5/26/17
Donald Trump to Hungry Seniors: Drop Dead
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/25/donald-trump-hungry-seniors-drop-dead
"Some 10 million elders are threatened by hunger—but the president’s budget would slash desperately needed funding for food programs."
"Some 10 million elders are threatened by hunger—but the president’s budget would slash desperately needed funding for food programs."
How the Trump Budget Threatens the American People
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/05/26/433065/trump-budget-threatens-american-people/
"President Donald Trump’s budget would do nothing to create jobs and would slash programs that help working families. Trump breaks his promise not to cut Social Security and Medicaid, threatening the livelihoods of millions of seniors, children, and people with disabilities. This budget poses a direct threat to Americans across the country, while rigging the system even more for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations."
"President Donald Trump’s budget would do nothing to create jobs and would slash programs that help working families. Trump breaks his promise not to cut Social Security and Medicaid, threatening the livelihoods of millions of seniors, children, and people with disabilities. This budget poses a direct threat to Americans across the country, while rigging the system even more for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations."
5/25/17
How the Trump Budget Undermines Economic Security for Working Families
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2017/05/23/432842/trump-budget-undermines-economic-security-working-families/
"With an administration chock full of self-serving millionaires and billionaires, it comes as little surprise that President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would be an enormous windfall for the wealthiest Americans. But the degree to which it privileges the 1 percent at the expense of nearly everyone else—breaking Trump’s campaign promises to restore prosperity to everyday Americans—is staggering. Notably, by calling for cuts to Social Security, the budget violates one of Trump’s most significant promises."
"With an administration chock full of self-serving millionaires and billionaires, it comes as little surprise that President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would be an enormous windfall for the wealthiest Americans. But the degree to which it privileges the 1 percent at the expense of nearly everyone else—breaking Trump’s campaign promises to restore prosperity to everyday Americans—is staggering. Notably, by calling for cuts to Social Security, the budget violates one of Trump’s most significant promises."
How Paul Ryan turns an 800 percent increase in premium costs into good news for Trumpcare: He lies
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/5/25/1665941/-How-Paul-Ryan-turns-an-800-percent-increase-in-premium-costs-into-good-news-for-Trumpcare-He-lies
"When they say "disproportionate" they're talking about an 800 percent increase over what a 64-year-old with an income of $26,500 pays under Obamacare. Her annual premium now would be $1,700. Under Trumpcare? $13,600. Yeah, that's not a lower premium, Mr. Ryan. While he'd like to erase older, poor Americans from the face of the earth, they still exist, and in fact are Republicans' most loyal voters. And they are getting royally screwed."
"When they say "disproportionate" they're talking about an 800 percent increase over what a 64-year-old with an income of $26,500 pays under Obamacare. Her annual premium now would be $1,700. Under Trumpcare? $13,600. Yeah, that's not a lower premium, Mr. Ryan. While he'd like to erase older, poor Americans from the face of the earth, they still exist, and in fact are Republicans' most loyal voters. And they are getting royally screwed."
‘New’ health care bill spells disaster for sick, according to CBO report
https://thinkprogress.org/cbo-score-healthcare-b48fd88baac8
"The CBO report on the House Republicans’ health care bill was released on Wednesday. If passed, the American Health Care Act would leave 23 million additional people uninsured and increase costs for the sickest and oldest Americans."
"The CBO report on the House Republicans’ health care bill was released on Wednesday. If passed, the American Health Care Act would leave 23 million additional people uninsured and increase costs for the sickest and oldest Americans."
GOP lawmaker chokes back tears after finding out the impact of the health care bill he helped write
https://thinkprogress.org/meadows-ahca-cbo-tears-d6acf728e5ad
"Weeks after House Republicans advanced the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finally issued its scoring of the bill and found exactly what most experts had already projected: higher costs and less coverage, particularly for those who need health care the most, like those with pre-existing conditions."
"Weeks after House Republicans advanced the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finally issued its scoring of the bill and found exactly what most experts had already projected: higher costs and less coverage, particularly for those who need health care the most, like those with pre-existing conditions."
