Your Tax Dollars At Work

I was updating my list of actions taken on healthcare bills this week. The Governor has been busy vetoing or signing quite a few bills (thereby making more work for me in updating my list) and I thought I'd share a few with you.

SB 349: Vetoed by Governor. Would have required health plans and health insurers to provide paper copies of medical bills at no charge to the patient. My monthly health insurance is nearly $400 - for that they can't provide a free copy?

SB 1221: Vetoed by Governor. Would have required hospitals seeking financing through the state Health Facilities Financing Authority to demonstrate that they provide a benefit to the community. I'm not sure about this but it seems to make sense that they should be able to show they'll benefit the community.

SB 1440: Vetoed by Governor. Would require 85% of premiums and fees received by health insurers and health plans to be spent on treatment and patient benefits. I have no idea what percentage is currently spent so I looked for more info on this one. According to the President of the California Academy of Family Physicians (they sponsored the bill so there may be a slight bias here):

Current state law requires only that no more than 15% of such fees be spent on administrative costs such as marketing and executives' salaries. Health plans interpret this law to mean that profits can be taken from the remaining 85% of funds. SB 1440 would have specified that the full 85% of health plans' income from enrollees be dedicated to their care; profits would have to be found elsewhere. A recent survey by the California Medical Association showed that an additional $1 billion would be available each year for patient care if the 12 health plans in California that reported spending below the 85% mark were to meet the higher target.

SB 1441: Approved by Governor. This bill will create a Substance Abuse Coordination Committee in the Department of Consumer Affairs. The committee would be charged with overseeing substance abuse treatment for doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care professionals licensed by the state. Just on principle I'm opposed to creating new departments. Aside from that, however, I'm somewhat concerned that there is so much substance abuse among licensed healthcare professionals that someone feels there is a need for a department to oversee them.

AB 54: Vetoed by Governor. This one was vetoed in August. It would require group health plans to include acupuncture as a covered benefit. I don't have feelings one way or another on this. I had acupuncture once and it hurt so I don't care if my insurance covers it or not, but again, nearly $400/month - for that they should pay for needles to be stuck in me!

This is just a sampling of bills I found interesting. Hopefully you will too!


Robin, the lonely blog mistress

Your Tax Dollars At Work - Pt 4

I'm a little reluctant to continue this series but I'm growing quite fond of it so here goes. Following are some Senate resolutions from last week:


12. S.RES.601 : A resolution designating October 19 through October 25, 2008, as "National Save for Retirement Week".
Sponsor: Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] (introduced 6/25/2008) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2008 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.


13. S.RES.623 : A resolution recognizing the importance of the role of the Lander Trail in the settlement of the American West on the 150th anniversary of the Lander Trail.
Sponsor: Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] (introduced 7/24/2008) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2008 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.


14. S.RES.650 : A resolution recognizing the importance of National Neighbor Day, National Good Neighbor Day, and National Neighborhood Day.
Sponsor: Sen Reed, Jack [RI] (introduced 8/1/2008) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2008 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Your Tax Dollars At Work - Pt 3

I was going to wait until next week for part 3 but this was to much. The following bill was introduced in Congress this week: H.R. 6975, To require aliens to attest that they will not advocate installing a Sharia law system in the United States as a condition for admission, and for other purposes. It would also require the deportation on any alien currently residing in the US who advocates installing a Sharia law system.

The bill is called The Jihad Prevention Act and was introduced by Representative Thomas Tancredo, a Republican from Littleton, CO.

I found this on The Washington Watch.com blog - pretty much a blog that does exactly what its name suggests! People can vote on bills which is kind of interesting because you get an idea of public opinion. The vote on this particular bill was 40% in favor, 60% opposed.

Here is another blog I found called The Rick Honcho & Dr. Katie Show. If you'd like a clear, unbiased view of the bill (that is sarcasm folks) check them out. Actually this is a pretty horrendous blog but I just had to include it because I was so astonished. Check out the Flag of Islam over White House post.

