12/21/16
GOP Rep. Confirms It: Die And Die Quickly | Crooks and Liars
GOP Rep. Confirms It: Die And Die Quickly | Crooks and Liars
"Here's the scary part: Huizenga isn't alone, and these representatives have the best health care money can buy. He really believes what he's saying here, to the point where he'd let his 10-year old son be in pain until the next day instead of going to an Urgent Care facility to have it checked. These people are sadistic, murdering fools. And they're about to unleash their sadism on the rest of us."
"Here's the scary part: Huizenga isn't alone, and these representatives have the best health care money can buy. He really believes what he's saying here, to the point where he'd let his 10-year old son be in pain until the next day instead of going to an Urgent Care facility to have it checked. These people are sadistic, murdering fools. And they're about to unleash their sadism on the rest of us."
12/19/16
Trump Considers FDA Chief Who Says People Should Use Medicines “At Their Own Risk”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-considers-fda-chief-who-says-people-should-use-medicines-ldquo-at-their-own-risk-rdquo/
"President-elect Donald Trump is weighing naming as Food and Drug Administration commissioner a staunch libertarian who has called for eliminating the agency’s mandate to determine whether new medicines are effective before approving them for sale. “Let people start using them, at their own risk,” the candidate, Jim O’Neill, said in a 2014 speech to a biotech group. O’Neill, has also called for paying organ donors and setting up libertarian societies at sea—and has said he was surprised to discover that FDA regulators actually enjoy science and like working to fight disease. A source close to the Trump transition team told STAT that Peter Thiel, the billionaire Trump donor who is helping shape the new administration, is pushing for the FDA appointment for O’Neill, his managing director at Mithril Capital Management. Trump’s focus on O’Neill was first reported Wednesday morning by Bloomberg. O’Neill would be an unusual choice. He is not a physician, and lacks the strong science background that nearly all former commissioners have had in recent years."
"President-elect Donald Trump is weighing naming as Food and Drug Administration commissioner a staunch libertarian who has called for eliminating the agency’s mandate to determine whether new medicines are effective before approving them for sale. “Let people start using them, at their own risk,” the candidate, Jim O’Neill, said in a 2014 speech to a biotech group. O’Neill, has also called for paying organ donors and setting up libertarian societies at sea—and has said he was surprised to discover that FDA regulators actually enjoy science and like working to fight disease. A source close to the Trump transition team told STAT that Peter Thiel, the billionaire Trump donor who is helping shape the new administration, is pushing for the FDA appointment for O’Neill, his managing director at Mithril Capital Management. Trump’s focus on O’Neill was first reported Wednesday morning by Bloomberg. O’Neill would be an unusual choice. He is not a physician, and lacks the strong science background that nearly all former commissioners have had in recent years."
12/15/16
Gingrich brags that Republicans are coming for everything FDR accomplished
https://thinkprogress.org/gingrich-brags-that-republicans-are-coming-for-everything-fdr-accomplished-28a1b1d46224#.lfz7bxme1
"Early signs suggest that Gingrich’s predictions that Roosevelt’s legacy could be undone should be taken seriously. Republicans in the House hope to cut Social Security benefits by 20–50 percent. Speaker Paul Ryan’s plan to voucherize Medicare would drive up out-of-pocket costs for seniors by about 40 percent. Then he’d cut Medicaid by between a third and a half."
"Early signs suggest that Gingrich’s predictions that Roosevelt’s legacy could be undone should be taken seriously. Republicans in the House hope to cut Social Security benefits by 20–50 percent. Speaker Paul Ryan’s plan to voucherize Medicare would drive up out-of-pocket costs for seniors by about 40 percent. Then he’d cut Medicaid by between a third and a half."
12/13/16
After Darkness Fell, Republicans Unveiled Their Sinister Plan To Dismantle Social Security
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/12/09/darkness-fell-republicans-unveiled-sinister-plan-dismantle-social-security.html
"There is a reason why this bill was put forward on Thursday night, instead of in the light of day. Republicans are trying to stealthily gut Social Security. They are hoping that the American people won’t notice that the program has been hollowed out until it is too late. The Republican course of action is both sinister and dishonest. If Trump and the Republican Congressional majority want to cut Social Security, they should look the American people in the eyes and own it. Republicans in Congress are setting themselves up to dismantle Social Security, and they are hoping that the American people will be too distracted by Trump’s Twitter account to catch on. Social Security will only be saved if the public is informed and ready to fight."
