Archive for the ‘Health Care’ Category

Pictures of Thursday’s Obamacare protest, in Alamo Plaza

(A nice turnout of about 40 from the SATP, plus the Boerne Tea Party, plus TV crews from KSAT 12, Fox and Univision)

The line-up of protesters

Talking to the TV cameras

Real reform, por favor!

An acronym – it stands for ‘Bend Over – Here It Comes Again!

And don’t mess with Boerne, either!

In response to this column by “humorist”  Garrison Keillor, which was published in the San Antonio Express News recently, Kenneth Bennight, the new SATP President of the Board of Directors had the following response:

Garrison Keillor plays off the Tea Party name, saying most Americans prefer coffee to tea.  Though a board member of the San Antonio Tea Party, I too prefer coffee.  And though Mr. Keillor and I both understand the historical reference of the Tea Party name, he finds it rhetorically useful to ignore.

Mr. Keillor next invokes the almost incomprehensible human suffering from the Haitian earthquake, apparently trying to tar Tea Parties with responsibility for natural disasters.  Keillor’s prose is evocative.  But wrapping himself in the pathos is a polemical tool, an emotional appeal unrelated to the substance of his argument.

Keillor correctly notes that healthcare reform proposals are too murky to explain clearly, but he blames that on trying to attract Republican votes.  Obamacare did not rely on Republican votes, and the legislative contortions arose from attempts to draw in less ideologically committed among his own party, such a Ben “Sweepstakes” Nelson of Nebraska.

Keillor also correctly, albeit argumentatively, formulates the basic divide over Obamacare: whether health care should be a legally enforceable right.  He and the left wing say “yes.”  The San Antonio Tea Party believes rights remain as they were at our nation’s founding: not what the government might give you but protection from what the government might do to you.

In not one of the amendments comprising the Bill of Rights and nowhere else in the Constitution is there anything that the government must give you.  Everything is focused either on organizing and running the government or on liberties the government must respect.

The reason is simple.  Government creates nothing.  Whatever government possesses, it has taken from those subject to it.  To give a dollar to one person, government must first have taken the dollar from others.  For you to have a legally enforceable right to the dollar, you must have a legally enforceable claim on the fruit of others’ labor.  American history has a sordid episode when such claims existed: slavery.

Keillor tries to tie left-wing policy nostroms to Christian doctrine.  I am hardly a theologian, but I don’t recall anything about Christ having a economic policy or saying people have a right to look to the state for support.  If Christ demands a left-wing economic policy and left-wing economic policies are shown, as they have been, to impoverish people, where does that leave religion?  As to the implied relationship between Tea Parties and Pat Robertson, if Keillor won’t blame us for what comes out of Robertson’s mouth, we won’t blame him for what comes out of Jeneane Garofalo’s.

The headline on Keillor’s column says Tea Parties “should wake up and smell the coffee.”  After last Tuesday’s special election in Massachusetts, perhaps Keillor himself has some smelling to do.  That a little-known Republican is replacing Ted Kennedy in the United States Senate testifies to overreaching by the left wing.  The people of Massachusetts did not like where they were being taken and screamed halt.  In Massachusetts.  The only state carried by George McGovern.  What does Keillor think will happen in states with more conservative leanings?  To quote another columnist, Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post: “You would think lefties could discern a proletarian vanguard when they see one.”

Back to the tea or coffee issue, Keillor may not be aware of the historical connection between the Boston Tea Party and the American preference for coffee.  Both stem from the British tax on tea.  Tea was initially preferred in America as it was in Britain, but Americans despised the British tax.  Switching to coffee became a way to express solidarity against unfair taxation.  No wonder so many Tea Partiers drink coffee.  If Mr. Keillor comes to town, I’ll buy him a cup.

Hello Fellow Patriots!

I know this group is already aware of the Tenth Amendment/Nullification situation, but here’s an opportunity for you to TAKE ACTION TODAY:  I’m asking you to take a few minutes out of your busy holiday schedule and take one simple action that may be the only way to save Texas and preserve our republic – call for a resolution of NULLIFICATION.

Here is what I’d like you to do, and I’ll explain why below:

Mail me a Christmas card THIS WEEK (I’m sure you have an extra lying around).

