Friday, September 18, 2009
Congressman Kline and Republican Health Care Reform
Tonight, Congressman John Kline held a town hall meeting on health care at Lakeville South High School. This post will list reforms proposed by Republicans that address the issues behind the health care discussions:
1 - All Americans, even those with pre-existing conditions, should be able to get health insurance. In 2006, a law was passed that would pool high-risk people, in other words, sharing the costs. This pooling does not have to be a government option.
2 - Provide the option for parents to carry their children up to age 25 on parental policies. This would eliminate over 7,000,000 of the currently uninsured Americans.
3 - Provide some kind of reimbursement for people who practice and maintain good health.
4 - Allow a deduction for private purchase of health insurance independently.
5 - Merge small businesses so they can buy insurance as a large purchaser. Let these business owners deduct their insurance costs from their taxes.
6 - Institute tort/medical malpractice insurance reform.
When asked what it will take for Republicans to sign off on a health care reform bill, Congressman Kline who had all the bills on a table on the stage, dropped the thickest one on the floor.
In summary, Congress simply needs to start over, with a clean sheet of paper. There are problems but there also are solutions. Nitpicking flaws in one or the other bills on the table now is not productive. There can be a solution but either the president, an outside committee, or a real bipartisan panel needs to do the work, beginning with a blank sheet. Only then, will we be able to do something.
Boiling the ocean is not the answer (my opinion).
Cross posted at Look True North and mncd2republicans.
1 - All Americans, even those with pre-existing conditions, should be able to get health insurance. In 2006, a law was passed that would pool high-risk people, in other words, sharing the costs. This pooling does not have to be a government option.
2 - Provide the option for parents to carry their children up to age 25 on parental policies. This would eliminate over 7,000,000 of the currently uninsured Americans.
3 - Provide some kind of reimbursement for people who practice and maintain good health.
4 - Allow a deduction for private purchase of health insurance independently.
5 - Merge small businesses so they can buy insurance as a large purchaser. Let these business owners deduct their insurance costs from their taxes.
6 - Institute tort/medical malpractice insurance reform.
When asked what it will take for Republicans to sign off on a health care reform bill, Congressman Kline who had all the bills on a table on the stage, dropped the thickest one on the floor.
In summary, Congress simply needs to start over, with a clean sheet of paper. There are problems but there also are solutions. Nitpicking flaws in one or the other bills on the table now is not productive. There can be a solution but either the president, an outside committee, or a real bipartisan panel needs to do the work, beginning with a blank sheet. Only then, will we be able to do something.
Boiling the ocean is not the answer (my opinion).
Cross posted at Look True North and mncd2republicans.
Labels: health care, John Kline
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Government Takeover of Education
Not only does the Obama administration desire to take over the American $1,000,000,000,000 health care industry, but he also desires to take over the student-loan market, another $1,000,000,000,000 program.
This article in the 9/12/2009 Wall Street Journal discusses the Obama plan that calls for the U.S. Dept. of Educ. (DOE) to increase its current 20% share of student-loan origination market to 80% on July 1, 2010. The remaining 20% in the private sector will simply fade away.
For decades, federally backed student loans were the most common way to borrow for college. Money was raised in the private sector, loans made and the private institutions paid a fee to the government for each loan. In return, the government covered most of the defaults which in turn, allowed the private lenders to make a regulated return.
All that changed in 2007 after Democrats won control of Congress. They legislated a return so low that no private lender could make a profit holding these assets. To keep the tap open, the feds began buying loans from private originators in 2008. This was to be a temporary move that was to expire in 2010. Guess what... now the Democrats want the DOE to be the exclusive banker to college students.
Concerns about the government's poor customer service had resulted in borrowers choosing private lenders. Education institutions now are concerned that the feds will not be able to pull off their desired takeover in eight months (hm, wonder why).