"There is a reason why this bill was put forward on Thursday night, instead of in the light of day. Republicans are trying to stealthily gut Social Security. They are hoping that the American people won’t notice that the program has been hollowed out until it is too late. The Republican course of action is both sinister and dishonest. If Trump and the Republican Congressional majority want to cut Social Security, they should look the American people in the eyes and own it. Republicans in Congress are setting themselves up to dismantle Social Security, and they are hoping that the American people will be too distracted by Trump’s Twitter account to catch on. Social Security will only be saved if the public is informed and ready to fight."
The Obamacare Economy: More Jobs (+15M), Rising Middle Class Incomes (+$3K), Lower Deficit (-2/3rds)
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/8/1564305/-The-Obamacare-Economy-More-Jobs-15M-Rising-Middle-Class-Incomes-3K-Lower-Deficit-2-3rds
"The Republican Repeal Plan would deliver a massive tax cut to the wealthy at the expense of workers and small businesses, who would lose access to valuable tax credits that help make coverage affordable. All told, the Republican Repeal Plan would cause nearly 30 million people to lose their health coverage by 2019, and it would leave states, cities, and counties with a huge new bill for uncompensated care. Of course, the Republican assault on Obamacare also threatens to eliminate basic protections against insurance company abuses, reopen the Medicare donut hole, and shorten the life of the Medicare trust fund. Each and every one of those points should be highlighted in the weeks ahead."
"The Republican Repeal Plan would deliver a massive tax cut to the wealthy at the expense of workers and small businesses, who would lose access to valuable tax credits that help make coverage affordable. All told, the Republican Repeal Plan would cause nearly 30 million people to lose their health coverage by 2019, and it would leave states, cities, and counties with a huge new bill for uncompensated care. Of course, the Republican assault on Obamacare also threatens to eliminate basic protections against insurance company abuses, reopen the Medicare donut hole, and shorten the life of the Medicare trust fund. Each and every one of those points should be highlighted in the weeks ahead."
12/11/16
Congress Introduces Legislation To Destroy Social Security | Crooks and Liars
Congress Introduces Legislation To Destroy Social Security | Crooks and Liars
"Billionaires like the ones in Trump's cabinet will rejoice, however, because they'll get a nice big fat tax cut as their reward for pushing these cuts."
"Billionaires like the ones in Trump's cabinet will rejoice, however, because they'll get a nice big fat tax cut as their reward for pushing these cuts."
12/10/16
Here’s how many people could die every year if Obamacare is repealed
https://thinkprogress.org/heres-how-many-people-could-die-every-year-if-obamacare-is-repealed-ae4bf3e100a2#.yok06jes0
"Ryan also wants to repeal Medicare and replace it with a voucher program that would drive up out-of-pocket costs for seniors by an estimated 40 percent."
"Ryan also wants to repeal Medicare and replace it with a voucher program that would drive up out-of-pocket costs for seniors by an estimated 40 percent."
12/7/16
Big Pharma Is Getting Ready to Celebrate Gluttony at the Expense of Health
Big Pharma Is Getting Ready to Celebrate Gluttony at the Expense of Health:
"So the lobbyists -- and the campaign cash flowing like milk to the coffers of congressional members and senators -- yielded exorbitant profits for the pharmaceutical industry. Now, they are back (not that they ever really went away) to push another bill that will enrich their bottom line while increasing consumer prices."
"So the lobbyists -- and the campaign cash flowing like milk to the coffers of congressional members and senators -- yielded exorbitant profits for the pharmaceutical industry. Now, they are back (not that they ever really went away) to push another bill that will enrich their bottom line while increasing consumer prices."
"Millions Of Americans Have Been Sucker-Punched. They Just Don't Know It Yet."
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/2/1606333/--Millions-Of-Americans-Have-Been-Sucker-Punched-They-Just-Don-t-Know-It-Yet
"One fact that got lost in this Presidential campaign was that the number of people uninsured in this country has plummeted over the past two years, solely because of Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” Approximately 13 million formerly uninsured were instead receiving health care coverage. Among those, about 8 million were whites without college degrees, who voted for the Orange Swindler by a ratio of two-to-one. Just doing the math (I know, math is very fact-based), Krugman points out: [W]e’re probably looking at more than five million Trump supporters, many of whom have chronic health problems and recently got health insurance for the first time, who just voted to make their lives nastier, more brutish, and shorter."
"One fact that got lost in this Presidential campaign was that the number of people uninsured in this country has plummeted over the past two years, solely because of Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” Approximately 13 million formerly uninsured were instead receiving health care coverage. Among those, about 8 million were whites without college degrees, who voted for the Orange Swindler by a ratio of two-to-one. Just doing the math (I know, math is very fact-based), Krugman points out: [W]e’re probably looking at more than five million Trump supporters, many of whom have chronic health problems and recently got health insurance for the first time, who just voted to make their lives nastier, more brutish, and shorter."
