Freedom Caucus – MS. MOMOCRACY

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

HEALTHCARE GAME EVERYONE LOSES

Yesterday the House Republicans passed the new version of Trumpcare which was even worse then the original version Ryan pushed back in March. The new version was created to please House Freedom Caucus members which means the bill needed to be more devastating to the American people. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had reported back in March that the AHCA would eventually exclude 24 million Americans from healthcare, reduce Medicaid services and drive up deductibles. What did the CBO say about the newly revised plan? NOTHING! It has not even been assessed yet. Would you spend millions on a project without it being assessed or vetted? Would you purchase ANYTHING without knowing the COST? Well the House Republicans did.

Paul Ryan and the other Republican Douchebags celebrated yesterday after voting….Why? Because they are providing better, improved affordable care for all Americans??? NO! They celebrated because they finally did it–they repealed Obamacare. That was their only goal. Not to make the Affordable Health Care Act better or to help Americans—their goal was to smite Obama and it did not matter if anyone else went down in the process–in this case the entire American population. The House Republicans won…

Who is opposed to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) besides MILLIONS of Americans, many who are and hopefully now, were, Trump supporters—every healthcare organization, that’s who:

I know this bill is unlikely to pass the more reasonable-Freedom Caucus-Free-Senate but…

I also believed that a reality TV personality with poor business sense and severe character flaws would never be elected President

that House Republicans would never commit political suicide over repealing healthcare without a viable or better alternative…..so I am not sure I can depend on anything anymore.

Mother of 3

Nurse

Colts Neck, NJ

Resources:

American Health Care Act, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52486

Affordable Care Act revision would reduce insured numbers by 24 million, CBO projects, https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/obamacare-revision-would-reduce-insured-numbers-by-24-million/2017/03/13/ea4c860a-0829-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.9145575dcf6e

April 26, 2017May 26, 2017

#27 THINGS I HATE ABOUT TRUMP: PETTY BEHAVIOR

Trump was very busy today, an obvious desperate attempt to accomplish something for his 100 day judgement…

1. He started off tweeting about the Ninth Circuit blocking his executive orders to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities.

As Young MC says, “And there’s one more BAN you won’t be getting!”

“…the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups said the injunction offered a clear warning that Trump’s order — the third issued by the president to be blocked, at least partially, in federal court — is illegal. (1)”

2. He then signed an executive order that calls for reviewing all monuments and federal land use over the last 20 years. Yup, either a petty attempt to smite Clinton and Obama, an idea that was thrown around in the press today or he has an agenda that will likely benefit some business or big-wig somewhere because if not either of those two things, then why.

The Washington Post had this to say:

“Industry groups lambasted Obama’s decisions to set aside land that could otherwise be used for mining, drilling or other industrial activities. Businesses and industry groups have so far had the Trump White House’s ear on environmental and conservation issues..(2)”

3. Healthcare is back on the table. If you thought Ryan’s first version did not pass because moderate Republicans listened to their constituents–well, that was only part of the story. Trump had 2 choices after his first failed attempt:

a. Invite Democrats to the table, compromise and improve upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

b. Screw all Americans and pander to the Freedom Caucus- a BIG FU to everyone!

Guess which one Trump and Ryan picked.

The House Freedom Caucus, aka Tea Party, aka, Craziest Conservatives approved a new healthcare plan that would replace the ACA. You know what that means, the proposed plan must be worse and hurt more Americans then the last version. Brace yourself, Bridgit.

The new legislation would permit states to waive coverage of essential health benefits like emergency room services, mental health, substance abuse and maternity care. They believe these pesky little things drive up health care for all and remember those Congressmen arguing that they don’t need maternity care…yup, this is happening. The plan would also do away with coverage for pre-existing conditions. Have I got your attention now? Time to get busy folks. Make sure your representatives know how you feel.

4. Last on his list today was proposing his well anticipated tax break; this is what his fanbase has been waiting for. Guess what, unless you are in that 1%, I am anticipating your disappointment. There are little specifics at this point but Trump promises it will be “YUUUGE”–a huge break for him that is.

The NYT reported this:

“The concern would be that lawyers, doctors, consultants or other wealthy people in partnerships could structure much of their personal income as business income, effectively reducing their tax rate from 39.6 percent to 15 percent.