So what, say Dems who have already greased this fall's budget reconciliation to pass all of this on a mere majority vote. In addition, they are helped by rigged government accounting that disguises the cost of making these below-market loans to unemployed 18-year-olds. Democrats claimed savings of $87,000,000,000 but in reality, the real savings are about half that amount, $46,000,000,000. If a private sector lender tried to pull this stunt, it would be criminal fraud.
Defaults are expected to increase across the board.
The second area where the Dems want more control includes the Pell grants. Detail on this Pell Grant takeover is at the CD 2 Republican website, where the efforts of Congressman Kline who caught the 25% low-ball estimate are described.
Government take over of: automotive industry? health industry? education industry? what next?
This article in the 9/12/2009 Wall Street Journal discusses the Obama plan that calls for the U.S. Dept. of Educ. (DOE) to increase its current 20% share of student-loan origination market to 80% on July 1, 2010. The remaining 20% in the private sector will simply fade away.
For decades, federally backed student loans were the most common way to borrow for college. Money was raised in the private sector, loans made and the private institutions paid a fee to the government for each loan. In return, the government covered most of the defaults which in turn, allowed the private lenders to make a regulated return.
All that changed in 2007 after Democrats won control of Congress. They legislated a return so low that no private lender could make a profit holding these assets. To keep the tap open, the feds began buying loans from private originators in 2008. This was to be a temporary move that was to expire in 2010. Guess what... now the Democrats want the DOE to be the exclusive banker to college students.
Concerns about the government's poor customer service had resulted in borrowers choosing private lenders. Education institutions now are concerned that the feds will not be able to pull off their desired takeover in eight months (hm, wonder why).
So what, say Dems who have already greased this fall's budget reconciliation to pass all of this on a mere majority vote. In addition, they are helped by rigged government accounting that disguises the cost of making these below-market loans to unemployed 18-year-olds. Democrats claimed savings of $87,000,000,000 but in reality, the real savings are about half that amount, $46,000,000,000. If a private sector lender tried to pull this stunt, it would be criminal fraud.
Defaults are expected to increase across the board.
The second area where the Dems want more control includes the Pell grants. Detail on this Pell Grant takeover is at the CD 2 Republican website, where the efforts of Congressman Kline who caught the 25% low-ball estimate are described.
Government take over of: automotive industry? health industry? education industry? what next?
Labels: education, John Kline
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Congressman Kline To Give Weekly Address
MN's Second Congressional District's Representative, John Kline, has been chosen to deliver the weekly address for the GOP. Earlier this year, Congressman Kline was chosen by his peers to be the Senior Republican on the 49-member House Education and Labor Committee, one of three committees with jurisdiction over the Democrats' current health care/insurance/reform/??? proposal. This is quite an honor for one of our leaders.
Details on the address, which tackles the irresponsible behavior of far too many Democrats in Washington, will be posted at Scholars later today.
The video will be available here. It will provide valuable information on the damage the current health legislation will create.
Details on the address, which tackles the irresponsible behavior of far too many Democrats in Washington, will be posted at Scholars later today.
The video will be available here. It will provide valuable information on the damage the current health legislation will create.
Labels: health care, John Kline
Friday, September 04, 2009
Health Care? Reform? Insurance? Other? Etc?
This video by Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan�s 8th Congressional District is well worth the four minutes it takes to view. It provides very succinct arguments against the monstrous, liberty stripping document making its way through Congress.
This Saturday, MN's Congressman John Kline, now the Senior Republican on the Education and Labor Committee will be giving the National Weekly Radio Address. His topic will be health care. The video will be available here.
The Democrats keep moving their �solution� semantics from health-care, to reform, to insurance, etc. Since they cannot decide what "problem" they are supposedly solving, a review of basic components might be valuable.
This Saturday, MN's Congressman John Kline, now the Senior Republican on the Education and Labor Committee will be giving the National Weekly Radio Address. His topic will be health care. The video will be available here.
The Democrats keep moving their �solution� semantics from health-care, to reform, to insurance, etc. Since they cannot decide what "problem" they are supposedly solving, a review of basic components might be valuable.