Trump promised to protect the sick and the poor. He lied.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/24/15685786/trump-promised-protect-sick-poor-he-lied
"Trump lied in public about the most consequential policy decisions he is now making as president. He lied on the trail, and he is lying again now from the Oval Office."
"Trump lied in public about the most consequential policy decisions he is now making as president. He lied on the trail, and he is lying again now from the Oval Office."
CBO: Republican plan would take health coverage from 23 million
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cbo-republican-plan-would-take-health-coverage-23-million
"This might have been useful information for House members to have before they voted three weeks ago. Indeed, it was difficult not to appreciate the irony this afternoon. Those most invested in the health care debate today did what Republican lawmakers refused to do: learn about the real-world effects of the GOP legislation. Remember, House Speaker Paul Ryan and his GOP allies could’ve waited for the Congressional Budget Office to issue a report on the legislation before they voted on it, but Republicans chose willful ignorance: they didn’t want to know what their bill would cost – and they didn’t want to know how many Americans would lose their health security – because the more facts policymakers had at their disposal, the more likely it would be their bill would fail. And now 217 House Republicans are on the hook, voting for legislation first, then learning they voted to take health security away from 23 million Americans."
"This might have been useful information for House members to have before they voted three weeks ago. Indeed, it was difficult not to appreciate the irony this afternoon. Those most invested in the health care debate today did what Republican lawmakers refused to do: learn about the real-world effects of the GOP legislation. Remember, House Speaker Paul Ryan and his GOP allies could’ve waited for the Congressional Budget Office to issue a report on the legislation before they voted on it, but Republicans chose willful ignorance: they didn’t want to know what their bill would cost – and they didn’t want to know how many Americans would lose their health security – because the more facts policymakers had at their disposal, the more likely it would be their bill would fail. And now 217 House Republicans are on the hook, voting for legislation first, then learning they voted to take health security away from 23 million Americans."
This Is Paul Ryan's CBO Face
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55262/ahca-cbo/
"the CBO estimates that premiums for the low-income elderly could rise … wait for it … 800 percent."
"the CBO estimates that premiums for the low-income elderly could rise … wait for it … 800 percent."
Montana's Republican candidate tries to hide from $800,000 tax break he would get from the AHCA
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/5/22/1664981/-Montana-s-Republican-candidate-tries-to-hide-from-800-000-tax-break-he-would-get-from-the-AHCA
"The mummified corpse of Trump and Ryan care was resurrected in order to create budget space for the enormous tax break Republicans want to give the wealthy. It is as simple as that. They don’t care if people get sick and they don’t care what works or doesn’t work. This is a fundamental problem since even the most bigoted Trump supporter really doesn’t want to lose their healthcare coverage."
"The mummified corpse of Trump and Ryan care was resurrected in order to create budget space for the enormous tax break Republicans want to give the wealthy. It is as simple as that. They don’t care if people get sick and they don’t care what works or doesn’t work. This is a fundamental problem since even the most bigoted Trump supporter really doesn’t want to lose their healthcare coverage."
5/24/17
Elizabeth Warren Just Offered Terrifying Proof Republicans Have Given Up on Democracy @alternet
Elizabeth Warren Just Offered Terrifying Proof Republicans Have Given Up on Democracy @alternet:
"Senate Republicans have been dubiously dissecting the House health care bill since it passed 217 to 213 on May 4. But don't count on them seeking any aid from across the aisle. According to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), "The Republicans have literally locked the Democrats out of the negotiations over the Senate health care bill. They have gone into closed rooms and they will not let the Democrats participate at all." A week and a half later, "what the Republicans are planning to do with the House version of the bill remains a mystery [even] to those of us who serve on the committees to consider health care in America and those of us who are deeply concerned about the impact of health care changes on our home states," she told MassLive on Monday. Warren, having called the first iteration of the house bill "fundamentally cruel," also touched on Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA)'s March assessment of its explosive costs—an estimated $1 billion loss in federal health care aid for Massachusetts by 2020."