Address it to:  Erin Anderson, WTPAT 9-12 Assn, P.O. Box 840873, Houston TX 77284-0873

On the inside of the card, write:

To Governor Rick Perry:

Call a Special Session of the legislature for January 2010, to pass a resolution of Nullification of federal laws.

Signed (or feel free to wish the Gov a Merry Christmas!),

(Your names – everyone in household)

(Your address, city, TX ZIP)

I will take cards out of the envelopes, put them in a sack, and in “Miracle on 34th Street” fashion, deliver them all to Austin Christmas week!  Though I may not have the satisfaction of dumping them out on Perry’s desk, I would like a huge sack – or more than one – to deliver.

What is NULLIFICATION & WHY is it Important?

When the federal government enacts laws that are beyond the scope of its constitutionally enumerated powers, it takes away our freedoms as states and as individuals, and imposes on us the economic and social consequences.  With unconstitutional legislation such as health care “reform” and “cap & trade”, the federal government is attempting to tell Texans what we can and can’t do and charge us for the privilege!  Fortunately, the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects us from this very thing and allows a state to “nullify”, or make null and void, any law that the STATE determines is unconstitutional.

Why NOW? – I’m Busy!

Ideally we want to have a resolution of Nullification in place BEFORE any legislation is passed – along with an injunction against the collection of associated taxes.  For example, if health care passes this year, the IRS will begin collecting taxes to pay for it in January 2010.  The sooner we act, the less the damage.  (Since the Texas legislature only meets in odd years, a Special Session is needed – yes, it costs money, but it is a miniscule portion of the cost of pending federal laws.) Also, we have greater leverage with Governor Perry BEFORE the March primaries.  PLEASE don’t wait – it only takes a minute!

You can just trust me on this one and send the card, OR:

Go to NotInTexas.org for a short & simple explanation of Nullification.  You can also sign a letter to your state representatives asking them to request a special session to pass a resolution of nullification (click on “Call to Action”) – Neil Cavuto featured this campaign on Fox News.  Another great resource is The Tenth Amendment Center.

Have more time and want to learn more?

Watch this excellent video series by Thomas Woods on “Thomas Jefferson and the Principles of 1798”.  In Jefferson’s Kentucky Resolution and James Madison’s Virginia Resolution, the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, respectively, detail the unquestionable right of the states to nullify – refuse to enforce – any offending law.  Each of the five videos runs about 10 minutes. Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part Five.

Inspired to take more action?

Call, write, fax, and/or email Governor Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott, and your State Senator and Representative (find their contact info at Texas Legislature Online.

Governor Perry:

P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711-2428

Main Tel:  (512) 463-2000 / Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 / Fax:  (512) 463-1849

Email: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx

Attorney General Greg Abbott:

Office of the Attorney General, PO Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548

Main Tel: (512) 463-2100 / Fax: (512) 475-2994

Email:  greg.abbott@oag.state.tx.us

Rick Perry’s Campaign:

Tel: 512-478-3276 / Fax: 512-478-4734

Texans for Rick Perry, PMB 217, P.O. Box 2013, Austin, TX 78768

Perry Campaign Manager Rob Johnson:  robjohnson@rickperry.org

Perry Campaign Director Kevin Lindley: kevinlindley@rickperry.org

You can keep it simple or be creative – a few talking points:

·        The right of Nullification is clearly documented by Jefferson and Madison and has been successfully implemented many times in the past.

·        The federal government has no authority under the Constitution to restrict our use of our private property, or require us to purchase a product such as health insurance.

·        The cost of federal legislation such as health care “reform” (called “the mother of all unfunded mandates”) and “cap & trade” will damage our economy, restrict business growth, lower our standard of living, and may force Texas to institute a state income tax.  Nullifying these laws is well worth the cost of a special session.

·        Texas must act NOW to block these onerous laws BEFORE they take effect.

·        Texas is supposed to be a leader in the nation, yet many other states have already taken action to assert their right of nullification. Governor Perry needs to demonstrate his leadership if he expects to earn our votes.  (In fact, he claims to already be on board, according to this quote from July 23, 2009: ”… I’m certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats.”)

Patriots, the U.S. Congress is not taking time off from pushing for federal government takeovers of health care, energy, banking, business, education, media, and the weather – OR from spending TRILLIONS of our tax dollars.  PLEASE do what you can – send me a card, maybe make a phone call, or send a letter or email – whatever you have time for.

