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Lets Go Scott Free in 2014

September 15, 2013 SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE No. 13-7
Senator McConnell
Where Are The Jobs?
Mr. Boehner
Where Are The Jobs?
WHICH PART OF OBAMACARE IS IT
OK TO REPEAL?
WE WANT YOU TO REPEAL
OBAMACARE
[Ed: Since the 2010 election, the House
Republicans have voted 40 ti mes to repeal
or defund Obamacare. Since there is no way
their vote will pass the Senate or the President,
it is purely a propaganda stunt to raise money
from their base and to attempt to denigrate the
Affordable Healthcare Act. They have succeeded
in flummoxing Americans to believe Obamacare
is bad for them, but when voters are presented
with the facts . . .]
Senator Bill Nelson reports: I went to a town hall
meeting in North Florida recently and the minute
I walked in the meeting, a group of folks stopped
me and said, Sen. Nelson, we want you to repeal
Obamacare.
So I asked them, What part of the health-care bill
would you like me to repeal?
Do you want me to repeal the part that
says you can keep your kids on your family
insurance policy until the age of 26?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
an insurance company cant cancel you when
you are in the middle of treatment?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says an
insurance company cannot deny you insurance
because of pre-existing conditions?
Do you want me to repeal that part that
requires insurance companies to give you 85
cents of your premium dollar in health care?
You know, they were stunned. They didnt know
thats all in the bill. ##
FRANK LUNTZ MALARKEY
Frank Luntz designs a great deal of the malarkey
which the Republican spin machine spews out on a
daily basis. The benefits of ObamaCare have been
so distorted by Luntz extremist rhetoric and these
attack ads by Super PACs that low-information
voters have no idea what is in it.
Here are more questions Senator Nelson could
have asked:
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
women dont have to pay more for their health
insurance than men?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
insurance companies cannot classify domestic
violence as a pre-existing condition?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
there can be no lifetime caps on your coverage?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
insurance companies are required to cover
womens preventive care such as mammograms
and cervical cancer screening at no charge?
Do you want me to repeal the part that says
insurance companies are required to supply
contraceptives at no charge? ##
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40 WAYS THAT OBAMACARE I S
ALREADY WORKI NG
Before they left for their
summer vacation, the House
of Representatives took
its 40th vote to repeal
Obamacare. To mark the
occasion, heres a quick
rundown of 40 ways that
Obamacare is already working
for millions of Americans and
will impact more beginning
in 2014.
1. Say goodbye to lifetime limits: Insurance
companies will no longer be able to place
an arbitrary cap on coverage.
2. Children can no longer be denied health
insurance because of a pre-existing
condition.
3. Starting in 2014, adults will no longer
be denied health insurance because of a
pre-existing condition.
Free preventive care, including:
4. Annual check-ups
5. Contraception
6. Vaccinations
7. Gestational diabetes screenings
8. Mammograms
9. Screening and counselling for HIV
10. Cholesterol screenings
11. Colonoscopies
12. Blood pressure screenings
13. Cancer screenings
14. Osteoporosis screenings
15. Young adults can stay on their parents
insurance plans until the age of 26.
16. If insurance companies arent spending
your premium dollars on your health
careat least 80 percenttheyve got to
give you some money back.
17. Insurance companies cant raise
your rates by double-digits without
justification.
18. Insurance plans cant require higher
co-payments or co-insurance if you get
emergency care from an out-of-network
hospital.
19. Women will no longer be charged more
than men just because theyre women.
20. The health insurance marketplace will
be ready to go in every state starting
October 1 of this year.
21. No-hassle comparisons: The online market-
place provides easy access to information on
all available plans, so you can do a side-by-
side comparison and find a plan that works
for you.
22. Many Americans will be eligible for financial
assistance to help them buy health insurance
on their own, so you can afford a plan that will
be there if you get sick.
23. When you buy insurance through the
marketplace, premiums can be determined
based only on these four factors: where you
live, how old you are, how large your family
is, and whether or not you are a smoker.
24. In the marketplace, you can choose a plan
that matches your budget and needs:
Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.
25. By 2020, the Medicare prescription drug
donut hole will be closed for good.
These are the essential benefits that all
health plans in the marketplace must cover:
26. Ambulatory patient services
27. Emergency services
28. Hospitalization
29. Prenatal care
30. Neonatal care
31. Mental health services
32. Prescription drugs
33. Rehabilitative services and devices
34. Laboratory services like bloodwork
35. Preventive care
36. Wellness services
37. Chronic disease management
38. Pediatric services, including oral and vision
care
39. Lower prescription drug costs for people on
Medicare.