"Senate Republicans have been dubiously dissecting the House health care bill since it passed 217 to 213 on May 4. But don't count on them seeking any aid from across the aisle. According to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), "The Republicans have literally locked the Democrats out of the negotiations over the Senate health care bill. They have gone into closed rooms and they will not let the Democrats participate at all." A week and a half later, "what the Republicans are planning to do with the House version of the bill remains a mystery [even] to those of us who serve on the committees to consider health care in America and those of us who are deeply concerned about the impact of health care changes on our home states," she told MassLive on Monday. Warren, having called the first iteration of the house bill "fundamentally cruel," also touched on Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA)'s March assessment of its explosive costs—an estimated $1 billion loss in federal health care aid for Massachusetts by 2020."
Paul Ryan’s next move is an attempt to privatize Medicare
https://thinkprogress.org/paul-ryans-next-move-is-an-attempt-to-privatize-medicare-a96eb9ac0a23
"Giddy from his recent health care win, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he looks forward to tackling an overhaul of Medicare, which would leave many seniors without coverage or with higher premiums. On Friday, Speaker Ryan told the conservative radio host, Vicki McKenna, that he would like to see a plan for overhauling Medicare this year. He said the plan is part of an “ongoing conversation” with the Trump administration."
"Giddy from his recent health care win, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he looks forward to tackling an overhaul of Medicare, which would leave many seniors without coverage or with higher premiums. On Friday, Speaker Ryan told the conservative radio host, Vicki McKenna, that he would like to see a plan for overhauling Medicare this year. He said the plan is part of an “ongoing conversation” with the Trump administration."
Ryan sticking with Trump so he can get his Medicare privatization
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/5/15/1662406/-Ryan-sticking-with-Trump-so-he-can-get-his-Medicare-privatization
"But what about Trump's forceful promises throughout the campaign that he would not touch these programs? Ryan's got a powerful weapon on his side in Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, former Freedom Caucus maniac, who seems pretty confident. When it comes to wrecking Medicare, "let the [House] pass that and let's talk about it," he says. Of course, there's the little problem of getting it through the Senate, but that's not going to keep Ryan from trying. It rarely has before. He's bound and determined to throw granny off that damned cliff."
"But what about Trump's forceful promises throughout the campaign that he would not touch these programs? Ryan's got a powerful weapon on his side in Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, former Freedom Caucus maniac, who seems pretty confident. When it comes to wrecking Medicare, "let the [House] pass that and let's talk about it," he says. Of course, there's the little problem of getting it through the Senate, but that's not going to keep Ryan from trying. It rarely has before. He's bound and determined to throw granny off that damned cliff."
5/11/17
Cuts to Medicaid Would Harm Young Children with Disabilities
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/early-childhood/reports/2017/05/03/431766/cuts-medicaid-harm-young-children-disabilities/
"Medicaid provides a lifeline for children with disabilities and their families"
"Medicaid provides a lifeline for children with disabilities and their families"
Marijuana Could Help Elderly and Alzheimer's Patients @alternet
Marijuana Could Help Elderly and Alzheimer's Patients @alternet:
"New research suggests cannabis may actually be good for memory, especially on the elderly, reversing brain aging and restoring learning ability."
"New research suggests cannabis may actually be good for memory, especially on the elderly, reversing brain aging and restoring learning ability."