12/5/16
Democratic Senators Bust GOP Scheme To Secretly Confirm Social Security Privatizer
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/12/01/democratic-senators-bust-gop-scheme-secretly-confirm-social-security-privatizer.html
"Republicans are trying to jam through a confirmation to the Board of Trustees who if his positions were publicly known would spark backlash and outrage."
"Republicans are trying to jam through a confirmation to the Board of Trustees who if his positions were publicly known would spark backlash and outrage."
Democrats Drop A Bombshell Report That Exposes Trump’s Planned Devious War On Seniors
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/12/05/democrats-drop-bombshell-report-exposes-trump.html
"What it looks like the Trump administration is planning for is a destruction of the social safety net while handing massive tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires, and corporations."
"What it looks like the Trump administration is planning for is a destruction of the social safety net while handing massive tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires, and corporations."
Medicare is a battle for survival
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/4/1600918/-Medicare-is-a-battle-for-survival
"Republicans have been trying to destroy Medicare for 50 years"
"Republicans have been trying to destroy Medicare for 50 years"
Warning: This Trump Hire Is Hazardous to Your Health (And Not Just Your Medicare) @alternet
Warning: This Trump Hire Is Hazardous to Your Health (And Not Just Your Medicare) @alternet:
"Donald Trump’s latest cabinet pick endangers the health and well-being of millions of Americans. From tax cuts to surgeons’ income, Rep. Tom Price of Georgia — Trump’s choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services — has repeatedly fought for the wealthy and privileged at the expense of ordinary Americans. As a trained physician, Price is supposedly bound by the Hippocratic oath: “First, do no harm.” Unfortunately, he’ll soon be in a position to do a great deal of harm — and his widely publicized desire to gut Medicare is only part of the problem."
"Donald Trump’s latest cabinet pick endangers the health and well-being of millions of Americans. From tax cuts to surgeons’ income, Rep. Tom Price of Georgia — Trump’s choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services — has repeatedly fought for the wealthy and privileged at the expense of ordinary Americans. As a trained physician, Price is supposedly bound by the Hippocratic oath: “First, do no harm.” Unfortunately, he’ll soon be in a position to do a great deal of harm — and his widely publicized desire to gut Medicare is only part of the problem."
Obamacare and prochoice policies help reduce abortion rate to pre-Roe levels; lowest in 45 years
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/5/1607432/-Obamacare-and-prochoice-policies-help-reduce-abortion-rate-to-pre-Roe-levels-lowest-in-45-years
"Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that abortion rates in the United States in 2013 were the lowest recorded since 1971, a full two years before Roe v. Wade established a woman’s right to choose."
"Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that abortion rates in the United States in 2013 were the lowest recorded since 1971, a full two years before Roe v. Wade established a woman’s right to choose."
12/4/16
Paul Ryan's Medicare Plan Hinges on American Stupidity. Prove Him Wrong.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a51081/paul-ryan-medicare/
"You may recall that C-Plus Augustus—having been re-elected by a margin of 35 electoral votes in 2004, and I didn't remember that it had been that close—decided that he had accrued enough "political capital" to monkey around with Social Security. That attempt got body-slammed and its defeat started the downward spiral of his approval ratings from which he never recovered fully. This same thing should happen as regards any attempt by Speaker Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny starver from the state of Wisconsin, to enact his golden dream of demolishing safety-net programs that he believes make old people with Medicare less "free" than old people who slowly waste away in darkened apartments. His idea is to set up a program with criminally inadequate vouchers, slap the name "Medicare" on it, and hope that people are as stupid as he thinks they are. There is every indication that HHS nominee Rep. Tom Price is more than willing to play Johnny Hooker to Ryan's Henry Gondorff."
"You may recall that C-Plus Augustus—having been re-elected by a margin of 35 electoral votes in 2004, and I didn't remember that it had been that close—decided that he had accrued enough "political capital" to monkey around with Social Security. That attempt got body-slammed and its defeat started the downward spiral of his approval ratings from which he never recovered fully. This same thing should happen as regards any attempt by Speaker Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny starver from the state of Wisconsin, to enact his golden dream of demolishing safety-net programs that he believes make old people with Medicare less "free" than old people who slowly waste away in darkened apartments. His idea is to set up a program with criminally inadequate vouchers, slap the name "Medicare" on it, and hope that people are as stupid as he thinks they are. There is every indication that HHS nominee Rep. Tom Price is more than willing to play Johnny Hooker to Ryan's Henry Gondorff."
