The debate over the pros and cons of health insurance reform is seriously heating up. In an effort to get its message out about what it considers the “stability and security” of health insurance reform, the White House launched a new online resource today WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck
The Obama administration is encouraging the public to visit “Reality Check” to find out what is really in health insurance reform and what is not in there. Meanwhile, more town hall meetings on the controversial issue are set for tomorrow. President Obama will be center stage at one of those meetings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Back here, local Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) is hosting another of those health insurance reform town halls at the Alhambra Civic Center Library, 101 South First Street in Alhambra. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th.
I would really like to know how much that site to sell this plan cost and who paid for it.
In all honesty I do not trust any promises made by this plan will actually happen yet at the same time I do believe that it will cause tax increases.
The government runs nothing efficiently, I do NOT want them running anything more as they have proven themselves inept at running anything at all.
Did everyone see front page of LA TIMES today ? All about how the ‘cash for clunkers’ program does not allow the trade in of the most poluting vehicles on the road ? Just another Washington scam, costs us money and fails to accomplish what it claimed. Then they wonder why so many of us say FORGET THE TAKE OVER OF HEALTH CARE, YOU IDIOTS IN WASHINGTON NEVER GET ANYTHING RIGHT. Trust me they take over health care and health care will fail just like their cash for clunkers program has. Here is the story just incase you missed yet another success from the genius minds in Washington.
By Ralph Vartabedian and Ken Bensinger
August 13, 2009
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Nearly 5 million of the nation’s most polluting vehicles were quietly excluded from the popular “cash for clunkers” program after lobbyists for antique auto parts suppliers and car collectors persuaded the government to shut out cars built before 1984.
The restriction has prevented consumers nationwide who own older cars and trucks from cashing in on the $3-billion federal program even though many don’t consider their jalopies to be collectors’ items.
When the federal government announced the rebates of up to $4,500, Chris Hurst said, it looked like the perfect time to unload his gas-guzzling 1981 Ford F-150 pickup. Hurst, who lives in the Sierra foothills north of Fresno, was surprised to discover his truck was too old to qualify.
“If we could have gotten that rebate, it would have worked perfectly for us,” said Hurst, who is now trying to sell the vehicle, equipped with Ford’s biggest V-8 engine, for $1,600.
The restrictions were pushed by lobbyists for the Specialty Equipment Market Assn., a Diamond Bar group that represents companies that sell parts and services to classic and antique car collectors. The group, as well as classic car enthusiasts, have opposed cash for clunkers because they don’t want older vehicles to be destroyed.
When the proposals for a clunker buyback program surfaced early this year, the specialty equipment association opposed the entire concept because such a program could shrink the size of the market for aftermarket parts. The association eventually got lawmakers to adopt the age limit.
“We are very pleased that Congress was able to include that in the program,” said Stuart Gosswein, director of regulatory affairs at the association.
The association represents more than 7,000 companies that make all manner of auto-related products, including reproduction Model T tires and AMC Gremlin upholstery. The powerful interest group has won legislative battles nationwide to protect owners of classic cars and hot rods from laws covering vehicle noise, emissions tests and much else.
The cash-for-clunkers legislation was sponsored by Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). Neither returned calls seeking comment. The final wording of the bill, including the provision requested by the interest group, was ironed out in a legislative conference committee and attached to a military spending bill.
Consumer and environmental groups reluctantly went along with the provision because they were fighting for any rule that would push consumers to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles than the ones they were trading in.
“I don’t know that the program makes a whole lot of environmental sense,” said Lena Pons, a policy analyst for Public Citizen, which pushed for tougher fuel-economy standards. “There is not a whole lot of justification for the classic car industry to block older vehicles from being traded in.”
Other critics fault the age limit on economic grounds, saying it makes little sense even for collectors.
“If I own a 30-year-old Mustang, the value of my car goes up if others get destroyed,” said Chris Edwards, an economist for the libertarian Cato Institute. “It is a typical industry loophole that doesn’t protect the little guy, but does protect some special interest group.”
Many Americans don’t have the money to buy a new car, said Dan Baker, a part-time handyman and gardener in Greenville, S.C., who said he wished he could have gotten a rebate to upgrade to a better used vehicle.
“I’m the kind of person this program could have helped,” he said.
Baker is trying to sell a brown 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass SS with a broken air conditioner and rusty fenders for $1,200.
“It’s just an old car with 101,000 miles on it,” said Baker, who hopes to join the ministry in the near future. “It is not a classic.”
Groups representing salvage yards and service garages also derailed a provision in the bill that would have required the entire drivetrain of traded-in clunkers to be destroyed. Junkyards are now permitted to strip and resell all parts of the vehicles except the engines.
Other countries have instituted cash-for-clunkers programs, but they haven’t placed restrictions that block older cars from being traded in.
Germany’s version, which began in January, offered 2,500 euros (a little more than $3,500) for any car older than nine years. Britain, Spain, France and several other European countries have instituted programs open to cars older than 10 years. Japan’s program, instituted this spring, pays 250,000 yen (about $2,600) for cars older than 13 years.
Yeah and our very own Congressman Schiff got shifty and tried to do an informercial on the health care package, the problem was angry crowd showed up and shouted him down. It’s about the economy and not about this health care plan rip off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaCg_TUtW1k&feature=channel
You know they have socialized medicine in Cubs, anyone who wants it is always free to move there, it’s such a great place to live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqCc3mKbIU&feature=related
Its CUBA and not CUBS but hey there is lots out there and many outraged Cubans over how misleading the lies we are being told by those who want socialized medicine are telling us these days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6ZH1ps20WA
There is no way this health plan will not require more taxes. When have they ever not required more taxes for what they do. Once this gets passed we will all suffer, I just hope those who say rah rah to it now suffer the most when it’s passed. They deserve that for not seeing through it.
•Very interesting post – Might be old new, but it was new to me.