For an HTML version of this please go to www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org/eNewsletter51.htm
The links will not show up in the text version. If your html is off, you are missing a lot (colors, bolding, links, highlights, etc.). Under every word "HERE" there is a link to the corresponding article, but either HTML must be on or you must go to the above page to see it.

Bimonthly on election and health care reform. Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom.

Wisconsin Clean Elections Coalition

Promoting fair elections for all parties and candidates

eNewsletter #51

August 7, 2007

www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org

Newsletter Archives

.

In this issue:

1) Health Care

2) Campaign Reform

3) Politicians

4) Small Business Times on Health Care

5) Tidbits

6) Give me a Break!

7) Book Recommendations

8) Contact Information

9) Unsubscribe Instructions

.

1

Health Care

Healthy Debate: Transcript

A transcript of a debate over the state Senate's "Healthy Wisconsin" health care plan, hosted by JS Online and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board on Wednesday, Aug. 1. The debaters were David Riemer, who supports the plan, and John Torinus, who has raised questions about it. Jerry Resler of the Editorial Board was the moderator.

See the debate transcript HERE

Healthy Wisconsin is bad medicine From the Small Business Times

So now we know…. NFIB sells healthcare insurance to its members! Why else would they oppose reducing member costs at the expense of their own profits?

From the NFIB website:

Health Care and Employee Benefits
Take control of your health-care dollars with a Health Savings Account. Paired with high-deductible insurance plans, these accounts can save you up to 42 percent on premium. Funds not used for the current year's health-care expenses roll over, earn interest tax-free and are available for future health-care expenses.

Why else would the National Federation of Independent Businesses oppose a Healthy Wisconsin plan that would fix health care for businesses? Simple. Because they are part of the profiteers in the health care business. They sell health insurance to their members.

Poll says Wisconsin wants universal care

As they head into negotiations today over the shape of a final state budget bill, Senate Democrats are touting a new poll that they say shows overwhelming public support across Wisconsin for their $15.2 billion universal health care plan.

The poll, conducted by veteran national pollster Celinda Lake, found that two-thirds of Wisconsin residents support the Democratic plan -- even when presented with opponents' arguments that it would be a "job killer" that could lead to higher taxes.

"We called it a $17 billion plan from the Madison liberals that's going to cost the state jobs," said Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, one of the plan's sponsors. "Everything we have heard (against the plan), we put in the poll. And it still comes back at 67 percent approval."

See the complete article HERE

Can you imagine the approval rating if they had left out all of the erroneous garbage from the opponents (the insurance industry and the business associations that sell their products)?

If you are turning 65 or just want to know the differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage, WPS is putting on a series of seminars in September. Look HERE for dates and places.

The region’s new health care building boom passes the $1 billion mark

The health care building boom continues in southeastern Wisconsin. Tallying up the projects currently under construction, more than $1 billion is being invested by health care providers to build new or expand existing hospitals and clinics.

Some critics say the “medical arms race” of the health care building projects is contributing to the high health care costs in the region. However, health care providers defend themselves by saying the building projects are a small portion of their expenses.

See the complete article HERE

More Than a Prayer for Single Payer

By Roger Bybee

The American Prospect talks to the co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program about why a single-payer system remains not only the most desirable reform goal in the United States, but an achievable one.

The notion of a Canadian-style "single-payer" health system -- essentially, replacing costly private insurers with a government body or bodies to pay for healthcare -- has long been dismissed by elite politicians and pundits. But the popular response to Michael Moore's new documentary "Sicko" is adding fuel to an already-smoldering fire of resentment over the domination of the current health system by for-profit insurers, in addition to that system's high cost (double any other nation's) and poor performance (37th overall in quality, according to the World Health Organization).

The the complete article HERE

Big Bucks Talk and Health Care Walks, part I

By Clyde Winter (Health care crisis)

There is no doubt about it. Our health care in the USA was once the best in the world. But now we’re way back in 30-something place, behind almost every other modern industrialized nation. Yet, we as a nation pay about double, per capita, what it costs for health care in those other countries. And those nations provide health care for everyone, with better health care outcomes, across the board.

