The Obama administration last week shelved CLASS, a major portion of ObamaCare, because they could no longer defend its inevitable insolvency. CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports), a leftist pet project even before it was included in ObamaCare in 2009, was designed to operate as a self-sustaining voluntary insurance program that workers would pay into during their careers, then collect from if they came to require long-term care later in life. CLASS could operate without a taxpayer subsidy only if large numbers of healthy workers joined it, which was unlikely given their current coverage and the program's high premiums. Thus, disabled beneficiaries would drain the program and make it insolvent unless the federal government mandated participation or created an additional payroll tax to fund it, two possibilities with which Democrats are perfectly comfortable.
Democrats knew well of this major flaw in CLASS during the ObamaCare debate in 2009, yet continued to push for its inclusion because it was the linchpin of their argument that ObamaCare was not only deficit-neutral but would actually cut the deficit. They claimed that CLASS would reduce the deficit by $80 billion over 10 years, accounting for 40 percent of ObamaCare's total supposed savings. In reality, in 10 years, the program would have collapsed by virtually every calculation. But by then, it would be too late, and the American people would have been stuck with yet another unfunded entitlement.
The CLASS disaster was averted due to a Republican provision that called for actuarial analysis before its implementation, proving the program's solvency over a 75-year period before its implementation. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius finally admitted last week that this benchmark was unattainable, and now the administration wants to "revisit" CLASS. Senate and House Republicans, however, have introduced new legislation calling for outright repeal. Strangely, Obama has threatened to veto legislative repeal. CLASS's downfall is a clear demonstration of big government hubris, further proof that all of ObamaCare should also be consigned to the scrap heap.
--From The Patriot Post (http://patriotpost.us/). It's free, it's right, and I've been following this site for almost ten years! I'm convinced that The Patriot Post presents the best and clearest analysis of governmental intentions and mistakes that have such enormous impacts on our future prosperity and the freedoms guaranteed to us in the real (not "living") U.S. Constitution as I've found anywhere. Should be read regulary by citizens and elected officials alike who understand that government was never intended to be the peoples' overseers but protectors of all of our Constitutional rights as public servants!
12 comments:
But Zero is the "greatest president" evah and in his words never been wrong.All of his decisions have been right.
Please casn any Virginian or Suffolkian can tell me why Senator Moran keeps getting elected? This moron would appoint Obama a dictator for life.Jim Moron dummiecrat wants king obama to cercimvent congress like all tipical despots did after all HITLER and STALIN did.
The stunning ignorance of basic economics by the Democrats is both astonishing and appalling.
Morana the moron wants Obama to borrow the monwey so that he may offer all Americans 3% on home financing by presidential order and bypass Congress.Koran Moran strikes again. What’s next? Free food, healthcare and housing for life? Oh, sorry, we already have that.
How the hell does this dimwit think we got into this mess in the first place? Sure, why not, let’s let EVERYbody just relinquish ALL self-reliance and responsibility. And have a Constitution-burning party while we’re at it? Has he been talking to Barney Frank again?
WHO ELECTS THESE IDIOTS? Oh, now I remember.
Virginians should be so proud,
A bipartisan deficit reduction plan proposed by the so-called “gang of six” Democratic and Republican senators would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. CLASS, a national, voluntary long-term care insurance program, was included as part of the 2010 health law. The new budget plan, which President Obama called a “very significant step” also proposed significant, but unspecified cuts in Medicaid as well as other unidentified reductions in non-Medicaid social service programs.
Today, more than 40 percent of all long-term care is funded by Medicaid which is itself under tremendous financial stress. While CLASS is deeply flawed, it is an opportunity to transform long-term care from the means-tested Medicaid program to an insurance-based system. If CLASS is repealed, that opportunity will be lost, and millions of Americans will find themselves with only a shrinking Medicaid benefit to support them in frail old age or if they become disabled at a younger age.
The ultimate fate of the broad budget proposal is unknown. It would reduce the federal deficit by about $3.6 trillion over 10 years and is seen by some, including Obama, as a way to break the debt limit impasse that has divided Washington for months.