“We don’t need a tax plan that allows the very rich to use pass-throughs to reduce their rates to 15 percent while average Americans are paying much more,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said Wednesday. “That’s not tax reform. That’s just a tax giveaway to the very, very wealthy that will explode the deficit. (4)'”

5. Gosh, I thought his day was full enough but alas, he is not done. He just announced his plan to pull out of NAFTA. I am sure this will improve our foreign trade policy and international relations, after all his recent talk with Justin went so well [insert heavy eye-roll].

Are you afraid? I sure am.

Mother of 3

Nurse

Colts Neck, NJ

Resources:

1 Trump blasts ‘ridiculous’ court ruling that blocked his order on sanctuary cities, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-vows-supreme-court-fight-over-sanctuary-city-defiance/2017/04/26/ba836a12-2a91-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.ff024830b20d

2 Trump orders review of national monument sites, http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/330548-trump-orders-review-of-national-monument-sites

3 Hard-Line Republican Caucus Backs Revised Bill to Repeal Obamacare, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/politics/affordable-care-act-health-republicans.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

4 White House Proposes Slashing Tax Rates for Individuals and Businesses, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/politics/trump-tax-cut-plan.html

5 White House considering order to withdraw from NAFTA, http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/politics/donald-trump-nafta/index.html

March 31, 2017March 31, 2017

PAUL RYAN’S UNWILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE

Yesterday in an interview with “CBS This Morning” Paul Ryan threatens the Freedom Caucus and other Republicans with the following statement. “If we don’t do this–he’ll [Trump] just go to work with the Democrats, to try and change Obamacare, and that’s not gonna…that is hardly a conservative thing.”

There are 2 interesting things going on here:

Ryan threatening the Freedom Caucus with the idea that if they cannot compromise and repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and pass Trumpcare/Ryancare, then Trump will have no choice but to work with the Democrats…..GASP–which will result in a more moderate (aka liberal) bill. It is no secret the Freedom Caucus thought Ryan’s original bill was “too generous.” Yes, I know this is hard to believe since the bill seemed to be laced with cruelty and the “rob from the poor, give to the rich” type of mentality. When the majority of American’s, Democrats and moderate Republicans (who had constituents writing, calling and screaming at them at Town Hall meeting) were all still reeling over the slashes, increased costs, reduced coverage and the fact that 24 MILLION would be uninsured, instead of trying to compromise, in the last hours before the vote was scheduled Ryan was pandering to the small minority of the EXTREME right (Freedom Caucus) to make the bill even worse for Americans. Disgusting but true. Ryan is a D-bag and I am coming to realize, he will never “do the right thing.” He is driven by tax cuts for rich, big business and no government spending–at ALL costs. He is incapable of recognizing the long term economic ramifications of his cuts or proposals. He is a short term self-gain guy.
The second and more significant thing happening here is that Ryan cannot begin to fathom working with the Democrats. You can see it in his face. His politics are “Us vs Them”. This was his modus operandi for the last 8 years and it is hard to switch gears but….GEEZ, can you think about what is best for the MAJORITY of Americans. The backlash from this type of thinking will be further divide amongst the Democrats, the moderate Republicans, and the Republicans who live in states where their constituents will be most affected by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. This could get interesting. Is this the beginning of the end for the Republican party. I alway believed the Tea Party/Freedom Caucus/extreme right would be it’s demise.

I think Senator Bob Corker says it best (by the way he is a Republican Senator from TN).

Resources:

Ryan opposes Trump working with Democrats on healthcare

WASHINGTON U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, said he does not want President Donald Trump to work with Democrats on new legislation for revamping the country’s health insurance system, commonly called Obamacare.

March 25, 2017March 25, 2017

#13 THINGS I HATE ABOUT TRUMP: TRUMPCARE

This is probably a good time to remind everyone that I am no expert on politics. Is anyone really? I do have a double major in Economics and International Relations but at this point in my life I would call myself a concerned citizen. I truly believe that the passing of the ACA was the best thing that happened for Americans and the healthcare system in the last decade. You could say that universal, quality healthcare is a passion of mine.