For most everyone, there is no security in clutching whichever of the thousands of different insurance policies your employer has chosen for you (if any). Your employer, after all, may decide to get rid of that policy - or maybe your job. You, or someone in your family, may have a “pre-existing condition” or fall through the loopholes, or just not qualify. Maybe your fate has an unwelcome surprise in store. Medical “surprises” are implicated in half the personal bankruptcies that occur in the USA.

See the complete article HERE

Healthy Wisconsin coming attractions

Here are some Healthy Wisconsin Related Video Clips:

Erpenbach Responds to Attacks on Healthy Wisconsin

Erpenbach: How Healthy Wisconsin Will Work

Erpenbach: “We Can’t Afford the Status Quo”

And, a rundown of this week’s forums-

Wednesday Aug 8 - Ladysmith 4-5:30 pm, Public Library, 418 W. Corbett Ave

Speakers: Jon Erpenbach and Tom Ahrens

Wednesday Aug 8 - Superior 7-8:30 pm, Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave

Speakers: Steve Williams and Billy Feitlinger (Jon Erpenbach will try to attend as well)

Thursday Aug 9 - Deforest 4-5:30 pm, Community and Senior Center, 505 N. Main Street

Speakers: Vivien DeBack and Billy Feitlinger

Thursday Aug 9 - Poynette 6:30-8 pm, Village Hall, 106 South Main Street

Speakers: Vivien DeBack and Billy Feitlinger

Thursday Aug 9 - Milwaukee (place TBD) 5.30 – Hilton Hotel on N. Port Washington

Speaker: Lisa Ellinger (sponsored by Milwaukee Grassroots Northshore)

2

Campaign Reform

Victory! North Carolina is Voter Owned! (from www.Publicamaign.org)

Big news from North Carolina yesterday! After the House passed the Voter-Owned Elections Act (VOEA) earlier this week, the state Senate followed the House’s lead and approved the VOEA. VOEA will bring Clean Elections campaign reform to three of North Carolina’s Council of State seats. Once the Governor signs the bill, and it looks like he will, candidates for State Auditor, Insurance Commissioner and Superintendent of Public Instruction will have the opportunity to opt in to a full public financing alternative for their campaigns, just as candidates for the Supreme and Appellate courts in the state do now.

North Carolina, which has pioneered the judicial public financing program, has been looking to expand their Voter-Owned Elections policy to other offices. Following a period of pay-to-play scandals, which just recently led to the conviction of former House Speaker Jim Black, the state is anxious to take action against corruption and this bill is a great first step. Just as judicial public financing paved the way for this bill, so to should this program lead to Clean Elections for all Council of State races and, eventually, legislative and statewide races as well.

Congratulations to Democracy North Carolina, Common Cause North Carolina, NC PIRG, North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, and many more for spear-heading this effort, and to the people of North Carolina for persevering in their efforts to take back their elections!

Please mark your calendars, spread the word, and stay tuned for further details...

********************************************************************

People's Legislature Call to Action...

Be a part of the

STORM FOR REFORM

Tuesday, September 18

12 noon

State Street entrance to State Capitol

The People’s Legislature will be storming the State Capitol to rally for campaign finance reform. Join us at the State Street entrance to the west wing of the Capitol. Bring a friend or two...or 10!

ü Be prepared to make some noise. Bring a pot or a pan to bang.

ü Everyone takes a turn at the microphone. Come prepared to say – in 15 words or less – what the bosses at the Capitol most need to hear.

Governor Doyle has promised to call the Legislature into special session to act on campaign reform. Let’s hold him to his promise and put pressure on legislators to act.

Please help turn out others so we have a massive crowd there when the People's Legislature confronts the Lobbyists' Legislature.

* * * *

For more information about the September 18 "Storm for Reform" rally at the Capitol, call 608-255-4260 or e-mail Beverly Speer, our advocacy director, at speer@wisdc.org.

