That Wanda Sykes pop up book had me laughing so hard I cried. Even hubby laughed, and that’s saying something!

“Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to respond.

The U.S. Senate now has an opportunity to consider health care reform. On November 21, 2009, the Senate voted 60 to 39 to proceed to debate health care legislation. Unfortunately, the majority party has not chosen to have a bipartisan debate.

I voted against proceeding to debate H.R. 3590, the Service Members Ownership Tax Credit. H.R. 3590 was a three page “shell bill” that has now been substituted by Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2,074-page, $2.5 trillion health care bill. The new bill was drafted without public input and in the privacy of Senator Reid’s office. The majority party knows how unpopular this bill is, even among its own members. That is why they held the procedural vote on the three page “shell bill” rather than their actual health care reform bill.

I cannot support this legislation. The bill does not reflect what Alaskans have told me they want to see in health care reform. Simply put, it is government-run health care that will raise taxes on individuals, families, and small businesses; increase health insurance premiums; and cut Medicare by one half trillion dollars. From the procedural shenanigans to the accounting gimmicks contained in this bill, we should start from scratch.

We need to adopt a step-by-step approach to health care reform that focuses on the solutions that nearly everyone can agree on. My top priorities are banning lifetime caps on insurance and coverage denial based on pre-existing conditions, enacting junk lawsuit reforms, and promoting competition by allowing insurers to sell across state lines.

Junk lawsuit reform is one of the most important reforms lacking from this bill. Medical malpractice insurance premiums are soaring for doctors around the country, causing doctors to increase their rates or even close their practices. Tort reform is a proven method for lowering insurance premiums, and thereby lowering health care costs.

The State of California, for example, enacted strong tort reform in 1975. From 1975 to 2004, malpractice insurance premiums in California dropped 40 percent. The effects on overall health care spending are also clear; California spends nearly $650 less on health care per capita than the national average, and health care costs are growing at a much slower rate in California than around the country. I am confident that we can drastically improve our health care system by enacting reforms similar to California’s.

I continue to be concerned with the majority party’s continued efforts to force massive bills through Congress before Members of Congress or the public have time to read and digest what is actually being proposed. I have taken action and cosponsored Senate Resolution 307, which would require all legislation to be posted online for at least 72 hours before being considered by the Senate. The current legislation being considered is now available online at http://www.thomas.gov. The House of Representatives bill is labeled H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America. The Senate version is labeled H.R. 3590, the Service Members Ownership Tax Credit.

I held several town hall meetings this summer, and I was frequently asked if I would be required to participate in the proposed federally-run government health plan. You may be interested to know that I supported an amendment to the HELP Committee health care bill that would require Members of Congress and their staff to enroll in any new federally-run government plan. The amendment passed the HELP Committee by a vote of 12 to 11. I will continue to support efforts to require lawmakers to join any new public plan they choose to create.

As the Senate debates health care reform, I will continue to fight for real reform that truly provides greater access to quality health care without crippling our economy in the process.”

This from the woman whose latest trick is going to be to try to block any legislation on carbon emissions by corporations and something about trying to bypass the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the EPA to regulate environmental issues. Isn’t that what we have an EPA for???? Isn’t regulation what GWB got rid of and left us in this mess????

I just love it when you want to discuss things in a mature and rational way and all you get from these bozos is “Noooooooo” and a lot of red herrings. I am getting tired of this legislator telling me what “Alaskans want” when I have told her over and over what I want and she refuses to even acknowledge it. I don’t think she is reading what I write to her. Oh, I forgot, it’s about the money…..not the people…

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The primary holiday celebrated in capitalist cultures. Generally observed around the winter solstice, Cashmas is a celebration of materialism in which its celebrants attempt to flatter or impress relatives, friends, and acquaintances with the extent of their purchasing power. (The “power to get”.) Cashmas co-opts signs, symbols, and sympathies from other religious holidays of the winter season to mask its foundation of conspicuous consumption. In the United States, where the holiday is most actively observed, Cashmas traditionally begins on “Black Friday”, that is, the day following Thanksgiving Thursday in November. Holiday observations traditionally end on January 2nd, but may arguably be said to extend through “Super Bowl Sunday” of professional American football. This event can occur as late as the month of February. Also “$mas”.

I have gone through outrage. Now I am sad and tired.

Got this e-mail today: Thoughts???

“Where are we now?