Finally, PLEASE forward this message TODAY to at least 10 other Texans.  Washington may not be listening to us, so we must bring this fight home to TEXAS – and we must do it NOW!

If we can make this happen, it truly will be a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Erin Anderson
Tea Party Patriots / The 9-12 Project
GET INFORMED – GET INVOLVED!
Tel: 281-804-9048
Email: eringanderson@sbcglobal.net

Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann has asked as many of us like-minded  citizens to come to Washington DC to confront our Congressmen about our opposition to HR 3200.  The vote in the House could be tomorrow or Friday.

The Republican wins yesterday  have let the Democrats know that they will be held accountable by the voters.  The Blue Dogs are most susceptible to our input.  I have attached a template of a letter that includes many reasons for opposition.  Please consider it as a model and put whatever you wish to write in your own words.  I have also attached a list of the Fax numbers of the Blue Dogs.  Please do this tomorrow, Thursday, so that for those of us who cannot go to Washington DC, we make our presence felt in these faxes.

A suggested letter and a list of fax numbers is listed below.

Dear Congressman/Senator(Particularly Blue Dogs):

I am writing to share with you my strong belief that the Health Care Reform Bill HR 3200(in the House) or the Baucus Bill(in the Senate) is bad for America.  I think many Americans who are informed on health care issues would agree that some type of reform is needed, eg. cost containment, tort reform, better access to health insurance for the poor, coverage of pre existing conditions, a clearly defined policy regarding taxpayer funded abortion and stem cell research, and no access to free health care for illegal aliens.  Polls indicate that a majority of Americans are satisfied with their current health insurance and care.  They feel that a complete overhaul of the current system is unwarranted; will put private insurers out of business because they cannot compete with the government subsidized insurance – thus eliminating freedom of choice for the public; increase the power of the Federal bureaucracy to control life and death, health decisions of the citizenry, and will cost all of us in the form of increased health care costs and enormous Federal deficits that are unsustainable for our generation and generations to come.  I believe reform is needed to improve our current system, but that the HR 3200 and the Baucus bills are not the right answer.  I beg you to vote “NO” on these bill.  Then, in a bipartisan way, with input from constituents and non-partisan, health care experts, take the time to craft a new bill that is better.  Field test whatever reform you pass in one state and see if it accomplishes its objectives before making it the law of the land.  Based on the results of the field testing, correct what doesn’t work and retain what does work.  Slow down; don’t rush’ and get it right.

(NOTE – All Fax# are 202  Area Code)

