Risky business for N.C. Democrats
Few issues since the Vietnam War have generated as much heat as the health care debate, which prompted street corner rallies in Raleigh, packed town halls from Wilson to Durham and prodded both sides to mobilize.
But the question with Sunday’s historic House vote for President Barack Obama’s health care plan is how it will play in the November elections.
In a moderately conservative state like North Carolina with its traditional skepticism of the federal government, the issue poses risks for the Democrats. Public opinion polls suggest that the majority does not support the president’s plan, although voters say they like some parts of it. Read more.
Stupak bends, but gets his way
WASHINGTON — Late into Saturday night and again Sunday morning, U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan negotiated with President Barack Obama’s top lawyer, hammering out an executive order that made clear that no federal money would be spent on abortion.
It helped save the Democrats’ signature effort on health care overhaul — a victory that had eluded the party for decades.
Without Stupak and as many as nine other Democrats opposed to abortion, the chances of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The breakthrough came at midafternoon Sunday. “Thirty-one million more Americans will have health insurance,” Stupak said at a news conference. Read more.
Thousands Rally for Legalizing Illegals, Stronger Borders
(AP) Frustrated with the lack of action to overhaul the country’s immigration system, tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied on the National Mall and marched through the streets of the capital Sunday, waving American flags and holding homemade signs in English and Spanish.
Supporters traveled from around the country in hopes the rally would re-energize Congress to take up the volatile issue. Some lawmakers oppose any attempt to help an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants become U.S. citizens while others insist on stronger border controls first.
President Barack Obama, who promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year, sought to reassure those at the rally with a video message presented on giant screens at the National Mall. The president said he was committed to working with Congress this year on a comprehensive bill to fix a “broken immigration system.” Read more.
Jim C. Manatt, Jr.: Cap and trade regulation contrary to vital economic interests
What an ironic news day March 5. The headline was the $5.6 billion state budget with a $230 million tax increase. The same day, the New Energy Economy environmentalists sought natural gas emission cap revisions in Santa Fe. These events are connected.
New Mexico is a poor state by many standards but we are a richly endowed energy resource state. The oil and gas industry is New Mexico’s largest private sector revenue source, contributing $2 billion annually in taxes, depending on commodity prices, adding another $1 billion in “indirects” during a good year. Ninety-five percent of our $12 billion Permanent Funds come from oil and gas, funding about 70 percent of our kids’ education. For every $1 change in the price of natural gas, it means $100 million to our state revenues. Net effect today: $850 million less for New Mexico. Read more.
Obama is out of Control
Start the impeachment process now. Obama is not upholding the Constitution that he kinda swear to do. He has not even read it since 6th grade History Class. For the next year he will be mired in lawsuits from the states regarding his illegal passage of the healthcare secret bill. There is no where in the constitution to force a US Citizen to HAVE to purchase a product nor service.
He will continue to ignore the Worse Economic Depression facing US Citizens, Blow up our relationships with any foreign government – including our closest allies, Appease our enemies – the people that really HATE us, put our national security in grave danger, give amnesty to illegals, and impose a tax-laden cap and trade bill. Read more.
Health care mandates stoke resistance
State Senate GOP leader Phil Berger of Eden said Tuesday that he will introduce a bill when the legislature reconvenes in May to allow citizens to opt out of mandates of the new federal health care law.
“We cannot stand idly by while the federal government tramples on individuals’ rights to make their own health care decisions,” Berger said.
“Forcing individual citizens to buy a good or a service, as the federal legislation requires, is an unprecedented and unconstitutional overreach by the federal government, and it must be opposed,” Berger added. Read more.
ACORN to Shut Down in Wake of Scandal
CHICAGO (AP)– The once mighty community activist group ACORN announced Monday it is folding amid falling revenues — six months after video footage emerged showing some of its workers giving tax tips to conservative activists posing as a pimp and prostitute.
“It’s really declining revenue in the face of a series of attacks from partisan operatives and right-wing activists that have taken away our ability to raise the resources we need,” ACORN spokesman Kevin Whelan said.
Several of its largest affiliates, including ACORN New York and ACORN California, broke away this year and changed their names in a bid to ditch the tarnished image of their parent organization and restore revenue that ran dry in the wake of the video scandal. Read more.
Burr joins health law protest
WASHINGTON — With a few words Wednesday – “I would have to object” – Sen. Richard Burr joined an angry Republican pushback to the nation’s sweeping health overhaul.
Burr used a parliamentary maneuver to derail an Armed Services Committee hearing for which commanders had traveled from South Korea and Hawaii to discuss the Pentagon’s needs for the next year.
It was one of several hearings on issues ranging from homeless veterans to police trainers in Afghanistan that were upturned by Republican tactics to slow the workings of the Senate. Read more.
McConnell: Repeal ‘top of our list’
Refusing to concede permanent defeat on health reform, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell wants to “repeal the whole bill” and replace it with insurance reforms and other measures that could get bipartisan agreement.
“They got health care,” McConnell told POLITICO with a mischievous glint in his eye. “We’ll see whether that’s a gift worth receiving.”
McConnell said that if Republicans were to win back the Senate majority in November, “at the top of our list would be to repeal and replace this health care bill.” Read more.
Obama Dares Republicans to Pursue Repeal of Health Care Law
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Obama mocked Republicans’ campaign to try to repeal his new health care law, saying Thursday they should “Go for it” and see how well they fare with voters.
“Be my guest,” Obama said in prepared remarks for the first of many appearances around the country to sell the overhaul to voters before the fall congressional elections. “I welcome that fight. Because I don’t believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat.”
With emotions raw around the nation over the party-line vote to approve the nearly $1 trillion, 10-year law, Obama took the opposition to task for “fear-mongering and overheated rhetoric.” Read more.
Osama bin Laden warns on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed death penalty
Osama bin Laden is warning that Al Qaeda will kill any Americans it takes prisoner if the U.S. executes accused Sept. 11 co-conspirator Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
“The day America will take such decision [to execute Mohammed and any others] it would have taken a decision to execute whoever we capture,” bin Laden said in an audiotaped message aired Thursday on Al Jazeera. He said Mohammed’s execution would amount to a “death sentence” for Americans in the group’s custody. Read more.
Obama’s Mideast gamble
President Barack Obama’s relations with the Israeli government have hit a new low, but the tensions on display this week between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be reviving another presidential project: His quest to improve America’s image in the Arab and Muslim world.
Obama raised high expectations among Arab leaders and publics with his promise of dramatic change from George W. Bush, and with high-profile gestures in the first days of his administration, but the administration’s awkward retreat last year from an initial demand of a total Israeli freeze on settlements dissipated much of that good will. Read more.
Crusader has troubles of his own
A Greenville state Senate candidate who has made an issue of the state’s overpayment of mental health claims is himself on the hook for $4.2 million in Medicaid overcharges for services provided by his family’s company.
Frankie Bordeaux and his wife, Hattie Faye Hardy Bordeaux, signed a settlement with the state in February that included a two-year repayment plan for money improperly collected by Cambridge Behavioral Health Services in Greenville. The first monthly payment, $241,296, was due this month.
An investigation of Cambridge by the state Medicaid office found hundreds of cases of incomplete patient records, “several instances of potential fraud,” duplicate or “canned” notes, and unqualified staff delivering care, according to the settlement. Read more.
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