40. These states are already foreseeing dramatic
drops in premiums: 50% in New York, 20%+
in California, Nevada, Connecticut, Oregon.
There you have it. 40 ways Obamacare is helping
and will help Americansbenefits the House of
Representatives has tried to take away 40 times.
If youre sick and tired of repeal votes, add your
name to stand up to the people trying to tear down
Obamacare. ##
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Jul y 2013
Benefit s of t he Healt h Care Refor m
Law in t he 22nd Congressional Dist rict
of Florida (D - Lois Frankel)
The landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA)
began delivering important new benefits and
protections to tens of millions of American
families almost immediately after it was signed
into law by President Obama. But the largest
benefits of the law will shortly become available
to consumers on October 1, 2013, when health
insurance marketplaces open in all 50 states.
These marketplaces will offer individuals,
families, and small businesses an efficient,
transparent one-stop shop to compare health
insurance policies, receive financial assistance,
and sign up for high-quality, affordable, and
secure insurance coverage.
This fact sheet summarizes new
data on the significant benefits of
the health care reform law in Rep.
Frankels district. It also provides
the first picture of the impacts of
the law in districts redrawn or
newly created following the 2010
Census. As a result of the law:
7,300 young adults in the
district now have health
insurance through their
parents plan.
More than 12,800 seniors in the district
received prescription drug discounts worth
$19.4 million, an average discount of $670 per
person in 2011, $770 in 2012, and $560 thus
far in 2013.
135,000 seniors in the district are now eligible
for Medicare preventive services without
paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible.
172,000 individuals in the districtincluding
26,000 children and 75,000 womennow
have health insurance that covers preventive
services without any co-pays, coinsurance, or
deductible.
166,000 individuals in the district are saving
money due to ACA provisions that prevent
insurance companies from spending more
than 20% of their premiums on profits and
administrative overhead. Because of these
protections, over 48,700 consumers in the
district received approximately $6.9 million in
insurance company rebates in 2012 and 2011
an average rebate of $132 per family in 2012
and $168 per family in 2011.
Up to 28,000 children in the district with
preexisting health conditions can no longer be
denied coverage by health insurers.
210,000 individuals in the district now have
insurance that cannot place lifetime limits on
their coverage and will not face annual limits
on coverage starting in 2014.
Up to 147,000 individuals in the district who
lack health insurance will have access to quality,
affordable coverage without fear
of discrimination or higher rates
because of a preexisting health
condition.[1] In addition, the
60,000 individuals who currently
purchase private health insurance
on the individual or small group
market will have access to more
secure, higher quality coverage
and many will be eligible for
financial assistance.
[1] Presently, coverage for many of these
individualsthose with incomes below 100%
of the federal poverty levelis in doubt. The
ACA provides for the fully funded expansion of
Medicaid to cover these individuals. However,
the Supreme Court has ruled that the decision to
take these funds and provide this coverage is at the
discretion of the Governor and the Legislature. To
date, Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature
have not approved the expansion of Medicaid to
these individuals, putting their access to affordable
coverage in doubt.
The benefits of the ACA in your Congressional
District can be found here:
http://1.usa.gov/13OEfsk
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The Marketplace is a new way to find health
coverage that fits your budget and meets your
needs. With one application, you can see all your
options and enroll.
What You l l Lear n When You Appl y I n
The Heal t h I nsur anc e Mar ket pl ac e
When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace,
youll fill out an application and see all of the
health plans available in your area. Youll find
out if you can get lower costs on your monthly
premiums for private insurance plans. Youll
learn if you qualify for lower out-of-pocket costs.
The Marketplace will also tell you if you qualify
for free or low-cost coverage available through
Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance
Program (CHIP).
The Health Insurance Marketplace is sometimes
known as the health insurance exchange.
Appl y Onl i ne, By Mai l , Or I n-Per son
You can apply for Marketplace coverage three
ways: online, by mail, or in-person with the
help of a Navigator or other qualified helper.
Telephone help and online chat will be available
24/7 to help you complete your application.
Open enrollment starts October 1, 2013. Plans
and prices will be available then. Coverage starts
as soon as January 1, 2014.