Altmire, Jason PA                     226-2274

Arcuri, Mike NY                       225-1891

Baca, Joe CA                           225-8671

Barrow, John GA                      225-3371

Bean, Melissa IL                       225-7830

Berry, Marion AR                     225-5602

Bishop, Sanford GA                   225-2203

Boren, Dan OK                         225-3038

Boswell, Leonard IA                 225-5608

Boyd, Allen FL                          225-5615

Bright, Bobby AL                      225-8913

Cardoza, Dennis CA                  225-0819

Carney, Christopher PA             225-9594

Chandler, Ben KY                     225-2122

Childers, Travis MS                   225-3549

Cooper, Jim TN                         226-1035

Costa, Jim CA                           225-9308

Cuellar, Henry TX                     225-1641

Dahlkemper, Kathy PA             225-3103

Davis, Lincoln TN                     226-5172

Donnelly, Joe IN                       225-6798

Ellsworth, Brad IN                    225-3284

Giffords, Gabrielle AZ               225-0378

Gordon, Bart TN                       225-6887

Griffith, Parker AL                    225-4392

Harman, Jane CA                     226-7290

Sandlin, Stephanie SD                225-1904

Hill, Baron IN                           226-6866

Holden, Tim PA                        226-0996

Kratovil, Frank MD                   225-0254

Marshall, Jim GA                      225-3013

Matheson, Jim UT                     225-5638

McIntyre, Mike NC                   225-5773

Melancon, Charlie LA               226-3944

Michaud, Mike ME                    225-2943

Minnick, Walt ID                       225-3029

Mitchell, Harry AZ                    225-3263

Moore, Dennis, KS                    225-2807

Murphy, Patrick PA                  225-9511

Nye, Glenn VA                         225-4218

Peterson, Collin MN                  225-1593

Pomeroy, Earl ND                     226-0893

Ross, Mike AR                         225-1314

Salazar, John CO                       226-9669

Sanchez, Loretta CA                 225-5859

Schiff, Adam CA                      225-5828

Space, Zack OH                       225-3394

Shuler, Heath NC                      226-6422

Scott, David GA                        225-4628

Tanner, John TN                       225-1765

Taylor, Gene MS                       225-7074

Thompson, Mike CA                 225-4335

Van Hollen, Chris MD               225-0375

Wilson, Charlie OH                   225-5907

MINUTES OF HCTT MEETING 10/3/2009

Attendees:

Harry Sims

Stan Thompson

Margaret Zucco

Laura Mullaney

Franklin Sullivan

Nita and Jon Kaplan

Cynthia Konicek

Sharon Hall

Gloria Johnson

Deputy Team leader, Jon Kaplan, opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jon welcomed new HCTT member, Gloria Johnson, who came to us from the 2^nd Amendment Tiger Team.  Gloria is a Physician Assistant who brings much to the table of the team’s understanding of health care in the trenches.  Jon recapped the Four Prong Strategy that the team adopted at its previous meeting.

1. Congress

2.  State

3.  Judiciary

4.  Private Sector

1.  Congress

Jon  reported  on Steve Baysinger and Jon’s meeting with Shannon Cantrell, District Manager for Congressman Lamar Smith and Jonathan Huhn, aid to Senator John Cornyn.  He shared that he and Steve made clear that the SATP saw them as allies in the Health Care debate in Congress and hoped that they saw the SATP as an ally.  Jon and Steve asked how the SATP could help them.  The aids said that until the bills were more solidified, they did not know specifically.  We also asked them if they had sources of Constitutional law input to ascertain where the bills could be vulnerable Constitutionally.  They said that they may have a source that gave them input in DC and that if the SATP were to present a letter to them asking for direct contact with that source, they might provide us with access to it.  In the same breath, however, they said that they saw no Constitutional challenge until and unless a health care bill became law.  We all observed that both the Tea Party movement and they were in the minority at this point in the effort to slow or defeat existing bills under consideration.  The main accomplishment of this meeting was to open the door for further coordination as we all go forward.  They seemed to appreciate that open door.

2.  State

Jon reported in behalf of Hope D’Amore her meeting with Doug Miller, Texas Representative for Comal County, who is also an insurance broker, which fell into three categories – State Sovereignty, Texas Politics, and Healthcare.  See Attachment 1 for a summary.  Hope also has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday of this week with State Representative Frank Corte.  She has a positive email response from Constitutional Scholar, Richard Epstein, who will contact her soon for a discussion.  Hope is working on contact with San Antonio Constitutional lawyers, Allen Parker, and Clayton Trotter, of the Justice Foundation.  Allen has spoken before the SATP and at the Alamo and may offer a local source of input.  Jon reported that he had spoken to Mike Ariens, a Constitution Law Professor at St. Mary’s Law School, who offered insight into the Supreme Court’s historical position on Tenth Amendment issues. Ariens said that since the 1940’s the Supreme Court has broadened the federal government’s authority in its interpretation of the Constitution.  One would therefore need new and persuasive arguments to pursue challenges from states based on 10^th Amendment rights.  There was discussion in the HCTT about proactive State pushback against federal intrusion into state’s rights, eg.  getting the Governor to declare that Texas was going to relieve the federal government of the burden of administering Medicare and collect that portion of Social Security withholding allocable to Medicare, ie. play offense, rather than defense.  Hope will follow up and report back to the HCTT on options.

3.  Judiciary

Jon shared the idea of “using the law to enforce the law”, eg.  trying to get a judge to issue a ruling that directly challenged or enjoined the federal government from creating an unfunded mandate to the states.  This dovetails with the need for good Constitutional law input to know if this can be done.  The general rule is that federal law, if Constitutional, trumps state law, but either by going to court or by governors acting de facto and throwing down the gauntlet to the federal government to try to enforce what they may assert as their authority is worth considering.  Jon shared that Mike Ariens said that the Supreme court has upheld the authority of the federal government to regulate health insurance, but has delegated that authority to the states.  As the Tea Party movement connects within Texas and eventually the nation, the fundraising resources to retain legal services for advice and action will be more supportable.  SATP cannot finance this type of effort on its own.

