Post #319,385
12/31/09 11:35:51 AM
|
My latest letter to my congressman.
Congressman Connolly:
I recently received your "Progress Report" mailer and a recorded phone message. I am very disappointed that you seem to feel that the biggest problem facing the federal government is the budget deficit. I am sure you are aware that the current hole in the federal budget is mainly due to a huge drop in tax revenue which resulted from the Great Recession. The most important issue facing the federal government is getting the economy growing reasonably quickly (4+%) so that unemployment is quickly reduced to more normal levels. The problem with the economy is lack of demand as a result of bursting of the housing bubble. Worrying about temporary budget deficits is a distraction from the real problems.
A couple of points: 1) According to polls, most people think that the budget deficit went *up* under Clinton. There's little or no political benefit in making a show of cutting the deficit. People care about whether they or their family members are working, not abstract issues like the federal budget. 2) Paul Krugman has pointed out that the hole in the economy will not be filled quickly unless dramatic action is taken by the federal government. The private sector and consumers cannot provide the necessary demand to reduce unemployment quickly. Please read his columns and blogs at the NYTimes.
There is no benefit to you, or to your constituents, in acting as if you are a Republican-lite. Don't fall for their talking points. They will try to run a credible candidate against you no matter your record. It's important for you to do what is best for the country, not try to appeal to teabaggers...
Of course the long-term budget deficit is a problem. By all means work to reduce waste and counter-productive subsidies (sugar, other agricultural products, etc.) and wasteful DOD programs. Reinstate the estate tax. End Bush's tax cuts except for the middle and lower classes. Don't be afraid to raise taxes on the wealthy and those who raided the economy in the bubbles. The federal budget should never run a huge deficit during an economic expansion (as it did under Reagan, Bush and Bush). But we're in a huge hole (especially in employment) and have to get out before worrying about deficits.
Finally, thanks for your vote in favor of the health care reform bill. It's far from perfect, but is a great step in the right direction. Please vote for the final bill.
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Me.
|
Post #319,392
12/31/09 12:36:24 PM
|
I quit writing to mine
all I ever get in return is a form letter and a funding request. I miss going to DC and chatting with Don Young and Senator Ted. Need to do a road trip sometime. The local ass clown wouldnt know me from a hole in the ground.
|
Post #319,393
12/31/09 12:58:34 PM
|
Ya gotta let them know.
I get the form letters and begging for money too, but if you don't write them then the other side wins by default.
Cheers,
Scott.
|
Post #319,397
12/31/09 1:28:31 PM
|
Been sending a letter a week to each...
Of my City, State and Federal "legislators", Representatives, Congresspersons.
I've only gotten one response back and its was for contributions to the next campaign for re-election.
I don't think we are getting our due. The Government and the US in general needs a Mental Reset and a chopping off of the talking heads and all talking heads that pop up to try and replace them.
Don't if they are Republican or Democrat or... whatever. They are supposed to work for the people, NOT SIGs or PACs or other Lobbying groups.
Filibusters suck and the Repubs are using them like Yuppie Lunch Coupons. Not to say the Democrats are doing much better, they aren't corralling what they need to push things through.
All I can say is that it a losing race... just that *W* would have lost by a few miles in a 200 yard race, were he still "in charge". I think our ole buddy McCain would have died in office under the stress, giving the Codes to "you betchya" and then what a spending spree we'd have seen on the rich... even more so than it already is, plus no Healthcare Plan period.
Yes the Health Care plan is flawed. Yes its never going to be perfect. But as far as I am concerned, progress in that way needs to happen. 47 million Americans don;t have proper health care, including my oldest daughter, as the place she works for won't offer it for anyone that is not full-time salaried management and its too expensive to buy on her own, for her and her son.
|
Post #319,401
12/31/09 3:43:40 PM
|
Completely OT, but Greg...
... I didn't know you were a Grandpa! Welcome to the fraternity (if a bit late).
(I got get to this board more often, dammit!)
Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends! (Disk crashes notwithstanding...)
jb4
|
Post #319,402
12/31/09 5:09:06 PM
|
dont worry she will get healthcare
whether she can afford it or not she will have to buy a plan or go to jail
thanx,
bill
|
Post #319,410
1/1/10 12:48:20 AM
|
Stop that.
