Citizens Against Government Waste Names U.S. Senator Richard Shelby "Porker of the Month"

 

Senate Passes Health Care Bill

Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.

Click HERE for the story.

Senator Shelby Reacts:

"This legislation is an abomination in process and substance," said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa. "Conceived behind closed doors and hastily rushed through the Senate in partisan fashion, it is nearly 3,000 pages of 'reform' the American people do not want or need, and have not been given time to examine.

"It dramatically increases the federal government's role in our personal medical decision making. It contains weak and unacceptable protections for taxpayers who do not want their hard-earned money used to fund abortions.

"It raises taxes during a recession when one of every ten Americans is out of work. It drastically cuts Medicare for our seniors and, instead of applying these funds to make Medicare more solvent or reduce the federal deficit, it uses them to fund yet another new government entitlement.

"It requires Americans to purchase insurance and significantly penalizes those who do not. It raises the Medicaid burden on states when they cannot even afford the burden they already bear. In spite of what Democrat leaders tell us, it will also dramatically increase the federal deficit."

"Simply stated, this legislation will spend huge amounts of money that we do not have to empower the federal government to ration, and therefore decrease the quality of, our nation's medical services. We had before us the opportunity to build upon the best health care system in the world. The Democrats' legislation does the opposite. This is a day our nation will long regret."

Rep. Parker Griffith Staffer: We'll Delete Dems' Voter Identification Data

The office of Rep. Parker Griffith will delete or return Alabama Democratic Party voter identification data obtained by Griffith's consultant soon before the congressman defected to the Republican Party on Tuesday.

Read the story HERE.

House Strips Parker Griffith Of Committee Assignments

Rep. Stupak: White House Pressuring Me To Keep Quiet On Abortion Language In Senate Health Bill

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said the White House and the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives have been pressuring him not to speak out on the "compromise" abortion language in the Senate version of the health care bill.

Read MORE.

Reid Bill Says Future Congresses Cannot Repeal Parts Bill

Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) pointed out some rather astounding language in the Senate health care bill during floor remarks tonight. First, he noted that there are a number of changes to Senate rules in the bill--and it's supposed to take a 2/3 vote to change the rules. And then he pointed out that the Reid bill declares on page 1020 that the Independent Medicare Advisory Board cannot be repealed by future Congresses. Watch his speech:

Krauthammer: CBO's Health Care Cost Estimate Is BS

Burris Slams GOP In 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'

Pelosi Takes On Palin Over 'Death Panel' Claim

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) called out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for having made the "lie of the year" for claiming the healthcare bill would set up "death panels."

Click HERE for this story.

Late Night, Closed-Door Deals Will Shape Final Health Bill

With Senate passage of health-care legislation now virtually certain, Washington lawmakers and interest groups are scrambling to influence one of Congress' most mysterious but most powerful institutions — the conference committee.

Read more HERE.

NRCC Chairman Sessions Statement On Congressman Parker Griffith's Switch To Republican Party

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) made the following statement regarding Congressman Parker Griffith's decision to join the Republican Party:

"I am pleased to welcome Parker Griffith to the Republican Party. Congressman Griffith's party affiliation may have changed, but his conservative principles, values and commitment to Alabama families has never wavered.

"I am also thankful to the Alabama Republican congressional delegation - Spencer Bachus, Robert Aderholt, Jo Bonner, and Mike Rogers - for welcoming their friend and colleague with open arms. Whether standing up for a strong Missile Defense Program or opposing a wasteful stimulus bill, a job-killing National Energy Tax, and a government takeover of healthcare - Parker Griffith put the interests of his constituents ahead of Nancy Pelosi's reckless ideological agenda that Washington Democrats have pursued at the expense of job creation.

"This decision is emblematic of the message that millions of concerned citizens have been trying to send to a Democrat Party that has become increasingly unwilling to listen. Whether Democrat leaders choose to pay attention now or wait for the electorate to send them a resounding message next November, Parker Griffith's willingness to put the interests of his district first sends a positive signal to others who have grown just as disappointed with their party as the American people have."

Mo Brooks Responds To Griffith Announcement

Madison County commissioner and Republican congressional candidate Mo Brooks held a press conference Tuesday afternoon, shortly after U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith announced he was switching political alliances.

Click HERE for the story.

TIME CHANGE: Mo Brooks Reaction Wednesday

Tune into the show tomorrow in the 10 o' clock hour for reaction to Congressman Griffith's party change from 5th Congressional District Republican candidate Mo Brooks.

TIME CHANGE: REPUBLICAN Rep. Parker Griffith Interview Wednesday At 10am.

Tune into the show tomorrow morning at 10 for Griffith's first radio interview since changing to the Republican party.

You can listen on-line HERE.

WBHP Carrying Griffith Press Conference; Will Anderson Commentary Afterwards

From WHNT:

Congressman Parker Griffith, who represents Alabama's Fifth District, has switched his party affiliation. Griffith is now a Republican.