3

Politicians

Ryan votes against bill benefiting poor children

Ryan, R-Wis., said Thursday the measure expands government-run health care while cutting Medicare benefits.

"This bill uses a children’s health insurance program as an excuse to push people from private health insurance to government health coverage, while taking away coverage choices from seniors," Ryan said. "It essentially creates a costly new entitlement program at a time when our existing major entitlements are going broke."

See complete article HERE

But of course, his top two campaign contributors are..... you guessed it.... insurance and health care SOURCE

PAC Contributions Totaled by Interest Heading
1.	Finance, Insurance	$200,918
2.	Health Care	$154,892

According to www.congress.org

Recent Senate Votes

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 - Vote Agreed to (83-14, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would provide greater transparency in the legislative process.

Sen. Herbert Kohl voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Russ Feingold voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would add 3 million lower-income children to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Sen. Herbert Kohl voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Russ Feingold voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (411-8, 13 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would provide greater transparency in the legislative process.

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

This is a positive sign. But they are too few and far between.

Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (225-204, 4 Not Voting)

The House voted for this bill that would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, adding up to 5 million children to the program.

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

With all of Sensenbrenner's investments in the health care and pharmaceutical industry, this negative vote is certainly consistent with his "principles." Kids be damned, nothing stands in his way to more wealth.

4

Small Business Times
on Health Care

Milwaukee's Small Business Times asked Canadians the questions that so many people want answers to:

Do we really want a universal system?

The debate over Healthy Wisconsin, the proposed plan that would fundamentally transform the delivery of health care in the state into a universal care system, is white hot these days. With the plan, rather than paying premiums to insurance companies, all employers instead would pay a new 10.5-percent tax on their employees’ Social Security wages to the state. Instead of buying insurance directly or contributing toward a share of a premium, consumers would be assessed a fee of 4 percent of their Social Security wages.

A public/private entity would then allocate that money to private health care networks that service different parts of the state. The enrollments in the networks would be driven by consumer preferences.

See the complete article HERE

Canadian business owners thrive with their country’s health care system

"Many Canadian business owners and managers say their country’s government-run, universal health care system is far from perfect, but they would not trade it for an American-style system."

See the complete article HERE

Hybrid system may be best solution

"In Wisconsin alone, the proposed Healthy Wisconsin initiative would create a universal state health care plan that would be funded by a $15.2 billion annual new tax, which would make Wisconsin the highest-taxed state in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation, based in Washington, D.C."

See the complete article HERE

While this statement alone is true, the author did not mention that the net would be a savings to both employers and employees. The 10.5% employer tax on wages would be offset by the elimination of the 15% most employers currently pay for health insurance premiums, and the 4% tax on wages employees pay would be offset by additional coverage for limited dental, vision and mental parity. The combined "tax plus health care costs" would be less than most are paying today, and that's what really counts.

From both sides now …

Some Canadian natives now living in Wisconsin say their family members and friends still living in Canada are being well-served by the universal health care system there.

“My dad went in for prostate cancer, serious stuff, and he immediately got moved to the top of the list,” said Gary Billington, vice president of client relations with Milwaukee-based Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP. “And my brother had a heart attack when he was in his 40s. It was pretty severe, and he had his cardiologist and his procedures done. My dad says if it’s not life threatening, you have to wait. As soon as it’s serious, your status becomes higher.”

See the complete article HERE

My thanks and deep appreciation for the unprecedented coverage the Small Business Times has devoted to the health care issue. It is unfortunate that the state's business associations do not have the foresight demonstrated by SBT.
Please also take a look at their Blog HERE, which covers both sides of the issue.

5

Tidbits

A newswoman with principles, on the Paris Hilton story.

So Rudy Giuliani has appointed a bunch of right-wing thugs on his healthcare advisory team? Well, he's lost me. These people are funded by the insurance industry.

And so what else would you expect his position to be? An insurance industry handout!