Health: The general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigorBecause there appears to be no consensus as to what is in the House version of this bill, no consensus as to what is being proposed other than government control, we must continue our efforts to defeat anything this absurd that takes from all of us, the right to make our own health decisions. Big Brother is looming and he must be stopped.
Health-care: The field concerned with the maintenance or restoration of the health of the body or mind
Health Insurance: Insurance against expenses incurred through illness of the insured
Reform: The improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory
Labels: health care, John Kline
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Representative Kline Update
We are so fortunate to have two very conscientious representatives in Washington, DC:
Representative Michele Bachmann and Representative John Kline.
Congressman John Kline focuses on issues related to our military (he is a retired Marine Colonel), education, ethics and our money. According to his latest report, the House of Representatives passed legislation to block the release of the second half of the $700,000,000,000 passed last fall. Why? Turns out the money wasn't spent as it was intended. Representative Kline realized this and did something about it.
As he states, "I opposed the release of more of your hard-earned money because we have seen no plan for how additional funds will be spent or how Congress intends to get the federal government out of the private sector."
While it is true the pork-driven Democrats passed the hogfest of all pork "legislation," (almost $1,000,000,000,000) not a single Republican supported this expanse of permanent government programs. Saddling subsequent generations with this level of debt is simply unfair and socially unjust.
Representative Michele Bachmann and Representative John Kline.
Congressman John Kline focuses on issues related to our military (he is a retired Marine Colonel), education, ethics and our money. According to his latest report, the House of Representatives passed legislation to block the release of the second half of the $700,000,000,000 passed last fall. Why? Turns out the money wasn't spent as it was intended. Representative Kline realized this and did something about it.
As he states, "I opposed the release of more of your hard-earned money because we have seen no plan for how additional funds will be spent or how Congress intends to get the federal government out of the private sector."
While it is true the pork-driven Democrats passed the hogfest of all pork "legislation," (almost $1,000,000,000,000) not a single Republican supported this expanse of permanent government programs. Saddling subsequent generations with this level of debt is simply unfair and socially unjust.
Labels: John Kline
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Why Kline Voted "Yes" on the Rescue Bill
Monday I attended a session with MN�s Second Congressional District Representative, John Kline and a local Republican Party political group; Wednesday, I participated in a town hall conference call with John Kline. As most of you know, Mr. Kline voted for the �bailout� last week. His Washington and Minnesota offices received thousands of phone calls. This post is being written to clarify, as I see it, why Congressman Kline made the decision he made. Disclosure: I am the volunteer Chair of Minnesota's Second Congressional District Republican's.
The financial situation was getting bad: the Democrats blocking of Bush, McCain and Greenspan attempts to get the financial records of Fannie and Freddie under control resulted in assets at banks and investment houses being devalued. When assets are devalued, loaning institutions cannot loan as much money resulting in a credit shortage (freeze). This in turn prevents organizations from borrowing money short term to meet payroll and inventory, etc. The (freeze) was the �hidden� fiasco that was looming on the horizon. This credit crunch had to be addressed. Hence, the $700 billion dollar it will only will be paid in installments of $250, $100, and $350 based on conditions. Without this infusion of dollars, Main Street would have been hit, hard. Responsible people would have been denied funds, jobs lost, etc.
Here are some key points:
1 � Since Republicans are in the minority, the Democrats control which bills come to the floor. Net, we don�t get much to the floor � Democrat Speaker Pelosi literally prevents our ideas from seeing the light of day.
2 � What pundits said was pork is not pork � it is a series of tax breaks that for one reason or another need to be renewed every year or a tax break for an error on a previous bill.
3 � Key demands of Democrats (A slush fund for ACORN; a requirement that UNION representatives be in board rooms to determine executive compensation; a requirement that lawyers and judges determine how much of a loan should be repaid � all of these are terrible!) were eliminated from the bill.
3 � The $700 billion is tiered at three levels and is not a bailout; distributed funds will be recouped when the assets are sold. Maybe not all will be paid back but a significant portion will be recovered.