Those provisions do not exist.
You are an ass. Quit it.
Its stupid idiotic, empty-headed people like you that keep stupid memes like this going.
|
Post #319,413
1/1/10 5:10:56 AM
|
I must be confused
I though those provisions are still there, just not as expensive on the 1st pass.
|
Post #319,420
1/1/10 10:33:07 AM
|
Please find them for me.
That will take care of this.
Thanks.
|
Post #319,423
1/1/10 12:01:34 PM
|
okies define mandatory
read it and weep
so, she has an extry $1900 to fork over?
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."
http://www.examiner....andatory-coverage
abc seems balanced
http://abcnews.go.co...id=8771367&page=2
Critics of mandatory coverage say it will put a burdensome onus on low-income individuals and households. Politically, some GOP lawmakers argue that it constitutes an additional tax and, essentially, goes against the president's promises of no additional taxes.
|
Post #319,425
1/1/10 12:46:24 PM
|
and CBO predicts
private, non-company provided plans will increase by double digit % almost immediately.
Good stuff.
I will choose a path that's clear. I will choose freewill.
|
Post #319,427
1/1/10 2:23:09 PM
|
Sen. Ensign has a lot of credibility these days...
Not.
Use the Source, Luke!
HR3590 as passed by the Senate - http://frwebgate.acc...:h3590eas.txt.pdf (2409 page .pdf):
(Search for "penalty".)
The poor are exempt from penalties. People who don't meet the exemptions but don't get insurance that meet the requirements can be subject to penalties:
p.322-324:
(c) AMOUNT OF PENALTY.Â
323
(1) IN GENERAL.ÂThe penalty determined under this subsection for any month with respect to any individual is an amount equal to 1/12 of the applicable dollar amount for the calendar year.
(2) DOLLAR LIMITATION.ÂThe amount of the penalty imposed by this section on any taxpayer for any taxable year with respect to all individuals for whom the taxpayer is liable under subsection (b)(3) shall not exceed an amount equal to 300 percent the applicable dollar amount (determined without regard to paragraph (3)(C)) for the calendar year with or within which the taxable year ends.
(3) APPLICABLE DOLLAR AMOUNT.ÂFor purposes of paragraph (1)Â
(A) IN GENERAL.ÂExcept as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the applicable dollar amount is $750.
(B) PHASE IN.ÂThe applicable dollar amount is $95 for 2014 and $350 for 2015.
(C) SPECIAL RULE FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDER AGE 18.Â
If an applicable individual has not attained the age of 18 as of the beginning of a month, the applicable dollar amount with respect to such individual for the month shall be
324
equal to one-half of the applicable dollar amount for the calendar year in which the month occurs.
(D) INDEXING OF AMOUNT.ÂIn the case of any calendar year beginning after 2016, the applicable dollar amount shall be equal to $750, increased by an amount equal toÂ
(i) $750, multiplied by
(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting Âcalendar year 2015Â for Âcalendar year 1992Â in subparagraph (B) thereof. If the amount of any increase under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
IOW,
1) Any penalty cannot exceed 3x the "applicable dollar amount" for a family.
2) In the first year (2014) of the phase-in period "applicable dollar amount" is $95. The maximum penalty for a family is thus $285. Or less than $24/month for a family. For an individual, the maximum penalty for the year is $95, or less than $8/month.
3) In the 2nd year (2015) the maximum penalty is $1050 for a family.
4) After 2015, the maximum penalty is $2250 for a family, and then is indexed by inflation.
The misdemeanor fees apply to fraud, etc., not to being unable to afford the mandatory coverage.
p.328:
(e) EXEMPTIONS. No penalty shall be imposed under subsection (a) with respect toÂ
(1) INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT AFFORD COVERAGE.Â
[...]
Read all the details there, if you're interested. Somehow, I don't think the facts are going to make this meme go away... :-(
Presumably, the final bill is going to be close to the Senate language.
HTH.
Cheers,
Scott.
|
Post #319,428
1/1/10 3:05:12 PM
|
Believe it or not - it could be worse. You could live in NY.
http://www.nytimes.c...inion/31thu1.html
It would be nice if the mess there, and in California, and elsewhere were straightened out soon. I'm not that optimistic...
Cheers,
Scott.
|