12/3/16
Pay more and get less: The Ryan plan to privatize Medicare
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/27/1602925/-Pay-more-and-get-less-The-Ryan-plan-to-privatize-Medicare
"It’s another “privatize the profit, socialize the risk” scheme. You will be told: There’s a crisis We have to do something There will be more choice We need to be “patient centered” Our solution is better, stronger, faster The market will produce savings through private sector “magic” and efficiency Don’t buy it. You will pay more and you will get less. This is the only “magic.” And if we sell off Medicare, we will never get it back."
"It’s another “privatize the profit, socialize the risk” scheme. You will be told: There’s a crisis We have to do something There will be more choice We need to be “patient centered” Our solution is better, stronger, faster The market will produce savings through private sector “magic” and efficiency Don’t buy it. You will pay more and you will get less. This is the only “magic.” And if we sell off Medicare, we will never get it back."
11/30/16
Why Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary, Tom Price, Is Completely Terrifying @alternet
Why Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary, Tom Price, Is Completely Terrifying @alternet:
"President-elect Donald Trump’s likely pick to head the Health and Human Services administration in his cabinet—Georgia Rep. Tom Price—is one more indication that not a single word that comes out of Trump’s mouth can be believed. It is also yet another sign that his administration will be an unfolding horror show of the most extremist right-wing hucksters intent on dismantling America’s safety net and moral standing in the world."
"President-elect Donald Trump’s likely pick to head the Health and Human Services administration in his cabinet—Georgia Rep. Tom Price—is one more indication that not a single word that comes out of Trump’s mouth can be believed. It is also yet another sign that his administration will be an unfolding horror show of the most extremist right-wing hucksters intent on dismantling America’s safety net and moral standing in the world."
11/25/16
Reminder: Paul Ryan is lying about Medicare and Obamacare
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/21/1602672/-Reminder-Paul-Ryan-is-lying-about-Medicare-and-Obamacare
"House Speaker Paul Ryan has done nothing to indicate that privatizing Medicare isn't at the very top of his agenda in the new Congress, with a new president. In fact, while everyone in the GOP is a little unsure of what they'll do about Obamacare, they know they want to gut Medicare and do it fast. So it's worth remembering that Ryan's plan isn't just hugely unpopular and dangerous, it's premised on some pretty big lies. "What people don’t realize is, because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke." — House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), interview with Fox News, Nov. 10 Our eyebrows went up when we saw this quote from Ryan. It has been a bipartisan fallacy to claim that the old-age health program Medicare is going "broke," which is incorrect […]. But what was notable was he specifically blamed the Affordable Care Act for making Medicare go broke. That’s doubly wrong. Let’s explain. The explanations: no, it's not going broke. As of now, the trust fund can maintain everyone who needs it until 2028. After that, without intervention, it would start paying out less benefits. Not "no" benefits. Reduced. That's if there isn't an intervention of some kind to further cut costs, enroll younger, healthier people, increase payroll taxes, or any other of good policy options for keeping it going. One of those policy options? Keeping Obamacare. Because Obamacare isn't making it go broke. Not at all. In fact, Obamacare has saved Medicare money, and extended the program's solvency by twelve years."
"House Speaker Paul Ryan has done nothing to indicate that privatizing Medicare isn't at the very top of his agenda in the new Congress, with a new president. In fact, while everyone in the GOP is a little unsure of what they'll do about Obamacare, they know they want to gut Medicare and do it fast. So it's worth remembering that Ryan's plan isn't just hugely unpopular and dangerous, it's premised on some pretty big lies. "What people don’t realize is, because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke." — House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), interview with Fox News, Nov. 10 Our eyebrows went up when we saw this quote from Ryan. It has been a bipartisan fallacy to claim that the old-age health program Medicare is going "broke," which is incorrect […]. But what was notable was he specifically blamed the Affordable Care Act for making Medicare go broke. That’s doubly wrong. Let’s explain. The explanations: no, it's not going broke. As of now, the trust fund can maintain everyone who needs it until 2028. After that, without intervention, it would start paying out less benefits. Not "no" benefits. Reduced. That's if there isn't an intervention of some kind to further cut costs, enroll younger, healthier people, increase payroll taxes, or any other of good policy options for keeping it going. One of those policy options? Keeping Obamacare. Because Obamacare isn't making it go broke. Not at all. In fact, Obamacare has saved Medicare money, and extended the program's solvency by twelve years."