Rep. Griffith will hold a news conference at 1pm to discuss the move. We understand Griffith notified Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of his decision this morning.

We will carry the news conference LIVE along with Will's thoughts about this breaking news on 800 & 1230 WBHP and WBHP.com.

Two other candidates are running for Griffith's seat, Les Phillip and Mo Brooks. Both men are Republicans. We are working on getting a response from them.

BREAKING NEWS: Griffith Switches Parties

From the Politico:

Parker Griffith will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.

Click HERE for the story.

Gordon Brown Leads Al Gore Into A Closet:

Obama Ending Year On Low: 56% Disapprove

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 25% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-six percent (46%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21 That’s the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President.

Click HERE for the poll.

RNC Chair Alleges White House Took CBO To “Woodshed” To Get Better Health Care Budget Numbers

Republican National Committee Chairman today accused the Obama White House of taking the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office(CBO) "to the woodshed" to extract rosy cost-savings projections for the Senate health care reform bill.

Read this blog HERE.

Changes In Senate Bill Give Democrats Little Wiggle Room For House Compromises

The Senate is preparing for another key vote early Tuesday morning on Democratic health insurance reform, putting it one step closer to a final vote on Christmas eve and leaving fewer opportunities for alterations before it reaches President Obama's desk.

Read MORE.

New U.S. Spy Plane To Be In Afghanistan By Christmas

U.S. troops in Afghanistan are getting a new tool in their fight against terrorism in the form of a spy plane that will provide ground troops with still images, video and eavesdropping, Bloomberg reported.

Read more HERE.

Are You Kidding? Obama: We Can’t Continue to Spend As if Hard-Earned Tax Dollars Were Monopoly Money

CBO: Senate Health Bill Won't Reduce Deficits Quite As Much As First Thought

CBO Director Doug Elmendorf wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that while the correction has no bearing on estimates for the impact of the bill over the next decade, it does slightly reduce the amount of money the plan is expected to save for the 2020-2029 period.

Click HERE for the story.

CNN: Sarah Palin's 'Death Panel' Comment Wins 'Lie of the Year'

Some Things Left Uncommented Upon During Monday’s Show

1. Byron Dorgan incumbent Democrat from North Dakota and staunch supporter of ObamaCare, trails in his race for re-election by 22 points.

2. The Washington Times to Obama on the matter of stimulus spending: What are you smoking?

3. John Bolton praises Dick Cheney over at Human events.

4. Alan Grayson, that class act from Florida , wants the creator of a website parodying him to be jailed for five years.

5. Marco Rubio, potential GOP rising star, is rising.

USA Today Compares The House And Senate Healthcare Bills

Component House and Senate Cost
and coverage

(House)Would cost $1.1 trillion in the first 10
years and provide coverage to 36 million
more people.

(Senate)Would cost $871 billion in the first 10years
and would provide coverage to 31 million
Americans who wouldn’t other wise have it.

Requirements for individuals

(House)All Americans, except for dependents,
people living overseas and those with religious
objections, would be required to have health insurance
by 2013 or would face a 2.5% income tax surcharge.

(Senate)All Americans, with the same exemptions,
wouldbe required to have coverage by 2014
or would be fined $95 in 2014, $350 in 2015
and$750 in 2016. Higher earners would pay
2% of their income up to $2,250 for a family.

Requirements for businesses

(House)Companies with payrolls of more than
$500,000 would be required to offer employees
insurance or face a fine of up to 8% of payroll.

(Senate) Companies with more than 50 workers
would pay a fine of $750 for each full-time
employee if any worker qualifies for a federal
subsidy to defray insurance costs.

Subsidies to pay for insurance

(House)Individuals making less than $43,320
a year and a family of three earning less
than $73,240 would be eligible for subsidies.
The subsidy would cover up to99%
of the premium for the lowest income
brackets and 88% for higher incomes.

(Senate)A similar sliding-scale subsidy would be
available to individuals earning less than
$43,320 and a family of three earning less
than $73,240 a year.

Public option

(House) Includes a government-run health insurance
program for individuals who work
for small businesses or who do not get
coverage through work. Like private insurers,
thepublic plan would negotiate how much to pay medical providers.

(Senate)No public option. Instead, the Office of Personnel
Management would contract for two
national insurance plans. The new plans—a
non-profit and a for-profit—would be offered
in each state for people without employer-
sponsored health care plans and need
to obtain private health care insurance.

Abortion

(House)Wouldprohibitwomen who receive a
government subsidy for insurance from
having an abortion covered either by a private plan or the proposed government run program.

(Senate)Would require people who receive a government
subsidy to make a separate payment
for abortion services. It also would allow
states to ban abortion coverage by private
insurers in the insurance exchange.

Taxes and spending cuts

(House) Would impose a 5.4% sur tax on couples
Earning more than$1million a year and
individuals making more than $500,000.
Cuts Medicare and other federal programs
By more than$400 billion over the
first 10 years.