The three ironclad laws of universal health care
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/04/09/1650619/-The-three-ironclad-laws-of-universal-health-care
"The theory explaining the failure of free market health care isn’t rocket science. Let's start with the conservative free-market nirvana where buyer and seller, each armed with perfect information, come together in a voluntary transaction. But from the get-go, the patient-as-consumer faces a knowledge asymmetry almost impossible to overcome. Americans' general deference to physicians isn't just a cultural trait, it simply reflects the expertise and training regarding diagnoses, possible treatments, and likely outcomes doctors possess and their patients do not. For some cases and for some conditions, the layman can narrow that yawning information gap. But WebMD or no, it can't be eliminated. "Health" is not a commodity. Those who believe that choosing a health care product or service is no different than buying a car, television, or cell phone might feel differently after, say, developing colon cancer. But even if the diagnoses, treatments, and cures for heart disease, diabetes, or depression could be purchased in a free market, in the United States the buyer simply doesn't—or can't—know what price he or she will pay. As Stephen Brill documented in March 2013 ("Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us"), hospital prices for drugs, supplies, and procedures are completely opaque. The answer from the so-called "charge master" about what anything costs depends on whether the patient is insured or uninsured (the latter often forced to pay multiple times more than the former) and who the insurer is. As it turns out, that mystery pricing is one of the hallmarks of the American model that spends more than $3 trillion a year (over 17 percent of GDP) on health care, more than Japan, Germany, France, China, the U.K., Italy, Canada, Brazil, Spain, and Australia combined."
"The theory explaining the failure of free market health care isn’t rocket science. Let's start with the conservative free-market nirvana where buyer and seller, each armed with perfect information, come together in a voluntary transaction. But from the get-go, the patient-as-consumer faces a knowledge asymmetry almost impossible to overcome. Americans' general deference to physicians isn't just a cultural trait, it simply reflects the expertise and training regarding diagnoses, possible treatments, and likely outcomes doctors possess and their patients do not. For some cases and for some conditions, the layman can narrow that yawning information gap. But WebMD or no, it can't be eliminated. "Health" is not a commodity. Those who believe that choosing a health care product or service is no different than buying a car, television, or cell phone might feel differently after, say, developing colon cancer. But even if the diagnoses, treatments, and cures for heart disease, diabetes, or depression could be purchased in a free market, in the United States the buyer simply doesn't—or can't—know what price he or she will pay. As Stephen Brill documented in March 2013 ("Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us"), hospital prices for drugs, supplies, and procedures are completely opaque. The answer from the so-called "charge master" about what anything costs depends on whether the patient is insured or uninsured (the latter often forced to pay multiple times more than the former) and who the insurer is. As it turns out, that mystery pricing is one of the hallmarks of the American model that spends more than $3 trillion a year (over 17 percent of GDP) on health care, more than Japan, Germany, France, China, the U.K., Italy, Canada, Brazil, Spain, and Australia combined."
REVEALED: Montana Republican cheers Trumpcare vote in private after vowing to keep some Obamacare features
REVEALED: Montana Republican cheers Trumpcare vote in private after vowing to keep some Obamacare features
"Secretly recorded audio of Republican congressional nominee Greg Gianforte speaking to Washington, D.C., lobbyists revealed a far different message on repeal of the Affordable Care Act than what the candidate had been saying to Montana voters. The New York Times received leaked audio recording of a conference call where Gianforte spoke about health care repeal while asking lobbyists to rush his campaign $5,000 contributions."
"Secretly recorded audio of Republican congressional nominee Greg Gianforte speaking to Washington, D.C., lobbyists revealed a far different message on repeal of the Affordable Care Act than what the candidate had been saying to Montana voters. The New York Times received leaked audio recording of a conference call where Gianforte spoke about health care repeal while asking lobbyists to rush his campaign $5,000 contributions."
5/9/17
Reince Priebus Lies About Trump Keeping His Campaign Promises With AHCA Bill | Crooks and Liars
Reince Priebus Lies About Trump Keeping His Campaign Promises With AHCA Bill | Crooks and Liars
"Priebus, like most of the Trump surrogates who appeared on the Sunday shows, was given a pass while he lied to the cameras about what this godawful bill they passed actually does. Count on the public remaining woefully uninformed about the damage that's coming if anything remotely close to what the House just pushed through passes the Senate if this is how the media is going to continue to cover the issue."
"Priebus, like most of the Trump surrogates who appeared on the Sunday shows, was given a pass while he lied to the cameras about what this godawful bill they passed actually does. Count on the public remaining woefully uninformed about the damage that's coming if anything remotely close to what the House just pushed through passes the Senate if this is how the media is going to continue to cover the issue."