4 � One could argue that either a �yea� or a �nay� vote was principled. Some votes were political. John voted on principle to reduce what he believed was a severe and protracted recession (or worse) balanced against a much lower risk that the bill might not work.
The easy thing to do would have been to vote against the bill. John Kline could have returned to Minnesota this week and pounded his chest out on the campaign trail telling Minnesotans that this is Wall Street�s problem, not ours. But as the last two weeks have indicated, this is everyone�s problem. And John Kline spent endless hours in Washington meeting with everyone involved so he could make the best decision he could on behalf of the Minnesotans he serves. He voted with his conscience, folks. And for six years, that is one of the reasons we have supported him. He is a man of integrity and strength, and he made a courageous vote last week because he believed it was the best thing to do.
In conclusion, while we can argue the right or not-right of it, it�s now done. Our best solution is to send as many Republicans as we can back to DC. In addition, we have to get McCain elected as president so the Democrats don�t try a �renegotiation� in February of 2009. Minnesota is in play for McCain. Let�s make those phone calls and get out OUR vote.
More detail is at Look True North (www.looktruenorth.com)
The financial situation was getting bad: the Democrats blocking of Bush, McCain and Greenspan attempts to get the financial records of Fannie and Freddie under control resulted in assets at banks and investment houses being devalued. When assets are devalued, loaning institutions cannot loan as much money resulting in a credit shortage (freeze). This in turn prevents organizations from borrowing money short term to meet payroll and inventory, etc. The (freeze) was the �hidden� fiasco that was looming on the horizon. This credit crunch had to be addressed. Hence, the $700 billion dollar it will only will be paid in installments of $250, $100, and $350 based on conditions. Without this infusion of dollars, Main Street would have been hit, hard. Responsible people would have been denied funds, jobs lost, etc.
Here are some key points:
1 � Since Republicans are in the minority, the Democrats control which bills come to the floor. Net, we don�t get much to the floor � Democrat Speaker Pelosi literally prevents our ideas from seeing the light of day.
2 � What pundits said was pork is not pork � it is a series of tax breaks that for one reason or another need to be renewed every year or a tax break for an error on a previous bill.
3 � Key demands of Democrats (A slush fund for ACORN; a requirement that UNION representatives be in board rooms to determine executive compensation; a requirement that lawyers and judges determine how much of a loan should be repaid � all of these are terrible!) were eliminated from the bill.
3 � The $700 billion is tiered at three levels and is not a bailout; distributed funds will be recouped when the assets are sold. Maybe not all will be paid back but a significant portion will be recovered.
4 � One could argue that either a �yea� or a �nay� vote was principled. Some votes were political. John voted on principle to reduce what he believed was a severe and protracted recession (or worse) balanced against a much lower risk that the bill might not work.
The easy thing to do would have been to vote against the bill. John Kline could have returned to Minnesota this week and pounded his chest out on the campaign trail telling Minnesotans that this is Wall Street�s problem, not ours. But as the last two weeks have indicated, this is everyone�s problem. And John Kline spent endless hours in Washington meeting with everyone involved so he could make the best decision he could on behalf of the Minnesotans he serves. He voted with his conscience, folks. And for six years, that is one of the reasons we have supported him. He is a man of integrity and strength, and he made a courageous vote last week because he believed it was the best thing to do.
In conclusion, while we can argue the right or not-right of it, it�s now done. Our best solution is to send as many Republicans as we can back to DC. In addition, we have to get McCain elected as president so the Democrats don�t try a �renegotiation� in February of 2009. Minnesota is in play for McCain. Let�s make those phone calls and get out OUR vote.
More detail is at Look True North (www.looktruenorth.com)
Labels: John Kline
Friday, September 12, 2008
Energy Independence and Democrats
This just released video by Congressman John Kline of Minnesota's Second Congressional District says it all:
"Speaker Pelosi (Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives), give the American people an up or down vote on energy." Americans are still waiting for the Congress, controlled by Democrats, to provide a vote on an "all of the above," comprehensive energy plan for Americans.