4.  Private Sector

Jon, Harry Sims and Laura Mullaney reported on efforts to first understand and second to make allies of the health related private sector, including the AMA, TMA, Bexar County Medical Society, doctors, hospital associations, and others.  Laura and Jon attended the Bexar County Medical Society’s meeting where AMA(and former TMA) President, Dr. James Rohack, a cardiologist and a Texan spoke.  Dr. Rohack says that the AMA has been characterized as supporting OBAMACARE and the public option.  He backed off from that absolute characterization by saying that the AMA did not endorse HR 3200, but simply wanted to be a player at the negotiating table over how health care reform was ultimately done.  He did a Power point presentation on the increased cost of Medicare by 2017 when more of the baby boomer generation reaches Medicare age.  He said that if reform is not accomplished enough in advance of that point, Medicare will go broke.  He said that he is concerned that Medicare reimbursements are not reduced as a cost saving measure by any of the bills.  He said AMA was for tort reform which benefits doctors.  He said that AMA was for mechanized medical records systems and alluded to $44 million that was allocated in the TARP for this purpose.  He referred to the concept of an “accountable care organization” that would presumably decide what medical and diagnostic procedures were acceptable and what weren’t.  He said that without tort reform to protect the doctors, this would both violate anti trust laws and place doctors in greater exposure to medical liability.  He addressed the impact of illegal immigration in only the most cursory way by saying that illegals could buy insurance if it was affordable.  He said the AMA was for Health Savings Accounts owned by the individual and for preventive care.  He said AMA was for lowering health care administrative costs, but did not get specific on how this should be done.  He referred to the Declaration of Independence(versus the Constitution) giving the citizenry ”the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.  I believe he was making the case for health care being a right, rather than a privilege.  Dr. Rohack will be back in San Antonio for a presentation at the Health Science Center on 10/19/09 from 5-6PM.  Perhaps we might piggyback a private visit with him.

Other topics discussed were as follows

1. Tiger Teams Leader/co leader meetings planned once per month to coordinate.

2. “NO SOCIALISM” signs.

3. Terrell Hills neighborhood meeting, which Jon and Nita attended, showing (T. R. Reed of Washington Post)PBS video of “Sick Around the World” in which the socialized healthcare systems of Japan, Taiwan, England, Germany, and Switzerland were compared to the American system.  It was actually informative and something the HCTT might want to view at some point.  All of the systems have cost containment problems.

4. Sharon Hall explained the workings of the Texas Board of Insurance.

5. Dr. Stan Thompson and Gloria Johnson will work on finding out where the waste and fraud in Medicare is and how it can be eliminated.  As of the date of these minutes being written, there was an item presented on Fox news that addressed a wheel chair that can be bought on the open market for $1800, which Medicare reimburses for $4600.  The federal procurement program needs to be looked at.  Gloria also reported on medical procedures that are not allowed to be reimbursed doubly for two in the same day, even though it would be efficient to do so for the patient.  Therefore, providers make the patient return later for a separate appointment, so they can get reimbursed by insurance, ie. we reward inefficiency.

6. Texas Tea Party leaders will meet with SATP leaders in San Antonio later this month to coordinate our efforts.

7. We all need to recruit new members.  (At the SATP General Meeting on Sunday, 10/4/09, we met Davis Jackson, who will join our Tiger Team).  Welcome, Davis.  If anyone knows lawyers, Constitutional and otherwise, who have an interest in our movement, please recruit them for the HCTT.

8. I have attached a wikipedia list of health insurers in Texas and Blue Cross’s FAQ for your review.  Harry Sims and Laura Mullaney will be working to make contact with them so that we may get an opportunity for Q & A.

A closing prayer was said and the meeting adjourned.  Next meeting will be at Eyes Of San Antonio (thank you Stan and Joyce) from 2-5PM on Saturday, 10/10/09.

Blue_Cross_FAQ_on_Health_Care_reform_Oct-05-2009.pdf

PBS-Video-Sick-Around-the-World-Oct-05-2009.pdf

Texas-Health-Insurers-Oct-05-2009.pdf