CLASS has been a target of both Republican and Democratic deficit hawks since was enacted, largely because they feared it would fail as an insurance program and eventually have to be bailed out by taxpayers. They also objected to budget accounting rules that made it seem as if CLASS was generating about $78 billion in new revenues that would be available to pay for health reform.
The Obama Administration has been struggling to design a CLASS insurance policy that would attract enough consumers to make the program self-sustaining. However, major design problems left many insurance experts skeptical that premiums would ever be affordable enough for broad participation.
While advocacy groups such as Leading Age, which represents some non-profit long-term care providers, immediately urged the CLASS repeal be dropped from the budget bill, I suspect their concerns will fall on deaf ears. CLASS is a tiny piece of a huge fiscal package and I see no one on Capitol Hill willing to defend it aggressively. With Obama and Congress looking for a way out of fiscal gridlock, CLASS will likely be lost in the noise of the bigger budget debate.
If so, CLASS will be remembered as a sadly missed opportunity, and those of us who worry about how the nation will fund long-term care will find ourselves back at square one.
What do you do when you have a strikingly handsome, articulate, likable, and accomplished man as the incumbent in the White House that you need to defeat? You make stuff up, which is exactly what the GOP has been doing since President Obama took office in 2009.
Here are a few doozies..
President Obama was born in Kenya. (Nope)
President Obama is a Socialist. (Nope)
President Obama wants the government to run your life. (Nope)
President Obama wants to take your guns. (Nope)
President Obama wants your children to be healthy. (Actually, this one is true)
President Obama hates white people. (Nope)
President Obama hates rich people. (Nope)
President Obama is soft on terror. (Nope)
President Obama is weak on immigration. (Nope)
President Obama wants Israel to collapse. (Nope)
President Obama hates babies. (Nope)
This list could go on and on and on. In fact, the GOP goes as far as to prevent job creation to put the blame on President Obama. They have not presented a jobs plan that would actually create jobs once since taking control of the House of Representatives in January. They have been too busy trying to prevent women, gays, and unions from having rights of their own. They have also unanimously voted against any bill that would create jobs presented by President Obama, simply because it has been presented by President Obama. Many parts of his jobs plan include old Republican ideas that the GOP has been quick to disavow now that Obama presents it back to them. When the only thing you have against Obama is something that you have to manufacture to make him look bad, you will be the ones to look bad in the end.
President Obama was indeed born in the USA, as it has been proven more than once. President Obama is certainly not a Socialist, as evidenced by his love for capitalism and how he helped save it. He doesn’t want the government to run your life, he simply wants a government that enables people to be able to run their own lives. Obama actually granted more gun rights by allowing individuals to be able to carry a weapon into national parks. President Obama’s health care law simply holds insurance companies accountable to actually care for the people they insure, and to provide a mandate that will end up being cost-effective because fewer people will be reliant on the government dime. The Affordable Care Act also prevents insurance companies from neglecting individuals that need care the most. Saying that Obama hates white people or rich people is about as useful as throwing sand in the sand box… it’s obviously childish, and holds absolutely no proof or clout except for being a nuisance. Obama has undoubtedly proven that he is not soft on terror by his recent international take-down of the worlds most sought after terrorists. He has also proven that he is not weak on immigration with record numbers of deportations every year since he has taken office. Obama has opened the lines of communication up further than most Presidents in the past have been able to between Israel and Palestine. He has also made it clear that he believes it’s a woman’s right to choose, and his choice is life.
The jig is up. The GOP has nothing on the man except for what they make up or manufacture.
Guess you havent read his books. Guess you didnt read Moochells college thesis.
Gusse he never attended so called rev wrights so called church.Guess he never took a dime from fat cats from wall street. Guess he doesnt support the OWS folks either.Guess he isnt out in Hollywood seeking campagin money. (rich white folks)
He should thank Bush for his anti terror program. Guess he never said he was going to close Gitmo. Guess in due time we will find out his BC is a fraud just like he is.