Compar e Opt i ons I n The Heal t h
I nsur anc e Mar ket pl ac e
Insurance plans in the Marketplace are offered by
private companies, and they cover the same core
set of benefits called essential health benefits.
No plan can turn you away or charge you more
because you have an illness or medical condition.
They must cover treatments for these conditions.
Plans cant charge women more than men for the
same plan.
Lear n About The Mar ket pl ac e I n Your
St at e
While all insurance plans are offered by private
companies, the Marketplace is run by either your
state or the federal government.
The Mar ket pl ac e Si mpl i f i es Get t i ng
Heal t h Cover age
The Marketplace simplifies your search for health
coverage by gathering the options available in
your area in one place. You can compare plans
based on price, benefits, quality, and other
features important to you before you make a
choice.
In the Marketplace, information about prices
and benefits will be written in simple language.
You get a clear picture of what premiums youd
pay and what benefits and protections youd get
before you enroll. Compare plans based on whats
important to you, and choose the combination
of price and coverage that fits your needs and
budget.
Questions? Call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)
Heal t h I nsur anc e Mar ket pl ac e I n
Fl or i da
If you live in Florida, Governor Scott and the
Legislature have refused to create a Florida
Medicaid Expansion. This means that 1.2 million
Floridians will not be eligible for healthcare. To
apply for Obamacare (and to determine if you are
eligible) go to the National website,
www.HealthCare.gov
to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll.
You can apply as early as October 1, 2013. Learn
more about the Marketplace and how you can get
ready. ##
What I s The Heal t h I nsur anc e Mar ket pl ac e?
5
Edi t or i al
I TS TI ME TO CONCENTRATE
ON J OB ONE
If youre younger than 70, you probably wont
remember what life was like in the 1950s and
1960s.
In the 50s and 60s, a single wage earner could
comfortably support a family of four.
A single wage earner could afford a car.
A single wage earner could afford a house.
A single wage earner worked a 40 hour week with
time and a half for overtime.
A single wage earner could take a two week paid
vacation.
A single wage earner had employer supplemented
health insurance.
A single wage earner could afford to send his
children to college without amassing a huge debt.
And t hen al ong c ame ALEC. And
Pr esi dent Reagan.
ALEC was formed in 1973its goal: to influence
public policy in favor of its corporate sponsors
and to work against the public interest.
Reagan implemented sweeping new political
and economic initiatives. His supply-side
economic policies, dubbed Reaganomics,
advocated reducing tax rates to spur economic
growth, controlling the money supply to
reduce inflation, deregulation of the economy,
and reducing government spending, and took a
hard line against labor unions.
ALEC and Reaganand t hei r
f ol l ower swer e so suc c essf ul
t hat i n 2013:
A single wage earner can not support a family of four.
A single wage earner can not afford a car.
A single wage earner can not afford a house.
A single wage earner does not work a 40 hour
week with time and a half for overtime.
A single wage earner is not permitted to work
40 hours so his employer can get away with not
supplying health insurance benefits.
A single wage earner needs to work two jobs to
make ends meet.
A single wage earner does not have a two week
paid vacation.
A single wage earner finds it almost impossible
to join a union.
A single wage earner finds it increasingly difficult to
find an employer supplemented health insurance job.
A single wage earner can no longer afford to send his
children to college without amassing a huge debt.
And we l et i t happen.
We allowed legal and immoral corruption to take
away the middle class.
We allowed legal and immoral corruption to take
away our right to vote.
We allowed legal and immoral corruption govern
our bodies.
We allowed legal and immoral corruption to
destroy our democracy.
We allowed legal and immorally corrupt
corporatocracy to govern our lives.
And we expect others to rectify this immorality
and corruption.
Wont happen.
No matter how many organizations you belong
to with their praiseworthy goals,
Job One,
for every organization, should be to
get money out of politicsget the legal
and immoral corruption of money out
of politics.
Without Job One, no other goal can be achieved.
Without Job One, we can not bring back our
democracy.
It s t i me t o concent rat e on Job One!
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ALEC: The Canc er on Our Democ r ac y
Diana H. Demarest Precinct 6088
Communications Committee Member
We have been learning over recent weeks about
ALECs (American Legislative Exchange Council)
influence over state legislatures by writing model
legislation for corporations and getting those
bills passed into law. There is another tentacle of
ALEC we should be also watching very closely:
ALEC-inspired ballot measures.
