Back to Basics

HOOVER, TRUMAN, AND IKE!  – WHAT THESE 3 MEN HAVE IN COMMON……IT COULD WORK TODAY ALSO

What did Hoover, Truman, and Eisenhower have in common?

Here is something that should be of great interest to pass around…

I didn’t know of this until it was pointed out to me.

Maybe our President and Congress should take a lesson from past presidents.

Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work..

Harry Truman deported over two million Illegal’s after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican Nationals! The program was called ‘Operation Wetback’. It was done so WWII and Korean Veterans would have a better chance at jobs. It took 2 Years, but they deported them!

The Congressional Research Service has issued their report regarding the treatment of noncitizens in H.R. 3200. There has been a lot of debate over this topic, with the president and democrats saying illegals are not covered, while those opposed to the bill saying they are. A number of loopholes in the bill, including no provisions for checking immigrations status, prove illegal immigrants can and will be covered by the bill, at the taxpayers’ expense.  The Summary of the report is include below.  If you would like to read the entire report, please click on CRS Report.

August 25, 2009
Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200
Congressional Research Service

Summary

This report outlines the treatment of noncitizens (aliens) under H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. In particular, the report analyzes specific provisions in H.R. 3200, and whether there are eligibility requirements for noncitizens in the provisions. Within the bill, noncitizens are treated differently in several provisions. In 2008, there were approximately 37.3 million foreign-born persons in the United States. The foreign-born population was comprised of approximately 15.1 million naturalized U.S. citizens and 22.2 million noncitizens.

H.R. 3200 includes an individual mandate to have health insurance, with tax penalties for noncompliance. Individuals who do not maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for themselves and their children would be required to pay an additional tax. Some individuals, including nonresident aliens, would be exempt from the individual mandate. “Nonresident alien” is a term under tax but not immigration law. For federal tax purposes, alien individuals are classified as resident or nonresident aliens. In general, an individual is a nonresident alien unless he or she meets the qualifications under a residency test. Thus, legal permanent residents, and noncitizens and unauthorized aliens who qualify as resident aliens (i.e., meet the substantial presence test), would be required under H.R. 3200 to have health insurance.

In addition, under H.R. 3200, a “Health Insurance Exchange” would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option. The Exchange would provide eligible individuals and small businesses with access to insurers’ plans, including the public option, in a comparable way. Individuals would only be eligible to enroll in an Exchange plan if they were not enrolled in other acceptable coverage (for example, from an employer, Medicare and generally Medicaid). H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens participating in the Exchange – whether the noncitizens are legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently. Nonetheless, only aliens who could be classified as resident aliens would be required under the bill to have health insurance.

In 2013, under H.R. 3200, some individuals would be eligible for premium credits (i.e., subsidies based on income) toward their required purchase of health insurance. To be eligible for the premium credits under H.R. 3200, individuals must be lawfully present in a state in the United States, excluding most nonimmigrants (i.e., those in the United States for a specific purpose and a specific period of time). The exceptions for nonimmigrants who could obtain premium credits under H.R. 3200 would be trafficking victims, crime victims, fiancées of U.S. citizens, and those who have had applications for legal permanent residence (LPR) status pending for three years. It is expected that almost all aliens in these excepted nonimmigrant categories will become LPRs (i.e., immigrants) and remain in the United States permanently. Furthermore, unauthorized aliens would be barred from receiving the premium credit.

H.R. 3200 as reported from the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) would extend Medicaid eligibility up to 133 1/3% of poverty for populations that previously were not covered (e.g., childless adults and many parents). This extension of benefits could mean an increase in the number of noncitizens who already meet the immigration status requirements for Medicaid eligibility who would be eligible for Medicaid. Also, H.R. 3200 as reported by E & C would make eligible for full Medicaid noncitizens who lawfully reside in the United States in accordance with the Compacts of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, and are otherwise eligible for such assistance. This report will be updated.

Protect American Healthcare
The Ad ABC Will Not Air
Ad Paid for by the League of American Voters

John McCain’s Town Hall Meeting – August 26, 2009

John McCain's Town Hall Meeting - Aug 26, 2009

A very passionate crowed attended John McCain’s town hall meeting held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.  Even while waiting for the doors to open for seating, people became engaged in discussion with others about the bill and other political concerns facing the US today.

The pastor of the church welcomed everyone and said a prayer for all.  Betsy Bayless, CEO of Maricopa Integrated Health System gave a brief speech and introduced Senator John McCain, who received a standing welcome.  After giving his thank you’s and covering the etiquette of town hall meetings, he started his introduction into the health care issue when a woman in the crowd started yelling out comments and Senator McCain politely asked her to be quiet or leave.  She was escorted out while the crowd applauded.  I was sitting only a few seats from her and couldn’t understand a word she said, so other than creating a public display, she did nothing to further her personal cause.

The meeting continued, with no further outbreaks, no riots, not even one picket sign that I could see.  Individuals were allowed to speak, often with the crowds’ applause.  Depending on which side of the fence they spoke on, they might also have faced a mixed response with applause and booing, but all remained civil. One young lady voiced her concerns on government spending and how it will affect her grandchildren, and told Senator McCain to give her 10 minutes of his time and she could tell him how to fix it.  She was about 10 years old and you have to give her a lot of credit for speaking up.  Maybe a political career is in her future!

Senator McCain showed the Senate bill, the equivalent of House bill.  He did not go into many details about the bill, but did state there are earmarks in the bill, one of which covers union pensions.  He said we have the highest quality health care in the world and we need to preserve it and make it affordable.  He stated the spending going on in the government today is generational theft and we cannot continue to expand without the ability to pay for it.