Hell his wife the first Black Angus said he was from Kenya. He said it in an interview with ABC. His lies are just that Lies. he tells them he ven believes them. His economic record isnt a lie. Its so bad I want to know what is the truth? he doesnt want you to know. his adminstration is not open and transparent. Its about as transparent as the water treatment plants in Suffolk and they smell better than this adminstration. Post racial president? How come black leaders like Al I dont pay taxes Sharpton are telling blacks to stand with the brother because he is black. Yep more lies from repugs Oh, that right Cain said blacks have been brainwashed. Its not.Anon 10:01 you are living proof of that
Anon 10:01 you forgot the easy ones; Class Warfare Warrior, Socialist, Neo-Fascist, Acadamiac.
okkkk lets have some fun at the expense of Anon and all Zero supporters. PART ONE OF THREE
Below is a list of Obama’s documented lies so far with the most recent lies first. If you see we are missing a documented lie Submit the lie here.
Lies During Third Year
I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven’t resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.
American.com
USA producing more oil than ever before
Petroleum Insights
Fence between US and Mexico is “Practically Complete”
Department of Homeland Security says 5%
Rich doesn’t pay their fair share.
National Taxpayers Union
Lies During Second Year
No signing statements to nullify or undermine congressional instructions as enacted into law
Obama Lies to Keep Czars
No “boots” on the ground Libya
Anyone that has worked with the AC-130 gunship can tell you, you need spotters to let aircraft know where the targets are. Usually it is Special Forces, Rangers etc trained for this mission. It’s CIA Agents in Libya on the ground
Reform will also rein in the abuse and excess that nearly brought down our financial system. It will finally bring transparency to the kinds of complex, risky transactions that helped trigger the financial crisis.
Obama Lies About Financial Reform Bill
All Americans WILL BE were, “surprised, disappointed and angry” about lockerbie bomber
Obama Memo
I will not rest until the BP Oil Spill stops
Obama’s Schedule
The health care bill will not increase the deficit by one dime.
Campaign and Presidency
If you like the health care plan you have you can keep it
TownHall
“Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., September 9, 2009.
ObamaCare Fee is not a new tax
Obama denies healthcare is a new tax on all Americans
We have run out of places in the US to drill for oil.
Obama’s oval office speech in June 2010
Now suddenly if you don’t have your papers and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you can be harassed, that’s something that could potentially happen.
Arizona Immigration Law
Doctors choose amputation because they get better compensation. Greedy Doctors taking out tonsils for more money.
Claims never documented
The Health Care Package will pay for itself
Time
Republicans don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas — not one.
Hmm Immigration?
We shouldn’t Mandate the purchase of health care
Democratic Debate Lies
I am immediately instituting PayGo “Pay as you go”
Said during a speech immediately after the Trillion Dollar “Shovel Ready” bill.
I got the Message from Massachusetts
Daily Bail
PART 2
Lies During First Year
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Obama Inauguration. 20 Jan 2009
Cut Deficit in Half by end of first term
Associated Press Video
Health Care deals will be covered on C-span
Obama Lies
As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide
ABC
Recovery Act will save or create jobs
ABC News
Unemployment rate will be 8.5% without stimulus.
Obama Lies
No Earmarks in the $787 Billion Stimulus
CNN
I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care plan
Specator.Org
We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages.
Obama Lies
I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage.
NPR
Guantanamo bay to be closed within a year
Council on Foreign Relations.
Won’t Raise taxes on those making less than 250,000 per year.
Businessweek: Obama Agnostic on taxes
List of Tax Promise Violations
2008 Campaign Lies
Take our nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert
ArmsControl.org – “the current alert posture … should not be changed”
Mr. Ayers as “a guy who lives in my neighborhood,” but “not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.
News Busters
I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Obama campaign would accept public funding
ABC
Minimum Wage will increase to $9.50/hr
A Socialist
Ann Dunham spent the months before her death in 1995 fighting with insurance companies that sought to deny her the coverage she needed to pay for treatment.