One of the most damaging to our democracy here
in Florida was a ballot measure we passed back in
2006 called Amendment 3, titled, Requiring
Broader Public Support for Constitutional
Amendments or Revisions.
ALEC rolled out their version of model
legislation, Resolution to Reform the Ballot
Initiatives Process. Notice the similar language
between our title above and the talking points in
the ALEC version below. Its no coincidence:
A group called Protect Our Constitution spent
$3,293,580 million dollars on their Yes on 3
campaign.
Her e ar e a f ew of t he
or gani zat i ons w hi ch
f unded Yes on 3 : (Sour c e:
Bal l ot pedi a)
ALEC File 7G13:
WHEREAS, the Civil Justice Task Force
recognizes that in order to preserve
the integrity of the Nations legislative
process, reforms should be made to
ensure a fair state initiative process that
encourages the use of the system, but
prevents the process from being abused.
WHEREAS, the Civil Justice Task Force
believes such reforms should include:
Requiring more broad public support
for Constitutional Amendments
Moving up the initiative petition
deadline
Deterring petition fraud and increasing
voter protection
Requiring greater public support
for initiatives that impose financial
impacts on state government
[Continued on page 7, ALEC]
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As a result of Amendment 3s passage, it is harder
for citizens to have a voice in their government,
now requiring a 60 percent approval from voters
on ballot measures, instead of a simple majority.
(Note: ballot measures adding new taxes already
required a 2/3 majority vote.)
Legislators, on the other hand, can get measures
on the ballot easily. All they need is a passage
by a super-majority vote in both houses. With
the Republican dominated legislature we have
in Florida, one doesnt have to wonder how we
ended up with eleven ballot questions in the 2012
election cycle.
ALEC wrote the following ballot measures for
Florida legislators in our 2012 election:
Amendment 1 would have blocked parts of the
Affordable Care Act.
Amendment 3 would adopt a new formula to
calculate the states revenue limit each year,
based on population growth and inflation,
instead of calculating the limit based on
personal income, as it is done now.
Amendment 5 would have given the legislature
additional powers over the courts.
Amendment 6 would have prohibited public
funding of abortions and would have removed
privacy rights judges have been using to
overturn laws restricting abortion.
Amendment 8 would have repealed the current
ban on public funding of religious groups.
Fortunately, none of the above measures passed.
This only means another attempt on getting them
passed will be in our future next session.
What c an we do?
Pressure our legislators who are currently
ALEC members to leave ALEC.
Pressure corporations who are currently
members to leave ALEC.
Visit the ALEC website: www.alec.org and
read the Model Legislation section of their
websitewatch for those bills appearing in our
next legislative session.
Lobby legislators who support ALEC bills not
to do so.
Learn more at the ALEC EXPOSED website:
www.alecexposed.org.
Learn more by watching the Bill Moyers
program: The United States of ALEC.
Write letters to the editor and post comments
on blogs regarding ALEC.
Spread the word to your friends and family.
Vote and get everyone you know to vote in the
2014 elections. ##
Sources for this article from these websites:
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
ALEC EXPOSED
Ballotpedia
The Nation Magazine
The Collins Center
[ALEC, continued from page 6]
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Dont Miss The March 2014 Election!
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Top 10 Reasons t o Ki c k Sc ot t Out
2014 is just around the corner.
As Democrats gear up to take on Tea Partier Rick Scott, it is a good
time to remind you of the top ten reasons Florida needs a new,
Democratic, governor.
In the previous issues, we listed these 4 reasons:
Reason #10. Rick Scott Refused High-Speed Rail.
Reason #9. Rick Scott Slashed Over $1 Billion in
Education Funding.
Reason #8. Rick Scott Spent Millions of our Tax
Dollars on Incentives for Companies that Never
Created Jobs.
Reason #7. Rick Scott Slashed Environmen-
tal Protections.
Heres one more of the top 10 reasons to remind
you how important it is to Pink Slip Rick Scott
in November 2014!
Reason #6.
Rick Scott Opposes Equality
Governor Scott has been openly opposed
to equality for all Floridians, from adop-
tion by same-sex couples to equality for
civil unions and marriage.
CURRENT RESIDENT OR
Dan Isaacson, Editor
The Democratic Voter
Captain Democratic Precinct 4178
6055 Verde Trail South, Apt. H219
Boca Raton, FL 33433-4423
561-470-7258