He shared the Congressional Budget Office reports which indicated the president and democrat’s bill expands government, does nothing to decrease medical costs, and will in fact increase costs over time instead of decrease them.  He indicated the Mayo Clinic also spoke out against the bill indicating it misses the opportunity and does the opposite of what was intended.  He also stated the drug companies made a deal with the White House.

Like the House, the Senate has some alternative bills, which resemble a similar philosophy to those by the House.  They include keeping patient choice, providing tax incentives for individuals and families who purchase insurance outside an employer-based plan, would create new risk pools to insure the high risk population (pre-existing conditions or chronic illness), would make health savings accounts more affordable, would support wellness and fitness programs and would allow the sale of insurance policies to cross state lines.

Whether you agree with the bill, or disagree with it, some very strong emotions and concerns are surfacing.  After the meeting adjourned, there was a heated debate in the hallway, with the man opposing the bill asking the man for the bill if he had read it.  The answer was no.

After attending several of these town hall meetings I have noticed some consistencies.  Those who are speaking up in opposition of the bill are usually older (meaning over 40), in the military, or currently have insurance with a health issue and are afraid of losing their coverage.  Those who are speaking up for the bill are usually younger, without insurance or with a pre-existing or chronic illness and no coverage; they believe a government option is the only way for them to obtain insurance.  There is one glaring difference – many who oppose the bill have read the bill – those for the bill have not.  If you are for the bill and haven’t read the bill, then you are no better than those members of Congress who pass bills without actually reading what is in them.

When did the values of Americans change?  When did we become a society of people who believe in entitlement rather than one of responsibility?  When did the government and the people decide it was time to send this country into a spiral that is destined to end the freedom once cherished?

This country once had the belief that through hard work and dedication one could obtain the American dream.  They believed throughout the ages, that no one should be denied the opportunity to try.  When a neighbor was in need, it didn’t take a law to provide them assistance, but the values from the community that would come forward to help them.  We still see it today when there is a disaster that affects people.  How many people come out to donate time, money, blood and other resources to help those in needs?  It didn’t take a law demanding their help.  They do it because each one believes in one another.  How many people contribute to the local food banks, or to the school community to provide for children at the beginning of each school year or for gifts for Christmas?  We do it naturally because we believe in it.

So in the charity so many are willing to give, unfortunately there are those who believe they not only have a right to this charity but they demand it.  We owe it to them.  We owe you nothing.  We do it because we want to, not because we owe you.

Society today has become one of people believing we owe them.  They no longer believe they have to work to obtain what they need to survive, but feel it is their right to have these things and more.  Many make a career out of taking from the hardworking citizens.

My daughter is a high school teacher and, as she vents her frustrations to me on a weekly basis, I hear about the vast change in values of our youth.  A number of students still work hard to earn their grades.  But a good many of them feel they should be given a grade or pass the class because of their ultimate goals.  They don’t want to put in the work to honesty earn these grade, but instead feel they are entitled to them.  They are not willing to take responsibility for their own actions or lack of them.  Parents and/or students complain because their son or daughter can’t participate in sports because a certain teacher “gave them a failing grade.”  Did that son or daughter not earn that failing grade?  Parents complain to the administration when their son or daughter can’t get in to a certain college because they did not receive grades allowing them entrance to that college.  Instead of the student taking responsibility for their actions they blame the teacher and demand the grade be changed.  Teachers who don’t respond to these threats by giving in are often criticized by the administration for not being responsive to their students and parents.

This only sets up the precedent for future actions of these youth.  When they obtain a job they feel they are entitled to a paycheck and keep the job even though they show up for work late, call off often, and don’t do the job required of them.  No one should criticize this behavior because we owe them.

The programs the government offers are there to help people in time of need.  Many people make a career out of it.  The larger the family, the more they get, so they continue having children even though they cannot afford to support those they already have.  They take no responsibility.  We owe them.

Now we are faced with 12 million illegals in this country, demanding services, because we owe them.  The Mexican government is pushing for the US to pass amnesty for these illegals because we owe them.  We owe them nothing!  They not only demand free services but expect us to change to accommodate them.  They expect us to learn their language, but do nothing to learn ours.  We did not force you into this country, you came here illegally.  So if you do not like what this country has to offer, then GO HOME!  But don’t expect us to change to suit your needs.  We do not owe you.

Health care reform demonstrates yet another entitlement program.  Nowhere in the constitution does it say that one is entitled to health care.  As responsible and compassionate citizens we feel no one should be denied medical care for life saving efforts.  Programs today exist to allow you the opportunity to obtain that care.  However, the abuse of these programs has lead to higher medical costs for everyone.  So now when those who have been responsible, have obtained health care insurance and pay more than their share in taxes, are speaking out against a major reform that not only gives you more health care but takes away from ours, we are accused of being right-wing radicals and un-American.  BUT WE OWE YOU NOTHING!

As I was talking to my daughter this past weekend about the bill, I pointed out some of the provisions to her.  She kept saying “but they [government] can’t do that.”  I kept repeating “it’s in the bill.”  People in the past have had faith in our government to uphold our basic constitutional rights – even though we may and do disagree with many of their actions.  As long as our basic rights remained there was always hope.  The faith in our government is being crushed by the actions of our president and the people elected to represent us in Congress.  Actions taken in the last few months question their commitment, not only to the citizens, but to the country.