Beginning in August after Speaker Pelosi shut down Congress for a summer recess, Republicans took the energy issue to the floor of the House of Representatives. Congress resumed this week. Pelosi still refuses to address our energy problems, our gas prices and the related increased costs in home heating fuel, food, and all goods produced.
Yesterday, Democrat Pelosi again refused to address energy. Republicans are continuing the fight for energy independence and jobs for Americans. There is no need for us to send $500,000,000,000-$700,000,000,000 to people who want all of us dead.
We Americans deserve a vote from our representatives or it's time to replace irresponsible energy and job Democrats with responsible energy and job Republicans.
"Speaker Pelosi (Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives), give the American people an up or down vote on energy." Americans are still waiting for the Congress, controlled by Democrats, to provide a vote on an "all of the above," comprehensive energy plan for Americans.
Beginning in August after Speaker Pelosi shut down Congress for a summer recess, Republicans took the energy issue to the floor of the House of Representatives. Congress resumed this week. Pelosi still refuses to address our energy problems, our gas prices and the related increased costs in home heating fuel, food, and all goods produced.
Yesterday, Democrat Pelosi again refused to address energy. Republicans are continuing the fight for energy independence and jobs for Americans. There is no need for us to send $500,000,000,000-$700,000,000,000 to people who want all of us dead.
We Americans deserve a vote from our representatives or it's time to replace irresponsible energy and job Democrats with responsible energy and job Republicans.
Labels: Energy, John Kline
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Congressman Kline's Energy Blogger Call
I have just completed participating in Congressman John Kline's blogger conference call. He returned to Washington, DC Monday evening to join other responsible members of Congress to discuss the Republican energy policy.
Democrat Speaker of the US Congress gaveled the House to summer adjournment for five weeks and left unaddressed, the pressing need of the USA to face its energy crisis. Of course, this behavior pattern has been repeated over the last 20 or so years by either a Democrat president (President Clinton vetoed the key energy bill in 1996) or Democrat members of Congress. While they claim they're for the little guy, their behavior indicates otherwise. Then there is the national security angle, but why should Democrats be concerned about national security?
The Speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, promised that when the Democrats took over Congress they would grant the minority party the right to offer alternatives to proposed bills. She and her Democrat party leaders have reneged on this promise. Not only have the Democrats refused to even address Republican suggestions, they have also ignored Speaker Pelosi's statement upon the Democrat wins in 2006 that they, the Democrats had a comprehensive energy plan. She even has blocked her own party members from addressing this issue.
We Americans can continue to elect Democrat representatives who are so out of touch with what we, the little guys of America, want and need or we can toss out the Democrat members of this Congress, one of the most lame congresses in US history. There is a reason this Congress' approval rating is in single digits - it's the Democrats ignoring real needs of Americans coupled with their inability to get anything done.
(For those of you who were short-changed on being taught American government, it's not the president who makes laws, it's Congress and this Congress has done zip.)
Democrat Speaker of the US Congress gaveled the House to summer adjournment for five weeks and left unaddressed, the pressing need of the USA to face its energy crisis. Of course, this behavior pattern has been repeated over the last 20 or so years by either a Democrat president (President Clinton vetoed the key energy bill in 1996) or Democrat members of Congress. While they claim they're for the little guy, their behavior indicates otherwise. Then there is the national security angle, but why should Democrats be concerned about national security?
The Speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, promised that when the Democrats took over Congress they would grant the minority party the right to offer alternatives to proposed bills. She and her Democrat party leaders have reneged on this promise. Not only have the Democrats refused to even address Republican suggestions, they have also ignored Speaker Pelosi's statement upon the Democrat wins in 2006 that they, the Democrats had a comprehensive energy plan. She even has blocked her own party members from addressing this issue.
We Americans can continue to elect Democrat representatives who are so out of touch with what we, the little guys of America, want and need or we can toss out the Democrat members of this Congress, one of the most lame congresses in US history. There is a reason this Congress' approval rating is in single digits - it's the Democrats ignoring real needs of Americans coupled with their inability to get anything done.