(Senate) Would impose a 40% taxon insurance plans
that cost more than$8,500 for an individual
and $23,000 for a family.Would increase
Medicare payroll tax from1.45% to 2.35% for
individuals earning more than$200,000 a
year.Would cut Medicare and other federal
programs by $483 billion over 10years.

Age rating

(House) Would allow private insurers to price premiums
up to twice as high for older people.

(Senate)Would allow private insurers to price premiums
up to three times as high for older people.

Children

(House) Would end state Children’s Health Insurance
Program after 2013 and allow children
to receive subsidies to pay for private
insurance.

(Senate)Would continue the Children’s Health Insurance
Program through 2015 and increase
federal funding for states.

Sources: USATODAY research;Kaiser FamilyFoundation

Graham: Seedy Chicago Politics Passed Health Care Bill

The United States Senate reached an agreement on health care reform legislation this weekend, and they couldn’t have done it without a bit of Chicago grit.

Click HERE for Graham's commentary.

Neb.'s Nelson Sees Backlash On Health Reform Plan

It was the concern of Nebraska's Republican governor over expanded Medicaid costs in the proposed Senate health care overhaul bill that led to a compromise to cover his state's estimated $45 million share over a decade, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson said Sunday.

Click HERE for the story.

SOLD: $100 Million Payoff For Senator Dodd

A $100 million item for construction of a university hospital was inserted in the Senate health care bill at the request of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who faces a difficult re-election campaign, his office said Sunday night.

Read MORE.

Senate Democrats Push Forward On Health Care Bill Following Key Test Vote

The Senate is trudging forward on its way toward a Christmas Eve vote on health care reform, reconvening Monday afternoon following a key test vote in the early morning hours.

Click HERE for the story.

Sen. Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan STILL Requires A Monthly Abortion Fee

Fixed it is not. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) latest health care “manager’s amendment” would STILL levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans under the Democrats’ health care plan. Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) and the last version of Senator Reid’s 2,074-page bill, this latest 383-page amendment levies an abortion premium and does not fix the problem of government funds being used to subsidize elective abortions.

Read THIS blog by Rep. Boehner.

Health Care Bill Faces Key Senate Test Vote

Senate Democrats confidently advanced health care legislation Sunday toward a make-or-break test vote in a push for Christmas-week passage. Republicans vowed to resist what they appeared unable to stop.

Click HERE for the story.

Democratic Dilemmas

Written By Will Anderson

Two remarkable things occurred this weekend: a northeastern blizzard brought record levels of snow in certain cities, and a so-called principled Senator’s vote on health care was transparently bought.

Nebraska ’s Ben Nelson decided to eschew his pro-life principles in order to stick his state’s Medicaid bill on the rest of us. In exchange for allowing tax dollars to fund abortions, Senator (and former Governor) Nelson has garnered his state solvency on the Medicaid front.

His decision is shocking. 48 hours ago he was the apotheosis of statesmanship in the Senate; today he is the poster boy for what is wrong in Washington .

Mark Steyn at National Review wrote over the weekend that “the Dems are thinking strategically; the Republicans are all tactics.” It takes a minute to digest that. At first glance, strategy and tactics seem synonymous.

They aren’t. It is a neat tactic (and quite appropriate) to require that a thousand-page midnight amendment be read in full on the floor of the Senate. But that is a tactic—a stalling tactic. The Democrats roll their eyes and allow such, just as they will allow their majorities in the House and the Senate to vanish next year if that’s what it takes to socialize medicine. That’s the grand strategy.

Meanwhile, the president is backed into a corner with regard to global warming. He has to robustly embrace the issue to make up for the sin of sending more troops to Afghanistan . As unpopular as it is these days to further burden businesses with regulations based on lies, it is in the President’s interest to do so lest he lose what little of his base he has left.

Strategically, he has gone from threats to fear to economics and back to threats. The threats started with Republicans, broadened to include members of his own party, and have grown to include China , India , and the rest of planet Earth. The message is the same as is the health care message: doing nothing (i.e. blocking more government control over doctors, patients, small business owners, small-business employees—essentially all of us) will ruin life as we know it.

The problem for the president is that the major news story of the day is the winter weather. The other problem is that a majority of Americans don’t want ObamaCare rammed down our throats. In short, most of us don’t care for socialized medicine or Cap and Trade legislation.

In all likelihood, both ideas will remain stalled in Congress as we bring in the New Year, adding to the multitudinous reasons to be of good cheer.

Obama Hails 60th Senate Vote For Health Care

Jubilant Democrats locked in Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson as the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care legislation Saturday, putting President Barack Obama's signature issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.

Read MORE.

Nelson Folds On Health Bill

A holdout no more, Sen. Ben Nelson agreed Saturday to provide the 60th and deciding vote for sweeping health care legislation in the Senate, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

Click HERE for the story.