A free-market cure for US healthcare system

By Rudolph W. Giuliani | August 3, 2007

AMERICA is at a crossroads when it comes to healthcare.

All Americans want to increase the quality, affordability, and portability of healthcare. The 2008 election presents a decisive debate on how to reach this goal.

The Democratic candidates for president believe in a government-mandated model that looks for inspiration to the socialized medical systems of Europe, Canada, and Cuba.

Most Republicans believe in expanding individual choice and decision-making. I believe we can reduce costs and improve the quality of care by increasing competition. We can do it through tax cuts, not tax hikes. We can do it by empowering patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats. Instead of being more like Europe, we need to be more like America.

America has the best medical care in the world. People come here from around the world to take advantage of our path-breaking medicine and state-of-the-art treatments.

See the complete article HERE (Click the button in upper right to bypass ad.

6

Give me a Break!

A baby panda sneeze

For you amateur pilots out there, give this a try....

What's wrong with this web site address? It's a SCAM! Don't click on it, just hover your mouse pointer over it and you'll see that it doesn't take you where it says it is going to take you.

https://www.wamucards.com/cardmembersvcs/app/signin

(I've disabled it even if you do click on it.)

If it had been presented this way, I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

Help Wanted

PARENT - Job Description

POSITION:

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma

Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in= far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them!

Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

7

Book Recommendations

See other reviews on Amazon.com

The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money (Hardcover)
by Timothy P. Carney (ISBN: 0471789070)

I suggest everyone should read this before they vote in the next election., October 31, 2006

By Carl Valeri "CarlValeri.com" (Basking Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Many times I complain when I see a large portion of my paycheck stripped of income. Occasionally I declare in a frustrated tone, "where is my money going?". As shown in Timothy P. Carney's book The Big Rip off, our money lands in the pockets of big business from our government through our tax dollars.

Before reading The Big Ripoff, I discovered the largest supporter of the Kyoto Protocol was Enron. I began wondering if this was good for our environment, or was it just making a select few rich. But not having the time to research the subject I let my curiosity simmer.

Carney has taken time to research the age old question "what does the government do with my tax dollars?". Carney will open your eyes to many corporate welfare programs and abuses of eminent domain by politicians for the benefit of companies. Furthermore, you will learn that big companies are the most adamant supporters of more government regulation because it restricts smaller less powerful companies from entering their field.

I suggest everyone should read this before they vote in the next election. You will learn that the piles of cash the government gives to big corporations is not determined by the political party, but by the political system itself.

If you wish to discover how and why your hard earned tax dollars are sent to these large companies, you need to read this book. You will be shocked in what you learn. You will also be delighted to find a bibliography helping you discover resources for your own research.

I'm almost finished with it and agree with many of the books points. It is an eyeopener.

8
Contact information

Lohman is a retired business owner that volunteers’ time on the issues of Election reform and Universal health care -

Contact: Jack E. Lohman
jelohman@gmail.com or jelohman@charter.net
Phone 414-477-8686 (cell)
www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org
www.WiCleanElections.org
www.BusinessCoalition.net

www.MoneyedPoliticians.com (my book: Politicians - Owned and Operated by Corporate America)

www.SmokeFreeDining.net (A searchable restaurant database)

Wisconsin State Assembly pages: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=assembly

Wisconsin State Senator pages: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=senate

9
Unsubscribe Instructions

To leave the list, send a blank email to jelohman@gmail.com with “Remove eNewsletter” in the subject line

To subscribe, send a blank email to jelohman@gmail.com with “Subscribe eNewsletter” in the subject line

The system is automatic and you must send from the email address you want added or removed.

If either fails please notify me directly at jelohman@gmail.com. Thanks.

Disclosure: I am a center-right Republican that (regrettably) voted for Bush twice. But the Republicans look worse here because they (are/were) in power and the party blocking reform. Next year it may be the Democrats taking center stage. Were I to have a political choice it would be for a strong third-party reform candidate in all seats. I do not like our very costly and ineffective duopoly. Jack Lohman

See Lohman's complete disclosure HERE.