Trumpcare advocates lie their way through the Sunday political shows
https://thinkprogress.org/ryan-priebus-price-trumpcare-17360e9fb716
"Days after the House passed a newly-amended American Health Care Act, its biggest proponents took to the Sunday morning political shows to defend it — by blatantly lying about what the bill does."
"Days after the House passed a newly-amended American Health Care Act, its biggest proponents took to the Sunday morning political shows to defend it — by blatantly lying about what the bill does."
Republicans Don't Know How the Human Body Works
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/republicans-dont-know-how-the-human-body-works-w481191
"Ignorance about the most basic aspects of health care might be why they keep pushing such crappy legislation"
"Ignorance about the most basic aspects of health care might be why they keep pushing such crappy legislation"
50 Preexisting Conditions That Can Make You Lose Your Insurance If Trump and GOP Have Their Way @alternet
50 Preexisting Conditions That Can Make You Lose Your Insurance If Trump and GOP Have Their Way @alternet:
"The people most likely to suffer under the new Republican plan are older people and people in rural America, who overwhelmingly went for Trump. In fact, the 11 states with the highest number of adults with preexisting conditions all voted to live in Trump’s America."
"The people most likely to suffer under the new Republican plan are older people and people in rural America, who overwhelmingly went for Trump. In fact, the 11 states with the highest number of adults with preexisting conditions all voted to live in Trump’s America."
The Republican Party is sociopathic: If you didn’t know that already, the health care bill should make it clear
http://www.salon.com/2017/05/06/the-republican-party-is-sociopathic-if-you-didnt-know-that-already-the-health-care-bill-should-make-it-clear/
"This is quite literally the politics of life and death. Republicans in Congress have chosen to place their fingers on the scale in favor of the latter."
"This is quite literally the politics of life and death. Republicans in Congress have chosen to place their fingers on the scale in favor of the latter."
Gerrymandering did this: How the GOP’s redistricting master plan brought us Trumpcare — even though most people hate it
http://www.salon.com/2017/05/06/gerrymandering-did-this-how-the-gops-redistricting-master-plan-brought-us-trumpcare-even-though-most-people-hate-it/
"Here’s why. Gerrymandering helped lock in GOP control of Congress. In 2012, Americans re-elected Barack Obama, strengthened the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, and delivered 1.4 million more votes to Democratic House candidates than Republicans. The GOP, however, maintained control of the House, 234-201. It was an exceptionally rare example of the party with the most votes not getting the most seats — but it was no fluke. Far from it. It was part of a plan called the Redistricting Majority Project, or REDMAP for short, which is exactly what it created. Republicans set out in 2010 to take control of key legislative chambers in states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, all with an eye toward locking Democrats out of the room and taking complete control of drawing all-important district lines. Locking Democrats out of the room is literally what Republicans did in Ohio — where GOP officials moved redistricting headquarters out of the state capitol and into a suite at the Doubletree dubbed the Bunker — and in Wisconsin, where operatives set up at a Madison law firm and claimed that attorney-client privilege allowed them to shroud the process in secrecy. Here’s how well it worked: There are 435 House districts. In 2011, Republicans were able to draw 193 of them by themselves. Democrats? Just 44. That’s nearly a five-to-one advantage. Princeton professor Sam Wang has shown that Republicans likely gained at least 12 seats due to gerrymandering in 2012. Look how the election played out in just a handful of blue states and swing states on these new maps: In Pennsylvania, voters cast 100,000 more votes for Democratic House candidates than Republicans. But by surgically crafting district lines to pack Democrats into as few seats as possible, Republicans won 13 of 18 races. In Michigan, Democrats seeking the House won 240,000 more votes than GOP competitors. Republicans, however, won nine of 14 seats."
