A call last evening from a family in Massachusetts speaks volumes about the Commonwealths version of Universal Health Care. The call to this blog was one of frustration. The family, middle class, and struggling with a variety of increases in utilities, etc. al due to the round of tax increases passed in the Commonwealth in July, expressed frustration over the fact that they owe the Commonwealth $1100 in fees for non-compliance with Mandatory Health Care. The fact that a policy for a family in their income bracket is, according to the Commonewalth Connector, has a monthly premium of $34, however that does not always include the reality of every day expenses and or other factors that make the $4,100 annual investment in health insurance doable. The Commonwealth then, assesses a fee, in this case $1,100, which is due April 15th. The question poised and answered at the same time: What will happen to that money collected? It will go to those who don’t work for a living!
What should happen, is those fees assessed for families caught in this economic morass due to being taxes left, right and center, should be used for that family to purchase affordable health care, or at the very least credited to their health coverage. One wonders how much the Commonwealth will make at tax time with “fees” from the Commonwealth Connector which is deep in the “red”, and how those fees will be applied, with so many individuals and families unable to afford the steep premiums with few options given to the Citizens of the Commonwealth. If there were choices such as catastrophic coverage, it would be a perfect system, as it now stands, only a select few carriers are allowed to operate within the state, and mandates have caused private pay plans to increase by 11% driving more into non-compliance.
For citizens of the Commonwealth who may not be sure what fee they can expect to pay for non-compliance, the rule is rather simple. The Department of Revenue has a table here that taxpayers can use as a guideline to find their “fee”.
First one finds their income based on the federal poverty guidelines and then the one will be assessed. For example: A family of 3 earning $54,000 is considered to be at the top of the heap in Massachusetts – this is pre-tax income. The Penalty for this family is: $1116 due and payable on April 15th.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Bill Clinton Brings Pay-Go Legislation Back – Former President Rally’s Democrats in Congress to get Bill Passed - So Much for Obama.
Bill Clinton recently came back to the Congress to rally the troops; so to speak, into signing legislation that resembles his 1984 pay-go principle. The concept is that the Congress cannot spend unless it cuts somewhere else and stems from a principle Clinton proposed in the 1980’s to balance the budget. His presence and the concept were necessary to bring so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats into the fold. In addition to the pay-go legislation, the Democrats also approved an increase on the debt ceiling – go figure.
Politico has an article here noting that the President “welcomed” the pay-go option.
The question now remains, with former President Bill Clinton making trips to the House to get the job done; will he also hit the campaign trail to aid those Democrats who clearly need a cheerleader? The Baltimore Sun article here , headlines: “Vulnerable Dems seek distance from Obama”: we saw this coming. After losses in states such as Massachusetts, but, even more poignant, relative to Obama’s time spent, New Jersey, those Senators and Represenatitves that are barely polling near or below their Republican rivals, are clearly interested in keeping the President, whose popularity remains below 50% ((Rasmussen)elsewhere during the campaign season.
Longing for the good old days (that eight year period where Clinton managed to balance the budget with the help of a Republican Congress and Senate) – in other words, a time where Clinton, as a moderate, succeeded. However, this is 2010, where the administration is intent to shove legislation through the Congress, without input from the Republicans who are locked out of every meeting, at the speed of light. Although Obama (and those with like minds) continue to shout “Bush-Cheney and the newly coined “Party of No” from the rooftops in order to cast blame elsewhere - it appears that the general public, for the most part (meaning the majority) are not buying that line from the Oval office. The preceding speaks volumes as to the chaos the machine that is the DNC is in total disarray. Barak Obama, after all, is the titular head of the Democrat Party.
Politico has an article here noting that the President “welcomed” the pay-go option.
The question now remains, with former President Bill Clinton making trips to the House to get the job done; will he also hit the campaign trail to aid those Democrats who clearly need a cheerleader? The Baltimore Sun article here , headlines: “Vulnerable Dems seek distance from Obama”: we saw this coming. After losses in states such as Massachusetts, but, even more poignant, relative to Obama’s time spent, New Jersey, those Senators and Represenatitves that are barely polling near or below their Republican rivals, are clearly interested in keeping the President, whose popularity remains below 50% ((Rasmussen)elsewhere during the campaign season.
Longing for the good old days (that eight year period where Clinton managed to balance the budget with the help of a Republican Congress and Senate) – in other words, a time where Clinton, as a moderate, succeeded. However, this is 2010, where the administration is intent to shove legislation through the Congress, without input from the Republicans who are locked out of every meeting, at the speed of light. Although Obama (and those with like minds) continue to shout “Bush-Cheney and the newly coined “Party of No” from the rooftops in order to cast blame elsewhere - it appears that the general public, for the most part (meaning the majority) are not buying that line from the Oval office. The preceding speaks volumes as to the chaos the machine that is the DNC is in total disarray. Barak Obama, after all, is the titular head of the Democrat Party.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Earl Sholley, Mass. 4th District Candidate for U.S. Congress Offers Hour Long Blog-Talk Radio Progam
Earl Sholley, candidate for the Massachusetts 4th District U.S. Congressional Seat, currently held by Democrat Barney Frank, began an hour-long radio broadcast last night. The broadcast, from 6 to 7 pm, is on Blog-Talk radio, inviting callers to “Ask Earl” his views on a host of issues. The first broadcast was held last night, and was quite successful.
One can listen to last evenings broadcast here at Blog Talk Radio. Lisa Camp, Sholley’s Campaign Manager, indicated the broadcast will be a weekly feature, allowing 4th district voters, and anyone interested in the Massachusetts 4th district race, to get to know Sholley and how he stands on the issues.
Although the program appeared to get off to a rocky start (with a few missed calls), Sholley got through the “technical difficulties” and delivered a particular brand of populist think that appeared to resonate with those calling in from his district, as well as areas of Massachusetts outside of the 4th. One caller, who asked a question about Card Check, began by calling Sholley, “Sir”. Sholley immediately shot back: (paraphrasing) “Don’t call me “Sir”, I work for a living”. Sholley’s response was refreshing – given the fact that most of our U.S. Congressional representatives appear to be welded to their seats.
One can listen to last evenings broadcast here at Blog Talk Radio. Lisa Camp, Sholley’s Campaign Manager, indicated the broadcast will be a weekly feature, allowing 4th district voters, and anyone interested in the Massachusetts 4th district race, to get to know Sholley and how he stands on the issues.
Although the program appeared to get off to a rocky start (with a few missed calls), Sholley got through the “technical difficulties” and delivered a particular brand of populist think that appeared to resonate with those calling in from his district, as well as areas of Massachusetts outside of the 4th. One caller, who asked a question about Card Check, began by calling Sholley, “Sir”. Sholley immediately shot back: (paraphrasing) “Don’t call me “Sir”, I work for a living”. Sholley’s response was refreshing – given the fact that most of our U.S. Congressional representatives appear to be welded to their seats.
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