Mounting Heath Care Lies
Didn’t know Jeremiah Wright was Radical
Dreams of My Father – A radical Socialist.
Would have the most transparent administration in History
Cato Institute
We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way.
Boston Globe
I have visited all 57 states.
Snopes
I’ll get rid of earmarks
Source: Any bill passed during presidency
When a bill lands on my Desk, The American people will have 5 days to review it before I sign it.
Campaign Speech
My father served in World War II.
The Videos and the Facts
Have troops out of Iraq by March 31, 2009
News Video
Seniors Making less than 50,000 will not have to pay taxes
YouTube
Would not vote for any bill supporting troop funding without a firm withdrawal commitment from the Bush Administration.
He has done nothing but continue the Bush admins strategy and to explain how the “surges total failure” has now become his greatest achievement.
Present Votes Are Common In Illinois
NPR
I Won Michigan
Huffington Post
I won Nevada
The Nation
I don’t Have Lobbyists
US News
My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad
Crooks and Liars
I Have Always Been Against Iraq
Washington Post
My Wife Didn’t Mean What She Said About Pride In Country
CNN
Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
Obama Campaign Video
I Barely Know Rezko
Sun Times
My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church
ABC News
DAMN THOSE LYING REPUBLICANS
Stayed tune for more..
Yes the OWS ground who Obama supports but take millions from Wall street and Hollywood lberals. Yes the protest are so much alike its sickening:
Tea Party:
989 Days of Protests
0 Arrests
0 Rapes
$0 Cost to taxpayers.
Occupy Wall Street:
40 Days of Protests
2,511 Arrests
4 Rapes
Theft of 20 thousand dollars donated by folks (liberals) on pay pal in support of people who deficate on police cars and urinate where ever they feel like it.
$2,400,000.00 Cost to Taxpayers
Why Does the Tea Party Hate Americans and Their Government?
Tea Party Moran
The answer to the title of the post is that they are scared little sh*ts who have no idea how the government operates to insure fairness to all. They believe it should only act in their interest. So, they have no problem with the government defaulting on it’s debt’s.
They are too vapid to see how it affects them in the global picture.
The Tea Party is so clueless they do not even realize they took their name after an event whose goal was to decide which form of government the colonies should be taxed under. Not that government should not exist or that it’s citizens should not be taxed.
Yet even after the conservatives won a resounding victory in the debt ceiling debate, many Tea Partiers bemoaned the final agreement.
The mantra of the Tea Partiers is reduce the debt and no new taxes. The problem is that tends to hurt poor Americans. And with no new revenues, especially on the rich who have made billions on the backs of the poor, the true ideal of the American economy becomes corrupt.
The question is not whether the debt needs to be reduced, it does. But when American’s begin to rely on a scared shi*less, intellectually challenged, and selfish minority, we all suffer.
Anon the real question ius why do belive in socialism. Why do you believe in a person who has his own identity symbol Other thsn Prince the singer I know only of one other in history who had his own and that was a swastkia.
OWS? It's getting very old now. Obama the greatest president evah compares this with the TP folks? And you trust his judgement?
“Occupy” is nothing but a pack of louts, thieves, and rapists, an unruly mob, fed by Woodstock-era nostalgia and putrid false righteousness. These clowns can do nothing but harm America. “Occupy” … an ugly fashion statement by a bunch of iPhone, iPad wielding spoiled brats who should stop getting in the way of working people and find jobs for themselves.
In the name of decency, go home to your parents, you losers. Go back to your mommas’ basements and play with your Lords Of Warcraft.
They all Looks like a bunch of overly-indulged, overly-dramatic hypocrites making their pathetic lives even worse. Plus, lice.But of course I could be wrong. I love the ones that seem to think they’re jihadists. Tablecloth scarfs and hankies over the face.
They’re showing their solidarity with their idols. The Left always did love blood, except when it was the own.
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