"Here’s why. Gerrymandering helped lock in GOP control of Congress. In 2012, Americans re-elected Barack Obama, strengthened the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, and delivered 1.4 million more votes to Democratic House candidates than Republicans. The GOP, however, maintained control of the House, 234-201. It was an exceptionally rare example of the party with the most votes not getting the most seats — but it was no fluke. Far from it. It was part of a plan called the Redistricting Majority Project, or REDMAP for short, which is exactly what it created. Republicans set out in 2010 to take control of key legislative chambers in states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, all with an eye toward locking Democrats out of the room and taking complete control of drawing all-important district lines. Locking Democrats out of the room is literally what Republicans did in Ohio — where GOP officials moved redistricting headquarters out of the state capitol and into a suite at the Doubletree dubbed the Bunker — and in Wisconsin, where operatives set up at a Madison law firm and claimed that attorney-client privilege allowed them to shroud the process in secrecy. Here’s how well it worked: There are 435 House districts. In 2011, Republicans were able to draw 193 of them by themselves. Democrats? Just 44. That’s nearly a five-to-one advantage. Princeton professor Sam Wang has shown that Republicans likely gained at least 12 seats due to gerrymandering in 2012. Look how the election played out in just a handful of blue states and swing states on these new maps: In Pennsylvania, voters cast 100,000 more votes for Democratic House candidates than Republicans. But by surgically crafting district lines to pack Democrats into as few seats as possible, Republicans won 13 of 18 races. In Michigan, Democrats seeking the House won 240,000 more votes than GOP competitors. Republicans, however, won nine of 14 seats."
WATCH: Idaho town hall erupts after GOP lawmaker says ‘no one dies’ from lack of health care
WATCH: Idaho town hall erupts after GOP lawmaker says ‘no one dies’ from lack of health care
"Voters attending a packed town hall in Idaho booed and shouted down their Republican congressman after he attempted to defend the House passing a replacement for Obamacare by telling the crowd “no one’ in the US dies from lack of health care."
"Voters attending a packed town hall in Idaho booed and shouted down their Republican congressman after he attempted to defend the House passing a replacement for Obamacare by telling the crowd “no one’ in the US dies from lack of health care."
GOP Congressman Lied To Constituent With Brain Tumor | Crooks and Liars
GOP Congressman Lied To Constituent With Brain Tumor | Crooks and Liars
"How much gall does it take to lie to a woman with a brain tumor about protecting her health insurance? However much gall it takes? Congressman John Faso has it."
"How much gall does it take to lie to a woman with a brain tumor about protecting her health insurance? However much gall it takes? Congressman John Faso has it."
History Will Remember These 217 House Republicans for Their Inhumanity
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/05/history-will-remember-these-217-house-republicans-their-inhumanity
"North Carolina Congressman Ted Budd cast an indefensible vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with legislation that is so awful that Budd’s fellow Republicans were caught scheming to exempt themselves and their staffs from the measure’s draconian provisions. But Budd got one thing right. “I’ll take around 2,000 votes this Congress. Most of them will be forgotten,” the Republican congressman said as the vote approached. “This is not one of those votes.” Good. The vote by 217 House Republicans to gut the Affordable Care Act (while 20 of their colleagues and 193 Democrats opposed the move) must be remembered as the shameful abandonment of health and humanity that it is. This should become the permanent stain on every member of the House who supported it—the issue that does not to go away. House Speaker Paul Ryan and his caucus abandoned any pretense of deliberative or responsible legislating in order to deliver an empty “win” the flailing administration of President Donald Trump."
"North Carolina Congressman Ted Budd cast an indefensible vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with legislation that is so awful that Budd’s fellow Republicans were caught scheming to exempt themselves and their staffs from the measure’s draconian provisions. But Budd got one thing right. “I’ll take around 2,000 votes this Congress. Most of them will be forgotten,” the Republican congressman said as the vote approached. “This is not one of those votes.” Good. The vote by 217 House Republicans to gut the Affordable Care Act (while 20 of their colleagues and 193 Democrats opposed the move) must be remembered as the shameful abandonment of health and humanity that it is. This should become the permanent stain on every member of the House who supported it—the issue that does not to go away. House Speaker Paul Ryan and his caucus abandoned any pretense of deliberative or responsible legislating in order to deliver an empty “win” the flailing administration of President Donald Trump."
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