Now that I've introduced this, I'll give you a few random thoughts from my slightly odd brain. First of all if you were really coming to the US to install a Sharia law system are you going to be so stupid as to admit it when immigration asks you? I kind of think not. Secondly, I was under the impression this was a country where you were allowed to have differing opinions. Apparently that doesn't apply to immigrants? So if you are in the US on a visa you have to support everything that the government says? Now suppose that I, an "official" American citizen want to install a Sharia law system. Is that ok?

Admittedly I'm probably asking kind of stupid questions. This just brings up something that I really feel very strongly about though. This is one world - random divisions of countries are stupid. Throughout history how many wars have been fought over land and nationalist fervor (thanks for the phrase Jill)? I think that people should be allowed to live wherever they want and believe whatever they want. I'm opposed to immigration restrictions and stupid laws that ask asinine questions.

I'd tell you more stuff that I believe but it is probably naive, idealistic and would be impossible to implement. To give you a hint though! -- in my world there would be no war or money or poverty. Now admittedly this would probably require a change in human nature that isn't going to happen. My plan to deal with anyone who disagrees with me (did I mention I favor an absolute monarchy with me as queen?) is to put them on a rocketship & send them to Mars. Then if they come back they would be aliens wouldn't they!!

I realize I'm being a little silly, but I think spending time and money - your money and mine by the way - debating this kind of stuff in Congress when there are so many really important issues that should be dealt with is irresponsible.

Robin, the lonely blog mistress

Your Tax Dollars At Work - Pt 2

Ok, same legislative day as I noted in yesterdays post. I really love this one. Again, start from the bottom & read up. Now I'm certainly in favor of condemning television programming that indoctrinates hatred and violence toward anyone - actually I'd condemn most television programming but that's another post. What I don't understand is why it took 40 minutes of debate. Also I don't understand the purpose of this. Again I very well may be missing something terribly important but if so, someone should explain it to me. I'm paying for these guys to debate this stuff, as are you!

They can pass this nice resolution but it has no force or applicability. Why are they taking time to do this? And in case you're wondering, the vote on this was 409-yes, 1-no. So one of our illustrious representatives is in favor of using television programming for indoctrination? The lone no vote was from Congressman Ron Paul of Texas. Perhaps he meant something else by voting no but I think he should have made it clear. His web site states that: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. He is in favor of limited government intervention. Maybe he agrees that this was pointless legislation and that is why he voted no. If so, I think they should put that in the record.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Jackson-Lee moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1069:

condemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children

1:14 P.M. -

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:54 P.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1069.

Your Tax Dollars At Work, Pt 1

One of the things I do for work is monitor healthcare legislation. I find it fascinating to read the daily files of our legislators. On this particular day they were in session from 10:30 am to 10:01 pm. It is not at all clear to me that they did anything productive. For example: (You have to start at the bottom & read up - I'm not sure why but it's the government so I guess that explains it.) They spent 80 minutes debating 2 resolutions to rename post offices. Now perhaps I'm missing something but this doesn't seem like an effective use of time to me. Especially when I'm paying for it. You'll note I called this post Pt 1. I think this could be a very long series - tomorrow I'll have a really neat one for you!

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
110TH CONGRESS - SECOND SESSION

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 6169:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the "Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building"

2:14 P.M. -

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Ehlers objected to the Yea - Nay vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

2:07 P.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6169.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Davis (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 6168:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 112 South 5th Street in Saint Charles, Missouri, as the "Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building"

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:01 P.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6168.

Just to reiterate, I'm pretty ignorant politically so perhaps I'm totally misunderstanding all this. If so, please enlighten me! Otherwise I'm going to write a letter soon asking for a rebate on my taxes.

If you're interested, you can go to the website of the Office of the Clerk and click on a highlighted day on the calendar. That will take you to the proceedings for that day.