Practically Speaking
Kyle and her husband moved to Brookfield in 1986. She became active in local politics and started blogging in 2004. Her focus is primarily on local issues but often includes state and national topics, too. Kyle looks at things from the taxpayers' perspective in a creative, yet down to earth way, addressing them from a practical point of view.
It's Health Care "Let's Make a Deal", Call Senators today!
Don't you love it? The rumor was, not to worry, healthcare was dead in the senate. Oh, by the way, they will begin proceedings at 10am and take vote on a motion to proceed to debate* (cloture) at 8pm this Saturday! And the arm-twisting is in full force.
Arm twisting? Yup. Can you tell me what a $100 million dollar Medicaid subsidy for "certain states recovering from a major disaster" has to do with a health care bill?
Plenty, if you must have Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu's support to make ObamaCare fly. Cloture on the motion to proceed requires 60 votes. Sen. Harry Reid needs her. From ABC News: (My emphasis)
"Here's a case study [on arm twisting]: On page 432 of the Senate bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for "certain states recovering from a major disaster.. ...that it would be states that 'during the preceding 7 fiscal years' have been declared a 'major disaster area.'
ABC News has been told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill."
Other arms are being twisted too.
Republicans threaten to filibuster. In fact, "Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has threatened to use a procedural move that would require Senators to read the entire health care bill before voting for it."
That's great! It not only will stall the progress but also make sure that the senators actually read the thing. You can too, the full bill is available here -and its word search-able.
Here are just a few items in the Reid version of ObamaCare:
- subsidizes abortion
- has a public option
- removes $500 Billion from Medicare (already about $40Trillion in debt and insolvent by 2017)
- increases Medicare payroll taxes
- includes a 40% excise tax on plans over $8,500 single and $23,000 family/year
- raises taxes by $276 Billion
The Senate version does not include the $210 Billion Doc Fix. (The House just approved Doc Fix which adds to the deficit.)
Don't believe for a minute that Reid's ObamaCare bill will reduce the deficit. Sen. Judd Gregg calculates it as $2.5 Trillion over 10 years**.
How can it reduce the deficit with things like this? "It would also provide subsidies to households with less than $88,000 income to buy health insurance. " Well, at least I can get some financial aid for our health insurance! But seriously, why is the government helping families with incomes so far above the national average?
WHAT CAN WE DO? CALL 6 SENATORS
Mark Levin urged his listeners Thursday night to call 4 key Senators, 3 of which were noted in the article: "Moderate Democrats who have expressed their reservations with the broad strokes, including Landrieu, Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, also met with Reid. " Levin added Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.
True, they aren't our Senators, but he made a good point akin to this: If the office aid tells you you can't lobby the senator because you are out of state, politely reply that this vote effects you. If the senator votes for it, you may support their opponent in the next election. In addition, why is it OK that Senator Reid is able to lobby them or President Obama, but you can't?
What do you have to lose by making 6 phone calls? Nothing. Plenty, if you don't do it.
Wisconsin's Senators
Senator Russ Feingold (202) 224-5323
Senator Herb Kohl (202) 224-5653
I don't trust that Cap and Trade is dead for now either. When I called Feingold and Kohls' offices yesterday, I urged them both to vote against health care in any form and cap and trade. I also voiced my outrage over the 9/11 terrorists being tried in civil court.
Call the other 4 key Senators:
202-224-5824
202-224-6551
202-224-4843
202-224-5623
*For clarification purposes, this sentence was changed a bit. I think the CNN link should shed some light on what to expect.
**Senator Judd Gregg: True Cost of Democrats' Health Care Bill is at least $2.5 Trillion
and another $4 Trillion that would come out of the private economy over 10 years. Total? $6.4 TRILLION
Links:
Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, BetterBrookfield, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Randy Melchert, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News, Breitbart BigGovernment
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OK, just go for the health care bill. I do believe calls make a difference and after the experience of NY23, I would think promising to support the opposition next time might have some influence.
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In the interest of expedience, Kyle, I suggest dropping Kohl and Feingold off the list as they are both brain dead and have been for several years now. Harry Reid usually votes for them these days.
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Back to topKyle Prast - Nov 20, 2009 4:19 PM - Report Abuse
Call volume must be high; it is difficult to get through.
Santas Elf - Nov 20, 2009 3:11 PM - Report Abuse
As for calling Landrieu, exactly how do you expect her to respond? With something like: "Oh no, Kyle, you are absolutely right, I ought not vote for $100M in pork for my state. That would be self serving. I'll vote NO for sure!".
The other point I'd make is that when calling any of the remaining three goons on the list, for gum sake don't dump on them by reciting your personal preference for every bill in process. These people have to take your statement, and reduce it to a single check mark 'for' or 'against' a particular bill. This much though takes the staffer lots of time, and confusing them by discussing 300 bills at once assures that your call will be marked as a 'crank' call and hit the recycle bin first!
Ain't representative government fun!