In the last week, the public health insurance option Majority Leader Reid put into his merged bill was stripped out, and a “compromise” allowing people over the age of 55 to buy into Medicare if they chose was added and then also stripped to appease Senators Joe Lieberman.1,2 The leadership and the White House accepted these changes in order to move forward, and they have introduced a bill in the Senate that reflects this.3,4

The compromise, which took away the best way to truly hold the insurance companies accountable, provoked an angry reaction from health reform supporters.5 Frankly, we’re angry, too. The new bill released today does include a number of new, tougher insurance reforms, including a patients’ bill of rights, restrictions on how much insurers can spend on administration and profit, and an attempt to hold down insurance premium increases.

Right now, the Senate bill looks like it will pass the Senate next week and move into conference with the House, which has a much better bill that it passed last month.6

What needs to be fixed?

The Senate bill, as it stands now, has major problems that need to be fixed. We need to make sure that the final bill that goes to President Obama’s desk provides good, affordable coverage and holds insurance companies accountable.

Here’s what must be fixed:

1. Make health care affordable
The Senate bill does not make health care affordable at work, and would encourage employers to hire part-time workers and offer bare-bones benefits. We need the final legislation to do what the House bill does – require all but the smallest employers to contribute a fair amount to good coverage for their workers.

And for those people who are self-employed or in between jobs, both bills need improvement on affordability. The Senate bill doesn’t do enough to make coverage affordable for low-and-moderate income families and the House falls short for middle-income families. The final bill should combine the best of both.

2. Hold insurance companies accountable
The final bill must include strong consumer protections and insurance regulations for all consumers, and give the federal government responsibility for running the new insurance marketplaces. Generally, the House bill is better, but we need Congress to pick the strongest provisions from both bills to be sure that everyone with insurance benefits from strong consumer protections.

The final bill should also give us the choice of a national public health insurance option that’s available on day one.

3. Fairly finance health care reform
The Senate bill taxes the health care benefits of millions of workers to pay for health reform. There’s a better way to pay for health reform that won’t raise premiums and out of pocket costs. By contrast, the House bill asks those who can most afford to pay their fair share to finance reform, as President Obama promised during his campaign.

The final bill should ask the richest to pay their fair share for reform, instead of taxing our health care benefits.

What’s next?

The reason that conservative Democrats like Ben Nelson and Independent Joe Lieberman have been able to hold the bill hostage to their demands is that Republicans have insisted on filibustering the bill every step of the way, requiring all 60 Senators who are part of the Democratic caucus to agree. That will continue this week, with the next 60-vote motion happening on Monday and perhaps two more 60-votes motions occurring during the week.

After the Senate passes their health care bill, it will head into “conference” with the House bill. There, leaders from each branch of Congress, as well as the White House, will work to resolve the differences between the two bills and come up with something that can pass and be sent to the President’s desk.

Conference is an opportunity to stand up for the three priorities listed above, and make sure the final bill guarantees us quality, affordable health care, with the choice of a public health insurance option. The legislation that comes out of the conference will be sent to both houses of Congress for a final vote, and will require a majority in the House and 60 votes one more time in the Senate.

What can be done?

In the coming days, we’ll be asking you to let your Senators, member of Congress and President Obama hear from you. We’ll be rolling out with a campaign to stand up for the fixes we must see to get the best bill possible to the President’s desk. We’ll be asking you to take part, raise your voice, and help us fight for what we believe in.

It’s been a tough week for health care reformers, there’s no question. But we need to get ready, because it’s not over yet.

As President Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty.” This last week has been painful and difficult, and there’s a lot of effort ahead. We’ll all be taking this time over the holidays to recharge for the coming fight.

As long as you’re fighting with us, we’ve got a chance to win this thing and finish reform right.”

1. Dems Make Deal to Drop Public Option – CBS
2. Lieberman Tells Reid To His Face: I’ll Vote Against Current Health Care Bill – Huffington Post
3. White House to Harry Reid: Cut deal with Joe Lieberman – Politco
4. With Nelson on board, health-care bill could pass by Christmas – Washington Post
5. Liberal Revolt on Health Care Stings White House – New York Times
6. A merry Christmas; Senate eyes Dec. 24 vote on healthcare reform legislation – The Hill

I didn’t write this but thought it was hilarious so I am sharing.

CHRISTMAS EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. . . Pumpkin. . . Chocolate Cream. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like pumpkin, have two chocolates and one apple. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

Winter Solstice is coming soon!!!

Sorry if I’m reposting.

http://alaskareport.com/news109/x71363_ending.htm

(Where’s flyinureye when you need ‘em?)