led an industry group that made a backroom deal with Senator Baucus and the White House to finance a multimillion dollar ad campaign supporting ObamaCare.   What did he and other industry executives get in return?  If they agreed to forego $80 billion in lower drug costs over the next ten years, they were promised the industry would be “protected” from price controls and drug reimportation from Canada.  

In making these “deals” Pfizer, and other participating pharmaceutical companies,  have sold out patients, the medical profession, their employees and shareholders, as well as free-market capitalism. 

The Wall Street Journal editorialists said: “The pharmaceutical executives who have endorsed this exercise will eventually be exposed as among the most shortsighted CEOs in the history of capitalism.”  

We feel there should be a more immediate penalty for their malfeasance.  They should feel the wrath of the public and of the medical profession by a boycott of Pfizer products.  

Pfizer makes many drugs, including the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering Lipitor,  anti-arthritis pill Celebrex, Aricept for Alzheimers, Premarin for menopause therapy,  Zithromax, Zoloft ,Viagra, Lyrica, Geodon and many others.   For a complete listing, see http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/prescription.jsp.

If you are among the millions of Americans who are outraged over this massive and costly takeover of healthcare, then we urge you to take action.  Direct your anger towards Pfizer for leading the industry in making craven, behind-closed-doors deal with the White House. 

If you are taking a Pfizer drug, call your physicians and tell them you want a non-Pfizer alternative.  Talk to your pharmacist and request a comparable generic. 

Let’s continue to hit them in the pocketbook until they see the error of their ways.  Until they LISTEN to the American people.

Pfizer must immediately withdraw support and its multimillion dollar ad campaign in favor of Obamacare in order to regain your trust and your use of their products.  Pfizer must take a stand against Obamacare and stand with the majority of the American people.

Let your voice be heard by boycotting Pfizer medicines. Then let other members of PhRMA beware: You may be our next target!

Richard Amerling, M.D., New York, NY

Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. Tucson AZ

December 14, 2009

The Legacy of Billy Tauzin: The White House-PhRMA Deal  By Paul Blumenthal

"Aiding PhRMA in their outreach to Congress would be a squadron of lobbyists to push their health care reform priorities. Over the course of 2009, the drug industry trade group spent over $28 million on in house and hired lobbyists. Aside from PhRMA’s massive in-house lobbying operation, the trade group hired 48 outside lobbying firms. The total number of lobbyists working for PhRMA in 2009 reached 165. Some 137 of those 165 lobbyists representing PhRMA were former employees of either the legislative or executive branches. Of these dozens were former congressional staffers including two former chiefs of staff to Max Baucus."

Full Article: http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/02/12/the-legacy-of-billy-tauzin-the-white-house-phrma-deal/