(For those of you who were short-changed on being taught American government, it's not the president who makes laws, it's Congress and this Congress has done zip.)
Labels: Energy, Feminists, John Kline
Sunday, August 10, 2008
John Kline's Opponent - Bummin' a Free Ride?
John Kline, US Congressman from Minnesota's Second Congressional District is being challenged by Democrat Steve Sarvi. The Kline campaign has registered and paid the entry fee to walk in almost 40 parades in communities throughout the district.
John Kline and his supporters have turned out in force, in numbers ranging the low 30's to over 70 per parade, and expect to continue such turnouts through the fall. Sarvi has missed a number of parades, and the number of his supporters has been much smaller when he has shown up. (See this report noting attendance in the parade in Steve's home town, Watertown.)
But there is another problem with the Sarvi campaign. At yesterday's parade in Lonsdale, we checked the parade registrant list. Sarvi was not listed as a participant, yet he "doubled up" to walk with a local MN House representative. Is this the first time that Sarvi has ducked the parade registration fees while showing up to walk the parade route with several of his supporters, all wearing campaign T-shirts with his name on it? Probably not.
Stiffing local parade organizers over registration fees indicates irresponsibility on the part of a candidate. It raises the question: How many times this season has Mr. Sarvi just bummed a ride from some other candidate? Do we want to even consider someone who mooches like this to represent us in Congress?
John Kline and his supporters have turned out in force, in numbers ranging the low 30's to over 70 per parade, and expect to continue such turnouts through the fall. Sarvi has missed a number of parades, and the number of his supporters has been much smaller when he has shown up. (See this report noting attendance in the parade in Steve's home town, Watertown.)
But there is another problem with the Sarvi campaign. At yesterday's parade in Lonsdale, we checked the parade registrant list. Sarvi was not listed as a participant, yet he "doubled up" to walk with a local MN House representative. Is this the first time that Sarvi has ducked the parade registration fees while showing up to walk the parade route with several of his supporters, all wearing campaign T-shirts with his name on it? Probably not.
Stiffing local parade organizers over registration fees indicates irresponsibility on the part of a candidate. It raises the question: How many times this season has Mr. Sarvi just bummed a ride from some other candidate? Do we want to even consider someone who mooches like this to represent us in Congress?
Labels: elections, Feminists, John Kline
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Parades
[Click on photos to enlarge them.]
As many of you know, I volunteer for John Kline, Congressman from Minnesota's Second Congressional District. ELection years are parade years. When I started in 2004, I thought, "I can't do this parade stuff." Well, I was wrong - they are fun, exciting and just a good way to spend a few hours.
Parade watchers are mostly families and the enthusiasm of the kids and their relatives is a real upper. We usually have at least 50 John Kline supporters at most of our parades. Here are a couple of pictures from today's parade in Rosemount, MN. We had about 60 today, including the tots in the John Deere car, the strollers, the Harley Bikers (in the back of the photo) and others.
Last week, in Watertown, MN, home of John Kline's opponent, Steve Sarvi, there were at least 67 Kline supporters marching to Mr. Sarvi's 25. Needless to say, we had a great day.
As many of you know, I volunteer for John Kline, Congressman from Minnesota's Second Congressional District. ELection years are parade years. When I started in 2004, I thought, "I can't do this parade stuff." Well, I was wrong - they are fun, exciting and just a good way to spend a few hours.
Parade watchers are mostly families and the enthusiasm of the kids and their relatives is a real upper. We usually have at least 50 John Kline supporters at most of our parades. Here are a couple of pictures from today's parade in Rosemount, MN. We had about 60 today, including the tots in the John Deere car, the strollers, the Harley Bikers (in the back of the photo) and others.
Last week, in Watertown, MN, home of John Kline's opponent, Steve Sarvi, there were at least 67 Kline supporters marching to Mr. Sarvi's 25. Needless to say, we had a great day.
Labels: John Kline