Donald Trump promised to leave Social Security alone, but his point man wants privatization
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/22/1603103/-Donald-Trump-promised-to-leave-Social-Security-alone-but-his-point-man-wants-privatization
"So much for Donald Trump's campaign promises. He pledged throughout the campaign that he didn't want to touch Social Security and Medicare. As we've already seen on Medicare, that pledge is out the window. Now it's Social Security, too. On Monday, the transition team announced that Tom Leppert, former mayor of Dallas, will be on the "landing team" for the Social Security Administration. Landing teams are charged with interacting with the federal agencies to set up Trump's new government. And Leppert, well, he's a privatizer."
"So much for Donald Trump's campaign promises. He pledged throughout the campaign that he didn't want to touch Social Security and Medicare. As we've already seen on Medicare, that pledge is out the window. Now it's Social Security, too. On Monday, the transition team announced that Tom Leppert, former mayor of Dallas, will be on the "landing team" for the Social Security Administration. Landing teams are charged with interacting with the federal agencies to set up Trump's new government. And Leppert, well, he's a privatizer."
WATCH: Donald Trump Is Considering Gutting Medicare And Giving It To Wall Street
http://addictinginfo.org/2016/11/25/watch-donald-trump-is-considering-gutting-medicare-and-giving-it-to-wall-street/
"If you’re on Medicare or close to qualifying for Medicare and you voted for Donald Trump, you’re a special kind of stupid who just got screwed. House Speaker Paul Ryan can’t wait for rubber stamp puppet Donald Trump to take over the White House. He and his fellow Republicans have waited for years to throw hard-working Americans off a cliff and now they are about to get what they always wanted."
"If you’re on Medicare or close to qualifying for Medicare and you voted for Donald Trump, you’re a special kind of stupid who just got screwed. House Speaker Paul Ryan can’t wait for rubber stamp puppet Donald Trump to take over the White House. He and his fellow Republicans have waited for years to throw hard-working Americans off a cliff and now they are about to get what they always wanted."
11/23/16
Here Comes the Republican Push to Destroy Medicare @alternet
Here Comes the Republican Push to Destroy Medicare @alternet:
"Despite the tension between Ryan and then-candidate Donald Trump, Ryan is now aglow—if not over Trump, himself, at least with the prospect of using his presidency to enact a long-dreamed-of plan to privatize Medicare. There seems to be no concern for the harm it would do to the recipients."
"Despite the tension between Ryan and then-candidate Donald Trump, Ryan is now aglow—if not over Trump, himself, at least with the prospect of using his presidency to enact a long-dreamed-of plan to privatize Medicare. There seems to be no concern for the harm it would do to the recipients."
Inside the GOP’s plans to raid the Treasury to enrich private companies
https://thinkprogress.org/inside-the-gops-plans-to-raid-the-treasury-to-enrich-private-companies-43c17269b839#.wg7fezghl
"President-elect Donald Trump, however, wants to break this link between risk and reward — that is, he wants to make taxpayers pay for roads that, ultimately, will be owned by private companies. And he’s not alone. The Republican Medicare plan jacks up the cost of caring for seniors, while enriching hospitals and insurance companies in the process. The Republican “replacement” for Obamacare, to the extent that such a thing even exists, helps insurance companies maximize their profits while taking away their obligation to cover people with expensive conditions. The Republican Medicaid plan could allow states to shunt Medicaid dollars to private plans that provide less coverage at a higher cost. It’s a great time to be alive — if you happen to run a company that’s positioned to cash in on this bonanza. Sure, it also means less health care for the most vulnerable Americans, less spending for the public good, and less public control over infrastructure such as roads and bridges once the Trump administration is over. But if you want to get rich providing inferior services for a government subsidy, now is the time to cash in!"
"President-elect Donald Trump, however, wants to break this link between risk and reward — that is, he wants to make taxpayers pay for roads that, ultimately, will be owned by private companies. And he’s not alone. The Republican Medicare plan jacks up the cost of caring for seniors, while enriching hospitals and insurance companies in the process. The Republican “replacement” for Obamacare, to the extent that such a thing even exists, helps insurance companies maximize their profits while taking away their obligation to cover people with expensive conditions. The Republican Medicaid plan could allow states to shunt Medicaid dollars to private plans that provide less coverage at a higher cost. It’s a great time to be alive — if you happen to run a company that’s positioned to cash in on this bonanza. Sure, it also means less health care for the most vulnerable Americans, less spending for the public good, and less public control over infrastructure such as roads and bridges once the Trump administration is over. But if you want to get rich providing inferior services for a government subsidy, now is the time to cash in!"
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