Yes, there is room to improve the ACA but not in the way Ryan, the Freedom Caucus or Trump wants. Ryan’s entire identity in the House is based on his opposition to the ACA. What became entirely clear was HIS plan was simply a masquerade for tax breaks for the rich, basically everyone else could go F’ themselves. Here is a clip from March 18, 2017 where he talks about dreaming of the Medicaid cuts he would make since his keg drinking days. Yup…dreams about sticking it to the poor disenfranchised—that about sums his character up.

Trumpcare Timeline (as best as I can put it together):

The ACA was passed and the Republicans spend the next 7 years trying to repeal it but never manage to positively contribute to changing it or to come up with a better plan.
Trump runs on campaign platform that promises repeal with replacement of “better healthcare” at lower costs for ALL (yup, that was a big fat alternative truth). ‘“My first day in office, I am going to ask Congress to put a bill on my desk getting rid of this disastrous law and replacing it with reforms that expand choice, freedom, affordability,” said Trump on Oct. 25, a day after he St. Augustine speech, in Sanford, Florida. “You’re going to have such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost. And it’s going to be so easy.”‘
The America Health Care Act is introduced but Trump does not want to call it Trumpcare (he distances himself from the get go), so from henceforth we shall refer to it as Trumpcare.
The bill begins to be known as the “Repeal and go F’ yourself” plan, as the general public starts to catch wind on actually how bad the plan is.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), aka nonpartisan scorekeepers, releases their analysis of the proposed plan and it is not good. To sum up the highlights: 14 million Americans would lose coverage in the first year, eventually 24 million would be uninsured, and premiums would rise as much as 20% (they would eventually fall over time as more and more Americans were priced out of the market or died [a little nursing humor there]).
Proposed Federal budget that further promotes the “go F’ yourself” mentality with cuts to crucial social services and other supportive services—with only increases in defense spending, border patrol and immigration services. Many begin to catch on that Trump truly does not care about his fanbase which would be the most hurt by the healthcare repeal and the budget cuts.
EVERY healthcare agency speaks out against Trumpcare.
The House does not have the votes and they know it. Thank you, to all the town hall attendees, protesters and citizens for reaching out to your Congressional representatives in support of the ACA. Your contributions are the reason some Republicans broke rank and voted in support of their constituents.
Despite the fact that the bill was not ready and did not have the votes needed, Ryan, Trump and Republicans push for Thursday vote–the anniversary of the ACA, a final F’ You to Obama and Trump’s “many enemies” aka those who oppose and did not vote for him.
Instead of making positive changes to improve care for everyone and obtain more support, Ryan doubles down and makes the plan worse for Americans by trying to appeal to the far right Freedom Caucus. There would be no analysis of these proposed changes by the Congressional Budget Office before the vote.Will the moderate Republicans and the Freedom Caucus split? At this point unless the Republicans can separate themselves from the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus, Koch bros, I only see further divide in America. The majority of Americans oppose Trump and definitely oppose the Freedom Caucus (this sounds like another post is needed; I thought the Tea Party would destroy the Republican party long ago).
Ryan runs to WH to let Trump know they don’t have the votes (first of all, how did he not already know, the writing was on the wall the moment that Trumpcare was introduced).
Rumor has it Trump wanted to push it to a vote anyway–why? I imagine his vindictive nature wanted a public record of those who opposed—so he could brand them as his enemies. That seems to be a go-to move of his.
In the end someone must have reasoned with him and explained the bigger picture of the more public loss and the bill was pulled.
Trump gives press conference and declares the loss “very close” (very close??? What planet is he on?).

He then goes on to blame the loss on the Democrats saying they had no Democratic support—–uhmmmmm, doesn’t the Republican party control the House and Senate. This is where the discussion about incompetence of the Trump admin typically takes place.
He then goes on to say, “the best thing we can do politically speaking is to let Obamacare explode”. Yup, there you have it folks–his next move. Do you think he will make necessary changes to the ACA. Do you think he will improve the healthcare system? NOPE, remember narcissists are driven by their vindictive nature….he will let it explode, then he will claim “I told you so.”

I am not gonna lie, yesterday felt like a victory over evil but there is no time to gloat or relax, we must continue to #RESIST.

Enjoy this tweet from Senator Bob Menendez.